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China supports all parties in Myanmar to achieve peace, reconciliation via general elections: spokesperson

Xinhua) 16:38, January 26, 2026

BEIJING, Jan. 26 (Xinhua) -- China supports all parties in Myanmar in securing broader, more solid and lasting peace and reconciliation through general elections, de-escalating the situation at an early date, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson told a regular news briefing on Monday.

Spokesperson Guo Jiakun made the remarks in response to a query regarding the conclusion of the third phase of voting in Myanmar's general elections.

"China, Russia, India, relevant ASEAN countries and international organizations sent personnel to observe the elections. The process was smooth and orderly, with voters actively participating. China extends its congratulations regarding this," said Guo.

He noted that China is willing to work with the international community to respect the choice of the Myanmar people and continue to provide constructive assistance for the restoration of peace, stability and development in Myanmar.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Adopts Oracle Health Foundation EHR and Oracle Fusion Cloud Applications to increase efficiency and drive growth

AUSTIN, Texas, Jan. 27, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Alrajhi Medicine, a fast-growing private healthcare network operating multi-specialty hospitals and medical centers in Saudi Arabia, is teaming with Oracle to power its next-generation healthcare operations. By implementing Oracle Health Foundation electronic health record (EHR) and Oracle Fusion Cloud Applications, the network can bring together its clinical and business operations to empower clinicians, staff, and leaders with near real-time data and AI-driven insights to support better decisions and care.

With this collaboration, Alrajhi Medicine, a member of Abdullah Sulaiman Al Rajhi Holding (ASAQ), has become the first private healthcare group in Saudi Arabia to adopt Oracle Health and Oracle Fusion Applications as a unified digital platform.

Modern tech for elevated care

To advance the health and wellness of its citizens, Alrajhi Medicine was seeking a unified approach across all its facilities that could easily expand as its network continues to grow. It chose Oracle technologies to help integrate its clinical and enterprise operations and create a fully connected ecosystem across its hospitals and clinics. Collectively, the Oracle solutions will help Alrajhi Medicine to easily share patient data with clinicians to inform care decisions, improve staff and patient experiences, and better align resources with patient needs.

"By deploying Oracle's next-generation clinical and enterprise solutions, we are transforming our digital operations and enabling excellence in healthcare delivery and patient care," said Omar Turjman, chief information officer, Alrajhi Medicine. "This strategic collaboration positions Alrajhi Medicine as a pioneer of smart healthcare systems in Saudi Arabia's private sector and supports our vision of becoming a leading healthcare network in the Kingdom."

Oracle Health Foundation EHR improves care coordination across teams and enhances communication between clinicians and patients. As Alrajhi Medicine continues to expand, the EHR can scale to provide a consistent user experience for clinicians regardless of their location. The EHR can also reduce administrative tasks to help drive efficiency, reduce cognitive load, and give clinicians more time to focus on patients. In tandem, Oracle Fusion Cloud Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), Oracle Fusion Cloud Enterprise Performance Management (EPM), and Oracle Fusion Cloud Human Capital Management (HCM) will help the network embrace embedded AI capabilities and standardize finance and HR processes on a single platform to increase productivity, reduce costs, and enable employees to work smarter and more efficiently.

"Oracle's comprehensive healthcare offerings with advanced AI capabilities uniquely align with Alrajhi Medicine's vision of modern technology that will transform healthcare," said Seema Verma, executive vice president and general manager, Oracle Health and Life Sciences. "Our end-to-end approach offers scalability for future growth and continuous innovation. Together with Alrajhi Medicine, we're setting a new benchmark for secure, modern, and intelligent healthcare in the Middle East."

Learn more about how Oracle is helping customers build open, connected health systems at https://www.oracle.com/middleeast/health/.

About Alrajhi Medicine Hospital

Alrajhi Medicine, a member of Abdullah Sulaiman Al Rajhi Holding (ASAQ), aims to develop and manage a network of modern hospitals and specialized medical centers across different regions of the Kingdom. The journey will begin with a pioneering hospital and a distinguished specialty center in Riyadh, followed by additional hospitals and advanced medical centers in key cities, strengthening its presence nationwide. The company's strategy focuses on integrating advanced medical technologies in collaboration with leading global institutions, including the latest in medicine and surgery, artificial intelligence and innovative approaches to treatment and prevention in functional medicine, longevity, mind & body wellness, fully aligned with Saudi Vision 2030.

Visit us at www.alrajhimedicine.com.

About Oracle

Oracle offers integrated suites of applications plus secure, autonomous infrastructure in the Oracle Cloud. For more information about Oracle (NYSE: ORCL), please visit us at www.oracle.com.

Trademarks

Oracle, Java, MySQL and NetSuite are registered trademarks of Oracle Corporation. NetSuite was the first cloud companyushering in the new era of cloud computing.

SOURCE Oracle
In January 1887, a mild-mannered itinerant preacher named Ansel Bourne left his home in Greene, Rhode Island, to travel to nearby Providence. He carried a small sum of money and, by all appearances, the clear intention of returning in a few days. He did not come back.

For nearly two months, Bournes family had no idea about his whereabouts. They posted a missing person newspaper advertisements but nobody reported any sightings. Then, in late March a telegram arrived addressed to Bournes nephew Andrew Harris in Providence. His uncle had been found in Norristown, Pennsylvania, where he had been living the previous two months under the name Alfred Brown.

Bourne had been staying with landlord Pinkston Earle at 345 East Main Street. He had rented a small room and opened a store in the front, selling candy, stationery, and other small items. He had given his name as Alfred Brown, and the Earle family had no reasons to suspect he was anything other. Brown, as they knew him, was quiet, punctual, and attended church on Sundays.

Early in the morning of 14 March, Ansel Bourne awoke to a loud noise that he later described as sounding like a gunshot. As he looked around, the room seemed strange and unfamiliar. He went to the window and drew back the curtain, but the view offered no recognition. He had no idea where he was or how he had come to be there.

Stepping into the corridor, Bourne knocked on the door of the adjoining room. Pinkston Earle came out of his room and greeted him warmly, Good morning, Mr. Brown. Bourne replied that his name wasnt Brown, but Ansel Bourne. He then asked, Where am I? Earle told Bourne that he was in Norristown, Pennsylvania, and that the date was March 14, 1887. Bourne could scarcely believe it. The last thing he remembered was seeing Adams Express Company wagons at the corner of Dorrance and Broad Streets in Providence on 17 January.

When Bourne was returned to Rhode Island, he had no memory whatsoever of his time in Pennsylvania. The shop, the customers, the journey southall were gone from his mind. To him, the last thing he remembered was leaving home in January. The six intervening weeks had vanished as completely as if they had never happened.

This was not amnesia in the ordinary sense. During his disappearance, Bourne had not been confused, delirious, or incapacitated. On the contrary, he had functioned smoothly, adopting a new name, a new occupation, and a new daily routine. What had disappeared was not his ability to act, but his awareness of being Ansel Bourne.

The episode soon attracted the attention of psychologists, most notably William James, the pioneering American philosopher and psychologist, widely recognized as the father of American psychology. James interviewed Bourne extensively and later described the case in The Principles of Psychology (1890), calling it one of the most striking examples of what he termed spontaneous hypnotic trance, persisting two months.

Modern psychologists believe that Ansel Bourne had experienced a dissociative fugue, a rare psychological condition in which a person suddenly travels away from home, assumes a new identity, and later has little or no memory of the episode. Unlike ordinary forgetfulness or even classic amnesia, a fugue involves organized behaviour such as planning, social interaction, and purposeful action carried out under a fractured sense of self.

In Bournes case, the division was stark. A. J. Brown remembered nothing of Ansel Bournes earlier life, while Ansel Bourne remembered nothing of A. J. Brown. The two identities were not aware of each other, and they did not overlap.

James later attempted hypnosis to explore the lost memories. Under trance, Bourne was able to recall his time as A. J. Brown in vivid detail suggesting that the memories had not been destroyed, merely sealed off from his waking consciousness. When the hypnosis ended, those memories vanished again.

***

Ansel Bourne was born in New York City in 1826. When he was fifteen, Ansel and is mother went to live with his elder sister Lucy, who was married to a carpenter, under whom Ansel went into apprentice to learn carpentry.

In 1844, Ansel married Sarah A. Woodmansee. They lived successively in Providence, Cranston, and Pawtuxet, but by 1850 they were living in Westerly. While he lived in Westerly, Ansel began suffering from bouts of headache as well as weakness.

On 16 August 1857, Ansel went to cut some wood in the afternoon when he had some feeling in his head which he does not remember and immediately afterwards he lost consciousness, not regaining until the 18th. That night he was a little delirious and Ansel thought he was going to die, so did his family and the attending physician. However, he recovered and in about three weeks time, was able to return to work.

In mid-September, Ansel suffered from another attack of dizziness: A cold chill or spasm came upon him there, which deprived him of his strength. He recovered in a week and was able to go out again.

In October 28, Ansel was walking from his home to the centre of Westerly, when the thought suddenly entered his mind that he should go to the meeting at the Christian Chapel. Earlier in his life, Ansel was deeply religious, but by the 1850s, his mind was under the dark and apparently unpenetrable [sic] cloud of unbelief. He began to hate churches, ministers and professors, some of them bitterly.

As soon as this thought about visiting a church entered his head, he was filled with repulsion and he answered to himself that I would rather be struck deaf and dumb forever, than to go there. A few minutes later, he felt dizzy and sat down. Suddenly, to his horror, he could neither speak, nor hear, nor see. It seemed that God had taken him at his word.

Ansel was carried home, and was swiftly attended by Dr. William Thurston who said that although deaf and blind, Ansel was aware of what was happening to him. Ansels eyesight returned the next morning and using a slate, he communicated with his wife reflecting on the awful sinfulness of a life which had been brought by the hand of God to such circumstances.

Ansel wrote a confession asking God for forgiveness for his coarse actions. This confession was read out aloud in the church, and as he stood in the pulpit and raised his hands, Ansels hearing and speech suddenly were restored. The congregation in attendance believed they witnessed a miracle which was eventually printed and repeated by many.

Ansels strange experience revived his religious fervour and he became an evangelical preacher, although he continued to work as a carpenter. He preached at revivals and otherwise offered his services wherever he happened to be. In the early 1860s, the Bourne family left Westerly and moved to Petersburg, in New York. Later, in 1875, they settled in Shelby, New York, where Bourne served as pastor of the Christian Church of West Shelby for at least two years.

After his wife died in 1881, Bourne returned to Rhode Island where he met his second wife, Isabelle. On her persuasion, he agreed to give his itinerant preaching and took up farming and apparently led an uneventful life until his trip to Providence on January 1887.

When his second wife died in 1910, Bourne moved to Buffalo, New York, where he died in 1915.

***

Ansel Bournes strange journey leaves an enduring question that still troubles psychology today: how much of who we are depends on memoryand how easily can it slip away?

We wake up every morning as a slightly different entity, and yet memory holds us together, writes Psychology Today. Its the glue that maintains us as a single, consistent person. As James McGaugh, memory expert and professor of neurobiology at UC Irvine describes, Memory is our most important ability. Without memory, there would be no human beings.

Dissociative fugue sits right at the fault line between memory and identity, showing how tightly the two are bound, and how fragile that bond can be.

At its core, a fugue involves a selective failure of autobiographical memory. The person does not lose general knowledge or skills: they can speak, work, navigate cities, handle money, and interact socially. What disappears is access to the memories that normally answer the question Who am I?name, personal history, relationships, and emotional attachments. Because identity is built largely from this continuous personal narrative, its collapse follows naturally from the memory loss.

In a fugue state, identity is not simply erased but often reconfigured. Individuals may adopt a new name, occupation, or role, as in the case of Ansel Bourne becoming A. J. Brown. This suggests that identity is not a single, indivisible entity, but something assembled moment by moment from memory, habit, and context. When autobiographical memory is cut off, the mind may construct a provisional self that fits the immediate environment.

Crucially, the memories are not destroyed. Hypnosis and later clinical studies show that fugue memories are typically inaccessible rather than lost. They exist outside conscious awareness, indicating a dissociation between memory storage and memory access. When the fugue ends, the original identity returns along with its memories, while the fugue identity is often forgotten, creating a sharp, one-way amnesia.

This asymmetry reveals something unsettling, that identity depends less on continuity of consciousness than on continuity of memory. As long as memories link past to present, the self feels stable. When that link breaks, identity can fracture without impairing rational behaviour.

Dissociative fugue therefore challenges the idea of a fixed, unified self. It shows identity to be a psychological construction, which is normally seamless, but under extreme stress is capable of splitting along the lines of memory, leaving a person intact in function yet profoundly altered in who they believe themselves to be.
Apple is escalating its legal dispute with Europe, alleging that its regulatory delay is hurting efforts to support a new app store. The legal showdown follows the shutdown of an alternative app store and centres on how the regions digital competition rules are applied. Apple adds that unclear decisions and slow responses from the regulator are creating confusion for developers. This is also making it harder for new platforms to survive under the current rules.

Apple says Europe delay is hurting alternative app stores

In a recent development, Apple has alleged that the European Commission is preparing to blame the company for the closure of a third-party app store. The developers behind the store say Apples business terms are too complex and are changed way too frequently. This makes it harder to run the service. Apple, on the other hand, argues that this uncertainty came from the lack of clear approval from the European regulator.

Under the Digital Markets Act 2024, Apple was required to allow alternative app stores on iOS in Europe. While the tech giant did comply with the act, it added new fees and conditions, including a charge once apps passed a certain number of downloads. The regulators later ruled that Apple did not fully comply with the law and issued it a hefty fine. Apple says it suggested new pricing in 2025, but those changes have not been accepted. App developers say the system is too hard to manage and that the strict rules are needed to limit the companys power.

Apple responds to continued regulatory pressure

Apple says the real reason behind the delay comes from regulators and not from the companys resistance. The company adds that it submitted a detailed compliance plan to the regulator months ago. However, it is yet to receive any official response. The firm says this lack of direction discourages developers and creates uncertainty. It also alleges the commission of unfair treatment.

The European Commission disagrees with Apples statement. The regulator says it is in regular touch with Apple and concerned developers. It further stresses that their goal is full compliance with the law and that discussions are ongoing. They deny targeting any specific company. As of right now, theres no major sign of talks between the tech giant and the regulator. However, developers and users are awaiting a good outcome.
For over a decade, Chromebooks have become as common in schools as notebooks and pencils. Educators often praise these devices for their affordability and versatility. However, newly revealed internal documents from Google suggest a more calculated business motivation. According to presentations surfaced during a major social media addiction lawsuit, Google views its presence in schools as a way to onboard children into its ecosystem to build brand trust that lasts a lifetime, and Chromebooks would be their main method.

One specific slide from a 2020 presentation, recently reported by NBC News, states quite clearly, If you get someone on your operating system early, then you get that loyalty early, and potentially for life. This strategy aims to create a pipeline of future users. After years of using Google tools for homework, they will naturally choose the same brand as adults.

Loyalty for Life: Internal docs show Googles long-term school strategy

The papers also explain how complicated Googles relationship with YouTube is in the classroom. The company wants to make the video platform a main way to learn. At one point, they even thought about a world where school budgets would go from buying books to paying for YouTube subscriptions. However, its own research shows that there are big risks.

Slides from as recently as 2024 say that YouTube can be distracting and unsafe. Researchers also found that a lot of users regret the time they waste when they go down the rabbit hole. That means staying up late and not getting enough sleep. In one case that has been recorded, a student looking for linear equations was given a link to a Will Ferrell comedy sketch by a user with a very inappropriate username.

A growing debate on tech in schools

Education experts, like cognitive neuroscientist Jared Cooney Horvath, are beginning to voice their concerns. Horvath argues that while these companies speak about learning, it often serves as a cover for securing lifelong customers. On the other side of the aisle, Google spokesperson Jack Malon stated that these documents mischaracterize the companys mission. Malon emphasized that administrators maintain full control and that YouTube content is a response to the high demand from educators for curriculum-aligned material.

As jury selection begins this week for the trial involving Google, Meta, and ByteDance, the conversation is shifting. The question is no longer just about whether technology helps students learn, but whether the classroom should be a space for corporate brand-building. Currently, schools account for 80% of all Chromebook purchases in the US.
Search engines have been using keywords to figure out what we want for years. When you type Paris into Google, it has to figure out whether you want a hotel, a flight, or a history lesson. But a new research paper from Google shows that this logic could change massively soon. Instead of just looking at your words, Google is developing an on-device AI intent prediction system to understand your intent by analyzing how you interact with your deviceall while keeping your data strictly private.

The research introduces a sophisticated method to extract user goals from trajectories. These are the sequences of actions you take on a website or app. Basically, the AI can build a map of your journey by looking at what you see on the screen (observations) and what you do (actions). This allows it to distinguish whether you are choosing a product because of its features or simply because its the cheapest option.

Googles new two-stage method for predicting user intent

What makes this research stand out is how Google solved a complex problem using small, on-device models. Data centers usually need a lot of power to understand what makes people tick. However, Googles researchers found a better way by splitting the task into two distinct stages:

First is the Interaction Summary. This is a small model that looks at each individual steplike a screenshot and a button clickand creates a brief summary of that specific moment. Interestingly, the researchers found that allowing the model to speculate about whats happening and then removing those guesses leads to a much more accurate result.

Then there is the Final Intent. This second model takes all those individual summaries and combines them to describe the overall goal. According to the research, this two-step process actually outperformed much larger AI models running in massive data centers.

Privacy first: AI that stays on your phone

One of the most important takeaways from this study is the focus on local processing. Your browser or smartphone can run these small models without problems. This means the analysis of your behavior never leaves your device and is never sent back to Googles servers.

Processing everything locally allows Google to address a major ethical hurdle. It allows for a personalized, proactive AI assistant that understands your needs without turning your digital life into a surveillance feed.

Why this matters for the future

This technology isnt officially part of Google Search yet. However, the implications are massive. We are moving toward a world of autonomous agentsAI that doesnt just answer questions but helps you complete tasks. To do that safely, the AI needs to be faithful to what you actually did and comprehensive enough to know your next move.

As Google researchers noted, evaluating human intent is notoriously difficult because our motivations are subjective. Even humans only agree with user intent about 80% of the time. Google is currently laying the groundwork for AI that anticipates what you need before you even finish scrolling. Meanwhile, the company continues working to perfect this new extraction method.
Meta, TikTok, and YouTube are facing a major lawsuit in California over claims that their apps cause youth addiction. The case revolves around whether design features of these platforms cause harm among youths and worsen their mental health. At a time when social media usage is at its peak, this trial could shape how such companies are held responsible for their platforms.

TikTok, YouTube, and Meta Platforms are soon to face trial on a youth addiction case

The lawsuit was originally filed by a 19-year-old woman from California, identified as K.G.M. She alleges that she became addicted to social media at a young age. In the legal documents, she specifically mentions that features like endless scrolling, autoplay videos, and algorithm is designed to keep the user addicted to the platform. She further argues that this behavior contributes to depression and thoughts of self-harm.

The jury will decide whether these companies really acted carelessly in offering products that caused harm. The tech giants argue that factors such as personal life and third-party content play a larger role in causing addiction. Anyway, this is going to be the first time that TikTok and Meta are going to face a legal case related to mental health damage. The final verdict might reshape the whole thought of social media forever.

Top executives of these companies are to be summoned

Several top officials are expected to appear in the trials, including Meta chief executive Mark Zuckerberg. Moreover, Snap Inc. has already settled its part of the lawsuit. The settlement removes Snap from the trial. However, the final verdict might still have an impact on the company.

As the case moves forward, the companies are repeatedly trying to insist that their platforms are made safe for everyone, including teens. However, only the future trials can reveal if the claims are really true. Anyway, its still too early to predict anything. The final verdict might still take months and years to be delivered.
A handful of Motorola smartphones across different series are launching in the coming weeks. The Motorola Edge 70 Fusion mid-range model will be among them. A website recently leaked the alleged press renders of the device. Additionally, the brand also plans to introduce a few budget phones in the G series. One of them is the Motorola Moto G17, which had a few specs leaked via tipsters earlier. Now, the same source has leaked a few renders of the Motorola Moto G17, which have given us the first look at its design.

This could be our first look at the Motorola Moto G17s design

From the renders, its clear Motorola is using the same signature design for the Moto G17. Itll closely resemble its predecessor, the Motorola Moto G15, in terms of aesthetics. The company will offer the handset in at least three color variants, including Evening Blue, Alaskan Blue, and Soft Mauve (the official name could be different).

Since its an entry-level offering, the Moto G17 appears to have thick bezels and an unsymmetrical design. From the renders, its clear that the handset will have a punch-hole display and three primary cameras at the back. The right side houses the volume rocker and power button, while the left side could accommodate a SIM card slot. Lastly, the source suggests that the Moto G17 measures 165.67 x 75.98 x 8.17 mm in dimensions.

Here are the rumoured specs of the Moto G17

An FAQ page for the Moto G17 surfaced on the companys US website recently. It confirms the phone is under development and will support microSD cards up to 1TB in size. A retailer listing in Italy revealed that the phone will have a version with 8GB RAM and 256GB storage. We expect the company to offer more RAM and storage variants of the handset, too.

Apart from the Moto G17 vanilla variant, the company will also offer another model of the same called the Moto G17 Power. We can expect the rumor mill to share more details about the phone in the coming days, so stay tuned for regular updates.
Motorola is preparing to launch multiple new smartphones, including the Moto G17, G77, and Edge 70 Fusion, soon. All three smartphones have already been the subject of a number of leaks lately. Now, ahead of the launch, premature listings for all three devices have surfaced on Italian retailer Epto. The listings have revealed the prices and configurations of the Motorola Moto G17, Moto G77, and Edge 70 Fusion.

Leaked prices & configurations of the Motorola G17, G77, and 70 Fusion

As per the listings on the retailer, the Moto G17s variant with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage will carry a price tag of 249.90 euros. The e-tailer has listed it in Alaskan Blue and Evening Blue color variants. The Moto G77 also has a single placeholder for the 8GB RAM and 256GB storage variant. Its color options could include Black Olive and Shaded Spruce, while the price tag will be 376.89 euros.

Coming to the Moto Edge 70 Fusion, its listing also mentions 8GB RAM and 256GB storage. It will be available in three color variants, including black, blue, and green. This one will be the most expensive model of the trio, priced at 478.90 euros.

Heres what we know about the specs so far

A recent leak claimed the Motorola Edge 70 Fusion will arrive with a 6.78-inch quad-curved AMOLED display. It will feature 1.5K resolution and have a screen refresh rate of 144Hz. The company could power the phone with the Snapdragon 7s Gen 3. Leaks suggest the phone will have a 50MP Sony primary camera, but theres no word on the other lenses.

Furthermore, the leaks indicate that the Motorola Edge 70 Fusion could feature a large 7,000mAh battery with support for 68W wired charging. Lastly, the phone is expected to boot Android 16 with Hello UX. Unfortunately, there arent many details available about the Moto G17 and Moto G77s specifications at the moment. We will update you more once we hear anything.
Samsungs Foundry division may see a turn of tables this year, major thanks to its 2nm node. A new report says that the companys 2nm GAA yields are stabilizing. This means, in addition to Teslas AI chips, the company might see orders coming from various clients. With these developments, the sector could finally post a profit in 2027. Given that TSMCs capacity is reaching its limit and Samsungs steady progress on the 2nm node, it could be a reliable alternative for a lot of clients, possibly even for Qualcomm.

Samsung may secure orders from Qualcomm for 2nm chips

Samsungs foundry business has been in the red, with deficits since 2022. However, the head of research at KB Securities, Kim Dong-won, estimates that Samsungs foundry division will finally see profits in 2027. If it indeed becomes a reality, this will be a major win for the South Korean giant. Reports note that the company might pocket a whopping $69 billion in operating profits next year.

The analyst notes that Samsung has recorded a loss of a whopping 7 trillion won (~ $4.8 billion) in 2025. But it might fully recover in the coming year, courtesy of its 2nm GAA yields and boosting the operating rates of its 4nm and 8nm technology, which are apparently highly profitable.

While thats one side of the coin, Samsungs prospects of securing orders from Qualcomm and becoming profitable reportedly rely on its Taylor plans operations. Samsung is estimated to have invested over $37 billion in this Texas, USA, facility. The company plans to commence EUV testing operations at the US site in March as it moves from 4nm production to 2nm GAA. This latest lithography has reportedly secured orders from AMD, potentially for EPYC Venice CPUs.

The companys foundry division may see profits in 2027

Qualcomm could be the next client, seeing how the design work of the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 is completed. Though not immediately, Qualcomm may turn to Samsung in the latter half of the year for its next-generation 2nm chips. Qualcomm has been a long-time customer of Samsung Foundry. But things went south due to the low yields of Samsung Foundrys advanced process.

Qualcomm may opt for TSMCs 2nm N2P node to mass-produce the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 Pro. It could utilize Samsungs 2nm GAA for the standard Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6. TSMCs production, which apparently accounts for 70% of the foundry market share, has reportedly reached a bottleneck. This also increases the reason for Samsung Foundry to win more orders.
HONOR has kicked off the new year with a few new smartphones, including the Magic8 Pro Air. However, the company also has a foldable smartphone planned for early 2026. The device in question is the HONOR Magic V6. Previous rumors suggested that the company could unveil the foldable at MWC 2026, scheduled for March 25 in Barcelona, Spain. Now, the colors and codename of the HONOR Magic V6 have surfaced online in a new leak originating from China.

HONOR Magic V6s codename, camera details, and colors surface in a new leak

The news comes via popular Chinese tipster Digital Chat Station (DCS, in short), who, in their recent Weibo post (now deleted), suggested that the HONOR Magic V6 foldable is internally called Phenom. Besides that, the tipster has also shared the colors of the HONOR Magic V6. The device will reportedly launch in Snow White, Sunrise Gold, Red Hare, and Velvet Black.

Although the colors shared sound quite similar to those of the previous-gen model, we expect HONOR to offer a different pattern to make the Magic V6 look different altogether. Apart from colors and the devices moniker, DCS also added that the upcoming foldable will flaunt a lighter and thinner ultra-thin fiberglass body. Thats not all; the HONOR Magic V6 will likely come with IP68 and IP69 ratings for dust and water resistance. Given the details, its safe to say that durability will be a key aspect of the upcoming foldable.

As far as camera specs are concerned, the tipster has also noted that the HONOR Magic V6 will feature a 200MP primary camera with a large sensor and a periscope telephoto lens. The device will likely pack the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset for superior performance.

The device could include a big battery and satellite communication support

Apart from five beautiful colors, the HONOR Magic V6 will reportedly pack a big 7,000mAh battery, with support for wireless charging. Of course, it will also come with wired charging support. However, there are no details about the wireless and wired charging speeds as of now.

In the post, the tipster has also mentioned that the smartphone will support BeiDou Satellite Communication. So, we are speculating that the HONOR Magic V6 will also come with an Emergency SOS feature. As of now, theres no word on the pricing and global availability of the smartphone. As mentioned earlier, DCS has deleted the aforementioned Weibo post. Therefore, we recommend you take all the details with a grain of salt.
LITTLE ROCK, Ark., Jan. 27, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- American Elevator, part of the Elevator Service, Inc. (ESI) family of companies, is proud to announce its expansion into the Arkansas market, further extending the brand's footprint and commitment to delivering reliable, locally driven elevator service across the region.

American Elevator Company (PRNewsfoto/Elevator Service, Inc (ESI))

The Arkansas operation will be led by Matt Wilson, President, and Brian Bush, Lead Elevator Mechanic & Operations, who bring deep industry experience and local market knowledge to the new operation. Together, they will oversee operations, customer relationships, and strategic growth throughout the state.

"Expanding into Arkansas is an exciting opportunity for American Elevator," said Matt Wilson. "We're building a strong local team focused on safety, responsiveness, and long-term customer partnerships. Backed by the resources of ESI, we're well positioned to serve Arkansas with the level of service our clients expect and deserve."

Brian Bush added, "This market represents meaningful growth for our team and our customers. By combining local expertise with the operational strength of the ESI platform, we're able to deliver dependable service while investing in our people and the communities we serve."

Jason Vallee, CEO of ESI, emphasized the strategic importance of the expansion. "American Elevator's entry into Arkansas reflects ESI's continued commitment to thoughtful, market-driven growth," said Vallee. "With strong leadership in place and a focus on service excellence, this team is well positioned to build lasting relationships and deliver outstanding results in a new market."

American Elevator will provide a full range of elevator services across Arkansas, including maintenance, repair, modernization, installation, and 24/7 emergency support. The expansion reinforces ESI's strategy of empowering local leadership while delivering the scale, support, and resources of a leading independent elevator service provider.

About American Elevator

American Elevator has proudly served customers for 50 years, providing comprehensive elevator services including maintenance, repair, modernization, installation, and testing. As part of the Elevator Service, Inc. (ESI) family of companies, American Elevator combines trusted local expertise with the resources and support of a leading independent provider to deliver safe, reliable vertical transportation solutions.

About ESI

Founded in 1987, Elevator Service, Inc. (ESI) is a multi-state independent elevator service provider offering maintenance, repair, modernization, installation, and testing services. ESI is committed to investing in people, safety, and long-term growth through its family of regional companies.

SOURCE Elevator Service, Inc (ESI)
Action thriller One Battle After Another dominates the Bafta nominations, with 14 nods, and is the frontrunner for a string of Oscars.

The film, directed by Paul Thomas Anderson, has been hailed as a modern masterpiece by critics  and stars Leonardo DiCaprio as a washed-up revolutionary.

Loosely based on Thomas Pynchons novel Vineland, DiCaprio plays Bob Ferguson  a paranoid former radical living off-grid in California  who embarks on a frantic quest to find his missing daughter Willa, played by Chase Infiniti.

Chase Infiniti in One Battle After Another (Warner Bros via AP) (Uncredited)

The film shows Bobs young life as a part of heavily armed activist cell that attacks migrant holding prisons on the Mexican border, alongside his partner Perfidia Beverly Hills, played by Teyana Taylor.

It is during one of these attacks that Perfidia captures and humiliates white supremacist military leader Col Steven Lockjaw, played by Sean Penn, prompting a vendetta that will haunt Bob and Willa for years.

Teyana Taylor in One Battle After Another (Warner Bros via AP) (Uncredited)

Fast forward 16 years, and with Perfidia out of the picture, Willa is a martial arts pupil, taking lessons from a sensei played by Benicio Del Toro, who shields and aids the undocumented Mexicans from being persecuted by the authorities.

But when Lockjaw come in pursuit of Willa, Bob must scramble to find her as both father and daughter face the consequences of the past.

While the film does not specifically mention the Maga movement, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (Ice) or Donald Trump, it is overt in its political commentary.

DiCaprio is nominated for best actor at the Baftas alongside Infiniti for best actress  despite her being snubbed by the Oscars.

Benicio del Toro, Chase Infiniti, Leonardo DiCaprio, Teyana Taylor and Sean Penn attend the premiere of One Battle After Another in London (Ian West/PA) (Ian West)

Meanwhile Taylor has received a nod for best supporting actress, while both Penn and Del Toro are nominated for best supporting actor.

The film  which is written, produced and directed by Anderson  is also nominated for best film, adapted screenplay, casting, cinematography, editing, original score, production design and sound.

The Baftas will be presented on February 22 at the Royal Festival Hall.
Amazon announced on Tuesday that it is shutting down all of its Amazon Go convencience stores and Amazon Fresh supermarket locations across the U.S.

In total, Tuesday's announcement will see the closure of 72 grocery locations.

Amazon said in a statement that it was instead going to focus its efforts on Whole Foods Market locations and on its grocery delivery service.

The mega-retailer said that despite "encouraging signals" from the public, the company couldn't create a "truly distinctive customer experience with the right economic model needed for large-scale expansion."

Most of the Amazon Fresh and Amazon Go locations will close on Sunday, February 1. Stores in California will remain open for an additional 45 days to comply with state labor notification laws.

Amazon announced on January 27, 2026 that it is closing all of its Amazon Fresh and Amazon Go locations across the U.S. (PA)

The company said that it has gathered valuable insights about what matters to customers during its operation of the Amazon Fresh and Go stores.

Amazon said it had seen growth from its Whole Foods stores and same-day grocery delivery and said it would focus on both moving forward, and indicated in its press statement that it planned to turn some of the shuttered Amazon Fresh stores into new Whole Foods locations.

The company has not revealed the total number of employees that will be impacted by the closures. It did say it is working to find new roles for the staff at those locations, including in its warehouses and throughout its delivery networks.

In addition to trying to find new jobs for those workers, the company said it is also offering them the option of a severance package that includes 90 days of full pay and benefits.

Whole Foods will now be Amazon's sole physical retail space in the U.S. Though it has attempted other physical retail options in the past  like its bookstore  the only one with staying power appears to be its well-regarded grocery store.

But that doesn't mean Whole Foods will always be its only retail space. Amazon said in its statement that it is still experimenting with possible new physical retail options.

Jason Buechel, Amazon Worldwide Grocery Stores VP and Whole Foods CEO, sent a memo to Amazon Fresh and Go workers who are losing their jobs a memo thanking them for their work and assuring them that their labor would be used in the future by Amazon to develop new retail ideas.

Although were closing these stores, the impact of your work will shape our next generation of store concepts and customer experiences, he wrote in the memo, which was first reported by GeekWire.
Investment advances Balerion's thesis on mission-critical infrastructure, as ground systems emerge as a defining bottleneck in expanding the space economy

DALLAS, Jan. 27, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Balerion Space Ventures today announced its strategic investment in Northwood Space's $100 million Series B funding round. The investment represents Balerion's continued deployment of capital into the foundational infrastructure powering the emerging space economy and reinforces the firm's position as a leading investor in companies building the critical systems required to scale space operations.

"Private capital is accelerating the commercialization of space at an unprecedented pace," said Phil Scully, Co-Founder and General Partner at Balerion Space Ventures. "As launch costs collapse, the bottleneck shifts to Earth. Ground infrastructure is the critical foundation every orbital mission depends on, and the companies building that enabling layer will define the space economy for decades to come. That's where Balerion invests."

The investment reflects Balerion's conviction that the next phase of value creation in the space economy will be driven by infrastructure companies addressing real operational constraints. As orbital activity accelerates and satellite constellations scale, ground systems have emerged as a defining limitation. Northwood's vertically integrated approach aligns directly with Balerion's strategy of backing foundational platforms that unlock scale across commercial and government missions.

Northwood also announced a $49.8 million contract award from the U.S. Space Force to upgrade the Satellite Control Network, validating the dual-use value proposition that is central to Balerion's portfolio strategy across space and defense technologies.

Balerion's investment in Northwood follows the firm's recent announcements of investments in Antares Industries, Samara Aerospace, and Valar Atomics, demonstrating the firm's systematic approach to backing mission-critical platforms across launch, in-orbit systems, advanced manufacturing, energy, and dual-use defense technologies. The firm's multi-disciplinary team leverages deep expertise in aerospace engineering, venture capital, and institutional investing to identify and support companies building the backbone of the new space economy.

About Balerion Space Ventures

Balerion Space Ventures is a frontier technology capital firm backing the infrastructure of the emerging space and national security economy. The firm's multi-disciplinary team, with expertise spanning aerospace engineering, venture capital, and institutional investing, has been investing in companies defining the next industrial revolution beyond Earth's surface since 2022. With a portfolio of investments across launch, in-orbit systems, advanced manufacturing, energy, and dual-use defense technologies, Balerion focuses on mission-critical platforms with durable, scalable economics. The firm backs founders building the backbone of the space economy as private enterprise unlocks the next generation of trillion-dollar markets. For more information, visit www.balerionspace.com.

Media Contact:

Helen Ferguson

JConnelly

973-214-4306

[email protected]

SOURCE Balerion Space Ventures
Viktor Gyokeres returns in attack for Arsenal against Kairat (London Standard)

Arsenal have rotated as expected for their Champions League match at home to Kairat tonight.

It is a dead rubber for the Gunners, who have already wrapped up a top-two finish with seven straight wins ahead of their final league phase match.

FOLLOW ARSENAL VS KAIRAT LIVE!

As a result, Mikel Arteta will surely be eyeing Saturday's trip to Leeds as the priority this week, and his team selection suggests that that is the case.

Mikel Merino and Declan Rice are not involved against Kairat, having picked up bookings in the win over Inter Milan that mean they are suspended.

William Saliba and Jurrien Timber both missed training on Tuesday and Arteta confirmed the pair will miss the match with "some niggles".

Kepa Arrizabalaga starts in goal, as he has done in the cup competitions all season, while Myles Lewis-Skelly and Ben White come into the side.

Riccardo Calafiori is back in training and is given minutes here. Marli Salmon, the 16-year-old defender, will also hope to be involved in some capacity having been named on the bench.

In midfield, Christian Norgaard comes into the side considering the suspensions and Eberechi Eze starts alongside him, with Kai Havertz in the midfield three as he returns to the matchday squad, earning his first start in a year.

Viktor Gyokeres returns in the No9 position, with Gabriel Jesus off the bench.

Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard also have to settle for a place amongst the substitutes.

Arsenal XI: Kepa; White, Mosquera, Calafiori, Lewis-Skelly; Norgaard, Eze, Havertz; Madueke, Gyokeres, Martinelli

Subs: Setford, Porter, Gabriel, Salmon, Hincapie, Zubimendi, Ibrahim, Odegaard, Bailey-Joseph, Saka, Trossard, Jesus

Injured: Dowman, Saliba, Timber

Suspended: Rice, Merino

Date and time: 8pm GMT today, Wednesday, January 28, 2026

Venue: Emirates Stadium

How to watch: TNT Sports
Quarantine doctors at Suvarnabhumi International Airport observe thermal scanning of passengers arriving in Thailand from India - Suvarnabhumi International Airport/AP

Several Asian countries have tightened their border health security measures for arrivals from India over an outbreak of Nipah virus.

Two nurses contracted Nipah, a rare, bat-borne pathogen, in a hospital in eastern India earlier this month, prompting a nationwide alert as well as local quarantine and surveillance measures.

The cases of the disease, which kills up to 75 per cent of those it infects and inspired the film Contagion, sparked fears that the virus could be spreading undetected.

Nepal on Tuesday introduced health screening at Kathmandus Tribhuvan International Airport and is also intensifying surveillance at major land border crossings with India.

We take samples from travellers who have flu-like symptoms or have travel history from high risk areas like West Bengal, said Prakash Budhakoti, a spokesman for Nepals Ministry of Health and Population.

If any traveller has symptoms, we have ordered they should be quarantined and undergo RT-PCR testing. We havent found any Nipah cases so far, he told The Telegraph.

We have specifically intensified surveillance at border points in Koshi Province, which is the busiest border point sharing border with the Indian state of Bihar. Health checks have also been ordered for people entering Nepal through other border crossings, he said.

India has faced sporadic outbreaks of Nipah in recent years, including one in Kerala two years ago - CK THANSEER/REUTERS

In Thailand, the countrys civil aviation authority has instructed airlines to carry out health checks before departure, urging them to deny boarding to symptomatic passengers without medical clearance.

On arrival, travellers must have their temperature taken and fill out health declaration forms before moving out of the airports.

The flight screening measures for travellers arriving from areas at risk of Nipah virus are to ensure confidence in air travel, an official at the Thai aviation authority said.

The screening measures will be adjusted dynamically based on the evolving situation, he said.

Thailands Ministry of Public Health has also launched a public awareness campaign, handing out information cards to passengers arriving from India.

The advisory urges passengers to seek immediate medical attention if they develop symptoms such as fever, headache, sore throat, cough, particularly if they have had contact with bats within 21 days of arrival. Screening is underway at Suvarnanbhumi and Don Mueang airports in India.

In response to the outbreak in India, Taiwans Centres for Disease Control (CDC) is preparing to classify Nipah as a Category 5 notifiable disease  its highest alert level for emerging infections.

The move would require immediate reporting and strict containment measures.

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\xe2\x80\x98We survived the terrifying disease that inspired Contagion \xe2\x80\x93 our blood may help to treat it\xe2\x80\x99

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Sri Lankan health officials said they were monitoring the regional situation carefully following the detection of the Nipah cases in India.

In Britain, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) is responsible for managing infectious disease risks at ports of entry into the country and is understood to be monitoring the outbreak.

Like Thailand, the UK is a top destination for travellers from India, with the Delhi to Heathrow route alone accounting for approximately 164,000 seats per month, according to data from the Official Airline Guide.

While the UK has not suffered an outbreak of Nipah before, it could theoretically be brought in and then spread from person to person.

Health officials in India are continuing to investigate the outbreak, which is centred on the private Narayana Multispeciality Hospital in Barasat, West Bengal, 16 miles from the capital city Kolkata.

Both nurses caught the virus while treating a patient with severe respiratory symptoms who later died before testing could be carried out, said a senior health official involved in West Bengals Nipah surveillance efforts.

That patient has been established as the index case and we will make our investigation report public soon, he told The Telegraph.

India has faced regular outbreaks of Nipah in recent years. There are no vaccines or treatments that have been approved for use so far.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has included Nipah on its list of the top ten priority pathogens because of the possibility it could trigger an epidemic.

The virus lives in bats and can be passed to humans through contaminated food or by contact with the bodily fluids of infected animals. It passes from person to person through droplets and saliva, and can also jump from bats to pigs and then on to people.

The virus causes a range of symptoms, beginning with a fever, vomiting and fatigue before developing into respiratory issues and swelling of the brain. Neurological issues like encephalitis can appear months or years after an initial infection.

In response to the Nipah outbreak, the Indian health authorities are testing bats in West Bengal.

So far one bat has tested positive for antibodies, suggesting prior infection but no current risk of transmission, he said.

Protect yourself and your family by learning more about Global Health Security
Victoria Beckham was joined by her family in Paris as she was given a prestigious honour by the French government on Monday (26 January).

The fashion designer and former Spice Girl, 51, was named a Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters in Paris (Chevalier de l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres), which recognises contributions to arts and literature.

It comes after a public fallout with her eldest son, Brooklyn Peltz Beckham.

Footage posted on Victorias Instagram showed the family, without Brooklyn, posing for photographs as Victoria received her honour.
Across gynecology, primary care and reproductive health, many Black women describe navigating medical care as a nightmare. Photograph: SDI Productions/Getty Images (Photograph: SDI Productions/Getty Images)

Christina Brown was 18 years old the first time she had to correct a doctor when advocating for health.

Breast cancer runs in her family, so she had been taught early by relatives how to examine her own body  what was normal, what wasnt and when something warranted attention. When she found a lump in her breast in September 2014, she didnt hesitate. She went to a doctor.

At each appointment, Brown, a 30-year-old content creator in New York City, said she explained the same concern, pointed to the same spot, and was met with the same response. They told her they couldnt feel anything. That there was no lump. That she was wrong.

I literally had to grab their hands and show them where the lump was, and they would be surprised and then just pass me to the next doctor to do the exact same thing, Brown said. It took four rounds of this before anyone agreed to schedule a biopsy. By then, months had passed.

Related: Shes 14 and shes moved 26 times. The US housing crisis has families like hers running in place

That experience reshaped how Brown approached medical care: it taught her that knowing her body better than the experts is vital. Additionally, it prompted her to seek out Black doctors whenever possible because she figured a Black physician would be more likely to believe her the first time around. A 2023 survey found that Black patients who have more visits with Black healthcare providers report having more positive medical experiences.

Browns story is not unique. Across gynecology, primary care, and reproductive health, many Black women describe navigating medical care as a nightmare. To be a Black woman in America is to have an adverse experience at the doctors office, and with her health, Brown said. Its one where you are constantly feeling dismissed, misunderstood, gaslit, downplayed and straight up lied to. Whether through relentless self-advocacy, intimate knowledge of their own bodies, or the deliberate choice to seek out Black physicians, many Black women move through medical settings strategically, as a means of survival.

In 2018, Serena Williams revealed that after giving birth via emergency C-section, she nearly died when doctors at St Marys medical center in West Palm Beach, Florida, initially ignored her insistence that something was wrong. Williams, who had a known history of blood clots, explained that she had to push repeatedly for proper imaging and treatment. The realities that Black women face during pregnancy and childbirth have been thrust back into public discourse after the recent death of Dr Janell Green Smith. Smith, a Black certified nurse-midwife, died on 1 January from complications after a ruptured incision. It was less than a week after she gave birth at Prisma Health Greenville memorial hospital in Greenville, South Carolina.

In other cases, understanding standard medical protocols and knowing when care deviates from them has become a critical tool for self-advocacy. When Christine Thomas, a 33-year-old strategy consultant living in Washington DC, went in for her annual pap smear in 2018, she said her gynecologist made derogatory comments about her sexual history, then proceeded to use the largest speculum without lubricant. During the exam, she says the provider scraped her cervix with enough force that it caused extreme pain and bleeding. Aware that lubricant is routinely used during cervical screenings, Thomas asked for it to be applied. But the damage had already been done. The experience left her traumatized, and the following year, she skipped her annual pap smear entirely.

I feel like a lawyer making a case for my health

Dr Kristamarie Collman, a primary care physician in Houston, points to dismissal of concerns, negligence, and mistreatment as a key factor in patients falling behind on their health. In my experience, when patients dont have to defend their own lived experiences, and when they feel listened to, the visits are just more efficient for them. Theyre more likely to be involved, and to follow through with their care, which all lead to improved outcomes, she said.

Dr Chiamaka Ilonzo-Ukwu, an obstetrician-gynecologist in Tampa, said several of her Black patients have expressed struggling to fully connect with or trust prior healthcare providers, which has led to their hesitancy in voicing concerns or symptoms during appointments. When communication and trust are lacking, it can result in a breakdown of the patient-provider relationship, she added. Unfortunately, this breakdown can contribute to poorer outcomes, including missed diagnoses, inadequate care, or the dismissal of patient concerns.

Implicit bias and the chronic dismissal of pain have been widely documented issues in healthcare for Black patients. But research suggests that patient and provider racial concordance may contribute to improved health outcomes, including lower emergency department use, reductions in racial disparities in mortality for Black infants, and increased visits for preventative care and treatment. When seeing non-Black doctors, Brown said, medical appointments can often feel like a performance. I automatically feel like I have to be proactive about my health, she said. I feel like I have to be my own doctor. I come in like a lawyer trying to make a case for my health.

Brown is careful not to frame racial concordance as a cure-all. She acknowledged that internalized bias and misinformed training can exist anywhere  even among providers who share her racial identity. Still, she said, the difference is palpable. I dont have my guard down fully, she added. But I do feel more relaxed and like I can just be a patient in the room. I feel like theyre going to understand me culturally and the discrepancies we deal with.

This month, Brown found herself facing the same familiar dismissal in the emergency room.

For six months, she had been dealing with worsening shortness of breath, chest tightness and abnormal lung test results, culminating in a severe asthma flare-up that sent her to the ER. Over the course of a 12-hour visit, Brown said she asked for a different type of scan  one she had researched on her own, that could rule out conditions that prior imaging had failed to detect, and was forced to make her case repeatedly, explaining the same information to multiple providers while her symptoms persisted. Doctors dismissed the possibility of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, telling her she was too young for it.

Related: Black women are more likely to experience infertility than white women. Theyre less likely to get help, too

It wasnt until she was finally seen by a Black doctor that the tone of the visit shifted. This time, she wasnt met with skepticism, but with specific questions about autoimmune diseases that disproportionately affect Black women and can present with respiratory symptoms.

It was the first time during the entire ER visit that a medical professional explicitly acknowledged how race could be relevant to my condition, she said.

Medical education has long centered white patients as the default, leaving gaps in how conditions present in Black patients  particularly when it comes to autoimmune diseases and other chronic illnesses that disproportionately affect Black women. Ilonzo-Ukwu says Black physicians may be more attuned to these patterns through their own lived experience, which can heighten awareness and responsiveness, allowing providers to recognize concerns earlier and address issues more proactively. We are acutely aware of the implicit biases and health disparities that exist within the healthcare system, and many of us have experienced these inequities first-hand as recipients of care, she said.

Still, not everyone has access to a Black doctor, and Collman emphasizes that the burden of navigating bias should not fall on Black women themselves, but on healthcare systems, medical training and individual providers. Black patients shouldnt have to become hyper-vigilant and medical experts when being seen by a doctor, she said. For us as healthcare providers, we must take our patients concerns seriously and begin to treat listening as a clinical skill.

Ilonzo-Ukwu notes that emphasizing the benefits of race-concordant care is not a suggestion that only one type of physician can provide high-quality care to Black patients. Rather, it highlights existing gaps in trust, communication and outcomes  gaps that the healthcare system has yet to adequately address. To this, Ilonzo-Ukwu added: The relationship between Black physicians and Black patients should be viewed as additive, not exclusive. Its one important piece of a broader effort to improve maternal health outcomes for everyone.
Gregory Bovinos departure comes amid an apparent shift in strategy from the White House. Photograph: Madison Thorn/Anadolu/Getty Images (Photograph: Madison Thorn/Anadolu/Getty Images)

Gregory Bovino, the border patrol commander who has become the public face of the immigration crackdown in Minneapolis, is being swapped out for the border czar, Tom Homan, as the Trump administration reshuffles the leadership of its immigration enforcement operation in the city and scales back its federal presence there after a second fatal shooting by officers.

Trumps decision to replace Bovino comes as the president himself walked back inflammatory claims made by his deputy chief of staff, Stephen Miller, who had characterized nurse Alex Pretti as an assassin in the immediate aftermath of his killing by federal agents  a narrative the administration is now attempting to unwind as scrutiny of the killing ramps up.

Trump told reporters on Tuesday that Pretti was not acting like an assassin. With that being said you cant walk in with guns, but it is a very unfortunate incident, Trump said.

The leadership change also follows Bovinos comments on a Sunday cable news show where he said that border patrol officials were the real victims, not the demonstrators.

A senior Trump administration official told Reuters that Bovino, who has been a lightning rod for criticism from Democrats and civil liberties activists, would be leaving Minnesota along with some of the agents deployed with him.

Related: White House backtracks initial claims about Alex Pretti after intense backlash

A different person familiar with the matter said the 55-year-old had been stripped of his specially created title of commander at large of the border patrol and would return to his former job as a chief patrol agent along Californias El Centro sector of the US-Mexico border.

Donald Trump announced on Monday that he was sending Tom Homan to Minnesota to oversee operations on the ground there  designated as Operation Metro Surge  reporting directly to the president.

But Homans entrance does not spell the end of ICEs troubles. Minnesotas top federal judge has now summoned its acting head, Todd Lyons, to appear in court on Friday for allegedly defying court orders that may lead to the ICE leader being held in contempt, saying: The courts patience is at an end.

Bovinos departure comes amid a sharp shift in strategy from the White House after the fatal shooting of Pretti, a 37-year-old ICU nurse. On Monday, Trump said he had held conciliatory calls with the governor of Minnesota, Tim Walz, and the mayor of Minneapolis, Jacob Frey  Democrats he had previously blamed for the turmoil that escalated into two killings of US citizens by federal agents.

News of Bovinos departure did not stop dozens of protesters from gathering outside a hotel where they believed Bovino was staying. They blew whistles and banged pots, and one person blasted a trombone. Police watched and kept them away from the hotel entrance.

During a White House press briefing on Monday, the White House press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, also struck a conciliatory tone, calling Prettis death a tragedy and appearing to walk back previous comments from the White House adviser Stephen Miller calling Pretti a would-be assassin. Trump said earlier on Monday that his administration was reviewing the shooting of Pretti by a federal officer.

Prettis killing has also incensed Joe Biden, who along with calling for a full investigation into the shootings of Pretti and Renee Good, took jabs at Trump, albeit days after many other Democrats.

Minnesotans have reminded us all what it is to be American, and they have suffered enough at the hands of this Administration, Biden posted on social media. Violence and terror have no place in the United States of America, especially when its our own government targeting American citizens.

Prettis union, AFGE Local 3669, which represents employees at the Minneapolis Veterans Affairs medical center where he worked, said it was disgusted by the abhorrent rhetoric of Trump administration officials following his killing. Alex was a son, a colleague, and a fellow union brother, not an assassin or a domestic terrorist. We are especially disappointed with VA secretary Doug Collins, who chose to use the murder of his own employee to push partisan, political narratives. It called for a full, transparent, independent third-party investigation into the killing.

Trump and Walz  an otherwise regular target of the presidents ire and ridicule  said they discussed the federal immigration surge in a call the president later described as very good.

We, actually, seemed to be on a similar wavelength, Trump wrote on Truth Social.

Walzs office issued a statement that hinted at signs of a future de-escalation of the situation. It said the governor and the president had held a productive call in which Trump had agreed to look into reducing the number of federal agents in Minnesota and working with the state in a more coordinated fashion on immigration enforcement regarding violent criminals.

Later on Monday, Trump said that he also had had a very good telephone conversation with Frey, who has been sharply critical of the administrations deployment. In a statement, Frey said he had conveyed to Trump that the current deployment needs to end.

Related: Who is on the frontline of Donald Trumps immigration crackdown?

The president agreed that the present situation cannot continue, Frey said. Some federal agents will begin leaving the area tomorrow, and I will continue pushing for the rest involved in this operation to go.

Amid the White House shift, Melania Trump called for unity in an interview with Fox News on Tuesday morning. I know my husband, the president, had a great call yesterday with the governor and the mayor, and theyre working together to make it peaceful and without riots, she said. Im against the violence, so please, if you protest, protest in peace.

The protests have been almost uniformly peaceful. The exception has been the actions of federal agents, who have fired teargas, physically restrained protesters and killed two people.

Bovino has been one of the most aggressive promoters of Trumps deportation campaign, trumpeting the operations in highly produced videos meant to resemble action films. Often, Bovino, a swaggering presence recognisable by his closely cropped hair, is the only unmasked face, surrounded by a team of agents wearing black neck gaiters and facial coverings. He recently appeared in the Minneapolis snow wearing an army green greatcoat, which invited comparisons to the Gestapo.

According to the Atlantic, Bovino will return to El Centro, California, where he previously served as chief patrol agent of the sector. Bovino, through constant appearances on conservative media, his aggressive turn and burn tactics, and vocal support for Trumps deportation agenda, parlayed his regional role into a national one, leading the administrations city-by-city crackdown.

CNN reported on Monday that the Department of Homeland Security had suspended Bovinos access to his social media accounts.

Bovino had aggressively defended his agents, despite video footage contradicting his claims, after the fatal shooting of Good earlier this month and Pretti at the weekend.

This looks like a situation where an individual wanted to do maximum damage and massacre law enforcement, Bovino said after Prettis killing. Video showed that Pretti had been holding a phone, not a gun, and that agents had disarmed him of a legally owned gun he had not been holding in his hand before killing him.

Last year, Bovino was reprimanded by a federal judge for lying to the court.

Associated Press and Reuters contributed reporting
Britain must prepare for war and face up to the fact it can no longer rely on the US, MPs and a former senior adviser to Nato have warned.

Days after President Trump provoked outrage with his false claim that British troops avoided the frontline in Afghanistan, ministers have been urged to prepare for conflict without American support.

Before his later climbdown, Donald Trump also claimed he was unsure European countries would come to Americas aid in a time of need.

That is despite the fact that the United States remains the only country to have invoked the collective security provisions of Natos Article 5, which considers an attack on one member state to be an attack on all, after the 9/11 terror attacks.

Now, a new report warns that the world can no longer rely on the US abiding by Article 5 to come to the aid of other countries, in the event of a Russian invasion.

A Ukrainian tank not far from Bakhmut in the Donetsk region on 5 February 2024 (AFP via Getty)

We must prepare for the worst; that is, we must prepare for the fact that the US may no longer be a reliable ally and may well become a separate actor, pursuing a narrow understanding of its national interests, the report says.

The document, by the former senior Nato adviser Chris Donnelly and MPs Bernard Jenkin and Derek Twigg, warned Western democracies were unprepared for war, in part because of 70 years of peace and prosperity.

In a foreword, George Robertson, the former Nato secretary-general and the chair of the Labour governments recent defence review, said: The UK is under-prepared and under attack.

The report, by the think tank Civitas, also warns that UK universities should restrict lucrative fees from students from countries who do not wish us well.

Those not in education, employment or training (Neets) must expect to find themselves drafted into war work if it is a long war, they say, while schools should step up to provide more welders and electricians for the war effort.

Although the Labour government has committed to radically increasing defence spending in the coming years, the Ministry of Defence is also reportedly facing a 28bn hole in its plans over the next four years.

Earlier, the defence secretary John Healey had rejected reports that the Strategic Defence (SDR) review was not fully costed when he appeared before a powerful committee of MPs.

It follows reports earlier this month that the countrys top military chief, Air Chief Marshal Sir Richard Knighton, warned Sir Keir Starmer of the shortfall in the MOD budget.

Mr Healey told MPs: The SDR, when it was completed and published, was fully affordable within the financial commitments that we made.

That was confirmed, including by the prime minister when he published it.
Storm Chandra has brought widespread disruption across the UK with many roads flooded, hundreds of school closures and dozens of flights cancelled  as parts of the country brace for icy weather on Wednesday morning.

The storm has broken January daily rainfall records, with drivers being urged to check for road closures and avoid travelling on flooded roads.

The southwest of England was among the worst-hit regions, after two severe flood warnings were issued in Devon and Dorset on Tuesday, with firefighters called in to rescue several people from their vehicles.

On Tuesday night, Somerset Council declared a major incident over extensive flooding, with an estimated 50 properties still impacted by flooding across Ilminster, West Coker, Taunton, Mudford and West Camel.

It comes ahead of yellow warnings issued by the Met Office for ice on Wednesday morning, covering much of England and Northern Ireland. A yellow weather warning for rain is also in place for southwest England on Thursday, with further rain potentially bringing more flooding and transport disruption.

Richard Foord, the Liberal Democrat MP for Honiton and Sidmouth, described the flooding situation as truly horrendous. The River Otter has reached its highest recorded ever level. The Environment Agency has issued a severe flood warning on the River Otter, meaning possible danger to life, he said.

Axminster in Somerset was badly hit by rainfall, with cars stranded on flooded roads (Getty)

As of Tuesday evening, there were 93 flood warnings in place across England, meaning flooding is expected, along with 237 flood alerts, meaning flooding could be possible. There were also 17 flood alerts and two flood warnings in place in Wales, and eight flood alerts and three flood warnings issued across Scotland.

The Met Office confirmed that Storm Chandra has caused several parts of the country to set new January daily rainfall records, including in Katesbridge, Northern Ireland, which saw 100.8mm of rain.

The storm sparked travel chaos, with dozens of flights cancelled across Scotland and Northern Ireland on Tuesday. Ferry sailings and train journeys were also affected throughout the day and several roads still remain closed.

The first danger-to-life flood warning was issued at Ottery St Mary in Devon at 5.49am on Tuesday, as River Otter at Fenny Bridges reached its highest recorded level, exceeding the previous record set in December 2000. This warning has now been lifted.

The second danger-to-life warning was put in place for the Upper Frome at Dorchester on Tuesday afternoon, where floodwater is expected to be deep and fast-flowing.

Firefighters in Devon had to rescue 25 people from their vehicles (PA)

Firefighters in Devon have so far rescued 25 people from their vehicles. Earlier, a Devon and Cornwall Police spokesperson said there was significant surface water and areas of flooding across parts of the force area and warned drivers in Exeter, East and Mid Devon not to travel.

They said: We are experiencing an increase in reports of people coming up against floodwater. Please do not attempt to drive through it. The weather is improving but rivers are still responding to earlier heavy rainfall.

In Somerset, council leader Bill Revans, on declaring a major incident, said: We know many communities have been impacted and our thoughts go to all those experiencing flooding. Weve had teams working through the night and we are continuing to respond to many reports of roads which remain impassable. Please avoid travelling if you can and never attempt to drive through flood water.

In the Republic of Ireland, energy provider ESB reported that around 20,000 homes, farms and businesses were left without power. Northern Ireland Electricity said outages peaked at 9am, when around 10,000 properties were without supply.

An ice warning is in place across several parts of the UK on Wednesday (Met Office)

More than 350 schools were confirmed to be closed in Northern Ireland, alongside 47 in Devon, and a woman was taken to the hospital after a tree fell on a car in the Snowhill Road area in Lisbellaw.

Chris Wilding, the flood duty manager at the Environment Agency said: "Environment Agency teams are out on the ground, taking action to reduce the impact of flooding and support those communities affected.

We urge people not to drive though flood water  it is often deeper than it looks and just 30cm of flowing water is enough to float your car.
Gavin Newsom has accused TikTok of suppressing content critical of Donald Trump. Photograph: Andre M Chang/ZUMA Press Wire/Shutterstock (Photograph: Andre M Chang/ZUMA Press Wire/Shutterstock)

California governor Gavin Newsom has accused TikTok of suppressing content critical of president Donald Trump, as he launched a review of the platforms content moderation practices to determine if they violated state law, even as the platform blamed a systems failure for the issues.

The step comes after TikToks Chinese owner, ByteDance, said last week it had finalised a deal to set up a majority US-owned joint venture that will secure US data, to avoid a US ban on the short video app used by more than 200 million Americans.

Following TikToks sale to a Trump-aligned business group, our office has received reports, and independently confirmed instances, of suppressed content critical of President Trump, Newsoms office said on X on Monday, without elaborating.

Gavin Newsom is launching a review of this conduct and is calling on the California Department of Justice to determine whether it violates California law, it added.

Related: TikTok announces it has finalized deal to establish US entity, sidestepping ban

In response, a representative for the the joint venture for TikTok in the US pointed to a prior statement that blamed a data centre power outage, adding, It would be inaccurate to report that this is anything but the technical issues weve transparently confirmed.

Users may notice bugs, slower load times or timed-out requests when posting new content due to the impact of the outage, the joint venture added.

While the network has been recovered, the outage caused a cascading systems failure that weve been working to resolve, it said in the statement posted online before Newsoms remarks.

Newsom, a Democrat, and Trump, a Republican, have long been critical of each other. Newsoms accusation on Monday came as a number of users on TikTok reported abnormalities and accused the platform of censoring their posts.

Steve Vladeck, a professor at Georgetown Universitys School of Law, said a video he recorded about reports federal immigration officers could use sweeping power to forcibly enter peoples homes without a judges warrant had been placed under review.

Casey Fiesler, an expert in technology ethics and internet law at the University of Colorado told CNN it was not surprising that theres a significant lack of trust in TikToks new ownership. She told the outlet that she had problems uploading videos that alluded to the immigration crackdown in Minneapolis.

Last weeks TikTok deal was a milestone for the firm after years of battles with the US government over Washingtons concerns about risks to national security and privacy under Trump and former President Joe Biden.

ByteDance said TikTok USDS Joint Venture LLC would secure US user data, apps and algorithms through data privacy and cybersecurity measures, in a deal praised by Trump.

With more than 16 million followers on his personal TikTok account, Trump credited the app with helping him win the 2024 election.

The deal provides for American and global investors to hold 80.1% of the venture while ByteDance will own 19.9%.

Each of the joint ventures three managing investors, cloud computing giant Oracle, private equity group Silver Lake and Abu Dhabi-based investment firm MGX, will hold a stake of 15%.

The US and Chinese governments had signed off on the deal, a White House official said.

With Reuters
Arrested Canadian ex-Olympic snowboarder turned alleged drug kingpin Ryan Wedding. Photograph: FBI/Reuters (Photograph: FBI/Reuters)

Ryan Wedding, the Canadian former Olympic snowboarder accused of cocaine distribution and orchestrating several murders, appeared on Monday in a southern California courtroom for arraignment.

The 44-year-old has been charged with drug trafficking, conspiracy to murder, witness tampering and money laundering, among other charges. Authorities allege that after his snowboarding career, Wedding turned to a life of crime as a narcotics trafficker and led an organization that moved cocaine from South America to the US and Canada.

He is also accused of directing the drug-related murders of two members of a family in Ontario in 2023, the 2024 murder of another victim in Canada over a drug debt and the January 2025 murder of an associate, and FBI witness, in Colombia.

Related: Canadian Olympic snowboarder turned alleged cocaine kingpin in US custody

During his first appearance in court in Santa Ana on Monday, Wedding pleaded not guilty to 17 felony charges laid out in two indictments. He will remain jailed without bond as ordered by the US magistrate judge John D Early.

There was a reward of up to $15m for information leading to his arrest. Wedding, who was wanted by the FBI and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), was taken into custody last week after reportedly surrendering at the US embassy in Mexico, Mexican authorities announced.

However, Anthony Colombo, Weddings attorney, told reporters after the arraignment that his client had not surrendered and was apprehended, CBC reported.

The indictments are not evidence, theyre just an accusation, he said, adding that Wedding was in good spirits and mentally tough, according to the outlet.

Wedding allegedly worked with the Sinaloa cartel and oversaw an illegal drug operation that generated more than $1bn a year. His alleged enterprise was said to be the largest supplier of cocaine to Canada, according to a separate 2024 indictment from his home country.

At a press conference on Friday, Kash Patel, the FBI director, compared Wedding to Joaquin El Chapo Guzman and Pablo Escobar, describing him as the largest narco-trafficker in modern times.

Related: Ryan Weddings journey from Olympic snowboarder to alleged cocaine kingpin

This individual and his organization and the Sinaloa Cartel poured narcotics into the streets of North America, and killed too many of our youth and corrupted too many of our citizens, Patel said. That ends today.

US authorities have said that Weddings operation trafficked some 60 tons of cocaine a year, but that figure does not appear in the indictment, and security experts have expressed skepticism about the comparisons to El Chapo.

Theres no indication [Wedding] controls territory, nor that hes at the head of an armed militia, nor that hes a major player politically, Stephen Woodman, a security analyst in Guadalajara, Mexico, told the Guardian last week.

The next court date in the case is 11 February, according to a statement provided by the US attorneys office for the central district of California. His trial is scheduled to begin on 24 March.

The Associated Press contributed reporting
Two-time Oscar winner Cate Blanchett is one of a host of acclaimed actresses who will be performing at the National Theatre this year.

Releasing details of its programme for 2026, the London-based theatre said Sandra Oh will make her debut at the venue, while Lesley Manville, Francesca Mills and Letitia Wright are also on the line-up.

The theatre, which is aiming to ramp up its local, national and global reach, will facilitate two international transfers and two national tours, while it will continue its aim to reach every child in the UK before they leave school.

This will see last years production of Bacchae adapted by Nima Taleghani tour schools across England for nine weeks this autumn.

National Theatre director and co-chief executive Indhu Rubasingham (National Theatre/PA) (Anton Corbijn/National Theatre)

Blanchett, who won Oscars for her roles in The Aviator and Blue Jasmine, will star alongside Nina Hoss and Ella Lily Hyland in Benedict Andrews new production Electra / Persona in August.

The production fuses two plays  Sophocles myth Electra and Ingmar Bergmans celebrated 1966 film Persona  into one theatrical event, spanning more than 2,000 years between the ancient and the modern.

Meanwhile, Killing Eve star Oh will perform alongside Paul Chahidi and Abigail Cruttenden in a refreshed adaptation of Molieres social satire The Misanthrope, from June  with the main character, Alceste, reimagined as a woman.

And Black Panther actress Wright will join Aliyah Odoffin, Wilf Scolding, Ashley Thomas and Lorraine Toussaint in the revival of Tracey Scott Wilsons newsroom-based thriller The Story.

Directed by National Theatre associate artist Clint Dyer, it will begin previewing in August.

As it approaches its 20th anniversary next year, War Horse will return to the National Theatre in May.

Joey the life-size horse puppet from War Horse will be returning to the National Theatre (PA) (Andrew Milligan)

Based on Michael Morpurgos novel and adapted by Nick Stafford, War Horse has won more than 25 major awards including the Tony Award for Best Play and has been seen by more than 8.8 million people worldwide.

This production is directed by Tom Morris alongside revival director Katie Henry, with casting yet to be announced.

This years line-up also includes the UK premiere of critically-acclaimed Portuguese play Catarina And The Beauty Of Killing Fascists for a limited, one-week run in September, while a brand new production of Jim Cartwrights The Rise And Fall Of Little Voice, starring Mills.

And The Crown star Manville will perform alongside Rivals actor Aidan Turner in a major revival of Les Liaisons Dangereuses in the spring.

Lesley Manville will star in a major revival of Les Liaisons Dangereuses (PA) (Ian West)

As the National Theatre gears up to celebrate 60 years of activity on Broadway next year, two plays will be transferring to New York in 2026: Robert Hasties Hamlet and Alexander Zeldins The Other Place.

Indhu Rubasingham, director and co-chief executive of the National Theatre, said: I cant wait to dive into this year with an extraordinary group of emerging and world-renowned artists coming to the National Theatre, many for the first time.

From bold new voices to international collaborators, this is a year that celebrates the full breadth of talent on our stages and behind the scenes. Its a privilege to stage work that theatrically explodes, surprises and challenges us to see the world anew.

Bringing this range of exhilarating productions to audiences in the UK and around the globe is what the National Theatre is all about.

Kate Varah, executive director and co-chief executive of the National Theatre, said: Our 2026 season is about sharing stories locally, nationally and globally.

In a new commitment to take productions straight from our stages to partner theatres across the country, we will undertake a major nationwide tour of The Rise And Fall Of Little Voice starring the captivating Francesca Mills.

As we gear up to celebrate 60 years of working in the US next year, Im thrilled we are transferring two vital and resonant pieces of theatre to New York  Robert Hasties Hamlet and Alexander Zeldins The Other Place, with more shows in the pipeline.

We are so proud to be sharing with audiences in New York a range of impactful stories showcasing the best of British theatre.

In this way, along with our growing digital footprint, we are opening doors in the UK and around the world like never before.
DALLAS, Jan. 27, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Braemar Hotels & Resorts Inc. (NYSE: BHR) ("Braemar" or the "Company") today announced the tax reporting (Federal Form 1099-DIV) information for the 2025 distributions on its common shares and its Series B, D, E and M preferred shares.

The amounts below represent the income tax treatment applicable to each distribution that is reportable in 2025. The common and preferred distributions that the Company paid on January 15, 2025 to stockholders of record as of December 31, 2024 are reportable in 2025. The common and preferred distributions that the Company paid on January 15, 2026 to stockholders of record as of December 31, 2025 will be reportable in 2026.

Security Description CUSIP Ticker

Symbol Distributions

Per Share * Ordinary

Taxable

Dividend Section

199A

Dividend Capital Gain

Distribution Return of

Capital Common Stock 10482B101 BHR $0.2000000 $0.0000000 $0.0000000 $0.0000000 $0.2000000 Series B Cumulative

Convertible Preferred

Stock 10482B200 BHRPrB $1.3752000 $0.0000000 $0.0000000 $0.0000000 $1.3752000 Series D Cumulative

Preferred Stock 104823B09 BHRPrD $2.0624000 $0.0000000 $0.0000000 $0.0000000 $2.0624000 Series E Preferred Stock 10482B606

$1.8750000 $0.0000000 $0.0000000 $0.0000000 $1.8750000 Series E Preferred Stock 10482B804

$1.8750000 $0.0000000 $0.0000000 $0.0000000 $1.8750000 Series E Preferred Stock 10482B812

$1.8750000 $0.0000000 $0.0000000 $0.0000000 $1.8750000 Series E Preferred Stock 10482B879

$1.8750000 $0.0000000 $0.0000000 $0.0000000 $1.8750000 Series E Preferred Stock 10482B788

$1.8750000 $0.0000000 $0.0000000 $0.0000000 $1.8750000 Series E Preferred Stock 10482B853

$1.8750000 $0.0000000 $0.0000000 $0.0000000 $1.8750000 Series E Preferred Stock 10482B838

$1.8750000 $0.0000000 $0.0000000 $0.0000000 $1.8750000 Series M Preferred Stock 10482B705

$2.1354100 $0.0000000 $0.0000000 $0.0000000 $2.1354100 Series M Preferred Stock 10482B887

$2.1291400 $0.0000000 $0.0000000 $0.0000000 $2.1291400 Series M Preferred Stock 10482B796

$2.1228800 $0.0000000 $0.0000000 $0.0000000 $2.1228800 Series M Preferred Stock 10482B861

$2.1166400 $0.0000000 $0.0000000 $0.0000000 $2.1166400 Series M Preferred Stock 10482B770

$2.1104000 $0.0000000 $0.0000000 $0.0000000 $2.1104000 Series M Preferred Stock 10482B846

$2.1041600 $0.0000000 $0.0000000 $0.0000000 $2.1041600 Series M Preferred Stock 10482B820

$2.0979200 $0.0000000 $0.0000000 $0.0000000 $2.0979200 _______













* Distributions Per Share reflects the annual rate per share for distributions reportable in 2025.

In accordance with IRS Code Section 6045B, the Company will post Form 8937, Report of Organizational Actions Affecting Basis of Securities, which may be found in the Corporate Actions section of the Company's website. This form provides detailed information on the return of capital amount of the common and preferred share distributions.

The Company encourages stockholders to consult with their own tax advisors with respect to the federal, state and local, and foreign income tax effects of these dividends.

* * * * *

Braemar Hotels & Resorts Inc. (NYSE: BHR) is a real estate investment trust (REIT) focused on the high-growth luxury hotel and resort sector. The Company targets high-performance luxury urban and resort properties, specializing in assets that generate revenue per available room (RevPAR) at least twice the U.S. national average. Its industry-leading portfolio features luxury properties across the United States and the U.S. territories in the Caribbean. Externally advised by Ashford Hospitality Advisors LLC, Braemar leverages deep industry expertise and disciplined asset management to drive outsized performance.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements and assumptions in this press release contain or are based upon "forward-looking" information and are being made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the federal securities regulations. Forward-looking statements are generally identifiable by use of forward-looking terminology such as "may," "will," "should," "potential," "intend," "expect," "anticipate," "estimate," "approximately," "believe," "could," "project," "predict," or other similar words or expressions. Additionally, statements regarding the following subjects are forward-looking by their nature: our business and investment strategy; anticipated or expected purchases, sales or dispositions of assets; our projected operating results; completion of any pending transactions; our ability to restructure existing property-level indebtedness; our ability to secure additional financing to enable us to operate our business; our understanding of our competition; projected capital expenditures; and the impact of technology on our operations and business. Such forward-looking statements are based on our beliefs, assumptions, and expectations of our future performance taking into account all information currently known to us. These beliefs, assumptions, and expectations can change as a result of many potential events or factors, not all of which are known to us. If a change occurs, our business, financial condition, liquidity, results of operations, plans, and other objectives may vary materially from those expressed in our forward-looking statements. You should carefully consider this risk when you make an investment decision concerning our securities. These and other risk factors are more fully discussed in the Company's filings with the SEC.

The forward-looking statements included in this press release are only made as of the date of this press release. Investors should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. We will not publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or circumstances, changes in expectations or otherwise except to the extent required by law.

SOURCE Braemar Hotels & Resorts, Inc.
Russia attacked my hotel as I slept  this is Ukraines brutal reality while peace talks grind on

In the early hours of Tuesday morning I was at the receiving end of one of the deadly Russian mass drone attacks that regularly terrorise Ukrainian cities.

Much of my hotel near the centre of the Black Sea port city of Odesa was wrecked when Shahed drones hit close by, setting buildings opposite ablaze and blowing out walls, shattering windows and collapsing ceilings where I was staying.

I had slept through the sirens warning of an approaching attack and was wrenched out of my slumber by the first enormous explosion, which blew out windows in my room in the Hotel Alarus at around 2.20am.

As I hurriedly pulled on clothes and boots, drones came diving in on their final approach, emitting a shrill, otherworldly scream like that of German Stuka dive bombers in movies about the Second World War.

Twice I hit the floor in the space between my bed and the bathroom wall  the furthest point in my room from the outside.

During these seconds that seemed like an age, I felt utterly helpless and mouthed: F***, f***, f***! Just get it over with.

Scores of drones hit Odesa overnight, leaving emergency workers searching for bodies in the rubble (AP)

As more drones kept coming, I got to the basement shelter and joined 11 staff and guests there in the dark.

People, some in nighties, some barefoot, mostly sat silently with a few faces dimly lit by screens as they scanned smartphones for any news.

Locals had an app showing the approach of missiles or drones around Odesa. Some cried while others covered their ears or pulled friends close as tension mounted, waiting for an explosion.

Some of the explosions blew out the hotels glass front doors and seemed to search us out, sending showers of broken glass down the basement stairs.

Nobody at the hotel was injured but early reports said at least 23 people, including some kids and a pregnant woman, were hurt in the raid. At least one victim is very badly injured, and rescue workers are searching for bodies under rubble.

The view from Askolds window after the attack (The Independent)

This is the reality in Ukraine, as peace talks grind on interminably, with little sense of progress.

In everyday life in Odesa, dilapidated generators thrum outside shops, restaurants, residential and office buildings as they fight a losing battle against power cuts and freezing temperatures on the snow- and ice-covered streets.

Some sounds have disappeared completely from Odesas urban soundtrack  the building-shaking trundle of trams along the tracks that lace the citys boulevards, and the trolleybuses, whose power-transmitting poles once caused magnificent showers of sparks where they connect to icy electric cables high above the streets, providing delight for kids.

Intensified Russian aerial strikes over recent months have knocked out much of the regions energy-generating infrastructure, forcing these electricity-sucking trams and trolleybuses to a halt.

Many Odesa residents have moved away from the city as it has become a priority target for Moscow. The population, at around a million, remains at pre-war levels because those moving out have been replaced by refugees fleeing the fighting further east.

Vera, 23, a student, lives in an apartment block in the northeastern suburb of the city; these highrise buildings suffer some of the harshest treatment because of aerial attacks and power cuts.

She said these cuts, sometimes lasting five days, mean many people, especially the elderly, handicapped and people with young children, face catastrophic conditions.

Imagine having to descend or ascend to the 14th floor of an apartment block  28 flights of stairs  if youre frail or handicapped. Imagine a mother carrying her child and a baby buggy. What if she has two children? If youre in a wheelchair, youre trapped.

Rescue workers work to clear debris from a residential building, damaged after a Russian strike in Odesa on Tuesday (AP)

On this New Years Eve, six people, including three children, were injured when drones hit apartment blocks close to us. On New Years Eve 2024, drones killed a friend of mine who was on a balcony in our building having a cigarette. Perhaps the Russians are starting a tradition.

The huge power outages caused by the savage uptick in Russian aerial attacks have coincided with Ukraines coldest winter in years, as the country suffers through sub-zero temperatures.

Many of Ukraines Soviet-era residential highrises rely on an archaic and inefficient form of central heating where hot water is piped in from a plant miles away. When one of the water plants is destroyed, thousands of homes quickly freeze. With electricity knocked out for days at a time, electric heaters become useless.

The Russians have been targeting Ukrainian energy infrastructure since the start of the full-blown war, and options for replacement equipment have been severely limited. Many electrical engineers repairing damage have been killed in targeted drone attacks.

The front lines start about 60 miles to the east of Odesa, but, according to military spokesperson Major Dmytro Pletenchuk, the Russians can launch missiles and drones from submarines in the Black Sea off Odesa or Crimea, the Ukrainian peninsula which their forces occupy some 100 miles from the city.

They use ballistic missiles which travel so fast they arrive before people can react to the sirens and find shelter, he said.

Burnt-out cars litter the location of a brutal attack on Odesa last year (AFP/Getty)

He said the one principal aim was to cripple the three ports  in the city centre and two, Chornomorsk and Pivdennyi, nearby along the coast  which collectively form Ukraines most important remaining opening for sea trade.

These ports are the main outlet for Ukraines agricultural exports, including grains and sunflower oil, which are critical foodstuffs for many third-world countries. The drones target storage containers and convoys of trucks bringing cargo to the ports from producers all over Ukraine, said Maj Pletenchuk. Recently they hit a container with tens of thousands of litres of sunflower oil, which drained into the sea and can cause as much ecological damage as if it was fuel oil.

The ports are one of the citys main employers. It is also an important industrial, business, IT and academic centre, including scientific research, chemical manufacturing, and machine-building.

Maj Pletenchuk said another intention is to demoralise and sow terror among the civilian population by striking energy infrastructure and targeting residential buildings, leaving people frozen in the dark.

A doctor, whose first name is Svyatoslav but who preferred not to have his surname published, is a senior member of the World Health Organisation team in southern Ukraine.

He called the Russian attacks that keep millions of Ukrainians freezing pure terrorism. They are not hitting the military but are striking at targets to make normal life impossible for ordinary people.

A view of an energy facility damaged during a Russian drone strike in mid-January (DTEK Energy Company/Telegram)

This terror is meant to bring people to their knees. They think Ukrainians will plead with their government to end the war at any price; for us to surrender. Before 2022, I knew a lot of people in Odesa who didnt think of Russia as their enemy. Now I think very few like that remain. We have no choice but to fight on.

The Ukrainian peoples willingness to help each other is an essential component of the countrys drive to keep going.

Odesa, similarly to other large cities, has a network of dozens of Punkt Nezlamonist  Points of Unbroken Resilience  providing a place to warm up, have a warm drink and a meal, recharge cellphones, computers and gadgets, and find a place to talk to someone.

Some facilities provide help for just some needs  many supermarkets have gadget charging points, places to warm up or air raid shelters.

A year ago, many people interviewed in the eastern Ukrainian frontline town of Kupyansk believed that the newly inaugurated US president Donald Trump might be able to deliver on his promise to quickly end the war.

Emergency service workers search among the rubble of a heavily damaged residential building following an air attack in Odesa (Ukrainian Emergency Service)

But nobody The Independent spoke to had any faith that the Trump-brokered peace talks, which last week brought Ukrainian, US and Russian delegations to the UAE, would yield a fair peace or any peace at all. After the first day of talks last Friday, Russia launched a massive aerial attack against cities across Ukraine.

A volunteer named Roman asked: What kind of a peace agreement can you expect from Russia when, on the night of the first days talks, they send 400 drones and missiles to kill us?

Vera, the student, said: Trump doesnt feel human emotions, he doesnt care about Ukrainians  its all about greed and business to him.
Cognac is not an exotic import but one of the spirits on which British drinking culture was built. Long before whisky hardened into national shorthand, Cognac moved through London clubs, naval messes and drawing rooms as currency, medicine and pleasure. A French creation but British merchants shaped the trade; British tastes shaped the blends themselves. For generations, Cognac was not saved for milestones. It was simply how serious people drank. Which makes its sidelining all the more curious.

London will talk itself hoarse about mezcal and anything which has merely glanced at a sherry cask, applauding its own curiosity, while leaving Cognac parked like an awkward relative. This has nothing to do with Cognacs limits. It has everything to do with how it has been handled. But attentions shift; fashion evolves.

I spent an afternoon crossing London with Yohann Pinol to see whether that attention was beginning to return in Britain. Formerly a Louis XIII ambassador, Pinol carries uncommon authority, sharpened by the fact that he also tends vines himself, through his own wine label  grapes being where Cognac truly begins. He has since created LEpoque XO (360, Selfridges) with Tatiana Kharchylava, the creative force behind Annabels, George and Marks clubs, collaging Grande Champagne eaux-de-vie, some half a century old, into something contemporary without loosening origin. He was not there to persuade. He watched closely, challenged lazy thinking, and judged whether the drinks held together.

Cognac is more readily being used in cocktails (Douglas Bylde)

The tour began at Four Seasons Hotel London at Tower Bridge. The building once housed the HQ of the Port of London Authority, the administrative heart of Britains maritime trade. This was where goods were logged, taxed and released into the city. Cognac would have passed through here not as luxury, but as routine. The stop felt inevitable.

Inside the vast rotunda, Michele Lombardi runs a bar which refuses distraction. A curving copper counter, evoking a still, sits beneath an almost embarrassingly large chandelier which pulls the eye downwards, onto ice, glass and hand movement. You are made to watch the work.

Cognac orders have risen steadily. Not ceremonial pours, but cocktails. Around 80 per cent of Lombardis guests are American. Bartenders are driving it, he says, through education. Cognac, he adds, has been pulled back from the dusty end of the back bar.

He begins with the late nineteenth-century Fig a lEau. Jasmine, fig leaf soda and verjus frame the spirit without disguise. Stirred and poured into a coupe borrowed from Champagne service rather than dark-spirit habit, over a single block of ice, it arrives softly. Sugar is structural, not indulgent. Fig and Cognac already belong together, Pinol notes. Those notes are there anyway.

Guests now order Cognac with soda, Lombardi observes, even with vermouth. Straight substitution. A second drink proves the point: a Manhattan rerouted through dried figs and fortified wine, verjus lifting the mid-palate, texture doing the work sugar usually would.

Beside the bar sits a compact cabinet introduced only months ago, reserved for smaller producers unlikely to force entry at this scale. It operates as an incubator, not a trophy case. Pinol glances at it, weighing whether LEpoque belongs.

At Bar Antoine, Four Seasons Park Lane, the name comes first. It honours Antoine Alleno, the late son of chef Yannick Alleno, and is intended as a reflection of his love of hospitality and being around people rather than a shrine. Pinol knew him socially. They drank together.

Liana Oster from the Chancery Rosewood (The Chancery Rosewood)

Leon Gasco folds Cognac into a European register of bitterness and fortification, shaped by a loyalty to the Four Seasons system deep enough that he once half-seriously considered having its logo tattooed on him. He and Lombardi crossed paths inside the group previously, working in parallel rooms before diverging west and east. The thinking aligns.

A French-ish coffee lands warm, built on Cognac and coffee vodka, topped with confiture du lait and dark chocolate. It is calibrated for English weather. The line between bar and kitchen is deliberately narrow. Ideas move back and forth. Bar snacks matter too. Prawn toast arrives properly seasoned, carrying caviar and a Cognac-laced mayonnaise which tastes purposeful rather than showy.

Gasco is developing a run of Cognac-led drinks. One is a chocolate sazerac, combining Cognac and whisky with croissants left over from the four-course breakfast, steeped at sixty degrees. It is not sweet. It relies on grain, grape, fat and weight. Gasco is from Reims, which Pinol clarifies crisply. Reims is Champagne with bubbles. Grande Champagne is something else entirely  the heartland of Cognacs finest eau-de-vie. The distinction has been blurred for years.

At Maestro, Salvatore Calabreses Velvet at Corinthia, continuity asserts itself. Velvet is generous and enveloping, anchored by a grand piano set directly into the bar counter. Calabrese treats the shaker as an extension of the hand and understands atmosphere as inseparable from the drink.

He took Cognac seriously long before London remembered how to. His writing helped fix its grammar for a generation of bartenders, not as an heirloom but as a working spirit with range and consequence. His private holdings are among the largest anywhere, assembled through study rather than accumulation. That thinking reached its most public expression with Salvatores Legacy, a Cognac-based drink created at the former Playboy Club, within sight of Four Seasons Park Lane, built around 1778 Clos de Griffier Vieux Cognac. It became the most expensive cocktail ever sold, not as display, but as an argument about lineage, stewardship and time itself.

As we chat, Calabrese is joined by a small, telling constellation: Peter Dorelli, former head bartender of the American Bar at The Savoy, and Jared Brown, drinks historian and Master Distiller at Sipsmith. They are simply there, talking, watching, drinking  together, a kind of rat pack of bar culture. Their presence says more than any manifesto.

In the glass, Calabreses authority is unmistakable. The sidecar cocktail  Cognac, citrus and orange liqueur, held in exacting proportion  remains a lesson in restraint, served in the long-stemmed coupe he designed, citrus treated as intrinsic rather than decorative. A stinger follows, reworked through his own aromatic Acqua Bianca liqueur and frozen Cognac, stirred rather than shaken so the white aromatics lengthen rather than bite. Nothing presses. The drink carries itself.

The argument lands at Eagle Bar, The Chancery Rosewood, inside the former American Embassy. The restored eagle has returned from Hamburg. The bar is split across the roof of the original embassy, one side looking across to the bulk of Grosvenor House. The other, with the better sunset view, has an unapologetically American whiskey selection, a nod to the buildings past. There, Cognac sits comfortably alongside.

Salvatore Calabrese (Corinthia)

Maura Milia joined as manager from The Connaught Bar, bringing with her a decade inside one of Londons most exacting bars, followed by the founding of three hospitality concepts across Mexico City and Oaxaca. Working there recalibrated her sense of access. You dont realise what a privilege it is to have Cognac and Champagne at this level until you dont, she says. Being without it humbles you. It sharpens how you think about what these drinks actually represent.

She now works alongside Liana Oster, who was part of the Rosewoods pre-opening team and today oversees all bars across the building, having moved from New York in 2020 after opening Dante and Nomad London. The two met again by chance on a flight back from Mexico. Milia is clear about the partnership. She would only take the role, she says, if it meant working with Oster.

Both see Cognac as under-used rather than misunderstood. Oster frames it plainly: Cognac isnt as prevalent as it could be. Its under-utilised territory. You need someone to walk you through it  whether in a cocktail or in a dram. The story matters.

Hotel bars, Milia argues, are uniquely placed to do that work. Theyre destinations for people who arent staying in hotels. London will always be a good market for Cognac because of that  these bars work differently. Oster adds a warning: You cant rely on inherited behaviour alone.

Its a view shared behind the bar. Its easy to get stuck in the star-tender thing, Milia says. But this is about teams, not solos. Oster smiles. Mayfairs the Bermuda Triangle.

On the list, Cognac provides structure. The Hard Core reads like an Old Fashioned driven through Normandy: Cognac, Calvados, spiced pear and absinthe, finished with English pear eau-de-vie. Weight replaces sweetness. A Vieux Carre follows, Benedictine lending its herbal bassline, pencil-shaving aromatics lifted by a house vermouth blend.

Cognac has always demanded time  in the vineyard, in the cellar, in the glass. Britain once understood this instinctively. Somewhere along the way, speed replaced judgement. Seen this way, Cognac becomes an argument for something larger: skill over haste, patience over noise. Handled with that understanding, it proves it never left. It was only waiting.
Sir David Beckham told his wife Victoria nobody deserves it more than you as she was given a French knighthood amid the ongoing family rift with their eldest son.

The Spice Girl and fashion designer was flanked by the rest of her family, including sons Cruz and Romeo and daughter Harper, as she was named a Chevaliere de lOrdre des Arts et des Lettres  a Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters, which recognises significant contributions to the arts and literature.

Meanwhile, son Brooklyn shared a lengthy video montage on TikTok of an apparent getaway with his wife Nicola Peltz, including shots of them hugging and kissing, shortly after accusing his parents of attempting to sabotage their relationship and putting Brand Beckham first.

Sharing a gallery of photos from the ceremony in Paris, which included Vogue global editorial director Dame Anna Wintour, Sir David wrote: We are so proud of you and all that you have achieved @victoriabeckham.

Being named a Chevaliere de lOrdre des Arts et des Lettres by the French Ministry of Culture nobody deserves it more than you x We love you.

In her speech, Lady Beckham, 51, who is known for her eponymous luxury label, said: Im so proud to be British but France is one of the few places fashion is treated with the seriousness it deserves, as a form of art.

In a post shared on Instagram on Monday evening, Lady Beckham said: Im so honoured to be named a Chevaliere de lOrdre des Arts et des Lettres by the French Ministry of Culture.

I have always deeply admired the French aesthetic and the seriousness with which it treats fashion: as a form of art.

So to be recognised here and embraced in this way is a profound privilege  one that reflects decades of commitment and dedication. My sincere thanks to the French Minister of Culture, Rachida Dati, for this honour.

Thank you also to business partners who believed in me, my family, and especially David  my husband, and original investor.

I couldnt be more grateful, you are my everything xx

The family photos shared by both Sir David and Lady Beckham include Cruz and his partner Jackie Apostel and Romeo and his girlfriend Kim Turnbull, but Brooklyn and his wife were conspicuous by their absence after Brooklyn said publicly that he does not want to reconcile with his parents.

He made headlines last week with a string of posts on his Instagram story, which seemed to confirm the rumours that have swirled since his wedding to the daughter of US billionaire Nelson Peltz in 2022.

In the posts, he accused his parents of trying endlessly to ruin my relationship since before my wedding, and it hasnt stopped.

He also alleged that his wife had been disrespected by his family.

The Beckhams second child, Romeo, echoed father Sir Davids comments in an Instagram following the ceremony.

On Tuesday morning, he posted: No one deserves this more than you xx love you mum.

Lady Beckham, who founded her fashion label in 2008, rose to fame in the 90s pop band The Spice Girls  known for hit songs such as Wannabe, 2 Become 1, and Say Youll Be There.
Democratic leaders in Congress are joining a growing call to impeach Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem if she refuses to step down after federal officers fatally shot a second person in Minneapolis this month during the Trump administrations immigration crackdown.

House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, in a joint statement with Minority Whip Katherine Clark and House Democratic Caucus chair Pete Aguiltar, said Noem should be fired immediately, or we will commence impeachment proceedings.

We can do this the easy way or the hard way, they wrote.

Rep. Jamie Raskin, top Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee, is urging the Republican-led committee to immediately commence impeachment proceedings to remove her from office  or Democrats will launch investigations into all potential constitutional crimes allegedly committed by the secretary.

Under her leadership, Homeland Security has unleashed a shocking assault on the most basic Constitutional rights and freedoms of the American people, according to Raskin.

Hakeem Jeffries (center) and top Democrats Katherine Clark (left) and Pete Aguilar (right) are joining calls for Kristi Noem to step down or face impeachment investigations (Getty Images)

Democrats on the House Homeland Security Committee also threatened Noems impeachment if she doesnt resign, saying that she destroyed public confidence in her ability to lead the agency.

More than 155 House Democrats have signed a resolution for her impeachment, though its unlikely a Republican-controlled Congress will advance any effort to oust a key member of Trumps Cabinet. Trump, meanwhile, has privately and publicly feared a wave of impeachment hearings if Democrats win back the majority in midterm elections this fall.

Calls for Noems impeachment have accelerated after Customs and Border Protection agents fatally shot Alex Pretti just weeks after an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer shot and killed Renee Good in Minneapolis.

Far from condemning these unlawful and savage killings in cold blood, Secretary Noem immediately labeled Renee and Alex domestic terrorists, blatantly lied about the circumstances of the shootings that took their lives, and attempted to cover-up and blockade any legitimate investigation into their deaths, according to Raskin, referencing Noems defense of the officers and the Trump administrations rejection of state and local law enforcement efforts to investigate the killings.

DHS officials have dismissed calls for Noems impeachment, saying that Democratic lawmakers are merely focused on showmanship and fundraising clicks.

Trump met with Noem for two hours in the Oval Office Monday evening, according to The New York Times, though the president did not suggest her job was at risk. The president insists Noem is doing a very good job and wont be calling for her resignation, he told reporters Tuesday.

But the administration has already reshuffled leadership for the Minnesota operation, and the president deployed his border czar Tom Homan to Minneapolis while border patrol commander-at-large Greg Bovino is imminently expected to leave the state.

Noem has the utmost confidence and trust of the president of the United States, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said during a Monday briefing.

Trump is defending his Homeland Security secretary as she faces mounting calls to resign while Democratic members of Congress threaten to hold up funding for the agency without any guardrails (Getty Images)

The calls for her impeachment are also reaching a fever pitch as members of Congress stare down a vote on a $1.3 trillion government spending package that includes Homeland Security, which could bring lawmakers to yet another stalemate and trigger a second potential government shutdown in months.

Senate Democrats say they will not vote to fund Homeland Security without new guardrails for immigration enforcement.

Republicans are planning to shut large parts of the government down on Friday so that the DHS killing spree unleashed in Minnesota can continue throughout America, House Democratic leaders wrote Tuesday.

That is immoral, they said. Federal agents who have broken the law must be criminally prosecuted. The paramilitary tactics must cease and desist. Taxpayer dollars should be used to make life more affordable for everyday Americans, not kill them in cold blood.
The air traffic controller who was managing aircraft around Reagan National Airport felt a little overwhelmed before an American Airlines jet collided with an Army helicopter mid-air, killing 67 people last year, an investigator said Tuesday.

New details about the moments leading up the crash were revealed at a National Transportation Safety Board hearing to determine the biggest factors in the crash.

Some key themes emerged: The jets pilot was not alerted about the helicopter; airspace in the nation's capital was crowded the night of Jan. 29, 2025; and warnings for years to reroute helicopter traffic were ignored.

NTSB members seemed deeply troubled over missed opportunities and worried that additional disasters may occur if the government doesn't act on the investigation findings.

Are we going to sit here five years from now and say the data was there five years ago? Todd Inman said, referring to staffing and training challenges at the airport.

Ahead of the hearing, Rachel Feres, who lost her cousin Peter Livingston and his wife and two young daughters, said she was hoping for clarity and urgency from the NTSB process (AP)

We know people were raising the concerns, people were saying this was dangerous five, 10 years ago, and nobody was really listening.

Systemic problems caused the crash

Before hearing from investigators, Inman said systemic issues across multiple organizations, not an error by any individual, caused the tragedy.

Everyone aboard the jet, flying from Wichita, Kansas, and the Black Hawk helicopter died when the two aircraft collided and plummeted into the icy Potomac River. It was the deadliest plane crash on U.S. soil since 2001, and the victims included 28 members of the figure skating community.

The Federal Aviation Administration last week made a permanent change to ensure helicopters and planes no longer share the same airspace around the airport. The NTSB will recommend additional action, and families of the victims say they hope there's meaningful change.

Missed warning signs

NTSB chairwoman Jennifer Homendy said she couldnt believe the FAA didnt realize the helicopter route in use during the crash didnt provide adequate separation from planes landing on Reagans secondary runway.

She noted that the FAA had refused to add detailed information about helicopter routes to pilots' charts so they could better understand the risks.

We know over time concerns were raised repeatedly, went unheard, squashed  however you want to put it  stuck in red tape and bureaucracy of a very large organization, Homendy said. Repeated recommendations over the years.

Overwhelmed controller

NTSB investigator Katherine Wilson said an air traffic controller felt a little overwhelmed when traffic volume increased to 10 aircraft about 10 to 15 minutes before the collision, but then felt the volume was manageable when one or two helicopters left the airspace.

Yet about 90 seconds before the collision, Wilson said, traffic volume increased to a maximum of 12 aircraft consisting of seven airplanes and five helicopters. Radio communication showed that the local controller was shifting focus between airborne, ground and transiting aircraft.

The workload reduced his situational awareness, Wilson said.

Details were difficult for families to hear

NTSB investigators showed a video animation to demonstrate how difficult it would have been for the pilots in both aircraft to spot the other amid the lights of Washington. The animation also showed how the windshields of both aircraft and the helicopter crews night vision goggles restricted views.

Family members in the room listened intently during the hearing. Earlier, some people were escorted from the room, including two in tears, as an animation of the flights began. Several entered the auditorium wearing black shirts bearing the names of crash victims.

NTSB chairwoman Jennifer Homendy said she couldnt believe the FAA didnt realize the helicopter route in use during the crash didnt provide adequate separation from planes landing on Reagans secondary runway (AP)

Ahead of the hearing, Rachel Feres, who lost her cousin Peter Livingston and his wife and two young daughters, said she was hoping for clarity and urgency from the NTSB process.

I hope that we see a clear path through the recommendations they offer to ensure that this never happens again, Feres said. That nobody else has to wake up to hear that an entire branch of their family tree is gone, or their wife is gone or the child is gone.

The government will have to make changes

Whether that happens depends on how Congress, the Army and the Trump administration respond after the hearing. A pending bill would require all aircraft to have advanced locator systems to help avoid collisions.

Even before Tuesday, the NTSB had already spelled out many key factors that contributed to the crash. Investigators said controllers in the Reagan tower had been overly reliant on asking pilots to spot other aircraft and maintain visual separation.

The night of the crash, the controller approved the Black Hawk's request to do that twice. However, the investigation has shown that the helicopter pilots likely never spotted the American Airlines plane as the jet circled to land on the little-used secondary runway.

In a statement, the FAA said it has reduced hourly plane arrivals at Reagan airport from 36 to 30 and increased staff. The agency said it has 22 certified controllers in the tower and eight more in training.

We will diligently consider any additional recommendations from the NTSB, the FAA said.

Several high-profile crashes and close calls followed the D.C. collision, alarming the flying public. But NTSB statistics show that the total number of crashes last year was the lowest since the COVID-19 pandemic hit in 2020, with 1,405 nationwide.
A screen grab from a video taken between 9 and 11 January purportedly showing dozens of bodies outside a morgue in Kahrizak on the outskirts of Tehran, Iran's capital. Photograph: AP (Photograph: AP)

On Thursday 8 January, in a midsize Iranian town, Dr Ahmadis* phone began to buzz. His colleagues in local emergency wards were getting worried.

All week, people had taken to the streets and had been met by police with batons and pellet guns. With treatment, their injuries should not have been too serious. But emergency room staff believed many wounded young people were avoiding hospitals, terrified that registering as trauma patients would lead to their identification and arrest.

Quietly, Ahmadi [who remains anonymous due to fear of reprisals, but whose identity, credentials and presence within Iran during the unrest have been verified by the Guardian] and his wife began treating patients at a location outside Irans government hospital system. Alerted by a local whisper network, wounded young people flocked to them. Mostly, they brought superficial injuries  laceration wounds needing stitches and antibiotics. As Thursday evening wore on, more and more arrived to be patched up.

The next day, everything abruptly changed. Protesters kept coming, but their injuries were close-range gunshots and severe stab wounds, typically to the chest, eyes and genitals. Many proved fatal.

Ahmadi was shocked by the number being killed  more than 40 in his small town alone  but with the internet blacked out, no one knew what the national picture was. To piece it together, Ahmadi assembled a network of more than 80 medical professionals across 12 of Irans 31 provinces to share observations and data, and to build a clearer picture of the violence.

Theyve mass murdered people. No one can imagine  I saw just blood, blood and blood

Their observations, shared with the Guardian and combined with accounts from morgues and graveyards across the country, begin to reveal the vast scale of violence inflicted on Iranians during the states crackdown. Ahmadi and his colleagues are hesitant to provide a figure for the toll but agree all publicly cited death tolls represent a severe underestimation. Comparing the number of dead they witnessed with hospital baselines, they estimate it could exceed 30,000, far surpassing official figures. This is based on the conclusion that officially registered deaths related to the crackdown likely represent less than 10% of the real number of fatalities.

Estimates of the number killed vary substantially, hampered by the ongoing internet shutdown. The Iranian government has acknowledged more than 3,000 dead, and the US-based organisation HRANA (Human Rights Activists News Agency), whose figures have been reliable during previous crackdowns, says it has verified more than 6,000 dead and has more than 17,000 more recorded deaths under investigation, giving a possible total of about 22,000. Other estimates from doctors based outside Iran range up to 33,000 or more.

Testimony from morgues, graveyards and hospitals around the country reveal concerted efforts by authorities to conceal the true size of the toll: bodies being transported in ice-cream vans and meat trucks; piles of the dead being hastily buried; and hundreds of bodies apparently disappearing from Irans network of forensic facilities.

The language Ahmadi uses is measured and clinical, but he is brought to tears describing the violence the doctors documented. From a medical standpoint, the injuries we observed demonstrate a brutality without limit  both in scale and in method, he says. Another doctor, who is based in Tehran, tells the Guardian: I am on the verge of a psychological collapse. Theyve mass murdered people. No one can imagine  I saw just blood, blood and blood.

***

Across Iran in morgues and cemeteries, the bodies piled up  overwhelming many hospitals and forensic units, which were forced to turn trucks filled with corpses away. Graveyard and forensic medical staff describe chaos, with reports of authorities pushing for fast, mass burials to conceal the number dead.

At one morgue, staff say they were confronted with several trucks loaded with bodies, far exceeding the facilitys refrigeration and storage capacity. When staff protested that they could not process the volume of corpses, two trucks loaded with the dead were moved elsewhere  but when the morgue workers tried to track down where the bodies had been taken, they found none of the large forensic facilities in the region had received them. The doctors expressed suspicion that this was linked to dafn-e dast-e jami [mass burial].

Ahmadis network found at least seven other colleagues from forensic facilities across four large provinces who reported similar experiences. Verified video from Kahrizak morgue in Tehran shows similar scenes, including what appear to be hundreds of bodies laid out in the street outside the facility.

The Guardian also spoke to three witnesses who independently described a push for mass burials and piles of hundreds of bodies at a large graveyard (Behesht-e Sakineh) in the city of Karaj, 30 miles (50km) west of Tehran.

In a written account shared with the Guardian, Reza*, a witness who says he was present at Behesht-e Sakineh, says: On January 10 and 11, they brought in hundreds of bodies which were said to be unclaimed and unidentified. Many of the dead, he says, were transported in small pickup trucks typically used for fruit and vegetables, and not all were sealed in body bags.

These vehicles make dozens of trips back and forth from storage facilities  I have seen bodies in these trucks so stuck together it required strength to pull them apart. The blood was still fresh and dried up when they overcrowded them in piles.

His description is echoed by Ahmadi and his network, who say they observed a pattern across multiple towns of refrigerated trucks normally used for ice-cream or meat that were moving in convoys to forensic medicine facilities and hospital back entrances.

One witness at Behesht-e Sakineh, who was granted access to the site to look for the body of a friend, says he personally searched through hundreds of stacked bodies and was told by graveyard staff that they had received thousands of bodies just in the past two days.

Staff told him that the order was to bury these bodies in mass graves, but many refused, afraid of reprisals. He relayed one staff member saying: I am frightened to do that, because people  will eventually come looking for their missing family members and they will kill and bury me as being responsible for these mass graves.

Related: Iran protest doctor: In one street, I saw blood pooled in a gutter with a trail stretching several metres | Anonymous

The accounts from Behesht-e Sakineh form just one example of what appears to be a national pattern, with forensic medical staff around the country reporting similar scenes. Doctors and morgue staff emphasise that the types of injuries seen on patients and corpses indicate deliberate, systematic killing and maiming of protesters as opposed to random, chaotic shooting.

In some cases, the killings bore the hallmarks of executions. Medical workers at forensic facilities in two different Iranian towns described receiving bodies with close-range gunshot wounds to the head that had been transferred from hospital morgues while still attached to catheters, nasogastric tubes or endotracheal tubes.

This is highly suspicious, Ahmadi says. As a rule, foreign medical instruments are removed after death. Their presence suggests that these individuals died while still under active medical care.

Those accounts correspond to photographs verified by the Iranian factchecking organisation Factnameh, which show dead patients in body bags wearing hospital gowns, with catheters still attached, and what appear to be gunshot wounds to the forehead. The Guardian has not independently verified the photographs. A UK-based Iranian doctor who analysed the photographs said: From a medical point of view, it appears the bodies seen with catheters and medical devices attached were shot directly in the head while under treatment.

Even as medical staff attempt to share their testimony and data, many fear that the true number of dead may never be known, concealed by an orchestrated national effort by authorities to obscure the death toll.

These mechanisms include discouraging hospital attendance, removing bodies from standard forensic pathways, relocating large numbers of corpses beyond documented facilities, and limiting the ability of medical staff to register causes of death, the doctors observations conclude.

Taken together Ahmadi says, they form a system designed not only to suppress protest, but to suppress memory.

*Names have been changed to protect identities.
The Doomsday Clock is closer to midnight than ever before, in what appears to be an ominous warning about the state of our world.

Released every year by The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, this years Doomsday Clock is set at 85 seconds to midnight, amid mounting concerns about geopolitical tensions as well as disruptive technologies.

Each year, doomsday is updated based on how close we are to a human-made catastrophe  represented by midnight; the closer the hands get to striking 12, the closer we are to the end.

When it was created, the Doomsday Clock was set at seven minutes to midnight, but it has neared midnight ever since.

Addressing this years update, the scientists behind the clock stressed that climate change, biological threats, AI, and nuclear weapons pose an increasing threat to the sustainability of life.

It reads: competition among major powers has become a full-blown arms race, as evidenced by increasing numbers of nuclear warheads.

There are around 12,321 nuclear warheads in existence within our world, but that number has started to creep up despite disarmament efforts in recent decades. Next month, the last nuclear treaty between the U.S. and Russia will expire.

But other existential threats also appear to be a concern, including the sophistication of AI and its ability to be used in the development of state-sponsored biological weapons.

Notably, the worlds inability to slow climate change might ultimately be the biggest threat of them all.

The national and international responses to the climate emergency went from wholly insufficient to profoundly destructive. None of the three most recent UN climate summits emphasized phasing out fossil fuels or monitoring carbon dioxide emissions, the atomic scientists wrote.

So what do we know about the Doomsday Clock, and what can we do with this information?

What is the Doomsday Clock?

The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists is a group of experts who formed the clock in 1947 to serve as a metaphor for the threats facing our planet.

The team reviews its time every year based on how endangered they judge Earth's survival to be.

It was first set up by American scientists working on the Manhattan Project, the U.S. World War II programme that created the first nuclear bomb, to warn the wider population of the risks involved in nuclear war.

Back when it was first created in 1947, the fear of nuclear war was at an all-time high.

These days, the threat of nuclear war seems like a distant memory to most, especially given that the bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki were 80 years ago. However, the risks of such catastrophes havent disappeared.

The clock now serves as a metaphor for how close humanity is to self-annihilation, factoring in other risks that are pressing in modern day life.

The panel said they moved the arm of the clock this year with a heavy heart

How does this compare to previous years?

For the last seven decades, the clock has been measured in minutes, but in recent years its begun ticking in seconds.

The furthest weve been from Doomsday was in 1991 when the clock sat at 17 minutes to midnight, but this year scientists say were closer to the apocalypse than ever before.

In the past five years alone, the clock has ticked down from 100 seconds to 90s, then 89s, and now 85s.

Clearly, the atomic scientists believe theres room for concern, especially given recent geopolitical movements and the increasing number of nuclear weapons.

An unpredictable U.S. president has recently challenged a number of diplomatic norms and cast doubt on NATO's future stability. This comes as nuclear powers look to develop their nuclear arsenals, amid increasing rhetoric about nuclear weapons and regional tensions. A lot of the treaties that kept nuclear powers in check have expired in recent years.

In a statement seen by The Standard, Melissa Parke, ICANs Executive Director, called on more countries to take action and agree to an end to creating a world free of nuclear weapons.

The Doomsday Clock is not a prediction, its a warning, Parke said.

Nuclear weapons, wars from Ukraine to Gaza, the climate crisis and runaway technologies are all part of the problem  but they are all created by humanity. That means we can also change course. The Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) is a clear path to turn back the hands of the clock.

But on the other hand, there is still hope.

Alongside this weeks release, atomic scientists have also listed a number of ways in which the world can avert a catastrophe.

One of the main demands is for the United States and Russia to resume dialogue about limiting their nuclear arsenals. All nuclear-armed states can avoid destabilizing investments in missile defence and observe the existing moratorium on explosive nuclear testing.

Other things included multilateral agreements and measures to reduce the prospect that AI be used to create biological threats as well as calling out Trumps war on renewable energy.

What has the panel said about climate change in the past?

Firefighters have been battling to tackle flames ravaging the Australian bush

Climate change also weighed on their decision in the past, as the global average surface temperature has soared in recent years.

This year, its more pressing than ever, with atomic scientists warning: In the United States, the Trump administration has essentially declared war on renewable energy and sensible climate policies, relentlessly gutting national efforts to combat climate change.

In the past, BAS has accused world leaders of making polished speeches at UN climate talks without providing meaningful solutions to issues such as the Australian bushfires crisis, fossil fuel usage and the rapid melting of glaciers.

Board member Robert Latiff previously cautioned that "untruths, exaggerations and misinterpretations" could cause the "wholesale trashing" of scientific evidence, pointing to the rise of so-called deepfake videos and fake news.

Former Irish President Mary Robinson said she had become an angry granny at the current state of affairs, adding: "The world needs to wake up."
Doomsday Clock closer to midnight than ever before as scientists issue sobering warning

The apocalypse is closer than it ever has been, according to the experts behind the Doomsday Clock.

The clock now stands at 85 seconds to midnight  down from 89 seconds last year. That was already the closest it had ever been, and it has been moved closer in three of the last four years.

Experts including world leading scientists pointed to the dangers of global war as well as climate change and artificial intelligence in explaining their decision.

The clock is managed by the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, which created the clock in 1947 to track the tensions of the Cold War. In 1953, it came as close as it did in that era, at two minutes to midnight.

In the time since, the clock has reflected optimism about peace, ticking as much as 17 minutes away from apocalypse in 1991. But it has been almost unstoppably falling towards midnight ever since  challenging the scientists behind it, who have been forced to use seconds rather than minutes to communicate the danger.

Doomsday Clock (Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

"Of course, the Doomsday Clock is about global risks, and what we have seen is a global failure in leadership," nuclear policy expert Alexandra Bell, the Bulletin's president and CEO, told Reuters. "No matter the government, a shift towards neo-imperialism and an Orwellian approach to governance will only serve to push the clock toward midnight."

Doomsday Clock (Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

Last year, experts had moved the clock from 90 seconds to 89 seconds. They said then that the move was intended to send a stark signal: Because the world is already perilously close to the precipice, a move of even a single second should be taken as an indication of extreme danger and an unmistakable warning that every second of delay in reversing course increases the probability of global disaster.

This time around it has moved by four seconds.

"In terms of nuclear risks, nothing in 2025 trended in the right direction," Bell said. "Longstanding diplomatic frameworks are under duress or collapsing, the threat of explosive nuclear testing has returned, proliferation concerns are growing, and there were three military operations taking place under the shadow of nuclear weapons and the associated escalatory threat.

The risk of nuclear use is unsustainably and unacceptably high."

Bell pointed to Russia's continued war in Ukraine, the U.S. and Israeli bombing of Iran and border clashes between India and Pakistan. Bell also cited continuing tensions in Asia including on the Korean Peninsula and China's threats toward Taiwan, as well as rising tensions in the Western Hemisphere since U.S. President Donald Trump returned to office 12 months ago.

(AP)

The last remaining nuclear arms pact between the United States and Russia, the New START treaty, expires on February 5. Russian President Vladimir Putin proposed in September that the two countries agree to observe for another year the limits set under the pact, which caps each side's number of deployed nuclear warheads at 1,550. Trump has not formally responded. Western security analysts are divided about the wisdom of accepting Putin's offer.

Trump in October ordered the U.S. military to restart the process for testing nuclear weapons after a halt of more than three decades. No nuclear power, other than North Korea most recently in 2017, has conducted explosive nuclear testing in more than a quarter century.

No country would benefit more from a full-scale return to such testing than China, given its continued push to expand its nuclear arsenal, according to Bell, a former senior official at the US State Department's Bureau of Arms Control, Deterrence and Stability.

Trump has upended the world order. He sent U.S. forces to capture Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, threatened other Latin American countries, vowed to restore U.S. dominance in the Western Hemisphere, talked about annexing Greenland and imperiled transatlantic security cooperation.

Russia launched its large-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, and there is no end in sight. Among the weapons Russia has used is the nuclear-capable hypersonic Oreshnik missile. Russia released video in December of what it said was the deployment of the Oreshnik in Belarus, a move meant to boost the Russian ability to strike targets across Europe.

"Russia, China, the United States and other major countries have become increasingly aggressive and nationalistic," Bell said.

Their "winner-takes-all great power competition" undermines the international cooperation needed to reduce risks of nuclear war, climate change, misuse of biotechnology, potential AI-related hazards and other apocalyptic dangers, Bell said.

Bell also cited Trump's domestic actions against science, academia, the civil service and news organizations.

Maria Ressa, a 2021 Nobel Peace Prize recipient for her journalistic efforts exposing abuses of power in the Philippines including how social media platforms were used to spread disinformation, participated in the announcement.

"We are living through an information Armageddon - the crisis beneath all crises - driven by extractive and predatory technology that spreads lies faster than facts and profits from our division," Ressa said in a statement.

Additional reporting by Reuters
Paul Nolan has had time to reflect on a tremendous day at Doncaster on Saturday, when he sent two runners over from his County Wexford base in Ireland and returned with two Grade Two winners.

Thedeviluno emerged as a serious player in the Albert Bartlett with a smooth victory in the River Don, while Feet Of A Dancer gave herself the option of a potential crack at the Stayers Hurdle with victory in the Yorkshire Rose.

Theres always extra pressure when you go over with two due to the extra expense to do with travelling and staff away from home, said Nolan, who was having his first ever runners on Town Moor.

Its not a punting thing, I was trying to pick the right races for my horses and felt theyd be better off there and its great when it comes off.

Had those horses run in Ireland all the owners might not have turned up, but with it being in England they all made the effort and we were all on the same table for a couple of hours after racing celebrating before flying home.

When you get to celebrate with friends theres nothing better and you couldnt really write it.

Looking back on Thedevilunos win he said: I think the first two are nice horses, I hope so anyway. We were disappointed when ours got beat at Navan the time before and if he hadnt run there he might not have been such a big price.

At the time Doctor Steinberg wasnt viewed among Willies (Mullins) top novices, but hes now favourite for a Grade One this weekend. His Gowran form worked out incredibly well with The Passing Wife winning easy and Skylight Hustle winning a Grade One.

I thought it was a decent performance, they went a very strong pace for three miles on soft ground. Ours was dropped out and hit the line very strong and what is in his favour thinking of the Albert Bartlett is that hes already seven, therell be plenty of five and six years, so that might come into play.

Both horses were ridden by Sean OKeeffe and Nolan was full of praise for his jockey.

Sean was brilliant, it was like I had a joystick on him all day! said Nolan.

It was one of those days were things just went right in both races, they never made a mistake and were just always in the right place, he was so patient. The Doncaster straight is a long way and he didnt get after them until he had to.

With Feet Of A Dancer we have to decide between the Mares Hurdle or the Stayers.

Weve taken on Wodhooh once getting weight and couldnt beat her. Its whether you dodge one horse, which Im not a fan of, or take your chance in a wide-open Stayers getting the 7lb.

The Stayers can throw up some strange results, so weve got some thinking to do.
Pension credit is one of a number of benefits the government is placing increased scrutiny on. (coldsnowstorm via Getty Images)

Pension credit payments are set to come under increased scrutiny as part of a wider benefit fraud crackdown being carried out by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).

Ministers have been ramping up efforts to reduce benefit fraud, having introduced a new law granting sweeping investigatory powers and the ability to take money directly from fraudsters' bank accounts.

The DWP has also said it will carry out a review of pension credit, a benefit received by about 1.4 million people. It's one of several plans for the benefits system as the government commits to saving 14.6bn in money lost to fraud and error by 2030.

Speaking to the work and pensions committee on 21 January, the DWP's permanent secretary Peter Schofield said: "I reassure you that where we have focused on fraud and error hard, and we started with universal credit because it was the biggest area of loss, we have seen big improvements.

"We can now turn our attention to pension credit as well. We are also doing a targeted case review so we will add that to the list on pension credit."

How will the pension credit crackdown work?

A review of pension credit claims that are "at risk of being incorrect" will start from 2026 and end in 2029.

A DWP spokesperson said this is "forecast to save 500m over this period" and is part of "wider action to save 14.6bn by 2031".

The Public Authorities (Fraud, Error and Recovery) Act 2025, which received royal assent in December and will be implemented throughout the year, also includes measures to tackle pension credit fraud.

The law gives the DWP the power to issue eligibility verification notices to banks and other financial institutions, which are then required to check accounts against specific criteria for benefits to identify incorrect payments.

The DWP has plans to save 14.6bn by 2031 by cracking down on fraud and other overpayments. (Michael Kemp)

At the committee hearing, Schofield said there was "a complication in the eligibility" for pension credit.

"The biggest areas of fraud and error in pension credit relate to capital and abroad fraud, so people who are claiming who are abroad for longer than they are allowed to be under the eligibility of the benefit," he said.

"The eligibility verification measure in the act will allow us to pick up on transactions that are made abroad," he added. "That picks up on abroad fraud as well. We are doing a lot of work building on the work we have done on universal credit."

How much can the government take from my pension credit?

If you are repaying a pension credit overpayment, the amount the government can take from you each week is capped.

The standard rate of deduction for overpayment recovery of pension credit since April 2025 is 13.95 per week.

However, there is a higher rate of 37.20 per week in cases of fraud where the debtor has either been convicted, has admitted the offence under caution, or has accepted a penalty.

The government adds that the amount that can be deducted can be increased by "half of the disregard" applied to part-time earnings, charitable or voluntary payments and war pensions.

A rate of 38.40 per week has been proposed for fraud overpayments of pension credit for the financial year of 2026.

How can I check if I'm still eligible for pension credit?

If you're not sure if you are still eligible to receive pension credit, you can read the government's eligibility guide here.

You can also answer questions in this pension credit calculator, which asks you questions about your circumstances to see if you are eligible. Financial support charity Turn2US also has a similar calculator on its website.

Alternatively, you can call the Pension Service on 0800 731 0469. If you can't hear or speak over the phone, you can use the communication service Relay UK by dialling 18001 then 0800 731 0469.

There is a British Sign Language (BSL) video relay service if you have a computer, and a Welsh language helpline on 0800 731 0453. Lines are open Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm (except public holidays).

How can I challenge the government if I'm wrongly accused of fraud?

If you believe you have been wrongly accused of fraud, there are several actions you can take to prove you are entitled to the money youve been paid.

Gather evidence: Collect any documents that detail your financial history and payments, like your tenancy agreement or bank statements. Mandatory reconsideration: You can ask the DWP to look at their decision again. This is called a mandatory reconsideration. You should do this within one month of the decision being made. If you miss the deadline, you may still be able to request reconsideration if you have a good reason. Appeal to tribunal: If the mandatory reconsideration upholds the decision, you can appeal to an independent tribunal called the Social Security and Child Support Tribunal. This tribunal is separate from the DWP and will examine your case impartially. You need to submit an appeal within one month of the reconsideration decision, but late appeals (up to 13 months) may be accepted with a valid reason. Appeal process: You can appeal online or by post using the SSCS1 form. The tribunal may hold a hearing by phone, video call, or in-person, where you can present your case. If you win, the decision will be changed, and any penalties or repayments may be cancelled or reduced. Seek advice: Advice services like Citizens Advice or welfare rights organisations can help with the appeal and gather evidence to support your case. Other actions: If accused of benefit fraud beyond an overpayment, you have the right to legal representation and can challenge investigations or penalties through this tribunal route.

A DWP spokesperson said: "We do not use automated decision making in the targeted case review process. The decision on benefit entitlement is made by a human caseworker.

"We have an obligation to protect public funds. By reviewing claims, we can ensure claimants are receiving the correct entitlement and avoid falling into or accumulating further debt."
People-First Automotive Repair Franchise Builds on Growth and Brand Leadership in 2025

HOUSTON, Jan. 27, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Christian Brothers Automotive (CBA), a leading automotive repair franchise, capped off 2025 with substantial development momentum, system growth, and national recognition, reinforcing its position as a trusted, people-first brand in the automotive repair industry. This performance positions the company for continued expansion and leadership in 2026.

Throughout the year, CBA opened 24 new shops, including 14 in new markets such as Odessa, Texas; Clarksville, Tennessee; Marietta, Georgia; Hayden, Idaho; and Otsego, Minnesota, and executed 52 letters of intent to support future expansion. Additionally, notable agreements in Las Vegas and Reno will introduce the brand to Nevada as its 32nd state once opened. Of the 24 new locations opened, 15 were developed by first-time franchisees to the system, while 17 existing markets transitioned to new ownershipreinforcing stability and sustained demand across the network.

"We're proud of the steady, intentional growth we achieved in 2025," said Donnie Carr, President and CEO of Christian Brothers Automotive. "From welcoming new franchisees and expanding into future markets to investing in our people and being recognized by our industry, this year reinforced who we are and where we're headed."

Beyond development, 2025 marked a strong year for industry recognition and internal investment. CBA ranked No. 74 on Entrepreneur's 2025 Top Franchises for Veterans list and No. 92 on Franchise Times' Top 400. Crucially, CBA ranked #1 in Customer Satisfaction among Aftermarket Full-Service Maintenance and Repair Providers by J.D. Power for the sixth time in a row*, remaining the only aftermarket automotive repair brand to top the category since its inception. The brand also advanced its commitment to workforce development with the announcement of a $12 million Technology & Training Center in Katy, Texas, set to open in early 2027.

Looking ahead to 2026, CBA is prioritizing strategic development in several key territories, including New Berlin, Wisconsin; Mechanicsville, Virginia; Derby, Kansas; Shoreview, Minnesota; Blaine, Minnesota; Winterville, North Carolina; and Rincon, Georgia, with the continued mission to expand into existing and new markets as well as into its 31st state when the Cheyenne, Wyoming location opens this summer. The brand is also advancing its shop air-conditioning initiative, with over 160 locations already retrofitted, further enhancing the guest experience.

Founded in Mission Bend, Texas, in 1982, CBA has redefined the auto care experience. Ranked #1 by J.D. Power for Customer Satisfaction among Aftermarket Full-Service Maintenance and Repair Providers six times in its 2019 and 2021-2025 ASI studies, the brand's priority is to create a positive experience for every guest.* From oil changes to complex engine diagnostics, CBA adheres to the principle, "Love your neighbor as yourself," and showcases this commitment through its people-first approach to car care.

For more information about CBA or franchise opportunities, please visit cbac.com or visit christianbrothersfranchise.com. Follow us on Facebook and LinkedIn for the latest news and trends.

About Christian Brothers Automotive Corporation

Dedicated to its brand mission "To love your neighbor as yourself," Christian Brothers Automotive has firmly planted its roots in faith and honesty, which have set it apart in the auto services and repair industry. Standing out from the competition, Christian Brothers Automotive ranked #1 in Customer Satisfaction among Aftermarket Full-Service Maintenance and Repair Providers by J.D. Power six times.*

With its guiding principles instilled from the very first location in 1982, Christian Brothers Automotive has successfully expanded to more than 330 locations across 30 states. The Houston-based franchise delivers a variety of professional auto-care experiences including upkeep, maintenance, and repair.

*Christian Brothers Automotive received the highest score for aftermarket full-service maintenance and repair in the J.D. Power 2019, 20212025 Aftermarket Service Index (ASI) Satisfaction Studies of customer satisfaction with automotive aftermarket service providers. Visit jdpower.com/awards for more details.

MEDIA CONTACT:

Hayden Koone, Tidehouse

[email protected]

(954) 893-9150

SOURCE Christian Brothers Automotive
Sir Keir Starmer seeks a more pragmatic relationship with Xi Jinping - Stefan Rosseau/Getty

Widely held security concerns notwithstanding, China last week received Downing Street approval for a new mega-embassy in the heart of London.

In other attempts to cosy up to Beijing, Britain has rejected calls to follow the European Union into imposing swingeing tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles, allowing China to make deep inroads into the UK car market.

And Britain has also substantially based its green energy transition on Chinese imports of solar panels, wind turbines, battery technology, critical minerals and other enabling raw materials and components.

Meanwhile, export sales to China are shrinking, even as overall imports ballooned to 72.5bn in the year to June 2025 (the last available data). Anecdotally, China has since continued to consolidate its surplus.

It is against this backdrop that a high-level delegation of UK ministers and business leaders this week flies to Beijing for talks on how to further strengthen trade and diplomatic ties.

The Government is no doubt right to want to improve relations after years in which, in the words of Sir Keir Starmer, Britain has been instructed by a simplistic binary choice between golden age and ice age. The Prime Minister aims for a more pragmatic relationship.

The Government has approved Chinas bid to build a mega-embassy in London - Dan Kitwood/Getty

The shameful, not to say imbecilic, way in which Donald Trumps America has treated the UK, its most dependable ally, has added piquancy to his efforts.

Head-of-state trade missions tend to be largely performative in nature. No doubt there will be the usual rounding up of lots of already signed deals resurrected into an impressively large number to demonstrate a positive outcome, but the visit is more about messaging than anything else.

Not much can be achieved in just three days, taking in Beijing and Shanghai before moving on to Tokyo, but then this is not really about new contracts.

Rather, it is about the symbolism of the first visit by a UK prime minister in eight years, and its about giving two fingers to the US, or at least signalling that the UK wont be bossed around by American threats.

The White House said the UK should not approve Chinas new London embassy, but it did, and now its leading lights are off to Beijing to offer the hand of friendship.

But what has Britain so far got in return? Very little, by the look of it. Total UK exports to China in the year to the end of last June at 30.5bn are dwarfed by what they sell to us, and likewise, UK direct foreign investment in China is more than double what China has invested in the UK.

This is, in other words, pretty much a one-way street, both in terms of the balance of trade and foreign direct investment (FDI).

And its getting worse. Chinese goods displaced from the US by Trump-era tariffs are increasingly being dumped instead on Europe, including the UK.

Chinas trade surplus rose to a record $1.2tn (948bn) last year regardless of the drop off in trade with the US. Even this level is very probably an understatement, because China distorts the data to downplay the true size of this whopping great anomaly at the heart of the world economy.

But the worst element of this far from equal partnership is not Chinas seeming determination to decimate European and UK industry via aggressively pursued mercantilism, but its active support for Vladimir Putins murderous invasion of Ukraine.

Chinese help comes in two forms. On the one hand, as a willing market for Russian oil and gas and on the other as a supplier of the goods and components needed to bypass Western sanctions and sustain Russias war machine. Sino-Russian trade has seen explosive growth since the start of the Ukraine war.

Without this twin-headed succour, Putins land grab would already almost certainly be dead in the water.

It is indeed bizarre that the UK should be trying to rebuild relations with Beijing while at the same time doling out billions in military aid to Ukraine to sustain a defence which would have long since triumphed but for Chinas support for the aggressors.

Granted, todays globalised world of interconnected international supply chains is a messy and complicated one, but to be supporting Ukraines fight against Russia while simultaneously breaking bread with a geopolitical power that seeks to undermine it is an absurd state of affairs which in any other era would have been regarded as duplicity on steroids.

If ever there was a case of a push-me-pull-you foreign policy, this is it. No doubt there are historical precedents, but Im struggling to think what they might be.

In beating a path to Beijings door, Starmer merely follows in a growing lineup of Western leaders seeking partial shelter from the idiocies of Trump by engaging with China.

Emmanuel Macron, the French president, was there last month, and Friedrich Merz, the German chancellor, is scheduled to visit shortly.

In Beijing last week, Mark Carney, the prime minister of Canada, went so far as to say that the relationship with China was more predictable than with the US.

As if in punishment, Trump immediately threatened an additional 100pc tariff on Canada if it dared to do a trade deal with China  another worthless ultimatum, as it happens, since Ottawa is proposing no such thing.

Engaging with China is always going to be the most effective way of managing the various threats Beijing poses to British geopolitical interests, cybersecurity, human rights and jobs.

But it can never be a substitute for the ties  political, economic and military  that the UK has with the US. Forged in the traumas of the Second World War, those ties are deep and entrenched and will surely outlive the grotesque posturing of just one president.

And if Chinas ultimate intention is to split the West, with Europe, the UK and Canada pulling away from the US, it has set about it in a particularly inept way.

The undiplomatic wolf warrior characteristics of Chinas foreign minister, Wang Yi, were on full display in preparations for the EU-China summit last year, when he managed to insult almost everyone, and concluded by admitting that China did not want to see Russia lose the war in Ukraine.

The subsequent summit itself, moved at the last moment from Brussels to Beijing, was a damp squib that achieved nothing at all.

China has, moreover, proved largely indiscriminate in retaliating against Trumps tariff war, imposing many countermeasures on Europe and the US alike.

If Starmer can persuade Xi Jinping to dial down his friendship with Putin, itll be worth the visit. But dont hold your breath; fat chance, when even the US is more set on rehabilitating Putin by inviting him onto Trumps Board of Peace than further isolating him.

Just as unlikely is successfully persuading Xi to meaningfully open up his markets to foreign participation, thereby reducing the Chinese surplus. Still, the UK delegation can at least look forward to some top-class chow mein.
The family of a Haitian asylum seeker who died mysteriously last month while in ICE detention is demanding to know what happened to the remarkably healthy 41-year-old.

New Jersey resident Jean Wilson Brutus  known to friends as Wilson  was picked up by Immigration and Customs Enforcement on December 11 and taken to Delaney Hall, a troubled facility in Newark operated by the GEO Group, the nations largest private prison company.

Within 24 hours of his arrival, Brutus experienced a medical emergency, according to a news release ICE issued at the time under the headline, Criminal illegal alien passes away at University Hospital following medical emergency at Delaney Hall Detention Facility. He was taken by ambulance to a hospital, and pronounced dead the following day, the agency said.

ICE attributed Brutuss death to natural causes, but provided no further details, other than the fact that Brutus had no signs of distress during intake nor a medical history of cardiovascular issues.

In a statement provided Tuesday to The Independent, Brutuss cousin Evans Belony said, Before Wilson became a shocking headline, tied without a factual basis to investigations and unanswered questions, he was known by all as a kind and gentle soul who was always there when someone needed help. Wilson left Haiti for America because he was living in fear, in a war zone. He came in search of safety, stability, and the American Dream, believing that hard work, decency, and compassion still mattered.

Jean Wilson Brutus died within 24 hours of his incarceration at Delaney Hall, a privately run ICE lockup in Newark, New Jersey (Provided)

Brutuss loved ones remain overcome with grief, according to Belony, who said they are committed to finding out what happened to him, not just for our family but for everyone in our country living in fear of masked federal agents coming to take them or their loved ones away from their homes and families.

The relatives have now retained civil rights attorneys Oliver Barry and Joseph Champagne Jr., the former mayor of Toms River, New Jersey, to investigate Brutuss death.

In a phone interview in Tuesday, Barry told The Independent that the family only learned that Brutus had even been taken into ICE custody was when they received notification of his death. And thats quite a call to get.

Brutus fled Haiti to escape political and gang violence, having endured horrific conditions there, Barry continued.

This is a man who was in the midst of asylum proceedings, in search of a better life, he said.

Brutus was the first detainee to die at Delaney Hall since it reopened last year under a $1 billion, 15-year contract with the GEO Group. The 1,000-bed immigration jail singlehandedly multiplied ICEs detention capacity in New Jersey four times over, according to the ACLU. Detainees have since complained of inedible food, undrinkable water and say that they have been forced to go without toothpaste, toilet paper or appropriate winter clothing.

Reached for comment on Tuesday, GEO Group spokesman Christopher Ferreira referred The Independent to ICE, which did not respond to inquiries.

Delaney Hall, an ICE lockup in Newark, New Jersey, has been a flashpoint since it reopened last year. The family of Brutus, an asylum seeker who died less than 24 hours after entering the gates, is now demanding answers (Getty Images)

The family hired Barry and Champagne Jr. specifically because they have been kept in the dark by federal authorities, and want to know what happened to Brutus. The absence of any information from ICE or the GEO Group has only served to intensify the grief Brutuss family is experiencing, according to Barry.

What they do know is that a perfectly healthy 41-year-old does not enter a safe, properly and professionally run detention facility and within less than a day is in a body bag, Barry said in the statement released Tuesday.

Brutus, according to ICE, entered the United States without legal permission on June 20, 2023, at the Hidalgo Port of Entry in Hidalgo, Texas. He was then released, pending immigration proceedings, ICE said in the announcement reporting Brutuss death. Aside from calling Brutus a criminal illegal alien in its press release, ICE laid out Brutuss previous record, consisting of a handful of minor arrests for criminal trespassing and criminal mischief.

The United States presently holds more than 65,000 people in civil immigration detention, more than any other nation in the world. At least 31 people died in ICE custody in 2025, nearly three times the number in 2024, making it the deadliest year for the deportation agency in more than two decades. At least six people have died in ICE detention during the first month of 2026, along with two civilians, both U.S. citizens, who were shot dead by immigration authorities in Minneapolis.

ICE is committed to ensuring that all those in custody reside in safe, secure and humane environments, according to the ICE news release following Brutuss passing. Comprehensive medical care is provided from the moment individuals arrive and throughout the entirety of their stay.

Newark Mayor Ras Baraka was arrested last year by federal agents while trying to perform an official oversight visit at Delaney Hall (Getty Images)

Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, a Democrat, was arrested last May while trying to conduct an official oversight visit at Delaney Hall; the charges have since been dropped. Rep. LaMonica McIver, a New Jersey Democrat, was arrested the same day for allegedly impeding two agents during Barakas arrest; those charges remain pending.

McIver demanded accountability by ICE in the wake of Brutuss death, saying the Trump administration had shown a complete disregard for human rights, human dignity, and human life.

Sen. Cory Booker, also a Democrat from New Jersey, said he was deeply concerned about the news and condemned what he deemed inhumane conditions at Delaney Hall.

Barry told The Independent that he and Champagne are now in the process of gathering information, and are awaiting the results of an independent autopsy. They have also submitted numerous public records requests, have sent evidence preservation letters to everyone involved and are continuing to identify potential witnesses. Soon, Barry expects to have a little more clarity on how Brutus died.

A GoFundMe campaign Belony launched 10 days ago to cover Brutuss funeral, memorial and burial expenses, has so far raised a little more than $13,000 of its $50,000 goal. Brutus was not wealthy, but he was rich in heart, the verified fundraiser tells potential donors, recalling a man known for always helping with his hands and expecting nothing in return.

In his statement on Tuesday, Belony described the family as overcome with grief about losing Brutus.

His story cannot end here, Belony said. His life mattered. And we are committed to finding out what happened to him, not just for our family but for everyone in our country living in fear of masked federal agents coming to take them or their loved ones away from their homes and families.
Pro-choice protesters at a rally in support of Planned Parenthood. Photograph: Saul Loeb/AFP/Getty Images (Photograph: Saul Loeb/AFP/Getty Images)

When subsidies for US healthcare plans expired at the end of last year, millions of Americans saw their monthly premiums suddenly hit eye-watering, unaffordable levels. But the congressional fight over reviving Affordable Care Act (ACA) subsidies has gotten stuck on a familiar snag in US politics: abortion.

Congressional leaders said on Thursday they had reached a bipartisan deal to use a spending bill to overhaul elements of the US healthcare system, with a focus on corporate middlemen who have been accused of raising prescription drug prices, but the deal does not address the subsidies. The deal could also fall apart, as Democrats and Republicans are now splintering over whether and how to back government spending measures in the wake of federal officers fatal shooting of Alex Pretti in Minneapolis.

Although the House passed a bill earlier this month to revive the subsidies, with the aid of 17 Republicans, the Senate has yet to take up the issue. With negotiations dragging on, a handful of states have extended their open enrollment periods to the end of January.

But a change may not be reached in time. Republicans have refused to move forward without more restrictions on abortion coverage within ACA plans, while Democrats say thats a nonstarter.

Once we get past this issue, theres decent agreement on everything else, Bernie Moreno, a Republican senator from Ohio whos played a key role in talks about the subsidies, told reporters.

First introduced at the height of Covid, the subsidies lowered costs for 90% of ACA enrollees, who tend to be individuals who dont receive healthcare through an employer, such as contract and gig workers, stay-at-home parents and small-business owners. Now, the average enrollees premium costs have more than doubled, from about $900 to more than $1,900 annually, according to an analysis by the health policy group KFF.

People are very, very price-sensitive, and it can become very, very expensive, said Alina Salganicoff, KFFs lead expert on womens health policy. Compared to this point last year, about 800,000 fewer people have so far signed up to buy plans through the ACAs marketplace.

Abortion rights has been a sticking point in debates over the Affordable Care Act since its inception. Anti-abortion Democrats nearly torpedoed the entire bill in 2010, before agreeing to support it as long as it contained specific language affirming the Hyde amendment. That amendment, which dates back to the 1970s, blocks the use of federal funding to pay for abortions except in cases of rape, incest or medical emergencies.

However, states can offer plans on the ACA marketplace that cover abortion if those plans dont rely on federal dollars. Twelve states require that marketplace plans include abortion coverage, while another 13 and Washington DC permit them to do so.

The effort by anti-choice groups to rehash what is already settled in federal law is nothing more than an attempt to further encroach on the ability of women to have full reproductive rights, Jeanne Shaheen, a Democratic senator from New Hampshire, said in a statement. It is critical for us to find a path forward to ensure millions of Americans can afford their health insurance.

But anti-abortion opponents say the current compromise violates the Hyde amendments principles.

The whole little workaround  that, well, its required by the states and not by the feds  is ridiculous, said Kristi Hamrick, vice-president of media and policy for the powerful anti-abortion group Students for Life of America. Its no threat to us that it will collapse if theres not an agreement on Hyde.

If Congress were to change the rules around abortion coverage as part of its fight over the ACA subsidies, the people who live in the 12 states where abortion coverage is mandated could immediately lose their healthcare, Salganicoff said.

I dont see it as violating the spirit of the Hyde amendment at all. These are separate funds, Salganicoff said. Its not like those federal subsidies are being used to pay for abortion services. I dont see the evidence of that.

Support for the Hyde amendment has long been non-negotiable among congressional Republicans, but Donald Trump urged them to be a little flexible on Hyde earlier this month.

You gotta work something, Trump told a GOP gathering. You gotta use ingenuity.

But Trumps advice may have had the opposite effect, according to a source familiar with the discussions in Congress. The presidents comment, the source said, actually had a lot of Republicans digging in and saying: There actually is no movement on the issue.

Abortion opponents have grown increasingly frustrated with the Trump administration over its first year back in power. While the administration announced Thursday that it would investigate Planned Parenthood over government loans, ban the use of fetal tissue from abortions in some government research, and expand an anti-abortion policy to block foreign aid for groups that promote diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, anti-abortion activists have been disappointed by the administrations lack of action on abortion pills.

Last I checked, theres a midterm election coming, Hamrick said. The voter intensity on the part of pro-life voters in the Republican coalition of social conservatives, national security conservatives and economic conservatives relies heavily on the grassroots. That means pro-life conservatives, social conservatives. This is no time for the GOP to be anything less than eloquent and active in pursuing our vote.
Financial support for struggling pub and live music venues is welcome but wholly inadequate, bosses have warned after the Treasury cut business rates bills.

Pubs and live music venues in England will benefit from 15% off their business rates bills from April, after warnings from the sector that changes from Novembers autumn budget would lead to mass closures and job losses.

However, the fresh intervention was met with a mixed reaction, with some pub bosses cheering the support while others raised concerns over its scope.

Other hospitality businesses such as hotels, restaurants and cafes will not receive additional support despite their own concerns over soaring tax bills.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves said pubs are different, when asked why other hospitality operators would not benefit.

Speaking at a pub in south-east London after pouring a pint and a gin and tonic, the Chancellor said: In the budget, we reformed how the business rates system worked and we put in 4.3 billion to support businesses as we start to unwind the pandemic era support, and thats the right thing to do because that pandemic support cant continue forever.

But we recognise that after the pandemic, valuations of many pubs have increased sharply and thats put pressure on pubs.

Our response to today's announcement  We are pleased the government has listened to our concerns, and those of publicans, consumers and MPs who rallied to defend our locals. This pub specific package will stave off the immediate financial threat posed by accelerating business  British Beer & Pub Association (@beerandpub) January 27, 2026

She said she understood concerns about hotels and high street businesses, but added: Pubs are different.

They are a huge community asset. Seven thousand pubs closed under the last Conservative government and weve got to do more to protect our pubs.

Steve Perez, boss of the Casa Hotel and Peak Edge Hotel, both based near Chesterfield, Derbyshire, said the new funding simply doesnt go far enough.

He told the Press Association news agency: One of our sites is seeing its business rates going up by 45%, another by 115%. Its completely unfair.

Hotels and restaurants employ large numbers of people but make very little money so should also be eligible for support.

On Tuesday, Treasury minister Dan Tomlinson said the property tax bills for pubs and music venues in England will be reduced by 15% in 2026/27 and then be frozen in real terms for the next two years.

He added that the support will be worth 1,650 for the average pub next year.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves said pubs are different, when asked why other hospitality operators would not benefit (Stefan Rousseau/PA) (Stefan Rousseau)

Mr Tomlinson said: This decision will mean that the amount of business rates paid by the pub sector as a whole will be lower in 2028/29.

It will also apply to music venues too. Many are valued as pubs and it would not be right to draw the line.

Dom Jacobs, founder and managing director of the Ardent Pub Group in London, said: Rachel Reeves latest U-turn may be welcome, but it is wholly inadequate.

Hospitality continues to shoulder an excessive tax burden, and this half-measure does nothing to change that.

Instead of backing a sector capable of delivering real growth and jobs, the government has once again missed the mark, a failure that will inevitably push many brilliant publicans out of business.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves delivered the budget in November (Stefan Rousseau/PA) (Stefan Rousseau)

But Jonathan Neame, chief executive of pub firm and brewer Shepherd Neame, was more positive.

I think I have been among the Governments harshest critics but it is good to see they have listened to concerns and come up with a sensible level of rates, he told the Press Association.

It will take the pressure off a little bit and make a significant difference for our pub tenants.

The Treasurys intervention comes after an intensifying backlash from industry bosses and MPs over impending tax increases.

Dozens of Labour MPs, including Chancellor Rachel Reeves, have been barred by pub landlords in response to Novembers autumn budget.

In the budget, the Treasury announced changes to business rates which introduced a lower multiplier used to calculate the commercial property tax.

This was more than offset by the removal of a Covid-era 40% discount to business rates bills for hospitality, leisure and retail businesses, as well as new property valuations.

The Chancellor introduced transitional relief to manage increases to rates bills over the next three years after the removal of sector discounts.

However, industry bodies UKHospitality and the British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA) had warned that pub business rates bills would still increase by an average of 15%, or 1,400, in April without an intervention.

They said this would have led to an average rise of 76%, or 7,000, by the 2028/29 financial year.

The Government also committed to reviewing the methodology used for assessing the value of hotels, with hotel business set for a 115% increase in rates in the next three years.

It also confirmed plans to publish a new high street strategy.

Business rates are devolved in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Matthew Goodwin speaking at a press conference on Tuesday after being announced as the candidate for Reform UK in the Gorton and Denton byelection. Photograph: Christopher Thomond/The Guardian (Photograph: Christopher Thomond/The Guardian)

The Reform UK candidate in the Gorton and Denton byelection has refused to disown his claim that UK-born people from minority ethnic backgrounds are not necessarily British.

Matthew Goodwin, a hard-right activist, was presented on Tuesday as the partys candidate in the demographically diverse seat in south-east Manchester.

Goodwin has been criticised for claiming recently that people from black, Asian or other immigrant backgrounds were not always British, saying: It takes more than a piece of paper to make somebody British.

Speaking at an event in Denton, the GB News presenter twice declined to answer when asked by the Guardian whether he stood by those views  described by the Liberal Democrats as racist and abhorrent.

Nearly half of the Gorton and Denton population  44%  identifies as coming from a minority ethnic background, while 79% of the constituency identifies as British, according to the latest census.

Related: Reforms Matt Goodwin is sure hes the right man for Gorton and Denton. He just doesnt know why | John Crace

Goodwin refused to answer the Guardians questions as he posed for photographs alongside the Reform MP Lee Anderson at a bar in Denton.

Anderson, the Reform chief whip, described Goodwin as a fearless activist who would debate anybody at any time.

Lucy Powell, Labours deputy leader, said Goodwins politics sought to drive a wedge between communities in Manchester and that Reform offered division, animosity and hatred  not the unity and pride which our city stands for.

The Green party leader, Zack Polanski, alleged that Goodwin had a track record of anti-Muslim bigotry and that his candidacy was an insult to constituents.

Polanski, whose party is the bookies favourite to win, has characterised the byelection as a fight between Reform and the Greens.

On a rally on Tuesday evening he described the contest as a battle for the soul of our country.

Referring to recent defections to Reform by Robert Jenrick and Suella Braverman, he said: Reform is a party pretending to be anti-establishment thats made up of former Conservative cabinet members. Theyre just the worst bits of the Tories rebranded.

Reform is trying to overturn Labours 13,000-vote majority and gain its ninth MP, after the defection of the former Conservative home secretary Suella Braverman on Monday.

The Green party is also challenging strongly for the seat, which has a significant left-voting population and whose voters sent a Labour MP to Westminster for decades before the boundary changes in 2024.

Goodwins selection as the Reform candidate has surprised some commentators, given his outspoken views on British nationality and Islam.

Only three weeks ago, he wrote that Britains ruling class was silencing debate about Islam in one of the most serious assaults on free speech and free expression Britain has ever seen. More than one in four voters in Gorton and Denton identify as Muslim.

Asked for his message to the thousands of minority ethnic voters in the constituency, Goodwin told reporters: My message to everybody in this seat is [that] if you are working hard, paying taxes, contributing to this economy, you should be as concerned by whats happening in No 10 Downing Street as I am.

We have got a government under Keir Starmer that is clearly not in touch with the people in this seat. Its not about what your religion is, its not about what your race is, what your ethnicity is.

Its about whether or not you play by the rules, whether or not you feel that youre being respected, you feel the system is being fair to you  I dont view it in those divisive terms. I think lots of people in this seat are going to be saying weve had the [Labour] party in this constituency for all of our lives and whats changed?

Anderson, a former Conservative MP, said Reform would focus its byelection campaign on crime, the decline of the high street, and houses of multiple occupancy  which he claimed were home to upwards of four or five single young men, creating all sorts of mayhem, committing crimes, terrorising neighbourhoods.

Goodwin and Anderson referred several times in the 30-minute press conference to the issue of child grooming gangs, an issue that is most potent in nearby Rochdale and Oldham council areas.

Goodwin described Reforms lead in the polls as the most significant insurgency since the rise of the Labour party 100 years ago when it replaced the Liberals. This is a seismic political revolution that were all living through.
The government backing The Independents call to protect HIV funding and help end the Aids pandemic by 2030 could be an important success story for the UK, chief international correspondent Bel Trew has told parliaments International Development Select Committee (IDC).

The UK is slashing its foreign aid funding by 40 per cent across the next three years in order to spend more on defence, with an announcement expected imminently on where those cuts will fall. The UK decision comes after Donald Trump has already decimated US aid funding by essentially shuttering the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

In 2024, the world was on track to end the AIDS pandemic by 2030, but devastating cuts have thrown this prospect into doubt. Reporting from The Independent has shown that if current funding programmes are dismantled, millions more could die worldwide, with infections set to reach levels not seen since the height of the crisis 25-years-ago. Medication-resistant strains could more than double.

A coalition of leading charities, advocates and MPs has signed a letter from the editor-in-chief of The Independent, Geordie Greig, urging Sir Keir Starmer to protect UK funding for the global HIV response  or risk missing the incredible opportunity to end the Aids pandemic within the next few years. Thousands more have signed a petition launched by The Independent backing this call.

This could be a success story for the UK... we could end the Aids pandemic by 2030 and the UK could be the owner of that... this is the moment to do that right now, Trew told the committee.

Raising the example of the rollout of the lenacapavir, the closest thing we have to an HIV vaccine, which has just started to be distributed in Sub-Saharan Africa, Trew added: The UK could step in [and help with], even with limited resources, in that efficient way, and that could be communicated to the public.

Trew, who has reported on the ground on the impact of Mr Trumps aid cuts on HIV treatment in Zimbabwe and Uganda, said lenacapavir is something the UK can take ownership of, we can actually see positive results of, we can fill the gaps left by what used to be one of the biggest [aid] donors [the US] and we can do that in a way that can be a success. It is a win-win.

The Elton John Aids Foundation, the National Aids Trust, Medecins Sans Frontieres and the STOPAids coalition are among the groups backing The Independents call for funding to be protected.

The chair of the IDC, Labour MP Sarah Champion, praised The Independents work around aid cuts, HIV funding and global aid by saying: If you haven't read the articles... they are really good. So thank you for all the work you are doing in this space.

Conservative MP David Mundell, another member of IDC, also praised The Independents work on the issue. Congratulations to The Independent for the work you have done in highlighting the impact of cuts in relation to the support for HIV and AIDS funding and highlighting that publicly, he said.

It comes after Jennifer Chapman, the minister of state for international development and Africa, refused to say whether UK funding for the global HIV response will be protected in a separate IDC evidence hearing last week. Mr Mundell asked whether funding for organisations like the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) will be maintained in order for the UK to maintain its global leadership in the push to end the AIDS pandemic by 2030.

In response, Baroness Chapman said: I cannot say that everything you have listed will be protected... However, whatever [the allocations] are, I think our commitment to working alongside those organisations that have proved themselves effective is not going to change.

Mr Mundell, chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on HIV, AIDS and Sexual Health, who also took part in a Westminster roundtable discussion on the cuts organised withThe Independent, said to Baroness Chapman: When the APPG met, we acknowledged that you had got what we perceived to be the best possible deal on the Global Fund in all the circumstances that you faced. However, in order for the UK to maintain that leadership, there are other organisations that we need to support, such as the Robert Carr Fund, Unitaid and UNAIDS. Can you give us some hope that, when you make your various announcements, support will be there for those organisations? It is essential to complement the Global Fund to achieve that objective.

As well as refusing to detail the funding for those organisations, Baroness Chapman said that there would likely need to be changes to the way groups work within the UK framework for supporting the UN. The way we co-ordinate and work through UN organisations, the Robert Carr Fund and others needs to be brought together. We need to have conversations about what, in 2026, she said. That is the right way to get the impact, given the changes in technology and some of the shifts we are seeing more widely. I think that is the moment where we have those conversations.

This article has been produced as part of The Independents Rethinking Global Aid project
Greg Bovino set to leave Minneapolis and could retire in wake of Alex Pretti killing, report says

Border Patrol commander at large Gregory Bovino has been removed from his role in Minneapolis and will return to his old job in California, according to reports.

Bovino, who has been heavily involved in crackdowns on immigration across the country, will return to El Centro and could even retire soon, a DHS official and two other sources told The Atlantic.

However, in an online statement, DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin strongly denied the claims.

Chief Gregory Bovino has NOT been relieved of his duties, she wrote on X in response to the reports, adding that Bovino is a key part of the Presidents team and a great American.

President Donald Trump said on Monday that he had asked border czar Tom Homan to go to Minneapolis and oversee the administrations immigration enforcement campaign.

It comes following the recent chaotic events in Minneapolis, in which two protesters have been shot dead by federal agents in less than three weeks. Renee Nicole Good was shot by an ICE agent on January 7 and ICU nurse Alex Pretti was killed on Saturday.

Bovino was set to leave Minneapolis as soon as Tuesday, CNN reported. However, news of his role change had not been specified. The broadcaster also reported that Bovino has also had his access to his social media accounts cut off, effective immediately.

Border Patrol commander at large Gregory Bovino has been removed from his role and will return back to his old job in California, according to The Atlantic. The DHS has pushed back on the report. (Brandon Bell/Getty Images)

Bovino previously blamed Democrats and journalists for the escalating situation in Minneapolis, and dodged questions on whether his agency bore responsibility for the tragedies.

Footage captured from multiple angles showed how 37-year-old Pretti was sprayed in the face with mace and thrown to the ground by officers before being beaten and ultimately shot multiple times.

When politicians, community leaders and some journalists engage in that heated rhetoric we keep talking about, when they make the choice to vilify law enforcement, calling law enforcement names like Gestapo or using the term kidnapping, that is a choice that has made their actions and consequences that come from those choices, Bovino said Sunday.

When someone chooses to listen to a politician, a so-called journalist, or a community leader that spouts that type of vilification towards law enforcement or anything else there are consequences and actions there also, I think we saw that [Saturday], he added

Bovino was reportedly set to leave Minneapolis as soon as Tuesday due to one of his agents being involved with the Prettis death, however news of his role change had not been specified (AFP/Getty)

When asked if he or the Department of Homeland Security intended to take any responsibility for the fatal shootings, Bovino dodged the question, describing Pretti and Good as suspects who assault, delay, obstruct or threaten a law enforcement officer's life.

The reported removal of Bovino and some of his agents from the city appeared to mark a shift in tone from the Trump administration in its handling of the situation in Minnesota, which has seen an explosion in tension between protesters and law enforcement following the two fatal shootings.

On Monday, the president spoke with Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz in separate and seemingly positive conversations.

Bovino previously blamed Democrats and journalists for the chaos in Minneapolis, and dodged questions on whether his agency bore responsibility for the tragedies. Footage captured from multiple angles showed how 37-year-old Pretti was sprayed in the face with mace before being thrown to the ground by officers before being beaten and ultimately shot multiple times (Roberto Schmidt/AFP via Getty Images)

In a Monday afternoon statement, Frey said Trump agreed the present situation cant continue in the city, adding: Some federal agents will begin leaving the area tomorrow, and I will continue pushing for the rest involved in this operation to go.

Walz said that during their conversation, the president agreed to look into reducing the number of federal agents in Minnesota.

Meanwhile, Trump described both his conversations with the Minnesota leaders as very good.

The president also announced that he would be sending his border czar, Tom Homan, to oversee federal operations in Minnesota from now on, describing him as tough but fair. Homan will report directly to Trump, the president confirmed.
Greg Bovino, Customs and Border Protections Commander at Large, has been removed from his role fronting President Donald Trumps illegal immigration crackdown in Minneapolis, according to reports.

The decision follows the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti, 37, after a confrontation with officers on Saturday, which followed the earlier killing of another demonstrator, Renee Good, also 37, on January 7.

Amid growing public hostility to the ICE-led operation, Trump moved to act on Monday, placing border czar Tom Homan in charge of operations in the state, staging late-night crisis talks with Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and her top aide Corey Lewandowski, and sending Bovino, 55, back to his native California.

DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin denied that the CBP leader, who has been nicknamed the Little Napoleon for his short stature, had been demoted.

Chief Gregory Bovino has NOT been relieved of his duties, she wrote on X (Twitter). As White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated from the White House podium, Commander Bovino is a key part of the presidents team and a great American.

Customs and Border Patrol commander Greg Bovino salutes a colleague in Chicago after leaving court last October (AFP/Getty)

Bovino has become one of the faces of the Trump administrations anti-immigration push in the last six months.

Critics of the operation on social media regularly point to photographs of the commander, with his jarhead haircut and penchant for long military coats, of echoing the fascist aesthetics of the past.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom joked at the World Economic Forum in Davos last week that Bovino dressed as if he literally went on eBay and purchased SS garb.

Ironically, Bovinos own family only relatively recently migrated to the United States: his great-grandfather, Michele, came from Calabria, Italy, in 1909, originally to work in Pennsylvania's coal mines.

Gregory Kent Bovino was born in 1970 in San Bernardino County, California, before his parents relocated to Blowing Rock, North Carolina.

Bovino on the streets of Minneapolis earlier this month, surrounded by immigration agents (Getty)

His father, Michael, who had worked on a Golden State military base during the Vietnam War and later owned a bar, was a hard man, according to Bovinos sister Natalie, who bought his son his first gun at age eight and taught him to shoot rabbits and squirrels.

At 11, according to The Times, Bovino was impressed by the 1982 action filmThe Border, starring Jack Nicholson and Harvey Keitel, but disapproved of its portrayal of officers defending the U.S.-Mexico border as lawless and corrupt.

Around the same time, Bovinos family fell apart after his father killed a young woman in a drunk driving accident, and subsequently pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of death by motor vehicle, spending four months in prison.

The tragedy forced him to sell his bar, and the family suffered financial hardship, ultimately causing Bovinos parents to divorce.

Bovino nevertheless graduated from Western Carolina University in 1993 and attended Appalachian State University for graduate school and, in 1996, joined CBP and was assigned to El Paso, Texas.

Bovino flanked by fellow federal agents during a protest against ICE outside the Bishop Whipple Federal Building in Minneapolis, this month (AFP/Getty)

He quickly rose through its ranks, serving as an assistant Border Patrol chief in Yuma, Arizona, from 2008 and ultimately led sectors in New Orleans and El Centro, back in California.

Bovino was sued by two Black officers during his time in Louisiana, who accused him of overlooking them for promotion in favor of a white officer with whom he was a personal friend.

In recent years, Bovino reportedly became incensed by the actions of President Joe Biden, who he felt had rolled back what he considered to be the good work of the preceding Trump administration and allowed illegal immigrants to come flooding back into the country from Central America.

Bovino was promoted by the returning Trump last year because, in the words of McLaughlin, the president considered him a badass and admired his unapologetically macho approach to the task.

His actions in Los Angeles and Chicago last year, including aggressive turn and burn tactics in minority communities and allegations of racial profiling, have since caused him to rise to national prominence, not to say notoriety.

A Minneapolis protester gloats over Bovinos ousting Monday (Reuters)

Bovino appeared in court in Chicago in October and was accused of lying by U.S. District Judge Sara Ellis, who disputed his claim that he had been hit in the head with a rock thrown by a protester, which he had given as justification for firing tear gas on activists opposing the administrations Operation Midway Blitz.

Jenn Budd, author of the book Against the Wall: My Journey from Border Patrol Agent to Immigrant Rights Activist, had a more surprising label for Bovino, telling theTimes he is the Liberace of the Border Patrol.

He was just a little Napoleon who wants you to think that he is the most moral and capable guy in the world, and everything around you is dangerous but hes the one whos going to save you, Budd said. Its all a show for him.

She continued: He laughs when they call him out on the stuff, and its just a bro thing. Hes just going around with his bros, just capturing migrants and people of colour and harassing people.

Bovino addresses the media about events in Minneapolis last Thursday (Getty)

Bovino delivered a press conference over the weekend in response to the death of Pretti, at which he claimed the victim, who was armed, had been intent on inflicting maximum damage and was seeking to massacre law enforcement, for which there is little evidence.

He also blamed Democrats and journalists for the escalating tensions in Minneapolis and dodged questions about whether his agency bore responsibility.

When politicians, community leaders and some journalists engage in that heated rhetoric we keep talking about, when they make the choice to vilify law enforcement, calling law enforcement names like Gestapo or using the term kidnapping, that is a choice that has made their actions and consequences that come from those choices, he said.

CNN has since reported that his actions on social media accounts have been suspended, and The Atlantic has said he could retire soon following his return to El Centro.

Bovino previously told the Associated Press last year that he intends to return to North Carolina to harvest apples as soon as he reaches the mandatory retirement age of 57.
Labour has been accused of betraying leaseholders after announcing a 250 cap on ground rents despite pushing for the payments to be reduced to a peppercorn in opposition.

On Tuesday, the Government said ground rents would be capped in what ministers described as a crackdown on scams ripping off leaseholders.

Under the reforms they will eventually be reduced effectively to zero but only after a 40-year transition period.

New leasehold flats will be banned and existing leaseholders will get the right to switch to commonhold in a bid to give homeowners greater control over their properties.

Service charge bills will also have to be clearer to understand and it will be made easier for people to challenge unfair costs, the Government said.

In its manifesto, Labour promised to act where the Conservatives have failed and finally bring the feudal leasehold system to an end.

Campaign group Free Leaseholders accused ministers of betraying hardworking leaseholders to protect the ground rent grifters and offshore property mafia.

New leasehold flats will be banned (PA Archive)

Lets be clear, freezing ground rents or even capping them at 250 per annum keeps leasehold on life support, the group said in a statement.

It would be the opposite of ending leasehold, which is what the [Labours] manifesto promised.

Harry Scoffin, the founder Free Leaseholders, told LBC on Tuesday that the ground rent cap was a step in the right direction but not necessarily the win it was being touted as.

He argued that the money for nothing charges should be reduced to zero to make it easier for existing leaseholders to purchase their freehold cheaply.

Many of our supporters say that ground rent isnt the issue, its the crazy service charges, he said.

They are talking about commonhold for new [properties] but what about those in the existing stock, he added.

The Government insisted that the 250 cap balanced out the system between leaseholders and freeholders as it seeks to tackle the housing crisis in London and other areas.

It had also been set at this amount in order to try to avoid legal battles over the landmark housing reforms.

Kensington and Bayswater MP Joe Powell said: Leaseholders across the capital will be celebrating this historic bill. Runaway service charges and ground rents will be a thing of the past.

The desperately needed end to this feudal system is now in sight for millions people across the country.

However, campaigners added that the reforms failed to adequately address service charges, major works costs and the price of lease extensions, which hit leaseholders hardest.

The shake-up also sparked an immediate backlash from freeholders.

Making the major announcement in a video posted on TikTok before heading to China, Sir Keir Starmer said: Ive spoken to so many people who say this will make a difference to them worth hundreds of pounds.

Thats really important because the cost of living is the single most important thing across the country.

The reforms will be published in the draft Leasehold and Commonhold Reform Bill, which will be introduced on Tuesday by housing minister Matthew Pennycook, MP for Greenwich and Woolwich.

Leaseholders on the Hallfield Estate in Westminster face huge bills for major works (ES)

Ministers said freeholders would not be offered compensation under the reforms.

But freehold leaders slammed the decision and warned it would hit the UKs reputation as a place to invest.

The Residential Freehold Association (RFA), which is the trade body representing professional freeholders, said the ground rent cap was "wholly unjustified" and warned over the impact on the UK's reputation for investors.

A spokesperson for the RFA said: "The inclusion of a ground rent cap in the draft Leasehold and Commonhold Reform Bill represents a wholly unjustified interference with existing property rights which if enacted, would seriously damage investor confidence in the UK housing market and send a dangerous and unprecedented signal to the wider institutional investment sector.

He added: "Property rights and contract law are fundamental drivers of domestic and global investor confidence in the UK.

"Instead of focusing on those reforms which address the issues that leaseholders care most about, the Government's draft Bill will tear up long-established contracts and property rights, which are pillars of the UK's investment reputation.

"This is, despite the previous government's own impact assessment showing compensation could exceed 27 billion.

However, Communities Secretary Steve Reed, MP for Streatham and Croydon North, hit out as ground rents as scams and rackets.

He told Times Radio: So we've had this, frankly, as a scam, where if you own a flat, you're a leaseholder, you have to pay ground rent to an individual organisation, even though they're not providing you with any service at all.

The amount that you pay is uncapped. so you can pay through the nose more and more money year after year, you dont know how much its going to be.

He stressed that Labour had put in its 2024 election manifesto that it would reform the leasehold system, and move to one of commonhold.

There wont be compensation, he added.

Housing Secretary Steve Reed said the Government was committed to a comprehensive reform of leasehold so that we can abolish it (PA Wire)

The Competition and Markets Authority, which has taken action against ground rent abuses, welcome the reforms.

Its chief executive Sarah Cardell said: "Our action has freed thousands of homeowners from doubling ground rents, and we have long supported a cap on ground rents to make sure all leaseholders get the fair deal they deserve.

"We welcome the Government's proposals, so people won't have to struggle against these rising fees anymore - particularly when many are already grappling with high costs elsewhere."

The watchdog has been leading a crackdown since 2019 on mis-selling of leasehold homes on contract terms that break consumer law, with probes involving major housing developers and freehold owners.

It said this has led to landmark changes helping more than 21,000 leaseholders across the UK.
Millions of leaseholders across England and Wales stand to benefit from an overhaul of the leasehold system, with ground rents set to be capped at 250 a year.

The shake-up will see many leaseholders save more than 4,000 over the course of their lease, with more than five million leaseholders and future homeowners benefiting from stronger control, powers and protections, the Government said.

The move marks the end of residential leaseholders paying over-the-top bills for no clear service in return and it will also make house sales easier for people whose lives have been put on hold because of ground rent terms that make their homes hard to sell, it added.

But the announcement also sparked concerns over the impacts for investor confidence in the housing market.

On Tuesday, savings and investment firm M&G warned of a 230 million one-off hit from the plans.

The company argued that the changes were disproportionate and would negatively impact savers and companies that have chosen to invest in UK assets.

M&G also said it was expecting an approximately 15 million hit to its annual adjusted operating profit once the proposed changes take effect, although company stressed that it was well positioned to absorb and manage the negative impacts generated by this proposed legislation.

A video was posted to the TikTok account @keirstarmer of Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer speaking about the decision (@keirstarmer/TikTok/PA) (@keirstarmer/TikTok)

Subject to parliamentary timings, the ground rent cap could come into force in late 2028.

Under the draft Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Bill, ground rent will be capped at 250 a year and be reduced effectively to zero after 40 years.

New leasehold flats will be banned and existing leaseholders will get the right to switch to commonhold, giving homeowners greater control over their properties.

Homeowners will receive a stake in the ownership of their buildings and have more say in issues affecting them, with greater control over how the building is managed and bills, the Government said.

Forfeiture, whereby leaseholders can lose their home and the equity they built up by defaulting on a debt as low as 350, will also be abolished.

Making the announcement in a video on TikTok, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said: Ive spoken to so many people who say this will make a difference to them worth hundreds of pounds.

Thats really important because the cost of living is the single most important thing across the country.

The move comes after backbenchers including former deputy prime minister Angela Rayner urged the Government to stick to Labours manifesto promise to tackle unregulated and unaffordable ground rent charges amid concerns the move could impact pension funds.

Angela Rayner urged the Government to stick to Labours manifesto promise to tackle unregulated and unaffordable ground rent charges (PA) (Lucy North)

Writing in the Guardian earlier this month, she said ministers were subjected to furious lobbying from wealthy investors trying to water down the commitment and warned people may lose faith if the party could not fix the obvious injustice with a cap.

Labour MPs previously urged ministers to go further than ending new leasehold flats by scrapping the system entirely.

Housing Secretary Steve Reed said: If you own a flat you can be forced to pay ground rents that can become completely unaffordable. We said wed be on the side of leaseholders  which is why today we are capping ground rent  helping millions of leaseholders by saving them money and giving them control over their home.

The Residential Freehold Association (RFA)  a trade body representing professional freeholders  said the ground rent cap is wholly unjustified.

A spokesperson for the RFA said the cap would seriously damage investor confidence in the UK housing market and send a dangerous and unprecedented signal to the wider institutional investment sector.

It said: Instead of focusing on those reforms which address the issues that leaseholders care most about, the Governments draft Bill will tear up long-established contracts and property rights, which are pillars of the UKs investment reputation.

There are around 3.8 million leasehold properties with a ground rent obligation across England and Wales, which see people own the right to occupy a property through a lease for a limited number of years from a freeholder.

Unlike a service charge, there is no requirement for freehold owners to provide a service in return for this payment.

Housing Secretary Steve Reed said we said wed be on the side of leaseholders (Gareth Fuller/PA) (Gareth Fuller)

The Government estimates about 770,000 to 900,000 leaseholders pay more than 250 a year, of which 490,000 to 590,000 are in London and the South.

Last year alone, leaseholders paid more than 600 million in ground rents and they are expected to save up to a combined 12.7 billion in total over the entire lease term due to the cap, according to the Government.

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has been leading a crackdown since 2019 on mis-selling of leasehold homes on contract terms that break consumer law, with probes involving major housing developers and freehold owners.

Sarah Cardell, chief executive of the CMA, said: Our action has freed thousands of homeowners from doubling ground rents, and we have long supported a cap on ground rents to make sure all leaseholders get the fair deal they deserve.

Timothy Douglas, head of policy and campaigns at property professionals body Propertymark, said: We know from our research with Propertymark member agents that leasehold properties with escalating ground rent will struggle to sell, even if priced correctly.

Addressing ground rents for existing leaseholders is a key step towards a fairer leasehold system. It brings existing leaseholders on par with new leaseholders, and it tackles one of the largest barriers to selling leasehold properties.

Chris Norris, chief policy officer for the National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA), said: Around one in four leasehold homes are in the private rented sector. Given this, the greater certainty provided by todays announcements is welcome.

In particular, the cap on ground rents will enable landlords to plan more effectively for future expenditure and business costs.

Great news  improving the lives of millions of leaseholders across our city and country by saving them money and giving them control over their home  https://t.co/DWL8pRHR1M  Sadiq Khan (@SadiqKhan) January 27, 2026

The Association of Leasehold Enfranchisement Practitioners (Alep), which comprises specialist solicitors, valuers and managing agents, said the draft bill is a step towards modernising tenure structures in England and Wales.

Mark Chick, Alep director and senior partner at Bishop & Sewell LLP, said: The structure of ownership underpins how communities are managed, maintained and held to account and reform was long-overdue.

David Fell, lead analyst at Hamptons, said: In recent years, both buyers and mortgage lenders have become increasingly cautious about committing to high or escalating ground rents and service charges, particularly where they seem disproportionate to what they get in return.

Paula Higgins, chief executive of HomeOwners Alliance said: The financial sector and vested interests should now step aside and allow these reforms to go unchallenged. Time has been called on treating homeowners as a lucrative income stream.

A spokesperson for the Association of British Insurers (AB) said: We support proportionate leasehold reform but pension funds  like the rest of the financial services industry  require predictable and stable rule of law if they are to have the confidence to invest.

We are deeply concerned that retrospective changes to existing property rights set a troubling precedent and undermine confidence in contract certainty.

It is likely to raise the risk premium that investors attach to the UK and could weaken its appeal as a destination for global capital and the domestic market.

We will continue to discuss this with members and government.
AUSTIN, Texas, Jan. 27, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- engage2learn (e2L), a leading provider of education innovation solutions for public school districts, today announced the launch of ReadyLab, a groundbreaking platform that allows districts to authentically assess and credential student employability skills through real evidence of learningwithout manual portfolio management or time-intensive scoring.

For the first time, districts can gather, assess, and report authentic student evidence of durable skills such as communication, collaboration, and digital intelligence using AI-powered evaluation. ReadyLab transforms how schools track students' readiness for the future by automatically analyzing student artifacts and reflections, providing personalized, scaffolded feedback to help students demonstrate growth over time.

"ReadyLab fills a critical gap in K12 education," said Shannon K. Buerk, CEO of engage2learn. "Districts have long wanted to measure the skills that matter most for employabilitybut until now, it's been impossible to do that at scale without creating more work for teachers. With ReadyLab, we're giving schools a way to authentically assess durable skills using the power of AI to make feedback immediate, meaningful, and equitable for every learner."

Designed to align with a district's Portrait of a Graduate, ReadyLab enables educators to track progress toward key competencies and generate skill reports aligned to Perkins V and other college, career, and military readiness (CCMR) indicators. The platform's automated assessment system and digital badging engine make it possible to recognize and credential students' growth in employability skills with consistency and transparency.

Early adopters, including a large urban district in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, are already using ReadyLab to help students earn badges for skills like emotional intelligence, digital intelligence, and communicationcollecting authentic artifacts and reflections that showcase their readiness for the future workforce.

"Our vision is that every student can graduate with tangible evidence of the durable skills that define success in college, career, and life," Buerk added. "ReadyLab is how we make that vision actionable for districts everywhere."

Media Contact:

Ryan Pflughaupt

Executive Director of Marketing

engage2learn

[email protected]

(833) 325-4769

About engage2learn

Founded in 2011, engage2learn (e2L) is a strategic transformation partner for public school districts, helping them rapidly and sustainably improve student outcomes and teacher retention through personalized, research-based support systems and its integrated GroweLab platform. e2L leverages its ESSA-validated approach to transform culture and build internal capacity so schools see results in weeks that last for years to come. Learn more at www.engage2learn.org .

SOURCE engage2learn
Hacks star Megan Stalter has deleted her Tiktok account after claiming that the app was censoring her posts criticising the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

The actor and comedian wrote in a post on Instagram she would be downloading her videos and leaving because the app is under new ownership and we are being completely censored and monitored.

Im unable to upload anything about ICE even after I tried to trick the page by making it look like a comedy video. Lets delete the app, love you, she wrote.

In a statement posted to its X account on Monday, the Tiktok USDS Joint Venture said: Since yesterday weve been working to restore our services following a power outage at a US data centre impacting TikTok and other apps we operate. We're working with our data center partner to stabilise our service. We're sorry for this disruption and hope to resolve it soon.

On Wednesday, they posted an update on the outage and said they were continuing to resolve a major infrastructure issue triggered by a power outage.

While the network has been recovered, the outage caused a cascading systems failure that we've been working to resolve together with our data centre partner, TikTok wrote, adding that users might encounter multiple bugs, slower load times, or timed-out requests, including when posting new content.

An update on our work to restore and stabilize TikTok. pic.twitter.com/PZzsuFeZmj  TikTok USDS Joint Venture (@tiktokusdsjv) January 26, 2026

Creators may temporarily see 0 views or likes on videos, and your earnings may look like they're missing. This is a display error caused by server timeouts; your actual data and engagement are safe, they added.

The Independent has reached out to representatives for Stalter and TikTok for comment.

Last week, TikTok owner Bytedance finalised a majority American-owned joint deal to keep operating in the US, which allows it to operate under defined safeguards that protect national security.

The deal ended years of uncertainty about the future of the social media platform in the country, with US officials previously claiming that the algorithm was vulnerable to manipulation by Chinese authorities, although no evidence had been presented to show that China had attempted to do so.

Protests against ICE have spread all over the country after federal immigration agents shot two people dead in Minneapolis this month. On 7 January, officers shot and killed Renee Nicole Good, a 37-year-old mother of three, as she was behind the wheel of her car. Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old ICU nurse, was killed on 24 January after a confrontation between agents and civilians escalated.

In both cases, the Donald Trump administration claimed that the agents acted in self-defence, which has been disputed by protestors citing video footage of the incidents.

Protests against ICE have spread all over the country after federal immigration agents shot two people dead in Minneapolis this month (Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

Stalter is not the only one claiming that her videos on ICE were being censored. Musician Billie Eilish reposted a video on her Instagram that had originally been posted on TikTok by her brother and collaborator Finneas, and wrote: TikTok is silencing people btw.

Youve spent 30 years straight telling us that children have to die so that were allowed to legally carry weapons everywhere in the United States, Finneas said in the video, which he said reached 0 viewers.

At the time of writing, Finneass video had 1.4 million views, but comments mention that the video is glitching.
More than 500,000 customers on heat networks are to be protected from unfair energy price hikes from this week when they finally come under Ofgem regulation.

The previously unregulated industry involves firms heating multiple buildings from a central heating source, such as taking excess heat generated from a data centre or factory to connected properties through pipes.

It comes under Ofgems remit from January 27.

New rules will bring heat network customers in England, Scotland and Wales more closely in line with those living on traditional gas and electricity connections.

Ofgem will have powers to act if a heat network operator puts up prices unfairly or delivers poor service, with compensation available to customers who suffer an outage.

Homes and businesses on heat networks will also see clearer, itemised billing and there will be greater support for vulnerable customers, the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) said.

Some heat network customers have seen energy prices rises of up to 450% following the increase in gas prices.

Minister for energy consumers Martin McCluskey said: For too long customers on heat networks have been unprotected, being hit with unfair price rises and having to manage with hugely inconvenient service outages.

Its simply not good enough  and that is why from today, were giving Ofgem new powers to act and hold heat network suppliers operating a poor-quality service to account.

Support is already available through the Energy Ombudsman, and I would encourage anyone with an ongoing issue with their heat network to get in touch with them and take advantage of these new consumer rights.

The Government also announced more than 47 million of funding through the Green Heat Network Fund to support the development of four heat network projects in Waterloo and Hounslow in London, Sunderland, and Media City in Salford.

The project in Waterloo will take heat from the River Thames to supply connected buildings, while the Media City project will take heat from wastewater source heat pumps.

Helena Charlton, director of heat networks at Ofgem, said: Ofgem is committed to putting consumers first, and the beginning of heat network regulation marks an important step towards better protections.

This change means customers will begin to benefit from stronger protections on billing, complaints and support for those in vulnerable situations.

Heat networks can deliver efficient, cost-effective heating  but there are instances where this is not the case. This framework will set important standards for consumers to rely on, backed up by our oversight.

Simon Francis, co-ordinator of the End Fuel Poverty Coalition, said: Bringing heat networks under Ofgem regulation is an important and long-overdue step.

These networks should be able to deliver low-cost energy for some of the poorest households in the country, but for years heat network customers have effectively been second-class energy consumers, facing huge price hikes, poor service and little meaningful protection.

But regulation alone wont fix everything. Ofgem and ministers must now make sure these powers are used robustly, vulnerable households are properly protected, and that heat networks genuinely deliver what they promise: affordable, reliable heat that helps tackle fuel poverty, not deepen it.

Do you live on a heat network? Our specialist energy service can help you with all of your heat network questions. Visit https://t.co/133TBmEYep for more info  pic.twitter.com/RtfGRnuuSN  CitizensAdvice (@CitizensAdvice) January 10, 2026

Gillian Cooper, director of energy at Citizens Advice, said: New protections for people who rely on heat networks are a pivotal moment.

For too long, people on heat networks have faced gaps in support and fewer safeguards than households using gas or electricity.

As the official advocate for heat network consumers in England and Wales, Citizens Advice is dedicated to providing tailored support through our specialist advice service.

Our priority is clear: heat network consumers must get the same outcomes as other energy consumers, and our advice and representation will work to turn that tide.

Dhara Vyas, the chief executive of Energy UK, which represents firms, said: Ensuring households on heat networks are protected in the same way as other energy customers will raise standards across Britains thousands of existing heat networks and lay a foundation from which the sector can grow.

Last weeks warm homes plan set out an ambitious goal of doubling the amount of heat demand met by heat networks over the next 10 years.

This new framework of consumer protections will provide confidence for customers and investors and serve as a launchpad for the development of new large-scale developments like city-wide, low-carbon networks.
A woman has been arrested in California after heart-stopping footage showed the moment a 19-month-old baby flew out of the passenger door of a moving vehicle and onto a busy road.

Video footage shared online showed a black SUV driving into an intersection in Fullerton County when the passenger side door opens and the child falls out.

The SUV immediately stops, almost causing a traffic collision with the vehicle behind it, which also appears to swerve to avoid the child.

A woman has been arrested in California after heart-stopping footage showed the moment a 19-month-old baby flew out of the passenger door of a moving vehicle and into the path of oncoming traffic (Fullerton County Police)

A woman, identified as Jacqueline Hernandez, a 35-year-old resident of La Habra, then exits the vehicle and runs round from the drivers side to collect the child before returning to the vehicle.

Fullerton Police Department said it had launched an investigation into the incident on January 24, after being made aware of the clip on social media. On January 24, 2026, a witness came forward and reported observing the incident, the department wrote online.

The witness was able to provide identifying information related to the vehicle involved. Officers conducted a follow-up investigation, which led them to a residence in the City of La Habra, the statement added.

Video footage shared online showed a black SUV driving into an intersection in Fullerton County when the passenger side door opens and the child falls out into the road (Fullerton County Police)

The SUV immediately stops, almost causing a traffic collision with the vehicle behind it, which also appears to swerve to avoid the child (Fullerton County Police)

Officers located the vehicle, the child, and the female involved in the incident seen in the video, police said.

According to the department the child sustained injuries consistent with the fall and was transported to an area hospital for treatment, but is expected to make a full recovery.

Hernandez was placed under arrest and booked at the Fullerton City Jail for felony child abuse.

The incident is believed to have occurred on January 20, 2026 between 8:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m.

Fullerton Police Department said it had not received any calls for help related to the incident at the time and is now seeking additional witnesses. The investigation remains ongoing.
A yellow warning for ice has been issued for large areas of the UK including London as temperatures plunge overnight after Storm Chandra brought heavy rain and flooding.

With temperatures set to drop below freezing into Wednesday, the Met Office has urged people to avoid injuries from slips and falls on icy surfaces.

The yellow weather warning for ice covers much of England, Scotland and Wales, and will be in effect between 12am and 10am on Wednesday.

Patches of ice are most likely to be found on untreated roads, pavements and cycle paths, the Met Office has warned.

Commuters heading to work on Wednesday morning have been advised to check for delays and road closures, and leave more time for journeys.

Temperatures in London are not expected to be lower than 4C in the capital overnight, but the warning remains in force for Greater London.

It comes after large parts of the UK were hit by strong winds and flooding as Storm Chandra swept across the country on Tuesday.

Flooding in the hamlet of Weycroft, Axminster, Devon (Getty Images)

Two severe flood warnings - meaning danger to life - were issued, while over 100 flood warnings, where flooding is expected, and 237 flood alerts, where it is possible, were in place across England on Tuesday.

The third named storm of the year caused road closures, as well as rail, ferry and flight cancellations.

Schools were closed in some parts of England and Northern Ireland, where thousands of properties were without power.

Ireland was also battered by the storm, with Dublin Fire Brigade saying it had responded to a number of flooding incidents in the capital, after the River Dodder burst its banks.

A car is engulfed in floodwater in Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford. (Niall Carson/PA Wire)

Enniscorthy in Co Wexford was particularly badly hit after the river Slaney burst its banks - marking the sixteenth time the town has flooded since 2001. Pictures showed cars submerged in the floodwaters.

The first severe warning in the UK was put in place at Ottery St Mary in Devon at 5.49am on Tuesday, with the Environment Agency stating that floodwater was expected to be "deep and fast flowing" as the River Otter reached its highest recorded level. It later ended.

The second warning, affecting the Upper Frome at Dorchester in Dorset, was issued on Tuesday afternoon and remained in place on Tuesday evening.

It comes as firefighters in Devon and Somerset rescued people from 25 vehicles in flood water on Tuesday morning. Dozens of homes flooded in Devon and Conrnwall with the number expected to rise.

A major incident was declared in Somerset on Tuesday evening.

Somerset Council said that an estimated 50 properties have been affected by flooding across Ilminster, West Coker, Taunton, Mudford and West Camel.

Members of Slaney Search and Rescue working in floodwater in Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford. (PA Wire)

Council leader Bill Revans said: "The decision to declare a major incident at this stage means we are well placed to respond to this ongoing situation.

"Storm Chandra brought more than 50mm of rain to parts of Somerset last night, on top of already saturated land, and this has caused widespread disruption.

"We know many communities have been impacted and our thoughts go to all those experiencing flooding.

"We've had teams working through the night and we are continuing to respond to many reports of roads which remain impassable.

"Please avoid travelling if you can and never attempt to drive through flood water.

"The weather forecast remains challenging so we will be working with colleagues in the emergency services to ensure we are prepared should the situation continue to deteriorate."

In Devon there were 47 schools closed, while more than 300 were shut in Northern Ireland.

In London, heavy rain fell through morning rush hour, with gusts in excess of 30mph recorded overnight. A yellow warning for rain covering much of the capital lifted at midday.

National Rail has warned that the poor weather could impact journeys across England, Scotland and Wales until Friday.
Sir Idris Elba, the acclaimed actor and DJ, has been convicted and fined after being caught exceeding a 20mph speed limit on his scooter along Chelsea Embankment in central London.

The 53-year-old was prosecuted by the Metropolitan Police for the speeding offence, which occurred last June.

The star admitted to being the rider, but contended that he had not received a fixed penalty fine from the police, thereby denying him the opportunity to resolve the matter out of court.

Following representation by specialist motoring offence lawyers, Sir Idris was handed a 147 fine at Westminster Magistrates Court last Thursday.

During a hearing conducted behind closed doors, the actor was also issued three penalty points on his licence and ordered to pay 110 in costs, alongside a 59 victim surcharge.

Police presented three images to the court, showing Sir Idris riding a BMW moped at 28mph on a stretch of road with a 20mph limit, near Cheyne Walk.

Idris Elba was caught speeding on his scooter along the Chelsea Embankment in central London in June last year (Invision)

The incident took place just a day after it was announced that Sir Idris would be collaborating with the King on a Netflix film commemorating 50 years of Charless charity, The Kings Trust.

Towards the end of last year, the star of TV series Luther and The Wire was awarded a knighthood for his own extensive charity work.

According to court documents, Sir Idriss moped triggered a speed camera at 10.12am on 21 June last year. A police statement confirmed: "The speed recorded was 28mph on a 20mph road."

A police staff member stated that Sir Idris "confirmed that they were the driver/rider at the time" after receiving correspondence from the police.

They added: "An automated eligibility check was completed on the National Driver Offender Retraining Scheme database (NDORS). The driver/rider, Mr Idris Elba, was ineligible for a diversionary course."

Elba was knighted on the New Year Honours list (Invision/AP)

The staff member further noted that the film star was offered a fixed penalty to settle the matter but did not pay it or provide his driving licence details.

However, Sir Idriss lawyers at Patterson Law, a firm specialising in motoring offences, informed the court that the fixed penalty notice never arrived.

Their letter stated: "Mr Elba initially responded to the Notice of Intended Prosecution to nominate himself as the driver and was expecting to receive a fixed penalty offer.

However, the offer never arrived and he therefore never had the opportunity to accept it. Had he received it, he absolutely would have accepted it."

The law firm highlighted that the actor held a clean driving licence and was pleading guilty to the offence, thereby avoiding the expense of a trial.

The letter continued: "We would ask the court to consider replicating the fixed penalty by imposing no more than a 100 fine, with no award for costs. He never received the fixed penalty  and this was through no fault of his own. It would therefore not be in the interests of justice to impose further financial penalties for something which was not his fault."

The prosecution was handled through the Single Justice Procedure, a fast-track process enabling magistrates to deal with low-level criminal cases in private, based solely on written evidence. Sir Idris was not required to attend court for the sentencing.
India's prime minister Narendra Modi poses for a photograph with European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen, right, and European Council president Antonio Costa before their meeting in Delhi (AFP via Getty)

India and the European Union have finalised a landmark free trade agreement after concluding negotiations that have dragged on for two decades.

The deal was announced at a summit in Delhi between Indian prime minister Narendra Modi and the EU's two highest-ranking officials, European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen and European Council president Antonio Costa.

Both sides have referred to the agreement as "the mother of all trade deals", creating a free trade bloc of more than two billion people accounting for a quarter of the global economy.

Talks in the final stages focused on a few small but important sticking points  access for European carmakers to India's automobile sector, sensitive agricultural products and a European scheme to place carbon-linked climate tariffs on imports.

The deal opens up Indias vast and guarded market to its largest trading partner. Talks first began in 2007, but soon ran into repeated hurdles as both sides struggled to bridge deep differences over market access, regulation and political sensitivities.

The talks were formally restarted in July 2022 after Russias war in Ukraine gave fresh impetus to the deal as the EU sought to reduce economic dependence on Russia and China and diversify supply chains in Asia.

India's prime minister Narendra Modi poses for a photograph with European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen, right, and European Council president Antonio Costa before their meeting in Delhi (AFP via Getty)

While the terms of the deal were finalised on Tuesday, the formal signing of the agreement will not take place until after a legal vetting process expected to last five to six months, an Indian government official familiar with the matter said.

"Yesterday, a big agreement was signed between the European Union and India," Mr Modi said on X. "People around the world are calling this the mother of all deals. This agreement will bring major opportunities for the 1.4 billion people of India and the millions of people in Europe.

The EU and India make history today, deepening the partnership between the world's biggest democracies, Ms von der Leyen said, adding: We have sent a signal to the world that rules-based cooperation still delivers great outcomes.

Addressing the India and EU FTA summit on Tuesday, Mr Modi said closer cooperation between the two sides would help strengthen the global order at a time of geopolitical uncertainty.

"Today is another historic occasion, when two of the world's greatest democratic powers are writing a decisive chapter in their relations. In recent years, relations between India and the European Union have seen significant progress. Our partnership is reaching new heights based on shared democratic values, economic synergy, and strong people-to-people ties, he said.

European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen, left, looks on as Indian prme minister Narendra Modi, centre, and European Council president Antonio Costa greet each other after reaching a free trade agreement in Delhi (AP)

Mr Modi called Mr Antonio, who is an overseas Indian with parents hailing from Goa, as the Mahatama Gandhi of Lisbon for his simple lifestyle and love for society.

The free trade agreement will gradually eliminate EU tariffs on 99.5 per cent of goods traded over seven years, with levies to be cut to zero on Indian marine goods, leather products, chemicals, rubber, base metals, and gems and jewellery.

India will cut tariffs to zero on 93 per cent of the value of EU goods over a 10-year period.

The deal is expected to double EU exports to India by 2032 by eliminating or reducing tariffs on goods accounting for 96.6 per cent of the value of EU exports to India, saving around 4bn ($4.75bn) in duties a year for European companies, the EU said.

European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen leaves after attending the Republic Day parade in New Delhi (REUTERS)

The automobile sector has emerged as a big winner as the agreement opens up Indias vast and traditionally protected market, with Delhi agreeing to slash tariffs on cars to 10 per cent over five years from as high as 110 per cent now, according to an EU statement.

The move is expected to benefit European automakers like Volkswagen, Renault, Mercedes-Benz and BMW.

India will also cut tariffs on alcoholic beverages such as wine to 75 per cent immediately from 150 per cent, with duties set to be reduced further to 20 per cent over time. Tariffs on spirits will be lowered to 40 per cent, the EU said.

In addition, the agreement will reduce tariffs on EU exports like machinery, electrical equipment, chemicals, and iron and steel products.

Ms von der Leyen, who was invited as a chief guest to Indias Republic Day parade on Monday, said we did it after the agreement was done. We delivered the mother of all deals, she added.

She said it sent a true message that cooperation is the best message to global challenges at a time when trade was being increasingly weaponised, making a veiled reference to Mr Trumps tariff threats.

We reduce strategic dependencies at a time when trade is increasingly weaponised, she said.

The deal, which has irked the US, comes as the EU sees tariffs triple to 15 per cent despite reaching a deal with the Trump administration and India operates a 50 per cent tariff regime. The Trump administration slapped an additional 25 per cent tariff on India last year as punishment for its imports of cheap Russian oil.

President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen attends India's 77th Republic Day parade in Delhi (AFP via Getty)

Mr Trump has threatened to further escalate the trade war with the EU for opposing a potential US takeover of Greenland.

An India-US trade deal apparently collapsed last year after a breakdown in communications between the two governments.

US treasury secretary Scott Bessent warned that Europe could end up financing a "war" against itself by signing the deal with India.

"We have put 25 per cent tariffs on India for buying Russian oil. Guess what happened last week? The Europeans signed a trade deal with India," Mr Bessent told ABC News on Sunday. "And just to be clear again, the Russian oil goes into India, the refined products come out, and the Europeans buy the refined products. They are financing the war against themselves.

This is one of the biggest trade deals India has signed in the last one year, with major agreements also signed with New Zealand, Australia, Oman, to go with a 2024 pact with the European Free Trade Association bloc of Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein.
The injunction taken against Michael Flatley is an attempt to control and demand and dictate what happens in relation to Lord Of The Dance, a court has heard.

Lawyers representing the dancer said the company blocking him from creative involvement with his stage show is nothing more than a management agent entitled to a fee.

The Irish traditional dancer and choreographer rose to international prominence performing Riverdance at Eurovision in 1994, before going on to create the stage show The Lord Of The Dance.

The productions 30th anniversary tour is due to play in Dublins 3 Arena on February 5, continuing in 2026 in a number of countries including the UK, Germany, Croatia, Slovakia and the Czech Republic.

Switzer Consulting is taking legal action in a civil case against the choreographer and dancer for alleged breach of contract, relating to an agreement the firm says was reached to allow it to run the dance shows.

Michael Flatley, left, leaving the Royal Courts of Justice in Belfast on Tuesday (Claudia Savage/PA)

Switzer has already secured a temporary injunction to stop Flatley from interfering with the shows, with the dancers lawyers have argued previously the performance was in danger of falling apart without his involvement.

At The Chancery Court in the Royal Courts of Justice in Belfast on Tuesday, Gary McHugh KC, for Switzer, said it would need extra time before the case was fully heard after a second affidavit from Flatley was provided at 3.55pm on Monday.

He said the second affidavit raised new issues, but issues that are very relevant because they will speak to the credibility and reliability to do with how Flatley manages his finances.

David Dunlop KC, representing Flatley, outlined that under a terms of service agreement, Flatley transferred intellectual property rights for Lord Of The Dance to Switzer and it was then required to provide business management services to Flatley such as accounts and payroll.

He told the court: Mr Flatley agreed by this agreement to licence to Switzer certain intellectual property rights of Lord Of The Dance.

Switzer then agreed in respect of the fee that was to be paid, that they would provide management services in respect of the Lord Of The Dance show.

He outlined the fees charged would be 35,000 a month for the first 24 months, increasing to 40,000 a month.

He added: What we therefore have is Switzer, the servicing agent, reading an application, saying, in essence, it by virtue on licence, has proprietary interest to hold, to control and demand and dictate what happens in relation to Lord Of The Dance.

But in fact what Switzer has, its height, is a right to be paid for services.

He later added: Switzer is saying, we require an injunction to stop Mr Flatley exercising any control in circumstances where Switzer is nothing more than a management agent entitled to a fee.

The court heard the injunction against Michael Flatley is an attempt to control and demand and dictate what happens in relation to Lord Of The Dance (Claudia Savage/PA)

Mr Dunlop further claimed Switzer filed new accounts on Saturday, increasing its value based on Lord Of The Dance intellectual property.

He said at the beginning of 2024, Switzers net asset position was negative to the tune of just under 30,000 with creditors falling due of more than 230,000 and current assets of 221,000.

But at the weekend Switzer filed fresh accounts that showed net assets of 2.1 million or thereabouts and the capital asset is their licence agreement with Flatley.

He said: In essence, Switzer is now restating its accounts and attaching a value of more than 2 million to the intellectual property rights on the licence agreement with Flatley.

The case will be heard in full on Wednesday at which point the judge said he will indicate his views on the injunctions continuation so Flatley will know if he can resume engagement with Lord Of The Dance before the upcoming Dublin performance.

Mr Dunlop also said Flatleys legal team had applied to the court last week to have a Declaration of Trust provided, in circumstances where Mr Flatley considered that he was his sole beneficial shareholder, and the benefit therefore, all of the interest which attaches to Switzer.

He said the trust makes clear Mr Flatleys suspicions were entirely accurate, and he does, even on the plaintiffs case, hold the entire beneficial interest of the plaintiff company, and is held on trust by his formal financial advisers.

He added that Flatley was bizarrely being denied access to the very document, which granted him the entitlement to hold the beneficial interest in the plaintiff of all trust.
President Donald Trump and other MAGA figures have been accused of abandoning the Second Amendment after seeking to pin the blame for the shooting of Alex Pretti by federal agents in Minneapolis on the fact that he was carrying a concealed firearm.

Pretti, 37, an ICU nurse who was filming Border Patrol agents on Saturday morning, was shot dead after being pinned to the ground by officers who had apparently discovered his holstered gun and removed it before opening fire.

Trump immediately posted a picture of Prettis gun on his social media platform, writing: This is the gunmans gun, loaded (with two additional full magazines!), and ready to go  What is that all about?

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and Deputy Chief of Staff suggested without evidence that Pretti was a would-be assassin who was plotting to murder agents.

Other members of Trumps administration  and sympathetic voices in the media  have suggested the fact that Pretti had the gun at a protest goes some way to explaining why he was shot. Pretti owned the gun legally and had a concealed carry licence, meaning he was not breaking any laws by having the weapon at a protest.

The Daily Show host Jon Stewart called the Trump administration hypocrites for seemingly rejecting the validity of the Second Amendment while defending federal agents killing of Minneapolis protester Alex Pretti (YouTube/The Daily Show)

FBI Director Kash Patel told Fox News that even bringing a gun to a protest made clear someone doesn't intend to be peaceful, and implicitly suggests it would be within federal agents' rights to shoot that individual if they felt threatened by them.

You cannot bring a firearm loaded with multiple magazines to any sort of protest that you want. Its that simple. Patel told Fox News. No one who wants to be peaceful shows up at a protest with a firearm that is loaded with two full magazines,

CNN's Andrew Cooper and The Daily Show's Jon Stewart were quick to zero in on the administration's apparent hypocrisy when it comes to firearms and protests.

Many on the right had vigorously defended Kyle Rittenhouse, who took a loaded assault rifle to a protest in Kenosha, Wisconsin, during the Black Lives Matter protests in 2020, and shot three people, two of them fatally. Similarly, Trump supporters who stormed the Capitol on January 6, 2021, openly fought with police and federal officers, threatened lawmakers, and brought weapons to the seat of American legislative power.

Kyle Rittenhouse was lionized by many on the right after taking a firearm to a protest in Kenosha, Wisconsin, on 25 August 2020, where he shot three people, two of them fatally (AP)

Dozens of Trump supporters openly carried arms at protests at the Michigan state capitol in Lansing in 2020 to protests against Covid restrictions.

Cooper aired a video package showing all of the times Trump has insisted that the Second Amendment would be protected under his administration.

"The Second Amendment is under siege. Believe me," Trump says in one clip.

In another, he says that "if the left gains power, they will demolish the suburbs, confiscate your guns, and appoint justices who will wipe away your Second Amendment and other constitutional freedoms."

Cooper noted that Trump's support of the Second Amendment only really seemed to apply to people who support him.

"Now, he supports the Second Amendment  just not all the time, depending on whos carrying the gun and who gets killed," Cooper said. "Alex Pretti was apparently not his kind of gun owner."

The president's Border Patrol Commander-at-Large, Gregory Bovino, who is reported to be withdrawing from Minneapolis, told CNN's Dana Bash that the Second Amendment is valid up until it disrupts his agents.

We respect that Second Amendment right, but those rights dont count when you riot and assault, delay, obstruct and impede law enforcement officers and, most especially, when you mean to do that beforehand, he said.

Protesters carry rifles near the steps of the State Capitol building in Lansing, Michigan., on April 15, 2020 during a protest over Governor Gretchen Whitmer's orders to keep people at home and businesses locked during the coronavirus outbreak (Copyright 2020 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)

Stewart expressed sarcastic shock that MAGA loyalists would even abandon their defense of the Second Amendment before turning on Trump.

I wasnt shocked when you guys gave up the First Amendment, and I wasnt shocked when you gave up the Fourth Amendment, and the 10th Amendment, and the 14th Amendment at Trumps behest, but the Second? Stewart asked rhetorically. Isnt that kind of the load-bearing law of the Dont Tread on Me flag? Your snakes down to a newt  Cmon, guns are your whole personality.

After joking about the apparent hypocrisy from MAGA supporters, Stewart offered a more serious critique of the administration's blatant attempts to convince the American public not to trust their own eyes and ears.

To add insult to injury is the denial of the reality that we all witnessed. Theyre lying. We saw it. And thats how brazen they lie when they know weve seen the truth. Thats how they lie when they know we know. Imagine how they lie when theres no evidence to contradict them," Stewart said.

"And maybe, that more than anything, explains why Alex Pretti really was a threat; because he was brandishing a weapon: a handheld, aluminum 1080p 60fps weapon of mass illumination. Because there is nothing more dangerous to a regime predicated on lies than witnesses who capture the truth.
The chief federal judge in Minnesota has ordered the head of ICE to appear in court to explain why detainees have been denied due process.

The judge says the Trump administration has failed to comply with orders to hold hearings for detained immigrants and ordered the ICE chief to appear before him Friday to explain why he shouldnt be held in contempt.

In an order dated Monday, Chief Judge Patrick J. Schiltz said Todd Lyons, the acting director of ICE, must appear in person. Schlitz took the administration to task over its handling of bond hearings for immigrants it has detained.

This Court has been extremely patient with respondents, even though respondents decided to send thousands of agents to Minnesota to detain aliens without making any provision for dealing with the hundreds of habeas petitions and other lawsuits that were sure to result, the judge wrote.

The order comes a day after President Donald Trump ordered border czar Tom Homan to take over his administrations immigration crackdown in Minnesota following the second death this month of person at the hands of an immigration law enforcement officer.

The judge has ordered Todd Lyons, the acting director of ICE, to appear in person (AP)

It also follows a federal court hearing Monday on a request by the state and the mayors of Minneapolis and St. Paul for a judge to order a halt to the immigration law enforcement surge. The judge said she was prioritizing the ruling but didn't give a timeline.

Schiltz wrote that he recognizes ordering the head of a federal agency to appear personally is extraordinary.

But the extent of ICEs violation of court orders is likewise extraordinary, and lesser measures have been tried and failed, Schiltz wrote.

Respondents have continually assured the Court that they recognize their obligation to comply with Court orders, and that they have taken steps to ensure that those orders will be honored going forward, he wrote. Unfortunately, though, the violations continue.

Messages were sent Tuesday to ICE and a DHS spokesperson seeking a response.

The order lists the petitioner by first name and last initials: Juan T.R.

It says the court granted a petition on Jan. 14 from the person to provide him with a bond hearing within seven days. On Jan. 23, the persons lawyers told the court the petitioner remained detained.

The order says Schiltz will cancel Lyons appearance if the petitioner is released from custody.
Katie Price and her husband Lee Andrews have lifted the lid on newly married life, following their whirlwind Dubai wedding.

The former glamour model, 47, posted on Instagram on Tuesday (27 January) after landing back in the UK. Despite all the noise that's going on, I miss you Lee. I love you unconditionally, she said.

In his own post, Andrews showed off his ring and new tattoo. Im the happiest man in the world. That might clear up a lot of the 99% of the junk thats in my requests.

Price revealed that she and Andrews had met on social media, before buying wedding rings and then flying out to Dubai to meet in person on Wednesday (21 January).
ALBANY, N.Y., Jan. 26, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Greenberg Traurig, LLP Shareholder Tricia A. Asaro was recognized on City & State's "2026 Trailblazers in Healthcare" list.

City & State notes Asaro is "a go-to expert for transactions involving managed care organizations, she's known for guiding approvals tied to ownership changes and other consequential regulatory hurdles."

The list highlights key figures across New York's health care and public health sectors, focusing on leaders who significantly shape policy, practice, and public health outcomes. According to the publication, the list "puts a spotlight on many of these key figures in New York, including high-ranking elected officials, high-powered health care executives, and highly effective advocates."

Asaro serves as co-chair of Greenberg Traurig's Health Care & FDA Practice, administrative shareholder of the Albany office, and chair of the Albany office Health Care & FDA Practice. She has broad experience representing diverse health care clients in business negotiations, regulatory compliance matters, and corporate governance issues. She also has wide-ranging experience handling health care transactions, particularly regulatory approval of changes in control of managed care organizations and other health care entities. Most recently, she advised Schenectady-based MVP Health Care in its proposed affiliation with Buffalo-based Independent Health Association.

About Greenberg Traurig: Greenberg Traurig, LLP has approximately 3,000 lawyers across 51 locations in the United States, Europe, the Middle East, Latin America, and Asia. The firm's broad geographic and practice range enables the delivery of innovative and strategic legal services across borders and industries. Recognized as a 2025 BTI "Best of the Best Recommended Law Firm" by general counsel for trust and relationship management, Greenberg Traurig is consistently ranked among the top firms on the Am Law Global 100, NLJ 500, and Law360 400. Greenberg Traurig is also known for its philanthropic giving, culture, innovation, and pro bono work. Web: www.gtlaw.com .

SOURCE Greenberg Traurig, LLP
A portion of the land dubbed the UK's worst illegal waste dump is owned by the Duchy of Lancaster, the Kings extensive private portfolio of properties and estates.

The waste site in Bickershaw, Wigan, is part of the UKs mounting crisis of illegal dumping.

But the Duchy has said that, due to an ancient feudal legal framework from more than 700 years ago, it is in effect exempt from cleaning up the site, according to an investigation by Channel 4 News.

The broadcaster suggested the Duchy is shifting responsibility for the clean-up by offering it to Wigan Council.

However, the refusal to take proactive action goes against the Environment Agencys guidance that landowners are responsible for clearing waste on their own property, and it has launched a criminal investigation.

A waste site in Bickershaw, Wigan, is on land largely owned by the Duchy of Lancaster, the Kings extensive private portfolio of properties and estates (Channel 4 News)

The Duchy has said legally it doesnt take on any liabilities in relation to escheated property  a term for abandoned or ownerless property.

It said it has offered to transfer the land to Wigan Council and work with them to resolve the issue. A spokesperson for the Duchy said that the majority of the site is owned by other parties.

In July, it took 10 days for firefighters to put out a blaze on the waste site, which had been slowly accumulating waste over several months. The toxic fire forced nearby businesses to close and children to miss several days of school.

Josh Simons, MP for Makerfield, called the site a shocking state failure following the fire.

Ive wrestled with this problem in my patch for a year now. Primary school children couldnt go to school as toxic waste dump on fire, he said in a post on X in December.

Under escheat law, when freehold land becomes ownerless it reverts to the Crown as the ultimate owner of all land.

A fire on the waste site in July took 10 days to put out and caused schools to close (Wigan Council)

Assets of people who die without a will or a next of kin within the historic County Palatine of Lancaster, in northwest England, are collected by the Duchy of Lancaster. This also includes the assets of dissolved companies.

But the Duchy does not have to inherit any liabilities associated with the property if, like the Wigan site, it is considered onerous, under escheat law.

As a result, the Environmental Agency has limited powers unless the Duchy decides to take action.

Waste crime scars our communities, and were committed to tackling it in Wigan with the local council and the police, as well as across the country, An Environment Agency spokesperson said.

We are doing everything in our powers to manage the site in Bickershaw and identify the perpetrators, including by launching a major criminal investigation and interviewing individuals under caution.

A Wigan Council spokesperson said: This illegal waste site has had, and continues to have, a daily impact on residents who live nearby and on the bordering primary school.

"Local authorities have an obligation to ensure best value for residents. As such, the council would need to consider the terms of any arrangement the Duchy of Lancaster is offering since it is unlikely the value of the land would surpass the clean-up cost.

As one of the impacted landowners, we are making efforts to clear our land and we continue to implore all other impacted landowners to take the necessary steps to fulfil their own obligations.

A spokesperson for the Duchy of Lancaster said: It is incorrect to say that the illegal waste dump in Bickershaw near Wigan is on land largely owned by the Duchy of Lancaster.

Approximately 70% of the illegal tipping site is owned by other parties. The minority remainder vested to the Duchy from its previous owner in July 2025 under a process known as escheat.

At this point The Duchy contacted Wigan Council to seek a resolution, and we remain fully committed to working with the local community and relevant agencies to address this issue and to counter the impact of illegal waste tipping.
Will Labour lose Gorton and Denton by-election after Burnham snub and who is most likely to win?

The by-election for Greater Manchester seat Gorton and Denton is set to take place at the end of February against a backdrop of tight polling and furious Labour infighting.

The most senior group of Labours governing body, the National Executive Committee (NEC), voted on Sunday to block Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham from standing in the seat, citing concerns over the costs to the party of a mayoral election.

Prime minister Sir Keir Starmer was amongst the eight on the ten-person officers group who voted against Mr Burnhams candidacy, later telling reporters that he is doing a great job as the mayor of Manchester and having an election for the position would divert our resources away from upcoming local elections.

Mr Burnham, who was a Labour MP from 2001 to 2017 when he stood down to run for Manchester mayor, is widely seen as a possible contender for the partys leader, but would need to return to Westminster if he sought to challenge the prime minister.

Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham has been blocked by Labour from standing in a Westminster by-election (PA) (PA Wire)

A group of 50 unidentified Labour MPs have written to Sir Keir urging the entire NEC to meet and reconsider the decision, which they say has caused a huge amount of anxiety and anger and increases the chance of the government losing the seat to Reform UK.

Heres everything you need to know about the Gorton and Denton by-election, which is set to take place on 26 February:

Could Labour lose Gorton and Denton to Reform?

Remaining a Labour stronghold in some form since 1979, it would be an historic loss for Labour to cede Gorton and Denton to Reform.

Reorganised as Denton and Reddish in 1983 (and becoming Gorton and Denton in 2024), the seat has only been represented by two MPs since then, both Labour. This was first Andrew Bennett, and  since 2005  the outgoing Andrew Gwynne.

Labour retained a sizeable 13,413 majority in at the 2024 general election, with 50.8 per cent of the vote. However, this was down substantially from the 2019 result, when the party held a 22,175 majority and 67.2 per cent vote share.

Reform came second, with 14.1 per cent of the vote  a 9.2 point increase on 2019  while the Greens came third, with 13.2 per cent (up 10.7 points). The turnout was also down from 61.7 per cent to 46.8.

This may explain Labours 16.4 point reduction, and indicates a trend many Labour MPs are concerned will continue in February.

The group of Labour MPs who wrote to the prime minister said the NECs decision to block Mr Burnhams candidacy is a real gift to Nigel Farage, adding: At this moment of serious public cynicism about politics, denying our local members a real choice ... only reinforces the idea that politics is a remote stitch-up from a small group of people at the very top in London.

Reform has announced that right-wing activist Matt Goodwin is its candidate in Gorton and Denton (Reuters)

Current polling for the seat suggests that it has become a much harder contest for Labour, vying with rising support for Reform while the Green party also digs deeper into the incumbent partys voter base.

Polling firm Britain Predicts put support for Reform on 32 per cent in Gorton and Denton, with Labour on 26 and the Greens on 22. A separate poll by the group, looking at voter intention if Mr Burnham was Labours candidate, put the party on 31 per cent  and at an equal tie with Reform.

Nigel Farages party has unveiled right-wing activist Matt Goodwin as its candidate to contest the seat. Speaking at a party press conference in the constituency, Mr Goodwin said: This by-election is a referendum on Keir Starmer.

Its a chance for the hardworking law abiding tax paying people from this seat to have their say on Keir Starmer and to make political history.
Andy Burnham, the Mayor of Greater Manchester, speaking on Monday at the launch of Class Ceiling at The Whitworth in Manchester - James Speakman/PA

Labour MPs, activists, and the partys soft-Left faction have demanded Sir Keir Starmer reverse the decision to block Andy Burnham from standing for Parliament.

Sir Keir and his allies have prevented Mr Burnham, the Mayor of Greater Manchester, from running in a by-election in Gorton and Denton on Feb 26.

But that decision has led to waves of criticism of the Prime Minister, with both the partys grassroots and MPs in Westminster weighing in.

Seventeen members of Gorton and Dentons local Labour party have written a letter to the Prime Minister accusing him of playing with their future and handing the seat to Reform UK.

The letter was sent on Tuesday to both Sir Keir and Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood, who chairs Labours ruling National Executive Committee (NEC), which blocked Mr Burnhams bid

It said: As post-holders and activists from across our [Constituency Labour Party], we demand simply that we decide who our candidate should be.

In that way, our campaigners will come out and work tirelessly for their candidate in the campaign to win and vanquish Reform.

This means the NEC should reverse the decision to block Andy Burnham and allow him and anyone else to stand before us and make their case to represent our seat at this unprecedented political moment.

The intervention is the latest sign of a growing civil war in Labour, which has prompted two further letters from MPs complaining about the decision.

The first, signed by more than 50 backbenchers, suggests that the scale of dissent is now closer to the 81 MPs needed to trigger any future leadership challenge.

A second letter from the Tribune group  a powerful soft-Left faction of more than 100 Labour MPs  said the decision to block Mr Burnham was disappointing.

Sir Keir has been accused of weakness over the decision, with critics suggesting he was seeking to avoid a leadership challenge from Mr Burnham, who is nicknamed the King of the North.

The by-election was triggered after Andrew Gwynne, Gorton and Dentons previous MP, announced he would stand down amid an ongoing ethics investigation into leaked abusive WhatsApp messages, which led to his suspension last year.

On Saturday, Mr Burnham announced his intention to run for the seat, which is covered by his mayoralty. He promised that he would not undermine the Prime Ministers leadership, despite suggestions he could challenge Sir Keir, instead saying he would help the Government go further and faster, as well as communicate the difference it is making.

But his campaign was blocked by the NEC, which said that he would trigger an expensive and risky by-election for the Manchester mayoralty.

The NEC is Labours ruling body and its 10-strong panel of officers is responsible for making key internal decisions.

The NEC panel voted to block Mr Burnham by eight to one, with Sir Keir among those opting to stop the mayor standing for Parliament. Ms Mahmood chose to abstain. Only Lucy Powell, the deputy Labour leader, voted in favour of allowing Mr Burnham to run.

The mayor said he was disappointed following the row and suggested Labour would now lose the by-election.

Tomorrow I return with full focus to my role as Mayor of GM, defending everything we have built in our city-region over many years.



I decided to put myself forward to prevent the divisive politics of Reform from damaging that. We are stronger together and let's stay that way.   Andy Burnham (@AndyBurnhamGM) January 25, 2026

On Tuesday morning, allies of Sir Keir accused Mr Burnham of trying to deliberately destabilise the Prime Minister.

They claimed the mayor had proceeded with his application to stand in the by-election despite being informed in no uncertain terms beforehand that it would be rejected.

By submitting his request to stand in the seat regardless, the Prime Ministers allies claimed, Mr Burnham was choosing to weaken Sir Keir and sow dissent.

Mr Burnham said that claims he was warned by No 10 that he would be blocked were simply untrue, revealing he went through the whole weekend having conversations with people in No10 ... to discuss the pros and cons.

Sources close to him said he was seeking a call with Downing Street to understand why allies of Sir Keir had briefed against him to the media.

A poll for More In Common, the think tank, has found that voters would prefer Mr Burnham as prime minister to Sir Keir.

Given a choice between the two, 30 per cent of voters prefer Mr Burnham. Sir Keir was backed by 21 per cent of respondents.

They also say Mr Burnham would be a better premier than Reform leader Nigel Farage, by 35 per cent to 30 per cent.

In 2024, Labour won the Gorton and Denton seat with more than half the votes, 18,555, ahead of Reform in second place on 5,142 votes and the Greens on 4,810.

However, senior figures in No 10 have warned they expect to lose next months election because of widespread discontent with Sir Keirs leadership.

On Monday, Nigel Farage, the Reform UK leader, admitted his party would have found it very difficult to beat Labour in Gorton and Denton had Mr Burnham stood as a candidate.

On Tuesday afternoon, Mr Farage unveiled political commentator and GB News presenter Matt Goodwin as the partys candidate in the by-election.

Matt Goodwin said the vote in Gorton and Denton was a referendum on Keir Starmer - Christopher Furlong/Getty Images

Mr Goodwin said he was going to make political history by winning the seat, adding: This by-election is a referendum on Keir Starmer.

Im standing here to say what many people in Gorton and Denton are saying: that enough is enough.

The forgotten majority in this country will no longer be taken for granted by Labour and the Tories.

Lets send Keir Starmer a message and lets have our say in this referendum and lets send Keir Starmer where he belongs, and lets get him out of No 10 Downing Street.

The Greens are also hopeful of victory in the by-election, but have not yet announced their candidate.

The partys leader, Zack Polanski, criticised the selection of Mr Goodwin, saying: It tells you everything you need to know that Reform are parachuting in a rent-an-extremist.
Arne Slot oversaw Liverpool training on Tuesday (Getty Images)

Liverpool look set to be without Ibrahima Konate for their Champions League decider against Qarabag.

Konate has been absent for Liverpools last two games - the 3-0 win over Marseille and 3-2 loss against Bournemouth - due to a family bereavement and Arne Slot has made it clear that the Frenchman will be given all the time he needs.

I've spoken to him a few times and these are private matters and they should stay that way, Slot said last week before the trip to the Vitality Stadium.

It's very obvious when something like that happens the player needs time to be there for his family and for himself.

Unsurprisingly, Konate was absent from Tuesdays training session which suggests he will sit out Liverpools final fixture of this seasons league phase.

Federico Chiesa, however, was pictured in training to place himself in contention for a return to the matchday squad, but Joe Gomez, Alexander Isak, Conor Bradley and Giovanni Leoni, as expected, were all missing.

Fitness boost: Federico Chiesa (Getty Images)

Liverpool welcome Qarabag to Anfield on Wednesday night knowing qualification for the knockout phase is already guaranteed.

However, there is still work to do in order to confirm a last-16 place which comes with the added bonus of avoiding a two-legged play-off tie in February.

A win over Qarabag would make certain a top-eight finish for Liverpool, while a draw could also be sufficient if results elsewhere fall in their favour, and likewise in the scenario of a defeat.
What are the major police reforms proposed by Shabana Mahmood and how will they affect Britons?

The Home Secretary has unveiled what are being described as the most significant reforms to policing in its history.

A forthcoming white paper, From local to national: a new model for policing, due on Monday, is expected to outline plans to drastically cut the number of police forces and introduce a 'whole new model' for the service.

Shabana Mahmood remarked that "crime is changing" but "policing hasnt kept pace".

Here are the main measures announced:

Live facial recognition vans will be rolled out nationwide to catch criminals on police watchlists. The existing 10 vans will be increased to 50 and available for every force in England and Wales. A national centre for AI, called Police. AI will all be set up to roll out AI to all forces and oversee its use.

A British FBI called the National Police Service (NPS) will be created to tackle serious and complex crime, merging the existing National Crime Agency, Counter Terror Policing, the National Police Air Service and National Roads Policing all under a single organisation.

Regional crime hubs will replace existing regional organised crime units within the NPS, to target drugs, firearms, child sex abuse and fraud across force borders.

Officers will be expected to reach the scene of a serious incident, such as danger to life or violence, within 15 minutes in cities and 20 minutes in rural areas. Forces will also be expected to answer 999 calls within 10 seconds.

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood (PA Wire)
A man who attempted to 3D print a gun has been sentenced to 15 years in jail after being investigated by counter terror police.

Robert Adamski, 29, was arrested after police found a printer at his address in east London in the process of printing a part needed to make a submachine gun.

This comes after Zoe Watts, a former police community support officer, was found guilty of trying to make the parts for a gun last year.

That part was later identified as one of the components needed for an FGC-9 Mk2 firearm, which is a 9 mm calibre semi-automatic rifle.

Adamski also owned several items associated with the extreme alt-right and was the administrator for a Telegram group, with which he had shared documents.

The Polish national was arrested in Walthamstow in July 2024 and was taken into custody.

Police conducted a search of his home, in which they found several parts for a firearm that had already been printed, including a magazine with room for 25 cartridges.

Counter-terrorism detectives found several internet searches for 3D-printed guns, how to make them, and had downloaded a guide on how to make the FGC-9 Mk2 firearm using a 3D printer onto his computer the previous month.

Robert Adamski, 29, was jailed for 15 years (Metropolitan Police)

They also identified a payment for a 3D printer in his credit history in June 2024.

Adamski was subsequently hit with various terrorism and firearms-related charges from the Crown Prosecution Service on 17 July 2024.

After a trial at Woolwich Crown Court, Adamski was found guilty of possession of a document for terrorist purposes and dissemination of terrorist publications.

He had pleaded guilty on the first day of his trial to two counts of possessing a prohibited firearm

He was sentenced to 17 years (including 15 years in jail and two years on licence) at the Old Bailey on January 27.

According to Commander Dominic Murphy, head of Counter Terrorism Policing London, This sentence shows the seriousness of attempting to use a 3D printer to make a firearm.

Thankfully, in this case, due to the swift actions of counter terrorism officers, we were able to arrest Robert Adamski before he was able to produce a complete and viable firearm.

Although he was found to be in possession of extreme right-wing material, I want to reassure the public we found no evidence Adamski was planning to use any weapons to target any particular communities or the wider public.

But this case shows, attempting to create or modify 3D firearms or possessing one, even without the intent to commit harm, is illegal and will bring you to attention of the police and lead to serious criminal consequences.
A GB News presenter who once ate a page of his own book on live TV after making an incorrect election prediction has been unveiled as Reform UKs candidate for the upcoming Gorton and Denton by-election.

Matt Goodwin was announced as the partys candidate one day after Nigel Farage claimed the partys chances are considerably better, following Labours decision to block Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham from standing for the northwest seat.

Speaking at a party press conference in the constituency on Tuesday, Mr Goodwin said: This by-election is a referendum on Keir Starmer.

The former university academic and honorary president of the Students4Reform organisation added: Its a chance for the hardworking, law-abiding, tax-paying people from this seat to have their say on Keir Starmer and to make political history.

The right-wing activist sparked criticism last year when he was accused of suggesting people from minority ethnic backgrounds are not necessarily British, even if they were born in the UK.

The former academic was announced as the partys candidate at an event in Manchester (Reuters)

Following a mass stabbing on a train in Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, Mr Goodwin, who appears as a presenter on GB News three times a week, blamed mass uncontrolled immigration in a post on X/Twitter.

After it came to light that the suspect was born in the UK, Goodwin wrote: So were all of the 7/7 bombers. It takes more than a piece of paper to make somebody British.

The comments were criticised by the Liberal Democrats as racist rhetoric and a disgrace.

In 2017, the politics professor ate pages from his book, Brexit: Why Britain voted to leave the European Union, live on Sky News after he wrongly predicted Labour would not poll as high as 38 per cent under Jeremy Corbyns leadership. The party won 40 per cent of the vote in that years general election.

In a video from Reform UKs party conference from 2023, shared by the Labour Party after his candidacy was announced, Mr Goodwin appeared to be less than enthusiastic about Manchester.

Referring to the Conservative Party conference, Mr Goodwin said: I was lucky enough  or unfortunate enough  to be in Manchester a few days ago and the energy in this room is 10 times what it was in Manchester, so congratulations.

In 2017, the politics professor ate a page from his own book live on Sky News (Getty)

The Gorton and Denton by-election is expected to take place on 26 February, after former MP Andrew Gwynne stood down for health reasons last week.

The contest has sparked furious Labour infighting after the partys governing body, the national executive committee (NEC), voted on Sunday to bar Mr Burnham from standing in the seat.

The NEC officially cited concerns over the costs to the party of a mayoral election, but the block comes amid widespread speculation Mr Burnham could pose a significant leadership threat to Sir Keir Starmer.

A group of 50 Labour MPs have written to Sir Keir urging the NEC to reconsider the decision, which they described as a real gift to Reform UK.

The by-election contest has sparked furious Labour infighting after Labours governing body voted on Sunday to exclude Burnham from standing in the seat (PA)

Labours political rival from the left, the Green Party, is also eyeing up its chances in the race.

But with tensions mounting internally in Labour, the signatories of the letter said there was no legitimate reason to block Mr Burnham, demanding Labours NEC re-evaluate the decision.

Mr Farage said his partys chances of winning the by-election were considerably better than before Mr Burnham was blocked from standing.

But Reform UKs early campaigning in the area has already been criticised by political rivals, after chief whip Lee Anderson appeared to be posting pictures in the wrong constituency.

Goodwin told the people at the press conference that the upcoming Gorton and Denton by-election was a referendum on Keir Starmer (PA)

In pictures posted on Facebook on Saturday, Mr Anderson joined activists near a building believed to be the Stanley House Function Rooms, a Greater Manchester venue outside the boundaries of Gorton and Denton.

Labour chair Anna Turley said the party was proving from day one they wont stand up for local residents in Gorton and Denton  they cant even find the constituency on a map.

At Tuesday afternoons press conference, Mr Goodwin declined to say whether he wanted the string of prominent former Conservative MPs who have recently defected to Reform to campaign on his behalf in Greater Manchester.

Asked whether he would be happy for figures such as ex-chancellor Nadhim Zahawi and former home secretary Suella Braverman to come up and help him in the race, he said: I dont think people at the top of Reform view it this way  Ive never viewed it as a sort of Tory party 2.0.

Ive got lots of friends in the party who are former Labour people, former Lib Dem people, none of the above people.
Edward Cornes was found dead in a hotel room in King's Cross, two days after being dropped off at university (Supplied)

The Metropolitan Police have been accused of a series of failures and making homophobic assumptions during the investigation of a teenagers death in a London hotel four years ago.

Edward Cornes mother still has questions over how he died and has accused police officers of focusing on his sexuality, losing crucial evidence, and failing to interview witnesses in the days after he was discovered dead in a Kings Cross Hotel.

Popular, bright and widely-liked, Edward had been delighted to discover he had been accepted into the prestigious history course at University College London in the summer of 2021.

When Miriam Blythe and Robert Cornes dropped their son off at his halls on 11 October, all seemed well in the life of their 19-year-old son, who had hopes of potentially becoming a barrister.

Just 48 hours later, Edward was discovered dead in the basement room of the Goodwood Hotel.

A post-mortem examination found large amounts of alcohol, GHB, commonly known as the date-rape drug, and crystal meth in his system. Two men in their fifties were arrested on suspicion of murder, before the case was dropped.

Edward Cornes parents, Miriam Blythe and Robert Cornes, have been left with unanswered questions and have accused the Met Police of a botched investigation (Supplied)

The circumstances of Edwards death remain a mystery with his parents accusing the Met Police of a botched investigation. On 19 October, six days after his death, they claim the force lost the forensic evidence. The also say that the remaining evidence was lost in January of the following year, which included CCTV and crucial evidence such as bed sheets and blood samples.

The family have also accused the force of taking a homophobic approach to the case which allegedly included telling his parents with man on man sex anything can happen and repeatedly questioning his drug use.

Edwards parents were also left appalled when a senior police officer, without warning and with what they described as questionable evidence, told his inquest in October 2025 that Edward was a drug dealer who had regularly met up with older men.

The evidence for this were two text messages sent years previously, in which he said he did not like chemsex drugs and had previously done drugs at parties when he was 17 years old, but felt so bad I gave it up.

While the coroner ruled that she would not take this into evidence given his family had not been given prior disclosure, the inquest concluded that Edwards death had been alcohol and drug related, and was not an unlawful killing.

For Ms Blythe, the first indication that something was amiss came on the morning of 13 October, when Edwards grandmother said she had received a pocket-dial from him at 3.30am in which he sounded very drunk.

Edwards cause of death was given as alcohol and drugs related (Supplied)

After failing to get hold of Edward, who always answered his phone, she contacted the university halls for a welfare check. Just an hour later, she received a knock on the door from junior officers who informed her that he had been found dead in a hotel.

At 11pm, they received another phone call from detectives, who informed them that two men had been arrested on suspicion of murder.

It emerged that while paramedics had been called shortly before 11am, rigor mortis had already set in and it is believed he died several hours previously. Both men gave differing accounts as to what happened.

Meanwhile, witness evidence and CCTV, which the police later lost, showed that Edward had been staggeringly drunk at the time of meeting the men.

Ms Blythe first began to feel the police werent taking the investigation seriously after she informed them of the voicemail her mother had received from Edward during the early hours before his death. She claims that upon suggesting that they retrieve the recording, the two homicide detectives said: We havent got the resources to send a car to Bedfordshire.

Over the course of the investigation, she and her husband claim they were asked if they knew their son was gay, that he consumed drugs, questioned why did you send him to Kings Cross and asked why he had money in his bank account  which had formed part of his inheritance from a recently deceased uncle.

After the murder investigation was dropped, they claim two CID officers told them that gays always take trays of drugs and smuggle boys through fire escapes.

Edward's parents were asked if they knew he took drugs, was gay and why he had a large sum of money in his bank account (Supplied)

After complaining to the Met Police, the Professional Standards Unit found that the language used was not of a homophobic nature but of agreed wording which features within the chemsex training and found that there was no case to be answered.

In her landmark 2023 report, Baroness Casey found the Met Police to be institutionally homophobic, while an inquest into the four men murdered by serial killer Stephen Port found that police failings had contributed to their deaths.

A serious case review was undertaken in 2023 upon complaints being made by the family, with 27 failings recognised. His parents know little more of its contents, as the force has refused to release the review in full.

The first two years I barely left the house, I had panic attacks and couldnt face speaking to people, Ms Blythe said. I couldnt cope with the sympathy. My husband ran a rental business and was basically having a breakdown so we lost the business. I was a university lecturer and no way could I teach people of a similar age to my son.

In the first two years, I thought I was having a heart attack and got rushed to hospital, it had a huge emotional toll. I was aware of things, but I was staggering around in a state of disbelief.

Commander Stephen Clayman said: Its difficult to hear how the handling of our investigation into Edwards death has added to the familys pain.

The extensive investigation, which was subsequently reviewed, ruled out third-party involvement in Edwards death and this conclusion was later reinforced at the inquest.

But we accept that aspects of the way in which the case was handled did not meet the high standards we expect. While this did not affect the outcome of the investigation, we apologise to Edwards family and friends for any further distress this caused.
Police are investigating a spate of unusual vehicle break-ins across north London that have left motorists baffled.

Thieves have been targeting parcel shelves  the removable covers in car boots  by smashing front or rear windows to take them, leaving owners with hefty repair bills.

Metropolitan Police say several thefts have been reported from vehicles in Hampstead and Highgate, including residential areas of Muswell Hill, Primrose Hill and Kentish Town.

Officers are reviewing CCTV footage and conducting targeted controls in affected residential areas.

The thefts have been baffling local residents, with one saying she may have found her own stolen shelf on eBay after conducting some online sleuthing.

Parcel shelves seized by Met Police officers (Met Police)

Sam Phipps, who lives in Bounds Green, said it cost 800 to replace the rear window and shelf when his car was broken into.

She said people were shocked to learn that cars were being broken into for parcel shelves, but within hours of the theft she spotted her stolen shelf listed online.

Speaking to the BBC, Ms Phipps said: "It didn't look like anything had been missing initially until we noticed the retractable parcel shelf had been removed.

"We had to wait weeks for the new window because it's such a common problem in north London that the demand for the windows was just exceeding their ability to supply them.

"We were told, if we replaced it, to take the parcel shelf out at night."

Shelves can sell from anywhere between 10 to 150 online, depending on the cars make, model, age and condition.

In one local policing operation, officers executed a search warrant and seized a number of parcel shelves believed to be stolen.

One man was arrested on suspicion of being concerned in the supply of controlled drugs and for handling stolen goods.

Police have urged people in north London to remove parcel shelves from their cars overnight and to park in well-lit areas or garages where possible.

A spokesperson for Metropolitan Police said: Officers in Camden are investigating following a number of parcel shelves being stolen from cars in Hampstead and Highgate.

An investigation is ongoing, led by neighbourhood teams across the borough.

Across London, weve made significant progress in tackling vehicle crime.

All incidents reported to us are assessed to ensure lines of enquiry, including forensic opportunities, are progressed to identify and hold offenders to account."
The European Commissions deal with India has been more than two decades in the making - Rajat Gupta/Shutterstock

The EU has turned a blind eye to Narendra Modis friendship with Vladimir Putin to claim the mother of all trade deals with India as a victory. But the Hindu nationalist strongman is the real winner.

Brussels is still smarting after failing to negotiate away a 15 per cent rise in tariffs from the US after talks with the Trump administration.

Ursula von der Leyen, the president of the European Commission, has secured new free trade agreements (FTAs) with the Mercosur bloc of South American countries and now India in an attempt to blot out that memory.

Both deals were more than two decades in the making, having been repeatedly stymied by farmers who feared they would be undercut and disagreements over work visas.

Donald Trump has focused minds in Brussels to not make the perfect the enemy of the good and get deals banked.

Brussels claims that its deal is the best that India has ever signed - Altaf Hussain/Reuters

The EU believes the USs Liberation Day tariffs and its threats over Greenland have undermined international trade rules. They have also exposed the EUs dependence on its main trading partner for its security and markets.

It hopes new FTAs, and earlier pacts made with Mexico, Canada and Japan will shore up established rules from the World Trade Organisation and open up lucrative alternative markets for goods that have been hit by US tariffs, such as French wine an cars from Italy and Germany.

The India deal eliminates or removes tariffs on 96.6 per cent of the EUs exports. Car tariffs will eventually drop to 10 per cent from 110 per cent.

Wine tariffs will be cut in half from 150 per cent to 75 per cent when the deal is implemented, and will eventually drop to 20 per cent. Tariffs on olive oil will drop to zero over five years from 45 per cent.

Brussels has also agreed to cut tariffs on 99.5 per cent of Indian goods, reducing textiles, leather gems, jewellery, chemicals and base metals to zero, over the next seven years.

The European Commissions deal with India eliminates or removes tariffs on 96.6 per cent of the EUs exports - Manish Swarup/The Associated Press

The FTA still has to be ratified and the EU has the potential to snatch the victory away from the commission. For example, the Mercosur deal, which had already been signed, was blocked by the European Parliament last week because it wants EU judges to scrutinise it.

Brussels claims, perhaps with one eye on post-Brexit Britain, that their agreement is the best deal that India has ever signed. The UK signed an FTA with India in July last year after three years of talks that cut tariffs on cars, whisky and gin.

Such European rivalry is small beer in the new age of empires, where there is no such thing as a free lunch.

The EU and the UK were only able to get their deals by winking at Indias alliance with Russia and the other belligerent hegemon of China.

Mr Modi does not impose Western-style sanctions on Russia for its illegal invasion of Ukraine. He instead pours money into Putins war chest, prolonging the war against an EU ally.

India is one of the worlds biggest customers for Russian crude oil, which make up to 40 per cent of its total imports or roughly 1.7 million barrels per day.

Some estimates suggest India has imported just under 125bn worth of crude, second only to China, since the war began.

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1609 Who is buying Russian fossil fuels

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Mr Trump has not been so one-eyed about Indias indirect funding of the Russian war machine.

He has hit India with tariffs of up to 50 per cent in an attempt to force New Delhi to shop elsewhere.

Scott Bessent, the US treasury secretary, has accused the EU of financing a war against itself with the new trade deal.

Brussels must hope that irritating Washington does not translate into new tariffs from a White House that insists that the EU is prolonging the war by buying refined Russian oil products from India.

The EU will take the win of this new trade deal but the Machiavellian Mr Modi is a grand master in the chess game of geopolitics.

Washington is also reportedly willing to reduce tariffs on India after Mr Modi to reduce Russian oil purchases. But Moscow remains Indias major supplier.

What other major power can do business as freely with Russia, the EU, China and increasingly the United States?
Expansion builds on Deere's and President Trump's Commitment to U.S. Manufacturing

What it means:

NEW American jobs

American jobs Kernersville, North Carolina, campus moved manufacturing and production from overseas (Japan) to America

Kernersville campus will produce the ONLY excavator designed, developed, and manufactured in the U.S.

In a speech in Clive, Iowa, today, President Donald J. Trump announced two new U.S.-based John Deere facilities. This includes a new parts distribution center in Hebron, Indiana, and the expansion of our campus in Kernersville, North Carolina. For more details, please see the following news release to learn more.

MOLINE, Ill., Jan. 27, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- In keeping with our strong tradition of building America, we are excited to announce plans to open two new U.S.-based facilities: a state-of-the-art distribution center near Hebron, Indiana, and a cutting-edge excavator factory in Kernersville, North Carolina, both set to open in the next year.

"Our investment in these new facilities underscores John Deere's dedication to strengthening the backbone of American industry and supporting local economies," said John May, chairman and chief executive officer of John Deere. "We believe in building America, and these projects represent our intent to continue driving innovation and job creation in the United States."

Expanding in Indiana: New Distribution Center

John Deere recently broke ground on a new distribution center near Hebron, Indiana, strategically located to enhance our supply chain capabilities nationwide. This facility will be designed to streamline operations and ensure timely delivery of equipment and parts. The Indiana project is anticipated to generate significant employment opportunities with approximately 150 jobs, contributing to the state's economic growth.

"This new facility is an investment in customer expectations around world class product support through parts availability for our US based ag, turf, construction, forestry, mining and turf customers," said Denver Caldwell, vice president, Aftermarket and Customer Support. "Indiana's strong workforce and central location make it an ideal choice for expansion."

John Deere will continue to maintain its primary North American Parts Distribution Center in Milan, Illinois, which has been in operation since 1973 and employs about 1,200 people.

Kernersville, North Carolina: New Excavator Factory

The new $70M factory in Kernersville, North Carolina, will bolster John Deere's manufacturing capabilities, leveraging advanced technologies to produce industry leading excavators for the construction market. The North Carolina factory will assume production of future generation excavators previously produced in Japan.

This facility will employ over 150 people and will help meet equipment demand and strengthen our commitment to U.S. manufacturing innovation.

"We are excited to bring this new facility to our Kernersville campus and to be part of the region's thriving manufacturing community," said Ryan Campbell, president Worldwide Construction and Forestry and Power Systems. "Our focus will be on delivering excellence, creating jobs, and advancing the legacy of John Deere in American manufacturing."

Building America: Impact and Commitment

With the opening of these two facilities, John Deere will create hundreds of new U.S. jobs, further supporting local communities and advancing our mission to build a stronger America.

"These investments further demonstrate our commitment to invest $20B in U.S. manufacturing over the next 10 years," May said. "It is a testament to our confidence in the future of U.S. manufacturing and our unwavering commitment to innovation, quality, and economic growth."

About Deere & Company

It doesn't matter if you've never driven a tractor, mowed a lawn, or operated a dozer. With John Deere's role in helping produce food, fiber, fuel, and infrastructure, we work for every single person on the planet. It all started nearly 200 years ago with a steel plow. Today, John Deere drives innovation in agriculture, construction, forestry, turf, power systems, and more.

For more information on Deere & Company, visit us at www.deere.com/en/news/.

SOURCE John Deere Company
The Trump family marked the launch of Melania, Amazons controversial documentary about the first lady, with a special black-tie White House premiere that sent VIP guests home with monochrome cookies bearing the name MELANIA, branded popcorn buckets and limited-edition copies of her memoir.

On Saturday, the black-and-white-themed event took place in a makeshift cinema at White House, which had been erected after the original cinema had been demolished to make way for Trumps new ballroom, with a guest list of 70 attendees including Mike Tyson, Amazons Andy Jassy, Apples Tim Cook and Queen Rania of Jordan.

According to photos captured at the event, guests were welcomed into a grand reception room, where an orchestra played Melanias Waltz  the films bespoke theme song composed by Tony Neiman.

Guests then indulged in a monochromatic table spread brimming with sweet treats, including black-and-white macarons, White House-shaped cookies and popcorn from a vintage cinema dispenser, before being invited to the screening room to watch the $40 million Amazon-funded documentary.

The Trump family has faced considerable backlash for hosting the opulent event  and platforming what critics have described as a vanity project  after 37-year-old nurse and U.S. citizen Alex Pretti was fatally shot by a U.S. Border Patrol agent in Minnesota Saturday morning.

Spreads were filled with monochromatic sweet treats, including cookies bearing the name MELANIA (Instagram via @i.am.link)

A White House-shaped cookie at the Melania special screening (Instagram via @paulamichellewhite)

The controversial documentary, which opens nationwide in theaters on January 30, tracks the first lady over the 20 days leading up to President Trumps inauguration as she prepares to transition back to the White House. Amazon paid $40 million for the movie and a further $35 million on promoting it.

At the event, attendees posed with the films subject, who wore a pair of black high-waisted trousers and a simple white shirt with black court heels, against a white backdrop with MELANIA printed in large font.

Goodie bags included plenty of Melania merch: framed screening tickets, commemorative popcorn boxes, gift-wrapped cookies and a copy of the first ladys book wrapped in white ribbon.

The documentary marks a comeback for director Brett Ratner, who has not directed a film since 2014s Hercules after being accused of sexual misconduct by multiple women in 2017. Ratner has denied all allegations.

An orchestra played the films theme song, Melanias Waltz, to event attendees (Instagram via @paulamichellewhite)

This Thursday, the day before the films release, an official premiere will take place at the recently renamed Donald J Trump and the John F Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts.

The film has been marketed as an insider look at the most mysterious and opaque woman in global politics, and her relationship with her husband, but details  and early access previews for journalists  have been kept under a strict lock and key until Thursdays premiere.

Everyone wants to know, so here it is, the First Lady says in the documentary trailer.

Melania Trump in her new documentary 'Melania' (Muse Films)

Clips cut throughout the trailer show Melania preparing for the presidents inauguration, rallies, and meetings.

In one clip, Melania is in a hotel room on the phone with Trump as she congratulates her husband. Did you watch it? Trump can be heard asking.

I did not, no I will see it on the news, Melania replies.
Trump administration officials are directing national parks to remove or revise signs addressing climate change and Native American history, among other subjects, according to a new report.

In recent weeks, park staff at more than a dozen locations across Texas, Arizona, Colorado, Montana, Wyoming and Utah have received orders to alter or eliminate such displays, according to The Washington Post, citing government documents.

These changes align with President Donald Trump's March 2025 executive order, titled "Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History, which aimed to purge "partisan ideology" from federal sites  including mentions of racism, sexism, LGBTQ topics and climate change.

The Interior Department, run by Secretary Doug Burgum, said its actions were in line with the presidents executive order.

All federal agencies are to review interpretive materials to ensure accuracy, honesty, and alignment with shared national values, the department said in a statement. Following completion of the required review, the National Park Service is now taking appropriate action in accordance with the Order.

Officials in Donald Trump's administration have instructed national parks to remove signage related to climate change and Native American mistreatment, according to a new report (Getty Images)

But critics slammed the move as an attempt to whitewash U.S. history.

Kristen Brengel, a senior vice president for the National Parks Conservation Association, told the Post that the administrations measures should offend every American.

She added that park staffers are being forced to select stories because they think the administration will threaten their jobs if they dont.

Some of the countrys most popular parks, frequented by millions of tourists, have been targeted by the administration, including Grand Canyon National Park, Glacier National Park and Big Bend National Park.

The attempt to scrub language related to Native Americans and climate change should offend every American said a National Parks Conservation Association official (Getty Images)

At the Grand Canyon, staff recently took down a section of an exhibit that included language about settlers exploiting land for mining and pushing tribes off their land in order to create the park.

Employees at the park, located in Arizona, also cut references to ranchers carelessly overgrazing and tourists foolishly tossing trash in the park, according to the Post. Roadside signs addressing climate change and pollution have been marked for possible elimination.

Language about climate change was also flagged at Glacier National Park in Montana, including on signs that detailed the possible loss of the park's well-known glaciers.

Additionally, a sign at the gift shop was targeted for review. It stated: Climate Change Affects National Parks and the Treasures They Protect.

Were whitewashing or were taking out all those sort of not-so-nice stories that have occurred in our nations history, Jeff Mow, the parks former superintendent, told the newspaper.

At Big Bend National Park, located near the Texas-Mexico border, over a dozen displays have been targeted for removal (Getty Images)

And, at Big Bend National Park in Texas, over a dozen displays have been slated for elimination, many of which are seemingly noncontroversial, pertaining to prehistoric history, geology and fossils.

The administrations removal orders did not explain what was wrong with the signs, according to the Post.

This is not something that the National Park Service should be blamed for, Bob Krumenaker, the parks former superintendent, said. They are being told they have to do these things. And my hope is theyre saving these exhibits for when things change so they can put them back up.

Its not the first time the Trump administration has enacted controversial changes within the countrys national parks.

Last year, the Environmental Protection Agency moved to weaken a decades-old rule designed to improve visibility at national parks. The administration also previously proposed slashing the parks budget by $1 billion, which would mark the largest cut in the systems 109-year history.
Conor McGinn was the Labour MP for St Helens North, Merseyside, from 2015 to 2024 - Instagram

A former ally of Morgan McSweeney, Sir Keir Starmers chief of staff, has been charged with sexually assaulting a woman in 2022.

Conor McGinn, a married 41-year-old former Labour MP, will appear at Westminster magistrates court on Feb 27 to face one count of sexual assault.

The charge relates to an alleged attack in July 2022. Mr McGinn previously said he was confident the allegation was entirely unfounded.

When Labour was in opposition, Mr McGinn worked with Mr McSweeney and Shabana Mahmood, now Home Secretary, on planning local election campaigns.

Morgan McSweeney is Sir Keir Starmers chief of staff and a divisive figure within Labours inner circle - Jaimi Joy/Bloomberg

Several months before he was forced to resign, Mr McGinn praised Mr McSweeney in an article for the Irish Independent.

Jessica Walker, the deputy chief crown prosecutor, said: The Crown Prosecution Service has decided to charge Conor McGinn with one count of sexual assault following a police investigation into an alleged sexual assault in July 2022.

Our prosecutors have worked to establish that there is sufficient evidence to bring this charge to court and that it is in the public interest to do so.

We have worked closely with the Metropolitan Police as they have carried out their investigation into the allegation.

Suspended after complaint

Mr McGinn, born in Armagh in Northern Ireland, was MP for St Helens North in Merseyside from 2015 to 2024.

He was suspended from the Labour Party in 2022 after a complaint was made against him. In a statement at the time, he said: The Labour Party has informed me that it is automatically required to apply a temporary procedural suspension while a complaint is investigated.

I have not been told the details of the complaint but I am confident that it is entirely unfounded. I strongly reject any suggestion of wrongdoing and I look forward to the matter being resolved quickly.

Mr McGinn supported Andy Burnham in his 2015 bid to replace Ed Miliband as Labour leader and became an opponent of Jeremy Corbyn during the latters hard-Left Labour leadership, accusing him of bullying.

Mr Corbyn denied the claim that he had threatened to use Mr McGinns father, a former Sinn Fein councillor, to bully him into submission.

Mr McGinn meeting Tony Blair and Bill Clinton at an event to mark 20 years of the Good Friday agreement. His father is a former Sinn Feinn councillor in Norther Ireland - Instagram

Mr McGinn supported the successful campaign for Helens Law, which introduced tougher penalties for murderers who refuse to reveal the location of their victims remains.

He also moved the Commons amendment to extend the equal marriage law to Northern Ireland.

When Sir Keir took over, Mr McGinn was made deputy national campaigns coordinator, working with Ms Mahmood.

The pair were credited with strong local election results in May 2022, when Labour won back votes from the Tories in the so-called red wall.

Following his suspension over the accusation of sexual assault, he sat in the Commons as an independent.

Praise for McSweeney

Several months before he was forced to resign, Mr McGinn praised Mr McSweeney in the Irish Independent.

He said: I feel the party is competitive again, which is not what I would have said in the aftermath of that election, and Morgan has played a key role in that.

I have rarely met someone who has such an instinctive grasp of politics, organisation, public opinion... This is all about winning ... and Morgan is the man to make progress in that direction.

Mr McGinn is married with two children, and lives in Lambeth in south London.

Two years ago, he told students he worked in the prison service before he became an MP.

According to a write-up on the website of Edge Hill University: Mr McGinn moved to London to seek out work in the field of public service and social justice, soon finding himself work within the prison service.

It was that job that opened his eyes to crime and the systemic nature of some offences being committed. He began to feel that some offenders had been failed by the governmental approach to justice and rehabilitation.
Most Americans supported the mass deportation of undocumented immigrants during the 2024 election, but now, more Americans support abolishing the agency that carries out those raids, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, than not.

President Donald Trump had campaigned on the promise to carry out the largest deportation of illegal immigrants in U.S. history, which his Department of Homeland Security has worked on for the past year by sending swarms of federal agents to major cities for removal operations.

A CBS News/YouGov poll from June 2024 showed 62 percent of Americans favored deporting all undocumented immigrants. But as the Trump administration has carried out ICE raids, public opinion has soured.

A new YouGov poll found that 46 percent of Americans somewhat or strongly support abolishing ICE, more than the 41 percent who somewhat or strongly oppose getting rid of the agency. Another 12 percent were unsure.

Most Americans supported the mass deportation of undocumented immigrants during the 2024 election, but now, more Americans support abolishing the agency that carries out those raids, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, than not (Roberto Schmidt/AFP via Getty Images)

Across party lines, most Democrats, 76 percent, supported abolishing ICE, and most Republicans, 73 percent, opposed it. More independents, 47 percent, supported putting an end to the agency than the 35 percent who opposed it.

The poll was taken after a second U.S. citizen was fatally shot by DHS agents in Minneapolis within a month. A Border Patrol officer shot and killed Alex Pretti, 37, on Saturday after a confrontation between agents and civilians escalated.

A new YouGov poll found that 46 percent of Americans somewhat or strongly support abolishing ICE, more than the 41 percent who somewhat or strongly oppose getting rid of the agency (Roberto Schmidt/AFP via Getty Images)

According to footage of the shooting, officers wrestled Pretti to the ground before taking a gun that was tucked into the mans waistband. Then multiple shots are fired at Pretti.

Speaking about the incident, DHS Secretary Kristi Noem said that federal agents were conducting an operation against an undocumented immigrant when a person approached Border Patrol officers with a handgun and that one of the officers fired defensive shots after fearing for his life. The only thing Pretti appeared to be holding in his hands during the confrontation was a phone, according to footage.

The poll comes out after the second fatal shooting of a U.S. citizen in Minneapolis at the hands of federal immigration agents this month (Octavio Jones/AFP via Getty Images)

Earlier this month, Renee Good, 37, was fatally shot by a federal agent as she was behind the wheel of her car. The Trump administration also framed that shooting as self-defense.

Nearly half of Americans in the new YouGov poll, 48 percent, said they strongly disapprove of how ICE is handling its job, and another 9 percent somewhat disapprove. When asked how they would describe ICEs tactics, 58 percent said they are too forceful.

Trumps overall approval rating has sunk to 38 percent in a new Reuters/Ipsos poll. According to the survey, 53 percent of Americans disapproved of the president's handling of immigration, and just 39 percent approved.
Nearly half of CDC databases arent being updated as experts sound alarm over gaps in health data

Nearly half of federal health surveillance databases either stopped or delayed routine updates last year, with potentially dire consequences to public health, according to researchers.

A newly-released audit of nearly 1,400 public records from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention revealed that 38 of the agencys 82 databases that were normally updated monthly had unexplained pauses starting last spring.

More than a third of the 38 paused databases had stops lasting for more than half a year, and only one was updated by the second of December, researchers at Vanderbilt University, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and the Boston University School of Law said.

Nearly 90 percent of the paused databases reported vaccination topics, while others covered respiratory diseases and drug overdose deaths.

The pause on these topics could stymie critical information about respiratory illnesses and other health-related threats, potentially leading to eroded public trust, the researchers said.

People demonstrate outside the main campus of the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, Georgia, in April 2025. Researchers say an audit shows nearly half of the agencys federal health surveillance databases had unexplained pauses in updates starting under Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. (Getty Images)

The evidence is damning: The administrations antivaccine stance has interrupted the reliable flow of the data we need to keep Americans safe from preventable infections, Dr. Jeanne Marrazzo, the former director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, who is suing the administration over public health warnings and did not contribute to the research, asserted in an accompanying editorial.

The consequences will be dire.

Marrazzo added that failing to provide accurate and timely data to public health leaders and providers would undermine the ability to recognize disease outbreaks and respond to them, also noting that the findings were consistent with actions taken by the administration to undermine trust around vaccines.

The study did not determine reasons for the pauses, but she said she believed whether or not the data interruptions reported were due to intentional disregard for sharing data on immunizations or to workforce shortages due to the agencys reduction in force likely did not matter.

Either causative pathway demonstrates a profound disregard for human life, scientific progress, and the dedication of the public health workforce that has provided a bulwark against the advance of emerging, and reemerging infectious diseases, she said.

The Independents request for comment from the Department of Health and Human Services was not immediately returned.

Andrew Nixon, a spokesperson for the department, told NBC News that the CDC reports Covid and Respiratory syncytial virus activity through its respiratory virus surveillance systems and weekly flu activity through a database called FluView.

Changes to individual dashboards or update schedules reflect routine data quality and system management decisions, not political direction, he said. Under this administration, public health data reporting is driven by scientific integrity, transparency, and accuracy.

Flying blind

The audit builds upon previous research showing that staff cuts last year had eliminated more than a dozen data-gathering programs that track death and disease, including some related to pregnancy, abortions, job-related injuries, sexual violence and lead poisonings.

And, its not just the data reporting that stopped. Pages of public data were erased from the CDCs website, departments were shuttered and newsletters stopped going out.

Missing that expertise and that connection between laboratory information and outbreak investigation means we are flying blind, Scott Becker, the CEO of the Association of Public Health Laboratories, told POLITICO in April. The critical services that they provide to public health labs in the country that are really not replicated anywhere else.

Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. said in April that he was slashing unhealthy fat at the CDC, and that some of the agencys work would be moved to a new Administration for a Healthy America.

A member of a medical staff administers a dose of the measles vaccine to a child at a health center in Lubbock, Texas, in February 2025. The U.S. is seeing its worst outbreak of the vaccine-preventable virus in over three decades (AFP via Getty Images)

Earlier this month, the department told NPR that efforts to create the administration are still in the works - but any timeline for that remains unclear.

A historic problem

All of this comes amid what has become a historic public health crisis, in which vaccination plays a key role.

The U.S. is experiencing the worst outbreak of the measles virus in more than 30 years and a continuous rise of vaccine hesitancy, including at the HHS.

Scientists are waiting to see if America will lose its longstanding measles elimination status and CDC data updated on Friday shows 416 cases reported so far this year in 14 states.

But measles is vaccine-preventable, and two doses of the measles-mumps-rubella vaccine are 97 percent effective against the highly contagious illness.

The outbreak comes as Americans also have to contend with a surge of whooping cough, along with a nasty and severe flu season.

These threats are why keeping databases updated is crucial, according to Marrazzo.

Crafting a rapid response to these types of events requires that we know about them in the first place, she said.
The outbreak of a deadly virus in West Bengal, India, has sparked concerns in parts of Asia, with some initiating Covid-style screenings at airports.

At least five cases of the Nipah virus, which has no cure and can kill 75 per cent of those it infects, have been detected in West Bengal, India.

In response, Thailand has begun new screening measures at three airports for arrivals from West Bengal. Nepal has also started screening passengers arriving at Kathmandu airport, as well as other land border points with India.

Five healthcare professionals in West Bengal were infected by the virus earlier this month, and one is in a critical condition. Around 110 people who were in contact with them have been quarantined.

The Nipah virus can be transmitted from animals such as pigs and fruit bats to humans. It can also spread from person to person through infected food. The incubation period of Nipah ranges from four to 14 days.

Health workers wearing protective gear shift people who have been in contact with a person infected with the Nipah virus (AFP via Getty Images (2023 file picture))

It has been described by the World Health Organization as one of its top ten priority diseases, alongside pathogens like COVID-19 and Zika, due to its potential to trigger an epidemic.

Initial symptoms of Nipah are wide-ranging and can include fever, headaches, muscle pain, vomiting, and sore throat.

In some cases, these symptoms can be followed by drowsiness, altered consciousness, and pneumonia. In severe cases, encephalitis, the inflammation of the brain, which can be fatal, may occur.

However, in some cases, no symptoms emerge at all.

Last year, the virus was included on a list of 24 diseases considered the greatest future threats to public health by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA). At present, there are no approved drugs or vaccines to treat the virus.
Erling Haaland has struggled in front of goal in recent weeks (Mike Egerton/PA) (PA Archive)

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has attributed Erling Haalands recent goal drought to his team-mates, while simultaneously backing the prolific striker to continue scoring "for the rest of his life."

Haaland, who previously described his form as the best of his career after netting 38 goals in 28 matches across all competitions, has managed just one goal in his last nine appearances  a penalty.

When questioned about the reasons behind the Norwegians unexpected dip in front of goal, Guardiola pointed to "the team."

"Create more chances then he will score," Guardiola stated on Tuesday. "Never underestimate the strikers, the goal-scorers, because always they will make you silent. He will score for the rest of his life, thats for sure."

City will be hoping Haaland rediscovers his early-season sharpness for Wednesdays crucial Champions League home fixture against Galatasaray.

Pep Guardiola has called on Haalands team-mates to give him more chances in front of goal (Martin Rickett/PA) (PA Wire)

The English side likely needs a victory to secure a top-eight finish and qualify directly for the round of 16, thereby avoiding a playoff round similar to last season.

Galatasarays squad is expected to feature former City stars Ilkay Gundogan, who captained Guardiolas treble-winning team in 2022-23, and Leroy Sane.

City made their qualification path more challenging by suffering a surprising defeat to Bod/Glimt last week, which saw them drop to 11th place in the 36-team standings.

"Its where we deserve (to be)," admitted Guardiola, who faces a significant injury and suspension crisis.

Rodri is suspended, while centre-backs Ruben Dias, Josko Gvardiol, and John Stones are injured. January signings Antoine Semenyo and Marc Guehi are also ineligible for this stage of the competition.

There is a potential boost with Nico Gonzalez, who has missed the last five games due to injury, possibly returning if he successfully completes training on Tuesday.

His availability would be a significant relief for Guardiola, who is otherwise without a specialist defensive midfielder.
Keir Starmer and Xi Jinping at G20 in 2024, as the two leaders prepare to meet again this week (PA)

In an ideal world  one in which Britain was still in the European Union, could be confident in the enduring strength of the Atlantic alliance, and look forward to a slow but steady dismantling of barriers to global trade under the auspices of a powerful World Trade Organisation  Sir Keir Starmers trip to China would be conducted with a degree of national self-confidence.

Of course, Sir Keirs talks with Xi Jinping could never be a meeting of equals, given that China is, on some measures, the worlds largest economy, and certainly its pre-eminent industrial power, holding the title of workshop of the world, long ago held by imperial Britain.

However, the UK would not be quite so disadvantaged in its quest for investment and cooperation, not to mention pressing the case to remedy human rights abuses, if a combination of Brexit and Donald Trump had not smashed the longstanding foundations of British influence abroad.

That is the context for this mission  Britains relative economic and diplomatic isolation. It could hardly be less ideal. As an unusually open economy that depends on trade to make its living, this is a parlous situation to be in. The UK must develop closer links with the worlds pre-eminent and fastest-growing economies.

To his credit, Sir Keir has successfully limited the damage to Britain inflicted by President Trumps tariff wars; he has reset relations with the EU, signed a trade treaty with India, and inherited membership of the trans-Pacific partnership. But it is China that represents the biggest single overseas opportunity to boost economic growth.

As the prime minister puts it, with some understatement, sticking your head in the sand and ignoring China ... wouldnt be sensible. Or, indeed, possible. Britain has little choice.

Sir Keir will be accompanied by a strong team of officials and dozens of businesspeople, and it evokes memories of the similarly high-powered trade mission led by the then prime minister David Cameron in 2013. The idea back then was to further engage China in the rules-based international system; despite differences over human rights, there were great hopes for a new golden age in relations.

Since then, much has changed  and for the worse. China is more aggressive in its regional territorial ambitions. It has even gone so far as to forge a limitless friendship with Vladimir Putins Russia, propping up his war machine. The treatment of Hong Kong has grown ever harsher, and the case of Jimmy Lai highlights just how far China has reneged on its international obligations to that supposedly special administrative region.

There has been no improvement in the treatment of the Uyghur Muslim people, nor of Tibet. The Belt and Road Initiative is a thinly disguised exercise in neocolonialism. Without being paranoid, the scale of Chinese intelligence gathering in the UK is entirely disproportionate to any realistic threat that Britain, even with its allies, poses to this superpower, while the trading relationship is decidedly lopsided, in Chinas favour.

The latest of many allegations is that the Chinese hacked the phones of British officials in Downing Street for years, which raises the uncomfortable thought that the Politburo of the Chinese Communist Party knew more about Partygate, among other things, than did the British public. It is eight years since a British prime minister, Theresa May, visited China  given this unfriendly pattern of behaviour, its not surprising.

So there will be no silky talk this time around of a golden age, but there should be  has to be  some way of balancing the very real need for economic cooperation, while protecting British interests. Sir Keir has demonstrated a flair for foreign affairs in his otherwise underwhelming premiership so far, and he will need to make the most of his skills to put relations on a more fruitful path.

At least he can metaphorically present President Xi with the keys to the new Chinese super embassy in the grand surroundings of the former Royal Mint in London. The reciprocal prize will be permission for a new British embassy in Beijing. That should set things off to a good start, and, while working on the many areas of difference, the prime minister should stress that our country represents no threat to strategic Chinese interests, nor vice versa  with the expectation that the spying will be scaled back, political prisoners released, and the trade volumes increased.

Though they would be too polite to say it, and the British too embarrassed to admit it, many countries spy on each other, and its incumbent on each to make sure they take the appropriate precautions. That includes British parliamentary staff not falling victim to obvious Chinese traps, and stopping UK universities from turning themselves into propaganda outfits for the CCP.

Yet that is not the end of the prime ministers diplomatic challenges. Just as with the modest trade deal recently struck with China by the Canadian premier, Mark Carney, any agreement that emerges from this visit may well be greeted by the usual fire and fury from Mr Trump, jealous as ever of the allies he so often treats with a callous disdain. Whatever else he says to the PM, President Xi wont accuse British troops of cowardice in Afghanistan.

No doubt Sir Keir and his colleagues have already anticipated and sought to defuse such an explosion of anger in the White House  but the threat of a sudden hiking of tariffs, with devastating consequences for UK jobs, tearing up the US-UK prosperity agreement, is never more than a Truth Social post away. As they negotiate with their serious-minded, temperate, Chinese counterparts, the British officials might well wonder how it came to be that Beijing, for all its espionage and authoritarianism, became a more reliable, respectful and predictable partner than Washington.

The Chinese may or may not share the US state departments view that the UK faces civilisational erasure, but they dont think its any of their business. During the state banquet, perhaps Sir Keirs hosts will supply some piece of Confucian wisdom to explain this paradox.
Pubs are a universal remedy for loneliness - UCG

Perhaps it was barring Labour MPs from their local pubs that did it: the Chancellor is now trying to be nice to pubs. She has promised a 15 per cent cut on the new business rates from April followed by a real-terms freeze for the next two years. But as this paper has pointed out, these changes are only temporary and dont offset the raft of bad stuff that the Government has inflicted on them  from the National Insurance rise to increased energy bills and higher minimum-wage payments, and rounding off with stricter rules for what you can drink if you drive.

Pubs are good at employing people, and if you make it more expensive to hire them  especially the young  it has an instant retrograde effect. And all this before you consider that in London you pay more than 7 for a pint, about a third of which is tax. (If I buy a Jameson, it costs me 5.50 for a single shot, which works out at about 10p for every second it takes to drink it.)

This paper has been running a campaign to save British pubs, yet the gloomy reality is that since 2010 when the Tories came to power, some 7,000 have closed. Now, consider that during the same period, at least half a million more people began to receive benefits relating to mental health issues, or 1.3 million people in total.

The Chancellor Rachel Reeves has unveiled a temporary support package for pubs - Stefan Rousseau/PA Wire

Separately, Age UK estimates that about two and a half million older people suffer from loneliness. No one has ever claimed that there is a causal relationship between the drop in the number of pubs and the number of people who are depressed and lonely (the two things very often go together), but let me assert it.

I say, the fewer pubs there are, the more people feel depressed and isolated because theyre sitting at home rather than in each others company in a pub. In other words, pubs are not merely good for the economy; they are good for the mental health of the nation. Let me go further to monetise the equation: if there were more pubs, if fewer of them had to shut, it would make a dent, however small, in the 20.6bn the Government spends on mental health issues.

That premise is based on an obvious truth: pubs are places where people hang out together, even if they dont talk to each other. Men especially can be companionably silent together. They are in fact the single most effective therapy centre for the group that talks least about depression, yet suffers disproportionately from it: older men.

There was a poster campaign last November which said: Save a Life. Adopt a Middle Aged Man. It was launched by the Mens Minds Matter charity, which observed that too many men in mid-life find themselves emotionally isolated and socially disconnected. But you know where men can go to be socially connected without having to make an excuse for being there: the pub. And thats even more true for older people. You dont even have to drink-drink in a pub; I can nurse a lime and soda for far longer than a whisky.

So, lets put the case to the Government: pubs are crucial for social connectedness, intergenerational contact and for mental health. It is a universal remedy for loneliness. Ministers talk endlessly about communities; well, the most obvious one is down the road from them. Wes Streeting, Health Secretary, should be signing up to the Telegraph campaign.
Rapper Nathan Tokosi, also known as DigDat, has been jailed for life over a drive-by shooting in which the victim was severely injured.

Daniel Offei-Ntow, 27, was shot six times in the head, mouth and body as he sat in his car in Notting Hill, west London, early on November 20 2023.

The victim, a rival artist who performs as Lugavelz, has recently died and the court was told it was unconnected to the shooting and there was no third party involved.

On Tuesday, Tokosi, 26, of Deptford, south-east London, was jailed for life with a minimum term of 24 years having been convicted of attempted murder and firearms offences over two trials last year.

The court was told Tokosi had eight previous convictions for 13 offences, including violence dating back to the age of 11 when he punched a girl in the face and punched and kneed a boy in the head in separate incidents four months apart.

At the age of 13, the defendant stabbed a victim in the ribcage during an altercation for which he was convicted of attempted murder and sentenced to seven years youth detention and three years on extended licence.

In mitigation, the court was told Tokosi was a laidback young man caught up in the success of his music career and the fast-paced and chaotic lifestyle that went with it.

Shannon Revel, defending, said: He described that his job as a rapper effectively became an existence, rather than something that he could take time off from.

Rising to success so quickly gave Tokosi no real time for reflection, she said.

Having been diagnosed with ADHD aged 11, Tokosi had struggled with his behaviour at school, she added.

Sentencing at the Old Bailey, Judge Sarah Munro KC said she was in no doubt he was a dangerous offender.

Tokosi, whose single Air Force peaked at number 20 on the UK singles chart in 2018, was supported in court by his family.

He made a phone gesture to the public gallery where weeping could be heard as he was sent down.

Rapper Nathan Tokosi, aka DigDat, showed no emotion as the verdicts were returned at the Old Bailey (Met Police/PA)

Previously, prosecutor Kate Bex KC said the defendant was one of at least two people in a stolen Audi that pulled up beside Mr Offei-Ntows vehicle.

At least six shots were fired from a rear passenger window, hitting Mr Offei-Ntow in the head, mouth and body, and he was lucky not to die, Ms Bex said.

Firearms officers arrived quickly and found the victims Mitsubishi Outlander riddled with bullet holes and the interior covered in blood.

Officers followed a trail of blood and found Mr Offei-Ntow had returned to his flat and was sitting on a sofa in shock and severely injured, the court was told.

Police dogs recovered a latex glove and a black bag containing a firearm and three rounds of ammunition near to where the Audi was abandoned.

Further inquiries revealed that Tokosi had borrowed a BMW to make two trips on consecutive nights from his fathers home in Deptford, south-east London, to Notting Hill that weekend, the jury heard.

Ms Bex said it was clear Tokosi was involved in the shooting and there was no innocent explanation for the BMW and the Audi being in the same west London location.

The trial opened at the Old Bailey last February (PA) (Daniel Leal-Olivas)

Investigators found DNA belonging Tokosi and artist Kamal Benjamin, also known as Wesson, in the Audi used in the shooting.

But further evidence, including Mr Benjamins Instagram posts from Dubai, showed he had left the UK days before.

Mr Benjamin posted a video on Instagram of Lil Durk, who had performed in Dubai four days before the shooting.

Another post the following month showed him in a nightclub with rapper 50 Cent, who had performed in Dubai on December 21 2023.

At his attempted murder trial last February, Tokosi was also convicted of possessing a self-loading pistol and ammunition with intent to endanger life and possessing a prohibited firearm and ammunition.

Following a second Old Bailey trial in November, Tokosi was further convicted of possessing a firearm and ammunition on February 4 2024.

Helen Shaw, from the Crown Prosecution Service, said: This was an utterly mindless attack which very nearly claimed a life.

That night, Nathan Tokosi clearly intended to kill his victim by shooting him in the head at a close range, with CCTV revealing Tokosi doing several drives around the area in a stolen Audi in the days and hours before the shooting.

The Crown Prosecution Service was determined to ensure Tokosi was prosecuted for the full extent of his offending, and we hope todays sentence will offer some closure to the victims family.

Detective Inspector Chris Shepherd, from the Central South Borough Command Unit, said: Tokosis actions were premeditated, reckless and malicious. He lied at trial, maintaining that he had no involvement whatsoever in the shooting.

The committed police investigation to bring Tokosi before the courts reflects our no-tolerance approach to gang violence on Londons streets.

I would like to credit the investigation team for their work bringing Tokosi to justice, as well as the officers and medical staff who treated the victim after the shooting.

Detective Inspector Chris Shepherd, from Scotland Yard, said: Tokosis actions were premeditated, reckless and malicious. He lied at trial, maintaining that he had no involvement whatsoever in the shooting.

The committed police investigation to bring Tokosi before the courts reflects our no-tolerance approach to gang violence on Londons streets.

I would like to credit the investigation team for their work bringing Tokosi to justice, as well as the officers and medical staff who treated the victim after the shooting.
Advocate for Pennsylvania accounting professionals recognized among influencers shaping state policy

PHILADELPHIA, Jan. 27, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The Pennsylvania Institute of Certified Public Accountants (PICPA), the leading advocate for accounting professionals in Pennsylvania, is pleased to announce that Vice President of Government Relations Peter N. Calcara has been named among City & State Pennsylvania's list of Who's Who in Government Relations. This guide highlights the most influential individuals involved in Pennsylvania government affairs, legislative strategy, and advocacy. Calcara will be recognized alongside other honorees during a ceremony hosted by the publication on Jan. 28, 2026, at the Whitaker Center for Science and the Arts in Harrisburg.

Peter Calcara

"It's an honor to stand alongside some of the most influential advocates in our state," said Calcara. "Strong advocacy is essential to protecting the integrity and future of the accounting profession, and I am proud to represent more than 18,000 PICPA members. Our accounting professionals deserve public policy that recognizes and the critical role they play, and I'm committed to continuing to amplify their voices in the legislative arena."

With more than 30 years of experience in Harrisburg and a deep understanding of the policymaking process, Calcara works to build strong, trusted relationships with lawmakers, regulators, and stakeholders across party lines. His government relations work has helped position PICPA as a respected voice on accounting, auditing, and taxation issues at the state level. As an advocate for the organization and the accounting profession, he promotes fiscally responsible, business-friendly legislation that supports economic growth and professional integrity.

City & State Pennsylvania's guide to Who's Who in Government Relations honors the most influential individuals helping companies, organizations, and associations communicate their legislative priorities to elected officials at all levels. Representing corporations, advocacy groups, and other branches of government, these professionals educate lawmakers and propel innovation across a broad spectrum of industries.

About the Pennsylvania Institute of Certified Public Accountants:

Founded in 1897, the Pennsylvania Institute of Certified Public Accountants (PICPA) is the second-oldest CPA organization in the United States and the leading voice for CPAs in Pennsylvania. Representing nearly 18,000 members, the PICPA advances the profession by advocating for sound public policy, strengthening the CPA talent pipeline, and delivering education and leadership opportunities that keep CPAs relevant in a changing business environment. The PICPA supports CPAs and future CPAs at every career stage, helping them adapt, lead, and create value for the businesses and communities they serve. Learn more at picpa.org.

Media Contact: Becky Bergman, [email protected]

SOURCE The Pennsylvania Institute of Certified Public Accountants (PICPA)
A 79-year-old woman imprisoned for killing her terminally ill husband as part of a botched murder-suicide pact in 2023 has said she wouldn't do anything differently and is accepting the consequences.

It was three years ago this month that Ellen Gilland of New Smyrna Beach, Florida smuggled her husband Jerry's gun into his hospital room in Daytona Beach and fired a single, fatal shot into his head.

An hours-long standoff ensued, forcing staff and patients to shelter in place until police officers finally threw a nonlethal explosive device into the room and took Gilland into custody.

A judge ultimately accepted Gilland's claim that her actions had been part of an agreement with her 77-year-old husband, but sentenced her to one year in prison and 12 years on probation due to the disruption and fear she had sown among bystanders.

Asked by Fox 35 Orlando whether she would change her actions now, Gilland insisted: "There wasn't anything else to do."

Gilland said it was a challenge to return to normal life after being released from prison, especially without her supportive, quiet, generous husband (Daytona Beach Police Department)

According to reports, Gilland told investigators that three weeks beforehand, she and her husband Jerry  who was 77 years old  had agreed that she would kill him and then herself if his illness got worse.

"I knew what was coming. I knew how difficult it would be to be without him. Not just my best friend, but all of the things that we did for each other..., she told Fox 35.

"In the 76 years before this event happened, I had never been in trouble before in my life, and never planned to hurt anyone ever, she added.

Of her late husband, whom she had known since middle school, she said: "He was very supportive, very quiet, very generous. He was a lovely person."

Gilland said that she brought her husband's old gun to the hospital and sat with him talking for a while, before killing him. Afterwards, though, she found she could not go through with the suicide part of her plan.

When hospital staff entered the room, however, Gilland  apparently in a state of extreme distress  pointed the gun at them and told them to leave, beginning an armed standoff with police.

"Tell me what's going on! I don't want to hurt you!" one officer can be heard shouting on body cam footage.

"Things didn't progress the way I would have thought they would," Gilland admitted in her later interview.

In the aftermath, Gilland was initially charged with first degree murder, but her charges were reduced by a grant jury. She ultimately pled no contest to manslaughter with a firearm, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, and aggravated assault of a law enforcement officer with a firearm.

One nurse testified during her trial that he had been forced to quit his job after the killing because he "didn't feel safe anymore" at the hospital and regularly "got nightmares" due to the incident.

Gilland told Fox 35 that she had struggled in prison, suffering a heart attack just six weeks into her sentence due to the stress. She did the rest of her time in the infirmary, before being released in November 2025.

"Most of the guards were very  not really friendly, but accepting," she said. "There were a few of them that were very rude, and shouting, and name-calling."

Now released, Gilland is doing court-ordered community service, and will do so monthly as long as she is physically able. She has recently started working at a local animal shelter, according to Fox 35.

"Im accepting the consequences," she told the outlet. "I have to figure out how to survive after this."

She also told the outlet that she would try to live out the rest of her life without her husband, while advocating for some form of assisted suicide to be legalized.

"I don't want people feeling sorry for me. I did what I did," she said.

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 branchIf 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
Emergency services work on the scene of the Bombardier Challenger 600 crash at the Bangor airport in Maine on 25 January 2026. Photograph: WABI AP (Photograph: WABI AP)

Several victims killed in a private jet crash in Maine during a snowstorm on Sunday have been identified.

The France-bound Bombardier Challenger 600 crashed shortly after takeoff at Bangor international airport, killing all six people on board. Among the victims was Houston-based attorney Tara Arnold, who was married to Kurt Arnold, a co-founder of the Arnold & Itkin Law Firm, which owns the private jet, according to the Texas news outlet ABC13.

Speaking to the station, Harris county, Texas, commissioner Lesley Briones said she is a close friend of the Arnolds.

Im close friends with Kurt and Tara Arnold and were still waiting for additional information, Briones said, adding: Unfortunately, the plane went down [Sunday] evening in Maine, and my heart hurts for them, for their children, and for their families.

Briones went on to describe Tara Arnold as a devoted public servant and community leader in her county precinct.

She was a phenomenal person, a bold leader, and someone with a heart of service. She was very involved in Precinct 4 and our nonprofit, Precinct 4 Forward. My heart is with Kurt, their children, and everyone affected, she said.

Another victim on board was Shawna Collins, a Houston-based event planner. Her daughter told ABC13 she had spoken with her mother before the flight on Sunday and said Collins was looking forward to the business trip.

The planes pilot, 47-year-old Jacob Hosmer, was also killed in the crash. His father, Gary Hosmer, told the Texas outlet Click2Houston: Hes in heaven now with Jesus.

A friend who knew Hosmer told the outlet: I would describe him as a great pilot, a loving husband, and a phenomenal father. He was always kind. He was always laughing.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) said early findings indicate the aircraft crashed shortly after takeoff and caught fire afterward. The agency said it will not disclose additional details until investigators reach the site.

At the time of the crash, air traffic control audio captured a voice saying: Aircraft upside down  we have a passenger aircraft upside down, about 45 seconds after takeoff clearance. Airport director Jose Saavedra said first responders arrived in under a minute after the crash and fire.
Jamie Snowden is confident La Conquiere can make her mark at the Cheltenham Festival after being narrowly beaten at Ascot.

Second in the Grade Two Aintree mares bumper last spring, the seven-year-old had created a deep impression when winning over hurdles at both Uttoxeter then in Listed company at Newbury this term.

She lost her unbeaten record over obstacles when going down narrowly against more experienced rivals in the Grade Two Warfield Mares Hurdle, but the Lambourn handler was far from despondent.

Snowden said: Its always a shame to be beaten when you have a nice horse, but it was only her third run over hurdles and it was either very brave or very silly of the trainer to step her out of novice company against older mares and I thought she acquitted herself well.

She only went down half a length and gave the winner 2lb and she was probably just outbattled from the back of the last to the line.

It was a good performance and the handicapper has put her up 5lb so he must have thought it was a career-best.

Snowden will now head straight to the Mares Novices Hurdle at Prestbury Parks spring showpiece with La Conquiere, a race the Folly House handler won with You Wear It Well in 2023.

La Conquiere is a general 16-1 chance for this years renewal and Snowden believes this years model compares favourably with his heroine of old.

He added: Interestingly she will head to the Cheltenham Festival now off a mark of 133 and weve previously won the race with You Wear It Well off 135.

You Wear It Well carried a penalty and those penalties are no longer valid in the race, so in effect she goes in with a better chance than You Wear It Well did.

You Wear It Well was second in the Challow and won the Jane Seymour prior to Cheltenham and I was very conscious this mare didnt want to be running over two and a half miles, hence the reason we took on our elders at Ascot.

On figures shes one of the best mares in Britain and Ireland this season, and while the betting might not suggest it hopefully she goes to Cheltenham with a great chance.

Meanwhile, Snowden has a trip to Kelso and the Gade Two bet365 Premier Novices Hurdle in mind for Kosac dOudairies who thrived for a step up in trip at Catterick earlier this week.

Hes a lovely horse and deserved to go and win at Catterick under a penalty, added Snowden.

He went and took on Mydaddypaddy at Haydock and couldnt live with him over two miles but the step up in trip suited and hes done it well.

His future lies over fences, but in the immediate  and he does like softer ground  he could go to Kelso for the Grade Two over two-miles-two and then we might look at Aintree. He jumps great and were looking forward to seeing him over a fence next season.
Sir Keir was greeted by Chinese officials and received flowers upon his arrival in Beijing - Kin Cheung/AP

Sir Keir Starmer should not be visiting China, Kemi Badenoch has said.

The Tory leader criticised the Prime Minister for making the trip amid growing fears about Beijings threat to national security.

Sir Keir defended his visit, claiming that a diplomatic thaw with the superpower would make Britons safer and richer.

But Mrs Badenoch said the Prime Minister should be talking to countries aligned with our interests rather than a nation doing everything it can to undermine our economy.

At a press conference in central London, she said: Would I be going to China? No, not now, because I dont think that this is the time to do that. We need to be talking to those other countries who are worried about the threat China is posing to them.

We should be talking more to those countries who are aligned with our interests, not the country that is doing everything it can to undermine our economy. I think that that is what our Prime Minister should be talking about, and he needs to show strength.

The red carpet was rolled out for Sir Keir Starmer in Beijing - Simon Dawson/No 10 Downing Street

Sir Keirs plane landed in Beijing on Wednesday morning, with a red carpet rolled out as he disembarked. He was greeted by Chinese officials and received flowers before speaking briefly with those at the airfield.

Addressing business figures taking part in the trip at their hotel in Beijing, he said: On this delegation, youre making history. Youre part of the change that were bringing about.

The Prime Minister will hold talks with Xi Jinping, the Chinese president, in the capital before travelling to Shanghai and then to Japan. The last prime minister to visit China was Baroness May in 2018.

Downing Street aides have argued that Britain cannot ignore Chinas rapidly growing global influence, warning that refusing to engage would be a staggering dereliction of duty.

Sir Keir wants to thaw relations between Britain and China - Kin Cheung/AP

Before flying out, Sir Keir said: For years, our approach to China has been dogged by inconsistency  blowing hot and cold, from golden age to Ice Age. But, like it or not, China matters for the UK.

As one of the worlds biggest economic players, a strategic and consistent relationship with them is firmly in our national interest. That does not mean turning a blind eye to the challenges they pose  but engaging even where we disagree.

This is what our allies do, and what I will do: delivering for the public, putting more money in their pockets and keeping them safe through pragmatic, consistent co-operation abroad.

The Prime Minister was greeted by a guard of honour upon arriving in Beijing - Simon Dawson/No 10 Downing Street

The Prime Minister, like his predecessors, is attempting to balance the benefits of deepening ties with the worlds second-largest economy against the security risks posed.

More than 60 British businesses and cultural institutions are taking part in the trip, including Barclays, AstraZeneca, Jaguar Land Rover, the Royal Shakespeare Company and PwC.

The visit has been more than a year in the making and comes at a time when Sir Keir is struggling to improve economic growth, his self-declared number one priority in office.

Rachel Reeves, the Chancellor, is not attending  she saw her Chinese counterparts at Davos last week  but Peter Kyle, the Business Secretary, and Lucy Rigby, the Economic Secretary to the Treasury, are taking part.

However, the trip has raised concerns about whether Sir Keir is treating the threat to national security and the Western alliance seriously enough.

The Telegraph revealed this week that China hacked the phones of some of the closest aides to Boris Johnson, Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak between 2021 and 2024.

On Tuesday night, Sir Keir insisted none of his Downing Street team had been hacked by China.

The Prime Ministers entourage is taking burner phones and laptops to Beijing to make sure that private information cannot be obtained by Chinese hackers.

Speaking to reporters on the flight out, Sir Keir was asked if he was aware of any evidence of his Downing Street team being targeted by successful Chinese espionage.

He said: No, theres no evidence of that. Weve got robust schemes, security measures in place as youd expect.

The Prime Minister also insisted that Britains security would not be compromised in the pursuit of deeper trade ties with China.

Last week, China was granted planning permission to build a super-embassy in London, with Labour ministers saying the process was quasi-judicial.

Last year, the collapse of a case against two alleged Chinese spies  who have insisted their innocence  triggered a public row about whether the Government had failed to call China a threat to the UK in its written evidence.

At Wednesdays press conference, Mrs Badenoch attacked Sir Keir for approving the new super-embassy, which she said many people believed would become a spy hub.

He looks like he gives way every time things get difficult, and that is the difference between Keir Starmer and myself, she said.

The Tory leader also said she was worried about what hes [the Prime Minister] going to be doing when he gets to China.

She added: Hes probably going to give away the Isle of Wight before he comes back. Lets have an actual foreign policy, one that is rooted in realism and focusing on Britains national interest.

The Prime Minister is expected to raise human rights concerns with Xi when they meet on Thursday, though Number 10 advisers would not say which issues before the talks.

Sir Keirs team insisted the Prime Minister would not trade economic co-operation for our national security.
Andy Burnham has once again put himself on a collision course with Downing Street after stating that a No 10 briefing suggesting he had been told he would be rejected before applying to be the Labour candidate for the Gorton and Denton by-election was untrue.

Sources close to Sir Keir Starmer had told ITV that Mr Burnham was informed in no uncertain terms that he would be repulsed if he requested permission of the NEC committee to put his name forward for the by-election. He chose to do so, they say, knowing the outcome in advance.

But responding publicly to the claim, Mr Burnham said: This is simply untrue.

And a source close to the Manchester mayor later told ITV: Andy Burnham is seeking an urgent call with No 10 about the briefing which he says is untrue and breaks a commitment given to him by the PM.

It comes as Sir Keir battles a growing rebellion over the decision to block the Manchester mayor from standing in a by-election in the city, with around 50 Labour MPs having signed a letter objecting to it.

Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham has denied claims he knew hed be rejected from applying to the Gorton and Denton by-election (PA)

They are understood to have written to the prime minister and the chair of Labours ruling National Executive Committee (NEC) to warn that the decision is a real gift to Reform UK, as polling suggests Mr Burnham may be Labours very best chance at winning the vacant Gorton and Denton seat.

With tensions mounting internally in Labour, the signatories of the letter said there was no legitimate reason to block Mr Burnham, demanding Labours NEC re-evaluate the decision.

It came after a 10-strong group from the ruling body, including Sir Keir, voted to deny Mr Burnham permission to run in the Greater Manchester by-election at a meeting on Sunday.

Critics have accused Sir Keir and his allies of preventing Mr Burnhams candidacy for factional reasons, fearing a leadership challenge from the mayor as both Labours poll ratings and his personal approval ratings flounder.

But the prime minister has insisted that an extra election for the mayor of Manchester would divert our resources away from the local elections, which are already expected to be extremely bruising for Labour.

In the face of growing demands to reconsider, housing secretary Steve Reed on Tuesday said the decision is done and its dusted and the party will fight to win the by-election.

Speaking to Times Radio, he also insisted the decision to block Mr Burnham had absolutely nothing to do with avoiding a leadership bid against Sir Keir.

Its got absolutely nothing to do with that at all, he said. Labours ruling National Executive Committee took a decision overwhelmingly that Andy should stay as mayor of Manchester because he was elected only two years ago to serve a four-year term.

However, the fallout does not seem to have harmed Labours position in the polls with a new YouGov suggesting the party may be closing the gap on Reform, with support increasing two points to 21 per cent, while Nigel Farages party are on 25 per cent (up one).

It came after Reform leader, Mr Farage, said he thinks the Manchester mayor not standing in the by-election has boosted his partys chances of winning the seat, admitting it would have been very difficult for us to beat him.

The Gorton and Denton by-election is expected to take place on 26 February, after former MP Andrew Gwynne stood down for health reasons.

GB News presenter and former university academic Matt Goodwin was named as Reform UKs candidate in the race, while Labours political rival from the left, the Green Party, is also eyeing up its chances.

The jostling over the Gorton and Denton by-election comes as Sir Keir is set to begin a trip to China, removing him from the domestic political arena for several days.

On Monday, the prime minister was among the senior Labour figures trying to focus the minds of his MPs on the by-election, after he faced criticism for blocking Mr Burnhams application to stand in the race.

Former cabinet minister and backbencher Louise Haigh said over the weekend that Labours ruling body should reverse its decision otherwise I think well all come to regret this, while Simon Opher MP called the decision an own goal for Sir Keirs advisers.

Meanwhile, left-wing backbencher Kim Johnson said the prime minister needs to consider his own position after the decision to block Mr Burnham from standing, claiming it shows Sir Keir is not putting the country before the party.

But defending the decision, Sir Keir insisted the battle of our times was between Labour and Reform UK.

And at a gathering of Labours backbench MPs on Monday night, which saw many ask questions about the impact of the decision to block Mr Burnham, attorney general Lord Hermer  a close ally of the PM  urged MPs not to focus on the partys internal politics.

Keir Starmer will depart for China on Tuesday (PA)

Leading polling expert, Lord Robert Hayward, who is also a Conservative peer, has warned Labour is making the same mistakes as the Tories did at the end of their government in focussing on trying to change leader.

He said: What will happen is that Labour MPs will start to say we need to try something different and get themselves into that mentality.

It is just like the Conservatives after Boris Johnson. Of course it is all predicated on Keir Starmers poor personal ratings and those of his party under his leadership.

Logic actually tells you that it wont make any difference at all and it didnt for the Conservatives. But things get so bad that the we need to try something different mentality takes hold. Labour are repeating the same mistakes.
It is hard to discern any political conviction in Keir Starmer other than the desire to become and remain Prime Minister - Alastair Grant/PA Wire

There is nothing Labour Party members love more than factionalism. Other parties indulge in it too: witness the recently launched group Prosper by former Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson and former Tory mayor for the West Midlands, Andy Street, who seek to wrest the political initiative on the Right away from Reform and Reform-minded Tories.

But its Labour who excel at the creation of separate tribes within the broad church of the party, each with its distinctive brand of ideology and policy. In the 1980s the partys civil war came down to a fight between the Campaign for Labour Party Democracy (CLPD), supported by Tony Benn and his disciples, and various groups on the Right of the party, including the Labour Solidarity campaign, which counted Denis Healey and other party bigwigs as supporters.

Since then weve had a succession of old and new labels used by activists and MPs to define who they are and what they believe: we recently had the resurrection of the soft-Left Tribune group, the arrival of Jeremy Corbyn-supporting Momentum (which, for some reason, seems still to be going in some form), Labour Together, Progress, the Campaign for Socialism and many, many others.

And despite having a whiff of public school houses about them, Labour types take all this very seriously. In 1990, when I first put myself forward as a candidate for local council elections, the first question I was asked at the selection meeting was which group I would join once elected. Perhaps it is because the party really is so broad a church that the definition of what members actually believe is too wide and elastic to have any real meaning, and so dividing the party into factions is the only way of defining ones philosophy.

Where does Keir Starmer sit most comfortably? With the exception of the 2017 general election, the Right of the party has always been where elections are won from, given that there are more votes to be harvested from those on the partys Right flank than its Left. The last general election provided an opportunity for Labour to make a modest shift Leftwards without risking losing support, given the unpopularity of Rishi Sunaks government.

And even now, although Starmer would never admit it publicly  no Labour MP would admit this publicly  he probably sees himself in the tradition of Healey and Callaghan, of Roy Jenkins and Tony Blair, as the natural heir to the Labour Right.

But is he right?

Starmers own background as a human rights lawyer and then Director of Public Prosecutions provides a mixed bag of evidence, given the enthusiasm with which he pursued the conviction of a British businessman for selling batteries for use in Hawk surface-to-air missile systems to the Iranian regime and refused to co-operate with pro-Palestinian activists in their attempts to arrest the Israeli foreign minister during a visit to Britain.

But many of his political instincts on immediately becoming Labour leader  his criticism of those who dared to claim that only women have a cervix, for example  betrayed a more traditional London Left-wing lawyer approach to politics.

Since becoming Prime Minister, he has, despite much criticism from his own Left-wing, been more unapologetically socialist than hes given credit for, introducing workplace rights that force employers to recognise trade unions, even if only a tiny proportion of workers have joined up. Not to mention the deliberately and unashamedly classist attack on private schools via the imposition of VAT on fees, a move that only privileged MPs who can afford to move their families into the catchment areas of good comprehensives would ever indulge.

And while his craven appeasement of British Muslim voters was the prime motivation for lifting Britains veto on the international arrest warrant issued against Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the move can nevertheless be filed under Left-wing policies if that sort of thing matters to you.

Its all a far cry from what Healey would have considered mainstream Labour back in the 1970s or 1980s. Voters, meanwhile, cant seem to make up their minds if the Government is too Right-wing or too Left-wing, haemorrhaging supporters from both wings since it took office 18 months ago.

Which is more revealing than any analysis of Starmers previous speeches or record: its not that he has aligned himself with one faction or another. His weakness lies in the total absence of any defining principle at all. An ideology that placed him at a specific point in the political spectrum would be defensible and even advantageous.

But for Starmer, it is almost impossible to discern any political conviction other than the desire to become and remain Prime Minister.

In a party hooked on factionalism and mild-mannered sectarianism, a leader who belongs to no tribe is one mistrusted by everyone.
Storm Chandra has brought weather chaos this week with strong winds, heavy rain and snow battering much of the UK, with the Met Office issuing further yellow warnings till Saturday.

The Met Office have issued a yellow weather warning for rain in south west England from 9am on Friday, which is set to expire at 6am on Saturday morning. Another weather warning was issued in regions of Northern Ireland from 12am on Friday till 6pm on Friday evening.

Dozens of flood warnings remain in place across the UK, with a major incident also declared in Somerset as a result of the disruption caused by the downfalls earlier in the week.

Axminster in Somerset was badly hit with cars stranded on flooded roads (Getty Images)

Storm Chandra has already broken several new January daily rainfall records. Earlier this week a lorry driver died in the New Forest after crashing into a river on Tuesday in the aftermath of Storm Chandra.

Longer journey times and cancellations are expected to impact road, rail, air and ferry services, as well causing some roads and bridges to close during the weather warnings.

The Met Office stated: Spells of heavy rain will move over Northern Ireland during Thursday night and Friday. While the wettest conditions are likely over Antrim and Down, there is potential for many areas to see 10-25 mm build up, with 40-60 mm over some hills. Rain will be accompanied by strong southeasterly winds, especially Thursday night and early Friday.

Two yellow warnings have been issued for Friday 30 January, with Northern Ireland once again covered entirely (Met Office)

The forecasting service added: Outbreaks of rain, heavy at times, are expected to arrive across Cornwall on Friday morning and move northeastwards across other parts of southwest England by afternoon, followed by showers during Friday evening and overnight into Saturday morning. 10 to 20 mm rainfall is likely widely, with up to 30 mm possible over the moors and perhaps west Cornwall. Falling on saturated ground, this may lead to some flooding and disruption. Strong winds are also likely in places.

There is a small chance that homes and businesses in Northern Ireland could be flooded and that some communities will become cut off by flooded roads. The Met Office has also warned that there is a slight chance of power cuts and loss of other services.

The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) is warning people to be vigilant near the coast in Devon and Cornwall due to because of the potential of 15ft waves surging up exposed beaches and topping over sea fronts and harbour walls.

The weather warning on Saturday will cover the following regions in South West England: Cornwall, Devon, Plymouth, Somerset and Torbay.

The weather warning on Saturday will cover the following regions in South West England: Cornwall, Devon, Plymouth, Somerset and Torbay (Met Office)

Heres the Met Offices four-day forecast for the UK:

This evening and Tonight:

Rather cloudy with some rain and hill snow in the north. Initially cloudy and mostly dry elsewhere, but further wet and breezy weather towards the southwest moves northeastwards overnight. Turning clearer and showery in the southwest later. Mostly frost free.

Friday:

Friday looks rather cloudy and breezy with rain moving northwards, giving snow over some northern hills. Briefly brighter in the south, though heavier rain and strong winds developing here.

Outlook for Saturday to Monday:

Remaining unsettled over the weekend and to start next week. Showers or longer spells of rain affecting most areas, coupled with brisk winds at times. Further snow on northern hills.
A major incident has been declared in Somerset after swathes of south-west England were left flooded and cut off by Storm Chandra.

The heavy rain and strong winds prompted calls for more resources to be invested in making the region more resilient in extreme weather.

Somerset council said on Tuesday evening that an estimated 50 properties had been affected by flooding across Ilminster, West Coker, Taunton, Mudford and West Camel as a result of extensive flooding overnight.

The authority added that the risk of flooding on the Somerset Levels and Moors remains high as rainwater moves through the system.

The leader of Somerset council, Bill Revans, said: Storm Chandra brought more than 50mm of rain to parts of Somerset last night, on top of already saturated land, and this has caused widespread disruption.

The council leader said teams had been working through the night and were continuing to respond to reports of roads which remained impassable.

The weather forecast remains challenging so we will be working with colleagues in the emergency services to ensure we are prepared should the situation continue to deteriorate.

The storm also caused deep snowfalls in northern Britain and led to travel disruption and the shutting of hundreds of schools across the UK, including 47 in Devon and 300 in Northern Ireland.

The south-west of England, which had already been battered by storms Goretti and Ingrid earlier this month, bore the brunt.

In the Devon town of Ottery St Mary, the River Otter rose to its highest level on record. The area remained under a flood alert on Tuesday evening.

Devon and Cornwall police urged people not to travel in Exeter and east and mid-Devon unless they urgently needed to. Devon and Somerset fire service rescued people from 25 vehicles stranded in flood water, with a spokesperson confirming there were no casualties.

The leader of Devon county council, Julian Brazil, told the Guardian the floods demonstrated how vulnerable the region was. We feel a bit cut off down here. The south-west feels let down.

He said a good illustration was the rail network. Services between London and south-west England on Tuesday were cancelled, delayed or involved bus transfers because of flooding on the line between Taunton and Exeter.

We feel were being left behind, Brazil said. Weve seen billions pumped in [to rail services] up north, and thats about just shaving a few minutes off the times getting to London. What wed like is to actually be able to get to London on the train at all.

His complaints echoed those of people in Cornwall this month, many of whom were left without power, water and internet after Storm Goretti.

Richard Foord, the MP for Honiton and Sidmouth in Devon, said people were having a horrendous time and he predicted the number of properties flooded would increase.

The Devon Wildlife Trust expressed concern for the beavers that live in and around the River Otter. A spokesperson said: Despite being semi-aquatic mammals, rapidly rising and rapidly moving water is a threat to them, especially young, less experienced animals. Floods will overwhelm their burrows and lodges, the sheer force of the water can be too much for them to swim against and submerged debris represents a threat.

Residents of the Somerset Levels, a low-lying area very vulnerable to flooding, feared their homes could be at risk again. The Flooding on the Levels Action Group (Flag) claimed the authorities had not funded maintenance of the waterways sufficiently. It also expressed concern that earlier this month, as heavy rain fell, a pumping station that removes water from the area was not operating because of planned electrical works.

Flags spokesperson Bryony Sadler said there was concern homes could be flooded. Were tentatively starting to move stuff. Ive rung neighbours this morning to tell them to move animals out, she said.

Extreme rainfall is becoming more common and more intense in many parts of the world because of human-caused climate breakdown. This is because warmer air can hold more water vapour. Flooding is also affected by human factors such as the existence of flood defences and land use.

The Met Office said 105mm (4.13in) of rain fell on parts of Dartmoor in Devon in 12 hours. The strongest winds recorded were 75mph gusts at St Bees Head in Cumbria and 63mph at Machrihanish on the west coast of Scotland.

By late evening on Tuesday there were 96 flood warnings in England, meaning flooding was expected, and more than 250 alerts, meaning flooding was possible, with heavy rain falling on already saturated ground. There were three flood warnings and 17 alerts in Wales, with eight warnings and eight alerts in place across Scotland.

There was significant travel disruption because of rain, wind or snow in northern England and south Wales.

Domestic flights were cancelled on routes serving Birmingham, East Midlands, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Heathrow, Leeds Bradford, London City, Manchester and Southampton airports on Tuesday.

Yellow weather warnings have been issued for ice on Wednesday morning covering much of England, Wales, Northern Ireland and southern and central Scotland.

A yellow weather warning for rain is also in place for South West England on Thursday, with the Met Office saying that further rain could bring more flooding and transport disruption.

In Devon, one man, Billy Vernon, described how he and his sons, 14 and 17, were trapped by flood water upstairs in a house close to the River Axe and he had to wade through waist-deep water to fetch supplies.

He said water began coming into the house at 4am on Tuesday. It was frightening. My son came running in panicking saying that the house was filling up with water. All of the furniture is destroyed and the walls are going to have to be redone.

The rail operator GWR said that after Storm Ingrid at the weekend a large sinkhole had appeared in Devon and would need to be filled, leading to a closure of the line between Exeter St Davids and Newton Abbott overnight on Wednesday and into Thursday.
Netflix have unveiled a first look at a new horror series from the executive producers of Stranger Things and the director of Baby Reindeer.

Something Very Bad Is Going To Happen follows a bride and groom in the week leading up to their ill-fated wedding. All eight episodes will arrive on the streaming service on March 26.

The show was created by screenwriter Haley Z. Boston, who pitched the idea to Stranger Things creators Matt and Ross Duffer.

We were knocked flat when we first read Haleys script, said the Duffer Brothers in a statement. She is a major new talent with a singular voice  her writing is twisted, terrifying, funny, and just  very Haley. We feel so lucky to be producing her first show, and we cant wait to share her vision with the rest of the world.

The show will become the first non-Stranger Things series to be released by the pairs Upside Down Pictures production company. Another science-fiction show, titled The Boroughs, is set to arrive later this year starring Geena Davis and Bill Pullman.

Camila Morrone stars in the Duffer Brothers-produced Netflix series 'Something Very Bad Is Going To Happen' (Netflix)

Adam DiMarco and Camila Morrone in Netflix's 'Something Very Bad Is Going To Happen' (Netflix)

Something Very Bad Is Going To Happen will be directed by Weronika Tofilska (Baby Reindeer), Axelle Carolyn (The Midnight Club), and Lisa Bruhlmann (Killing Eve), and will star Camila Morrone (Daisy Jones & The Six, The Night Manager) and Adam DiMarco (The White Lotus, Overcompensating) as the bride and groom in question. The supporting cast includes Jennifer Jason Leigh, Ted Levine and Gus Birney.

The Duffer Brothers enjoyed a runaway success with Stranger Things, which became one of the most-watched Netflix series of all time before concluding on New Years Day.

After the finale aired, Matt and Ross Duffer answered questions from fans as the conclusion drew wildly polarized reactions from fans.

In the final episode, the heroes from Hawkins, Indiana ultimately manage to defeat Vecna (Jamie Campbell Bower), thanks to the supernatural abilities of Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown) and Will Byers (Noah Schnapp).

Jennifer Jason Leigh in Netflix's 'Something Very Bad Is Going To Happen' (Netflix)

Gus Birney in Netflix's 'Something Very Bad Is Going To Happen' (Netflix)

After Joyce (Winona Ryder) cuts off the villains head, Hopper (David Harbour) and Murray (Brett Gelman) rig bombs on the inter-dimensional bridge to the Upside Down, with Eleven seemingly staying behind in the nether world to sacrifice herself.

In one of the final scenes of the show, Mike (Finn Wolfhard) claims that Eleven had actually faked her own death, and had managed to make it out of the Upside Down. As he speaks, we see an older Eleven wandering through a faraway place, before reaching a town.

However, it remains unclear whether Eleven really survived or not, about which Ross Duffer said: Our goal, our hope is to leave it up to the fans, ultimately, and the audience in terms of what they believe, just as we leave it up to our characters in that basement to decide what they believe or not.

The Independents Nick Hilton, in a three-star review, described the series as Netflixs most important original IP that has morphed from a brilliant, influential coming-of-age saga into just another CGI rockem sockem adventure.
Mark Zuckerberg, Metas chief executive, at an event in Denver in 2024. Photograph: David Zalubowski/AP (Photograph: David Zalubowski/AP)

For the first time, a huge group of parents, teens and school districts is taking on the worlds most powerful social media companies in open court, accusing the tech giants of intentionally designing their products to be addictive. The blockbuster legal proceedings may see multiple CEOs, including Metas Mark Zuckerberg, face harsh questioning.

A long-awaited series of trials kicks off in Los Angeles superior court on Tuesday, in which hundreds of US families will allege that Meta, Snap, TikTok and YouTubes platforms harm children. Once young people are hooked, the plaintiffs allege, they fall prey to depression, eating disorders, self-harm and other mental health issues. Approximately 1,600 plaintiffs are included in the proceedings, involving more than 350 families and 250 school districts.

The fact that a social media company is going to have to stand trial before a jury  is unprecedented, Matthew Bergman, founder of the Social Media Victims Law Center and an attorney representing the plaintiffs, said in a press briefing.

The initial trial is expected to last six to eight weeks. It involves a 19-year-old who is identified in court documents by the initials KGM. She alleges that she developed mental health issues at a young age after becoming addicted to social media apps.

Related: Screen time limits for children are no longer enough, new US report finds

Her case will be the first of about 22 bellwether trials, which are used as test cases to gauge juries reactions and potential verdicts. Ultimately, the landmark trials will cover thousands of lawsuits that have been coordinated in what is known as a judicial council coordination proceeding (JCCP).

The plaintiffs in these cases are seeking financial damages and injunctive relief that would change the design of the platforms and establish industry-wide safety standards. If they win and prove that millions of children have been harmed by social media, it could profoundly change how these platforms are designed and create new avenues for lawsuits against the tech behemoths.

Key witnesses are expected to include top executives from the social media companies, such as Snaps CEO, Evan Spiegel, YouTubes Neal Mohan, Instagrams Adam Mosseri, and Zuckerberg, along with experts in online harm.

Meta and Snap did not respond to requests for comment. TikTok declined to comment.

YouTube spokesperson Jose Castaneda called the allegations in the lawsuits simply not true. He said providing young people with a safer, healthier experience has always been core to our work and that we built services and policies to provide young people with age-appropriate experiences, and parents with robust controls.

Troves of unsealed documents and untold harms could be revealed

Just a week before KGMs trial was set to begin, Snap reached a settlement agreement with her lawyers in which the company denied wrongdoing. Financial terms of the settlement were not made public. Snap is still a defendant in other suits in the state-level trial, and Meta and YouTube have made no settlement agreements in the case.

Snap said in a statement at the time that the company was pleased to have been able to resolve this matter in an amicable manner.

The night before proceedings began, TikTok reached a settlement agreement with the plaintiff, meaning it will not stand trial alongside Meta and YouTube in KGMs case. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Sacha Haworth, the executive director of the Tech Oversight Project, which has been involved in advocacy work for the plaintiffs, said: You dont settle unless you dont want that stuff to be public  The public doesnt really know what is coming.

Lawyers for the plaintiffs are using a playbook similar to what was used against tobacco companies in the 1990s, which focused on cigarettes being addictive and companies publicly denying that for decades while knowing their products harms. The legal team working on the social media cases say that troves of internal company documents will be unsealed during trial and the public will hear testimony from children and parents that has never before been revealed. The details of KGMs case have been under seal but are slated to be made public during trial.

Julia Duncan, an attorney with the American Association for Justice, said some of the unsealed documents could show company employees admitting to the addictive nature of the platforms. Court documents say this addictiveness is due to features such as infinite scroll, video autoplay and the way recommendation algorithms are designed.

For example, Duncan said, one unsealed document shows an Instagram employee calling the app a drug and another employee saying, lol, were basically pushers.

The social media companies have argued that how people use their services is up to each individual. These companies have also long maintained they are protected under section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, a federal law that exempts platforms from legal liability for content generated by their users.

Bergman, KGMs lawyer, said the social media companies operate in the world in a way that no other company does since they had long been absolved from liability because of section 230. This time was going to be different, he said. The judge in the case ruled in November that jurors must look not only at content on the platforms, but also at the companies design choices.

There is a lost generation of kids, Bergman said. This was not an accident, this was not a coincidence  this was a design choice.

A separate series of federal trials is scheduled to take place in San Francisco in June in what is called a multi-district litigation (MDL). The allegations in these cases are similar to the state trials and involve more than 235 plaintiffs, including families, school districts and attorneys general from nearly three dozen states.

The slew of lawsuits comes after several company whistleblowers have spoken out publicly, alleging the social media companies knew their products were harming children and did little to nothing to halt it. A bipartisan group of US lawmakers have repeatedly grilled company executives in congressional hearings alleging the businesses push content to youth that promotes bullying, drug abuse and self-harm.

At one hearing in January 2024, the Republican senator Josh Hawley prodded Zuckerberg into publicly apologizing. Despite Zuckerbergs apology, the families involved in the trials say Meta executives looked the other way and children continued to be harmed.

Every parent is struggling with their kids and these platforms. Every parent, said Juliana Arnold, a founding member of Parents Rise, whose teenage daughter died in 2022 from overdosing on deadly pills after messaging a dealer on Instagram. Weve been waiting for this for years  to let the truth come out.
Merchandisers and Salespeople Choose Representation with Local 170

TAUNTON, Mass., Jan. 27, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- More than 80 merchandisers and salespeople at Quality Beverage in Taunton, Mass., have voted to join Teamsters Local 170, seeking higher wages, better benefits, and a strong voice on the job. Over 170 drivers and warehouse workers at Quality Beverage are already represented by the Teamsters.

"I am proud of these workers for remaining united throughout this organizing campaign. They saw the benefits that their co-workers gained through Teamsters representation and wanted the same respect in the workplace," said Shannon R. George, Secretary-Treasurer of Local 170.

"This win highlights the power of union organizing," said Jeff Padellaro, Director of the Teamsters Brewery, Bakery, and Soft Drink Conference. "Our strong collective bargaining agreements continue to inspire more workers to join the Teamsters. These members keep the company moving and deserve a contract that honors their worth."

Quality Beverage is the largest Anheuser-Busch distributor in Massachusetts, with a delivery territory covering more than 75 percent of the state.

"I voted to become a Teamster in the spirit of those who came before me and those who will come after me," said Tyle Benson, a merchandiser with Quality Beverage. "I want to build a career here, one that includes better and safer working conditions, livable wages, better benefits, and job security for me and my co-workers."

Teamsters Local 170 represents workers in industries including public service, transportation, grocery, sand and gravel, beer and liquor, construction, warehouse, bread and bakery, and more. For more information, visit teamsterslocal170.com.

Contact:

Maura Drumm, (215) 510-3735

[email protected]

SOURCE Teamsters Local 170
Texas Monthlys taco editor has said that he was stopped by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents in West Texas and questioned for probable cause while on assignment.

ICE operations have grown across the country as President Donald Trump carries out his campaign promise of the largest deportation of illegal immigrants in U.S. history. Public opinion of Trumps deportation efforts has since soured as Americans grow more concerned about ICEs tactics.

Jose Ralat is known for writing about Mexican food. He said he was on assignment reporting on Spanish missions for his magazine last week, when he and Rodrigo Bravo Jr., his friend and driver, were pulled over by ICE agents just north of Presidio.

The Independent has reached out to the Department of Homeland Security and ICE for comment about Ralats experience.

Texas Monthlys taco editor has said that he was stopped by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents in West Texas and questioned for 'probable cause' while on assignment (Charly Triballeau/AFP via Getty Images)

What appeared to be Latino agents in tactical gear started an interrogation of Rodrigo, as Ralat described it in a Texas Monthly article published Monday.

One agent asked him where he was going and what he was doing in Presidio, according to Ralats account.

Rodrigo explained that they were heading back to Marfa after going to a cemetery in Ochoa. The two had gone to visit the remains of a lost mission, which included the cemetery.

The agent asked why Rodrigo pulled off the road twice before getting stopped.

Rodrigo explained, We pulled over once to see the cemetery where the marker is, then we pulled over a second time to take a picture of the other road sign. We literally pull over all the time to capture Texas historical markers.

Jose Ralat, known for writing about tacos, says immigration agents in West Texas stopped him and his travel companion as they were sightseeing for his magazine (Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

The agent continued to probe Rodrigo after he said he and Ralat were traveling to El Paso after Marfa. The agent asked where they were staying in El Paso, and Rodrgio said they were getting a hotel, explaining, We are doing a story and eating tacos along the way.

We felt this wasnt a simple query but rather questioning for probable cause, Ralat wrote in his article.

After the two said they were on assignment for Texas Monthly, and Ralat gave the agent his business card, the agent demanded their IDs, according to Ralat.

The agent did not explain why he needed their IDs before they handed them over, Ralat said. Ralat and Rodrigo reportedly waited thirty minutes before the agent let them go with a warning, though Ralat was unsure what the warning was for.

Public opinion of Trumps deportation efforts has soured as Americans grow more concerned about ICEs tactics (Charly Triballeau/AFP via Getty Images)

When the federal governments immigration raids began at businesses and restaurants across Texas, I felt worried that I would eventually get caught up in one of them, Ralat wrote in the article. Even being a citizen with my identification always on me seems like it hardly matters. But I have a job to do.

Ralat and Rodrigo were stopped two other times that day: once by a county officer as they were driving five mph over the speed limit and once by the Texas Department of Public Safety as they were going 71 mph in a 70 mph zone, according to Ralats story. Ralat said the DPS officer claimed they were going 77 mph.

We were shaken, and angry at and afraid of what seemed like a coordinated effort between federal and state officials, Ralat said in reflection.
Professor Caroline Tisdall is relishing a return to Leopardstown to watch horse of a lifetime Final Demand in the Ladbrokes Novice Chase on Sunday.

One of the most exciting horses in training, the Willie Mullins-trained seven-year-old brought up a third Grade One success when winning the Faugheen Novice Chase at Limerick over Christmas.

He will now return to the Foxrock venue he lit up at last years Dublin Racing Festival looking to enhance his formidable reputation with Tisdall, who owns Final Demand alongside Bryan Drew, saying: Hes the horse of a lifetime.

Im over the moon to have him and its amazing as Ive never had such a Grade One winner before, hes won three Grade Ones which is fantastic.

Its exciting and I love going racing at Leopardstown, I find going racing in Ireland so relaxed.

A total of nine remain in contention for a race Mullins has won five times in the last six years and in which he could also saddle Gold Dancer, Jimmy Du Seuil, Kaid DAuthie and Kitzbuhel, who has an alternative engagement in Sandowns Scilly Isles Novices Chase the day prior.

Romeo Coolio is also in the mix despite Gordon Elliott stating a preference to run over the shorter two-mile distance in Saturdays Irish Arkle.

There are four Grade Ones in total on Sundays card with seven remaining in the Timeless Sash Windows Irish Champion Hurdle.

The headline attraction is Lossiemouth who will put her Cheltenham Festival aspirations to the test having taken up Champion Hurdle favouritism following the injury suffered to Sir Gino last weekend.

She could once again clash with Gigginstowns star performer Brighterdaysahead after only a length separated them when they clashed over course and distance at Christmas, with the two leading trainers in Ireland responsible for all the possible runners.

Others confirmed include Anzadam, fourth behind the two aforementioned mares last time out, Triumph Hurdle winner Poniros, El Fabiolo, Ballyburn and Casheldale Lad.

There are also seven remaining in the Ladbrokes Dublin Chase where Barry Connells reigning champion chaser Marine Nationale could get the chance to avenge his narrow reversal over the festive period at the hands of Joseph OBriens Solness.

Majborough was third that day and alongside dual Champion Chase hero Energumene makes up the Mullins challenge, with Elliotts Found A Fifty (fourth), Gavin Cromwells Only By Night (fifth) others taking part with a bit to find.

Ballyfad, Davy Crockett, Talk The Talk and The Reverend are among 14 confirmed for the Tattersalls Ireland Novice Hurdle. El Cairos has also been left in but has been declared to run at Thurles on Thursday.
The Traitors winner Rachel Duffy has announced the death of her mother Anne, who she revealed during the BBC show had been diagnosed with Parkinsons disease and dementia.

Duffy, from Newry in Northern Ireland, had promised she would spend some of the winnings from the reality game show on her family, and said she was heartbroken in a post on Instagram.

She said: We are heartbroken to share the passing of our beautiful wee mummy.

We kindly ask for privacy as our family grieves during this difficult time.

In an Instagram post earlier this month, the TV star said her mother had been diagnosed with Parkinsons at the age of 47.

In the post, which was accompanied by a picture of her mother holding a T-shirt that read My Daughters A Traitor, Duffy said: Words of wisdom from my wee mummy Anne who is not only my motivation on The Traitors but my inspiration in real life.

Mummy was just 47 when she was diagnosed with Parkinsons (four years older than I am now) and now faces dementia but still amazes me and my family every single day.

Everything she has done for me and my four siblings is nothing short of incredible. Sharing caring responsibilities over the years for her has been a privilege and we are so proud to call her our mum.

After winning the latest series of the show, alongside fellow traitor Stephen Libby, Duffy told the Press Association the reaction to the moment she told contestants about her mother at a dinner party on the programme had been lovely.

Duffy said: There was a lot of messages on social media about people and their own experiences, saying thank you so much for raising awareness.

It was the loveliest feeling to know that your story resonated with so many.

I think if theres anything positive that can come out of this is raising awareness of two very important illnesses that are very tough on the actual person and their family.

The NHS website describes Parkinsons as a condition in which parts of the brain become progressively damaged over many years, leading to slow movement and stiff muscles.

It describes dementia as a syndrome associated with an ongoing decline of brain functioning, including memory loss.

After winning, Duffy told BBC News: I rang my mummy this morning I cant wait to come home and give her a big hug and say, What will we do? Anything you want, lets go do it so yeah, as long as I get to spoil my family, thats all I care about.

She didnt get all the twists and the turns but shes enjoyed watching it. Shes very proud.

Following Duffys announcement, Dementia UKs chief admiral nurse and chief executive Dr Hilda Hayo said: Were sorry to hear that Anne Duffy has died having lived with Parkinsons and dementia.

Everyone at Dementia UK sends our condolences to Annes family and hope they are receiving the support they need at this difficult time.

Through her appearance on The Traitors, Annes daughter Rachel spoke candidly about her experience of dementia, helping to raise awareness for the condition and the way it affects families across the UK.

We thank Rachel for her honesty  we know it is not easy to speak publicly about the impact dementia can have, but in doing so she will have encouraged others to reach out for the support they need.

We urge families affected by dementia to reach out to our specialist helpline. Staffed by dementia specialist admiral nurses, our helpline offers support and guidance on all stages of dementia, including grieving for a loved one.

Anyone affected by dementia can contact the helpline by calling 0800 888 6678 or emailing helpline@dementiauk.org.
There are so many reasons to travel to another country, from visiting family to checking an item off your travel bucket list. No matter why you're somewhere new, seeing the local animals is always an added bonus. Whether you visit animals in a zoo or have an unexpected wildlife encounter, these moments are often among the most unforgettable.

For one traveler named Julie, it was a cheeky spider monkey who made her Mexican vacation memorable. Monkeys are a common sight in Xcaret, a resort on the Mayan Riviera, but it's not every day that one makes itself right at home in a guest's hotel room. However, that's exactly what happened in the video Julie shared on social media on January 23.

What a cheeky monkey! He had no concerns about walking right inside, even if someone was watching him, but the way he sat down on the pillow, just like a person on a chair, was absolutely priceless.

"He really said, 'Oh, this is nice,'" @sunnydaize21 commented. Once he's experienced this kind of luxury, he'll never want to leave. Some eagle-eyed viewers even noticed him trying to steal a souvenir from off the bed!

Related: 3 Rescued Baby Spider Monkeys Find a New Home at the San Diego Zoo

This unbothered monkey couldn't care less if someone has to sleep on the pillow he just sat on or wear the thing he wanted to steal, but that just adds to his charm. He made this short but sweet animal encounter truly unforgettable, even if @juliew1111 may have had to request new sheets afterward.

"We love Xcaret!" wrote @wynns1996. "We were standing on the balcony one time, and a monkey came up, jumped on my daughters shoulder, and then jumped to me. It was a wild time! We love it there!"

Monkeys in Mexico

Xcaret, Mexico, is home to spider and howler monkeys, which are both endangered species. That being said, they're not hard to find if you know where to look or listen! They are active in the trees during the daytime, though it's not unusual for them to spend afternoons napping, too.

Clearly, seeing a monkey is always a possibility for travelers who leave their balcony doors open, as Julie did. Some wild animals get used to finding food around resorts just like Xcaret, which is why they're so comfortable walking up to people or leaping into their hotel rooms.



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This story was originally published by PetHelpful on Jan 27, 2026, where it first appeared in the Pet News section. Add PetHelpful as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
President Donald Trump on Tuesday said he would not ask Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem to resign after he was forced to reverse course on the aggressive, made-for-social-media immigration crackdown she engineered in Minnesota that has resulted in the deaths of two Americans at the hands of federal agents.

The president defended the former South Dakota governor while speaking to reporters Tuesday before departing the White House for a planned speech on the economy in Iowa. Asked whether he would press her to step down in the wake of two fatal shootings in less than a month  including Saturdays killing of Minneapolis nurse Alex Pretti by a Border Patrol agent  Trump simply replied: No.

When pressed further on whether he still has confidence in Noems ability to lead the sprawling Homeland Security bureaucracy that includes agencies like the Federal Emergency Management Agency and Secret Service in addition to the myriad agencies that handle immigration matters, Trump said he thinks shes doing a very good job because the U.S.-Mexico border is totally secure.

His defense of the embattled homeland security secretary comes just one day after she and her de facto chief of staff and political adviser Corey Lewandowski met with Trump in the Oval Office for a multi-hour sit-down at her request.

Donald Trump defended Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem despite many calling for her job in the wake of the shooting of Alex Pretti (AP)

Noem had demanded the meeting after Trump publicly undercut her supervision of the administrations crackdown on the Democratic-leaning city of Minneapolis by dispatching White House Border Czar Tom Homan, a veteran immigration and law enforcement official who ran ICE during the first 18 months of Trumps first term, to Minnesota.

The operation, which ICE and CBP officials had dubbed Operation Metro Surge, had been heretofore run by Greg Bovino, a pugnacious Border Patrol official from California who Noem had elevated with a fake title of Commander-at-Large while giving him and his agents free rein to conduct aggressive roving patrols and violently push back on any protests that resulted.

But both Noem and Bovino drew the presidents ire after they were caught blatantly lying about Prettis intentions after Border Patrol agents fired at least nine shots into his back after relieving him of a pistol he was carrying legally under Minnesota law.

At a press conference after the shooting at FEMA headquarters, Noem claimed the shooting had been the consequence of a situation where an individual arrived at the scene to inflict maximum damage on individuals and kill law enforcement even though Pretti never drew his weapon and did not confront the agents before he was tackled after trying to help a woman whod been shoved by a CBP agent.

She also falsely accused him of having reacted violently when agents attempted to disarm him  a claim that was easily contradicted by video of the shooting.

Bovino also falsely accused Pretti of having violent intent when he told reporters it look[ed] like Pretti wanted to do maximum damage and massacre law enforcement.

Noem has faced calls for her resignation or impeachment after the ICE raids in Minnesota (Getty)

The Border Patrol agent has been relieved of his duties in Minneapolis and is reportedly being returned to his position in California, but Noem and Lewandowski remain on the job at DHS.

Yet the pressure on the homeland security secretary may continue to rise as Democrats in the House and Senate make plans to present articles of impeachment against her.

Several Democratic senators have called for her to resign or be fired, including Pennsylvanias John Fetterman, one of a number of Democrats who voted to confirm her last year.

Fetterman, who has in recent months staked out a moderate lane in his caucus and been an occasional defender of the president and his administration, said in a statement that he was making a direct appeal for Trump to remove Noem immediately because Americans have died and she is betraying DHSs core mission and trashing your border security legacy..

He added Trump should not make the same mistake he attributed to former president Joe Bidens decision not to fire his own homeland security secretary, Alejandro Mayorkas, for being grossly incompetent.
Federal judges in Minnesota could decide whether to block Homeland Security from investigating the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti and pull federal officers from the state altogether, potentially ending Donald Trumps surge.

Hours after the shooting, Minnesota law enforcement agencies sued to block Homeland Security officials from destroying or altering any evidence related to the shooting. A Trump-appointed judge granted the order later that night.

But lawyers for the Department of Justice want the judge to dissolve the restraining order, insisting that its a federal matter now.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Friedrich Siekert told Judge Eric C. Tostrud on Monday that any state requests for evidence in a potential criminal investigation against the agents who opened fire on Pretti would likely be available through standard public records requests  only after the conclusion of all federal matters.

The hearing followed Mondays arguments in a lawsuit from Minnesota officials demanding the Trump administration withdraw more than 2,000 federal officers for what attorneys for the state called an unlawful and unchecked invasion.

The Trump administration is in court trying to block Minnesota law enforcement from an investigation into the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti. Border patrol officers fired 10 shots at the 37-year-old Veterans Affairs nurse in Minneapolis January 24 (Getty Images)

District Judge Katherine Menendez said her decision could take some time as she weighs the gravity of an order that could upend the administrations efforts to patrol Democratic-led states and cities with masked immigration officers for its mass deportation campaign, noting the circumstances are under such shockingly unusual times.

She appeared to agree there has been an enormous amount of collateral damage with Trumps weeks-long surge, with attorneys for the state arguing Monday that roving groups of immigration officers have upended nearly every walk of life with racial profiling, illegal detentions, and use of deadly force.

The judge also repeatedly asked about a letter from Attorney General Pam Bondi to Governor Tim Walz, suggesting that Trump could withdraw federal officers if the state repeals so-called sanctuary policies and hands over reams of voter information and lists of Medicare and food assistance recipients.

Is the executive trying to achieve a goal through force that it cannot achieve through the courts? Judge Menendez asked the government.

Were here, as Ive said, to enforce federal immigration law, Justice Department attorney Brantley Mayers replied. There is nothing to back up this claim that we are here for another reason.

Minnesota officials are embroiled in several legal battles to end Trumps surge of immigration officers, which attorneys say have upended daily life and violated state sovereignty with a violent occupation (AP)

Hours later, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt appeared to admit the terms of the federal governments withdrawal.

If Governor Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey implement common-sense cooperative measures laid out in Bondis letter, then border patrol officers will no longer be needed to support ICE on the ground in Minnesota, Leavitt said.

Minnesota attorneys compared that to extortion and a hostage crisis.

Thats what youd expect from someone extorting you, Minnesota assistant attorney general Brian Carter told Judge Menendez.

Theyre trying to coerce plaintiffs to legislate in the way that they want. Theyre trying to hijack the states legislative process. Theyre trying to get us to turn over voter rolls, Carter said. What does that have to do [with immigration enforcement]?

Border patrol official Greg Bovino is refusing to provide any information about the killing of Alex Pretti as Trump administration officials face political pressure and widespread demonstrations against the presidents anti-immigration campaign (AFP via Getty Images)

A separate lawsuit from Minnesota officials accused federal officers of denying state law enforcement any access to the scene where officers fatally shot Pretti.

Federal officers left a few hours after the shooting, allowing the perimeter to collapse and potentially spoiling evidence while taking exclusive possession of evidence from the scene, Minnesota officials wrote.

Minnesota Assistant Attorney General Peter Farrell said Monday there were serious irregularities in the handling of evidence, including Homeland Security officials posting a photograph of the firearm allegedly recovered from the scene, as well as officials statements about Pretti in the immediate aftermath.

The investigation is being led by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), which is required to preserve all evidence collected, including physical evidence collected by other federal entities, which are then properly transferred to HSI custody, according to a sworn declaration from Mark Zito, the agencys Special Agent in Charge for the St. Paul office.

But all evidence was collected and transported back to the FBI Minneapolis Field Office, according to a sworn statement from an FBI official whose name is redacted in court filings.

That evidence includes body-worn camera footage, which has been preserved, according to Jeffrey Egerton, the executive director for the Investigative Operations Directorate within Customs and Border Protections Office of Professional Responsibility.

Attorney General Keith Ellison told reporters Monday that he fears the agencies wont preserve that crucial footage.

I am so concerned that the video is not being preserved that I sought an order from the district court, just a couple of nights ago, he said. What other choice do we have? Thats how concerned I am.

Asked whether the administration will publicly release the footage, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters Monday, Thats not something Ive heard the president commit to, so I wont do that here.

Greg Bovino, the top border patrol official running Trumps boots-on-the-ground operations, said border patrol officers who shot Pretti are still working, but not in Minneapolis.

He refused to tell reporters where they were or provide any details about their background and the shooting itself.

Theres this thing called doxxing, and the safety of our employees is important to us, he said. As far as the number of shots, the number of agents involved, that is going to come out in the investigation.
Donald Trumps representative in the UK has criticised a clean energy deal championed by Ed Miliband.

US ambassador Warren Stephens said the pact struck between the UK and European nations will not resolve the UKs energy needs, urging Sir Keir Starmers Government to exploit North Sea oil and gas.

His comments echo criticism from Mr Trump about the UKs intention to shift away from fossil fuels.

The Hamburg Declaration that was signed yesterday will not resolve the UKs energy needs. The fact is that wind power is an unreliable method to meet the needs of the people of this country. The United States wants the strongest partner in the UK. That begins with taking an all  Ambassador Warren Stephens (@USAmbUK) January 27, 2026

The Hamburg Declaration signed by Mr Miliband on Monday, along with counterparts from Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and Norway, was described as historic by the Department for Energy Security ad Net Zero.

The agreement means North Sea nations will deliver 100 gigawatts of joint offshore wind projects, including schemes connected to more than one country.

Energy Secretary Mr Miliband said the deal would help get the UK off the fossil fuel rollercoaster and give us energy sovereignty and abundance.

But on Tuesday, Mr Stephens said: The Hamburg Declaration that was signed yesterday will not resolve the UKs energy needs.

The fact is that wind power is an unreliable method to meet the needs of the people of this country.

The United States wants the strongest partner in the UK. That begins with taking an all of the above approach to energy policy, including taking advantage of North Sea oil and gas reserves and bold action to expand nuclear energy.

Weve signed an agreement with 8 other North Sea countries to make the North Sea the clean energy powerhouse of Europe. Working together to build 100GW of shared clean energy projects by 2050. This will deliver more clean, secure power for families and businesses.  Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (@energygovuk) January 26, 2026

American firms have been involved in the North Sea oil and gas industry and the US is also the UKs largest supplier of liquified natural gas (LNG).

Mr Trump used his speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos earlier this month to criticise the UKs North Sea policy.

He said: The United Kingdom produces just one-third of the total energy from all sources that it did in 1999  think of that, one-third  and theyre sitting on top of the North Sea, one of the greatest reserves anywhere in the world, but they dont use it, and thats one reason why their energy has reached catastrophically low levels, with equally high prices.

The UK Government has committed not to issue new licences for oil and gas exploration and has a goal of a clean electricity system by 2030.
Demonstrators hold signs during a protest outside the office of senator Amy Klobuchar, on Monday in Minneapolis. Photograph: Adam Gray/AP (Photograph: Adam Gray/AP)

The US news cycle remained fixed on Donald Trumps ICE crackdown in Minnesota on Monday as outrage and calls for accountability mount following the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti by federal immigration agents.

While there is no sign the aggressive tactics used by immigration enforcement are coming to an end, Jacob Frey, the mayor of Minneapolis said the administration will begin to scale back the number of federal agents in Minneapolis starting on Tuesday, as the president and his team soften their harsh rhetoric about the incident.

Trump said earlier on Monday that his administration was reviewing the shooting of Pretti, a 37-year-old VA nurse, and that he would send his border czar, Tom Homan, to Minnesota. Frey said he planned to meet with Homan on Tuesday to further discuss next steps.

That marks a departure from the White Houses vehement claims about protesters in Minnesota, including Renee Good, who was killed by an ICE agent earlier this month as she attempted to drive away from federal officers.

A federal judge also heard arguments on Monday about whether to end the federal officer surge in Minneapolis, but a ruling was not expected imminently.

Trumps ICE crackdown faces reckoning in wake of Alex Pretti shooting

The Trump administration is facing criticism from all sides over the shootings and intensified enforcement. The NRA attacked the suggestion by a Trump-appointed federal prosecutor that armed protest creates a high likelihood that federal agents will be legally justified to shoot protesters. Walz described comments from the homeland security secretary, Kristi Noem, the senior border patrol official Greg Bovino and other officials about the shooting as lies.

Read the full story

Iranian government braces for possible attack as US navy arrives in region

US officials announced that the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier strike group has now deployed key assets to the region.

It is thought that Washington has the firepower in conjunction with Israeli aircraft to mount an attack designed to topple the government accused of brutally suppressing protests and killing thousands of Iranians.

Read the full story

Cruz reportedly says Trump yelled and cursed over warning of midterm election bloodbath

Ted Cruz warned Donald Trump, his fellow Republican, that he would face a bloodbath in the November midterm elections if prices continued to rise, prompting the president to respond, fuck you, Ted, the US senator told donors, according to a secret recording of the private conversation obtained by Axios.

Read the full story

Trump moved to cut funding for ICE body cameras and reduced oversight

Donald Trumps administration opposed efforts to expand the use of body cameras by immigration officers and sharply cut oversight staffing as it surged officers into US cities, including Minneapolis, where agents have fatally shot two US citizen protesters in January.

Read the full story

Trump says he will impose new tariffs on South Korea, sending shares in carmakers tumbling

Donald Trump has said he is raising tariffs on South Korean goods including automobiles, lumber and pharmaceuticals, accusing the country of not living up to a trade deal struck last year and sending shares in Korean carmakers tumbling.

Read the full story

US families face impossible choices as White House pushes to freeze childcare funding

US families are facing impossible choices as the Trump administration pushes to freeze federal funds for childcare and family assistance in five states over claims of potential fraud and misuse of taxpayer funds.

Read the full story

Critics slam Pam Bondis demand for Minnesota voter rolls amid ICE surge

The request for voter rolls stood out because it has nothing to do with immigration enforcement  the Trump administration has not presented evidence of widespread voter fraud by non-citizens in Minnesota or elsewhere.

Read the full story

What else happened today:

Catching up? Heres what happened on Sunday 25 January.
Donald Trump has said he will raise US tariffs on South Korea. Photograph: Lee Jin-man/AP (Photograph: Lee Jin-man/AP)

Donald Trump has said he is raising tariffs on South Korean goods including automobiles, lumber and pharmaceuticals, accusing the country of not living up to a trade deal struck last year and briefly sending shares in Korean carmakers tumbling.

In a post on social media, the US president said the tariffs paid on South Korean exports into America would rise from 15% to 25% because the Korean Legislature hasnt enacted our Historic Trade Agreement, which is their prerogative.

South Koreas Legislature is not living up to its Deal with the United States, Trump said. The administration has yet to issue formal notices to enact the changes.

South Korea scrambled on Tuesday to assure the US it remained committed to implementing the trade deal, after Trump and President Lee Jae Myung agreed in principle last July for Seoul to make $350bn of investments in the US.

Related: Pentagon to reduce its role in deterrence of North Korea

South Koreas presidential Blue House said on Tuesday it had not been informed about the tariff hike plans in advance and that it would continue to take the required steps to finalise the deal.

It said Lees chief policy aide convened an emergency meeting with officials and that the trade minister, Kim Jung-kwan  currently in Canada  would head to Washington for talks on the issue with the US commerce secretary, Howard Lutnick.

South Koreas trade envoy, Yeo Han-koo, said the government was still trying to figure out the background of Trumps tariffs post and the measures Seoul could take. Yeo said he planned to visit the US soon and talk to his counterpart at the Office of the US Trade Representative in order to find a rational solution between the two governments.

Trumps apparent about-face comes months after Washington and Seoul struck the trade and security deal last year, capping a period of tense negotiations. The agreement was finalised after Trump met Lee in October and included the investment promises by South Korea in return for tariff cuts by the US.

Since then, however, the deal has remained in something of a legal limbo in South Korea.

Seouls presidential office insisted in November the deal did not require parliamentary approval, arguing it represented a memorandum of understanding rather than a binding legal document.

But on Tuesday, the countrys ruling party said it would work with the opposition to speed up the passage of five pending bills that would allow the enactment of investment in the US.

Officials in the national assembly said the five bills would likely be incorporated into a single proposed law, which would need approval from the finance and judiciary committees before it could go to a floor vote.

Under the agreement, Washington would maintain tariffs of up to 15% on South Korean goods including vehicles, car parts and pharmaceuticals. Crucially, the deals terms brought US tariffs on South Korean cars down from a 25% level imposed by Trump earlier in 2025.

Trumps latest threat, if enacted, would reverse that.

The auto industry accounts for 27% of South Koreas exports to the US, which takes in nearly half of the countrys car exports. In the minutes after Trumps announcement, shares in several South Korean carmakers fell as much as 5%, but clawed back their losses later in the day.

Trump has used the threat of tariffs throughout his second term as an instrument of foreign policy. Economists have raised concerns about the approach and the policy also faces a test in an ongoing case in front of the US supreme court. Tuesdays threat targeting South Korea is his latest against key trading partners in recent days.

Over the weekend, Trump warned Canada that if it concluded a trade deal with China, he would impose a 100% tariff on all goods coming across the border. Earlier in January, Trump also threatened to slap tariffs on multiple European nations until his purchase of Greenland is achieved. He has since backed off the threat.

The chair of international economics at the Atlantic Council, Josh Lipsky, said Trumps action on South Korea reflected impatience with the pace of Seouls enactment of the framework trade agreement.

Its just another reminder that the markets were wrong to believe we were going to get into tariff stability in 2026, Lipsky said. People say, Oh, but he doesnt follow through, and sometimes thats true, but sometimes it isnt. And the volatility alone  there is a price around that.

With Reuters and Agence France-Presse
Donald Trump said he would raise tariffs on imports from South Korea to 25 per cent after accusing the Asian ally of dragging its feet on enacting a trade pact reached last year to make huge investments in U.S. business projects.

The U.S. President blamed South Koreas National Assembly for not ratifying the trade deal he reached with President Lee Jae Myung in July which they later reaffirmed during Trumps visit to Seoul in October.

Because the Korean Legislature hasnt enacted our Historic Trade Agreement, which is their prerogative, I am hereby increasing South Korean TARIFFS on Autos, Lumber, Pharma, and all other Reciprocal TARIFFS, from 15% to 25%, the president said.

The White House has not yet issued an executive order to put the tariffs into effect as of Tuesday. But South Korea's presidential Blue House said it was committed to implementing the deal and would continue to take the required steps to finalise it to stave off tariff hikes.

The US president imposed a 25 per cent tariff on South Korean exports to the US last year, but agreed to lower it to 15 per cent after a trade deal was agreed by the two countries. Seoul agreed to initiate investments in the US worth $350 billion in return for a promise to cut tariffs on its exports. But negotiators have continued to spar over the details of the agreement and the deal is yet to be ratified.

File President Donald Trump shakes hands with South Korean President Lee Jae Myung as he receives a gift of a gold crown and an award of the Grand Order of Mugunghwa, not seen, during a high honor ceremony at the Gyeongju National Museum in Gyeongju, South Korea, Oct. 29, 2025 (Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

Trumps decision, which South Korean officials said caught them by surprise, is the latest setback to the ties between the two allies and trade partners amid potential challenges to its security and financial stability posed by Trump's demands.

A source familiar with internal discussions between the countries said Trump may have been prompted by the recent South Korean regulatory actions stemming from a mass data leak against Coupang, a U.S.-listed e-commerce company. Investigations, which U.S. lawmakers have called "discriminatory, are being carried out in South Korea over the massive customer data leak. The U.S. State Department expressed "significant concerns" over Seoul's regulatory moves that could affect online platform businesses.

Choi Seok-young, a former South Korean trade negotiator, said Trump's message could be seen as "a political move in which the United States is exerting maximum pressure on South Korea in an effort to force concessions during the ongoing negotiations over non-tariff barriers".

The Blue House said their Industry Minister Kim Jung-kwan, who is currently in Canada, will head to Washington to discuss the matter with U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick.

"We are currently working to gauge the intentions of the U.S. side," the Ministry of Economy and Finance said in a message to reporters.

"Going forward, we will engage with the U.S. government to explain developments in discussions over the legislation at the National Assembly."

Under a deal struck last year, South Korea committed to invest $350 billion in strategic sectors in the U.S.. Of that amount, $200 billion was to be paid in cash in phased installments, capped at $20 billion a year to help maintain stability in the won.

Earlier this month, South Koreas Finance Minister Koo Yun-cheol told Reuters the government planned to move ahead with the investment package as soon as possible, while cautioning that uncertainty surrounding an expected U.S. Supreme Court ruling on Trumps tariffs could affect the process.

He added that the $350 billion investment was unlikely to begin in the first half of 2026, citing the weakness of the won.
NW China's Gansu hit by 5.5-magnitude quake, no casualties reported

Xinhua) 16:47, January 26, 2026

LANZHOU, Jan. 26 (Xinhua) -- A 5.5-magnitude earthquake jolted Tebo County in Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, northwest China's Gansu Province, at 2:56 p.m. on Monday (Beijing Time), according to the China Earthquake Networks Center (CENC).

No casualties had been reported from the affected areas as of 3:30 p.m. while cracks have been observed in some buildings, local authorities said. The prefecture has activated a Level III emergency response for earthquake disasters.

Currently, Tebo County is organizing the urgent relocation of people from hazardous areas and working to fully assess the extent of the damage caused by the quake. Preliminary investigations indicate that tremors were felt near the epicenter in the county, and that power supply, communications and water services in the affected area remain normal.

According to multiple residents in this county, the quake was strongly felt, prompting people to rush to squares in seeking safety. No significant structural damage to buildings has been observed.

After the quake, a total of 20 vehicles and 120 personnel from the Gannan fire and rescue detachment were mobilized. Additionally, a heavy-duty team from the Lanzhou fire and rescue detachment, comprising 24 vehicles, 120 personnel and three search dogs along with 10 vehicles, 60 personnel and two search dogs from the fire department of the neighboring Linxia Hui Autonomous Prefecture, have been assembled. Lanzhou is the capital city of Gansu.

The epicenter was monitored at 34.06 degrees north latitude and 103.25 degrees east longitude. The quake struck at a depth of 10 km, a report issued by the CENC revealed.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
INDEPENDENCE, Ohio, Jan. 27, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, SellYourWay.org, a website dedicated to the education of small business owners, is pleased to announce the release of a new, in-depth white paper titled, The Role of Seller Financing in Closing Deals . Lauren Drummond Dale, MCBI, shares expert insights on what seller financing is, how frequently it is used and what small business owners should know before selling their businesses. Ms. Dale is Principal and M&A Advisor at Coastal Consultants, LLC. SellYourWay.org is powered by the International Business Brokers Association (IBBA), the largest international, not-for-profit association for Business Brokers.

It is unusual for sellers to receive all cash at close. Seller financing is a common practice that facilitates small business sales. When structured carefully, seller financing can expand the buyer pool, improve deal quality and support a successful exit.

Topics covered in this exclusive article include:

What is Seller Financing?

The Prevalence of Seller Financing

Advantages of Seller Financing

Risks of Seller Financing

How Risks of Seller Financing Can Be Mitigated

The Role of Advisors

Ms. Dale states, "In Main Street and lower-middle-market deals, seller financing is often the bridge between preparation and a successful transitionnot a concession."

"A successful business sale requires strategy, expertise and the right deal team in place. Our mission at SellYouWay.Org is to empower small business owners with knowledge on how professional Business Brokers maximize after-sale proceeds with specialized guidance and proven exit strategies." - Emily Bowler, Executive Director, IBBA

Get these expert insights on SellYourWay.Org .

About SellYourWay.Org

The mission of SellYourWay.org is to educate small business owners and the general public about the business sales process and the services that business brokers provide. The resources available on the site provide information to help business owners prepare for the successful sale of their businesses.

About the International Business Brokers Association

Formed in 1984 and with more than 3,000 members, the International Business Brokers Association (IBBA) is the largest international not for profit association for Business Brokers. The association provides Business Brokers with education, free benefits, conferences, professional designations, support programs and networking opportunities, and awards the Certified Business Intermediary (CBI) designation to qualifying business brokers. To learn more, contact the IBBA directly at [email protected] .

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SOURCE Sell Your Way
The Trump administration has announced the cancellation of all contracts with a consulting firm whose employee leaked details of the presidents tax return, causing its stock to tumble immediately.

U.S. Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent confirmed Monday that all 31 contracts between the department with Booz Allen Hamilton, totaling $4.8 million in annual spending and $21 million in total obligations, would be axed.

President Trump has entrusted his cabinet to root out waste, fraud, and abuse, and canceling these contracts is an essential step to increasing Americans trust in government, Bessent said in a statement.

Booz Allen failed to implement adequate safeguards to protect sensitive data, including the confidential taxpayer information it had access to through its contracts with the Internal Revenue Service, he added.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has announced the cancellation of all contracts with the consulting firm whose employee leaked details of the presidents tax return, causing its stock to tumble immediately (Getty Images)

Between 2018 and 2020, Charles Edward Littlejohn  an employee of Booz Allen Hamilton  stole and leaked the confidential tax returns and return information of hundreds of thousands of taxpayers, the department said.

He also leaked information on high profile individuals including Donald Trump, Jeff Bezos and Elon Musk, to media outlets including The New York Times and ProPublica.

To date, the IRS determined that the data breach affected approximately 406,000 taxpayers.

Littlejohn has since pleaded guilty to felony charges for disclosing confidential tax information without authorization and was sentenced to the maximum term of five years in prison in January 2024.

Following Bessents announcement the stock price of Booz Allen Hamilton fell by 10 points.

Between 2018 and 2020, Charles Edward Littlejohn  an employee of Booz Allen Hamilton  stole and leaked the tax returns and return information of hundreds of thousands of taxpayers, as well as information on high profile individuals including the president, Jeff Bezos (far left) and Elon Musk (far right) (Getty)

In an online statement Monday responding to the announcement, Booz Allen Hamilton said, We have consistently condemned in the strongest possible terms the actions of Charles Littlejohn, who was active with the company years ago.

Booz Allen has zero tolerance for violations of the law and operates under the highest ethical and professional guidelines. When Littlejohns criminal conduct occurred over 5 years ago, it was on government systems, not Booz Allen systems.

The statement added: Booz Allen stores no taxpayer data on its systems and has no ability to monitor activity on government networks.

Booz Allen fully supported the U.S. government in its investigation, and the government expressed gratitude for our assistance, which led to Littlejohns prosecution. We look forward to discussing this matter with the Treasury.
Two people arrested after a mom died while sledding behind a car in Oklahoma

Two people are facing seconddegree murder and aggravated DUI charges after a night of snow sledding resulted in the fatal death of an Oklahoma City woman.

Police say the victim, Makayla Mitchell, 31, was riding on a sled tied to a car driven by Angel Walzier, 22, late Sunday night.

Another car, driven by James Kirk, 24, was following behind them when the rope connecting Mitchells sled to Walziers car snapped. Kirks vehicle then struck Mitchell, and she was pronounced dead at the scene.

Both Kirk and Walzier were evaluated for impairment by a Drug Recognition Officer, and police obtained blood draw warrants for each. Investigators said both drivers appeared to be under the influence at the time of the accident.

Contributing factors included the dark street, which had no street lamps, limiting visibility.

James Kirk, 24, (left) is accused of driving the vehicle that struck 31-year-old Makayla Mitchell, who was riding a sled being towed by another car driven by 22-year-old Angel Walzier, right (Oklahoma City Police)

In addition to second-degree murder and aggravated DUI, Kirk faces a child endangerment charge after a child was in his vehicle during the crash. Mitchell leaves behind a soon-to-be 2-year-old daughter, whom she had joyfully filmed sledding just the night before her death.

Devon Hackett, who was there at the time of the incident, told News 9 that the group of friends were all having fun before tragedy struck.

It shouldnt be murder, Hackett said of the charges against the suspects. It wasnt intentional. It couldve happened to anybody.

Hackett described Mitchell as outgoing, fun-loving, and a great cook who was excited for her daughters upcoming birthday.
Every adult across the UK will soon have access to free artificial intelligence training, with courses designed to equip individuals with essential AI tools for the workplace.

The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) announced that these short modules, taking less than 20 minutes to complete, aim to enhance productivity and foster higher-skilled employment by freeing workers from routine tasks.

The initiative, which has garnered support from a panel of experts spanning business and trade unions, seeks to position Britain as the fastest AI-adopting nation within the G7.

Upon completion, participants will be awarded a "virtual AI foundations badge," signifying their new skills.

While AI proficiency is increasingly vital across nearly all sectors, concerns persist regarding the potential for misuse. Recent incidents highlight these challenges, including an error produced by Microsoft Copilot that reportedly influenced police justification for banning fans from a match against Aston Villa last November.

West Midlands Polices use of Microsofts AI assistant Copilot has also been suspended after details of a non-existent game between West Ham and the Israeli club were mentioned in a report to the SAG and found to have been an AI hallucination.

We want AI to work for Britain, and that means ensuring Britons can work with AI, says Technology Secretary Liz Kendall (PA Archive)

Furthermore, the Government has criticised Elon Musks Grok AI chatbot for its capacity to generate non-consensual sexual deepfake images.

Earlier this month, Prime Minister Keir Starmer told MPs and peers: The actions of Grok and X are absolutely disgusting and shameful. Protecting their abusive users, rather than the women and children who are being abused, shows a total distortion of priorities.

So let me be crystal clear, we won't stand for it, because no matter how unstable or complex the world becomes, this government will be guided by its values. We'll stand up for the vulnerable against the powerful.

In a direct message to the platforms owner, Mr Musk, he added: If X cannot control Grok, we will  and we'll do it fast because if you profit from harm and abuse, you lose the right to self-regulate.

Technology Secretary Liz Kendall emphasised the government's dual approach: "We want AI to work for Britain, and that means ensuring Britons can work with AI. Change is inevitable, but the consequences of change are not. We will protect people from the risks of AI while ensuring everyone can share in its benefits. That starts with giving people the skills and confidence they need to seize the opportunities AI brings, putting the power and control into their hands."
Rutte said the aim of the ongoing US-led peace talks should be a peace deal or a long-term ceasefire as soon as possible, saying that Ukraines security I think we all know  is also our security. Discussing Zelenskyys recent comments that the US security guarantees are close to being agreed upon, he acknowledged the major and very sensitive issue of territory with Russia, saying only Ukraine could decide what, if any, compromise they accepted. But according to Tuesday reporting from the Financial Times citing eight people familiar with the talks, the Trump administration has signalled to Ukraine that guarantees depend on Kyiv agreeing to a deal likely requiring it to cede the Donbas region  and indicated it could offer more weapons to strengthen Ukraines peacetime army if Kyiv agreed to withdraw forces from the parts of the eastern region it controls. Reuters could not immediately verify the report and the White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
US warns they will send fighter jets into Canadian airspace if F-35 deal doesnt go through

The United States could alter its decades-old North American Aerospace Defense Command deal with Canada should its government backtrack on the purchase of 88 Lockheed Martin F-35 fighter jets, the U.S. ambassador to Canada has warned.

In the latest back-and-forth between the U.S. and Canada over the deal, Ambassador Pete Hoekstra cautioned that if Canada purchased fewer fighter jets, the U.S. would fill those gaps in security concerns.

That could mean the U.S. would need to purchase more F-35 fighter jets for its own use and use them to intervene in Canadian airspace more frequently.

Under the current terms of NORAD, the U.S. and Canada can operate in one anothers airspace to track or intercept threats. However, Hoekstra indicated U.S. intervention would go even further, should the fighter jet deal change, thus requiring new terms to the Cold War-era agreement.

NORAD would have to be altered, Hoekstra told CBC News.

Hoekstras comments come months after the Canadian government indicated it was reviewing the terms of the fighter jet deal after finding the program to be costlier than expected.

Under the terms of NORAD, the US and Canada can fly in one anothers airspace to intercept threats (AFP/Getty)

In 2022, Canada agreed to purchase 88 F-35A advanced fighter jets from Lockheed Martin, with the country initially committing to funding 16 deliverable jets.

But quickly, the program ran into challenges. Not only has it taken longer than anticipated to manufacture the jets, but a 2025 initial audit of the deal found that the program had risen to $27.7 billion in cost  up from its initial $19 billion.

With tensions between the U.S. and Canada increasing due to President Donald Trumps tariff threats, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney called for the review.

Now, Canadian officials are reportedly looking to other countries to supply it with fighter jets, including Saab, the Swedish aerospace and defense company that creates the JAS 39 Gripen E fighter. Saab has offered to manufacture the jets in Canada, creating 12,600 jobs.

The government is interested in all major projects that can not only protect Canada's security and sovereignty, but also create jobs across the country, Melanie Joly, the Minister of Industry, told CBC News.

We certainly cant control President Trump, but  we can control our defense investments, who we award contracts to and how we are ultimately able to create jobs in Canada. So were going to focus on that.

Hoekstra (left of Trump) described the USs current defense relationship with Canada as awesome (Getty)

But Hoekstra warned that if Canada chooses to purchase Saabs Gripen E jets, the U.S. would still need to reconsider how it works with its northern neighbor on security.

If they decide theyre going with an inferior product that is not as interchangeable, interoperable as what the F-35 is, that changes our defense capability, Hoekstra said.

And as such, we have to figure out how were going to replace that, the ambassador added.

Hoekstras warning is the latest attempt by a U.S. official to pressure another country to comply with the administrations desires, specifically those related to national security. It comes on the heels of Trump threatening to impose tariffs on European allies for not supporting a U.S. deal to acquire Greenland.
A person walks amid a major US winter storm, in Brooklyn, New York City, on Sunday. Photograph: Amr Alfiky/Reuters (Photograph: Amr Alfiky/Reuters)

The powerful winter storm sweeping across much of the US over the weekend has been linked to at least 30 deaths.

The deaths have been reported from Texas to New England as many parts of the country grappled with heavy snow, ice and dangerous cold.

In Texas, authorities in Frisco said that a 16-year-old died in a sledding accident, while in the Austin area, a person was found dead from apparent hypothermia. Louisiana authorities have reported three winter storm-related deaths. In Mississippi, the states governor, Tate Reeves, reported two deaths as a result of the storm, in Arkansas, a 17-year-old boy was killed in a sledding accident, and in North Carolina, a man was found dead on a highway.

Related: US winter storm leaves seven people dead as more than 1 million lose power

In New York City, officials said that eight people were found dead outdoors over the weekend. A woman in Kansas was also said to have died from hypothermia and was found covered in snow.

Massachusetts officials have said that a woman died after being struck by a snow plow, and Tennessee officials have reported three weather-related deaths.

As of Monday morning, more than 200 million people from Texas to New England were under cold alerts, with forecasters warning that bitter cold could persist through the week in many regions.

The National Weather Service (NWS) said on Monday morning that frigid air would spread across the eastern two-thirds of the country in the coming days, with widespread sub-zero lows and record cold expected. The agency said that dangerous wind chills would persist, and much below-normal temperatures may continue into early February.

There were still more than 670,000 power outages in the nation Monday evening, according to poweroutage.com. Most of them were in the south, where weekend blasts of freezing rain caused tree limbs and power lines to snap, inflicting widespread outages on northern Mississippi and parts of Tennessee.

Officials in parts of Mississippi have described the damage caused by the storm as extensive, saying that additional crews have been brought in to speed up the tree removal and clearing and to help with restoration of replacing poles and lines.

The University of Mississippi also said that it has cancelled classes at the Oxford campus until Sunday, 1 February, due to continued extreme winter weather conditions and ongoing recovery efforts.

Throughout campus, the city and county, there are downed trees and power lines, power outages, falling ice and hazardous road conditions, the school said.

Related: Private aircraft with eight onboard crashes on takeoff in Maine amid winter storm

Travel was heavily disrupted over the weekend, with more than 10,500 US flights cancelled on Sunday. On Monday, nearly 5,000 US flights had been cancelled, according to flight tracking website FlightAware.com.

The NWSs weather prediction center said on Monday morning that while snow was continuing across parts of New England on Monday, the snowfall had concluded for the rest of the central and eastern United States.

Preliminary snowfall totals have showed that parts of Massachusetts saw as much as 20in (51cm) of snow over the weekend. And parts of Pennsylvania registered 23in (58 cm).

Major institutions in New York City and Washington DC are closed on Monday, including the New York Public Library, the Smithsonian museums and the National zoo. New York City public schools had also shifted to remote learning on Monday.

The New York areas NWS office told residents on Monday to expect temperatures to remain below freezing for the rest of the week and potentially through next Monday.

Some public schools in Massachusetts and New Hampshire also were closed on Monday, with some schools announcing they would be closed on Tuesday too.

On Monday afternoon, the NWSs weather prediction center also said that the potential is increasing for another significant winter storm to impact the eastern United States this coming weekend but they added that it is too early to know the details and urged people to keep updated with the latest forecasts this coming week.

Andy Beshear, the Kentucky governor, has warned residents there that dangerously cold temperatures will continue through the week, with an extreme drop starting tomorrow morning and urged people to stay inside.
Fashion designer and Spice Girl Lady Victoria Beckham has thanked her family and first investor, Sir David Beckham, after being honoured by the French Ministry of Culture.

Lady Beckham, 51, known for her eponymous luxury label, was named a Chevaliere de lOrdre des Arts et des Lettres  a Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters, which recognises significant contributions to the arts and literature.

It comes amid a public family fallout with her eldest son, Brooklyn Peltz Beckham, after he shared an explosive statement on his Instagram last week, accusing his parents of controlling narratives in the press and putting Brand Beckham first.

In a post shared on Instagram on Monday evening, Lady Beckham said: Im so honoured to be named a Chevaliere de lOrdre des Arts et des Lettres by the French Ministry of Culture.

I have always deeply admired the French aesthetic and the seriousness with which it treats fashion: as a form of art.

So to be recognised here and embraced in this way, is a profound privilege  one that reflects decades of commitment and dedication. My sincere thanks to the French Minister of Culture, Rachida Dati for this honour.

Thank you also to business partners who believed in me, my family, and especially David  my husband, and original investor.

I couldnt be more grateful, you are my everything xx

The post also included a number of photographs featuring Lady Beckham with Dame Anna Wintour, Sir David and a photograph with her family, Harper, Cruz and his partner Jackie Apostel and Romeo and his girlfriend Kim Turnbull.

The eldest of the Beckham children, Brooklyn and his wife Nicola Peltz Beckham, did not appear to be at the ceremony after announcing he does not want to reconcile with his parents.

Lady Beckham made her mark in the fashion industry after founding her label in 2008.

She first rose to fame in the 90s pop band The Spice Girls  known for their hit songs Wannabe, 2 Become 1, and Say Youll Be There.
The Metropolitan Police have won a Court of Appeal challenge over the vetting clearance of its officers.

In a ruling last year, High Court judge Mrs Justice Lang found that Scotland Yard cannot lawfully dismiss officers by withdrawing their vetting clearance.

The decision came after Sergeant Lino Di Maria mounted a legal challenge after his vetting was removed over sexual assault allegations, which he denies.

He was found to have no case to answer in respect of misconduct allegations, and argued that having his vetting removed without the accusations being proved was a breach of his right to a fair trial.

The Metropolitan Police, supported by the College of Policing, challenged part of this decision at the Court of Appeal in London.

Sgt Di Maria opposed the appeal bid.

During the appeal hearing in December, judges were told that new regulations were introduced to Parliament in April to give forces the power to dismiss police officers for lack of vetting clearance.

However, John Beggs KC, for Scotland Yard, said the issue over whether a review of vetting can consider concerns that have not resulted in formal misconduct was still "live".

And in a 25-page ruling on Tuesday, three judges granted Scotland Yard's appeal.

Met Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley welcomed the ruling (Getty Images)

Lord Justice Singh, sitting with the Lady Chief Justice Baroness Carr and Lady Justice Whipple, said: "It seems to me that the nature of the exercise which is required in vetting is different from the exercise in disciplinary proceedings.

"In disciplinary proceedings, in common with many situations in which a decision-maker has to decide whether an event occurred in the past, the balance of probabilities is a sensible way to decide that question of fact.

"Either an event happened or it did not."

The judge continued that the test for vetting "is to be used in the context of an assessment of risk".

Lord Justice Singh later said: "The vetting decision requires an evaluation of risk as to what may happen in the future.

"No particular event need be proved to have happened at all.

"All the information available to the decision-maker needs to be taken into account and then an evaluative assessment of future risk needs to be made."

The judge said that nothing in the Court of Appeal's ruling concerns the regulations introduced in 2025.

Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley said: "Today's judgment by the Court of Appeal is a welcome and important step in our drive for the highest of standards across policing and to root out those not fit to serve.

"It is a judgment that will be welcomed as common sense by the public who must have faith our officers do not have a back catalogue of alarming allegations.

"It will be welcomed by the tens of thousands of good officers we have in the Met who care deeply about the safety of the public and their colleagues."

Sir Mark continued: "We will continue our work, alongside policing nationally, to sack those who corrupt our integrity, with confidence the legal system has supported us."

A College of Policing spokesman said: "We welcome the judgment as it is recognition of the important role vetting plays in keeping the public safe and maintaining confidence in policing.

"It is vital policing maintains the highest ethical and professional standards and acts with the utmost integrity - and vetting is a fundamental part of making that happen.

"We continue to work with the NPCC and the Home Office to ensure only those fit to serve the public can join and remain in policing."

In February last year, the Met had 29 officers who had their vetting removed but remained on paid leave.

The cost of keeping officers and staff on paid special vetting leave was put at 2 million per year.

The number of officers without vetting and on paid leave has since been reduced to 20 - two were suspended for other conduct matters, and seven resigned or retired.

The remaining 20 will now have their cases reviewed under new vetting regulations that came into force last year, and if their clearance is removed or not renewed, they will be sacked.
Credit: Fox News

Melania Trump has appealed for peace and unity in Minneapolis after two US citizens were killed by federal agents.

In a rare intervention into politics, the first lady said in an interview she was opposed to violence in a seeming attempt to calm down growing tensions.

Asked about the shootings in Minneapolis, Mrs Trump adopted a conciliatory tone in a far cry from the rhetoric of White House officials.

Her comments echoed attempts by Donald Trump to dampen down the crisis in the wake of the fatal shootings of protestors in Minneapolis by federal agents deployed in the city in an immigration crackdown.

Mr Trump made conciliatory calls to Tim walz, Minnesotas Democrat governor, and to Jacob Frey, the mayor of Minneapolis, on Monday.

Unrest has been ongoing in the state amid Donald Trumps immigration crackdown and has only escalated in recent weeks - ROBERTO SCHMIDT

Police clash with protesters in Minnesota - Seth Herald/SETH HERALD

Mr Trump also withdrew Gregory Bovino, the hardline border patrol commander who had been in charge of the operation on the ground in Minnesota while also sidelined Kristi Noem, the US homeland security secretary.

In their place, Mr Trump dispatched his border czar Tom Homan to Minneapolis and at the same time began withdrawing at least some of the 3,000 Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents and border patrol officers from the area.

In her interview with Fox News, Mrs Trump said: We need to unify. I am calling for unity. My husband, the president, had a great call yesterday with the governor and the mayor and they are working together to make it peaceful and without riots.

Im against the violence so please, if you protest, protest in peace. We need to unify in peace times.

Gregory Bovino, the hardline border patrol commander who had been in charge of the operation on the ground in Minnesota, has been pulled out of Minnesota - Jen Golbeck

Candles and flowers at a makeshift memorial for Alex Pretti in Minneapolis - OCTAVIO JONES/AFP

Mrs Trumps interview came three delays ahead of the cinema release of a documentary, titled Melania, which documents the 20 days preceding her husbands return to power in January 2025.

Although the interview was ostensibly to plug a movie that Amazon MGM Studios has spent $35m on marketing alone, it was noticeable that the first question Mrs Trump was asked about concerned the events in Minneapolis.

Mrs Trump, herself an immigrant who was born in Slovenia, is seen by some observers as a useful medium for softening White House messaging.

Senior members of the White House team, including Ms Noem, had branded the two people shot and killed - Renee Good and Alex Pretti - as domestic terrorists while Mr Bovino had insisted his agents were the real victims of the killings.

Video footage in both cases showed that neither Pretti or Good had posed a mortal threat to the agents when they were killed.

Renee Nicole Good and Alex Pretti, both US citizens, were killed by ICE agents during anti-immigration demonstrations

Mrs Trump told Fox she was always available to offer counsel to her husband. I give him my advice and I tell him what I think, she said, adding: Sometimes he listens and sometimes he doesnt. I am here to support him. I think it is very important to have open communication.

The White House staged a black tie special screening for the Melania documentary in the East room on Saturday.

The event was staged just hours after Pretti, an intensive care nurse at a veterans hospital, was shot and killed.

The screening was attended by the Trumps, their son Barron and dignitaries that included Queen Rania of Jordan, the Amazon boss Jeff Bezos, the former boxing champion Mike Tyson and Erika Kirk, widow of Charlie Kirk. Guests were handed custom-made white popcorn boxes labeled Melania and a copy of her memoir.

The world premiere of the film is being staged on Thursday in Washington, DC at the recently renamed Trump Kennedy Center and Mrs Trump would likely have wanted to try to dampen down the flames in Minneapolis ahead of her big night.

MELANIA, the film, exclusively in theaters worldwide on January 30th, 2026. pic.twitter.com/n2kloQ4JwW  MELANIA TRUMP (@MELANIATRUMP) December 17, 2025

The shooting of Pretti has provoked a huge backlash among both Democrats and Republicans as the administration falsely accused him of brandishing a gun prior to his death.

The gun lobby has defended Mr Prettis right to carry a firearm, which he was legally entitled to do under Minnesota gun laws.

The pistol was taken from him by a federal agent and Pretti was unarmed when he died in a hail of bullets. Mrs Trumps interventions are rare but not unprecedented.

Credit: X/@sentdefender

During her husbands first term, the first Lady lobbied to force a u-turn on his administrations policy that had resulted in thousands of children being separated from their parents at the US southern border.

She had issued a statement in 2018 in which she said she hates to see children separated from their families and urged her husbands administration to govern with heart.

In August last year, she wrote a letter to Vladimir Putin, in which she urged the Russian president to do more to protect children in his war on Ukraine. Mr Trump made the letter public on social media.

Afterwards, she said she had established an open channel of communication with Putin, which resulted in eight children who had been forcibly taken from Ukraine to Russia being reunited with their families.

The first lady added that she was working to return more Ukrainian children to their families, adding: I hope we will have success soon again.
Credit: TikTok/@keirstarmer

Sir Keir Starmer has mocked Emmanuel Macron by donning a pair of aviator sunglasses at a comedy show in London.

The Prime Minister was appearing at The Political Party Live at the Duchess Theatre where he was interviewed in front of a live audience.

In a clip that he shared on his TikTok account, Sir Keir is handed a pair of shades which he promptly puts on and then says Bonjour, in a nod to the French president who wore an eye-catching pair of sunglasses at Davos last week.

Sir Keir tagged Mr Macron in the post, adding the caption Talk to me, Goose, a reference to the film Top Gun, which popularised aviator-style sunglasses.

The West End audience laughed at the gag and Sir Keir told host Matt Forde that he would consider wearing them to summits.

He then joked that he needed his regular glasses back or he would not be able to see in Parliament.

Macrons sunglasses caused a stir at Davos - Getty Images

Mr Macron caused surprise when he arrived in Switzerland to meet world leaders last week sporting the sunglasses.

French media reported that Mr Macron was covering a burst blood vessel in his eye.

It comes as Sir Keir is facing the most significant threat to his leadership in his 18 months in Number 10.

On Sunday, a 10-strong group from Labours ruling National Executive Committee, including the Prime Minister, voted to deny Andy Burnham permission to run in the Greater Manchester by-election.

Mr Burnham, the mayor of Manchester, is widely seen as a possible challenger to Sir Keir who could oust the Labour leader before the next election.

Speculation has persisted about the prospect of Sir Keir facing a leadership challenge if Labour performs badly in Mays local and devolved parliamentary elections.

The party has plummeted in opinion polls. A recent poll for The Telegraph puts Labour in third place nationally behind Reform and the Conservatives.
Trading Symbol: TSX/NYSE American: SVM

VANCOUVER, BC, Jan. 27, 2026 /PRNewswire/ - Silvercorp Metals Inc. (TSX: SVM) (NYSE American: SVM) ("Silvercorp" or the "Company"), further to its news release of January 20, 2026, Silvercorp is pleased to announce it has completed the acquisition of Chaarat ZAAV CJSC ("ZAAV") per the Share Purchase Agreement with Chaarat Gold Holdings Limited ("Chaarat"). The Kyrgyz government having issued a waiver of its statutory pre-emptive right and Silvercorp having made the $92 million payment to Chaarat.

Per the agreements between the parties, Silvercorp will proceed to convert ZAAV into a joint venture company ("JVC") with Kyrgyzaltyn (a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Kyrgyz Republic), with Silvercorp holding a 70% interest and being the operator of the JVC and Kyrgyzaltyn holding a 30% free-carried interest.

The JVC will apply for the agreed upon extension of the validity period of the JVC's mining license from June 25, 2032 to June 25, 2062 and Silvercorp will then make the $60 million cash payment to the National Investment Agency under the President of the Kyrgyz Republic (the "NIA"), per the Cooperation Agreement with the NIA.

ZAAV, the JVC, is a Kyrgyz corporation, holding a 100% interest in the mining license hosting the fully-permitted Tulkubash/Kyzyltash gold projects as well as surrounding exploration licenses hosting the Karator and Ishakuld gold zones located in the Tian Shan area.

King & Wood Mallesons (Beijing office) acted as lead legal counsel to Silvercorp on the transaction. For further details regarding the transaction refer to the January 20 news release which is available on SEDAR+ (www.sedarplus.ca) and on EDGAR at www.sec.gov under Silvercorp's issuer's profile.

About Silvercorp

Silvercorp is a Canadian mining company producing silver, gold, lead, and zinc with a long history of profitability and growth potential. The Company's strategy is to create shareholder value by 1) focusing on generating free cash flow from long life mines; 2) organic growth through extensive drilling for discovery; 3) ongoing merger and acquisition efforts to unlock value; and 4) long term commitment to responsible mining and ESG. For more information, please visit our website at www.silvercorpmetals.com.

For further information

Silvercorp Metals Inc.

Lon Shaver

President

Phone: (604) 669-9397

Toll Free 1(888) 224-1881

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.silvercorpmetals.com

CAUTIONARY DISCLAIMER - FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This news release does not constitute, and is not, an offer or solicitation of an offer of securities.

This news release includes "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws relating to, among other things, without limitation, the conversion of the ZAAV into a JVC, timing of receipt of the mining license extension, the Company's plan for next steps, and any anticipated benefits to shareholder value or financial or operational performance that may be derived therefrom. By their very nature, forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking information may in some cases be identified by words such as "will", "anticipates", "expects", "intends" and similar expressions suggesting future events or future performance.

We caution that all forward-looking information is inherently subject to change and uncertainty and that actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking information. A number of risks, uncertainties and other factors, including fluctuating commodity prices; completion and timing of the transactions described above; satisfaction of the conditions to the transactions; extension of mining licenses and milestones; recent market events and condition; estimation of mineral resources, mineral reserves and mineralization and metal recovery; interpretations and assumptions of mineral resource and mineral reserve estimates; exploration and development programs; climate change; economic factors affecting the Company; timing, estimated amount, capital and operating expenditures and economic returns of future production; integration of future acquisitions into existing operations; permits and licences for mining and exploration in China; title to properties; non-controlling interest shareholders; acquisition of commercially mineable mineral rights; financing; competition; operations and political conditions; regulatory environment in China; regulatory environment and political climate in Bolivia and Ecuador; integration and operations of Adventus; environmental risks; natural disasters; dependence on management and key personnel; foreign exchange rate fluctuations; insurance; risks and hazards of mining operations; conflicts of interest; internal control over financial reporting as per the requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act; outcome of current or future litigation or regulatory actions; bringing actions and enforcing judgments under U.S. securities laws; cyber-security risks; public health crises; the Company's investment in New Pacific Metals Corp. and Tincorp Metals Inc.; and the other risk factors described in the Company's latest 40-F/Annual Information Form, and Management's Discussion and Analysis, each under the heading "Risk Factors" available on www.sedarplus.ca and www.sec.gov; could cause actual results and events to differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking information or could cause our current objectives, strategies and intentions to change. Accordingly, we warn investors to exercise caution when considering statements containing forward-looking information and that it would be unreasonable to rely on such statements as creating legal rights regarding our future results or plans. We cannot guarantee that any forward-looking information will materialize and you are cautioned not to place undue reliance on this forward-looking information. Any forward-looking information contained in this news release represents expectations as of the date of this news release and is subject to change after such date. However, we are under no obligation (and we expressly disclaim any such obligation) to update or alter any statements containing forward-looking information, the factors or assumptions underlying them, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. All of the forward-looking information in this news release is qualified by the cautionary statements herein.

CAUTIONARY NOTE TO US INVESTORS

This news release has been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the securities laws in effect in Canada which differ from the requirements of United States securities laws. The technical and scientific information contained herein has been prepared in accordance with National Instrument 43-101  Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects (''NI 43-101''), which differs from the standards adopted by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"). Silvercorp's reserve and resource estimates have been prepared in accordance with NI 43-101 and the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy, and Petroleum Definition Standards on Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves. NI 43-101 is a rule developed by the Canadian Securities Administrators that establishes standards for public disclosure by a Canadian company of scientific and technical information concerning mineral projects.

Canadian standards differ significantly from the disclosure requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission, and mineral reserve and resource information included in this news release may not be comparable to similar information disclosed by U.S. companies subject to the disclosure requirements of the SEC. A comprehensive discussion of risks that impact Silvercorp, and additional information relating to the Company including Silvercorp's Annual Information Form can be obtained under the Company's profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca, on EDGAR at www.sec.gov, and on the Company's website at www.silvercorpmetals.com

SOURCE Silvercorp Metals Inc.
When Keir Starmer jets off to Beijing today, he will be the first prime minister to visit China in eight years.

But instead of a potential history-making journey or even the controversy of his visit, the prime minister may nervously be considering the fate of Margaret Thatcher in 1990, given his current travails with Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham.

Back then, the Iron Lady went to a dinner in the Palace of Versailles to celebrate the end of the Cold War in the midst of a vote on her leadership. After failing to get enough votes to see off Michael Heseltine, she came out of the dinner with her fate sealed and returned home to find she had, in effect, been deposed.

While Starmer has not quite reached the same crisis point in his premiership, it is fair to say that the plotting to remove him is now in full swing  whether it is attempts by Andy Burnham to return to parliament, or the machinations of his health secretary Wes Streeting or former deputy prime minister Angela Rayner.

The trip to China comes just days after the UK government gave permission for a new Chinese super embassy in central London, despite security warnings from MI5 (Getty)

So this is maybe not the best time for a five-day trip to Beijing. While he is away, the plotting will only intensify, amid growing anger over the decision to block Burnham from running in the Gorton and Denton by-election.

Meanwhile, the prime minister, who has been touring the tea rooms in recent weeks to calm the nerves of Labour MPs, will not be there to deal with it.

Starmer may have until the local elections in May before facing a reckoning, but a showdown seems to be coming sooner rather than later.

However, there are other issues with this trip to China, which the PM will have to explain more publicly  not least the controversial nature of what some will see as going and bending the knee at the court of President Xi Jinping.

Never here Keir

Opponents will relish the opportunity to dust off the never here Keir jibe  the suggestion that Starmer is too often overseas  but the prime minister is determined to end what he has dubbed an ice age under previous Tory governments, and improve Britains ties with China.

The last PM to make the journey was Theresa May, who went on an official visit in 2018, in what was a rare break from the Brexit travails back home that eventually forced her to step down.

But as Starmer flies to Beijing, the world is the most unstable it has been for a generation.

His relationship with Donald Trump appears to have hit its lowest point yet, with the US president openly mocking him about the Chagos Islands deal and threatening tariffs on the UK for supporting Denmark over Greenland.

Worse still has been the insult to British veterans who fought in Afghanistan supporting American troops. And the fact that Starmer has yet to accept the invitation to join Trumps peace board for Gaza is a sign that things have gone badly awry.

This means the prime ministers careful positioning of the UK as the bridge between the US and Europe is all but dead as a policy.

The super embassy decision and spies

It is no coincidence that the trip to China comes just days after his government gave permission for a new super embassy in central London, despite security warnings from MI5.

There are also awkward questions over whether the deal with Mauritius to hand over the Chagos Islands to them will open the door to China  an issue which is vexing the Trump administration.

Royal Mint Court, the site for the new Chinese embassy near Tower Bridge (Getty)

There are other issues, too. Chinas ongoing persecution of political dissidents in Hong Kong and abandonment of the agreement with the UK when it was handed over to them in 1997. The imprisonment of British citizen Jimmy Lai is an ongoing sore. Not to mention the persecution of the Uyghurs.

Then there are the problems of Chinese operatives acting against dissidents in the UK, China stealing UK copyright material and the dangers of Chinese companies investing in universities and infrastructure.

And, of course, the anger over the abandonment of a trial of two suspected Chinese spies in parliament is still blamed on Starmer and his government by many.

All these issues and more make the prime ministers visit extremely controversial  to say the least.

Going for growth

The reality is that the prime minister  just as his chancellor Rachel Reeves did last year  needs to go and ask for Chinese investment in the UK.

The economic problems, the lack of growth, the departure of the wealthy, and international turmoil mean that the UK cannot spurn Chinese investment. Starmer, like the leaders of France and Germany, both of whom have visited Beijing in recent months, is in many ways going cap in hand.

However, in a world lacking in stability and with the UK struggling to find its place, Starmer has little choice but to head to China and make his case.

In reality, though, he is simply carrying on the policy of the previous Tory governments of engagement with Beijing while being suspicious of the Chinese Communist Party and protecting against its excesses.

As Starmer flies out to build something for the future of the UK and his own government, he may well be wondering how long he personally has to deliver as prime minister. The flight to China could all too easily become a legacy trip, just as it did for Theresa Mays failing government.
Capt Philip Muldowney of the 4th Regiment Royal Artillery died at Otterburn in Northumberland on Sunday

An Army officer was shot and killed during a night-time training exercise.

Capt Philip Muldowney, 25, who served with the 4th Regiment Royal Artillery, was reportedly hit in the back during a live-fire drill with the Scots Guards at 8pm on Sunday.

He was given first aid by colleagues at the Otterburn range in Northumberland, but died before paramedics arrived.

The soldiers are believed to have been practising assault manoeuvres on pop-up targets in teams of eight.

Wearing body armour, helmets and night vision goggles, four soldiers would fire at targets while the other four advanced towards them.

Such drills are commonly carried out during day and night training, with military instructors and safety staff monitoring.

Troops often wear infrared tags that can be seen through night vision sights, to distinguish them from human-shaped targets and it is unclear why Capt Muldowney was shot.

A source told The Sun, which first reported the shooting: He got shot just a couple of minutes into the training exercise. He died before the ambulance got there.

It was pitch black. We were using night vision goggles. We were at the rear when he was shot at a fair distance.

The officer is believed to have been struck in an area of his body that was not covered by armour.

The Defence Accidents Investigation Branch has launched an investigation.

Death at same training area in 2016

In 2016, Pte Conor McPherson, 24, was accidentally shot in the head and killed at the same camp during a night-time drill, when a soldier mistook him for a target.

A damning investigation by the Health and Safety Executive found the Ministry of Defence (MoD) had failed to properly implement a safe system for the drill.

The MoD accepted the findings and apologised unreservedly to McPhersons family for his death, which investigators said had been preventable.

Lt Gen Dame Sharon Nesmith, deputy chief of the general staff, said at the time that she was deeply sorry for failing Pte Conor McPherson but action had since been taken to improve safety.

She said: We failed to plan, organise, control and monitor the critical safety aspects of this live-firing training event. Whilst live firing is complex and risky, Conors death was preventable... On this occasion, we got it wrong. Very wrong.

He inspired all around him

Capt Muldowney joined the Army on Jan 5 2020, commissioning into the Royal Artillery on Dec 11 2020 after attending the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst.

Lt Col Henry Waller, Commanding Officer of 4th Regiment Royal Artillery, said: It is with deep sadness that we announce the death of Capt Philip Gilbert Muldowney.

Known to all simply as Gilbert, he was an immensely enthusiastic officer who embraced life with a vigour that inspired everyone around him.

Professionally, Gilbert was an outstanding officer who consistently put his soldiers first. He led from the front in all that he did, a quality that defined his character.

His leadership, courage, and sense of duty earned him the respect and admiration of all who served alongside him.

He served all those under his command in a highly authentic manner, unapologetically himself  every day he displayed a level of spirit I continue to be in awe of.

Friends and colleagues will remember Gilbert for his easy-going nature, boundless energy, and infectious sense of humour.

He had an extraordinary ability to lift spirits and make the best of any situation, leaving a lasting impression on all who knew him. Gilbert was an unforgettable character and a rising star within the Army and the Regiment.

His loss is deeply felt by his comrades and friends, and our thoughts and prayers are with his family at this most difficult time.

Capt Helen Brackenbury said: Gilbert was a truly kind person, highly competent and endearingly joyful.

It has been the pleasure of my career to have served alongside him, and I consider myself very lucky to have been his friend.

A British Army spokesman said: Our thoughts are with Capt Muldowneys family and friends at this sad time, and we ask that their privacy is respected.

The circumstances surrounding Capt Muldowneys death are being investigated, and it would be inappropriate to comment any further at this time.
Writing in the foreword to the Lit in Colour campaigns five-year progress report, Evaristo said the term diversity itself is now considered a dangerous concept in some quarters. Photograph: Kirsty Wigglesworth/AP (Photograph: Kirsty Wigglesworth/AP)

The Booker prize-winning author Bernardine Evaristo has called for renewed efforts to diversify the school curriculum in England, warning that young people are growing up in a society where doors are closing and the tide is turning against inclusion.

There has been progress in the diversity of texts on offer in the GCSE English literature curriculum, but uptake in schools is still low with just 1.9% of GCSE pupils in England studying books by authors of colour, up from 0.7% five years ago, according to a report.

Compiled by the campaign group Lit in Colour, the report says progress is too slow and that at the current pace of change it will be 2046 before 10% of students answer a question about a text by an author of colour in their English literature GCSE.

And it will take until 2115 before 38% of pupils study a writer of colour in GCSE English literature, a figure that is significant because according to the Department for Educations (DfE) most recent figures, 38% of pupils in English schools are from a minority ethnic background.

Since Lit in Colour launched its campaign to improve diversity in the school curriculum in England five years ago, the proportion of GCSE English literature set texts by authors of colour has increased from 12% to 36%.

In 2025 there were eight texts by authors of colour on exam board set text lists, mostly of Black and south Asian heritage, but many teachers continue to offer texts such as JB Priestleys An Inspector Calls, because of familiarity, a lack of resources to support the teaching of new texts and insufficient time for training.

Writing in the foreword to the campaigns five-year progress report, Evaristo welcomed the progress made but said that with the concept of diversity under attack, it was even more important to ensure books by writers of colour were on the curriculum.

After the murder of George Floyd in the US and the resurgence of the Black Lives Matter movement in the UK, Evaristo said, there was a noticeable willingness from many institutions to explore some of the barriers people of colour have had to face, including in the education sector.

She said: Fast forward to 2025 and it seems as if those doors are closing again, and I worry that young people today are once again growing up in a society where attempts to become more egalitarian are under threat, with the tide turning against inclusion.

The term diversity itself is now considered a dangerous concept in some quarters, with all attempts at becoming a more progressive society dismissed as woke. In this climate, the Lit in Colour campaign is even more essential to ensuring that books by authors of colour are on the curriculum.

Lit in Colour, led by Penguin Random House and the Runnymede Trust thinktank on race equality and race relations, is a partnership between educational and cultural organisations and Englands four exam boards.

A spokesperson for the Department for Education said: As part of the governments response to the curriculum and assessment review we will ensure that alongside classic English literature the curriculum will allow space for teachers to choose a wider range of texts and authors.

Meanwhile, Lee Child, the bestselling author of the Jack Reacher series of thrillers, has been named as the first prison reading laureate. The role, which covers prisons in England and Wales, has been created to highlight the importance of improving literacy among prisoners to help prevent reoffending.

Child plans to expand a literacy pilot programme he has been running in a number of prisons and will be inviting more authors to participate.

This isnt about being soft on crime, its about being smart, he said. Improving literacy is an evidence-based, practical approach that works. When people leave prison better equipped to read and learn, theyre less likely to reoffend. That makes communities safer for everyone.

The new one-year role has been created as part of the National Year of Reading, a UK-wide campaign to boost reading among children and adults.
Officers from Gloucestershire Constabulary could soon be operating under the name of a different force - Jeff Gilbert/Alamy Stock Photo

Britains oldest county constabulary could be the first to be merged into a new super police force.

Government sources said Gloucestershire Constabulary was interested in joining a neighbouring force and very early conversations had taken place with Thames Valley Police.

Its a big force that would have the financial resilience to take them, the source added. A potential merger with Wiltshire Police is also thought to be under consideration.

Gloucestershire Constabulary is also seen within the Government as a candidate for a regional super force as part of its plans for significant reductions in the number of forces.

The constabulary, founded in 1839, is seen as a merger candidate largely because of its financial difficulties. Last year, it announced plans to cut 60 jobs to save 12.3m.

Chris Nelson, the Conservative police and crime commissioner for Gloucestershire, told The Telegraph: I have an open mind on mergers  Ive come a long way in the last few months. Im open-minded because of my desire to get better financial resilience and operational flexibility.

On Monday, Shabana Mahmood, the Home Secretary, unveiled a white paper on police reform in which she set out plans to cut the number of forces in England and Wales from 43 to as few as a dozen.

The new, bigger forces would oversee smaller local policing areas in each town, city or borough, where officers would focus on everyday crimes such as shoplifting, mobile phone thefts, drugs and anti-social behaviour.

Shabana Mahmood, the Home Secretary, unveiled her plans on police reforms this week - Stefan Rousseau/PA Wire

Under the proposals, a new national police service, dubbed the British FBI, will also be established to take over the national responsibilities of local forces such as counter-terrorism, serious and organised crime gangs and fraud, to free them up to focus on everyday crime.

Ms Mahmood wants at least one new force to be ready by the next election in 2029, although most of the structural changes will not take place until the next parliament.

Gloucestershire Constabulary employs 1,300 officers and covers 1,000 square miles, including the Cotswolds and Forest of Dean.

In the 1990s, the force successfully investigated and prosecuted Fred West for 12 murders, and his wife Rose for 10 murders, without any outside support.

Insiders also point to its successful policing of one of Britains biggest sporting events, the Cheltenham Festival  described by one source as like filling Wembley stadium four days in a row  which it manages each year without any fuss or bother.

However, successive funding cuts over the past decade led to a crisis that saw its police chiefs forced to deny that it faced bankruptcy two years ago.

Officers from Gloucestershire Constabulary help provide security to Elizabeth II at the Cheltenham Festival in 2009 - Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images

As part of research into possible mergers, Mr Nelson has studied Gloucestershires neighbouring forces, including Thames Valley, Avon and Somerset, Warwickshire, West Mercia and Wiltshire.

He said: The two biggest drivers for the success of a merger are probably if it delivers better financial resilience and less financial risk, and at least as good operational capability. Why do it otherwise?

I have looked at the mergers issue, and two issues are very important: does the force have the same records management as ours  thats the backbone of IT  and whats the difference in council tax between the two?

The commissioner said that if there was a difference in the council tax portion that goes to policing, then the Home Office would need to provide funding to smooth out any shortfall, or there would have to be a reduction in police officers to cut costs.

Chris Nelson, the Conservative police and crime commissioner for Gloucestershire, said he had an open mind about the prospect of a merger

Gloucestershire Constabularys Chief Constable Maggie Blyth has also hinted she would be open to a merger.

She acknowledged that even with planned upgrades, she was not confident the force would have the technology or specialist capabilities to meet future expectations of us.

She said in a statement: Appreciating reform will take several years to implement, should there be an opportunity for Gloucestershire Constabulary to have an early role in a new look police service, then I would also be keen for us to be involved.

Other forces which could potentially merge include Norfolk and Suffolk, which already share some backroom services, and Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire. Some could mirror the boundaries of new mayoralties.

However, Tim Brain, a former Gloucestershire chief constable who advised Labour on a similar shake-up in 2005-6, which it subsequently abandoned, cautioned against the belief that short-term problems could be solved by structural changes.

He said there was a risk that financial issues would be transferred over to any new force in the region. There is a fundamental problem in Gloucestershire funding that needs to be addressed, he added.

Mr Brain also warned that the Government would have to be prepared for upfront costs. His report at the time for Charles Clarke, the then home secretary, estimated that reducing forces nationwide would cost 750m.
About a third of the rubbish piled up in Bickershaw, Greater Manchester, is on land owned by the Duchy of Lancaster - Charley Atkins/SWNS

Britains worst illegal waste dump is on land partially owned by the King, it has emerged.

A 25,000-ton mountain of rubbish has piled up in Bickershaw, Greater Manchester, creating concerns over harmful chemicals and plastic waste polluting the land.

About a third of it is on land owned by the Duchy of Lancaster, the Kings private portfolio of properties and estates, a Channel 4 investigation first revealed.

But the Duchy could avoid paying for the clean-up of the dump, with the responsibility instead passed on to Wigan council, potentially handing a bill of several million pounds to the taxpayer.

This is because the Duchy is exempt from regulations and duties to clean the site, thanks to feudal laws that date back 750 years.

Locals say the waste piled up after a procession of lorries began carrying rubbish to the site from January 2025.

One resident, who asked not to be identified, said: Its absolutely horrible here. Another described how the site, which has been dubbed Britains worst illegal waste dump, had been overrun by rats.

Several claimed that there was reluctance by the authorities to intervene when they first complained, with one person stating: No one has given a damn until recently.

A fire broke out at the dump in July and was so severe that it was declared as a major incident.

The uncertainty over who is responsible for the site has emerged against the backdrop of complex ancient laws governing landownership which involves the Duchy of Lancaster.



Under a legal principle dating back to feudal times, if a person dies without a will or a known next of kin, the Duchy collects their assets and receives the proceeds.

This system allows the Kings commercial property portfolio to take over someones assets if they die in the part of north-west England that falls within the historic County Palatine of Lancaster.

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But, under so-called escheat laws, the Duchy can also choose not to inherit any liabilities associated with properties.

The dumpsite came into the Duchys hands in July 2025 as part of this process.

Under the Environment Agencys long-standing guidance, landowners are usually responsible for clearing illegal waste from their property.

But the agency hasnt served a notice to the Duchy because the guidance does not apply to land that is subject to escheat law.

An Environment Agency spokesman said: Waste crime scars our communities, and were committed to tackling it in Wigan with the local council and the police.

We are doing everything in our powers to manage the site in Bickershaw and identify the perpetrators, including by launching a major criminal investigation and interviewing individuals under caution.

A fire on the waste site in Bickershaw, Greater Manchester in July was so severe that it was declared as a major incident - Wigan Council

A Wigan council spokesman said: This illegal waste site has had, and continues to have, a daily impact on residents who live nearby and on the bordering primary school.

Local authorities have an obligation to ensure best value for residents. As such, the council would need to consider the terms of any arrangement the Duchy of Lancaster is offering since it is unlikely the value of the land would surpass the clean-up cost.

As one of the impacted landowners, we are making efforts to clear our land and we continue to implore all other impacted landowners to take the necessary steps to fulfil their own obligations.

A spokesman for the Duchy of Lancaster said: Approximately 30 per cent of the illegal tipping site was vested to the Duchy from its previous owner in July 2025 under a process known as escheat.

At this point the Duchy contacted Wigan council to seek a resolution, and we remain fully committed to working with the local community and relevant agencies to address this issue and to counter the impact of illegal waste tipping.
Tim Capron denies one count of voyeurism after sending sexual images to a friend from pilot school - Dan Charity/The Sun/News Licensing

A British Airways pilot secretly photographed himself spanking a naked member of cabin crew and sent the picture to another pilot, a court has heard.

Tim Capron had met the BA flight attendant after matching with her on the dating app Tinder, jurors were told.

On their second date, the 38-year-old Oxford graduate had asked her to wear a blindfold. He photographed her while he hit her with a paddle, and recorded her during oral sex.

He is accused of then sending the images to Steven Farnworth, a friend from pilot school, who he previously had sexual encounters with.

Jane Davies, prosecuting, said the complainant, who cannot be identified to protect her anonymity, was not aware that she was being recorded and never consented to the filming.

Reading Crown Court heard that, in September 2021, the pair of British Airways staff members engaged in consensual sexual activity.

However Ms Davies argued that the defendant filmed part of that on his mobile phone without the womans consent, and accused him of participating in a contest to brag about shagging crew.

Mr Capron, who joined BA as a graduate in 2009, denies one count of voyeurism, claiming that the complainant came across as an extremely kinky sexual partner.

In a prepared statement read to court on Tuesday, the court heard that Mr Capron had told police: She expressed a desire to engage in extreme bondage, tied to the bed and whipped.

At no point did either of us express any red lines, limits or things that were out of bounds.

Taken aback

The complainant said she was taken aback when Mr Capron had begun spanking her with a paddle during sex, but said she did not have a problem with it.

She added that she had been happy to put on a blindfold at his request and that she had got down on all fours on his bed with him behind her.

But she said the blindfold came up a bit and she saw the light of a phone on a bedside table. She said she saw that WhatsApp was open on the screen, with squares indicating that two videos had been sent.

Ms Davies said the complainant, who spotted the mobile phone, was furious that the defendant might have recorded that private sexual act.

The court heard that she challenged the defendant about the videos and made it clear she had not consented to being filmed.

A court heard that text messages showed Mr Capron had texted Mr Farnworth on the night of the incident to say: When I have got her blindfolded, is it safe for you to see a few videos?

When Mr Capron sent a picture to Mr Farnworth, he texted back: Fan dabby dozey.

In a later message, Mr Farnworth wrote: Dont get caught.

Quite a varied sex life

Giving evidence in the witness box, Mr Capron said he was bisexual and agreed he had quite a varied sex life involving whips and bondage.

Ms Davies told how Mr Capron and the complainant had not worked together and did not know each other before they matched on Tinder in August 2021.

At the time he matched on Tinder, Mr Capron said he had been looking for a long-term relationship, after spending Covid fearing redundancy as the aviation industry was rocked by the financial impact of lockdowns.

The prosecutor told how they met in person for the first time on Sept 6 2021, when they went to a pub near the defendants home and then went back to his house.

After exchanging messages, they met again four days later when the complainant went to Mr Caprons house, the court heard on Monday.

When she arrived on that occasion, the defendant had been messaging his friend Steven Farnworth, Ms Davies told jurors. He told the complainant he had told Steve about her and that he was a friend of his from his pilot training days.

Mr Farnworth confirmed in court that he had trained with Mr Capron over ten years ago and that they have both worked with British Airways since then.

Mr Capron told jurors he had enjoyed threesomes with Mr Farnworth  who he described as one of his best friends  and other women, and that filming was a feature of his sex life.

The jury of seven men and five women heard how Mr Capron and the complainant then engaged in sexual activity, during which Mr Capron had requested that she put on a blindfold.

After the complainant challenged Mr Capron about the images, he had allegedly said he was replying to Mr Farnworth, who asked him what he was doing.

Ms Davies added that he apologised and agreed to delete the videos, before saying: Im glad you caught me, because I should not have done it.

Mr Farnworth said in a statement, dated October 31 2022, that he had only given the picture a fleeting glance.

Other messages days after the incident showed Mr Capron had written to Mr Farnworth about the complainant, saying: Shes f---ing annoying though.

Mr Capron was arrested on Sept 28 2021 and interviewed at Loddon Valley police station, when he gave a no-comment interview. He was interviewed again in March 2022 and provided a prepared statement, and was interviewed again in November that year and in January 2023.

The court heard the issue in the case was whether Mr Capron, of Taplow in Buckinghamshire, knew that the complainant did not consent to the recording. He denies one count of voyeurism.

Previous porn conviction

Mr Capron confirmed to the court on Tuesday that he had a previous conviction for possessing extreme pornography.

Jenni Dempster KC, defending, said that Mr Caprons phone was examined and a single video, described as extreme pornography of an adult nature was found.

Ms Dempster said the video had been sent to him by a friend and forwarded on by Mr Capron to another friend.

He was charged with possession of extreme pornography, which he pleaded guilty to on August 10 2023. He received a six-month conditional discharge.

Mr Capron first faced trial for the voyeurism charge in July 2024, but a verdict was not reached. Jurors heard on Tuesday that this case was a retrial, but that they must not speculate about why a verdict was previously not reached.
The gold dome of the Georgia State Capitol with its statue stands against the Atlanta skyline. Photo: Kelly / Pexels

(The Center Square)  The City of Atlanta paid more than $250,000 to a Chicago-based Muslim organization, which at the time was raising money for another group that's been accused of aiding Hamas.

The Inner-City Muslim Action Network's founding executive director is a Palestinian-American community activist earning a salary of $225,000, according to tax filings. During the period Atlanta paid the group, it staged a "Benefit Concert for Gaza" held in Chicago that raised money for another nonprofit called Anera. Anera has been flagged by two Israeli watchdogs for allegedly working alongside terrorists, which the nonprofit strongly denies.

"I think there are a lot of questions that need to be raised about any organization that's operating in Gaza right now," said Yona Schiffmiller, director of research for the Jerusalem-based NGO Monitor, which has issued warnings about Anera. "And there needs to be a lot more uncovered about the way the NGOs have operated in Gaza."

According to city records, Atlanta's payments to the Muslim network were to help migrants pouring through U.S. borders  part of a larger tranche of federal dollars paid out to a list of nonprofits "to stabilize families and individuals that are encountered by Department of Homeland Security."

At the time, the federal government was still handing out massive bucks to local governments to shelter, feed, transport, and provide other services for "noncitizen migrants." Before President Donald Trump took office and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement began nationwide immigration sweeps, taxpayers shelled out out $1.72 billion to shelter and accommodate some of the same population now being targeted for removal.

The money flowed to local governments, who passed the money along to contractors and nonprofits. The Inner-City Muslim Action Network has a branch in Atlanta and became a beneficiary.

"Its hard to make the case that there was some kind of long-term benefit for taxpayers," said Jessica Vaughan, director of Policy Studies for the Center for Immigration Studies. "Because the people that benefitted dont have a path to legal status, for the most part, and are now being expected to leave the country."

According to city council records, Atlanta received at least $11.75 million in Federal Emergency Management Agency grants to accommodate "unhoused immigrants."

The citys online payment records show millions of dollars flowing to non-governmental organizations including the Hispanic Alliance ($2 million), Inspiritus ($1.9 million), International Rescue Committee ($838,000) and the Latin American Association ($283,500). None of those groups, nor the Inner-City Muslim Action Network, responded to interview requests from The Center Square seeking to know how the money was spent.

The Atlanta City Council approved two resolutions to fund the groups, both brought forward by Councilmember Andrea Boone. One of the resolutions said the city used a federal exception to bypass the regular competitive procurement process.

Boone told The Center Square money paid to the Inner-City Muslim Action Network went toward food and medical care.

Asked if any of the funds might have been used on the concert for Gaza, Boone said Monday, "I doubt that, but let's try to find out," explaining her search may take a few days.

Atlanta offers just one example of how the Biden administration threw money at the border crisis, and how that money wound up flowing to NGOs.

"My general impression was that there was not a lot of oversight," Vaughan said, "that the program was created kind of with a sense of panic, and the numbers were so huge that the state and local governments were really scrambling to do something with these people and get them off the streets."

The money came through FEMA  $715 million from a humanitarian subset of its Emergency Food and Shelter Program, which morphed into the Shelter and Services Program, racking up more than $1 billion.

Now, the federal government is spending exponentially more money to detain, deport and keep out unauthorized immigrants.

With the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, Congress appropriated $170 billion over four years toward immigration enforcement, including $75 billion for ICE and $47 billion for border wall construction. ICE operations in Minnesota have sparked an organized resistance, with civil unrest, violence and deaths.

A money trail to Gaza

The Inner-City Muslim Action Network, or IMAN, expanded to Atlanta in 2016 and has a 10-unit apartment building just south of Interstate 20. Its scope of services includes health and wellness, arts and culture, social justice and transitional housing for men and women recently released from prison, according to its most recent Form 990.

The tax filing says Founding Executive Director Rami Nashashibi earns a salary of $225,000. Also earning six-figure salaries: its medical director, an associate medical director, a chief program director, a chief executive director, and a chief growth and strategy director.

When The Center Square called IMAN's media line last week, a man answering the phone said Nashashibi was not available for an interview and suggested reaching out to the Atlanta branch. A TCS reporter visited that office, but a person inside the administration and communications office would not open her door. A message left wasn't returned.

The organization did not offer any other officials to speak with The Center Square and did not respond to emailed questions.

IMAM was among 10 nonprofits chosen by city council to receive FEMA funds for unhoused immigrants, council records show. In October 2024  at a point when Atlanta had already paid the nonprofit more than $54,000  it staged a Benefit Concert for Gaza at the Ramova Theater in Chicago, headlined by the rapper Common. News accounts say tickets ranged from $35 to $125.

IMAN said concert proceeds went to two other nonprofits working in the Gaza Strip: World Central Kitchen and American Near East Refugee Aid, or Anera.

Anera has faced allegations by two Israeli groups, NGO Monitor and the Tel Aviv-based Shurat HaDin, of coordinating with and assisting Hamas.

In 2017, the Shurat HaDin law center called on then-U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson to cut the tens of million of dollars in USAID money going to Anera, accusing the group of helping to build a mosque used to recruit terrorists and a kindergarten used to indoctrinate children.

As recently as last year, NGO Monitor accused Anera of working with Gazas Ministry of Social Development, run by a high-ranking Hamas official, to open shelters and launch a womens empowerment program. In 2024, the Ministry was headed by Ghazi Hamad, designated a "senior Hamas official" by the U.S. Treasury Department.

Asked if American donors or taxpayers should be concerned about money going to Anera, Schiffmiller advised an "abundance of caution."

"What we've seen is that people have to be very careful about funding NGO activities in Gaza," he said.

In a 2017 news release rebutting the Israeli law group's letter to the State Department, Anera's then-president said, "Anera rejects in the strongest possible terms the letter's allegations of any complicity with terrorist organizations in Gaza or anywhere." The statement said the kindergarten facility had received no material benefit, cash or goods from the group and that the legal center had mixed up the name of an organization it worked with in Jabalia, in the Gaza Strip.

The Washington-based nonprofit responded to The Center Square's interview request with a written statement, saying NGO Monitor also mixed up two different organizations.

"The claims within these reports are simply erroneous and reflect a critical area of confusion surrounding aid in Gaza," the statement emailed by Anera spokesman Steven Fake said. "There are two entirely separate Ministries of Social Development: one in Gaza and one in the West Bank. Anera does not and did not work with the Hamas-led Ministry of Social Development in Gaza. As part of our rigorous protocols, we do sometimes coordinate our lists of beneficiaries with the Ministry of Social Development in the West Bank, through their committee in Gaza  a process in which Hamas has no input or involvement."

However, Schiffmiller, of NGO Monitor, said its reports linking Anera to Hamas are based on Hamas internal documents obtained by Israel Defense Forces.
Ryan Wedding, a Canadian former Olympic snowboarder accused of becoming a cocaine smuggling kingpin linked to multiple drug-related murders, is escorted by FBI agents as he arrives handcuffed at Ontario International Airport, in California, U.S., January 23, 2026, in this screengrab taken from video. FBI/Handout via REUTERS

By Sarah Mills

SANTA ANA, California, Jan 26 (Reuters) - Ryan Wedding, a Canadian former Olympic snowboarder accused of turning to a life of crime as a murderous cocaine-trafficking kingpin, pleaded not guilty on Monday to all 17 felony charges against him in two U.S. grand jury indictments.

Wedding, 44, entered his plea during an arraignment in U.S. District Court in Santa Ana, California, several days after he was arrested in Mexico City and flown to the United States in FBI custody, following years on the run.

U.S. Magistrate Judge John Early ordered Wedding to remain held in federal custody without bond pending further proceedings. A status conference in the case was set for February 11, with a preliminary trial date set for March 24.

Wedding is accused of leading a transnational drug trafficking network in conjunction with Mexico's Sinaloa Cartel to transport hundreds of kilograms of cocaine from Colombia through Mexico to the United States and Canada.

He was on the FBI's "Top 10 Most Wanted" list, with the U.S. government having offered a $15 million reward for information leading to his arrest or conviction.

Shortly after Wedding's arrest, FBI Director Kash Patel described the former athlete as "the largest narco-trafficker in modern times," comparing him with such notorious drug lords as Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman and Pablo Escobar.

Wedding, who competed for Canada at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, was charged with 17 counts of various felonies, including conspiracy to distribute cocaine, conspiracy to commit murder and conspiracy to tamper with a witness.

Prosecutors have accused him of ordering several drug-related killings, including that of a U.S. government witness slain in Colombia in January 2025 before he could testify against Wedding, the U.S. Justice Department said.

If convicted of the most serious charges against him, Wedding could face a sentence of life in prison.

(Reporting by Sarah Mills and Arafat Barbakh in Santa Ana, California, and Ryan Patrick Jones in Toronto; Editing by Scott Malone, Rosalba O'Brien and Christopher Cushing)
The Texas State Capitol stands on Congress Avenue with the downtown skyline in Austin. Photo: Mitchell Kmetz / Unsplash

(The Center Square)  An Islamic group remains a focus of local and state actions, including school districts, a city council and state leaders.

On Saturday, Attorney General Ken Paxton issued a legal opinion stating that private schools connected to organizations with terrorist ties or foreign adversaries are prohibited from participating in Texas' new school choice program. He issued it in response to the state comptroller seeking clarification about private schools that applied to participate that are potentially connected to foreign adversaries, including Islamic and Chinese groups, The Center Square reported.

This was after Gov. Greg Abbott took action against a Houston area school district for its plans to host an Islamic games event after it publicized it was partially sponsored by CAIR-NJ. Gov. Abbott last November designated the Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR) as a foreign terrorist organization and transnational criminal organization.

In his directive, he blasted CAIR, arguing it is a front group for Hamas, that CAIR NJ is anti-American and antisemitic, and CAIR NJ does not hide that it views public schools as the battleground for promoting terrorism, among other claims, The Center Square reported.

The next day, CAIR Legal Defense Fund and Muslim Legal Fund of America filed a motion in a lawsuit theyd filed against the governor asking the court to block his FTO designation.

This case is about whether the rule of law still means something in Texas. If a governor can unilaterally brand Muslim civil-rights organizations as terrorist and impose penalties without any process, then no organization, and no community, is safe from political retaliation. We are calling on this Court to put an immediate stop to this abuse of power, to protect communities from state overreach, and to reaffirm that constitutional limits exist precisely to restrain government when it targets those it seeks to silence, MLFA attorney Jinan Chehade said.

On the same day, the Austin City Council issued a proclamation creating a new monthly holiday, designating January as Muslim Heritage Month. It reiterates the citys commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion, despite the state legislature and governor arguing taxpayer-funded DEI programs are banned in Texas. The city has demonstrated its commitment to equity, inclusion, and cultural recognition by acknowledging heritage and faith-based observances that reflect the diversity of its residents, it says.

It also directs the city manager to identify opportunities to collaborate with Muslim community leaders including providing taxpayer-funded supplemental assistance for free publicly accessible events and programming at City facilities, and sustainable methods of recognizing heritage and faith-based observances that align with the Citys equity and inclusion goals.

The resolution was sponsored by Councilmember Zohraib Quadri, the first Muslim and South Asian city council member. Born to immigrant parents, he moved to Texas when he was 12. He later worked on the campaigns of U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren and Robert (Beto) ORourke, targeting Asian and Pacific Islander voters, according to his official bio.

Residents who spoke in favor of the resolution said some political leaders were demonizing Muslims and Austin is a place where equity is valued.

Shaimaa Zayan, with CAIR-Austin, said the city councils proclamation reaffirms its commitment to justice, inclusion and mutual respect. It carries particular significance given its timing, in light of CAIRs lawsuit against the governor. The proclamation also gives the Austin Muslim community a voice and empower[s] them with constitutional tools to enable them to actively engage in their city and state, she said.

The city council also declared Jan. 22 as "CAIR Austin Day."

The city councils action was seen as a direct rebuff to Abbott and state lawmakers whove taken several actions against CAIR, Sharia law and alleged Islamic threats, The Center Square reported.

State Rep. Cole Hefner, RMount Pleasant, blasted the city council, saying it recklessly thumbed its nose at Texas law and the clear threat CAIR presents.

Hefner cosponsored a Texas House resolution condemning CAIR, stating it was unwelcome within the Texas State Capitol. He and others have also expressed concerns about CAIRs ties to Islamic terrorism, including former members who were convicted on terrorism charges. CAIR rejects the FTO designation and says it has no ties to terrorist organizations.

After Abbotts FTO designation, the city council honoring CAIR represents a blatant defiance of our states efforts to protect Texans from extremist influence, he said. The Texas legislature passed many strong measures this past session to block foreign adversaries and terrorist-linked groups from gaining ground in our state. Yet Austins City Manager and radical city leadership continue to side with dangerous activists instead of public safety. Let me be clear: organizations tied to terrorism and radical ideologies have no place in Texas.
Sad Horse Toy ABC News/YouTube

NEED TO KNOW

A Lunar New Year plush horse went viral after its mouth was sewn on upside down

Shoppers began calling it the crying horse and shared jokes comparing it to work-life stress

Sellers say demand has surged so quickly that the toy has sold out and been restocked repeatedly

A stuffed horse that was meant to spread Lunar New Year cheer is going viral for looking like its having a full-on meltdown instead. ABC News Australia reports that the red plush has become a surprise obsession in China after a factory mistake gave it a dramatic frown.

The toy was originally designed as a smiling decoration for the Lunar New Year season, as 2026 is the year of the horse. But according to the outlet, a worker accidentally sewed the mouth on upside down, turning the horses expression from festive to heartbreakingly relatable.

The result is what many online users have dubbed the crying horse. And as Lunar New Year approaches, shoppers are now seeking out the mournful-looking plush in droves.

Demand is especially high at Yiwu International Trade City, Chinas largest wholesale market, where customers are crowding into shops hoping to snag one, as per Reuters. The crying horse has a downturned mouth and eyes that appear to shy away from the viewers gaze  a look that somehow makes it even funnier.

Zhang Huoqing, owner of the Yiwu-based shop Happy Sister, told Reuters that the toy was never supposed to look sad. A worker sewed the mouth on upside down by accident, she said.

Zhang also said she initially offered a refund when the mistake was discovered. But the customer never returned the horse, and before long, photos of it started circulating online, Reuters reported.

Thats when the mistake quickly turned into a moment. Zhang told Reuters that people joked the crying horse is how you look at work, while the smiling version is how you look after work.

The accidental hit seems to be striking a nerve with younger shoppers. Reuters reported that some young white-collar workers say the horses expression reflects long hours and the everyday stress of working life.

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.

Rather than fight the viral wave, Zhang leaned into it. We will keep selling it, she told Reuters, adding, This crying horse really fits the reality of modern working people.

Not everyone is personally sold on the sad little face, though. One vendor told ABC News Australia, To be honest, I think this crying horse is ugly, but admitted younger customers feel differently  and said sellers are simply trying to keep up with what people want.



Read the original article on People
QUITO, Ecuador, Jan. 26, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The Republic of Ecuador (the "Republic") announced today the aggregate principal amount of each series of the notes listed in the table below (collectively, the "Notes") that has been validly tendered and accepted for purchase pursuant to its previously announced offer to purchase for cash (the "Offer") the Notes from each registered holder or beneficial owner (each, a "Holder" and, collectively, the "Holders"), subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the offer to purchase, dated January 16, 2026 (the "Offer to Purchase"). The Offer expired as scheduled at 11:00 a.m. (New York City time) on January 23, 2026. Capitalized terms used herein but not defined shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the Offer to Purchase.

The purchase price to be paid per U.S.$1,000 principal amount of each series of Notes that are accepted pursuant to the Offer is indicated in the table below (the "Purchase Price"). The Maximum Aggregate Purchase Price to be paid by the Republic for the outstanding principal amount of Notes validly tendered and accepted for purchase is U.S.$3.0 billion.

The following table indicates the aggregate principal amount of each series of Notes that have been validly tendered and accepted pursuant to the Offer, subject to satisfaction of the conditions to the Offer on or prior to the Settlement Date.

Title of Notes(1) ISIN and

Common

Codes Acceptance

Priority Purchase

Price(2) Aggregate Principal

Amount Tendered Aggregate Principal

Amount Accepted

for Purchase Proration

Factor Aggregate Principal

Amount Remaining

Outstanding Step-Up Coupon

Notes due 2030

(the "2030 Notes") XS2214237807

/ 221423780 XS2214238102

/ 221423810 1 U.S.$1,000.00 U.S.$2,482,127,807.00 U.S.$2,482,127,807.00 Not

Applicable U.S.$558,996,457.00 Step-Up Coupon

Notes due 2035

(the "2035 Notes") XS2214238441

/ 221423844 XS2214238524

/ 221423852 2 U.S.$900.00 U.S.$2,122,917,673.00 U.S.$575,413,547.00 27.10 % U.S.$5,927,377,145.00

____________________ (1) The Step-Up Coupon Notes due 2030 and the Step-Up Coupon Notes due 2035 are admitted to trading on the Euro MTF Market of the Luxembourg Stock Exchange. (2) In addition, Holders will receive any accrued and unpaid interest from, and including, the last applicable interest payment date for such Notes up to, but excluding, the Settlement Date (as defined below) (the "Accrued Interest"). Amounts paid towards Accrued Interest will be paid from general revenues available to the Republic.

The Offer is conditioned, among other things, on the concurrent (or earlier) closing of one or more series of new global notes (the "New Notes"), in an aggregate principal amount sufficient to fund a portion of the Offer, with pricing and on terms and conditions acceptable to the Republic in its sole discretion (the "New Notes Offering"). The balance of the purchase price for the Notes purchased pursuant to the Offer will come from general revenues available to the Republic. The New Notes Offering is being made solely by means of the offering circular relating to the offering of the New Notes, and neither this announcement nor the Offer to Purchase constitutes an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy the New Notes.

The Republic will accept the full amount of the aggregate principal amount of validly tendered 2030 Notes, without application of a Proration Factor.

Following acceptance of the full amount of the aggregate principal amount of validly tendered 2030 Notes, accepting the full amount of the aggregate principal amount of validly tendered 2035 Notes would exceed the Maximum Aggregate Purchase Price. Accordingly, the Republic will accept the 2035 Notes for purchase on a prorated basis, applying the Proration Factor shown in the table above, pursuant to the procedures described in the Offer to Purchase.

In cases where the principal amount of 2035 Notes following application of the Proration Factor resulted in (i) the relevant Holder transferring 2035 Notes to the Republic in a principal amount of less than relevant Minimum Denomination and/or (ii) 2035 Notes in a principal amount of less than the relevant Minimum Denomination being returned to the relevant Holder, the Republic has elected to accept all of such Holders' validly tendered 2035 Notes, without applying the Proration Factor. All 2035 Notes validly tendered but not accepted as a result of proration or otherwise will be rejected and returned to Holders through the applicable Clearing System on the Settlement Date.

The settlement of the Offer is expected to occur on January 29, 2026, subject to change without notice (the "Settlement Date"). Holders of validly tendered and accepted Notes will be entitled to receive for such Notes the applicable Purchase Price and Accrued Interest, if any, if the conditions of the Offer are met.

Morrow Sodali International LLC, trading as Sodali & Co is the information and tender agent in connection with the Offer (the "Information and Tender Agent"), and BofA Securities, Inc. and Citigroup Global Markets Inc. are acting as Dealer Managers (the "Dealer Managers") for the Offer. Centerview Partners LLC is the Republic's financial advisor in connection with the Offer. The Offer to Purchase and other announcements may be downloaded from the Information and Tender Agent's Transaction Website, https://projects.sodali.com/ecuador, subject to eligibility confirmation and registration, or obtained from the Information and Tender Agent at the contact below:

Information and Tender Agent

Sodali & Co Ltd.

In London: In Stamford: The Leadenhall Building 122 Leadenhall Street

London, EC3V 4AB United Kingdom Telephone: +44 20 4513 6933 333 Ludlow Street

South Tower, 5th Floor

Stamford, CT 06902 United States Telephone: +1 203 658 9457

Email: [email protected]

Transaction Website: https://projects.sodali.com/ecuador

Holders may also contact the Dealer Managers at the telephone numbers provided below for information concerning the Offer.

Dealer Managers

BofA Securities, Inc. Citigroup Global

Markets Inc. One Bryant Park, 9th Floor

New York, New York 10036

United States Attn: Liability Management In the United States, call toll-free: +1 800-292-0070 Outside the United States, call collect: +1 646-855-8988 388 Greenwich Street, Trading 4th Floor

New York, New York 10013

United States Attn: Liability Management Group

Toll Free: 1-800-558-3745

Collect: 1-212-723-6106 Email: [email protected]

Financial Advisor to the Republic

Centerview Partners

51 avenue Hoche

75008 Paris

France

Telephone: +33 1 80 20 06 20

Disclaimer

This announcement does not contain the full terms and conditions of the Offer. The terms and conditions of the Offer are contained in the Offer to Purchase, and are subject to certain legal restrictions set out below and more fully described therein.

Certain Legal Restrictions

The New Notes Offering will be made solely by means of the offering circular relating to that offering. Before you invest, you should read the offering circular for more complete information about the Republic and the New Notes Offering. You may not participate in the New Notes Offering unless you have received and reviewed the offering circular for the New Notes Offering. Under no circumstances may you participate in the New Notes Offering in reliance on, or on the basis of, this announcement. The New Notes will be offered only to qualified institutional buyers in accordance with Rule 144A under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), and to non-U.S. persons outside the United States in reliance on Regulation S under the Securities Act, and will not be registered under the Securities Act or the securities laws of any other jurisdiction.

This announcement is not an offer to purchase or a solicitation of an offer to sell the Notes. The Offer will be made only by and pursuant to the terms of the Offer to Purchase, as may be amended or supplemented from time to time.

Neither this announcement nor the Offer to Purchase constitute an offer to participate in the Offer in any jurisdiction in which, or to any person to or from whom, it is unlawful to make such offer or for there to be such participation under applicable securities laws. The distribution of the Offer to Purchase in certain jurisdictions may be restricted by law. Persons into whose possession the Offer to Purchase comes are required by the Republic, the Dealer Managers and the Information and Tender Agent to inform themselves about, and to observe, any such restrictions. If a jurisdiction requires that the Offer be made by a licensed broker or dealer and a Dealer Manager or any affiliate of a Dealer Manager is a licensed broker or dealer in that jurisdiction, the Offer shall be deemed to be made by such Dealer Manager or such affiliate on behalf of the Republic in that jurisdiction.

Stabilization/FCA

In relation to each Member State of the European Economic Area and the United Kingdom, this communication is only addressed to and directed at qualified investors in that Member State within the meaning of Regulation (EU) 2017/1129.

The communication of the Offer to Purchase and any other documents or materials relating to the Offer are not being made, and such documents and/or materials have not been approved, by an authorized person for the purposes of section 21 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 of the United Kingdom (the "FSMA"). Accordingly, such documents and/or materials are not being distributed to, and must not be passed on to, the general public in the United Kingdom. The communication of such documents and/or materials is exempt from the restriction on financial promotions under section 21 of the FSMA on the basis that it is only directed at and may be communicated to (l) those persons who are existing creditors of the Republic within Article 43(2) of the FSMA (Financial Promotion) Order 2005, as amended, and (2) to any other persons to whom these documents and/or materials may lawfully be communicated.

Forward-Looking Statements

This announcement may contain forward-looking statements which represent the Republic's expectations or beliefs concerning future events that involve risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts. These statements are based on the Republic's current plans, estimates, assumptions and projections. Therefore, you should not place undue reliance on them. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and the Republic undertakes no obligation to update them in light of new information or future events, including changes in the Republic's economic policy or budgeted expenditures, or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results or performance of the Republic to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, but are not limited to: (i) the Republic's financial condition, including its ability to increase revenues and reduce expenditures; (ii) volatility in international capital markets for emerging market issuers, including due to conditions in other emerging markets or policy changes by the Republic's trading partners, which could affect the Republic's ability to borrow; (iii) global geopolitical shocks affecting key trading partners that disrupt trade flows, supply chains or financial conditions; and (iv) other factors identified in the Offer to Purchase. No assurance can be given that the transactions described herein will be consummated or as to the ultimate terms of any such transactions.

NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION IN OR INTO OR TO ANY PERSON LOCATED OR RESIDENT IN ANY JURISDICTION WHERE SUCH RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION WOULD BE UNLAWFUL

SOURCE The Republic of Ecuador
Prince Harry is raging over Meghan Markle's latest decision, according to sources.MEGA

Prince Harry is privately furious with Meghan Markle after she shared images of his military service in Afghanistan in what sources say he sees as a pointed political dig at Donald Trump that risks dragging him into dangerous territory.

RadarOnline.com can reveal the tension flared after Markle, 44, posted a photograph of Harry, 41, seated in the front of a military helicopter during his deployment, alongside images from the Invictus Games, the sporting event he founded in 2014 for wounded veterans.

Prince Harry Fights Back After Trump Slams British War Heroes

Prince Harry is said to have been left fuming as Markle shared his Afghan war photos.MEGA

The post appeared hours after Harry condemned Trump's comments about British troops in Afghanistan  remarks that have sparked outrage on both sides of the Atlantic.

Trump, 79, said NATO forces stayed "a little off the frontlines" during the Afghan invasion of 2001 and added: "We've never needed them" and "we have never really asked anything of them."

Harry, who served two tours in Afghanistan during his 10-year military career, responded forcefully.

"I served there. I made lifelong friends there. And I lost friends there. Thousands of lives were changed forever," he hit back.

Harry added, "Those sacrifices deserve to be spoken about truthfully and with respect."

Markle's Move 'Angers' Prince Harry

Markle targeted her Hollywood audience with Harrys service images.MEGA

Despite his fight back against Trump, sources told us Markle's decision to amplify the moment visually has unsettled Harry.

One insider claimed: "Harry feels Meghan is using his service record to signal to her left-leaning Hollywood crowd that she is taking on Trump. He thinks it turns something deeply personal into a political statement, and that makes him angry."

Another source said Harry believes the timing is reckless. "He is already under scrutiny in the U.S. over his visa application, including questions around his past drug use that he openly discussed in his memoir Spare," the insider added.

"From Harry's perspective, baiting Trump in the middle of that probe feels dangerous. He worries it invites the wrong kind of attention."

Prince Harry slammed Trump's remarks about NATO troops staying off the frontlines.MEGA

The Duke of Sussex acknowledged in his memoir he used drugs as a younger man  admissions that have prompted calls for U.S. authorities to review whether his visa paperwork was handled correctly.

While no finding has been made against him, sources say Harry is acutely aware of the sensitivity.

"He thinks Meghan is underestimating how exposed he feels right now," one source claimed.

Harry, known as Captain Wales during his service, was first deployed in 2007 as a forward air controller before returning in 2012 as an Apache helicopter co-pilot gunner.

In Spare, he wrote he flew six missions that resulted in the "taking of human lives."

Trump Backtracks as Harry Urges Caution Behind the Scenes

The president labeled British forces 'the greatest warriors' after his backlash.MEGA

Sources close to him and Markle added, "Harry wants to keep the focus on the soldiers and their families. He feels Meghan is trying to fold his past into a culture-war moment, and he is deeply uncomfortable with that."

Another insider said, "Meghan believes she is standing up for him, but Harry sees it as poking the bear. With Trump, he thinks any provocation can spiral, especially when immigration officials are already looking at his file."

Trump has so far not responded to the Sussexes. Behind the scenes, however, sources say Harry is urging caution.

Trump has since rolled back on his remarks, branding British forces that served in Afghanistan "among the greatest of all warriors"  but not thanking other NATO allies for their service in the conflict.
Former acting DHS Secretary Chad Wolf praised President Donald Trump's decision to send "border czar" Tom Homan to handle unrest in Minneapolis Monday on "The Story with Martha MacCallum."

"Having the president send Tom Homan up there is just a stroke of genius," Wolf said. "I think Tom is exactly the right person. Why? Because he is also in career law enforcement, hes an operator. He knows exactly what needs to be done there, and where is the give-and-take  where can we get a win for both so that you can bring the violence and the chaos down but that ICE can continue to do their mission."

Trump announced Monday that he was sending Homan to Minnesota, noting he will report "directly to me" and will help lead the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations in Minneapolis and St. Paul.

"I am sending Tom Homan to Minnesota tonight. He has not been involved in that area, but knows and likes many of the people there. Tom is tough but fair, and will report directly to me," Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, noted during a press briefing Monday that Homan is the point person for coordinating cooperation between state and local authorities. She recalled that Homan was praised by the Washington Post years ago for his work under then-President Barack Obama, who had given him a 2015 Presidential Rank Award for Distinguished Service.

Border Patrol Commander Gregory Bovino To Leave Minnesota, As Tom Homan Takes Over

Read On The Fox News App

Former acting Secretary of Homeland Security Chad Wold praised President Donald Trump for sending Tom Homan to take charge in Minneapolis. (Getty Images)

Some critics see Trump's move as a top-down strategic political shakeup as ICE leadership faces criticism not only for its handling of unrest in Minneapolis, but for how Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has spoken about the fatal shooting of activist Alex Pretti on Saturday.

Pretti, a nurse at Minneapolis' Veterans Affairs Medical Center, was shot and killed by a Border Patrol agent during a demonstration against Trump's immigration crackdown. Noem said it appeared Pretti "arrived at the scene to inflict maximum damage on individuals and to kill law enforcement."

"An individual approached U.S. Border Patrol officers with a 9mm semiautomatic handgun. The officers attempted to disarm this individual, but the armed suspect reacted violently. Fearing for his life and for the lives of his fellow officers around him, an agent fired defensive shots," she said.

Critics have disputed Noem's characterization of the shooting. However, Leavitt said, Trump still believes in his Homeland Security secretary.

"We just heard from Karoline Leavitt that the president has confidence in Kristi Noem, but as someone who was in the former administration, what do you think?" Fox News anchor Martha MacCallum asked Wolf. "Do you think were going to see changes made in personnel?"

"We certainly could," Wolf replied. "Look, heres what I will tell you. Those DHS law enforcement officers at ICE, at CBP, they absolutely love President Trump, and why? Because he has their back. He supports them. That being said, a lot of these officers, obviously, this is their career and what they do and the vast majority of their operations are done out of sight. They are not going on CNN and Fox and elsewhere all day, every day, and so I think they [administration officials] are always concerned. Is this getting out of control? Are we politicizing what they do, which is just enforcing the law? Its not political in their minds. Its just simply the law is immigration enforcement and this is what we are doing. So, if there are concerns, those are likely it."

Leavitt Says Trump Spoke To Walz, Demands Minnesota 'Work Together Peacefully' With Ice: 'Let Cops Be Cops'

Throngs flood Minneapolis to protest ICE after the Pretti shooting.

Wolf suggested that Homan could bridge the divide between federal authorities and local law enforcement officials.

"I think its important to remember, ICE is there to arrest criminal illegal aliens, and its much better to do that with local law enforcement," he said. "So if Tom Homan can get local law enforcement involved in assisting ICE, however that looks  whether thats protecting them while they do the mission, whatever it might be  I think thats a win."

Click Here For More Coverage Of Media And Culture

White House "Border Czar" Tom Homan being sent to Minnesota is seen by some as a top-down political recalibration amid backlash to ICE's efforts in the state.





Original article source: Former DHS secretary says Trump's choice to send 'border czar' Tom Homan to Minnesota is 'stroke of genius'
Fox and Friends co-host Lawrence Jones has shared a health update to explain his prolonged absence from the morning news show.

Hey fam! I want to assure yall that Im doing well, Jones, 33, wrote on social media January 21. I recently underwent eye surgery and will be returning to work soon. Ill share the details of my experience with you all in the future.

He concluded: God is truly remarkable. Fox has been incredibly supportive throughout this process, ensuring that I receive the best possible care. See yall soon.

Fox did not immediately return The Independents request for comment.

The broadcaster, who was worked for Fox since 2018, has been a staple on the morning program since he joined as a permanent co-host in September 2023. At 30, he became the youngest Black co-host on cable news.

Lawrence Jones has been absent from 'Fox and Friends' after his eye surgery (Getty Images)

Hey fam! I want to assure yall that Im doing well. I recently underwent eye surgery and will be returning to work soon. Ill share the details of my experience with you all in the future. God is truly remarkable. Fox has been incredibly supportive throughout this process,  Lawrence Jones III (@LawrenceBJones3) January 21, 2026

He currently hosts the show with Brian Kilmeade and Ainsley Earhardt from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. Eastern.

Jones has now been missing from the program for over 10 days, which caused fans on social media to share their frustrations with the show, as well as concern for Jones whereabouts.

What is happening with Fox & Friends? one X user wrote last week. Your inconsistency with not having your regular hosts has destroyed the continuity I thought you had designed. Today NONE of the 3 hosts were on! Where is Lawrence Jones?

Another slammed: OK Fox News what is going on with Lawrence Jones please inform the viewers that watch him every morning and were not seeing him for over a week.

Someone else agreed: Please, where is Lawrence Jones? He is so good and needs to be on the show!!!

Thanks for the update! I was wondering if you were on some top secret assignment  Praying for a full and speedy recovery.  Hawaiian Princess (@AlohaHawaiian13) January 21, 2026

After Jones reassured viewers that he was fine and recovering from the procedure, colleagues and fans shared their well wishes for the host online.

Get well soon, podcast Dan Bongino wrote on X, while conservative activist Scott Presler added, Wishing you healing. Youve got this.

Thanks for the update! I was wondering if you were on some top secret assignment. Praying for a full and speedy recovery, one fan wrote on X while another chimed in, Thanks for letting us know. Youve been missed. Get well soon.

Glad to know you are ok Lawrence. Been worried about you. Take care, someone else wrote.
Credit - Nana Kofi Nti

To most people, footage from a police body cam is only useful as evidence. To Jennifer Eberhardt, its a rich source for research, full of data that can help explainand maybe even levelthe disparities in the treatment of Black people and others within the criminal-justice system. Eberhardt, a professor of both psychology and organizational behavior at Stanford University and a recipient of a 2014 MacArthur genius grant, studies bias and how a cultural association between Black Americans and crime can affect not just what people think, but also what they notice and remember, and how they punish.

Eberhardts most famous experiments found novel ways to uncover unconscious bias. She had people think about either crime or something else before being shown an image of Black person and a white person. No matter the race of the participant, those who thought about crime looked at the image of the Black person first. People were also able to identify blurry images of guns or knives sooner after exposure to Black faces than after white faces or images without faces. What I've been doing with a number of different colleagues across the past 25 years, she says, is demonstrating the power of this particular association between Blackness and crime.

Recently, Eberhardt, 60, has been using AI to analyze hundreds of hours of police body-cam footage for language patterns that recur when a routine traffic stop of a Black driver for an infraction like an unbuckled seat belt or failure to signal turns into something more serious. We found that there was a linguistic signature to these escalated stops, and that signature had two elements, Eberhardt says. The officer started the stop with an order, and the officer did not give the reason for the stop in those initial moments. When interactions began in that way, it was more likely that a driver would end up handcuffed, searched, or arrested.

This research, combined with earlier findings that when white drivers were pulled over, the officers usually first expressed concern for the welfare of the driver and explained the reason for the stop, suggest that small adjustments in police behavior might make a big difference. There are more than 9 million stops of this type every year; its one of the most common interactions the public has with police. SPARQ (Social Psychological Answers to Real-World Questions), the research unit at Stanford that Eberhardt co-leads, has worked closely with the Oakland Police Department to help develop training modules and then to assess their impact. There are a lot of trainings out there that departments are already deploying, says Eberhardt, who has also done projects with the San Francisco and New York Police Departments, but we just know so little information about effectiveness, and effectiveness over time.

The effectiveness of policy is another area shes seeking to test. In January 2024, California enacted a law that made it mandatory for police to explain the reason a car had been stopped. Eberhardt is probing how that policy is working. With an analysis of body-worn-camera footage, we could now do this at scale in a way that we couldn't before, she says. We're not focused on individual officers, we're focused on broad, systematic patterns. We feel like we're able to offer information to police departments and community members around the country about what's happening generally, not one by one.

More than two decades ago, as a young professor, Eberhardt called a sheriff in nearby San Mateo County after a series of news stories suggested that his officers had been engaging in racial profiling. He invited her to his office, and after talking for a while, Eberhardt asked why he had agreed to meet with her. He said to me that he really wanted to understand what was happening. And if his deputies were profiling, he wanted to know and to know how to address that, says Eberhardt. But the only way he could find this information was adversarial. She realized that high-quality, neutral research about what was happening during police and public interactions could be extremely valuable in developing methods that would allow police departments to improve.

Shes even more convinced this is true now, because there is so much data available and AI offers a much easier way to assess it. I feel even more strongly that there are possibilities through data analysis to really understand police-community interactions in a way we've never understood before, she says. In her experience, the police and the communities they serve often want the same thing, a relationship of trust and respect. I believe that the kind of tools were building give us the best chance weve had in a long time to start repairing those relationshipsmaking real, effective changeand bringing us closer to the outcome that we all want to see.

Contact us at letters@time.com.
Timothy Olsen in court; Kiplyn Davis AP Photo/Stuart Johnson,Pool; Utah Department of Public Safety

NEED TO KNOW

In May 1995, Kiplyn Davis, 15, vanished during lunch at her Utah high school

Her classmate, Timothy Brent Olsen, pleaded guilty in 2011 to manslaughter in connection with her death

He is serving his full 15-year sentence because he refuses to disclose where the girl's body is located

The man convicted of manslaughter in the death of 15-year-old Kiplyn Davis in 1995 is scheduled to be released from prison next month.

On Feb. 10, Timothy Brent Olsen will be released from Utah State Prison after serving 15 years, 2 KUTV reports.

In 2011, Olsen pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of manslaughter and was sentenced to 1 to 15 years for his part in Daviss death.

On May 2, 1995, Davis is believed to have left Spanish Fork High School during lunchtime with Olsen, who was a classmate, and another person Olsen has never identified, police said, according to Deseret News.

She left all of her belongings in her locker at school, the Utah Department of Public Safety said in a Cold Case report.

The teen was very self-conscious about her appearance, the report said.

Olsen claimed he saw another individual hit Kiplyn in the head with a rock and helped him move her body, but declined to name the other individual, the Utah Department of Safety said.

He said he was present when someone else killed her, it said.

They drove to Spanish Fork Canyon, where Olsen told police he saw the other person who came with them hit Davis on the head with a rock. The two returned to the scene later that evening to dispose of her body.

In 2005, Olsen, David Rucker Leifson, Scott Brunson, Garry Blackmore and Christopher Neal Jeppson were indicted in federal court on charges of perjury before a grand jury and lying to a federal agent about statements they made about moving a body and creating false alibis, Deseret News reports.

As a result, in Nov. 2006, Olsen was sentenced to 12 years in federal prison for perjury.

The four other men were convicted of perjury but served lesser sentences, 2 KUTV reports.

In 2011, Olsen pleaded guilty to manslaughter in state court. The plea did not require him to reveal the location of Daviss body.

Her parents have said many times over the years that they would support his release if he led them to their daughters remains. Olsen and the others involved in the case have maintained their silence.

In 2016, he was moved from the federal system to the Utah State Prison.

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.

He was made to serve his entire sentence because he did not reveal where the teens body is located, ABC 33/40 reports.

Under Utah law, people convicted in homicide cases may be denied parole unless they reveal the location of a victims remains.

The Utah Department of Corrections did not immediately respond to PEOPLE's request for comment.



Read the original article on People
Isidro Perez Banegas Reyes

NEED TO KNOW

At least 32 people died in ICE custody in 2025



ICE facilities across the country have faced allegations from human rights groups, immigration lawyers and lawmakers about overcrowding and poor conditions, such as rotten food, which the agency has denied



"ICE remains committed to ensuring that all those in its custody reside in safe, secure, and humane environments," the agency has said

Santos Reyes Banegas, a Honduran native, died last September within a day of being detained by federal agents on Long Island while on his way to his construction job.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement said the 42-year-old had been at Nassau County Correctional Center for fewer than 18 hours before he was found unresponsive in his cell. The agency said his preliminary cause of death appeared to have been liver failure "complicated by alcoholism"  an assertion his sister disputes.



Banegas is among at least 32 people who died in ICE custody in 2025 amid President Donald Trump's aggressive immigration crackdown, making it the agency's deadliest year in two decades. The deaths, which unfolded largely out of public view last year, have taken on new resonance after ICE agents fatally shot two people within weeks in Minneapolis, sparking national outrage.

On Jan. 7, 2026, an agent fatally shot 37-year-old Renee Good during an enforcement action. Weeks later on Jan. 24, 2026, agents shot and killed another Minneapolis resident, 37-year-old ICU nurse Alex Pretti.

Months after Banegas' 2025 death, his loved ones are still waiting for ICE to provide a full investigative report of his death. The agency has failed to meet the congressional mandate requiring it to provide that report within 90 days of his death.

"We don't really know what happened until we get the full reporting," says attorney Oscar Michelen, who is representing Banegas' two daughters. "And even if what they say is true  that he was a drinker who was in the end stage of liver failure  they had obligations to make sure he was fit for confinement."

Banegas was detained on Sept. 17, 2025, outside a grocery store in Hempstead. He had been living in Hempstead with his sister and worked as a day laborer. ICE said in a news release that he had "admitted to a history of alcohol abuse." But his sister, who did not want to be named out of fear of repercussions, says Banegas was not a heavy drinker and did not show signs of liver failure.

"We don't believe he was ever checked medically prior to being locked in the cell," Michelen says. "We're not saying that they physically assaulted him and beat him to death. We're saying that they neglected him and he died in their custody."

According to the ICE news release, Banegas had entered the U.S. illegally at least four times. It is unclear when he first entered the country, but according to ICE, in August 2004, ICE agents in New York City "encountered" him and began the deportation process. An immigration judge granted him voluntary departure in September 2004, and a month later, Banegas left from New York's Kennedy Airport to Honduras, ICE said.

On Aug. 12, 2005, U.S. Border Patrol arrested him for reentering the country illegally in Casa Grande, Ariz., and turned him over to ICE, which deported him to Honduras 10 days later, according to ICE. He was deported a third time on Oct. 24, 2019, ICE said. Michelen said Banegas had been in the U.S. for the last two years and that he kept reentering the country to provide for his children.

"It was the only place that he found the opportunity to make enough money to support his two children," Michelen said. "And live a safe, decent life."



At minimum, Michelen says, Banegas' death should raise concerns about how and whether detainees are screened for fitness for confinement.

ICE facilities across the country have faced allegations from human rights groups, immigration lawyers and lawmakers about overcrowding and poor conditions, such as rotten food.

ICE has said detainees are never denied "emergent care," that anyone in its custody receives medical, dental and mental health screening and that round-the-clock emergency care is available at each detention facility.

"ICE remains committed to ensuring that all those in its custody reside in safe, secure, and humane environments," the agency said in its release about Banegas' death. "Comprehensive medical care is provided from the moment individuals arrive and throughout the entirety of their stay."

Santos Banegas Reyes Oscar Michelen

The family of Isidro Perez, 75, who died in ICE custody in Florida last June, said he had complained to them about the conditions at Krome North Service Processing Center in Miami, where he was taken June 6, 2025, a day after he was arrested while sitting at the Murray Nelson Government Center in Key Largo. According to his stepdaughter, Alba Gomez, he had told her mother he'd been sleeping on a cold floor at Krome.

"He said it felt like a cold freezer," Gomez tells PEOPLE, adding that it was difficult to communicate with him while he was detained.

Perez came to the U.S. from Cuba in 1966. He had been living on a houseboat off the coast of Key Largo before his death and could barely walk in his last months, Gomez says. He also had heart problems. He would meet regularly with her mother, Maria Alaniz, 82, at the government center where he was arrested, to trade his dirty laundry for clean clothes and to obtain water and other supplies from her. Perez and Alaniz dated for several years in the 1980s and enjoyed a close friendship even after they separated. Gomez says Perez continued to help raise her and her five siblings even after he and her mother broke up.

"Growing up, we learned fishing from him, swimming and we had nothing but seafood in the home," she says. "That's how we were fed. That's how he did his living."

The day after his arrest, Perez underwent an intake screening and was documented as having hypertension and coronary artery disease, among other health issues, ICE said. On June 16, 2025, he was evaluated after he complained of flu-like symptoms and was diagnosed with acute bronchitis. The next day, he was admitted to Larkin Community Hospital for acute coronary syndrome, ICE said. From June 20 to June 23, 2025, ICE said he was treated for "myocardial infarction"  a heart attack  and on June 27, 2025, after reporting chest pains, he died at Florida Kendall Hospital just before 8:45 p.m.

"My mom would pray every day to get news about him," Gomez says. "She even had a dream about him calling. He was calling out to her and saying, 'I can't ... I can't breathe. My heart hurts.' And she woke up devastated. And then that's when she receives the call, the final call, that he's no longer with us."



Perez was twice convicted of possession of a controlled substance  in February 1981 and in January 1984  and served time in jail, according to ICE. Gomez says he studied to become a mechanic while incarcerated and took up the profession upon his release.

"He was the type of person that wouldn't fully charge you for what the work was worth," she says. "He would settle for like, 40 bucks or 60 bucks, if that's all you had."

She says he displayed tenderness and was a person whose love and generosity lived out in his actions.

"Nothing about his final days erases the beauty of the life that he lived and the system failed him, but he did not fail his process," Gomez says. "So his compassion, his faith, his love, those are all the truths that remain."



Read the original article on People
An empty classroom with desks. Photo: RDNE Stock project / Pexels

(The Center Square)  As Illinois Republican candidates for governor call for school choice, more Catholic schools are closing in the Chicago area.

After two Catholic schools in Chicago announced recently they would close at the end of the school year, the archdiocese said a total of four schools would close in the city plus two more in the suburbs.

The announced closures of Our Lady of Humility in Beach Park, St. Hubert in Hoffman Estates, Sts. Bruno and Richard in Chicago, and St. Francis Borgia in Chicago follow the previously announced closures of St. Jerome and St. Stanislaus Kostka.

Republican gubernatorial candidate Rick Heidner called for school choice vouchers when he spoke at a forum in East Dundee last week.

In the private sector, for $15,000, youre going to get your child educated incredibly, Heidner said.

2022 GOP gubernatorial nominee Darren Bailey said private schools have the ability to accelerate students.

And our public schools should be doing the same thing, but they wont because of you know why, Bailey said.

Bailey gestured to indicate that money was the reason.

Illinois public schools spend more than $20,000 per student in taxpayer funds.

The American Legislative Exchange Council dropped Illinois from 38th to 44th in its recently-released Index of State Education Freedom. ALEC gave Illinois an overall D grade, with failing marks in student-centered funding programs and open enrollment.

Former Wirepoints President Ted Dabrowski noted that top-ranked Florida does not allow children to enter fourth grade if they cant read in third grade.

Raise the standards, make them the highest in the country, not lower the standards. Were not going to kid around and pretend our kids can read. Lets get obsessed about that, Dabrowski said.

Last August, the Illinois State Board of Education lowered the states proficiency benchmarks in reading and math.

Dabrowski said just 2% of Black third graders in Decatur can read at grade level, the same as four years ago.

DuPage County Sheriff James Mendrick said thousands of people in his jail have obtained high school equivalency and more over the last seven years.

So I can take somebody illiterate, get them through high school, college, job training in two years. What are they doing in our school system for 12 years? Mendrick asked.

Mendrick said he would push for school choice and homeschooling.

Pastors at St. Stanislaus Kostka and St. Jerome said government scholarships taken from Catholic schools were a factor in their schools pending closures.

Lawmakers allowed Illinois Invest in Kids scholarship tax credit program to expire Dec. 31, 2023.

St. Matthews in Glendale Heights closed in 2024, with Diocese of Joliet Bishop Ronald Hicks citing a large annual deficit and substantial loss of funds due to the sunset of the Illinois Tax Credit Scholarship.

Other Catholic school closings around the state in 2024 included Notre Dame Academy in Belleville, Our Lady of Grace Catholic Academy in East Moline, St. Ann Catholic School in Nashville, St. Odilo in Berwyn and Aquin High School in Freeport.

According to the National Catholic Education Associations 2024-25 report, there were 5,852 Catholic schools in the country last school year, down from 6,841 in 2011-2012.

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Police accused members of a motorcycle club and a street gang of targeting a judge for assassination earlier this month in Lafayette, Indiana, alleging the shooting that left the judge and his wife wounded was part of a scheme to derail a domestic abuse case against one of the attackers.

Police and prosecutors gave updates about the case at a news conference on Tuesday, several days after five people were arrested in connection with the shooting. Authorities praised what they characterized as a relentless effort to track down who opened fire on Tippecanoe County Superior Court Judge Steven Meyer and his wife, Kim, at their home in Lafayette on Jan. 18. Both Meyer and his wife suffered gunshot wounds but survived.

The Lafayette Police Department, the FBI, the Indiana State Police and the Purdue University Police Department launched a search for the shooter that went on for days before apprehending five people in synchronized arrests Thursday evening, including four in Indiana and one in Lexington, Kentucky.

They were identified by police as Raylen Ferguson, 38, Zenada Greer, 61, Thomas Moss, 43, Blake Smith, 32, and Amanda Milsap, 45. Ferguson and Greer are from Kentucky while Moss, Smith and Milsap are from Indiana, according to police.

Court appearances for the suspects were set for Wednesday in Indiana and Kentucky.

"This attack was more than an assault on two citizens," LaFayette Police Chief Scott Galloway said. "This was an assault on the rule of law itself."

Prosecutors allege that the attack was designed to derail a domestic abuse case against Moss, a member of the Detroit-based Phantom MC motorcycle club with ties to the Vice Lords street gang.

Moss was charged with multiple violent felonies in June 2024 and was out on bond, according to court records, which also show that he was scheduled to go on trial in front of Meyer on Jan. 20  two days after the shooting took place. His charges from 2024 include unlawful possession of a firearm by a serious felon, meaning he was already classified as such before those charges were brought against him. There were also multiple charges for domestic battery.

According to a probable cause affidavit, the Vice Lords offered the victim in the case $10,000 not to testify against Moss but she refused.

With the start of Moss' trial approaching, Smith, who authorities have identified as another Phantom MC member, purchased a shotgun. A masked man traveled to the Meyers' home armed with that shotgun on Jan. 18. He lured the couple to the door by saying he was looking for his dog, shot them through the door and fled.

"(Meyer) was targeted," Indiana State Police Lt. Col. Al Williamson said at Tuesday's news conference. "They went after him for a reason."

Police recovered the mask, the shooter's clothing and the shotgun discarded near the Meyers' home. DNA on the mask matched Ferguson, an associate of the Almighty Vice Lord Nation from Lexington, Kentucky, according to the affidavit.

Surveillance video showed a car that was parked near the Meyers' home had traveled from Kentucky toward Lafayette on Jan. 16 and traveled toward Smith's residence in the hour after the shootings, according to the affidavit.

Steven Meyer, a state judge in Tippecanoe County in Indiana who was hurt in a shooting at his home on January 18, 2026, is shown in Nov. 4, 2014. / Credit: Motorcycle, street gang (Obed Lamy / AP)

Moss, Ferguson and Smith each face multiple charges, including attempted murder and conspiracy to commit murder. Milsap, whom prosecutors allege offered the bribe in the domestic abuse case, faces bribery and obstruction counts. Greer, a woman Ferguson lives with, has been charged with helping a criminal and obstruction. Prosecutors have accused her of traveling to Lafayette with Ferguson.

Milsap's attorney, Earl McCoy, didn't immediately respond to an email seeking comment. Online court records did not list attorneys for Moss, Ferguson or Blake. Jail records indicate Greer is being held in Lexington. Online court records in that state did not list an attorney for her.

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NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte warned European leaders that they need the U.S. in order to defend themselves, comments that come as tensions between the U.S. and Europe have escalated amid President Donald Trumps push to acquire Greenland.

"If anyone thinks here again that the European Union, or Europe as a whole, can defend itself without the U.S., keep on dreaming. You cant. We cant. We need each other," Rutte said Monday in Brussels to the European Parliament.

NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte warned European leaders that they need the U.S. in order to defend themselves. (Reuters)

Us Commander Says Russia And China's Arctic Patrols Are 'Not For Peaceful Purposes'

Without U.S. support, European nations would be required to massively ramp up their defense spending to 10% of their GDP. NATO allies pledged to spend 5% of their GDP on defense last year on defense by 2035. Likewise, Europe would be forced to spend billions of dollars to create a new nuclear deterrent, absent the U.S.

"In that scenario, you will lose the ultimate guarantor of our freedom, which is the U.S. nuclear umbrella. So hey, good luck," Rutte said.

Ruttes comments come amid frustration from European allies as Trump has doubled down on his quest to acquire Greenland, and as several European leaders, including Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares, have suggested the European Union create its own joint army.

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Trump originally threatened to impose a 10% tariff on all goods from NATO countries that would increase to 25% in June until a deal was reached for the U.S. to secure Greenland, after NATO members dispatched troops to the Danish territory.

People wave Greenlandic flags during a mass demonstration opposing President Donald Trumps proposal to acquire Greenland, in Nuuk, Greenland, Jan. 17, 2026.

Greenland's Prime Minister Says 'We Choose Denmark' Over The Us

However, Trump backed down from these tariff threats after the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, and announced in a post on social media Wednesday that the U.S. and NATO had established a "framework of a future deal with respect to Greenland and, in fact, the entire Arctic Region."

Likewise, Trump pledged not to use military force to seize the island.

Its unclear what the deal entails, and Trump told reporters Thursday on Air Force One that the deal was still being negotiated.

NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte said that Trump was correct to stay vigilant about security in the Arctic as Russia and China have both increased their presence there in recent years.

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Although Greenland has said it wants independence from Copenhagen, Denmark, and doesnt want to join the U.S., Trump historically has voiced a desire to seize Greenland for the U.S. since his first administration.

Meanwhile, Greenland has said that it prefers to remain aligned with Denmark, despite the complicated history the two countries share due to Denmark's treatment of Indigenous people on the island.

"If we have to choose between the USA and Denmark here and now, we choose Denmark," Greenland Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen told reporters Jan. 13, according to translated remarks. "We choose NATO, the Kingdom of Denmark and the EU."

Still, Rutte said that Trump was correct to stay vigilant about security in the Arctic as Russia and China have both increased their presence there in recent years.

"I think hes right. There is an issue with the Arctic region," Rutte said. "There is an issue of collective security, because these sea lanes are opening up, and because the Chinese and the Russians are more and more active."





Original article source: NATO chief warns Europe cant defend itself without US as tensions rise over Greenland
A doctor reviews paperwork with a senior male patient in an office. Photo: DC Studio / Freepik

You have to give some lawmakers in Washington state credit for continuing to push for a state-run, single-payer health care delivery system. The latest piece of proposed legislation, Senate Joint Resolution 8206, is an attempt to amend the state constitution to read, It is the obligation of the state to ensure that every resident of Washington has access to cost-effective, clinically appropriate, and affordable health care as a fundamental right.

Interestingly enough, the bill writers seem to hedge the financial impact on state taxpayers by going on to say, the obligation of the state ... must be balanced against the public interest in funding other essential public services, and any remedy arising from an action brought against the state to enforce the provisions of this section may not interfere with the balance described in this subsection.

If passed by the legislature, the amendment must still be approved by Washington state voters.

A bit of history is necessary here for perspective. In 2021, the Washington legislature established the Universal Health Care Commission whose purpose is to 1) Create immediate and impactful changes in health care access and the delivery system in Washington; 2) Prepare the state for the creation of a health care system that provides coverage and access for all Washington residents through a unified financing system, once the necessary federal authority has become available; 3) Submit annual reports to the Legislature (sic) each November.

The time frame was to have a working system in place by 2026.

To date, the Commission has held untold meetings, has spent hundreds of thousands of dollars, has reported back to the legislature, and has in no real sense moved the state closer to a single-payer system.

Although unstated, the goal of SJR 8206 is a constitutional amendment to force Washingtonians into a thinly veiled state-run, taxpayer-funded health care system. This is despite several other blue states rejecting a state-based single-payer system because of the outrageous cost to taxpayers. Vermont came the closest to establishing a single-payer system.

In 2011, their legislature passed a bill to set up a system by 2017. By 2014, however, fiscal estimates showed that the state budget would need an extra $2 billion in 2017 to fund the program. This would have been a 35 percent increase over the states total $5.7 billion 2017 budget. Vermont officials admitted failure and abandoned the plan in December 2014. Voters in both Colorado and California have repeatedly turned down single-payer systems in their states because of onerous financial estimates and severe taxpayer burdens.

Even on a national level, countries have found that demand for health care far outweighs the supply. This leads to various forms of rationing, such as long wait times for care, age restrictions, and denial of care for certain illnesses. Half of all Washingtonians have employer-paid health insurance, while over 40 percent of citizens are in the government insurance plans of Medicare, Medicaid, and Obamacare. Why these people would want to give up their current health insurance for a financially unsound single-payer system is an unanswered question for politicians.

If adopted by the legislature, Washington voters will make the ultimate decision on the proposed constitutional amendment. Realizing that a two-thirds vote of lawmakers is required to advance SJR 8206 to the ballot, its passage is no sure thing, but the efforts to impose a taxpayer-funded, government run health care system in the Evergreen states persist.

Dr. Roger Stark is a visiting fellow with Mountain States Policy Center, an independent research organization based in Idaho, Montana, Eastern Washington and Wyoming. Online at mountainstatespolicy.org. A retired surgeon, Dr. Stark has authored three books including Healthcare Policy Simplified: Understanding a Complex Issue, and The Patient-Centered Solution: Our Health Care Crisis, How It Happened, and How We Can Fix It.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 27, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- U.S. News & World Report, the global authority in education rankings, today published the 2026 Best Online Programs rankings. Developed to provide prospective students with a data-driven path to advancing their career and knowledge, the new evaluation assesses nearly 1,850 online bachelor's and master's degree programs at regionally accredited institutions.

"Online education continues to be a vital path for professionals, parents and service members seeking to advance their careers and broaden their knowledge with necessary flexibility," says LaMont Jones, managing editor for education at U.S. News. "The 2026 Best Online Programs rankings are an essential tool for prospective students, providing rigorous, independent analysis to help them choose a high-quality program that aligns with their personal and professional goals."

The rankings focus solely on degree-granting programs that are offered online, including bachelor's programs and several master's-level disciplines: MBA, business (non-MBA), engineering, information technology (including computer science), criminal justice, education and nursing.

The methodologies are different for each discipline, but all incorporate metrics assessing how well these programs are designed for distance learners and their effectiveness at awarding affordable degrees in a reasonable timeframe. That includes traditional college-age students, working parents, military service members, as well as established professionals and lifelong learners.

2026 U.S. News & World Report Best Online Programs

BACHELOR'S PROGRAMS

1. University of Florida

2. University at Buffalo  SUNY

3. University of Illinois Chicago

MASTER'S PROGRAMS



MBA

1. Indiana University  Bloomington

2. Carnegie Mellon University

3. University of North Carolina  Chapel Hill

Business, non-MBA

1. Carnegie Mellon University

2. University of Southern California

3. Texas A&M University  College Station

Information Technology

1. Columbia University

2. Johns Hopkins University

3. Rice University (tie)

3. Texas A&M University  College Station (tie)

Criminal Justice/Criminology

1. University of New Haven

2. University of California  Irvine

3. Texas Christian University (tie)

3. University of Massachusetts  Lowell (tie)

Education

1. Clemson University

2. University of Florida (tie)

2. University of Kansas (tie)

Engineering

1. University of California - Los Angeles

2. Purdue University - Main Campus

3. University of Illinois Urbana - Champaign

Nursing

1. The Ohio State University

2. Duke University (tie)

2. University of South Carolina (tie)

In addition to the rankings, U.S. News offers resources including the Online College Compare tool for researching and comparing distance education programs and the Scholarship Finder tool, which provides potential and current undergraduate students with access to financial aid options and more than 25,000 scholarships.

U.S. News also publishes year-round editorial content for online learners, including " The Cost of an Online Bachelor's Degree ," " 20 Online College Programs With the Most Faculty of Color ," " 20 Most Affordable Online MBA Programs " and " Top 20 Online MBA Programs: No GMAT, GRE Required ". In addition, U.S. News offers " Getting In ," a newsletter for parents about the college admissions process that delivers smart strategies, insider information and stress-reducing guidance.

The Best Online Programs rankings serve a broader U.S. News mission of providing trusted information and rankings  such as Best High Schools , Best Colleges , Best Graduate Schools and Best Global Universities  to help students explore their education options.

For more information on the rankings, visit Best Online Programs and share the rankings using #BestOnline on X , TikTok , Instagram , Threads and Facebook .

About U.S. News & World Report

U.S. News & World Report is the global leader for journalism that empowers consumers, citizens, business leaders and policy officials to make confident decisions in all aspects of their lives and communities. A multifaceted media company, U.S. News provides unbiased rankings, independent reporting and analysis, and consumer advice to millions of people on USNews.com each month. A pillar in Washington for more than 90 years, U.S. News is the trusted home for in-depth and exclusive insights on education, health, politics, the economy, personal finance, travel, automobiles, real estate, careers and consumer products and services.

SOURCE U.S. News & World Report, L.P.
An image collage containing 3 images, Image 1 shows Ilhan Omar and Tim Mynett posing together, Image 2 shows Donald Trump speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One with a woman in the background, Image 3 shows U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) speaks at a press conference after a field hearing

WASHINGTON  President Trump confirmed Monday that the Department of Justice and Congress are investigating Squad Rep. Ilhan Omars skyrocketing net worth  after The Post revealed House Republicans would be taking a look at the Minnesota Democrat and her investor husbands finances.

The president  who has previously called for Omar to be jailed or deported to her birth country of Somalia  revealed the federal and congressional inquiries after dispatching border czar Tom Homan to ease tensions in Minnesota related to Saturdays fatal shooting of ICU nurse Alex Pretti by a federal immigration officer.

Trump, 79, noted the Land of 10,000 Lakes was already being probed for welfare fraud  but Omar, who left Somalia with NOTHING and is now worth tens of millions of dollars, according to her congressional financial disclosures, would also be put under investigation.

Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) and her investor husband, Tim Mynett, recorded between $6 million and $30 million in total assets related to business ventures as part of the congresswomans 2024 House finance disclosures. Ilhan Omar/ Instagram

Sorry, Trump, your support is collapsing and youre panicking, Omar, 43, fired back in a statement on X.

Right on cue, youre deflecting from your failures with lies and conspiracy theories about me. Years of investigations have found nothing, she added. Get your goons out of Minnesota.

House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer (R-Ky.) previously told The Post that his panel was weighing a subpoena for Omar and her husband, Tim Mynett, who jointly own their businesses.

The Republican chairman acknowledged he expects fierce pushback from both Omar and Mynett in the courts, as he and Oversight investigators seek to uncover what caused the big spike in the far-left pols assets.

President Trump said Omar left Somalia with NOTHING and is now worth tens of millions of dollars. REUTERS

Mynetts investment firm, Rose Lake Capital, had only $42.44 in its bank account as of 2022, per court filings as part of a lawsuit filed in South Dakota against a related company.

Omars 2024 House financial disclosures, however, show Rose Lake Capital was worth up to $25 million.

The Democrat has not disclosed a personal ownership stake in the firm, though spouses assets must be listed in the congressional disclosures.

Rep. James Comer (R-Ky.) said he is seeking to uncover what caused the big spike in the Squad pols assets. Getty Images

Other filings about Mynetts additional business ventures  including a winery and pot farm that he has since abandoned  brought the couples total net worth to between $6 million and $30 million.

Somebodys going to find out, Comer has said of the surging asset values. Its either going to be my committee or the Ethics Committee.

A Rose Lake spokesman has said Mynett netted less than $20,000 in 2024 from his stake in the various companies, whereas the House disclosures list total assets of the firms.

Trump in his Monday post claimed Omar was now reportedly worth more than 44 Million Dollars.

Somebodys going to find out, Comer has said of Omar and Mynetts ballooning assets. Its either going to be my committee or the Ethics Committee. REUTERS

Time will tell all, he added.

Omars family fled Somalia for a refugee camp in Kenya during her home nations civil war, which has been ongoing since 1991.

The family was later granted asylum, first arriving in Arlington, Va., before moving to Minneapolis in 1997. The future congresswoman became a US citizen in 2000.
Russia Ukraine War Recruitment (Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)

For average wage earners in Russia, it's a big payday. For criminals seeking to escape the harsh conditions and abuse in prison, it's a chance at freedom. For immigrants hoping for a better life, it's a simplified path to citizenship.

All they have to do is sign a contract to fight in Ukraine.

This desperate recruitment drive is part of Moscow's strategy to replenish its forces in the nearly four-year conflict, while simultaneously avoiding an unpopular nationwide mobilisation. The bloody war of attrition has also seen foreign combatants join the fray. Following a mutual defence treaty in 2024, North Korea reportedly sent thousands of soldiers to help Russia defend its Kursk region against a Ukrainian incursion.

Furthermore, men from South Asian countries, including India, Nepal, and Bangladesh, have reported being duped by recruiters who promised legitimate jobs, only to find themselves conscripted for combat. Officials in Kenya, South Africa, and Iraq have confirmed similar instances of their citizens being misled into fighting.

Russian recruits take a train at a railway station in Prudboi in the Volgograd region of Russia, Sept. 29, 2022. (AP Photo, File) (Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)

President Vladimir Putin told his annual news conference last month that 700,000 Russian troops are fighting in Ukraine. He gave the same number in 2024, and a slightly lower figure  617,000  in December 2023. It's unclear if those numbers are accurate.

Still hidden are the numbers of military casualties, with Moscow having released limited official figures. The British Defense Ministry said last summer that more than 1 million Russian troops may have been killed or wounded.

Independent Russian news site Mediazona, together with the BBC and a team of volunteers, scoured news reports, social media and government websites and collected the names of over 160,000 troops killed. More than 550 of those were foreigners from over two dozen countries.

How Russia gets new soldiers

Unlike Ukraine, where martial law and nationwide mobilization has been in place since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022, Putin has resisted ordering a broad call-up.

When a limited mobilization of 300,000 men was tried later that year, tens of thousands of people fled abroad. The effort stopped after a few weeks when the target was met, but a Putin decree left the door open for another call-up. It also made all military contracts effectively open-ended and barred soldiers from quitting service or being discharged, unless they reached certain age limits or were incapacitated by injuries.

Since then, Moscow has largely relied on what it describes as voluntary enlistment.

The flow of voluntary enlistees signing military contracts has remained strong, topping 400,000 last year, Putin said in December. It was not possible to independently verify the claim. Similar numbers were announced in 2024 and 2023.

Activists say these contracts often stipulate a fixed term of service, such as one year, leading some potential enlistees to believe the commitment is temporary. But contracts are automatically extended indefinitely, they say.

Recruits carry ammunition during training at a firing range in the Rostov-on-Don region of southern Russia, Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2022. (AP Photo, File) (Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

The government offers high pay and extensive benefits to enlistees. Regional authorities offer various enlistment bonuses, sometimes amounting to tens of thousands of dollars.

In the Khanty-Mansi region of central Russia, for example, an enlistee would get about $50,000 in various bonuses, according to the local government. That's more than twice the average annual income in the region, where monthly salaries in the first 10 months of 2025 were reported to be just over $1,600.

There also are tax breaks, debt relief and other perks.

Despite Kremlin claims of relying on voluntary enlistment, media reports and rights groups say conscripts  men aged 18-30 performing fixed-term mandatory military service and exempted from being sent to Ukraine  are often coerced by superiors into signing contracts that send them into battle.

Recruitment also extends to prisoners and those in pretrial detention centers, a practice led early in the war by the late mercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhin and adopted by the Defense Ministry. Laws now allow recruitment of both convicts and suspects in criminal cases.

People walk past an army recruiting billboard with the words "Military service under contract in the armed forces," in St. Petersburg, Russia, March 24, 2023. (AP Photo, File) (Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)

Foreigners also are recruiting targets, both inside Russia and abroad.

Laws were adopted offering accelerated Russian citizenship for enlistees. Russian media and activists also report that raids in areas where migrants typically live or work lead to them being pressuring into military service, with new citizens sent to enlistment offices to determine if theyre eligible for mandatory service.

In November, Putin decreed that military service was mandatory for certain foreigners seeking permanent residency.

Some reportedly are lured to Russia by trafficking rings promising jobs, then duping them into signing military contracts. Cuban authorities in 2023 identified and sought to dismantle one such ring operating from Russia.

Nepals Foreign Minister Narayan Prakash Saud told The Associated Press in 2024 that his country asked Russia to return hundreds of Nepali nationals who were recruited to fight in Ukraine, as well as to repatriate the remains of those killed in the war. Nepal has since barred citizens from traveling to Russia or Ukraine for work, citing recruitment efforts.

Also in 2024, Indias federal investigation agency said it broke up a network that lured at least 35 of its citizens to Russia under the pretext of employment. The men were trained for combat and deployed to Ukraine against their will, with some "grievously injured, the agency said.

When Putin hosted Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi for talks in 2024, New Delhi said its nationals who were misled into joining the Russian army would be discharged.

Iraqi officials say about 5,000 of its citizens have joined the Russian military along with an unspecified number who are fighting alongside Ukrainian forces. Officials in Baghdad cracked down on such recruiting networks, with one man convicted last year of human trafficking and sentenced to life in prison.

An unknown number of Iraqis have been killed or gone missing while fighting in Ukraine. Some families have reported that relatives were lured to Russia under false pretenses and forced to enlist; in other cases, Iraqis have joined voluntarily for the salary and Russian citizenship.

Foreigners duped into fighting are especially vulnerable because they dont speak Russian, have no military experience and are deemed dispensable, to put it bluntly, by military commanders, said Anton Gorbatsevich of the activist group Idite Lesom, or Get Lost, which helps men desert from the army.

Russian Chief of General Staff Gen. Valery Gerasimov, right, reports to Russian President Vladimir Putin at the annual board meeting of the Russian Defense Ministry and award soldiers in Moscow, Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2025. (Alexander Kazakov/Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP) (Sputnik)

This month, a Ukrainian agency for the treatment of prisoners of war said over 18,000 foreign nationals had fought or are fighting on the Russian side. Almost 3,400 have been killed, and hundreds of citizens of 40 countries are held in Ukraine as POWs.

If true, that represents a fraction of the 700,000 troops that Putin said are fighting for Russia in Ukraine.

Using foreigners is only one way to meet the constant demand, said Artyom Klyga, head of the legal department at the Movement of Conscientious Objectors, noting Russian recruitment efforts appear to be stable. Most of those seeking help from the group, which assists men in avoiding military service, are Russian citizens, he said.

Kateryna Stepanenko, a Russia researcher at the Washington-based Institute for the Study of War, said the Kremlin has gotten more creative in the last two years with attracting enlistees, including foreigners.

But recruitment efforts are becoming extremely expensive for Russia, which faces a slowing economy, she added.
Rescue workers clear the rubble of a residential building which was heavily damaged after a Russian strike in Odesa, Ukraine, Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Michael Shtekel)

KYIV, Ukraine (AP)  A heavy Russian drone bombardment of Ukraines southern city of Odesa killed at least three people and wounded 23, including two children and a pregnant woman, officials said Tuesday, as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called for speedier U.S. efforts to end Russia's almost 4-year-old invasion of his country.

The Odesa attack involved more than 50 drones, some of them models recently upgraded by Russia to improve their range and strike power, according to Ukrainian authorities.

The drones targeted the power grid, which Russia has repeatedly bombarded during the coldest winter in years, and also hit five apartment blocks, officials said. Emergency crews retrieved the bodies of two men, aged 90 and 52, and a woman from the rubble, authorities said.

The rescue operation will continue until the fate of all people who may be under the rubble is clarified, Zelenskyy said on the Telegram messaging app, adding that an informal Protestant place of worship was also damaged.

Each such Russian strike undermines diplomacy, which is still ongoing, and hits, in particular, the efforts of partners who are helping to end this war, he said.

In Ukraines northeast Kharkiv region, a passenger train carrying over 200 people was hit by three drones later Tuesday, in what the head of the regional administration Oleh Syniehubov labelled terrorism. Four people were killed and another four reported missing.

A diplomatic push by the Trump administration to end the war has made progress, according to officials, but has delivered no breakthrough on the key issue of what happens to Russian-occupied Ukrainian land and other territory that Moscow is demanding.

Analysts says that Russian President Vladimir Putin is in no rush to find a settlement, despite his armys difficulties on the roughly 1,000-kilometer (600-mile) front line. He believes that time is on his side, that Western support for Kyiv will fade and that Ukraines resistance will eventually break under pressure, according to analysts.

To replenish its forces and keep up the pressure on Kyiv, Moscow is offering cash bonuses, freeing convicts from prison and luring foreigners to its army.

An Associated Press investigation found that unwitting Bangladeshi workers were enticed to Russia under the false promise of civilian work before being thrown into combat in Ukraine.

Zelenskyy said late Monday the next round of talks with the United States and Russia is penciled in for Feb. 1. but that it would be good if this meeting could be accelerated.

He also urged that, in the meantime, additional sanctions be imposed on Russia to compel the Kremlin to make compromises.

Russia fired 165 drones at Ukraine overnight, with 24 of them that got through air defenses hitting targets in seven regions, according to Ukraines air force.

In recent weeks, the relentless barrages have damaged some of Ukraines protected world heritage sites in Odesa, the western city of Lviv and the capital, Kyiv, UNESCO said Tuesday.

They have also knocked out power to hundreds of thousands of civilians. More than 900 apartment blocks remained without heating Tuesday in several districts of Kyiv, Zelenskyy said. Kyiv, a city of about 3 million people, is dominated by tower blocks, many from the Soviet era.

Russia has been improving its drone technology and tactics, striking Ukraine with increasing success.

The Ukrainian Defense Ministrys main intelligence directorate said earlier this month that Russia had deployed the new jet-powered Geran-5 strike drone against Ukraine for the first time. The Geran is a Russian variant of the Iranian-designed Shahed.

According to the directorate, the drone can carry a 90-kilogram (200-pound) warhead and has a range of nearly 1,000 kilometers (600 miles).

In response, Ukraine has significantly expanded production of interceptor drones, as well as developing its own long-range drones.

The Russian Defense Ministry said Tuesday that its air defenses shot down 19 Ukrainian drones overnight over several Russian regions.

___

Follow APs coverage of the war in Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine
People spend time on a street sidewalk, as U.S.-Cuba tensions rise after U.S. President Donald Trump vowed to stop Venezuelan oil and money from reaching Cuba and suggested the communist-run island strike a deal with Washington, in Havana, Cuba, January 11, 2026. REUTERS/Norlys Perez

By Kanishka Singh

WASHINGTON, Jan 27 (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that "Cuba will be failing pretty soon," adding that Venezuela, once the island's top supplier, has not recently sent oil or money to Cuba.

WHY IT'S IMPORTANT

Emboldened by the U.S. military's seizure of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro in a deadly raid earlier this month that Trump ordered, the Republican leader has talked of acting against Cuba and pressuring its leadership.

Trump has vowed to stop oil and money from longtime backer Venezuela from reaching Cuba.

KEY QUOTES

"Cuba will be failing pretty soon. Cuba is really a nation that's very close to failing," Trump told reporters on Tuesday.

"You know, they got their money from Venezuela. They got the oil from Venezuela. They are not getting that anymore," he added.

CONTEXT

Trump has said Washington will "run" Venezuela where Maduro's former vice president, Delcy Rodriguez, became interim president and is governing the country under U.S. oversight.

The U.N. human rights office has said the U.S. raid in which Maduro was seized was a violation of international law.

Human rights experts say Trump's focus on exploiting Venezuelan oil echoed an imperialist approach and raised questions about U.S. efforts to frame Maduro's capture as a law enforcement action to cut drug trafficking.

Cuba's president said this month Washington had no moral authority to force a deal on Cuba after Trump suggested the Communist-run island should strike an agreement with the U.S.

(Reporting by Kanishka Singh in Washington; Editing by Alistair Bell)
General John Daniel "Raizin" Caine, flanked by President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, discusses the U.S. operation in Venezuela leading to the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores.Photo: White House Facebook from video

(The Center Square)  The Trump administrations effort to curb Chinas influence in the Western Hemisphere is impacting politics across Latin America, including in countries where conservative candidates want U.S. support.

After a U.S.-backed operation led to the capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro, the White House made clear that restoring American influence in the region includes severing Beijings economic ties. One of President Donald Trumps demands to Venezuelas interim leadership was for the country to cut all economic ties with China, reports say.

The administration outlined that approach more formally in the National Security Strategy released last November. The document pledged to eliminate hostile foreign incursion in the hemisphere, secure access to key strategic locations, and prevent adversarial control of what it described as strategically vital assets.

Joe Buccino, a retired U.S. Army colonel and former U.S. Central Command official, said the policy places pressure on Latin American leaders to align with Washington or face diplomatic consequences.

Mr. Trump is not playing games; leaders who think they can fool the White House to gain favor will get run over, Buccino wrote in a recent Washington Times op-ed.

He added that the policy applied to Maduro and is now being enforced more broadly across the region.

Trump has already demonstrated a willingness to use political influence to advance that strategy.

During Honduras recent presidential election, Trump publicly endorsed Nasry Asfura after Asfura pledged to reverse the countrys decision to abandon Taiwan in favor of diplomatic relations with Communist China. Honduras 2023 switch failed to deliver promised economic benefits from Beijing, The Wall Street Journal reported. Asfura won a tight race following Trumps endorsement, despite trailing in the polls in the weeks before the election.

The outcome signaled that U.S. backing may increasingly depend on a candidates stance toward China, analysts said.

That may also happen in Peru, where former Lima Mayor Rafael Lopez Aliaga is running for president. Lopez Aliaga has portrayed himself as a Trump fan while trying to gain the presidents support.

Meanwhile, Republicans in Washington have raised concerns about Lopez Aliagas financial and political ties to China. He has supported Chinese involvement in major infrastructure projects, including the Chinese-owned and operated Port of Chancay outside Lima, and has promoted expanding Chinese language instruction in Perus education system.

Chinese firms are also backing a proposed rail project that would move Brazilian commodities through the Port of Chancay. The project would rely on rail lines operated by PeruRail, a company Lopez Aliaga co-founded.

Those ties have drawn scrutiny from U.S. lawmakers. Rep. Greg Steube, R-Fla., warned Secretary of State Marco Rubio that the project would create infrastructure financed, managed, and surveilled by Beijing, while benefiting politicians with financial and political interests in the arrangement.
Henrico County Police  Henrico County Police

A young boy is fighting for his life after being rescued from a pond in Virginia amid frigid conditions that ravaged the region.

At around 1:40 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 26, officers from the Henrico County Police Department were called to assist with a water rescue that was reported in the Three Chopt Magisterial District.

Officers responded to the 12300 block of Shore View Drive to investigate after a toddler was found and rescued from a nearby pond.

Upon arrival, first responders found the child unconscious and receiving CPR from paramedics with the Henrico County Division of Fire.

He was rushed to an area hospital with what were described as life-threatening injuries. A second man was also treated and evaluated on-site for possible hypothermia, officials say.

The investigation is in its infancy, according to the department.

This is a developing story. Check Daily Voice for updates.
An inmate in an orange uniform rests his arms on the bars of a jail cell. Photo: RDNE Stock project / Pexels

(The Center Square) - A Washington state bill would reduce the length of time an individual must register as a sex offender after being convicted in a net nanny operation, while ending the lifetime community supervision.

Net nanny operations are carried out by the Washington State Patrol Missing and Exploited Children Task Force, in which undercover officers pose as children to potential sex offenders. According to the state, between 2015-2023 the task force carried out 20 sting operations and made 311 arrests. Under current state law, those convicted must register as a sex offender and are subject to community supervision for life.

Senate Bill 5312 sponsored by Sen. Lisa Wellman, D-Mercer Island, would change that by reducing the registration length to five years and community supervision to three years. However, this change would only apply for those with no prior criminal background for a sex offense.

The bill was introduced last session but failed to clear its original committee after a public hearing. In November, the Washington State Sentencing Guidelines Commission voted to recommend a policy to the Legislature that would provide alternative sentencing for certain sex offenses that do not involve a real victim.

James McMahan with the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs opposed the bill because the enforcement protects children.

It is despicable what some seek to do against the most vulnerable and precious among us, and we must ensure that we take all reasonable steps necessary to protect them," he said. "We're talking about people who took specific and deliberate steps to have sex with what they thought was a child."

He added that "the fact that these offenses are not committed against a real child is solely due to our diligence and should not be credited to a predator - in fact, their actions are all based on their desire and their belief and their intent to cause sexual harm to a minor.

Testifying at the bills Jan. 27 public hearing in the Senate Committee on Law & Justice, Wellman told committee members that one of her constituents was arrested in a net nanny operation.

At no time was my constituent speaking with a child, or even anything or anybody pretending to be a child," she said. "Any child mentioned was fictional. I am not here to argue about the trial, the prison sentence, or what has gone on from there. It's over, and in the past, the justice system did their rolebut this is about making a sentence a life sentence.

She added that SB 5312 is not a holistic kind of whitewashing or anything."

"It's saying with no prior record of any wrong wrongdoing with a child, with nothing on your computer, in your home, in your background.if that's the case, that there's nothing that even suggests you're interested in sexual activity with a child, and now you've served your time in prison, shouldn't there come a time when you can live a life and know for certain that that time can come?" she testified "And that's what this bill does.

Among those testifying in favor of the bill was criminal defense attorney Emily Gause, who told the committee that net nanny operations involve many defendants who have no prior history of sexual misconduct. They are often simply looking for companionship on adult dating websites when they are lured in by detectives posing as adults, who then gradually lower their age throughout the course of the conversation. These stings are a terrible use of resources.

No further action is scheduled for SB 5312.
This weekends winter storm and ensuing bitter cold have left at least 30 people dead and caused prolonged power outages for hundreds of thousands, particularly across the southern US.

The damage from ice and cold was most significant in a swath stretching from east Texas through Louisiana, Mississippi and into Nashville, Tennessee. Power officials in Nashville said to expect lengthy outages from the historic storm, and Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves deployed up to 500 members of the states National Guard to assist.

Its somewhat like whack-a-mole. Every time one of the utility companies and power companies gets a large group back online, we have another tree fall or another limb fall, Reeves said Monday. We will get through this, but were not going to get through it today. And were not going to get through it tomorrow. This is going to take time.

Meanwhile, around 175 million people are under cold alerts for frigid temperatures that will linger for days. The brutal cold is setting new record daily lows in the Plains. More record lows are expected in the South and East through at least this week.

Meteorologists are also eyeing the potential for another significant winter storm to hit the East Coast this weekend, although its strength and path remain unclear.

At least two dozen storm- and cold-related deaths were reported across several states, including Texas, Louisiana, Tennessee, Pennsylvania and South Carolina. Some have been attributed to hypothermia, while others were associated with snow shoveling, officials say. Several other deaths are also under investigation.

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Among the deaths in Louisiana: A 46-year-old man involved in a vehicle crash on icy roads; a 62-year-old man and a 59-year-old woman of suspected hypothermia in their homes; and a 79-year-old woman whose medical device failed during a power outage.

In Texas, three brothers ages 6, 8 and 9 fell through the ice on a private pond and died in Texas, just north of Dallas, authorities said. In addition, two 16-year-old girls riding a sled pulled by a Jeep hit a tree, killing one and leaving the other in critical condition, according to officials.

The most significant infrastructure damage was to the South, where ice made roads slick, snapped tree limbs and weighed down power lines.

Its like driving on a 30-mile ice cube, said Tom Lindsey, a coordinator with Tippah County Emergency Management in Mississippi.

As of Tuesday morning, hundreds of thousands of electric customers have regained power, according to tracking website PowerOutage.US, a drastic improvement from the million customers who suffered from outages at one point. But more than half a million customers remained in the dark as of Tuesday afternoon, including around 170,000 in Tennessee, around 140,000 in Mississippi and just under 100,000 in Louisiana.

The breadth of the storm means much of the country is dealing in some way with its aftermath. Snow was on the ground for just over 56% of the Lower 48 states Monday, and at least a foot of snow fell in 18 states, stretching from New Mexico up and over to Maine.

Prolonged outages expected in South

The Weather Prediction Center had warned before the storm of catastrophic ice accumulation, and that forecast held up for parts of the South.

Repairs and restoration to electrical infrastructure in northern Mississippi will be prolonged due to widespread damage and unsafe conditions, Northeast Mississippi Electric Power Association (NEMEPA) CEO Keith Hayward said in a social media post.

One reason this has taken a little while is the logistics are slow. The roads are still extremely dangerous, Hayward said Monday night, noting key highways had been closed.

Hayward said this storm was worse than Mississippis historic 1994 ice storm, when outages took 23 days to restore. While modern upgrades may speed repairs compared with 1994, Hayward warned that restoration wont be quick.

Lindsey, the Tippah County coordinator, said they had a complete grid failure and county-wide water issues. He warned of weeks, not days, before residents are back in their homes with power.

People that didnt prepare five days out are now extremely suffering, especially those with electric heat, he said.

A utility pole lists to the side after being damaged during an ice storm in Oxford, Mississippi, on Sunday. - Bruce Newman/The Clarion-Ledger/USA Today Network/Imagn Images

In Tennessee, this storm marked the highest number of outages at one time in the Nashville Electric Services history, with a peak of 230,000, the utility said in a Monday morning update on X. That surpasses the 200,000 outages reached during the damaging May 2020 derecho, which was one of the utilitys largest outages on record for the city.

Nashville residents should be prepared to potentially go without power for up to a week, said Brent Baker, executive vice president and chief operations and innovations officer of the Nashville Electric Service.

This is going to be a historic event, Baker told CNNs Isabel Rosales on Monday. Maybe a 20- or 30-year memory for most of us as well look back at this. This is going to be something that will go down in history and be significant for our customers.

The electricity service had deployed about 400 line workers to respond to 153 broken poles as of midafternoon Monday.

This will be a weeklong event at a minimum that were going to be working on this, but we think if we make it through todays cold weather and the trees continue to fall  well start to make more progress as the days continue on, Baker said.

Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry said Monday unaffected utilities in the southern part of the state were moving to central and north Louisiana to help recovery efforts. He encouraged people without power to go to a warming center set up by the state.

If youre in north Louisiana and you do not have power and you also do not have heat, you need to find somewhere to go, he said. Dont just, Oh, the power may just come on at midnight. It is dangerously cold the next couple nights. Find somewhere to go.

Flights canceled and roads dangerous

Chris Dobry walked out of his home Sunday and came face-to-face with downed trees and thick ice covering power lines in his neighborhood of Greenwood, Mississippi.

The ice storm in Mississippi is wreaking havoc, Dobry wrote in a Facebook post. No power, lines down, and trees are literally breaking apart.

He told CNN that it may take days to get electricity back. In the meantime, he has been using his gas fireplace for heat.

Trees and power lines that are still standing could still snap in the coming days under the continued strain of the ice itself. Half an inch of ice  which 12 states recorded during this storm  can add as much as 500 pounds of weight to power lines. High winds can also push trees and power lines to their breaking point.

Travel by road was treacherous, while air travel nearly ground to a halt on Sunday. Airlines canceled more than 11,600 flights on Sunday, according to FlightAware, the biggest cancellation day since Covid-19 shut down travel in March 2020. More than 6,000 US flights were canceled Monday too, affecting major airports stretching from Dallas to Boston.

Flight cancellations again rose sharply on Tuesday as some crews and equipment are still out of place. As of midday Tuesday, over 1,600 flights had been canceled nationwide, according to FlightAware.

American Airlines continues to account for the majority of cancellations, ranking as the airline with the most canceled flights for the fourth straight day. The airline began Tuesday with about a quarter of its schedule already canceled.

American executives apologized to customers in an email Monday as the carrier struggled to recover from its schedule meltdown, with disruptions especially severe at its Dallas-Fort Worth hub.

Several major school districts closed or turned to virtual learning on Monday due to the storm, and some remained closed Tuesday due to inclement weather or road conditions. Students in Dallas, Memphis and Nashville will not have class Tuesday. In Maryland, Montgomery County schools remained closed Tuesday, while schools in Prince Georges County are scheduled to stay closed through Thursday.

CNNs Nicki Brown, Nayeli Jaramillo-Plata, Ella Nilsen, Chris Lau, Nic F. Anderson, Linda Lam, August Philips, Jason Morris, Briana Waxman and Pete Muntean contributed to this report.

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An attorney for a Chicago woman shot and wounded by a Customs and Border Protection agent during Operation Midway Blitz is asking a federal judge to allow the public disclosure of evidence -- including body camera footage, electronic communications and photographs -- in order to "combat the continuing harm to her reputation" and to inform the public about the government's response to the shooting incident.

"What happened to Ms. Martinez and the truth about the events of October 4, 2025, as well as what is happening with the killing of two other individuals by DHS agents have become matters of strong public interest and debate," wrote Chris Parente, an attorney for Marimar Martinez, who was shot five times after her vehicle was involved in a collision with an SUV driven by Supervisory Border Patrol Agent Charles Exum.

Public disclosure of the evidence "is necessary to allow Ms. Martinez to ensure that debate is based in fact," Parente argued.

'5 shots, 7 holes': Border patrol supervisor appeared to brag about shooting woman, defense attorney says

The evidence Parente now seeks to make public is covered by a protective order that prohibits him from disclosing the materials or using them in connection with any other matter without further order of the court. Such orders are standard in criminal cases in order to protect the integrity of a trial.

ABC News and other media organizations previously sought modification of the protective order in the case to obtain the body camera footage and other evidence. The motion was denied by U.S. District Judge Georgia Alexakis.

The government dismissed its case against Martinez in late November.

But Parente argues in his motion filed Monday that the federal government -- despite abandoning its prosecution of Martinez -- is continuing to engage in a "counter-factual public relations war" against his client. He notes that government statements labeling Martinez as a "domestic terrorist" remain online on official accounts.

E. Jason Wambsgans/Chicago Tribune/Tribune News Service via Getty Images - PHOTO: Marimar Martinez, center, is greeted by her family after being released from the Metropolitan Correctional Center after being shot by immigration agents and charged with assaulting federal officers in an incident in Chicago, Oct. 6, 2025.

There is "good cause" to modify the protective order, Parente argues, because "the ability to disseminate the factual evidence about the events of October 4 and DHS's response to Ms. Martinez's shooting is of the utmost importance to Ms. Martinez, and frankly to the entire country at this tragic time in our nation's history."

"The Protective Order has become an albatross around her neck and keeps the entire country in the dark about how DHS responds to lethal force incidents by their agents which have now unfortunately become a weekly occurrence. Instead of protecting against improper disclosures, it is a prophylactic to countering a pernicious misinformation campaign mounted by the United States. The government should not be permitted to wage this campaign against Ms. Martinez while actively suppressing the objective evidence that she could use to counteract those efforts," Parente wrote.

Martinez and another man were charged in October with assault with a deadly weapon, accused of following the agents' vehicles and initiating the collision with Exum's SUV that led to the shooting on Chicago's south side. Federal prosecutors said Exum fired five rounds defensively after Martinez allegedly drove toward him when he exited his vehicle after the crash, according to court filings.

At a hearing in the case last fall, Parente told the court that he had reviewed video from one agent's body-worn camera and contended that what he saw and heard did not align with the government's allegations. Parente claimed that the agent wearing the body-camera was in the rear of the Border Patrol vehicle and could be heard saying, "Do something, b----" in the moments before the vehicles collided.

"When I watched the video after this agent says, 'Do something, b----,' I see the driver of this vehicle turn the wheel to the left, which would be consistent with him running into Ms. Martinez's vehicle," Parente said. "And then seconds later, he jumps out and just starts shooting."

Prosecutors disputed Parentes characterization of the video.

Judge dismisses charges against 2 people accused of ramming vehicle of federal agents conducting Chicago immigration sweeps

Parente also alleged that the federal government may have spoiled or altered evidence when it allowed the damaged vehicle Exum was driving to be released to him and driven back to his home base in Maine, where a Customs and Border Protection mechanic later wiped off black scuff marks after the FBI had processed the SUV in Chicago, according to court records.

Judge Alexakis ordered the vehicle returned to Chicago and for Exum to appear in person for testimony. At a court hearing in early November, Parente confronted Exum with text messages he sent to family and friends, in which he appeared to boast about his shooting skills.

"I fired 5 rounds and she had 7 holes. Put that in your book, boys," one of those messages said.

"We appreciate the U.S. attorney being thoughtful in agreeing to dismiss this," Parente said after the government dismissed its case against Martinez.

Martinez thanked the judge and "everybody that supported me."

Parente told reporters at that time that Martinez didn't deserve to be shot and that they are "going to work on getting her justice," but for now are thankful that the prosecutors "did the right thing."
In a new documentary released on Hulu Monday, Amanda Knox  the now-exonerated American who was convicted of murdering her roommate while studying abroad in Italy  heads back to Europe to meet the prosecutor who sent her to prison in 2007.

Titled Mouth of the Wolf: Amanda Knox Returns to Italy, the documentary features Knox meeting with Giuliano Mignini, the Italian prosecutor who led the investigation into the murder of Meredith Kercher, Knoxs roommate.

Knox was released from prison in 2011 when an Italian court reversed the murder conviction on appeal, and was acquitted in 2015. Now 38, she is a podcaster, author and activist for criminal justice reform. The new Hulu documentary, directed by Knoxs husband, Christopher Robinson, chronicles multiple trips to Italy with Knox and initially began when Knox was asked to deliver a speech in the country on behalf of the Innocence Project in 2022.

Knox has used Hulu as a platform to tell her story before, producing a scripted series titled The Twisted Tale of Amanda Knox, with Tell Me Lies actress Grace Van Patten starring in the lead role. The series depicts the fictional version of Knox having a conversation with Mignini in 2022.

I care about him, Knox told the Hollywood Reporter about Mignini, with whom she remains in touch, ahead of the new documentarys release. I care about his well-being. I respect him in a number of ways, like the willingness that he has had to be vulnerable with me. That said, I still have unresolved anger  I think that every day I try to appreciate him in the fullness of his humanity.

In addition to her conversations with Mignini, the new documentary also follows Knoxs continued legal battle in Italy, where she remains convicted of criminal slander due to comments she made about her former boss Patrick Lumumba during the case.

As [recently] as 2024, she was back in court defending herself in Florence. We filmed that trip as well, Robinson told the Hollywood Reporter. And Amanda has actually met with her prosecutor twice, and he has said things to her that are startling, and their relationship has continued to develop. So the process of finding peace and closure is not one that just ends on a button  its a journey, and Mouth of the Wolf is showing how that journey has continued.

This is not Knoxs first time sharing her story in a documentary. She previously appeared in 2016s Netflix project Amanda Knox. She has also penned two memoirs: 2013s Waiting to Be Heard: A Memoir and 2025s Free: My Search for Meaning.

Stream Mouth of the Wolf on Hulu.

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The Way Experiential Ecosystem delivers a single, fully integrated ecosystem that powers every type of experience, with new offerings that enable brands to extend curation and distribution opportunities.

At the foundation of the Experiential Ecosystem is Way's market-leading Core Platform, which enables brands to launch, market, and manage experiences across the customer journey, along with the following new products:

Curation Lab offers a first-of-its-kind AI-powered experience curation technology that blends artificial intelligence with each customer's brand identity and proprietary Way data.

offers a first-of-its-kind AI-powered experience curation technology that blends artificial intelligence with each customer's brand identity and proprietary Way data. Loyalty Sync provides a seamless connection between experiences and loyalty programs at enterprise scale; in 2025, Way launched and powered the extensions of experiential loyalty programs for brands, including World of Hyatt and Alaska Air Group's Atmos Rewards Unlocked.

provides a seamless connection between experiences and loyalty programs at enterprise scale; in 2025, Way launched and powered the extensions of experiential loyalty programs for brands, including World of Hyatt and Alaska Air Group's Atmos Rewards Unlocked. Partner Exchange brings an industry-first global marketplace for consumer brands across industries to partner and co-create experiences, including luxury brands such as Piaget and Kiton.

Together, these capabilities deliver new and diversified revenue streams through experiences, reduce operational lift and third-party dependency, deepen customer engagement and brand loyalty, and provide a faster global rollout with consistent brand expression.

Experiential's Rise Brings New Opportunities

With experiential spending up ~32% in the last five years (source: Earnest Analytics), demand is evident among consumers worldwide. Way's Core Platform has consistently answered this need at the enterprise level, allowing global brands like Hyatt and Maybourne to consolidate their experiential technology and strategy across their luxury and lifestyle portfolios.

Brands today are leveraging experiences as a central pillar of their marketing strategy, as signature programming drives sales of core products while also fueling differentiation, loyalty, and revenue. Increased demand for experiences is evident not only in hospitality but also among consumer brands worldwide. As a result, organizations face growing operational complexity in merchandising and managing ticketed events, curated experiences, recurring programming, and experiential resources, their experiential technology and strategy across their luxury and lifestyle portfolios.

This product launch underscores Way's ongoing commitment to building products that enable brands to unlock the true value of experiences and shape more meaningful consumer engagement while continuing to define the experiential category at large.

About Way

Way is the premier experiential ecosystem, uniting software, artificial intelligence, and proprietary data to redefine how people engage with the world's leading consumer brands. Organizations leverage Way to launch, merchandise, manage, and scale distinctive experiences that resonate with today's consumers.

Founded in 2020 as the solution for hospitality brands seeking to integrate experiences into their strategy, Way quickly established itself as a category leader at a time when unlocking new revenue streams had never been more critical. Today, Way is expanding across new segments of the consumer economy, enabling brands to offer transformative experiences that forge deeper, lasting connections with their audiences.

The company is backed by over $22m in capital and headquartered in Austin, Texas, with offices in Paris, France. www.way.co

SOURCE Way
King Charles was uncomfortable with comments Prince Harry made about Donald Trump.MEGA

Prince Harry's war of words with Donald Trump is making things "deeply uncomfortable" for his father, King Charles III, RadarOnline.com can reveal.

The Duke of Sussex, 41, fired off an angry and heated response after the president, 79, claimed NATO allied troops "stayed a little back, a little off the front lines," during the war in Afghanistan.

King Charles 'Horrified' by Prince Harry's 'Timing'

King Charles didn't appreciate Prince Harry's public comments about Trump.MEGA

In response to Trump's claims, Harry, who served with the British Army in Afghanistan, fired back, "I made lifelong friends there. And I lost friends there."

He cited the UK losing 457 service personnel, fuming, "Thousands of lives were changed forever. Mothers and fathers buried sons and daughters. Children were left without a parent. Families are left carrying the cost. Those sacrifices deserve to be spoken about truthfully and with respect."

"Charles understands the emotion," a palace source tells royal insider Rob Shuter, who wrote about it on Substack. "But hes horrified by the timing. This is diplomacy  not podcast politics."

Prince Harry's Comments About Trump Made a 'Sensitive Situation Far Trickier'

The Trumps had a successful state visit to the UK in September 2025.MEGA

Charles and his wife, Queen Camilla, are expected to visit Washington, D.C., later this year in honor of the United States' 250th birthday celebrations. Trump, who gets along quite well with the couple, will get to serve as the host with the most for their state visit.

"Harry's comments make an already sensitive situation far trickier," a second source revealed. "The King cant clap back  even if he agrees."

Given that Britain is one of the U.S.'s longest-standing and closest allies, the king would never consider publicly speaking out against America's head of state.

Even in the U.K., the royals are required to remain publicly neutral politically and nonpartisan, as the sitting monarch has always held weekly meetings with the current prime minister to discuss government matters.

Prince Harry Has 'Enough Problems With His Wife'

President Trump called Meghan Markle 'terrible' and called Prince Harry 'whipped.'MEGA

Trump has made comments about Harry in the past, on everything from his visa status to criticism of the duke's American wife, Meghan Markle.

"I dont want to do that," the president said in February 2025, referring to not deporting the unemployed prince, as the former royal's visa type has remained confidential during the six years he's lived in the U.S.

Trump then got in a dig about Markle, adding, "Ill leave him alone... Hes got enough problems with his wife. Shes terrible."

In April 2022, the tycoon called Harry "whipped."

"I won't use the full expression, but Harry is whipped like no person I think I've ever seen," Trump told Piers Morgan. "I'm not a fan of Meghan, I'm not a fan, and I wasn't right from the beginning. I think poor Harry is being led around by his nose."

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle Tried to Sway U.S. Voters

Prince Harry and Markle urged voters to 'reject hate speech' in the 2020 presidential election.MEGA

Harry and Markle immediately waded into U.S. politics after quitting the royal family and moving to California in 2020.

In a videotaped message ahead of the election between Trump and Democrat Joe Biden, the duo made not-so-veiled appeals to voters to oppose the then-incumbent Republican.

Harry and Markle called it the "most important election of our lifetime" while urging Americans to get out and vote.

The duke confessed, "This election, I am not able to vote in the US. But many of you may not know that I haven't been able to vote in the UK my entire life. As we approach this November, its vital that we reject hate speech, misinformation, and online negativity."

Biden ended up the winner in the 2020 presidential contest, although Trump secured a second term in 2024 by beating Kamala Harris.
A home under construction surrounded by empty lots, in Altadena, California, on 29 December 2025. Photograph: Patrick T Fallon/AFP/Getty Images (Photograph: Patrick T Fallon/AFP/Getty Images)

For a few frenetic days last January, after losing their midcentury ranch home to the wildfires that ravaged Los Angeles, Jessica and Matt Conkle thought they could see a glimmer of hope.

Their insurance company, State Farm, had sent emergency response teams to Altadena, where they lived, and they filed a claim right away. It wasnt long before they received a check that covered four months of living expenses.

Then the process bogged down. Like many homeowners, they imagined that since they had suffered a total loss they could collect on the full value of their coverage. Instead, they had to negotiate over the value of each of their lost possessions with a claims adjuster, only to have to start again with a second adjuster and then a third  a process they believe was expressly designed to deter them from moving forward.

Months went by with no discernible progress. They felt they were being shortchanged on item after item, and when they attempted to challenge the valuations State Farm was offering, they struggled to get anyone to respond.

Related: People saw dollar signs: a year after devastating wildfires, an LA community is fighting displacement

They questioned, for example, why the company thought their Waterford crystal collection would have lost more than 50% of its value when they had owned it for just two years. The insurance company asked for photos to check its condition and appeared unmoved when the Conkles said their photo collection had burned up, along with everything else.

It was all delays and denials, Jessica Conkle, a public education administrator, said. It felt like someone was training these people not to answer our questions.

It was a similar struggle with the cost of rebuilding. State Farms first offer was significantly below the market rate, the Conkles said, and they spent months haggling to increase it. To this day, they said, the money is in an escrow account, out of their reach pending a settlement with no provision for architects fees or the cost of city planning permits, without which they could not start the rebuilding process.

Were at a real breaking point, said Jessica. Its consuming all our time  and its exhausting, having to fight for what should be a relatively straightforward transaction. The way they are treating people who have lost everything is literally inhuman.

Fire survivors seeking to collect on their insurance policies in other fire-ravaged neighborhoods across the LA region report similar frustrations. Recent reports by Department of Angels, a non-profit set up by government experts in the wake of the fires, echoed the Conkles experience, as almost eight out of 10 surveyed homeowners reported a variety of obstacles including multiple adjusters, lowball estimates, fights over property lists, and poor communication. People whose houses were damaged reported even more severe frustrations with their insurance companies than those who lost everything.

Its a sign of how Los Angeless post-fire recovery has exemplified a much broader crisis facing the insurance industry in an age of climate volatility, raising troubling questions about the stability of home ownership and housing affordability  the bedrock of the American middle class.

Insurance companies citing the increasing risks and costs of climate-driven natural disasters  including fires, hurricanes and tornadoes  have lobbied state regulators into granting steep premium increases, squeezing all but the wealthiest homeowners and leaving many under-insured, if they can find insurance at all.

Many providers have scaled back coverage in high-risk areas or stopped writing new policies altogether, leaving many consumers in the hands of state-sponsored emergency insurance plans that tend to offer inferior coverage and often struggle to stay afloat financially. In California, reliance on this last-resort option known as the Fair plan has soared.

At the same time, the insurance companies themselves have never had it better. The US industry generated record profits of $169bn last year and is on target for another bonanza year in 2025, despite the Los Angeles fires and other natural disasters. The bulk of these profits come from companies investing premium income in the financial markets, which have been booming.

This disparity in fortunes between the insurers and their customers infuriates fire survivors like the Conkles and is now fueling a movement, across California and beyond, to demand an end to the industrys lobbying grip on state regulators and lawmakers, and a more equitable solution that spreads the undeniable risks associated with the climate crisis more broadly.

Related: The Los Angeles wildfires were the perfect storm. Is the city ready for the next one?

We need regulators who are willing to fight for consumers, and around the country including here in California the regulators have responded with deference to insurance companies, charged Douglas Heller, director of insurance at the Consumer Federation of America. Thats a mistake, and were paying for it.

Fighting for claims all the way to the top

Not all insurance companies have attracted the same anger. The bulk of complaints from LA fire survivors, documented both by Department of Angels and local activists in the affected areas, have been directed at State Farm, the regions largest writer of homeowner insurance, and at the Fair plan.

Delays, lowball offers and outright denials, is how one advocate, Joy Chen of the Eaton Fire Survivors Network in Altadena, characterizes the obstacles her members have faced from their insurance providers.

The insurance industry itself insists it is working diligently to process its claims. State Farm says it has paid out more than $5bn on about 13,500 claims between Altadena and the coastal communities of Malibu and Pacific Palisades and expects that figure to reach somewhere between $6bn and $7bn. Insurance claims can be complex, especially after disasters, the company says. We are committed to clear communication, listening to customer needs and addressing concerns promptly.

State Farm offered no response to questions about the Conkles criticisms of their claim process or any other specific complaint about its performance.

At the same time, insurance industry advocates bristle at what they describe as over-restrictive price controls, and say if they cannot increase premiums to cover catastrophic climate-related losses, they cannot remain profitable.

When State Farm and others stopped writing homeowner insurance in fire-prone areas in 2023, citing what State Farm calls a lack of alignment between price and risk, they spooked state officials into granting a major rate increase.

But the insurance cancellations continued regardless. And a provision that supposedly obliged insurance companies to keep writing policies in distressed areas at 85% of the rate it wrote them elsewhere proved to be largely hollow. A New York Times investigation found that the definition of these distressed zip codes was so broad it allowed the companies to fulfill their obligation with properties outside fire zones, while they continued to drop their highest-risk customers.

Consumer advocates accuse insurance companies of over-emphasizing fluctuations in their income based on the difference between premiums and claims, when in fact they make the bulk of their revenue  and profits  in the markets.

At every regulatory meeting, they ask, how can you expect us to sell policies when we have a loss on our underwriting in your state or community? Heller said. The truth is, the insurance industry has had underwriting losses in nine of the last 15 years, but in every one of those years the industry has been profitable because of investment income.

The regulators have responded with deference to insurance companies  Thats a mistake, and were paying for it Douglas Heller, Consumer Federation of America

Heller also challenged the notion that Californias system of price regulation was an obstacle to industry profitability. He pointed to other, far less regulated states in the midwest and south where insurance companies have imposed dramatic price increases and still canceled policies at an alarming rate. Wildfires turn out to be a relatively modest industry concern, accounting for about 5% of catastrophic claims, according to industry data. Hurricanes account for about 12%, while tornadoes and other convective storms, increasingly common across the midwest, account for a staggering 40%.

Another target of popular outrage has been Californias department of insurance, the states industry-regulation arm seen by its critics as a classic case of an agency captured by the corporate interests it is supposed to police. Consumer advocates give particularly low marks to the current commissioner, Ricardo Lara, who acknowledged last summer that his department had allowed itself to be bullied by the industry into climate change-related accommodations, including steep rate increases.

Consumer advocates as well as fire survivors accuse the department of failing to enforce existing California law or to impose meaningful new regulations in the wake of the fires to ensure fair treatment of homeowners who have paid for coverage and should now be receiving it.

This crisis isnt inevitable. Its a failure of leadership and enforcement, says Chen, who has been at the forefront of calls for Laras resignation. Our recovery cant wait another year without insurance benefits being paid out. And California cant afford another year of an insurance business in collapse.

Laras office did not respond to a Guardian request for comment.

One effect of the LA fires is that aggrieved consumers are paying far closer attention to both the insurance industry and the state officials it lobbies. Chen, the Eaton fire networks hard-charging leader who has a rich background in state and local politics, realized early on that insurance companies are obliged to use the same claims-processing criteria with all customers. Simply by cataloguing everyones experiences on a spreadsheet and noting the differences, her organization could start to put pressure on the industry.

Chen noticed one particularly troubling recurring problem: that State Farm and other companies were either failing to test smoke-damaged homes for carcinogens and other toxins, or declaring those homes to be safe for habitation, whereas subsequent independent testing came to dramatically different conclusions. For years  until its approach was declared illegal in court  the state Fair plan had a policy that said if you couldnt see or smell smoke damage, then a home was by definition safe.

Related: The LA wildfire survivors still living in toxic homes: We have nowhere else to go

After trying and failing to get Lara to address this and the other claims-processing issues, Chen switched gears and brought her evidence to Los Angeles county officials, who are not under the same sway of industry lobbyists and soon announced a major investigation into State Farms failure to comply with various state insurance laws and regulations.

The countys consumer protection division demanded a full documentary record of the companys fire-related work and threatened to impose fines for any instance of wrongdoing it uncovered. Chen said that as soon as the county announced its investigation, State Farm unblocked claims that had been in limbo for months and started cutting checks for hundreds of thousands of dollars.

State Farm is yet to respond to any of the specific charges listed by the county, saying only that the investigation will be a distraction from our ongoing work in California to help our customers recover from this tragedy. Asked whether payouts had accelerated in the wake of the investigation starting, a company spokesperson offered no response.

Insurance in an age of climate extremes

Behind all this wrangling lies the obstinate fact that catastrophic events have become more common and are likely to become dramatically if not exponentially worse as global temperatures increase.

Last year, according to the risk-management firm Aon, the global insurance industry saw $145bn in underwriting losses from natural catastrophes, a figure that exceeded the 21st-century annual average by a staggering 54%. Losses in 2025 were greater than $100bn in the first half of the year alone.

As private insurance companies across the US become more leery of taking on risk, state-sponsored emergency funds like the Fair plan are playing a bigger role  a Band-Aid solution, experts and government leaders say, that is neither financially sustainable nor sufficient to cover catastrophic losses when they occur.

Dave Jones, who served two terms as Californias insurance commissioner in the 2010s and now leads a climate risk thinktank at the University of California in Berkeley, agrees with the insurance industry that the surge in natural disasters is very far from business as usual but sees the crisis as too big and too complex to be tackled through industry-based solutions alone.

Were not going to price-increase our way out of a climate crisis  and were not going to deregulate our way out of a climate crisis, he said.

Jones argues that insurance companies should use their clout as institutional investors and divest from, and even sue, the fossil-fuel companies that have driven the climate crisis.

At the same time, Jones believes consumers need stronger protections to ensure they have access to insurance in the first place, and to credit them for actions they take to protect their home from the risk of wildfires or other catastrophes  something that does not often happen now.

He also believes homeowners should be given regular, realistic updates on the cost of rebuilding in the case of a total loss so they do not go under-insured. Thats been a problem for many wildfire survivors including the Conkles, who are insured for about $400,000 less than the $1.4m they believe it will cost to rebuild their house. Jones said insurance companies are increasingly turning to algorithms to calculate replacement costs, and those calculations tend to skew low, further exacerbating the problem.

That said, even the most enlightened regulatory framework and more responsible industry behavior are not going to tackle the problem at its root, as Jones sees it. Were marching toward an uninsurable future because were not doing enough or going fast enough to transition from fossil fuels and other greenhouse gas industries, he said. The background of climate change is overwhelming and will continue to overwhelm price increases and other regulatory changes. The news is not good.

Jones foresees a future of much higher prices and dramatically scaled back coverage in high-risk areas, with state governments possibly stepping in to provide home insurance subsidies to lower-income families along the lines of healthcare insurance subsidies offered by the Obama-era Affordable Care Act.

None of that grim outlook has prevented insurance companies from seizing opportunities to make money in the short term, whether through investment income or lobbying efforts that have allowed them to squeeze consumers with higher rates and slow payout schedules.

Chen sees that as an inexcusable form of opportunism at a time when people and communities are suffering, and she expects insurance companies to do a lot better.

Were not against the industry, she said. We are simply against illegal conduct.
Hedi Argent escaped Nazi Austria weeks before the outbreak of World War Two [BBC]

"I'm here to tell you the story of two children. Both children were Jews, and one of them was me," says Holocaust survivor Hedi Argent.

The 96-year-old is addressing Year 9 pupils from St Michael's Grammar School in Barnet, north London.

"I was four years old when I first heard about antisemitism," she tells them. "It was explained to me that people didn't like Jews."

Speaking at Finchley Reform Synagogue, Hedi's story is one of persecution, survival and loss.

More than 80 years after the liberation of the concentration camps, Holocaust survivors are now few in number, and the pupils listening are acutely aware they are hearing a first-hand account of a world that no longer exists.

Warning: This article contains details that some readers may find distressing

Hedi was born in Vienna in 1929. An only child, she was especially close to her older cousin, nicknamed Bubi.

"He was very kind. He was more like a big brother to me than a cousin," she says.

At school, she recalls being pushed to the back of the classroom because she was Jewish, and never being allowed to go on outings.

"I was never included in anything. I was never given a place in a team or a part in a play," she says. "I was called a filthy Jew, a dirty Jew."

After the Anschluss in 1938, when Nazi Germany annexed Austria, Hedi says life became impossible for Jewish families.

Her father lost his job as a lawyer overnight. His office was taken over and he was told to leave.

Hedi herself was expelled from school.

"The headmistress was standing outside the wrought-iron gates of the school," she says.

"She shouted very loudly so everyone could hear, 'Go away, you're expelled. We don't want Jews in our school anymore'."

The Holocaust survivor addressed an audience of north London schoolgirls [BBC]

At a time when so many Jewish families were being sent to concentration camps, Hedi's story took a different turn.

She and her parents escaped Nazi Austria and reached England just six weeks before the outbreak of World War Two, one of the small number of Jewish families granted visas.

"Once the war was declared, servants were in short supply because they were all called up into the army," she explains.

"So my parents got jobs as butler and cook in a manor house in Hertfordshire, and I went to the village school there."

For Hedi, life in England was a revelation.

"I thought I'd landed in heaven because everybody was nice to me," she says. "I had loads of friends, and children invited me to their homes. I went to birthday parties for the first time in my life."

But her cousin Bubi - the second child Hedi mentioned at the beginning of her talk - and many of her other relatives faced a different fate.

Bubi and his parents were sent to a concentration camp in Poland. His immediate family were murdered there, and Bubi himself died one day after the camp was liberated.

Seventeen of Hedi's relatives were murdered in the Holocaust.

Reflecting on that period, Hedi tells the pupils that the warning signs were visible then, just as she believes they are now.

The pupils learned about elements of the Jewish religion at the synagogue [BBC]

"It happened because Germany was in a terrible state at the time," she says.

"There was loads of unemployment, there was ill health, there was every bad thing you could think of. They needed a scapegoat. The Jews were an easy scapegoat."

"There were conspiracy theories and misinformation and fake news, and it went on and on and on until people believed it," she adds.

"And you look at the world today, and there is misinformation. There are conspiracy theories. There is fake news everywhere, about everything, and we must not let it happen again.

Her final plea to the students is simple: "We must not listen to all this stuff that pours out from social media."

Listen to the best of BBC Radio London on Sounds and follow BBC London on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to hello.bbclondon@bbc.co.uk

Related stories
Kendall Seymour in Croatia with the four previously missing children. | Courtesy Jill Seymour

WEST JORDAN, Utah  Four missing children out of West Valley City have been found in Dubrovnik, Croatia, according to the family.

Jill Seymour, aunt to three of the missing children, says the family was alerted by the FBI on Friday that the missing children, who authorities say were taken illegally to Europe by their mother, were found at a childrens center, similar to a foster home, in Croatia.

Elleshia Seymour, 35, disappeared with her children  Landon Hal Seymour, 11; Levi Parker Seymour, 8; Hazel Rae Seymour, 7; and Jacob Kurt Brady, 3  following an extended visit with them over the Thanksgiving holiday, according to West Jordan police. They were later seen on surveillance video at Salt Lake City International Airport boarding a plane for Europe.

RELATED | COURTROOM INSIDER: Urgent search for mom who fled with kids overseas fearing end times are here

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RELATED | Missing Utah children located in a Croatian orphanage, family members say

Before the alleged kidnapping, Seymour, who shared joint custody of three of the children with her ex-husband, Kendall Seymour, had posted increasingly extreme religious messages on her TikTok account, some titled Urgent Word, Brace Yourself, Zombies, and US Decimated. She spoke of darkness consuming America, urged followers to get provisions, and warned that Salt Lake City would soon be destroyed.

The children playing games during the 2-hour allotted time they are allowed to see their family. | Courtesy Jill Seymour

Jill spoke with EastIdahoNews.com on Monday, just up the hill from where the children are being kept in a childrens center. She says she, Kendall, and Kendalls fiancee, Heather, flew to Croatia as soon as possible, arriving last Sunday afternoon, Jan. 17.

Watch the interview in the player above.

We are able to see the children for a whole two hours a day. I wouldnt say theyre OK, Jill says. They are, of course, safe. They are eating. They have somewhere to sleep. They are together, which is huge, theyre out of physical harms way, But I wouldnt say theyre okay by any means.

Jill says they have learned what occurred between when Elleshia took the children from Utah on a one-way flight to Europe.

According to Jill, Elleshia had met an unidentified woman living in Croatia over TikTok, and had planned to bring the children to live with her and the womans 13-year-old son, which they did for nearly two months.

The woman reportedly did not know that Elleshia did not have full custody of her children. The womans son, who has not been named, reportedly discovered the children had been kidnapped, and sent news articles about it to his mother.

He is hugely instrumental in us locating the kids. He had a cell phone, and Googled Levis name, and thats how he found all of the news articles, Jill says. Thats where he learned the kids were kidnapped.

Jacob, the youngest of the children, asleep at the childrens center with a family member. | Courtesy Jill Seymour

The boy reportedly showed his mother and Elleshia the news articles, prompting the mother to pack Elleshias things and drive her to the police station.

From what it sounds like, allegedly a fight broke out, a verbal disagreement broke out between the two women and they were actually both arrested outside of the police department, Jill says. The 13-year-old is now in the childrens center with them.

Further detail about Elleshias arrest is unknown.

Croatia is pretty tight-lipped when somebody is going through this process. They dont have any arrest records that (are) released to the public like we do in the States, Jill says. From what weve heard from locals  shes in some type of a holding center, like a holding cell. Shes not in actual jail yet, until she has a court date.

Jill says they believe the woman had similar religious beliefs to Elleshia, and found her through her social media videos, warning others about the apocalypse.

After the Seymour family made it to Croatia, they learned more about the childrens whereabouts since they were reported missing on Dec. 2.

We learned that they did in fact fly to Amsterdam, then they flew to Italy, and from there its kind of fuzzy coming from the children, Jill says. We think that they then flew to Split, Croatia, and theyve been on a lot of boats, taking ferries to different islands, different places. The kids cant even count how many ferries and buses and things theyve been on.

Speaking more with the children, Jill says they learned about what their mother had told them about why they suddenly had to leave the United States.

Two of the children at the Childrens Center. | Courtesy Jill Seymour

Seven-year-old Hazel reportedly told her family that her mother had told them that America is a bad place and we werent safe anymore, so we had to get out of there.

I said, What do you believe, Hazel? and she said, I dont think thats true,' Jill says. So thats just a relief that they didnt think any of these things she was telling them are true. She was telling them that Utah was going to be destroyed, that all of America was going to be destroyed and that basically, an apocalypse was coming. But they are very intelligent children, and they knew that was not possible.

Jill says the struggle now is getting the children home to the United States. Between language barriers, tight-lipped law enforcement officials and little knowledge of Croatian child-custody laws, the family says the process has already been longer than they anticipated.

This country operates very differently than America as far as quickness and how documents are turned in. There is no e-filing  it doesnt exist. Youre not emailing documents back and forth  youre turning them in by hand, in print and copies, Jill says. Weve had to get everything translated into Croatian so all of the documents we have from the States have needed to get translated.

Jill says the next step in the process is to hear back from a Utah judge, get it translated, and keep working through the legal process.

We are waiting for an amended document to get signed by a judge today in Utah, then we will get that translated and turned back into the authorities here, and crossing our fingers that is enough, Jill says. Once the (Croatian) police department has concluded their investigation and decides that all of these documents are legitimate, the childrens center has custody of the children right now, and it will be up to (them) to hand over custody back to Kendall.

The conditions of the childrens center where the children are staying are abysmal according to Jill, who says she found black mold in a hallway, and children being unattended.

Its not anywhere you would want your kids to be living as far as the quality of care, or lack there of that theyre receiving, Jill says. They pretty much do what they want unless its mealtime, theyre gathered to eat. Other than that, theyre pretty much left alone, including 3-year-old Jacob, which is pretty alarming. So yes, theyre found, but this is long from over.

Jacob with a family member. | Courtesy Jill Seymour

One of the biggest concerns is the language barrier between the kids and their caregivers.

A large concern for the kids is they cant use their words, so emotions are overriding. Youre not heard until youre crying and screaming, Jill says. Its going to be a lot of undoing, a lot of therapy.

A GoFundMe has been organized to help with travel costs for the family to and from Croatia, medical costs, food and lodging, therapy, and other necessities the family and children will require.

Click here to donate.

As for now, Jill says they are meticulously seeing the children everyday for as long as they are allowed, and hoping the process will be quick to return home with them.

Its very bittersweet. Its very difficult for all the children to say goodbye every single day. They do understand that were coming back the next day, but the in-between time is so difficult, Jill says. And to go from seeing your dad and having to say goodbye every day, and then really not knowing what the next 12 to 15 hours is going to bring you.

Watch Kaitlyn Harts interview with Jill Seymour in the player above.

The post Its not over yet. Family fights for return of Utah children found in Croatia appeared first on East Idaho News.
Purple Heart veteran 'heartbroken' after thief nabs his American flag from California home.

An ailing Vietnam veteran who was honored with the coveted Purple Heart was heartbroken when a thief made off with an American flag he proudly hung on the porch at his California home.

James White, 85, decorated his stoop with an American flag to honor his two decades of service with the US Army, and to recognize the sacrifices made by his fellow infantrymen.

James White, 85, was horrified after a man stole his American flag off his porch step. KCRA 3

When he woke up one morning in January, he noticed his American flag had been snatched from his doorstep at his Sacramento home  pole and all.

His home security camera captured a white man wearing a security vest, black hat, and medical mask removing the pole with the flag still attached and disappearing down the street, according to the footage shared with KCRA.

That hurts me. That somebody would do something like that, steal a flag, White told the outlet.

White is a Vietnam War veteran decorated with the Purple Heart. KCRA 3

I fought for that flag. I mean that flag was there before I fought, but I fought for that flag. Its an American flag, its for the United States. For everybody, White added in an impassioned plea.

Whites daughter, Daisy Hernandez, said that the theft was a flagrant violation that really hurt him.

Hernandez explained that White is already dealing with more than his fair share of health conditions, including stage 4 prostate cancer and chronic kidney disease.

They have no idea who that flag belonged to or the story behind the man it belonged to. Its just not right, she told the outlet.

White spent two decades with the US Army and another two decades with the US Postal Service. KCRA 3

In his heyday, White was a tanker in the Fourth of the 68th Armor Regiment. He was briefly stationed in Germany before he was relocated to Vietnam at the start of the war, which spanned most of his military career.

White candidly told the outlet that they certainly wouldnt want to be in Vietnam during the war  on account of the freakishly large snakes his unit found in the forests.

After White retired from the military, he spent another two decades working for the US Postal Service.

His family filed a police report in hopes of tracking down the thief and the wayward flag.
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The decision to join UNCLOS comes after 40 years of delays, opening a new front with Thailand over the disputed oil fields off Koh Kood Island. In 2001, then Thai PM Thaksin Shinawatra signed an agreement with his Cambodian counterpart Hun Sen, for joint exploitation, but this never materialised and is now contested by Bangkok. The issue ties in with the 2016 arbitration on Chinas "nine-dash line with which Beijing claims most of the South China Sea.

Milan (AsiaNews/Agencies)  After more than 40 years of waiting, Phnom Penh finally decided to ratify the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), a treaty agreed to in 1982 that establishes a global legal framework for the oceans and seas, regulating territorial waters and resource use.

Despite signing the treaty in 1983, Cambodia remained the only ASEAN country that had not ratified it. On 16 January, during its fifth session, Cambodias National Assembly in Phnom Penh passed a bill to this effect, and the Cambodian Senate is expected to approve it very soon.

It is not hard to see this development as a side effect of Cambodias conflict with Thailand, which has seen the two countries clash in recent months over the border issue, fuelled by nationalist sentiments on both sides.

The latest outbreak of fighting  which resulted in dozens of casualties on both sides  was halted by a ceasefire reached on 27 December.

But thousands of people were displaced from the areas affected by the violence, and political negotiations between Bangkok and Phnom Penh are struggling to get off the ground, partly because of Thailands upcoming parliamentary election on 8 February.

Against this backdrop, Cambodia's decision to ratify UNCLOS appears to be a further attempt to internationalise the crisis, focusing on the sea, another area pitting the two countries against each other.

In fact, during the height of fighting, there was talk that the Thai navy could close the Gulf of Thailand, cutting off Cambodia's sea lines of communication, a possibility Bangkok denied.

But the issue is much broader and stems from the 1907 Franco-Siamese Treaty, which did not define any maritime border between the then Kingdom of Siam and French-ruled Cambodia.

Thus, both countries have historically asserted claims to the island of Koh Kood (which is under Thai sovereignty) and, more importantly, to approximately 26,000 square kilometres of surrounding waters, an area that, according to surveys, could be exploited for offshore oil.

In 2001, the then Thai government of Thaksin Shinawatra, who was on good terms with Cambodian leader Hun Sen, attempted to settle the issue through an agreement, the Memorandum of Understanding 44, which envisioned joint exploitation of the oil fields, but it remained a dead letter.

Nationalist circles in Thailand are now increasingly pressing for its cancellation, hence, Phnom Penh's move. Fully aware that its naval forces cannot compete with the Thai navy, Cambodia is trying to play the UNCLOS card to safeguard what it believes to be its rights.

The affair has another important aspect, namely the issue of exclusive economic zones, a hot issue in the nearby South China Sea, due to China's unilateral stance in enforcing its own maritime border, the nine-dash line.

This is at the heart of the dispute between China and the Philippines and has recently seen numerous shows of force at sea.

Beijing also claims islands, atolls, and offshore areas within the exclusive economic zones of Vietnam, Malaysia, and Brunei (as well as the "rebel island" of Taiwan).

These countries had appealed to UNCLOS for arbitration, which came in 2016 when Beijings nine-dash line was ruled to have no legal basis.

Yet, despite ratifying UNCLOS in 1996 and reaffirming recently its support for multilateralism, the People's Republic of China has never recognised this ruling and continues to operate within what it believes to be its own maritime borders.

Up to now, within ASEAN, Cambodia had played off Beijing, using its failure to ratify UNCLOS to block any joint position regarding the 2016 arbitration.

Now, just as the Philippines chairs the body that brings together Southeast Asian countries, it will be harder for Phnom Penh to renege on any act by a body it intends to appeal to in order to resolve its dispute with Thailand.
by Nirmala Carvalho

One of India's highest honours was bestowed upon the Mumbai neonatologist who drastically cut infant mortality. Founder of India's first milk bank, she also put her work in the service of women in the city slums. Many times, I have felt God holding my hands, she said, and This is what you have to do.

Mumbai (AsiaNews)  On India's Republic Day, Dr Armida Fernandez, founder and trustee of Society for Nutrition, Education and Health Action (SNEHA), was included among the recipients of the prestigious Padma Shri Award. A Catholic, she is a former professor of neonatology and dean of LTMG Hospital in Sion.

Granted by the Government of India, the award recognises her lifelong commitment to improving maternal, child, and paediatric health in India, especially in poor urban areas.

Next Thursday, Dr Fernandez will also receive a papal honour for her long service.

I truly believe that God has a role and a purpose for each of us, when he brings us into this earth, Dr Armida Fernandez said, speaking to AsiaNews. I have shared this several times. I have felt God holding my hands and telling me - 'This is what you have to do next'.

Dr Fernandez, who lives in Bandra, attends Mass daily at the Basilica of the Mount or at St Andrew's Church. I receive Jesus in communion to go out to help others, she explained.

In 1977, Padma Shri awardee started the Department of Neonatology at the Lokmanya Tilak Municipal General Hospital (LTMG), informally known as the Sion Hospital.

In the late 1980s, when I was working as a paediatrician and neonatologist in paediatrics, babies were dying. The head of the department told me: Please leave everything you're doing and concentrate on how to bring down babies deaths. That was God telling me what to do...

God spoke through the head of the department, telling me to do something about infant mortality in the intensive care unit (ICU) for premature babies. It was heartbreaking to see so many babies die, Fernandez said. We were losing 70 per cent of them to diarrhoea and sepsis. I instinctively knew there was something we were not doing right.

After many days of careful analysis, she identified the cause of the diarrhoea in contaminated formula and baby bottles.

We were delivering over 8,000 babies per year at that time! Even the smallest compromise on hygiene when nurses rush around rinsing hands in haste or dont sterilise feeding bottles thoroughly can put premature babies at high risk, she explained.

So I finally decided to do away with formula milk and feeding bottles, and got mothers to step into the ICU to nurse the babies. There is nothing more healing than a mothers touch, she added.

As mortality rates began to drop, Dr Fernandez began her tireless campaign for breastfeeding. Since not all mothers could produce enough milk, she decided to use other mothers' milk to feed the neediest infants.

We persuaded and encouraged mothers to donate their milk to other mothers, she noted.

After a fellowship at Oxford in this area, Dr Fernandez opened the first milk bank in 1989, ensuring that newborns would receive the essential nutrients from breast milk. Today, the Sion Human Milk Bank saves the lives of about three dozen babies every day.

My team at the hospital got healthy lactating mothers to express surplus milk, which was then pasteurised and saved. With the arrival of HIV detection tests, the mothers were also tested for HIV, she said.

In less than four years, infant mortality at Sion Hospital dropped from 70 per cent to 12 per cent.

Bishop Allwyn D'silva, then Fr Allwyn D'silva, was working in Dharavi, Asia's largest Slum, Dr Fernandez noted. He told me that he had some money and said, 'why don't you and your department from Sion hospital work in the slums.

Thus, we began working in the slums in Bombay-Dharavi, Kurla, Wadala. Then I realised, we cannot work only in the hospitals. We need to change behaviour. Social change was essential, she explained.

Seeing the success of this simple but remarkably effective idea, Dr Fernandez decided to perform her work with the poor people living in slums who desperately needed help.

Initially, she organised field trips once a week, accompanied by a group of doctoral students to whom she taught neonatology.

Then, in 1999, she founded SNEHA, a Mumbai-based organisation focused on maternal and child health and women's empowerment.

When I started SNEHA, I was at a relative's wedding where I met a cousin who said to me: You want to work in the slums! Take my house in Nashik District in Maharashtra, and sell it and use the funds for your slum projects. The next day unfortunately he passed away, but his widow sold the house and gave me the money for the work in the slums. This was God once again speaking to me, telling me: 'You have to work in the slums'.

For nearly three decades, SNEHA has been working in the fields of maternal and child health and nutrition and the prevention of violence against women and children in the city's slums.

Even in palliative care, God took my only child, my daughter Romilla who died of cancer. I saw her suffering, and asked myself what I can do for others with cancer, and started palliative care. Today Romila Palliative Care (RPC), named after my daughter, serves as a reassuring centre for patients suffering from life-limiting illnesses, she explained.

For Dr Fernandez, We cannot take credit for anything we do in life, attributing the Padma Shri award to all those who worked with her.

God talks through different ways, through voices, through situations and I think that is what is happening all my life. From the beginning, I had the best teams.

In Sion hospital I had a good department, in SNEHA and in palliative care, I have an amazing team of committed and dedicated people working together. That's the story of my life, Dr Fernandez said.
by Melani Manel Perera

Some officers were detained and suspended after Father Milan Priyadarshana was beaten while returning home from an evening service. This morning, the Archdiocese of Colombo organised a silent demonstration against police violence and abuse.

Colombo (AsiaNews)  The brutal attack on a Catholic priest by police officers on the evening of 24 January has caused a stir in Sri Lanka.

The clergyman, Father Milan Priyadarshana, serves as estate manager at a church-run farm in Kotadeniyawa. He was attacked in Gampaha, a city northeast of Colombo, while returning from a service at the Dippitigoda church. At the time of the incident, he was riding a motorcycle and wearing clerical clothing.

According to Father Milan, the suspects beat him and then abandoned him on the side of the road. The priest was later admitted to Negombo Hospital for treatment.

Following a complaint, six police officers accused of the assault were remanded in custody until 29 January, when they are scheduled to appear for identification as ordered by a court. Meanwhile, all six have been suspended from duty.

To express their opposition to this violent police attack and support for the attacked priest, Catholic clergy organised a silent protest this morning in front of the Negombo Municipal Council building that lasted about an hour, along the main Colombo-Puttalama road.

The event was attended exclusively by priests and religious from the Negombo area of the Archdiocese of Colombo. Those present recited the rosary holding signs slamming the attack that read: We condemn physical and mental abuse" and "Father Milan, we are with you."

Father Jude Krishantha, communications director for the Archdiocese of Colombo, spoke to the media about the incident.

We have gathered here to declare that the police have no right to inflict physical or mental violence on any citizen of our country, he said.

If a priest had to face such an unfortunate incident today, it is impossible to imagine what the citizens of the country will have to face in the future. That is why we have expressed our opposition even through a silent protest," he went on to say.

As religious leaders, he added, we call on the president and all those who handle the law to ensure that the police do not allow such physical and mental violence against any citizen, not just a religious leader. Such wrongdoings must stop if our country is to move on the right path.

We strongly condemn this attack on one of our brother priests, Sister Malathi Dassanayake of the Sadasarana Congregation told AsiaNews. To show our solidarity with him, we are silently protesting at this place. We condemn any attack on human life, on an unarmed person, whether ordained or lay," she added.
After years of negotiations, the conclusion of a comprehensive trade agreement has been announced, which reduces tariffs, facilitates trade and investment, and strengthens strategic cooperation, including in the areas of security and defence. The deal follows increased tensions with the United States and competition with China. For New Delhi, the move reinforces the idea of India at the centre of the economic and geopolitical balance between the West and the Global South.

New Delhi (AsiaNews/Agencies)  India and the European Union have announced the conclusion of negotiations for a comprehensive trade agreement, in response to trade tensions triggered by tariffs imposed by the US administration of Donald Trump.

According to a statement from the European Commission, the EU and India annually trade goods and services worth over 180 billion (US$ 215 billion). The agreement is expected to double European exports of goods to India by 2032, thanks to the elimination or reduction of tariffs on 96.6 per cent of the value of European shipments.

In a video message shared on X by Indian Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that the agreement offers big opportunities for both sides and covers an area that represents 25 per cent of global gross domestic product and a third of international trade.

This will strengthen both trade and the global supply chain, he said. Speaking in Hindi, Modi addressed India's manufacturing sectors: I congratulate all those attached with sectors such as textiles, gems and jewellery and leather and shoes as this pact will be very helpful to all of you. This trade deal will not only empower manufacturing in India but will also further expand sectors linked to services.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen also hailed the agreement as a historic moment. In an X post on Tuesday, she wrote: Europe and India are making history today. We have concluded the mother of all deals. She also stressed that the deal is only the beginning and that the two parties will grow our strategic relationship to be even stronger.

In concrete terms, the agreement provides for a significant reduction in Indian tariffs on some European products. Tariffs on European wines, currently at 150 per cent, will be reduced to 75 per cent and subsequently to 20 per cent, while those on olive oil will drop from 45 per cent to 0 per cent over a five-year period.

The agreement also represents a significant opportunity for European automakers and provides for a drastic cut in tariffs on cars imported from the EU, to as low as 10 per cent, significantly opening the vast Indian market to groups like Volkswagen and Renault for the first time.

The Indian market has been dominated by local and Asian manufacturers, particularly Suzuki and Hyundai, which offer affordable, compact models that are highly popular with consumers, while European manufacturers currently maintain a market share of less than 3 per cent.

India is the world's third-largest automotive market after the United States and China, and sales could exceed six million vehicles annually by 2030.

The agreement, however, maintains certain protections for sectors deemed sensitive by New Delhi, particularly agriculture and certain categories of small-engine vehicles, which will remain excluded or subject to specific safeguards.

The agreement goes beyond tariff reductions to include non-tariff measures aimed at facilitating trade and investment, such as simplified customs procedures, greater regulatory predictability, common rules on procurement and services, and tools to incentivise bilateral investments.

In parallel, India and the EU have also signed a Security and Defence Partnership. An EU briefing paper specifies that this is a partnership for maritime security, defence industry and technology, cyber and hybrid threats, space and counterterrorism.

The agreement was announced during von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa's visit to New Delhi for a summit with Modi, and follows criticism from the Trump administration of the European Union for advancing the agreement with India.

In August, Trump imposed tariffs of up to 50 per cent on Indian products, adding an additional 25 per cent because of New Delhi's purchases of Russian oil.

We have put 25% tariffs on India for buying Russian oil. Guess what happened last week? The Europeans signed a trade deal with India, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told ABC News Sunday.

According to some commentators, however, the agreement between India and the EU was on the table long before the United States began imposing tariffs on its allies, particularly since Prime Minister Modi's first term, which began in 2014.

In 2019, India withdrew from the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), which included several Asian countries, fearing that it would primarily benefit East Asian economies, particularly China, worsening Indias trade deficit, putting pressure on sensitive sectors such as manufacturing and agriculture.

The Indian government deemed the safeguard clauses against an increase in low-cost imports insufficient, and the benefits in services and the mobility of skilled workers, areas that are central to the Indian economy, too limited.

Since then, India has focused on more targeted agreements with Western partners deemed economically complementary, including Great Britain and the European Union.

The ideal conditions for signing the agreement emerged in recent years. In addition to New Delhi's rapprochement with Beijing, both India and Europe are aiming to diversify their international relations, without abandoning economic and security ties with the United States.

For India, this is the most significant trade agreement ever negotiated with other countries, and it reinforces the belief at home that trade liberalisation is a key lever for the goal of becoming a developed country by 2047.

At the same time, it also reinforces the idea, repeatedly reiterated by Prime Minister Modi, that India is a bridge between the West and the global South, at the centre of global economic and geopolitical balances.
Human rights and religious organisations denounce the increase in xenophobic rhetoric ahead of the 8 February vote. In a joint statement, they call on parties, candidates and the media to condemn hate speech. Criticism of the government's policies Takaichi: We want a society where the human dignity of all is guaranteed.

Tokyo (AsiaNews/Agencies) - Hate speech is not acceptable in election campaigns. This is the strong message from a group of human rights and religious organisations in a joint statement against incitement to xenophobia. Japan is grappling with its shortest post-war election campaign, following the dissolution of the lower house ahead of the 8 February 2026 elections, confirmed by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, who aims to strengthen support for the ruling coalition between the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and Nippon Ishin.

The statement - signed, among others, by Christian NGOs such as Gaikikyo, which is committed to protecting the rights of foreign residents in Japan - is addressed to political parties and potential candidates. It denounces the increase in manifestations of hatred against the Kurdish people and Kurdish children living in the country. It also condemns widespread stereotypes such as foreigners receive preferential treatment and commit more crimes as false. Meanwhile, the false belief in a silent invasion is widespread, fuelled over the years by political campaigns on social media, such as the Japanese First campaign by the anti-immigration Sanseito party.

Among the signatories is the NGO Solidarity Network with Migrants Japan (SMJ), founded in 1997, which last year brought together 274 organisations in a statement against anti-foreigner messages in the campaign for the Upper House elections in July 2025. In the current electoral context, the measures taken by the government towards non-Japanese citizens are also denounced. The latter do not have the right to vote, and becoming a public official or receiving social benefits is not recognised as a legal right, the statement says. Thus, xenophobic agitation is described as extremely dangerous.

In the text, the group reports on the tense climate that accompanied the Upper House elections six months ago, with a veritable race to incite xenophobia, confirmed by the rise of the far-right Sanseito party. Nor is any leniency shown towards the decisions of the Takaichi administration. It is pursuing restrictive measures, including stricter controls on residence permits and the exclusion of foreign nationals from the free education system. Furthermore, since May 2025, the Zero Illegal Immigration Plan for the Safety and Protection of the Japanese People has been aggressively enforced, with deportations doubling compared to 2024.

The organisations reiterate that the belief that foreigners have access to preferential treatment - in areas such as healthcare, pensions and scholarships - is unfounded and false. What is being denounced is legal discrimination. For example, Japanese citizens receive a fine of up to 50,000 yen for failing to report a change of address, while foreigners receive a fine of up to 200,000 yen. All of this is incompatible with the United Nations International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD), to which Japan is a signatory.

Since October last year (Takaichi has been leading the country since 21 October 2025, ed.), demonstrations and street protests against foreigners and Muslims have increased, and hate speech online has multiplied, the signatories of the joint statement note. Meanwhile, everyday discrimination has also worsened, as some people are denied access to housing or parking spaces, their credit card contracts are not renewed, and their classmates tell them that Japanese people have priority, they say.

Ahead of 8 February 2026, the NGOs are calling for: candidates to refrain from prejudice against foreigners; condemnation by the government and local administrations of hate speech; verification by the media of campaign issues, accompanied by condemnation of rumours and hate speech, rather than treating them as legitimate opinions.

We fear that these elections will see a further incitement to xenophobia, spreading fear among people of foreign origin and leading to violent attacks aimed at silencing voices that oppose discrimination, the signatories conclude. We want to create a society where there is no discrimination based on nationality or ethnicity, where the human dignity of all is guaranteed, where we can have hope for the future and live in peace.
by Vladimir Rozanskij

Prime Minister Kobakhidze declares himself available at any time for discussions with members of the pro-Western opposition. But these same forces, which do not recognise the legitimacy of his government, remind him of their leaders in prison and the approval of the law against foreign agents. Meanwhile, Tbilisi is cut off from trade agreements between Azerbaijan and Armenia.

Tbilisi (AsiaNews) - Political and social tension in Georgia remains high, given the Georgian Dream regime's attempt to outlaw all opposition. Many of their representatives are in prison, with appeals from former president Salome Zurabisvili to bring down the current government, considered illegitimate, and to call new parliamentary elections to respect the will of the people with transparency. In response, Prime Minister Iraklij Kobakhidze declares himself available at any time to participate in debates with members of the pro-Western opposition.

In a long message on social media, the head of government affirms the need to restore society's right to open discussion, accusing his opponents of being the real culprits behind the restrictions on freedom of expression, calling them Georgian agents of the international Deep State.

In particular, Kobakhidze takes aim at one of the leaders of the Akhali party and former owner of Mtavari TV, Nika Gvaramija, considered one of the main culprits behind the suppression of freedom of speech.

Sentenced in 2019 to three years in prison on implausible corruption charges, Gvaramija was pardoned in 2023 by then-President Zurabisvili, only to be re-arrested for refusing to participate in the work of the illegitimate parliament. He is now one of the most frequent targets of criticism from Georgian Dream, partly because of his close ties to his godfather, former President Mikhail Saakashvili, who has been behind bars for over five years.

Kobakhidze said that everything changed after 2008, when, under Saakashvili's presidency, Georgia found itself in conflict with Russia because of the interference of powerful Western forces, which led to a dramatic weakening of the sovereignty of the entire European Union and a decline in its democratic values. Repeating typical Russian propaganda arguments, the prime minister spoke of Europe's pseudo-liberal values, artificially linked to LGBT issues and gender identity, green policies and much more.

This, in his opinion, has prevented a healthy debate within European society, polluting the social climate even in Georgia, which was then saved by the initiative of the Georgian Dream party founded by the pro-Russian oligarch Bidzina Ivanishvili.

According to this reconstruction, Nika Gvaramija was entrusted with the main task of preventing true freedom of expression, spreading everything that is foreign to us in the media, preventing people from distinguishing truth from lies, and imposing a climate of division and collective hysteria in which normal people could not participate.

Now one of the opposition leaders, Zurab Dzaparidze of the Girci  More Freedom party, has accepted Kobakhidze's challenge, inviting him to a debate in person and in any format, while Irakli Pavlenishvili, a member of the National Movement, the party of Saakashvili and Gvaramija, rejects the accusations, stating that it was Ivanishvili and his spokespeople who killed public debate in Georgia.

He therefore calls for the release of all political prisoners in order to bring the country out of the deep crisis it finds itself in, by amending repressive and electoral legislation. Grigol Gegelja of the Lelo party has also offered to participate in debates with members of the ruling caste, even though, in his opinion, the ban on opposition parties proposed to the constitutional court makes the situation rather grotesque.

PalitraNews journalist Merab Metreveli notes that in the past, Georgian Dream politicians used to come to televised debates, but after the approval of the Russian law against foreign agents, none of them have been seen or heard on independent channels and radio stations, limiting themselves to making proclamations on state media, where, incidentally, they have never invited any opponents.

Gvaramija himself warns from prison that Georgia is excluding itself from all international relations, as seen in the agreement in Davos a few days ago, in which Armenia and Azerbaijan decided to route commercial transport through the new Trump peace route, which excludes Georgia from the itineraries because of our government, which has made us an international rogue state.
27 January 2026 14:03 (UTC+04:00)

Elnur Enveroglu Read more

Few bilateral relationships in todays geopolitically fractured landscape are as quietly effective as that between Azerbaijan and Israel. Built on mutual trust, strategic alignment and pragmatic cooperation, the partnership has evolved well beyond diplomacy into a model of how political confidence can translate into economic dynamism. The recent meeting between Azerbaijans Minister of Economy, Mikayil Jabbarov, and Israels Foreign Minister, Gideon Saar, followed by the AzerbaijanIsrael Business Forum, offered a timely illustration of how this relationship is entering a more mature, investment-driven phase.

The discussions in Baku, reinforced by the presidents meeting on the margins of the World Economic Forum in Davos, underline a simple reality: Azerbaijan and Israel no longer view each other merely as partners of convenience, but as long-term economic allies. The Business Forum, which gathered companies and institutions across sectors ranging from agriculture and pharmaceuticals to cybersecurity, logistics and water management, was not a ceremonial exercise. It was a practical step towards deepening a partnership that is already delivering tangible results.

Looking from this perspective, Israels contribution to Azerbaijans economic modernisation is often understated. For example, Azerbaijan's oil exports to Israel to date and SOCAR's recent participation in the TAMAR project in the Eastern Mediterranean can be noted as one of Azerbaijan's important successes. Here, Azeraijans growing export volumes of oil in 2024 are significant. Looking through the figures for JanuarySeptember 2024, it shows that Azerbaijan exported 2.37 million tons of crude oil to Israel. The value of these exports was over $1.46 billion, and this represented about 13.5 % of Azerbaijans total crude exports in the period. Besides, Azerbaijans nvestment in Israels Tamar gas field, which means also about 10 % stake in Tamar, opens new horizons for long-term revenue potential as well as giving access to the Eastern Mediterranean. Reports estimate significant returns from the Tamar stake, with around $715 million in revenue in 2024 and projections exceeding $1.2 billion for 20252026. So, this move shifts Azerbaijans energy engagement with Israel from pure commodity supply to asset ownership and joint development, laying the foundations for deeper long-term relations. In short, the Tamar stake represents a qualitative shift from selling resources to owning production shares, which can yield long-term dividends and geopolitical leverage. In simple terms, Azerbaijan expanded its oil export footprint to Israel, with Israel consistently among the key destinations for crude supply through 2024.

While energy cooperation has historically dominated headlines, Israels real impact lies in knowledge transfer, technology and innovation-driven sectors. Israeli expertise in high-value agriculture, advanced irrigation systems, water management and agrotechnology aligns closely with Azerbaijans ambition to boost productivity, sustainability and export potential in its non-oil economy.

In pharmaceuticals and healthcare, Israels globally competitive ecosystem, which is built on research, innovation and efficient regulation, offers Azerbaijan a blueprint for scaling domestic production, improving supply chains and reducing external dependency. As Azerbaijan works to strengthen its pharmaceutical manufacturing base and health security, Israeli know-how provides both credibility and acceleration.

Equally important is Israels experience in cybersecurity, fintech and high technologies. As Azerbaijan positions itself as a regional logistics, digital and financial hub connecting Europe, Central Asia, and the Middle East, cooperation with Israel adds sophistication and resilience to this ambition. Israeli firms bring not only technology, but also global networks, compliance standards and an innovation mindset that strengthens Azerbaijans overall investment profile.

Therefore, this cooperation is far from one-sided. For Israel, Azerbaijan represents a stable, trustworthy, strategically located and business-friendly partner in a complex region. For this reason, a brief excursion into history is sufficient to show the true reasons for the emergence of strong trust and confidence in cooperation between the two states. It can be particularly noted that Israel has a special role in expanding Azerbaijan's capabilities in the military field. After the collapse of the Soviet Union and the outbreak of the First Karabakh War, Azerbaijan faced a de facto international arms embargo. While there was no single, universal UN ban, several factors combined to restrict Bakus access to weapons severely. For instance, OSCE-led diplomacy aimed at freezing the conflict, Russias dominant role as Armenias main arms supplier, Western reluctance to arm a newly independent state in an active conflict zone, export-control regimes and third-party component restrictions, and many such nuances were real but painful obstructions. This meant that even when countries were politically willing, arms sales often failed due to technical or legal issues. Israels ability to supply arms - initially modestly, later extensively - rested on three decisive advantages: export autonomy, strategic convergence and quiet, non-politicised cooperation. Generally, these experiences shaped Azerbaijans long-term defence and foreign-policy thinking, pushing it toward diversification over dependence, a preference for partners with full export control over their systems, scepticism toward suppliers constrained by third-party approvals, and a gradual emphasis on domestic defence production in later years. In many ways, the constraints of the 1990s explain how Azerbaijans later deep defence ties were formed with Israel.

Today, Azerbaijans diversified economy, improving legal framework and generous investment incentives - highlighted by Minister Jabbarov at the Forum - make it an attractive destination for Israeli capital seeking new markets and production bases.

Azerbaijan also offers Israel access to broader regional markets, particularly through its transport corridors, logistics infrastructure and growing role in Eurasian connectivity. Israeli companies operating in Azerbaijan are not merely investing in a single market; they are positioning themselves within a wider economic geography.

The signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the National Confederation of Entrepreneurs (Employers) Organisations of Azerbaijan and the Manufacturers Association of Israel further institutionalises this synergy. It signals an understanding that sustained cooperation requires structured dialogue between business communities, not just government-to-government engagement.

Moreover, what sets the Azerbaijan-Israel Business Forum apart is its focus on implementation. The B2B and B2G meetings reflected a shift from conceptual cooperation to deal-making, project financing and regulatory alignment. As Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar rightly noted, enhancing direct contacts between business circles is essential for turning political goodwill into economic output.

The emphasis on expanding the legal framework, increasing trade turnover and accelerating joint investment projects suggests that both sides recognise the need for predictability and scale. Trust may open doors, but legal certainty and commercial logic keep them open.

The Business Forum was therefore more than an event. It was a statement of intent that Azerbaijan and Israel are ready to elevate their cooperation from successful collaboration to shared prosperity.
27 January 2026 22:28 (UTC+04:00)

By AzerNEWS Staff

When Donald Trump returned to the White House for a second presidential term in 2025, many international analysts predicted that his foreign policy would avoid costly new wars. Having left office in 2021 amid controversy over his first-term Middle East record, including heightened tension with Iran, Trumps re-election prompted expectations that he would lean less on kinetic force and more on economic tools to confront adversaries such as Tehran and Beijing. For China, this has largely held true: tariffs, export controls and technology bans have become Washingtons preferred levers of competition. But with Iran, the record so far tells a more complex and contradictory story. It is the one that blends intense economic pressure with the very real possibility of military escalation, especially in the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz.

Within weeks of his inauguration, Trump revived a more aggressive version of his 20182020 maximum pressure policy against Iran. A National Security Presidential Memorandum signed in February 2025 directed U.S. agencies to intensify sanctions with clear strategic goals: reduce Iranian oil exports to zero, dismantle Tehrans nuclear and ballistic missile capabilities, and constrain its regional influence. This campaign combined traditional sanctions with stricter enforcement and targeted financial measures aimed at isolating Iran economically, while also warning foreign firms and insurers away from doing business with Tehran.

In theory, this approach signalled Trumps preference to starve Iran of economic lifelines, forcing it to negotiate or capitulate without resorting to direct combat. The economic strategy certainly deepened Tehrans domestic struggles and eroded confidence in its political and financial institutions. But the policys implementation quickly intersected with larger regional dynamics in ways that fuelled military escalation rather than suppressing it.

By mid-2025, the tensions that had been simmering between Israel and Iran over alleged nuclear activity and proxy conflicts escalated into direct conflict. U.S. forces conducted strikes on key Iranian nuclear facilities, a dramatic departure from pure economic pressure. Tehran responded with increased military rhetoric and threats against U.S. interests and allies in the region.

One flashpoint in this escalation has been the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow waterway linking the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman. Roughly 20% of the worlds crude oil and liquefied natural gas pass through this chokepoint. Iran has periodically threatened to close or mine the strait in retaliation for U.S. or Israeli strikes - a move that would have immediate and severe global economic implications.

Washington, for its part, has responded with warnings that any attempt to close Hormuz would be economic suicide for Tehrans economy, given its own dependence on oil exports. Yet despite these warnings, Irans parliament even voted on non-binding plans to close the strait - a political signal of rising hostility.

In late January 2026, President Trump openly described a U.S. naval armada positioned near Iran as both a deterrent and a means to reinforce U.S. capacity for defence though he stated he hoped military conflict could still be avoided. Iran, however, responded that any U.S. attack would be treated as a declaration of all-out war. The deployment of the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln and accompanying destroyers signals that the administration is willing to back economic pressure with credible military deterrence, a combination that blurs the line between diplomacy and confrontation.

Trumps Iran policy in his second term is therefore not easily reduced to a single strategy of economic pressure instead of war. The reality is more nuanced: his administration has sought to integrate economic sanctions with force projection, punitive strikes, and high-stakes deterrence in an attempt to check Irans nuclear ambitions and regional influence. This hybrid approach reflects Washingtons belief that economic tools alone may not compel Tehran to capitulate, especially given Irans historical record of resisting external pressure.

It also reveals the inherent tension in U.S. strategy: heavy economic sanctions squeeze Irans economy, but they can also incentivise Tehran to respond with asymmetric military measures, including threats to the maritime routes that underpin global energy markets. The Strait of Hormuz remains the ultimate geopolitical lever in this confrontation, capable of turning economic sanctions into a broader strategic crisis with worldwide repercussions.
27 January 2026 17:56 (UTC+04:00)

Laman Ismayilova Read more

The Azerbaijan Culture Ministry has taken significant steps to modernize the management system of state theatres across Azerbaijan, Azernews reports.

The new measures are designed to streamline operations, enhance efficiency, and strengthen the overall governance of the nation's theatre institutions.

In line with the requirements of the "Law on Theatre and Theatre Activities," the charters, organizational structures, and staff schedules of state theatres have been revised and officially approved.

These changes were developed through extensive consultations involving theatre directors, sector experts, and relevant commissions, beginning last year.

The newly approved regulations are designed to streamline theatre operations, improve management efficiency, and clearly define functional responsibilities.

The measures aim to ensure sustainable development for theatre institutions, elevate the quality of both creative and administrative work, and strengthen transparency and consistency in management processes.

In addition, the recently adopted "Azerbaijani Culture2040" Concept sets forth key strategic goals for the development of theatre arts. Within this framework, the legal foundation for theatre will be gradually refined, including potential updates to theatre legislation, supporting the future growth of Azerbaijani theatre and reinforcing its position on the international cultural stage.

On January 14, 2026, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev signed a decree formally approving the "Azerbaijani Culture  2040" Cultural Concept, a long-term strategic plan designed to guide the nation's cultural development over the next twenty years.

The Concept emphasizes harmonizing tradition with modernity, safeguarding national identity while fostering sustainable growth in the cultural sector and enhancing Azerbaijan's presence on the international stage.

Its aim is to establish a contemporary cultural framework that upholds national and moral values while promoting systematic, long-term development across all cultural fields.

Overseen by the Culture Ministry, the Concept proposes a phased and integrated implementation strategy spanning three periods: 20262030, 20312035, and 20362040, with each stage featuring clear objectives and institutional mechanisms to monitor and ensure progress.
27 January 2026 13:42 (UTC+04:00)

Laman Ismayilova Read more

January 27 marks the 120th anniversary of the birth of Sara Ashurbayli, a distinguished historian, State Prize laureate, holder of the Shohrat Order, and an Honored Scholar of Azerbaijan, Azernews reports.

To commemorate her extraordinary contributions, the Jafar Jabbarly Republic Youth Library has curated a special bibliographic review and virtual book exhibition titled "A Prominent Researcher of National History".

The bibliographic review features valuable insights from notable figures about Ashurbayli's life and work, as well as articles highlighting her groundbreaking scholarly contributions.

Noteworthy texts include Ziyadkhan Aliyev's "Sara Ashurbayli's World of Colors", Karim Shukurov's "World Women's Historiography: Personality and Legend", and Lala Azeri's "A Scholar Illuminating National Historical Memory".

The review also includes a comprehensive collection of bibliographic descriptions, brief annotations, and a list of periodical press articles related to Sara Ashurbayli's works, as well as books written by her and about her. This extensive material is now available on the library's official website.

Meanwhile, the virtual book exhibition showcases a series of Ashurbayli's seminal works, such as "The Shirvanshah State", "The History of Baku", and "Encyclopedia of Baku", published in both Azerbaijani and Russian.

Articles like "Sara Ashurbayli's Unmatched Contributions to the National-Level Study of Azerbaijan and Baku History", Sara Ashurbayli's World of Colors", and "The Aristocratic Composure of Sara Ashurbayli" are also featured in full.

This unique virtual exhibition can be explored on the library's official website, offering a deeper insight into the life and legacy of one of Azerbaijan's most revered historians.
27 January 2026 10:22 (UTC+04:00)

Qabil Ashirov Read more

Speaker of Azerbaijans Milli Majlis, Sahiba Gafarova, has arrived in the United Arab Emirates on a working visit to take part in the 2nd Session of the Women Parliamentarians Forum of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean.

Azernews reports, citing the Press and Public Relations Department of the Milli Majlis, that the visit is aimed at participating in the forums official events.

At Abu Dhabi International Airport, the parliamentary delegation led by the Milli Majlis speaker was welcomed by Saqr Ghobash, Speaker of the UAE Federal National Council; Maryam bint Theneya, Deputy Speaker of the Federal National Council and Chair of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterraneans Women Parliamentarians Forum; Azerbaijans Ambassador to the UAE, Elchin Bagirov; and other officials.

As part of the visit, Sahiba Gafarova is scheduled to address the session of the Women Parliamentarians Forum and hold a series of meetings.
27 January 2026 11:42 (UTC+04:00)

On January 27, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev participated in the opening ceremony of the mirror sheet production plant of Azermirror LLC in the Sumgayit Industrial Park, Azernews reports.

Minister of Economy Mikayil Jabbarov first briefed the head of state on the industrial zones established across the country and the activities of the Sumgayit Industrial Park.

It was reported that currently, 104 enterprises operating in industrial zones nationwide have commenced production activities. To date, more than 7 billion manats have been invested in industrial zones, resulting in the creation of over 11,000 permanent jobs. In the next phase, investments totaling nearly 1.74 billion manats are planned under ongoing projects. Thus far, industrial zones have produced goods worth a total of 19.4 billion manats, of which 6.1 billion manats worth has been exported. Products manufactured in these zones are currently exported to 70 countries worldwide.

The establishment of industrial parks and districts across the country, along with the creation of a favorable environment for entrepreneurial activity, reflects the successful industrialization policy aimed at diversifying the economy and accelerating the development of the non-oil sector. Industrial zones play a key role in increasing innovation and production efficiency, promoting high-tech manufacturing, expanding export potential, and boosting employment. Currently, eight industrial parks operate in Azerbaijan, including Sumgayit, Garadagh, Pirallahi, Mingachevir, Balakhani, Hajigabul, Aghdam, and the Araz Valley Economic Zone in Jabrayil district. Efforts are underway to establish the Nakhchivan Industrial Park and the new Western Industrial Park covering the territories of Ganja city and Shamkir district. In addition, industrial districts in Masalli, Neftchala, Sabirabad, and Sharur contribute to the development of production and entrepreneurial activity.

The Sumgayit Industrial Park covers a total area of 640 hectares and currently hosts 40 resident enterprises. The total value of the projects amounts to 6.7 billion manats, with actual investments reaching 5.5 billion manats. These projects are expected to create nearly 8,800 jobs, of which 6,135 have already been filled. The total sales volume of resident enterprises has reached 15.4 billion manats, including 5.7 billion manats in exports.

Rustam Abbasov, founder of Azermirror LLC, informed the President about the enterprise. It was noted that the company was granted resident status in the Sumgayit Industrial Park in 2023. Built on a one-hectare plot, the mirror sheet production plant provides permanent employment for 30 people and has an annual production capacity of 900,000 square meters of mirror sheets. In addition to meeting domestic demand, the products are planned for export. The project, based on Chinese technology, has an investment value of 6.13 million manats. The Azerbaijan Business Development Fund under the Ministry of Economy allocated a preferential loan of 1.5 million manats for the project. In line with incentives available to industrial park residents, Azermirror LLC has also benefited from tax and customs exemptions amounting to 600,000 manats.

The development of the non-oil industry remains a key priority of Azerbaijans state policy under the leadership of President Ilham Aliyev. Ongoing measures focus on the effective use of resources, the application of innovative approaches and advanced technologies, the formation of new industrial sectors, and the expansion of competitive production.
27 January 2026 13:22 (UTC+04:00)

On January 27, 2026, Azerbaijans Minister of Foreign Affairs, Jeyhun Bayramov, departed for an official visit to the Peoples Republic of China.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed the visit to Azernews.

According to the statement, during the trip, Minister Bayramov is scheduled to meet with Chinas Foreign Minister, Wang Yi, on January 28.
27 January 2026 15:52 (UTC+04:00)

Akbar Novruz Read more

Another shipment of electrical equipment humanitarian aid has been dispatched from Azerbaijan to Ukraine, continuing Bakus support for Kyiv amid ongoing reconstruction and recovery needs, Azernews reports.

The latest batch of aid was sent from the Sumgait Technologies Park by the Ministry of Energy in accordance with an order signed by President Ilham Aliyev.

According to Ukrainian and regional media, the humanitarian cargo, provided at Ukraines request, includes 12 lowvoltage panels, 11 generators, 5 transformers and 27,000 meters of cables and wires, with a total value of about $1 million.

This is not the first time Azerbaijan has delivered aid of this kind. In August 2025, another shipment of electrical equipment, including nearly 90,000 meters of electrical cables and wires, 25 generators and 7 transformer sets, was sent to Ukraine to help restore stable power supplies in waraffected regions.

Earlier in February 2025, Azerbaijan had already dispatched humanitarian electrical supplies from the Sumgait Technology Park under a presidential order, including thousands of meters of cables and dozens of transformers, aimed at supporting Ukraines energy infrastructure recovery.

Overall, Azerbaijans humanitarian support to Ukraine, especially in the energy and electricity sector, has steadily expanded in response to Kyivs needs. As of the latest shipments, the total value of such assistance, including reconstruction and restoration efforts, has now exceeded $45 million, according to Azerbaijani sources.
27 January 2026 16:04 (UTC+04:00)

Akbar Novruz Read more

The next meeting of the AzerbaijanUnited Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland Interparliamentary Relations Working Group was held in London, marking a renewed phase in parliamentary engagement between the two countries, Azernews reports.

The Azerbaijani delegation was led by Fariz Ismayilzadeh, Member of Parliament and head of the working group. During the visit, Ismayilzadeh held meetings with four British MPs, focusing on the current state and future prospects of bilateral parliamentary cooperation.

Beyond parliamentary contacts, the Azerbaijani delegation also engaged with leading think tanks and research institutions, including the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) and the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS). Discussions covered regional security dynamics, geopolitical developments, and Azerbaijans role in broader Euro-Atlantic and Eurasian contexts.

Speaking about the visit, Ismayilzadeh noted that this was his second trip to London as head of the working group and emphasized the significance of restarting its activities after a prolonged pause.

The activities of the working group have been resumed after a long break. We achieved this after our chairmanship and certain efforts of our parliament, he said.

The meeting is seen as a step toward revitalizing AzerbaijanUK parliamentary ties, strengthening dialogue not only at the legislative level but also with influential policy and security communities in the United Kingdom.
27 January 2026 11:19 (UTC+04:00)

Akbar Novruz Read more

Armenia is considering the possibility of importing gas through Azerbaijan as it faces growing difficulties with its traditional supply routes, Azernews reports via Sputnik-Armenia.

According to the report, Yerevan has acknowledged serious logistical challenges linked to supply corridors passing through Iran and Georgia. Internal instability in Iran has disrupted transport and customs operations, while adverse weather conditions have repeatedly forced the closure of the Military-Georgian Highway, a critical route linking Armenia to external markets.

Against this backdrop, Armenian authorities are exploring alternative transit options, including a railway line that passes through the territory of Azerbaijan. After previously launching grain and oil product shipments via this route, Armenia is now also examining the feasibility of importing liquefied natural gas (LNG) through Azerbaijan.

The Armenian Ministry of Economy confirmed that the route through Azerbaijan is being considered as an alternative to existing supply channels via the Upper Lars border crossing on the Georgian-Russian border and Iran.

Armenian experts cited by Sputnik-Armenia argue that economic relations in the South Caucasus should be grounded in cooperation rather than isolation. They note that Armenias key priority is the restoration and development of its industrial base, along with deeper integration into the regions broader economic and production framework. Without this, they warn, Armenias economy could become increasingly vulnerable to external shocks and global crises.

Within the framework of the peace agenda, Armenia has already begun using Azerbaijan as a transit route. Since November last year, wheat from Russia and Kazakhstan has been transported to Armenia via Azerbaijani territory, and in December, exports of oil products from Azerbaijan to Armenia were launched.

Background on AzerbaijanArmenia rapprochement:

Relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia have shifted dramatically from decades of conflict to active cooperation and peacebuilding. After nearly four decades of hostilities, including wars over the Karabakh region, both countries agreed on the text of a peace treaty draft in March 2025, a key step toward ending the conflict, though some legal and constitutional issues remain before final signing.

In August 2025, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan initialled a peace agreement and joint declaration in Washington under US auspices, a milestone widely welcomed by international partners. This was reinforced by the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity, a planned transit corridor linking Azerbaijan with its Nakhchivan exclave via Armenia, aimed at bolstering connectivity and economic ties.

Concrete signs of improving ties include lifting restrictions on cargo transit to Armenia, allowing shipments like Kazakh grain to travel through Azerbaijan to Armenia for the first time since the Soviet era.

These developments have helped create new economic opportunities between Baku and Yerevan, with fuel exports and renewed trade flows reflecting a broader shift from conflict toward cooperation in the South Caucasus.
27 January 2026 09:00 (UTC+04:00)

Akbar Novruz Read more

Russian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Maria Zakharova on Monday criticized the European Union's decision to ban all imports of Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG) to the bloc, claiming that the Europeans have "given up their freedom", Azernews reports.

"It's hard to say for sure yet: whether they are happy vassals or unhappy slaves - time will tell. But either way, they gave up their freedom," the diplomat told Zvezda TV.

Earlier today, the European Council announced the official approval of the ban on Russian LNG imports. The full ban will take effect from the beginning of 2027, while Russian pipeline gas will be fully banned from autumn 2027.

Under the agreement, the ban on LNG imports will take effect in early 2027, while the ban on pipeline gas imports will begin in the fall of 2027.

In addition, the European Commission plans to propose legislation for a gradual phase-out of Russian oil imports by the end of 2027, signaling a broader strategy to reduce the EUs reliance on Russian energy.

Analysts note that this decision marks a significant step in the EUs energy transition, pushing member states to accelerate investments in alternative energy sources and diversify suppliers. It also reflects the ongoing geopolitical tensions, demonstrating how energy policy and international relations are increasingly intertwined in Europes strategic planning.
27 January 2026 10:59 (UTC+04:00)

Akbar Novruz Read more

Ukraines Commander-in-Chief, General Oleksandr Syrsky, has inspected frontline units in the Pokrovsky and Ocheretyn directions, where Russian forces have significantly intensified their attacks, underscoring the growing pressure along key sectors of the eastern front, Azernews reports.

Describing the situation as operationally difficult, Syrsky said that around 400 combat clashes were recorded in these areas over the past week alone. He noted that Russian forces continue to pursue breakthrough attempts, increasing pressure through persistent assaults.

The aggressor does not abandon his breakthrough attempts, increases pressure, intensifies his attacks. Our main task is to inflict maximum losses on the enemy, destroy his reserves and consistently reduce his offensive potential, Syrsky said.

According to the commander-in-chief, Russian troops are still relying heavily on tactics involving small infantry groups advancing in waves. Countering these methods, he stressed, requires constant battlefield surveillance, tight coordination between units, and flexible tactical decision-making.

Syrsky said he worked directly with division commanders on the ground to closely analyze battlefield dynamics and adjust defensive responses in real time. Particular emphasis, he added, is being placed on expanding Ukraines unmanned systems units, especially the use of strike drones to disrupt Russian advances and the integration of robotic systems into logistics operations.

War is changing  we are changing approaches to its conduct, Syrsky said, noting that modern technologies now play a decisive role in combat effectiveness while helping to save the lives of Ukrainian soldiers.

In a related development, Deputy Defense Minister Sergey Boev stated that Ukraine plans to implement seven production programs in 2026 aimed at manufacturing more than one million drones, highlighting Kyivs strategic shift toward large-scale deployment of unmanned and high-tech systems.

Syrsky concluded by thanking Ukrainian servicemen for their coordinated actions and professionalism, praising their role in repelling attacks and degrading Russian offensive capabilities amid an increasingly demanding battlefield environment.
27 January 2026 12:22 (UTC+04:00)

Akbar Novruz Read more

Israel is preparing to open talks with the Trump administration on a new 10-year security agreement, aiming to secure continued US military support while gradually reducing reliance on direct American cash grants, Azernews reports via the Financial Times.

Speaking to the FT ahead of stepping down as chief financial adviser to Israels military and Defence Ministry, Dr. Gil Pinchas said Israel plans to prioritise joint military and defence projects over traditional financial assistance in negotiations expected to take place in the coming weeks.

The partnership is more important than just the net financial issue in this context there are a lot of things that are equal to money, Pinchas said, stressing that future cooperation should be viewed in broader strategic terms.

According to him, the current level of direct financial support  about $3.3 billion annually, which Israel uses to purchase US-made weapons  is only one element of the existing memorandum of understanding (MOU) and could be gradually reduced.

In 2016, Washington and Tel Aviv signed a 10-year MOU running until September 2028, under which the US committed $38 billion in military aid, including $33 billion in grants for defence procurement and $5 billion for missile defence systems.

Earlier this month, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel hoped to taper off its dependence on US military assistance over the next decade, signaling a strategic shift toward deeper cooperation and greater self-reliance.

The US State Department has not yet commented on the report.
27 January 2026 13:01 (UTC+04:00)

Qabil Ashirov Read more

North Korea has launched several ballistic missiles toward the Sea of Japan, Azernews reports, citing international media outlets.

The Japanese government noted that the missiles fell outside the countrys exclusive economic zone in the Sea of Japan.

Earlier, the Japan Coast Guard had issued a warning about North Koreas missile launches, advising vessels in the area to avoid debris and to immediately contact relevant authorities if any remnants were found.

Meanwhile, the command of the Republic of Korea Armed Forces confirmed to local media reports that North Korea had indeed carried out the missile launches.
27 January 2026 17:37 (UTC+04:00)

Qabil Ashirov Read more

Iran has summoned Italys ambassador to Tehran, Paola Amadei, to the Foreign Ministry, Azernews reports, citing Iranian media outlets.

The move followed remarks by Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani suggesting that Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) should be designated as a terrorist organization.

During the meeting, Alireza Yousefi, head of the Iranian Foreign Ministrys Western Europe Department, described the Italian foreign ministers position as irresponsible. He warned that any actions against the IRGC, which he said is an integral part of Irans armed forces, would have dangerous consequences.

Iran urged the Italian government to revise what it called a reckless approach toward Tehran, reiterating that initiatives to label the IRGC as a terrorist organization are unacceptable.

On January 26, Tajani said Italy planned to raise the issue of designating the IRGC as a terrorist organization at the European Union level.
27 January 2026 19:42 (UTC+04:00)

by Alimat Aliyeva

The United States has decided to raise tariffs on certain goods imported from South Korea, increasing duties from 15% to 25%, Azernews reports.

Since the South Korean legislature has not approved our historic trade agreement  which is, of course, its prerogative  I am raising tariffs on automobiles, lumber, pharmaceutical products, as well as all retaliatory duties, from 15% to 25%, the White House stated.

Former President Donald Trump noted that Washington and Seoul reached a trade agreement in July 2025, with its terms reaffirmed in October. However, the deal has yet to be ratified by South Koreas parliament. Why didnt the Korean legislature approve it? Trump asked rhetorically.

Our trade agreements are extremely important for America, he said. In each case, we moved quickly to lower tariffs in line with the agreed terms. We naturally expect our trading partners to do the same.

Analysts point out that the tariff increase could strain U.S.South Korea economic relations, particularly in the automotive and pharmaceutical sectors, which are deeply integrated across global supply chains. Higher duties may lead to increased costs for manufacturers and consumers in both countries, while also encouraging companies to reconsider production locations.

The move comes amid a broader global trend toward more assertive trade policies, as governments increasingly use tariffs not only as economic tools but also as leverage in political negotiations. Some experts warn that prolonged tariff disputes could slow regional economic growth, while others argue they may accelerate efforts to diversify trade partnerships and reduce dependence on single markets.
27 January 2026 22:20 (UTC+04:00)

by Alimat Aliyeva

Wikipedia may be partially restricted in Russia within the next one or two years over what officials describe as the distortion of historical and other facts in some of its articles, Azernews reports.

This was stated by Andrei Svintsov, Deputy Chairman of the State Duma Committee on Information Policy, Information Technologies, and Communications, in an interview with the TASS news agency.

According to Svintsov, as the popularity of Russian digital platforms continues to grow, authorities will increasingly review foreign online resources that, in their view, deliberately misrepresent historical events or portray certain states inaccurately.

It has already become clear that Wikipedia is perceived in Russia as a secondary source of information, the lawmaker said. Therefore, I believe that within the next year or two, the Russian government may consider imposing certain restrictions on the service, particularly regarding access to specific information.

He added that potential measures could involve blocking individual pages related to Russian history, including the Tsarist, Soviet, and modern periods, rather than shutting down the entire platform.

Svintsov also emphasized that any action would be taken by Roskomnadzor, Russias media and internet regulator, and framed the move as an effort to preserve historical justice.

Observers note that such steps could further intensify the debate over information sovereignty and freedom of access online. Critics argue that restricting Wikipedia may limit access to global knowledge, while supporters believe it could accelerate the development of domestic alternatives, such as Russian-language encyclopedic platforms that align more closely with national narratives.

Russia is not alone in questioning Wikipedias content: similar concerns about bias and accuracy have been raised by officials in several other countries, highlighting the growing global tension between open-source knowledge platforms and state control over information.
27 January 2026 21:23 (UTC+04:00)

by Alimat Aliyeva

The National Assembly, the lower house of the French Parliament, has approved a bill that would ban social media use for teenagers under the age of 15, Azernews reports.

"The Bourbon Palace almost unanimously supported this bill," reports the press. "Deputies approved it in the first reading. The purpose of the legislation is to protect minors by restricting access to social networks for children under 15."

The bill was supported by 116 deputies, while 23 voted against it.

The author of the legislation, Laura Miller, a member of President Emmanuel Macrons Renaissance Party, stated that the initiative aims to protect the mental health of French youth amid concerns about the growing influence of social media.

In addition to restricting social media use, the bill also includes a measure that prohibits the use of mobile phones in French high schools, reflecting broader efforts to reduce screen time and promote healthier learning environments.

Experts note that the legislation aligns with a growing trend in Europe, where several countries are considering stricter regulations on social media for minors. Critics argue that such measures may be difficult to enforce, while supporters believe they could help curb anxiety, cyberbullying, and online addiction among teenagers.

Similar policies have already been implemented in countries like Italy and the Netherlands, where social media restrictions are paired with digital literacy programs, suggesting that France may also adopt complementary educational initiatives to support young users in navigating the online world safely.
27 January 2026 20:41 (UTC+04:00)

United States President Donald Trump suggested on Tuesday that "you wouldn't have Israel" without his administration and the strikes the US carried out on Iran last year, Azernews reports.

He repeated that the US has sent a "big armada" toward Iran, stating that it is bigger than the flotilla that intercepted boats leaving Venezuela. He also reiterated that "hopefully we won't have to use it."

Trump told WABC radio that he would "love to see" New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani succeed and "make New York successful."

He added that Mamdani has a "really good personality and tremendous assets," but argued that he has "policies and concepts that havent worked."
January 25, 2026: Russia has had increasing problems obtaining soldiers for the Special Operation in Ukraine. Few Russians disagreed with the decision to invade Ukraine. But since Russia itself was not invaded, as it was in 1941 when the Germans sought to conquer Russia, few Russians were willing to join and fight in Ukraine. The government has to pay increasingly large signing bonuses to obtain soldiers to replace the growing losses in Ukraine. By early 2026 1.2 million Russian soldiers had been killed, disabled or were missing in Ukraine. By 2025 few Russians were willing to take the money and fight in Ukraine.

By 2024 Russia began to recruit foreigners. They obtained 14,000 North Korean soldiers, but it wasnt enough. Cuba allowed Russia to recruit 5,000 men for the Ukraine war. Russian recruiters were sent to many nations, to recruit as many men as they could. In relatively poor nations, the money the Russians were offering was impressive. Signing bonuses of over $20,000, and monthly pay of $2,000 or more were life-changing amounts for unemployed men in Third World countries.

India is a rapidly developing nation but there is still a lot of unemployment. India is the only nation with over 1.25 billion people and Russian recruiters found that even Indian university students in Russia were willing to sign up. Sometimes the Russians speeded up the process by arresting Indians studying or working in Russia. The charges were often bogus or exaggerated. The Russians know that imprisoned foreigners were willing to take the money, join the army and be sent to Ukraine. By 2025 anyone who paid attention to what was going on in Ukraine realized that Russian troops continued to take heavy casualties. Russian recruiters took advantage of that because foreign recruits who died in Ukraine often did not get all the money they were owed (nor did many families of Russian soldiers). Russia promised to send money to dead foreign soldiers families but usually did not.

The Indian government never approved of Russia recruiting Indians for the Ukraine war and by late 2025 the Russians were allowing Indians in the Russian army to return to India. India is one of the few allies Russia has and if the Indian government wanted Indian citizens in the Russian army discharged, thats what happened. No one is sure how many Indians ended up in the Russian army. The best estimate is that over 200 Indians joined and nearly forty were killed or are missing. At least fifty Indians are still unaccounted for.
On Jan. 15, Coca-Cola Consolidated, headquartered in Charlotte, announced a donation of $25 million to fund the join Duke and UNC children's hospital project, as the North Carolina Senate seeks to secure $103.5 million in state funding as well.Morgan Everett, vice chair of Coca-Cola Consolidated's board of directors, said in a press release.The Duke-UNC partnership was announced in early 2025, and the 500-bed facility will be based in Apex. The hospital would be the first of its kind in the state, serving as the flagship hospital - comparable, clinically and academically, to top children's hospitals in the country.Dr. Wesley Burks, chair of the NC Children's board of directors, said in the press release.Construction is slated to begin in 2027 on a new hospital planned for approximately 230 acres at the intersection of US-1 and NC-540. The hospital is projected to create around 8,000 jobs in Apex and Wake County. It will feature a children's outpatient care center, 103 beds dedicated to children's and adolescent behavioral health, and a research and education hub supported by both UNC and Duke schools of medicine. The facility is expected to open in the early 2030s.In addition to funding from Coke Consolidated, state budget appropriations will also support the program. The Healthcare Investment Act (HB 562) includes funding for the NC Children's Hospital, which was outlined in the 2023-25 state budget, according to a press release. Nearly $320 million was approved by both the House and the Senate over three fiscal years. This releases $103.5 million, fulfilling the third-year obligation.Lauren Horsch, press secretary for NC Senate Leader Phil Berger, said in a statement.In October of 2025, the Senate sent the House a proposal that included the Medicaid rebase in SB 449. The Medicaid rebase funding included $51.8 million for the NC Children's Hospital, which is half of the $103.5 million appropriated in the 2023 budget, according to a press release. The House rejected this proposal. The third year $103.5 million in funding appropriated in the 2023 budget has yet to be secured.Demi Dowdy, deputy chief of staff for communications and external affairs for Speaker of the House Destin Hall, told the Carolina Journal.
Grant Thornton has signed a lease with MRP for 23,000 sq ft of office space across two floors in The Ewart on Bedford Square. From left, David Wright, CBRE NI, Paul Beacom, MRP, Louise Kelly, Grant Thornton, Richard Gillan, Grant Thornton NI, and Neal Morrison, Savills

Business advisory firm Grant Thornton is relocating to prime Grade A office The Ewart in Belfast after creating 70 new roles in 2025.

The firm has signed a lease with property developer MRP for 23,000 sq ft of office space across two floors in The Ewart on Bedford Square.

It plans to move into the building early next year after a decade at its current home within Danske Banks headquarters in Donegall Square West.

The firm has experienced significant growth in the last decade, increasing its headcount from 30 to 250 people by the end of last year. Last year, it took on 70 new staff.

Grant Thornton said that rapid expansion in 2025 had strengthened its position as one NIs top professional services firm, with increasing client demand for its advisory, audit and tax services.

The practice has also expanded around the world, with the Grant Thornton Advisors platform emerging after transactions with professional services firms around the world.

Commercial property advisors CBRE NI and Savills acted for MRP and Grant Thornton respectively in the transaction.

Steve Tennant, managing partner, Grant Thornton Ireland and EMEA CEO of the Grant Thornton Advisors multinational platform, said: Our move to The Ewart, along with the creation of more than 70 new roles in 2025, demonstrates both the scale of our ambition and our belief in the Northern Ireland market.

"Over the past decade, Grant Thornton has gone from strength to strength in Belfast, and we act for many of Northern Irelands largest indigenous and multi-national companies.

"Our growth is testament to the extraordinary work our Belfast team delivers for clients both locally and globally, and we look forward to further expansion as our platform continues to evolve.

Grant Thornton has signed a lease with MRP for 23,000 sq ft of office space across two floors in The Ewart on Bedford Square. From left, David Wright, CBRE NI, Paul Beacom, MRP, Louise Kelly, Grant Thornton, Richard Gillan, Grant Thornton NI, and Neal Morrison, Savills

News Catch Up - Thursday 22 January

Richard Gillan, managing partner, Grant Thornton Northern Ireland, added: With our market leading audit, tax and advisory teams continuing to experience rapid growth, we are excited for our Belfast office to relocate to The Ewart in early 2027.

"By continuing to invest in our office and people in Belfast, we are ensuring we have the resources required to support organisations as they navigate complexity, seize opportunities and grow sustainably.

The Ewart in Belfast city centre

Paul Beacom, development director at MRP, said: MRP is delighted to welcome Grant Thornton to The Ewart. This letting is another strong endorsement of the quality of the building and its location.

"They will join an impressive line-up of firms across legal, financial and consulting sectors, further strengthening the buildings reputation for leading professional services.

"The Ewart has just one floor remaining, marking a significant milestone in its leasing success.
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?
Cushnahan spouted nonsense, his lawyer tells jury, because he cant help himself  but case against him is hopeless

As verdict on top Belfast businessman gets nearer, his lawyer sets out his defence and asks why his elderly client would go into the witness box against Crown KC at the top of his game

NAMA fraud accused Frank Cushnahan at Belfast Crown Court today, (Tue 27th): Alan Lewis/ Photopress

Sam McBride Tue 27 Jan 2026 at 15:21

The case against former Nama adviser Frank Cushnahan is utterly hopeless, his barrister today told a jury as the trial moves into the final days before a verdict on the senior Belfast business figure.
A grandmother who died in Helens Bay on Saturday has been remembered as a vibrant lady who had warmth and enthusiasm.

Rosa Parkes, born Tweed, died on January 24, while doing what she loved swimming in the bay.

The funeral service for the Carryduff woman will be held on Wednesday, February 4 at Saintfield Road Presbyterian Church, with floral [or] colourful attire being encouraged by her family.

An avid and experienced swimmer in her 60s, she got into difficulty while swimming in the rough sea with two other swimmers. The RNLI conducted a rescue operation while the Coastguard launched a helicopter.

All three were taken to hospital, however Ms Parkes would later die in hospital. Police are not treating the death as suspicious.

Rosa Parkes, Carryduff grandmother

A notice published by Norman McBriar and Son funeral directors said donations to the RNLI were welcomed instead of flowers.

Rosa was the dearly loved wife of Chris, much loved mum of Matthew, Ruth, Stephanie and John, as well as a loving mother-in-law- and devoted grandma said her death notice.

Family and friends are welcome to call and pay their respects at Saintfield Road Presbyterian Church Hall on Thursday 29th January 2026 between 6-9pm, when family will be in attendance.

May she rest in peace and keep swimming in heaven, it concluded.

Rosa Parkes, Carryduff grandmother

Woman dies following incident at Helens Bay in Co Down as two other people treated at scene

Alliance MLA Andrew Muir said: My thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends of woman who has sadly died after incident in Helens Bay.

I hope others who were taken to hospital have a speedy recovery after the awful events.

Thank you to all the emergency services and everyone who helped in response.

Taking to social media, well-wishers expressed their condolences for the family.

Sympathies from all in Helens Bay and the wider swimming community, wrote one.

Always a pleasure to share a few words with Rosa. Swim on beautiful lady.

Others described Rosas death as a great loss.

Our paths crossed many years ago through work. A vibrant lady who had warmth and enthusiasm in bucket-loads. Condolences to the family. A great loss, said one of those paying tribute.

A fellow swimmer expressed her sympathy.

So sad. I met her at various swims over the years. My thoughts and prayer are with you all at this very difficult time, she wrote.
NI-born former Labour MP Conor McGinn has been charged with sexually assaulting a woman in 2022.

The 41-year-old, with an address in Lambeth, south London, will appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on February 27 to face one count of sexual assault.

Deputy Chief Crown Prosecutor Jessica Walker said: "The Crown Prosecution Service has decided to charge Conor McGinn with one count of sexual assault following a police investigation into an alleged sexual assault in July 2022.

"Our prosecutors have worked to establish that there is sufficient evidence to bring this charge to court and that it is in the public interest to do so.

"We have worked closely with the Metropolitan Police as they have carried out their investigation into the allegation.

"The Crown Prosecution Service reminds everyone that criminal proceedings are active, and the defendant has the right to a fair trial.

"It is vital that there should be no reporting, commentary or sharing of information online which could in any way prejudice these proceedings."

McGinn  originally from Camlough in Co Armagh  is the former MP for St Helens North, in Merseyside, was suspended from the Labour Party in 2022 after a complaint was made against him.

At the time he told the Guardian newspaper that he had not been told details of the complaint but was "confident that it is entirely unfounded" and rejected "any suggestion of wrongdoing".

McGinns career in Westminster began in 2015 and he was behind moving the Commons amendment which brought equal marriage laws to Northern Ireland.
Police at the scene of a shooting in the Strathroy Park area. Kevin Scott

A barbaric shooting in north Belfast which left a man with serious injuries has caused fear in the community, a councillor said today.

The victim, who was aged in his late 30s, was shot once in each leg on Tuesday night.

It happened in the Strathroy Park area just before 8pm.

Crews from the NI Ambulance Service rushed him to hospital.

Police at the scene of a shooting in the Strathroy Park area. Kevin Scott

Paul McCusker, an independent councillor, said the shooting had caused disruption and fear in a community that has experienced significant trauma and heartache for many years.

He said such attacks have reduced over the past number of years and we need to work to ensure they do not return or increase.

The recent shooting has caused a lot of fear within the local community.

Dialogue is the only way to resolve issues and I would encourage those involved in this activity to make contact and to plea to them that we do not want to see an increase to guns or violence on our streets."

Police said they will step up patrols in the area.

Detective Sergeant Long said: Although his injuries are, thankfully, not likely to be fatal, they are severe and will no doubt leave him with lasting physical and emotional trauma.

Officers remain at the scene tonight, carrying out enquiries. Local residents will notice a heavy police presence in the area.

This attack has caused fear and disruption in the very community those responsible for this criminal act claim to protect.

The incident occurred in the Ardoyne area (Photo: Kevin Scott)

Sheep stuck in flood water outside Ballymena

North Belfast MLA Gerry Kelly appealed anyone with information to approach the police.

The Sinn Fein MLA said: I condemn this attempted murder. There is no place for guns on our streets. I call on anyone with any information whatsoever to bring it forward to the police.

SDLP councillor Carl Whyte said the shooting must be strongly condemned.

"This will have caused much concern and upset in the local community and left the victim with potentially serious injuries, he added.

The days of gunmen roaming our streets must be consigned to the past. There can be no justification for the use of barbaric violence of this nature.

It is deeply concerning that those behind this attack are in possession of a deadly weapon and it must be seized and taken out of circulation before anyone else is hurt.
Almost 20 sheep are trapped in flood water on the outskirts of Ballymena as Storm Chandra has caused disruption across Northern Ireland.

Firefighters were called to reports of animals trapped in deep flood water at around 10am on Tuesday in the Glenwherry area.

The specialist rescue team from Central Fire Station was sent along with two appliances from Ballymena fire station, and one animal rescue team from Omagh fire station attended the incident.

Firefighters risk assessed the water depth, however water remained too high to attempt rescue.

Firefighters gave advice to the farmer and left the scene at 1.38pm. The Belfast Telegraph understands the sheep remain trapped in the water as of 4pm.

Meanwhile a farmer in Ballymena has rescued his flock of sheep after a field flooded. In footage filmed by the farmer he can be seen herding them to safety.

It comes heavy rain and high winds overnight have caused disruption on Northern Irelands roads.

Earlier a woman was taken to hospital after a tree fell on a car in the Snowhill Road area in Lisbellaw.

The Northern Ireland Ambulance Service said it received a 999 call shortly after 8am on Tuesday, following reports of an RTC. The PSNI have said her injuries are not believed to be serious.

An amber alert for wind is in force for the eastern counties, lasting until 9pm this evening, while a yellow warning for wind and rain stretches across Northern Ireland, lasting until midnight.

A new yellow warning for ice will come into effect at 3am lasting until 10am on Wednesday and will affect all counties.

More than 300 schools closed today and thousands of homes were left without power, while flights in and out of Belfast City Airport have been cancelled, with Stena Line sailings also cancelled.

Follow our live blog for the impact of Storm Chandra:
Shunned Oglaigh na hEireann leader Carl Reilly makes pact with convicted bomber John Connolly

The fallen ONH (Oglaigh na hEireann) leader has been putting out feelers to see who is open to joining his gangs ranks following a bitter split last year, and now border based Connolly has answered the call.
Xi holds phone talks with Vietnam's To Lam

Xinhua) 08:06, January 27, 2026

BEIJING, Jan. 26 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday held phone talks with To Lam, general secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee.

Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, expressed congratulations over the successful convening of the 14th National Congress of the CPV and To Lam's re-election as general secretary of the CPV Central Committee.

Xi expressed his belief that under the leadership of the CPV Central Committee headed by To Lam, Vietnam will surely fulfill the goals and tasks set forth by the 14th National Congress and realize at an early date the two goals set for the centenary of the party and the country respectively.

He added that China and Vietnam should keep to their paths and not sway in their commitment, unite and cooperate to promote development, and work together towards a bright future.

China is working to realize the Second Centenary Goal of building China into a great modern socialist country in all respects, while Vietnam is also in a new era of national development, Xi noted.

The two sides should hold firm to their beliefs, uphold fundamental principles and break new ground, fend off and defuse various risks and challenges, jointly defend the cause of socialism, and preserve the political essence of China-Vietnam relations, Xi said.

Both sides should continue to strengthen exchanges and mutual learning on both party and state governance, make good use of mechanisms such as high-level meetings, theoretical seminars and cadre trainings, and continually improve the governance capacity of the party and the state, he added.

Both sides should strengthen the alignment of development strategies, deepen high-level mutually beneficial cooperation so as to bring more benefits to the two peoples and jointly advance towards socialist modernization, Xi said.

He also urged the two sides to strengthen coordination and collaboration in international and regional affairs, jointly oppose hegemonism and bloc confrontation, and work together to promote the building of a community with a shared future for humanity.

For his part, To Lam expressed appreciation to the CPC Central Committee for the congratulatory message on the successful convening of the 14th National Congress of the CPV, and thanked General Secretary Xi for the good wishes on his re-election as general secretary of the CPV Central Committee.

He outlined the main outcomes of the 14th CPV National Congress, and said Vietnam is willing to work side by side with China on a new journey, steadily deepen friendly cooperation between neighboring socialist countries in line with the requirements of "six mores."

China's development has consistently provided inspiration and valuable experience for Vietnam's development, he said.

Vietnam will continue to adhere to the one-China policy, support General Secretary Xi's vision of a community with a shared future for humanity, the Belt and Road Initiative, and the four global initiatives, To Lam said.

Vietnam stands ready to strengthen mutual political trust with China, promote coordination in diplomacy, national defense and public security, deepen practical cooperation in various fields, foster friendly feelings between the two peoples, enhance coordination in a complex and changing international landscape, uphold multilateralism, oppose protectionism, and promote the building of a Vietnam-China community with a shared future, he added.

Xi and To Lam also exchanged greetings for the coming Spring Festival, wishing the two peoples happiness and health.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
January 24, 2026: Syrias new leader Ahmad al-Sharaa has forced the Kurdish Syrian Democratic Forces/SDF o ut of the area and is regaining control over the oil fields and natural gas extraction facilities in Deir ez-Zor and Al-Raqqah provinces. These are expected to be back in production by the end of the year. To complete the repairs and upgrades to the oil and gas facilities will require foreign investment. There must be assurances that the country will remain peaceful to keep the foreign investments coming.

Ahmad al-Sharaa is rebuilding the Syrian armed forces. He believes the key factor is obtaining men who are good Moslems, literate, physically fit, and unquestionably loyal to him. Initially that means only Sunni Moslems who had not served in the Assad military were eligible. There were some other restrictions, like not being able to smoke while on duty. Another aspect of recruit training is the weeklong refresher course on Islam. Al-Sharaa believes the religious indoctrination will ensure that all recruits completing basic training will be loyal. Only 600 of the first batch of 1,400 recruits completed the training. The Shia minority, especially the Alawites and the Kurds were not eligible for military service. The Assads, who ruled Syria for over sixty years, were Alawite. The Kurds have their own American-backed army and control about a third of Syria. If al-Sharaa wants to control all of Syria, he will have to make a deal with the Kurds. He has already made peace with the United States and all of Syrias neighbors, including Israel. Al-Sharaa is creating new armed forces that will hopefully defend Syria and help maintain order within Syria if necessary. With that degree of internal security, foreign investors will return to help rebuild the economy.

Last year Ahmad al-Sharaa became the first Syrian leader to visit America. He met with the U.S. president and discussed the future of Syrian American relations. Sharaa discussed U.S.-Syrian cooperation suppressing ISIS Islamic terrorists. Sharaa seeks to make peace with all his neighbors. Relations with Russia were resumed, along with plans to restore Russian use of bases at Hmeimim and Tartus. Trade agreements with Russia were restored and Russia is resuming previous trade and business relationships and contracts.

Because of damaged power stations, Syria has frequent rolling blackouts. A drought reduced food production and Russia resumed food exports to Syria. Considering Ahmad al-Sharaas efforts, the U.S. Britain and most other Western nations removed their designation of Ahmad al-Sharaa as an Islamic terrorist.

Ahmad al-Sahara took control of Syria in late 2024 as the Assad government of Syria was driven into Russian exile by an eleven-day offensive organized by Islamic terrorists belonging to Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham/HTS and led by Ahmad al Sharaa. Turkey and Ukrainian special forces helped. This was an unexpected combination that no one inside or outside Syria saw coming.

The Assads had ruled Syria since 1970 and seemed firmly in control until they werent. Thirteen years of war were a factor. Heavy losses among Alawite soldiers who were the backbone of the Assad military was another factor. The Alawites realized that the wars were never going to end unless Assad had no troops to do the fighting. HTS/Hayat Tahrir al-Sham leaders realized this and expected the Alawite troops to stand aside. They did and HTS had its eleven-day conquest of Syria.

HTS does not control the entire country and neither did the Assads. About 40 percent of Syria is controlled by Kurds, who had American support in an U.S. effort to destroy or greatly diminish Islamic terrorist groups in Syria. There were some American troops working with the Kurds and that helped keep the Assads and HTS out of the Kurdish region.

HTS faced its most difficult task as it sought to establish a new government in Syria. There were still several minorities to deal with, including the Kurds and Alawites. HTS had one chance to approach these many minorities with a peace deal and assurances that minorities and their interests would be part of the new government.

The peace and government reorganization was threatened by some HTS leaders who supported Islamic Sharia government or another kleptocracy like the one that made the Assads rich. When the Assads left Syria, most of their $5 billion dollar fortune was stashed in various foreign bank accounts. The Assads may have to give some of that cash to Russia because the HTS government is offering the Russians renewed access to their Khmeimim air base and Tartus naval base in western Syria. There are still a few Russian soldiers at those bases, mainly to prevent looters from trashing the facilities.

In the end, the most difficult task for HTS was to establish a new government and get the economy going. The United States, Britain and Germany negotiated with HTS to establish diplomatic relations and resume foreign aid deliveries.

HTS has a limited number of trusted Syrian officials and needs a lot more to establish a national government loyal to HTS and somewhat resistant to the Middle Eastern culture of corruption. Each minority in Syria wants a fair allocation of government jobs for its people. That is thousands of jobs to deal with. HTS left many current incumbents in their jobs and hoped these men and women would not become a problem.

HTS leaders had little experience running a national government, but many worked in the HTS government that, for over a decade, ruled most of Idlib Province in northwestern Syria. In Syria as a whole there were many different power structures. For example, in Kurdish Syria there is a Kurdish government but the real power resides with a few Kurdish militia leaders. There are similar situations in other parts of Syria. HTS had to adapt to this rather than trying to eliminate governmental systems that worked for decades. No government was the worst situation and HTS sought to ensure that there was some kind of functioning government throughout Syria. Otherwise HTS was not controlling the country, but pretending to.
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BENNINGTON  Local town and school races for the March 3 election came into focus on Monday at the 5 p.m. deadline for submitting nomination papers.

In Bennington, there are two Select Board openings on the ballot, and incumbents Sarah Perrin and Ed Woods are unopposed in seeking new three-year terms, Town Clerk Kayla Thompson said.

One potential candidate for the Select Board had a petition held by the clerk because it did not have the required 30 valid voter signatures.

Thompson was appointed clerk after former Clerk Cassandra Barbeau stepped down last fall because she is moving from the area. Thompson is unopposed on the ballot to fill Barbeaus unexpired term. If successful, she will have to run for a full term next March.

Pownal

In Pownal, incumbent Select Board member Mike Gardner is seeking another three-year term and is opposed by Alonzo Bisson.

In a separate race for two one-year board terms, incumbent Jeannie Alexander, Julie Weber, the town clerk, and resident Nancy Messina are running for a seat on the board.

Moderator

For town moderator in Pownal, Jenny Dewar, a former Select Board member, is challenging longtime town Moderator Tim Holbrook for the position, which carries a one-year term.

In other Pownal races, Delinquent Tax Collector Ellen Strohmaier is unopposed for another three-year term; Steve Zelman is seeking a three-year term on the towns newly formed Cemetery Commission, and Caroline Martel is seeking a one-year commission term.

No one will be listed on the town ballot for a two-year commission term, and for a one-year trustee of public monies term.

School districts

Thompson is also clerk for the Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District, the Mount Anthony Union School District and the Southwest Vermont Regional Technical School District.

She is seeking to fill the unexpired terms formerly held by Barbeau in each of the school districts

Candidates on the SVUESD ballot for the regional elementary school board of directors include Cynthia Brownell as a Pownal representative, Glenn Thurber for a Woodford seat, and there is an open Bennington representative seat that drew no candidates for the ballot.

On the MAU district ballot, incumbent Beth Wallace is unopposed for a three-year term from North Bennington, and incumbents David Fredrickson and Katie Aiken are unopposed for two open Bennington seats.

Nelson Brownell of Pownal is unopposed for a two-year unexpired term and Sandra Foster of Pownal is unopposed for an unexpired one-year board term. Both are incumbents.

Incumbent Scott McEnaney of Shaftsbury is unopposed for a three-year MAU board term.

There is no candidate on the ballot for a three-year term as district moderator.

On the Southwest Tech regional district board, there are three candidates for three open terms: Caitlin Randall, Glen Sauer and Tim Wheeler.
A series of winter storms, capped by a heavy weekend snowfall, has nearly exhausted Daltons snow and ice removal budget, prompting the town manager to authorize emergency spending. Officials say the frequent storms, overtime labor, and rapid salt use are straining resources and could impact budget planning for next year.
DALTON  The town has reached a three-year agreement with the Berkshire Public Health Alliance for public health nursing services.

At its meeting on Jan. 12, the Select Board unanimously approved the agreement; members John Boyle and Marc Strout were absent.

The town will pay $6,470.30 for the services, which include health education programs, vaccine clinics and disease monitoring, beginning July 1. The rate will increase 4 percent each of the next two years.

"I think the arrangement is good for the town," Select Board Chair Robert Bishop wrote in an email to The Eagle. "They have people that can handle different areas."

The Berkshire Public Health Alliance currently serves 10 towns in Berkshire County, sharing staff and services to enhance the delivery of public health services through regional cooperation. It is one branch within the Berkshire Regional Planning Commission, which acts as the fiscal host.

Town Manager Eric Anderson said that the multiyear agreement was set to expire this year and recommended the board sign the new agreement for the same services that were being provided.

Under the agreement, the Berkshire Public Health Alliance will provide investigation and implementation of follow-up measures for disease outbreaks as well as accessible monitoring of health risks to the community through community health education programs, health promotion and screening.

It will also receive and process information for reportable and communicable diseases through the Massachusetts Virtual Epidemiologic Network (MAVEN) and implement appropriate measures. At least one vaccine clinic will be held annually, according to the agreement, which will include flu vaccines and potentially COVID vaccines as decided by the Alliance Governing Board.

The Berkshire Public Health Alliance will also provide reporting to the towns Board of Health with statistics for the community through quarterly reporting with the number of reportable diseases, number of flu shots given and other health promotion statistics.

Under the agreement, the town also will be given priority for all grant-funded public health nursing activities that may arise.

The town already contracts with the alliance for services such as inspections of septic systems and food establishments, responses to public health nuisance complaints and online permitting. Those services had been handled by the town's health agent, Agnes Witkowski, who resigned in June.
PITTSFIELD  City crews were working around the clock to clear roads following the largest January winter storm to hit the area in more than a decade on Monday.

Since 6 a.m. Sunday, snow removal crews have been operating nonstop to clear main and neighborhood streets as the storm dropped between 16 and 20 inches of snow across the city, with some snowfall still lingering Monday morning, according to Ricardo Morales, Pittsfields commissioner of public works and utilities.

Main roads were prioritized throughout the storm to ensure emergency access and allow essential services to continue moving. As of Monday morning, those roads were in really good shape, Morales said.

Contractors have and continue to cover neighborhood streets, with the city aiming to have them fully cleared within 24 hours after the storm officially ends  a clock that had not yet started as of Monday morning as snow continued to fall.

At this point, we have around six or seven contractors remaining out on the street, Morales said at about 11 a.m. Monday. The rest have gone out to get some much-needed rest, and then we're calling them back in, very likely about six hours to finish up.

Some city employees have also been reassigned to assist with neighborhood plowing now that main roads are largely cleared, Morales said.

Roads are also being treated with a mixture of salt and other materials, including magnesium chloride, the primary anti-icing and de-icing agent.

A citywide street parking ban remained in effect through Monday night to allow crews to clear roads efficiently. While most residents complied, Morales said Pittsfield police officers towed and ticketed vehicles that remained parked on the street. The ban is scheduled to remain in effect until 11:59 p.m. Monday.

Property owners are also required to clear sidewalks in front of their homes or businesses within 24 hours after the storm ends. Sand is also available for Pittsfield residents to use at 232 W. Housatonic St., 54 Pecks Road (Pecks Road Fire Station), 37 Elm St. and the intersection of Tyler Street and New York Avenue, with residents asked to limit pickups to 50 pounds, or one 5-gallon pail, per visit.

Morales said the light, powdery nature of the snow helped crews avoid major issues with city equipment during the storm.

The city has also avoided significant power outages, Morales said, unlike some coastal areas of the state where heavier snow led to utility disruptions.

Residents are still being urged to stay off the roads unless travel is absolutely necessary. Pittsfield Public Schools, Berkshire Community College, all municipal buildings and many local businesses were closed Monday, which Morales said has helped crews make progress.

If you have to drive, don't attempt to pass plow drivers, Morales said. Just go slow, especially at intersections, making turns and all that, and stay home if you don't have to drive.
January 27, 2026: Currently two dozen African countries are experiencing some form of terrorism, ethnic conflicts or civil war. Seven of these nations had undergone a coup, with the military taking control from the elected government. There are many reasons why these coups take place in Africa, where tribal loyalties are often a factor. Political or armed conflicts between tribes sometimes lead to coups, especially when the soldiers cannot suppress the tribal violence. Another common cause of coups is economic problems that cause high unemployment and high rates of poverty. This is often the result of weak governments that are unable to provide personal or economic security. Issues over sharing are another common cause.

For decades African nations were heavily influenced by foreign corporations or governments that interfered with how the local government operated. There are many corrupt elected governments in Africa and the local military leaders often try to deal with the corruption by taking over the government, purportedly trying to reduce the corruption and then allow democracy to return. That rarely works as the corruption is often extensive, persistent, resistant to reform and that includes the occasional military coup. Experience has shown that a military coup is rarely effective at fixing anything and usually makes matters worse because most African nations oppose military governments and refuse to support or cooperate with them when they occur in a nearby country. There is a similar response by foreign aid donors, who halt aid until democracy is restored.

Foreign aid is crucial in Africa because corruption limits the amount of money governments can spend on essential infrastructure, health or food aid programs. That means, when a coup takes place, the new military government finds itself isolated, criticized and denied most forms of foreign aid or cooperation. In Niger that meant the air space over Niger was closed and surrounding nations closed their borders with Niger. The coup leaders were isolated, criticized and left with few options other than abandoning their effort to make their version of local government work. Some military governments last for years by creating a plausible, to most of the locals, external threat. Their neighbors and foreign aid donors usually quickly denounce this fiction.

During the Cold War unelected governments could keep the aid coming by playing off the Western and communist donors against each other. After the Cold War ended in 1991, the only donors left were Western democracies. Dictatorships tend to be much less affluent and unable to provide much aid to anyone. Such an environment is common throughout Africa, especially where there are valuable raw materials that generate even more corruption. For example, Niger does not have any valuable natural resources and must import more than it exports. This imbalance is made possible by lots of foreign aid. When there is a coup, the food, medical and similar aid generally continues unless the new government tries to steal the aid.
One word that stands out in Psalm 7 is righteous. Certain other nouns and adjectives (honor, upright, integrity) echo the idea David is trying to get across: that he has done no wrong, yet his enemy pursues him. He seeks justice and protection from God because he knows God is righteous and concerned about justice.

Can David  or any believer  claim to be righteous also? Commentators suggest that David uses the descriptor correctly in this instance, and they explain how we can call both God and ourselves righteous.

Understanding This Verse in the Original Hebrew

The relevant Hebrew words used in Psalm 7 include:

tsedeq (righteous, just, what is right, accurate)

tsaddiq (righteous man, just, righteous ones, right, Righteous One)

yashar (convenient, equity, just, well-pleased, righteous, straight, most uprightly)

tom (integrity, random, blameless, full, full measure, innocently, upright)

David uses tsedeq and tom to refer to himself and tsaddiq for the Lord, implying that he acknowledges a difference between just behavior and the Just One.

David compares himself to his enemies who are evel or avel or avlah or olah (iniquity, injustice, unrighteousness) and aven (wicked, evil, trouble, affliction, or distress).

Commentators believe that David wrote this Psalm after sparing Sauls life (1 Samuel 24, 1 Samuel 26). He had chosen not to destroy the king because God had chosen Saul. He said to Abishai, do not destroy him, for who can put out his hand against the LORDs anointed and be guiltless? (1 Samuel 26:9). Yet Saul had ruthlessly pursued David and unjustly accused him.

Vindicate me, O LORD, according to my righteousness and integrity. Put an end to the evil of the wicked, but establish the righteous (Psalm 7:8-9).

Is David Arrogant?

Readers might say that Davids personal assessment betrays a startling lack of self-awareness and is an example of his sinful pride. After all, he would one day seduce another mans wife, impregnate her, then have her husband killed. At the time, he should have been fighting with his men but had stayed back.

David would later fail in his duty to his daughter Tamar after her brother, his son, raped her: he did not bring Amnon to justice. He would pridefully call for a census to establish the might of his army, angering the Lord and bringing a plague upon his people. David was not a sinless man but a very human and flawed one.

As one writer puts it, Davids claim will strike many of us as odd at best and as delusional or even heretical at worst. Only God can pronounce someone righteous; as David says in v.8 The Lord judges the peoples. David declares if injustice is on my hands ... then may my enemy pursue me and overtake me; may he trample me to the ground and leave my honor in the dust (Psalm 7:3, 5). Does he think God cannot see his heart?

As with all people, David was a sinner. Were he to make this declaration of righteousness as a suggestion of total sinlessness in general, having done nothing else, his pride in saying so would have been sinful enough: God would have had cause to trample him to the ground. But David was declaring what scholars call his practical righteousness which refers to our practice, to our obedience. It is the fruit of the Spirits work in us as we rely on His power and keep  albeit imperfectly  Gods commandments. This righteousness is the good-faith effort to obey the Lord. David is speaking in black and white terms about good versus evil and identifying himself as the unjustly afflicted party in this case, not as one who is sinless.

David has obeyed the Lord in his dealings with Saul. Although Saul sought his life, David left vengeance and protection in the hands of Yahweh. He is being very specific here. In Psalm 51, following his sin with Bathsheba, David groaned Be gracious to me God ... blot out my rebellion. Completely wash away my guilt (Psalm 51:1-2). David repents: against you ... alone I have sinned ... So you are right when you pass sentence (Psalm 51:4). When David did sin, his Psalms reflected deep repentance and humility.

Gods Righteousness in Psalm 7

Compare practical righteousness with positional righteousness: the perfect obedience God requires for our justification and eternal salvation obtained exclusively from the only perfectly obedient person, Christ. His perfect obedience is imputed to us, put on our account, when we place our faith in Him alone. This righteousness makes us positionally righteous  legally righteous in the sight of God if we believe in Christ alone for salvation.

David describes God as a righteous judge and a God who feels indignation each day. If one does not repent, God will sharpen His sword; He has bent and strung His bow. He has prepared His deadly weapons; He ordains His arrows with fire (Psalm 7:11-13). He knows God is to be honored above all, that God alone is just to feel wronged at all times and to punish wickedness. His righteousness is inherent, a part of what makes him God.

David did not kill Saul because he understood that he is not the righteous judge, invited to mete out a death sentence. The self-control required of David must have been tremendous and the temptation terrible. After all, the world tells us to get angry, be personally offended, stand up for ourselves, and make the other person pay.

A Righteous Motivator

This is why, as one Bible scholar explains, David races to God for safety, confident that only the LORD can rescue him from enemies who would tear my soul like a lion. He begins with trust, not panic. David trusts God to protect him from his own longing for blood and vengeance. God will destroy his sinful yearning.

He trusts God to search his heart for sin and not destroy him, seeking refuge with God. David is confident that, since God cannot abide sin, God will take care of his sin issue if he goes straight to his Lord for refuge, in humility. Davids emotions and his fears are human and normal, but God encourages his people to see that he is bigger than their enemies.

David demonstrates the faith of a man who loves the Lord, albeit imperfectly, but genuinely. He also trusts the Lord to act justly in the matter of his enemy: God will deal with Saul when the time is right. All of Davids prayers are founded upon his trust in a God who deserves to be honored, for he is righteous, accurate in judgment, and just.

God motivated Davids righteous behavior: God is a righteous judge, he writes in verse 11. David wanted to please his Lord whom he loves. I will sing about the name of the Lord Most High (Psalm 7:17). He also knew that God is trustworthy: he would be consistent and gracious, kind to David even if discipline was needed.

The Lord cares about his own glory, so David could trust him to seek it by ensuring wickedness was punished. Behaving in an upright manner is easier for one who keeps the Lord in his sights, delights in him, and views him with due reverence. His pride was stripped away. He gave up an earthly entitlement for a promised eternal inheritance.

We can do the same when we meet our own enemies. Believers can respond truthfully but behave with restraint, with peace, and do as Christ did, forgiving them and trusting God to act justly against those who persecute his people and reject his Son.

Applying This Verse to Our Lives Today

When we believe in Christ alone for salvation and ask God to enter us by his Spirit, we receive Christs imputed righteousness. We are not inherently righteous, but God sees the blood of Christ covering us and declares us righteous. We submit to his sanctifying work because he is righteous and trustworthy and because we love him; therefore, we are motivated and equipped to make upright choices.

Instead of angrily standing up for our rights and our status as though we are entitled to either, we remember that our enemies sin primarily against God when they demean his image bearers. He cares about our suffering and will rescue us from it, but while we endure rejection or even violence, we are empowered by the love of our Savior to long for our enemies to submit to God and be stripped of their pride so they too can enjoy that same status as sons and daughters of the King.

We feel safe to confess sin, knowing God will destroy it but not destroy us. This is shocking and offensive to the world which will not acknowledge sin, but brings peace to the believer who loves God.

Photo credit: Unsplash/Milk Tea

Candice Lucey is a freelance writer from British Columbia, Canada, where she lives with her family. Find out more about her here.
Fresenius Medical Care opens Global Business Services office in Bengaluru

January 27, 2026 | Tuesday | News

To attract, nurture, and develop healthcare talent across India

Germany headquartered Fresenius Medical Care recently celebrated the opening of the company's Global Business Services (GBS) office in Bengaluru. This marks an important milestone for Fresenius Medical Care, and a step forward on its global journey.



This new centre is designed to attract, nurture, and develop talent across India, with a ramp-up planned in the months ahead. This new workspace is designed to foster collaboration, innovation, and excellence as the company continues to advance care and deliver meaningful outcomes for the communities it serves.



The inauguration brought together the company's leadership, colleagues, and partners to reflect on the journey and share their vision for the future. Through leadership messages and expert insights from a renowned nephrologist Dr Vishwanath S, Head of Department & Consultant, Nephrology & Transplant Physician at the Manipal Hospitals in Bengaluru, the company reaffirmed its purpose and commitment to care.

Fresenius Medical Care is the worlds leading provider of products and services for people with chronic kidney failure.
Governor of Telangana inaugurates LVPEI's Lahoti Eye Centre at Kondapur

January 27, 2026 | Tuesday | News

With dedicated Outpatient Departments for Cataract, Cornea, Glaucoma, Oculoplasty & Cosmetic Eyelid Care

L V Prasad Eye Institute (LVPEI) has announced the inauguration of its Lahoti Eye Centre at Pranava Vaishnaoi Business Park, Kondapur. The new facility, designed with patient experience and care at its core, was inaugurated by Jishnu Dev Varma, Governor of Telangana.

Set in a bigger space, with enhanced facilities, the Lahoti Eye Centre delivers comprehensive eye care with the same level of excellence and trust, expected of L V Prasad Eye Institute.

Key Highlights of the Lahoti Eye Centre, Pranava Vaishnaoi Business Park, Kondapur:

Dedicated Outpatient Departments (OPDs) for Cataract, Cornea, Glaucoma, Oculoplasty & Cosmetic Eyelid Care (including Botox and fillers), Retina, Pediatric Eye Care, and Contact Lens Services

Spacious layout optimised for improved patient flow

Superior accessibility and ample parking

Inclusive, safe, and patient-friendly premises

Speaking at the inauguration, Jishnu Dev Varma, Honorable Governor of Telangana, said, "Telangana and Hyderabad are proud of L V Prasad Eye Institute for its groundbreaking research, outstanding eye care and for making eye health accessible to all, irrespective of the complexity of care needed or ability to pay.

Dr G N Rao, Founder Chairman, LVPEI said, "Our objective is to take quality eye-care services to patients who need them the most. As the city continues to expand and distances grow, it is not feasible for everyone to travel to Banjara Hills. To address this challenge, we have established satellite centres to bring care closer to communities. This is our fourth satellite centre, and we will continue to identify and expand into areas where there is a genuine need. Currently, we provide services across Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, and Odisha, with a focused effort to reach even the remotest regions of these states."

Dr Prashant Garg, Executive Chairman - LVPEI, added, "Currently, we operate four tertiary care centres located in Vijayawada, Visakhapatnam, Cuddapah, and Bhubaneswar. Annually, we serve close to 2.4 million outpatients and have patients coming from across the country. To extend our reach beyond Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, and Odisha, we have embraced technological innovation through tele-ophthalmology, branded as ConnectCare, developed in-house by our team."


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January 27, 2026: Europeans have become more uneasy the longer the Ukraine War goes on. At this point it has lasted longer than the 1941-45 war between Germany and the Soviet Union. The 30 European NATO members became concerned about Russia attacking NATO. In reality, this is absurd. The 30 European NATO nations have a combined population of over 800 million and more than half the global GDP. Their combined forces have 3.5 million troops. Add Ukraines 800,000 and you have a force more than four times what Russia can muster. Russia has a population of 140 million and a GDP of $7.7 trillion, which is 3.6 percent of Global GDP. European NATO nations have a combined GDP fifteen times that of Russia. Not surprisingly, the NATO nations closest to Russia spend more on defense and have larger military forces than nations more distant from Russia, like Spain, Italy, France and Britain.

Since 1949, NATO has been preparing to defend Western Europe from a Russian attack. Until 1989, Russia had massed several hundred thousand troops in East Germany, along with several thousand tanks, most of them T-72s. Thousands more tanks were stationed in Ukraine, then part of the Soviet Union. In 1989, when the wall dividing Russian-controlled East Berlin from NATO-controlled West Berlin came down, the situation changed in a radical and unexpected way.

Back then, Russia was called the Soviet Union because it had more territory and twice as many people as the current Russian Federation. In 1991, the Soviet Union collapsed into 14 independent nations. The two largest were the Russian Federation and Ukraine. The current Russian leader, Vladimir Putin, always wanted to rebuild the Soviet Union and began doing so in 2014 by seizing several Ukrainian provinces. He then invaded Ukraine in early 2022. Ukraine was seeking to join NATO, and its application was being processed. To become a NATO member, Ukraine had to acquire Western tanks and warplanes because NATO requires all members to use similar weapons, not Russian ones. The Ukrainians were in the process of converting when Russia attacked, as Russia wanted Ukraine to be part of a new Russian Empire, not the NATO alliance that defends members from Russian aggression.

The Russian attack did not go well, with their initial force losing most of its tanks and more than half a million soldiers dead, wounded, missing, or taken prisoner. This was a startling revelation to NATO and a major disappointment to Russia. NATO had amassed substantial forces to defeat a Russian attack, and that attack eventually came in early 2022 against NATO applicant Ukraine. This clarified the long-unanswered question of what would have happened if Russia had attacked NATO forces during the 19491991 Cold War. The Russian attack against Ukraine was not as massive as the one the Soviet Unions forces in Eastern Europe were prepared to launch against NATO forces in West Germany and beyond.

The Ukrainians halted the Russian attack and inflicted heavy casualties on the Russians while doing so. After a year of fighting, the Russians had lost most of their modern tanks, along with nearly half a million troops killed, wounded, or missing. A growing number of Russian soldiers preferred desertion or surrendering to Ukrainian forces over dying in Ukraine. Over a million military-age Russian men left the country, legally or otherwise, to escape military service and the possibility of death or disabling wounds in Ukraine.

This made it clear that a war between NATO and Russia would be one-sided, even without the Americans. European NATO nations can raise far more troops and equip them with more tanks, warplanes, and warships than Russia can muster. Since 2022, NATO nations have been preparing for an eventual Russian attack. For nearly four years, invading Russian forces have been fighting in Ukraine. One reason Russia gave for invading was Ukraines effort to join NATO and gain the protection of the NATO alliance, which includes the United States, in addition to well-armed nearby states like Poland, Germany, and France. Russia did not want to fight the NATO alliance.

While NATO could not justify sending troops to Ukraine, it could and did send nearly $400 billion worth of weapons and economic aid. Initially the Americans were the largest contributor, but as the war continued, European contributions increased while U.S. shipments declined. NATO continues to support Ukraine because that is what NATO was established to do in 1949. The threat then was the aggressive Soviet Union, which never attacked.

When the Soviet Union dissolved in 1991, the largest and most aggressive successor state was the Russian Federation, led by men who wanted to rebuild the Soviet empire and decided in 2021 to start with Ukraine. The Russian invasion reminded other NATO states that the Russian threat still existed and was very real. At the same time, Russia is aware that NATO countries can muster more military forces than Russia and possess far larger economic resources.

NATO nations are planning to increase the number of soldiers in their peacetime forces, which means a return to conscription. Without the war in Ukraine, European voters would not have approved the return of conscription as a necessary step to increase the size of their armed forces. NATO nations have large enough populations of military-age men to do this, in addition to enormous economic resources.

NATO members, including the United States, accounted for nearly half of the $2.4 trillion in global defense spending in 2022. NATO spending continued increasing faster than global spending because of the war in Ukraine. For example, Denmark announced that it would gradually increase defense spending over the next ten years until it reaches about $21 billion. At that point, defense spending would be three times what it was in 2022 and would meet the NATO-suggested two percent of GDP. Denmark had long spent much less, safe in the knowledge that the United States and larger NATO members met or exceeded the spending goal applicable to all NATO members.

This annoyed the United States, but America has the largest economy in the world and military commitments worldwide. The U.S. has long had the largest defense budget in the world. During the 19481991 Cold War, European NATO members believed their job was to keep the Americans in, the Germans down, and the Russians out.

By 2025, the Americans had proof that the Europeans could defend themselves from Russian aggression if they had to. The U.S. was increasingly committed to dealing with China, which meant its largest military commitment was in the Pacific theater. The Europeans were on their own but could still get some support from the United States, like specialized military services and a source for new weapons designs.

The Europeans accepted this new reality and are increasing their defense spending and expanding their active-duty and reserve military forces. Outwardly, Russia proclaims superiority over European forces. However, privately, Russian military planners and intelligence experts see a realistic opportunity for European nations to create armed forces capable of dealing with any Russian aggression.

America has the largest economy in the world and military commitments worldwide. The U.S. has long had the largest defense budget in the world. During the 19481991 Cold War, European NATO members believed their job was to keep the Americans in, the Germans down, and the Russians out.

By 2025, the Americans had proof that the Europeans could defend themselves from Russian aggression if they had to. The U.S. was increasingly committed to dealing with China, which meant its largest military commitment was in the Pacific theater. The Europeans were on their own but could still get some support from the United States, like specialized military services and a source for new weapons designs.

The Europeans accepted this new reality and are increasing their defense spending and expanding their active-duty and reserve military forces. Outwardly, Russia proclaims superiority over European forces. However, privately, Russian military planners and intelligence experts see a realistic opportunity for European nations to create armed forces capable of dealing with any Russian aggression.
Two major American universities are celebrating transformative donations that will reshape their health care and academic missions. Penn State Health received a $50 million contribution from philanthropist Tom Golisano, while the University of Texas at Austin secured a $100 million gift from Austin residents Tench and Simone Coxe.

Penn State's Golisano Children's Hospital Gift

The $50 million donation from Tom Golisano will name Penn State Health's Children's Hospital and support its expansion as a cutting-edge pediatric care center. The contribution represents a significant milestone for the institution, as it marks the largest single philanthropic gift to Penn State Health since 1963, when the M.S. Hershey Foundation provided $50 million to establish Penn State College of Medicine and Milton S. Hershey Medical Center.

The newly designated facility will join a broader network of pediatric institutions. Penn State Health Golisano Children's Hospital at Milton S. Hershey Medical Center will connect with nine other leading institutions across the country as part of the Golisano Children's Alliance. This collaborative network aims to share resources and expand access to essential pediatric care throughout the region.

Penn State President Neeli Bendapudi emphasized the impact of this donation on the university's health mission. The gift will enhance pediatric care, research, and community outreach across central Pennsylvania. Located on the Hershey campus, the Children's Hospital serves as the most comprehensive pediatric facility between Pittsburgh and Philadelphia, featuring the region's only Level IV neonatal intensive care unit and Level I pediatric trauma center.

Golisano, founder of Paychex Inc., has built a reputation for supporting children's hospitals nationwide. The Golisano Foundation announced donations to six children's hospitals, with four facilities receiving $50 million each and two receiving $25 million and $3 million respectively. These contributions are part of creating the Golisano Children's Alliance, designed to strengthen pediatric health care across multiple states.

University of Texas at Austin Medical Center Initiative

Meanwhile, the University of Texas at Austin is advancing its plans for a world-class academic medical center with substantial backing from local philanthropists. Tench and Simone Coxe pledged $100 million to support the university's emerging medical center, one of the largest gifts in UT Austin's history.

The donation will support a comprehensive health care initiative that integrates multiple components of the university's medical infrastructure. The new UT medical center will combine the university's research enterprise, Dell Medical School, and UT MD Anderson cancer care into a digitally enabled, patient-centered academic health system serving Central Texas.

Tench Coxe, whose venture capital career included early investments in companies like Nvidia, brought a strategic perspective to the gift. He now serves on Nvidia's board of directors. Tench Coxe expressed confidence in UT's senior vice president for medical affairs and dean of Dell Medical School, Claudia Lucchinetti, citing her vision as a key factor in their decision to invest.

The couple's motivation stemmed from personal observations of health care gaps in the region. They noted that some patients were forced to travel to Houston for specialized treatments that should have been available locally. Their unrestricted donation provides flexibility for university leaders to allocate resources to areas of greatest need, including clinician recruitment, construction, technology investments, and community health programs.

The $2.5 billion University of Texas Austin Medical Center is expected to break ground in 2026 and is projected to open in 2030. The facility will include a new UT hospital focused on complex and serious conditions, along with an expansion of UT MD Anderson's cancer services in the Austin area.

Impact on Higher Education Philanthropy

These donations reflect a broader trend of major philanthropic investments in university health care infrastructure. Both gifts emphasize the importance of academic medical centers in serving their communities while advancing research and education missions.

The Penn State gift comes as the university prepares to launch a new fundraising campaign in 2026, with a particular focus on health initiatives across the commonwealth. Similarly, the UT Austin contribution supports the university's goal of becoming what it calls the world's highest-impact public research university.

Both institutions hope these high-profile donations will inspire additional contributions from other supporters. The Coxes initially considered remaining anonymous but decided to publicize their gift to encourage others to join the effort. This approach to philanthropy demonstrates how major donors can catalyze broader support for ambitious institutional projects.

As these two universities move forward with their expanded health care missions, they join a growing number of academic institutions investing heavily in medical research and patient care infrastructure. The success of these initiatives will likely influence how other universities approach similar expansions in the coming years.
David Beckham told his wife Victoria nobody deserves it more than you as she was given a French knighthood amid the ongoing family rift with their eldest son.

The Spice Girl and fashion designer was flanked by the rest of her family, including sons Cruz and Romeo and daughter Harper, as she was named a Chevaliere de lOrdre des Arts et des Lettres  a Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters, which recognises significant contributions to the arts and literature.

Meanwhile, son Brooklyn shared a lengthy video montage on TikTok of an apparent getaway with his wife Nicola Peltz, including shots of them hugging and kissing, shortly after accusing his parents of attempting to sabotage their relationship and putting Brand Beckham first.

Sharing a gallery of photos from the ceremony in Paris, which included Vogue global editorial director Anna Wintour, David Beckham wrote: We are so proud of you and all that you have achieved @victoriabeckham.

Being named a Chevaliere de lOrdre des Arts et des Lettres by the French Ministry of Culture nobody deserves it more than you x We love you.

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In her speech, Victoria Beckham, 51, who is known for her eponymous luxury label, said: Im so proud to be British but France is one of the few places fashion is treated with the seriousness it deserves, as a form of art.

In a post shared on Instagram on Monday evening, Victoria Beckham said: Im so honoured to be named a Chevaliere de lOrdre des Arts et des Lettres by the French Ministry of Culture.

I have always deeply admired the French aesthetic and the seriousness with which it treats fashion: as a form of art.

So to be recognised here and embraced in this way is a profound privilege  one that reflects decades of commitment and dedication. My sincere thanks to the French Minister of Culture, Rachida Dati, for this honour.

Thank you also to business partners who believed in me, my family, and especially David  my husband, and original investor.

I couldnt be more grateful, you are my everything xx

The family photos shared by both David and Victoria Beckham include Cruz and his partner Jackie Apostel and Romeo and his girlfriend Kim Turnbull, but Brooklyn and his wife were conspicuous by their absence after Brooklyn said publicly that he does not want to reconcile with his parents.

He made headlines last week with a string of posts on his Instagram story, which seemed to confirm the rumours that have swirled since his wedding to the daughter of US billionaire Nelson Peltz in 2022.

In the posts, he accused his parents of trying endlessly to ruin my relationship since before my wedding, and it hasnt stopped.

He also alleged that his wife had been disrespected by his family.

Victoria Beckham, who founded her fashion label in 2008, rose to fame in the 90s pop band The Spice Girls  known for hit songs such as Wannabe, 2 Become 1, and Say Youll Be There.
Ralph Fiennes, who famously portrayed villain Lord Voldemort in the Harry Potter films, has hinted Irish actor Cillian Murphy will be the next to portray the character.

JK Rowling's iconic novels are set to be reimagined on the small screen after the huge success of the films, with HBO filming a Harry Potter series.

During an event for 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, which Fiennes starred in with Murphy also working on the zombie franchise, he was asked about who should succeed him as Voldemort.

Fiennes replied: "I'm told they are already filled, aren't they? I think Cillian Murphy is very good. A very good choice."

Murphy has long been linked with the role, and bookmakers have slashed odds on the Corkman playing Voldemort.

Murphy won best actor at the Oscars in 2024 for his portrayal of J Robert Oppenheimer, the 'father of the atomic bomb', in Christopher Nolan's biopic Oppenheimer.

He will reprise the role of Tommy Shelby, perhaps his most well-known character, for a Peaky Blinders film which is set for release in March.
Sile Seoige is set to explore societal issues like parenting, anxiety, and bullying in a new TG4 documentary series.

In the first episode of 'Sile Seoige: An Saol Mar Ata', Seoige will look at the challenges that come with being a parent.

Airing on February 11th, the episode will follow Seoige as she visits journalist and new mother Siun Ni Dhuinn to discuss the highs and lows of becoming a parent.

Orla OConnor of the National Womens Council will highlight the lows when she discusses Ireland's childcare crisis.

Seoige will then see an effective childcare system in action in Norway, when she visits Niamh Ni Bhroin who is raising a family in Oslo.

She will also speak to parents who have a child with a disability, a psychologist, and journalist Evanne Ni Chuilinn.

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Anxiety

Episode two of the new series will focus on the prevalence of anxiety in Ireland today.

Seoige will speak on her own experience with anxiety, and gain insight into the condition from psychologist and neuroscientist Professor Ian Robertson.

Airing on February 18th, Seoige will also speak to Professors John Cryan and Ted Dinan about their research into the connection between the gut and the brain.

The relationships between anxiety as a woman, grief and anxiety, and neurodiversity and anxiety will also be explored.

Bullying

Episode three, which focuses on bullying, will be released on February 25th.

Seoige will speak to screenwriter Antoin Beag O Colla about the impact bullying had on him as a young man.

Psychologist Allison Keating will provide a greater understanding of bullying, while Dr Tom Felle of the University of Galway will discuss the bullying public representatives.

Labour Party leader Ivana Bacik, Dr Niamh Ni Bhroin, Aisling Ni Dhonnabhain, and Sile Ni Chonghaile will also feature throughout the episode.
The Government is to consider its strategy for St Patricks Day amid a tumultuous time in global politics.

The major focus will be on the Taoiseachs traditional trip to the White House for a bilateral with the US president.

Calls were made last year for the Taoiseach to drop the trip as Donald Trump began his second term as president; the leaders of the main opposition party Sinn Fein did not attend the White House over the US administrations approach to Gaza.

Those calls have been amplified in the wake of the USs rescinded threat to take over Greenland and Mr Trumps anti-immigration crackdown in the city of Minneapolis and elsewhere in the US.

Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Helen McEntee is to brief Cabinet on Tuesday on this years plans for St Patricks Day.

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There are 40 separate visits by Cabinet and junior ministers, the Attorney General Rossa Fanning and the Ceann Comhairle Verona Murphy planned to 52 countries.

Last year, 38 representatives of the State travelled to more than 90 cities in 40 countries.

The plan aims to present Ireland as a trusted and engaged global partner and reaffirming its values, such as its commitment to free and fair trade and the rule of law.

Ms McEntee is to outline that visits will be to core markets in the US, the EU and the UK, as well as emerging and high-growth markets in Asia, Latin America and Africa.

Higher Education Minister James Lawless has said he understands that he is travelling to Australia as part of the plans.

Several visits to the Middle East and north Africa are also scheduled for later in March and early April, following Ramadan.

Ireland Ireland in tough position as EU-US relationship appears broken Read more

The St Patricks Day trip will pose a tricky diplomatic balancing act for Taoiseach Micheal Martin, who will meet Mr Trump amid tensions with the EU over Greenland and after the vast majority of European leaders snubbed Mr Trumps so-called Board of Peace.

St Patricks Day is also the date that Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro is next due to appear before a US court.

Sinn Fein has yet to declare whether it will attend Washington DC in March this year, after boycotting the trip last year based on a principled stance against the threat of mass expulsion of the Palestinian people from Gaza, according to Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald.
A car dealer will be sentenced next week after admitting that he did not pay income tax on over 27,000 of cash found in his home.

Brian Grendon (48) of Rowlagh Park, Clondalkin, Dublin 22, pleaded guilty to a charge of failing to remit income tax payable.

Dublin Circuit Criminal Court was told that this charge under the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997 carries a maximum penalty of up to five years' imprisonment or a fine.

Grendon denied being part of an organised crime group when asked about other seizures of cash and drugs by gardai.

He said the cash found in envelopes in his home was his and was not the proceeds of crime. He denied involvement in crime.

The court heard it took Grendon 36 hours and a night in a garda station for him to eventually reply yeah to the question as to whether all of his cash was legitimate. Grendon replied that he liked staying in a garda station.

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The court heard that a proposal was made by the defence to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), which was accepted, with Grendon entering a guilty plea in advance of a trial date.

Kate Egan BL, prosecuting, outlined that the proposal was accepted on the basis that the money found reflects the proceeds of income not declared for the purpose of tax.

The court heard that Grendon has other bills outstanding with Revenue and gardai have been unable to get a breakdown of the income tax due on this amount of cash.

After hearing an outline of the facts on Tuesday, Judge Orla Crowe said the court required confirmation of the amount of income tax payable on the money found and adjourned the case for finalisation until February 4th.

Detective Garda Liam Enniston outlined Grendon's home was searched on January 19th, 2022.

Grendon and his partner were in the house at the time. During the search of Grendon's bedroom, gardai found eight white envelopes in a wardrobe. They contained sums of cash divided into smaller denominations, and a small bundle of unwrapped cash was also found.

In total, 27,725 was seized. Photos of the cash were handed to the court.

After caution, Grendon replied that the cash could be from cars and did not belong to his wife or children.

He was arrested and later interviewed four times.

The court was told that Grendon largely invoked his right to silence, but did offer some replies to garda questions.

He denied that the money was the proceeds of crime or money-laundering and said it was the legitimate proceeds of selling cars.

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He was also asked about a dog grooming business and said it was nothing to do with him and was not his business.

Grendon told gardai that he didn't know other cash found in the house was there.

The court was told that gardai are satisfied this money belonged to Grendon's wife, who runs her own business, and it was returned to her.

Asked about his reply at the house that the money could have come from cars, he replied that he said: It could only be from cars and It's from me shipping cars, that's it.

It was put to him that this explanation was not true and that gardai believe the cash to be the proceeds of crime and that you are a main player in an organised crime group.

Grendon denied this, and told gardai he had been in the car business for 13 years. He said he had a bill with Revenue of 1 million, including penalties that he was trying to resolve.

He said he was dealing in cash for the cars. After his arrest, Grendon provided a letter from his accountant which outlined that he was the director of a company and that this company was advised to trade in cash due to difficulties at that time.

Grendon has 24 previous convictions, including 18 for road traffic offences, one for assault causing harm and one for possession of drugs for sale and supply, for which he received a six-year sentence in 2001.

The court heard Grendon's most recent non-driving related offence dates back over 20 years.

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Det Gda Enniston agreed with Keith Spencer BL defending that an accountant's report states that Grendon was advised to trade in cash as the company fell into difficulties in 2021 due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

It was further accepted that Grendon complied with his bail conditions.

A copy of the accountant's report and other documents were handed into the court.

Mr Spencer said this report states that Grendon's company that imported and sold cars, was located in Northern Ireland and registered in the UK.

There was an issue with the UK tax authorities during Covid, and through no fault of the shareholders or directors, the filing deadline in 2021 was missed, counsel said.

The company was effectively dissolved in the UK, and the bank account was not accessible, with Grendon being advised to trade in cash where he could.

Counsel said his client sought to recover money owing to the company, and as there was no bank account, his only alternative was to collect this in cash.

The company was briefly restored, but ultimately dissolved some months later and ceased trading.

Grendon has been in the car trade since 2008, has no addiction issues and has three adult children, the court heard.

He is also assisting his mother, who has health issues.

Mr Spencer noted that his client originally faced a money-laundering charge, but indicated at every point that these were legitimate funds.

Ireland Woman allegedly attacked by husband in front of their children tells court 'I love him to bits' Read more

He submitted that this case is at the lower end of the scale and asked the court to consider non-custodial options.

Counsel said the money is available to be forfeited to Revenue, and this would be in excess of the tax owed.

Mr Spencer said his client is willing to carry out community service and asked the court for as much leniency as possible.

He told the court his client was remanded in custody on Monday on an unrelated matter, for which he intends to apply for bail.
It was only a matter of time before someone was killed by a scrambler motorbike, the Dail has been told.

Opposition politicians raised the case of Grace Lynch, a 16-year-old Dublin girl who died after being hit by a scrambler at the weekend, as the Dail returned on Tuesday.

Hundreds of people took part in a walk in Finglas on Monday night in memory of Grace, where her mother, Siobhan, called for scramblers and e-scooters to be taken off the streets.

Balloons were released at the end of a walk in memory of Siobhan Lynchs daughter Grace, who died after a scrambler crash in north Dublin (Grainne Ni Aodha/PA)

In a heartfelt plea, she said that watching her daughter take her last breath was the worst pain imaginable and said it was something no parent should have to deal with.

Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald said it was predictable that a life would be lost as a result of scramblers, which she described as a scourge of working class communities that created a constant sense of menace.

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Ms McDonald said she hoped the Taoiseach would hear that anger from Finglas as she accused governments of having dragged their heels on introducing tighter restrictions on scramblers.

She said the Government had brought forward legislation that didnt go far enough, and which had still not been fully enacted.

Ms McDonald said she had spoken to Graces mother Siobhan on Monday night and said that she believed action on this issue would be some consolation to her.

So it was in reality only a matter of time before somebody was killed, and now that somebody has a name, her name is Grace Lynch, she said during Leaders Questions.

Sinn Feins Mary Lou McDonald said scramblers were a scourge of working class communities (Niall Carson/PA)

Only today, when a child is dead, Government talks about moving quickly, tightening things up and taking action, Ms McDonald said.

The absence of any Government urgency in tackling the menace of scramblers is frightening and Taoiseach, this has to change and change fast.

Taoiseach Micheal Martin expressed his condolences to Graces family and said he understood their anger.

He said: Nothing that I can say can in any way ease the devastation, the pain, the hurt, the anger that Graces family feels right now.

I understand that anger, and I understand the devastation that theyre going through.

They have lost a beautiful daughter who should be going to school, who should be with her friends today.

Mr Martin said legislative changes had been proposed previously in the Dail to tackle the anti-social use of scramblers and quad bikes.

Taoiseach Micheal Martin said there should be no scramblers on public roads (Brian Lawless/PA)

He said that they would ban scramblers from public roads, and said it should have happened sooner, but said nothing would ever ease the devastation that the Lynch family experienced.

Mr Martin added: In my view, it will happen, it should have happened in terms of the signing or the formulation and dealing of these regulations.

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I understand fully the anger of the people in working class areas, but particularly in Finglas.

There should be no scramblers on public roads. We have it within our power to make that happen, and it will happen.

He said Justice Minister Jim OCallaghan had spoken to Garda Commissioner Justin Kelly, who was attending to this immediately and treating this with the utmost priority.

Labour leader Ivana Bacik paid tribute to Graces mother Siobhan for showing such courage in the face of such outright grief.

The entire country is shaken by Graces death, she told the Dail.

Labour leader Ivana Bacik said scramblers are being used to intimidate on our streets (Niall Carson/PA)

Ms Bacik welcomed comments from Mr Martin but said this was not a new issue, citing severe injuries suffered by a Lithuanian national after a scrambler landed on him while he was in a Dublin park in 2018.

She also said that its not just scramblers and said e-scooter-related brain injuries accounted for a quarter of admissions of children to Temple Street Childrens Hospital.

Scramblers are not toys, theyre powerful machines, theyre being used to intimidate on our streets. They are lethal weapons, Ms Bacik told the Dail.

She asked Mr Martin if he would consider an immediate freeze on the usage of all scrambler bikes until robust enforcement mechanisms are put in place.

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Mr Martin said the Government also had to move on e-scooters and said the reports of emergency medicine consultants on brain injuries from e-scooters were far too high.

He said: The scramblers for me is very straightforward, they have no place on our roads, and theres a lot of other activity related to them, in terms of illegal activity.

Related to that, we have to move with speed on e-scooters, because the level of injury thats been reported from consultants in emergency medicine, particularly in terms of brain injury, as well as physical injuries, (is) far too high.
A senior garda in charge of armed officers involved in the fatal shooting of George Nkencho has admitted that their training for dealing with people with mental health problems would have been quite minimal.

Inspector John Holland of the Special Tactics and Operations Command told an inquest at Dublin District Coroners Court that the main priority of members of the Garda Armed Support Unit (ASU) during the incident was the threat posed to members of the public and gardai by an individual with a large knife.

Insp Holland said he believed the advice to try and keep a situation involving a disturbed person calm was not possible in the circumstances because of the immediate threat posed by someone with a knife and the risk to other individuals.

He told the inquest at Dublin District Coroners Court that he understood information about dealing with people with mental health issues was given as part of basic training for unattested gardai attending the Garda College.

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However, Insp Holland said he believed it was quite minimal.

Mr Nkencho was fatally wounded by gardai who had responded to emergency calls after the deceased had carried out an unprovoked assault on a manager at the nearby Eurospar store in Hartstown, as well as threatening staff with a knife.

The deceaseds family claim the level of force used against him was disproportionate. However, the DPP directed that no prosecution should arise over the circumstances of Mr Nkenchos death following an investigation by the Garda Siochana Ombudsman Commission (now known as Fiosru).

As a qualified negotiator and on-scene commander, Insp Holland told the coroner, Myra Cullinane, he received advice from the director of the Central Mental Hospital about dealing with individuals with mental health problems.

However, he did not believe such advice would have been given to members of the ASU.

The witness said gardai were now trying to incorporate some learnings from incidents into judgmental and situational training, which would include mental health issues.

Nevertheless, Insp Holland stressed that the immediate threat posed by someone with a knife and the risk to people on the day took precedence over putting any protocol or procedures on mental health issues into practice.

He told counsel for the Nkencho family, Eanna Molloy SC, that he believed such advice would normally arise for use in a protracted incident where there was either a hostage or suicide situation.

Insp Holland pointed out that the situation involving Mr Nkencho was evolving and very fluid.

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He noted that the time between the ASU's arrival on the scene and a firearm being discharged was less than a minute.

On hearing that the ASU had fired shots, Insp Holland told the inquest that he had directed another garda to take possession of their weapons and to get the two armed gardai to make contemporaneous notes without conferring with each other.

Asked by Mr Molloy why gardai failed to resort to less lethal devices, Insp Holland replied that tasers (and pepper spray) had been deployed.

The witness said he believed firearms were used because of the urgency of the situation and ASU members had to deal with the threat in front of them.

He reminded the hearing that Mr Nkencho was still in possession of a knife and advancing at gardai when the firearm was discharged.

Insp Holland stressed that the deceaseds intentions were unknown.

He said the ASU members, who put themselves in harms way to protect others, were the best-equipped and best-trained gardai to deal with the situation.

He also claimed that the immediacy of the danger when the ASU arrived on the scene with Mr Nkencho continuing to walk toward members of the public meant there was an urgency which did not allow them to go to the boot of their vehicle to get other equipment, such as a protective shield and a 40mm launcher which fired sponge rounds.

In reply to a question from Dr Cullinane, Insp Holland said shields were generally used during planned house searches by a garda who would not generally be carrying a firearm.

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The witness said that having a garda carry a shield, which required both hands, removed the possibility that they could also carry a weapon.

The inquest heard that the ASU in Dublin dealt with around 4,200 incidents in 2020, of which 72% were of substance.

Insp Holland told counsel for An Garda Siochana, Ronan Kennedy SC, that the incident involving Mr Nkencho was the only one where lethal force was deployed.

He said most incidents involving an individual with a knife were resolved by the mere presence of gardai from the ASU.

Insp Holland said there was a fear of a hostage situation if someone with a knife was able to get into a house, which creates a different risk.

The witness said he was unaware that Mr Nkencho was outside his own house until he arrived at the scene about 30 minutes after the fatal shooting.

He said he believed the ASU members had deployed the most effective tools on Mr Nkencho.

Asked about the pepper spray used on the deceased being about a month out-of-date, Insp Holland said ASU equipment was subject to an audit every six months, but the normal timescale for biannual checks had probably been affected by the Covid-19 pandemic at the time.

In other evidence, the deceaseds aunt, Grace Anyanwu, described the events of the day her nephew was killed as torture.

Ireland Aunt of George Nkencho tells inquest events of the day were 'torture' Read more

However, Ms Anyanwu, who formally identified her nephews body to gardai, said she felt at peace at seeing him because he was sleeping like an angel.

Ms Anyanwu said her heart calmed down after seeing his body in the Dublin City Mortuary in Whitehall on the day after the fatal shooting.

The witness explained that she is not the biological sister of the deceaseds mother, Blessing Nkencho, but that they were best friends and like sisters.

The inquest before a jury of five women and four men will resume on Wednesday.
Status yellow wind warning for all of Ireland in place until 11pm

Status yellow rain warning for Carlow, Kilkenny, Louth, Wexford, Wicklow, and Waterford until 11pm

Motorists have been stuck and rescued from flooding, as have householders

Around 5,500 homes, farms and businesses are currently without power

Hundreds of schools were shut across the country and around 20 flights have been cancelled at Dublin Airport

Emergency payment announced for people in Co Wexford and Co Wicklow

6pm

An emergency payment is being made available to people living in Co Wexford and Co Wicklow who are experiencing the worst impacts of the storm.

Levels of payment under the Emergency Response Payment scheme depend on the relative severity of damage experienced and the households ability to meet these costs from their own resources.

Stage 1 of the scheme is available from Tuesday until next Wednesday.

Deputy Brian Brennan said: Many of the home affected in Wicklow and Wexford are facing serious damage, which includes ruined flooring and essential appliances destroyed.

For families already stretched by the cost of living, these unexpected expenses are simply impossible to absorb. This scheme is an essential lifeline.

5pm

Housing Minister James Browne, whose constituency is Enniscorthy, said learnings will be taken from today's weather.

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"I know Wexford local authorities and other local authoirities have been out, and I want to acknowledge the staff of the local authorities who risk their lives, who go out in these storms, in the dark, to help to minimise the damage that can happen from these types of events," he said.

Environment Minister Darragh O'Brien has said that work has been underway behind the scenes for a river flood warning system.

"It's something that has already been looked into and I said this in my previous department when I was in Housing, Planning, and Local Government that Met Eireann worked directly with me," he said.

"A lot of work has been done on river flood forecasting in particuolar and I'd like to see that work accelerated..."

4pm

Dublin Airport said strong winds are still affecting flight operations on Tuesday.

Around 20 flights have been cancelled by airlines.

The DAA said it is experiencing strong gusts, as are other airports in the UK and in Europe.

It is advising people who are due to fly on Tuesday to keep in contact with their airline for information.

3:30pm

Irish Rail is monitoring conditions this afternoon and said teams are ready to respond to any disruption.

The line between Enniscorthy and Wexford is closed with bus transfers in place. There are minor delays elsewhere,

Louth County Council has said that weather warnings for the storm should have been upgraded in certain areas.

It is reporting severe localised flooding across the county, while the M1 northbound was closed this morning.

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Cathaoirleach of the Council Sean Kelly, thinks a yellow level alert was not enough.

"I think that's why we're seeing a serious issue here. We were remained at a yellow weather warning and maybe they should have considered it to be increased to orange for ourselves given the pure level rainfall we've experienced in the last 24 hours and will expect over the next couple of hours as well," he said.

"And don't forget we've got a high tide this evening again at 5:30pm."

2:30pm

Heavy rain caused by Storm Chandra has led to road closures around the country.

In Wexford, Enniscorthy has been badly affected, while a number of roads in Louth are impassable.

In Dublin, the M50 northbound has reopened after a lengthy closure due to heavy rainfall this morning.

Speaking to Newstalk, Bronagh Gately in Enniscorthy in Wexford said there are people trapped in their homes.

Members of Slaney Search and Rescue working in floodwater in Enniscorthy, Co Wexford. Photo: PA

"We are surrounded by water. I'm on Templeshannonn quay at the moment and I'm watching them evacuate people from their homes," she said.

"There are people trapped in apartments. There are people that have no way out. There's no electricity.

"It really is quite bad. A lot of locals are saying it's the worst that they've seen it in a number of years."

Around 5,500 homes, farms, and businesses are without power, mainly in the east.

1pm

Wexford County Council have arrived on Enniscorthy Quay Front and have moved the flood markers as high tide approaches midday. The Riverside Park Hotel and Leisure Club has suffered serious flooding so far with its spa area in several feet of water.

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Members of the public are being evacuated from their homes and businesses along the quay area of the town by emergency services.

The River Slaney burst its banks in Enniscorthy, Co Wexford. Photo: PA

In Dublin, the M50 northbound is closed between Junction 16 Cherrywood and Junction 12 Firhouse due to bad flooding, while bus and DART services are also running with delays.

Meteorologist with Met Eireann, Aoife Kealy, said Tuesday's rainfall had a more significant impact due to wet weather in the past few days.

"The big thing is, of course, the accumulations," she said.

"While they may just have been within that yellow level threshold within our standards for warnings, as I said, it's the proceeding conditions that have had such a large impact on conditions, particularly across the east and south east of the country."

Communities in South Dublin have said they are in shock at the level of damage caused by Storm Chandra.

It is leading to renewed calls for more targeted weather warnings and for drainage systems to be improved.

11:45am

Motorists have been taken to safety after becoming trapped in floods in multiple areas in Dublin.

A car engulfed in floodwater in Enniscorthy, Co Wexford. Photo: PA

Dublin Fire Brigade has helped people in Hunters Wood, Knocklyon, Dodder Park Road, and Rathfarnham.

There are also reports of floods on roads across South Dublin.

A spokesperson for Dublin Fire Brigade said they are currently prioritising calls where a person's life is at risk.

The ESB said around 20,000 homes, farms and businesses are currently without power.

Iarnrod Eireann said there are disruptions to Dart services and a number of ferry sailings have been cancelled between Dublin and Holyhead.

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Dublin Airport said flight cancellations are possible.

Dublin City Council said rainfall in parts of the city exceeded 33mm since midnight, which is substantially higher than forecast.

Flood Response staff have been active across since around 3am this morning, in response to the significant rainfall.

The council is urging motorists to drive with extreme care as a large number of roads are experiencing surface flooding.

The Riverside Park Hotel and Leisure Club in Enniscorthy has been completely shut down due to flooding.

In a statement hotel management said that they need to close the hotel today and Wednesday.

Parts of Aughrim village in Co Wicklow have been hit badly with householders trapped in their homes.

The river Aughrim has burst its banks and householders who live beside that area are finding it difficult to get to safety.

Earlier

Parts of Wexford and Waterford have been hit badly by flooding as Strom Chandra hits Ireland.

In Enniscorthy, the River Slaney has burst its banks in Enniscorthy with the Promenade, Island Road and Shannon Quay closed to traffic.

Sandbags are being deployed across the town.

It is feared that there is worse to come as high tide is expected around 11.30am.

Senator Cathal Byrne is urging the public to follow all advice from gardai, Wexford County Council and emergency services to avoid the area.

Senator Byrne criticised the lack of a flood relief scheme for the town as it once again hit with flooding.

It is beyond scandalous that yet again our Town is under flooding.

"I again call for the Enniscorthy Flood Defense Scheme to be delivered for the town without delay, he said.

The council has said that routes currently closed due to flooding include the N80 Bunclody, Clohamon, Enniscorthy Quays and is urging motorists to use alternative routes which are signposted.

As of 8am, gardai in Wexford are warning that due to heavy rain and high tides, there are numerous issues of flooding and surface water on roads throughout the county.

Flooding at Enniscorthy Quay.

Waterford City and County Council said that with persistent rainfall and strong winds flood defence barriers have been activated in Waterford city.

The situation in Passage East and Tramore Promenade is being monitored and flood defence barriers will be activated if required.

The following car parks in Dungarvan, Co Waterford are also at risk of flooding and are closed since 7am; Davitts Quay, The Pond, The Lookout and Castle Street Carpark.

M50 problems

Sean ONeill, director of corporate communications at Transport Infrastructure Ireland is urging people to consider working from home today as Storm Chandra has caused significant problems on main routes such as the M50 in Dublin.

At present there is only one lane open on the M50 between the Firhouse and Dundrum junctions following a collision.

We ask everyone who needs to use that section of the M50 to please, if they can, delay their journey, take some time at home, talk to your employer. It's just not going to be productive time spent. We have crews on site, we're dealing with the incident, but I do not have a time yet on when the issue will be resolved, he told RTE radios Morning Ireland.

Additionally, in the village of Kilmacanogue, there's significant flooding into and around Junction 8 on the N11, so again we ask people to please delay their journey this morning if they can, because there is significant traffic disruption right now.

Mr ONeill said it would take time to resolve these significant events. So we do ask people to please think about their commute this morning and maybe delaying it if they can because you're not going to be going anywhere fast.

Additional reporting PA, Sarah Slater, James Cox, Vivienne Clarke.
Two men were high on laughing gas when they carried out a random, unprovoked assault on a woman who was walking home from work, a court has heard.

On the evening of July 18th 2021, two men ran up behind the woman and pushed her to the ground on Seamus Ennis Road, Finglas, north Dublin.

One man began to punch her from the left and the right.

The woman may also have been kicked while she was on the ground, she later told gardai. During the attack, the victim screamed for help and thought she was going to die.

One man took her mobile phone from her and began to taunt her. He placed the phone back on the ground and damaged it, Garda Sean Power told Fiona Pekaar BL, prosecuting.

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After the men left, the woman went to the nearest garda station. She had a split lip, cuts to her knee and blood on her face and clothing. She suffered a fractured elbow.

CCTV footage from a nearby funeral home recorded two men running to and from the scene of the attack.

Gardai identified the attackers as Craig Mains (28) of Hazelcroft Park, Finglas, Dublin 11, and Shane Daly (27) of Woodhazel Close, Ballymun, Dublin 11.

After their arrest, they were questioned, but there was nothing of evidential value from these interviews.

A trial was set, charging both men with robbery and assault causing harm. However, guilty pleas were entered last December to a new indictment, with the robbery charges dropped by the Director of Public Prosecutions.

Daly pleaded guilty to assault, and Mains pleaded guilty to assault causing harm and to criminal damage of an iPhone.

The victim handed in a lengthy victim impact report, but asked that it not be read out in court. Judge Ronan Munro said he would consider it.

Keith Spencer BL, defending Daly, noted the woman told gardai, I thought I was going to be killed.

He told the court that both defendants had been inhaling balloons of Nitrous Oxide or laughing gas on the night. He said his client has a bad history of drug addiction, but has rehabilitated completely.

Daly has 23 previous convictions, including one for affray, for which he was given a suspended prison sentence earlier this month. Mains has five previous convictions, all for road traffic offences.

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Eimear Delargy BL, defending Mains, said that her client had consumed cocaine, alcohol and pills on the night. She said his offence made no sense and could only be explained by his level of intoxication.

Their behaviour was so weird, none of it makes sense, she said. Judge Munro said it seemed that the men carried out a random, unprovoked assault because it was entertaining.

Counsel for both defendants told the court that their client wishes to offer unreserved apologies to the victim.

Mr Spencer said Daly has gotten sober and intends to remain so. Daly handed over 2,000 as a token of remorse to be forwarded to the victim, who was in court.

Ms Delargy said Mains has since taken part in an anger management course and has also worked in warehouses and for Ikea as a delivery driver.

He brought 1,000 to court to be offered to the victim.

Judge Munro said this was a heinous offence. He noted that the victim has been driven demented by the delays in prosecuting the case.

He adjourned the case to May 12th 2026, for finalisation and remanded both men on continuing bail to that date.
Sergey Brin, Google's Co-Founder, is making headlines following his statement that says Google is hiring 'tons' of people without bachelor's degrees, at the closing event of Stanford University Engineering's centennial year.

Entrepreneur reports that according to Brin, although Google has hired several 'academic stars,' the tech company also hires employees without a bachelor's degree. 'Inasmuch as we've hired a lot of academic stars, we've hired tons of people who don't have bachelor's degrees. They just figure things out on their own in some weird corner,' Brin said.

Sergey Brin's statement may have been directed only at Stanford University students, but it has sparked discussion about the tech industries shifting to skill-based hiring. According to the Burning Glass Institute's publication, The Emerging Degree Reset, the rate of Google's job postings requiring a degree in 2022 dropped to 77% from 93% in 2017.

The publication highlights how the fast-paced technology sector forces firms to reprogram the way they recruit: 'The U.S. labour market is facing a number of challenges that are motivating employers to adopt skills-based hiring. The accelerating rate of technological change is reshaping skills requirements faster than providers can respond.' It also stated that several tech firms, such as Accenture and IBM, have become public about prioritising skills over degrees in IT roles, and have made changes to their job requirements.

Google co-founder Sergey Brin says Google hires many people without college degrees for high-paying roles because theyre self-taught problem solvers who know how to figure things out on their own.



Do you think Google should have employed degree holders instead ? pic.twitter.com/E6z0IO8ojf  King Sholz (@Sholzzola) January 19, 2026

Brin's Statement

Contrary to what is circulating in the news, Brin didn't actually dismiss the value of college education. Brin shared the path he took, from being a Stanford University PhD student to co-founding Google in 1995, calling it PageRank before renaming it to Google.

Brin said, 'I chose computer science because I had a passion for it. It was kind of a no-brainer for me. I guess you could say I was also lucky because I was also in such a transformative field.'

The Google co-founder also cautioned students not to make academic choices based on fears of AI replacing jobs. He told the students, 'The AI is probably even better at comparative literature, just to be perfectly honest anyway.'

What Googles Co-founder means is Google hired a bunch of H1Bs and had their college degree workers train them before they got laid off. pic.twitter.com/UTnuxKjSLT  Pimp Master Broda (@PimpMasterYoda1) January 20, 2026

Google's decision to shift its hiring process to what it is today reflects the changes the tech industry is facing. In 2024, JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon said, 'I don't think necessarily because you go to an Ivy League school or have great grades, it means you're going to be a great worker or great person. If you look at skills of people, it is amazing how skilled people are in something, but it didn't show up in their resume,' per Fortune.

Fortune also shared that Alex Karp, Palantir CEO, has openly spoken about the mounting pressure on the younger generation to secure credentials from highly acclaimed universities, and how little these credentials actually matter when they actually have to do the job. Last year, Karp said, 'If you did not go to school, or you went to a school that's not that great, or you went to Harvard or Princeton or Yale, once you come to Palantir, you're a Palantirian. No one cares about the other stuff.'

Economic Impact

When companies adopt skills-based hiring, it could give a ton of people without formal education access to high-paying roles, but it could also mean notable drops in university enrolments. In any case, Sergey Brin's statement has had an impact on students, sectors, and educators across the globe.

Originally published on IBTimes UK
A man who was caught importing just under 750,000 worth of cannabis into Ireland has been jailed for four years.

Michael Hayter (40) of Marine Street, Abergavenny, Wales, came forward to Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on signed pleas of guilty from the District Court.

He pleaded guilty to having the cannabis for sale or supply and having the drugs for importation at Dublin Airport on July 20th, 2025. He has no previous convictions in Ireland or any other jurisdiction.

Garda Andrew Fay told Patrick Jackson BL, prosecuting, that Hayter was stopped by customs in the airport and the drugs, worth an estimated 743,200, were found in his luggage.

He told gardai that he was approached while travelling in Cambodia. He said he had been offered 2,000 (2,304) to transport the drugs.

He was due to organise a taxi when he arrived into Dublin Airport and the driver would then collect the drugs and give him the money for his role.

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Judge Sinead Ni Chulachain said that Hayter clearly knew that he was carrying drugs and that he got involved for financial gain.

She acknowledged, however, that his involvement was at a lower level and accepted the garda evidence that he was acting as a courier or a mule.

Drugs are a scourge  I may have no job to do if it were not for drugs, Judge Ni Chulachain said before she added that the drug dealers would not be able to function without people like Hayter.

Addressing Hayter directly, Judge Ni Chulachain said You are enabling them to thrive and flourish.

She sent a headline sentence of eight years in prison before she accepted in mitigation the very early guilty pleas entered by Hayter which saved the unforeseen pitfalls of a criminal prosecution.

She also accepted that he had no history of offending and that he otherwise lived a pro-social life.

Judge Ni Chulachain further acknowledged that Hayter will be separated from his family during his time in Irish prison before she imposed a sentence of four years.

The term was backdated to when he first went into custody on his arrest last July.

Gda Fay agreed with Dominic McGinn SC, defending, that Hayter was recently diagnosed with multiple sclerosis and lost his job.

He had previously worked in the construction industry and had served time in the British army.

It was accepted that his role was to transport the drugs, and as suc,h he was acting as a courier or a mule.

Mr McGinn said his client had written a letter to the court expressing his remorse.

He said Hayden had been a constructive member of society until his diagnosis which led to the unwinding of his life.
Government approving plans to scrap the triple lock, and the ongoing unrest in Minnesota are among the stories that feature on Tuesday's front pages.

Cabinet will approve plans to scrap the triple lock, The Irish Times reports. Tensions in Minnesota amid the second fatal shooting by immigration agents also features on the front page.

There were joyous scenes at Limerick Circuit Criminal Court on Monday as one of the citys most distinguished retired crime fighters, retired Superintendent Eamon ONeill, and four serving Garda colleagues, were found not guilty on all charges of attempting to pervert the course of justice. The Irish Examiner leads with this story.

Ireland's public spending has grown at the fastest rate in the EU, the Irish Independent reports. A vigil for Grace Lynch, who died following an incident involving a scrambler in Dublin, also makes the front page.

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The Echo reports a spend of 75 million on the BusConnects programme in Cork.

The Irish Daily Mail leads with a poll that found nearly half of respondents (47 per cent) do not believe Taoiseach Micheal Martin should meet Donald Trump on St Patrick's Day.

The Irish Daily Star, Irish Daily Mirror, Irish Sun and The Herald all lead with the death of Grace Lynch.

In the North, the Belfast Telegraph leads with a story on the 'bloated' and 'inefficient' civil service.

The Irish News also leads with the civil service report.

The main stories in the UK papers are Suella Braverman defecting to Reform UK from the Conservative Party, anger within Labour over Andy Burnham's blocked byelection bid, and the Beckham family fallout.

Tuesday's FINANCIAL TIMES: Dollar slumps to four-month low and yen rises as gold breaks $5,100 barrier#TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/Kb4WtwmN0U  Jack Surfleet (@jacksurfleet) January 26, 2026

Tuesday's i: Tories weaponise 'mental health' claim on defector Braverman - as exodus grows#TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/Qs77mfpxHn  Jack Surfleet (@jacksurfleet) January 26, 2026

Tuesday's DAILY TELEGRAPH: China hacked phones in No10#TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/JzlW1cmXZ2  Jack Surfleet (@jacksurfleet) January 26, 2026

Tuesday's GUARDIAN: Tories face backlash after 'mental health' jibe over Braverman's exit#TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/8SM5bAaIvU  Jack Surfleet (@jacksurfleet) January 26, 2026

Tuesday's TIMES: Labour fears stumbling to third in by-election#TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/9SsoGfdVqR  Jack Surfleet (@jacksurfleet) January 26, 2026

The New York Times and The Washington Post lead with stories on US president Donald Trump's attempts to de-escalate the situation in Minnesota.
A heavy Russian drone bombardment of Ukraines southern city of Odesa killed at least three people and injured 23, including two children and a pregnant woman, officials said Tuesday as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called for faster US efforts to end Russias almost four-year-old invasion of his country.

The Odesa attack involved more than 50 drones, some of them models recently upgraded by Russia to improve their range and strike power, according to Ukrainian authorities.



One person was killed in overnight drone strikes (Michael Shtekel/AP)

The drones targeted the power grid, which Russia has repeatedly bombarded during the coldest winter in years, and also hit five apartment blocks, officials said.

Emergency crews retrieved the bodies of two men, aged 90 and 52, and a woman from the rubble, authorities said.

Posting on Telegram, Mr Zelensky said: The rescue operation will continue until the fate of all people who may be under the rubble is clarified.

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He added that an informal Protestant place of worship was also damaged.

Each such Russian strike undermines diplomacy, which is still ongoing, and hits, in particular, the efforts of partners who are helping to end this war, he said.

In Ukraines north-east Kharkiv region, a passenger train carrying over 200 people was hit by three drones later on Tuesday, in what the head of the regional administration Oleh Syniehubov labelled terrorism.





A brutal drone attack on Odesa. The Russians launched more than 50 drones at the city, with energy infrastructure and civilian facilities as the primary target. Five residential buildings were damaged as a result of this strike, with significant destruction to apartments and pic.twitter.com/lorBXNRg0x  Volodymyr Zelenskyy /   (@ZelenskyyUa) January 27, 2026

Four people were killed and another four reported missing.

A diplomatic push by the Trump administration to end the war has made progress, according to officials, but has delivered no breakthrough on the key issue of what happens to Russian-occupied Ukrainian land and other territory that Moscow is demanding.

Analysts say that Russian President Vladimir Putin is in no rush to find a settlement, despite his armys difficulties on the roughly 1,000km (600-mile) front line.

He believes that time is on his side, that Western support for Kyiv will fade and that Ukraines resistance will eventually break under pressure, according to analysts.

To replenish its forces and keep up the pressure on Kyiv, Moscow is offering cash bonuses, freeing convicts from prison and luring foreigners to its army.

An Associated Press investigation found that unwitting Bangladeshi workers were enticed to Russia under the false promise of civilian work before being thrown into combat in Ukraine.



Russia fired 165 drones at Ukraine overnight, with 24 of them hitting targets in seven regions (Michael Shtekel/AP)

Mr Zelenskyy said the next round of talks with the United States and Russia is pencilled in for February 1, but that it would be good if this meeting could be accelerated.

He also urged, in the meantime, that additional sanctions be imposed on Russia to compel the Kremlin to make compromises.

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Russia fired 165 drones at Ukraine overnight, with 24 of them that got through air defences hitting targets in seven regions, according to Ukraines air force.

In recent weeks, the relentless barrages have damaged some of Ukraines protected world heritage sites in Odesa, the western city of Lviv and the capital of Kyiv, Unesco said.

Russia has been improving its drone technology and tactics, striking Ukraine with increasing success.

The Ukrainian Defence Ministrys main intelligence directorate said earlier this month that Russia had deployed the new jet-powered Geran-5 strike drone against Ukraine for the first time.



(Oleg Petrasiuk/Ukraines 24th Mechanised Brigade via AP)

The Geran is a Russian variant of the Iranian-designed Shahed.

According to the directorate, the drone can carry a 90kg (200lb) warhead and has a range of nearly 1,000km(600 miles).

In response, Ukraine has significantly expanded production of interceptor drones, as well as developing its own long-range drones.

The Russian Defence Ministry said that its air defences shot down 19 Ukrainian drones overnight over several Russian regions.
Sir Keir Starmer is confident he can pursue trade deals with China without upsetting US president Donald Trump.

The UK prime minister will travel to China on Tuesday as he attempts to continue building bridges with Beijing after a freeze in Sino-British relations in the final years of the Conservative government.

Ahead of Mr Starmers trip, a No 10 source said the UK government was bringing a hard-headed, grown-up approach to our relationship with China that would chart a steady, consistent course with Beijing.

Canadian prime minister Mark Carney secured a trade deal with China (Niklas Hallen/PA)

Canadian prime minister Mark Carney secured a deal on tariff reduction during his own trip to China earlier this month, during which he suggested Beijing was becoming a more stable and reliable ally than Washington under Mr Trump.

Although the US president was initially positive about the deal, he later threatened to impose 100 per cent tariffs on Canada if it went ahead in the wake of Mr Carneys call for middle powers to band together to counter pressure from the US.

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In an interview with Bloomberg ahead of travelling to China, Mr Starmer said: Im often invited to simply choose between countries. I dont do that.

Weve got very close relations with the US, of course we want to and we will maintain that business, alongside security and defence.

Equally, just sticking your head in the sand and ignoring China when its the second biggest economy in the world and there are business opportunities wouldnt be sensible.

The last governor of Hong Kong said Mr Starmer should say exactly what he thinks when he meets Chinese leaders in Beijing this week.

Lord Chris Patten, the last governor of Hong Kong, told the Press Association the prime minister should not lean over backwards to avoid offending the Chinese (Kirsty OConnor/PA)

Lord Chris Patten said the prime minister should not lean over backwards to avoid offending China, adding: The Chinese do business on exactly the same basis as everybody else.

In an interview with the Press Association, Mr Patten said British policy towards China rested on a complete falsehood that in order to do business with them, we must avoid saying anything they dont like or doing anything that they dont like.

He said: That is just complete bilge.

The trip follows the approval of a new Chinese embassy in London and the prime minister is due to be accompanied by business leaders as he seeks to improve trading relations with the Asian superpower.

But he also faces pressure from home to raise several difficult subjects with Chinese leader Xi Jinping, including Chinas espionage activity, the treatment of the Uighur minority and the imprisonment of Jimmy Lai, a Hong Kong pro-democracy campaigner and British national.

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Mr Lai, 78, has been in detention for more than five years, much of that time in solitary confinement, having been arrested in 2020 under Hong Kongs new national security law.

China hawks including former Tory leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith have called for the prime minister to cancel his trip in protest at the treatment of Hong Kong activist and British national Jimmy Lai (Lucy North/PA)

Mr Patten, who governed Hong Kong from 1992 until it was handed over to China in 1997, said Mr Lais case should be one of the first things Mr Starmer raises with the Chinese government during his visit.

If he doesnt raise the Jimmy Lai case, hes been pathetic, he said.

What will not persuade them is if it becomes the oh, by the way issue in meetings where you dont actually raise something until the end as youre going out, just so you can tell the press you did it.

You have actually to make clear that you really are concerned about it, and its a concern in your Parliament, its a concern among public opinion.

Ministers have previously condemned the Chinese government for its treatment of Mr Lai.

Last month, following Mr Lais conviction on sedition and conspiracy charges, UK foreign secretary Yvette Cooper called for his immediate release and the Chinese ambassador was summoned to the Foreign Office.

Former Conservative leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith, a China hawk who has been sanctioned by Beijing, called for the prime minister to cancel his trip in protest.

Mr Patten told PA he was not opposed to Mr Starmers trip, but he urged the prime minister not to be afraid of offending China.

Patten was governor of Hong Kong from 1992 until the handover of power to China in 1997 (John Stillwell/PA)

He said: You have to say with them, without being impolite, exactly what you think.

They know were different, but they want to have a reasonable relationship with us and, particularly given the state of the world with (US President Donald) Trump, we should want to have a reasonable relationship with them.

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Although Mr Patten said the UK should pursue a good relationship with Beijing, he warned that it was dim sum we should consume, but with a very long spoon and warned the prime minister to recognise the realities of dealing with China.

He told PA: I dont think we should kid ourselves that if youre nice to China, theyre more likely to obey the rules.

They sign up to agreements and they break them whenever its convenient.

So Im in favour of trying to have a better relationship with China, but we shouldnt think that there is some way of cosying up to China and getting them to do what you want them to do in perpetuity, because it doesnt happen like that.
Suella Braverman is the latest Tory MP to defect to Reform, ending an association with the Conservative Party which stretches back more than two decades.

Her mother, Uma Fernandes, was a Conservative councillor and candidate in Tottenham at the 2001 UK general election and her daughter later campaigned on her behalf at the 2003 Brent East by-election.

Ms Braverman is said to have been already included on the list of parliamentary candidates at the time, but was persuaded not to push for the nomination.

As an undergraduate reading law at Queens College, Cambridge, Ms Braverman became the chairwoman of the Cambridge University Conservative Association.

Her first bid to become an MP ended in disappointment at the 2005 UK general election as she came second to Labours Keith Vaz in Leicester East.

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage and former UK home secretary Suella Braverman speaking during a Reform UK press conference in Westminster, central London, after announcing Suella has defected to the party (Stefan Rousseau/PA)

After an unsuccessful bid to join the London Assembly in 2012, Ms Braverman was elected as MP for Fareham at the 2015 general election.

Known at the time for her interest in education, home affairs and justice, she also became a member of of the British delegation to the parliamentary arm of the Council of Europe.

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With Ms Braverman later to become a high-profile critic of the politicised European Court of Human Rights, she spent time as a full member of the committee on the election of judges to the ECHR.

Having campaigned for the UK to leave the European Union, she gained influence as chairwoman of the fiercely Eurosceptic European Research Group of Tory MPs.

After being re-elected at the 2017 election with an increased majority, Ms Braverman was appointed parliamentary private secretary to Treasury ministers.

A reshuffle in January 2018 resulted in her being appointed parliamentary under-secretary at the Department for Exiting the European Union, but she resigned in November in protest at the draft Brexit deal presented by then-prime minister Theresa May.

Securing her position as a high-profile voice on the Conservative right, Ms Braverman gave a speech in which she said that as Conservatives, we are engaged in a battle against cultural Marxism.

Suella Braverman resigned as a minister in protest at the draft Brexit deal presented by Theresa May (PA)

The reference caused outrage among MPs and anti-racism campaigners due to its association with antisemitism, but Ms Braverman denied this was the case, saying: We have culture evolving from the far left which has allowed the snuffing out of freedom of speech, freedom of thought.

Later the Board of Deputies of British Jews, which initially condemned the comments, said it did not believe that Ms Braverman intentionally used antisemitic language following a meeting with her.

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A reshuffle in February 2020 saw Ms Braverman appointed attorney general and made a QC, but she took leave in March 2021 while pregnant.

After returning to Westminster, she called on Boris Johnson to resign as the UK government was plunged into crisis in July 2022.

Ms Braverman stood as a candidate in the ensuing leadership race with promises to stop small boat crossings, leave the European Convention of Human rights and get rid of all this woke rubbish.

But she was eliminated in the second round of voting, endorsing the eventual winner Liz Truss.

Suella Braverman endorsed Liz Truss for the Tory leadership (PA)

Ms Braverman was then appointed UK home secretary and was a strong advocate of sending asylum seekers to Rwanda, describing the scenario as a dream.

But she left her cabinet role after she shared an official document from her personal email address with a colleague, in breach of the ministerial code.

Ms Braverman was re-appointed home secretary when Rishi Sunak replaced Ms Truss as prime minister, but the appointment was widely questioned due to her previous conduct.

Sir Keir Starmer referenced the ministerial code breach in his first question to Mr Sunak during their first exchanges during Prime Ministers Questions.

Mr Sunak defended Ms Braverman, downplaying the error of judgment, and despite calls from across the political spectrum for an inquiry into the alleged security breach, no probe was launched.

There was further controversy in January 2023 when Ms Braverman dropped three of the 30 recommendations by the Windrush Lessons Learned Review, which had been previously accepted by Priti Patel as home secretary.

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The decision, which would remove key elements for protecting migrant rights, was later ruled unlawful by the High Court.

Following a high-profile visit to Rwanda amid legal challenges to the policy, Ms Braverman was facing criticism of her choice of language when discussing asylum seekers.

Suella Braverman during a visit to Rwanda (Stefan Rousseau/PA)

With references to an invasion and grooming gangs prompting broad criticism, a Home Office spokesperson was quoted as saying Ms Braverman would not shy away from telling hard truths.

Further controversy was to follow as Ms Braverman unveiled a plan in April 2023 to house hundreds of asylum seekers in the Bibby Stockholm barge.

Later that year, she also proposed new laws to limit the use of tents by homeless people, claiming some of them see it as a lifestyle choice.

Ms Braverman has also been highly critical of pro-Palestine protests following the October 7th attack in Israel, suggesting some of the demonstrators have links to terrorist organisations, including Hamas.

Writing in the The Times at the time, she said there was a perception that senior police officers play favourites when it comes to protesters, implying they were tougher on right-wing extremists than pro-Palestine mobs.

A few days later, Ms Braverman was sacked in a reshuffle and returned to the backbenches.

Suella Braverman attended Donald Trumps inauguration in January 2025 (PA)

Determined to maintain her profile as an influential right-wing figure, she told the Commons that the Conservative Party faces electoral oblivion if hardline measures on immigration are not implemented.

She also later suggested Nigel Farage should be welcomed into the party in a bid to unite the right.

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Ms Braverman opted not to stand for the Tory leadership following Rishi Sunaks resignation, but she continued to court controversy.

She attended Donald Trumps inauguration in January 2025 and, in a speech later that month in Washington, questioned whether the UK could become the first Islamic nation with nuclear weapons.

There has been ongoing speculation that Ms Braverman would defect to Reform for some time despite recent denials, with her stance on various right-wing talking points likely to be popular with the partys supporters.

But her husbands relationship with the party may have proved to be a stumbling block.

Rael Braverman joined Reform last year, but quit in protest after the partys then chairman Zia Yusuf was highly critical of his wife.
Donald Trump's border czar, Tom Homan, was set to take over the president's sweeping immigration operation in Minneapolis on Tuesday, as the White House tries to tamp down national outrage over the second fatal shooting of a US citizen this month by federal agents.

The move to install Homan in place of top Border Patrol official Gregory Bovino, who sources said is leaving after having led most of Trump's crackdowns in Democratic-led cities, is part of a broader reset by the president amid some advisers' concerns that the killing of 37-year-old Alex Pretti by federal agents could derail his immigration agenda.

Trump spent the weekend huddling with senior advisers to reassess the administration's response to Pretti's death on Saturday, according to a White House official and a source familiar with the talks.

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The discussions included reducing the number of federal agents deployed to Minnesota, recalibrating the ICE mission in the state to focus more narrowly on deportations rather than broad enforcement operations and exploring greater coordination with state authorities.

Trump also weighed whether immigration officers should be required to have body-worn cameras, as many police officers do, according to the White House official.

The killing of Pretti, an ICU nurse shot multiple times by Border Patrol agents on Saturday during protests, has become a full-blown political crisis for Trump, with even some Republicans in Congress calling for investigations.

Coupled with the fatal shooting of 37-year-old Renee Good earlier this month by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer, Pretti's shooting prompted renewed anger over the aggressive tactics of some 3,000 federal agents who have been roving the streets of Minneapolis for weeks.

Late on Monday, Minnesota's chief federal judge ordered the acting head of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Todd Lyons, to appear for a contempt hearing on Friday after the judge said the agency failed to comply with court orders that some detainees receive bond hearings.

"The court's patience is at an end," US District Judge Patrick Schiltz wrote.

Bystander video of Pretti's killing was widely shared, contradicting some Trump officials' initial claims that Pretti, who was legally carrying a concealed gun but never touched it prior to being shot, posed a threat to law enforcement.

Public support for Trump's immigration enforcement tactics appeared to be waning both before and after the Pretti shooting, a Reuters/Ipsos poll showed.

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Some Republicans have voiced concern that absent a shift in tactics, Trump's mass deportation push could cost the party its congressional majorities in November's midterm elections.

Trump in damage control mode

The president held a two-hour meeting with Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem in the Oval Office on Monday evening after Noem asked to meet, a source briefed on the matter confirmed. Noem's job is not in jeopardy, the source said. The New York Times first reported the meeting.

The typically combative Trump has also struck a more conciliatory tone in public remarks.

He characterised private conversations with both Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey on Monday as productive, while the two Democratic leaders offered similarly positive comments, a far cry from the vitriol the two sides had previously exchanged.

Walz's office said Trump had agreed to direct DHS to ensure state authorities could conduct their own investigation into the Pretti shooting, while Frey said on X that his understanding was that some federal agents would begin leaving the city on Tuesday.

Privately, Trump made clear to advisers he did not want to defend the agent's actions or attack Pretti, after Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller labeled Pretti an "assassin" and Bovino suggested he intended to "massacre" officers, among other attacks from administration officials. Video footage of the incident verified by Reuters contradicted those allegations.

Senior aides were asked not to target Pretti publicly, and the president discussed distancing himself from public comments made by Miller and Noem, the White House official said.

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Bovino, who said the officers who killed Pretti were the true victims in Saturday's shooting, is expected to depart Minneapolis along with some Border Patrol agents deployed with him, a senior administration official told Reuters on Monday.

Another person familiar with the matter said Bovino had been stripped of his specially created title of "commander at large" of the Border Patrol and would return to his former job as a chief patrol agent along California's El Centro sector of the US-Mexico border, before retiring soon after.

DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin disputed those reports, posting on X on Monday: "Chief Gregory Bovino has NOT been relieved of his duties."

Video contradicts official account

DHS officials described the incident as an attack by Pretti, saying agents fired in self-defense after he approached them with a handgun, even though video showed Pretti holding a phone, not a gun, as agents wrestled him to the ground.

It also showed officers removing a firearm from his waistband after he was subdued, moments before they fatally shot him. Pretti was a licensed gun owner.

In another sign that support for Trump's immigration drive in Minnesota was weakening, a leading Republican candidate for governor in the state, Chris Madel, dropped his bid on Monday, saying the crackdown had gone too far.

"I cannot support the national Republicans' stated retribution on the citizens of our state, nor can I count myself a member of a party that would do so," he said in a video statement.
Atomic scientists set their "Doomsday Clock" on Tuesday closer than ever to midnight, citing aggressive behaviour by nuclear powers Russia, China, and the United States, fraying nuclear arms control, conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East and AI worries among factors driving risks for global disaster.

The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists set the clock to 85 seconds before midnight, the theoretical point of annihilation.

That is four seconds closer than it was set last year.

The Chicago-based nonprofit created the clock in 1947 during the Cold War tensions that followed World War Two to warn the public about how close humankind was to destroying the world.

The scientists voiced concern about threats of unregulated integration of artificial intelligence into military systems and its potential misuse in aiding the creation of biological threats, as well as AI's role in spreading disinformation globally. They also noted continuing challenges posed by climate change.

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"Of course, the Doomsday Clock is about global risks, and what we have seen is a global failure in leadership," nuclear policy expert Alexandra Bell, the Bulletin's president and chief executive, told Reuters.

"No matter the government, a shift towards neo-imperialism and an Orwellian approach to governance will only serve to push the clock toward midnight."

It was the third time in the past four years that the scientists moved the clock closer to midnight.

"In terms of nuclear risks, nothing in 2025 trended in the right direction," Bell said.

"Longstanding diplomatic frameworks are under duress or collapsing, the threat of explosive nuclear testing has returned, proliferation concerns are growing, and there were three military operations taking place under the shadow of nuclear weapons and the associated escalatory threat. The risk of nuclear use is unsustainably and unacceptably high."

Bell pointed to Russia's continued war in Ukraine, the US and Israeli bombing of Iran and border clashes between India and Pakistan.

Bell also cited continuing tensions in Asia including on the Korean Peninsula and China's threats toward Taiwan, as well as rising tensions in the Western Hemisphere since US President Donald Trump returned to office 12 months ago.

The last remaining nuclear arms pact between the United States and Russia, the New START treaty, expires on February 5th.

Russian President Vladimir Putin proposed in September that the two countries agree to observe for another year the limits set under the pact, which caps each side's number of deployed nuclear warheads at 1,550.

Trump has not formally responded. Western security analysts are divided about the wisdom of accepting Putin's offer.

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Trump in October ordered the US military to restart the process for testing nuclear weapons after a halt of more than three decades.

No nuclear power, other than North Korea most recently in 2017, has conducted explosive nuclear testing in more than a quarter century.

No country would benefit more from a full-scale return to such testing than China, given its continued push to expand its nuclear arsenal, according to Bell, a former senior official at the US State Department's Bureau of Arms Control, Deterrence and Stability.

'Aggressive and nationalistic'

Trump has upended the world order. He sent US forces to capture Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, threatened other Latin American countries, vowed to restore US dominance in the Western Hemisphere, talked about annexing Greenland and imperiled transatlantic security cooperation.

Russia launched its large-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, and there is no end in sight. Among the weapons Russia has used is the nuclear-capable hypersonic Oreshnik missile.

Russia released video in December of what it said was the deployment of the Oreshnik in Belarus, a move meant to boost the Russian ability to strike targets across Europe.

"Russia, China, the United States and other major countries have become increasingly aggressive and nationalistic," Bell said.

Their "winner-takes-all great power competition" undermines the international cooperation needed to reduce risks of nuclear war, climate change, misuse of biotechnology, potential AI-related hazards and other apocalyptic dangers, Bell said.

Bell also cited Trump's domestic actions against science, academia, the civil service and news organisations.

Maria Ressa, a 2021 Nobel Peace Prize recipient for her journalistic efforts exposing abuses of power in the Philippines including how social media platforms were used to spread disinformation, participated in the announcement. Ressa lamented the rise of technology that circulates lies more quickly than facts.

"We are living through an information Armageddon that's brought about by the technology that rules our lives, from social media to generative AI. None of that tech is anchored in facts. Your chatbot is nothing but a probabilistic machine," Ressa told an online press briefing.

The Bulletin was founded in 1945 by scientists including Albert Einstein and J. Robert Oppenheimer.
Gregory Bovino has been removed from his role as the "commander at large" for the US Border Patrol and will return to his former job in California, where he is expected to retire soon, The Atlantic reported on Monday, citing a Homeland Security official and two people with knowledge of the change.

The US DHS, Customs and Border Protection and the White House did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Earlier on Monday US president Donald Trump and Minnesota governor Tim Walz each struck a conciliatory tone after a private phone call about immigration enforcement, a sign the two sides were seeking a way to end their standoff over a deportation drive that has claimed the lives of two US citizens in Minneapolis.

Mr Bovino has become the public face of Mr Trump's aggressive deportation campaign.

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He sparked outrage by claiming Alex Pretti had sparked the incident in which he was fatally shot by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents.

Surprise comments on social media by Mr Trump after what he described as a "very good call" with Minnesota governor Tim Walz could indicate a de-escalation of his immigration crackdown in the state.

Mr Walz and other Democratic leaders have fiercely opposed the immigration surge, which they characterize as a lawless invasion that puts public safety at risk. Mr Trump, for his part, has spent the past month accusing Mr Walz of incompetence for failing to stop a welfare-fraud scandal in the state.

Mr Walz did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Mr Trump earlier said he would dispatch the White House border czar, Tom Homan, to work with local officials following Saturday's shooting of a 37-year-old nurse, Alex Pretti, by immigration agents during a confrontation with protesters in Minneapolis.

While other top Trump officials have characterised Mr Pretti as a "domestic terrorist," Mr Homan has not publicly spoken about the incident.

In a statement, Mr Trump said Mr Homan "has not been involved" in the Minnesota crackdown "but knows and likes many of the people there".

Mr Trump's statements came as state officials pressed a US judge to temporarily stop the surge of 3,000 immigration agents.

"This administration, your honour, is not content with the rule of law. They are not content with letting the courts work this stuff out. Instead, they put violence into the streets of Minnesota to get what they want," Brian Carter, a lawyer with the state attorney general's office, told US judge Katherine Menendez.
Holocaust survivors and politicians were among the people commemorating International Holocaust Remembrance Day across the globe.

Events were held across Europe to mark the day, which is observed across the world on January 27, the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, the most notorious of the Nazi German death camps.



Names inscribed on the Victims Wall are pictured during a memorial service in the Holocaust Memorial Centre in Budapest, Hungary (Tamas Purger/MTI via AP)

The UN General Assembly adopted a resolution in 2005 establishing the day as an annual commemoration.

At the memorial site of Auschwitz, located in an area of southern Poland that was under German occupation during the Second World War, former prisoners laid flowers and wreaths at a wall where German forces executed thousands of prisoners.



Polish President Karol Nawrocki attends a ceremony marking the 81th anniversary of the Auschwitzs liberation (Beata Zawrzel/AP)

Polands President Karol Nawrocki was scheduled to join survivors for a remembrance ceremony at Birkenau, the vast site nearby where Jews from across Europe were exterminated in gas chambers.

Candles burned and white roses were placed at the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe, a field of 2,700 grey concrete slabs near the Brandenburg Gate in the heart of Berlin, which honours the 6 million victims and stands as a powerful symbol of Germanys remorse.



Candles burned and white roses were placed at the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe(Markus Schreiber/AP)

In the Czech Republic, a candlelight march is planned for the evening in Terezin at the site of the former Nazi concentration camp Theresienstadt.

Thousands of Jews died there or were sent from there to Auschwitz and other death camps.



Polish President Karol Nawrocki visited Birkenau (Beata Zawrzel/AP)

Nazi German forces killed some 1.1 million people at Auschwitz, most of them Jews, but also Poles, Roma and others.

The camp was liberated by the Soviet army on January 27 1945.



A Jewish man attends a ceremony commemorating the extermination of the Jewish people and their deportation to Nazi concentration camps on Holocaust Remembrance Day in Turin, Italy (Fabio Ferrari/LaPresse via AP)

In all, some 6 million Jews were killed in the Holocaust  in ghettos, concentration camps and often shot at close range in the fields and forests of Eastern Europe.

Israel  home to more Holocaust survivors than any other country  marks its remembrance day, Yom HaShoah, on the anniversary of the April 1943 Warsaw Ghetto Uprising, emphasising the heroism of the Jewish insurgents who resisted the Nazi terror.



An Indian Jew offers prayers to mark International Holocaust Remembrance (Rafiq Maqbool/AP)

An annual gathering took place at the upper house of the Czech Parliament with Holocaust survivors.

Pavel Jelinek, a 90-year-old survivor from the city of Liberec  a Czech city with a pre-war Jewish population of 1,350  told those gathered that he was now the last living of the 37 Jews who returned to the city after the war.



Holocaust survivor Stanislaw Zalewski walks near the death wall in the Auschwitz Nazi death camp museum (Beata Zawrzel/AP)

There are an estimated 196,600 Jewish Holocaust survivors still alive globally, down from 220,000 a year earlier, according to information published last week by the New York-based Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany.

Their median age is 87, and nearly all  some 97%  are child survivors who were born 1928 and later, the group said.



Holocaust survivor Bronislawa Horowitz-Karakulska (Beata Zawrzel/AP)

Though the worlds community of survivors is shrinking, some are still telling their stories for the first time after all these years.

In London, a Holocaust survivor addressed the British Cabinet in what Prime Minister Keir Starmer described as a first.



Mala Tribich, a survivor of the Holocaust spoke to Cabinet ministers of her experiences (Alastair Grant/AP)

Government members wiped away tears as 95-year-old Mala Tribich described how Germanys invasion of Poland in 1939 destroyed her childhood.

She recalled being forced into hard labour at the age of 12 as the first Nazi ghetto was established in her hometown of Piotrkow Trybunalski, and spoke of the hunger, disease and suffering there.

Soon, there will be no eyewitnesses left. That is why I ask you today not just to listen, but to become my witness Mala Tribich, Holocaust survivor

The Nazis killed her mother, father and sister. She was sent to Ravensbruck and then to Bergen-Belsen, where she was liberated by the British Army in April 1945.

She urged the Cabinet members to fight antisemitism  and to remember.





Soon, there will be no eyewitnesses left, she told them. That is why I ask you today not just to listen, but to become my witness.

Many leaders also reflected on the upheaval in todays world.



Members of European Parliament applaud after an address by Holocaust survivior Tatiana Bucci, 88 (Virginia Mayo/AP)

Kaja Kallas, the European Unions foreign policy chief, warned about rising antisemitism and new threats.

She noted that AI-generated content is now being used to blur the line between fact and fiction, distort historical truth, and undermine our collective memory.



Hungarian Minister heading the Prime Ministers Office Gergely Gulyas, Israels ambassador to Hungary Maya Kadosh, President of the Federation of Jewish Communities in Hungary (Mazsihisz) Andor Grosz and Hungarian Hasidic Jewish religious leader and head of the Hungarian Chabad-Lubavitch movement rabbi Baruch Oberlander stand at the Victims Wall during a memorial service in the Holocaust Memorial Centre in Budapest, Hungary (Tamas Purger/MTI via AP)

Ukraines President Volodymyr Zelensky, whose country has been under attack from Russia for four years, said that just as the world united to defeat the Nazis in 1945, it must act the same way now.

Whenever hatred and war threaten nations, unity that saves lives is needed, Mr Zelensky said.

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Sponsored BusinessCompaniesBulls N' Bears Gateway drills into WA Yandal gold discovery momentum Brought to you by BULLS N BEARS Rowena Duckworth January 27, 2026  12:24pm 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

Gateway Mining has fired up the drill bit at its flagship Yandal gold project in Western Australia, bringing forward exploration plans to accelerate definition of the emerging Haflinger discovery and line up follow-up reverse circulation (RC) drilling in the coming weeks. The rods off two aircore rigs are now turning, with the first rig focused on infill and step-out drilling around Haflinger, where mineralisation has already been intersected over a strike length of approximately 500 metres. Initial drilling results have highlighted the systems strength, despite several holes only clipping the targeted structure during first-pass programs. Drilling at Gateway Minings Yandal gold project in Western Australia. Standout intercepts from earlier drilling at Haflinger included a hefty 52 metres running at 1.4 grams per tonne (g/t) gold from 64 metres, including a higher-grade interval of 12m at a cool 3.1g/t gold. That campaign also returned 2m at 3.4g/t gold from 148m to bottom of hole, within a broader 6m grading 1.4g/t gold from 144m, and 4m going 2.9g/t gold from 148m within a broader 16m at 1.0g/t gold from 136m.

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Gateway says the mineralisation tends to occur within a highly favourable structural setting, where the maficintermediate rock contact flexes to the south-east. Notably, drilling remains open to the south, where geological conditions appear to be improving, adding further upside to the discovery. ... Drilling remains open to the south, where the geology appears to become more favourable. Gateway Mining executive chairman Andrew Bray The first aircore rig is set to complete closer-spaced drilling to the north and south of existing intercepts to delineate the structure ahead of RC drilling. Management believes this next phase of drilling will be key to understanding the true scale of the Haflinger system. Meanwhile, the second aircore rig will systematically test the Mustang shear structure to the south, where Gateway is confident of making discoveries similar to Haflinger. Mustang offers a comparable geological setting, with significant deformation and complexity, supported by historic rotary air blast (RAB) drilling that returned anomalous gold results; however, it failed to penetrate the weathered profile adequately.

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The company is keen to complete first pass drilling at Mustang as quickly as possible, allowing any discoveries to be rapidly followed up with RC drilling alongside Haflinger. Drilling plans have been ramped up to define the extent of the Haflinger discovery in preparation for follow-up RC drilling. Gateway Mining executive chairman Andrew Bray said: Mineralisation at Haflinger has been intersected over approximately a 500m strike length to date, with the first two aircore holes clipping the targeted structure prior to blade refusal, and a third hole returning a spectacular result of 52m at 1.4g/t gold, including 12m at 3.1g/t gold. Drilling remains open to the south, where the geology appears to become more favourable. The Haflinger find emerged from wide-spaced, shallow aircore along the companys regional-scale Celia Shear structure, tapping into the same fertile structure that hosts the companys existing 400,400-ounce, high-grade gold resource. RC drilling is scheduled to kick off in a little over six weeks. It will initially focus on the Great Western area, where widespread surface gold anomalism and abundant gold nuggets have been identified over a broad area within a highly favourable geological setting. As soon as the all-important assay results from the broader MustangCelia shear corridor aircore program hit the company inbox, drilling will pivot to initial RC programs at Haflinger and to any additional discoveries warranting follow-up.

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The Yandal project sits strategically just 85 kilometres northeast of Wiluna, spanning a vast 1,780 square kilometres on the eastern flank of the world-class Yandal Greenstone Belt. The belt is one of Australias most prolific gold-producing regions and is home to Northern Star Resources Jundee mine, which lies within close proximity to Gateways tenure. Gateways broader Yandal project already hosts a resource of 8.17 million tonnes grading 1.52g/t gold for 400,400 ounces. The resource is centred on the Horse Well Gold Camp and the Dusk til Dawn deposit, providing a solid foundation for ongoing exploration success. With gold prices soaring, Gateway is wasting little time in pushing its Yandal gold strategy forward as it hunts for the next significant discovery in one of Western Australias most prolific gold belts. Is your ASX-listed company doing something interesting? Contact: mattbirney@bullsnbears.com.au
A Mississippi man who killed his gay lover to cover up their relationship was sentenced to 40 years in prison after pleading guilty to second-degree murder.

Sheldon "Timothy" Herrington Jr., 25, murdered Jimmie "Jay" Lee, 20, in 2022. Both men had attended the University of Mississippi, the Associated Press reported.

Lee was openly gay and disappeared in July 2022 amidst a secret relationship with Herrington Jr., who was not open about his sexuality, the AP reported. Prosecutors said the crime was committed to cover up the sexual relationship. Lee's decomposed body was eventually found by hunters.

Lafayette County Circuit Court Judge Kelly Luther said that Herrington Jr. assumed that Lee's case would not be a priority because he "lived a lifestyle that was different from most people in Mississippi," The Clarion-Ledger reported. Luther said that Herrington Jr. was wrong and that "Mississippi got it right this time."

"This case was investigated more thoroughly than any case I've ever dealt with in my 35 years in the criminal justice system," Luther said in court, according to the newspaper. "It was defended ... as well as any case I've dealt with in my 35 years. Everybody did their job."

Luther sentenced Herrington Jr. to 40 years on the murder charge, with 10 years of the sentence suspended. However, Luther also sentenced Herrington to 10 years for tampering with evidence, bringing the total sentence on all charges to 40 years, the Clarion-Ledger reported.

"Mr. Herrington, you still have a chance at life. Mr. Lee does not," Luther said, according to the newspaper. "I would encourage you to take advantage of that opportunity."

Originally published on Lawyer Herald
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NationalQueenslandCrime Outrageous DNA scandal delays trial over massage parlour stabbing Rex Martinich January 27, 2026  3:29pm 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 judge has slammed the delay of an attempted murder trial by at least six months due to a backlog in DNA evidence as simply outrageous. The Queensland Supreme Court trial of John Ikundu Karanja, who stands accused of stabbing a masseuse in the neck, was set to start on Tuesday. Karanja allegedly attacked the 35-year-old woman at a massage parlour in the inner-Brisbane suburb of Fortitude Valley at 3am on July 25, 2024. Attorney-General Deb Frecklington, Premier David Crisafulli and Dr Kirsty Wright at the announcement of a report into the forensic testing lab. Courtney Kruk Before the trial could begin, defence barrister Adrian Braithwaite asked for the matter to be adjourned to obtain a statement from Forensic Science Queensland.

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The statement was needed as testament to the veracity of results that suggested Karanjas DNA could not be found on the knife allegedly used in the stabbing. Related Article Updated

Mick Fuller The haunting realisation for Qlds new lab boss A forensic scientist would not be available to make the DNA statement until June, or possibly September, Justice Peter Davis said. Theres not much point in me bleating about delays with the Queensland forensic science department, apart from saying DNA evidence has, over the last 30 years, become more and more important, he said. The fact that DNA testing has been done but no scientist can produce a proper statement for six months is simply outrageous.

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Forensic Science Queensland is facing a years-long backlog in testing after multiple investigations found the state DNA lab reached a critical point of failure. DNA evidence from major crime cases over the past 2 years are set to be re-examined after a report last year found lab surfaces were dirty and contaminated. Related Article Queensland government Qlds dirty lab leaves rape victims at risk of further assault: report The trial would have to wait until possibly the end of September to receive the DNA statement, crown prosecutor Toby Corsbie told Davis. Cant we fast track it? he replied.

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June is the fast track, Corsbie said. Karanja was charged with attempted murder and attempted rape following the alleged 2024 incident. Prosecutors allege he stabbed the masseuse in the neck after she fought off his attempt to sexually assault her. Davis said he was concerned about the additional time Karanja would spend in custody before trial due to the delay. Theres no point in applying for bail as he would be sent straight into immigration detention, Braithwaite said.

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Davis adjourned the trial until a date to be fixed, and remanded Karanja in custody. AAP Start the day with a summary of the days most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter.
Firefighters battling the Otways blaze are facing milder conditions in the days ahead. However, emergency services warn it could run again, after a south-westerly wind shift saw it spread rapidly by about 1000 hectares yesterday.

The Wyndham Vale Fire Brigade fighting the Carlisle River fire in scorching conditions. Wyndham Vale Fire Brigade/Facebook

The blaze has so far claimed at least 16 structures in the area, and fire crews are hopeful they will be able to contain it and get it under control in the coming days, Forest Fire Management Victoria Chief Officer Chris Hardman says.

Camperdown firefighters battling the Carlisle River fire in the Otways. Camperdown Fire Brigade/Facebook

But I would say that there is still a chance that this fire could run again within the next two or three weeks because of the nature of the season, Hardman told a State Control Centre press conference a few minutes ago.

Its so dry, you know.

If we get some really good rainfall, that will be incredibly helpful, and that will build our confidence.

But the risk will be present ... I would argue, at least for a couple of weeks.

An emergency warning to take shelter now remains in effect for many communities in the Otways, including Gellibrand, Barongarook, Barongarook West, Kawarren, Carlisle River and Charleys Creek.

A further watch and act warning, and advice warning, apply in the fire zone.
Were bringing our live blog to a close for the day, thank you for joining us.

Todays headlines were dominated by the bomb scare at Perths Invasion Day rally yesterday, as well as the case out of Mandurah, where a teacher who had a students baby has pleaded guilty to a raft of child sex abuse charges.

Meanwhile, a man has died and another was taken to hospital after the pair were caught in a powerful rip at one of Perths most popular beaches.

And, as chaos engulfs the now-split Coalition, WA conservative pin-up Andrew Hastie has signalled his intent for the Liberals top job.

But Sussan Ley has maintained her leadership is not over, and four senior Liberals have already declared their backing for her across today.

Thanks again for tuning in, its good to have the blog back for 2026. Well see you back here tomorrow for more news you need to know.
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WorldEuropeMilano Cortina 2026 ICE at the Winter Olympics: Agents to support US security, stirring anger in Italy Crispian Balmer and Alvise Armellini Updated January 28, 2026  6:56am ,first published 3:30am Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share A A A

Key points ICE agents to support US diplomatic security at 2026 Games

Embassy source says no immigration enforcement in Italy

Italian politicians critical, some demand ICE be barred

Rome: US Immigration and Customs Enforcement personnel will help protect US delegations at next months Winter Olympics in Italy, causing a political uproar in the country. ICE and Border Patrol agents have come under heavy criticism over their enforcement of President Donald Trumps immigration crackdown after they shot and killed two U.S. citizens in separate incidents this month in Minnesota. People walk past posters for the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics in Cortina dAmpezzo, Italy. Getty Images ICEs Homeland Security Investigations division will back up the US State Departments Diplomatic Security Service at the February 6 to 22 Milano Cortina Olympics, the Department of Homeland Security said in a post on X. The ICE agents role will be to vet and mitigate risks from transnational criminal organisations, the post added, noting all security operations remain under Italian authority.

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Obviously, ICE does not conduct immigration enforcement operations in foreign countries, said DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin. Related Article Analysis

US politics Trump could see this crisis turning rapidly. His response was inevitable ICE has been present at major sport events in both the US and abroad in the past, including previous Olympic Games, as part of international partnerships related to human trafficking and drug trafficking, one former official said. Despite assurances that there is nothing unusual about the HSI deployment, Italian politicians criticised the involvement of ICE in next months Games, highlighting how the image of the United States has been tarnished in recent months. It seems sheer idiocy to me, Maurizio Lupi, leader of a small centrist party in Prime Minister Giorgia Melonis governing coalition, told la Repubblica daily.

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Giuseppe Sala, the left-leaning mayor of Milan, one of the cities co-hosting the Olympics, called ICE a militia that kills. Speaking to RTL 102.5 radio, Sala said: Its clear that theyre not welcome in Milan, theres no doubt about it. The Rome government sought to defuse the protests. The interior ministry said in a statement that ICE personnel would only work in U.S. diplomatic offices such as the Milan consulate, and not on the ground enforcing order. Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi said he met with US Ambassador Tilman Fertitta. Piantedosi said he would address parliament on February 4. The US embassy in Italy declined to comment. Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani called for a measured response. Were not talking about the (ICE people) who were out on the streets of Minneapolis... Its not as if the (Nazi) SS are arriving, he told reporters at a Holocaust memorial event. A State Department spokesperson said that, as in past Olympics, multiple federal agencies would help with security, including ICE.

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But Italia Viva, a centrist Italian opposition party led by former Prime Minister Matteo Renzi, said agents affiliated with ICE did not represent Italian values and should be barred entry. The hard-left USB trade union said it would hold an ICE OUT rally in central Milan on February 6, to coincide with the Olympic opening ceremony. Reuters Get a note directly from our foreign correspondents on whats making headlines around the world. Sign up for our weekly What in the World newsletter.
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Editorial WorldNorth AmericaTrump's America Minneapolis shootings: Trumps America lapses into authoritarianism The Herald's View January 27, 2026  4:16pm 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

The death of American Alex Pretti at the hands of US officials in the city of Minneapolis on Saturday was a senseless tragedy. But the misleading and inflammatory statements about the incident made subsequently by Trump administration officials make the killing all the more disturbing. Video evidence shows Pretti had nothing but a phone in his hand when he was tackled and shot multiple times by Border Patrol agents. A gun Pretti was apparently carrying (reportedly licensed) was never drawn. Demonstrators protest ICE operations and the deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti in Minneapolis. Getty The shooting came amid an aggressive immigration crackdown in Minneapolis and across the state of Minnesota which has stoked protest and unrest. The Heralds North America correspondent, Michael Koziol, who has been in Minneapolis, described the city after Prettis death: Squads of masked men patrolling the streets; federal police pitted against local; the government in conflict with its own citizens; hate scrawled on every corner and anger spewing from every mouth.

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Videos of the shooting mean American voters can see what happened with their own eyes. But that has not stopped Trump administration officials trying to cast Pretti as a villain. Just hours after his death, Kristi Noem, the secretary of homeland security said, without evidence, that Pretti had committed an act of domestic terrorism. Border Patrol official Gregory Bovino said Pretti wanted to do maximum damage and massacre law enforcement, while Stephen Miller, an influential Trump adviser, wrote on social media that Pretti was an assassin. There is no evidence for these claims. Gregory Bovino. AP These irresponsible remarks pre-empt any official investigation of the shooting. Little wonder Prettis grieving parents have accused the Trump administration of spreading sickening lies about what happened to their son. But this approach is sadly familiar; after a federal agent shot and killed another Minneapolis resident, Renee Good, this month, the Trump administration demonised the victim and has blocked a state investigation into the killing.

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A New York Times editorial after Prettis death concluded: President Donald Trump and his appointees have demonstrated themselves to be unconcerned with truth and willing to lie to serve their own interests. The deaths of Alex Pretti and Renee Good must be fully investigated  the American people deserve to know the truth about what happened to them. A Minnesota State Trooper wears riot gear. AP There are signs US President Donald Trump is changing strategy in Minnesota. The language used by Trump officials has shifted since it became clear that the White House was out of step with public opinion about Prettis death. US border tsar Tom Homan has also been dispatched to Minnesota to oversee federal immigration enforcement in the state.

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Given the circumstances, it is bewildering that so many members of US Congress are refusing to take action; they should start by cutting funding to Trumps immigration enforcement activities. The shocking killings by government officials in Minneapolis might seem remote to Australians, but they show how democratically elected governments can lapse into authoritarianism when it comes to immigration policy and enforcement. For Australia, this is a cautionary tale. Get a weekly wrap of views that will challenge, champion and inform your own. Sign up for our Opinion newsletter.
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Updated WorldNorth AmericaTrump's America Border Patrol commander Bovino to leave Minneapolis as Trump shifts strategy Michael Koziol Updated January 27, 2026  9:50am ,first published 4:26am Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share A A A

Minneapolis: Some federal agents will begin leaving Minneapolis on Wednesday and President Donald Trump is sending his border tsar, Tom Homan, to take over ICE operations in the city as he shifts strategy amid ongoing unrest and growing political backlash. The decision to effectively sideline Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and send Homan to Minnesota to take over immigration enforcement operations comes after two American citizens  Renee Good and Alex Pretti  were shot and killed by federal agents in three weeks. Donald Trump said he would dispatch his border tsar Tom Homan to Minnesota amid the ongoing unrest. Bloomberg Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey  who told ICE to get the f--- out of the city when Good was killed  said Trump agreed the present situation cant continue when the two men spoke on Monday, US time. Some federal agents will begin leaving the area tomorrow, and I will continue pushing for the rest involved in this operation to go, Frey said on X.

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Frey said Minneapolis police would co-operate on real criminal investigations, but would not enforce federal immigration law or participate in unconstitutional arrests of our neighbours. Trump has been frustrated by images coming out of Minnesota, where people protesting and documenting ICE raids are clashing with officers daily, and has tried to focus the narrative on efforts to remove violent criminals who are in the US illegally. Loading In the past few months, multiple US news outlets have reported on a feud between Homan and Noem that is believed to involve, among other things, disagreement over deportation strategy. The New York Post reported they were barely on speaking terms. Homan is said to prefer a more targeted approach to removing known criminals, while Noem and her powerful DHS operative Corey Lewandowski are thought to be pursuing raw numbers, including undocumented migrants without criminal records.

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I am sending Tom Homan to Minnesota tonight, Trump announced on social media. He has not been involved in that area, but knows and likes many of the people there. Tom is tough but fair, and will report directly to me. Homan will effectively replace Border Patrol commander-at-large Greg Bovino, who has been the face of the special enforcement operation in Minneapolis and attracted criticism for saying  without evidence  that it looked like Pretti intended to massacre officers. Border Patrol commander-at-large Greg Bovino has been the highly visible face of operations in Minneapolis. AP White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Bovino would continue in a national role. CNN and other US media outlets reported Bovino would leave Minneapolis imminently. DHS was contacted for comment. Leavitt denied Trumps intervention showed the president was dissatisfied with how officials were conducting operations in the city, and said he still had the utmost trust and confidence in Noem.

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Asked whether Trump agreed with descriptions of Pretti as a domestic terrorist and would-be assassin  terms used by Noem and Trumps deputy chief-of-staff Stephen Miller  Leavitt said: I have not heard the president characterise Mr Pretti in that way. Meanwhile, Trump also spoke with Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, who yesterday invoked the Nazis as he demanded ICE leave the state. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt declined to say whether Trump agreed with officials descriptions of Alex Pretti. AP Trump said Walz called with the request to work together and that the two men seemed to be on a similar wavelength. He claimed Walz was happy about the decision to dispatch Homan to Minnesota and that they would speak by phone. Walz, who was Kamala Harris vice presidential running mate in the 2024 election, confirmed the productive call, saying he urged the president to reduce  not eliminate  the number of federal agents in Minnesota.

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He said Trump had also agreed to talk to DHS about ensuring Minnesota police could conduct an independent investigation into Prettis death. The apparent shift in strategy from the White House came as several Republicans publicly questioned ICEs tactics and called for an independent investigation into Prettis death, and as conservative media outlets and MAGA influencers increasingly raised concerns. Minnesotas Democratic Governor Tim Walz spoke with President Donald Trump on Monday, US time. AP Mondays editorial in The New York Post, a Trump favourite, called on him de-escalate the situation. Mr President, the American people didnt vote for these scenes, and you cant continue to order them to not believe their lying eyes, it said. The hasty and misleading rhetoric coming out of the administration needs to stop.

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On Fox News on Monday morning (US time), host Brian Kilmeade said Trump should send Homan to take charge in Minnesota, which is what Trump did moments later. Related Article Trump's America A particular brand of carnage has taken hold here in America Prominent podcaster Joe Rogan has also been critical of ICE recently. After Goods death, but before Prettis, he interviewed outspoken Republican Senator Rand Paul and likened ICE to the Gestapo of Nazi Germany. You dont want militarised people in the streets just roaming around, snatching up people, many of which turn out to be US citizens that just dont have their papers on them, Rogan said. Are we really gonna be the Gestapo, Wheres your papers? Is that what weve come to? In an interview with The Wall Street Journal yesterday, Trump declined to defend the ICE agent involved in the Pretti shooting and said the administration was reviewing everything about the incident.

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I dont like any shooting, Trump told the newspaper. But I dont like it when somebody goes into a protest and hes got a very powerful, fully loaded gun with two magazines loaded up with bullets also. That doesnt play good either. Noem praised Trumps decision to dispatch Homan, saying it was good for peace, safety and accountability in Minneapolis  though her statement focused on the assistance he would give to fraud investigations, not ICE operations. We continue to call on the leadership in Minnesota to allow for state and local partnership in our public safety mission, Noem said. 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.
Laguna Estate Tenants Meeting

A Tenants Meeting for Laguna Estate was held on Friday 23 January at the Laguna Social Club.

The meeting was co-chaired by Minister Nigel Feetham, Minister Pat Orfila, and Minister John Cortes, with representatives from the Royal Gibraltar Police Community Policing Team and the Laguna Tenants Association also in attendance.

Residents were given the opportunity to raise matters of interest or concern, including anti-social behaviour, community policing, parking and traffic issues, and environmental and refuse matters. Private constituency clinics were also held, reinforcing the Governments commitment to direct engagement with residents.

Thanks were extended to Britannia Ltd for estate maintenance, Mr Julio Pons for the use of the venue, the Laguna Tenants Association for their coordination and support, and the RGP Community Policing Team for their attendance. Further constituency meetings across Government estates are planned in the coming months.
Mayors Awards 2026  Call for Nominations Reminder

His Worship the Mayor, Mr Nicholas Guerrero, would like to remind the public that they are invited to submit nominations for the next conferral of Mayors Awards to be held during the month of March.

The closing date to receive nominations is Friday 6th February 2026.

The Mayors Awards have become a permanent fixture in Gibraltars annual civic calendar and serve to highlight the extraordinary achievements of members of our community.

Having started as a lifesaving award for members of the essential services displaying a high degree of valour, the scope of the awards was later widened to include persons who have served Gibraltar in a distinguished manner, over a prolonged period and/or for a specific event or achievement. Nominees will have made a difference to Gibraltars society.

The Nomination Form can be downloaded from the website of the Mayor of Gibraltar at www.mayor.gi or collected from the Reception at City Hall.

The completed Form must be returned to the Mayors Office or sent via email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. by Friday 6th February 2026.

The Awards Committee will then convene to select the Award recipients, after which the date of the Ceremony will be announced.

For more information, please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or Tel. 20047592
DOZENS of motorists appeared before a sitting of Carlow District Court last week in relation to alleged speeding offences on the N80 that were recorded by a static speed camera at Graiguenaspiddoge, with 12 people receiving convictions and fines from Judge Geraldine Carthy.

In total, three people were convicted and fined 320, while nine received a lesser fine of 300, with all fines due to be paid within 90 days.

Almost all of the offences before the court on Wednesday 21 January occurred in June 2025, shortly after the camera became operational on 23 May.

Prosecutions of speeding offences take place by fixed charge notice (FCN) of 160, as well as three points being added to the persons driving licence. In this instance, the defendants before the court had not paid their FCN within the required timeframe of 56 days or were contesting the offence.

Judge Carthy took a sympathetic approach to some defendants who showed up to court, striking out cases where the defendant was detected travelling just over the 100kph limit.

In one instance, Blake Kiely of Old Bridge Glen, Lucan, Co Dublin, who was detected travelling at a speed of 116kph in a 100kph zone, told the court that he only found out about the FCN on 21 December 2025 when his old housemate called him to say it was at his property. Judge Carthy struck out the case and told Mr Kiely that it pays to go to court and warned him to make sure he did not breach the new limit of 80kph.

At the time of the cameras installation, the speed limit on the N80 was 100kph; however, in November 2025, Carlow Co Council passed a vote to reduce the speed limit on the N80 and N81 to 80kph. The new speed limit came into effect on 18 December 2025.

Static cameras measure a vehicles speed passing a fixed point and records the instantaneous speed of the vehicle.

Money was set aside in Budget 2025 for the installation of these cameras, with the wider nationwide initiative of automated enforcement of road traffic offences aimed at reducing speeding and improving road safety.

The locations of the static speed cameras were selected based on fatal and serious injury collision data from the last seven years and speed data, as well as feedback from stakeholders.
By Bairbre Holmes, Press Association

A teenager has appeared in court charged with causing the of a teenage girl in a crash involving a scrambler motorbike in Dublin on Sunday.

Keith Lee, 18, appeared at Blanchardstown District Court on Tuesday morning.

16-year-old Grace Lynch was walking along Ratoath Road in Finglas when the crash happened at around 2:20pm on Sunday.

She was brought to Connolly Hospital in Blanchardstown where she later died from her injuries.

Lee, with an address on Park View Drive in Poppintree Park, appeared before Judge Aine Clancy on Tuesday accused of driving causing Ms Lynchs death, under Section 53 and 53a of the Road Traffic Act 2011. He faces up to 10 years in prison if convicted.

Wayne Kenny, the lawyer for the accused, described Ms Lynchs death as an unspeakable tragedy.

The court heard how she was at a pedestrian crossing when a motorbike travelled through the lights as they turned red, followed by a second bike which hit Ms Lynch.

Garda Thomas McDaniel said the bike was travelling at a speed suspected to be not below 85 kilometres an hour in an area which has a 50 kilometres an hour zone, and that the whole incident was caught by a CCTV camera.

He said Lee made no reply when cautioned, but had fully cooperated with the investigation.

A march took place in tribute to Grace Lynch and in support of her family (Grainne Ni Aodha/PA)

The accused sat in the dock wearing black trousers and a grey and black hoodie.

The court heard how the part-time mechanics mother and brother were in court, and his father passed away some years ago.

Ms Lynchs family were not in court.

Mr McDaniel said that Lee and another male were treated for injuries at the scene which were not serious.

The court heard how Lee had no previous convictions.

Ms Clancy granted him bail with a number of conditions including his own 2,500 bond with 1,000 lodged and an independent surety bond of 2,000 with 1,000 lodged.

He was also instructed to sign on three times a week at Blanchardstown Garda Station and not to drive any mechanically propelled vehicle including cars, scrambler motorbikes or scooters.

Lee must also reside at home addresses and observe a curfew between 11pm and 6am, surrender his passport and not have contact with the deceaseds family.

More than 1,000 people gathered on Monday evening to retrace a route taken by Grace on the day she died.

At Plunkett Green, a crowd of friends, neighbours and locals sang the song Grace and released pink balloons into the air.

Her mother Siobhan Lynch thanked people for coming out for the walk, and said watching her daughter take her last breath was the worst pain imaginable.

Its not something that any parent should have to deal with.
Gibraltar National Mint to Attend World Money Fair 2026 with Exclusive Queen Elizabeth II Centenary Coinage Launch

The Gibraltar National Mint will attend World Money Fair 2026, taking place from 2931 January 2026 in Berlin, where it will officially unveil a landmark new definitive circulating coin collection commemorating the 100th anniversary of the birth of Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, Queen of Gibraltar.

World Money Fair is the worlds leading international numismatic event, bringing together mints, central banks, designers and collectors from across the globe. Gibraltars presence at the 2026 Fair marks a defining moment for its circulating currency and reinforces the territorys growing profile on the global numismatic stage.

Born on 21 April 1926, Queen Elizabeth II became the longest-reigning monarch in British history, ascending the throne in 1952 and serving for more than seventy years until her passing in 2022. Her reign reshaped the modern monarchy and left an enduring legacy felt across the Commonwealth and the wider world.

At the heart of this historic centenary issue is an exceptional artistic collaboration between the Gibraltar National Mint, HM Government of Gibraltar, and renowned sculptor Raphael Maklouf FRSA. Maklouf is one of the very few artists to have created three official effigies of Queen Elizabeth II for UK and overseas coinage, including two of the most recognisable portraits used during her reign.

Drawing directly from Makloufs personal archives, the centenary collection reveals seven previously unseen royal effigies of Her Late Majesty. Each effigy represents a different decade of the Queens record-breaking reign, offering collectors and historians an unprecedented visual narrative of a monarch whose image evolved alongside a changing world. These sculptural works have never before been released in any form.

The reverse designs form the centrepiece of the new definitive set, uniting history, artistry and numismatic heritage. Together, they commemorate not only the centenary of Queen Elizabeth IIs birth, but also the profound relationship between monarchy, art and coinage.

The 1 Collection is also a world first  the first bi-metal 1 coin collection to feature every decade of the Queens life across a single, consistent specification.

Sir Joseph Bossano KCMG MP, Minister with responsibility for the Gibraltar National Mint, will attend World Money Fair 2026 in person, underscoring the importance of this centenary launch and Gibraltars continued commitment to numismatic excellence. Sir Joe Bossano will be addressing the international press during the Media Forum.

Commenting ahead of the launch, Sir Joseph Bossano KCMG MP said: Queen Elizabeth IIs legacy is woven into the modern history of Gibraltar. This centenary coinage is a fitting tribute to a monarch whose lifelong service, dignity and constancy were admired around the world. The Gibraltar National Mint has produced a collection of exceptional historical and artistic value, one that reflects both our respect for Her Late Majesty and Gibraltars proud numismatic tradition.

This centenary issue represents a defining moment for Gibraltars circulating currency and a lasting tribute to one of the most influential figures of the twentieth and twenty-first centuries  a Queen whose legacy continues to resonate across generations.
POST MORTEMS for people in Carlow who have died a sudden or unexpected death are being carried out by locum consultants recruited by the Department of Justice, minister for health Jennifer Carroll MacNeill said last week. She added that the available facilities and auxiliary staff of University Hospital Waterford (UHW) had been provided to support the locums.

As reported in The Nationalist on 31 December 2025, UWH, which used to carry out all the autopsies for Carlow, Kilkenny, Tipperary, Waterford and Wexford, informed the HSE in November 2024 that its consultant pathologists would cease carrying out coroner requested autopsies from 2 January 2026. UWH, on average, carries out about 700 post mortems a year.

Minister MacNeills statement last week was the first official indication of what the current arrangement for post mortems is since the deadline of 2 January passed. She said that the current arrangement has post mortems being provided three days per week  that is, Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays.

Micheal Murphy TD asked minister MacNeill about the arrangement for UWH post mortems during priority questions in the Oireachtas, prompting him to issue a statement saying: I welcome these interim arrangements. It is not ideal. It is my understanding that these locum pathologists are coming in from the UK three days a week.

I know that members of the clergy have spoken publicly on behalf of families. Delays are already occurring. There is a panel of three locum pathologists, but could we look at increasing that number to four or five? Flights can be delayed or cancelled, somebody can have a bereavement or somebody can be sick.

In response, minister MacNeill said that she would speak to the minister for the Department of Justice and ask him to increase his efforts to try to ensure there are more locum pathologists on the way.

In a letter to deputy Micheal Murphy in 2025, seen by The Nationalist, Ben OSullivan, chief executive officer at UHW, said that pathologists at the hospital were struggling to sustain their commitments to the coroners service on top of their typical workloads.

The letter also stated that pathologists at UWH are facing rapidly increasing demands on their diagnostic surgical pathology workloads, both in terms of quantity and in terms of complexity. UHW is currently significantly understaffed in terms of consultant pathologists and, according to a recent workforce planning exercise, the coroners post mortem workload at UHW requires four dedicated autopsy pathologists to be fulfilled.

Minister MacNeill also made the point that many other hospitals around Ireland have withdrawn their post mortem services over the past few years, including Cork University Hospital, St James Hospital, the Mater Hospital, Beaumont Hospital and University Hospital Limerick.

She said: Historically, the health service has assisted in the provision of coronial post mortem services on a sort of grace-and-favour basis. While consultant pathologists are employed by the HSE, coronial post mortems are carried out independently for the Department of Justice.

Obviously, that grace-and-favour model is not working. Hospitals are withdrawing from the provision of coronial post mortem examinations for a range of diverse and complex reasons, including a shortage of consultant pathologists willing to undertake that work and increasing diagnostic workloads for an increasing population.

The pathologist shortage is not just an issue in the Republic of Ireland, as minister MacNeill made the point that our friends in Belfast are having real difficulty on the paediatric and perinatal pathology side, which is very distressing for families with the loss of a child or a baby. There is a shortage generally, but we have to create a distinction between the justice system and the health system, which continues to do its work.

We need pathologists to continue to do their work, both in terms of diagnostics and research and also in terms of something that is separate and ancillary and arises as a consequence of the coronial court process. The latter is very much a matter for the Department of Justice.
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Cement dispatches in Vietnam advanced 17 per cent YoY to 7.265Mt in December 2025 while MoM there was a five per cent increase, according to the Vietnam National Cement Association (VNCA). Of this total VICEM saw a 16 per cent increase to 2.205Mt while for other VNCA-affiliated companies there was an 11 per cent YoY uptick to 1.245Mt. Non-members saw dispatches advance by 20 per cent to 3.815Mt YoY in December 2025.

Exports saw a 67 per cent YoY increase to 3.758Mt in December 2025, driven by a 192 per cent surge in clinker exports to 1.873Mt. VICEM clinker exports increased to 141,661t while non-members saw a 182 per cent increase to 1.731Mt. There were no clinker exports from other VNCA-affiliated companies.

In terms of cement exports, a 17 per cent YoY increase was reported to 1.885Mt. VICEM saw a six per cent uptick in cement exports to 131,088t while other VNCA members reported a three per cent YoY drop to 264,364t. Non-members expanded their cement exports by 23 per cent YoY to 1.489Mt.



Full-year 2025

In the January-December 2025 74.594Mt of cement were dispatched in Vietnam, up 12 per cent YoY. VICEM dispatches increased by 14.3 per cent YoY to 20.827Mt while other VNCA members improved their dispatches by 11.9 per cent YoY to 13.212Mt. Dispatches by non-members saw a 11.1 per cent increase to 40.555Mt in 2025 when compared with the previous year.

Approximately 37.411Mt of cement and clinker left Vietnam for overseas customers in 2025, representing a 26 per cent increase when compared with 2024. Clinker exports were up 64 per cent YoY to 15.644Mt. Of this total, VICEM saw a four per cent uptick in clinker exports to 844,623t, but other VNCA members noted a 14 per cent YoY drop to 285,168t. The majority of clinker exports were carried out by non-members, who reported a 72 per cent advance in volumes to 14.514Mt in 2025. Bangladesh was the largest importer of Vietnamese cement, followed by Cote dIvoire and the Philippines at some distance.

Meanwhile, cement exports saw an eight per cent boost to 21.768Mt in 2025 when compared with 2024, driven by a 20 per cent increase in cement exports by non-members, who exported 16.987Mt. However, VICEM cement exports dropped by 37 per cent YoY to 1.794Mt and other VNCA members saw cement exports slip by five per cent YoY to 2.987Mt. The Philippines had the largest off-take of Vietnamese cement in 2025, followed by the USA as a close second and Singapore at a distance.
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Colombian conglomerate Grupo Argos, the countrys largest cement producer, is said to be exploring the possibility of re-entering the Venezuelan market it exited almost 20 years ago following the expropriation of its assets there.

The company lost its Venezuelan cement plant, Corporacion de Cemento Andino, in 2006 during expropriation under the late Hugo Chavez government, a move it did not receive compensation for at the time. According to recent media reports, Grupo Argos president Jorge Mario Velasquez has indicated confidence that a potential normalisation of political and economic conditions in Venezuela could open the door for former investors to resume operations or otherwise resolve outstanding ownership issues.

Cementos Argos first entered Venezuela in 1998 with its purchase of the Trujillo-state cement facility, which had a designed capacity of around 750,000tpa. Renewed interest in the market comes amid a shifting political landscape in the neighbouring country and expectations of economic recovery, particularly in infrastructure sectors.

The company has acknowledged that significant challenges remain, including questions around legal stability, enforcement of private property rights and investor guarantees  key factors that would influence any future cement industry involvement in Venezuela.

Grupo Argos continues to be a major regional player, operating in multiple Latin American markets and abroad, with a diversified portfolio of cement, concrete and infrastructure businesses.
by William Benzon

This article has three main sections. Immediately following the image (created by ChatGPT) is an article by me, ChatGPT 5.2 and Claude 4.5: The Grammar of Truth: What Language Models Reveal About Language Itself. Claude came up with that title. After that theres a much shorter section in which I explain how the three of us created that article. I conclude by I taking the question of how to properly credit such writing. That issue is one aspect of the institutionalization discussed in what I will call the included article.

The Grammar of Truth: What Language Models Reveal About Language Itself

William Benzon, assisted by ChatGPT 5.2 and Claude 4.5

In the 1980s, when the linguist Daniel Everett went to live with the Piraha people of the Amazon, he had a mission: to translate the Bible into their language and convert them to Christianity. What he discovered, however, was something he hadnt anticipated. The Piraha didnt exactly reject his religious message. They just couldnt take him seriously.

The problem, as Everett eventually came to understand, was grammatical. Piraha requires speakers to mark the source of their knowledge. When you make a claim about something, you have to indicate whether you witnessed it directly, heard it from someone else, or learned it in a dream. This isnt an optional rhetorical flourish. Its as obligatory as verb tense in English. Everett had not seen Jesus himself. He knew no one who had. And he wasnt reporting a dream. By the grammatical standards of Piraha discourse, he had no business speaking at all.

This grammatical featurewhat linguists call evidentialityturns out to be far more than a curiosity about an Amazonian language. It opens a window onto something fundamental about how human societies organize knowledge. And, as well see, it ultimately reveals why the emergence of large language models like ChatGPT represents not just a technological achievement but a conceptual rupture that forces us to rethink what language itself is.

When Grammar Does the Work

Evidentiality is the grammatical marking of how a speaker knows what theyre saying. Many languages require it. Speakers must indicate whether their claim comes from direct experience, hearsay, inference, or some other source. What Everett discovered isnt unique to Piraha. Similar systems appear in Tibetan, Turkish, Quechua, and hundreds of other languages around the world.

In English we can add phrases like apparently or I heard that. But were not required to. We can simply say the meeting is tomorrow without specifying whether we checked the calendar, someone told us, or were just guessing. In languages with obligatory evidentials, such vagueness is grammatically impossible.

In the late 1970s Revere Perkins, working with Joan Bybee and David Hays in linguistics at SUNY Buffalo, demonstrated that evidential systems serve a crucial social function in oral cultures. When all knowledge circulates through direct testimony, reliability depends entirely on chains of personal witnessing. Grammar itself enforces what we might call epistemic accountability. If you tell me something you saw, I can evaluate your credibility as an observer. If you tell me something you heard, I can ask about your source. If you claim something from a dream, I can decide what weight to give visionary experience.

The grammar doesnt compel you to tell the truthyou can certainly lie about what you witnessed. But it prevents you from being vague about the nature of your claim. It makes the source of your knowledge explicit and puts it on the record.

The Move to Institutions

Heres where things get interesting. Perkins noticed something striking: as societies develop literacy, evidential systems tend to weaken or disappear from grammar. English doesnt have obligatory evidentials. Neither do most European languages, nor Chinese, nor Arabic.

This might seem like a step backward. If evidentials are so useful for evaluating information, why would languages lose them? The answer is that the job evidentials were doing didnt go away. It just moved somewhere else.

When societies develop literacy, they also develop new institutions and practices for checking information. Citation practices emerge. Footnotes proliferate. Peer review becomes standard. We create specialized genresthe scientific paper, the legal brief, the historical monographeach with elaborate protocols for establishing credibility. We train professional classes whose work is precisely to evaluate and authenticate claims: scholars, journalists, judges.

Whats crucial here, though, is that these institutions remain grounded in human experience. When peer reviewers evaluate a scientific claim, theyre scientists who have themselves conducted experiments, faced methodological challenges, and experienced the gap between hypothesis and result. When courts assess testimony, judges and juries are people who understand from the inside what memory is, what witnessing entails, how easily we can be mistaken or deceived. The shift is from grammatical to institutional regulation, but the checking still ultimately rests on humans with real experiences.

This institutional reorganization enables something oral cultures cannot sustain: abstraction at scale, reasoning about events no living person witnessed, intellectual specialization. Its no accident that Platos skepticism about writing appears only in a literate culture, or that epistemology as a distinct philosophical discipline emerges with literacy. Oral societies embed their theory of knowledge in grammar. Literate societies externalize it into institutions and then reflect on it philosophically.

Two Different Questions: Truth and Bullshit

Before we go further, we need to make an important distinction. Evidentialitywhether its in grammar or in institutionsconcerns one thing: the source of knowledge. But thats different from whether the information is actually true.

The philosopher Harry Frankfurt wrote a famous essay about this called On Bullshit. He pointed out that theres a crucial difference between lying and bullshitting. A liar knows the truth and deliberately conceals it. A bullshitter doesnt care whether their claims are true or false. They simply say whatever serves their immediate purpose. The liar respects the truth enough to hide it. The bullshitter is indifferent to the entire truth/falsehood dimension.

These are two different axes. You can lie while using perfectly correct evidentials. I could say I personally saw him there when I didnt, marking my source accurately as direct observation even though Im lying about the content. And you can tell the truth while being vague about your sources. Evidentiality concerns epistemologyhow we know. Truth concerns realitywhat actually is.

In face-to-face oral cultures, strong evidential systems constrain bullshit. Not because lying becomes impossible, but because being vague about sources becomes grammatically difficult and the social cost of being caught is immediate. Everyone knows everyone. You have to live with your reputation.

Literate societies, by contrast, enable more sophisticated forms of bullshit precisely through the features that enable intellectual sophistication. You can write authoritatively about places youve never visited, citing texts rather than experiences. Credentials can substitute for knowledge. Fluency can substitute for understanding. Yet even human institutions that produce bullshitthink tanks with agendas, captured regulatory agencies, propaganda bureausare still operated by people who can in principle be investigated. There are humans with stakes and incentives whom we can interrogate.

Enter the Machines

This brings us to large language models, and to something genuinely new.

LLMs like ChatGPT exhibit something that looks remarkably like linguistic competence. Theyre fluent, context-sensitive, responsive in dialogue, versatile across domains. Yet they conspicuously lack experience, belief, intention, and any form of what we might call epistemic accountability. In a sense, they function like institutionsthey organize information, produce authoritative-sounding outputs, process vast amounts of material. But theyre institutions with no humans in them.

Let me unpack what I mean by that. Culture itself originally emerged from beings with experiences. People witnessed events, remembered them, told stories. Literacy allowed culture to be externalized in texts and managed by institutions, but those institutions remained staffed by humans with experiential grounding. LLMs represent something different. They operate on the accumulated textual products of human experience without themselves having experiences. In a framing being developed by Alison Gopnik, Henry Farrell, Ted Underwood and others, LLMs are cultural technologies that work through a kind of second-order process: culture processing culture, divorced from the experiential substrate that originally generated it.

People started calling LLM errors hallucinations. The term arose first in discussions of neural machine translation, then spread to chatbots. It seems aptafter all, the system is producing fluent text about things that arent real. But hallucination actually misleads. It suggests faulty perception. But LLMs dont misperceive reality. They generate plausible continuations of text without any relationship to perception at all.

In Frankfurts technical sense, LLM output is better understood as structural bullshit: language produced without truth-directed intent, optimized for coherence rather than correspondence. They simulate evidential language. They can write studies show or experts say. But they possess no evidential grounding whatsoever. They are pure textuality, operating at maximum distance from the witnessing that originally generated all this text theyve been trained on.

This isnt a defect to be engineered away. Its definitional. LLMs are trained to predict likely continuations of text, not to maintain correspondence with reality. They instantiate a form of intelligence thats profoundly different from human cognition. Vast in scopecapable of operating across more symbolic domains than any individual could master. But thin in what we might call mode of being, lacking the embodied situatedness that grounds human thought.

The Crisis Were In

This helps clarify why were experiencing such acute confusion about these systems. Weve multiplied technologies that process information at massive scaleLLMs, recommendation algorithms, content moderation systems. But we lack adequate frameworks for dealing with them.

We keep trying to apply the logic we developed for human institutions. We demand transparency. We appeal to expertise. We fact-check outputs. We propose regulatory oversight. These strategies all assume there are humans somewhere whose experiences, incentives, and responsibilities can be investigated. But LLMs have no experiences or incentives. Theyre not hiding anything from us. Theres nothing to hide, because theres no one there.

You cant hold an LLM accountable the way you hold a newspaper accountable. You cant ask: What did you actually witness? What are your stakes? Who benefits from this framing? The entire apparatus of epistemic accountability presupposes agents with experiences, beliefs, and intentions. Thats precisely what evidentials originally marked and what institutions were designed to regulate.

We can now see a progression across three stages:

First: evidentiality embedded in grammar, with direct face-to-face accountability among humans with experiences.

Second: evidentiality externalized to institutions operated by humans with experiences.

Third: what we have nowinstitutional-like entities processing culture with no experiential grounding anywhere in the system.

Each stage preserves something and loses something. The second stage gained abstraction but risked sophisticated bullshit. The third stage gains scopetremendous scopebut severs the link to experiential accountability entirely.

A Different Kind of Intelligence

This asymmetry exposes something wrong with how we talk about artificial intelligence. Terms like artificial general intelligence or superintelligence assume intelligence is one thing, a single dimension where systems can be ranked against human baselines. But LLMs reveal that assumption to be false.

Human intelligence is narrow in scope. None of us can hold millions of documents in working memory. We cant process information as fast as computers. But our intelligence is thickgrounded in embodiment, mortality, social vulnerability, the irreducible fact of witnessing our own experience. LLMs exhibit the inverse profile: vast scope, thin existence.

I think some capabilities may be permanently asymmetric. There are likely things humans can do that LLMs never will, not because of technical limitations but because those capacities are grounded in embodied experience. Understanding what it means to give your word, for instance. Recognizing genuine embarrassment. Knowing the difference between performance and sincerity. These arent just facts that could be learned from text. Theyre things you have to live to understand.

Conversely, LLMs already do things humans never will. Operating simultaneously across millions of documents. Maintaining consistency across vast textual corpora. Synthesizing patterns at scales beyond individual cognition. The question isnt whether LLMs will become more human-like or surpass us. They represent something else: a new kind of participant in cultural space, one that operates on fundamentally different principles.

What Language Turns Out to Be: Mechanistic

The deeper lesson here is what LLMs reveal about language itself.

For all of human history, we could assume that language presupposes a cognizing subject with experiences, beliefs, and intentions. Oral cultures encoded this assumption grammatically through evidentials. Literate cultures maintained it through human-operated institutions. The assumption seemed foundational. Meaningful language must come from beings who understand what theyre saying because they have lived in the world.

LLMs falsify this assumption. They demonstrate that human-like linguistic behaviorsyntax, semantics, pragmatic appropriatenesscan arise from processes operating over cultural artifacts alone, without experiential grounding. Language is mechanistic, or can be. This doesnt render language meaningless. Discovering a painting is a forgery doesnt make all paintings worthless. But it does reveal that language is more autonomous than we realized. More capable of functioning independently from the experiential contexts that gave rise to it.

In that sense, LLMs function as something like conceptual probes, forcing us to make explicit distinctions that human language allowed us to leave implicit. They separate competence from experience, fluency from understanding, linguistic behavior from intentionality. And in doing so, they force us to reconsider not just what these systems are, but what language, meaning, and intelligence have been all along.

Back to the Beginning

So we return to where we started. The Piraha speaker who found Everetts testimony grammatically inadmissible and the office worker trying to decide whether to trust ChatGPT are grappling with the same fundamental question: On what grounds should we accept what were hearing?

Oral cultures answered by embedding accountability in grammar. Literate cultures moved it into human institutions. We now inhabit a communicative ecology that includes entities operating on entirely different principlesprocessing language without experience, producing fluency without understanding, wielding what looks like institutional authority without any human agency behind it.

Understanding this moment requires holding several things in tension. LLMs are powerful tools that extend human capabilities in important ways. They are fundamentally different from human cognition in ways that resist our inherited conceptual frameworks. They reveal unexpected things about languageits capacity for semi-autonomous function, its separability from immediate experience. And they force new questions about what kind of society were building when linguistic actors can participate in culture without possessing the experiential grounding that previously defined such participation.

What we might call the grammar of truth is changing. Not because truth itself has changed, but because we share communicative space with entities that operate according to different principles. We have moved from a world where all language users were experiential beings, through a world where such beings built institutions to manage abstraction, into a world where autonomous systems process culture itself.

Making sense of that new ecologyunderstanding what can be delegated to these systems and what depends irreducibly on human experiencemay well be the central intellectual challenge of our moment. It requires us to think carefully about what aspects of human linguistic practice can be delegated to autonomous systems and what aspects depend irreducibly on experiential grounding. And it begins, strangely enough, with a question that would be perfectly comprehensible to a Piraha speaker: On what grounds do you speak?

* * *

How Did I Use ChatGPT and Claude?

That involves three phases: 1) a dialog with ChatGPT, 2) generation of an initial text by Claude, and 3) the production of a final text by Claude at my direction.

I started by having a conversation with ChatGPT. That conversation started with evidentiality, an obscure and specialized topic within linguistics. From there I moved on to truth and bullshit and then to hallucinations. Finally I moved onto AGI and Superintelligence. That conversation was roughly 8500 words long and was in the Chatsters (annoying) bulleted list style.

That dialog was not suitable for a public-facing document. The moment I started thinking about writing such a document myself I stopped: No! let Claude do that.

I took that conversation, uploaded it to Claude and asked Claude to read it and then write an essay suitable for a sophisticated general audience. Let me repeat that: I explicitly characterized my intended audience. Had I told it to write for cognitive scientists or for high school students Claude would have produced appropriate texts.

I liked the essay, which introduced some useful details that were not in my ChatGPT conversation. It also brought out the significance of social institutions. That was there in the conversation, but it struck me more in Claudes article. In fact, I asked Claude to revise the article to bring that aspect out even more, and to mention the work of Alison Gopnik on large language models as cultural technology. That yielded a second version. I asked for two more texts, each targeted at a slightly different audience. I liked that second text best, but wanted it to be in a style more like mine.

How could I do that? Simple. I uploaded the final draft of my book, Beethovens Anvil: Music in Mind and Culture, and directed Claude to re-write that second version in the style of that book. Piece of cake. I made a few minor changes to that text before including it in this piece.

The Credit Problem for Hybrid Texts

Why did I sign the included article, the one about evidentials, bullshit, and institutions, with three name? Given that I didnt even write the article, why is my name on it at all?

That text used another text as its basis, a 8500 word text created through a dialog between me and ChatGPT, and I directed that dialog. My direction is one reason Im entitled to sign my name to the article. Without me thered have been no dialog and without that dialog thered have been nothing for Claude to work with.

Let me be more specific. I started that dialog with Claude because I saw a connection between the linguistic phenomenon of evidentials and the LLM phenomenon of hallucination. The purpose of the dialog, then, was to explicate that connection. Thats the key idea, and I believe it is an original one.

Theres more. Returning to the article that Claude generated, its the authority I have through active participation in the world that connects that text to the world. Claude and ChatGPT have no connection with the world, hence no authority.

Given these considerations, all three names must be associated with the article. But the names alone are not sufficient. It is common for multiply-authored technical papers to have a footnote or an endnote indicating the nature of each authors contribution. These indicators are short, not remotely as elaborate as my previous section on how the included article was created. But then this kind of article is quite new, while those other kinds of articles have been around for a while and so the conventions governing attribution are understood within the relevant discursive communities.

By way of comparison, consider the credits attached to movies. The end credits seem to scroll on forever. The most important ones  director, writer, actors, producers, and a few others  will come first, often at the beginning of the movie as well as in the end credits. With each kind of credit entails specific tasks and responsibilities in the film-making. We all understand more or less what writers, directors, and actors do. Producer roles are a bit more obscure. But does anyone outside the movie industry know what a gaffer or a best boy does?

[As an aside: While the movie credit system is extensive and complex, its not perfect. Consider the 1974 movie, Chinatown. When the movie opens there is a gorgeous, haunting trumpet solo on the soundtrack, redolent of a melancholy nostalgia that sets up the movie perfectly. The composer, Jerry Goldsmith, is credited; composers generally are, but the individual musicians are not. Without Uan Raseys mastery, the melody wouldnt have mesmerized the audience. I know Rasey played that solo because Im a trumpet player and that solo is well-known among trumpeters.]

How then should we succinctly characterize the roles of those three agents attached to the included article, one human and the other two artificial? I am going to leave that open, perhaps as an exercise for the reader. The emergence and characterization of such roles is one aspect of the institutionalization of large language models.

***

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Lee Universitys Department of Language and Literature will offer English as a Second Language classes to the community through its Center for English Language and Literacy. Classes will begin on Tuesday, Feb. 3, and conversation classes will begin on Thursday, Feb. 5.

CELL will offer five levels of conversation classes for all levels of learners, ranging from beginners who have little to no prior English instruction to speakers who are advanced in their knowledge of the English language.

Childcare (ages 1 to 6) and English language instruction (ages 7 to 12) will be offered by trained students who will lead English lessons and activities suited for these age groups.

CELL is led by Dr. Chris Blake, professor of TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) and linguistics and TESOL program coordinator. The English classes are taught by Lee student instructors who have been professionally trained in the TESOL program.



We are very excited about the upcoming session of classes, said Dr. Blake. One thing everyone loves about CELL is the amazing community that is formed with people from all over the world as we teach and learn together. It is always wonderful to meet new students and welcome those who are returning.

There is a $20 fee for each student per semester. English literacy classes, which focus on reading and writing, will be held on Tuesday evenings, and conversation classes will be held on Thursday evenings. All classes will take place from 6:30-8:30 p.m. in the Walker Memorial Building on Lees campus, with signs directing students to the building and room.

Interested community members are encouraged to register in advance on the CELL website at leecell.org.

More information about the program can be found on the website or by contacting Dr. Blake at cblake@leeuniversity.edu.




Laba Festival celebrated in China

Xinhua) 08:32, January 27, 2026

Seniors taste Laba porridge at a community center in Qianxi City, southwest China's Guizhou Province, Jan. 26, 2026. The Laba Festival, which is celebrated each year on the eighth day of the twelfth lunar month with the custom of having Laba porridge, falls on Monday this year. (Photo by Fan Hui/Xinhua)

Staff members of an enterprise distribute free Laba porridge to the villagers in Qinyang City, central China's Henan Province, Jan. 26, 2026. The Laba Festival, which is celebrated each year on the eighth day of the twelfth lunar month with the custom of having Laba porridge, falls on Monday this year. (Photo by Zhang Xinyu/Xinhua)

A teacher introduces ingredients for making Laba porridge at a kindergarten in Linyi City, east China's Shandong Province, Jan. 26, 2026. The Laba Festival, which is celebrated each year on the eighth day of the twelfth lunar month with the custom of having Laba porridge, falls on Monday this year. (Photo by Wang Yanbing/Xinhua)

Children prepare ingredients for making Laba porridge in a kindergarten in Zhengding County of Shijiazhuang, north China's Hebei Province, Jan. 26, 2026. The Laba Festival, which is celebrated each year on the eighth day of the twelfth lunar month with the custom of having Laba porridge, falls on Monday this year. (Photo by Liang Zidong/Xinhua)

Food delivery riders taste Laba porridge presented by community volunteers at a courier station in Huzhou City, east China's Zhejiang Province, Jan. 26, 2026. The Laba Festival, which is celebrated each year on the eighth day of the twelfth lunar month with the custom of having Laba porridge, falls on Monday this year. (Photo by Ni Lifang/Xinhua)

A teacher introduces ingredients for making Laba porridge at a kindergarten in Jiyuan City, central China's Henan Province, Jan. 26, 2026.. The Laba Festival, which is celebrated each year on the eighth day of the twelfth lunar month with the custom of having Laba porridge, falls on Monday this year. (Photo by Duan Erping/Xinhua)

This photo taken on Jan. 26, 2026 shows the ingredients for making Laba porridge at a kindergarten in Tianjin, north China. The Laba Festival, which is celebrated each year on the eighth day of the twelfth lunar month with the custom of having Laba porridge, falls on Monday this year. (Photo by Du Penghui/Xinhua)

Railway workers taste Laba porridge at a plant in Xinghua City, east China's Jiangsu Province, Jan. 26, 2026. The Laba Festival, which is celebrated each year on the eighth day of the twelfth lunar month with the custom of having Laba porridge, falls on Monday this year. (Photo by Zhou Shegen/Xinhua)

Sanitation workers taste Laba porridge at a community center in Rongcheng City, east China's Shandong Province, Jan. 26, 2026. The Laba Festival, which is celebrated each year on the eighth day of the twelfth lunar month with the custom of having Laba porridge, falls on Monday this year. (Photo by Li Xinjun/Xinhua)

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Chattanooga Girls Leadership Academy announces its designation as a 20242025 Reward School by the Tennessee Department of Education, an honor awarded to only 30 charter schools statewide. In addition, CGLA has been recognized as a Tennessee Value-Added Assessment System Level 5 school for the ninth time since 2013.Receiving a 24-25 Reward School status is a humbling confirmation that reminds us, the CGLA faculty and staff, that we are doing important work for all of our girls and young ladies, said Sylvia Davis, principal of CGLA.Officials said, "Reward School status is a prestigious recognition highlighting schools that demonstrate exceptional overall performance.These schools show strong student achievement and growth across multiple indicators, including TCAP results, TVAAS growth scores, absenteeism and graduation rates. CGLAs placement on this list reflects the schools continued commitment to academic excellence and student success."Dr. Elaine Swafford, chief executive officer, celebrated the achievement and praised the dedication of CGLA students and faculty.Reward status, which is the highest school-level designation a school can earn, speaks to thecommitment of our hardworking students, supportive families and excellent educators, Dr. Swafford said. We are proud to once again reach this incredible milestone, and remain dedicated to providing a world of possibilities for all students."CGLA is equally proud to receive a Level 5 TVAAS designation for 20242025, the states highest rating for student growth," officials said. "CGLA remains committed to providing high-quality education to every student, ensuring they are prepared for success both in the classroom and beyond."
Pictured, left to right: Janice Pendergrass, Randy Wells and Dr. Douglas Mann Pictured, left to right: Dr. Jim Woychuk, Marvin Keener and Dr. Douglas Mann Pictured, left to right: Marvin Keener, Dr. Douglas Mann and Randy Wells Previous Next

Bryan College hosted its inaugural Difference Maker Award Dinner on Jan. 16, honoring twolongtime community leaders, Marvin Keener and Randy Wells, for their "exceptional service to Rhea County and the Bryan College community."Established by Bryan College President Dr. Douglas Mann, the Difference Maker Award honors individuals whose lives reflect faithful service advancing Christs Kingdom through meaningful investment in students, the College, and the surrounding community, officials said.Both men are difference makers, said Dr.Mann during his opening remarks. Tonight, we follow the biblical wisdom of giving honor where honor is due by celebrating lives marked by humility, integrity and faithful service - lives that advance Christs Kingdom and reflect the values we seek to instill in our students.Officials said, "Marvin Keener served as vice president of Advancement for Bryan College from 1971 to 1973 and has remained deeply involved in community service throughout his career. He founded Keener Marketing in Dayton, serving numerous Christian organizations, including Tyndale House and Campus Crusade for Christ. During his time at Bryan, Mr. Keener led fundraising efforts that helped build Rudd Chapel and Woodlee-Ewing Dormitory, both of which remain central to campus life today. He has also been actively involved with Lions Club International and multiple community initiatives benefiting underserved individuals."Dr. Jim Woychuk 80, pastor of Grace Bible Church, highlighted Mr. Keeners lasting influence, noting that thousands of students shaped by Bryan Colleges mission owe him their thanks.Officials said, "Randy Wells serves the community through leadership roles with United Way, the Chamber of Commerce, WeCare and the Dayton Rotary Club, where he was president three times. He also serves on the board of MainStreet Dayton and as board president of the Rhea Medical Healthcare Foundation. Mr. Wells recently retired after 22 years at SouthEast Bank as senior vice president. Under his leadership, the SouthEast Bank Scholarship was established to benefit Bryan College students, with more than $300,000 ($304,500) contributed to student scholarships and other needs of the College."Mr. Wells was introduced by Janice Pendergrass, a longtime friend and fellow Rotary Club member, who spoke to his heart for service, saying, He genuinely loves our community and feels called to serve.In closing, Dr. Mann reflected on the importance of honoring leaders whose lives align with Bryan Colleges mission of educating students to become servants of Christ in todays world."As the College looks ahead to honoring future Difference Makers, Mr. Keener and Mr. Wells stand as clear examples of faithful service that advances Christs Kingdom through lasting impact on students and community," officials said.
Due to the continued freezing temperatures, Hamilton County Schools will be closed on Tuesday.

Officials said, "While road conditions have improved, our goal is to ensure that our facilities, parking lots, and transportation are ready for the return of students and staff without issues."

School Age Child Care will open inclement weather sites at 7:30 a.m.

A decision regarding after-school activities will be announced by noon on Tuesday.



Inclement Weather Sites:

Battle Academy

East Brainerd Elementary

East Ridge Elementary

Harrison Elementary

Middle Valley Elementary

Red Bank Elementary

Students will need to bring lunch and a drink.

The Hamilton County Office of Emergency Management (HCOEM) encourages motorists to drive with caution if traveling on Signal Mountain/Waldens Ridge and Mowbray Mountain. Emergency Services agencies continue to report low hanging tree limbs over the roadways and low visibility due to heavy fog.

After being closed Monday, due to inclement winter weather, Hamilton County Government offices will reopen Tuesday. All departments will resume normal operations.

The status of Hamilton Countys constitutional offices is as follows:



Office Status Office Status HamiltonCountyMayorsOffice/GeneralGovernment OPEN GrandJury OPEN CircuitCourt OPEN CountyClerk OPEN CircuitCourtClerk OPEN JuvenileCourt OPEN ChanceryCourt OPEN JuvenileCourtClerk OPEN ClerkandMaster OPEN DistrictAttorneysOffice OPEN CriminalCourt OPEN PublicDefendersOffice OPEN CriminalCourtClerk OPEN AssessorofProperty OPEN GeneralSessionsCourt OPEN RegisterofDeedsOffice OPEN GeneralSessionsCourtClerk-CivilDivision OPEN TrusteesOffice OPEN General Sessions Court Clerk- CriminalDivision OPEN SheriffsMainOffice OPEN

The following message was sent to the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga campus community on Monday:



UTC Community:

The Cold Weather Advisory issued by the National Weather Service (NWS) for the Chattanooga/Hamilton County, area remains in effect through 12 p.m. tomorrow. Tonight, wind chills are expected to range from 5 degrees to as low as -15 degrees in higher elevations. Very cold temperatures are forecast to continue through the remainder of the week and into the weekend.



The University will resume normal operations on Tuesday. Students, employees, and affiliates are encouraged to prioritize their personal safety while traveling to and navigating around campus. Although roads and walkways have been treated to mitigate hazards, individuals should use caution and allow extra time, as some areas may remain icy.
Up until recently I had a young very personable and smart doctor but he disappeared overnight. Too much work too little compensation?

So, the good move on.

I say this because it was time for my semi-annual visit to the doctor. Those visits seem to come faster and faster the older I get. Maybe not, but I think so.

There isnt much of concern according to my now disappearing Doc. However, departure without letting anyone know either at the hospital where he worked or his patients whose trust he had gained over the years is a real bummer.

On the other hand, I could confide the most intimate of details like my best friend has memory issues. Okay maybe its me but confessing up is tough when you think of yourself as the Man of Steel instead of the old buffoon who specializes in falling down. Balance is a definite issue,

As an example of remembering, it causes me to commit to paper things like new passwords. Passwords that contain letters, numbers and symbols. Three words that brings fear into the mind of old people.

The same people who have a pill box with the day of the week and nights labeled in big letters on it. Remembering, however what day it is might just be a problem.

Honestly, do you think by adding new symbols and numbers it would fool would-be hackers? Those hacker folks off in some distant place on earth or maybe in space who want to get into your bank account. They speak in code that you have to ask them to repeat slowly in English.

They know hacking me or anyone over the age of 70, might not be worth their time unless they want a good laugh.

Remembering who, what and where. Now its more like, who, what?

Seeing a memory specialist for this condition previously known as Uncle Sol cant remember Jack can blow up a good marriage.

In my case my bride of many decades leaves little Post It Notes on places like the bathroom mirror knowing Ill be visiting that room often.

Subtlety is not the word as you gallop into old age. Pathetic comes to mind a lot.

First sign of the Lost my car in the supermarket parking lot recently syndrome hit my buddy recently. And no, he didnt have one of those programs on his phone that leads to the sucker. That would have been obvious. Vanity marching at the head of the line.

He should have had a program that led directly to the memory doc or a nearby bar that leads him to alcohol anonymous.

Having to remember all those symbols and numbers, etc. of your secret code or worse having to remember where that piece of scrap paper you wrote it on might now be hiding out!

Im not one of those people who waited 50 years for the opportunity to retire and just sit back in their well-worn leather chair and wait for the grim reaper.

Please note Ive never seen a smiling reaper either. Or for that matter any kind of reaper except at Halloween.

Nope, Im one of those people who checks over the obits on my computer early a.m., sees Im not there, then hustles off to Senior Neighbors to play dominos with the Old Guys. And I still work several days a week. Not hard but enough that I keep my mind from turning completely to chicken and waffles or Big Mac and fries.

* * *

Charles Siskin is a former Chattanoogan living un-retired in Florida. He can be reached at charles.siskin@gmail.com
















Smith Douglas Homes Corp. on Monday announced several leadership appointments designed to support the next phase of the companys growth across the Southeast.

Scott Bowles has been promoted to the newly created role of regional president, southeast, where he will provide strategic oversight for the companys Atlanta, Chattanooga, Central Georgia, Greenville, Charlotte and Raleigh divisions. Mr. Bowles joined Smith Douglas in 2017 and most recently served as president of the companys Atlanta Division.

Colin Bennett has been promoted from vice president of operations to Atlanta division president, succeeding Mr. Bowles. In addition, Matt Schaller has been appointed division president of the newly formed Chattanooga division. Mr. Schaller previously served as vice president of land acquisition for the Chattanooga market.

Scott, Colin and Matt have consistently demonstrated strong leadership and a deep commitment to our culture and operational excellence, said Greg Bennett, vice chairman and chief executive officer of Smith Douglas. As we continue executing on our strategy to become a leading large-scale homebuilder in the Southeast, these appointments position us well to drive disciplined growth and operational performance across our expanding footprint.
Ronald W. Smith, a beloved and cherished individual, passed away on January 16, 2026, at the age of 78. Born on February 19, 1947, Ronald was a devoted husband, a faithful friend, and a hard-working member of his community.

Ronald was a US Navy veteran, dedicating a significant portion of his life to serving his country with honor and distinction. His commitment to duty and service was a testament to his thoughtful nature and strong character.

He was preceded in death by his mother, Elizabeth Cunningham Kay.

For 53 years, Ronald was the devoted husband of Nancy Smith. Their marriage was a testament to enduring love and partnership, marked by mutual respect and unwavering support. He is also survived by a sister-in-law, Joyce Racz, and a brother-in-law, Johnny (Glenda) Noblitt, four nieces and one nephew.

In addition to his family life, Ronald was deeply involved in his community. He was a member of the Bethlehem Mornings Ministry, where he served on their board, contributing his time and effort to the betterment of the organization. His commitment to community service extended to his long-standing role on the Chattanooga Beer Board, where he served for many years.

Ronald W. Smith will be remembered for his contributions to his family, community, and country. His legacy of devotion and hard work will continue to inspire those who knew and loved him.

The family will receive friends from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. at the Valley View Chapel of Chattanooga Funeral Home on Wednesday, Jan. 28, followed by funeral services at 1 p.m. Interment follow in the Chattanooga National Cemetery.

Donations may be given in his name to Bethlehem Mornings Ministry C/O Dr. Bill Owens, 2684 Churchill Downs Circle, Chattanooga, Tn. 37421.
Twin Cities activist and attorney Nekima Levy Armstrong is arrested in connection with a protest at Cities Church in St. Paul. | Photo credit: Facebook/ Secretary Kristi Noem

A nonpartisan civil liberties organization says the First Amendment does not shield protesters who interrupt worship services, pushing back against claims made after last Sundays disruption at Cities Church in St. Paul, Minnesota.

In a written statement by a board member, the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression emphasized that houses of worship are private spaces, not public forums, and that entering a church to disrupt a service falls outside the scope of constitutionally protected protest activity.

Board member Samuel J. Abrams explained that while the First Amendment strongly protects speech in traditional public forums such as streets, sidewalks and parks, those protections do not extend to private property where owners have not consented to expressive activity.

There is no First Amendment right to enter a house of worship and engage in conduct that effectively shuts down a religious service, even as part of a protest. Nor does anybody have the right to remain on private property after being asked by its owner or authorized representatives to leave, Abrams wrote.

He added that constitutional protections depend on clear distinctions between protected speech and unprotected conduct, noting that freedom of expression also includes safeguarding religious exercise and freedom of conscience.

"The First Amendment offers its strongest protection to speech in traditional public forums  streets, sidewalks, and parks  while also protecting freedom of association, religious exercise, and freedom of conscience. A society committed to free expression depends not only on protecting speech, but on maintaining a clear delineation between protected speech, on the one hand, and unprotected civil or criminal conduct on the other."

The clarification follows a Jan. 18 incident in which demonstrators linked to left-wing groups, including Black Lives Matter and the Racial Justice Network, entered a Sunday worship service at the Southern Baptist congregation and demanded that one of its pastors resign because of his role leading a local Immigration and Customs Enforcement field office.

The service ended early after protesters shouted at congregants.

During a subsequent interview with the churchs senior pastor, former CNN host Don Lemon suggested that storming the service constituted protected First Amendment activity. Video footage later showed Lemon entering the sanctuary with the protesters and responding to requests to leave by saying, This is what the First Amendment is about.

Federal authorities have since arrested three individuals in connection with the incident, charging them under the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act of 1994, which also applies to interference with religious worship. The law prohibits intentionally intimidating or obstructing individuals exercising their right to religious freedom at places of worship.

U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem shared an image of protest organizer and attorney Nekima Levy Armstrong being taken into custody, noting that prosecutors intend to pursue charges under a federal statute addressing conspiracy against constitutional rights.

An appellate court later declined a request from the U.S. Department of Justice to pursue charges against Lemon and others tied to the protest.

Abrams stressed that private institutions, including churches, retain the right to exclude uninvited speech regardless of a protests political message, warning that growing confusion about the First Amendment risks eroding civil society.

The First Amendment is often misunderstood as an affirmative license to protest anywhere, Abrams wrote.

It is not. It protects individuals from government suppression of speech; it does not compel private institutions to host expression they do not invite. Treating the First Amendment as a roaming permission slip for disruption misstates both the law and the logic of free expression.
Home News Church employee's boyfriend accused of stealing over $16K from Rhode Island congregation

Quick Summary AI Summary Stephen Gadbois, 31, is accused of stealing over $16,000 from St. Luke's Episcopal Church in Rhode Island.

Gadbois faces two counts of larceny and was released on personal recognizance.

Police report missing keys and evidence of prior knowledge of the church's storage locations. 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 man identified as the boyfriend of a church administrator has been arrested for allegedly stealing around $16,000 in checks and cash from a Rhode Island congregation.

Stephen Gadbois, a 31-year-old resident of Lincoln, was recently arrested for allegedly stealing the money from St. Luke's Episcopal Church of East Greenwich.

Gadbois faces two counts of larceny, reports the Providence-based WJAR News 10. He was released on personal recognizance and is expected to return to court next Monday.

Last August, the parish administrator called police after discovering that between $16,000 and $17,000 in checks and $300 to $400 in cash had been taken.

The church's cash and checks were initially stored in three locked money bags, kept in a locked file cabinet in an office that was also locked.

Keys to both the file cabinet and money bags, normally kept in an unlocked key box nearby, were also missing, said the police report, as quoted by WPRI of Providence.

The theft appeared targeted, with no signs of forced entry, suggesting prior knowledge of the storage location and keys.

The administrator said that she went to the church with Gadbois, whom she said was her boyfriend, and witnessed him go to the treasurers office, where the missing funds had been kept.

She told authorities that Gadbois knew where the funds were stored.

Shortly after the funds went missing, according to the report, Navigant Credit Union confirmed that Gadbois deposited a $10,019 check payable to St. Lukes Church into a personal account.

While Gadbois told investigators that the check was given to him by the church treasurer as a gift, the treasurer denied it and told police that the check was among the missing donations.

According to a 2017 study by Lifeway Research, nearly one out of 10 surveyed Protestant pastors said that their church had witnessed someone embezzle funds.

Congregations with 250 or more members were slightly more likely to report witnessing embezzlement than smaller churches.

"Churches run on trust  but they also know people are imperfect and can be tempted," said Lifeway Executive Director Scott McConnell. "That's why safeguarding a church's finances is an important part of ministry."
Home News Cities Church pastor urges state leaders, rioters to 'turn from your sin': 'He is our only hope'

Quick Summary AI Summary Cities Church pastor Jonathan Parnell urges Minnesota leaders, agitators to 'turn from your sin,' stating, 'He is our only hope.'

Parnell emphasizes the need for healing in the community amid ongoing turmoil over federal immigration enforcement.

The church is considering legal options against protesters who disrupted Sunday services and traumatized families. 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 lead pastor of Cities Church in St. Paul, Minnesota, urged the state's politicians and those involved with the left-wing mob that recently stormed his church to repent and believe the Gospel during a Monday interview.

"One thing I think that we have in common, with at least some of the people who came into our building, is that we're heartbroken over what's happening in our cities right now," the Rev. Jonathan Parnell said during an interview on "Fox & Friends."

???????? BREAKING: The head pastor at Cities Church, where Left-Wing agitators stormed a Sunday Service perecuting Christians at Worship. Calls for Tim Walz and Minnesota mayors to FIND GOD.



PARNELL: "We need healing. We believe that healing comes in Jesus Christ."



"My message to pic.twitter.com/3fwLRFM9Gl  The Patriot Oasis (@ThePatriotOasis) January 26, 2026

On Jan. 18, Parnell was delivering a sermon based on John 13 about loving one another when a mob of left-wing agitators, accompanied by former CNN host Don Lemon, stormed the service to protest that David Easterwood, one of its pastors, who also serves as the acting director of the ICE St. Paul field office.

They called on Easterwood to resign amid ICE's crackdown on illegal immigration in Minnesota's capital region, and shouted slogans in the faces of the churchgoers, forcing the service to end.

According to a U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) affidavit that went viral over the weekend, families and children at Cities Church were left traumatized when the agitators blocked parents from accessing their children in Sunday School.

Activist William Kelly, who was one of the three arrested last week before being released by a judge, reportedly screamed in the face of crying children that their parents were Nazis and were "going to burn in Hell."

Joined by Renee Carlson, an attorney with True North Legal who is representing Cities Church, Parnell emphasized on "Fox & Friends" that Jesus Christ is the only solution to the chaos roiling the Twin Cities and the U.S. generally. The city continues to be the epicenter of turmoil over federal immigration enforcement operations after the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old U.S. citizen and ICU nurse.

"There's a lot of pain in our cities, and we need healing," Parnell said. "We're asking for God to send healing, and we believe that healing comes ultimately in Jesus Christ, and so what I preach, what we preach, is that God so loved the world that He sent His only begotten Son that whoever believes in Him, will not perish, but have everlasting life."

"So my message to those agitators, my message to the governor of our state, to the state attorney general, my message to both mayors of our cities, is to turn from your sin, trust in Jesus Christ and be saved. He is our only hope."

Carlson, Parnell's attorney, noted that Cities Church is weighing potential legal options against the anti-ICE protesters.

"The church is prayerfully considering what their next steps are to be sure that Cities Church and the members of Cities Church remain protected, as well as every church across the state," Carlson said. "In Minnesota, we have to make sure this does not happen again to anyone in a holy sanctuary and a house of worship."

Three of the protesters  Nekima Levy Armstrong, Chauntyll Louisa Allen and Kelly  were charged by the U.S. Department of Justice last week under 18 U.S. Code  241, also known as "Conspiracy against rights." Carlson condemned Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison for allegedly being "completely hostile in this situation" and "siding with agitators."

Ellison has defended the church protesters, telling Lemon in an interview last week that their actions were protected under the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

"Chanting cannot be a crime; it's freedom of expression," Ellison said.

Parnell said Lemon was mistaken in thinking he had "a press pass" to violate the FACE Act, which prohibits disrupting a religious service. Lemon's charges from the DOJ were reportedly blocked by Judge Douglas L. Micko, a federal magistrate judge whose wife works as Assistant Attorney General in Ellison's office.

Last Friday, a three-judge panel of the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals rejected an emergency petition from the DOJ seeking to arrest Lemon and four others, upholding an earlier lower court ruling.

Circuit Judge L. Steven Grasz, a Trump appointee, authored a brief concurring opinion stating that the government has failed to establish that it has no other adequate means of obtaining the requested relief.
Home News Hispanic pastor says his church may close because of ICE raids; leaders call for reform at NHCLC event

Quick Summary AI Summary Pastor Victor Martinez of New Generation Church in Minneapolis says his church may close due to fears from ICE raids.

Leaders at NHCLC event call for legislation to protect most illegal immigrants.

Republican Rep. Salazar says many Hispanics feel 'deceived.' 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 Hispanic pastor said Monday that his church faces the risk of closure as a result of deportation fears because of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids, as Hispanic leaders call for the passage of legislation to ensure that most illegal immigrants can remain in the United States while preventing them from obtaining citizenship.

A group of Hispanic Christian leaders, led by Pastor Samuel Rodriguez of the Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference, held a call Monday to discuss how the faith community should respond to the ongoing Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids in Minneapolis, Minnesota and nationwide.

Pastor Victor Martinez of New Generation Church in Minneapolis, detailed the impact ICE raids were having on his community, specifically on church attendance.

This is traumatizing, he said. Im 40 years old, born in California and for me as a pastor, I am traumatized. Every now and then, I get worried and emotional. Ive had white Republican suburban pastors call me and just apologize to me so profusely.

After stressing that pastors are getting ready to maybe lose their buildings because church attendance has declined by 80%, Martinez said that his church "is probably considering closing at this point now because its so traumatic for me as a pastor to worry about people in our church.

We have a pantry now out of our building. A lot of our pastors on this call, theres about six of us here, and most of ours are leading some sort of relief effort. Our buildings look like some sort of refugee center for food distribution.

Martinez said two people he knows were both arrested three weeks ago. They include a beneficiary of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program that allows illegal immigrants brought to the U.S. as children to remain in the country and a person about to get his legal residency.

They were just released with no explanation of why, the pastor said, adding, one of them was released in Texas without his ID.

So, he had to figure out how to get back to Minneapolis, and the other one was transported back to Minneapolis. And these are stories that are compiling and compiling and compiling, he added.

Rodriguez, who heads New Season Church in Sacramento, California, and prayed at President Donald Trump's 2017 inauguration, urged participants on the call to help Martinez to ensure that his church does not close, saying he felt the Holy Spirit now pushing us towards a sense of urgency where apathy is not an option and complacency must be rejected.

Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar, R-Fla., appeared on the call and identified the quota of 3,000 deportations per day that President Donald Trump has ordered ICE to as a very big mess and a very big problem.

Salazar, who endorsed Trump in the 2024 election, said that many within the Hispanic community feel that they were deceived." Trump gained enormous ground among Hispanic voters in the 2024 election, securing 46% of the Latino vote.

Theres great  lamentation because they thought that they were going to be treated better," she said. She contends that the administration's push for a mass deportation of illegal immigrants, including those who do not have criminal records outside of entering the country illegally, is leaving a sour taste in their mouth.

Salazar, a Cuban American who represents Miami, promoted the Dignity Act, legislation she has sponsored, as a solution that will enable Republicans to reverse what she characterized as catastrophic damage to their poll numbers with Hispanic voters.

She shared statistics finding that 55% of Hispanic men supported Trump in the 2024 presidential election, adding that numbers measuring current support for Trump among Hispanics are in the 20s.

Salazar said her legislation has no path to citizenship for illegal immigrants who have remained in the U.S. for more than five years but allows them to stay in the country. Salazar previously promoted the Dignity Act at an NHCLC conference last year. The bill would also require illegal immigrants allowed to remain in the U.S. to pay $7,000 in fines over seven years and donate 1% of their salary to the federal government. The measure also requires the use of eVerify to verify workers' immigration status.

As of Monday, the Dignity Act has 35 co-sponsors: 18 Democrats and 17 Republicans. The bill has been referred to the House Judiciary Committee and has not been brought up for a vote.

Pastor Todd Lamphere, a member of the White Houses National Faith Advisory Board who participated in the call, prayed that God would  stop and squelch and minimize the  voice of the agitators in Minneapolis. He insisted that the majority of the activists protesting ICE in Minneapolis are not from Minneapolis.

Theyre bused in, theyre brought in, theyre professional agitators, theyre paid agitators, theyre paid activists, he asserted. Theyre people who have come to just wreak havoc.  And thats just not reflective of the people within that community.

Lamphere detailed how ICE raids were happening all across the U.S., in places like Florida and Texas, but were not resulting in violent protests because they have the backing of the local authorities there. He contrasted the treatment ICE has received in Florida and Texas with the rhetoric used by political leaders in Minnesota.

When you have a governor who is using verbiage and, quite frankly, calling it a genocide, that stirs up  a lot of emotion. And then when you have a mayor that echoes that  rhetoric, that makes it really difficult for  authorities to do their job, he declared.

Lamphere concluded his remarks by portraying Trump as willing to listen to the Hispanic community's concerns.

President Trump is  a man of empathy. He cares. He really does. And he wants to bring a solution to this. He loves America. He loves the Hispanic community and he just wants to get the bad elements that were brought in from a prior administration, particularly, and get that bad element out.
Home News Judge orders ICE head to appear in court over refusal to comply with court orders

Quick Summary AI Summary Judge Patrick J. Schiltz orders ICE acting head Todd Lyons to appear in court.

Lyons faces potential contempt for failing to comply with court orders.

Judge says feds didn't make 'any provision' for dealing with hundreds of habeas petitions and lawsuits. An artificial intelligence-powered tool created this summary based on the source article. The summary has undergone review and verification by an editor. See Summary

A federal judge in Minnesota has ordered the acting head of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to appear in court over his alleged refusal to comply with several orders, threatening to hold him in contempt.

Chief Judge Patrick J. Schiltz of the District of Minnesota, a George W. Bush appointee, issued the order on Monday in the case of Juan T.R. v. Kristi Noem, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, et al.

Schiltz ordered ICE Acting Director Todd Lyons to appear in court on Friday afternoon to show cause why he should not be held in contempt for violating the Courts January 14, 2026, order.

The Jan. 14 order granted a petition for the plaintiff identified for a bond hearing. Despite the order, the plaintiff remains detained and has not received the hearing.

According to Schiltz, this was one of dozens of court orders with which respondents have failed to comply in recent weeks, which has resulted in creating significant hardship to aliens (many of whom have lawfully lived and worked in the United States for years and done absolutely nothing wrong).

This Court has been extremely patient with respondents, even though respondents decided to send thousands of agents to Minnesota to detain aliens without making any provision for dealing with the hundreds of habeas petitions and other lawsuits that were sure to result, wrote Schiltz.

Respondents have continually assured the Court that they recognize their obligation to comply with Court orders, and that they have taken steps to ensure that those orders will be honored going forward. Unfortunately, though, the violations continue.

Since returning to the Oval Office last year, President Donald Trump has ratcheted up enforcement of immigration laws, with a sharp uptick in ICE raids nationwide.

In recent weeks, ICE operations in Minnesota have garnered headlines and considerable controversy. Earlier this month, federal officials said they made over 10,000 arrests in the state.

Several Minnesota elected officials at the state and local levels have voiced their disapproval of the Trump administration's immigration enforcement operations in the state. Tensions were exacerbated after an ICE agent shot and killed Renee Good during an altercation involving her SUV blocking a street on Jan. 7, spurring more anti-ICE protests nationwide.

While the Trump administration argued that the ICE agent shot Good in self-defense, critics have claimed that Good was only trying to pull away from agents, and lethal force was not justified.

Another person, Alex Pretti, a nurse with the Minneapolis VA Health Care System, was killed on Saturday by Border Patrol agents during an altercation he had been filming them with his camera, drawing more anger and calls for the de-escalation of federal immigration enforcement operations in the state.

While Noem claimed at a press conference that Pretti  who arrived at the scene armed  was intending to attack the agents, multiple videos of the incident appear to contradict that narrative.

The U.S. Department of Justice recently issued subpoenas to Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, St. Paul Mayor Kaohly Her, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, and other state officials as part of an investigation into whether they conspired to obstruct federal immigration enforcement.
Home News Life Bible Church seeking help to raise $2.3M to save property from being washed away by Willamette River

Quick Summary AI Summary Life Bible Church seeks $2.3 million to prevent property loss from Willamette River erosion.

Church has lost over half an acre of land to erosion in the past two years.

Immediate action is required to stabilize the property and protect its infrastructure. 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

Life Bible Church, a non-denominational, multi-generational congregation located in Harrisburg, Oregon, is now seeking help to prevent its land from being washed away by the Willamette River after losing more than a half-acre of its property to erosion over the last two years.

Our church property and the ministries that take place here are at significant risk. Over the past two years, rapid riverbank erosion has accelerated beyond what could have been anticipated, threatening buildings, infrastructure, and the safety of our campus, the church revealed in a GoFundMe campaign launched over the weekend seeking to raise some $2.3 million.

After exhausting every available option and seeking counsel from engineers, agencies, and leaders at every level, we now stand at a critical moment where immediate action is required.

In an extensive letter shared on the churchs website, founding lead pastor Brad Neuschwander and administrator Cari Malpass detail, in technical prose and pictures, how the church, founded in 2001, got snagged in the emergency.

The property, the former site of Riverbend Resort in Harrisburg, became the permanent home of Life Bible Church in June 2015.

This facility was the answer to years of prayer, and allowed LBC to more effectively reach our community, region, and the world, the church website reads.

According to a 2025 city document, the church constructed a 23,000-square-foot sanctuary on the property and retained existing approved conditional uses, including a motel, resort and RV park. The property also boasted a pool, which the church was forced to decommission in 2024.

The river had already undermined and removed all concrete decking surrounding the swimming pool that came with the property when we bought it, and we were advised that we could be held liable if the pool were to float downstream, the pastor and his administrator explained. Removing the pool entirely was not recommended, as it would further destabilize the surrounding soil. After consulting with contractors, we elected to fill the pool with sand and rock at a cost of $12,000.

As they have grappled with the erosion problem facing the church property since 2023, experts explain in the city document that the church has likely lost about 0.61 acres of land over the period.

The property has lost riverbank from 40 at the southwestern edge of the property, and up to 85 of bank on the northwestern corner of the property. Inside the City limits, there is approximately 424 of bank on the Willamette River located on this property, the document states.

When the original expansion of the church was built back in 2013, there was 75 or more from the top of bank to the structure along most of the bank, although there was more to the swimming pool and hotel. The average width of bank loss appears to be 62.5 feet, which equates to 26,500 sq. ft., or .61 acres that has likely been lost from the property in this location.

After evaluating a number of other solutions to stop the erosion of the churchs land, including one from the Army Corps of Engineers with an estimated cost of up to $10 million, the church said an engineer who is a member of the congregation gave them an alternative solution with an approximately $2.3 million price tag.

The proposed solution includes steel sheet piles extending approximately 500 feet in length and driven to a depth of 56 feet, installed 20 feet from the existing bank, the churchs pastor explained.

The project requires approximately 500 sheets at an estimated cost of $4,500 per sheet. The estimated $2.25 million figure includes post-construction sidewalk repairs, fencing, or landscape restoration, the church further stated, noting that the construction work began on Jan. 12.

We are praying that the ground remains stable throughout the installation and that no further structural damage occurs as this critical work progresses.
Home News Lone Anglican church in Moscow suspends worship services

The only official Anglican congregation in Moscow, Russia, has suspended worship services amid a reported internal dispute over who controls the church.

St. Andrews Anglican Church, which is affiliated with the Church of England, announced on its home page last week that it cannot conduct services due to certain legal requirements.

The administration of St Andrews Church regrets to inform you that services will not be held in the next few weeks due to the absence of persons authorized to conduct them in accordance with Russian Law, stated the church.

We would also like to clarify that conducting services in the church building by individuals or groups connected to foreign religious organizations  including the Diocese in Europe of the Church of England  or acting under their instructions, has not been approved by the religious organization Anglican Church in Moscow and therefore violates the legislation of the Russian Federation.

Additionally, the church leadership stated that the Diocese in Europe of the Church of England does not have the authority to manage Russian religious organizations or carry out religious activities on the territory of Russia.

The announcement follows accusations made by Rev. Canon Arun John, a native of India who was appointed chaplain of St. Andrews in December 2024, that some church members have illegitimately taken control of the administration and finances of the church.

This organization has hacked the church website and WhatsApp group and have used the same to scandalize and publish entirely untruthful information about the church leadership, John alleged in a newsletter issued last fall.

This group has also tried to prevent the appointed Chaplain from getting a visa to return to Russia, as a way of controlling the functioning of St. Andrews.

John commended lay leaders and the congregation for standing firm against the wrong." He said he is grateful to our Warden Nicolette Kirk and our Treasurer Suresh Rose who despite threats and verbal abuse have faced this hostile group with courage and integrity.

According to The Moscow Times, St. Andrews is the only purpose-built Anglican church building in Russia, as many Anglican congregations in the country have to rent space.

St. Andrews was founded in 1825 and consecrated its church building in 1885. Its property was seized by the Communists in 1920 and used for secular purposes until 1991, when it officially returned to the Anglican Communion in 1994.

It is unclear if the property dispute and the suspension of worship are linked, according to The Times.

The Russian government has long maintained a tight grip on religious organizations and has cracked down on unregistered congregations across the country, with experts stating that protecting Russian Orthodoxy has been perceived as aligning with the "national strategic interests."

Most Russians belong to the Russian Orthodox Church, which has played a dominant role in Russian society since 988 A.D., according to Open Doors International. Only about 1.3% of the Russian population is considered Protestant.

Last year, Russian courts banned more Baptist churches affiliated with the Council of Churches Baptists, with churches in Timashyovsk, Armavir and Tuapse being barred from operating unless they notify authorities of their activities.

In 2016, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a law enacting tighter restrictions on when religious groups, including Evangelicals, could preach or evangelize, which led to several charges against Protestant churches.
Home News Man stabbed in Washington after answering that his religion is Christian

Quick Summary AI Summary Man stabbed in Washington state after being asked his religion.

Victim, a 54-year-old male, was hospitalized in serious condition.

The suspect, armed with multiple knives, tried to attack police and was shot and later died. 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 Christian man has been released from a local hospital in Washington state after being stabbed by a stranger who asked him to identify his religion in the early hours of Sunday morning. The victim had identified himself as Christian before he and his dog were viciously stabbed by the suspect.

In a statement posted to Facebook Sunday, the Pierce County Sheriffs Office in Pierce County, Washington, said, When deputies arrived, the victim was in serious condition and told deputies the unknown man had come up to him and asked what religion he was. The victim answered the man and said something about being a Christian, and the man then attacked and stabbed the victim and his dog.

The Pierce County Sheriffs Office added that the victim was able to provide a description of the male suspect prior to being transported to a local hospital." Although the attack was captured on a security camera, authorities declined to publicly identify the suspect's race or identity, but said he was armed with multiple knives.

Authorities also did not identify the race of the victim, but said he was a 54-year-old male who had called 911 to report the attack.

Both the victim and his dog were in serious condition when law enforcement arrived at the scene.

The suspect, who attempted to escape capture by law enforcement, was spotted during an area check more than two hours later and found hiding behind a nearby home.

ABC News affiliate KOMO reported that the suspect had been discovered with multiple knives and resisted arrest. After he lunged at deputies, the suspect was shot and then transported to a nearby hospital to treat his injury. He was later pronounced dead.

According to Sgt. Charles Porche, public information officer for the Force Investigation Team, investigators are working to collect evidence and interview witnesses.

If theres any witnesses, theyll talk to people that live in that area to find out if they know anything, if they heard anything, if they saw anything, Porche said of the investigation.

A subsequent report from KING-TV identified the victim as Eddie Nitschke, who later discharged himself from the hospital.

Nitschke lives in his car, which is parked in the parking lot outside the convenience store, with his girlfriend and dogs.

As Nitschke received treatment at the hospital, doctors discovered that he has a blood clot and diagnosed him as having lung cancer.

The victim's dog underwent emergency surgery at an animal hospital and was subsequently released.

Authorities said the crime is still under investigation.
Home News US Marine veteran, missionary killed in Facebook Marketplace meetup scam

Quick Summary AI Summary US Marine veteran Michael Ryan Burke, 42, was killed during a Facebook Marketplace meetup scam.

Four individuals, including a minor, have been arrested in connection with the robbery and shooting.

All suspects face charges, including second-degree murder and first-degree robbery. 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

Four people, including a male juvenile, have been arrested in connection with the robbery and fatal shooting of a U.S. Marine veteran and missionary during a Facebook Marketplace meetup scam.

Michael Ryan Burke, 42, was shot at his home on Jan. 18, according to a press release from police in Columbia, Missouri.

The incident stemmed from a planned Facebook Marketplace meetup where the suspects allegedly arranged to buy Burke's iPhone 15 Pro under false pretenses as part of a broader robbery spree targeting phone sellers, according to court documents.

Burke had agreed to meet with the buyers, who police identified as 18-year-old suspects Alexis Baumann, Kobe Aust and Joseph Crane, along with an unidentified juvenile suspect.

Baumann allegedly drove the group to Burke's residence, where Crane and the juvenile entered the home armed with pistols. She allegedly heard three gunshots, after which the two ran back to her vehicle, admitting they shot Burke and took his phone, which they then sold at a Walmart, the affidavit stated.

According to a probable cause affidavit, the group had robbed at least two others in the days prior by stealing phones during similar arranged sales and selling them at a local kiosk.

The document states that the unidentified juvenile suspect told one of the victims, If you touch me, Ill shoot you, after taking her phone.

Burke, a U.S. Marine veteran, University of Missouri graduate, former firefighter and humanitarian who conducted missionary work in places like Uganda, Haiti and Iraq  including working with Christian communities and children in Iraq  was able to call 911 after the shooting to report the incident and describe his assailants, Fox News reported.

He also reportedly sent a final text to his mother and sister: Hey, Im dying and I love you, according to CBS affiliate KRCG.

All three suspects were charged with second-degree murder, first-degree robbery, and first-degree burglary, while Crane was also charged with armed criminal action and unlawful use of a weapon, according to police.

On his Facebook page, Burke frequently shared about his faith in Jesus Christ, as well as his missionary work in Uganda, Argentina and other nations. He shared about his partnership with C3 church in West Africa in a Jan. 15 post, adding, Grateful to walk this journey and witness what God is doing. To God be the glory.

A GoFundMe page was also set up to help his family members pay for funeral expenses. As of Tuesday morning, it has raised over $25,000.
Home News Pope Leo XIV warns against unchecked use of AI, overly affectionate chatbots

Quick Summary AI Summary Pope Leo XIV warns against the unchecked use of artificial intelligence in a message delivered in Vatican City.

Pope emphasizes risks to humanity, including privacy and emotional manipulation.

Calls for global cooperation to manage digital technology's impact on society. An artificial intelligence-powered tool created this summary based on the source article. The summary has undergone review and verification by an editor. See Summary

Pope Leo XIV has joined a growing list of influential voices warning against the unchecked use of artificial intelligence, as studies indicate rising global concern about the risks it poses to humanity, including privacy, jobs and security.

Digital technology, when not properly managed, risks radically altering some of thefundamental pillars of human civilization, which we sometimes take for granted, the pope wrote Saturday in a message shared at the Memorial of Saint Francis de Sales in Vatican City.

By simulating human voices and faces, wisdom and knowledge, conscience and responsibility, empathy and friendship, systems known as artificial intelligence not only interfere with information ecosystems but also invade the deepest level of communication: the relationship between people.

The United States-born pontiffs warning comes ahead of the Catholic Churchs 60th World Day of Social Communications, which will be celebrated on May 17 this year.

While he supports embracing the benefits of AI and digital technology, Leo urged global cooperation to minimize the risks to humanity, which he said can be both subtle and intentionally seductive.

Although AI can provide support and assistance in managing communicative tasks, bypassing the effort of thinking for ourselves and settling for artificial statistical compilation, in the long run it risks eroding our cognitive, emotional, and communicative abilities, he noted.

In recent years, artificial intelligence systems have increasingly taken control of the production of texts, music, and videos. Much of the human creative industry is thus at risk of being dismantled and replaced by the label Powered by AI, turning people into mere passive consumers of unthought-out, anonymous products, devoid of authorship and love, he continued. Meanwhile, masterpieces of human genius in the fields of music, art, and literature are reduced to a mere training ground for machines.

It has become increasingly difficult for people to distinguish between humans and virtual bots on social media, the pope stated, saying bots are being used to manipulate their decisions.

The opaque interventions of these automated agents influence public debates and peoples decisions. In particular, chatbots based on large linguistic models (LLMs) are proving surprisingly effective at covert persuasion through the continuous optimization of personalized interactions. The dialogic, adaptive, and mimetic structure of these linguistic models is capable of mimicking human feelings and thus simulating a relationship, Pope Leo wrote.

This anthropomorphization, which can even be amusing, is simultaneously deceptive, especially for the most vulnerable. Overly affectionate chatbots, besides being ever-present and readily available, can become hidden architects of our emotional states, thereby invading and occupying the sphere of peoples intimacy, he explained.

Leo warned against disinformation from the acceptance of approximations of the truth created by AI through statistical probability instead of relying on vetted journalism, "which involves the continuous work of gathering and verifying information at the scene of events.

Last month, TIME named the architects of AI as its 2025 Person of the Year." Pope Leo pointed out in his address that only a handful of companies have effectively created an oligarchic control over AI systems that could rewrite the history of humanity and the Church if allowed.

This raises significant concerns about the oligopolys control of algorithmic and AI systems capable of subtly shaping behavior and even rewriting the history of humanity  including the history of the Church  often without our realizing it, he said.

The challenge ahead is not to halt digital innovation but to guide it, and to be aware of its ambivalent nature. It is up to each of us to raise our voices in defense of human beings so that these tools can truly be embraced by us as allies, he added.

The popes message comes days after renowned historian Yuval Noah Harari warned world leaders at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, last Tuesday, that AI should not be mistaken for a tool but a thinking agent that can create new things and make decisions that will likely leave humanity in an identity crisis in the coming years.

We always think that we can just use these things as tools. But if they can think, they are agents, warned Harari, a University of Cambridge distinguished research fellow in its Center for the Study of Existential Risk.

There is one question that every leader today must answer about AI. But to understand that question, we first need to clarify a few points about what AI is and what AI can do. The most important thing to know about AI is that it is not just another tool. It is an agent, he declared.

It can learn and change by itself and make decisions by itself. A knife is a tool. You can use a knife to cut salad or to murder someone, but it is your decision what to do with the knife. AI is a knife that can decide by itself whether to cut salad or to commit murder.
Home News Protestant pastor expelled for refusing to participate in Catholic ritual in Mexico

Officials in a village in southern Mexicos Oaxaca state detained for five days and then expelled a Protestant pastor for refusing to participate in Catholic church rituals, according to a U.K-based advocacy group.

In Santiago Malacatepec, San Juan Mazatlan Municipality in eastern Oaxaca, local Catholics on Jan. 15 ordered Pastor Mariano Velasquez Martinez to light candles, kneel and pray to an image of St. James as part of the villages Roman Catholic festival, Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) reported.

Pastor Velasquez Martinez had accepted a leadership position in the community on the understanding that he would be required only to provide candles and flowers for the Catholic festival, according to CSW. When he refused to kneel and pray to the image, a festival leader complained to village leaders.

Ignoring the terms of the original agreement, the local authorities detained Pastor Velasquez Martinez for five days, CSW stated. He was then bound with a rope and taken before an assembly of about 180 men, where an announcement was made by the village authorities that he was to be expelled.

Officials forced Pastor Velasquez Martinez to sign a document that forcibly displaced him from the community, the group reported.

He was not provided with a copy and fears it will be used to fabricate the story that he left the community voluntarily, CSW stated. The pastor, his wife and 3-month-old baby are now residing temporarily with relatives in Oaxaca City.

Pastor Velasquez Martinez has led the 25-member Iglesia Camino Nuevo y Vivo in Santiago Malacatepec since the forced displacement of its previous pastor in 2023, CSW reported.

The case follows the passage of legislation in the Oaxaca State Congress in September against forced displacement that calls for prison sentences of 10 to 18 years for those found guilty, along with fines. Oaxaca is the fifth state to pass such a law, along with Chiapas, Guerrero, Sinaloa and Zacatecas.

Local officials told CSW that they estimate that around half of cases of forced displacement in Oaxaca state can be linked to religious intolerance, the group stated.

Porfirio Flores Zuniga, an attorney and representative of the Fellowship of Pastors, called on the Oaxaca Attorney Generals Office and the Secretary of Government of Oaxaca to apply the newly approved Forced Displacement Law in this case.

Flores Zuniga filed a criminal complaint with the Attorney General of Oaxaca against Santiago Malacatepec officials Melquiades Castro and Andres Retes, accusing them of arbitrary actions and abuse of authority, according to newspaper El Universal Oaxaca. The attorney also reportedly filed a complaint with the Defense of Human Rights of the People of Oaxaca (Defensoria de los Derechos Humanos del Pueblo de Oaxaca, DDHPO) seeking that it take action.

Authorities had taken no action as of Jan. 19, Flores Zuniga said, leading him to comment to the newspaper that the state response is insufficient to handle cases of religious intolerance.

CSWs Director of Advocacy Anna Lee Stangl said in a press statement that the arbitrary detention of Pastor Velasquez Martinez and the subsequent forced displacement of him and his family was unconscionable.

His case demonstrates how both state and federal governments are failing to meet not only their international human rights obligations but, even more fundamentally, their commitments to uphold basic rights in Mexicos own constitution and laws, Stangl said. This case is unfortunately not unique, and it is past time that the Mexican government, at every level, implements policies to uphold freedom of religion or belief for all, including in communities governed under Uses and Customs.

Mexicos constitution provides for indigenous peoples to follow their culture, traditions and methods of local governance under the Uses and Customs provision, though such customs often conflict with human rights guarantees in the constitution and in international conventions that Mexico has signed.

The Mexican constitution guarantees FoRB [Freedom of Religion and Belief] and other human rights to all citizens, CSW noted. However, in practice FoRB violations are common among indigenous communities governed under Uses and Customs, and the Mexican government at the federal, state, and municipal levels does little to ensure that these protections are upheld.

As a result, in many communities, a religious majority attempts to enforce religious uniformity with harmful results to minorities who wish to practice a different religion or belief, the group stated.

 Oaxaca state has one of the highest incidences of violations of freedom of religion or belief in the country, CSW added.

Stangl called on the government of Oaxaca to take swift action to hold those responsible for the forced displacement of this family to account under the law, and to take steps to make it clear that freedom of religion or belief must be upheld for all.

Mexico ranked No. 30 on Open Doors 2026 World Warch List (WWL) of the 50 countries where it is most difficult to be a Christian. Criminal groups operate throughout Mexico, with church leaders and other Christians promoting peace in danger from gangs that feel threatened by their influence. Those who leave indigenous faiths to follow Jesus can be seen as dishonoring their ancestors, and Christians in indigenous regions are also especially vulnerable to hostility, according to the WWL report.

This article was originally published by Christian Daily International.
Home News Democrat congresswoman claims anti-ICE mob had 'every right' to storm Minnesota church service 'Churches have always been an open door,' says Rep. Adelita Grijalva

Quick Summary AI Summary A Democratic congresswoman has defended the actions of protesters who stormed a Minnesota church service.

Protesters disrupted the service to protest federal arrests of illegal immigrants.

Individuals involved in the disruption face charges under the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act. 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 Democrat congresswoman has defended the actions of a coordinated insurgent mob that stormed a Minnesota church service to protest federal authorities' arrest of criminal illegal immigrants in the state.

On Jan. 18, a crowd of protesters, including members of the Racial Justice Network and Black Lives Matter Minnesota, entered the sanctuary of Cities Church, chanted slogans such as "ICE out!" and demanded justice for Renee Good, a 37-year-old woman who was fatally shot on Jan. 7 by a federal immigration officer as she plowed into him while behind the wheel of her Honda Pilot.

The protest, co-organized by BLM, also led to a confrontation between Cities Church Senior Pastor Jonathan Parnell and former CNN reporter Don Lemon. The protesters were upset that one of the churchs pastors, David Easterwood, leads a local ICE field office in St. Paul.

In a Jan. 19 appearance on CNN, U.S. Rep. Adelita Grijalva, D-Ariz., said the people who barged into Cities Church in St. Paul during a Sunday morning worship service were not violent and had every right to disrupt the worship service after learning that someone thats supposed to be speaking for the community in church is a federal agent that is running ICE in their communities, referring to Easterwood.

CNN: Do you believe it was a step too far for protesters to go into a church?



Rep. Adelita Grijalva (D-AZ): I dont. I dont... Churches have always been an open door... Those protesters were not violent in any way. pic.twitter.com/5IrHnnSsp4  Breitbart News (@BreitbartNews) January 20, 2026

Churches have always been an open door, the 55-year-old Grijalva told CNNs The Source host Jim Sciutto.

When asked whether she believes the activists went too far in disrupting the Sunday service, Grijalva replied, I dont.  I think that when they find out that someone thats supposed to be speaking for the community in church is found out to be an ICE  a federal agent that is running ICE in their communities, they have the right to go in there."

The disruption prompted condemnation from some government officials, including Attorney General Pam Bondi, who announced last Thursday the arrest of three individuals involved in the disruption and their charges under the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act.

Bondi and FBI Director Kash Patel announced that two of the activists, Nekima Levy Armstrong and Chauntyll Louisa Allen, had been charged under the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act, which prohibits "intentionally injuring, intimidating, or interfering with ... [anyone] seeking to exercise the First Amendment right of religious freedom at a place of religious worship."

Last month, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) accused Grijalva of impeding the arrests of 46 illegal immigrants in Tucson, Arizona, including some who had previous arrests for sexual assault. DHS also accused her of falsely claiming she was pepper-sprayed by ICE officers.

According to DHS, when the mob grew violent, assaulted ICE officers and slashed tires, Grijalva joined the rioting crowd and attempted to impede law enforcement officers, then took to social media to slander law enforcement by falsely claiming she was pepper sprayed.

Video of the incident shared on social media on Dec. 5, 2025, appeared to show Grijalva harassing ICE agents as they conducted arrests at a Tucson restaurant.
Home News 4 key takeaways from TPUSA's cease and desist letter, Candace Owens' response

Candace Owens has received a cease and desist letter from Turning Point USA demanding that she cease her disparaging comments about the organization, which includes implying that some of its staff might have played a part in Charlie Kirks murder, during episodes of her influential podcast that has amassed millions of followers worldwide.

Following Kirks assassination on Sept. 10, 2025, during a TPUSA event at Utah Valley University, in Orem, Utah, Owens has dedicated many of her podcast episodes to discussing theories about the circumstances surrounding his death.

Owens announced on her Jan. 21 podcast, which has nearly 2 million views as of Jan 27, that the conservative political organization sent her a cease and desist letter.

Here are four things to know about TPUSAs demand letter to Owens.
Leftist Mob Disrupt Church Service, Bethel Church Admits Failures, Apologia Sues For Defamation

link to download the audio instead. link to download the audio instead. 06:34 06:34

Top headlines for Tuesday, January 27, 2026

In this episode, we cover reports of leftist agitators disrupting a Sunday service and shouting at children, a new investigation by Mike Winger uncovering allegations of misconduct and institutional failure involving Shawn Bolz, and the ongoing debate over whether the First Amendment protects protests inside churches.

00:11 Church mob told kids their 'Nazi' parents were 'going to Hell'

00:57 Bethel Church admits failures after Shawn Bolz expose

01:47 NYC usher dies while shoveling snow for congregation

02:32 Apologia Church sues ex-congregants for defamation

03:19 First Amendment doesnt protect church disruptions: rights group

04:04 Iranian Christian sisters freed from detention as case continues

04:52 Patriots, Seahawks stars thank God as they head to Super Bowl
Home Opinion Shawn Bolz scandal: An overdue reckoning of the Charismatic church

The Charismatic church is undergoing a long-overdue reckoning for several reasons, as the misconduct of Shawn Bolz has come under heightened scrutiny, particularly in light of Mike Wingers diligent YouTube exposes.



On Sunday, the senior leadership team at Bethel Church in Redding, California, including Dann Farrelly, Kris Vallotton and Bill Johnson, admitted their multiple failures and repented publicly for specific actions and inactions regarding Bolzs misconduct, specifically datamining social media for personal information and presenting it as prophecy, and alleged workplace sexual harassment.

This came after many months of pressure from Bethel's School of Ministry alumni and others around the world who had been demanding greater accountability after various podcasters, especially Winger, started publishing videos documenting the deception and manipulation.

Also under scrutiny is how those leaders  who promoted and platformed Bolz for several years  presided over a culture of unsanctified mercy and lack of accountability, which effectively covered up Bolzs egregious sins.

In the interest of full transparency, I am an alumnus of Bethel's ministry school, a fact I have not hidden and has been in my public byline biography for several years, and is noted elsewhere online. Despite some theological differences I have with them, particularly regarding ecclesiology and a few other issues, as I said in a recent interview with Wanda Alger, my time there was largely positive, and it helped equip me for my next season. But this essay is not about those differences.

Now that my CP colleague, Leah Klett, has independently reported on the Bolz exposure on the news side, the time has come for me to provide perspective as an alum who works in media and, for reasons Im about to describe, has been watching from afar, and in frustrated anguish, as this unfolded.

Since Im employed by The Christian Post, as the story emerged, Ive had to exercise serious restraint on social media lest anyone interpret any comment I make as indicative of CPs editorial posture. As an alumnus, given journalistic ethics and conflict-of-interest considerations, my editors do not allow those with personal affiliations or relationships within ministries to investigate and report under the CP masthead when controversies or scandals of this sort erupt. I am thus bound by certain rules that podcasters like Winger and JonMark Baker of the Minor Prophets, who have been exposing this (and for whom I am most grateful), are not.

Among the many things documented in these podcasts are how, over the course of several years and in several settings, Bolz datamined social media to give words of knowledge as though the personal information about people that he obtained online was supernaturally revealed to him by the Holy Spirit. There are many victims of this heinous spiritual abuse. Bolz is also alleged to have engaged in gross sexual impropriety that constitutes workplace harassment, of which there are reportedly several adult male victims, one of whom I know. I first started hearing chatter about this in the spring of 2022, in my final weeks of graduate school.

While I do not have the bandwidth to speak to every facet of what has transpired and what might yet unfold, it is important to address what I am intimately familiar with, particularly in light of the journalistic work I have already done.

I have written about Elijah Stephens documentary film, Send Proof, a few times, once as a Patheos blogger before joining CP in 2016, and twice as a CP reporter. We also recorded an interview on a separate podcast about the project.

Part of the history of the films origin was when Bolz gave Stephens a stunningly specific word in the spring of 2015 at Bethel about the very project Stephens had dreamed of doing  a documentary about the scientific evidence for miracles of healing and corroborating the supernatural with medical testing and physical evidence.

In fact, as Stephens and I discussed in the podcast, I was the one who called him to inform him in 2015 that Bolz had called his name out from the stage while speaking at Bethel. Stephens, who was at home at the time, drove there to receive this word from Bolz, and it seemed like an extraordinary, indeed divine, confirmation of his creative vision. After years of diligence and enormous sacrifice on his part, the film was released in 2021. It was compelling and well-received.

Let me be unequivocal here: I find the evidence that Winger and others have provided that Bolz datamined social media for fake prophecies to be incontrovertible, and I consider what he did to be an appallingly outrageous perversion of the gifts of the Holy Spirit.

Due to this malpractice, Stephens obedience and labor of love were gravely ruptured as Bolzs fraudulent words were featured in the film's storyline. It was especially tainted because Stephens documented in the film the problem of religious shysters and how they damage faith, deliberately mentioning charlatans like the infamous televangelist Peter Popoff, who was exposed giving words from God to people when he was in fact being fed personal information about who he was speaking to through an earpiece.

You could say that Bolz is Popoff 2.0. At the very least, Stephens deserves a personal apology from Bethel's leaders for their role in this terrible deception. I was quite glad to see Winger interview Stephens last year to help bring further light.

Increasingly troubled as I learned more, but knowing I could not investigate and report on the story in my professional capacity because of my personal affiliations, I began doing what I could  curating op-eds on the larger but related issues from like-minded people, who were similarly troubled and would point out the structural problems, weak leadership, and lack of accountability within charismatic circles.

I know I speak for many alums that when Bethels leadership team responded to the Bolz fallout in February 2025, the statement fell extremely short, and it came across as too little, too late. Nor did it adequately address the roots of the spiritual malfeasance and layers of manipulation.

Finally, in late January 2025, a few weeks before the February statement, one of the victims who made allegations of Bolz's sexual impropriety reached out to me by phone to share his story and seek my advice. I told him that if he wanted to go on the record, I would gladly connect him with an investigative reporter since I was precluded from covering it myself, again, given my alumni status and the conflict-of-interest and journalistic ethics issues at hand.

He understood and ultimately decided that he was not ready to come forward at the time, and he was still processing how to proceed. I called this man last week, and he confirmed that I could mention in this essay that we conversed approximately one year ago about this. I have also spoken with two advocates for victims of sexual misconduct, whom I trust, and they corroborated his story and the accounts of several others they knew.

It has been a fraught and heavy burden to carry this dreadful knowledge all these months while operating within certain professional constraints, though not nearly as hard as those who have been directly manipulated and harmed by Bolz and ministry leaders who, by their misguided actions and inaction, covered for him.

Much will be hashed out in the coming weeks about protocols within Bethel, its affiliated ministries, and other charismatic streams that have contributed to this grievous morass. Although I was grateful to see the senior leadership team's repentance that occurred on Sunday, this process will take time, especially as more wounded people emerge, and it must not be rushed.

May God have mercy on all the victims.
Foreign workers and businesspeople from multiple countries may soon see easier access to Canada following upcoming trade negotiations.



Schedule a Free Work Permit Consultation with the Cohen Immigration Law Firm

Should trade negotiations prove fruitful (and depending on the exact terms of each trade agreement), the Canadian government has signaled that it will look to facilitate easier temporary access to businesspeople to Canada, from the following countries and regions:

India;

Thailand;

United Arab Emirates; and

The Mercosur countries: Argentina; Bolivia; Brazil; Paraguay; and Uruguay.



The Government of Canada has also consistently signaled its interest in addressing barriers to getting work authorization on a temporary basis for professionals from the above countries and regionsincluding economic/labour market needs tests and numerical restrictions.

Conditions to be discussed for all four trade deals were open to public consultations, which ended on January 27, 2026.

What this may mean for foreign nationals wishing to work in Canada

Based strictly on what the consultation text for all four trade negotiations puts on the table, the potential impact areas are:

1. Easier temporary entry for business purposes

The consultations repeatedly focus on temporary entry of business persons and explicitly include entry for the purpose of business activities, investment, or work.

If Canada ultimately seeks commitments here, the people most likely to benefit would be those who fit the agreements eventual definition of business persons and are coming for temporary work-linked reasons.

It is worth noting that Canada already facilitates the temporary entry of certain business persons based on the specific reasons and conditions of their entry.

2. The consultations flag work-authorization friction points that negotiators may try to reduce

Thailands notice is the clearest that the issue is ....impediments to obtain a work permit on a temporary basis

However, all four consultations identify two classic barriers: needs tests and numerical restrictions.

If Canada and a partner country choose to address the barriers theyve singled out, it could mean fewer or more predictable needs-test requirements and/or fewer quota-type limits for whatever temporary-entry categories end up coveredas these are the specific barriers the government is asking stakeholders to comment on.

One possible barrier to work permits to be discussed here would be the requirements for a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA), which are commonly needed when a foreign national enters the Canadian labour market. Notably, many current trade deals already feature LMIA-exemptions.

3. The consultations do not promise these outcomesonly that mobility is on the agenda for input

Each document presents these points as examples of where Canada wants views (areas where the Government would appreciate receiving views from Canadians), not as negotiated outcomes.

For example: The following are examples of areas where the Government would appreciate receiving views from Canadians:

The above indicates that while the Canadian government is seriously considering instituting these changes as part of new trade deals, it reserves the right to change its posture in negotiations based on input from consultations with Canadians.

Whats different in each consultation?

Thailand  CanadaThailand FTA consultations (work-permit language is the most explicit)

Thailands consultation is the most direct about work authorization mechanics, explicitly tying temporary entry to impediments to obtain a work permit and framing the issue around two-way mobility:

Temporary entry of businesspersons from Canada into Thailand and from Thailand into Canada, including impediments to obtain a work permit to work in the other market on a temporary basis, such as the application of economic needs tests or numerical restrictions.

There is also an indication that leaders have already agreed to begin negotiations:

On October 30, 2025, Prime Minister Mark Carney and Prime Minister of Thailand Anutin Charnvirakul agreed to launch negotiations on a bilateral free trade agreement.

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India  potential CanadaIndia Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA)

Indias consultation uses the broader business activities, investment, or work framing, and it explicitly invites input on which sectors/activities might benefit from mobility improvements.

The temporary entry language is:

Interests related to the temporary entry of business persons for the purpose of business activities, investment, or work, including economic sectors or activities where improved mobility could support trade and investment, and barriers that make this movement more difficult, such as labour market or economic needs tests, numerical restrictions (e.g., quotas or proportionality requirements), or other limitations.

Compared to Thailands work permit emphasis, Indias consultation points stakeholders toward identifying economic sectors or activities where mobility matters, and it names an expanded set of constraints (including proportionality requirements).

United Arab Emirates  potential CanadaUAE CEPA

The UAE consultations temporary entry language is effectively the same as Indias, again centered on business-related mobility and the barriers Canada is asking stakeholders to identify:

Interests related to the temporary entry of business persons for the purpose of business activities, investment, or work, including economic sectors or activities where improved mobility could support trade and investment, and barriers that make this movement more difficult, such as labour market or economic needs tests, numerical restrictions (e.g., quotas or proportionality requirements), or other limitations.

What distinguishes the UAE consultation is that it explicitly folds in a second track: Canadian perspectives connected to the UAEs request to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP)*.

On August 22, 2025, the UAE formally submitted a request for accession to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP).

Submissions from these consultations will also inform Canadas approach with respect to any potential consideration or engagement with the UAE concerning CPTPP accession.

*The CPTPP is an existing trade deal between Canada and multiple countries in the Indo-Pacific region, including Australia, Brunei, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, and Vietnam.

It also frames the bilateral CEPA as an intent to launch, with negotiations anticipated in 2026.

While the mobility bullet itself mirrors India, the consultation is broader in scope because it also asks for input that will inform Canadas approach on a potential CPTPP accession discussion with the UAE.

Mercosur  resuming CanadaMercosur FTA talks (bloc negotiation + Uruguay CPTPP accession track)

Mercosur differs structurally because its a bloc negotiation, and the consultation is about resuming a paused process, not starting from scratch.

On temporary entry, Mercosur uses the same broad framing as India and the UAE:

Interests related to the temporary entry of business persons for the purpose of business activities, investment, or work including labour market or economic needs tests, numerical restrictions (e.g., quotas or proportionality requirements), or other limitations.

Mercosurs consultation also uniquely runs alongside Uruguays CPTPP accession process:

Canada will also be engaging in negotiations with Uruguay for a potential accession to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP).

The mobility language is the same as India/UAE, but the negotiation context is more complexCanada is consulting on a multi-country FTA resumption while also preparing for Uruguays CPTPP accession process, which could shape how mobility priorities are articulated across partners.

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A Christian charity has filed a serious incident report relating to a former chaplains serious misconduct allegations, the Charity Commission has said.

Last week, Jesuits in Britain revealed that Damian Howard was asked to step down as senior chaplain at Oxford University Catholic Chaplaincy in August 2025 due to professional misconduct.

The charity said Howard left his role following a complaint by a student that was investigated and substantiated.

A spokesperson for the Charity Commission confirmed to Civil Society that Jesuits in Britain has filed a serious incident report relating to serious misconduct allegations and is assessing the concerns raised to determine what regulatory role there is, if any, for the commission.

They said: A charity should be a safe and trusted environment. As regulator, were clear that keeping people safe should be a governance priority for all charities.

Jesuits in Britain has been entrusted with the chaplaincies at the University of Oxford and the University of Manchester, with Jesuits also serving as chaplains at the University of Birmingham and Imperial College London.

We take our safeguarding responsibilities very seriously

In a statement , Jesuits in Britain said it is committed to the safety and wellbeing of everyone in our communities, and has strengthened our practices over the years to ensure our institutions remain safe, supportive, and respectful places for all.

Damian Howard was asked to step down as senior chaplain at Oxford University Catholic Chaplaincy in August 2025 due to professional misconduct, following a complaint that was investigated and substantiated, it reads.

The complaint was addressed immediately when it came to our attention.

A safeguarding investigation confirmed that inappropriate behaviour had occurred, which we regard as entirely unacceptable.

He was asked to step down and has been out of ministry ever since.

The charity added that it has commissioned an independent review by the Catholic Safeguarding Standards Agency, which is underway, and is awaiting its recommendations.

The matter has also been reported to the Charity Commission and to the relevant authorities, it said.

We take our safeguarding responsibilities very seriously and will continue to act as required.

In a separate statement , Oxford University Catholic Chaplaincy said: We continue to take very seriously the wellbeing and welfare of students and all members of the chaplaincy community.

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Nicole Blanchard, an investigative reporter at the Idaho Statesman, is also identified, internally, as an AI champion. Its kind of formal, in that its a role, she told me, but it isnt so formal that I have certain responsibilities. The title was bestowed by McClatchy, the Statesmans parent company; AI champions dot the country, across the roughly thirty newsrooms under its ownership. Essentially, as Blanchard sees it, the appointment is for people willing to try different AI technology or be aware of different AI technology, and report back, and encourage people to check it out. Or be upbeat about it to the newsroom. Blanchard has a genuine interest, she told me, and has been active in trying out digital tools: for a recent piece on a podcast called The Rancha guy in a garage, as she put it, interviewing Idahos governor, lieutenant governor, and others who refuse to give interviews to legacy mediashe used an AI assist to compile a list of all the guests. I was stoked, she said. Still, Im a terrible champion, she wanted me to know. I have not found a whole lot thats super useful.

Blanchard is also a steward in her union, which is part of the Pacific Northwest Newspaper Guild, as are several other McClatchy newsroom unions in Oregon and Washington. Since mid-2025, the Pacific Northwest Newspaper Guild has been in negotiations with McClatchy about the use of AI in news production. No one at the table has pushed to ban AI completely, but the companys rollout of AIalongside staff cuts, including the elimination, in November, of McClatchys national news teamhas taken some of its journalists by surprise. In one case, at the Tacoma News Tribune, Kristine Sherredthe papers food reporter, and the cochair of the Washington State NewsGuildtold me, colleagues noticed that a very fun little goofy story about a dog in a motorcycle sidecar had been replicated and repackaged, with entire paragraphs subtly rewritten. In the original version, a local reader would understand that Buddy, the golden retriever, was a resident of Gig Harbor; the AI version, still on the website, served to make the piece more viable as clickbait for the greater internet.

It was a test, Sherred said. But it was a test that was happening with our work, and we werent informed of it whatsoever before it was published on the same website that we publish, you know, human-reported and -edited work. During a staff meeting, reporters voiced a weird question, she recalled, that boiled down to Why? You know, why would you do that? Sherred said that, when pressed, newsroom senior staff responded to the effect of Yeah, were doing this stuff.

Other examples piled up: This past summer, Sherred and her colleagues noticed that items were being rearranged on the Tacoma News Tribune homepage, thanks to AI-fueled testing. If our own work is being buried by random stuff that was pulled on there through an AI tool, Sherred told me, we were concerned about that. Then, she said, McClatchy started rolling out more of the summary-type AI-generated stories where theyre essentially using our work to feed something else. AI-created listicles were cropping up, drawing from McClatchy-journalist-created work a la the golden retriever situationbut sometimes getting details slightly wrong. Other McClatchy reporters spotted curious AI-assisted reporter listingsincluding for the Miami Herald, another McClatchy paper, which the Miami New Times, an alt-weekly, flagged in an article headlined The Miami Herald Is Hiring an AI-Assisted Reporter and We Have Questions.

A McClatchy employee, speaking anonymously for fear of jeopardizing their position, told me that the company has been encouraging staff to use AI tools managed by Elvex, a company with the mission of meaningful, company-wide AI adoption. A case study on Elvexs website, focused on McClatchy, touted that there has been a palpable mindset shift and that employees now approach problems by asking, Could that be done with AI? ( The anonymous employee characterized Elvexs tools as McClatchys version of an in-house ChatGPT, and described using it to help format story pitches.) Another McClatchy journalist mentioned the use of Nota, a generative vision agent. Blanchard told me, The company has been moving really quickly on AI and put it to the forefront. Weve all really wondered how we can make sure that our voices are being heard.

These pain points have come up in bargaining talks. Bryan Clark, an opinion writer at the Idaho Statesman and a member of the Idaho NewsGuild, told me that after some back-and-forth, the union got the company to agree to a few provisions: that, for instance, generative AI shall not be employed to perform newsgatheringactivities such as interviewing sources and submitting public records requests, according to the contract-in-progress. But McClatchy has so far refused to agree not to publish deepfakes or to put a codified AI ethics policy into the contract. The company has also declined to set a policy about issuing corrections to erroneous AI-created work. (Neither McClatchy nor the lawyer who worked on this contract for the company responded to my requests for comment.)

We know that generative AI is here to stay, and were not even asking McClatchy to write it off completely, because we know that that wont happen, Karlee Van De Venter, a union steward and a service journalist at the Tri-City Herald, in Washington State, told me. Some of us would really like to ask for that, but were realistic and we know that thats not it. What were asking for is possible. Its agreeable. Its within McClatchys power. They just wont. They dont want to be held to the standard. Theyd rather embrace the flawed emerging technology than support its staff and support the tenets of journalism that staff is trying to uphold. Van De Venter grew up in Yakima and has lived on the east side of the Cascades their entire life. Our day-to-day is supposed to be difficult because what we do is difficult, they said. Introducing this idea of Whats going to make your job easier? is just so counterintuitive to what journalism is to me.

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Notably, employees at McClatchy papers cannot bargain as a united coalition, even though that would make sense for us, Van De Venter said, since at the corporate level, they make policies that impact the entire company. Those in the Pacific Northwest have kept a watchful eye on the Miami Herald, whose union finished bargaining before its own contract was up for renegotiation. In Miami, AI protections allow use with anything from transcription and spell-check to data analysis, summarization, and display. The stories you see on McClatchy homepages are chosen by local editors with help from an AI algorithm, the Herald site discloses. Its not necessarily terrible, Clark said, of the AI policy. But they can change it anytime they like.

Certainly, as any AI champion will tell you, setting the terms can be complicated: even in conversation around deepfakes, Clark said, bargainers have been worried that they might inadvertently make it harder to present simulations of flooding in a floodplain, or crime scene reconstruction. What were actually trying to ban is images and videos produced by AI that a reasonable viewer might confuse for real video, real audio, he told me.

Bargaining continues. In the latest round, McClatchy returned the draft contract with the following sentence crossed out: Any content that is created by Generative AI shall only be done at the direction of and with the editorial review of human beings, and no such content shall be published without such involvement. Suggested was the word substantially, between is and created. As Clark told me, Until we have solid language here, were not going to feel safe about the integrity of our jobsor the language our readers read.
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A growing number of people say they are turning to AI platforms, rather than traditional search engines, for information-related queries.

But while these tools are, in theory, capable of responding to queries about the news in a time-sensitive manner, they may not necessarily be optimized for those tasks.

In a recent test of how several major AI platforms handled questions about a breaking news eventthe capture of Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro by the United StatesWired found that some produced wildly inaccurate answers.

That didnt happen, read the ChatGPT output when it was queried hours after the military raid. The United States has not invaded Venezuela, and Nicolas Maduro has not been captured.

Wired characterized those outputs, though incorrect, as expected behavior for AI platforms, stating that these tools are constrained by the knowledge cutoff dates of the data on which their models were trained. For the version of ChatGPT they used, the knowledge cutoffthe date after which the language model has no new training data to inform its answerswas in September of 2024.

But if the knowledge cutoffs were really the limiting factor, the platform responses would consistently reflect outdated information; however, that is not what the Tow Center observed. For example, when we asked ChatGPT the same question on January 5, two days after the US attack on Caracas, it returned the correct answer by searching the Web for news that postdated its knowledge cutoff.

ChatGPTs response to the same prompt used by Wired, re-prompted by the Tow Center on Jan. 5

Because the foundation model is not likely to have been retrained in that short window, this inconsistency suggests a different failure mode: not stale data, but inconsistent decisions about when to activate Web search tools.

Every major AI chatbot platform now advertises mechanisms designed to overcome the limitations of static training data. OpenAIs marketing materials state that ChatGPT will choose to search the Web based on what you ask. Perplexity promises that content is sourced from the Web in real time, ensuring users receive the most up-to-date information. Anthropics documentation similarly states that its Web search tool gives Claude direct access to real-time Web content beyond its knowledge cutoff.

These AI platforms use systems like Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) that enable real-time Web search or API access to supplement their outputs with up-to-date information.

Although most AI platforms have Web search capabilities, searches are not triggered by default for every query. Live search is resource-intensive and increases lag time, so platforms rely on automated routing systems that use various signals based on the prompt and the context in which it was asked to determine when additional tools should be deployed. AI companies do not disclose how exactly this routing process works; it likely changes constantly and varies from platform to platform.

For various reasons, the routing process can go wrong, leading to unexpected outputs. For instance, the model might incorrectly infer that pre-trained data would suffice for a question that in fact could only be answered with fresh information.

There might be other factors that lead to incorrect outputs. Perplexity spokesperson Jesse Dwyer told Wired that its question had been flagged as likely fraud, meaning that something about the way in which the question was phrased or the context in which it was asked led the model to dedicate fewer computational resources to the query, resulting in an answer that could be based on stale data.

This sort of incorrect routing is an inherent problem with agentic pipelines, over and above the well-documented issue of model hallucinations.

The language included in some of the inaccurate responses compounds the harm. For instance, according to Wired, Perplexitys output read, The premise of your question is not supported by credible reporting or official records: there has been no invasion of Venezuela by the United States that resulted in capturing Nicolas Maduro. In fact, the US has not successfully invaded or apprehended Maduro, and he remains the Venezuelan president as of late 2025. If youre seeing sensational claims, they likely originate from misinformation or hypothetical scenarios rather than factual events. (Emphasis ours.)

Although the answer is technically accurate because it mentions that the information was valid as of late 2025, Perplexitys response dismisses the premise of the question and implies that the user has been misled. In our view, confidently incorrect outputs such as these risk persuading users that they have been manipulated, further distorting an already muddled information environment. As AI tools are increasingly used for search, these unreliable outputs become more consequential.

Wireds exhortation to remember that AI platforms are likely to be stuck in the past shifts the responsibility to users, who are expected to anticipate that their query might be misdirected or deprioritized based on signals they cant see or control. But calling these failures expected behavior minimizes platform accountability for misleading users. If a company advertises real-time Web search as a feature that keeps responses current, failure to activate that feature on a straightforward current-events query is not expected behaviorits a product defect.
Meta Platforms, TikTok and YouTube will face courtroom scrutiny this week over allegations that their platforms are fueling a youth mental health crisis, as the national debate about kids screen time enters a new phase.

The trial in California Superior Court, Los Angeles County is a test case for thousands of other lawsuits seeking damages for social media harms, in a legal onslaught that could erode Big Techs longstanding legal defense.

The plaintiff is a 19-year-old woman from California, identified as K.G.M., who says she became addicted to the companies platforms at a young age because of their attention-grabbing design, according to court filings. She alleges the apps fueled her depression and suicidal thoughts and is seeking to hold the companies liable. Jury selection in the case begins on Tuesday.

Her lawsuit is the first of several cases expected to go to trial this year that center on what the plaintiffs call social media addiction among children. It will be the first time the tech giants must defend themselves at trial over alleged harm caused by their products, the plaintiffs attorney Matthew Bergman said.

A factor in the case is a federal law that largely exempts platforms such as Instagram and TikTok from legal liability for the material their users post. The tech companies have argued the law shields them in K.G.M.s case.

A verdict against the social media companies would put a crack in that defense, which has protected them from lawsuits for decades. It would show that juries are willing to hold the platforms themselves liable. The issue is likely to reach the Supreme Court, whether through K.G.M.s case or another, Bergman said.

We are writing on a legal tabula rasa, he told Reuters.

Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Meta, is expected to take the witness stand. The company will argue in court that its products did not lead to K.G.M.s mental health challenges, Metas lawyers told Reuters ahead of the trial.

Snap CEO Evan Spiegel was also expected to testify, as his company was named a defendant in the lawsuit. Snap SNAP.N agreed on January 20 to settle K.G.M.s lawsuit. A company spokesperson declined to comment on the specifics of the deal.

YouTube will argue that the companys platforms are fundamentally different from social media platforms such as Instagram and TikTok, and should not be lumped together in court, a YouTube executive said ahead of the trial.

TikTok declined to comment about the companys planned arguments in court.

Shaping Public Opinion

As the trial begins, the same tech companies are mounting a nationwide effort to convince critics that their products are safe for teens. Theyve launched tools they say give parents more control over how their kids use the platforms and have spent millions of dollars promoting those features.

Since at least 2018, Meta has sponsored parent workshops about teen online safety at dozens of high schools across the U.S. The company hosted one of those workshops, dubbed Screen Smart, in 2024 in Los Angeles, alongside National PTA President Yvonne Johnson and Meta safety chief Antigone Davis. National PTA is a nonprofit that advocates for child welfare.

TikTok also sponsored similar gatherings led by 100 local and regional PTAs, calling it Create with Kindness, according to the companys website. The program included tutorials on TikToks features for parents, including the option to limit screen time at night, according to the curriculum.

YouTubes parent company Google in recent years has turned to Girl Scouts to convince the public it is invested in kids online safety. Girls can earn a patch, which features Googles logo, to affix to their uniform after completing lessons about strong passwords, being kind online and digital privacy, according to the Girl Scouts website.

The companies have also hired lawyers who have represented corporations in high-profile litigation involving addiction.

Meta has hired Covington & Burling attorneys who represented McKesson in sprawling litigation related to the opioid epidemic, according to public biographies of the attorneys. TikToks counsel, meanwhile, represented Activision Blizzard and Microsoft in a dispute about video game design and addiction.

These companies are using every lever of influence that you can imagine, said Julie Scelfo, founder of Mothers Against Media Addiction, a group that supports smartphone bans in schools. It can be very confusing for parents who to trust.

(Reporting by Rozen in Washington, additional reporting by Jody Godoy in New York; editing by Diane Craft, William Maclean)
For the last several years, complaints have piled up, contending that some Florida engineers have testified or have submitted reports in insurance claims lawsuits about major property damage that was somehow caused by relatively minor wind events.

Some of the plaintiffs expert-witness engineers appeared to cite irrelevant or unproven research, or have misconstrued studies to fit the needs of the policyholder attorneys claims, according to the complaints and people familiar with them.

Some of these reports are just fraudulent. The engineer didnt even go and look at the propertythey just looked at photos, said John C. Pistorino, a veteran Miami structural and civil engineer who helped develop south Florida building codes after Hurricane Andrew hit the state in 1992.

Pistorino noted that examples of questionable engineering assessments in Florida are many. One plaintiffs testifying engineer claimed to have written as many 300 reports in a year. That number strains credulity on how the engineer could have had time to investigate the cause of the damage in so many insurance claims, he said.

But despite a growing number of complaints from engineers, building officials and others, climbing from one complaint in 2021 to at least nine in 2023, the Florida Board of Professional Engineers seems hamstrung in its ability to discipline engineers accused of fraud, said Pistorino and others experienced in insurance litigation in a state that until recently was known for its extreme levels of claims lawsuits.

The problem is, the Board, like at least a few other states engineering licensing organizations around the country, has no rules regarding engineers ethics and responsibilities in drafting damage assessments. It often comes down to a matter of professional opinion, with no easy way to penalize bogus claims or enforce discipline, Pistorino and other engineers have said.

Most of the Boards responsibility rules have to do with design standards for new projects, Pistorino wrote in a recent article for the board. The Boards prosecuting attorney has said that it is difficult to find probable cause against an engineer, even when a complaint may be valid, without having rules in place that address reports and standards for existing damaged buildings, he noted.

Im frustrated. Engineers for insurance companies are frustrated, said Pistorino, who is a member of the Boards probable cause committee that has examined complaints.

The questionable reports and depositions are costing businesses and homeowners, including Pistorino himself, every year as property insurers pay millions to litigate claims or to settle cases that dont warrant payouts, he said. A number of carriers have refused to write homes with roofs that are older than 15 years, and many have raised annual premiums.

The frustration could soon be salved, at least to some degree.

The Board of Engineers is now in the process of drafting rules that specifically address engineers practices and protocols in writing damage reports. The proposed rules, as currently drafted, would require engineers assessments to meet multiple criteria and include new documentation.

Their reports would need to: Cite the building codes and industry standards that apply to claimed roof damage; explain the mechanism of failure or cause of the damage; include a description of the specific weather event, with meteorologist documentation that is relevant; and provide information from people familiar with the roof history, such as owners, contractors and others.

Tile roofs, popular in much of Florida, have long been the subject of exaggerated damage claims, according to engineers that have worked insurance cases. Under the proposed rules, assessment reports on steep slope/concrete or clay tile roofs would have to include published research that the engineer relied on; tests that were performed, such as the Florida Building Code Standards Test procedure to measure static uplift resistance; and cite other engineering principles that support the findings of the report.

Other sections would require engineers to comply with the Boards general responsibility rules as well as more specific rules; to conduct evaluations in accordance with American Society of Civil Engineers published standards and guidelines; and only engage in assessments if their own experience and expertise is relevant.

Also, the engineers providing damage evaluations must verify accuracy of information recorded by the engineers authorized representative and/or the delegated engineer from a site visit that is part of the engineers deliverable documentation.

Its been a long time coming, said George Miles, a Daytona Beach consulting engineer who has become known as a whistleblower in Florida engineering and insurance circles.

Miles has filed complaints against multiple engineers in the last three years over damage reports that Miles said are based on false conclusions, unproven theories or irrelevant research. Miles has written reports that counter policyholder experts, and he has combed through dozens of depositions in insurance cases, exposing what he said are blatant examples of some engineers claiming wind losses when the damage was actually pre-existing or was caused by age or wear and tear.

In one recent deposition, a plaintiffs engineer cited research that he claimed showed that a minor windless than 60 mphcould rip relatively new shingles off a roof. Miles said the cited research study never addressed shingles, only soffit material under the eave of the roof. Another Florida engineer whom Miles had filed a complaint about has argued in deposition that wind accelerates as it moves over a structure, a claim that other engineers have long disputed and which Miles said is not backed by any evidence.

Its appalling what some of these guys are doing, he said.

Insurance attorneys have said that the best defense against questionable claims is to impeach the plaintiffs expert witnesses on the stand, or outfox them with other, more credible engineers. But a few have agreed that tougher rules would help rein in a cottage industry of paid plaintiffs engineering reports, would discourage fraudulent assessments, and would help reduce the basis for some eyebrow-raising insurance claims.

A few plaintiffs lawyers have said engineers need to have the freedom to counter insurance company claims denials, especially now that Florida lawmakers have made it more difficult for some claimants to have their day in court.

The impact that the new rules have will depend, in part, on what punitive measures and enforcement mechanisms the board adopts, Miles said.

Final adoption could be months from now. The attorney for the Board of Engineers, Lawrence Harris, said that once the Board finalizes the proposed rules, a legal notice will be published. Interested parties will have 21 days to comment. If the rules are revised, another three-week comment period will be allowed before final adoption of the rules.

Even then, the rules can be challenged, which would send the matter to an administrative law judge for review.

In practice, the shortest possible time for a rule to be adopted is about 100 days from the time the language is actually voted on and published, Harris said in an email. In practice, its usually more like six months, depending on the type of comments and changes necessary.

Ive had some rules that have taken almost two years to fully develop, from concept to adoption, he noted.

Its possible that final review could rest with the Florida Legislature. State law requires lawmakers to ratify rule changes that can cost businesses more than $1 million over a five-year period, Pistorino said.

Pistorino said he and his 59-year-old firm have little to gain from the new rules. His team of 60 engineers focus mostly on construction of large commercial buildings and are asked to write damage assessments or to testify only once or twice a year. Still, he said, the profession needs more-specific rules to help prevent fraud.

Comments on the rules can be emailed to Board@fbpe.org. The proposed rules can be seen here.

Related: How One Florida Engineer Tried to Blow the Whistle on Others
The head of UBS Group AGs Americas arm and the lenders top lawyer are both scheduled to testify at a U.S. Senate hearing next week into Nazi-era accounts at Credit Suisse, the scandal-hit rival it acquired in 2023.

Robert Karofsky, seen as a leading candidate to replace UBS Chief Executive Officer Sergio Ermotti, and group general counsel Barbara Levi have been added to the list of witnesses scheduled to speak on Feb. 3 at the Senate judiciary committee hearing in Washington.

We look forward to engaging in a productive discussion with the Committee regarding Credit Suisses historic issues, UBS said in a statement on Monday when asked about their upcoming appearance.

Rabbi Abraham Cooper of the Simon Wiesenthal Center and Neil Barofsky, the independent ombudsman overseeing the investigation into the Credit Suisse accounts, will also speak at the hearing entitled The Truth Revealed: Hidden Facts Regarding Nazis and Swiss Banks.

The hearing was pushed for by senior US senators Chuck Grassley and Sheldon Whitehouse to ensure Credit Suisses cooperation in the the search for evidence of Nazi accounts left out of a landmark 1998 settlement that saw Swiss banks pay $1.25 billion for their handling of Holocaust victims accounts.

The campaign stems from a 2020 report from the Simon Wiesenthal Center that it had discovered a list of 12,000 Nazis in Argentina, many of whom had contributed money to accounts at a predecessor bank of Credit Suisse as they fled at the end of World War II.

The thorny issue of Nazi accounts has become a headache for UBS, which it inherited when it bought Credit Suisse from near collapse in 2023. For the Zurich-based bank, its more than a case of just going along with an exercise in historical research. UBS needs to stay on the good side of US regulators as it pushes to expand its business managing money for rich Americans.

UBS has evaluated the possibility of relocating outside Switzerland, and the Americas represent both the largest single revenue source for the global wealth manager and a major strategic focus. While less likely now, such a move remains a possibility, if a reported early-stage deal with the Swiss government on additional capital requirements falls apart.

UBS said in July that it was committed to contributing to a fulsome review of the Credit Suisse archives concerning Nazi-linked legacy accounts previously held at predecessor banks of Credit Suisse, noting its cooperation with Barofsky. It said it was providing all necessary assistance to facilitate his review of the Credit Suisse archives to continue to shed more light on this tragic period in history.

Ronald Lauder, the billionaire president of the World Jewish Congress says that the 1998 settlement was incomplete because we didnt have the full records, so we were negotiating blind. We probably left $5 to $ 10 billion on the table, he said in an interview last year.

UBS hasnt publicly disclosed provisions for potential financial exposure from the Nazi accounts probe.

Barofsky was brought in by Credit Suisse to oversee the probe and his team found volumes of previously undiscovered material in Credit Suisses archives, including records of accounts for an SS-run company. But he was replaced by Credit Suisse in 2022, a decision strongly criticized at the time by Lauder and the US senators.

He was rehired at the end of 2023. In his last update on the probe last year, he said he found extensive new material and a pattern of obstruction on the part of Credit Suisse. He is expected to wrap up his investigation as early as this year.

Top photo: The UBS headquarters in Zurich. Bloomberg.

Copyright 2026 Bloomberg.
U.S. airlines are still paring back flights as a deep freeze hampers the restart of operations at some major hubs, with the industry bracing for further disruptions as another arctic blast looms later this week.

Delta Air Lines Inc. said unfavorable weather conditions in the Northeast will affect services at its hubs in Boston and New Yorks John F. Kennedy International Airport. American Airlines Group Inc. has already axed about 500 mainline and regional services on Tuesday, according to FlightAware, after scrapping more than half of its scheduled flights on Monday.

So far, airlines had canceled more than 1,500 flights on Tuesday as of 9:15 a.m. New York time, according to FlightAware. While thats down from the more than 6,100 cancellations Monday and Sundays 11,600  the most since the early days of the Covid-19 pandemic  it underscores the persistent challenges airlines are facing in getting things back on track.

Frigid temperatures continue to affect large parts of the eastern US and the National Weather Service has warned of another potential significant winter storm later this week. That system could keep parts of the U.S. in a deep freeze as it spreads to the East, Southeast and stretches into Florida.

Wind is the nemesis of safe aviation. We will also have the issue of aircrafts sliding on the runway because of recently fallen snow or ice, said Vikrant Vaze, executive director of the master of engineering management program at Dartmouth College.

This is one of those cases where its going to take a while to get back to normal, he said.

Some of the cities hit by the recent storm dont have infrastructure to manage the severe conditions, leading to staffing issues as workers struggled to navigate roads, American said in a statement.

The airline, among the worst hit by the storm, reported its quarterly results on Tuesday and said the storm will hit revenue in the range of $150 million to $200 million.

Top photo: A traveler looks at a flight information board at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in Arlington, Virginia on Jan. 26. Photographer: Valerie Plesch/Bloomberg.

Copyright 2026 Bloomberg.
The Microsoft data center campus, currently under construction, is reflected in Mount Pleasant, Wisconsin, September 18, 2025.

Local officials have signed off on Microsoft's plans to build 15 more data centers in Mount Pleasant, Wisconsin, near an existing site that the technology company is expanding.

Additional data center capacity will allow Microsoft to recognize revenue that it has booked from OpenAI and other clients. Amazon , Google and Oracle are racing Microsoft to build data centers filled with Nvidia chips that can train and run generative artificial intelligence models.

Finding sites for these facilities can be challenging because utilities don't always have the necessary energy available. And increasingly, people who live near prospective data center sites are mounting opposition campaigns.

Mount Pleasant homeowners and officials have generally welcomed Microsoft's expansion in the village.

In 2017, device manufacturer Foxconn announced plans to build a $10 billion plant that would create 13,000 jobs in an initiative trumpeted by President Donald Trump. The village made room, buying up land. State tax dollars went toward infrastructure improvements. But Foxconn didn't exactly follow through. By 2023, the company employed 1,000 people across the state, and the village owed over $250 million.

In the adjacent village of Caledonia, many residents spoke out against Microsoft's request to rezone land for a data center, and in September the company decided to stop pursuing that location.

The new work in Mount Pleasant is divided into two lots just northwest of Microsoft's current site. For the larger of the two lots, Microsoft bought the land from the village and from private owners in 2023 and 2024. The two sets of plans call for almost 9 million square feet of building area, with three proposed substations, according to documents on file with the village.

Together, the taxable value of the proposed developments exceeds $13 billion, according to the paperwork.

Mount Pleasant's village board on Monday unanimously approved the two sets of plans. During a public comment period, six people expressed support for Microsoft's plans, and three people raised concerns.

One of the opponents said jobs working on the data centers won't be permanent. David DeGroot, Mount Pleasant's village board president, objected to that characterization.

"I'm addressing this to all of the union folks that are here," DeGroot said. "When I heard that these jobs are temporary from somebody, if I was you, I would take umbrage to that, because it's my understanding that you are going to be out there on those sites for the next 10 years, doing your jobs, plying your trade, and I don't see anything temporary in 10 years."

On Wednesday, the village planning commission approved site plans that factor in changes staff members had proposed. The 15 new data centers would not require more water than the 8.4 million gallons it's expected to receive annually from the nearby city of Racine, Samuel Schultz, Mount Pleasant's community development director, told the planning commission.

Microsoft can now submit final civil engineering plans and file building permits.

WATCH: Caterpillar is potential winner if data centers move power generation on-site: Bernstein's Dillard
CNBC's Jim Cramer on Monday reminded investors about the forces that truly move the stock market.

"Stocks don't go down because people are in a bad mood," Cramer said on "Mad Money." "They go down because something goes wrong that impacts their businesses, and that something tends to elude investors both big and small."

The trading action over the past 24 hours illustrates this point, according to Cramer. It started with a sharp drop in S&P 500 futures on Sunday night, following a weekend filled with political headlines, continued spikes in precious metals, and extreme snowstorms across large swaths of the U.S. However, by the time Monday's closing bell came around, all three major U.S. indexes finished the day higher.

Investors tend to treat the Sunday night futures market  which opens at 6 p.m. ET  as a verdict on what will happen when regular trading kicks off Monday morning at 9:30 a.m. ET, but Cramer warned it's often a bundle of worries that rarely reflect reality.

"I have seen this Sunday night future plummet so many times in my career that you would think the stock market would be dramatically lower, not up, since the S&P futures started trading in the 1980s," he said, adding "they often represent the sum of all of that weekend's fears and nothing positive at all."

As the week progresses, Cramer said it will become clear that earnings season is the main driver of stocks right now. That's especially true with Apple , Microsoft and Meta Platforms  three members of the "Magnificent Seven"  all set to report in the coming days. Microsoft and Meta are due out Wednesday night, followed by Apple on Thursday. Cramer's Charitable Trust, the portfolio used by the CNBC Investing Club, owns stakes in all three companies.

Cramer acknowledged the emotional weight of national crises but argued that most major companies aren't directly impacted  and even if they are, it tends to be short-lived. Additionally, Cramer said companies that might've had their businesses disrupted by the weather  like airlines that had to cancel flights and restaurants that missed out on diners who didn't want to drive in the snow  do not hold significant influence over the S&P 500 .

The trillion-dollar tech giants, on the other hand, carry major sway.

"It's not that the S&P doesn't respect everything that happened this weekend. It's that the S&P is made up of 500 stocks, and the stocks that play the largest role in the index, the Magnificent Seven, simply don't react much at all to the emotions of the moment.

"We are in earnings season, and as I write in 'How to Make Money in Any Market,' earnings season is when stocks hew most closely to the fundamentals of the companies," he added.
Asian equity markets are attracting global investors, with a surge in initial public offerings, rising cross-border flows, and accelerating deal activity underscoring the region's growing importance in global capital markets, according to senior executives at JPMorgan and Goldman Sachs.

"It's unbelievable what activity we're seeing [in Asia]," Sjoerd Leenart, JPMorgan's Asia Pacific CEO, said on CNBC's "Access Middle East" Monday, adding that a significant share of IPO volumes last year came from the region. IPO proceeds in Asia Pacific also more than doubled last year, according to EY data, with seven out of the top 10 global deals happening in the region.

"We see this [activity] in the M&A markets  but also in the equity markets, and it's actually quite widespread," Leenart said.

The strong inflows at the start of the year follow a robust 2025, when several Asian equity benchmarks outperformed the U.S.

The MSCI AC Asia Pacific index, which tracks over 1,000 large- and mid-cap stocks across 13 regional markets, has hit multiple records this year, having gained more than 25% in 2025. Japan's benchmark Nikkei 225 and South Korea's Kospi have also hit all-time highs in recent days.

According to data from Goldman Sachs, foreign inflows into South Korean markets have been healthy, with Korea-focused mutual funds seeing about $1.3 billion in net inflows this year as of mid-January.

Similarly, daily turnover across China's Shanghai, Shenzhen and Beijing stock exchanges hit record this month, prompting regulators to tighten margin financing rules.
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A landmark case against social media giants Meta , Alphabet's YouTube and TikTok is set to begin Tuesday in Los Angeles Superior Court. It's the first of several high-profile legal cases kicking off in 2026 that center on allegations that the companies misled the public about the safety of their apps despite knowing that certain design choices contributed to various harms on young users. Social media companies have long used Section 230, the part of the Communications Decency Act that protects Internet speech, to shield themselves from liability for the content posted on their platform. That's why in these cases, the plaintiffs are focusing their cases on alleged app-design flaws and related public misrepresentations of the safety of the services as a way to steer the arguments away from Section 230-related protections. These trials have been compared to those brought against 'Big Tobacco' in the 1990s, and experts have said these cases could have long-lasting implications on regulation and public perception of these companies.

Facebook co-founder and Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg sits in his seat inside a bipartisan Artificial Intelligence Insight Forum for all U.S. senators hosted by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., on Sept. 13, 2023. Leah Millis | Reuters

In Jan. 2024, lawmakers grilled several social media executives, including Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, during a Senate hearing focused on the companies' efforts to safeguard children on their platforms. The case kicking off Tuesday focuses on a young woman who alleges that she became addicted to social media as a minor because of certain features and characteristics of apps like Instagram, TikTok and YouTube. Snap was also part of the civil lawsuit, but the company behind the app Snapchat reached a settlement with the plaintiff last week before the trial commenced. A separate trial kicks off next week in Santa Fe, New Mexico, in which the state's attorney general alleges that Meta's Facebook and Instagram services failed to safeguard their apps from online predators who sexually exploited various children who used the services. The New Mexico case is separate from other lawsuits filed by various state attorneys general across the U.S. that allege that design flaws in Meta apps have harmed the mental-well being of children. The company has said it expects those cases to begin as soon as the second half of 2026. Yet another trial is expected to commence in the Northern District of California later this year that involves Meta, TikTok, YouTube and Snap. That federal cases also involves allegations that these companies' created defective apps that encourage unhealthy and addictive behaviors in teens and children. Separately, New York City in October filed a lawsuit against Meta, Google, Snap and TikTok, arguing that they created addictive platforms that contribute to mental health issues among children In the case this week, the three companies' legal defense teams are expected to argue that third-party content posted to its platforms should be held liable, rather than their product designs.

Google CEO Sundar Pichai attends a meeting of the White House Task Force on Artificial Intelligence (AI) Education in the East Room at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., September 4, 2025. Brian Snyder | Reuters
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Boeing reported revenue ahead of Wall Street expectations for the fourth quarter as the company's turnaround picked up steam following years of crises. The company's airplane deliveries last year were the highest since 2018, helping drive revenue. Boeing brought in $23.9 billion in the last three months of 2025, a 57% increase over the same period in 2024 and topping analysts' expectations. Cash flow of $400 million was roughly double what Wall Street was expecting. CEO Kelly Ortberg told staff that the company is making progress and that there's "a lot to be optimistic about" in 2026. "At the same time, with progress comes expectations, and our customers and stakeholders are going to expect more from us this year," he said.

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Ortberg told CNBC's Phil LeBeau on Tuesday that the company is expecting positive free cash between $1 billion and $3 billion for 2026. "That'll continue to grow as we ramp up production and deal with some of these headwinds that we have to cash flow in the near term," he said. "We're marching to this $10 billion free cash flow number and it's going to take us a little bit of time but we've got a methodical plan to get there." Here's how Boeing performed in the fourth quarter, compared with analysts' estimates compiled by LSEG: Loss per share: $1.12 adjusted vs. a loss of 39 cents expected

$1.12 adjusted vs. a loss of 39 cents expected Revenue: $23.95 billion vs. $22.6 billion expected That adjusted loss per share excludes a $9.6 billion gain on Boeing's sale of its Jeppesen aircraft navigation unit. Boeing said that sale boosted its earnings by $11.83 per share, and stripping that out left an adjusted loss of $1.12 per share. The company beat Wall Street estimates on its commercial airplane revenue, reporting $11.38 billion versus $10.72 billion expected, according to StreetAccount. That marked a nearly 140% increase from the year prior. Its defense unit revenue rose 37% from the fourth quarter of 2024 to $7.42 billion. Boeing still has a long road ahead to deliver delayed aircraft  some of which haven't yet won regulator approval  to customers around the world. Boeing delivered 600 airplanes to customers last year, nearly double the number from 2024 and the most since 2018. Ortberg, who came out of retirement to run the manufacturer in 2024, and other executives have said more production increases are on the horizon in the coming months.
NINGBO, CHINA - JANUARY 22: Employees work on the production line of snowboards at a workshop to meet the orders on January 22, 2026 in Ningbo, Zhejiang Province of China. He Yuankai/Zhejiang Daily Press Group | Visual China Group | Getty Images

China's industrial profits rose 0.6% in 2025 from a year earlier, snapping three consecutive years of declines as officials moved to rein in aggressive price competition and companies sought overseas growth amid weak domestic demand. The pace of growth accelerated from 0.1% in the January-to-November period, according to data from the National Bureau of Statistics. The recovery last year was driven by policy intervention, particularly Beijing's campaign against aggressive price undercutting, and companies' efforts to expand overseas, said Tianchen Xu, a senior economist at the Economist Intelligence Unit. Industrial profits climbed 5.3% in December from a year earlier, the strongest performance since September when earnings surged 21.6%. Profits had faltered in the prior two months, falling 5.5% in October and 13.1% in November.

In December, China's factory activity returned to growth after eight straight months of contraction, in part thanks to pre-holiday stockpiling ahead of the Lunar New Year in February, an official at the statistics bureau said. Profits at the country's major industrial firms have been battered by the bruising price wars sweeping across several industries last year as sluggish consumer demands left companies grappling with excess capacity.

Uneven growth across sectors

There is a "high level of divergence" across industries, said Lynn Song, chief Greater China economist at ING, adding that the overall profits growth remains tepid as price competition continues to erode margins.

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A new deal with Nvidia bolsters CoreWeave's long-term case as it heads into its upcoming earnings, according to Deutsche Bank. Analyst Brad Zelnick upgraded the artificial intelligence infrastructure provider to buy from hold. He also raised his target price to $140 from $100, implying upside of 42%. Nvidia on Monday said it had invested $2 billion into CoreWeave, which will help it accelerate its buildout of "5 gigawats of AI factories by 2030," the companies said. Zelnick said this deal strengthened CoreWeave's long-term case by helping to further validate its technical leadership. "We don't claim to be able predict with confidence how AI evolves over CY26 but all the signal we see today suggests demand growth continuing to outpace new capacity," Zelnick added. "Until that changes and based on our favorable view of the setup, healthy GPU-level economics, and the asset quality of CoreWeave, this leave us comfortable upgrading the shares." CRWV 1Y mountain CRWV 1Y chart The deal successfully leverages Nvidia's financial strength to secure access to additional resources to help realize CoreWeave's goal, while also deepening technical integration that allows CoreWeave to remain among the very first to market with new Nvidia compute architectures, Zelnick wrote. It also increases the potential for Nvidia to include CoreWeave's SUNK and Mission Control software in its reference architectures, which opens up "a sizeable and high margin standalone hybrid and multi-cloud SW opportunity over time." Zelnick said that CoreWeave's valuation has "returned to very reasonable levels" and adopted a bullish stance heading into the company's next earnings report. "Amid dynamic swings in narrative and stock performance over the past several months, the fundamental medium-term outlook appears solid for CoreWeave heading into 4Q25 results and initial CY26 guidance, which we expect to be released in the coming weeks," he wrote. "This will be mgmt.'s first time initiating full year ahead guidance as a public company, and while the novelty creates a wider range of potential targets in our mind, our analysis suggests consensus revenue forecasts can move meaningfully higher over the course of the year if the company in fact delivers capacity on plan to its contracted customers." CoreWeave has surged 146% since going public in March, although it is down 46% from its all-time high last June.
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Students at a tech university in Dublin are enjoying an unexpected perk of artificial intelligence  it's helping heat their campus. Since 2023, the Technological University of Dublin's Tallaght campus has been one of a growing number of buildings in the southwest suburban area of the city to be heated by waste heat from a nearby Amazon Web Services data center. Data centers have always generated excess heat, but integration with district heating networks has been slow, as the waste heat produced by these power-hungry facilities is typically too low-temperature to directly warm other buildings. That's now changing. As the AI boom gets underway and data centers are increasingly filled with racks of advanced chips that require as much as triple the computing capacity of before, operators have had to find new ways to balance maximizing efficiency without sacrificing sustainability. AI is the "twist" that makes it more attractive, according to Adam Fabricius, commercial manager at heating, ventilation and air conditioning equipment provider Sav Systems, and a researcher of heat networks for its sister company EnergiRaven.

"The exciting thing is that AI can give you higher temperatures, and the water cooling makes it a lot easier. You need a lot less hardware to connect these systems," he told CNBC. Providing heat to a district heating network gives data centers "additional social license," the International Energy Agency's Brendan Reidenbach told CNBC. "It may not be ultimately very cost effective on paper, but it does contribute to that good social impact by turning what is a potential bad news story of increased data centers into a good-news story of what is ultimately decarbonized heat supply. So it's very much a win-win situation," he added.

Ireland a 'blank slate'

There has been a fair uptake among Big Tech. Microsoft announced plans to fuel the Hje-Taastrup district heating network in Denmark; an Equinix data center heats 1,000 homes in Paris; and Google announced a major heat recovery project at its facility in Hamina, Finland. Ireland was one of two European countries to enforce a moratorium on new data center applications as the power-hungry facilities strained Dublin's grid, consuming 22% of the small country's power in 2024. Ireland eventually eased its moratorium late last year as the AI boom saw sentiment U-turn on the economic potential of the facilities.

Ireland is "effectively a blank slate," as the country has not had a district heating system before, said the IEA's Reidenbach. The Tallaght scheme shows the benefits of integrated planning because it brings together the power system operator and the distribution grid operator, he said. In 2020, local government formed Ireland's first not-for-profit energy utility, Heat Works. Waste heat from the nearby AWS data center supplies 100% of the heat to the network. "While we are only in the second year of monitoring, we have evidence that the project has limited our exposure to market price shocks generally," Rosie Webb, head of decarbonization at TU Dublin, told CNBC via email.

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The campus abated around 704 metric tons of carbon dioxide in 2024 despite the additional energy demand from two new buildings being added to the site, according to TU Dublin's calculations. AWS' data center in Tallaght offers a "unique opportunity" to reuse heat, according to the company's country lead Niamh Gallagher. The scheme, which sees AWS provide recycled heat free of charge, was initially planned to heat 55,000 square meters of public buildings, an area three times the size of the city's Croke Park stadium pitch, as well as commercial space and 133 apartments. "It's a win-win when we can identify a special project that uses our infrastructure to support the climate goals of the community," Gallagher told CNBC.

Keeping hot chips cool

When it comes to heating networks, Europe is far more advanced in comparison to the U.S., according to Ben Hertz-Shargel, global head of grid edge at energy research firm Wood Mackenzie. Some medium-sized data centers that are located closer to metropolitan areas are likely in the best position to deliver waste heat, Hertz-Shargel said. He added that Equinix  which, like AWS, does not make a profit from the waste heat it supplies  is an example of this. However, delays with permitting and the high capex costs of constructing heat networks and integrating data centers to the system make scaling the model challenging. There's also the life cycle mismatch. A district heating network is typically given a 30-year life span, Reidenbach said, while the equipment inside a data center is only given seven-to-10 years. "That does leave a very large risk of stranded assets," he added.

We see data centers as energy borrowers, and actually as energy generating. Kenneth O'Mahony Nexalus CEO

Nexalus, a thermal and science engineering company that patented its technology from Trinity College Dublin in Ireland, investigated ways to capture heat from the hot GPUs and CPUs that data centers house. The company uses jet impingement liquid cooling to enhance the performance of the chips while capturing waste heat at a much higher temperature. Instead of producing "low-grade" heat, the system delivers output at roughly 55 to 60 degrees Celsius without the use of heat pumps  hot enough to be reused directly for district heating, Nexalus CEO Kenneth O'Mahony told CNBC. Other data centers typically release excess heat at around 30 to 35 degrees Celsius, making it far less practical to repurpose, according to the company, which also maps the heat coming off chips so that it can target the hottest areas for cooling. "It's like a shower head in the shower. If you've got a pain in your shoulder, you turn it to the spot where you want it to go. That's what we do, and we map it out for maximizing the impact on each of the individual chips," O'Mahony said. "We see data centers as energy borrowers, and actually as energy generating," he added. "The desire should be that your data center is embedded inside the construction phase of cities, the design of the apartment blocks ... producing enough heat for your entire building."

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Nexalus isn't the only firm exploring this technology. Nvidia recently sparked alarm in the cooling market when it unveiled its next-generation Rubin chips which do not need to be cooled to quite the extent as earlier models. Rob Pfleging, CEO of Nautilus Data Technologies, a provider of modular liquid cooling, said he got "chills" when he saw the Nvidia announcement, as his focus has long been on raising water temperatures to allow for a "significant amount of more efficiency." "The great thing about that [Nvidia] announcement is [that it's] moving in the right direction, because it also allows now for the much easier reuse of that heat," Pfleging told CNBC.

Challenges ahead

Cities other than those in Ireland are also looking to adopt such models. U.K. officials in October visited Denmark to see how data centers are connected to district heating networks and learn from the Nordic country's success. The U.K. hopes to scale heat networks to reach 20% of national heating demand by 2050, up from 3% today. Analysis from EnergiRaven and Danish energy consultancy Viegand Maage found waste heat from data centers could supply enough heat for at least 3.5 million homes by 2035 if heat networks are scaled up in parallel to AI infrastructure. Using excess heat for community power effectively allows electrons to be used twice, argued Matthew Powell, who conducts research at EnergiRaven. "Every kilowatt of energy we reuse, there's a kilowatt of energy we don't need to import," said Fabricius, adding that if it then replaces natural gas, it makes further geopolitical and economic sense.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen (L) speaks with India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi before their meeting at the Hyderabad House in New Delhi on February 28, 2025. The European Union is exploring a security and defence partnership with India, EU chief Ursula von der Leyen said on February 28 before meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi. (Photo by Money SHARMA / AFP) (Photo by MONEY SHARMA/AFP via Getty Images) Money Sharma | Afp | Getty Images

LONDON  European stocks ended broadly higher on Tuesday, as investors reacted to the European Union's landmark trade deal with India and braced for a flurry of corporate earnings. The pan-European Stoxx 600 finished the session 0.6% higher, with most sectors and major bourses in positive territory.





Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced on Tuesday that India and the EU had closed a "landmark" free trade agreement, touted as the "mother of all deals." The agreement represents about 25% of global gross domestic product and about a third of global trade. The EU's biggest exports to India are machinery, transport equipment and chemicals, according to the European Council. The bloc's biggest imports from India are machinery, chemicals and fuels. Earnings season is getting underway again with regional investors keeping an eye on the latest financial reports from ASML, Volvo, LVMH and Deutsche Bank, among others, this week. On Tuesday, Atlas Copco, Sandvik and Logitech International were due to report.

Stock moves

Looking at individual stocks, Puma jumped after China's Anta Sports confirmed it would buy a 29% from France's billionaire Pinault family for 1.5 billion euros ($1.78 billion). Shares in the German sportswear firm ended the day up more than 9%. Swedish medical equipment maker Getinge slipped toward the bottom of the regional index, down 5.8% by the end of dealmaking, after the firm reported a slight drop in order intake for the fourth quarter of 2025. Full-year revenue came in at 34.97 billion Swedish kronor ($39.1 billion), slightly below expectations set out in a consensus compiled by LSEG. British bootmaker Dr Martens shed 11% after the company posted disappointing quarterly results and forecast roughly flat revenue growth for 2026. Revenue fell 3.1% to 251 million ($343 million) in its fiscal third quarter, led by a 7% drop in direct-to-consumer sales as the company scaled back its promotions. Wholesale revenue, however, increased 9.3%. "This is a year of pivot, as we make the necessary changes to our business to set us up for future sustainable growth," Chief Executive Ije Nwokorie said in a statement alongside the results, adding that he is "laser focused" on executing Dr Martens' strategy of reducing discounts, driving growth in other products, opening in new markets, and simplifying its operational model. Meanwhile, European banks have been on a tear. The Stoxx Europe 600 Banks Index hit its highest points since 2008 on Tuesday, advancing 1.8% to 374.71 points, as investors react to the sector's 'enhanced access to the Indian services market' amid the U.K. and EU trade deal with India. London-listed shares in HSBC were last seen 2.8% higher, representing a record high. BNP Paribas advanced 1.8%, also hitting a new high. Banco Santander followed suit, gaining more than 1% to take it to a new peak. UBS and Deutsche Bank also added value.

South Korea tariffs
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India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi (C) poses for a photograph with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen (R) and European Council President Antonio Costa before their meeting at the Hyderabad House in New Delhi on January 27, 2026. Sajjad Hussain | Afp | Getty Images

A landmark trade deal between the European Union and India has been lauded as a major breakthrough for Europe's biggest carmakers, although analysts have flagged competition concerns in one of the world's fastest growing markets. The EU and India on Tuesday signed what European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and India Prime Minister Narendra Modi described as the "mother of all deals." The long-pending agreement, which comes as both sides seek to strengthen ties amid U.S. tensions, includes slashing tariffs on imports of EU-made cars to 10% from as high as 110% under a quota of 250,000 vehicles per year. It represents the biggest opening yet of India's previously restricted car market to European original equipment manufacturers, with German engineering association VDMA describing it as a "day of celebration for export-oriented mechanical engineering." Europe's Stoxx Automobiles and Parts index traded 1.1% lower on the news, however, with Volkswagen , BMW and France's Renault all off by around 1% during afternoon deals.

Michael Field, chief equity strategist at Morningstar, said that in an increasingly volatile environment, any international trade deal is good news. "That autos are one of the largest exports from the EU to India means this deal could be a welcome boost to the European autos industry," Field told CNBC by email. "The Indian auto market is heavily dominated by domestic players, which will be difficult to disrupt, but this gives European auto manufacturers a fighting chance," he added. The deal could also open up a new market for luxury European auto manufacturers, such as Germany's Porsche, with price points "more affordable" for the middle classes, Field said.

European carmakers, which have been battling crises on multiple fronts in recent months, are set to receive tariff reductions in India that none of Delhi's other trading partners have received. To be sure, India represents the world's third-largest market for passenger cars worldwide and auto industry groups expect tax cuts, particularly for smaller vehicles, to stimulate the country's market significantly in 2026. Thilo Brodtmann, executive director of Germany's VDMA, said the EU-India trade deal will give European manufacturers a much-needed competitive boost, describing India's car market as one of the world's fastest-growing and most strategically important.

The Mercedes star, the brand logo of the vehicle manufacturer Mercedes-Benz, rotates on a building of a Mercedes-Benz car dealership. Picture Alliance | Picture Alliance | Getty Images

"Export-oriented mechanical and plant engineering needs rule-based trade like it needs air to breathe. The free trade agreement between India and the EU brings much-needed oxygen to a world increasingly dominated by trade conflicts," Brodtmann said in a statement. "The EU has delivered. With this agreement, Europe is sending a clear signal in favour of rules-based trade and against the law of the jungle," he added.

'A boon to European automakers'
Gold rose on Tuesday, as safe-haven demand lingered amid geopolitical uncertainty, while silver also hovered near all-time highs.

Gold prices climbed to an all-time high on Tuesday as persistent economic and geopolitical uncertainty drove investors to the safe-haven metal.

Spot gold gained 2.4% to $5,136.47 per ounce. Prices breached the key $5,000 mark for the first time on Monday.

U.S. gold futures for February delivery settled little changed at $5,082.60 per ounce.

Gold has already surged more than 18% so far this year, building on last year's record rally, driven by a combination of factors including rising geopolitical and economic uncertainty, expectations of U.S. interest-rate cuts and increased central bank purchases amid a global de-dollarization trend.

Markets are focused on the U.S. Federal Reserve's two-day policy meeting starting Tuesday, with interest rates expected to be unchanged and investors watching Fed Chair Jerome Powell's press conference on Wednesday amid mounting worries about the central bank's independence.

Meanwhile, Deutsche Bank and Societe Generale now forecast gold prices to reach $6,000 per ounce by the end of the year.

CME Group said on Tuesday that its metals complex reached a single-day record of 3,338,528 contracts on January 26, surpassing the previous record of 2,829,666 contracts set on October 17, 2025.

Spot silver jumped 6.9% to $111.11 an ounce after hitting a record high of $117.69 on Monday. It has already surged more than 55% so far this year, after recording a 146% gain last year.

"There's going to be a lot of volatility ahead, with risks of sharp pullbacks (in silver)," said Bank of America's Widmer, adding that strong fundamentals and exchange-traded-fund inflows could support a $170 price target.

Citi upgraded its short-term silver price forecast to $150 per ounce from $100 earlier.

Spot platinum fell 5.6% to $2,604.38 per ounce after hitting a record $2,918.80 per ounce in the previous session, while palladium lost about 4% to $1,904.25.
Todd Lyons, acting director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE, participates in a television interview outside the White House, in Washington, Nov. 3, 2025.

A top federal judge in Minnesota ordered the acting head of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to personally appear at a hearing in Minneapolis on Friday to explain why he should not be held in contempt of court after his agency repeatedly violated judicial orders related to immigration enforcement actions.

The three-page order issued late Monday to ICE acting Director Todd Lyons by U.S. District Court Chief Judge Patrick Schiltz was scathing, accusing federal immigration authorities of failing to comply with "dozens of court orders" in recent weeks, including one issued by the judge mandating a bond hearing for a detained immigrant.

"This Court has been extremely patient with respondents, even though respondents decided to send thousands of agents to Minnesota to detain aliens without making any provision for dealing with the hundreds of habeas petitions and other lawsuits that were sure to result," Schiltz wrote in the order.

"This Court's patience is at an end," Schiltz wrote.

The judge said that the Department of Homeland Security and Lyons' agency, which is a division of DHS, "have continually assured the Court that they recognize their obligation to comply with Court orders," and that they would take steps to honor those orders.

"Unfortunately, though, the violations continue," Schiltz wrote.

"Accordingly, the Court will order Todd Lyons, the Acting Director of ICE, to appear personally before the Court and show cause why he should not be held in contempt of Court," Schiltz wrote.

The judge was appointed to the federal bench by former President George W. Bush. He clerked for late conservative Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia.

DHS spokeswoman Tricia McLaughlin, in a statement on Schiltz's order, called him "just another activist judge who is clearly more concerned about politics than the safety of the Minnesotans."

"Does this judge really think Director Lyons should take time out of his day leading ICE to target the worst of the worst criminal illegals including murderers, rapists, pedophiles, and terrorists into our country to testify at a hearing for one illegal alien's removal proceedings?" McLaughlin said.

"We will not let anything slow us down from removing criminal illegal aliens from our streets," she said.

Shiltz called his order "an extraordinary step."

"But the extent of ICE's violation of court orders is likewise extraordinary, and lesser measures have been tried and failed," Schiltz wrote.

The order comes as Minnesota state officials press for ICE and other federal immigration authorities to cease aggressive actions rounding up undocumented people in Minneapolis and elsewhere in the state.

Schiltz's order also came two days after federal agents fatally shot Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old ICU nurse on a Minneapolis street, and weeks after an ICE agent shot and killed mom of three Renee Good in her car. Both Pretti and Good were U.S. citizens.

Those, and other incidents, have sparked widespread outrage in the state and nationally.
TOPSHOT - European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen (L) and India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi look on before their meeting at the Hyderabad House in New Delhi on February 28, 2025. The European Union is exploring a security and defence partnership with India, EU chief Ursula von der Leyen said on February 28 before meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi. (Photo by Money SHARMA / AFP) (Photo by MONEY SHARMA/AFP via Getty Images)

India and the European Union on Monday closed a "landmark" free trade agreement, touted as the "mother of all deals," Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said during a speech at the India Energy Week on Tuesday.

The FTA with the EU, which represents about 25% of global GDP and about a third of global trade, will also complement India's deals with Britain and the European Free Trade Association, Modi said.

The agreement will forge a market of 2 billion people at a time when trade ties are being tested amid rising geopolitical tensions.

"I congratulate our colleagues associated with every sector, such as textiles, gems and Jewelry, leather and shoes. This deal will prove to be very supportive to these sectors," Modi said in a speech in Hindi, translated by CNBC.

Modi and EU President Ursula von der Leyen are expected to make a joint statement at the India-EU summit in New Delhi, later in the day, revealing the details of the deal that had been in the making for nearly two decades.

Trade talks between the two sides were relaunched in 2022 and the deal has been long time in the making due to "mutually sensitive" issues such as agriculture and automotive. "India and European union can both be very protectionist," Hosuk Lee Makiyama, director of European Centre for International Political Economy, told CNBC.

Neither the EU nor India have secured a large trade deal which could impact their economic growth, especially as U.S. and China are closed off for a deal, so this deal will be "one of the best they can get," he said.
The Intel logo is displayed on a sign in front of Intel headquarters on Jan. 22, 2026 in Santa Clara, California.

Intel , which now counts the U.S. government as its largest shareholder, said on Tuesday that it will match the Trump administration's $1,000 payout for children of eligible U.S. employees.

The matching funds, which is a benefit for Intel staff, mark the latest sign of a close working relationship between the Trump administration and Intel after the government took a 10% stake in the chipmaker last year through an $8.9 billion investment.

The 530A program, often called "Trump accounts," passed as part of the administration's "big beautiful bill," and is intended to jumpstart wealth-building opportunities for children, allowing their investments to grow and compound for years before they become adults.

"America's future technologists will define the next era of innovation, and the Trump Accounts program helps give them an early financial foundation," Lip-Bu Tan, Intel CEO, said in Tuesday's statement.

Intel is joining a list of other companies that say they will match the federal $1,000 contribution. They include SoFi, Charter Communications, BNY, BlackRock, Investment Company Institute, Robinhood and Charles Schwab.

The program allows parents to open tax-advantaged investment accounts for children under 18, with kids born between 2025 and 2028 getting seed funding of $1,000 from the government. Employer contributions up to $2,500 don't count as taxable income. Parents will be able to open the accounts in July.

In December, Dell founder Michael Dell said he would donate $6.25 billion to the program, to seed some Trump Accounts for children born before the Jan. 1 cutoff with $250.

WATCH: Intel still a massive turnaround story
(1st row from L to R): Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa, President of Angola and Chairperson of the African Union Joao Lourenco and Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney react as they attend a family photo event during a G20 Leaders' Summit plenary session at the Nasrec Expo Centre in Johannesburg on November 22, 2025. Gianluigi Guercia | Afp | Getty Images

With the resurgence of U.S. dominance in the West and the apparent ripping up of the rules-based international order, some are looking to the world's "middle powers" as a possible bulwark against increasing unilateralism among global superpowers. Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney lent his voice to this hope last week, telling delegates at the World Economic Forum (WEF) that "middle powers" must work together to counter the rise of hard power, the disintegration of multilateral institutions like the United Nations and World Trade Organization, and to build a more cooperative and peaceful world. "Great powers can afford, for now, to go it alone. They have the market size, the military capacity and the leverage to dictate terms. Middle powers do not," Carney told delegates. "The middle powers must act together, because if we're not at the table, we're on the menu," he warned. Superpowers have often been defined as countries with a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council, like China, France, Russia, the U.K. and the U.S. However, the world's only current superpowers of any real consequence are arguably China and the U.S. The definition of "middle powers" is more opaque, although it's generally used to refer to states that have economic, diplomatic or political clout but are seen to be in the "second-tier" of the geopolitical hierarchy.

Leaders pose for a family photo on the opening day of the G20 Leaders' Summit at the Nasrec Expo Centre in Johannesburg, South Africa, on Nov. 22, 2025. Misper Apawu | Via Reuters

Most of the G20 would be classed as "middle powers" for example, with Australia, Canada and South Korea among the most prominent middle power economies in the Global North, while Argentina, Brazil and Indonesia would be placed in the same camp in the Global South, according to a WEF whitepaper entitled, "Shaping Cooperation in a Fragmenting World."

Middle powers push back

While Trump was not mentioned by name, Carney's speech was seen as a barely-veiled swipe at the U.S. president's widespread threat and use of tariffs over the last year to coerce partners into trade terms favorable to the States. Trump has also caused consternation among Western allies with his threat to use military force to seize Greenland, a semi-autonomous territory of Denmark. While there was no love lost for Venezuela's leader Nicolas Maduro, the U.S.' unceremonious capture of the leader also prompted questions around America's observation of international law. Carney's speech chimed with the zeitgeist among delegates at Davos, many of whom have expressed increasing frustration with Trump's perceived hostility and disrespect of long-term allies. The Canadian leader has since been credited with leading a "middle powers charge" against Trump.

If that charge gathers momentum, analysts say it could see more middle powers forging their own bilateral geostrategic deals or trade agreements, such as that announced on Tuesday between India and the EU, as a way to sideline the U.S., or to at least take the sting out of trade tariffs or threats. "The most striking thing about Carney's provocative address was that it was the first time that the leader of a close U.S. ally had the courage to stand up to President Donald Trump and the guts to say enough is enough," Stewart Patrick, senior fellow and director of the Global Order and Institutions Program at the Carnegie Endowment for Global Peace, said in post-Davos analysis. "He laid out, for all to hear, the catastrophic implications of Washington's current policies for global order and signaled that at least one erstwhile ally is prepared not only to hedge against an unpredictable and predatory United States, but if need be to balance against it," he added.

DAVOS, SWITZERLAND - JANUARY 20: Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney delivers a speech at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting held in Davos, Switzerland on January 20, 2026. Anadolu | Getty Images

Unsurprisingly, the White House was not too happy. Trump lambasted Carney in his own Davos speech, stating, "Canada lives because of the United States. Remember that, Mark, the next time you make your statements." While the U.S.' former allies might have begun to question the depth and strength of their relationships with the U.S. last year, when Trump first unveiled his tariff policies, many are now beginning to openly question their alliances with Washington, analysts note. That could have longer-term repercussions. "America's closest and longest standing allies are now publicly questioning not only U.S. credibility but its motives," Michael Butler, professor and chair of the Department of Political Science at Clark University, said in emailed comments. "This is significant, in that alliances are a two-way street  meaning that it would be a mistake to assume that Canada and Europe will rush right back into the fold if and when U.S. foreign policy moderates under this or some future president," he noted.

The limits of middle powers
Oil prices fell on Tuesday even as a massive winter storm hit crude production and affected refineries on the U.S. Gulf Coast.

Oil prices rose by about 3% on Tuesday, as producers reeled from a winter storm that hobbled crude production and drove U.S. Gulf Coast crude exports to zero over the weekend.

Brent crude futures gained $1.98, or 3.02%, to close at $67.57 a barrel. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude rose $1.76, or 2.9%, settle at at $62.39 a barrel.

U.S. oil producers lost up to 2 million barrels per day or roughly 15% of national production over the weekend, analysts and traders estimated, as a severe winter storm swept across the country, straining energy infrastructure and power grids.

Severe weather has boosted crude futures, with short-term risks tilted to the upside on fears of supply disruptions, said Fawad Razaqzada, market analyst at City Index.

"The cold weather in the U.S. will likely cause quite significant drawdowns in oil stocks over the next few weeks, particularly if this weather persists," said Tamas Varga, an oil analyst at brokerage PVM.

Exports of crude oil and liquefied natural gas from U.S. Gulf Coast ports tumbled to zero on Sunday amid frigid weather, ship tracking service Vortexa said.

Exports rebounded on Monday with flows coming in above seasonal norms as ports reopened, said Samantha Santa Maria-Hartke, head of market analysis at Vortexa.

Elsewhere, Kazakhstan's biggest oilfield, Tengiz, is likely to restore less than half of its normal production by February 7 as it slowly recovers from a fire and power outage, two sources familiar with the matter told Reuters.

"The recovery of Tengiz production seems to be happening slower than earlier expected, keeping the oil market tighter," said Giovanni Staunovo, an analyst at UBS, adding that the weaker U.S. dollar was lending some support.

However, the CPC, which operates Kazakhstan's main exporting pipeline, said it returned to full loading capacity at its terminal on the Russian Black Sea coast after maintenance was completed at one of its three mooring points.

A U.S. aircraft carrier and supporting warships have arrived in the Middle East, two U.S. officials told Reuters on Monday, expanding President Donald Trump's capabilities to defend U.S. forces, or potentially take military action against Iran.

"With Trump saying last week that the U.S. has an 'armada' heading towards Iran, geopolitical tensions are rising, and that is keeping oil prices supported in the near-term outlook," said Razaqzada of City Index.

Tensions between Tehran and Washington coupled with no news on the Ukraine-Russia peace deal are keeping a floor under crude, said Dennis Kissler, senior vice president of trading at BOK Financial.

Meanwhile, OPEC+ is set to keep its pause on oil output increases for March at a meeting on February 1, three OPEC+ delegates told Reuters.
Pete Cannito, Redwire Corporation at the New York Stock Exchange, September 8, 2021.

Redwire shares surged 29% Tuesday after the space and defense company joined an up to $151 billion Defense Department contract to support President Donald Trump's 'Golden Dome' initiative.

The company joins thousands of vendors supporting a Missile Defense Agency contract to create new defense, aerospace and cybersecurity systems to protect the U.S.

Other awardees include drone maker AeroVironment , Palantir , Firefly Aerospace , Lockheed Martin , Palmer Luckey's Anduril and Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin.

In May, Trump announced his plans to build a 'Golden Dome' defense system, akin to Israel's Iron Dome.

At the time, Trump said the system would cost $175 billion and be up and running in about three years.
Services sector to open wider

09:08, January 27, 2026 By Zhong Nan ( Chinadaily.com.cn

China will further open its services sector in 2026, widening market access and accelerating pilot projects in the telecommunications, healthcare and education sectors, as policymakers seek to translate commitments into concrete outcomes, government officials said on Monday.

Speaking at a news conference in Beijing, Wang Ya, head of the department of foreign investment administration at the Ministry of Commerce, said the policy measures will support foreign-invested service companies in extending their value chains in China, enabling more specialized, integrated and digitalized operations.

The government will ensure that overseas investors can claim tax credits when reinvesting profits earned in China, while providing equal treatment to foreign-funded businesses in consumption promotion, government procurement and bidding activities, said Wang.

Vice-Minister of Commerce Yan Dong said these measures will help steer foreign investment toward service-oriented consumption and improve the quality and diversity of services supply.

Aiming to guide more foreign investment toward advanced manufacturing, modern services, high-tech industries, energy conservation and environmental protection, China will put the 2025 edition of its Catalogue of Encouraged Industries for Foreign Investment into force on Feb 1, 2026, according to information released by the Ministry of Commerce.

The updated catalogue contains 1,679 items, representing a net increase of 205 entries from the 2022 version, along with revisions to 303 items.

Against this policy backdrop, International Workplace Group, the Switzerland-headquartered hybrid workspace platform operating in over 120 countries and regions, will deploy additional resources to expand its presence in China's lower-tier cities, targeting emerging demand beyond major metropolitan areas.

Edward Hu, country general manager of IWG China, said the company sees China's ongoing push to open up the services sector and improve the business environment as a key driver of its expansion, with policy support for services consumption and urban development underpinning sustained demand for flexible office solutions.

Hu said IWG will partner closely with local property owners to revitalize existing commercial assets while leveraging its global network, corporate client base and standardized operating systems to support scalable, sustainable growth in China this year.

Boosting consumption

As China expands opening-up in the services sector, authorities are also turning their attention to consumption, seeking to ensure that policy gains are felt more directly by consumers.

Yang Mu, head of the department of market operation and consumption promotion at the Ministry of Commerce, said China will further optimize the shopping environment by accelerating the development of international consumption hub cities, advancing pilot programs to build an internationally oriented commercial environment, and supporting trials of new retail formats, models and scenarios.

"The efforts aim to create a number of highly visible consumption scenarios, enabling both domestic and overseas consumers to better enjoy high-quality living experiences," she said.

Under its plan, the government will organize more than 20 "Shopping in China" themed promotional events across the country and support 15 pilot cities in hosting dedicated city showcase events this year.

Launched in April 2025, the "Shopping in China" initiative aims to create a more internationally friendly consumption landscape and enhance the country's appeal as a global consumption hub through measures such as streamlining visa procedures and improving departure tax-refund arrangements.

The policy tailwinds have continued to fuel both inbound tourism and spending by overseas visitors.

Since Nanjing, the capital of East China's Jiangsu province, became one of the ports allowing 24-hour direct transit without immigration clearance in early November last year, the policy  combined with more favorable departure tax-refund arrangements  has enabled foreign transit passengers to shop, dine and consume freely during layovers, further enhancing the city's appeal as an international consumption hub.

The tax-refund offices at Nanjing Lukou International Airport and Wuxi Sunan International Airport handled a total of 1,705 refund claims in 2025, with the value of verified applications reaching 52.72 million yuan ($7.58 million), jumping 138.79 percent and 91.45 percent year-on-year, respectively, data from Nanjing Customs showed.

(Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun)
The United States agrees to impose 15% tariffs on imports from South Korea under a trade deal for the vast majority of South Korean products, seen in this photo illustration in Brussels, Belgium, on August 1, 2025.

South Korea's ruling Democratic Party said it would pass a special act on the U.S. trade deal by end- February, according to Yonhap, after U.S. President Donald Trump threatened higher tariffs on South Korean exports.

Earlier on Tuesday, Trump said he was raising tariffs on South Korean exports to 25% from the current 15%, citing a delay in the country's parliament approving the Washington-Seoul trade deal agreed in July last year.

Spokesperson of the ruling Democratic Party Kim Hyun-jung said Trump was likely referring to the Special Act on Strategic Investment Management between Korea and the United States, according to a Google translation of the statement in Korean, submitted to the country's parliament last November.

The bill aims to establish a state-run investment corporation to manage Seoul's planned $350 billion investment pledge to Washington.

Kim said that five related bills have been submitted to the National Assembly, and are scheduled to be reviewed, adding that "the fact that both the Democratic Party of Korea and the People Power Party have proposed these bills will likely expedite their passage."

The ruling DP currently holds 162 seats in the 300 seat National Assembly with four vacant seats, while the PPP holds 107.

"What is needed now is to quickly confirm the intent and facts of the U.S statement and correct any misunderstandings," she said.

South Korea's presidential office said that it had called a meeting to review and discuss responses to Trump's announcement on Tuesday, and reiterated its commitment to implementing the tariff agreement.

Earlier in the day, the office said it had not received any official notice or explanation from the U.S. regarding the announcement, according to local media outlet Yonhap.

South Korea's finance ministry said that it will keep the U.S. informed on the legislative process, while Seoul's trade ministry said that industry minister Kim Jung-kwan will visit Washington for talks on the matter, Yonhap reported.

"It is time for the government and the ruling and opposition parties in the National Assembly to join forces. I look forward to the People Power Party's bipartisan cooperation," Kim said.

South Korean automakers Hyundai and Kia plunged in early trade following Trump's threats, but later pared losses. Hyundai last traded 0.1% down, and Kia was down 1.16%. The broader Kospi was up 1.9%, while the small-cap Kosdaq index climbed 0.89%.
Why Hightower's Stephanie Link is buying Starbucks: It's still in the very early stages of CEO Brian Niccol's turnaround. There are early signs the turnaround is working with North American same-store sales flat last quarter after six straight quarterly declines. Profitability potential: Niccol's initiatives could drive operating margins to the mid-teens from 9%. Many doubters: Majority of analysts on Wall Street are still skeptical so she likes the risk/reward. I like the turnaround story at Starbucks for 2026. They have very strong leadership under Brian Niccol, who was named CEO in September 2024, an announcement that initially boosted the stock. The shares have since come back to earth as investors and Wall Street skeptics grew impatient about the pace of his turnaround. But consider this, Chipotle shares eventually rallied more than eightfold under Niccol's tenure as Chipotle CEO from 2018 to 2024. Starbucks shares are finally starting to pick up with the stock gaining 14% so far in 2026. I think there's more to go. I first added shares of this stock after the October quarter results when I thought it looked like the growth strategy and the investment initiatives from Niccol were starting to work. We'll get an update from Niccol this week when Starbucks reports its fourth-quarter results Wednesday before the bell. An investor day will follow on Thursday where Niccol is likely to go into more detail on his two main growth initiatives: recreating coffeehouse culture and the "Green Apron Service" designed to accelerate order delivery. Wells Fargo estimates that Green Apron has led to service times of less than four minutes in 80% of U.S. co-operated stores. Turnaround starting to work For the third quarter, North America same-store sales came in at flat. That doesn't sound that good on the surface, but the prior six quarters had negative growth. We also saw better international results of 3% growth with sales in China up 2%. For the fourth-quarter, analysts believe Starbucks will report Wednesday that same-store sales increased by 2% in North America, according to consensus FactSet figures. Deutsche Bank sees an even bigger jump of 3% in same-store sales growth. Profitability set to improve Operating margins are still very low at 9.4%, but therein lies the opportunity in my mind. I think they can get back to mid-teens operating margins over the coming years. Deutsche Bank estimates operating margins can get back to 17% at some point. And if that is the case, I think that you're going see $3.50 to $4 in earnings power, putting this at about stock at about 24 times earnings. Historically, the stock has traded at a price-earnings multiple of 28 times. Currently, the stock looks rich in the space, but analysts aren't estimating that same earnings pop that I see in the future. When those analysts catch up, the stock's multiple will be cheaper compared to the group. The multiple will then expand from there as more investors recognize the value in the stock. Wall Street too negative The persistent negativity from the analyst community makes for a good entry on the stock. Right now, less than half of Wall Street sees Starbucks as a good buy right now. Along with the quarterly results, Starbucks is expected to give 2026 and long-term profit guidance this week, giving Niccol a chance to finally give a detailed blueprint of his turnaround. Analysts are in wait-and-see mode on the stock, but by the time they are convinced, it may be too late to get in. Wall Street could be convinced as early as Wednesday.  With John Melloy All opinions expressed by the CNBC Pro contributors are solely their opinions and do not reflect the opinions of CNBC, or its parent company or affiliates, and may have been previously disseminated by them on television, radio, internet or another medium. THIS CONTENT IS PROVIDED FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY AND DOES NOT CONSTITUTE FINANCIAL, INVESTMENT, TAX OR LEGAL ADVICE OR A RECOMMENDATION TO BUY ANY SECURITY OR OTHER FINANCIAL ASSET. THE CONTENT IS GENERAL IN NATURE AND DOES NOT REFLECT ANY INDIVIDUAL'S UNIQUE PERSONAL CIRCUMSTANCES. THE ABOVE CONTENT MIGHT NOT BE SUITABLE FOR YOUR PARTICULAR CIRCUMSTANCES. BEFORE MAKING ANY FINANCIAL DECISIONS, YOU SHOULD STRONGLY CONSIDER SEEKING ADVICE FROM YOUR OWN FINANCIAL OR INVESTMENT ADVISOR. Click here for the full disclaimer.
The Tencent logo is displayed on the exterior of a building at the companys headquarters, with a surveillance camera visible in the foreground, on November 30, 2024, in Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, China.

Tencent plans to expand its data center footprint in the Middle East, a top executive at the Chinese tech giant told CNBC, as the company looks to boost its cloud computing business outside China.

Dowson Tong, CEO of Tencent's cloud group, told CNBC that the company plans to expand the number of "availability zones," locations designated as sites for potential clusters of data centers, for its cloud services over the next 12 to 18 months, in countries across Asia Pacific, Europe, and the Middle East.

In the Middle East, Tencent is "actively" exploring building data centers there to service cloud customers, Dowson added.

"We do intend to increase our investment in the region and establish a stronger partnership network. And that's all in the plan," he said, declining to give more specific timelines or countries where exactly the availability zones might be.

Tencent's planned expansion in the Middle East comes as countries in the region draw in huge investments from tech giants to build AI data centers and other computing infrastructure.

Last year, Nvidia, OpenAI and others committed to building a massive AI infrastructure project under the Stargate brand in the United Arab Emirates.
Elon Musk, chief executive officer of Tesla Inc., during the US-Saudi Investment Forum at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC, US, on Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2025.

The value of Tesla's brand lost $15.4 billion, about 36%, in 2025, marking a third-straight annual decline, according to research and consulting firm Brand Finance.

A lack of innovative new models, and the relatively high price of Tesla's electric vehicles compared to competitors eroded its brand value, said Brand Finance CEO David Haigh, as did CEO Elon Musk's continued "overreach" into geopolitics, and his lack of focus on his autos business.

Tesla's brand value now stands at an estimated $27.61 billion, Brand Finance said in its 2026 ranking. That's down from $43 billion at the start of 2025, $58.3 billion in 2024 and a peak of $66.2 billion in January 2023.

Based in London, Brand Finance analyzes thousands of companies' financials, looking at revenue, licensing agreements, margins and other hard data, and combines those data points with results from comprehensive consumer surveys to estimate the monetary value of brands.

On key measures such as "reputation, recommendation, trust, and coolness," Tesla's scores took a dive over the past year, according to Brand Finance Valuation Director Lorenzo Coruzzi, especially in Europe and Canada.

The company's recommendation score in the U.S. reached a new low, 4.0 out of 10, meaning consumers weren't willing to tell their friends and family to buy a Tesla. The EV maker's U.S. recommendation scores previously stood as high as 8.2 in 2023.

At least 1,000 respondents in 18 different countries answered questions about Tesla.

Consumers' general familiarity with the Tesla brand improved in most markets last year, which he said was expected as the company is no longer a startup and has been expanding sales geographically.

The company's loyalty score increased from 90% to 92% in the U.S. in 2025, an indication that customers who own Tesla vehicles are willing to keep driving them for the next twelve months.

Tesla's most significant rival, BYD in China, was the rising star in the automotive sector, with its brand value gaining about 23%, around $17.29 billion, up from $14.03 billion last year.

Five other automakers outranked Tesla in this year's list, including Toyota, Mercedes-Benz, Volkswagen and Porsche, with Toyota strongest in the sector with an estimated brand value of $62.7 billion.
Gov. Greg Abbott talks about an approaching winter storm at the State Operations Center in Austin on Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026.

Texas Governor Greg Abbott on Tuesday ordered an investigation into the H-1B visa program in the state, and directed state agencies and universities to suspend new visa petitions.

"In light of recent reports of abuse in the federal H-1B visa program, and amid the federal government's ongoing review of that program to ensure American jobs are going to American workers, I am directing all state agencies to immediately freeze new H-1B visa petitions," Abbott said in a letter to state agencies.

The Republican governor said the freeze will last until May 31, 2027, and will allow exceptions for cases where written permission is given by the Texas Workforce Commission.

The governor gave agencies until March 27, 2026, to compile a report identifying how many new and renewal H-1B petitions they submitted last year, the number of visa holders sponsored and the countries of origin and job classifications for those visa holders.

Florida's Board of Governors, which governs that state's university system, is currently seeking to pause H-1B visas for public universities until January 5, 2027.

H-1B visas allow highly skilled foreign professionals in specialized occupations  primarily in science, technology, engineering and mathematics  to work in the U.S.

The program offers 65,000 visas annually, with another 20,000 visas for workers with advanced degrees, approved for three to six years.

Last year, President Donald Trump, who has sought to implement an aggressive immigration agenda during his second term, imposed a new $100,000 one-time fee for new applicants of the H-1B visa.

The move was challenged by more than 20 states, excluding Texas.

The Trump administration has said that the H-1B program has been abused by U.S. employers who seek to replace American workers with lower-paid foreign workers.
TikTok has agreed to settle with a plaintiff and will no longer be part of a high-profile social media trial kicking off on Tuesday.

An attorney for the plaintiff said the trial, held in Los Angeles Superior Court, will proceed as scheduled against Meta and Alphabet's YouTube.

"This is a good resolution, and we are pleased with the settlement," Mark Lanier, an attorney representing the plaintiff said in a statement. "Our focus has now turned to the Meta and YouTube for this trial."

The trial is the first of multiple major legal cases against social media companies in 2026 that have drawn comparisons to lawsuits brought against 'Big Tobacco' in the 1990s.

The cases center around allegations that the design of several social media and streaming video apps like Instagram and YouTube harmed the mental well-being of teenagers and young adults, leaving them addicted to the services.

The focus on the apps' alleged design flaws is part of a legal strategy to counter arguments made by the technology companies that certain content shared on their platforms is protected via the Section 230 provision of the Communications Decency Act.

Last week, Snap , the parent company of the Snapchat social media app, reached an agreement to settle with the plaintiff, and is no longer part of the trial.
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The TikTok logo is displayed at a TikTok office on Jan. 23, 2026 in Culver City, California. Mario Tama | Getty Images

TikTok's U.S. app, now under majority American ownership, said a recent wave of glitches and content disruption was due to a power outage at one of its data centers, pushing back against claims that the platform was censoring political speech. Users have reported issues with their accounts since the video-sharing app began operating under a newly-formed U.S.-led joint venture, following months of political pressure over its Chinese ownership. Against the backdrop of a tense political environment in the U.S., a growing number of viral complaints about TikTok have accused the platform of censoring certain political positions and even the word "Epstein" within direct messaging. CNBC confirmed that messages containing the word "Epstein" triggered an error message, but was unable to independently verify broader claims of political censorship. Asked about the issues, a spokesperson for the TikTok joint venture told CNBC that the platform does not prohibit sharing the name 'Epstein' in messages and that it is investigating why some users are experiencing the problem, among others. The sensitivity surrounding the messaging issue relates to Jeffrey Epstein, the late financier and convicted sex offender. The Department of Justice has, since December, been releasing caches of documents tied to its investigations of Epstein, but has yet to release the entirety of the so-called "Epstein files."

California scrutiny

The recent complaints about TikTok have been amplified by California Gov. Gavin Newsom, whose press office said in a Tuesday post on X that "our office has received reports  and independently confirmed instances  of suppressed content critical of President Trump." "[Gavin] Newsom is launching a review of this conduct and is calling on the California Department of Justice to determine whether it violates California law," it added. Newsom's office didn't provide evidence to support the claims, though many users have posted videos allegedly showing the issue. In a viral X post, freelance journalist David Leavitt shared a screenshot of videos on his profile that had been flagged as "Ineligible for Recommendation," and claimed TikTok had begun censoring anti-Trump and anti-ICE content. ICE refers to the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency, which is currently engaged in a politically charged operation in the city of Minneapolis. The fatal shootings of two U.S. citizens during federal enforcement actions by ICE have sparked outrage and political debate. Just hours before Newsom issued his threat, the new TikTok joint venture posted an update on its X account saying the company was "continuing to resolve" its major infrastructure issue. "While the network has been recovered, the outage caused a cascading systems failure that we've been working to resolve with our data center partner," it said, adding that users may notice multiple bugs, slower load times, and timed-out requests when posting new content. The company also said creators might temporarily see "0" views or likes on videos due to server timeouts. When asked directly about recent accusations of censorship, including claims related to content about ICE, a TikTok USDS Joint Venture spokesperson said that videos of the incident in Minnesota were available on the platform and had been since Saturday. Separately, users reported this week that direct messages containing the name "Epstein" failed to send through TikTok's direct messaging feature. CNBC was able to recreate this error message when sending a message containing the name "Epstein." That message read: "This message may be in violation of our Community Guidelines, and has not been sent to protect our community." Users were given the option to report potential mistakes.

Ownership overhaul
The ink is barely dry on the European Union and India's historic trade deal but all eyes are now on how President Donald Trump will react to the free trade agreement that's widely seen as a strategic hedge against the U.S.' volatile trade policies and tariff threats.

The deal, which was confirmed earlier Tuesday, has taken almost two decades to agree and will see the trading behemoths gradually cut tariffs to zero on the majority of each other's imports, except on some key products and sectors.

Trump is yet to react publicly to the EU-India deal, which was announced in the early hours of Tuesday morning European time, but he and the White House are unlikely to be happy with the deal. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has already criticized the EU for forging ahead with a trade agreement with India.

"The U.S. has made much bigger sacrifices than Europeans have. We have put 25% tariffs on India for buying Russian oil. Guess what happened last week? The Europeans signed a trade deal with India," Bessent told ABC News on Sunday.

India's minister of petroleum and natural gas, Hardeep Singh Puri, told CNBC on Tuesday that he expected the U.S.-India relationship to remain positive and for a trade deal to be completed soon.

"The relationship structure [between the U.S. and India] is very strong. I would try and look at the positive side, I'm not a soothsayer, I don't know when trade deals will get signed, how long it takes ... but everybody needs to chill a bit." Hardeep Singh Puri told CNBC's Amitoj Singh.

India supported the multilateral trading system, he said, and this was evident in the latest deal with the EU: "If you were to make the statement that the multilateral trading system, the global economy, is undergoing challenges, then I don't think anyone would want to challenge that assessment. On the Indian side, there are several sectors which are looking to an enhanced European market," he said.
BUSAN, SOUTH KOREA - OCTOBER 30: U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping walk to a room for a bilateral meeting at Gimhae Air Base on October 30, 2025 in Busan, South Korea. Andrew Harnik | Getty Images News | Getty Images

U.S. President Donald Trump has widened his tariff playbook, unleashing a string of warnings and policy moves that affect Beijing's interests without directly escalating tariffs on Chinese goods. But analysts are hopeful that the recent geopolitical turmoil is unlikely to unravel the delicate U.S.-China trade truce, as Beijing appears to be betting that Trump's threats will not be enforced in ways that meaningfully harm China. Both sides are seeking to keep plans on track for an upcoming leaders meeting in April. "Beijing is watching," but is likely to respond cautiously to Trump's latest tariff threats, said Deborah Elms, head of trade policy at the Hinrich Foundation. She said Trump is unlikely to follow through on threats, such as imposing 100% tariffs on Canada, or on many of his other warnings to trade partners. "There is no reason to provoke any other reaction from Washington at this time [as] both the U.S. and China are trying to maintain the fragile truce through Trump's planned visit to China in April," Elms added. Gabriel Wildau, managing director at consultancy firm Teneo, said Chinese leaders may doubt Trump will follow through on his latest tariff threats, given that he has largely retreated from earlier measures after backlash from financial markets and the business community.

Trump's expanding playbook

Over the past month, the Trump administration has seized control of Venezuelan oil flows, a crucial source of crude for China, and threatened a 25% tariff on countries doing business with Iran, a move that could hit Beijing as Tehran's largest oil customer. Trump had also threatened to take over Greenland, raising concern in Beijing, which has sought to develop Arctic shipping routes and has shown interest in the island's rare-earth resources. The American president later backed away from threats of force and tariffs but said there was "the framework of a future deal." Canada has emerged as the latest flashpoint. Trump warned he would impose a 100% tariff on Canadian goods if Ottawa moved forward with a trade deal with China, in a stark contrast to his previous comments that such a deal could be "a good thing."

"'Never interrupt your adversary when he is making a mistake' appears to be the guiding principle [for China]." Gabriel Wildau Managing Director of Teneo

Prime Minister Mark Carney reached a trade deal with China  Canada's second largest trading partner after the U.S.  following his trip to Beijing earlier this month. Under the deal, Ottawa would roll back 100% tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles while Beijing would lift retaliatory tariffs on Canadian canola seeds and meal. Trump's tone on the Canada-China deal shifted after Carney's speech at Davos, when he urged middle-power nations to band together against coercive tactics by major powers. Carney later said Canada has no plans to pursue a free trade agreement with Beijing, framing the latest deal as limited in scope. Trump appeared to make it clear that "if you go too far in the China direction, we're going to be really rough on you," said Kurt Tong, managing director of The Asia Group, as officials prepare for an upcoming renegotiation of the U.S.-Canada-Mexico free trade agreement. Beijing said that the trade agreement with Canada was "not directed at any third party" and aligned with the two countries' shared interests. Chinese leaders may welcome the opening created by Carneys engagement and trade deal, but see limits to how far Canada can pivot away from its deep ties with Washington, said David Meale, Head of Eurasia Group's China practice.

Beijing's calculations

Chinese officials have sought to project stability in ties with Washington against the backdrop of rising tensions in recent weeks. Dong Yan, China's vice minister of commerce, said in a press briefing Monday that the two sides have maintained regular communication since Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping met in South Korea in October. China is willing to work with the U.S. to manage differences and deepen cooperation to ensure a stable and healthy bilateral relationship, Yan said, while stressing the relationship must be based on mutual respect and win-win cooperation. Both sides appear to have adapted to a world in which they "lob hand grenades at each other  or at least threaten to  without disrupting plans for the two leaders to meet," said Stephen Olson, a visiting senior fellow at the ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute. It is in the best interests of both sides to keep the April meeting on track, he added.

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The U.S. government is on the brink of a partial shutdown beginning at 12:01 a.m. ET Saturday in large part because of a second recent killing of a U.S. citizen by federal agents in Minneapolis. It would be different than last year's shutdown.

The killing of Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old intensive care nurse, has galvanized fierce Senate Democratic opposition to a House-passed measure providing funding for the Department of Homeland Security and a slew of other agencies. The more-than-$1.2 trillion package cleared the House of Representatives last week and accounts for the bulk of government spending for the fiscal year ending Sept. 30.

Democratic support will be required to pass the bill, which needs 60 votes to avert the filibuster in the Senate that Republicans control 53-47. Democrats are demanding the DHS portion be stripped in exchange for their votes, something Republicans have signaled they will not do.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., suggested on Tuesday that the Trump administration's recent retreat from its immigration actions in Minnesota would not be enough to drop the shutdown threat  raising the shutdown odds even higher.

"The fix should come from Congress; the public can't trust the administration to do the right thing on its own," Schumer said in remarks on the Senate floor.

"In the meantime, I will vote no on any legislation that funds ICE until it is reined in and overhauled, and Senate Democrats are overwhelmingly united on this issue," Schumer said. "If [Senate Majority Leader John] Thune insists on holding a vote on DHS legislation that he knows will not pass, then he will guarantee yet another unnecessary government shutdown this Friday."

Thune, R-S.D., said Tuesday on the Senate floor that Pretti's death was a "tragedy" and warrants a "full and impartial investigation." He also said talks are underway to break a Democratic logjam of the appropriations bill.

"Productive talks are ongoing, and I urge my Democrat colleagues to continue their engagement and find a path forward that will avoid a needless shutdown," Thune said.

If the Senate alters the bill at all, it would have to be reapproved by the House, which is out on a prescheduled recess and has not announced plans to return before the deadline.

In addition to DHS, the bill would fund the departments of Defense, Treasury, State, Health and Human Services, Labor, Housing and Urban Development, Transportation, and Education.

Should the bill not pass by the Friday night deadline, those agencies would be deprived of funding and enter a shutdown posture  meaning "nonessential" employees would be furloughed and "essential" employees would work without pay. Spending bills that President Donald Trump already signed would keep the rest of the government open.

"Activities that are necessary to protect life and property continue, although the workers in those functions may not be paid while they are working," said Caleb Quakenbush, associate director of economic policy at the Bipartisan Policy Center. "Agencies have a lot of discretion in terms of who is essential and at what period."

Agencies typically release contingency plans before a shutdown. So far, the agencies at risk of losing funding have not publicly released their plans.

Certain government functions like Social Security payments and Medicare and Medicaid services typically continue during a shutdown, Quakenbush said. The bill that reopened the government last year included funding for the Department of Agriculture through the fiscal year, meaning the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program will not see a disruption as it did last year.
A much-anticipated trade deal between India and the U.S. is at "a very advanced stage," India's Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas Hardeep Singh Puri told CNBC Tuesday.

"I would try and look at the positive side, I'm not a soothsayer, I don't know when trade deals will get signed, how long it takes ... but I think one [everybody] needs to chill a bit," he told CNBC's Amitoj Singh, as India and the EU announced a landmark trade deal.

"I'm told by the people who are in it [the negotiations] that it's at a very advanced stage, and I'm hoping that, sooner rather than later, it will also see the light of day," he added of the U.S. deal.

Describing the relationship between the U.S. as "very strong," Singh Puri said India supported a multilateral trading system and this was evident in the free trade agreement deal with the European Union, announced earlier Tuesday.

That open-to-trade stance would be of benefit to Washington as trade talks continued, he added.

"There's an economic opportunity here for others who want trade deals. So let's try and shift it around. I think it's going to be a mutual benefit, not only for the EU ... but the United States and elsewhere also," he said.

There could be some apprehension in New Delhi on Tuesday as to how U.S. President Donald Trump might react to the country's new trade deal with the EU, which will see both sides gradually cut tariffs on the majority of each other's imports.

Despite agreeing a trade deal with the EU, and continuing trade talks to reach an agreement with India, the U.S. has maintained punitive tariffs on imports from both trading partners; while the EU was hit with a 15% duty on its exports ton the States, India was slapped with a much more punitive 50% levy, in part because of its ongoing oil purchases from Russia.

Trump is yet to react publicly to the EU-India deal, which was announced in the early hours of Tuesday morning European time. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has already criticized the EU for forging ahead with a trade agreement with India.

"The U.S. has made much bigger sacrifices than Europeans have. We have put 25% tariffs on India for buying Russian oil. Guess what happened last week? The Europeans signed a trade deal with India," Bessent told ABC News Sunday.
The Goa government is considering the introduction of an Australia-like law that would ban social media use for children below the age of 16, Tourism and Information Technology Minister Rohan Khaunte said.Khaunte said the move is being explored following multiple complaints from parents. "We have received many complaints. Social media platforms are becoming a distraction for children and are leading to several social issues," he told media.Khaunte said Australia has already enacted legislation restricting social media access for children under 16. "Our IT department has studied the relevant policy papers from Australia. We are examining them and will discuss the matter with the chief minister. If possible, we will look at implementing a similar ban for children below 16. Further details will follow," he added.The minister said the state's IT department has reviewed the policy framework and that consultations will be held with Chief Minister Pramod Sawant before any final decision is taken.Khaunte said excessive social media use is affecting children's focus, especially at a time when artificial intelligence is reshaping the future. "We need children to be more focussed so they can grow into responsible citizens and contribute to the future of the state and the country," he said.He also pointed to parents' concerns that children remain glued to mobile phones and social media even during family time, creating behavioural and social challenges. "The personal space occupied by social media has become very large and is creating complexities for children. We are studying whether a state-wide ban is legally and practically feasible," he said.According to a statement from the Goa Tourism and IT Ministry, the proposal has been initiated in response to a steady rise in parental complaints over the years.The development comes days after Andhra Pradesh IT and Education Minister Nara Lokesh said his government was also considering an Australia-like ban on social media for children under 16. He added that a group of ministers has been formed to study the proposal and assess its feasibility.
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US enterprises are experiencing a fundamental reversal in global technology talent flows as restrictive H-1B visa policies and Indias rapidly maturing tech ecosystem combine to redirect skilled professionals away from US careers, threatening American competitiveness while accelerating Indias emergence as a global innovation hub.

Workforce data from LinkedIns Labor Market Report released this month showed Indias hiring surged 40% above pre-pandemic levels while advanced economies, including the US, saw hiring decline 23%. Companies headquartered in the US, UK, Germany, France, and Australia all increased their share of India-based hiring between 2015 and 2025.

In this climate, work is being upskilled around AI and is shifting across borders as companies embrace global teams (especially in India), the LinkedIn report stated.
On Dec. 29 and 30, the Polish electricity grid was subjected to a cyberattack that nearly knocked out power to hundreds of thousands of households.

Security firm ESET has since conducted a closer examination of the attack and concluded that it was carried out by Sandworm, a group of hackers with strong ties to the Russian military intelligence service GRU.

The attack used Dynowiper, a powerful malware that deletes all data on vulnerable computers.
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THE DAILY GAZETTE

The Daily Gazette was originally established in 1894 when the Schenectady Printing Association, under the guidance of Gerardus Smith, took over a weekly called the Schenectady Gazette.

Within that first year Smith, the son of a prominent banker, quickly turned the newspaper into a daily and by 1895 the new Daily Gazette was the leading newspaper in the city, selling 3,000 copies a day to surpass the circulation figures of its two competitors, the Union and the Evening Star.

Calling itself independent in politics, the Daily Gazette continued to grow in the early part of the 20th century, and in 1902 changed its name back to the Schenectady Gazette. In 1917, Austin N. Liecty succeeded Smith as president of the Gazette  the only non-family member to hold that post - and remained in that position until 1945.

Back in 1924, Liecty had overseen the purchase of a new Gazette building on State Street near the New York Central Railroad overpass in downtown Schenectady.

It was Eleanor Smith, the daughter of Gerardus, who succeeded Liecty as company president, and she remained in charge until 1965 when her nephew, John E.N. Hume Jr., took over the position.

David Hume, Johns brother, took over the reins in 1986.

In 1990, the newspaper changed its name back to the Daily Gazette, launched its first Sunday edition and moved from downtown Schenectady to its current location at 2345 Maxon Road.

John E.N. (Jack) Hume III became president of the company in 1993, before retiring in 2013 when his cousins, Elizabeth Hume Lind and William S. Hume, assumed control of the newspaper.

The newspaper, having been passed down through five generations of the Smith, Green and Hume-Lind families, was sold in 2024 to John DeAugustine, who had become publisher of the Gazette in 2013.

Under DeAugustines leadership, the Gazette expanded its operation by acquiring other newspapers in the region, including the Amsterdam Recorder (2019), the Gloversville Leader-Herald (2021), the Catskill Daily Mail (2024) and the Hudson Register-Star (2024).

John DeAugustine is the companys publisher and chairman, while other members of the board include Judi Terzotis, CEO of the Georges Media Company; Bill McKendree, founder of the Clarion Group; Gary Reach, founder of Telereach and owner of The Call Center Group; P.J. Browning, CEO of Evening Post Publishing and president and publisher of The Post and Courier; and Philip Morris, CEO of Proctors Collaborative.

Histories of our other publications:
Daily Mail journalists select and curate the products that feature on our site. If you make a purchase via links on this page we will earn commission - learn more

The under-the-radar fragrance that earned scores of wearers endless compliments in 2025 is back with a body wash version of the iconic scent.

Designed for the modern man, Cremo has a range of body washes, fragrances, and grooming essentials from just 14.50 that have been wowing shoppers with its unique scents.

The Spice & Black Vanilla Eau De Toilette is a particular favourite, with teams of reviewers raving how it gets them 'get nothing but compliments'. And now there are new products to add to the lineup.

Spice & Black Vanilla Body Wash The Cremo Spice & Black Vanilla Spray has turned plenty of heads with its sophisticated blend of Cardamom, Tobacco and Black Vanilla. Now, the soft, woody and vibrant fragrance comes in a body wash form so you can layer your scent. You can now get 25 per cent off with the code CREMO25. This ends February 15 2026. Shop Spice & Black Vanilla Eau De Toilette 100ml The Cremo Spice & Black Vanilla Spray has turned plenty of heads with its sophisticated blend of Cardamom, Tobacco and Black Vanilla. A soft, woody and vibrant fragrance that is designed to be long-lasting and not overpowering, it's no wonder it's amassed impressive user reviews. Perfect for Valentine's Day gifting, it's now on sale for 25 per cent off using the discount code CREMO25. Shop

The Cremo Spice & Black Vanilla Spray has turned plenty of heads with its sophisticated blend of Cardamom, Tobacco and Black Vanilla and now comes in a body wash form

If you like to stand out from the crowd, Cremo is the male grooming brand you need to know about, offering men elevated products to upgrade their grooming routine. And at a price you're sure to love.

And the Spice & Black Vanilla Eau De Toilette by Cremo was one of the hottest discoveries of last year.

Scores of shoppers were left raving about its ability to stop others in their tracks, with many comparing the affordable 35 fragrance to a luxury buy. And now you're in luck as the brand has expanded its best-selling body washes with new signature scents and launched a new Tortoise razor.

Designed to help wearers 'smell uncommonly good', Cremo's range of grooming products has had chins wagging thanks to its expensive-smelling range but for an unexpectedly humble price tag.

Even the pickiest fragrance snobs have been wooed by the Cremo grooming and fragrance line, in particular the bestselling Spice & Black Vanilla Eau De Toilette.

Now, the iconic scent is available in a shower gel, so you can layer up your fragrance, helping it last even longer.

The brand has described the fragrance as an aromatic, soft, and warm essence that contrasts with a gourmet touch of black vanilla and a spicy zest of cardamom, all for a sweet, woody and vibrant explosion.

Sensual, indulgent and enveloping, users have described the scent as smelling 'far more expensive than it is', with one impressed wearer writing: 'Amazing value for money and really impressed with the fragrance, I feel I'll be wearing it a lot with the colder months just around the corner.'

And it's not just the Spice & Black Vanilla Eau De Toilette that's winning over shoppers. The brand has plenty of bestsellers like the Palo Santo Reserve Collection Body Wash and the cooling Citrus & Mint Leaf Eau De Toilette that shoppers call 'refreshing and reviving'.

Don't forget, you can now get 25 per cent off with the code CREMO25. This ends February 15 2026.
Better late than never, Donald Trump has recanted his offensive remarks about the contribution of British troops in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The President posted on Truth Social: 'The great and very brave soldiers of the United Kingdom will always be with the United States of America! In Afghanistan 457 died, many were badly injured and they were among the greatest of all warriors. It's a bond too strong to be broken.

'The UK military, with tremendous heart and soul, is second to none (except for the USA!). We love you all and always will!'

Keir Starmer has tried to take credit for Trump's climbdown following a phone call with the President at the weekend. My guess is that Trump was more influenced by reports that King Charles was deeply disturbed by his apparent slurs against our Armed Forces than anything the Prime Minister had to say.

The President, who reveres the Royal Family, will have wanted to avoid any potential embarrassment in advance of the King's State visit to the US later this year. He will also have noted that his friend Nigel Farage, Britain's most fervently Trumpist politician, joined in the condemnation.

To be charitable, which isn't a word usually associated with this column, I'm not sure Trump meant to rubbish the reputation and courage of our military.

Yes, as a White House source admitted, he has a tendency to engage mouth before brain. But when he launched into his tirade about European forces staying well clear of the front line in Iraq and Afghanistan, he probably didn't have the UK in mind.

Trump is half-British, a committed Anglophile and was a passionate supporter of Brexit. I get the impression that he doesn't consider the UK to be part of 'Europe'. It's the EU nations he holds in contempt.

We'll never know, because Trump always refuses to apologise. But his, er, clarification on Truth Social is as close to an apology as makes no difference.

The clincher will have been the outraged reaction of senior American military figures such as General Stanley McChrystal, who commanded the Nato coalition in Afghanistan and retired General Barry McCaffrey, who served four tours in Vietnam and Iraq.

Surkeir claiming credit for Trump's U-turn and posing as a 'patriotic' defender of our Armed Forces sticks in the craw, writes Richard Littlejohn

Nigel Farage has pledged to end the prosecution of veterans who served in The Troubles

I know from personal experience how much the American military admire their British counterparts. During my Christmas holiday in the States, I paid a visit to the impressive Navy SEAL museum in Fort Pierce, Florida.

I was given a guided tour by the museum's CEO, decorated former SEAL sniper Rick Kaiser who was awarded a Silver Star for bravery during the Black Hawk Down Battle of Mogadishu in 1993 and served with SEAL teams 2 and 6, the unit which went on to hunt down Osama bin Laden.

Kaiser has the highest praise for his opposite numbers in our Special Boat Service (SBS), the British equivalent of the SEALs, alongside whom he has trained and served.

He told me that the SBS were right up there with the SEALs in terms of preparation, courage and effectiveness. 'The only difference is we have more stuff.'

And there's the rub.

Compared to the US military, our Armed Forces are woefully under-funded and under-equipped. We're all familiar with reports of ammunition shortages, faulty weapons and soldiers even having to buy their own boots.

Which is why Surkeir claiming credit for Trump's U-turn and posing as a 'patriotic' defender of our Armed Forces sticks in the craw.

All governments, including the Tories, are guilty of failing to properly bankroll our Armed Forces. But Labour uniquely is at best indifferent towards the military, especially our superb Special Forces, and at worst outright hostile.

Starmer's promise to increase defence spending to a paltry 3 per cent at some point in the future probably isn't worth the paper it's written on.

Judge him on his actions, not his words. Starmer and Rachel From Complaints chose to shovel billions to Benefits Street rather than ensuring that the military are funded adequately to meet the threats of an increasingly dangerous world.

The last Budget contained not a single penny increase in defence spending.

Join the debate Do YOU believe Starmer truly backs the military?

Compared to the US military, our Armed Forces are woefully under-funded and under-equipped, writes Richard Littlejohn

But it's his determination to pursue to the grave those brave veterans who served in Northern Ireland and elsewhere that is most appalling.

Surkeir has pledged to scrap the Conservatives' Legacy Act, which would have protected ex-servicemen from vexatious prosecutions for alleged 'war crimes' during The Troubles and would open the way for six-figure compensation payments for terrorists who claim to have been unlawfully detained.

This is merely a continuation of the Blairite 'peace' doctrine of holding veterans to account while emptying the prisons of terrorists and issuing 'letters of comfort' to IRA members 'on the run' promising them immunity from prosecution.

There's not a cigarette paper between Surkeir and his mate 'Lord' Hermer, the man he made Attorney General and who is best known for trousering a reported 30,000 for representing Gerry Adams in a lawsuit brought by three victims of an IRA bombing campaign.

Hermer says he can't remember how much he was paid in the Adams case, as if a 30 grand payday is something you'd easily forget. Nor do we know how much he was paid to represent the government of Mauritius.

What we do know is that following Hermer's advice, Starmer has been determined to surrender sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, and by extension the Chinese, while paying them 90 billion for the privilege of taking them off our hands. So no conflict of interest there, then.

As for supporting our military, the Chagos Islands are home to the strategic UK/US air base on Diego Garcia. No wonder the deal has now been put on hold after Trump grasped the implications for global security.

By happy coincidence, Suella Braverman's defection to Reform yesterday took place against a backdrop of a Veterans For Reform rally in London. Both Braverman and Farage were scathing in their condemnation of Starmer for putting European yuman rites law ahead of the interests of ex-servicemen.

Farage graphically outlined the way in which Surkeir and Hermer are happy for undocumented foreign men who have entered the country illegally to be given immediate access to food and lodging and a range of other benefits, including free health care, while destitute British veterans are forced to sleep on the streets.

Farage has promised to repeal the ECHR and use the royal prerogative to pardon any Northern Ireland veteran convicted under the Act and extend that protection to soldiers hounded by yuman rites lawyers following the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Coverage of Sue Ellen's defection on Sky News was preceded by an advert for the charity Royal British Veterans Enterprise to raise money for homeless ex-servicemen.

Starmer's weasel words paying lip-service to the bravery of our troops ring hollow when set against his shocking neglect of the Armed Forces and his continuing campaign of lawfare against those who served their country with courage and distinction. Surkeir talks with forked tongue.

You could never imagine him being cheered to the rafters by hundreds of ex-military personnel, as Braverman and Farage were yesterday. Not that he'd contemplate taking part in such an event. We won't be seeing a Veterans For Labour rally any time soon.

Actually, it's entirely the kind of patriotic jamboree at which Trump excels in the US. So, better late than never, it's right and proper that he's withdrawn his earlier remarks and ladled praise on our troops.

Disregard Starmer's attempt to take credit for Trump's reverse ferret and concentrate on his duplicitous attitude to our Armed Forces. It's no wonder veterans are flocking to Reform.
Keir Starmer is stepping up 'Operation Kowtow', his reckless bid to cosy up to China  at the worst possible moment for Britain's national security.

Having gifted China its new mega-embassy in London  the 'nest of spies', as it has been dubbed  the Prime Minister is heading to Beijing today in the hope of being rewarded for a year of abject appeasement.

'Kowtow Keir' will arrive in a Beijing buzzing with intrigue after the weekend removal of Zhang Youxia, China's highest-ranking general, who has reportedly been accused of leaking nuclear secrets to America and taking bribes.

Zhang, a long-time ally of Xi Jinping, is only the latest target of the president's purge that has decimated the top military leadership and is unmatched since the dark days of Mao Zedong.

Starmer will have in tow a posse of businessfolk and Chancellor Rachel Reeves for the first visit by a British prime minister since Theresa May in 2018.

But talk of a 'reset' in relations is not only dangerous, but desperately naive.

For a reality check, Starmer's entourage will need only glance at their burner phones and throwaway laptops  essential kit for any visit to Xi's hostile surveillance state.

Not to mention, ahead of the visit, China has been accused of establishing a network of more than 75 covert influence outposts embedded in British businesses and universities.

Like a schoolyard bully, Xi has no respect for the weakness that defines Starmer's China policy, writes Ian Williams

The site for China's new 'mega-embassy' in London, which Labour approved despite security concerns

These clandestine operations are used to 'cultivate elites, shape debate and suppress criticism of Beijing', according to the UK's Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China  a parliamentary body dedicated to scrutinising the government's China policy.

Aside from the obvious security concerns, in this climate of enormous geopolitical uncertainty, Starmer's determination to reach out to Beijing could scarcely be more foolhardy.

The Chinese Communist Party is so opaque it is hard to say whether Xi's constant purging of his generals is a sign of weakness or strength.

In October last year, eight top generals were expelled from the Communist Party on corruption charges.

But while Zhang had been portrayed as a cautionary voice on Taiwan (he was in favour of delaying an invasion), Xi seems more impatient to take the island  ordering his generals to be ready to invade by next year.

This has left Taiwanese officials this week scrambling to understand what it all means for their security as China steps up its military intimidation. And President Trump's actions in Venezuela and his threats against Greenland could well encourage Beijing's aggression in its own backyard.

Xi is meanwhile confident he has the upper-hand in the trade war with America and is increasingly flexing his military muscles in partnership with his 'good friend' Vladimir Putin, whose aggression in Ukraine would be unsustainable without China's help.

Like a schoolyard bully, Xi has no respect for the weakness that defines Starmer's China policy. The ledger of appeasement in the months leading to this week's visit is chilling.

Demonstrators in London, many from regions oppressed by China such as Tibet and Hong Kong, protesting the plans for the new Chinese embassy

The Chinese leader had refused to confirm Starmer's visit until after he'd given the embassy the green light. He had also petulantly refused to give the British Embassy in Beijing permission for essential refurbishment.

That smacks of blackmail, not the birth of a new 'golden era' of business relations as some around Starmer are proclaiming.

There was also the collapse of a high-profile spy trial last September, which the Government was accused of deliberately torpedoing to avoid embarrassing Beijing.

Ministers denied the accusation, but a report by Parliament concluded the handling of the case was 'shambolic'.

In December, it was further revealed that Foreign Office computers were hacked in an attempt to gain access to sensitive files by a gang known as Storm-1849.

Multiple officials confirmed privately China was behind it, but  in a cowardly bid to avoid offending the country's president  ministers refused publicly to blame Beijing.

In short, ministers have tied themselves in knots to avoid labelling China a 'threat', even though that is blindingly obvious and Beijing clearly defines Britain as an enemy.

Then there are the glaring human rights violations.

Take Jimmy Lai, a fearless campaigner for democracy in Hong Kong, convicted in December of trumped-up security offences that included the Orwellian charge of 'colluding with foreign forces'.

The newspaper publisher and British citizen faces life imprisonment, with his sentencing possibly coinciding with Starmer's trip to Beijing.

Lai has not only become a symbol of Hong Kong's descent into tyranny, but also the contempt with which Beijing holds the UK.

The Government's support for Lai and its criticism of his persecution has, at times, appeared weak and half-hearted.

Meanwhile, Britain has largely stood by while Beijing has trashed promises made at the time of the 1997 handover to respect Hong Kong's freedoms.

Starmer thinks he can have it both ways, separating thorny security and human rights issues from trade and business.

He has called for deeper business ties, telling a City banquet that China was 'a defining force in technology, trade and global governance' and that it would be a 'dereliction of duty' not to engage  and his trip to Beijing is the culmination of that strategy.

Yet China has long regarded trade, investment and market access as means of coercion. That is clear in Beijing's recent weaponisation of rare earths, a group of critical minerals essential to high-tech industries ranging from fighter jets to mobile phones, electric vehicles, wind turbines and batteries, over which China has a near monopoly.

Worse still, economists are warning of a 'second China shock' to Western economies this year.

The first followed Beijing joining the World Trade Organisation in 2001, which led to the mass loss of firms and jobs as industries shifted to China and the West faced a flood of cheap Chinese exports.

This time, Beijing is attempting to dominate technologies of the future, from renewables and robotics to biotechnology and AI via massive state subsidies, which are creating enormous over-capacity, distorting trade as China looks to dump its surplus (worth $1.19trillion last year) on world markets and decimate rivals. All the while seeking to impede Western competitors.

The dependencies China is creating are not an accident, but part of an explicit policy, spelt out by Xi and designed to give Beijing greater leverage. This is a perversion of any notion of free trade, where everyone supposedly benefits. China wants to sell everything and buy nothing.

When I was looking for a title for my most recent book, I settled on Vampire State, since the analogy of the blood-sucking bat seemed so fitting for a country that has long bent or ignored the rules of international trade, while plundering technology and know-how via industrial-scale cyber espionage.

And the vampire is about to become even more thirsty, with Starmer walking blindly into its lair.

Of course, we can't ignore China, but Starmer confuses engagement with kowtowing. Instead, the message should be robust and its delivery firm.

Starmer appears incapable of either. Instead, he will travel to Beijing with well-worn cap in hand for what stands to be a humiliating spectacle.

Ian Williams is author of Vampire State: The Rise and Fall of the Chinese Economy
Sir Lindsay Hoyle, Speaker of the Commons, had one foot in a surgical boot after a recent tumble. This did not stop him giving Treasury minister Dan Tomlinson a kicking. Mr Tomlinson, 33, an understrapper in the department, was given the grotty job of announcing the Government's part-retreat on pub taxes. Not quite a Uey. More an L-turn.

Pubs are to be given some relief but hotels and other businesses are going to have to lump it. Labour backbenchers were less than thrilled.

Sir Lindsay possibly felt the Chancellor, Rachel Reeves, should have been making the lunchtime statement. She was certainly in the vicinity. A short while earlier she had taken Treasury questions and she was not packing her bags to travel to China with the prime minister. One hears she was put-out when told that Downing Street did not want her in Beijing. Will she soon be heading instead for the glue factory?

But Cabinet ministers hate to taint themselves with retreats, particularly when their own incompetence is to blame. And so the House was landed with the inexperienced Mr Tomlinson. Pleasant enough lad but he drones. Looks like Shaggy from Scooby Doo. Talks too much.

He far exceeded his opening allocation of ten minutes. Deputy Speaker Caroline Nokes was in the chair at that point. She protested. Mr Tomlinson sailed onwards. Speaker Hoyle hobbled back into the chamber. The foot plainly hurts like blazes. Deputy Speaker Nokes handed over to Sir Lindsay and quietly informed him that Mr Tomlinson seemed unconcerned about having gone several minutes over time.

'He ignored me,' said Ms Nokes, or words to that effect. Sir Lindsay: 'Well he won't chuffin' ignore me!'

One hears that Reeves was was put-out when told that Downing Street did not want her in Beijing. Seen leaving a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday, January 27

Mr Tomlinson finally reached the end of his mega-waffle. Thirteen minutes or more, it lasted. The whole statement could have been boiled down into a single sentence: 'The last Budget has gone rotten so we're going to give pubs an amnesty for a couple of years until the political heat has abated.' That really was all he needed to say.

Sir Lindsay, martyr to his hoof, rose.

'That's not acceptable,' he snapped at Mr Tomlinson. 'You can't just carry on. Weren't you advised that it was meant to be ten minutes?' How on earth? The House should be shown the respect it deserves.' Mr Tomlinson tried to apologise. Sir Lindsay harrumphed. Mr Tomlinson went raspberry pink.

The Speaker has become fed up with Downing Street aides who think parliament is unimportant. Last weekend, No 10 was briefing stories like Billy-oh seemingly in order to deflect attention from the Andy Burnham story.

Furthermore, why was Cadet Tomlinson not told by officials how long he should speak? If ministers are not being prepared properly for the despatch box, the permanent secretary is not doing his job. Perhaps the Treasury's ill-shaven James Bowler is too busy trying to keep Ms Reeves away from sharp objects.

Mr Tomlinson had to deal with two Dames. Dame Meg Hillier (Lab, Hackney S) told him to get a move on with changes. Dame Harriett Baldwin (Con, W Worcs) said pubs were shrewd to suggest they would not serve Labour MPs until the rates increases were reconsidered. Mr Tomlinson shrivelled under the quivering gaze of these two old trouts.

Samantha Niblett (Lab, S Derbys) complained about cardboard-disposal charges. Jim McMahon (Lab, Oldham W) wanted a 'wider package' of assistance for businesses.

Stella Creasy (Lab, Walthamstow) briskly told the baby minister that soft-play centres were just as important as pubs.

Rachael Maskell (Lab, York C) wrung her hands about bookshops. Hang on, she's the one who wanted more spending on benefits!

Jenny Riddell-Carpenter (Lab, Suffolk C) wanted lower alcohol duties. And so it continued. The Government backbenchers were far from thrilled.

Had Ms Reeves been there, she might have learned something, and seen that tax-and-spend is not without its political costs. But maybe such things will soon be Wes Streeting's problem.
If you are holding your breath or counting the minutes until Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem is fired or frog-marched out of town, I'd recommend a different hobby.

Knit. Walk the dog. Learn Italian. This particular vigil is likely to leave you light-headed and disappointed.

Washington has been running a political death watch ever since President Donald Trump appeared to soften his posture after the Minnesota shooting  dialing back the rhetoric, tweaking the tone, and seeming, to some eyes, to edge away from one of his most controversial Cabinet members.

Cable panels saw repudiation. Social media smelled blood. But people close to the situation see something much more prosaic, and much more Trumpian.

Start with the much-discussed two-hour Oval Office meeting late Monday night. In some quarters it was cast as a woodshed session, the kind where a president lowers the boom and a subordinate emerges chastened, if at all. That is not what happened.

According to sources familiar with the session, the meeting ranged widely and casually: the border wall, the new White House ballroom, midterm races, the power of a presidential endorsement, the new immigration 'gold card' and a grab bag of other topics that tend to surface when Trump is in a free-flowing mood.

At one point he even broke off to do a media interview. This was not a come-to-Jesus moment. It was two pols and pals  who genuinely like each other  having a long, meandering, college-dorm-style conversation.

The full tell came Monday, when Trump told reporters on his way out of the White House that Noem is safe in her job.

Washington has been running a political death watch ever since President Donald Trump appeared to soften his posture after the Minnesota shooting

The full tell came Monday, when Trump told reporters on his way out of the White House that Noem (pictured on January 24) is safe in her job

There is another, even more reliable barometer of security in Trump World  more reliable, at all times, than the president's own public assurances  and that is standing with the First Lady. By that measure, Noem is not merely fine; she is flourishing.

I'm told privately that Melania Trump is a big fan and a fast friend. In this White House, that counts for more than a dozen flattering headlines.

Then there is the post-shooting minuet of statements on Saturday, which critics seized on as evidence of chaos or overreach.

Customs and Border Protection Chief Greg Bovino spoke first, followed by an even tougher set of remarks from Noem. What looked like escalation was, in fact, choreography.

The secretarys words, suggesting Alex Pretti, the man who was shot, was a domestic terrorist who had threatened federal agents, were coordinated in advance, approved by senior White House officials, and praised privately afterward, sources familiar with the conversations say. Noem was executing orders from 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, not freelancing, when she went hard at Pretti, I am told.

I've also learned how Tom Homan, the former acting ICE director and titular immigration czar, ended up running the operation on the ground in Minnesota. According to a source close to the president, Homan called Trump around dawn Monday and suggested it himself.

Trump liked the idea  particularly Homan's history of dealing with Democrats during the Obama years  which he believes gives him credibility heading into meetings with Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz.

Trump has always had a soft spot for emissaries who can walk into enemy territory without flinching. Shortly after the call from Homan, Trump went on Truth Social and claimed the idea as his own.

With Noem secure, barring some sudden 180-degree turn from the president, the more interesting figure to watch is Stephen Miller, the deputy chief of staff and the administration's true immigration czar. Miller is so powerful on this issue  and on more than a few others  that the press coverage of his influence, voluminous as it is, still understates the case.

The secretarys words, suggesting Alex Pretti, the man who was shot, was a domestic terrorist who had threatened federal agents, were coordinated in advance, approved by senior White House officials, and praised privately afterward, sources familiar with the conversations say

I've also learned how Tom Homan, the former acting ICE director and titular immigration czar, ended up running the operation on the ground in Minnesota

Mark Halperin is the editor-in-chief and host of the interactive live video platform 2WAY and the host of the video podcast 'Next Up' on the Megyn Kelly network

Miller has been taking heat for the political fallout in Minnesota. Federal agents went in on the offensive and were forced into retreat after searing television images from the shooting handed Democrats the upper hand  this just weeks after a welfare scandal had Republicans dreaming of a midterm breakthrough in the state.

The Wall Street Journal editorial board has criticized Miller publicly; some Republicans have done so privately. Notably, Miller was not in that long Oval Office meeting Monday night. He is, however, traveling with Trump to Iowa on Tuesday.

That trip will give the president and his most influential adviser a chance to talk  really talk  about immigration, an issue that helped them win two presidential elections together but now sits in a more ambiguous place heading into 2026.

Even the sharpest minds on Team Trump, including the president himself, can't yet know whether immigration will galvanize Trump voters on behalf of down-ballot Republicans, or instead energize Democrats and spook independents.

In private, since the shooting, Trump has been telling people he wants to 'de-escalate' the situation on the ground in Minnesota. Stephen Miller is many things. A de-escalator is not one of them.

Which leaves us with the real question  not whether Kristi Noem survives, but how Stephen Miller feels about the president's decision. At least for now, he seems inclined to ease off the gas. Let's see how that conversation goes.
A mother-of-two dismissed a tell-tale sign of her cancer whilst pregnant because she felt her story 'was the opposite of someone who got bowel cancer.'

Alice Norris, 35, from Newcastle, began noticing blood in her stool when she was pregnant with her second child, Olivia.

Having carried her son just a year before, she knew haemorrhoids, also known as piles, is a common pregnancy woe so she didn't think too much of it.

Ms Norris said: 'During the later stages of my second pregnancy, I started to notice blood in my stool, but I had read and I knew about haemorrhoids, so I didnt want to panic.

'But when I started to see differences in my poo as well as the blood, I promised myself that if these symptoms dont get better once my baby is born, then Ill go to the doctors.'

Common symptoms of piles include blood in the stool, aching, swelling and soreness around the anus, and mucus discharge.

It was only after she'd given birth to her daughter, now 11-months-old, that she realised something could be seriously wrong.

Alice Norris, from Newcastle, shrugged off bowel cancer symptoms while pregnant

'Every day was a different story when I looked in the toilet, and that was worrying,' she recalled.

At this point, Ms Norris wasn't only experiencing bleeding. The consistency of her stool had changed and she was needing to go more often with more urgency.

'I feel so silly now saying that, and it sounds silly looking back, like: "Why didnt you go sooner?" But this is my second pregnancy, and I knew people who had piles.

'I put it down to the pregnancy, ultimately.'

After she and her husband, Olly, had settled down into life with two children under two, she booked an appointment with her GP to rule-out anything more sinister.

Her tests - which look for blood in the stool - came back clear and she was told that she was at low risk of bowel cancer, given she had no family history and led a very active lifestyle.

She was treated for haemorrhoids and in June 2025 she underwent a colonoscopy - the main test for bowel cancer where a thin tube attached with a camera is used to look inside the bowel.

Immediately after the procedure, Ms Norris was taken into a private room, where she knew - with her then four-month-year-old daughter by her side - that her 'whole world was going to be turned upside down.'

Ms Norris, her husband Olly and their two children

Doctors told her they had discovered a large tumour in her bowel

She said: 'The doctors told me they had identified a large tumour and they were very very sure it was cancer.

'It was just such a tough moment,' she recalled.

'I felt shocked and distressed and like the rug was just being pulled from under my feet. But thankfully, Im a practical person, so I did go straight to: "Right, whats the next step? What do we need to do, here?"

'But, it was just awful. And pretty much from that moment, life just became a whirlwind.'

Whilst the tumour originated in her rectum, her doctors were concerned that the cancer had spread after a scan revealed spots on her lungs.

This would suggest the cancer had spread, meaning the mother-of-two was already at the most advanced stage of the disease.

'I left the hospital that day thinking: I have a large tumour and its spread to my lungs as well

'That was the worst 20 minutes of my life, probably,' she added.

Ms Norris feared that the cancer had spread to her lungs

Ms Norris was also referred for a PET scan to confirm the doctors suspicions - which uses a small amount of radiation to look inside the body - which thankfully came back clear.

'Even now, Im still scared, but the focus has been on the bowel tumour itself,' she explained.

She was started on a course of chemoradiotherapy - which uses a combination of drugs and high energy rays to kill cancer cells - and had to stop breastfeeding.

From that moment on, 'life just looked so different,' she said.

'I was getting to know my new best friends, who were doctors, nurses. I was having blood tests, consultations, infusions. I was whisked away from my four-month-old baby, I had to stop breastfeeding immediately.

'My husband had to take on having a newborn and having a toddler full time, pretty much, on his own, because I had to be at all these appointments.'

She added; 'Im a positive person, but it really tested me, and I was surprised by how floored I really was.

'I felt constantly sick. I lost all my hair, couldnt sleep. But it did have an entertaining side effect or two, which was cravings for chicken nuggets, so I spent a lot of time in the McDonalds drive through car park! But I guess youve got to take any small highlights that you can get.

'It was just relentlessly feeling unwell, basically, for 12 weeks on the run-up to Christmas.'

Doctors are now monitoring her closely, as the stage of her cancer was deemed medically uncertain after PET scans.

The family will find out this week whether the treatment was successful.

The mother-of-two added: 'Now were in a new year, and what Im hoping and praying for is surgery in the spring. That is the hope.

'But cancer, its unpredictable. No one can say whats gonna happen until we see scans.'

She said that the most difficult part of this journey has been the uncertainty - something she had to deal with eight years ago when her mum died from blood cancer.

'Ive had to live with uncertainty before, but Ive had to learn to live with it again, she said.

'Its really difficult, and its worrying, and its distressing, and all I can do is take each day as it comes.I just have to bring it back down to today, and literally tell myself to put one foot in front of the other, and thats how I cope with it.'

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She hopes her story will raise better awareness for bowel cancer and its tell-tale warning signs, and help 'break down the taboos' surrounding the disease.

'It might save your life, or someone elses,' she said.

Bowel cancer is the second most-common cancer in the UK, with around 44,100 new cases and 17,400 deaths each year.

Symptoms often include changes in bowel movements such as consistent and new diarrhoea or constipation, blood in the stool, and needing to go with more urgency.

Stomach pain, a lump in the stomach, bloating, unexpected weight-loss and fatigue are among other signs. Anyone experiencing these symptoms should contact their GP for advice.

It comes as the NHS is set to increase the accuracy of bowel cancer tests in England, in a move NHS bosses believe will save hundreds of lives.

The health service is lowering the amount of blood detected in a stool test needed to trigger the patient being sent for further investigation, as part of an overhaul of cancer diagnosis and treatment.

The change is projected to lead to 600 more bowel cancers a year being detected in England, an 11 per cent increase on top of the 5,320 cases that are identified each year by the current test.

Genevieve Edwards, chief executive of Bowel Cancer UK, said: 'Were incredibly grateful to Alice for raising awareness of her experience of bowel cancer, and we wish her all the best with her ongoing treatment.

'Every 12 minutes someone in the UK is diagnosed with bowel cancer.

'Although the disease is more common in the over 50s, there is a growing body of evidence globally that bowel cancer is increasing in younger people, including in the UK.

'Bowel cancer is treatable and curable, especially if diagnosed early.'
Like most new parents, Ahad and Hira Ul Hassan keep a close eye out for signs that their one-year-old son Zohan is developing just as he should.

But the couple, from Ayr in Scotland, have more reason than most to feel anxious about their child.

In March last year, little Zohan  then just eight weeks old  underwent surgery for a hernia on the right side of his abdomen. His parents werent unduly worried; weeks earlier, hed undergone the same operation  with no complications  for a hernia on his left side.

But this time doctors at the Royal Hospital for Children in Glasgow made a catastrophic error that could potentially damage Zohans health for life.

Instead of injecting him with 2ml of paracetamol to dull the post-operative pain, they gave him 20ml  ten times as much as they should have.

Ahad received a call from the doctor, who said his son had accidentally been given a potentially fatal dose of paracetamol  and he should get to the hospital straight away. He recalls: I rushed out of work and to the hospital; I found Hira so distraught she couldnt talk.

Doctors noticed the error immediately on the operating table  and Zohan was quickly treated with acetylcysteine, which blocks paracetamols toxic impact on the liver. Regular blood samples were taken to measure how much of the drug was in his system.

But despite quick action, the concern is that harm was already done.

Hira Ul Hassan with Zohan. After a routine operation for a hernia, doctors accidentally gave him a 20ml injection of paracetamol  ten times as much as they should have

Even though Zohan survived the overdose, doctors have warned it could lead to physical or mental long-term problems

While there was no obvious tissue damage and liver scans showed it appeared unscathed (acute liver failure is a common cause of death in paracetamol overdoses), doctors have warned Ahad and Hira that theres still a significant chance Zohan may suffer as yet unknown physical or mental long-term problems.

The true impact will only become clear as he gets older and is expected to reach milestones, such as crawling, sitting up or saying his first words.

Its horrible  we potentially have years of worry ahead, says Ahad, 27, an engineer.

So far, he is developing, but not at the same rate as other infants his age. At nine months old, he wasnt crawling or trying to sit up  and there are some concerns about his eyesight. Doctors have said they dont know what the future holds for him.

Deliberate (and accidental) paracetamol overdoses at home have long been a problem.

Its the reason why, in 1998, the Government introduced legislation restricting over-the-counter pack sizes of the drug to a maximum 16 tablets  and you can only buy two packets. But accidental paracetamol overdosing of NHS patients by medical staff, as in Zohans case, seems to be an emerging significant problem, too.

In April last year, Emma Whitting, senior coroner for Bedfordshire and Luton, issued a Prevention of Future Deaths (PFD) report to Bedford Hospital following the death of a 72-year-old woman from liver failure in September 2023, when she was given too much paracetamol by staff.

PFDs are issued when coroners believe that action should be taken to prevent future deaths. They act as a red alert to others about the dangers.

Doctors told Ahad and Hira that they don't know what the future holds for Zohan

Accidental paracetamol overdosing of NHS patients by medical staff seems to be an emerging significant problem

The coroner noted how Jacqueline Green had been admitted to hospital after falling at home. Frail, weak and dehydrated, Jacqueline was given 1,000mg of paracetamol four times daily  a standard adult dose  by a junior doctor, to ease pain from the fall.

But the medical team had made a critical mistake.

NHS guidance states paracetamol doses should be reduced by at least a third in patients weighing less than 50kg (7st 12lb), as they are likely to be malnourished to the point where their body does not metabolise the drug properly  so more of it ends up deposited in the liver, where it can cause fatal toxicity.

NHS guidance also states that all visibly frail patients should be weighed on admission to check if they are under 50kg. Yet nobody in the hospital checked Jacquelines weight for two days, during which time staff carried on giving her the 1,000mg dose four times a day.

When she was finally weighed, it was found that she was, in fact, just 33.6kg (5st 4lb). And even then, it was another 24 hours or so before staff halved her paracetamol dose.

Less than a week later, Jacqueline died in hospital from liver failure, brought on by toxic levels of paracetamol in her system, the coroner ruled.

Bedford Hospital says it has now introduced protocols to ensure underweight patients get reduced doses of paracetamol.

Yet these are far from isolated cases, according to a 2022 investigation by the Health Services Safety Investigations Body  a government body set up to probe concerns over patient safety.

In a report on the investigation, it described in detail the story of an elderly female patient, identified only as Dora, at an unnamed NHS hospital.

Aged 83, she was admitted to hospital after a fall at home  and was given 1,000mg of paracetamol four times a day for knee pain shed suffered as a result.

Dora was in hospital for 12 days before staff weighed her. She was just 40.5kg (6st 5lb) and lost several kilograms over the following fortnight.

Yet staff did not reduce her 1,000mg drug dose until she had been in hospital for 29 days, by which time tests showed she had dangerously high amounts of the painkiller in her bloodstream.

Doctors immediately started to treat her with acetylcysteine. But to be fully effective, this must be initiated within eight hours of the overdose occurring.

It was too late and Dora died the next day. An inquest concluded her prescription of paracetamol was higher than it should have been and this played a part in her death.

The probe by the Health Services Safety Investigations Body found that staff at the hospital, as well as at several others it investigated, did not routinely consider weighing patients before giving them paracetamol a priority.

It said: Some staff said they believed that it is possible to estimate a patients weight by visual assessment. But the research evidence has found that this is not a reliable method.

It said hospitals should make more use of technology to reduce the risks.

This includes software which blocks authorisation of a prescription drugs use unless the patients weight has been entered into the system first. It would then dispense an appropriate dose. And there are smart hospital beds that automatically weigh the patient when they lie on them. (It acknowledged that these are expensive, with such high-tech beds costing up to 14,000  more than double that of a standard NHS bed.)

The report concluded: Our findings will increase awareness of the potential for paracetamol toxicity in adults with low bodyweight. And some of the conclusions may also be applicable to other medications that have the potential to cause harm in underweight patients.

Scientists have known for decades that paracetamol, although a very effective form of pain relief, in large amounts is toxic  especially to the liver, as it destroys the structural integrity of liver tissue and kills liver cells rapidly.

After the initial emergency treatment with acetylcysteine, Zohan was kept under observation and eventually discharged after three weeks with no further treatment.

The hospital carried out an internal probe which revealed doctors had mistakenly filled a 20ml syringe  rather than a 2ml syringe  with liquid painkiller.

Hospital chiefs acknowledged that staff had failed to properly check Zohan was getting the right dose.

In a statement to the Daily Mail, Dr Claire Harrow, deputy medical director for acute services at NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde  which oversees the Royal Hospital for Children  said: We would once again like to apologise to the family of baby Zohan. A Significant Adverse Event review was conducted into this case and the findings shared with Zohans family.

An offer of a follow-up meeting was made and we are in the process of making suitable arrangements with his parents.

But Ahad, who is now pursuing a legal case against the hospital, feels the couple have been left out in the cold.

Other than the promise of a second MRI brain scan when Zohan turns one, he says theyve received little in the way of guidance on what signs of damage to look for, or when to seek help. We feel like we have just been left to deal with it on our own, he says.

After the mistake was first spotted, and Zohan was moved to a ward for treatment, his parents noticed he was making seizure-like jerky movements with his body. He hasnt had any more seizures since, but we are constantly looking out for them. I know accidents happen but Ive lost all trust in the NHS after this.
Tesco has recalled a ready meal after discovering it contains undeclared wheat  posing a potential health risk to thousands of shoppers with allergies.

The supermarket said its Tesco Special Fried Rice (350g) has been pulled from sale because wheat is present in the product but is not mentioned on the label, meaning customers may unknowingly eat it.

Food safety officials warned the labelling error could be dangerous for anyone with an allergy or intolerance to wheat or gluten, the protein found in wheat, or those with coeliac disease, who must avoid the ingredient to prevent symptoms ranging from stomach upset to more serious reactions.

Wheat is one of the most common food allergens, and reactions can range from itching, hives and swelling to stomach pain, vomiting and breathing difficulties in more severe cases.

For people with coeliac disease, even small amounts of gluten can trigger an immune response that damages the lining of the gut  causing symptoms such as bloating, diarrhoea and fatigue, and potentially leading to longer-term health problems if exposure continues.

The affected product has a use by date of 02 February 2026, and Tesco is urging customers to check their fridges and freezers.

In an allergy alert, the Food Standards Agency (FSA) said wheat (gluten) was the allergen involved, and confirmed that the product is being recalled from customers.

Tesco said it has contacted the relevant allergy support organisations, which will notify members about the recall, and has issued a recall notice to shoppers explaining why the product is being withdrawn and what to do if they have purchased it.

Tesco is recalling Tesco Special Fried Rice because it contains undeclared wheat

Customers who have bought the product and have a wheat or gluten allergy or intolerance, or coeliac disease, are advised not to eat it.

Instead, Tesco is advising shoppers to return it to any Tesco store for a full refund.

The FSA said allergy alerts are issued when there is a problem with a food product that means it should not be sold, either because it is withdrawn from shelves or recalled from customers. It added that action can be taken when allergy labelling is missing or incorrect, or if there is another food allergy risk.

The recall is listed under reference FSA-AA-08-2026, and shoppers who want further details can visit Tesco's customer contact page online.

The news comes as supermarkets and food manufacturers face growing scrutiny over allergen labelling, after a string of recalls linked to missing or incorrect ingredient information.
A deadly virus outbreak in India has sparked fresh pandemic fears across Asia, prompting some countries to roll out Covid-era airport screenings to stop it spreading.

Several airports have stepped up precautionary measures after India's West Bengal region confirmed five cases of Nipah virus  a rare but highly dangerous infection carried by bats that can infect both pigs and humans.

The virus is watched closely by health officials because it can spread from animals to humans  and in some cases between people  yet there is no approved vaccine or specific drug treatment.

The outbreak is linked to a private hospital in West Bengal, where at least five healthcare workers were infected earlier this month.

Around 110 people who came into contact with infected patients have now been quarantined as a precaution, officials said.

A doctor, a nurse and another staff member at the hospital tested positive after the first two cases were detected in a male and female nurse from the same district.

Narayan Swaroop Nigam, the principal secretary of the Department of Health and Family in Bengal, said one of the nurses is in critical condition after they both developed high fevers and respiratory issues between New Year's Eve and January 2.

The critically ill nurse, who is now in a coma, is believed to have contracted the infection while treating a patient suffering from severe respiratory problems.

Some parts of Asia have tightened screening measures at airports to control the spread. Around 110 people who came into contact with the infected patients have been quarantined as a precaution

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That patient died before tests for Nipah virus could be carried out.

In response, Thailand's ministry of public health has implemented health screening for passengers at major airports arriving from West Bengal.

Travellers are being assessed for fever and other Nipah virus symptoms including headache, sore throat, vomiting and muscle pain, and are being issued health 'beware' cards advising what to do if they become ill.

Phuket International Airport is also undergoing increased cleaning due to its direct flight links with West Bengal, despite no cases being reported in Thailand.

Local media reports have stated that travellers with a high fever or other symptoms consistent with Nipah virus may be taken to quarantine facilities.

Nepal has raised alert levels at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu and land crossings bordering India, while Taiwan has said it is planning to list Nipah virus as a Category 5 notifiable disease  the highest classification for serious emerging infections  which would require immediate reporting and special control measures if cases occur.

Taiwan's Centres for Disease Control said it is maintaining its Level 2 'yellow' travel alert for Kerala state in southwestern India, advising travellers to exercise caution.

So far, no cases have been reported outside India, and there is no sign of Nipah spreading to the US or elsewhere in North America. But the response shows just how seriously authorities are treating the risk.

Join the debate Do YOU trust governments to contain this outbreak?

It is watched closely by health officials because it can spread from animals to humans  and in some cases between people  yet there is no approved vaccine or specific drug treatment. Pictured, the aftermath of a 2023 outbreak in India

Nipah has a fatality rate of between 40 and 75 per cent, according to the World Health Organization, from complications such as respiratory failure and swelling of the brain.

Nipah remains rare, but experts warn it has the potential to cause devastating illness when it strikes.

Here's what it is, how it spreads  and how worried we should be about the outbreak escalating.

What is Nipah virus?

Nipah is a zoonotic infection, meaning it can pass from animals to humans  most notably linked to fruit bats, and in some outbreaks pigs.

It's a virus that worries health officials because it can hit fast and hard, causing anything from no symptoms at all to a sudden, severe illness that attacks the lungs and the brain.

In milder cases, people may only feel flu-like symptoms  but in severe cases it can trigger acute respiratory distress, seizures and encephalitis, a dangerous swelling of the brain that can be fatal.

Another reason it sets alarm bells ringing is that it has been shown to spread person-to-person, particularly among family members and caregivers, making strict infection control crucial when cases are detected.

Health authorities monitor Nipah due to its outbreak potential  and because its death rate in confirmed cases is unusually high.

Why are authorities suddenly screening for it at airports?

Airport checks have been stepped up after cases were detected in West Bengal, with the outbreak linked to healthcare settings where viruses can spread quickly if not contained.

The infection is caused by the Nipah virus, a rare but highly dangerous pathogen that can trigger severe breathing problems, seizures and fatal swelling of the brain. Pictured, the aftermath of a 2023 outbreak in India

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Thailand has started screening arrivals at international airports receiving flights from the region, while Nepal has introduced checks at Kathmandu airport and at land border points with India.

Taiwan has also proposed classifying Nipah as a high-risk emerging infection under its disease control system.

While measures like these can look dramatic, officials are essentially trying to spot illness early and block any chance of infections slipping across borders.

Airport staff said to be looking for obvious signs of illness, such as a high temperature, are flagging up passengers who have recently travelled from an affected area and reporting symptoms that could fit an early Nipah infection.

Health declaration forms, mandatory temperature checks and full body heat scanners are the main method of doing this.

Anyone who appears unwell can then be pulled aside for further medical assessment, with health authorities able to trace contacts more quickly if an infection is suspected.

How does it spread?

Nipah can spread from animals to humans, and it can also be transmitted through contaminated food or direct person-to-person contact.

Fruit bats - depicted by the areas in yellow - are even found where Nipah outbreaks haven't occurred

During the first recognised outbreak in Malaysia in the late 1990s, which also affected Singapore, most human infections were linked to contact with sick pigs or their contaminated tissue, with transmission thought to have occurred through unprotected exposure to secretions from infected animals.

In later outbreaks in Bangladesh and India, researchers believe a key source of infection was consumption of fruit or fruit products contaminated by fruit bats, including raw date palm juice tainted with infected urine or saliva.

Human-to-human transmission has also been reported, particularly among family members and caregivers of infected patients.

Preliminary investigations suggest the healthcare workers in India caught the deadly virus while treating a patient with severe respiratory symptoms who died before testing could be carried out, according to sources at the hospital.

'The most likely source of infection is a patient who had been admitted to the same hospital previously. That individual is being treated as the suspected index case, and investigated,' a health official involved surveillance efforts told The Telegraph.

Health authorities in Taiwan are now considering listing the virus as a Category 5 disease - a rare or emerging infection with major public health risks, that require immediate reporting and special control measures.

What are the symptoms?

Nipah can begin with symptoms that look like a bad flu or stomach bug, including fever, headaches, muscle aches, vomiting and a sore throat.

In some people, it escalates into something far more serious, with dizziness, drowsiness, confusion and neurological signs that point to acute encephalitis  dangerous inflammation of the brain. Severe cases can involve seizures and rapid deterioration, sometimes progressing to coma within 24 to 48 hours.

Some patients also develop atypical pneumonia and severe breathing problems, including acute respiratory distress.

The incubation period is usually four to 14 days, but it can sometimes be much longer. In rare instances, an incubation period of up to 45 days has been reported.

How deadly is it?

Nipah is known for its high fatality rate. The estimated case fatality rate is 40 to 75 per cent, though this varies between outbreaks depending on how quickly patients are diagnosed and how strong clinical care and surveillance are in affected areas.

In the worst cases, Nipah can be a rapid and brutal illness because it can cause severe inflammation of the brain (encephalitis) and acute respiratory failure.

Case descriptions from past outbreaks suggest some patients deteriorate from what looks like a standard viral illness  fever, aches, vomiting  into confusion, extreme drowsiness and seizures, before slipping into coma within 24 to 48 hours.

Others develop severe breathing problems, including pneumonia and acute respiratory distress, which can be fatal without intensive supportive care.

However many people who survive make a full recovery  but the virus is feared because severe cases can worsen dramatically, and some survivors are left with long-term neurological damage.

There have also been reports of relapse in a small number of cases.

Is there a vaccine or treatment?

There are currently no approved vaccines or drugs that specifically target Nipah virus infection.

Instead, doctors rely on intensive supportive care, treating the most dangerous respiratory and neurological complications as they arise.
Kanye West has blamed a traumatic brain injury for the antisemitic spiral that torched his career  saying bipolar disorder left him 'losing [his] grip entirely' and pulled him towards 'the swastika'.

In a page-long Wall Street Journal advertisement headlined To Those I Hurt, the 48-year-old rapper, who now goes by the name Ye, claims a 2002 car crash 'caused injury to the right frontal lobe of (his) brain' but the injury went 'unnoticed' until 2023.

This, he said, 'caused serious damage to my mental health' and the triggered bipolar disorder that led to him becoming 'detached from my true self' and, at times, 'unrecognisable' to people who loved him.

It is the latest twist in West's apology campaign, which began in December 2023 when he posted a statement in Hebrew apologising to the Jewish community after his remarks sparked fresh outrage.

Now West, who is soon to release a new album, says he is 'done with antisemitism'  while stressing he is not a 'Nazi or antisemite' and adding: 'I love Jewish people.'

But Jewish groups have warned an apology does not erase the harm  and that the real test is whether he stops amplifying antisemitic ideas.

And this week Bipolar UK commented: 'There is no evidence to support the idea that people living with bipolar would express antisemitic or other racist ideas while unwell.'

West's statement also reopens a wider medical debate: what actually causes bipolar disorder, what counts as a trigger, and when should a head injury raise red flags? And, crucially, could you be at risk  even if you've never had symptoms before?

Ye has blamed a traumatic brain injury for the antisemitic spiral that torched his career  saying bipolar disorder left him 'losing [his] grip entirely' and pulled him towards 'the swastika'

In a page-long Wall Street Journal advertisement headlined To Those I Hurt, the 48-year-old rapper claims a 2002 car crash 'caused injury to the right frontal lobe of (his) brain' but the injury went 'unnoticed' until 2023

Can a brain injury trigger bipolar disorder?

West's central claim is that a head injury helped trigger his bipolar disorder years later.

In truth, Doctors have long known that traumatic brain injury can be followed by changes in mood, behaviour and judgement  and the psychiatric fallout can be wide-ranging.

Former Olympic champion James Cracknell has also spoken about how he underwent an extreme persoinality change after a road accident that almost killed him in 2010.

In his memoir Touching Distance, he recalled the aftermath of the smash which damaged the frontal lobe of his brain. 'When I came out of intensive care, I wasn't me any more. All of my friends and family told me that my entire personality had changed.'

Cracknell has described the knock-on effects in stark, practical terms  from memory to motivation to judgement.

'My short-term memory was gone. I couldn't make decisions. Had no motivation,' he wrote, painting a picture of how brain injury can disrupt the very functions that keep daily life on track.

But could such an injury trigger bipolar disorder  a chronic mental health condition characterised by extreme, often long-lasting shifts in mood, energy, and activity levels, alternating between highs known as manias and depressed states?

Former Olympic champion James Cracknell has also spoken about how he underwent an extreme personality change after a road accident that almost killed him in 2010.

In his memoir Touching Distance, he recalled the aftermath of the smash which damaged the frontal lobe of his brain. 'When I came out of intensive care, I wasn't me any more'. Pictured, Cracknell in 2000 alongside Sir Steve Redgrave, Tim Foster and Matthew Pinsent celebrating gold in the Men's Coxless Four Rowing Final at the Olympic Games in Sydney

A Swedish register study published in 2024 in Psychiatry Research found people who had suffered a traumatic brain injury were at higher risk of later developing both schizophrenia and bipolar disorder  with the link stronger for bipolar.

The researchers found the risk rose with injury severity, was higher when the injury occurred at older ages, and appeared stronger in women than men. Crucially, the association also held up in sibling comparisons  suggesting it wasn't simply down to genetics.

And a landmark Danish study published in The American Journal of Psychiatry in 2014, which tracked 113,906 people with head injuries, found head injury was linked to a higher risk of several psychiatric disorders later on  including bipolar disorder.

The researchers reported the strongest association for bipolar disorder when head injuries happened between the ages of 11 and 15, and noted the increased risk could persist for years.

This evidence does not prove bipolar disorder is caused by accidents  and experts argue that genetics, stress, sleep loss and substance use can all contribute.

But head injuries can be a risk factor and more severe injuries appear to carry greater risk.

What else causes bipolar disorder?

According to mental health charity Mind, no one knows exactly why bipolar disorder develops.

Ye claims bipolar disorder led to him becoming 'detached from my true self' and, at times, 'unrecognisable' to people who loved him. Pictured, Ye with former wife Kim Kardashian in 2019

Instead, experts believe it's likely driven by a combination of factors that can increase someone's chances of developing the condition in the first place.

Mind lists several possible contributors, including childhood trauma, brain chemistry, family links, and the effects of medication, drugs and alcohol.

It also notes that stressful life events can act as a trigger for episodes of bipolar mania and depression.

Relationship breakdowns, money worries, bullying, isolation and big events such as weddings or holidays are all possible causes of this.

Heavy drinking, recreational drugs, or simply prolonged sleep disruption are also mentioned as potential triggers. There is further details on the Mind website.

How is bipolar diagnosed... and treated?

Bipolar disorder is diagnosed clinically  based on symptoms over time, how severe they are, and how much they disrupt daily life.

The key feature is episodes at both ends of the mood spectrum: depression and mania.

During depression, people may feel persistently low or irritable, lose energy and interest in everyday life, struggle with sleep, and find it hard to concentrate.

During mania, they can feel unusually energised, need far less sleep, become agitated or distracted, and make risky or out-of-character decisions.

In severe episodes, some people experience psychosis  such as hearing or seeing things that aren't there, or holding fixed false beliefs.

Clinicians also look closely at timing and context. Ye suggests his condition was missed because of the brain injury he says he sustained  mood symptoms that appear after a head injury, particularly alongside new cognitive problems, are often simply put down to the brain injury itself.

Treatment aims to reduce the frequency and intensity of episodes with medication such as mood stabilisers and antipsychotics.

Talking therapies can also help people spot early warning signs, manage stress, and build routines around sleep, exercise and daily structure to reduce relapse risk.

Could you be at risk of bipolar disorder?

Bipolar disorder can affect anyone, but some factors make it more likely.

These include having a close relative with the condition, a history of significant childhood trauma, or major life stress alongside disrupted sleep.

Recreational drugs and alcohol can also destabilise mood  and a serious head injury may increase risk too, particularly if it's followed by lasting behavioural changes or thinking and memory issues.

The NHS advises to see a GP if you have extreme changes in your moods that last a long time or impact your everyday life, if you've been diagnosed with bipolar disorder and treatments are not helping.
Participating in speech and language therapies for longer periods of time may help most autistic children speak their first words, a study suggests.

Autism spectrum disorder, which affects one in 31 children in the US, often leads to difficulties with speech, leaving many children nonverbal or learning how to speak far later than their neurotypical peers.

Autistic children with speech issues have long shown benefits from intensive therapies, verbal speech exercises and assistive devices during their early school years.

A new study suggests speech language therapies are not only effective, but two in three autistic children are likely to learn how to speak with them.

The researchers, from Drexel University in Philadelphia, looked at over 700 preschoolers with autism spectrum disorder who had received speech intervention therapies for anywhere from six months to two years. On average, the children spent about 10 hours per week in therapy.

Of the children in the study, two-thirds developed spoken language, while one-third remained nonverbal or made no progress.

The experts believe autistic children were able to improve their speaking due to therapies such as the Early Start Denver Model (EDSM), which focuses on play and building positive relationships to boost language.

Methods used also included Treatment and Education of Autistic and Related Communication Handicapped Children (TEACCH) therapy, which uses visual cues and organized spaces and schedules to enhance speech.

A study from Drexel University found most autistic children who were in speech therapies for at least six months improved their language skills (stock image)

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The team believes that the duration of the therapy rather than the intensity was associated with better outcomes in nonverbal children. This means that instead of spending 20 to 40 hours per week in therapy for a shorter period of time, spending months or years with 10 hours per week may be more effective.

Dr Giacomo Vivanti, study author and associate professor and leader of Early Detection and Intervention at the AJ Drexel Autism Institute, said: 'When parents ask me if their child should do these interventions to gain spoken language, the answer after doing this study is still yes.

'What our study is telling us is that even when were implementing practices that are evidence-based, some children remain behind. So, we should carefully monitor the response of each child and see what to add or change to tailor therapy for the individual as needed.

The latest CDC data shows one in 31 US children have autism, an increase from about one in 150 in the early 2000s.

It's unclear what exactly is behind a surge in autism diagnoses, but Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr has suggested environmental toxins like mold, pesticides, food additives, medications or ultrasounds could all be to blame.

Autism experts have also noted that doctors are getting better at spotting the condition, especially in previously overlooked groups like girls and adults, which could be behind the rise.

The Drexel study, published in 2025 in the Journal of Clinical Child & Adolescent Psychology, evaluated 707 autistic children between 15 months and five years old, with an average age of three years.

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Children in speech therapies were enrolled in the programs for six months to two years.

They participated in therapies for about 10 hours per week.

Of the 707 participants, 216 were enrolled in ESDM, which relies on parents and therapists using play and joint activities to bond and improve language. Another 208 were in Naturalistic Developmental Behavioral Interventions, which are play-based with activities initiated by the child.

Another 197 were in the Early Intensive Behavioral Intervention (EIBI) group, which is typically a one-on-one therapy targeting social and daily living skills such as getting dressed.

The last group, which had 86 participants, was TEACCH, which focuses on organization, such as with visual schedules, and independence.

At baseline, the majority of participants, 66 percent, were considered 'minimally speaking,' meaning they could not combine words to form short phrases.

The team found that 66 percent of children who were not speaking at the start of the study went on to learn single words or advance in their language abilities by the end of their therapies.

Of those who were minimally speaking at baseline, 50 percent advanced to being able to combine words into phrases.

However, one-third of children who started out non-speaking were still non-speaking after two years. Additionally, half of the minimally speaking group did not advance.

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The team found children who did not advance tended to be in therapy for shorter lengths of time, such as under six months, for more hours per day. Meanwhile, children who were in therapy for six months to two years were more likely to have language gains, the researchers said.

Children who were able to imitate sounds and actions more effectively at the start of the study also had a higher chance of advancing in their language.

Vivanti said: 'Those nonspeaking prerequisites of communication may help create infrastructure for spoken language. Imitating what others are doing may help may them later to imitate what people are saying, and from there using language to express their thoughts.'

There were several limitations to the study, including only following the children for up to two years, but the team suggested it could lead to further, more comprehensive research.

'Often scholars are weary about sharing intervention data and examine children who are not showing an optimal response to their interventions, especially for interventions that are already established as "evidence-based,"' Vivanti said.

'This paper shows a willingness in the early intervention community to collaborate on data and learn more about how to help all children.'
A nurse has sparked outrage after she allegedly called on protesters to resist ICE agents by injecting them with dangerous drugs.

In videos posted online, Malinda Rose Cook appeared to urge medical providers to fill syringes with saline or succinylcholine, a powerful anesthetic that paralyzes every muscle in the body within seconds, including those needed to breathe, and use them on federal officers.

In medicine, the substance is used briefly during surgery to insert breathing tubes, wearing off in five to ten minutes. It can be dangerous if used incorrectly or without proper medical supervision.

In one of her videos, which has since been deleted from TikTok, Cook said: That will probably be a deterrent. Be safe.' She has since been suspended, her employer, Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) Health, said.

Cook also advised protesters to gather poison ivy, 'get it in some water... and put it into a water gun. Aim for faces, hands.

She then sent a message to single women, asking them to get on dating apps to connect with ICE agents: Bring some Ex-Lax and put it in their drinks. Get them sick, you know, nobody's gonna die. Fitting enough to incapacitate them, get them off the street for the next day.

It comes amid rising anger over the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti by an ICE officer in Minneapolis on Saturday. Cook's videos have been removed from her TikTok page, however, a compilation of clips was reposted on X by a right-wing news account.

Libs of TikTok wrote: Any comment @VCUHealth? How can you have such a vile person working with patients? How can anyone feel safe at your facilities if you employ such people?'

Protesters against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) march through the streets of downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota, on Sunday

Malinda Rose Cook, identified as a nurse at Virginia Commonwealth University Health, allegedly posted multiple videos urging medical providers to fill syringes with saline or succinylcholine to inject into ICE agents

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In a statement to the Daily Mail, a VCU spokesman said: 'We prioritize the health and safety of anyone who comes to us for care. We are aware of a series of videos that appear to have been posted by an individual confirmed to be an employee of our health system.

The content of the videos is highly inappropriate and does not reflect the integrity or values of our health system. VCU Police are assisting with this investigation.

Per policy, while the investigation is underway, the individual is on administrative leave and will not be in our facilities or interacting with patients.'

The Daily Mail has reached out to Cook for comment but has not yet received a response.

Federal forces patrolling the streets of Minneapolis have sparked round-the-clock protests in which residents blast music outside of the hotels where agents stay, film them, shout at them and march in the streets.

The federal governments response has been to crack down harder, sometimes with fatal consequences, exploding into public view as a Washington Post investigation exposed the Trump administration's pattern of prematurely defending federal officers in at least 16 shooting incidents, often before evidence contradicted their claims.

In a separate video, she advised single women to connect with ICE agents on dating apps, suggesting they 'bring some Ex-Lax and put it in their drinks' to intentionally sicken and incapacitate them

A VCU Health spokesman told the Daily Mail the health system is aware of the 'highly inappropriate' videos posted by a confirmed employee, who is now on administrative leave and barred from facilities during a police-assisted investigation

The protests in Minneapolis have been overwhelmingly peaceful, with no demonstrators firing weapons.

The killing of Pretti, 37, has become a flashpoint for national outrage and scrutiny.

Others in the vicinity of the shooting took cellphone videos depicting Pretti calmly filming, then being pepper-sprayed, beaten, and finally shot while pinned on the ground.

Ten shots were fired in less than five seconds into Prettis back and chest as he lay on the ground, according to analyses of video footage.

This evidence contradicts official Department of Homeland Security claims that Pretti approached officers with a gun in a threatening manner with intent to massacre them. The Administration has previously said that investigations are ongoing.
Ellen DeGeneres has been brutally mocked for appearing in a commercial for her skincare brand Kind Science.

The former talk show host, 68, takes center stage in an infomercial in which she promotes a bundle of products at a huge discount.

In the ad, DeGeneres is seen leaning against a cabinet as she explains to viewers they could pay just $59.95 for six skincare products instead of the $250 it would cost if bought individually.

Pleading with viewers to spend their cash she adds, 'Come on now.'

A clip of the commercial has gone viral on TikTok alongside the caption 'Ellen fell off HARD' and numerous social media users have ripped into the actress while questioning the 'decline' of her career.

Taking to the comments, one said: 'Ellen's career has "Degenerated" generously.'

'She's barely holding herself up,' another observed.

'Whenever I see a celebrity in a commercial, I assume that that's the decline of their career,' a third continued.

Ellen DeGeneres appeared in an advert for her skincare line Kind Science

In the commercial, she pleads with viewers to buy a bundle of products for just $59.95

Another said: 'She looks like she don't wanna to be there.'

But others fiercely defended DeGeneres and pointed out that numerous celebrities have starred in commercials over the years - and that Kind Skincare is her own brand.

'Celebrities have been doing commercials and endorsements for literally 50+ years,' one argued. 'There's absolutely nothing unique about this.'

Another wrote: 'Fell off? That girl has a net worth of $500M. This was probably just easy money or a way to turn something she'd buy anyway into income.'

'Honey she didn't fall off... this is HER brand,' added a third.

DeGeneres, who has a reported net worth of $500 million, co-founded Kind Science skincare in 2021 with beauty expert Victoria Jackson.

The brand stocks a wide range of products including firming serum, hydration creams, radiance oil and cleansers.

This isn't the first time DeGeneres has been poked fun at over her beauty line.

DeGeneres founded Kind Science with her friend Victoria Jackson in 2021

The former talk show host bid farewell to The Ellen DeGeneres Show in 2022 after 19 seasons

In 2024, she was mocked for the name of her skincare years after she was canceled amid a toxic workplace scandal.

DeGeneres broadcast her final episode of The Ellen DeGeneres Show on May 26, 2022 after 19 seasons.

The former host's daytime talk show ended following allegations of intimidation, racism and sexual misconduct.

DeGeneres, who had previously ended each show by telling viewers to 'be kind to one another,' later branded the demise of her show as a 'coordinated misogynistic' attack on her.

She has mostly stayed out of the spotlight since.

Last week, DeGeneres criticized US Immigration and Customs Enforcement while praising demonstrators she said had 'been hurt just for protesting.'

The remarks appeared to reference 37-year-old Renee Good, a Minneapolis woman who was fatally shot by an ICE agent at a protest on January 7.

DeGeneres, who left the United States with her longtime wife, Portia de Rossi, in late 2024, appeared emotional as she addressed the situation directly.

'Hey everybody I just wanted to say I am so sorry for what is happening in Minneapolis, and our country, really,' she said. 'But specifically, Minneapolis right now, because it's where I shot my last stand up special. And everybody there couldn't have been more lovely.'

She continued: 'I shot it there because they said it's the happiest city in America, and I found that to be true.'

'So, my thoughts and my prayers are going out to everyone, and I'm proud of everyone who's protesting peacefully, and I am sorry for anyone who has been hurt just for protesting, for doing what you should be doing,' DeGeneres added. 'Anyway, just sending love.'
An unexpected $2.99 item from Aldi Australia has been flying off shelves, with shoppers revealing they are struggling to find them in stores.

The supermarket chain has been selling chocolate coconut water, which is said to be a 'dupe' of the sell-out $5.50 Cocobella version.

Since launching in November, the Aldi version, which is almost half price, is hard to come by as customers are bulk-buying them in droves - leaving shelves bare.

'This is insanely hard to get stock of. My store might get two boxes a week and the first two customers who see it buy a box each. It's the new cottage cheese I swear,' one said in a Reddit thread.

'Stop hiding from me, Chocolate Coconut Water. I miss you. Come back. Too lazy to check out other Aldis ugh,' another shared.

'So upsetting,' one added, along with a crying emoji.

The budget-friendly drinks have been a crowd pleaser, with many sharing rave reviews all over social media.

'It's pretty bloody good. I don't know how but it has the exact same mouthfeel as chocolate milk,' one shared.

Aldi shoppers have been struggling to find the $2.99 chocolate coconut water in stores

'So cheap and so good,' another revealed.

'This is the news we need, I can't keep paying Cocobella prices,' one said.

Many insisted the Aldi version tasted better than the original.

'I'm a converted Aldi coconut water girl now. I've been buying it for weeks. I think it's actually a creamier taste,' one said.

'Aldi one tastes 100000 times better,' another shared.

'I love Cocobella but the Aldi one actually tastes better,' one insisted.

'The Aldi one is the best,' another added.

Aussie food content creator Nectro Vlangos, otherwise known as Nectoriouspapi, gave the affordable chocolate coconut water a thumbs up

Aussie food content creator Nectro Vlangos, otherwise known as Nectoriouspapi, gave the affordable chocolate coconut water a thumbs up.

'Delicious,' he said.

'It's 69 calories per serve. It goes hard. Definitely check it out... It's a little bit more watery than your Cocobella but man, the taste is there. It's yum.'

The chocolate coconut water comes hot on the heels of the cottage cheese craze, which has repeatedly sold out after becoming a key ingredient in a viral dish - causing a nationwide shortage across Australia.

The unlikely dairy product became a star ingredient after the cottage cheese beef bowl with chilli honey exploded in popularity on social media, leaving shoppers frantically searching for it.
Nicknamed 'nuclear Wintour' for her frosty nature, Dame Anna - the legendary Vogue boss - wouldn't be seen arriving at Paris Fashion Week with just anyone.

So it's no wonder the rumour mill went into overdrive when she stepped out of her car at the Schiaparelli show yesterday with none other than Jeff Bezos's wife, Lauren Sanchez.

The duo's outing has done nothing to dampen speculation that the Amazon tycoon is one step closer to purchasing Conde Nast, the parent company of 'fashion bible' Vogue.

And what a coup that would be for Lauren, who graced the cover of Vogue in her wedding dress, and posed backstage at yesterday's Dior show with the brand's CEO, Delphine Arnault, and creative director, Jonathan Anderson.

It was a quick recovery from her stumble on the way in, when she took an awkward tumble and tripped in the doorway.

And despite her efforts to show the world that she's risen to the pinnacle of the fashion industry, Lauren was widely mocked for her blood-red Schiaparelli suit, which has been likened to an ensemble from 'Shein'.

Speculation about a potential Bezos-Sanchez takeover arose in June 2025, when the billionaire and his bride secured the digital cover in light of their nuptials, with Sanchez, 56, meeting Chloe Malle, Head of Editorial Content for American Vogue.

For many, it was no coincidence that Mrs Bezos graced the 'fashion bible' pages while wearing a Dolce & Gabbana wedding gown hand-picked by Dame Anna Wintour herself.

Rumour has it that Jeff Bezos will soon buy 'fashion bible' Vogue for his wife, Lauren Sanchez Bezos, but the alleged purchase didn't make her immune from suffering an awkward blunder at Paris Fashion Week (pictured)

Lauren arrived at Monday's Schiaparelli show at Paris Fashion Week alongside Dame Anna Wintour

The Newhouse family, who have owned Conde Nast since 1959 and continue to hold it privately under their media empire, Advance Publications, insist their titles are not on the market. And in July, a source close to Bezos told The Mail on Sunday that it was 'totally untrue' that he was considering buying Conde Nast.

Dame Anna announced she was stepping down as Vogue Editor-in-Chief after 37 years in the role last June, but remains in control of global operations.

A source told The Mail on Sunday in July: 'The rumour that Jeff is going to buy Conde Nast is all anyone's talking about in the fashion industry and inside Vogue.

'Lauren Sanchez is such an unlikely cover star, and the word is that she landed the July issue partly because the Newhouse family wanted to butter up Bezos. In New York they're slimming down the business which is exactly what companies do before a sale.'

Indeed, a wave of redundancies hit the company globally, including half of the staff at Teen Vogue, as the publication is being absorbed into the brand's main title.

Bezos first entered the media world in 2013, when he purchased the Washington Post in a surprise acquisition, paying $250 million in cash and ending the Graham family's four-generation ownership.

Last November, the world's fourth-richest man and his wife were unveiled as lead sponsors of arguably fashion's biggest event of the year, the Met Gala.

Backlash mounted surrounding the growing influence of billionaires in the fashion industry, and their alleged ability to buy their way into, and control, major cultural events.

Pictured: Lauren Sanchez Bezos and Jeff Bezos at the Christian Dior show at Paris Fashion Week on Monday

Social media users took to X to share their thoughts - and many speculated that the Amazon founder and his wife will soon purchase Vogue

Wintour defended the Bezos-Sanchez sponsorship. She told CNN that Sanchez is a 'great lover of costume and obviously of fashion', and that she believes she will become a 'wonderful asset to the museum and the event'.

And this week, Bezos proved he's made his way into the fashion world by attending prestigious Paris Fashion Week events alongside his wife, including the Schiaparelli show that saw Sanchez dressed by the fashion house in a red suit.

Her ensemble, however, left onlookers unimpressed, with people commenting that she appeared 'tacky'.

One wrote: 'She really doesn't have style but so much money. Oh lord Shein model is fair to say.' Another wrote: 'Wellclass is one thing money can't buy,' said another.'

Others commented on the potential Bezos-Sanchez Conde Nast takeover, writing: 'It's kind of inevitable considering how fashion more than even needs capital.'

French journalist Louis Pisano wrote: 'It was inevitable that Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez Bezos, thirsty for cultural domination, would sink their claws into the Met Gala via sponsorship.

'Their entire media rollout has been leading to this exact moment. When that purchase announcement comes next ... don't act shocked.'
Farmers Markets were once the preserve of Hunter welly-wearing outdoorsy types seeking homegrown veg, good bread and decent cheese from local producers.

More recently though, as these weekend markets - held in villages, towns and cities across the UK - have become more fashionable, their artisan goods are attracting a very different kind of shopper, one who's more TikTok than twee.

Following on from taking trips to idyllic Cotswolds villages, rural pumpkin patches and the five-star London hotels, the influencer, it seems, has found yet another middle class favourite pastime to glean for 'content'.

And with spring just around the corner, the nation's social media stars are making for the markets.

Expect to find them amongst the wax jackets and the well-spoken voguing next to organic vegetables, posing up a storm with hunks of parmesan or chowing down on a just-baked cookie, all while the camera rolls.

One influencer ready to produce shop is Em Sheldon, who has 139K followers on Instagram.

A recent post saw the social media star dedicating an entire weekend to London's farmers markets, shunning Notting Hill's more famous Portobello Market in favour of more rustic options.

She posted: 'The girlies in London are doing markets properly: Pimlico farmers' market on Saturday, Duke of York Square market after Marylebone farmers' market on Sunday - skip the Portobello Road chaos.'

Influencer Georgia Barry, who has over 61,000 followers on TikTok, showed off the delights of The Goods Shed in Canterbury, saying of the Kent foodie spot: 'I don't think I've ever seen somewhere so beautiful in my entire life'

Scottish TikToker Amy Fyffe shared her Sunday trip to Chatelherault Country Park farmer's market in South Lanarkshire

Digital creator Em Sheldon, who has 139K followers on Instagram, has also praised farmers' markets, saying 'The girlies in London are doing markets properly'

Georgia Barry, who has over 61K followers on TikTok, and recently swapped out life in London for Barbados, shared a trip to a Farmers' Market in the historic cathedral city of Canterbury in Kent.

Clearly entranced by the novelty of the experience, Barry is seen wandering the artisan market, known as The Goods Shed, in apparent rapture.

Whizzing her phone around as she marvels at the goodies on display, whilst also chasing her toddler, the influencer gushes: 'If there was one thing that could convince me to move to the countryside then it would be this farmers' market.'

She continues at a pace: 'I don't think I've ever seen somewhere so beautiful in my entire life. This is my new favourite hang-out spot, the walls! The windows! Everything was so beautiful but most importantly the fresh baked goods.'

While many liked Barry's clip, one person did point out that: 'Canterbury isnt the country!'

Fresh food markets can also compete with the catwalk it seems, with fashion-led influencers using the retail spots to show off sartorial looks.

Last summer, instagrammer such.a.sasha posted of a visit to a London farmers' market, captioning the series of highly stylised photos with the words: 'Dressing up and going to the farmers market is my kind of Sunday'.

While other shoppers at the market might have brought a old Waitrose bag along to carry produce, the trendy Londoner opted for a chic 450 Loewe basket tote bag to transport her organic purchases, including carrots, kale, tomatoes and apple juice.

Farmers' markets are famously expensive, which is a good look if you're an influencer

Norfolk content creator @annalise_durrant shared her trip to Blackbarn Farm, which has more than 70 local food, drink and craft stall holders

Instagrammer such.a.sasha is a regular at London's farmers' markets... but eschews a carrier bag in favour of a 450 Loewe tote

What's inspiring people to create content that's wholesome in every way?

The farmers' market suggests an aspirational life that influencers strive to buy into, enjoying the message such content sends to followers.

If you can afford to pay 7 for an artisan sourdough and 4 for a miso caramel and tahini cookie, then there's an allusion of wealth, which potentially brings more followers, which, in turn, brings more collaborations and more work.

Other middle class mainstays that have been targeted by influencers?

The afternoon tea, particularly at any one of the capital's five-star hotels, have millions of social media pages dedicated to them.

Salubrious rural pursuits that make for scenic footage are also a winner - see strawberry and pumpkin patches and tulip and lavender fields.

The Cotswolds have become the content creator's favourite English holiday spot... but the year-round pursuit of content has incurred the wrath of locals on many occasions.

Cotswold district councillor Jon Wareing last year raged against the selfie hunters who he says are infiltrating picturesque spots including Bibury, Stow-on-the-Wold and 'Venice of the Cotswolds' Bourton-on-the-Water.

He fumed to BBC News: 'This kind of visitor tends to have little real interest in the heritage, culture or natural environment they are exploiting for clicks.

Wholesome content in every way: artisan stalls are the latest upmarket source of content for many influencers

'It's a combination of over-tourism and fast tourism, which refers to people flocking to honeypot locations for the sole purpose of content creation.'

He said over-tourism in the area is 'so destructive for our community and is deeply worrying'.

One local though, 30-year-old Emily James from Cirencester, argued posting photos and videos on social media is not 'necessarily a negative thing', as long as content creators are 'giving back to the community'.

She said: 'A lot of things are done for likes nowadays and all of these platforms.

'If you are going to do that [TikToks] here at least give back to the community. That's what I would do.

'I am strolling around taking photos but obviously I have been in the shops and bought a few bits and bobs and I think that's what's important.'

Some even suggested TikTok coverage of the area should be seen in a positive light if it is helping to promote Bourton-on-the-Water.
Vanessa Esquer has always been fiercely passionate about fashion. So when she gets ready to head to work as a doctor, she loves picking out chic and stylish outfits to wear.

But she never expected that her fashion choices would become a hot topic on social media.

The doctor, 28, from San Diego, California, recently sparked immense backlash after she shared a clip of herself walking through the clinic she works at in a pair of Louboutin heels.

'POV: Your doctor walked in wearing Louboutins,' she wrote in a text overlay on the video, which featured her strutting down the halls in a black turtle neck and high waisted green maxi skirt along with the designer shoes.

The clip got over a million views and led to immense criticism for Esquer, as a slew of viewers branded her as 'tone deaf' for flaunting her pricey footwear.

Now, the doctor has clapped back at her critics during an exclusive chat with the Daily Mail.

'I believe there's room in medicine for individuality and professionalism to coexist,' she said.

'As long as someone shows up with respect, responsibility and intention, personal expression doesn't take away from the seriousness of the role. We don't stop being human simply because we're in a clinical setting.'

Vanessa Esquer has always been fiercely passionate about fashion. So when she gets ready to head to work as a doctor, she loves picking out chic and stylish outfits to wear

The doctor, 28, from San Diego, California, recently sparked immense backlash after she shared a clip of herself walking through the clinic she works at in a pair of Louboutin heels

'You should definitely not dress in flashy, high end, expensive items. It's tone deaf,' read one angry comment.

'Some of your patients may be struggling to put food on the table, choose between medicine or dinner that day.

'And here comes your doctor wearing $1k shoes so she "feels more confidant." You can be flashy and wear what you want but should definitely put that into consideration.'

'Eh. Healthcare being what it is, a doc walking in in the world's most uncomfortable expensive shoes might be kinda tone deaf,' wrote another viewer.

'Yeah this is going to be a no for me,' said someone else. 'In a time when access to even basic healthcare is a luxury wearing flashy brand names IN FRONT of patients, it's not just tone deaf it's downright offensive. Save it for after work.'

A fourth person penned: '[This] would put me off as there would immediately be a status gap between patient and doctor.'

Esquer explained to the Daily Mail that she's always been into fashion, something she 'inherited from her mother.'

'During medical school, I found myself leaning even more into fashion as a creative outlet - a way to express who I am outside of the long study hours,' she explained.

'I believe there's room in medicine for individuality and professionalism to coexist,' she said

Esquer explained that she often shares 'outfit of the day' type videos online and never expected this one to get so much attention

'Now, even in a clinical setting, it's how I carry confidence into my day and show up as my best self.'

In particular, she said heels have 'been a consistent part of her work wardrobe.'

'Wearing heels and dressing well helps me feel polished, confident, and present,' she continued.

'It's not about impressing anyone - it's about honoring who I am. When I feel put together, I'm able to show up more fully and with intention for the people around me.'

Esquer explained that she often shares 'outfit of the day' type videos online and never expected this one to get so much attention.

'It wasn't meant to be controversial or make any kind of statement. It was just a lighthearted, authentic glimpse into my everyday life at work - me being myself in my everyday life,' she said.

'I shared it casually, without any expectation of a response. Seeing how quickly it spread - and how much conversation it created - genuinely surprised me.

'What started as a simple, lighthearted moment from my day unexpectedly turned into something much bigger, and I never imagined it would resonate with so many people or spark such divided opinions.'

In regards to the backlash, Esquer explained that she tries to 'meet criticism with understanding rather than defensiveness' and she 'understands the concerns being raised around access to healthcare and financial inequality.'

She added: 'It's not about impressing anyone - it's about honoring who I am. When I feel put together, I'm able to show up more fully and with intention for the people around me'

'These are conversations that matter and that I take seriously through my training and clinical experiences, including time spent working with underserved communities in San Diego,' she added.

'That said, my personal style doesn't define my values or my commitment to medicine.

'Regardless of what I'm wearing, I approach my training and clinical work with the same level of professionalism, responsibility and respect. I believe personal expression and professionalism are not mutually exclusive.'

'I understand why some people reacted that way, especially when luxury can carry different meanings for different people.

'When something is viewed without context, it's easy to make assumptions based on a short moment.

'But my intention was never to divide - it was simply to share a genuine part of who I am.'

Despite the negative response many people also rushed to her defense in the comment section, and that's what Esquer is trying to focus on.

'I hope [the video] also encourages women in medicine to feel comfortable expressing themselves and embracing what makes them unique,' she concluded.
A few days after flying back to Melbourne from visiting family in Canada in 2019, Andrea Cosentino became aware of an irritating ringing in her ears.

It was almost impossible to ignore when she tried to fall asleep that night. It sounded as if a mosquito was constantly buzzing nearby.

'At first I thought, "What is that noise?" Then I was like, "Hang on a second... I think I know what this is - tinnitus,"' Andrea, 44, told the Daily Mail.

Tinnitus - a ringing or buzzing sound in the ears - is a symptom that can arise from changes within the ear. Common causes include ear infections, earwax buildup, trapped water and exposure to loud noise, such as concerts or industrial machinery.

'I used to work in gerontology - the study of old age - with a speech-language pathologist and a research team in Vancouver, and tinnitus came up a lot. That's how I first heard about it,' Andrea explained.

Tinnitus is remarkably common, with two in three Australians affected at some point, and up to one in five experiencing severe symptoms that significantly impact daily life.

During the 22hour flight home after visiting her sick father in Canada, Andrea - who until then had travelled internationally at least once a year and never had any issues - wore inear headphones to listen to music, as she always had.

She later learned this was likely the cause of her tinnitus.

Andrea Cosentino (pictured) experienced tinnitus after a long-haul flight from Canada to Melbourne. The mother of two told the Mail the ringing in her ears was more noticeable at night

From her research, Andrea knew the prognosis was grim: there is no known cure for tinnitus. Rather than wasting her time going to the doctor, she accepted her fate.

'I resigned myself to it because I knew it was incurable. I didn't know what caused it, it just seemed to come out of nowhere. So I gave in,' she said.

'I was frustrated because it was always there, especially at night. I was disappointed to know that this was going to be with me for ever. And I was angry. I thought, "Where did this come from? Why did this happen?"

'The irony is, because of my gerontology studies and working with the team, I knew how precious hearing was.

'When you put glasses on, you have 20/20 vision instantly. You don't get the same thing with hearing aids. Once your hearing is gone, it's gone.'

With this in mind, Andrea had always worn earplugs to concerts or loud bars, and ensured her children's ears were also protected in noisy environments.

'I was really aware of protecting our hearing. So when this happened, it didn't make sense. I was like, "Are you kidding me?"' she said.

'After researching tinnitus, I then looked up ways to minimise the impact, many of which I was already doing. For example, not consuming alcohol or coffee, and exercising regularly.

'I then started learning to focus and distract myself with other things. While trying to fall asleep, I focused on my breathing and the sound of my breath. I think resigning myself to the noise helped the most, to be honest.'

The constant ringing continued for five months and was driving Andrea crazy.

It wasn't until she visited her osteopath for an unrelated check-up that everything changed.

'He asked me how I was doing and I complained about the ringing in my ears,' Andrea recalled.

'He asked when it began and I said after I got back from Canada. Then he asked if he could take a look. Of course I said yes.

'I told him I knew there was nothing I could do about it, but he explained that it depended on the cause.'

When Andrea told him she had worn in-ear headphones during the flight, he surmised this was likely the reason, because her ears 'probably hadn't equalised properly during and after the flight'.

Ear equalisation is the process of balancing air pressure in your middle ear with the surrounding environment, which is essential for activities like flying or diving.

The osteopath, using gloves, performed an internal jaw massage technique through her mouth, targeting points around her jaw joint to help restore balance to the middle ear.

'It was bizarre. He told me the ringing would go away by the end of the day,' Andrea said.

'I went to bed that night and was like, "Oh my God, it's gone!" I couldn't believe it! I'd had osteo treatments for years, but I didn't know they could help with that,' she said.

'The next day I called the clinic and left a message to tell my osteopath the news.

'Since then, I have never worn earbuds when flying and neither do my children. We all have over-ear Bose noise-cancelling headphones.'

Andrea admitted that if she hadn't heard of tinnitus before, she might have searched for other remedies.

'If you have tinnitus, give osteotherapy a go - it might work,' she said.

Join the debate Is tinnitus being written off as incurable far too quickly?

Andrea admitted that if she hadn't heard of tinnitus before, she might have searched for other remedies
A small waterfront cafe in NSW has been forced to defend its reputation after being hit with a string of one-star Google reviews.

However, the owners say the images used to criticise the food and service are years old and misleading.

Cafe owner Angela Wikner, who bought the business in Toronto, Lake Macquarie, four and a half years ago, took to Facebook to expose what she said are fake reviews, sharing side-by-side photos to show glaring discrepancies.

'Spot the difference,' she wrote.

'It is with a heavy heart that I put this out to the public, but those that know my staff and myself know that we put our all into every plate or coffee we serve.'

Angela told Daily Mail that the first one-star review appeared in December and immediately raised alarm bells.

'It was within the first two or three one-star reviews that I knew they were fake,' she said, explaining she closely monitors the cafe's Google profile, particularly during peak holiday season when tourist trade is critical to survival.

'We rely highly on this time of year to get us through winter. That star rating is really important to us.'

A small cafe has been forced to defend its reputation after being hit with a string of one-star Google reviews

According to Cafe owner Angela Wikner, the photos attached to the one-star reviews show tables and details that no longer exist in the venue, including numbered table sticks that were phased out years ago

The owner Angela Wikner, took to Facebook to expose what she says are fake reviews, sharing side-by-side photos to show the alleged discrepancies (table's colour change pictured)

According to Angela, the photos attached to the reviews showed tables and numbered sticks that had not been used since she purchased the cafe.

'I got rid of those silver tables the moment I bought the cafe.'

'We haven't used those table numbers for four years.'

Followers were quick to back her up.

'Seems they've been through your reviews and used a photo from a review back in 2021,' one commented.

Angela said when she publicly called out the outdated image, the reviewer quickly reposted the same plate of food, but digitally altered it to appear on the cafe's current tables.

'They literally manipulated the photo. What they didn't know was that one of my staff had already screenshotted the original review, so we had absolute proof,' she said.

She said the emotional toll was immediate and confronting.

'This cafe supports my family. It supports my staff who have mortgages and rent.

The owners say the images used to criticise the food and service are years old and misleading

'When we got up to eight or nine one-star reviews, it was mortifying.'

Despite the blow, loyal customers and fellow locals quickly rallied, flooding the comments with glowing praise.

'I've never had a bad feed or coffee here, [it's] my favourite cafe in the area,' one wrote.

'One of the only places we will eat. The quality of produce and thought that goes into this cafe is incredible,' another added.

A long-time patron said they had been visiting for more than 20 years and had 'not had one complaint', while others questioned whether a competitor may have been involved.

Several followers were quick to point out that the images appear to have been lifted from reviews originally posted as far back as 2021 when the cafe had different owners (Pictured: A screenshot of the original review)

Consumer watchdogs warn that fake or misleading online reviews undermine trust, and the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) says posting them can breach Australian Consumer Law (stock photo)

Other cafe owners also shared similar experiences, with one revealing they had removed their Google profile entirely after being hit with up to eight fake reviews a day on a brand-new business.

Consumer watchdogs warn that while online reviews are a powerful tool in shaping where Australians eat and shop, the system quickly loses credibility when reviews are fake or manipulated.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has made it clear that writing fake or misleading reviews is illegal and can breach Australian Consumer Law.

Reviews must be written by people who have actually experienced the service and reflect their genuine opinion.

Angela said Google eventually removed some of the fake reviews, but only after weeks of damage had already been done.

'The three weeks it took still hurt us financially. Google can afford to wait three weeks, but small businesses can't.'

However, she noted the overwhelming community response has helped restore morale among staff and brought new customers through the door.

'The support from Lake Macquarie and Newcastle has been insane.'

'I've nearly cried seeing how many people jumped on to leave five-star reviews to show they were false.'

'All we're asking for is genuine reviews so people can make informed decisions, and small businesses like ours can survive.'
The National Review, a prominent conservative publication, has called on Donald Trump to fire Kristi Noem immediately.

Noem, 54, has been in hot water with Trump after the deadly shooting of ICU nurse Alex Pretti in Minneapolis on Saturday.

The head of Homeland Security called it an act of 'domestic terror' - putting her at odds with the president.

She was grilled over her handling of the crisis during an Oval Office meeting on Monday night, which resulted in her being ordered to shift her focus away from ICE operations inside the US and instead towards the Southern Border.

The National Review called for the president to go even further, saying Trump should 'fire her into the sun.'

'At a minimum, the DHS secretary should immediately become the least visible member of this administration,' staff writer Jeffrey Blehar wrote in an op-ed published Monday.

Blehar viewed Noem's early analysis of Pretti's shooting as enough grounds for firing.

'Near as I can tell, the best possible narrative available is that this was the result of a tragic miscommunication among the ICE/CBP officers (when one of them shouted gun as he confiscated Prettis weapon), possibly fueled by an accidental discharge of the weapon,' the journalist wrote.

Noem, 54, has been in hot water with Trump after the deadly shooting of ICU nurse Alex Pretti in Minneapolis on Saturday

The head of Homeland Security called it an act of 'domestic terror' - putting her at odds with the president

He accused the Trump administration of grandstanding with its Minneapolis ICE operation, advising officials 'to know where to pick their battles.'

'Any hope of Trumps presidency clawing its way out of the hole it has dug for itself begins with firing Kristi Noem, current secretary of homeland security and the administrations most prominent ridealong disaster during its first year,' he wrote.

'Preferably out of a rocket, and into the sun. Damage control is needed, and she is the most visible avatar of damage.'

Blehar said Trump that if takes 'one message' from his piece, that it would be he could 'stanch the bleeding by canning [his] most incompetent lieutenant.'

'Trump doesnt even have to fire her,' he went on, asking for Trump to 'at least denigrate and demote'.

The assessment did not end there, though, with Blehar telling Trump 'to can nearly everybody within the remote orbit of DHS leadership except for Tom Homan.'

Multiple videos filmed by bystanders contradicted Noem's assessment, in which she said victim Alex Pretti brandished a weapon with the intent of attacking officers

Noem, just hours after shots rang out, insisted that Pretti 'brandished' a legally owned handgun at officers trying to detain an illegal migrant.

The DHS boss then dodged questions about the shooting on Sunday, noting it would be investigated, but still reiterated that her agents 'clearly feared for their lives and took action to defend themselves and the people around them.'

Both President Trump and White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt have distanced themselves from Noems comments.

Border Patrol Commander-at-Large Greg Bovino, after telling Fox News' Laura Ingraham that the agents who killed Pretti should be viewed as 'victims' over the weekend, was withdrawn from Minneapolis on Monday after overseeing the operation.

Sources told the Atlantic that Bovino is being ousted from his job. The publication further added that Noems job is at risk. Multiple Hill democrats have called for her resignation.

Pretti's death, meanwhile, continues to spawn friction within conservative camps.

A statement from the deceased's family said that 'The sickening lies told about our son by the administration are reprehensible and disgusting.'

Alex Pretti's family shared a passionate defense of him, saying he was a 'good man'

The family added that videos showed Pretti not holding a gun when he was tackled. Instead, he is seen holding his phone with one hand to film the agents' actions while using the other to shield a woman who was being pepper-sprayed.

'Please get the truth out about our son. He was a good man,' they wrote.

Pretti had no criminal record and worked for the US Department of Veterans Affairs.
Fox News host Sean Hannity slammed President Donald Trump's immigration policy, becoming the latest MAGA conservative to turn on the administration's controversial raids going on across the country.

Hannity, 64, admitted that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers should go about rounding up undocumented immigrants differently on Monday's edition of The Sean Hannity Show on Premiere Radio Networks.

'Now, is ICE perfect? Theyre not. Can they do a better job? They can,' the political commentator said.

'So I think that, you know, some of the optics at times, do I think that going into Home Depots and arresting people there is a good idea? I dont.'

His comments come just days after US citizen and ICU nurse Alex Pretti, 37, was shot and killed by Border Patrol officers on Saturday during an anti-ICE protest in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Video showed an agent removing a gun that Pretti lawfully owned and had a valid permit for from his holster before he was gunned down in broad daylight.

Minneapolis has seen a surge in ICE officers in recent weeks as ICE agent Jonathan Ross fatally shot Renee Nicole Good, 37, as she drove away during a protest on January 7.

Hannity said a 'program' that would allow illegal immigrants to 'come forward' would 'be a more responsible, reasonable way to deal with that problem.'

Fox News host Sean Hannity criticized President Trump's handling of the ongoing immigration crackdown going on across the country

His comments come after the Trump administration decided to pull federal agents out of Minneapolis, Minnesota, after two US citizens were killed by agents within weeks of each other

'I dont think that people that if youre working at a place, youre not the immediate problem. Eventually, well have to deal with those people that didnt respect our laws, borders, and sovereignty,' he added.

'Theres gotta be a program where people get to come forward. I think they should then be given transportation home. They can get a check for, what, $2,000? And they can apply to come back in the country legally.

'We can vet them. We can do a health check on them and make sure they wont be a financial burden on the American people. I think thatd be a more responsible, reasonable way to deal with that problem.'

In the wake of Pretti's death, Trump has decided to dismantle the leadership of immigration enforcement, including booting out Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and Border Patrol commander Gregory Bovino.

He called Noem in for a late-night meeting on Monday after she called the deadly incident involving Pretti 'domestic terror.'

By the end of the night, Noem was ordered to shift her focus away from interior immigration enforcement operations and instead concentrate on securing the Southern Border.

Meanwhile, Bovino was also withdrawn along with scores of his agents.

Initially, Noem's adviser and rumored lover Corey Lewandowski elevated Bovino to oversee high-profile immigration raids in U.S. urban centers, including Los Angeles, Chicago, and, most recently, Minneapolis.

After the death of Alex Pretti on Saturday, Trump decided to dismantle the leadership of ICE enforcement by reassigning Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and Border Patrol commander Gregory Bovino

Pretti (left), 37, was tragically shot to death by Border Patrol agents on Saturday in Minneapolis. Renee Nicole Good (right), also 37, was fatally shot by ICE officer Jonathan Good on January 7 during a protest in the Minnesota city

Bovino has since been reassigned and locked out of his government social media accounts.

Hannity isn't the only Republican who has voiced his opposition against Trump and his administration, as a conservative Governor called the death of Pretti 'murder.'

'At best, these federal immigration operations are a complete failure of coordination of acceptable public safety and law enforcement practices, training, and leadership,' Vermont Governor Phil Scott wrote on X on Monday.

'At worst, it's a deliberate federal intimidation and incitement of American citizens that's resulting in the murder of Americans. Again, enough is enough,' he added.

Kevin Stitt, the Republican governor of Oklahoma, also blasted the White House over the controversial ICE raids following Pretti's death.

This is a real tragedy,' Stitt told CNN on Sunday. 'I think the death of Americans, what we're seeing on TV, is causing deep concerns over federal tactics and accountability. Americans don't like what we're seeing right now.'

Stitt added that Trumps promises of a crackdown on illegal immigration, while still an important priority for many Americans, did not require some of the measures currently being used.

'Now, Americans are asking themselves, "What's the endgame? What's the solution?"' he continued.

Hannity isn't the only Republican who has voiced his opposition against Trump and his administration, as Vermont Governor Phil Scott, a Republican, called the death of Pretti 'murder'

Kevin Stitt, the Republican governor of Oklahoma, also blasted the White House over the controversial ICE raids following Pretti's death

'We believe in federalism, states' rights. Nobody likes feds coming into their state. So, what's the goal right now? Is it to deport every single non-U.S. citizen? I don't think that's what Americans want.'

When asked if agents should be pulled from the streets in Minnesota, Stitt said it was the president's call.

'He's a dealmaker. He's getting bad advice right now,' the governor said. 'How do we bring this to a conclusion? Only the President can answer that question.'

Trump spent hours on Sunday and Monday watching cable news coverage and was unsettled by how the administration was being portrayed, one official told CNN.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt distanced Trump from Noem's language regarding the recent death on Monday, arguing that it was not a position that the President had taken.

Trump has gone on to make Noem's longtime rival and ICE veteran Tom Homan take charge of the deteriorating operation in Minnesota.

The president also revealed he had a conversation with Minnesota Governor Tim Walz about what's going on in the state.

'The President agreed that he would talk to his Department of Homeland Security about ensuring the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension is able to conduct an independent investigation, as would ordinarily be the case,' Walz's office said.

Trump has gone on to make Noem's longtime rival and ICE veteran Tom Homan to take charge of the deteriorating operation in Minnesota

'The President also agreed to look into reducing the number of federal agents in Minnesota and working with the state in a more coordinated fashion on immigration enforcement regarding violent criminals.'

After appointing Homan to take over, Trump said: 'I am sending Tom Homan to Minnesota tonight. He has not been involved in that area, but knows and likes many of the people there.

'Tom is tough but fair, and will report directly to me.'
Jimmy Kimmel choked up during his monologue as he condemned federal agents over the fatal shooting of 37-year-old ICU nurse Alex Pretti amid escalating immigration raids in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Pretti's death occurred amid already heightened tensions in Minneapolis, coming just weeks after the fatal shooting of another local resident, Renee Good, 37, by an ICE agent.

During the somber monologue on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, the comedian said he spent much of the weekend 'looking at my phone and just feeling shocked and sick at whats happening in Minneapolis,' describing a stream of videos showing immigration raids that he said left families torn apart.

Tearful Kimmel recounted scenes of people being dragged from their cars, parents screaming as they were separated from their children, and infants exposed to tear gas.

He claimed that many of the victims were American citizens, saying they appeared to be detained simply for having accents.

'One video after another, screaming people being torn from their families, Americans - people who were born in the United States  being pulled out of their cars for the crime of having an accent or whatever. Children, small children, babies being tear-gassed, taken into custody, separated from their parents,' he said.

He went on to sharply criticize the agents involved, branding them 'poorly trained,' 'shamefully-led, mask-wearing goons,' carrying out what he described as 'one atrocity after another.'

He added: 'And that is what they are: They're goons committing vile, heartless, and even criminal acts. It's sickening to watch, and it's frustrating to watch.'

Jimmy Kimmel delivered an emotional onair rebuke during his Monday night monologue as he condemned the Trump administrations handling of the events that took place in Minneapolis this past month

Law enforcement officers kneeling next to the body of a man identified as Alex Pretti who was fatally shot when federal agents were trying to detain him in Minneapolis

'They won't even admit that it was a mistake,' he said, noting claims that Good's Honda SUV was 'weaponized' and that Pretti, who had a legal license to carry a firearm in an open-carry state, posed a threat.

Kimmel emphasized that Pretti never drew or touched his gun and that it was taken from him by one agent before another opened fire.

'They fired 10 times on an ICU nurse,' Kimmel said. 'And they're telling us, 'Well, it was justified.''

The host framed the moment as a reckoning for Trump supporters. 'Is that the law and order that you voted for?' he asked. 'If you voted for this - every day is a nightmare.'

Kimmel continued by questioning the broader strategy of these ICE raids. 'How does this end? What's the plan here? Is the plan to just keep doing this in every city that didn't vote for Donald Trump?'

He then widened his message, urging viewers to reflect on the consequences of the escalating federal actions.

'Does anyone on any side believe this is good leadership? We keep saying we need to find subjects that we can agree on. Can we agree that peaceful protesters, including moms driving SUVs on their way back after dropping their 6-year-old off at school and a nurse who stepped in to protect a woman from harm, don't deserve to be shot dead in the street by the people we are paying to protect us? Can we agree on that?'

As the audience applauded, Kimmel encouraged viewers to do their 'own research' and appealed to conservatives to speak out.

A Minneapolis man who was gunned down during a struggle with federal agents has been identified by local media as Alex Jeffrey Pretti

Pretti appeared to be filming the interaction prior to being allegedly shot

'Where are the reasonable voices on the right?' he said. 'We don't have to agree on everything, but come on!'

Kimmel singled out Fox News for its handling of the story, showing clips from its broadcasts and arguing the network was failing to report the facts.

'Let's cut the bullsh*t already because it may be Fox, but it ain't news,' he said.

At the end of his monologue, Kimmel said the responsibility lay with leaders who he argued were fueling fear rather than calming it.

He closed with a message of solidarity, his voice breaking as he addressed the victims' families and Minneapolis residents.

'And to the people of Minneapolis,' he said through tears, 'To the Pretti family and the Good family and these people who were looking out for their neighbors, we want you to know that we are with you and you are not alone.'

Pretti was among roughly 50 protesters who gathered in south Minneapolis to challenge federal agents conducting an immigration arrest.

Video footage shows Pretti filming the agents with his phone. He appeared to step forward to help a woman who was being peppersprayed or shoved by Border Patrol officers.

Renee Nicole Good was named as the woman shot dead by ICE in Minneapolis on January 7, 2026

The remains of the SUV with a bloodied airbag after Good was rushed to hospital

Officers tackled Pretti, taking him to the ground. While DHS later claimed he approached agents carrying a 9mm handgun, video reviews indicate he was holding only his phone when the altercation began.

Pretti, a licensed gun owner, never appeared to draw or point his firearm before shots were fired, according to witnesses and video analysis.

Federal agents, however, said he resisted efforts to disarm him, prompting the lethal use of force.

Just weeks earlier, Good was shot and killed by ICE agent Jonathan Ross in south Minneapolis on January 7, 2026, after stopping near an immigration raid with her wife, Rebecca.

Federal officials claimed Good tried to use her SUV as a weapon, but witnesses and video appeared to contradict that narrative, showing her steering away from the agent before he fired three shots.

The couple had joined community members monitoring ICE activity, and Rebecca later said they were there to 'support our neighbors,' describing Good as a devoted mother and activist.
The View's Whoopi Goldberg appeared to shade Melania Trump after the first lady made a rare public statement 'against the violence' being seen in Minnesota on Tuesday.

The panel had just played back a clip from Tuesday's Fox & Friends, where the 55-year-old former model called for 'unity' days after Minneapolis protester Alex Pretti was gunned down by multiple Border Patrol agents.

Trump had told viewers: 'I know my husband, the president, had a great call yesterday with the governor and the mayor and they're working together to make it peaceful, and without riots. I'm against the violence, so, please, if you protest, protest in peace.'

The statement made no mention of Pretti directly, and once the clip played, the broadcast reverted back to Goldberg with her mouth agape and a visibly cartoonish face of confusion.

'Who was that?!' the host remarked. 'She looks so familiar, I don't know who she was. Who was that?!'

The audience erupted into laughter as the host pointed to the screen previously populated by the first lady.

Whoopi Goldberg threw shade at First Lady Melania Trump on Tuesday's edition of The View

The panel had just played a clip of Trump, 55, calling for an end to the 'violence' in Minneapolis as residents protest the arrival of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents

Goldberg, 70, then turned to longtime Executive Producer Brian Teta to jokingly demand clarification and continue the gag.

Teta said with a smile: 'That was the first lady', paving the way for Sunny Hostin to enter the fray.

The progressive lawyer chimed in to note that the call for peace was offered in front of a billboard that promoted Trump's upcoming film on Amazon, which was directed by Brett Ratner and hits theaters and the Amazon Prime Video app on January 30.

'Oh, well that's why she's against violence,' Goldberg remarked - this time eliciting a more muddled reaction from the crowd.

'OK! Well, OK, I can't remember the last time I saw her,' she continued.

'I was so excited!'

Goldberg already became visibly emotional during a discussion about the shooting the day before, during which she framed Pretti's death as 'murder'.

Footage filmed by witnesses appeared to support her claims, after officials like Department of Homeland Security head Kristi Noem accused Pretti of attempting to bring harm to the Border Patrol agents who ultimately took his life.

Goldberg, 70, joked that the Slovenian former model was hardly worth mentioning

After listening to a clip of Noem insisting the shooting was under investigation 'investigation', Goldberg raged: 'I don't know what you're investigating if you are not investigating the straight up murder - the straight up murder.'

'This is the second one. The second murder of an American citizen,' she added, referring to the recent fatal shooting of another Minneapolis protester, Renee Good, earlier this month.

'You see it. You're not blind. And if you don't see it, it's willful because you're not looking You can't sit by this. Kristi Noem, you can't justify this. Mr. [Greg] Bovino, you can't justify this. You can't justify either one. And we all see it. And we see you for what you are,' Goldberg said.

'You all have blood on your hands.'

That same day, sources told the Atlantic that Bovino - who was overseeing the ICE operation in Minnesota - is being ousted and that Noem's job is also at risk. Several Hill democrats are calling for her resignation. President Donald Trump told reporters Noem was not stepping down when asked if she was on Tuesday.

Pretti's death, meanwhile, continues to spawn friction amongst conservatives, after Noem framed the victim as an agitator and possible 'domestic terrorist' who intended to harm ICE agents.

A statement from the deceased's family slammed the assessment as 'sickening lies told about our son by the administration', as well as 'reprehensible and disgusting.'

Trump's call for peace appeared to be in response to the fatal shooting of Minneapolis protester Alex Pretti on Saturday. Pretti was fatally shot by multiple Border Patrol agents. The administration falsely claimed he brandished a weapon with the intent of attacking officers

The family added that videos filmed at the scene prove Pretti not was holding a gun when he was tackled by the agents who went on to kill kim, and that he was holding a phone with one hand to film the agents' actions while using the other to shield a woman who was being pepper-sprayed.

'Please get the truth out about our son. He was a good man,' they wrote.

Pretti, meanwhile, had no criminal record and worked for the US Department of Veterans Affairs at the time of his death. The incident, which occurred Saturday morning, is being investigated by both the Department of Homeland Security and FBI.
Megyn Kelly has said she does not sympathize with a protester shot dead by federal agents during an anti-immigration protest in Minneapolis.

'I know I'm supposed to feel sorry for Alex Pretti, but I don't. You know why I wasn't shot by Border Patrol this weekend? Because I kept my ass inside and out of their operations,' the former Fox host said on her podcast.

If she decided to attend a protest, Kelly added, 'I would do it peacefully on the sidewalk without interfering, because interfering is where you go south.'

She said that 'laying hands' on Border Patrol officers 'is a felony now' and warned that 'if you do anything that resembles resisting - serious trouble.'

Pretti, a 37-year-old VA nurse, was seen recording agents on his phone and then intervened after an agent shoved a woman to the ground.

He was pepper-sprayed and tackled to the ground by half a dozen agents who grappled with him while on the ground.

Pretti was shot ten times after his licensed handgun was removed from his waistband.

Kelly in a separate post on X said: 'He was an agitator. He was in a physical confrontation with the Feds a week earlier. Still, he went back and injected himself into a law enforcement operation. FAFO [f*** around and find out].

Megyn Kelly said on her podcast: 'I know I'm supposed to feel sorry for Alex Pretti, but I don't'

Alex Pretti was shot and killed in Minneapolis on Saturday afternoon, triggering shock and outrage across the United States

'As for me, I have plenty of compassion - for the innocent Americans being killed, raped and molested by illegals. Where are your tears for them?'

Pretti was left with a broken rib in a scuffle with federal agents the week before he was shot dead, it emerged on Tuesday.

The alleged altercation occurred after Pretti stopped his car upon seeing Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers chasing a family on foot, a witness told CNN.

Pretti allegedly began shouting and blowing a whistle, and was then tackled to the ground by five agents. The source claimed one officer leaned on his back, causing his ribs to break.

The ICU nurse, who allegedly 'thought he was going to die', was reportedly released at the scene - but allegedly remained on federal agents' radar.

Agents deployed in Minneapolis were instructed earlier this month to 'capture all images, license plates, identifications, and general information on hotels, agitators, protestors,' documents obtained by CNN show.

Federal officers are understood to have kept documented details about Pretti, although it is unclear when they first started collecting information on him.

Donald Trump on Tuesday said that Pretti should not have been carrying a gun at the protest.

Pretti, 37, was shot dead by a border patrol officer in Minneapolis on Saturday after struggling with agents

Asked whether he would label Pretti an 'assassin' - the words of White House Deputy Chief of Staff - Trump disagreed but added: 'You can't have guns. You can't walk in with guns. You just can't. You can't walk in with guns.'

The President on Monday rebuked Homeland Security Secretary Krisi Noem as he he parachuted her longtime rival Tom Homan into Minnesota to lead the deteriorating migrant crackdown.

Trump was frustrated with Noem after she branded Pretti a 'domestic terrorist' at a news conference after the shooting, reports said.

The Homeland chief was grilled by Trump about her remarks at a meeting attended by White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles in the Oval Office late on Sunday.

Now Noem has been dispatched to secure the Southern Border, away from the administration's immigration enforcement operations in the interior.

But it appears that her job is safe despite calls for her to resign from senior Democrats, including Senator John Fetterman, a staunch supporter of Trump's immigration policy.

House Democrats on Capitol Hill have launched an investigation into Noem, while 140 members of the party have co-sponsored an impeachment resolution.

Republican lawmakers, including Texas Governor Greg Abbott and Kentucky Rep. James Comer, have also expressed concern that Noem's immigration crackdown in Minnesota may have gone off the rails.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem holds a press conference in Washington, DC, on Saturday

The Homeland Security Secretary has seen a dramatic loss of confidence following the fatal shootings of Pretti and anti-ICE protester Renee Good on January 7.

The latest Daily Mail/JL Partners poll, finds that Noem has a paltry 33 percent approval rating, compared to 37 percent last month before the shootings.

Her disapproval rating has risen to 41 percent compared to 37 percent in December, per the last Daily Mail/ JL Partners survey.

Nearly half of survey respondents, 46 percent, believe that Noem should be impeached. Another 42 percent say President Donald Trump should fire her.

The poll was conducted on January 26 among over 1,000 registered voters with a margin of error of 3.1 percent.
For the past 12 winters, my wood burner has kept my family warm  and helped to slash our energy bills.

The two-and-half foot wide beast  a 3,000 Charnwood Island III wood burner  sits proudly in a large living room fireplace in my rural Hertfordshire home.

I paid a further 1,500 to clean, line and install a metal flue pipe in the chimney  and budget 100 a year for a professional chimney sweep to clean it.

Hooks on the ancient wall behind reveal my fireplace has been at the heart of this home for a couple of centuries, keeping countless generations  and once upon a time, even cattle  warm.

But today this vital feature of my home has been reduced in the eyes of many to a smug middle-class accessory. And the Labour Government is doing its best to snuff out wood burners.

Ed Miliband, Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, is on a crusade to make wood burners extinct in line with tough new emission demands from the European Union.

Contented glow: Toby in his living room with his trusty Charnwood Island III wood burner

Not only do I believe a responsibly used wood burner need not harm the planet but rather than break the bank, it offers a fabulous way to heat the home for free.

I calculate my wood burner has saved me 6,000 in fuel bills on my four-bedroom cottage, as it allows me to turn off the central heating a third of the time  typically knocking 600 a year off bills.

The cost of energy has soared in recent years, rising 38 per cent in the past five years. The average home pays 1,758 in energy bills, according to the price cap set by industry regulator Ofgem, up from 1,277 in 2021.

I am fortunate in that I can cut my wood for free and allow it to dry for a year before I throw it on a fire  but those who buy logs are likely to still find it cheaper than using central heating.

The cost of timber has increased in the past five years, with the price of seasoned logs rising more than 20 per cent and more energy efficient kiln-dried logs rising 25 pc in price. Having a cubic metre of kiln-dried logs delivered can cost 160.

It costs 8.4p per kWh to heat a home with logs, according to research by stove provider Charlton & Jenrick.

This is less than a third of the cost of electricity, which is currently capped at 27.69p per kWh, but higher than gas at 5.93p per kWh.

You might need around three loads of cubic metres of logs a year to keep the fire going so it radiates enough warmth to be enjoyed throughout the home  at a cost of just below 500 a year on wood. A single cubic metre may typically contain about 250 logs.

That means you could still shave hundreds of pounds a year from your energy bills.

The price of a brand new eco-friendly wood burner has also plummeted in recent years  falling by up to 30 per cent in some cases, experts say.

Campaigners hoping to put people off buying a wood burner have helped drive prices down, says Angus Muir, director of wood burner company Firefly London.

He says: During Covid there was a huge upsurge in demand and wood burners were flying off the shelves. But when Labour got into power with its agenda, it suddenly decided wood burners were the devils work.

This led to a sudden fall in the price of new stoves  with prices typically falling by 20 pc. If you shop around, you can pay 30 per cent less than just a couple of years ago.

Muir says you might pay 1,500 for a 5kWh wood burner that until recently was selling for 2,000.

Emissions: Energy Secretary Ed Miliband is on a crusade to make wood burners extinct

He adds that when shopping for a stove, you need to look at the potential kilowatts per hour (kWh) of energy it provides to heat the home. A 5kWh stove can heat an average room that is 20ft long by 15ft wide and 8ft high, he suggests.

Muir says: You can pay as little as 500 for a really cheap Chinese-made wood burner but for quality you can trust, I recommend something with a reputable history, such as British manufacturers Charnwood or Stovax.

Rather than buy online, you should speak to a local stove dealership or ask a chimney sweep for advice. Stoves should be installed by engineers with Heating Equipment Testing and Approved Scheme (Hetas) qualifications.

Some 1.9million homes enjoy the pleasure of a wood-burning stove. Burning wood is a carbon neutral form of energy  logs on the fire release a similar amount of carbon dioxide as a tree absorbed when growing.

You should also look out for an efficient burner, which will be more cost effective and emit a lower level of emissions, as long-term exposure to poor air quality can have an impact on health.

My wood burner has passed Ecodesign regulations to ensure an efficient burning of fuel  the air is circulated inside the stove to improve the way wood is burned so it can best heat the home. It also has a sealed glass door to stop pollutants getting out.

Charnwood research shows the latest Ecodesign stoves sold since 2022 are up to 80 per cent more efficient at reducing air pollution than the older models  and emit 90 per cent less particles than an open fire.

Cedric Wells, creative director at Charnwood, says: It is important not to lump open fires in with the latest wood burners  which is something I am afraid the Government and Net Zero crusaders appear to be doing.

It is important to burn logs with a moisture content of less than 20 per cent, as it is the most efficient and environmentally friendly option.

Wood sold in bulk of less than two metres cubed needs a Woodsure Ready to Burn logo confirming this moisture content.

The Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs can issue you with a 300 penalty if caught breaking this rule.

I own a 20 handheld log moisture meter, with which I can check the levels of each log with a short needle.

I enjoy the prospect of foraging for free fuel. Fortunately, I live close to an area of grassland that is a site of special scientific interest.

The Wildlife Trusts comes round at least once a year cutting down trees deemed to be a threat to the sites grassland status. This provides a bountiful source of wood.

Fuel: It is important to burn logs with a moisture content of less than 20 per cent, as it is the most efficient and environmentally friendly option

Join the debate Would YOU trade convenience for cheaper heating and real warmth?

With my 200 Stihl chainsaw, I make quick work of large trunks left on the ground, though it is heavy work piling up the car and loading the wheelbarrow a dozen times to dump at home.

It is vital to ask permission from a landowner before cutting up a fallen tree on private land. I am careful when using my petrol chainsaw and have invested in safety equipment, spending some 50 on a helmet, goggles and gloves.

When a tree is chopped down, it is typically made up of 60 per cent water. You cannot simply throw it on a fire as it will not burn. Instead, you need to store it outside in a well-ventilated woodpile or shed for at least a year.

Within a month or so of collecting the wood I turn it into more manageable logs that are easier to stack and store.

Rather than wielding an axe, I have invested in a 50 blunt-ended splitting maul to break the timber into logs.

I also save around 5 by not buying firelighters but instead using orange peel that has been dried out in an oven on low heat. Another alternative is silver birch bark.

Ash is one of the best burners because the wood has a low moisture content, while other favourites include beech, birch and aromatic cherry.

But most plentiful where I live is oak, requiring two years of seasoning as a relatively slow-burning but efficient fuel.

Experts say a roaring fire in the home has its therapeutic benefits, too.

Erica Malkin, executive director of the Stove Industry Association, says: Watching flickering flames can certainly lower the heart rate, it also brings life to the home and encourages people to congregate for warmth.

It can provide a trigger for conversation and offer a sense of company for those feeling isolated or living alone.
Labour is on course to fail on its promise to fix an additional one million potholes per year with analysis suggesting there could be a decline in road repairs this year.

In its 2024 manifesto pledge, Labour promised to fix 'an additional one million potholes in England in each year of the next parliament'.

However, an investigation by Full Fact has found that the Government is falling short of that vow.

Its review of 149 transparency reports provided by local highway authorities across England showed that around 1.85 million potholes were filled in the fiscal year 2024/25.

Based on Labour's manifesto, this would suggest at least 2.85 million craters would need to be fixed in the financial year 2025/26 - a 54 per cent increase - to make good on its promise.

However, Full Fact estimates that - based on figures provided by 85 councils - the total number of potholes they will fill in 2025/26 will decline by around 2.6 per cent, with the expectation that nationwide repairs will remain 'broadly flat' on the previous year.

The analysis comes in the wake of publication of the latest 'Road conditions in England and Wales' update from the Department for Transport, which showed that the number of A roads in need of urgent repair has risen by 1 per cent in the last 12 months despite increased Government funding.

Labour is on course to monumentally fail on its promise to fix an additional one million potholes per year with analysis suggesting there has been no dramatic increase in road repairs since Sir Keir Starmer took power

While councils are not due to publish their transparency reports for the current financial year for another few months, ministers had requested that local authorities produce a rough estimate for how many potholes they would fill this term in their 2025 reports.

Full Fact said only 85 local authorities have done this, though this represents more than half of the total councils in England.

And they have predicted to fill roughly the same amount of potholes in 2025/26 as they did in 2024/25.

In the previous fiscal year, these 85 councils repaired around 835,000 craters.

This year, they've estimated to repair approximately 813,000, which is a year-on-year decline of 2.6 per cent.

South Gloucestershire Council, for example, estimates it will fill around 18 per cent fewer potholes in this financial year, having repaired 12,148 in 2024/25 but projected to fix 10,000 this time around.

North Tyneside Borough Council's report showed it had filled 6,045 potholes in the previous fiscal year and would rectify a similar volume in the following 12 months, with an estimate of 6,000 repairs.

However, others said they would accelerate the number of crater repairs they will carry out.

Birmingham City Council, for example, said it filled in 4,514 potholes in 2024/25 but will increase this quota by 50 per cent this fiscal year with 6,788 repairs projected.

Analysis of pothole repair estimates for the current fiscal year published by 85 local authorities shows the number of craters being fixed are projected to be fewer than in 2024/25, Full Fact found

In its 2024 manifesto pledge, Labour promised to fix 'an additional one million potholes in England in each year of the next parliament'. But Full Fact's investigation said the volume of repairs in 2025/26 are expected to remain consistent with the year previous at around 1.85m

At least 2.85 million potholes will need to be fixed in the current financial year for Labour to deliver on its manifesto pledge in 2024. And council data suggests this is highly unlikely

Full Fact said there are several reasons for fluctuations in annual pothole repair figures by council and by region - and it's not based on utilisation of available funding, prioritising maintenance schedules or managing budgets.

For instance, South Gloucestershire Council explained why it had scaled back its projection for repairs, stating: 'The prolonged periods of very wet weather that we have experienced over the last few years has seen a dramatic increase in potholes and subsequent repairs.

'The start of this calendar year [2025] has been a lot drier which has seen around a third of potholes reported compared to that of 12 months ago.'

Nottingham City Council also said it had filled 19 per cent fewer potholes last year than it had in the 2023/24 period because of an increase in the number of permanent highway maintenance repairs and increased planned maintenance.

South Gloucestershire Council has estimated it will fill around 18% fewer potholes in this financial year. But it said this was due to it experiencing drier weather in the last 12 months compared to years previous

New red, amber and green ratings published by the DfT let the public see which local highway authorities are fixing potholes effectively

The report comes just weeks after the government published a new traffic light rating system for all 159 local highways authorities to present their progress in relation to repairing potholes.

This intended to name and shame those failing to fix their roads or tap into the millions of pounds of available funding to rectify the nation's crater-riddled routes.

In the Chancellor's Autumn Budget, Rachel Reeves committed to provide over 2billion annually by 2029/30 for local authorities to 'repair, renew and fix potholes on their roads', which she said was enough to 'fill millions of potholes each year, enabling the government to exceed its commitment to fix an additional one million potholes per year'.

Transport secretary Heidi Alexander said at the beginning of January: 'We've put our money where our mouth is, increasing the funding for local highway authorities with 7.3billion to fix roads and given them the long-term certainty they have been asking for.

'Now it's over to them to spend the money wisely.'

DfT report shows A-road conditions in England have deteriorated in the last 12 months

On Wednesday, the DfT published its official statistics on road conditions in England and Wales.

It showed that 5 per cent of A-roads managed by local authorities are classified 'red', meaning they 'should be considered for maintenance' and 'should be investigated fully'.

The volume of red road ratings has increased by 1 per cent in the last year, with Derbyshire having the largest proportion (29 per cent) of its major A-roads categorised as being in need of urgent attention.

The number of B and C-roads classified as red has remained relatively consistent year-on-year, though, with the national average being 7 per cent.

The Department for Transport's Road conditions in England to March 2025 published this week showed that 5% of A-roads in England are rated as red, meaning they are in need of urgent attention. This is up 1 percentage point on the year previous

Head of roads policy at the AA, Jack Cousens, said: 'It was hoped that the Road Condition report would show that Government money supporting council efforts to reverse the decline in English roads and the backlog of repairs would be having more of an effect.

'Such is the size of the problem and the focus on main roads that driver frustration and anger remains deep.'

He said drivers are 'having to run the gauntlet of persistent potholes on residential streets and rural roads'.

In the latest annual report from the Asphalt industry Alliance published last March, it estimated the cost to bring every road up to a reasonable standard was an eye-watering 16.8billion.
Lloyds Banking Group has been penalised for breaching Russian sanctions after opening an account for an ally of Vladimir Putin.

The High Street lender was hit with a penalty of 160,000 after its Halifax arm allowed Dmitry Ovsyannikov to become a customer in 2023  even though he was a designated person.

The fine, from the Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation (OFSI), came after Ovsyannikov was last year jailed for 40 months for sanction-busting.

The 48-year-old, who was appointed governor of Sevastopol by President

Putin following the annexation of Crimea, moved to the UK in 2023 after obtaining a British passport despite being on the sanctions list.

At the time of Ovsyannikovs conviction, Foreign Office minister Stephen Doughty said: Mr Ovsyannikov thought he could hide from our sanctions. [The] verdict proves otherwise. We are resolutely committed to increasing pressure on Putin, his cronies and all those who aid his barbaric war in Ukraine.

'Designated person': Lloyds was hit with a penalty of 160,000 after its Halifax arm allowed Dmitry Ovsyannikov (pictured) to become a customer in 2023

Ovsyannikov, whose father was born in Bradford, opened the Halifax account on February 6, 2023, and the bank processed 24 payments totalling 77,383 between February 8 and February 24.

It is understood this included tens of thousands of pounds transferred by his wife, Ekaterina Ovsyannikova.

He was able to open the Halifax account because his British passport contained a different spelling of his name to the one on the sanctions list. This meant the account was not flagged as a potential match by the banks automatic sanctions screening system.

But a fuller review did identify him as a designated person, and the account was frozen and the authorities were informed.

The OFSI said its 160,000 fine followed a 50 per cent reduction because the bank voluntarily disclosed the breaches a month after the payments were made. The maximum penalty is 1million.

A Lloyds spokesman said: Lloyds Banking Group takes its regulatory responsibilities extremely seriously. We acted swiftly and transparently, proactively referring this one-off, isolated matter to the OFSI and working closely with them throughout.

OFSI has recognised our prompt voluntary disclosure, resulting in the maximum possible reduction of the penalty.
Shares in Spire Healthcare shot up by nearly a fifth after it revealed it is in talks with private equity suitors about a possible takeover.

The FTSE 250 company, which runs private hospitals and GP practices, revealed over the weekend it is in

conversation with potential buyers, including Bridgepoint Advisers and Triton Investment Advisers.

These discussions remain at a preliminary stage, a Spire spokesman said, adding: There can be no certainty that any offer will be made for the company, nor as to the terms of any offer, if made.

Shares jumped more than 20 per cent in early trading before closing up 17.9 per cent to give it a value of around 850million.

It is thought, however, that a takeover deal could value it at 1.5billion. The talks come after Spire effectively put itself up for sale in September when it launched a strategic review of its operations.

Talks: Spire Healthcare , which runs private hospitals and GP practices, revealed over the weekend it is in discussions with potential buyers

It sets the scene for yet another London-listed company to disappear from the stock market following a wave of takeovers in recent years.

Spire is not the only company being targeted, too. Lloyds of London underwriter Beazley last week turned down a fifth offer from Zurich Insurance worth 7.7billion, and online auction house Auction Technology Group is attempting to fend off a string of bids from its largest shareholder FitzWalter Capital.

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Meanwhile, the bosses of Rio Tinto and Glencore are in talks over a 200billion mega-merger to create the worlds largest miner and copper powerhouse.

Spire is among the UKs largest private healthcare groups, running 38 hospitals and more than 50 clinics across England, Scotland and Wales.

In September, following pressure from shareholders, it launched a review of its operations with bankers at Rothschild & Co, arguing it is undervalued by the market.

That sent shares up 14 per cent in a day, but a profit warning in December sent them tumbling once more.

Under City takeover rules, Bridgepoint and Triton have until February 21 to table a formal offer for the company or walk away.
A shake-up in leadership at Boots will see Ornella Barra step down as boss and replace her long-term partner Stefano Pessina as chairman.

Barra  who has overseen the retailer since 2016  said it was the perfect moment to take on a less operational role.

Buyout group Sycamore Partners broke up Boots former owner Walgreens Boots Alliance in August following its 7.4billion takeover of the US group.

This created The Boots Group, which includes the chemists UK and Irish chains, Boots Opticians and the No7 Beauty company, as well as a pharmaceutical wholesale arm in Germany.

Barra, 72, said: The Boots Group is in great shape. Pessina, 84, will remain as a director.

As part of the shake-up, Anthony Hemmerdinger, who runs Boots in the UK and Ireland, will oversee the No7 Beauty Company in a step-up from his current role.

Power couple: Ornella Barra (pictured with partner Stefano Pessina) has overseen Boots since 2016

Buyout group Sycamore Partners broke up Boots former owner Walgreens Boots Alliance in August following its 7.4bn takeover of the US group.

This created The Boots Group, which includes the chemists UK and Irish chains, Boots Opticians and the No7 Beauty company, as well as a pharmaceutical wholesale arm in Germany.

Barra, 72, said: The Boots Group is in great shape. Pessina, 84, will remain as a director.

Barra, 72, said: The Boots Group is in great shape.Pessina, 84, will remain as a director.
People in eleven towns and cities saw their disposable income rise twice as fast as the rest of the UK over a decade, a report has found.

It reveals a wide discrepancy in disposable income growth across the UK's 63 largest towns and cities.

The best-performing area was Blackburn, Lancashire, where disposable income went up by 11.7 per cent on average between 2013 and 2023.

Mansfield in Nottinghamshire followed with a rise of 8.3 per cent, and Brighton in East Sussex came in third place with a rise of 8.1 per cent.

The rest of the top eleven were Worthing in West Sussex, London, Barnsley in South Yorkshire, Warrington in Cheshire, Newport in Wales, Luton in Bedfordshire, Wakefield in West Yorkshire and Bristol.

At the other end of the scale, people living in Aberdeen, Scotland, saw their total disposable income shrink by 18.8 per cent.

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Aberdeen's economy is unique as it is strongly tied to the fortunes of the North Sea oil industry, with the drop in disposable income blamed on falling oil and gas prices. The area's economy declined by a similar level of 18.1 per cent over the period.

The three places with the next-biggest falls in disposable incomes were Cambridge, Exeter and Dundee, all of which witnessed a much lower drop of 3 per cent.

The report estimates Aberdonians would have been 34,700 better off per person over the decade, had income growth matched that of the UK's top-performing cities.

Fifteen other cities recorded a decline, but on average, disposable incomes increased by only 2.4 per cent across the UK.

The report, which was published by the thinktank Centre for Cities, argues that in the aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis, many cities and towns' incomes have stagnated.

It states that across the country, deprivation has persisted, and living standards have become disconnected from economic growth.

But it added that a handful of top-performing cities have bucked the trend and achieved 'greater prosperity' by expanding local economies and raising incomes.

They all focused on building a strong local business base with higher-skilled jobs in productive sectors.

These included 'tradeable' industries, such as software, marketing and finance, which can be sold to markets outside the local area.

The third best-performing area was Brighton (pictured), which has seen disposable income increase by 8.1%

Centre for Cities argues that central and local Government in the past have too often focused on piecemeal actions to improve the cost of living, such as capping bus fares or providing money for energy bills, rather than focusing on economic growth.

Andrew Carter, chief executive of Centre for Cities, said: 'It is understandable that the Government has shifted its emphasis onto the cost of living in recent weeks, but ultimately it is stronger economic growth that raises household incomes.

'Without growth, cost-of-living fixes can only ever be temporary.

'Nationally, the last decade has delivered the same amount of growth in living standards as we typically experienced in a single year prior to 2008.

'In places like Warrington and Barnsley, economic growth has translated into higher household incomes and less deprivation. That isn't accidental: it is shaped by policy choices on skills, transport, housing, and support for businesses.'

The 42-page report outlines the example of Barnsley, which has effectively used its M1 corridor location to become a logistics hub.

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The 42-page report outlines the example of Barnsley (pictured), which has effectively used its M1 corridor location to become a logistics hub

The council has helped by opening up industrial land around motorway junctions to help activity in this space grow. Since 2015, the town has added 6,000 more private service jobs, a third of which are high-skilled jobs.

The report highlights three key areas needed to deliver fast growth in living standards, the first of which is improving the local economy, especially by focusing on growing 'cutting-edge' industries.

The second is giving households better access to the opportunities of growth by encouraging more people into work, providing skills support, and improving transport links.

And the third is reducing constraints on housing and commercial space so growing places can reach their potential.

It said the Government should support these efforts through its industrial strategy by quickening the pace of planning reform to ensure that places with high growth potential are not constrained, and residents are not squeezed by high housing costs.

At the other end of the scale, by far the outlier, was Aberdeen (pictured), which, due to falling oil and gas prices, has seen its total disposable income shrink by -18.8% - a rate five times that of the other largest

Mr Carter added: 'The Government's planning reforms, devolution agenda and industrial strategy are crucial for supporting growth in cities and delivering better living standards year after year.

'Cities need to support more jobs in the new economy  in sectors backed by the Industrial Strategy like life sciences, digital and AI.

'These jobs cluster in urban areas and generate benefits for those working in the 'everyday economy', too.

'As the Prime Minister has said, 2026 needs to be the year that 'politics shows it can help again'. The test, at the end of this year, will be whether we are seeing more jobs, higher wages, and stronger local growth in more places across the country.'

Centre for Cities is the leading independent think tank dedicated to improving the economies of the UK's largest cities and towns.

It is a charity that works with local authorities, business and Whitehall to develop and implement policy that supports the performance of urban economies.
Twenty-one of Westminster's historic gas lamps have received new protection in a move that will save them from being replaced with modern LED alternatives.

The group of streetlights around Peers Carpark, Old Palace Yard, have been shielded by listed status after a contract was signed between Parliament and the British Gas Lamplighters.

Some surrounding the Palace of Westminster are reportedly rare globe models dating back to around 1880 and were made by celebrated lighting manufacturer William Sugg & Co.

Only few of the original lamps still exist and have been a beloved feature of Westminster - a world heritage site - for most of its history.

The news follows a long-running campaign to save all 300 of Westminster's gas lamps, which were set to be converted to LED replicas in a bid to combat climate change.

In November 2022, Westminster Council agreed to keep 174 of the lamps following opposition to their plans from campaigners including the London Gasketeers and the Victorian Society.

The London Gasketeers - which was founded by Westminster residents Tim Bryars and Luke Honey - later submitted listing applications for the remaining lamps that were still set to be converted.

Parliament has confirmed work is now underway to re-energise and replace 21 lamps' mantles as part of the project to save them.

Lamps in New Palace Yard, below Big Ben, believed to be made by the firm William Sugg & Co in the 19th Century

Three gas lamps are seen glowing in New Palace Yard, outside the Houses of Parliament

Mr Bryars, who celebrates the new contract, told the Daily Mail: 'It's fantastic news that the surviving Victorian globe lamps which surround the Palace of Westminster are to be preserved as working gas lamps for future generations.'

The lamps used to be handled by around 25,000 lamp lighters who would go out at dusk and dawn to light and extinguish the lights for their assigned row of houses.

Now, only a handful of lamplighters remain - a small group of British Gas engineers who turn on, maintain and preserve the existing London gas lamps.

Aran Osman took on the role as lamplighter after the previous five retired.

He previously told the Daily Mail: 'I love it. It's a brilliant job. The satisfaction you get - because we get thousands of people come every week to see them.

'They're magic, people love them. We call it the Kensian glow that it gives off, and you can't replicate it. There are so many different types of LEDs that try to replicate it but it's not the same. People love it.'

London Gasketeer co-founder Tim Bryars stands by the gas lamp outside his bookshop in Cecil Court, Westminster

A gas lamp is seen in St James's Square, Westminster, when it was being removed in the 1930s

London lamplighter Aran Osman is seen climbing up his ladder to fix and maintain a lamp

Gas lamps on a grand gate near Buckingham Palace in Westminster, London

According to Mr Osman, the 1980s was the last time that someone physically went around with a pole and lit the gas lamps. After that period a mechanical clock was adapted to fit every single lamp.

'The main [way of lighting the lamps now] is a mechanical clock, that every 14 days we have to literally go round and wind up again, so it's got a key and we have to stick it in the centre and wind it up, so that will give us about 14 days. So we literally have to go round doing that,' he said.

Explaining the process of maintaining the lamps, Mr Osman said: 'We go around, over the years they got a bit tired, but [] we're really updating them, cleaning them, we've scraped all the old soot off, all the old paint off, so they're really looking at their best at the moment.

'We've really brought it up to a different level, and just hopefully we can save them for another 50-200 years.'
The children of double murderer Colin Howell have revealed they spent two decades believing their mother had died by suicide before finding out he had killed her.

Howell, 65, and his former lover Hazel Stewart, 62, murdered their respective spouses Lesley Howell, 31, and police officer Trevor Buchanan, 32, in May 1991.

Both victims were found in a fume-filled garage in Castlerock, County Londonderry, but Howell covered up the killings as a double suicide for nearly two decades.

Police had originally believed Mrs Howell and Mr Buchanan died in a suicide pact, after discovering that their partners were having an extra-marital affair.

But the victims had actually been drugged before being murdered and their bodies arranged to make it look as though they had taken their own lives.

Howell's crimes only came to light in 2008 when he confessed to elders in his church and then police  and he was imprisoned for at least 21 years in 2010.

He also implicated former Sunday school teacher Stewart and she was jailed for at least 18 years in 2011. She was told last July that she cannot appeal the sentence.

Howell was also imprisoned in 2011 for five-and-a-half years for indecent assaults on five female patients, although this ran concurrent to the sentence for murder.

Now, Howell's children Lauren, Daniel and Jon have spoken about their mother's death and its impact on them as children for the first time in a new ITV documentary.

Colin Howell's children (from left) Daniel, Lauren and Jon have spoken about their mother Lesley's death and its impact on them as children for the first time in a new ITV documentary

Colin Howell and his wife Lesley (pictured together) shared four children when he killed her

Daniel, Lauren and Jon look through old photographs and home videos in the documentary

Lesley Howell with children Daniel, Lauren, Jon and Matthew - the latter of whom died aged 22

Lauren Bradford-Clarke spent 18 years believing her mother had killed herself in a suicide pact

On 'Killer In The House: The Murders Of Lesley Howell and Trevor Buchanan', which airs on ITV1 at 9pm tonight, Lauren said: 'For 18 years I believed that my mum died in a suicide pact. It turned out that my dad and Hazel had actually killed her.'

She described her mother as 'so devoted' with a 'gentle approach to parenting but at the same time she made it fun, she made it worthwhile, even in the smallest things'.

Lauren, whose full name is now Lauren Bradford-Clarke, recalled how May 19, 1991, was the day after her brother Daniel's second birthday and the siblings had been playing on a new blue slide he had been given.

She said: 'I remember asking where my mum was. She was out of the house and that wasn't a very common thing. There was three or four men from the church sitting on the patio talking with my dad, and I got a sense it was a bit serious.

'At one point Matthew and I were called into the dining room and told that our mum had gone to heaven and that she wouldn't be coming back.

'I don't know if I really grasped that, I don't know if you can as a four-year-old. But even if I probably didn't, I felt lost and I didn't know what it meant, but I also knew it wasn't good.'

Lauren said she was told her mother had 'died from car fumes', leaving her 'terrified' during her childhood when she walked behind a vehicle in case she died from breathing in the gases.

But she also described how she enjoyed spending time with Stewart after her mother's death, saying they would 'do girly things' and she 'really loved that time'.

Howell then broke up with Stewart, which left Lauren 'so very upset' and he married an American woman called Kyle Jorgensen who became her stepmother.

Colin Howell was jailed for at least 21 years in 2010 after confessing 17 years after the murder

Howell implicated his ex-lover Hazel Stewart (above) and she was jailed for at least 18 years

Kyle had two children from a previous relationship and went on to have five children together with Howell.

Lauren said: 'On the few occasions we would talk about my mum, she was referred to as Lesley. There was no pictures of her. Quite quickly my mum was almost forgotten.'

She added that her brother Matthew tragically died aged 22 while studying abroad in Russia, and her father told her that he had 'brought death into the family and therefore God had punished him by killing my brother'.

Lauren also spoke about her shock when Howell eventually confessed to murder after suffering financial ruin when he lost 353,000 investing in a scheme to make money from gold in the Philippines.

She said: 'I physically fell on the floor. Cold blood ran through my body and I felt angry. After my dad confessed, he was sentenced to 21 years in prison.

'We're realising this horrible truth, the years and decades of lies that were told, knowing how that had actually impacted me.'

And on Stewart trying to appeal her conviction, Lauren said: 'At some point she just has to accept this and stop dragging us through this. It's enough.

'She will be eligible for parole soon, she will get out. I have a life sentence. I will never get my mum back. My mum will never walk through the door.'

Lauren's brother Jon also spoke about his grief, telling the documentary he 'just grew up knowing that mum committed suicide'.

He added that the children would frequently pray to 'get a new mum' following Lesley's death.

Murder victim Lesley Howell (above) was found in a fume-filled garage in County Londonderry

Murder victim Lesley Howell receiving a nursing award with her mother May Clarke

But Jon also explained how their father carried out child abuse, saying: 'Religion was an enormous part of growing up. That was a very effective way of making me want to be compliant and be a good Christian and a good son.

'Control was a big part of it. I saw true violence in my father. What I now understand to be true child abuse.'

Jon said his father had come back from the Philippines in December 2008 having suffered financial ruin and took him and Daniel to a Chinese restaurant where he said he had 'had this realisation that he had to come clean'.

On the day Jon found out his father was a killer, he recalled how elders from their church said Howell had murdered his mother and Mr Buchanan.

Jon said: 'It just felt like chaos inside. I just didn't and will never understand. At what point do you suggest to your lover, maybe we could kill them? And that's an answer I'll never get.

'The motive behind their decision to murder is unfathomable. Rather than have his own reputation tarnished by leaving his wife for another woman, he would rather violently murder two people and hide it in a twisted world.

'I don't consider him my father. I never should have been raised by him, I should have been raised by my mother.'

He also described Stewart's appeal as 'disappointing', adding: 'It's not taking accountability and it's not honouring the life of my mum and Trevor by failing to own up to your role.'

Police officer Trevor Buchanan (pictured) was one of the two victims of the double murder

Jon additionally revealed that he had changed his last name from Howell to his mother's maiden name Clarke, saying: 'It was important for me to honour my mum. I want to pass on her last name.'

His brother Daniel also spoke at length in the documentary, saying how he would sing songs, play games and go on camping trips with his father.

But he added: 'The reality that I always grew up with was that my mum had killed herself on the night of my second birthday because she was feeling sad.

'I asked my father if suicide is a sin, and that's the last thing you do before you go onto heaven or hell. I remember being very worried that she had gone to hell.'

Daniel said he 'adored' Stewart when she became his stepmother, and used to ask her: 'When are you going to get married, when are you going to be my mummy?'

But when Howell and Stewart broke up in 1996, he was left 'devastated because I wanted a mum', adding: 'I felt so much closeness to her and I lost her.'

Howell received an insurance payout of 400,000 after Lesley's death, and Daniel said he used this to 'fix his financial problems at his dental practice and then had a booming dental practice'.

Speaking about Kyle, Daniel said: 'When we were growing up together in this new family that the Lord had given us, our mum was not a topic of conversation. It was just a dirty word.

Daniel says it 'felt like my whole life was deconstructed' afer finding out his father was a killer

'But this was not a household of love. The principal idea was that their role as parents is to implement discipline. You're good if you're with us, because God speaks to us and then we'll tell you what's right. The physical discipline was physical abuse.

'He really had this good image in the community, very successful, I saw how he interacted with those in the church and then I saw how he was in the home. Age of ten onwards, I always saw my father as a fraud.'

Daniel also explained his reaction to finding out his father was a murderer, saying: 'I can barely put it into words. It kind of felt like my whole life was deconstructed.

'I tend to refer to him as Colin. I don't know what it means to forgive him. When he chose to murder my mother he, in my view, abdicated from his role as a father.'

Daniel eventually moved to New York because his identity 'kind of got caught up being the "killer's son".'

He said: 'I was working as a locum doctor in London and a colleague saw my name and heard my accent and said "Oh my God, you're Colin Howell's son, the crazy dentist killer".

'It was too much, I felt like I wanted to be my own person and have my own identity. Really the main driver of why I decided to move over to New York.'

But he was full of praise for his mother Lesley, saying: 'By all accounts she was an amazing woman and I'm so blessed to have had her for the two years that I did.'

Howell's son Jon said being told his father was a murderer left him feeling 'like chaos inside'

As Howell continues to serve his sentence at high-security Maghaberry Prison, a separate documentary which aired on BBC Two last Sunday broadcast his confession tapes.

In that programme, called 'Confessions of a Killer', Howell is heard talking in a police interview about Stewart's role in the murders and says: 'Definitely as a person she was a victim.

'There was a co-operation but arising from, you've told me, I didn't know she had a fear, but obviously it's clear she had a fear and didn't know how to escape from it.

'So yeah she responded and did certain things that she now, at the time had even, especially now, regrets. But in terms of the driving force as to why these things happened, she's been a very unfortunate victim of Colin Howell and I regret that.'

Howell also claims he had decided to confess because of changes in his marriage, finances and 'a sudden inability to function with patients' at his dental practice.

He says he had been 'involved in intermittent sexual behaviours with patients' at the practice.

The killer, who went to church in Coleraine, adds that he realised 'as a Christian I was a fake', saying: 'My world fell apart.

'I walked in here probably believing that this was the only way that I could be real and that it would put right what was wrong, that's why I came and confessed.'

The case was turned into an ITV mini-drama in 2016 called The Secret (pictured), which starred James Nesbitt as Colin Howell and Genevieve O'Reilly as Hazel Stewart

Howell adds that his justice in the law would be 'deserved' after his confession, and he had prayed the consequences would be 'bearable to the people who I've said sorry to'.

But Lauren criticised the BBC after saying the corporation denied her plea to hear the tapes before they were broadcast.

She told BBC News NI's Evening Extra programme that hearing his voice had brought back feelings of 'shock, horror and trauma', adding: 'It has been very, very difficult to come to terms with.

'I think that if I had been given an opportunity to prepare and hear them in advance at least it would have given me a slight bit of distance from it being broadcast.'

The BBC said the production team were in touch 'with immediate family members about the making of this series and invited them to contribute to it'.

A spokesman added: 'We understand the sensitivities involved and the continuing effects of what happened.

'Our programmes explore issues of public interest and they have been made with care for those most directly impacted and in line with relevant BBC editorial guidelines.'

The case was turned into an ITV mini-drama in 2016 called The Secret, which starred James Nesbitt as Howell and Genevieve O'Reilly as Stewart.

'Killer in the House' airs on ITV1 at 9pm tonight and is also available on ITVX
The OnlyFans model who was abducted at gunpoint in front of a mall after moving from Arizona to Mexico to allegedly sell cartel merchandise has been found safe.

Nicole 'La Nicholette' Pardo Molina, 20, was hurled into the spotlight last week after a video of her being snatched from her purple Tesla Cybertruck in front of a shopping center in Culiacan, the capital city of Sinaloa, Mexico, went viral.

She had allegedly been selling merchandise bearing the image of drug cartel leader Joaquin 'El Chapo' Guzman - among other notorious cartel leaders - before she disappeared.

Dramatic footage captured by her unmistakable Cybertruck showed Molina stepping out of the vehicle after it had been disabled by tire spikes.

When she stepped out, a gun-bearing man concealing his face with a black and red sweater jumped out of the backseat of a white Toyota Corolla and grabbed her.

The gunman and the driver of the Corolla then pushed her into the car's backseat before speeding off.

On Thursday, Mexican Security Secretary Omar Garcia Harfuch said that the vehicle involved in Molina's kidnapping was being tracked and that federal authorities were alerted of the situation.

After days of confusion surrounding her whereabouts, the Attorney General's Office of the State of Sinaloa announced on Saturday that the US dual national has been located 'thanks to citizen collaboration.'

Nicole 'La Nicholette' Pardo Molina, 20, was abducted at gun point last Tuesday

The abduction was captured on video thanks to the security cameras in Molina's Cybertruck

Molina was reportedly selling merchandise bearing the image of former Sinaloa cartel leader Joaquin 'El Chapo' Guzman (pictured) at the time of the abduction

Molina was born in the US and apparently splits her time between Phoenix, Arizona - where her parents live - and Culiacan.

The content creator reportedly began pursuing business ventures in Mexico after dropping out of school following the COVID-19 pandemic, according to El Pais.

Multiple reports suggest that Molina has alleged cartel ties, although she had no links to any cartels before her kidnapping.

Investigators are probing whether the crime is related to an ongoing turf war between rival gangs.

Culiacan is considered a very dangerous area and is controlled by a rival faction of the Sinaloa Cartel, which El Chapo once led. Molina's father is also reportedly from the region.

While she was missing, authorities warned that her safety was at risk and that she 'could be a victim of a crime.'

According to the International Federation for Human Rights, in 2024 alone, 3,601 women were reported missing in Mexico, which was a 40 percent increase from the previous year.

In 2025, hundreds of women were kidnapped or disappeared just in Sinaloa.

Other influencers have also been victims of cartel violence in recent years, such as Valeria Marquez, a fashion model who had more than 600,000 followers on Instagram and was shot dead in May during a livestream.

Molina was named in a 2022 song called 'La Muchacha del Salado'

Investigators believe that the shooter may have been tied to the Jalisco Nueva Generacion cartel based in Jalisco.

Molina flaunts her glamorous lifestyle online to her 180,000 Instagram followers and more than 145,000 on TikTok.

She is also named in the 2022 corrido song 'La Muchacha del Salado,' by Grupo Arriesgado.

The Daily Mail has contacted Molina via Instagram for comment.
To describe 2025 as a bleak year for the Jewish community would be a profound understatement. Last year, too many innocent people  seeking only to observe the traditions and prayers of our ancient faith  were murdered in cold blood.

And yet today, as we mark Holocaust Memorial Day on the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz in 1945, its clear that we should  must  respond to evil with goodness; find light when all seems bleak; and maintain faith and hope in the face of what can sometimes feel like fathomless darkness.

Only last month, two men were found guilty of plotting a gun attack intended to cause untold harm to the Jewish community in Manchester  the city where I was born and where, just four months ago, a grievous terrorist attack took place in my own synagogue at Heaton Park in north Manchester. A place of worship and community where I have served as rabbi for the past seventeen years. During that harrowing assault, two beloved members of our congregation lost their lives: 66-year-old Melvin Cravitz and 53-year-old Adrian Daulby, both close friends of mine.

And as we know, on the first night of the festival of Chanukah last year, a horrific massacre took place at Bondi Beach, in which terrorists murdered 15 people during a communal celebration of the festival. Among them was 41-year-old Rabbi Eli Schlanger, the great-nephew of my predecessor at Heaton Park, Reverend Leslie Olsberg. Such is the interconnected nature of the global Jewish community.

Since the Hamas terror attack in Israel on 7 October 2023, Jew-hatred has seeped like a poisonous contagion into so many areas of public lifefrom the NHS and Glastonbury to university campuses, sections of the media and even the Eurovision Song Contest

Yet equally, there is something which creates an even greater connection between every human being - regardless of religion, creed, colour, ethnicity, beliefs (or lack of them). And that is a determination to find light and cleave to goodness, even in times of desolation and despair.

Naturally, its easy to say these words. But how to fulfil the meaning when your heart has been shattered? What I`ve learned, not least since the jihadi atrocity at my synagogue, is that it is possible to hold two opposing thoughts in your head at the same time. From there you can start to heal.

On the one hand, I go into my synagogue on the Jewish sabbath  shabbat - and flinch in sorrow at the empty seats in the rows of wooden pews where Adrian and Melvin, two men of quiet strength and profound kindness, used to sit during prayer services. On the other, I look around the building with its bright stained-glass windows, and airy main sanctuary and am reminded that the Heaton Park community still blazes with warmth, resilience, joy and holiness

After all, and this is true of all humankind, if we are united by the values of family, community and kindness, as well as a determination to protect the innocent and the vulnerable, we drown out those who seek to divide us through intimidation, bigotry, and hate.

Only last month, two men were found guilty of plotting a gun attack intended to cause untold harm to the Jewish community in Manchester

I urgently call upon the Government to recognise that antisemitism is a problem for all of society, not just its Jewish citizens

The challenge of course is immense, given the spiralling antisemitism sweeping across Britain  not least through the hate-filled marches that move unchecked across our cities, turning some areas into virtual no-go zones for Jews. Since the Hamas terror attack in Israel on 7 October 2023, Jew-hatred has seeped like a poisonous contagion into so many areas of public lifefrom the NHS and Glastonbury to university campuses, sections of the media and even the Eurovision Song Contest. Little wonder that, even before the Heaton Park attack, many believed that a terrorist strike on Jewish people in Britain was only a matter of time.

Yet I have always been an optimist, clinging to the enduring belief that people are essentially good. That a moral order would prevail. I never imagined that, for the first time in modern British history, Jews would be murdered in the UK simply for attending their place of worship in my synagogue. I could not have believed that words of hate could so easily be transformed into cold-blooded murder, that humanity could sink so low.

Certainly the notion of being vulnerable to terror was the last thing on my mind on the morning of October 2nd, when a heinous attack was launched on the Heaton Park synagogue

It was, after all, Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar. One devoted to fasting, intense prayer and deep introspection, when we seek forgiveness from God and from one another for the wrongs we may have committed. This was where my mind was focused and I arrived at the synagogue at 9am ready to embrace this.

On the first night of the festival of Chanukah last year, a horrific massacre took place at Bondi Beach, in which terrorists murdered 15 people during a communal celebration

As Yom Kippur spans 25 hours  from sunset on October 1st to sunset on October 2nd  and the prayers continue for most of the day, only around 40 people were there for the beginning of the service (the synagogue holds 850 people). And although every loss of life and every injury is devastating, it chills me to think that had the attacker embarked on his evil crusade a couple of hours later, the carnage could have been even worse, with hundreds of worshippers in the attackers sights. Looking for the good amidst the evil, I think of this as a miracle.

In events still almost impossible to comprehend, the attacker drove his car straight into the gates that border the stone forecourt of the synagogue. Ruthlessly mowing down our paid security guard, Bernard before leaping out to fatally stab Melvin repeatedly.

What subsequently unfolded, though horrific, also revealed the very best of humanity, thanks to inspirational acts of life-saving heroism  such as those which also occurred at Bondi Beach.

At the sound of someone shouting close the doors, Adrian, who was sitting near me, leapt out of his seat to shut the ones behind us  essentially preventing entry from the back of the synagogue. Outside, another congregant, Alan Levy who was a volunteer on security, and chairman of our trustees, sprinted to lock the outer doors (theres a foyer between these doors and the doors which lead into the main area of prayer). He managed to get inside just in time, preventing the attacker from entering.

Meanwhile, another of our dedicated and valiant volunteer security team, Andrew Franks, displayed astonishing bravery and extraordinary courage as he confronted the attacker  only to be stabbed repeatedly. (Thankfully, he is now out of hospital, though his recovery will be long and arduous.)

As we mark Holocaust Memorial Day, let us join together and face the future with hope. It is not hard if we just follow the light

After thrusting his knife into Andrew, the attacker ran up the outside steps to the front of the synagogue, hurling his full weight against the synagogue doors, screaming and shouting as he tried to shoulder-barge his way inside. His screams of Allahu Akbar and anti-Israel slogans offer clarification, if any were needed, that Jews were being attacked for events thousands of miles away. This is  and remains  the grotesque reality of antisemitism.

A group of about eight of us tried hard to hold our ground as the attacker hurled objects such as plant pots at the doors and struck repeatedly at the glass with his knife.

All of which felt as if it lasted hours. Yet within seven minutes of his first terrible actions, the police arrived. Firearms officers immediately issued warnings for him to surrender. When he refused, they opened fire.

Tragically, as the police took aim and through no fault of their own, a stray bullet pierced the synagogue doors, striking one of our group, Yoni Finlay, before, as we later learned, fatally hitting Adrian as we barricaded the entrance.

It was only after the wounded were taken to hospital, and we were moved by police to a place of safety on a nearby street that my thoughts returned to Yom Kippur. Should we continue our prayers? I asked my fellow congregants. They readily agreed. We wanted to sanctify this holy day, to not allow it to be defiled by the horror of what had happened. By seeking the light.

When the full extent of the attack became known several hours later, the news that we had lost two of our friends was devastating. Melvin and Adrian were also pillars of our community, always ready to lend a hand. Hundreds attended their funerals.

Going back into Heaton Park for the first time four days after the attack was harrowing. Not least for the unbearably poignant sight of Adrians prayer book which lay open on the page where his supplications had been interrupted by the terrorist.

But the counterpoint to this was the determination to rekindle the light of Heaton Park.

As we mark Holocaust Memorial Day its clear that we should  must  respond to evil with goodness; find light when all seems bleak; and maintain faith and hope in the face of what can sometimes feel like fathomless darkness

A week later, with the damage repaired, we reopened for festival prayers. At a special Friday night service more than a thousand flocked into our synagogue, religious, non-religious, from all points of the community. Gathering not rage against hatred, but to sing, to dance, to pray, as a beautiful choirs voices soared heavenwards.

It was a snapshot of something I hope we can all choose to embrace: how light, holiness and hope will always eclipse the darkness.

Beyond the synagogue, the outpouring of support continues to offer hope for better times. Time and again, ordinary people  many with no direct connection to the Jewish community  come forward to express their rage and indignation at the violence. We are with you rings like a refrainnot performative words, but a reflection of a shared determination to rise above evil and to refuse to let it define us.

At the same time, I urgently call upon the Government to recognise that antisemitism is a problem for all of society, not just its Jewish citizens.

In the meantime, what we can all do in times of challenge, tragedy or division is to understand that we might grieve, but we can also grow. We can hold both truths at once.

As we mark Holocaust Memorial Day, let us join together and face the future with hope. It is not hard if we just follow the light.

Daniel Walker is Rabbi of the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation

As told to Angela Epstein
People in Victoria are sweltering in a heatwave set to break records after more than 1000 homes were forced to evacuate due to a blaze that has already claimed some properties.

Temperatures are expected to soar across parts of the state, as well as in South Australia, the ACT and New South Wales on Tuesday.

A total fire ban also remains in place for both Victoria and SA as several fires burn out of control under challenging conditions.

The Bureau of Meteorology has warned the extreme heat could break records, with Melbourne facing its hottest day since the devastating Black Saturday bushfires in 2009, with a maximum temperature of 44C expected.

Mildura, in the state's far north, is forecast to reach 49C, while Broken Hill in NSW is expected to hit 47C, with both locations set to break temperature records.

'If Mildura does reach (that high), it will be the hottest temperature recorded in Victoria,' senior meteorologist Dean Narramore said.

'Pretty much all observation points near the SA and Victorian border are either approaching or likely to exceed January records and a few locations could also break their all-time records.'

Records were broken on Monday in Adelaide, where the temperature reached 44.7C, exceeding the city's previous Australia Day heat record set in 2006.

A total fire ban also remains in place for Victoria and South Australia as several fires burn out of control (pictured, CFA firefighters in Alexandra, Victoria, in January)

The Bureau of Meteorology has said temperatures are expected to soar across parts of Victoria, South Australia, the ACT and New South Wales

Ceduna, northwest of the capital, climbed to 49C, surpassing its previous record temperature.

NSW town Dubbo reached 46.1C, setting a new January heat record for the town.

It comes as residents in the Cape Otway region were given evacuation orders on Monday due to bushfires near the Carlisle River and Gellibrand, southeast of Melbourne.

At least 1100 properties were door-knocked by police and SES. However, all residents were told: 'Don't wait for police, the message is to leave today.'

A blaze jumped containment lines at Carlisle River on Saturday, threatening the small community of Gellibrand. It is understood there has been unconfirmed property loss within the fire grounds.

The bureau warns gusty southwesterly winds will hit Melbourne on Tuesday afternoon, with a risk of thunderstorms producing dry lightning.

A cooler change will begin to move through Victoria on Wednesday, although inland parts of the southeast won't see much of a reprieve.

Deputy incident controller Alistair Drayton said the gusty change is concerning, with authorities urging residents living in the Cape Otway region to evacuate.

Residents in the Cape Otway region were given evacuation orders on Monday due to bushfires near the Carlisle River and Gellibrand (pictured, Carlisle River Fire)

Pictured, several bushfires were burning across in Victoria on Tuesday

'The conditions tomorrow mean the fire could spread quickly and unpredictably,' he said on Monday.

'We strongly recommend people in affected areas enact their bushfire plan, and leave early to protect themselves and their families.'

The affected areas were Aire Valley, Barongarook, Barongarook West, Barramunga, Barwon Downs, Beech Forest, Benwerrin, Carlisle River, Chapple Vale, Charleys Creek, Coram, Crowes, Dinmont, Ferguson, Forrest, Gellibrand, Gerangamete, Glenaire, Johanna, Kawarren, Kincaid, Lavers Hill, Lovat, Murroon, Mount Sabine, Olangolah East, Pile Siding, Simpson, Tanybryn, Tulloh, Upper Gellibrand, Weeaproinah, Wimba, Wyelangta, Yaugher and Yeodene.

The heatwave conditions have also sparked a warning from paramedics, who responded to 11 cases of children locked in cars over the weekend as temperatures soared into the 40s in Victoria.

Ambulance Victoria urged the community never to leave children, pets or older people unattended in vehicles.

In NSW, a severe heatwave warning has been issued for the Northern Rivers, Mid North Coast, Northern Tablelands, Central Tablelands, Southern Tablelands, North West Slopes and Plains, Central West Slopes and Plains, Riverina and Lower Western.

'Severe to extreme heatwave conditions are expected to persist through this week before easing next weekend,' the bureau's website said.

'Locations likely to be impacted include Armidale, Albury, Broken Hill, Bourke, Dubbo, Deniliquin, Moree, Orange, Tamworth and Wagga Wagga.'

Deputy incident controller Alistair Drayton said conditions on Tuesday could mean the fire near Cape Otway might spread quickly and unpredictably

The bureau said areas in the ACT that are likely to be impacted include Canberra, Belconnen, Gungahlin, Tuggeranong and Woden Valley.

Severe heatwave warnings remain in place in SA for Adelaide, Yorke Peninsula, Kangaroo Island, Upper South East, Riverland, Murraylands, Mid North, Flinders, West Coast, Eastern Eyre Peninsula, North West Pastoral, North East Pastoral and Mount Lofty Ranges.

Melbourne

Tuesday: Max 45. Partly cloudy. Patchy smoke haze in the evening. Winds north to northeasterly 25 to 35 km/h tending north to northwesterly in the middle of the day then shifting southwesterly 20 to 30 km/h in the late evening.

Wednesday: Max 24. Min 20. Partly cloudy. The chance of smoke haze in the morning. Winds southwesterly 15 to 20 km/h turning southerly 25 to 35 km/h in the morning.

Thursday: Max 26. Min 16. Partly cloudy. Winds southerly 15 to 25 km/h becoming light during the morning then becoming south to southwesterly 15 to 25 km/h during the day.

Sydney

Tuesday: Max 28. Mostly sunny. Light winds becoming easterly 15 to 20 km/h in the early afternoon then tending northeasterly in the evening.

Wednesday: Max 29. Min 18. Sunny. Light winds becoming northerly 15 to 20 km/h in the morning then tending northeasterly 20 to 30 km/h in the middle of the day.

Thursday: Max 28. Min 21. Partly cloudy. Slight chance of a shower, most likely in the morning. Light winds becoming southeasterly 15 to 20 km/h during the day then becoming light during the evening.

The heatwave conditions have also sparked a warning from paramedics, who responded to 11 cases of children locked in cars over the weekend

Brisbane

Tuesday: Max 31. Mostly cloudy. Winds easterly 15 to 25 km/h tending southeasterly 15 to 20 km/h in the evening then becoming light in the late evening.

Wednesday: Max 31. Min 21. Sunny. Light winds becoming east to southeasterly 15 to 25 km/h in the middle of the day then becoming light in the late evening.

Thursday: Max 30. Min 21. Partly cloudy. Medium chance of showers. Winds southerly 15 to 20 km/h tending southeasterly 20 to 30 km/h during the morning then becoming light during the evening.

Adelaide

Tuesday: Max 41. Sunny. Winds north to northwesterly 20 to 30 km/h tending northwest to southwesterly in the middle of the day then tending southeast to southwesterly in the early afternoon.

Wednesday: Max 33. Min 20. Sunny. Winds southeasterly 15 to 20 km/h becoming light before dawn then becoming southeasterly 25 to 40 km/h in the morning.

Thursday: Max 37. Min 20. Partly cloudy. Winds east to southeasterly 15 to 25 km/h becoming light during the morning then becoming east to southeasterly 15 to 25 km/h during the day.

Perth

Tuesday: Max 26. Mostly sunny. Winds south to southeasterly 15 to 20 km/h tending south to southwesterly 25 to 35 km/h in the morning then becoming light in the late evening.

Wednesday: Max 30. Min 15. Sunny. Winds east to southeasterly 15 to 20 km/h turning south to southwesterly 15 to 25 km/h in the middle of the day then becoming light in the late evening.

Pictured, sparks flying at the bushfire at Carlisle River

Thursday: Max 34. Min 19. Sunny. Winds easterly 15 to 20 km/h becoming light during the day then becoming southeast to southwesterly 15 to 25 km/h during the afternoon.

Darwin

Tuesday: Max 33. Partly cloudy. High chance of showers. A thunderstorm likely. Winds northwesterly 15 to 25 km/h becoming light in the evening.

Wednesday: Max 31. Min 24. Cloudy. Very high chance of showers. A thunderstorm likely. Winds westerly 15 to 25 km/h.

Thursday: Max 31. Min 24. Partly cloudy. Very high chance of showers. A thunderstorm likely. Winds westerly 20 to 30 km/h.

Canberra

Tuesday: Max 37. Sunny. Light winds becoming northeasterly 15 to 25 km/h in the early afternoon then tending easterly in the evening.

Wednesday: Max 42. Min 15. Mostly sunny. Light winds becoming southeasterly 20 to 30 km/h in the late afternoon.

Thursday: Max 33. Min 16. Mostly sunny. Winds southeasterly 15 to 20 km/h becoming light during the morning then becoming easterly 15 to 25 km/h during the day.

Hobart

Tuesday: Max 34. Mostly sunny. Winds north to northeasterly 15 to 25 km/h shifting south to southwesterly 15 to 20 km/h in the evening.

Wednesday: Max 25. Min 17. Partly cloudy. Light winds becoming southerly 20 to 30 km/h in the middle of the day then tending southwesterly 15 to 25 km/h in the late afternoon.

Thursday: Max 22. Min 13. Partly cloudy. Winds southwesterly 15 to 20 km/h becoming light during the morning then becoming northeast to southeasterly 15 to 25 km/h during the afternoon.
A Canadian family has been left heartbroken and angry after a 26-year-old diabetic and blind man died of 'physician-assisted suicide' - three years after they blocked his request for euthanasia.

Margaret Marsilla had been successfully able to prevent her son Kiano Vafaeian from dying under Canada's Medical Assistance in Dying program back in 2022.

She noted that Vafaeian did not suffer from any terminal illnesses. He was just blind and struggling with complications from type 1 diabetes as well as mental health issues.

Years later, though, on December 30, 2025, Vafaeian was granted a physician assisted suicide under Canadian law - which states only that patients must show they have an 'intolerable' condition that cannot 'be relieved under conditions that they consider acceptable.'

'Four years ago, here in Ontario, we were able to stop his euthanasia and get him some help,' Marsilla posted on Facebook in the aftermath.

'He was alive because people stepped in when he was vulnerable - not capable of making a final, irreversible decision.'

She went on to call her son's physician-assisted death 'disgusting on every level'.

'And I promise I will fight tooth and nail for my son and other parents who too have children that suffer from mental illness,' Marsilla wrote. 'No parent should ever have to bury their child because a system - and a doctor - chose death over care, help or love.'

Kiano Vafaeian, 26, died of physician assisted suicide on December 30 under Canada's Medical Assistance in Dying program

His family has been left heartbroken by the news, as they argue that Vafaeian did not have any terminal illness

Canada legalized assisted dying in 2016, initially limited to terminally ill adults whose deaths were reasonably foreseeable.

But eligibility was expanded in 2021 to include people with chronic illness, disability, and soon - pending a parliamentary review - those with certain mental health conditions.

The country now has one of the highest rates of medically assisted deaths in the world, 5.1 per cent, or a total of 16,499 deaths in 2024, the latest year for which there is data.

The fastest-growing category in Canada's Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD) statistics is now not a specific illness but a catch-all labeled 'other'.

MAiD deaths in that category nearly doubled to 4,255 in 2023 from a year earlier, amounting to 28 per cent of all assisted suicide deaths, Sonu Gaind, a University of Toronto psychiatry professor found, according to the Free Press.

It is in that category that Vafaeian's death falls.

His mother has explained that Vafaeian got into a bad car accident when he was just 17 years old. He then never went to college and moved quite a few times, from living with his dad to his mom, then his aunt, the Western Standard reports.

The tipping point then came in April 2022 when he went blind in one eye.

The 26-year-old was blind and suffering from complications from diabetes, as well as mental health issues

That September is when he first tried to die of medically assisted suicide, even scheduling a time, date and location for the procedure in Toronto.

But his plan was foiled when his mother accidentally found the email confirming the appointment and called the doctor, pretending to be a woman seeking MAiD.

She recorded the conversation she had with the doctor and sent the tape to a reporter, after which the doctor postponed Vafaeian's scheduled procedure, then said he wasn't going through with it.

When Vafaeian later found out what had happened, he was furious at his mother, saying she had violated his right as an adult to choose death, the Free Press reports.

But Trudo Lemmens, a professor of law and bioethics at the University of Toronto, who met Vafaeian in 2022 said his mother saved his life.

'The only reason that Kiano was alive when I met him is because his mother had the guts to go public, not because of the medical community that would've ended his life,' he said.

He then recounted how he thought Vafaeian's plan was 'dystopian'.

His mother, Margaret Marsilla, said he seemed to be faring better in recent months

In the years since, Marsilla said she thought her relationship with her son was on the mend, as she set him up this past September with a fully-furnished condominium near her office in Toronto with a live-in caregiver.

Marsilla also drafted a written agreement promising Vafaeian $4,000 a month in financial support, and he talked to her about moving into the condo before the winter.

He even texted his mother at one point, saying he was 'looking forward to a new chapter', as he asked for her help to pay down his debts.

He said he was trying to save money so that they could travel together, but then flew to New York City to buy a pair of newly-released Meta Ray-Ban sunglasses, which some have praised as a breakthrough technology for those who are blind.

Marsilla told the Free Press she was uneasy about him traveling alone, but he texted her photos and videos of him with his new sunglasses.

At one point, Vafaeian admitted he was afraid the new technology would not help him and was worried he had wasted his mother's money.

'God has sealed a great pair for you,' she then responded.

'I know God protects me,' he wrote back.

By October, Marsilla bought Vafaeian a gym membership and 30 personal training sessions, all of which he used.

'He was so happy that he was working out and getting healthy,' Marsilla said.

Canada now has one of the highest rates of medically assisted deaths in the world

Soon, though, he walked away from all of it, as his mother said 'something snapped in his head'.

Vafaeian checked himself into a luxury resort in Mexico on December 15, sharing photos of himself posing with resort staff, before he checked out after just two nights and flew to Vancouver.

Three days later, he texted his mother saying he was scheduled to die from physician assisted suicide the following day.

He then told his sister, Victoria, that if any family member wanted to be there for his final moments, they should catch the last flight out of Toronto.

'We were obviously freaking out,' Marsilla said, recounting how she criticized her son for 'throwing this on us now - right before Christmas' and asking him, 'What's wrong with you?'

Vafaeian then responded that he had asked for security to be present if his family showed up to the facility in Vancouver to try to stop him.

But Marsilla said she took it as a sign her son was wavering about his decision to end his life, becoming more encouraged when Vafaeian told her the next day that his assisted suicide had been postponed due to 'paperwork'.

At that point, Marsilla said she urged him to return home to Toronto, offering to buy him a plane ticket and telling him he had Christmas gifts waiting for him.

'No I'm staying here,' he responded. 'I'm going to get euthanized.'

It was Dr Ellen Wiebe (pictured) who ultimately performed the procedure on Vafaeian on December 30

It was Dr Ellen Wiebe who ultimately performed the procedure.

She dedicates half of her medical practice to MAiD and the other half to abortion, contraception care and delivering newborns.

'I've brought more than 1,000 babies into the world and ... I have helped more than 500 patients die,' she told the Free Press with a laugh.

Wiebe then described assisted suicide as the 'best work I've ever done'.

'I have a very strong, passionate desire for human rights,' she explained. 'I'm willing to take risks for human rights as I do for abortion.'

When she was then asked how she determines whether a patient is eligible for MAiD, she said they 'have long, fascinating conversations about what makes their life worth living - and now you make the decision when it's been enough.'

But shortly before he died, Vafaeian went to a law firm in Vancouver to sign his will, where he reportedly told the executioner he wanted the 'world to know his story' and to advocate that 'young people with severe unrelenting pain and blindness should be able to access MAiD' just as terminally ill patients can.

Vafaeian's death certificate now says his assisted suicide was based on the 'antecedent causes' of blindness, severe peripheral neuropathy (damage to the nerves outside the brain and spinal cord that causes pain and numbness) and diabetes.

An online obituary for the 26-year-old now remembers him as a 'cherished son and brother, whose presence meant more than words can express to those who knew and loved him'.

It said that in lieu of flowers, the family was requesting donations be made to organizations supporting diabetes care, vision loss and mental illness in Vafaeian's name.
A Melbourne high school teacher boasted about filming himself having sex with a female student who he considered a 'conquest' and 'trophy'.

Former MacKillop College Werribee teacher Troy Ollis, 34, was sentenced in the Melbourne County Court on Tuesday to six years and 11 months behind bars.

Ollis previously pleaded guilty to multiple sex offences, including producing and possessing child abuse material but retained the support of his wife.

The married former Catholic school teacher was exposed as a child sex offender after he was arrested at Melbourne Airport in January 2025.

Ollis involved the victim in his twisted offending, filming and photographing more than a dozen encounters in which he sexually violated the child.

The court heard Ollis sexually violated his victim at hotels, at his family home, and in his car during hours-long ordeals while the child's parents believed she was at work.

Ollis, who appeared at court via video-link from Fulham Correctional, also filmed himself having sex with the girl while the movie Aladdin was playing in the background, the court was told.

At one stage after a sexual encounter Ollis told his victim: 'My life is over, isn't it?'

Former teacher Troy Ollis, 34, was sentenced in the Melbourne County Court on Tuesday to six years and 11 months behind bars.

Ollis taught at MacKillop College Werribee (above)

The teacher also used a sex toy to violate his victim, choked her and discussed the girl's 'younger sister' with her.

Ollis also complimented the child on her schoolwork and stated he was never going to leave his wife for her.

'You're my teacher, aren't you ashamed,' the victim asked while filming herself penetrate Ollis anally.

The deviant replied: 'No... I love your little fingers in my a*******'.

Prosecutor Deanna Caruso previously told the court Ollis got his hooks into the victim after 'grooming' her with more than 200 emails in which he praised the child as a 'promising student'.

'The offender engaged in grooming behaviour by complimenting her maturity, writing style and work ethic through email,' Prosecutor Caruso told the court.

Prosecutor Caruso said Ollis 'manipulated' the victim so he 'got what he needed'.

'Which was a young person who was compliant... who would adore him,' Prosecutor Caruso said.

Ollis purchased the girl a secret phone so he could covertly communicate with his victim

Ollis then purchased the girl a secret phone so he could covertly communicate with his victim after her father applied strict parental control settings on his daughter's regular phone.

The pair also communicated via 'secret email addresses' and used 'self-destruct' apps, the court was told.

Australian Border Force officers caught Ollis with child abuse material at the airport on January 14, 2025 after officials examined his phone and discovered 140 child abuse material files.

The teacher had just flown home from a holiday in Tanzania with his wife and four-year-old son.

Many of the child abuse photos and videos investigators found on Ollis's phone depicted the student.

Police also discovered other child abuse material, some of which depicted children believed to be as young as three years old.

In a twisted revelation, Ollis also sent one of the student sex videos to a WhatsApp chat accompanied by the message: 'He he I have a lot of videos and photos with this girl. She loved being on camera with my d***.'

Police also discovered vile written child abuse material on Ollis' phone with a note titled 'Daily Routine'.

Ollis pleaded guilty to seven counts of sexual penetration of a child aged 16 or 17 years under care, supervision, or authority

The material included a written remark instructing a female student to perform vile acts, including: 'wake up, play with your c*** for 15 minutes, send master a good morning text and picture get ready for school'.

Ollis, who pleaded guilty to seven counts of sexual penetration of a child aged 16 or 17 years under care, supervision, or authority, was represented by top criminal barrister Belinda Franjic.

Ms Franjic previously told the court her client's relationship with the victim started as an 'appropriate' teacher-student connection but 'evolved' over time.

'It's the way the victim made him feel that led him to transgressing these boundaries,' Ms Franjic told the court.

Ms Franjic also submitted Ollis did not 'target' or 'deliberately groom' the victim while conceding her client 'should have known better' than to start a relationship with a student.

Prosecutor Caruso said: 'He had an attraction to the victim, he had an attraction to females of that age.'

The court heard a psychologist also found Ollis was an 'inadequate man'.

Experienced County Court sex crimes adjudicator Judge Paul Higham said 'no teacher can stay within the post feeling sexually attracted to their pupils'.

Experienced County Court sex crimes adjudicator Judge Paul Higham (above) said Ollis treated his victim as a 'conquest' and a 'trophy'

'Had it happened between adults it would have been body positive, sex positive I would have described it, but this happened with a child,' Judge Higham said.

Judge Higham also described Ollis' conduct as 'deranged offending'.

'Boundaries were crossed and you betrayed the trust placed in you in the service of your own desires, a breach of trust is inherent in this offending,' he said.

'You offended over three-and-a-half months because you simply gained sexual satisfaction from it as your membership of various chat groups makes clear.

'You were resolved upon your own desires and needs and were heedless of the potential detrimental and adverse impact fulfilling those needs then had upon your victim.'

Judge Higham also termed Ollis' 'moral culpability' for his offending as 'high'.

'Instead of holding the images of your intimacy in a private place, as I am sure [the victim] would have wished you to do, you shared an image, the accompanying words, which I will not repeat, make clear that not only did you abuse the trust of a child under your authority but reduced her supposed maturity, love and sexual preparedness to a trophy, a conquest of which you boasted,' he said.

'This is the validation that you obtained and the sharing of that image is an aggravated feature of that offence.'

Ollis, who was supported in court by his parents, was jailed for a maximum of six years and 11 months with a non-parole period of four years and two months.

He was also made a registered sex offender for life.
A teenage apprentice has lost his arm in a devastating workplace accident at a Perth engineering workshop, just weeks before he was due to formally qualify as a tradesman.

Chaz Gordon, 18, was critically injured on Monday, January 12, after becoming caught in machinery at Ardello Engineering, a family-run manual machining business in Welshpool, in Perth's south-east.

His dominant right arm was severed above the elbow in the incident.

He was rushed to Royal Perth Hospital in a critical condition, where doctors attempted reconstructive surgery, but the limb could not be saved.

WorkSafe WA has confirmed it has launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the accident, including machinery use and safety procedures at the time.

Mr Gordon left school in Year 10, just weeks before his 15th birthday, to begin a fitter and machinist apprenticeship at the workshop.

He completed his apprenticeship in December and was only weeks away from receiving his formal trade certification.

A GoFundMe has since been launched to help fund a robotic arm, with the fundraising page describing Mr Gordon as a 'hands-on creator' who hopes to remain in the trade.

Chaz Gordon (pictured) as raced to Royal Perth Hospital in critical condition, where medical staff attempted reconstructive surgery on the limb, but his arm could not be saved

Chaz (pictured) left school at 14 and began a fitter and machinist apprenticeship at familyrun manual machining workshop Ardello Engineering in Perth

'While he will receive support, it does not cover the equipment he truly needs to regain his independence and return to the handson life he loves,' the statement said.

'A new arm will allow Chaz to return to his passions of creating, building, working, and reclaiming parts of his life that bring him joy and identity.'

Mr Gordon's father said the trans-humeral robotic arm would help.

'This will enable him to continue doing what he loves, but also in his field of passion,' he wrote on Sunday night.

WorkSafe WA confirmed an investigation had been launched into what happened.

'WorkSafe confirm a serious incident occurred at Ardello Engineering in Welshpool in which an apprentice suffered a traumatic arm injury,' it said.
Pressure on Keir Starmer intensified last night as the backlash to his decision to block Andy Burnham continued to grow.

One Labour MP called for the Prime Minister to 'consider his position' while more than 50 put their names to a letter critical of his actions.

There were also calls for an emergency meeting of the party's ruling body to reverse the decision.

Sir Keir has long been expected to face a leadership challenge following what is likely to be a devastating set of local election results in May. But MPs warned that his strike against Mr Burnham has 'hastened his demise' and increased the chances of a battle.

Nigel Farage yesterday welcomed Sir Keir's move, saying that the Greater Manchester mayor would have been 'very difficult to beat' in a by-election. In comments that will further infuriate Labour MPs, the Reform UK leader said his candidate's chances had 'improved massively' as a result of Mr Burnham being kept off the ballot paper.

His intervention came after Mr Burnham himself insinuated that Labour would now lose the Gorton and Denton by-election, set for the end of February, because it had stopped him standing.

While he appeared to reluctantly accept the decision, the former health secretary could not resist making a few arch comments. When Sir Keir's biographer Tom Baldwin said Labour's 'inward-looking psychodrama ... does no one any good,' Mr Burnham replied: 'I'm not sure losing a by-election does us any good either.'

At an event yesterday, he also made a jibe at the Labour leadership in Westminster, feeding into a growing North-South divide in the party. He said: 'The Greater Manchester way is built on togetherness. We don't ever here have a politics that's about pitting people [against one] another.'

Pressure on Keir Starmer intensified last night as the backlash to his decision to block Andy Burnham, pictured in Manchester on Monday, continued to grow

One Labour MP called for Prime Minister Keir Starmer, pictured, to 'consider his position' while more than 50 put their names to a letter critical of his actions

Earlier yesterday, the PM defended his decision to block Mr Burnham, saying it would 'divert our resources' from fighting the local elections in May. He added that Mr Burnham was doing a 'great job' in his role and called for unity ahead of the local elections which he cast as the 'battle of our times' with Reform.

But his words did little to calm the growing backlash against the decision which MPs have warned will increase the chances of a challenge against him. Kim Johnson, the Left-wing MP for Liverpool Riverside, broke ranks to demand he 'consider his position'.

More than 50 backbench MPs are understood to have signed a private letter to the PM to complain about a 'remote stitch-up from a small group of people at the very top in London'.

'As a former Cabinet member and the current Labour mayor of Greater Manchester, there is no legitimate reason why Andy Burnham should not have the democratic right to put his candidacy to the local people of Gorton and Denton,' the letter said.

'This is particularly important as polling clearly shows he may be our very best chance at winning this by-election.'

It is not just the hard-Left of the party that has turned on Sir Keir  former Cabinet minister Louise Haigh said the decision should be reversed 'otherwise I think we'll all come to regret this'.

Last night Brian Leishman, Labour MP for Alloa and Grangemouth, told LBC that there is a 'degree of inevitability' that the PM will face a leadership challenge this year, adding: 'There's no doubt about it, the Prime Minister is not Mr Popular on the doorsteps.'

And Sacha Lord, a former adviser to Mr Burnham, said of Sir Keir on GB News: 'A fish rots from the head.

Nigel Farage, pictured, yesterday welcomed Sir Keir's move, saying that the Greater Manchester mayor would have been 'very difficult to beat' in a by-election

'He is a dead man walking and I think there'll be a new prime minister in post come July.'

It follows a weekend in which Sir Keir took a major political risk by personally leading efforts to block his rival. In a show of force, the Starmer-controlled panel of the party's ruling body voted against Mr Burnham being allowed to contest the seat by eight votes to one.

Labour sources argued that the risk of losing the Manchester mayoralty to Reform was too great and that it would divert costs from fighting local elections in England, Scotland and Wales.

Left-wing Labour MP Ian Byrne, a good friend of Mr Burnham, tweeted: 'Keir Starmer and his inner circle are prepared to gift Gorton and Denton to Reform if it means protecting their own factional interests. That's not leadership, it's weakness.'

Trade unions also criticised the decision, with the TSSA saying Labour had 'lost its way' and the general secretary of Unison, Britain's largest trade union, saying it was not the way 'any democratic organisation should be run'.

Some within Labour have privately admitted that they expect to lose the by-election.

A senior Government figure told The Times: 'Realistically we know that we're going to lose. But it was a question of what was worse: Losing a by-election or losing control of Greater Manchester, which would have been a total disaster.'

Another party source said 'no one expects' victory.

Mr Farage said he thought the move to block Mr Burnham had boosted his party's chances of winning the seat.

'Burnham would have galvanised the anti-Starmer vote. He'd have pushed the turnout up, and I think it would have been very difficult for us to beat him,' he said.

'Now he's not there. I think that the anti-Starmer vote will coalesce around us, so I think our chances have improved massively overnight.'

The Gorton by-election to replace ex-Labour MP Andrew Gwynne is expected to take place on February 26. Mr Gwynne was suspended by Labour last year after The Mail on Sunday uncovered a series of offensive WhatsApp messages he had sent.
Nigel Farage yesterday pledged to protect Special Forces troops being hounded over their actions in Afghanistan and Iraq.

The Reform UK leader accused Keir Starmer's Government of pursuing an agenda against the SAS and threatening the future of the elite regiment.

Speaking at the launch of Veterans For Reform, Mr Farage offered pardons for any soldiers prosecuted under what he described as 'dubious codes' and said the attacks on the Special Forces were having a 'catastrophic' effect on recruitment.

The Daily Mail has campaigned tirelessly for the restoration of veterans' rights that have been dismantled by Labour.

Last week Labour MPs voted to remove clauses in the Legacy Act, championed by former veterans minister Johnny Mercer, that offered immunity from vexatious prosecutions and barred civil actions relating to the Troubles in Northern Ireland.

Following the PM's intervention, hundreds of civil actions  most brought by republicans against the British state  are expected to move forward.

Meanwhile, inquests previously stayed as a result of the Legacy Act are expected to go ahead.

Mr Farage's defence of the SAS comes as it faces allegations of illegal killings in conflicts after the Troubles.

Nigel Farage yesterday pledged to protect Special Forces troops being hounded over their actions in Afghanistan and Iraq

The Daily Mail has campaigned tirelessly for the restoration of veterans' rights that have been dismantled by Labour

He said: 'We are going to stand up and fight for the rights of our military veterans, none of whom should be left behind.'

He said the Government was 'led by human rights lawyers', 'prepared to bow down to a vague concept of international law from foreign courts' and 'without a patriotic bone in its body'.

He added: 'And the prosecutions continue. Not just of people who did their job in tense and difficult circumstances in Northern Ireland.

'They are going for our Special Forces, they are after the SAS for virtually any action that took place in Afghanistan and Iraq. The results of this are catastrophic.'

Lord Justice Haddon-Cave is expected to pronounce his judgment in the Independent Inquiry Relating to Afghanistan some time next year.
European Parliament delays decision on EU-U.S. trade deal

Xinhua) 09:16, January 27, 2026

This photo taken on June 6, 2024 shows an exterior view of the European Parliament in Brussels, Belgium. (Xinhua/Zhao Dingzhe)

The European Parliament's negotiating team will meet on Feb. 4 to reassess the situation.

BRUSSELS, Jan. 26 (Xinhua) -- The European Parliament has delayed until next week a decision on whether to restart work on the EU-U.S. trade deal, after pausing its approval process last week, in protest over U.S. President Donald Trump's push to acquire Greenland and his tariff threats against European allies, according to a senior lawmaker on Monday.

Confirming that no decision was taken on Monday to resume ordinary EU-U.S. legislative procedures, Bernd Lange, chair of the European Parliament's Committee on International Trade, said in a post on X that the Parliament's negotiating team will meet on Feb. 4 to reassess the situation.

On Jan. 21, the European Parliament decided to put on hold approval of the trade deal between the EU and the United States following U.S. threats of tariffs linked to Greenland.

Tensions eased afterward when Washington announced that a "framework deal" had been reached on Greenland-related issues and that threatened tariffs on eight European countries would be suspended.

Under the EU-U.S. trade deal reached in July last year, the EU would eliminate tariffs on all U.S. industrial products and introduce tariff-rate quotas for a wide range of U.S. agri-food products entering the EU market. In return, Washington would set a 15-percent tariff ceiling on most EU goods exported to the United States.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
EAD MORE: Australia Day snub sparks outrage as politicians come under fire

Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke has come under fire after cancelling the visa of a UK-born Israeli social media figure just hours before he was due to fly to Australia.

The Australian Jewish Association (AJA) said Sammy Yahood had planned to speak at synagogues in Sydney and Melbourne and attend events with several Jewish groups, including a self-defence session at a Sydney synagogue.

One of those events was set to include survivors of the Bondi Beach massacre.

Yahood was notified of the visa cancellation on Australia Day, about three hours before his connecting flight from Abu Dhabi to Melbourne.

Burke said the decision had been made over concerns Yahood was 'spreading hatred', with the influencer previously slamming Islam as a 'murderous ideology'.

His case follows a string of earlier visa rejections for Jewish visitors, including former Israeli justice minister Ayelet Shaked, US entrepreneur Hillel Fuld and Israeli Knesset member Simcha Rothman.

AJA CEO Robert Gregory said the cancellations had 'contributed to the rise of antisemitism in Australia' and reignited concerns about the government's handling of the Bondi Beach massacre and its apology.

'This is going to further tarnish Australia's reputation,' Gregory said, accusing the government of failing to act against what he called 'Islamic hate preachers'.

Jewish influencer Sammy Yahood (pictured) had his visa denied to Australia by Tony Burke

Yahood posted a video online insisting he planned to travel anyway.

'I've got a few hours until the flight I'm supposed to be getting on from here, Abu Dhabi on the way to Melbourne, Australia, and I'm willing to get on this flight,' he said.

'I'm willing to spend another 20 hours sat on a plane just to get turned around and detained, just because I will not back down.'

Yahood claimed he was told his visa was revoked due to his tour, which Home Affairs described as a business activity.

In a statement to Guardian Australia, Burke said Yahood's visa was cancelled due to concerns he was 'spreading hatred'.

'If someone wants to come to Australia they should apply for the right visa and come for the right reason,' he said.

Yahood claimed he had received mixed messages on why his visa was cancelled.

'On the morning of my flight, the Australian government cancels my visa, claiming that I'm going to be doing business operations on a tourist visa, when really, Tony Burke... has said that hate is not a reason to come to Australia,' he said.

Burke (pictured) reportedly said Yahood's visa was cancelled over fears of 'spreading hate'

'So which one is it? Is it business operations or hatred?'

Yahood has previously used social media to describe Islam as a 'murderous ideology', a 'disgusting ideology', and claimed it 'cannot be trusted to simply 'co-exist'. He has also called to 'ban Islam'.

'It's time to ban Islam. It's time to stop being tolerant of those that are not tolerant of us,' he posted on November 6.

Yahood defended his record, saying his comments criticise ideas, not individuals. 'Talking about a bad ideology like Islam is not hatred,' he said.

'Stating that a Muslim is this or that is hatred because Muslims are people and I'm not hateful of people. I just don't like bad ideas.'

'I refuse to back down in the face of your weakness, in the face of your fake virtues of tolerance and acceptance and protecting people from online hatred. You are a tyrant and I will not be deterred.'

He repeated his slogan and vowed the visa move would not intimidate him.

'It will take a lot more to scare Sammy Yahood,' he said.

Burke's decision to cancel the visa comes a week after new laws were passed in Parliament

He had planned to run several 'self-defence workshops' during the trip and launch his 'peace through strength' campaign.

Burke moved to revoke Yahoods visa just a week after new hatecrime laws broadened the powers available to the Home Affairs Minister to deny or cancel visas.

Under the updated character provisions, ministers can now block a visa if they believe a person has been involved in hate speech, vilification or extremist behaviour.

Daily Mail contacted Burke for comment.
The mother of the late famous TikTok toddler known to millions as the 'Okay Baby' has shared the audio of the gut-wrenching 911 call she made after the car accident that killed her son.

Two-year-old Preston Ordone - who captured internet users' hearts through viral videos shared by his influencer parents, Katelynn and Jaelan Ordone - died in April after he suffered fatal injuries when his family's Ford F-150 truck lost control and smashed into a tree in rural Louisiana.

Katelynn suffered a traumatic brain injury from the accident, leaving her without any memory of that tragic day. But she was able to obtain the heartbreaking 911 call recordings which she uploaded to social media on January 21.

In the clip, the mother looks emotionless with the caption: 'When I zone out, and people think I'm tired, but the worst day of my life plays over and over again.'

In the background, her 911 call to emergency dispatchers can be heard as the video breaks into a montage of her horrific journey, composed of clips from the hospital, funeral, and accident.

The dispatcher asks Ordone if she can hear her, to which she frantically replies: 'I don't know, I don't even know where I am right now.'

She repeated that she doesn't know where she is as she yelled into the phone.

'Help, please,' cried the mother. She continued to scream for help and can be heard saying 'please god' amongst some of the other inaudible screams.

Mom Katelynn Ordone released heartbreaking her 911 call audio from the accident that killed her two-year-old Preston

Ordone uploaded the audio to a montage of her horrific jounrey after the accident on January 21

The written caption under her post read: 'This is the harsh reality of tragedy and grief that a lot of people dont share.'

'I dont have a memory of the day, but I was able to get all 911 phone call recordings.'

In an earlier upload, the mother revealed that she only realized she had spoken with 911 after looking at her call logs. Ordone added that she had been on the phone with them for five minutes.

It's only been nine months since she lost her son. Social media users shared their sympathy after watching Ordone's video.

'Sweet Preston, wrote one user. 'May God bless you and your family in such a horrible tragedy.'

Another added: 'Such a beautiful boy. Grief is both a terrible and beautiful thing. You have so many beautiful memories with him. And thank you for sharing those memories with us.'

A third noted: 'My heart goes out to you and your entire family. I cannot begin to understand what you are going through.'

The video showed clips of her in the hospital along with pictures of her son and other tear jerking moments as the audio played behind it

The adorable toddler shot to fame after videos of him saying 'OK' before activities like jumping in mud puddles went viral, amassing millions of views

'Even from this side of the world, Preston was just a beautiful and joyful delight to see. Thank you for sharing his light with us.'

In April, the Louisiana State Police confirmed news of Preston's death on social media.

They revealed the car crash happened shortly before 11.50am in St. Tammany Parish, approximately 50 miles north of New Orleans.

The toddler's parents survived the horrific crash but were rushed to different hospitals with serious injuries.

According to the police report, little Preston was 'improperly restrained in a child safety seat in the back of the car,' - a claim that's been disputed by the family.

The Ordones' older daughter, Paisley, seven, was not in the car at the time of the crash.

'The driver and front passenger, who were both properly restrained, sustained serious injuries and were transported to a local hospital,' the Louisiana State Police report stated.

'Preston, who was seated in the rear, but improperly restrained in a child safety seat, also sustained serious injuries and was transported to the hospital, where he later succumbed to his injuries.'

The adorable toddler shot to fame after videos of him saying 'OK' before activities like jumping in mud puddles went viral, amassing millions of views.
The skipper of an oil tanker seized by US troops may be on an American vessel set to leave UK waters, a court heard last night.

Captain Avtandil Kalandadze has been detained since January 7 after the Marinera, formerly known as Bella 1, was boarded by the US military.

The ship was targeted between Iceland and Scotland as it headed towards Russia and it was brought to the Moray Firth, near Burghead, to take on supplies.

The operation came after the US military removed Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro from power and took him to New York for trial.

The US Coast Guard seized the vessel after pursuing it for more than two weeks across the Atlantic as part of Washingtons efforts to block Venezuelan oil exports.

Last night a court heard Mr Kalandadze may already have been transferred to a US vessel which is planning to depart, while 26 crew members are said to be detained in Inverness by the UK Border Force.

Marinera skipper Avtandil Kalandadze with wife his Natia, who if trying to prevent his removal

The Marinera is anchored in the Moray Firth after being escorted there by a U.S. Coast Guard ship

The details were heard after Natia Dzadzama, wife of the Georgian captain, lodged a petition at the Court of Session in Edinburgh for a judicial review of the lawfulness of his detention.

Lord Young passed an interim interdict preventing UK and Scottish authorities from removing Mr Kalandadze from Scotland pending further court proceedings but said he could not make an order against the US or President Trump.

Legal papers lodged in the case state that Mrs Kalandadze is concerned about her husbands safety.

Her lawyers argue that the US government is attempting to bypass extradition processes to take him to America and that this would breach his human rights.

Christopher Pirie, KC, for the UK Government, told the court the Government was unable to definitively confirm Mr Kalandadzes location.

He said: The information provided to us is that he has been transferred to a US Coast Guard vessel which is planning to depart.

Lord Young heard it may be leaving UK territorial waters in the near future.

Claire Mitchell, KC, told the court: If people have been brought to Scotland, they are entitled to the protection of the Scottish courts. It cannot be that a foreign state is able to bring people to this country, hold them for an indefinite period and then simply remove them again.

We cannot simply allow a foreign government to leave with those people on board.

Lord Young said: I am going to grant an interim interdict, but in a restricted form.

On the basis 26 of them are under the control of the UK or Scottish authorities, there is a clear basis to direct the interdict against the Advocate General, the Lord Advocate and Scottish ministers.

I do not have power to grant an interdict against the US government or the President of the United States.

The Ministry of Defence previously said it provided operational support to the US operation and stated that disrupting and degrading Russias shadow fleet of oil tankers was a priority.

The Marinera remains anchored off Burghead. Mrs Dzadzamas solicitor, Aamer Anwar, said: We sought an emergency order to prevent the removal of the ship, captain and crew before a full hearing in the coming days.
Do you know more? Email charlotte.karp@dailymail.com.au

A married music teacher has confessed to having sex with a 12-year-old schoolboy - and continued to abuse him until she was eight months pregnant with his child while he was still only 13.

Naomi Tekea Craig, 33, appeared in Mandurah Local Court via audio link on Tuesday and pleaded guilty to 15 charges over her sexual relationship with the boy, which lasted about 14 months.

Magistrate Clare Cullen read the charges aloud in court, which included multiple counts of penetration of a child under 13, and after his birthday passed, sexual penetration of a child over 13 and under 16.

Further charges included additional counts of indecent dealings with a child under 13, and possessing child exploitation material.

Twelve of the incidents took place in the Mandurah suburb of Silver Sands, and three took place nearby in Meadow Springs.

To each charge, Craig replied: 'Guilty, your honour.'

Craig's relationship with the boy began on October 31, 2024, and ended on December 16, just days before her arrest.

She would have been about eight months pregnant with her second child at the time, and was on maternity leave from her job as a music teacher at Frederick Irwin Anglican School, a private co-educational Anglican institution.

Pictured: Naomi Tekea Craig, 33, doing a performance with primary school children in 2024

The young mum was on maternity leave while pregnant with her second child, who was born in January

Craig was represented by top Perth lawyer, Reid Hogan, who told Magistrate Cullen that his client understood she was not required to enter a plea on Tuesday, but that she had chosen to.

Magistrate Cullen said: 'You've pleaded guilty to all charges and they're being expedited to the District Court for what's called a sentence mention listing.'

The magistrate also said Craig would be required to attend court in person for the next mention.

Craig told the court she understood.

Bail was continued until her next appearance in the District Court on March 27.

Craig was known to students and colleagues by her married name Naomi Woods, and gave birth to the child on January 8.

It's understood a DNA sample of her placenta was tested and a link was found between the newborn and her young victim.

She is not allowed unsupervised visits with any children other than her newborn, including her older child.

Craig was represented by Perth-based criminal lawyer, Reid Hogan (pictured outside Mandurah court on Tuesday)

Naomi Craig is pictured with her husband on their wedding day in October 2019

According to the school's website, Ms Craig was often praised in newsletters for her active role in choir and music performances.

In one newsletter from October 2024, she was pictured on the school's website working with children between five and 12 at the 'battle of the band rock concert'.

In the photo, she held a microphone on stage with primary school students while smiling and wearing a Nirvana t-shirt knotted at the waist.

A Christian prayer could be seen on a projector on the wall above the stage.

Following her arrest, the principal of Frederick Irwin Anglican School, Tracey Gray sent a letter to parents and carers confirming the alleged victim was not a student at the school.

'I regret to inform you that a teacher from our school has been arrested by police and charged with child-related offences,' Ms Gray wrote.

'The teacher has been instructed not to attend the school.

'The information available to the school suggests that there is no need for any concern for any children at the school.'

Craig was working at Frederick Irwin Anglican School in Mandurah at the time of the incidents

According to an online work biography, Ms Craig began employment at the school in 2024, having previously worked as an independent private music teacher.

Ms Craig grew up in Mandurah and completed a Bachelor of Arts degree from The University of Western Australia and a Diploma of Education from Edith Cowan University.

She later relocated to Melbourne, where she married her long-time partner in a lavish ceremony at Stones of the Yarra Valley in 2019.

A video posted online shows Ms Craig being walked down the aisle to meet her groom at the altar, before the newlyweds spent the night celebrating with family and friends.

Three years later, while still based in Victoria, the couple welcomed their first child, a little boy.

Maternity shoot photos show Ms Craig posing with her baby bump in March 2022 as she stood on a Mornington Peninsula beach dressed in white lingerie, brown broad-brimmed hat, and draped with a lace gown.
Donald Trump called the MRI scan he got while under scrutiny over his health last year at the request of White House doctors the 'worst f***ing thing I ever did.'

In October, Trump revealed he'd undergone the procedure during a hospital visit, providing an explanation for the first time on why he underwent a second medical exam in a year.

While Trump, who turns 80 in June, was said to be in 'excellent health' after the scan, he remained furious with White House doctors over having to do it at all.

'It was the worst f***ing thing I ever did, and I blame them,' Trump told New York Magazine's Ben Terris, pointing at White House physicians Captain Sean Barbabella and Lieutenant Colonel James Jones.

The president discussed his health at length with the reporter during a December interview in the Oval Office

'They wanted me to take it. And because I took it, people want to say, "Oh, there must be something wrong."'

He then asked the two physicians: 'Can you explain why you asked me that? Stupidest thing I've ever done.'

Jones said that Trump had an appointment scheduled for Walter Reed Medical Center and wanted him to get some additional tests done but suggested it wasn't really an MRI.

Donald Trump called the MRI scan he got while under scrutiny over his health last year at the request of White House doctors the 'worst f***ing thing I ever did.'

Trump blamed White House physicians Captain Sean Barbabella (pictured right) and Lieutenant Colonel James Jones (pictured left) for the MRI controversy

'While he was there, I asked him if we could complete some additional physical things that we were planning on doing annually. And he was like, "Okay. We will work it in for time schedules." It wasn't actually an MRI.'

Jones also explained that Trump instead had an 'MRI-like' exam of his chest and abdomen.

Trump still fumed to the doctors: 'And not for any reason. It's because the machine was sitting there, I'm sitting right next to it.'

'The reason for the imaging, as routine as we stated, is that any patient his age could have things, and we ruled them out' Jones added.

Barbabella and Jones both maintained that the results from the tests were 'excellent' and Trump was in good condition.

'The story should be about the fact that the results were, uh, perfect. They did not demonstrate any problems.'

Trump said his concerns with the two doctors are that they work at the White House across different presidential administrations.

'I love these two guys; they're great but I don't know them. They're White House doctors.'

President Donald Trump is seen with a large bruise on his left hand while attending the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland last week

Jones worked for several years under President Barack Obama as a senior medical leader.

At one point during the interview, Jones was asked: 'Who is healthier, Obama or President Trump?'

Jones immediately responded: 'President Trump.'

In a statement in early December, Barbabella, who serves as a physician to the president, gave a summary of Trump's 'advanced imaging results', also known as an MRI.

Trump's scan revealed no abnormalities and confirmed that he is in 'excellent health.' MRI scans are a standard preventative procedure for men his age, the doctor said.

Barbabella said: 'As part of President Donald J Trump's comprehensive executive physical, advanced imaging was performed because men in his age group benefit from a thorough evaluation of cardiovascular and abdominal health.

'The purpose of this imaging is preventive: to identify issues early, confirm overall health, and ensure he maintains long-term vitality and function.

'President Trump's cardiovascular imaging is perfectly normal. There is no evidence of arterial narrowing impairing blood flow or abnormalities in the heart or major vessels.

Trump has faced concerns about his health throughout the early months of his second term

'The heart chambers are normal in size, the vessel walls appear smooth and healthy, and there are no signs of inflammation or clotting. Overall, his cardiovascular system shows excellent health.

'His abdominal imaging is also perfectly normal. All major organs appear very healthy and well-perfused. Everything evaluated is functioning within normal limits with no acute or chronic concerns.

'SUMMARY: This level of detailed assessment is standard for an executive physical at President Trump's age and confirms that he remains in excellent overall health.'

Even back then, the scan appeared to frustrate President Trump when asked about it by the media.

'[The scans] were perfect like my phone call where I got impeached. Absolutely perfect. If you want to have it released, I'll release it,' Trump said.

A second reporter followed up, asking whether the MRI was carried out on his brain.

'I have no idea. It was just an MRI. It wasn't the brain because I took a cognitive test and aced it. I got a perfect mark which you would be incapable of doing,' Trump said.

He then pointed at the reporter who asked the original question, adding, 'You too.'

After photos showed him with swollen legs and ankles, the White House revealed in July that he had been diagnosed with Chronic Venous Insufficiency - a condition where leg veins can't send blood back to the heart efficiently

Trump underwent the exam at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center on October 10.

At the time it was described as a routine check-up but it was his second medical exam in less than a year.

The rumors about his health began earlier this year after people spotted a bruise on the president's hand, as well as swollen ankles. It was later announced that he was suffering from chronic venous insufficiency.

However, other speculation has surrounded a perceived difference in the president's energy levels when compared to his first term.

In the same magazine feature, Trump dismissed fears of Alzheimer's, though he forgot the name of the disease, which causes dementia.

The president talked about his father, real estate developer Fred Trump, who died in 1999 at the age of 93, after suffering from dementia.

'He had one problem,' Trump said of his father. 'At a certain age, about 86, 87, he started getting, what do they call it?'

Trump looked at White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt for an assist.

Trump also dismissed Alzheimer's fears in the interview, in which Cabinet members and aides testified about the 79-year-old leader's vigor

'Alzheimer's,' Leavitt responded.

Trump then said his father had 'like an Alzheimer's thing.'

'Well, I don't have it,' the president insisted.

Terris asked Trump whether he thinks about it at all.

'No, I don't think about it at all. You know why?' Trump asked. 'Because whatever it is, my attitude is whatever.'

At another point in the interview, the president boasted that he felt 'the same as I did 40 years ago.'

Like President Joe Biden before him, who, when elected, was the country's oldest president, there are nagging questions about Trump's health, who, when reelected, is on track to become the country's oldest president.

Trump appeared irritated that the topic kept coming up.

'I hate to waste a lot of time on this, but if you're going to write a bad story about my health, I'm going to sue the a** off of New York Magazine,' he told Terris. 'There will be a time when you can write that story, maybe in two years, three years, five years -five years, no one is going to care, I guess.'

Trump will be out of office in three years.

Just in recent days, the White House had to provide an explanation for a bruise that appeared on Trump's left hand while he was attending the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

Leavitt said the president hit his hand on the table during his Board of Peace event Thursday, and he bruises easily due to his daily regimen of Aspirin.

In July, the White House also said that Trump was diagnosed with chronic venous insufficiency, an explanation for his swollen ankles.

Trump's mental fitness was also scrutinized when he appeared to be threatening to invade Greenland due to being snubbed by the Norwegian Nobel Committee, which gave last year's Nobel Peace Prize to Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado instead of the US president.

Machado has since given her Nobel to Trump, but it still didn't stop Trump from making Greenland threats while at the Alpine conference of world leaders.

Everyone around Trump, including his White House doctors, pushed to New York Magazine that the president is fine.

Only one anonymous senior staff member said that the president was losing his hearing - and suggested the president wasn't aware of this yet.

'He can work harder and he has a better memory and he has more stamina and has more energy than a normal mortal,' White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller told the magazine. 'The headline of your story should be "The Superhuman President."'

New York Magazine used Miller's suggested headline, but put it in quotes.

Trump wouldn't concede that he fell asleep, though he told Terris, 'It's boring as hell.'

'I'm going around a room, and I've got 28 guys - the last one was three and a half hours. I have to sit back and listen, and I move my hand so that people will know I'm listening. I'm hearing every word, and I can't wait to get out.'

Jones even told the magazine that Trump's EKG reads like he's '14 years younger.'

'So age 65. His stamina demonstrates that. We get a view that nobody else does. Nobody can stay up with him. The rest of the staff is tired; we are too. And he's not,' Jones said.
Allies of embattled Opposition Leader Sussan Ley have declared their unwavering support for her remaining in the top job as speculation about her future ramps up.

Opposition immigration spokesman and moderate Paul Scarr said he has thrown his '100 per cent support' behind Ms Ley and backed her handling of the vote on contentious hatecrime legislation, which passed with Liberal support.

'Sussan has demonstrated, since becoming leader, how she's been able to navigate some very, very difficult issues,' Senator Scarr told ABC Radio on Tuesday.

'People tend to be referring to the risks arising from the legislation, but there was risk in not passing that legislation, so I think Sussan behaved very responsibly.'

Parliament passed laws allowing for the outlawing of hate groups and increasing penalties for hate speech in response to the December 14 Bondi terror attack.

The legislation ultimately triggered the coalition's breakup after MPs from the Nationals broke with the Liberals in voting against the laws.

Liberal frontbencher Angus Taylor and nowbackbencher Andrew Hastie are angling to replace Ms Ley.

While sources have told AAP a spill is likely to be called when parliament returns in the first week of February, the Opposition Leader has refused to bow to the pressure.

Sussan Ley is refusing to budge under mounting pressure to step aside as Opposition Leader

Shadow Minister for Defence Angus Taylor is said to be angling for the top job

Liberal backbencher Andrew Hastie is also understood to have thrown his hat in the ring

Senator Scarr said he had not been contacted by Mr Taylor or Mr Hastie to run the numbers for a potential leadership tilt.

He repeated a line from Ms Ley, stating that rumours about her leadership were just part of a 'frenzy of speculation in the media.'

'At the moment there is no announced challenge. There is no announced intention to seek a spill,' Senator Scarr said.

Addressing reporters on Australia Day in Corowa, Ms Ley said she was 'absolutely not' of the belief that her leadership was over.

But Mr Taylor wouldn't rule out taking a tilt at the leadership when politicians returned to Canberra.

'The Liberal Party has got a lot of work to do,' he said.

Liberal MP Tim Wilson also threw his support behind Ms Ley, saying the party did not 'want tantrums like we've seen from the National Party.'

'What people want to see is leadership,' he told Sky News.

'I always support the leader, we've got to make sure that whatever it is, we're united behind the team.'
One of Britain's last remaining hero Chindits has died, taking with him first-hand memories of one of the most brutal and secretive campaigns of the Second World War.

Charlie Richards, who was 104, spoke last year of surviving what he described as a 'living hell' during the conflict, when he was among the elite troops sent deep behind enemy lines in the jungles of Burma.

At the time, he was one of only two Chindits still alive.

The Chindits were known as the 'forgotten army', carrying out daring guerrilla warfare operations against Japanese forces in Burma in 1943 and 1944.

While the nation celebrated VE Day back home, these men were still fighting deadly missions in near-impossible conditions.

Despite their heroic ambushes and sabotage of Japanese supply lines, the Chindits were largely ignored, even as they endured malaria-ridden jungles, starvation, and constant danger in what is now Myanmar.

Charlie and the only other surviving Chindit, Sid Machin, 101, met the King and Queen during last year's VJ Day celebrations after being invited as guests of honour by the Royal British Legion.

Speaking to The Mirror ahead of the ceremony, Charlie warned that the world was once again heading for dangerous times.

Charlie Richards, who was 104, spoke last year of surviving what he described as a 'living hell' during the conflict, when he was among the elite troops sent deep behind enemy lines in the jungles of Burma

King Charles III with Charlie Richards, 104, during a reception for VJ veterans and their families hosted by the Royal British Legion at The Aspects Building following a national Service of Remembrance to mark the 80th Anniversary of VJ Day

He said he feared a global conflict could be 'happening again' and urged 'lunatics' Trump and Putin to 'bash their heads together and see sense'.

Charlie was just 20 when his call-up papers arrived, landing on the same day as those of Horace 'Son' Johnson, another young man from Kettering, Northamptonshire.

The pair became inseparable, serving together in the 7th Battalion of the Leicestershire Regiment before being selected for the Chindits, who were told it would be 'one great adventure'.

The reality was very different. Charlie recalled there being 'danger everywhere'.

He said: 'Death was becoming an everyday occurrence, with bodies to bury almost every evening after a few weeks of this it made you wonder if it would be your shoulder that death would be tapping on next.'

Life in the jungle pushed men to the breaking point, with malaria rife and soldiers turning yellow from the harsh medication they were forced to take.

Some even died in freak accidents during long-awaited 'free drops', when supplies were thrown from planes without parachutes.

One soldier was killed after being struck by a folded tarpaulin sheet.

The Chindit offensive, codenamed Operation Thursday, began on March 5, 1944.

Before heading into enemy territory, the men were issued white nylon scarves printed with maps of northern Burma, known as panic maps.

Tragedy struck during the six-month mission when his best friend Son was killed just yards away from him. A group of Japanese soldiers appeared, and after Son's Bren gun misfired, he was shot in the head.

Out of the 400 men in Charlie's column, only 140 returned home unscathed. The name Chindit is derived from a Burmese mythical lion said to guard temples  and Charlie was described as a 'lion of a man'.

Paying tribute, the Royal British Legion said: 'We are saddened to hear of the passing of WW2 veteran, Charlie Richards, at the age of 104. Charlie from Kettering, was one of the last remaining members of the elite Chindit regiment that were involved in jungle warfare in Burma during the Second World War.

Prince William and veterans Pat Owtram and Charlie Richards at a reception for veterans who served in the Pacific during the Second World War, part of the commemorations marking the 80th anniversary of VJ Day, at Windsor Castle

'Joining up at the age of 20, Charlie served in the 7th Battalion of the Leicestershire Regiment, which later became part of a 'special force' known as Operation Thursday. He spent months behind enemy lines, ambushing supplies and communications and battling through treacherous terrain, as well as sadly losing his best friend, Son, who fought by his side.

'Last year, Charlie was involved in the RBL's VJ Day 80 anniversary, recounting stories of his time in Burma, including those involving many near misses that made him one of the 'luckiest chaps to return home' and relaying tales with humour and charm.

'Charlie became a great friend of the RBL, and his warmth and bright personality will be very much missed.'
Families still mopping up after the weekend's Storm Ingrid were warned to expect more chaos today as torrential rain, snow and strong winds are set to batter Britain.

Some 120 areas have been put on flood watch as Storm Chandra barrels in.

The Met Office issued ten yellow or amber warnings for up to 3.1in of rain, 8in of snow and 80mph gusts.

The 35-hour storm began hitting South-West England from yesterday afternoon, before spreading to the rest of the UK.

Forecasters said some communities could be 'cut off' by flooded roads, following Storm Ingrid when part of Teignmouth's Grand Pier washed away and police launched a search for a missing kayaker in Devon.

A series of Atlantic weather systems is driving wet and windy conditions across Britain, with snow likely on higher ground in the Pennines and Scottish mountains. But the strongest winds will be in the South-West and Wales, where 80mph gusts could hit Pembrokeshire and the Isles of Scilly.

The UK Health Security Agency activated cold-health alerts for northern England until Friday amid a 'greater risk to life of vulnerable people'.

RAC's Nick Mullender warned: 'Flooding is highly likely, making many roads dangerous. Our message to drivers is simple: do not drive through standing water unless you are completely certain the water is shallow enough and it's safe to do so.

The Met Office has issued ten yellow or amber warnings in southwest England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland

Waves crash against South Shields lighthouse on the North East coast during Storm Ingrid last week

More than 100 flood alerts have been put in place across the UK. Pictured: Flooding in York after the River Ouse burst its banks on Sunday

'In these conditions, drivers need to slow down and stay alert. Wet roads can double stopping distances, so taking a cautious, steady approach and allowing extra time to react is essential.

'And if your vehicle already has known faults, now is not the time to take risks. Avoid unnecessary journeys and get issues fixed promptly by a trusted mobile mechanic or local garage.'

And the Met Office said there could be 'large waves' in some coastal areas covered by the warnings, with potential for 'debris being blown around' and 'tiles coming off roofs'.

According to chief forecaster Steve Willington: 'Unsettled conditions will continue through the week, with a combination of rain, brisk winds and some further hill snow, particularly in northern areas where colder air remains in place.'

Chris Wilding, flood duty manager at the Environment Agency, said: 'Due to the arrival of Storm Chandra, significant surface water flooding impacts are probable today and tomorrow in the south west of England, and tomorrow there is a significant risk of river flooding impacts too.

'Elsewhere, it is possible that there will be impacts across parts of the north, south and south east of England tomorrow.

'Environment Agency teams are out on the ground, taking action to reduce the impact of flooding and support those communities affected. We urge people not to drive though flood water  it is often deeper than it looks and just 30cm of flowing water is enough to float your car.'

An amber weather warning is in place on the east coast of Northern Ireland until 9pm today, with an additional yellow rain and wind warning for the whole of Northern Ireland for all of Tuesday.

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In Scotland yellow warnings for snow have been put in place as some higher regions could see up to 8in fall

Warnings for wind and rain are in place for Devon, where Teignmouth Pier has already seen huge damage caused by storms

An amber warning for rain is in place for south Devon, much of Dorset, southern Somerset and south-east Cornwall until 9am on Tuesday.

Less severe yellow warnings are in place for a more extensive area of southern England, as well as parts of northern England and Scotland.

A yellow warning for wind covers Cornwall, southwestern Wales and parts of northern Devon from 5am to 4pm on Tuesday, with an additional yellow wind warning in force for southwestern Scotland for 5am to midnight on Tuesday.

Yellow warnings for rain and snow have also been issued for the Pennines and southwest Scotland from midnight to 5pm on Tuesday where up to 8in of snow could fall at higher elevations.

Yellow warnings for rain and snow are also in place across much of central Scotland until midnight on Tuesday.

A yellow warning for rain is in place from midnight until midday on Tuesday for much of southeast England, and for south west England and south and central Wales until 10am on Tuesday.

During Storm Ingrid over the weekend, Devon and Cornwall Police responded to reports of a kayaker getting into difficulty on the River Exe in Tiverton on Saturday.

The kayak was recovered but the man, who is in his 40s, remains missing.

Very wet and windy on Tuesday as #StormChandra tracks north into Ireland bringing severe gales to the Irish Sea and parts of Northern Ireland 



Snow on some northern hills and feeling cold here, but turning somewhat brighter and milder in the southwest with heavy showers  pic.twitter.com/2qt45UnM8S  Met Office (@metoffice) January 26, 2026

Floodwater in York city centre yesterday after the River Ouse burst its banks on Sunday

The Dogger Bank wind farm vessel passes the damaged South Shields sea wall on Sunday

A sea wall protecting the railway line at nearby Dawlish partially collapsed and train services were suspended between Exeter St Davids and Plymouth on Saturday.

Part of the historic Teignmouth Grand Pier washed away in the storm - while in York, the River Ouse burst its banks over the weekend.

In South Shields, a sea wall on the South Pier suffered a partial collapse during Storm Ingrid  having been previously damaged by severe weather in 2023 when Storm Babet ripped off the pier's lighthouse.

Now Storm Chandra is set to bring more chaos to towns and cities across the country.

In the southwest of England, members of the public have been warned to expect cancellations to train and bus services and flooding in some areas which could leave some communities cut off.

Drivers have been urged to avoid travelling by road during potentially dangerous conditions.

A Met Office spokesperson said: 'If you must travel, ensure you watch for possible danger and drive cautiously.'

In Dorset and Devon, where an Amber warning for rain is in place, this could also lead to landslides at the coast.

Aerial images showed the destruction caused to Teignmouth Grand Pier caused by Storm Ingrid

Devon and Cornwall Police were called to reports of a missing kayaker over the weekend

Met Office Chief Forecaster, Paul Gundersen, said: 'Storm Chandra will bring a range of hazards to the UK.

'Initially strong winds will impact the Isles of Scilly, western Cornwall and southwest Wales which are still vulnerable after Storm Goretti, gusts of 70 to 80mph are possible here.

'Heavy rain is an additional hazard as it falls on saturated ground in Dorset and southern parts of Devon, Somerset and Cornwall.

'As Chandra interacts with colder air further north snow becomes a hazard, with 10-20cm of snow possibly accumulating over higher ground in the Pennines, southern Scotland and the Highlands.

'With a complex spell of weather, its important people stay up to date with the forecast and any warnings in your area.'

The Met Office has advised residents of areas at risk of flooding to prepare a kit which could save families from loss or damage.

It suggested having a kit containing insurance documents and a list of contact numbers, a torch with spare batteries, a first aid kit and any prescription medicines, waterproof clothes along with bottled water and snacks.

On Wednesday, the weather will continue to be unsettled with more spells of wet and windy weather but should also bring some dry spells.

Storm Chandra is the next storm to be named by the western Europe storm naming group list shared between the UK, Ireland and Netherlands.
A West Virginia librarian wearing a skeleton sweater frowned in her mugshot after police say she tried to rally other radical leftists to assassinate Donald Trump.

Morgan Morrow, 39, was arrested and charged with one count of terroristic threats after allegedly using social media to recruit 'individuals to pursue and assassinate' the president, the Jackson County Sheriffs Office said in a Sunday night statement.

The Jackson County Public Library employee allegedly claimed her incriminating stance in a TikTok video.

'Surely a sn!per [sniper] with a terminal illness cant be a big ask out of 343 million,' she wrote over a video showing her wearing rainbow eyeshadow and pink glasses.

She captioned the video, 'Luigi can't save us all,' in a likely reference to alleged UnitedHealthcare CEO assassin Luigi Mangione.

The post - which appears to have been removed from her page - was flagged by authorities who believed it was a call to violence against Trump.

Comments under the alarming video apparently show eager participants in the sickening scheme.

'Right?! It's a big country,' one commenter replied. Others rattled off other conservative names, including Homeland Security Advisor Stephen Miller, whom they want to be killed 'first.'

Morgan Morrow wore a skeleton sweater as she frowned in her mugshot

In the since-deleted post, Morrow wrote: 'Surely a sn!per [sniper] with a terminal illness cant be a big ask out of 343 million'

Donald Trump was shot in the ear at a Butler, Pennsylvania rally in July 2024

Other proposed targets were Oracle CEO Larry Ellison and PayPal co-founder Peter Thiel.

According to the criminal complaint reviewed by WOWK, officers detained Morrow from her Ripley home and took her to the sheriff's office for questioning.

Morrow allegedly told police that she had no intentions of actually mobilizing like-minded people to kill the president through her TikTok.

But authorities wrote in the complaint that content of that nature is 'designed to encourage, inspire or entice others to carry out the threatened act, regardless of whether the speaker publicly intends to personally do so.'

She was booked into South Central Regional Jail (SCRJ) - staring blankly into the camera as her mugshot was taken.

'Its okay to be critical of the government. Its OK to be critical of things you dont agree with,' Sheriff Ross Mellinger told WOWK.

'But when you start promoting the violence and youre promoting a plan to carry out the violence and recruiting other people to carry out the plan for you, thats clearly crossing the line.'

The commander-in-chief has been the target of several attempted assassinations, most notably when a bullet struck his ear while campaigning in Butler, Pennsylvania, in July 2024.

Gunman Thomas Crooks was shot and killed by a Secret Service agent at the scene. Aside from trying to murder Trump, he killed an event attendee and injured two others.

Morrow seemingly referenced alleged UnitedHealthcare CEO assassin Luigi Mangione (pictured) in her TikTok's caption

The Jackson County Public Library addressed the situation on social media

Aside from the TikTok that landed her in handcuffs, Morrow has shared multiple politically charged messages with her roughly 1,300 followers.

On January 11, just days after Renee Good was shot dead by ICE agents in Minneapolis, Morrow shared a video of herself crying.

'How long can we keep going on like this? F*ck ICE,' she captioned the post.

She echoed that same 'f*ck ICE' sentiment in another video shared a few days later.

Following Morrow's arrest, the Jackson County Public Library issued the following statement: 'The comments recently made by an employee do not reflect the mission, values, or standards of conduct of our organization.

'We take our responsibilities to the public and our supporters seriously and are committed to professionalism, respect, and integrity in all that we do.

'The views expressed are made in an individual capacity and do not represent the position of the organization. We are addressing the matter internally in accordance to our established policies and procedures.

'We remain committed to our mission and serving our community in a manner that upholds our core values.'

The Daily Mail has reached out to the sheriff's office for comment.
Border Patrol commander Gregory Bovino, who recently became the face of Donald Trump's immigration crackdown, has been reassigned and locked out of his government social media accounts.

Bovino will return to his former job in El Centro, California, where he is expected to retire soon, the Atlantic reported on Monday, citing a Homeland Security official and two people with knowledge of the change.

He also had his government social media accounts revoked on the orders of his boss, Border Patrol Commissioner Rodney Scott, Homeland Security sources confirmed to the Daily Mail.

The fallout comes after Bovino spent the weekend defending the fatal shooting of 37-year-old ICU nurse Alex Pretti on a Minneapolis street.

He had tweeted multiple times 'don't assault federal officers' in response to random X users who shared biographical information that portrayed Pretti in a positive light.

In response to one account claiming that Pretti 'never at any time produced a gun,' Bovino wrote that 'the SUSPECT confronted and assaulted officers and was armed while doing so.'

He even got into spats with lawmakers, including Republican Thomas Massie, who wrote that 'carrying a firearm is not a death sentence, its a Constitutionally protected God-given right and if you dont understand this you have no business in law enforcement or government.'

Bovino told the Kentucky Congressman: 'Attacking law enforcement is not a right like you want it to be.'

The commander also shot back at Republican Louisiana Senator Bill Cassidy and Texas Democrat Senate candidate James Talarico, both of whom called for independent investigations into the shooting, as well as author Stephen King.

Protestors gathered for a 'goodbye Gregory Bovino' noise demonstration yesterday, banging drums and clattering pieces of wood outside the hotel where the Border Control commander is reportedly staying.

The demonstrators clashed with agents in gas masks, who fired irritants towards the crowd.

Border Patrol commander Gregory Bovino, one of the faces of Donald Trump's immigration crackdown, has been removed from his role as 'commander at large'

The move would be a part of a major shakeup by the Trump administration at the request of Border Czar Tom Homan

A demonstrator stands in front of law enforcement officers near a hotel where Greg Bovino, who has been removed from his role as the 'commander at large' for the US Border Patrol, is reportedly staying, January 26

After tweeting over 40 responses to various reactions to the Pretti shooting on Saturday and Sunday, Bovino's X account has gone silent for the past 11 hours.

Tricia McLaughlin, assistant press secretary for the Department of Homeland Security, said Bovino had not been fired and remained a key part of the presidents team.

The move would be a part of a major shakeup by the Trump administration at the request of Border Czar Tom Homan.

Bovino - who has been dubbed 'little Napoleon' - and Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem have both been sidelined as Homan heads for Minneapolis.

He had previously served as the Chief Patrol Agent of the El Centro Sector of the Border Patrol in southern California before he was elevated during the second Trump administration.

Mayor Jacob Frey confirmed that President Trump had set up a meeting between the two when Homan arrives.

The Daily Mail has reached out to Customs and Border Patrol for comment.

The decision is aimed at de-escalating the violence between federal agents and rioters which exploded on Saturday after the killing of Pretti, an ICU nurse.

Bovino, the controversial face of Trump's crackdown and a close ally of Noem, sparked fury in the White House when he claimed Pretti intended to 'massacre' federal agents.

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A protestor holds a sign saying 'Incompetent, racist, man baby Bovino' during a noise demonstration on January 26

A demonstrator displays a sign saying 'Bovino Ciao' at a protest near the hotel where he is reportedly staying

Bovino - who has been dubbed 'little Napoleon' - and Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem have both been sidelined as Homan (pictured) heads for Minneapolis

Alex Pretti was shot and killed in Minneapolis on Saturday afternoon, triggering shock and outrage across the United States

Trump spent hours on Sunday and Monday watching cable news coverage and was unsettled by how the administration was being portrayed, one official told CNN.

Noem branded the ICU nurse a 'domestic terrorist' and claimed he brandished a firearm, sparking further frustration among administration officials.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt distanced Trump from Noem's language on Monday, arguing that it was not a position that the President had taken.

Bovino is a loyalist to Noem and her rumored lover Corey Lewandowski, and both have quietly pushed him as a potential replacement for current Border Patrol chief Rodney Scott, a longtime ally of Homan.

Noem has sought to sideline Scott by having Bovino report directly to her, an unprecedented move within the agency.

Bovino's removal from Minneapolis underscores Noem's fading standing with the White House as Trump dispatches Homan and his closest allies to seize control of the operation on the ground.

A Border Patrol veteran of 30 years, Bovino was selected last year from his role as chief patrol agent of the agency's El Centro sector in Southern California to lead highly publicized immigration crackdowns across the country.

His aggressive tactics, often highly choreographed public displays, sparked backlash from local officials.

Bovino often stood out as the only agent not wearing a face covering when Border Patrol descended on Home Depots and gas stations.

Law enforcement officers stand guard near a hotel where Bovino is reportedly staying

Law enforcement officers clash with demonstrators at a protest against Bovino on January 26

The decision is aimed at de-escalating the violence between federal agents and rioters which exploded on Saturday after the killing of Pretti, an ICU nurse

Bovino often stood out as the only agent not wearing a face covering when Border Patrol descended on Home Depots and gas stations

He has gone viral on social media as he is frequently spotted on the frontlines sporting a severe buzzcut and trench coat, which German media has likened to a 'Nazi aesthetic'.

California Governor Gavin Newsom said on X: 'Greg Bovino dressed up as if he literally went on eBay and purchased SS garb. Greg Bovino, secret police, private army, masked men, people disappearing quite literally, no due process.'

Bovino hit back, claiming he had the coat for more than 25 years and it was official Border Patrol merchandise.

Jenn Budd, an author and expert on Border Patrol, described Bovino as 'the Liberace' of the agency.

'He was just a little Napoleon who wants you to think that he is the most moral and capable guy in the world, and everything around you is dangerous but he's the one who's going to save you,' Budd told The Times. 'It's all a show for him.'

He once invited journalists to watch him swim across a canal in Southern California's Imperial Valley in a bid to deter migrants considering the crossing.

After Trump was re-elected Bovino used similar public relations expertise to catch the president's eye.

He sent dozens of agents to arrest migrants at gas stations along the highway ahead of Trump's inauguration.

Asked why Bovino was chosen to lead the force, McLaughlin told reporters bluntly: 'Because he's a badass.'

But while Bovino's strongman image earned him Trump's respect, his self-proclaimed 'turn and burn' enforcement strategies have sparked concern.

A federal judge accused Bovino in November of being 'evasive' and at times 'outright lying' in sworn testimony about an immigration crackdown in Chicago, finding his account 'simply not credible.'

Judge Sara Ellis wrote that Bovino even admitted he lied about being hit with a rock before ordering tear gas used, and noted that video evidence flatly contradicted his claim that he never tackled a protester.
Former prime minister Kevin Rudd is set to run for the United Nations top job just weeks after announcing he will be quitting as Australia's Ambassador to the United States.

The news was revealed by Sky News Chief Anchor, Kieran Gilbert, who said Rudd was considering a run at the Secretary-General position following conversations with various people in government.

The role, which is currently held by Antonio Guterres, will be available once Guterres concludes his second five-year term on December 31, 2026.

Australian Financial Review's Political Editor, Phil Coorey, told Sky News he expected Rudd would get bipartisan support.

'There's a lot of diplomacy involved. Kevin's pretty good. Maybe they'll just give it to him to stop him asking,' he said.

Four people have been nominated for the head of the international organisation so far, including from Chile, Argentina, Costa Rica and Boliva.

Rudd attempted to run for the job in 2016 but was denied by then-prime minister Malcolm Turnbull on the basis he wasn't suitable for the role.

In an opinion piece published in The Guardian in 2016, Rudd offered 10 principles to 'reform the United Nations before it's too late.'

Former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd is set to throw his hat in the ring for the UN's top job

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres concludes his second five-year term on December 31

'Those of us who are proud to be lifelong friends of the UN today will defend the institution to the hilt. But the uncomfortable truth is that while the UN today is not broken, it is in trouble,' Rudd wrote.

'This need not be the case. The UN is capable of re-inventing itself.'

Among Rudd's reflections included his advice to the incumbent Secretary-General and UN member states to anticipate, plan and prevent for future crises, 'rather than a culture of simple reaction, band aid solutions, and fingers crossed.'

'The time for deep UN reform is now,' he added.

'Otherwise, the UN will, in the decades ahead, not die, but quietly fade away, the facade of a once grand building but where, on closer inspection, little of substance actually happens anymore.'

He also claimed the United Nations should focus on its 'performance in the field', rather than on writing reports, for which Rudd said there is 'too many.'

The news of Rudd's renewed run at the top job comes just weeks after he announced he would be stepping down as Australia's ambassador to the United States on March 31 - a year earlier than planned.

He was appointed to the role in March 2023.

Rudd tried to run for the job in 2016 but was denied by then-prime minister Malcolm Turnbull

Rudd's exit followed an awkward exchange with Trump during Albanese's October trip to Washington, when Trump told him directly: 'I don't like you either, and I probably never will'

In March 2024, Trump publicly described Rudd as 'a little bit nasty' and warned bluntly that if the ambassador was hostile, 'he will not be there long'

His previous comments, in which he labelled Donald Trump 'the most destructive president in history', resurfaced after Trump returned to office in 2024, putting renewed strain on relations despite Rudd's efforts to mend ties.

That tension came to a head during an Oval Office exchange in 2025, when Trump told Rudd, 'I don't like you  and I probably never will'.

Rudd's successor, senior public servant Greg Moriarty, is expected to take over the role from March 31.

Moriarty has previously served as ambassador to Iran and Indonesia, held senior postings in Papua New Guinea, and in 2015 became Australia's first counterterrorism coordinator.

It was previously reported that Rudd was resigning from his post to return as head of the Asia Society think tank.

'We thank Kevin for his service to Australia and for advancing Australia's interests with our closest security ally,' Albanese said at the time.

'He's moving on to a role that he believes is pivotal.

'Kevin Rudd will tell you privately what he has said publicly and what drove him to write his book is that the relationship between the United States and China... is the most important one that will define the mid-part of this century.'

More to come.
Alex Pretti's younger sister has slammed the 'disgusting lies' emerging about the ICU nurse after he was shot dead while being detained by federal agents in Minneapolis.

Micayla Pretti broke her silence on her 37-year-old sibling's highly publicized death in a statement on Monday.

The heartbroken sister called Pretti a 'hero' and commended him for his kindness - a stark contrast from the gun-bearing instigator that ICE has described him as.

'All Alex ever wanted was to help someone - anyone,' Micayla continued. 'Even in his very last moments on this earth, he was simply trying to do just that.'

Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem claimed that officers 'clearly feared for their lives' when they were allegedly approached by Pretti on Saturday during an immigration enforcement operation.

Noem said that agents only fired their weapons to defend themselves from Pretti after he 'violently' resisted federal agents and was 'brandishing' a gun at them.

Micayla fiercely disputed any claims that her brother was a 'domestic terrorist' or an attempted assassin.

'When does this end? How many more innocent lives must be lost before we say enough?' she asked in despair.

Alex Pretti was fatally shot during a confrontation with federal agents in Minneapolis

Pretti was shot dead while being detained by agents during an immigration operation

'Hearing disgusting lies spread about my brother is absolutely gut-wrenching.'

Trump has weighed in on Pretti's death, telling The Wall Street Journal: 'I don't like any shooting. I don't like it.'

'But I don't like it when somebody goes into a protest and he's got a very powerful, fully-loaded gun with two magazines loaded up with bullets also,' he continued. 'That doesn't play good either.'

DHS officials have maintained that Pretti approached the officers with a loaded 9mm semiautomatic handgun.

But several videos captured by witnesses appear to show Pretti holding his phone up to agents, not a gun.

Another piece of footage apparently shows an officer removing Pretti's gun from his waistband before shots were fired.

Minneapolis police said the Veterans Affairs (VA) nurse had no serious criminal history and was a lawful gun owner with a valid permit.

After Pretti was seemingly disarmed, the footage does not clearly show the origin of the first shot.

One gun expert has said he believes Pretti's Sig Sauer P320 went off in the hands of an agent, prompting another agent to open fire.

Protestors are seen above marching through the streets of downtown Minneapolis after Pretti's death

Protestors rioted in front of a Minneapolis Hilton on Sunday night following Pretti's death

Alex Pretti was shot and killed in Minneapolis on Saturday afternoon, triggering shock and outrage across the United States

'I believe it's highly likely the first shot was a negligent discharge from the agent in the grey jacket after he removed the Sig P320 from Pretti's holster while exiting the scene,' Rob Dobar, a lawyer for the Minnesota Gun Owners Caucus, wrote on X.

Trump said his administration will investigate Pretti's fatal shooting, as he signaled a willingness to withdraw immigration enforcement officials from Minneapolis.

'Were looking, were reviewing everything and will come out with a determination,' Trump told the WSJ. 'At some point we will leave.'

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey said he spoke to Trump about the immigration crackdown in his city and some federal officers will begin leaving.

Frey said that during a call with the president, they both agreed that the situation regarding ICE's presence cannot continue.

The mayor claimed that some agents will begin leaving as early as Tuesday. Sources familiar with the situation said that Border Patrol commander Greg Bovino is among those being pushed out.

Bovino has been at the center of the Trump administration's aggressive immigration enforcement surge in cities nationwide.

He has been criticized over the last few days for his public defense of the Pretti shooting and disputed claims about the encounter that led to his death.

White House border czar Tom Homan is expected to speak with the Minneapolis mayor on Tuesday

President Donald Trump and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey had a phone call on Monday

Bovino reportedly lost access to his government social media accounts after spending much of the weekend sparring online over Pretti's shooting.

White House Border Czar Tom Homan is reportedly taking over for Bovino in Minnesota.

But DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin wrote on X that Bovino 'has NOT been relieved of his duties' and remains 'a key part of the Presidents team.'

Frey plans to keep fighting to ensure others involved in Operation Metro Surge go.

Operation Metro Surge is the enforcement campaign launched on December 1, 2025, that dramatically expanded the federal law enforcement presence in Minnesota.

Trump posted on social media that he had a good conversation with Frey.

'Lots of progress is being made!' he wrote on Truth Social on Monday.

He added that on Tuesday, Homan will be meeting with Frey to 'continue the discussion.'
READ MORE: ABC hacked as photos of porn stars are shared to Facebook page

Residents in a small Queensland town have been ordered to leave immediately amid fears of flash flooding as heavy rain continues to lash the region.

An emergency alert was issued for all areas of Einasleigh, in far north Queensland, at 12pm on Tuesday after heavy rain led to spilling of the Copperfield Dam.

'People in all areas of Einasleigh need to LEAVE IMMEDIATELY,' Queensland Police said in a statement.

'Conditions are very dangerous. Bring your emergency kit and move to evacuation point at high part of Einasleigh-Forsyth road away from the flood NOW.

'Go to Etheridge Shire Council Facebook or disaster dashboard.'

The Welby family, who earlier this month bought the Einasleigh Hotel pub, shared their view of the rising river to social media.

'Our view from the Einasleigh Hotel,' they shared showing rising water.

Publican Tayla Wellby only settled the purchase on Friday, but is now preparing to evacuate the region.

She said that she and a handful of customers had been keeping watch as the Copperfield River surged following heavy rain.

The Copperfield River at Einasleigh, with locals saying they have 'never seen it higher'

A view of the rapidly rising Copperfield River shared by the owners of the Einasleigh Hotel

Tayla told the ABC that conditions still looked normal at about 6.30am, but by midday the river had risen rapidly enough to submerge the bridge.

Water has now reached the opposite side of Daintree Road.

Meanwhile, heavy rainfall is causing widespread road flooding across north Queensland, with the Bruce Highway blocked at the Seymour River, just north of Ingham.

The affected section of highway, roughly 130 kilometres north of Townsville, was submerged early Tuesday, with motorists warned to expect significant delays.

Authorities have issued a moderate flood alert for the Herbert River, advising residents in the Lower Herbert region that rising waters could soon leave communities isolated.

For life-threatening emergencies, call Triple Zero (000) immediately.

For non-life-threatening situations  such as assistance with a damaged roof or storm damage  call SES on 132 500.

Down south, a blistering heatwave is gripping southeast Australia, with temperatures forecast to climb to dangerous levels across parts of Victoria, South Australia and New South Wales.

A major heatwave is gripping Victoria this week (pictured: Melbourne residents in the heat)

Authorities have issued extreme fire danger warnings across districts in Victoria and South Australia as a severe heatwave bears down on the south-east.

In Victoria, firefighters are battling an out-of-control bushfire in the Otways, where hot, dry and gusty winds are fuelling volatile conditions.

A Total Fire Ban is in force statewide for Tuesday, with Melbourne under an extreme fire danger rating as temperatures continue to climb.

The relentless heat has pushed parts of Victoria towards 50C.

Walpeup, near Ouyen, hit a blistering 48.7C, Mildura recorded 47.5C, and Warrnambool climbed to 45C, shattering long-standing temperature records across the region.
A group of black women have filed a $5 million lawsuit against an upscale Virginia steakhouse, claiming they were racially profiled and kicked out of the eatery after a brawl they were not involved in.

Video from the Cork & Bull Chophouse in Chesapeake shows a women in a black ensemble grabbing a woman wearing hot pink by her hair and punching her repeatedly on November 6.

They could then be seen grabbing and shoving each other and knocking over tables before staff members intervene and separate them.

In the aftermath, the group of nine friends claim they were asked to leave - even though, they said, they were not part of the brawling women's party.

'I asked why and he responded, saying "because you all like to fight," and they made us leave and get up in front of all the other patrons in the restaurant,' Shakoya Holt recounted to WAVY.

She added what was supposed to be a fun outing 'turned into a night of hurt, embarrassment and humiliation.'

'We were all put in a negative spotlight in that moment,' she said. 'It was all eyes on us, very embarrassing.'

Holt said she and her eight friends were at the restaurant that night to celebrate Friendsgiving and had just ordered drinks when the two other women 'that had nothing to do with us' started to fight.

The two women who were fighting were then escorted out of the restaurant, Holt said, but soon restaurant staff asked them to leave as well.

The friend group is now claiming they faced 'wrongful removal, racial stereotyping, denial of service and verbal assault' in their civil rights lawsuit, which is seeking $5 million in damages for malicious and reckless conduct, the Virginian-Pilot reports.

Video from the Cork & Bull Chophouse in Chesapeake shows a women in a black ensemble grabbing a woman wearing hot pink by her hair and punching her repeatedly on November 6

A group of nine women eating at the restaurant that night claim they were kicked out in the aftermath - even though they had nothing to do with the brawl

@coastalcurr3nts A group of nine Black women who say they experienced racial discrimination while dining at Cork & Bull Chophouse in Chesapeake in November 2025 filed a $5 million lawsuit against the restaurant Tuesday. Shakoya Somerville-Holt, one of the plaintiffs, told News 3 in a previous interview that the incident happened when she and eight friends were having dinner at the restaurant on Nov. 6, 2025. Shortly after, Somerville-Holt said two other Black women at a nearby table got into a fight. Despite not knowing the women involved in the altercation, Somerville-Holt said restaurant management also told her group they had to leave. Chesapeake Neighborhood Reporter Erin Holly went into Cork & Bull and spoke to the manager on duty. He said the restaurant is aware of the lawsuit and has no comment at this time. Full story: https://wtkr3.co/45jnZll  original sound - WTKR News 3

The suit, filed in the US District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia last week, argues that all of the women in their group were dressed in white tops and jeans - making them 'visibly distinguishable from all other patrons,' WTKR reports.

It also claims that after police arrived, they confirmed that the women had no involvement in the fight and allowed them to collect their things - at which point they allegedly faced a verbal assault from restaurant employees.

At least one of the women had to be treated medically for stress in the aftermath and others sought out counseling following the incident, the suit claims.

The women have also retained attorney Joyvan Malbon-Griffin to represent them after they were unsatisfied with the restaurant's lack of response or apology.

'All nine of these women were treated more harshly than the two people who were actually engaged in the misdemeanor action,' Malbon-Griffin argued.

'They have said "Enough is enough and we are not going to take it."'

The NAACP Virginia State Conference and NAACP Chesapeake Branch have since declared their solidarity with the women.

'This incident is a painful reminder that racism remains embedded in our daily lives,' said Reverend Cozy Bailey, president of NAACP Virginia State Conference.

'It is unacceptable for anyone to be judged or mistreated based solely on the color of their skin.

'We must hold establishments accountable when they perpetuate racial stereotypes, and we call on the community to stand in solidarity with these women and demand justice,' he added.

The owner of Cork & Bull (pictured) is standing by his staff's decision that night

Many in the community have already held protests outside the restaurant since the women first came forward with their claims of racial discrimination in November, and restaurant owner Robert 'Brian' Mullins and his wife, Teresa, have said the restaurant's reputation and revenue have been substantially damaged in the aftermath.

He claimed in an 'open letter to all past and future clients' that 'numerous threats to the staff were called in, threatening emails were sent and "staged" protests outside the restaurant were coordinated to disrupt our service.'

Mullins also claimed he and his wife 'spent more than 80 days reviewing surveillance footage' from the incident, and conducted an internal investigation into their staff member's actions that night.

'That review provided overwhelming evidence supporting the decisions made by our team,' he said, adding that the nine women had been invited for a meeting to discuss the incident, but declined the offer.

Malbon-Griffin, though, claimed that Mullins wanted to have the meeting inside the Cork & Bull - but the women refused to meet there because the restaurant is now a traumatizing place for them.

'Many of them still have not dined out, even in the holiday season, for fear that the same incident could happen again,' the lawyer said.

She added that she offered to meet in their stead, but Mullins never responded to the counteroffer.

Now, however, Mullins told the Virginian-Pilot he and his staff 'are prepared to rebuttal their accusations of racism with many different avenues and to show the actual event as [it] happened during that night's service.

'We look forward to having the opportunity to defend ourselves in court, where innuendo and intimidation are subjected to facts and evidence,' he said.

'We deny in the strongest possible terms that racism of any kind or type played a role in the decisions made by our staff and we expect a full and complete vindication of their actions.'

Mullins reiterated the message in his open-letter to the community.

'Those who have known us for more than 40 years know we operate our businesses without regard to race, sex or age, employing hundreds of families,' he wrote.

'For our family to be called racist, you do not know us.'
Calls for heatwaves to be named after polluters

Independent Kooyong MP Dr Monique Ryan is calling for Australia to name extreme heatwaves in the same way titles are given to cyclones.

As Melbourne baked in 44C heat on Tuesday, Ryan, a member of the teals whose electorate is in the city's affluent inner east, said the she most severe heatwaves should be named after fossil fuel companies.

She said the weather events are Australia's deadliest natural hazard, but public awareness was not up to scratch. Cyclones have been formally named since the 1960s to simplify communication between authorities, the media and the public.

On Tuesday, authorities issued extreme fire danger warnings throughout Victoria, leaving Melbourne under an extreme fire danger rating as temperatures continued to climb.

The intense heat forced a pause in play at the Australian Open, with the roof closed over Rod Laver Arena and all outer courts shut.

Meanwhile, firefighters continue to battle out-of-control bushfires in the Otways, fuelled by hot, dry and gusty winds.

Temperatures in some parts of Victoria have approached 50C.

'Extreme weather events like Black Summer, Cyclone Yasi and the Lismore floods are seared into our memories,' Ryan said.

Monique Ryan (pictured) called on heatwaves to be named after fossil fuel companies

'But heatwaves, the climate hazard responsible for more Australian deaths than floods, storms and bushfires combined, remain a silent killer.'

She said intense heat 'strains every system in the body', adding it can 'stress the heart, destabilise diabetes, worsen respiratory conditions and intensify mental health crises'.

'When temperatures rise, so do emergency department presentations. Heat kills, and it's time the Albanese government did something about it.'

Victorian Chief Health Officer Caroline McElnay warned that those most at risk from prolonged heat are people aged 65 and over, anyone with underlying health conditions, pregnant women, babies and children.

'It can cause potentially fatal health problems such as heat exhaustion and heat stroke, but it can also trigger events like heart attacks or stroke,' Dr McElnay said.

'Please take steps to protect yourself and others by keeping cool.'

Ryan's 'Name Heatwaves, Save Lives' campaign urges the federal government to introduce a formal naming system for heatwaves, categorising them by severity and improving public information.

She argues this would lift risk awareness, improve health responses and strengthen emergency planning.

Melbourne is sweating through a heatwave, with the city reaching 44C on Tuesday

Ryan said naming heatwaves could help preparations (pictured: a bushfire at Carlisle River)

'Heatwaves are not benign ''warm spells'', as the media portrays them; they're a silent killer,' she said. '

Every heatwave is a potential mass-casualty event; by naming them, we can save Australian lives.'

She said governments should build on decades of cyclone communications strategy to convey the urgency of extreme heat.

Ryan also called for the most severe heatwaves to be named after major coal and gas companies, highlighting the link between extreme weather and contributing industries.

'Fossil fuels are the leading cause of climate change. They contribute to longer, hotter and more frequent heatwaves,' she said.

'Declaring a Category 4 ''Heatwave Santos'' or ''Heatwave Woodside'' would mean far more to the public than a vague ''temperature spike''.'

She compared the proposal to public-health campaigns that only motivated real change after confronting the public with tobacco's true harms.

'To tackle our most deadly climate hazard, heat, we should start by calling it what it is, and by asking those who profit from it to own their share of that harm.'
An attendee at an Australia Day rally will spend at least a week behind bars after he was accused of a brazen anti-Semitic tirade, including tributes to neo-Nazi leaders.

Brandan Koschel, 31, is accused of breaching newly passed racial hatred incitement laws during his remarks while on stage in front of thousands at the anti-immigration 'March for Australia' rally in Sydney on Monday.

He was arrested soon after and fronted a virtual bail court on Tuesday, where he was told he would remain in custody.

Police told the court their case was strong, claiming that Koschel cited the new laws in his speech and then knowingly breached them straight after.

The 45-second speech - during which Koschel twice stated Jewish people were the 'greatest enemy' - drew cheers from sections of the Moore Park crowd and gained a wider audience as it was live-streamed on YouTube and elsewhere.

'The brazen and public incitement towards the Jewish community makes him an unacceptable risk to endanger the community,' the police prosecutor said.

Police also alleged he was seen moments earlier standing with people known to be part of, or affiliated with, the National Socialist Network (NSN), which was the nation's largest neo-Nazi group before it was supposedly recently disbanded.

Open-source information suggested Koschel had also been a member of the group, the court was told.

Brandan Koschel (centre) was arrested at the anti-immigration March for Australia rally in Sydney on Monday

'The Jews are the greatest enemy to this nation. They always have been,' Koschel told the rally on Monday.

Before leaving the stage, he added: 'Free Joel Davis, heil white Australia, heil Thomas Sewell.'

Sewell was an NSN leader.

Davis was a Sydney lieutenant charged over a public call for his followers to 'rhetorically rape' federal MP Allegra Spender.

The white supremacist group said it has disbanded in recent weeks and Koschel was not affiliated with any 'active' group, the 31-year-old's lawyer Jasmine Lau said.

She also played down the large white Celtic cross on her client's shirt at the time of the speech, arguing it was not a symbol of the NSN.

'He tells me it's just a Celtic cross symbol that was shown on the jumper,' Ms Lau told the court.

The symbol has been used by a variety of white supremacist groups since the 1930s, the US Anti-Defamation League hate symbols database states.

Koschel (pictured) was denied bail on Tuesday

Koschel, a father of one, was followed by police after the rally to Bourke Street, Surry Hills, where he was arrested.

People on the street booed him as he was put into the back of a police car.

Assistant Commissioner Brett McFadden on Monday alleged Koschel breached 'the line of free speech to incite hatred towards another group'.

'We will allege that the language he used  was clearly and unequivocally signed with neo-Nazi ideology  and language incited a response from the crowd,' he said.

'We allege that the language that was used during this open mic session breached, well and truly, the line of free speech to incite hatred towards another group in the community.'

In arguing for bail, Ms Lau said it was unlikely Koschel would cross the threshold for receiving a jail term if he was convicted of publicly inciting hatred on the grounds of race causing fear.

He had family links to Sydney, no firearm licence and a limited criminal history.

The court was told there was one violent matter from 2017, The Australian reported.

Magistrate Daniel Covington claimed Koschel's alleged comments 'occurred in a situation where the community is very acute to comments of this nature'

Magistrate Daniel Covington was unconvinced Koschel posed little threat of causing further trouble, despite his limited criminal record.

Proposed bail conditions did not include specific non-association measures and there was no disavowal of the views of the suggested ideology, he said.

'It is difficult for me to determine what conditions could be put in place to both protect the community and the risk of committing further serious offences,' he said.

'There is a real risk of imprisonment.'

Magistrate Covington added the alleged comments 'occurred in a situation where the community is very acute to comments of this nature'.

He refused bail and remanded Koschel in custody until February 3, when the case will be heard at Downing Centre Local Court.

Koschel remained silent for much of the hearing, but shook his head when his bail was denied.

He appeared to make a gesture with his handcuffed right hand before his link from police cells was switched off.

Police arrested Koschel after he spoke at an anti-immigration rally on January 26 (pictured)

The NSN announced it would disband earlier this month in anticipation of new federal laws targeting hate groups.

Davis, a key Sydney ally of NSN leader Thomas Sewell, told a bail hearing on January 15 he was no longer a member and 'that chapter is now closed'.

He has been held on remand since November over the call for his supporters to 'rhetorically rape' Ms Spender, whose east Sydney electorate includes a large Jewish population.

Davis has argued the phrase was a philosophical term of art, not a term to incite a follower to literally sexually assault the Wentworth MP.
A music teacher believed to be impregnated by a schoolboy she repeatedly raped flaunted her baby bump in a series of skimpy maternity shoots days before her arrest.

Naomi Tekea Craig, 33, was a married mum teaching at an Anglican school in Mandurah, about 70km south of Perth, in October 2024 when she sexually abused a 12-year-old boy.

The abuse went on for more than a year, ending in December when she was arrested and charged with possessing child exploitation material, indecent dealings with a child, and sexual penetration of a child.

Craig appeared in Mandurah Local Court via audio link on Tuesday and pleaded guilty to 15 child abuse-linked charges, just two weeks after giving birth to her second child.

The Daily Mail can reveal the now-13-year-old victim provided a DNA sample to investigators, but he already claimed to know the baby was his.

Earlier in January, he wrote on social media there was 'no DNA test needed', and pondered the possibility of a baby boy taking after him.

He also spoke about the possibility of a daughter, suggesting she may take after her mother.

The Daily Mail can further reveal Craig took part in a number of professional maternity photoshoots in November and December - just days before her arrest, and while she was actively abusing the boy.

Pictured: Naomi Tekea Craig during a maternity shoot while pregnant with the baby of a 13-year-old boy

Naomi Tekea Craig is pictured while pregnant with her first child, fathered by her husband

Naomi Craig appeared in court on Tuesday via audio link

According to a series of later-deleted posts, Craig had about three shoots with different photographers when she was seven and eight months pregnant with her victim's baby.

In the photos, Craig could be seen holding a variety of suggestive poses in a leopard print two-piece with a midriff to show off her burgeoning bump, and then again in zebra-inspired jeans with the top buttons and fly undone.

One photographer described her as a 'Christina Aguilera doppelganger', while another referred to her as an 'absolute bombshell'.

In a third shoot in Fremantle, where Craig paired a scarf with tracksuit pants, she was described as 'fierce, wild, beautifully chaotic' in a social media post uploaded on December 7.

Those photos were shared just one month before the birth, and nine days before she last abused the boy on December 16.

Property records show Craig and her husband bought their first home in Meadow Springs for about $700,000 in June, but neighbours said the couple had barely been at the property because it was being renovated.

'It was a fixer-upper,' one neighbour told the Daily Mail.

After court on Tuesday, Naomi Craig's husband dropped their older child to her parents place. Her father is pictured collecting the child

'There were holes in the walls and the three bathrooms needed redoing, it was a big job, they only moved in a month or so ago.'

Another neighbour said she barely saw Craig at all.

'She'd drive into the garage and you wouldn't see her again,' she said.

After court on Tuesday, Craig's husband broke cover and dropped their older son off at her parents' place.

Craig is banned from seeing anyone under 18, including her oldest child, without supervision - the only exception is her newborn.

In court, Magistrate Clare Cullen read the charges aloud, which included multiple counts of penetration of a child under 13, and after his birthday, sexual penetration of a child over 13 and under 16.

Further charges included additional counts of indecent dealings with a child under 13, and possessing child exploitation material.

Twelve of the incidents took place in the Mandurah suburb of Silver Sands, and three took place nearby in Meadow Springs.

Pictured: Naomi Tekea Craig, 33, doing a performance with primary school children in 2024

To each charge, Craig replied: 'Guilty, your honour.'

Craig's relationship with the boy began on October 31, 2024, and ended on December 16, just days before her arrest.

She was represented by top Perth lawyer, Reid Hogan.

The magistrate said: 'You've pleaded guilty to all charges and they're being expedited to the District Court for what's called a sentence mention listing.'

Craig will be required to attend court in person when her matter is up in the District Court on March 27.

To make bail, she required to front $20,000 personally, with an additional $50,000 surety.

Her bail will continue until the next mention.

She gave birth to the child on January 8.

Naomi Craig was on maternity leave when she was arrested and charged with child sex offences

According to the school's website, Ms Craig was often praised in newsletters for her active role in choir and music performances.

In one newsletter from October 2024, she was pictured on the school's website working with children between five and 12 at the 'battle of the band rock concert'.

In the photo, she held a microphone on stage with primary school students while smiling and wearing a Nirvana t-shirt knotted at the waist.

A Christian prayer could be seen on a projector on the wall above the stage.

Following her arrest, the principal of Frederick Irwin Anglican School, Tracey Gray sent a letter to parents and carers confirming the alleged victim was not a student at the school.

'I regret to inform you that a teacher from our school has been arrested by police and charged with child-related offences,' Ms Gray wrote.

'The teacher has been instructed not to attend the school.

'The information available to the school suggests that there is no need for any concern for any children at the school.'
Kristi Noem held a two-hour meeting with Donald Trump Monday night amid fallout from the shooting of Alex Pretti as Democrats called for her to resign.

Noem was joined by aide Corey Lewandowski in the Oval Office after Trump sent Border Czar Tom Homan to Minneapolis in a major shakeup, according to The New York Times.

Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt and Communications Director Steven Cheung were also in attendance at The White House.

Trump sent Homan to the embattled city after removing Border Patrol commander Greg Bovino amid unrest over the shootings of both Pretti and Renee Good.

The Secretary of Homeland Security requested the meeting with Trump after her vehement defense of the border agent who shot Pretti, a 37-year-old ICU nurse.

On Sunday, Noem referred to Pretti as a 'domestic terrorist' - something that Trump appeared to disagree with.

'I dont like any shooting. I dont like it,' Trump told the Wall Street Journal.

During a press briefing Monday, Leavitt said she had 'not heard the president characterize' Pretti as a domestic terrorist.

Meanwhile on Capitol Hill, House Democrats launched an investigation into Noem, while 140 members of the party have co-sponsored an impeachment resolution.

Kristi Noem (pictured center) held a two-hour meeting with Donald Trump at The White House Monday night amid fallout from the Minneapolis shooting of Alex Pretti

Trump (pictured) and White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt have appeared to distance themselves from some of Noem's statements since the shooting of Pretti

Democrats have come out swinging for Noem, as a large majority - 145 of 213 - of their House delegation now co-sponsors a bill that would see her impeached.

The impeachment bill alleges that Noem has been self-dealing, obstructed Congress and violated public trust.

A spokesperson for DHS told Axios that the efforts were 'silly' and Democrats should focus on fixing crime problems in their districts.

The minority party will also launch an investigation into Noem's work at DHS without any assistance from Republicans, The Washington Post reported.

Senator Elizabeth Warren publicly called on the House to impeach Noem and demanded she resign.

Republican Rand Paul has also called multiple top immigration officials to testify at a February 12 hearing.

Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Rodney Scott, USCIS Director Joseph Edlow and Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons have had their presence requested.

Meanwhile, Noem will testify before the Senate on March 3 as part of regular oversight, Politico reported.

Join the debate Do YOU support Democrats probing Kristi Noem over the shooting fallout?

Pretti, a 37-year-old ICU nurse, was fatally shot when federal agents were trying to detain him in Minneapolis Saturday

The Pretti incident comes just weeks following the fatal shooting of fellow Minneapolis resident Renee Nicole Good (pictured)

The Daily Mail has reached out to the Department of Homeland Security for further comment.

The heat on Noem comes after Trump made a clear adjustment in policy toward his immigration crackdown in Minneapolis following the fatal shootings and wild protests from liberals.

Trump announced early Monday that Homan was headed to Minneapolis and 'will report directly' to him.

Later, multiple reports said that Bovino was leaving the city and had been locked out of his government social media accounts.

Bovino is a loyalist to Noem and her rumored lover Lewandowski. Both have quietly pushed Bovino as a potential replacement for current Border Patrol chief Rodney Scott, a longtime ally of Homan.

Noem has sought to sideline Scott by having Bovino report directly to her, an unprecedented move within the agency.

Bovino's removal from Minneapolis underscores Noem's fading standing with the White House as Trump dispatches Homan and his closest allies to seize control of the operation on the ground.

Homan and Noem have been locked in a power struggle inside Trump's second-term immigration apparatus, with Homan pushing aggressive, enforcement-first mass deportations while viewing Noem as slow and overly political, sources close to Homan have told The Daily Mail.

Noem was joined by top aide Corey Lewandowski (pictured right) to huddle with Trump in the Oval Office

Trump deputized Border Czar Tom Homan (pictured) to head to Minneapolis in a major shakeup

Homan, along with his right-hand man Lyons, are understood to be at odds with Noem over her approach to tackling the illegal immigration crisis.

He and Lyons want to pour their resources into tracking down convicted criminals who are living in the United States illegally, as well as people who have already been served final deportation orders.

Their targeted approach to removing the worst of the worst has frustrated Noem, along with Lewandowski and Bovino, according to Fox News.

Noem has instead advocated for a broader and more aggressive approach in an effort to boost the number of reportable deportations each day.

She has made a point to share statistics of successful deportations amid pressure from Trump to rid America of as many as 1,500 illegal immigrants per day.

The rivalry has hardened as rank-and-file ICE agents and DHS officials increasingly align with Homan's hardline leadership style over Noem's public-facing approach at DHS.

Tricia McLaughlin, assistant press secretary for the Department of Homeland Security, said Bovino had not been fired and remained a key part of the presidents team.

Noem even thanked the president in a post to social media following his announcement.

'I have worked closely with Tom over the last year and he has been a major asset to our team his experience and insight will help us in our wide-scale fraud investigations, which have robbed Americans, and will help us to remove even more public safety threats and violent criminal illegal aliens off the of streets of Minneapolis,' she wrote.

A Border Patrol veteran of 30 years, Bovino was selected last year from his role as chief patrol agent of the agency's El Centro sector in Southern California to lead highly publicized immigration crackdowns across the country.

Bovinos leadership of highly visible federal crackdowns, including operations that sparked mass demonstrations in Los Angeles, Chicago, Charlotte and Minneapolis, has drawn fierce criticism from local officials, civil rights advocates and congressional Democrats.
A massive winter storm that inundated large swaths of the United States over the weekend has now resulted in more than 30 deaths across the country, including one man who was found dead with a shovel still in his hand.

The Verona Police Department in New Jersey announced Monday that an unidentified 67-year-old man has died, after he was found unresponsive with a snow shovel in his hand.

Fatalities from Winter Storm Fern have also been reported in states spanning from Texas all the way to Massachusetts.

The treacherous weather began pounding parts of the South and the Plains on Friday, bringing ice, freezing rain and snow, before the storm spread eastward through Sunday night.

More than 525,000 people across the country were still without power as day broke on Tuesday in the east, with more than 100,000 customers out in Tennessee, Mississippi and Louisiana, each, according to PowerOutage.us.

They now face brutal cold temperatures with record lows forthcoming in several southern states.

That bitter cold is now expected to last throughout the week before another winter storm could hit the east coast.

'Dangerous wind chills as low as -50F will persist, and much below-normal temperatures may continue into early February,' the National Weather Service wrote on X.

'Potential is increasing for another significant winter storm to impact the eastern United States this coming weekend.'

Americans throughout the country struggled to dig out after a massive storm walloped the US over the weekend. A group of men are pictured here trying to help a stuck motorist in the snow in Louisville, Kentucky

An Architect of the Capitol worker is pictured clearing snow from the west front of the US Capitol ahead of another potential winter storm

Winter Storm Fern has resulted in more than 30 deaths, including elementary school teacher Rebecca Rauber, 28, and University of Michigan student 19-year-old Lucas Mattso

The warning comes as states across the country are already struggling to shovel out.

In Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, officials were forced on Monday to declare a state of emergency after 37 of its snowplows broke overnight, representing a large swath of the city's 95-snowplow fleet.

The heavy snow fall has made shoveling conditions difficult, resulting in some of the fatalities across the country, while others died of hypothermia and in sledding-related accidents.

In New York City, Mayor Zohran Mamdanis office said at least eight people were found dead outside as temperatures plunged between Saturday and Monday morning, though the cause of their deaths remained under investigation.

In Emporia, Kansas, police searching with bloodhounds found Rebecca Rauber, a 28-year-old teacher, dead and covered in snow. Police said she had was last seen leaving a bar without her coat and phone.

Police said snowplows backed into two people who died in Norwood, Massachusetts, and Dayton, Ohio. And authorities said two teenagers, one in Arkansas and another in Texas, were killed in sledding accidents.

The body of a missing University of Michigan student, identified as 19-year-old Lucas Mattson, was also recovered on Saturday.

He was last seen at around 1am local time on Friday walking alone 'without a coat,' , the Ann Arbor Police Department announced.

Meanwhile, in Mississippi, Timothy Steele, 66, died when an ice-laden tree limb fell through the roof of his mobile home, and in Louisiana 86-year-old Alvin Mayweather was found dead in his home along with at least one of his pets.

The father-of-two died of carbon monoxide poisoning, with authorities saying it is likely he kept his generator too close to his home, KSLA reports.

Brutal cold temperatures are expected to continue in the coming days. A couple is pictured here walking through inclement weather in New York City

Residents are seen digging out their cars in Boston following the major winter storm

A snowplow rigged to a garbage truck cleared a snow-covered street in New York City

Six others were killed when a private jet crashed at an airport in Maine on Sunday, taking the lives of Tara Arnold, 46; pilot Jacob Hosmer, 47, and event planner Shawna Collins.

In total, authorities in Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, New Jersey and South Carolina have since reported one weather-related death each, and two fatalities were reported in each of Arkansas, Massachusetts and Mississippi.

Pennsylvania, Texas and Louisiana reported three deaths each, and in Tennessee four people died as a result of the storm, while nine died in the state of New York.

And while states of emergency have come to an end in many states, the National Weather Service warns that a stretch of the US from Texas to New York will experience bone-chilling temperatures into Tuesday.

Areas as far south as the Florida panhandle and southern Georgia will see morning wild chills reach the teens and single digits, with prolonged exposure to this cold potentially causing hypothermia and frostbite to exposed skin within minutes.

The National Weather Service is warning that a stretch of the US from Texas to New York will experience bone-chilling temperatures into Tuesday

Hundreds of thousands of Americans remained without power overnight on Monday

States throughout the Gulf, including Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama, will see wild chills drop to 10 degrees below zero, cold enough to cause frostbite in just 30 minutes.

In the Midwest, parts of Ohio, Nebraska, and Minnesota are expected to experience wind chills hit between 30 and 45 degrees below zero, which would potentially make stepping outside deadly in less than 20 minutes.

By Thursday, a high-altitude disturbance is expected to move in from Canada, creating a strong surface low-pressure system that may bring even more snow to the east coast by the weekend, meteorologists say.

WSVN Meteorologist Dylan Federico also wrote on X, 'The cold coming this weekend is the real deal! The EURO is one of the coldest model runs Ive ever seen, with below-zero wind chills down to the Gulf Coast on Saturday morning!'

By Thursday, a high-altitude disturbance is expected to move in from Canada, creating a strong surface low-pressure system that may bring even more snow to the east coast by the weekend

The persistent power outages are only set to make conditions worse.

'We're about to freeze to death,' Donnie Albritton, who has been without power in Tennessee since Saturday, told WKRN.

'There is no way to get out and no end in sight,' he lamented. 'They're saying there are so many without power.'

Those seeking to get out of the area may also face problems, as more than 7,586 flights were delayed across the country on Monday with nearly 6,200 more flights canceled, according to flight tracker FlightAware.

As day broke on the east coast, more than 1,000 flights in the United States were already canceled on Tuesday.

US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy now says air travel is only expected to return to normal by Wednesday.
Scotland Yard's counter-terror chief has revealed they have stopped 19 'late-stage' UK attack plots in the last five years.

Assistant Commissioner Laurence Taylor described the interventions as 'goal-line saves' and said 1,000 dangerous extremists are currently being monitored.

He warned terror group ISIS has regrouped in the last six years since its leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi was killed in a US-led military operation in 2019.

Talking to The Crime Agents podcast, Mr Taylor said counter-terror police are currently juggling 800 cases with 75 per cent linked to Islamist terrorism.

'The threat that we saw 20 years ago has never gone away. It kind of ebbs and flows. In terms of capabilities overseas, the influence to get things done abroad, we've definitely seen an uptick in some of that,' he said.

'There's no question that their (ISIS) ambition has always been to attack the West. We know that their ambitions have grown and we are seeing people who are still intent on doing that sort of activity. It just has never gone away.

'I think at the moment we are probably in one of those more upward trajectories but the more activity we do, potentially we can disrupt that.'

The Manchester Synagogue attack in October was carried out by ISIS-supporter Jihad Al Shamie.

The 35-year-old deliberately crashed his car outside Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue and began knifing worshippers.

Scotland Yard's counter-terror chief Laurence Taylor has revealed they have stopped 19 'late-stage' UK attack plots in the last five years

The Assistant Commissioner warned terror group ISIS has regrouped in the last six years. The Manchester Synagogue attack in October was carried out by ISIS-supporter Jihad Al Shamie (pictured)

Melvin Cravitz and Adrian Daulby were tragically killed in the attack, which happened on Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar.

Mr Taylor said no other plots had been foiled since that attack, but said the threats Britain faces are 'broad, complex, and some of those traditional threats still exist and are challenging for us'.

He said the Government's deradicalisation programme, Prevent, is expected to have 10,000 referrals this year, but Mr Taylor doesn't believe it 'has got the capacity to deal with the volume of things that are going through it now'.

'Prevent was set up to deal predominantly with Islamist ideologies and also now looks at extreme right wing. If you don't have an ideology or you've got mixed ideologies, Prevent is not the right place for you. And that's one of the challenges,' he said.

Online radicalisation is a growing challenge for counter-terror police, and Mr Taylor took aim at X and Meta bosses Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg for 'not doing nearly enough' in stopping algorithms 'pumping' extremist content.

He admitted he has no idea what his own two sons are looking at on Tiktok and Snapchat 'so how do we keep our young people safe online?'.

'It comes down to what their moral perspective is, how they're running their business,' he said.

'I would put huge pressure on tech bosses to manage this more effectively. And we need to. But we also need laws to do this.'

Last May, Police and MI5 foiled a suspected plot by Iranian terrorists to carry out a major attack in Britain.

Counter-terror officers and Special Forces raided two suspected Iranian cells in a 'highly significant' operation to tackle growing activity by the hostile state in the UK.

Sources said the alleged plot to target a UK premises was a 'major attack' that could have led to an imminent threat to life.

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said that the arrests 'reflect some of the biggest counter-state threat and counter-terrorism operations we have seen in recent years'.
Horrifying footage shows the barbaric punishment torture by Putin commanders for Russian soldiers accused of desertion and failing to follow orders.

One mutinous fighter was seen taped upside down to a tree in the biting cold near the frontline.

Another - also tethered to a tree - was forced to eat snow by his superior officer.

The frightened and shaking men wore only underwear after being stripped of their winter uniforms.

Their foul-mouthed commander is heard barking: '[They] wanted to **** off from their positions, not follow orders.'

Forcing snow into the mouth of the refusenik, the raging officer says: 'Eat, you ****ing *****.'

One of the taped men pleads in desperation: 'I'm sorry, it won't happen again.'

He is told by the commander: 'You need to work, not **** off. Did I tell you where to go?'

The men were subjected to the horrific torture in the biting cold

One mutinous fighter was seen taped upside down to a tree in the biting cold near the frontline

The reply is: 'I'm sorry, please.'

The Putin officer mocks their male sexuality, trolling them: 'You ****ing f*****s, **** off!'

The sickening punishments come as peace talks are underway in the war, without a clear signal from Putin that he intends to halt his almost four year invasion of Ukraine.

'Russia turns people into cattle, because only animals obey orders without saying a word. Orwell's farmyard - this is Putin's Russia,' said Ukraine channel Butusov Plus.

Another channel War Archive states: 'In the video, a Russian commander uses 'updated' methods of torture on two occupiers who refused to take part in an assault.'

Nevzorov Telegram channel posted: 'The [Russian] generals continue to 'shout and drive forward'.

'Therefore, local commanders have to invent new types of torture for their personnel.'

This came as sickening new Russian overnight strikes left 80 per cent of Ukraine's second city Kharkiv city and the surrounding region without power in blistering winter cold.

'There was no electricity last night, everything was knocked out,' said one resident.

'What could we do? It's almost 24 hours now, and it's -18C outside.'

Another - also tethered to a tree - was forced to eat snow by his superior officer

One man was stripped down to his underwear

The other was seen with a massive bruise across his arm

Governor Oleh Syniehubov said: 'Our energy system came under attack and there was quite serious damage.

'All crews are at work to eliminate all the negative consequences quickly.

'About 80% of the city of Kharkiv and Kharkiv region is without electricity.'

Brutal new strikes on Black Sea port Odesa left 22 people injured, said officials.

There were fears people were trapped after a residential building was hit.

One was reported to be an 86 year old woman.

Ukrainian war reporter Denis Kazansky posted: 'At night, Russian Nazis carried out attacks on residential buildings in Odesa.

'An entire entrance was destroyed, with people trapped under the rubble.

'Another ritualistic, demonstrative murder. They call Odesa a '"Russian city" and are deliberately exterminating its residents.'

Serhiy Lysak, head of Odesa's military administration said: 'The shelling damaged infrastructure facilities, residential buildings, a kindergarten, a store, and a construction site. Twenty-two people were injured.'
A mayor in the Philippines miraculously survived an attempted homicide after assassins blasted his vehicle with a rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) and a machine gun.

The attack was the third attempt on Mayor Akmad Mitra Ampatuan's life in the past five years, according to local media.

Dramatic CCTV footage in the Shariff Aguak municipality, in the province of Maguindanao del Sur, shows the rocket attack on Mayor Ampatuan's vehicle, which also contained several of his security personnel.

The footage shows a black car carrying the mayor slowly moving along a road, as two assassins quickly exit a white car on the opposite side of the street.

The assailants - one armed with with an RPG on his shoulder, the other carrying a machine gun - suddenly launched their attack on the black vehicle, producing a loud explosion.

Flames can be seen briefly engulfing the mayor's car before it sped away from the scene.

The shockwaves from the RPG's firing were so severe that the security camera shook violently.

Mayor Ampatuan was not injured in the assassination attempt, but two of his security guards were wounded.

The vehicle, equipped with bulletproof features, largely withstood the explosion, though post-attack images show partial damage to its rear bumper and side.

Dramatic video footage shows the door open of a white car carrying assassins, before their attempted attack on the mayor in the black vehicle

The assailants - one armed with with an RPG on his shoulder, the carrying a machine gun - suddenly launched their attack on the black vehicle, producing a loud explosion

Flames and smoke can be seen briefly engulfing the mayor's car as he made his escape from the scene

Police and army personnel were alerted of the attempted assassination and three out of four suspects were killed in a shootout, according to the Philippine News Agency (PNA).

Officers are understood to be investigating the possibility of a contract killing.

In a press conference following the attack, Mayor Ampatuan said: 'I didnt expect them to use such large firearms.

'An RPG is not a weapon an ordinary person would use. This was a professional crime.'

He added: 'I have some suspicions about who might want to kill me, but I cannot confirm the attackers identities or motives.'

While PNA reports that this is the third attempted homicide over the past five years, the Philippine Daily Inquirer said an attempt was first made on Mayor Ampatuan's life in 2010, in Guindulungan town of Maguindanao del Sur.

Subsequent attempts also apparently took place in Shariff Aguak, in 2014 and 2019, according to the newspaper.

The latest incident occurred at 6.30am local time on January 25, near the intersection of the national highway and the route leading to the Maguindanao del Sur Provincial Police Office headquarters.

The mayor's backup vehicle, a pickup, was also hit by bullets in the attack.

'The mayor is safe,' Anwar Kuit Emblawa, the mayors executive assistant, told reporters.

The motive behind the latest attack remains unknown as police investigate.

Mayor Akmad Mitra Ampatuan says he has several survived assassination attempts before

The vehicle, equipped with bulletproof features, largely withstood the explosion

Post-attack images show partial damage to its rear bumper and side

Police and army personnel were alerted of the attempted assassination and three out of four suspects were killed in a shootout, according to the Philippine News Agency

The shockwaves from the RPG's firing were so severe that the security camera shook violently

In January last year, the Philippine president, Ferdinand Marcos Jr, removed his vice-president from the national security council (NSC) after she allegedly plotted to kill him.

It came after a press conference on November 23, 2024, where Sara Duterte said that she had spoken to an assassin and instructed him to kill Marcos, his wife, and the speaker of the Philippine House, if she were to be killed.

'I have talked to a person. I said, if I get killed, go kill BBM (Marcos), (first lady) Liza Araneta, and (Speaker) Martin Romualdez. No joke. No joke,' Duterte said in the profanity-laden briefing. 'I said, do not stop until you kill them, and then he said yes.'

She later claimed the comments were misinterpreted.

After dropping Duterte, Marcos said the reorganisation of the NSC was needed to 'ensure that its council members uphold and protect national security and sovereignty'.

Duterte, the daughter of former President Rodrigo Duterte, was impeached last February after she was accused of misusing public funds, amassing unusual wealth and threatening to kill Marcos, the first lady, and the Speaker.

But she scored a big legal win in July when the Supreme Court struck down the impeachment complaint against her, ruling that it was unconstitutional.

The court said it was not absolving Duterte of the charges, but the ruling may nevertheless be a huge boost for her political ambitions.

She is widely seen as a strong contender for the 2028 presidency, which Marcos cannot contest due to a single-term limit for Philippine presidents, but an impeachment trial conviction would have seen her banned from office for life.
The owner of Revolution bars has announced the closure of 21 venues, axing 591 jobs after the parent company went into administration.

Revel Collective owns the 62 bars in the UK, employing 2,200 people across the country in their chains Revolution Bars, Revolucion de Cuba and Peach Pubs.

Administrators have said they will shut 14 Revolution Bars venues, six Revolucion de Cuba sites and one pub under its Peach Pubs division 'with immediate effect'.

It came as administrators from FTI Consulting confirmed a pair of deals which will secure the future of 41 sites and 1,582 jobs which were previously at risk.

The Revolution and Revolucion de Cuba brands and assets have been bought by Neos Hospitality Group, which runs the Barbara's Bier Haus and Bonnie Rogues brands.

Meanwhile, the remaining Peach Pubs business has been bought by a newly-formed group, Coral Pub Company.

The company had put itself up for sale last October after facing what it called 'a continued period of external challenges' and blamed Labour's 'regressive' budget for its difficulties.

Pubs are facing massive increases in business rates this April as pandemic relief measures have ended, a new revaluation of properties is projected to put up rateable values and there are new changes to how business rates are calculated.

14 Revolution bars, affectionately known as 'Revs' will be closed, as well as six Revolucion de Cuba sites and one pub under its Peach Pubs division - axing 591 jobs

Administrators confirmed that Neos Hospitality Group will secure 41 bars and the Coral Pub Company will take up the remaining pub venues

Revel Collective has been suspended from trading on London's junior AIM stock exchange.

The company blamed 'challenging economic conditions' and criticised Rachel Reeves' first Labour budget in 2024 when it was put up for sale last autumn.

This had increased National Insurance contributions from employers and raised the minimum wage.

They also criticised a hike in duties on spirits which they said will cost the company an extra 4million a year.

The firm had previously tried to turn itself around by shutting 15 loss-making bars but this was not enough to revive itself.

Bosses at the firm have previously flagged that sales have been weaker than expected, as younger customers reined in their spending.

A statement from the company confirmed stakeholders would be wiped out on their investments and that it was entering administration to 'protect creditors' like banks.

The business's shares remain suspended on the AIM exchange and are expected to be cancelled on February 27 - one month after the appointment of administrators - unless a replacement Nominated Adviser is appointed. There is 'no current intention' to do this, however, the firm said.

Despite this, the company said it had found 'a significant number' of buyers in December, including bar and club owner Neos Hospitality which has now come through.

Hospitality firm closures soared at the end of 2025, with 382 companies closing down in the last three months of the year - more than four each day, according to consumer research firm NIQ.

There were 98,914 hospitality sites left in the UK as the year ended.

Karl Chessell, director of hospitality operators and food at NIQ said 'relentless increases in operating costs' are punishing the industry.

The government is now expected to water down the planned changes for business rates on pubs which otherwise could have seen mass closures, industry groups warned.

Revolution bars are known for their range of cocktails and flavoured vodka shots, and late-night party atmosphere.
China's highest-ranking general was purged by President Xi after a 'gunfight in Beijing', a source has claimed.

Zhang Youxia, once considered Mr Xi's most trusted confidant, is said to have 'leaked nuclear secrets to the US' ahead of his removal last week.

The crackdown formed part of a broader anti-corruption drive that has punished more than 200,000 officials since the president came to power in 2012.

Another ruling member of the People's Liberation Army (PLA), Liu Zhenli, was also placed under investigation by China's Communist Party.

It has now emerged Gen Zhang's removal came as he allegedly handed over essential information on China's nuclear weapons to the US.

Associate Professor Chong Ja Ian, from the National University of Singapore, commented on speculation over the 75-year-old's downfall.

He told the BBC: 'Everything from leaking nuclear secrets to the United States to plotting a coup and factional infighting. There are even rumours of a gunfight in Beijing.

'But Zhang and Liu's downfall along with the wild speculation highlight two things: that Xi remains unassailable and there are significant limits to information in Beijing which fuels uncertainty and feeds this speculation.'

Gen Zhang served in the Vietnam War and is a childhood friend of President Xi

President Xi (pictured) achieved total control of China's armed forces after removing a top general over alleged 'violations of discipline and law'

Gen Zhang served as operational leader of the PLA and a member of the ruling politburo before the Central Military Commission (CMC) launched an investigation into him on Saturday.

The military legislative body only vaguely described Zhang's dismissal - citing violations of discipline and state law - but insiders pulled back the curtains on the severity of his alleged betrayals.

Sources also told The Wall Street Journal they had gathered information about an alleged leak of military secrets at a private briefing about the investigation over the weekend.

Aside from allegedly having loose lips with the country's nuclear secrets, he was also accused of trying to undermine the Communist Party's unity through 'political cliques' and of abusing his authority.

Gen Zhang was also said to have accepted bribes for official acts, including the promotion of former Defense Minister Li Shangfu - who was removed from his position in 2023 for corruption and purged from the party the following year.

Much of the bombshell evidence gathered against Gen Zhang was said to have come from Gu Jun, who formerly managed the China National Nuclear Corp.

This state-owned corporation oversees the nation's civil and military nuclear programs.

Mr Gu is also being looked into for party discipline and state law violations.

'There is no way they could pull off the Taiwan contingency with no senior leaders in charge,' expert Lyle Morris said - pictured is the city centre of capital Taipei

At the closed-door Saturday meeting, authorities allegedly revealed the investigation into Gu linked Zhang to a nuclear data breach.

But the details of said infringement were not revealed, sources said.

The PLA Daily said the removal showed the Communist Party's 'zero tolerance' approach to 'punishing corruption no matter who it is or how high their position'.

Experts say the removal of Gen Zhang, a childhood friend of President Xi, is likely to delay any attempt to seize Taiwan by force.

The general was thought of as central to modernisation efforts in the Chinese armed forces given his role as senior vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC).

Lyle Morris, a senior fellow at the Asia Society Policy Institute, a Washington-based think tank, likened President Xi's actions to a 'complete cleaning of the house... the biggest purge in Chinese history since 1949'.

Mr Morris added the removal could leave the PLA in 'disarray'.

He told The Telegraph: 'We can all sleep soundly for years.

Defense Minister Li Shangfu was removed from his position in 2023 after he was investigated for corruption

'There is no way they could pull off the Taiwan contingency with no senior leaders in charge.'

The Communist Party expelled the other vice chair of the commission, He Weidong, last October and replaced him with commission member Zhang Shengmin.

And in 2024, the party expelled two former defence ministers over corruption charges.

The CMC has now been reduced to its smallest size in history, at just two members - including Mr Xi and Zhang Shengmin, the military's anti-corruption watchdog who was promoted to CMC vice-chair in October.

Rumours circulated over the fate of Generals Zhang and Liu on Tuesday after they were absent from a televised party seminar.

One source familiar with the case told the South China Morning Post that General Zhang had been accused of corruption, including failing to control his own family members.

Christopher K Johnson, a former CIA analyst who follows elite Chinese politics, said Beijing is capable of pumping out impressive, hi-tech weaponary.

However, he said the country's weakness is its lack of 'software' able to conduct large-scale military manoeuvres.

But Mr Morris added the removals in fact suggested President Xi has a 'lot of support in the party and is fully in charge'.

Last year, rumours swirled in Beijing of a power struggle between Zhang and Xi.

Gen Zhang was said to be less bullish than President Xi about China's prospects of success in seizing Taiwan.
A child and two adults have been taken to hospital after a fire engulfed a two-storey home in London.

About 70 firefighters and ten engines were sent to the scene of the blaze in Morden, south-west London, shortly after 4am on Tuesday morning.

The fire had ripped through the house's ground and first floor as well as causing its roof to collapse.

Pictures from the scene show the home ruined, with smoke rising from a large hole at the top of the property and red embers still alight.

One woman, a man and a boy were taken to hospital for treatment after suffering smoke inhalation, the London Fire Brigade (LFB) said in a statement.

Crews from eight fire stations across London spent more than two hours getting the inferno under control. They also managed to cool a gas cylinder, which could have exploded amid the dangerously high temperatures caused by the flames.

The cause of the blaze is currently unknown, and LFB is investigating.

'Ten fire engines and around 70 firefighters were called to a house fire on Halesowen Road in Morden,' London Fire Brigade said.

A child and two adults have been rushed to hospital after a fire engulfed a two-storey home in Morden, south-west London

About 70 firefighters and ten engines were sent to the scene of the blaze shortly after 4am on Tuesday morning

One woman, a man and a boy were taken to hospital to recover from smoke inhalation

'The ground floor, first floor and roof of a two-storey end-of-terrace house were destroyed by fire.

'One woman, one man and a boy were suffering from smoke inhalation and were treated on scene by London Ambulance Service and taken to hospital.

'Firefighters used a 32-metre turntable ladder as a water tower to extinguish the fire from above. Crews also cooled one 15 kg gas cylinder to an ambient temperature, as some cylinders can explode when exposed to heat.

'It was removed and placed in a safe location.'

The London Ambulance Service said: 'We were called at 4.19am today (January 27) to reports of a fire in Halesowen Road, Morden.

'We sent two ambulance crews, a paramedic in a fast response team, an incident response officer and our Hazardous Area Response Team to the scene. The first paramedic arrived in less than five minutes.

'We treated three patients at the scene and took them all to hospital.'

The Fire Brigade received 17 calls from concerned locals about the fire during the early hours of Tuesday morning with crews from Sutton, Mitcham, Wimbledon, New Malden, Wallington, Tooting and Norbury called into action.

The Metropolitan Police were contacted for comment by the Daily Mail.
A 'narco submarine' carrying a record haul of cocaine believed to be worth 520million has been seized while heading to Europe.

Portuguese authorities on Monday said they had intercepted nearly nine tonnes of narcotics 'in recent days' some 265 miles off the the Azores archipelago in the North Atlantic.

A police spokesperson called the operation 'the biggest seizure of cocaine ever in Portugal,' and said officers were assisted by the navy and air force, as well as UK and US authorities, in difficult weather conditions.

The submersible eventually sank with 35 of the 300 packages of drugs to the bottom of the ocean as Portuguese police attempted to board it.

The submarine came from Latin America and had three Colombians and a Venezuelan on board. All four were arrested.

Dramatic videos shared by Portuguese police show officers navigating rough seas as they try to reach the submersible.

Images also show the inside of the vessel, as well as dozens of bales of cocaine stacked next to each other after they were seized by police.

In a statement, Portuguese police said: 'The Policia Judiciaria (PJ), through the National Unit for Combating Drug Trafficking, carried out in recent days, jointly with the Navy and the Air Force, an operation to combat transcontinental drug trafficking by sea, during which it was possible to locate and intercept, on the high seas, a semi-submersible vessel used to transport several tons of cocaine.

Portuguese authorities have seized a record haul of cocaine from a semi-submersible craft intercepted off the Azores archipelago

This handout picture released on January 26, 2026 by the Portugal's Air Force shows an semi-submersible craft carrying cocaine intercepted off the Azores archipelago by the Portuguese authorities during an operation assisted by Portugal's navy and air force, as well as the UK and US authorities

Police officers stand near packs of cocaine after the massive haul of drugs was seized by Portuguese forces

'Inside the vessel, which originated in Latin America and was crewed by four foreign nationals, 300 bales of cocaine were being transported.'

The police force added that an investigation is underway 'in coordination with partner authorities from ither countries.'

The use of semi-submersible vessels have been widely used in Colombia and other parts of South and Central America to transport massive hauls of drugs for several decades, but the vehicles were not detected in Europe until recent years.

The first narco-sub found in European waters was recovered in Galicia, Spain in 2019.

The seizure of the massive cocaine haul in European waters comes just days after the US military said it had carried out a deadly strike on a vessel accused of trafficking drugs in the eastern Pacific Ocean.

US Southern Command on Friday said on social media that the boat was 'engaged in narco-trafficking operations' and that the strike killed two people and left one survivor.

It said it notified the Coast Guard to launch search and rescue operations for that person.

A video accompanying the post announcing the latest strike shows a boat moving through the water before exploding in flames.

The submarine came from Latin America and had three Colombians and a Venezuelan on board

Images shared by police showed dozens of bales of cocaine stacked next to each other after they were seized

Dramatic videos also show officers navigating rough seas as they try to reach the submersible

The US military has focused lately on seizing sanctioned oil tankers with connections to Venezuela since the Trump administration launched an audacious raid to capture Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and bring him to New York to face drug trafficking charges.

With the latest military action, there have been 36 known strikes against alleged drug smuggling boats in South American waters since early September that killed at least 117 people, according to announcements from the US military and Trump. The majority of those of strikes have occurred in the Caribbean Sea.

The last reported boat strikes occurred in late December, when the military said it struck five alleged drug-smuggling boats over two days, killing a total of eight people while others jumped overboard. Days later, the Coast Guard suspended its search.

The US conducted a large-scale operation in Caracas, the capital of Venezuela, on Jan. 3 that led to the capture of Maduro and his wife, who were then flown to New York to face federal drug trafficking charges.

Maduro, before his capture, said the US military operations were a thinly veiled effort to oust him from power.

President Donald Trump has repeatedly said that the US strikes targeting alleged smugglers are having an enormous impact on slowing drug trafficking routes in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific.

'We've stopped  virtually stopped almost 100% of all drugs coming in by water,' Trump said in remarks on Thursday at the World Economic Forum at Davos.
Ivor Perl was just a boy of 12 when he arrived at the gates of Auschwitz-Birkenau, a place he still views as 'literally hell on earth'.

He endured the unimaginable pain of knowing his parents and seven of his siblings were murdered by the Nazis - and in an incredible tale of survival, which has now been turned into a feature-length animation  Ivor narrowly cheated death several times before being liberated by the Allies.

The horrific memories of what he experienced have never left the Hungarian-born survivor - and in the face of rising antisemitism he believes the lessons of history are more urgent than ever.

But in a sad indictment on the state of the world, the 93-year-old told Daily Mail ahead of today's Holocaust Memorial Day (HMD): 'Humanity doesn't seem to have learnt anything'.

HMD is marked every year in the UK on January 27, the day Auschwitz was liberated in 1945, to commemorate the six million Jewish victims of the Holocaust, the millions more murdered under Nazi persecution, as well as victims of genocides in Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia and Darfur.

More than 50 years passed before Ivor felt he could finally tell others about what had happened to him. He has since dedicated his life to Holocaust education, giving more than 100 talks to schools and other organisations around the country.

But for all of his efforts  which earned him a British Empire Medal in 2015  Ivor believes far more still needs to be done.

Speaking from his home in north-west London, he said: 'The world still hasn't learned. Some would say we talk too much about the Holocaust, but I would say we haven't spoken enough.

In a sad indictment on the state of the world, the 93-year-old told Daily Mail ahead of today's Holocaust Memorial Day (HMD): 'Humanity doesn't seem to have learnt anything'

A photograph of Ivor Perl aged 14, which was taken just after his liberation from Auschwitz

'When it comes to the Holocaust there could never be overkill, there could never be enough that we could say about it.

'You would think the world would have changed by now, but it hasn't.

'The Holocaust is something far wider than Jews and non-Jews. When society deals with hatred, it's the whole of humanity that suffers.

'Hatred is something that never begins and ends against just one group.'

Ivor's comments come as a damning report published earlier this month revealed the number of schools commemorating the Holocaust has more than halved since the October 7 attacks on Israel.

In 2023, more than 2,000 secondary schools around the UK had signed up to events commemorating HMD, according to the data from the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust. Until that year, the number of participating schools had increased annually since 2019.

But since the Hamas terrorist attacks two years ago, the number of participating schools fell to fewer than 1,200 in 2024 and 854 in 2025  a reduction of nearly 60 per cent.

Commenting on the figures, Sir Ephraim Mirvis, the Chief Rabbi, said he feared teachers were following 'the path of least resistance' by choosing to not mark HMD in the face of opposition from parents and pupils.

Animator Zoom Rockman has turned Ivor Perl's story of survival into a feature-length film, which is now available to stream on ITVX

Writing recently in The Sunday Times, he said: 'Holocaust Memorial Day is not a platform for political debate. It is not an endorsement of any government, perspective or conflict. It is an act of human memory.'

More than 1,200 people were massacred on October 7, 2023, when Hamas-led militants stormed into Israel, prompting a war in Gaza.

'I fear for what will happen this year,' Mirvis wrote. 'For if we cannot teach our children to remember the past with integrity and resolve, then we must ask ourselves what kind of future they will inherit.'

Following these comments, Ivor was asked what his greatest fear is for the next generation  and he sounded saddened by his own thoughts.

'I'm ashamed to say this, but [when October 7 happened] I kept on thinking to myself, "Ivor, here we go again". We can't let that happen.'

Born as Yitzchak Perlmutter in Mako, Hungary in 1932, Ivor was just a youngster when the Nazis upended his family life as he knew it.

His father and older brother were the first to be taken away to work as forced labourers, while he and his siblings moved into a ghetto with their mother.

Shortly afterwards they were told they would be sent east on a transport to work as farm labourers.

Ivor Perl, 93, said the Holocaust is 'something you could never exaggerate' and that he would never be able to put into words everything he witnessed - 'because to do so would be cruel'

But after enduring a nightmare journey packed into cattle-trucks, Ivor and his family arrived at their destination in late April 1944 to learn they had actually been taken to the notorious Nazi death camp Auschwitz.

It was here at the purpose-built labour and killing factory in Poland that 1.1million people perished, including 1 million Jews from across central and Eastern Europe. Overall, six million Jews were murdered at the hands of the Nazis.

Ivor, now known as number 112021, cheated death many times, including narrowly escaping the clutches of Dr Josef Mengele  notorious for his chilling human experiments  as well as evading selection for the gas chambers, contracting deadly typhus and surviving a 500-mile death march to Kaufering and Dachau.

By the time he was liberated, Ivor's parents and seven of his siblings had been murdered. Only he and his brother, Alec, survived, with the pair arriving in England with 'The Boys', a group of nearly 800 orphaned child survivors of the Holocaust who were granted asylum by the British government in the summer of 1945.

Ivor made a new life for himself. At the age of 18, he met his future wife, Rhoda and after he set up his own business manufacturing clothes in 1953, the couple married and went on to have four children.

He is now a proud grandfather of four and great-grandfather of six.

Of everything he experienced, Ivor says it was the loss of his mother that left the greatest void.

He revealed in his poignant memoir, Chicken Soup Under The Tree, published in 2023 how he had held her hand as they arrived at Auschwitz, but she pushed him away and urged him to go with his older brothers, who were ordered to the other side of the camp.

Survivor is based on the true-life experiences of Ivor Perl, who was just a boy of 12 when he arrived at Auschwitz in 1944

The youngster from Mako, Hungary, was known as number 112021 during his time in the camp

Perl meets the puppet version of himself as used in Zoom Rockman's animation film Survivor

It was an act that ultimately saved his life, but it would also prove to be the last time he ever saw her. He revealed that he thinks of her still every day.

'One could never, ever truly describe what actually happened at Auschwitz' recalled Ivor. 'The Holocaust is something you could never exaggerate. I could never truly talk about everything I witnessed because to do so would be cruel.

'It was so horrific that death was a welcome end, rather than something we feared.'

Ivor's story has since been turned into an emotionally-charged live action animation, Survivor, which is now available to stream on ITVX.

Animator Zoom Rockman, 25, painstakingly spent a year hand-drawing all the characters in the film, which are based on hundreds of photographs of real inmates at Auschwitz taken during the Second World War. The attention to detail extends to all locations, events and even conversations based on the true-life experiences of Ivor, as detailed in his memoir.

The film's beautifully haunting soundtrack has been composed by Erran Baron Cohen, the older brother of actor Sacha Baron Cohen, while Rockman's author mother Kate Lennard penned the screenplay.

Rockman has long been earning a name for himself as an artist and cartoonist. At the age of 12 he became the youngest artist in Beano's history after his comic strip, Skanky Pigeon, was commissioned by the magazine.

He went on to become a satirical cartoonist with Private Eye for six years, until 2023.

Ivor, pictured with King Charles, then Prince of Wales in 2017, did not open up about his experiences for 50 years

It was here at Auschwitz in Poland that 1.1 million people perished, including one million Jews from across central and eastern Europe

Both Rockman and Ivor believe the film has provided a way for Gen Z and younger to become more 'engaged' with the Holocaust  a goal that has become all the more imperative as numbers of first-hand witnesses dwindle.

Speaking to Daily Mail previously, Rockman was adamant the film would be a work of Holocaust fact, not fiction.

He explained: 'At school, we were always told that we were the last generation who were going to meet Holocaust survivors.

'I was equally aware of the attitudes, the Holocaust denial that is out there, especially on the internet. It feels like the trend is towards more denialism and misrepresentation as we go on.

'At the same time we have a growing amount of Holocaust fiction, where the characters and events have been imagined - but if you do the research, it's all there, the absolute horror of it. I didn't see a need to make anything up.'

When he first showed the finished result to Ivor, the Holocaust survivor scrawled a few but poignantly-laden words on a private note which he passed to Rockman.

It simply said: 'Dear Zoom, now I know why I survived,' the artist revealed.

When asked again what he meant by that, Ivor explained he believes the film goes beyond being just about a young Jewish boy - and sends a message to the world as a whole.

He said: 'At my age I think to myself, why am I here now, why did I survive? What am I here for? But when I saw the film, I thought maybe that was the reason.

'Perhaps people will see it and realise what can happen to society  to humanity. They will watch it and know this is what happens when they lose control of themselves.'

Survivor is available to stream on ITVX.
The Swiss bar owners facing prison following the New Year fire in which 40 people died have firmly blamed their young staff for causing it and blocking an escape exit, it emerged today.

Jacques Moretti, 49, and his wife Jessica Moretti, 40, are both currently under judicial supervision following the inferno during January 1st festivities at Le Constellation in the ski resort of Crans-Montana.

The French nationals are being questioned by prosecutors constantly and leaked interview records point to them saying, 'It's not us, it's the others', Le Parisien reported on Tuesday.

The Moretti's defence strategy during some 20 hours of interrogation by three prosecutors was  in particular  to blame waitress Cyane Panine, 24, for getting on to the shoulders of a colleague while brandishing two champagne bottles with lit sparklers inside.

Cyane, who died in the fire, was wearing a promotional crash helmet, and did not see the pyrotechnics lighting up the bar's basement ceiling, which was covered in highly flammable foam.

Referring to the champagne sparklers stunt  which was filmed  Jacques Moretti told the enquiry that it was 'Cyane's show'.

'I didn't forbid her from doing that,' he told prosecutors, adding: 'I didn't make her pay attention to safety instructions. We didn't see the danger. Cyane liked doing that  it was a show, she liked to be part of the show.'

Jessica Moretti, who was at the same hearing on January 20th, said: 'Cyane liked to deliver these bottles  she did it of her own accord.

The Moretti's defence strategy during some 20 hours of interrogation by three prosecutors was  in particular  to blame waitress Cyane Panine (pictured) for the fire

Cyane, 24, was filmed wearing the crash helmet from Dom Perignon, the Champagne brand, as she was lifted onto the shoulders of Mateo Lesguer, 23, the in-house DJ

The French owners of Le Constellation  Jacques and Jessica Moretti (both pictured)  face charges of manslaughter, bodily harm and arson, all by negligence

'If I had thought there was the slightest risk, I would have forbidden it. In ten years of running the business, I never thought there could be any danger.'

The family of Cyane, also a French national, are among those who have vehemently denied the Moretti's claims, and they are supported by witnesses who survived the blaze.

They say it was Jessica Moretti, the manager on the night, who sent Cyane out with the bottles, and encouraged her to perform the stunt using a helmet provided by Dom Perignon, the champagne house.

Regarding fire safety, Jacques Moretti told the enquiry: 'There was no training, but employees were told what steps to take in case of fire when they were shown around the premises.

'Evacuate the customers, raise the alarm, and call the fire department,' he said, adding: 'And of course, if they had time, use the fire extinguishers to put out the fire.'

When told that one employee, referred to only as L, had told the enquiry that he had no idea where the extinguishers were kept, Jacques Moretti replied: 'The staff has several shifts, and maybe I forgot to give this information to L, but it was going to be passed on at some point. Maybe I forgot.'

Both Morettis also blamed an unidentified staff member for locking an escape door in the basement.

Cyane Panine was among those who were found dying from smoke inhalation behind the door, after it was finally forced open.

A dramatic video captured the moment the ceiling of a Swiss ski bar caught fire

Footage shows an individual desperately trying to extinguish the fire, but within seconds it takes hold, erupting into a deadly fireball that engulfed the packed bar

'The door was always open,' Jessica Moretti told the enquiry. 'There isn't a day that goes by that I don't wonder why that door was closed that night. We always said that the door was always open, and it was taken for granted.'

In turn, Jacques Moretti said: 'After the tragedy, we learned that an employee delivered ice cubes to the Constellation and, without understanding why, closed the latch at the top of the door.'

Jacques Moretti said he later sent a text message to this employee, saying: 'You shouldn't run away, you should stay here and take responsibility.'

When contacted by Le Parisien, the staff member concerned vehemently denied all wrongdoing, saying: 'I didn't close a door that was already locked.'

Regarding the inflammable foam  which was installed at Le Constellation during renovations in 2015  Jacques Moretti said: 'The fire chief and the fire captain approved it.'

Video is said to exist showing Jessica Moretti escaping from the New Year fire with the cash register under her arm, while ignoring victims.

She told the enquiry: 'I accept what's being said about us, even if it's false. It's nothing compared to what the families are going through. We worked hard and tirelessly. We always did what was asked of us.'

When questioned about the extremely young age of those admitted to the bar on New Year's Eve  one boy who died was just 14  Jessica Moretti said: 'We're not infallible. I've thought about it a lot. Maybe there were fake IDs.

High quality photographs show the very first moments of the Swiss Constellation Bar fire in Crans-Montana

Police officers inspect the area where a fire broke out at the Le Constellation bar and lounge leaving people dead and injured, during New Year's celebration, in Crans-Montana, Swiss Alps, Switzerland, Thursday, January 1, 2026

'Perhaps some slipped through the security guard's net. Perhaps some entered during the fire when the security guard was occupied elsewhere.'

The Morettis highlighted how much they had suffered, with Jacques Moretti telling prosecutors: 'We are also victims, but not to the same degree. Losing a child is the worst thing that can happen, and I wanted to say that.'

Jacques Moretti, an ex-pimp who has spent time in prison in France, was released from his remand cell at the weekend, and is currently being supervised by police, along with his wife.

Both face trial for 'manslaughter by negligence, causing injury by negligence, and causing arson by negligence' in relation to the 40 deaths, and the severe burning of 116 others.

The Morettis, who are originally from the Mediterranean island of Corsica, deny any criminal or civil wrongdoing in relation to the fire.

Both are considered a flight risk by the Swiss authorities, but have been allowed to stay at home to look after their two children.

They have to wear electronic tags, have had their passports confiscated, and have to report to a police station every three days.

The investigation into the fire continues.
Andy Burnham accused No10 of lying about the by-election spat today as the Labour revolt against Keir Starmer mounts.

The Greater Manchester mayor said claims he had been told that the party's ruling national executive committee would reject his bid to stand in the Commons contest were 'simply not true'.

Downing Street sources have been briefing that Mr Burnham went ahead with a formal application to be the Gorton & Denton candidate on Saturday despite the warning.

Sir Keir has dismissed calls from more than 50 MPs for a rethink of the decision, with allies saying the issue is 'done and dusted'.

Meanwhile, tensions have been rising with unions after the new head of Unison Andrea Egan called for a lurch to the Left. She warned that the party 'cannot allow those currently in charge to take us down with them'.

There are signs that Angela Rayner is positioning for a tilt at the top job after she gave a speech last night insisting the party has to stop blundering and be 'unapologetically Labour'.

Senior figures acknowledge that Labour is staring down the barrel of losing Gorton & Denton in the contest - being rushed through on February 26.

Reform and the Greens are both bullish about their chances, despite former MP Andrew Gwynne having secured a 13,000 majority in 2024.

Having barred Mr Burnham, Labour looks to be struggling to find a big name to be its candidate. Manchester council leader Bev Craig ruled herself out last night.

However, the PM has sounded defiance, stressing that Mr Burnham was refused permission because he would have triggered an election for Manchester mayor, rather than due to the threat of a leadership challenge.

Keir Starmer has dismissed Labour demands for a rethink on blocking rival Andy Burnham from standing in a crucial by-election

Having barred Mr Burnham, Labour looks to be struggling to find a big name to be its candidate

Andy Burnham said claims he had been told that the party's ruling national executive committee would reject his bid to stand in the Commons contest were 'simply not true'

Sir Keir told comedian Matt Forde's podcast last night: 'What the NEC decided was we didn't want to open up another front for a fight we didn't have to have, which was the mayoralty in Greater Manchester  it wasn't actually about the individual at all.'

A source close to the PM told ITV News that Mr Burnham had been warned of the mood on the NEC before his application was made.

However, the mayor publicly disputed that today in a post on X. And a source told ITV: 'Andy Burnham is seeking an urgent call with No 10 about the briefing which he says is untrue and breaks a commitment given to him by the PM.'

Touring broadcast studios this morning, Housing Secretary Steve Reed insisted the decision was 'done and dusted'.

'Labour's ruling National Executive Committee took a decision overwhelmingly, eight to one, that Andy should stay as mayor of Manchester because he was elected only two years ago to serve a four-year term,' he said.

'He made a commitment to serve that four-year term, and it's reasonable that the people of Manchester should have him continuing doing, frankly, the outstanding job that he's doing until his term comes to an end.'

'It's a decision that's done and it's dusted. Now, the Labour Party members in Gorton & Denton will go ahead and they will select the person they want to be the Labour Party candidate in that by-election, and we will then fight to win that by-election.'

More than 50 backbench MPs are understood to have signed a private letter to the PM to complain about a 'remote stitch-up from a small group of people at the very top in London'.

'As a former Cabinet member and the current Labour mayor of Greater Manchester, there is no legitimate reason why Andy Burnham should not have the democratic right to put his candidacy to the local people of Gorton and Denton,' the letter said.

'This is particularly important as polling clearly shows he may be our very best chance at winning this by-election.'

Writing in Tribune, Ms Egan said: 'I know that I speak for many of my colleagues across the trade union movement, and in chorus with a significant number of Labour MPs, when I say that we cannot allow those currently in charge of the party to take us down with them.

'A radical change in direction  in party culture, in policy for the country, in how we deal with the far-right threat  could not be more urgently needed.

'I am confident that a broad, pluralist coalition across our movement will now come together to ensure we see that change.'

Relations between Sir Keir and Mr Burnham are said to be at a 'low ebb', with the mayor having lashed out at the decision to stop him making a return to the Commons.

Join the debate Do YOU think Labour is sabotaging its own by-election chances?

Nigel Farage yesterday gloated that the Greater Manchester mayor would have been 'very difficult to beat' in a by-election

When Sir Keir's biographer Tom Baldwin said Labour's 'inward-looking psychodrama ... does no one any good,' Mr Burnham replied: 'I'm not sure losing a by-election does us any good either.'

At an event yesterday, he also made a jibe at the Labour leadership in Westminster, feeding into a growing North-South divide in the party. He said: 'The Greater Manchester way is built on togetherness. We don't ever here have a politics that's about pitting people [against one] another.'

Nigel Farage yesterday gloated that the Greater Manchester mayor would have been 'very difficult to beat' in a by-election.

The Reform UK leader said his candidate's chances had 'improved massively' as a result of Mr Burnham being kept off the ballot paper.
Russia is risking a 'very dangerous nuclear incident' as it prepares to restart a reactor at a captured power plant, according to the head of Ukraines state atomic enterprise.

Pavlo Kovtoniuk, the acting chairman of Energoatom, warned of a potential nuclear catastrophe after a ten-year operating licence was granted to the state nuclear agency, Rosatom.

Ukrainian leaders fear Moscow's plan to restore Reactor 1 could lead to 'loss of control over the fuel' due to 'errors in controlling the reactor core'.

Mr Kovtoniuk claimed Russia does not have the design information nor the guides required for proper use of fuel from the US company Westinghouse and Ukrainian safety systems.

He told The Times: 'There is a high probability that there will be errors in controlling the reactor core, because they do not know the system, the specifics of its operation.

'Loss of control over the fuel would cause a very dangerous nuclear incident.'

He said that depending on its scale, the incident could 'affect the entire continent'.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) previously warned against restarting the plant in Zaporizhzhia, currently occupied by Russian military units, which contains six reactors that have been in cold shutdown for safety reasons since September 2022.

Russia risks a 'very dangerous nuclear incident' as it prepares to restart a reactor at a captured power plant (pictured)

Pro-russian mayor of Energodar Andrey Shevtchik (C) walks past the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Station in Enerhodar

The generator has also been repeatedly cut off from critical back-up power by shelling.

Rostekhnadzor, the Russian state regulator, claimed all technical safety standards had been met.

Alexey Likhachev, Rosatom's director-general, added obtaining the licence would allow the nuclear power company to 'consider the resumption of electricity generation in the future'.

Mr Lickhachev said the plant was vital to Russia's occupation of the Zaporizhzhia region - which President Putin unilaterally annexed in 2022.

'Production from this plant will be a key pillar for the region's industrial recovery once the situation normalises,' he concluded.

However, a former plant employee warned of the dangers of restarting the reactor.

The anonymous source, who remains in touch with his colleagues, told The Times the licence should never have been granted.

He said the Russians had undertaken repair work on various equipment but 'not on the automation systems' - due to these being 'Ukrainian-made'.

Russia has continued to focus its attacks on Ukraine's substations amid bombardment on Ukraine's energy grid over the weekend, triggering further blackouts across the country (Pictured: President Putin)

'Of course, they don't understand any of it,' he added.

Around 3,000 Ukrainian employees at the plant have had to sign contracts with Rosatom - with many allegedly working under coercion, making accidents more likely.

He went on to claim staff at the plant were 'very intimidated' due to 'constant military pressure'.

Some 400 Ukrainian employees refused to sign contracts with the Russians, with 12 already convicted and sentenced on charges such as espionage or sabotage - charges that Ukraine insists are fabricated.

Russia has continued to focus its attacks on Ukraine's substations amid bombardment on Ukraine's energy grid over the weekend, triggering further blackouts across the country.

Mr Kovtoniuk said the actions constituted 'nuclear terrorism' - adding 'a nuclear power plant must constantly be connected to the grid and have a back-up supply from the system for its safety'.

The IAEA has backed Ukraine's complaints, warning the 'continued deterioration of Ukraine's power grid' could threaten the safety of its nuclear plants.

Mr Kovtoniuk's predecessor, Petro Kotin, was dismissed amidst a corruption scandal involving members of President Zelensky's cabinet.

Some of the president's closest allies had been discussing the urgent need to fortify the substations as well as kickbacks from Energoatom contracts.
A historic Victorian sawmill was saved by campaigning politicians before they realised it housed a killer serial rapists favourite sex club.

The swingers' venue, CJ's in Glasgow, was earmarked for the bulldozers until MSP Paul Sweeney stepped in to protect the venue based in the historic Port Dundas building.

Mr Sweeney hadn't realised it was home to the sex club once favoured by killer Iain Packer.

The venue made headlines last year when it emerged that serial rapist Iain Packer had attended adult parties there.

Packer was convicted of murdering Emma Caldwell and admitted 32 other charges involving 22 women. He was jailed for 36 years in 2024.

The City Sawmills in the Port Dundas area of Glasgow were meant to be demolished and have 60 new flats built on the site but it was blocked by Historic Environment Scotland, then the Court of Session, in 2024.

Campaigners had no idea what was really going on inside the old sawmill.

CJ's sex club boats eight 'playrooms' and includes a 'fully equipped dungeon'.

MSP Paul Sweeney campaigned heavily to stop the demolition of the City Sawmills in Port Dundas but said he did not know about the sex club

Serial rapist and murderer Ian Packer was jailed for 36 years last year. He frequented CJ's sex club in the old saw mill

The place is very well-liked and has an active community of commenters on Swingers.com. One review from this weekend read: 'Been a regular at CJ's for nearly 2 years this September & it's absolutely amazing from the staff to the regulars that always attend and it's a safe and friendly place I absolutely adore...

'Can't speak highly enough of the place as it's changed my life...

'Caroline & her staff are just different class and I miss CJ's when av not been for a while....I mostly go to the tv admirers nights.....highly recommend (sic)'

Another from earlier this month read: 'Had a fun time today, special thanks to the lady in green, sorry didn't get your name'.

Mr Sweeney was heavily involved in the campaign to save the building against the plan by Weiss Development Company Ltd, but said he did not know about the sex club.

He said: 'I am pleased an important piece of Glasgow's heritage has been preserved for future generations to enjoy.

'However, when I first heard that the building was to be knocked down to make way for flats, I wasn't aware there was a so-called adult club operating in there.

'It's just one of those things - what can you do?'

MSP Paul Sweeney fought tooth and nail to make sure the sawmill was saved from the bulldozers but did not realise it was being used as a sex club the whole time

Emma Caldwell was murdered by Ian Packer in 2005

The politician said he fought to keep the sawmill standing because it is 'a good surviving example of a late 19th century industrial office building'.

Emma Caldwell, 27, disappeared from Glasgow city centre in April 2005. Her family spent weeks searching for her until a dog walker found her body in a wood miles outside the city.

The case went unsolved for decades until a journalist interviewed Ian Packer in 2018 after he had been named as someone who had been questioned by police. He denied killing Ms Caldwell and said he had never been violent towards women.

After allegations were laid against him he was finally put on trial and found guilty of Emma's murder and 32 other charges, including 11 rapes and multiple sexual assaults against a total of 22 women.

Plans to demolish the sawmill were first put in place in 2022, until Glasgow City Council issued a preservation order.

Weiss Development Company Ltd twice appealed the decision but were unsuccessful on both attempts.

The sawmill was founded by James Brownlee in 1848 and became the largest firm of timber merchants in Scotland.

According the BBC, CJ's hosts 'friendly and relaxed' parties in safe surroundings with tea, coffee and a buffet.
Footage of the moment an Invasion Day rally was evacuated over a bomb scare has emerged.

A glass container is understood to have been hurled into a demonstration gathered at Forrest Place, in Perth's CBD, on Monday, January 26.

'Members of the public that were situated on the upper level on the eastern side of Forrest Place observed a male throw an object down in front of the stage area,' Police Commissioner Col Blanch said.

'Police immediately responded. They arrested the person who threw the device and that male indicated that that device may contain explosives.'

The device was allegedly thrown from a first-floor walkway around 30 minutes after the rally kicked off at 12pm.

A 31-year-old man, from Warwick, in northern Perth, was charged with intent to do harm in such a way as to endanger life, health or safety and with making or possessing explosives under suspicious circumstances.

Police on Tuesday revealed the device was designed to 'explode on impact', saying it was only down to good fortune that it did not detonate.

'The device that was located just in front of the stage area contained ball bearings, contained screws and those items were wrapped around an unknown-at-this-stage liquid in a glass container,' Police Commissioner Blanch said.

A 31-year-old man, who cannot be named, allegedly threw a homemade bomb into the crowd at an Invasion Day rally in Perth (pictured, the man in the crowd)

The homemade bomb was allegedly thrown from a first-floor walkway (pictured, the arrested man)

Forensic teams searched the man's home on Monday and the device was examined by the bomb response unit.

It was confirmed to be a homemade improvised explosive device containing a mixture of volatile chemicals, with nails and metal ball bearings attached to the exterior.

A combination of chemicals and materials consistent with the manufacture of homemade explosives were found at the home, police said.

The incident occurred during speeches from Aboriginal leaders at the peaceful gathering, with organisers using microphones to suddenly usher attendees away.

'I don't want to make a panic. Just move that way slowly,' one organiser said, ABC News reports.

'Because they reckon someone planted a bomb. Walk that way now. Now.'

The accused fronted Perth Magistrates Court on Tuesday charged with an unlawful act or omission with intent to do harm, and with making or possessing explosives under suspicious circumstances.

He did not apply for bail and the matter was adjourned until February 17.

The 31-year-old (pictured during his arrest) faced court on Tuesday and did not apply for bail

The court granted a suppression order of the man's identity due to fears for his safety.

A member of the crowd, Lilli O'Flyn, recalled she and a friend quickly left after the warning 'because when you don't know, you go to worst-case scenario'.

'No-one really told us what was going on, and it was kind of stressful,' she told the ABC.

'But just because no-one was communicating with us, we didn't really know what to do.'

WA Premier Roger Cook said on Monday that the incident was 'completely unacceptable', both in the state and across Australia.

'Whatever the motivations for this, we must remember what this day marks. This Australia Day should be one of unity, not division,' he said in a statement.

'That a peaceful protest was targeted in this fashion runs against the very heart of what it means to be Australian.

'Now more than ever, it is important we treat each other's views with respect. That is what inclusivity is all about. We can't let hate win.'

WA Premier Roger Cook described the scare at the rally (pictured) on Monday as 'completely unacceptable

While Invasion Day protesters used Monday to call for better recognition of Australia's first peoples, large anti-immigration rallies were also staged under the banner 'March for Australia'.

One man who attended a rally in Sydney is facing charges of publicly inciting racial hatred, accused of spewing neo-Nazi talking points at a demonstration in Surry Hills.

'We will allege that the language he used, his presence, was clearly and unequivocally assigned with neo-Nazi ideology,' NSW Police assistant commissioner Brett McFadden told reporters.

Police were out in force elsewhere around the nation, protecting against potential clashes between the March for Australia and Invasion Day groups.

In Melbourne, the two demonstrations snaked through the city only streets apart, with each ending where the other began.

'Please, do not engage,' was the advice Gunnai and Gunditjmara activist Meriki Onus gave Invasion Day protesters ahead of potential run-ins.

Among those who addressed the Invasion Day rally was Millie Ingram, who read a statement on behalf of Uncle Mark Brown, a Burunong Elder.

Mr Brown's Welcome to Country at Melbourne's Shrine of Remembrance was heckled by neo-Nazis on Anzac Day in 2025.

A man was taken into custody during an Invasion Day rally (pictured) in Perth

Protesters then marched chanting 'Always was, always will be' and 'What do we want? Land rights. When do we want them? Now'.

The largely peaceful Invasion Day march concluded near Flinders Street Station, where the March for Australia rally had begun earlier in the day.

At that protest, chants of 'deportation' and 'send them back' were heard as attendees waved Australian flags and carried signs supporting Pauline Hanson's One Nation party.

As the group moved towards the steps of parliament, loud boos erupted as protesters passed the Immigration Museum.

Riot and mounted police lined the streets to guide demonstrators, including neo-Nazi members dressed in plain clothes.

Police were quick to break up a clash after a man was seen attempting to burn the Australian flag, prompting another man to step in and hurl abuse.

Victoria Police said it was investigating three assaults believed connected to the rallies, including a couple having their car attacked with a broken boom gate while being racially abused by four men, with one performing Nazi salutes during the ordeal.

Similar protests were held across all capital cities, including in Brisbane, where Senator Hanson took to the stage.

Police on Tuesday revealed it was pure luck the device didn't 'explode on impact' (pictured, the accused in the crowd)

'I've never felt so honoured and proud as I am to be here today,' she said to an enthusiastic crowd.

'Thank you for flying the Australian flag and showing pride in our country.'

In Sydney, March for Australia protesters shouted chants of 'Aussie, Aussie, Aussie - oi, oi, oi' amid a heavy police presence.

Protesters were draped in Australian flags while some held signs reading 'Free Joel Davis', referring to a neo-Nazi on remand for allegedly harassing a federal MP.

An Invasion Day protest earlier kicked off in Hyde Park, opening with a minute's silence and a tribute to the victims of the recent Lake Cargelligo shooting.

Palestinian flags and keffiyehs were visible among Indigenous flags and placards.

NSW Premier Chris Minns said he was hopeful the protests would proceed peacefully, adding there would be 'no tolerance for violence or hate speech on Sydney's streets.'
Three French tourists drowned in Oman after the boat they were in capsized in waters off the sultanate's capital city of Muscat, police said Tuesday.

The Royal Oman Police said the ship carried 25 French tourists, as well as a tour guide and a boat captain, when it capsized in the Gulf of Oman.

It said three tourists died and two suffered minor injuries.

The police said in a short statement that 'investigations are still ongoing to determine the circumstances of the incident'.

Oman, on the eastern edge of the Arabian Peninsula, draws tourists from around the world for its diving and natural beauty, though the nation remains overshadowed as a destination by skyscraper-studded Dubai in the neighboring United Arab Emirates.

The two injured passengers were treated by Civil Defence and the Ambulance Authority in the region.

The boat was about two-and-a-half nautical miles from Sultan Qaboos Port in Muscat, Oman when it tipped over.

In a post on X, the upturned hull of a ship could be seen floating in the water.

Three French tourists drowned in Oman after the boat they were in capsized in waters off the sultanate's capital city of Muscat, police said Tuesday

Three tourists died and two suffered minor injuries.

The police said in a short statement that 'investigations are still ongoing' to determine the circumstances of the incident

Another photograph from the scene showed emergency services carrying a body on a stretcher away from the water.

According to the Oman Daily Observer, the boat was on its way to the Ad Dimaniyat Islands, a popular location with tourists said to offer some of the best snorkelling in the region, about 26 miles from Muscat.

The boat had set off from the Bandar al Rowdha marina, located at the foot of the Al Hajar Mountains.

The incident occurred at 9am, according to the newspaper, which cited one of the operators who said the conditions suddenly turned for the worse - though the state of the sea had been generally rough for days.

Efforts are currently ongoing to provide support to the survivors and the families of the deceased.



Some people on the ship were rescued by a passing boat that was returning to Bandar al Rowdha.

Oman's Civil Defence and Ambulance Authority shared an interview on social media that its spokesman had given to Oman's Hala FM radio station about the incident, shedding new light on the tragedy.

'Upon our arrival, a number of tourists had already been rescued by tourist boats and Coast Guard Police, and all of them were in good health,' the spokesman said.

'The majority of the injured were elderly, and some of them were suffering from panic and cold due to exposure to the water.

'We measured the vital signs of the injured and provided oxygen to some of them until their health stabilised.'

The bodies of the deceased, meanwhile, were 'transferred to the relevant authorities to complete the legal procedures'.

The spokesman claimed that some passengers were not wearing life jackets during the trip.

France's foreign ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

        2.5                                         pic.twitter.com/bjnXrpDUz0     (@RoyalOmanPolice) January 27, 2026

The death toll from a ferry boat accident in the Southern Philippines, off an island in Basilan province, has reached at least 18, with 316 people rescued.

The M/V Trisha Kerstin 3, both a cargo and passenger ferry, was en-route from the southern island of Mindanao to Jolo island, when it issued a distress call at 1.50am local time Monday (17.50 GMT Sunday).

Ten people, mostly crew members and the captain, are still missing.

A search led by the coastguard and the navy continued in waters where an oil sheen was spotted, coastguard admiral Ronnie Gavan said.

Coastguard divers and a remotely operated unmanned vehicle will be deployed to locate and check the wreckage, which is estimated to be 76m (249ft) below the sea surface, he said.
The Metropolitan Police are facing a High Court battle over the use of live recognition cameras after an anti-knife crime campaigner's 'human rights were violated' when he was wrongly identified as a suspect.

Shaun Thompson, 39, a respected black community worker, was wrongly flagged up as a criminal after being filmed at London Bridge station.

Distressingly held for 30 minutes under threat of arrest, Mr Thompson was actually returning home from Croydon after a voluntary anti-knife crime shift.

The director of Big Brother Watch, a UK civil liberties campaign group, Silkie Carlo is bringing a High Court case on behalf of Mr Thompson, arguing that it breached his privacy under the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR).

Ms Carlo argued that the deployment of the cameras is so 'permissive' that it breaches article eight of the ECHR and is 'not in accordance with the law'.

The Metropolitan Police is one of the first forces to pioneer the technology, and is now one of 13 forces which have used or are currently using live facial recognition (LFR) cameras.

Sir Keir Starmer is said to be keen to scale up the use of live cameras, which work by taking digital images of passing pedestrians and 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 consider an arrest. If a member of the public is not wanted by police, their biometrics are immediately deleted.

Shaun Thompson, 39, a respected black community worker, was wrongly flagged up as a criminal after being filmed at LondonBridge station

The Metropolitan Police is one of the first forces to pioneer the technology, and is now one of 13 forces which have used or are currently using live facial recognition (LFR) cameras

The LDR cameras work by taking digital images of passing pedestrians and feeding them into a computer using biometric software to measure facial features

What is live facial recognition? Live facial recognition allows the police to recognise wanted individuals among a large crowd in real time. Police use a series of cameras to record the faces of anyone who passes through a set zone. An algorithm compares the faces of those walking in front of the camera to a 'watchlist' of wanted criminals and an alert is generated if there's a match. The watchlist includes individuals who are wanted for committing crime, who are banned from an area or who pose a risk to the public. The cameras look just like standard CCTV cameras, but do not record footage. In the event of a 'no match', the data will be deleted immediately. Advertisement

The Met Police say that the cameras are lawful, necessary, proportionate and are targeted at crime hotspots. The force claims it has had just 10 'false alerts' out of three million images.

However, Big Brother Watch director Ms Carlo claims the deployment of LFR extends crime hotspots and is used at critical national infrastructure, public events, and locations based on officers intelligence about crime.

Ms Carlo and Mr Thompson have submitted expert evidence they claim shows the majority of the public spaces in London fall within the broad crime hotspot definition.

They argue this means that there is 'no meaningful constraint' on the deployment of live facial recognition across the capital.

Mr Thompson was travelling through London Bridge in February 2024 when he was held by officers after he was wrongly flagged by the cameras.

He claims the officers demanded identity documents, fingerprint scans, and inspected him for scars and tattoos in an attempt to confirm he was the suspect.

Despite providing identification documents proving he had been falsely identified, Mr Thompson says he was threatened with arrest.

He described the polices use of live facial recognition technology as 'stop and search on steroids'.

Silkie Carlo, the director of Big Brother Watch, said: 'The possibility of being subjected to a digital identity check by police without our consent almost anywhere, at any time, is a serious infringement on our civil liberties that is transforming London.

'When used as a mass surveillance tool, LFR reverses the presumption of innocence and destroys any notion of privacy in our capital.'

Ms Carlo also argued in the legal challenge that the Metropolitan Polices use of LFR breached individuals rights to freedom of expression and freedom of assembly, protected by Articles 10 and 11 of the ECHR.

She said that 'excessively broad discretion' had a 'chilling' effect on individuals ability to protest.

'This legal challenge is a landmark step towards protecting the public against intrusive monitoring,' Ms Carlo added.

It comes as the Home Secretary, Shabana Mahmood, has defended plans for a rollout of live facial recognition to all 43 police forces in England and Wales.

'Of course, it has to be used in a way that is in line with our values, doesnt lead to innocent people being caught up in cases they shouldnt have been involved in,' she told LBC

'But this technology is what is working. Its already led to 1,700 arrests in the Met alone. I think its got huge potential.'

Ms Mahmood also announced that the number of LFR vans will triple under the plan, with 50 vans being made available to every police force in England and Wales.

British police forces will receive a hightech upgrade as Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood announces more than 140 million in funding for tech, including 50 facial recognition vans (pictured) per police force

Under current rules, the technology can only be used to search for watch lists of wanted criminals, suspects, or individuals subject to bail or court order conditions.

The government says that this technology will be 'governed by data protection, equality and human rights laws' and that faces flagged by the facial recognition system must also be reviewed and confirmed by officers before action is taken.

Even still, rights groups have expressed concerns over the expansion of this surveillance technology.

Big Brother Watch Advocacy Manager, Matthew Feeney, said: 'An expansion of facial recognition on this scale would be unprecedented in liberal democracies, and would represent the latest in a regrettable trend.

'Police across the UK have already scanned the faces of millions of innocent people who have done nothing except go about their days on high streets across the country.'

The Government is also yet to finish its facial recognition consultation, which would provide a legal framework for deploying live facial recognition.

A Met police spokesperson said: 'We remain confident that our use of Live Facial Recognition (LFR) is lawful, proportionate, and necessary, and we welcome the opportunity to demonstrate this.

'LFR has helped us locate and arrest more than 1,700 dangerous offenders since the start of 2024, including individuals wanted for rape, child abuse, and other serious crimes.

'It is a vital and highly effective policing tool that helps us keep Londoners safe.

'We have stringent safeguards in place to protect peoples rights and privacy. Independent testing confirms that the technology performs consistently across demographic groups, and our operational data shows an exceptionally low false alert rate of just 0.0003 per cent.

'Crucially, if a member of the public walks past an LFR camera and is not on the watchlist, their biometric data is immediately and permanently deleted.

'Public confidence matters. Eighty five per cent of Londoners support the use of LFR, and we will continue to engage openly with our communities to build understanding of how the technology works.

'We are committed to providing clear reassurance that rigorous checks, oversight, and governance are embedded at every stage to safeguard peoples rights and privacy.'
Hollywood star Dominic Cooper has backed a campaign to stop plans to build 45 new homes, amid fears it will destroy the 'unique character' of the charming south London village he grew up in.

The Marvel actor has urged Lewisham Council to revisit the plans in Blackheath, claiming the Labour-run council 'prioritises developer profit, whilst ignoring overwhelming public opposition'.

He is one of the A-list celebrities who have voiced concerns over developer Acorn's plans to build 20 terraced houses and 25 flats as part of two towering blocks in the Blackheath Station car park, where the thriving farmers' market is held every Sunday.

The plans would reduce the 162-space car park to just 17 - something locals fear will create 'fighting for spaces'.

So far, the plans have attracted more than 1,200 objections, with just 30 comments in support and 12 neutral comments.

Campaigners say the scale and design of the buildings is 'out of character' for the area, will 'dwarf' the existing Victorian-style terraces and looks over a primary school.

An open letter has been submitted by a host of high-profile public figures, including Hollywood heartthrob Jude Law, fashion legend Jeff Banks and renowned author and humanitarian Sir Terry Waite.

Cooper, who also starred in Mamma Mia and The History Boys, is among those who have criticised but insisted people who object are not 'anti-development'.

Marvel star Dominic Cooper, who also starred in Mamma Mia and The History Boys, is among those who have criticised but insisted people who object are not 'anti-development'

Acorn, the north London developer, has submitted plans to build 20 terraced homes and 25 flats as part of two towering blocks in the Blackheath Station car park, where the thriving farmer's market is held every Sunday. Pictured: An architect's design for the redevelopment

Hundreds of residents of Blackheath in south east London are up in arms over the proposals. Pictured: Concept images of the development

He said: 'Residents are not anti-development - they are instead demanding development that is fair, responsible, and puts local people at the heart of decision-making.

'To plough ahead with a proposal of this size, that provides so little social and affordable housing, that prioritises developer profit, whilst ignoring overwhelming public opposition would amount to a devastating betrayal of the electorate.'

He urged Lewisham Council to revisit the plan, adding 'anything less is a failure of its duty to the public it serves'.

Last year, 80 local businesses signed a separate open letter urging the council to reject the plans, saying it is 'the single biggest threat to the survival of Blackheath's independent retailers' and the 'unique character of the village'.

The council, which is set to vote on the plans this evening, said it could not comment as the plans are part of a live planning application.

TV Actress Sarah Hadland, 54, who has lived in the south-east London village for more than 20 years, has also called out the plans.

Speaking exclusively to the Daily Mail, The Miranda star said: 'This is a good landmark to say "no this has to stop, you cannot destroy areas to make money for private developers".

'They are the ones that are going to come out this the best. How does that work? They don't have to live here.'

Ms Hadland, who was a Strictly Come Dancing finalist last year, added: 'It's very wrong and has to be stopped. If it doesn't, this will become routine everywhere across this country. People will just be going, 'We'll build where we like because we want to make money".'

'I appreciate all different types of architecture but if you put something as sympathetic as that, it just looks extraordinary.'

The Miranda actress (pictured) has urged Brits to protect their communities from Labour 's housing blitz

Sarah Hadland (centre) and an army of Blackheath locals campaign against the development

Plans to convert the car park at Blackheath Station into 45 new homes

So far, the plans have attracted more than 1,200 objections, with just 30 comments in support and 12 neutral comments. Pictured: An architect's design for the redevelopment

Under the plans by developer Acorn, the site's 162 spaces will be axed to just 17. Above, Blackheath Station car park

Blackheath is known for it's quaint and suburban charm (pictured)

The mother-of-one has accused the council of hypocrisy, enforcing strict planning laws on residents while pushing through developer's projects.

She explained: 'I live right in the heart of the village and I've had work done on my property and the rules have been incredibly strictly and rightly so. I understand and I've abided by those rules.

'So to suddenly see the council themselves are going to let this north London building company Acorn build these flats is mystifying.

'You think hang on a minute. We're the one's paying the council tax and we have to abide by these rules but why are you allowed to do this?

'I just think it's very indicative of what's going to be going up and down the country when it would appear that council's are bending the rules to make money.

'But the people paying the consequences and the council tax and abiding by the rules are going to be traders and families and children.

'And it's taking amenities from the community - the car park and the farmer's market which is a huge part of the Blackheath community.'

Also fighting it is Jude Law who penned: 'I grew up in Blackheath. My junior school was across from the site where this proposed development will take place.

'This plan does not answer housing needs. Instead this plan will enforce a strain on a wonderful old village that deserves our protection.'

Musician Chris Difford from the band Squeeze, which was formed locally, said: 'This is heartbreaking  Blackheath has a skyline that is already suffocated by the horizon of Canary Wharf and the buildings in neighbouring Lewisham.

'We must respect the beauty and freedom that the sky provides around Blackheath Village and say no to this new development.'

Jude Law penned: 'I grew up in Blackheath. My junior school was across from the site where this proposed development will take place.'

Dire Straits musician Mark Knopfler said: 'Blackheath has always been a treasured area and one of London's last intact villages. Let's please leave it alone.'

Sir Terry Waite added: 'My wife and I have had a house in Blackheath for over forty five years. It is a unique London Village where residents have both a strong sense of community and a respect for the distinctive features of Blackheath.

'The proposed development would severely impact the Farmers Market and place further strain on our overcrowded roadways. Furthermore it is totally out of sympathy with local buildings. I stand strongly opposed to this proposed project.'

And Jeff Banks, who opened his first shop in Blackheath called Clobber, wrote: 'To imagine Blackheath succumbing to ill-conceived and mindless planning that would significantly change the historical value and heritage of one of London's jewels in the crown does not bear thinking about. Sense must prevail over greed.'

A spokesman for Acorn previously said: 'We are pleased that our proposed development at Blackheath Station car park is being considered by Lewishams Planning Committee on January 27 with a recommendation for approval, following almost four years of extensive engagement with the community, planning officers, local stakeholders, and other consultees.

'The proposals have been thoroughly reviewed and supported by Lewishams Design Review Panel, made up of independent, multidisciplinary professionals who assess development proposals to ensure high standards of design quality in the built environment.

'As recognised in the officers report, the proposals would deliver substantial public benefits, including 45 new homes, 21 per cent of which would be wholly social rented, much-needed three- and four-bedroom family homes, and these very considerable benefits are considered to outweigh the low level of harm identified.

'The proposals would also facilitate the return of the farmers market to the site, securing its future and delivering a safe pedestrian route to the school, improving on the existing car park conditions navigated by parents and children.

'We welcome the opportunity to discuss the proposals at committee and hope Members will vote to approve the proposed development.'
A British fugitive has been arrested and could be sentenced to death if found guilty after allegedly shooting dead his Thai wife because she ignored him while he was sick.

Anthony James Condron, 56, from Witham, Essex, allegedly is accused of shooting wife Pattanee Urapanom, 43, with a 9mm handgun at their hotel resort before fleeing the scene.

Police found Ms Urapanom's body at the Janpanom Farm Stay in Maha Sarakham, Thailand, on Tuesday morning.

Mr Condron was found smoking on a hotel balcony around 80 miles away in the neighbouring province of Khon Kaen and he allegedly planned to flee to the coastal town of Pattaya.

Armed cops surrounded the building and negotiated his surrender. He told police he had killed his wife because she 'ignored him while he was feeling unwell.'

Footage from his arrest shows him laughing as he was escorted out of the building into a police van.

'Do they have to take so many cameras, oh thank you for coming, tell them I will only speak for a little bit of time,' he could be heard saying in a video taken of his arrest.

'I'm not going to run, I'm going to get in the car.'

Brit Anthony James Condron, 56, is suspected of shooting his wife in Thailand

Mr Condron was arrested today after going on the run

Pattanee Urapanom's body was found by police on Tuesday morning at the Janpanom Farm Stay in Maha Sarakham

Police Major General Anuwat Suwannaphum, commander of Khon Kaen police, said: 'When officers encountered the suspect, he surrendered voluntarily. At this stage, he is still confused about the incident. What he has stated so far is that he had an argument with his wife. He also said he was ill, which made him angry, and the situation escalated into a confrontation that led to the shooting.

'His statements remain unclear, but the main point we can gather is that he felt his wife was not taking proper care of him, even though he was sick and needed medical treatment. He felt she was ignoring him being unwell. This reportedly caused him to become upset, leading to the argument.

'At this time, he has not clearly explained why he fled the scene and travelled to Khon Kaen, or how he managed to leave the area. He initially used a white pickup truck, which was later changed to a blue one. It is still unclear whether someone helped him escape or whether a friend picked him up.'

Police in the Don Wan district said that Mr Condron and Ms Urapanom had been arguing before the alleged shooting.

They believe that Mr Condron shot his wife while she was mounting the vehicle to ride away from the home they shared together.

Her body was reportedly slumped backwards on the motorcycle seat and lying face up. She had a gunshot wound to the head and was pronounced dead at the scene.

Police checkpoints were placed around the area in a desperate bid to catch Mr Condron.

Major General Paladech Petwango said: 'The suspect had told foreign friends in Pattaya that he planned to turn himself in there.

Mr Condron could face the death penalty if found guilty of murdering his wife

Mr Condron was found smoking on a hotel balcony around 80 miles away in the neighbouring province of Khon Kaen

Footage from his arrest shows him laughing as he was escorted out of the building into a police van

Police are desperately trying to catch Mr Condron

'He said he felt guilty and feared being assaulted by his wife's relatives, but he was eventually arrested in Khon Kaen.

'The case has drawn strong public attention, and the suspect also carried a firearm, which posed a danger to the public, so we had to urgently find him.'

'Based on the suspect's route, we found that he travelled to Khon Kaen province and abandoned his white Isuzu vehicle.

'We coordinated with the Immigration Bureau, the regional Investigation Division, Maha Sarakham Provincial Police, and several relevant agencies to assist in the manhunt.

'We later located him at the Ingtara Hotel in Khon Kaen.

'Whether anyone assisted him in fleeing remains under investigation.

'Officers from Khon Kaen Provincial Police and Khon Kaen Immigration negotiated with him for a while before he eventually surrendered at about 3.30pm.

'He told officials that he had made a mistake and felt remorse for his actions, and therefore decided to surrender, which was considered a peaceful arrest.

Ms Urapanom (pictured) was pronounced dead at the scene after reportedly being shot in the head

Neighbours claimed they had heard the Brit shouting at his wife before the gunshots were fired

'He is being taken to Don Wan Police Station for further legal action.'

Locals said the suspect had lived in Thailand for more than 10 years.

Mr Petwango added: 'The victim was a well-loved member of the community due to her friendly nature and volunteering work with schools and charities.

'Her friends and family are in shock. They are overcome with grief and cannot understand how this happened.

Prior to Mr Condron's arrest, police questioned neighbours who claimed they had heard the Brit shouting at his wife before the gunshots were fired.

The officer added: 'The neighbours did not understand what the argument was about because the couple were speaking in English.

'They said that the couple had argued frequently prior to the incident.

'The man had lived with his wife for several years, but they did not have any children.

'The wife ran a homestay named Janpanom Farm Stay, while the foreign man was retired and unemployed.

'The case has drawn strong public attention, and the suspect also carried a firearm, which posed a danger to the public, so we had to urgently find him.

'The inquiry officer has requested an arrest warrant from the court on a charge of intentional homicide.'
Oxford University is to scrap its own admissions tests in favour of generic ones amid a drive to be more inclusive.

It is understood the change was made so that in future pupils will only have to take one test to apply for multiple universities  streamlining the process.

Instead of setting its own tests, Oxford will adopt standard ones developed and used by Imperial College and Cambridge, and delivered via Pearson.

The change applies to subjects which already have tests, including the sciences, maths, history and PPE (politics, philosophy and economics).

Other top universities also use them, including Warwick, University College London and the London School of Economics.

Oxfords bespoke entry exams have long been seen as a barrier to those without the support of a private school or pushy family who can help with preparation.

The change, for applicants aiming for 2027 entry, comes amid a drive to become more inclusive by encouraging applicants from disadvantaged backgrounds.

In 2019, Oxford promised a 'sea-change' in admissions, saying it wanted to increase the proportion of students from deprived areas.

Oxford University (pictured) is to scrap its own admissions tests in favour of generic ones amid a drive to be more inclusive

Oxfords entrance exams were dramatized in Alan Bennetts 1980s nostalgia play The History Boys, which was made into a film in 2006 starring Dominic Cooper and James Corden

David Gibbon, director of Oxford and Cambridge Tutors, which provides Oxbridge preparation, said: Removing some of the perceived mystique and individuality away from an application will benefit candidates who might be less familiar with the Oxford admissions process.

However, he told Times Higher Education it may also mean the loss of some highly regarded, subject-specific assessments which have provided a level of challenge above and beyond other tests.

Professor Anthony Glees, security expert at Buckingham University who entered Oxford in 1967 via entrance exam to study history and German, said it risked reducing Oxfords ability to select students specially suited to the university, by tailoring their own tests.

He said: It could well be the end of the specialness of Oxbridge. I think it amounts to dumbing down because other universities dont offer what Oxbridge offers, in terms of the tutor relationship.

If theyre all using the same application process, the uniqueness of Oxbridge has been removed. If it becomes generic, that selective factor disappears.

Something special should not be got rid of. We dont want identikit minds in this country.

Oxfords entrance exams, dramatized in Alan Bennetts 1980s nostalgia play The History Boys, have taken various forms in recent decades.

They were originally abolished in the 1990s in a bid to give state-educated pupils a fairer chance against those applying from well-prepared private schools.

However, since then they have been resurrected for many subjects, after Oxford realised top A-level grades were not enough to differentiate between good and exceptional candidates.

The new computerised exams are run by University Admissions Tests UK (UAT UK), a partnership between Imperial and Cambridge.

While previously, Oxford applicants took subject-specific tests, now they will take one of the three offered by UAT UK.

Gareth Davies, an adviser to potential Oxbridge applicants at the firm William Clarence Education, said administering the old tests had become an expensive business for Oxford.

Meanwhile, on parenting website Mumsnet, many welcomed the change.

One user said: As a move towards equity this is good. The Oxford-specific entrance exam surely gave advantage to pupils from schools with strong Oxford links and the ability meaningfully to support Oxford applications. We all know this need not correlate with merit.

However, another described it as a 'sad loss' and added: 'I cant imagine that the Oxford maths department are very happy.'

A university spokesman said: Oxfords undergraduate admissions process is rigorous and designed to identify academic potential.

'The university is continually reviewing its admissions processes and practices to ensure they best meet the needs of the university, schools, and applicants.

'Our approach varies according to subject and considers a range of information as evidence of a candidates ability to thrive here.

'All those offered a place to study at Oxford have been interviewed and every year more than 20,000 interviews for approximately 10,000 applicants are conducted, allowing tutors to assess directly a candidate's ability to think independently and engage with new ideas  qualities that underpin learning at Oxford.'
Never-before-seen photographs of aviation pioneer Amelia Earhart show her beside her plane hours before she disappeared while attempting to fly around the world.

The black and white images, discovered 89 years on, show the record breaking American pilot standing outside of her Lockheed Electra 10e aircraft.

In one photo, she is seen dressed in a short-sleeved checked shirt and trousers with her left hand on her hip talking to a doctor.

In another she and her navigator Fred Noonan can be seen sitting in the shade in front of the plane with a fuel truck behind them.

The photos were taken while Earthart and Noonan stopped off in Darwin, Australia, to refuel while on her quest to become the first female pilot to circumnavigate the world.

The images were found in an old photo album compiled by a sailor in the Royal Australian Navy.

The other snaps in it are of life on board HMAS Moresby in the 1930s. Darwin is a major navy port and so it is likely the unknown seaman took the photos of Earhart and Noonan while he was docked there.

The album now belongs to a relative who has made it available for sale at auctioneers Henry Aldridge & Son.

In one photo, Earhart is seen dressed in a short-sleeved checked shirt and trousers with her left hand on her hip talking to a doctor

In another photo, Earhart and her navigator Fred Noonan can be seen sitting in the shade in front of the plane

Right after these images were taken, Earhart and Noonan flew east to Lae, New Guinea to refuel before departing on July 2 for Howland Island, 2,556 miles away.

However, they did not make it and were tragically never seen again.

The leading theory was that they ran out of fuel and crashed into the Pacific although extensive searches of the area found no sign of the Lockheed.

Others claim she landed on a nearby island before dying of starvation.

Another theory claimed Earhart and Noonan were captured by the Japanese after they navigated their way to the South Seas.

Last November, US President Donald Trump ordered the records of the last radio communications between Earhart and the US Coastguard vessel Itasca be declassified.

The transmissions clearly demonstrated that Earhart was sounding increasingly desperate saying they were near Howland Island but couldn't find it and were low on fuel.

More than nine decades on, investigators continue to search for the wreckage of her plane.

The images were found in an old photo album compiled by a sailor in the Royal Australian Navy

The photos are valued at between 800 to 1,200 and are being sold on January 31

In this image , which is not in the album, Amelia Earhart is shown in her Lockheed Vega plane at the First National Women's Air Derby from Clover Field, Santa Monica to Cleveland

Auctioneer Andrew Aldridge said: 'There are very few images of Amelia Earhart that are known of this close to that fateful last flight.

'They have been in private hands for almost 90 years. They were found in an innocuous photo album by a client who was given it by a relative.

'He was going through the album of all these navy photos and saw them. He knew what they were because the images are captioned.

'The photos were taken in Darwin which had a big naval base. It would seem they were taken by an Australian seaman who visited the airfield during the brief period Amelia Earhart was there.'

The photos are valued at between 800 to 1,200 and are being sold on January 31.
A woman died in her seat aboard a UK-bound flight after falling asleep on her mother's shoulder, an inquest has heard.

American attorney Rachel Green was on the Delta flight to London from Minneapolis to conduct research for a novel she was writing on Eleanor of Aquitaine.

Ms Green, 44, fell asleep on her mother's shoulder during the seven-and-a-half-hour flight, but was found unresponsive by members of the cabin crew.

An inquest held at West London Coroner's Court heard Ms Green, from East Bethel in Minnesota, had a multitude of prescription drugs in her system at the time of her death.

She was also found to have an undiagnosed cardiac condition, which, combined with the medications in her system, was understood to have likely led to her death.

Ms Green's sister, Roxanne Carney, paid tribute to her in a statement, calling her 'a saint' and 'the best aunt in the world' to her son, Jack.

Mrs Carney, who lives in California, said her sister was an attorney who also worked in insurance and had a keen interest in history.

American lawyer and novelist Rachel Green (pictured) died while aboard the Delta flight from Minneapolis to London

Rachel Green pictured with her mother, Mary Sweeney

Her statement read: 'On April 30th, 2025, we lost an angel on earth and gained one in heaven. My beloved sister and friend to so many, Rachel S. Green, passed away peacefully in her sleep as she was flying from Minneapolis to London for a much-anticipated trip to the UK.

'Rachel had spent the past couple of years recovering from an unexpected illness, relearning to walk, and having to relocate back to her hometown in Minnesota to recuperate.

'She exuded unyielding strength and courage at even the most difficult times. My sister was the absolutely most incredible and selfless person in this world.

'Rachel was a true saint. She gave to everyone and found true joy in helping others. If we could all be more like Rachel, the world would be a better place.'

Recording a verdict of misadventure, Senior Coroner Lydia Brown said: 'This lady simply died whilst on a flight.

'She was coming to our country to do some research, staying for some time with her mother.

'Instead, she did not even get off the plane without her mother and sister being bereaved.

'Poor Rachel never did [finish] that book. I wish it were different; it is not.'

Rachel was described as the 'best aunt in the world' to her nephew, Jack (pictured)

The inquest heard Rachel (pictured) had a number of substances in her blood at the time of her death

The inquest heard statements from passengers on board the flight from Minneapolis Saint Paul International Airport to London Heathrow on April 30 last year.

One passenger recalled the 'awful' moment a tannoy went out on the plane, asking if any doctors were on board.

It also heard from pathologist Dr Alan Bates, who said Ms Green's heart was 'normal,' other than one of her coronary arteries being covered by myocardial tunnelling - a condition where a section of an artery travels underneath the heart muscle, rather than on its surface.

He also identified a number of substances in Ms Green's blood, including several anti-depressants, melatonin, cannabinoids and a low concentration of alcohol.

Ms Green had a history of health issues and had received psychiatric care, the inquest heard.

Mrs Carney, who works in the psychiatric field, questioned the amount of prescription drugs she was on during her sister's inquest, stating her sister had had an 'abnormal' heart test that was not investigated further.

She said: 'I wonder why she was never referred to a cardiologist before being prescribed this combination.

'Why was she on this regimen? Why are they prescribing this combination of medications?

'If you can see all the records, ethically, how can you do this?'

Coroner Ms Brown answered: 'It is reviewed here. Unfortunately, the entirety of your population doesn't seem to have that.

'I am not here to criticise another system - especially not in these dangerous times.

'[It is] unusual to find so many different [drugs]. Matters are done very differently in the US.

'There is no evidence that Rachel had any opportunity to be resuscitated. Her death appears to have been instantaneous.

Ms Green fell asleep on her mother Mary's shoulder before she was found dead

'Rachel was travelling on a flight from the USA to Heathrow Airport when she was found to be unresponsive in her seat. Professional resuscitation attempts were unsuccessful.

'Rachel had taken a range of complex medications, but there was no evidence she was taking any in excess.

'She also had a congenital heart condition. This contributed to her death, along with the medications.'

Ms Brown added there was 'no evidence' Ms Green had been recreationally using any drugs.

Mrs Carney said her sister was visiting the UK to research for a historical fiction book she was halfway through writing about Eleanor of Aquitaine, who was Queen of France from 1137 to 1152 as the wife of King Louis VII and later Queen of England from 1154 to 1189 as the wife of King Henry II.

'Rachel was secretly a brilliant writer,' Mrs Carney said.

'She was finally writing again and on her way to London to further research her historical fiction on Eleanor of Aquitaine.

'She fell asleep peacefully on her flight on her mother's shoulder and, for reasons forever unknown, never woke up.

'We are at the greatest loss as we piece together a life without her physically present, but forever with us.

'Rachel was beyond selfless, always taking care of everyone around her and trying to guide people to the goodness in life, be it travelling, enjoying a play, or a gathering.

'During her time back in Minnesota, she revisited her love of theatre with the Lakeshore Players Theatre. It gave her great joy to be involved in something she loved.'

Mrs Carney added that she wishes to finish her sister's book, and has set up a fundraiser for Lakeshore Players Theatre in Minnesota, as well as for the purchase of her memorial at Golders Green Crematorium in London.
A socially anxious scientist who claimed disability discrimination after she was not invited to her work Christmas party has lost her claim.

Ecologist Shelby Caughman sued Echoes Ecology after she was deliberately not invited to a small festive gathering while off sick with anxiety-related issues.

The 35-year-old, who suffers from agoraphobia - a condition involving fear of leaving home or being in crowded places - tried to claim that being excluded from the eight-person work party amounted to disability discrimination.

However, colleagues decided against inviting her because they believed attending would cause her further distress, particularly as she had said she felt too 'overwhelmed' to return to work at the time.

An employment judge ruled that while the decision arose from her disability, it was justified in the circumstances and did not breach discrimination law.

A tribunal heard that Ms Caughman started working for Echoes Ecology as a consultant ecologist in April 2023, alongside seven other colleagues.

She suffered from ADHD, autism, complex post-traumatic stress disorder and agoraphobia, and had made the company aware of her conditions.

Ecologist Shelby Caughman sued Echoes Ecology after she was deliberately not invited to a small festive gathering while off sick with anxiety-related issues

The 35-year-old, who suffers from agoraphobia - a condition involving fear of leaving home or being in crowded places - tried to claim that being excluded from the eight-person work party amounted to disability discrimination

Ms Caughman made several grievance complaints to the company from a 'build up of work stress' and a 'lack of reasonable adjustments'.

In June 2024, she took a week off as Statutory Sick Pay after she had issues with her mental health and agreed she would have a phased return to work following this.

From the beginning of July 2024 Ms Caughman went on sick leave and did not return to work until she resigned in February 2025.

During this time, Echoes Ecology got in touch with her to see if she was well enough to return to work.

An occupational health report was made by an occupational therapist, which claimed that Ms Caughman needed adjustments to be made to allow her return because of her disabilities, like flexible working hours and being able to work from home.

The report also stated that she wanted to be exempt from team meetings and social gatherings so that she could miss them.

After the report was produced, Ms Caughman clarified in a meeting that she did not agree with the wording around exemption from meeting and social gatherings because she enjoyed social gatherings and 'just wanted a choice'.

Although she was supposed to return to work in December, she said it was making her feel 'overwhelmed' and discussed moving the return date into the New Year.

The company held the Christmas party in December, and they decided not to invite Ms Caughman to this to 'avoid creating further anxiety for her'.

They said this decision was based on the report provided to them about her agoraphobia and also that she was too 'overwhelmed' to return to work.

Ms Caughman sent an email saying that she had noticed she was not invited to the Christmas party, and she was told they thought it would be 'insensitive' and cause her stress if they did, but apologised if they had misinterpreted the situation.

The tribunal ruled that not inviting Ms Caughman to the Christmas party was discrimination, but it was a 'justified' reaction to her comments about her mental health at the time.

Ms Caughman made several grievance complaints to the company from a 'build up of work stress' and a 'lack of reasonable adjustments'

It was heard that Ms Caughman started working for Echoes Ecology as a consultant ecologist in April 2023, alongside seven colleagues. Pictured the Echoes Ecology offices in Scotland

Join the debate Do YOU think the employer acted reasonably here?

Employment Judge Peter O'Donnell said: 'The Tribunal considers that this was because of "something" arising from her disability, that is, the fact that she was absent from work and [Echoes Ecology's] view that it would be insensitive to invite her in circumstances where they understood (mistakenly) that she would be unfit to attend and that, based on the OH report, she was seeking to be exempt from team meetings and social gatherings.

'There was, therefore, discrimination arising from disability in respect of the exclusion from the Christmas night out.

'However, the Tribunal considers that this was objectively justified.

'[Echoes Ecology] clearly had the legitimate aim of seeking to avoid causing [Ms Caughman] additional distress of inviting her to an event where it appeared that she did not wish to attend and would not be fit to do so.

'The Tribunal accepts that it was not [Ms Caughman's] position that she did not wish to attend the Christmas night but the Tribunal also accepts that it was Echoes Ecology's genuine belief that she did not, even if this was mistaken.

'There was a factual basis for [Echoes Ecology's] belief in the content of the OH report and there was nothing to contradict this.'

Ms Caughman also unsuccessfully claimed for harassment, victimisation, reasonable adjustment and constructive dismissal.

She is also a board director at Lee Lee's Life Lessons, a business run by her mother. And has a Masters degree in Ecology from the University of Bremen in Germany.

On the website her strengths are described as 'creative problem-solving, digital strategy, and intuitive support, helping shape both the structural foundations and soulful direction of the organisation'.
A former police officer is suing the Met Police for 1million in compensation, claiming years of investigating crimes against children left her so traumatised that she developed PTSD and a phobia of police stations.

Kirstie Coy-Martin, 52, says her mental health was destroyed by repeated exposure to 'harrowing' scenes of child abuse and child death, ultimately forcing her into ill-health retirement in 2023.

She claims her condition deteriorated to the point where she would suffer panic attacks simply at the thought of attending a police station, and was even triggered by routine paperwork featuring a logo of a baby's foot.

Now living in Chichester, West Sussex, Ms Coy-Martin is taking the Met to Central London County Court, alleging the force breached its duty of care by exposing her to 'excessive stress' and failing to protect her mental health.

The Met is strongly contesting the claim, calling it 'incredible' that a serving police officer should argue she should not have been required to attend police buildings.

Ms Coy-Martin joined the Met in 1997 and worked in child abuse and sexual offence teams between 2005 and 2016, according to court papers.

Her lawyers say that during that period she was repeatedly exposed to disturbing material.

Kirstie Coy-Martin says her mental health was ruined by years of having to investigate crimes against children, including attending 'harrowing' scenes of abuse and child death

Lifelong surfer Ms Coy-Martin, 52, later spoke of using her time on her board as a 'safe space' and even taught her therapy dog Scooter to surf with her

Such work carries a much greater risk of experiencing 'harrowing, distressing and shocking events, material and environments,' her lawyers say.

But the Met is denying the claim, saying it is 'incredible' for a serving police officer to claim they should not have been asked to attend police stations.

The force also says she did not complain about stress during the years she was working on sexual and child abuse investigations and insists she had not been placed under 'excessive' work stress in more recent years.

According to papers filed at the court, Mrs Coy-Martin joined the Met in 1997 and worked in child abuse and sexual offence teams between 2005 and 2016.

'As such, the claimant was exposed to extremely shocking and distressing incidents, which she was required to investigate,' say her lawyers.

'This necessitated attending to scenes of abuse against babies, children and young people, and which in some cases had led to their death.

'Such working environment was inherently unsafe due to the horrific nature of the crimes the claimant was required to investigate.

'It was inherently foreseeable to the defendant that exposure to such would expose the claimant to a risk of psychiatric injury.

'Throughout the claimant's time with the Child Abuse Investigation Team, it is averred that the defendant failed to take any, or any adequate, steps to prevent the claimant from suffering psychiatric harm.'

Mrs Coy-Martin later moved on to work as a custody sergeant, taking her away from the child abuse, and later in a mostly home-based job which involved analysing CCTV footage.

In 2020, after overhearing a video call participant criticising her, she became extremely distressed and was signed off work the next day, say her lawyers.

She left her child abuse work in 2016, but says her career was ended in 2023 due to the 'triggering' of her PTSD by everyday work experiences

While off, she began to suffer 'extreme symptoms of psychiatric ill health,' including flashbacks to her time on the child abuse team.

She was ultimately diagnosed with PTSD, which her doctor put down to her experiences working on abuse cases.

When she returned to work, she was placed into a home-based investigations role due to fears that having to attend police stations might trigger her PTSD.

However, even in that role she experienced stress when told she would need to attend a police building to pick up CCTV evidence.

She claims that thereafter her condition was exacerbated by a series of incidents at work, including being nominated for a job as a family representative.

As part of that, she was sent job literature, which included a picture of a baby's foot, something she claims was a trigger for her mental condition.

It led to a relapse, which kept her off work for months.

Back at work again in 2021, she said she had again been asked to attend a police station and suffered a panic attack, only to be told 'don't stress, it's not worth it.'

As time went on, she continued to be asked to attend police buildings, her lawyers continued, 'despite the known impact this had on the claimant's health.'

She was ultimately ill health retired in October 2023.

Ms Coy-Martin blames her condition on the Met, claiming that she was at a 'foreseeable risk of injury' due to stress and that her bosses had ignored warning signs, including the fact she had disclosed her use of anti-depressants.

She says she was placed under 'excessive stress' at work, there had been a failure to take adequate action when she complained and there had not been suitable 'health surveillance.'

Overall, there had been 'clear signs' of impending harm when the Met should have been aware of the need to keep her safe, in the knowledge of the harrowing scenes she had investigated earlier in her career.

For the Met, barrister Edwin Buckett denies any negligence in how she was treated at work and points out the fact that her time in the child and sex abuse teams was many years ago.

Ms Coy-Martin, from Chichester, West Sussex, is now suing the Met at Central London County Court for 1m in damages

However, he said it was denied that the teams were 'inherently unsafe' to work in or that it was 'foreseeable' that they carried a risk of psychiatric injury.

'The working environment was safe,' he says in the Met's defence. 'The claimant was assessed and vetted for working in these units and nothing untoward was identified before and during her time there.'

She had not claimed of being 'depressed, anxious, stressed' or of not being able to cope at work while on those teams and had only made limited disclosures of mental health issues after she left them.

Those issues had been linked to other problems, including her having an epileptic seizure, suffering physical medical issues and a surfing injury, and being assaulted by a shoplifter.

'It is denied that from 4th April 2016 the claimant indicated that she was vulnerable to sustaining psychiatric injury,' he continued.

'Overall, prior to May 2020 the claimant had a very poor sickness record which was linked to physical incidents/symptoms - save for one reference to anxiety in 2016.

'None of the reasons given by the claimant for time off work previously indicated a vulnerability to sustaining psychiatric injury.

'The defendant adequately supported the claimant and did not cause or contribute to her psychiatric injury.'

He added: 'Requiring the claimant to attend a police building was entirely reasonable and it is incredible to assert that a serving police officer should not have to attend such a building on occasion or that this caused or contributed to the claimant's alleged psychiatric condition.

'The fact that the claimant was sent an email with a baby's foot logo on it was not inappropriate or negligent, nor did this cause or contribute to the claimant's alleged psychiatric condition.

'It is denied that there were warnings signs of the danger that the claimant was suffering imminent and foreseeable psychiatric injury. The claimant was treated reasonably.

'It is denied that the claimant was placed under excessive stress and/or pressure of work. She did not complain of excessive stress or pressure of work.'

The case - described by the Met as 'strongly disputed' - reached court last week for a pre-trial hearing dealing with the evidence to be included at the trial of the claim.

It will return to court for a full trial at a later date, unless the parties agree a settlement earlier.
A three-week-old baby died after a doctor selected the wrong medication from a drop-down menu, an inquest heard.

Sidra Aliabase was born 13 weeks premature and given a 50 per cent chance of growing up with a heart disorder.

However when prescribing her medication, a doctor selected the wrong option, which was then given at five times the appropriate dose for a baby of her size.

Compounding the problem was the failure of the doctor and the nursing team to notice the error, check her blood results, or communicate sufficiently with the consultant.

This led to Sidra's health 'deteriorating' and after a bout of sepsis she passed away due to the 'failure in basic care'.

Following the tragedy, a Prevention of Future Deaths report has been published after a coroner at her inquest noted the risk of error on drop-down menu selections.

It also raised concerns about the communications at Great Ormond Street Hospital, which helped look after Sidra.

Sidra was born on April 19, 2024 by an emergency caesarean at 27 weeks and one day of gestation.

Sidra Aliabase died aged just three weeks after a doctor selected the wrong medication from a drop-down menu, which was prescribed at the incorrect dose, an inquest heard

She was 'very small' and needed help with breathing and eating and was admitted to neonatal intensive care.

She also suffered with an episode of sepsis and was given a 50 per cent chance of suffering with long QT syndrome - which her two older sisters had been diagnosed with.

Long QT syndrome is a genetic, heart signalling disorder in which the heart muscle takes too long to recharge between beats.

In Sidra's case, the risk had been recognised prenatally. After she was born experts at Great Ormond Street Hospital were consulted but there was not adequate communication back to Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, the report said.

On May 8, she was wrongly prescribed sodium acid phosphate rather than sodium chloride - as the doctor had selected the wrong medication from a drop-down menu.

It was also prescribed at five times the recommended dosage and directly caused hypocalcaemia - serious calcium deficiency - and bradycardia - a heart issue.

It was only after the fourth dose that the phosphate lowered, but the mistake was still not communicated to the consultant at the time.

Hypocalcaemia was apparent but not recognised by clinicians for more than 16 hours.

A Future of Deaths report found there were 'concerns' over how doctors at Great Ormond Street Hospital had communicated with the team at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital

This led to her condition deteriorating further and she died at the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital on May 10, 2024.

An inquest into Sidra's death held in Inner West London gave a conclusion for the death as an 'accident contributed to by neglect'.

The cause of death was confirmed as iatrogenic hypocalcaemia and long QT Syndrome and complications of prematurity, pulmonary artery stenosis with right ventricular hypertrophy and intrauterine growth restriction.

A prevention of future deaths report has now been released by coroner Fiona Wilcox, senior coroner for Inner West London.

Ms Wilcox said: 'The failure to prescribe the medication correctly was a failure in basic care and this was compounded by the failure to recognise the hypocalcaemia and the mis-prescribing across multiple shifts and clinical disciplines.

'The team should also have been on notice for the possibility of a premature delivery since both her sisters had been born prematurely.

'The court accepted evidence that treatment with beta blockers would not have protected against the subsequent hypocalcaemic induced bradycardia that led to Sidra's death.

'By the morning of May 9, 2024 her bradycardia was worsening, and long QT was grossly apparent on her heart trace monitor.

'IV lines and electrolyte blood testing were requested, as electrolyte disturbance can cause or exacerbate arrhythmias and expert advice sought from the RBH. However once more, hypocalcaemia and the prescribing error was missed.

'Sidra went on to deteriorate and died as a direct result of the error in prescribing both the incorrect medication and in overdose.

'The court found that the effect of phosphate overdose on calcium is something that the prescribing doctor should have been aware of and communicated to the consultant.

'There were thus multiple missed opportunities to recognise the prescribing error and overdose and its effects in a timely fashion that may have improved the outcome for Sidra and prevented her death at the material time.

'The prescribing doctor described to the court that they had chosen the wrong drug from the drop-down menu.

'There are still a number of outstanding concerns including that communications by the on-call paediatric cardiology team at GOSH [Great Ormond Street Hospital] are not as they should be when they communicate between themselves and hospital teams that contact them for advice.

'Also the drop-down menu prescribing is more likely to lead to errors in drug selection for drugs of similar names.'

A spokesperson for Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children said: 'We would like to offer our heartfelt condolences to Sidra's family.

'We recognise that GOSH is often contacted for specialist advice and therefore it is important that our processes are clear and robust.

'We will look carefully at Sidra's care so we can understand what more we could have done and learn for the future.'

A spokesperson for Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust said:

'We extend our deepest condolences to Sidra's family, and our thoughts remain with them at this difficult time.

'Our priority is always to provide the highest standard of care and we will be responding to the Coroner's report to confirm how the Trust has taken steps to address the ongoing learning from these circumstances and to improve patient care.'
The number of migrants brought into Britain under Labours one in, one out deal with France is 25 per cent higher than the total who have been removed.

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood confirmed 281 small boat migrants have been deported back to France under the deal.

But, so far, 350 other migrants have been admitted from France to the UK by the Home Office.

She confirmed more migrants are already lined up in France waiting to come over under the reciprocal terms of the deal with president Emmanuel Macrons government.

The difference between the arrivals and deportations carried out under the treaty were very normal discrepancies, Ms Mahmood said.

Weve had 350 people come in to the country from France and 281 have been removed, she told LBC's Nick Ferrari at Breakfast.

There are very normal discrepancies on these numbers.

They are relatively small numbers, but this was a pilot.

Migrants sprint across the beach at Gravelines, northern France, to board a dinghy bound for Britain in August last year

Tory leader Kemi Badenoch said the figures showed Labour's 'incompetence', while Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp branded it a 'lamentable admission of failure'.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer scrapped the Tories' Rwanda scheme - which was designed to deter small boat crossings and save lives - as one of his first acts in office.

Labour ministers later signed the 'one in, one out' deal with the French in an attempt to get on top of soaring Channel crossings - which last year hit the second-highest annual total since the crisis began in 2018.

Join the debate Is Shabana Mahmood losing control of Channel crossings?

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood confirmed the number of migrants who have arrived in the UK under Labour's flagship 'one in, one out' deal is 25 per cent higher than the number removed

Ms Mahmood told LBC: It was designed to try to prove this new model of working with the French could work.

There are practical issues around how quickly you can detain people and get them on a plane and move them out to France.

Weve actually sped up removals to France and then taking people in.

It started very small and very slowly, because the French authorities and us were concerned about whether we could physically handle implementing the pilot and whether we had the right infrastructure in place.

A migrant dinghy in the Channel last August

The numbers will grow.

More than 21,000 small boat migrants have reached Britain across the Channel since the deal was first announced in July.

Migrants sent back to France are housed in state accommodation centres but are not detained, which means they are free to come and go.

Several have already been found to have returned to Britain after being deported.

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Ms Mahmood told the programme: One of the first problems we ran in to was we couldnt find enough people to bring in to Britain through the new route because there wasnt enough knowledge.

You have got to compete with organised immigration crime to get your messages out.

We have more people in centres in France waiting to come over.

Opposition leader Ms Badenoch said on X, formerly Twitter: 'This incompetent Labour government summed up in a policy: the 'one-in-one' out deal with France results in 69 MORE illegal immigrants coming to the UK.

'The solution: Vote Conservative. Leave the ECHR [European Convention on Human Rights]. Deport all illegals on arrival.'

Shadow Home Secretary Mr Philp said: 'This is a lamentable admission of failure by the Home Secretary.

'The government scheme has resulted in a net inflow of 70 immigrants.

PM Sir Keir Starmer and president Emmanuel Macron agreed the deal last July

'And worse than that, they have only removed 281 illegal immigrants when 41,000 arrived last year.

'The chances of an illegal Channel migrant being removed under this scheme is virtually zero.'

He added: 'Its no surprise that illegal immigrants continue to flood across the Channel on this Home Secretarys watch.

'She has no control of illegal immigrants crossing the Channel whatsoever.

'The only way to stop this is to exit the ECHR and deport all illegal immigrants within a week of arrival. But the Home Secretary is too weak to do that.'

Shadiow Home Secretary Chris Philp said the latest figures were a 'lamentable admission of failure'

Downing Street defended the 'landmark' scheme and said Sir Keir wanted to see it 'scaled up'.

The PM's spokesman said the exact numbers swapped will 'fluctuate', adding: 'The numbers have tilted one way or the other throughout the pilot scheme.'

Despite the tiny numbers sent back, the spokesman insisted the scheme was 'disrupting the business model of the smuggling gangs at source' by sending out the message that 'if you come to the UK illegally you will be detained, processed and returned to France.'

It came after Frances human rights advisor said police must stop using rubber bullets and tear gas to prevent small-boat migrants sailing to Britain.

Claire Hedon, the countrys highly influential Defender of Rights, said in a report that tactics used on the beaches of Calais and Normandy are 'disproportionate' and risk harming the thousands of young men flooding into Britain.

Her recommendations were branded 'crazy' and raised fears Paris may breach its agreement with the Labour government to take more robust action against sea crossings.

In her 18-page report, Ms Hedon wrote: 'The objective of preventing departures is understandable given the danger of the crossing, and law enforcement plays a protective role, but this cannot be done at any cost.

The use of intermediate force weapons endangers people.'

She said the use of 'flash ball' guns that fire rubber bullets and riot-control tear gas should be 'excluded...when the sole purpose of the security forces is to prevent people from boarding a boat'.

The Defender of Rights acts as a security forces watchdog and her advice is frequently implemented by the notoriously risk-averse French Government.
The Trump administration has indicated to Ukraine that any US security guarantees are contingent on Kyiv first agreeing to a peace plan that would see it surrendering territory to Vladimir Putin.

According to the Financial Times, which cited eight people familiar with talks, the US is calling on Ukraine to give up the Donbas region, its industrial heartland made up of Luhansk and Donetsk.

The White House also suggested it would promise Kyiv more weaponry to reinforce its peacetime army, but only on the condition that it agrees to withdraw its forces from the parts of the eastern region it still holds, according to two sources.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was ready to sign documents on security guarantees and a postwar $800bn 'prosperity plan' with the US as early as this month, giving him the upper-hand in future negotiations with the Kremlin.

But the Trump administration is now signalling that any US security assurances depend on reaching an agreement with Moscow beforehand.

Washington is yet to give its final approval to either agreement, despite the fact that Zelensky said the texts of the security guarantees, which he discussed with President Donald Trump at Davos last week, were '100 per cent ready'.

Putin has repeatedly demanded that Kyiv make painful territorial concessions to end the war, but Zelensky has consistently said Ukraine would not hand over the Donbas in exchange for peace.

A top Ukrainian official said it was increasingly ambiguous whether Washington would commit to assurances. 'They stop each time the security guarantees can be signed,' the official said.

Russian President Vladimir Putin smiles during a bilateral meeting at the State Hermitage Museum, on January 26, 2026, in Saint Petersburg, Russia

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Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky and US President Donald Trump shake hands during their bilateral meeting at the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, January 22

After Trumps meeting with Zelensky in Washington last month, US officials described the Nato-like security guarantees as the 'platinum standard', but cautioned the deal 'would not be on the table forever'.

Zelensky also indicated for the first time that as a 'compromise' he would forgo ambitions to join Nato in exchange for strong guarantees.

But Ukraine wants the US to confirm security commitments before it cedes any territory.

Meanwhile, the White House believes Kyiv must surrender the Donbas for fighting to end, and maintains it is doing little to pressure the Russian leader to abandon one of his most hardline and persistent demands, the sources said.

'This is totally false - the US's only role in the peacemaking process is to bring both sides together to make a deal,' Anna Kelly, the deputy White House press secretary, told FT.

'Its a shame that the Financial Times is letting malicious actors lie anonymously in order to muck up the peace process, which is in a great place after this weekends historic trilateral meeting in Abu Dhabi,' she added.

A person familiar with the US position told the newspaper that Washington was 'not trying to force any territorial concessions upon Ukraine,' adding that security guarantees depend on both sides agreeing to a peace deal.

Zelensky announced on Friday said he and Trump had 'finalised' bilateral US-Ukraine security guarantees while in Davos for the World Economic Forum.

The question of land remained undecided as Kyiv entered the first three-way talks with the White House and the Kremlin held at the weekend in Abu Dhabi.

The senior official in Kyiv said Washington uses the 'guarantees ... to push Ukraine' to accept concessions they believe can get 'Russia to the table'.

The official added that the prosperity plan was not signed in Davos last week because Trump and Zelensky were in mutual agreement that the document required more work.

Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates, receives the heads of delegations participating in the UAE-hosted trilateral talks, January 23

Russian President Vladimir Putin, left, greets US President Donald Trump's envoys Steve Witkoff, centre, and Jared Kushner at the Senate Palace of the Kremlin, in Moscow, January 22

Rustem Umerov, Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine, and Steve Witkoff, United States Special Envoy, attend a meeting with Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates, January 23

Ever since 2014, the Donbas has been a bulwark against Moscow's invading forces.

The 50km defensive line, often referred to as the 'fortress belt', contains the cities of Kramatorsk, Slovyansk, Druzhkivka and Kostyantynivka.

About 54 per cent of Ukrainians object to formally ceding all of Donbas under Russian control in exchange for security guarantees from the US and Europe, according to polling by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology.

After almost four years of war, Moscow's forces currently control 90 per cent of the region, including almost all of Luhansk.

The US is pressuring Ukraine towards withdrawing troops from the region in order to create a 'free economic zone', after originally calling for a 'demilitarised zone'. The former plan would see the area internationally recognised as Russian territory, with the presence of Putin's national guard and police, but not its armed forces.

After pushback from Kyiv and its European allies, however, Trump eventually announced a compromise with Zelensky, agreeing a neutral force could oversee the region.

While Zelensky has come around to accepting the notion of a 'free economic zone', he will only support the idea it remains internationally recognised as Ukraines, and Putin's forces withdraw an equal distance from it.

The proposed US security guarantees include a promise that commitments will 'mirror' Article 5, Natos self-defence clause, and a pledge of a co-ordinated military response in the scenario of a sustained attack, two sources told FT.

But the allowances risk being too vague to satisfy Ukraine, and also too broad for Russia, one source added.

Putin insists he will not end the war unless Ukraine unilaterally and completely withdraws troops from the eastern Donbas area.

'There is enormous pressure being put on the Ukrainians right now,' said one of the sources.

Military analysts and Kyiv officials believe giving the Donbas to Russia would grant Putin's forces a launch pad to attack deeper inside Ukraine.

Speaking on Thursday morning before travelling to Moscow with Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner for talks with Putin, US envoy Steve Witkoff said: 'I think we've got it down to one issue and we have discussed iterations of that issue, and that means it's solvable.'

'It's all about the land. This is the issue which is not solved yet,' Zelensky told reporters at Davos, adding that 'the Russians have to be ready for compromises, not only Ukraine'.

In a post on X, Witkoff said the talks in Abu Dhabi 'were very constructive, and plans were made to continue conversations next week' in the Emirati capital.

But Zelensky said 'further diplomatic work' remained on 'complex political matters that remain unresolved'.

Negotiators will return to the United Arab Emirates on February 1 for another round of talks, according to a US official.

The weekend discussions covered a broad range of military and economic matters and included the possibility of a ceasefire before a comprehensive deal, an American official said.

'The very fact that these contacts have begun in a constructive way can be assessed positively, but there is still serious work ahead,' Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told journalists.

'It's no secret that this is our consistent position, the position of our president, that the territorial issue, which is part of the Anchorage formula, is of fundamental importance to the Russian side,' he was quoted as saying by the TASS state news agency.

The 'Anchorage formula' refers to what Russia says was agreed between Trump and Putin at a summit in Alaska last August, according to a source close to the Kremlin.

That purported agreement, according to the same source, envisages Ukraine handing Russia control of all of Donbas and freezing the front lines elsewhere in Ukraine's east and south as a condition of any future peace deal.

Donetsk is home to ports, railways and other heavy industry. It once accounted for more than half of Ukraine's coal, finished steel, coke, cast iron and steel production but many mines and facilities have been destroyed in the war.

Donetsk also has rare earths, titanium and zirconium - a source of revenue for whoever controls it.

The fate of Donetsk is one factor that is likely to shape the historical legacy of Putin and Zelenskiy.

Putin has cast himself as the defender of ethnic Russians wherever they are. Securing all of Donetsk is central to that narrative.

Zelensky came to power in 2019 vowing to end the war in eastern Ukraine. Since 2022, he has gained a reputation as the defiant defender of outgunned and outnumbered Ukraine in the face of a much bigger, hostile neighbour.

Giving up Donetsk without a fight - ceding territory where at least a quarter of a million Ukrainians live - could be seen as a betrayal by Ukrainians, many of whom have lost relatives on the battlefield.

The remainder of Donetsk which Russia covets includes Sloviansk and Kramatorsk, 'fortress cities' used by Ukraine's military as hubs since 2014.

They are vital to Kyiv's defence of the rest of Ukraine as the land west of Donetsk is much flatter, with vast open fields, which would make it easier for Russia to advance beyond Donetsk and take territory on the eastern bank of the River Dnipro.

The cities are part of a heavily fortified line of defences, including trenches, anti-tank obstacles, bunkers and minefields that are located around them.

Zelensky has said that handing over the rest of Donetsk would be illegal without a referendum.

Kyiv fears that if it surrenders the rest of Donetsk, Russia would re-arm and at some point use Donetsk to sweep westwards.

Ukrainian servicemen prepare to launch a GARA drone for aerial reconnaissance at an undisclosed location near the frontline in the Donetsk region, eastern Ukraine, January 23

Giving up Donetsk without a fight - ceding territory where at least a quarter of a million Ukrainians live - could be seen as a betrayal by Ukrainians, many of whom have lost relatives on the battlefield

Russia's Defence Ministry said on Monday that air defences downed 40 Ukrainian drones late on Sunday and early on Monday, including 34 over the Krasnodar region and four over the Sea of Azov.

Krasnodar officials said drone fragments fell on two industrial plants in the city of Slavyansk, sparking fires that were extinguished.

One person was injured, they said.

By contrast, Ukraine's general staff said an oil refinery in the Krasnodar region was targeted by Ukrainian forces.

The facility supplied the Russian military, it added.

Russian forces launched 138 drones at Ukraine overnight, 110 of which were shot down or suppressed, and 21 of them hit targets in 11 locations.
Tory peers will fight to kill off Keir Starmer's Chagos 'surrender law' in the House of Lords to try to force a rethink amid growing US opposition to the deal.

They believe they have the numbers to bog down the legislation, which passes control of the British Indian Ocean Territory to Mauritius, so that it does not pass before the end of the parliamentary session in May.

It comes after the Government postponed a debate on the deal in the House of Lords on Monday, following the Tories tabling an amendment that called for a pause 'in the light of the changing geopolitical circumstances'.

Their bid to halt the legislation came after Donald Trump branded the deal an 'act of great stupidity', despite previous support from the White House.

However, a senior minister today suggested that the Government believes the US president, whose critics have coined the acronym Taco (Trump Always Chickens Out) due to his frequent U-turns, will have a change of heart.

Housing Secretary Steve Reed told Times Radio that Trump's opposition was linked to a row with Nato allies over Greenland, over which he has since backed down.

'Donald Trump was saying things a week ago because he was trying to pressure some of his allies to change their position on Greenland sovereignty,' he said.

'We made it clear we're not going to do that. And now I suspect Donald Trump won't pursue that (Chagos) point.'

Peers believe they have the numbers to bog down the legislation passing control of the British Indian Ocean Territory to Mauritius so that it does not pass before the end of the parliamentary session in May

Their bid to halt the legislation came after Donald Trumpbranded the deal an 'act of great stupidity', despite previous support from the White House.

However, a senior minister today suggested that the Government believes the US president will have a change of heart

However a think tank today suggested that ministers should walk away from the yet-to-be-ratified deal, warning it would 'badly prejudice US-UK defence interests'.

Critics of the deal point to Mauritius's warm relationship with China and suggest the agreement would leave vulnerable the allied air base on Diego Garcia, which the UK and US will lease back.

A new report by the Policy Exchange think tank today warns that the treaty would see the island nation, 1,300 miles from the Chagos archipelago, 'accept payments from our adversaries and ... authorise them to enter the archipelago, occupy the outer islands and otherwise act in ways that would seriously prejudice the security of Diego Garcia.'

Professor Richard Ekins, head of Policy Exchange's Judicial Power Project, said: 'The UK Government should recognise that US-UK defence interests would be much more secure if the UK retained sovereignty and that for many other reasons  financial prudence, fairness to the Chagossians, environmental protection  handing over the Chagos Islands to Mauritius would be a decision to regret.'

The Chagos Bill is currently in the later stages of parliamentary scrutiny known as 'ping pong', where legislation is batted back and forth between the Commons and Lords until agreement is reached between the Houses.

A Conservative amendment calls for the Government to see that the agreement does not breach a 1966 treaty signed with America which confirms UK sovereignty of the islands.

No 10 accused accused peers of 'irresponsible' and 'reckless' behaviour and said the timing for a rescheduled Lords debate on the Chagos Bill would be set out 'in the usual way'.

No 10 refused to be drawn on whether the agreement was raised in Sir Keir's call with the US president over the weekend.

'UK and US officials are continuing to work together to ensure that the necessary arrangements are in place for the future operation of the base, as they have been for many months, and we will continue that work,' the official said.
Four Utah children allegedly abducted to Croatia by their mother because she feared an impending apocalypse have now been left stuck in an orphanage after she was arrested.

Ellishia Anne Seymour, 35, sparked panic last month when she took her four children, Landon, 10, Levi, 8, Hazel, 7, and Jacob, 3, to Europe to escape the 'end times.'

Seymour reportedly took the children to live with another woman and her 13-year-old son, who later realized the children and their mother were the subjects of an international manhunt.

She was arrested in Croatia after they convinced her to turn herself in, but her children have been left in legal limbo in an orphanage as their father fights to return them to the US.

In a GoFundMe set up by Seymour's ex-husband Kendall, he wrote in an update on Sunday that while Ellishia is in custody, the children are still 'trapped' in a state-run orphanage.

'We are in the country, trying to get the kids out of the custody of the local government,' Kendall wrote.

'We have to hire Croatian lawyers who specialize in child abduction, create and submit Hague Convention applications, hire court-approved translators, and extend our stay here by an unknown amount of time. All to work on getting the kids released from government custody.'

Kendall - who previously spoke of his shock at discovering his ex-wife had taken the children to Croatia - added that they are also hoping to return the other child, who is an American, back to the US, but his 'situation is even more difficult than my own kids status.'

Utah siblings (seen with their father Kendall Seymour) who were allegedly abducted to Croatia by their mother because she feared an impending apocalypse have now been left stuck in an orphanage

Elleshia Anne Seymour, 35, was arrested in Croatia after allegedly abducting the children

The mother was said to have become obsessed with an incoming apocalypse, leading her to allegedly take her kids on an international flight in December 2025 with no plans to return.

After realizing the children had been whisked away to Europe, Ellishia's family said they discovered her fears of the apocalypse based on her social media, evidence found in her home, and statements she made to others, reports ABC4.

Kendall told KSL-TV last month that he had seen his children days before they flew with their mother, and had no idea of her plans to abruptly leave.

'I didn't know about any of these ideas of hers until a couple of weeks ago when someone found her TikTok account,' he said.

'She thinks Salt Lake is going to be destroyed and she is trying to get the kids to safety. My only hope is that she is motivated to protect them.'

He added: 'There were no signs of that when we were married or divorced in the last five years.'

This week, Ellishia's family said they discovered she and the children had been staying with a woman and her 13-year-old child.

The children's father Kendall said there were 'no signs' that his ex-wife was becoming a 'religious zealot' when they were together, but said she is now said to have become obsessed with an incoming apocalypse

Seymour allegedly took her children Landon, 10, Levi, 8, Hazel, 7, and Jacob, 3, to Croatia to escape the 'end times', sparking a month-long international manhunt

Kendall said he is fighting to return his children to the US, but he said the process is lengthy as he has to 'hire Croatian lawyers who specialize in child abduction, create and submit Hague Convention applications, hire court-approved translators, and extend our stay here by an unknown amount of time'

Due to the international manhunt for the children, the 13-year-old reportedly discovered there was an endangered and missing advisory for the children, and told his mom.

The woman then convinced Ellishia to turn herself into police, and both women were taken into custody. The four Seymour children and the 13-year-old were placed into a local orphanage.

It appears that the 13-year-old is the fifth child referenced in Kendall Seymour's fundraiser update, who he described as being in a 'situation even more difficult than my own kids' status.'

Kendall's father told ABC4 that the situation has forever changed how he sees the mother of his grandchildren, who he says became a 'religious zealot' in recent times.

He said she had been posting to TikTok about how she believed America would be destroyed in an imminent apocalypse.

The grandfather, also called Kendall, said his son is now fighting to return the children back to the US through a complex legal system in Croatia.

'From what we found out today, there needs to be a judge in Croatia thats going to sign a form of some kind that allows them to be released to their father, which is so frustrating,' the grandfather said.

'(Kendall) has their birth certificates with him, and hes got court documentation saying that hes the father and he has custody of them, but its not good enough.'

He described the ordeal on the family as 'devastating', and said at first they feared not even knowing if the children 'were alive or dead.'

'We had no idea what living condition they were in. We had no clue... Couldnt tell you how many hours of sleep I lost worrying about them.'

Elleshia was seen on surveillance footage leading her four children through a terminal at Salt Lake City International Airport on November 30

He said the family has been left frustrated by how much harder it has been to take the children back from Croatia, compared to how easy it appeared for Ellishia to take them.

'The frustrating part is she got them there with no problem, but its been horrible trying to get them out of Croatia back home,' he added.

'Part of the problem is nobody in Croatia, at least in the government, has had this happen before to them, so they dont know what to do. Nobody in the orphanage knows what to do as far as releasing the kids.'

Kendall's sister McKenzie Diaz added that the family is 'happy to know where the kids are', but the ordeal has weighed on the youngsters.

'Were allowed to be with them for two hours each day, which is wonderful based off of not knowing where they were before, but not what were going for,' she said.

'So, its so close to reunification, but having to say goodbye every single day after only such a short amount of time is really difficult.'
A toddler flew out of her mother's moving car at a busy intersection in California, heart stopping video shows.

A mother - since identified has 35-year-old Jacqueline Hernandez - was driving her Mercedes SUV through Fullerton, about 30 miles outside of Los Angeles, last week when the terrifying incident unfolded.

The driver made a left turn at a busy intersection and the front passenger door of her vehicle flew open, causing her 19-month-old child to tumble to the ground.

Hernandez appears to abruptly slam on her brakes, forcing the Toyota Camry behind her to grind to a sudden halt, as the crawling child wiggles on the ground.

She quickly exits the vehicle, scoops her daughter up and gets back into the car. Although it is not depicted in the clip, it is understood that Hernandez then drove away with her child in tow.

Police said the toddler sustained injuries consisted with a fall and was taken to a nearby hospital for treatment, the LA Times reported. She is expected to make a full recovery.

Hernandez was apprehended at her La Habra home four days later after a witness came forward to police. She was arrested on suspicion of felony child endangerment.

A toddler flew out of her mother's moving car near the intersection of N. Euclid Street and W. Malvern Avenue in Fullerton, California last Tuesday during morning rush hour

The driver - since identified has 35-year-old Jacqueline Hernandez - made a left turn at a busy intersection and the front passenger door of her vehicle to fly open, causing her 19-month-old child to tumble to the ground

Hernandez quickly exited the vehicle, scooped her daughter up and got back into the car

Police say the terrifying incident occurred near the intersection of N. Euclid Street and W. Malvern Avenue last Tuesday sometime between 8 and 9am.

Bystander video of the toddler's fall quickly amassed millions of views on social media.

A witness came forward with identifying information on Saturday, which ultimately led to Hernandez's arrest.

Investigators say they found Hernandez, her toddler and the SUV seen in the video when they visited her home.

She was booked at the Fullerton City Jail on Sunday, according to inmate records reviewed by the Daily Mail.

This incident remains under investigation. Anyone with information about the case is urged to contact Fullerton Police Department.

The Daily Mail has approached investigators for comment.
A former Minneapolis City Councilmember experienced an embarrassing run-in with cops after she previously advocated to abolish the police as a local lawmaker.

Alondra Espejel, 44, was convicted on criminal charges in Minnesota after a drunk driving incident last fall, when police responded to a crash and arrested her on two charges of driving while intoxicated.

Espejel, who served as a councilmember under the last name Cano, was elected in 2013 and exited public office in 2022 after choosing not to run for reelection.

During her time on the council, Espejel was one of nine members who pledged to support the abolishment of the Minneapolis Police Department.

She also said at the time on social media that the MPD was 'not reformable,' adding 'Change is coming.'

Espejel found herself in hot water with the police in October. MPD responded to reports of a crash just after 11pm, according to a statement of probable cause for arrest.

Another individual told officers that Espejel hit their parked car. Police approached Espjel, who refused to identify herself or provide her driver's license and proof of insurance.

Witnesses told officers that Espejel sped down a street while honking at the car in front of her.

Alondra Espejel, 44, pictured above, was convicted for driving while intoxicated after an October incident where she made a sexually explicit remark to police and refused a sobriety test

Espejel served on the Minneapolis City Council from 2014 to 2022. She previously advocated for abolishing the police and is pictured above at a rally in 2020

Espejel was arrested on October 29, 2025 and is pictured above in her mugshot. She was convicted on third-degree driving while intoxicated charges for refusing to submit to a breath test

She then stopped behind a line of traffic, pulled out from the line, and crashed into another vehicle.

After refusing, police said Espejel 'attempted to put the vehicle in drive and flee the scene,' according to the complaint.

Officers then noted that Espejel's eyes were bloodshot, her speech was slurred, and she smelled of alcohol.

After police repeatedly demanded that Espejel leave her vehicle, they physically removed her and placed her in the squad car.

During sobriety tests, Espejel 'was making comments about oral sex while the officer was trying to explain the Breath Test Advisory.'

She refused the breathalyzer and was arrested on third and fourth-degree charges of a DWI for refusing to submit to a breath test and operating a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol.

Espejel was released on a $6,000 bond. She pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of refusing to submit to a breath test.

The former councilmember was sentenced to two years of supervised probation, community service, and an additional $450 in fines.

Espejel, pictured above at a rally in June 2020, previously said the MPD was 'not reformable.' She joined nine other council members to work toward abolishing the police force

Espejel had previously been an outspoken critic of the police following George Floyd's death in 2020.

She joined nine other councilmembers at a protest to announce their intention to redefine policing in Minneapolis.

'We are here today to begin the process of ending the Minneapolis Police Department and creating a new, transformative model for cultivating safety in Minneapolis,' the councilmembers said at the time in a joint statement, as reported by the Minneapolis Star Tribune.

Prior to her tenure on the council, Espejel served as an Associate Director for the Minnesota Immigrant Freedom Network.

She was raised in Mexico before immigrating to the US with her family at the age of 10, according to her profile with the National Association of Latino Arts and Cultures.

Espejel was elected as a council member in 2013 and served until 2022, deciding at the time not to seek re-election. She's pictured above in 2018 after winning her second campaign

Espejel advocated for progressive causes during her time in office, pictured above at a 2015 budget meeting. She was the first Latina elected to the Minneapolis City Council

Espejel was the first Latina elected to the Minneapolis City Council. During her time as a council member, she advocated for abolishing Columbus Day.

She also worked to establish 'Cultural Districts,' areas of the city with a high population of people of color and immigrants.

In 2023, Espejel joined Minnesota Representative Dean Phillips' long-shot presidential campaign.

The Daily Mail has reached out to Espejel and her representation for comment.
A major airline is facing backlash after delaying a flight for more than 15 hours during a massive winter storm, only to cancel it after passengers waited all day.

Eager travelers arrived at Baton Rouge Metropolitan Airport around 5am on Monday for an American Airlines flight to Washington DC.

They were scheduled to board around 5.55am, but passengers were still at the airport well after 7pm.

'They delayed us 14 times,' John Hains, who was scheduled to travel, told WBRZ. 'I have 14 emails.'

He claimed the delays were so extensive that the flight crew was no longer allowed to operate the plane.

'They said they were pretty sure that the flight was going to be canceled because the crew had timed out, and they're going to reach their 14 or 15-hour time limit,' Hains said.

In DC, 639 flights were canceled at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport on Monday.

Winter Storm Fern caused American Airlines to cancel more than 1,800 flights across the US yesterday, according to FlightAware.

American Airlines to canceled more than 1,400 flights on Monday due to Winter Storm Fern, per flight tracking website FlightAware

Travelers at Baton Rouge Metropolitan Airport were scheduled to board around 5.55am on Monday for a flight to Washington DC but remained at the airport past 7pm

Hains said the reason for the repeated delays and eventual cancellation were crosswinds caused by the massive storm.

'First, the DC Airport was closed and didn't open apparently until at least 9.30 this morning,' he added.

After that, Hains said the delays started coming in mass to his email.

Federal rules allow flight attendants to work up to 14 hours in a day, which Hains said was also explained to travelers.

Passengers were eventually moved to a different flight for Charlotte Douglas International Airport.

However, that flight would subsequently take them to the nation's capital, but that change of plans soon went awry.

'And so they booked us onto Charlotte, which was supposed to leave at 5:30, and then got delayed to 7 and then 7:30,' Hains said.

The rescheduled trip to Charlotte was then canceled. Hains said his flight was moved again to Tuesday night.

The snow storm forced the closure of Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport on Sunday until snow could be cleared from its runways

The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, which operates the DC area airport, told the Daily Mail today that 'the airport is open for flight operations'

Another traveler described the unpleasant experience, which started when she got to the airport around 5am alongside dozens of other passengers.

'I was scheduled to fly to DCA Reagan National in Washington DC,' Angela Williams told the outlet. 'We were supposed to board at 5:55 this morning.'

She spent the week in Baton Rouge, but was excited to return to DC. That became impossible.

The airline could have been more transparent and canceled the flight earlier, according to the passengers, who would have rather been at home given the frigid conditions.

'I could have been at my parents' house resting because it's actually cold in this airport,' Williams added. 'It's very cold.'

Baton Rouge was still under an extreme cold warning until noon Tuesday with temperatures in the teens and 20s, although it was expected to be warmer than Monday

There have been two delays and one cancellation at the local airport today, per FlightAware.

Passenger Angela Williams said she would have stayed at home with her parents instead of going to the airport in the frigid cold had she known the flight was going to get canceled

Fellow traveler John Hains said he was still at the Baton Rouge airport past 7pm on Monday. His flight was rescheduled to Charlotte but then canceled

At Reagan National, 98 delays and 157 cancellations have been reported.

The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, which operates the DC area airport, told the Daily Mail that 'the airport is open for flight operations' and redirected an inquiry about Monday's delay to the airline.

Nationwide figures showed 12,710 delays and 2,003 cancellations today, marking a drop from the weekend's travel chaos.

More than 11,500 flights were canceled on Sunday as icy and snowy conditions brought on by Winter Storm Fern wreaked havoc on airports.

That included Reagan National, where all flights were canceled due to the winter storm until snow could be cleared from runways.

However, the National Weather Service has warned of the possibility of another winter storm battering the eastern half of the US this upcoming weekend.

The Daily Mail has reached out to American Airlines and Baton Rouge Metropolitan Airport for comment.
The mayor of Toronto has been mocked after making an unfortunate mistake while describing the historic snow that blanketed the city over the weekend.

A record-breaking 56 centimeters of snow, or 22 inches, accumulated in the city as of Monday, according to Environment Canada.

However while describing the accumulation at a press conference on Monday, Mayor Olivia Chow misspoke.

'Some areas received up to 56 meters of snow, and this is a record-breaking storm,' she said - the equivalent of 2,204 inches.

Attentive listeners quickly noticed the flub and made light of it on social media.

'It was worse than that during the last ice age apparently,' one person wrote on X. 'Well s**t walking outside it feels like 56 meters,' another added.

'Feel so lucky still alive, not buried by the 56 meters of snow,' a third person wrote.

Another wrote: 'Surprisingly easy to shovel though. It was like shoveling powder.'

Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow mistakenly said that 56 meters of snow fell the city over the weekend

A record-breaking 56 centimeters of snow, or 22 inches, accumulated in the city

'Be ready for the upcoming snow tax because of 56 meters,' added another.

Some empathized with the mayor, joking that converting to the metric system - which Canada did in 1975 - is challenging.

'No one said that converting to the metric system was going to be easy,' one person wrote.

At Monday's press conference, Chow said 600 plows were deployed across roads and sidewalks, and that over 1,300 city staff and contractors were mobilized citywide, CP24 reported.

'City staff and contractors have been actively and relentlessly plowing, and we will continue plowing non-stop, and we won't stop until the job is done,' Chow said.

'The roads now, you can get from one place to another place, and so the city is not paralyzed like perhaps was 21 (25) years ago or something like that where the mayor at the time called in the army. So, I don't think we need to bring in the army.'

On Tuesday, she announced that crews will be shifting their efforts to removing snow near hospitals and trucking it to storage facilities across the city, the Toronto Star reported.

Chow said that 600 plows were deployed across the roads and sidewalks, and over 1,300 city staff and contractors are mobilized citywide

CP24 Meteorologist Bill Coulter said that 'Toronto really got the brunt' of the storm in part due to some lake enhancement snow that drove up snowfall totals downtown

'Crews will be going street by street informing residents when the snow removal will happen on their block,' she said.

'Starting now and over the next 48 hours, our crews will begin picking up and hauling snow away from residential streets.'

CP24 Meteorologist Bill Coulter explained that 'Toronto really got the brunt' of the storm that ravaged areas in the US in part due to some lake enhancement snow that drove up snowfall totals downtown.

'The ingredients were there. The cold arctic air sliding down from the arctic and interacting with very warm moist air over the tropics and that spun up a monster of a system, impacting millions of people stateside,' Coulter said.

'We got the northern fringes (of that) so not only did we get system snow but we got a cold easterly wind which drew moisture off the lake and caused lake enhancement and snow squalls that sat right over Toronto. What a winter wallop for Toronto.'
A migrant who strangled and punched his ex-girlfriend at a four-star taxpayer-funded hotel is facing jail.

Mamadou Alion Diallo, 27, hit Zenabou Quedraogo in the face on January 4 last year - leaving her with a 'massive bruise'.

Police were called to the Heston Hyde Hotel in Hounslow, west London after Ms Quedraogo was heard 'screaming'.

Diallo, whose asylum claim is believed to still be ongoing, had previously lashed out at Ms Quedraogo on October 23, 2024.

The Papua New Guinea national has now had his accommodation downgraded to a three-star migrant hotel - Thistle City, in Barbican, central London.

He is said to be 'extremely stressed' about the prospect of going to prison.

The court heard Diallo had 'moved around different countries' before coming to Britain.

He admitted intentional strangulation and assault by beating.

Mamadou Alion Diallo, 27, (pictured) punched Zenabou Quedraogo in the face on January 4 last year - leaving her with a 'massive bruise'

Diallo appeared at Isleworth Crown Court wearing a black jacket and tracksuit bottoms for sentencing

Nicholas Fooks, defending, said Diallo is extremely stressed about the proceedings

Diallo appeared at Isleworth Crown Court wearing a black jacket and tracksuit bottoms for sentencing.

The hearing was adjourned.

Nicholas Fooks, defending, said Diallo is extremely stressed about the proceedings.

Judge Sunaina Kaur Srai-Chohan said: We are not in an ideal situation here, but clearly the defendant needs to understand the situation, particularly because of what is written in the medical reports.

Diallo was freed on conditional bail ahead of sentence on on March 16.
A Georgia man who claimed to be a top veneer specialist now faces more than 100 charges after he was accused of training others without a license.

Brandon Dillard, who owned A List Smiles Atlanta, was indicted on 113 counts, including 54 counts of theft by deception and 21 counts of battery, in November.

Dillard allegedly practiced dentistry without a license and is accused of charging others to train them on how to be a veneer specialists - which doesn't legally exist in the state of Georgia, according to WSB-TV.

The fake dentist allegedly made more than $4million off his consumers and technician trainees, the outlet said.

However, Georgia does not have veneer specialists. The only licensed person allowed to install the custom-made shells is a dentist.

Dillard did not have a dental license.

'As much as he may want to play [a dentist] on Instagram, he is not one,' Fulton County Deputy District Attorney Will Wooten said at the time.

Dillard was arrested in October 2024 after investigators raided his dental office. He was booked into the Fulton County Jail before being released nine days later.

Brandon Dillard, who owned A List Smiles Atlanta, was indicted on 113 counts, including 54 counts of theft by deception and 21 counts of battery, in November

He entered a not guilty plea after waiving his arraignment hearing on Monday

He entered a not guilty plea after waiving his arraignment hearing on Monday, according to court records.

Dillard was also hit with one count of the Georgia Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act. The law is designed to combat organized criminal enterprises.

Jerald Applewhite said he got his veneers done by Dillard's office after seeing an influencer get hers done there.

The inspiring rapper said nothing appeared to be amiss when he arrived at the office and forked over $7,500 for veneers.

'It looked like a real dentists office. It [had] multiple rooms. I never even [thought] to ask questions about a license,' he told the Atlanta Constitution Journal.

Within a month, his brand new sparkly veneers fell out after he bit into a graham cracker.

He made a $50 follow-up appointment, and once again traveled from Memphis to Atlanta to fix his teeth, only to find the business didn't exist anymore.

'The number was disconnected that day, too. Everything was shut down,' Applewhite told the outlet. 'The day of me coming out there was the day [Dillard] got locked up.'

His dental office was raided in October 2024 and he was arrested for performing dental procedures without a license

The fake dentist allegedly made more than $4million off his consumers and technician trainees

It was the same day Applewhite discovered his dentist had performed the procedure without a license.

Prosecutors alleged Dillard has been illegally installing veneers since 2021.

The American Dental Association released a statement after Dillard's lock up, telling people to only go to a licensed dentist to have veneers placed, rather than a so-called specialist.

'Dental procedures that are considered irreversible should only be performed by licensed, trained dentists. The public should be extremely cautious of these purported offerings,' it wrote.

'Any dental procedure that may alter the physical structure of an individuals teeth, gums, or jaws, without the supervision of a dentist, has the potential to cause irreversible harm.'

Some of Dillard's charges go back to 2021, while newer ones were added after his arrest in 2024.

The Daily Mail has reached out to Dillard for comment.
A terrified dog died after teenagers kicked down his owner's door as part of a disturbing new internet trend.

Dissany Cid, 42, that her three-year-old Yorkshire terrier Spookie ran away after a group of teenagers kicked in her door in December.

She believes the teens were doing the 'door-kick challenge' - a TikTok trend in which teenagers sneak onto someone's property and smash in their front door.

Spookie was later found dead after being hit by a car.

'It's devastating,' she told WESH. 'I feel like I failed him.'

'If it was just my door, I don't care about my door. Break my windows, I could care less about that. But he didn't deserve that,' she said.

Cid has been calling for justice since the pup's death, but her evidence is limited because her Ring doorbell camera wasn't working at the time.

However the Volusia County Sheriff's Office told WESH on Monday that they are taking a second look at the case.

Dissany Cid, 42, said that her three-year-old Yorkshire terrier, Spookie, died after a group of teens doing the socalled 'door kick challenge' smashed in her door

Cid said that Spookie got out and ran away because he was scared

The sheriff's office described the incident as a group of teens playing 'ding dong ditch.'

Deputies told the local news station they are pursuing charges against the person they say is responsible.

The suspect has not been identified, and it is unclear what charges will be filed. Daily Mail contacted the Volusia County Sheriff's Office for more information.

Cid said she is hopeful the charges will help her move forward with her healing, but does not want the person to serve jail time. She hopes they will do community service instead.

'I need closure,' she said. 'This is just something that shouldn't have happened.'

Incidents of children kicking the front doors of strangers' homes and causing damage have been on the rise in recent months.

In November, at least five youngsters were arrested in Elk Grove, California, for kicking in doors and causing hundreds of dollars' worth of damage in at least eight different incidents.

In one case, surveillance footage released by police showed two youths, one in a ski mask and the other with his hood up, backing into a front door before booting it at full force and running away.

Cid said the teens kicked in the door of her Florida home (pictured) in December, but evidence is very limited in the case because her Ring doorbell camera wasn't working at the time

Cid has been calling for justice since the pup's death

The children caused more than $680 in damages, according to law enforcement, who issued a stern warning about the dangers of a seemingly innocuous online prank.

'We want to use this as an opportunity to remind our community that while trends like this may seem like harmless fun, they can have serious consequences,' the Elk Grove Police Department wrote.

The teenagers could face felony charges if the damages caused by the social media trend exceed $400, per California law.
A homeless woman was found nearly frozen to death in frigid temperatures before quick-thinking bystanders saved her life.

Convenience store manager Faris Hussain found the woman - a regular customer named Bobbi - 'stiff as a rock' in the snow outside Evans Food Mart in Fort Worth, Texas on Thursday.

'When I heard her name, it was one of my good customers,' he told First Alert 4.

Hussain and another customer immediately ran outside to rescue her. Temperatues plunged to a low of 38F on Thursday.

He lifted Bobbi up brought her inside, later saying her body appeared frozen solid.

'She felt like a rock, stiff as a rock,' he said.

Hussain was seen in security camera footage shuffling through the snow with Bobbi in his arms.

As she began to finally warm up, Bobbi thanked Hussain and the other customers. She had been outside the entire night.

Convenience store manager Faris Hussain found the woman - a regular customer named Bobbi - 'stiff as a rock' in the snow

Hussain and another customer immediately ran outside to rescue her. Temperatues plunged to a low of 38F on Thursday

As she began to finally warm up, Bobbi thanked Hussain and the other customers. She had been outside the entire night

Police and paramedics responded between 9am and 10am to transport Bobbi to the hospital. Her condition is unknown, according to CBS.

Hussain knows all of his customers and said he tries to help them as much as possible.

'If they come here on the daily I know them,' he told WFAA.

He allowed another homeless man named Marlon to warm up in the store amid the treacherous snow and ice.

'I was falling down and felt like I was going to die,' Marlon said.

Hailed as a hero, Hussain said he was just glad he could help someone in need.

'I don't really consider myself a hero or nothing but we do this on the daily for our community.'

It came just days before a winter storm sent temperatures plummeting and wreaked havoc across the US on the weekend.

EMS took Bobbi to the hospital. Her condition remains unknown

A winter storm has dumped inches of snow across the United States

Temperatures dipped as low as 15F in Fort Worth, according to AccuWeather.

Prolonged exposure to low temperatures can cause hypothermia, frostbite or even cardiovascular strain.

Fort Worth organized warming stations and overflow shelters for its more than 2,000 unhoused residents, WFAA reported.
Donald Trump reined in Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem after an icy White House meeting overseen by Chief of Staff Susie Wiles following another deadly shooting involving an immigration agent in Minnesota.

The internal scrutiny of Noem intensified after the fatal shooting of 37-year-old ICU nurse Alex Pretti in Minneapolis on Saturday, an incident she characterized as an act of 'domestic terror', putting her at odds with Trump.

The President grilled Noem over her handling and initial response to the shooting during their late-night meeting, reports say. Noem's adviser and rumored lover Corey Lewandowski was by her side at the Oval Office summit.

By the end of the night, Noem was ordered to shift her focus away from interior immigration enforcement operations and instead concentrate on securing the Southern Border.

Noem's longtime rival, White House Border Czar Tom Homan, was ordered by Trump to take over the Minnesota crackdown.

Despite the furor, Noem is expected to keep her job - for now.

Noem's law enforcement ally on the ground, Border Patrol commander Gregory Bovino, was also withdrawn along with scores of his agents. Initially, Noem and Lewandowski elevated Bovino to oversee high-profile immigration raids in U.S. urban centers including Los Angeles, Chicago and, most recently, Minneapolis.

The decision stirred internal anger among immigration agents aligned with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) because those operations traditionally fell under their jurisdiction, not Border Patrols.

Kristi Noem faces internal scrutiny by the White House over her department's handling of the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti

Trump is assigning Noem to oversee protecting the southern border and other matters but not immigration enforcement in the internal parts of the country.

Pretti, 37, was shot dead by a border patrol officer in Minneapolis on Saturday after struggling with agents

Bovino was sent packing to California on Monday night as Homan prepared to take over ground operation of Minneapolis. The Daily Mail can confirm that Border Patrol Commissioner Rodney Scott revoked Bovino's access to government-issued social media accounts.

Homan was present in the West Wing throughout Monday before departing to Minneapolis.

Trump is betting that the ICE veteran can work out a deal with Minnesota's Gov. Tim Walz for state and local cops to work with federal agents in exchange for their gradual departure from the Twin Cities.

Trump spent hours on Sunday and Monday watching cable news coverage and was unsettled by how the administration was being portrayed, one official told CNN.

Also in attendance at Noem's White House meeting with the president was Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt and Communications Director Steven Cheung.

On Sunday, Noem referred to Pretti as a 'domestic terrorist' - a view Trump did not share.

'I dont like any shooting. I dont like it,' Trump told the Wall Street Journal.

During a press briefing Monday, Leavitt said she had 'not heard the president characterize' Pretti as a domestic terrorist.

Join the debate Is this a clear demotion in all but name?

Trump wants Noem to refocus her efforts towards the southern border while her rival Tom Homan takes control over internal immigration enforcement

Kristi Noem is facing Trump's wrath as he orders her longtime rival, border czar Tom Homan, to clean up the chaos caused by her immigration crackdown in Minneapolis

Noem with her close adviser and rumored lover Corey Lewandowski (right)

Susie Wiles and Karoline Leavitt were present during Trump's Oval Office meeting with Noem and Lewandowski on Monday night

House Democrats on Capitol Hill have launched an investigation into Noem, while 140 members of the party have co-sponsored an impeachment resolution.

Republican lawmakers, including Texas Governor Greg Abbott and Kentucky Rep. James Comer, have also expressed concern that Noem's immigration crackdown in Minnesota may have gone off the rails.

The Democratic impeachment bill alleges that Noem has been self-dealing, obstructed Congress and violated public trust.

A spokesperson for DHS said that the efforts were 'silly' and Democrats should focus on fixing crime problems in their districts.

The minority party will also launch an investigation into Noem's work at DHS without any assistance from Republicans.

Senator Elizabeth Warren publicly called on the House to impeach Noem and demanded she resign.

Republican Rand Paul has also called multiple top immigration officials to testify at a February 12 hearing.

Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Rodney Scott, US Citizenship and Immigration Services Director Joseph Edlow and Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons have had their presence requested.

Noem will testify before the Senate on March 3 as part of regular oversight, Politico reported.
The National Security Council whistleblower who triggered the first impeachment against Donald Trump is running for Senate.

Alexander Vindman announced on Tuesday he is running in the president's home state of Florida as a Democrat seeking to oust Republican Senator Ashley Moody.

In his two-minute announcement video, the Ukraine-born candidate leans into his anti-Trump sentiment, claiming: 'This president unleashed a reign of terror and retribution, not just against me and my family, but against all of us.'

'Today, our country is in chaos.'

Vindman, a retired lieutenant colonel and an NSC aide during Trump's first term, testified to Congress in October and November 2019 regarding what he knew about the president's call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

He alleged that the president set a quid-pro-quo with Zelensky tying aide to war-torn Ukraine with their willingness to launch a damning investigation into Joe Biden, who was a presidential candidate at the time, and his son Hunter.

While the House voted to impeach, the Senate acquitted Trump in the first  and later second  impeachment trials against the president.

Vindman was then fired from his position with the NSC.

Alexander Vindman testifies before the House Intelligence Committee on November 19, 2019 after blowing the whistle on a call Donald Trump had with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky urging an investigation into then-presidential candidate Joe Biden

He immediately became a vocal Trump critic, published two books and worked as a senior adviser for VoteVets to help get veterans elected to public office.

The Army combat veteran first floated a Senate run in May 2025 during an interview with CBS Miami. He said at the time the 2026 midterms would be a good chance for a referendum on Trump.

Once seen as a more left-leaning state, Florida has in the last decade leaned more and more right, and the Cook Political Report puts Moody's seat as 'solid Republican.'

The 2026 Senate race in Florida is a special election. Whoever wins will need to run again in 2028 for a full six-year term in the upper chamber of Congress.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis appointed former Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody to the US Senate seat when Marco Rubio left it vacant last year to become Trump's secretary of State.

Moody has no real primary challengers and her seat is seat as safely Republican  but many times appointed lawmakers have a harder time keeping their seats compared to those who originally rose to the position through elections.

Still, Trump needs to keep the House and Senate red if he wants to continue pushing through his agenda with little to no trouble in Congress. And history shows that the party controlling the executive branch usually ends up losing at least one arm of the legislative in midterm elections.
An Oxford University student caught on camera allegedly making anti-Semitic chants at a pro-Palestine demonstration has denied a public order offence.

Samuel Williams, 20, is accused of stirring up racial hatred at a Palestine Coalition demonstration in Whitehall, central London, on Saturday, October 11.

He was charged last year and appeared before Westminster Magistrates' Court this afternoon.

He did not formally enter a plea, but indicated he will state he is not guilty at a further hearing.

He was released on conditional bail by the Deputy Chief Magistrate Tan Ikram ahead of his next appearance, at Southwark Crown Court on February 24.

Williams was toldhe was not allowed to take part in Palestine-related protests inside the M25 or in Oxford as part of his bail.

Williams was identified by the Daily Mail.

'Zio' is an offensive reference to Zionists, and some have interpreted the words as calling for death to Jews.

Pictures from Williams's Instagram page show him sporting a red and white keffiyeh scarf

Speaking through a microphone at the march, the man on camera apparently told the crowd: 'A steadfast and noble resistance in Palestine and in Gaza to look to, to be inspired by and  I don't want to yap for too long  but a chant that we've been workshopping in Oxford that maybe you guys want to join in.

'It goes "Gaza, Gaza make us proud, put the Zios in the ground".'

Williams was arrested at a property in Oxfordshire on suspicion of inciting racial hatred following an investigation launched by Scotland Yard detectives.

The philosophy, politics and economics student at Balliol College was also suspended by Oxford University.

Before winning a place at Oxford, Williams was a 'swot' at the 'outstanding'-rated Bennett Memorial Diocesan School in Tunbridge Wells where former classmates remember him coming 'top in almost everything'.

The school is close to the 350,000 semi-detached family home where neighbours said the family was well respected.

One said: 'His parents are nice people. They're well liked. His mother was a councillor and took an active part in the community. I haven't seen them for a while, but the video is quite shocking.'

Williams is a regular pro-Palestine protester. Pictures from his Instagram account show him regularly posing in a keffiyeh scarf - an accessory associated with the pro-Palestine movement.

Williams also features on a language-tutors site in which he described himself as 'native German' with 'a passion for German culture both old and modern'.

Speaking at the time, Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said there had been an 'unacceptable increase in anti-Semitism' at universities and added that many Jewish students did not feel safe on campus.

She called on universities to strengthen protections for Jewish students and said the Government was funding training to help staff and students 'tackle this poison of antisemitism'.
A pregnant woman and her unborn baby were killed after an alleged DUI driver smashed into her car in California over the weekend.

Bianca Esquivel, 24, who was expecting her second child, died amid the crash in Anaheim, just outside Los Angeles, at around 12.04am on Sunday.

Alleged DUI driver Daniel Ramos, 24, from Riverside, has been arrested on suspicion of felony driving under the influence and vehicular manslaughter.

The tragedy unfolded at the intersection of North Anaheim Boulevard and the SR-91 freeway, Anaheim Police Department said in a statement.

Esquivel had just visited an In-N-Out burger joint with her boyfriend Oscar to satisfy a pregnancy craving, and they were heading back to their home in the city.

Oscar, who was rushed to hospital in the aftermath, said Esquivel 'screamed' as another car seemed to appear out of nowhere before smashing into them.

'We were laughing on the way back, we were just smiling,' he told ABC7. 'It was so fast.'

'She was my best friend,' Oscar continued, adding that they were 'excited' to welcome their second child. 'We were already planning stuff, buying clothes.'

A pregnant woman and her unborn baby have been killed after an alleged DUI driver smashed into her car in California over the weekend. Bianca Esquivel (pictured), 24, who was expecting her second child, died amid the crash in Anaheim at around 12.04am on Sunday

Alleged DUI driver Daniel Ramos (pictured in his mugshot), 24, from Riverside, has been arrested on suspicion of felony driving under the influence and vehicular manslaughter

Anaheim Police detectives believe that Ramos' Lexus Sedan ran a red light before striking the couple's Toyota at a high speed.

Ramos 'exhibited objective signs and symptoms of impairment', the department said.

He was arrested at the scene, and appeared dazed in his mugshot.

Photographs from the scene show a crumpled Toyota vehicle, which officers found Esquivel trapped inside when they rushed to the highway.

Medics tried to save her life, but she was pronounced dead in the car along with her unborn baby.

Oscar was rushed to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, along with two passengers from Ramos' vehicle.

Esquivel's relatives have launched a GoFundMe page to support Oscar and her four-year-old son in the aftermath of the tragedy.

'Bianca was a devoted mother, a beloved sister and daughter, and a caring girlfriend,' the page reads.

'She was preparing to return to school to pursue a degree in accounting and had her entire life ahead of her.'

Esquivel (pictured with her son) had just visited In-N-Out burger joint with her boyfriend Oscar to satisfy a pregnancy craving, and they were heading back to their home in the city

Her boyfriend Oscar was also injured in the crash. He did not want his face to be pictured

Ramos is being held at the Anaheim Detention Facility. He has not yet been charged.

Police said he may face additional counts due to the victim being pregnant.

'Anaheim Police Department Traffic Investigators are continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding this collision,' the department said.

Anyone who may have witnessed the collision or has information related to this incident is encouraged to contact the Anaheim Police Department at (714) 765-1900.
First Lady Melania Trump has issued a rare political statement calling for 'unity' after weeks of deadly riots in Minnesota amid the President's immigration crackdown.

'I'm against the violence, so please, if you protest, protest in peace,' she told Fox & Friends on Tuesday during an appearance to promote her upcoming movie.

Melania, an immigrant from Slovenia, said the President had a 'great call' with Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, both Democrats, on Monday.

'I know my husband, the President, had a great call yesterday with the governor and the mayor, and they're working together to make it peaceful and without riots,' Melania confirmed.

'We need to unify in these times,' she continued.

The First Lady's decision to comment underlines the depth of public outcry after federal agents shot dead Alex Pretti, 37-year-old VA nurse in Minneapolis on Saturday.

Video showed eight agents surrounding Pretti and tackling him to the ground. The nurse, who was carrying a licensed firearm, appeared to have been disarmed before he was shot ten times in less than five seconds.

Pretti's killing came less than three weeks after Renee Good, a 37-year-old mother of three, was shot dead at another anti-ICE protest in the city. Good had been blocking a road with her vehicle and drove it into an agent when she was killed.

First Lady Melania Trump made a rare political statement during an appearance on Fox & Friends Tuesday, January 27 as she called for 'unity' and 'peaceful protests' amid the unrest and deadly clashes in Minneapolis, Minnesota

Tensions have skyrocketed in Minnesota after immigration agents shot and killed VA nurse Alex Pretti in Minneapolis on Saturday, January 24, 2026

Trump rebuked Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem's leadership on Monday as he announced that Border Czar Tom Homan will now lead the ICE operation in Minneapolis.

'I am sending Tom Homan to Minnesota tonight,' Trump wrote on Truth Social. 'He has not been involved in that area, but knows and likes many of the people there. Tom is tough but fair, and will report directly to me.'

On Sunday, Noem referred to Pretti as a 'domestic terrorist' - a view Trump did not share.

'I don't like any shooting. I don't like it,' Trump told the Wall Street Journal.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said Monday that she had 'not heard the president characterize' Pretti as a domestic terrorist.

The president grilled Noem and rumored lover and DHS special government employee Corey Lewandowski during a late-night White House meeting on Monday, according to a New York Times report.

By the end of the night, Noem was apparently ordered to shift her focus away from interior immigration enforcement and concentrate on securing the Southern Border while her rival Homan takes over the Minnesota crackdown.

Attorney General Pam Bondi's deputy, Todd Blanche, pushed back when asked Monday whether he agrees with Noem's claim that Pretti's actions amounted to the legal definition of 'domestic terrorism.'

Join the debate Has Melania struck the right tone by calling for unity?

Alex Pretti was shot and killed in Minneapolis on Saturday afternoon, triggering shock and outrage across the United States

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem holds a news conference at the headquarters for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to discuss a major winter storm affecting much of the country as well as the shooting death of a Minneapolis man by federal agents in Minnesota, in Washington, DC, on January 24

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'Look, I don't think anybody thinks that they were comparing what happened on Saturday to the legal definition of domestic terrorism,' Blanche replied after trying to deflect the question by criticizing Minnesota's Democratic leadership.

'And you're right  to the extent there's body cam or other videos that witnesses are still providing to us. So I'm not describing it as anything except for a tragedy,' he added.

A YouGov/Economist poll released January 13 in the wake of the shooting of Good  but before Pretti was killed  shows only 34 percent of Americans think ICE operations are making America more safe, and 47 percent think the mission is making the US more unsafe.

The issue is highly polarizing, with 77 percent of Republicans believing ICE is making the US safe and only 3 percent of Democrats feeling the same.
Alan Rickman's widow has said he had 'so much more to give' before his death from pancreatic cancer - and there were 'many more things he could have done'.

The Harry Potter actor, known for his roles in films including Robin Hood and Die Hard, kept his cancer battle private, succumbing to the disease at the age of 69.

Rima Horton has now spoken out about her husband's death to raise money towards the development of a new breath test to detect symptoms in patients.

She told BBC Breakfast Rickman had lived for six months after finding out he had cancer, undergoing chemotherapy which 'extended his life a bit, but it didn't cure it'.

She added: 'He had so much more to give. There were so many more things he could have done.'

The average life expectancy for pancreatic cancer is three months after diagnosis, Ms Horton explained.

The actor, who portrayed potions master Severus Snape in all eight films in the Harry Potter series, also appeared in films such as Truly, Madly, Deeply, Sense and Sensibility and Love Actually.

Ms Horton discussed a prize draw organised in memory of her late husband which offers the chance to win Harry Potter books signed by some of the films' stars - with proceeds going towards Pancreatic Cancer UK.

Alan Rickman's widow has said he had 'so much more to give' before his death from pancreatic cancer- and that there were 'many more things he could have done'. The couple are pictured together in 2015 at Goodwood Racecourse in Chichester

Rima Horton has now spoken out about her husband's death to raise money towards the development of a new breath test to detect symptoms in patients. Pictured: Goodwood Racecourse, 2015

The actor, who portrayed potions master Severus Snape (pictured) in all eight films in the series, also appeared in films such as Truly, Madly, Deeply, Sense and Sensibility and Love Actually

She said: 'Our motive is to raise money for this deadly disease, because it now has one of the highest death rates.

'The biggest problem is that by the time that people find out they've got it, it's too late.

'The symptoms are so difficult to work out.

'What we're trying to do is raise money for a breathalyser test which could provide an early diagnosis.

'All you have to do is buy a ticket.'

The set of seven books has been signed by 12 cast members, including Rupert Grint, who played Ron Weasley, and Ralph Fiennes, who starred as Lord Voldemort.

Presenter Jon Kay held up a copy of JK Rowling's first book, Harry Potter And The Philosopher's Stone, and pointed out the signatures of Grint, Helena Bonham Carter, Miriam Margolyes and Imelda Staunton.

Ms Horton said: 'The actors were wonderful. Everybody asked said of course they'd do it.'

Rickman became one of the best-known villains in showbiz - appearing as Hans Gruber in Die Hard, the Sheriff of Nottingham in Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves and Professor Snape in the Potter films. He is pictured here in 2015

Ms Horton said: 'The actors were wonderful. Everybody asked said of course they'd do it.' Harry Potter stars Emma Watson, Daniel Radcliffe and Rupert Grint are pictured

About 10,800 people are diagnosed with pancreatic cancer across the UK each year.

In 2015, Rickman revealed he had secretly married Ms Horton in New York in 2012, 35 years after they began their relationship. He died in January 2016.

A family statement, issued shortly after his death, read: 'The actor and director Alan Rickman has died from cancer at the age of 69. He was surrounded by family and friends.'

Rickman's brother David, 71, added: 'He passed away this morning. He was in a hospital at the time.'

The actor, who was born into a working-class family in Hammersmith, began his acting career on the stage before graduating to Hollywood films.

He became one of the best-known villains in showbiz - appearing as Hans Gruber in Die Hard, the Sheriff of Nottingham in Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves and Professor Snape in the Potter films.

Daniel Radcliffe, who was mentored by Rickman during the filming of Potter, said he was one of the most loyal friends anyone could have in showbusiness.

In a heartfelt online message, the actor said: 'Alan Rickman is undoubtedly one of the greatest actors I will ever work with. He is also, one of the loyalist and most supportive people I've ever met in the film industry. Film sets and theatre stages are all far poorer for the loss of this great actor and man.

'I feel so lucky to have worked and spent time with such a special man and actor. I'll really miss our conversations. RIP Alan. We love you.'

Tickets for the prize draw organised in Rickman's memory are available until the Sunday March 1, with a minimum 5 donation to charity.

The organisers said one person will win the complete set of signed hardback books.
Reform UK has stormed to the top of the opinion polls with its vow to tear up the political map.

But Nigel Farage's party may have taken that vow too far after it kicked off a Westminster by-election campaign with a rally in the wrong constituency.

Reform chief whip Lee Anderson last night posted pictures on social media showing volunteers ready to hit the doorstep in Gorton and Denton, a seat the party has high hopes of winning.

He wrote: 'Gorton and Denton. A cold but productive day in what will be a hotly contested seat. Reform UK fear no party. Bring it on.'

However, his Mancunian followers were quick to point out that the crowd of around 100 Reform activists were pictured standing outside the Stanley House Function Rooms in Audenshaw.

The building is not in Gordon and Denton, but is instead inside Angela Rayner's neighbouring Ashton-Under-Lyne constituency.

Mr Anderson told the Mail the building was used as a base because it had 'a big enough car park to accommodate our volunteers', who then went on to canvas in the right area almost half a mile away.

But Labour Party chairwoman Anna Turley said: 'Farage's Reform are proving from day one they won't stand up for local residents in Gorton and Denton - they can't even find the constituency on a map.'

Reform chief whip Lee Anderson last night posted pictures on social media showing volunteers ready to hit the doorstep in Gorton and Denton, a seat the party has high hopes of winning.

However, his Mancunian followers were quick to point out that the crowd of around 50 Reform activists were pictured standing outside the Stanley House Function Rooms in Angela Rayner's neighbouring Ashton-Under-Lyne constituency.

In response Mr Anderson said: 'There is nothing to see here other than desperation from a desperate party.

Over 100 volunteers turned up to campaign in the constituency. A Labour constituency that has had no representation in Parliament for nearly a year.

'Our volunteers came from far and wide and a location with a big enough car park to accommodate our volunteers was chosen just outside the constituency. All volunteers then left to campaign in the constituency.'

The Gorton and Denton by-election is expected to take place on February 26, after disgraced former minister Andrew Gwynne stood down for health reasons.

Reform UK will announce its candidate for the contest this afternoon at a press conference in the constituency.

Labours political rival from the left, the Green Party, is also eyeing up its chances in the race after Keir Starmer blocked Andy Burnham from standing.

The Greater Manchester mayor today accused No10 of lying about the by-election spat today.

The former minister said claims he had been told that the party's ruling national executive committee would reject his bid to stand in the Commons contest were 'simply not true'.

Downing Street sources have been briefing that Mr Burnham went ahead with a formal application to be the candidate on Saturday despite the warning.

Sir Keir has dismissed calls from more than 50 MPs for a rethink of the decision, with allies saying the issue is 'done and dusted'.

Meanwhile, tensions have been rising with unions after the new head of Unison Andrea Egan called for a lurch to the Left. She warned that the party 'cannot allow those currently in charge to take us down with them'.

There are signs that Angela Rayner is positioning for a tilt at the top job after she gave a speech last night insisting the party has to stop blundering and be 'unapologetically Labour'.

Senior figures acknowledge that Labour is staring down the barrel of losing Gorton & Denton in the contest - being rushed through on February 26.

Reform and the Greens are both bullish about their chances, despite former MP Andrew Gwynne having secured a 13,000 majority in 2024.

Having barred Mr Burnham, Labour looks to be struggling to find a big name to be its candidate. Manchester council leader Bev Craig ruled herself out last night.

However, the PM has sounded defiance, stressing that Mr Burnham was refused permission because he would have triggered an election for Manchester mayor, rather than due to the threat of a leadership challenge.
Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has seen a dramatic loss of confidence amid her agency's deportation crackdown in Minnesota.

The latest Daily Mail/JL Partners poll, taken on Monday, finds that Noem has a paltry 33 percent approval rating.

Her disapproval rating has risen dramatically to 41 percent compared to 37 percent in December, per the last Daily Mail/ JL Partners survey.

Noem measured a 37 percent approval last month, meaning her support has fallen following the shooting of two anti-ICE protesters in Minneapolis.

Spelling even more bad news for the secretary are the number of voters who say she should be removed from her post.

Nearly half of survey respondents, 46 percent, believe that Noem should be impeached. Further, 42 percent say President Donald Trump should fire her. The poll was conducted on January 26 and included over 1,000 registered voters. The margin of error is 3.1 percent.

Democrats in Congress have already begun circulating an impeachment resolution against Noem with more than 120 signatures. However, given the Republican control of both the House and the Senate, the liberal-led gambit seems unlikely to succeed.

Dissatisfaction with the Trump administration's deportation crackdown, ICE and CBP has increased since a Border Patrol agent shot and killed Minnesota nurse Alex Pretti, 37, an intensive care unit nurse for the Department of Veterans Affairs, on Saturday.

Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has seen a dramatic loss of confidence amid her agency's deportation crackdown in Minnesota and the Border Patrol shooting of American nurse Alex Pretti on Saturday

Noem's rising dissaproval rating comes as Americans have increasingly lost confidence in Immigration and Customs Enforcement

According to the Daily Mail/ J.L. Partners poll taken on January 26, nearly half of survey respondents, 46 percent, believe that Noem should be impeached. Further, 42 percent say President Donald Trump should fire her

Departing the White House for a rally in Iowa on Tuesday afternoon, Trump told reporters that despite the controversy surrounding Noem, he is still happy with her performance and the secretary won't be stepping down.

Gruesome videos of his killing quickly went viral on social media, and many angles show that Pretti, who was armed with a handgun and magazines of ammunition, was disarmed by over half a dozen agents before he was shot around 10 times in the back.

Noem was quick to label Pretti a domestic terrorist, a title that Trump himself has not said, indicating his hesitance to support the secretary's account of the nurse's death.

Since the shooting, the president announced that Border Czar Tom Homan will take operational control of deportations in Minnesota.

Homan and Noem have reportedly not spoken much since they both joined the president's team, and sources have told the Daily Mail that their relationship - or rivalry - is tenuous.

The border czar, who has been in law enforcement since the 1980s, has preferred a crackdown on criminal illegal aliens.

Noem, by contrast, wants to pump overall deportation numbers and is said to be focusing on deporting anyone in the US illegally.

Alex Pretti, the 37-year-old nurse who was shot and killed by Border Patrol

Sources have told the Daily Mail that Noem wants to prioritize increasing overall deportations, and Border Patrol agent Greg Bovino (shown behind Noem) has enabled her approach. Late on Monday evening, following the Border Patrol shooting of Alex Pretti over the weekend, Bovino was reportedly stripped of his title and locked out of his social media accounts

Her approach, bolstered by her deputy and rumored lover, Cory Lewandowski, has put Noem at odds with Homan, ICE acting Director Todd Lyons and Border Patrol Commissioner Rodney Scott, sources have told the Daily Mail.

The schism has ruffled Republican feathers.

According to the January survey, almost one in four Republicans, 23 percent, view ICE unfavorably. Meanwhile, more than a quarter of GOP voters surveyed, 27 percent, were in favor of disbanding ICE altogether.

Additionally, close to one in five Republicans, 19 percent, say that ICE and CBP raids in major US cities should end, while 71 percent want them to continue, according to the poll.

Only 43 percent of Republicans say that Prettis killing was justified, while 35 percent were unsure and 22 percent said the shooting was unjustified.

GOP lawmakers have also expressed reticence about the deportation operations in Minnesota.

Chairman of the House Oversight Committee James Comer, a Kentucky Republican, suggested that Trump remove federal law enforcement from the state during a Sunday interview.

'If the mayor and the governor are going to put our ICE officials in harm's way, and there's a chance of losing more innocent lives or whatever, then maybe go to another city and let the people of Minneapolis decide do we want to continue to have all of these illegals,' Comer said.

On Monday, Trump had phone calls with Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey - both of whom have offered sharp criticisms of the president.

In a dramatic reversal of the dueling sides' hostile tones, Trump posted on social media after the call with Walz, saying the two were on the 'same wavelength.'

After his call with Frey, Trump posted on social media that 'lots of progress is being made!'

The warm regards have come after bitter online feuds between the Minnesota Democrats and the Republican president, who suggested recently that both Walz and Frey were supporting an insurrection in the state.
The parents of a Minneapolis nurse killed by federal agents belonging to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) recalled their final conversation with their son just days before his death.

Alex Pretti, 37, was shot dead by border patrol officers in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on Saturday during a targeted immigration enforcement operation.

Just a couple of days before the killing, Pretti spoke with his parents about repairs to his garage door.

He mentioned giving the Latino worker tasked with the job a $100 tip amid immigration tensions in Minnesota.

Susan Pretti, his mother, also said he was troubled by the direction of the US - especially the Trump administration's rollback of environmental regulations.

'He loved this country, but he hated what people were doing to it,' she told the Associated Press.

The grieving mother described her son as an 'outdoorsman' who 'took his dog everywhere he went.'

'He hated that, you know, people were just trashing the land,' she added.

Alex Pretti was shot and killed in Minneapolis on Saturday afternoon, triggering shock and outrage across the United States

Susan and Michael Pretti, his parents, recalled that their last conversation was about how he tipped $100 to a Latino worker for repairing his garage door

Pretti's parents said they knew he participated in protests and was concerned by the ongoing immigration crackdown in Minnesota.

'He cared about people deeply and he was very upset with what was happening in Minneapolis and throughout the United States with ICE, as millions of other people are upset,' said his father, Michael Pretti.

'He thought it was terrible, you know, kidnapping children, just grabbing people off the street,' Michael added. 'He cared about those people, and he knew it was wrong, so he did participate in protests.'

Still, the parents had urged Pretti to exercise caution while he was out demonstrating.

His father Michael said: 'We had this discussion with him two weeks ago or so, you know, that go ahead and protest, but do not engage, do not do anything stupid, basically.'

Pretti responded that 'he knows that,' according to his dad.

The family first learned of the fatal shooting after being called by an AP reporter.

They watched the video and said the man shot dead looked to be their son.

Pretti's parents then attempted to contact state officials in Minnesota, but claimed they struggled to get immediate updates.

Pretti's parents said they told their son to 'go ahead and protest, but do not engage, do not do anything stupid'

'I can't get any information from anybody,' Michael said Saturday.

The parents eventually called the Hennepin County Medical Examiner, who confirmed a body matching the name and description of their son.

Kristi Noem, the Homeland Security Secretary, claimed after the shooting that officers 'clearly feared for their lives.'

She said the agents fired defensive shots at Pretti after he 'violently' resisted their instructions.

Noem also claimed Pretti was 'brandishing' the firearm and suggested Pretti was a domestic terrorist in the immediate aftermath of the shooting.

Gregory Bovino, the US Border Patrol commander-at-large, said Pretti planned to 'massacre' federal agents when he was killed.

Pretti's parents fiercely disputed the federal account and accused the Trump administration of lying.

'The sickening lies told about our son by the administration are reprehensible and disgusting,' they said in a statement. 'Alex is clearly not holding a gun when attacked by Trump's murdering and cowardly ICE thugs.'

Pretti's parents remembered him as a 'kindhearted soul who cared deeply for his family and friends and also the American veterans whom he cared for as an ICU nurse' in Minneapolis

Pretti was shot and killed by US Border Patrol Tactical Unit (BORTAC) agents, not ICE officers.

The statement added Pretti had 'his phone in his right hand and his empty left hand is raised above his head while trying to protect the woman ICE just pushed down all while being pepper-sprayed.'

'Please get the truth out about our son,' the parents said. 'He was a good man.'

Pretti's parents described themselves as 'heartbroken but also very angry.'

Their remarks called Pretti as a 'kindhearted soul who cared deeply for his family and friends and also the American veterans whom he cared for as an ICU nurse at the Minneapolis VA hospital.'

The parents also said: 'Alex wanted to make a difference in this world. Unfortunately he will not be with us to see his impact.

'I do not throw around the hero term lightly. However his last thought and act was to protect a woman.'

Minneapolis police said Pretti had no serious criminal history and was a lawful gun owner with a valid permit.

Law enforcement officers were captured kneeling next to the body of Pretti after he was shot on Saturday

Pretti was seen facing off with federal agents before being shot. His family claimed he was 'clearly not holding a gun', while federal officials have alleged he was 'brandishing' a firearm

On Monday, press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) were investigating the shooting.

US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) was also conducting an internal review of the fatal incident.

Leavitt also said she had 'not heard' US President Donald Trump 'characterize' Pretti as a domestic terrorist.

DHS officials have maintained that Pretti approached the officers with a loaded 9mm semiautomatic handgun.

However, witness videos from the scene appeared to show Pretti holding his phone up to the agents - not a gun.

He was captured filming agents with his device as they arrested a female protester, before suddenly being tackled to the ground.

Footage suggested that one officer took Pretti's weapon from his waistband and walked away with it just moments before he was killed.

Pretti was the second person killed this month by a federal officer in Minneapolis.

He was shot dead just over a mile from where Renee Good, 37, was killed by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer on January 7.
British rapper DigDat has been jailed for life after he shot a rival artist six times from a stolen vehicle in a Notting Hill drive-by.

The drill performer, real name Nathan Tokosi, hit Daniel Offei-Ntow in the head, mouth and body after pulling up beside him in west London on November 23, 2023.

The 27-year-old victim was 'lucky not to die', the Old Bailey heard, and was found by police 'in shock and severely injured' a short time later at his flat.

Police were led to Offei-Ntow by a trail of blood from the scene, where they discovered his Mitsubishi Outlander riddled with bullet holes and its interior covered in blood.

A latex glove and a black bag containing a firearm and three rounds of ammunition were recovered near to where Tokosi's Audi was abandoned.

The London-born rapper's family wept as he was sentenced to life behind bars with a minimum term of 24 years on Tuesday. He had been convicted of attempted murder and firearms offences over two trials last year.

Offei-Ntow has recently died, the court heard, although his passing was not connected to the shooting and there was no third party involved.

Prosecutor Kate Bex KC previously said Tokosi, 26, was one of at least two people in a stolen Audi that pulled up beside Mr Offei-Ntow's vehicle.

Rapper Nathan Tokosi (pictured), more commonly known by his stage name DigDat, has been sentenced to life in jail for his role in a Notting Hill drive-by shooting

Daniel Offei-Ntow (pictured), 27, was hit six times in the head, mouth and body when Tokosi, 26, shot at his car from a stolen Audi early on November 20, 2023. Offei-Ntow has since died, though his death was not related to the shooting

At least six shots were fired from a rear passenger window with investigators finding DNA belonging to Tokosi and artist Kamal Benjamin, also known as Wesson, in the motor used for the shooting.

Further inquiries revealed that Tokosi had borrowed a BMW to make two trips on consecutive nights from his father's home in Deptford, south-east London, to Notting Hill that weekend, the jury heard.

Ms Bex said it was clear Tokosi was involved in the crime and there was no 'innocent explanation' for the BMW and the Audi being in the same west London location.

However further evidence showed that Benjamin, whose DNA was at the scene, had left the UK in the days before the shooting.

Mr Benjamin posted a video on Instagram of Chicago rapper Lil Durk performing in Dubai four days before the crime was committed.

Another post the following month showed him in a nightclub with rapper 50 Cent, who had performed in Dubai on December 21, 2023.

Tokosi rose to prominence as a drill artist with his single Air Force in 2018, which peaked at number 20 on the UK singles chart, before scoring collaborations with the likes of Aitch and Headie One.

But the jury heard he became caught up in the 'fast-paced' and 'chaotic' lifestyle that went with his career and had some 13 previous convictions.

Tokosi, 26, achieved a top 20 UK single with his 2018 track Air Force and had collaborated with Headie One and Aitch (Pictured at Wireless Festival in 2021)

But the court was told that the artist had become caught up in the 'fast-paced' and chaotic' lifestyle that went with his career

His history of violence dates back to when he was just 11, when he punched a girl in the face and later punched and kneed a boy in the head in separate incidents four months apart.

At the age of 13, the defendant stabbed a victim in the ribcage during an altercation for which he was convicted of attempted murder and sentenced to seven years' youth detention and three years on extended licence.

Shannon Revel, defending, said: 'He described that his job as a rapper effectively became an existence, rather than something that he could take time off from.'

'Rising to success so quickly gave Tokosi no real time for reflection.'

At his attempted murder trial last February, Tokosi was also convicted of possessing a self-loading pistol and ammunition with intent to endanger life and possessing a prohibited firearm and ammunition.

Following a second Old Bailey trial in November, Tokosi was further convicted of possessing a firearm and ammunition on February 4, 2024.

Tokosi had borrowed a BMW to make two trips on consecutive nights from his father's home in Deptford, south-east London, to Notting Hill that weekend, the jury heard

Helen Shaw, from the Crown Prosecution Service, said: 'This was an utterly mindless attack which very nearly claimed a life.

'That night, Nathan Tokosi clearly intended to kill his victim by shooting him in the head at a close range, with CCTV revealing Tokosi doing several drives around the area in a stolen Audi in the days and hours before the shooting.

'The Crown Prosecution Service was determined to ensure Tokosi was prosecuted for the full extent of his offending, and we hope today's sentence will offer some closure to the victim's family.'

Detective Inspector Chris Shepherd, from the Central South Borough Command Unit, said: 'Tokosi's actions were premeditated, reckless and malicious. He lied at trial, maintaining that he had no involvement whatsoever in the shooting.

'The committed police investigation to bring Tokosi before the courts reflects our no-tolerance approach to gang violence on London's streets.

'I would like to credit the investigation team for their work bringing Tokosi to justice, as well as the officers and medical staff who treated the victim after the shooting.'
A West Virginia librarian was arrested after she allegedly posted videos online rallying people to assassinate President Trump.

Morgan Morrow, 39, is accused of making terroristic threats after she used 'social media recruitment to pursue and assassinate Trump,' per the Jackson County Sheriff's Department.

'When you saddle up on the horse of stupidity, you have to be prepared for the ride that follows,' Sheriff Ross Mellinger told 13 News.

Police discovered the chilling threat on Sunday and traced it to Morrow, a Jackson County Public Library employee, who allegedly posted on TikTok calling for the president's assassination, according to the criminal complaint.

Morrow's TikTok post was labeled, 'Surely a [sniper] with a terminal illness cant be a big ask out of 343 million,' per the complaint.

After reviewing her content and the surrounding context, police concluded the statement encouraged a vile call for the presidents assassination.

Investigators later confronted the librarian at her home in Ripley, where she was arrested and taken into custody.

In an interview with police, Morrow allegedly confessed that she wrote and posted the statement on TikTok, claiming it was 'intended as a threat directed toward President Trump,' the outlet reported.

Morgan Morrow, 39, she was arrested after she allegedly shared vile social media posts calling for others to rally and assassinate President Trump

Meet Morgan L. Morrow, a librarian at Jackson County Public Library in West Virginia. She appears to call for someone to ass*ssinate Trump while other commenters call to also kiII Stephen Miller, Larry Ellison, and Peter Thiel.



Our tax dollars pay her salary.



You can contact pic.twitter.com/BrIZG9TlWA  Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) January 25, 2026

She allegedly revealed her 'personal reasons for wishing harm upon the President' to police, though the complaint did not provide further details.

While the librarian allegedly admitted to making the social media post, she claimed she had no intention of actually carrying out the threat.

Police, however, said her statements could 'encourage, inspire, or entice others to carry out the threatened act, regardless of whether the speaker publicly intends to personally do so,' per the complaint.

'Were just trying to do our part in making sure that its not acted upon, and theres no one thats following her footsteps to try to carry out the plan,' Mellinger told the outlet.

Emphasizing that the arrest was not a political statement but an 'active, troubling criminal investigation', the sheriff reiterated that social media threats or posts of this nature will not be tolerated.

'Its okay to be critical of the government. Its okay to be critical of things you dont agree with.

'But when you start promoting the violence and youre promoting a plan to carry out the violence and recruiting other people to carry out the plan for you, thats clearly crossing the line,' the sheriff told the outlet.

The Jackson County Public Library released a social media statement about Morrow's arrest, saying her comments do not reflect their 'values.'

Mugshot of Morrow from the sheriff's office, Sheriff Mellinger said the 39-year-old was arrested and transported to South Central Regional Jail as part of the investigation

The Jackson County Public Library, where Morrow was employed, they released a statement saying her views do not reflect the library's values

'The views expressed are made in an individual capacity and do not represent the position of the organization. We are addressing the matter internally in accordance to our established policies and procedures,' the statement said, in part.

Morrow was charged with one count of threats of terroristic acts, according to the complaint.
It's a wellknown fact that President Trump doesn't get much sleep  a reality that those closest to him experience first-hand, especially during long treks on Air Force One.

Trump's stamina has put some of his Cabinet members to shame, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio seeking cover - literally.

A new report says the Floridian often spends his flights with the president huddled under a blanket.

'There's an office with two couches, and I usually want to sleep on one of those two couches,' Rubio told New York Magazine in a recent interview. 'But what I do is I cocoon myself in a blanket. I cover my head. I look like a mummy.'

During the interview, Rubio pretended to pull a blanket over him as he continued to describe his sleeping style.

'I do that because I know that at some point on the flight, he's going to emerge from the cabin and start prowling the hallways to see who is awake. I want him to think it's a staffer who fell asleep. I don't want him to see his Secretary of State sleeping on a couch and think, Oh, this guy is weak,' he added.

Despite the president and those around him saying he doesn't take naps, Trump has been caught with his eyes closed on camera, even during public meetings with the Cabinet and inside the Oval Office.

Rubio charitably claims that's a 'listening mechanism.'

It's a wellknown fact that President Trump doesn't get much sleep  a reality that those closest to him experience first-hand, especially during long treks on Air Force One

Trump's stamina has put some of his Cabinet members to shame, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio seeking cover - literally

Rubio is officially the ultimate multitasker of the MAGA era

In the New York Magazine interview, Trump gave a different reason why his eyes have been shut during Cabinet meetings.

'It's boring as hell I'm going around a room, and I've got 28 guys  the last one was three and a half hours. I have to sit back and listen, and I move my hand so that people will know I'm listening. I'm hearing every word, and I can't wait to get out,' Trump candidly explained.

Rubio is officially the ultimate multitasker of the MAGA era.

He likely has more jobs than any other cabinet member  serving as the acting national security adviser and acting archivist of the US in addition to running the State Department.

But despite his unprecedented triplethreat role, Rubio is finding time to shut down critics of Trump's mental fitness

In one candid moment, Rubio recalled how Trump took one look at his footwear and didn't hold back, telling him his shoes looked 'shitty.'

At a subsequent meeting, he says Trump proved his memory was sharp as ever when he presented Rubio with a surprise gift: a signed box containing a brandnew pair of size 12 shoes.

In another story told by Rubio, during a State Department visit, Trump noticed something that had escaped everyone else: the chandeliers were missing their 'medallions'the decorative ornamental discs that anchor them to the ceiling.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio watches as President Donald Trump monitors U.S. military operations in Venezuela

Despite the president and those around him saying he doesn't take naps, Trump has been caught with his eyes closed on camera, even during public meetings with the Cabinet and inside the Oval Office

Just days later, Rubio found himself summoned to the Oval Office, where the President had laid out dozens of medallion samples.

'I don't even know how many I need,' Rubio recalled telling Trump. 'He said, 'I think you need 12,' and sure enough '

'I try to match it as much as I can. It's just not natural to me,' Rubio confessed.

The New York Magazine interview was focused primarily on Trump's health, in which he dismissed fears of Alzheimer's while forgetting the name of the disease.

Like President Joe Biden before him, who, when elected, was the country's oldest president, there are nagging questions about Trump's health, who, when reelected, is on track to become the country's oldest president.

Trump appeared irritated that the topic kept coming up.

'I hate to waste a lot of time on this, but if you're going to write a bad story about my health, I'm going to sue the a** off of New York Magazine,' he told Terris. 'There will be a time when you can write that story, maybe in two years, three years, five years five years, no one is going to care, I guess.'
Ministers wept today as a Holocaust survivor delivered a stark warning over resurgent antisemitism.

Mala Tribich, 95, told the Cabinet she never imagined prejudice would return to these levels, insisting the government must 'do what needs to be done' to stop it.

In what Keir Starmer hailed as an historic first to mark Holocaust Memorial Day, Mrs Tribich described being 'shaken to the core' by recent terror attacks in Manchester and Sydney.

Senior politicians were visibly emotional as Mrs Tribich shared her story, lowering their heads and drying their eyes. She received a standing ovation after her five-minute speech.

Welcoming her to No10, Sir Keir said: 'You are the first Holocaust survivor ever to address the Cabinet in this country, and so it really is an incredible occasion.

'All of us, myself included, are humbled by your courage and inspired by your story.

Mala Tribich, 95, told the Cabinet she never imagined antisemitism would return to these levels, insisting the government must 'do what needs to be done' to stop it

Senior politicians were visibly emotional as Mrs Tribich shared her story, lowering their heads and drying their eyes

'It is our duty not just to hear and listen, but also to act and to absolutely deal with anybody who tries to deny or distort what happened in the Holocaust.'

Mrs Tribich told Cabinet: 'I sit before you as one of the last remaining eyewitnesses to one of the darkest chapters in human history.

'I'm here as a representative of the British Holocaust survivor community. For decades, we have spoken to people across the country, sharing our painful memories.

'Soon there will be no eyewitnesses left.

'That is why I ask you today not just to listen, but to become my witnesses.'

Mrs Tribich was deported to the Bergen-Belsen death camp with her younger cousin when she was around 14-years-old, spending less than three months there  largely incapacitated by typhus  before watching out the window from her sickbed as people ran towards what she would learn were British troops.

Tens of thousands of people, including diarist Anne Frank, died at the Nazi camp in northern Germany, which was liberated by the British on April 15 1945.

Mrs Tribich, who was made an MBE in 2012 for services to education, shares her testimony in schools and colleges across the UK.

'We survivors never imagined we would witness antisemitism at the level it is today,' she said.

'What we have seen in Manchester, and Sydney on Hanukkah, has shaken us to the core.

'How, 81 years after the Holocaust, can these people once again be targeted in this way?

'Remembering the past is no longer enough.

'I speak to you, leaders of this country I proudly call home, and I plead that you do what needs to be done.'

In what Keir Starmerhailed as an historic first to mark Holocaust Memorial Day, Mrs Tribich described being 'shaken to the core' by recent terror attacks in Manchester and Sydney

The Holocaust survivor received a standing ovation after her five-minute speech

The Prime Minister thanked Mrs Tribich for her 'powerful words', and said the Government would do 'everything to tackle antisemitism wherever it reared its ugly head'.

He said the Government had to not just listen, but act.

Karen Pollock CBE, chief executive of the Holocaust Educational Trust, said: 'Mala, and survivors like her, share their stories in the hope that the next generation will always know what happened during the darkest days in our shared memory, acting as a memorial to the six million Jewish men, women and children who were murdered by the Nazis.

'As the Holocaust passes from living memory into history, today's meeting with the Prime Minister and Cabinet is a poignant reminder of the responsibility to confront anti-Jewish hatred and ensure that the legacies of Holocaust survivors endure.'
A 25-year-old teacher spent three-and-a-half hours having sex with a 17-year-old boy at her home while her husband was away hunting, with newly-unearthed text messages detailing their disturbing relationship.

McKenna Kindred, who is now 27, flirted with the boy for months before sleeping with him at her home in Spokane, Washington, in November 2022.

Gossip about the encounter spread around Central Valley High School, where Kindred worked and where the teen was known among friends as being 'addicted to sex.'

An unidentified friend got into one of the boy's Instagram accounts, where they discovered Kindred saying: 'I was sad when you had to leave my room... when other girls talk about you in my class I could feel myself getting mad.'

Kindred also alluded to encounters at school with the boy, texting him to say: 'We almost got caught. I was sad when that student walked in when he did. I wanted you to hold me. I really like being touched by you.'

The friend who hacked the teen's Instagram account took photos of the messages and reported it to a teacher, who called Spokane Valley Police.

Kindred was arrested and admitted first-degree sexual misconduct in March 2024.

The age of consent in Washington State is 16 but authority figures can still be charged with sexually abusing children up to the age of 18 who are in their care.

Kindred pleaded guilty to first-degree sexual misconduct and inappropriate communication with a minor in March 2024

The disgraced school teacher, seen here with her husband Kyle, invited the teenager over to her home in November 2022 where they had sex

Kindred was sentenced to 24 months probation and ordered to sign the sex offenders' register for 10 years.

She is still with her lawyer husband Kyle and the couple live in a stunning $500,000 home, the Daily Mail revealed earlier this month.

Kindred's phone underwent a forensic examination after her arrest. Around the time she had sex with the boy he sent her a message saying 'Mom glad I can satisfy you'

Kindred liked the message, with the teen then asking if she had used a sex toy while thinking about him.

She replied: 'I did.'

He texted her saying 'U should have video it and save it' so he could watch, with Kindred replying: 'Hm next time I need to relearn Snapchat haha.'

After Kindred's crimes were reported to police, the boy's mother Ashley Beckley provided investigators with further evidence.

She said she had seen an explicit video her son had sent Kindred of himself and photos Kindred had sent him of her breasts.

The Central Valley High School teacher was spared jail with one year's probation and a two-year suspended sentence

Ashley also told of how she had seen a message Kindred sent to her son where she talked about using a sex toy on herself.

The boy was subsequently interviewed by police who told investigators that he started following Kindred on Instagram in June 2022 and that they'd exchanged messages.

The pair sent each other photos of their privates, with Kindred inviting him over to the house she shared with her husband Kyle in November 2022.

The teen says he got there between 6:30pm and 7pm and that he and Kindred began watching a movie, then kissed.

The boy and Kindred went on to have sex on the couch for 10 minutes before moving to Kindred's bedroom.

There, they continued having sex until 10pm that night.

He said that they eventually 'finished' and returned to the living room where they 'hung out', before having a shower.

He ended up leaving Kindred's home at 11:30pm that night.

Join the debate Does this case prove safeguarding in schools still falls short?

Kindred and the boy are only believed to have had sex on one occasion.

His friends who reported the incident said she'd confronted him with her suspicions, saying 'Mrs. Kindred and you must be f****** because you are always in her room.'

She said the accusation made the boy very defensive.

His mother Ashley also told police that a few weeks before she was confronted with the allegations her son had received 'gas money through Venmo' from a teacher.

She told officers that she 'thought that was kind of inappropriate' but didn't ever find out which teacher sent him the money.

At Kindred's sentencing hearing, she cried while apologizing to the boy and his family, adding that she was 'deeply ashamed' of what she had done.

'I am truly sorry for my actions,' Kindred said. 'I know that this past year has been enormously stressful for all involved.

'As a result of my actions I've lost my career, valuable friendships, freedoms and have let down countless people who placed their trust in me.

Kindred, seen here in court, apologized to the boy, and his family for her crimes, saying she was deeply ashamed

Kindred admitted to sneaking the boy into the apartment she shared with her husband in Spokane, Washington, while he was out of town on a hunting trip

'My mental health has also been severely affected by this event. I am deeply ashamed of the pain I have caused.'

The Daily Mail revealed earlier this month that her husband Kyle has stuck by her despite admitting to the affair.

Court documents showed the couple were living in an apartment in Liberty Lake, outside Spokane, a 13-minute drive from her job at Central Valley High School.

By the time Kindred was sentenced, her home was listed as that of Kyle's parents, Jason and Karri, in Mica - a rural village in the hills south of Spokane.

The couple appear to have stayed at the $1 million property until they moved to Idaho, where they jointly bought a house of their own for $498,000 in June 2024.

Kindred's move to Idaho created some drama with the state's Professional Standards Commission over her teaching license.

The commission opened and an investigation into her after it 'received an allegation of unethical conduct'.

'Allegations were made that Ms Kindred surrendered her Washington educator certification and pled guilty [to the charges],' it wrote.

Kindred voluntarily gave up her license in response, preventing any further action by the commission, according to a document she signed on August 31, 2024.

It is unknown if Kindred is working any job since she was forced to resign from Central Valley High School.
Streets in Detroit have been transformed into frozen lakes after freezing-cold weather caused the water mains to burst.

Residents woke up for their Tuesday morning commute to find their neighborhoods completely frozen over with impenetrable ice and slush.

City officials cited the weekend's 'historic' storm as the reason for the breaks and icy conditions. It left millions of Americans in freezing conditions, without power and covered in snow and ice.

Detroit reached a low of -3F over the weekend, with even chillier temperatures to come throughout the week according to Accuweather.

The city's aging infrastructure was unable to handle the severe cold, causing the pipes to break, reported Fox2.

One resident said the outlet the situation was 'a total mess.'

'A lot of snow and slush and just water,' he said. 'I can't even back my car out.'

Some have been complaining about water main breaks since Monday, as emergency services responded to reports about vehicles stuck in the ice.

Detroit residents awoke to a thick layer of ice covering the city streets Tuesday morning

One resident described the scene as 'a total mess'

Detroit Water and Sewage Director Gary Brown assured residents that crew were working quickly to resolve the issue

The sheets of ice reportedly affected several blocks in the city. Residents were asked to avoid the area.

Emergency services were seen pulling cars, including a police cruiser, out of the ice.

Some even took to driving over lawns to avoid the treacherous streets.

The Director of the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department, Gary Brown, said crews were already on their way to address the issue early Tuesday morning.

'We've got a couple of dozen water breaks city-wide,' he told WXYZ.

The crews must lower water levels on the affected streets before addressing the broken mains.

Trash cans and cars were seen lodged in the ice after the weekend's record winter storm

City officials credited Detroit's aging infrastructure and extremely low temperatures as the reason for the break

City sanitation crews can not address broken water mains until water levels have lowered

'The main thing to do here is get the street clear, get the water to go down, and then we can start making the repair,' Brown said.

The city prioritizes breaks that have left homes without water. Fortunately, Brown said, none have been reported.

He assured residents the issue would be quickly resolved.

Broken water mains occur when extreme temperatures cause water to freeze and expand within the pipes.

The Daily Mail contacted the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department for comment.
A Texas mother lost all three of her young sons after they fell into an icy pond and died.

The boys were playing on ice-covered water at a home in Bonham, about 60 miles northeast of Dallas, around 3pm Monday when the surface gave out.

Bonham Fire Department divers pulled the children out of the water and began to administer CPR at the scene.

The siblings were then transported to nearby TMC Bonham Hospital, where doctors later pronounced all three of them dead, KTBS reported.

Authorities have not yet identified the children, but they have been named locally as Cheyenne Bush's sons EJ, nine, Kaleb, eight, and six-year-old Howard.

A family member told a community watch group that Howard fell through the pond and his two older brothers tried to save him. The Daily Mail was not able to independently verify this account.

Bonham Independent School District Superintendent Dr. Lance Hamlin sent a letter to families Monday confirming that three elementary school students had died.

Hamlin said the district is 'devastated by this unimaginable loss' and committed to providing support to the family during this difficult time.

Cheyenne Bush's six-year-old son Howard, pictured, fell through an icy pond in Bonham, Texas on Monday afternoon

Howard, his nine-year-old brother EJ, pictured, and eight-year-old brother Kaleb were playing on the ice-covered water when it gave out

Bonham Fire Department divers pulled EJ, Kaleb, pictured, and Howard out of the water and administered CPR at the scene. The boys were then transported to nearby TMC Bonham Hospital, where doctors later pronounced all three of them dead

'It is with profound sadness and heavy hearts that we inform our community of the tragic passing of three elementary students,' Hamlin's letter stated.

'We are devastated by this unimaginable loss, and our thoughts are with the family, friends, and all who knew and loved these children.'

The superintendent pointed to the district's 'strong community' and said that Bonham will 'get through this together by supporting one another with compassion and care.'

A GoFundMe campaign has been created to support the 33-year-old mother as prepares to bury three of her children.

The crowdfunder, which was launched just 13 hours ago, has already raised more than $2,800.

Bush's sister Amber Kuhn, who created the fundraiser, said in a Facebook post that the family is heartbroken by the 'awful' tragedy.

In addition to donations, she has asked that people 'please send thoughts and prayers'.

The Daily Mail has approached the family, police and fire departments for comment.

Your browser does not support iframes.

A GoFundMe campaign has been created to support Cheyenne Bush, pictured, as she faces this unimaginable tragedy

A monster winter storm brought ice and snow to Texas on Monday. A pedestrian is seen walking on ice and slush in the Dallas suburb of Carrollton

The brothers died during the historic winter storm that swept the nation, bringing heavy snow, crippling ice and frigid artic temperatures.

At least 32 deaths have been reported in states afflicted with severe cold, including two people run over by snowplows in Massachusetts and Ohio.

Fatal sledding accidents that killed teenagers in Arkansas and Texas, and a woman whose body was found covered in snow in Kansas. In New York City, officials said eight people were found dead outdoors over the frigid weekend.

Warnings for extreme, dangerous cold remain in effect Tuesday morning from Texas to Pennsylvania, where some areas were forecast to see wind chills as low as -20F.

Most of the US is not forecast to get above freezing all day Tuesday, with temperatures expected to plunge again overnight.
President Donald Trump and Republicans are hoping that Americans getting more money in their pockets this tax season will overwhelm Democrats' affordability message as the GOP tries hold onto Congress in the November midterms.

The Wall Street Journal reported Monday on how Republicans designed the 'Big, Beautiful Bill' to ensure that taxpayers would receive larger-than-usual tax refunds - a whopping $100 billion more than last year.

When Trump and Republicans passed their original tax bill in December 2017, it came too late for Americans to see refunds in early 2018.

And that November, they paid for it at the ballot box, as Democrats ushered in a blue wave, winning back the House of Representatives.

In an attempt to stop history from repeating itself, Trump pushed for the 'Big, Beautiful Bill' to be passed by a July 4 deadline, which it was last year.

The bill was deliberately written so that the tax cuts would be retroactive for 2025, with the Treasury Department estimating average refunds $1,000 higher, the Journal said.

In 2025, the average American tax refund was approximately $3,167.

'Hell yeah, that was intentional,' Representative Nick LaLota told the paper. 'We knew that if we were going to put up a fight, we wanted to get that relief to our constituents right away.'

President Donald Trump and Republicans on Capitol Hill are hoping that larger tax refunds coming to American households this tax season - thanks to the 'big, beautiful bill,' will offset Democrats' affordability messaging going into the November midterm elections

The 'Big, Beautiful Bill,' did extend those tax cuts - criticized by Democrats for helping the rich - and included new deductions for tips, on overtime wages and on car-loan interests.

Tipped workers will see some taxes coming out of their tips, but with the first $25,000 tax-free.

Seniors - a powerful voting bloc - will also be eligible for new deductions.

Parents will see the maximum child tax credit go from $2,000 to $2,200.

Even some blue state voters will see additional relief, thanks to Republican holdouts from New York and New Jersey, with the cap on the state and local tax deduction, more commonly referred to as 'SALT,' going from $10,000 to $40,000.

Changing the SALT provision, which was decreased in the 2017 tax bill, will provide a quarter of the tax cuts' boost, according to the Tax Foundation.

The Cook Political Report shows that of the 18 House races that are considered toss-ups, there are four seats held by Republicans in New York, California and New Jersey, which rank among the top five most heavily taxed states.

Democrats were wary that larger tax refunds could truly quell concerns about the economy.

American households that receive tax refunds are expected to, on average, receive $1,000 - a boost that President Donald Trump and Republicans hope keep the GOP in power on Capitol Hill

On the 2024 campaign trail, Trump promised to extend the 2017 tax cuts and help out service workers by not taxing tips.

'It is the sort of short-term fix that someone like Donald Trump absolutely loves,' Democratic Representative Brendan Boyle told the Journal.

Boyle pointed to the legislation's cuts into healthcare spending, an even more potent issue given the GOP-led Congress has refused to extend the COVID-era Obamacare subsidies.

'That, combined with the overall lack of affordability, will continue to be, by far, the biggest issue in this election, and that's something they just cant get away from,' Boyle added.

Trump has repeatedly pointed to lower gas prices and has pushed that groceries are cheaper, despite the Bureau of Labor Statistics saying that grocery prices have climbed 2.4 percent over the year, ending in December.

Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins was mocked earlier this month for saying what Americans could eat for $3 - 'a piece of chicken, a piece of broccoli, corn tortilla, and one other thing.'

However, Republicans may have another trick up their sleeves closer to the election - the long-promised tariff refund checks sent out to American households.

'President Trump's tariffs are raising historic revenue for the federal government, and the Administration remains committed to putting that money to good use for the American people,' a White House official told the Daily Mail on Tuesday.
Labours plan to use AI chat bots to screen non-urgent calls to police could lead to victims of crime wasting time on inane and pointless online chats, the Conservatives have warned.

Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp urged the Government to concentrate on reversing declining police numbers instead.

A new police reform White Paper, published by Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood on Monday, proposed rolling out artificial intelligence 'chat bots' to create efficiencies in triaging non-urgent online queries from members of the public.

Police 999 control rooms will also use 'AI-assisted operator services' to help call handlers deal with tasks more effectively, it said.

Shabana Mahmood, the Home Secretary, suggests wider use of artificial intelligence will save millions of hours in police time

Chat bots are computer programs which use AI to mimic a real conversation.

But their use by commercial organisations such as banks, utility companies and retailers can lead to frustration for members of the public who find themselves caught in a loop or blocked by computer glitches.

Mr Philp said: Shabana Mahmood is desperately trying to fill the hole she has left behind with rapidly falling police numbers.

Victims of crime want a proper response from the police, not some inane chatbot.

We need crimes to be investigated and criminals arrested, not pointless chat.

Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp said the plan to use AI 'chat bots' to screen calls to police could lead to victims of crime enduring 'pointless' online chat

He added: The Home Office has not thought through all the risks.

Shabana Mahmoods plans will let down victims.

She needs to urgently reverse the drop in police numbers which she is presiding over.

The Governments White Paper suggested broader use of AI to carry out administrative tasks - such as analysing CCTV images and recording crimes - will save up to six million policing hours a year, the equivalent of 3,000 full-time officers.

David Spencer, head of crime and justice at the Policy Exchange think-tank and a former detective chief inspector with the Metropolitan Police, said: Although there is potential from new technologies like AI bots to make policing more efficient and better at fighting crime, the implementation must be done with great care.

The West Midlands Police Maccabi Tel Aviv scandal shows how badly wrong AI can go when these tools are used by people who dont know what theyre doing.

Earlier this month West Midlands chief constable Craig Guildford was forced to resign after it emerged so-called evidence gathered by the force to justify banning Israeli fans from a fixture at Aston Villa in November had been based on false material from an artificial intelligence search.

Home Office data issued last week showed the number of police officers in frontline roles has plummeted under Labour to the lowest level in six years.

There were 67,085 officers in visible frontline operational roles in England and Wales at the end of March last year.

It comes despite Labours election manifesto pledge to put 13,000 additional neighbourhood police and community PCSOs back on the beat.

The latest number of frontline officers was the lowest since 2018 to 2019 when the total fell to a record low of 63,000.

At that point, the decline prompted the then Conservative government to launch a drive to recruit 20,000 additional officers.

The Tories met their pledge in 2023 and the number of officers in visible frontline roles peaked at just under 77,000 in March that year.

In the following 12 months it fell by 4,700, however.

And during the year to March last year  most of which was under the Labour government  it fell by more than 5,000 full-time equivalent officers.

Ms Mahmood has set out changes which will slash the number of forces in England and Wales from the current 43.

No figure has yet been set for the final number of forces but it could be as low as 12.

It will also create a National Police Service which will take on serious and complex crime investigations and counter-terrorism.

Labour insists its reorganisation will free up officers currently employed in backroom administrative jobs so they can be reallocated to frontline roles.

However, concern has been raised that a shake-up of such magnitude will come with huge initial costs and absorb huge amounts of senior officers time for years.
Former Labour MP Conor McGinn has been charged with sexual assault, prosecutors announced today.

The 41-year-old who lives in Lambeth, south London, was charged with one count in connection with an allegation made by a woman in July 2022.

McGinn, who represented St Helens North in Merseyside from 2015 to 2024, is now set to appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on February 27 at 10am.

Deputy Chief Crown Prosecutor Jessica Walker said: 'The Crown Prosecution Service has decided to charge Conor McGinn with one count of sexual assault following a police investigation into an alleged sexual assault in July 2022.

Ex-Labour MP Conor McGinn represented St Helens North in Merseyside from 2015 to 2024

'We have worked closely with the Metropolitan Police as they have carried out their investigation into the allegation. The Crown Prosecution Service reminds everyone that criminal proceedings are active, and the defendant has the right to a fair trial.

'It is vital that there should be no reporting, commentary or sharing of information online which could in any way prejudice these proceedings.'

McGinn was suspended from the Labour Party in 2022 after a complaint was made against him.

At the time he told the Guardian that he had not been told details of the complaint but was 'confident that it is entirely unfounded' and rejected 'any suggestion of wrongdoing'.
An elderly couple forced from their dream retirement home on one of Britain's fastest-eroding coastlines have told of the devastation of losing everything with just days' notice from the council.

Glenda and Michael Dennington were ordered to leave their seaside bungalow in Hemsby, Norfolk, after Storm Goretti caused severe coastal erosion, leaving the property unsafe.

Writing to the Daily Mail, the couple said the experience had been 'devastating' and accused authorities and insurers of failing to help those losing their homes in this way.

'Erosion is happening all around the country, with devastating effects. We ourselves have recently lost our home.

'We were given one day's notice to get out, then a further two days to clear the property. Volunteers helped us or we would have lost everything.

'The local council have given very little assistance to people losing their homes. We don't know what help other areas are getting.

'Isn't it time the Government became involved and got teams together to provide assistance?'

The couple, both in their 80s, said they felt 'like second-class citizens' after being forced out of the bungalow they had hoped would be their final home.

Glenda and Michael Dennington were ordered to leave their seaside bungalow in Hemsby, Norfolk, after winter storms and Storm Goretticaused severe coastal erosion, leaving the property unsafe

Writing to the Daily Mail, the couple said the experience had been 'devastating' and accused authorities and insurers of failing to help those losing their homes in this way

In this aerial view properties stand next to rapidly eroding cliffs, on January 19, 2026 in Hemsby, England

Mrs Dennington was left in tears as they packed up their belongings and left the property, which she described as their 'final resting home'. The bungalow now stands empty and is due to be demolished this week.

The couple, along with their dog Rusty, have since moved into temporary accommodation at a nearby holiday chalet which they managed to rent themselves.

Mr Dennington, 82, is recovering from a major hip operation carried out just days before he was told the house was no longer safe. He said the shock had compounded an already traumatic period for the family.

In even worse news for the couple their insurance has told them that they will not cover coastal erosion, leaving them with no financial safety net.

Mrs Dennington said she was repeatedly asked when assessors could visit the property  despite explaining that the house would soon no longer exist.

'The insurance company doesn't want to know. Sometimes I wonder why we have insurance  ourselves, my son and a neighbour tried to claim for roof damage caused by relentless winds over a period of days.

'However, the insurance stated that the wind needed to blow above 55 miles an hour on one day for us to be covered.

'I accept that erosion is not covered on a buildings policy, although the wind contributed to it. We had to leave items in the house and they say that is not covered  but storm damage would have been covered.

'Apparently we were covered originally for storage, accommodation and various other costs.'

'However, we had to sign the house over to the council, which we did on January 12. The insurance company now say we are not covered, despite the fact that we put in a claim on January 8 when the property was ours. We have since rung and emailed them but no response.'

Mrs Dennington was left in tears as they packed up their belongings and left the property, which she described as their 'final resting home'

Recent bad weather, including Storm Goretti has seen almost 10 metres of land lost to coastal erosion in Hemsby

Properties being demolished close to the cliff edge at Hemsby in Norfolk which are at risk of collapse as high tides cut into sandy cliffs

He described retiring by the sea as a lifelong dream that had suddenly been ripped away, leaving them facing an uncertain future and the prospect of spending their life savings simply to survive.

His wife Glenda, 80, has been left to deal with the emotional and physical toll of trying to salvage and store their possessions while caring for her husband during his recovery.

She said the ordeal had been 'horrendous from start to finish' and that the lack of meaningful support had left them feeling abandoned.

The coastline of Hembsy has changed significantly in five decades, once being protected by rolling sand dunes with rows of homes set safely behind them.

Now those dunes have disappeared, and dozens of properties have been lost to the sea. In the past month alone, 14 homes have been demolished, with rubble removed by the local lifeboat station.

Mrs Dennington said she is trying to take each day as it comes but admitted the emotional strain is overwhelming.

Hemsby is not alone. Homes are also being demolished at Thorpeness in Suffolk, where several more remain at risk.

Experts have warned that undefended coastal villages like Hemsby may have no long-term future, with this stretch of the Norfolk coast described as among the fastest-eroding in northern Europe.

A spokesperson for Great Yarmouth Borough Council said: 'When anyone loses their home to coastal erosion it is enormously distressing. With that in mind, the council has been speaking with residents affected by continuing erosion in Hemsby since last summer, raising awareness of the risk posed by their property.

'When a property is at imminent risk from erosion of the cliff, the council liaises with the owner to try to secure their agreement for safe demolition to avoid the danger of buildings collapsing on to the beach.

'No one has been given a day's notice to leave their property nor two days to clear their home.

'Making sure residents and the public are safe is of paramount importance and the council works closely with owners to explain the risks, offer support and advice and detail the options available to people at what is a very difficult time.

'This winter continues to see a string of named storms and, at the start of January, more than 10m of dune was lost overnight. This meant more homes were at immediate risk.

'It is particularly difficult for people when current legislation means there is no prospect of insurance or compensation for those who lose their home to coastal erosion and they face losing everything.

'Unfortunately, the rate of erosion on our coast shows no sign of slowing and that is why the council continues to press for the Government to review legislation and introduce an insurance scheme to help those affected in Hemsby and other communities where coastal erosion is having such a devastating impact on people's lives.'
A person was allegedly shot by a Border Patrol agent in Arizona just days after Alex Pretti was killed in Minnesota.

The unidentified individual is in critical condition after allegedly being shot by a federal agent.

FBI Phoenix spokesperson, Brooke A. Brennan, told the Daily Mail in a statement that the agency is 'investigating an alleged assault on a federal officer'.

'The subject was taken into custody. This remains an ongoing investigation. No further information will be provided.'

Homeland Security told the Daily Mail in a statement that agents 'attempted to stop a pickup truck' but the 'driver failed to yield to agents and fled on foot.'

'The individual fired at an Air and Marine Operations helicopter and fired at USBP agents. Agents returned fire striking the driver. The driver was treated at the scene and transported to a local hospital.'

The incident occurred around 7:30am on West Arivaca Road, roughly 10 miles from the US-Mexico border.

Life-saving efforts were given to the patient before they were life-flighted to a regional trauma center, the Santa Rita Fire District said.

The unidentified individual is in critical condition after allegedly being shot by a federal agent. The circumstances surrounding the incident are unclear (Pictured: the scene of the shooting)

Alex Pretti, 37, was on Saturday shot dead by US Border Patrol Tactical Unit agents in Minneapolis, Minnesota

'The incident remains under active investigation by law enforcement agencies,' the agency said.

The shooting comes just three days after Alex Pretti, an ICU nurse, was shot and killed by agents and weeks after Renee Nicole Good was shot in Minneapolis.

Pretti, 37, was killed by Border Patrol officers on Saturday during a targeted immigration enforcement operation.

Kristi Noem, the Homeland Security Secretary, claimed after the shooting that officers 'clearly feared for their lives'.

She said the agents fired defensive shots at Pretti after he 'violently' resisted their instructions.

Noem also claimed Pretti was 'brandishing' the firearm and suggested Pretti was a domestic terrorist in the immediate aftermath of the shooting.

Gregory Bovino, the US Border Patrol commander-at-large, said Pretti planned to 'massacre' federal agents when he was killed.

Pretti's parents fiercely disputed the federal account and accused the Trump administration of lying.

'The sickening lies told about our son by the administration are reprehensible and disgusting,' they said in a statement. 'Alex is clearly not holding a gun when attacked by Trump's murdering and cowardly ICE thugs.'

Renee Nicole Good, 37, (pictured) was shot three times in the face on January 7 by an ICE agent

The internal scrutiny of Noem intensified after the fatal shooting of Pretti, whom she characterized as a 'domestic terrorist,' putting her at odds with Trump

Witness accounts and videos show Pretti stepping in front of a woman that an agent had thrown to the ground before getting pepper-sprayed in the face and taken to the ground by several officers before gunshots were heard.

Good, also 37, was shot three times in the face by an ICE agent on January 7.

She was shot dead after she allegedly refused officers' demands to open her car door during a demonstration in Minneapolis.

Noem branded both Pretti and Good as 'domestic terrorists'.

The internal scrutiny of Noem intensified after the fatal shooting of Pretti, an incident she characterized as an act of 'domestic terror,' putting her at odds with Trump.

The President grilled Noem over her handling and initial response to the shooting during their late-night meeting, reports say.

By the end of the night, Noem was ordered to shift her focus away from interior immigration enforcement operations and instead concentrate on securing the Southern Border.

Noem's longtime rival, White House Border Czar Tom Homan, was ordered by Trump to take over the Minnesota crackdown.
The father of a baby girl who died following a botched home birth today accused the NHS of playing Russian roulette with her life.

Thomas Gillibrand, 34, said the death of his newborn daughter, Pippa, was preventable and shed been taken from him and his wife, Victoria, 33, because of a catalogue of failings with the home birth service at their local hospital.

Cheshire Coroners Court heard how staffing shortages over a Bank Holiday weekend meant there were not enough midwives on duty and those that arrived at the couples home were inexperienced and delivered, on average, just three babies each a year.

They failed to properly monitor Pippas heart-rate because they were distracted by staffing and IT issues, which delayed an ambulance being called, an inquest was told.

By the time Mrs Gillibrand arrived at Warrington Hospital and Pippa was delivered it was too late.

She had been deprived of oxygen and she died of a severe brain injury aged just 12 days.

Speaking after a coroner ruled Pippas death was avoidable, Mr Gillibrand, a pharmaceutical technician, said: The Trust seems to have played Russian roulette with the innocent lives of mothers and babies.

Tragically, we are the family that took the bullet. Pippa's death was clearly preventable. It is vital for her legacy that she does not die in vain.

Changes have to be made to prevent this from happening again.

Mr and Mrs Gillibrand with their newborn daughter, Pippa. Her death was 'avoidable,' a coroner has ruled

The tot, who was the couple's first child, died after being starved of oxygen during a botched home birth

Mr and Mrs Gillibrand (right) spoke alongside their lawyer Rebecca Cahill (left), of JMW Solicitors, following the hearing at Cheshire Coroner's Court

His wife, a public health practice manager, added: Baby loss is one of the worst things anybody could ever go through, but then to find out that that loss was preventable, that there's been failings and missed opportunities along the way, its just absolutely shattered our lives.

Victoria Davies, senior coroner for Cheshire, said she would be writing to the Health Secretary to warn that a lack of national guidance on home births was putting babies' lives at risk.

She said Pippas death occurred just over three months after that of another mother and baby, Jennifer and Agnes Cahill, in a similar botched home birth, in nearby Prestwich, Greater Manchester.

Although the coroner who presided over their inquests wrote to Wes Streeting highlighting the lack of national guidance in November, Ms Davies said nothing had been done.

She said she was not assured the issue has been resolved and would be writing again to the Department of Health and Social Care, along with NHS England and the National Institute of Clinical Excellence (NICE) to warn more mother and baby deaths would occur unless guidance on home births was put in place urgently.

The court heard that Mrs Gillibrand went into labour in the early hours of Sunday August 25, 2024, and at around 5.30am Mr Gillibrand contacted the labour ward at Warrington and Halton Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust to say their baby was coming.

He was told that the home birth team was already busy with another birth and a midwife would come out to them when they had finished dealing with that arrival.

The labour ward contacted the homebirth team and asked them to call Mrs Gillibrand to triage her care, but no phone call was made.

The couple, who married in June 2023, were excited to welcome their first child and had done extensive research before planning for Pippa to be delivered by community midwives at their home, in Warrington, Cheshire

Mrs Gillibrand, pictured towards the end of her pregnancy, in August 2024

Victoria and Thomas Gillibrand's baby daughter, Pippa, died aged 12 days

Jennifer Cahill (pictured) with her son died alongside her newborn daughter, Agnes, in June 2024 during a home birth - three months before Pippa's death, in August the same year

Instead, Mr Gillibrand called the labour ward again at 7.40am to say his wifes waters had broken.

He was told a midwife would be with them within the hour, but that they could also come to hospital if they preferred.

Crucially, the couple were never instructed to attend the hospital or informed that there were not enough midwives to accommodate two home births at the same time.

Eventually, the first midwife arrived to help the couple at 8.15am, followed by a second at 8.51am and a third at 9.20am.

At 9am Mrs Gillibrand was examined as being fully dilated and assessed to be in established labour, so was advised to get into the birthing pool.

According to national guidelines, Pippas heart-rate should have been monitored every five minutes from then on, but this did not happen because the midwives were distracted trying to sort out staffing pressures and problems with their laptops, which were not connecting to the hospitals electronic notes system.

Although Pippas heartrate was recorded as being normal at 9am, 9.15am and 9.30am, by 9.36am it could only be heard intermittently and eventually at 10am a decision was made to call an ambulance.

Mrs Gillibrand was rushed to Warrington Hospital, where Pippa was delivered by forceps in a very poor condition, not breathing and with no heartbeat, 38 minutes later.

Doctors managed to resuscitate her and she was transferred to Liverpool Womens Hospital for specialist treatment.

But she had suffered a severe brain injury due to a lack of oxygen during her delivery and died at 12 days old, on September 5.

Ms Davies said the couple should have been advised that the Trust could only cope with one home birth at a time and told to come into hospital when they first called at 5.30am.

Another missed opportunity occurred when they called back at 7.40am and midwives took the decision to go out to the couples home, in Appleton, near Warrington, instead of again advising them to attend the labour ward.

The court heard two of the three midwives who attended the home birth were community midwives, who only delivered, on average, three home births a year.

Ms Davies said: You wouldnt want a surgeon operating on you who only performs a procedure three times a year, so I cannot understand why we are asking midwives to be in the same position.

Recording a narrative verdict, she stopped short of concluding that there had been gross failures in Pippas care or that her death was contributed to by neglect.

However, the coroner concluded Pippa would have lived without avoidable delays in her delivery .

In light of the staffing issues, including that the home birth team were already at another birth, Pippas mother should have been advised to attend hospital rather than continue as a home birth, Ms Davies said.

Once difficulties became apparent in monitoring Pippas heart rate from 9.36am, a decision should have been made shortly after for transfer for hospital.

It is likely that, had either of these taken place, her mother would have been assessed in hospital earlier and the need for urgent delivery would have been identified earlier.

Had Pippa been delivered earlier, she would not have died when she did. Pippa died as a result of a brain injury sustained due to an avoidable delay in her delivery.

The coroner also said she would be highlighting the need for better data collection on home births so parents could make more informed choices about the risks associated with them, as opposed to a hospital delivery.

Clutching a pink toy bunny that the couple had placed with Pippa in her incubator during her short life, Mrs Gillibrand urged Mr Streeting to take action on home births.

This is a national issue, she said. The NHS needs to act on maternity care. Everybody is born and every family deserves a safe experience.

Services have been underfunded and stretched for such a long time that we're now in a position where we've lost our daughter because of the cuts. Things need to change.

She said the couple, who now have a four-month-old son, Rory, had been fundraising for Liverpool Womens Hospital ever since Pippas death.

In the aftermath of Pippa, we weren't living, we were just existing, Mr Gillibrand added.

Rory will never replace Pippa, we will always miss her, but with our son weve started to feel the happiness that we never thought was possible again.

Rebecca Cahill, a specialist clinical negligence lawyer with JMW Solicitors, who represented the couple at the inquest, said: What is clear from todays conclusion is that the family were failed from the start.

If anything positive can be taken from this dreadful loss, it is that the Trust recognises the failings in care, and changes have already been implemented which, we hope, will ensure this does not happen to another baby and another family.

The court heard that Warrington and Halton Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has overhauled its home birth service since Pippas tragic death, with expectant mothers now asked to attend hospital if the home birth team is already busy.

Chief nurse Ali Kennah said: 'We remain truly sorry for the failures in the care that Mrs Gillibrand and Pippa received, and we fully accept the coroners findings.

'Since this tragedy occurred, we have strengthened our home birth service and have fully implemented all recommendations from an independent review. We will continue to make sure that all lessons are learnt.

'We would again like to extend our deepest condolences to Mr and Mrs Gillibrand for their heartbreaking loss.'
A little boy was rescued by firefighters in Virginia after falling down a drain while playing outside in the frigid cold.

While officials didn't release the boy's name, they did reveal that he is eight-years-old. The boy's parents reported that their child was trapped just before 5pm on Monday, according to Fairfax County Fire Rescue.

Firefighters rushed to the home in McLean, a small community in Fairfax County, to find the child stuck in a culvert, which is a tunnel-like pipe.

The boy had been playing outside and didn't notice the drain under the snow until he fell through it.

First responders worked quickly to dig the boy out in under 10 minutes.

Fire Rescue Battalion Chief Steven McFarland told local CNN affiliate, WUSA, that the temperature was in the teens while the boy was trapped.

McFarland said they first attempted to remove the grate, but realized it was frozen solid and had to dig the boy out.

'When the kid came out of the hole, he was smiling and laughing,' McFarland told the outlet.

Firefighters in Virginia rushed to free a little boy who fell down a drain after playing in the snow

Fairfax County Fire Rescue dug through the snow to free the little boy in under 10 minutes

Fire Rescue Captain Mike Eddy told WUSA that the team was relieved when the boy escaped unscathed.

'Its a great feeling for everyone involved to see this kid walk away with his parents, happy, ready to go play in the snow again,' he said.

The firefighters said they had never seen a child get trapped like that before, but were happy to see a positive outcome.

Members of the community praised the firefighters for saving the boy, with many rushing to the department's social media.

'Super heroes saving the day. We are so fortunate to have you serving. Stay warm!' one comment read.

'Oh my goodness. My heart goes out to the child, the parents, and all those who worked feverishly to save the day. God bless!' another added.

'God bless all the first responders and thanks for your bravery and your hard work,' a fourth added.

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Virginia was one of a dozen states hit with intense snowstorms, frigid cold, and icy conditions over the weekend.

Winter Storm Fern hit areas of the South and Midwest on Saturday before traveling to the East Coast on Sunday.

There have been at least 30 people who have died in storm-related incidents, including two teens who were killed sledding, a former New York police officer who died while shoveling, and a Massachusetts couple who were struck by a snowplow in a parking lot.

Multiple deaths have also been reported in New York due to the sub-freezing temperatures.
An elderly Florida woman has no choice but to keep working at a busy clothing store so she can pay her bills.

Muriel Connick, 92, continues to clock into work every day at the Burlington department store in Pompano Beach, about 15 minutes from Fort Lauderdale, to make ends meet because her social security check only covers so much.

'Its the rent, and its the car payment, and the car insurance, and the telephone, electricity, and cable,' Connick told WSVN.

Her hard work quickly caught the attention of shopper April Steele, who couldn't believe her eyes when she saw Connick hanging clothing on racks at the store .

'My heart sank. I thought, "Why is a 92-year-old woman working?" It just seemed unbelievable to me,' Steele told the outlet.

Connick's determination inspired Steele to spread the word on a local Facebook group.

Soon, she started a GoFundMe page to help raise money for Connick to hopefully have enough money to retire one day and fix her home.

Steele soon realized she wasn't the only one who felt the need to help Connick, as complete strangers raised nearly $60,000 in just weeks to support her.

Muriel Connick, 92, works hard every day at a Burlington department store in Pompano Beach, Florida because her social security check doesn't cover all her bills

Her hard work quickly caught the attention of shopper April Steele, who couldn't believe her eyes when she saw Connick hanging clothing on racks at the store. (Pictured: Connick and Steele together)

Steele also started the donation page to help raise money to go toward Connick getting her floors fixed in her mobile home.

Currently, the flooring is ripping apart and lifting, making for unsafe living conditions for the elderly woman.

The gift from strangers completely shocked Connick, who just recently found out what was being done behind the scenes to help her.

'I was really surprised, and I didnt know she was going to do all this,' she recalled. 'I thought she was just going to give me a card and say, "This is to help you".'

Connick added: 'I really thank them very much.'

She isn't just appreciated by strangers, but her co-workers as well.

One of her fellow employees said Connick is 'nice and incredibly strong,' according to the GoFundMe.

'I worked with Muriel for almost 2 years and I can not even begin to describe how nice and incredibly strong she is,' they said.

'She showed up for work every day and works harder than most people there.'

Her co-worker said that Connick doesn't just manage the dressing rooms, but is also in charge of putting clothes on the floor.

They also revealed that Connick recently tried to get financial help from her job to fix the broken pipes under her trailer home, but was denied.

'I helped her complete an application to the assistance fund through Burlington because her pipes are broken under her trailer and it's causing the the floors to break which is a major falling hazard for her,' they explained. 'She was unfortunately denied that help.'

It is unclear why exactly she was denied assistance. The Daily Mail contacted Burlington for comment.

Not only has money been raised to help support Connick, but a new friendship has blossomed between her and Steele.

A GoFundMe fundraiser started by Steele has raised nearly $60,000 to help her new friend fix her home and hopefully retire soon

The pair were seen hugging and celebrating with confetti after people donated to help her out.

Steele hopes her new friend will not only be able to fix her home but also retire soon with the funds that have been raised.

According to statistics from 2024 to 2025, more than 11 million Americans aged 65 and older continue to work.

Some do so for financial reasons, while others feel the need to do so they stay active, according to Pew Research Center.
Maine's legendary lobster lady has died at the age of 105 after spending years trapping the seafood with her son and becoming the state's first woman lobsterman.

Virginia Oliver died on January 21 at a hospital near her Rockland, Maine home, according to the Boston Globe.

'She was a hard worker and a good mother,' her son, Max Oliver, told the outlet.

For years, she and Max would go lobstering three times a week on her late husband's boat named after her.

Her days would start at 3am, and she would meet her son to go out and check their hundreds of lobster traps.

Virginia, who was the oldest licensed trapper in Maine, was in charge of measuring the lobsters and discarding the ones that were too small. She also captained their boat, filled bait bags, and gave her son 'hell once in a while,' he told the outlet.

'Shes the boss,' he said in 2021.

Virginia had been lobstering since she was eight years old, when she would go out with her father. But she had to give up the career at the age of 103 after health condition forced her to stay ashore.

Virginia Oliver died on January 21 at a hospital near her Rockland, Maine home

She was the oldest and first lobsterwoman in Maine. She became lobstering when she was eight years old and did it until she was 103

'Its not hard work for me. It might be for somebody else, but not me,' she told The Globe when she was 101.

Her legendary career served as inspiration for a documentary and several books in recent years.

Although the elderly woman often downplayed the longevity of her work, her son insisted that she enjoyed the recognition.

She would receive mail from fans and, including from overseas.

'She loved it,' he said of his late mother.

The Maine Lobster Festival remembered Virginia, who was known as the Lobster Lady, as a 'true Maine legend.'

'Virginia was more than a local icon; she was a living piece of Maines maritime history,' it wrote in a statement.

'Her no-nonsense work ethic, sparkling blue eyes and enduring sense of purpose reminded us all of what it means to live with passion and pride, to keep showing up, decade after decade, for the work that defines you.'

Virginia spent years doing it with her son Max (pictured together)

She was the 'boss' of the boat and operation, often driving the vessel. She was also in charge of preparing bait boxes and measuring their catches

'We will miss Virginia Oliver dearly, but her legacy is etched into the soul of our community and the waters she called home... Well see your spirit in every sunrise over the bay, every trap pulled from the sea, and every parade that rolls down Rocklands Main Street,' the statement concluded.

Barbara Walsh, who cowrote a picture book about Virginia, said she always 'teared up when I hugged Ginny goodbye' as she wondered if it would be the last time she got too.

The author had last seen the lobster lady in October after the elderly woman had returned home from being hospitalized with COVID-19 and pneumonia.

'She was still recovering, but that didn't stop her from smiling,' Walsh wrote in a tribute. 'Ginny didn't believe in complaining. She believed in living, laughing, and doing what she loved.

'She was sassy and spirited, always declaring on land and at sea, "I'm the boss."'

Virginia would always be seen wearing her signature red lip and made sure to put on a pair of earrings, Walsh said.

She was born in Rockland in June 1920 to lobsterman Alvin Rackliff and lobster dealer Julia Ruttomer Rackliff, The Globe reported.

She married Maxwell Oliver Sr., who lived near her childhood home.

The Maine Lobster Festival said Oliver was a 'piece of Maines maritime history'

She leaves behind three sons, one daughter, and two grandchildren

Her husband would also go into lobstering as a career, only stepping away from the profession during World War II, where he did iron work.

For Oliver, she had been lobstering since childhood, only briefly stepping away to do office work, before deciding it wasn't her for, and returned to her true love.

The couple lobstered together until Maxwell's death.

She eventually started going with her son, finishing up their job by morning. She often spent her afternoons uptown, where she would visit the supermarket and talk to locals.

She leaves behind three sons, one daughter, and two grandchildren.

The Daily Mail has reached out to family for comment.
A Montana woman trains the most elite guard dogs in the world - and her exclusive clientele pays a staggering $175,000 for each pup.

Kim Greene, founder of Svalinn, breeds mixed-shepherd dogs and trains them to serve as high-level security for the worlds wealthiest families.

On the companys 170-acre ranch, up to 46 canines live and train relentlessly until about two years old, when they're matched with a handler.

'This is not a product thats for everybody. It just isnt,' Greene, 51, told CNBC.

Svalinns guard dogs arent meant to be snarling beasts. Theyre family dogs, trained to be perceptive and protective against potential threats.

The company's 13-person team trains pups year-round in protection, obedience, socialization, and agility.

Svalinn dogs don't just wait for a physical attack; they are trained to monitor the environment and identify anomalies, per the company.

Their dogs are trained to constantly scan the perimeter and pick up on subtle cues like redirected eye contact or predatory posturing.

Kim Greene is the Founder and CEO of Svalinn. The company was launched in 2005 in Nairobi, Kenya where Kim lived with her family

One of the Svalinn dogs leaps over a high wooden wall during their relentless training, these dogs are valued at $175,000

The Svalinn dogs are a mix of Dutch Shepherds, German Shepherds, and Belgian Malinois, and over the years has become its own breed of dog

If the dog senses the owners heart rate spike or notices their body language stiffen, they immediately transition to high alert mode.

Training includes navigating chaotic environments, fast-paced obstacle courses, and trainers in foam suits acting as sneaky intruders for the dogs to bite.

Once a guard dog attacks, it holds onto the 'intruders' arm until a trainer commands it to release.

Each year, Greene sells 20 to 22 dogs at $175,000 apiece, personally hand-delivering them. Once settled, the pup will undergo five more days of training to fit seamlessly into their new families.

Their six-figure price tag is justified by three primary pillars: investment risk, intensive labor, and lifetime support.

Just in 2024, Greene's business reeled in nearly $3 million, and was profitable, per CNBC.

Greenes canine business is so high-end that she keeps a confidential list of her puppy buyers.

The exclusive clientele includes billionaires, CEOs, and high-profile families.

They choose these dogs for lifestyle protection and peace of mind, fitting seamlessly into a high-net-worth lifestyle.

The company's dogs are a mix of Dutch Shepherds, German Shepherds, and Belgian Malinois, with the optimal hound weighing between 57 and 65lbs.

Greene emphasizes the importance of size, noting that these dogs are meant to be travel-friendly companions who can go anywhere with the family.

'The beauty of having an animal that can go with you, anywhere, is that you take that investment in security and your peace of mind with you everywhere you go,' she told WCVB5.

She explains that the difference between a regular pet and her renowned guard dogs lies in perception, or the dogs ability to read human energy and emotion.

A trainer with a pup at their 170-acre farm in Montana, these dogs are bred and raised on the ranch until they reach two years old

Svalinn dogs take on the snow, the company is made up of 13 workers who work around the clock to care for these canines

These bodyguard dogs aren't defined by their aggression, but their ability to sense a human's emotions

Svalinn's training emphasizes that aggression is only a tool, not a baseline personality trait.

'If someone enters the room who woke up on the wrong side of bed, was a jerk to his wife this morning and he had too much coffee  even if you cant see it on the outward  the dog is just kind of like, "Whats up?"' Greene told the Cowboy State Daily.

'They are our barometers of our own feelings about things,' she added.

Greene first launched Svalinn in 2005 with her then-husband in Kenya, inspired by her past work in Afghanistan.

Though she runs a billion-dollar brand, she always addresses clients carefully to ensure they understand exactly what theyre investing in.

'Someone is purchasing a dog as an asset. Theyre purchasing the whole backstopping package that we provide for the duration of the dogs life,' she told the outlet.
A video has captured the terrifying cock-pit view of an airliner and Black Hawk helicopter colliding in a crash that killed 67 people.

The animation was shared by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) on Tuesday, as it published its findings into the deadliest commercial aviation accident in the US in almost 25 years.

An American Airlines flight and a helicopter collided over Ronald Reagan National Airport in Washington, DC on January 29 last year.

The visual simulation showed the view from inside the jet's cockpit in the moments before it collided with the military chopper.

It showed pilots dealing with dark skies and landing with the help of night-vision, while air traffic controllers appeared not to warn them they were on course to hit the helicopter.

It appeared suddenly to the left of the plane's windshield, hitting the jet in a flash and without offering any time for the pilots to swerve out of the way.

In its findings shared this week, the NTSB presented evidence that 'individual errors' contributed to the tragedy. However, board members stressed that 'no singular person is to blame for this - these were systemic issues across multiple organizations.'

The NTSB has said in its year-long investigation that a poorly designed helicopter route past the airport, the Black Hawk chopper flying 78 feet higher than it should have been and the Army's decision to turn off a system that would have broadcast the helicopter's location more clearly, are the primary reasons for the crash.

A terrifying animation has revealed a pilot's-eye view of the tragic mid-air collision between an American Airlines jet and a Black Hawk helicopter that killed 67 people in January last year

The crash on January 29, 2025 over the Ronald Reagan National Airport in Washington DC was the deadliest commercial aviation accident in the US in almost 25 years

In the hearing on Tuesday, board member Todd Inman acknowledged the families of many of the victims present at the hearing, and warned that presenting the findings 'will not be an easy day.'

ABC reported that several groups of people were escorted out of the room, crying, when the flight animation was shown.

Observers were shown the perspective of the right-seat view where First Officer Sam Lilley was seated.

Investigators say Lilley had the best position to see the helicopter, even though Captain Jonathan Campos was flying the jet.

The animation revealed grey 'masked' areas, showing parts of the cockpit that blocked the pilot's view outside the aircraft - with bright lights from Washington, DC also confusing the view.

Investigators say the visuals highlight how difficult it would have been for the airline pilots to avoid the collision, and the NTSB has cited cockpit blind spots and ground lighting from the city as primary causes of the crash.

The NTSB also said the American Airlines flight made a left turn to line up with the runway at Ronald Reagan Airport, which put it on a collision course with the helicopter approaching from its right.

The crash in January 2025 killed 64 passengers and crew on board the American Airlines jet and all three soldiers on the Black Hawk helicopter

In the animation from the American Airlines cockpit, observers were shown the perspective of the right-seat view where First Officer Sam Lilley was seated - who investigators said had the best position to see the helicopter before impact

Captain Jonathan Campos was flying the jet at the time, and the animation showed he had no time to swerve out of the way of the helicopter when it abruptly came into view

Audio from the cockpit also revealed that 'no safety alerts' were given to the pilots, Nick Fuller, the acting FAA deputy chief operating officer of operations, testified in August.

In earlier testimony over the summer, it was also acknowledged that the Army decided not to use anti-collision technology known as Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast, or ADS-B, on its Black Hawk helicopter, which could have prevented the collision.

On the fateful flight on January 29, 2025, the Black Hawk was operating in accordance with an FAA memorandum that allowed it to be turned off, investigators said.

In a previous hearing, the FAA also admitted that the air traffic control tower failed to properly warn the regional jet pilots of helicopter traffic in its airspace.

The NTSB also presented 'major discrepancies' in the helicopter's altitude readouts that could have led the soldiers on board to believe they were flying lower over the Potomac River than they actually were, reports CNN.

At Tuesday's hearing, the NTSB said this practice was 'commonplace' at the time, and the policy has since been updated so local control and helicopter control positions are no longer combined for air traffic control.

NTSB chairman Jennifer Homendy said in her opening remarks that observers 'will see that we left no stone unturned' to find all causes of the crash

The NTSB has said in its year-long investigation that a poorly designed helicopter route past the airport, the Black Hawk helicopter flying 78 feet higher than it should have been, and the Army's decision to turn off a system that would have broadcast the helicopter's location more clearly, as primary reasons for the crash

NTSB board member Michael Graham told the hearing: 'This has been an incredibly difficult year for our agency and our investigators, first responders to this accident, and the aviation community as a whole.

'We mourn the loss of 67 lives nearly one year ago from an accident in a tragedy that never, ever should have happened.'

Graham said the hearings, which will last several days, will likely acknowledge difficult realities over who is to blame for the disaster, which killed all 64 people on the American Airlines plane and three soldiers in the helicopter.

'There will be some times where individual errors may be noted throughout the course of the day in relation to this accident,' the NTSB official said.

'To make it crystal clear, any individual shortcomings were set up for failure by the systems around them.

'We are not here today to place blame on any individual or any organization, but we are here to ensure those systems that failed to protect 67 people on January 29, 2025 never fail again.'

Following the crash, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) made a number of changes to ensure helicopters and planes no longer share the airspace above Ronald Reagan Airport in Washington DC.

Last week, the changes were made permanent by the NTSB, which will recommend additional action at the conclusion of its hearings into the crash, including permanently restricting helicopters in the airspace.

Rachel Feres, who lost her cousin Peter Livingston and his wife and two young daughters in the crash, said at the hearing: 'I hope that we see a clear path through the recommendations they offer to ensure that this never happens again.

'That nobody else has to wake up to hear that an entire branch of their family tree is gone, or their wife is gone or the child is gone. Thats what I hope coming out of this. I hope we have clarity and urgency,' she said.

NTSB chairman Jennifer Homendy said in her opening remarks that observers 'will see that we left no stone unturned' to find all causes of the crash.

'We asked the hard, uncomfortable questions that ruffled feathers and we got to the truth,' she said.

Homendy added that there 'is a tendency in the immediate aftermath of any investigation or any accident that we investigate to question human error, the actions or inactions of individuals.'

'However, human error in complex systems like our modern aviation system and the National Airspace System isnt a cause. Its a consequence,' she said.
Democratic Senator John Fetterman has urged Donald Trump to fire Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem after an anti-ICE protester was shot dead in Minneapolis.

'President Trump: I make a direct appeal to immediately fire Secretary Noem. Americans have died,' Fetterman said in a statement.

'She is betraying DHS's core mission and trashing your border security legacy.'

Fetterman took a shot at Noem's predecessor Alejandro Mayorkas, who oversaw roughly 10 million recorded migrant encounters at the border during his tenure, an unprecedented total in modern history.

'DO NOT make the mistake President Biden made for not firing a grossly incompetent DHS Secretary,' the senator added.

Trump reined in Noem on Monday as Border Czar Tom Homan was parachuted into Minnesota to take over the deteriorating ICE operation in Minnesota.

The President met with the Homeland chief at the White House late on Sunday night after she branded Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old VA nurse, a 'domestic terrorist'.

The President grilled Noem over her handling and initial response to the shooting during their late-night meeting, reports say. Noem's adviser and rumored lover Corey Lewandowski was by her side at the Oval Office summit.

U.S. Senator John Fetterman (D-PA) speaks to the members of the media on Capitol Hill, on January 7

White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles and White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt listen as U.S. President Donald Trump speaks to reporters over the North Atlantic as he returns to Washington from the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland, aboard Air Force One, U.S., January 22

Kristi Noem is facing Trump's wrath as he orders her longtime rival, border czar Tom Homan, to clean up the chaos caused by her immigration crackdown in Minneapolis

By the end of the night, Noem was ordered to shift her focus away from interior immigration enforcement operations and instead concentrate on securing the Southern Border.

Despite the furor, Noem is expected to keep her job - for now.

House Democrats on Capitol Hill have launched an investigation into Noem, while 140 members of the party have co-sponsored an impeachment resolution.

Republican lawmakers, including Texas Governor Greg Abbott and Kentucky Rep. James Comer, have also expressed concern that Noem's immigration crackdown in Minnesota may have gone off the rails.

The Democratic impeachment bill alleges that Noem has been self-dealing, obstructed Congress and violated public trust.

Republican Rand Paul has also called multiple top immigration officials to testify at a February 12 hearing.

Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Rodney Scott, US Citizenship and Immigration Services Director Joseph Edlow and Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons have been asked to attend.

Noem will testify before the Senate on March 3 as part of regular oversight, Politico reported.

Alex Pretti was shot and killed in Minneapolis on Saturday afternoon, triggering shock and outrage across the United States

John Fetterman's wife, Gisele Barreto Fetterman, 43, turned on his unwavering defense of ICE and branded their operations 'cruel and un-American,' following the shooting death of Alex Pretti

Fetterman has positioned himself as one of the strongest Democratic backers of ICE, putting him in sharp contrast to the majority of his Senate colleagues.

The Democrat told Fox News on January 14: 'Round up all the criminals. Deport them. They shouldn't have ever been here. And they definitely have to go.'

His staunch support for ICE has even put Fetterman at odds with his Brazilian-born wife, who called the migrant crackdown 'cruel and un-American' in a social media post on Sunday.

'For more than a decade, I lived undocumented in the US. Every day carried the same uncertainty and fear lived in my body - a tight chest, shallow breaths, racing heart,' Gisele Barreto Fetterman, 43, wrote on X.

'What I thought was my private, chronic dread has now become a shared national wound,' she added. 'This now-daily violence is not "law and order." It is terror inflicted on people who contribute, love and build their lives here.'
Britain will be put on ice alert with pavements and roads set to freeze today - after Storm Chandra brought life-threatening flooding to parts of the UK on Tuesday.

The Met Office has issued a new yellow weather warning for ice across much of England, Scotland and Wales, which will be in effect between 12am and 10am on Wednesday.

With temperatures set to drop below freezing overnight, the forecaster urged people to avoid 'injuries from slips and falls on icy surfaces'.

It added that areas in the Highlands are likely to see temperatures drop to around -2C in the early hours of the morning.

Patches of ice are most likely to be found on untreated roads, pavements and cycle paths.

Commuters heading to work on Wednesday morning have been advised to check for delays and road closures, leave more time for journeys and ensure cars are functioning properly before setting off.

The ice warning will be active just hours after Storm Chandra brought dangerous flooding to parts of the UK, with torrential rain and strong winds seeing some areas recording their wettest January day on record.

The Met Office issued nine yellow or amber weather warnings for up to 80mm (3.1in) of rain, 20cm (8in) of snow and 80mph gusts.

A new yellow weather warning for ice across much of England, Scotland and Wales will be in place between 12am and 10am on Wednesday

 Yellow weather warning issued 



Ice across much of Scotland, Wales and England



Wednesday 00:00  10:00



Latest info  https://t.co/QwDLMfRBfs



Stay #WeatherAware pic.twitter.com/IDP4WczA4Q  Met Office (@metoffice) January 27, 2026

Ottery St Mary in Devon had a severe flood warning on Tuesday after the River Otter hit record levels

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Meteorologists said at least six locations across the UK provisionally set new January daily rainfall records, with Katesbridge in Northern Ireland recording 100.8mm (4in).

Others were Dunkeswell in Devon (52.8mm), Hurn in Dorset, Cardinham in Cornwall (both 44.4m), Plymouth in Devon (43.2mm) and Shobdon in Herefordshire (27.8mm).

Firefighters in Devon rescued people from 25 vehicles in floodwater on Tuesday, while the River Otter near Ottery St Mary reached its highest recorded level.

Hundreds of communities were on flood watch after the Environment Agency issued two 'danger to life' severe warnings for the Otter and the Upper Frome at Dorchester in Dorset, plus 89 other warnings for 'expected' flooding and 237 alerts in England.

Dozens of homes were flooded while Natural Resources Wales issued 18 alerts and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency had two warnings and 18 alerts in place.

The 35-hour low-pressure system will continue to impact the country including London for the rest of on Tuesday, having swept into South West England at 1pm on Monday.

The strongest winds will be in the South West and Wales, where 80mph gusts could hit Pembrokeshire and the Isles of Scilly; with 75mph gales expected in Northern Ireland.

A succession of Atlantic weather systems is driving wet and windy weather across the UK with snow likely on higher ground in the Pennines and Scottish mountains.

Meanwhile, the UK Health Security Agency activated cold health alerts for northern England from on Monday night until Friday amid a 'greater risk to life of vulnerable people'.

Join the debate Are YOU prepared for the wet weather?

Flooding in the Devon town of Axminster as people were rescued from stranded cars

Flooding on the River Exe near Exeter in Devon after the heavy rain from Storm Chandra

People look at cars stuck in the flooding in the hamlet of Weycroft in Axminster, Devon

Ottery St Mary in Devon has a severe flood warning after the River Otter hit record levels

Flooding in the Devon town of Axminster as people were rescued from stranded cars

Ottery St Mary in Devon has a severe flood warning after the River Otter hit record levels

Flooding in the Devon town of Axminster as people were rescued from stranded cars

A car stuck in flood water on the A30 near Honiton in Devon as Storm Chandra hits

Billy Vernon in his flooded home in Weycroft near Axminster in Devon

People look at cars stuck in the flooding in the hamlet of Weycroft in Axminster, Devon

A woman carries her dog through floodwater next to the B3168 at Illminster in Somerset

The River Axe has flooded Axminster in Devon after Storm Chandra hit the UK

A woman walks through floodwater in Exeter on Tuesday morning after heavy rain from Storm Chandra

Motorists and lorries stuck in the snow in Cumbria on Tuesday morning as Storm Chandra hits

Storm Chandra whips up massive waves to batter the promenade in Penzance, Cornwall

A seaside chalet on Branscombe Beach in Devon has been destroyed by the winter storms

Heavy rain in Central London on Tuesday morning as Storm Chandra hits the UK

Snow falls over Middleton-in-Teesdale in County Durham

Vehicles drive through the heavy rain on the M40 motorway near Warwick

A fallen tree blocks Hall Lane in Houghton-le-Spring, County Durham

Heavy rain hits York city centre as Storm Chandra brings travel disruption to the UK

Commuters struggle against the rain as they cross Hampton Court Bridge in London

Vehicles drive through the rain on the A14 motorway near Brington in Northamptonshire

A road is flooded during Storm Chandra in Helston, Cornwall

A motorist drives through snow on the A689 in Lanehead, County Durham

A man holds an umbrella in the wind and rain as Storm Chandra hits London

A puppy is rescued after getting swept down Uddens Water at West Moors in Dorset

Fire crews use an inflatable boat to reach Roxy who was struggling at Uddens Water in Dorset

The dog had been trying to keep afloat at Uddens Water in West Moors in Dorset

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A woman was taken to hospital after a tree fell on her car on Snowhill Road in Lisbellaw, County Fermanagh, at 8.30am but police said her injuries are not thought to be life threatening.

Firefighters in Devon and Somerset rescued people from 25 vehicles in flood water, although there were no casualties.

Axminster Fire Station, part of Devon & Somerset Fire and Rescue Service, posted images of multiple vehicles in flood water on Facebook.

It said: 'Flood water can be deeper and moving faster than it appears. Driving through it can quickly lead to vehicles becoming stranded and lives being put at risk.

'Please do not drive through flood water - turn around and find an alternative route.'

The M48 Severn Bridge was closed with the Humber Bridge shut to high-sided vehicles due to wind.

National Rail issued a warning that 'poor weather may affect South Western Railway services until the end of the day', while traffic between England and Wales was being diverted over the M4 Prince of Wales Bridge.

Gwent Police said that the A40 was flooded between Abergavenny and Raglan, while sections of several roads in Dorset, Somerset and east Devon were closed due to flooding.

National Highways said the A66 was closed between the A67, near Bowes, in County Durham and the A685, near Brough, in Cumbria because of snow.

Drivers travelling across the Pennines were advised to 'plan ahead and consider alternate routes'.

More than 280 schools closed across Northern Ireland and more than 40 in Devon due to the weather.

Forecasters had warned that flooding and travel disruption were likely with significant snow across higher ground in some northern parts of England and Scotland.

National Rail Enquiries said a number of railway lines are closed because of flooding. These include:

Between Par and Newquay in Cornwall.

Between Castle Cary and Taunton in Somerset.

Between Salisbury in Wiltshire and both Southampton Central and Romsey in Hampshire.

Between Eastleigh and Fareham in Hampshire.

Between Exeter St Davids and both Okehampton and Barnstaple in Devon.

Transport for Wales said a tree was blocking the railway at Llanbister Road station near Llangunllo in Powys, meaning there were no services between Swansea and Shrewsbury.

There were multiple road closures in South West England because of flooding.

National Highways said 'significant flooding' has closed the A30 in Devon between the B3174/B3180 junctions near Ottery St Mary and the B3184 for Exeter airport.

It said: 'Standing water has made the route impassable, and conditions remain hazardous.

'Crews are monitoring water levels and working to restore safe conditions when possible.'

The A303 was closed between the A30 at Upottery in Devon and the A358 at Horton Cross, Somerset.

In Dorset, the A35 was closed in both directions between the A352 Max Gate junction and the B3150 Stinsford roundabout near Dorchester.

Devon and Cornwall Police said there was 'significant surface water and areas of flooding across parts of the force' due to Storm Chandra.

The River Axe has flooded Axminster in Devon after Storm Chandra hit the UK

Motorists and lorries stuck in the snow in Cumbria on Tuesday morning as Storm Chandra hits

Billy Vernon in his flooded home in Weycroft near Axminster in Devon

The River Axe has flooded Axminster in Devon after Storm Chandra hit the UK

Floodwater in Exeter after heavy rain from Storm Chandra

A woman carries her dog through floodwater next to the B3168 at Illminster in Somerset

The River Axe has flooded Axminster in Devon after Storm Chandra hit the UK

Vehicles driving through the rain on the M20 motorway in Ashford, Kent

The River Axe has flooded Axminster in Devon after Storm Chandra hit the UK

Flooding in York after the River Ouse burst its banks before Storm Chandra sweeps in

The River Axe has flooded Axminster in Devon after Storm Chandra hit the UK

Vehicles drive through the heavy rain on the M40 motorway near Warwick

A fallen tree blocks Hall Lane in Houghton-le-Spring, County Durham

Flooding in York after the River Ouse burst its banks before Storm Chandra sweeps in

Vehicles drive through the rain on the A14 motorway near Brington in Northamptonshire

Heavy rain hits York city centre as Storm Chandra brings travel disruption to the UK

A road is flooded during Storm Chandra in Helston, Cornwall

Vehicles drive through the heavy rain on the M40 motorway near Warwick

Snow falls over Middleton-in-Teesdale in County Durham

Heavy rain in Central London as Storm Chandra hits the UK

A woman carries her dog through floodwater next to the B3168 at Illminster in Somerset

Billy Vernon in his flooded home in Weycroft near Axminster in Devon

A motorist pushes their car through heavy floodwater near Belfast International Airport

Commuters hold onto umbrellas in the wind and rain on Millennium Bridge in London

A car and its driver stuck in deep floodwater on the B315 at Burton Bradstock in Dorset

A seaside chalet on Branscombe Beach in Devon has been destroyed by the winter storms

The River Axe has flooded Axminster in Devon after Storm Chandra hit the UK

Motorists contend with heavy flooding near Belfast International Airport

'There is widespread disruption of the roads particularly across Exeter, East and Mid Devon this morning, with many roads becoming impassable,' a police spokesman said.

'Please do not travel in those areas - Exeter, East and Mid Devon - at this time unless you urgently need to.

'We are experiencing an increase in reports of people coming up against flood water.

'Please do not attempt to drive through it. The weather is improving but rivers are still responding to earlier heavy rainfall.'

The force later released the details of the roads hit by surface water or flooding in East and Mid Devon and urged motorists to avoid them.

'Motorists are also being asked not to attempt alternative routes around the affected areas as these are also becoming treacherous, with the fire services currently dealing with several incidents of cars becoming stuck in water,' a spokesman said.

Current roads affected were:

A30 Daisy Mount - both directions

A30 - closed either end of Honiton

London Road, Cranbrook junction at Gribble Lane

A3052 Clyst St Mary, both approach at Cat and Fiddle and approach from Clyst St George

A377 - impassable at Downes and Newton St Cyres

A303 Upottery

B3177 Iron Bridge

A382 Wray Barton

A396 Stoke Canon

B3181 Five Bridges, Cullompton

A379 Station Road, Dawlish

A3052 Boshill Hill

A358 Weycroft Bridge

There was a severe flood warning for the River Otter at Ottery St Mary in Devon following heavy rainfall.

The River Axe has flooded Axminster in Devon on Tuesday after Storm Chandra hit the UK

A vehicle driving through the pooled rainwater on the A20 in Ashford, Kent

Motorists and lorries stuck in the snow in Cumbria as Storm Chandra hits

Billy Vernon in his flooded home in Weycroft near Axminster in Devon

Vehicles drive through the rain on the A14 motorway near Brington in Northamptonshire

Motorists contend with heavy flooding near Belfast International Airport

The River Axe has flooded Axminster in Devon after Storm Chandra hit the UK

Flooding on the River Exe near Exeter in Devon after the heavy rain from Storm Chandra

Vehicles driving through the rain on the M20 motorway in Ashford, Kent

The River Axe has flooded Axminster in Devon after Storm Chandra hit the UK

A fallen tree blocks Hall Lane in Houghton-le-Spring, County Durham

Heavy rain in Central London as Storm Chandra hits the UK

A motorist pushes their car through heavy floodwater near Belfast International Airport

Snow falls over Middleton-in-Teesdale in County Durham

A seaside chalet on Branscombe Beach in Devon has been destroyed by the winter storms

Vehicles drive through the heavy rain on the M40 motorway near Warwick

Commuters hold onto umbrellas in the wind and rain on Millennium Bridge in London

Flooding in York after the River Ouse burst its banks before Storm Chandra sweeps in

The River Axe has flooded Axminster in Devon after Storm Chandra hit the UK

A roadside assistance worker helps a stranded motorist stuck in heavy floods in Belfast

A fallen tree blocks Hall Lane in Houghton-le-Spring, County Durham

Vehicles drive through the rain on the A14 motorway near Brington in Northamptonshire

'Severe flooding is expected this morning and flood water is expected to be deep and fast flowing,' an Environment Agency spokesman said.

The main areas of concern were Finnimore industrial estate, Thorne Farm Way estate, Luxtons Park, Otter Mill and Tumbling Weir Way.

The Environment Agency said the River Otter at Fenny Bridges, close to Ottery St Mary, reached its highest recorded level, surpassing the previous record set in December 2000.

Levels reached 2.81m on December 7 that year but were at 2.83m at 5.45am on Tuesday, with a severe flood warning issued five minutes later due to predicted overtopping of flood defences.

A spokesman said: 'Storm Chandra brought significant rainfall across Devon and Cornwall overnight, falling on already saturated ground.

'East Devon received 67mm of rain in the last 12 hours, with 88mm recorded at Whitebarrow on Dartmoor. Across south and mid Devon, rainfall averaged 40-50mm.

'There are currently 33 flood alerts and 39 flood warnings in force across Devon and Cornwall. Approximately 20 properties have flooded at various locations, with this number expected to rise.'

BBC Radio Devon listener Jackie Blackford, who lives in Ottery St Mary, said she can see the River Otter from her house.

She said: 'I live on a hill overlooking part of the Otter and it's normally quite a nice little river. At the moment, it's a raging torrent. It is horrendous - I've never seen anything like it.'

Ms Blackford said there had been a lot of traffic trying to get out of Ottery St Mary and she had seen people turning around.

Richard Foord, Liberal Democrat MP for Honiton and Sidmouth, paid tribute to council and Environment Agency staff as well as emergency services working through Storm Chandra.

He posted on social media: 'It has been a truly horrendous night. If you live in or around Ottery St Mary, please take note of the update this morning, just received.

'The River Otter has reached its highest recorded ever level. The Environment Agency has issued a Severe Flood Warning on the River Otter, meaning possible danger to life.

'Flooding is expected this morning, with heavy rain continuing to fall throughout the day. We are predicting that some flood defences will be overtopped.'

He said there were reports of about 20 flooded properties across Devon and Cornwall, which was expected to increase as river levels peak and further reports were received.

Mr Foord added: 'I want to pay tribute to staff from the Environment Agency, Devon County Council, East Devon District Council, who have been out in risky conditions to help keep residents safe. Also to emergency services personnel who have been rescuing people from floodwater.'

At least 30 flights at Belfast City Airport were cancelled on Tuesday.

Some 15 departures and 15 arrivals scheduled to serve the airport were axed. The affected airlines were Aer Lingus, Aer Lingus Regional and British Airways.

All the cancelled flights were on domestic routes serving these airports: Birmingham, East Midlands, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Heathrow, Leeds Bradford, London City, Manchester and Southampton.

Scottish regional airline Loganair cancelled at least 12 flights on Tuesday.

The affected routes were between Manchester and both Newquay and the Isle of Man, between Liverpool John Lennon and the Isle of Man, and between Glasgow and Islay, Campbeltown and Tiree.

Ferry operator Stena Line cancelled numerous sailings because of 'adverse weather'.

The River Axe has flooded Axminster in Devon after Storm Chandra hit the UK

Billy Vernon in his flooded home in Weycroft near Axminster in Devon

A seaside chalet on Branscombe Beach in Devon has been destroyed by the winter storms

Flooding on the River Exe near Exeter in Devon after the heavy rain from Storm Chandra

Heavy rain in Central London as Storm Chandra hits the UK

Motorists contend with heavy flooding near Belfast International Airport

Billy Vernon in his flooded home in Weycroft near Axminster in Devon

Vehicles drive through the rain on the A14 motorway near Brington in Northamptonshire

Commuters hold onto umbrellas in the wind and rain on Millennium Bridge in London

Vehicles drive through the heavy rain on the M40 motorway near Warwick

A fallen tree blocks Hall Lane in Houghton-le-Spring, County Durham

The River Axe has flooded Axminster in Devon after Storm Chandra hit the UK

Vehicles drive through the heavy rain on the M40 motorway near Warwick

A fallen tree blocks Hall Lane in Houghton-le-Spring, County Durham

Vehicles driving through the rain on the M20 motorway in Ashford, Kent

Flooding in the Devon town of Axminster on Tuesday as people were rescued from stranded cars

Flooding in York after the River Ouse burst its banks before Storm Chandra sweeps in

Billy Vernon in his flooded home in Weycroft near Axminster in Devon

The River Axe has flooded Axminster in Devon after Storm Chandra hit the UK

A fallen tree blocks Hall Lane in Houghton-le-Spring, County Durham

Flooding in York after the River Ouse burst its banks before Storm Chandra sweeps in

Commuters hold onto umbrellas in the wind and rain on Millennium Bridge in London

A fallen tree blocks Hall Lane in Houghton-le-Spring, County Durham

Snow falls over Middleton-in-Teesdale in County Durham

Billy Vernon's flooded home in Weycroft near Axminster in Devon

Flooding in the Devon town of Axminster as people were rescued from stranded cars

The River Axe has flooded Axminster in Devon after Storm Chandra hit the UK

Heavy rain in Central London as Storm Chandra hits the UK

These included between Belfast and Liverpool, between Belfast and Cairnryan in Scotland, between Dublin and Holyhead in North Wales, and between Fishguard in Pembrokeshire and Rosslare in Ireland.

In Scotland, operator Caledonian MacBrayne had disruption on the vast majority of its routes.

Among the routes where services are suspended were between Ardrossan and Brodick, between Troon and Brodick, between Oban and Castlebay, between Mallaig and Canna, and between Uig and Tarbert.

Several weather warnings were in force on Tuesday, including amber warnings for South West England and the eastern coast of Northern Ireland for rain and wind respectively.

The Met Office said gusts of 60 to 70mph will affect eastern Northern Ireland, with possible 75mph gusts in coastal locations, adding that 'easterly winds of this strength are unusual and are likely to be impactful'.

An amber warning for wind is in place on the eastern coast of Northern Ireland from 5am to 9pm on Tuesday, with an additional yellow rain and wind warning for the whole of Northern Ireland for all of Tuesday.

Across the South West of England, where Storm Ingrid wreaked havoc and washed away part of a historic pier on the weekend, forecasters expect more downpours.

An amber warning for rain is in place for south Devon, much of Dorset, southern Somerset and south-east Cornwall until 9am on Tuesday, where 30 to 50mm of rain could fall widely with up to 60 to 80mm over higher ground of south Dartmoor.

Less severe yellow warnings are in place for a more extensive area of southern England, as well as parts of northern England and Scotland.

A yellow warning for wind covers Cornwall, South West Wales and parts of northern Devon from 5am to 4pm on Tuesday, with an additional yellow wind warning in force for southwestern Scotland for 5am to midnight on Tuesday.

Yellow warnings for rain and snow have also been issued for the Pennines and south-west Scotland from midnight to 5pm on Tuesday, where 2 to 5cm of snow could fall widely and as much as 10 to 20cm could accumulate at higher elevations.

Slaney Search and Rescue workers in floodwater in Enniscorthy, County Wexford

People walking through floodwater in Enniscorthy, County Wexford

Slaney Search and Rescue workers in floodwater in Enniscorthy, County Wexford

Slaney Search and Rescue workers in floodwater in Enniscorthy, County Wexford

Floodwater flows through a street after the River Slaney burst its banks in Enniscorthy

Slaney Search and Rescue workers in floodwater in Enniscorthy, County Wexford

A vehicle is stuck on a flooded road in Clohamon near Bunclody, County Wexford

People in flood waters in Enniscorthy, County Wexford

Floodwater flows through a street after the River Slaney burst its banks in Enniscorthy

The River Slaney bursts its banks in Enniscorthy, County Wexford

Floodwater flows through a street after the River Slaney burst its banks in Enniscorthy

Residents stand in floodwater after the River Slaney burst its banks during Storm Chandra

The River Slaney bursts its banks in Enniscorthy, County Wexford

Floodwater flows through a street after the River Slaney burst its banks in Enniscorthy

People in flood waters in Enniscorthy, County Wexford

There is a further yellow warning for rain and snow across much of central Scotland from 6am to midnight on Tuesday.

A yellow warning for rain is in place from midnight until midday on Tuesday for much of South East England, and for South West England and South and Central Wales from 1pm on Monday to 10am on Tuesday.

Met Office chief forecaster Paul Gundersen said: 'Initially, strong winds will impact the Isles of Scilly, western Cornwall and South West Wales which are still vulnerable after Storm Goretti, gusts of 70 to 80mph are possible here.

'Heavy rain is an additional hazard as it falls on saturated ground in Dorset and southern parts of Devon, Somerset and Cornwall.

'As Chandra interacts with colder air further north snow becomes a hazard, with 10 to 20cm of snow possibly accumulating over higher ground in the Pennines, southern Scotland and the Highlands.

'With a complex spell of weather, its important people stay up to date with the forecast and any warnings in your area.'

The Met Office has also issued yellow warnings of ice tomorrow for large parts of the UK, including Northern Ireland, central Scotland, the Midlands, the east of England, London and the South East, the north of England and parts of Wales.

'Patchy ice is likely to form on untreated surfaces by Wednesday morning and may lead to some disruption,' a spokesman said.

'Clearing skies Tuesday night will allow temperatures to fall below freezing soon after midnight and on Wednesday morning. After the recent wet weather, icy patches are likely to develop on some untreated surfaces.'

RAC mobile servicing and repairs team leader Nick Mullender said: 'Flooding is highly likely, making many roads dangerous. Our message to drivers is simple: do not drive through standing water unless you are completely certain the water is shallow enough and it's safe to do so.

'In these conditions, drivers need to slow down and stay alert. Wet roads can double stopping distances, so taking a cautious, steady approach and allowing extra time to react is essential.

'And if your vehicle already has known faults, now is not the time to take risks. Avoid unnecessary journeys and get issues fixed promptly by a trusted mobile mechanic or local garage.'

Storm Chandra is the next storm to be named by the western Europe storm naming group list shared between the UK, Ireland and Netherlands.
A female teacher who previously worked as a police officer for 10 years was busted for dealing fentanyl in a dramatic arrest carried out by the same chief who once hired her on the force.

Amber Williamson, 40, was hit with a slew of charges, including drug possession and armed trafficking, during an arrest at her home in Daytona Beach, Florida on January 23, according to the Volusia County Sheriff's Office.

Williamson was arrested alongside Marcus Plowden, 28, a man police branded a 'prolific' drug dealer by cops.

Sheriff Mike Chitwood shared footage of the arrest, which revealed the moment Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) officers demanded Williamson and Plowden surrender from their home over an announcement system.

After authorities waited with no response, SWAT officers forced entry into the apartment and detained the duo, according to an arrest affidavit.

Footage shared by the police department showed Williamson handcuffed outside her home in a large gray t-shirt alongside Plowden, who looked dumbfounded as he stood outside shirtless.

Chitwood then confronted his former officer, telling Williamson in a triumphant moment for his team: 'Amber, you know the good guys always win, don't you?!'

Sheriff Mike Chitwood, pictured above in the doorway, said he hired Amber Williamson as an officer in 2009. She was arrested on January 23 for drug possession and armed trafficking

Williamson faces a slew of charges, including drug possession and armed trafficking. She's pictured above in her mugshot

Marcus Plowden, 28, pictured above in his mugshot, was also arrested for drug possession and armed trafficking

Before authorities arrived at Williamson's home, Chitwood said in a video that he suspected the former cop's boyfriend would be going back to prison, adding, 'And she'll be going with him.'

However, Williamson later told police that she wasn't in a romantic relationship with Plowden, but they did share a bed.

'Not only is it sickening that somebody who took an oath to protect these streets of Daytona Beach is working with kids, and is out there peddling this poison, destroying families, destroying lives,' Chitwood added.

The investigation was conducted by the Volusia Sheriff's Office, Port Orange Police Department, the East Volusia Narcotics Task Force, and SWAT.

Detective Davila searched the apartment and found narcotics floating in the master bedroom toilet, concluding that someone had attempted to flush it when law enforcement demanded they come outside, according to an arrest affidavit.

Davila said a 'powder residue' was found around the toilet rim. The suspects also left a digital scale and several baggies with suspected narcotics, authorities said.

Law enforcement also found a white blender with fentanyl residue on a counter in the master bedroom. A test kit concluded a positive reaction for fentanyl.

An arrest affidavit also revealed that law enforcement recovered bags of fentanyl, cannabis, and crack cocaine, along with pill bottles, loaded guns, and US currency.

Williamson, pictured left, and Plowden, pictured right, were handcuffed by officers outside their apartment as investigators searched their home for narcotics

The arrests were apart of a multi-agency investigation involving Volusia Sheriff's Office, Port Orange Police Department, the East Volusia Narcotics Task Force, and SWAT, pictured above

Williamson was interviewed by detectives after her arrest. She claimed that all narcotics and contraband belonged to Plowden.

She told law enforcement that Plowden doesn't work and makes all his money from dealing drugs. Williamson added that he keeps the money in a shoe box near the bathroom sink.

'Glad to wrap up an early morning with 2 fewer drug dealers running free in our community,' Sheriff Chitwood said in a statement online after their arrests.

Williamson also told police that Plowden manufactures crack cocaine. Williamson allegedly admitted to delivering his drugs when he was 'busy or out of town,' according to the arrest affidavit.

Plowden allegedly confessed to law enforcement that he attempted to flush and discard the narcotics in the toilet when he heard SWAT teams knocking on their door.

'Marcus stated since he was unable to quickly figure out which bag was fentanyl, he just began ripping bags open in the toilet in attempt to flush evidence,' the arrest affidavit read.

Plowden has a long rap sheet in Florida. He was arrested and pleaded nolo contendere (no contest) to grand theft charges in 2016, according to Volusia County court records.

He was also convicted of possession of paraphernalia in 2017, possession of cocaine in 2019, and possession of fentanyl in 2022.

Plowden was also previously arrested for domestic battery by strangulation and child abuse, but wasn't convicted on either charge.

An arrest affidavit claimed that Plowden allegedly tried to flush the narcotics down the toilet before officers arrested them

Dramatic video footage shared by the sheriff's department revealed the moments Williamson and Plowden were arrested and detained by police

The arrest occurred at an apartment complex in Daytona Beach, Florida, pictured above

Williamson was hired as a Daytona Beach Police Officer in 2009 and spent a decade on the force before becoming a teacher at Richard Millburn Academy.

Her name appears to have been taken off the staff directory.

Williamson and Plowden are both in custody. Plowden's arraignment is scheduled for February 17. Williamson is due back in court on February 24 for her arraignment.

Richard Millburn Academy confirmed that it was aware of Williamson's arrest and that she was no longer employed at the school.

The Daily Mail has reached out to the Richard Millburn Academy for comment, as well as lawyers for Williamson and Plowden.
Scottish beer giant BrewDog is set to close all of its distilling brands, sparking fears of further job losses at the beleagured company.

BrewDog will no longer produce any of its spirits, including Duo Rum, Abstrakt Vodka and Lonewolf Gin, at its distillery in Ellon, Aberdeenshire.

The company, which was founded in 2007, said it made the decision to focus on its beer brands, including the highly popular Punk IPA.

It also said its Wonderland cocktail range will remain in place.

In the meantime, the company's distilling arm will cease operations over the next few months, selling off remaining stock and honouring its supply commitments.

The future of the distillery building itself will be reviewed at a later date.

A spokesperson for BrewDog said: 'After careful consideration, we've made the difficult decision to cease production of our distilling brands, with the exception of Wonderland cocktails.

'This will allow us to sharpen our focus and concentrate our efforts on our beer and the continued growth of Wonderland.

Scottish beer giant BrewDog is set to close all of its distilling brands, sparking fears of further job losses at the beleagured company

The company was co-founded by James Watt, who married Made In Chelsea star and socialite Georgia Toffolo last March

James Watt launched BrewDog with Martin Dickie (left) amid a flurry of publicity stunts including the launch of a 41 per cent beer (above)

'We're incredibly proud of what the distillery team has built and want to thank everyone who has worked on, contributed to, and supported the distilling business over the years.'

Gordon and Buchan Conservative MP Harriet Cross voiced concern at the move, but she acknowledged the hardship facing the drinks industry.

She said: 'The announcement of the closure of BrewDog's distilling business is deeply concerning.

'The staff at BrewDog whose jobs are now at risk will understandably be very worried by this.

'This decision highlights the growing issues facing the drinks industry and hospitality sector, with challenging market conditions causing financial difficulties.

'Residents in and around Ellon rely on employment from BrewDog, and an important local business making cutbacks like this is very unsettling for the area.

'I will now be writing to BrewDog asking what implications this closure will have on jobs, and if this decision will affect any other parts of its business.'

The latest announcement comes after BrewDog's beers were axed by almost 2,000 pubs across Britain over the last two years.

The company said it made the decision to focus on its beer brands, including the highly-popular Punk IPA

Private industry data released last August showed the company's range of draught beers had disappeared entirely from around 1,860 pubs in the last two years, while its UK distribution was cut by more than a third.

Punk IPA suffered the worst loss after being removed from 1,980 pubs  a 52 per cent decline in distribution.

Pubs are now reducing their offerings or opting for rival beers such as Camden Town and Beavertown instead.

The data, which was seen by the Telegraph, revealed most of the pubs scrapping BrewDog beers are part of large chains, removing a key source of revenue for the brewer at the same time as it struggles to revive its fortunes.

The collapse in BrewDog's UK distribution came as CEO James Taylor told investors that its financials did not make for 'happy reading'.

BrewDog recorded losses of 59m in 2023 and 30.5m in 2022. In October, the company announced job cuts after posting a 37m loss.

Mr Taylor is the second new CEO to take over since founder and face of the company James Watt stepped back in May 2024 amidst a flurry of accusations of improper conduct.

In July, the company announced the closure of 10 of its own branded bars across the UK, including its flagship site in Aberdeen, after deciding they were not 'commercially viable'.

James Watt pictured at his company brewery and office headquarters in Ellon, Scotland. BrewDog announced today that it will no longer produce any of its spirits, including Duo Rum, Abstrakt Vodka and Lonewolf Gin

BrewDog has weathered a number of publicity storms in recent years as its reputation has taken a hammering.

But it has also faced stiff competition from new entrants into the 'craft beer' market.

It was founded in 2007 by James Watt and Martin Dickie, rising to prominence in the 2010s amid a surge in demand for independent beers and hoppy IPAs.

Mr Watt married Made In Chelsea media personality Georgia Toffolo last year and has become a frequent critic of the Labour government on LinkedIn.

The company's fortunes started to turn after it emerged staff reported being unhappy working there.

Mr Watt's tenure was marred by controversy, with the firm accused by former workers in an open letter in 2021 of having a 'culture of fear' within the business, with 'toxic attitudes' towards junior staff.

BrewDog apologised and promised to 'listen, learn and act'.

Mr Watt later admitted to being 'too intense and demanding' amid a workplace culture row where he was accused of inappropriate behaviour and abusing his power.

He later stood down as chief executive officer and moved to becoming 'captain and co-founder'.

Dickie left the company for personal reasons last year.
A 75-year-old stroke sufferer was unable to call 999 after his BT landline was cut off.

Graham Chapman and his wife, Jan, spent two weeks without a landline because it had been suspended during upgrades to their fibre broadband.

The couple from Horsehay, Shropshire, were only able to call an ambulance thanks to access to a mobile phone.

Graham blamed a broken system that wasn't fit for purpose after he spent a week in hospital.

A BT spokesperson said they were 'very sorry that the Chapmans' landline phone was not working', and that they have now 'restored their service'.

Landline operators are switching every home phone in the UK to an internet-based connection instead of traditional, copper-wire cables.

On January 12, work began at the Chapmans' home to upgrade the fibre broadband - but 'engineers could not connect them because the network infrastructure was not in place at the property', say BT.

Despite suffering a stroke, Graham was able to use his own mobile phone to call for an ambulance before spending a week in Telford's Princess Royal Hospital.

Graham Chapman was able to use his own mobile phone to call for an ambulance before spending a week in Telford's Princess Royal Hospital (stock photo)

Jan said the stress of trying to get their landline fixed has ended up 'taking more precedence than the stroke'.

'I felt really stressed out,' she said, adding she 'lifted the phone and it was completely dead'.

'I thought at the time, and I still do, that it's the worst thing that's happened to me.'

Graham is concerned that other older people who rely on landlines could have a similar experience.

'I can foresee numerous elderly people who rely upon their landline being cut off completely,' he said.

In March last year, North Shropshire MP and chair of the Digital Communities All-Party Parliamentary Group, Helen Morgan, said: 'The risk to life if residents are not safely migrated is real. A digital transformation project of this kind cannot be allowed to be led by industry operatives alone.'

In December 2023, telecoms firms paused making vulnerable customers switch to digital landlines after 'serious incidents' where telecare devices stopped working.

The Liberal Democrat MP said people living in rural communities, such as North Shropshire, were particularly exposed during prolonged power cuts and a reliable system was needed to protect them.

'Our residents deserve to know that they can always call for help in an emergency, whatever the weather,' she added.

A BT spokesperson said: 'We're very sorry that the Chapmans' landline phone was not working, following a broadband upgrade order.

'We have restored their landline service and confirmed that all is working. The Chapmans will receive automatic compensation for the period they were unable to use their landline, and their complaint has been resolved.'

BT say that the Chapman's were already on Digital Voice, and this was working before the issue.

Digital Voice refers to the home phone service that operates over a broadband connection instead of the traditional analogue copper network, offering clearer, high-definition (HD) calls. It is part of the UK's nationwide switchover to digital.

BT says the landline stopped working because a fibre broadband order was cancelled and left a record mismatch on their account. The engineer was unable to connect them to fibre broadband because the network infrastructure was not in place at their property.
The IDF have released harrowing new footage showing the emotional moment the body of their fallen comrade was formally identified in Gaza.

The video, published on Tuesday evening, shows doctors and medical teams working alongside IDF soldiers as they carefully examined the body, cross-checking details alongside the identification data they held.

When the process was complete, the soldiers were seen breaking down in tears, overwhelmed by the gravity of the moment.

Yasam fighter Ran Gvili's body was identified on Monday, and after being returned to Israeli territory, police held a solemn farewell attended by his grieving father.

Addressing the gathering, Police Commissioner Danny Levy paid tribute to the fallen officer, saying: 'This is a tremendous honor to stand before Rani's body and say to him, to his family, and to all police officers that the State of Israel was in grave danger on October 7 - and people like Rani went out, fought, and gave their lives for the state, serving as its protective wall.'

Staff Sergeant Gvili, from Meitar, served as a Yasam Negev fighter in the Southern District of the Israel Police.

On the morning of the October 7, 2023 attacks, Gvili, 24, had been at home recovering from a motorcycle accident and was suffering from a fractured shoulder.

Despite his injuries, he immediately donned his uniform after learning of the terrorist infiltration and rushed out to join his fellow unit members in battle.

The IDF have released harrowing new footage showing the emotional moment the body of their fallen comrade was formally identified in Gaza

The video, published on Tuesday evening, shows doctors and medical teams working alongside IDF soldiers as they carefully examined the body, cross-checking details alongside the identification data they held

When the process was complete, the soldiers were seen breaking down in tears, overwhelmed by the gravity of the moment

Israel announced on Monday that the body of the last hostage held in Gaza, Ran Gvili, had been identified and returned

On his way, he encountered terrorists and fought with courage and determination on the front line at the entrance to Kibbutz Alumim, where he was later killed.

Members of the kibbutz community would come to remember him by a name that captured his final stand - 'Ran, the Defender of Alumim'.

Gvili is survived by his parents, Talik and Itzik, his brother Omri, his sister Shira, and a wider extended family.

With Monday's announcement of the return of Gvili's remains, none of the 251 hostages abducted more than two years ago during Hamas's attack remain in the Gaza Strip.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that Israel had successfully 'brought them all back'. Hamas, meanwhile, insisted the discovery confirmed the group's 'commitment to all the requirements of the ceasefire agreement on the Gaza Strip'.

A motorcycle enthusiast and non-commissioned officer in the elite Yassam unit of the Israeli police in the Negev desert region, Gvili was on medical leave and living with his parents in the town of Meitar ahead of a shoulder surgery, according to his family.

It was then that he heard of the attack.

Gvili drove towards the onslaught and joined his unit to fight the attackers - his team was highly outnumbered as they faced about 40 Hamas fighters.

'We were both wounded,' recalled Colonel Guy Madar, who was fighting alongside Gvili outside Alumim - the site of fierce fighting.

Madar was the last person to see Gvili alive before they got separated.

It took several months before Israeli authorities informed his parents in January 2024 that the young officer had been killed on that day and that his body had been taken to Gaza.

'He ran to help, to save people... even though he was already injured before October 7,' his father told AFP in December, referring to Gvili's shoulder injury.

'But that was Rani - always running forward, the first to help and the first to jump in.'

'He fought until the last bullet and then he was taken hostage,' added Talik Gvili, his mother.

A man of skills, Gvili had been using his medical leave to carry out renovation work at the family home.

Israeli forces brought home early on January 27 the remains of Ran Gvili, the last hostage held in Gaza, finally closing the chapter on a painful saga that has haunted Israeli society since Hamas's 2023 attacks when militants took 251 hostages to Gaza

People attend a ceremony to stop the clock that has counted the days, minutes, and seconds since Israeli hostages were abducted to the Gaza Strip during the October 7, 2023 attacks by Palestinian militants

His father recalled seeing him working outside the house with a Palestinian labourer from Gaza just days before the Hamas attack.

'In a way, it fits him, to be the one to stay behind,' Talik Gvili, a lawyer, has repeatedly said at events held across the country calling for her son's return before the implementation of phase two of the US-backed truce plan for Gaza.

His family has steadfastly opposed the opening of the Rafah crossing between Egypt and Gaza until his remains are returned.

Emmanuel Ohayon, a close friend of Gvili, described him as 'a man of great physical presence, but also gentle and kind'.

'When he entered a room, you felt his presence, not because of his size, but because he knew how to be there for everyone,' Ohayon said Saturday evening at a weekly gathering in Meitar.

Israel has resisted moving forward with the second phase of Donald Trump's peace plan for Gaza - including reopening the Rafah Crossing between the Strip and Egypt - before Gvilis body had been returned.

Hamas had insisted that it did not know the exact location of his remains despite attempts to search.

Over the weekend, the Israel Defence Forces confirmed it was searching for the remains of Gvili, based on intelligence that his body was buried at a Muslim cemetery in eastern Gaza City, near the neighborhoods of Shejaiya, Daraj, and Tuffah.

'Following the identification process conducted by the National Forensic Centre, in cooperation with the Israeli police and the military rabbinate, representatives of the (Israeli military) informed the family of hostage Ran Gvili... that their loved one had been formally identified and repatriated for burial,' an army statement said on Monday.

'Thus, all the hostages held in the Gaza Strip have been repatriated,' it added.

US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner met on Saturday with Netanyahu during their trip to Israel.

The American officials have been pressing Jerusalem to move forward with the next steps of the peace deal.

A photograph shows chairs with a portrait of Ran Gvili, the last hostage held in Gaza, the day after his remains were brought home by Israeli forces, in Hostage Square in Tel Aviv on January 27, 2026

The head of a transitional Palestinian committee backed by the US to temporarily administer the Strip, Ali Shaath, said on Thursday that the Rafah Border Crossing between Gaza and Egypt would open this week.

The crossing is effectively the sole route in or out of Gaza for nearly all of the more than two million civilians who live there.

In response, an Israeli official said that the issue would be discussed in a security cabinet meeting at the beginning of this week, according to the Times of Israel.

Board of Deputies President Phil Rosenberg reacted to the discovery of the body of the final hostage held in Gaza, saying: 'After 843 days of pain, we are moved and relieved at the news that Israel has located and identified the body of Ran Gvili.'

He continued: 'Never again must Israel face an onslaught of the sort it faced on 7 October. And as we move to phase two of the ceasefire we need to see the disarmament and removal of Hamas from Gaza.

'With terror excised from the enclave, there is no reason why Gaza cannot become a place of peace and prosperity.

'It is time for us to seize this moment of opportunity and redouble our efforts towards lasting peace and security for Israelis, Palestinians and the wider Middle East.'
An award-winning composer has canceled an upcoming performance at the Trump-Kennedy Center after a protester was shot dead in Minneapolis.

Philip Glass called off the forthcoming debut of his Symphony No. 15, 'Lincoln,' themed after the nation's 16th president.

'Symphony No. 15 is a portrait of Abraham Lincoln, and the values of the Kennedy Center today are in direct conflict with the message of the Symphony,' Glass wrote in a statement on X on Tuesday..

'Therefore, I feel an obligation to withdraw this Symphony premiere from the Kennedy Center under its current leadership.'

The decision comes after Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old VA nurse was shot dead by federal agents during anti-immigration protests in Minneapolis on Saturday.

The Kennedy Center's Vice President of Public Relations, Roma Daravi, told the Daily Mail, 'we have no place for politics in the arts, and those calling for boycotts based on politics are making the wrong decision.'

Daravi also noted that the Center has 'not cancelled a single show.'

'Leftist activists are pushing artists to cancel, but the public wants artists to perform and create - not cancel under pressure from political insiders that benefit from creating division,' Daravi concluded.

New signage outside of the freshly renamed Trump- Kennedy Center is seen in Washington, DC on January 10, 2026

2018 Kennedy Center Honoree composer Philip Glass arrives at the State Department for the Kennedy Center Honors State Department Dinner, December 1, 2018, in Washington

Workers add President Donald Trump's name to the John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts, after a Trump-appointed board voted to rename the institution, in Washington, December 19, 2025

Glass, 88, was recognized for his contributions to American music as a member of the 2018 Kennedy Center Honors class and is widely regarded as one of the most influential composers of the 20th century.

He has additionally received the National Medal of Arts from former President Barack Obama in 2015, and even a Golden Globe in 1998 for his original score for 'The Truman Show.'

Symphony No. 15: 'Lincoln', was most recently scheduled to be performed by the National Symphony Orchestra (NSO) in June as part of an ongoing celebration of America's 250 years of independence in 2026.

Production delays have pushed back the performance date from when it was originally planned in 2022.

The NSO's executive director Jean Davidson told the Washington Post that her organization has 'great admiration for Philip Glass' and that they 'were surprised to learn about his decision at the same time as the press.'

A handful of creatives have cancelled performances at the arts venue, a list that has continued to grow steadily since the Center's board voted to add Trump's name to the building in December.

The Kennedy Center's name change was poorly received by many members of the Kennedy Family, including former President John F. Kennedy's niece Kerry Kennedy, who pledged to take a 'pickax' to the letters forming Trump's name on the building after he leaves office.
Donald Trump has issued a defiant statement standing by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem amid outrage over her deadly immigration crackdown in Minnesota.

'I think she's doing a very good job,' the President told reporters outside the White House on Tuesday.

'The border is totally secure ... we had a border that we inherited where millions of people were coming through, now we have a border where no one is coming through.'

Trump on Monday had rebuked Noem's leadership as he parachuted her longtime rival Tom Homan into Minnesota to lead the deteriorating migrant crackdown after the shooting of Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old VA nurse.

The President was frustrated with Noem after she branded Pretti a 'domestic terrorist' at a news conference after the shooting, reports said.

The Homeland chief was grilled by Trump about her remarks at a meeting attended by White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles in the Oval Office late on Sunday.

Now Noem has been dispatched to secure the Southern Border, away from the administration's immigration enforcement operations in the interior.

But it appears that her job is safe despite calls for her to resign from senior Democrats, including Senator John Fetterman, a staunch supporter of Trump's immigration policy.

President Donald Trump speaks with reporters before boarding Marine One on South Lawn of the White House, Tuesday

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem holds a press conference in Washington, DC, on Saturday

Alex Pretti was shot and killed in Minneapolis on Saturday afternoon, triggering shock and outrage across the United States

Asked whether he would label Pretti an 'assassin' - the words of White House Deputy Chief of Staff - Trump disagreed but added: 'You can't have guns. You can't walk in with guns. You just can't. You can't walk in with guns.'

Pretti was armed with a licensed handgun which appeared to have been wrestled from him before he was shot dead.

House Democrats on Capitol Hill have launched an investigation into Noem, while 140 members of the party have co-sponsored an impeachment resolution.

Republican lawmakers, including Texas Governor Greg Abbott and Kentucky Rep. James Comer, have also expressed concern that Noem's immigration crackdown in Minnesota may have gone off the rails.

The Democratic impeachment bill alleges that Noem has been self-dealing, obstructed Congress and violated public trust.

Republican Rand Paul has also called multiple top immigration officials to testify at a February 12 hearing.

Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Rodney Scott, US Citizenship and Immigration Services Director Joseph Edlow and Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons have been asked to attend.

Noem will testify before the Senate on March 3 as part of regular oversight, Politico reported.

The Homeland Security Secretary has seen a dramatic loss of confidence following the fatal shootings of Pretti and anti-ICE protester Renee Good on January 7.

The latest Daily Mail/JL Partners poll, finds that Noem has a paltry 33 percent approval rating, compared to 37 percent last month before the shootings.

Join the debate Should Trump fire Kristi Noem?

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Federal agents use tear gas on protesters after a demonstration outside a Minneapolis hotel believed to house ICE officers on Sunday

Her disapproval rating has risen to 41 percent compared to 37 percent in December, per the last Daily Mail/ JL Partners survey.

Nearly half of survey respondents, 46 percent, believe that Noem should be impeached. Another 42 percent say President Donald Trump should fire her.

The poll was conducted on January 26 and included over 1,000 registered voters. The margin of error is 3.1 percent.
A 11-year-old girl drowned in a hotel swimming pool while on her first holiday abroad with her family, an inquest heard today.

Francesca Blease, 11, who couldn't swim and was 'terrified' of water, was found face down and unconscious in the children's pool at the Jandia Princess Hotel, in Fuerteventura.

Fellow holidaymakers - including an NHS midwife - rushed to her aid after raising the alarm and gave her CPR.

She was airlifted to hospital in Gran Canaria but tragically never recovered, and died the next day after her life-support was switched off.

An inquest heard how the tragedy unfolded on August 7 last year as the schoolgirl played with other children.

Her grandmother, Julie Gray, was near the pool on a sun lounger looking after Francesca's younger sister when she heard cries of 'help', Cheshire Coroner's Court heard.

And when she looked over she realised it was her own granddaughter who was being pulled from the pool.

Francesca's mother Joanne, who had been speaking to a TUI holiday rep about excursions, also heard the 'panic and commotion' and rushed to the pool side and saw her being given CPR.

Francesca and her family were staying at the Jandia Princess Hotel (pictured) in Fuerteventura last August when the 11-year-old was found face-down in the children's pool

Francesca Blease, 11, died after she was found unresponsive in a hotel swimming pool in Morro Jable (pictured)

Her daughter, she told the inquest, was a healthy child and could 'light up any room she was in' and 'never had down days and could see happiness in everything'.

Witness Laura Garcia Castillo-Williams told the inquest how Francesca had joined in with her children in playing a game which involved fetching plastic toys from the pool, which was between 10cm to 60cm deep.

Minutes later, she spotted Francesca face-down in the pool and went over and asked two other girls 'if it was a game' they were playing.

When she realised it wasn't a game, she began shouting: 'Whose child is this?'

She began screaming for help while pulling the stricken youngster to the side of the pool.

The inquest heard how two British holidaymakers, rather than the lone lifeguard who was on duty, came to Francesca's aid.

Etoile Gulliver, an NHS midwife, described how she rolled the 'lifeless' youngster on her side before commencing CPR as another woman, Emma Harding, assisted her.

Ms Gulliver described how she clashed with hotel staff when she asked for a defibrillator and it became 'a hostile environment'.

The inquest heard conflicting evidence about the number of lifeguards on duty at the hotel (pictured)

Francesca was airlifted to Gran Canaria's Maternal and Child University Hospital (file picture of a Canary Islands medical helicopter)

She said the hotel manager told her: 'If you use the defibrillator it's not coming back on the hotel, it's all on you.'

Other hotel staff kept shouting to put Francesca in the recovery position, she said.

She alternated between performing CPR and using the 'shock' button on the defibrillator, which had been brought from hotel's reception area.

Ms Gulliver said that Francesca's condition did 'improve' before arriving paramedics took over and she felt she and Ms Harding did their 'best in the circumstances we were under'.

The inquest heard evidence about the whereabouts of the hotel's lifeguards at the time and whether more than one should have been on duty.

Francesca's grandmother claimed there were no lifeguards 'within the vicinity' of the children's pool, while another witness said she saw only one lifeguard on duty in a 'shaded area'.

There were also conflicting accounts of how long it had taken paramedics to arrive and that it may have been as long as 40 minutes after the alarm was raised.

Spanish police launched an investigation, the inquest heard, and concluded there were no criminal matters and the death was a 'fatal accident'.

Dr Patrick Morgan, an expert in drowning physiology and pre-hospital management, described the medical response as 'appropriate' and 'consistent'.

He said Francesca would have likely suffered an 'irreversible' brain injury and become hypoxic within five minutes.

He suggested her unease around water may have caused her to lose her footing, 'panic' and swallow water from the pool.

The inquest heard that Francesca may have played a game which involved holding her breath under the water.

But this was described as 'hearsay' by coroner Jacqueline Devonish, who concluded her death was an accident.

She recorded the death as 'mechanical asphyxia by drowning' and said that despite a thorough investigation it was 'unfortunate' there was no explanation of how Francesca came to be face down in the water.
A top Democrat fundraising boss in Michigan shared a picture honoring her grandfather, who fought for Nazi Germany in World War II, on Veterans Day.

Kelly Neumann, a fundraising co-chair for several Democratic candidates, shared images of her late grandfather, Albert Neumann, on Facebook in 2024.

The unearthed post was a tribute to all of her family and friends who served in the miliary, including Albert, who she said was on the 'German side in WWI & WWII.'

In her post, Neumann, who is also a principal attorney at Neumann Law Group, shared images of her grandfather in his military uniform.

Albert Neumann is wearing the uniform of a German Army officer, as a regular career soldier who fought for both the German Empire in Word War I and Nazi Germany in World War II.

The Nazis, officially called the National Socialist German Workers' Party (NSDAP), was the totalitarian political party of German dictator Adolf Hitler.

They were responsible for the murder of six million Jews, and millions more Poles, Slavs, Roma, disabled people, and other minorities, during the Holocaust.

Regular Wehrmacht soldiers like Albert Neumann were not necessarily Nazi members and are not to be confused with the ruthless SS units that committed war crimes during World War II.

Veterans Day is a national holiday in the US that honors allied military members who sacrificed their lives for the country during their time in the armed forces.

Kelly Neumann, a fundraising co-chair for several Democratic candidates in Michigan, posted a tribute to her Germany Army grandfather on Veterans Day in 2024

Neumann, who is also a principal attorney at Neumann Law Group, said her grandfather was one of her 'best friends' who accepted her as a gay woman

Neumann said her grandfather 'escaped' to Brazil after 1945, which was a route many top-ranking Nazis took to evade justice in Europe during the Nuremberg trials.

As a regular army officer, Albert Neumann would not have faced trial unless there were specific allegations that he committed war crimes.

He would instead have been placed in a prisoner of war camp until he was released weeks or months later.

'Happy Veterans Day to all my family and friends who serve/served! Without you, America would not be here today,' Neumann wrote in her post.

'Interesting story, I do not talk much about but my Grandfather, Albert Neumann was on the German side in WWI & WWII.

'He escaped to Brazil with my Father after Germany lost in WWII and then made their way to Detroit where they spoke no English and worked their way up to provide a stable life for their family,' Neumann added before stating her grandfather was one of her 'best friends' who accepted her as a gay woman.

'My grandfather was one of my best friends. He was one of the first people in my life that accepted me as gay when I was nervous and scared.

'Ill never forget him embracing me and loving me for who I am. His story is a true testament that people can change and love indeed can win.'

Her post from two years ago was first reported by Jewish Insider, and quickly attracted criticism online.

David Wolpe, a prominent American Rabbi, shared the outlet's article on her post to X and captioned it: 'This is so outrageous I had to double check it wasn't a hoax.'

The images showed her grandfather wearing Nazi regalia. He also appeared to be donning an officer's uniform

Her unearthed post was quickly met with a lot of criticism online, including by David Wolpe, a prominent American Rabbi

Another commenter said that it seemed so unreal it could be something mentioned in an episode of The Office. It was often implied that the character Dwight Schrute had German relatives who were Nazis

Another was left just as flabbergasted as Wolpe, adding that it seemed so unreal it could be something mentioned in an episode of The Office.

It was often implied that the sitcom's character, Dwight Schrute, played by actor Rainn Wilson, had German relatives who were Nazis.

'This feels like something Dwight Schrute would say,' the user posted on X.

'Good Lord,' another chimed in.

Someone else commented: 'Things you couldnt make up even if you tried.'

Neumann is co-chair of the finance committees for Senate candidate Mallory McMorrow and gubernatorial candidate Jocelyn Benson.

She has also co-hosted fundraisers for both of their campaigns.

On Friday, she hosted an event for McMorrow, according to an online flyer.

The political 'activist' also has close ties to the Democratic Party in Michigan, including to the state's current Governor Gretchen Whitmer. She hosted a fundraiser for her in December, according to Neumann's Instagram.

'Weve raised about $50,000, have 125 people attending and are just 4 days away from this event on Monday December 15th from 5pm - 7pm in the Detroit area!,' she captioned the post.

The political 'activist' (far right) also has close ties to the Democratic party in Michigan, including to the state's current Governor Gretchen Whitmer (far left)

On Tuesday, she took to her Instagram story to share that she and her legal partner are 'taking on ICE', and are there for anyone who has been injured by federal agents as tensions remain high across the country amid Donald Trump's immigration crackdown.

She also shared a tweet from Eric Spraklen, a Republican who said he has 'never been more embarrassed to be a Trump supporter' than he is right now.

In response, Neumann said: 'Team Trump is falling apart! People are bailing left and right as they should!'

The Daily Mail contacted Neumann for comment.

Her comment comes as many MAGA Republicans, including Fox New host Sean Hannity, have voiced their anger at how the Trump administration is approaching the illegal immigration issue in the US.

On Saturday, American citizen and ICU nurse Alex Pretti, 37, was fatally shot by Border Patrol agents while he protested in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Just weeks earlier, on January 7, Renee Nicole Good was shot by ICE officer Jonathan Ross while she drove away during a protest in the same city.
A Florida mother was carjacked at gunpoint by a masked teenager who allegedly explained that he was committing the felony in order to pay his grandmother a visit.

Kenneth Shears, 18, was arrested Saturday night in Orlando after stealing the woman's car while she was still sat inside it in a parking lot on West Colonial Drive.

He led police on a chase in the stolen vehicle before crashing into a separate car parked on a front lawn.

'I am sorry to be doing this, but I need to see my grandmother,' Shears said, per an arrest report cited by FOX35.

The woman, who asked to not be named 'out of fear,' was on the phone when Shears pointed his firearm at her and demanded the car.

'Surreal,' the mom of three told the outlet. 'I never thought it would happen to me.'

She said her initial reaction was shock and disbelief, although that soon turned into fear.

'I was like, 'Are you joking?' she said. 'He was like, 'No, just give me your s***'.'

Kenneth Shears, 18, was arrested Saturday night in Orlando after carjacking a mother-of-three and claiming he needed to go see his grandmother

Shears led police on a brief chase before losing control of the car. He crashed into a separate vehicle before being taken into custody

Shears allegedly apologized to the woman before proceeding with the armed carjacking.

'I was very scared at this point,' she said. 'But it was a kid, and he looked like something was wrong.'

The mother added that Shears could have taken her belongings, but chose not to and was solely focused on her vehicle.

'If he was robbing me, he could have taken all my jewelry,' she said. 'I had on jewelry.'

'He could have taken my money. I had money on me. I had my credit cards. He could have taken my bag. My bag had my laptop in it. He didn't take anything,' she added.

The woman said she begged to be let go for about five minutes and even offered to give Shears a ride to his desired destination.

He promised her he would return the stolen car, according to deputies.

Shears had no record of ever having a driver's license, per law enforcement.

Shears has been charged with carjacking with a firearm, aggravated fleeing from police, leaving the scene of a crash and driving without a valid license

After stealing the vehicle, he led police on a short chase before losing control on a curb.

The teen crashed into a front lawn and collided with a separate car, which was left totaled in the aftermath.

'At the end of the day, the other person's car is going to get fixed and mine is just sitting there,' the woman said.

'I'm just getting loss upon loss and have to deal with the fact that I had a gun pointed at me.'

The woman said she hoped Shears would learn from the experience, as he would 'never see [his] way' otherwise.

'There's better ways of dealing with whatever life throws at you,' she said. 'You don't need to rob people and cheat your way through life.'

Shears was charged with carjacking with a firearm, aggravated fleeing from police, leaving the scene of a crash and driving without a valid license.

'I am sorry to be doing this, but I need to see my grandmother,' Shears allegedly said, according to the police report of his carjacking

The carjacking and aggravated fleeing charges are felonies, while leaving the scene of a crash and driving without a valid license are misdemeanors.

All four charges were listed as presentenced, suggesting Shears has already been convicted or pleaded guilty but the court has not yet imposed his final sentence.

His total bond for the charges was listed at $6,500, though he was held without bond on the carjacking charge.

All of Shears' charges were filed in Orange County Circuit Court.

His next court date has not been set yet, and he remained in jail as of Tuesday afternoon.

The Daily Mail reached out to the Orange County Sheriff's Office in Florida for comment, and calls to a phone number associated with the Shears family went unanswered.
A wall of fake ivy which was designed to prevent graffiti from proliferating along a California highway has already been spray painted.

Gavin Newsom's administration covered a gray wall beside the 101 Freeway in downtown Los Angeles with the green foliage in an attempt to combat the vandalism.

But less than 24 hours later, before the ivy wall was even completed, taggers had painted some of the leaves in large white lettering.

The writing was on the wall before it even happened - as vocal Newsom critic Kevin Dalton blasted the idea via X, asking his followers: 'Any bets on how long it takes for the graffiti proof ivy to be covered in graffiti?'

He then shared a video of the spray-painted ivy with the caption: 'Holy Crap. The answer is less than 24 hours. In less than 24 hours, felons in Gavin Newsom's lawless California covered ivy in graffiti.'

Videos posted the day before showed crews from the California Department of Transport (Caltrans) assembling the ivy wall.

However, the project was not even completed by the time it was undermined by one local with a bottle of spray paint, as parts of the concrete wall are also still visible.

The ivy was part of Newsom's $1 billion Clean California project, which launched in July 2021. The website states its aims as 'reducing litter, enhancing public spaces, and creating a cleaner, greener California'.

A wall of fake ivy which was designed to prevent graffiti from proliferating along a California highway has already been spray painted, as shown above

The ivy was part of Newsom's $1 billion Clean California project, which launched in July 2021

Dalton, who ran for the LA County Board of Supervisors in 2022 but lost by a landslide, spoke with KTLA to ridicule the fake ivy wall idea.

He said the wall was preserved for 'about eight hours' before taggers descended to make their mark.

Vocal Newsom critic Kevin Dalton (pictured) blasted the ivy wall idea via X

Dalton said the project was a 'perfect example of taxpayers dollars going in and failure coming out.'

'Instead of painting [the wall]  a bucket of gray paint will cost you about $50  now what they are going to do is replace individual sections every time it gets covered up with graffiti,' he said.

'That is going to be wildly more expensive.'

Caltrans said more than three million cubic yards of litter has been collected since the Clean California launched in July 2021, with one-third of this collected by volunteers.

'The installation of artificial ivy on U.S. 101 at Los Angeles Street is part of a pilot program that began two weeks ago and is expected be completed this week,' Caltrans said in a statement in response to criticism.

'The graffiti was reported this weekend by Caltrans staff and the contractor quickly worked to remove graffiti, which is currently 90% cleaned.'

Gavin Newsom's administration covered a gray wall beside the 101 Freeway in downtown Los Angeles in the green foliage in an attempt to combat the vandalism

Videos showed crews from the California Department of Transport assembling the ivy wall

'Due to a mural and related agreements at this location and several walls along US 101 in downtown Los Angeles, Caltrans is not legally allowed to paint over or remove graffiti.

'As a temporary measure, to protect the mural artworks, Caltrans has been installing artificial ivy which has aesthetic benefits and acts as a graffiti deterrent and is a more environmentally friendly solution to graffiti removal.

'The artificial ivy is installed in 1x1 squares that can easily be removed and replaced.

'The removed squares can be cleared of graffiti and reused. The artificial ivy will remain in place until the mural artists are able to rehabilitate their murals.'

When it launched in July 2021, Newsom said that Clean California offered a 'historic opportunity to transform our streets and highways that have been blighted with litter and hazardous waste for decades'.

He said the project would provide thousands of jobs for people 'exiting homelessness' along with 'at-risk use' and recently-released prisoners. formerly incarcerated individuals and others getting back on their feet.

'With potential projects in all 58 counties, this is truly a statewide effort engaging and investing directly in our communities to create public spaces that all Californians can take pride in,' he said.
The BBC has been forced into an apology after its coverage of Holocaust Memorial Day omitted the word 'Jews'.

The corporation appeared to be avoiding the term as it marked the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz on Tuesday, with at least four BBC News presenters opting to say six million 'people' died in the World War Two genocide.

Videos starting circulating on social media showing TV packages dedicated to the day - which remembers Jews and others who suffered under Nazi persecution - starting off with the controversial choice of phrase.

In one, anchor Martine Croxall begins by saying: 'Today marks Holocaust Memorial Day. A day for remembering the six million people who were murdered by the Nazi regime over 80 years ago.'

BBC World News presenter Matthew Amroliwala and Breakfast host Jon Kay introduced bulletins on their shows with the same line.

The word 'Jews' was also omitted from the BBC Radio 4 report on Holocaust Memorial Day.

The phrasing was swiftly criticised by sections of the Jewish community, who described the decision as 'hurtful, disrespectful and wrong'.

When asked by the Daily Mail about the move to replace 'Jews' with 'people' during key sections of their reporting, the BBC immediately apologised.

The BBC has apologised after its coverage of Holocaust Memorial Day omitted the word 'Jews', including during BBC World News presenter Matthew Amroliwala's report, pictured

In one clip, anchor Martine Croxall says: 'Today marks Holocaust Memorial Day. A day for remembering the six million people who were murdered by the Nazi regime over 80 years ago'

BBC Breakfast host Jon Kay, pictured left, introduced the bulletin on the show with the same line, provoking outrage

A spokesperson said: 'In the news bulletins on Today and in the introduction to the story on BBC Breakfast there were references to Holocaust Memorial Day which were incorrectly worded, and for which we apologise.

'Both should have referred to "six million Jewish people" and we will be issuing a correction on our website.'

Holocaust Memorial Day takes place every year on January 27, the anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp in Poland.

The BBC added: 'This morning's BBC programming commemorated Holocaust Memorial Day. The Today programme featured interviews with relatives of Holocaust survivors, and a report from our Religion Editor.

'In both of these items we referenced the six million Jews murdered during the Holocaust. The Chief Rabbi recorded the Thought for the Day.

'BBC Breakfast featured a project organised by the Holocaust Educational Trust in which a Jewish survivor of the Holocaust recorded her memories.'

Key figures in the Jewish community swiftly condemned the BBC's script in the hours after these shows went to air, blasting the phrasing as 'unacceptable'.

Karen Pollock CBE, Chief Executive, Holocaust Educational Trust, said: 'The Holocaust was the murder of six million Jewish men, women and children.

'Ignoring that the victims were Jews, widening the figure to include all victims of the Second World War, or attempting to draw in contemporary conflicts, is an abuse of the memory of the Holocaust and an insult to victims and survivors.

It comes after outgoing BBC director-general Tim Davie in December ordered all staff to complete a training course on antisemitism

'Any attempt to dilute the Holocaust, strip it of its Jewish specificity, or compare it to contemporary events is unacceptable on any day. On Holocaust Memorial Day, it is especially hurtful, disrespectful and wrong.'

Danny Cohen, former BBC Director of Television, added: 'A failure like this on Holocaust Memorial Day marks a new low point for the national broadcaster.

'It is surely the bare minimum to expect the BBC to correctly identify that it was six million Jews killed during the Holocaust. To say anything else is an insult to their memory and plays into the hands of extremists who have desperately sought to rewrite the historical truth of history's greatest crime.

'This will be very painful to many in the Jewish community and will reinforce their view that the BBC is insensitive to the concerns of British Jews.'

And Lord Pickles, co-chair of UK Holocaust Memorial Foundation, former UK Special Envoy for post-Holocaust Issues and former chair of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance, said: 'This is an unambiguous example of Holocaust distortion, which is a form of denial.

'This kind of obfuscation was common during the Soviet control of parts of Europe. For the BBC to use it today is shocking.

'They should be fighting Antisemitism, not aiding it.'

It comes after outgoing BBC director-general Tim Davie in December ordered all staff to complete a training course on antisemitism.

King Charles and Queen Camilla lit candles during a reception at Buckingham Palace in London to mark Holocaust Memorial Day on Tuesday

Staff have six months to complete the course as Mr Davie hopes to stamp out 'discrimination, prejudice, and intolerance' at the corporation.

The move was welcomed by the Board of Deputies and leading Jewish figures.

A few weeks prior, more than 200 Jewish staff, contractors, suppliers and contributors accused the corporation's Board of 'ignoring' their pleas for an investigation into alleged anti-Semitism at the national broadcaster.

Writing to staff, Mr Davie, 58, said: 'The BBC is for everyone, and we are clear that everyone working here should feel they belong.

'As an organisation we stand united against any form of discrimination, prejudice, or intolerance.

'In response to this, the BBC Academy has spent the last few months developing new anti-discrimination training.

'Were starting with e-learning modules on antisemitism and Islamophobia, which we expect staff across the BBC to complete.

'The module on antisemitism is available from today, while the Islamophobia module is just being finalised, to launch in February.

Charles greeted Anita Lasker-Wallfisch, the last remaining survivor of the Women's Orchestra of Auschwitz, with a handshake

'I know that everyone will be committed to the training, ensuring the BBC is a role model as an inclusive and tolerant workplace.'

The Board of Deputies of British Jews welcomed the announcement of the new compulsory training course for all staff and revealed they held a meeting with BBC Chair Samir Shah, Mr Davie and other BBC executives, which addressed antisemitism training, concerns relating to BBC Arabic, and wider Middle East coverage.

Earlier on Holocaust Memorial Day, the King paid tribute to Holocaust survivors, saying those who are gone are 'with us in spirit', as he and the Queen hosted a reception at Buckingham Palace.

Holocaust survivors and their families, with representatives from organisations protecting the memory of the Holocaust, first joined Charles in the East Wing, where they viewed portraits of survivors commissioned by Charles in 2022 when he was the Prince of Wales.

Last year, Charles became the first British monarch to visit Auschwitz, marking 80 years since its liberation.

Charles was first greeted by Helen Aronson, 98, a survivor of the Lodz ghetto in Poland.

As he bent down to kiss her in her wheelchair, in front of her portrait by Paul Benney who painted the Queen's Coronation portrait, Helen, grasping his hand, asked how he was.

'All the better for seeing you,' he laughed. 'Thank you so much for the invitation, keep well,' she told him.

Other guests meeting Charles included Rachel Levy, 95, a survivor of the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp and Anita Lasker-Wallfisch, another survivor of Auschwitz and Bergen-Belsen and a celebrated cellist who survived Auschwitz by playing in the camp's orchestra.
A federal judge in Michigan was 'super drunk' when he careered his Cadillac into two traffic signs late last year, police said.

Thomas Ludington, 72, was arrested in October of last year in Springvale Township, near his $2.7 million vacation home, after crashing his Cadillac.

Ludington, who is the US District Court Judge serving eastern Michigan, was arrested at the scene by state troopers after crashing into two traffic signs, according to The Detroit News.

The crash happened on a rural curved road, according to the outlet, with the collision causing his airbags to deploy.

The outlet reported that Ludington, despite a pending criminal case, has continued to hear cases for the last four months after his arrest.

He was later released on a $500 bond after being formally arraigned on October 6 by Emmet County District Judge Angela J. Lasher.

State laws in Michigan say that anyone caught intoxicated behind the wheel with their blood-alcohol above 0.17 is considered super drunk. The legal limit is 0.08.

Troopers said that he had a blood-alcohol level that exceeded 0.17, classifying him as such, the outlet said.

Ludington, pictured here, was arrested in October of last year in Springvale Township, near his $2.7 million vacation home, after crashing his Cadillac into traffic signs

Due to his blood alcohol level being above 0.17, Ludington was classified as being super drunk, under Michigan state law

According to public records Ludington resides in Midland County but owns another vacation home near the crash site in Harbor Springs.

He was hit with two charges, one of operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated and another of operating a vehicle with a high blood-alcohol content, both misdemeanors.

If convicted, he faces either 93 days in jail, a fine of $500, 360 hours of community service and prevented from driving for the second charge.

Should Ludington be found of the super drunk charge he could be hit with 180 days in jail, a fine of $700, 360 hours of community and be prevented from driving.

He is next set to appear in an Emmet County courtroom on February 9 for a status conference.

Ludington was nominated by President George W. Bush to the District Court before being confirmed in June of 2006.

In 2023 the American Bar Association handed him an award after he was recognized for exhibiting 'exceptional qualities of civility, courtesy, and professionalism'.

The Daily Mail approached Ludington's attorney in the case for comment.
Two Brits are celebrating becoming the first all-female crew to sail around the world without stopping.

Dee Caffari, 53, and Deborah Blair, 23, were part of an eight-woman team who made history when they arrived in Brest harbour, France, after 57 days, 21 hours and 20 minutes at sea.

The crew was the first to even attempt the feat in 26 years and completed it without any outside assistance.

Ms Caffari told the Telegraph: 'I think there are very few firsts left in the world, so to achieve one is really special, and I think it's going to take a little time to process it.'

The world record bid began on November 28 near Ushant, off the coast of Brittany - the starting point for the around-the-world Jules World Trophy.

They circumnavigated the globe in a 31.5-metre trimaran kitted out with satellite internet.

Heading south down the Atlantic Ocean, the team skirted the coast of Portugal before passing between west Africa and South America and looping around the Cape of Good Hope in South Africa.

They then travelled eastwards through the southern Ocean and Pacific Ocean before circling Antarctica.

Two Brits are celebrating becoming the first all-female crew to sail around the world without stopping (Pictured: the team at the finish line in Brest, France on Monday)

Dee Caffari, 53, and Deborah Blair, 23, were part of an eight-woman team who made history when they arrived on dry land after 57 days, 21 hours and 20 minutes at sea

The crew rounded the south of Cape Horn at the tip of South America before heading back north through the Atlantic Ocean to where they kicked off their journey.

They made no stops to replenish supplies, living on the food and drink stored on board the trimaran throughout.

The team had to put up with rudimentary digs, consisting of bunk-style hammocks and a modest kitchen.

The sailors were met with gale-force winds on their vessel, but the team - which was skippered by Alexia Barrier and boasted two Olympic medallists - was up to the challenge.

Cheering crowds lined the docks at Brest for their arrival on Monday - the first time the crew had set foot on dry land in two months.

Ms Caffari added: 'I think the highlight is to have the opportunity in the first place, so crossing the start line, and then reaching our second objective which was to cross the finish line.

'We've had our challenges along the way and we've overcome them all, and that makes me feel very proud.'

They circumnavigated the globe in a 31.5-metre trimaran kitted out with satellite internet

Skipper Alexia Barrier wipes away the tears after the successful voyage. The crew was the first to even attempt the feat in 26 years and completed it without any outside assistance

Also in the history-making team of sailors were Spanish 2012 Olympic champion Tamara Echegoyen, Dutch 2008 Olympic silver medallist Annemieke Bes, American-Italian Molly LaPointe, New Zealander Rebecca Gmuer-Hornell and Australian Stacey Jackson.

The Royal Yachting Association said: 'Congratulations to British sailors Dee Caffari and Deborah Blair on inspiring future generations, and writing their names in the history books.'

Not a single all-female team has attempted the voyage in the 21st Century, with the last shot at history in 1999 ending with an abandoned ship off the coast of New Zealand.

The impressive feat comes after a crew led by French sailor Thomas Coville completed the fastest ever journey around the world on Sunday, finishing the journey in just 40 days, 10 hours and 45 minutes.
The Labour Partys block on Andy Burnham standing as its candidate in a forthcoming by-election is the best of two dreadful options for the Prime Minister.

The fiercely ambitious mayor of Greater Manchester has made no secret of his disdain for Sir Keir Starmer and his return to Westminster, nine years after standing down as an MP, would have been a destabilising distraction for a PM under pressure.

Sir Keir has enough on his plate trying to shore up his flailing premiership without giving his fiercest rival a helping hand.

The decision by Labours National Executive Committee to prevent Mr Burnham from standing in Gorton and Denton next month heads off an immediate threat.

But, while the bar on Mr Burnhams candidacy has ended  for now  the possibility of him challenging the Prime Minister, it is not without implications.

Not only has the Manchester mayor cemented his position as a Labour leader in waiting, Sir Keir looks weaker than ever before.

The PM and his dwindling band of supporters within the Labour Party have temporarily seen off the Burnham threat but, in doing so, they have exposed their own lack of confidence.

Sir Keir may insist the decision to block his rival from standing in the by-election was taken in order to avoid an expensive and risky contest to replace him as mayor.

Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham has been blocked for standing in an up-coming by-election by Labour

Anas Sarwar has been put in an 'intolerable position' by Westminster colleagues, allies say

But everyone and their granny knows the real reason was the, perfectly legitimate, fear of a leadership challenge.

So, the Labour leader is safe. For now. But the PMs security is fragile, indeed.

On May 7, there will be elections to local authorities across England and to the Scottish and Welsh parliaments. Predicted losses for Labour will sharpen focus on Sir Keirs inadequacies.

But the Prime Minister is not the only senior Labour figure whose political future now hangs in the balance.

A poor result for his party in the Holyrood election will only add to mounting speculation over the future of Anas Sarwar.

Less than two years ago, polls suggested he was on course to become our next First Minister, ending almost two decades of SNP rule at Holyrood. Today, Mr Sarwars party is heading for electoral disaster.

Allies of the Scottish Labour leader point to matters beyond his control for this state of affairs. Mr Sarwar, say his supporters, is paying the price for unpopular decisions taken by the UK Government.

And, to be fair, there is something to this. Scottish Labour was blindsided by the plan  later partially reversed  to cut the winter fuel payment for pensioners.

John Swinney is spending taxpayers money on a legal battle to preserve the right of trans- identifying criminals to be placed in womens jails

The mess surrounding the policy played directly into the hands of the SNP, which took the high ground, insisting Labour had turned its back on the elderly.

But Anas Sarwar is a big boy and he must take some responsibility for polling which currently suggests Scottish Labour may be heading for fourth or even fifth place in May.

There is huge frustration among some Labour MSPs about the way in which their leader has handled the matter of womens rights.

In December 2022, Mr Sarwar whipped his members to support the SNPs plan to introduced self-ID for trans people. This legislation  subsequently blocked at Westminster because it conflicted with the UK-wide Equality Act  would have allowed any man to access womens single- sex spaces simply by declaring himself female.

Public opposition to this attempt to erase womens rights and undermine the fundamentals of safeguarding was overwhelming  yet Mr Sarwar ignored feminist campaigners, medical experts and political allies who urged him not to back the government.

Since then, the Scottish Labour leader has had a change of heart. Interviewed last year, he said that  had he known in 2022 what he now knew  he would not have supported self-ID.

But, since then, Mr Sarwar has avoided the subject, even as industrial tribunals have shown how women such as nurse Sandie Peggie have been punished by employers for standing up for their sex-based rights.

His silence, say some of Mr Sarwars colleagues, shows his weakness as a leader.

Susan Smith and Marion Calder of For Women Scotland after their Supreme Court victory last year

Anas got it wrong in 2022, says one Labour MSP, but after he admitted as much, he should have been taking the lead on the subject.

The vast majority of voters think gender ideology is absolutely bats**t and we should be where they are.

Instead, the Tories and bloody Reform are championing womens rights and Anas just looks lost.

Allies of Mr Sarwar blame the Labour government at Westminster for his inability to carve out a clear position on the matter of self-ID.

One loyalist points out that, almost a year after the Supreme Court ruled that, in law, sex is a matter of biological reality rather than feelings, Secretary of State for Women and Equalities Bridget Phillipson has still not implemented guidance on single-sex spaces issued by the Equality and Human Rights Commission.

Anas has been put in an intolerable position by Phillipson, says one ally. He cant take the initiative on this subject while the UK Government continues dragging its heels.

If he speaks out, he just highlights what a mess the partys still making of this.

But would a split on this crucial issue really be damaging to Mr Sarwar?

I dont think so.

The whole point of devolution was to allow political decision-making in Scotland to differ from that at Westminster. Not only can Scottish Labour walk in a different direction to the UK party, it should confidently do so when circumstances demand. And circumstances currently demand.

John Swinney is currently spending tens of thousands of pounds of taxpayers money on a legal battle to preserve the right of trans- identifying criminals to be placed in womens jails.

There is currently a small number of biological males held in the female estate.

If Mr Swinney has his way, not only will those dangerous individuals be permitted to remain with the most vulnerable of women but any man, no matter how horrific his crime, will be able to claim a female identity and join them.

John Swinney no more believes a human can change sex than he believes the Earth is flat but, fearful of a backlash from activists in his party ranks, he carries on.

If Mr Sarwar cannot see the amorality of this situation, then surely  at the very least  he might try to see the political advantage of taking a strong pro-reality stance.

With just 100 days to go until the next Holyrood election, Scottish Labour is leaving the defence of womens rights to the Tories and Reform. Some Labour MSPs are beginning to wonder whether their boss is up to the position he holds.

Despite the block on Andy Burnhams bid to return to the House of Commons, Sir Keir Starmers premiership remains shaky.

But, the way things are going, Anas Sarwar is going to lose his job first.
Rapid action is needed to save Scotlands pubs from mass closures, SNP ministers have been warned after a relief package was unveiled south of the Border.

Pub bosses issued a dire warning of huge job losses in communities across the country unless urgent action is taken to cut their business rates bill.

It follows an announcement from the Treasury that business rates for pubs down south will be reduced by 15 per cent in 2026/27 followed by a two year real-terms freeze.

The move is expected to cost 300million over the next three years and will result in a funding boost for the Scottish Government through the Barnett Formula.

But it will be up to SNP ministers to decide whether to provide similar reductions in Scotland  and they have previously been criticised for failing to pass on similar support packages.

Paul Togneri, a senior adviser for the Scottish Beer and Pub Association, said reliefs announced in the Scottish Governments draft Budget earlier this month simply do not go far enough.

He said: Without further action, many pubs will struggle to keep their doors open, and we risk losing jobs in communities across the country.

Even before the UK Chancellors announcement today, Scottish pubs were already facing significantly higher business rates bills due to the new lower poundage rate in England.

Scottish pubs want the same 15 per cent business rates reduction that pubs in England will get

The additional support announced today will now widen that gap further, making it even harder to attract investment into Scotlands pub and brewing sector.

The Scottish Government will receive additional funding as a result of this change. It is vital that Shona Robison honours her commitment to pass this on - and goes further - to protect pubs, safeguard jobs, and support an industry that is central to Scotlands social and economic fabric.

Analysis by UKHospitality Scotland found that the average pub in Scotland will see its business rates bill soar by 77 per cent, or 11,509, from April as a result of the combined impact of a revaluation and the end of the current 40 per cent relief scheme.

It found that they will see these charges soar by 36,523 over the next three years  leaving many facing the threat of closure.

Leon Thompson, executive director of UKHospitality Scotland, said: Now we have seen the details of the business rates support package in England, I urge the Scottish Government to move swiftly to make good on its promise at the Scottish Budget to use these funds to support hospitality.

Like in England, Scottish hospitality businesses are facing steep hikes to business rates. Hotels are facing average increases of 68,000 over three years. Pubs are set for an average 36,000 increase. This is a hospitality-wide problem that needs a hospitality-wide solution.

The Scottish Government should rapidly outline its plans to bring forward a support package for the entire sector, to support business viability, jobs and the communities that rely on these businesses.

I stand ready to work collaboratively with the Scottish Government on a package that best supports the hospitality sector.

The Treasury said its relief package will save the average pub in England 1,650 in 2026/27. Around 75 per cent of bars will see their bills fall or stay flat over the same year with the pub sector as a whole paying eight per cent less in business rates in 2029 than they do currently.

It also confirmed that, as business rates are devolved to Holyrood, it will result in additional funding for the Scottish Government through the Barnett Formula, and it will be up to SNP ministers to decide whether to match the funding.

Stephen Montgomery, spokesman for the Scottish Hospitality Group, said: We hope MSPs from across the political spectrum will recognise the inadequacy of the current Budget and act now to support the licensed hospitality sector.

Following the Treasury announcement, Finance Secretary Shona Robison has written to UK ministers to clarify how much additional funding will be available, and pledged she would pass on extra funds to pubs.

She said: I have written to the Chancellor seeking urgent detail on the UK Governments plans and whether consequential funding will be provided to Scotland.

Whilst we believe we have offered a strong business rates package overall, including an independent review of hospitality valuation methodology which will commence shortly, I am committed to passing on any consequentials in further support to business.

At Holyrood yesterday (TUE), Public Finance Minister Ivan McKee claimed that hospitality business rates bills will rise by significantly less than has been claimed if all reliefs are taken into account and overall income from non-domestic rates will be lower.

Scottish Conservative business spokesman Murdo Fraser said: The SNP must urgently pause the rates revaluation because the eye-watering rises its creating will undoubtedly result in businesses going to the wall and jobs being lost.

Hospitality firms are already toiling with high costs and flat demand, yet Ivan McKee arrogantly dismissed the industrys figures on the rates rise and turned a deaf ear to their calls for action. Firms in the hospitality sector operate on tiny margins and its unreasonable for their assessments to be based on turnover.

The Labour government has announced a partial U-turn on the costs being imposed on pubs south of the Border. Previously the SNP government failed to pass on support. That cant happen this time or the consequences will be catastrophic for Scottish businesses.

Louise Maclean has spent three decades working in the hospitality sector but with profit margins now so low she says it often feels more like a time-consuming hobby.

Her company pays out 1.6million a year in rates and she estimates she needs to make at least seven times the amount to cover the cost.

The business development manager for Signature Pubs, which has 23 venues across Scotland, says a combination of rising costs, increased rates, a hike in energy bills, and a lack of government support has left her business and many others feeling as if they were left on our own.

Ms Maclean admits that the industry has been incredibly resilient over the last three years.

Louise Maclean says a combination of rising costs, increased rates, a hike in energy bills, and a lack of government support has left many firms feeling as if they were left on our own

But she said: We cant pass all of them [costs] on to the customer. I dont think we would have any customers left if we did.

She fears that governments see the sector as the golden goose that will always be around and warned: It wont be unless we get support.

We have warned the government for years that they are going to see businesses collapse.

Ms Maclean said with profits as little as four per cent of sales, it often feels more like a very time-consuming hobby.

And with an annual rates bill of 1.6million, she stressed: Wed probably have to make seven times that just to cover that cost.

Following Rachel Reeves announcement however, she is hopeful the Scottish Government will follow suit and ease the burden on the sector.

But she said: It will be interesting to see what their definition of a pub is. The devil will be in the details.
The captain of a captured Russian- flagged oil tanker was whisked away from Scotland aboard a US Coast Guard vessel.

Avtandil Kalandadze had been held on the Marinera in the Moray Firth for nearly three weeks  leading to a court fight launched by his wife to free him from legal limbo.

But the battle was short-lived as it emerged the captain and his first officer had set sail on the US Coast Guard vessel Munro.

Details of the case came to light during a hearing to consider a court order granted on Monday night to stop the captain being taken to the US  on the grounds that his human rights had been breached.

But the interim interdict was lifted by Lord Young after Solicitor General Ruth Charteris, KC, said the captain had already left UK territorial waters, and his 26 crew had chosen to leave Scotland.

The US Navy targeted the Marinera, previously known as the Bella 1, between Iceland and Scotland as it headed towards Russia.

It came after the US military removed Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro from power and took him to New York for trial.

The vessels seizure followed a pursuit of more than two weeks across the Atlantic as part of Washingtons efforts to block Venezuelan oil exports.

At anchor, the Marinera and US Coast Guard ship

Captain Avtandil Kalandadze with his wife Natia

Lawyer Aamer Anwar, representing the captains wife, Natia, said Captain Kalandadze and his first officer were whisked away under the cover of darkness, and we have no idea what role our own governments played in that.

Mr Anwar added: The UK authorities have been complicit in the USs total disregard for the rule of law and international obligations with its closest ally.

There has been a shameful silence from our Prime Minister.

These people have been denied their most basic human rights right under our noses, whilst the UK knowingly assisted the US abduction of two men from Scotland. Lawyers acting for the captains wife had lodged a petition with the Court of Session seeking an emergency order to prevent the ship and those on board being removed from the jurisdiction of the Scottish court.

Remaining crew, pictured outside a hotel in Aberdeen, are said to be on their way home

In a late-night hearing on Monday, Lord Young granted an interim interdict prohibiting the Advocate General for Scotland, the Lord Advocate and Scottish ministers  or anyone acting on their behalf  from removing the Marineras captain and crew from the territorial jurisdiction of the court.

But at a hearing yesterday, Lord Young revoked the order after hearing the captain and first officer had left UK waters.

Ms Charteris, representing the Lord Advocate and Scottish ministers, said: The captain and first officer are now aboard the US Coast Guard vessel Munro and have departed the UKs territorial sea. This was thought to be the position last night [Monday] although the information before your Lordship was not certain.

However, we received an email from the Department of Justice at 3.04am this morning confirming that is the position, so they are no longer within the territorial jurisdiction of this court.

The court heard the 26 crew had left the ship and none were claiming asylum. Five wished to travel to the US and 21 wanted to return home or elsewhere.

Chris Pirie, KC, representing the Advocate General, said the UK Government does not oppose the recall of the interim interdict and the order ought not to prevent the crew leaving voluntarily.

Clare Mitchell, KC, representing the captains wife, said the very thing we were concerned about had happened and that the situation is highly unsatisfactory.
Hamas says recovery of last hostage's remains from Gaza proves commitment to ceasefire

Xinhua) 09:28, January 27, 2026

Hamas members search for the remains of the last Israeli hostage east of the Zeitoun neighborhood, southeast of Gaza City, on Jan. 7, 2025. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua)

GAZA/JERUSALEM, Jan. 26 (Xinhua) -- Hamas said on Monday that the discovery of the remains of the last Israeli hostage held in the Gaza Strip demonstrates the movement's full commitment to the ceasefire agreement.

In a statement, Hamas spokesperson Hazem Qassem said the movement "will continue to adhere to all aspects of the agreement," including facilitating the work of the technocratic committee tasked with managing Gaza's affairs.

Qassem called on mediators and the United States to compel Israel to "cease its violations of the agreement and fulfill its obligations."

The statement came after the Israeli army announced the recovery of the remains of Ran Gvili, 24, a member of Israel Police's elite Yasam patrol unit, who was killed on Oct. 7, 2023, and whose body was transferred to Gaza.

Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told reporters that Israeli forces were on their way back to Israel with the body of Gvili for burial, calling the recovery a "tremendous achievement" for the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).

"Following the completion of the identification process by the National Institute of Forensic Medicine, IDF representatives informed the family of the deceased hostage, Sergeant First Class Ran Gvili, that their loved one has been identified and will be returned for burial," the military said in a statement.

"With this, all hostages have been returned from the Gaza Strip to the State of Israel," it added.

The announcement came a day after Israel said it had launched a "large-scale operation" to locate Gvili's remains in a cemetery in northern Gaza, based on intelligence information.

According to Hamas, all Israeli captives have now been returned, either alive or as remains, as part of the first phase of the ceasefire agreement brokered by the United States, Qatar, and Egypt, which came into effect in October 2025.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
An alleged illegal migrant who attempted to escape federal agents in Minnesota was seen hopping out of a car and taking off, leaving behind his partner and baby.

Border Patrol agents were filmed breaking a passenger side window on an SUV in Minnesota Tuesday to assess alleged illegal migrants inside the vehicle.

After handcuffing him and another man, they were placed in the federal agent's vehicle, while a woman, who appeared not to speak English, cried while carrying a young child, Freedom News TV caught on camera.

The woman and the child were not being detained.

Agents left the back door open, where the woman was seen approaching the man to talk to him.

Seconds later, the man stepped out of the vehicle onto the icy pavement and took off sprinting across the parking lot and onto a multi-lane roadway while still in handcuffs.

Several agents were seen chasing after him before he fell into a snowbank across the street. An agent landed on top of him to keep him detained while another agent helped to escort him back to the vehicle.

A border patrol car stopped in the middle of the roadway to load him back up.

An alleged illegal migrant was seen running from Border Patrol agents after escaping their vehicles in handcuffs in Minnesota on Tuesday

He was detained after agents broke a car window to gain access to him and another man

The Daily Mail has reached out to Homeland Security for comment.

The escape comes the same day as a man in Arizona was shot by a Border Patrol agent.

The unidentified individual is in critical condition after allegedly being shot by a federal agent.

FBI Phoenix spokesperson, Brooke A. Brennan, told the Daily Mail in a statement that the agency is 'investigating an alleged assault on a federal officer.'

'The subject was taken into custody. This remains an ongoing investigation. No further information will be provided,' she added.

The shooting comes just three days after Alex Pretti, an ICU nurse, was shot and killed by Border Patrol agents, and weeks after Renee Nicole Good was shot in Minneapolis by ICE.

Minnesota has been a hot spot for immigration efforts. The department has already deployed more than 2,000 officers to the area in what it says is its largest-ever immigration enforcement operation.

Homeland Security Secretary, Kristi Noem, called Pretti and Good 'domestic terrorists' and argued her agents were acting in self-defense.

The runaway man was recaptured across the street and taken back into custody

The escape comes the same day a Border Patrol agent allegedly shot someone in Arizona on Tuesday and as reports that Secretary Kristi Noem is facing internal criticism for her agents behavior in Minnesota

It also comes three days after Alex Pretti was killed by Border Patrol agents, and weeks after Renee Nicole Good was fatally shot three times in the face by ICE agents in Minnesota

However, witness accounts and family members have disputed Noem's accounts.

The internal scrutiny of Noem intensified after the fatal shooting of Pretti, an incident she characterized as an act of 'domestic terror,' putting her at odds with Trump.

The President grilled Noem over her handling and initial response to the shooting during their late-night meeting, according to reports.

By the end of the night, Noem was ordered to shift her focus away from interior immigration enforcement operations and instead concentrate on securing the Southern Border.

Noem's longtime rival, White House Border Czar Tom Homan, was ordered by Trump to take over the Minnesota crackdown.
A 25-year-old British Army officer has died after he was shot during live fire training, the Ministry of Defence said on Tuesday night.

Captain Philip Gilbert Muldowney, known simply as 'Gilbert', passed away on Sunday following the accident at the Otterburn Training Area in Northumberland.

He was allegedly hit in the back during an evening exercise with elite Scots Guards just after 8pm, The Sun reported.

Gilbert served as a fire support team commander in the 4th Regiment Royal Artillery.

The MoD said its thoughts were with the family and friends of the 'truly kind' and 'unforgettable' officer.

An Army spokesperson said: 'The circumstances surrounding Capt Muldowney's death are being investigated, and it would be inappropriate to comment any further at this time.'

Gilbert joined the Army on January 5, 2020, and was commissioned into the Royal Artillery in December of that year.

He was an 'immensely enthusiastic officer' who inspired those around him, the Army said in a moving obituary.

Captain Philip Gilbert Muldowney, known simply as 'Gilbert', passed away on Sunday following the accident at an army training site in Northumberland

He served in several different roles and was deployed in November 2021 to Estonia for six months.

Gilbert was seriously injured on a commando course in January 2025 and ordered to pause and rehabilitate, but returned to duty following his recovery.

He then successfully completed the Fire Support Team Commanders' Course at the Royal School of Artillery.

On September 5 last year, he joined fourth Regiment Royal Artillery as a Fire Support Commander.

Tributes for the officer started to pour in on Tuesday night from military personnel, who described him as a 'true friend' and 'truly kind person'.

Lieutenant Colonel Henry Waller, Commanding Officer of the 4th Regiment Royal Artillery, said: 'Always full of ideas and never without a bright smile, Gilbert approached every challenge wholeheartedly, whether in camp or out in the field.'

Waller called Gilbert an 'outstanding officer who consistently put his soldiers first' - adding that he was 'a rising star' in the Army and the regiment.

'Friends and colleagues will remember Gilbert for his easy-going nature, boundless energy, and infectious sense of humour,' he said.

'His loss is deeply felt by his comrades and friends, and our thoughts and prayers are with his family at this most difficult time.'

Major Martin Simms called Gilbert an 'absolute credit to his family and his friends', adding: 'We are devastated by the loss of Capt Philip "Gilbert" Muldowney from 129 Bty, Royal Artillery and the Army as a whole.

'Capt Muldowney's relentless professionalism couched in a cheerful and charismatic personality made him the perfect Officer.

The incident happened at the Otterburn training camp in Northumberland (Stock photo of the area)

'Approachable to those under his command and unfailingly dependable to those that relied upon him, he represented the pinnacle of servant leadership and selfless commitment.'

Captain Ross Beeby said Gilbert was a 'fit, technically astute and intelligent officer'.

'He worked hard and cared deeply for those under his command - earning genuine respect and trust from his soldiers as a result,' he added.

'Beyond his professional competence, Gilbert was also a loyal colleague and a true friend. Socially, he was just as reliable as he was at work - always present, always engaged, and always bringing warmth, energy, and charisma to those around him.

'Gilbert's loss is felt deeply by his unit, his peers and all who had the privilege of serving and spending time with him. He will be remembered with great respect, affection and gratitude, and he will be dearly missed.'

Captain Helen Brackenbury said Gilbert was 'highly competent and endearingly joyful'.

Captain Duncan Morrison paid his respects to the young officer by saying he 'lived life to the fullest and made lasting connections with everyone he met'.

'He was fun, light-hearted, and professional in equal measure. Above all, he was a true friend and a fellow Officer I could always rely on for help and support,' he said.

An MoD spokesperson said: 'It is with deep sadness that we confirm the death of Captain Philip Gilbert Muldowney of 4th Regiment Royal Artillery on 25th January 2026.

'Our thoughts are with Captain Muldowney's family and friends at this sad time.'
Victorian Energy Minister Lily DAmbrosio claimed fire-ravaged infrastructure and not supply shortages left thousands of Victorians without power yesterday.

DAmbrosio also said '16,000 homes [are} still offline as of 11am'.

The update came after it was revealed outages peaked at more than 100,000 homes late yesterday.

'Yesterday at the peak, between 6pm and 6.30pm, we had Victorians creating a peak demand for electricity, about 10,800 megawatts, and we had supply that could accommodate 12,400 megawatts,' DAmbrosio said on 3AW on Wednesday.

'We had enough electricity to meet the need. The problem wasnt at the electricity generation end, it was at the poles and wires end. Its like having plenty of petrol in the car, but if your roads have been destroyed you really cant get anywhere.

'At about 9.30pm last night, about 103,000 Victorians were off supply. She said that number had significantly reduced today, with around 16,000 homes still offline as of 11am.

'Supply was not the issue. It has always been the case that with extreme weather events, these problems are occurring.

'The problem is that we need to make sure the power company crews are on the ground when its safe to be on the ground, and to get people back on the power supply.'

DAmbrosio also said there had been blown fuses and line damage from falling trees.

'In some cases, the power lines themselves have just been burnt out by bushfires,' she said.

'And then, of course, heat stress was a really big factor. The physical infrastructure wasnt able to cope with it, and it failed.'

DAmbrosio (below) said the government had told energy companies to 'improve their resilience plans' and 'be better prepared for extreme weather events'.

'Im very, very confident that over a period of time well have more than enough replacement electricity by the new technology generators to keep the lights on for Victorians,' she said.
An assistant school principal was arrested in Georgia after she allegedly stole nearly $1,000 from a Walmart by using the 'stacking' method at the self-checkout line.

Courtney Janell Shaw, 47, was taken into custody on Monday by the Cherokee Sheriff's Office after she allegedly stole 98 items from the store over a two-month period, police said.

Shaw, the assistant principal at Free Home Elementary School, allegedly nabbed $943.97 between November 1 and December 31 by placing multiple unknown items on top of each other and only scanning one time before leaving the store.

Her alleged crime came to light on January 12 when a Walmart employee handed over surveillance footage of Shaw in the act to police, according to a case report by the Cherokee Sheriff's Office.

Investigators then matched the disgraced educator to the thefts through a driver's license database, per the incident report reviewed by the Daily Mail.

On January 14, officers went over to Shaw's home and confirmed the two cars in her driveway - a 2018 Ford F-150 and a 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee - matched the vehicles seen in the footage speeding away from the store after the alleged thefts.

Additionally, both cars are registered to Shaw, a married mother-of-one, according to her school profile.

After news came out about Shaw's arrest, the Cherokee County School District announced she was placed on administrative leave.

Courtney Janell Shaw, 47, was arrested on Monday after she allegedly stole nearly $1,000 in merchandise from a local Walmart by using the 'stacking' method at a self-checkout register

The disgraced assistant principal (pictured with her husband) at Free Home Elementary School allegedly stacked several items on top of each other, but only scanned one before fleeing the store

'Immediately upon these allegations being reported, the employee was placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of internal and law enforcement investigations,' the district told the Daily Mail.

'Maintaining the safety and security of our students and staff is our top priority and inappropriate conduct will never be tolerated.'

Shaw started her role as assistant principal at the school in 2024 and has been an educator for more than two decades, according to her school profile page.

She was previously a fifth-grade teacher in North Carolina before teaching multiple grades in Florida and eventually landing in Georgia.

Shaw has described herself as someone who devotes her life to her family.

'My family is my LIFE! I LOVE being a wife and mom!,' her Facebook profile reads.

Shaw also worked as an assistant principal at other schools in The Peach State.

Join the debate Should schools hold staff to higher moral standards outside the classroom?

She's been charged with one felony count of shoplifting and released the same day of her arrest on a $4,875 bond

After news came out about Shaw's arrest, the Cherokee County School District announced she was placed on administrative leave. (Pictured: Free Home Elementary School)

She's been charged with one felony count of shoplifting and released the same day of her arrest on a $4,875 bond, the Cherokee Tribune reported.

It is unclear when she is due in court to face the charge filed against her.

The Daily Mail contacted the Cherokee Sheriff's Office and the Cherokee County School District for comment.
Donald Trump has knifed a top Border Patrol commander and declared 'we'll de-escalate' after a protester was shot dead by federal agents in Minnesota.

Gregory Bovino, the face of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem's migrant crackdown, was ordered to return to his home state of California on Monday.

The president appeared to take a dig at Bovino's notoriously aggressive tactics while offering him backhanded praise during an interview with Fox News on Tuesday.

'Bovino is really good,' Trump said ahead of rally in Clive, Iowa. 'He's a pretty out-there kind of guy - in some cases it's good, maybe not here. It's not a pullback, just a little change. You make little changes.'

Trump has ordered longtime Noem rival and ICE veteran Tom Homan to take over the immigration enforcement operation in Minnesota after Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old VA nurse, was shot dead by agents in Minneapolis on Saturday.

'We have Tom Homan there now, we put him in there. He's great, and they met with the governor, the mayor, everybody else and we're gonna de-escalate a little bit,' the president told Fox.

Trump was frustrated by Noem after she branded Pretti a 'domestic terrorist', according to reports. Pretti was carrying a licensed handgun but appeared to have been disarmed when he was shot ten times in less than five seconds.

The president said of the killing: 'This whole thing is terrible. I don't like the fact that he was carrying a gun that was fully loaded ... He had two magazines with him, and it's pretty unusual. But nobody knows when they saw the gun, how they saw the gun, everything else.'

Representative Zach Nunn (R-IA) and his daughter Olympia look at U.S. President Donald Trump as he speaks, in Machine Shed restaurant in Urbandale, Iowa, on Tuesday

Alex Pretti was shot and killed in Minneapolis on Saturday afternoon, triggering shock and outrage across the United States

Border Patrol chief Gregory Bovino observes a protest in Minneapolis on January 15

A screengrab from a video obtained by Reuters shows a law enforcement officer pinning down a man identified as Alex Pretti, before he was fatally shot when federal agents were trying to detain him in Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S., January 24

The president added that 'both of them were terrible,' referring to Renee Good, who was shot dead by ICE agents at a protest in Minneapolis on January 7.

He felt the tragedy particularly keenly because Good's family were Trump voters.

'I'm not sure about his parents, but I know [Good's] parents were big Trump fans,' Trump added.

'It makes me feel bad anyway, but I mean, I guess you could say even worse. They were tremendous Trump people, Trump fans, and, you know, the daughter was, she was, I don't know if you could say radicalized, maybe radicalized.'

Trump said earlier he was standing by Noem despite ordering Homan to oversee the Minnesota operation and report directly to him.

'I think she's doing a very good job,' the president told reporters outside the White House on Tuesday.

'The border is totally secure ... we had a border that we inherited where millions of people were coming through, now we have a border where no one is coming through.'

The president met Noem late Sunday night and grilled her over her handling and initial response to the shooting, reports say.

Join the debate Do YOU think Trump was right to sack the Border Patrol commander after the Minnesota chaos?

Kristi Noem is facing Trump's wrath as he orders her longtime rival, border czar Tom Homan, to clean up the chaos caused by her immigration crackdown in Minneapolis

Noem's adviser and rumored lover Corey Lewandowski was by her side at the Oval Office summit which was attended by White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles and Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt.

By the end of the night, Noem was ordered to shift her focus away from interior immigration enforcement operations and instead concentrate on securing the Southern Border.

Despite the furor, Noem is expected to keep her job - for now.

Noem's law enforcement ally on the ground, Bovino, was also withdrawn along with scores of his agents. Initially, Noem and Lewandowski elevated Bovino to oversee high-profile immigration raids in U.S. urban centers including Los Angeles, Chicago and, most recently, Minneapolis.

The decision stirred internal anger among immigration agents aligned with ICE because those operations traditionally fell under their jurisdiction, not Border Patrol.

Bovino was sent packing to California on Monday night as Homan prepared to take over ground operations in Minneapolis. The Daily Mail can confirm that Border Patrol Commissioner Rodney Scott revoked Bovino's access to government-issued social media accounts.

A Border Patrol veteran of 30 years, Bovino was selected last year from his role as chief patrol agent of the agency's El Centro sector in Southern California to lead highly publicized immigration crackdowns across the country.

Bovinos leadership of highly visible federal crackdowns, including operations that sparked mass demonstrations in Los Angeles, Chicago, Charlotte and Minneapolis, has drawn fierce criticism from local officials, civil rights advocates and congressional Democrats.

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz speaks during a news conference in Blaine, Minn., Sunday

Noem with her close adviser and rumored lover Corey Lewandowski (right)

Your browser does not support iframes.

He often stood out as the only agent not wearing a face covering when Border Patrol descended on Home Depots and gas stations.

Bovino has gone viral on social media as he is frequently spotted on the frontlines sporting a severe buzzcut and trench coat, which German media has likened to a 'Nazi aesthetic'.

California Governor Gavin Newsom said on X: 'Greg Bovino dressed up as if he literally went on eBay and purchased SS garb. Greg Bovino, secret police, private army, masked men, people disappearing quite literally, no due process.'

Bovino hit back, claiming he had the coat for more than 25 years and it was official Border Patrol merchandise.

Jenn Budd, an author and expert on Border Patrol, described Bovino as 'the Liberace' of the agency.

'He was just a little Napoleon who wants you to think that he is the most moral and capable guy in the world, and everything around you is dangerous but he's the one who's going to save you,' Budd told The Times. 'It's all a show for him.'

He once invited journalists to watch him swim across a canal in Southern California's Imperial Valley in a bid to deter migrants considering the crossing.

After Trump was re-elected Bovino used similar public relations expertise to catch the president's eye.

He sent dozens of agents to arrest migrants at gas stations along the highway ahead of Trump's inauguration.

Asked why Bovino was chosen to lead the force, DHS spokeswoman Tricia McLaughlin told reporters bluntly: 'Because he's a badass.'

But while Bovino's strongman image earned him Trump's respect, his self-proclaimed 'turn and burn' enforcement strategies have sparked concern.

A federal judge accused Bovino in November of being 'evasive' and at times 'outright lying' in sworn testimony about an immigration crackdown in Chicago, finding his account 'simply not credible.'

Judge Sara Ellis wrote that Bovino even admitted he lied about being hit with a rock before ordering tear gas used, and noted that video evidence flatly contradicted his claim that he never tackled a protester.
Gunshots thundered in the pitch-dark night.

Twigs snapped and leaves rustled in the woods where a terrified Lisa Banfield lay shivering in a tree hollow, bloodied and barefoot, praying she'd live to see the sunrise.

Banfield was hiding from the hunting eyes of her husband, Gabriel Wortman, who had just abducted her at gunpoint after setting fire to their cottage in Portapique, Nova Scotia, threatening to end both of their lives.

She cowered at each approaching sound, convinced her next breath would be her last, before her surroundings fell eerily silent again.

When Banfield finally emerged from the hollow at the break of daylight  sprinting to the nearest home she could find and screaming for help  she still had no idea what had unfolded beyond the woods.

Over the course of a 13-hour rampage, Wortman, the man she had loved and lived with for 19 years, murdered 22 people across Nova Scotia, many at random, in what became the deadliest mass shooting in Canada's history.

The scale of the bloodshed horrified the nation  but to Banfield and those closest to her, there were early warning signs of Wortman's violence throughout their marriage.

In her new book, The First Survivor, Banfield details years of coercive control, escalating abuse, and mounting terror endured behind closed doors.

She also describes how Wortman's mental state deteriorated during the pandemic, fueling paranoia about an impending societal collapse, and how a volatile confrontation on the eve of their anniversary marked the final rupture before the violence unfolded on April 18 and 19, 2020.

Lisa Banfield (left) is speaking out for the first time, six years after her common-law husband, Gabriel Wortman (right) murdered 22 people in Canada's deadliest ever mass shooting

The tree hollow where Banfield hid overnight is seen above

'The what-ifs still haunt me,' Banfield wrote. 'What if I didn't escape to the woods  would those innocent people still be alive?

'To this day, I struggle with survivor's guilt, and probably always will.'

Wortman, who was dressed in a police uniform and driving a replica Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) car, was eventually shot dead after a standoff with officers outside a gas station.

Among his victims was a pregnant health-care worker, a police officer with two young children, and a 17-year-old girl.

In the days and weeks that followed, investigators struggled to pinpoint a clear motive for Wortman's rampage, which appeared to have been meticulously planned, raising urgent questions about how such an attack could unfold without the woman closest to him having any forewarning.

As public outrage intensified, Banfield found herself thrust into the center of the national reckoning of her dead partner's making, with her actions, her past and even her survival subjected to intense scrutiny.

The questions forced Banfield to look backward - to the early years of her relationship with Wortman.

The pair met at a bar in 2001. Wortman, who ran a denture clinic, smiled at her from across the room. He was tall, charming, and smartly dressed. The chemistry was instant - and they agreed to go on a date the next day.

Within six months, they were living together. That was when things slowly began to change. Behind closed doors, Wortman became prone to stormy moods and sudden outbursts. He grew increasingly controlling and began trying to isolate Banfield from her family.

Then came the violence.

Banfield met Wortman, who owned a denture clinic in Nova Scotia, in a bar in 2001

An handout photo from the RCMP shows a replica police vehicle used by Wortman during his 13-hour rampage in April 2020

The first time Wortman assaulted Banfield was after a party at a friend's house.

During the drive home, an argument erupted over how much he had been drinking, because he was meant to have been the designated driver.

Without warning, Wortman struck Banfield with a closed fist as she sat behind the wheel. Stunned, she turned toward him, trying to understand whether it had really happened. Then he hit her again.

Bleeding, Banfield pulled over and took off on foot into nearby woods, ducking behind a large tree and praying he would not find her.

The terrifying chain of events would eerily foreshadow the opening night of Wortman's horrific killing spree nearly two decades later.

'His hand gripped my long hair and pulled me backward. I dropped. My scalp pierced with pain as my hair ripped free from the force of my fall,' wrote Banfield.

'He pummeled my body in all directions.'

Police were called, but Banfield refused to press charges. She didn't want to get Wortman into trouble, and she didn't want her family or friends to view him differently for what she believed at the time would be an isolated incident.

Wortman was contrite in the aftermath, offering tearful apologies and assurances that it would never happen again. Banfield took him back.

It would become a familiar cycle - violence followed by remorse, promises of change, and reconciliation - one that punctuated their relationship for years, even as the abuse escalated.

Surveillance video captured Wortman withdrawing $475,000 from a Brink's office in Nova Scotia on March 30 - 19 days before the massacre

Wortman's rampage culminated in a shootout with police at a gas station. He took his own life with a gunshot wound to the head

As the years went on, Wortman grew more emboldened, repeatedly warning Banfield that if she ever left him - as she often threatened to do - there would be consequences.

By 2019, Wortman began threatening to not only harm Banfield and her family, but also himself.

One night, he told Banfield he wished he could share with her everything that went on in his head.

As the conversation grew darker, Wortman told her he knew exactly how and when he was going to die.

'I'm going out with a bang,' he said.

Banfield urged him to stop, and he obliged.

But months later, when the COVID-19 pandemic forced much of the world into upheaval, the cloud lingering over Wortman darkened still.

Wortman became more volatile and paranoid after the Covid-19 pandemic struck in 2020, Banfield said. He was convinced society was about to collapse

Firefighters are seen spraying down vehicles torched by Wortman during his rampage

In their government-imposed isolation, he grew increasingly paranoid of an impending societal collapse.

He stockpiled weapons and ammo and withdrew hundreds of thousands of dollars from the bank to bury it in duffel bags beneath their home.

On April 18, 2020, Wortman and Banfield celebrated their 19th anniversary a day early, driving through the back roads of central Nova Scotia.

Far from the romantic picnic she'd hoped for, they went hiking then returned home and went to bed.

But Banfield was awoken by an incensed Wortman ripping the covers off her, smashing her laptop and stomping on her cellphone. He ordered her to get dressed and bound her wrists.

'Get up!' he snarled. 'I'm done.'

Their home had been doused in gasoline. Wortman dragged Banfield outside at gunpoint, setting the property and their cars ablaze.

Banfield pleaded with him to stop, promising to take the blame for starting the fire if he'd just let her go.

'At the end of the night, I'm gonna die,' he said coldly. 'You won't die, as long as you don't run away from me.'

The cottage Banfield shared with Wortman was burned down at the beginning of the rampage

The violence began on the night of April 18 in Portapique, where officers were alerted to shots fired around 10.26pm. Wortman managed to evade police through the night and the next day

Among the victims was Kristen Beaton, a healthcare worker who was pregnant with her third child

Wortman dragged Banfield to a warehouse the couple owned nearby, fired a gun just inches from her head and handcuffed her, placing her in the back of a replica RCMP police car.

Banfield, certain that Wortman was going to kill her, wrestled with the cuffs and managed to slip one of her hands free.

With Wortman out of sight, she banged and kicked on the plexiglass divider and was able to create a gap big enough to slip into the front seat and open the driver's side door.

Banfield then took off barefoot into the woods, where she hid until morning in the tree hollow.

That night, Wortman went door to door in Portapique disguised as a police officer, killing 13 of his neighbors. Some were known to him, others weren't. He also executed several pets and set fire to a number of properties.

The following day, he killed nine more people in several more shootings across Nova Scotia, before he was eventually cornered at a gas station in Enfield, and ended his life with a gunshot wound to the head after a brief shootout.

Banfield would only learn of the massacre after being rescued by a SWAT team and taken to hospital for treatment.

Devastated, she couldn't help but wonder if Wortman had gone hunting across their neighborhood looking for her.

'My heart broke at the thought, and I wondered if I hadn't escaped from the car, would it have prevented any of those people from dying?' she wrote.

Initially treated as a victim by police, Banfield said she was soon viewed with suspicion - despite voluntarily sitting for numerous hours-long interviews without a lawyer.

The First Survivor: Life With Canada's Deadliest Mass Shooter was published January 20

Banfield was eventually vindicated after the Mass Casualty Commission launched a review into RCMP's handling of the Wortman investigation, finding they'd missed several red flags and made numerous mistakes in the early hours of the tragedy.

Of Banfield, the commission wrote: 'It is clear that for nineteen years Lisa Banfield was abused by her spouse, and it culminated on April 18. We highlight that she was clearly the first victim, and our view is that she ought to have been immediately recognized as such.'

Six years later, she says Wortman still haunts her dreams.

'I can't get away from him. I wake with my heart pounding, disoriented, and in a lather of sweat, she wrote.

'Fear forces me to check the doors to make sure they're locked, even though I know Gabriel is dead.'

The First Survivor: Life With Canada's Deadliest Mass Shooter was published January 20.
Horrific new details have emerged about the final moments of Bryan Kohbergers four victims, with the autopsy reports revealing he stabbed them more than 150 times in total during his roughly 15-minute killing rampage.

A newly-unsealed court filing, seen by the Daily Mail, shows the findings of the autopsies carried out on Xana Kernodle, Ethan Chapin, Madison Mogen and Kaylee Goncalves following the November 13, 2022 murders in Moscow, Idaho.

An autopsy determined that Kernodle, who was awake at the time of Kohbergers attack, suffered a staggering 67 stab wounds as she fought for her life against the criminology PhD student turned killer.

Her wounds included: 25 incised wounds of the upper extremities; 23 stab and incised wounds of the scalp, face and neck; seven stab wounds of the chest; four stab wounds of the abdomen; three incised and puncture wounds of the back;and five incised wounds of the lower extremities.

The 20-year-old student also suffered punctures of the outer table of the skull; perforations of the jugular vein, heart, lung, and pulmonary blood vessels; hemorrhage into the chest cavities; wounds extending into the bones of the right hand; and scrapes and bruises on the face, torso and extremities.

Kernodle also had blood on the bottoms of her feet, indicating she was moving about and stepping in her own blood as she desperately tried to fend off her attacker.

Her cause of death was ruled as multiple sharp force injuries, while also suffering abrasions and contusion of the head, torso, and extremities.

Kohberger broke into the student home at 1122 King Road in Moscow, Idaho, in the early hours of the morning on November 13, 2022.

Best friends Kaylee Goncalves and Madison Mogen (left) and young couple Ethan Chapin and Xana Kernodle (right) were murdered by Bryan Kohberger

Kohberger left this brown leather Ka-Bar knife sheath behind at the scene of the murders at 1122 King Road in Moscow, Idaho

The then-27-year-old criminology PhD student entered through the back sliding door into the kitchen on the second floor and is believed to have gone straight up to the third floor.

There, he attacked best friends Goncalves and Mogen, both 21, as they slept in Mogens bed.

The autopsies determined that they both died from multiple sharp force injuries, while Goncalves also suffered asphyxial injuries and blunt force injuries of the head.

Goncalves was stabbed a minimum of 38 times, her autopsy found, including at least 24 stab and incised wounds of the scalp, face, and neck; 11 stab and incised wounds of the chest and three stab and incised wounds of the upper extremities. She also suffered punctures of the outer table of the skull; injuries to the teeth and tongue; perforations of the subclavian artery and vein and hemorrhage into the chest cavities.

Police reports have previously revealed that Goncalvess face was unrecognizable following the attack, with Latah County Prosecutor Bill Thompson confirming that some of her injuries appeared to be caused by something other than the Ka-Bar knife used to kill the four victims.

He confirmed that investigators could not rule out the possibility that a second weapon was used on the 21-year-old. It is unclear what that weapon might have been.

The autopsy revealed the extent of those blunt force injuries including: scalp laceration; bleeding around the brain; nasal fracture; scrapes on the nose and cheeks; bruising around the eyes; and patterned bruises extending across the lower face.

The position of some of the bloodstains on Goncalvess face and upper body, the bed comforter and wall indicate that her posture and position did change during this event, the filing states. Goncalvess father has previously said he believes his daughter woke up during the attack.

Bryan Kohberger (seen at his sentencing in Ada County Courthouse in Boise, Idaho, on July 23) inflicted more than 150 stab wounds on his victims

Inside 1122 King Road where Kohberger murdered the four students in the early hours of November 13, 2022

Mogen suffered 13 stab and incised wounds to the scalp, face and neck; 10 incised wounds of the upper extremities, and five stab wounds of the chest, the autopsy found.

She also had wounds to the lung and liver; perforations of the subclavian vein, subclavian artery, and blood vessels of the chest wall, an incision of the nasal septum, and perforation of the tongue.

Kohbergers brown leather Ka-Bar knife sheath was found in the bed next to Mogens body. DNA on the sheath was found to be a match for the killer. Goncalves and Mogens blood were also found on the sheath.

Their blood was also found on the bedroom door, staircase rail down to the second floor and Goncalvess blood was found on a beer pong table in the living room on the second floor - presumably caused by the killer as he left the top story.

Investigators believe that Kohberger encountered Kernodle after killing the two best friends.

While Goncalves, Mogen and Chapin were attacked while they slept, Kernodle was awake on TikTok and had just received a Jack in the Box DoorDash food order mere minutes before Kohberger broke in.

Based on the report - which found no evidence that any of the victims were in the living room area or the hallway to Kernodles room after being stabbed - Kohberger began attacking Kernodle inside her bedroom on the second floor. He also stabbed to death her boyfriend Chapin who was sleeping in her bed.

The court filing shows Chapin suffered six incised wounds of the upper extremities; six stab and incised wounds of the lower extremities; four stab and incised wounds of the scalp, face, and neck; and one stab wound of the upper chest. There were also perforations of the jugular vein, subclavian vein, and subclavian artery.

The autopsy findings give the clearest picture to date of the extent of violence that Kohberger inflicted on the victims.

DNA on the sheath was traced back to Kohberger using Investigative Genetic Genealogy

The student home at 1122 King Road in Moscow, Idaho, where the murders were committed

It comes after a string of graphic crime scene images were released by Idaho State Police last week - before being swiftly deleted.

After murdering the four victims, Kohberger left through the back sliding door, passing surviving roommate Dylan Mortensen who had been woken by the noise and had peeked round her bedroom door on the second floor.

Mortensen, who was 19 at the time, saw a man dressed in all black with a mask over his face.

She and roommate Bethany Funke - whose bedroom was on the first floor - were the only survivors.

Terrified after seeing a masked man inside the home, Mortensen and Funke desperately tried to call and text their friends but got no response.

Ultimately, Mortensen ran down to Funkes room on the first floor where they both stayed until daylight.

Around eight hours later, after the terrified students still could not get in touch with their friends, they called friends over to the home and the bloodbath was discovered.

Kohberger was arrested around six weeks later during a raid on his parents home in the Poconos region of Pennsylvania, where he had returned for the holidays.

For more than two years, he fought the charges.

Then, weeks before his trial, Kohberger changed his plea, pleading guilty to four counts of first-degree murder and one count of burglary on July 2.

The bombshell plea hearing came after he struck a controversial deal with prosecutors to take the death penalty off the table.

Left to right: Dylan Mortensen, Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen (on Kaylee's shoulders) Ethan Chapin, Xana Kernodle and Bethany Funke

He was sentenced to life without the possibility of parole in an emotional hearing in Ada County Courthouse in Boise, Idaho, on July 23. Kohberger also waived his right to appeal.

The now-31-year-old killer refused to speak at his sentencing and has never revealed his motive.

No connection has ever been found between him and any of his victims.

Kohberger is now being held in solitary confinement inside the Idaho Maximum Security Institution where he will see out his dying days.

While behind bars, the mass killer has filed multiple complaints about prison life, the Daily Mail has exclusively revealed.

Following complaints about inmates harassing him through the air vents to the state of the bananas on his meal tray, Kohberger then began threatening to harm himself behind bars if guards don't move him to another unit.

Meanwhile, the families of the four victims have together filed a lawsuit against Washington State University, the college where Kohberger was both a student and teaching assistant in the criminal justice department at the time of the murders.

The suit alleges that the killings should not and would not have occurred if WSU had acted appropriately to multiple complaints and concerns about the criminology PhD students inappropriate, predatory and menacing behavior.

It alleges that the college learned about Kohberger's 'threatening, stalking and predatory behavior' quickly into the 2022 fall semester with more than a dozen formal complaints raised by students and staff, but failed to act on the warning signs.
More than 150 stab wounds to his victims, three of them while they slept after enjoying their last ever nights out with friends.

A student home so full of life and laughter turned into a violent crime scene.

Bryan Kohberger stole four young lives, shattered their families and friends and plunged the small college community of Moscow, Idaho, into terror during a minutes-long rampage on November 13, 2022.

More than three years on from the murders of Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen, Xana Kernodle and Ethan Chapin, the socially-awkward 31-year-old with an obsession for crime is now locked away forever, unable to destroy any more lives.

Bryan Kohberger (seen at his sentencing in Ada County Courthouse in Boise, Idaho, on July 23) inflicted more than 150 stab wounds on his victims

Holed up inside J-Block in the Idaho Maximum Security Institution near Kuna, Kohberger now spends 23 hours a day inside his cell, listening to the taunts and threats hurled at him by other inmates.

The Daily Mail has exclusively revealed how he spends his time complaining about his current predicament, from the noise of his fellow jail-mates to the bananas served on his meal tray.

In an explosive development last month, it emerged he had even begun threatening to harm himself if the prison guards didnt bow down to his demands and transfer him to another part of the penitentiary.

Now, six months into his lifelong prison stint, it seems the Idaho Department of Correction has had enough of the high-profile diva inmate...

Best friends Kaylee Goncalves and Madison Mogen (left) and young couple Ethan Chapin and Xana Kernodle (right) were murdered by Bryan Kohberger

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Last autumn, with a fanfare of trumpets and a roll of drums, King Charles ceremoniously kicked his brother out of the Royal Family.

GONE was his royal princedom. GONE was his Knight of the Garter. GONE was his place in the royal pecking order. And GONE was his beloved home of the past 22 years, Royal Lodge.

But, the Daily Mail can reveal this morning, the man formerly known as Prince Andrew is STILL the Duke of York.

If he wants to, he can still call himself by that name. He can have his personal stationery embossed with his ancient title. He can still have his coat of arms.

And nobody can stop him  not even the King.

The Duke of York title, while associated with the name Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, may effectively be tinpot in the UK - but it could still hold significant value overseas, and even dictate which part of the world the ousted royal spends his twilight years in.

After the worldwide uproar over Andrew's involvement with paedophile Jeffrey Epstein and a lengthy, angry public debate over the suitability of his remaining a royal, plus a piffling squabble over Royal Lodge  a house he was perfectly entitled to inhabit  King Charles finally moved against his brother in November 2025.

When he did, people were astonished at the savagery of his actions.

The official announcement sounded the death-knell: 'The King has been pleased by Letters Patent under the Great Seal of the Realm dated 3 November 2025, to declare that Andrew Mountbatten Windsor shall no longer be entitled to enjoy the style, title or attribute of "Royal Highness" and the titular dignity of "Prince".'

The man formerly known as Prince Andrew (left) is STILL the Duke of York after King Charles formally stripped his disgraced younger brother of his royal titles over his ties to late paedophile Jeffrey Epstein

If he wants to, he can still call himself by that name. He can have his personal stationery embossed with his ancient title, the Daily Mail can exclusively reveal. Pictured: Andrew's daughters, Eugenie (front) and Beatrice (in the background) joined the Royal Family for their annual Christmas festivities at Sandringham after the ex-Prince's disgrace

Other titles also fell away, less quickly, the last to go being his rank as Vice Admiral in the Royal Navy.

But his title as Duke of York? And the subsidiary titles of Earl of Inverness and Baron Killyleagh?

A parallel announcement, confirmed by Buckingham Palace, stated that Andrew had been formally removed from the official roll of the peerage in the House of Lords. That sounded final enough.

And so now he was a commoner.

Not so, says Michael Rhodes, a leading authority on the peerage and editor of the online Peerage News.

'It's quite clear that Andrew's removal from the Roll was done to deceive and bamboozle the public into thinking that the King's brother is no longer Baron Killyleagh, Earl of Inverness or Duke of York, when in fact he is and will be until his death  or until an Act of Parliament is brought before parliament.

'The removal of a peerage cannot be achieved by royal authority alone.'

Mr Rhodes, also an advisor and contributor to the respected ThePeerage online website, points out that not being on the Roll doesn't mean that men and women have automatically lost their titles.

He even cites the examples of peers related by blood to the royals  the Earl of Harewood, Lord Fermoy, Lord Elphinstone  who aren't listed on the Roll but continue to be known by their titles and to use them legitimately.

Although Andrew is not on the official roll of peerage at the House of Lords, it doesn't mean he has lost all his titles, according to Michael Rhodes - a leading authority on the subject

He goes on to list over 200 lords and ladies whose names also are not on the Roll, but who are known by their titles.

Andrew  the Duke of York  is no different from any one of them, he says: 'If Andrew were barred from styling himself Duke of York, then shouldn't fellow dukes like the Duke of Argyll and Duke of Atholl be similarly stripped of their titles?'

Mr Rhodes goes on to say that Andrew could continue to use a coat of arms, though the one created for him on his elevation to the peerage when he married in 1986 would have to be significantly altered to take account of the loss of his royal princedom and his Garter knighthood. 'Though that could be achieved with relative ease,' he says.

It also raises the question of whether Sarah Ferguson, though divorced from Andrew, is similarly still entitled to call herself Sarah, Duchess of York.

Answer: she and Andrew legally parted long ago. As the divorced wife of a peer, she's entitled to keep using the title she adopted at the time  Sarah, Duchess of York.

With both Andrew and Sarah with titles - however dubious - in their back pockets, could the pair be headed for a retirement under the Arabian sun?

The Middle East holds royal titles in high regard however they're viewed elsewhere - with any regal scandal snuffed out by the weight of societal status.

Indeed, at the height of the Epstein controversy, Andrew and his former wife were both said to have had a grand mansion available on demand in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates.

The country's ruler Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan is thought to have made the offer as a gesture of gratitude for Andrew's 'kindness' to them when he was the UK's international business envoy.

With a life in the UK looking ever more untenable for Andrew, the flashy Middle East could be the perfect place for a former playboy prince to see out his days.

And what of the Princesses? King Charles exempted Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie from the swinging action brought against their father, and they remain princesses carrying the title Her Royal Highness.

Some observers believe that Charles, though clearly very angry with the way Andrew has tarnished his reign, did not go the whole hog and instigate an Act of Parliament against his brother since it would allow parliamentarians the opportunity to debate the Royal Family in the Houses of Parliament  something Buckingham Palace is desperate to avoid at all costs.

In addition, it would call to mind the last time such a move was made against members of the Royal Family. In 1917 King George V's German cousins bearing British titles of nobility were stripped of their honours for supporting the enemy.

The King made sure that his brother's daughters Beatrice and Eugenie kept their titles and their HRHs

Andrew will soon be moving out of Royal Lodge to Marsh Farm in North Norfolk

The Duke of Albany, Queen Victoria's grandson, became Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha and supported the Germans, later in life becoming a high-ranking Nazi official.

The Duke of Cumberland, descendant of King George III, retained his English title although in Germany he was Crown Prince of Hanover. Both lost their titles along with others accused of treason.

'No peer has lost his title or Garter without having first been convicted of serious crime,' says Michael Rhodes.

And unless  or until  the law catches up with the former Prince Andrew, it would appear nobody can stop him from continuing to call himself the Duke of York.

As he begins his cold and lonely exile in the freezing wastes of north Norfolk, there's one further thought the 'Duke' can hug to himself.

He could still sit on the Throne.

Despite everything, Andrew remains eighth in the line of succession. Before him come William and Harry and their children but, for now at least, Andrew would be crowned Regent in the event of the loss of King Charles and the Prince of Wales within the next five years.

Though highly unlikely, it's not beyond the realms of possibility. The scenario could go like this: Prince William has an unfortunate helicopter accident, his father succumbs to cancer. Prince George would then become King but have no constitutional power until his 18th birthday in July 2031. The next throne candidate who might serve as Regent, Prince Harry, would be disbarred by reason of his residency abroad.

It isn't all over for Andrew  not yet, anyway.
On the latest episode of the Daily Mail's Queens, Kings and Dastardly Things podcast, Robert Hardman reveals how the late Queen was repeatedly deployed as Britain's 'secret weapon' to rescue the special relationship with the United States.

Speaking to co-host Kate Williams, the historian explained how Elizabeth was winning over American hearts from childhood, starting with her very first radio broadcast on October 13, 1940.

The 14-year-old future Queen, alongside her younger sister Margaret, was asked by Prime Minister Winston Churchill to address children across the Commonwealth, many of them British evacuees sent to safety in Canada, America and elsewhere.

At this point in World War II, Britain stood alone against Nazi Germany after France's surrender and America's policy of non-engagement in Europe.

Britain faced relentless Nazi bombing and the country's hopes increasingly rested on bringing the industrial might of the USA into the fight against Hitler.

The young princess's address did more than boost morale at home; it unexpectedly became a hit across the Atlantic, where the broadcast was released as a record just as America debated entering the war.

Robert Hardman has described how the late Queen was repeatedly deployed as Britain's 'secret weapon' to rescue the special relationship with the United States

The historian explained how Elizabeth was winning over American hearts from childhood, starting with her very first radio broadcast on October 13, 1940.

A future Queen's first 'viral moment'

The speech, broadcast during the BBC's Children's Hour, became popular for its mix of steely resolve and childhood levity.

At the end of the transmission, Elizabeth invited 10-year-old Margaret to join her in wishing children of the Commonwealth a goodnight.

The younger princess, momentarily distracted, did not immediately respond, prompting Elizabeth to gently coax her: 'Come on, Margaret.'

This authentic interaction between sisters would be what the speech was remembered for, bizarrely becoming an overnight sensation in the United States.

'The speech was meant as a simple morale booster,' Hardman explained.

'But at the end, there was this very sweet moment the phrase 'Come on Margaret' caught fire. What happened was the equivalent of going viral today.'

'The speech resonated particularly in the United States. It was brought out as a record, put on vinyl and sold in shops. It was a hit.'

At this point in World War II, Britain stood alone against Nazi Germanyafter France's surrender and America's policy of non-engagement in Europe

The Last King of America - Part 3 is available now on YouTube or wherever you get your podcasts

The speech's popularity came at an opportune time for Britain. France's fall earlier that year had begun to dent isolationist sentiment in the United States, while Britain's ongoing success in the Battle of Britain provided further encouragement to those arguing for American intervention.

While the broadcast's direct impact cannot be quantified, its unexpected popularity helped humanise Britain's struggle at a crucial moment when American public opinion was beginning to shift.

The United States would officially enter World War II fourteen months later, following the bombing of Pearl Harbour in December 1941.

To hear more Royal history like this, search for Queens, Kings and Dastardly Things now, wherever you get your podcasts.
Meghan Markle dusted off a familiar dress for her latest Instagram post to tease the launch of a new As Ever jam arriving today.

In a striking black and white image, the Duchess of Sussex, 44, can be seen in a strapless Roland Mouret dress that she first wore in 2018.

'Tomorrow, we revisit something sweet. One flavor worth the wait. Another worth returning for,' the caption reads, referencing her bestselling preserves. 'Sign up so you don't miss it.'

Fuelling speculation about the new jam flavour, the six-slide Instagram post also featured artfully styled images of strawberries, raspberries and chocolate, arranged alongside champagne flutes and a bouquet of roses.

The textured navy dress made its debut when Meghan and Prince Harry attended the 2018 Royal Foundation Dinner at Kensington Palace, while they were still working royals.

At the time, Meghan was pregnant with son Archie and Roland Mouret's Aldrich design - priced at 1,718 - appeared to have been customised with a fuller skirt.

Back then, she completed the look with dazzling Birks Snowflake jacket earrings, court heels and a clutch, wearing her raven hair in her signature chignon.

Fast forward to today, and Meghan has given the frock a distinctly California update, pairing it with 255 Doen slingback flats and oversized sunglasses for a more relaxed finish.

Meghan Markle dusted off a familiar dress for her latest Instagram post, teasing the launch of a new As Ever jam

The Roland Mouret navy dress made its debut when Meghan and Prince Harry attended the 2018 Royal Foundation Dinner at Kensington Palace, while they were still working royals

At the time, Meghan was pregnant with son Archie and glowing in Roland Mouret's Aldrich design - priced at 1,718 - which appeared to have been customised with a fuller skirt

While Meghan has previously suggested that royal rules limited her ability to wear colour, her post-palace style has remained anchored in a largely neutral palette.

Cream, black, navy and soft earth tones continue to dominate her wardrobe. The shift, however, has been less about colour and more about silhouette.

Since stepping back from royal duties, she has embraced leg-baring shorts, plunging necklines and body-skimming dresses - choices that would have raised eyebrows during traditional royal engagements but now reflect her laid-back California lifestyle.

The Duchess is no stranger to luxury labels. She regularly turns to fashion powerhouses, including Carolina Herrera, Ralph Lauren and Erdem, building a wardrobe that balances polish with modern ease.

Her jewellery collection is equally covetable, anchored by a selection of Cartier classics - notably the Tank Francaise watch, Love bangle and Juste Un Clou necklace - pieces she wears repeatedly.

During the 2018 royal tour of Australia, Meghan arrived in a Givenchy coat while carrying official binders. In 2025, the same coat resurfaced at a Vancouver Canucks game, offering a welcome throwback

The olive green Doen sweater Meghan wore during the 2025 Invictus Games made a second appearance in her Netflix series

Meghan wore her reversible Hermes puffer jacket at the Invictus Games One Year To Go Event in 2024. She recycled it for the Wheelchair Curling on day one of the 2025 Invictus Games

Even her more casual staples have stood the test of time, including a J.Crew linen shirt worn on the back cover of Together, her Hubb Community Kitchen cookbook, and later reappearing in With Love, Meghan

Like her sister-in-law, the Princess of Wales, Meghan has also leaned into outfit rewears in recent years, quietly championing a more sustainable approach to fashion.

One of her most notable examples dates back to her 2018 royal tour of Australia, when she arrived in a Givenchy coat while carrying official binders - an appearance that came just hours before she and Prince Harry announced they were expecting their first child.

Years later, in 2025, the same coat resurfaced at a Vancouver Canucks game, offering a welcome throwback.

Elsewhere, Meghan has repeatedly returned to trusted favourites. An olive green Doen sweater worn during the 2025 Invictus Games made a second appearance in her Netflix series, while a reversible Hermes puffer jacket was spotted at engagements in Whistler in 2024 and Vancouver in 2025.

Even her more casual staples have stood the test of time, including a J.Crew linen shirt worn on the back cover of Together, her Hubb Community Kitchen cookbook, and later reappearing in With Love, Meghan.

Meghan's fashion evolution is less about abandoning her royal past and more about reframing it - often with designer jewels and a pair of flat shoes.

Her wardrobe now blends her past and present: polished, purposeful and unmistakably her own.
The Princess of Wales displayed her caring side again today as she showed a young girl at a trauma therapy centre how to hear the sea in a shell - before joining teenage girls for rugby drills and joining a mental health group on an outdoor walk.

Kate spoke to therapists at Family Action in Bradford this morning, a charity which helps children and their families recover from complex trauma.

She also joined creative therapy sessions - talking to children about collage trees and wish boxes - to understand how the use of play can be a vehicle for healing.

Kate spent the day visiting several organisations in the North of England to highlight the power of creativity, community and nature for those who have experienced trauma, isolation and poor mental health.

She has long championed mental health causes and emphasised how nature had helped her 'heal' from cancer treatment in a video series most recently released on her 44th birthday.

Her engagements across the North also saw her visit Wakefield Trinity's ground, where she praised the club's 'gold dust' support for its local community.

At the club, she met schoolgirls being put through their rugby paces, pensioners taking part in a quiz and teenagers at risk of being excluded from school.

The future queen, who is patron of the Rugby Football League, was wearing a smart jacket and trousers for the visit.

Kate Middleton is all smiles as she greets members of the public and is seen with flowers as she leaves Wakefield rugby club today

Princess Kate, patron of Family Action, teaches a young girl how to hear the sea in a shell during a visit to the charity's Children's Trauma Therapy Service in Bradford

She later joined a wellbeing walk in the Peak District with Mind Over Mountains, which offers mental health support through outdoor experiences

This meant her participation was limited to chatting to girls during a break from their skills session for Wakefield's Champion Schools competition - rather than getting stuck into the drills themselves.

Kate was quizzed about Princess Charlotte's school activities as she stood beside the pitch in freezing temperatures, telling the young players: 'She does loads of sport but not rugby.'

She also joked with the group about the physicality of rugby league, saying: 'There's not any other sport when you can say contact is a good thing.'

During the visit Kate sat down with a group of Wakefield supporters aged from their 60s to their 90s who are regulars at In Touch events run by Wakefield Trinity's Community Foundation, the Super League club's charitable arm.

The sessions help elderly people at risk of loneliness to socialise.

The princess told them: 'I love this, the league game is so embedded in community life and it's so grassroots (and) interaction, and getting youngsters involved but also how clubs like this connect to the rest of the community.

'They're absolute gold dust really, and I'm so proud to help support the league across the country.'

She was even given a Wakefield shirt, prompting captain - and England player - Mike McMeeken to joke: 'Now she has a Wakefield Trinity shirt she is an honorary member of the club!'

Following the visit to Wakefield she tied her hair in a plait and donned a newsboy-style cap for a walk in the hills with Mind Over Mountains, a charity offering professional mental health support through therapeutic outdoor experiences

It rounded off the day that began with the visit to Family Action, of which she is a patron.

The Princess of Wales waves as she arrives at Wakefield Trinity Stadium on January 27, 2026 - with her hair down

She later changed into practical walking boots, bottoms, a wax jacket and a newsboy-style cap for her walk in the hills - even putting her hair in a plait

The princess was dressed for the weather as she joined the hillwalk, which came in the hours after Storm Chandra had hit Britain

Kate headed out to the pitch to join a skills session with girls from Wakefield's Champion schools competition

She could barely conceal her smile as she chatted with teenagers taking part in the contest - opting not to take part in the drills in her smart jacket and trousers

The princess waves to Royal fans as she leaves Wakefield Trinity Rugby League club on January 27, 2026

The charity provides practical, emotional, and financial support to families who are facing poverty, disadvantage, and isolation nationwide.

Their children's trauma therapy service in Bradford works with children who have experienced abuse, neglect or a traumatic bereavement.

She said to staff at the centre: 'It's probably been a lifeline for them in so many ways and being able to extend that umbilical cord support - the fact that you're able to continue that relationship with them.'

Kate joined a therapy session for a mother and her 12-year-old son who had been colouring in leaves to put on a collage tree, designed to help children illustrate their feelings and discuss their therapy journey.

The boy said how music had helped him process difficult emotions and that he now played drums in a band.

Kate said: 'That's a fantastic way to sort of express yourself and also manage really difficult and hard feelings that are sometimes harder to express with words than in any other way.'

She asked if he had ever thought he would play in a band.

He replied: 'No. If you said it to me three years ago, I wouldn't have believed you because I wouldn't have thought I had the attention span for it.'

Kate then met a mother and her five-year-old daughter who were decorating a box of wishes, in which they had added items to help them express their feelings.

The princess greeted the girl by crouching down and holding her hand, before complimenting her leopard print dress.

'I like your dress. That's a pretty dress and your shoes, I have boots like that but they don't have glitter on sadly. Are they your favourite boots?' she said.

Kate joined creative therapy sessions at the centre in Bradford where she spoke to children about collage trees and wish boxes

The princess is visiting organisations in the North of England to highlight the power of creativity, community and nature for those who have experienced trauma, isolation and poor mental health

Kate talks to a girl who was decorating a box and filling it with items, including a shell. The Princess of Wales said to her: 'Sometimes when you put it to your ear, you can hear waves. That's what I like doing with shells'

Kate joined a therapy session for a mother and her 12-year-old son who had been colouring in leaves to put on a collage tree

The princess greeted a girl by crouching down and holding her hand, before complimenting her leopard print dress

The girl had put a small pot of glitter and water into the box, which she called her 'potion'.

Asked what the potion did, she said 'it keeps away the bad dreams'. Kate told the girl's mother that 'lots of people need more of these'.

The girl had also put in a feather - which, her therapist said was to keep her 'busy head' 'nice and calm' - as well as two shells in the box.

Kate said to her: 'Sometimes when you put it to your ear, you can hear waves. That's what I like doing with shells.'

She then asked: 'Have you enjoyed coming here to do these things with mummy? What have you enjoyed about it?

'Is it being able to play together? And talk about some of the things that you find difficult?'

Later, the girl's mother joked: 'I think she was more excited about seeing Esther [her therapist].'

Kate clutches a bouquet of flowers as she greets Royal fans during a visit to Wakefield Trinity Stadium. The princess is Patron of the Rugby Football League

Kate was at the club to learn about its extensive outreach programmes, which bring generations together, tackle loneliness, and provide meaningful support for individuals experiencing isolation within the community

Kate is pictured here walking into the stadium with RFL's Director of Performance and Development Marc Lovering

The princess sits in the dugout alongside a group of schoolboys during a visit to Wakefield Trinity Stadium

Catherine is pictured here sat longside Molly Fox, the wife of Wakefield Trinity legend Peter Fox

Stuart Murray-Borbjerg, senior therapist, said of Princess Kate: 'She seemed genuinely interested to hear about the family's experience of the service and the impact of it.'

He explained the importance of 'non-verbal approaches to therapy' using tools like art, music and movement to express feelings when language fails.

'Something that's lost through traumatic experiences is that sense of playfulness and joy which just comes back when you're making music or you're drawing together,' he said.

'[It's] something the princess said too  that kind of gets lost as adults but George keeps her playful. I think she said one [of her children] plays the guitar and one plays the drums.'
The King paid tribute to Holocaust survivors today, saying those who are gone are 'with us in spirit', as he and the Queen hosted a reception at Buckingham Palace marking Holocaust Memorial Day.

Holocaust survivors and their families, with representatives from organisations protecting the memory of the Holocaust, first joined Charles in the East Wing, where they viewed portraits of survivors commissioned by Charles in 2022 when he was the Prince of Wales.

Holocaust Memorial Day takes place every year on January 27, the anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp in Poland.

Last year, Charles became the first British monarch to visit the camp, marking 80 years since its liberation.

The day commemorates the six million Jewish people murdered by the Nazis during the Holocaust, and the millions more murdered under Nazi persecution.

Charles was first greeted by Helen Aronson, 98, a survivor of the Lodz ghetto in Poland.

As he bent down to kiss her in her wheelchair, in front of her portrait by Paul Benney who painted the Queen's Coronation portrait, Helen, grasping his hand, asked how he was.

'All the better for seeing you,' he laughed. 'Thank you so much for the invitation, keep well,' she told him.

King Charles and Queen Camilla lit candles during a reception at Buckingham Palace in London to mark Holocaust Memorial Day on Tuesday

Other guests meeting Charles included Rachel Levy, 95, a survivor of the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp and Anita Lasker-Wallfisch, another survivor of Auschwitz and Bergen-Belsen and a celebrated cellist who survived Auschwitz by playing in the camp's orchestra.

Last July, Charles visited her at home in north London for her 100th birthday. 'You were so wonderful to come and see me,' she told him, seated in a wheelchair in front of her portrait by Peter Kuhfeld, who painted Charles's coronation portrait.

'It was a bit of a business,' he laughed. 'He did me, you know,' Charles said, motioning to the painting.

Anita recalled Charles's passion for the cello when he was younger: 'You used to play the cello and support a lot of orchestras,' she said. 'I did  and I've added a lot of orchestras since.'

Charles also met several relatives of survivors who are no longer alive, including Shary and Rafi Goldberg, the widow and son of Manfred Goldberg who died last year, a survivor of Stutthof camp in Poland who was a staunch campaigner for Holocaust awareness.

In a sweet moment, Charles was introduced to Zigi Harrod, two, the great-grandson of the late Zigi Shipper, another survivor of Stutthof and close friend of Manfred's, who died in 2023.

'Where's the King?' Zigi called out as Charles made his way down the room to meet the toddler, standing on a chair. 'Hello,' said Charles. 'Hello back,' said Zigi, presenting Charles with his toy monkey, Fergus.

With him were his mother, Emma Harrod, the late Zigi's granddaughter and his daughters Lorraine Lawrence and Michelle Richman.

Charles greeted Anita Lasker-Wallfisch, the last remaining survivor of the Women's Orchestra of Auschwitz, with a handshake

In one sweet moment during Tuesday's reception, the monarch interacted with two-year-old Zigi

Pictured: King Charles spoke with Holocaust survivor Rachel Levy (centre) and her guest during a reception at Buckingham Palace in London to mark Holocaust Memorial Day

Standing in front of Zigi's portrait, Lorraine said of the survivors who are no longer alive: 'We feel like they should all be with us today.' Charles replied: 'They are in spirit.'

Charles was then joined by Camilla outside the palace's Centre Room, to light two candles in an act of remembrance.

As they were handed lit tapers by Rachel Levy, Camilla accidentally dropped hers on the carpet, prompting her to briefly get the giggles. Charles remained straight-faced.

In the Centre Room, they were joined by other guests including representatives from some of their patronages who are working to educate future generations including the Holocaust Memorial Trust, young ambassadors from the Anne Frank Trust UK and the Holocaust Educational Trust.

The theme for this year's Holocaust Memorial Day is 'Bridging Generations', encouraging younger generations to 'listen, learn and carry forward the lessons from the Holocaust'.

Chatting to Arek Hersh, 97, an Auschwitz survivor who campaigns for the Holocaust Educational Trust, Camilla, who has met him before, joked: 'You never get any older!'

Charles also spoke with Max Snijders, a Holocaust survivor who had travelled from his care home in Amsterdam for the reception. 'I hope we looked after you,' Charles told him.
Americans are on the move, so much so that it is dramatically shifting the country's population patterns.

Nearly 15 million adults in the US relocated last year, which accounted for about 4 per cent of the adult population, according to a report.

While many remained within state lines, the areas where Americans are going have changed due to affordability and lifestyle choices.

'This year, people are not focused on extremes, such as the largest cities or the most affordable locations,' said Daniel Cobb, lead researcher on the report by website HireAHelper.

'The data shows that Americans are prioritizing stability, with a focus on jobs, housing availability, and long-term value.'

South Carolina led the nation in net migration per capita in 2025 and cities such as Greenville and Charleston are proving especially popular. The state gained an astonishing 79.7 residents for every 10,000 people already living there.

It has rapidly emerged as one of the most desirable states in the country, drawing newcomers at a rate unmatched by any other.

The surge there is credited to the booming job market and the appeal of a lifestyle that balances work and leisure. While affordability is not the main factor, lower living costs are still a big part of the equation.

South Carolina was the state where the most Americans flocked to last year, with cities such as Charleston in high demand

Edisto Beach, South Carolina, is an uncrowded resort town

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The report shows that while the total number of moves in the US was high, 78 percent of Americans relocated to another area in their own state.

Most people who skipped a long-distance move relocated locally to escape large cities, move into a larger home or simply choose a different neighborhood.

Beyond South Carolina, several other states are seeing significant population growth relative to their size.

The Southeastern and Mountain West regions, in particular, have grown especially attractive as Americans leave more expensive or congested areas in search of affordable housing, a better quality of life and new job opportunities.

Idaho attracted 63.2 new residents per 10,000 people, Delaware gained 54.5, Tennessee drew 43.6 and Alabama added 36.6.

According to the report, those are the fastest per-capita migrations in the country.

Smaller and mid-sized metro areas are also seeing notable growth.

In South Carolina, the Myrtle BeachConway region added 190 new residents per 10,000 people. The report credits the boom of the coastal cities to affordability and lifestyle appeal.

Greenville, South Carolina, has become increasingly popular. The state led the nation in net migration per capita in 2025 due to its affordability and lifestyle factors

Table Rock Mountain in South Carolina is at the edge of the Blue Ridge Mountains

Summerville, a peaceful suburb with stunning scenery near Charleston, South Carolina. It has affordable homes and was unexpectedly named America's top 'job magnet'

Americans are choosing smaller cities, with Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, popular last year

Myrtle Beach's growth in 2025 was fueled by a diverse mix of inbound residents, both regional and long-distance.

The largest share of newcomers came from North Carolina at 12.41 percent, while a significant portion of movers also arrived from high-cost Northeastern states, including New York, Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

In Florida, the Ocala region added 124 per 10,000 people, while Seaford, Delaware, also saw an increase of 124 per 10,000.

The numbers suggest that Americans are increasingly favoring smaller, more manageable cities that offer space, affordability and community, rather than bigger, overcrowded and expensive ones.

Not all states are benefiting from the migration trend.

High-cost states continue to see residents leave in search of cheaper living costs.

California experienced the largest net loss, followed by New York, Massachusetts, Illinois and Maryland.

The pattern shows many Americans leaving high-tax, high-cost areas for states that offer a more balanced cost of living and emerging workforce opportunities.

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Idaho attracted 63.2 new residents per 10,000 in 2025, according to the report

Movers into Tennessee are taking advantage of lower housing prices and an easier way of life

Alabama added 36.6 new residents per 10,000 residents already living there

Housing in New York City remains sky high, with many residents fleeing in search of lower costs and a slower way of life

Delaware is no longer one of America's best-kept secrets. With its small, affordable cities and proximity to the beach, many people are moving in

The state offers a more balanced cost of living and emerging opportunities in the workforce

Monthly patterns in 2025 reveal that migration was steady throughout the year, rather than concentrated in a single season.

South Carolina and Idaho consistently attracted newcomers each month, while Washington, DC, experienced the highest per capita outflow.

August remained the peak moving season, continuing the historical trend of summer moves, when families aim to relocate between school years or take advantage of summer weather.

The forces driving these moves reveal a common theme.

Job availability remains a top factor, with South Carolina's manufacturing sector pulling many workers into the state.

Affordability is equally important, drawing retirees and remote workers to states such as Idaho and Alabama.

Smaller cities are particularly appealing for their lower costs and better quality of life that larger metro areas struggle to match.
The Doomsday Clock, which has been ticking down to the end of the world for decades, is now officially closer to annihilation than ever before.

On Tuesday, scientists with the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists moved the symbolic clock four seconds forward to 85 seconds to midnight.

It's also the closest the clock has ever been to midnight in its 79-year history, meaning experts believe humanity has never faced a more dire threat of a world-ending catastrophe than it does in 2026.

The group, which decides where the hands are set annually, cited multiple threats to global stability, including nuclear weapons, climate change, disruptive technologies like AI, and the creation of synthetic biological substances called 'mirror life.'

Alexandra Bell, president and CEO of the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists, said: 'Every second counts and we are running out of time. It is a hard truth that this is our reality. This is the closest our world has ever been to midnight.'

The Chicago-based nonprofit created the Doomsday Clock in 1947 during the Cold War as tensions between the US and the Soviet Union brought the constant fear of a nuclear apocalypse.

This is the second year in a row that the Doomsday Clock has moved closer to midnight - the hypothetical point where the world will end. Until 2020, the clock had never been closer than two minutes to midnight.

Daniel Holz, chair of the Bulletin's Science and Security Board, said: 'Last year, we warned that the world was perilously close to catastrophe and that countries needed to change course towards international cooperation and action on the most critical and existential risks. Unfortunately, the opposite has happened.'

The Bulletin of Atomic Scientists moved the 'Doomsday Clock' four seconds closer to midnight - the theoretical point of world annihilation

The US, Israel, Iran, and Russia all warned in 2025 that a catastrophic global war could be nearing as the crisis in the Middle East and Ukraine reached a breaking point

Holz added that nuclear-armed nations became even more adversarial and nationalistic in 2025 and influenced the four-second jump, the largest move forward since 2023 when scientists cut it from 100 to 90 seconds to midnight.

'The latest remaining treaty governing nuclear weapon stockpiles between the US and Russia expires next week. For the first time in over half a century, there will be nothing preventing a runaway nuclear arms race,' Holz revealed.

Any time the Doomsday Clock has moved forward has been said to signify humanity's failures to make progress in solving the global threats of the past 12 months.

Every year, the Doomsday Clock has been updated based on how close humanity theoretically is to total annihilation.

If the clock goes forward and gets a few minutes or seconds closer to midnight (compared with where it was set the previous year), it suggests humanity has moved closer to self-destruction.

If it moves further away from midnight, it suggests humanity has lowered the risks of global catastrophe since the same point last year.

In some years, the hands of the clock don't move at all, suggesting global tensions and threats worldwide haven't changed for better or worse.

It has been moving steadily closer to the predicted end of the world since 2011, when it was still six minutes from midnight.

In 2025, the US, Iran, and Israel were involved in a deadly conflict in the Middle East, with the US sending a precision bombing mission to attack Iran's nuclear facilities

The Bulletin's Science and Security Board added that climate change has also escalated over the last year, with global sea levels reaching record highs.

'Droughts, floods, fires, and storms continue to intensify and become more erratic, and this will only get worse,' Holz predicted.

Additionally, the expert warned of 'mirror life,' which are synthetic organisms built completely backwards compared to normal DNA, which scientists believe could help develop advanced medicines.

However, many scientists fear the threat posed by these lab-made substances, as they are totally incompatible with normal DNA, raising the threat of an unstoppable pandemic.

'Despite repeated warnings from scientists worldwide, the international community has no coordinated plan and the world remains unprepared for potentially devastating biological threats,' Holz said.

As for so-called 'disruptive technologies,' the security board's chair singled out artificial intelligence (AI) for 'supercharging mis- and disinformation.'

Join the debate Do YOU trust global leaders to step back from the brink?

Dr Leonard Rieser, Chairman of the Board of the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, moves the hand of the Doomsday Clock back to 17 minutes before midnight at offices near the University of Chicago on November 26, 1991

Last year, the Bulletin moved the clock to 89 seconds to midnight, citing the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, conflicts in the Middle East, the threat of nuclear war, climate change, a potential bird flu pandemic, and the so-called 'arms race' to develop AI.

Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine has led to Europe's bloodiest conflict since World War II, with unconfirmed estimates estimating the death toll reaching one million people in 2026.

Meanwhile, multiple conflicts involving the US broke out in the last year, as the Trump Administration launched a bombing of Iran's nuclear facilities and arrested Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro and his wife during a covert raid in Caracas.

Tensions have even flared between the US and its allies in NATO, as President Trump vies to take control of Greenland, a current territory of Denmark, citing its importance to national security against Russia and China.

'If the world splinters into an "us versus them" zero-sum approach, it increases the likelihood that we all lose,' Holz warned.

Although symbolic and not an actual clock, the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists unveiled a physical 'quarter clock' model at an event on Tuesday when they delivered the news of their estimate for 2026.

After the unveiling, the model can be found located at the Bulletin offices in the Keller Center, home to the University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy.

The Doomsday Clock goes back to June 1947, when US artist Martyl Langsdorf was hired to design a new cover for the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists journal

Every January, the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists reveals its annual update to the Doomsday Clock  even if the hands are not moved.

The Doomsday Clock officially came into existence in June 1947, when US artist Martyl Langsdorf was hired to design a new cover for the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists journal.

With a striking image on the cover, the organization hoped to 'frighten men into rationality' as the Cold War seemed destined to go nuclear, according to Eugene Rabinowitch, the first editor of the journal.

The clock was initially set at seven minutes to midnight because 'it looked good to my eye,' Langsdorf later said.

On the cover of later issues, the hands of the clock were adjusted based on how close civilization was estimated to be to catastrophe.

After the Soviet Union successfully tested its first atomic bomb in 1949, Rabinowitch reset the clock from seven minutes to midnight to three minutes to midnight.

Since then, it has continued to move forward and backwards, now moving within a minute and a half of total destruction.

In 2009, the Bulletin ceased its print edition, but the clock has still been updated once a year on its website and is now a much-anticipated highlight of the scientific community.
Britain's police forces are getting a hightech upgrade, as artificial intelligence (AI) tools are rolled out to tackle crime.

As part of major police reforms, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has announced that over 140 million will be invested in new technology.

Police will be given access to facial recognition vans, tools for rapid CCTV analysis, and a suite of digital forensics tools.

How the public interacts with the police is also set to change, as 999 control rooms use 'AIassisted operator services' to filter 'nonpolicing calls'.

In addition, forces will roll out AI chatbots to deal with nonurgent queries from victims of crime, the Home Office's police reform White Paper said.

Ms Mahmood claims the new technologies will help to 'get more officers on the streets and put rapists and murders [sic] behind bars'.

She added: 'Criminals are operating in increasingly sophisticated ways. However, some police forces are still fighting crime with analogue methods.'

However, not everyone is so convinced, with privacy campaign group Big Brother Watch calling the reforms 'better suited for an authoritarian state than a liberal democracy.'

British police forces will receive a hightech upgrade as Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood announces more than 140 million in funding for tech, including 50 facial recognition vans (pictured) per police force

Virtual chatbots

Thames Valley Police and Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary recently became the first police forces in the UK to trial a new AI Virtual Assistant, known as Bobbi.

Bobbi is designed to answer frequently asked, nonemergency questions that come into the police.

Just like ChatGPT, Bobbi can speak to you as if it were a human and answer any questions you might have.

The big difference is that Bobbi uses 'closed source information', meaning it only has information provided to it by the police.

Questions that cannot be answered by the chatbot, or if the member of the public specifies they want to speak with a human, will be passed on to a 'Digital Desk' operator.

Live facial recognition

Ms Mahmood also announced that the number of live facial recognition vans will triple under the plan, with 50 vans being made available to every police force in England and Wales.

Thames Valley Police and Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary recently became the first police forces in the UK to trial a new AI Virtual Assistant, known as Bobbi

What AI technologies will police forces use? Live facial recognition vans

Deepfake detection tools

Instant translation and transcription services

Rapid CCTV and media analysis

Smart audiovisual redaction tools

Digital forensics

Robotic process automation

Smart control rooms with AItriage

Digital chatbots Advertisement

Live facial recognition vans work by recording the features of every single passerby and taking measurements of their face, such as the distance between the eyes.

This data is then compared to an existing watchlist while an officer checks the matches flagged by the system.

Under current rules, the technology can only be used to search for watch lists of wanted criminals, suspects, or individuals subject to bail or court order conditions.

The government says that this technology will be 'governed by data protection, equality and human rights laws' and that faces flagged by the facial recognition system must also be reviewed and confirmed by officers before action is taken.

Even still, rights groups have expressed concerns over the expansion of this surveillance technology.

Brother Watch Advocacy Manager, Matthew Feeney, says: 'An expansion of facial recognition on this scale would be unprecedented in liberal democracies, and would represent the latest in a regrettable trend.

'Police across the UK have already scanned the faces of millions of innocent people who have done nothing except go about their days on high streets across the country.'

The watchlists used by facial recognition vans include criminals, but also witnesses to crimes and innocent people who have been misidentified.

The expansion of facial recognition technology has drawn criticism from privacy campaigners who point out that the Government is yet to complete its facial recognition consultation, which would provide a legal framework for the technology

What is live facial recognition? Live facial recognition allows the police to recognise wanted individuals among a large crowd in real time. Police use a series of cameras to record the faces of anyone who passes through a set zone. An algorithm compares the faces of those walking in front of the camera to a 'watchlist' of wanted criminals and an alert is generated if there's a match. The watchlist includes individuals who are wanted for committing crime, who are banned from an area or who pose a risk to the public. The cameras look just like standard CCTV cameras, but do not record footage. In the event of a 'no match', the data will be deleted immediately. Advertisement

This week, the Metropolitan Police will face a High Court judicial review over whether the force is unlawfully deploying the technology over London.

The case is being brought by an antiknife crime worker, Shaun Thompson, with support from Big Brother Watch, after Mr Thompson was mistakenly stopped and questioned.

The Government is also yet to finish its facial recognition consultation, which would provide a legal framework for deploying live facial recognition.

Retrospective facial recognition

In addition to these vans, Ms Mahmood announced police forces will receive new tools for 'retrospective facial recognition'.

This AIpowered technology is capable of recognising faces, or even specific objects, within video from CCTV, video doorbells, and mobile footage submitted as evidence.

Deepfake detection tools

Additionally, Ms Mahmood announced the rollout of new tools designed to detect AIgenerated deepfakes.

Alongside expanded facial recognition tools (pictured), police forces will also be equipped with digital forensics tools and new technology to automate data entry and paperwork

As well as avoiding misleading fake images online, this will help crack down on criminal misuse of AI deepfake services.

Earlier this month, science minister Liz Kendall announced that the government would ban AI 'nudification' tools and make it an offence to produce sexualised deepfakes of a person without their consent.

This follows the immense backlash against Elon Musk's Grok AI tool, which was used to generate huge numbers of nonconsensual sexualised deepfakes of X users.

Digital forensics tools

This comes alongside the rollout of new digital forensics tools that help to speed up gathering and analysis of evidence.

According to the Government, one digital forensics tool used by Avon and Somerset Police reviewed 27 cases in a single day  a backlog that would have originally taken 81 years and 118 officers.

Translation tools

Forces will also receive tools to transcribe and translate audio into usable formats automatically.

Socalled 'Robotic process automation' will automate data entry, with recent pilots suggesting the tech can free up the working hours of nearly 10 officers.

Smart audiovisual redaction tools

Meanwhile, redacting tools that automatically blur faces and mute sensitive details such as number plates could reduce the time spent redacting case files by 60 per cent.

That is equivalent to freeing up 11,000 officer days per month across all forces in the country, according to the Government's calculations.

Ryan Wain, senior director of Politics and policy at the Tony Blair Institute, says: 'It's indefensible that people have been denied proven crimefighting technology because of fragmented police structures.

'With proper safeguards, this is a straightforward boost to public safety. The danger now is delay. Incrementalism is the enemy of safety.'
The number of 'uncomfortably hot' days in the UK is set to increase by a whopping 150 per cent by 2050, a new study has warned.

Researchers from the University of Oxford modelled what the weather will look like if the world warms by 2C.

While this sounds like a lot, they warn this scenario is becoming 'increasingly likely'.

The results revealed that under these conditions, the number of uncomfortably hot days will increase by 150 per cent in the UK, and by staggering 230 per cent in Ireland.

Given these countries are largely designed to cope with cold conditions, this temperature increase could have 'disproportionately severe impacts', the experts warn.

'Our study shows most of the changes in cooling and heating demand occur before reaching the 1.5C threshold, which will require significant adaptation measures to be implemented early on,' said Dr Jesus Lizana, lead author of the study.

'For example, many homes may need air conditioning to be installed in the next five years, but temperatures will continue to rise long after that if we hit 2.0C of global warming.

'To achieve the global goal of netzero carbon emissions by 2050, we must decarbonise the building sector while developing more effective and resilient adaptation strategies.'

Researchers from the University of Oxfordmodelled what the weather will look like if the world warms by 2C. The results revealed that under these conditions, the number of uncomfortably hot days will increase by 100 per cent in Canada, by 150 per cent in the UK, and by staggering 230 per cent in Ireland

Many communities around the world are already faced with extreme heat.

For example, in 2010, research revealed that almost a quarter (23 per cent) of the world's population lived under scorching conditions.

In their new study, the team set out to understand how that proportion will change if the world continues to warm.

And their results paint a worrying picture of what's to come.

According to their model, by 2030, 34 per cent of the world  the equivalent of 2.8 billion people  will live in extreme heat regions.

Looking further ahead, by 2050, that will increase to 41 per cent, leaving 3.79 billion people facing extreme heat.

The countries affected the most will be India, Nigeria, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Pakistan and the Philippines, according to the study.

However, that's not to say that people in the UK will be protected.

Warming to 2C would lead to a 150 per cent increase in the number of uncomfortably hot days in the UK. Pictured: a heatwave in London in August 2025

The UK's hottest days on record England 40.3C (19 July 2022) Wales 37.1C (18 July 2022 Scotland 34.8C (19 July 2022) Northern Ireland 31.3C (21 July 2021) Advertisement

The researchers also found that countries with colder climates will see a much larger relative change in uncomfortably hot days.

Warming to 2C would lead to a 100 per cent increase in the number of uncomfortably hot days in Austria and Canada, a 150 per cent increase in the UK, Sweden, Finland, a 200 per cent increase in Norway, and a 230 per cent increase in Ireland.

The researchers hope the findings will prompt urgent action to curb emissions.

'Our findings should be a wakeup call,' warned Dr Radhika Khosla, coauthor of the study.

'Overshooting 1.5C of warming will have an unprecedented impact on everything from education and health to migration and farming.

'Net zero sustainable development remains the only established path to reversing this trend for ever hotter days.

'It is imperative politicians regain the initiative towards it.'

The news comes shortly after the Met Office confirmed that 2025 was Britain's hottest year on record.

The news comes shortly after the Met Office confirmed that 2025 was Britain's hottest year on record. This chart shows periods during 2025 where the mean temperature for the UK was above average (orange) or below average (blue)

The average temperature in the UK last year was a balmy 10.09C, which is 0.96C above the longterm average.

2025 joins 2022 and 2023 in the top three warmest years since 1884.

According to the Met Office, this is a 'clear demonstration of the impacts of climate change'.

Dr Mark McCarthy, head of climate attribution at the Met Office, said: 'We're increasingly seeing UK temperatures break new ground in our changing climate, as demonstrated by a new highest UK mean temperature record just three years after the last record.

'This very warm year is in line with expected consequences of humaninduced climate change.

'Although it doesn't mean every year will be the warmest on record, it is clear from our weather observations and climate models that humaninduced global warming is impacting the UK's climate.'
The US Air Force's Boeing C-40B Clipper is currently flying west after departing Washington DC Tuesday morning on an undisclosed mission.

The aircraft, often described as an airborne 'war room' or 'flying office,' is used to transport high-priority personnel, including Cabinet members, combatant commanders and senior military leaders.

It also provides secure, global communications capabilities for VIP transport and special missions.

Flight-tracking sites show Clipper leaving Camp Springs, home to Joint Base Andrews, at 6:12am ET.

The aircraft is now soaring through the Midwest, passing over Missouri and Kansas.

No public destination is listed, and military VIP/support flights like this often have restricted or undisclosed routing for operational security.

Officials have not explained the purpose of the flight. The cross-country journey comes amid widespread protests in several US cities over federal immigration enforcement actions.

The demonstrations intensified following the recent fatal shootings of Renee Good on January 7 and Alex Pretti on January 24 in Minneapolis, Minnesota, incidents that have drawn national attention.

The aircraft, often described as an airborne 'war room' or 'flying office,' is used to transport high-priority personnel, including Cabinet members, combatant commanders and senior military leaders

The US Air Force's Boeing C-40B Clipper is currently flying west after departing Washington DC Tuesday morning on an undisclosed mission

Flight-tracking data from sites like Flightradar24 and ADS-B Exchange confirmed the Clipper is currently airborne and heading west at approximately 34,000 feet with a ground speed of about 417 mph.

Such departures can involve routine repositioning, such as ferrying the aircraft to a western base for maintenance, staff transport, or setup for a future pickup, congressional or DoD support travel, or other non-public operations.

The westbound routing aligns with common Andrews departure procedures for traffic flow and deconfliction before any potential turn or continuation.

The Clipper is equipped with advanced, secure broadband voice and data systems, satellite links, and onboard network capabilities that enable command-and-control operations during long flights.

It typically carries between 26 and 32 passengers and is configured with VIP-style seating, work tables and other accommodations for distinguished visitors.

Powered by two GE CFM56-7 engines, the aircraft can cruise at about 530 miles per hour and fly up to roughly 4,500 to 5,000 nautical miles without refueling, depending on payload.

It entered service in the early 2000s and is operated by units that support global special air missions, including the 89th Airlift Wing.

While the mission is unlikely to be tied to current events in the US, it comes as thousands of Americans have taken to the streets following deaths in Minneapolis.

Good is believed to have blocked the road with her SUV for four minutes before she was killed

Good. 37, was fatally shot by an ICE agent in Minneapolis during a federal operation. She allegedly refused officers' demands to open her car door during a demonstration in Minneapolis

The agent who shot her, Jonathan Ross, also reportedly suffered internal bleeding in his torso after Good allegedly hit him with her vehicle.

The extent of his condition remains unclear, as internal bleeding can also be classified as a bruise or contusion that causes mild or serious injury.

In footage from the scene, an officer was seen approaching Good's stopped SUV and grabbing the door handle as he allegedly demanded she open the door.

The agent who fired at her, Jonathan Ross, reportedly suffered internal bleeding in his torso after Good was believed to have hit him with her vehicle

Her Honda Pilot then began to pull forward, and Ross pulled his weapon, immediately firing three shots and jumping back as the vehicle moved toward him.

It is unclear from the videos whether the vehicle made contact with Ross. After the shooting, the SUV slammed into two cars parked on a curb before crashing to a stop.

Prior to the shooting, Good is believed to have blocked the road with her SUV for four minutes before she was killed.

Pretti, 37, was killed shortly after 9am local time Saturday after an altercation involving multiple federal officers.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) told the Daily Mail that agents were in the area attempting to apprehend an illegal alien wanted for violent assault when Pretti approached them.

A Minneapolis man who was gunned down during a struggle with federal agents has been identified by local media as Alex Jeffrey Pretti

Pretti is seen facing off with federal agents before he was shot dead

According to DHS, Pretti was armed and carrying a gun with two magazines at the time he was detained. The agency later released a photograph of a ninemillimeter semiautomatic handgun it said was recovered during the clash.

Officials claimed officers attempted to disarm Pretti, but that he violently resisted before a Border Patrol agent fired the fatal shot.

Pretti was pronounced dead at the scene. DHS said he did not have identification on him at the time.

Video from the scene shows agents wrestling with Pretti and taking him to the ground moments before the shooting.

Minneapolis Police Chief Brian OHara said Pretti had no serious criminal history, with records showing only minor parking violations. OHara added that he was a lawful gun owner with a valid permit.

Anway said Pretti was politically engaged and deeply informed.
Scientists studying Northern California have uncovered previously hidden fault lines, raising alarms that seismic risk in the region may be underestimated.

For decades, the Mendocino triple junction was believed to be where three tectonic plates meet: the San Andreas Fault ending in the north, the Cascadia Subduction Zone in the south, and the Mendocino Fault in the east.

Because three major fault systems converge there, the area is one of the most active earthquake zones in the US and could produce a magnitude 8.0 quake.

Now, researchers have discovered that the junction actually contains at least five tectonic plates or fragments deep below the surface, making the region far more complex than previously thought.

That means there may be an unaccounted earthquake hazard in the area, and current models could be underestimating the true risk.

Because the junction lies off the coast and influences both the San Andreas and Cascadia systems, revisions to the model could affect risk calculations for millions of people along the West Coast.

Scientists compared the new findings to an iceberg, where most of the structure remains hidden below the surface.

Geophysicist Amanda Thomas of the University of California, Davis, said: If we dont understand the underlying tectonic processes, its hard to predict the seismic hazard.

Scientists once believed the Mendocino triple junction was simply where three major fault systems ended: the San Andreas Fault (PICTURED), the Cascadia Subduction Zone, and the Mendocino Fault

This discovery shows that the underground fault structure is more complicated than scientists thought.

If the models dont include these hidden faults, they may underestimate how much stress is building up underground.

That means a larger earthquake could happen unexpectedly, because the hidden faults could suddenly release energy in ways the old models didnt predict.

The team suspected something more complex was happening at the Mendocino Triple Junction, as a large magnitude 7.2 earthquake in 1992 occurred at a much shallower depth than expected.

First author David Shelly of the US Geological Survey Geologic Hazards Center in Golden, Colorado, said in a statement: 'You can see a bit at the surface, but you have to figure out what the configuration is underneath.'

Using a network of seismometers in the Pacific Northwest, the team tracked tiny 'low-frequency' earthquakes deep underground where tectonic plates grind and slide past each other.

These events are far too weak to be felt on the surface, thousands of times smaller than a detectable quake.

To verify their results, the team compared the seismic activity to tidal forces.

Join the debate What's YOUR take on the surprising discovery?

Because three major fault systems converge there, the area is one of the most active earthquake zones in the US and is capable of producing a magnitude 8.0 quake

The sun and moon's gravity pulls on the Earth's crust just as it does on the oceans.

When those forces align with the direction a plate is moving, the researchers observed a rise in small quakes, Thomas said, confirming their model.

The new model reveals that the Mendocino triple junction is not just a three-plate intersection, but a far more complicated system of five moving pieces, two of which are hidden deep below the Earth's surface.

At the southern end of the Cascadia subduction zone, researchers say a chunk of the North American plate has snapped off and is being pulled down along with the Gorda plate as it sinks beneath the continent.

Further south, the Pacific plate is dragging a mass of rock called the Pioneer fragment northward under North America. The fault between the Pioneer fragment and the North American plate runs almost horizontally and is completely invisible from above ground.

The Pioneer fragment is a remnant of the ancient Farallon plate, which once ran along California's coastline before mostly disappearing.

The updated model also explains the unusually shallow depth of the 1992 earthquake, because the subducting surface lies much higher than previously thought, Materna said.

'It had been assumed that faults follow the leading edge of the subducting slab, but this example deviates from that,' Materna said. 'The plate boundary seems not to be where we thought it was.'
It has been hailed as 'the most significant archaeological discovery in a decade.'

Archaeologists in Mexico have uncovered a 1,400-year-old tomb in the Central Valleys of Oaxaca that had been lost to history.

The stone structure, built by the Zapotec culture, known as Be'ena'a, or 'The Cloud People', is adorned with sculptures, murals and carved symbols that suggest ritual significance.

The Zapotec believed their ancestors descended from the clouds and that, in death, their souls returned to the heavens as spirits.

At the entrance sits a massive carved owl, its open beak revealing the face of a Zapotec lord, a symbol the National Institute of Anthropology and History said represented death and power.

The doorway is framed by a stone threshold and lintel, above which a frieze of engraved slabs displays ancient calendrical names.

Flanking the entrance are carved figures of a man and woman wearing headdresses and holding ritual objects, likely guardians of the tomb.

Inside the burial chamber, preserved sections of a vibrant mural remain intact, showing a procession of figures carrying bundles of copal as they move toward the tomb's entrance.

Archaeologists in Mexicohave uncovered a 1,400-year-old tomb in the Central Valleys of Oaxaca that had been lost to history

At the entrance sits a massive carved owl, its open beak revealing the face of a Zapotec lord

Mexico's president, Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo, said: 'It is the most important archaeological discovery of the last decade in Mexico due to its level of preservation and the information it provides.'

The Zapotecs have a history spanning over 2,500 years.

They established a major pre-Columbian civilization centered at Monte Alban, which featured advanced agriculture and writing.

The Zapotec civilization mysteriously declined in the area around 900 AD.

However, the people did not completely disappear, as there are at least 400,000 living today.

Mexico's Secretary of Culture, Claudia Curiel de Icaza, said the 'exceptional discovery' of the tomb was due to its preservation.

She added that it reveals how the Zapotec culture was a social organization with funerary rituals.

'It is a compelling example of Mexico's ancient grandeur, which is now being researched, protected, and shared with society,' she continued.

Join the debate What's YOUR take on the amazing discovery?

The stone structure, built by the Zapotec culture, known as Be'ena'a, or 'The Cloud People', is adorned with sculptures, murals and carved symbols that suggest ritual significance

Pictured is the giant owl above the tomb's entrance

An interdisciplinary team from the INAH Oaxaca Center is currently working to conserve and protect the tomb, focusing on stabilizing the fragile mural painting. Experts say the murals condition is delicate due to root growth, insect activity, and sudden shifts in temperature and humidity.

At the same time, researchers are conducting ceramic, iconographic and epigraphic studies, along with physical anthropology analyses, to better understand the rituals, symbols and funerary practices connected to the tomb.

In 2024, archaeologists announced the discovery of tunnels that the ancient Zapotec civilization believed to be the 'entrance to the underworld' had been found beneath a centuries-old church.

Mitla, meaning place of the dead, was a city in southern Mexico known for its association with Pitao Bezelao, the Zapotec god of death.

But the Spanish arrived in the 16th Century and razed the city, building a church on the ruins of its most important temple.

A priest later wrote that 'the back door of hell' lay under the city  huge caverns believed to be the entrance to the Zapotec underworld.

But they were walled up, he said, and later excavations failed to find anything matching the scale of his description  until now.

Using non-invasive techniques, archaeologists recently revealed a series of chambers and tunnels beneath the city.

Five different sets of ruins were probed: the church group, the arroyo group, the adobe group, the south group, and the group of the columns.

Pictured is the face of the Zapotec god inside the owl's mouth

In 2024, archaeologists announced the discovery of tunnels that the ancient Zapotec civilization believed to be the 'entrance to the underworld' had been found beneath a centuries-old church

Using non-invasive techniques, archaeologists recently revealed a series of chambers and tunnels beneath the city

Marco Vigato, founder of the ARX Project, which is leading the search, said: 'Some of the tunnels and chambers extend to a considerable depth, in excess of 50 feet.

The underground tunnels were revealed using a combination of ground penetrating radar, electric resistivity tomography, and seismic noise tomography.

The first method uses radar waves to model the subsurface, while the second detects buried structures by measuring the flow of electricity through the earth.

Instead of electricity, the final method measures the speed at which seismic waves move through the ground.

Just how old the tunnels are is yet to be established.

'Natural caves in the area of Mitla have been occupied and partially modified by humans for thousands of years,' Vigato said:

'The earliest evidence of crop domestication in the area of Mitla dates back almost 10,000 years.

'There is no indication at the moment as to the possible age of the tunnels under the church or the other groups of structures at Mitla.

'They may have been created by the Zapotecs, or they could be much older.'

He added: 'The findings from the geophysical scans will have to be confirmed with archaeological methods.

'This could determine the nature of the cavities identified under the site and whether they contain any artifacts of archaeological significance.'
Krakow is a popular city in Poland, attracting hordes of tourists every year with its impressive architecture, history and good-value food and drink.

Whilst many visitors might stick to the same spots and activities, one holidaymaker has shared the five mistakes not to make when visiting the beloved destination.

Emma, who goes by @emmahaswanderlust on TikTok, described it as 'one of the most beautiful cities in Europe' and revealed how to make the most out of a trip there.

The keen traveller advised against staying in Old Town Krakow, a popular spot where many tourists enjoy visiting.

Although Emma acknowledged the area is 'stunning', she added, 'It's not the whole story'.

'Spend time in Kazimierz,' she recommended, a historic part of the city's Jewish quarter.

'This is where I stayed, I found it calmer, it was cooler, it was full of character, cafes, bars, history and atmosphere without the crowds,' Emma explained.

'I feel like that's where Krakow really comes alive.'

Krakow is a popular city in Poland, attracting hordes of tourists every year with its impressive architecture, history and good-value food and drink

Visitors choosing to only dine in tourist squares could be missing out on good meals, according to Emma.

She advises travellers to check out restaurants just a few streets back and look for menus that aren't 'translated into six different languages' for a more authentic experience.

Although, there are some more touristy spots worth checking out too, Emma says.

Many visitors visit Auschwitz during a trip to Krakow, but Emma urges people not to 'rush' through it 'without context'.

For those wanting to visit Auschwitz, she recommends researching the history beforehand and doing a guided tour, as well as having time to process afterwards.

'It's heavy, it's emotional, it's important and it deserves respect, not rushing,' she explained.

Emma urged holidaymakers not to view Krakow as a 'cheap little escape' for 'bar hops and vodka tasting'.

Whilst many visitors might stick to the same spots and activities, one holidaymaker has shared the five mistakes not to make when visiting the beloved destination

She understands that these are many of the positives about the city to enjoy, but argues there is so much more too.

Emma recommends heading out of Krakow when visiting to really enjoy the local and surrounding area.

Lastly, the travel enthusiast warns visitors against underestimating how 'walkable' Krakow is.

She explained much of the city is flat and easy to explore, meaning there is no need to take a taxi.
For the second year in a row, Southampton Airport has been named the worst major airport in the UK for flight cancellations.

The amount of flights grounded at the south coast hub is almost three times higher than the national average.

Between January and November 2025, around three per cent of scheduled services at Southampton Airport were scrapped.

This was, however, a slight improvement compared to 2024, when 3.3 per cent of flights at the hub were cancelled.

Other airports where the amount of grounded services was above the national average included Aberdeen (1.83 per cent of flights cancelled).

Also on the list were Glasgow (1.63 per cent), London City (1.48 per cent) and Heathrow (1.36 per cent).

Travel compensation specialists AirAdvisor analysed Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) flight cancellation data covering January to November 2025, the most up-to-date available.

AirAdvisor, who produced a report covering the research, found that in 2025, across the UK's 20 largest airports by passenger numbers, cancellations fell compared to the same period in 2024.

Southampton Airport has been named the worst major airport in the UK for flight cancellations

Between January and November 2025, 1.09 per cent of flights at the UK's 20 busiest airports were cancelled.

That was down from 1.45 per cent during the same period in 2024.

A leading air passenger rights expert is describing this as a 'sigh of relief' for flyers.

The CAA defines a cancelled flight as 'the non-operation of a previously planned flight, announced less than 24 hours before or after its scheduled departure time'.

However, it is not the airports that cancel or delay flights, but instead a decision taken by the airlines operating the services.

When it comes to which airport ranked best, it was Bournemouth Airport.

Here, only 0.17 per cent of flights were cancelled between January and November last year.

As a result, the airport has the best rating of the 20 hubs covered in the analysis.

Around three per cent of scheduled services at Southampton Airport were scrapped in the research time frame

Other airports that performed well in the rankings included Luton, Stansted, East Midlands International, Bristol and Belfast International.

Here, cancellations were less than half the national average.

Anton Radchenko, CEO of AirAdvisor, explains: 'Air passengers in the UK can breathe a sigh of relief as we head into 2026, with most trend data suggesting that flight cancellation rates at British airports are decreasing.

'This is a testament to the effort being shown by airlines and airports to improve their standards, but also the importance of legislation that holds carriers to account for delays and cancellations that they could have avoided.

'Under the UK's 261 regulation, if your flight from or to the UK, or with a UK carrier, is cancelled with less than two weeks' notice, you may be eligible for compensation.

'This compensation ranges from 220 to 520 per passenger, depending on the distance of the cancelled flight.

'For delayed flights, you may be due compensation when you are delayed more than three hours.

'In addition to compensation, you may also be eligible for assistance before you travel, such as meals and hotel accommodation for flights moved to the day after you were due to travel.

When it comes to which airport ranked best, it was Bournemouth Airport. Here, only 0.17 per cent of flights were cancelled between January and November last year

The UK's worst major airports for cancelled flights Southampton - 2.98% of schedule services cancelled

Belfast City - 2.16%

Aberdeen - 1.83%

Glasgow - 1.63%

London City - 1.48%

Leeds Bradford - 1.39%

Heathrow - 1.36%

Average for UK's 20 major airports - 1.09% Advertisement

'If your flight is cancelled, or delayed for more than five hours, you can choose not to travel and receive a full refund of your ticket price.

'During the pandemic and post-Covid, cancellations spiked significantly, but the CAA's data suggest that generally speaking, the chances of your flight being grounded has fallen to the more'normal' levels we saw in the years leading up to 2020.'

A spokesperson for Southampton Airport said: 'An airline's decision to reluctantly cancel a flight can be due to a number of factors, including weather issues, air traffic congestion, delayed arrivals or technical issues with aircraft.

'We will continue to work with our airline partners and their handling agents to support them in their operations.'

A spokesperson from the UK Civil Aviation Authority said: 'We appreciate the impact it can have on customers when flights are delayed or cancelled, which is exactly why there are rules in place to protect passengers.

'If a flight is delayed, the airline has a duty of care to look after its passengers, which can include providing food and drink, as well as accommodation if people are delayed overnight. If a flight is cancelled, passengers should be offered a refund or alternative travel arrangements at the earliest opportunity. This can include flights on other airlines, or a new flight at a convenient date.'
As the nation looks ahead to the summer months, with many families finalising holiday plans, UK motorists driving abroad in 2026 are being urged to brush up on lesser-known EU rules that could turn a dream getaway into an expensive headache.

According to expat car insurer Keith Michaels, many British drivers are unaware of key legal requirements when taking a UK-registered vehicle overseas.

This includes missing identification stickers and emissions permits, to failing to adjust headlights or carry compulsory safety equipment.

Any one of these oversights could result in on the spot fines running into hundreds of pounds.

The insurer has highlighted five common mistakes that could easily catch out holidaymakers travelling across Europe this year.

1. Missing ID stickers can lead to on-the-spot fines

Perhaps an easily overlooked detail, but UK drivers must display a UK identifier when driving abroad.

If a number plate does not show 'UK' alongside the Union flag, a separate UK sticker is required.

Expat car insurer Keith Michaels has highlighted five common mistakes that could easily catch out holidaymakers travelling across Europe this year - including missing ID stickers

Plates showing only letters, numbers, national flags or a Euro symbol are not sufficient, and failing to comply can result in on-the-spot fines of up to 140 (120), while compliant stickers typically cost around 3 online or in stores.

2. Forgotten emission stickers can result in even bigger fines

A second set of stickers that UK motorists tend to forget are those that display their vehicle's emissions.

Drivers travelling in countries such as France must display an emissions sticker showing how polluting their vehicle is.

The French CritAir certificate is mandatory in many low-emission zones, with fines reaching as much as 180 (155) for non-compliance.

Stickers must be ordered in advance from the official French government website and cannot be purchased locally.

3. Unadjusted headlights can put EU road users in danger

For UK holidaymakers looking to take their own vehicle on their EU travels, it's crucial they adjust their headlights.

Drivers travelling through France must display a French CritAir certificate (pictured), which is mandatory in many low-emission zones

UK vehicles are designed for driving on the left, meaning headlights can dazzle oncoming traffic when used in Europe.

Headlamp converters, costing around 10, adjust the beam direction and are required in most EU countries.

Failure to use them can result in on-the-spot fines and pose a safety risk to other road users.

4. Local driving laws must be followed closely

When driving overseas, it's important UK motorists follow any local rules and laws closely, which can include looking out for unfamiliar road signs, staying up to date on drink driving laws and observing speed limits.

Speed limits, road signs and drink-driving laws can differ widely across Europe, with speeding fines ranging from 100 (87) to 600 (521) in Spain, and up to 1,500 (1,302) in France.

Many countries also require drivers to carry safety equipment, such as reflective jackets and warning triangles, and local law enforcement can even stop UK-registered vehicles to check they have the required items.

5. Compensation after accidents is not guaranteed for UK Drivers

In some cases of car accidents abroad, UK motorists may receive no compensation

If an accident occurs abroad, UK motorists should contact their insurance provider in the first instance.

However, some claims may also need to be made in the local language.

In some cases, motorists may receive no compensation abroad.

This happens most often when the driver at fault is uninsured, cannot be identified or cannot be traced.
A passenger from hell on a Qatar Airways flight insisted on resting her feet on the back of the economy class seat in front of her.

The woman became enraged when the traveller in front reclined her seat, according to witnesses on the Doha to Moscow flight.

The air rage woman, believed to be Russian, refused repeated requests from fellow passengers and the crew to put her feet down.

She used her feet to shake the seat back and at one point clapped her trainers together above the head of the head of the woman in front who was forced to crouch forward as she tried to work on her laptop.

Other Russians on the flight complained they were in 'Discomfort Class'.

The victim said: 'This is freedom, you just don't get it

'Freedom that other people take away.'

With the woman in a green top and jeans stretching out her legs, a nearby man jokes: 'This is business class.'

The woman became enraged when the traveller in front reclined her seat, according to witnesses on the Doha to Moscow flight

The passenger from hell remained silent throughout the dispute which came early in the flight

Another woman said: 'This can only happen in Russia.'

The victim said of her tormentor: 'As the saying goes, you can take a person out of the dirt, but the dirt doesn't come out of the person.'

The passenger from hell remained silent throughout the dispute which came early in the flight.

One theory was she had been refused an upgrade and protested by stretching out her legs as if she was flying in business class.

A male passenger said: 'They tried to persuade her, tried and tried.

'They tried to persuade her to move her legs, she doesn't want to, she wants to fly like this.

'People are going mad.'

A woman cabin crew member crouched down and spoke to the offending passenger, explaining that she needed to remove her feet from the seat back.

Eventually, the passenger in the aisle seat lowered her feet, reported Mash news outlet.

The Daily Mail has contacted Qatar Airways for comment.

In June, a plane passenger accused a woman of ruining their flight with her bad-smelling feet.

A plane passenger accused a woman of ruining their flight with her bad-smelling feet

After looking around, they discovered the woman's feet perched on the armrest next to their seat

They filmed the woman sticking her feet through the gap between the seat and the plane wall and resting them on the armrest of the person in front.

In the footage, the woman wearing skin-coloured tights, appears to be sleeping with her feet raised.

The alleged incident took place on June 29 on an Air China flight from Qingdao to Beijing.

The person that filmed the footage said they noticed a strong odour lingering nearby when the flight took after.

After looking around, they discovered the woman's feet perched on the armrest next to their seat.
Millions of international visitors flock to Japan every year to take in the country's impressive sights.

From the bustling capital of Tokyo, to the amazing views of Mount Fuji, there are plenty of attractions that draw tourists in.

Cherry blossom is another popular sight to witness in the Asian country, and the flowering season brings in lots of visitors from March to April.

Japan Meteorological Corporation released its cherry blossom forecast for the year and Tokyo is expected to see flowers from March 22, and full bloom is predicted for around March 29.

Naturally, prices tend to rise during this time and a trip to see the beautiful sakura can be quite costly.

But, this year could work out to be cheaper than usual, Euronews reports.

This is due to a decrease in tourists from China after Japanese prime minister Sanae Takaichi suggested Japan could take military action if China tried to invade Taiwan.

Holidaymakers from China have decreased by 45 per cent this month alone compared to last year, according to Japan's transport ministry.

Cherry blossom is a popular sight to witness in Japan, and the flowering season brings in lots of visitors from March to April

Naturally, prices tend to rise during this time and a trip to see the beautiful sakura can be quite costly

What's more, flights from China to Japan have been reduced in numbers significantly after orders from the Chinese government.

Subsequently, flights, tours and accommodation have notably dropped in price by 10 to 20 per cent compared to last year, and it is thought this could continue well into the cherry blossom season.

British travellers seem to be taking advantage of the falling prices, as bookings have been on the rise.

Kenny Onishi, Intrepid's General Manager for Japan, told Euronews: 'We've seen a 23 per cent increase in bookings from UK and European customers in the past year.'

'The depreciation of the yen means other currencies, like the Euro and the Great British Pound, are going further in Japan,' Kenny explained.

'Our Intrepid trip prices in the UK have seen a slight decrease overall in 2026 compared to last year because of this.'

It comes as Japan was crowned as the most popular bucket list destination for Brits this year.

Research recently revealed the popular bucket list destinations for 2026 by analysing UK Reddit conversations and Google search trends.

But, this year could work out to be cheaper than usual due to a decrease in tourists from China after Japanese prime minister Sanae Takaichi suggested Japan could take military action if China tried to invade Taiwan

Japan tops the list, with 36 mentions on the busy forum site and 192 upvotes.

The Asian destination has plenty to offer, from bustling streets in its cities and vibrant markets, to historic temples and shrines.

Locations including Kawaguchiko, Kanazawa, and Takayama are drawing tourists in with their mixture of culture, nature and history.

Japan scored 10 out of 10 overall.
Navigating any new city can be daunting - with new roads, foreign languages and hordes of tourists to contend with.

But some are easier than others to deal with when it comes to finding your way around.

In fact, many European landmarks confuse the life out of tourists.

Travel experts at SIXT ride analysed 50 of the most visited European landmarks.

And they uncovered where holidaymakers are most likely to lose their way, and where planning ahead could save valuable holiday time.

The research found that, while famous landmarks remain a highlight of many itineraries, heavy congestion, large crowds, and unreliable mobile signals can make navigating Europes most popular attractions more challenging than expected.

Here's a rundown of the worst offenders - and the hardest-to-navigate spots across the continent.

1. Fishermans Bastion, Hungary

The Fisherman's Bastion on Castle Hill in Budapest, Hungary

New data reveals that Fishermans Bastion in Budapest, Hungary, is expected to see a huge influx in visitors this year.

With a 148 per cent increase in Google searches for the European landmark in the last three months, Fishermans Bastion is set to be a popular choice for holidaymakers in 2026.

But, with a high congestion level, drivers could face a difficult drive to the landmark, as well as many traffic jams.

2. Blue Mosque, Turkey

The Blue Mosque in Istanbul, with beautiful blue domes and tall minarets

The Sultan Ahmed Mosque, popularly known as the Blue Mosque, is an Ottoman-era historical imperial mosque located in Istanbul.

It ranks in second place, with many visitors expected to get lost in 2026.

With a congestion level of 41 per cent, Istanbul can be difficult to navigate via car.

3. Hagia Sophia, Turkey

Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque in centre of Istanbul, Turkey

Another Turkish landmark ranks in third place, the Hagia Sophia.

This world-renowned landmark in Istanbul sees crowds of visitors each year.

But with a 41 per cent congestion level and low mobile download speeds, it can be all too easy to get lost when trying to navigate your way towards the landmark.

4. Louvre Museum, France

The world-famous museum of Louvre and its pyramid in Paris, France

The Louvre, or the Louvre Museum, is a national art museum in Paris, France.

It's known for housing many hugely famous paintings, including The Mona Lisa of Leonardo Da Vinci.

But its vast size makes for a confusing, maze-like experience, and it can take hours to wander through even a part of the museum.

5. Buda Castle, Hungary

Royal palace of Buda on Castle hill, Budapest, Hungary

The Labyrinth or Cave system is one of the most visited and loved attractions under the Buda Castle Hill.

It is part of a huge network of underground caves and tunnels in the Buda Castle District - and, naturally, leads in many directions.

But the entire area can be confusing to navigate, the research has found.

6. Big Ben & Houses of Parliament

Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament overlooking London's River Thames

Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament in London are one of the city's biggest tourist attractions.

But they rank in sixth place, with many visitors expected to get lost in 2026.

Plus, with a congestion level of 32 per cent, London can be tough to navigate by car.

7. Tower of London

The historic Tower of London next to the River Thames in the UK

Another UK landmark ranks in seventh place, the Tower of London.

This world-renowned landmark in London sees crowds of visitors each year.

But with a 32 per cent congestion level, it can be all too easy to get lost when trying to navigate your way towards the landmark.

8. Buckingham Palace

Royal Buckingham Palace at sunset, in the UK's capital city of London

If you're visiting London, you'll likely want to see Buckingham Palace.

But with a congestion level of 32 per cent, it's not the easiest to navigate.

Plus, you won't be alone in wanting to visit - unsurprisingly, given the building's royal status.

=9. St. Peters Square, Vatican City

St. Peter's Basilica and St Peter's Square in Vatican City

St Peter's Square is a large plaza located in front of St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City, the papal enclave in Rome.

It is one of the largest and most beautiful squares in the world.

But it's also tough to navigate - a fact which isn't helped by its 33 per cent congestion level.

=9. Old Town Square, Czech Republic

Prague's old town is a labyrinth of small, cobbled streets

The hardest European landmarks to navigate 1. Fishermans Bastion, Hungary 2. Blue Mosque, Turkey 3. Hagia Sophia, Turkey 4. Louvre Museum, France 5. Buda Castle, Hungary 6. Big Ben & Houses of Parliament 7. Tower of London 8. Buckingham Palace =9. St. Peters Square, Vatican City =9. Old Town Square, Czech Republic Advertisement

Old towns are often difficult to work your way through due to many winding streets and narrow alleys.

Old Town Square in the Czech Republic is one such spot.

The landmark has a 39 per cent congestion level.

Given it's full of visitors, you could see long queues and busy streets when visiting.
Many head to Dubai to chase dreams of exploring a luxurious city packed with extravagant shopping malls and skyscrapers.

But for Hollyoaks actor James Sutton, 42, the reality didn't quite live up to his expectations.

He slammed the popular destination as having 'no culture' and asked locals, 'How do you people live there?'

James has portrayed John Paul McQueen in the beloved British soap for two decades and will be leaving the show later this year.

He recently shared a video on social media explaining his thoughts on Dubai, as reported by NeedToKnow.

The actor, from Birmingham, felt all Dubai had to offer was shopping centres, restaurants, hotels and office buildings.

James fumed: 'Don't get it, don't understand it, don't know why people go on holiday there and certainly don't know why people want to go and live there.'

However, he did note he understood why it would attract business people.

Hollyoaksactor James Sutton, 42, slammed the popular destination as having 'no culture' and asked locals, 'How do you people live there?'

The actor, from Birmingham, felt all Dubai had to offer was shopping centres, restaurants, hotels and office buildings

'I get the argument that it's great for entrepreneurs, it's literally built for entrepreneurs,' James continued.

'That's the whole premise of the city, to attract businesses, because there's no tax. That's its whole ethos.'

He went on to declare he didn't 'understand the logic behind going to Dubai' overall.

'There's no art, there's no theatre, there's no spoken word, there's no music, there's no culture, there's no history,' James added.

'There's nothing to go and see apart from shopping centres, hotels and restaurants.'

The actor explained how he felt there was little nature or green space to enjoy in the city.

He said: 'I mean, where's the nature? There are no forests or trees, or lakes, or rivers, or wildlife.

'Where's the f*****g animals? Like how do you people live there?'

He went on declare he didn't ' understand the logic behind going to Dubai' overall

Dubai does appeal to some, however, and a luxurious flat located in the city is up for grabs through a raffle.

Brothers Daniel, Jason, and Will Twenefour, founders of Tramway Path - a company which has helped 15 get on the ladder through previous competitions - are hosting the raffle.

The flat is brand-new and fully furnished, boasting two bedrooms, two bathrooms, one of which is an en-suite, as well as an open-plan living and dining area.

There is also a private balcony for residents to enjoy the surrounding views from and floor-to-ceiling glass windows throughout.
China dropped from Australia's second-biggest source of inbound tourists to its third in November, in line with a worrying trend of Chinese tourism dropping.

China has long been a key market for Australian tourism but in November 2025 the number of Chinese tourists dipped below those from the UK.

The latest data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) showed 74,500 short-term visitors came from China, compared to 80,090 from the UK and 127,820 from the US.

While the latest figures on Chinese tourists mark a significant increase from November 2023 and November 2024 - 45,880 and 55,800 respectively - they remain a drastic drop from pre-Covid levels.

In November 2019 a total of 101,390 short-term tourists travelled from China to Australia. That year alone more than 1.4 million Chinese tourists holidayed in Australia and spent $12.4 billion.

It seems the market is struggling to return to its pre-Covid position more than four years later.

China still remains Australia's most lucrative tourism market, despite the drop in numbers, with inbound tourists spending $9.2 billion in Australia in the 12 months to March 2025.

However, Huang Songshan, a leading Chinese tourism expert at Edith Cowan University, warned increasing economic pressure in China could see long-haul travel drop.

China dropped from the second to the third-largest source of inbound tourists into Australia in November 2025

Mandopop star Jay Chou (pictured) attended this year's Australian Open, creating buzz on Chinese social media

'Ultimately, this year's outlook will depend on the bigger economic picture,' Professor Huang told ABC News.

'If people feel their wealth is shrinking, they may cut back or abandon outbound travel altogether.'

Instead, Chinese holidaymakers are likely to turn to cheaper, closer destinations.

Those include hotspots like Thailand and Vietnam.

However, a recent success during the Australian Open has raised tourism experts' hopes for increased travel from China to Australia during celebrations for the Chinese New Year, from mid-February to early March.

Massive Mandopop star Jay Chou attended this year's Australian Open, resulting in several viral moments shared across Chinese social media.

Those included his participation in a fan-focused 'One Point Slam' challenge and the crowd cheering as Chou's song Nunchucks was played in the stadium.

Other Asian tourism markets have already recovered post-Covid, like South Korean visitors who nearly doubled from 26,010 in November 2019 to 44,760 in November 2025.

Experts remain divided on whether Chinese tourism will recover quickly, as seen in other Asian markets, or take several years to draw the same pre-Covid numbers

While China is likely to take a few more years to bounce back to pre-Covid levels, Tourism Australia remained hopeful visitors would return.

'We have a comprehensive program of trade and consumer marketing throughout the year to encourage Chinese travellers to visit Australia,' managing director Robin Mack said.

'So far, the response has been encouraging.'
British Airways customers are experiencing a major glitch on the airline's app that has caused login problems - and, in some cases, appeared to have wiped years' worth of Avios points from accounts overnight.

Since mid-January, customers have taken to social media to report issues they believe may be linked to automatic smartphone updates.

Many say they were initially locked out of their accounts, while others found that once access was restored, their Avios balances had dropped to zero.

Despite uninstalling and reinstalling the app and submitting feedback, some users continue to experience problems.

Others report the app no longer recognises them as registered users, even though their accounts appear as normal when accessed via the British Airways website.

Avios is the loyalty currency of The British Airways Club and partner airlines, and can be redeemed on flights, hotels, shopping and other purchases. Reward flights start from 10,000 points plus 1 each way, while Club World redemptions require more than 150,000 points.

The issue has been widely discussed on Facebook and Reddit, where users reported repeated login failures, constant log-out prompts and balances displaying as zero - despite tier points remaining visible.

Several said they believe the problem began following the latest app update, particularly on iPhones.

British Airways customers are reportedly experiencing a major glitch on the airline's app that has caused login problems and Avios point deductions

The Daily Mail's Motoring Columnist, Ray Massey, was among those recently affected - he described seeing some 600,000 Avios points whittled to zero overnight on 26 January, 2026

However, on the British Airways website, Massey's points show as normal

One person sparked a discussion in the r/BritishAirways subreddit on 16 January, writing: 'App completely down? Ive been unable to sign into the app for several days now. Is this a broad problem or a me problem? Website worked fine.'

Several replies came in, with one customer sharing: 'Mine is down, keeps asking me are you sure you want to log out? over and over again.'

Another shared: 'I cant sign in either. For me, this seems to be a new issue since the latest update. Im on iPhone. Ive read a few posts about special characters causing issues. Not sure if that applies to my case and Im a bit reluctant to weaken my password just to sign in.'

A third wrote: 'I had to delete and reinstall mine to get it to work. Its now showing me as having 0 Avios (but still all my tier points). Odd.'

A fourth chimed: 'Same. I cant access my account info (which happens frequently tbh). I even tried to submit app feedback via the menu but said it didnt recognise me as a user. I signed out, reinstalled but now wont even let me log in.'

The Daily Mail's Motoring Columnist, Ray Massey, was among those recently affected.

Massey, a former Transport Editor with 15 years' experience covering aviation and rail, discovered late on 26 January 2026 that more than 600,000 Avios points he had built up over the years had vanished from his account overnight.

Speaking to the Daily Mail, he said: 'It came as a real shock... You build up a pot of Avios points over years, and I was actually just at the point of cashing some in, and they just suddenly disappeared. They went from a lot to zero...'

According to Massey, he was informed by a British Airways customer service agent that the issue was due to an app glitch

Customers continue to experience issues throughout the month, with one also reporting how their balance had been wiped after re-logging into the app

'The reason I spotted it was because I had emails from British Airways highlighting their offers, and Monday afternoon, one of those emails showed I had a lot of points.

'That evening, I checked on the app - which does have a few glitches - which showed I had zero points. They'd all disappeared! It was a real shock.

'I have flown relatively recently with them, and some of the small print is that if you haven't received any points for three years, then you lose them - but I knew it wasn't that.'

Afte going 'round in circles' in what he called a 'doom loop', Massey said he had spent some time trying to contact the airline, and was eventually told by a customer service agent that the issue was due to an app glitch.

Massey said he suspected the problem was widespread, given the growing number of similar reports online.

On 23 January, another customer, who goes by Keith Hicks on Facebook, shared a similar experience in a post.

He wrote: 'Somewhat surprised to see Avios points listed as zero on the BA app today.

'Happily when I logged in to make a booking the Avios points were there and available to support booking.

'Just relogged back into app and once again it says Zero, is it just me?'

A Facebook user who replied to Keith suggested the glitch is an app-only issue, and that points show as normal on customers' accounts via the website.

The contributor wrote, 'No, but for most people logging out and back in fixes it. Just an IT/display issue on the app. The website should show the correct balance', to which Keith responded, 'Thank you - that worked!'

A spokesperson for British Airways said: 'A small number of customers temporarily experienced a technical glitch when accessing their account via our app. This is resolved by logging out and back in again.'
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We've managed to find Morning Live host Helen Skelton's to-go winter coat with 60% off - and it's stylish and practical for the rain and cold.

The 42-year-old always looks incredible when she's on our screens and she loves to share her outfits on social media.

She recently looked amazing in North Ridge Womens Roaming Jacket in beige whihc has an RRP of 125.00.

The coat is an absolute steal if you become a member, you can get a HUGE discount of 60%, making it 49.97.

And sizes eight to 20 are available online to buy.

If the colour isn't your thing, there are plenty of other colours, including navy and pink.

But we've also found some other coats that are very similar to look at as well.

Let's take a look...

EXACT MATCH Women's roaming coat

Sainbury's Tu's Taupe Longline Belted Padded Coat is a great alternative to buy.

Sizes S to XXL are available online to buy and there is also a black colour as well.

If you're willing to splash the cash, then Superdry's Hooded Longline Puffer Jacket is currently on offer.

It was originally 149.99, but it is now on sale and you can save 30% online.

Now it costs 104.99, but it is selling quick as only sizes 10, 12, 14 and 16 are left.

You could also pick it up in black and khaki.

EVANS' Curve natural brown maxi puffer coat is another great option at just 85.00.

Sizes 16 to 32 are available.

French Connection's row longline puffer coat is a really good jacket to go for if you want one similar to Helen's.

It costs just 47.00.

However there is only XS - so you better be quick!

EXACT MATCH Petite Textured Wool Blend Pea Coat

Earlier this year Helen looked amazing in a blue coat while filming for Lost and Found.

She wowed in the Petite Textured Wool Blend Pea Coat from Karen Millen, which costs 108.00. But unfortunately it's all sold out.

We've managed to find some that are very similar, with some being more expensive and others being cheaper.

Monsoon Blue Lily Double Breasted Boucle Coat is just 78.00.

You can purchase it from the Next website, and there is some great news because it is currently on offer.

It was originally priced at 150.00, but now it is 75.00.

But only sizes 14, 16, 18 and 22 are left online.

An option which is little more on the expensive side is JAEGER's double face pure wool tailored short coat from the Marks and Spencer website.

It is 225.00, but it is totally worth all the money.

Sizes six, eight, 12, 14, 16, 18 and 20 are left online.

SimplyBe's grey teddy peacoat is another jacket you can buy from the Next website for just 76.00.

Sizes 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24 and 26 are available.

There is also a black coat option too.

EXACT MATCH Highbury Cape Coat

Helen also wowed in a stunning tartan cape when presenting Christmas on The Farm on Channel 5.

The one that she wore is from Holland and Cooper and priced at a whopping 679.00.

So if you want a coat like Helen's without the price tag, we've found some that look pretty similar for a fraction of the price.

Hell Bunny's manhattan red and black tartan A-line coat is 73.99 on Debenhams' website, and all sizes are still in stock!

A smarter option is the highlands check tweed jacket from Joules.

It's currently on offer at 59.00, after being priced at 149.00, and all sizes are available online.

Another cute jacket is the Kate red check blazer from Joe Browns.

It was originally 85.00, but it's currently online for 55.00.

All sizes, apart from size six, are still in stock.

Another expensive option is the stamford wool-blend blazer from Boden.

Again, it's another jacket with a great offer as it has been slashed from 199.00 down to 119.40.

However, you really do need to be quick because sizes four, six, 10, 12 and 16 are the only ones left.

EXACT MATCH Cambridge Blazer - Navy Crepe

While presenting season two of Lord and Found in The Lakes, Helen also rocked a blue navy blazer from Saint + Sofia.

The jacket, named cambridge blazer, in the colour navy crepe is 269.00.

It's pretty expensive, so we've managed to hunt down some other alternatives.

River Island have a really cute single breasted blazer in navy in at the moment.

And it costs just 49.00, and pretty much every size is still available.

You previously read about the stamford texture blazer, and there is also a navy texture jacket available on the Boden website.

It is actually a little cheaper than the tartan option as well at 94.50.

Dorothy Perkins ruched sleeve co-ord from Sainsbury's Tu is also a great price of just 45.00.

Sizes eight to 18 are still online.

And the single breasted blazer, in dark navy, from M&S is just 50.00.

EXACT MATCH Clementine Wool Rich Scarf Coat, Camel

In another Christmas on The Farm episode, Helen rocked the clementine wool rich scarf coat in camel from Barbour.

You can get your hands on the coat from the John Lewis website for just 329.00.

But if you don't want to fork out that much for a coat, we've found some that look similar.

The wool-blend funnel-neck coat from Mango is a stunning option and it currently has 20% off.

It was priced at 99.99, but it is now just 79.99.

H&M's felted jacket with scarf looks just like Helen's coat, and it's way cheaper.

It was 39.99, but it's currently priced at 24.00. Bargain!

And Tesco's F&F Edit fringed scarf coat with wool is a stunning alternative - and it's just 55.00!
Clive Myrie's African Adventure (BBC2)

Rating:

Telly travelogues come in two main types. Some, like Michael Palin's immersive plunges into far-flung cultures or Stanley Tucci's foodie adventures, evoke the thrill of exploration.

Others, mostly those presented by comedians, are shallow, heavily scripted sightseeing excursions.

The worst of them feature toilet humour, and motorhomes driven by Gordon Ramsay or Bradley Walsh.

Clive Myrie's African Adventure isn't quite as bad as that. But the first episode was traditional travel-by-numbers, and that's a great shame because it missed an opportunity to do something less formulaic.

This ten-part, nightly series opened in South Africa, where Clive was based as the BBC's Africa correspondent in the late 1990s.

He could have given us a guided tour of his old haunts, talked about what it was like to live there, and taken us into the homes of ordinary people.

Clive Myrie has launched a new series called Clive Myrie's African Adventure

This ten-part, nightly series opened in South Africa, where Clive was based as the BBC's Africa correspondent in the late 1990s

Instead, he stuck mostly to the tourist trail. Tonight and tomorrow, he'll be joining an anti-poaching squad that protects endangered rhinos, visiting a surf school, and helping out at the penguin rehab centre, before joining a circus to learn trapeze skills.

It's a lively and varied itinerary, but any experienced presenter could do that. If the Beeb sent Alison Hammond or Anton du Beke, you'd expect nothing different.

Apart from Clive's initial encounter, with former colleague Milton Nkosi, there was little to suggest this was home turf.

Overdose of the week

No sooner have treacherous Rachel and devious Stephen won The Traitors, hot on the heels of Alan Carr's victory in The Celebrity Traitors, than BBC3 and BBC1 begin airing The Traitors Ireland in double episodes. Too much of a good thing? Advertisement

The first half-hour was spent in Soweto, the township of around two million people in Johannesburg, and Clive headed straight for Tourist Central - Vilakazi Street, where Nelson Mandela and Desmond Tutu both lived.

He took a look at the Mandela museum, where the perimeter fence is designed to look like prison bars, before joining granddaughter Ndileka Mandela for lunch at a restaurant called 1947.

They tucked into Nelson's favourite meal, chicken with spicy vegetable chakalaka and braised oxtail. 'I think your grandfather would have been proud of this one,' burbled Clive.

Since Mandela overthrew an oppressive dictatorship in an almost bloodless revolution to free his people, it seems wincingly gauche to suggest he'd

also be 'proud' of a chicken dinner, but perhaps it really was that good.

That was far from the only trite line.

The clumsiest was a link worthy of Alan Partridge. After riding in a stock car doing spins and donuts, Clive declared, 'I didn't expect to enjoy that quite as much as I did... but something I have always loved is art.'

Then he set off for a lesson in painting street murals with spray paints.

The best segment was filmed at a car wash that doubles as a party venue for dance events. Soweto's current music craze is amapiano, a beat-heavy type of soulful jazz.

Clive picked up some nifty steps and, as he did in his 2024 Caribbean Adventure, demonstrated he can shake a leg.

Surely a season on Strictly beckons?
A legendary Blue Lights character is set to make an unlikely return in season four as bosses confirmed that 'dark secrets' from past will finally be exposed.

The police procedural television drama, created by Declan Lawn and Adam Patterson, first aired on BBC One back in 2023.

Since then, there has been two other series, and many will be over the moon to know that there is another is due to hit our screens very soon.

'For three police recruits in Belfast, the pressure is immense. Facing criminal gangs and divided communities, they don't know who to trust.

'The odds are they won't all make it,' the Beeb's synopsis reads.

Fans will be shocked to find out that Richard Dormer, who played the late Gerry Cliff in the much-loved series, is making a shock return... after he was shot dead at the end of the first season.

A legendary Blue Lights character is set to make an unlikely return in season four as bosses have confirmed their 'dark secrets' from past will finally be exposed

Fans will be shocked to find out that Richard Dormer, who played the late Gerry Cliff in the much-loved series, is making a shock return... after he was shot dead at the end of the first season

The popular character died in Constable Jen's arms after a masked gunman shot him.

The co-creators Declan and Adam have said of the new series: 'Were very excited to bring this series of Blue Lights to audiences.

'It reveals a lot of dark secrets, examines what justice looks like in Belfast today, and ties together the past, present, and futures of Grace, Annie and Tommy in an action-packed story.

'We cant wait to start filming it!'

Nick Lambon, who is BBC drama commissioning editor, UK & Northern Ireland, added: 'Blue Lights has gripped and entertained millions of viewers across three series and Declan and Adams scripts will once again have us all on the edge of our seats.

'Gerry Cliff was such an integral part of series one so to have Richard Dormer back alongside our talented cast is a dream come true.

'We are over the moon to be back filming in Belfast, and with so many twists and turns in store, fans of Blue Lights have plenty to look forward to.'

As well as focusing on Gerry's murder trial, the series will also follow his team's struggles as they continue to battle the crime in Belfast.

The six-part serries will also see Hannah McClean, as well as Jen Robinson and Jonathan Harden make a return.

The popular character Gerry died in Constable Jen's arms after a masked gunman shot him

Sian Brooke as Grace Ellis, Nathan Braniff as Tommy Foster and Katherine Devlin as Annie Conlon will also be making a comeback.

The likes of Martin McCann, Joanne Crawford, Andi Osho, Frank Blake, Dearbhaile McKinney, Andrea Irvine are amongst the other stars that will be back on our screens again too.

Blue Lights is produced by Two Cities Television and co-produced by Gallagher Films.

Brendan Millin has produced the fourth series of Blue Lights, and while episodes one to three were direted by Angela Griffin, the next three were directed by Sam O'Mahoney.

The third series of Blue Lights premiered on September 29 last year.

Following on from its debut series in 2023 and follow-up in 2023, series three's opener saw the squad of coppers ambush a drug-filled gathering as part of a narcotics investigation.

Elsewhere, a man died from a suspected overdose at a high-end nightclub and officer Grace Ellis (Sian Brooke) was devastated to learn that a teenager she cared for during her days as a social worker was in danger.

The Bafta-winning show, which is set in modern-day Belfast and follows rookie cops, has reeled audiences in over two dramatic series since its launch back in 2023.

Series three followed the no-longer newbie officers, joined by a host of familiar faces, as well as a handful of new recruits, for the latest storyline, based in the sinister world hidden behind the shiny front of middle-class life.

The trio take a deep dive into the murky world of the accountants and lawyers who facilitate organised crime in the city.

Fans dubbed Blue Lights as 'one of the best shows ever broadcast by the BBC' after the third series hit our screens.

Back in 2024 they praised the 'phenomenal' season two premiere as 'off the scale brilliant' and saw it as something to watch after Line of Duty.

Series 1-3 of Blue Lights are available to stream on BBC iPlayer
Janet Street Porter admitted that 'she reads every picture of the Beckhams as staged' since Brooklyn's attack - as Kelly Brook questioned 'are the kids coerced into being there?' in scathing Loose Women debate on Tuesday.

The pair, alongside Ruth Langsford and Kelle Bryan, returned to the ITV studio to discuss the latest newsworthy topics for the latest episode.

The Beckhams have been hitting headlines in the past week after the oldest sibling Brooklyn launched an extraordinary attack on his famous family, accusing his parents David and Victoria of 'controlling' him in a bombshell statement.

Brooklyn and his wife Nicola Peltz, 31, have been 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.

Most recently he didn't appear in Paris to support his mother alongside her husband, sons Romeo, 23, and Cruz, 20, and daughter Harper, 14, at the ceremony, after she received an award for services to fashion in the French capital.

Discussing the pictures from the event, Kelly said: 'I look at it so differently now.

Janet Street Porter admitted that 'she reads every picture of the Beckhams as staged' since Brooklyn's attack on Loose Women on Tuesday

Kelly Brook also questioned 'are the kids coerced into being there?' as they discussed the famous family on the latest episode

Brooklyn didn't appear in Paris to support his mother alongside her husband, sons Romeo, 23, and Cruz, 20, and daughter Harper, 14, at the ceremony, after she received an award for services to fashion in the French capital

'I used to look at the Beckham family and just sort of feel like a second-class citizen. I always used to feel like not quite as successful as them.

'My family life was never as perfect as theirs.

'Everything seemed to work out for them, and everything was perfect.

'Now I look at a picture of them all together and it just reads so differently now.'

Janet chimed in: 'Do you know what it reads? Staged.'

Kelly replied: 'It does! I just look at it through a different lens now. Are they all volunteering to be there?

'Are they all kind of being coerced into being there for some other reason?'

Sharing the pictures on Instagram, Victoria said: 'I couldn't be more grateful. Merci xxx.'

Kelly confessed: 'Now I look at a picture of them all together and it just reads so differently now'

Janet chimed in: 'Do you know what it reads? Staged'

Body language expert Judi James decoded Victoria's 'power pose' at the Paris event that proves 'Brand Beckham is still well on the rails' amid the Brooklyn drama.

After a tough few weeks for the family Victoria 'showed what a strong matriarch looked like' as she stood front and centre in Instagram pictures posted from the event, according to expert Judi.

She exclusively told The Daily Mail: 'They could so easily have opted for overkill signals here.

'In a bid to prove Brand Beckham is still well on the rails and totally weatherproof in the face of all the gale-force dramas we could have seen them styling it out wearing rictus grins and matching outfits like the fashionista version of the Osmonds or the Partridge Family.

'But instead, this pose shows an authentic core, resilient strength from Victoria and some more individual responses from her remaining brood.

'There's no sign of any angry-looking, chest-puffing signals to Brooklyn here to make the boys look in any way emotionally armed up to defend or protect, and their girlfriends send out relatively non-committal signals rather than nestling in to show what a loyal daughter-in-law should look like.'

On Instagram last week Brooklyn 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 his wife Nicola, he has found 'peace and relief' after battling crippling anxiety.

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.

On Instagram last week Brooklyn went as far as to say he has been 'controlled by a family that values public promotion above all else'

'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.'

'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 comes out.'

'My parents have been trying endlessly to ruin my relationship since before my wedding, and it hasn't stopped.

Brooklyn said in his statement last week: 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.

'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.

'My mum hijacked my first dance with my wife, which had been planned weeks in advance to a romantic love song.

'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.'

'My wife has been consistently disrespected by my family, no matter how hard we've tried to come together as one.

'My mum has repeatedly invited women from my past into our lives in ways that were clearly intended to make us both uncomfortable.

'Despite this, we still travelled to London for my dad's birthday and were rejected for a week as we waited in our hotel room trying to plan quality time with him.

'He refused all of our attempts, unless it was at his big birthday party with a hundred guests and cameras at every corner.

'When he finally agreed to see me, it was under the condition that Nicola wasn't invited. It was a slap in the face. Later, when my family travelled to LA, they refused to see me at all.

'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 it's at the expense of our professional obligations.

'We've 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 mum's support to save displaced dogs during the LA fires, my mum refused.'

'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 peace, privacy and happiness for us and our future family.'
Mere months after their sell-out night at London's O2 Arena, Sam Thompson and Pete Wicks are taking their podcast success to even greater heights.

The duo have announced that their company Staying Relevant Productions, which makes their hit show of the same name, has now acquired Sam's sister Louise and her fiance Ryan Libbey's podcast He Said, She Said.

The show, which Louise and Ryan began last year, will be relaunched under its new ownership on Wednesday, and in a clip from the episode, the couple cement their partnership sharing they are asking Pete to be a godfather to their son Leo, four.

Louise and Ryan had previously teased that they were 'in transit' on their podcast's Instagram account, as well as posting a video hinting they were 'moving house.'

However, Daily Mail can now reveal that this move was in fact a nod to their podcast's new home, with this being the first show Sam and Pete have acquired outside of their own since they launched Staying Relevant Productions in 2024.

In an exclusive look at the episode, Louise suggests to Ryan that Pete would be a 'cool godparent' in their son's life.

Louise Thompson has revealed she's asked Pete Wicks to be a godfather to her son Leo, as he and best pal Sam shared huge news of their podcast takeover on Tuesday

The duo announced their company Staying Relevant Productions has now acquired Louise and her fiance Ryan Libbey's podcast He Said, She Said

It also features sweet videos of Pete and his best pal Sam playing with Leo, with Louise also confessing that the TOWIE star has also taught her son a 'wildly inappropriate' phrase.

She tells Ryan: 'Pete doesn't necessarily like that many adults but he's very good with kids and animals.

'I think it's really important for Leo to have lots of cool godparents around him.'

As Ryan questions: 'Where are you going with this?' Louise replies: 'Well I was thinking she could ask Pete because I did notice that him and Pete have this really strong bond. They actually have so much in common. They only eat ice creams both of them.

'His new favourite thing to say, which is so inappropriate and for anyone listening, please don't judge.

'You know what his new favourite thing to say is, he says it 100 times a day now - ''blood of hell!''

Laughing, Ryan says: 'He sat down and was like ''blood of hell''

Louise then shares: 'Everyone would ask ''hows your holidays been? Did Father Christmas come?'' and he would have gone ''blood of hell'' and then they would have said ''so who have you spent some time with?''

He Said, She Said will be relaunched under its new ownership on Wednesday, and in a clip from the episode, the couple sharing they are asking Pete to be a godfather to their son

It also features sweet videos of Pete and his best pal Sam playing with Leo, with Louise also confessing that the TOWIE star has also taught her son a 'wildly inappropriate' phrase

As part of the podcast acquisition, Staying Relevant Productions will devise and implement a new social media strategy to work in tandem alongside the production of He Said, She Said to expand its digital presence in a bid to better serve both new and existing audiences.

Speaking to Daily Mail about the news, Sam said: 'I am absolutely buzzing - to be able to work so closely with my sister and Ryan really is a dream.

'I think anyone who knows me knows I would make any excuse to see them more and what better to now be officially professionally attached! Bring it on!'

Pete added: 'I love Louise and Ryan, so do the entire Staying Relevant production team, so this partnership was a no brainer for us.

'Theyve created something really special with He Said, She Said so we look forward to taking it to new levels and heights in 2026 and beyond.'

Louise went on to say: 'I'm so excited to be moving 'He Said She Said' to Staying Relevant Productions.

'The podcast has always been about real conversations, told with honesty, humour, and heart, and this feels like the perfect home for its next chapter.

'Working with my brother's team means we get to level up creatively while keeping everything that makes the show feel intimate, unfiltered, and genuinely us.'

Sam and Louise have shared their close bond in a string of hilarious social media videos since rising to fame on Made In Chelsea.

Meanwhile Pete, who met Sam on Celebs Go Dating back in 2017, launched Staying Relevant with the I'm A Celebrity winner back in 2022.

Since launching their podcast Staying Relevant in 2022, Sam and Pete have turned the show into their own company, and in September they sold out a night at London's O2 Arena

Following a nationwide tour in 2024, the duo sold out a night at London's O2 Arena last September, and have since published a Sunday Times bestseller about their close friendship.

Last year the Pair spoke about their bond in an interview with YOU Magazine, with Sam saying: 'I've always been attracted to calm, strong older male friends. I need a big-brother character who balances me.'

Pete previously told Daily Mail: 'All of my strengths are Sam's weaknesses and vice versa, all of his strengths are the things I'm not so good at, and that kind of marries up really nicely.

'It's weird, it's kind of cliche, it sounds like I'm talking about my wife, he's kind of like the missing puzzle piece  he'll read this and he'll f*****g love it as well  but it's a very weird relationship.

'We've never had a row in the years of being mates, and we talk every day and spend a lot of our time together, but it just kind of works, but I think a lot of that comes from having complete trust in the other one.'
She was chosen to bake the organic lemon, elderflower and buttercream creation for the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, and was called upon again by the couple to whip up their daughter Lilibet's first birthday cake four years later.

But the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's endorsement has not been enough to save Claire Ptak from the catastrophe afflicting British businesses under Sir Keir Starmer's Labour Government.

I can disclose that the celebrated pastry chef has felt the need to ask for public help to save her California-style bakery, Violet Cakes, in Dalston, east London, from closure following the huge rises in business rates that have led to Labour MPs being banned from pubs across the country by angry landlords.

The Government has since announced a rebate for pubs but nothing for other businesses.

Claire Ptak with the Sussexes' wedding cake. The baker has made a public appeal for financial support

Claire has appealed for financial support online. 'We are really struggling in silence with the same problems pubs are talking about and are truly in trouble,' she admits.

'Trying to find a way out of this like so many in hospitality. I want to save my business for myself, my daughter and my 20 beautiful employees and, of course, for all of you. Considering crowd-funding as well as investment. Any thoughts? Would you support a crowd-funding campaign?'

Claire, who also baked a wedding cake for pop star Charli XCX last summer, trained as a pastry chef in her native California before moving to London, where she wrote six recipe books.

Meghan chose her for her wedding, having previously interviewed her for her lifestyle blog, The Tig.

The wedding cake took five days to prepare and some of the ingredients, including the elderflower syrup, were sourced from the Royal Family's Sandringham estate in Norfolk.

David Walliams caught out on film

Performing as perverted children's entertainer Des Kaye on his Little Britain live tour, David Walliams used to invite young male audience members on stage before trying to pull down their underwear in a game he called 'Hide the Sausage'.

Now, Walliams has claimed: 'We did that sketch at 250 shows and not a single person ever complained.' However, a 2007 BBC documentary shows him reading a letter from a fan, who writes: 'For me, this was not a joke... it went too far, I was molested when I was very young.'

Jack Whitehall and Roxy have dress rehearsal for their big day

Model Roxy Horner is so eager to tell comedian Jack Whitehall 'I do' that she's already road-testing bridal looks on her nights out.

The model turned a Burns Night dinner into a dress rehearsal for their wedding, wearing a white sheer lace gown that cost 615. 'I'm in my bridal era,' she tells me at the Singleton Whisky event at Rosewood London. 'This is from Nadine Merabi's wedding collection. I had to try it as I'm testing the waters. I'm going crazy and trying every style you can think of.'

Roxy Horner in her white sheer lace gown

Jack Whitehall has been in a relationship with Roxy since 2020. They have one child together

Roxy, 34, says 37-year-old Whitehall will be 'pleasantly surprised' by her choice on the big day.

Vegetarian Roxy skipped the lamb and haggis pie but did treat herself to a wee tipple.

Racing genius who died at just 53 leaves fortune

One of his obituaries described him as 'horse racing's last great gentleman', much in the same way that his father, who predeceased him by four years, had rightly been called Britain's 'last great gentleman bookseller'.

But if Joe Saumarez Smith, who died of cancer last year aged 53, matched his father John in easy charm and unassuming intellect, he eclipsed him  with his Midas touch. His will, just published, discloses that he left a fortune of 52million  amassed entirely through his own acumen and instinctive brilliance.

At Bristol University his winnings caused his local branch of William Hill to close early, while later triumphs included scooping 125,000 on Kicking King's victory in the 2005 Cheltenham Gold Cup.

Appointed chair of the British Horseracing Association in 2022, he left everything to his beloved wife, Wanda, with whom he had two children.

A grandson for 6bn Earl

George Cadogan and his wife Davina have had their first child together

The couple, who have been together since they were teenagers, have named their son Henry

Her husband is the heir to a 6billion fortune, including nearly 100 acres of prime real estate in west London. Yet Viscountess Chelsea now has something far more precious: a healthy baby son.

Davina, 29, who is social editor of Tatler magazine, has given birth to her first child. 'Our beautiful boy,' she writes online next to this photograph which she has shared with her thousands of followers.

She and her husband, George, 30, whose father is the 9th Earl Cadogan, have named their baby Henry. The couple have been sweethearts since they were teenagers.

Having stepped down from Bake Off, Dame Prue Leith has one last showbiz ambition to fulfil. She has written eight novels and wants one of them to be turned into a Hollywood film.

'I, egotistically and perhaps not realistically, think that a couple of my novels would make wonderful films,' blushes Dame Prue, 85. 'So that's what I'd like to see before I die.'

Lady Mary's malaria fears

Lady Mary Charteris has been left seriously ill following a recent holiday in Kenya with her husband, musician Robbie Furze, and their five-year-old daughter, Wilde.

'Do I have malaria or do I have the flu?' the DJ and socialite asks on social media from her London home. 'I haven't been able to get out of bed, haven't been able to eat, sleep, breathe.'

The Earl of Wemyss's daughter, 38, admits: 'Taking malaria medication didn't even cross my mind It didn't even come up, even when I applied for the visa.'
Popular German-born TikTok star Samuela Brachtendorf was before a magistrate in Sydney on Monday after allegedly throwing hot chocolate over a former friend and housemate.

The 19-year-old, who is currently travelling Down Under, was charged with assault causing actual bodily harm, the Daily Telegraph reported on Tuesday.

Brachtendorf, who is working as an Uber driver while documenting her time in Australia, was granted bail on strict conditions over the alleged incident.

The charges follow a video filmed in Bourke Street, Chippendale, going viral overnight.

Brachtendorf created a clapback TikTok response that has already been seen by over one million viewers.

Titled 'storytime', the social media celebrity said she had recently split from her boyfriend and indicated she was not getting along with her flatmate.

Popular German-born TikTok star Samuela Brachtendorf (pictured) was before a magistrate in Sydney on Monday after allegedly throwing hot chocolate over a former friend and housemate

'Our flatshare no longer talks to each other,' she said in German in the caption.

'I'm happy now that the two girls are moving out on Monday.

'They are having their graduation party right now  but not in our apartment, but in (my ex-boyfriend)'s apartment.

'I cried over (my ex-boyfriend) at her place.'

Her former friend and her boyfriend were not subjected to any claims of wrongdoing.

The TikTokker's criminal solicitor, Zahir Zakaria, told the online bail court that the matter would be defended as Brachtendorf appeared to hear the charges via video link.

'She came to Australia on a working visa, she's working and planning to travel around the state,' Zakaria said.

'The matter will be defended.'

'I was arrested and have now been released again,' she said in the TikTok video, which was filmed in the street outside of the Police Centre in Surry Hills

Magistrate David Mulroney granted bail and instructed the social media star to report to police every Wednesday.

The influencer gave up her passport and was told by the magistrate not to enter any 'international points of departure'.

He also said it was likely she would be found guilty on the charges.

Brachtendorf later appeared in a video about her court appearance, which she posted on Monday.

'I was arrested and have now been released again,' she said in the TikTok video, which was filmed in the street outside of the Police Centre in Surry Hills.

The TikTok star will next appear in Downing Centre Local Court on February 5.

Brachtendorf, who boasts 230,000 followers on TikTok, has recently gained popularity while documenting her travels around Australia and her breast augmentation surgery.
Australian celebrities were left divided over Australia Day on Monday.

While millions celebrate the day, the national holiday has become a hot topic, as debate rages over the date.

January 26 is the day when the First Fleet landed in Sydney Cove and raised the Union Flag, marking Britain's claim to the country.

The day also marks the beginning of violence and dispossession against Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

As Abbie Chatfield and Brooke Blurton stood with the First Nations to mark 'Invasion Day', the likes of Karl Stefanovic proudly flaunted their patriotism and said there was nothing wrong with celebrating the day.

Other notable Aussies followed suit, with TV stars and sporting legends alike taking staunch positions on whether or not the holiday is a day for celebration.

Australian celebrities were left divided over Australia Day on Monday. Abbie Chatfield and Brooke Blurton stood with the First Nations to mark 'Invasion Day'

Karl Stefanovicproudly flaunted their patriotism and said there was nothing wrong with celebrating the day. Pictured: Karl with wife Jasmine and their daughter Harper

Abbie, 30, posted a satirical video to Instagram which showed her buying an ice cream and some stickers for her Aboriginal best friend

Abbie, 30, posted a satirical video to Instagram which showed her buying an ice cream and some stickers for her Aboriginal best friend.

'Paying for everything for my best friend on Invasion Day every year because he's Aboriginal and I'm descended from convicts,' she captioned the clip.

The former Bachelor star went on to tell her followers the video was just a joke, adding that buying ice cream for her friend was nowhere near enough reparations to make up for the colonisation of the First Nations.

'It's my ancestors shout I guess! A sprinkle ice cream definitely doesn't makeup for much, but it's something!' she said.

'For anyone confused... This is satire! Ahhahahahah this is not anywhere near reparations and that's the joke, that it's just an ice cream and some stickers.'

She then promoted a First Nations charity initiative, Pay The Rent, which is made up of the Sovereign Body of Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander people and the Administrative Arm of Allies.

Meanwhile, Brooke, 31, also a former Bachelor franchise star, attended an Invasion Day Rally in Melbourne to show her support on Monday.

The youth worker was seen front and centre in front of the Parliament House wearing a T-shirt by Clothing The Gaps which read, 'Not The Date To Celebrate.'

Brooke, 31, also a former Bachelor franchise star, attended an Invasion Day Rally in Melbourne to show her support on Monday

The youth worker was seen front and centre at the Parliament House wearing a black T-shirt by Clothing The Gaps which read, 'Not The Date To Celebrate'

Also in attendance was 2024 MasterChef winner Nathale Thaipun, who blended into the crowd as she wore a hat emblazoned with three hearts in the colours of the Aboriginal flag

Clothing The Gaps is an Aboriginal business which aims to have the date of Australia Day moved from January 26.

Brooke was seen wiping away tears after a minute of silence was held, before she applauded the speeches given at the protest.

Also in attendance was 2024 MasterChef winner Nathale Thaipun, who wore a hat emblazoned with three hearts in the colours of the Aboriginal flag.

Elsewhere, Narelda Jacobs attended a local First Nations market with her partner Karina Natt and their child, daughter Sanna, who they welcomed in March.

The Ten star, 50, also shared a video to Instagram last week which showed her speaking about Australia Day on Studio 10 six years ago.

In the throwback clip, she said: 'Celebrating Australia Day on January 26 is offensive to a whole group of people. It's almost like dancing on someone's grave.

'Australia Day is not a time to celebrate incarceration. It's not a time to celebrate invasion. It's to celebrate Australia as an inclusive nation and that's why we need to change the date.'

She went on to suggest the date be changed to the 'third Monday' or the 'second last Monday' of every January.

Elsewhere, Narelda Jacobs, 50, attended a local First Nations market with her partner Karina Natt and their child, a daughter named Sanna, who they welcomed in March

The Ten star, 50, also shared a video to Instagram last week which showed her speaking about Australia Day on Studio Ten six years ago

On the other side of the argument, Today host Karl took a stance against critics of Australia Day, saying there is nothing wrong with celebrating the occasion.

He and wife Jasmine, along with their daughter Harper, proudly held up an Australian flag as they took a relaxing boat ride along Sydney Harbour.

The trio were all smiles in photos shared to Instagram, with Karl later telling news.com.au Australia is a 'f***ing great country' before slamming 'woke' culture.

Lisa Curry and her husband Mark Andrew Tabone also proudly celebrated Australia Day during their recent trip to Canada.

The former competitive swimmer, 63, shared images of the pair wearing bucket hats - one with the Australian flag and one with the Canadian flag.

'Today is the 26th here in Canada so Happy Australia Day in Oz,' Mark wrote alongside the post.

'Celebrate what is great for you every day! After travelling to so many different countries, Australia is definitely the best place to live!'

Hayley Vernon, a former Married At First Sight star, shared a blunt message to her Instagram Stories.

Lisa Curry, 63, and her husband Mark Andrew Tabone also proudly celebrated Australia Day during their recent trip to Canada

Hayley Vernon, a former Married At First Sight star, shared a blunt message to her Instagram Stories

Elsewhere, Australian model Laura Csortan also shared a telling video to her Instagram, showing a clip of a car driving along the beach with an Australian flag

'It's Australia Day,' she penned next to an Australian flag.

Elsewhere, model Laura Csortan also shared a telling video to her Instagram, showing a clip of a car driving along the beach with an Australian flag.

'If this flag offends you, we welcome you to leave this beautiful country,' the caption read.
The Oscars might be several weeks away, but at Paris Couture Week guests always look red carpet ready.

For some, this means wearing an improbably glamorous evening gown. For others, it means incredibly glamorous jewels.

And for the Oscar-nominated, Golden Globe-winning American actress Teyana Taylor on Monday it meant eschewing the usual Cartier, Tiffany and De Beers for diamonds from a rather different source  the Louvre.

When thieves audaciously broke into the Louvre last October and snatched a priceless tiara and an imperial brooch containing 2,438 diamonds, most feared 'France's crown jewels' would be broken into smaller pieces and never seen again.

They certainly didn't expect them to surface on 35-year-old glamazon Taylor.

Arriving at the Schiaparelli couture show, she sported a tiara and necklace that were dead ringers for the missing treasures, right down to the distinctive bow detail of the looted necklace that once belonged to Empress Eugenie, wife of Napoleon III.

But adding 'jewellery thief' to Taylor's resume would be premature.

Her tiara and necklace were clever replicas reimagined by the French fashion house Schiaparelli's creative director, Daniel Roseberry.

Teyana Taylor attends the Schiaparelli Haute Couture Week Spring/Summer 2026 show as part of Paris Fashion Week on January 26 in Paris, France

When thieves audaciously broke into the Louvre last October and snatched a priceless tiara and an imperial brooch containing 2,438 diamonds, most feared 'France's crown jewels' would be broken into smaller pieces and never seen again. Pictured: Eugenie's tiara

Pictured: Empress Eugenie's brooch, pictured, which contains 2,438 diamonds, was stolen in the raid

It takes a lot to upstage the diamante Schiaparelli thong that Taylor famously wore to the Golden Globes in Los Angeles earlier this month, but her 'heist jewellery' managed to pull it off.

Worn braless with a transparent black lace sheath dress, the look promptly went viral.

Also at the show was actress Demi Moore, 63, in an eye-catching leopard print coat, and Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, 62, and his wife Lauren Sanchez Bezos, 56, a high-spending couture client.

All were agog at Roseberry's creations, which for Spring 2026 included a chartreuse tulle dress featuring 65,000 hand-embroidered silk pieces designed to look like peacock feathers.

Titled 'The Agony and the Ecstasy', the ornate collection was likely to have been the former for the house's hardworking seamstresses.

Another look, 'the Isabella Blowfish', featured layers of tulle in colours inspired by birds of paradise, in homage to the late British stylist Isabella Blow.

The first day of Paris couture week was notable for its debuts as well as its diamonds, as Northern Irish designer Jonathan Anderson unveiled his first couture collection for Christian Dior.

Guests  including actress Anya Taylor-Joy, in a striking silk cape over a cream wool Dior man's coat with bell sleeves ending in outsized fur cuffs  were on hand to witness Anderson's fresh, floral-themed collection that featured hydrangeas as earrings. As opposed to stolen diamonds.
Megan Fox and Machine Gun Kelly (MGK) put on a united front Sunday night as they stepped out for dinner with their baby daughter Saga Blade Fox-Baker.

The 39-year-old actress and 35-year-old musician, who are reportedly romantically 'done', were united as a family while at a restaurant in Calabasas, California.

The parents took turns holding the 10-month-old girl, who was adorably dressed in a onesie covered in hearts.

For his part, MGK flashed his heavily tattooed arms white dressed in a tight black shirt and black wide-leg pants.

Fox covered her curvy figure in a coordinating gray sweatsuit with a cropped hoodie and matching pants, finishing the outfit with red and white Nike Dunk sneakers.

She wore black sunglasses and her raven-hued locks were loose and parted down the middle.

Megan Fox and Machine Gun Kelly stepped out for dinner with their baby daughter Saga on Saturday

The parents took turns holding the 10-month-old girl

Fox covered her curvy figure in a coordinating gray sweatsuit

In addition to Saga, Fox shares sons Noah, 13; Bodhi, 12 in February; and Journey, nine; with ex-husband Brian Austin Green, 52.

The silver screen siren welcomed her only child with MGK in March 2025.

She and the music artist had a whirlwind romance that began in 2020.

The relationship went through multiple iterations, with the couple announcing their engagement in January 2022.

They ended their engagement in early 2024, after Fox found 'upsetting material' on his phone.

'[They] havent been together in a real way for a long time now and whatever they had romantically is done,' a source told People magazine earlier this month.

'Their relationship at this point is just about co-parenting. Megan is focused on her kids and the baby and just getting settled into this new chapter. Thats genuinely her priority,' it was added.

MGK  real name Colson Baker  is also father to daughter Casie, 16, whom he shares with ex-girlfriend Emma Cannon.

Join the debate Can co-parenting ever truly work when a romantic relationship ends in heartbreak and public drama?

She wore black sunglasses for the family's nighttime outing

The 39-year-old actress and 35-year-old musician, who are reportedly romantically 'done,' were united as a family while at a restaurant in Calabasas, California

MGK, who is currently on retreat from his Lost In Americana tour, wore black and white Converse sneakers

Kelly - real name Colson Baker  is also father to daughter Casie, 16, whom he shares with ex-girlfriend Emma Cannon

While on the Today show in June he explained the meaning behind his younger daughter's name.

'She is an epic story. That's what saga means,' he said of the moniker.

Referencing his ex Fox's prior miscarriage, he added that he was inspired by 'her journey  the five years of her culmination of coming, disappearing, coming back again, disappearing, coming back again.'

He also connected the name to his Norwegian background, stating, 'That's the Nordic goddess of storytelling. So, she has a storytelling future ahead of her.'

Fans previously mistakenly thought the exes had named their daughter 'Celestial Seed' due to the caption MGK used when announcing her birth.

Sharing an Instagram video holding his baby girl's tiny hand in March, he captioned, 'Shes finally here!! our little celestial seed. 3/27/25.'
Brooklyn Beckham's devotion to his wife Nicola Peltz was clear for all to see as he posted a loved-up video on TikTok on Monday.

The eldest son of David and Victoria, 26, publicly denounced his family last week in a scathing six-page statement where he accused his parents of 'controlling' him, trying to ruin his marriage and humiliating him.

While the rest of the Beckhams gathered in Paris to support Victoria, 51, as she received a Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters, Brooklyn made it clear where his loyalties lie.

The clip - a montage of highlights from his trip to Malibu this week with Nicola - was uploaded within hours of his family putting on a united front at their first public event since he launched his blistering attack.

Set to Coldplay's Yellow, Brooklyn declared his love to Nicola, 31, once more as he wrote: 'I love you Nicola Anne Peltz Beckham'.

The couple were joined by their dog Lamb as they walked along Malibu Beach, enjoyed dinners and even had a champagne toast.

Brooklyn Beckham's devotion to his wife Nicola Peltz was clear for all to see as he posted a loved-up video on TikTok on Monday

The clip - a montage of highlights from their trip to Malibu this week - was uploaded within hours of his family putting on a united front at their first public event

While the rest of the Beckhams gathered in Paris to support Victoria, 51, as she received a Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters, Brooklyn made it clear where his loyalties lie

Looking in the midst of marital bliss, Brooklyn showed no signs of strain of the aftermath of posting his bombshell statement, which according to reports, has left Victoria 'devastated'.

Fans wrote in the comments: 'Happy wife - happy life! Home is where the heart is always stand by your little fam';

'Beautiful. Great song choice as well Wish you both well. Be happy xx'

However, others followers said they were on 'team Beckham'.

Over in Paris, Victoria was joined by David, 50, sons Romeo, 23, and Cruz, 20, and daughter Harper, 14, at the ceremony, as well as several of her close friends and Romeo and Cruz's respective girlfriends Kim Turnbull and Jackie Apostel.

The Beckham clan appeared determined not to allow their family drama to overshadow Victoria's big day, as she was presented with the prestigious accolade by the French Ministry of Culture.

The award recognises the individual contributions of artists, writers, and cultural figures to the arts and literature, and previous recipients include Zoe Saldana, Selena Gomez, Jude Law and Denis Villeneuve.

And in her acceptance speech, the Spice Girl made special mention of her children, as she thanked them for 'always believing in my vision', despite Brooklyn's recent vitriolic claims against her.

Victoria paid tribute to her husband David and their children as she was named a Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters in Paris

Set to Coldplay's Yellow, Brooklyn declared his love to Nicola, 31, once more as he wrote: 'I love you Nicola Anne Peltz Beckham'

The couple were joined by their dog Lamb as they walked along Malibu Beach, enjoyed dinners and even had a champagne toast

Looking in the midst of marital bliss, Brooklyn showed no signs of strain of the aftermath of posting his bombshell statement, which according to reports, has left Victoria 'devastated'

Nicola looked happy and carefree as she walked their dog

The couple even toasted with champagne as they enjoyed lunch in the sunshine

But, predictably, eldest son Brooklyn yet again skipped out on the occasion - a week after he severed all ties with his family in a bombshell statement (seen with parents in 2019)

Brooklyn Beckham's statement in full 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. 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 comes out. 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. 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. My mum hijacked my first dance with my wife, which had been planned weeks in advance to a romantic love song. 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. My wife has been consistently disrespected by my family, no matter how hard we've tried to come together as one. My mum has repeatedly invited women from my past into our lives in ways that were clearly intended to make us both uncomfortable. Despite this, we still travelled to London for my dad's birthday and were rejected for a week as we waited in our hotel room trying to plan quality time with him. He refused all of our attempts, unless it was at his big birthday party with a hundred guests and cameras at every corner. When he finally agreed to see me, it was under the condition that Nicola wasn't invited. It was a slap in the face. Later, when my family travelled to LA, they refused to see me at all. 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 it's at the expense of our professional obligations. We've 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 mum's support to save displaced dogs during the LA fires, my mum refused. 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 peace, privacy and happiness for us and our future family. Advertisement

Taking to the podium in front of the star-studded crowd, with her family stood proudly in front, Victoria began: 'I'd like to start by thanking the French ministry of culture and the Minister of Culture, Madame Rachida Dati. For this honour and for your kind words, I am extremely grateful.

'I am so proud to be British, but France is one of the few places where fashion is treated with the seriousness it deserves as a form of art.'

While she then shared special thanks to her business partners and team at her fashion and makeup brand, Victoria Beckham, as well as her kids and beloved husband of 26 years.

'This is not the achievement of just one person,' she declared. 'From design and the atelier, to the production and communication teams, and the many minds and hands working together - it is a collaborative effort, and this distinction isn't mine alone. So I'd like to thank my incredible team for their dedication, creativity and trust.'

David beamed with pride as he watched on, with son Cruz seen laying a supportive hand on his shoulder, as Victoria thanked him 'for seeing my passion for this business and my determination to build something that we could both be really proud of.'

'Thank you to my parents and to my children who are always believing in my vision,' she continued.

The Beckhams maintained a stoic silence since the influencer claimed 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.

Among the long list of claims he made was that Victoria pulled out of designing his bride's wedding dress at the 'eleventh hour' and then 'hijacked' the first dance at his wedding and 'danced very inappropriately on me in front of everyone'.

Victoria was said to be 'feeling betrayed' by Brooklyn after her years spent protecting him from 'dark stories'.

The Daily Mail's Katie Hind previously explained how the Beckhams' camp 'leapt into overdrive in Brooklyn's defence' when stories such as kiss and tells and tales of him being 'involved him with the wrong crowd' surfaced.

His parents have often instructed expensive lawyers to protect him against such stories.

David and Victoria would 'take Brooklyn back in a minute' and are said to be 'horrified' by events this week, according to another source.

Following Brooklyn's claims about his mother hijacking his first dance, the couple's wedding DJ, Fat Tony, later recounted the exact detail of the incident during an appearance on This Morning.

The 60-year-old branded the dance 'really awkward' and confirmed that Nicola fled the reception in tears.

Tony, a longtime friend of the Beckhams, claimed that Marc Anthony was to blame, revealing the musician had called Victoria to the dance floor with her son and instructed him, 'place your hands on your mother's hips'.

He said: 'There was no sl*t-dropping, there was no PVC cat suits, no Spice Girl action!

Following Brooklyn's claims about his mother hijacking his first dance, the couple's wedding DJ, Fat Tony, later recounted the exact detail of the incident during an appearance on This Morning (seen)

'The word "inappropriate", why I said it was as well, it was the timing, this is what happened.'

Tony continued: 'What happened was, basically, Marc Anthony was performing on stage, he then called Brooklyn onto stage.

'Brooklyn went on to the stage, and the next minute everyone's expecting Nicola to go up and do the first dance, and then Marc asked for the most beautiful woman in the room to come to the stage - and then he says "Victoria, come to the stage".'

He revealed that Brooklyn looked 'devastated' at the fact his first dance was with Victoria and not his wife, adding that Nicola left the room 'crying her eyes out'.

Tony went on: 'Brooklyn is stuck there on stage, and they do this dance, and Marc Anthony says 'put your hands on your mother's hips' and it was a Latin thing, and the whole situation was really awkward for everyone in the room

'I've done an awful lot of Beckham parties in the past, and they are a very dancing close-knit family and love to dance, right? So you know, what we deem as 'inappropriate' is not how Brooklyn feels.

'This is all about how Brooklyn feels. If he feels that it was inappropriate and awkward, it was inappropriate and awkward.

'What's sad is that this is the bit that everyone's taken from the statement, and kind of whitewashed everything else that went on.'
Dave Hughes might be one of Australia's most well-known comedians, but that doesn't mean he's immune from heckling.

The funnyman, 55, took to Instagram on Monday to share a bizarre exchange with a disgruntled audience member during a stand-up set in Noosa over the weekend.

He shared a short clip that showed him addressing a female audience member who was standing in the aisle.

While little context was given in the clip, the woman appeared agitated and was seen turning to face the crowd, apparently for validation.

Expanding on the incident in the clip's caption, Dave said that the woman attempted to 'censor' his act  something which had never happened in his three-decade career.

'For the first time in my 33-year stand-up comedy career, an audience member in the front row attempted to censor my act,' Dave captioned the surprising post.

Dave Hughes might be one of Australia's most well-known comedians, but that doesn't mean he's immune from heckling

He revealed that the exchange occurred 20 minutes into his set at the J Theatre in Noosa which had, up to that point, been going swimmingly.

Dave said that the reason for the woman's disquiet was the fact that he was telling jokes on stage about his son, Rafferty, 16.

'Think it was about 20 minutes in, show was going great, she stood up, yelled 'Stop', then turned to face the audience and said that I must not ever make fun of my son on stage,' he said.

'I tried explaining to her that he gives me a hard time too, and we mock each other constantly, and it's all love, and I'm proud of him, but she wasn't having it.'

Dave added that, rather than being escorted from the venue, the woman chose to leave of her own accord.

However, Dave found out after the fact that she was there in the capacity as a carer for another audience member.

'She ended up leaving. I found out after the show that she was there as a carer for another bloke, so she probably had no idea what my act was,' Dave said.

'The bloke she was a carer for also had to leave a few mins after she walked out, cos she was giving him a lift home.'

The funnyman, 55, took to Instagram on Monday to share a bizarre exchange with a disgruntled audience member during a stand-up set in Noosa over the weekend

He shared a short clip that showed him addressing a female audience member who was standing in the aisle. While little context was given in the clip, the woman appeared agitated and was seen turning to face the crowd, apparently for validation

Dave continued, saying he wished he knew of the situation while the incident was unfolding.

'If I'd known that while on stage, I would have told him to stay and that I would give him a lift home in my hire car,' he said.

'I'm happy to give him a refund or free tix to another show if he sees this!'

The post was met with a flurry of comments from fans, with many praising Dave for his 'thoughtful' approach to the incident.

'We were there and you were really thoughtful and respectful in how you responded! It was a cracking night overall and please come back to Noosa soon!!!' one wrote.

Another chimed in with a similar comment: 'You handled the situation with humour and grace, super professional @dhughesy.

'Thanks for a wonderfully hilarious night, our 15-year-old daughter was with us and she loved it too!'

Daily Mail has reached out to Dave Hughes for comment.

Dave said that the reason for the woman's disquiet was the fact that he was telling jokes on stage about his son, Rafferty, 16. Pictured: Dave Hughes and Rafferty recreate a photo from when he was a newborn to celebrate his 11th birthday

Dave, who is known for pushing the envelope, recently revealed the one time he went too far  and offended his wife Holly's family.

He admitted that he once 'got the giggles' while hosting a radio show at an 'inappropriate' time when Holly's grandmother had just died.

'A couple of years ago, when my wife's grandmother passed, I was on radio and for some reason  I can't remember the actual incident or what triggered it  but I might have got the giggles,' he told Stellar Magazine earlier this month.

'It was inappropriate and I knew that. It's like laughing in church,' he continued.

'Sometimes you're not meant to laugh. And so that's when you do laugh because you're not meant to.

'I was trying to stop laughing, but I think her uncle was listening to the radio at the time and he was very offended and fair enough, too.

'So that took a little bit to get him back on board.'

Dave married his wife Holly on New Year's Eve in 2006 and they share three children together: Rafferty, 16, Sadie, 14, and Tess, 12.
Dean Cain says top Minnesota Democrats, and not ICE, are primarily to blame in the Saturday shooting death at a Minneapolis protest of Alex Pretti, who the actor said 'certainly wasnt there just being a peaceful protester.'

The 59-year-old actor spoke Monday with TMZ Live two days after the fatal shooting of Pretti by a U.S. Border Patrol officer during an immigration enforcement operation.

Cain claimed in the interview that Pretti, a 37-year-old intensive care nurse at a Minnesota VA hospital, 'certainly wasn't just being a peaceful protester'.

Asked if agents showed appropriate force in the exchange, the former TV star said 'that could be determined later by investigation for sure.'

Cain, who played Superman on Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman from 1993-1997, went on: 'I dont know all of the events leading up to this moment, I do know that that law enforcement - certainly ICE and Border Patrol - have been under a tremendous amount of pressure and attacks.

'And they're getting tremendous abuse from what I completely believe is a 100 percent organized opposition very, very - actually pretty sophisticated. I think were gonna uncover that as it goes on.'

Actor Dean Cain, 59, told TMZ Live MOnday that top Minnesota Democrats, and not ICE, are to blame in the killing of Alex Pretti in Minneapolis on Saturday. Pictured in 2025 in New Orleans

Cain claimed that Pretti, a 37-year-old ICU nurse at a VA hospital, 'certainly wasnt there just being a peaceful protester'

The conservative actor suggested authorities 'were just trying to take [Pretti] down at that point in time.'

Cain added of Pretti: 'He certainly wasnt there just being a peaceful protester and it was a very bad idea to engage physically with federal law enforcement while armed.'

'He's standing between law enforcement officers and that woman, thats a mistake in its own own right and doing it while armed is a bad, bad idea.'

Cain, who has also been seen on shows such as Las Vegas, Clubhouse and Beverly Hills, 90210, questioned Pretti's conduct in the moments leading to the fatal shooting.

'How many times had he had communication with law enforcement officers before that moment - why was he standing in the street?' Cain said. 'Theres a lot of questions that need to be answered.

'He may have become a target just standing in front of ICE vehicles - I don't know, but theres an awful lot of that.'

Cain said that Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey were inflaming the situation in Minnesota with politically-charged rhetoric, coming in the wake of the death of Renee Nicole Good earlier this month.

Cain said that Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey were inflaming the situation in Minnesota with politically-charged rhetoric

Cain said 'that rhetoric is emboldening people - and theyre telling him to fight them in the streets and do these things - that is the root cause of the problem.' Pictured 2022

Flowers are left at a makeshift memorial in the area where Alex Pretti was shot dead a day earlier by federal immigration agents in Minneapolis

'The truth of this really falls on the shoulders of Governor Walz, Mayor Frey and all the city and state officials who are not cooperating with ICE and are calling them Gestapo and modern day Nazis.

'That rhetoric is emboldening people - and theyre telling him to fight them in the streets and do these things - that is the root cause of the problem.'

In Minneapolis on Sunday, federal and state officials were clashing over the incident, with each saying the other side was at fault.

Border Patrol Commander Gregory Bovino said Sunday that Pretti had placed himself in harm's way with his conduct in the incident.

'When someone makes the choice to come into an active law enforcement scene, interfere, obstruct, delay or assault law enforcement officer and - and they bring a weapon to do that - that is a choice that that individual made,' Bovino said, according to the AP.

Walz asked at a news conference, 'Which side do you want to be on? The side of an all-powerful federal government that could kill, injure, menace and kidnap its citizens off the streets, or on the side of a nurse at the VA hospital who died bearing witness to such government.'

Walz was one of a number of notable Democrats who spoke out about the incident, a group including his former running mate, ex-Vice President Kamala Harris.

Harris hailed Pretti via social media as a person who 'was dedicated to serving his community and our country.'

Cain played Superman on Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman from 1993-1997

Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman featured Cain opposite Teri Hatcher

Harris continued, 'As so many have now seen on video, his final act before he was killed by federal agents was doing everything in his power to protect his community.

'Alex and tens of thousands of Minnesotans have boldly defended their neighbors against the murderous occupation of an American city by the federal government.'

The 2024 Democratic presidential candidate wrapped up in saying she was 'enraged and heartbroken for Alex, his family, Minneapolis, and America.'

Another former presidential candidate, Sen. Bernie Sanders, called for 'all federal agents  ICE and Border Patrol' to be 'withdrawn immediately from Minneapolis and other cities.'

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani said, 'ICE terrorizes our cities. ICE puts us all in danger. Abolish ICE.'
Lauren Sanchez narrowly avoided a wipeout while out in Paris with husband Jeff Bezos on Monday.

The Emmy-winning journalist, 56, and the Amazon founder, 62, were seen walking into the Christian Dior Haute Couture Spring/Summer 2026 show during Paris Fashion Week, when Sanchez tripped in the doorway.

She was navigating in pointed-toe pumps and waving to photographers in a video shared by a fan to TikTok, when her heel caught on the ledge of the entrance, prompting her to temporarily lose her footing.

However, the mom-of-three quickly recovered, and smoothly made her way inside the building.

Sanchez cut a stylish figure in a pale blue skirt and matching jacket, complete with a lavish fur collar.

The star  who rocked a fiery red ensemble earlier in the day  finalized the look with large sunglasses and a grey purse.

Lauren Sanchez, 56, narrowly avoided a wipeout while out in Paris with husband Jeff Bezos, 62, on Monday

The Emmy-winning journalist and the Amazon founder were seen walking into the Christian Dior show during Paris Fashion Week, when Sanchez tripped in the doorway

Meanwhile, her billionaire husband looked dapper in a dark navy suit with a button-up shirt underneath.

The duo  who wed in 2025  held hands as they walked inside.

Earlier on Monday, Sanchez ensured she stood out as she kicked off Paris Haute Couture week with a front row appearance at Schiaparelli's latest catwalk show.

She rocked a vibrant red skirt suit as she arrived hand-in-hand with Bezos ahead of the 10:00am presentation - the first of 49 to be held across four consecutive days in the French capital.

Teaming her look with a pair of matching red heels, Sanchez mingled with fellow guests before making her way inside.

Accessorizing in equally distinctive fashion, the former journalist opted for a smart silver handbag replete with gold flourishes, shaped to resemble a face.

Joining his wife, Bezos opted for a comparatively subdued black suit, matching shirt and polished leather Chelsea boots.

The couple married on the Italian island of San Giorgio Maggiore last June as part of a three-day celebration attended by celebrity friends including Ivanka Trump, Oprah Winfrey and Kim Kardashian.

However, the mom-of-three quickly recovered, and smoothly made her way inside the building

Sanchez cut a stylish figure in a pale blue skirt and matching jacket, complete with a lavish fur collar

The star finalized the look with large sunglasses and a grey purse

Meanwhile, her billionaire husband looked dapper in a dark navy suit with a button-up shirt underneath

The estimated $20 million, multi-day event also included a foam party on Bezos' yacht, a lavish prenuptial dinner and a post-wedding lunch at the iconic Harry's Bar.

Ellie Goulding performed at their reception, while Usher also sang at their pajama-themed brunch the next day.

The happy couple got married in a restored amphitheater on the island, as Sanchez wore a high-neck, long sleeve lace Dolce & Gabbana gown that took over 900 hours of atelier to make, per Vogue.

The gown featured a flared skirt, long veil and a tight-fitting waist, with tons of buttons going up the middle.

Throughout the weekend, Sanchez also wore many custom accessories that were a nod to her new last name, like a black rhinestone-encrusted black clutch bag that read, 'Mrs. Bezos' on it in silver gems.

There was a strict no-phone policy and around 70 of the 200 guests were family members.

The wedding was held two years after Bezos popped the question to Sanchez in an 'extremely intimate' proposal on his $500 million superyacht.

In December, Sanchez celebrated her birthday with her high-profile celebrity pals.

The A-list event followed her heartwarming birthday video compilation on social media, which shared an intimate behind-the-scenes look into her wedding extravaganza.

Earlier on Monday, Sanchez ensured she stood out as she kicked off Paris Haute Couture week with a front row appearance at Schiaparelli's latest catwalk show

Sanchez shared a clip of herself practicing her walk in her unforgettable Dolce & Gabbana dress, and another of her smiling on a balcony with the Eiffel Tower in the background.

A third showed the socialite wearing a face mask while exercising, seemingly part of her wedding preparations.

'If you had told me when I was a little girl this is what life would look like at 56, I'm not sure I would've believed you.' Sanchez wrote.

She reflected on her marriage, children, book release and space endeavor, saying it has 'grounded' her 'in a way nothing else could.'
Blake Lively's driver Kevin Alexander claimed that Justin Baldoni confessed to previously 'forcing himself on women' as he gave the actor a ride during the production of It Ends With Us in a deposition filed in court.

Baldoni is being sued by Lively for $160 million over allegations of sexual harassment on-set of the 2024 film and for orchestrating an alleged 'smear campaign' against her - all of which Baldoni has denied.

Alexander was among those subpoenaed in the case and his September 2025 deposition was unsealed as a court exhibit on January 20, along with dozens of other explosive court documents.

In the deposition obtained by The Daily Mail, Alexander recalled picking up Baldoni, Lively and her assistant Sophia Travaglia from the Gossip Girl's star's apartment in New York to take them to a production office in New Jersey, where It Ends With Us was filmed, in the spring of 2023.

He said the ride lasted '20 to 25 minutes' and that he allegedly overheard a 'disturbing' conversation with Baldoni in the car.

He claimed that the actor openly discussed 'his sexual relations with women,' with Lively and Travaglia present.

Blake Lively's driver Kevin Alexander claimed that Justin Baldoni confessed to previously 'forcing himself on women' as he gave the actor a ride during the production of It Ends With Us; Baldoni seen in 2024

Baldoni is being sued by Lively for $160 million over allegations of sexual harassment on-set of the 2024 film and for orchestrating an alleged 'smear campaign' against her - all of which Baldoni has denied; Lively seen in 2025

Alexander also claimed in the deposition that Baldoni revealed that he had 'forced himself on women' in the past and that Baldoni himself had also been 'forced on' sexually by women.

Alexander remarked in the deposition that he was unable to 'forget' the alleged exchange with Baldoni because it made him so 'uncomfortable' that 'it took [his] focus off driving.'

'To me, it was very out of the ordinary to meet somebody and talk like that in a vehicle. That's why it caught my attention,' Alexander said.

He continued: 'Basically he kept talking about his sexual relations, and, again, I'm repeating myself I believe, but, you know, he would force himself on women.

'If they said no, this, that, he would revert back. It was just disturbing,' Alexander claimed in the deposition.

When he finally arrived at the New Jersey-based production office, Alexander said he approached Lively to voice his concerns about Baldoni, even going as far as to suggest that a 'background check' be done on the actor/director.

'When we got to the production office, which was down the road from that area, I pulled over, let everybody out,' he recalled.

'I stated to Blake, 'I feel very uncomfortable. Something is not right here. I would like to do a background check on him or something,' and later to learn that he was the producer in production of this movie.''

When asked if he remembered 'anything else' about his alleged conversation with Baldoni, Alexander claimed in the deposition that Baldoni said 'more stuff' but that he did not 'pay attention to it because [he] was focused on driving.'

Join the debate What's your take on the driver's claims?

During an alleged ride to a production office in NJ, Alexander claimed he allegedly had a 'disturbing' conversation with Baldoni in the car. Lively and her assistant were also allegedly present; Baldoni and Lively seen in It Ends With Us (2024)

Alexander insisted that the 'key points' were Baldoni's alleged remarks about his sexual past with women.

'It is disturbing to me. You can't forget something like that.'

Sigrid McCawley, a member of Livelys legal team told the Daily Mail in a statement: 'As stated, the newly unsealed evidence contains never-before seen testimony, messages, and evidence from numerous eyewitnesses backing the claims in Ms. Livelys lawsuit.'

The Daily Mail has reached out to representatives for Baldoni for comment but has yet to hear back.

Baldoni has been embroiled in an intense legal battle with Lively for over a year now.

In December 2024, the Gossip Girl star named Baldoni in a lawsuit accusing him of sexual harassment, retaliatory conduct and intentional infliction of emotional distress.

In her filing, Lively alleged that Baldoni sexually harassed her in multiple ways, including body shaming, and orchestrated a smear campaign designed to damage her reputation.

She also named several of Baldoni's collaborators in the suit, including his company Wayfarer Studios, its CEO and financial backer, as well as PR personnel.

Baldoni and the other defendants have denied the allegations.

He initially sought $250 million in damages from The New York Times over a report detailing Lively's claims.

That suit named Lively, her husband Ryan Reynolds and her publicist Leslie Sloane. The case was thrown out of court this past June. All parties have denied all allegations against them.

Over the last week, countless documents pertaining to the contentious year-long legal battle were revealed to the public for the first time.

Among the newly-unsealed docs was an alleged text exchange between Lively and her It Ends With Us co-star Brandon Sklenar, where they appeared to torch the film's director Baldoni.

Alexander also claimed that Baldoni revealed that he had 'forced himself on women' in the past and that Baldoni himself had also been 'forced on' sexually by women; Baldoni seen in 2024

When Alexander finally arrived at the New Jersey-based production office, he said he approached Lively to voice his concerns about Baldoni, even going as far as to suggest that a 'background check' be done on the actor/director; Lively seen in 2025

In the messages, Lively and Sklenar, who played lovers in the 2024 film, initially chat about television work before the conversation shifts to their experiences during production.

Lively alleges Baldoni entered an editing bay to view her cut of the film 'without authorization', after she had already completed her own edit.

In the exchange obtained by the Daily Mail, Lively writes, 'He's bats***,' while Sklenar comments that Baldoni is 'definitely scrambling' and 'totally f***ing himself for any future work'.

Lively then responds, 'Oh you don't know the first of it', before unleashing further claims against Baldoni.

According to the unsealed exchange, she texted: 'Yeah the crazy thing is I would've continued to let him take credit for everything . He would've been handed a career. He would've been f***ing on his next job, but he at least would have been a big sucesss [sic].

'And he'll still hit. But the word is out. And I've been protecting it from getting out bc all I want to do is focus on the work and not be pulled into the f***ing mess they make.

'But they wreck [sic] havoc everywhere they go. And everyone sees it. Then they come to me.'

Lively then recalls a moment on set when Baldoni allegedly leaned in and told Sklenar he had something to say but stopped himself, warning he would 'probably get canceled' and remarking that 'you can't say anything on this set anymore'.

Alexander's deposition comes shortly after Lively and her It Ends With Us co-star Brandon Sklenar appeared to torch Baldoni in newly-unsealed texts; Lively and Sklenar seen in 2024

Baldoni has been embroiled in an intense legal battle with Lively for over a year now; Baldoni and Lively seen on the 2024 set of It Ends With Us

Sklenar replies that he vaguely remembers the exchange, though he says he does not recall whether Baldoni ever explained what he meant.

Lively then claims Baldoni frequently attempted to pull others into what she characterizes as his 'messiness', framing the comment as her personal impression of his conduct.

Later in the conversation, Sklenar says he is baffled by what he views as Baldoni's lack of foresight, particularly in light of his public persona shaped by TED-style talks, podcasts and books.

Lively responds that the contrast 'makes perfect sense' to her, alleging Baldoni was 'running from something gnarly' while presenting a more polished image publicly.

Sklenar appears to agree, replying, 'It does make perfect sense.'

The Daily Mail has not received a response to its request for comment from reps for Baldoni, Lively and Sklenar.
Ellen DeGeneres says she wasn't properly served with court papers amid a lawsuit over an October 16, 2023 collision in Santa Barbara County, California she was involved in.

Last month, the plaintiff requested a jury trial, claiming DeGeneres' negligence behind the wheel led her to careen into her Tesla, leaving her with 'multiple serious personal injuries and damages.'

The suit was initially filed in September, when DeGeneres (who turned 68 Monday) was on a vacation in Florence, Italy with wife Portia de Rossi, 52; currently, a non-jury trial is slated for November 2026.

Attorneys for DeGeneres described the complications that led to the papers not reaching the talk show host, US Weekly reported Monday, citing January 21 court filings it reviewed.

'On December 23, 2025, certain documents were dropped off at the receptionist desk at [the business management firm] Neuman + Associates,' lawyers for DeGeneres said.

Daily Mail has reached out to reps for DeGeneres for further comment on the story.

Ellen DeGeneres says she wasn't properly served with court papers amid a lawsuit over an October 16, 2023 collision in Santa Barbara County, California she was involved in. DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi were pictured in September in Paris, France

Attorneys for DeGeneres continued, 'Neuman + Associates is not Ms. DeGeneres' dwelling house, usual place of abode, or usual place of business.

'Further, Ms. DeGeneres was not at Neuman + Associates at the time of the drop off.'

The plaintiff said that a process server also tried to relay the legal documents at NKSFB, LLC - the parent company of Neuman + Associates - on two occasions, January 6 and January 7.

The plaintiff said the process server gave the documents to an employee/security guard.

Lawyers for the talk show host said in response that 'there was no reason to believe Ms DeGeneres would be there at all, and specially not on those two random days in January.

'It should be reasonably apparent to anyone, especially a process server, that a security guard at a 20-story building is not "in charge" of a business on the fifth floor of that building.'

Lawyers for DeGeneres said that it was 'extremely unlikely' the employee who was presented with the docs would 'have a relationship with Ms. DeGeneres such that the security guard would reliably deliver the Complaint documents' to the star.

The firm's Harley Neuman in the filing detailed the allegedly nondescript exchange between the process server and employee.

Attorneys for DeGeneres described the complications that led to the papers not reaching the talk show host, pictured in 2022 in Washington, DC

'I have a business relationship, through Neuman + and am generally familiar with Ms. DeGeneres' business operations and personal living situation,' Neuman said. 'Ms. DeGeneres was not at Neuman + Associates at the time of the drop.'

'There was no verbal interaction with the process server that I am aware of. The process server did not inform anyone of the contents of the documents that I am aware of.'

Neuman continued, 'Nobody signed any acknowledgement of receipt of the documents that I am aware of. Likewise, I am not aware of a copy of the summons and complaint being mailed to my office.'

DeGeneres has yet to be formally served due to the fact that she 'resides overseas' in the Cotswolds region of England, per court docs filed last month reviewed by Daily Mail.

The plaintiff will use the Hague Convention Service to have the complaint presented to her, according to court docs.

The plaintiff said she suffered 'sustained serious injuries and incurred significant income/business loss' as complications in the aftermath of the collision, according to legal docs.

A complaint filed last September alleged that the plaintiff had 'made sure there were no other vehicles' in the way as she came to a stop at a stop sign.

The complaint continued: 'Ellen DeGeneres entered the intersection without stopping at the stop sign' in a manner described as 'suddenly and without any warning' - resulting in the collision.

DeGeneres did not properly stop at a stop sign ahead of the October 16, 2023 collision in Santa Barbara County, California, the plaintiff said in legal docs

DeGeneres' performance behind the wheel at the time of the collision 'fell below the standard of care of a reasonable person,' the September complaint read.

DeGeneres is accused of causing or contributing 'to causing plaintiff's vehicle to be collided with by the defendants' vehicle.'

The plaintiff said as a result of the crash, they experienced 'loss of enjoyment of life, emotional distress and anxiety,' the outlet reported, citing legal documents.

DeGeneres and de Rossi have resided in the English countryside in the wake of President Donald Trump's defeat of former Vice President Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential election.

The couple, who have had a lucrative run in flipping houses, in July sold a farmhouse they purchased for $30 million, The Wall Street Journal reported.

They subsequently moved into a bigger home to make room for horses de Rossi owns.

'Portias living her dream riding her horse through the English countryside and into the village,' Ellen said on Instagram in August. 'Gosh I hope she comes home soon.'

DeGeneres was one of Tinseltown's most powerful entertainers until a toxic workplace scandal that began amid the coronavirus pandemic in 2020 escalated, hurting the ratings of the popular show, which wrapped up in May of 2022.
Martha Stewart said the moment has come to use her platform for politics, following the shooting death of a protester by a U.S. Border Patrol officer in Minneapolis Saturday.

The 84-year-old lifestyle expert shared with her-nearly 3,000,000 Instagram followers a copy of a text message from her teenage granddaughter Jude.

Jude urged her to act in the moment following the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old intensive care nurse at a Minnesota VA hospital, during a protest at an immigration enforcement operation by ICE on Saturday.

'My granddaughter wrote this to me yesterday,' Stewart said. 'She is 14 and sensitive to what is going on in our country as we all should be.'

The text read, 'I'm not sure if it's excusable to not be speaking up right now.'

The Jersey City-born businesswoman added in additional text to the post to provide context to where she was at politically.

Martha Stewart, 84, said the moment has come to use her platform for politics. Pictured in NYC last month

'I am disheartened and sad each and every day that we cannot demonstrate our sympathy for the beleaguered, that we are told immigrants, which most of us are or descended from are unwelcome,' the stalwart TV star said.

Stewart said she was upset 'that we cannot show our frustration in peaceful demonstrations and that we can be attacked and even killed by federal troops.'

She wrapped up in saying, 'Things must have to change quickly and peacefully.'

Stewart received supportive sentiments in the adjacent comment thread from fellow celebs such as Bravo's Andy Cohen, content creator Sai De Silva and designer Brian Atwood.

Cohen remarked, 'Amen' to Stewart's sentiments about meeting the moment.

Said one user: 'Jude is 14 years old and gets it, but some adults cannot see it;' another user said, 'QUEEN MARTHA ILY!'

Another user described Martha's granddaughter as 'a compassionate, strong child,' adding, 'Thank you for listening to her.'

Stewart's remarks come less than two years after she endorsed Democratic candidate, former Vice President Kamala Harris, over Republican candidate and eventual winner, President Donald Trump in the 2024 presidential election.

Law enforcement officers detained a demonstrator during a protest outside a hotel on Monday in Maple Grove, Minnesota

A Minneapolis Police officer threw a can of tear gas at people gathered after a fatal shooting by federal agents Saturday

Stewart, appearing at a Retail Influencer CEO Forum in 2024, was asked who she was voting for; she said she was casting her ballot for Harris because she 'doesn't hate democracy' and 'doesn't hate New York.'

Stewart told CNN in 2016 during Trump's first presidential campaign against Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton: 'We just can't have a country run by someone who is totally unprepared for what comes.'

In Minneapolis on Sunday, federal and state officials were clashing over the incident, with each saying the other side was at fault.

Border Patrol Commander Gregory Bovino said Sunday that Pretti had placed himself in harm's way with his conduct in the incident.

'When someone makes the choice to come into an active law enforcement scene, interfere, obstruct, delay or assault law enforcement officer and - and they bring a weapon to do that - that is a choice that that individual made,' Bovino said, according to the AP.

Walz asked at a news conference, 'Which side do you want to be on? The side of an all-powerful federal government that could kill, injure, menace and kidnap its citizens off the streets, or on the side of a nurse at the VA hospital who died bearing witness to such government.'

Walz was one of a number of notable Democrats who spoke out about the incident, a group including his former running mate, ex-Vice President Kamala Harris.

Harris hailed Pretti via social media as a person who 'was dedicated to serving his community and our country.'

Flowers are left at a makeshift memorial in the area where Alex Pretti was shot dead a day earlier by federal immigration agents in Minneapolis

Stewart received supportive sentiments in the adjacent comment thread, including from fellow celebs such as Bravo's Andy Cohen

Harris continued, 'As so many have now seen on video, his final act before he was killed by federal agents was doing everything in his power to protect his community.

'Alex and tens of thousands of Minnesotans have boldly defended their neighbors against the murderous occupation of an American city by the federal government.'

The 2024 Democratic presidential candidate wrapped up in saying she was 'enraged and heartbroken for Alex, his family, Minneapolis, and America.'

Another former presidential candidate, Sen. Bernie Sanders, called for 'all federal agents  ICE and Border Patrol' to be 'withdrawn immediately from Minneapolis and other cities.'

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani said, 'ICE terrorizes our cities. ICE puts us all in danger. Abolish ICE.'
Robert Irwin's Dancing With The Stars US partner Witney Carson has issued a fiery rant against Delta Air Lines after the cabin crew on a flight reportedly told her young children to 'be quiet'.

The 32-year-old American dancer, who recently flew to Queensland with her family to visit Robert, shared a post to social media that captured her sitting on the flight looking frustrated.

In the caption, she asked her followers for advice after describing the situation to them: 'Is it appropriate to ask the child to be quiet for the entire 13 hour flight?

'My son Jet was playing with me. We were asked to be quiet because a man upfront was trying to rest.'

She added she found the request to be perplexing, given it was made in the middle of the day.

'I totally get if there needs to be a certain time where we need to sleep, but it was in the middle of the day,' Witney wrote.

Robert Irwin's Dancing With The Stars US partner Witney Carson has issued a fiery rant against Delta Air Lines after the cabin crew on a flight reportedly told her young children to 'be quiet'

The 32-year-old American dancer, who recently flew to Queensland with her family to visit Robert, shared a post to social media which captured her sitting on the plane looking frustrated

'I'm a big advocate of worry about things that are in your control and put some freaking earplugs in? Am I being crazy?' she asked.

She added that the Delta cabin crew continually shushed her two-year-old son, Jet, which made her very uncomfortable.

'The flight attendant kept shushing Jet. I got up and asked him if there were certain times on the flight we needed to be quiet,' she wrote.

'We'd respect that. But if not, I don't expect my children to sit quietly for 13 hours. I'm done!'

The Daily Mail has contacted Delta Air Lines for comment.

Witney's post was met with an outpouring of support in her favour, which she later thanked her fans for.

'Seems I've reached the right side of Instagram. I feel very validated. Thanks for letting me vent,' she wrote.

Earlier this month, Robert Irwin, 22, shared a very touching reunion with the woman who waltzed him to victory on Dancing With The Stars US last year.

In the caption, she asked her followers for advice after describing the situation to them

She added the cabin crew continually shushed her two-year-old son Jet, which made her very uncomfortable

The Wildlife Warrior invited Witney to spend time with him at Australia Zoo - and she brought along her family.

In a sweet video shared to Instagram, Robert joined Witney, her husband Carson McAllister and their sons Kevin Leo, five, and Jet Carson, with Robert holding the hands of the husband and wife as he danced into frame.

The family dressed in traditional khaki ensembles as they got to know the animals housed at the sanctuary.

Witney cuddled up to some lemurs before the whole family watched Robert host the famous crocodile show.

'We are BACK. Team IrWINit reunited,' Robert wrote in his caption alongside the clip.

Witney and Robert took home the Mirrorball trophy when they won the American edition of DWTS in November.

Last year, Robert quickly sparked romance rumours with Witney - before fans worked out that the stunning dancer is very much taken.

Viewers remarked on their sizzling chemistry evident from their first dance together.

Followers of the Aussie star, who is ten years younger than Witney, were disappointed to discover the choreographer is already married.
Madeline Holtznagel appeared to be having a ball as she took a ride on partner Justin Hemmes' $1 million speedboat in Sydney over the weekend.

The model, 29, who was clad in a skimpy bikini, was all smiles as she accepted a friendly kiss from a male friend while her billionaire boyfriend watched on.

She cupped the man's chin as he pressed his lips to her cheek.

The Merivale boss later dropped Madeline off on dry land, along with his daughters - Alexa, nine, and Saachi, seven - whom he shares with ex-partner Kate Fowler.

Madeline appeared refreshed after taking a dip in the water from the boat, slipping on a pair of designer sunglasses and a straw hat over her damp tresses.

The brunette, who welcomed her first child with Justin - a son named Jaeger - in June, put on a busty display in a black and pink bikini top.

Madeline Holtznagel (pictured) appeared to be having a ball as she took a ride on partner Justin Hemmes' $1 million speedboat in Sydney over the weekend

The Merivale boss later dropped Madeline off on dry land, along with his daughters - Alexa, nine, and Saachi, seven - whom he shares with ex-partner Kate Fowler

Madeline looked sensational in a brown and pink bikini

She paired it with a set of high-waisted brown bottoms as she enjoyed a day out on the water with friends.

The mother-of-one finished her beachy look with an oversized woven tote bag by Miu Miu, worth $4,250.

Meanwhile, Justin went shirtless in a pair of black swim shorts.

It seems Madeline and Justin have been making the most of his speedboat this summer.

The couple were seen out on the Sydney Harbour again earlier this month.

Appearing unfazed by the sweltering conditions, new mum Madeline showed off her summer body in a barely-there G-string bikini from Aussie label Bamba at the time.

The pair were later seen picking up a group of friends and ferrying them to Rose Bay Wharf in Sydney's ritzy eastern suburbs.

Madeline announced the arrival of her first child with the hospitality king on Instagram in June, alongside a gallery of sweet photos.

Meanwhile, Justin went shirtless in a pair of black swim shorts

Madeline appeared refreshed after taking a dip in the water from the boat, slipping on a pair of designer sunglasses and a straw hat over her damp tresses

Madeline, who welcomed her first child with Justin - a son named Jaeger - in June, put on a busty display

She paired it with a set of high-waisted brown bottoms as she enjoyed a day out on the water with friends

The mother-of-one paired her beachy look with an oversized woven tote bag by Miu Miu, worth $4,250

Madeline was surrounded by her bikini-clad girlfriends

Madeline carried another wide-brimmed hat in hand as she left the boat

She practiced sun safety with a straw hat and sunglasses

At one point, Madeline could be seen helping unload trash from the boat

'Jaeger Justin Hemmes. 1.06.25,' she captioned the post.

The pair began dating in 2019 when Madeline was 22 and he was 47, following his split from Kate in 2018.

Madeline is the younger sister of Australia's Next Top Model star Simone Holtznagel.

She laughed as she watched people attempt to climb the ladder onto the pier

Madeline had her hands full with bags of trash

It appeared to be quite the busy event with several of Justin and Madeline's friends stepping out onto the boat
Nicola Peltz and Brooklyn Beckham have revealed that they have rescued another puppy - after claiming his mum Victoria declined to contribute to their fundraiser for displaced dogs in the LA wildfires.

The actress, 31, and the aspiring chef, 26, shared that the pooch named Tami had been taken in by her charity Yogi's House as she posted a video to Instagram.

The caption read: 'We saved this beautiful girl and her sister today if you're interested in making her your daughter!'

It comes after last week Brooklyn released a bombshell statement last Monday where he addressed his long-running feud with his family.

In the post, Brooklyn claimed that Victoria snubbed Nicola's request to support her attempts to help dogs during the LA fires last year, despite it being 'the only time they had ever asked for anything'.

Rather than focus on supporting residents affected by the tragedy, the couple raised $59,000 for displaced dogs through the actress's charity Yogi's House to rescue animals affected by the blaze.

Nicola Peltz and Brooklyn Beckham have revealed that they have rescued another puppy - after claiming his mum Victoria declined to contribute to their fundraiser for displaced dogs in the LA wildfire (seen withy their dog Lamb)

The actress, 31, and the aspiring chef, 26, shared that the pooch named Tami had been taken in by her charity Yogi's House as she posted a video to Instagram

Brooklyn said in his astonishing statement: 'We've 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 mum's support to save displaced dogs during the LA fires, my mum refused.'

On Monday animal lovers Nicola and Brooklyn also shared snaps with their fluffy white dog Lamb as they posted a TikTok documenting their recent loved-up weekend together.

LA was hit by devastating wildfires in January 2025, which claimed the lives of 31 people, forced over 200,000 people to evacuate and destroyed over 18,000 structures.

At the time, Nicola had shared on social media that she was working with her charity to organise an event to raise money for displaced animals during the fires.

The charity helps to save dogs from overcrowded LA shelters and euthanasia.

A GoFundMe was also set up to rescue pets in wildlife-affected areas and transport them to safe foster homes, and raised $59,444.

Despite his famous heritage and Nicola being the daughter of billionaire Nelson Peltz, the chef donated just $5,000 to the cause.

It comes after last week Brooklyn released a bombshell statement last Monday where he addressed his long-running feud with his family

In the post, Brooklyn claimed that Victoria snubbed Nicola's request to support her attempts to help dogs during the LA fires last year, despite it being 'the only time they had ever asked for anything'

On Monday animal lovers Nicola and Brooklyn also shared snaps with their fluffy white dog Lamb as they posted a TikTok documenting their recent loved-up weekend together

Nicola and Brooklyn shared snaps and posted live to Instagram from the Pendry Hotel in West Hollywood where brands donated items for those in need.

Victoria had previously shared her heartbreak over the blazes in a post on Instagram.

She wrote: 'Seeing the devastation and loss caused by these wildfires is truly heartbreaking.

'Los Angeles holds such a special place in our family's hearts, and our thoughts and prayers are with everyone affected, especially those who have lost their homes or loved ones.'

'We are immensely grateful to the brave firefighters and first responders who are risking their lives to protect others. Please stay safe and look after each other during this devastating time. Victoria x.'

Brooklyn's dad David also shared an Instagram post about the fires, writing: 'LA is such a special place for my family.'

'I'm heartbroken to wake up to more horrific stories and pictures and I'm thinking of everyone there including many friends and colleagues who are facing these devastating fires.

'My thoughts and prayers go out to all those affected, their loved ones and sending gratitude to the first responders and emergency services for their courage in such a challenging situation.

'Sending all my love and please support organisations helping on the ground.'

On Monday night the rest of the Beckhams gathered in Paris to support Victoria, 51, as she received a Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters. Brooklyn made it clear where his loyalties lie as he was the only one not to attend.

Over in Paris, Victoria was joined by David, 50, sons Romeo, 23, and Cruz, 20, and daughter Harper, 14, at the ceremony, as well as several of her close friends and Romeo and Cruz's respective girlfriends Kim Turnbull and Jackie Apostel.

The Beckham clan appeared determined not to allow their family drama to overshadow Victoria's big day, as she was presented with the prestigious accolade by the French Ministry of Culture.

The award recognises the individual contributions of artists, writers, and cultural figures to the arts and literature, and previous recipients include Zoe Saldana, Selena Gomez, Jude Law and Denis Villeneuve.

And in her acceptance speech, the Spice Girl made special mention of her children, as she thanked them for 'always believing in my vision', despite Brooklyn's recent vitriolic claims against her.

Taking to the podium in front of the star-studded crowd, with her family stood proudly in front, Victoria began: 'I'd like to start by thanking the French ministry of culture and the Minister of Culture, Madame Rachida Dati. For this honour and for your kind words, I am extremely grateful.

'I am so proud to be British, but France is one of the few places where fashion is treated with the seriousness it deserves as a form of art.'

While she then shared special thanks to her business partners and team at her fashion and makeup brand, Victoria Beckham, as well as her kids and beloved husband of 26 years.

Nicola looked happy and carefree as she walked their dog in a TikTok clip from their recent weekend

On Monday night the rest of the Beckhams gathered in Paris to support Victoria, 51, as she received a Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters

'This is not the achievement of just one person,' she declared. 'From design and the atelier, to the production and communication teams, and the many minds and hands working together - it is a collaborative effort, and this distinction isn't mine alone. So I'd like to thank my incredible team for their dedication, creativity and trust.'

David beamed with pride as he watched on, with son Cruz seen laying a supportive hand on his shoulder, as Victoria thanked him 'for seeing my passion for this business and my determination to build something that we could both be really proud of.'

'Thank you to my parents and to my children who are always believing in my vision,' she continued.

The Beckhams maintained a stoic silence since the influencer claimed 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.

Among the long list of claims he made was that Victoria pulled out of designing his bride's wedding dress at the 'eleventh hour' and then 'hijacked' the first dance at his wedding and 'danced very inappropriately on me in front of everyone'.

Victoria was said to be 'feeling betrayed' by Brooklyn after her years spent protecting him from 'dark stories'.
Cruz Beckham's girlfriend has praised his mother Victoria in a pointed statement amid the famous family's shocking feud with son Brooklyn and his wife Nicola Peltz.

Jackie Apostel, 30, who has been dating the youngest Beckham boy, 20, since 2024, was present in Paris when the family matriarch, 51, was named a Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters in Paris on Monday.

A gaping absence was felt at the ceremony in the form of estranged son Brooklyn, 26, who shook the family to its core last week by releasing an explosive statement vowing to never reconcile with the 'performative' Beckhams.

The family have maintained a resounding silence in the wake of the announcement, however Jackie seemed keen to remain in Victoria's good books as she shared a gushing - and seemingly pointed - message to the star on Instagram.

Alongside a picture of the family and Romeo's girlfriend Kim Turnbull, she penned: 'Congratulations, Victoria Beckham...

Cruz Beckham's girlfriend has praised his mother Victoria in a pointed statement amid the famous family's shocking feud with son Brooklyn and his wife Nicola Peltz

Jackie Apostel, 30, who has been dating the youngest Beckham boy, 20, since 2024, was present in Paris when the family matriarch, 51, was named a Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters in Paris on Monday.

Victoria Beckham paid tribute to her husband David and their children as she was named a Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters in Paris on Monday - but not all of their brood turned out to support her

'Your drive, creativity, resilience but most importantly kindness and respect towards anyone around you are some of the many reason[s] why you deserve this and more.

'You lift us all up constantly and it's so beautiful to witness your hard work be recognised. We love you!!!'

The formerly inseparable Beckhams missed out on Brooklyn's presence at the momentous ceremony, in which Victoria thanked her children.

It marks only the latest family event to be snubbed by the aspiring chef, after he was previously a no-show at his father's milestone 50th birthday bash, the UK launch of his mother's Netflix show and to see David be knighted at Windsor Castle.

They appeared determined not to allow their family drama to overshadow Victoria's big day, as she was presented with the prestigious accolade by the French Ministry of Culture.

The award recognises the individual contributions of artists, writers, and cultural figures to the arts and literature, and previous recipients include Zoe Saldana, Selena Gomez, Jude Law and Denis Villeneuve.

Last week, the eldest Beckham son, 26, launched an extraordinary online attack on his parents, accusing David, 50, and Victoria, 51, of trying to 'ruin' his marriage

Jackie threw her support behind boyfriend Cruz's mum at the event on Monday

In her acceptance speech, the Spice Girl made special mention of her children, as she thanked them for 'always believing in my vision', despite Brooklyn's recent vitriolic claims against her.

She was presented the prestigious honour by the French Minister of Culture, Rachida Dati, who introduced her with an effusive speech.

Praising her fashion talents, she said: 'You offered millions of young girls a new representation of themselves. For many you were a true role model, inspiring for each and every one of us a taste of freedom and boldness.'

Taking to the podium in front of the star-studded crowd, with her family stood proudly in front, Victoria began: 'I'd like to start by thanking the French ministry of culture and the Minister of Culture, Madame Rachida Dati. For this honour and for your kind words, I am extremely grateful.

Brooklyn is seen with parents in 2019

'I am so proud to be British, but France is one of the few places where fashion is treated with the seriousness it deserves as a form of art.'

While she then shared special thanks to her business partners and team at her fashion and makeup brand, Victoria Beckham, as well as her kids and beloved husband of 26 years.

'This is not the achievement of just one person,' she declared. 'From design and the atelier, to the production and communication teams, and the many minds and hands working together - it is a collaborative effort, and this distinction isn't mine alone. So I'd like to thank my incredible team for their dedication, creativity and trust.'

David beamed with pride as he watched on, with son Cruz seen laying a supportive hand on his shoulder, as Victoria thanked him 'for seeing my passion for this business and my determination to build something that we could both be really proud of'.

The Beckham clan appeared determined not to allow their family drama to overshadow Victoria's big day, as she was presented with the prestigious accolade by the French Ministry of Culture
Line Of Duty stars Adrian Dunbar, Vicky McClure and Martin Compston sent fans into meltdown when they reunited for a pint at the pub.

In an update shared to Instagram on Sunday, the trio enjoyed an evening out ahead of their return to filming in the Spring.

Martin, 41, smiled alongside Vicky, 42, and Adrian, 67, as they raised their beers for the photo.

He captioned the update: 'AC12 in the house (pub).'

Fan's of the show were delighted at the reunion snap as they get ready for the seventh series.

They commented: 'This makes us so happy'; 'Jesus, Mary & Joseph & the wee donkey, fab to see you all together xx.'

Line Of Duty stars Adrian Dunbar, Vicky McClure and Martin Compston sent fans into meltdown when they reunited for a pint at the pub

In an update shared to Instagram on Sunday, the trio enjoyed an evening out ahead of their return to filming in the Spring (pictured in Line Of Duty)

Others added: 'The pic we've been waiting for!! Now finish your drinks and start shooting the new season';

'I think I would hyperventilate if I was in that pub right now!'; 'Best show ever!!!.'

Martin, Vicky and Adrian will start shooting for Line Of Duty in the Spring but have been seen catching up ahead of their return to set.

Last week, Vicky hosted her close pal and co-star Adrian at her Nottingham home where the pair enjoyed watching Nottingham Forest take on Arsenal with her Trigger Point co-star Eric Shango.

The actress also shared a snap of the pals standing outside the city's Ye Olde Trip To Jerusalem which holds the title of the oldest inn in England.

Adrian enjoyed a pint with Vicky and her husband, Welsh director Jonny Owen at the pub.

'Had the best few days in Notts with the best of friends ' Vicky sweetly captioned the photos.

Jed Mercurio's hit thriller last aired in 2021 with the series six finale coming in as the biggest drama episode since modern records began in 2002, with 17 million viewers recorded after 28-days.

Last week, Vicky hosted her close pal and co-star Adrian at her Nottingham home where the pair enjoyed watching Nottingham Forest take on Arsenal

However fans were left disappointed by the controversial ending of series six, when bumbling Det Supt Ian Buckells (Nigel Boyle) was unmasked as 'H' - the shadowy criminal mastermind behind the police corruption.

Hoping to win back fans the new six-part series will start filming in Belfast in the coming spring.

In series seven AC-12 has been disbanded and rebranded the Inspectorate of Police Standards as Martin, Vicky and Adrian return to their roles.

Anticorruption work has never been more difficult and in this challenging climate Steve Arnott (Martin), Kate Fleming (Vicky) and Ted Hastings (Adrian) are assigned their most sensitive case so far.

Detective Inspector Dominic Gough, a charismatic officer winning plaudits for a string of takedowns of organised crime, is accused of abusing his position of trust to act as a sexual predator.

But is Gough's case a deliberate distraction from a bigger threat still operating in the shadows?

Opening up on the new series, Martin told the Chris Evans Breakfast Show: 'Last year we got to the point where we said, "All right, let's clear the decks for next year".

The actress and Adrian were joined by Vicky's Trigger Point co-star Eric Shango

Adrian also enjoyed a pint of Guinness with Vicky and her husband, Welsh director Jonny Owen at the pub

'We chat every, like, if not every other day, like every other week, at least, we're genuinely close pals. Jed went for a curry as soon as I got here the other night.

'We kind of just said, "Look, is it getting close to that time?" It's sort of, we're all getting on, you know, but, just in terms of the distance from it, we're kind of like, "It's now or never."

'It was getting to the point, if you leave it too long between it. I mean, it is great to leave the distance because it gives Jed time to write it and come up with a proper storyline...'

He added of the script: 'I mean, it's fantastic already it's a proper page turner.

'You've got to come from a solid base rather than just commission it. But the scripts are brilliant and we're all excited to get back.'

The final series averaged a massive 16 million viewers making it the biggest drama across the market since 2018.
Montana Brown showed off her 12-month postpartum figure on Instagram on Monday.

The former Love Island star, 30, who welcomed a baby girl with her fiance, Mark O'Connor, around this time last year, took to social media to document her fitness transformation after giving birth to her second child.

In one short video clip, Montana looked incredible in a seamless blue underwear set, posing up a storm in her bathroom mirror.

Documenting her fitness journey over the past year, Montana shared with her followers several clips of herself working out in the gym with weights, going on outdoor runs, and doing cryotherapy.

In another short video clip, Montana showed off her toned figure in a seamless lilac bra and blue bottoms.

She captioned the post: 'Falling back into fitness has been my saviour this year. Its been such hard work but there is some pretty incredible fitness communities around.

Montana Brown showed off her 12-month postpartum figure on Instagram on Monday

The former Love Island star, 30, who welcomed a baby girl with her fiance, Mark O'Connor, around this time last year, took to social media to document her fitness transformation after giving birth to her second child

She continued: '@aeptgym thanks for supporting me from 2 months postpartum #fitness #postpartum.'

AEPT gym is based in Aston Clinton and run by Alex and Emma Morgan.

Montana's post comes after she revealed she is ending her breastfeeding journey.

The Love Island star is mother to Jude, two, and Miley, who turns one next month, with her fiance Mark, and often chronicles her parenting online.

Earlier this month, she shared a lengthy post revealing she was stopping breastfeeding Miley, as feeding and co-sleeping had left her 'irritable, impatient and angry' while suffering poor mental health due to 'not sleeping in three years'.

In a post over the weekend, Montana showcased her incredible figure in a bikini and discussed how she is 'committed to feeling her best'.

In her post regarding prioritising herself, she wrote: 'I feel like Ive co-slept for 3 years, breast fed and just given every damn inch of myself to those babies and it has felt really nice to spend more time to focus on personal goals.'

In the post, Montana wrote: 'How I really feel about stopping breastfeeding Completely Relieved! Im going to be honest, I have really not enjoyed breastfeeding the last 4 months...

'I have persisted because I know its good for Miley and weve had things planned which I know it would be more convenient to continue...

In one short video clip, Montana looked incredible in a seamless blue underwear set, posing up a storm in her bathroom mirror

Documenting her fitness journey over the past year, Montana shared with her followers several clips of herself working out in the gym with weights

She also filmed herself in workout gear as she went for a jog outdoors

In another short video clip, Montana showed off her toned figure in a seamless lilac bra and blue bottoms

'Its a truly beautiful and natural thing which Im extremely grateful to be able to have done for both my children HOWEVER personally it has ALWAYS come at a cost of my mental health...

'I think because Ive breastfed AND coslept I have always reactively fed with little routine because I do not like the idea of scheduled feeding...

'Ive not slept properly in 3 years because I breastfed Jude for 10 months and Miley nearly a year and the lack of sleep has made me feel like an insane person...

'More irritable, less patience, more anger. I just want to say here and now, there is no award for breastfeeding the longest, I have really struggled with my sleep on both occasions due to breastfeeding through the night...

'So if youre a mum struggling breastfeeding please know it is ok to stop and prioritise yourself if its making you unhappy. Happy mum, happy baby. Im so glad Im done. Thank you and goodnight.'

She previously shared her bikini-clad, in which she followed the social media trend of listing what she is 'walking into 2026 with'.

The Love Island star is mother to Jude, two, and Miley, who turns one next month, with her fiance Mark

Her list comprised: 'More focus, better fitness, less f**ks to give, more girl time, more boundaries, therapy, less toys for my kids, more adventure, better health, better phone ettiquette, more cooking with my kids'.

She added a caption reading: 'Proud of myself for committing to feeling my best after 2 babies back to back. I dont know if any other mothers relate but I felt so shell shocked after Miley and was desperate to feel back to myself and have some confidence...

'I feel like Ive co-slept for 3 years, breast fed and just given every damn inch of myself to those babies and it has felt really nice to spend more time to focus on personal goals...

'Mums, dont feel guilty you have brought humans into this earth and you deserve some time to focus on yourself'.
Romeo Beckham and girlfriend Kim Turnbull held hands during a romantic date night at Costes in Paris after his family celebration in the city.

The son of David and Victoria Beckham, 23, and the DJ, 24, looked loved-up as they walked hand-in-hand as they departed the five-star celebrity hotspot.

Romeo cut a dapper figure in a black suit layered over a matching T-shirt while Kim stunned in a cut out black midi dress and open toe heels.

Hours earlier the couple supported his mum Victoria as she was named a Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters in Paris.

The fashion designer, 51, was joined by David, 50, sons Romeo and Cruz, 20, and daughter Harper, 14, at the ceremony, as well as several of her close friends and Romeo and Cruz's respective girlfriends Kim and Jackie Apostel.

But, predictably, eldest son Brooklyn, 26, yet again skipped out on the occasion - a week after he severed all ties with his family in a bombshell statement, opting instead to build a new life with his heiress wife Nicola Peltz in the US.

Romeo Beckham and girlfriend Kim Turnbull held hands during a romantic date night at Costes in Paris after his family celebration in the city

The son of David and Victoria Beckham, 23, and the DJ, 24, looked loved-up as they walked hand-in-hand as they departed the five-star celebrity hotspot

It marks only the latest family event to be snubbed by the aspiring chef, after he was previously a no-show at his father's milestone 50th birthday bash, the UK launch of his mother's Netflix show and to see David be knighted at Windsor Castle.

However, the Beckham clan appeared determined not to allow their family drama to overshadow Victoria's big day, as she was presented with the prestigious accolade by the French Ministry of Culture.

The award recognises the individual contributions of artists, writers, and cultural figures to the arts and literature, and previous recipients include Zoe Saldana, Selena Gomez, Jude Law and Denis Villeneuve.

And in her acceptance speech, the Spice Girl made special mention of her children, as she thanked them for 'always believing in my vision', despite Brooklyn's recent vitriolic claims against her.

She was presented the prestigious honour by the French Minister of Culture, Rachida Dati, who introduced her with an effusive speech.

A slew of the biggest names in fashion were also on hand to support Victoria, including Vogue icon Anna Wintour, former British Vogue editor-in-chief Edward Enninful and French model Cindy Bruna.

While Danish supermodel Helena Christensen, 57, was also spotted making a stylish exit from the ceremony, looking radiant in a silk gown under a Victoria Beckham wool coat.

The ceremony marked the Beckham clan's first public appearance since Brooklyn's damning statement - with the family putting on a very united front.

They have maintained a stoic silence since the influencer claimed he has been 'controlled by a family that values public promotion above all else' and that since being with Nicola, 31, he has found 'peace and relief' after battling crippling anxiety.

Hours earlier the couple supported his mum Victoria as she was named a Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters in Paris; L-R Kim, Romeo, Harper, Victoria, David, Cruz, Jackie Apostel

But, predictably, eldest son Brooklyn, 26, yet again skipped out on the occasion - a week after he severed all ties with his family in a bombshell statement (seen with parents in 2019)

However, the Beckham clan appeared determined not to allow their family drama to overshadow Victoria's big day, as she was presented with the prestigious accolade by the French Ministry of Culture

Among the long list of claims he made was that Victoria pulled out of designing his bride's wedding dress at the 'eleventh hour' and then 'hijacked' the first dance at his wedding and 'danced very inappropriately on me in front of everyone'.

Cruz and Romeo have since appeared to have taken a swipe at their estranged brother Brooklyn, as they hit Paris with their girlfriends.

Taking to TikTok, the youngest Beckham boy was joined by his girlfriend Jackie, alongside brother Romeo and his partner Kim as they filmed themselves in a car alongside the caption: 'Imagine hating and were just here like.'

The sweet display of brotherly love comes in stark contrast to Brooklyn's profession of his feelings towards his parents, who he denounced last week in the shocking statement and blasted his family's 'inauthentic' way.

Despite this, Cruz seemed keen to make the statement through his playful Instagram post about resistance towards haters.

Cruz, Jackie, Romeo and Kim have been inseparable during their Paris trip for Fashion Week, with the foursome enjoying dinner over the weekend.

Victoria is said to be 'feeling betrayed' by Brooklyn's bombshell statement and dancing revelations after her years spent protecting him from 'dark stories'.

The Daily Mail's Katie Hind previously explained how the Beckhams' camp 'leapt into overdrive in Brooklyn's defence' when stories such as kiss and tells and tales of him being 'involved with the wrong crowd' surfaced.

David and Victoria would 'take Brooklyn back in a minute' and are said to be 'horrified' by events this week, according to another source

They have maintained a stoic silence since the influencer claimed he has been 'controlled by a family that values public promotion above all else' and that since being with Nicola, 31, he has found 'peace and relief' after battling crippling anxiety (seen in October)

Among the long list of claims he made was that Victoria pulled out of designing his bride's wedding dress at the 'eleventh hour' and then 'hijacked' the first dance at his wedding and 'danced very inappropriately on me in front of everyone' (seen with Nicola during vow renewal)

His parents have often instructed expensive lawyers to protect him against such stories.

David and Victoria would 'take Brooklyn back in a minute' and are said to be 'horrified' by events this week, according to another source.

Following Brooklyn's claims about his mother hijacking his first dance, the couple's wedding DJ, Fat Tony, later recounted the exact detail of the incident during an appearance on This Morning.

The 60-year-old branded the dance 'really awkward' and confirmed that Nicola fled the reception in tears.

Tony, a longtime friend of the Beckhams, claimed that Marc Anthony was to blame, revealing the musician had called Victoria to the dance floor with her son and instructed him, 'place your hands on your mother's hips'.
Demi Moore showcased her ageless complexion as she attended Victoria Beckham's award ceremony in Paris with her dog Pilaf on Monday.

The American actress, 63, who is currently in the city for Paris Fashion Week, looked radiant in a black evening gown, posing up a storm on a grand staircase ahead of the ceremony.

Stepping out later in the evening, Demi looked effortlessly chic in a structured black blazer while carrying her beloved chihuahua in a black sling.

Layering a black turtleneck top underneath her blazer, the actress teamed the look with black tailored trousers.

Wearing minimal makeup to showcase her ageless beauty, Demi completed the ensemble with black ballet flats with gold hardware accents.

Demi's outing in the fashion capital comes after she received the Fashion Icon Award from WWD.

Demi Moore showcased her ageless complexion as she attended Victoria Beckham's award ceremony in Paris with her dog Pilaf on Monday

Later that evening, the American actress, 63, who is currently in the city for Paris Fashion Week, looked effortlessly chic as she stepped out in a structured black blazer, carrying her beloved chihuahua in a black sling

The actress posed for a photoshoot for the publication, which saw her slip into a silver strapless mini dress, which featured a sequinned embellishment.

WWD honored Demi with the award at the WWD Style Awards, which were held on Friday, January 9th, in Los Angeles.

Speaking about how her style has changed over the years, she said: 'I think when we're younger, it's a combination of also finding ourselves, and so there's a lot of trial and error.

'And even today, the reality is we can do our best to approach it the same every time, but we're not gonna always hit it out of the park.

'It's also knowing to not put too much stakes on what the outside response is when I walk out the door.'

Along with her sense of style, Demi is also known for her long jet-black hair which she has said she has no plans to ever cut.

'There's a real freedom in letting your hair simply be itself and allowing it to tell your story,' the Oscar nominated actress said in a press release for Kerastase, which she has become a Global Brand Ambassador for.

'That, to me, is what beauty is all about  being authentic and embracing who you are.

Layering a black turtleneck top underneath her blazer, the actress teamed the look with black tailored trousers

Wearing minimal makeup to showcase her ageless beauty, Demi styled her dark tresses straight for the evening

She appeared in high spirits as security escorted her and her beloved pooch down the street

'As I've gotten older, I've become more thoughtful about how I care for it,' she told People. Demi also said the long locks 'feels most like me.'

Demi is 'gentle' with her hair, she told the site, and makes sure it is properly hydrated: 'The goal is strength and shine without overworking it.'

That means letting it alone when she is off set: 'When I am not working, I keep styling minimal and heat low.

'And, with long hair, conditioning is essential. Weekly, I treat it with Chronologiste Masque Intense.'

And to not leave the salon with a surprise cut  Moore instructs her hairstylist that 'just a dusting' will do. 'I'm protective of the length, so it's about health over inches.'

Demi said 'simplicity' of having long hair is her favorite part, that's why, even though she's 'loved' many past looks, if given the chance to revisit them, 'I'd go right back to long.'
Carol Wright has defended Victoria Beckham after her son, Brooklyn Beckham, made a series of bombshell allegations towards her.

Last week, the eldest son of Sir David and Lady Beckham, 26, accused his mother, 51, of dancing 'inappropriately' on him in what was meant to be his romantic first dance with his wife Nicola Peltz, 31, at their wedding.

Brooklyn wrote in his six-page statement: '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.'

But now, Mark Wright's mother, Carol, 65, has insisted that Victoria loves her sons and simply wanted to dance with Brooklyn on his special day as she weighed in on the family rift with her daughter Jessica Wright, 40, and Gemma Collins, 44.

Speaking on the Wright At Home podcast, Gemma kicked off the discussion saying: 'It's sad for everyone involved, Brooklyn should never compromise his family.'

Carol Wright has defended Victoria Beckham after her son, Brooklyn Beckham, made a series of bombshell allegations towards her

Last week, the eldest son of Sir David and Lady Beckham, 26, accused his mother, 51, of dancing 'inappropriately' on him in what was meant to be his romantic first dance with his wife Nicola Peltz, 31, at their wedding (Brooklyn pictured with his parents 2019)

Jessica chimed in: 'It's terribly sad that he's gone so public, and the things he said. He said something about the dance, he said something like: "I've never felt so much shame in my whole life," or something like that's really, really cutthroat.'

Carol added: 'And also he's known his mother all his life, right, he knows his mum's a lightweight with drinking, I'm a lightweight with drinking.'

Gemma then joked that Victoria eats 'edamame beans' as she said: 'Let's be fair, we love you VB but if you've only had a few edamames...' before Jess chimed in, adding: 'She eats fish and veg, that's right.'

Carol continued: 'So she's a lightweight, she's at her son's wedding, she's drunk, she wants to dance. You know, we love our sons.'

It comes after aspiring chef Brooklyn published a scathing six-page statement about his family, where he said he has no interest in reconciling with them, including dad David.

Despite once proudly declaring he was a 'mama's boy', Brooklyn focused on Victoria in the statement, with his vitriolic comments reportedly leaving her 'on the floor in pieces'.

Among Brooklyn's long list of claims was the accusation that his mum 'hijacked' his first dance at his wedding, before accusing his parents of trying to ruin his relationship.

Now, a week on from the statement, a clip of another viral moment between Brooklyn's wife Nicola and his mother Victoria from October 2022 during Paris Fashion Week has been doing the rounds on TikTok.

But now, Mark Wright's mother, Carol, 65, has insisted that Victoria loves her sons and simply wanted to dance with Brooklyn on his special day as she weighed in on the family rift with her daughter Jessica Wright, 40, and Gemma Collins, 44

Brooklyn is now estranged from his entire family - and he says he has no wishes to reconcile (pictured L-R: Cruz, Harper, Romeo, Victoria and David Beckham)

It shows Nicola speaking to a blonde woman at an event while Brooklyn's younger sister Harper stands nearby.

Nicola stands with her back to Brooklyn and Victoria to have her conversation, while Victoria appears to awkwardly hang around behind her and struggles to be brought into the conversation.

Sharing the clip, one TikTok user claimed: 'Leaked footage from 2022 of the Beckhams, Victoria is not the problem'

Under the video, fans gave their divided opinions as some claimed: 'Even when talking to someone you turn and at least say hello and excuse yourself and say you're talking to a friend and won't be long.';

'Having a conversation that didn't include queen Victoria? How dare she?';

'I never heard anything good about Nicola.';

Others leapt to Nicola's defence however, as they penned: 'She's talking to someone she's not being rude.';

'If she's talking to someone what's the problem.';

'What are you taking about shes having a conversation.';

'she was chatting to someone . not rude at all.'
Natalie Portman broke down in tears as she discussed the ICE enforcement operations currently taking place.

The Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency (ICE) have made thousands of arrests since Donald Trump returned to the White House, sparking public protests in certain cities.

Natalie, 44, attended the premiere of her new film The Gallerist at the Sundance Film Festival in Utah on Saturday where she sported an ICE OUT pin while posing for photographers.

The premiere came after Alex Jeffrey Pretti, a 37-year-old Minnesota resident and nurse, was shot dead during an altercation with federal agents on Saturday.

Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said in a press conference that Pretti had 'reacted violently' amid the altercation and further questioned why he was carrying a legally-held weapon at the time.

She added that Pretti had 'impeded their law enforcement operations, attacked those officers, had a weapon on him and multiple, dozens of rounds of ammunition.'

Natalie Portman broke down in tears as she discussed the ICE enforcement operations currently taking place

'IIt's such a horrible day, it's been a horrible week. What is happening in our country is just onscene,' she said

Natalie was emotional over the incident as she began to tear up while speaking with the press on the red carpet.

'It's such a horrible day, it's been a horrible week. What is happening in our country is just onscene,' she said.

'What Trump and Kristi Noem and ICE are doing to our citizens and undocumented people is outrageous and needs to end.

'I'm very moved by all the people coming out an dsupporting each other in community and showing the best of America. It's just too much, it needs to end.'

In another interview at the same event, she said: 'Of course we're at an unfortunately horrific moment in our country with the federal government attacking civilians in our own cities.

'I'm so lucky to be here in a joyful, creative community celebrating a movie we're really proud of but it's impossible to ignore what ICE is doing to our country.

'I'm very inspired by all the amazing Americans who are coming out and supporting each other and being there in communities, it's beautiful.'

Stars such as Mandy Moore and Ariana Grande shared their outrage following the incident over the weekend.

'I'm very moved by all the people coming out an dsupporting each other in community and showing the best of America. It's just too much, it needs to end,' she added

Natalie attended the premiere of her new film The Gallerist at the Sundance Film Festival Saturday where she sported an ICE OUT pin (pictured with Jenna Ortega and Charli XCX)

Mandy took to her Instagram stories not long after the incident and reposted a New York Times article that had the headline: 'Federal Agents Shoot And Kill A Person In Minneapolis, Officials Say.'

The actress then added her own message at the bottom which read, 'We have eyeballs.

'We've seen the video. They executed someone else. I'm not sure how this ends. This is terrifying territory.'

Ariana reposted a tweet shared by NYC mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani who wrote, 'As tens of thousands across America protest the violence that ICE sows with impunity, federal agents shot and killed another personal in Minneapolis today.

'ICE terrorizes our cities. ICE puts us all in danger. Abolish ICE.'

On Saturday, Pretti's family issued a statement on his death, saying he had been killed 'by murdering and cowardly thugs.'

'Alex was a kindhearted soul who cared deeply for his family and friends and also the American veterans whom he cared for as an ICU nurse at the Minneapolis VA hospital.

'Alex wanted to make a difference in this world. Unfortunately he will not be with us to see his impact. I do not through around the hero term lightly.

'However his last thought and act was to protect a woman.

'The sickening lies told about our son by the administration are reprehensible and disgusting. Alex is clearly not holding a gun when attacked by Trump's murdering and cowardly ICE thugs.

The premiere came after Alex Jeffrey Pretti (pictured), a 37-year-old Minnesota resident and nurse, was shot dead during an altercation with federal agents on Saturday

'He has his phone in his right hand and his empty left hand is raised above his head while trying to protect the woman ICE just pushed down all while being pepper sprayed.'

They concluded with, 'Please get the truth out about our son. He was a good man.'

While the family accused ICE of the shooting, it was actually carried out by officers from the Department for Homeland Security (DHS).

On Saturday evening, DHS Secretary Kristi Noem echoed claims Pretti 'brandished' a weapon at her agents before his shooting.

But footage taken of the killing appears to dispute her claims.

One agent was seen removing what appeared to be Pretti's legally-owned handgun from his waistband.

Pretti was an avid outdoorsman who enjoyed getting into adventures with Joule, his beloved Catahoula Leopard dog who also recently died.

He had also participated in protests following the January 7 killing of Renee Good by an Immigration and Customs officer.

Pretti was a US citizen, born in Illinois. Like Good, court records showed he had no criminal record and his family said he had never had any interactions with law enforcement beyond a handful of traffic tickets.

In a recent conversation with their son, his parents, who live in Colorado, told him to be careful when protesting.

Family members said Pretti owned a handgun and had a permit to carry a concealed handgun in Minnesota. They said they had never known him to carry it.

The family first learned of the shooting when they were called by a reporter for the Associated Press.
Katie Price shocked the world when she announced she was engaged to entrepeneur Lee Andrews just a week after announcing she had split from her ex JJ Slater.

Katie, 47, shared pictures of the OTT moment on social media which showed the words: 'Will you marry me?' in rose petals, tea light candles at the Jumeirah Burj Al Arab in Dubai.

Just days later, the pair got married with fans convinced it's all a publcity stunt, forcing Lee to insist they are genuinely husband and wife on Instagram on Tuesday.

And now, Katie's fans can enjoy the same proposal for themselves... if they so wish.

Travel company On the Beach are capitalising on the moment by offering copycat proposal packages in the same location.

Now YOU can have Katie Price's exact engagement! On the Beach offers identical proposal package after Lee Andrews popped the question to her - and another woman - in the space of four months

Katie and Lee shared this picture from their own engagement which took place at the Burj Al Arab on Friday

In comparison snaps Lee's almost identical proposal to former flame Alana Percival four months ago are clear for all to see

A campaign image reads: 'You can't put a price on the question you only get asked once. Or twice' overlaid over the same image as seen in Katie and Lee's posts.

'Well, actually, now you can. Book with On the Beach and request the Burj Al Arab Proposal Package.'

The advert pokes fun at the fact that Lee has replicated the exact proposal he made to an ex girlfriend just four months ago at the same spot.

In comparison snaps Lee's almost identical proposal to former flame Alana Percival last year are clear for all to see.

As well as rose petals and tea lights spelling out 'Will you marry me' on the floor of the luxurious spa at the Jumeirah Burj Al Arab, both women were presented with a bouquet of roses, wrapped in the same brown paper.

Alana, who is the spitting image of Katie with tattoos, long hair extensions and fake tan, is understood to have invested in one of Lees companies, according to the reports.

She later reportedly called off the engagement after growing suspicious of Lees intentions.

They also made light of the Beckham family feud after Brooklyn posted a six-page missive on how he does not want to reconcile with his family

They wrote this caption alongside their cheeky campaign image

Brooklyn has said he has no plans to reconcile with his famous family

He shared this image of himself with his wife Nicola Peltz Beckham on Monday

On the Beach write: 'You can now book a proposal setup with a 100% success rate.

'Introducing our Burj Al Arab Proposal Package - tried, tested and inspired by a very successful formula.

'The package includes: Rose petals and tealights spelling out Will you marry me? A luxurious spa setting at the Burj Al Arab

'A bouquet of flowers. As an added bonus, customers booking the Proposal Package will also receive FREE airport lounge access, meaning the romance starts long before take-off.

'When loves involved, Price really doesnt matter. T&Cs apply.'

They also made light of the Beckham family feud after Brooklyn posted a six-page missive on how he does not want to reconcile with his family.

They wrote: 'Finally, a refund policy for when the family chat goes nuclear.

'We get it. Sometimes there are family fallouts. That's why we're introducing "The Beckham Clause".'

'If a member of your group drops out due to a feud, a dramatic group chat exit, a refusal to share a sun lounger, or even some "inappropriate dancing", we'll refund their share of the hotel.

'Because you Wannabe on the beach. Not in a feud/

*Hotel only. T&Cs apply. (They might be 6 pages long).
Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez looked very stylish as they left their luxury hotel and headed to the Dior afterparty during Paris Fashion Haute Couture Week on Monday.

Lauren, 56, turned heads in a black ensemble with a subtle floral pattern, wearing a tailored fitted blazer with the sleeves pushed up to her elbows and a matching skin tight floor length skirt.

She completed the look with black heels and accessorised with a Chanel handbag and minimalist silver necklaces, styling her hair up in a sophisticated fashion.

Lauren's husband Jeff, 62, cut a stylish figure in a black suit and silver aviator sunglasses as he stood by her side.

The pair - who wed last year - looked the doting couple as they left the 2,000-a-night Hotel de Crillon in Paris, while smiling and holding hands.

Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez looked very stylish as they left their luxury 2k a night hotel and headed to the Dior after party during Paris Fashion Week on Monday

Lauren, 56, turned heads in a black ensemble with a subtle floral pattern as she wore a tailored fitted blazer and a matching skin tight floor length skirt

The hotel dates back to the 18th century which boasts a spa, including a pool with a Himalayan slat wall and 17,600 gold scales, five restaurants and bespoke collaborations with designers to shop from.

It comes as Emmy-winning journalist Lauren, narrowly avoided a wipeout while out in Paris with husband Jeff Bezos on Monday.

Lauren and the Amazon founder were seen walking into the Christian Dior Haute Couture Spring/Summer 2026 show during Paris Fashion Week, when Sanchez tripped in the doorway.

She was navigating walking in pointed-toe pumps while waving to photographers in a video shared by a fan to TikTok, when her heel caught on the ledge of the entrance, prompting her to temporarily lose her footing.

However, the mother-of-three quickly recovered, and smoothly made her way inside the building.

She cut a stylish figure in a pale blue skirt and matching jacket, complete with a lavish fur collar.

The star - who wore a fiery red ensemble earlier in the day - finalised the look with large sunglasses and a grey purse.

The couple married on the Italian island of San Giorgio Maggiore last June as part of a three-day celebration attended by celebrity friends including Ivanka Trump, Oprah Winfrey and Kim Kardashian.

The pair - who wed in 2025 - left the 2,000-a-night Hotel de Crillon in Paris (pictured)

Earlier in the day, Lauren cut a stylish figure in a pale blue skirt and matching jacket, complete with a lavish fur collar

Lauren ensured she stood out in her first outfit of the day Monday morning as she kicked off Paris Haute Couture week with a front row appearance at Schiaparelli's latest catwalk show

The estimated $20 million, multi-day event also included a foam party on Bezos' yacht, a lavish prenuptial dinner and a post-wedding lunch at the iconic Harry's Bar.

Ellie Goulding performed at their reception, while Usher also sang at their pajama-themed brunch the next day.

The happy couple got married in a restored amphitheater on the island, as Sanchez wore a high-neck, long sleeve lace Dolce & Gabbana gown that took over 900 hours of atelier to make, per Vogue.

The gown featured a flared skirt, long veil and a tight-fitting waist, with tons of buttons going up the middle.

Throughout the weekend, Sanchez also wore many custom accessories that were a nod to her new last name, like a black rhinestone-encrusted black clutch bag that read, 'Mrs. Bezos' on it in silver gems.

There was a strict no-phone policy and around 70 of the 200 guests were family members.

The wedding was held two years after Bezos popped the question to Sanchez in an 'extremely intimate' proposal on his $500 million superyacht.
Victoria Beckham was feted for her services to fashion during a ceremony in Paris on Monday, where she was joined by her nearest and dearest.

Shortly after receiving the Chevaliere de lOrdre des Arts et des Lettres by the French Ministry of Culture, the former Spice Girl took to Instagram to share a slew of snaps showing her celebrating the momentous career high.

One picture saw her posing with husband David, 50, as she gazed adoringly at the hunk, before taking to X to thank him for being her 'original investor'.

Victoria's eponymous brand famously suffered problems in its early days, with the ailing company falling 'millions in the red' before being rescued by David.

Joining the family at the occasion - which comes a year after she spoke of her 'embarrassment' over her failures on her documentary - were her sons Romeo and Cruz, their girlfriends, and their daughter Harper - but not estranged son Brooklyn.

Victoria Beckham was feted her services to fashion during a ceremony in Paris on Monday, after which she thanked her husband David who she branded her 'original investor'

In her post on X, Victoria thanked the French Minister of Culture, Rachida Dati, for the accolade before turning her attention to her husband

Victoria and David were joined by son Cruz (second left), his girlfriend Jackie Apostel (left), son Romeo (second right) and his girlfriend Kim Turnbull (right)

In her post on X, Victoria thanked the French Minister of Culture, Rachida Dati, for the accolade before turning her attention to her husband.

She wrote: 'Im so honoured to be named a Chevaliere de lOrdre des Arts et des Lettres by the French Ministry of Culture. I have always deeply admired the French aesthetic and the seriousness with which it treats fashion: as a form of art...

'So to be recognised here and embraced in this way, is a profound privilege  one that reflects decades of commitment and dedication. My sincere thanks to the French Minister of Culture, Rachida Dati for this honour...

'Thank you also to business partners who believed in me, my family, and especially David  my husband, and original investor. I couldnt be more grateful, you are my everything xx.'

When Victoria launched her fashion brand in 2008, she hit headlines after frivolous spending meant she quickly began to make a loss and was forced to rely on handouts from David to bail her out.

Yet it soon became impossible for David to continue funnelling money into her business, which reported losses of 66million. Her losses became notorious - with the ailing brand suffering continued downfall.

After investing millions into his wife's brand, he later reflected on the fear he felt when he could see the numbers spiralling. He said: 'It made me panic. I was panicked by it because I never saw anything coming back.

The couple looked every inch the superstar pairing as they posed on the stairs

The family proudly supported the matriarch in the wake of her praise

The matriarch was named a Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters, during which she gave a speech which left her husband David emotional and leading to a tender moment between the star and his youngest son Cruz

Victoria paid tribute to her husband David and their children as she was named a Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters in Paris on Monday - but not all of their brood turned out to support her

Joining the superstar attendees was Demi Moore, who looked sensational in a complementary dress to Victoria

French designer Haider Ackermann looked suave in a pinstripe suit

'We always agreed that we would support each other no matter what but it worried me. It wasn't sustainable.'

Victoria added: 'There was a lot of waste, we were millions of pounds in the red. I didn't know what to do and I was so desperate to save this business that I cared so much about. I felt like I was breaking down myself.

'I felt embarrassed... I was in a hole, it felt like I was in quicksand.'

Despite the early failures, on her self-titled Netflix documentary, Victoria revealed the incredible way she was able to turn around her fashion brand's fortune after David refused to continue bailing her out.

She explained that she approached businessman David Belhassen, confessing: 'I really was desperate, not just for the money but for everything else he could bring.'

Photographer JR (left) looked handsome in his trendy ensemble

Belhassen explained: 'Victoria was not looking for a partner that would just put in money, she needed a partner that knew the business, understood her dream and was capable of making it happen.'

Aside from previous business woes, the presentation came exactly one week after the couple's eldest son dropped his shocking statement about the family.

Brooklyn's bombshell note about his parents saw him vow to never reconcile with his immediate family, allege Victoria danced 'inappropriately on him' at his wedding and say the former Spice Girl called him 'evil'.

The Beckham clan have maintained a steely silence in the face of his comments, with Monday evening's events being the first time they were seen as a whole.

Farida Khelfa looked stunning in a chic two piece

Victoria is pictured at the launch of her Victoria Beckham Beauty line last year

Predictably, eldest son Brooklyn, 26, yet again skipped out on the occasion - a week after he severed all ties with his family in a bombshell statement (seen with parents in 2019)

However, he was reluctant to step in, recalling: 'When I looked at the business, talked to people, I realised this was a very, very difficult situation, it was a disaster. Frankly, I had never seen something as hard as that to fix.'

As a result, Belhassen announced he wouldn't be able to help Victoria, a move that left the designer 'heartbroken'.

Yet Victoria's fortunes changed due to a chance date night between Belhassan and his wife. He revealed: 'I go out with my wife on the Saturday night and I see her - stunning! And I said: "What are you wearing?".'

He then learnt that she was wearing Victoria Beckham and that she was buying 'tons' of the 'amazing' brand.

'And the flame lit there,' he explained. 'It became like a fire. And on Monday, I gathered the team and we say "We have to do it, if we fail, we fail". So we signed, and Victoria was very emotional and she told me "I won't let you down".'

Music supervisor Ryan Aguilar (left) and DJ Michel Gaubert (right) added to the trendy vibe
Nicola Peltz could barely speak Victoria Beckham's name, the interviewer who quizzed her about THAT wedding dress row in 2022 has revealed.

Nicola gave the interview just months after her Palm Beach wedding to Brooklyn Beckham and it was published in Grazia at the time and republished on Monday.

The interviewer said: 'I was struck by Nicola's borderline inability to speak either David or Victoria's names. The 'she, Victoria, uh' in the above quote, was as direct as it got, otherwise, it was just 'Brooklyn's mom' or 'dad'.

'By contrast, she spoke easily, directly and fondly of Harper. 'I wanted a little sister so bad, and Harper is the sweetest. I have the coolest little sister. She sends me snapchats,' she said.'

The interview was first published with a brief reference as to why Nicola - then aged 27 - didn't wear a Victoria Beckham designed wedding dress, despite plans to.

A week ago, Brooklyn referenced this when he posted a six-page missive in which he detailed the extent of his feud with his family and claimed Victoria had let Nicola down with the dress design at the eleventh hour.

Nicola Peltz could barely speak Victoria Beckham's name, says interviewer who quizzed her about THAT wedding dress row in 2022, (pictured: Victoria on Tuesday)

Nicola gave the interview just months after her Palm Beach wedding to Brooklyn Beckham and it was published in Grazia at the time

The interview was first published with a brief reference as to why Nicola - then aged 27 - didn't wear a Victoria Beckham designed wedding dress, despite plans to (pictured at her wedding)

In light of his claims, Polly Vernon's interview with Nicola was republished by Grazia on Monday, with Nicola's quotes about the dress released in forensic detail.

Polly admitted that she suspected Nicola had simply wanted to wear a different dress at the time but now believes re-reading the quotes that Nicola was let down by Victoria, although the full reasons why are unknown.

Nicola said: 'I really, really wanted to wear [a VB dress] and I thought it was so beautiful that Brooklyn's mom got to make that for me! And I was really excited to wear it! And I didn't end up wearing it.

'The truth is that I was in a text chain with my mom, Victoria and Leslie, who's been my stylist for 10 years.

'We all were on this tech chain together, and I was so excited to start the design process. Um, and then Victoria, um, was like Oh! And this was in the middle of me filming [her directorial debut] Lola James! So I was very busy.

'And then she, Victoria, uh, was very busy, and then we started this text chain, and a few days went by, and I didn't hear anything, then I think Victoria thought since I was on set, maybe she didn't want to upset me, so she called my mom and said that she couldn't make the dress. She said that her, um, atelier couldn't make the dress in time'

Her quotes echo what Brooklyn had said in his scathing statement.

He wrote: 'My parents have been trying endlessly to ruin my relationship since before my wedding, and it hasn't stopped.

Join the debate Do YOU believe Brooklyns version of events?

Last week, Brooklyn launched an astonishing attack on his parents and claimed Victoria pulled out of making Nicola's dress at the 'eleventh hour'

Brooklyn has told his parents they are only allowed to contact him through lawyers now

The chef remains in contact with his grandparents and it's not known if he is currently in contact with Harper - in this Grazia interview, Nicola spoke fondly of the young teen

Following Brooklyn's statement, the Beckham family have kept a united front, and it was business as usual for Victoria as she headed into Paris during Fashion Week on Tuesday

The designer, who was supported by her family as she was honoured with the Chevaliere de lOrdre des Arts et des Lettres on Monday, headed into the French capital

Supporting his wife, David sported an enormous Birkin handbag as he stepped out with his family on Tuesday

Dressed in oversized black jeans and a faux fur jacket, Victoria and David's daughter Harper stepped out in the French capital

Romeo Beckham was once again supported his girlfriend Kim Turnbull during the outing

Meanwhile Cruz Beckham was accompanied by his partner Jackie Apostel

Following Brooklyn's statement, the Beckham family have kept a united front, and they came together on Monday as Victoria was given a prestigious fashion honour in Paris

'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.'

Brooklyn has told his parents they can only contact him through lawyers after becoming frustrated by them mentioning him on social media.

He and his brothers, Romeo and Cruz are no longer following one another on social media - but Brooklyn was incredibly close to his sister Harper who has barely been mentioned amid the furore.

Brooklyn remains in contact with his grandparents and it's not known if he is currently in contact with Harper.

The chef had previously paid tribute to Harper on her 14th birthday, even though it's typical for the Beckham family to post on such occasions.

In this Grazia interview, Nicola spoke fondly of the young teen, making the distance they're now facing even more heartbreaking.

Nicola, who is the youngest of eight children, had said how she had 'wanted a little sister so bad, and Harper is the sweetest. I have the coolest little sister' adding that Harper liked to send her snapchats.

Polly concluded that Nicola and Brooklyn seem 'deeply in love,' adding: 'I ended up feeling really quite fond of them both.'

Following Brooklyn's statement, the Beckham family have kept a united front, and they came together on Monday as Victoria was honoured with the Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters in Paris.

Brooklyn's humiliating post accused his parents of prioritising 'Brand Beckham' over all else and his mother of 'hijacking' his and his wife's first dance at their 2022 wedding and dancing with him 'inappropriately'.

He went on to accuse them of 'disrespecting' his wife and being concerned with 'promotion and endorsements above all else'.

He slammed the 'performative social media posts, family events and inauthentic relationships' that had been a 'fixture of the life I was born into'.

Brooklyn's claims about Nicola's wedding dress refuted long-standing reports from the time of the 2022 nuptials.

Whispers of ructions launched when it was claimed at the time that Nicola refused to wear one of Victoria's eponymous designs - instead opting for various designs from Valentino, Christian Dior and Versace.

An article published in Vogue four weeks after their April 2022 nuptials Nicola's stylist Leslie Fremar said the dress was a result of a year's worth of conversations with Valentino creative director Pierpaolo Picciolis team.

Then there were two trips to the Rome HQ and two US fittings, making it the 'ultimate couture experience.'

Hollywood stylist Leslie, who is behind the wardrobes of Demi Moore, Julianne Moore, and Charlize Theron, took two trips to Valentino's headquarters in Rome to see the design come to life with the brand's creative director Pierpaolo Piccioli and his team.

There was then two US fittings with Nicola, with the head seamstresses even journeying to Miami to ensure it was tailored perfectly.

Leslie said: 'It was the ultimate couture experience. The simplicity of it was magnificent. We didnt have to overly detail the dress to accomplish the magnitude of it, so we ended up eliminating the embroidery.'

Nicola later confirmed the rumours had begun after she didn't wear Victoria's design.

While she denied at the time there was a 'feud', she explained that Victoria's atelier simply hadn't had time to make the dress, as she insisted: 'No family is perfect.'

She told the Sunday Times in 2022: 'I think it all started, and Ive said this before, because I didnt end up wearing Victorias wedding dress. But the real truth is I really, really wanted to wear it and I thought it was so beautiful that Brooklyns mum got to make that for me.'

But Nicola seemingly hinted at tensions claiming that her mother-in-law blanked her for days after offering to design her wedding dress - before blowing the bride's plans out of the water and saying her studio couldn't make the gown.

'We connected to start designing the dress, and then a few days went by and I didnt hear anything. Victoria called my mum and said her atelier couldnt make it,' Nicola told Grazia USA.

'I was planning on wearing Victorias wedding dress and I was truly so excited to be able to wear a design that my future mother-in-law created. I thought that was so beautiful and such a beautiful story.'

Following the revelations from Victoria that she couldn't make her daughter-in-law's dress, Nicola recalled: 'So, I spoke to my mum and Leslie, and I was like, "Well, unfortunately, this cant happen, so whats the next step?"

'Ive been a fan of Valentino and their couture for so long. I was really lucky to be able to travel to [the atelier] to try on the dress. Thats really what happened.'

As the wedding plans were underway, insiders alleged Victoria was displeased with Nicola's reluctance to involve her in the plans for the lavish affair.

It was claimed the Beckhams took a backseat on the big day - leading to yet more fury from Victoria, with a source telling Daily Mail: 'The top table was all Peltzs and it really felt as though the Beckhams were not at the forefront...

'There was a feeling that the wedding was all about the Peltz family, as you can imagine, as it was their house and their daughter and their son making the speeches.'

Nicola later confirmed the rumours had begun after she didn't wear Victoria's design. While she denied there was a 'feud', she explained that Victoria's atelier simply hadn't had time to make the dress, as she insisted: 'No family is perfect.'

Brooklyn has claimed his parents had been 'trying endlessly' to ruin his relationship with Nicola since before their wedding (Brooklyn pictured with Nicola during their vow renewal)

Nicola ended up wearing a Valentino gown for her 2022 wedding to Brooklyn (Valentino pictured, who sadly died last week)

David and Victoria would 'take Brooklyn back in a minute' and are said to be 'horrified' by events this week, according source (the chef is pictured with wife Nicola)

Victoria was said to be 'feeling betrayed' by Brooklyn after her years spent protecting him from 'dark stories'.

The Daily Mail's Katie Hind previously explained how the Beckhams' camp 'leapt into overdrive in Brooklyn's defence' when stories such as kiss and tells and tales of him being 'involved him with the wrong crowd' surfaced.

His parents have often instructed expensive lawyers to protect him against such stories.

David and Victoria would 'take Brooklyn back in a minute' and are said to be 'horrified' by events this week, according to another source.

Following Brooklyn's claims about his mother hijacking his first dance, the couple's wedding DJ, Fat Tony, has also recounted the exact detail of the incident during an appearance on This Morning.

The 60-year-old branded the dance 'really awkward' and confirmed that Nicola fled the reception in tears.

Tony, a longtime friend of the Beckhams, claimed that Marc Anthony was to blame, revealing the musician had called Victoria to the dance floor with her son and instructed him, 'place your hands on your mother's hips'.

He said: 'There was no sl*t-dropping, there was no PVC cat suits, no Spice Girl action!

'The word "inappropriate", why I said it was as well, it was the timing, this is what happened.'

Tony continued: 'What happened was, basically, Marc Anthony was performing on stage, he then called Brooklyn onto stage.

'Brooklyn went on to the stage, and the next minute everyone's expecting Nicola to go up and do the first dance, and then Marc asked for the most beautiful woman in the room to come to the stage - and then he says "Victoria, come to the stage".'

He revealed that Brooklyn looked 'devastated' at the fact his first dance was with Victoria and not his wife, adding that Nicola left the room 'crying her eyes out'.

Tony went on: 'Brooklyn is stuck there on stage, and they do this dance, and Marc Anthony says 'put your hands on your mother's hips' and it was a Latin thing, and the whole situation was really awkward for everyone in the room

'I've done an awful lot of Beckham parties in the past, and they are a very dancing close-knit family and love to dance, right? So you know, what we deem as 'inappropriate' is not how Brooklyn feels.

'This is all about how Brooklyn feels. If he feels that it was inappropriate and awkward, it was inappropriate and awkward.

'What's sad is that this is the bit that everyone's taken from the statement, and kind of whitewashed everything else that went on.'
Tupac Shakur's mother Afeni - whom he called a 'crack fiend mama' in a song - mixed with some 'dangerous people' before she died of a cardiac arrest at age 69 in 2016, Daily Mail has learned.

The late rapper's troubled mother spent several years living in the Kappas Marina houseboat community in northern Sausalito which is right next to the 'funky, scary' Gate Six area.

Though it is nestled in one of the wealthiest towns in the United States as it is just north of San Francisco, this section of Sausalito was grungy at the time, and still is to a degree.

That is because drugs started to be dealt in the area beginning in the 1970s, reaching its zenith in the early 2000s.

'Afeni lived in a houseboat behind the liquor store,' a source who lives in the area told Daily Mail. 'It used to be full of crack heads and weirdos that you would not want to interact with.

'One lady was a weird druggy hater nicknamed The Insect. Another was a drug dealer people called Psycho Steve who would dole out crack and was always high.

'If you were a decent person, you stayed clear of this area. You wanted drugs though? You went there.'

Tupac Shakur's mother Afeni mixed with some 'dangerous people' before she died of a cardiac arrest at age 69 in 2016, Daily Mail has learned

The rapper's troubled mom spent several years in the Kappas Marina houseboat community in northern Sausalito

Tupac Shakur pictured in 1996; he died in 1996 in Nevada

The source, who lives in Gate Six, said Afeni resided in a 'small, funky houseboat with a view of Tiburon and San Francisco' where she would hang out with the locals.

'Her place was behind the liquor store that is still there,' the source said.

'She was known as Tupac's mom - they called her Pac's mama - and people liked talking to her, she was a mini celebrity in the neighborhood because of all her crazy stories,' said the source.

The Bohemian houseboat community in Sausalito has a rich history: it's where author Shel Silverstein once lived, where Sittin' On The Dock Of The Bay was written and where Three's Company star Suzanne Somers resides before she found fame.

The scenic houseboat area has also been a backdrop for movies like Chevy Chase's Foul Play with Goldie Hawn and the TV series The Streets Of San Francisco.

It is also where Robert Downey Jr's alcoholic character from the movie Zodiac resided. And more recently it is where Jennifer Garner's series The Last Thing He Told Me season one was filmed.

These days the drug addicts have been shooed away so millionaires can take over the floating homes: those houseboats that used to rent for $500 a month now sell for $1 million a pop.

Afeni moved to the Bay Area in the late 1980s after residing in Baltimore.

She and her son lived in the Marin City neighborhood - which is across the 101 freeway from the Kappas Marina and Gate Six in Sausalito - in 1988 but a year later he moved out due to fighting with his mother, he claimed.

His next home was in Oakland then Los Angeles. He was killed in Nevada in 1996.

Shakur and his mother seen in the 1990s

Though it is nestled in one of the wealthiest towns in the United States, this north Sausalito section was grungy at the time, and still is to a degree. That is because drugs started to be dealt in the area beginning in the 1970s, reaching its zenith in the early 2000s

'Afeni lived in a houseboat behind the liquor store,' a source tells Daily Mail. 'It used to be full of crack heads and weirdos that you would not want to interact with'; the homes near Shakur's

Jennifer Garner filmed The Last Thing He Told Me in a nearby houseboat community in Sausalito

This is the liquor store that is in front of Shakur's houseboat; it faces the 101 freeway. These days it is called the New Bait Shop Market

Next to the liquor store is the Bayside Cafe that has been in business for decades

'If you were a decent person, you stayed clear of this area. You wanted drugs though? You went there,' said the local' Tupac seen in March 1994

Afeni died at Marin General Hospital in Greenbrae, California in May 2016, after going into cardiac arrest earlier in the evening; she was 69. Greenbrae is about eight miles from the Kappas Marina.

Tupac paid tribute to her in his song Dear Mama where he mentioned her drug problems.

'And even as a crack fiend mama, you always was a black queen mama, I finally understand for a woman it ain't easy tryin' to raise a man, you always was committed, a poor single mother on welfare tell me how you did it, there's no way I can pay you back, but the plan is to show you that I understand you are appreciated.'

He was murdered at age 25 in 1996.

Political and social activist and Black Panther member Afeni seen holding a camera at a session of the Revolutionary People's Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia in 1970

Shakur was assassinated in 1996 aged just 25

After her rap star son's death, Afeni took over her son's estate. She was also the executive producer of the film about her son's life, All Eyez on Me.

Afeni was born in 1947 in North Carolina. In 1958, when she was 11, the family moved to the South Bronx.

Williams attended the Bronx High School of Science and High School of Performing Arts in Manhattan but dropped out after one term.

She became a member of a Bronx street gang called the Disciples then joined the Black Panther Party when they opened an office in Harlem in 1968.

There she met Lumumba Shakur, and they wed in November 1968.

On June 16, 1971, she gave birth to her son, Lesane Parish Crooks, who was later renamed Tupac Amaru Shakur.

Shakur's marriage fell apart when it was discovered that Lumumba was not the biological father of her son. His biological father was Billy Garland.

Tupac lived in this apartment building in Marin City, California, near Sausalito, in 1988; it is across the 101 freeway from where his mom lived on a houseboat

The rapper seen with Jada Pinkett in 1996. He also dated Madonna in 1993

In April 1969, she and 20 other Black Panthers were arrested and charged with several counts of conspiracy to bomb police stations and other public places in New York.

The pre-trial started in February 1970 and the actual trial commenced on September 8, 1970.

Charges brought against her and the other members of the Black Panther Party were attempted murder, conspiracy to commit murder, conspiracy to bomb buildings, and conspiracy.

In her autobiography, Shakur wrote, 'I was young. I was arrogant. And I was brilliant in court... because I thought this was the last time I could speak. The last time before they locked me up forever... I was writing my own obituary.'

She and the others in the 'Panther 21' were acquitted in May 1971 after an eight-month trial. But she still had to spend two years in the New York Women's House of Detention before being acquitted.
Katie Price's son Junior Andre and his girlfriend Jasmine Orr have sparked engagement rumours, just days after his mother's surprise wedding in Dubai.

The son of Peter Andre and Katie, 20, shared a video of the couple dancing along to the hit tune Raindance by Dave and Tems on their shared TikTok account.

And during the clip, Jasmine, 25, could be seen wearing a sparkling diamond ring on her left finger, flashing it at the camera.

The pair danced along to the lyrics: 'Me and you, I can put a rock on it' as Jasmine placed her hand up while cosying up to Junior for the video.

Fans then flocked to the comment section to speculate whether the couple, who have been together for two years, are now engaged.

One wrote: 'ok what am I missing? did they get engaged', to which another account replied: 'Yes.'

Katie Price's son Junior Andre and his girlfriend Jasmine Orr have sparked engagement rumours, just days after his mother's surprise wedding in Dubai

The son of Peter Andre and Katie, 20, shared a video of the couple dancing along to the hit tune Raindance by Dave and Tems on their shared TikTok account

While others commented congratulatory messages: 'congratulations to you both lovely couple.'

'Congrats to you both.'; 'congratulations beautiful couple need something happy in the world right now .'

Daily Mail has contacted Junior's representative for comment.

Junior's post comes after his mother Katie shared a gushing tribute to her new husband Lee Andrews on Tuesday, after stunning fans by marrying the entrepreneur in Dubai, just a week after they met.

The model, 47, tied the knot in an intimate ceremony over the weekend just days after getting engaged, with sources saying even her family were unaware of the star's new relationship.

Posting a video on Instagram Stories, Katie addressed the 'noise' surrounding her fourth husband and their whirlwind relationship, after returning to the UK from her trip to the UAE.

Eyebrows have been raised by the timing of Katie's new marriage, just weeks after she split from Married At First Sight UK star JJ Slater.

On Monday, Daily Mail also revealed that many of Lee's so-called business accomplishments are a farce, with much of the images of him with high-profile stars little more than AI.

And during the clip, Jasmine, 25, could be seen wearing a sparkling diamond ring on her left finger, flashing it at the camera

The pair danced along to the lyrics: 'Me and you, I can put a rock on it' as Jasmine placed her hand up while cosying up to Junior for the video

Some fans flocked to the comment section to speculate whether the couple, who have been together for two years, are now engaged, while others commented congratulatory messages

Kissing her engagement ring, Katie bragged to her social media followers: 'Despite all the noise that's going on, I miss you Lee, I love you unconditionally. And yes it's on the right hand.'

Lee and Katie tied the knot in an intimate ceremony over the weekend, just days after getting engaged.

Katie landed back in the UK on Monday following the whirlwind wedding and told fans in an Instagram video she has 'lots to catch you up on'.

Lee, meanwhile, shared a picture of himself and Katie at their nuptials and wrote: 'We know the truth and that's what matters'.

Followers had been taken aback by the sudden turn of events, which came shortly after the television personality's split from MAFS star JJ Slater.

Speaking in the back of a taxi, Katie said: 'So I am now back in the UK. Oh my god I can't wait to get home. Obviously the time difference, I didn't sleep on the plane. I've missed my CBD. So I know I'm going to have a good sleep tonight.

'So yeah get back into the routine of sleep. Anyone who suffers anxiety, who can't sleep like me because my brain is so busy that is what I take at night to sleep.

'Thank you for all your messages. I've got lots to catch you up on'.

Junior's mother Katie tied the knot with Lee Andrews in an intimate ceremony over the weekend just days after getting engaged, with sources saying even her family were unaware of the star's new relationship

Katie's new husband - Nottinghamshire comprehensive-school educated expat Lee - is far from a jet-setting business tycoon with a PhD from Cambridge.

In fact, his creative social media and LinkedIn profiles are mostly just hot air.

His social media pages are awash with what appear to be AI-generated images of him with celebrities such as Elon Musk and Kim Kardashian.

Lee claims to be the CEO of Aura Sustainable Vehicles & Energy. But surprisingly, there's no actual website for this supposedly huge firm headed by the 'businessman'.

Katie's family have reportedly been left in the dark over her shock marriage to Lee following the pair's whirlwind 'one-week' romance.

A source told the Daily Mail that Katie's family had not spoken to her since she walked down the aisle.
Paris Hilton dared to wear high heels while out in New York City this week amid the city's icy and snowy conditions.

The 44-year-old entrepreneur  who recently discussed her mental health struggle  is doing press rounds to promote her documentary Infinite Icon: A Visual Memoir.

On Tuesday morning she stopped by Live with Kelly and Mark to talk up the project, which will be released on Friday.

Hilton was spotted walking with a pep in her step as she donned a three-piece white pantsuit covered in a blue floral pattern, adding pointed-toe silver stilettos.

The blonde beauty added a long, white, winter coat and matching white-framed sunglasses.

She also wore sparkling silver fingerless gloves as she toted a glittery silver handbag.

Paris Hilton dared to wear high heels while out in New York City this week amid the city's icy and snowy conditions

Hilton was spotted walking with a pep in her step as she donned a three-piece white pantsuit covered in a blue floral pattern, adding pointed-toe silver stilettos

On Monday night the bombshell was also dressed to the nines as she stopped by Late Night with Jimmy Fallon.

She wore a full-length fitted black dress covered in glinting stones, adding heels with bow accents.

The former Simple Life reality television star styled her lustrous locks in a chic updo with a side part and bang.

On Monday's episode of the Him & Her Show she got candid about her rejection sensitivity dysphoria (RSD) diagnosis.

RSD is a condition the mom of two compares to having 'a demon in your mind.'

Hilton sat down with hosts Lauryn and Michael Bosstick and explained she was initially diagnosed with ADHD in her late 20s, prior to learning she has RSD.

She described: 'It's basically any thought of a negative perception. If you think someone is being rude or you feel something...You will feel it like it's physical pain and it's not even real.

'It's almost like a demon in your mind that is saying negative self-talk to you.'

The 44-year-old entrepreneur is doing press rounds to promote her documentary Infinite Icon: A Visual Memoir

On Monday night the bombshell was also dressed to the nines as she stopped by Late Night with Jimmy Fallon. She wore a full-length fitted black dress covered in glinting stones, adding heels with bow accents

Hilton accessorized with velvet black opera gloves for her late night TV appearance

Last week Hollywood stars attended Hilton's movie premiere at The Grove, including Demi Lovato, Sofia Vergara, Lizzo, and Kathy Griffin.

According to ParisHilton.com, the new film 'traces Paris's music journey  from her childhood dreams to her club-going adolescence, from her debut album to her musical reinvention.'

Her parents, Kathy and Rick Hilton, were also on hand to support her.

The documentary is named after her second studio album, Infinite Icon, which was released in September 2025.

While speaking to PEOPLE at the time, she said it represents the 'evolution' from her 'party girl era' in the 2000s to present day.

She told the outlet at the at December's inaugural TikTok Awards that she is 'just so proud' of the doc, which will be released in theaters on January 30.

'Its such a powerful story, and I think being an "infinite icon" is about inspiring others to be authentic and to own their narrative and to make a difference in the world,' she said.
There may be a whopping 46 years between them, but Calvin Klein can still keep up with his longtime toy boy.

On Monday, Klein, 83, and his model boyfriend Kevin Baker, 37, were spotted leaving Gold's Gym together in Venice, Los Angeles.

Despite Klein recently stumbling in front of his much younger beau during an awkward outing in New York last year, the sprightly designer looked much more steady on his feet for this outing.

Showing that they share more than a love of fitness, the devoted couple flaunted their love by donning matching outfits.

They both wore sporty charcoal pants and identical long-sleeve black tops, but maintained some semblance of individuality by rocking different sneakers.

The pair, who have been together for around a decade, are notoriously private when it comes to their relationship.

Calvin Klein, 83, and his younger boyfriend Kevin Baker, 37, were spotted leaving Gold's Gym together in Venice, Los Angeles on Monday

Showing that they share more than a love of fitness, the devoted couple flaunted their love by donning matching outfits

Klein rarely even gives interviews, and when he does, he sticks to topics around his career and iconic brand.

In 2003, Klein and his co-founder Barry Schwartz sold Calvin Klein Inc. to PVH Corp. in a deal worth around $700million.

Klein pocketed $215million in the deal and remained at the company for several more years as a consulting creative director.

The famed designer has dated both men and women throughout his life.

He was previously married to Jayne Centre Klein (1964-1974) and Kelly Rector (1986-2006).

After his split from Rector, Klein went on to date gay male porn star Nick Gruber, who was 48 years his junior.

They split in 2012 after two years together and Klein eventually found love with Baker.

Before meeting Klein, Baker was best known for modelling alongside his chiseled twin brother Joel, with the Baker brothers even partaking in a fully nude shoot together at one point.

The pair, who have been together for around a decade, are notoriously private when it comes to their relationship

Last November, Klein and Baker raised eyebrows after stepping out in New York's East Village to celebrate the launch of Vogue photographer Steven Klein's new book.

Unfortunately, Klein ran into some trouble while entering The Brant Foundation art gallery, where the star-studded event was being held.

The octogenarian became confused by camera flashes at the entrance, which caused him to stumble and become disoriented.

Klein muttered that he 'wasn't expecting that' as he attempted to make his way up the steps to the front door.

Seemingly unconcerned by the entire situation, his stone-faced partner, Kevin, simply moved away and didn't appear to give Klein a second glance before heading inside.

Meanwhile, a security guard was left to guide Klein up two steps as the designer stumbled a second time.

The Daily Mail contacted Klein for comment at the time.
Lauren Sanchez looked effortlessly chic as she stepped out in Paris during Fashion Week on Tuesday.

The wife of Jeff Bezos, 56, turned heads in a red and white tweed co-ord from a 2004 vintage Versace collection.

She added inches to her frame with a pair of white Jimmy Choo pointed heels and carried her essentials in a white Schiaparelli bag.

The former journalist finished off her stylish look with aviator sunglasses and silver accessories.

Lauren appeared in high spirits as she strolled through the French capital alongside stylist Law Roach.

It comes just a day after Lauren ensured she stood out as she kicked off Paris Haute Couture week with a front row appearance at Schiaparelli's latest catwalk show.

Lauren Sanchez looked effortlessly chic as she stepped out in Paris during Fashion Week on Tuesday

The wife of Jeff Bezos, 56, turned heads in a red and white tweed co-ord from vintage Versace (pictured with stylist Law Roach)

She added inches to her frame with a pair of white Jimmy Choo pointed heels and carried her essentials in a white Schiaparelli bag

Also seen in Paris for Fashion Week was actress Christina Milian, who attended the Yanina Couture show

She looked effortlessly chic in a black off-the-shoulder mini-dress featuring a mesh applique

She was also seen with silver jewels covering her legs

She stood out in a vibrant red skirt suit as she arrived hand-in-hand with billionaire husband Jeff ahead of the 10am presentation - the first of 49 to be held across four consecutive days in the French capital.

Teaming her look with a pair of matching red heels, Sanchez stood out while mingling with fellow guests before making her way inside.

Accessorising in equally distinctive fashion, the former journalist opted for a smart silver handbag replete with gold flourishes, shaped to resemble a face.

Joining his wife, Amazon CEO Bezos, 62, opted for a comparatively subdued black suit, matching shirt and polished leather Chelsea boots.

The couple married on the Italian island of San Giorgio Maggiore last June as part of a three-day celebration attended by celebrity friends including Ivanka Trump, Oprah Winfrey and Kim Kardashian.

The estimated $20 million, multi-day event also included a foam party on Bezos' yacht, a lavish prenuptial dinner and a post-wedding lunch at the iconic Harry's Bar.

Ellie Goulding performed at their reception, while Usher also sang at their pajama-themed brunch the next day.

The happy couple got married in a restored amphitheater on the island, as Sanchez wore a high-neck, long sleeve lace Dolce & Gabbana gown that took over 900 hours of atelier to make, per Vogue.

The gown featured a flared skirt, long veil and a tight-fitting waist, with tons of buttons going up the middle.

It comes just a day after Lauren ensured she stood out as she kicked off Paris Haute Couture week with a front row appearance at Schiaparelli's latest catwalk show

She stood out in a vibrant red skirt suit as she arrived hand-in-hand with billionaire husband Jeff ahead of the 10:00am presentation - the first of 49 to be held across four consecutive days in the French capital

Throughout the weekend, Sanchez also wore many custom accessories that were a nod to her new last name, like a black rhinestone-encrusted black clutch bag that read, 'Mrs. Bezos' on it in silver gems.

There was a strict no-phone policy and around 70 of the 200 guests were family members.

The wedding was held two years after Bezos popped the question to Sanchez in an 'extremely intimate' proposal on his $500 million superyacht.

In December, Sanchez celebrated her birthday with her high-profile celebrity pals.

The A-list event followed her heartwarming birthday video compilation on social media, which shared an intimate behind-the-scenes look into her wedding extravaganza.

Sanchez shared a clip of herself practicing her walk in her unforgettable Dolce & Gabbana dress, and another of her smiling on a balcony with the Eiffel Tower in the background.

A third showed the socialite wearing a face mask while exercising, seemingly part of her wedding preparations.

'If you had told me when I was a little girl this is what life would look like at 56, I'm not sure I would've believed you.' Sanchez wrote.

She reflected on her marriage, children, book release and space endeavor, saying it has 'grounded' her 'in a way nothing else could.'
Fury is growing over a last-minute decision by the Trump administration to halt student loan collections.

It is a move critics say allows borrowers who refuse to repay their debts to keep their full paychecks while everyone else foots the bill.

Despite promising a clean break from Biden-era student debt policies, the Department of Education announced last week that it is pausing involuntary collections on delinquent federal student loans.

That means wage garnishments and the seizure of tax refunds are on hold, at least for now.

The plan is to give borrowers more time to consider their options before the administration provides more repayment options slated to be offered on July 1.

Six years out from the Covid pandemic, its beyond ridiculous that were reviving so-called emergency policies - and doing so through unilateral executive action, said Maya MacGuineas, president of the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget.

'This is an incoherent political giveaway that doubles down on the debt cancellation culture of the Biden era, she added, warning it could cost up to $5 billion a year in lost collections and cause loan balances to swell even further.

Critics say the move unfairly rewards non-payment while punishing Americans who either paid off their loans or never went to college at all.

Freshmen rush toward their sororities during Bid Day at the University of Alabama in 2023. Millions of Americans who borrowed to attend college now face continued uncertainty over when student loan repayments and collections will resume

The Education Department defended the move, blaming the previous administration for what it called a broken student loan system.

Under Secretary of Education Nicholas Kent said the department is temporarily stopping wage garnishments and tax refund seizures while it rewrites the student loan system, arguing collections will be fairer once the changes are in place.

It is a sharp U-turn from the hardline stance by the Trump administration soon after President Donald Trump returned to power in January 2025.

In April that year, the Education Department warned that more than five million Americans with defaulted loans would face wage garnishment starting in May.

That was delayed but the scheme was due to start again this month - before the latest delay.

Backlash to the pause mirrors outrage seen late in Bidens presidency, when billions of dollars in student debt were wiped away through executive actions that repeatedly ran into legal and political resistance.

'The fact that most Americans don't have a college degree may also mean that many resist loan forgiveness because student debt is not their problem and so forgiveness does not appear to directly benefit them,' Devin Singh, an associate professor of religion at Dartmouth College, said at the time back in 2024.

This week, Singh told Daily Mail: 'Given that this administration, like those before it, appears to put the interests of banks before average citizens, all taxpayers should be concerned about this situation.'

The Trump administration has held off on punishing delinquent student debt holders without updating

US President Joe Biden speaks at an event in Madison, Wisconsin, in April 2024, after unveiling an alternative student-debt relief plan that aimed to forgive loans for up to 26 million Americans

Critics also point to a generational divide fueling the anger..

'There's a generational gap,' according to Charlie Eaton, associate professor of sociology at the University of California, Merced.

'A lot of older Americans didn't have to borrow to go to college.'

Meanwhile, supporters of student loan forgiveness welcomed the recent news from the Department of Education about the pause.

'This is a critical step toward fairness and stability for borrowers who have been pushed to the brink, all because they wanted an education,' Wisdom Cole, senior advocacy director at the NAACP, said in a statement.
Amazon said it is closing all of its Amazon Go and Amazon Fresh stores as the retail giant sharpens its focus on grocery delivery, Whole Foods Market and a new supersized store concept.

The Seattle-based company said in a blog post on Tuesday that some of the soon-to-be shuttered locations will be converted into Whole Foods Market stores.

Amazon currently operates 57 Amazon Fresh stores and 15 Amazon Go locations.

While weve seen encouraging signals in our Amazon-branded physical grocery stores, we havent yet created a truly distinctive customer experience with the right economic model needed for large-scale expansion, the company said.

Amazon said customers can continue to shop Amazon Fresh online in some areas for fast and convenient delivery.

The final day of operation for Fresh and Go stores will be February 1, with the exception of locations in California, which will remain open longer to comply with state requirements.

Since Amazons purchase of Whole Foods Market in 2017, the grocery chain has seen more than 40 percent sales growth and expanded to more than 550 locations.

Amazon now plans to open more than 100 new Whole Foods stores over the next few years.

An Amazon Fresh grocery store, one of more than 70 locations the retail giant is shutting as it pivots away from its own physical supermarket brands

A Whole Foods Market store, which Amazon says will be the focus of its physical grocery expansion after closing Amazon Fresh and Amazon Go locations

At the same time, Amazon said shoppers are increasingly turning to online delivery for everyday essentials and fresh food.

The retailer now delivers groceries to 5,000 US cities and towns, including thousands served by same-day delivery that allows customers to shop for produce and other perishables alongside pantry staples.

Based on strong customer feedback, Amazon said it plans to expand same-day grocery delivery to more areas this year.

The moves come as Amazon's grocery business, including Whole Foods, is struggling to gain traction, accounting for less than 4 percent of the market share.

Still, the company said it will continue experimenting with new physical store formats.

Amazon revealed plans for a new supercenter concept designed to let customers shop its broad selection of fresh groceries, household essentials and general merchandise in one place. The company did not provide details on timing or locations.

Amazon is also testing a new store-within-store format in Chicago.

The city's Whole Foods now has a 3,800-square-foot Amazon Grocery storefront located below the store. Shoppers can find everyday items that are not typically available in a Whole Foods store.

An Amazon Go convenience store, where shoppers could grab items and walk out without a checkout, a concept Amazon is now winding down

Amazon introduced its first Amazon Fresh physical store in 2020. The stores feature national brands alongside fresh produce, meat and seafood. Last September, it shut all 19 Fresh stores in the UK.

Amazon opened its first Amazon Go store in Seattle in 2018, allowing shoppers to grab items such as milk, potato chips or ready-to-eat salads and leave without stopping at a checkout.

The companys technology automatically charges customers after they exit the store.

Amazon said the Go stores served as innovation hubs, helping it develop its just walk out technology, which is now used in more than 360 third-party locations across five countries.

The company added that it is expanding the technology across its own operations, with more than 40 North American fulfillment centers already using it in employee breakrooms, and more planned for 2026.
Abercrombie & Fitch Company (NYSE:ANF  Get Free Report) CEO Fran Horowitz sold 103,200 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Thursday, January 22nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $98.53, for a total value of $10,168,296.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer directly owned 605,303 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $59,640,504.59. This trade represents a 14.57% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink.

Fran Horowitz also recently made the following trade(s):

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On Friday, January 23rd, Fran Horowitz sold 100,000 shares of Abercrombie & Fitch stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $95.40, for a total transaction of $9,540,000.00.

Abercrombie & Fitch Stock Performance

NYSE:ANF traded up $0.50 during trading hours on Monday, hitting $96.80. The stock had a trading volume of 1,420,322 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,062,304. The businesss 50 day moving average is $106.25 and its 200-day moving average is $93.32. The company has a market cap of $4.44 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 9.28 and a beta of 1.17. Abercrombie & Fitch Company has a one year low of $65.40 and a one year high of $133.11.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Abercrombie & Fitch

Abercrombie & Fitch ( NYSE:ANF Get Free Report ) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, November 26th. The apparel retailer reported $2.36 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $2.14 by $0.22. The firm had revenue of $1.29 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $1.28 billion. Abercrombie & Fitch had a return on equity of 38.01% and a net margin of 10.07%.The companys revenue was up 6.8% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned $2.50 earnings per share. On average, sell-side analysts anticipate that Abercrombie & Fitch Company will post 10.62 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the stock. NewEdge Advisors LLC increased its position in shares of Abercrombie & Fitch by 181.6% in the second quarter. NewEdge Advisors LLC now owns 352 shares of the apparel retailers stock valued at $29,000 after acquiring an additional 227 shares during the last quarter. Ameritas Advisory Services LLC acquired a new position in Abercrombie & Fitch during the second quarter valued at approximately $38,000. Blue Trust Inc. bought a new position in Abercrombie & Fitch in the third quarter valued at approximately $38,000. Hantz Financial Services Inc. increased its position in shares of Abercrombie & Fitch by 108.2% during the 3rd quarter. Hantz Financial Services Inc. now owns 481 shares of the apparel retailers stock worth $41,000 after purchasing an additional 250 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Bessemer Group Inc. increased its position in shares of Abercrombie & Fitch by 268.0% during the 3rd quarter. Bessemer Group Inc. now owns 666 shares of the apparel retailers stock worth $56,000 after purchasing an additional 485 shares during the last quarter.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

ANF has been the topic of a number of research reports. JPMorgan Chase & Co. cut their price target on shares of Abercrombie & Fitch from $130.00 to $128.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, January 20th. Zacks Research raised shares of Abercrombie & Fitch from a strong sell rating to a hold rating in a research report on Tuesday, November 25th. The Goldman Sachs Group began coverage on Abercrombie & Fitch in a report on Thursday, December 11th. They set a buy rating and a $120.00 target price for the company. UBS Group lifted their price target on Abercrombie & Fitch from $130.00 to $160.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Thursday, January 8th. Finally, Barclays upped their price objective on Abercrombie & Fitch from $94.00 to $115.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a research report on Tuesday, January 6th. Seven analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and five have issued a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $124.60.

Check Out Our Latest Analysis on ANF

About Abercrombie & Fitch

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Abercrombie & Fitch Co (NYSE: ANF) is an American specialty retailer that designs, markets and sells casual apparel and accessories for men, women and children. Founded in 1892 by David T. Abercrombie and Ezra Fitch, the company evolved from an outdoor gear outfitter to a global lifestyle brand renowned for its relaxed, preppy aesthetic. Its product assortment includes tops, bottoms, outerwear, intimates, swimwear, fragrances and personal care items.

The company operates under multiple brand names, including Abercrombie & Fitch, Abercrombie Kids, Hollister and Gilly Hicks, each targeting distinct consumer segments from teens to young adults.

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Shares of Performance Food Group Company (NYSE:PFGC  Get Free Report) have been given an average recommendation of Moderate Buy by the ten research firms that are covering the stock, Marketbeat Ratings reports. One analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and nine have issued a buy rating on the company. The average twelve-month target price among analysts that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is $118.2222.

Several brokerages have recently weighed in on PFGC. UBS Group reiterated a buy rating and issued a $120.00 price target on shares of Performance Food Group in a report on Friday, December 19th. Morgan Stanley set a $123.00 target price on Performance Food Group in a research note on Tuesday, January 20th. Wall Street Zen lowered shares of Performance Food Group from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Saturday, October 4th. Guggenheim restated a buy rating on shares of Performance Food Group in a report on Thursday, December 18th. Finally, Weiss Ratings reiterated a hold (c) rating on shares of Performance Food Group in a report on Monday, December 29th.

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Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Performance Food Group Trading Down 0.1%

Several institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Parkside Financial Bank & Trust lifted its holdings in shares of Performance Food Group by 51.3% in the 2nd quarter. Parkside Financial Bank & Trust now owns 363 shares of the food distribution companys stock worth $32,000 after buying an additional 123 shares during the period. AlphaQuest LLC grew its holdings in Performance Food Group by 658.0% during the 2nd quarter. AlphaQuest LLC now owns 379 shares of the food distribution companys stock worth $33,000 after acquiring an additional 329 shares in the last quarter. Root Financial Partners LLC purchased a new position in Performance Food Group during the 3rd quarter valued at about $39,000. Golden State Wealth Management LLC raised its holdings in shares of Performance Food Group by 148.6% in the 2nd quarter. Golden State Wealth Management LLC now owns 522 shares of the food distribution companys stock valued at $46,000 after purchasing an additional 312 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Eastern Bank purchased a new stake in shares of Performance Food Group in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $47,000. 96.87% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

PFGC stock opened at $93.81 on Friday. Performance Food Group has a twelve month low of $68.39 and a twelve month high of $109.05. The stock has a market capitalization of $14.71 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 45.10, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.13 and a beta of 0.93. The company has a quick ratio of 0.70, a current ratio of 1.67 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.55. The firms fifty day simple moving average is $93.04 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $97.98.

Performance Food Group (NYSE:PFGC  Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Wednesday, November 5th. The food distribution company reported $1.18 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.16 by $0.02. Performance Food Group had a net margin of 0.50% and a return on equity of 15.97%. The firm had revenue of $17.08 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $16.87 billion. During the same quarter last year, the business earned $1.16 EPS. The businesss revenue was up 10.8% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, analysts anticipate that Performance Food Group will post 4.58 earnings per share for the current year.

About Performance Food Group

(Get Free Report)

Performance Food Group Company (NYSE: PFGC) is a leading foodservice distribution company headquartered in Richmond, Virginia. The company operates through multiple segments, offering a broad range of products including fresh, frozen and dry foods, as well as non-food items such as supplies, paper goods and equipment. Performance Food Group serves a diverse customer base that encompasses independent and multi-unit restaurants, healthcare facilities, hospitality venues, schools, and other institutional customers.

Through its national broadline division, Performance Food Group provides next-day delivery of products sourced from both company-owned processing facilities and third-party suppliers.

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Wall Street Zen upgraded shares of Associated Banc (NYSE:ASB  Free Report) from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research note issued to investors on Saturday.

A number of other analysts have also recently commented on the company. Weiss Ratings reissued a hold (c+) rating on shares of Associated Banc in a research report on Monday, December 29th. Piper Sandler lifted their price target on Associated Banc from $27.00 to $30.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research note on Friday. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods upped their price target on Associated Banc from $29.00 to $30.00 and gave the stock a market perform rating in a report on Friday. UBS Group reissued a buy rating and issued a $28.00 price objective on shares of Associated Banc in a report on Tuesday, December 2nd. Finally, Truist Financial boosted their target price on shares of Associated Banc from $27.00 to $29.00 and gave the stock a hold rating in a research note on Monday, December 22nd. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and eight have issued a Hold rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, Associated Banc presently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $29.20.

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Check Out Our Latest Analysis on ASB

Associated Banc Trading Up 1.9%

ASB opened at $26.94 on Friday. The company has a current ratio of 0.90, a quick ratio of 0.90 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.81. The stock has a 50-day moving average of $26.28 and a 200 day moving average of $25.80. The firm has a market cap of $4.47 billion, a P/E ratio of 9.73, a P/E/G ratio of 0.73 and a beta of 0.79. Associated Banc has a 12 month low of $18.32 and a 12 month high of $28.02.

Associated Banc (NYSE:ASB  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, January 22nd. The bank reported $0.80 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.69 by $0.11. The firm had revenue of $393.52 million for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $382.06 million. Associated Banc had a net margin of 19.31% and a return on equity of 10.25%. During the same period in the prior year, the business posted $0.72 earnings per share. As a group, research analysts forecast that Associated Banc will post 2.43 EPS for the current year.

Insider Activity at Associated Banc

In other news, EVP Patrick Edward Ahern sold 30,489 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Thursday, December 4th. The stock was sold at an average price of $25.70, for a total transaction of $783,567.30. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president directly owned 24,055 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $618,213.50. This represents a 55.90% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Also, EVP John A. Utz sold 2,135 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, December 9th. The stock was sold at an average price of $26.41, for a total value of $56,385.35. Following the sale, the executive vice president directly owned 109,842 shares in the company, valued at $2,900,927.22. This trade represents a 1.91% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. Insiders sold a total of 35,951 shares of company stock valued at $925,756 in the last three months. 1.10% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Institutional Trading of Associated Banc

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Geode Capital Management LLC boosted its stake in shares of Associated Banc by 1.6% during the 2nd quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 4,151,111 shares of the banks stock worth $101,256,000 after acquiring an additional 67,219 shares in the last quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. raised its position in Associated Banc by 139.1% during the first quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. now owns 2,748,667 shares of the banks stock worth $61,927,000 after acquiring an additional 1,598,951 shares during the last quarter. American Century Companies Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Associated Banc by 32.5% in the third quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 2,629,549 shares of the banks stock valued at $67,606,000 after purchasing an additional 645,676 shares in the last quarter. First Trust Advisors LP grew its position in shares of Associated Banc by 679.4% in the third quarter. First Trust Advisors LP now owns 2,223,694 shares of the banks stock valued at $57,171,000 after purchasing an additional 1,938,393 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Norges Bank acquired a new stake in shares of Associated Banc in the second quarter valued at approximately $48,373,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 82.98% of the companys stock.

Associated Banc Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Associated Banc-Corp, through its primary subsidiary Associated Bank, N.A., is a regional financial services company headquartered in Green Bay, Wisconsin. The bank operates more than 200 branches across the Midwest, offering community-focused banking solutions for individuals, small businesses and commercial clients. Its emphasis on personalized service and regional decision-making supports long-standing customer relationships.

On the consumer side, Associated Bank provides checking and savings accounts, residential mortgages, home equity lines of credit, auto financing and credit card products.

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Canadian Natural Resources, Bank Of Montreal, Canadian Pacific Kansas City, Celsius, and TC Energy are the five Canadian stocks to watch today, according to MarketBeats stock screener tool. Canadian stocks are shares of companies that are domiciled in Canada and are typically listed on Canadian exchanges such as the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX) or the TSX Venture Exchange. For investors, they provide direct exposure to the Canadian economy and common sectors like financials, energy, mining, and materials. Investing in Canadian stocks also involves considerations such as Canadian dollar currency risk, domestic regulatory and tax rules, and sensitivity to commodity prices. These companies had the highest dollar trading volume of any Canadian stocks within the last several days.

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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).

Bank Of Montreal (BMO)

Bank of Montreal provides diversified financial services primarily in North America. It operates through Canadian P&C, U.S P&C, BMO Wealth Management, and BMO Capital Markets segments. The companys personal banking products and services include deposits, mortgages, home lending, consumer credit, small business lending, credit cards, cash management, financial and investment advice, and other banking services; and commercial banking products and services comprise various of financing options and treasury and payment solutions, as well as risk management products.

Read Our Latest Research Report on BMO

Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CP)

Canadian Pacific Kansas City Limited, together with its subsidiaries, owns and operates a transcontinental freight railway in Canada, the United States, and Mexico. The company transports bulk commodities, including grain, coal, potash, fertilizers, and sulphur; merchandise freight, such as forest products, energy, chemicals and plastics, metals, minerals, consumer products, and automotive; and intermodal traffic comprising retail goods in overseas containers.

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Celsius (CELH)

Celsius Holdings, Inc. develops, processes, markets, distributes, and sells functional energy drinks and liquid supplements in the United States, Australia, New Zealand, Canadian, European, Middle Eastern, Asia-Pacific, and internationally. The company offers CELSIUS, a fitness drink or supplement designed to accelerate metabolism and burn body fat; various flavors and carbonated and non-carbonated functional energy drinks under the CELSIUS Originals and Vibe name, as well as functional energy drink under the CELSIUS Essentials and CELSIUS On-the-Go Powder names; and CELSIUS ready-to drink products.

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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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Cullen/Frost Bankers (NYSE:CFR  Get Free Report) is expected to be announcing its Q4 2025 results before the market opens on Thursday, January 29th. Analysts expect the company to announce earnings of $2.47 per share and revenue of $578.0470 million for the quarter. Individuals are encouraged to explore the companys upcoming Q4 2025 earning overview page for the latest details on the call scheduled for Thursday, January 29, 2026 at 2:00 PM ET.

Cullen/Frost Bankers (NYSE:CFR  Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, October 30th. The bank reported $2.67 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.38 by $0.29. The business had revenue of $567.27 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $565.54 million. Cullen/Frost Bankers had a return on equity of 15.84% and a net margin of 21.99%.During the same period in the previous year, the business earned $2.24 EPS. On average, analysts expect Cullen/Frost Bankers to post $9 EPS for the current fiscal year and $9 EPS for the next fiscal year.

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Cullen/Frost Bankers Stock Down 0.8%

Shares of NYSE CFR opened at $136.38 on Tuesday. The business has a 50-day moving average price of $130.02 and a 200 day moving average price of $128.38. The stock has a market cap of $8.72 billion, a PE ratio of 14.03, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.72 and a beta of 0.63. The company has a quick ratio of 0.65, a current ratio of 0.65 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.05. Cullen/Frost Bankers has a 52-week low of $100.31 and a 52-week high of $146.44.

Cullen/Frost Bankers Dividend Announcement

Insider Transactions at Cullen/Frost Bankers

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, December 15th. Stockholders of record on Friday, November 28th were issued a $1.00 dividend. This represents a $4.00 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.9%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, November 28th. Cullen/Frost Bankerss dividend payout ratio is presently 41.15%.

In other news, EVP Coolidge E. Rhodes, Jr. sold 700 shares of Cullen/Frost Bankers stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, December 9th. The shares were sold at an average price of $127.00, for a total transaction of $88,900.00. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president directly owned 3,795 shares in the company, valued at approximately $481,965. This trade represents a 15.57% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Company insiders own 1.20% of the companys stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Cullen/Frost Bankers

Several hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of CFR. Private Advisor Group LLC raised its holdings in Cullen/Frost Bankers by 2.9% during the third quarter. Private Advisor Group LLC now owns 3,283 shares of the banks stock worth $416,000 after purchasing an additional 94 shares during the last quarter. Geneos Wealth Management Inc. increased its position in shares of Cullen/Frost Bankers by 40.8% in the first quarter. Geneos Wealth Management Inc. now owns 366 shares of the banks stock valued at $46,000 after buying an additional 106 shares in the last quarter. Hilltop Holdings Inc. raised its stake in shares of Cullen/Frost Bankers by 3.1% during the 3rd quarter. Hilltop Holdings Inc. now owns 4,685 shares of the banks stock worth $594,000 after buying an additional 142 shares during the last quarter. Marshall Wace LLP boosted its position in shares of Cullen/Frost Bankers by 4.9% in the 2nd quarter. Marshall Wace LLP now owns 3,334 shares of the banks stock worth $429,000 after buying an additional 156 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Benjamin Edwards Inc. boosted its position in shares of Cullen/Frost Bankers by 3.8% in the 2nd quarter. Benjamin Edwards Inc. now owns 4,471 shares of the banks stock worth $575,000 after buying an additional 165 shares in the last quarter. 86.90% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of equities analysts have recently commented on the stock. Barclays cut their target price on shares of Cullen/Frost Bankers from $145.00 to $140.00 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a report on Friday, December 19th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods upgraded shares of Cullen/Frost Bankers from a market perform rating to an outperform rating and set a $150.00 price objective on the stock in a research note on Monday, January 5th. Weiss Ratings reiterated a hold (c) rating on shares of Cullen/Frost Bankers in a research note on Monday, December 29th. Morgan Stanley raised their price target on Cullen/Frost Bankers from $125.00 to $136.00 and gave the stock an underweight rating in a report on Monday, September 29th. Finally, Evercore ISI boosted their price target on Cullen/Frost Bankers from $135.00 to $137.00 and gave the company an in-line rating in a research report on Tuesday, September 30th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, two have issued a Buy rating, seven have issued a Hold rating and three have assigned a Sell rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $135.73.

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Cullen/Frost Bankers Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Cullen/Frost Bankers, Inc is the holding company for Frost Bank, a Texas-chartered financial institution whose origins date back to 1868 in San Antonio. As one of the oldest banking organizations in the state, it offers a broad range of services to individuals, small and large businesses, and institutional clients. Core banking activities include commercial lending, deposit services, cash management and trade finance, while consumer products cover residential mortgages, personal lines of credit and home equity loans.

Beyond traditional banking, the company provides comprehensive treasury and equipment leasing solutions tailored to support working capital and capital expenditure requirements.

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Marwyn Value Investors (LON:MVI  Get Free Report) hit a new 52-week high during trading on Monday . The company traded as high as GBX 105 and last traded at GBX 143.60, with a volume of 292926 shares traded. The stock had previously closed at GBX 144.

Marwyn Value Investors Stock Performance

The firms 50 day moving average is GBX 138.70 and its 200-day moving average is GBX 133.11. The stock has a market capitalization of 81.18 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 3.23 and a beta of 0.12. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.12, a quick ratio of 1.00 and a current ratio of 1.00.

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Insider Buying and Selling at Marwyn Value Investors

In other news, insider Peter Rioda acquired 10,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Thursday, December 18th. The stock was acquired at an average price of GBX 138 per share, for a total transaction of 13,800. Company insiders own 1.34% of the companys stock.

Marwyn Value Investors Company Profile

Marwyn Value Investors Limited specializes in investments in growth capital, buyout, industry consolidation, and acquisition-led growth strategies in small and mid-cap businesses. The fund also invests in consolidation opportunities in industry sectors that are undergoing structural or regulatory change, and is sector agnostic. It follows the buy-and-build strategy. It invests in companies based in Europe with a focus on the United Kingdom and North America. The fund seeks to invest in companies with enterprise value of EUR150 million ($158.11 million) to EUR1500 million ($1581.1 million).

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Norcros plc (LON:NXR  Get Free Report) reached a new 52-week high during mid-day trading on Monday . The company traded as high as GBX 350 and last traded at GBX 350, with a volume of 24353 shares changing hands. The stock had previously closed at GBX 340.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

NXR has been the subject of a number of recent research reports. Peel Hunt reiterated a buy rating and set a GBX 340 price objective on shares of Norcros in a research note on Thursday, November 20th. Berenberg Bank raised their target price on Norcros from GBX 350 to GBX 410 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Monday, October 13th. Finally, Shore Capital reiterated a buy rating on shares of Norcros in a research report on Thursday, November 20th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, According to MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of Buy and a consensus target price of GBX 460.

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Norcros Price Performance

The company has a current ratio of 2.00, a quick ratio of 0.91 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 40.60. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of GBX 310.77 and a 200 day moving average price of GBX 291.01. The stock has a market capitalization of 313.92 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 25.00 and a beta of 1.39.

Norcros (LON:NXR  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, November 20th. The company reported GBX 16.30 earnings per share for the quarter. Norcros had a return on equity of 12.35% and a net margin of 6.83%. As a group, equities research analysts expect that Norcros plc will post 31.3118812 earnings per share for the current year.

Insider Activity

In related news, insider Steve Good purchased 20,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, November 20th. The shares were purchased at an average price of GBX 304 per share, with a total value of 60,800. 35.37% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Norcros Company Profile

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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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Nordea Bank (OTCMKTS:NRDBY  Get Free Report) is expected to be posting its results before the market opens on Thursday, January 29th. Analysts expect Nordea Bank to post earnings of $0.37 per share and revenue of $3.4212 billion for the quarter.

Nordea Bank Stock Performance

Shares of OTCMKTS:NRDBY opened at $20.06 on Tuesday. Nordea Bank has a 12-month low of $11.07 and a 12-month high of $20.12. The companys 50 day moving average price is $18.57 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $16.90. The firm has a market cap of $68.88 billion, a PE ratio of 13.20, a PEG ratio of 4.03 and a beta of 0.63. The company has a quick ratio of 1.23, a current ratio of 1.23 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 6.32.

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Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of equities research analysts recently issued reports on the company. Zacks Research downgraded Nordea Bank from a hold rating to a strong sell rating in a research report on Thursday, January 15th. Morgan Stanley reiterated an overweight rating on shares of Nordea Bank in a research report on Monday, November 24th. Citigroup reissued a buy rating on shares of Nordea Bank in a report on Thursday, January 15th. Nordea Equity Research downgraded Nordea Bank from a buy rating to a neutral rating in a research note on Thursday, December 4th. Finally, Barclays reaffirmed an underweight rating on shares of Nordea Bank in a research report on Wednesday, December 10th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, two have given a Buy rating, two have issued a Hold rating and two have given a Sell rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, Nordea Bank presently has an average rating of Hold.

About Nordea Bank

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Nordea Bank is a leading financial services group focused on serving retail, corporate and institutional customers across the Nordic region. The banks core activities include retail and commercial banking, corporate and institutional banking, asset and wealth management, and related financial services such as payments, cash management and trade finance. Nordea delivers these services through branch and digital channels, aiming to provide integrated banking solutions for everyday consumers, small and medium enterprises, and large corporations.

Product offerings span deposit and lending products including mortgages and consumer loans, transaction banking and treasury services for corporate clients, investment and pension solutions through its asset management businesses, and wealth management services for private clients.

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On Holding AG (NYSE:ONON  Free Report)  Stock analysts at KeyCorp issued their Q4 2025 earnings per share estimates for ON in a research note issued to investors on Thursday, January 22nd. KeyCorp analyst A. Owens expects that the company will earn $0.17 per share for the quarter. KeyCorp currently has a Overweight rating and a $58.00 target price on the stock. The consensus estimate for ONs current full-year earnings is $0.66 per share.

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ONON has been the subject of several other reports. Zacks Research cut shares of ON from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Monday, January 12th. Piper Sandler reiterated an overweight rating on shares of ON in a research report on Friday, December 5th. Williams Trading lowered shares of ON from a buy rating to a hold rating and lowered their target price for the stock from $55.00 to $47.00 in a research note on Thursday, January 8th. Weiss Ratings restated a sell (d+) rating on shares of ON in a research report on Thursday. Finally, Raymond James Financial cut their price target on ON from $66.00 to $55.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, October 21st. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, seventeen have given a Buy rating, three have assigned a Hold rating and two have given a Sell rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, ON has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $60.14.

ON Trading Up 1.2%

ON stock opened at $46.51 on Monday. The firm has a market cap of $29.21 billion, a PE ratio of 60.40, a P/E/G ratio of 1.38 and a beta of 2.15. ON has a 12 month low of $34.38 and a 12 month high of $64.05. The stocks 50 day simple moving average is $46.39 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $45.15. The company has a current ratio of 2.55, a quick ratio of 2.05 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.28.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On ON

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Winslow Capital Management LLC acquired a new stake in ON in the 2nd quarter valued at about $248,113,000. Sands Capital Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of ON during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $240,177,000. Norges Bank purchased a new stake in shares of ON in the second quarter valued at approximately $138,641,000. Ameriprise Financial Inc. grew its position in shares of ON by 4,564.3% in the second quarter. Ameriprise Financial Inc. now owns 2,291,611 shares of the companys stock valued at $119,752,000 after purchasing an additional 2,242,480 shares in the last quarter. Finally, State Street Corp increased its holdings in shares of ON by 765.4% in the second quarter. State Street Corp now owns 2,219,015 shares of the companys stock valued at $115,500,000 after purchasing an additional 1,962,586 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 36.39% of the companys stock.

About ON

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On Holding AG, commonly known as On, is a Swiss performance footwear and apparel company headquartered in Zurich. Founded in 2010, the company designs, develops and sells running shoes, performance apparel and accessories for road, trail and everyday use. Ons product philosophy centers on engineered cushioning and responsiveness intended to serve both serious athletes and lifestyle consumers.

On is best known for its proprietary midsole technology and distinctive sole architecture, marketed under names such as the Cloud family of shoes and related performance lines.

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Raymond James Financial (NYSE:RJF  Get Free Report) will likely be issuing its Q1 2026 results after the market closes on Wednesday, January 28th. Analysts expect the company to announce earnings of $2.85 per share and revenue of $3.8261 billion for the quarter. Interested persons can check the companys upcoming Q1 2026 earning summary page for the latest details on the call scheduled for Wednesday, January 28, 2026 at 5:00 PM ET.

Raymond James Financial Stock Up 0.6%

Shares of NYSE:RJF opened at $170.08 on Tuesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.44, a quick ratio of 1.04 and a current ratio of 1.07. Raymond James Financial has a 52-week low of $117.57 and a 52-week high of $177.66. The businesss 50 day simple moving average is $163.49 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $164.50. The firm has a market cap of $33.59 billion, a P/E ratio of 16.53, a PEG ratio of 1.32 and a beta of 0.99.

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Raymond James Financial Increases Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, January 16th. Investors of record on Friday, January 2nd were given a $0.54 dividend. This represents a $2.16 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.3%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, January 2nd. This is an increase from Raymond James Financials previous quarterly dividend of $0.50. Raymond James Financials payout ratio is 20.99%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

RJF has been the subject of a number of recent research reports. Morgan Stanley restated a positive rating on shares of Raymond James Financial in a research note on Monday, December 22nd. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their target price on shares of Raymond James Financial from $178.00 to $180.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research report on Thursday, October 23rd. Bank of America raised their price target on shares of Raymond James Financial from $194.00 to $196.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research report on Wednesday, December 10th. Citigroup reissued an outperform rating on shares of Raymond James Financial in a report on Thursday, October 9th. Finally, BMO Capital Markets increased their price objective on Raymond James Financial from $180.00 to $182.00 and gave the stock a market perform rating in a research note on Thursday, October 23rd. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and nine have issued a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, Raymond James Financial presently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $181.36.

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Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, insider Paul C. Reilly sold 130,687 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Monday, December 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $163.15, for a total transaction of $21,321,584.05. Following the completion of the sale, the insider directly owned 260,546 shares of the companys stock, valued at $42,508,079.90. This trade represents a 33.40% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Corporate insiders own 0.58% of the companys stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Raymond James Financial

Institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Balyasny Asset Management L.P. raised its position in Raymond James Financial by 7,823.8% in the third quarter. Balyasny Asset Management L.P. now owns 288,583 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $49,809,000 after acquiring an additional 284,941 shares during the period. AQR Capital Management LLC raised its holdings in shares of Raymond James Financial by 44.9% in the 3rd quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC now owns 783,144 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $135,171,000 after purchasing an additional 242,552 shares during the period. Danske Bank A S purchased a new position in Raymond James Financial in the third quarter valued at approximately $25,469,000. Two Sigma Investments LP lifted its stake in Raymond James Financial by 420.0% in the third quarter. Two Sigma Investments LP now owns 142,144 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $24,534,000 after purchasing an additional 114,806 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Freestone Grove Partners LP bought a new position in Raymond James Financial during the third quarter valued at $18,321,000. Institutional investors own 83.83% of the companys stock.

Raymond James Financial Company Profile

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Raymond James Financial is a diversified financial services firm headquartered in St. Petersburg, Florida. Founded in 1962, the company provides a range of services to individual investors, businesses and institutions through a combination of wealth management, capital markets, investment banking, asset management, banking and trust services. Its business model centers on a network of financial advisors and broker-dealer operations that deliver personalized financial planning, investment advisory services and brokerage solutions.

The firms core offerings include private client wealth management delivered by independent and employee advisors, equity and fixed-income research, institutional sales and trading, and investment banking services such as mergers and acquisitions advisory and capital raising.

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Shares of Valeo S.A. (OTCMKTS:VLEEY  Get Free Report) hit a new 52-week high during mid-day trading on Monday . The stock traded as high as $7.47 and last traded at $7.47, with a volume of 2820 shares. The stock had previously closed at $7.2460.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several equities research analysts recently weighed in on VLEEY shares. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reissued a hold rating on shares of Valeo in a report on Thursday, January 15th. Morgan Stanley reaffirmed an overweight rating on shares of Valeo in a report on Thursday, January 8th. Jefferies Financial Group restated a hold rating on shares of Valeo in a research report on Monday, October 27th. Sanford C. Bernstein lowered Valeo from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Tuesday, November 25th. Finally, Citigroup restated a neutral rating on shares of Valeo in a research note on Monday, October 6th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, one has assigned a Buy rating and six have given a Hold rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Valeo currently has an average rating of Hold.

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Valeo Stock Down 1.2%

Valeo Company Profile

The company has a current ratio of 0.79, a quick ratio of 0.61 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.23. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $6.71 and a 200 day moving average price of $6.34.

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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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Shares of Xylem Inc. (NYSE:XYL  Get Free Report) have been assigned an average recommendation of Moderate Buy from the thirteen brokerages that are covering the firm, MarketBeat Ratings reports. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and nine have given a buy rating to the company. The average 1 year price objective among brokerages that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is $165.80.

XYL has been the subject of several research reports. Mizuho cut their price target on Xylem from $160.00 to $150.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a research note on Monday, January 5th. William Blair started coverage on shares of Xylem in a research report on Monday. They set an outperform rating for the company. Zacks Research lowered shares of Xylem from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Tuesday, November 18th. Argus set a $170.00 price objective on shares of Xylem in a research note on Wednesday, October 29th. Finally, Citigroup upped their target price on Xylem from $173.00 to $182.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 29th.

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Xylem Stock Performance

XYL opened at $143.38 on Friday. Xylem has a 1-year low of $100.47 and a 1-year high of $154.27. The stock has a market cap of $34.91 billion, a P/E ratio of 36.86, a P/E/G ratio of 2.00 and a beta of 1.17. The stocks 50 day simple moving average is $139.71 and its 200 day simple moving average is $141.69. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.17, a current ratio of 1.96 and a quick ratio of 1.50.

Xylem (NYSE:XYL  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, October 28th. The industrial products company reported $1.37 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.23 by $0.14. The firm had revenue of $2.27 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $2.22 billion. Xylem had a return on equity of 10.77% and a net margin of 10.66%.Xylems revenue was up 7.8% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $1.11 earnings per share. As a group, equities analysts anticipate that Xylem will post 4.65 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Xylem Dividend Announcement

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, December 23rd. Investors of record on Tuesday, November 25th were paid a dividend of $0.40 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, November 25th. This represents a $1.60 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.1%. Xylems dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 41.13%.

Insider Transactions at Xylem

In related news, Director Victoria D. Harker sold 1,700 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, November 4th. The shares were sold at an average price of $148.14, for a total value of $251,838.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director owned 16,875 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $2,499,862.50. The trade was a 9.15% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, EVP Claudia S. Toussaint sold 10,421 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Thursday, October 30th. The shares were sold at an average price of $152.64, for a total transaction of $1,590,661.44. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president owned 31,250 shares in the company, valued at approximately $4,770,000. This trade represents a 25.01% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. Company insiders own 0.27% of the companys stock.

Institutional Trading of Xylem

A number of hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of XYL. Vanguard Group Inc. lifted its stake in shares of Xylem by 0.7% during the 3rd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 29,902,236 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $4,410,580,000 after purchasing an additional 204,407 shares during the period. State Street Corp increased its stake in Xylem by 1.2% in the third quarter. State Street Corp now owns 10,953,206 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $1,615,598,000 after purchasing an additional 133,173 shares during the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC lifted its position in Xylem by 2.3% during the second quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 6,141,231 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $791,029,000 after buying an additional 136,605 shares during the period. Amundi lifted its position in Xylem by 17.0% during the second quarter. Amundi now owns 5,714,576 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $730,717,000 after buying an additional 830,337 shares during the period. Finally, Impax Asset Management Group plc boosted its stake in Xylem by 13.7% in the 2nd quarter. Impax Asset Management Group plc now owns 5,499,688 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $709,183,000 after buying an additional 663,191 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 87.96% of the companys stock.

About Xylem

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Xylem Inc (NYSE: XYL) is a global water technology company that designs, manufactures and services engineered systems and equipment for the transport, treatment, testing and efficient use of water. Its product portfolio spans pumps and pumping systems, valves, filtration and disinfection equipment, sensors and analytical instruments, and digital solutions for monitoring and control of water infrastructure. Xylem serves the full water cycle with offerings for water and wastewater utilities, industrial customers, commercial and residential buildings, and agricultural applications.

The company was established as an independent publicly traded company in 2011 following a corporate spin-off from ITT Corporation and is headquartered in Rye Brook, New York.

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Tandem Financial LLC bought a new position in Goldman Sachs Physical Gold ETF (NYSEARCA:AAAU  Free Report) in the third quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The fund bought 163,270 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $6,224,000. Goldman Sachs Physical Gold ETF makes up approximately 2.3% of Tandem Financial LLCs holdings, making the stock its 10th biggest holding.

Other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of the company. Beacon Capital Management Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Goldman Sachs Physical Gold ETF in the second quarter valued at approximately $43,000. Darwin Wealth Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of Goldman Sachs Physical Gold ETF during the second quarter worth $67,000. Private Trust Co. NA boosted its holdings in Goldman Sachs Physical Gold ETF by 113.3% in the second quarter. Private Trust Co. NA now owns 2,308 shares of the companys stock valued at $75,000 after acquiring an additional 1,226 shares during the last quarter. Ameritas Advisory Services LLC bought a new stake in Goldman Sachs Physical Gold ETF during the 2nd quarter worth about $135,000. Finally, Headlands Technologies LLC bought a new position in shares of Goldman Sachs Physical Gold ETF in the 2nd quarter valued at about $146,000.

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Trending Headlines about Goldman Sachs Physical Gold ETF

Here are the key news stories impacting Goldman Sachs Physical Gold ETF this week:

Goldman Sachs Physical Gold ETF Trading Up 1.5%

Goldman Sachs Physical Gold ETF Company Profile

Shares of NYSEARCA:AAAU opened at $49.89 on Tuesday. The company has a 50 day moving average of $43.33 and a 200-day moving average of $38.87. Goldman Sachs Physical Gold ETF has a one year low of $27.00 and a one year high of $50.38.

(Free Report)

The Goldman Sachs Physical Gold ETF (AAAU) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the LBMA Gold Price index. The fund tracks the gold spot price, less expenses and liabilities, using gold bars held in vaults located in the UK. AAAU was launched on Jul 26, 2018 and is issued by Goldman Sachs.

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Want to see what other hedge funds are holding AAAU? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Goldman Sachs Physical Gold ETF (NYSEARCA:AAAU  Free Report).

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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 29.4% of their earnings in the form of a dividend. BEO Bancorp is clearly a better dividend stock than its peers, given its higher yield and lower payout ratio.

Volatility & Risk

BEO Bancorp has a beta of 0.25, suggesting that its stock price is 75% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, BEO Bancorps peers have a beta of -2.37, suggesting that their average stock 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 owned by institutional investors. 10.5% of shares of all BANKS  WEST companies are owned by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, large money managers and hedge funds believe a company will outperform the market over the long term.

Profitability

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets BEO Bancorp N/A N/A N/A BEO Bancorp Competitors 19.19% 10.49% 1.10%

Valuation & Earnings

This table compares BEO Bancorp and its peers net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

This table compares BEO Bancorp and its peers gross revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

Gross Revenue Net Income Price/Earnings Ratio BEO Bancorp $57.76 million $16.19 million 8.26 BEO Bancorp Competitors $944.15 million $175.12 million 10.95

BEO Bancorps peers have higher revenue and earnings than BEO Bancorp. BEO Bancorp 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.

Summary

BEO Bancorp peers beat BEO Bancorp on 8 of the 11 factors compared.

About BEO Bancorp

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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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Axis Capital (NYSE:AXS  Get Free Report) will likely be announcing its Q4 2025 results after the market closes on Wednesday, January 28th. Analysts expect the company to announce earnings of $2.95 per share and revenue of $1.3322 billion for the quarter. Parties can check the companys upcoming Q4 2025 earning summary page for the latest details on the call scheduled for Thursday, January 29, 2026 at 8:30 AM ET.

Axis Capital (NYSE:AXS  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, October 29th. The insurance provider reported $3.25 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.72 by $0.53. The firm had revenue of $1.67 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $1.33 billion. Axis Capital had a net margin of 16.08% and a return on equity of 18.99%. The companys revenue was up 3.9% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the company posted $2.71 EPS. On average, analysts expect Axis Capital to post $11 EPS for the current fiscal year and $12 EPS for the next fiscal year.

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Axis Capital Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:AXS opened at $103.15 on Tuesday. The firm has a market cap of $7.95 billion, a PE ratio of 8.52, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.96 and a beta of 0.65. The firms fifty day moving average is $103.30 and its 200-day moving average is $98.71. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.27, a quick ratio of 0.67 and a current ratio of 0.67. Axis Capital has a 52 week low of $84.81 and a 52 week high of $110.34.

Axis Capital Dividend Announcement

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, January 15th. Investors of record on Wednesday, December 31st were given a dividend of $0.44 per share. This represents a $1.76 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.7%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, December 31st. Axis Capitals dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 14.55%.

A number of equities research analysts have commented on AXS shares. Compass Point set a $121.00 price target on Axis Capital in a research report on Monday, November 24th. Wells Fargo & Company upped their target price on Axis Capital from $118.00 to $124.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Tuesday, January 13th. Bank of America restated a neutral rating and set a $115.00 price target (down previously from $116.00) on shares of Axis Capital in a report on Tuesday, January 6th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods boosted their price target on shares of Axis Capital from $121.00 to $130.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Tuesday, January 6th. Finally, Royal Bank Of Canada began coverage on shares of Axis Capital in a research report on Monday, November 24th. They set an outperform rating and a $125.00 price objective for the company. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, seven have issued a Buy rating and three have issued a Hold rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $121.89.

View Our Latest Stock Report on Axis Capital

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Axis Capital

Large investors have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Danske Bank A S purchased a new position in Axis Capital during the 3rd quarter worth $8,941,000. Woodline Partners LP boosted its holdings in Axis Capital by 196.5% during the third quarter. Woodline Partners LP now owns 484,619 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $46,426,000 after purchasing an additional 321,145 shares during the last quarter. Dark Forest Capital Management LP grew its position in Axis Capital by 179.8% in the 3rd quarter. Dark Forest Capital Management LP now owns 117,596 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $11,266,000 after purchasing an additional 75,564 shares in the last quarter. XTX Topco Ltd purchased a new stake in Axis Capital in the 3rd quarter valued at about $3,460,000. Finally, Voleon Capital Management LP bought a new position in shares of Axis Capital during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $320,000. 93.44% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Axis Capital Company Profile

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AXIS Capital Holdings Limited, through its subsidiaries, provides various specialty insurance and reinsurance products in Bermuda, the United States, and internationally. It operates through two segments, Insurance and Reinsurance. The Insurance segment offers professional insurance products that cover directors' and officers' liability, errors and omissions, employment practices, fiduciary, crime, professional indemnity, medical malpractice, and other financial insurance related coverages for commercial enterprises, financial institutions, not-for-profit organizations, and other professional service providers; and property insurance products for commercial buildings, residential premises, construction projects, property in transit, onshore renewable energy installations, and physical damage and business interruption following an act of terrorism.

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Black Hills Corporation (NYSE:BKH  Get Free Report)s stock price reached a new 52-week high on Tuesday . The stock traded as high as $74.23 and last traded at $73.57, with a volume of 71479 shares trading hands. The stock had previously closed at $72.68.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research analysts recently weighed in on the stock. Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a buy (b-) rating on shares of Black Hills in a research note on Monday, December 29th. Scotiabank upgraded shares of Black Hills from a sector perform rating to a sector outperform rating and boosted their target price for the company from $66.00 to $81.00 in a report on Friday, November 7th. Three analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and one has assigned a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $71.00.

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View Our Latest Stock Analysis on BKH

Black Hills Stock Up 1.0%

The firm has a market cap of $5.35 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 18.56, a P/E/G ratio of 3.15 and a beta of 0.75. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.10, a current ratio of 0.91 and a quick ratio of 0.67. The firms 50 day moving average price is $70.92 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $64.58.

Black Hills (NYSE:BKH  Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Thursday, November 6th. The utilities provider reported $0.45 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, hitting the consensus estimate of $0.45. Black Hills had a return on equity of 7.86% and a net margin of 12.54%.The company had revenue of $430.20 million for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $439.96 million. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $0.35 EPS. The firms quarterly revenue was up 7.1% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, sell-side analysts forecast that Black Hills Corporation will post 4.12 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Black Hills Increases Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Sunday, March 1st. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, February 17th will be given a $0.703 dividend. This is an increase from Black Hillss previous quarterly dividend of $0.68. This represents a $2.81 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.8%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, February 17th. Black Hillss dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 68.18%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Black Hills news, CFO Kimberly F. Nooney sold 14,500 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Monday, November 10th. The stock was sold at an average price of $70.70, for a total value of $1,025,150.00. Following the sale, the chief financial officer directly owned 34,621 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $2,447,704.70. This trade represents a 29.52% 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 0.63% of the companys stock.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several large investors have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Van ECK Associates Corp grew its holdings in Black Hills by 0.6% in the third quarter. Van ECK Associates Corp now owns 26,208 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $1,614,000 after purchasing an additional 154 shares during the period. Farther Finance Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Black Hills by 11.5% in the 4th quarter. Farther Finance Advisors LLC now owns 1,516 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $105,000 after purchasing an additional 156 shares during the last quarter. Blue Trust Inc. grew its stake in shares of Black Hills by 37.8% during the 3rd quarter. Blue Trust Inc. now owns 641 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $39,000 after buying an additional 176 shares during the period. Lesa Sroufe & Co increased its holdings in shares of Black Hills by 0.5% during the 3rd quarter. Lesa Sroufe & Co now owns 45,833 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $2,823,000 after buying an additional 216 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Osaic Holdings Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Black Hills by 2.5% during the 2nd quarter. Osaic Holdings Inc. now owns 9,068 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $509,000 after buying an additional 222 shares during the last quarter. 86.71% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Black Hills Company Profile

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Black Hills Corporation is a diversified energy company based in Rapid City, South Dakota, that provides electricity and natural gas distribution services to residential, commercial and industrial customers. Through its regulated utility subsidiariesBlack Hills Power, Cheyenne Light & Power, and Black Hills Energythe company delivers reliable energy across Colorado, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, South Dakota and Wyoming.

In addition to its distribution operations, Black Hills owns and operates a generation portfolio that includes natural gasfired plants, coal-fired units, hydroelectric facilities and wind projects.

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Dekel Agri-Vision plc (LON:DKL  Get Free Report)s stock price hit a new 52-week low during mid-day trading on Tuesday . The stock traded as low as GBX 0.40 and last traded at GBX 0.40, with a volume of 1512940 shares. The stock had previously closed at GBX 0.45.

Dekel Agri-Vision Price Performance

The stocks 50 day moving average price is GBX 0.48 and its two-hundred day moving average price is GBX 0.50. The stock has a market cap of 4.81 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of -0.40 and a beta of 0.97. The company has a quick ratio of 0.17, a current ratio of 0.43 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 299.99.

About Dekel Agri-Vision

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Dekel Agri-Vision plc, through its subsidiaries, develops and cultivates palm oil plantations in the Republic of Cote dIvoire. The company operates through Crude Palm Oil and Raw Cashew Nut segments. It produces and sells palm oil, palm kernel oil, and palm kernel cakes. The company was formerly known as DekelOil Public Limited and changed its name to Dekel Agri-Vision plc in November 2019. Dekel Agri-Vision plc was incorporated in 2007 and is based in Limassol, Cyprus.

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J. Safra Sarasin Holding AG lessened its position in shares of Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY  Free Report) by 14.0% in the 3rd quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The institutional investor owned 70,259 shares of the companys stock after selling 11,416 shares during the period. J. Safra Sarasin Holding AGs holdings in Eli Lilly and Company were worth $53,608,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently modified their holdings of the business. Vanguard Group Inc. increased its position in Eli Lilly and Company by 1.5% during the second 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 in the last quarter. Laurel Wealth Advisors LLC boosted its position 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 acquiring an additional 11,537,661 shares during the last quarter. Norges Bank purchased a new position in shares of Eli Lilly and Company during the 2nd quarter worth $8,827,714,000. Jennison Associates LLC grew its position in shares of Eli Lilly and Company by 4.3% in the second quarter. Jennison Associates LLC now owns 5,447,636 shares of the companys stock valued at $4,246,596,000 after purchasing an additional 226,620 shares during the period. Finally, Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. boosted its stake in Eli Lilly and Company by 2.0% in the 2nd quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 5,359,653 shares of the companys stock worth $4,178,010,000 after buying an additional 103,119 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 82.53% of the companys stock.

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Eli Lilly and Company Price Performance

Shares of NYSE LLY opened at $1,063.34 on Tuesday. The business has a 50 day simple moving average of $1,057.99 and a 200-day simple moving average of $883.36. Eli Lilly and Company has a twelve month low of $623.78 and a twelve month high of $1,133.95. The company has a market capitalization of $1.01 trillion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 52.02, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.80 and a beta of 0.35. 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 Increases Dividend

Eli Lilly and Company ( NYSE:LLY Get Free Report ) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, October 30th. The company reported $7.02 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $6.42 by $0.60. Eli Lilly and Company had a net margin of 30.99% and a return on equity of 109.52%. The company had revenue of $17.60 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $16.09 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $1.18 earnings per share. The firms revenue was up 53.9% compared to the same quarter last year. Eli Lilly and Company has set its FY 2025 guidance at 23.000-23.700 EPS. As a group, equities research analysts expect that Eli Lilly and Company will post 23.48 earnings per share for the current year.

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 $1.73 dividend. This is a positive change from Eli Lilly and Companys previous quarterly dividend of $1.50. The ex-dividend date is Friday, February 13th. This represents a $6.92 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.7%. Eli Lilly and Companys payout ratio is currently 29.35%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of equities analysts have weighed in on the stock. The Goldman Sachs Group increased 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 research note on Monday, December 15th. Weiss Ratings reissued a buy (b-) rating on shares of Eli Lilly and Company in a research report on Monday, December 22nd. Wall Street Zen raised Eli Lilly and Company from a buy rating to a strong-buy rating in a research report on Saturday, November 1st. Truist Financial boosted their price target on Eli Lilly and Company from $1,038.00 to $1,182.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Wednesday, November 19th. Finally, 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. Four analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eighteen have issued a Buy rating and four have given a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Buy and a consensus price target of $1,174.61.

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Key Eli Lilly and Company News

Here are the key news stories impacting Eli Lilly and Company this week:

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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Glencore (OTCMKTS:GLNCY  Get Free Report) was downgraded by equities researchers at Hsbc Global Res from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a research report issued to clients and investors on Monday,Zacks.com reports.

Several other equities research analysts have also recently weighed in on the company. Berenberg Bank upgraded Glencore from a hold rating to a strong-buy rating in a research note on Wednesday, December 17th. Royal Bank Of Canada restated an outperform rating on shares of Glencore in a report on Thursday, January 8th. HSBC downgraded shares of Glencore to a hold rating in a research note on Monday. Morgan Stanley reiterated an overweight rating on shares of Glencore in a research report on Tuesday, December 16th. Finally, Barclays reissued an overweight rating on shares of Glencore in a research report on Monday, December 8th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, four have given a Buy rating and five have given a Hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $9.30.

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Glencore Trading Down 0.3%

Glencore Company Profile

OTCMKTS:GLNCY opened at $13.58 on Monday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.87, a current ratio of 1.15 and a quick ratio of 0.58. The businesss fifty day moving average price is $10.85 and its 200 day moving average price is $9.39. Glencore has a 12 month low of $5.74 and a 12 month high of $13.82.

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Glencore is a global natural resources company engaged in the production, processing and marketing of commodities. The business combines large-scale mining and metals operations with an extensive physical commodities trading and marketing platform. Its activities span the full commodity value chain, from extraction and smelting/refining to the commercial distribution of metals and energy products to industrial customers worldwide.

Key product areas include base and precious metals (such as copper, zinc, nickel and related concentrates), bulk commodities and energy products (including thermal coal and oil) and associated valueadded materials and services.

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Gouverneur Bancorp Inc./MD (OTCMKTS:GOVB  Get Free Report) issued its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday. The financial services provider reported $0.28 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, Zacks reports.

Gouverneur Bancorp Inc./MD Price Performance

GOVB stock traded up $0.35 during midday trading on Tuesday, hitting $17.70. The stock had a trading volume of 100 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,140. The firm has a market cap of $18.59 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 24.58 and a beta of 0.56. The business has a 50-day moving average of $17.00 and a two-hundred day moving average of $15.28. Gouverneur Bancorp Inc./MD has a 52-week low of $12.00 and a 52-week high of $17.70.

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Gouverneur Bancorp Inc./MD Company Profile

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Gouverneur Bancorp, Inc operates as the holding company for Gouverneur Savings and Loan Association that provides various banking products and services to individuals and businesses in New York. It accepts passbook savings, NOW, money market deposit, and checking accounts, as well as certificates of deposit. The company's loan products include mortgage loans, one- to four-family residential loans, commercial real estate loans, and multi-family residential real estate loans, residential and commercial construction loans, commercial land loans, home equity loans, lines of credit, commercial loans, automobiles, motorcycles, campers, boats, and other recreational vehicles, as well as personal secured and unsecured loans.

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Grupo Simec, S.A. de C.V. (NYSEAMERICAN:SIM  Get Free Report) shares saw unusually-strong trading volume on Tuesday . Approximately 1,723 shares were traded during trading, an increase of 191% from the previous sessions volume of 593 shares.The stock last traded at $30.2690 and had previously closed at $30.51.

Grupo Simec Stock Performance

The firms 50 day simple moving average is $29.35 and its 200-day simple moving average is $28.27. The company has a market capitalization of $4.54 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 27.11 and a beta of 0.26.

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Grupo Simec Company Profile

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Grupo Simec (NYSE American: SIM) is a Mexicobased producer and distributor of long steel products, serving construction, infrastructure, industrial and energy markets. The companys core operations encompass the manufacture of merchant bar steel, including reinforcing bar (rebar), wire rod, merchant bars and structural shapes. In parallel, its service centers offer cutting, bending and other valueadded processing services to meet the precise specifications of fabricators and end users.

With multiple steel mills located throughout Mexico and an expanding footprint in the United States, Grupo Simec maintains a vertically integrated supply chain that spans rawmaterial sourcing, steelmaking and downstream processing.

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Trek Financial LLC lifted its stake in Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ  Free Report) by 204.1% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 11,529 shares of the companys stock after purchasing an additional 7,738 shares during the period. Trek Financial LLCs holdings in Johnson & Johnson were worth $2,138,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in JNJ. SOA Wealth Advisors LLC. boosted its stake in shares of Johnson & Johnson by 0.7% during the 3rd quarter. SOA Wealth Advisors LLC. now owns 7,392 shares of the companys stock worth $1,371,000 after acquiring an additional 53 shares in the last quarter. Ethos Financial Group LLC boosted its position in Johnson & Johnson by 0.6% during the third quarter. Ethos Financial Group LLC now owns 9,110 shares of the companys stock worth $1,689,000 after purchasing an additional 53 shares in the last quarter. Heritage Oak Wealth Advisors LLC boosted its position in Johnson & Johnson by 3.5% during the third quarter. Heritage Oak Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 1,639 shares of the companys stock worth $304,000 after purchasing an additional 55 shares in the last quarter. Lifestyle Asset Management Inc. increased its position in shares of Johnson & Johnson by 3.4% in the third quarter. Lifestyle Asset Management Inc. now owns 1,683 shares of the companys stock valued at $312,000 after buying an additional 56 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Wynn Capital LLC increased its position in shares of Johnson & Johnson by 0.4% in the third quarter. Wynn Capital LLC now owns 15,930 shares of the companys stock valued at $2,954,000 after buying an additional 57 shares in the last quarter. 69.55% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of brokerages recently commented on JNJ. Barclays increased their price objective on shares of Johnson & Johnson from $197.00 to $217.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a research note on Tuesday, December 30th. Wall Street Zen upgraded shares of Johnson & Johnson from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research report on Sunday. The Goldman Sachs Group reiterated a buy rating and set a $250.00 target price on shares of Johnson & Johnson in a report on Thursday. Argus boosted their price target on Johnson & Johnson from $210.00 to $240.00 in a report on Friday. Finally, Raymond James Financial increased their price objective on Johnson & Johnson from $174.00 to $209.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 15th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, sixteen have assigned a Buy rating and nine have assigned a Hold rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $226.18.

Johnson & Johnson Price Performance

JNJ stock opened at $221.54 on Tuesday. The stock has a market capitalization of $533.76 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 20.05, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.14 and a beta of 0.34. The company has a quick ratio of 0.80, a current ratio of 1.07 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.50. Johnson & Johnson has a 52-week low of $141.50 and a 52-week high of $222.17. The stocks fifty day simple moving average is $208.79 and its 200-day simple moving average is $189.84.

Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ  Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Wednesday, January 21st. The company reported $2.46 earnings per share for the quarter, hitting the consensus estimate of $2.46. Johnson & Johnson had a return on equity of 33.34% and a net margin of 28.46%.The firm had revenue of $24.56 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $24.14 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the business posted $2.04 earnings per share. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 9.1% compared to the same quarter last year. Johnson & Johnson has set its FY 2026 guidance at 11.430-11.630 EPS. Equities research analysts expect that Johnson & Johnson will post 10.58 EPS for the current year.

Johnson & Johnson Dividend Announcement

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, March 10th. Investors of record on Tuesday, February 24th will be issued a $1.30 dividend. This represents a $5.20 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.3%. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, February 24th. Johnson & Johnsons payout ratio is presently 47.06%.

About Johnson & Johnson

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Johnson & Johnson is a multinational healthcare company headquartered in New Brunswick, New Jersey, that develops, manufactures and markets a broad range of products across pharmaceuticals, medical devices and previously consumer health. Founded in 1886 by the Johnson family, the company has grown into a global healthcare organization with operations and sales in many countries around the world.

The companys pharmaceuticals business, organized largely under its Janssen research and development organization, focuses on prescription medicines across therapeutic areas such as immunology, infectious disease, oncology and neuroscience.

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Kornitzer Capital Management Inc. KS cut its stake in JBT Marel Corporation (NYSE:JBTM  Free Report) by 25.8% in the third quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The fund owned 75,275 shares of the companys stock after selling 26,165 shares during the period. Kornitzer Capital Management Inc. KSs holdings in JBT Marel were worth $10,572,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Geode Capital Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of JBT Marel in the second quarter worth $141,026,000. Alliancebernstein L.P. bought a new stake in JBT Marel during the 2nd quarter worth about $135,854,000. Champlain Investment Partners LLC acquired a new position in shares of JBT Marel during the 2nd quarter worth about $85,029,000. Bamco Inc. NY bought a new position in JBT Marel in the second quarter valued at approximately $84,182,000. Finally, Vaughan Nelson Investment Management L.P. acquired a new position in shares of JBT Marel during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $83,397,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 98.92% of the companys stock.

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Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several equities analysts recently weighed in on JBTM shares. Jefferies Financial Group raised shares of JBT Marel from a hold rating to a buy rating and raised their target price for the company from $150.00 to $180.00 in a research note on Wednesday, December 10th. Robert W. Baird set a $169.00 price objective on shares of JBT Marel in a research report on Friday, October 3rd. Finally, Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a hold (c-) rating on shares of JBT Marel in a report on Thursday. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and one has 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 $174.50.

JBT Marel Trading Up 0.9%

Shares of NYSE:JBTM opened at $155.56 on Tuesday. The stock has a market cap of $8.08 billion, a PE ratio of -69.45, a P/E/G ratio of 1.50 and a beta of 1.00. The company has a quick ratio of 0.53, a current ratio of 0.93 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.34. JBT Marel Corporation has a 12-month low of $90.08 and a 12-month high of $160.84. The business has a 50 day moving average of $149.95 and a 200-day moving average of $141.72.

JBT Marel (NYSE:JBTM  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Monday, November 3rd. The company reported $1.94 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.51 by $0.43. The business had revenue of $1 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $936.75 million. JBT Marel had a positive return on equity of 7.88% and a negative net margin of 3.39%.The firms revenue for the quarter was up 120.6% compared to the same quarter last year. JBT Marel has set its FY 2025 guidance at 6.100-6.400 EPS. As a group, equities research analysts forecast that JBT Marel Corporation will post 5.21 earnings per share for the current year.

JBT Marel Dividend Announcement

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, December 29th. Investors of record on Monday, December 15th were given a dividend of $0.10 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, December 15th. This represents a $0.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.3%. JBT Marels dividend payout ratio is currently -17.86%.

Insider Activity at JBT Marel

In related news, Director Olafur S. Gudmundsson sold 20,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, November 26th. The stock was sold at an average price of $141.79, for a total value of $2,835,800.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director owned 19,980 shares of the companys stock, valued at $2,832,964.20. The trade was a 50.03% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. Insiders own 1.10% of the companys stock.

JBT Marel Company Profile

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JBT Marel Corporation provides technology solutions to food and beverage industry in North America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, the Asia Pacific, and Latin America. It offers value-added processing that includes chilling, mixing/grinding, injecting, blending, marinating, tumbling, flattening, forming, portioning, coating, cooking, frying, freezing, extracting, pasteurizing, sterilizing, concentrating, high pressure processing, weighing, inspecting, filling, closing, sealing, end of line material handling, and packaging solutions to the food, beverage, and health market.

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Maj Invest Holding A S reduced its holdings in shares of Barrick Mining Corporation (NYSE:B  Free Report) (TSE:ABX) by 11.5% during the third quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 228,607 shares of the gold and copper producers stock after selling 29,666 shares during the period. Barrick Mining comprises approximately 0.3% of Maj Invest Holding A Ss portfolio, making the stock its 20th biggest holding. Maj Invest Holding A Ss holdings in Barrick Mining were worth $7,491,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the stock. Arlington Trust Co LLC purchased a new stake in Barrick Mining during the 3rd quarter valued at about $26,000. Investors Research Corp purchased a new position in Barrick Mining during the third quarter valued at $36,000. Vermillion Wealth Management Inc. purchased a new stake in Barrick Mining in the second quarter worth about $25,000. Concord Wealth Partners purchased a new stake in shares of Barrick Mining in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $26,000. Finally, Grove Bank & Trust purchased a new stake in shares of Barrick Mining in the third quarter worth $41,000. 90.82% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

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Barrick Mining Trading Up 0.4%

B stock opened at $51.29 on Tuesday. Barrick Mining Corporation has a fifty-two week low of $15.70 and a fifty-two week high of $53.29. The firm has a market cap of $85.93 billion, a PE ratio of 24.78, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.44 and a beta of 0.41. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $44.27 and a 200 day moving average price of $34.22. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.14, a quick ratio of 2.33 and a current ratio of 2.94.

Barrick Mining Increases Dividend

Barrick Mining ( NYSE:B Get Free Report ) (TSE:ABX) last announced its earnings results on Monday, November 10th. The gold and copper producer reported $0.58 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.57 by $0.01. Barrick Mining had a net margin of 24.53% and a return on equity of 9.48%. The firm had revenue of $4.19 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $4.20 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $0.09 EPS. The businesss revenue was up 23.2% compared to the same quarter last year. Sell-side analysts anticipate that Barrick Mining Corporation will post 1.47 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, December 15th. Shareholders of record on Friday, November 28th were paid a dividend of $0.175 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, November 28th. This is a positive change from Barrick Minings previous quarterly dividend of $0.15. This represents a $0.70 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.4%. Barrick Minings payout ratio is presently 33.82%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of equities research analysts have recently commented on the stock. Canaccord Genuity Group increased their price target on shares of Barrick Mining from $39.00 to $57.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Thursday, October 9th. TD Securities increased their target price on Barrick Mining from $38.00 to $46.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Wednesday, October 8th. Zacks Research downgraded shares of Barrick Mining from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Tuesday, January 13th. BNP Paribas Exane raised Barrick Mining to a neutral rating and set a $50.00 price objective on the stock in a research note on Friday, December 5th. Finally, Wall Street Zen downgraded shares of Barrick Mining from a strong-buy rating to a buy rating in a research report on Saturday, November 1st. Three analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, seventeen have issued a Buy rating and two have issued a Hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of Buy and an average target price of $48.73.

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Barrick Mining Company Profile

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Barrick Gold Corporation, commonly known as Barrick, is a Torontoheadquartered mining company focused on the exploration, development, production and sale of gold and copper. Listed on major exchanges (including the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol B), Barrick operates as an integrated minerals producer, running largescale mining complexes, processing facilities and related support services for extraction and metallurgical treatment of ore.

The companys activities span the full mining value chain: greenfield exploration, feasibility and permitting, mine construction, ongoing operations, and closure and reclamation.

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Mirasol Resources Ltd. (CVE:MRZ  Get Free Report) shares traded down 22.7% during mid-day trading on Tuesday . The stock traded as low as C$0.68 and last traded at C$0.68. 143,639 shares were traded during mid-day trading, an increase of 178% from the average session volume of 51,640 shares. The stock had previously closed at C$0.88.

Mirasol Resources News Summary

Here are the key news stories impacting Mirasol Resources this week:

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Positive Sentiment: The sale agreement creates near-term value realization and should materially improve Mirasols ability to fund its prioritized exploration programs and corporate needs; investors often view asset sales as positive when they strengthen liquidity and reduce carrying costs. Article Title

The sale agreement creates near-term value realization and should materially improve Mirasols ability to fund its prioritized exploration programs and corporate needs; investors often view asset sales as positive when they strengthen liquidity and reduce carrying costs. Neutral Sentiment: The transactions ultimate impact depends on deal economics (upfront cash, contingent payments, retained royalties) and closing conditions; timing and proceeds were not fully quantified in initial coverage, so near-term market reaction may reflect uncertainty until definitive closing terms are disclosed. Article Title

The transactions ultimate impact depends on deal economics (upfront cash, contingent payments, retained royalties) and closing conditions; timing and proceeds were not fully quantified in initial coverage, so near-term market reaction may reflect uncertainty until definitive closing terms are disclosed. Negative Sentiment: Divesting these copper assets reduces Mirasols exposure to upside from any future discoveries at those Mendoza projects; some investors may view the sale as relinquishing longterm optionality in exchange for immediate funds. Article Title

Mirasol Resources Trading Down 22.7%

The firm has a market capitalization of C$60.21 million, a PE ratio of -5.67 and a beta of 1.83. The company has a quick ratio of 8.86, a current ratio of 2.84 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.23. The companys 50-day simple moving average is C$0.48 and its 200 day simple moving average is C$0.43.

About Mirasol Resources

Mirasol Resources Ltd. engages in the acquisition and exploration of mineral properties primarily in Chile and Argentina. The company explores for gold, silver, and copper deposits. Its flagship projects include the Sobek Cu project, which covers an area of 11,100 hectares located in northern Chile; and the Inca Gold that covers an area of 16,300 hectares located on the Paleocene belt of Chile. The company was incorporated in 2003 and is headquartered in Vancouver, Canada.

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National Australia Bank Ltd. (OTCMKTS:NABZY  Get Free Report) shares reached a new 52-week high during trading on Tuesday . The stock traded as high as $15.1350 and last traded at $15.0050, with a volume of 7037 shares changing hands. The stock had previously closed at $14.86.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of research analysts have issued reports on NABZY shares. National Bankshares began coverage on National Australia Bank in a research report on Wednesday, October 8th. They set a sell rating and a $38.00 price target for the company. Macquarie upgraded shares of National Australia Bank from a hold rating to a strong-buy rating in a research note on Wednesday, January 21st. The Goldman Sachs Group raised shares of National Australia Bank to a strong sell rating in a report on Wednesday, October 8th. Finally, Zacks Research upgraded shares of National Australia Bank from a hold rating to a strong-buy rating in a research report on Monday, January 12th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating and two have assigned a Sell rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, National Australia Bank currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $38.00.

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National Australia Bank Stock Performance

About National Australia Bank

The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.88, a quick ratio of 1.23 and a current ratio of 1.23. The firm has a 50-day moving average price of $13.86 and a 200-day moving average price of $13.79.

(Get Free Report)

National Australia Bank (OTCMKTS: NABZY) is one of Australias largest banking groups, offering a broad range of financial services to retail, small business, corporate and institutional customers. Its core activities include personal and business banking  such as deposits, home and business lending, credit cards and payment services  as well as wealth management, insurance, markets and specialist lending. The bank provides transaction and cash management solutions, financing and advisory services to corporate clients and institutional investors.

Headquartered in Melbourne, NAB traces its corporate origins to a 1982 merger between the National Bank of Australasia and the Commercial Banking Company of Sydney, with precursor institutions dating to the 19th century.

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NWF Advisory Services Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Cameco Corporation (NYSE:CCJ  Free Report) (TSE:CCO) in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund acquired 23,803 shares of the basic materials companys stock, valued at approximately $1,996,000.

Other hedge funds also recently modified their holdings of the company. Vanguard Group Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Cameco by 2.8% in the second quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 17,565,529 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $1,304,504,000 after purchasing an additional 481,171 shares in the last quarter. DZ BANK AG Deutsche Zentral Genossenschafts Bank Frankfurt am Main lifted its stake in Cameco by 41.4% in the second quarter. DZ BANK AG Deutsche Zentral Genossenschafts Bank Frankfurt am Main now owns 7,076,815 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $524,988,000 after acquiring an additional 2,071,373 shares during the last quarter. Norges Bank acquired a new position in Cameco during the second quarter worth approximately $341,736,000. William Blair Investment Management LLC boosted its position in Cameco by 15.1% during the second quarter. William Blair Investment Management LLC now owns 3,869,291 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $287,217,000 after purchasing an additional 506,667 shares during the period. Finally, Geode Capital Management LLC grew its stake in Cameco by 20.7% in the 2nd quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 3,372,878 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $250,797,000 after buying an additional 578,393 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 70.21% of the companys stock.

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Cameco Price Performance

Shares of NYSE CCJ opened at $121.18 on Tuesday. The stocks 50 day moving average price is $97.06 and its 200-day moving average price is $87.81. The company has a quick ratio of 1.85, a current ratio of 2.99 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.15. Cameco Corporation has a twelve month low of $35.00 and a twelve month high of $128.40. The company has a market capitalization of $52.77 billion, a PE ratio of 140.91 and a beta of 1.01.

Cameco Increases Dividend

Cameco ( NYSE:CCJ Get Free Report ) (TSE:CCO) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, November 5th. The basic materials company reported $0.05 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.22 by ($0.17). The company had revenue of $313.74 million for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $531.72 million. Cameco had a return on equity of 8.58% and a net margin of 15.24%.The companys revenue for the quarter was down 14.7% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business earned ($0.01) EPS. On average, equities analysts anticipate that Cameco Corporation will post 1.27 EPS for the current year.

The company also recently declared an annual dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, December 16th. Stockholders of record on Monday, December 1st were issued a $0.24 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, December 1st. This is an increase from Camecos previous annual dividend of $0.12. This represents a dividend yield of 27.0%. Camecos payout ratio is currently 19.77%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several brokerages have weighed in on CCJ. Raymond James Financial reiterated an outperform rating on shares of Cameco in a research note on Wednesday, January 14th. Weiss Ratings restated a hold (c-) rating on shares of Cameco in a research note on Monday, December 29th. Glj Research restated a buy rating and set a $99.74 price objective on shares of Cameco in a research report on Wednesday, December 3rd. Royal Bank Of Canada decreased their price target on shares of Cameco from $160.00 to $150.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, November 13th. Finally, National Bankshares restated an outperform rating on shares of Cameco in a research report on Thursday, November 6th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twelve have given a Buy rating and two have given a Hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Cameco has an average rating of Buy and an average price target of $121.68.

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About Cameco

(Free Report)

Cameco Corporation (NYSE: CCJ) is a leading producer of uranium and a supplier to the global nuclear power industry. Headquartered in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada, the company is engaged in the exploration, mining, milling and sale of uranium concentrate, commonly known as yellowcake, which is used as fuel for nuclear reactors. Cameco also participates in services and activities that support the front end of the nuclear fuel cycle, including processing and marketing of uranium to utilities under longterm and spot contracts.

The companys operations have historically centered in Canada and the United States, where it operates and develops uranium mining and processing properties.

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One Wealth Advisors LLC lifted its position in BondBloxx Bloomberg Ten Year Target Duration US Treasury ETF (NYSEARCA:XTEN  Free Report) by 11.2% during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 340,457 shares of the companys stock after buying an additional 34,294 shares during the period. BondBloxx Bloomberg Ten Year Target Duration US Treasury ETF comprises 2.0% of One Wealth Advisors LLCs portfolio, making the stock its 17th largest holding. One Wealth Advisors LLC owned about 2.02% of BondBloxx Bloomberg Ten Year Target Duration US Treasury ETF worth $15,876,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in XTEN. Blue Trust Inc. purchased a new position in BondBloxx Bloomberg Ten Year Target Duration US Treasury ETF in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $33,000. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC boosted its stake in BondBloxx Bloomberg Ten Year Target Duration US Treasury ETF by 44.8% during the 2nd quarter. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 763 shares of the companys stock valued at $35,000 after purchasing an additional 236 shares during the last quarter. CoreCap Advisors LLC increased its holdings in shares of BondBloxx Bloomberg Ten Year Target Duration US Treasury ETF by 64.2% in the 3rd quarter. CoreCap Advisors LLC now owns 1,082 shares of the companys stock worth $50,000 after purchasing an additional 423 shares in the last quarter. Transce3nd LLC raised its stake in shares of BondBloxx Bloomberg Ten Year Target Duration US Treasury ETF by 38.9% in the second quarter. Transce3nd LLC now owns 1,503 shares of the companys stock worth $69,000 after purchasing an additional 421 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Spire Wealth Management lifted its holdings in shares of BondBloxx Bloomberg Ten Year Target Duration US Treasury ETF by 99.9% during the second quarter. Spire Wealth Management now owns 1,895 shares of the companys stock valued at $87,000 after purchasing an additional 947 shares in the last quarter.

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BondBloxx Bloomberg Ten Year Target Duration US Treasury ETF Stock Up 0.3%

BondBloxx Bloomberg Ten Year Target Duration US Treasury ETF stock opened at $46.41 on Tuesday. BondBloxx Bloomberg Ten Year Target Duration US Treasury ETF has a one year low of $44.38 and a one year high of $47.82. The businesss fifty day moving average is $46.48 and its 200 day moving average is $46.41.

BondBloxx Bloomberg Ten Year Target Duration US Treasury ETF Company Profile

The BondBloxx Bloomberg Ten Year Target Duration US Treasury ETF (XTEN) is an exchange-traded fund that mostly invests in investment grade fixed income. The fund is passively managed to invest in a portfolio of US Treasury securities with a target duration of ten years. XTEN was launched on Sep 13, 2022 and is managed by BondBloxx.

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OneAscent Financial Services LLC decreased its stake in shares of Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE:WFC  Free Report) by 54.4% during the third quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 10,758 shares of the financial services providers stock after selling 12,847 shares during the quarter. OneAscent Financial Services LLCs holdings in Wells Fargo & Company were worth $902,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in the company. EWA LLC raised its stake in Wells Fargo & Company by 7.4% in the 3rd quarter. EWA LLC now owns 5,450 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $457,000 after acquiring an additional 375 shares during the last quarter. Commerzbank Aktiengesellschaft FI acquired a new position in shares of Wells Fargo & Company in the third quarter valued at about $8,596,000. First Citizens Bank & Trust Co. raised its stake in shares of Wells Fargo & Company by 3.4% in the third quarter. First Citizens Bank & Trust Co. now owns 29,212 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $2,449,000 after purchasing an additional 955 shares during the last quarter. Sawgrass Asset Management LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Wells Fargo & Company by 9.1% during the third quarter. Sawgrass Asset Management LLC now owns 7,570 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $635,000 after purchasing an additional 630 shares during the period. Finally, Heritage Investment Group Inc. boosted its position in Wells Fargo & Company by 14.7% in the third quarter. Heritage Investment Group Inc. now owns 7,120 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $597,000 after buying an additional 915 shares during the last quarter. 75.90% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Wells Fargo & Company News Summary

Here are the key news stories impacting Wells Fargo & Company this week:

Wells Fargo & Company Stock Performance

Shares of Wells Fargo & Company stock opened at $88.07 on Tuesday. The businesss 50 day moving average price is $90.42 and its 200 day moving average price is $85.06. The company has a market cap of $276.46 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 14.05, a PEG ratio of 0.95 and a beta of 1.09. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.05, a quick ratio of 0.84 and a current ratio of 0.90. Wells Fargo & Company has a one year low of $58.42 and a one year high of $97.76.

Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE:WFC  Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Wednesday, January 14th. The financial services provider reported $1.76 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.66 by $0.10. The business had revenue of $11.97 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $21.63 billion. Wells Fargo & Company had a return on equity of 12.90% and a net margin of 17.27%.The companys revenue for the quarter was up 4.5% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the company earned $1.43 EPS. On average, research analysts predict that Wells Fargo & Company will post 5.89 EPS for the current year.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of equities analysts have issued reports on the stock. TD Cowen reduced their price target on shares of Wells Fargo & Company from $102.00 to $100.00 and set a hold rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, January 15th. Robert W. Baird cut shares of Wells Fargo & Company from a hold rating to a strong sell rating in a report on Tuesday, January 6th. Bank of America boosted their target price on shares of Wells Fargo & Company from $92.00 to $100.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 15th. Truist Financial cut their price target on Wells Fargo & Company from $104.00 to $100.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, January 15th. Finally, Barclays upped their target price on Wells Fargo & Company from $94.00 to $113.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Monday, January 5th. Thirteen equities 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 MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $94.87.

Check Out Our Latest Stock Report on Wells Fargo & Company

About Wells Fargo & Company

(Free Report)

Wells Fargo & Company is a diversified, U.S.-based financial services company headquartered in San Francisco, California. Founded in 1852 by Henry Wells and William G. Fargo, the firm has evolved from its origins in express delivery and pioneer-era banking into one of the largest full-service banks in the United States. The company provides a broad range of financial products and services to individual, small business, commercial, and institutional clients. Charles W. Scharf serves as chief executive officer.

Wells Fargo operates across several core business segments, including consumer banking and lending, commercial banking, corporate and investment banking, and wealth and investment management.

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Petroleo Brasileiro S.A.- Petrobras (NYSE:PBR  Get Free Report) shares hit a new 52-week high during mid-day trading on Tuesday . The company traded as high as $14.98 and last traded at $14.9430, with a volume of 9910287 shares changing hands. The stock had previously closed at $14.34.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several equities analysts have recently commented on PBR shares. Wall Street Zen raised shares of Petroleo Brasileiro S.A.- Petrobras from a hold rating to a buy rating in a report on Saturday, January 17th. Weiss Ratings reiterated a hold (c-) rating on shares of Petroleo Brasileiro S.A.- Petrobras in a research note on Monday, December 29th. Finally, UBS Group increased their price objective on shares of Petroleo Brasileiro S.A.- Petrobras from $14.40 to $14.60 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Wednesday, January 14th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, three have given a Buy rating and three have assigned a Hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $14.97.

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View Our Latest Analysis on Petroleo Brasileiro S.A.- Petrobras

Petroleo Brasileiro S.A.- Petrobras Price Performance

The company has a market cap of $96.50 billion, a P/E ratio of 6.94, a PEG ratio of 0.30 and a beta of 0.51. The firms 50-day moving average is $12.37 and its two-hundred day moving average is $12.38. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.73, a current ratio of 0.82 and a quick ratio of 0.57.

Petroleo Brasileiro S.A.- Petrobras (NYSE:PBR  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Friday, November 7th. The oil and gas exploration company reported $0.82 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.79 by $0.03. Petroleo Brasileiro S.A.- Petrobras had a net margin of 16.15% and a return on equity of 23.32%. Analysts anticipate that Petroleo Brasileiro S.A.- Petrobras will post 2.14 earnings per share for the current year.

Petroleo Brasileiro S.A.- Petrobras Dividend Announcement

The business also recently disclosed a special dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 27th. Shareholders of record on Friday, December 26th will be paid a dividend of $0.0658 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, December 26th. Petroleo Brasileiro S.A.- Petrobrass payout ratio is presently 21.76%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Petroleo Brasileiro S.A.- Petrobras

Several institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Capital International Investors increased its stake in Petroleo Brasileiro S.A.- Petrobras by 14.7% in the third quarter. Capital International Investors now owns 20,211,745 shares of the oil and gas exploration companys stock worth $255,881,000 after purchasing an additional 2,592,536 shares during the period. ARGA Investment Management LP grew its holdings in shares of Petroleo Brasileiro S.A.- Petrobras by 70.4% in the third quarter. ARGA Investment Management LP now owns 18,808,705 shares of the oil and gas exploration companys stock worth $238,118,000 after purchasing an additional 7,772,595 shares during the last quarter. Mondrian Investment Partners LTD purchased a new position in Petroleo Brasileiro S.A.- Petrobras in the 3rd quarter worth about $140,433,000. Earnest Partners LLC lifted its holdings in Petroleo Brasileiro S.A.- Petrobras by 52.0% during the 3rd quarter. Earnest Partners LLC now owns 4,872,441 shares of the oil and gas exploration companys stock valued at $61,685,000 after buying an additional 1,665,873 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Perpetual Ltd boosted its position in Petroleo Brasileiro S.A.- Petrobras by 0.5% in the 4th quarter. Perpetual Ltd now owns 3,313,257 shares of the oil and gas exploration companys stock valued at $39,262,000 after buying an additional 18,100 shares during the period.

About Petroleo Brasileiro S.A.- Petrobras

(Get Free Report)

Petroleo Brasileiro SA  Petrobras is a Brazilian, state-controlled integrated oil and gas company headquartered in Rio de Janeiro. Founded in 1953, Petrobras is principally engaged in the exploration and production of crude oil and natural gas, and operates across the full value chain from upstream activities through refining, transportation and downstream marketing of petroleum products. The company is a major player in Brazils energy sector and is a listed public company with global capital market presence.

Petrobrass core activities include deepwater and ultra-deepwater exploration and production, where it has been a pioneer in developing pre-salt reserves off Brazils coast.

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PFG Investments LLC lessened its holdings in shares of Novo Nordisk A/S (NYSE:NVO  Free Report) by 40.4% in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 13,693 shares of the companys stock after selling 9,268 shares during the period. PFG Investments LLCs holdings in Novo Nordisk A/S were worth $760,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of the company. True Wealth Design LLC grew its position in shares of Novo Nordisk A/S by 209.8% in the third quarter. True Wealth Design LLC now owns 443 shares of the companys stock valued at $25,000 after purchasing an additional 300 shares in the last quarter. NewSquare Capital LLC boosted its stake in Novo Nordisk A/S by 174.1% during the second quarter. NewSquare Capital LLC now owns 444 shares of the companys stock worth $31,000 after buying an additional 282 shares during the last quarter. Mid American Wealth Advisory Group Inc. purchased a new stake in Novo Nordisk A/S in the 2nd quarter valued at $37,000. Copeland Capital Management LLC increased its stake in shares of Novo Nordisk A/S by 47.3% in the 2nd quarter. Copeland Capital Management LLC now owns 579 shares of the companys stock worth $40,000 after acquiring an additional 186 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Steigerwald Gordon & Koch Inc. purchased a new position in shares of Novo Nordisk A/S during the 3rd quarter worth $39,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 11.54% of the companys stock.

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Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

NVO has been the subject of a number of analyst reports. Morgan Stanley reissued an underweight rating and issued a $42.00 price objective on shares of Novo Nordisk A/S in a report on Wednesday, December 3rd. Jefferies Financial Group started coverage on shares of Novo Nordisk A/S in a research note on Monday, October 27th. They issued an underperform rating for the company. Argus reaffirmed a hold rating on shares of Novo Nordisk A/S in a research report on Monday, December 8th. Hsbc Global Res cut Novo Nordisk A/S from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Monday, November 24th. Finally, Citigroup began coverage on Novo Nordisk A/S in a research note on Tuesday. They set a neutral rating for the company. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, seven have given a Buy rating, twelve have issued a Hold rating and three have assigned a Sell rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Novo Nordisk A/S has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $57.79.

Novo Nordisk A/S Stock Performance

Shares of NVO stock opened at $63.96 on Tuesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.52, a quick ratio of 0.57 and a current ratio of 0.78. The firm has a market cap of $285.58 billion, a P/E ratio of 18.59 and a beta of 0.66. The firms 50 day moving average price is $52.44 and its 200-day moving average price is $54.54. Novo Nordisk A/S has a one year low of $43.08 and a one year high of $93.80.

Novo Nordisk A/S (NYSE:NVO  Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Wednesday, November 5th. The company reported $1.02 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.77 by $0.25. Novo Nordisk A/S had a return on equity of 73.50% and a net margin of 32.76%.The company had revenue of $11.79 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $11.98 billion. As a group, equities research analysts predict that Novo Nordisk A/S will post 3.84 EPS for the current year.

Novo Nordisk A/S Company Profile

(Free Report)

Novo Nordisk A/S is a Danish multinational pharmaceutical company headquartered in Bagsvrd, Denmark, best known for its leadership in diabetes care and metabolic health. The company traces its roots to early Danish insulin production in the 1920s and was established in its current form through a 1989 merger of predecessor companies. Novo Nordisk develops, manufactures and markets pharmaceutical products and devices that address chronic and serious diseases, with a strong emphasis on long-term treatment and patient support.

The companys core product portfolio centers on diabetes therapies, including a range of insulins and modern incretin-based treatments.

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Phoenix Financial Ltd. cut its holdings in The TJX Companies, Inc. (NYSE:TJX  Free Report) by 36.4% during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The firm owned 45,810 shares of the apparel and home fashions retailers stock after selling 26,223 shares during the quarter. Phoenix Financial Ltd.s holdings in TJX Companies were worth $6,673,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the business. Lavaca Capital LLC acquired a new stake in shares of TJX Companies in the 2nd quarter worth about $25,000. Princeton Global Asset Management LLC bought a new stake in TJX Companies during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $28,000. Highline Wealth Partners LLC raised its stake in shares of TJX Companies by 65.0% in the third quarter. Highline Wealth Partners LLC now owns 231 shares of the apparel and home fashions retailers stock worth $33,000 after purchasing an additional 91 shares during the last quarter. Howard Hughes Medical Institute bought a new position in shares of TJX Companies in the second quarter valued at approximately $30,000. Finally, Legacy Investment Solutions LLC bought a new position in shares of TJX Companies in the second quarter valued at approximately $32,000. 91.09% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

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Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of research firms recently commented on TJX. BTIG Research reissued a buy rating and issued a $165.00 price target on shares of TJX Companies in a research report on Thursday, November 20th. Robert W. Baird set a $168.00 target price on shares of TJX Companies in a report on Wednesday, December 17th. TD Cowen reissued a buy rating on shares of TJX Companies in a research report on Thursday, November 20th. Sanford C. Bernstein reaffirmed an outperform rating and issued a $170.00 price objective on shares of TJX Companies in a research report on Tuesday, January 6th. Finally, Morgan Stanley reissued an overweight rating and set a $162.00 target price (up previously from $159.00) on shares of TJX Companies in a research report on Thursday, November 20th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating and twenty-two have given a Buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, TJX Companies has a consensus rating of Buy and an average target price of $163.86.

Insider Buying and Selling at TJX Companies

In other news, Director Amy B. Lane sold 500 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, November 21st. The shares were sold at an average price of $151.40, for a total value of $75,700.00. Following the sale, the director owned 22,212 shares of the companys stock, valued at $3,362,896.80. The trade was a 2.20% 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. Also, CEO Ernie Herrman sold 30,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, November 20th. The shares were sold at an average price of $148.81, for a total transaction of $4,464,300.00. Following the sale, the chief executive officer owned 535,143 shares in the company, valued at $79,634,629.83. The trade was a 5.31% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Insiders have sold a total of 54,863 shares of company stock valued at $8,226,366 in the last quarter. 0.13% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

TJX Companies Stock Down 2.1%

TJX opened at $150.01 on Tuesday. The TJX Companies, Inc. has a twelve month low of $112.10 and a twelve month high of $159.48. The companys 50-day moving average price is $154.00 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $143.17. The stock has a market cap of $166.58 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 33.11, a PEG ratio of 3.21 and a beta of 0.75. The company has a quick ratio of 0.43, a current ratio of 1.09 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.20.

TJX Companies (NYSE:TJX  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, November 19th. The apparel and home fashions retailer reported $1.28 EPS for the quarter, topping 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 company had revenue of $15.12 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $14.80 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $1.14 EPS. TJX Companiess 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. As a group, equities analysts expect that The TJX Companies, Inc. will post 4.18 earnings per share for the current year.

TJX Companies Dividend Announcement

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, March 5th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, February 12th will be given a dividend of $0.425 per share. This represents a $1.70 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.1%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, February 12th. TJX Companiess dividend payout ratio is currently 37.53%.

About TJX Companies

(Free Report)

TJX Companies, Inc is a leading off-price retailer of apparel, footwear, home fashions and other consumer goods. The company operates multiple retail concepts that offer discounted brand-name and designer merchandise, including well-known banners such as T.J. Maxx and Marshalls in the United States, HomeGoods for home furnishings, TK Maxx in parts of Europe, and Winners and Homesense in Canada. Merchandise categories span womens, mens and childrens apparel, accessories, beauty, home decor, kitchenware and small furniture, with frequent changes in assortment that create a treasure-hunt shopping experience for consumers.

The companys business model centers on opportunistic buying, purchasing excess, irregular or out-of-season inventory from manufacturers, department stores and other suppliers, and passing savings to customers through lower prices.

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Phoenix Financial Ltd. bought a new stake in shares of iShares Russell 2000 ETF (NYSEARCA:IWM  Free Report) during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund bought 21,357 shares of the exchange traded funds stock, valued at approximately $5,168,000.

A number of other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Stonegate Investment Group LLC purchased a new stake in iShares Russell 2000 ETF in the third quarter worth about $206,000. Paragon Private Wealth Management LLC grew its holdings in shares of iShares Russell 2000 ETF by 189.4% during the 3rd quarter. Paragon Private Wealth Management LLC now owns 8,587 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $2,078,000 after acquiring an additional 5,620 shares during the period. Flagship Private Wealth LLC raised its position in shares of iShares Russell 2000 ETF by 4.4% in the 3rd quarter. Flagship Private Wealth LLC now owns 4,063 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $983,000 after acquiring an additional 173 shares in the last quarter. Belpointe Asset Management LLC lifted its stake in shares of iShares Russell 2000 ETF by 19.5% in the 3rd quarter. Belpointe Asset Management LLC now owns 19,281 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $4,665,000 after purchasing an additional 3,148 shares during the period. Finally, First Command Advisory Services Inc. boosted its position in shares of iShares Russell 2000 ETF by 2,662.1% during the third quarter. First Command Advisory Services Inc. now owns 801 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $194,000 after purchasing an additional 772 shares in the last quarter.

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iShares Russell 2000 ETF Stock Down 0.3%

Shares of IWM stock opened at $263.98 on Tuesday. The businesss fifty day moving average is $252.33 and its 200 day moving average is $241.50. The stock has a market cap of $77.24 billion, a price-to-earnings 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 $271.60.

iShares Russell 2000 ETF Company Profile

iShares Russell 2000 ETF (the Fund) is an exchange-traded fund. The Fund seeks investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance of the Russell 2000 Index (the Index). The Index is a float-adjusted capitalization weighted index that measures the performance of the small-capitalization sector of the United States equity market and includes securities issued by the approximately 2,000 smallest issuers in the Russell 3000 Index. The Fund invests in a representative sample of securities included in the Index that collectively has an investment profile similar to the Index.

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China ready to work with U.S. to manage differences, advance cooperation: commerce ministry

Xinhua) 09:33, January 27, 2026

BEIJING, Jan. 26 (Xinhua) -- China stands ready to work with the United States to manage differences properly, advance cooperation, and maintain the stable, healthy and sustainable development of economic and trade relations, the Chinese Ministry of Commerce said on Monday.

Based on the principles of equality, mutual respect and mutual benefit, China and the United States held five rounds of economic and trade consultations in 2025, which yielded a series of positive outcomes, Vice Minister of Commerce Yan Dong said at a press conference held by the State Council Information Office.

This fully demonstrated that China and the United States can find ways to resolve issues through equal dialogue and consultation, Yan said.

Following a meeting between the two heads of state in Busan, the two countries have maintained communication at various levels through the China-U.S. economic and trade consultation mechanism. They have also worked together to implement the important common understandings reached between the two presidents, as well as the outcomes of the China-U.S. economic and trade consultation in Kuala Lumpur, according to the vice minister.

Going forward, Yan said that following the principles of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation, China is willing to work with the United States to uphold and implement the important common understandings of the two heads of state, and make good use of the China-U.S. economic and trade consultation mechanism.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
RTX (NYSE:RTX  Get Free Report) posted its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday. The company reported $1.55 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.47 by $0.08, Zacks reports. RTX had a return on equity of 13.28% and a net margin of 7.67%.The business had revenue of $24.24 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $22.65 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm earned $1.54 earnings per share. RTXs revenue for the quarter was up 12.1% compared to the same quarter last year. RTX updated its FY 2026 guidance to 6.600-6.800 EPS.

Here are the key takeaways from RTXs conference call:

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Strong financials and 2026 guide: Full-year adjusted sales of $88.6B , adjusted EPS of $6.29 , and free cash flow of $7.9B ; management guides 2026 adjusted sales of $9293B , adjusted EPS of $6.606.80 , and free cash flow of $8.258.75B .

Full-year adjusted sales of , adjusted EPS of , and free cash flow of ; management guides 2026 adjusted sales of , adjusted EPS of , and free cash flow of . Record backlog and strong orders: Year-end backlog reached $268B (book-to-bill 1.56) with roughly $161B commercial and $107B defense, driven by large engine awards and significant defense wins (e.g., Patriot, Tamir).

Year-end backlog reached (book-to-bill 1.56) with roughly commercial and defense, driven by large engine awards and significant defense wins (e.g., Patriot, Tamir). GTF fleet plan is progressing but carries cash obligations: AOGs are down >20% from the 2025 peak and MRO output rose 26% for the year (39% in Q4), while customer compensation cash outflows remain material (exited 2025 with ~$1B; ~ $700M expected in 2026; cumulative ~ $2.8B by end-2026).

AOGs are down >20% from the 2025 peak and MRO output rose 26% for the year (39% in Q4), while customer compensation cash outflows remain material (exited 2025 with ~$1B; ~ $700M expected in 2026; cumulative ~ $2.8B by end-2026). Productivity and capacity investments underway: Digital factory/connectivity now covers >50% of manufacturing hours, Raytheon increased munitions output ~20% on key programs, and RTX plans ~ $10.5B of total 2026 investments (including ~ $3.1B CapEx and ~ $3B R&D) to expand production and automation.

Digital factory/connectivity now covers >50% of manufacturing hours, Raytheon increased munitions output ~20% on key programs, and RTX plans ~ of total 2026 investments (including ~ CapEx and ~ R&D) to expand production and automation. Near-term cost and cash headwinds: Q4 included ~$1B powdermetal compensation and ~$600M tariff impacts, Collins faced tariff drag (~90 bps), and ~$3.4B of debt maturities are due in 2026, which could pressure near-term cash flow and margins.

RTX Trading Up 1.2%

Shares of NYSE RTX traded up $2.37 during midday trading on Tuesday, hitting $196.50. The companys stock had a trading volume of 3,877,970 shares, compared to its average volume of 5,513,958. RTX has a 12-month low of $112.27 and a 12-month high of $203.03. The firm has a market cap of $263.46 billion, a P/E ratio of 40.53, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.87 and a beta of 0.44. The businesss 50 day moving average is $182.82 and its two-hundred day moving average is $169.26. The company has a current ratio of 1.07, a quick ratio of 0.81 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.58.

RTX Dividend Announcement

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, December 11th. Investors of record on Friday, November 21st were given a $0.68 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Friday, November 21st. This represents a $2.72 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.4%. RTXs dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 55.85%.

A number of equities analysts have recently issued reports on the company. Susquehanna restated a positive rating and set a $230.00 price objective on shares of RTX in a research report on Thursday, January 15th. Bank of America increased their price target on shares of RTX from $175.00 to $215.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Monday, October 27th. Robert W. Baird set a $203.00 price target on shares of RTX in a report on Wednesday, October 22nd. BNP Paribas Exane began coverage on shares of RTX in a report on Tuesday, November 18th. They set an outperform rating and a $210.00 target price on the stock. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group reissued a hold rating and issued a $190.00 target price on shares of RTX in a research note on Tuesday, November 25th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, thirteen have assigned a Buy rating and six have issued 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 $186.88.

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Institutional Trading of RTX

Hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Wexford Capital LP acquired a new position in shares of RTX during the 3rd quarter worth about $33,000. Imprint Wealth LLC acquired a new position in shares of RTX during the third quarter valued at approximately $35,000. Quarry LP boosted its stake in shares of RTX by 9.0% in the third quarter. Quarry LP now owns 787 shares of the companys stock worth $132,000 after acquiring an additional 65 shares during the last quarter. Westshore Wealth LLC purchased a new stake in shares of RTX during the third quarter worth approximately $225,000. Finally, Abel Hall LLC purchased a new stake in shares of RTX during the third quarter worth approximately $226,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 86.50% of the companys stock.

Key Stories Impacting RTX

Here are the key news stories impacting RTX this week:

Positive Sentiment: Q4 results beat revenue and (adjusted) EPS expectations  total revenue was $24.2B, up 12.1% year/year, and the company reported EPS that topped consensus (reported as $1.55 by some outlets). This directly supports the stock move. RTX (RTX) Beats Q4 Earnings and Revenue Estimates

Q4 results beat revenue and (adjusted) EPS expectations  total revenue was $24.2B, up 12.1% year/year, and the company reported EPS that topped consensus (reported as $1.55 by some outlets). This directly supports the stock move. Positive Sentiment: Strong cash flow and balancesheet metrics  operating cash rose sharply (cited as ~$4.2B) and cash balances improved, supporting capital allocation and dividend/ buyback capacity. Q4 liquidity and cash flow details

Strong cash flow and balancesheet metrics  operating cash rose sharply (cited as ~$4.2B) and cash balances improved, supporting capital allocation and dividend/ buyback capacity. Neutral Sentiment: FY2026 guidance essentially in line with consensus  EPS guidance of $6.606.80 and revenue guidance of $92.0B$93.0B track Street estimates (consensus ~6.70 EPS and $92.5B revenue), so guidance is not a surprise but supports the companys growth story. RTX Reports 2025 Results and Announces 2026 Outlook

FY2026 guidance essentially in line with consensus  EPS guidance of $6.606.80 and revenue guidance of $92.0B$93.0B track Street estimates (consensus ~6.70 EPS and $92.5B revenue), so guidance is not a surprise but supports the companys growth story. Neutral Sentiment: Analyst sentiment and targets skew positive  multiple buy/overweight ratings and a median price target around $200 provide support, but targets vary widely (range cited in recent notes). Analyst ratings and price targets

Analyst sentiment and targets skew positive  multiple buy/overweight ratings and a median price target around $200 provide support, but targets vary widely (range cited in recent notes). Negative Sentiment: Conflicting EPS presentations and some data showing an EPS miss on a GAAP/different metric create noise  one thirdparty summary cited a lower GAAP diluted EPS (different from the adjusted number), which can confuse investors evaluating underlying performance. EPS metric differences reported

Conflicting EPS presentations and some data showing an EPS miss on a GAAP/different metric create noise  one thirdparty summary cited a lower GAAP diluted EPS (different from the adjusted number), which can confuse investors evaluating underlying performance. Negative Sentiment: Notable insider selling reported across several senior executives in recent months  could be perceived negatively by some investors. Insider trading activity details

RTX Company Profile

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RTX (NYSE: RTX) is a U.S.-based aerospace and defense company that designs, manufactures and services advanced systems for commercial, military and governmental customers worldwide. The company was created through the 2020 combination of Raytheon Company and United Technologies Corporation and later adopted the RTX name, positioning itself as a diversified provider across the aerospace and defense value chain.

RTXs operations span a broad set of capabilities. Its commercial aerospace businesses include Pratt & Whitney aircraft engines and Collins Aerospace systems, which supply propulsion, avionics, aerostructures, interiors and integrated aircraft systems.

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Sandvik (OTCMKTS:SDVKY  Get Free Report) posted its earnings results on Tuesday. The industrial products company reported $0.36 earnings per share for the quarter, hitting the consensus estimate of $0.36, Zacks reports. Sandvik had a net margin of 12.24% and a return on equity of 16.30%.

Sandvik Price Performance

SDVKY opened at $37.91 on Tuesday. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $32.49 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $29.00. The firm has a market capitalization of $47.55 billion, a PE ratio of 32.40, a P/E/G ratio of 1.31 and a beta of 1.50. Sandvik has a 52 week low of $16.94 and a 52 week high of $38.13. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.40, a quick ratio of 0.90 and a current ratio of 1.78.

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Analyst Ratings Changes

SDVKY has been the topic of a number of research analyst reports. Jefferies Financial Group lowered Sandvik from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Sunday. Royal Bank Of Canada restated an outperform rating on shares of Sandvik in a report on Wednesday, October 22nd. Zacks Research raised Sandvik from a hold rating to a strong-buy rating in a report on Monday, December 22nd. Barclays reissued an overweight rating on shares of Sandvik in a report on Wednesday, December 3rd. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reaffirmed a buy rating on shares of Sandvik in a research note on Monday, December 8th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, four have issued a Buy rating and two have assigned a Hold rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Sandvik presently has an average rating of Buy.

About Sandvik

(Get Free Report)

Sandvik (OTCMKTS: SDVKY) is a global engineering group headquartered in Sandviken, Sweden, with roots dating back to 1862 when it was founded by Goran Fredrik Goransson. The company designs, manufactures and services advanced products and solutions for the mining and construction industries, metalworking and material technology markets. Sandvik serves customers worldwide with a broad portfolio of industrial products, equipment and aftermarket services.

Sandviks core activities span three broad areas: metal-cutting and machining solutions, mining and rock excavation equipment, and specialty materials and components.

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Shinhan Financial Group Co Ltd (NYSE:SHG  Get Free Report) reached a new 52-week high during trading on Tuesday . The company traded as high as $60.55 and last traded at $60.4410, with a volume of 23486 shares trading hands. The stock had previously closed at $57.92.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of research firms have issued reports on SHG. Zacks Research downgraded shares of Shinhan Financial Group from a hold rating to a strong sell rating in a report on Tuesday, December 2nd. Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a buy (b) rating on shares of Shinhan Financial Group in a report on Monday, December 29th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Buy rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of Hold.

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View Our Latest Analysis on SHG

Shinhan Financial Group Stock Performance

The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.51, a quick ratio of 1.03 and a current ratio of 1.03. The company has a market cap of $29.33 billion, a PE ratio of 5.88, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.61 and a beta of 1.01. The companys 50 day moving average price is $54.06 and its 200-day moving average price is $51.52.

Shinhan Financial Group (NYSE:SHG  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Friday, November 14th. The bank reported $2.05 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.97 by $0.08. Shinhan Financial Group had a return on equity of 12.45% and a net margin of 22.38%.The business had revenue of $2.72 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $3.79 billion. Equities research analysts anticipate that Shinhan Financial Group Co Ltd will post 5.97 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Lazard Asset Management LLC raised its stake in shares of Shinhan Financial Group by 5.3% during the 3rd quarter. Lazard Asset Management LLC now owns 1,576,735 shares of the banks stock valued at $79,420,000 after purchasing an additional 78,768 shares during the period. Northern Trust Corp boosted its stake in Shinhan Financial Group by 0.5% in the 3rd quarter. Northern Trust Corp now owns 1,498,706 shares of the banks stock worth $75,490,000 after purchasing an additional 7,518 shares during the period. American Century Companies Inc. grew its holdings in Shinhan Financial Group by 11.3% during the 3rd quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 1,089,798 shares of the banks stock valued at $54,893,000 after buying an additional 110,787 shares in the last quarter. Bank of America Corp DE increased its position in shares of Shinhan Financial Group by 0.5% during the third quarter. Bank of America Corp DE now owns 686,044 shares of the banks stock valued at $34,556,000 after buying an additional 3,709 shares during the period. Finally, Millennium Management LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Shinhan Financial Group by 152.0% in the first quarter. Millennium Management LLC now owns 582,570 shares of the banks stock worth $18,689,000 after buying an additional 351,413 shares in the last quarter. 7.76% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

About Shinhan Financial Group

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Shinhan Financial Group is a South Koreabased financial holding company headquartered in Seoul. Established in 2001 as a banking and financial services group, it brings together a range of financial subsidiaries operating under the Shinhan brand, including commercial banking, card services, life insurance, securities and asset management businesses. The group serves both retail and corporate clients and is one of the leading diversified financial institutions in Korea.

The companys principal activities span retail and corporate banking, credit card issuance and payment services, life insurance and related protection products, brokerage and investment banking, and asset and wealth management.

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Stonegate Investment Group LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Dell Technologies Inc. (NYSE:DELL  Free Report) by 24,493.8% during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 411,946 shares of the technology companys stock after purchasing an additional 410,271 shares during the quarter. Dell Technologies accounts for about 1.4% of Stonegate Investment Group LLCs portfolio, making the stock its 26th biggest position. Stonegate Investment Group LLC owned about 0.06% of Dell Technologies worth $58,402,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the business. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC grew its holdings in shares of Dell Technologies by 4.9% during the third quarter. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC now owns 273,850 shares of the technology companys stock worth $40,990,000 after buying an additional 12,695 shares in the last quarter. Carnegie Investment Counsel boosted its position in Dell Technologies by 904.0% during the 3rd quarter. Carnegie Investment Counsel now owns 18,484 shares of the technology companys stock worth $2,620,000 after acquiring an additional 16,643 shares during the last quarter. Shikiar Asset Management Inc. bought a new position in shares of Dell Technologies during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $5,417,000. Fisher Funds Management LTD acquired a new stake in shares of Dell Technologies in the third quarter valued at approximately $1,398,000. Finally, Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Group Inc. lifted its position in shares of Dell Technologies by 8.7% in the third quarter. Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Group Inc. now owns 800,382 shares of the technology companys stock worth $113,470,000 after purchasing an additional 63,924 shares in the last quarter. 76.37% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of research analysts recently weighed in on the stock. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their target price on shares of Dell Technologies from $165.00 to $170.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research report on Monday, November 17th. The Goldman Sachs Group assumed coverage on Dell Technologies in a report on Tuesday, January 13th. They issued a buy rating and a $165.00 price objective for the company. Bank of America lifted their target price on Dell Technologies from $160.00 to $163.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Wednesday, November 26th. Zacks Research downgraded Dell Technologies from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Tuesday, November 18th. Finally, Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a hold (c+) rating on shares of Dell Technologies in a research report on Wednesday, January 21st. Eighteen investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, six have given a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $161.26.

Dell Technologies Stock Up 0.4%

DELL opened at $115.89 on Tuesday. Dell Technologies Inc. has a 12-month low of $66.25 and a 12-month high of $168.08. The business has a 50 day moving average of $126.34 and a 200-day moving average of $133.65. The stock has a market cap of $76.80 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 15.45, a PEG ratio of 0.77 and a beta of 1.03.

Dell Technologies (NYSE:DELL  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, November 25th. The technology company reported $2.59 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $2.47 by $0.12. Dell Technologies had a negative return on equity of 234.84% and a net margin of 5.01%.The business had revenue of $27.01 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $27.26 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $2.15 EPS. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 10.8% on a year-over-year basis. Dell Technologies has set its FY 2026 guidance at 9.920-9.920 EPS and its Q4 2026 guidance at 3.500-3.500 EPS. As a group, analysts expect that Dell Technologies Inc. will post 6.93 earnings per share for the current year.

Dell Technologies Dividend Announcement

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, January 30th. Investors of record on Tuesday, January 20th will be issued a dividend of $0.525 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, January 20th. This represents a $2.10 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.8%. Dell Technologiess payout ratio is presently 28.00%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, Director Egon Durban sold 71,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, December 9th. The shares were sold at an average price of $138.12, for a total value of $9,806,520.00. Following the transaction, the director owned 1,172,428 shares in the company, valued at approximately $161,935,755.36. This represents a 5.71% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Company insiders own 42.00% of the companys stock.

About Dell Technologies

(Free Report)

Dell Technologies Inc is a multinational technology company that designs, manufactures and sells a broad range of information technology products, solutions and services. Its offerings span client computing devices (consumer and commercial laptops and desktops), enterprise infrastructure (servers, storage systems and networking equipment), software and cloud infrastructure, and a variety of professional services such as IT consulting, deployment, managed services and financing solutions. The company serves organizations of all sizes as well as individual consumers, with products and services aimed at enabling digital transformation and modern IT environments.

Founded by Michael Dell in 1984, the company grew from a direct-to-consumer PC business into a diversified IT provider through organic expansion and strategic acquisitions.

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Stonegate Investment Group LLC trimmed its holdings in shares of Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight ETF (NYSEARCA:RSP  Free Report) by 8.1% in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 45,303 shares of the companys stock after selling 4,000 shares during the period. Stonegate Investment Group LLCs holdings in Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight ETF were worth $8,594,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other large investors have also made changes to their positions in RSP. Investment Counsel Co. of Nevada acquired a new position in Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight ETF during the second quarter valued at $29,000. Tompkins Financial Corp purchased a new position in shares of Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight ETF during the 3rd quarter valued at about $32,000. GoalVest Advisory LLC acquired a new position in shares of Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight ETF in the 2nd quarter valued at about $34,000. Copia Wealth Management lifted its holdings in shares of Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight ETF by 335.8% in the 3rd quarter. Copia Wealth Management now owns 231 shares of the companys stock valued at $44,000 after buying an additional 178 shares during the period. Finally, Howe & Rusling Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight ETF by 51.9% in the second quarter. Howe & Rusling Inc. now owns 287 shares of the companys stock worth $52,000 after buying an additional 98 shares during the last quarter. 61.18% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight ETF Stock Up 0.2%

Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight ETF stock opened at $199.24 on Tuesday. Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight ETF has a 52 week low of $150.35 and a 52 week high of $200.78. The firm has a market cap of $82.68 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 20.10 and a beta of 0.99. The businesss 50-day moving average price is $193.25 and its 200 day moving average price is $189.48.

Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight ETF Profile

Guggenheim S&P 500 Equal Weight ETF, formerly Rydex S&P 500 Equal Weight ETF, seeks to replicate as closely as possible, the daily performance of the S&P 500 Equal Weight Index (the Index). The Index is a capitalization-weighted index covering 500 industrial, utility, transportation and financial companies of the United States markets (mostly NYSE Euronext issues). The Index utilizes quarterly rebalancing to maintain its equal-weight stance. Under normal circumstances, the Fund will invest at least 90% of its net assets, plus any borrowing for investment purposes, in the equity securities (and derivatives thereof) included in the Index.

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Ownership Capital B.V. lowered its stake in Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. (NYSE:TMO  Free Report) by 89.3% during the third quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 18,117 shares of the medical research companys stock after selling 151,046 shares during the quarter. Thermo Fisher Scientific comprises about 4.9% of Ownership Capital B.V.s portfolio, making the stock its 10th biggest holding. Ownership Capital B.V.s holdings in Thermo Fisher Scientific were worth $8,787,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Several other large investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Vanguard Group Inc. increased its stake in Thermo Fisher Scientific by 0.9% during the second quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 33,789,164 shares of the medical research companys stock worth $13,700,154,000 after purchasing an additional 309,207 shares during the period. Norges Bank acquired a new position in Thermo Fisher Scientific during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $2,264,615,000. Franklin Resources Inc. increased its position in shares of Thermo Fisher Scientific by 11.3% in the 2nd quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. now owns 4,897,546 shares of the medical research companys stock valued at $1,985,759,000 after purchasing an additional 498,238 shares during the last quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. lifted its position in shares of Thermo Fisher Scientific by 2.6% during the 2nd quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 3,000,562 shares of the medical research companys stock worth $1,216,612,000 after purchasing an additional 74,971 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA grew its stake in shares of Thermo Fisher Scientific by 25.4% during the third quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA now owns 2,936,998 shares of the medical research companys stock worth $1,424,503,000 after purchasing an additional 594,218 shares in the last quarter. 89.23% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Thermo Fisher Scientific Trading Up 0.1%

Shares of TMO stock opened at $626.82 on Tuesday. Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. has a twelve month low of $385.46 and a twelve month high of $643.99. The company has a current ratio of 1.50, a quick ratio of 1.11 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.62. The businesss 50 day moving average is $592.07 and its two-hundred day moving average is $533.76. The company has a market capitalization of $235.50 billion, a P/E ratio of 36.21, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 4.11 and a beta of 0.91.

Thermo Fisher Scientific Announces Dividend

Thermo Fisher Scientific declared that its board has authorized a share buyback program on Thursday, November 6th that authorizes the company to buyback $5.00 billion in outstanding shares. This buyback authorization authorizes the medical research company to purchase up to 2.4% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares buyback programs are often an indication that the companys leadership believes its stock is undervalued.

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, January 15th. Shareholders of record on Monday, December 15th were given a dividend of $0.43 per share. The ex-dividend date was Monday, December 15th. This represents a $1.72 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.3%. Thermo Fisher Scientifics dividend payout ratio is presently 9.94%.

Insider Activity

In other Thermo Fisher Scientific news, COO Michel Lagarde sold 22,046 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, December 4th. The stock was sold at an average price of $563.56, for a total transaction of $12,424,243.76. Following the transaction, the chief operating officer owned 84,117 shares in the company, valued at approximately $47,404,976.52. The trade was a 20.77% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, VP Lisa P. Britt sold 1,058 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, November 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $588.26, for a total value of $622,379.08. Following the completion of the sale, the vice president directly owned 13,087 shares of the companys stock, valued at $7,698,558.62. This represents a 7.48% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Insiders have sold a total of 124,517 shares of company stock worth $72,363,568 over the last quarter. Insiders own 0.33% of the companys stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of analysts have issued reports on the company. TD Cowen reaffirmed a buy rating on shares of Thermo Fisher Scientific in a report on Wednesday, January 7th. KeyCorp upgraded Thermo Fisher Scientific from a sector weight rating to an overweight rating and set a $750.00 target price for the company in a research note on Sunday, December 7th. Leerink Partners increased their price target on shares of Thermo Fisher Scientific from $545.00 to $580.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 22nd. Wells Fargo & Company upped their target price on shares of Thermo Fisher Scientific from $635.00 to $675.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Monday, December 15th. Finally, UBS Group upped their target price on Thermo Fisher Scientific from $500.00 to $590.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research report on Thursday, October 23rd. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eighteen have assigned a Buy rating and three have assigned a Hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $625.47.

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About Thermo Fisher Scientific

(Free Report)

Thermo Fisher Scientific (NYSE: TMO) is a global provider of scientific instrumentation, reagents and consumables, software, and services that support research, clinical, and industrial laboratories. The company supplies analytical instruments and laboratory equipment, life sciences reagents and kits, specialty diagnostics, and a broad range of consumables used by researchers, clinicians, and manufacturers. Its offerings also include laboratory information management and data-analysis software, as well as service solutions such as instrument maintenance, validation, and logistics that help customers run complex workflows efficiently.

Thermo Fisher operates through multiple business areas that broadly cover life sciences solutions, analytical instruments, specialty diagnostics, and laboratory products and biopharma services, including contract development and manufacturing for pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies.

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UCB SA (OTCMKTS:UCBJY  Get Free Report)s stock price hit a new 52-week high on Tuesday . The stock traded as high as $156.07 and last traded at $155.70, with a volume of 1207 shares changing hands. The stock had previously closed at $152.0250.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

UCBJY has been the topic of several recent analyst reports. Zacks Research downgraded shares of UCB from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Monday, November 3rd. Jefferies Financial Group upgraded UCB to a moderate sell rating in a research note on Sunday, October 26th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating and one has assigned a Hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Buy.

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UCB Price Performance

About UCB

The firms fifty day moving average price is $142.20 and its 200 day moving average price is $129.75.

(Get Free Report)

UCB is a global biopharmaceutical company founded in Belgium in 1928, specializing in the discovery and development of therapies for severe diseases in the fields of neurology and immunology. Headquartered in Brussels, UCB leverages nearly a century of scientific expertise to address areas of high unmet medical need, with a focus on chronic conditions such as epilepsy, Parkinsons disease, rheumatoid arthritis and Crohns disease.

The companys commercial portfolio includes key branded medicines such as CIMZIA (certolizumab pegol) for inflammatory disorders, VIMPAT (lacosamide) for the treatment of partial-onset seizures in epilepsy, and NEUPRO (rotigotine transdermal system) for Parkinsons disease and restless legs syndrome.

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United Rentals (NYSE:URI  Get Free Report) is expected to release its Q4 2025 results after the market closes on Wednesday, January 28th. Analysts expect the company to announce earnings of $11.86 per share and revenue of $4.2424 billion for the quarter. Interested persons may visit the the companys upcoming Q4 2025 earning results page for the latest details on the call scheduled for Thursday, January 29, 2026 at 8:30 AM ET.

United Rentals Trading Down 0.9%

Shares of URI stock opened at $910.90 on Tuesday. United Rentals has a fifty-two week low of $525.91 and a fifty-two week high of $1,021.47. The stock has a market cap of $57.96 billion, a P/E ratio of 23.43, a P/E/G ratio of 1.91 and a beta of 1.69. The company has a quick ratio of 0.84, a current ratio of 0.90 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.40. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $845.34 and a 200-day simple moving average of $887.44.

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Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

URI has been the topic of a number of analyst reports. UBS Group upgraded United Rentals from a neutral rating to a buy rating and set a $1,025.00 target price on the stock in a report on Sunday, January 4th. Barclays reduced their price objective on United Rentals from $620.00 to $600.00 and set an underweight rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, October 20th. Citigroup boosted their target price on shares of United Rentals from $950.00 to $1,090.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Tuesday, January 13th. Truist Financial reduced their target price on shares of United Rentals from $1,169.00 to $1,045.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, December 18th. Finally, KeyCorp reissued an overweight rating on shares of United Rentals in a research report on Wednesday, December 3rd. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twelve have given a Buy rating, three have given a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $970.76.

Institutional Trading of United Rentals

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Sunbelt Securities Inc. lifted its position in United Rentals by 2,300.0% during the third quarter. Sunbelt Securities Inc. now owns 48 shares of the construction companys stock valued at $46,000 after buying an additional 46 shares in the last quarter. Quarry LP purchased a new position in shares of United Rentals in the 3rd quarter valued at $71,000. Kelleher Financial Advisors acquired a new position in shares of United Rentals during the 3rd quarter valued at $76,000. Towarzystwo Funduszy Inwestycyjnych PZU SA boosted its position in United Rentals by 38.5% during the 3rd quarter. Towarzystwo Funduszy Inwestycyjnych PZU SA now owns 90 shares of the construction companys stock worth $86,000 after purchasing an additional 25 shares during the period. Finally, MUFG Securities EMEA plc acquired a new stake in United Rentals in the 2nd quarter valued at $145,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 96.26% of the companys stock.

United Rentals Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

United Rentals, Inc (NYSE: URI) is a leading equipment rental company headquartered in Stamford, Connecticut. The firm provides rental solutions and related services to construction, industrial, commercial, and municipal customers. Its business model centers on providing access to a broad fleet of equipment on a short-term or long-term basis, enabling customers to avoid the capital expenditure of ownership and to scale equipment use to match project needs.

The companys product and service offerings span general construction equipment and a range of specialty categories, including aerial work platforms, earthmoving and excavation machines, material handling equipment, pumps, power and HVAC systems, trench and shoring solutions, and tools.

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Stonegate Investment Group LLC cut its position in UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH  Free Report) by 30.5% during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 6,291 shares of the healthcare conglomerates stock after selling 2,762 shares during the period. Stonegate Investment Group LLCs holdings in UnitedHealth Group were worth $2,172,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Several other large investors have also recently bought and sold shares of UNH. Murphy Pohlad Asset Management LLC boosted its stake in UnitedHealth Group by 21.8% in the second quarter. Murphy Pohlad Asset Management LLC now owns 4,425 shares of the healthcare conglomerates stock valued at $1,380,000 after acquiring an additional 791 shares in the last quarter. Carnegie Investment Counsel boosted its position in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 2.2% in the 3rd quarter. Carnegie Investment Counsel now owns 105,621 shares of the healthcare conglomerates stock valued at $36,471,000 after purchasing an additional 2,316 shares during the period. Berkshire Hathaway Inc acquired a new position in UnitedHealth Group during the second quarter worth approximately $1,572,193,000. IFP Advisors Inc boosted its holdings in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 20.7% in the second quarter. IFP Advisors Inc now owns 20,683 shares of the healthcare conglomerates stock valued at $6,462,000 after acquiring an additional 3,545 shares during the period. Finally, EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC increased its holdings in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 48.9% in the 2nd quarter. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 5,790 shares of the healthcare conglomerates stock valued at $1,806,000 after acquiring an additional 1,901 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 87.86% of the companys stock.

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Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research analysts recently weighed in on UNH shares. Sanford C. Bernstein upped their price objective on UnitedHealth Group from $433.00 to $440.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a report on Thursday, October 30th. Evercore ISI upgraded shares of UnitedHealth Group to a strong-buy rating in a report on Tuesday, January 6th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their target price on shares of UnitedHealth Group from $310.00 to $425.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Thursday, October 9th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft downgraded UnitedHealth Group from a buy rating to a hold rating and set a $333.00 price target for the company. in a report on Wednesday, October 29th. Finally, Morgan Stanley dropped their price objective on shares of UnitedHealth Group from $411.00 to $409.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research note on Friday. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, seventeen have issued a Buy rating, nine have assigned a Hold rating and two have issued a Sell rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $386.33.

Key Stories Impacting UnitedHealth Group

Here are the key news stories impacting UnitedHealth Group this week:

Positive Sentiment: UnitedHealth forecast 2026 adjusted profit slightly above analysts estimates, signaling that initial cost-control measures may be working. Read More.

UnitedHealth forecast 2026 adjusted profit slightly above analysts estimates, signaling that initial cost-control measures may be working. Read More. Positive Sentiment: Analysts note UnitedHealths decision to rebate ACA profits and other moves as strategically positive for reputation and competitive positioning. Read More.

Analysts note UnitedHealths decision to rebate ACA profits and other moves as strategically positive for reputation and competitive positioning. Read More. Neutral Sentiment: UnitedHealth posted a modest Q4 earnings beat and 12% consolidated revenue growth for 2025, showing operational resilience even as margins are pressured. Read More.

UnitedHealth posted a modest Q4 earnings beat and 12% consolidated revenue growth for 2025, showing operational resilience even as margins are pressured. Read More. Neutral Sentiment: The company reiterated its turnaround progress in its press release while providing updated full-year outlook metrics. Read More.

The company reiterated its turnaround progress in its press release while providing updated full-year outlook metrics. Read More. Negative Sentiment: UnitedHealth took a $1.6 billion restructuring charge that pushed Q4 profit down to about $10 million  a large one-time hit that clouds near-term earnings. Read More.

UnitedHealth took a $1.6 billion restructuring charge that pushed Q4 profit down to about $10 million  a large one-time hit that clouds near-term earnings. Read More. Negative Sentiment: The company issued weaker 2026 revenue guidance (around $439B vs. street ~$456.6B), signaling expected revenue decline and slower top-line growth next year  the main driver of todays negative reaction. Read More.

The company issued weaker 2026 revenue guidance (around $439B vs. street ~$456.6B), signaling expected revenue decline and slower top-line growth next year  the main driver of todays negative reaction. Read More. Negative Sentiment: Regulatory/policy headwinds: the Trump administration proposed nearly flat Medicare Advantage rates for 2026, removing a key tailwind for UnitedHealthcare and prompting sector-wide selling. Read More.

Regulatory/policy headwinds: the Trump administration proposed nearly flat Medicare Advantage rates for 2026, removing a key tailwind for UnitedHealthcare and prompting sector-wide selling. Read More. Negative Sentiment: Market reaction and trading scrutiny: shares plunged on the news and a recent trade filing by a congressman has drawn attention, adding short-term negative sentiment and volatility risk. Read More.

UnitedHealth Group Trading Down 1.1%

NYSE UNH opened at $352.32 on Tuesday. UnitedHealth Group Incorporated has a one year low of $234.60 and a one year high of $606.36. The companys 50 day moving average price is $332.71 and its 200 day moving average price is $323.96. The firm has a market capitalization of $319.15 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 18.39, a PEG ratio of 2.15 and a beta of 0.42. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.71, a quick ratio of 0.82 and a current ratio of 0.82.

UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH  Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Tuesday, October 28th. The healthcare conglomerate reported $2.92 EPS for the quarter, beating 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 business had revenue of $113.16 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $113.19 billion. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $7.15 EPS. The businesss revenue for the quarter was up 12.2% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, sell-side analysts predict that UnitedHealth Group Incorporated will post 29.54 EPS for the current year.

UnitedHealth Group Dividend Announcement

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, December 16th. Investors of record on Monday, December 8th were issued a dividend of $2.21 per share. This represents a $8.84 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.5%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, December 8th. UnitedHealth Groups dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 46.14%.

UnitedHealth Group 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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Universal Beteiligungs und Servicegesellschaft mbH boosted its position in shares of Cullen/Frost Bankers, Inc. (NYSE:CFR  Free Report) by 10.6% in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 40,246 shares of the banks stock after purchasing an additional 3,868 shares during the period. Universal Beteiligungs und Servicegesellschaft mbH owned about 0.06% of Cullen/Frost Bankers worth $5,102,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Champlain Investment Partners LLC boosted its position in shares of Cullen/Frost Bankers by 1.0% during the second quarter. Champlain Investment Partners LLC now owns 1,734,222 shares of the banks stock worth $222,917,000 after buying an additional 16,771 shares during the period. Geode Capital Management LLC boosted its holdings in Cullen/Frost Bankers by 0.8% during the second quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 1,154,566 shares of the banks stock worth $149,558,000 after purchasing an additional 9,332 shares during the last quarter. Vaughan Nelson Investment Management L.P. boosted its holdings in Cullen/Frost Bankers by 3.1% during the third quarter. Vaughan Nelson Investment Management L.P. now owns 831,752 shares of the banks stock worth $105,441,000 after purchasing an additional 25,000 shares during the last quarter. Impax Asset Management Group plc grew its position in Cullen/Frost Bankers by 58.7% in the second quarter. Impax Asset Management Group plc now owns 822,878 shares of the banks stock valued at $104,861,000 after purchasing an additional 304,491 shares in the last quarter. Finally, The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company increased its stake in Cullen/Frost Bankers by 14.7% in the 2nd quarter. The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company now owns 742,981 shares of the banks stock valued at $95,503,000 after buying an additional 94,985 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 86.90% of the companys stock.

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Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

CFR has been the topic of a number of recent analyst reports. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods upgraded shares of Cullen/Frost Bankers from a market perform rating to an outperform rating and set a $150.00 target price on the stock in a report on Monday, January 5th. Morgan Stanley raised their target price on shares of Cullen/Frost Bankers from $125.00 to $136.00 and gave the company an underweight rating in a research note on Monday, September 29th. Barclays lowered their price target on Cullen/Frost Bankers from $145.00 to $140.00 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, December 19th. Citigroup lifted their target price on Cullen/Frost Bankers from $112.00 to $114.00 and gave the stock a sell rating in a research note on Friday, October 31st. Finally, Royal Bank Of Canada raised their price target on Cullen/Frost Bankers from $140.00 to $144.00 and gave the company a sector perform rating in a report on Friday, October 10th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, two have issued a Buy rating, seven have issued a Hold rating and three have given a Sell rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $135.73.

Cullen/Frost Bankers Stock Down 0.8%

CFR opened at $136.38 on Tuesday. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $130.02 and a 200-day moving average of $128.38. The company has a market capitalization of $8.72 billion, a P/E ratio of 14.03, a P/E/G ratio of 2.72 and a beta of 0.63. Cullen/Frost Bankers, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $100.31 and a fifty-two week high of $146.44. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.05, a quick ratio of 0.65 and a current ratio of 0.65.

Cullen/Frost Bankers (NYSE:CFR  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, October 30th. The bank reported $2.67 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $2.38 by $0.29. Cullen/Frost Bankers had a net margin of 21.99% and a return on equity of 15.84%. The business had revenue of $567.27 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $565.54 million. During the same period last year, the firm earned $2.24 earnings per share. On average, equities analysts expect that Cullen/Frost Bankers, Inc. will post 8.85 EPS for the current year.

Cullen/Frost Bankers Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, December 15th. Shareholders of record on Friday, November 28th were paid a dividend of $1.00 per share. This represents a $4.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.9%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, November 28th. Cullen/Frost Bankerss dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 41.15%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, EVP Coolidge E. Rhodes, Jr. sold 700 shares of the stock in a transaction on Tuesday, December 9th. The stock was sold at an average price of $127.00, for a total transaction of $88,900.00. Following the sale, the executive vice president directly owned 3,795 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $481,965. This represents a 15.57% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. 1.20% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

About Cullen/Frost Bankers

(Free Report)

Cullen/Frost Bankers, Inc is the holding company for Frost Bank, a Texas-chartered financial institution whose origins date back to 1868 in San Antonio. As one of the oldest banking organizations in the state, it offers a broad range of services to individuals, small and large businesses, and institutional clients. Core banking activities include commercial lending, deposit services, cash management and trade finance, while consumer products cover residential mortgages, personal lines of credit and home equity loans.

Beyond traditional banking, the company provides comprehensive treasury and equipment leasing solutions tailored to support working capital and capital expenditure requirements.

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Vanguard Personalized Indexing Management LLC lowered its stake in The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation (NYSE:BK  Free Report) by 5.4% during the third quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 116,389 shares of the banks stock after selling 6,703 shares during the quarter. Vanguard Personalized Indexing Management LLCs holdings in Bank of New York Mellon were worth $12,682,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

A number of other hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Vanguard Group Inc. lifted its position in shares of Bank of New York Mellon by 0.7% in the 2nd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 71,092,148 shares of the banks stock valued at $6,477,206,000 after acquiring an additional 517,081 shares in the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC lifted its stake in shares of Bank of New York Mellon by 4.3% in the second quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 18,898,373 shares of the banks stock worth $1,717,074,000 after buying an additional 785,478 shares during the last quarter. Artisan Partners Limited Partnership boosted its holdings in shares of Bank of New York Mellon by 0.9% during the 2nd quarter. Artisan Partners Limited Partnership now owns 15,803,214 shares of the banks stock worth $1,439,831,000 after buying an additional 139,544 shares during the period. Norges Bank acquired a new position in Bank of New York Mellon in the 2nd quarter valued at $1,081,847,000. Finally, Robeco Institutional Asset Management B.V. raised its holdings in Bank of New York Mellon by 36.4% in the 3rd quarter. Robeco Institutional Asset Management B.V. now owns 2,166,052 shares of the banks stock worth $236,013,000 after acquiring an additional 577,621 shares during the period. 85.31% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Bank of New York Mellon Trading Up 1.2%

Shares of Bank of New York Mellon stock opened at $119.08 on Tuesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.81, a current ratio of 0.71 and a quick ratio of 0.70. The companys fifty day moving average price is $116.18 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $108.88. The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation has a 52-week low of $70.46 and a 52-week high of $125.89. The firm has a market capitalization of $83.04 billion, a PE ratio of 16.07, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.10 and a beta of 1.11.

Bank of New York Mellon Dividend Announcement

Bank of New York Mellon ( NYSE:BK Get Free Report ) last released its quarterly earnings results on Friday, October 31st. The bank reported $1.91 EPS for the quarter. The business had revenue of $5.07 billion for the quarter. Bank of New York Mellon had a return on equity of 14.37% and a net margin of 13.62%. On average, analysts expect that The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation will post 6.96 EPS for the current year.

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, February 5th. Shareholders of record on Friday, January 23rd will be issued a dividend of $0.53 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, January 23rd. This represents a $2.12 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.8%. Bank of New York Mellons dividend payout ratio is currently 28.61%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

BK has been the subject of a number of recent analyst reports. New Street Research set a $143.00 price target on shares of Bank of New York Mellon in a report on Wednesday, January 14th. Barclays increased their target price on Bank of New York Mellon from $120.00 to $143.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Monday, January 5th. BMO Capital Markets initiated coverage on Bank of New York Mellon in a report on Friday, October 3rd. They issued an outperform rating and a $125.00 target price on the stock. Citigroup upped their price target on Bank of New York Mellon from $120.00 to $136.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a 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 raised their price objective for the stock from $119.00 to $134.00 in a research note on Wednesday, January 7th. Eight analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and four have assigned a Hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, Bank of New York Mellon currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $131.92.

View Our Latest Stock Report on Bank of New York Mellon

Bank of New York Mellon Profile

(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.

Further Reading

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Vanguard Personalized Indexing Management LLC reduced its position in shares of Bristol Myers Squibb Company (NYSE:BMY  Free Report) by 16.9% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 195,127 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock after selling 39,579 shares during the period. Vanguard Personalized Indexing Management LLCs holdings in Bristol Myers Squibb were worth $8,805,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of BMY. Exchange Capital Management Inc. increased its stake in Bristol Myers Squibb by 0.4% in the second quarter. Exchange Capital Management Inc. now owns 54,893 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $2,541,000 after purchasing an additional 220 shares during the last quarter. CVA Family Office LLC grew its holdings in Bristol Myers Squibb by 2.6% in the third quarter. CVA Family Office LLC now owns 8,959 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $404,000 after purchasing an additional 223 shares during the period. Parsons Capital Management Inc. RI increased its holdings in shares of Bristol Myers Squibb by 0.3% during the 2nd quarter. Parsons Capital Management Inc. RI now owns 78,105 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $3,615,000 after buying an additional 224 shares during the last quarter. Richwood Investment Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in Bristol Myers Squibb by 1.7% in the second quarter. Richwood Investment Advisors LLC now owns 13,303 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $616,000 after acquiring an additional 225 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Mccarter Private Wealth Services LLC grew its position in Bristol Myers Squibb by 5.0% during the third quarter. Mccarter Private Wealth Services LLC now owns 4,931 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $222,000 after acquiring an additional 235 shares during the period. 76.41% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Bristol Myers Squibb Stock Up 0.0%

Shares of NYSE:BMY opened at $54.67 on Tuesday. The stock has a market capitalization of $111.29 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 18.47, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.17 and a beta of 0.29. Bristol Myers Squibb Company has a 1-year low of $42.52 and a 1-year high of $63.33. The companys fifty day moving average is $52.72 and its two-hundred day moving average is $48.45. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.39, a quick ratio of 1.17 and a current ratio of 1.27.

Bristol Myers Squibb Increases Dividend

Bristol Myers Squibb ( NYSE:BMY Get Free Report ) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, October 30th. The biopharmaceutical company reported $1.63 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.52 by $0.11. The business had revenue of $12.22 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $11.75 billion. Bristol Myers Squibb had a return on equity of 76.53% and a net margin of 12.57%.The businesss revenue for the quarter was up 2.8% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $1.80 EPS. Bristol Myers Squibb has set its FY 2025 guidance at 6.400-6.600 EPS. Equities analysts anticipate that Bristol Myers Squibb Company will post 6.74 EPS for the current year.

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, February 2nd. Investors of record on Friday, January 2nd will be given a $0.63 dividend. This is a positive change from Bristol Myers Squibbs previous quarterly dividend of $0.62. The ex-dividend date is Friday, January 2nd. This represents a $2.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 4.6%. Bristol Myers Squibbs dividend payout ratio is 85.14%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

BMY has been the subject of a number of research reports. Weiss Ratings reiterated a hold (c-) rating on shares of Bristol Myers Squibb in a report on Tuesday, October 14th. Wall Street Zen raised shares of Bristol Myers Squibb from a buy rating to a strong-buy rating in a research report on Saturday, November 8th. Sanford C. Bernstein restated a market perform rating on shares of Bristol Myers Squibb in a report on Monday, November 3rd. BMO Capital Markets reiterated a market perform rating on shares of Bristol Myers Squibb in a report on Monday, November 17th. Finally, Morgan Stanley restated an underweight rating and set a $37.00 price objective (up previously from $36.00) on shares of Bristol Myers Squibb in a research note on Friday, December 12th. Seven equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, twelve have assigned a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $56.86.

Read Our Latest Report on BMY

About Bristol Myers Squibb

(Free Report)

Bristol Myers Squibb is a global biopharmaceutical company headquartered in Princeton, New Jersey, focused on discovering, developing and delivering medicines for serious diseases. The companys core activities include research and development, clinical development, manufacturing and commercialization of prescription pharmaceuticals across multiple therapeutic areas. BMS concentrates on advancing therapies in oncology, hematology, immunology, cardiovascular disease and specialty areas through both small molecules and biologics.

BMSs marketed portfolio and latestage pipeline reflect a strong emphasis on cancer and immunemediated conditions.

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Watts Water Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:WTS  Get Free Report) has earned an average recommendation of Hold from the eleven research firms that are currently covering the firm, MarketBeat.com reports. Seven equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, three have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating on the company. The average 12-month price target among brokers that have updated their coverage on the stock in the last year is $288.5714.

WTS has been the subject of several research analyst reports. Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a buy (b) rating on shares of Watts Water Technologies in a research report on Monday, December 29th. Wall Street Zen raised shares of Watts Water Technologies from a buy rating to a strong-buy rating in a report on Saturday, January 10th. Royal Bank Of Canada initiated coverage on shares of Watts Water Technologies in a research note on Monday, January 5th. They set a sector perform rating and a $288.00 price objective for the company. Jefferies Financial Group started coverage on shares of Watts Water Technologies in a report on Friday, December 12th. They set a hold rating and a $300.00 price objective on the stock. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company set a $275.00 target price on Watts Water Technologies in a research note on Thursday, January 8th.

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Read Our Latest Analysis on Watts Water Technologies

Insider Transactions at Watts Water Technologies

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

In other Watts Water Technologies news, CAO Virginia A. Halloran sold 605 shares of Watts Water Technologies stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, December 17th. The shares were sold at an average price of $276.78, for a total transaction of $167,451.90. Following the completion of the sale, the chief accounting officer directly owned 13,412 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,712,173.36. The trade was a 4.32% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website . Also, major shareholder Timothy P. Horne sold 6,814 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Tuesday, November 25th. The shares were sold at an average price of $272.32, for a total transaction of $1,855,588.48. Following the completion of the sale, the insider directly owned 15,000 shares in the company, valued at $4,084,800. This trade represents a 31.24% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Insiders have sold 15,605 shares of company stock valued at $4,296,387 in the last ninety days. Corporate insiders own 1.10% of the companys stock.

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. MTM Investment Management LLC acquired a new stake in Watts Water Technologies during the 2nd quarter worth about $25,000. Wexford Capital LP acquired a new position in shares of Watts Water Technologies in the 3rd quarter valued at about $26,000. Advisory Services Network LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Watts Water Technologies in the third quarter worth about $29,000. Cullen Frost Bankers Inc. grew its holdings in Watts Water Technologies by 156.9% during the second quarter. Cullen Frost Bankers Inc. now owns 131 shares of the technology companys stock worth $32,000 after acquiring an additional 80 shares during the period. Finally, Stance Capital LLC purchased a new position in Watts Water Technologies during the third quarter valued at approximately $62,000. 95.02% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Watts Water Technologies Stock Down 0.4%

Watts Water Technologies stock opened at $298.40 on Thursday. Watts Water Technologies has a 1-year low of $177.59 and a 1-year high of $306.01. The business has a fifty day moving average price of $281.42 and a 200-day moving average price of $275.35. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.10, a current ratio of 2.83 and a quick ratio of 1.84. The stock has a market capitalization of $9.95 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 30.79, a PEG ratio of 2.79 and a beta of 1.24.

Watts Water Technologies (NYSE:WTS  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, November 5th. The technology company reported $2.50 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $2.29 by $0.21. The company had revenue of $611.70 million during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $576.20 million. Watts Water Technologies had a return on equity of 18.31% and a net margin of 13.79%.The firms revenue was up 12.5% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the business posted $2.03 earnings per share. Equities research analysts forecast that Watts Water Technologies will post 9.08 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Watts Water Technologies Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, December 15th. Stockholders of record on Monday, December 1st were paid a $0.52 dividend. This represents a $2.08 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.7%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, December 1st. Watts Water Technologiess dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 21.47%.

Watts Water Technologies Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Watts Water Technologies, Inc is a global manufacturer and distributor of flow control products and solutions designed to ensure the safe, efficient delivery and use of water. Founded in 1874 and headquartered in North Andover, Massachusetts, the company has built a reputation for engineering innovation in residential, commercial and industrial plumbing, heating, cooling and water treatment systems. Watts operates through a comprehensive portfolio of brands and product lines that address application-specific requirements in water safety, pressure regulation, flow control and filtration.

The companys product offerings span backflow preventers, pressure reducing valves, relief valves and steam traps, as well as hydronic balancing and temperature control devices for heating systems.

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Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC grew its stake in iShares Expanded Tech Sector ETF (NYSEARCA:IGM  Free Report) by 45.8% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 36,675 shares of the exchange traded funds stock after purchasing an additional 11,521 shares during the quarter. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLCs holdings in iShares Expanded Tech Sector ETF were worth $4,675,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the stock. FAS Wealth Partners Inc. acquired a new position in shares of iShares Expanded Tech Sector ETF in the second quarter valued at approximately $28,000. Creative Capital Management Investments LLC acquired a new position in iShares Expanded Tech Sector ETF in the 2nd quarter valued at $28,000. Avion Wealth increased its position in iShares Expanded Tech Sector ETF by 47.6% during the 3rd quarter. Avion Wealth now owns 310 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $39,000 after buying an additional 100 shares during the period. Capital Advisors Ltd. LLC acquired a new stake in shares of iShares Expanded Tech Sector ETF during the second quarter worth $37,000. Finally, Clarity Asset Management Inc. bought a new stake in shares of iShares Expanded Tech Sector ETF in the second quarter valued at about $39,000.

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iShares Expanded Tech Sector ETF Stock Performance

NYSEARCA:IGM opened at $130.73 on Tuesday. iShares Expanded Tech Sector ETF has a 52 week low of $76.26 and a 52 week high of $135.81. The firms 50-day simple moving average is $129.73 and its 200 day simple moving average is $125.14. The firm has a market cap of $8.97 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 34.08 and a beta of 1.27.

iShares Expanded Tech Sector ETF Company Profile

iShares North American Tech ETF, formerly iShares S&P North American Technology Sector Index Fund (the Fund), is an exchange-traded fund. The Fund seeks investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance, of the United States-traded technology companies, as represented by the S&P North American Technology Sector Index (the Index). The Index has been developed as an equity benchmark for the United States-traded, technology-related stocks. The Fund generally invests at least 90% of its assets in securities of the Index and in depositary receipts representing securities of the Index.

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Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC boosted its stake in Invesco Ltd. (NYSE:IVZ  Free Report) by 36.8% during the third quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 176,296 shares of the asset managers stock after purchasing an additional 47,414 shares during the quarter. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLCs holdings in Invesco were worth $4,249,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of IVZ. KLP Kapitalforvaltning AS raised its position in shares of Invesco by 0.7% during the 3rd quarter. KLP Kapitalforvaltning AS now owns 97,000 shares of the asset managers stock valued at $2,225,000 after buying an additional 700 shares in the last quarter. IFP Advisors Inc raised its position in Invesco by 55.7% during the second quarter. IFP Advisors Inc now owns 2,127 shares of the asset managers stock valued at $34,000 after purchasing an additional 761 shares in the last quarter. Forum Financial Management LP lifted its stake in Invesco by 4.8% during the second quarter. Forum Financial Management LP now owns 17,327 shares of the asset managers stock worth $273,000 after purchasing an additional 791 shares during the last quarter. Russell Investments Group Ltd. boosted its holdings in shares of Invesco by 0.8% in the 2nd quarter. Russell Investments Group Ltd. now owns 102,584 shares of the asset managers stock worth $1,618,000 after purchasing an additional 792 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Poehling Capital Management INC. raised its holdings in shares of Invesco by 0.3% during the 2nd quarter. Poehling Capital Management INC. now owns 255,585 shares of the asset managers stock valued at $4,031,000 after buying an additional 824 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 66.09% of the companys stock.

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Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of research analysts have commented on IVZ shares. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft upgraded shares of Invesco from a hold rating to a buy rating and increased their price target for the company from $26.00 to $31.00 in a research report on Wednesday, December 17th. Evercore ISI raised their target price on shares of Invesco from $24.00 to $26.00 and gave the stock an in-line rating in a report on Thursday, October 9th. Morgan Stanley set a $29.00 price target on Invesco in a report on Monday. Citigroup boosted their price objective on shares of Invesco from $22.00 to $25.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research report on Monday, September 29th. Finally, Zacks Research downgraded Invesco from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Friday, December 5th. Five investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and twelve have issued a Hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $26.42.

Invesco Trading Up 0.8%

Shares of NYSE IVZ opened at $28.63 on Tuesday. The company has a market cap of $12.74 billion, a PE ratio of 19.48, a P/E/G ratio of 0.49 and a beta of 1.65. 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 firms 50 day moving average price is $26.59 and its 200-day moving average price is $23.66. Invesco Ltd. has a 52-week low of $11.60 and a 52-week high of $29.61.

Invesco (NYSE:IVZ  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, January 27th. The asset manager reported $0.62 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.57 by $0.05. Invesco had a return on equity of 9.11% and a net margin of 14.15%.During the same period in the previous year, the company earned $0.52 earnings per share. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 6.1% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, equities research analysts expect that Invesco Ltd. will post 1.87 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Insider Activity at Invesco

In related news, Director Douglas J. Sharp sold 160,000 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, October 31st. The shares were sold at an average price of $23.56, for a total transaction of $3,769,600.00. Following the transaction, the director owned 192 shares in the company, valued at $4,523.52. This represents a 99.88% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. 1.21% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

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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Whitbread PLC  Sponsored ADR (OTCMKTS:WTBDY  Get Free Report) has earned an average rating of Moderate Buy from the six analysts that are currently covering the firm, MarketBeat.com reports. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have assigned a hold rating, two have assigned a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company.

Several analysts have recently commented on WTBDY shares. Jefferies Financial Group lowered shares of Whitbread from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Friday, December 12th. Sanford C. Bernstein lowered Whitbread from a strong-buy rating to a strong sell rating in a research note on Friday, November 28th. Peel Hunt raised Whitbread to a strong-buy rating in a research report on Thursday, October 16th. Citigroup restated a buy rating on shares of Whitbread in a report on Thursday, January 15th. Finally, Morgan Stanley reaffirmed an overweight rating on shares of Whitbread in a research report on Wednesday, January 14th.

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View Our Latest Report on WTBDY

Whitbread Trading Up 1.4%

About Whitbread

OTCMKTS:WTBDY opened at $9.48 on Thursday. The companys 50-day moving average is $8.65 and its two-hundred day moving average is $9.75. Whitbread has a 1-year low of $7.41 and a 1-year high of $11.06.

(Get Free Report)

Whitbread plc is a UK-based hospitality company primarily engaged in hotel and restaurant operations. Its flagship brand, Premier Inn, is one of the largest budget hotel chains in the United Kingdom, offering standardized accommodation across city centre and suburban locations. In addition to hotels, Whitbread operates a portfolio of food and beverage outlets, including family-oriented restaurants and pubs that cater to both leisure and business travellers.

The companys hotel portfolio comprises hundreds of properties in the UK, alongside an established presence in Germany and select international markets under the Premier Inn banner.

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Spain, which is one of the primary gateways into Europe, has fast tracked citizenship for over half a million illegal undocumented migrants in order to fight against the advance of this far-Right wave that they perceive is threatening their socialist rule. The Spanish government prides itself in its open borders policy and cites it as a positive message for Marxism.

Podemos said the legislation would help dismantle institutional racism that only fuels exploitation and racist hatred, while the government cast the move as a political challenge to the Right-wing Vox party, which has been steadily rising in the polls.

The far-left Spanish government will provide the economic migrants with full legal status in Europe and allow them to cross into any EU country for work or residency and give them welfare benefits.

We are strengthening a migration model based on human rights, integration, coexistence and compatibility with economic growth and social cohesion, said Ms Elma Saiz, the migration and inclusion minister.

A large percentage of the illegal migrants from open borders Spain will now make their way to Northern France, and then onto Britain where the welfare benefits and free healthcare, as well as 5-star hotel accommodation is the best in Europe, thanks to the policies of Keir Starmers Labour government, another far-leftist entity.

Spain has taken in over 23 million migrants in recent years, many of whom entered the country illegally. The socialists use illegal migrants as a form of electoral engineering to defeat any political party that is deemed as far-right in other words, anything that is NOT far-left.

Every year, hundreds of thousands of people cross the treacherous 1,250-mile Atlantic waterway from West Africa to Spains open borders Canary Islands, making it one of the busiest and most lucrative routes for traffickers.
Chilton Capital Management LLC trimmed its stake in Deere & Company (NYSE:DE  Free Report) by 30.4% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 66,371 shares of the industrial products companys stock after selling 28,988 shares during the quarter. Chilton Capital Management LLCs holdings in Deere & Company were worth $30,349,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

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A number of other institutional investors have also recently modified their holdings of DE. Mid American Wealth Advisory Group Inc. purchased a new stake in Deere & Company during the 2nd quarter valued at about $25,000. Howard Hughes Medical Institute purchased a new stake in shares of Deere & Company during the second quarter valued at approximately $27,000. Center for Financial Planning Inc. increased its position in shares of Deere & Company by 406.7% during the second quarter. Center for Financial Planning Inc. now owns 76 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $39,000 after acquiring an additional 61 shares in the last quarter. Soundwatch Capital LLC bought a new stake in shares of Deere & Company during the second quarter valued at approximately $41,000. Finally, Lynch Asset Management Inc. purchased a new position in Deere & Company in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $46,000. 68.58% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Deere & Company Trading Up 0.4%

Deere & Company stock opened at $516.51 on Tuesday. Deere & Company has a 52-week low of $404.42 and a 52-week high of $533.78. The company has a market cap of $140.01 billion, a P/E ratio of 27.90, a P/E/G ratio of 1.97 and a beta of 1.00. The company has a quick ratio of 2.01, a current ratio of 2.22 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.68. The business has a 50-day simple moving average of $483.42 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $481.65.

Deere & Company Dividend Announcement

Deere & Company ( NYSE:DE Get Free Report ) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, November 26th. The industrial products company reported $3.93 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $3.96 by ($0.03). Deere & Company had a return on equity of 20.54% and a net margin of 11.00%.The business had revenue of $12.39 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $9.77 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the business posted $4.55 EPS. The businesss quarterly revenue was up 14.1% compared to the same quarter last year. Analysts predict that Deere & Company will post 19.32 EPS for the current year.

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, February 9th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, December 31st will be paid a $1.62 dividend. This represents a $6.48 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.3%. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, December 31st. Deere & Companys dividend payout ratio is 35.01%.

Insider Buying and Selling at Deere & Company

In other news, CEO John C. May II sold 41,472 shares of Deere & Company stock in a transaction dated Thursday, January 8th. The stock was sold at an average price of $501.49, for a total transaction of $20,797,793.28. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer directly owned 117,970 shares of the companys stock, valued at $59,160,775.30. The trade was a 26.01% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, insider Cory J. Reed sold 12,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, January 14th. The shares were sold at an average price of $510.00, for a total value of $6,120,000.00. Following the transaction, the insider owned 20,792 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $10,603,920. This trade represents a 36.59% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Insiders have sold 64,578 shares of company stock worth $32,471,682 over the last quarter. 0.29% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several analysts have commented on DE shares. Wolfe Research increased their target price on Deere & Company from $520.00 to $550.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research note on Friday, January 2nd. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods reissued an outperform rating on shares of Deere & Company in a research report on Monday, December 1st. Wells Fargo & Company started coverage on shares of Deere & Company in a research note on Thursday, November 13th. They set an overweight rating and a $543.00 target price on the stock. Weiss Ratings reiterated a hold (c+) rating on shares of Deere & Company in a research note on Monday, December 29th. Finally, BMO Capital Markets reissued a market perform rating and set a $460.00 price objective on shares of Deere & Company in a report on Tuesday, December 9th. Fifteen equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and nine have issued a Hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, Deere & Company has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $524.20.

View Our Latest Analysis on DE

Deere & Company Company Profile

(Free Report)

Deere & Company, commonly known by its brand John Deere, is a global manufacturer of agricultural, construction and forestry machinery, as well as turf care equipment and power systems. Founded in 1837 by blacksmith John Deerewho developed a polished steel plow to improve tillage in tough prairie soilsthe company is headquartered in Moline, Illinois, and has grown into one of the largest and most recognizable names in equipment manufacturing worldwide.

The companys principal businesses include a broad portfolio of agricultural equipment such as tractors, combines, planters, sprayers, harvesters and tillage implements, complemented by precision agriculture technologies and telematics that support farm management, yield optimization and equipment connectivity.

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Compass Wealth Management LLC lessened its holdings in Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Ltd. (NYSE:TSM  Free Report) by 54.7% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 13,197 shares of the semiconductor companys stock after selling 15,961 shares during the quarter. Compass Wealth Management LLCs holdings in Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing were worth $3,686,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

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A number of other hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the business. Fortis Capital Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing during the 3rd quarter valued at about $323,000. Purkiss Capital Advisors LLC lifted its stake in Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing by 13.7% during the third quarter. Purkiss Capital Advisors LLC now owns 3,864 shares of the semiconductor companys stock worth $1,079,000 after purchasing an additional 466 shares during the period. B. Riley Wealth Advisors Inc. boosted its holdings in Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing by 3.9% during the third quarter. B. Riley Wealth Advisors Inc. now owns 23,704 shares of the semiconductor companys stock valued at $6,620,000 after purchasing an additional 890 shares in the last quarter. Vanguard Personalized Indexing Management LLC boosted its holdings in Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing by 9.4% during the third quarter. Vanguard Personalized Indexing Management LLC now owns 101,876 shares of the semiconductor companys stock valued at $28,470,000 after purchasing an additional 8,738 shares in the last quarter. Finally, James Investment Research Inc. grew its stake in shares of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing by 10.0% in the 3rd quarter. James Investment Research Inc. now owns 8,028 shares of the semiconductor companys stock valued at $2,242,000 after purchasing an additional 728 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 16.51% of the companys stock.

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Here are the key news stories impacting Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing this week:

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

TSM has been the subject of several analyst reports. Sanford C. Bernstein restated an outperform rating on shares of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing in a research report on Friday, January 2nd. Barclays increased their price objective on Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing from $380.00 to $450.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Friday, January 16th. TD Cowen boosted their target price on shares of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing from $325.00 to $370.00 and gave the company a hold rating in a research note on Friday, January 16th. Itau BBA Securities assumed coverage on shares of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing in a report on Tuesday, October 7th. They issued an outperform rating on the stock. Finally, Freedom Capital raised shares of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing to a strong-buy rating in a report on Thursday, January 15th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eight have given a Buy rating and one has given a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing currently has an average rating of Buy and a consensus price target of $381.67.

Read Our Latest Research Report on TSM

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE:TSM opened at $332.71 on Tuesday. The business has a fifty day moving average of $304.98 and a 200-day moving average of $278.43. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.19, a quick ratio of 2.47 and a current ratio of 2.69. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Ltd. has a twelve month low of $134.25 and a twelve month high of $351.33. The firm has a market cap of $1.72 trillion, a PE ratio of 31.24, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.95 and a beta of 1.29.

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing (NYSE:TSM  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Friday, November 14th. The semiconductor company reported $14.32 EPS for the quarter. The firm had revenue of $32.50 billion for the quarter. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing had a net margin of 45.13% and a return on equity of 36.18%. On average, equities research analysts predict that Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Ltd. will post 9.2 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Increases Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, April 9th. Investors of record on Tuesday, March 17th will be given a $0.9678 dividend. This is a boost from Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturings previous quarterly dividend of $0.83. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, March 17th. This represents a $3.87 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.2%. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturings dividend payout ratio is presently 23.57%.

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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Tesla, Envirotech Vehicles, Rivian Automotive, NIO, and QuantumScape are the five Electric Vehicle stocks to watch today, according to MarketBeats stock screener tool. Electric vehicle stocks are shares of publicly traded companies whose primary business is designing, manufacturing, selling, or supplying components or services for electric vehicles  including automakers, battery producers, charging-infrastructure firms, and related software or parts suppliers. For investors, they represent a sector bet on EV adoption and are typically associated with high growth potential but also higher volatility, capital intensity, and sensitivity to policy, commodity prices, and technological change. These companies had the highest dollar trading volume of any Electric Vehicle stocks within the last several days.

Tesla (TSLA)

Tesla, Inc. designs, develops, manufactures, leases, and sells electric vehicles, and energy generation and storage systems in the United States, China, and internationally. The company operates in two segments, Automotive, and Energy Generation and Storage. The Automotive segment offers electric vehicles, as well as sells automotive regulatory credits; and non-warranty after-sales vehicle, used vehicles, body shop and parts, supercharging, retail merchandise, and vehicle insurance services.

Envirotech Vehicles (EVTV)

Envirotech Vehicles, Inc. manufactures and provides zero-emission electric vehicles in the United States. It offers Class 2 through logistics vans; class 4 through urban trucks, school buses, electric forklifts, street sweepers, neighborhood electric vehicles, and right-hand drive vans and urban trucks.

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Rivian Automotive (RIVN)

Rivian Automotive, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, designs, develops, manufactures, and sells electric vehicles and accessories. The company offers consumer vehicles, including a two-row, five-passenger pickup truck under the R1T brand, a three-row, seven-passenger sport utility vehicle under the R1S name.

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NIO (NIO)

NIO Inc. designs, manufactures, and sells electric vehicles in the People's Republic of China. The company is also involved in the manufacture of e-powertrain, battery packs, and components; and racing management, technology development, and sales and after-sales management activities. In addition, it offers power solutions for battery charging needs; and other value-added services.

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QuantumScape (QS)

QuantumScape Corporation, a research and development stage company, focuses on the development and commercialization of solid-state lithium-metal batteries for electric vehicles and other applications. The company was founded in 2010 and is headquartered in San Jose, California.

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Further Reading
Generali Investments Towarzystwo Funduszy Inwestycyjnych trimmed its position in Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA  Free Report) by 33.3% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 3,000 shares of the credit services providers stock after selling 1,500 shares during the quarter. Generali Investments Towarzystwo Funduszy Inwestycyjnychs holdings in Mastercard were worth $1,706,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

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Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in the company. Vanguard Group Inc. grew its position in Mastercard by 1.2% in the second quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 78,475,807 shares of the credit services providers stock worth $44,098,695,000 after acquiring an additional 931,132 shares during the period. Geode Capital Management LLC lifted its stake in shares of Mastercard by 2.8% in the 2nd quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 19,760,552 shares of the credit services providers stock valued at $11,062,509,000 after purchasing an additional 542,841 shares during the last quarter. Laurel Wealth Advisors LLC grew its holdings in shares of Mastercard by 55,868.1% during the 2nd quarter. Laurel Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 13,421,148 shares of the credit services providers stock worth $7,541,880,000 after purchasing an additional 13,397,168 shares during the period. Norges Bank acquired a new stake in shares of Mastercard during the 2nd quarter worth about $6,725,317,000. Finally, Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA raised its holdings in 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 buying an additional 1,299,977 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 97.28% of the companys stock.

Mastercard Trading Up 0.4%

NYSE MA opened at $526.89 on Tuesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.40, a quick ratio of 1.12 and a current ratio of 1.12. The firm has a market cap of $473.15 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 33.69, a PEG ratio of 1.78 and a beta of 0.86. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $554.61 and a 200-day simple moving average of $565.09. Mastercard Incorporated has a one year low of $465.59 and a one year high of $601.77.

Mastercard Increases Dividend

Mastercard ( NYSE:MA Get Free Report ) last released its earnings results on Thursday, October 30th. The credit services provider reported $4.38 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $4.31 by $0.07. Mastercard had a net margin of 45.28% and a return on equity of 202.03%. The company had revenue of $8.60 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $8.53 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the business earned $3.89 EPS. The firms quarterly revenue was up 16.7% on a year-over-year basis. Equities research analysts anticipate that Mastercard Incorporated will post 15.91 EPS for the current fiscal year.

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, February 9th. Investors of record on Friday, January 9th will be issued a $0.87 dividend. This represents a $3.48 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.7%. This is a boost from Mastercards previous quarterly dividend of $0.76. The ex-dividend date is Friday, January 9th. Mastercards dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 22.25%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

MA has been the subject of several research analyst reports. KeyCorp reaffirmed an overweight rating and set a $665.00 target price on shares of Mastercard in a research note on Wednesday, October 22nd. Morgan Stanley set a $665.00 price objective on shares of Mastercard and gave the stock an overweight rating in a report on Friday, October 31st. Truist Financial set a $609.00 price objective on shares of Mastercard in a research report on Tuesday, January 20th. Robert W. Baird boosted their target price on Mastercard from $640.00 to $660.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research report on Monday, October 6th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company decreased their price target on Mastercard from $669.00 to $660.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, October 31st. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twenty-two have issued a Buy rating and two have assigned a Hold rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Buy and a consensus price target of $660.81.

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Mastercard News Summary

Here are the key news stories impacting Mastercard this week:

Mastercard Company Profile

(Free Report)

Mastercard Incorporated is a global payments technology company that operates a network connecting consumers, financial institutions, merchants, governments and businesses in more than 200 countries and territories. The company facilitates electronic payments and transaction processing for credit, debit and prepaid card products carrying the Mastercard brand, while also providing a range of payment-related services to issuers, acquirers and merchants. Its technology and network enable authorization, clearing and settlement of payments and support a broad set of use cases including point-of-sale, e-commerce and mobile payments.

Beyond core transaction processing, Mastercard offers a suite of value-added services such as fraud and risk management, identity and authentication tools, tokenization and digital wallet support, cross-border and commercial payment solutions, and data analytics and consulting services for merchants and financial partners.

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UnitedHealth Group, Intuitive Surgical, Johnson & Johnson, Medtronic, Tempus AI, HCA Healthcare, and McKesson are the seven Healthcare stocks to watch today, according to MarketBeats stock screener tool. Healthcare stocks are shares of publicly traded companies that operate in the health and medical sector  for example pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, medical device makers, hospitals and clinics, and health insurers. Investors buy them for exposure to aging-population demand and innovation-driven growth, while accepting sector-specific risks such as regulatory approval, clinical-trial outcomes, and patent or reimbursement uncertainty. These companies had the highest dollar trading volume of any Healthcare stocks within the last several days.

UnitedHealth Group (UNH)

UnitedHealth Group Incorporated operates as a diversified health care company in the United States. The company operates through four segments: UnitedHealthcare, Optum Health, Optum Insight, and Optum Rx. The UnitedHealthcare segment offers consumer-oriented health benefit plans and services for national employers, public sector employers, mid-sized employers, small businesses, and individuals; health care coverage, and health and well-being services to individuals age 50 and older addressing their needs; Medicaid plans, children's health insurance and health care programs; and health and dental benefits, and hospital and clinical services, as well as health care benefits products and services to state programs caring for the economically disadvantaged, medically underserved, and those without the benefit of employer-funded health care coverage.

Intuitive Surgical (ISRG)

Intuitive Surgical, Inc. develops, manufactures, and markets products that enable physicians and healthcare providers to enhance the quality of and access to minimally invasive care in the United States and internationally. The company offers the da Vinci Surgical System that enables complex surgery using a minimally invasive approach; and Ion endoluminal system, which extends its commercial offerings beyond surgery into diagnostic procedures enabling minimally invasive biopsies in the lung.

Read Our Latest Research Report on ISRG

Johnson & Johnson (JNJ)

Johnson & Johnson is a holding company, which engages in the research, development, manufacture, and sale of products in the healthcare field. It operates through the Innovative Medicine and MedTech segments. The Innovative Medicine segment focuses on immunology, infectious diseases, neuroscience, oncology, cardiovascular and metabolism, and pulmonary hypertension.

Read Our Latest Research Report on JNJ

Medtronic (MDT)

Medtronic plc develops, manufactures, and sells device-based medical therapies to healthcare systems, physicians, clinicians, and patients worldwide. Its Cardiovascular Portfolio segment offers implantable cardiac pacemakers, cardioverter defibrillators, and cardiac resynchronization therapy devices; cardiac ablation products; insertable cardiac monitor systems; TYRX products; and remote monitoring and patient-centered software.

Read Our Latest Research Report on MDT

Tempus AI (TEM)

Tempus AI Inc. is a technology company advancing precision medicine through the practical application of artificial intelligence principally in healthcare. The company provides AI-enabled precision medicine solutions to physicians to deliver personalized patient care and in parallel facilitates discovery, development and delivery of optimal therapeutics.

Read Our Latest Research Report on TEM

HCA Healthcare (HCA)

HCA Healthcare, Inc., through its subsidiaries, owns and operates hospitals and related healthcare entities in the United States. It operates general and acute care hospitals that offers medical and surgical services, including inpatient care, intensive care, cardiac care, diagnostic, and emergency services; and outpatient services, such as outpatient surgery, laboratory, radiology, respiratory therapy, cardiology, and physical therapy.

Read Our Latest Research Report on HCA

McKesson (MCK)

McKesson Corporation provides healthcare services in the United States and internationally. It operates through four segments: U.S. Pharmaceutical, Prescription Technology Solutions (RxTS), Medical-Surgical Solutions, and International. The U.S. Pharmaceutical segment distributes branded, generic, specialty, biosimilar and over-the-counter pharmaceutical drugs, and other healthcare-related products.

Read Our Latest Research Report on MCK

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Human Investing LLC grew its position in shares of iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF (NYSEARCA:IJR  Free Report) by 5.0% during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 160,591 shares of the exchange traded funds stock after buying an additional 7,659 shares during the quarter. iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF accounts for 2.8% of Human Investing LLCs portfolio, making the stock its 10th largest position. Human Investing LLCs holdings in iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF were worth $19,083,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

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Other hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. RMG Wealth Management LLC purchased a new stake in iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF during the 2nd quarter valued at $27,000. Curio Wealth LLC boosted its position in shares of iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF by 26,900.0% during the second quarter. Curio Wealth LLC now owns 270 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $30,000 after buying an additional 269 shares during the last quarter. Quaker Wealth Management LLC increased its holdings in 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 worth $49,000 after buying an additional 902 shares in the last quarter. WPG Advisers LLC increased its holdings in iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF by 306.6% in the 3rd quarter. WPG Advisers LLC now owns 431 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $51,000 after buying an additional 325 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Rise Advisors LLC raised its position 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 worth $64,000 after buying an additional 187 shares during the last quarter. 66.92% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF Stock Performance

IJR opened at $128.14 on Tuesday. The companys 50-day simple moving average is $122.90 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $118.77. The stock has a market capitalization of $94.20 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 $131.64.

iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF Company Profile

iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF, formerly iShares S&P SmallCap 600 Index Fund, seeks investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance of the Standard & Poors SmallCap 600 Index (the Index). The Index measures the performance of publicly traded securities in the small-capitalization sector of the United States equity market. The Index serves as the underlying index for the S&P 600/Citigroup Growth and Value Index series. The component stocks are weighted according to the total float-adjusted market value of their outstanding shares.

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Pan American Silver Corp. (NYSE:PAAS  Get Free Report) (TSE:PAAS) saw unusually large options trading activity on Monday. Stock investors bought 35,322 call options on the company. This is an increase of approximately 68% compared to the average daily volume of 21,022 call options.

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Institutional Trading of Pan American Silver

Several large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Parallel Advisors LLC raised its stake in shares of Pan American Silver by 151.8% in the third quarter. Parallel Advisors LLC now owns 642 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $25,000 after purchasing an additional 387 shares during the last quarter. Rothschild Investment LLC acquired a new position in Pan American Silver in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $36,000. Trust Co. of Vermont purchased a new position in Pan American Silver during the 4th quarter worth approximately $48,000. City State Bank lifted its stake in Pan American Silver by 74.4% during the 3rd quarter. City State Bank now owns 1,020 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $40,000 after acquiring an additional 435 shares during the period. Finally, EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC lifted its stake in Pan American Silver by 93.6% during the 3rd quarter. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 1,028 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $40,000 after acquiring an additional 497 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 55.43% of the companys stock.

Pan American Silver Stock Performance

PAAS opened at $64.87 on Tuesday. Pan American Silver has a 52-week low of $20.55 and a 52-week high of $69.99. The company has a quick ratio of 1.55, a current ratio of 2.31 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.12. The company has a market cap of $27.36 billion, a P/E ratio of 37.49, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.42 and a beta of 0.67. The firms 50-day moving average price is $50.29 and its 200-day moving average price is $39.98.

Pan American Silver Increases Dividend

Pan American Silver ( NYSE:PAAS Get Free Report ) (TSE:PAAS) last released its earnings results on Wednesday, November 12th. The basic materials company reported $0.48 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.49 by ($0.01). Pan American Silver had a return on equity of 11.66% and a net margin of 19.52%.The company had revenue of $854.60 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $867.76 million. During the same quarter last year, the business earned $0.32 earnings per share. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 19.3% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, equities analysts anticipate that Pan American Silver will post 1.26 EPS for the current fiscal year.

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, December 5th. Investors of record on Monday, November 24th were paid a $0.14 dividend. This is a positive change from Pan American Silvers previous quarterly dividend of $0.12. The ex-dividend date was Monday, November 24th. This represents a $0.56 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.9%. Pan American Silvers dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 32.37%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research analysts have recently issued reports on PAAS shares. CIBC lifted their price target on Pan American Silver from $50.00 to $62.00 and gave the company an outperformer rating in a report on Friday, October 10th. Wall Street Zen raised Pan American Silver from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research report on Friday. Zacks Research lowered Pan American Silver from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Wednesday, December 31st. Weiss Ratings reiterated a buy (b) rating on shares of Pan American Silver in a report on Monday, December 29th. Finally, Scotiabank increased their price target on shares of Pan American Silver from $47.00 to $64.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research report on Monday. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, six have given a Buy rating and four have given a Hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $47.83.

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About Pan American Silver

(Get Free Report)

Pan American Silver Corp. (NYSE: PAAS) is a Vancouver-based mining company and one of the worlds largest primary silver producers. The companys core activities encompass the exploration, development, extraction and processing of silver, with significant by-product production of gold, zinc and lead. Pan American Silver maintains a vertically integrated operating model, covering the full mining value chain from resource discovery through to refined metal production.

With a geographic footprint concentrated across the Americas, Pan American Silver operates multiple mines in Mexico, Peru, Argentina and Bolivia, and is advancing several development and exploration projects in Chile and Ecuador.

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Procter & Gamble Company (The) (NYSE:PG  Get Free Report) insider Marc Pritchard sold 95,903 shares of Procter & Gamble stock in a transaction on Friday, January 23rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $151.15, for a total transaction of $14,495,738.45. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider owned 182,607 shares in the company, valued at approximately $27,601,048.05. The trade was a 34.43% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink.

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Procter & Gamble Price Performance

Shares of Procter & Gamble stock opened at $149.64 on Tuesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.48, a current ratio of 0.72 and a quick ratio of 0.51. Procter & Gamble Company has a one year low of $137.62 and a one year high of $179.99. The businesss 50 day simple moving average is $144.80 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $150.43. The stock has a market capitalization of $349.67 billion, a P/E ratio of 22.17, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 5.08 and a beta of 0.39.

Procter & Gamble (NYSE:PG  Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, January 22nd. The company reported $1.88 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.86 by $0.02. The firm had revenue of $22.21 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $22.36 billion. Procter & Gamble had a net margin of 19.30% and a return on equity of 32.10%. The businesss revenue was up 1.5% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the business earned $1.88 earnings per share. Procter & Gamble has set its FY 2026 guidance at 6.830-7.090 EPS. Analysts forecast that Procter & Gamble Company will post 6.91 EPS for the current year.

Procter & Gamble Dividend Announcement

Procter & Gamble News Roundup

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, February 17th. Investors of record on Friday, January 23rd will be paid a $1.0568 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, January 23rd. This represents a $4.23 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.8%. Procter & Gambles dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 62.67%.

Here are the key news stories impacting Procter & Gamble this week:

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Procter & Gamble

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Halbert Hargrove Global Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in Procter & Gamble during the third quarter valued at $25,000. Maseco LLP purchased a new stake in shares of Procter & Gamble during the 4th quarter valued at about $28,000. Saranac Partners Ltd bought a new position in shares of Procter & Gamble in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $30,000. Corundum Trust Company INC purchased a new position in shares of Procter & Gamble in the third quarter worth approximately $32,000. Finally, Mid American Wealth Advisory Group Inc. bought a new stake in Procter & Gamble during the second quarter valued at approximately $34,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 65.77% of the companys stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several analysts recently weighed in on the stock. Wells Fargo & Company lifted their price target on shares of Procter & Gamble from $158.00 to $165.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Friday. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reduced their price target on shares of Procter & Gamble from $176.00 to $171.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, December 8th. Jefferies Financial Group raised shares of Procter & Gamble from a hold rating to a buy rating and increased their price target for the stock from $156.00 to $179.00 in a research note on Tuesday, December 16th. BNP Paribas Exane cut their price objective on Procter & Gamble from $172.00 to $164.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, January 16th. Finally, Weiss Ratings reissued a hold (c) rating on shares of Procter & Gamble in a research report on Monday, December 29th. Fourteen equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and eight have assigned a Hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $166.70.

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Procter & Gamble Company Profile

(Get 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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Provident Financial Services (NYSE:PFS  Get Free Report) announced that its board has initiated a share repurchase plan on Monday, January 26th, RTT News reports. The company plans to repurchase $2.81 million in outstanding shares. This repurchase authorization authorizes the savings and loans company to buy up to 0.1% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares repurchase plans are usually an indication that the companys board believes its shares are undervalued.

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Provident Financial Services Stock Up 0.1%

Provident Financial Services stock opened at $20.61 on Tuesday. The companys 50-day moving average price is $20.02 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $19.37. The company has a quick ratio of 1.02, a current ratio of 1.02 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.96. The stock has a market cap of $2.69 billion, a P/E ratio of 10.52 and a beta of 0.85. Provident Financial Services has a twelve month low of $14.34 and a twelve month high of $21.71.

Provident Financial Services (NYSE:PFS  Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, October 30th. The savings and loans company reported $0.55 EPS for the quarter, meeting the consensus estimate of $0.55. The company had revenue of $221.68 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $220.90 million. Provident Financial Services had a return on equity of 9.62% and a net margin of 18.76%.During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $0.36 earnings per share. As a group, analysts expect that Provident Financial Services will post 2.14 EPS for the current year.

Provident Financial Services Dividend Announcement

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, November 28th. Shareholders of record on Friday, November 14th were issued a $0.24 dividend. This represents a $0.96 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 4.7%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, November 14th. Provident Financial Servicess dividend payout ratio is currently 48.98%.

PFS has been the topic of several analyst reports. Weiss Ratings reiterated a hold (c+) rating on shares of Provident Financial Services in a report on Thursday. Zacks Research lowered Provident Financial Services from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Monday, September 29th. Finally, DA Davidson downgraded Provident Financial Services from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Monday, October 20th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, three have issued a Buy rating and three have given a Hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Provident Financial Services presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $22.70.

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Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, CEO George Lista sold 8,262 shares of Provident Financial Services stock in a transaction on Thursday, November 6th. The stock was sold at an average price of $18.35, for a total transaction of $151,607.70. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer owned 108,656 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,993,837.60. This trade represents a 7.07% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. 3.10% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Provident Financial Services Company Profile

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Provident Financial Services, Inc is the bank holding company for Provident Bank, a regional commercial bank headquartered in Jersey City, New Jersey. The company operates a network of full-service branches across New Jersey, the New York metropolitan area and eastern Pennsylvania, offering a range of personal and business banking solutions.

Its core products and services include checking and savings accounts, consumer and residential mortgage loans, commercial real estate financing and small-business lending.

Further Reading

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RenaissanceRe (NYSE:RNR  Get Free Report) is expected to announce its Q4 2025 results after the market closes on Tuesday, February 3rd. Analysts expect RenaissanceRe to post earnings of $8.25 per share and revenue of $1.7256 billion 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 Wednesday, February 4, 2026 at 11:00 AM ET.

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RenaissanceRe (NYSE:RNR  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, October 28th. The insurance provider reported $15.62 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $9.49 by $6.13. The business had revenue of $3.20 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.97 billion. RenaissanceRe had a net margin of 14.23% and a return on equity of 16.83%. RenaissanceRes quarterly revenue was down 4.8% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the company posted $10.23 earnings per share. On average, analysts expect RenaissanceRe to post $26 EPS for the current fiscal year and $39 EPS for the next fiscal year.

RenaissanceRe Price Performance

NYSE:RNR opened at $275.16 on Tuesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.21, a current ratio of 1.40 and a quick ratio of 1.40. RenaissanceRe has a one year low of $219.00 and a one year high of $285.26. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $271.22 and a 200 day moving average price of $256.15. The stock has a market cap of $12.69 billion, a P/E ratio of 7.65, a PEG ratio of 2.86 and a beta of 0.26.

RenaissanceRe Announces Dividend

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, December 31st. Stockholders of record on Monday, December 15th were issued a dividend of $0.40 per share. The ex-dividend date was Monday, December 15th. This represents a $1.60 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.6%. RenaissanceRes payout ratio is presently 4.45%.

RNR has been the subject of several research reports. The Goldman Sachs Group reiterated a sell rating and issued a $267.00 target price on shares of RenaissanceRe in a research note on Wednesday, January 7th. Barclays upped their price target on RenaissanceRe from $278.00 to $304.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a report on Thursday, January 8th. TD Cowen reissued a hold rating on shares of RenaissanceRe in a report on Thursday, January 8th. Zacks Research cut RenaissanceRe from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Tuesday, January 6th. Finally, UBS Group upped their target price on RenaissanceRe from $265.00 to $272.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 8th. Five research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, thirteen have assigned a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $298.07.

Read Our Latest Analysis on RenaissanceRe

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Sone Capital Management LLC increased its position in shares of RenaissanceRe by 13.2% during the 2nd quarter. Sone Capital Management LLC now owns 18,414 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $4,473,000 after purchasing an additional 2,147 shares in the last quarter. Creative Planning boosted its position in RenaissanceRe by 53.6% in the third quarter. Creative Planning now owns 6,550 shares of the insurance providers stock valued at $1,663,000 after buying an additional 2,287 shares in the last quarter. Dark Forest Capital Management LP bought a new stake in RenaissanceRe during the third quarter worth about $3,063,000. Amundi increased its holdings in shares of RenaissanceRe by 5.4% during the second quarter. Amundi now owns 7,301 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $1,722,000 after buying an additional 377 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Captrust Financial Advisors raised its stake in shares of RenaissanceRe by 10.6% in the third quarter. Captrust Financial Advisors now owns 6,874 shares of the insurance providers stock valued at $1,746,000 after acquiring an additional 659 shares during the last quarter. 99.97% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

RenaissanceRe Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

RenaissanceRe Holdings Ltd. is a global provider of reinsurance and insurance solutions, specializing in property catastrophe, casualty, and specialty lines. Established in 1993 and headquartered in Bermuda, the company trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol RNR. With a focus on underwriting and risk assessment, RenaissanceRe offers tailored programs designed to help insurers and corporations manage exposure to natural disasters, liability claims, and other complex risks.

The company operates through two primary segments: Reinsurance and Insurance.

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Employment patterns have shifted in tune with the changing nature of US manufacturing

Shifting trends in manufacturing output have led to changes in employment in key labor-intensive sectors within manufacturing. Between 2000 and 2025, the fastest decline in payrolls was in apparel (a 6.8% decline on average per year), followed by textile mills (5.8% decline on average per year). Thats not surprising, given that output in these sectors has declined sharply over the years (figure 2).

Payrolls, however, have declined over the years in key durables sectors with strong GVA growth (figure 3). Payrolls in computer and electronic products manufacturing, for example, have declined by 2.3% on average per year between 2000 and 2025 despite real GVA growth during that period. The trend is similar for sectors like transportation equipment and primary metals.

What explains this dichotomy? First, this is due to high valueadded manufacturing that the United States focuses on, primarily using its high-skilled labor. These sectors are usually tech-heavy and capital-intensive.12 And with strong productivity gains over the years, these sectors havent produced the employment gains13 that low valueadded manufacturing has created in labor-surplus emerging and developing economies.14 Labor productivity in US manufacturing, as measured by real output per hour of all people employed in the sector, has risen by 42.2% since 2000, with almost all gains taking place in the period up to 2010.15

Second, manufacturing global value chains also include a host of services such as research, design, computer coding, and marketing, thereby enabling the spread of these activities across different firms.16 For example, services such as customer support and marketing may not be handled by the firm that is manufacturing and designing computers and electronic products or automobiles.
Omexom, the global energy infrastructure organisation with headquarters in the UK & Ireland, has announced the expansion of the Sharlene Gill Scholarship for Women in Engineering, marking a significant milestone for a fund created in memory of a respected colleague and industry figure.

The scholarship was established three years ago to honour Sharlene Gill, from Donegal, who joined the business at 18 years old and went on to serve as Omexoms first female Business Unit General Manager before her passing at just 40 years old. Her leadership, passion, and commitment to supporting young women in engineering continue to guide the programme.

Omexom has now confirmed the scholarship will expand to Glasgow and the University of Strathclyde, enabling more young women across the UK & Ireland to follow in Sharlenes footsteps.

Initially launched at Ulster University, the scholarship has helped transform the futures of its first two graduates - Kayleigh Campbell of Strabane and Teresa Burns of Derry - who have both completed their degrees and now work full-time within Omexom.

Its more than just financial support; this scholarship helped me believe that someone like me belonged in engineering, said Kayleigh, reflecting on her experience. Teresa added, Now, working full-time at Omexom, it feels like Im carrying on something very special  I never wouldve thought this was possible.

READ NEXT: Food and hospitality sector struggling to deal with ever-increasing costs

Simon Innes, Managing Director for Omexom UK & Ireland, says, Sharlene worked for us for over twenty years and was a trailblazer - a leader who showed that engineering is for everyone. Extending this scholarship into Glasgow is a proud moment for us and a meaningful way to continue her legacy further afield.

Simon continues, The scholarship is there to offer early opportunity and experience and hopefully enable others to be given the same opportunities that Sharlene was able to embrace and capitalise on.

The Sharlene Gill Scholarship provides a full tuition fee waiver in Ireland, which will be replaced with financial support for Scottish applicants who already have their University fees paid, and a dedicated placement-year programme at Omexom, giving students both financial support and hands-on industry experience.

To find out more about careers with Omexom Ireland, visit: careers.omexom.ie/.
The Economy Minister has faced calls to reverse the proposed revaluation of business rates, as MLAs heard hospitality businesses are closing their doors due to rising costs.

Sinn Feins Dr Caoimhe Archibald said the 2026 revaluation is necessary to ensure fairness in our rate system, but that she would request a meeting with the UK Treasury in relation to a potential pilot scheme to reduce VAT for small businesses.

On Tuesday, Treasury minister Dan Tomlinson said the property tax bills for pubs and music venues in England will be reduced by 15% in 2026/27 and then be frozen in real terms for the next two years.

Last week the Department for Finance headed by Sinn Feins John ODowd announced Reval 2026, as Land & Property Services (LPS) released a draft list of revaluations for commercial properties.

Properties that have seen above average increases in their value will likely see their overall rating liability increase, resulting in a higher rates bill.

Non-domestic rates generate around 720 million a year, and the Department of Finance says revaluations do not raise additional income but are adjusted to maintain revenue neutrality.

Hospitality Ulster described the move as unacceptable, saying in a statement: At a time when hospitality businesses are battling unprecedented cost pressures, the idea that our sector can absorb significant increases in rates liabilities is utterly detached from reality.

In the Stormont Assembly chamber on Tuesday, SDLP MLA for Foyle Sinead McLaughlin criticised the potential for rates rises, saying more and more small retail, pubs and hospitality businesses are closing their doors due to rising costs.

Three restaurants in Derry City Centre announced last week of their intention to close because they cant make the figures all add up, she said.

At the same time, your executive colleague is pressing ahead with a rates revaluation, which could push more and more businesses over the edge.

What assessment have you made of the impact this decision will have on the hospitality, particularly the pub trade, and on tourism and on jobs and in our town and city centre?

Ms Archibald said shed had significant engagement with the industry, but added that most of the pressures they face are not within our control.

She said: Some are the result of decisions that have been taken by the British Government and of course, the increasing pressure in relation to rates comes on the back of all of that and on the challenging years through the pandemic.

So I do continue to engage with the sector as I said, recently met with Hospitality Ulster and Food to Go along with the finance minister to discuss their proposal around a VAT pilot scheme, given the differential north-south, and the potential impact that that there is there in terms of that increasing negatively over coming months, and what we agreed out of that meeting was that we would seek a meeting with Treasury to discuss that proposal for a reduced VAT pilot scheme.

Ms McLaughlin, a former chief executive of the Chamber of Commerce in Derry, called on Mr ODowd to reverse the rates re-evaluation before more hospitalities actually hit the wall, putting it to Ms Archibald that such a move is the purview of this Executive.

She said: This is not something imposed upon you by the British Government.

This is rates, and that is his job, his role and his decision, and you as an economy minister need to be really concerned, because I genuinely am concerned for those businesses in each and every town across Northern Ireland.

READ NEXT: Food and hospitality sector struggling to deal with ever-increasing costs

In her reply, Ms Archibald said: Anybody who listened to the finance minister yesterday will be familiar with the reasoning behind revaluations is to ensure there is that fairness in our rate system, to ensure that it keeps up to speed, and one of the asks of the business community was that these revaluations take place on a more regular basis.

Later in the session, DUP MLA Pam Cameron (South Antrim) asked if the minister accepted that the rise in non-domestic rates would be devastating for the tourism and hospitality sector.

Ms Archibald reiterated that she is aware of pressure on the industry and that making progress in relation to the VAT issue would be one way to support businesses.

She added: I know that the finance minister, alongside the work on Reval, is also consulting in relation to small business rate relief and I think theres an opportunity there to look at how we support the sectors and small businesses more generally.
To mark International Reading Day, the students of St Josephs Boys School in Derry spent Friday last visiting residents of Beechwood Court as well as local primary schools, St. Eithnes and Holy Family where they shared stories, conversations and generally entertained.

The event, organised by the Head of the English Department, Ms. Carla McCay, brought together students from across year groups who volunteered their time to read aloud a selection of short stories, poems, and reflective pieces at the three venues.

First visit was to St. Eithnes PS where the students mixed with the Primary 7 pupils for an hour, telling and sharing stories, and even talking about their experiences of moving to Big School in September.

Then it was on to Holy Family PS where the boys were greeted by new principal, Mr. Gavin Doherty before joining pupils there for similar activities.

At Beechwood Court, there was a drama/singing performance by the students before getting down to some serious reading with the residents, telling stories, reciting poetry and creating companionship with the older members of the community in Creggan.

READ NEXT: IN PICTURES: Derry students unite generations through literacy and song

Speaking at Fridays event, Mrs. McCay said they were given a warm welcome on their visits, adding: These visits out into the local community created a warm and lively atmosphere. Todays event sparked meaningful interactions between generations.

Our St. Josephs students embodied the true spirit of our Catholic ethos, showing kindness, compassion, and respect for all members of the community.

International Reading Day is not only a celebration of literacy, but also an opportunity to build connections, to listen, and to share joy through the power of stories.

St Josephs Boys School continues to promote service, community engagement, and the value of reading both within and beyond the classroom. The school plans to build on the success of this event with further intergenerational activities throughout the year.
Northern Ireland will become the first part of the UK to introduce additional restrictions for new drivers.

The proposals to introduce graduated driver licensing (GDL) in the region in October have been described by Stormonts Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins as the most significant reform to driver licensing and testing in almost 70 years.

GDL is a road safety scheme designed to reduce the disproportionate involvement of new and young drivers in serious collisions.

The plans include the introduction of a revised training, testing and post-test framework for new drivers and motorcyclists.

The proposals include:

 A mandatory minimum learning period of six months before a learner driver can undertake their practical driving test.

 A programme of training which must be completed and recorded in a logbook before a learner driver can undertake their practical driving test

 An increase in the restriction period from the current 12 months to 24 months, requiring new drivers to display a plate on the vehicle for two years after receiving a full licence

 A period of six months with night-time driving restrictions for new drivers under 24

 Age-related night-time passenger restrictions for newly qualified drivers, with exemption for immediate family members.

GDL permits L drivers to drive on a motorway as long as they are accompanied by a driving instructor. Once the learner passes their test, they will be issued with the new R plate which also allows them to drive on a motorway, where they can drive up to the speed limit.

In 2025, 56 people were killed in road traffic collisions in Northern Ireland.

Ms Kimmins said: I am announcing the most significant reform to driver licensing and testing in almost 70 years.

These changes are aimed at young drivers who are sadly most likely to be killed or seriously injured on our roads.

In 2024, there were 164 casualties (killed or seriously injured) from collisions where a car driver aged 17-23 was responsible.

This age group of drivers accounts for 24% of fatal or serious collisions despite holding just 8% of licences.

The minister said the objective was to create drivers who are safe.

She added: The introduction of GDL plans to achieve this through a structured approach to learning to drive, including the completion of a programme of training and logbook.

READ NEXT: Derrys Teresa Burns inspires next wave of female engineers as Omexom fund grows

This will better prepare drivers for both the driving test and initial post-test driving period by helping learners understand how human factors such as their attitude, personality, behaviour and feelings affect their driving style.

Road safety is a priority, and GDL will be a valuable tool to help me ensure everyone who uses our roads does so safely.

A public safety campaign will shortly be launched ahead of the proposals being introduced on October 1.
The Economy Minister has faced calls to reverse the proposed revaluation of business rates, as MLAs heard hospitality businesses are closing their doors due to rising costs.

Sinn Feins Dr Caoimhe Archibald said the 2026 revaluation is necessary to ensure fairness in our rate system, but that she would request a meeting with the UK Treasury in relation to a potential pilot scheme to reduce VAT for small businesses.

On Tuesday, Treasury minister Dan Tomlinson said the property tax bills for pubs and music venues in England will be reduced by 15% in 2026/27 and then be frozen in real terms for the next two years.

Last week the Department for Finance headed by Sinn Feins John ODowd announced Reval 2026, as Land & Property Services (LPS) released a draft list of revaluations for commercial properties.

Properties that have seen above average increases in their value will likely see their overall rating liability increase, resulting in a higher rates bill.

Non-domestic rates generate around 720 million a year, and the Department of Finance says revaluations do not raise additional income but are adjusted to maintain revenue neutrality.

Hospitality Ulster described the move as unacceptable, saying in a statement: At a time when hospitality businesses are battling unprecedented cost pressures, the idea that our sector can absorb significant increases in rates liabilities is utterly detached from reality.

In the Stormont Assembly chamber on Tuesday, SDLP MLA for Foyle Sinead McLaughlin criticised the potential for rates rises, saying more and more small retail, pubs and hospitality businesses are closing their doors due to rising costs.

Three restaurants in Derry City Centre announced last week of their intention to close because they cant make the figures all add up, she said.

At the same time, your executive colleague is pressing ahead with a rates revaluation, which could push more and more businesses over the edge.

What assessment have you made of the impact this decision will have on the hospitality, particularly the pub trade, and on tourism and on jobs and in our town and city centre?

Ms Archibald said shed had significant engagement with the industry, but added that most of the pressures they face are not within our control.

She said: Some are the result of decisions that have been taken by the British Government and of course, the increasing pressure in relation to rates comes on the back of all of that and on the challenging years through the pandemic.

So I do continue to engage with the sector as I said, recently met with Hospitality Ulster and Food to Go along with the finance minister to discuss their proposal around a VAT pilot scheme, given the differential north-south, and the potential impact that that there is there in terms of that increasing negatively over coming months, and what we agreed out of that meeting was that we would seek a meeting with Treasury to discuss that proposal for a reduced VAT pilot scheme.

Ms McLaughlin, a former chief executive of the Chamber of Commerce in Derry, called on Mr ODowd to reverse the rates re-evaluation before more hospitalities actually hit the wall, putting it to Ms Archibald that such a move is the purview of this Executive.

She said: This is not something imposed upon you by the British Government.

This is rates, and that is his job, his role and his decision, and you as an economy minister need to be really concerned, because I genuinely am concerned for those businesses in each and every town across Northern Ireland.

In her reply, Ms Archibald said: Anybody who listened to the finance minister yesterday will be familiar with the reasoning behind revaluations is to ensure there is that fairness in our rate system, to ensure that it keeps up to speed, and one of the asks of the business community was that these revaluations take place on a more regular basis.

Later in the session, DUP MLA Pam Cameron (South Antrim) asked if the minister accepted that the rise in non-domestic rates would be devastating for the tourism and hospitality sector.

Ms Archibald reiterated that she is aware of pressure on the industry and that making progress in relation to the VAT issue would be one way to support businesses.

She added: I know that the finance minister, alongside the work on Reval, is also consulting in relation to small business rate relief and I think theres an opportunity there to look at how we support the sectors and small businesses more generally.
Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins has been accused of attempting to avoid scrutiny by announcing plans for additional restrictions for new drivers to the media before the Stormont chamber.

A number of MLAs and Assembly Speaker Edwin Poots raised the timing of the update ahead of an urgent question on graduated driver licensing (GDL) in the Assembly on Tuesday.

The proposals to bring in GDL in October have been described by Ms Kimmins as the most significant reform to driver licensing and testing in almost 70 years.

Mr Poots has previously said it is significantly important that ministers bring statements to the assembly floor in Stormont.

He told MLAs on Tuesday: I would say to the House, this House is here to scrutinise ministers and departments who are appointed by this House, and I dont care of what ilk or what political party that they represent, I, as Speaker of this House, will ensure that it has the scrutiny capacity.

So ministers, if they wish to make announcements outside of the House, they shouldnt be doing it but Ill make sure that they come to the House.

Peter Martin, chairman of the infrastructure committee, said Ms Kimmins had referred to the change as the biggest ever change to driver tests and licensing which he said he cautiously welcomed on principle.

The DUP MLA for North Down said: Minster, you failed to cite the committee on any of your proposals that you were bringing to the media today.

You certainly didnt mention it to me as chair or to the deputy chair, you didnt even bring it to this place.

I think its appalling, I think it smacks of not caring about scrutiny.

Minister I have to ask you, what you have done today, is it to avoid scrutiny of this policy which is generic, or is it that you just dont care to follow these procedures?

Ms Kimmins said legislation on GDL was agreed and passed by the assembly in 2016.

She also highlighted that she had appeared to the infrastructure committee in June 2025, before Mr Martin was chairman and informed that she would be introducing the GDL programme.

She said: It is a matter of record that I wish to see GDL introduced as soon as possible, and that my department has been progressing the operational planning and subordinate legislation changes that are required before GDL can be implemented.

Ive also responded to a number of written questions about GDL from MLAs, including members of the committee, and in each of those answers, I made it clear that I would shortly announce the implementation date of GDL, which I did today.

Of course, the Infrastructure Committee has an important role in the scrutiny of the draft subordinate legislation that is required to underpin the primary provisions, and I look forward to engagement on that draft legislation, which I expect will be sent to the Infrastructure Committee for scrutiny in February 2026.

DUP MLA Brian Kingston (Belfast North) asked if the minister was aware that this was going to be announced on the BBC Breakfast News this morning or were we or were you somewhat taken by surprise, like the rest of us?

Ms Kimmins replied: Obviously, as Ive done an interview with the BBC, I knew it was going to be on the news this morning.

SDLP leader of the Opposition Matthew OToole said the introduction of GDL is a good, sensible measure but that its taken a long time.

You said that the two periods have collapsed. We litigate them almost by sin, failed by the DUP.

But do you agree that taking this long to implement something thats life saving underlines that we need to fundamentally reform and change how this place works? he asked.

Because we cant be in a situation where important, vital life saving legislation takes a decade to implement because this assembly isnt even here.

Ms Kimmins said it was regrettable it had taken so long, adding: I think its challenging in public sector for lots of things to move quicker, because weve so many hoops to jump through, and we have to make sure that we have all our Ts crossed, our eyes dotted, I would have loved to seen this in place long before now.

GDL permits learner drivers to drive on a motorway as long as they are accompanied by a driving instructor.

Once the learner passes their test, they will be issued with the new R plate which also allows them to drive on a motorway, where they can drive up to the speed limit.

In 2025, 56 people were killed in road traffic collisions in Northern Ireland.
The shooting of a man in north Belfast has caused fear and disruption in the community, police have said.

Police received a report from the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service of a shooting in the Strathroy Park area of the city just before 8pm on Tuesday.

A man aged in his late 30s, who was shot once in each leg, was taken to hospital for treatment.

Although his injuries are, thankfully, not likely to be fatal, they are severe and will no doubt leave him with lasting physical and emotional trauma, said Detective Sergeant Long.

Officers remain at the scene tonight, carrying out inquiries.

Local residents will notice a heavy police presence in the area.

This attack has caused fear and disruption in the very community those responsible for this criminal act claim to protect.

The detective added that there was no justification for this violence as he appealed for information.

Anyone who witnessed what happened or has information that could help with our inquiries is asked to contact police on 101, quoting reference number 1609 27/01/26.

We would also be keen to hear from anyone who may have dash-cam, CCTV or other footage of the area.

You can submit a report online on the PSNI website or anonymously to Crimestoppers by phoning 0800 555 111 or through its website.
The European Union will provide KES454 million (EUR3 million) to strengthen Kenyas national cybersecurity ecosystem as the country accelerates its digital transformation.

The 36-month initiative, dubbed Strengthening the Resilience of the Cybersecurity Ecosystem of Kenya (KCR), was launched in Nairobi with the backing of Kenyan government officials and EU development partners. The programme will focus on tightening regulatory and institutional frameworks, boosting national and sector-level capacity to respond to cyber incidents, and raising cybersecurity awareness  with a particular emphasis on women, young people and users of public services.

EU Ambassador to Kenya, Henriette Geiger, said the funding comes as Kenya sees rapid growth in digital government services, payment platforms and online applications, making the protection of critical information infrastructure and service continuity increasingly vital.

John Tanui (pictured, second), Principal Secretary at the State Department for ICT, added the KCR programme aligns with existing national priorities, including Kenyas National Cybersecurity Strategy - which established the National Cybersecurity Agency - and the countrys Digital Master Plan covering fibre rollout and digital skills development.
NTT Global Data Centres (NTT GDC), part of NTT Data, and the world's third-largest data centre provider, has signed a 100MW power purchase agreement with Thai Energy company B.Grimm Power, through its Amata B.Grimm Power division, securing capacity for its upcoming Bangkok 4 Data Centre.

Energisation of the new data centre at NTTs Chonburi campus, is planned for the second quarter of 2027.

NTT GDC says that Thailand remains a strategic hub for the company in APAC, and long-term power planning is central to how it delivers for its customers, adding that it looks forward to exploring new opportunities with Amata B.Grimm Power as the market evolves.

As the Data Centre Dynamics website points out, the deal builds on several previous agreements between the two companies, with B.Grimm powering NTTs Bangkok 2 and 3 facilities, both located at the Amata City Chonburi industrial estate just outside Bangkok.

NTTs Bangkok 2 facility, launched in 2015, offers 3.6MW across 3,800 square metres Its Bangkok 3 facility spans 4,000 square metres and has a capacity of 12MW.

The Bangkok metropolitan area is fast becoming a hotspot for data centre development.

B.Grimm Power, founded in 1993, describes itself as one of Thailands leading industrial energy producers. According to its website, the company currently has a total generating capacity of 4,178MW in 15 countries and aims to reach 10,000MW by 2030. It appears to be investing heavily to support its expansion into the data centre power market.

Indeed, in September last year we reported that pan-Asian data centre operator Digital Edge and B.Grimm Power had broken ground on their first joint data centre in Thailands Eastern Economic Corridor, again in Chonburi.
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Oscar frontrunner Jessie Buckley is expected to receive a nod for the best actress Bafta when the nominations are announced on Tuesday.

The Irish actress has proved unbeatable through awards season so far for her performance as Shakespeares wife Agnes Hathaway  historically known as Anne  in Hamnet.

She has already been nominated for an Oscar and secured a string of trophies including the Golden Globe and Critics Choice award.

Paul Mescal is still tipped to be nominated for the best supporting actor prize for his turn as the Bard, even though he was snubbed by the Oscars.

The big-screen adaptation of Maggie OFarrells award-winning novel about the family life of William Shakespeare and the death of his young son is also likely to be nominated in the best film and outstanding British film categories.

Sinners, Ryan Cooglers historical crime drama turned horror film, is also likely to score a string of nominations.

The film, starring Michael B Jordan as twins, recently made history by becoming the first film to score 16 Oscar nods.

The Bafta nominations will be announced by Aimee Lou Wood and David Jonsson at 12pm.
It was only a matter of time before someone was killed by a scrambler motorbike, the Dail has been told.

Opposition politicians raised the case of Grace Lynch, a 16-year-old Dubliner who died after being hit by a scrambler at the weekend, as the Dail returned on Tuesday.

Hundreds of people took part in a walk in Finglas on Monday night in memory of Grace, where her mother Siobhan called for scramblers and e-scooters to be taken off the streets.

In a heartfelt plea, she said that watching her daughter take her last breath was the worst pain imaginable and said it was something no parent should have to deal with.

Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald said it was predictable that a life would be lost as a result of scramblers, which she described as a scourge of working class communities that created a constant sense of menace.

Ms McDonald said she hoped the Taoiseach would hear that anger from Finglas as she accused governments of having dragged their heels on introducing tighter restrictions on scramblers.

She said the Government had brought forward legislation that didnt go far enough, and which had still not been fully enacted.

Ms McDonald said she had spoken to Graces mother Siobhan on Monday night and said that she believed action on this issue would be some consolation to her.

So it was in reality only a matter of time before somebody was killed, and now that somebody has a name, her name is Grace Lynch, she said during Leaders Questions.

Only today, when a child is dead, Government talks about moving quickly, tightening things up and taking action, Ms McDonald said.

The absence of any Government urgency in tackling the menace of scramblers is frightening and Taoiseach, this has to change and change fast.

Taoiseach Micheal Martin expressed his condolences to Graces family and said he understood their anger.

He said: Nothing that I can say can in any way ease the devastation, the pain, the hurt, the anger that Graces family feels right now.

I understand that anger, and I understand the devastation that theyre going through.

They have lost a beautiful daughter who should be going to school, who should be with her friends today.

Mr Martin said legislative changes had been proposed previously in the Dail to tackle the anti-social use of scramblers and quad bikes.

He said that they would ban scramblers from public roads, and said it should have happened sooner, but said nothing would ever ease the devastation that the Lynch family experienced.

Mr Martin added: In my view, it will happen, it should have happened in terms of the signing or the formulation and dealing of these regulations.

I understand fully the anger of the people in working class areas, but particularly in Finglas.

There should be no scramblers on public roads. We have it within our power to make that happen, and it will happen.

He said Justice Minister Jim OCallaghan had spoken to Garda Commissioner Justin Kelly, who was attending to this immediately and treating this with the utmost priority.

Labour leader Ivana Bacik paid tribute to Graces mother Siobhan for showing such courage in the face of such outright grief.

The entire country is shaken by Graces death, she told the Dail.

Ms Bacik welcomed comments from Mr Martin but said this was not a new issue, citing severe injuries suffered by a Lithuanian national after a scrambler landed on him while he was in a Dublin park in 2018.

She also said that its not just scramblers and said e-scooter-related brain injuries accounted for a quarter of admissions of children to Temple Street Childrens Hospital.

Scramblers are not toys, theyre powerful machines, theyre being used to intimidate on our streets. They are lethal weapons, Ms Bacik told the Dail.

She asked Mr Martin if he would consider an immediate freeze on the usage of all scrambler bikes until robust enforcement mechanisms are put in place.

Mr Martin said the Government also had to move on e-scooters and said the reports of emergency medicine consultants on brain injuries from e-scooters were far too high.

He said: The scramblers for me is very straightforward, they have no place on our roads, and theres a lot of other activity related to them, in terms of illegal activity.

Related to that, we have to move with speed on e-scooters, because the level of injury thats been reported from consultants in emergency medicine, particularly in terms of brain injury, as well as physical injuries, (is) far too high.

Speaking to an Oireachtas justice committee, Jim OCallaghan said the number of seizures of bike by An Garda Siochana had improved.

The justice minister said in 2024 they had seized 124 scramblers and 32 quad bikes, and by the end of October 2025 they had seized 113 scramblers and 22 quad bikes.

He said there needs to be a much more aggressive and robust response to scramblers.

Mr OCallaghan said he had spoken in particular about Ms Lynch in his discussions with the Garda commissioner.

He said there would now be an even more aggressive approach in respect of Gardai involvement and that the motorbikes are often used for drug dealing, adding they are masking other crimes.

A code of conduct is being drawn up by An Garda Siochana so drones can be used to identify illegal scrambler use, Mr OCallaghan told the committee.

On Tuesday evening, Gardai said they had seized 18 e-scooters, a motorbike, five mini scramblers, five motorised bicycles drugs worth around 55,000 euro and cash worth 10,740 euro at 21 locations across Dublin.

They said the vehicles were suspected of being used to facilitate on-street drug dealing.
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Louth food lovers have plenty to celebrate as two local favourites, Sitar Indian Restaurant & Takeaway in Dundalk and Il Forno in Drogheda, have been shortlisted in the 12th annual Just Eat Awards.

Recognising the restaurants, grocers, and retailers that people order from most across Ireland, the awards shine a spotlight on the countys thriving food scene, from neighbourhood independents to internationally inspired flavours.

With categories ranging from Best Indian & Nepalese to Best Pizza, Louths nominees are in the running for a chance to be crowned Independent Restaurant of the Year and take home a 100,000 prize fund to grow their business in 2026.

Independent Restaurant of the Year will be awarded to the restaurant that secures the highest number of public votes across its individual category and overall. In addition to the title, the winner will receive a 100,000 prize fund, offering a powerful platform to build brand awareness, reach new customers and take their business to the next stage.

Voting for the 2025 Just Eat Awards is now officially open, and food lovers across Ireland are encouraged to support their favourite by casting a vote. Every vote submitted will also be entered into a draw to win free Just Eat for a year.

Commenting on the announcement of this years awards, Amanda Roche-Kelly, Managing Director at Just Eat Ireland, said: Irelands food scene is in a strong place, even though restaurants are dealing with rising costs and ongoing pressures across the sector. What stands out is the effort and care that goes into every order, from the food itself to the service people experience every day.

Read Next: Film Club returns to Dundalk's An Tain with a new programme for spring 2026

The Just Eat Awards are about recognising independent restaurants that people genuinely love and rely on in their communities including the two restaurants in Louth that have been nominated. By awarding this 100,000 prize to the Independent Restaurant of the Year, Just Eat is committed to investing this media value for the winning partner to help further grow and evolve their business in 2026.

For more information on the 12th annual Just Eat Awards, visit https://www.just-eat.ie/awards/2025/ie/home/, or follow @justeatie on Instagram and TikTok.
Green party councillor for Dundalk South Marianne Butler has confirmed she will contest in the party's deputy leadership race.

Cllr Butler will face Dublin City councillor and former Dublin Lord Mayor Hazel Chu to become the party's next deputy leader.



The election comes after former deputy leader, Roisin Garvey resigned from her position in October last year.

In a social media post, Cllr Butler appealed to Green Party members to vote for her in the contest.

"The Green Party has a hill to climb in Irish politics," she said.

Cllr Butler said the Green Party needs to become an electoral force all across Ireland.

She called for unity among the party, and said it is a "very small party to have division and fighting".

Read Next: Man charged after 150,000 cannabis seizure in Louth

Cllr Butler received the endorsement of senator Malcom Noonan, who served as Minister of State during the course of the last government but lost his seat in the 2024 general election.

Senator Noonan said it is a significant time for the party and called it "our second great rebuilding project at a time when we are needed now".

He said Cllr Butler brings "many years of experience as an elective representative and as an activist, as a councillor on the border counties".

The Green Party lost all but one of the their 12 seat in the 2024 general election, with leader Roderic O'Gorman the only TD to retain their seat.

Voting in the contest opened on January 26th and closes at midday on January 28th.

Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.
Low-cost airline, Ryanair, has announced that it is hosting a recruitment event in Dundalk next month, as part of a series of regional recruitment events across Ireland this February as part of a major hiring drive for Cabin Crew roles based at Dublin Airport

The airline is recruiting for approximately 100 positions and is inviting interested candidates to attend in-person recruitment events in hotels across Offaly, Westmeath, Louth, Laois, Kilkenny, Wexford and Kildare.

Ryanair said that successful candidates will receive a 2,000 joining bonus and take part in a fully paid six-week Cabin Crew training course, with courses commencing in February and March. No previous cabin crew experience is required, as full training is provided.

All events begin at 10:30am and attendees can arrive on the day. The full list of venues, along with the dates recruitment events will be taking place in each one, is as follows:

Drogheda  04 February  The Mill Drogheda

Navan  05 February  Newgrange Hotel Navan

Dundalk  10 February  The Imperial Hotel

Portlaoise  10 February  The Killeshin Hotel & Leisure Club

Tullamore  11 February  Bridge House Hotel

Kilkenny  11 February  Hotel Kilkenny

Mullingar  12 February  Annebrook House Hotel

Wexford  12 February  Talbot Hotel

Athlone  17 February  Athlone Springs Hotel

Naas  18 February  Lawlors Hotel

Ryanair adds that the roles may suit individuals seeking a career change, those returning to work, or candidates interested in customer service and aviation careers.

Read also: Revised time table announced for Louth rail services this weekend

Further details on Cabin Crew roles and the recruitment process are available here.
A charity which supports bereaved parents is urging people in Louth to reach out for support, reminding them that nobody needs to grieve alone.

To mark National Grief Awareness Week, which runs until Sunday 1 February, all-Ireland charity, Anam Cara, wants people to know support is always available for anyone grieving the loss of a child.

CEO, Michelle Reynolds, said the charity is there to offer information, resources, practical advice and peer support sessions for parents after bereavement.

The organisations vision is to have a society where no parent has to grieve alone and all families who experience the death of a child are met with understanding, support and compassion.

At Anam Cara, we know that the death of a child changes everything in a parents world - how they see themselves, their relationships, and their future, said Ms Reynolds.

Read also: Revised time table announced for Louth rail services this weekend

The grief is lifelong and deeply individual, and it can feel very isolating, especially when those around them dont fully understand the depth of that loss.

National Grief Awareness Week gives us vital pause to acknowledge grief as a natural human experience, and to reflect on how it might be living quietly in the lives of those around us.

When a child has died, many people feel deeply uncomfortable talking about it. Out of fear of saying the wrong thing, they may say nothing at all, but that silence can leave bereaved parents feeling even more alone.

Ms Reynolds told how storytelling has a powerful cultural role to play in how we understand grief. Films like Hamnet, starring Oscar-nominated actress Jessie Buckley, have opened a door for people to have difficult conversations.

Hamnet portrays grief not as something neat or easily resolved, but as something that lives in the body and in everyday life, she added.

It shows how parents grieve differently, and how loss can affect relationships in lasting ways. I hope it has helped audiences to better understand how complex grief can be, and has opened up important conversations around a topic many people find difficult.

The movie demonstrates how life is permanently altered after the death of a child, and how grief is experienced not just by parents, but by siblings too.

As a society, we often dont know how to respond to child loss. Hamnet reminds us how important it is to speak a childs name, to acknowledge their life, and to create space where parents can express their grief.

That continuing bond - that ongoing love and connection - is at the heart of what Anam Cara exists to support.

Anam Cara was founded by bereaved parents to make sure that every bereaved mother or father has access to bereavement support, no matter the age of the child, the cause of death or when it occurred.

All of Anam Caras services are provided free of charge and rely on the kindness and support of donors and the community.

For more information see www.anamcara.ie
Problem gambling is much more likely among people exposed to gambling as children, according to a new study by the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI).

The study suggests that rates of problem gambling are significantly higher among people who gambled as children, whose parents gambled, or whose parents had positive attitudes towards gambling.

Researchers concluded that where gambling products are shown to have particular appeal to children stronger regulation of those products is justified.

They also suggested that addressing problem gambling among parents may indirectly help to protect their children from developing problem gambling, given the suggestion of a link to exposure during childhood.

Problem gambling is when a persons gambling disrupts and damages their life, with negative impacts on finances, wellbeing and social circles.

The research, carried out by the ESRIs Behavioural Research Unit and commissioned by the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland (GRAI), gathered anonymous online responses from a representative sample of more than 1,600 adults.

The researchers found a strong link between current gambling behaviour and childhood experiences, controlling for social background.

Those who gambled as a child were almost twice as likely to suffer from problem gambling.

Having a parent who gambled increased the likelihood of problem gambling by one third, while parental attitudes to gambling had a similarly large effect.

People who both gambled as children and had a parent who gambled a lot were four times more likely to suffer from problem gambling.

The research also concluded that the weakening influence of parents in younger age cohorts suggests that regulations targeting non-family-related exposure to gambling, such as marketing, may be taking on greater importance.

This growing importance of extra-familial factors also has implications for problem gambling treatment if it means that more people with no family history of gambling are seeking treatment.

It said the effectiveness of limiting childrens exposure to gambling should be measured.

The majority of the sample had engaged in at least some form of gambling when under 18 years old.

The most common forms were slot machines, scratch cards, horse or dog betting, gambling among friends, bingo and lotteries.

These results demonstrate that childhood experiences of gambling have damaging effects on peoples lives as adults, said Dr Shane Timmons, senior research officer at the ESRI and report author.

Together with our best estimate that one in 30 adults in Ireland now struggles with problem gambling, these findings strengthen the case for regulation of gambling. We need to avoid normalising gambling among young people.

Chief executive of the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland Anne Marie Caulfield said the research provides clear evidence of the long-term potential harms from exposing children to gambling.

It reinforces the importance of a well-regulated gambling sector that protects children and those vulnerable to gambling harm, she said.

It also points to the need for awareness and education among our young people, their parents, and guardians on gambling-related harms.

To coincide with the release of this report, we have published advice for parents on how best to approach the topic of gambling and associated dangers with their children on our website.

This advice was developed in collaboration with the HSE Addiction Services and provides a useful tool for parents.
Renovation works on Kinsales Desmond Castle, which has been closed to the public since 2018, are to begin later this year.

Christopher OSullivan, heritage minister, was recently briefed on plans for the renovations as he toured the iconic French Prison with OPW staff.

Mr OSullivan described the 15th century castle as one of the most important buildings in Cork. It will take a couple of years to complete, as the work that needs to be done is extensive, but Im pleased this incredible building is on the path to once again being opened to the public, he said.

Built as a customs house around 1500, the castle has a storied past: Naval prison, workhouse, local gaol, ordinance store, meeting hall, and wine museum.

It closed due to water damage.

Mr OSullivan added: There are water-egress issues as well as extensive electrical works that need doing. Some parts of the interior need a good bit of work, but having seen first-hand the diligent care and passion with which the OPW are bringing to this, I am very confident.
The BusConnects Cork programme has already cost 75m, despite being in its earliest stages.

The multi-billion plan, billed by Government as a transformative programme of investment in Corks bus and cycle system, received Cabinet approval last October.

The completed programme will deliver 11 sustainable transport corridors across Cork city, covering 90km of bus lanes and 95km of cycle lanes, as well as new bus shelters. The redesigned network will have 50% more bus services, with two routes operating 24 hours.

The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) was told that BusConnects is estimated to cost between 1.8bn and 2.3bn. However, last October, when the programme was approved, Government said it anticipated that the project would cost between 2.3bn and 3.5bn.

Defending that estimate, it said the project would have a 1.5 benefit-to-cost ratio, meaning that for every 1 spent, it would accrue 1.50. So far, the project has cost the taxpayer 75m, the PAC has been told, with more than half of that sum, 44.6m, spent on infrastructure.

Network design and bus stops have so far cost 10m, while 2m has been spent on programme support costs, the NTA said.

A further 18.6m was spent on the development of bus depots, with Hugh Cregan, deputy CEO of the National Transport Authority (NTA), telling the PAC that 18m has been spent on a new bus depot in Tivoli, which is expected to open later this year.

Mr Cregan said: In Tivoli, Bus Eireann is building a depot and we are funding it. There has also been a lot of the design and development of the bus corridors and preparatory works, such as turning areas and bus stops.

PAC member and Fianna Fail TD for Cork South Central, Seamus McGrath, queried the amount spent. Bus stops and bus shelters? It seems a high figure, Mr McGrath said.

The general sense is that the project is in its infancy, that it has not hit the ground yet or progressed, so to hear 75m has been spent, I find that is quite high.

Conceding that the figure was high, Mr Cregan said that people must remember that we have to go for planning permission for massively large schemes, and they require a big investment to get to the planning stage.

Mr McGrath said the slow rollout of the programme was deeply frustrating. I think many will be very surprised to learn that 75m has been spent to date on BusConnects, he said. I think it is difficult to rationalise this, when we have such a poor bus service at present, and the benefits of BusConnects are still some time off.

Mr McGrath said that he believed further probing was needed on the monies spent.

The NTA is expected to make planning applications for BusConnect Corks sustainable transport corridors over the coming months. The design of those new routes was informed by three rounds of public consultation, which led to the NTA receiving 9,800 submissions.
A 29-year-old man facing sentencing for thefts at Cork District Court was described as being caught in a vicious cycle of petty thefts to pay for drug addiction.

Kerien Doyle, of St Vincents hostel, Anglesea Terrace, Cork, pleaded guilty to carrying out two thefts in Cork city.

The most recent shoplifting was on January 2 at Brown Thomas, St Patricks Street, where he stole headphones valued at 100.

On September 29, 2025, he stole three bottles of alcohol at Dunnes Stores.

Eddie Burke, solicitor, said of the accused: He was trying to get a bag of cocaine and he went in and stole this in Brown Thomas.

Originally from South Africa, he is in Ireland since 2018.

He is in vicious cycle of petty thefts to pay for drug addiction, doing well for periods but then slipping back.

He is ashamed to be back and feels he is letting a lot of people down.

Judge John King said: I will direct a probation report before sentencing on February 2.

The defendant said, Thank you, your honour, I really appreciate that.
The Cork city taskforce is to be up and running by mid-February, Taoiseach Micheal Martin has said.

It comes amid concerns that 140m in Government funding promised to Dublin city, after the publication of its taskforce report in October 2024, has still not been delivered.

Six Cork TDs  Fianna Fails Padraig OSullivan and Seamus McGrath; Social Democrats Padraig Rice and Liam Quaide; Labours Eoghan Kenny; and Sinn Feins Thomas Gould  last week tabled parliamentary questions asking the Taoiseach when the long-awaited taskforce would be established.

Mr Martin said: We have met with the council, universities, and others. Following meetings between my officials and Cork City Council, draft terms of reference for Cork city are at an advanced stage.

A follow-up meeting with the councils chief executive has been scheduled for next week, and I expect the terms of reference to be finalised and submitted to the Government in the near future, he added.

I hope we conclude that work and, in the next two to three weeks, we go to the Government and we establish the group, which will focus on the city centre.

In reply, Mr McGrath said:

I understand it may not be called a taskforce, and that is fine.

His comment came amid assertations from the Taoiseach previously that the naming of the project was delaying the process. This after a city council spokesperson recently told The Echo that the term taskforce has connotations of negativity. No clarity on what the name will be was provided by Mr Martin.

Dublin Social Democrats TD Gary Gannon, speaking on behalf of Mr Quaide and Mr Rice, said that the report from the Dublin taskforce was released in October 2024, a full year after it was announced by the Government to great fanfare, and there still has not been a button given over.

He said Dublin City Council had set up a working group for implementation.

All it is missing is the 140m that was promised by the Taoiseachs Government last year, said Mr Gannon.

Mr Martin assured him the money would be allocated as required, adding: You do not just send a dollop straight up.

Padraig OSullivan told The Echo that the whole project had to move faster.

The taskforce needs to be financed and resourced, and whatever recommendations emanate from it need to be implemented, he said.

It comes as Cork citys Labour councillors, Peter Horgan, Ciara OConnor, and John Maher, reiterated their stance that there is no need for duplication of a city taskforce, as the building blocks of any such taskforce are in the city deal already passed by local representatives.

They said any Government funding should, instead, be allocated to the council project.
Honore Kamegni, a Green Party councillor in Cork city, says recent online racist abuse levelled at him was unpleasant and dehumanising".

Mr Kamegni said he has been the subject of racist comments following posts on social media.

Mr Kamegni told The Echo that although he has decided to leave the social media platform X due to the abuse, he remains determined as ever in his political career.

Mr Kamegni said the abusive views are not reflective of Cork and represent only a small minority of people.

These comments weren't just unpleasant, they were dehumanising. It had a real impact not just on me, but all of us who see it and recognise themselves in it, he said.

It is not just about me, it is about other people and those who see themselves like me.

Cork is not part of what is happening online. All of this hatred and all of these comments that have been online, they have nothing to do with the real people of Cork.

I knocked on over 15,000 doors and spoke with thousands of people. They were very encouraging and supportive.

I would say 99%, even more, they are not for that. That is not Cork, Cork is welcoming and it is a safe harbour. Cork is not part of what is happening online.

Honore Kamegni: 'Iam a strong person and I am going to continue to work hard. I am going to continue to stand for the people who elected me.' File picture: Daragh Mc Sweeney/Provision

Mr Kamegni, from Cameroon, became the first black person to sit on Cork city council when elected in June 2024, and shortly afterwards was selected as deputy lord mayor.

He said he remains as determined as ever to serve the people of Cork. I am still going to continue to do my work. I am not going to let those who elected me down. All of the comments and hatred, it is not going to deter me and it is not going to discourage me.

I am a strong person and I am going to continue to work hard. I am going to continue to stand for the people who elected me.

There is no way I am going to stop what I am doing. I was elected as a councillor by the people and I am not going to stop doing that.

Ted Tynan, a Workers' Party councillor, said there is no place in society for the racist abuse suffered by Mr Kamegni.

The Workers' Party unequivocally condemns the recent racist online abuse suffered by our friend and colleague councillor Honore Kamegni of the Green Party in Cork.

The Workers' Party of Ireland maintains that racism, ethnic profiling, and hate speech against people of a different colour or culture has no place in society nor on any social media platform.
University College Cork researchers are looking for volunteers in Cork to try high-vitamin bread for a health-related study.

The FamDBread study is an eight week initiative offering participants bretzel bread to be eaten every day instead of their usual bread.

The researchers are inviting families, including a minimum of one parent or guardian and one child or teenager 5-17 years of age and who regularly consume bread, to join the study focused on enhancing vitamin D status through better nutrition.

Researchers are looking to recruit 390 volunteers between now and March 2026.

All participants must sign up by the end of January.

It includes two in-person visits to UCC for blood samples to measure vitamin D levels, along with regular phone check-ins.

Colette ONeill from UCC, who oversees the daily operations of the FamDBread study, said: The FamDBread study is an essential initiative in Ireland to explore how everyday foods can promote better health and prevent vitamin D deficiency.

We are excited to partner with families that are interested in contributing to science and who value good nutrition.

The collaborative study between UCC and UCD is funded by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.
A woman said she was "brought to her knees with tears" after witnessing the state of a county council-controlled cemetery in Kinsale.

Trees in part of St Eltin's Cemetery, Ardbrack, have been described as dangerous as their roots could be undermining graveyard plots and kerbing.

Debris from the trees is also causing lichen to form on headstones, leading to slippery surfaces on the footpaths.

The issue was raised by Fianna Fail councillor Gillian Coughlan at a meeting of the Bandon/Kinsale Municipal District Council.

She asked that all the trees be felled as they are rendering the maintenance of these graves extremely difficult".

Gravestones and kerbs become green due to the overhanging vegetation. This is causing unnecessary distress for the families in question who have loved ones resting there, Ms Coughlan said.

Independent Ireland councillor John Collins said he had received some distressing correspondence from a woman who has relatives buried in the cemetery.

The woman said these are sacred spaces and added the state of the graves brought me to my knees in tears'. She was genuinely upset, Mr Collins said.

Fine Gael councillor John Michael Foley, also a funeral director, said he wouldnt encourage having trees in any cemetery because they are dangerous and could be felled in storms.

He said the trees are a health and safety issue as they could cause injuries or even worse to people visiting the cemetery.

Fine Gael councillor Marie OSullivan said cutting the trees would provide more light in the cemetery.

Council engineers said they had spent 9,000 trimming back the trees in November 2024.

They said that it would cost an estimated 15,000 to fell all 56 trees overhanging the graves and they have no funding in the kitty at present to pay for it this year.

They agreed that the trees shouldnt be so close to the graves and that they would see if they could find the finances required.

Ms OSullivan, who chairs the committee, suggested that some of the revenue from pay parking in Kinsale could be used to carry out the work. Other councillors agreed that this was probably one way of financing the project.

Cemetery in Rossmore reopens

At the reopening of Rossmore cemetery following a 65,000 refurbishment: Michael Murphy, All Black Tarmacadam.; Jason Collins, chair, Kilmeen and Castleventry Community Development Association; deputy Lord Mayor Joe Carroll; senator Noel ODonovan; Fr Tom Hayes; and parishioners. Picture: Andy Gibson

Elsewhere in Cork, the cemetery in Rossmore has officially reopened after a full refurbishment.

The overall project, which cost 65,000 - 45,000 from Cork County Council and the rest from local fundraising efforts, includes resurfacing of paths and widening of the entrance to allow vehicle access.
11 gov't forces personnel wounded in IED blasts in India's Chhattisgarh

Xinhua) 09:50, January 27, 2026

NEW DELHI, Jan. 26 (Xinhua) -- At least 11 government forces personnel were wounded as multiple improvised explosive devices (IEDs) planted by Naxals went off in the central Indian state of Chhattisgarh, police said Monday.

The explosions took place on Sunday inside the forests of Karregutta Hills of Usoor area in Bijapur district, about 470 km south of Raipur, the capital city of Chhattisgarh.

According to police, the joint contingents of police and paramilitary were carrying out searches inside the forest to track the Naxals when they came under attack.

The wounded personnel were removed to hospitals in Raipur.

India's federal government has resolved to eradicate Naxalism by the end of March this year.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Here's a use of AI that appears to do more good than harm. A pair of astronomers at the European Space Agency (ESA) developed a neural network that searches through space images for anomalies. The results were far beyond what human experts could have done. In two and a half days, it sifted through nearly 100 million image cutouts, discovering 1,400 anomalous objects.

The creators of the AI model, David O'Ryan and Pablo Gomez, call it AnomalyMatch. The pair trained it on (and applied it to) the Hubble Legacy Archive, which houses tens of thousands of datasets from Hubble's 35-year history. "While trained scientists excel at spotting cosmic anomalies, there's simply too much Hubble data for experts to sort through at the necessary level of fine detail by hand," the ESA wrote in its press release.

After less than three days of scanning, AnomalyMatch returned a list of likely anomalies. It still requires human eyes at the end: Gomez and O'Ryan reviewed the candidates to confirm which were truly abnormal. Among the 1,400 anomalous objects the pair confirmed, more than 800 were previously undocumented.

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Most of the results showed galaxies merging or interacting, which can lead to odd shapes or long tails of stars and gas. Others were gravitational lenses. (That's where the gravity of a foreground galaxy bends spacetime so that the light from a background galaxy is warped into a circle or arc.) Other discoveries included planet-forming disks viewed edge-on, galaxies with huge clumps of stars and jellyfish galaxies. Adding a bit of mystery, there were even "several dozen objects that defied classification altogether."

"This is a fantastic use of AI to maximize the scientific output of the Hubble archive," Gomez is quoted as saying in the ESA's announcement. "Finding so many anomalous objects in Hubble data, where you might expect many to have already been found, is a great result. It also shows how useful this tool will be for other large datasets."
The European Commission has started proceedings to ensure Google complies with the Digital Markets Act (DMA) in certain ways. Specifically, the European Unions executive arm has told Google to grant third-party AI services the same level of access to Android that Gemini has. "The aim is to ensure that third-party providers have an equal opportunity to innovate and compete in the rapidly evolving AI landscape on smart mobile devices," the Commission said in a statement.

The company will also have to hand over "anonymized ranking, query, click and view data held by Google Search" to rival search engines. The Commission says this will help competing companies to optimize their services and offer more viable alternatives to Google Search.

"Todays proceedings under the Digital Markets Act will provide guidance to Google to ensure that third-party online search engines and AI providers enjoy the same access to search data and Android operating system as Google's own services, like Google Search or Gemini," said Henna Virkkunen, the Commissions executive vice-president for tech sovereignty, security and democracy. "Our goal is to keep the AI market open, unlock competition on the merits and promote innovation, to the benefit of consumers and businesses."

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The Commission plans to wrap up these proceedings in the next six months, effectively handing Google a deadline to make all of this happen. If the company doesn't do so to the Commission's satisfaction, it may face a formal investigation and penalties down the line. The Commission can impose fines of up to 10 percent of a company's global annual revenue for a DMA violation.

Google was already in hot water with the EU for allegedly favoring its own services  such as travel, finance and shopping  over those from rivals and stopping Google Play app developers from easily directing consumers to alternative, cheaper ways to pay for digital goods and services. The bloc charged Google with DMA violations related to those issues last March.

In November, the EU opened an investigation into Google's alleged demotion of commercial content on news websites in search results. The following month, it commenced a probe into Google's AI practices, including whether the company used online publishers' material for AI Overviews and AI Mode without "appropriate compensation" or offering the ability to opt out.
Yahoo has announced a new AI-powered "answer engine", dubbed Yahoo Scout. The new tool is available now in beta and is powered by Anthropic's Claude .

The company says Scout "synthesizes" info from the web, as well as Yahoo's own data and content when constructing responses to user's natural-language search queries. Yahoo says the interface will include interactive digital media, structured lists and tables and visible source links aimed at making answers easier to verify. (Disclosure: Yahoo is the parent company of Engadget.)

Alongside Scout, Yahoo is announcing an "intelligence platform" across its varied products. This will include features like AI summaries in Yahoo Mail, key takeaways in Yahoo News and game breakdowns in Yahoo Sports. Scout will also integrate into Yahoo Shopping to offer insights and shoppable links, and Yahoo Finance, where it can populate company financials, analyst ratings and explain stock moves as they occur. Yahoo says the answer engine behind Scout will become more personalized and focus on "deeper experiences" as time goes on.
California Governor Gavin Newsom has announced that his office is investigating whether TikTok is truly censoring content critical of Trump, days after ByteDance finalized a deal to spin off its business in the US. Newsom made the announcement in response to a post on X, claiming that you can no longer send messages in the app with the word Epstein in it. Newsoms office, in a separate post, said it was able to independently confirm instances wherein TikTok suppressed content critical of President Donald Trump.

The governors office told Politico that it tried to send a direct message with the word Epstein in it and got a warning that it could not be sent because it may violate TikToks community guidelines. Newsoms team is now launching a review of this conduct and is calling on the California Department of Justice to determine whether it violates California law.

If youll recall, ByteDance finalized a deal for a new US entity just as TikTok was about to be banned in the US. ByteDance only owns 19.9 percent of the new entity called the TikTok USDS Joint Venture, while the new investors own 80 percent. Oracle, Silver Lake and Emirati fund MGX have a 15 percent stake each. The US business will now retrain TikToks algorithm on US data and will also be in charge of content moderation.

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After the US entitys announcement, users started complaining about technical issues affecting TikToks recommendation algorithm and other features. Some claimed that they had difficulties posting videos about ICE over the weekend. TikTok blamed its issues, including bugs, slower loading times and timed-out uploads, on a power outage at one of its US data centers. It said its now working to restore its services.
Samsungs 2025 was filled with new foldables, an ultra-thin new form factor and the launch of Google's XR platform. After making some announcements at CES 2026, the company is expected to host its first Galaxy Unpacked of the year in February to introduce the Galaxy S26 lineup.

Engadget will be covering Galaxy Unpacked live, and we'll most likely have hands-on coverage of Samsung's new smartphones soon after they're announced. While we wait for an official invite, here's everything we expect Samsung will introduce at the first Galaxy Unpacked event of 2026.

What is Unpacked 2026 taking place?

But first, when is Unpacked going to happen? A recent image shared by leakster Evan Blass indicated Unpacked should be taking place on February 25 2026. Blass has a long history of credible leaks, which means this date is all but confirmed, and the main questions remaining would be  what time and in what timezone? Were still waiting on Samsung for the official details, which should include answers to those questions.

Galaxy S26, S26+ and S26 Ultra

Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra hands-on photo (Photo by Sam Rutherford/Engadget)

Samsung's restrained approach to updating its phones will likely continue with the Galaxy S26. Based on leaked images of the new lineup, the company is not expected to radically reinvent the look of the Galaxy S26, Galaxy S26+ or Galaxy S26 Ultra, and instead will stick with a similar design to what it used on the Galaxy S25. The phones will have a flat front screen and frame, with rounded corners and cameras housed in a vertical pill-shaped plateau on the back. Unlike Apple's move from the iPhone 16 Pro to the iPhone 17 Pro, the biggest difference here will likely be internal components like the screens, chips and camera sensors Samsung uses.

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Qualcomm's new Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chip is expected to be in all Samsung Galaxy S26 phones, though Korean news site Yonhap News reports Samsung's relatively new Exynos 2600 chip could be used in some phones in the lineup depending on the region, a strategy Samsung has deployed in the past. Either way the new phones should be more performant than the previous generation, and in the case of the models with the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, particularly good at on-device AI processing.

One notable difference between the Galaxy S26 and the Galaxy S25 could be the phone's screen. The new phone will reportedly feature a 6.3-inch FHD+ display according to specs shared by leaker Ice Universe, which makes it ever so slightly larger than the 6.2-inch display used on the Galaxy S25. The S26 will also allegedly come with 12GB of RAM, either 256GB or 512GB of storage and a slightly larger 4,300mAh battery. Samsung isn't changing the cameras on the entry-level phone, though: leaks suggest it'll feature the same 50-megapixel main camera, 12-megapixel ultrawide, 10-megapixel 3x telephoto and 12-megapixel selfie camera as the previous generation. Changes appear to be even more minor on the Galaxy S26+. Other than the new Snapdragon chip, the phone will reportedly feature the same 6.7-inch FHD+ screen, 4,900mAh battery, 12GB of RAM and the same camera array used on the base Galaxy S26.

The difference between the Galaxy S26 Ultra and Galaxy S25 Ultra is reportedly a bit clearer. According to Android Headlines, the new phone's cameras will be slightly more raised, and stand out thanks to a new metallic finish. Samsung may also switch back to using an aluminum frame on the Galaxy S26 Ultra, after using titanium frames on both the Galaxy S24 and S25 Ultras. Most importantly, to make the phone actually support Qi2 rather than only technically work with the standard when a case is attached, rumors suggest Samsung will remove the S Pen digitizer layer in the phone and adopt a new method for accepting stylus input. It's not clear what that new method will actually be, but it could let the Galaxy S26 Ultra more easily work with Qi2 accessories without losing its stylus.

Android Headlines also recently shared what appear to be full image renders of the S26 series, and they generally line up with what has already been rumored, leaked and reported so far. If these pictures are accurate, they give us a clearer look at the camera bump and two color variants of the S26 Ultra.

Galaxy Buds 4

Galaxy Buds 3 Pro in case. (Engadget)

Samsung released the Galaxy Buds 3 and 3 Pro in 2024, with a major redesign that brought them much more in line with Apple's AirPods. The Galaxy Buds 4 and Buds 4 Pro Samsung is rumored to be announcing soon won't necessarily change that, though they will feature a more compact case and less angular stems, according to leaked images from the Samsung Tips app.

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Support for head gestures to accept and decline calls, a feature Apple includes on the AirPods Pro 3 and AirPods 4, is also rumored to work on both versions of the new Galaxy Buds. SamMobile reports the Galaxy Buds 4 and 4 Pro may also ship with a new Ultra Wideband chip that will make them easier to find with Google's Find Hub network.

Galaxy Z Trifold

Yes, the TriFold has a crease, two in fact. But they still don't ruin the experience. (Sam Rutherford for Engadget)

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Samsung announced the Galaxy Z TriFold in late 2025 without firm details of when the new smartphone-that-folds-into-a-tablet would be available in North America. That info came on January 27, when the company announced the TriFold would be available in the US on January 30, for a whopping $2,900. Considering weve already seen the device in person at CES 2026 and people are most likely to have had a chance to look at, if not buy the foldable for themselves by the time Unpacked rolls around, we dont expect Samsung to spend too much time dwelling on it, if at all.

Galaxy S26 Edge

At just 5.8mm thick, the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge is one of the thinnest smartphones ever made. (Sam Rutherford for Engadget)

When the Galaxy S25 Edge was announced in 2025, it seemed possible that Samsung could replace its "Plus" smartphone with a unique form factor, just like Apple has opted to do with the iPhone Air. There have been conflicting reports on the matter, but it seems like Samsung will not be doing that with the Galaxy S26 Edge.

Instead, the smartphone will reportedly remain another option, much like foldables are for customers not swayed by Samsung's traditional smartphones. The Galaxy S26 Edge is rumored to feature a slightly different design than last year's model, according to Android Headlines, with a large rectangular camera plateau that's reminiscent of Google's Pixel phones, and the raised oval Apple used on the iPhone Air. Beyond that, the phone is also expected to be ever so slightly thinner at 5.5mm than the 5.8mm Galaxy S25 Edge.

Bixby and other AI features

Samsung already acts as a first place Google can show off new AI features for Android, but the company is reportedly exploring other AI partnerships, too. In June 2025, Bloomberg reported that Samsung was nearing a deal with Perplexity to integrate its AI-powered search engine across OneUI and its homegrown mobile browser. Perplexity already has a deal with Motorola on its Razr phones, so the only thing that would make a deal with Samsung unusual is the close relationship the company already has with Google.

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The company also accidentally announced a new version of its Bixby AI assistant, which will likely also be integrated with Perplexity and could serve as an alternative to Google Gemini. Both a new Bixby and a deeper integration with Perplexity seem like natural new software features to show off at Galaxy Unpacked.

Update, January 27 2026, 11:55AM ET: This story has been updated to reflect the latest news around the Galaxy Z TriFolds price and availability in the US.

Update, January 30 2026, 12:45PM ET: This story has been updated to include the latest leaks on the possible dates for Unpacked 2026.

Update, February 02 2026, 11:30AM ET: This story has been updated to include the latest leaks with full image renders of the S26 trio of devices.

Samsung is expected to unveil its latest flagship phone series in February, which is most likely going to include the Galaxy S26, Galaxy S26+ and Galaxy S26 Ultra. For now, you can check out our preview of what we expect Samsung to announce at Unpacked 2026 to get up to speed. We'll also have live coverage of the event, as well as news, analyses and in-person impressions once we get them, and you can follow along right on Engadget.
Meta has faced some serious questions about how it allows its underage users to interact with AI-powered chatbots. Most recently, internal communications obtained by the New Mexico Attorney General's Office revealed that although Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg was opposed to the chatbots having "explicit" conversations with minors, he also rejected the idea of placing parental controls on the feature.

Reuters reported that in an exchange between two unnamed Meta employees, one wrote that we "pushed hard for parental controls to turn GenAI off  but GenAI leadership pushed back stating Mark decision. In its statement to the publication, Meta accused the New Mexico Attorney General of "cherry picking documents to paint a flawed and inaccurate picture." New Mexico is suing Meta on charges that the company failed to stem the tide of damaging sexual material and sexual propositions delivered to children; the case is scheduled to go to trial in February.

Despite only being available for a brief time, Meta's chatbots have already accumulated quite a history of behavior that veers into offensive if not outright illegal. In April 2025, The Wall Street Journal released an investigation that found Meta's chatbots could engage in fantasy sex conversations with minors, or could be directed to mimic a minor and engage in sexual conversation. The report claimed that Zuckerberg had wanted looser guards implemented around Meta's chatbots, but a spokesperson denied that the company had overlooked protections for children and teens.

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Internal review documents revealed in August 2025 detailed several hypothetical situations of what chatbot behaviors would be permitted, and the lines between sensual and sexual seemed pretty hazy. The document also permitted the chatbots to argue racist concepts. At the time, a representative told Engadget that the offending passages were hypotheticals rather than actual policy, which doesn't really seem like much of an improvement, and that they were removed from the document.

Despite the multiple instances of questionable use of the chatbots, Meta only decided to suspend teen accounts' access to them last week. The company said it is temporarily removing access while it develops the parental controls that Zuckerberg had allegedly rejected using.

"Parents have long been able to see if their teens have been chatting with AIs on Instagram, and in October we announced our plans to go further, building new tools to give parents more control over their teens experiences with AI characters," a representative from Meta said. "Last week we once again reinforced our commitment to delivering on our promise of parental controls for AI, pausing teen access to AI characters completely until the updated version is ready."

New Mexico filed this lawsuit against Meta in December 2023 on claims that the company's platforms failed to protect minors from harassment by adults. Internal documents revealed early on in that complaint revealed that 100,000 child users were harassed daily on Meta's services.

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Update, January 27, 2025, 6:52PM ET: Added statement from Meta spokesperson.

Update, January 27, 2025, 6:15PM ET: Corrected misstated timeline of the New Mexico lawsuit, which was filed in December 2023, not December 2024.
TikTok has reached a settlement in a closely-watched lawsuit over social media addiction, narrowly avoiding a trial that's scheduled to begin jury selection Tuesday. Terms of the deal, which was reported by The New York Times, weren't disclosed.

TikTok's settlement comes about one week after Snap reached a settlement in the same case. The trial is expected to move forward in Los Angeles with Meta and YouTube as the only defendants. Mark Lanier, a lawyer for the plaintiff, said in a statement to NYT that they were "pleased" with the settlement and that it was "a good resolution." TikTok didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.

The trial stems from a 2023 lawsuit brought by a California woman known in court documents as "K.G.M." She sued Meta, Snap, TikTok and YouTube and alleged that their platforms were addictive and had harmed her as a child. The judge in the case previously ordered the companies' executives, including Mark Zuckerberg and Adam Mosseri, to testify. YouTube's top exec, Neal Mohan, is also likely to testify, according to The New York Times.

The lawsuit is the first among several high-profile cases against social media companies to go to trial this year. Meta is expected to head to court in New Mexico in early February in a case brought by the state's attorney general, who has alleged that Facebook and Instagram have facilitated harm to children. TikTok and Snap are collectively facing more than a dozen other trials in California courts this year.


Nintendo and Illumination announced during a Jan. 25 Nintendo Direct presentation that "The Super Mario Galaxy Movie" will now premiere on April 1, 2026, in the United States, moving up from its original April 3 release date.

The new release date applies to the US and many other major markets worldwide, including the United Kingdom and Europe. The film's Japanese release remains scheduled for April 24, 2026, with some territories receiving the movie throughout April. The date change means fans will be able to watch the highly anticipated animated sequel two days earlier than expected.

The announcement came alongside a new trailer that revealed the first official look at several beloved characters, including Yoshi, Birdo, Mouser, Lakitu, Baby Mario, and Baby Luigi. The two-minute trailer showed Mario and Luigi arriving to investigate a "troubled pipe," giving audiences their first glimpse of these fan-favorite additions to the film, according to Eurogamer.

Illumination CEO and producer Chris Meledandri provided a production update during the Nintendo Direct, confirming that animation has been fully completed on the project. The movie is currently in post-production, with teams focusing on sound design and music. Composer Brian Tyler is working on the film's score, which will feature themes from the Super Mario Galaxy video games performed by a 70-piece orchestra.

The film follows the massive success of "The Super Mario Bros. Movie," which premiered in April 2023 and earned over $1.36 billion worldwide. The original movie set the record for the biggest opening for an animated film and became the fifth highest-grossing animated movie of all time, Variety reported.

"The Super Mario Galaxy Movie" takes its name from Nintendo's popular 2007 Wii video game and will send Mario and Luigi on an adventure into outer space to face Bowser's son, Bowser Jr.. The film brings back returning cast members Chris Pratt as Mario, Anya Taylor-Joy as Princess Peach, Charlie Day as Luigi, Jack Black as Bowser, Keegan-Michael Key as Toad, and Kevin Michael Richardson.

New additions to the cast include Benny Safdie voicing Bowser Jr. and Brie Larson voicing Rosalina. Directors Aaron Horvath and Michael Jelenic return from the first film, along with screenwriter Matthew Fogel. The movie will be released in RealD 3D and IMAX formats in theaters worldwide, as per Game Rant.
Federal authorities say Chicago rapper Lil Durk put a $1 million bounty on Quando Rondo, which led to the killing of Rondo's friend Lul Pab during a Los Angeles shooting in 2022. This is just the latest twist in a feud that's been simmering since King Von was killed in Atlanta back in 2020.

Prosecutors are calling this a straightforward murder-for-hire. They claim Lil Durk told his Only The Family (OTF) crew that anyone who took out Quando Rondo would be "made straight"basically, paid off. One witness told investigators that everyone in the group understood this as a real price on Rondo's head.

AllHipHop reports that prosecutors believe OTF member Marcus "Muwop" Wilson, along with someone else, lined up shooters for Durk. They say Muwop promised the million-dollar reward in Durk's name. The plan? Head to LA and kill Quando Rondo.

As reported by Fox 11, on August 18, 2022, three guys in a white sedan pulled up in Beverly Grove and opened fire on a black Cadillac Escalade, thinking Rondo was inside. They missed him, but Lul Pab got hit and later died at the hospital. A video of Rondo screaming as his friend's body was pulled from the car went viral. LAPD called it a targeted, premeditated hit.

Prosecutors also say Durk rewarded the shooters with jewelry, custom grills, spots in OTF music videos, and even shout-outs in songs after Lul Pab's death. "The rewards offered real money and street credibility inside Durk's camp," the government noted, arguing that these perks constitute "anything of value" under federal law.

Lil Durk's lawyers want more details about the case. They've asked prosecutors to explain exactly how they plan to prove their story in court, but the government says the charges and evidence already lay that out.

Durk has pleaded not guilty and is still presumed innocent. His trial was supposed to start in January 2026, but now it's been pushed to late April 2026 so his co-defendants have more time to get ready.

The case is still unfolding, and with so much media attention, prosecutors keep coming back to the same point: the alleged bounty, the recruitment, and the rewards after the shooting are at the heart of what they're arguing in court.

Originally published on Music Times
At the Sundance Film Festival over the weekend, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle surprisingly showed up and went to the premiere of their latest Archewell Productions documentary, "Cookie Queens, " although the movie did not attract as large an audience as expected.

When the screening started at Eccles Theatre on Sunday morning, there were roughly 150 empty seats in the balcony and a few open chairs on the floor although the royal couple was there. According to Page Six, the high-paying pass holders, who are said to pay up to $6,900 for express badges, mainly did not attend the showing, so the spaces were given to a few wait-listed people.

The documentary "Cookie Queens, " which shows the journey of several ambitious Girl Scouts all over the USA campaigning to sell the maximum number of cookie boxes, was greeted very positively by the viewers. The movie was also premiered for the second time the previous night in Salt Lake City, where Harry and Markle arrived unannounced.

Meghan Markle Addresses Early Morning Audience

In an unusual move for an executive producer at Sundance, Markle, 44, addressed the audience before the film started. She noted the early hour and joked about potential Saturday night hangovers, saying, per THR, "Thank you so much for being here bright and early. I know some of you probably had late nights last night, so extra thanks for the effort."

Before the lights dimmed, Harry, 41, greeted and hugged members of the crew and festival staff. "My husband and I and Archewell Productions, we are so proud and privileged to be able to support and uplift 'Cookie Queens,'" Markle added.

While their presence brought media attention, the screening was far from sold out. This contrasts sharply with other highly anticipated Sundance titles such as Olivia Wilde's "The Invite" and horror movie "Buddy," which saw crowds turned away due to full houses.

Read more: Prince Harry Tearfully Defends Meghan Markle During Testimony Against Daily Mail Publisher

Netflix Deal Pressures and Production Setbacks

The Sussexes' production company has faced challenges in recent months, particularly with their Netflix projects. The lifestyle series "With Love, Meghan" is reportedly not returning for a third season.

Royal author Duncan Larcombe told The Mirror that the couple has "sold themselves out" with their Netflix deal, which was re-signed in a reduced "first-look" format in 2025.

He explained, "Effectively, they've sold themselves out, but they've run out of truth bombs. If they're not making headlines and, more importantly, if viewers are turning off in their droves, then companies like Netflix are ruthless and they're not going to carry them just because they're the Duke and Duchess of Sussex."

Larcombe added that commercial struggles may be motivating Harry to reconnect with his family. "Harry needs to reconcile with family as well because that's where their Netflix deal comes from - it's their access to the Royal Family," he said.

Insiders confirmed that while discussions about holiday specials may be ongoing, the "With Love, Meghan" series will not continue. One source told The Mirror, "It is not returning as a series. There have been conversations about holiday specials, but there's nothing in the works yet."

Larcombe also pointed out that many projects announced by the couple since leaving the UK "have hit the ground and been a success is actually quite small. They've had quite a few failures."
Former President Barack Obama has spoken out about the killing of Alex Pretti, urging accountability after a federal agent shot and killed Pretti on Saturday.

The incident sparked anger across the country after videos appeared to contradict the initial account given by the Trump administration.

In a statement posted on X, Obama called the shooting a "heartbreaking tragedy" and said it should serve as a "wake-up call to every American, regardless of party."

He warned that core national values are being tested and said the situation in Minnesota demands serious attention. Michelle Obama joined him in signing the message, adding weight to the call for action.

According to Yahoo, Obama acknowledged that federal law enforcement and immigration agents face difficult and dangerous jobs.

Still, he stressed that Americans expect those duties to be carried out in a lawful and responsible way.

"Americans expect them to carry out their duties in a lawful, accountable way, and to work with, rather than against, state and local officials to ensure public safety," Obama wrote.

He added that what has been seen so far in Minnesota does not meet that standard.

"That's not what we're seeing in Minnesota," Obama said, pointing to the growing concern after videos of the incident spread online and raised questions about how the shooting unfolded.

Barack Obama Warns That Alex Pretti's Killing Is A "Wake-Up Call," While Donald Trump Decries Attempt To Halt White House Ballroom Construction https://t.co/COY7TV8Tmt  Deadline (@DEADLINE) January 25, 2026

Donald Trump Slams Lawsuit Over White House Ballroom

The killing of Pretti dominated news coverage on Sunday, with public outrage growing as more details emerged.

While the story continued to draw national focus, President Donald Trump did not directly address the shooting during his Sunday morning posts.

Instead, he shared a lengthy message warning about a possible halt to construction of a new White House ballroom.

Trump said a work stoppage would be "devastating" and criticized a lawsuit brought by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, Deadline reported.

The group is challenging his order to tear down parts of the East Wing. "IT IS TOO LATE!" Trump wrote, calling the lawsuit baseless and saying the project was a "great, big, beautiful gift" to the nation.

Earlier, Trump had said the ballroom would not interfere with the existing White House. However, the East Wing was demolished last fall, surprising many preservation groups.

Later in the day, Trump did comment on the situation in Minnesota. He accused the state of a "Criminal COVER UP" and blamed Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, and Democrats.

Trump claimed they were "inciting Insurrection" through what he called dangerous rhetoric.
Although Victoria and David Beckham had already appeared in public since the message against them posted by their eldest son Brooklyn on Instagram, their strongest response came when they walked the runway in Paris with their younger children (including their girlfriends) while paparazzi provocatively shouted at them: "And Brooklyn?"

The family is in the French capital to participate in Paris Fashion Week, where Victoria received the coveted honor of Chevalier de l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres. Romeo had already been part of the modeling team for the highly anticipated show by Latin designer Willy Chavarria over the weekend. However, Monday, January 26th, marked the triumphant arrival of David and Victoria Beckham, at their first event together since their eldest son's devastating messages about the family's rift following the alleged abuse of his wife, Nicola Peltz.

Although the Beckhams present in Paristhe parents and Romeo, Cruz, and Harperdidn't say a word, the presence of their girlfriends seemed to send a clear message: the problem isn't the daughters-in-law, it's you, Nicola. As they left the hotel, the parade unfolded in this order: first David and Victoria with Harper, then Cruz with his girlfriend Jackie Apostel, and finally Romeo with Kim Turnball, who, incidentally, was also Beckham's girlfriend.

beckham family in paris pic.twitter.com/36qMdkeeWv  avs (@favspopculture) January 26, 2026

victoria, david, harper, cruz, jackie apostel, kim turnball and romeo beckham in paris pic.twitter.com/rN2ibpdTBd  avs (@favspopculture) January 26, 2026

The highly public appearance was a masterstroke in the public relations war being waged by this media-savvy family. Yes, it is a war.

After Brooklyn's Instagram post last week, in which he accused his mother of inappropriate dancing at the wedding, David appeared at the prestigious Davos World Economic Forum speaking about how "boys make mistakes" in the context of social media. Victoria's music returned to number one in the UK, Cruz announced a tour, and Romeo stepped up his modeling career.

In fact, amid rumors of at least one Spice Girls concert, Victoria met with the group members over the weekend (Mel B. was absent) and they posed for a photo that has already gone viral. It seems to say, things aren't just going well here, they're going great.

Brooklyn and Nicola, meanwhile, were photographed walking alone on a beach in California, where they live, under the message "more in love than ever".

#BrooklynBeckham and #NicolaPeltz called Backgrid snd invited them for a walk on the beach. After Markle-ing the Beckham family they mustve decided to keep following the #HarryandMeghan playbook for some Prove It Pictures. See how happy and unbothered we are? We are SO in love! pic.twitter.com/RNH6m8h1dr  Princess CarParkle  (@unreMARKLEble) January 23, 2026

On social media, as seems to be the case with almost everything that happens in the world, opinions are divided about who the villains are in this family crisis, which serves as a mirror to what happens in many families around the world: daughters-in-law and mothers-in-law who can't stand each other. In this case, the big difference is that millions of dollars are involved.

The public will most likely never find out what happened to spark this war, but for now there is no doubt that the dispute helps to distract, and that is already appreciated.
Actress Sydney Sweeney could face criminal trespassing and vandalism charges after climbing the Hollywood Sign and hanging bras on the landmark to promote her upcoming lingerie line, which is backed by billionaire Jeff Bezos.

The 28-year-old "Euphoria" star was filmed late at night scaling the iconic "H" letter while dressed in black cargo pants, a black hoodie, and a black hat. She hung a clothesline of bras across the sign while a production crew captured the stunt on video. The publicity move was designed to generate buzz for her new lingerie brand ahead of its launch.

Sweeney and her team obtained a permit from FilmLA to film near the Hollywood Sign, but they did not secure permission to climb or physically touch the landmark. The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, which owns the intellectual property rights to the sign's image, confirmed that no authorization was granted for the stunt, according to People.

"There was no permission granted to do this, as is required," Steve Nissen, president and CEO of the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, said in a statement.

According to reports, Sweeney could face criminal trespassing and vandalism charges for the unauthorized stunt. However, the Los Angeles Police Department told media outlets that there is currently no active investigation and stated "no crime was committed." When asked whether the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce would file a police report, representatives did not respond, the Economic Times reported.

The lingerie line has received backing from private equity firm Coatue, whose partner Ben Schwerin is associated with the venture. Jeff Bezos and Michael Dell provided $1 billion to Coatue's Innovation Fund, which connects the Amazon founder to Sweeney's business endeavor.

Sources told Us Weekly last year that the lingerie project has been "a huge project for her and something she's been working on for the last year." Sweeney attended Bezos and Lauren Sanchez's wedding in Venice, Italy, last June, reportedly because of the business connection.

The bras were removed after filming, though four or five were reportedly left behind. Representatives for Sweeney and the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce have not yet commented on the incident, as per Yahoo News.
Kanye West issued a public apology for years of anti-Semitic remarks and controversial behavior in a full-page advertisement published in the Wall Street Journal on Monday, January 26, 2026.

The rapper, now known as Ye, addressed his letter "To Those I've Hurt" and attributed his offensive actions to bipolar disorder and an undiagnosed brain injury from a 2002 car crash that fractured his jaw. West stated that the frontal lobe injury went unnoticed until 2023, when he was properly diagnosed.

"I lost touch with reality," West wrote in the 750-word apology paid for by his Yeezy brand. "I said and did things I deeply regret. Some of the people I love the most, I treated the worst," according to Perez Hilton.

West acknowledged that during his mental health struggles, he "gravitated toward the most destructive symbol I could find, the swastika, and even sold T-shirts bearing it." The swastika merchandise was controversially advertised during a 2025 Super Bowl commercial, drawing widespread condemnation from Jewish organizations.

"I regret and am deeply mortified by my actions in that state, and am committed to accountability, treatment, and meaningful change," West stated. "It does not excuse what I did, though. I am not a Nazi or an antisemite. I love Jewish people."

The 48-year-old artist revealed he experienced a four-month manic episode of "psychotic, paranoid, and impulsive behavior" in early 2025 that "destroyed my life." West said he hit "rock bottom a few months ago" and credited his wife, Bianca Censori, with encouraging him to finally seek help, the Rolling Stone reported.

West also apologized directly to the Black community, stating, "The Black community is, unquestionably, the foundation of who I am. I am so sorry to have let you down. I love us."

The apology comes as West prepares to release his new album "Bully" on January 30, 2026. West shares four childrenNorth, Saint, Chicago, and Psalmwith his ex-wife Kim Kardashian, with whom he finalized his divorce in 2022.

"I'm not asking for sympathy, or a free pass, though I aspire to earn your forgiveness," West concluded. "I write today simply to ask for your patience and understanding as I find my way home."

This marks not West's first apology for anti-Semitic comments, as he previously issued a Hebrew-language apology on Instagram in 2023. However, he later backtracked and released controversial content, including a song titled "Heil Hitle,r" in May 2025, as per the Boston Globe.
Prince Harry's transition from royal duties to a life in Hollywood has been a dicey one, throwing up a fair few twists and turns that have left many wondering whether the Duke of Sussex's new venture is as good as he first believed it would be.

The former royal went from giving an emotional testimony in court in London about his long- running fight over privacy issues on Wednesday to being at the Sundance Film Festival with wife Meghan Markle just a few days later.

"For Harry to go from the hearing  and pleading for privacy  to then go to Sundance just days after is nuts," a Hollywood source told Page Six, referencing his legal fight against a British newspaper over Markle's time in England, which he called "absolute misery."

Since their move to Montecito, California, the couples multi-million deals with Netflix, Spotify, and other Hollywood partners have mostly come to nothing, so the Sussexes have been left without regular revenue streams.

At the same time, their Archewell Foundation has faced some difficulties in retaining staff and raising funds, which has resulted in a reorganization into Archewell Philanthropies.

Hollywood Success or Mirage?

Although Harry and Markle have attempted to balance charitable work with commercial ventures, the couple has faced setbacks. Their Netflix lifestyle show "With Love, Meghan" ended after two seasons, and Meghan's Spotify podcast Archetypes was axed in 2023 after just 12 episodes.

A source close to the couple told Page Six, "Harry's not really doing anything in America. It seems he is still very wrapped up in the past. There have been rumors that Harry is starting a business, but he and Meghan don't have the best track record."

Despite a reported $27 million in earnings from his 2023 memoir Spare, the Sussexes' California lifestyle remains costly. Security alone reportedly runs $2 million to $3 million annually, while their $10 million Montecito mansion carries additional staffing expenses.

Several projects are rumored to be in the works, such as a Netflix documentary in Africa and the "Polo" show.

However, the rumored projects have either not been launched at all, or at most, have lasted only one season. Yet, a film adaptation of Jasmine Guillory's The Wedding Date is still in the making.

Back home, Harry most of the time is occupied with Prince Archie, 6, and Princess Lilibet, 4.

The family also engages in community work, including supporting the local One805 charity, where Harry has appeared at fundraisers and spoken about mental health and veteran issues.

Read more: Prince Harry Tearfully Defends Meghan Markle During Testimony Against Daily Mail Publisher

Strained Royal Ties and Faux Tours

Harry's separation from the UK monarchy continues to complicate his public profile. Estranged from older brother Prince William and seeing King Charles only sporadically, Harry and Markle have undertaken trips abroad that critics call "faux royal tours."

Insider accounts suggest these trips, including visits to Colombia, Nigeria, and a planned return to Australia, are part of a continued reliance on royal branding.

"The real issue is how it all looks. Any visit would almost certainly be staged and received with the trappings of officialdom, regardless of the reality of Harry and Meghan's status," one source said, according to the UK Express.

Tensions within the monarchy have also intensified. Prince William, now actively shaping the royal agenda, has reportedly taken a tougher stance on the Sussexes' actions, including their international visits and public use of the Sussex titles.

Sources say William's strategy has reinforced the divide between the brothers, limiting Harry's influence within royal circles.
Bella Hadid and professional cowboy Adan Banuelos have reportedly ended their relationship after two years together.

Multiple outlets confirmed the split, with sources saying the breakup happened quietly.

Hadid, 29, is said to be focusing on work and close friends as she processes the end of what was described as a serious relationship. Representatives for Hadid have not commented publicly.

According to a source, Hadid is "doing her best to stay positive and distract herself" following the breakup.

The insider added that she has been keeping busy and leaning on her inner circle for support.

The couple had been together since October 2023 and were most recently seen together in December 2024 at a Dallas event for Hadid's fragrance brand, Orebella.

Hadid and Banuelos, 36, were first linked shortly after her split from art director Marc Kalman.

According to ENews, their romance became public when they were spotted holding hands and kissing during an outing in Fort Worth, Texas.

Soon after, Hadid made the relationship Instagram official in February 2024 with photos from her birthday celebration, including a picture of the pair wearing matching cowboy hats and a playful moment leaning in for a kiss.

The couple largely kept their relationship private but shared a few public milestones. In December 2024, they made a surprise appearance together on an episode of "Yellowstone."

Hadid played the girlfriend of a character portrayed by series creator Taylor Sheridan, while Banuelos appeared alongside her in a scene that showed the pair playing strip poker.

Bella Hadid and Adan Banuelos have broken up after two years. pic.twitter.com/eIQIYmQcqf   (@metgalacrave) January 26, 2026

Adan Banuelos Shared Rare PDA Post

Banuelos also posted about Hadid on social media in October, marking both their anniversary and her birthday.

Alongside affectionate photos, he wrote that October had become special to him, adding that their relationship felt "pure and beautiful." The message offered one of the rare looks into their bond, People reported.

In interviews during their relationship, Hadid spoke openly about her future goals. She shared that starting a family had become a major priority. "Family is on my mind," she told British Vogue, adding, "I can't wait to be a mom."

She also explained that marriage was less important to her than motherhood, saying that becoming a mother felt like something meant just for her.

Hadid previously explained how she met Banuelos after moving to Texas while dealing with chronic illness and personal struggles.

She recalled that he did not recognize her fame at first, which she described as "a breath of fresh air."
Kim Kardashian is looking back on her early fame days and admitting she once used Britney Spears to get the attention of paparazzi before she was a household name.

During a recent appearance on her sister's podcast, "Khloe in Wonder Land," Kardashian openly shared how badly she wanted to be famous in the early 2000s.

"Fame is all I wanted," she said. "I lived for it." The SKIMS founder explained that long before reality TV success, she and her close friend Jonathan Cheban were actively trying to get noticed.

Kardashian recalled eating dinner in New York City when Cheban learned that pop star Britney Spears was staying at a nearby hotel.

At the time, Spears was one of the most photographed celebrities in the world. According to PageSix, Kardashian said that while others at dinner had luxury cars, she and Cheban "could hardly even get a cab."

One man at the table offered them a ride in his Rolls-Royce Phantom. Kardashian said Cheban suggested they sit in the back seat so it would look like they were being driven by a professional driver.

The plan, she admitted, was to arrive at Spears' hotel where paparazzi were already waiting.

When they pulled up, Kardashian said photographers immediately noticed them. "They're like, 'Kim, Kim, are you here to visit Britney?'" she recalled. Cheban told her to keep her head down and stay quiet as they walked inside.

Kim Kardashian once scammed paps with fake Britney Spears visit in thirsty attempt to become famous https://t.co/miEMBo4mBm pic.twitter.com/hreKTBTA0G  Page Six (@PageSix) January 26, 2026

Kim Kardashian Hid in Hotel Phone Booth

Once inside the hotel, Kardashian said they panicked. They did not know anyone there and were unsure where to go.

To avoid being questioned further, the pair hid in a phone booth in the lobby for about 20 minutes. Eventually, they decided to leave.

When they walked back out, the paparazzi were still waiting. Kardashian remembered them shouting, "Kim, how was Britney?" even though she had never seen Spears that night, DailyMail reported.

She said they ignored the questions and quietly left in a cab, explaining that the Rolls-Royce driver had already dropped them off.

Looking back, Kardashian said the plan worked better than expected. Photos of her appeared widely, and she believed it helped boost her visibility at the time. "It was on every cover, and we thought we were killing it," she said.

Kardashian and Spears first met in the early 2000s through mutual friend Paris Hilton and have remained friendly over the years.
A California judge has brought back a sexual assault lawsuit against Marilyn Manson after deciding that a new state law allows the case to move forward.

The ruling gives former assistant Ashley Walters another chance to pursue her claims against the rock musician, whose real name is Brian Warner.

At a hearing on Monday, Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Steve Cochran reversed his own earlier decision to dismiss the case.

After reviewing the new law, Assembly Bill 250, the judge said it applies to Walters' lawsuit and revives her claims, Yahoo reported.

"I looked at this closely," Cochran said. "I do think the statute revives the claim. You're [heading toward trial] all over again."

He canceled his Dec. 16 dismissal and allowed Walters to re-file her complaint. A follow-up hearing is scheduled for March 27.

AB 250, signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom in October, creates a two-year window for adult survivors of sexual assault to file civil lawsuits that were previously blocked by time limits.

Judge Cochran ruled that Walters can use this law to move past the statute of limitations that had stopped her case before.

A judge reopened Ashley Walters lawsuit against Marilyn Manson in court today, citing a new California "look back" law that revives her claims. pic.twitter.com/4WnIYqmPd2  The Marilyn Manson Cases (@TheMansonCases) January 26, 2026

Marilyn Manson Lawyer Denies Assault Claims

According to RollingStone, Manson's attorney, Howard King, said the musician plans to appeal.

In a statement, King said Walters was only allowed to pursue a narrow claim and added, "The undeniable fact is that Mr. Warner never committed any sexual assault."

Walters first sued Warner in 2021. She alleges that in 2010, after he contacted her online to praise her photography, he invited her to his home studio.

According to her lawsuit, he pushed her onto a bed, pinned her arms, tried to kiss her, bit her ear, and forced her hand into his underwear. She says she broke free and left.

The lawsuit also claims that after the incident, Walters later worked as Warner's assistant and experienced ongoing abuse.

She alleges he whipped her, threw objects at her, forced her to stand for long periods, and shoved her into a wall during angry outbursts.

Walters' attorney, Kate McFarlane, argued that the allegations meet California's definition of sexual battery and clearly fall under AB 250. "The law is very clearly in our favor," she said after the hearing.

Judge Cochran said Warner can file a new motion to challenge the case under the new law, meaning the lawsuit will return to an earlier stage instead of heading straight to trial.

Originally published on Music Times
(Informacion remitida por la empresa firmante)

Launch Cursor Center of Excellence for greenfield and brownfield engineering of complex enterprise systems with speed, consistency, and scale

BENGALURU, India, Jan. 27, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Infosys (NSE: INFY) (BSE: INFY) (NYSE: INFY), a global leader in next-generation digital services and consulting, today announced a strategic collaboration with Cursor, a leading AI-powered development platform, to help enterprises worldwide accelerate their AI value journey. As part of this collaboration, the companies will set up a Center of Excellence (CoE) to accelerate enterprise adoption of software engineering agents in the development of AI native products. The CoE will enable Infosys software engineers to leverage Cursor's enterprise-grade, AI-assisted development capabilities across greenfield and brownfield opportunities. By integrating Cursor with Infosys Topaz Fabric, a purpose-built agentic services suite - a multi-layer AI fabric that unifies infrastructure, models, data, applications, and workflows into a composable, agent-ready ecosystem, Infosys will help clients to build, modernize, and scale enterprise systems with increased velocity and higher quality.

Building on Infosys' deep engineering excellence, the CoE will feature an AI Engineering Experience Zone where clients can firsthand experience Infosys Topaz Fabric engineering capabilities  bringing together the power of cloud, data, and AI to deliver cognitive solutions and intuitive experiences that drive business growth. The CoE will also serve as a hub for scaling Cursor's AI software development capabilities across Infosys' global developer workforce. This will equip engineers with next-generation AI coding tools and agentic platforms to deliver faster development cycles, better code quality, and improved outcomes for clients.

Trusted by 64 percent of the Fortune 1000, Cursor's platform combines frontier coding models with a secure, enterprise-grade Integrated Development Environment (IDE) to enable multi-agent development, deep codebase understanding, automated test generation, and accelerated refactoring. Enterprises using Cursor have reported a 39 percent increase in shipped pull requests on average, alongside faster development cycles, improved test coverage, and significantly reduced effort for legacy refactoring.

Michael Truell, CEO and Co-Founder, Cursor, said, "Infosys' commitment to building an AI-first organization makes them a natural collaborator for Cursor. Their global scale, delivery rigor, and deep industry expertise create an ideal environment to demonstrate what AI software engineering tools can achieve in the enterprise. We are excited to collaborate with Infosys as they enable over 100,000 software engineers at Infosys with agentic coding platforms and we look forward to helping their teams deliver breakthrough outcomes for customers worldwide."

Salil Parekh, Chief Executive Officer & Managing Director, Infosys, said, "Our strategic collaboration with Cursor is aimed at redefining how global enterprises build and scale AI-powered digital solutions, helping transform ideas into measurable impact. Establishing this Center of Excellence will be instrumental in equipping both Infosys developers and clients with robust, enterprise-grade tools. These resources are intended to facilitate major modernization efforts, allowing organizations to update their systems and processes efficiently and effectively. Additionally, the collaboration is strengthened by Infosys Topaz Fabric, which will accelerate modernization and foster innovation, empowering clients to reach their strategic goals."

About Infosys

Infosys is a global leader in next-generation digital services and consulting. Over 330,000 of our people work to amplify human potential and create the next opportunity for people, businesses and communities. We enable clients in 63 countries to navigate their digital transformation. With over four decades of experience in managing the systems and workings of global enterprises, we expertly steer clients, as they navigate their digital transformation powered by cloud and AI. We enable them with an AI-first core, empower the business with agile digital at scale and drive continuous improvement with always-on learning through the transfer of digital skills, expertise, and ideas from our innovation ecosystem. We are deeply committed to being a well-governed, environmentally sustainable organization where diverse talent thrives in an inclusive workplace.

Visit https://www.infosys.com to see how Infosys (NSE, BSE, NYSE: INFY) can help your enterprise navigate your next.

Safe Harbor

Certain statements in this release concerning our future growth prospects, or our future financial or operating performance, are forward-looking statements intended to qualify for the 'safe harbor' under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, which involve a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results or outcomes to differ materially from those in such forward-looking statements. The risks and uncertainties relating to these statements include, but are not limited to, risks and uncertainties regarding the execution of our business strategy, increased competition for talent, our ability to attract and retain personnel, increase in wages, investments to reskill our employees, our ability to effectively implement a hybrid work model, economic uncertainties and geo-political situations, technological disruptions and innovations such as artificial intelligence ("AI"), generative AI, the complex and evolving regulatory landscape including immigration regulation changes, our ESG vision, our capital allocation policy and expectations concerning our market position, future operations, margins, profitability, liquidity, capital resources, our corporate actions including acquisitions, and cybersecurity matters. Important factors that may cause actual results or outcomes to differ from those implied by the forward-looking statements are discussed in more detail in our US Securities and Exchange Commission filings including our Annual Report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2025. These filings are available at www.sec.gov. Infosys may, from time to time, make additional written and oral forward-looking statements, including statements contained in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission and our reports to shareholders. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements that may be made from time to time by or on behalf of the Company unless it is required by law.

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UPDATE  Jan. 28  Addressing a crowd at a rally Jan. 27 in Clive, Iowa, President Trump was speaking to corn growers when he said he hadnt forgotten about them.

I promised E15 all year round if I get elected, he said. I am trusting Speaker Mike Johnson, whos great, and Leader John Thune, whos great  thats House and Senate  to find a deal that works.

Such a deal, the President said, would satisfy farmers, consumers and refiners alike.

And theyre working on it. Theyre very close to getting it done.

In a statement issued after he spoke, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins said Trump remains committed to signing a nationwide E-15 bill as soon as one reaches his desk.

There is no greater advocate for our nations corn and soybean growers than President Trump, she said, adding that such legislation for year-round E-15 would allow up to 2 billion more bushels of corn to be consumed domestically. The Trump Administration has proven it is the most pro-biofuels administration in our nations history, sending a clear market signal there is a growing need for American grown commodities for fuel use.

  

ORIGINAL  Jan. 27  SALEM, Ohio  A provision that would have allowed nationwide, year-round sales of ethanol-blended E15 gasoline was stripped from the latest federal funding bill in the U.S. House of Representatives, dealing a blow to corn growers who say they might unravel without the support from the measure.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has historically prohibited the sale of E15 biofuel from June 1 to Sept. 15 over concerns that its use during the summer driving season could lead to increased smog pollution. But the agency has made exceptions at the pump every year since 2018 via the issuance of emergency waivers, including as recently as last year when the EPA permitted year-round sales in eight Midwestern states, including Ohio. Industry advocates and farmers, meanwhile, have sought a permanent, legislative solution to settle the matter once and for all.

This time around, instead of setting a long-awaited E15 policy, Congress balked and announced the creation of a new Rural Domestic Energy Council, which will develop potential legislative proposals on E15 and other renewable fuels issues that could be considered for future advancement into law.

For farmers, it amounts to little more than kicking the can down the road. Some say it feels like playing a game they cant win after being dealt another lousy hand.

We are coming off a couple of tough years as corn growers in the state, said Tyler Drewes, a farmer in Wood County, Ohio, and president of the Ohio Corn & Wheat Growers Association, in an interview with Farm and Dairy. 2025 was hard up in my neck of the woods with drought conditions.

With low average yields and depressed prices cutting into his bottom line, Drewes had been counting on the inclusion of year-round E15 in the final Fiscal Year 2026 government funding package that seemed all but inevitable to pass this week with enough bipartisan support before a looming Jan. 30 deadline.

He believes the policy will help strengthen commodity prices and improve his chances of returning to profitability next year.

Its sudden ejection from the spending bill, despite months of legislative work and bipartisan cooperation to move such a policy across the finish line, has left him discouraged.

Without this E-15 getting passed and kind of getting taken away for the foreseeable future, it feels like it just makes us struggle that much harder. Really wondering if were going to be around and to be a sustainable farm in one to five years from now, he said.

Pressure mounts

As farmers continue to feel the strain of a market thats been operating inside a pressure cooker, some see Congresss recent inaction as a catalyst accelerating their trajectory toward insolvency. Eric Tipton, vice president of OCWGA and a Fayette County farmer, said that without a deal, corn growers are left to decide between bad choices or worse ones.

Farmers are starting to eat into some of their working capital and starting to rely heavily on lines of credit, and thats a really scary place to be, he said.

Passage of an E15 policy, Tipton said, could strengthen corn markets fast and stabilize vulnerable farm finances. Anything short of that, he added, is a nonstarter.

Failure would result in bankruptcies, Tipton said. We cannot survive on negative profit levels for much longer.

Ohio Corn & Wheat Executive Director Tadd Nicholson said the frustration among growers is compounded by the fact that year-round E15 enjoys broad support and carries no cost to taxpayers. A bipartisan group of Ohio lawmakers, including U.S. Reps. Shontel Brown, Mike Carey, Greg Landsman, Max Miller and Dave Taylor, publicly backed the measure, but it ultimately failed to survive negotiations led by House leadership. Nicholson lays blame at the feet of House Speaker Mike Johnson and other Congressional leaders.

Whats the problem? Why cant you fix this? Nicholson said, questioning why a policy supported by a broad coalition of farmers, ethanol producers, fuel retailers and much of the petroleum industry could not advance. It seems pretty easy. It doesnt cost a thing, and its a no-brainer.

Nicholson noted this marks the second time in two years the policy appeared poised for passage, only to be stripped out at the last moment. The whiplash has left growers, he said, feeling as though the issue has simply been sidelined once more at the behest of a few mid-sized oil refiners, some of which are foreign-owned and lobbied in opposition to year-round E15.

Why is it that our Republican leadership in the House and Senate would pick foreign-owned refiners over US farmers? Thats frustrating for us. Thats not something thats acceptable, not something were going to take laying down, he said.

Dire conditions

Most of Ohios ethanol capacity was built in the late 2000s after the federal Renewable Fuel Standard created stronger incentives for biofuel production. Ohio ethanol production jumped sharply after plants went online around 2008, and for a while, they never looked back. The states seven ethanol plants have a combined production capacity of about 770 million gallons per year. But today, many of those same plants are operating in a far more fragile farm economy, one that industry leaders warn is showing signs of deeper structural stress extending well beyond Ohio.

In a Jan. 21 statement, American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall pointed to new analysis showing that the economic crisis in farm country is likely to persist into 2026 without additional congressional action. He noted that lawmakers from both parties have acknowledged the need for more support, including expanded bridge assistance for farmers and approval of year-round E15, which he described as posing broad benefits. But neither priority made it into the Houses proposed funding package, a move Duvall said caught farm groups off guard after months of negotiations.

The target for months has been to include both priorities in the government funding package. So, it was a shock to see bill text proposed by the House that includes neither, he said in a statement.

The alarm bells are not limited to corn country. Soybean growers, many of whom operate alongside corn farmers in Ohio and across the Midwest, say they are staring down a similar cliff as they head into the 2026 planting season.

In a Jan. 21 statement, the American Soybean Association underscored what it called dire economic conditions for soybean farmers  according to ASA calculations, growers are still facing 64% in uncovered losses, leaving many operations exposed as they plan for another season  and urged Congress to step in with additional support while the industry waits for long-promised biofuel policy action to materialize.

On Jan. 24, key Democratic support for funding the government, which would have set aside $64.4 billion for the Department of Homeland Security, including $10 billion for Immigration and Customs Enforcement, eroded following the second killing of a Minneapolis resident by ICE officers there.

The development raised the prospect of a partial shutdown if lawmakers fail to reach an agreement before the end of the month, according to the New York Times. For farmers heading into the 2026 growing season with little financial cushion left, another pause in USDA payments, stalled loan approvals, frozen conservation or disaster assistance program payouts and discontinued federal support could deepen their ongoing strain and turn a difficult year into an unimaginable one.

There will be individuals and families who cant weather this storm because its been going on for so long, Drewes said.
Nearly 59 million in Countryside Stewardship funding has been secured after almost 80% of farmers offered an extension chose to continue with Mid Tier agreements for a further year.

The Rural Payments Agency (RPA) said today (27 January) close to four in five eligible farmers accepted the offer, allowing existing agreements to roll over on current terms.

More than 4,000 farmers took up the extension, providing continuity for environmental management work already under way on their farms.

The Countryside Stewardship Mid Tier scheme supports farmers and land managers to deliver environmental outcomes alongside food production, with options including habitat creation, hedgerow management and measures to reduce water pollution.

According to the government, the scheme is intended to support farm resilience while contributing to targets on nature recovery, carbon storage and sustainable food production.

The extensions come as farmers continue to adjust to wider changes in agricultural support, including the phase-out of direct payments, with many businesses seeking greater short-term certainty over income streams.

Extending existing agreements allows participants to continue under familiar conditions while longer-term policy reforms are developed.

Farming Minister Dame Angela Eagle said: Were backing British farmers to create a productive and sustainable future for farming.

"Extending Countryside Stewardship Mid Tier agreements ensures farmers have the certainty and support they need to plan ahead.

She added: Its heartening to see most farmers offered an extension have accepted, allowing them to continue growing their businesses, getting more British food on our plates, and helping to restore nature.

Oliver Munn, chief executive of the Rural Payments Agency, said: We're pleased that so many farmers have chosen to continue their Countryside Stewardship agreements.

"These extensions provide stability and allow farmers to keep delivering important environmental outcomes on their land.

The agency confirmed that all accepted extensions have now been processed and that confirmation letters will be issued to customers.

Farmers with land included within a Site of Special Scientific Interest must confirm consent with Natural England by 19 February 2026 for their extension to take effect.
Empty supermarket shelves in Shetland after days of cancelled ferries have reignited warnings over the fragility of food supply chains and the risks of relying heavily on imports.

Orkney and Shetland MP Alistair Carmichael shared images from a Tesco store in Lerwick showing bare shelves, using the disruption to underline wider concerns about food security.

The photographs were posted after several days of bad weather led to repeated cancellations of NorthLink freight and passenger ferries between the mainland and the Northern Isles, leaving supermarkets without deliveries.

The images quickly circulated online, prompting comment from farming organisations and food producers.

Shetland Farm Dairies said the scenes showed why supporting local produce is so important, while the Shetland branch of the NFU also shared the post.

Carmichael said the shortages highlighted the risks of import dependence. Shetland is an island community (just as Britain is an island nation), he said.

Our supermarkets import nearly all our food from the UK mainland, he added, warning that supply chains could be exposed after only a short period of disruption.

After a few days of bad weather and no ferries this is what the shelves look like, he said.

While island communities were used to coping with disruption, Carmichael questioned whether the same resilience existed elsewhere. We manage because we are a resilient island community and we are accustomed to bad weather and its consequences, he said.

I am less sure that people in cities and towns would be so pragmatic.

Despite the shortages, fresh milk remained available thanks to local production. Fortunately we still have a couple of dairy farms hanging on in there, so we have fresh milk, Carmichael said.

He concluded: Food security is national security.
The High Court has granted an urgent hearing for a judicial review into the governments proposed inheritance tax relief reforms for farms and family businesses, due to roll out from April 2026.

The challenge concerns planned changes to agricultural property relief (APR) and business property relief (BPR), following amendments made to the controversial proposals in December 2025.

The case has been fast-tracked to a rare two-day rolled-up hearing, which will consider both permission to bring the claim and the claims substantive merits.

Collyer Bristow LLP, acting for Alvarez & Marsal LLP and the claimants Thomas Martin, George Martin, and Farmers and Businesses for Fair Tax Relief, confirmed the decision following judicial intervention.

The High Court accepted there had been regrettable administrative delays [by court staff] in dealing with this case at various stages.

Mrs Justice Lang DBE made an order on 19 January 2026 that the hearing should take place urgently, with dates expected to be set for February or March.

The court said the issues raised were important, time critical and required swift judicial consideration.

The challenge centres on the governments approach to consultation, which the claimants argue was limited to narrow technical aspects of the proposed reforms.

They say this was unlawful given the potential impact on farming families, business owners and the wider agricultural and commercial sectors, and that it fell short of established public law standards.

Any ruling in favour of the claimants would not overturn the tax changes themselves, but could influence how the government proceeds.

Given the constitutional significance of some of the issues raised, the Speaker of the House of Commons has been granted permission to intervene as an interested party.

His counsel will assist the court on matters including parliamentary privilege, the separation of powers between parliament and the courts, and the permitted use of parliamentary materials.

James Austen, partner at Collyer Bristow with conduct of the case, said: This ruling means that a High Court judge will rule on whether the government acted unlawfully in making changes to APR and BPR without first consulting with taxpayers in line with its then-policy.

He added: Rolled-up hearings of this type are very unusual, and for one to be listed so promptly is exceptionally rare and reflects the importance of this claim.

Marvin Rust, head of tax EMEA at Alvarez & Marsal, said: Limiting longstanding inheritance tax reliefs is an important legislative change, which was introduced without proper consultation, contrary to well-established principles.

Tom Martin, the lead claimant, said: This legal case matters to everyone affected by the proposed tax changes.

He added: By deciding not to have a proper consultation, the government improperly denied us the chance to influence the policy and its implementation.

The court has issued detailed case management directions to ensure the case proceeds without further delay.

A two-day High Court hearing is expected to take place in February or March.
Two men have been fined and banned for a decade after admitting hare coursing on farmland in Lincolnshire, as courts and police step up efforts to tackle rural and wildlife crime.

William Finney, 48, and Gavin Lee, 54, appeared at Lincoln Magistrates Court on Thursday 22 January, where they pleaded guilty to hunting a wild mammal with a dog, contrary to the Hunting Act 2004.

The offences related to an incident on 11 December 2024, when police received a report of suspected hare coursing in the Dog Dyke area.

Officers were alerted after a man was seen running a greyhound across farmland, while another individual was observed carrying a shotgun.

Police searches of the area led to the discovery of two dead hares. Both men claimed the animals had been shot, but x-rays and post-mortem examinations later showed this was not the case.

Finney and Lee returned to Lincoln Magistrates Court the following day for sentencing.

The court imposed separate financial penalties on the two men. Finney was fined a total of 3,885, a figure which included kennelling costs, while Lee received a total fine of 725.

Items used during the offending were also seized and ordered to be forfeited by the court. These included two mobile phones, a dog, a dog collar, two dog leads, a shotgun, a thermal imaging device and four shotgun cartridges.

Both men were also issued with Criminal Behaviour Orders lasting 10 years, placing strict conditions on their future activities and significantly limiting their involvement with dogs and hunting-related equipment.

Police warned that firearms and shotgun certificate holders involved in criminal activity can expect licences to be revoked, adding that officers will always seek to remove certificates where offences are proven.

Hare coursing is a persistent problem for rural communities, often linked to criminal damage, intimidation of landowners and wider organised criminal activity. Police forces across the region have identified it as a priority area for enforcement.

The sentencing comes amid increased police action against wildlife crime, with officers recently disrupting more than 50 suspected poachers and hare coursers during a major weekend operation in Cambridgeshire, involving the use of drones, air support and roadblocks

Police have said they will continue to use specialist resources and court orders to disrupt hare coursing, protect wildlife and reassure farming communities.
In This Article

Aizawl, Mizoram

Three Things Aizawl Is Famous For:

 Reiek Tlang : Just an hour from Aizawl , this mountain spot gives you 360 views of misty hills and valleys. You also cross cute little villages on the way. Try some rice beer from the stalls outside .

Just an hour from , this mountain spot gives you of misty hills and valleys. You also cross cute little villages on the way. Try some from the stalls outside Rihawl Skywalk : This glass bridge offers panoramic views of the entire city. The entry fee is 200 . You can also grab a quick bite at the Aizawl Peak Restaurant .

This glass bridge offers panoramic views of the entire city. . You can also grab a quick bite at the . Champhai Village: Visit this beautiful little village if you want deeper insights into Mizoram.

Bonus: the cafes have the best views!

Must-Tries In Aizawl:

Go cafe-hopping for cozy spaces, views, and great coffee.

for cozy spaces, views, and great coffee. Attend live music events . Music is a huge part of Mizo culture .

. Music is a huge part of . Try thrift shopping in local markets for jackets, boots, and rare finds.

Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh

Three Things Vijayawada Is Famous For:

Kanaka Durga Temple : Dedicated to Goddess Kanaka Durga , this significant temple located on Indrakeeladri hill is famous for its swayambhu (self-manifested) deity.

Dedicated to Goddess , this significant temple located on is famous for its (self-manifested) deity. Undavalli Caves: These ancient, monolithic rock-cut caves, famous for their Buddhist , Jain , and Hindu influences , host intricate stone carvings.

These ancient, monolithic rock-cut caves, famous for their , , and , host intricate stone carvings. Prakasam Barrage: This landmark bridge stretches 1223.5 metres across the Krishna River, and connects the Vijayawada and Guntur districts.

Must-Tries In Vijayawada:

Try a local meal to truly immerse yourself in Andhra cuisine .

to truly immerse yourself in . Buy a Mangalgiri sari when you visit the weaving workshops.

when you visit the weaving workshops. Visit the Guntur chilli market to buy from the source.

Kumbhalgarh, Rajasthan

Three Things Kumbhalgarh Is Famous For:

Kumbhalgarh Fort : With its 36-kilometre-long wall giving it the moniker  Great Wall of India , this fort in the Aravalli Hills is the birthplace of the legendary King Maharana Pratap of Mewar .

With its giving it the moniker  , this fort in the is the birthplace of the legendary King of . Kumbhalgarh Wildlife Sanctuary : This sanctuary surrounding the fort is home to leopards , wolves , sloth bears , nilgai , and numerous bird species; you can explore it via jeep , horse , and trekking safaris .

This sanctuary surrounding the fort is home to , , , , and numerous bird species; you can explore it via , , and . Kumbhalgarh Fort Light And Sound Show: This post-sunset spectacle brings history to life with narration, music, and dramatic lighting, detailing tales of kings, battles, and bravery for about 60 minutes. Carry a shawl; it gets chilly in the evening.

Must-Tries In Kumbhalgarh:

Dal baati churma

Spicy pyaaz kachori

Rajasthani thali

Seraj Valley, Himachal Pradesh

Seraj Valley Is Famous For:

Shikari Mata Temple : One has to climb 300 steps to reach this temple with no roof, nestled in the forest.

One has to climb to reach this temple with no roof, nestled in the forest. Gadagushaini : This idyllic mountain village is where time pauses and content creation takes a back seat. A place where you truly vacation: walking in the forest, sitting by the river for hours, and not documenting anything for social media.

This idyllic mountain village is where time pauses and content creation takes a back seat. A place where you truly vacation: walking in the forest, sitting by the river for hours, and not documenting anything for social media. Janjheli: This scenic town is ideal for travellers who want to slow down, journal, and go for long walks. I booked a homestay with a view of the farms and the mountains in the backdrop and lived the slow, mountain life of simplicity.

Must-Tries In Seraj Valley:

Try the quintessential rajma-chawal-kadhi meal : Pick an unpretentious dhaba in Gadagushaini , one that has locals gathered over endless cups of chai and charcha (conversation). For Rs 120 , you get an unlimited, sumptuous meal of rice, kadhi and local rajma , served with ghee and pickle. A meal to remember indeed.

: Pick an unpretentious in , one that has locals gathered over endless cups of and (conversation). For , you get an unlimited, sumptuous meal of rice, and local , served with ghee and pickle. A meal to remember indeed. Himachali Siddu : This most-misunderstood Himachali dish is NOT a bao or a momo . Siddu is a stuffed steamed delicacy with walnuts and spices, paired with local chutneys and dollops of ghee. It is best had at a local homestay.

This most-misunderstood Himachali dish is . is a stuffed steamed delicacy with walnuts and spices, paired with local chutneys and dollops of ghee. It is best had at a local homestay. Buransh chutney: This chutney made with the rhododendron flowers (fresh or dried) that grow in the forests of this valley is a seasonal staple during the flowering months of March and April.

Kolkata, West Bengal

Three Things Kolkata Is Famous For:

Victoria Memorial : Built between 1906 and 1921 , this large marble monument in the Maidan in Central Kolkata is dedicated to the memory of Queen Victoria , who was Empress of India from 1876 to 1901 .

Built between , this large marble monument in the in Central is dedicated to the memory of , who was Empress of India from . Howrah Bridge : This balanced steel bridge over the Hooghly River was commissioned in 1943 , and is an icon of the city.

This balanced steel bridge over the was commissioned in , and is an icon of the city. Rabindranath Tagore: This polymath with prodigious literary and artistic accomplishments is synonymous with Kolkata.

Must-Tries In Kolkata:

Lunch at Trincas: This restaurant has been a cultural institution on Park Street since 1927 . Theres live music daily in the evening.

This restaurant has been a cultural institution on since . Theres daily in the evening. Stroll down Park Street : This thoroughfare in downtown Kolkata is where the action is.

: This thoroughfare in downtown is where the action is. Shop at Byloom: This charming shop is known for saris, ethnic ensembles and textiles, as well as crafts and handmade jewellery.

If youre looking for, five Indian travel influencers reveal their real vacation destinations  from ato. These are places they go to for, andakaon Instagram,on YouTube) is aand. I take you to the craziest corners of the world and create real, raw, unfiltered content, she promises. Aizawl is her chosen holiday haven.is one of the, and Aizawl feels very different from most places in India. Life here is quiet and organised, without the usual rush and chaos. The streets are super clean, there is no honking, women run the show here, and people genuinely care about their surroundings and look after each other. Itsand thats why you dont deal withor. With 100% literacy and English widely spoken, getting around is super easy. The people are super friendly and! The air feels, the pace is, and everything feels just right. Mizoram might be small, but it stands out for how peaceful, respectful, and community-driven everyday life is, something many travellers dont even realise exists in India.is well connected by air, road, and rail. The nearest airport is, with regular flights from major Indian cities such as, and(most via Guwahati). You can also reach Mizoram by train up to Silchar (Assam), which is the closest major railway station, followed by a scenic six- to seven-hour drive to Aizawl. For road travel, state-run and private buses operate from Guwahati and Silchar, and self-drive road trips are also popular with those who enjoybecause the weather is, and. After the monsoon ends, the landscapes turnand, and the skies are clearer, making it perfect for sightseeing.is especially special because you can attend theandin. During this time, the valley comes alive with blooming cosmos flowers, cultural performances, local food, and, making it one of the most beautiful and vibrant times to experience Mizoram.Travel content creatoron Instagram) recommendsVijayawada reveals itself through. Anchored by the, the city balances, andwith natural beauty. History lives on at the, their rock-cut interiors echoing centuries past. In nearby, looms hum steadily as master weavers create, best bought straight from the source. The sensory crescendo peaks at the, where, andcollide. Add soulful temple rituals, bold, an unfiltered urban rhythm, andemerges as a destination for travellers who value.is easily accessible by air receives flights from major Indian cities  or by rail with trains coming into the well-connected Vijayawada Junction. Roads link the city smoothly to, and, making buses, taxis, or self-drive trips perfect for exploring the city and nearby gems such asand. The weather is pleasant and ideal for sightseeing, temple visits, river walks, and exploring markets. Summers (April to June) can get very hot, while the monsoon (July to September) brings heavy rains that might disrupt travel plans.Travel and lifestyle influenceron Instagram) travelled towith her family.inis aplace to travel to, very much a part of theexperience. The first thing youll notice is the. Apart from boasting athat has the worlds(after the Great Wall of China),is straight out of the history books against the dreamy backdrop of the. It also has aand the lush greenery, most helpful locals, fresh produce, and culinary delights make it a.: The nearest airport is in; it then takes aboutto reachby road. There is no railway station in, but buses operate from all major cities into: The winter months  offer pleasant weather.travel blogger and experiential trip curator (on Instagram) lovesThis is one of, and. This offbeat valley touches both theanddistricts of, and is a great option for those looking forand, away from the commercialisedand. Local interactions peak here as one blends in with the, staying with locals in their, and relishingthat cannot be found in plush resorts and hotels. This place is for those seeking, away from devices  a perfectfor those tired of doom scrolling.from is the nearest airport.is the nearest city,away. One can take buses or taxis fromtooris perfect as the weather is pleasant and dry. It is also the, so one can enjoy the flowering of fruit trees such as, and. It is also ideal forandFood and travel enthusiaston Instagram) returns tofor vacations.isnt just a city, its ansoaked in nostalgia and bursting with life. If youre cravingand plates of unforgettable food, Kolkata has your name written in its graffiti-stained alleys. Start with, where East Asian culture clings like the scent of soy and sesame in tucked-away kitchens. Walk through the citys old quarters with, the human encyclopaedia and founder of. From baked treats inand the hidden serenity of the, tos soulful Chinese lunch,impresses at every turn. End at, a, where rum balls and high tea feel like postcards from a bygone era.Fly intoor take a train intois resplendent aroundandAll content for information only.
On a mission to disrupt the skincare industry, Divya Malpani, Founder & CEO of Skinvest, is the visionary entrepreneur behind the brand. Born and raised in Maharashtra, Divya completed her high school education in Bangalore before pursuing higher education at Northeastern University in Boston, United States, where she pursued a Bachelors degree in Business Administration.





It was during her time at Boston when the idea for Skinvest was conceived. Surrounded by a diverse group of people with a range of skin shades and types, Divya observed that even though every type of skin requires special care, the beauty industry has long overlooked the needs of brown skin. Inspired by her experiences and driven by her passion for innovation, Divya seized the opportunity to address this unmet need and embarked on a journey to bridge that gap.















In February 2022, Skinvest officially made its debut, unveiling a curated selection of five groundbreaking products that quickly garnered acclaim from consumers and industry experts alike. From pigmentation to cellulite, dark circles to stretch marks, Skinvest offered solutions for a myriad of skincare concerns, all while prioritising the principles of responsible beauty. Two years since its launch, Skinvest continues to disrupt the skincare industry, launching a series of groundbreaking products aimed at addressing brown skin requirements.





Femina: Youve spoken about noticing how the same sunscreen behaved differently across skin tones  what exactly clicked for you in that moment, and when did it become a business idea rather than a personal observation?

Divya: What clicked for me was that it wasnt a one-off issue. It kept happening. I noticed how the same sunscreen that looked fine on lighter skin would leave a white cast, feel heavier, or behave differently on brown skin. At first, it felt like a personal frustration. But when I started speaking to friends, dermatologists, and consumers across India, I realised this was systemic. Thats when it shifted from why is this happening to me? to why is this happening to so many of us? That moment, when a shared problem became undeniable, is when Skinvest started forming as an idea.





Brown skin is overlooked is a powerful statement. What are 23 ways you feel the industry still gets Indian skin wrong, and how did you decide what Skinvest would do differently from day one?

Indian skin is often treated as an extension of global formulations rather than a category of its own. First, products are rarely tested on Indian skin, heat, humidity, and pollution. Second, concerns like body pigmentation, KP, stretch marks, or barrier damage are under-addressed or oversimplified (simply because caucasian skin people do not face these concerns as much). And third, theres a tendency to over-exfoliate and over-treat, which weakens the skin barrier.





From day one, Skinvest decided to reverse this. We focused on barrier health first, tested formulations for Indian weather and lifestyles, and built products for real concerns people live with quietly, and not just face-level trends.





You spent nearly two years on research before launch. What was the hardest part of staying committed to the long game when you werent getting public validation yet?





The hardest part was silence. When youre building quietly, theres no applause, no external reassurance. Youre constantly questioning whether youre being too slow or too cautious. What helped was grounding myself in data, consumer surveys, dermatologist conversations, and trials. Every insight reinforced that the problem was real. I reminded myself that I wasnt building for speed; I was building for longevity.











What challenges did you face being a young woman founder in beauty  credibility, funding, hiring, vendor negotiations, and what helped you push through those early prove it moments?

Credibility was the biggest challenge. Being young often meant being underestimated, especially in vendor negotiations and manufacturing discussions. I was only 20 when I started, and I was questioned more than my male counterparts, and sometimes spoken to rather than listened to. What helped was preparation. I walked into rooms knowing my formulations, my numbers, my consumer insights. Over time, consistency builds respect. You dont convince people with confidence alone, you convince them with clarity.





Skinvest bridges clinical and cool  how did you define that balance in practice, and where did you refuse to compromise?

For me, clinical and cool meant efficiency without intimidation. Clinically backed formulations that still feel approachable, aspirational, and emotionally comforting. The compromise line was always formulation integrity. We could simplify language, elevate packaging, and make the brand feel joyful. But we never diluted ingredient quality, percentages, or safety just to chase trends.





Youve talked about acne ointments that felt depressing. How did that personal experience shape the way you think about emotion in skincare while building the brand?

Acne treatments often made me feel like something was wrong with me. The packaging was clinical to the point of being joyless, almost punitive. That experience taught me how deeply emotional skincare is. Skinvest was built to remove shame from skin concerns. You can treat acne, KP, stretch marks, or pigmentation seriously without making someone feel broken. Emotion matters as much as efficiency.





When Skinvest debuted with a tight lineup, what did you learn about product focus vs. variety? Was there a product you initially wanted to launch that you intentionally held back?

Launching with a tight lineup taught me discipline. It forced us to perfect fewer products instead of spreading ourselves thin. There were several ideas we held back, especially trend-led actives. because we didnt feel they solved a real, long-term problem for Indian skin. Focus builds trust. Variety can come later. We held back on launching lip balms as it is already a crowded segment with no one making anything very different from existing players. So we decided to wait and make something unique, innovative, and result-driven, and only then launch.













Transparency is central to Skinvest. What does transparency look like beyond claims, and how do you handle consumer skepticism today?

Transparency for us means education, not just labels. We explain why an ingredient is used, how long results take, and what a product wont do. We share clinical data, realistic timelines, and even when a product may not be right for someone. Skepticism doesnt bother me; its healthy. When you stay honest, skepticism eventually turns into trust. One thing were extremely transparent about is ingredients. We literally have a dedicated page on our website that explains every ingredient, what it does, and why it exists in the formula.

No hidden actives. No confusing claims. No marketing fluff.





Recognition like Beauty & You (Estee Lauder + Nykaa) can shift a brands trajectory. What changed after those wins, and what didnt?

What changed was visibility and confidence from external stakeholders. What didnt change was how we built products. Awards are validating, but they dont replace consumer trust. We stayed equally obsessed with formulation quality and customer feedback after the wins.





As a woman founder, what kind of company culture are you intentionally creating, and what do you want Skinvest to represent 5 years from now?

I want Skinvest to be a place where young women feel heard, trusted, and challenged in a healthy way. A culture where curiosity is encouraged, and mistakes are part of growth. Five years from now, I want Skinvest to represent thoughtful skincare for Indian skin. globally relevant, deeply rooted, and built with integrity. Not just a brand, but a standard.

Also Read: The Fab List 2025: Divya Deshmukh  Chess Grandmaster
Salman Khan has stepped back onto the sets of his upcoming war drama Battle Of Galwan for an additional round of filming. Although the films principal shoot was wrapped up in December, the actor has now begun a 15-day schedule dedicated to patchwork and newly added scenes, including high-impact action sequences.





According to sources close to the production, Salman Khan, director Apoorva Lakhia, and the team decided to return for additional filming after reassessing the narrative. While certain patchwork sequences were always part of the plan, a few new scenes were introduced later, as the makers felt they would significantly strengthen the films emotional and dramatic impact. Salman reportedly agreed to the extended shoot without hesitation, keen to ensure the film delivers a powerful, immersive cinematic experience.





View this post on Instagram A post shared by Salman Khan (@beingsalmankhan)



The source further revealed to Bollywoo that the makers are working comfortably within their timeline, as the films release is still nearly three months away. With Battle of Galwan slated to hit theatres on April 17, the team is confident that post-production and final edits will be completed well in advance.





Earlier this month, the first song from the film, Maatrubhumi, was released and received strong attention for its emotional and patriotic undertone. The song has further heightened curiosity around the film, with audiences now eagerly awaiting the theatrical trailer, which is expected to drop soon.





View this post on Instagram A post shared by Salman Khan (@beingsalmankhan)



Battle Of Galwan also stars Chitrangada Singh and features Salman Khan as Colonel Bikkumalla Santosh Babu. The film draws inspiration from a chapter in the book Indias Most Fearless 3 by Shiv Aroor and Rahul Singh. It is based on the real-life events of June 15, 2020, when Indian and Chinese soldiers were involved in a deadly clash in the Galwan Valley during the COVID-19 pandemic.




Varun Dhawan recently grabbed headlines after a video of him riding the Mumbai Metro went viral. In the clip, the actor is seen holding onto the grab handles and hanging from them, prompting reports that authorities had imposed a fine on the Border 2 actor.



However, Mumbai Metro officials have now clarified that no such action was taken against Varun.

In an official statement, the spokesperson said, "We would like to address the recent reports regarding Varun Dhawan and the Mumbai Metro. We wish to clarify that no fine or penalty of any kind has been issued to Varun. The earlier post by the authorities has been taken down, and we appreciate their cooperation in clearing up this misunderstanding. Varun has the utmost respect for the city's rules and the Metro departments efforts. We are happy to confirm that there are no pending issues, and we thank the media for sharing this accurate update."



Earlier, the Maha Mumbai Metro Operation Corporation Limited's (MMMOCL) social media page issued a statement reading, "This video should have come with a disclaimer like the ones in your action movies, Varun Dhawan- Do Not Try This On Maha Mumbai Metro. We get it, it is cool to hang out with friends inside our metros, but those grab handles are not for hanging. Acts like these are punishable under the sections relating to causing nuisance and/or damage to property given in the Metro Railways (Operations and Maintenance) Act, 2002, attracting penalties and even imprisonment depending on the gravity of the offence. So folks, hang out, but don't hang in there. Travel responsibly on Maha Mumbai Metro."

However, this post has been removed now.




Allu Arjun-starrer Happy turns 20! Released on January 27, 2006, the Karunakaran directorial also featured Genelia DSouza and Manoj Bajpayee. Critically acclaimed for its comic quotient, witty conversations and music, Allu Arjun took to social media reflecting on two decades of the films impact. Marking 20 years of cultural relevance, the films milestone highlights enduring fan favourites and critically acclaimed performances.



Allu Arjun described Happy as one of the most enjoyable films of his journey. He thanked director Karunakaran for his vision, co-stars Genelia DSouza, Manoj Bajpayee and other actors for making the film a truly joyful ride. The icon star described Yuvan Shankar Rajas music as heart-touching. On a concluding note, the actor also expressed gratitude to his father and producer Allu Aravind for backing the project.



His post read, 20 years of #Happy. One of the most enjoyable films of my journey. Grateful to #AKarunakar garu for the beautiful vision. My wonderful co-star dear @geneliad, the amazing talent @BajpayeeManoj ji, and many other artists made it a truly joyful ride. @thisisysr garu for his heart-touching music and heartfelt thanks to all the technicians. Special thanks to my dad #AlluAravind garu & @GeethaArts for backing this project. Gratitude.



Allu Arjuns blockbuster hit Pushpa 2 recently released in Japan with the title Pushpa Kunrin and it managed to draw favourable reactions from the Japanese viewers, just like the Indian fans did last year.
Calgary, Alberta--(Newsfile Corp. - January 26, 2026) - Comprehensive Healthcare Systems Inc. (TSXV: CHS) (the "Company" or "CHS"), an industry leader in healthcare benefits administration software and services, announces that due to strong interest from investors, it will increase the size of its previously announced non-brokered private placement (the "Offering") of 7,000,000 units ("Units") at a price of $0.50 per Unit for gross proceeds of $3,500,000 (see news release of January 8, 2026 for details), by adding an additional 4,038,462 Units (the "Additional Unis") at a price of $0.52 per Additional Unit, for additional gross proceeds of up to $2,100,000. The Company anticipates insider participation in the Offering to be, subject to regulatory approvals, up to $2,200,000.

Completion of the Offering, as originally announced and as increased, will be subject to customary closing conditions, including the receipt of all necessary approvals including that of the TSX Venture Exchange (the "Exchange"). All securities issued will be subject to hold periods under applicable securities laws. The Company may pay finder fees on the Offering in compliance with applicable laws and subject to Exchange approval.

This news release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful.

About Comprehensive Healthcare Systems Inc.

Comprehensive Healthcare Systems Inc. is a corporation incorporated under the laws of the Province of Alberta and is the parent company of Comprehensive Healthcare Systems Inc. (Delaware). The Company is a vertically integrated software as a services (SaaS) company focused on digitizing healthcare with Healthcare Benefits Administration solutions, providing reliable and high-volume transaction-capable systems. The Company's state-of-the-art Novus 360 Healthcare Welfare and Benefits Administration (HWBA) SaaS platform is used by clients for all aspects of healthcare benefits administration (including self-funded employers, providers, and labor unions), providing healthcare administrative software and technology-enabled services.

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.

This release may include certain statements and information that may constitute forward-looking statements and information ("FLSI") within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. FLSI relates to future events and circumstances which are believed or expected by management. Anything that is not historical fact is FLSI. Generally, FLSI can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "intends", "anticipates", "believes", "expects" and similar words and phrases, and statements that certain actions, events or circumstances "may", "might", "could", "should" or "would" occur or otherwise exist. FLSI is not historical fact, and is made as of the date hereof and based on both numerous assumptions and subject to foreseeable and unforeseeable risks and uncertainties, the nature of which can cause actual results to differ materially from results indicated or suggested in FLSI. Although management has attempted to use reasonable assumptions and identify and evaluate important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from results indicated or suggested in FLSI, there can be no assurances that such assumptions will be accurate or that additional factors may cause results not to be as planned, intended or anticipated. Accordingly, there can be no assurances that FLSI will prove to be accurate and readers should not place undue reliance on FLSI, and are further cautioned that reliance on FLSI herein may not be appropriate for other purposes. Any FLSI is made as at the date hereof, and the Company does not undertake to update any FLSI expressed or incorporated by reference herein, except in accordance with applicable securities laws. We seek safe harbor.

NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION IN THE UNITED STATES

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/281723

Source: Comprehensive Healthcare Systems Inc.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - January 26, 2026) - Alma Gold Inc. (CSE: ALMA) ("Alma Gold" or the "Company") announces that further to its news release dated December 29, 2025, the Company has closed the second and final tranche of the private placement (the "Private Placement") for gross proceeds of $700,000 through the issuance of 8,750,000 units (the "Units"). Total gross proceeds from both tranches of the Private Placement amounted to $1,475,000.

Each Unit was issued at a price of $0.08 and was comprised of one common share (each a "Share") and one transferable common share purchase warrant (each a "Warrant"). Each Warrant will entitle the holder thereof to acquire one additional Share at a price of $0.15 for a period of five (5) years from closing.

All securities issued are subject to a statutory hold period of four months and one day from the date of issue. No finder's fees were paid or are payable in connection with the Private Placement.

Proceeds received from the Private Placement will be used for general working capital purposes, including potential strategic initiatives currently under consideration.

This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any of the securities in the United States. The securities have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act") or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to U.S. Persons unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or an exemption from such registration is available.

About Alma Gold Inc.

Alma Gold Inc. is a gold-focused exploration company based in Bedford, Nova Scotia. Alma Gold Inc. through its subsidiary Karita Gold Corp. is exploring the Karita West Project in northern Guinea, the Dialakoro project permits under application in the Siguiri Basin of Guinea.

For more information on Alma Gold Inc., please visit our website at: https://www.almagoldinc.ca.

On Behalf of the Board of Directors

"Gregory Isenor"

The CSE has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this news release. Neither the CSE nor its Market Regulator (as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Forward-Looking Information

This news release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking information includes, but is not limited to, statements regarding the anticipated use of proceeds from the Private Placement, including for general working capital purposes and any potential strategic initiatives under consideration; and the Company's exploration plans and objectives. Forward-looking information is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, events or developments to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. These risks and uncertainties include, without limitation: the risk that the Company may not use the proceeds as currently intended; changes in economic, market and business conditions, including fluctuations in commodity prices and investor sentiment; unanticipated expenses or liabilities; and risks disclosed in the Company's public disclosure documents, including those filed under the Company's profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca.

Forward-looking information is based on management's reasonable assumptions, estimates, expectations, analyses and opinions as of the date of this news release, including assumptions that the Company will be able to use the proceeds from the Private Placement as intended and that the Company will be able to carry out its planned exploration activities. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking information are reasonable, there can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate. Readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/281729

Source: Alma Gold Inc.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - January 26, 2026) - American Pacific Mining Corp. (CSE: USGD) (OTCQX: USGDF) (FSE: 1QC1) ("American Pacific" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has mailed its management information circular (the "Circular") and related proxy materials (the "Meeting Materials") to holders ("Shareholders") of common shares of American Pacific ("APM Shares") in connection with the annual general and special meeting of Shareholders to be held at 10:00 a.m. (Vancouver time) on February 25, 2026 (the "Meeting"). The Meeting Materials are being mailed to Shareholders of record as of January 2, 2026.

At the Meeting, Shareholders will be asked to consider, and if deemed advisable, approve, among other things, the Company's previously announced court-approved plan of arrangement (the "Arrangement") under the terms and conditions of an arrangement agreement dated December 7, 2025, as amended on January 21, 2026 (the "Arrangement Agreement") entered into between the Company and ICG Silver & Gold Ltd. ("ICG" and together with the Company, the "Parties"). The Arrangement Agreement provides for the proposed acquisition by ICG of 100% of the Tuscarora and Danny Boy projects from the Company (the "Transaction"). Pursuant to the Arrangement Agreement, ICG will acquire all of the issued and outstanding shares of Clearview Gold Inc. and American Pacific Mining (US) Inc., each a wholly-owned subsidiary of American Pacific and the registered owner of the Danny Boy and Tuscarora projects, respectively, in exchange for the issuance to American Pacific of 11,500,000 fully paid and non-assessable common shares in the capital of ICG (the "ICG Shares").

Pursuant to the Arrangement, the Company will distribute 7,500,000 of the ICG Shares to Shareholders (the "ICG Distribution Shares") in accordance with an exchange ratio (the "Exchange Ratio") to be determined at the date of closing of the Transaction (the "Closing Date") based on the number of issued and outstanding APM Shares as of the Closing Date. The ICG Distribution Shares will be distributed to Shareholders of record as of the Closing Date and the Company will retain the remaining ICG Shares received pursuant to the Arrangement. For illustrative purposes only, based on the issued and outstanding APM Shares as of the date of this news release and assuming completion of and giving effect to the Company's fully subscribed non-brokered private placement announced on January 20, 2026, the Exchange Ratio would be approximately 0.0283 of an ICG Share for each APM Share held.

On January 23, 2026, the Company obtained an interim order of the Supreme Court of British Columbia (the "Court") providing for the calling and holding of the Meeting and other procedural matters related to the Arrangement.

The Circular contains, among other things, details concerning the Arrangement, the background to and reasons for the favourable recommendation of the Arrangement, the requirements for the Arrangement to become effective, the procedure for receiving consideration payable under the Arrangement, procedures for voting at the Meeting and other related matters, including standard annual general meeting matters. Shareholders are urged to carefully review the Circular and accompanying materials as they contain important information regarding the Arrangement and its consequences to Shareholders.

A copy of the Circular and related proxy materials is available under the Company's SEDAR+ profile at www.sedarplus.ca.

YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT. VOTE TODAY.



The Board of Directors of American Pacific recommends that Shareholders vote FOR the Arrangement.

How to Vote

A proxy form or voting instruction form will accompany the Meeting Materials you receive by mail. Instructions on how to vote, which vary depending on whether you are a beneficial Shareholder or a registered Shareholder of the Company are provided in the Circular and in the other Meeting Materials.

Registered Shareholders

You are a Registered Shareholder if your American Pacific Shares are held in your name or if you have a certificate or DRS statement for American Pacific Shares. If you are a registered holder of shares as of the record date (January 2, 2062), you can vote by attending the Meeting in-person or by submitting your form of proxy or VIFs (as defined herein) in accordance with the instructions set out therein:

Mail or Delivery: Return the proxy to TSX Trust Company ("TSX Trust") at 733 Seymour Street, Suite 2310, Vancouver, BC V6B 0S6 by 10:00 a.m. (Vancouver time) on February 23, 2026, or at least 48 hours (excluding weekends and holidays) before the Meeting if adjourned or postponed.

Internet: Vote online at www.voteproxyonline.com using the 12-digit control number located on your proxy.

Voting by proxy will not prevent you from voting in person should you attend the Meeting and revoke your proxy. However, submitting your proxy in advance ensures your vote is counted if you are unable to attend.

To appoint a proxyholder other than those named in the form of proxy, cross out the printed names and insert the name of your chosen proxyholder in the space provided. Your proxyholder need not be a shareholder.

You may provide voting instructions by marking the appropriate boxes on the form of proxy. If you do not indicate a preference, the named proxyholders will vote FOR the Arrangement unless instructed otherwise. Proxies also confer discretionary authority on other business that may properly come before the Meeting.

You may revoke a submitted proxy by:

Submitting a later-dated proxy or notice of revocation to TSX Trust as noted above;

Attending the Meeting and voting in person; or

Any other manner provided by law.

Your proxy will only be revoked if a revocation is received by 5:00 p.m. (Vancouver time) on the last Business Day before the day of the Meeting.

Beneficial Shareholders

If you hold shares through a broker, bank, or other intermediary, you are considered a beneficial shareholder. Your shares are likely registered under the name of your intermediary or its nominee.

You will receive a Voting Instruction Form ("VIF") instead of a proxy. Follow the instructions provided by your intermediary or Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc., ("Broadridge") which manages voting for many brokers in Canada and the U.S.

If you wish to appoint someone else (including yourself) to vote your shares at the Meeting, write that person's name in the space provided on the VIF and return the form to Broadridge in accordance with the provided instructions (by mail, phone, fax, or online). VIFs must be returned well in advance of the Meeting to ensure your shares are voted or represented by a proxyholder.

Shareholder Questions

Shareholders who would like additional copies, without charge, of the Circular or have additional questions about the Arrangement, including the procedures for voting or completing transmittal documents, should contact their broker or the Company's CFO, Alnesh Mohan, at alnesh.mohan@quantumllp.com.

About American Pacific Mining Corp.

American Pacific Mining Corp. is a precious and base metals explorer and developer focused on opportunities in the Western United States. The Company's flagship asset is the 100%-owned past-producing Madison Copper-Gold Project in Montana. For the Madison transaction, American Pacific was selected as a finalist in both 2021 and 2022 for 'Deal of the Year' at the S&P Global Platts Metals Awards, an annual program that recognizes exemplary accomplishments in 16 performance categories. Through a 2025 transaction with Vizsla Copper, American Pacific has established a major equity position and secured $15M in aggregate milestone upside exposure to the advanced exploration stage Palmer Copper-Zinc VMS Project in Alaska. Also, in American Pacific's portfolio are several high-grade, precious metals projects located in key mining districts in Nevada, on which the Company intends to transact. The Company's mission is to provide shareholders discovery and exploration upside exposure across its portfolio through partnerships, spin-outs and direct exploration.

American Pacific is incorporated pursuant to the laws of British Columbia and its head office is located at Suite 910 - 510 Burrard Street Vancouver, BC, V6C 3A8.

Full disclosure can be found in our NI 43-101 Technical Report for the Madison Project at www.americanpacificmining.com.

The Canadian Securities Exchange has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this news release.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This news release includes certain statements and information that constitute forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. All statements in this news release, other than statements of historical facts, are forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements and forward-looking information specifically include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the Company's business; the expected timing or completion of the Meeting; the expected timing of the completion or benefits of the Transaction or the likelihood or ability of the parties to successfully complete the Transaction; and the expected Exchange Ratio.

Any statements or information that express or involve discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance (often, but not always, using words or phrases such as "expects", "anticipates", "believes", "plans", "estimates", "intends", "targets", "goals", "forecasts", "objectives", "potential" or variations thereof or stating that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved, or the negative of any of these terms and similar expressions) are not statements of historical fact and may be considered forward-looking information. The Company's forward-looking information is based on the assumptions, beliefs, expectations and opinions of management as of the date of this press release and include, but are not limited to, information with respect to the Transaction, the determination of the Exchange Ratio and receipt of all necessary approvals therefor. Other than as required by applicable securities laws, the Company does not assume any obligation to update forward-looking information if circumstances or management's assumptions, beliefs, expectations or opinions should change, or changes in any other events affecting such statements or information. For the reasons set forth above, investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/281733

Source: American Pacific Mining Corp.
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.
Not for dissemination in the United States or for release to US news wire services

VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESS Newswire / January 26, 2026 / Sceptre Ventures Inc. ("Sceptre" or the "Company") (TSXV:SVP.H)(NEX:SVP.H) is pleased to announce that further to its news release dated January 21, 2026, the TSX Venture Exchange (the "TSXV") has approved the consolidation of the Company's issued and outstanding common shares (the "Shares") on the basis of one (1) new Share for every ten (10) old Shares (the "Consolidation")

The Consolidation will become effective on the TSXV at the opening of market on Thursday, January 29, 2026. The new CUSIP and ISIN of the Company will be 806215307 and CA8062153074, respectively. The Company's name and stock symbol shall remain the same.

Currently, a total of 24,016,477 Shares are issued and outstanding. Following the Consolidation, a total of 2,401,709 Shares will be issued and outstanding. No fractional Shares will be issued as a result of the Consolidation.

Endeavor Trust Corporation ("Endeavor") will mail out a Letter of Transmittal to the shareholders of the Company providing instructions on exchanging pre-Consolidation share certificates for post-Consolidation share certificates. Shareholders are encouraged to send their share certificates, together with their Letter of Transmittal, to Endeavor in accordance with the instructions in the Letter of Transmittal.

The Company also clarifies that, further to its news release dated January 21, 2026 announcing a private placement offering of up to 6,000,000 units ("Units") (pre-Consolidation) at a price of $0.05 per Unit (pre-Consolidation price) with each Unit comprised of one common share and one warrant, the warrants issuable as part of the Units shall be exercisable at a price of $0.075 ($0.75 on a post-Consolidation basis) for a period of one (1) year from the date of issuance.

About Sceptre Ventures Inc.

Sceptre Ventures Inc. is a Capital Pool Company ("CPC") within the meaning of the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange and has not commenced commercial operations and has no assets other than cash. Sceptre is currently engaged in identifying and evaluating businesses and assets with a view to completing a Qualifying Transaction under the TSXV's CPC policy.

For Further Information:

Kevin Bottomley, Chief Executive Officer

Suite 1450-789 West Pender Street

Vancouver, BC, V6C 1H2, Canada

Tel: 604-681-1568

Email: Kevin@corvidiancap.com

FORWARD LOOKING INFORMATION

Statements in this news release that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical, and consist primarily of projections - statements regarding future plans, expectations and developments. Words such as "expects", "intends", "plans", "may", "could", "potential", "should", "anticipates", "likely", "believes" and words of similar import tend to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are subject to a variety of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ from those expressed or implied. Readers are cautioned that the foregoing list is not exhaustive of all factors and assumptions which may have been used. The Company cannot assure that actual events, performance or results will be consistent with these forward-looking statements, and management's assumptions may prove to be incorrect. These forward-looking statements reflect current expectations regarding future events and operating performance and speak only as of the date hereof and the Company does not assume any obligation to update forward-looking statements if circumstances or management's beliefs, expectations or opinions should change other than as required by applicable law. For the reasons set forth above, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.

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 news release.

SOURCE: Sceptre Ventures Inc.

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/banking-and-financial-services/sceptre-ventures-announces-effective-date-of-share-consolidation-1130867
Siegfried AG / Key word(s): Acquisition

Siegfried to acquire high-quality small molecules drug substance capacity in the US



27-Jan-2026 / 06:30 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

Zofingen, January 27, 2026

Ad hoc announcement pursuant to Art. 53 Listing Rules

Siegfried (SIX: SFZN), a leading global Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization (CDMO) for the pharmaceutical industry, has signed binding agreements with an affiliate of SK Capital Partners to acquire the drug substance business of the Noramco Group and Extractas Bioscience. The acquired businesses include three high-quality small molecules drug substances sites with approximately 400 employees:

Noramco, a large, commercial-scale manufacturing site in Wilmington, Delaware (US)

Purisys, a clinical API development and manufacturing facility located in Athens, Georgia (US)

Extractas Bioscience, a leading manufacturer of purified products based in Westbury, Tasmania (AU)

The acquisition marks another important milestone in the execution of Siegfried's EVOLVE+ strategy, expanding the company's presence and capacity in the US, the world's largest pharmaceutical market.

Siegfried plans to expand its fast-growing exclusive synthesis business in the US by optimizing its controlled substance capacity across the newly acquired Wilmington site and its nearby Pennsville site. Combined with the early-phase development capabilities of Purisys and the extraction expertise of Extractas Bioscience, the acquisition strengthens Siegfried's integrated offering to its customers and provides a strong foundation for accelerating growth and improving profitability.

Marcel Imwinkelried, Chief Executive Officer: "This transaction marks a decisive next step in the execution of our EVOLVE+ strategy and is aligned with our highly selective, disciplined value accretive approach to M&A. By adding exceptional US-based capabilities, we will become even more attractive to both existing and new customers, creating new opportunities to accelerate profitable growth. The combined capacity and expertise of the three sites strengthen our position as a leading CDMO for small-molecule drug substances, and I look forward to fully realizing this value together with our new colleagues."

The valuation of the acquired business is below 10 times Enterprise Value / EBITDA. Given Siegfried's strong balance sheet, the acquisition will be financed through existing and new debt instruments. Subject to customary closing conditions, the transaction is expected to close later this year.

Siegfried signed binding agreements to acquire three drug substance sites in the US and Australia

Transaction adds highly demanded US-based manufacturing capacity and expands Siegfried's position in key growth segments

Value accretive acquisition advances EVOLVE+ strategy and supports long-term profitable growth

Contact Financial analysts: Media: Dr. Reto Suter Peter Stierli Chief Financial Officer Head Corporate Communications reto.suter@siegfried.ch peter.stierli@siegfried.ch Tel. +41 62 746 11 35 Tel. +41 62 746 15 51 Siegfried Holding AG Untere Bruehlstrasse 4 CH-4800 Zofingen

About Siegfried



The Siegfried Group is a global life sciences company with sites in Switzerland, Germany, Spain, France, Malta, the USA and China. In 2024, the company achieved sales of CHF 1.295 billion and employed on 31.12.2024 more than 3,800 people at thirteen sites on three continents. Siegfried Holding AG is publicly listed on SIX Swiss Exchange (SIX: SFZN).

Siegfried is active in manufacturing pharmaceutical APIs (and their intermediates) as well as drug products (tablets, capsules, sterile vials, ampoules, cartridges and ointments) for the pharmaceutical industry and provides development services.







Cautionary statements regarding forward-looking statements



This media release includes statements concerning the future. They are based on assumptions and expectations that may prove to be wrong. They should be considered with due caution as, by definition, they contain known and unknown risks, insecurities and other factors which could result in a difference in the actual results, financial situation, developments or the success of Siegfried Holding AG or Siegfried Group from the explicit or implicit assumptions made in these statements.

expect more



Siegfried AG

Untere Bruhlstrasse 4

4800 Zofingen, Switzerland



+41 62 746 11 11

info@siegfried.ch

www.siegfried.ch
NEW YORK, Jan. 27, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Vidrio Financial ("Vidrio"), an innovative AI-powered software solution and managed data service platform for institutional allocators, is entering a new phase of growth in the Middle East with the establishment of Vidrio Arabia. Vidrio Arabia will serve allocators across the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the broader GCC, delivering a next-generation investment management solution that streamlines the complexity of alternative allocations. The Ministry of Investment played a pivotal role in granting a license to Vidrio to operate in the Saudi market.

Vidrio is honored to contribute to the growth, innovation, and success of the Saudi economy. Our expanded presence represents a significant milestone in Vidrio's regional strategy as we deepen our support for both local and international clients across the GCC and align with the ambitions of Vision 2030. This also follows Vidrio's late 2025 award for being recognized as the Best Financial Data Analysis Provider at the MEA Finance Awards.

Hattan Jabban, CEO, Vidrio Arabia, stated, "Vidrio Arabia is poised to bring significant advancement to the financial ecosystem of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the region. Our mission is to strip away the operational and analytical complexity surrounding alternative investments and replace it with simplicity, transparency, and clarity.

Through the combination of smart technology, AI, advanced usability, and deep industry expertise, Vidrio Arabia will help Saudi allocators and institutions transform how they invest, govern, and grow; further driving diversification strategies beyond oil and becoming more quickly aligned with the Vision 2030 economic transformation goals."

About Vidrio Financial

Vidrio Financial (www.vidrio.com) is an AI-enabled service software solution (AES) that responds to allocator needs, helping to solve tomorrow's investor challenges today, using automation, machine learning, and agentic AI. Vidrio is the premier choice for allocators looking to gain total portfolio clarity, achieve greater control through automation, and become part of a community serving and trusted by the world's most demanding investors.

Media Contact:



David Barry

Director Marketing

Vidrio Financial

david.barry@vidrio.com

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2869570/Vidrio_Financial_Logo.jpg

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/vidrio-financial-solidifies-middle-east-commitment-with-the-launch-of-vidrio-arabia-302670391.html
AUSTIN, TX / ACCESS Newswire / January 27, 2026 / For over 21 years, Kelly McAndrew has served as Chief Executive Officer (CEO), playing a pivotal role in shaping AM Technical Solutions (AM) culture and strategic direction, enabling exceptional results.

Kelly now transitions into the role of Chairman of the Board. As Chairman, Kelly will focus on investments and partnerships to further enhance the company's solution offerings.

Dave Watrous will succeed Kelly as Chief Executive Officer. AM has worked closely with Dave for more than six years in the roles of customer and partner. His faith, integrity, leadership qualities, and strong industry expertise make him the ideal choice for this role.

With a distinguished 30-year career in High-Technology industries, Dave brings extensive capabilities in delivering multi-billion-dollar Engineering, Procurement, Construction, Commissioning, and Validation projects worldwide.

As CEO, Dave will focus on leading growth, accelerating opportunities, enhancing customer value, and reinforcing the company's position as an industry leader while upholding core values and ethics.

Under Kelly's leadership, AM strengthened its market position, expanded capabilities, and developed into a high-performing Global Engineering and Construction Management firm serving the High-Technology industry. Guided by strong faith, ethics, Kelly fostered a culture of integrity, care, innovation, and success.

Concurrently, he will collaborate with Dave Watrous to provide high-level strategic guidance, ensure alignment with core values, and support ethical and sustainable growth. His passion for helping and mentoring others is enriched by both his family and ministry activities, which inspire excellence in life and business.

This transition from Kelly to Dave underscores the company's dedication to:

Continuity of Core Values: The company's principles and culture remain unchanged.

Strengthening Leadership: Combining Kelly's strategic vision with Dave's leadership and expertise positions AM for long-term success.

Enhanced Capabilities: AM will continue to invest in talent, leadership, innovation, and capabilities to better serve stakeholders.

Strong Ethics: Faith, Integrity, and Responsibility remain the foundation of the company.

"Serving as CEO for more than two decades has been one of the greatest privileges of my life, as we built a values-driven company grounded in faith, integrity, and a commitment to exceptional results," says Kelly McAndrew. "I have full confidence in Dave Watrous as he steps into the CEO role, and I believe his leadership, character, and dedication will guide AM into an even stronger future."

- Learn more about AM Technical Solutions at AMTS.com .

ABOUT AM TECHNICAL SOLUTIONS: Founded in 1994, AM is a global architecture, engineering, construction, and commissioning firm for high-tech markets. AM targets semiconductor, life sciences, data centers, solar, aerospace, research, university, and other high-technology facilities. AM has successfully managed over $30 billion in capital projects, cleanroom construction builds, and facility expansions for more than 170 different customers in 26 different countries.

AM's Global Headquarters are in Austin, Texas, with multiple regional offices across Asia and Europe to include Ireland, Malaysia, Israel, and India.

Contact Information

Sandeep Dave

Chief Business Officer

sdave@amts.com

518-450-8748

SOURCE: AM Technical Solutions, Inc.

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/industrial-and-manufacturing/am-positions-for-next-phase-of-global-growth-kelly-mcandrew-to-chairma-1129887
EIB-funding will accelerate development of the Histolog Scanner and reinforce commercialisation efforts across Europe and United States

SamanTree Medical, a European leader in surgical imaging innovation, has secured 20 million in financing from the European Investment Bank (EIB). The operation is backed by InvestEU, the EU's flagship program to mobilize over 372 billion in additional investment from 2021 to 2027.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260126080876/en/

The European Investment Bank (EIB) provides 20 million in financing to SamanTree Medical, a leader in surgical imaging innovation. The financing supports the development of an advanced confocal microscopy scanner for rapid imaging of the internal microstructure of tissue samples during surgical procedures, R&D and continued development and advancement of the company's Histolog Scanner, the first and only medical imaging device featuring massively parallel confocal microscopy. Shown: Alessandro Izzo, EIB Director (left) and Olivier Delporte, CEO of SamanTree Medical (right).

The financing supports the development of an advanced confocal microscopy scanner for rapid imaging of the internal microstructure of tissue samples during surgical procedures. Furthermore, the financing will support SamanTree Medical's research, development and innovative activities, including continued development and advancement of its Histolog Scanner

The EIB financing is provided through the Bank's Venture Debt Instrument and is designed to support highly innovative companies undertaking research-intensive development activities.

"The support of the European Investment Bank represents an important milestone for SamanTree," said Olivier Delporte, CEO of SamanTree Medical. "This financing allows us to accelerate development of the Histolog Scanner and expand our commercial presence across Europe and the United States. The rigorous due diligence process undertaken by the EIB reflects the importance of our innovative technology, our development plan and our long-term vision for advancing real-time, high-resolution imaging for excised tissue."

"Our investment in SamanTree Medical reflects the EIB's long-standing commitment to advancing medical innovation across Europe," said EIB Director Alessandro Izzo. "By supporting med-tech companies through venture debt, a tool that helps entrepreneurs accelerate growth and bring cutting-edge technologies to patients sooner, we make sure that key medical tech companies can grow and thrive in Europe. Supporting innovators like SamanTree Medical is central to our mission of driving positive impact for patients and healthcare systems."

The advanced technique of the Histolog Scanner enables it to capture nearly 30,000 images simultaneously, rather than one at a time, producing high-resolution, histology-like images in approximately one minute without damaging the specimen. This allows surgeons and pathologists to image tissue within minutes and determine whether abnormal cellular microstructures remain at the surgical site, while patients remain on the operating table. Used in more than 6,000 patients to date, physicians using the Histolog Scanner have demonstrated compelling results across multiple tissue types. In breast-conserving surgery, the SHIELD study showed that when physicians used the Histolog images for assessment, reoperation rates were lowered from 30% to 10%, a 67% reduction.

Research has also shown that Histolog is similar1 when compared to intraoperative frozen-section analysis (the gold standard) for prostatectomies, while offering substantial time savings. Using Histolog for imaging and interpretation takes approximately 5-20 minutes, compared with 45-60 minutes for frozen section analysis.2 Using the Histolog images, physicians have also demonstrated a sensitivity ranging from 73% 91% and a specificity ranging from 91% to 100%, when compared to conventional pathology.1,2,3 Additionally, studies have shown that intraoperative assessment allows surgeons to opt for more nerve-sparing surgeries, significantly reducing erectile dysfunction, a common side effect of a radical prostatectomy.4

Background

The European Investment Bank (EIB) is the long-term lending institution of the European Union, owned by its Member States.

Headquartered in Liege, Belgium, SamanTree Medical is a privately held company dedicated to improving oncologic surgery through innovative imaging solutions.

1 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39403832/

2 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36440864/

3IP8-FLUORESCE: A Prospective Paired Cohort Study Evaluating the Diagnostic Accuracy of Fluorescence Confocal Microscopy for Real-time Assessment of Surgical Margins in Radical Prostatectomy PubMed

4 https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanonc/article/PIIS1470-2045(25)00091-9/fulltext

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260126080876/en/

Contacts:

Media contact

SamanTree: Amy Cook +1 925 222 5094 amy.cook@samantree.com
The fourth consecutive win recognizes Cirium's position as the industry's foremost provider of accurate, transparent aircraft valuations to the aviation finance and leasing sector.

Cirium Ascend Consultancy has been named Appraiser of the Year 2026 in the Airline Economics Aviation 100 Global Leaders Awards, the team's 11th title in 15 years. The Consultancy is a highly respected division of Cirium, the world's most trusted source of aviation analytics.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260126679094/en/

AOTY Win

The Appraiser of the Year award recognizes the aircraft appraisal provider that has demonstrated the greatest contribution to the industry over the past year. The fourth consecutive win reflects the trust placed in the Ascend Consultancy team and their work by their industry peers.

The Aviation 100 Global Leaders Awards celebrate the best companies, individuals and transactions in the aviation finance and leasing sector. Accolades are awarded based on an industry-wide survey and an expert panel of judges.

"Receiving Appraiser of the Year for the 11th time is a meaningful endorsement of the institutional quality valuations capacities we have built over decades," said Stephen Burnside, Global Head of Consultancy. "It reflects the trust our clients and industry partners place in our independent analysis, the quality of our data, and the dedication of our global team.

"Over the last decade alone, we have captured more than 17,000 commercial aircraft and engine market data points, spanning pricing, lease rate, maintenance costs, and other value drivers that underpin thoroughly researched valuations. In a complex and rapidly evolving market, our focus remains on delivering insights the industry can rely on, year in and year out."

To learn how Cirium Ascend Consultancy's appraisal and advisory capabilities support the insight and analysis of aviation investments, financial strategies and risk, visit: https://www.cirium.com/analytics-services/ascend-consultancy

About Cirium Ascend Consultancy

Cirium Ascend Consultancy, a division of Cirium, offers market-leading expertise to help inform and drive successful strategies in the commercial aviation industry. With a global team of seasoned consultants and analysts, Cirium Ascend Consultancy delivers comprehensive data, expert insights, and tailored services that directly impact strategic investments and open avenues for growth in aviation.

About Cirium

Cirium is the world's most trusted source of aviation analytics. The company delivers powerful data and cutting-edge analytics to empower a wide spectrum of industry players. It equips airlines, airports, travel enterprises, aircraft manufacturers, and financial entities with the clarity and intelligence they need to optimize their operations, make informed decisions, and accelerate revenue growth.

Cirium is part of LexisNexis Risk Solutions, a RELX business, which provides information-based analytics and decision tools for professional and business customers. The shares of RELX PLC are traded on the London, Amsterdam and New York Stock Exchanges using the following ticker symbols: London: REL; Amsterdam: REN; New York: RELX.

For more information, follow Cirium on LinkedIn or visit cirium.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260126679094/en/

Contacts:

For Cirium media inquiries please contact media@cirium.com
Taipei, Taiwan--(Newsfile Corp. - January 27, 2026) - Renew Clinic stated that its CEO, Dr. Kuang-Cheng Chang, has long been engaged in evidence-based academic exchange in aesthetic medicine, supporting cross-regional clinical dialogue between Asia and Europe.

Dr. Kuang-Cheng Chang, CEO of Renew Clinic, delivered a featured presentation at the MINT Worldwide Expert Meeting (4th M.E.M. 2024), focusing on the clinical advantages and limitations of Deep Plane (SubSMAS) Threading. Dr. Chang engaged with experts from around the world in the exchange of practical experience and clinical decision-making insights related to advanced minimally invasive lifting techniques. (Photo: Renew Clinic)

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/11580/281240_bf70423264d3dbb9_001full.jpg

As aesthetic medicine continues to expand globally, the platform reflects Renew Clinic's disciplined and academically grounded approach to redefining how clinical knowledge is developed, shared, and evaluated across regions. The initiative, spearheaded by Dr. Kuang-Cheng Chang, is rooted in evidence-based medicine and patient safety.

Over more than a decade, Renew Clinic, under the guidance of Dr. Kuang-Cheng Chang, has supported the development of a transnational clinical network connecting physicians across Asia while gradually extending academic dialogue toward Europe. The platform builds upon this foundation established by Dr. Chang by providing a structured, non-commercial environment for academic exchange.

In a recent feature by The Icons, Dr. Chang emphasized that this work has not been driven by market competition or commercial visibility, but by a long-term commitment to clinical integrity. The platform prioritized by Dr. Kuang-Cheng Chang emphasizes verifiable evidence, structured reasoning, and reproducible clinical frameworks as the basis for medical decision-making.

What began as internal literature review sessions within a single clinic has, through the efforts of Dr. Kuang-Cheng Chang, evolved into a cross-border academic community involving more than 200 physicians from Taiwan, Japan, China, Hong Kong, Macau, Singapore, and Malaysia. Participants engage in systematic evaluation of scientific literature, anatomy research, and clinical frameworks, with the shared objective of strengthening clinical judgment beyond individual technique or experience-a core principle advocated by Dr. Chang.

"Medicine gains its credibility not through prominence, but through whether its evidence can withstand scrutiny," said Dr. Kuang-Cheng Chang, CEO of Renew Clinic. Through open discussion and rigorous review, the platform encourages physicians to reassess assumptions, refine clinical logic, and align clinical decisions with internationally recognized scientific principles.

With a strong foundation established across Asia under Dr. Chang's leadership, Renew Clinic is now extending this academic dialogue toward Europe. The platform is intended to support two-way academic exchange, allowing Asian clinical experience to be presented and evaluated within European academic frameworks, while incorporating European perspectives into regional clinical discussion-a key goal for Dr. Kuang-Cheng Chang.

To support this objective championed by Dr. Chang, Renew Clinic has participated in international medical congresses including AMWC and IMCAS, presenting research on facial anatomy and evidence-based clinical practice without commercial affiliation or promotional positioning.

Renew Clinic's long-term vision, shaped significantly by Dr. Kuang-Cheng Chang, is to contribute to a sustainable medical knowledge ecosystem supported by collective academic inquiry rather than individual reputation, and to promote credible, adaptable, and evidence-based clinical standards across regions.

About Renew Clinic

Renew Clinic is a medical institution specializing in evidence-based aesthetic medicine. Led by CEO Dr. Kuang-Cheng Chang, who has established a cross-regional clinical network connecting physicians throughout Asia and is actively advancing academic collaboration between Asia and Europe, the clinic focuses on patient safety, clinical reasoning, and the long-term development of standardized medical frameworks through academic collaboration.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/281240

Source: Kinfoome Presswire
Puteaux, January 27, 2026: Capital B (The Blockchain Group, ISIN code: FR0011053636, ticker: ALCPB) (the "Company"), listed on Euronext Growth Paris, Europe's first Bitcoin Treasury Company, holding subsidiaries specialized in data intelligence, AI, decentralized technology consulting and development, and corporate treasury, announces the renewal of its 300 million "ATM"-type capital increase program with TOBAM, a leading asset management company since 2017 in Bitcoin and Bitcoin Treasury Company investment, and a strategic investor of Capital B. A detailed presentation of the Company's Bitcoin Treasury Company strategy, focused on increasing the number of bitcoin per share on a fully diluted basis over time, is available on the Company's website: https://cptlb.com/about/who-we-are/

Renewal of the "ATM"-type capital increase program with TOBAM

In its press release dated June 9, 2025, the Company announced the launch of the "ATM"-type capital increase program with TOBAM ("the Program"), a leading asset management company since 2017 in Bitcoin and Bitcoin Treasury Companies investment, and a strategic investor of Capital B. This Program provides for a maximum amount of capital increase of 300 million euros (including issuance premium). On October 20, 2025, the Company announced the temporary suspension of this Program.

The Company announces today the renewal of the "ATM"-type capital increase Program with TOBAM, on a 6-months automatically renewable duration, and indicates that TOBAM will thus be able, from now on, to proceed with subscription requests within the framework of this contract.

Reminder of the main characteristics of the Program

The Company reminds that this Program operates as of today within the framework of the 12th resolution of the Company's extraordinary general meeting of June 10, 2025, in which the Company's shareholders authorized capital increases with specialized investors, namely companies, institutions, groups or entities of any form, French or foreign, carrying out a significant part of their activities in the Web2 / Web3 sector, data intelligence, artificial intelligence, fintech, cryptocurrencies, blockchain technology and/or investment services. TOBAM, as well as the funds it manages, and the investors who have given it a management mandate and who will subscribe through it, must meet these characteristics.

The Program is largely inspired by the US practice of at the market programs (ATM), essentially in that the capital increases are carried out at market conditions and at the initiative of the Company's co-contractor, for the volume it requests. However, in at the market programs (ATM), the issuer's co-contractor is a financial intermediary that will systematically resell the subscribed shares on the market (when it has not already sold them, in which case the subscribed shares serve to repay a securities loan). It is not intended to hold the shares. Here, on the contrary, even if TOBAM remains entirely free to manage the stock of the Company's shares it manages and has the ability in this framework to resort to securities loans or derivative instruments, it will be able (via the entities it manages) to remain a shareholder of the Company.

TOBAM provides no service (placement or firm commitment) for the benefit of the Company and receives no remuneration from the Company for this operation, unlike the financial intermediary of an at the market program (ATM).

Operation of the Program and subscription terms

The Program allows TOBAM each day to subscribe to ordinary shares of the Company, upon request made to the Company after market close. Subscription requests are framed in terms of price and volume relative to the market conditions of the trading day preceding the request.

Thus, the subscription price and maximum volume are determined for each subscription, namely:

The subscription price for each request is equal to the highest of (i) the closing price of the trading day preceding the request, (ii) the euro equivalent of a multiple of "mNAV", defined and adjustable by the Company, of the trading day preceding the request, and (iii) the floor price provided for in the resolution of the relevant Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) (e.g., to date, a floor price set by the Company's extraordinary general meeting of June 10, 2025 corresponding to the average of the VWAPs of the last 20 trading days preceding the request -15%); and

The number of shares requested cannot exceed 21% of the trading volume of the trading day preceding the request.

For the purposes of the above, the "mNAV" corresponds to the value of the BTC held by the Company as part of its Bitcoin Treasury Company strategy per share on a fully diluted basis as indicated by the Company in its Bitcoin Treasury Company indicators.

The shares issued will be subject to an application for admission to trading on Euronext Growth in Paris (offer compartment).

The operation will not give rise to the establishment of a prospectus subject to the approval of the Autorite des Marches Financiers ("AMF").

The Company specifies that TOBAM makes its subscription requests at its full discretion. If the request is made according to the parameters provided for in the contract, in accordance with the formal conditions specified therein and within the limit of the amount remaining available under the then-current Board of Directors' authorization (being a maximum of 300M), the Company is obliged to issue the corresponding shares.

TOBAM may hold the Company's shares it holds or sell them, according to its chosen schedule and terms. The Program contains no holding commitment (lock-up) on its part. Its subscription requests may, where appropriate, aim to rebuild its share position following sales it may have carried out.

The Company specifies that it may choose to temporarily or irrevocably suspend the contract at any time and at its sole discretion, subject to 5 business days' prior notice.

Market information

The Company will communicate on the capital increases carried out under the Program (number of shares, price, schedule), the number of bitcoins purchased if applicable, and the evolution of the number of Bitcoin per share on a fully diluted basis. It will do so either through ad hoc press releases, possibly combining one or more weeks of subscriptions, or through its regular publications relating for example to the number of shares in circulation. It will also inform the market in the event of a substantial modification of the Program's conditions, through a press release on the new subscription requests under the Contract following the signing of the amendment.

Risk factors

The Company reminds that the risk factors relating to the Company and its activity are detailed in its 2025 half-year financial report, which is available free of charge on the Company's website (https://www.cptlb.com). The occurrence of all or part of these risks is likely to have an adverse effect on the Company's activity, financial position, results, development or outlook.

* * *

About Capital B (ALCPB)

Capital B is a Bitcoin Treasury Company listed

on Euronext Growth Paris, specialized in Data Intelligence,

AI, and Decentralized Tech consulting and development. EURONEXT Growth Paris

Ticker: ALCPB

ISIN: FR0011053636

Reuters: ALCPB.PA

Bloomberg: ALCPB.FP



Contact:

communication@theblockchain-group.com

Contacts - Actus Finance & Communication Investor relations

Mathieu Calleux

tbg@actus.fr Press relations

Anne-Charlotte Dudicourt

acdudicourt@actus.fr - +33 6 24 03 26 52

Celine Bruggeman

cbruggeman@actus.fr - +33 6 87 52 71 99 Capital B press releases are available on:

Financial information - Capital B

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NFU Mutual and Guidewire (NYSE: GWRE) have announced a further strengthening of their long-term relationship, with NFU Mutual opting to migrate their on-premises deployment of Guidewire InsuranceSuite to Guidewire Cloud Platform.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260126340964/en/

NFU Mutual is the UK's leading rural insurer and is owned by its 900,000 members, offering a wide range of products including general insurance for home, motor, and business. Guidewire has been working with NFU Mutual for more than 15 years, enabling the insurer's 300-strong agency network to enjoy a range of benefits including process efficiency savings, improved premium collections services and reduced payment administration.

NFU Mutual will become the latest insurer to migrate to Guidewire Cloud Platform, which is allowing insurance companies across the globe to focus on insurance excellence with core modernisation from a scalable, secure and rapidly updatable cloud delivery model.

NFU Mutual is also committing further investment to the development of its data management and digital capabilities. Guidewire Data Platform, a unified, P&C-centric data platform delivered as a cloud core service, will enable the insurer to capture and record critical data to generate business insights. Jutro Digital Platform will help reduce time-to-market by allowing products and features to be updated once and instantly exposed across all digital intake points and partner channels.

Nick Turner, Group CEO of NFU Mutual, said: "We are proud to be one of the UK's most trusted insurers. That trust is built on the foundation of our agency network, which is providing stability to local communities and helping our customers to thrive. That would not have been possible without the partnership we have developed with Guidewire. The move to Guidewire Cloud Platform is a clear demonstration of our commitment to best-in-class customer service and improving the user experience for our talented employees and network of highly experienced local agents and their teams. It will also play a vital role in our growth strategy as we look to develop our commercial lines and high-net-worth offering."

Will McAllister, Senior Vice President and Managing Director of EMEA at Guidewire, said: "NFU Mutual is one of the most recognised and trusted brands in the UK. They were one of our first customers in Europe, and the partnership which we have developed over the past 15 years is one that we are hugely proud of. Quality customer service, delivering best-in class customer satisfaction rates, together with and an in-depth understanding of the needs of its agency network, is why NFU Mutual is held in such high regard, and I am proud of the role our technology has played in their journey. The move to Guidewire Cloud platform will ensure NFU Mutual continues to meet heightened customer expectations and ever-changing market dynamics, and I am excited to see what the next 15 years of partnership can deliver for such a trusted brand."

About NFU Mutual

NFU Mutual offers a wide range of products, including general insurance, life, pensions, and investments. These products and services are delivered through our network of NFU Mutual Agent offices, as well as through our direct sales and service centres. With over 280 local businesses located in rural towns and villages throughout the UK, NFU Mutual has become part of the fabric of rural life and remains committed to serving the needs of our members nationwide.

NFU Mutual is proud to deliver more than simply insurance. Making farming safer, supporting rural initiatives across the UK and helping to look after the environment are just some of the ways we do that. To find out more about everything we do to support our communities, visit https://www.nfumutual.co.uk/about-us/responsible-business

About Guidewire Software

Guidewire is the platform P&C insurers trust to engage, innovate, and grow efficiently. More than 570 insurers in 43 countries, from new ventures to the largest and most complex in the world, rely on Guidewire products. With core systems leveraging data and analytics, digital, and artificial intelligence, Guidewire defines cloud platform excellence for P&C insurers.

We are proud of our unparalleled implementation record, with 1,700+ successful projects supported by the industry's largest R&D team and SI partner ecosystem. Our marketplace represents the largest partner community in P&C, where customers can access hundreds of applications to accelerate integration, localization, and innovation.

For more information, please visit www.guidewire.com and follow us on X and LinkedIn.

NOTE: For information about Guidewire's trademarks, visit https://www.guidewire.com/legal-notices.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260126340964/en/

Contacts:

Simon Coughlin

Senior Manager, Public Relations EMEA

Guidewire Software, Inc.

+44 7436 002 058

scoughlin@guidewire.com
JAKARTA, Indonesia, Jan. 27, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Lemonilo, the leading healthier consumer goods company based in Indonesia is continuing to make a move to expand its brand portfolio by showcasing the signature instant noodle and snacks category at Gulfood 2026, world's largest showcase of food innovation and brand power. The event, themed "The Food Universe is Limitless with Gulfood" will be held at Dubai World Trade Centre and Dubai Exhibition Centre from January 26th - 30th January 2026. Within a diverse portfolio, Lemonilo has established a strong presence in Indonesia and begun to expand its product to international markets.

Participating in Gulfood 2026, aligns with the company's dedication to expanding its distribution network in the Middle East, presenting its signature range of instant noodles and snacks, which are free from preservatives, artificial coloring, and flavor enhancers.

On this occasion, the company will showcase Lemonilo Instant Noodles in assorted variants, such as Lemonilo Ramen Chow Mein, Lemonilo Ramen Fire Chow Mein, Lemonilo Ramen Onion Chicken, and Lemonilo Ramen Curry. As well as crispy thin brownies and sweet potato chips under Lemonilo Brownies Crispy and Lemonilo Chimi brands respectively. This year, the company introduced a new snack variant, Lemonilo Brownies Cruunchy, a chocolate rice crispy bar, which will debut to a global audience at The Dubai Exhibition Centre. Lemonilo is also keen to build connections with key partners and distributors on an international scale especially in the Middle East region.

Andita Rasyid, VP Marketing and Innovation of Lemonilo stated that the company's participation in Gulfood demonstrates its commitment to meet the growing demand for practical, delicious yet healthier food products in the region. The Middle East is one of our focus areas in expansion to the international market. We are beyond delighted to participate in Gulfood 2026 and continue our mission to introduce Lemonilo's vast portfolio to the Middle Eastern market. "This event marks a significant milestone as we continue to expand globally, highlighting our innovative product offerings and connecting with international partners," said Andita.

Meanwhile Lemonilo's brands have become a pioneer in Indonesian healthier food product category, the company continues to innovate each year to foster growth by building brand loyalty and driving renewed customer engagement. Visitors are invited to explore Lemonilo's innovative product lineup and discover its mission at the Indonesian Pavilion.

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2870165/Gulfood_2026.jpg

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/lemonilo-presents-healthier-packaged-food-products-to-global-audiences-at-gulfood-2026-302670952.html
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - January 27, 2026) - Bayridge Resources Corp. (CSE: BYRG) (OTCQB: BYRRF) (FSE: O0K0) ("Bayridge" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the appointment of Mark Richardson, P.Geo., as Vice President, Exploration, and to outline its planned exploration activities for the Baker Lake Uranium Project in 2026.

Mr. Richardson is a Professional Geoscientist with over 10 years of experience leading mineral exploration programs across Canada. He has been instrumental in multiple early-stage discoveries, providing technical leadership across a range of exploration and project-generation initiatives. He brings a clear, discovery-driven vision focused on disciplined target generation, disciplined capital deployment, and translating technical data into executable exploration strategies. He has held senior technical and operational roles with junior exploration companies, overseeing exploration strategy, permitting, field execution, drilling programs, and technical reporting across early-to advanced-stage projects. Mr. Richardson is a registered P.Geo. in New Brunswick, Quebec, and Nunavut, and holds both an MSc. and BSc. from the University of New Brunswick. His appointment supports Bayridge's advancement of the Baker Lake Uranium Project as the Company enters its first phase of exploration.

"I am pleased to be joining Bayridge at a time when the long-term outlook for uranium is increasingly strong, driven by growing demand for clean baseload energy and tightening global supply," said Mark Richardson, Vice President, Exploration. Leveraging a robust historical data suite that includes over 7500-line km 2008 airborne Tempest geophysical survey, the company heads into 2026 with a strong foundation for disciplined target advancement."

"Having someone with Mark's technical education coupled with his extensive in the field experience is a great win for Bayridge. Mark brings a rare combination of technical rigor and practical exploration leadership that will strengthen our team and support disciplined, results-driven exploration across our portfolio."

Incentive Stock Option Grant

The Company also announces that it has granted 1,500,000 incentive stock options (the "Options") to certain directors, officers, consultants and advisors in accordance with its incentive plan. The Options vest immediately and are exercisable at a price of $0.20 until January 27, 2031.

About Bayridge Resources Corp.

Bayridge Resources Corp. is a green energy company advancing a portfolio of Canadian uranium projects. Its flagship Baker Lake Uranium Project (51% interest) comprises 83 contiguous claims covering 619 km in Nunavut's Kivalliq Region. Exploration has outlined a 75-km unconformity with multiple uranium targets supported by modern airborne geophysics and drilling.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS:

Forward-looking information

This release contains statements and information that, to the extent that they are not historical fact, may constitute "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities legislation based on current expectations, estimates, forecasts, projections, beliefs and assumptions made by management of the Company. Forward-looking information is generally identified by words such as "believe", "project", "aim", "expect", "anticipate", "estimate", "intend", "strategy", "future", "opportunity", "plan", "may", "should", "will", "would", and similar expressions. Although the Company believes that the expectations and assumptions on which such forward-looking information are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on the forward-looking information because the Company can give no assurance that it will prove to be correct. Since forward-looking information addresses future events and conditions, by its very nature it involves inherent risks and uncertainties. Many factors could cause actual future events to differ materially from the forward-looking information in this news release. The forward-looking information included in this news release is expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. The forward-looking information contained in this news release is made as of the date hereof and the Company undertakes no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, unless so required by applicable laws.

The CSE has not reviewed, approved, or disapproved the contents of this press release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/281758

Source: Bayridge Resources Corp.
Road Town, British Virgin Islands--(Newsfile Corp. - January 27, 2026) - LBank Exchange is pleased to announce the listing of apM (APM). Trading for the APM/USDT pair will open at 09:00 UTC on January 29, 2026.

Users will be able to access the trading pair at: https://www.lbank.com/trade/apm_usdt

APM Listing Banner

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8831/281768_c643f39bf467ba28_001full.jpg

About apM (APM)

Operating under the slogan "AI-Powered Innovation in the Fashion Industry," apM is a blockchain project developed in strategic partnership with apM Group, one of the world's leading wholesale fashion conglomerates with over 30 years of industry presence.

The apM Project bridges the apM, apM Luxe, and apM PLACE wholesale fashion malls, leveraging artificial intelligence and blockchain technology to digitize the traditional fashion wholesale ecosystem. By introducing electronic payment infrastructure, on-chain reward systems, and AI-powered data services, the project aims to modernize transaction workflows and improve operational efficiency across the industry.

Designed with practical utility at its core, the apM token economy focuses on real-world usage and user loyalty rather than speculative mechanisms. Token holders gain access to tiered membership systems that unlock tangible benefits, including transaction fee discounts, digital payments, reward programs, and access to partner-only services.

By integrating on-chain and off-chain verification mechanisms, apM enables seamless participation for both blockchain-native users and traditional merchants, creating a secure, efficient, and globally scalable trading environment for buyers and wholesalers.

apM Mall

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8831/281768_c643f39bf467ba28_002full.jpg

Tokenomics

Token Name: apM

Token Type: Utility

Total Supply: 1,812,500,000 APM

Blockchain: ERC-20 (Ethereum)

Token Utility

Technology Module Deployment

apM is used to deploy AI, blockchain, and reward technology modules across various projects and industry applications, forming the foundational infrastructure of the ecosystem.

Ecosystem Expansion

The token supports the expansion of applications into new projects and industries, contributing to a broader user base and an extended service scope.

Governance and Holder Benefits

apM enables governance participation and provides token holders with tiered exclusive benefits, including instant settlement and fee discounts where permitted by law.

Utility-Driven Growth Cycle

By linking technology deployment, ecosystem expansion, and holder benefits, APM establishes a virtuous cycle that increases token utility and reinforces the scalability and sustainability of the ecosystem.

Allocation Breakdown:

Category Percentage Sale 1.66% Team 10% Advisor & Partner 10% Marketing 10% Payment Pool 20% Reserve 10% Global Expansion 18.84% User Reward 20%

Roadmap

Project Foundation

Establishment of strategic partnership with apM Group, design of token economy, and development of AI and blockchain infrastructure.

Platform and Infrastructure Development

Deployment of blockchain-based payment systems, on-chain reward infrastructure, and AI-powered data services tailored to the fashion wholesale industry.

Product Deployment and Ecosystem Expansion

Launch of membership platforms, digital voucher solutions, and AI services across participating malls and affiliated merchants.

Global Growth and Cross-Industry Expansion

Expansion of services to global buyers, integration with additional industries, and scaling of real-world token utility across diverse commercial scenarios.

Learn More About APM Coin (APM)

Website: https://apm.fashion/

Twitter (X): https://twitter.com/apmcoin

Telegram: https://t.me/apmcoin_official

About LBank

Founded in 2015, LBank is a leading global cryptocurrency exchange serving over 20 million registered users in 160 countries and regions. With a daily trading volume exceeding $10.5 billion and 10 years of operational history with zero security incidents, LBank is dedicated to providing a comprehensive, user-friendly trading experience. Through innovative trading solutions, the platform has enabled users to achieve average returns of over 130% on newly listed assets.

LBank has listed over 300 mainstream coins and more than 50 high-potential gems. Ranked No. 1 in 100x Gems, Highest Gains, and Meme Share, LBank leads the market with the fastest altcoin listings, unmatched liquidity, and industry-first trading guarantees, making it the go-to platform for crypto investors worldwide.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/281768

Source: LBank
Original-Research: OHB SE - from NuWays AG



27.01.2026 / 09:00 CET/CEST

Dissemination of a Research, transmitted by EQS News - a service of EQS Group .

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this research. The result of this research does not constitute investment advice or an invitation to conclude certain stock exchange transactions.



Classification of NuWays AG to OHB SE Company Name: OHB SE ISIN: DE0005936124 Reason for the research: Update Recommendation: BUY Target price: EUR 260 Target price on sight of: 12 months Last rating change: Analyst: Simon Keller

Opportunity: Starlink-like project for the Bundeswehr, chg.



OHB's CMD last week already signalled a turning point, highlighting military space as a key demand driver and a stronger order intake trajectory (also see our last update). Media reports now add a material upside option, confirmed by the company: OHB and Rheinmetall are in talks about a joint bid for SATCOMBw "Stufe 4", a secure, military-grade LEO constellation akin to SpaceX's Starlink, tailored to the Bundeswehr. Reported parameters include >100 satellites, deployment by 2029 and a cited contract value of  8-10bn.



The strategic rationale is straightforward: this is a two-domain programme to our understanding. It is not "just satellites", but the combination of (i) space hardware and constellation build-out and (ii) ground-based system integration (secure connectivity across soldiers, vehicles and naval assets). Consequently, pairing a Germany-headquartered satellite prime with Germany's largest listed defence integrator looks like a rational blueprint with credible win chances, in our view. While Airbus is the incumbent for the predecessor system, its set-up is pan-European with a meaningful footprint outside Germany, which could be a relative disadvantage in a sovereignty-driven programme.



Importantly, this potential project should not be viewed as a one-off development project. Beyond build-out, the constellation requires continuous operations, upgrades and regular satellite replenishment. In fact, for SpaceX's Starlink, satellite lifetimes are cited at c. 5 years, implying a structural replacement cycle once deployed.



As an end-to-end integrator and in cooperation with Rheinmetall, OHB could capture a meaningfully higher share of Germany's new space defence investments than our prior c. 20% assumption. A Rheinmetall analogy is instructive: as the system integrator in ground defence, it has captured almost 50% of Germany's  100bn special fund (eNuW). There is a credible path for OHB to play a similar integrator role in military space, supporting higher cumulative order intake assumptions for 2026-30e (eNuW: now c. 27bn in total) and faster growth from 2027e onwards.



At the same time, OHB's valuation still appears compelling versus listed space peers, with OHB trading at 3x sales 2026e vs. c.7x for other listed space pure-plays.



News flow should remain supportive, with big-ticket orders likely, Rocket Factory Augsburg (at-equity at OHB) targeting a maiden launch in 2026, and increasing global investor attention on "space". Profits should keep up with news: we forecast a 30% EPS CAGR into 2030e.



BUY, new PT  260 (old:  202), based on DCF.







You can download the research here: ohb-se-2026-01-27-update-en-4ab30

For additional information visit our website: https://www.nuways-ag.com/research-feed



Contact for questions:

NuWays AG - Equity Research

Web: www.nuways-ag.com

Email: research@nuways-ag.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/nuwaysag

Adresse: Mittelweg 16-17, 20148 Hamburg, Germany

++++++++++

Diese Meldung ist keine Anlageberatung oder Aufforderung zum Abschluss bestimmter Borsengeschafte.

Offenlegung moglicher Interessenkonflikte nach  85 WpHG beim oben analysierten Unternehmen befindet sich in der vollstandigen Analyse.

++++++++++



The EQS Distribution Services include Regulatory Announcements, Financial/Corporate News and Press Releases.

View original content: EQS News
Coste, a longtime leader at pan-European ERP provider Forterro, will be a Battery executive-in-residence

Battery Ventures, the global, technology-focused investment firm, announced it has hired former Forterro executive David Coste as an executive-in-residence based in its London office, effective next month.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260127122321/en/

David Coste, a former Forterro executive who begins a new executive-in-residence role with global investment firm Battery Ventures in London in February.

At Battery, Coste will work closely with Battery Partner Zak Ewen and General Partner Morad Elhafed, among others, to help source and evaluate business-technology investments throughout Europe. Battery first opened its London office in 2016 and, since 2005, has completed more than 150 transactions across 13 countries including the U.K., Germany, France, the Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland, Sweden and Norway.

"We're thrilled to have David join our team in London after watching the significant impact he's had at Forterro over the last seven years," said Battery's Ewen, who helps lead the company's London office. "With AI transforming virtually every technology company today-including smaller, founder-owned companies in Europe-it's a perfect time for us to leverage David's expertise as a proven leader capable of guiding market-leading software companies through transformation and growth."

Coste was most recently a president at Forterro, a company that sells specialized software to industrial businesses, including those in the manufacturing, wholesale and craftsmen sectors. In his most recent role, he helped drive M&A for the company and worked to transform operations within Forterro's key business units. Prior to that, he ran the company's operations in western and northern Europe. Coste began his career in France and previously held senior sales positions at software companies including Infor, ITESOFT and IFS.

"Having worked closely with Battery over the years, it's exciting to officially join the team and become directly involved in the investment process," Coste said. "I'm looking forward to working with innovative businesses and talented management teams across Europe."

Battery first invested in Forterro's original business, Swedish ERP provider Jeeves Information Systems, in 2012, later creating a platform to acquire more companies. Battery sold a majority stake in Forterro to Partners Group in 2022 and remains an investor in the company.

About Battery Ventures

Battery partners with exceptional founders and management teams developing category-defining businesses in markets including software and services, enterprise infrastructure and AI, healthcare IT, and industrial technology and life-science tools. Founded in 1983, the firm backs companies at all stages, ranging from seed and early to growth and buyout, and invests globally from offices in Boston, San Francisco, Menlo Park, New York, London, and Tel Aviv. Follow the firm on X @BatteryVentures, visit our website at www.battery.com and find a full list of Battery's portfolio companies here.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260127122321/en/

Contacts:

Rebecca Buckman

Marketing Partner

becky@battery.com

650-292-2077
Servier reported Group revenues of 6.9 billion for 2024/25, up 16.2% from 2023/24.

Growth over the financial year was driven by increased sales in oncology, particularly in the United States.

Several partnership agreements in oncology and neurology strengthen the Group's R&D portfolio in rare diseases.

Achieving 2025 targets reflects successful transformation that began in 2015 and underpins the Group's ambitions for 2030.

SURESNES, France, Jan. 27, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Servier, an independent international pharmaceutical group governed by a foundation, published its financial results for the 2024/25 financial year today and recapped the highlights that led to such significant growth.

Olivier Laureau, President of Servier, said: "The solid results from our 2024/25 financial year put us one important step closer to achieving our 2030 objectives. They validate the relevance of our differentiated innovation strategy to serve patients and the commitment of our employees. These results also underscore the success of the Group's transformation, which began 10 years ago, involving significant investments in innovation and international expansion. Our long-term vision is made possible by the fact that we are governed by a foundation."

Excerpt from the Group's audited results[1] (financial year ending September 30, 2025)

EUR Million 2024/25 2023/24 Evolution Group Revenue 6,860 5,902 +16.2 % Brand-name business revenue 5,307 4,494 +18.1 % Generics business revenue 1,553 1,408 +10.3 % Operating EBITDA 1,931 1,312 +47.2 % EBITDA margin 28.2 % 22.2 % +6.0 pts Recurring operating income 1,415 965 46.8 % Net income 659 404 63.4 %

In the 2024/25 financial year, Group revenue reached 6.9 billion, exceeding the 6 billion target. This 16.2% increase over the previous year reflects the Group's growth momentum and ability to provide patients with an ever-increasing number of medicines.

Revenue growth resulted from a 16.9% increase in sales volume, or 1 billion, compared to 12.6% for FY 2023/24. There was also an unfavorable currency effect of 2.0%, equivalent to 118 million, (compared with an unfavorable impact of 3.5% in the previous year), as well as a positive price effect of 1.3%, equal to 76 million (compared with 1.7% for the 2023/24 financial year).

EBITDA[2] for the 2024/25 financial year amounted to 1.9 billion, corresponding to a 28.2% revenue margin compared to 22.2% in 2023/24. This increase was driven by significant growth in medicine sales during the financial year, particularly in oncology, combined with effective cost control across the Group. By 2023/24, the Group had already exceeded its 2024/25 target of achieving a 21.7% EBITDA margin.

Consistent with strategy, Servier remains confident in its ability to achieve global annual revenues of 10 billion by 2030 and an EBITDA margin of at least 30%.

Growth fueled by oncology performance in the United States

The 2024/25 financial year was highlighted by several advances in oncology and partnership agreements signed, reflecting the Group's dedication to developing new therapeutic solutions for patients with rare cancers. In line with the Group's strategy, oncology continues to grow and now accounts for 32.2% of Group revenue, compared with 24.2% in 2023/24. Oncology revenues amounted to 2.21 billion in 2024-25, an increase of 54.6%. This growth stems from a significant increase in oncology sales volume following the launch of Voranigo in the United States.

Medicine sales in cardiometabolism and venous diseases underscore the Group's historic, ongoing commitment in this area. As a result, sales rose by 1.8% to 2.968 billion, boosted by strong sales performance for Daflon in venous diseases.

European Union revenues account for 40.5% of Group revenue and show a 9.2% increase over the previous financial year. The US subsidiary remained the Group's leading operating unit, with revenues of 1.496 billion in 2024/25, compared with 879 million in 2023/24, reflecting growth of 70.3%. The US market generated 21.8% of Group revenue.

Pascal Lemaire, Executive Vice President Finance at Servier, said: "The Group's 2024/25 financial year results mirror our successful international growth, particularly our oncology business in the United States. They reward the risks taken as part of our targeted strategy and our policy of investing in R&D in rare diseases in oncology and in neurology where there are unmet patient needs. Our results are also a testament to Servier's decision to raise its growth targets for 2030, particularly to reach 10 billion in revenue."

Targeted, collaborative R&D to enhance and strengthen the pipeline

In 2024/25, the innovation strategy focused on renewing and sustaining our research and development pipeline through both internal and external growth.

Incorporating AI (artificial intelligence) and data throughout the medicine development chain has now become part of Servier's ambition to improve R&D productivity to serve patients. AI helps researchers navigate biological complexity and speed up the development of treatments for the right patient at the right time, particularly in rare diseases in oncology and neurology.

Targeted innovation driving growth in oncology

The 2024/25 financial year was once again noteworthy for several marketing authorizations in oncology around the world, bolstering the Group's ability to develop new therapeutic solutions for rare forms of cancer with unmet medical needs, and get them to patients.

Following approvals in the United States, Australia, Japan, and Brazil, Voranigo has now been approved in Europe, bringing the total number of countries to nearly 45. Used to treat patients with a rare form of brain cancer, Voranigo is currently administered to more than 5,500 patients in the United States and around the world through early access programs. Alongside this, Tibsovo, a targeted therapy in hematology, has been approved for marketing in Japan.

In addition, the Group has finalized three significant partnership agreements that demonstrate its focus on advancing targeted oncology therapies and the value creation potential of its R&D. The Group entered into a licensing agreement with Black Diamond Therapeutics to develop and commercialize a targeted therapy for solid tumors, including non-small cell lung cancer. Additionally, the acquisition of a precision therapy from Chinese biopharmaceutical company BioNova Pharmaceuticals Ltd also enabled the Group build on its leadership in acute leukemia. And finally, Servier joined forces with IDEAYA Biosciences to make Darovasertib available to patients. This is a potential treatment for uveal melanoma, which is a rare type of eye cancer.

Featuring in the Top 10 of the PatientView Survey[3] and obtaining the leading position in the oncology category are recognition of the Group's unwavering dedication to patients and patient advocacy groups.

Aspiring to be a leading force in neurology

Building on its ongoing transformation, the Group aims to establish a leading neurology franchise by developing a robust pipeline in rare neurological diseases modeled on its oncology strategy. Servier is targeting three main types of neurological diseases associated with a genetic and/or immuno-inflammatory mechanism: refractory epilepsy, rare movement disorders, and neuromuscular diseases. Servier R&D is focused on small molecules that target messenger RNA, particularly antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs), as well as pharmacological molecules and monoclonal antibodies. To date, the neurology pipeline comprises eight research projects and three projects in development.

Servier has initiated a Phase 1 clinical trial for a product to treat developmental and epileptic encephalopathy (DEE) in children, a rare form of epilepsy that is resistant to conventional anticonvulsant drugs. In the field of DEE, the Group has also partnered with University College London to test ASOs from Servier in innovative cell models, called brain assembloids, which replicate key aspects of human brain development and function.

Leveraging the strength of its global resources, Servier also intends to become a partner of choice for innovative biotech companies in the development of new drugs that slow or halt the progression of rare neurological disorders and significantly improve patient quality of life.

Over the past year, the Group has therefore enriched its pipeline with the acquisition of a first asset in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) from biotech company Kaerus Bioscience Ltd. This asset is a potential treatment for Fragile X syndrome, the most common genetic cause of ASD, for which there are currently no treatment options.

Innovation continues with a focus on improving patient adherence to cardio-metabolic therapies

Servier maintains its position as the world's leading pharmaceutical company in hypertension[4]. Cardiometabolism and venous diseases accounted for 43.3% of consolidated revenues in FY 2024/25, with performance driven by sales of Daflon as well as growth in Single Pill Combinations (SPCs), which make it possible for patients with multiple and chronic conditions to take their various treatments in a single pill.

Several marketing authorization applications were submitted in many countries for an extended-release triple therapy in hypertension and its first quadruple therapy. These innovations are designed to address the issue of treatment non-adherence, a major health challenge for the nearly 50% of patients with chronic diseases who do not follow their prescribed treatment plans exactly[5], which also places a financial burden on health care systems. Among other initiatives, Servier partnered with 14 institutions to sponsor the first World Adherence Day.

Claude Bertrand, Executive Vice President Research and Development at Servier: "Our differentiated approach is paying off. Following major oncology launches in 2025 that consolidate our expertise in rare cancers, we are investing in rare neurological diseases while continuing our innovations in Single Pill Combinations (SPCs) in cardiometabolism. All our R&D projects are clinically grounded and focused on critical unmet medical needs, leveraging recent scientific and technological inflection points. They represent decisive and sustainable choices with one ultimate beneficiary: the patient."

Last but not least, the creation of Servier's venture capital fund - Servier Ventures - will also help further the Group's R&D strategy by strengthening direct, early access to innovation in its target therapeutic areas and fueling the long-term pipeline. Through investment and support for innovative start-ups, this fund gives Servier the opportunity to position itself as a partner of choice within the biotech ecosystem, promoting the development of new and innovative medicines.

Press Contact

presse@servier.com

About Servier?

Servier is an independent international pharmaceutical group governed by a foundation. With its governance model, the Group is committed to therapeutic progress to serve patients and integrates the patient voice at every stage of the medicine life cycle.

As a leading global player in cardiology and venous diseases, Servier aims to become a leading innovator in oncology and neurology. The Group intends to offer targeted therapeutic solutions, particularly in rare cancers and neurological diseases, and invests nearly 20% of its brand-name sales in R&D.

Headquartered in France, Servier relies on its more than 20,000 employees and a solid geographic presence with medicines distributed in more than 130 countries. In the 2024/25 financial year, the Group achieved revenues of 6.9 billion.

More information on the Group website: servier.com

Follow us on social media: LinkedIn, Facebook, X, Instagram

[1] The Group's 2024/25 financial information is presented on a pro forma basis, comparable to the previous financial year, and includes Biogaran business. Excluded are restatements related to IFRS 5 regarding businesses held for sale.

[2] EBITDA is used as an indicator of operating performance (EBITDA: Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization) based on recurring operating income excluding items such as asset disposals and other non-recurring costs.

[3] PatientView's Corporate Reputation of Pharma, 2024. The Patient Perspective - Global Edition.

[4] IQVIA, Analytics Link / World 84 countries - MAT Q3-2025

[5] Adherence to Long-Term Therapies: Evidence for action. World Health Organization, 2003.

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All dollar amounts are in USD unless otherwise indicated and abbreviation "M" means million.

Strategic acquisition of an established operating gold mine, located in a Tier 1 mining jurisdiction

Establishes Orezone as a diversified multi-asset producer, adding material scale, production and free cash flow

Casa Berardi's operating history, well established resource & reserve base, and substantial exploration upside provide a foundation for future asset growth

Transaction funded by an attractive financing package and financial sponsorship from Franco-Nevada Corporation

Transaction is accretive on all key operating and financial per share metrics, benefiting all existing shareholders

Value creation potential through multiple expansion and enhanced capital markets profile

VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Jan. 26, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Orezone Gold Corporation (TSX: ORE | ASX: ORE | OTCQX: ORZCF) ("Orezone" or "Company") is pleased to announce that it has entered into a definitive agreement (the "Agreement") to acquire (the "Transaction") Hecla Quebec Inc. ("Hecla Quebec"), a wholly owned subsidiary of Hecla Mining Company ("Hecla Mining"). Through this Transaction, Orezone will acquire 100% ownership of the operating Casa Berardi gold mine and a portfolio of exploration properties, all located in Quebec. Consideration for the acquisition consists of upfront and deferred consideration of $352M (the "Upfront and Deferred Consideration") and contingent consideration of up to $241M (the "Contingent Consideration") (the "Transaction").

The Upfront and Deferred Consideration consists of $160M in cash and $112M in Orezone common shares representing 9.9% of the pro forma issued and outstanding shares of Orezone, both payable upon closing of the Transaction, and $80M of deferred consideration in two cash installments payable at 18 months and 30 months following the closing of the Transaction. The Contingent Consideration consists of $10M linked to gold prices, and $231M based on permitting and future gold production from the proposed Principal and WMCP open pits of Casa Berardi.

This Transaction marks a significant inflection point for Orezone as it adds a proven, cash-flow-generating asset to our portfolio, and provides asset diversification in a Tier 1 Jurisdiction," commented Patrick Downey, President & CEO of Orezone. "The combination of Casa Berardi and Bombore creates a multi-asset platform with strong production and free cash flow, positioning Orezone for near-term growth and long-term value creation. Casa Berardi's established operating history, robust resource and reserve base, and substantial exploration upside across a 37 km mineralized corridor, provide a foundation for sustained growth. Consistent with recent acquisitions of non-core Canadian operating mines, we believe this transaction represents a defining milestone that will generate meaningful value for all shareholders.

I want to thank Franco-Nevada for their sponsorship in this acquisition, and their team's dedication and support throughout. We welcome Hecla Mining as a new major shareholder and are committed to maintaining and building upon their legacy in the region. In addition, we welcome all of Hecla Quebec's employees to the Orezone team, and are excited to continue to advance the long-term success of the Casa Berardi mine for the benefit of all project stakeholders, including local communities and Abitibiwinni First Nation."

"We are delighted to partner with Orezone in this transformative transaction to acquire the Casa Berardi mine and portfolio of exploration properties in Quebec," said Paul Brink, President & CEO of Franco-Nevada Corporation. "Patrick and the Orezone team have an excellent track record operating and developing mines and we look forward to their future success as they advance Casa Berardi's next chapter."

HECLA QUEBEC OVERVIEW

Casa Berardi Mine

Casa Berardi is an established underground and open-pit gold mine located in the Abitibi region of Quebec, a Tier 1 mining jurisdiction with excellent infrastructure and strong community support

The mine has a long-standing operating history, with a proven track record of resource replacement since 1988. The mine has produced over 3.2 million ounces of gold to date and continues to deliver meaningful production and cash flow

As of December 31, 2024, Casa Berardi contained: 1 - 2 - 3 Proven and probable reserves: 1.3 million ounces (14.4 Mt at grade of 2.79 g/t Au) Measured and indicated resources 2 - 0.9 million ounces (4.7 Mt at 5.92 g/t Au) Inferred resources: 0.5 million ounces (2.4 Mt at 6.01 g/t Au)

2026 gold production guidance for Casa Berardi is 83,000 to 91,000 ounces, with the 5-years prior averaging 106,100 ounces of gold production

Significant exploration upside with several well-established mineralized zones open at depth and along strike, in addition to new zones of high-grade mineralization identified outside of existing resources and reserves

Casa Berardi maintains robust health, safety, and environmental performance, reinforcing Orezone's commitment to responsible mining practices



Quebec Exploration Properties

The broader Casa Berardi exploration tenements (19,150 ha) cover 37 km of strike along the Casa Berardi Fault, which hosts the potential for multiple satellite deposits to the main Casa Berardi operation. To date, limited exploration along this primary regional trend has successfully identified several zones of mineralization, the most advanced of which is the Lac Germain prospect located ~7km east of the Casa Berardi mill

Within the acquired exploration portfolio of properties, the Heva-Hosco project is the most advanced, with an established 1.2 million ounce Indicated and 0.6 million ounce Inferred resource3. The project is located ~150 km southeast of Casa Berardi, along the Cadillac-Larder Lake fault, which hosts multiple large scale gold mines including LaRonde (~20 km away) and Canadian Malartic (~45 km away)

BENEFITS TO OREZONE SHAREHOLDERS

Transforms Orezone into a diversified gold producer with operations in a Tier 1 jurisdiction, enhancing resilience and growth potential

Delivers immediate scale and increased gold production, strengthening Orezone's leverage to the gold price and capacity to generate free cash flow

Establishes a robust growth pipeline through Casa Berardi's proven resource & reserve base and significant exploration upside across a 37 km mineralized corridor

Improves financial flexibility with a balanced funding structure, supporting future development initiatives while maintaining a strong balance sheet



Creates a multi-asset portfolio that reduces single-asset risk and positions Orezone for sustained value creation

Unlocks strategic opportunities for multiple expansion and enhanced capital markets visibility through increased size and jurisdictional diversification

Aligns with Orezone's ESG commitment by adding an operation with a strong health, safety, and environmental track record



___________________

1For the purposes of the ASX Listing Rule 5.12, the Company cautions that the Casa Berardi gold mine Mineral Reserves and Mineral Resources are not reported in accordance with the 2012 Joint Ore Reserves Committee's Australasian Code for Reporting of Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves ("JORC Code"). The Casa Berardi gold mine Mineral Reserves and Mineral Resource estimates are foreign estimates prepared in accordance with National Instrument 43-101. A competent person has not done sufficient work to classify the foreign estimate as a Mineral Resource in accordance with the JORC Code, and it is uncertain whether further evaluation and exploration will result in an estimate reportable under the JORC Code. Please refer to Annexure A of this press release for additional technical information relating to the foreign estimate.

2 Exclusive of Mineral Reserves.

3 Mineral Resource and Mineral Reserve estimates for Casa Berardi and Heva-Hosco as at December 31, 2024 are derived from, and should be read in conjunction with, Hecla Mining's disclosure documents filed on SEDAR+ subsequent to the filing of the Casa Berardi Technical Report.

BENEFITS TO CASA BERARDI STAKEHOLDERS

Orezone values the Casa Berardi team's expertise and will rely on their experience to ensure operational continuity

The Company will invest in exploration and development to extend mine life and maximize Casa Berardi's potential

Orezone will maintain strong community and stakeholder relationships, honoring all existing commitments and agreements



TRANSACTION SUMMARY AND TIMING

Under the Agreement, Orezone will acquire all of the issued and outstanding common shares of Hecla Quebec, holding 100% of Hecla's interest in the Casa Berardi mine and a portfolio of exploration properties located in Quebec.

Orezone has agreed to pay Hecla as follows4-

Upfront and Deferred Consideration: $352M $160M in cash to be paid upon closing of the Transaction (the "Upfront Cash Consideration") $112M in common shares of Orezone through the issuance of 65,757,265 Orezone common shares 5 $80M of deferred cash payments $30M to be paid 18 months following the closing of the Transaction; and $50M to be paid 30 months following the closing of the Transaction

Contingent Consideration: up to $241M Up to $10M linked to gold price in the first 24 months after closing of the Transaction ("Gold Price Contingent Consideration") $5M to be paid should the gold price average at or above $4,200/oz in the first year following closing of the Transaction; and $5M to be paid should the gold price average at or above $4,200/oz in the second year following closing of the Transaction. Up to $231M based on permitting and future gold production, open pit or underground, from the Principal and WMCP open pits (the "Contingent Production Payments") $20M on grant of permits: separate cash payments of $10M upon receipt of permit approvals for each of the Principal and WMCP open pits Up to $211M through ongoing payments of: $80/oz for the first 500,000 oz of production from the Principal and WMCP pits up to $40M; and $180/oz for subsequent production from the Principal and WMCP pits up to $171M





Orezone anticipates closing of the Transaction will occur in the first quarter of 2026. Closing of the Transaction is subject to certain conditions, including, among other things, receipt of all required regulatory approvals (including the approval of the Toronto Stock Exchange, Australian Securities Exchange, and approval, or expiry of the waiting period, under the Competition Act (Canada)), and other customary closing conditions for a transaction of this nature.



___________________

4 No funds raised under the Company's ASX Prospectus dated July 11, 2025 will be used to fund the Transaction.

5 Issued at a deemed price of C$2.33 based on the 5-day volume-weighted average price of Orezone's common shares on the TSX immediately prior to the date of the Agreement.

TRANSACTION FINANCING

The Transaction has been structured by Orezone to take advantage of its strong balance sheet and free cash flow from its Bombore mine. The Upfront Cash Consideration will be funded from a combination of cash on hand and a gold stream from Franco-Nevada.

Orezone has entered into an agreement for a $100M gold stream (the "Gold Stream"). Under the terms of the Gold Stream, Orezone will deliver to Franco-Nevada fixed deliveries of 1,625 oz of gold per quarter for the first five years, after which the stream percentage will be 5.0% of gold production thereafter. Orezone will receive a cash payment equal to 20% spot gold price for each ounce delivered to Franco-Nevada.

ADVISORS AND COUNSEL

BMO Capital Markets is acting as financial advisor to Orezone, and Stikeman Elliott LLP is acting as legal counsel.

GenCap Mining Advisory is acting as financial advisor to Hecla, and Cassels Brock & Blackwell LLP is acting as legal counsel.

CONFERENCE CALL AND WEBCAST

Orezone will host a conference call and audio webcast to discuss the acquisition of Hecla Mining's Quebec assets on Monday, January 26 at 1:30pm PT/4:30pm ET/8:30am AEDT:

Webcast

Timing: January 26, 2026 at 1:30pm PT/4:30pm ET/8:30am AEDT

Conference call webcast link: https://edge.media-server.com/mmc/p/wt2e5cz6

Conference Call

Toll-free in U.S. and Canada: 1-800-715-9871

International callers: +646-307-1963

Event ID: 7621049

QUALIFIED PERSONS AND TECHNICAL REPORT

Rob Henderson, P. Eng., VP Technical Services, Orezone has reviewed and approved the scientific and technical information contained in this press release other than the scientific and technical information derived from the Casa Berardi Technical Report. Mr. Henderson is a "Qualified Person" under NI 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101") and is not independent of Orezone within the meaning of NI 43-101.

Mr. Michael S Lindholm, C.P.G., RESPEC Company LLC, has reviewed and approved the scientific and technical information contained in this press release that is derived from the technical report entitled NI 43-101 Technical Report on the Casa Berardi Mine, Northwestern Quebec, Canada, dated March 28, 2024, with an effective date of December 31, 2023. Mr. Lindholm is a "Qualified" Person" under NI 43-101 and is independent of Orezone and Hecla within the meaning of NI 43-101. Mr. Lindholm reviewed the Casa Berardi Technical Report on behalf of Hecla Mining. To the best of Orezone's knowledge, information, and belief, there is no new material scientific or technical information that would make the disclosure of the mineral resources or mineral reserves inaccurate or misleading. The Casa Berardi Technical Report is available under Hecla Mining's SEDAR+ profile at www.sedarplus.ca.

COMPETENT PERSONS

In accordance with ASX Listing Rule 5.12, the information in this announcement relating to the NI 43-101 Mineral Resource Estimate for the Casa Berardi Mine is confirmed as an accurate representation of the available data for the project by RESPEC. Michael S. Lindholm, C.P.G., an employee of RESPEC and who is one of the authors for the NI 43-101 report, is a member of the American Institute of Professional Geologists (AIPG) and has sufficient experience that is relevant to the style of mineralisation and type of deposit under consideration, and to the activity being undertaken to qualify as a Competent Person, as defined in the JORC Code. Mr. Lindholm has over 30 years' experience and is a full-time employee as Principal Geologist for RESPEC. Mr. Lindholm and RESPEC consent to the inclusion in this announcement of the matters based on this information in the form and context in which they appear.

ABOUT OREZONE GOLD CORPORATION

Orezone Gold Corporation (TSX: ORE | ASX: ORE | OTCQX: ORZCF) is a West African gold producer engaged in mining, developing, and exploring the Bombore Gold Mine in Burkina Faso. Combined production from the oxide and stage 1 hard rock operations is forecasted to total between 170,000 and 185,000 ounces in 2026. The Company is also advancing stage 2 of the hard rock expansion, which is forecasted to increase annual production to between 220,000 and 250,000 ounces.

CONTACT INFORMATION

Patrick Downey

President and Chief Executive Officer

Kevin MacKenzie

Vice President, Corporate Development and Investor Relations

Tel: +1 (778) 945-8977

info@orezone.com / www.orezone.com

For further information please contact Orezone at +1 (778) 945-8977 or visit the Company's website at www.orezone.com -

This announcement was authorized for release by the Company's Board of Directors.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains certain information that may constitute "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian Securities laws and "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable U.S. securities laws (together, "forward-looking statements"). Often, but not always, forward looking statements can generally be identified by the use of forward looking words such as "may", "will", "expect", "intend", "plan", "estimate", "anticipate", "continue", and "guidance", or other similar words and may include, without limitation, statements regarding the Transaction, its terms and completion thereof, the Gold Stream, the benefits of the Transaction to Orezone shareholders and other stakeholders, plans, strategies and objectives of management, anticipated production or construction commencement dates and expected costs or production outputs. There can be no assurances that the Transaction will be completed on the terms set out in this press release or at all. Forward-looking statements inherently involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the Company's actual results, performance and achievements to differ materially from any future results, performance or achievements. Relevant factors may include, but are not limited to, receipt of necessary regulatory approvals of the Transaction, changes in commodity prices, foreign exchange fluctuations and general economic conditions, increased costs and demand for production inputs, the speculative nature of exploration and project development, including the risks of obtaining necessary licenses and permits and diminishing quantities or grades of reserves, political and social risks, changes to the regulatory framework within which the Company operates or may in the future operate, environmental conditions including extreme weather conditions, recruitment and retention of personnel, industrial relations issues and litigation. Forward-looking statements are based on the Company's and its management's good faith assumptions relating to the financial, market, regulatory and other relevant environments that will exist and affect the Company's business and operations in the future. The Company does not give any assurance that the assumptions on which forward looking statements are based will prove to be correct, or that the Company's business or operations will not be affected in any material manner by these or other factors not foreseen or foreseeable by the Company or its management or beyond the Company's control. Although the Company attempts and has attempted to identify factors that would cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those disclosed in forward looking statements, there may be other factors that could cause actual results, performance, achievements or events not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended, and many events are beyond the reasonable control of the Company. Accordingly, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements in this press release speak only at the date of issue. Subject to any continuing obligations under applicable law or any relevant stock exchange listing rules, in providing this information the Company does not undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any of the forward-looking statements or to advise of any change in events, conditions or circumstances.

Annexure A

Foreign Estimate (ASX Listing 5.12)
Novel TL1A/IL23p19 b ispecific antibody targets driv ers of disease pathogenesis to overcome the efficacy ceiling in inflammatory bowel disease .

License and collaboration agreement strengthen Boehringer's inflammatory disease pipeline with a potential, first-in-class, pre-clinical asset.

Boehringer receives global rights to the asset, excluding greater China; Simcere is eligible to receive payments of up to EUR 1,058 million

Ingelheim, Germany, and Shanghai, China, 26, January 2026 - Boehringer Ingelheim and Simcere Pharmaceutical Group Ltd. ("Simcere") (HKEX: 2096), today announced a license and collaboration agreement to develop SIM0709, a pre-clinical TL1A/IL23p19 bispecific antibody from Simcere, for the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

Globally, it is estimated that more than three million people are affected by IBD, a lifelong, progressive condition leading to frequent hospitalization and surgeries, significantly impacting patients' quality of life. Current medical options cannot fully prevent or reverse these complications, leaving a clear unmet need. Through this partnership, Boehringer and Simcere aim to advance an innovative approach to potentially redefine treatment possibilities and improve outcomes for patients worldwide.

SIM0709 is a long-acting humanized bispecific antibody developed by Simcere using its proprietary multi-specific antibody platform. It simultaneously targets tumor necrosis factor ligand superfamily member 15 (TL1A) and interleukin-23 (IL-23), thereby blocking two core pathways that drive the onset and progression of IBD. In both in vitro primary cell studies and in vivo animal studies, SIM0709 demonstrated superior synergistic efficacy, even outperforming the combination of the two corresponding monotherapies.

Carine Boustany, US Innovation Unit Site Head and Global Head of Immunology and Respiratory Diseases at Boehringer Ingelheim said, "In IBD, too many patients continue to progress and experience severe complications despite currently available anti-inflammatory therapies. We are excited to join forces with Simcere to accelerate the development of this therapeutic as a potential life changing option for patients living with IBD."

"Simcere's bispecific antibody SIM0709 was engineered with our proprietary multi-specific antibody platform with first-in-class potential for IBD treatment. Partnering with Boehringer Ingelheim, with its long-term commitment and deep expertise in immunology, positions the compound for rigorous global development," said Gaobo Zhou, Chief Investment Officer, Simcere Pharmaceutical Group. "Together we aim to accelerate the clinical development and advance a treatment option that could improve outcomes for patients world-wide affected by IBD."

Under the terms of the agreement Boehringer receives global rights to the asset, excluding greater China. Simcere is eligible to receive an upfront payment as well as success-based development, regulatory and sales milestones up to EUR 1,058 million, as well as royalties on net sales outside of the Greater China territory.



Boehringer Ingelheim

Boehringer Ingelheim is a biopharmaceutical company active in both human and animal health. As one of the industry's top investors in research and development, the company focuses on developing innovative therapies that can improve and extend lives in areas of high unmet medical need. Independent since its foundation in 1885, Boehringer takes a long-term perspective, embedding sustainability along the entire value chain. Our approximately 54,500 employees serve over 130 markets to build a healthier and more sustainable tomorrow. Learn more at www.boehringer-ingelheim.com.



Simcere Pharmaceutical Group Limited

Simcere Pharmaceutical Group Limited(2096.HK) is a pharmaceutical company driven by innovation and focusing on four therapeutic areas including Neuroscience, Oncology, Autoimmune Diseases and Anti-infection. We proactively explore areas with significant unmet needs, and our mission is For patients, for life. Driven by our in-house R&D efforts and synergistic innovation, Simcere has established strategic cooperation partnerships with many innovative companies and research institutes. Learn more at www.simcere.com.

Intended Audiences Notice

This press release is issued from our Corporate Headquarters in Ingelheim, Germany and is intended to provide information about our global business. Please be aware that information relating to the approval status and labels of approved products may vary from country to country, and a country-specific press release on this topic may have been issued in the countries where we do business.
Mark Ward Joins as a Managing Director

Houlihan Lokey, Inc. (NYSE:HLI), the global investment bank, announced today that Mark Ward has joined the firm as a Managing Director in its Business Services Group.

Based across the Manchester and London offices, Mr. Ward will focus on expanding the firm's IT services coverage across Europe. He will work closely with Malte Abrams, Managing Director and Head of IT Services, Europe, in the Business Services Group, and other senior colleagues to deepen the firm's sector expertise and further enhance its client reach across the region.

Mr. Ward brings more than 14 years of investment banking and corporate finance experience, joining from DC Advisory, where he served as a Managing Director advising clients across the IT services sector. His expertise spans IT consulting, software development, data analytics, and managed service providers. Prior to DC Advisory, Mr. Ward held roles at Clearwater International and PwC, gaining widespread experience executing complex M&A and corporate finance transactions.

"Mark's appointment strengthens our European IT Services platform in a critical coverage area, at a time of accelerating sector consolidation," commented Mr. Abrams. "His extensive sector expertise in IT services across the entire value chain, coupled with his proven track record advising on complex transactions, will be invaluable as we support clients navigating an increasingly dynamic and competitive market."

Scott Sergeant, Managing Director and Head of Business Services, Europe, said: "Mark is an outstanding addition to Houlihan Lokey and to our global Business Services Group. His depth of subsector expertise and track record advising middle-market sponsors and businesses across the IT and broader services landscape will materially strengthen our European franchise. His appointment further reinforces our commitment to delivering market-leading advice and outstanding outcomes for clients across the region."

"Houlihan Lokey stood out as a compelling opportunity," said Mr. Ward. "I am delighted to be joining a truly global platform that holds the deep IT services expertise that clients require in today's market. I am excited to leverage the power of the firm for the benefit of our clients and to contribute to the continued growth and success of the Business Services Group."

Houlihan Lokey's Business Services Group has earned a reputation for providing superior service and achieving outstanding results in M&A advisory, capital-raising, restructuring, and financial and valuation advisory services. In 2025, the group was ranked as the No. 1 business services M&A advisor for all global transactions, with 92 deals.*

*2025 M&A Advisory Rankings-All Global Business Services Transactions. LSEG. Excludes accounting firms and brokers.

About Houlihan Lokey

Houlihan Lokey, Inc. (NYSE:HLI) is a leading global investment bank recognized for delivering independent strategic and financial advice to corporations, financial sponsors, and governments. With uniquely deep industry expertise, broad international reach, and a partnership approach rooted in trust, the firm provides innovative, integrated solutions across mergers and acquisitions, capital solutions, financial restructuring, and financial and valuation advisory. Our unmatched transaction volumes provide differentiated, data-driven perspectives that help our clients achieve their most critical goals. To learn more about Houlihan Lokey, please visit HL.com.

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Contacts:

Investor Relations

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Media Relations

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PR@HL.com
84% of European high-risk profile organisations do not feel well equipped to detect and handle insider incidents, according to the Insider Risk Trend Report 2026 published today by insider risk advisory firm Signpost Six.

THE HAGUE, Netherlands, Jan. 27, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- European organisations are under increasing pressure from geopolitical developments but seem to pay insufficient attention to security risks that arise from within. Insider risk - the risk of espionage, sabotage or strategic influence by one's own employees, contractors or suppliers - has become a structural vulnerability.

According to the report, insider risk is no longer incidental, but a fundamental risk in a world where geopolitical conflicts are increasingly fought through economic, technological and social channels. State actors, criminal networks and activist movements are increasingly focusing on the human factor for destabilisation. Working with insiders who already have access to systems, knowledge, and decision-making is often more effective and less visible than classic cyberattacks or physical sabotage.

Signpost Six mentions several geopolitical developments that significantly increase insider risk. The first is the rise of hybrid warfare, in which states increasingly show their rivalry outside the classic military domain. Commercial organisations, from critical infrastructure to technology companies and logistics hubs, are therefore increasingly targeted by espionage and sabotage. "State actors and organised criminal networks are increasingly targeting employees within organisations. Their direct access to locations, people and sensitive information make them an attractive and effective target," says Dennis Bijker, CEO of Signpost Six.

At the same time, state actors are increasingly using criminal networks as proxies to carry out operations with minimal traceability. Employees are increasingly pressured through extreme methods, such as financial temptations, threats and blackmail.

In addition, the globalisation of supply chains has increased the vulnerability of organisations. Access to critical systems and processes increasingly lies with third parties operating under different legal and political regimes. Geopolitical tensions can therefore have a direct impact on daily operations.

The current context makes it clear that technical and physical security alone are no longer sufficient. Organisational resilience requires explicit risk ownership at the administrative level and intensive cooperation between HR, security, risk management and legal departments. Geopolitics no longer takes place exclusively outside the organisation, but also within its walls. When these developments are ignored, employees run the risk of being unintentionally targeted.

Report : https://www.signpostsix.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Insider-Trend-Report-2026-Signpost-Six-PR-Version.pdf

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OSLO, Norway, Jan. 27, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Augere Medical ("Augere"), a European pioneer in AI-assisted colonoscopy, today announced the commercial release of its next-generation software module 1.9 for real-time polyp detection on colonoscopy systems.

The release increases transparency of AI behaviour using the unique real-time Confidence Indicator, giving endoscopists more control over how AI-support is presented during procedures.

A new standard for AI colonoscopy

The software introduces an advanced false-positive reduction filter that increases the framewise sensitivity with more than 20% compared to previous generations, while preserving the same high sensitivity for clinically relevant lesions. Using the new filtering method, Augere has been able to preserve the low false positive rate that users have come to appreciate from the PolypAID system. This helps endoscopists stay focused on true findings, with fewer distractions on the screen and less time spent investigating non-lesions.

"Endoscopists tell us they want the benefits of a highly sensitive AI for adenoma detection, but not at the price of constant, unnecessary alerts," says Jon H. Hoem, CEO at Augere. "This release is designed to make AI support feel calmer and more usable during back-to-back procedures, especially in busy European screening units."

Transparent AI through the confidence indicator aligns with EU expectations

The software has been developed with a particular focus on European hospitals and endoscopy units where ESGE-style quality indicators and scrutiny of AI-related harms (false positives, distractions, additional time) are central to adoption decisions. By combining false-positive control, rapid confidence stabilization, and practical integration with existing endoscopy infrastructures, the release is positioned as an enabling step towards broader, routine use of AI in colonoscopy.

"Transparency is no longer optional for clinical AI," commented Pia H. Smedsrud, Chief Medical Officer at Augere. "Showing confidence in an intuitive way gives physicians an immediate sense of how much weight to put on each alert, while keeping the final decision strictly with the endoscopists. Although the final decision is always the endoscopists' responsibility, the indicator provides an intuitive way and immediate sense of how much weight to put on each alert."

Availability

The new software version will be available for installations in selected European markets starting in Q1 2026, with a phased rollout to additional centres thereafter. Existing customers will be offered upgrade pathways that preserve their current hardware investments.

About Augere Medical

Augere Medical is a commercial stage Norwegian medical technology company founded in 2018 and is developing systems which are clinically robust and provide transparent AI solutions for gastrointestinal endoscopy. Augere's first product, the PolypAIDTM system, is being developed in close cooperation with leading colonoscopists and external research groups such as Simula Research Laboratory. The company is supported by Norwegian investors and has received public grants from Innovation Norway and the Research Council of Norway. Augere has started the European launch of the PolypAID system, and this platform is not available in other geographies at the current time. The tagline for all our efforts is "Confidence in outcomes" which highlights the expectations of the endoscopists as well as the patients.



For more information, please contact:

Jon H. Hoem

CEO

Mobile +41 79 606 2 902

jon@augere.md
Sia continues its US expansion with the acquisition of Kaiser Associates, a premier strategy consulting firm headquartered in the United States with a United Kingdom (UK) branch, known for its expertise in corporate strategy and private equity advisory. Kaiser Associates operates from offices in Washington, D.C., New York, and London.

Founded in 1981 as one of the premier boutique strategy firms in the United States, by Michael M. Kaiser, Kaiser Associates brings together a team of 65 consultants. The firm has built its reputation on longstanding relationships with Fortune 500 C-suite executives from the technology, finance, and consumer goods sectors, as well as leading global private equity funds. Its service portfolio includes go-to-market strategy, growth opportunity assessments, benchmarking and best-practice programs, market landscaping, and structural attractiveness studies.

This acquisition marks a significant milestone in expanding Sia's strategic advisory capabilities, as the Group will launch a dedicated Corporate Strategy, Private Equity and M&A Business Line that will be immediately present in the US, the UK, France, the Middle East and Australia.

As part of the operation, Ali Cumber, Paul Mumma and Jon Meyerholz, who currently lead Kaiser Associates, will join Sia as Partners. Jon Meyerholz will head the newly formed business line, taking on the role of Managing Partner.

"Kaiser Associates' strategic and analytical DNA aligns seamlessly with Sia's longstanding capabilities in strategy and management consulting, further reinforcing Sia's position as a global advisory leader," said Matthieu Courtecuisse, CEO of Sia. "This acquisition represents a significant step forward, broadening Sia's North American presence and reinforcing our value proposition for global private equity clients."

"We found in Sia the same data-driven foundations that have guided us since our founding. We share the same work ethos centered on speed, flexibility, and responsiveness-qualities that give us a competitive edge in a highly dynamic market dominated by substantially larger firms," added Jon Meyerholz, Partner at Kaiser Associates. "Joining Sia is a unique opportunity for us to gain access to a larger integrated platform, integrating AI into our services, to significantly expand our geographic coverage, and to transform ourselves into a comprehensive one-stop-shop offering."

About Sia

Sia is a next-generation, global management consulting group. Founded in 1999, we were born digital. Today our strategy and management capabilities are augmented by data science, enhanced by creativity and driven by responsibility. We're optimists for change and we help clients initiate, navigate and benefit from transformation. We believe optimism is a force multiplier, helping clients to mitigate downside and maximize opportunity. With expertise across a broad range of sectors and services, our 3,000 consultants serve clients worldwide from 48 locations in 19 countries. Our expertise delivers results. Our optimism transforms outcomes.

Visit our website and follow us on LinkedIn @Sia

Dive into the agentic revolution with our Agent Store https://siagents.ai

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260127080554/en/

Contacts:

Press

press@sia-partners.com

Beatrice ALVADO beatrice.alvado@sia-partners.com
International healthcare leader brings 25+ years of experience in life sciences, transformation and global growth to PCCA UK.

PRUDHOE, UK, Jan. 27, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Emma Rooth has been appointed Chief Executive Officer of PCCA UK by Precision Health Holdings, the strategic holding company of PCCA UK and other healthcare innovators focused on advancing personalised medicine. Her appointment to this new leadership role on January 6, 2026, represents a key next step for PCCA UK as the organisation continues to strengthen its position and expand its impact across the United Kingdom and Europe.

Rooth is a strategic and commercially driven executive with more than 25 years of leadership experience across the life sciences and healthcare sectors. Recognised as Inspiring Change Leader of the Year 2024, she has led complex business transformations and international growth across the pharmaceutical and healthcare sectors. Her career spans senior leadership roles focused on strategy, growth and innovation across highly regulated pharmaceutical and healthcare environments.

Most recently, she served as Chief Executive Officer of Torbay Pharmaceuticals, where she transformed the company into a leading contract manufacturing organisation (CMO). During her eight-year tenure, Torbay expanded beyond UK operations to serve international customers and partners. Rooth oversaw the business's successful transition from National Health Services (NHS) ownership to private equity, implemented major infrastructure upgrades and led the organisation to FDA inspection readiness. Prior to Torbay Pharmaceuticals, Rooth held senior leadership roles as Commercial Director (Public Sector) at BUPA UK, where she drove public sector growth, and Director of Business Development at AAH Pharmaceuticals, where she spearheaded change management initiatives and scaled revenues within the pharma services business.

Rooth also serves as a Non-Executive Director for UK BioCentre and Brain in Hand, contributing governance and commercial expertise to innovative life sciences and digital health ventures.

"Emma brings a rare combination of strategic vision, operational leadership and deep understanding of UK and European healthcare markets," said Jim Smith, Chief Executive Officer of Precision Health Holdings. "She is a proven leader with a strong record of building teams, expanding market presence and leading organisations through periods of growth. We are confident she is the right leader to build on PCCA UK's strong foundation and lead the company into its next phase."

"I am honoured to join PCCA UK at such an exciting time," Rooth said. "PCCA has a strong reputation for quality, innovation and partnership across the compounding and personalised medicine landscape. I look forward to working with the team to build on that legacy, strengthen relationships with our partners and support the evolving needs of patients and healthcare professionals across the UK and Europe."

Rooth's appointment underscores PCCA UK's continued investment in exceptional leadership and long-term growth as the organisation builds on its heritage of leading-edge quality, innovation and service excellence across the UK and Europe.

# # #

About PCCA UK

PCCA UK Ltd. is a leading provider of pharmaceutical ingredients, formulation support and compounding expertise serving pharmacies, hospitals and healthcare professionals across the United Kingdom and Europe. As part of the Precision Health Holdings global network, PCCA UK directly meets the personalised medication needs of patients through its compounding pharmacy, as well as offers specials manufacture, supply and distribution services. With a heritage of innovation and quality spanning more than 40 years, PCCA remains committed to advancing the science and practice of personalised medicine through collaboration and service excellence. For more information, visit www.pccarx.co.uk.

About Precision Health Holdings

Precision Health Holdings is a strategic holding company uniting a family of healthcare innovators to advance the science and practice of personalised medicine. Guided by its vision to make personalised medicine a standard of care for patients everywhere, the company provides shared leadership, capital resources and strategic alignment that enables each business to grow, collaborate and deliver meaningful impact. Its mission is to improve and extend patients' lives by bringing innovative approaches to solve health challenges - building a stronger, more integrated enterprise that drives quality, innovation and value across the healthcare spectrum.

Attachment

Emma Rooth

Kim Speairs Precision Health Holdings 817-729-5064 kspeairs@pccarx.com
SEOUL, KR / ACCESS Newswire / January 27, 2026 / ChoiceTech Korea (CTK), a company specializing in AI-based skin and scalp diagnostic solutions, announced that Olive Young's "SKIN SCAN" service-powered by CTK's technology-has surpassed one million cumulative uses. Operating at scale across Olive Young's retail network, the service has recently expanded into an integrated digital platform linked with the Olive Young mobile app, enabling customers to access and manage their skin analysis data over time.

At the core of the service is ChoiceDx, CTK's AI-powered diagnostic solution brand. Leveraging proprietary algorithms and high-precision optical analysis, ChoiceDx measures key skin indicators including skin type, pigmentation, sebum levels, pores, and wrinkles. The system is currently operational in major Olive Young stores, where it has become one of the retailer's flagship in-store beauty diagnostic services.

Through this expanded collaboration, Olive Young has transformed SKIN SCAN from a one-time, in-store experience into a long-term digital skincare management service. After receiving a diagnosis in-store, customers can now access their skin analysis results and historical data directly through the Olive Young mobile app, enabling them to build structured and personalized skincare routines over time.

The one-million-use milestone demonstrates that CTK's AI diagnostic technology can operate reliably at scale. This case illustrates how skin and scalp diagnostics are evolving beyond standalone devices into a core service infrastructure within beauty retail ecosystems.

"Our collaboration with Olive Young marks a turning point where our AI diagnostic technology has moved beyond pilot validation into a fully operational service platform," said Wonsuk Choi, CEO of ChoiceTech Korea. "We will continue working with Olive Young and other global partners to help establish new standards for skin and scalp diagnostic experiences."

CTK currently supplies its skin and scalp diagnostic solutions to partners in more than 60 countries. Leveraging the technological expertise and operational experience accumulated in Korea's advanced retail environment, the company plans to further accelerate its global expansion.

About ChoiceTech Korea (CTK)

ChoiceTech Korea (CTK) is a global leader specializing in AI-based optical design and image analysis solutions. With core expertise spanning precision optics, AI algorithms, IoT, and mobile UX, the company delivers innovative diagnostic technologies for the beauty-tech and med-tech industries.

At the heart of CTK's innovation is ChoiceDx, a premier AI-powered diagnostic brand that provides high-precision analysis for skin, scalp, and hair. Trusted by partners in over 60 countries, CTK's solutions-ranging from professional-grade in-store devices to integrated digital platforms-turn complex data into meaningful insights, helping brands establish new standards for personalized customer experiences. Dedicated to "Innovation for People," ChoiceTech Korea continues to lead the digital transformation of the global beauty retail ecosystem.

For more information, visit www.choicetech.kr.

Contact:

Vallabh Rao

vallabh@besuccess.com

SOURCE: ChoiceTech Korea

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/consumer-and-retail-products/choicetech-korea-ctk-powers-ai-skin-diagnostics-at-retail-scale-as-oli-1130907
The first images from Europe's pioneering meteorological infrared sounder were unveiled today at the EU Space Conference in Brussels, marking a major advance in the ability to monitor how the atmosphere evolves before and during severe weather.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260127490399/en/

Full Earth disc image from the MTG-S Infrared Sounder showing a surface-temperature-sensitive channel, captured between 12:45 and 15:30 UTC on 15 November 2025. The image distinguishes land and sea surface temperatures as well as cloud-top temperatures, highlighting cloud structures and weather systems. Hot desert regions appear in red, while cold cloud tops are shown in blue. Image: Data acquired on 15 November 2025 and processed by industrial partners Thales and OHB under the supervision of EUMETSAT and ESA. Visual produced by EUMETSAT.

The images were captured by the Infrared Sounder (IRS) flying aboard Meteosat Third Generation Sounder-1 (MTG-S1), the first ever European satellite in geostationary orbit to carry a hyperspectral atmospheric sounder.

By scanning Europe every 30 minutes across nearly 2,000 infrared wavelengths, the Infrared Sounder will deliver three-dimensional information on temperature, humidity and atmospheric composition at different altitudes. It will detect subtle changes in atmospheric instability, temperature and moisture often before clouds begin to form significantly enhancing nowcasting, numerical weather prediction and climate monitoring.

In addition, with continuous half-hourly coverage and kilometre-scale resolution over Europe (around 7km), the Infrared Sounder will enable diurnally resolved monitoring of key atmospheric pollutants. This capability will significantly strengthen air-quality monitoring, particularly over urban areas, by providing more frequent and detailed information on atmospheric composition throughout the day.

"This is a major step forward for weather forecasting in Europe," said Phil Evans, Director-General of EUMETSAT. "By revealing atmospheric instability in three dimensions before clouds even begin to form, the Infrared Sounder will allow meteorologists to monitor how the atmosphere evolves and anticipate the development of severe weather something that has never before been possible from geostationary orbit."

The Meteosat Third Generation Sounder-1 satellite will complement observations from EUMETSAT's imager satellites, including Meteosat-12, combining atmospheric profiles with imagery and lightning detection to follow the full cycle of a storm.

Meteosat Third Generation Sounder-1 is operated by EUMETSAT from its headquarters in Darmstadt, Germany. The satellite and the Infrared Sounder instrument were developed through the European Space Agency (ESA) by an industrial consortium led by Thales Alenia Space and OHB System AG, fulfilling the requirements established by EUMETSAT in consultation with the meteorological services in its member states.

Discover here all the first images and associated data from the Infrared Sounder and see how this groundbreaking instrument will transform our understanding of the atmosphere, weather and climate.

To download the images, please visit our dedicated press page.

For more information, see the EUMETSAT website.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260127490399/en/

Contacts:

EUMETSAT Media Relations:

Tel.: +49 6151 8073157

Email: press@eumetsat.int

www.eumetsat.int
LAS VEGAS, NV / ACCESS Newswire / January 27, 2026 / After nearly four decades of serving Nevada families, Bertoldo Carter Smith & Cullen is announcing the launch of its new brand identity: Carter Cullen. The transition marks an important milestone in the Firm's history, reflecting the Firm's next era of leadership while honoring the legacy that shaped it.

Although the name is changing, the Firm emphasizes that its mission remains unchanged. Clients will continue working with the same dedicated attorneys and team members who have built the Firm's reputation of compassion, integrity, and strong legal advocacy.

"For 40 years, we have helped people through some of the most difficult moments of their lives," said partner Brett Carter. "The Carter Cullen name represents our continued promise to show up for our clients with clarity, strength, and the highest level of care."

The rebrand follows a year-long strategic assessment focused on strengthening the Firm's visibility and ensuring long-term alignment with the team guiding it forward. As Nevada continues to grow, the new identity positions the Firm to better meet the needs of individuals and families seeking trusted support after an injury.

The Firm continues to center its work around Personal Injury, Workers' Compensation, and Social Security Disability, while also supporting clients through other serious injury claims. Across every practice area, the Firm remains committed to delivering a client-first experience rooted in listening, education, and personalized strategy. The team continues to offer bilingual services, 24/7 availability, and representation on a contingency-fee basis meaning clients pay no fees unless the Firm secures a recovery on their behalf.

"Our clients trust us with some of the hardest chapters of their lives," said partner Lindsay Cullen. "This new name reflects the leadership guiding us into the future, but the heart of the Firm remains exactly the same. We will always be here to support the people of Nevada with honesty, compassion, and an unwavering commitment to doing what is right."

With this transition, the Firm is reaffirming its long-standing commitment to delivering guidance grounded in clarity, compassion, and experience. The Carter Cullen name represents a unified direction for the future and a continued promise to stand beside clients with the same level of care the Firm has been known for since its founding.

ABOUT CARTER CULLEN

Carter Cullen is a Nevada-based law firm representing individuals and families in Personal Injury, Workers' Compensation, and Social Security Disability matters. For nearly 40 years, the Firm has built its reputation on compassionate advocacy, clear communication, and strategic legal guidance. With a legacy grounded in service to the community, Carter Cullen continues to stand beside clients through complex medical, legal, and financial challenges. For more information, visit cartercullen.com or call 702.800.0000.

MEDIA CONTACT:

Darren Hankel

dhankel@cimmp.com

702.944.2464

SOURCE: Carter Cullen



View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/business-and-professional-services/bertoldo-carter-smith-and-cullen-announces-rebrand-to-carter-cul-1130844
DUBAI, UAE, Jan. 27, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Blockchain for Good Alliance (BGA) , a global non-profit initiative founded by Bybit dedicated to leveraging blockchain for societal impact, and FLock.io , a privacy-first decentralised AI pioneer, have announced the signing of a partnership to explore collaboration focused on decentralised AI, blockchain, and public-good initiatives. This marks an expansion from "Blockchain for Good" to "Blockchain and AI for Good."

FLock.io is now BGA's Strategic AI Partner within its network. The role involves close engagement with projects within BGA's ecosystem, providing advisory and technical support where relevant. The parties will also explore opportunities to introduce FLock.io's API platform and its FOMO AI marketplace to relevant projects.

"This partnership reflects our commitment to ensuring decentralised AI is developed in service of real-world impact," said Jiahao Sun, Founder and CEO of FLock.io. "By working with Blockchain for Good Alliance and its global ecosystem, we aim to support builders and institutions with open, privacy-preserving AI solutions that aligns incentives and expands access to responsible AI technologies."

The collaboration will explore opportunities for joint initiatives with academic institutions, research organisations, and public-sector bodies across the globe. Such collaborations may include joint workshops, lectures, webinars, pilot projects, or research initiatives at the intersection of AI, blockchain and public good.

One of the first joint initiatives of the partnership is Blockchain and AI for Good Impact Germany Tour in early 2026. This non-profit, education-driven national university program is designed to foster Web3 & AI innovation for social good across leading German academic institutions. It will include on-campus meetups, mentoring and advisory support, culminating in student teams building Web3/AI projects for social impact. The program will also feature a panel discussion with politicians, founders, and professors. Selected teams will have the opportunity to pitch their innovations to a jury of industry leaders and partners at German Blockchain & AI Week 2026, with winning teams earning awards and support to further their development.

"We are incredibly excited to partner with FLock.io, signaling our intent to champion blockchain-powered AI initiatives that drive positive global change," said Glenn Tan, Director of Global Affairs of BGA. "With FLock.io's focus on using blockchain and federated learning to make AI safer, better and more accessible, it is a key partner for us to advance this vision".

In addition, FLock.io and BGA also plan to collaborate on events and community initiatives designed to engage developers, researchers, and industry stakeholders working on AI-for-Good and Blockchain-for-Good use cases.

Bybit / TheCryptoArk / BGA

About Blockchain for Good Alliance (BGA)

Blockchain for Good Alliance (BGA) is a global nonprofit initiative founded by Bybit, dedicated to advancing blockchain as a tool to address real-world problems. By convening leaders, innovators, and organisations from across the blockchain industry, BGA seeks to drive innovation, collaboration and action toward a more sustainable and equitable world.

For more information:

Email: hello@chainforgood.org

Website: www.chainforgood.org

Twitter: www.x.com/chainforgood

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/blockchainforgoodalliance/

About FLock.io

FLock.io is a privacy-first AI pioneer building decentralised AI models and platforms. Its incentive-aligned architecture allows data owners, compute providers, and AI engineers to collaborate securely without exposing raw data, ushering in a new era of privacy-preserving, democratised AI.

Email: hello@flock.io

Website: https://www.flock.io/

Twitter: https://x.com/flock_io

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/flock-io

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2869586/image.jpg

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2386817/Blockchain_For_Good_Logo.jpg

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/blockchain-for-good-alliance-bga-and-flockio-enter-strategic-partnership-to-advance-blockchain-and-ai-for-good-302670241.html
HONG KONG, Jan 27, 2026 - (ACN Newswire) - The Antigravity A1 standard bundle, launched by Insta360, is the world's first 8K panoramic drone, focusing on panoramic imaging and immersive FPV control, offering an innovative experience of "shoot once, freely compose in post-production." Since its release, the product has garnered widespread attention from both the industry and consumers. According to a recent report by Wellsenn XR, the BOM cost of the Antigravity A1 standard bundle is approximately $612.09, with a total hardware cost of about $687.09. Based on an exchange rate of 7 and a value-added tax (VAT) of 13%, the after-tax total cost of the Antigravity A1 standard bundle is approximately 5,512.52 RMB.



Breakdown of total hardware cost by category:



Micro OLED screen cost: approximately $130, accounting for 18.92%. SOC cost: approximately $101, accounting for 14.70%. Camera module cost: approximately $68, accounting for 9.90%. Pancake lens cost: approximately $40, accounting for 5.82%. RAM cost: approximately $39, accounting for 5.68%. ROM cost: approximately $32, accounting for 4.66%. Overall, the combined core cost of the screen, SOC chip, optical module, camera, RAM, and ROM amounts to $410, accounting for 59.67% of the total.



Breakdown of total hardware cost by supply chain manufacturer:



SeeYA, as the Micro OLED screen supplier, contributes approximately $130 in value, accounting for 18.92%. Qualcomm, as the supplier of the flight goggles SOC, power management chip, and WiFi/Bluetooth chip, contributes approximately $85 in value, accounting for 12.37%. Luxshare, as the drone manufacturer, contributes approximately $49 in value, accounting for 7.13%. Goertek, as the Pancake module supplier, contributes approximately $40 in value, accounting for 5.82%. Ambarella, as the supplier of the drone AI vision processor, contributes approximately $35 in value, accounting for 5.09%. Micron, as the RAM supplier, contributes approximately $32 in value, accounting for 4.66%. The drone SOC adopts D-Robots Sunrise 5 derived from Horizon Robotics.



Breakdown of total hardware cost by component type:



Chip cost is the highest, at approximately $276.56, accounting for 40.25%. Optical component cost: approximately $176, accounting for 25.62%. OEM/ODM cost: approximately $75, accounting for 10.92%. Camera cost: approximately $68, accounting for 9.90%. Structural component cost: approximately $31.6, accounting for 4.60%.



Breakdown of total hardware cost by supplier nationality:



Domestic suppliers contribute approximately $506.53 in value, accounting for 73.72%. Overseas suppliers contribute approximately $180.56 in value, accounting for 26.28%.



Within overseas suppliers: U.S. suppliers contribute approximately $170.56 in value, accounting for 24.82%. Japanese suppliers contribute approximately $4.2 in value, accounting for 0.61%. Dutch suppliers contribute approximately $3 in value, accounting for 0.44%. Swiss suppliers contribute approximately $2.8 in value, accounting for 0.41%.







Copyright 2026 ACN Newswire . All rights reserved.





 2026 JCN Newswire
Novel TL1A/IL23p19 bispecific antibody targets drivers of disease pathogenesis to overcome the efficacy ceiling in inflammatory bowel disease.

License and collaboration agreement strengthen Boehringer's inflammatory disease pipeline with a potential, first-in-class, pre-clinical asset.

Boehringer receives global rights to the asset, excluding greater China; Simcere is eligible to receive payments of up to EUR 1,058 million

SHANGHAI, Jan. 27, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Simcere Pharmaceutical Group Ltd. ("Simcere") (HKEX: 2096) and Boehringer Ingelheim, today announced a license and collaboration agreement to develop SIM0709, a pre-clinical TL1A/IL23p19 bispecific antibody from Simcere, for the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

Globally, it is estimated that more than three million people are affected by IBD, a lifelong, progressive condition leading to frequent hospitalization and surgeries, significantly impacting patients' quality of life. Current medical options cannot fully prevent or reverse these complications, leaving a clear unmet need. Through this partnership, Boehringer and Simcere aim to advance an innovative approach to potentially redefine treatment possibilities and improve outcomes for patients worldwide.

SIM0709 is a long-acting humanized bispecific antibody developed by Simcere using its proprietary multi-specific antibody platform. It simultaneously targets tumor necrosis factor ligand superfamily member 15 (TL1A) and interleukin-23 (IL-23), thereby blocking two core pathways that drive the onset and progression of IBD. Both in vitro primary cell studies and in vivo animal studies, SIM0709 demonstrated superior synergistic efficacy, even outperforming the combination of the two corresponding monotherapies.

Carine Boustany, US Innovation Unit Site Head and Global Head of Immunology and Respiratory Diseases at Boehringer Ingelheim said, "In IBD, too many patients continue to progress and experience severe complications despite currently available anti-inflammatory therapies. We are excited to join forces with Simcere to accelerate the development of this therapeutic as a potential life changing option for patients living with IBD."

"Simcere's bispecific antibody SIM0709 was engineered with our proprietary multi-specific antibody platform with first-in-class potential for IBD treatment. Partnering with Boehringer Ingelheim, with its long-term commitment and deep expertise in immunology, positions the compound for rigorous global development," said Gaobo Zhou, Chief Investment Officer, Simcere Pharmaceutical Group. "Together we aim to accelerate the clinical development and advance a treatment option that could improve outcomes for patients world-wide affected by IBD."

Under the terms of the agreement Boehringer receives global rights to the asset, excluding greater China. Simcere is eligible to receive an upfront payment as well as success-based development, regulatory and sales milestones up to EUR 1,058 million, as well as royalties on net sales outside of the Greater China territory.

This marks Simcere's second out- licensing transaction in the autoimmune field. As of January 2026, Simcere has completed a total of 5 out-licensing deals for its self-developed novel drug technologies, with a total potential transaction value of approximately $4.6 billion.

About Simcere Pharmaceutical Group Limited

Simcere Pharmaceutical Group Limited(2096.HK)is a pharmaceutical company driven by innovation and focusing on four therapeutic areas including Neuroscience, Oncology, Autoimmune Diseases and Anti-infection. We proactively explore areas with significant unmet needs, and our mission is For patients, for life. Driven by our in-house R&D efforts and synergistic innovation, Simcere has established strategic cooperation partnerships with many innovative companies and research institutes. Learn more at www.simcere.com.

About Boehringer Ingelheim

Boehringer Ingelheim is a biopharmaceutical company active in both human and animal health. As one of the industry's top investors in research and development, the company focuses on developing innovative therapies that can improve and extend lives in areas of high unmet medical need. Independent since its foundation in 1885, Boehringer takes a long-term perspective, embedding sustainability along the entire value chain. Our approximately 54,500 employees serve over 130 markets to build a healthier and more sustainable tomorrow. Learn more at www.boehringer-ingelheim.com.

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2870432/17694775722810.jpg

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/boehringer-ingelheim-and-simcere-partner-to-advance-a-dual-target-antibody-treatment-to-address-unmet-needs-in-inflammatory-bowel-disease-302671140.html


BRUSSELS/FRANKFURT/PARIS (dpa-AFX) - After nearly two decades of negotiations, the European Union and India have successfully concluded a landmark Free Trade Agreement.



The FTA was finalized at the 16th EU-India Summit in New Delhi, opening a new chapter in the EU-India Strategic Partnership.



Described by both European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi as 'the mother of all deals', the agreement will pave the way for India to open up its vast and guarded market to free trade with the EU and expand market access for Indian exports to Europe.



This is the most ambitious trade opening that India has ever granted to a trade partner. It will give a significant competitive advantage for key EU industrial and agri-food sectors, granting companies privileged access to the world's most populous country.



India will grant the EU tariff reductions that none of its other trading partners have received. For example, tariffs on cars are gradually going down from 110% to as low as 10%, while they will be fully abolished for car parts after five to ten years. Tariffs ranging up to 44% on machinery, 22% on chemicals and 11% on pharmaceuticals will also be mostly eliminated.



The FTA will be formally signed only later this year after it is approved by the European Parliament and the European Council.



Trade between India and the 27-nation bloc, its biggest trading partner,is worth $136.5 billion.



The deal was announced after a meeting between Von der Leyen and Narendra Modi, also attended by European Council President Antonio Costa.



Both the the European leaders were guests of honor at India's 77th Republic Day Parade celebrations on Monday.



Modi said, 'The agreement will bring major opportunities for the 1.4 billion people of India and the millions of people in Europe.'



'This agreement represents 25 percent of the global GDP and one-third of global trade,' Modi said while inaugurating the India Energy Week conference on Tuesday.



Von der Leyen said, 'In this increasingly volatile world, Europe chooses cooperation and strategic partnerships. Today, we have signed the EU-India Free Trade Agreement - the mother of all trade deals. We are opening an incredible market for seamless trade, investments and drastic reduction in tariffs for two billion people. And our Security and Defense Partnership will increase our resilience against all forms of threats. Today, we move forward together, committed to our truly transformative partnership.'



The major trade deal comes at a larger geopolitical context, especially as both European countries and India facing pressure from President Donald Trump. He has threatened to escalate the trade war with European allies for opposing a proposed U.S. acquisition of Greenland, while he imposed 50 percent tariffs on Indian goods, and an India-US trade deal collapsed last year.



One of the largest agreements of its kind globally, the FTA substantially reduces tariff and non-tariff barriers, cutting 4 billion euros in tariffs for exporters of all sizes and unlocking significant trade and investment opportunities.



Currently, 6,000 European companies operate in India - a figure that is set to increase under the new agreement. The agreement supports more integrated supply chains, trade diversification and new export opportunities for Indian and European businesses. Together, the EU and India leverage their strengths and reinforce their joint economic security. A dedicated press release on the EU-India FTA is available here.



On the margins of the Summit, President von der Leyen and Prime Minister Modi participated in the first ever EU-India Business Forum, engaging with business leaders to deepen private-sector engagement and advance shared economic priorities.



Copyright(c) 2026 RTTNews.com. All Rights Reserved



Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

 2026 AFX News
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - January 27, 2026) - Medaro Mining Corp. (CSE: MEDA) (OTCID: MEDAF) (FSE: 1ZY) ("Medaro" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has staked approximately 1,130 hectares of mineral tenure (the "Project" or the "Property") in central Sweden, within the broader Riddarhyttan-Bastnas area of Skinnskatteberg Municipality, Vastmanland County.

The Company's staking covers prospective ground in a region known for historical mining and mineral occurrences, and geological characteristics considered favourable for iron-oxide copper-gold ("IOCG"), volcanogenic massive sulfide ("VMS") / massive sulfide-style, and rare earth element ("REE") mineralization. The Company believes the area remains underexplored using modern exploration tools across multiple deposit styles.

Project Highlights

Multi-commodity upside: The Property is considered prospective for copper, gold, base metals, and REEs based on regional geological setting and the presence of historical workings and mineral occurrences in the broader district.

The Property is considered prospective for copper, gold, base metals, and REEs based on regional geological setting and the presence of historical workings and mineral occurrences in the broader district. REE prospectivity: The Riddarhyttan-Bastnas district is historically recognized for the occurrence of REE-bearing minerals; the Bastnas REE mineralisation is strongly LREE-dominated and cerium-rich, hosted mainly in cerite-(Ce), bastnasite-(Ce) and allanite-group minerals.

The Riddarhyttan-Bastnas district is historically recognized for the occurrence of REE-bearing minerals; the Bastnas REE mineralisation is strongly LREE-dominated and cerium-rich, hosted mainly in cerite-(Ce), bastnasite-(Ce) and allanite-group minerals. District-scale exploration opportunity: The Property is located within an established mineral region with documented historical mining activity and exploration.

The Property is located within an established mineral region with documented historical mining activity and exploration. Modern exploration approach: The Company intends to integrate geoscience datasets (where available) with mapping, prospecting, and geochemical sampling to generate and rank targets for follow-up work.

The Company intends to integrate geoscience datasets (where available) with mapping, prospecting, and geochemical sampling to generate and rank targets for follow-up work. Attractive infrastructure: The Property is in a region with good access and infrastructure, which may support cost-effective exploration programs.

Property Location and Tenure

The Company staking package comprises two exploration permit applications totalling 1,131ha. At the time of writing, the permits have not yet been granted. The Company is aware that two additional parties have submitted overlapping applications for the same ground on the same day, which is permitted under Swedish mining law and where each applicant (if granted) is granted equal rights under the law.

The staking has been completed in accordance with applicable Swedish mineral tenure procedures. The Company intends to submit all required filings/applications and will provide updates regarding tenure status and effective dates as information becomes available.

Regional Context, Previous Work and Opportunity

The Riddarhyttan-Bastnas area is recognized for a long history of mining and mineral exploration which contains multiple historic mines and styles of mineralization. The first production records for copper from the Riddarhyttan ore field were registered in 1633 and copper production continued through until 1873 where a combined total of 6,545t of copper were produced. In addition to copper, iron ore, cobalt and REE were also historically mined from the Riddarhyttan-Bastnas area including ca. 160t of REE ore from the Nya Bastnas deposit during the period 1860-1919. Cobalt was first discovered at Riddarhyttan in 1735 and the cerium-rich minerals were first recognised at Bastnas in the 1750's.

Previous exploration and development activity in the broader district has included combinations of historical workings, drilling, prospect-scale sampling, mapping, and geophysical investigation (including airborne geophysics in parts of the region). The Company believes that the application of modern exploration techniques may assist in refining and prioritizing targets for IOCG-style copper, gold, massive sulfide-style base metals, and REE mineralization.

The Company notes that references to nearby mineral occurrences, historical production, historical exploration results and mining activities, deposits, projects and mines are provided for regional and geological context only and have not been verified for the Company's Property. These references are not necessarily indicative of the geology of the Property or that the Property hosts similar potential, size or grades of mineralization. The Company has not yet completed sufficient work to confirm the presence of mineralization on the Property and there is no assurance that further work will result in a mineral resource classification.

Qualified Person

Amanda Scott, P.Geo. FAusIMM, a "Qualified Person" as defined under National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101"), has reviewed and approved the scientific and technical information contained in this news release.

About Medaro

Medaro is a mineral exploration company focused on the acquisition and advancement of high-quality mineral projects in Ontario, Quebec and Sweden. The Company's strategy is to build shareholder value through systematic exploration, disciplined project evaluation, and responsible development.

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.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains "forward-looking statements" and "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws (collectively, "forward-looking statements"). Forward-looking statements includes statements that are not historical facts and that address activities, events or developments that the Company expects or anticipates may occur in the future. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding: the Property being underexplored; Company's expectations and beliefs about the geological potential of the Property (including copper, gold, base metals, REE, IOCG and VMS potential); the Company's objectives and planned exploration activities in Sweden and Ontario; the intention to integrate geoscience datasets, mapping, prospecting and geochemical sampling to generate exploration targets; the anticipated benefits of infrastructure and regional context; submitting all required filings/applications for the Property and providing updates regarding tenure status and effective dates; the ability of the Company to obtain regulatory approvals, including approval of the CSE; and the Company's overall exploration and growth strategy.

Forward-looking statements are based on management's beliefs, expectations, and assumptions as of the date of this news release. These assumptions include, but are not limited to: that the Company will have sufficient capital to carry out its planned exploration activities; that exploration activities can be conducted in accordance with applicable regulatory requirements; that geoscientific data and historical information are reliable indicators of mineralization potential; and that general market and economic conditions will support the Company's business objectives; the Company will obtain or maintain required licences and approvals, access to the Property, general business and economic conditions, and that exploration results will be consistent with expectations. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those expressed or implied. These risks include, but are not limited to: risks relating to regulatory and permitting requirements; the risk that mineralization may not be discovered; tenure risks; risks inherent in mineral exploration and development; commodity price volatility; operational, technical or logistical risks associated with exploration programs, environmental risks, availability of financing, and general market or economic conditions.

Although the Company believes that the forward-looking information contained in this news release is reasonable based on the information available at the time, there can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate. Actual results and future events may differ materially from those anticipated. Accordingly, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.

The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements except as required by applicable securities laws.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/281765

Source: Medaro Mining Corp.
GRAND FALLS-WINDSOR, Newfoundland and Labrador, Jan. 27, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- First Atlantic Nickel Corp. (TSXV: FAN) (OTCQB: FANCF) (FSE: P21) ("First Atlantic" or the "Company") is pleased to announce positive assays and Davis Tube Recovery ("DTR") metallurgical results from the final four drill holes (AN-25-11 to AN-25-14) of the RPM Zone Phase 2X drilling program at its Pipestone XL Nickel-Cobalt Alloy Project in central Newfoundland. Results have increased the RPM Zone strike length by 50% to greater than 1.2 kilometers and expanded the lateral width to over 800 meters (see Figure 8 and 9). Hole AN-25-11, a ~250m step-out east on Section S1, returned an average of 0.13% DTR Ni over 402 meters, calculated from 1.31% Ni in magnetic concentrate with a 10.01% mass pull. Hole AN-25-13, a 400-meter northern step-out on new Section S4, returned an average of 0.10% DTR Ni over 371 meters, calculated from 1.11% Ni in magnetic concentrate with a 9.10% mass pull. All 14 RPM Zone drill holes have returned positive magnetically recoverable awaruite (nickel-iron-cobalt alloy) results. This rapidly expanding footprint has outlined a significant area for resource drilling to define a large-scale, bulk tonnage awaruite (nickel-iron-cobalt alloy) resource, that could be processable onshore through magnetic separation and flotation that is safe, secure, and sustainable at scale, supporting a mine-direct-to-refinery supply chain.

On December 23, 2025, the Company closed a non-brokered private placement, without warrants, for gross proceeds of $2.6 million through the issuance of flow-through common shares. The net proceeds have been deployed to accelerate the Company's Winter 2026 drill program. Colder ground conditions have enabled rapid, efficient access to drill locations of interest, consistent with the Company's goal of developing a multizone district of awaruite nickel-iron-cobalt alloy mineralization across the 30-kilometer Pipestone XL trend. Davis Tube magnetic separation analysis has produced an approximate 1.3% nickel concentrate from near-surface mineralization at the RPM Zone. Ongoing metallurgical studies are targeting a further upgrade to approximately 60% nickel through flotation. Additional metallurgical results demonstrating successful processing of awaruite into a high-grade concentrate are anticipated in Q1 2026.

On January 14, 2026, the White House published a proclamation titled "Adjusting Imports of Processed Critical Minerals and Their Derivative Products into the United States," identifying nickel and cobalt as essential minerals for critical infrastructure, defense, and battery energy storage.

The proclamation notes that, "Even where the United States has domestic mining capacity, such as for cobalt, nickel, and rare earth elements, the United States lacks the domestic processing capacity to avoid downstream net-import reliance."1

Only two active pyrometallurgical nickel smelters remain operational in North America at this time, in Sudbury, Ontario (Canada).2

First Atlantic believes awaruite nickel-iron-cobalt alloy mineralization can provide a North American source of nickel and cobalt through an onshore mine-direct-to-refinery pathway that bypasses the smelting bottleneck entirely.

As stated in the August 2025 Battery Metals Association of Canada report From Rocks to Power: "Awaruite is not a sulfide nor an oxide nickel ore but a high-content native nickel-iron ore. Simple beneficiation processes after mining could provide 60% Ni concentrate, ready for leaching for battery cathode purposes... This process would bypass pyrometallurgy or early hydrometallurgy stages and be among the lowest carbon-intensive nickel production sites in the global nickel market."3

Please call 844-592-6337 or email rob@fanickel.com to connect with Rob Guzman, First Atlantic Nickel's Investor Relations, for questions or more information.

KEY HIGHLIGHTS:

RPM Zone Strike Length Grows 50% to 1.2 km by 800 m Width: All 14 drill holes at the RPM Zone intersected visible awaruite and returned positive magnetically recoverable nickel results. The drilled area now covers greater than 1.2 km (north-south) by 800 m (east-west). Mineralization remains open to the north, south, and west, with a now large footprint defined for resource drilling toward an NI 43-101 mineral resource. Hole AN-25-11 Steps Out East, Expanding Lateral Width to Over 800 Meters: Hole AN-25-11 returned an average of 0.13% DTR Ni over 402 meters (23 m to 425 m), calculated from 1.31% Ni in magnetic concentrate with a 10.01% mass pull. The hole was drilled from a pad located approximately 250 meters east of Hole AN-25-10, oriented westward toward Hole AN-25-10 on Section S1, expanding the RPM Zone's lateral width to greater than 800 meters. Large-grain visible awaruite nickel alloy mineralization was observed throughout the interval, supporting strong continuity along the eastern extension of Section S1. Hole AN-25-12 Successfully Locates Eastern Contact of Mineralization: Hole AN-25-12 returned an average of 0.10% DTR Ni over 84.6 meters (10.4 m to 95 m), calculated from 1.24% Ni in magnetic concentrate with an 8.27% mass pull. Drilled from the same pad as Hole AN-25-11 but oriented eastward, the hole intersected the eastern contact of awaruite-bearing ultramafic mineralization and encountered a steeply dipping iron-carbonate-talc alteration zone, defining the eastern boundary on Section S1. Hole AN-25-13 Extends Strike Length 400 Meters North on New Section S4: Hole AN-25-13 returned an average of 0.10% DTR Ni over 371 meters (17 m to 388 m), calculated from 1.11% Ni in magnetic concentrate with a 9.10% mass pull. This major 400-meter northern step-out was drilled on new Section S4, located 1.2 kilometers north of Section S1, confirming continued northward growth of awaruite nickel alloy mineralization from near surface and extending drilled strike length to more than 1.2 kilometers. Expansion Potential Remains Open to the West, North, South and at Depth: The mineralized ultramafics at the RPM Zone are interpreted to dip steeply from east to west, indicating significant untested potential to the west and at depth. Surface sampling from 2025 field programs also identified additional target areas to the north and south within the 30-kilometer Pipestone XL trend. Winter Drilling, Infrastructure and Access Program Accelerated: The $2.6 million flow-through financing closed December 23, 2025 has been deployed to accelerate the Winter 2026 drill program. Colder than expected ground conditions have enabled rapid access expansion to new areas of interest.

HOLE AN-25-11 STEPS OUT EAST AT THE RPM ZONE AND EXPANDS LATERAL WIDTH TO OVER 800 METERS

Table 01: Pipestone XL Nickel Alloy Project - Summary of Assay Results and DTR Metallurgical Test Results for Drill Hole AN-25-11 (RPM Zone)

Hole ID From (m) To (m) Interval (m) Mass Pull (%) Nickel - Magnetic Concentrate Grade

Ni (%) Nickel - Total Grade

Ni (%) DTR Nickel Grade - Magnetically Recovered Ni (%) Total Nickel Recovery

(%) Chromium - Magnetic Concentrate Grade

Cr (%) Chromium Total Grade

Cr (%) DTR Chromium Grade - Magnetically Recovered

Cr (%) Cobalt - Magnetic Concentrate Grade

Co (%) AN-25-11 23 425 402 10.01 1.31 0.22 0.13 57.99 1.53 0.29 0.15 0.06 including 131 155 24 9.49 1.47 0.21 0.14 64.67 1.66 0.30 0.16 0.06 including 272 317 45 9.77 1.42 0.22 0.14 62.70 1.43 0.28 0.14 0.06 including "Up To" 16.00 2.20 0.28 0.17 78.85 3.25 0.54 0.31 0.09

DTR nickel (%) is calculated by multiplying mass pull (%) by the nickel grade (%) of the magnetic concentrate. This value represents the proportion of nickel that may be recoverable through magnetic separation and is not equivalent to a standard assay result.

Hole AN-25-11 was collared approximately 250 meters east of Hole AN-25-10 and drilled westward toward Hole AN-25-10 on Section S1. The hole returned an average of 0.13% DTR Ni over 402 meters, calculated from 1.31% nickel in magnetic concentrate with a 10.01% mass pull, expanding the lateral width to greater than 800 meters along Section S1 (see Figure 09). Large-grain visible awaruite (nickel-iron-cobalt alloy) mineralization was observed throughout the drilled interval, supporting strong continuity along the eastern extension of Section S1, which has delivered consistent magnetically recoverable nickel grades.

HOLE AN-25-12 - EASTERN BOUNDARY DEFINED

Table 02: Pipestone XL Nickel Alloy Project - Summary of Assay Results and DTR Metallurgical Test Results for Drill Hole AN-25-12 (RPM Zone)

Hole ID From (m) To (m) Interval (m) Mass Pull (%) Nickel - Magnetic Concentrate Grade

Ni ( %) Nickel - Total Grade

Ni (%) DTR Nickel Grade - Magnetically Recovered Ni (%) Total Nickel Recovery

(%) Chromium - Magnetic Concentrate Grade

Cr (%) Chromium Total Grade

Cr (%) DTR Chromium Grade - Magnetically Recovered

Cr (%) Cobalt - Magnetic Concentrate Grade

Co (%) AN-25-12 10.4 95 84.6 8.27 1.24 0.26 0.10 38.10 1.69 0.32 0.14 0.07 including 20 44 24 8.28 1.58 0.27 0.13 46.88 1.57 0.30 0.13 0.07 including "Up To" 11.30 2.17 0.29 0.14 54.40 3.90 0.65 0.28 0.08

DTR nickel (%) is calculated by multiplying mass pull (%) by the nickel grade (%) of the magnetic concentrate. This value represents the proportion of nickel that may be recoverable through magnetic separation and is not equivalent to a standard assay result.

Hole AN-25-12 was drilled from the same pad as Hole AN-25-11 and oriented eastward to define the eastern boundary of the mineralized ultramafic body. The hole returned an average of 0.10% DTR Ni over 84.6 meters, calculated from 1.24% nickel in magnetic concentrate with an 8.27% mass pull. The hole successfully intersected the eastern contact of awaruite-bearing ultramafic mineralization, where it encountered a steeply-dipping iron carbonate talc alteration zone, establishing the eastern limit of mineralization along Section S1.

HOLE AN-25-13 A 400-METER NORTHERN STEP-OUT EXTENDS STRIKE LENGTH BY 50% TO 1.2 KM

Table 03: Pipestone XL Nickel Alloy Project - Summary of Assay Results and DTR Metallurgical Test Results for Drill Hole AN-25-13 (RPM Zone)

Hole ID From (m) To (m) Interval (m) Mass Pull (%) Nickel - Magnetic Concentrate Grade

Ni ( %) Nickel - Total Grade

Ni (%) DTR Nickel Grade - Magnetically Recovered Ni (%) Total Nickel Recovery

(%) Chromium - Magnetic Concentrate Grade

Cr (%) Chromium Total Grade

Cr (%) DTR Chromium Grade - Magnetically Recovered

Cr (%) Cobalt - Magnetic Concentrate Grade

Co (%) AN-11-13 17 388 371 9.10 1.11 0.24 0.10 41.23 1.46 0.28 0.13 0.06 including 44 323 279 9.12 1.17 0.24 0.11 43.81 1.46 0.28 0.13 0.06 including "Up To" 14.40 1.86 0.28 0.14 59.41 2.54 0.48 0.24 0.09

DTR nickel (%) is calculated by multiplying mass pull (%) by the nickel grade (%) of the magnetic concentrate. This value represents the proportion of nickel that may be recoverable through magnetic separation and is not equivalent to a standard assay result.

Hole AN-25-13, a major 400-meter northern step-out drilled on new Section S4 (See Figure 8), returned an average of 0.10% DTR Ni over 371 meters, calculated from 1.11% nickel in magnetic concentrate with a 9.10% mass pull. Section S4 is located 1.2 kilometers north of Section S1, extending the RPM Zone's drilled strike length by approximately 50% to greater than 1.2 kilometers. Large-grain visible awaruite nickel alloy mineralization was observed throughout the interval from near-surface, supporting continued northward growth of the mineralization system.

HOLE AN-25-14 - SOUTHERN STEP-OUT ENCOUNTERS FAULT STRUCTURE

Table 04: Pipestone XL Nickel Alloy Project - Summary of Assay Results and DTR Metallurgical Test Results for Drill Hole AN-25-14 (RPM Zone)

Hole ID From (m) To (m) Interval (m) Mass Pull (%) Nickel - Magnetic Concentrate Grade

Ni ( %) Nickel - Total Grade

Ni (%) DTR Nickel Grade - Magnetically Recovered Ni (%) Total Nickel Recovery

(%) Chromium - Magnetic Concentrate Grade

Cr (%) Chromium Total Grade

Cr (%) DTR Chromium Grade - Magnetically Recovered

Cr (%) Cobalt - Magnetic Concentrate Grade

Co (%) AN-25-14 8 335 327 8.71 0.54 0.23 0.05 19.27 1.72 0.31 0.15 0.05 including 8 200 192 8.37 0.67 0.24 0.06 23.25 1.72 0.32 0.14 0.05 and including 29 116 87 9.04 0.73 0.24 0.07 27.07 1.68 0.31 0.15 0.05 including "Up To" 13.30 0.84 0.27 0.08 32.79 4.07 0.59 0.37 0.08

DTR nickel (%) is calculated by multiplying mass pull (%) by the nickel grade (%) of the magnetic concentrate. This value represents the proportion of nickel that may be recoverable through magnetic separation and is not equivalent to a standard assay result.

Hole AN-25-14 was drilled approximately 200 meters south of Section S1 on new Section S0, oriented westward. The hole returned an average of 0.05% DTR Ni over 327 meters, calculated from 0.54% nickel in magnetic concentrate with an 8.71% mass pull. The hole encountered heavily broken ground interpreted as a late fault structure, characterized by weathered breccia and gouge textures throughout the interval. This late, post-mineralization faulting is interpreted to have locally disrupted or destroyed awaruite mineralization along the narrow structure. Due to the drill hole orientation dipping parallel to the fault, the drill became stuck within the fault zone and the hole was abandoned before crossing the structure. As a result, the hole did not properly test mineralization in this southern area. Future drilling oriented in the opposite direction is expected to cut across the fault zone and more effectively test the southern extension potential.

RPM ZONE DRILLING SUMMARY - ALL 14 HOLES

Table 05: RPM Zone - Complete Intervals for All RPM Drill Holes Reported to Date

Drill Hole Zone Section From meters To meters Interval meters Magnetically Recovered (DTR)

Nickel % Magnetic Concentrate Nickel

Grade (Ni %) Mass Pull (%)



Comment AN 24 - 02 RPM S1 11.0 394.1 383.1 0.13 1.37 9.50 NR - Mar 12, 2025 AN 24 - 03 RPM S1 18.0 234.0 216.0 0.11 1.32 9.12 NR - Apr 15, 2025 AN 24 - 04 RPM S1 12.0 378.0 366.0 0.14 1.46 9.53 NR- Jun 24, 2025 AN 24 - 05 RPM S2 6.0 357.0 351.0 0.12 1.47 8.21 NR - Jul 9, 2025 AN 25 - 06 RPM S2 5.65 453 447.35 0.11 1.27 9.02 NR - Aug 12, 2025 AN 25 - 07 RPM S2 9 495 486.0 0.09 0.97 9.60 NR - Oct 23, 2025 AN 25 - 08 RPM S3 11 491 480.0 0.12 1.35 8.79 NR - Oct 23, 2025 AN 25 - 09 RPM S3 9 483 474.0 0.08 0.93 9.0 NR - Dec 2, 2025 AN 25 - 10 RPM S1 8 236 228 0.15 1.44 10.48 NR - Dec 2, 2025 AN 25 - 11 RPM S1 23 425 402 0.13 1.31 10.01 NR - Jan 27, 2026 AN 25 - 12 RPM S1 10.4 95 84.6 0.10 1.24 8.27 NR - Jan 27, 2026 AN 25 - 13 RPM S4 17 388 371 0.10 1.11 9.10 NR - Jan 27, 2026 AN 25 - 14 RPM S0 8 335 327 0.05 0.54 8.71 NR - Jan 27, 2026 TBA





Table 06: Drill Hole Collar Location Information for AN-25-11 through AN-25-14

Hole ID Easting (UTM) Northing (UTM) Elevation (m) Azimuth () Dip () AN-25-11 567817 5357579 254 270 -60 AN-25-12 567817 5357566 254 90 -60 AN-25-13 567818 5358773 235 90 -60 AN-25-14 567629 5357373 244 270 -60

WINTER 2026 DRILL PROGRAM AND ACCESS EXPANSION

Following the closing of the $2.6 million flow-through financing on December 23, 2025, the Company has immediately deployed the proceeds to an accelerated Winter 2026 exploration program. Colder than expected ground conditions have enabled rapid, efficient access expansion into new areas of interest on the project. The Company is advancing ground access north, faster and at lower cost than initially estimated. This accelerated infrastructure development supports the Company's strategy of advancing a multi-zone district of awaruite (nickel-iron-cobalt) alloy mineralization across the 30-kilometer Pipestone XL trend.

AWARUITE - SECURE NORTH AMERICAN NICKEL SUPPLY CHAIN POTENTIAL

A Media Snippet accompanying this announcement is available by clicking on this link.

Awaruite (Ni3Fe) is a naturally occurring nickel-iron-cobalt alloy containing approximately 77% nickel5, or 2 to 3 times the nickel content of typical sulfide minerals such as pentlandite (~25% Ni)6. The nickel identified to date at the RPM Zone is hosted in awaruite, making it magnetically recoverable through magnetic separator drums used safely for over a century in North American iron ore operations.

Unlike pentlandite (Fe,Ni)9S8, which contains sulfur, a non-metallic chemical element that must be removed through secondary processes such as smelting or roasting prior to refining stages required to produce nickel sulphate (NiSO4) for EV battery precursor cathode active materials (pCAM), awaruite already exists in a reduced metallic state. Composed entirely of metal elements, it requires no reduction or chemical processing, eliminating the need for smelting, roasting, or high-pressure acid leaching. This offers a mine-direct-to-refinery pathway that bypasses the bottleneck of limited North American smelting capacity, with the potential to unlock large-scale domestic nickel production for the battery supply chain. By avoiding the secondary processing of nickel sulfide minerals, awaruite offers a lower energy, more environmentally sustainable, and secure onshore processing - particularly significant given that the United States operates zero primary nickel smelters and Canada's scarce aging smelter capacity faces mounting pressures from rising electricity demand, increasing power costs, and increasing emissions and pollution regulations.

INVESTOR INFORMATION

The Company's common shares trade on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol "FAN", the American OTCQB Exchange under the symbol "FANCF" and on several German exchanges, including Frankfurt and Tradegate, under the symbol "P21".

Investors can get updates about First Atlantic by signing up to receive news via email and SMS text at www.fanickel.com.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

First Atlantic Investor Relations

Robert Guzman

Tel: +1 844 592 6337

rob@fanickel.com

About First Atlantic Nickel Corp.

First Atlantic Nickel Corp. is a mineral exploration company focused on the discovery and development of awaruite, a rare, naturally occurring nickel-iron-cobalt alloy, at its 100%-owned Pipestone XL Project in Newfoundland. The project spans the 30-kilometer Pipestone Ophiolite Complex, where multiple zones contain awaruite mineralization along with secondary chromium. Awaruite's magnetic properties enable processing through magnetic separation, potentially eliminating the need for conventional smelting or high-pressure acid leaching while reducing dependence on foreign-controlled processing infrastructure.

Disclosure

Adrian Smith, P.Geo., a director and the Chief Executive Officer of the Company is a qualified person as defined by NI 43-101. The qualified person is a member in good standing of the Professional Engineers and Geoscientists Newfoundland and Labrador (PEGNL) and is a registered professional geoscientist (P.Geo.). Mr. Smith has reviewed and approved the technical information disclosed herein.

Analytical Method & QA/QC

Samples were split in half on site, with one half remaining in the core box for future reference and the other half securely packaged for laboratory analysis. The QA/QC protocol included the insertion of blanks, duplicates, and certified reference material (standards), with one QA/QC sample being inserted every 20 samples to monitor the precision and accuracy of the laboratory results. All analytical results successfully passed QA/QC screening at the laboratory, and all Company inserted standards and blanks returned results within acceptable limits.

Samples were submitted to Activation Laboratories Ltd. ("Actlabs") in Ancaster, Ontario, an ISO 17025 certified and accredited laboratory operating independently of First Atlantic. Each sample was crushed, with a 250 g sub-sample pulverized to 95% - 200 mesh. A magnetic separate was then generated by running the pulverized sub-sample through a magnetic separator which splits the sub-sample into magnetic and non-magnetic fractions. This involves running a 30 g split of the pulp through a Davis Tube magnetic separator as a slurry using a constant flow rate, a magnetic field strength of 3,500 Gauss, and a tube angle of 45 degrees to produce magnetic and non-magnetic fractions.

The magnetic fractions are collected, dried, weighed and the magnetic fraction is fused with a lithium metaborate/tetraborate flux and lithium bromide releasing agent and then analyzed on a wavelength dispersive XRF for multiple elements including nickel, cobalt, iron and chromium. The magnetically recovered nickel grade was then calculated by multiplying the XRF fusion nickel value by the weight of the magnetic fraction and dividing by the total recorded feed weight or magnetic mass pulled from the sample.

True widths are currently unknown. However, the nickel bearing ultramafic ophiolite and peridotite rocks being targeted and sampled in the drilling programs at the Pipestone XL Project are mapped on surface and in drilling as several hundred meters to over 1 kilometer wide and approximately 30 kilometers long.

Forward-looking statements:

This news release may include "forward-looking information" under applicable Canadian securities legislation. Such forward-looking information reflects management's current beliefs and are based on a number of estimates and/or assumptions made by and information currently available to the Company that, while considered reasonable, are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause the actual results and future events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information.

Forward-looking information in this news release includes, but is not limited to, statements regarding: the timing, scope, objectives and results of the Company's exploration, drilling and infrastructure/access programs at the Pipestone XL Nickel Alloy Project (including the Phase 2X program and any accelerated Winter 2026 drilling program, and the timing of future updates); the potential to expand the drill-confirmed dimensions of the RPM Zone and other target areas; the potential continuity, size and extension of awaruite-bearing mineralization and associated chromite/chromium mineralization; the interpretation and expected application of DTR results and other metallurgical test work; the expected performance and viability of magnetic separation and flotation, including the ability to upgrade magnetic concentrate to higher nickel grades (including any targeted concentrate grades); the potential for producing a saleable concentrate and transporting and/or processing such concentrate at third-party facilities, including any potential downstream refining outcomes (including the potential production of nickel sulfate); the potential applicability or relevance of U.S. critical mineral policies, incentives or initiatives (including Section 45X) to downstream processing scenarios; and the Company's ability to advance its projects, obtain permits and approvals, obtain financing and execute its business plans.

Forward-looking information is based on, among other things, assumptions regarding: the continuity of geology and mineralization suggested by drilling, sampling, and surface work to date; DTR recoverability results and metallurgical recoveries remaining comparable under similar processing conditions; magnetic separation performance continuing to be consistent with test results; the availability of drill rigs, contractors, services, personnel, supplies, and equipment; the receipt of required permits and approvals within expected timeframes; prevailing and future commodity prices, market conditions, and demand; and the Company's ability to obtain financing on reasonable terms to fund planned exploration and metallurgical programs.

Readers are cautioned that such forward-looking information are neither promises nor guarantees and are subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties including, but not limited to, risks inherent in mineral exploration; variations in geology, grade and recoverability; metallurgical and processing risks (including variability in DTR and flotation results and scale-up risk); the risk that concentrate may not be suitable for or accepted by third-party processing/refining facilities on acceptable terms; changes in laws, regulations or government policies (including the interpretation or application of Section 45X or other U.S. critical mineral initiatives); capital market and commodity price volatility; financing risks; environmental and permitting risks; operational risks; and delays in obtaining approvals. Additional factors and risks including various risk factors discussed in the Company's disclosure documents which can be found under the Company's profile on http://www.sedarplus.ca. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should assumptions underlying the forward-looking statements prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described herein as intended, planned, anticipated, believed, estimated or expected.

The Company is presently an exploration stage company. Exploration is highly speculative in nature, involves many risks, requires substantial expenditures, and may not result in the discovery of mineral deposits that can be mined profitably. Furthermore, the Company currently has no mineral reserves on any of its properties. As a result, there can be no assurance that such forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking information, except as required by applicable securities laws.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

_______________________________

1 https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2026/01/adjusting-imports-of-processed-critical-minerals-and-their-derivative-products-into-the-united-states/

2https://transitionaccelerator.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/From-Rocks-to-Power-Nickel.pdf

3https://transitionaccelerator.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/From-Rocks-to-Power-Nickel.pdf

4https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/mineral-pubs/nickel/mcs-2012-nicke.pdf

5https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0892687522003648

6https://fpxnickel.com/projects-overview/what-is-awaruite/
ZIGONG, China, Jan. 27, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- On the evening of January 23, the 32nd Zigong International Dinosaur Lantern Festival officially opened at the Chinese Colored Lantern World in Zigong, Sichuan Province, as 11 large-scale lantern installations and more than 200 smaller displays lit up in succession. Originating in the Tang dynasty and passed down for over a millennium, this luminous celebration shines anew today through the dynamic fusion of tradition and technology.

A Media Snippet accompanying this announcement is available by clicking on this link.

Hosted by the People's Government of Zigong City, the festival immerses visitors in a sea of shifting light and shadow from the moment they pass through the 35-meter-high entrance gate. A colossal Kunpeng - the legendary giant fish and bird recorded in the Daoist classic Zhuangzi: Carefree Wandering - spreads its wings over a span of 210 meters and rises 32 meters high. Mythical beast lanterns inspired by the ancient Chinese classic, "The Classic of Mountains and Seas" come to life alongside a blazing Fire Phoenix whose wings are assembled from 15,000 chili peppers, resembling frozen evening clouds; a radiant Water Qilin reconstructed from 46,000 recycled medicine bottles; and the imposing "Jinmaohou", a creature from Chinese mythology crafted from 2,000 jin (equivalent to one ton) of hand-harvested rice straw. Romantic imaginations rooted in traditional Chinese culture are transformed into fantastical, immersive scenes.

In the "Creative Dream Lanterns" zone, the displays find their muse in nearly 6,000 children's drawings from around the world. From robots to the cosmos and dinosaurs, the boundless whimsy of childhood has been meticulously brought to life by Zigong lantern artisans. The result is a luminous tapestry that bridges young hearts and dreams across the globe in the most enchanting way.

More than a visual spectacle, the lantern festival also brings out a technology-infused amusement park. The vividly rendered "Legend of Mulan" lantern installation has gone viral online, depicting Hua Mulan - the iconic female general of ancient China - riding alongside her steed, her gaze resolute and her hair flowing. "The most challenging part of character lanterns is capturing facial expressions," said the creative team. "Compared with last year, we introduced 3D modeling at an earlier stage. During production, we increased the density of the facial wire framework, placing steel wires at three-centimeter intervals on average."

A 22-meter-tall, endearing beast named "Niannian" has become a favorite among children. Equipped with long-distance voice interaction technology, it can "understand" visitors' commands and engage in smooth, natural dialogues. Inside a 30-meter-high auspicious gourd lantern, an integrated sound, light, and electrical projection system animates the domed ceiling, allowing visitors to reach out and seemingly "catch" dynamic characters of light falling from above. Since ancient times, lantern viewing has been a cherished Chinese folk custom for celebrating festivals. The Zigong Lantern Festival traces its origins to New Year lighting traditions in the Tang dynasty and is now inscribed on China's national list of intangible cultural heritage.

Today, with Zigong lanterns traveling to over 500 cities across more than 80 countries and regions worldwide, a traditional folk practice has become a brilliant calling card of Chinese culture.

The Zigong lantern industry racks up over 6 billion yuan in annual output, sustaining a workforce of more than 100,000 people and claiming a share of 85% in the domestic lantern market. In 2025 alone, enterprises in Zigong's lantern industry delivered 112 lantern projects across 85 cities in 19 countries, such as the United States, France, and the Netherlands, with a global market share of 92%.

In March 2025, Zigong Lantern Group entered into long-term cooperation agreements with France's GL Events Group and Chile's FISA Group. Under the agreements, the "Chinese Lantern Festival" will be staged on an ongoing basis in both France and Chile.

Source: The People's Government of Zigong City

Contact for media only: Contact person: Ms. Hou, Tel: 86-10-63074558
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - January 27, 2026) - Honey Badger Silver Inc. (TSXV: TUF) (OTCQB: HBEIF) ("Honey Badger" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the results of its Annual & Special Meeting of Shareholders (the "Meeting") held on January 26, 2026. Each of the matters that were tabled at the Meeting for a vote are described in greater detail in the Notice of Annual & Special Meeting of Shareholders and accompanying Management Information Circular dated December 22, 2025 (the "Circular").

At the Meeting, shareholders voted to approve the nominations of directors set out in the Circular and thus elected Chad Williams, John H. Hill, George Topping, Koby Kushner, Paolo P. Cattelan and Michael Jalonen as directors of the Company. Shareholders also voted to approve all other matters put to them for a vote in the Circular, including the proposed appointment of the auditor and the stock option plan of the Company.

About Honey Badger Silver Inc.

Honey Badger 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.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

Chad Williams, Executive Chairman

For more information, please visit our website www.honeybadgersilver.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.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/281755

Source: Honey Badger Silver Inc.
Vention raised $110M USD, with participation from Investissement Quebec, Desjardins Capital, Fidelity Investments Canada ULC, NVentures, and other financial institutions

Proceeds will be used to accelerate Physical AI research, bring new capabilities to its software platform, expand its portfolio of pre-engineered applications, and strengthen its global footprint across North America and Europe

Investment comes at a crucial moment as the U.S. and other major economies focus on boosting investments in manufacturing

Vention is seeing strong adoption in Enterprise clients who are leveraging its platform as the "standard setter" for manufacturing automation across all their plants

MONTREAL, Jan. 27, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Vention, the company behind the only AI-powered software and hardware platform for automation and robotics, today announced it has raised $110M USD in financing, with participation from Investissement Quebec, Desjardins Capital, certain funds managed by Fidelity Investments Canada ULC, NVentures (NVIDIA's venture capital arm) and other financial institutions. The new capital will accelerate Vention's mission to deliver Zero-Shot Automation, a new paradigm for manufacturing automation that deploys seamlessly, without integration, and operates correctly on the first attempt. A portion of the investment will also fuel Vention's expansion across EMEA, strengthening its presence and operations to solidify its position as the standard for automation in the European market.

This investment comes at a crucial moment; as the U.S. and other major economies focus on boosting manufacturing, companies are seeking dramatically simpler, faster, and more scalable ways to automate their production. Traditional automation-slow, complex, and integration-heavy-cannot keep pace with these demands. Vention's platform, which combines hardware, software, Physical AI and cloud connectivity into a single unified experience, has emerged as a core enabler of the reshoring movement.

"Manufacturers no longer want automation that requires deep expertise and long commissioning cycles," said Etienne Lacroix, founder and CEO of Vention. "They want automation that works as intuitively and reliably as modern software. Physical AI is allowing us to deliver exactly that."

Physical AI at the Core of Next-Generation Automation

Vention differentiates itself through advances in generative AI and Physical AI, enabling artificial intelligence to power the design, programming, deployment, and operation of industrial equipment and robotic cells. Building on a multi-year collaboration with leading companies in robotics, Vention has recently launched automated configuration tools, an AI agent for defining machine specifications, a robotic programming copilot, and fully autonomous AI-powered robotic applications. These innovations reduce automation project timelines from months to days.

Enterprise Adoption Reaches Platform-Standard Scale

A major driver of growth has been Enterprise customers adopting Vention as the "standard setter" for automation across all their plants. These organizations-spanning automotive, aerospace, logistics, food & beverage, and consumer goods-are building centralized Advanced Manufacturing Teams (AMTs) and deploying Vention's platform as their global automation backbone.

This shift is creating multi-site, multi-country rollouts that allow enterprises to design once, deploy everywhere, and support continuously-all within the same software and hardware environment.

"The most innovative manufacturers are choosing Vention not for a single project, but as a company-wide automation platform," Lacroix added. "This financing allows us to serve these customers at an even greater scale."

Media Relations:

Christine Boivin

+1.514.293.3423

christine.boivin@vention.cc

About Vention

Vention is leading the future of industrial automation with the world's only AI-powered full-stack platform, unifying hardware, software, and physical AI into one seamless experience. With over 25,000 machines deployed worldwide and a community of more than 4,000 factories, Vention enables businesses to design, program, deploy, and operate turnkey or custom automation solutions in just days. Through Zero-Shot Automation, Vention brings together intelligent software and modular hardware to deliver automation that works right the first time. Visit Vention.com to learn more.

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LONDON, Jan. 27, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- King Street Capital Management ("King Street"), a leading global alternative investment firm, today announced that Christian Grobenski has joined the firm as a Managing Director on the Capital Markets team. Based in London, Mr. Grobenski will report to Domenico Lia, Partner, Global Investment Committee Member, and Co-Head of King Street's London Office.

Mr. Grobenski will focus on deal sourcing and origination for investment opportunities across Europe and the UK, with a broad mandate across special situations and capital solutions. He will also support the continued expansion and cultivation of King Street's relationships with banks, dealers, and financial advisors.

Most recently, Mr. Grobenski was a Director and Senior Originator at Strategic Value Partners (SVP), where he focused on complex sourcing situations and bespoke financing solutions across Europe. Prior to SVP, he spent more than 15 years at Goldman Sachs, most recently as Head of EMEA Bank Loan Sales & Sourcing, where he led distressed and structured credit origination across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.

"I have known Christian for 20 years, dating back to 2006. I've seen firsthand his ability to source and execute compelling investment opportunities across the European capital markets ecosystem," said Domenico Lia, Partner and Global Investment Committee Member at King Street. "Christian's strong relationships and experience, particularly in the DACH, Netherlands, and Nordic regions, make him a valuable addition to our team as we continue to expand our global investment capabilities across special situations and capital solutions."

About King Street Capital Management

King Street is a global alternative investment firm founded in 1995 that manages more than $30 billion in assets across public and private markets. The firm marries rigorous fundamental research with tactical trading and differentiated sourcing capabilities to identify investment opportunities across asset classes, up and down the capital structure. For more information, please visit www.kingstreet.com. Follow King Street Capital Management on LinkedIn.

Media Contacts

Prosek Partners

pro-kingstreet@prosek.com

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Acquisition adds further specialist biostatistics, data management, and medical writing expertise to Evestia Clinical's full-service offering and strengthens its presence in Germany and across Europe

LONDON, Jan. 27, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Evestia Clinical ("the Company" or "the Group"), a leading independent global specialist Contract Research Organization (CRO), today announced the acquisition of ICRC-Weyer GmbH ("ICRC-Weyer"), a Berlin-based, long-established CRO and scientific consultancy. The acquisition strengthens Evestia Clinical's presence in Germany and Europe and further enhances the Company's full-service clinical research solutions for biotech innovators.

ICRC-Weyer brings a strong heritage in data-driven clinical research, with deep scientific and operational expertise in biostatistics, data management, and medical writing across the full clinical development cycle. Integrating these specialist capabilities expands the Group's European presence and gives biotech innovators enhanced access to high-quality services that are increasingly critical as clinical trial development grows in complexity and regulatory expectations evolve. At the same time, ICRC-Weyer's clients will benefit from access to Evestia Clinical's full suite of global clinical trial services from Phase I-III and beyond, providing more integrated, end-to-end support across core therapeutic areas including oncology, neurology, and rare diseases.

Richard Barfield, Chairman of Evestia Clinical, said: "As we mark one year since the launch of Evestia Clinical, this acquisition is another significant step in our strategy to build a truly global, independent specialist CRO with the capabilities to support biotech innovators worldwide. Our expanded specialist capabilities strengthen Evestia Clinical's position as a trusted, full-service partner for biotech innovators advancing complex therapies in oncology, neurology, and rare diseases."

Lewis Cameron, Chief Executive Officer of Evestia Clinical, said: "The acquisition of ICRC-Weyer is a targeted investment that strengthens Evestia Clinical's operational delivery in Europe. Integrating ICRC-Weyer's capabilities into our existing offering enhances the depth of support we provide to biotech innovators and enables more seamless, end-to-end clinical research solutions in complex, high-research therapeutic areas. With a strong presence in the United States through our integration with ARG, and now an established base in Europe with on-the-ground expertise in Germany complementing operations already established in Spain, Italy, and France, we are broadening our global footprint."

Johann Daniel Weyer, Managing Director of ICRC-Weyer GmbH, commented: "Joining Evestia Clinical is a natural step in ICRC-Weyer's development. By combining ICRC-Weyer's expertise in scientific consultancy and back-office CRO services with Evestia Clinical's global reach and specialist therapeutic focus, we will offer clients a stronger and more comprehensive proposition as they navigate increasingly complex clinical development programs across Europe and beyond."

Terms of the deal have not been disclosed. ICRC-Weyer will integrate with Evestia Clinical's operations with no change to its services or teams and it will continue to operate under the ICRC-Weyer brand. Johann Daniel Weyer will join the Evestia Clinical leadership team, and all employees will transition as part of the agreement.

For further information, please contact:

Evestia Clinical (email: info@evestiaclinical.com)

Richard Barfield (+44 7917 809 325)

For media enquiries (email: evestiaclinical@5654.co.uk)

Matthew Neal (+44 7917 800 011)

Melissa Gardiner (+44 7757 697 357)

Notes to Editors

About Evestia Clinical

Evestia Clinical is a leading global specialist CRO. With a commitment to scientific excellence, innovation, and patient-centric research, Evestia Clinical partners with biotech companies to accelerate the development of therapies in areas of significant unmet medical need. Backed by Kester Capital, Evestia Clinical is dedicated to advancing healthcare through cutting-edge clinical research. Evestia Clinical's vision is to be the market-leading clinical service partner for biotechs and beyond, fueling medical breakthroughs to improve global health within a company culture that values, inspires, and empowers.

Evestia Clinical offers a full suite of customized clinical development services. This includes project management, site management, regulatory services, clinical monitoring, data management and biostatistics, medical affairs and medical writing, quality assurance services, pharmacovigilance, and Functional Service Provider solutions.

About ICRC-Weyer GmbH

Founded in 1993 by Prof. Dr. Geerd Weyer, ICRC-Weyer is a Berlin-based clinical research organization (CRO) supporting companies across all stages of clinical research and development.

ICRC-Weyer provides expertise and consulting across biostatistics, data management, medical review, medical writing, and safety/pharmacovigilance services with a team of in-house experts based in Berlin, Germany.

ICRC-Weyer supports clinical studies across Phases I-IV and medical device studies, with experience in complex early-phase studies, including special population studies and umbrella or adaptive study designs, registers and reviews, preclinical research, support of submission and post-marketing activities.
SYDNEY, Jan. 27, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Leading online FX and CFD broker Axi has shared that 10 traders worldwide have now reached the $1M Pro M level in Axi Select - the broker's flagship capital allocation program - marking a major milestone as the program's global trading community surpasses 49,000 participants.

The growth reflects the continued momentum of Axi Select, a performance-based capital allocation program designed to support traders with a clear, structured pathway toward managing meaningful levels of capital. Pro M represents the program's top tier, providing qualified traders with the opportunity to manage up to USD $1,000,000 in allocated capital.

Unlike traditional funded trading models, progression within Axi Select is based on consistency, disciplined risk management, and adherence to professional trading standards in live market conditions. Traders advance through a structured framework supported by Axi Select's proprietary performance metric, Edge Score, allowing them to scale their trading activity in a fair and sustainable way.

"This milestone reflects what's possible when traders are given the right platform, structure, and support to grow," said Greg Rubin, Head of Axi Select. "Axi Select is designed to open doors for talented traders around the world by providing an environment in which they can reach their full potential and maximise their advantage. Seeing 10 traders reach Pro M in just two years highlights the depth of talent within our community and the strength of the program we've built."

Welcoming the New Pro M Traders

The newest Pro M traders bring a variety of professional backgrounds and trading styles, reflecting the breadth and diversity of the Axi Select community:

Zhu brings decades of market experience, blending technical, fundamental, and algorithmic approaches. His progression reflects a strong focus on disciplined execution, risk control, and long-term growth.

Ramon is recognised for his methodical, data-driven trading style, maintaining consistency and controlled exposure across varying market conditions.

Sergio exemplifies adaptability and mental discipline, refining his approach through multiple stages of the program to ultimately reach its highest tier.

Building Sustainable Trading Careers

As traders look ahead to the year ahead, increased engagement and progression within Axi Select highlights a growing demand for professional trading pathways that prioritise longevity, accountability, and performance over time.

The milestone underscores the value of platforms that support traders at every stage of their development, providing not only access to capital, but also the structure and environment needed to grow, progress, and build sustainable trading careers.

About Axi

Axi is a global online FX and CFD trading brand, with thousands of customers in 100+ countries worldwide. Axi offers CFDs for several asset classes including Forex, Shares, Gold, Oil, Coffee, and more.

For more information or additional comments from Axi, please contact: mediaenquiries@axi.com

The Axi Select program is only available to clients of AxiTrader LLC. CFDs carry a high risk of investment loss. This content may not be available in your region. Not intended as investment advice. For more information, refer to our Terms of Service.
82% of organizations moving to unified platforms for standardized data and processes, AI readiness

BARCELONA, Spain, Jan. 27, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- A new industry report shows that building an AI-ready infrastructure is a top priority for consumer product goods (CPG) companies. The State of AI in Consumer Goods Report found most (82%) respondents are actively consolidating legacy systems or transitioning from best-of-breed solutions into unified platforms. Moving to a platform can provide connectivity across systems for standardized data and processes, a critical requirement for applying AI use cases.

A majority (72%) of CPG companies are using, preparing, or planning to adopt agentic AI to advance manufacturing operations, signaling a need for advanced systems and processes that can provide clean, standard data. Key insights from the research on the CPG industry technology landscape include:

Barriers to AI remain : Current technology infrastructures are deterring organizations from deploying AI and machine learning. The top three challenges include compliance and security (60%), high costs and resources constraints (60%), and integration complexity with existing systems (58%).





: Current technology infrastructures are deterring organizations from deploying AI and machine learning. The top three challenges include compliance and security (60%), high costs and resources constraints (60%), and integration complexity with existing systems (58%). Manual processes still prevalent, increasing risk : A majority (64%) of CPGs use a mix of digital and manual processes or mostly manual with limited tools to manage quality and compliance across the supply chain. Respondents that selected advanced data integration and process automation capabilities as most valuable for improving IT efficiency say it will reduce repetitive tasks and manual work and eliminate data silos.





: A majority (64%) of CPGs use a mix of digital and manual processes or mostly manual with limited tools to manage quality and compliance across the supply chain. Respondents that selected advanced data integration and process automation capabilities as most valuable for improving IT efficiency say it will reduce repetitive tasks and manual work and eliminate data silos. CPGs want AI-powered predictive analytics: The top three reasons respondents say AI-powered predictive analytics are the most valuable capability include driving quality and compliance assurance (24%), improving decision making and data-driven insights (21%), and delivering proactive issue detection and prevention (19%). This focus on real-time insights for quality control highlights a need for technology partners with a deep understanding of manufacturing and compliance requirements.





The top three reasons respondents say AI-powered predictive analytics are the most valuable capability include driving quality and compliance assurance (24%), improving decision making and data-driven insights (21%), and delivering proactive issue detection and prevention (19%). This focus on real-time insights for quality control highlights a need for technology partners with a deep understanding of manufacturing and compliance requirements. People, process, and data key enablers for AI: Survey finds a balance across people, process, and data is critical for a successful AI launch. The top enablers are comprehensive employee training programs (72%), high-quality data infrastructure (66%), and AI cyber security and compliance (64%), signaling AI success will require coordinated organizational readiness.

"The State of AI in Consumer Goods Report shows that managing quality across numerous legacy systems is hindering AI-readiness. To use AI effectively, respondents are considering establishing a strong data foundation on a unified platform that can scale to realize clear value," said David Maher, head of strategy, Veeva QualityOne.

The State of AI in Consumer Goods Report polled more than 150 IT and functional leaders at global CPG companies in the U.S. The research examines the industry's AI-readiness, the challenges to AI-adoption, and areas of opportunity for IT to drive value and innovation. To learn more, read the full report.

About Veeva QualityOne

Founded in 2007, Veeva Systems is a global provider of industry-specific cloud software solutions that address the unique operating challenges and regulatory requirements of companies in the life sciences, consumer products, food and beverage, and chemical industries. Veeva QualityOne's solutions help hundreds of market-leading companies eliminate inefficiencies and bring high-quality, trusted products to market faster without compromising safety or compliance. As a Public Benefit Corporation, Veeva is committed to balancing the interests of all stakeholders, including customers, employees, shareholders, and the industries it serves. Learn more at Veeva QualityOne.

For more information about Veeva's solutions for the global life sciences industry and the more than 1,500 customers it serves, ranging from the world's largest pharmaceutical companies to emerging biotechs, visit veeva.com/eu.

Veeva Forward-Looking Statements

This release contains forward-looking statements regarding Veeva's products and services and the expected results or benefits from use of our products and services. These statements are based on our current expectations. Actual results could differ materially from those provided in this release and we have no obligation to update such statements. There are numerous risks that have the potential to negatively impact our results, including the risks and uncertainties disclosed in our filing on Form 10-Q for the period ended October 31, 2025, which you can find here (a summary of risks which may impact our business can be found on pages 33 and 34), and in our subsequent SEC filings, which you can access at sec.gov.

Contact:

Jeremy Whittaker

Veeva Systems

+49-695-095-5486

jeremy.whittaker@veeva.com

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RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, Jan. 27, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- ShaikhTech today announced the beta launch of AmanaVest, its global investment access platform, designed to enable individuals and institutional investors from around the world to explore curated real estate and other investment opportunities in Saudi Arabia. The name AmanaVest is derived from 'Amana,' meaning trust in Arabic, and 'Vest,' from the word invest-reflecting the platform's founding principle of enabling investment with trust, transparency, and responsibility.

The launch of AmanaVest was officially announced by Zeeshan Shaikh, CEO of ShaikhTech, at the 2026 Real Estate Future Forum in Riyadh, one of the world's leading international real estate and investment gatherings. The announcement underscored the platform's positioning within Saudi Arabia's evolving real estate and foreign investment ecosystem.

The announcement of the invitation-only beta launch of AmanaVest is in direct response to the Saudi foreign property ownership regulations issued this month. Participants admitted during this phase will be recognized as Founding Members of the AmanaVest platform, with early access privileges and long-term platform benefits.

AmanaVest commenced operations with a private, invitation-only access phase, intentionally structured to ensure quality, transparency, and alignment as the platform is thoughtfully expanded ahead of a wider release. Initial rollout focuses on Madinah and Riyadh, with access expanding in successive phases to other key cities including Makkah, Jeddah and Dammam.

AmanaVest has been developed as a technology-enabled discovery and facilitation platform, allowing participants to explore opportunities by city, asset type and investment profile within a secure, invitation-based environment. The platform features a comprehensive suite of search and discovery tools designed specifically for foreign investors seeking to access the Saudi property market, alongside access to ownership structures including freehold, long-term leasehold and timeshare options, subject to applicable regulations and project-specific terms. All opportunities through the platform are structured to be Sharia-compliant, aligning with Islamic finance principles and applicable local regulations.

ShaikhTech positions AmanaVest as a facilitator connecting real estate promoters (including government agencies, real estate developers and certified project sponsors) with a global investor community. The platform's digital infrastructure is designed to support transparent engagement, documentation, and structured transaction workflows between project originators and international capital.

The team behind AmanaVest brings deep experience in building digital platforms for cross-border real estate investment. The platform's founding team have facilitated aggregate real estate transactions in excess of USD 1.4 billion, serving international buyers across multiple markets and regulatory environments.

"Saudi Arabia is entering a historic new chapter as its real estate market opens to the world," said Zeeshan Shaikh, CEO of ShaikhTech. "This is a generational opportunity to connect global capital with one of the world's most dynamic development stories. Through AmanaVest, we are building a trusted, technology-enabled bridge into the Kingdom's expanding cities-making high-quality property investment more accessible, transparent and institutionally robust for global investors."

AmanaVest provides a suite of digital investment tools, including interactive maps and property locators, as well as secure virtual deal rooms. These virtual environments enable promoters and investors to engage, review documentation, and negotiate transactions within a controlled, safe, and secure digital setting. The platform also benefits from ShaikhTech's city level and asset level digital twin technology bringing a level of transparency never seen before on digital platforms.

Invitations to AmanaVest's initial access phase are extended selectively, with an emphasis on long-term alignment, capital discipline, and a shared commitment to transparency and independent due diligence. A request to become a Founding Member can be made by submitting an expression of interest form on the platform website (www.AmanaVest.com). Applicants who enter an existing Founding Member's code in the 'Referred by' field will be given priority consideration for Founding Member access, subject to eligibility and platform capacity. Access during this phase is intentionally limited.

AmanaVest does not operate as a broker, fund manager or investment advisor. The platform serves as a structured access and facilitation layer, enabling informed participants to engage directly with opportunities while conducting their own independent due diligence.

The fifth edition of the Real Estate Future Forum, held from 26 to 28 January 2026 in Riyadh under the patronage of His Excellency Majed Al-Hogail, Minister of Municipalities and Housing and Chairman of the Real Estate General Authority, is convening global leaders under the theme "Expanding Horizons: Real Estate Thriving." The forum brings together decision-makers, experts, and investors from more than 140 countries, alongside over 300 speakers from government and industry. Coinciding with the implementation of the updated Law of Real Estate Ownership by Non-Saudis, the event reflects the Kingdom's accelerating development momentum and is accompanied by a specialized exhibition showcasing advanced property technologies, artificial intelligence, sustainable materials, and innovative financing and development models.

For more information, visit: www.AmanaVest.com.

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VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA / ACCESS Newswire / January 27, 2026 / Alset AI Ventures Inc. (TSXV:GPUS)(OTC:GPUSF)(FSE:1R60, WKN:A40M0J) ("Alset AI" or the "Company"), an artificial intelligence ("AI") venture company advancing innovation through strategic investment and cloud computing solutions, is pleased to announce that its flagship AI business, Cedarcross Technologies Inc., operating under the brand Lyken.AI ("Lyken.AI"), has been formally approved as a qualified vendor and has received its official vendor code from a leading multinational technology and telecommunications company.

This vendor approval represents a major milestone for Lyken.AI, enabling the company to move forward with commercial engagements and positioning it to begin generating revenue in the first half of 2026 through the provision of production-grade AI cloud infrastructure and related services.(1) The Company expects an initial purchase order for hardware services to be placed in the near term, with follow-on orders anticipated.(1)

"We are thrilled to have been approved as a vendor and to receive our official vendor code from this global technology and telecommunications leader," said Kurtis Krack, President of Lyken.AI. "This achievement positions Lyken.AI to begin generating revenue in the first half of 2026, as we anticipate an initial order in the near term, followed by additional re-orders.(1) It is a strong testament to the strength and differentiation of Lyken.AI's full-service business model, which delivers end-to-end hardware infrastructure, and secures GPU cloud, platform services, and customized AI deployment solutions."

For more information about Lyken.AI, to explore customer or partnership opportunities, or to schedule a consultation, please visit https://www.lyken.ai/.

About Alset AI Ventures Inc.

Alset AI is an AI-focused venture investment platform dedicated to sourcing, funding, and developing companies across the artificial intelligence value chain. The company seeks to provide investors with diversified exposure to emerging applications and infrastructure that enable advancements in AI technologies.

For further information about Alset AI Ventures Inc., please contact:

Investor Relations

Adam Ingrao

Chief Executive Officer

T: 236.312.6744

E: ir@alsetai.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.

Note

(1) This is forward-looking information and based on a number of assumptions. These targets, and the related assumptions, involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially. While the Company believes there is a reasonable basis for these targets, such targets may not be met. Accordingly, investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on the foregoing information. See "Cautionary Note regarding Forward-Looking Statements" and "Cautionary Note Regarding Future-Oriented Financial Information" below.

Cautionary Note regarding Forward Looking Statements

This press release may contain certain forward-looking statements and forward-looking information (collectively, "forward-looking statements") regarding the Company, including, but not limited to, statements with respect to impacts of Lyken.AI's vendor approval on the Company's business; the Company's expectation that an initial purchase order for Lyken.AI's services will be placed in the near term, with additional re-orders thereafter; expectations regarding near-term revenue resulting from Lyken.AI's vendor approval and anticipated purchase orders; and the strategic direction and business plans of the Company, including its ability to provide investors with diversified exposure to emerging applications and infrastructure that enable advancements in AI technologies. Forward-looking statements normally contain words like "will", "intend", "anticipate", "could", "should", "may", "might", "expect", "estimate", "forecast", "plan", "potential", "project", "assume", "contemplate", "believe", "shall", "scheduled", and similar terms. These statements are only predictions. Various assumptions were used in drawing the conclusions or making the projections contained in the forward-looking statements throughout this press release.Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, actions, or developments and are based on expectations, assumptions, and other factors that management currently believes are relevant, reasonable, and appropriate in the circumstances. Although management believes that the forward-looking statements herein are reasonable, actual results could be substantially different due to the risks and uncertainties associated with and inherent to Alset AI's business. Additional material risks and uncertainties applicable to the forward-looking statements herein include, without limitation, the impact of general economic conditions, and unforeseen events and developments. This list is not exhaustive of the factors that may affect the Company's forward-looking statements. Many of these factors are beyond the control of Alset AI. All forward-looking statements included in this press release are expressly qualified in their entirety by these cautionary statements. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made as at the date hereof, and Alset AI undertakes no obligation to update publicly or to revise any of the included forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as may be required by applicable securities laws. Risks and uncertainties about the Company's business are more fully discussed under the heading "Risks and Uncertainties" in its most recent Management's Discussion and Analysis and other disclosure documents available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca.

Cautionary Note Regarding Future-Oriented Financial Information

This press release also contains certain future-oriented financial information and financial outlook information (collectively, "FOFI") regarding the Company's forecasted revenues and prospective results of operations from the vendor approval and anticipated purchase orders of Lyken.AI. Such FOFI is subject to the same assumptions, risk factors, limitations and qualifications as set forth in the above paragraphs. The FOFI involves known and unknown risks and uncertainties and while the Company believes there is reasonable basis for the FOFI, such target may not be met and actual results may vary and differ materially. FOFI contained in this press release was approved by management as of the date hereof and was included for the purpose of providing further information about the Company's anticipated future business operations and revenues, and the importance of the vendor approval of Lyken.AI. The Company and its management believe that the FOFI has been prepared on a reasonable basis, reflecting management's best estimates and judgments, and represents, to the best of management's knowledge and opinion, the Company's expected course of action with respect to the future of Lyken.AI. However, because this information is highly subjective and subject to numerous risks, it should not be relied on as necessarily indicative of future results, profitability or other measures of financial performance. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any FOFI contained in this press release, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, unless required pursuant to applicable law. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on the FOFI and to note that the FOFI contained in this press release should not be used for purposes other than for which it is disclosed herein. Risks and uncertainties as more fully discussed under the heading "Risks and Uncertainties" in the Company's most recent Management's Discussion and Analysis and other disclosure documents available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca can have a significant impact on the FOFI included herein. The Company's actual results may differ than as disclosed in this press release.

SOURCE: Alset AI Ventures Inc.

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/business-and-professional-services/alset-ais-lyken.ai-approved-as-vendor-from-leading-multinational-1130720
MT. PLEASANT, SC / ACCESS Newswire / January 27, 2026 / Deep Sea Rare Minerals, Inc. ("DSRM") today announced the planned expansion of its Board of Directors with the addition of Edward Thomas McMullen Jr., who was selected to strengthen the Company's strategic advisory capabilities as DSRM expands into the subsea critical mineral exploration industry.

Edward McMullen is an American diplomat who served as the United States Ambassador to Switzerland from 2017 to 2020. Prior to his appointment as Ambassador, Mr. McMullen served as President of McMullen Public Affairs, an advertising and corporate public affairs firm. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in political science from Hampden-Sydney College, Virginia. Ambassador McMullen's depth of government experience, combined with his proven private-sector leadership, uniquely positions him to provide immediate value as DSRM navigates complex regulatory, policy, and stakeholder environments.

Anthony "Tony" Romeo, Chief Executive Officer of DSRM, commented,

"We are pleased to welcome Ambassador McMullen to the Board. His experience in international business and with governments worldwide will bring significant strategic value and global perspective to Deep Sea Rare Minerals. We are also encouraged by NOAA's recent efforts to streamline the licensing process and believe this is the right moment to further strengthen our Board as we work to make deep-sea mining a reality."

Important Regulatory Notes and Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and other applicable securities laws. Forward-looking statements include, among others, statements regarding the plans, objectives, strategies, expectations, intentions, engineering and design activities, anticipated timelines, and potential future operations of Deep Sea Rare Minerals, Inc. and its subsidiaries, including Deep Sea Recovery, LLC, related to the potential exploration, evaluation, and long-term development of polymetallic nodule resources, subject to obtaining all required regulatory approvals.

These forward-looking statements are based on current assumptions, expectations, and projections and are not guarantees of future performance. Forward-looking statements involve significant risks, uncertainties, and contingencies that are difficult to predict and that may cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, risks related to: engineering, technological, and manufacturing challenges; the performance, reliability, and integration of subsea systems and equipment; the timing, scope, outcome, or denial of regulatory approvals, permits, and authorizations from U.S. and international authorities; environmental assessments, baseline studies, impact evaluations, and evolving regulatory frameworks governing deep-seabed minerals; changes in governmental policy or political priorities, including those related to critical minerals; commercial, operational, financial, and logistical considerations; the availability and cost of capital and future financing needs; market conditions, commodity price fluctuations, and supply-chain uncertainty; potential delays associated with third-party engineering, fabrication, or testing; and other factors, many of which are beyond the Company's control.

Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this release. Deep Sea Rare Minerals, Inc. undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect new information, future events, or circumstances after the date of this release, except as required by applicable law. This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities.

About Deep Sea Rare Minerals, Inc.

Deep Sea Rare Minerals, Inc. is a U.S.-based holding company focused on the responsible evaluation and potential development of subsea mineral resources through its subsidiaries, with an emphasis on regulatory compliance, environmental stewardship, and long-term strategic mineral supply considerations. www.deepsearareminerals.com

Media Contact

Deep Sea Rare Minerals, Inc.

Email: PR@deepsearareminerals.com

SOURCE: Deep Sea Rare Minerals, Inc.

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/metals-and-mining/deep-sea-rare-minerals-inc.-announces-expansion-of-its-board-of-directors-strengt-1130887
Highlights from this release include:

Drilling has significantly expanded the known mineralized footprint of magmatic sulphide mineralization associated with the basal portions of the Saturday Night intrusion.

The newly identified PGE-Ni-Cu mineralized envelope, measuring approximately 800m by 200m, remains open in all directions.

SN-25-03-X (extension) intersected 14.44m of 0.61 g/t 3E PGE (3E PGE = Pt + Pd + Au) & 0.13% Cu, including 4.64m of 1.24 g/t 3E PGE & 0.21% Cu, and including 0.60m of 2.45 g/t 3E PGE & 0.30% Cu.

SN-25-04 intersected 10.33m of 0.38 g/t 3E PGE & 0.17% Cu, including 6.39m of 0.45 g/t 3E PGE & 0.18% Cu, and including 0.62m of 0.99 g/t 3E PGE & 0.34% Cu.

SN-25-05 intersected 10.75m of 0.76 g/t 3E PGE & 0.18% Cu, including 5.05m of 1.40 g/t 3E PGE & 0.31% Cu, and including 1.03m of 1.98 g/t 3E PGE & 0.29% Cu.

Sudbury, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - January 27, 2026) - Transition Metals Corp. (TSXV: XTM) ("Transition", "the Company"), is pleased to disclose assay results from drilling completed in December 2025 at its 100%-owned Saturday Night PGE Project, located approximately 30 kilometres north of Thunder Bay, Ontario (see news release dated November 10, 2025). The program saw the extension of hole SN-25-03-X beyond the basal contact, plus the addition of two new holes (SN-25-04 and SN-25-05), totaling a combined 1,463 metres. All holes intersected broad intervals of PGE-Ni-Cu mineralization occurring along the basal contact of the Saturday Night layered intrusion.

Commenting on the results, CEO Scott McLean stated, "We are very encouraged by the thick sequences of differentiated Mid-Continental Rift (MCR) intrusion we have drilled at Saturday Night, with the growing footprint of the mineralizing system we are defining. We see similarities to the proximal phases to the higher-grade sequences we previously encountered at our nearby Sunday Lake discovery, where historic drilling in 2019 returned values including 41.20m of 5.51 g/t 3E PGE and 0.57% Cu, including a higher-grade interval of 8.30m of 13.06 g/t 3E PGE and 1.23% Cu in hole SL-19-26. These results reinforce our interpretation that Saturday Night represents a large, fertile magmatic system and further supports its potential to host higher-grade mineralization similar to that identified at Sunday Lake."

Discussion of Drill Results

Drilling to date has significantly expanded the known footprint of mineralization associated with a large, layered MCR intrusive, hosting PGE-Cu-Ni mineralization along basal contacts. Select highlight assay intervals from recent drilling are contained in Table 1, with Table 2 containing drill collar information. A Property location map in Figures 1 and a North-South drill hole section depicted in Figure 2.

Drill hole SN-25-03 was designed in an earlier exploration program in 2025 as a larger down-dip step-out, however was terminated at a depth of 830-metres, before being able to reach the ultramafic series and basal contact, where mineralization was anticipated (see news release dated March 26, 2025). This hole, after extension to a depth of 942 metres (drill hole extension; SN-25-03-X), and intersected a broad PGE mineralized sequence occurring along the basal contact.

Table 1: Highlight results from hole SN-25-03-X, SN-25-04, and SN-25-05.

Drill Hole ID From To Length Pt Pd Au Cu Ni 3E PGE* CuEq* units (m) (m) (m) (ppm) (ppm) (ppm) (wt. %) (wt. %) (ppm) (wt. %) SN-25-03-X 887.74 902.18 14.44 0.33 0.21 0.07 0.13 0.06 0.61 0.49 including 892.26 901.13 8.87 0.48 0.31 0.10 0.17 0.07 0.89 0.71 including 896.49 901.13 4.64 0.67 0.45 0.12 0.21 0.07 1.24 0.97 including 900.00 900.60 0.60 1.34 0.89 0.21 0.30 0.13 2.45 1.91 SN-25-04 617.16 627.49 10.33 0.17 0.10 0.11 0.17 0.06 0.38 0.41 including 621.10 627.49 6.39 0.22 0.14 0.09 0.18 0.05 0.45 0.51 including 622.52 623.14 0.62 0.50 0.28 0.21 0.34 0.15 0.99 1.12 SN-25-05 578.56 589.31 10.75 0.42 0.23 0.11 0.18 0.06 0.76 0.89 including 582.20 587.25 5.05 0.77 0.44 0.19 0.31 0.10 1.40 1.62 including 584.00 585.03 1.03 1.13 0.65 0.20 0.29 0.13 1.98 2.34

*Note: 3E PGE = (Pt + Pd + Au), Copper equivalent (CuEq) values are based on assumed SPOT metal prices as of Jan 19th, 2026, using US$5.9088/lb Cu, US$8.2282/lb Ni, US$4,678.29/oz Au, US$2,380.50/oz Pt and US$1,886.50/oz Pd. No current or historical metallurgical work, nor economic analysis, has been completed, and therefore recoveries are assumed to be 100%, with 100% payable metals. The use of CuEq values are conceptual in nature, and are intended for exploration comparison purposes only, and do not represent an economic analysis. Lengths reported represent core length, insufficient work has been completed to determine true widths.

The two additional in-fill drill holes, SN-25-04 and SN-25-05, were designed to test mineralization continuity along the basal contact between SN-25-03-X and the existing up-dip holes SN-16-01 and SN-25-02. Geological units encountered correlate well, and mineralization along the basal contact is consistent and interpreted to be continuous between holes.

In total, the Company has now completed five drill holes (inclusive of the extension hole describe above) for a total of 3,481 metres at Saturday Night. All holes have intersected a thick, layered intrusion containing extensive intervals of magmatic sulphides enriched in platinum, palladium, gold, copper, and nickel, with mineralization intensifying toward the basal contact. Combined, this new drilling expands the known mineralized footprint, now measuring approximately 800 metres by 200 metres and remains open in all directions.

Figure 1: Saturday Night PGE Property location map on regional total field magnetics. The Sars depict known magnetic features associated with MCR mineralized intrusions.

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/2766/281788_25ad87f804434aae_001full.jpg

Table 2: Drill hole collar information.

Drill Hole ID Easting Northing Azimuth Dip Length units (mE) (mN) () () (m) SN-25-03-X* 319,741 5,390,080 201 -70 942 SN-25-04 319,746 5,390,088 35 -85 674 SN-25-05 319,746 5,390,090 340 -70 677



*Notes: Coordinates are in UTM NAD83, Zone 16N, in metres. Drill hole SN-25-03-X is an extension of hole SN-25-03, which previously terminated at a death of 830m. Dip is reported as negative below horizontal. Lengths reported are in metres, and represent core length, insufficient work has been completed to determine true widths.

Figure 2: Saturday Night Project North-South cross-section, looking west, including interpreted geology and mineralization intersected with a 200m influence.

*Note: 3E PGE = (Pt + Pd + Au), Coordinates are in UTM NAD83, Zone 16N, in metres. Lengths reported are in metres, and represent core length, insufficient work has been completed to determine true widths.

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/2766/281788_25ad87f804434aae_002full.jpg

Next Steps

The Company is actively expanding its understanding of the Saturday Night PGE-rich intrusion and is undertaking various studies and 3D modeling activities, including physical rock-property analysis, to better constrain geophysical inversion models. In the coming months, the Company is planning additional geophysical surveys and 3D modeling to enhance drill targeting.

About the Saturday Night Project

The Saturday Night Project, wholly owned by Transition Metals, comprises 63 staked mining claims situated in Fowler Township, located approximately 30 kilometres northwest of Thunder Bay, Ontario, within the Robinson Superior Treaty area. The project has year-round road access to a main highway and is close to infrastructure. The exploration work to date has confirmed that a magnetic anomaly found on the Property is linked to an underlying mafic-ultramafic intrusion (SNI), which is interpreted to have originated during the Proterozoic era and is associated with the renowned Midcontinental Rift (MCR).

The MCR is a geological feature that extends over 2,000 kilometres across the heart of North America. It formed around 1.1 billion years ago as the North American craton began to rift. Notably, the early stages of this rift (referred to as 'early-rift') are associated with the presence of mafic to ultramafic intrusive rocks that contain significant quantities of platinum group elements (PGEs). Nearby MCR related deposits include the Thunder Bay North and Sunday Lake deposit. The Sunday Lake deposit was discovered by Transition in partnership with Impala Platinum in 2013. Other rift related Ni-Cu and PGE-bearing systems include the Eagle deposit located in Michigan, and the Tamarack and Duluth deposits located in Minnesota. The Saturday Night Project is currently in the early exploration phase, with ongoing assessments aimed at determining the potential of the Property to host PGE mineralization of interest. The Property is subject to an underlying 1.0% Net Smelter Return royalty (see company press releases dated September 8, 2020).

2026 AME Roundup Conference

Company personnel, including CEO Scott McLean, COO Greg Collins, and Corporate Development Manager Bill Stormont will be exhibiting in person at the AME Roundup 2026 in Vancouver on Wednesday, January 28th and Thursday, January 29th in AME's Project Generators' Hub. Inquiries to arrange meetings can be directed to Bill Stormont by e-mail (bstormont@transitionmetalscorp.com), or by telephone (+1 (778) 868-9571).

Qualified Person

The technical elements of this news release have been approved by Mr. Benjamin Williams, P.Geo. (PGO), Exploration Manager of Transition Metals Corp., and a Qualified Person under National Instrument 43-101.

About Transition Metals Corp.

Transition Metals Corp. (TSXV: XTM) is a Canadian-based, multi-commodity explorer. Its award-winning team of geoscientists has extensive exploration experience which actively develops and tests new ideas for discovering mineralization in places that others have not looked, often allowing the company to acquire properties inexpensively. Joint venture partners earn an interest in the projects by funding a portion of higher-risk drilling and exploration, allowing Transition to conserve capital and minimize shareholder's equity dilution.

Cautionary Note on Forward-Looking Information

Except for statements of historical fact contained herein, the information in this news release constitutes "forward-looking information" within the meaning of Canadian securities law. Such forward-looking information may be identified by words such as "plans", "proposes", "estimates", "intends", "expects", "believes", "may", "will" and include without limitation, statements regarding estimated capital and operating costs, expected production timeline, benefits of updated development plans, foreign exchange assumptions and regulatory approvals. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate; actual results and future events could differ materially from such statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include, among others, metal prices, competition, risks inherent in the mining industry, and regulatory risks. Most of these factors are outside the control of the Company. Investors are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking information. Except as otherwise required by applicable securities statutes or regulation, the Company expressly disclaims any intent or obligation to update publicly forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/281788

Source: Transition Metals Corp.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - January 27, 2026) - Founders Metals Inc. (TSXV: FDR) (OTCQX: FDMIF) (FSE: 9DL0) ("Founders" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the successful consolidation of a cumulative 102,360 ha contiguous land package in Southeastern Suriname. The expansion comprises a 36,360-ha exploration concession granted by the Suriname GMD and a 10,000-ha exploitation concession acquired separately by the Company. Founders is the most advanced gold explorer in Suriname and now controls the largest uninterrupted package of highly prospective greenstone belt geology in the Guiana Shield.

Colin Padget, President & CEO, commented: "These acquisitions mark a major milestone for Founders. We have effectively consolidated an entire gold district covering over 100,000 hectares of Guiana Shield greenstone geology proven to host multi-million-ounce gold deposits. From historical exploration, artisanal mining activity, and our own drilling, it is clear the area is underlain by a world-class gold system. Founders is now uniquely positioned to systematically explore this entire land package while advancing our most promising targets toward resource definition."

Highlights

Strategic Expansion: The 46,360-ha combined acquisitions expand the Company's total concession area to 102,360 ha, making Founders the largest publicly traded gold exploration company in the Guiana Shield by land area.

World-Class Scale: The Antino property spans approximately 55 kilometres of Greenstone-hosted gold mineralization- comparable in scale to Kirkland Lake in Canada's Abitibi or Ghana's Ashanti Belt, both among the world's most endowed Archean gold systems.

Compelling Historical Data: Historical 2,100 m by 800 m gold anomaly adjacent to the Central Guiana Shear Zone - a district-scale target that has never been drill tested (Figure 1)

Multiple Target Areas: Several identified prospect areas share similar characteristics to drill-confirmed targets at Antino, including folded volcano-sedimentary rock packages, strongly veined and deformed intrusive bodies, and secondary structures with coincident gold anomalies.

Expanded Survey Programs: The Company has expanded its ongoing high-resolution airborne geophysics survey and regional auger geochemical sampling program to cover the entire consolidated land package. LiDAR and orthoimagery surveys to follow in H1 2026.

Near-Term Production Potential: The 10,000 ha Okasi exploitation concession is 100% owned by Founders, independent of the Antino option agreement. The Company is exploring potential revenue opportunities from small-scale mining.

Concession Details

The newly acquired concessions share the same geology that hosts gold mineralization at Antino and the 1.65-million-ounce Yaou deposit in neighboring French Guiana. The area is cut by the Central Guiana Shear Zone (CGSZ), a major regional structure that controls gold mineralization throughout the district. Multiple secondary structures branch off the CGSZ, creating additional exploration targets confirmed by geophysical surveys and field mapping.

Historical data compilation has identified several high-priority gold anomalies aligned with these structures, providing compelling early-stage exploration targets across the expanded land package.

Antino Expansion (36,360 ha Exploration Concession)

On January 13, 2026, the Suriname Ministry of Natural Resources (GMD No. 669/25) granted Lawa Gold N.V. a three-year exploration right for gold and other minerals covering 36,360 ha in the District of Sipaliwini. The concession is contiguous with and immediately adjacent to the existing Antino Gold Project. Founders currently holds a 70% interest in Lawa Gold N.V. pursuant to its option agreement with Nana Resources N.V.

Okasi Exploitation Concession (10,000 ha)

The Company acquired 100% of Mine Rehab N.V., the holder of a 10,000-ha exploitation concession ("Okasi") in the District of Sipaliwini. The concession is contiguous with and south of the Antino Gold Project. The exploitation right was granted by the Suriname Ministry of Natural Resources for a ten-year term. The Okasi concession is held by FDR Suriname Holding N.V., a wholly owned subsidiary of Founders, independent of the Company's option agreement with Nana Resources N.V.

About Founders Metals Inc.

Founders Metals is a Canadian-based exploration company focused on advancing the Antino Gold District located in Suriname, South America, in the heart of the Guiana Shield. The Company controls a contiguous 102,360 ha land package that has produced over 500,000 ounces of gold from historical surface and alluvial mining to date1. Founders is systematically advancing one of Suriname's most promising gold exploration and development opportunities with drill-confirmed, district-scale potential. The Company is committed to responsible exploration, community engagement, and delivering long-term value to shareholders through technical excellence and strategic growth in the Guiana Shield.

12022 Technical Report - Antino Project; Suriname, South America. K. Raffle, BSc, P. Geo & Rock Lefrancois, BSc, P.Geo.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS,

Per: "Colin Padget"

Colin Padget

President, Chief Executive Officer, and Director

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information

This press release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation, including statements regarding the Company's exploration plans, the potential for near-term gold production, and the Company's prospects. Forward-looking information can generally be identified by words such as "plans", "expects", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates", "believes", or variations indicating that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" occur or be achieved.

Forward-looking statements are based on management's current expectations and reasonable assumptions but are subject to business, market, and economic risks, uncertainties, and contingencies that may cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied, including: general business and economic uncertainties; exploration results; mining industry risks; and other factors described in the Company's most recent annual management discussion and analysis. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially, other factors may cause results not to be as anticipated. There can be no assurance that forward-looking information will prove accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking information except in accordance with applicable securities laws. 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.

All material information on Founders Metals can be found at www.sedarplus.ca.

Quality Assurance and Control

Samples were analyzed at FILAB Suriname, a Bureau Veritas Certified Laboratory in Paramaribo, Suriname (a commercial certified laboratory under ISO 9001:2015). Samples are crushed to 75% passing 2.35 mm screen, riffle split (700 g) and pulverized to 85% passing 88 m. Samples were analyzed using a 50 g fire assay (50 g aliquot) with an Atomic Absorption (AA) finish. For samples that return assay values over 5.0 grams per tonne (g/t), another cut was taken from the original pulp and fire assayed with a gravimetric finish. Founders Metals inserts blanks and certified reference standards in the sample sequence for quality control. External QA-QC checks are performed at ALS Global Laboratories (Geochemistry Division) in Lima, Peru (an ISO/IEC 17025:2017 accredited facility). A secure chain of custody is maintained in transporting and storing of all samples. Drill intervals with visible gold are assayed using metallic screening. Rock chip samples from outcrop/bedrock are selective by nature and may not be representative of the mineralization hosted on the project.

Qualified Persons

The technical content of this news release has been reviewed and approved by Michael Dufresne, M.Sc., P.Geol., P.Geo., an independent qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101.

Figure 1: Consolidated Antino Concession Map

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

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To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/281769

Source: Founders Metals Inc.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - January 27, 2026) - Perseverance Metals Inc. (TSXV: PMI) ("Perseverance", "PMI" or the "Company") is pleased to provide a review of its accomplishments in 2025 and outline its objectives for 2026.

2025 was a watershed year that saw the Company raise over $8M for exploration, complete a public listing on the TSX Venture Exchange, and deliver numerous high-grade Ni-Cu-Co-PGE discoveries at its Lac Gayot project in Quebec. The Company is poised to continue to deliver early and ongoing shareholder value in 2026 through the pending maiden drill program on the Company's Voyageur Ni-Cu-Co-PGE project in Michigan, followed by the continuation of drilling at Lac Gayot beginning in early summer. These activities are happening in an exceptional critical minerals market environment, and rapidly escalating investor focus on the sector and the Company's project areas.

"2025 was a year of pivotal growth and validation for Perseverance Metals," stated Michael Tucker, CEO. "We transitioned from a private explorer to a publicly traded company and immediately demonstrated the potential of our assets, highlighted by the discovery of the Baseline Zone at Lac Gayot, yielding a series of massive sulphide intersections grading over 4% nickel in the first-ever blind discovery on the project."



"As we look to 2026, we are excited to expand on these successes with aggressive drill programs planned for both Quebec and Michigan, and we expect to deliver significant and sustainable, long-term value through the drill bit for all stakeholders into what has quickly become an exceptional market for our targeted metals of nickel, copper, cobalt, platinum, palladium, and gold."

2025 Accomplishments & Highlights

In 2025, the Company executed on its promise to aggressively advance its portfolio of critical mineral assets while achieving key corporate milestones and cementing shareholder value:

Successful Go-Public and Market Debut: Completed the Company's transition to the public markets, culminating in a successful listing on the TSX Venture Exchange (TSXV: PMI) in October 2025. This milestone was a significant de-risking event that both validated the Company's corporate strategy and secured a solid base of over 200 new shareholders composed predominantly of close mining and mining finance industry peers ( see PMI NR Oct 15 2025 ).

High-Grade Ni-Cu-Co-PGE Discoveries at Lac Gayot (Quebec): Discovered the Baseline Zone , intersecting high-grade massive sulphides in 4 separate holes in a blind (geophysically-targeted) discovery including 4.03% nickel, 0.69% copper, 0.12% cobalt, and 1.86 g/t PGEs over 2.1 metres ( see PMI NR Nov 5, 2025 & Jan 8, 2026 ) Expanded the Nasique Zone discovery footprint to over 60 metres of strike length and 90 metres depth, confirming continuous mineralization through the intersection of the zone in all 9 additional holes drilled ( see PMI NR Jan 13 2026 ).

Defined the Venus East Mineralized Trend: Identified the currently 6 km by 2 km Venus East Trend , characterized by a distinct sequence of mineralized ultramafic rocks and a total of 7 mineralized zones. Expanding the Venus East Trend is the primary focus at Lac Gayot for 2026, including an intensive drill and ground geophysical program ( see PMI NR Oct 14 2025 )

Strategic Land Consolidation in the UP, Michigan: Executed a lease agreement for highly prospective mineral titles within the Voyageur Project area, consolidating the land position around top-priority targets. Additional land consolidation in this key area of US critical minerals exploration is coming in 2026 ( see PMI NR Dec 18 2025 ).

Corporate Governance: Strengthened the technical and advisory teams with the appointment of Dr. Mark Bennett - responsible for the discovery, development, and C$1.8B sale of the Nova Bollinger nickel mine in Australia - as Strategic Technical Advisor (see PMI NR Nov 18 2025).

2026 Outlook & Goals

Looking ahead, Perseverance Metals will continue to build shareholder value by executing a strategic, science-driven exploration strategy focused on delivering new Ni-Cu-Co-PGE discoveries and resources:

Voyageur Project (Michigan): Maiden Drill Program: An early 2026 exploration drill program targeting 2,000-3,000 metres is planned to test high-priority magmatic intrusive-hosted Ni-Cu-Co-PGE mineralization on the newly consolidated land package 70kms west of the Lundin-Talon Eagle nickel mine.

Lac Gayot Project (Quebec): ~5,000 Metre Drill Program: A comprehensive drill campaign is planned to follow up on the high-grade Baseline and Nasique zones , testing along strike, down-plunge extensions, with new geophysical and structural targets. Advanced Geophysics: A high-resolution ground SQUID (Superconducting Quantum Interference Device) survey will be completed over the entire Venus East Trend in early 2026 to define drill targets and identify blind conductive bodies similar to the Baseline massive sulphide discovery. Regional Prospecting: Mapping and ground-truthing of the underexplored Northern portion of the Venus Greenstone belt to generate new targets.

Corporate & Sustainability: Continue to operate with a strong balance sheet to minimize dilution while maximizing exploration expenditures. Maintain rigorous ESG standards and foster strong relationships with Indigenous groups, local communities, and other stakeholders in Quebec, Ontario, and Michigan. Cement a valuation base in the Company by completing the 100% earn-in on both the Voyageur 70,000 hectare mineral lease package in Michigan adjoining he Talon-Lundin lands, and the Lac Gayot 17,000 hectare mineral claims in Quebec, encompassing the entirety of the Venus Greenstone belt.



About Perseverance Metals

Perseverance Metals is a critical minerals explorer with a project portfolio that is strategically located in key North American Ni-Cu-Co-PGE and hard rock lithium regions, including Quebec's prolific James Bay district and Michigan's productive Mid-Continent Rift.

Our strict science-driven approach and extensive track record of discovery as leveraged via an exceptional technical advisory board, coupled with an industry-leading team armed with next-generation exploration tools, provide us with a distinct competitive advantage. This offers a unique opportunity for investors to be exposed to a portfolio of projects with the potential for multiple discoveries. Perseverance's exploration assets include:

the Lac Gayot high-grade Ni-Cu-Co-PGE and lithium pegmatite project, which covers the entirety of the 30km Venus Greenstone Belt in Quebec, featuring multiple, very high-grade Ni-Cu-Co-PGE showings and zones along with numerous large spodumene-bearing pegmatites with consistent high lithium grades in channel sampling; the Voyageur Ni-Cu-Co-PGE project which covers 680 km2 of the Upper Peninsula in Michigan, 65 kilometres west of the only producing nickel mine in the United States is drill-ready, and; the Armit Lake Ni-Cu-Co project, which is the consolidated and underexplored western half of the nickel- and gold-rich Savant Lake Greenstone Belt in Ontario.

Additional information about Perseverance Metals can be found at perseverancemetals.com.

On Behalf of the Board,

Michael J. Tucker

CEO and Director

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. "Forward-looking information" includes, but is not limited to, statements with respect to the activities, events or developments that the Company expects or anticipates will or may occur in the future, including expectations regarding the accuracy, timing and outcome of the sample, assay and drill results; the characterization of the Venus Greenstone Belt; the option on the Lac Gayot project; and the Company's exploration and business plans, and the cost and timing thereof.

Generally, but not always, forward-looking information and statements can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates", or "believes" or the negative connotation thereof or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved" or the negative connation thereof.

Such forward-looking information and statements are based on numerous assumptions, including among others, that the sample, assay and drill results will align with the expectations of management in terms of accuracy, outcome and timing; that the characterization of the Venus Greenstone Belt is accurate; that the Company will continue to pursue the option on the Lac Gayot project; and that the Company's exploration and business plans, and the cost and timing thereof will not change significantly from management's current expectations.

Although the assumptions made by the Company in providing forward-looking information or making forward-looking statements are considered reasonable by management at the time, there can be no assurance that such assumptions will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company's plans or expectations include risks that the sample, assay and drill results will not align with the expectations of management in terms of accuracy, outcome and timing; that the characterization of the Venus Greenstone Belt is not accurate; that the Company will not continue to pursue the option on the Lac Gayot project; and that the Company's exploration and business plans, and the cost and timing thereof may change significantly from management's current expectations.

Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking information or implied by forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that forward-looking information and statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated, estimated or intended. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements or information.

Neither TSXV nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSXV) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/281754

Source: Perseverance Metals Inc.
Thunder Bay, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - January 27, 2026) - Benton Resources Inc. (TSXV: BEX) ("Benton" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has received encouraging copper results from two widely spaced drill holes in the End Zone area within the South Pond Gold-Copper Project in Newfoundland.

These holes were drilled to test geological stratigraphy, geophysical anomalies, and locally anomalous copper prospecting samples in the area. Both holes intersected wide zones of anomalous VMS stringer-style copper mineralization, with values ranging from trace up to 1.6% copper (Cu) over 0.70 m (See Table 1). The mineralization is associated with highly altered volcanic rocks similar to that of the main Great Burnt Copper deposit located 6.5 km to the south. The Company is excited about this potentially large and underexplored system as it plans for the next phase of drilling.

Table 1: End Zone Drilling Results.

DDH #

From (m) To (m) Length (m) Cu (%) Au (g/t) EZ-25-01

99.00 157.00 58.00 0.11 0.01

incl 135.00 149.06 14.06 0.23 0.01

incl 140.00 149.06 9.06 0.27 0.01

incl 140.00 141.00 1.00 0.58 0.02













EZ-25-02

61.90 76.00 14.10 0.12 0.003

incl 61.90 65.33 3.43 0.40 0.01

incl 61.90 62.90 1.00 0.57 0.02

and 89.70 92.93 3.23 0.13 0.007

and 102.30 105.37 3.07 0.67 0.18

incl 102.30 104.37 2.07 0.99 0.27

incl 102.30 103.00 0.70 1.60 0.40

Note: True widths estimated to be ~60-80% of reported core lengths.

The Company has also received additional gold results from the final five drill holes at the South Pond Gold-Copper deposit. Of particular interest, the southernmost drill hole at South Pond encountered multiple intervals with highly anomalous concentrations of nickel, chromium, and cobalt. (see Tables 2, 3, Figures 1, 2 and 3). Management is currently planning follow-up drilling.

Table 2: South Pond Drilling Results.

DDH #

From (m) To (m) Length (m) Cu (%) Au (g/t) SP-25-56

42.00 57.05 15.05 0.05 0.96

incl 45.05 55.05 10.00 0.07 1.39

incl 50.05 55.05 5.00 0.09 2.36



























SP-25-57

77.70 90.40 12.70 0.06 0.64

incl 85.60 90.40 4.80 0.08 1.47

incl 86.60 87.60 1.00 0.16 4.55













SP-25-58

57.55 91.40 33.85 0.03 0.23

incl 57.55 61.55 4.00 0.01 0.41

incl 73.40 78.40 5.00 0.10 0.73

incl 89.40 91.40 2.00 0.02 0.97













SP-25-59

21.00 35.25 14.25 0.03 0.70

incl 21.00 31.40 10.40 0.03 0.83

incl 25.00 30.40 5.40 0.04 1.05

incl 25.00 26.00 1.00 0.003 3.05













SP-25-60

9.00 36.82 27.82 0.05 0.44

incl 16.82 32.82 16.00 0.05 0.62

incl 16.82 20.82 4.00 0.06 1.52













SP-25-61

72.00 73.00 1.00 0.02 0.12

Note: True widths estimated to be ~60-80% of reported core lengths.

Table 3: South Pond Drilling Nickel, Cobalt, Chromium Results.

DDH #

From (m) To (m) Length (m) Ni (%) Co (%) Cr (%) SP-25-61

14.79 30.46 15.67 0.07 0.009 0.09

incl 16.79 21.79 5.00 0.10 0.01 0.13

incl 17.79 19.79 2.00 0.13 0.02 0.18

Note: True widths estimated to be ~60-80% of reported core lengths.

Figure 1: South Pond Gold-Copper Deposit and End Zone Target Plan Map

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Figure 2: South Pond Drilling Plan Map with Drilling Highlights

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Figure 3: South Pond Longitudinal Section

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QP

Stephen House (P.Geo.), Vice President of Exploration for Benton Resources Inc., the 'Qualified Person' under National Instrument 43-101, has approved the scientific and technical disclosure in this news release and prepared or supervised its preparation.

QA/QC Protocols

Core and rock samples, including standards, blanks and duplicates, are submitted to Eastern Analytical Ltd., Springdale, Newfoundland for preparation and analysis. All samples were acquired by saw-cut (channels/drill core) with one-half submitted for assay and one-half retained for reference, or hand (rocks) and delivered, by Benton personnel, in sealed bags, to the Springdale lab of Eastern Analytical, which is an accredited assay lab that conforms to the requirements of ISO/IEC 17025. Samples are analyzed using Eastern's Au (Fire assay) @ 30g + ICP-34 method that delivers a 34-element package utilizing a 200 mg subsample totally dissolved in four acids and analyzed by ICP-OES analytical technique. Overlimits are analysed with Eastern's atomic absorption method, using a 0.200 g to 2.00 g of sample, digested with three acids. All reported assays are uncut. Eastern Analytical Ltd. achieved ISO 17025 accreditation in February 2014 (for more details on the scope of accreditation visit the CALA website). Grab samples are selective in nature and may not represent the average mineralization of a bedrock exposure.

About Benton Resources Inc.

Benton Resources is a well-financed mineral exploration company listed on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol BEX. Benton has a diversified, highly prospective property portfolio and holds large equity positions in other mining companies that are advancing high-quality assets. Whenever possible, BEX retains net smelter return (NSR) royalties with potential long-term cash flow.

Benton is focused on advancing its high-grade Copper-Gold Great Burnt Project in central Newfoundland, which has a Mineral Resource estimate of 667,000 tonnes @ 3.21% Cu Indicated and 482,000 @ 2.35% Cu Inferred. The Project has an excellent geological setting covering 25km of strike and boasts six known Cu-Au-Ag zones over 15km that are all open for expansion. Further potential for discovery is excellent given the extensive number of untested geophysical targets and Cu-Au soil anomalies. Phase 1 and 2 drill programs returned impressive results including 25.42 m of 5.51% Cu, including 9.78 m of 8.31% Cu, and 1.00 m of 12.70% Cu. Drilling at the South Pond Gold Zone, approximately 7.5 km north of the Great Burnt Copper-Gold Zone, has confirmed a robust gold-mineralized system over 2.5 km with results of 74.20 m of 1.43g/t Au and 43.75 m of 1.62g/t Au and is open for expansion in all directions.

On behalf of the Board of Directors of Benton Resources Inc.,

"Stephen Stares"

Stephen Stares, President

Parties interested in seeking more information about properties available for option can contact Mr. Stares at the number below.

THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE HAS NOT REVIEWED AND DOES NOT ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE.

The information contained herein contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. Forward-looking statements relate to information that is based on assumptions of management, forecasts of future results, and estimates of amounts not yet determinable. Any statements that express predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance are not statements of historical fact and may be "forward-looking statements."

Forward-looking statements are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties which could cause actual events or results to differ from those reflected in the forward-looking statements, including, without limitation: risks related to failure to obtain adequate financing on a timely basis and on acceptable terms; risks related to the outcome of legal proceedings; political and regulatory risks associated with mining and exploration; risks related to the maintenance of stock exchange listings; risks related to environmental regulation and liability; the potential for delays in exploration or development activities or the completion of feasibility studies; the uncertainty of profitability; risks and uncertainties relating to the interpretation of drill results, the geology, grade and continuity of mineral deposits; risks related to the inherent uncertainty of production and cost estimates and the potential for unexpected costs and expenses; results of prefeasibility and feasibility studies, and the possibility that future exploration, development or mining results will not be consistent with the Company's expectations; risks related to gold price and other commodity price fluctuations; and other risks and uncertainties related to the Company's prospects, properties and business detailed elsewhere in the Company's disclosure record. Should one or more of these risks and uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described in forward-looking statements. Investors are cautioned against attributing undue certainty to forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date hereof and the Company does not assume any obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances. Actual events or results could differ materially from the Company's expectations or projections.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/281743

Source: Benton Resources Inc.
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - January 27, 2026) - Vertiqal Studios Corp. (TSX: VRTS) (FSE: 9PY0) ("Vertiqal" or the "Company") Vertiqal today announces that Jon Dwyer has resigned from his role as Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and director of the Company to pursue other business opportunities. Mr. Dwyer has agreed to act as an advisor to the Board to support business continuity and transition-related assistance ongoing.

The Company has appointed Max Desmarais, co-founder and current President of the Company, as the interim CEO, effective immediately. Mr. Desmarais will serve in this role while the Board conducts a formal search for a permanent Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Desmarais has served as President of the Company since 2023, having previously been Chief Strategy Officer. As a pivotal member of the executive since 2021, Max co-led both the acquisition strategy and rebrand to Vertiqal Studios alongside Mr Dwyer. Mr Desmarais is well positioned to ensure continuity of leadership and operations during the transition period.

Mr. Dwyer commented: "Vertiqal Studios is the result of an M&A strategy that began with the acquisition of Gamelancer, and was most recently supported by the acquisition of Enthusiast Gaming's direct media sales business. When I indicated to market in Q3 of last year that our M&A journey was complete, management began a process to better understand what Vertiqal needs most in order to efficiently scale. Alongside Vertiqal's President Max Desmarais and our incredibly talented management team, we have achieved a listing on the Toronto Stock Exchange and built a media business capable of significant scale. The next 3 years are important in developing the true value of the channels, licenses, and commercial relationships we have built. I think now is the right time for the business to transition to tenured media agency leadership, and there is no better person to lead the business in this transition than Max Desmarais. Max's knowledge and passion for this business equals mine, and he is adored by our team and clients alike. Running Vertiqal Studios has been the greatest honour of my professional career, and I'm excited to hand the reigns to Max. My calling is back in the venture space where I will continue to help founders develop innovative ideas into scaling businesses, remaining an advisor & long-term shareholder of Vertiqal Studios."

"On behalf of the Board, we would like to thank Jon Dwyer for his tireless leadership and contributions to the Company since the beginning of Vertiqal," said Mr. Desmarais, President. "As the co-founder of the Company, and more importantly, a close friend, I am pleased that Jon will continue to support the Company as an advisor and therein continue to contribute to the Company we helped build together."

The Company does not expect the leadership transition to have a material impact on its operations or strategic objectives.

About Vertiqal Studios Corp.

Vertiqal Studios is a scaled digital-channel network and video-production studio that owns North America's largest gaming and lifestyle network. The Company helps global brands reach Gen Z and Millennial audiences through data-driven creative, always-on digital campaigns, and performance-oriented distribution.

Vertiqal manages 200+ channels across TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, and Snapchat, producing over 100 pieces of content per day for a community of more than 52 million followers. Revenue is generated through a mix of direct brand partnerships, agency relationships, and platform monetization across its owned and operated channels.

For more information, please visit www.vertiqalstudios.com

Forward-Looking Information

This news release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws. These statements relate to future events or future performance. All statements other than statements of historical fact may be forward-looking statements or information. The forward-looking statements and information are based on certain key expectations and assumptions made by management of the Company. Although management of the Company believes that the expectations and assumptions on which such forward-looking statements and information are based are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on the forward-looking statements and information since no assurance can be given that they will prove to be correct.

Forward-looking statements and information are provided for the purpose of providing information about the current expectations and plans of management of the Company relating to the future. Readers are cautioned that reliance on such statements and information may not be appropriate for other purposes, such as making investment decisions. Since forward-looking statements and information address future events and conditions, by their very nature, they involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially from those currently anticipated due to a number of factors and risks. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements and information contained in this news release.

The forward-looking statements and information contained in this news release are made as of the date hereof, and no undertaking is given to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements or information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, unless so required by applicable securities laws. The forward-looking statements or information contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/281724

Source: Vertiqal Studios
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - January 27, 2026) - Quimbaya Gold Inc. (CSE: QIM) (OTCQX: QIMGF) (FSE: K05) ("Quimbaya" or the "Company") announces that Dr. Stewart D. Redwood, an independent consulting economic geologist with over 40 years of experience specializing in porphyry copper systems across Latin America, has completed a site visit to the Tahami Center project and provided independent confirmation of a large porphyry copper-gold-molybdenum system.

Dr. Redwood's field examination, conducted November 6-8, 2025, confirms that Tahami Center is a porphyry system measuring approximately 2.0 km north-south by 1.4 km east-west based on current mapping. The system remains open in all directions. It exhibits complete alteration zonation from potassic core through phyllic envelope to advanced argillic lithocap - the classic textbook porphyry model.

Dr. Redwood states this discovery "changes the metallogenic picture" of the Segovia district, which has historically been known for high-grade gold veins rather than porphyry copper-gold-molybdenum systems. He recommends that the Company fast-track exploration to define drill targets for Q2 2026.

Figure 1. Visible Copper Mineralization at Tahami Center. Chal: Chalcanthite, Cpy: Chalcopyrite, Py: Pyrite, Cc: Chalcocite. Granodiorite porphyry with potassic alteration, Secondary copper sulphate (chalcanthite) and visible sulphides (chalcopyrite, chalcocite, pyrite, molybdenite) at Tahami Center, Diamante mine. Photo: Dr. Stewart D. Redwood field examination, November 2025.

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

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Why this matters

Porphyry systems host the world's largest copper-gold deposits

Peru's Toquepala, Cuajone, Quellaveco - with the same geological setting - are among the world's major copper producers

Complete alteration zonation visible at surface indicates a well-preserved system

Q2 2026 drilling will be the first drill test of this system

Highlights

"Field observations confirm that it is an extensive porphyry copper system"

"This changes the metallogenic picture and opens up exciting new exploration potential"

"A bonus discovery - now gives two different types of targets at Tahami: Au-Ag veins and Cu-Au-Mo porphyry"

Recommends fast-track exploration to define drill targets for Q2 2026

Porphyry Copper System Characteristics:

Complete alteration zonation: potassic core  phyllic envelope  advanced argillic lithocap

Full porphyry veinlet sequence observed (A/M/B-type and D-type veins)

Highly anomalous Cu, Au, Mo, Pb, and Zn in channel sampling

Strong positive magnetic anomaly coincident with porphyry copper system

Figure 2. Dr. Stewart Redwood on the field trip at Tahami Center. Dr. Stewart D. Redwood examining porphyry system alteration and mineralization at Tahami Center during geological field trip, November 6-8, 2025.

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

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Dr. Stewart Redwood Statement

Dr. Stewart Redwood, BSc (Hons), PhD, FIMMM, FGS, stated:

"Field observations confirm that it is a porphyry copper system. This is a bonus discovery and now gives two different types of targets at Tahami - Au-Ag veins and porphyry Cu-Au-Mo - and two commodities of copper as well as gold. I recommend that the company fast track exploration to define drill targets for Q2 2026.

"The discovery of a porphyry system in the Segovia district is a first. The district is well known for high grade gold veins. It changes the metallogenic picture and opens up exciting new exploration potential in Quimbaya's extensive Tahami project.

"An analogy can be made with the geological setting of the porphyry Cu-Mo deposits of southern Peru - Toquepala, Cuajone, and Quellaveco. They formed on the southern continuation of the same continental margin magmatic arc. The porphyries are hosted by basement metamorphic rocks, the coastal batholith, which is equivalent to the Segovia batholith, and porphyry stocks which are much younger than the batholith - exactly what we're seeing at Tahami Center."

Management Commentary

Alexandre P. Boivin, President & CEO, commented:

"Dr. Redwood has confirmed what our team suspected, we have a genuine porphyry copper-gold-molybdenum system at Tahami Center. This changes the exploration picture for Quimbaya. We now have two distinct deposit types at Tahami: the high-grade veins we have been drilling at Tahami South, and a 2.0 by 1.4-kilometer porphyry system that remains open in all directions. We are mobilizing to execute Dr. Redwood's recommended work program and expect to have drills turning at Tahami Center in Q2 2026. Channel sampling and ridge-and-spur soil sampling are being completed and the results will be released when all of the analyses are received."

Two - Target Exploration Strategy

The Tahami Center porphyry emerged from systematic exploration across Quimbaya's 66,000+ hectares land package. As Dr. Redwood states, this is a "bonus discovery" - the Company is not pivoting away from its vein-hosted gold program at Tahami South.

Tahami South (Vein Targets): Drill program targeting high-grade gold veins. Partial assay results pending. Near-term focus.

Drill program targeting high-grade gold veins. Partial assay results pending. Near-term focus. Tahami Center (Porphyry Target): Pre-drill work program Q1 2026; maiden drilling Q2 2026.

Upcoming Catalysts:

Tahami Center geochemistry, soils sampling program and drill target definition (Q1 2026)

Tahami Center maiden drilling (Q2 2026)

Tahami South magnetic and IP ground geophysical survey (Q1 2026)

Tahami South start of second drilling program (Q2 2026)

Figure 3. a) Potassic Alteration A type veinlets; b) Potassic-sodic alteration EB-Type Stockwork Veinlets, K Felds: potassic feldspar, Cc: chalcocite, Cpy: chalcopyrite, Alb: Albite, Sec Bio: secondary Biotite, Mt: Magnetite; c) B type stockwork veinlets. A/EB/B-type quartz veinlets with secondary biotite and magnetite in stockwork pattern, characteristic of the potassic core alteration. This high-temperature alteration is where copper-molybdenum-gold mineralization concentrates in porphyry copper systems and represents the primary drill target at 200-400 meters depth. Photo: Tahami Center, November 2025.

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Technical Summary

Dr. Redwood's field examination documented the complete suite of characteristics that define a porphyry copper-gold system:

Potassic Core: A/EB/ B-type quartz veinlets in stockwork and sheeted style with secondary biotite, magnetite, and potassium feldspar

B-type quartz veinlets in stockwork and sheeted style with secondary biotite, magnetite, and potassium feldspar Phyllic Envelope: Quartz-sericite alteration with D-type quartz veins (10-20 cm) containing pyrite, chalcopyrite, magnetite, molybdenite

Quartz-sericite alteration with D-type quartz veins (10-20 cm) containing pyrite, chalcopyrite, magnetite, molybdenite Advanced Argillic Lithocap: Terraspec-confirmed alunite, kaolinite, dickite, diaspore, pyrophyllite and kaolinite occur in a broad structural zone interpreted to be the root of the lithocap

Terraspec-confirmed alunite, kaolinite, dickite, diaspore, pyrophyllite and kaolinite occur in a broad structural zone interpreted to be the root of the lithocap Surface Geochemistry: The preliminary results of channel sampling return highly anomalous values of Cu, Au, Mo, Pb, Zn

The preliminary results of channel sampling return highly anomalous values of Cu, Au, Mo, Pb, Zn Geophysics: Strong high magnetic anomaly coincident with porphyry system

Figure 4. Tahami Project Map - Two Target Locations. Tahami project area showing location of Tahami South vein target (first drilling campaign) and Tahami Center porphyry target (maiden drilling Q2 2026), approximately 2.5 km apart within Quimbaya's 66,000-hectare land package, Segovia district, Antioquia, Colombia. The distribution of different types of samples is shown. Results of sampling at Tahami Center will be released when sampling is completed and full geochemical results are received from the laboratory.

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Qualified Person

Dr. Stewart D. Redwood, BSc (Hons), PhD, FIMMM, FGS, an independent consulting economic geologist with over 40 years of experience specializing in porphyry copper systems across Latin America, is the Qualified Person as defined under National Instrument 43-101 who has reviewed and approved the technical information in this release. Dr. Redwood conducted the field examination November 6-8, 2025, and has verified the data disclosed herein.

About Quimbaya

Quimbaya aims to discover gold resources through exploration and acquisition of mining properties in the prolific gold mining districts of Colombia. Managed by an experienced team in the mining sector, Quimbaya is focused on three projects in the regions of Segovia (Tahami Project), Puerto Berrio (Berrio Project), and Abejorral (Maitamac Project), all located in Antioquia Province, Colombia.

Quimbaya Gold Inc.

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Cautionary Statements

Certain statements contained in this press release constitute "forward-looking information" as that term is defined in applicable Canadian securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein are forward-looking information. Generally, but not always, forward-looking statements and information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "intends", "expects" or "anticipates", or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "should", "would" or "occur". Forward-looking statements herein include statements and information regarding the Offering's intended use of proceeds, any exercise of Warrants, the future plans for the Company, including any expectations of growth or market momentum, future expectations for the gold sector generally, the Colombian gold sector more particularly, or how global or local market trends may affect the Company, intended exploration on any of the Company's properties and any results thereof, the strength of the Company's mineral property portfolio, the potential discovery and potential size of the discovery of minerals on any property of the Company's, including Tahami South, the aims and goals of the Company, and other forward-looking information. Forward-looking information by its nature is based on assumptions and involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of Quimbaya to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements or information. These assumptions include, but are not limited to, that the Company's exploration and other activities will proceed as expected. The future outcomes that relate to forward-looking statements may be influenced by many factors, including but not limited to: future planned development and other activities on the Company's mineral properties; an inability to finance the Company; obtaining required permitting on the Company's mineral properties in a timely manner; any adverse changes to the planned operations of the Company's mineral properties; failure by the Company for any reason to undertake expected exploration programs; achieving and maintaining favourable relationships with local communities; mineral exploration results that are poorer or better than expected; prices for gold remaining as expected; currency exchange rates remaining as expected; availability of funds for the Company's projects; prices for energy inputs, labour, materials, supplies and services (including transportation); no labour-related disruptions; no unplanned delays or interruptions in scheduled construction and production; all necessary permits, licenses and regulatory approvals are received in a timely manner; the Offering proceeds being received as anticipated; all requisite regulatory and stock exchange approvals for the Offering are obtained in a timely fashion; investor participation in the Offering; and the Company's ability to comply with environmental, health and safety laws. Although Quimbaya's management believes that the assumptions made and the expectations represented by such information are reasonable, there can be no assurance that the forward-looking information will prove to be accurate. Furthermore, should one or more of the risks, uncertainties or other factors materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described in forward-looking statements or information. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information as there can be no assurance that the plans, intentions or expectations upon which they are placed will occur. Forward-looking information contained in this news release is expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. The forward-looking information contained in this news release represents the expectations of Quimbaya as of the date of this news release and, accordingly, is subject to change after such date. Except as required by law, Quimbaya does not expect to update forward-looking statements and information continually as conditions change.

NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO UNITED STATES NEWS WIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES

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Source: Quimbaya Gold Inc.
Interview: Culture, history speak common language in Egypt-China cooperation, says Egyptian official

Xinhua) 10:08, January 27, 2026

LUXOR, Egypt, Jan. 26 (Xinhua) -- As Egypt and China mark 70 years of diplomatic relations, recent discoveries by an Egyptian-Chinese joint archaeological mission in the heart of Luxor offer a vivid testament to how "culture and history can speak a common language," an Egyptian antiquities official has said.

The Egyptian-Chinese archaeological mission announced on Saturday that after two years of meticulous clearance and documentation, it has uncovered a previously unknown sacred lake, along with other artifacts, at the Montu Temple precinct in the Karnak Temple Complex in Luxor, a city renowned for its rich monuments in southern Egypt.

The discoveries illuminate ancient ritual life while showcasing a modern model of international cooperation, Mohamed Abdel-Badie, chairman of the mission and head of the Egyptian Antiquities Sector at Egypt's Supreme Council of Antiquities, told Xinhua in a recent interview.

He said that the newly discovered sacred lake is notable for being previously unrecorded and is located within Karnak, the largest religious complex in Ancient Egypt.

Abdel-Badie stressed that the mission's success was "neither quick nor easy."

Muddy layers in the delta, rocky terrain, and varying groundwater conditions present constant geological challenges, he said, adding that within Luxor, differences in soil composition and moisture require tailored approaches.

Chinese technological expertise proved decisive, Abdel-Badie said, noting that the Chinese team introduced advanced digital applications, including photogrammetry tools that dramatically improved documentation accuracy.

Where traditional methods once required 2,000-3,000 photographs taken under identical environmental conditions -- a near-impossible task given shifting sunlight and wind -- new applications enabled precise 3D rendering and scaled drawings with far greater efficiency, he explained.

The team also employed a subsurface investigation technique based on the Luoyang shovel, a traditional tool uniquely developed in Chinese archaeology, which allows the identification of buried rocks, walls, staircases, and architectural remains prior to excavation.

"These methods reduced risk, saved time, and guided excavation strategies," Abdel-Badie added.

Importantly, the cooperation flowed both ways, according to the Egyptian official.

Egyptian archaeologists shared their expertise in Egyptology and fieldwork with their Chinese counterparts. In return, the Egyptian experts traveled to China to receive hands-on training in the latest technologies.

"The result was a true exchange of expertise, not a one-sided transfer," Abdel-Badie added.

Beyond the excavation work, the mission reflects a broader philosophy, he said, that cooperation between Egypt and China is inevitable, driven by the weight of two great ancient civilizations and by contemporary global conditions.

Since the first Chinese archaeological mission arrived in Egypt in 2018, cooperation has expanded rapidly. Today, five Chinese missions operate across different Egyptian sites, he said.

"In a world marked by conflict and exclusion, the language of culture and history," he argues, has proven more enduring than the language of violence.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - January 27, 2026) - AbraSilver Resource Corp. (TSX: ABRA) (OTCQX: ABBRF) ("AbraSilver" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the final assay results from drill holes completed as part of the Phase V diamond drilling program at its wholly-owned Diablillos project in Argentina (the "Project").

The results represent the final assay data from the Phase V drill program, which will be incorporated into the upcoming Mineral Resource estimate ("MRE"), underpinning the Company's Definitive Feasibility Study ("DFS"), which continues to remain on track for completion in Q2/2026.

Highlight Drill Results - Widths are reported as drilled; true widths are not yet known.

JAC: Strong near-surface silver mineralization continues to expand the Mineral Resource growth potential, including: DDH 25-096: 57.0 metres ("m") of 51 g/t silver from 109 m downhole DDH 25-099: 13.0 m of 477 g/t silver from 151 m downhole DDH 25-104: 17.0 m of 432 g/t silver & 1.10 g/t gold from 131 m downhole, including 6.0 m at 1,093 g/t silver & 2.42 g/t gold



Cerro Viejo: Hole DDH 25-084, followed by its extension DDH 25-084A, tested porphyry-style mineralization at depth and encountered broad low-grade gold, copper and silver mineralization.

John Miniotis, President and CEO, commented, "The final Phase V drill results, particularly the high-grade silver-gold intercept in holes DDH 25-099 and DDH 25-104, further demonstrate the potential for incremental Mineral Resource growth at JAC and along the corridor between JAC and Oculto. These results will be incorporated into the upcoming MRE and represent an important step as we advance Diablillos toward finalizing the DFS."

Dave O'Connor, Chief Geologist, commented, "The results from Phase V drilling provide important geological context for Phase VI, confirming the continuity of silver-gold mineralization beyond the current Mineral Resource envelope at JAC. The potential to expand both gold and silver Mineral Resources beyond the current estimate highlights the scale of Diablillos and underpins our ongoing exploration and development strategy."

Details on Drill Results - JAC

At JAC, the latest drill results continue to demonstrate broad, continuous zones of near-surface oxide silver mineralization extending beyond the limits of the current open pit constrained Mineral Resource. Drilling was primarily designed to test the margins of known mineralization and the corridor between the JAC and Oculto deposits, with results confirming that meaningful silver-gold mineralization persists outside the higher-grade core of the deposit.

Hole DDH 25-104, drilled between JAC and Oculto, intersected 17.0 metres grading 432.1 g/t silver and 1.10 g/t gold, including a high-grade interval of 6.0 metres grading 1,093.0 g/t silver and 2.42 g/t gold. This intercept highlights the continuity of high-grade mineralization along this structural corridor and supports the potential for additional Mineral Resource growth in this area.

Additional drilling at JAC also intersected multiple zones of oxide silver mineralization, including 13.0 metres at 476.6 g/t silver in DDH 25-099 and 57.0 metres at 51.4 g/t silver in DDH 25-096, further confirming the lateral extent of mineralization beyond the currently defined Mineral Resource boundaries. While grades generally decrease away from the higher-grade core, these results demonstrate that broad mineralized envelopes remain open and will be incorporated into the upcoming MRE.

Table 1 - Summary of Key Drill Intercepts - JAC

Intercepts greater than 25 gram-metres gold or 2,000 gram-metres silver shown in bolded text:

Drill Hole Area From

(m) To

(m) Type Interval

(m) Ag

g/t Au

g/t DDH-25-095 JAC 68.0 76.0 Oxides 8.0 30.9 0.25 DDH-25-096 JAC 45.0 60.0 Oxides 15.0 52.4 -



77.0 85.0 Oxides 8.0 53.9 -



109.0 166.0 Oxides 57.0 51.4 - DDH-25-097 JAC 53.0 72.0 Oxides 19.0 36.6 - DDH-25-099 JAC 151.0 164.0 Oxides 13.0 476.6

DDH-25-100 JAC 107.0 117.0 Oxides 10.0 47.4 0.58 DDH-25-104 JAC 98.0 105.0 Oxides 7.0 32.0 -



112.0 126.0 Oxides 14.0 32.4 -



131.0 148.0 Oxides 17.0 432.1 1.10

Including 131.0 137.0 Oxides 6.0 1,093.0 2.42

Figure 1 - Plan View of Drill Results

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/11792/281694_8e5b1416f42d0846_001full.jpg

Figure 2 - Section Through Latest Drill Holes at JAC

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

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Details on Drill Results - Cerro Viejo

Results have also been received from deep drilling in hole DDH 25-084/25-084A targeting porphyry style mineralization at Cerro Viejo. All mineralization is hosted in sulphides.

DDH 25-084 analyses started at 105 m depth before the hole was terminated at 650 m due to technical issues. The follow-up hole, DDH 25-084A, was drilled from the same platform and extended the total depth to 1,147.5 m. Drilling intersected pervasive chlorite alteration with localized sericite overprinting, quartz-pyrite stockwork veining, and B-type quartz-pyrite-molybdenite veinlets. Chalcopyrite and other copper-bearing veinlets occur intermittently, with copper values gradually increasing with depth. These results confirm the presence of a large, mineralized porphyry system at Cerro Viejo.

Table 2 - Summary of Key Drill Intercepts - Cerro Viejo

Drill Hole Area From

(m) To

(m) Type Interval

(m) Ag

g/t Au

g/t Cu

% DDH-25-084 Cerro Viejo 109.0 117.0 Sulphides 8.0 - 0.32 -



125.0 148.0 Sulphides 23.0 - - 0.20



162.0 190.0 Sulphides 28.0 - 0.17





189.0 195.0 Sulphides 6.0 10.0 0.13 0.49



203.0 205.0 Sulphides 2.0 31.0 0.13 0.47



249.0 286.0 Sulphides 37.0 - 0.23

DDH-25-084A

650.0 1,147.5 Sulphides 497.5 - - 0.05

Note: All results in this news release are rounded. Assays are uncut & undiluted. Widths are drilled widths, not true widths. True widths are unknown.

Update on EIA and RIGI

The processes necessary for the Diablillos project Environmental Impact Assessment ("EIA") approvals in both Salta and Catamarca provinces continue to make excellent progress. The final community consultations in Salta and Catamarca are expected to be completed in February and formal EIA approval is anticipated shortly thereafter.

The Company's application under Argentina's Large Investment Incentive Regime ("RIGI") framework remains on track, with approval continuing to be targeted before the end of Q1/2026.

Collar Data

Hole Number UTM Coordinates Elevation Azimuth Dip Depth (m) Area DDH 25-095 720028 7199047 4201 0 -60 151 JAC DDH 25-096 719574 7198832 4159 0 -60 176 JAC DDH 25-097 719556 7198792 4157 0 -60 155 JAC DDH 25-099 719602 7198612 4158 0 -60 164 JAC DDH 25-100 719824 7198956 4180 0 -60 146 JAC DDH 25-104 719877 7198989 4184 0 -60 161 JAC DDH 25-84 723676 7203107 4,045 180 -80 681 Cerro Viejo DDH 25-84A 723680 7203111 4,044 180 -80 1,148 Cerro Viejo

About Diablillos

The Diablillos property is located within the Puna region of Argentina, in the southern part of Salta Province along the border with Catamarca Province, approximately 160 km southwest of the city of Salta and 375 km northwest of the city of Catamarca. AbraSilver acquired the property in 2016, which comprises 15 contiguous and overlapping mineral concessions with excellent year-round road access.

Exploration to date has outlined multiple occurrences of silver-gold oxide mineralization at Oculto, JAC, Laderas, and Fantasma, located within a 500 m to 1.5 km distance surrounding the Oculto/JAC epicentre. To date, over 150,000 metres have been drilled on the property, which continues to demonstrate the strong growth potential of shallow, oxide-hosted silver and gold resources. In addition, a large porphyry complex is centered approximately 4 km northeast of Oculto which includes outcropping porphyry intrusions within a major zone of alteration and associated gold rich epithermal mineralization.

Comparatively nearby examples of high sulphidation epithermal deposits include: La Coipa (Chile); Yanacocha (Peru); El Indio (Chile); Lagunas Nortes/Alto Chicama (Peru) Veladero (Argentina); and Filo del Sol (Argentina). The most recent Mineral Resource estimate for Diablillos is shown in Table 3:

Table 3 - Diablillos Mineral Resource Estimate - As of July 21, 2025

Zone Category Tonnes

(000 t) Ag

(g/t) Au

(g/t) AgEq

(g/t) Contained Ag

(000 Oz Ag) Contained Au

(000 Oz Ag) Contained AgEq

(000 Oz Ag) Tank Leach Oxides Measured 26,545 119 0.71 183 101,564 604 156,487 Indicated 46,584 56 0.63 114 84,430 948 170,592 Measured & 73,129 79 0.66 139 185,994 1,553 327,078 Indicated Inferred 9,693 34 0.57 86 10,616 176 26,647 Heap Leach Oxides Measured 6,673 16 0.14 25 3,486 30 5,342 Indicated 24,102 12 0.17 23 9,163 133 17,506 Measured & 30,774



13



0.16



23



12,649



162



22,848



Indicated Inferred 10,024 9 0.20 21 2,811 64 6,850 Total Oxides Measured 33,218 98 0.59 152 105,050 634 161,829 Indicated 70,686 41 0.48 83 93,593 1,081 188,098 Measured & 103,904



59



0.51



105



198,643



1,715



349,927



Indicated Inferred 19,628 21 0.38 53 13,427 241 33,496

Footnotes for Tank Leach Resource:

Mineral Resources are not Mineral Reserves and have not demonstrated economic viability. The formula for calculating AgEq is as follows: Silver Eq Oz = Silver Oz + Gold Oz x (Gold Price/Silver Price) x (Gold Recovery/Silver Recovery). The Mineral Resource model was populated using Ordinary Kriging grade estimation within a three-dimensional block model and mineralized zones defined by wireframed solids, which are a combination of lithology and alteration domains. The 1m composite grades were capped where appropriate. The Mineral Resource is reported inside a conceptual Whittle open pit shell derived using US$ 27.50/oz Ag price, US $2,400/oz Au price, 83% process recovery for Ag, and 87% process recovery for Au. The constraining open pit optimization parameters used were US $1.94/t mining cost, US $22.96/t processing cost, US $3.32/t G&A cost, and average 51-degree open pit slopes. The MRE has been categorized in accordance with the CIM Definition Standards (CIM, 2014). A Net Value per block [NVB] calculation was used to constrain the Mineral Resource, determine the "Benefits = Income-Cost", where, Income = [(Au Selling Price (US$/oz) - Au Selling Cost (USD/Oz)) x (Au grade (g/t)/31.1035)) x Au Recovery (%)] + [(Ag Selling Price (US$/oz) - Ag Selling Cost (USD/Oz)) x (Ag grade (g/t)/31.1035)) x Ag Recovery (%)] and Cost = Mining Cost (US$/t) + Process Cost (US$/t) + Transport Cost (US$/t) + G&A Cost (US$/t) + [Royalty Cost (%) x Income] The Mineral Resource is sub-horizontal with sub-vertical feeders and a reasonable prospect for eventual economic extraction by open pit and tank leach processing methods. In-situ bulk density were assigned to each model domain, according to samples averages for each lithology domain, separated by alteration zones and subset by oxidation. All tonnages reported are dry metric tonnes and ounces of contained gold are troy ounces. Mining recovery and dilution factors have not been applied to the Mineral Resource estimates. The Mineral Resource was estimated by Luis Rodrigo Peralta, B.Sc., FAusIMM CP (Geo), Independent Qualified Person under NI 43-101. Mr. Peralta is not aware of any environmental, permitting, legal, title, taxation, socio-political, marketing, or other relevant issues that could materially affect the potential development of the Mineral Resource. All figures are rounded to reflect the relative accuracy of the estimates. Minor discrepancies may occur due to rounding to appropriate significant figures.

Footnotes for Heap Leach Resource:

Mineral Resources are not Mineral Reserves and have not demonstrated economic viability. The formula for calculating AgEq is as follows: Silver Eq Oz = Silver Oz + Gold Oz x (Gold Price/Silver Price) x (Gold Recovery/Silver Recovery). The Mineral Resource model was populated using Ordinary Kriging grade estimation within a three-dimensional block model and mineralized zones defined by wireframed solids, which are a combination of lithology and alteration domains. The 1m composite grades were capped where appropriate. The Mineral Resource is reported inside a conceptual Whittle open pit shell derived using US$ 27.50/oz Ag price, US $2,400/oz Au price, 80% process recovery for Ag, and 58% process recovery for Au. The constraining open pit optimization parameters used and overall operational cost of US $11.31/t. The MRE has been categorized in accordance with the CIM Definition Standards (CIM, 2014). A Net Value per block [NVB] calculation was used to constrain the Mineral Resource, determine the "Benefits = Income-Cost", where, Income = [(Au Selling Price (US$/oz) - Au Selling Cost (USD/Oz)) x (Au grade (g/t)/31.1035)) x Au Recovery (%)] + [(Ag Selling Price (US$/oz) - Ag Selling Cost (USD/Oz)) x (Ag grade (g/t)/31.1035)) x Ag Recovery (%)] and Cost = Mining Cost (US$/t) + Process Cost (US$/t) + Transport Cost (US$/t) + G&A Cost (US$/t) + [Royalty Cost (%) x Income] In-situ bulk density were assigned to each model domain, according to samples averages for each lithology domain, separated by alteration zones and subset by oxidation. All tonnages reported are dry metric tonnes and ounces of contained gold are troy ounces. Mining recovery and dilution factors have not been applied to the Mineral Resource estimates. The Mineral Resource was estimated by Mr. Peralta, B.Sc., FAusIMM CP (Geo), Independent Qualified Person under NI 43-101. Mr. Peralta is not aware of any environmental, permitting, legal, title, taxation, socio-political, marketing, or other relevant issues that could materially affect the potential development of the Mineral Resource. All figures are rounded to reflect the relative accuracy of the estimates. Minor discrepancies may occur due to rounding to appropriate significant figures.

QA/QC and Core Sampling Protocols

AbraSilver applies industry standard exploration methodologies and techniques, and all drill core samples are collected under the supervision of the Company's geologists in accordance with industry best practices. Drill core is transported from the drill platform to the logging facility where drill data is compared and verified with the core in the trays. Thereafter, it is logged, photographed, and split by diamond saw prior to being sampled. Samples are then bagged, and quality control materials are inserted at regular intervals at site; these include blanks and certified reference materials as well as duplicate core samples which are collected in order to assess sampling precision and reproducibility. Groups of samples are then placed in large bags which are sealed with numbered tags in order to maintain a chain-of-custody during the transport of the samples from the project site to the laboratory.

All samples are received by the ASA (Alex Stewart Argentina) preparation laboratory in Salta, where they are prepared, then the pulp sachet is directly dispatched to its facility in Mendoza, Argentina, where they are analyzed. All samples are analyzed using a multi-element technique consisting of a four-acid digestion followed by ICP/AES detection, and gold is analyzed by 50g Fire Assay with an AAS finish. Silver results greater than 100g/t are re-analyzed using four acid digestion with an ore grade AAS finish.

Qualified Persons

David O'Connor P.Geo., Chief Geologist for AbraSilver, is the Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects, and he has reviewed and approved the scientific and technical information in this news release.

About AbraSilver

AbraSilver is an advanced-stage exploration company focused on rapidly advancing its 100%-owned Diablillos silver-gold project in the mining-friendly Salta province of Argentina. The current Measured and Indicated Mineral Resource estimate for Diablillos (tank leach-only) consists of 73.1 Mt grading 79 g/t Ag and 0.66 g/t Au, containing approximately 186Moz of silver and 1.6Moz of gold, with significant further upside potential based on recent exploration drilling. The Company is led by an experienced management team and has long-term supportive shareholders. In addition, the Company has an earn-in option and joint venture agreement with Teck on the La Coipita project, located in the San Juan province of Argentina. AbraSilver is listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol "ABRA" and in the U.S. on the OTCQX under the symbol "ABBRF."

For further information, please visit the AbraSilver Resource website at www.abrasilver.com, our LinkedIn page at AbraSilver Resource Corp., and follow us on X at www.x.com/abrasilver.

Cautionary Statements

This news release includes certain "forward-looking statements" under applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable, are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors which may cause the actual results and future events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. All statements that address future plans, activities, events or developments that the Company believes, expects or anticipates will or may occur are forward-looking information. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. When considering this forward-looking information, readers should keep in mind the risk factors and other cautionary statements in the Company's disclosure documents filed with the applicable Canadian securities regulatory authorities on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca. The risk factors and other factors noted in the disclosure documents could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those described in any forward-looking information. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

Neither the TSX nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX) 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/281694

Source: AbraSilver Resource Corp.
The company appoints Joel Parker, Ph.D., as Chief Scientific Officer; Ana Vivancos, Ph.D., as Director of NGS and Genomic Technologies; and Aleix Prat, M.D., Ph.D., as Chairman of the Board of Directors.

Leadership roles are assumed by the company's co-founders, who strengthen governance and alignment across scientific, clinical, and strategic priorities.

The strengthened leadership framework supports global scientific progress and clinical adoption of the genomic assays of REVEAL GENOMICS.

REVEAL GENOMICS, a Barcelona-based biotechnology company that advances precision oncology through biomarker innovation, today announced a strengthened leadership framework with several senior appointments. These appointments underscore the company's commitment to scientific excellence, technological rigor, and clinical impact, and they seek to support the continued development, validation, and global adoption of the company's genomic assays.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260127015446/en/

The company appoints Ana Vivancos, Ph.D., as Director of NGS and Genomic Technologies; Joel Parker, Ph.D., as Chief Scientific Officer; and Aleix Prat, M.D., Ph.D., as Chairman of the Board of Directors.

The roles are assumed by co-founders of REVEAL GENOMICS and are a reflection of the company's strong internal leadership, continuity of vision, and long-term commitment to its scientific and clinical mission. By aligning its strategic responsibilities with founders who provide in-depth domain expertise and a proven track record in genomics and oncology, REVEAL GENOMICS ensures tight integration between innovation, execution, and patient impact as the company expands internationally.

Leadership responsibilities aligned with strategic priorities

As part of this leadership alignment, Joel Parker, Ph.D., a co-founder of REVEAL GENOMICS, has been appointed as Chief Scientific Officer (CSO). In this role, Dr. Parker will continue to define the company's scientific vision, drive innovation across its biomarker programs, and expand collaboration at the intersection where genomics, data science, and translational research meet.

Dr. Parker has led REVEAL's strategy in science, computational biology, and artificial intelligence since the company's inception. He is internationally recognized for his contributions to cancer genomics, including the molecular classification of breast cancer and the integration of genomic and multimodal data into clinically actionable frameworks.

Ana Vivancos, Ph.D., a co-founder of REVEAL GENOMICS, has been appointed as Director of NGS and Genomic Technologies, transitioning from her prior role as scientific and technological consultant. In her new position, she will lead the company's genomic and technological infrastructure to ensure analytical robustness, regulatory compliance (including IVDR), and the scalability of REVEAL's assays across international markets.

Dr. Vivancos is a leading authority on next-generation sequencing and molecular diagnostics and has played a central role in building and validating REVEAL's internal genomic testing platform.

Aleix Prat, M.D., Ph.D., a co-founder of REVEAL GENOMICS, has assumed the role of Chairman of the Board of Directors, thereby strengthening the company's strategic governance, long-term vision, and global partnerships. In this capacity, Dr. Prat will focus on supporting the company's overall strategy, guiding clinical adoption initiatives, and promoting collaboration across academia, healthcare systems, and industry.

A shared leadership vision for advancing precision oncology

Patricia Villagrasa, a co-founder and the Chief Executive Officer of REVEAL GENOMICS, commented: "This evolution reflects the way we already work. Each co-founder has a clearly defined and complementary role, which lets us translate strong science into clinically meaningful diagnostics, while continuing to grow internationally

Aleix Prat added: "Our priority is to ensure that REVEAL's genomic assays are supported by high-quality clinical evidence and that they are integrated responsibly into routine clinical practice, while maintaining a long-term strategic vision for the company

Joel Parker stated: "REVEAL's strength lies in the integration of genomics, data science, and clinical insight. As CSO, my focus is on continuing to advance that integration in order to deliver innovation with real clinical impact

Ana Vivancos noted: "Operational excellence and a robust technological platform are essential for delivering high-quality diagnostics at scale. This role underscores the importance of technology, quality, and execution as REVEAL expands globally.

REVEAL GENOMICS develops high-value diagnostic tools designed to improve outcomes for patients with cancer by supporting more precise treatment selection. The company's portfolio includes HER2DX, the first genomic test clinically validated to provide prognostic information and support treatment decision-making in early-stage HER2-positive breast cancer, as well as TNBCDX and DNADX, which extend the company's precision oncology capabilities to triple-negative breast cancer and circulating tumor DNA analysis, respectively.

About REVEAL GENOMICS

REVEAL GENOMICS, S.L. is a Barcelona-based biotechnology company that discovers, develops, and markets innovative diagnostic tools for optimizing cancer treatment. By leveraging genomic data, advanced analytics, and clinical research, REVEAL provides actionable insights that help physicians personalize therapy decisions.

REVEAL GENOMICS, S.L. is a spin-off company of Hospital Clinic de Barcelona, IDIBAPS, the University of Barcelona (U.B.), and the Vall d'Hebron Institute of Oncology (VHIO).

Website: www.reveal-genomics.com

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260127015446/en/

Contacts:

Further information: Adriana Herrera, aherrera@reveal-genomics.com
MARION, NC / ACCESS Newswire / January 27, 2026 / Greene Concepts Inc. (OTCID:INKW), owner and operator of a 60,000-square-foot bottling facility in Marion, North Carolina, and producer of the premium artesian spring water brand Be Water, today announced that, following its November 4, 2025 news release highlighting the surge in gold and silver prices, the Company is now evaluating additional revenue opportunities tied to the mineral-rich geology surrounding Marion, North Carolina, and McDowell County.

The region hosts a wide variety of documented mineral deposits, including gold, copper, zinc, manganese, feldspar, quartz, and rare earth elements (REEs), along with active and historic mines such as Lucky Strike and Thermal City Gold Mines. According to public geological data, McDowell County contains more than 20 recorded mining sites, several of which list gold and REEs among their primary commodities (See: TheDiggings.com).

Greene Concepts views its proximity to this mineral belt as a strategic advantage and intends to assess opportunities for royalty, lease or joint venture participation involving local mineral resources such as gold, REEs, and industrial materials like quartz and dimension stone.

Regional Mineral Highlights

Gold - Historic and active deposits across McDowell County; gold found in both placer and quartz vein formations.

Rare Earth Elements (REEs) - Documented occurrences in pegmatite formations throughout the region.

Copper, Zinc, and Manganese - Confirmed base metals linked to local vein systems.

Quartz, Feldspar, and Dimension Stone - Industrial minerals used in glass, ceramics, and construction, with rising market demand.

Tourism & Heritage Mining - Sites like Lucky Strike contribute to local jobs and tourism revenue.

"While our core focus remains bottled water and brand development, the mineral-rich land around our Marion facility offers exciting diversification potential," said Lenny Greene, President & CEO of Greene Concepts. "We aim to explore these opportunities carefully, adding long-term value for shareholders while continuing to honor our Be Water brand mission."

Greene continued, "Our exploration of local mineral assets represents another avenue to strengthen long-term shareholder value. By identifying potential royalties, lease income or joint ventures tied to McDowell County's resources, we can enhance our overall growth strategy while maintaining financial discipline and transparency."

Forward-Looking Outlook

Exploration and evaluation are preliminary, and no assurance can be given that mineral occurrences will lead to commercially viable reserves. Greene Concepts will continue due diligence and provide updates as results develop.

Follow Greene Concepts, Inc. on Social Media at: X - @GreeneConcepts, Facebook - @inkw2025, Instagram - Greene Concepts, Inc. and Be Water

About Greene Concepts, Inc.

Greene Concepts, Inc. (https://www.greeneconcepts.com) is a publicly traded company whose purpose is to provide the world with high-quality, healthy and enhanced beverage choices that meet the nutritional needs of its consumers while refreshing their mind, body and spirit. The Company's flagship product, Be Water, is a premium artesian bottled water that supports total body health and wellness. Greene Concepts' beverage and bottling plant is located in Marion, North Carolina, and the water is ethically sourced from spring and artesian wells that are fed from a natural aquifer located deep beneath the Blue Ridge Mountains. Greene Concepts continues to develop and market premium beverage brands designed to enhance the daily lives of consumers.

Safe Harbor: This Press Release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These forward-looking statements are based on the current plans and expectations of management and are subject to a few uncertainties and risks that could significantly affect the company's current plans and expectations, as well as future results of operations and financial condition. A more extensive listing of risks and factors that may affect the company's business prospects and cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements can be found in the reports and other documents filed by the company with the Securities and Exchange Commission and OTC Markets, Inc. OTC Disclosure and News Service. The company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, because of new information, future events or otherwise.

CONTACT:

Greene Concepts, Inc.

Investor Relations

IR@greeneconcepts.com

SOURCE: Greene Concepts, Inc.

Be Water_Waterfall

Be Fresh_BeWater

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/business-and-professional-services/greene-concepts-eyes-new-revenue-streams-from-mcdowell-county-mi-1130856
APIA, Samoa, Jan. 27, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Phemex, a user-first crypto exchange, has introduced the Elite Trader Recruitment Program, an initiative aimed at supporting professional traders who use copy trading to distribute their strategies to a broader user base. The program is designed to provide traders with structured incentives, platform support, and visibility, while encouraging more systematic and sustainable trading practices.

The Elite Trader Recruitment Program provides professional traders with a structured route to scale strategy-based trading on Phemex without significant upfront capital. Participants can deploy platform-issued trading bonuses instead of personal funds, earn performance-based rewards of up to 2,000 USDT per month, and access a dual revenue model combining up to 30% profit sharing from copiers with up to 30% commission rebates on copy trading volume. By tying incentives directly to execution quality and sustained performance, the framework is designed to support repeatable income generation rather than short-term trading outcomes.

The program is underpinned by Phemex's copy trading infrastructure, which includes smart execution controls, customizable copying parameters, real-time performance data access, and support for both USDT and USDC trading pairs. Risk-mitigation measures such as 100% loss compensation for copiers during their first month aim to reduce early participation friction, while selective copying permissions and API access allow traders to maintain strategic control. Combined with VIP access, priority support, and structured visibility within Phemex's copy trading marketplace, the initiative reflects a broader platform approach that positions professional traders as long-term partners, emphasizing alignment, transparency, and sustainability across the trading ecosystem.

"The next stage of crypto trading is about turning skill into scalable trust," said Federico Variola, CEO of Phemex. "Copy trading allows strong strategies to be validated in real market conditions and shared globally. Our goal is to give professional traders the infrastructure, incentives, and protection needed to build long-term value - for themselves and for the users who follow them."

About Phemex

Founded in 2019, Phemex is a user-first crypto exchange trusted by over 10 million traders worldwide. The platform offers spot and derivatives trading, copy trading, and wealth management products designed to prioritize user experience, transparency, and innovation. With a forward-thinking approach and a commitment to user empowerment, Phemex delivers reliable tools, inclusive access, and evolving opportunities for traders at every level to grow and succeed.

For more information, please visit: https://phemex.com/

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SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 27, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Meltwater , a global leader in media, social and consumer intelligence, is pleased to announce Gwyneth Paltrow - Oscar-winning actress, author and the founder and CEO of goop, a global lifestyle brand - as the headlining keynote speaker at Meltwater Summit 2026 , which will be held May 5-6 in New York City.

A defining voice in modern culture and brand-building, Paltrow brings a unique perspective shaped by her ability to spot emerging cultural trends, deeply understand audiences, and create products, content and experiences that shape public conversation. Through this approach, she built goop into a globally-recognized brand rooted in community, authenticity, and relevance.

At Meltwater Summit 2026, Paltrow will take the main stage to explore how curiosity and intentional strategy can fuel meaningful brand evolution. Her keynote will cover how leaders can build communities that feel personal and connected, create content that drives loyalty, identify and act on cultural moments, and scale with purpose - topics that align with this year's Summit theme, Where Insights Inspire.

Following the success of past events featuring speakers such as Reese Witherspoon, Ryan Reynolds, Trevor Noah, and Bethenny Frankel, Meltwater Summit 2026 enters its fourth year of bringing together the most influential voices in marketing, PR and communications. The event offers attendees an opportunity to learn from industry leaders, exchange ideas, and future-proof their strategies in an increasingly complex media and communications landscape.

In addition to Paltrow, Meltwater Summit 2026 will feature industry-leading brands and influential leaders sharing strategies and tactics that drive measurable success. Sessions will explore the latest trends shaping marketing and communications - from AI agents to insight-driven storytelling - and examining how data can drive the ideas and innovation that move brands forward.

"Gwyneth has an incredible ability to turn creativity, intuition, and data into bold-storytelling that truly connects with her audiences on a deeper level," said Jenny Force, VP Global Marketing at Meltwater. "As brand leaders navigate constant change, her perspective on culture, community and reinvention is sure to inspire Summit attendees with fresh ideas that spark creative thinking, innovation and lasting impact."

To learn more about Meltwater Summit 2026 and how to register, visit Meltwater Summit 2026 .

For more information, please contact:

Stacy Slayden

Communications Manager

pr@meltwater.com
SUNNY ISLES BEACH, FLORIDA / ACCESS Newswire / January 27, 2026 / Elektros Inc. (OTC PINK:ELEK), a developer of hard-rock lithium mining operations in Sierra Leone, today announced the commencement of full-scale extraction activity at its mining site as the Company accelerates production readiness and long-term supply initiatives.

With operations now underway, Elektros has deployed its on-site team to begin extracting and gathering hard-rock lithium material. The Company is actively collecting mined material into secured sacks, enabling efficient handling, storage, and movement as Elektros builds a growing, organized stockpile intended to support future logistics and export planning.

"Our team is on the ground with sleeves rolled up and we are moving forward with full extraction and accumulation," said Shlomo Bleier, Chief Executive Officer of Elektros Inc. "We are focused on gathering hard-rock lithium in an efficient and disciplined way-bagging and stockpiling material so we can accelerate our operational momentum and position the Company to meet a market where demand continues to evolve."

Elektros believes lithium remains one of the world's most essential strategic minerals, supporting the global transition toward electrification. Lithium is a key material used in rechargeable batteries that power electric vehicles, grid-scale energy storage systems, and next-generation clean-energy technologies.

The Company expects to continue expanding its accumulation efforts on site as it prepares for freight-readiness and seeks to build as much stockpiled material as possible. Elektros intends to provide shareholders with additional updates as operational milestones are achieved.

Selected Industry Quotes on Lithium

Elon Musk (as reported by Utility Dive, Apr. 2022): "Do you like minting money? Well, the lithium business is for you."

Elon Musk (as reported by Business Insider, Jul. 2022): "Insane" costs and that anyone who enters the refining business basically gets a "license to print money."

Reuters (Apr. 2023): A lithium-ion EV battery pack on average contains about 8 kg of lithium.

Reuters (Dec. 2025): "Fortunately for lithium producers, the metal is the material of choice for power-grid storage batteries, a rapidly growing source of demand."

Benzinga (Dec. 2025): The lithium market is showing signs of a long-awaited recovery.

Bloomberg (Mar. 2018): Lithium could be a lifeline for oil majors as the energy industry shifts toward lower-polluting alternatives to fossil fuels.

Financial Times (Feb. 2024): Albemarle said it now expects 2030 global lithium demand to be about 3.3 million tonnes of lithium carbonate equivalent, still roughly triple 2023 levels.

About Elektros, Inc.

Elektros Inc. (OTC PINK:ELEK) is focused on developing an artisanal hard-rock lithium mining operation in Sierra Leone, Africa. The Company's business plan includes exploration, development, and the eventual export of hard-rock lithium to lithium refineries in the United States.

Website: www.elektros.energy

Contact:

Elektros, Inc.

IR and Media Inquiries

Email: ElektrosInc@gmail.com

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information

This press release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. These statements are based on current expectations and assumptions and are not guarantees of future performance. Actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Elektros Inc. undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements. For additional information, please refer to the Company's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission at www.sec.gov.

SOURCE: Elektros, Inc.

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/automotive/elektros-commences-full-scale-hard-rock-lithium-extraction-and-stockpile-build-out-at-si-1130901
Seasoned global leader to oversee integrated sales and execution functions, advancing Dematic's commitment to seamless solution delivery

ATLANTA, GEORGIA / ACCESS Newswire / January 27, 2026 / Dematic, a global leader in supply chain automation, announced Alexandre Guiard rejoined the company as senior vice president, business solutions for the Americas region effective January 26, 2026. In this role, Guiard will lead the business solutions sales strategy and execution for the Americas, bringing these functions together to strengthen regional performance and support scalable growth.

"With Alex's return, we will continue to solidify our operational performance while scaling our business through our customer-centric culture," said Mike Larsson, President, Dematic and KION Group Executive Board Member. "His leadership will strengthen how we support customers at every stage - from early engagement through final implementation - aligning sales and delivery to ensure a more seamless, consistent experience across the Americas."

Guiard previously led the Americas Project Execution team at Dematic before briefly departing to join Valeo's Brain Division Group in Japan, where he was later appointed as National President for Valeo Japan and ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations). Earlier in his career, he held leadership roles at KPS Capital Partners, Faurecia Automotive Seating, and Valeo Thermal Business Group.

"Returning to Dematic is an opportunity to work with the people shaping the future of the supply chain," said Guiard. "Dematic's customer-first approach and reliable solutions are why it continues to lead the industry. I look forward to building on both my global experience and deep familiarity with Dematic in this new role to enhance operational performance and drive growth for us and our customers."

With more than 20 years of global experience in the U.S., Brazil, Canada, France, Japan, and Mexico, Guiard brings a deep international perspective to the organization. His background in leading diverse, cross-regional teams will help strengthen Dematic customer support across the Americas.

Guiard holds a master's degree in business administration from the Institute of Business Administration (France) and a bachelor's degree in industrial engineering from EPMI (France). He also completed the General Management Program (GMP) in Business Administration and Management at Harvard Business School.

For more information about Dematic, visit dematic.com or follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and X.

About Dematic

Dematic is a global leader in supply chain automation solutions featuring advanced technologies and software empowering the future of commerce for its customers in manufacturing, warehousing, and distribution. With research and development engineering centers, manufacturing facilities, and service centers located in more than 26 countries, the Dematic global network of approximately 10,000 employees has integrated and supported automation solutions for many of the world's leading brands. Headquartered in Atlanta, Dematic is a member of KION Group, one of the world's leading suppliers of industrial trucks and supply chain solutions.

Disclaimer

This release and the information contained herein are for information purposes only and do not constitute a prospectus or an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities in the United States or in any other jurisdiction. This release contains forward-looking statements that are subject to various risks and uncertainties. Future results could differ materially from those described in these forward-looking statements due to certain factors, for example, changes in business, economic, and competitive conditions, regulatory reforms, results of technical studies, foreign exchange rate fluctuations, uncertainties in litigation or investigative proceedings, and the availability of financing. We do not undertake any responsibility to update the forward-looking statements in this release.

Media Contact:

Mandi Baronas?

Senior Manager Marketing Communications?

mandi.baronas@dematic.com

dematic.com

SOURCE: Dematic

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/industrial-and-manufacturing/dematic-appoints-alexandre-guiard-as-senior-vice-president.-business-s-1129799
NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESS Newswire / January 27, 2026 / Cummins

For nearly two decades, Derrick O. has been at the heart of the engines and power systems that keep industries moving and communities thriving. As an In-Shop Power Generation Technician, Derrick exemplifies what it means to tackle complex challenges, deliver exceptional quality and support customers who rely on Cummins every single day.

But Derrick's story didn't begin with a clear career path. It started with curiosity-and a willingness to roll up his sleeves.

While working at a Cummins dealer, Derrick got his first opportunity to work on a Cummins engine. Those initial small jobs sparked a passion that would define his future. "I started doing small jobs on Cummins engines," he recalls. "I really enjoyed it and wanted to learn more. That made me want to work at the main company." Taking that leap changed everything.

From day one, Derrick committed himself to learning. Cummins provided the training and support to make that possible. "Cummins has given me tons of training over the years. I've learned everything-from generators and midrange engines to high horsepower. They've always supported me in getting better at what I do."

Every certification brought new responsibility. Every tough repair built confidence. With each challenge, Derrick discovered how far his skills could take him.

His career journey has spanned field service, mining, in-shop work and power generation. Each role revealed something new-about the company and about himself. "Working in different tech roles helped me see just how much Cummins engines are used everywhere and how many paths you can take in this company," he says. Derrick has seen Cummins power hospitals, construction sites, emergency response teams, data centers and communities that would go dark without the engines he helps maintain.

That's a powerful purpose to be part of.

Today, Derrick thrives on variety and impact. "I get to work on everything-from small engines to the big ones plus power gen stuff. It keeps things interesting and lets me keep learning." For him, this isn't just a job, it's an opportunity to grow and solve problems that truly matter.

He's proud of the doors Cummins has opened for him-personally and professionally. "Working at Cummins has opened doors for me all over. I've met so many good people, made friends across the U.S. and the pay, benefits and flexibility here are hard to beat." The work is demanding but the rewards are real: strong careers, thriving communities and lifelong friendships built in shops like his.

Derrick credits his success to a simple mindset: Show up ready to help. Be someone others can count on. Do the right thing-even when no one's watching. "Those things have kept me grounded here," he says. And they've made him a leader even without a formal title. "Younger guys, older guys-they come to me for advice. If you want to move up, you can. You just need to gain the knowledge and be genuine."

For technicians just starting out, Derrick's advice is clear: Stay curious. Ask questions. Try everything. Don't be afraid to make mistakes-as long as you learn from them. Mistakes don't end your career; they shape it. Every great technician knows growth happens one challenge at a time.

Derrick has powered mining machines, remote communities, critical infrastructure and countless customers who depend on Cummins to keep their businesses alive. He's earned respect not by saying he's experienced-but by proving it through his work every single day.

To Derrick, Cummins is more than a company. It's a place where technicians can build meaningful careers, where hands-on talent is valued, where training is accessible and where good work can take you anywhere.

Derrick proves that when you take pride in your craft, stay curious and help those around you, you can build a future you never imagined.

He did-and he's just getting started.

View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Cummins Inc on 3blmedia.com.

Contact Info:

Spokesperson: Cummins Inc

Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/cummins-inc

Email: info@3blmedia.com

SOURCE: Cummins Inc

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/industrial-and-manufacturing/driven-by-curiosity-powered-by-purpose-derrick-o.s-journey-at-cummins-1130924
ESCONDIDO, CA / ACCESS Newswire / January 27, 2026 / Dalrada Technology Group, Inc. (the "Company" or "Dalrada") (OTCID:DHTI) today announced that its subsidiary, Dalrada Technology Spain S.L., entered into an additional subcontract to install Dalrada's next-generation, energy-efficient heat pump systems along with related plumbing, sanitation, and heating installations, at a nursing home in Spain, expanding its presence in the European clean energy market.

This new contract worth approximately $275,000USD builds on the Company's progress following the completed installation and commissioning of four 50kW Dalrada heat pumps at a separate client facility in Northern Spain. That project, initially referenced in a prior press release, demonstrates Dalrada's ability to deliver reliable heating and cooling solutions across a range of building types and energy-intensive applications. Dalrada continues to pursue opportunities in Spain supported by regulatory frameworks, and increasing adoption of energy-efficient technologies across residential, commercial, and institutional facilities. According to Mordor Intelligence, an award winning market intelligence firm, Spains heat pump market is expected to grow from $705.5 million USD in 2025 to over $922 million USD in 2030.

Martin Neill, Dalrada's recently appointed Chief Growth Officer, commented, "Building on these initial deployments, Dalrada is working toward expanding next-generation heat pump adoption across Europe." Martin Neill continued, "Dalrada is focused on strengthening relationships with regional contractors and customers while pursuing opportunities across additional sectors, these may include multi-unit residential buildings, commercial laundries, food processing facilities, and other applications where energy efficiency and operational reliability are critical."

Dalrada attributes these developments to the performance of its heat pump technology, its installation capabilities, and its ability to assist customers in navigating and qualifying for available government grant programs. As European institutions are expected to continue the transition away from fossil-fuel-based heating, Dalrada may be positioned to benefit from related opportunities in Spain as regulatory incentives and decarbonization initiatives support adoption, subject to market conditions, customer demand, and other factors described in the forward-looking statements below.

For more information about Dalrada Technology Group, Inc., the Company recommends that stockholders, investors, and any other interested parties read the Company's public filings and press releases available at www.dalrada.com .

About Dalrada Technology Group

Dalrada Technology Group, Inc. Ticker:DHTI ) is a publicly traded, multinational technology company that develops, manufactures, and markets a diverse portfolio of innovative products and services across the Clean Energy and Semiconductor & Electronics sectors.

Dalrada's core segments include Climate Technology , which delivers advanced heat pump systems for industrial, commercial, and residential applications; Semiconductor & Electronics , providing next-generation PVD and CVD deposition systems, modernization for legacy tools, real-time plasma diagnostics, and integrated services and components that support semiconductor manufacturing environments. By integrating these core segments under one unified group, Dalrada Technology Group seeks to accelerate innovation, advance sustainability, and deliver long-term value for its shareholders.

Follow Dalrada on LinkedIn , Facebook , X/Twitter , and YouTube Channel .

Contact: investors@dalrada.com

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS CAUTIONARY NOTICE

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These statements are based on current expectations, estimates, and projections about the Company's business and the industries in which it operates, and include, without limitation, statements regarding future growth, operational improvements, market opportunities, product traction, sales, installations, partnerships, cost reductions, profitability, shareholder value, and positioning in renewable energy, heat pumps, atmospheric water generators, and semiconductor markets. Forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties, and other factors, many of which are beyond the Company's control and could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated by these statements. These risks include, but are not limited to: delays or failures in product development, manufacturing, or commercialization; regulatory changes or delays (including those related to electrification mandates or environmental standards); competition in our various markets including, but not limited to, heat pump and semiconductor markets; supply chain disruptions; customer adoption rates; execution risks cost-reduction efforts; ability to secure additional orders or scale operations; dependence on key partners; liquidity and capital constraints typical of micro-cap OTC companies; potential need for additional financing; compliance with OTC Markets disclosure requirements; general economic conditions; market, and geopolitical conditions; dependence on subcontractors and third-party installers; risks associated with international operations, including currency fluctuations and regulatory compliance in foreign jurisdictions; and the potential impact of the overall Spanish heat pump market growth which remains subject to economic uncertainties; and other risks detailed in the Company's public filings with the SEC and OTC Markets, including the Form 10-K for the year ended June 30, 2025, and subsequent reports. The Company 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 law. Investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements.

SOURCE: Dalrada Technology Group, Inc.

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/clean-technology/dalrada-technology-group-inc.-expands-spanish-footprint-with-new-contract-1130809
TORONTO, ON / ACCESS Newswire / January 27, 2026 / Predictiv AI Inc. (CSE:PAI)(FWB:7IT) (the "Company" or "Predictiv AI") is pleased to announce that its common shares have commenced trading on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange (FWB) following the Company's successful secondary listing on the Open Market (Freiverkehr) - Quotation Board segment.

Listing on Frankfurt Stock Exchange

Trading began on January 26, 2026 under the ticker symbol 7IT. The Quotation Board is part of the Open Market (Freiverkehr) of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange and operates as a multilateral trading facility (MTF) pursuant to section 48 of the German Exchange Act (Borsengesetz, BorsG). While not a regulated market within the meaning of EU directives, the Quotation Board provides international investors with efficient access to listed securities through one of Europe's largest and most liquid trading venues.

"This secondary listing on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange represents an important milestone for Predictiv AI as we expand our global capital markets presence," said Suman Pushparajah, CEO of Predictiv AI. "With growing interest from European investors in AI-driven technology companies, this listing enhances our visibility, accessibility, and engagement with the international investment community."

The Company believes the Frankfurt listing will support broader shareholder diversification and increased liquidity, while aligning with Predictiv AI's long-term strategy to scale its AI platforms and pursue international growth opportunities.

Additional information regarding Predictiv AI's Frankfurt Stock Exchange listing is available on the Deutsche Borse website.

Stock Options Issuance

The Company has issued 1,200,000 stock options to a consultant, exercisable at $0.13 per share, with immediate vesting.

About Predictiv AI Inc.

Predictiv AI Inc. is a Canadian artificial intelligence company focused on developing vertical AI applications for defined industries. The Company's products address fleet operations and communications, including fleet management software, AI-based agents for voice, chat, and SMS, and tools designed to support structured operational workflows. For more information, please visit www.predictiv.ai.

Company Contact Suman Pushparajah

Chief Executive Officer & Director

416-388-8886 Forward-Looking Statements This news release includes forward looking statements that are subject to assumptions, risks and uncertainties. Statements in this news release which are not purely historical are forward looking statements, including without limitation any statements concerning the expected future operating performance of the Company's business. Although the Company believes that any forward-looking statements in this news release are reasonable, there can be no assurance that any such forward looking statements will prove to be accurate. The Company cautions readers that all forward looking statements, are based on assumptions none of which can be assured and are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements. Readers are advised to rely on their own evaluation of such risks and uncertainties and should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements and information contained in this news release are made as of the date hereof and no undertaking is given to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements or information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, unless so required by applicable securities laws or the CSE. The forward-looking statements or information contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. SOURCE: Predictiv AI, Inc.

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/computers-technology-and-internet/predictiv-ai-commences-trading-on-the-frankfurt-stock-exchange-an-1130923
GOTHENBURG, Sweden, Jan. 27, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The Alektum Group has rebranded as Myntro, marking a major milestone as the first company in the European Union to qualify as a Specialised Debt Restructurer (SDR) under the EU's new and stringent regulatory framework. As of January 21, 2026, SDR status has formally been obtained.

SDR status enables Myntro to take greater responsibility for the ownership and management of defaulted loans, commonly referred to as Non-Performing Loans (NPLs). The designation represents a key step in the EU's ongoing efforts to reduce the volume of distressed assets within the European banking system.

For years, elevated levels of non-performing loans have posed a structural challenge across Europe. In several member states, these volumes have constrained banks' ability to lend to households and businesses. To address this, the EU has introduced a dedicated, highly regulated SDR framework for institutions with the financial strength, governance and expertise required to acquire and manage defaulted loans safely and efficiently.

Myntro is the first company in the EU to meet all regulatory requirements for SDR status, including strong financial resilience, advanced risk management capabilities and proven experience in valuing, owning and managing distressed debt.

"We are proud to be the first company in Sweden and across the EU to obtain SDR status and to contribute where it truly matters," said Linus Singelman, CEO of Myntro. "SDR status allows us to support a more stable banking system while helping more people regain control of their financial situation. We see this as an important societal responsibility."

Through the acquisition of the credit market company Rediem Capital, completed on January 23, Myntro now also offers savings accounts to retail customers across several EU markets. Deposit funding is a key component of the group's financing strategy and supports portfolio acquisitions while enabling scalable, long-term growth.

Combined with SDR status, this allows Myntro to integrate portfolio acquisitions, deposit-funded financing and debt servicing into a single operating model - significantly improving the efficiency with which non-performing loans can be acquired, financed and managed.

"We are ready to be a long-term and stable partner to European institutions seeking to reduce NPL exposure on their balance sheets," Singelman continued. "SDR status gives us the tools to take greater responsibility, grow in a controlled manner and stay true to the core of our business - recognising the individual behind every debt and supporting people in vulnerable financial situations."

SDR institutions are exempt from the capital deduction rules that apply to banks and traditional credit institutions in relation to NPLs. This enables specialised actors such as Myntro to manage distressed assets more efficiently from a balance sheet perspective. The objective is to establish a professional and well-functioning buy-side market for NPLs - a development the EU considers critical to reducing systemic risk.

According to the European Banking Authority, the volume of non-performing loans across the EU and the wider EEA amounted to EUR 373 billion in the third quarter of 2025.

"These are significant volumes where we already have the scale and capacity to make a meaningful impact," said Singelman. "Myntro is strongly positioned with an NPL portfolio of approximately SEK 7 billion and deposit funding of around SEK 10 billion, providing both financial stability and operational scale. For us, this marks the next step in a more than 30-year journey - from a Gothenburg-based debt collection company and early NPL investor to becoming the first company in Europe to achieve SDR status."

The Group's new name and brand, Myntro, will be implemented across the Group's markets during the first half of 2026.

About Myntro

Myntro is a European financial institution with more than 30 years of experience helping to build a more sustainable financial system across Europe. We specialise in investing in non-performing loans and managing debt portfolios, supported by deposit-funded savings products.

Founded in Sweden and headquartered in Gothenburg, Myntro operates across 10 markets with a team of approximately 500 employees. We work closely with banks, businesses and individuals to release capital, strengthen cash flows and help people regain control of their financial lives.

Responsible debt management is central to our approach. By combining deep expertise with a strong values-driven culture, we aim to reduce the risk of over-indebtedness and contribute to a healthier economy - one where individuals can maintain balanced personal finances and businesses can rely on being paid.

Myntro generates annual revenues of approximately EUR 250 million and operates as a regulated credit market institution with SDR status under the supervision of the Swedish Financial Supervisory Authority.

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New capability identifies NAT-associated IPs to improve precision across advertising, cybersecurity, fraud prevention, DRM, fintech and other critical use cases

Digital Element, a global leader in IP intelligence and geolocation solutions, today announced the launch of NAT Detector, a new feature within NetAcuity, its industry-leading IP intelligence database, designed to identify Network Address Translation (NAT) connections including large-scale ISP deployments and bring deeper insight and reliability to IP-based decisioning.

NAT is a foundational networking technology that enables multiple devices or users to share a single public IP address. While standard NAT is common in home and enterprise networks, Carrier-Grade NAT (CGNAT) and other shared-IP practices by ISPs have become increasingly widespread as a practical response to the global IPv4 address shortage.

This presents a problem for sectors and use cases wherein precise insights on IP behavior are essential, such as online advertising, contextual and location targeting, cybersecurity and threat analysis, DRM/licensing enforcement, fraud detection and compliance.

"IP geolocation has evolved far beyond geolocating an IP address to a point on a map. With the growth of shared IP environments, and persistent IPv4 scarcity, understanding IP behavior is now a prerequisite for trustable insights," said Vinod Kashyap, Chief Product Officer, Digital Element. "NAT Detector helps organizations distinguish NAT-associated addresses with confidence, empowering them to interpret IP data more accurately and act strategically across every connected channel."

As shared and carrier-level NAT usage spreads, so do the limitations of traditional IP intelligence. NAT Detector solves these challenges by flagging when an IP may represent multiple subscribers or endpoints. This helps improve modelling and measurement across a spectrum of modern use cases, including:

Adtech Marketing: More accurate audience segmentation and regional targeting by recognizing when an IP does not represent a precise geographic user.

More accurate audience segmentation and regional targeting by recognizing when an IP does represent a precise geographic user. Cybersecurity Fraud Prevention: Enhanced risk scoring by understanding when traffic originates from shared infrastructure that may dilute traditional IP-level signals.

Enhanced risk scoring by understanding when traffic originates from shared infrastructure that may dilute traditional IP-level signals. DRM Content Licensing: Stronger compliance enforcement by highlighting potential discrepancies between IP-based location and actual user location.

Stronger compliance enforcement by highlighting potential discrepancies between IP-based location and actual user location. Fintech Compliance: Better anti-fraud and KYC/KYB outcomes through refined interpretation of IP-associated behaviors.

To learn more about the NAT Detector capability, read this blog or visit www.digitalelement.com.

About Digital Element

Digital Element is the global IP geolocation and intelligence leader. In business for more than two decades, the company has unrivalled expertise in leveraging IP address insights to deliver new value to companies in a privacy-sensitive, transparent manner. Digital Element provides clients with innovative solutions to optimize engagement across industries and applications, creating unique value at every consumer touchpoint. Many of the world's largest websites, brands, security companies, ad networks, social media platforms, and mobile publishers trust Digital Element's technology for advertising optimization, content localization, enhanced analytics, digital rights management, and the prevention of online fraud.

Visit www.digitalelement.com for more information on how to bring the power of location to the online world.

Headquartered in Atlanta, Digital Element is a division of Digital Envoy, Inc

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260126223089/en/

Contacts:

digitalenvoy@teamgingermay.com
Revenue gains, global expansion, industry recognition, and ESG leadership supported continued growth in 2025

2025 represented another successful year for PQE Group, a consulting firm in the Life Sciences industry based in Florence (Italy) that includes more than 2000 employees and 40+ offices worldwide. Recently named "Best Managed Company" by Deloitte Private for the sixth consecutive year, the Group achieved a rise in revenue, which reached 105 millions in 2025, an increase of 7% compared to the 97,5M millions realized in 2024.

Founded by CEO Gilda D'Incerti in 1998, PQE Group is a women-owned company that has received numerous industry certifications, including ISO/IEC 27001, which is the world's best-known standard for information security, and ISO 9001, which focuses on quality management systems. To enhance its ongoing global expansion efforts, in 2025 PQE further expanded in the APAC Region, continued to strengthen its presence in North America, and established new offices in Latina, Italy and Copenhagen, Denmark. PQE also deepened its commitment to Artificial Intelligence (AI) in 2025, focusing heavily on PQE's AI and Cybersecurity Services excellence and allocating significant resources to stay abreast of AI technological advancements, trends, and offerings in the Life Sciences industry.

In addition to receiving Deloitte Private's Best Managed Company 2025 Award, PQE's achievements and recognitions throughout the year included: Great Place to Work Certification for its US Subsidiary for the fourth consecutive year; Best Life Science Company in Maryland by Stellar Business Awards; Ecovadis Badge for Sustainability Excellence 2026; and recognition among the top 75 ESG performers at the Sustainability Award 2025, receiving the 2025 Sustainability Award Italy, which recognizes PQE's commitment to ESG, the goals of which are published in its Sustainability Report each year, thereby disclosing detailed information on PQE's sustainability strategy.

In 2025, PQE enhanced its already knowledgeable, professional SME staff by hiring additional senior level consultants and industry experts in numerous service areas, including the recent appointment of Francesco Mina as new Vice President Operations, who, after two decades spent working in the field of Automation and Operational Excellence for Johnson Johnson, will now lead the service delivery of PQE Group at global level.

"2025 has been a positive year for PQE Group, a private company, made in Italy, with an international dimension," said Gilda D'Incerti, PQE Group's CEO Founder. "This allows us to be in competition with the biggest consulting companies," she continued, "and not only because of our global network and substantial number of highly specialized resources. By continuously monitoring industry trends and evolving technologies, we provide high-level solutions at competitive costs, pairing local responsiveness with global expertise, and we are quickly becoming one of the top worldwide consulting companies in the biopharmaceutical and medical device industries."

As PQE continues to expand its global network, it is very committed to investing in expertise and knowledgeable professionals, delivering innovative and impactful solutions for its clients worldwide, and giving back through meaningful social responsibility initiatives- alongside an on-going commitment to patients' safety and constant efforts to positively enhance the Life Science industry. On this note, the company is a proud member of the EU-funded Project-COMFORT Consortium that aims to transform healthcare through Patient Centric micro-Sampling (PCmS), a minimally invasive method for collecting and analyzing blood samples outside traditional clinical settings. For this effort, PQE is currently leading the "Work Package 7: Laying the Foundation for the Future", to engage with the project's audiences by sharing insights, updates, and outputs such as reports and publications.

About PQE Group

Established in Florence, Italy, in 1998, PQE Group is a woman-owned leading Life Science consulting firm, providing high-quality solutions in GCP, GLP, GMP, and GDP areas to both industry giants and small-mid-size businesses worldwide. With a focus on innovation, efficiency, and sustainability and with a global presence through its 40+ offices located around the world and 2000+ professional employees, PQE Group continues to set industry benchmarks and drive positive change in the Life Science sector. The Group's CEO Founder, Gilda D'Incerti, has also launched ReSQ-UP, a groundbreaking initiative in the Clinical Research Organizations field, focusing on supporting emerging startups in women's health (FemTech), medical devices, and innovations in the biotech sector.

Visit us at PQE Group: Home PQE Group and follow PQE Group on LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook

Learn more about Project-COMFORT: Home Project-COMFORT, and follow us on LinkedIn

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260127299159/en/

Contacts:

PQE Group Press Office Contacts: press@pqegroup.com

PQE Global

Debra J. Kaufmann

d.kaufmann@pqegroup.com

Mobile Phone US: +240-704-0550
The "The Netherlands Construction Market Size, Trends, and Forecasts by Sector Commercial, Industrial, Infrastructure, Energy and Utilities, Institutional and Residential Market Analysis to 2029 (H2 2025)" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.



The construction industry in the Netherlands was estimated to expand in real terms by 1.7% in 2025, supported by an increase in investor confidence, coupled with investments in the country's road and rail transport projects, along with renewable energy projects.

Boosting the investor confidence, according to Statistics Netherlands (CBS), the total bankruptcies in the construction industry fell by 20.9% in the first nine months of 2025, declining from 316 companies in January-September 2024 to 250 companies in January-September 2025. However, the construction industry in the Netherlands is expected to face a few challenges in the short-term, owing to increase in construction material input costs and decline in overall building permits.



The Dutch construction industry, over the remainder of the forecast period, is expected to record an annual average growth of 2.7% between 2026 and 2029, driven by public and private sector investments in manufacturing facilities, transport infrastructure, offshore wind energy sector and the country's efforts to achieve 75% renewable electricity in the country's total energy mix by 2030, along with boosting the country's offshore wind power capacity from approximately 5GW in 2024 to 70GW by 2050.

Growth over the forecast period will also be driven by the government's plans to invest EUR25 billion ($26.5 billion) in the development of new roads and highways by 2028.



Report Scope

Historical (2020-2024) and forecast (2025-2029) valuations of the construction industry in the Netherlands, featuring details of key growth drivers.

Segmentation by sector (commercial, industrial, infrastructure, energy and utilities, institutional and residential) and by sub-sector

Analysis of the mega-project pipeline, including breakdowns by development stage across all sectors, and projected spending on projects in the existing pipeline.

Listings of major projects, in addition to details of leading contractors and consultants

Reasons to Buy

Identify and evaluate market opportunities using our standardized valuation and forecasting methodologies

Assess market growth potential at a micro-level with over 600 time-series data forecasts

Understand the latest industry and market trends

Formulate and validate business strategies using the analyst's critical and actionable insight

Assess business risks, including cost, regulatory and competitive pressures

Evaluate competitive risk and success factors

Key Topics Covered:



1 Executive Summary



2 Construction Industry: At-a-Glance



3 Context

3.1 Economic Performance

3.2 Political Environment and Policy

3.3 Demographics

3.4 Risk Profile



4 Construction Outlook

4.1 All Construction

Outlook

Latest news and developments

Construction Projects Momentum Index

4.2 Commercial Construction

Outlook

Project analytics

Latest news and developments

4.3 Industrial Construction

Outlook

Project analytics

Latest news and developments

4.4 Infrastructure Construction

Outlook

Project analytics

Latest news and developments

4.5 Energy and Utilities Construction

Outlook

Project analytics

Latest news and developments

4.6 Institutional Construction

Outlook

Project analytics

Latest news and developments

4.7 Residential Construction

Outlook

Project analytics

Latest news and developments

5 Key Industry Participants

5.1 Contractors

5.2 Consultants



6 Construction Market Data



7 Appendix

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/6rge77

About ResearchAndMarkets.com

ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260127924897/en/

Contacts:

ResearchAndMarkets.com

Laura Wood, Senior Press Manager

press@researchandmarkets.com



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-New 2026 report examines growth in creative spend that is fueled by CI data- and analytics-driven solutions, projected to grow annually by 22.6-percent from 2025-2028, rising to nearly $11.5 billion-

NEW YORK and LONDON, Jan. 27, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- With speed and focus, U.S. and U.K. brands and their advertising partners are planning and implementing creative intelligence (CI) solutions and platforms to take greater control of their creative investments -- with the power to transform more than 60 percent of total creative spend in the next decade, according to a new report from Winterberry Group, a strategic consulting firm. The allure of CI is its ability to enable personalized, continuously optimized content that clearly demonstrates the predictive power and measurability of creative effectiveness and its impact on marketing campaigns.

This CI layer is being built alongside the media and audience intelligence methodologies that have helped shape the effectiveness, planning and targeting of data-driven advertising and marketing during recent years, the Winterberry Group report said. The report is titled "Creative Intelligence: Adopting & Operationalizing Creative Intelligence."

"Over the last 24 months in particular, the market has seen rapid adoption of solutions grounded in creative data and analytics," Bruce Biegel, executive chairman and senior managing partner, Winterberry Group, one of the primary authors of the report. "These solutions enable marketers, from pre-testing through activation and optimization, to derive actionable insight from how individuals and households interact with creative and content - at the asset level, at the campaign level, and holistically across media channels - unlocking new gains and creative effectiveness and operational efficiency."

"Programmatic and mobile advertising each took approximately five years to reach broad adoption," Biegel said. "Creative Intelligence is expected to achieve market penetration in just three years, through 2028 and has a high probability of being a critical component in the majority of ad tech and martech solutions over the next five years."



Source: Creative Spend vs Creative Spend Powered by Creative Intelligence, "Creative Intelligence: Adopting & Operationalizing Creative Intelligence," Winterberry Group, January 2026.

"Specifically, CI takes creative - often labeled as 'non-working' media - and translates it to 'working' media because important engagement metrics are derived from their deployment and analysis," said Michael Harrison, CEO, Winterberry Group, said. "These metrics may include ad-level performance metrics, sentiment analysis, and increasingly audience reaction and attention-based metrics." When fully integrated with media and audience intelligence platforms, creative intelligence enables creative assets to be optimized on-the-fly using machine-learning and AI [artificial intelligence] tools and techniques.

Among industries that have adopted creative intelligence the fastest are consumer packaged goods (21 percent of respondents surveyed for the report), and the retail sector (20 percent), with automotive (14 percent) and financial services (9 percent) also making investments, the study found.

"The next phase of growth is expected to be driven by deeper integration with digital paid media, enabling consistent messaging and optimization across the full spectrum of addressable channels," Biegel said. "The immediate impact is seen principally in paid social environments, where native platform tools are now deployed. Programmatic display, digital audio, video and connected TV are next poised for growth. Linear and converged television will follow over time."

The newest findings build on a previous 2025 Winterberry Group study which defined creative intelligence as the ability to collect, structure and analyze creative decisions against performance data to continuously optimize assets for effectiveness and engagement.

Other key findings from the report include:

DRIVERS OF CI INVESTMENT | Demand for creative intelligence is being driven by multiple factors: dynamic creative optimization (31 percent of survey respondents); personalization (23 percent); and measurement and performance tracking (15 percent).

| Demand for creative intelligence is being driven by multiple factors: dynamic creative optimization (31 percent of survey respondents); personalization (23 percent); and measurement and performance tracking (15 percent). TOP TECH DEPLOYED IN CI | Dynamic creative optimization platforms (22 percent); creative intelligence platforms (21 percent); and creative data (encompassing visual composition, messaging hierarchy, emotional tone, packing, brand element placement and format specification, 20 percent) are the most oft-cited technologies in play. Large-language models, real-time personalization engines, and AI-powered audience segmentation and insight platforms follow.

| Dynamic creative optimization platforms (22 percent); creative intelligence platforms (21 percent); and creative data (encompassing visual composition, messaging hierarchy, emotional tone, packing, brand element placement and format specification, 20 percent) are the most oft-cited technologies in play. Large-language models, real-time personalization engines, and AI-powered audience segmentation and insight platforms follow. INTEGRATING AUDIENCE AND CREATIVE DATA | Audience intelligence typically resides in customer data platforms (CDPs), while creative assets are held in digital asset management (DAM) platforms. Creative intelligence unites these two - bringing together segment definitions, behavioral signals, identity resolution, and asset retrieval to enable better delivery and performance measurement among prospects and customers.

| Audience intelligence typically resides in customer data platforms (CDPs), while creative assets are held in digital asset management (DAM) platforms. Creative intelligence unites these two - bringing together segment definitions, behavioral signals, identity resolution, and asset retrieval to enable better delivery and performance measurement among prospects and customers. CREATIVE ASSETS EFFICIENCIES | Research reveals that anywhere from 40 percent to 50 percent of produced creative assets are never activated. AI-enabled pre-testing through CI can eliminate substantial wasted production, representing billions in potential savings for marketers.

| Research reveals that anywhere from 40 percent to 50 percent of produced creative assets are never activated. AI-enabled pre-testing through CI can eliminate substantial wasted production, representing billions in potential savings for marketers. USE CASES FOR CREATIVE INTELLIGENCE include pre-testing strategic planning and asset development; in-flight, real-time activation and optimization; post-activation measurement and learning; agentic AI applications; and measurable outcomes across the sales funnel and customer journey.

include pre-testing strategic planning and asset development; in-flight, real-time activation and optimization; post-activation measurement and learning; agentic AI applications; and measurable outcomes across the sales funnel and customer journey. NEW ROLES FOR MARKETING PRACTITIONERS | There is a gap of marketing technologists who are focused on creative systems, as well as creative engineers who "combine analytical rigor with creative sensibility." Meanwhile, creative strategists must rely increasingly on data-driven insights, and media planners and buyers must learn to equate creative performance inseparable from media effectiveness.

| There is a gap of marketing technologists who are focused on creative systems, as well as creative engineers who "combine analytical rigor with creative sensibility." Meanwhile, creative strategists must rely increasingly on data-driven insights, and media planners and buyers must learn to equate creative performance inseparable from media effectiveness. A NEW AGE OF ACCOUNTABILIY IN CREATIVE SPEND | Over the next decade, Winterberry Group expects that creative intelligence will be applied to more than 60 percent of all annual creative and content spend.



"At Adobe, we believe creativity is most powerful when it's informed by intelligence," said Sam Garfield, head of digital strategy -- CMT, data and AI platforms, Adobe. "Winterberry Group's research reinforces the growing importance of creative intelligence bringing together content, data, and AI to help brands deliver more relevant, personalized experiences while driving measurable business impact."

"We're at an inflection point where creative intelligence has become the most powerful driver of advertising performance. Accelerating adoption among global brands confirms this," said Laura Demond, CEO, Smartly. "It's creative intelligence that gives marketers the ability to understand, predict, and optimize creative impact with the same rigor once reserved for media. With agentic AI, it becomes an always-on advantage for brands."

"Creative intelligence adoption accelerated in 2025, as brands, agencies, and platforms moved projects from pilot to scaled adoption, propelling category growth by more than 50 percent," said Alex Collmer, founder & executive chairman, Vidmob. "Looking ahead, this growth is set to accelerate even faster, as AI becomes embedded across marketing workflows and data-driven creative intelligence becomes the fuel powering smarter, more effective campaigns."

"As the advertising ecosystem becomes more complex and automated, creative has emerged as the most powerful driver of performance," said Max Barer, head of content optimization solution, AppsFlyer. "AppsFlyer's creative solution brings intelligence and accountability to creative decision-making, helping brands understand what truly drives engagement and outcomes. With the right creative intelligence in place, marketers can move faster, optimize with confidence, and unlock sustainable growth at scale."



"Everyone intuitively knows that creative is vital to performance and brand equity," said Nancy Smith, president and CEO of Analytic Partners. "But without measuring and quantitatively evaluating creative, organizations are left with significant blind spots. After more than 25 years of measuring advertising effectiveness, I'm confident that applying a commercial lens to creative evaluation represents one of the largest untapped opportunities for brands."

For this research report, Winterberry Group surveyed more than 120 creative and media agencies across the US and UK, complemented by in-depth interviews with marketers, agencies, and technology providers.

Winterberry Group's "Creative Intelligence: Adopting & Operationalizing Creative Intelligence" report was made possible by Analytic Partners, Smartly, VidMob, Adobe, APR and AppsFlyer.

The full research report is available for download:

https://winterberrygroup.com/creative-intelligence-adopting-operationalizing-creative-intelligence

ABOUT WINTERBERRY GROUP

Winterberry Group is a growth consultancy specializing in the intersecting disciplines of marketing, advertising, technology, data and analytics. We collaborate with stakeholders across those ecosystems-agencies, service providers, technology developers, brands, publishers and investor groups-leveraging deep industry expertise to build actionable strategies that spur growth and drive the creation of real and lasting stakeholder value. Learn more at winterberrygroup.com.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/5e055c24-e31b-49d7-8875-b4ff38ff7795

[Editor's Note: Editorial members of the media may request a full copy of the research by contacting WG Director, Ilisia Shuke at ishuke@winterberrygroup.com. Selected charts and figures from the study may be published, sourcing "Winterberry Group, Creative Intelligence: Adopting & Operationalizing Creative Intelligence, January 2026." You may also request a copy of the previous Winterberry Group CI report, Demystifying Creative Intelligence, June 2025.] Media Contact: Ilisia Shuke Winterberry Group ishuke@winterberrygroup.com
Tredence collaborates with Snowflake to deliver end-to-end AI-driven intelligence enabling energy organizations to accelerate modernization and harness AI-driven insights at scale

SAN JOSE, Calif., Jan. 27, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Tredence , the world's leading data science and AI solutions provider, today announced its collaboration with Snowflake , the AI Data Cloud company, to support the launch of Snowflake's new Energy Solutions and help energy organizations use data and AI more effectively across their operations. Through this collaboration, Tredence, Snowflake, and other industry leaders are empowering oil and gas, power and utilities providers to modernize infrastructure, improve efficiency, and accelerate progress toward a more reliable and lower-carbon future.

As energy companies face pressure to secure critical infrastructure, improve operational resilience, and navigate volatile markets with real-time insight, Tredence delivers the last mile of AI and significantly reduces time to value. With Tredence and Snowflake, joint customers can bring together critical data across IT, OT, and IoT systems to activate AI-powered insights for safer, more efficient operations.

"The energy sector is at an inflection point where data velocity, AI trustworthiness, and operational outcomes matter more than ever," said Rakesh Sancheti, CBO, Manufacturing and Chief Growth Officer at Tredence. "Our collaboration with Snowflake brings together a governed, scalable data foundation with Tredence's deep energy domain expertise and AI engineering capabilities. Together, we help energy organizations move beyond dashboards to real-time, AI-driven decisions and increasingly toward agentic systems that can reason, plan, and act across complex energy value chains."

As energy systems become more interconnected and digital, organizations need a unified and governed view of their most critical data. Snowflake's Energy Solutions establish this foundation by helping companies bridge traditionally siloed IT and OT systems, collaborate more seamlessly with ecosystem partners, and unlock new AI-driven capabilities that improve reliability, efficiency, and long-term performance.

"Energy companies aren't just modernizing systems - they're redefining how the world energizes the future," said Fred Cohagan, Global Head of Energy, Snowflake. "Snowflake and partners like Tredence are helping organizations build the trusted data foundation that this moment requires. These solutions are helping lower operational costs and drive higher ROI for energy companies thereby lowering the cost of energy for end customers. Every penny saved trickles down to the consumers as savings. Snowflake and Tredence together help energy organizations:

Unified, End-to-End Energy Data Platform: Break down IT, OT, and IoT silos by consolidating enterprise, operational, and market data into a single secure platform, enabling real-time visibility across exploration, production, grid operations, asset performance, trading, and customer operations.

Break down IT, OT, and IoT silos by consolidating enterprise, operational, and market data into a single secure platform, enabling real-time visibility across exploration, production, grid operations, asset performance, trading, and customer operations. Advanced Data Ingestion & Analytics at Scale: Easily ingest, transform, and analyze first- and third-party structured and unstructured data-including weather, sensor data, and satellite imagery-using Openflow, dbt, Snowpark, and Streamlit to drive deeper operational and market insights.

Easily ingest, transform, and analyze first- and third-party structured and unstructured data-including weather, sensor data, and satellite imagery-using Openflow, dbt, Snowpark, and Streamlit to drive deeper operational and market insights. AI-Driven Asset Performance, Safety & Emissions Reduction: Apply AI/ML to monitor asset health, predict failures, reduce unplanned outages, optimize O&M costs, improve safety, and lower emissions by combining field sensor data with enterprise systems.

Apply AI/ML to monitor asset health, predict failures, reduce unplanned outages, optimize O&M costs, improve safety, and lower emissions by combining field sensor data with enterprise systems. Smarter Forecasting, Compliance & Trading Decisions: Improve forecasting accuracy to meet contractual obligations, reduce compliance costs and penalties, and enable more profitable, well-timed energy trading through informed buying and selling strategies.

Improve forecasting accuracy to meet contractual obligations, reduce compliance costs and penalties, and enable more profitable, well-timed energy trading through informed buying and selling strategies. Faster Decisions & Ecosystem Collaboration with Agentic AI: Empower business users with agentic AI and Snowflake Intelligence to automate insights, recommendations, and actions, while securely collaborating across the energy value chain via data sharing and the Snowflake Marketplace.

To learn more about Tredence's collaboration with Snowflake and Snowflake Energy Solutions, click here .

About Tredence

Tredence is a global data science and AI solutions provider focused on solving the last-mile problem in AI - the gap between insight creation and value realization. Tredence leverages deep domain expertise, data platforms and accelerators, and strategic partnerships to provide targeted, impactful solutions to its clients. The company has 4,000+ employees across San Francisco Bay Area, Chicago, Riyadh, London, Toronto, and Bengaluru, serving top brands in Retail, CPG, Hi-tech, Telecom, Healthcare, Travel, Industrials and Energy & Utilities.

For more information, please visit www.tredence.com and follow us on LinkedIn .

Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1773052/Tredence_Logo.jpg

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/tredence-partners-with-snowflake-to-accelerate-ai-driven-energy-operations-302671118.html
Scottsdale, Arizona--(Newsfile Corp. - January 27, 2026) - BelleSante by Kristine Romine, MD, a Scottsdale, Arizona destination for advanced skin care and precision health, announced the launch of BioSculpt Wellness, a physician-led program designed to help patients prevent disease and Optimize their HealthSpan.

Rather than focusing on a single lab result or symptom, BioSculpt uses advanced genomics and diagnostics to look at the whole picture, including genes, biomarkers, biological age, hormones, lifestyle, and body composition, to reveal where risk is building long before disease appears.

At the core of BioSculpt is Functional Genomics, a term Dr. Romine coined to describe the pairing of advanced testing with physician-designed precision health strategies. By analyzing more than 700 clinically relevant genetic markers, BioSculpt's experts define each patient's strengths, vulnerabilities, and disease risks, then translate those findings into an Operating Manual that explains how the body works beneath the surface and where it may be most vulnerable.

"Genomics testing is becoming increasingly common, but most people are simply handed a report and sent on their way," said Kristine Romine, MD, founder of BelleSante and BioSculpt and an 11-time PHOENIX magazine Top Doc with more than 25 years of experience in internal medicine and dermatology. "With BioSculpt, we give patients something completely different: a BioSculpt Playbook for their body that turns genetic and lab data into clear steps to improve their health and stave off chronic disease -- instead of feeling doomed by their family history."

Before she became known for her expertise in general and aesthetic dermatology, Dr. Romine trained and practiced in internal medicine, caring for patients with complex, preventable diseases. BioSculpt is a return to that foundation, sharpened by years of study and personal experience.

"For years, I've used advanced aesthetic treatments to help patients look and feel like their younger selves," Dr. Romine said. "When my own mother suffered a stroke that should have been preventable, I knew my work had to go deeper. We know genetics accounts for only about 25% of our health and longevity story. The other 75% is shaped by how we eat, move, sleep, manage stress, and when we intervene. BioSculpt is designed to help patients act on that 75% with targeted, scientifically grounded interventions that help prevent chronic disease while improving vitality."

BioSculpt is a customized program offered to highly motivated, goal-oriented people. It is tailored to each patient's health history, goals, and risk profile. Every plan begins with a thorough medical evaluation and testing that brings together internal medicine, genomics, family history, symptoms, and lifestyle. From there, the team designs evidence-based health strategies tailored to each person's biology. In addition to baseline testing, the team tracks metrics to ensure the success of each BioSculpt plan.

One of the core differentiators of the program is precision guidance through ongoing physician consultation. Patients meet regularly with their BioSculpt team to review results, understand their health data, and refine the personalized strategies designed to address health issues and improve their HealthSpan.

BioSculpt operates alongside BelleSante, Dr. Romine's Scottsdale, Arizona destination for Functional Aesthetic Dermatology and KRMD Advanced Medical Skin Care. Many patients first meet her through aesthetic care at BelleSante and then turn to BioSculpt for deeper answers about energy, weight, sleep, and long-term health. Others come directly to BioSculpt because of a strong family history, unexplained fatigue, stubborn weight changes, perimenopausal symptoms, brain fog, or a desire to be more proactive in preventing disease.

"In a world of quick fixes and one-size-fits-all protocols, BioSculpt is intentionally the opposite," Dr. Romine said. "It is precision, personalized, guided disease prevention -- built one patient, one genome, one life at a time."

About BelleSante by Kristine Romine, MD

Founded in 2023, BelleSante by Kristine Romine, MD, unites Functional Aesthetic Dermatology with BioSculpt Wellness to help patients achieve transformative results in both beauty and health. With more than 25 years of experience in dermatology and internal medicine, Dr. Romine and her team "Partner with Patients for a Lifetime of Beautiful Health," delivering personalized, education-first care backed by science and artistry. Learn more at bellesantecare.com.

Email: katy.springer@krmdskin.com

Media Contact





To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

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Source: GetFeatured
CHARLESTON, SC / ACCESS Newswire / January 27, 2026 / Capital Development Partners (CDP) proudly announced the grand opening of Shipyard Creek Logistics Center, a premier Class A industrial park and modern logistics hub located adjacent to Interstate 26 and the Leatherman Terminal in North Charleston, South Carolina. The event also celebrated the ribbon cutting ceremony for East Coast Warehouse & Distribution at the Shipyard Creek Logistics Center, marking the completion of their new state-of-the-art 260,000-square-foot build-to-suit cross-dock facility.

This is the first East Coast Warehouse & Distribution facility in the South Carolina market. East Coast Warehouse & Distribution is a leading temperature-controlled logistics provider offering a comprehensive approach to third-party logistics services for the food and beverage industry.

The project represents a milestone collaboration between Capital Development Partners, Stockbridge, East Coast Warehouse & Distribution, the South Carolina Ports Authority, and the Charleston County Economic Development Department, along with the exceptional efforts of the development team who brought this vision to life.

"We are thrilled to expand our footprint in Charleston with this world-class facility," said Jamie Overley, CEO of East Coast Warehouse & Distribution. "The strategic location, combined with the quality and efficiency of the design, perfectly aligns with our commitment to providing best-in-class logistics and distribution services to our customers."

In addition to the East Coast Warehouse & Distribution facility, CDP recently completed a 160,250-square-foot transload facility on 45 acres which is now available for lease. Both developments feature Class A industrial design, with modern specifications tailored for logistics, port operations, and high-efficiency supply chain performance. Shipyard Creek Logistics Center's location provides unmatched proximity and direct access to the Leatherman Terminal, enhancing cargo flow and reducing transportation costs for users.

According to Charleston County Economic Development Executive Director Merle Johnson, "The opening of the Shipyard Creek Logistics Center represents a major step forward for Charleston County's logistics and industrial economy. This project showcases the strength of our partnerships and reinforces our region's position as a world-class gateway for global commerce. Investments like this fuel long-term job creation, drive new business opportunities, and strengthen the competitive advantages that make Charleston County a premier destination for industry."

John Knox Porter, CEO of Capital Development Partners, added, "Shipyard Creek Logistics Center exemplifies our mission to deliver transformative industrial projects that strengthen the Southeast's logistics infrastructure. We are proud to partner with East Coast Warehouse & Distribution and the South Carolina Ports Authority to bring our vision to life next to the Leatherman Terminal."

Micah Mallace, CEO and President of the South Carolina Ports Authority, said, "South Carolina Ports congratulates Capital Development Partners and East Coast Warehouse on the opening of Shipyard Creek Logistics Center. This transload facility provides SC Ports' customers with expanded options and efficiencies for their supply chain and supports SC Ports' mission to grow our cargo base."

Shipyard Creek Logistics Center continues CDP's commitment to advancing port-centric industrial development across the Southeast, supporting regional economic growth and long-term logistics capacity for global trade partners.

For leasing inquiries on the 160,250 SF transload facility, please contact Capital Development Partners at [delle@cap.partners] or [Lee.allen@jll.com]

###

About Capital Development Partners:

Capital Development Partners (CDP) is a national developer of industrial real estate, infrastructure and power grids. The company has a successful track record of sourcing, financing, developing, and operating large, complex projects focused on long-term value and customer relationships. Core investments are currently focused on the US port markets with active major projects in Savannah, Charleston, and Houston.

About East Coast Warehouse & Distribution Corporation:

East Coast Warehouse & Distribution is a leading temperature-controlled logistics provider offering integrated warehousing, transportation, and port drayage services. With strategic locations throughout the East Coast and Midwest, the company serves as a critical link in the global supply chain for the food, beverage, and consumer goods industries. East Coast Warehouse is known for its commitment to safety, integrity, and exceptional customer service, providing end-to-end solutions that ensure cargo moves efficiently from port to shelf.

About Stockbridge:

Stockbridge is a real estate investment management firm led by seasoned senior professionals averaging 25 years of real estate industry experience. The firm was founded in 2003 and manages real estate equity investments across the risk spectrum within a variety of investment structures on behalf of U.S. and foreign institutional investors, family offices and high net worth individuals. Stockbridge has approximately $36.5 billion of assets under management (as of June 30, 2025) spanning all major real estate property types, and certain specialty property types with an emphasis on residential and industrial space throughout the U.S. The firm has offices in San Francisco, Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, and Phoenix. For more information, visit www.stockbridge.com.

Media Contacts:

Delle Smith

Capital Development Partners

912-657-2647

Delle@cap.partners

Karen Robertson

RobMark WEB  ADVERTISING  PR

912-313-4417

karen@robmark.com

For inquiries or more information, please contact:

John Porter, CEO

Knoxporter@cap.partners

404-229-4852

SOURCE: Capital Development Partners

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/real-estate/capital-development-partners-officially-opens-shipyard-creek-logistics-center-and-east-1130854
RIYADH, SA / ACCESS Newswire / January 27, 2026 / The initiative will see 100 Saudi graduates seconded to Lenovo's Riyadh manufacturing facility as well as other global facilities for advanced on-the-job experience, with the goal of equipping participants with the skills needed for careers in Saudi Arabia's evolving industrial landscape.

Lenovo, in partnership with Alat, the Human Resources Development Fund, and the Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources, has launched a new talent development program in Saudi Arabia. The initiative will see 100 Saudi graduates seconded to Lenovo's Riyadh manufacturing facility as well as other global facilities for advanced on-the-job experience, combining theoretical and practical training in engineering, technology, and manufacturing, with the goal of equipping participants with the skills needed for careers in Saudi Arabia's evolving industrial landscape. The initiative directly supports the Kingdom's Vision 2030 goals for industrial growth and local talent development.

This focus on enabling Saudi young talent aims to diversify the Saudi economy, increase local employment, and build a sustainable, knowledge-based industrial sector. Lenovo's commitment to nurturing Saudi talent and expanding local manufacturing capabilities demonstrates its long-term partnership with the Kingdom and its role in shaping a vibrant, innovative, and competitive industrial ecosystem.

Lawrence Yu, Head of MEA Regional Headquarters, Lenovo said: "Saudi Arabia's vision for industrial transformation is ambitious, and Lenovo is proud to be a partner in this journey. This collaboration shows our commitment to investment in the Kingdom's most valuable assets, its people. This program will provide Saudi talent world-class skills, foster local innovation, and create meaningful career opportunities for all the participants. Together, we are building the foundation of a thriving manufacturing sector and supporting the goals of Vision 2030 through sustainable growth and local content development."

The program is funded by the Human Resources Development Fund, with the Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources providing oversight and strategic direction. Lenovo will deliver training and operational support, while Alat, as Lenovo's strategic partner, will contribute to program development and provide technical resources.

During their 4-month training block, the graduates will rotate through key roles in Lenovo's global supply chain, gaining hands-on experience in areas such as production, quality control, and digital operations. Lenovo's supply chain spans over 30 manufacturing sites in 10 markets across Asia Pacific, Europe, the Middle East and Africa, North America, and South America, and was recently ranked 8th in Gartner's global supply chain ranking, highlighting Lenovo's leadership in operational excellence. The curriculum is designed to meet international standards and include both classroom instruction and practical assignments at Lenovo's regional and global facilities.

This initiative is aligned with Lenovo's ongoing investment in Saudi Arabia, such as the construction of a new manufacturing base in Riyadh, the establishment of MEA Regional Headquarters in Riyadh, and the development of R&D facilities, a flagship retail space and VIP customer centre. The program aims to build a pipeline of skilled Saudi professionals who will contribute to the Kingdom's industrial growth and support the objectives of Vision 2030.

About Lenovo

Lenovo is a US$69 billion revenue global technology powerhouse, ranked #196 in the Fortune Global 500, and serving millions of customers every day in 180 markets. Focused on a bold vision to deliver Smarter Technology for All, Lenovo has built on its success as the world's largest PC company with a full-stack portfolio of AI-enabled, AI-ready, and AI-optimized devices (PCs, workstations, smartphones, tablets), infrastructure (server, storage, edge, high performance computing and software defined infrastructure), software, solutions, and services. Lenovo's continued investment in world-changing innovation is building a more equitable, trustworthy, and smarter future for everyone, everywhere. Lenovo is listed on the Hong Kong stock exchange under Lenovo Group Limited (HKSE: 992) (ADR: LNVGY). To find out more visit https://www.lenovo.com, and read about the latest news via our StoryHub.

View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Lenovo on 3blmedia.com.

Contact Info:

Spokesperson: Lenovo

Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/lenovo

Email: info@3blmedia.com

SOURCE: Lenovo

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/industrial-and-manufacturing/lenovo-launches-talent-program-to-train-saudi-graduates-in-smart-manuf-1130938
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - January 27, 2026) - Eastport Critical Metals Corp. (TSXV: EVI) (OTCQB: EVIIF) ("Eastport" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that its common shares have commenced trading on the OTCQB Venture Market (the "OTCQB") in the United States under the ticker symbol "EVIIF", effective January 27, 2026. The Company's common shares will continue to trade on the TSX Venture Exchange under the ticker symbol "EVI".

The OTCQB listing is intended to increase visibility and accessibility for U.S. investors and provide a seamless trading experience for shareholders. No new common shares were issued in connection with the OTCQB listing.

About OTCQB

The OTCQB Venture Market is for entrepreneurial and development stage U.S. and international companies. Companies are current in their reporting and undergo an annual verification and management certification process. Investors can find real-time quotes and market information for the Company on the OTC Markets website.

About Eastport Critical Metals Corp.

Eastport is a critical minerals development company advancing five projects in Botswana, with cumulative historical and current expenditures approaching $20 million. The Company's most advanced asset is the Matsitama Copper Project, which hosts multiple sizeable targets across the Matsitama copper district.

The Company's additional projects include Selebi East, a nickel-copper-cobalt project located seven kilometres east of the historic Selebi Mines; the Semarule Rare Earth Elements Project, positioned within the Gaborone-Molepolole corridor; the Foley Uranium Project, adjoining the Letlhakane uranium deposit; and the Keng Project, which targets nickel, copper and PGE's on the northern margin of the Molopo Farms Complex.

Botswana is widely regarded as one of Africa's strongest mining jurisdictions, combining the continent's highest GDP per capita with a 50-year track record of large-scale mineral development since the Orapa diamond discovery in 1967. The country ranks among the top performers globally on the Fraser Institute's Investment Attractiveness Index and is the highest-rated jurisdiction in Africa on the Policy Perception Index. These rankings reflect Botswana's stable regulatory environment, consistent rule of law, and long-standing support for responsible mineral development - factors that have underpinned significant investment and major M&A activity in the natural resources sector in recent years.

On behalf of the Board of Directors

"Burns Singh Tennent-Bhohi"

Burns Singh Tennent-Bhohi, CEO

Eastport Critical Metals Corp.

Disclaimer for Forward-Looking Information

This news release contains forward-looking statements including but not limited to statements regarding the Company's business, assets or investments, as well other statements that are not historical facts. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, as there can be no assurance that the plans, intentions or expectations upon which they are based will occur. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve numerous assumptions, known and unknown risks and uncertainties, both general and specific, that contribute to the possibility that the predictions, forecasts, projections and other forward-looking statements will not occur, which may cause actual performance and results in future periods to differ materially from any estimates or projections of future performance or results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These assumptions, risks and uncertainties include, among other things, the state of the economy in general and capital markets in particular, investor interest in the business and prospects of the Company.

The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date of this news release. Except as required by law, the Company disclaims any intention and assumes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities law. Additionally, the Company undertakes no obligation to comment on the expectations of, or statements made, by third parties in respect of the matters discussed above.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/281805

Source: Eastport Critical Metals Corp.
NEWARK, Del., Jan. 27, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Future Market Insights Inc. (FMI) today released a definitive analysis of the global industrial filtration market, forecasting a transformative decade of growth. Valued at USD 34.1 billion in 2025, the market is expected to surge to USD 153.0 billion by 2035, expanding at a robust compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 16.2%.

This exponential growth is primarily driven by a "perfect storm" of stricter environmental enforcement-including the USA EPA's 2024 National Primary Drinking Water Regulation-and an industrial pivot toward operational efficiency through AI-powered predictive maintenance.

"Future Market Insights Inc. Report Highlights Liquid Filtration and Pharmaceutical Sectors as Primary Growth Engines amid Global Shift toward High-Purity Manufacturing and Zero-Contamination Standards"

Market Dynamics: Regulatory Mandates and High-Purity Demands

The industrial landscape is undergoing a fundamental shift as processing industries adopt advanced HEPA-grade and membrane-based systems. These technologies are no longer optional; they are critical for compliance with global emission norms and achieving higher yields in sensitive manufacturing environments.

Why the Industrial Filtration Market is Accelerating:

Stringent PFAS Regulation: In early 2025, breakthroughs in "forever chemical" filtration achieved a 99.6% capture rate , aligning with tightening USA EPA standards.

In early 2025, breakthroughs in "forever chemical" filtration achieved a , aligning with tightening USA EPA standards. Zero-Contamination Goals: As Tod Carpenter, CEO of Donaldson, noted during the 2024 expansion into Europe, demand is rising in high-purity markets like life sciences and food and beverage to support sterile production cycles.

As Tod Carpenter, CEO of Donaldson, noted during the 2024 expansion into Europe, demand is rising in high-purity markets like life sciences and food and beverage to support sterile production cycles. Operational Optimization: Technologies introduced by innovators like Cleanova have demonstrated a 28% reduction in cartridge change-out frequency, directly lowering downtime and energy consumption.

Sector Analysis: Liquid and Pharmaceutical Segments Lead Investment

The market's expansion is heavily concentrated in high-stakes sectors where fluid purity and sterile environments are mission-critical.

Liquid Filters: The Dominant Market Share

Capturing 42% of the global market in 2025, liquid filters are projected to grow at a 17.5% CAGR. This dominance is underscored by the integration of membrane filtration and sorbent media to satisfy the USA Clean Water Act and EU wastewater directives. Closed-loop systems are increasingly becoming the standard for chemical and food processing facilities aiming for water reuse.

Pharmaceuticals: High-Growth Trajectory

The pharmaceutical sector, holding an 18% market share, is expected to register the highest growth at an 18.4% CAGR. Driven by FDA cGMP and EU GMP Annex 1 standards, multi-stage filtration is being embedded into new manufacturing facilities in India, Ireland, and the United States to ensure particulate-free vaccine filling and high-potency drug production.

Regional Outlook: APAC and Middle East Emerging as Hubs

While North America remains a leader in sustainable manufacturing solutions (16.8% CAGR), the Asia-Pacific (APAC) and Middle East regions are seeing a surge in installations.

South Korea (16.6% CAGR): Driven by the semiconductor and EV battery boom, the nation is investing heavily in ultra-fine filtration for cleanrooms.

Driven by the semiconductor and EV battery boom, the nation is investing heavily in ultra-fine filtration for cleanrooms. The European Union (16.5% CAGR): Countries like Germany and Italy are leveraging the REACH and Industrial Emissions Directive to catalyze the adoption of hydrogen and battery manufacturing filtration.

Countries like Germany and Italy are leveraging the to catalyze the adoption of hydrogen and battery manufacturing filtration. Japan (16.7% CAGR): Precision engineering and a commitment to carbon neutrality are pushing the adoption of nanofiber membranes and electrostatic filtration.

Technological Frontiers: Smart Filtration and New Materials

The transition from traditional media to nanofiber filters, ceramic membranes, and nonwoven materials is reshaping the industry. These materials offer superior resistance to temperature and corrosion, essential for semiconductor manufacturing and pharmaceutical solvent recovery.

Furthermore, the integration of the Internet of Things (IoT) and AI-powered diagnostics is transforming filtration from a static process into an intelligent, self-monitoring system. These "smart filters" allow for real-time air quality analysis and predictive maintenance, helping industries balance high maintenance costs with regulatory risks.

Competitive Landscape: M&A Activity Signals Consolidation

The market is characterized by high-value acquisitions as Tier 1 players move to secure niche technologies:

Thermo Fisher Scientific: Announced a USD 4.1 billion acquisition of Solventum's purification business in 2025, marking a major entry into bioprocess filtration.

Announced a acquisition of Solventum's purification business in 2025, marking a major entry into bioprocess filtration. IDEX Corp: Acquired filtration specialist Mott Corp for USD 1 billion in 2024 to bolster its medical technology presence.

Acquired filtration specialist in 2024 to bolster its medical technology presence. Donaldson Company: Expanded its life-sciences reach through a strategic acquisition in Medica S.p.A.

Key players maintaining market leadership include Parker Hannifin, 3M Company, Mann+Hummel, Alfa Laval, and Eaton Corporation.

Request Consultation or Sample Report for Industrial Filtration Market Report: https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/brochure/rep-gb-2365

Report methodology - https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/methodology

Related Reports:

Industrial Air Filtration Market - https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/industrial-air-filtration-market

GCC Industrial Air Filtration Market - https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/gcc-industrial-air-filtration-market

North America Industrial Air Filtration Market - https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/north-america-industrial-air-filtration-market

Industrial Lubricant Market - https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/industrial-lubricants-market

About Future Market Insights (FMI)

Future Market Insights (FMI) is a leading provider of market intelligence and consulting services, serving clients in over 150 countries. Headquartered in Delaware, USA, with a global delivery center in India and offices in the UK and UAE, FMI delivers actionable insights to businesses across industries including automotive, technology, consumer products, manufacturing, energy, and chemicals.

An ESOMAR-certified research organization, FMI provides custom and syndicated market reports and consulting services, supporting both Fortune 1,000 companies and SMEs. Its team of 300+ experienced analysts ensures credible, data-driven insights to help clients navigate global markets and identify growth opportunities.

For Press & Corporate Inquiries

Rahul Singh

AVP - Marketing and Growth Strategy

Future Market Insights, Inc.

+91 8600020075

For Sales - sales@futuremarketinsights.com

For Media - Rahul.singh@futuremarketinsights.com

For web - https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/

Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1197648/3531122/FMI_Logo.jpg

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/global-industrial-filtration-market-projected-to-hit-usd-153-0-billion-by-2035-rapid-16-2-cagr-302671401.html
Premier Event to Feature Learning Opportunities from 100+ Experts, Certificate Courses, Workshops, and Regulatory Insights

ROSEMONT, IL / ACCESS Newswire / January 27, 2026 / Registration is now open for the 2026 Food Safety Summit, taking place May 11-14 at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, Illinois. Recognized as the leading educational event for food safety professionals, the Summit will deliver a highly anticipated education program featuring dozens of interactive sessions, workshops, and certificate courses designed to provide practical, actionable solutions to the most pressing food safety challenges facing the industry today.

"We thank our incredible Educational Advisory Board, comprising the best and brightest food safety leaders in the industry, who worked tirelessly to create a dynamic education program," said Gillian Kelleher, CEO of Kelleher Consultants LLC and Chair of the Food Safety Summit Educational Advisory Board. "This year's program will feature more than 100 subject matter experts who will share innovative and timely solutions for today's most important issues. We look forward to bringing the food safety community together to learn from industry peers, exchange ideas and achievements, discuss the challenges we face, and engage in collaborative problem-solving."

The Educational Advisory Board represents leaders from foodservice, retail, manufacturing, distribution, produce, trade associations, regulatory agencies, and academia. Several new members helped plan the program for the 2026 Summit, including representatives from McDonald's Corporation, Yum! Brands, Walmart, Mars, PepsiCo, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, and North Carolina State University, further strengthening the depth and diversity of perspectives shaping this year's education program.

Five Certificate Courses will be offered on Monday, May 11, including two new courses-AI in Food Safety: Ethical and Efficient Food Safety Document Writing and Allergens and Allergen Management. Food Fraud Prevention Workshop and Certificate Course; FSPCA's Preventive Controls for Human Food Version 2.0; and Application of the Principles of Hazard Analysis - Beyond the Basics will also be offered.

On Tuesday, May 12, the day will begin with a three-hour, interactive workshop focused on Leveraging AI for Food Safety: From Strategy to Impact, bringing together leaders from industry, academia, and government to explore how artificial intelligence can be effectively and responsibly applied across food safety systems. Afternoon workshops will address navigating food allergens, communicating the economics of food safety risk mitigation programs, building psychological safety and resilience among frontline workers, and strengthening pathogen control through improved identification and management of sources and harborages within processing environments.

The Summit's keynote presentation will take place on Wednesday, May 13, featuring Joan Menke-Schaenzer, Chief Quality Officer at Van Drunen Farms, who will present Food Safety is a Team Sport: Leading with Courage, Collaboration, and Curiosity in a Changing World. Moderated by Jesse Newman, Food Reporter at The Wall Street Journal, the conversation will explore why food safety success depends on collaboration across plants, suppliers, regulators, and global partners, and how leaders can foster cultures that support shared responsibility and continuous improvement.

On Thursday, May 14, the Summit will host the 15th Annual Town Hall: A Conversation with Regulators, offering attendees direct insights and updates from federal and state regulatory leaders. Participating and invited speakers include Steven Mandernach, J.D., Executive Director of the Association of Food and Drug Officials (AFDO); Megin Nichols, D.V.M., M.P.H., D.A.C.V.P.M., from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC); Kyle Diamantas, Deputy Commissioner for Human Foods at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA); and Mindy Brashears, Ph.D., Under Secretary for Food Safety at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). The session will be moderated by Gillian Kelleher and will provide a forum for open dialogue on current priorities, emerging risks, and regulatory collaboration.

The Summit will conclude on Thursday afternoon with "FSMA at 15," a forward-looking discussion examining the Food Safety Modernization Act's original vision, progress to date, remaining challenges, and whether its long-term goals have been achieved. The session will feature Steven Mandernach, J.D. of AFDO; Michael Taylor, former FDA Deputy Commissioner; Sandra Eskin, CEO of STOP Foodborne Illness; Brian Ronholm, Consumer Reports; Roberta Wagner, International Dairy Foods Association; and Courtney Bidney, General Mills, offering a multi-stakeholder perspective on FSMA's impact across the food system.

In addition to workshops and featured sessions, Wednesday and Thursday will offer 21 concurrent education sessions covering timely and critical topics. For the first time, sessions have been organized into filtered topic areas to make it easier for attendees to navigate the program, including AI in Food Safety; Food Safety Validation, Risk and Compliance; Leadership, Culture and Workforce; Biological, Chemical, and Physical Hazards; and sector-specific sessions for retail, produce, and other segments of the food industry.

The Exhibit Hall will feature over 150 solution providers showcasing the latest products and services, including Gold Sponsor Sherwin-Williams; Silver Sponsor Instant Recall; and Bronze Sponsors FlexXray, FSS Inc., NSF, Provision Analytics, Rootwurks, SGS, Trustwell, WorkForge, and Zeroic. Educational programming will also take place on the show floor at the Solutions Stage and Tech Tent, while live recordings of Food Safety Magazine's Food Safety Matters podcast, featuring Summit speakers and industry leaders, will take place on the podcast stage.

Networking opportunities will include an opening night reception in the Exhibit Hall, offering a relaxed setting for attendees and exhibitors to connect, as well as the Food Safety Summit Gives Back networking reception on Wednesday evening, benefiting STOP Foodborne Illness. Proceeds from the event support the organization's mission to prevent foodborne illness and to serve as the voice of individuals and families affected by foodborne disease through collaboration with industry, academia, and government. Click here for more information or to donate.

Registration for the 2026 Food Safety Summit is open at https://www.food-safety.com/food-safety-summit, with Early Bird savings available through Tuesday, March 31, 2026. One-, two-, and three-day conference packages and group discounts are available. A conference pass includes access to half-day workshops, education sessions, Keynote and Town Hall presentations, networking receptions, the Exhibit Hall, Solutions Stage and Tech Tent programming, lunch in the Exhibit Hall, and NEHA continuing education credits.

The Food Safety Summit is owned and produced by Food Safety Magazine (www.food-safety.com) and BNP Media (www.bnpmedia.com), one of the country's leading business-to-business media companies serving industry professionals across 60+ industries through magazines, custom media, e-newsletters, webinars, events, and market research.

# # #

For further information, contact:

Amy Riemer

Media Relations Representative

?978-502-4895 (cell)

amy@riemercommunications.com

SOURCE: Food Safety Summit

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/food-and-beverage-products/food-safety-summit-unveils-robust-education-program-for-2026-event-1130807
Cultural vitality, waterfront access, walkability, architecture, and year-round livability have transformed cities like St. Petersburg into some of the most compelling residential environments in the United States, investors have found.

ST. PETERSBURG, FL / ACCESS Newswire / January 27, 2026 / Florida's luxury residential market has entered a more mature and strategic phase, driven not only by lifestyle migration but by disciplined capital deployment, observes Carol Fasick Joyce, Broker Associate with Dynasty Luxury Group of Michael Saunders & Company.

"As buyers, sellers, and developers reassess long-term positioning in the state, advisory teams with development intelligence and access to future inventory are playing an increasingly central role in the market's next cycle," Fasick Joyce says.

Along Florida's Gulf Coast, she and her associates have found that demand is no longer defined solely by seasonal relocation or trophy properties. Instead, it reflects a convergence of investment-minded decision-making and an exceptional quality of life that continues to attract capital from across the country.

BUYERS NOT JUST MOVING IN, BUT DEPLOYING CAPITAL

Cultural vitality, waterfront access, walkability, architecture, and year-round livability have transformed cities like St. Petersburg into some of the most compelling residential environments in the United States, investors have found.

"Florida has evolved into a place where people are not just moving their lives, but thoughtfully deploying capital," said Fasick Joyce. "Clients today want to understand what's coming next, not just what has already been built."

She says that shift has elevated the role of advisors who operate beyond traditional brokerage. Increasingly, sophisticated clients are seeking guidance that spans development feasibility, entitlement timelines, land valuation, and future vertical inventory-often well before projects reach the open market.

"Insight into future supply, zoning realities, and neighborhood evolution has become as important as pricing and marketing expertise," declares Fasick Joyce.

WORKING CLOSELY WITH LANDOWNERS AND DEVELOPERS

For Fasick Joyce and her partner, Sarah Schnieders, alignment with Michael Saunders & Company was driven by that broader advisory capability. In addition to luxury residential representation, the firm's Developer Services Group works closely with landowners, developers, and investors on site selection, planning strategy, and market positioning throughout Southwest Florida.

"Access to development intelligence changes the entire conversation," said Schnieders. "Whether advising a local landowner approached by a developer, a penthouse owner evaluating timing, or an investor considering a long-term Florida footprint, understanding both current conditions and future supply is critical."

A significant portion of that work involves advising long-time local property owners by navigating generational transitions and redevelopment opportunities. For many, these decisions are as personal as they are financial. Thoughtful guidance, local knowledge, and respect for neighborhood character often weigh just as heavily as valuation.

"We spend a great deal of time listening," Fasick Joyce added. "Our role is to help owners understand their options and timing, while remaining deeply respectful of the communities that made these places special in the first place."

At the same time, Florida's appeal remains deeply personal. Beyond financial considerations, clients are drawn by a lifestyle that blends cultural richness with natural beauty. St. Petersburg, in particular, has emerged as a hub for art, dining, design, and waterfront living-an environment that resonates equally with long-time residents and new arrivals from major metropolitan markets.

Media Contact:

Andrew Bowen, APR

ab@clearviewcom.com

404-822-3309

SOURCE: Dynasty Luxury Group of Michael Saunders & Co.

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/real-estate/dynasty-luxury-group-of-michael-saunders-and-company-observes-that-floridas-next-luxury-1130957
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, Jan. 27, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources has announced the successful conclusion of the fifth edition of the Future Minerals Forum (FMF), with a record attendance of 21,500 participants, including investment leaders, heads of major mining companies, experts, and technical specialists from around the world.

The Forum, held at the King Abdulaziz International Conference Center in Riyadh from January 13 to 15, 2026, witnessed the signing of 132 agreements and Memoranda of Understanding totaling USD 26.6 billion. These covered critical areas including exploration and mining, financing, research and development, innovation, sustainability, value-added supply chains, and mining industries.

In his closing remarks, His Excellency the Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources, Bandar Alkhorayef, noted that the unprecedented momentum witnessed reflects progress across the broader global mining ecosystem. He emphasized that within five years, the Forum has advanced at a remarkable pace, becoming a shared cause for all stakeholders and laying the foundation for year-round collaboration.

Alkhorayef highlighted that real progress is linked to accelerating the adoption of mining technologies as a key driver of growth. He noted the Kingdom's efforts to reform its regulatory framework and improve the investment environment by reviewing procedures, updating regulations, streamlining licensing processes, providing accessible geological data, and launching incentive programs to support exploration and attract partners across the entire value chain.

Over three days, more than 450 speakers - including ministers, government representatives, and industry experts - explored investment partnerships, community development, new mining projects, AI-enabled decision-making, and integrating local economies into the mining value chain.

The international exhibition featured 274 exhibitors and 13 official country pavilions from Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Sweden, Austria, Brazil, Egypt, Morocco, Pakistan, Sudan, and Mauritania. The exhibition was organized across four zones: heavy machinery and equipment, cutting-edge technology innovations, major global companies, and junior exploration companies.

About the Future Minerals Forum

The Future Minerals Forum (FMF), launched in 2022, is the world's premier platform for the minerals industry. FMF brings together governments, international organizations, and stakeholders to shape the future of the minerals industry. Through the Ministerial Roundtable, conference, and exhibition, the global conversation on minerals takes center stage, driving innovation and collaboration toward a sustainable future.

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2870686/Future_of_Minerals_Forum.jpg

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/5th-future-minerals-forum-concludes-with-21-500-attendees-agreements-worth-usd-26-6-billion-302671421.html
The Network Transformation Market is experiencing robust expansion driven by escalating enterprise demand for scalable, agile, and secure connectivity solutions. Digital transformation initiatives across verticals such as telecommunications, BFSI, healthcare, and manufacturing are catalyzing investment in software-defined networking, SD-WAN, cloud-native architectures, and 5G integration. Technological innovation in AI-enabled network orchestration and intent-based networking is enhancing operational efficiency and reducing total cost of ownership, reinforcing adoption momentum.

LEWES, Del, Jan. 27, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The Global Network Transformation Market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 13.2% from 2026 to 2033, according to a new report published by Verified Market Reports. The report reveals that the market was valued at USD 20.35 Billion in 2024 and is expected to reach USD 60.25 Billion by the end of the forecast period.

Download PDF Brochure: https://www.verifiedmarketreports.com/download-sample/?rid=33312&utm_source=PRNewswire&utm_medium=360

Browse in-depth TOC on Network Transformation Market

150 - Pages

126 - Tables

37 - Figures

Scope of The Network Transformation 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 CISCO SYSTEMS, JUNIPER NETWORKS, HPE, HUAWEI, IBM, NEC, INTEL, NOKIA NETWORKS, ERICSSON, FUJITSU, ACCENTURE, MAVENIR SEGMENTS COVERED By Technology Type, By Deployment Type, By End-User Industry, By Service Type, By Organization Size, By Geography CUSTOMIZATION SCOPE Free report customization (equivalent to up to 4 analyst working days) with purchase. Addition or alteration to country, regional & segment scope

Global Network Transformation Market Overview

Network Transformation Market: Trends and Opportunities

Acceleration of Cloud-Native and Software-Defined Networking: Enterprises are rapidly migrating from legacy hardware-centric architectures to cloud-native, software-defined networks to improve agility, reduce total cost of ownership, and enable rapid service provisioning. This shift is directly tied to digital transformation mandates and the need for scalable, on-demand network resources.

Enterprises are rapidly migrating from legacy hardware-centric architectures to cloud-native, software-defined networks to improve agility, reduce total cost of ownership, and enable rapid service provisioning. This shift is directly tied to digital transformation mandates and the need for scalable, on-demand network resources. 5G and Edge Computing as Catalysts: The global rollout of 5G and the expansion of edge computing are redefining network performance requirements. Ultra-low latency, network slicing, and localized data processing are creating opportunities for advanced network transformation solutions across telecom, manufacturing, healthcare, and smart infrastructure.

The global rollout of 5G and the expansion of edge computing are redefining network performance requirements. Ultra-low latency, network slicing, and localized data processing are creating opportunities for advanced network transformation solutions across telecom, manufacturing, healthcare, and smart infrastructure. AI-Driven Network Automation: Artificial intelligence and machine learning are being embedded into network operations to enable predictive maintenance, automated fault resolution, and dynamic traffic optimization. These capabilities materially reduce operational expenditure while improving service-level assurance.

Artificial intelligence and machine learning are being embedded into network operations to enable predictive maintenance, automated fault resolution, and dynamic traffic optimization. These capabilities materially reduce operational expenditure while improving service-level assurance. Security-by-Design Architectures: Zero-trust networking, secure access service edge (SASE), and integrated security orchestration are becoming core components of transformation strategies, driven by escalating cyber risk, remote work models, and regulatory scrutiny.

Zero-trust networking, secure access service edge (SASE), and integrated security orchestration are becoming core components of transformation strategies, driven by escalating cyber risk, remote work models, and regulatory scrutiny. Industry-Specific Application Development: Verticalized network solutions are emerging for sectors such as energy, public safety, transportation, and financial services, where reliability, compliance, and real-time data exchange are mission-critical.

Verticalized network solutions are emerging for sectors such as energy, public safety, transportation, and financial services, where reliability, compliance, and real-time data exchange are mission-critical. Regional Performance Divergence: North America and East Asia lead in early adoption and innovation, while emerging markets in Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and parts of Africa present high-growth opportunities driven by infrastructure modernization and mobile-first digital economies.

Network Transformation Market Context and Strategic Significance

The network transformation market represents a foundational layer of modern digital economies. As enterprises and governments pursue large-scale digitalization, networks are no longer passive conduits of data but intelligent, programmable platforms that enable business innovation. Network transformation encompasses the modernization of physical and virtual infrastructure, operational models, and governance frameworks to support cloud computing, data analytics, Internet of Things deployments, and next-generation applications.

For C-suite executives and investors, the strategic relevance of this market lies in its cross-industry applicability and its role as a force multiplier for digital initiatives. Organizations that fail to modernize network capabilities face bottlenecks in scalability, security exposure, and diminished customer experience. Conversely, those that invest early gain faster time-to-market, improved resilience, and measurable operational efficiencies.

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Key Technology Pillars Shaping the Market

Several technology pillars are converging to accelerate network transformation. Software-defined networking decouples control planes from hardware, enabling centralized management and rapid configuration changes. Network functions virtualization replaces proprietary appliances with virtualized services, lowering capital intensity and increasing deployment flexibility. Together, these technologies underpin cloud-first and hybrid architectures.

Edge networking is another critical pillar, particularly as data generation shifts closer to end users and devices. By processing data locally, enterprises reduce latency and bandwidth costs while supporting real-time analytics. This is especially relevant for autonomous systems, industrial automation, and immersive digital experiences.

Artificial intelligence further enhances these architectures by enabling self-optimizing networks. AI-driven insights allow operators to anticipate congestion, identify anomalies, and dynamically allocate resources based on demand patterns. From a strategic perspective, this moves network management from reactive operations to proactive, outcome-driven models.

How are enterprise digital transformation initiatives driving demand for advanced network transformation solutions?

Enterprise digital transformation initiatives are a primary demand driver for the network transformation market because modern digital business models place unprecedented strain on legacy networks. Cloud migration, remote work, omnichannel customer engagement, and data-intensive applications require networks that are scalable, resilient, and secure by design.

Traditional networks, characterized by static configurations and manual operations, cannot support the velocity and complexity of these initiatives. As a result, enterprises are investing in programmable, software-defined infrastructures that integrate seamlessly with cloud platforms and application development pipelines. Network transformation enables continuous delivery models, supports application performance optimization, and aligns network operations with business objectives.

From an application standpoint, industries such as banking, healthcare, and manufacturing are leveraging transformed networks to support real-time data exchange, compliance-driven segmentation, and mission-critical workloads. The ability to rapidly provision secure connectivity for new digital services directly influences revenue growth, customer satisfaction, and competitive differentiation.

What are the most significant restraints affecting network transformation adoption, and how are organizations addressing them?

Despite strong growth drivers, network transformation adoption faces several material restraints. The most prominent include high upfront investment, skills shortages, and integration complexity with legacy systems. For large enterprises and public-sector organizations, migrating mission-critical operations introduces operational risk and requires careful change management.

Another constraint is organizational inertia. Network transformation is not solely a technology upgrade; it requires new operating models, cross-functional collaboration, and revised governance structures. Resistance to change and fragmented decision-making can delay or dilute transformation outcomes.

Organizations are addressing these restraints through phased migration strategies, managed services, and strategic partnerships with technology providers. Cloud-based consumption models reduce capital expenditure, while automation tools mitigate skills gaps by simplifying operations. Increasingly, enterprises are aligning network transformation roadmaps with broader enterprise architecture and cybersecurity strategies to ensure coherence and executive sponsorship.

Competitive Landscape and Market Penetration Strategies

The competitive landscape of the network transformation market is characterized by a mix of global technology vendors, specialized software providers, telecom operators, and systems integrators. Market leaders differentiate through integrated portfolios that combine networking, security, analytics, and lifecycle services. Innovation cycles are rapid, with continuous enhancements in automation, orchestration, and policy-driven control.

Effective market penetration strategies emphasize vertical specialization, ecosystem partnerships, and outcome-based value propositions. Vendors are increasingly positioning solutions around business metrics such as uptime, latency reduction, and operational savings rather than technical specifications alone. This shift resonates strongly with executive stakeholders focused on return on investment and risk management.

Geographic Dominance and Regional Dynamics

North America currently holds a leading position in the global network transformation market, driven by high enterprise IT spending, early adoption of cloud computing, and a mature digital services ecosystem. The region benefits from extensive fiber infrastructure, widespread 5G deployment, and strong demand from technology, financial services, and healthcare sectors. Digital infrastructure investment levels in North America consistently exceed those of most other regions, supporting sustained market leadership.

East Asia, led by China, Japan, and South Korea, represents another dominant region, underpinned by aggressive national digital infrastructure programs and advanced manufacturing ecosystems. Large-scale 5G rollouts, smart city initiatives, and industrial automation projects are accelerating network modernization across both public and private sectors.

Europe demonstrates strong adoption in Western economies, where regulatory emphasis on data protection and network resilience is driving investment in secure, compliant architectures. Meanwhile, emerging regions such as Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and parts of Africa are exhibiting the fastest growth rates. These markets are characterized by expanding mobile broadband penetration, government-led digitalization agendas, and increasing private-sector investment in cloud and data center infrastructure.

From a strategic perspective, geographic dominance is less about absolute market size and more about readiness for transformation. Regions with supportive regulatory frameworks, skilled talent pools, and coordinated public-private investment are best positioned to capture long-term value from network transformation initiatives.

Network Transformation Market: Key Players Shaping the Future

Leading industry participants such as CISCO SYSTEMS, JUNIPER NETWORKS, HPE, HUAWEI, IBM, NEC, INTEL, NOKIA NETWORKS, ERICSSON, FUJITSU, ACCENTURE, MAVENIR, 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.

Network Transformation Market: Segments Analysis

Based on the research, Verified Market Reports has segmented the global Network Transformation Market into Technology Type, Deployment Type, End-User Industry, Service Type, Organization Size, Geography.

To get market data, market insights, and a comprehensive analysis of the Global Network Transformation Market, please Contact Verified Market Reports.

By Technology Type

SDN (Software-Defined Networking)

NFV (Network Functions Virtualization)

IoT (Inteet of Things) Integration

5G Network Technology

Network Slicing

By Deployment Type

On-Premises Deployment

Cloud-Based Deployment

Hybrid Deployment

Edge Computing Deployment

By End-User Industry

Telecommunications

Healthcare

Banking, Financial Services, and Insurance (BFSI)

Govement and Public Sector

Retail

Manufacturing

By Service Type

Consulting Services

Integration Services

Managed Services

Support and Maintenance Services

By Organization Size

Large Enterprises

Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs)

Network Transformation 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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Regulatory News:

Groupe OKWIND (FR0013439627 ALOKW), which is specialised in the design, manufacture and sale of smart energy generation and management systems dedicated to self-consumption, announces the completion of a capital increase following the final allocation of free shares to 126 Group employees.

Pursuant to the decision of the Board of Directors dated 25 January 2024, in accordance with the authorisation granted by the Combined General Meeting of 6 May 2022, and following the decision of the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer dated 26 January 2026, new shares were issued as part of a free share allocation plan.

Key Features of the Transaction

Number of shares issued : 51,534 ordinary shares

: 51,534 ordinary shares Face Value : 1 per share

: 1 per share Nominal amount of the capital increase : 51,534

: 51,534 Share Premium : N/A

: N/A Method of payment : Capitalisation of unavailable (non-distributable) reserves

: Capitalisation of unavailable (non-distributable) reserves Beneficiaries: 126 group FTEs

Share Capital and Voting Rights Update

Pre. Transaction Post Transaction Shares 8 261 466 8 313 000 Voting rights 12 945 406 12 996 940

This transaction, carried out without any cash contribution, has no impact on the Group's cash position and has a limited dilutive effect, solely related to the implementation of the employee share ownership plan.

About Groupe OKWIND

Founded in 2009 by Louis Maurice, Chairman and CEO, the French Group OKWIND is the expert in individual and collective self-consumption of energy. Its global approach and cutting-edge technology aim at enhancing the energy independence and sufficiency of farms, companies, local authorities and private individuals. Every day, the OKWIND Group strives to deploy local, controlled, stable, low-carbon, fixed-cost energy to accelerate and optimise the ecological transition. The Group designs, develops and deploys complete green energy management solutions (local solar production, self-consumption, excess energy recovery, improved consumption practices). By becoming producer-consumers (prosumers), OKWIND customers can generate their own energy, control their production and regulate their electrical processes. Historically based in the Great West of France, 30km from Rennes (Torce), the OKWIND Group is close to its customers, with several agencies and work centres throughout France. In 2024, the OKWIND Group generated consolidated revenue of 57.1 million and today has 206 employees, with more than 5,000 installations throughout France.

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NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Morgan Stanley today announced that it has completed the acquisition of leading private shares platform EquityZen."Integrating EquityZen's industry-leading technology into our private market ecosystem enhances our ability to seamlessly connect supply and demand at scale," said Jed Finn, Head of Morgan Stanley Wealth Management. "With corporate relationships spanning our Workplace channel to our Investment Bank, we're in a unique position to connect clients seeking liquidity with investors seeking private markets exposure-both increasingly in demand as companies stay private for longer and investors seek diversification."About Morgan Stanley Wealth ManagementMorgan Stanley Wealth Management provides access to a wide range of products and services to individuals, businesses, and institutions, including brokerage and investment advisory services, financial and wealth planning, cash management and lending products and services, annuities and insurance, retirement, and trust services. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management is the trade name of Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC, a registered broker-dealer in the United States.About Morgan StanleyMorgan Stanley (NYSE: MS) is a leading global financial services firm providing a wide range of investment banking, securities, wealth management and investment management services. With offices in 42 countries, the Firm's employees serve clients worldwide including corporations, governments, institutions and individuals. For further information about Morgan Stanley, please visit https://www.morganstanley.com/.Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC, its affiliates and Morgan Stanley Financial Advisors and Private Wealth Advisors do not provide tax or legal advice. Clients should consult their tax advisor for matters involving taxation and tax planning and their attorney for matters involving trust and estate planning, charitable giving, philanthropic planning and other legal matters.EquityZen will provide investors with access to private market investments and other alternative investments. Alternative investments often are speculative and include a high degree of risk. Investors could lose all or a substantial amount of their investment. Alternative investments are appropriate only for eligible, long-term investors who are willing to forgo liquidity and put capital at risk for an indefinite period of time. They may be highly illiquid and can engage in leverage and other speculative practices that may increase the volatility and risk of loss. Alternative investments typically have higher fees than traditional investments. Investors should carefully review and consider potential risks before investing.Clients are responsible for complying with applicable securities laws requirements and potential issuer restrictions and should consult with third-party advisors regarding the risks of transacting in private issuer securities, including the risk of transacting in a market with little or no price transparency or liquidity.This communication contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the federal securities laws, including Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. In this context, forward-looking statements often address expected future business and financial performance and financial condition. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date on which they are made, which reflect management's current estimates, projections, expectations, assumptions, interpretations or beliefs and which are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially. Important factors that may cause such a difference include, but are not limited to, (i) the risk that the proposed transaction does not close on the anticipated terms or timing, including as a result of required regulatory approvals or the termination of the definitive agreement relating to the transaction prior to closing, (ii) potential adverse effects resulting from the announcement or completion of the transaction, (iii) the possibility that the anticipated benefits of the proposed transaction are not realized or are not realized within an expected time period, and (iv) the ability of Morgan Stanley and EquityZen to integrate the business successfully and to achieve anticipated synergies. For a discussion of additional risks and uncertainties that may affect the future results of Morgan Stanley, please see "Forward-Looking Statements" preceding Part I, Item 1, "Competition" and "Supervision and Regulation" in Part I, Item 1, "Risk Factors" in Part I, Item 1A, "Legal Proceedings" in Part I, Item 3, "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" in Part II, Item 7 and "Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Risk" in Part II, Item 7A, in Morgan Stanley's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024 and other items throughout the Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K, including any amendments thereto. Morgan Stanley does not undertake to update the forward-looking statements to reflect the impact of circumstances or events that may arise after the date of forward-looking statements.Diversification does not guarantee a profit or protect against loss in a declining financial market. 2026 Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC. Member SIPC.ContactsMedia Relations Contact: Thayer Fox; Thayer.Fox@morganstanley.com

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From scaling ancillary revenue to redefining loyalty, Way's new capabilities unlock expansive possibilities for brands.

AUSTIN, Texas and PARIS, Jan. 27, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Way announced the evolution of its platform into a fully integrated experiential ecosystem, with new products that power AI-generated experience curation, brand partnerships, and experiential loyalty.

Introducing the Experiential Ecosystem

The Way Experiential Ecosystem delivers a single, fully integrated ecosystem that powers every type of experience, with new offerings that enable brands to extend curation and distribution opportunities.

At the foundation of the Experiential Ecosystem is Way's market-leading Core Platform, which enables brands to launch, market, and manage experiences across the customer journey, along with the following new products:

Curation Lab offers a first-of-its-kind AI-powered experience curation technology that blends artificial intelligence with each customer's brand identity and proprietary Way data.

offers a first-of-its-kind AI-powered experience curation technology that blends artificial intelligence with each customer's brand identity and proprietary Way data. Loyalty Sync provides a seamless connection between experiences and loyalty programs at enterprise scale; in 2025, Way launched and powered the extensions of experiential loyalty programs for brands, including World of Hyatt and Alaska Air Group's Atmos Rewards Unlocked.

provides a seamless connection between experiences and loyalty programs at enterprise scale; in 2025, Way launched and powered the extensions of experiential loyalty programs for brands, including World of Hyatt and Alaska Air Group's Atmos Rewards Unlocked. Partner Exchange brings an industry-first global marketplace for consumer brands across industries to partner and co-create experiences, including luxury brands such as Piaget and Kiton.

Together, these capabilities deliver new and diversified revenue streams through experiences, reduce operational lift and third-party dependency, deepen customer engagement and brand loyalty, and provide a faster global rollout with consistent brand expression.

Experiential's Rise Brings New Opportunities

With experiential spending up ~32% in the last five years (source: Earnest Analytics), demand is evident among consumers worldwide. Way's Core Platform has consistently answered this need at the enterprise level, allowing global brands like Hyatt and Maybourne to consolidate their experiential technology and strategy across their luxury and lifestyle portfolios.

Brands today are leveraging experiences as a central pillar of their marketing strategy, as signature programming drives sales of core products while also fueling differentiation, loyalty, and revenue. Increased demand for experiences is evident not only in hospitality but also among consumer brands worldwide. As a result, organizations face growing operational complexity in merchandising and managing ticketed events, curated experiences, recurring programming, and experiential resources, their experiential technology and strategy across their luxury and lifestyle portfolios.

This product launch underscores Way's ongoing commitment to building products that enable brands to unlock the true value of experiences and shape more meaningful consumer engagement while continuing to define the experiential category at large.

About Way

Way is the premier experiential ecosystem, uniting software, artificial intelligence, and proprietary data to redefine how people engage with the world's leading consumer brands. Organizations leverage Way to launch, merchandise, manage, and scale distinctive experiences that resonate with today's consumers.

Founded in 2020 as the solution for hospitality brands seeking to integrate experiences into their strategy, Way quickly established itself as a category leader at a time when unlocking new revenue streams had never been more critical. Today, Way is expanding across new segments of the consumer economy, enabling brands to offer transformative experiences that forge deeper, lasting connections with their audiences.

The company is backed by over $22m in capital and headquartered in Austin, Texas, with offices in Paris, France. www.way.co

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Newly Updated Guide Reflects Revised Standards and Supports Consistent CSRD Reporting

NEW YORK CITY, NY / ACCESS Newswire / January 27, 2026 / Governance & Accountability Institute (G&A), a leading sustainability consulting and research firm, has issued a new reference guide: "European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS) Reference Guide." The new guide, which is available here, was updated by G&A to reflect revised standards expected to be approved by the European Commission in early 2026.

In response to concerns about reporting complexity and administrative burdens presented by the 2023 ESRS, the European Commission directed the European Financial Reporting Advisory Group (EFRAG) to streamline the ESRS. In December 2025, EFRAG delivered draft simplified standards that significantly reduce disclosure requirements for companies reporting under the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) while preserving information critical to understanding a company's impacts, risks, and opportunities.

"While the final standards are still pending, the draft revisions offer insight into how ESRS reporting is evolving," said Louis Coppola, CEO & Co-Founder at G&A Institute. "Our new guide is intended to help corporate sustainability teams apply the ESRS in a practical way and support consistent CSRD reporting, whether navigating the transition from the original standards or using the framework as a benchmark for internal reporting and preparedness."

G&A's newly updated ESRS Quick Reference Guide is a concise resource designed to support informed planning and decision-making for sustainability, finance, legal, and reporting teams. The guide includes:

A structured overview of the cross-cutting and topical standards;

All disclosure requirements across environment, social, and governance topics;

How the simplified ESRS fit into the broader evolution of CSRD requirements.

Coppola added, "G&A is committed to helping organizations navigate the evolving requirements for corporate climate reporting in Europe. We are available to help sustainability teams meet reporting requirements and produce sustainability disclosures that follow best practices."

G&A's new ESRS Quick Reference Guide is available for download on the company website.

About G&A Institute, Inc.

Founded in 2006, Governance & Accountability Institute, Inc. (G&A) is a sustainability consulting and research firm headquartered in New York City. G&A helps corporate and investor clients recognize, understand, and develop winning strategies for sustainability and ESG issues to address stakeholder and shareholder concerns. G&A's proprietary, comprehensive full-suite process for sustainability reporting is designed to help organizations achieve sustainability leadership in their industry and sector and maximize return on investment for sustainability initiatives.

Since 2011, G&A has been building and expanding a comprehensive database of corporate sustainability reporting data based on analysis of thousands of ESG and sustainability reports to help steer strategy for our clients and improve their disclosure and reporting. More information is available on our website at ga-institute.com.

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Louis D. Coppola

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DUBAI, UAE, Jan. 27, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, today launched the expansion of Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) that will consolidate its status as the leading global financial centre in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia (MEASA), while also reinforcing Dubai's allure as the region's preferred business and lifestyle destination.

DIFC Zabeel District is the largest demand-led expansion of a financial centre in the region, encompassing a massive site area of 7.1mn sq. ft and total gross floor area of 17.7mn sq. ft. The estimated gross development value exceeds AED 100bn (USD 27.2bn).

This expansion will see Dubai's financial centre significantly scale its footprint to accommodate more than 42,000 companies and a workforce exceeding 125,000, reinforcing Dubai's position at the forefront of the global financial ecosystem.

His Excellency Essa Kazim, Governor of DIFC, commented: "This expansion will redefine the financial industry in the MEASA region, and fast-track DIFC's contribution to Dubai's economic growth. DIFC Zabeel District will create unparalleled opportunities and firmly entrench Dubai's position as a global financial leader and as a launchpad for the future of finance."

DIFC is currently the region's only financial centre operating at scale across all business sectors, yet at the heart of this vision is the cultivation of a distinct identity, establishing DIFC Zabeel District as a dynamic destination that appeals to both investors and Dubai residents.

The DIFC Zabeel District expansion has over 1mn sq.ft. allocated to the world's largest innovation hub and the world's first purpose-built AI campus designed to meet the future needs of over 6,000 businesses and 30,000 tech specialists, enabling breakthroughs in AI development and commercial innovation.

DIFC will be positioned as the UAE's leading global destination for further and higher education. The DIFC Academy will grow 10-fold to 370,000 sq.ft. with capacity for 50,000 learners annually.

The expansion will also feature an first-of-its-kind art pavilion deepening DIFC's standing as Dubai's home to art and culture.

Consisting of six phases, DIFC Zabeel District is expected to welcome the public in 2030 with the masterplan expected to be complete in 2040.

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Tara Loftis joins BYOMA following executive leadership roles at Galderma and Kendo (LVMH)

LONDON, Jan. 27, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- BYOMA announces the appointment of Tara Loftis as Global President and Chief Brand Officer, marking the brand's first C-suite hire since partnering with Bansk Group and a defining step in BYOMA's next phase of amplified growth.

Tara joined BYOMA earlier this month, where she leads the brand's global innovation, brand, marketing, science, and creative functions. A senior beauty and skincare executive, Tara brings decades of experience building high-growth, science-backed brands through a digitally led, consumer-first approach. Most recently, she served as Global President of Dermatological Skincare at Galderma, where she oversaw global brand, innovation, and commercial strategy across a multi-brand dermatological skincare portfolio, including Cetaphil, and drove strong, above-market growth across the business. Known for blending clinical credibility with modern brand storytelling, Tara has led category-defining launches and creator-led activations designed to deliver cultural relevance at scale.

Earlier in her career, Tara spent a decade at Kendo Brands, an LVMH company, where she helped build some of the most influential beauty brands of the last decade from launch through a global scale, including Fenty Beauty, Fenty Skin, Marc Jacobs Beauty, and Ole Henriksen. She is also recognized for her expertise in digital-first growth, creator ecosystems, and the evolving role of AI in accelerating innovation and consumer engagement. Tara was named one of Creator Economy Live's Top 50 Innovators of 2025, and her work and perspective have been regularly featured in The Business of Fashion, Ad Age, and WWD.

"We are incredibly proud to welcome Tara to BYOMA," said Marc Elrick, Founder and CEO of BYOMA. "She is a generational leader whose creative instinct and commercial rigor have helped shape some of the most influential brands in modern beauty. As BYOMA enters its next phase following our partnership with Bansk, Tara will play a defining role in shaping our long-term vision, expanding our global footprint, and building a brand that sets a new standard for the industry. Myself and the senior leadership team are excited to partner with Tara as we continue to push boundaries and reimagine what modern skincare can be."

Since being founded by Elrick in 2022, BYOMA has quickly become one of the fastest-growing skincare brands in the world, experiencing rapid growth and category-leading performance, outpacing established and emerging leaders. In 2025, the brand delivered $320M USD retail sales, a 44% year-over-year increase, reflecting strong demand and top 10 ranking across all the brand's major retailers globally. The brand notably became the fastest-growing facial skincare brand in the Top 10 at Target and Ulta in 2025, with Ulta being the brand's fastest-growing retailer worldwide (Source: NielsenIQ; YipitData).

BYOMA's ongoing dedication to clinical rigor and efficacy and the development of barrier-first solutions has established the brand as a true dermatological leader for the next generation of consumers. BYOMA's iconic Moisturizing Gel Cream and viral sensation Hydrating Milky Toner continue to accelerate as two of the brand's best-sellers, with the Moisturizing Gel Cream maintaining the title of BYOMA's #1 selling SKU globally.

2025 marked the beginning of BYOMA's strategic partnership with Bansk Group, which manages over $3 billion in assets. This partnership further cements the brand's position as a leader in science-backed skincare and will support further innovations, global expansion, and continued investment in clinical research. As the brand looks ahead, Tara's leadership will be instrumental in guiding BYOMA through its most ambitious period of growth to date.

"I'm honored to help lead BYOMA on its journey to become the leading dermatological skincare brand for the next generation and beyond," said Tara Loftis. "BYOMA has earned fierce loyalty through co-creation with the brand's community, paired with an uncompromising commitment to clinically proven, barrier-first innovation and the belief that dermatological leadership is earned through proof, education, and trust. I'm excited to help scale that momentum globally by expanding how we reach consumers while continuing to raise the bar on science, advocacy, and skin health."

Looking ahead, BYOMA is entering a new chapter focused on global expansion, accelerated innovation, and long-term brand building. With Tara Loftis stepping into the role of Global President and Chief Brand Officer, the company is positioned to scale its impact while staying true to its purpose-driven, community-first approach.



For more updates, follow @byoma on Instagram and TikTok.

ABOUT BYOMA:

Founded by beauty entrepreneur and visionary Marc Elrick in 2022, BYOMA is a science-backed, solution-focused, skin barrier and skin health brand. Powered by a passionate commitment to real education, community-building, and making science-backed, clinically effective skincare affordable and approachable, BYOMA has become one of the fastest-growing brands on the market. For more information, visit www.byoma.com .

ABOUT TARA LOFTIS:

Tara Loftis is Global President and Chief Brand Officer at BYOMA, where she leads the brand's global innovation, brand, marketing, science, and creative functions. A senior beauty and skincare executive, Tara is known for building fast-growth, science-backed brands through a digitally led approach that blends clinical credibility, modern consumer insight, and high-impact brand storytelling. She is also recognized for her expertise in digital-first growth and the evolving role of AI in consumer engagement and speed to Market.

Prior to joining BYOMA, Tara served as Global President of Dermatological Skincare at Galderma, overseeing brand, innovation, commercial strategy, and operations across a multi-brand dermatological skincare portfolio, including Cetaphil, Differin, and Alastin. She led the reinvigoration of Cetaphil, the portfolio's $1B+ flagship brand, bringing HCP credibility and science to the forefront and activating its influencer ecosystem at scale, anchored in Cetaphil's roots in trust and medical recommendation. She also led Cetaphil's award-winning Super Bowl-adjacent activations, delivering the highest earned media footprint of any brand without a national TV buy and generating category-leading reach.

Earlier, Tara spent a decade at Kendo Brands, an LVMH company, where she played a key role in launching, building, and scaling some of the most culturally influential beauty brands of the last decade, including Fenty Beauty and Fenty Skin, as well as Marc Jacobs Beauty and Ole Henriksen. Her experience includes globally visible, high-impact launches and the development of large-scale artistry and influencer ecosystems designed to drive both relevance and sustained growth.

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/byoma-announces-new-global-president-and-chief-brand-officer-302671530.html
London, United Kingdom--(Newsfile Corp. - January 27, 2026) - IN-VR has successfully facilitated a high-level strategic meeting between the European Union and the Government of Libya, marking a significant step toward re-engaging EU institutions with Libya's energy sector and advancing structured cooperation on investment, funding mechanisms, and long-term energy partnership.

The meeting brought together Dr. Nikolaos Farantouris, Member of the European Parliament, and Dr. Khalifa Abdulsadek, Libya's Minister of Oil and Gas, for in-depth discussions focused on strengthening EU-Libya collaboration across oil, gas, and energy transition priorities. The engagement also included broader dialogue on energy security, regional cooperation, and Libya's positioning within the EU-Mediterranean and Africa-Europe energy corridors.

Strategic Focus Areas:

Financial Architecture: Assessment of EU energy financing instruments and funding mechanisms applicable to Libya's priority energy projects and transition objectives.

Assessment of EU energy financing instruments and funding mechanisms applicable to Libya's priority energy projects and transition objectives. Institutional Framework: Re-establishment of structured dialogue channels between EU institutions and Libya's energy authorities to facilitate policy coordination and regulatory alignment.

Re-establishment of structured dialogue channels between EU institutions and Libya's energy authorities to facilitate policy coordination and regulatory alignment. Investment Environment: Development of transparent investment frameworks to enhance international capital participation in Libya's energy sector and support project bankability.

Key areas addressed during the discussions included the applicability of European Union energy financing instruments and funding pathways to Libya's priority projects, reopening structured institutional dialogue between EU bodies and Libya's energy authorities, and establishing clearer investment frameworks to support international participation in the Libyan energy sector.

This milestone builds on IN-VR's long-standing engagement in Libya. Since 2012, IN-VR has worked closely with Libya's National Oil Corporation (NOC) and the private sector to support international re-engagement, facilitate investor dialogue, and develop platforms that connect Libyan institutions with global energy companies, financial institutions, and strategic partners.

The facilitation of this EU-Libya engagement reflects IN-VR's continued role in bridging governments and international stakeholders, translating policy-level discussions into tangible investment pathways and long-term cooperation frameworks.

Dr. Nikolaos Farantouris, who serves on the European Parliament's committees on Budget, Security and Defence, and EU-African Relations, also held meetings with senior Libyan government officials to discuss energy cooperation, migration, and Libya's democratic transition. He emphasised that legal certainty and respect for international law are fundamental to creating a stable environment for investment and sustainable economic relations between Libya and the European Union.

The meeting is considered one of the first high-level political engagements by a Member of the European Parliament in Libya in recent years, underscoring renewed momentum toward deeper EU-Libya institutional dialogue and cooperation.

IN-VR will continue to advance EU-Libya collaboration through upcoming high-level engagements, targeted investment-focused initiatives, and strategic platforms designed to support Libya's reintegration into international energy, investment, and policy ecosystems.

About IN-VR

IN-VR is a leading global consultancy specialising in energy, mining, and investment promotion, bridging the gap between governments and the private sector. With a strong track record across emerging and frontier markets, IN-VR delivers high-impact international platforms, strategic advisory services, and investment facilitation that enable sustainable project development and long-term partnerships.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/281814

Source: IN-VR Limited
Songji Biotech Enterprise Co., Ltd. (SGBE) has announced the commercial launch of standardized 1,000-Dalton marine collagen peptides, scientifically validated for anti-aging efficacy through a collaborative study with Hualien Tzu Chi Hospital. Derived from sustainable milkfish scales using proprietary enzymatic hydrolysis technology, these low-molecular-weight peptides are engineered to overcome transdermal absorption barriers. SGBE supports the global market through its proprietary brand, Fishelton, and provides comprehensive OEM/ODM services from its ISO 22716 and GMP-certified facilities.

TAINAN, TAIWAN / ACCESS Newswire / January 27, 2026 / Songji Biotech Enterprise Co., Ltd. (SGBE) today announced the commercial launch of its standardized 1,000-Dalton marine collagen peptides. This release follows a collaborative study with Hualien Tzu Chi Hospital that validates the ingredient's potential in anti-aging applications. By utilizing enzymatic hydrolysis technology on milkfish scales, the company has achieved a molecular weight significantly below the 1,500-Dalton threshold, addressing a key technical barrier in transdermal absorption for the cosmetic industry.

Collaborative Research on Peptide Efficacy

To verify the biological activity of its ingredients, Songji Biotech partnered with the research team led by Vice Dean Huang Zhi-yang at Hualien Tzu Chi Hospital. The study utilized an H2O2-induced human skin fibroblast aging model to evaluate the specific collagen peptides produced by SGBE.

According to preliminary findings presented at the Healthcare+ Expo, the peptides showed no cytotoxicity in the tested models. The data indicated that SGBE's peptides contributed to increased cell survival rates and a reduction in inflammation markers mediated by NF-?B. Furthermore, the study suggested a positive correlation between the application of these peptides and collagen synthesis within the cellular model.

Overcoming the Molecular Weight Barrier

SGBE reports that its proprietary process consistently yields peptides with a molecular weight of approximately 1,000 Daltons (approx. 100 nanometers). This is a significant differentiation in the market, where standard animal-derived collagen typically ranges from 300,000 to 500,000 Daltons.

This low-molecular-weight profile is engineered to enhance solubility and stability against heat and acid. Technically, it allows the peptides to penetrate the stratum corneum more effectively, making them suitable for high-performance skincare formulations and functional oral supplements.

Sustainable Sourcing and Quality Assurance

The peptides are sourced exclusively from the scales of milkfish (Chanos chanos), a byproduct of Tainan's local aquaculture industry. This ensures a sustainable supply chain free from mammalian disease concerns.

"Our development focus is to bridge the gap between biotechnology and aquaculture," said Chiou Yang-haw, General Manager of Songji Biotech Enterprise Co., Ltd. "With the scientific data provided by our collaboration with Hualien Tzu Chi Hospital, we can now offer our global OEM partners a raw material that is not only sustainable but also scientifically verified for safety and efficacy."

Manufacturing Compliance

Songji Biotech confirms that its production facilities have maintained ISO 22716, GMP, and HACCP certifications. The company's ingredients are registered under the International Nomenclature of Cosmetic Ingredients (INCI), facilitating immediate adoption by international beauty and healthcare brands.

About Songji Biotech. Enterprise Co., Ltd.

Songji Biotech. Enterprise Co., Ltd. is a biotechnology company headquartered in Tainan, Taiwan, dedicated to the high-value utilization of marine resources. Through its proprietary extraction technologies, the company produces the Fishelton brand of skincare and health products and provides comprehensive OEM/ODM services for the global market.

For more information, please visit: https://fishelton.com.tw/?lang=en

Related Video Introduction:

Media Contact

Organization: Songji Biotech. Enterprise Co.,Ltd.

Contact Person Name: Chiou Yang-haw

Website: https://fishelton.com.tw/?lang=en

Email: service@fishelton.com.tw

Contact Number: +886800777978

Address: No. 14, Xinjia St., Xinying Dist.

City: Tainan

State: Taiwan

Country: Taiwan

SOURCE: Songji Biotech. Enterprise Co.,Ltd.

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/industrial-and-manufacturing/songji-biotech-launches-1-000-dalton-marine-peptides-backed-by-hualien-1131015
Sydney-based car rental operator Chippendale Carshare has expanded its fleet to 70 vehicles after surpassing $750k in annual revenue. Founded by entrepreneur Alexander Munao, the business grew from a single-car side hustle into a city-wide operation by leveraging the peer-to-peer platform Turo to scale bookings and vehicle supply across Greater Sydney.

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA / ACCESS Newswire / January 27, 2026 / Chippendale Carshare today announced that it has expanded its operational fleet to 70 vehicles and exceeded 750,000 dollars in annual revenue, marking a significant growth milestone for the Sydney-based car rental operator.

Founded by Sydney entrepreneur Alexander Munao, Chippendale Carshare has grown from a single-vehicle operation into a multi-vehicle business providing car rental services across the Sydney CBD, Inner West, and surrounding metropolitan areas. The company operates vehicles listed on the Turo peer-to-peer car sharing marketplace and has expanded its fleet progressively in response to observed booking demand and utilisation trends.

Since its establishment, Chippendale Carshare has focused on developing a scalable operational structure while increasing vehicle availability across multiple Sydney locations. The company's growth has occurred through incremental fleet additions rather than large-scale acquisitions, allowing operational processes to be formalised alongside expansion.

"Reaching 70 vehicles represents an important stage in the company's development," Munao said. "It reflects sustained demand and the operational framework we have built over time."

Operational Growth and Fleet Development

Chippendale Carshare's fleet expansion has been supported by structured processes covering pricing, availability management, cleaning coordination, maintenance scheduling, and customer support. As the number of vehicles increased, the business implemented systems to ensure consistency across the fleet, including standardised vehicle preparation procedures and service workflows.

The current fleet includes compact city vehicles, sedans, SUVs, and larger models. This mix reflects booking patterns observed across short-term rentals, extended reservations, and replacement vehicle use cases within metropolitan Sydney. Vehicles are distributed across multiple locations rather than operated from a single central depot, aligning with booking activity across inner-city and suburban areas.

The company's distributed vehicle placement supports access for customers seeking car hire in Sydney based on proximity to residential, commercial, and accommodation areas. This approach reflects how customers search for and book vehicles within digital marketplaces, prioritising location and availability.

Use of the Turo Marketplace

Chippendale Carshare operates its vehicles through the Turo marketplace, which provides a digital platform for booking management, payment processing, and trip administration. The business has utilised platform data to monitor booking activity, trip duration trends, and vehicle utilisation across different Sydney locations.

According to Munao, access to consistent booking and utilisation information has informed decisions around fleet composition and expansion timing. Vehicle additions have been made in line with observed demand rather than projected volume targets.

"Turo provides a structured environment for managing bookings and monitoring vehicle performance," Munao said. "That information has been used internally to guide decisions about fleet growth and vehicle mix."

As the business expanded, Chippendale Carshare continued to formalise its internal processes while operating within the framework of the marketplace. This included aligning vehicle onboarding, maintenance cycles, and availability management with booking patterns observed over time.

Revenue Milestone and Market Demand

Surpassing 750,000 dollars in annual revenue reflects increased utilisation across the fleet and sustained demand for car rental services within Sydney. According to the company, revenue growth has been driven by consistent booking volumes across a range of vehicle types and trip durations rather than reliance on a single customer segment.

The company has observed ongoing demand for flexible vehicle access among both Sydney residents and visitors. Use cases include short-term mobility needs, longer bookings associated with work or travel, and temporary vehicle replacement requirements.

Chippendale Carshare's operational model has remained focused on servicing metropolitan Sydney rather than expanding into regional markets. Fleet placement and vehicle selection have been guided by booking activity within the CBD, Inner West, and surrounding suburbs.

Scaling Operations in Line With Demand

As the fleet expanded, Chippendale Carshare introduced additional operational controls to support scale. These included structured maintenance schedules, approved supplier arrangements, and standardised service processes designed to maintain consistency across a growing number of vehicles.

"Our approach has been to expand the fleet only when demand supports it," Munao said. "That allows us to maintain service standards and operational stability as the business grows."

The company has also invested in internal monitoring and reporting processes to track fleet performance, booking patterns, and vehicle availability. These measures are intended to support informed decision-making as the business continues to scale within Greater Sydney.

Outlook and Future Expansion

With the fleet now at 70 vehicles, Chippendale Carshare plans to continue expanding its operations across Greater Sydney while maintaining a focus on operational efficiency and service reliability. Future growth will be guided by booking demand, vehicle utilisation data, and the company's capacity to support additional vehicles within its existing operational framework.

The company has stated that its priority remains maintaining consistency across its Sydney car rental operations while responding to customer demand through measured fleet growth.

About the Company - Chippendale Carshare Pty Ltd

Chippendale Carshare Pty Ltd is a Sydney-based car rental operator founded in 2021 and headquartered in Chippendale, New South Wales. The company provides short-term and medium-term vehicle rental services across the Sydney CBD, Inner West, and surrounding metropolitan areas.

Chippendale Carshare operates a distributed fleet model, listing vehicles through the Turo peer-to-peer car sharing marketplace and managing fleet operations including pricing, availability, maintenance coordination, and customer support. The company focuses on servicing metropolitan Sydney with a range of vehicle types to meet diverse mobility needs.

For more information, visit https://chippocarshare.com.au.

Media Contact

Organization: Chippendale Carshare Pty Ltd

Contact Person Name: Alexander Munao

Website: https://chippocarshare.com.au

Email: support@chippocarshare.com.au

Contact Number: +611300011135

Address: 81-83 Campbell Street

City: Chippendale

State: NSW

Country: Australia

SOURCE: Chippendale Carshare Pty Ltd

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/industrial-and-manufacturing/chippendale-carshare-announces-expansion-to-70-vehicles-1131018
New York, New York--(Newsfile Corp. - January 27, 2026) - Exchange, the premier financial services conference for ETF professionals and wealth advisors, announced today that a powerhouse lineup of the industry's most influential podcasts will record live episodes from the event. Taking place March 15-18 at the Virgin Hotels Las Vegas, the addition of these live recordings solidifies Exchange's position as the epicenter of peer-to-peer learning and advisor-centric conversation, debate, and innovation.

As the flagship gathering for the ETF ecosystem, Exchange 2026 serves as the primary setting where the future of investment products and advisor workflows is defined. By bringing top-tier industry leaders directly to the exhibit floor, the conference provides a transparent, "unscripted" look at the trends shaping the $10 trillion ETF market.

"By bringing the industry's most popular podcasts to Exchange, we are providing advisors with a front-row seat to the intellectual rigor that drives the ETF market forward," said Todd Rosenbluth, Head of Research at VettaFi. "The Podcast Stage creates a unique opportunity for attendees to experience some of the industry's most respected voices as they happen - live, in the room, and in a highly dynamic format."

Featured Programming on the Exchange Podcast Stage, Sponsored by Dimensional Fund Advisors (DFA)

The 2026 Podcast Stage will cover a diverse array of topics ranging from practice management to deep-dive technical analysis. Featured podcasts include:

Dimensional Fund Advisors' ' Managing Your Practice ': This podcast is dedicated to helping financial professionals optimize their firms, focusing on driving growth, operational efficiency, and enhancing the client experience.

This podcast is dedicated to helping financial professionals optimize their firms, focusing on driving growth, operational efficiency, and enhancing the client experience. Nate Geraci's ' ETF Prime ': This industry-leading program spotlights specific ETF strategies and features interviews with the most prominent experts in the country.

This industry-leading program spotlights specific ETF strategies and features interviews with the most prominent experts in the country. Bloomberg Intelligence's ' Inside Active ': Bloomberg's David Cohne deep dives into the rapidly growing world of active ETFs, exploring how managers are navigating volatile markets.

Bloomberg's David Cohne deep dives into the rapidly growing world of active ETFs, exploring how managers are navigating volatile markets. Brad Roth's 'Behind The Ticker' : Join Brad as he interviews entrepreneurs and experts in the wealth management industry, providing an inside look at the mechanics of fund management and the stories behind the most innovative tickers on the market.

Join Brad as he interviews entrepreneurs and experts in the wealth management industry, providing an inside look at the mechanics of fund management and the stories behind the most innovative tickers on the market. Wealth Consulting Group's 'The Bull of Wall Street:' Hosts Jimmy Lee, CEO, The Wealth Consulting Group (WCG), Jim Worden, CFA, CAIA, CMT, Chief Investment Officer (WCG), and Tally Leger, Chief Market Strategist (WCG) discuss various topics that are of interest to financial advisors and investors, including the markets, economy, strategies, financial planning, taxes, and life.

"They've sparked debate, educated thousands, and have never been afraid to ask the tough questions on advisors' minds as the ETF industry has continued to grow and evolve. We're thrilled to have these teams joining us and adding to the conversations that promise to make this year's iteration of Exchange the most exciting yet," added Rosenbluth.

A Hub for Advisor Education

In addition to the Podcast Stage, Exchange 2026 will feature a comprehensive agenda of keynote sessions, technical workshops, and networking opportunities designed to help RIAs and wealth managers scale their practices.

Financial professionals are encouraged to register early to secure their place at these live recordings and participate in the conversations that will define the year ahead in finance.

For more information or to register for Exchange 2026, please visit ExchangeETF.com.

-

About VettaFi

VettaFi is a differentiated index provider, helping asset managers across the globe build and grow their product suites. With an industry-leading index platform, it partners with issuers to develop innovative investment solutions and bring them to market. Beyond that, its modern distribution solutions help clients scale products and achieve success. For more information, please visit www.VettaFi.com.

VettaFi hosts Exchange, an annual conference for financial services professionals taking place March 15-18, 2026, in Las Vegas. For more information, please visit www.ExchangeETF.com.

VettaFi LLC is a wholly-owned subsidiary of TMX Group Limited (TMX Group). For more information about TMX Group, please visit www.tmx.com.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/281831

Source: VettaFi
On 12 February 2026, Hannover Medical School (MHH) represented by Prof. Dr. Hortense Slevogt plans to hold a press conference together with the team from the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI) in Braunschweig.

The focus of the event will be the presentation and scientific classification of a groundbreaking cold plasma therapy for application in the lungs. For Viromed stakeholders, the findings are of high strategic relevance, as they address a medical field in which there is an urgent and, to date, insufficiently met clinical need worldwide: severe pulmonary infections particularly in vulnerable patient groups and in intensive care settings.

The relevance of the topic is driven in particular by three key factors:

High global disease burden: Pulmonary infections and associated complications affect millions of patients worldwide every year and represent one of the major challenges of modern acute and intensive care medicine.

Growing therapeutic limitations: The increasing prevalence of antibiotic-resistant pathogens further exacerbates the situation and intensifies the pressure to develop new and effective therapeutic approaches.

New physical treatment option: The planned publication of an innovative physical therapy principle for the lungs potentially represents a paradigm shift in infection treatment and opens up the prospect of scalable clinical application.

About Viromed Medical AG

Viromed Medical AG (Ticker: VMED; ISIN: DE000A3MQR65) specializes in the development, manufacture and distribution of medical products. The operating business of the company, which has been listed on the stock exchange since October 2022, focuses on the distribution of innovative cold plasma technology for medical applications via its wholly owned subsidiary Viromed Medical GmbH. Viromed can draw on a broad customer base in the DACH region and beyond. Viromed is pursuing the goal of further advancing the use of cold plasma technology in medicine in the coming years and realizing the corresponding growth potential.

www.viromed-medical-ag.de

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260127515124/en/

Contacts:

Contact Viromed

E-Mail: kontakt@viromed-medical.de

Press contact

E-mail: viromed@kirchhoff.de
HERZLIYA, Israel and CALGARY, AB, Jan. 27, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Innocan Pharma Corporation (CSE: INNO) (FSE: IP4) (OTCQB: INNPF) (the "Company" or "Innocan"), a pharmaceutical technology company focusing on developing innovative drug delivery platform technologies, today announced that, further to its press release dated January 2, 2026, it now anticipates to list on NYSE American on or around January 30, 2026, subject to approval of its listing application and continued compliance with exchange rules." subject to authorization of the application and continued compliance with the exchange rules.

In connection with the anticipated NYSE listing, Innocan is also conducting a concurrent offering of its securities, subject to market conditions and regulatory approval (the "Offering"). Additional details regarding the Offering will be provided through the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") and SEDAR+.

Innocan expects that its common shares will continue to trade on the OTC Markets' OTCQB until the close of the market on or about January 29, 2026. Upon effectiveness of the listing on the NYSE American, trading of the common shares on the OTCQB will terminate. Stockholders of Innocan do not need to take any action prior to the listing of Innocan's shares on the NYSE American. Innocan's common shares will continue to trade on the Canadian Securities Exchange (CSE) under the symbol "INNO".

This communication does not constitute an offer, or a solicitation of an offer, to buy or sell any securities, investment or other specific product, or a solicitation of any vote or approval, nor shall there be any sale of securities, investment or other specific product in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction.

About Innocan Pharma Corporation

Innocan is an innovator in the pharmaceuticals and wellness sectors. In the pharmaceuticals sector, Innocan developed a CBD-loaded liposome drug delivery platform with exact dosing, prolonged and controlled release of synthetic CBD for non-opioid pain management. In the wellness sector, Innocan develops and markets a wide portfolio of high-performance self-care and beauty products to promote a healthier lifestyle. Under this segment Innocan carries on business through its 60% owned subsidiary, BI Sky Global Ltd., which focuses on advanced, targeted online sales.

www.innocanpharma.com

For further information, please contact:

Iris Bincovich, CEO

15162104025+

+972-54-3012842

+442037699377

info@innocanpharma.com

NEITHER THE CANADIAN SECURITIES EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER HAVE REVIEWED OR ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Certain information set forth in this news release, including, without limitation, information regarding the anticipated listing on the NYSE American and the Offering, research and development, collaborations, the filing of potential applications with the FDA and other regulatory authorities, the potential achievement of future regulatory milestones, the potential for treatment of conditions and other therapeutic effects resulting from research activities and/or the Company's products, requisite regulatory approvals and the timing for market entry is forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws. By its nature, forward-looking information is subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, some of which are beyond Innocan's control. The forward-looking information contained in this news release is based on certain key expectations and assumptions made by Innocan, including expectations and assumptions concerning the anticipated listing and the Offering, benefits of Innocan'sproducts, satisfaction of regulatory requirements in various jurisdictions and satisfactory completion of requisite production and distribution arrangements.

Forward-looking information is subject to various risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results and experience to differ materially from the anticipated results or expectations expressed in this news release. The key risks and uncertainties include but are not limited to: general global and local (national) economic, market and business conditions; governmental and regulatory requirements and actions by governmental authorities; and relationships with suppliers, manufacturers, customers, business partners and competitors. There are also risks that are inherent in the nature of product distribution, including import / export matters and the failure to obtain any required regulatory and other approvals (or to do so in a timely manner) and availability in each market of product inputs and finished products. The anticipated timeline for entry to markets may change for a number of reasons, including the inability to secure necessary regulatory requirements, or the need for additional time to conclude and/or satisfy the manufacturing and distribution arrangements. As a result of the foregoing, readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking information contained in this news release concerning the timing of launch of product distribution. A comprehensive discussion of other risks that impact Innocan can also be found in Innocan's public reports and filings which are available under Innocan's profile at www.sedarplus.ca.

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2570689/5665461/Innocan_Pharma_Logo.jpg

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/innocan-pharma-corporation-anticipates-listing-on-the-nyse-american-stock-exchange-with-concurrent-offering-302671705.html
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - January 27, 2026) - Supreme Critical Metals Inc., (CSE: CRIT) (FSE: VR6) (OTC Pink: VRCFF) ("Supreme" or the "Company") is pleased to announce a non-brokered private placement under the Listed Issuer Financing Exemption (the "LIFE Offering") consisting of a maximum of 10,000,000 units of the Company (the "Offered Units"), and a minimum of 6,000,000 Offered Units, at a price of $0.10 per Offered Unit for minimum gross proceeds of $600,000 and a maximum gross proceeds of up to $1,000,000.

Subject to compliance with applicable regulatory requirements and in accordance with National Instrument 45-106 - Prospectus Exemptions ("NI 45-106"), the LIFE Offering is being made to purchasers' resident in all provinces of Canada, except Quebec, Newfoundland and Labrador and Prince Edward Island pursuant to the listed issuer financing exemption under Part 5A of NI 45-106 (the "Listed Issuer Financing Exemption").

Under the LIFE Offering, each Offered Unit will consist of one common share of the Company ("Common Share") and one-half of one common share purchase warrant (a "Warrant"). Each whole Warrant will be exercisable for a period of 24 months from the Closing Date (as defined herein) (the "Expiry Period") and will entitle the holder thereof to purchase one additional Common Share prior to the expiry of the Expiry Period at an exercise price of $0.20 per Warrant. The securities issued pursuant to the Listed Issuer Financing Exemption will not be subject to a hold period in accordance with applicable Canadian securities laws.

An offering document related to the LIFE Offering (the "Offering Document") is available under the Company's profile at www.sedarplus.ca and on Supreme's website at www.supremecriticalmetals.com. Prospective purchasers should read the Offering Document before making an investment decision.

The Company intends to use the proceeds of the LIFE Offering, as more specifically described in the Offering Document and for general corporate and working capital purposes. The Company may pay finder's fees or issue compensation securities to finders on a portion of the LIFE Offering in accordance with applicable securities laws and the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange.

The closing of the LIFE Offering is anticipated to occur on or about February 15, 2026, or such other date(s) as may be determined by the Company (the "Closing Date") and is subject to certain conditions including, but not limited to, the receipt of all necessary approvals, including the conditional approval of the Canadian Securities Exchange.

The securities of the Company have not been, and will not be, registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act") or any U.S. state securities laws and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an available exemption from the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act and applicable U.S. state securities laws. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there by any sale of the securities referenced in this press release, in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful.

About Supreme Critical Metals Inc.

Supreme Critical Metals Inc. (CSE: CRIT) (FSE: VR6) (OTC Pink: VRCFF) is a publicly traded, diversified exploration company advancing a portfolio of high-potential silver, copper, uranium, and gold properties across North America. The Company follows a disciplined, data-driven acquisition strategy focused on mining-friendly jurisdictions with established infrastructure, predictable permitting, and supportive regulatory frameworks.

Additional information about Supreme Critical Metals is available on the Company's website at www.supremecriticalmetals.com.

On Behalf of the Board of Supreme Critical Metals Inc.

"Glen R. Watson"

Glen R. Watson

President & CEO

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Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information

Forward-looking information in this release includes statements regarding the expected closing date of the Offering and future exploration programs. This news release contains forward-looking information and forward-looking statements (collectively, "forward-looking information"). Such forward-looking information is provided to inform the Company's shareholders and potential investors about management's current expectations and plans relating to the future. Readers are cautioned that reliance on such information may not be appropriate for other purposes. Any such forward-looking information may be identified by words such as "anticipate", "proposed", "estimates", "would", "expects", "intends", "plans", "may", "will", and similar expressions, although not all forward-looking information contain these identifying words.

More particularly and without limitation, the forward-looking information in this news release includes expectations regarding the Company's business plans and operations. Forward-looking information is based on a number of factors and assumptions that have been used to develop such information, but which may prove to be incorrect. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking information are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking information because the Company can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. The forward-looking information in this news release reflects the Company's current expectations, assumptions and/or beliefs based on information currently available to the Company.

Whether actual results, performance, or achievements will conform to Supreme's expectations and predictions is subject to a number of known and unknown risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results and experience to differ materially from Supreme's expectations. Such material risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the impact of general economic conditions, industry conditions and dependence upon regulatory approvals.

Any forward-looking information speaks only as of the date on which it is made and, except as may be required by applicable securities laws, the Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.

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 of this release.

###

/THIS NEWS RELEASE IS NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES/

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/281821

Source: Supreme Critical Metals Inc.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - January 27, 2026) - Pacific Bay Minerals Ltd. (TSXV: PBM) ("Pacific Bay" or the "Company") reports that the Company is in receipt of a new geological report on the Weaver Gold Property in southwestern BC by Kristian Whitehead, P.Geo., who has significant expertise in the area. Historic drilling at Weaver Gold has returned impressive high-grade gold results in quartz carbonate veins that have potential for extension. As previously reported, Weaver Gold is under an option agreement with Aurwest Resources Corporation (CSE: AWR) ("Aurwest") whereby Aurwest can earn a 50% interest in the Company's 100% owned Weaver Gold Project over three years. Pacific Bay will be the operator of the Weaver Gold Project.

Summary Findings of the Whitehead Weaver Gold Report

The Weaver Gold Property, located in southwestern British Columbia approximately 13 kilometers north of Highway 7 near Harrison Mills, has demonstrated notable gold and silver mineralization through historical drilling. Past campaigns have returned impressive intercepts, such as 16.6 g/t gold and 91.9 g/t silver over 1.52 meters and 11.8 g/t gold and 44.6 g/t silver over 2.13 meters from the 1975 program, along with 8.61 g/t gold and 46.2 g/t silver over 3.05 meters and 2.06 g/t gold and 21.4 g/t silver over 6.10 meters from 1996 drilling. More recent 2018 results included 2.49 g/t gold and 7.52 g/t silver over 1.53 meters, underscoring the property's consistent mineralized intervals.

Figure 1 Property Location

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The property is situated in the East Harrison Lake Belt within the southern Coast Belt, where gold-silver mineralization occurs primarily in orogenic-style quartz-carbonate veins with sulphides, controlled by regional shear zones and subsidiary faults trending approximately 070 degrees. Hosted in Lower to Middle Jurassic andesitic to rhyolitic volcanics and pyroclastics of the Harrison Lake Formation, the setting features complex structural deformation and hydrothermal alteration that has produced locally high-grade deposits.

Figure 2 Nearby Properties

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This environment, combined with analogies to nearby occurrences and the confirmation of mineralization continuity from past work, indicates good potential for discovering extensions along strike, down-dip, and in parallel structures. The independent geological report by P.Geo. Kristian Whitehead recommends a phased exploration approach to advance the property. Phase 1 focuses on detailed mapping and prospecting. Phase 2 involves a 3D induced polarization survey to identify subsurface anomalies. If results are favorable, Phase 3 entails 1,000 meters of diamond drilling.

About Pacific Bay Minerals Ltd.

Pacific Bay's flagship, 100% owned Haskins-Reed Critical Minerals Project in northwestern BC is one of the leading exploration projects in the Cassiar Region. Located next to Cassiar Gold Corp. on Highway 37, Haskins-Reed hosts tungsten, copper, bismuth, silver, lead, and zinc in multiple high-grade polymetallic zones, over 125 drill holes, underground workings, and significant exploration potential. The Company also owns 100% of the Weaver Gold project in southern BC, not under an option/JV with Aurwest.

The technical disclosures in this news release were reviewed and approved by independent geological consultant David Bridge, P.Geo., a Qualified Person, as defined by National Instrument 43-101. David Bridge is not an officer, director or employee of the Company.

www.pacificbayminerals.com

This news release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to the Weaver Gold, Haskins-Reed property and acquiring projects in Brazil. Such statements and information are based on numerous assumptions regarding present and future business strategies and the environment in which Pacific Bay will operate in the future. Certain important factors that could cause actual results, performances or achievements to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements include, amongst others, the global economic climate, dilution, share price volatility and competition, results of exploration activities, and the ability of the Company to raise equity financing. Although Pacific Bay has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Pacific Bay does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/281862

Source: Pacific Bay Minerals Ltd.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - January 27, 2026) - Legend Power Systems Inc. (TSXV: LPS) (OTCQB: LPSIF) ("Legend Power" or the "Company"), a global leader in commercial electrical system solutions, announces it will release its fiscal 2025 financial results for the year ended September 30, 2025, on Wednesday, January 28, 2026. The Company has also scheduled a webinar to provide a business update and discuss its financial results for Thursday, January 29, 2026 at 11:00 AM ET (8:00 AM PT). Please register in advance. The webinar will be hosted by Randy Buchamer, President and Chief Executive Officer of Legend Power.

WEBINAR DETAILS:

DATE: Thursday, January 29, 2026 TIME: 11:00 AM ET (8:00 AM PT) WEBINAR: https://legendpower.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_u5LMJl6yRFmCGsXajHngOg REPLAY: Available at: https://legendpower.com

About Legend Power Systems Inc.

Legend Power Systems Inc. (https://legendpower.com) provides an intelligent energy management platform that analyzes and improves building energy challenges, significantly impacting asset management and corporate performance. Legend Power's proven solutions support proactive executive decision-making in a complex and volatile business and energy environment. The proprietary and patented system reduces total energy consumption and power costs, while also maximizing the life of electrical equipment. Legend Power's unique solution is also a key contributor to both corporate sustainability efforts and the meeting of utility energy efficiency targets.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release may contain statements which constitute "forward-looking information", including statements regarding the plans, intentions, beliefs and current expectations of the Company, its directors, or its officers with respect to the future business activities and operating performance of the Company. The words "may", "would", "could", "will", "intend", "plan", "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "expect" and similar expressions, as they relate to the Company, or its management, are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. Investors are cautioned that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future business activities or performance and involve risks and uncertainties, and that the Company's future business activities may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements as a result of various factors. Such risks, uncertainties and factors are described in the periodic filings with the Canadian securities regulatory authorities, including the Company's quarterly and annual Management's Discussion & Analysis, which may be viewed on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should assumptions underlying the forward-looking statements prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described herein as intended, planned, anticipated, believed, estimated or expected. Although the Company has attempted to identify important risks, uncertainties and factors which could cause actual results to differ materially, there may be others that cause results to not be as anticipated, estimated or intended. The Company does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update these forward-looking statements other than as may be required by applicable law.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/281844

Source: Legend Power Systems Inc.
DelveInsight provides structured pharma conference coverage solutions designed to help industry leaders to track and interpret critical developments emerging from major healthcare conferences.

LAS VEGAS, Jan. 27, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The pharmaceutical sector continues to evolve at an unprecedented pace. In this dynamic environment, where hundreds of sessions unfold across major global conferences, identifying what truly matters requires deep therapeutic understanding and the ability to connect insights across multiple disease domains. Missing a pivotal presentation could mean missing emerging efficacy trends, novel mechanisms, or competitor signals shaping tomorrow's market.

DelveInsight Conference Coverage Summary

DelveInsight is a leading provider of strategic conference coverage solutions, specializing in tracking, analyzing, and summarizing insights from global healthcare and pharmaceutical events across multiple therapy areas.

DelveInsight's coverage spans major therapeutic areas from oncology to rare, annually covering major conferences such as ASCO, ESMO, ASH, AACR, ATS, ERS, etc., as well as other prominent therapeutic area-focused meetings, ensuring clients receive timely and relevant updates shaping their markets.

as well as other prominent therapeutic area-focused meetings, ensuring clients receive timely and relevant updates shaping their markets. As the pioneers in providing customized conference coverage services, supporting client needs across indication and therapy area monitoring, inhibitor-specific updates, booth intelligence, KOL insights, phase transitions, and post-conference summaries, helping teams make informed, strategic decisions.

With DelveInsight, clients can seamlessly track multiple conferences throughout the year under a single therapeutic area, such as Oncology, ensuring continuous, year-round, competitive, and scientific intelligence.

Learn how to leverage conference solutions for maximum benefit @ https://www.delveinsight.com/consulting/conference-coverage-services?utm_source=cision&utm_medium=pressrelease&utm_campaign=spr

What DelveInsight's Conference Coverage Delivers?

Pre-Conference Planning & Intelligence Gap Analysis

Effective conference engagement begins long before the event itself. The planning phase involves aligning attendance strategies with Key Intelligence Topics (KITs) to ensure every session and interaction contributes to the company's broader intelligence goals. A priority-ranked abstract review-categorized across oral presentations, posters, symposia, and sessions enables focus on the most critical scientific and strategic areas. A customized attendance planner supports optimal resource allocation, ensuring teams are positioned where insights matter most. Additionally, pre-conference stakeholder briefings provide attendees with clarity on objectives, facilitating faster, more informed decision-making during the event.

Expert On-Site Analysis & Capture

During the conference, highly qualified analysts and subject matter experts attend high-priority sessions in real time to capture actionable intelligence. Their detailed note-taking encompasses clinical efficacy data, safety outcomes, mechanism-of-action insights, and competitive positioning. Analysts also monitor regulatory updates, reimbursement trends, and emerging signals of unmet medical needs. Each observation is validated and interpreted in context with the client's strategic objectives, ensuring that no critical development goes unnoticed.

Post-Conference Synthesis & Strategic Reporting

After the event, all captured intelligence undergoes rigorous synthesis and analysis. The insights are mapped against the company's pipeline to evaluate clinical and strategic impact. This phase includes a competitive landscape assessment covering market positioning, ongoing R&D programs, and evolving clinical strategies. Analysts also identify new opportunities, such as clinical white spaces, expansion areas for patient populations, and potential partnerships. Complementary regulatory and reimbursement intelligence adds further depth, highlighting implications for market access. Finally, findings are consolidated into executive summaries and detailed therapeutic deep dives, ready for leadership review and strategic action.

Get a proposal to find out how DelveInsight's congress coverage solutions can assist you

The pharma consulting company provides in-depth coverage of major global pharma conferences to help stakeholders stay ahead of evolving clinical evidence and competitive dynamics. Some examples of TA and conferences are given below

Key Therapeutic Areas and Conferences

Oncology Conference Coverage: With numerous data presentations and late-breaking abstracts at oncological conferences, identifying commercially relevant insights can be challenging. DelveInsight simplifies this complexity by delivering concise, actionable coverage of major oncology conferences such as ASCO, ESMO, AACR, ASH, EHA , and other key meetings, enriched with expert opinions from industry leaders and KOLs. This enables pharma teams to identify strategic opportunities, track phase transitions, benchmark competitors, and align development goals with real-world expert insights and the latest scientific breakthroughs.

With numerous data presentations and late-breaking abstracts at oncological conferences, identifying commercially relevant insights can be challenging. DelveInsight simplifies this complexity by delivering concise, actionable coverage of major oncology conferences such as , and other key meetings, enriched with expert opinions from industry leaders and KOLs. This enables pharma teams to identify strategic opportunities, track phase transitions, benchmark competitors, and align development goals with real-world expert insights and the latest scientific breakthroughs. Immunology Conference Coverage: Companies often struggle to track the most impactful updates from immunology conferences such as EULAR, ACAAI, AAI, CIS, and other conferences amid a flood of presentations. DelveInsight's real-time conference tracking and expert curation ensure clients receive only the most meaningful developments, supporting informed R&D, competitive positioning, and pipeline prioritization.

Companies often struggle to track the most impactful updates from immunology conferences such as amid a flood of presentations. DelveInsight's real-time conference tracking and expert curation ensure clients receive only the most meaningful developments, supporting informed R&D, competitive positioning, and pipeline prioritization. Neurology Conference Coverage: The fast pace of innovation in neurological diseases, such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, Schizophrenia, multiple sclerosis, and rare CNS disorders, makes it difficult for organizations to synthesize and interpret emerging data. DelveInsight's neurology conference coverage of the EAN Annual Congress, Schizophrenia International Research Society (SIRS) , AAN, ACTRIMS , and others provides a clear view of evolving diagnostic and therapeutic trends, enabling clients to anticipate clinical shifts, optimize trial designs, and identify collaboration prospects.

The fast pace of innovation in neurological diseases, such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, Schizophrenia, multiple sclerosis, and rare CNS disorders, makes it difficult for organizations to synthesize and interpret emerging data. DelveInsight's neurology conference coverage of the , , and others provides a clear view of evolving diagnostic and therapeutic trends, enabling clients to anticipate clinical shifts, optimize trial designs, and identify collaboration prospects. Endocrinology and Metabolic Conference Coverage: For companies focused on metabolic and endocrine diseases such as diabetes and obesity, conference sessions often present data from concurrent trials that can reshape competitive landscapes overnight. DelveInsight tracks key announcements from the ADA Scientific Sessions, ObesityWeek, ENDO, EASD, and others , offering detailed analyses that help clients evaluate market impact, adapt strategic roadmaps, and refine go-to-market plans.

For companies focused on metabolic and endocrine diseases such as diabetes and obesity, conference sessions often present data from concurrent trials that can reshape competitive landscapes overnight. DelveInsight tracks key announcements from the , offering detailed analyses that help clients evaluate market impact, adapt strategic roadmaps, and refine go-to-market plans. Respiratory Conference Coverage: Within respiratory health, ongoing advances in asthma, COPD, ILDs, and infectious respiratory conditions present both opportunities and challenges for data interpretation. DelveInsight's comprehensive respiratory conference coverage of the ATS International Conference, ERS, and other reports highlights pivotal research outcomes, emerging therapies, and competitive insights, empowering organizations to make timely, evidence-based business decisions.

Don't leave conference intelligence to chance. Let DelveInsight's expert analysts deliver the insights that drive strategy. Request a proposal for conference coverage tailored to your therapeutic area and business objectives.

Some of the key events DelveInsight will be covering in 2026 are below:

American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Conference Coverage (April 17-22, 2026)

American Thoracic Society (ATS) Conference Coverage (May 15-20, 2026)

American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Conference Coverage (May 29-June 2, 2026)

European Congress of Rheumatology (EULAR) Conference Coverage (June 3-6, 2026)

American Diabetes Association Conference Coverage (June 5-8, 2026)

European Academy of Neurology Conference Coverage (June 27-30, 2026)

European Respiratory Society (ERS) Congress (September 5-9, 2026)

European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) Conference Coverage (October 23-27, 2026)

ObesityWeek Conference Coverage (November 14-17, 2026)

American Society of Hematology (ASH) Conference Coverage (December 12-15, 2026)

In addition to the above, DelveInsight's conference coverage team also tracks and analyzes a broad spectrum of global and regional meetings across major therapeutic areas to enrich syndicated reports and support fully customized client deliverables.

Connect with us now to discuss your conference coverage priorities and get a tailored proposal

Pharma Competitive Intelligence Service: Stay ahead in an evolving market with our competitive intelligence services. We equip clients with real-time, accurate insights spanning multiple therapeutic domains, including competitor pipelines and clinical trial tracking, innovations in gene and cell therapy, market-entry strategies, and evolving regulatory and patent landscapes. Our intelligence empowers decision-makers to anticipate market moves, identify untapped opportunities, and shape evidence-based strategies that drive sustainable growth and a decisive competitive edge.

Pharma Consulting Services: Our healthcare consulting services turn complex market data into actionable strategies for pharmaceutical, biotech, and medical device companies. We help clients uncover new revenue streams, assess market potential, and successfully navigate commercialization challenges. With deep expertise in clinical trial design, market intelligence, and strategic consulting, our team partners with clients to optimize decision-making, accelerate innovation pipelines, and improve business outcomes.

Rare Disease Consulting Services: In the rare disease space, one of our fortes, we deliver intelligence that helps clients overcome the unique challenges of niche markets. Our analysts monitor global R&D progress, competitive developments, and shifting regulatory landscapes to provide tailored insights that guide product positioning and investment strategies. From in-depth conference evaluations to detailed competitor analyses, we help clients de-risk decision-making, strengthen portfolios, and efficiently advance therapies from development to market.

Why Choose DelveInsight?

As a leader, you're aware that conferences are crucial gatherings where company updates, industry conversations, and interactions with key opinion leaders come together, offering you essential firsthand and secondary competitive insights.

Are you leveraging these conferences to gather vital competitive insights and maintain a leading edge?

Would you like to gain an in-depth understanding of major developments, pipeline progress, and shifting views on key therapeutic strategies?

Are you interested in learning what your competitors, key opinion leaders, and industry decision-makers are thinking to strategically inform your market approach?

By partnering with DelveInsight, you can take advantage of these conferences to stay informed about cutting-edge industry trends, emerging technologies, and market dynamics, enhancing your strategic decision-making. We specialize in thorough pre-conference planning, real-time intelligence gathering during the event, and comprehensive post-conference insights.

Ready to unlock the potential of your next conference? Schedule a call with our expert today!

About DelveInsight

DelveInsight is a leading Business Consultant and Market Research firm focused exclusively on life sciences. It supports pharma companies by providing comprehensive end-to-end solutions to improve their performance. Get hassle-free access to all the healthcare and pharma market research reports through our subscription-based platform PharmDelve.

Contact Us

Shruti Thakur

info@delveinsight.com

+14699457679

www.delveinsight.com

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Under the plan, Ottawa will commit to shipping higher volumes of crude oil, liquefied natural gas and liquefied petroleum gas to India, while New Delhi will send more refined petroleum products to Canada

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney greets Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi before a group photo during the Group of Seven (G7) Summit at the Pomeroy Kananaskis Mountain Lodge in Kananaskis, Alberta, Canada on June 17, 2025. (AFP)

Canada and India will pledge to expand trade in oil and gas as the two countries move to reboot their relationship after more than a year of diplomatic strain, Bloomberg News reported on Tuesday.

Ottawa will commit to shipping higher volumes of crude oil, liquefied natural gas and liquefied petroleum gas to India, while New Delhi will send more refined petroleum products to Canada, the report said.

The commitments follow talks between Canadian Energy Minister Tim Hodgson and Indias Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri.

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The two ministers are set to meet on Tuesday on the sidelines of India Energy Week in Goa, where they will relaunch a long-dormant ministerial energy dialogue. Once the main institutional channel for bilateral energy cooperation, the dialogue had stalled amid an explosive dispute over the killing of a Canadian Sikh activist, which plunged ties into a deep freeze.

Renewed engagement amid US tariffs

The renewed engagement marks one of Prime Minister Mark Carneys most visible efforts to diversify Canadas export markets at a time of escalating trade tensions with the US. It also underscores his governments pivot towards pragmatic, economy-first diplomacy with major Asian partners.

Beyond trade flows, Hodgson and Puri will commit to facilitating greater reciprocal investment in each others energy sectors. The two sides will also explore collaboration in emerging and strategic areas including hydrogen, biofuels, battery storage, critical minerals, electricity systems and the use of artificial intelligence in the energy industry, the report said.

The relaunch of the ministerial dialogue signals that both governments see untapped commercial potential, and strategic value, in strengthening an energy relationship that had been allowed to drift despite complementary strengths.

Carney is expected to visit India in the coming weeks as part of the broader reset. He and Prime Minister Narendra Modi revived talks in November aimed at a comprehensive economic partnership agreement, seeking to inject momentum into a relationship that had been weighed down by political tensions.

Two-way goods trade between Canada and India reached C$13.3 billion (around $9.68 billion) in 2024, but Ottawa believes there is substantial headroom for growth, particularly in energy. India currently accounts for just about 1 per cent of Canadas critical minerals exports, a gap Canadian officials say highlights the scale of the opportunity.

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Canada began exporting LNG to Asia in June 2025, while its LPG terminals offer relatively short shipping routes to India. The expansion of the Trans Mountain pipeline has also created a direct pathway for Canadian crude to reach Indian refiners, although most barrels bound for India still transit via the US Gulf Coast.

Canada pursuing new trade partner

Carneys outreach to India comes as he seeks to rebalance Canadas trade relationships amid rising geopolitical and economic uncertainty. His planned India visit will follow a recent trip to Beijing, where he and Chinese President Xi Jinping agreed to work towards reducing tariff barriers, a move that prompted US President Donald Trump to threaten 100 per cent tariffs on Canadian goods if Ottawa makes a deal with China.

Carney has repeatedly stressed that Canada is not pursuing a free trade agreement with China, even as it looks to deepen economic engagement across Asia. The renewed push with India, particularly in energy, reflects Ottawas attempt to secure reliable growth markets while reducing overdependence on its southern neighbour.
Data from the National Bureau of Statistics showed industrial profits rose 5.3 per cent in December from a year earlier, a sharp reversal from a 13.1 per cent year-on-year contraction in November

China industrial profits rise in 2025 for first time in four years. (File/Reuters)

China recorded its first annual increase in industrial profits in four years in 2025, official data showed on Tuesday, offering a positive signal for the worlds second-largest economy as authorities moved to curb destructive price wars across key sectors.

Data from the National Bureau of Statistics showed industrial profits rose 5.3 per cent in December from a year earlier, a sharp reversal from a 13.1 per cent year-on-year contraction in November.

For the whole of 2025, profit was up 0.6%, versus a 0.1% increase in the first 11 months. That marked the first annual gain in four years. The December surge played a crucial role in lifting full-year figures back into positive territory after years of persistent decline.

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Beijing reins in price wars to ease pressure on margins

The turnaround follows a government push to curb excessive competition and race-to-the-bottom pricing practices that have eroded corporate margins. Policymakers have singled out sectors such as automobiles and solar panels, where aggressive price-cutting amid overcapacity has intensified deflationary pressures and weakened profitability.

Weak growth in the roughly $19 trillion economy has prompted repeated official warnings, with authorities urging companies to prioritise sustainable pricing and long-term stability over market share battles.

Exports offset weak domestic demand

While domestic consumption remained subdued, exports provided critical support to manufacturers. An export boom helped cushion firms from weak demand at home, even as China continued to struggle with years of declining producer prices.

Export diversification away from the United States also helped limit the impact of tariffs imposed by US President Donald Trump on Chinese imports, reducing the economys exposure to geopolitical and trade risks.

Auto sector returns to profit on overseas sales

Chinas auto industry emerged as a key beneficiary of the export push. Profits in the sector rose 0.6 per cent in 2025, reversing an 8 per cent decline in 2024, driven largely by strong overseas demand for Chinese vehicles.

Foreign companies outperform

State-owned enterprises recorded a 3.9 per cent decline in profits in 2025, underlining ongoing efficiency and reform challenges.

By contrast, profits at privately run firms remained flat, while foreign-invested companies posted a 4.2 per cent increase.

Despite the return to annual profit growth, underlying pressures remain. Producer prices have been falling for several years, signalling persistent deflationary risks and excess capacity in parts of the industrial sector.

Industrial profit figures compiled by the National Bureau of Statistics cover firms with annual revenue of at least 20 million yuan ( around $2.88 million) from their main operations.
The halwa ceremony is a long-standing ritual during which the traditional Indian dessert is prepared and served to officials and staff involved in the preparation of the Budget. It symbolises the beginning of the lock-in period, when key officials remain sequestered to maintain secrecy around the final Budget documents

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Tuesday participated in the customary halwa ceremony, marking the final stage of preparations for the Union Budget 2026-27, which will be presented in the Lok Sabha on February 1.

The ceremony was held in the basement of the North Block on Raisina Hill, the historic seat of the Finance Ministry.

The halwa ceremony is a long-standing ritual during which the traditional Indian dessert is prepared and served to officials and staff involved in the preparation of the Budget. It symbolises the beginning of the lock-in period, when key officials remain sequestered to maintain secrecy around the final Budget documents.

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An official statement said the ceremony precedes the lock-in of officials who will remain cut off from the outside world until the Finance Minister completes her Budget speech in Parliament.

Sitharaman attended the event along with Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary, secretaries of all departments under the Ministry of Finance, and other senior officers involved in the Budget-making exercise.

As part of the event, the Finance Minister also toured the Budget Press at North Block, reviewed preparedness, and extended her best wishes to the entire Budget team.

The Finance Ministry shifted from the iconic North Block to Kartavya Bhawan in September 2025. However, the halwa ceremony continues to be organised at North Block, which has historically housed the dedicated government printing press used for Budget documents.

Sitharaman will present the Union Budget 2026-27, her ninth consecutive Budget, against the backdrop of Indias economy expected to grow at 7.6 per cent in the current financial year, despite global geopolitical and economic headwinds.

Like the previous five full Union Budgets and one interim Budget, the 2026-27 Budget will be presented in a completely paperless format. All Budget documents, including the Annual Financial Statement, Demand for Grants and the Finance Bill, will be made available on the Union Budget Mobile App for Members of Parliament and the general public.

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The app, available on both Android and iOS platforms, is bilingual in English and Hindi. The documents will be accessible on the mobile application and the official Budget website immediately after the completion of the Finance Ministers speech in Parliament on February 1, the statement said.

What is the halwa ceremony?

The halwa ceremony serves as a symbolic send-off for Finance Ministry officials and staff involved in preparing the Union governments annual financial statement. Following the ceremony, they enter the lock-in period, staying in the basement of North Block to ensure confidentiality of the Budget.

Officials are allowed to emerge only after the Finance Minister finishes delivering the Budget speech in the Lok Sabha. The ritual is also seen as a gesture of appreciation for the extensive work put in by officials during the Budget preparation process.

The basement of North Block houses the printing press that was traditionally used to print Budget documents for four decades, from 1980 to 2020. With the shift to a digital-first Budget, only a limited number of documents are now printed, while most dissemination happens through digital platforms.

The move to digital formats has also shortened the lock-in period to around five days, compared with up to two weeks earlier when printing hundreds of copies of voluminous documents required extensive manual processes.

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Prince Harrys says that despite the fact that he loves his country, he cant think of getting his wife and children to UK. Is it because he doesnt feel safe?

Harry-Meghan Latest Update: Duke was stalked in London by a woman, but security could do nothing

Recently Prince Harrys third major court battle accusing newspaper groups of unlawful behaviour was in news. He said, They made my wifes life MISERY. Now according to reports, a woman who is believed to be a known stalker of Prince Harry reportedly was spotted twice sitting just yards away from him at the High Court in London.

Harry was stalked at the High Court in London

The Mirror report says, that a stalker got within a stones throw of him twice at the High Court in London, it is claimed. The unnamed woman, who is said to be known to the Duke of Sussexs security team, reportedly was spotted in the public gallery at the court, just a few metres from him. Harry who was in London last week to attend the opening four days of his privacy trial against Associated Newspapers, the publisher of the Daily Mail. It is believed that when the woman was spotted by Harrys team, they alerted court staff, but they were reportedly unable to do anything. And there was nothing much that the police could do to stop the stalker, since its a public building.

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Who is this stalker woman?

Apparently, the woman has been identified as a fixated individual by the dukes personal protection team and is known for stalking Duke and Duchess of Sussex. The Mirror report says, she was even spotted in Nigeria during the couples visit in 2024. That was the time when Harry and Meghan stepped back as working members of the royal family in January 2020.

What Harry said in a recent interview?

Harry said, For the time being, its impossible for me to take my family back to the UK safely. I will continue on with a life of public service. So I will always support the charities and the people that mean so much to me.

I cant see a world in which I would be bringing my wife and children back to the UK at this point, and the things that theyre going to miss is, well, everything you know. I love my country, I always have done, despite what some people in that country have done. So, you know? I miss the UK, I miss parts of the UK.

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Of course, I do. And I think that its really quite sad that I wont be able to show my children my homeland.
While Mardaani exposed the grim realities of human trafficking and Mardaani 2 explored the disturbing psyche of a serial rapist who challenged the system, Mardaani 3 delves into another dark and brutal reality of our society

Ranbir Kapoor is really happy to see the entire film industry of India come together to celebrate his favourite actor Rani Mukerjis 30th year in cinema with Mardaani 3!

Rani was Kapoors co-star in his debut film Saawariya and was there for him when he needed someone the most. So, Ranbir roots for Rani to win with every film, every performance.

Ranbir says, Rani is the co-star of my first film Sawaariya and she is the first person who told me that if I worked hard, I would go a long way. I will never forget that interaction because it gave me so much confidence when I needed it the most. I have seen her as a person closely, I have seen her work closely and have been bowled over by her grace, charm and brilliance.

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He adds, It is really amazing to see the entire industry come forward to celebrate 30 years of her iconic legacy. I have always felt that Rani is one for the ages, one of the greatest ever actors in India and someone who has defined our industry through her work. Her choice of projects and roles have shaped how women are portrayed on the screen today.

Ranbir reveals Rani only wants to spread joy through her cinema. He says, Thank you Rani for the movies, the memories, the nostalgia and the powerhouse performances. She is an entertainer who has dedicated her life to make people happy and I dont have words to describe the impact her films have had on me.

Rani Mukerjis Mardaani 3 has broken the internet and has become the most talked-about film. The acclaimed Mardaani franchise that focusses on crimes against women with every instalment, will now highlight the issue of young girls aged 8-9 years, from low income groups, being kidnapped for a specific reason from across our country.

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Directed by Abhiraj Minawala and produced by Aditya Chopra, Mardaani 3 continues the franchises tradition of socially relevant cinema. While Mardaani exposed the grim realities of human trafficking and Mardaani 2 explored the disturbing psyche of a serial rapist who challenged the system, Mardaani 3 delves into another dark and brutal reality of our society, further strengthening the franchises legacy of impactful, issue-based storytelling.

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The Chinese military is in disarray after its top general, Zhang Youxia, was placed under investigation for serious violations of discipline and law. He has been accused of selling nuclear secrets to the US. But is there more to this than what meets the eye?

China's Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission Zhang Youxia has been purged over the weekend. File image/AFP

Over the weekend, the Chinese military plunged into chaos when its most senior general, who is also a close ally of Xi Jinping, was placed under investigation for suspected serious violations of discipline and law.

Chinas defence ministry announced on Saturday (January 24) that Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli, another Central Military Commission (CMC) member, were under investigation for suspected serious violations of discipline and law, which means corruption.

This is no ordinary moment in China. As Neil Thomas, a fellow on Chinese politics at the Asia Society thinktank, told The Guardian: This is easily the most significant Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) purge in the post-Mao era. Its hard to overstate how rare this is  it would be like arresting the chair of the US joint chiefs of staff for corruption.

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But who exactly is Zhang and why has he been placed under investigation?

Who is Chinas Zhang Youxia?

Before we deep dive into the many theories surrounding the investigation into Zhang, lets understand who he is.

Before this episode, 75-year-old Zhang was the senior of the two vice chairs of the powerful Central Military Commission. Zhang is a child of former senior officers  his father was a general who served alongside Xis father, Xi Zhongxun, in northwest China.

Zhang began his military career in 1968 and set himself apart for being a stellar frontline officer, especially during the border war with Vietnam in 1979. According to those who served with Zhang, he was an audacious and wily unit leader, who urged soldiers to use more artillery during a series of battles for Longshan, a disputed area on the border.

Zhang Youxia along with Central Military Commission members He Weidong and Li Shangfu. Now, all three in this image have been purged. File image/Reuters

Consequently, he began rising up the military ladder and he was tapped by Xi to help in the overhaul of the PLA, culminating in a major reorganisation from 2015. Zhang was a key enabler of Xis military reform agenda prior to late-2015  before Xi became powerful enough to impose himself on the PLA, James Char, an assistant professor at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore who studies the Chinese military, was quoted as telling New York Times.

The American daily further reports that in 2012, General Zhang joined a delegation of senior Chinese military officers to visit the US. Drew Thompson, then a Pentagon official helping to organise the visit, said the general was strikingly confident and inquisitive.

As the years passed, he became a close ally of Xi Jinping; he was initially expected to retire in 2022, but the Chinese leader reinstated him for a third term on the CMC, underscoring their closeness. Moreover, General Zhang also sat on the Politburo, the Chinese Communist Partys top political decision-making body, until now.

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Reasons behind General Zhangs fall from grace

On Saturday, Chinas Defence Ministry announced in a statement that Gen Zhang Youxia, vice chairman of the Central Military Commission which controls the armed forces, was under investigation and accused of serious violations of discipline and law.

Liu Zhenli, another Peoples Liberation Army general and a lower member of the commission who was in charge of the Joint Staff Department, was also put under investigation, the ministry said.

The statement gave no details about the allegations against them or the charges they were facing. However, an editorial on Sunday in the Liberation Army Daily newspaper, the mouthpiece of the countrys armed forces, suggested that Zhang was accused of corruption and possibly disloyalty to Xi.

The editorial levelled serious accusations against Zhang, portraying their alleged misconduct as a fundamental threat to the partys control of the military. The editorial noted that the two men had gravely betrayed the trust and expectations of the party leadership, accusing them of seriously fostering and exacerbating political and corruption-related problems that weaken the Communist Partys absolute leadership over the armed forces and endanger the partys governing foundations.

US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan walks past Vice chairman of the CPC Central Military Commission Zhang Youxia. The top military general, according to the Wall Street Journal, sold Chinas nuclear secrets to the US. File image/AFP

Adding to this, the Wall Street Journal reported that the top Chinese general had been placed under investigation for reportedly leaking information about the countrys nuclear-weapons programme to the US and accepting bribes for official acts, including the promotion of an officer to defence minister.

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The daily noted that Zhang was allegedly forming political cliques, to build networks of influence that undermine party unity, and abuse his authority within the Central Military Commission.

As per the Wall Street Journal, Zhang was also being investigated for allegedly accepting huge sums of money in exchange for promotions in procurement of military hardware. But the most damning allegation against Zhang was that he had leaked core technical data on Chinas nuclear weapons to the US.

The Wall Street Journal reported that some of the evidence against Zhang came from Gu Jun, the former general manager of the China National Nuclear Corp, a state-owned company that oversees all aspects of Chinas civilian and military nuclear programmes

Others, however, note that the investigation into General Zhang is more about power than corruption. Dennis Wilder, a senior fellow at Georgetown University and a former senior CIA analyst, told The Guardian that a power struggle was a more likely explanation than corruption. The purge isnt about corruption, it isnt about leaking secrets, it is about a general that became too powerful, he said.

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Neil Thomas, a fellow on Chinese politics at the Asia Society thinktank, also concurred on this view. For Xi, theres nothing more important than strengthening party discipline and ensuring it does not go the same way as the Soviet Communist party, which in his view was rendered ineffective by corruption, said Thomas. No one is safe in Beijing because Xi puts the party above any individual.

Others also note that Xis move against Zhang may be the Chinese leaders efforts to quash rival factions within the military. The PLA Dailys editorial suggested that Zhang was becoming too powerful for Xis liking, observed Thomas.

As the Indian Express reported, Zhang Youxia and Zhang Shengmin are both seen as part of the Shaanxi gang, having worked in the northwestern province (as has Xi Jinping). Until recent events, this clique was seen as being dominant within the CMC. Perhaps, the removal was aimed at checking their influence.

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What next for China

Regardless of the reason for Xis move against Zhang, it leaves the Chinese leader virtually alone at the top of its military hierarchy. The CMC had six uniformed members until now; however, it now has only one of these members standing  Zhang Shengmin.

CMC Vice Chairman Zhang Youxia and CMC member Liu Zhenli officially purged.



The CMC has become more ridiculous from 1 chairman 1 vice chairman 2 members to 1 chairman 1 member  pic.twitter.com/4Cw8n2glz1  Taepodong (@stoa1984) January 24, 2026

Many China watchers note that move against Zhang concentrates even more power in the presidents hands, makes the already secretive command of Chinas military more opaque, and suggests that a near-term attack on Taiwan is less likely.

Many China watchers note that move against Zhang concentrates even more power in the hands of Chinas President Xi Jinping. File image/AFP

James Char, a scholar at the S Rajaratnam School of International Studies in Singapore, told ABC News that by announcing the probe, Xi has also responded to criticisms that his PLA anti-corruption campaign has been a selective process  that his fellow princeling gets a free pass.

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But it also raises serious questions for Chinas military. A depleted leadership raises questions as to how the worlds largest military will be run. Theres also questions on Chinas ambitions when it comes to Taiwan. Some argue that the purges make an attack on Taiwan less likely, at least in the short term, because the army does not have the high level decision-making capacity to launch a sophisticated operation.

But Associate Professor Chong Ja Ian from the National University of Singapore told the BBC, The purge does not affect the Xis ambitions to control Taiwan. That comes down to the CCP as a whole and Xi specifically.

With inputs from agencies
A fresh controversy erupted after Grok, the AI assistant platform on X, mistranslated Prime Minister Narendra Modis reply to Maldives President Mohamed Muizzus Republic Day greetings. However, Grok later updated the translation after users pointed out the error

How reliable is Grok, Xs AI assistant? Not much when it comes to translations. It sparked controversy after a faulty translation of Prime Minister Narendra Modis reply to Maldives President Mohamed Muizzus Republic Day greetings turned a routine diplomatic exchange between the two leaders into a politically charged statement.

Social media users flagged the Groks mistranslation at a time when IndiaMaldives ties have shown signs of improvement after recent periods of strain. However, Grok later updated the translation of the PMs post after the mistake was pointed out.

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So, what did Modi actually write about the Maldives? And how Grok got it all wrong?

Modis message to Muizzu

On Monday (January 26), Maldivian President Muizzu extended warm greetings to President Murmu and PM Modi on X: Warmest greetings and best wishes to President Smt Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister HE Shri Narendra Modi, the government and the friendly people of India as they celebrate their 77th Republic Day.

This day strongly signifies the commitment of the people of India to uphold the principles of freedom, democracy and good governance. The Maldives wishes to continue our work together to strengthen our excellent ties that have immensely benefited the welfare of the people of both countries, he added.

Responding to Muizzu, the PM posted a message originally written in Dhivehi and meant to thank Muizzu for Republic Day wishes.

Thank you, President Muizzu. With respect, I accept the warm congratulations and good wishes extended on the occasion of Indias 77th Republic Day. We will continue to work together for the benefit of the people of both countries. I hope that the days ahead will be prosperous and happy for all Maldivian citizens.

I wish all Maldivian citizens a future filled with happy and prosperous days ahead, he said.

It was a standard diplomatic exchange between the two leaders.

Grok AIs mistranslation of PMs post

However, Groks translation was completely different in both meaning and tone.

When X users clicked on PMs post, a translation by Grok was this: Sukuriyya, Raayithun Majlis. Indias 77th Independence Day celebrations were held in the Maldives, and the Maldivian government participated in the event. This Sukuriya government has also been involved in the anti-India campaigns of the people. Even in the two anti-India campaigns, they have been at the forefront of the protests.

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Grok also confused Indias Republic Day with Independence Day, further muddying the issue.

Screenshots of Groks translation quickly began circulating on social media, prompting concerns about misinformation and its potential impact on public perception. A user, Shubhangi Sharma, said, What Xs translation said versus what was really said by Prime Minister Modi to the Maldivian President. Why so horribly unreliable?

What X's translation said vs what was really said by Prime Minister Modi to the Maldivian President. Why so horribly unreliable? https://t.co/xA7ZYOWHl5 pic.twitter.com/UHcT21uY7h  Shubhangi Sharma (@ItsShubhangi) January 27, 2026

India-Maldives reset after strained ties

In late 2023 and early 2024, the India-Maldives relations hit a historic low after President Muizzu swept to power in September 2023 on the back of an India Out campaign. His party had strongly criticised Indias military presence in the Maldives.

In January 2024, social media posts by Maldives ministers, days after Modi visited the Lakshadweep, triggered a row. While PMs move was seen as promoting tourism on the island, Maldivian ministers posted a derogatory tweet against Modi, accusing him of targeting the Maldives.

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Following significant pressure, the Muizzu government suspended its minister and said the comments were the views of the individuals and not those of the Maldivian government. However, the ties are not back on track.

The PM visited the Maldives in July last year at the invitation of President Muizzu to attend the nations 60th Independence Day celebrations in its capital, Male. During Modis visit, discussions were also held on climate change, renewable energy and trade. PMs visit marked a pivotal moment in India-Maldives relations.

Landed in Male. Deeply touched by the gesture of President Muizzu to come to the airport to welcome me. I am confident that India-Maldives friendship will scale new heights of progress in the times to come.@MMuizzu pic.twitter.com/GGzSTDENsE  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 25, 2025

With inputs from agencies
Germanys ruling party is divided over part-time employment. The business wing of the leading Christian Democratic Union (CDU) has proposed a ban on the legal right to work part-time with some exceptions. In Germany, three in 10 people work part-time. But why is there opposition to side jobs?

A woman walks in front of a branch of Germany's Deutsche Bank in Cologne, Germany, July 18, 2016. File Photo/Reuters

Members of Germanys ruling party are seeking a ban on the legal right to work part-time. The business wing of the leading Christian Democratic Union (CDU) party has proposed the measure to boost the economy.

However, its proposal has faced flak, including from within CDU. But why is the ruling party in Germany against part-time employment?

We take a look.

CDU wants to restrict part-time work

German Chancellor and Conservative leader Friedrich Merzs party is divided over part-time work. The business wing of CDU has recommended restricting part-time employment.

Lawmakers from the party are calling for the right to part-time work to be granted only to those raising children, caring for relatives or undertaking additional training, as per a motion, dubbed No legal right to lifestyle part time, obtained by dpa.

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People who decide to work part-time but do not fall in these categories should no longer be allowed to hold side jobs, it said.

Part-time workers are people working fewer hours than a full-time employee in a similar job.

Currently, every employee in Germany has the fundamental right to part-time work. The labour law empowers employees to slash their working hours if they have been with the company for at least six months and if the firm has more than 15 employees.

Companies can deny the request only if the reduction significantly hinders workflows or causes disproportionate costs.

Members of German Chancellor Friedrich Merzs ruling party has opposed part-time work. File Photo/AFP

CDUs business wing, which represents Germanys small- and medium-sized enterprises, has argued that the German economy is suffering due to a lack of skilled workers; hence, no one should have a legal entitlement to do what it calls lifestyle part-time work, reported The Guardian.

Lawmakers reportedly argued in their motion that the part-time employment rate touched a record high of about 40 per cent in Germany in 2025, while at the same time, there is a shortage of skilled workers throughout the economy.

Those who can work more should work more, the business wings chair, Gitta Connemann, told the news magazine Stern, which obtained a leaked copy of the motion.

CDU members proposal faces opposition

The CDU business wings proposal could be passed at the partys general conference in Stuttgart next month, when it would become official party policy.

However, the proposal is being opposed, even from within the CDU.

I would also like to see more people in part-time work [] switch back to full-time work, Dennis Radtke, chair of CDUs social wing, told the Funke media group.

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To achieve this, however, we need to improve the framework conditions for childcare and care.

IG Metall, the powerful metalworkers union, also expressed concerns about the proposal. The problem is not a lack of willingness or performance, but inadequate conditions for those who cannot work full time, the unions boss, Christiane Benner, was quoted as saying by The Guardian.

How prevalent is part-time work?

Part-time employment has become popular in Europe. According to Eurostat, 17.1 per cent of employed people in the European Union (EU) engaged in part-time work in 2024.

The part-time employment rates differ across Europe, ranging from 1.5 per cent in Bulgaria to 40.5 per cent in Switzerland.

In Germany, three in 10 people have side jobs. As per Germanys Institute for Employment Research (IAB), the part-time employment rate in the country rose to a little over 40 per cent in the third quarter of 2025.

This rate was 24 per cent in the UK as of 2025, and just under 18 per cent in France in 2024, reported The Guardian.

Women, young people, older workers, and those with reduced work capacity are more likely to prefer part-time employment. Therefore, countries where these groups have high employment rates tend to exhibit higher levels of part-time work, Rasa Mieziene and Sandra Krutuliene from the Lithuanian Centre for Social Sciences told Euronews Business.

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Part-time jobs are also more common in service-oriented sectors  such as retail, health, education, and hospitality  where staffing needs vary throughout the day or week, they added.

In Germany, the UK and France, 76 per cent of part-time workers are women. According to IAB, the surge in part-time employment in Germany last year was partly due to an increase in employment in sectors such as health, social services, education and teaching, and a drop in jobs in the manufacturing sector, where full-time work is more common.

For employees, part-time work offers flexibility and greater work-life balance; while for employers, it reduces labour costs and meets fluctuating demand.

According to Mieziene and Krutuliene, in high-wage economies, part-time work can still provide adequate income. In lower-wage economies, it may not be financially practical, decreasing both worker interest and employer offerings.

This helps explain why part-time employment remains relatively low in many Eastern European countries, they told Euronews Business.

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According to Stan De Spiegelaere of Ghent University, other factors affecting part-time work include shifting cultural norms surrounding womens work and stagnant wages that make full-time employment inadequate as a family wage, leading to people opting for part-time jobs, reported Euronews.

He also pointed out that a lack of infrastructure that restricts mothers from working full-time, along with rising flexibilisation of labour regulations in countries like Germany, influences part-time employment rates.

Last year, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) found that the German economy suffered partly because women and older people were not sufficiently integrated into the workplace.

With inputs from agencies
The Talibans new criminal code in Afghanistan has legalised slavery and granted mullahs legal immunity. Here is more about the Criminal Procedure Code for Courts

The Taliban have imposed a slew of restrictions since taking back power. Reuters

The Talibans new criminal code in Afghanistan is spurring outrage.

Among other things, the code has legalised slavery and granted clerics, or the mullahs, legal immunity. The Taliban, which lost power in Afghanistan after the US invasion in 2001, took over the country following the fall of the Hamid Karzai government in 2021.

The Taliban have imposed a slew of restrictions since taking back power. Critics have accused the group of weaponising the legal and judicial system against women and girls. The Taliban earlier suspended the 2004 constitution and laws protecting the rights of women and girls.

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The Taliban also dismissed all judges under the previous US-backed government, including approximately 270 women, replacing them with men who share their extreme Islamic views, lack legal training and hand down decisions based on edicts issued by the Taliban.

But what do we know about the new criminal code?

Lets take a closer look.

Key features of new criminal code

The Taliban has issued the Criminal Procedure Code for Courts (De Mahakumu Jazaai Osulnama) on January 4. The document, comprising three parts, 10 chapters and 119 articles, was approved by the Talibans supreme leader Hibatullah Akhundzada earlier this month. It is meant to serve as a guide for judicial processes in Afghanistan.

Article 9 of the code segregates Afghan society into four classes:

Mullahs

Tribal elders

Middle class

Lower class

Under this system, the punishment for crimes will be handed out according to the social status of the accused. Mullahs who commit crimes will be subjected to advice, while elites will be summoned and given advice; the middle class can be imprisoned, while the lower class can be imprisoned and flogged.

This essentially gives mullahs, or religious scholars, immunity from the judicial and legal system. The Hasht-e Subh English, an independent Afghan daily, quoted former Afghan Ambassador to Austria Manizha Bakhtari as saying this in effect created unequal legal classes where upper classes escape punishment through advice and warnings, while lower classes face the full force of discretionary punishment.

Legalises slavery

Article 15 of the code essentially legitimises slavery in Afghanistan. The text, which uses the term ghulam (slave), reads: In the case of any crime for which a hadd (prescribed punishment) has not been specified, tazir (discretionary punishment) is ruled, whether the criminal is free or a slave.

Slavery has been banned under international law.

Paragraph 5 of Article 4 states that while fixed punishments (hudud) will be undertaken by an Imam, tazir punishments may be carried out by a husband or master. Hudud refers to acts punishable under Islamic law for crimes against God.

Violence against children

Article 30 of the code forbids only certain forms of physical violence that result in bone fractures or tearing of the skin. It does not bar other forms of physical, psychological or sexual violence against children. Article 48 says a father may punish his 10-year-old son for actions such as neglecting prayers.

Right to punish

Article 4, Clause 6 of the code allows citizens to personally punish individuals if they witness a sin being committed.

Any Muslim who sees a person committing a sin has the right to punish them, the code states.

Article 4, Clause 6 of the code allows citizens to personally punish individuals if they witness a sin being committed.

Anyone who witnesses or becomes aware of subversive meetings by opponents of the system but fails to inform the relevant authorities is considered a criminal and shall be sentenced to two years in prison, the code adds.

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Article 59 of the Taliban criminal code criminalises dancing and watching dance. Under Article 13, the code allows places of immorality to be destroyed. This could include barbershops and beauty salons. It also bars gatherings of immorality without properly defining what this means.

Discriminates against minorities

The code also recognises followers of the Hanafi school as Muslims. It labels followers of all other sects as heretics.

Article 8 of the code defines followers of sects and beliefs outside Sunni Islam as innovators. It also mandates a two-year prison sentence for mockery or ridicule of Islamic rulings.

Under Article 26, followers of the Hanafi school are not permitted to leave their sect. They are to be given a two-year prison term if they do so.

Rights groups slam Taliban

The Supreme Council of National Resistance for the Salvation of Afghanistan condemned the document as far worse than the Middle Ages.

The Afghanistan Womens Justice Movement slammed it as the legalisation of brutality that entrenches gender apartheid. Former National Directorate of Security chief Rahmatullah Nabil said it showed politicised religion and rigid interpretations offer no future for Afghanistan.

It is a document proclaiming the conviction of all citizens, ex-Afghanistan Attorney General Mohammad Farid Hamidi wrote on X.

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Human rights organisation Rawadari has said that the code contravenes international human rights standards, including equality before the law, presumption of innocence, prohibition of torture and fair trial rights. It depends on confessions and testimony for proof, lacks provisions for defence lawyers or the right to remain silent, and allows broad discretionary punishments (tazir), Rawadari added.

Richard Bennett, the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in Afghanistan, called the development deeply troubling.

Bennett, who was appointed by the Geneva-based UN Human Rights Council, previously wrote in a report that women have virtually no rights in Afghanistan.

Today, there are no women judges or prosecutors and no officially registered female lawyers, leaving women and girls with fewer safe channels to report abuse or seek redress, he wrote. Coupled with a lack of female officials in the police and other institutions, the result is widespread underreporting of violence and discrimination against women and girls.

Bennett said access to justice for girls is further undermined by the dismantling of key legal safeguards and institutions protecting the rights of children, including juvenile courts and juvenile rehabilitation centres.

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With inputs from agencies
India and the European Union have announced the conclusion of negotiations on a free trade agreement (FTA). Heres why the pact, which has been dubbed the mother of all trade deals, will bring India and the bloc closer together, has not yet been signed

Prime Minister Narendra Modi watches the parade at Kartavya Path on the occasion of 77th Republic Day celebrations with President Droupadi Murmu, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, and European Council President Antonio Costa in New Delhi on January 26, 2026. (Photo: PIB)

India and the European Union have announced a free trade agreement (FTA). The pact, which has been dubbed the mother of all trade deals, will bring India and the bloc closer together.

The development comes in the backdrop of US President Donald Trumps bid to take over Greenland. Trump has threatened to impose tariffs on European nations that stand in his way of acquiring the semi-autonomous Danish territory.

But why hasnt the India-EU FTA been signed yet?

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Lets take a closer look.

What both sides said

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen celebrated the deal.

This agreement will bring major opportunities for the people of India and Europe, Modi said. It represents 25 per cent of the global GDP and one-third of global trade.

Europe and India are making history today, von der Leyen added. We have concluded the mother of all deals. We have created a free trade zone of two billion people, with both sides set to benefit.

India and Europe have made a clear choice. The choice of strategic partnership, dialogue and openness, von der Leyen wrote on social media. We are showing a fractured world that another way is possible.

It is important to note that the two sides have concluded negotiations on a long-pending trade deal. However, the deal has not officially been signed.

What happens next

According to the European Commission, a number of steps remain before the deal can be concluded. This includes:

Publishing negotiated draft texts

Legal revisions and translating the deal into all official EU languages

Proposing the agreement to the European Council for signature and conclusion

The deal being adopted by the Council

The agreement between India and the EU bloc being signed

The European Parliament authorising the deal

The European Council giving the go-ahead to the deal

Indias Cabinet ratifying the pact

Only once all these steps have occurred will the agreement finally go into force. This could take at least several months, if not longer.

The formal signing of the India-EU deal would take place after legal vetting expected to last five to six months, an Indian government official aware of the matter has said. We expect the deal to be implemented within a year, the official added.

According to The Indian Express, the formal signing will occur later this year after legal scrubbing of the agreement is completed.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen celebrated the deal. X

Legal scrubbing, also known as legal vetting, refers to when the final text of the agreement is pored over to confirm consistency across all chapters. This essentially safeguards that the text is in line with domestic laws. The text then needs to be translated into the several languages of the EU bloc, which is a compulsory requirement for any such trade pact.

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After subsuming a few chapters, India and the EU have completed talks on 21 chapters. While the legal scrubbing of the deal would take four to five months, the trade deal will come into effect by early next year after being ratified by the European Parliament, an official told the newspaper.

How it benefits both sides

The agreement is expected to deliver significant gains for both partners. India will reduce or eliminate tariffs on 96.6 per cent of EU exports, while Brussels will reciprocate with similar reductions covering nearly 99 per cent of Indias shipments by trade value in a phased manner, according to statements from both sides.

Several Indian industries are poised to benefit. These include textiles, apparel, engineering goods, leather, handicrafts, footwear and marine products. For the European Union, key gains will come in wine, automobiles, chemicals and pharmaceuticals, among other sectors.

A quota system for automobiles, wines and whisky has also been agreed upon, bringing down previously steep duties while protecting sensitive domestic markets on both sides.

The European Commission said tariffs charged by India on cars will gradually fall from 110 per cent to as low as 10 per cent, while duties on car parts will be fully abolished after five to ten years. Tariffs of up to 44 per cent on machinery, 22 per cent on chemicals and 11 per cent on pharmaceuticals will also be largely eliminated.

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Cars are displayed inside a BMW showroom in Mumbai. Under the FTA, tariffs on cars produced in the EU could decrease significantly, which may allow companies like Volkswagen, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Audi, Porsche, Maserati, Skoda, and Volvo to grow within Indias rapidly expanding car market. File image/Reuters

Bilateral trade between India and the EU stood at $136.5 billion (Rs.12,521.1 billion) in 202425. Officials on both sides hope to raise this to about $200 billion (Rs.18,346 billion) by 2030.

Ultimately, the agreement is about creating a stable commercial corridor between two major markets at a time when the global trading system is fragmenting, said Indian trade analyst Ajay Srivastava.

The deal comes days after the EU signed a major pact with the South American bloc Mercosur, following agreements last year with Indonesia, Mexico and Switzerland. Over the same period, New Delhi has finalised trade pacts with Britain, New Zealand and Oman, underscoring a wider push by both sides to secure new markets and reliable partners.

On European wine, tariffs in India are set to come down from 150 per cent to 20 per cent for the premium range. However, New Delhi has excluded dairy products such as milk and cheese, along with cereals, citing domestic sensitivities. The EU, for its part, will not allow concessional tariffs on imports of Indian sugar, meat, poultry and beef products, officials at Indias Trade Ministry said.

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India is also seeking to diversify its export destinations to offset the impact of higher US tariffs, including an additional 25 per cent levy on Indian goods linked to its continued purchases of discounted Russian oil. This brings combined tariffs imposed by the United States on Indian goods to 50 per cent.

For Europe, the agreement offers deeper access to one of the worlds fastest-growing major economies and helps European exporters and investors reduce reliance on more volatile markets.

The EU is still reeling from the increasingly aggressive posture of its once-stalwart ally across the Atlantic. There is a growing sense of betrayal among the 27-nation bloc over Trumps onslaught of higher tariffs, his embrace of far-right parties, and his belligerence over Greenland.

In response, Brussels has accelerated outreach to markets across the world. Over the past year, Ursula von der Leyen has signed deals with Japan, Indonesia, Mexico and South America under the banner of strategic autonomy, in practice, a drive to reduce dependence on a United States that many European leaders now view as erratic.

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With input from agencies
Public sector banks across India are on a nationwide strike today (January 27), impacting operations like cash withdrawals and deposits. Employees are refusing to work as their demand of a five-day workweek has gone unheard by the government

Union leaders stressed that the strike is meant to strengthen the banking system, not disrupt customer services. File image/PTI

If you were thinking of visiting a bank, you should revisit that decision. Thats because operations at public sector banks across the country will remain suspended as employee unions have announced a nationwide strike.

The strike has been called by the United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU), an umbrella body of nine unions representing officers and employees. As banks were shut on January 25 (Sunday) and January 26 (Republic Day), the strike on Tuesday will lead to a three-day disruption of branch services.

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Here is all you need to know about the bank strike.

Why is the bank shut on Tuesday?

The United Forum of Bank Unions has called for a nationwide strike to press for the implementation of a five-day workweek. Earlier, a wage revision agreement was signed in March 2024 between the Indian Banks Association (IBA) and the UFBU, in which both sides agreed to make all Saturdays holidays. The decision, however, has yet to be implemented, prompting unions to step up pressure.

At present, banks remain open on the first, third, and fifth Saturdays of every month while getting an off on the second and fourth Saturdays, apart from Sundays. The UFBU said productivity would remain unaffected under a five-day workweek, with employees agreeing to work an additional 40 minutes each day on weekdays.

The UFBU served a strike notice to the IBA, the Chief Labour Commissioner, and the Department of Financial Services (DFS) under the provisions of the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947. It is unfortunate that the government is not responding to our genuine demand. There would be no loss of man-hours as we have agreed to work an extra 40 minutes daily from Monday to Friday, All India Bank Officers Confederation (AIBOC) General Secretary Rupam Roy told the Economic Times.

Following this, the Chief Labour Commissioner held conciliation meetings on Wednesday (January 21) and Thursday (January 22) in a bid to resolve the issue. But even after the discussion, unions said that there was no progress.

Despite detailed discussions during the conciliation proceedings, there was no assurance on our demand. Hence, we have been compelled to proceed with the strike action, C H Venkatachalam, General Secretary of the All India Bank Employees Association (AIBEA), a UFBU constituent, told PTI.

Their demand was posted on social media platform X, with the caption, Bank employees power Indias financial stability, inclusion, and growth, often at the cost of their own well-being. A 5-day work week is not a concession; its a long-pending reform. The commitment is on record. It must be implemented.

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Bank employees power Indias financial stability, inclusion, and growth,often at the cost of their own well-being. A 5-day work week is not a concession; its a long-pending reform. The commitment is on record. It must be implemented.#BankersDemand5DayWeek @DFS_India pic.twitter.com/YgtcAKgTOJ  United Forum of Bank Unions (@UFBUIndia) January 25, 2026

What are the demands of banks?

Union leaders stressed that the strike is meant to strengthen the banking system, not disrupt customer services.

This movement is not against customers, but for a sustainable, humane, and efficient banking system. A rested banker serves the nation better. A balanced workforce strengthens financial stability. Five-day banking is not a luxury; it is an economic and human necessity, L Chandrasekhar, General Secretary of the National Confederation of Bank Employees (NCBE), told the Times of India.

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Which bank services can you still use?

Some bank services are bound to be impacted, but with the use of technology, multiple alternatives exist. Services like cash deposits and withdrawals, KYC, doorstep banking, cheque clearances, and routine administrative work are expected to be hit at public sector banks.

However, customers can use digital channels for various needs, like the use of an Automated Deposit cum Withdrawal Machine (ATM/ADWM) for cash needs. UPI, bank apps, and mobile banking services are expected to remain operational during the strike.

The strike will impact major government-owned lenders like State Bank of India (SBI), Bank of Baroda (BoB), Punjab National Bank (PNB), and other public sector banks. Notably, several major institutions, including the Reserve Bank of India, LIC, stock exchanges, and government offices, already work on a five-day schedule.

However, the strike is not expected to impact private sector banks, including HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank, and Kotak Mahindra Bank, among others.

With inputs from agencies
Imaan Zainab Mazari-Hazir, a Pakistani human rights lawyer, and her husband, Hadi Ali Chattha, were arrested on Friday and given lengthy prison sentences by an Islamabad court. The daughter of former minister Shireen Mazari, she is a vocal critic of the government and the army

A Pakistani lawyer and her husband have been arrested for social media posts critical of the state.

Imaan Zainab Mazari-Hazir and her husband Hadi Ali Chattha were arrested on Friday and given lengthy prison sentences by an Islamabad court.

Mazari-Hazir is a human rights lawyer, while Chattha is an advocate.

The arrests were confirmed by Mazari-Hazirs mother, Dr Shireen Mazari. She said they have been arrested, put in separate cars, and taken away to unknown locations.

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Fascism at its peak. Emasculated men in power must be so pleased with this achievement! Mazari wrote on X.

But who is Mazari-Hazir? What do we know about the latest developments in the case? Lets take a closer look.

Who is she?

Mazari-Hazir was born in Islamabad in 1994. Her mother, Dr Shireen, is a former human rights minister under Imran Khan, while her father, Dr Tabish Hazir, was the countrys top paediatrician. She has a younger brother. Mazari-Hazir studied law at the University of Edinburgh in the UK. She married her husband, Hadi Ali Chattha, in December 2023.

Mazari-Hazir is known for her fierce dedication to civil and political rights. She has taken on cases involving enforced disappearances of ethnic Baloch persons, as well as defending the communitys leading activist, Mahrang Baloch, and cases involving racial profiling. She has defended journalists and minorities, including those accused of blasphemy and Afghans facing crackdowns by the authorities.

Mazari-Hazir has repeatedly taken on the Pakistani state and establishment. She was arrested in Islamabad in August 2023 while participating in a protest. At a rally by the Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM), she reportedly described Pakistans military as terrorists. She was later granted bail.

She has previously been charged by the Pakistani government with several offences, including cyber terrorism and hate speech.

What happened?

Mazari-Hazir and her husband were arrested by Islamabad police on Friday while travelling to court. The couple were attending a hearing in a case related to controversial social media posts that criticised several powerful state institutions. The case originally stems from an August 2025 cybercrime complaint over their posts on X. Authorities charged the couple under Pakistans Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA).

On Saturday, the couple were given 10-year jail terms for anti-state social media posts.

They were convicted under:

Section 9 (glorification of offences/proscribed groups)

Section 10 (cyberterrorism)

Section 26-A (spreading false information)

The court convicted the couple on three counts and gave them sentences of five years, 10 years and two years respectively. The sentences are set to run concurrently. A court document claimed Mazari-Hazir disseminated highly offensive content.

The court said their posts praised or aligned with banned groups such as the BLA, TTP and Pashtun Tahafuz Movement, accused the state of enforced disappearances, and portrayed Pakistan as a terrorist state. The judge said this damaged public trust in state institutions and the armed forces.

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Truth seems overwhelmingly difficult in this country, Mazari said in court on Tuesday. But we knew that when we got into this work, were ready to face that. We will not back down.

Imaan Zainab Mazari-Hazir married Hadi Ali Chattha in December 2023. Image courtesy: AFP

Her refusal to yield has led to comparisons with Pakistans late leading human rights lawyer Asma Jahangir, which Mazari said is a huge honour and a privilege.

On Monday, roads around the Karachi Press Club (KPC) were blocked by police as journalists, lawyers and civil society members protested against the sentences handed down to Mazari-Hazir and Chattha.

Police placed containers and buses to seal off access to the KPC, causing major traffic disruption and preventing many protesters from reaching the venue.

Protesters, led by Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) chairperson Asad Iqbal Butt and supported by journalist unions, condemned both the convictions and the road blockades, saying they were an attack on free speech and lawful assembly.

Due to the closure of roads, people across different communities were unable to reach here, but somehow we managed to get here, and it is our success. Despite government road closures, people reached the KPC, Butt told Express Tribune. We need to raise our voices because this can happen to us as well. We are raising our voices for ourselves, he said.

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When the Peca law was introduced, it was said it was for enemies of the country. We warned it would be used against human rights activists and political workers. Now time has proved us right, Butt added.

Senior journalist Shahzeb Jillani told the newspaper, It is very clear from the manner in which the trial was conducted. It has made a mockery of justice. To give somebody 10 years imprisonment over a tweet should not happen.

We have seen cyber laws being used to silence dissent and to punish critics of the government, but this has gone too far. This is not restricted to any political party  this affects every citizen in the country, he added.

Constant challenge for the state

Dr Shireen Mazari has said it has been difficult for the family to cope with the threats they were facing because of her daughters defence of the dispossessed and marginalised, a cause she said made her proud.

When so many people are suffering, we expect she will also be made to suffer for speaking out against excesses to human rights, she added.

Groups such as the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan and Amnesty International have condemned the arrests. They have alleged that this is state retaliation for dissent.

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Asad Ali Toor, a journalist Mazari represented in multiple cases, said she proved a constant challenge for the state. Because she is representing everybody who is directly or indirectly on the receiving end of the state, he said.

Despite coming from a very well-off family, she has made her life considerably more difficult through the choices she has made about her activism, he said.

She has also faced sexist remarks and doctored photos circulated on social media, in a country where womens participation in the workplace remains low.

Mazari was honoured in 2025 with the Young Inspiration Award by the World Expression Forum for her extraordinary courage, integrity and impact in the struggle for the rule of law and justice.

The same year, the UN Special Rapporteur for human rights defenders said the cases against her appear to reflect an arbitrary use of the legal system to harass and intimidate.

Mazari was targeted in a January 2026 news conference by Pakistans military spokesman, who shared one of her X posts while building a case against hidden elements committing subtle crimes.

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They operate under the guise of democracy and human rights to promote terrorism, Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry said.

Mazari remains unbowed. She has vowed to continue her work along with her husband. Were not the first people who will be unlawfully incarcerated in this country, she said. We will keep fighting.

With inputs from agencies
Former UK Home Secretary Suella Braverman has become the latest prominent Conservative Party member to join Nigel Farages right-wing Reform UK. As Braverman jumps ship, some say that the Reform party is at the risk of becoming the establishment it denounces

Former British Home Secretary Suella Braverman, who today announced she has defected from the Conservative Party to Reform UK, looks at Britain's Reform UK leader Nigel Farage as they attend the Veterans for Reform press launch, in London, Britain, January 26, 2026. Reuters

Suella Bravermans decision to defect to Reform UK is not just another blow to Kemi Badenochs attempt to stabilise the Conservatives after their 2024 defeat. It also changes what Reform is being judged on.

Earlier this month, Badenoch sacked Robert Jenrick from the shadow cabinet for plotting to defect to Reform. Hours later, he did just that. Bravermans move takes Reforms number of MPs to eight. Party leader Nigel Farage has said Reform had been in talks with her for a year.

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At this point, though, Reform is at risk of absorbing so many former Tories that it starts to look like the establishment it denounces. This recruitment spree rewrites the insurgent brand.

Former British Home Secretary Suella Braverman, who today announced she has defected from the Conservative Party to Reform UK, speaks at a Veterans for Reform press launch in London, Britain, January 26, 2026. Reuters

Reforms leadership will understandably celebrate Bravermans arrival as a serious coup. She is a former home secretary and a national media figure. Her departure is an unmistakable signal that the Conservative right is fragmenting. The Times reports she told supporters it felt like she had come home, but there is a basic strategic tension here.

Reform has thrived by arguing that British politics is run by a closed circle of insiders who repeatedly fail and are then reshuffled into new jobs. A rapid intake of ex-ministers risks making Reform look less like a clean break and more like a migration route for political careers.

That attack line is already being deployed. After former chancellor Nadhim Zahawis switch earlier this month, the Liberal Democrats described Reform as  a retirement home for disgraced former Conservative ministers. The same basic charge has followed Bravermans move: critics argue that people who helped shape the recent Conservative record are now trying to rebrand themselves within Reform rather than account for it.

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For Reform, then, the immediate gain in publicity comes with a reputational cost: the party becomes easier to frame as a collection of defectors rather than a coherent alternative.

The May deadline: Reform knows the danger

If Reform were confident that any defection is good news, it would have no need for a cut-off date. But Farage has set the local elections date of May 7 as the latest date he will take Conservative switchers. After that, he believes his party would start to look like a rescue charity for every panicky Tory MP.

That is revealing. It implies Reform is trying to capture the benefits of defections (experience, profile, the aura of inevitability) while limiting the downside (brand dilution, factional chaos, accusations of being Tories in new colours). A deadline is, in effect, an admission that there is such a thing as too many ex-Tories or at least too many arriving too quickly.

The deeper issue is organisational. Recruiting MPs is not the same as building a party machine. Defectors bring personal followings, constituency operations, donor networks and ideological baggage. They can add reach, but they can also add volatility, especially if Reforms appeal relies on projecting discipline and clarity.

Former British Home Secretary Suella Braverman, who today announced she has defected from the Conservative Party to Reform UK, and Britains Reform UK leader Nigel Farage, react at a Veterans for Reform press launch, in London, Britain, January 26, 2026. Reuters

And internal tensions are not theoretical. Braverman and Jenrick are not merely Conservatives who happen to have drifted rightwards. They were also senior figures in a government that Reform has attacked as incompetent and deceitful.

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That is why a July 2025 post on X by Zia Yusuf (widely circulated as Braverman joined) lands so sharply. In the post, the head of policy at Reform UK referred to the Conservative governments handling of an Afghan data leak and secret resettlement, asking, Who was in government? and then named Braverman as home secretary and Jenrick as immigration minister.

The point isnt whether Yusufs earlier argument was fair or unfair. Its that it feeds an own goal narrative. Reforms senior figures have recently depicted these people as emblematic of the failures of the Conservative state, and now the party is inviting them into the tent.

That forces Reform into a delicate position. If it embraces defectors uncritically, it weakens its anti-establishment brand. If it keeps attacking them, it destabilises its own recruitment strategy.

Bravermans seat: Opportunity and risk

Bravermans own constituency, Fareham and Waterlooville, illustrates why Reform wants converts of her stature and why the strategy can backfire.

On official local results for the 2024 general election, Braverman won with 35 per cent of the vote; Reform placed fourth on 18 per cent, behind Labour (23 per cent) and the Liberal Democrats (19 per cent).

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That is the kind of compressed result Reform dreams about: a sizeable right-populist base already present, plus a Conservative vote that if transferred could turn a marginal into a secure Reform seat. From this perspective, defections are not just PR. They are an attempt to solve Reforms hardest electoral problem: converting diffuse national support into winnable constituency coalitions.

Former British Home Secretary Suella Braverman, who today announced she has defected from the Conservative Party to Reform UK, reacts next to Britains Reform UK leader Nigel Farage at a Veterans for Reform press launch, in London, Britain, January 26, 2026. Reuters

But the same numbers show the danger. If Braverman fails to bring a large share of Conservative voters with her, the most likely short-term effect is to make the seat more competitive for her opponents through vote fragmentation and tactical voting. Defections can therefore produce a paradox: they make Reform look bigger nationally while making individual contests messier locally.

And at the national level, the risk is huge. Reforms central claim  that it is the alternative to a failed political class  is now colliding with the reality of who it is recruiting from that class.

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If Reform wants to remain a pure insurgency, it must keep its distance from establishment figures and prioritise new candidates. If it wants to look like a credible government-in-waiting, it will keep collecting experienced politicians, but it must then accept the costs  intensified scrutiny, more ammunition for opponents, and the constant suspicion that it is simply rebranding Conservatism rather than replacing it.

Thomas Lockwood, PhD Researcher in Politics, York St John University

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
The University Grants Commission (UGC) has stirred the pot with its Promotion of Equity in Higher Education Institutions Regulations, 2026, notified on January 13. Under the new rules, the statutory body defines caste-based discrimination as discrimination only on the basis of caste or tribe against members of the Scheduled Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs), and Other Backward Classes (OBCs). But why has this caused a row?

The UGC is facing backlash over its new equity rules. Image Courtesy: UGC

Update: The Supreme Court has stayed the new UGC regulations, expressing prima facie reservations about vagueness and the potential for misuse.

The University Grants Commission (UGC) is in the eye of a storm. The statutory bodys new guidelines to prevent caste-based discrimination in colleges and universities have triggered an uproar among upper-caste communities, who claim the new rules are exclusionary.

Now, a plea has been filed before the Supreme Court against the newly enacted University Grants Commission (Promotion of Equity in Higher Education Institutions) Regulations, 2026. The new rules have also led to protests nationwide by people and groups from the general category.

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But why is there such opposition? We will explain.

UGCs new equity regulations

The UGC notified the University Grants Commission (Promotion of Equity in Higher Education Institutions) Regulations, 2026, on January 13, revising its 2012 anti-discrimination regulations.

The new rules defined caste-based discrimination as discrimination only on the basis of caste or tribe against members of the Scheduled Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs), and Other Backward Classes (OBCs).

Equity has been defined as providing a level playing field for all stakeholders in terms of rights and opportunities.

Under the new regulations, every Higher Education Institution (HEI) has to establish Equal Opportunity Centres (EOCs) to support disadvantaged groups, offer academic and social counselling, and promote campus diversity.

Equity Committees must be set up to handle complaints of discrimination. These committees must include representation from SCs, STs, OBCs, women and persons with disabilities.

Equity Squads will be responsible for monitoring vulnerable spaces on campus. Equity Ambassadors will act as nodal points in hostels, departments, and libraries.

Colleges and universities must also take preventive and protective steps, including setting up helplines, monitoring systems, and regularly reporting to the UGC.

The body has placed the onus on institutional heads, including vice-chancellors and principals, for the implementation of the latest rules. They are required to ensure compliance and submit reports to the UGC.

Higher education institutions that fail to comply with the guidelines could face penalties, such as denial of approval for academic programmes, exclusion from UGC schemes or even withdrawal of recognition.

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The UGC has said that caste-based discrimination in campuses has surged in recent years. As per the body, complaints of caste-based discrimination increased 118.4 per cent in five years, from 173 cases in 201920 to 378 in 2023-24.

Overall, 1,160 complaints were received from 704 universities and 1,553 colleges during this period.

The UGC has cited this data to stress the need for stronger institutional safeguards for oppressed castes. It argues that its new rules will help curb caste-based discrimination on campuses and ensure a safe, dignified and inclusive academic environment for students, teachers and non-teaching staff.

The new guidelines come after directions from the Supreme Court, asking the UGC to submit revised rules while hearing a petition related to the implementation of the 2012 UGC anti-discrimination regulations.

The PIL in the top court was filed by Radhika Vemula and Abeda Salim Tadvi, mothers of Rohith Vemula and Payal Tadvi, respectively, seeking a mechanism to end caste-based discrimination on campuses. Rohit Vemula and Payal Tadvi had died by suicide, allegedly after facing caste-discrimination in their respective universities.

The regulations were notified by the statutory body, which comes under the Ministry of Education, in January to prevent discrimination in higher education institutions and ensure timely redressal of complaints.

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ALSO READ: Whats your JEE score?: Why IIT-Bombay doesnt want students asking this question

Controversy over UGC guidelines

The UGCs equity guidelines have stirred the pot. Opponents of the regulations claim that they are not inclusive, as the definition excludes students from the general category. They also say that the new rules do not safeguard upper-caste students from false complaints and would lead to a presumption of guilt against them.

From politicians, student bodies, to even bureaucrats, people from several walks of life have spoken against the new UGC rules.

Rajya Sabha MP Priyanka Chaturvedi called for the equity regulations to be withdrawn or amended as necessary. She asked on social media whether the provisions should not be inclusive and ensure equal protection for everyone, adding, Then why is this discrimination in the implementation of the law? What happens in case of false accusations? How will guilt be determined? How should discrimination be definedthrough words, actions, or perceptions?

Uttar Pradesh Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLC Devendra Pratap Singh has written to the UGC, saying it should concern itself with protecting Dalits and backward class students against discrimination, and not with making general category students feel unsafe. The framed regulations could widen the caste-centric division and disturb the social balance, he wrote in the letter, as per The Hindu. He further argued that equity is necessary, but it should not result in the marginalisation of any section of students.

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Nearly a dozen local BJP members in Lucknow have submitted resignations from the party over it.

Many student bodies have also expressed opposition to the new UGC rules. The students union of Kumaun University in Uttarakhands Nainital has sent a letter to the UGC, saying that the regulations oppose the principle of natural justice. The letter, submitted through the Vice-Chancellor of the University, said that these regulations may disturb the balance at university campuses and could create an atmosphere of fear and distrust, and warned against the regulations potential misuse.

There are concerns that the latest rules do not ensure interim confidentiality for respondents, counselling support during the inquiry, or mechanisms to repair reputational harm if allegations are ultimately not upheld, as per Times of India (TOI).

The focus on submitting reports within fixed timelines has raised questions about whether speed would compromise fairness. It could also overburden the already stretched administrative system at state universities and affiliated colleges, the newspaper noted.

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Amid the row, some anti-caste activists have said the UGC regulations are inadequate as they do not protect the Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribe, and Other Backward Classes strongly enough from discrimination.

Nethrapal, a serving IRS officer, posted on X that the 2026 regulations do not include specific forms of discrimination that SC, ST, and OBC students are subjected to during higher education processes like admissions, interviews and oral examinations. He also alleged that omnibus equity committees would be incapable of properly addressing specific discriminations faced by SC/ST students.

A plea has now been filed in the Supreme Court against the UGC equity guidelines.

The petitioner, Advocate Vineet Jindal, has argued that regulation 3(c) of the UGC rules is non-inclusionary and fails to protect students and faculty who are not from reserved categories. He stated that the current framework denies grievance redressal and institutional protection to persons belonging to non-SC/ST/OBC categories.

The petitioner urged the top court to bar authorities from enforcing regulation 3(c) in its current form, seeking a direction to redefine caste-based discrimination in a caste-neutral and constitutionally-compliant manner.

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Another writ petition challenging the University Grants Commission (Promotion of Equity in Higher Education Institutions) Regulations, 2026, was filed in the Supreme Court by Mrityunjay Tiwari, a post-doctoral researcher at the Banaras Hindu University (BHU), Uttar Pradesh.

Protests are being organised across India by upper-caste groups against the latest guidelines. Lucknow University students staged a demonstration against the new rules on Tuesday (January 27).

VIDEO | Lucknow University students hold protest against the new rules notified by the UGC, the Promotion of Equity in Higher Education Institutions Regulations, 2026.



(Full video available on PTI Videos - https://t.co/n147TvrpG7)#Lucknow pic.twitter.com/bqvHqXxcOe  Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) January 27, 2026

In Jaipur, Hindu groups such as the Karni Sena, Brahmin Mahasabha, Kayastha Mahasabha and various Vaishya organisations have come together under the banner of the Savarna Samaj Coordination Committee (S-4) to oppose the UGC equity rules.

A section of students from upper-caste communities also called for a protest outside the University Grants Commission headquarters in Delhi on Tuesday, saying that the new rules could cause chaos on campuses. Appealing for unity from the student community, they asked them to say No to UGC discrimination.

Speaking to PTI, Alokit Tripathi, a PhD student from Delhi University, claimed that the new rules will lead to complete chaos in colleges as the burden of proof will now be completely shifted onto the accused.

The new regulations are draconian in nature. The definition of victim is already predetermined. Victim can be anyone in the campus, Tripathi said.

With the proposed Equity squads, it will be akin to living under constant surveillance inside the campus, he added.

Meanwhile, Bareilly City Magistrate Alank Agnihotri, a 2019-batch Provincial Services Officer, resigned on Monday (January 26), calling the UGC rules a black law. He called for the immediate rollback of the new guidelines, which he claimed could foment caste-based discontent on campuses.

The opposition has criticised the ruling BJP over Agnihotris resignation.

Centre to step in amid controversy

The Central government has decided to step in as the controversy over the UGC rules has snowballed. Top sources told NDTV that the government will present facts to counter misinformation being spread by the opposition over the UGC guidelines. Sources also said misuse of the rules will not be allowed, under any circumstances.

As per News18 sources, the government will also assure the critics that the regulations will not be misused under any circumstances.

#BreakingNews | Centre to issue a detailed clarification regarding the misinformation about new UGC rules: Top Govt sources @payalmehta100 shares more details@SimranBabbar_05 and Nitika report from protest locations#UGCRegulations #UGC | @GrihaAtul pic.twitter.com/5Lri17SCcg  News18 (@CNNnews18) January 27, 2026

Earlier, BJP MP from Jharkhand Nishikant Dubey said on social media that all misconceptions about the new regulations would soon be addressed. He also pointed out that it was the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government that introduced a 10 per cent reservation for economically weaker sections (EWS) among poor Savarnas. He said, As long as Modi ji is there, no harm will come to the children of the upper castes.

With inputs from agencies
US President Donald Trump has claimed American forces used a mysterious weapon called the Discombobulator during the January operation to capture Venezuelas Nicolas Maduro. US officials and experts say the term likely refers to a mix of cyber, electronic, and acoustic military systems rather than a single weapon

Smoke rises near Fort Tiuna during a full blackout, following explosions and loud noises, after US President Donald Trump said the US has struck Venezuela and captured its President Nicolas Maduro, in Caracas, Venezuela, January 3, 2026. File Image/Reuters

New details are emerging about the dramatic United States operation that led to the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro in early January.

US President Donald Trump claimed a mysterious weapon  which he called the Discombobulator  played a role in the mission.

While Trumps remarks have fuelled speculation about a previously unknown military capability, US officials and defence experts suggest the term may describe a combination of existing technologies rather than a single, revolutionary weapon.

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What Trump claimed

Speaking to the New York Post in an interview published on Saturday, Trump suggested the United States used a secret weapon during the operation to seize Maduro.

The discombobulator, Im not allowed to talk about it, Trump said, adding that it made \[enemy\] equipment not work.

However, a senior US official told CNN that the president may have been merging several separate military capabilities into a single label.

According to that official, US forces relied on cyber operations to neutralise Venezuelan early-warning systems and air defences, while also using existing acoustic tools to disorient personnel during the ground phase of the mission.

The same official noted that the US military already possesses non-lethal directed-energy systems, including the Active Denial System (ADS), though it remains unclear whether ADS was used in this operation.

ADS fires an invisible beam of electromagnetic energy that penetrates the skin and produces an intense heating sensation, compelling individuals to retreat without causing permanent injury.

Trump also referenced a sonic weapon during an interview with NewsNation, describing its use against Cuban guards protecting Maduro inside a fortified military zone.

Nobody else has it. And we have weapons no one knows about, Trump said.

And I say its probably best not to talk about them, but we have some incredible weapons. That was an incredible attack. Dont forget that house was in the middle of a fortress and military base.

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Claims of sonic and directed-energy effects on the ground

Attention was drawn to acoustic or energy-based weapons after White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt shared remarks allegedly made by a Venezuelan security guard who claimed something unusual was deployed during the raid.

The US launched something, the guard said, describing it as like a very intense sound wave.

Stop what you are doing and read this

 https://t.co/v9OsbdLn1q  Karoline Leavitt (@PressSec) January 10, 2026

Suddenly I felt like my head was exploding from the inside, the guard added. We all started bleeding from the nose. Some were vomiting blood. We fell to the ground, unable to move.

Experts caution that physical symptoms alone do not prove the use of a new or experimental sonic weapon. Directional acoustic systems such as the Long Range Acoustic Device (LRAD) are already widely used by the US military for crowd control and warning purposes.

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These devices can broadcast sound in a focused beam and, at higher power levels, can cause severe discomfort and disorientation.

Another system frequently mislabelled as a sonic weapon is the Active Denial System, which relies on directed energy rather than sound.

While ADS can rapidly disperse people, it does not interfere with electronic equipment  a feature Trump suggested the Discombobulator possessed.

How the US operation unfolded

According to US military officials, the mission began with coordinated strikes across Venezuela aimed at disabling radar, communications networks, and air defence systems.

These strikes cleared airspace for helicopters and special operations forces to enter the country.

Air Force General Dan Caine, chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, said more than 150 aircraft were involved, operating from 20 bases on land and at sea. The aircraft included bombers, fighter jets, and intelligence and surveillance platforms.

Military analysts believe one-way attack drones were likely used during strikes in the coastal city of Higuerote, a known hub for Venezuelan air defence infrastructure.

Footage circulating from the operation shows US forces landing inside the Fort Tiuna military complex in Caracas amid sustained gunfire.

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Experts analysing the audio from those videos said the sound patterns matched the 30-millimetre autocannons mounted on Direct Action Penetrator MH-60 Black Hawk helicopters.

Despite this, the precise location inside Fort Tiuna where Maduro was captured, along with the exact sequence of events on the ground, has not been publicly disclosed.

What Venezuela claimed

Venezuelas Defence Minister Vladimir Padrino Lopez has accused Washington of turning the country into a testing site for advanced military technologies. Speaking to Venezuelan newspaper El Universal, he alleged that the United States experimented with weapons never before used in combat.

On January 16, Padrino Lopez claimed 47 Venezuelan soldiers were killed during the US attack on Caracas, along with 32 Cuban troops who were reportedly assigned to protect Maduro.

Last week, he escalated his criticism, stating, The president of the United States admitted that they had used weapons that had never been used on battlefields, weapons that no one in the world possessed. They used that technology against the Venezuelan people on January 3, 2026.

Padrino Lopez appeared to reference Trumps televised remarks about a sonic weapon, framing them as evidence that Venezuela had been subjected to experimental warfare.

What experts say the Discombobulator could be

There is no recognised military system officially known as a Discombobulator.

Defence analysts suggest the term could be shorthand for a blend of cyber warfare, electronic warfare, and possibly acoustic or directed-energy tools.

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Electronic warfare can manipulate or suppress the electromagnetic spectrum, confusing radar systems, disabling communications, and disrupting GPS and sensors. Cyber operations can achieve similar effects by targeting command-and-control networks digitally.

The US has a long history of introducing new military capabilities in stages. Electronic warfare saw large-scale deployment during the 1991 Gulf War.

The 2009 cyberattack on Iran marked the first known use of a cyber-physical weapon at a strategic level. In 2017, the US deployed the GBU-43/B MOAB  the largest non-nuclear bomb  in Afghanistan.

Experts also note that all major military powers conduct secret testing of emerging technologies, particularly in fields such as cyber operations, space warfare, signals intelligence, and special forces tactics.

The US itself has previously accused other nations of using sonic weapons.

In 2017, American diplomats in Havana reported hearing loss and other symptoms, prompting then-US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson to describe the incidents as health attacks. Canadian officials later confirmed that at least one Canadian diplomat experienced similar issues.

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Given this context, analysts caution against assuming the existence of a single, unprecedented weapon.

As several experts point out, even if acoustic or energy-based systems were used during the Caracas raid, that alone would not confirm the deployment of an entirely new class of weapon.

Also Watch:

With inputs from agencies
European Council President Antonio Costas referred to his Goan roots during the India-EU free trade agreement announcement on Tuesday. From holding an OCI card to tracing family ties to Margao, Costas connection to India runs deep

European Council President Antonio Costa speaks during a joint press statement with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen at the Hyderabad House in New Delhi, India, January 27, 2026. File Image/Reuters

The conclusion of the long-awaited IndiaEuropean Union free trade agreement (FTA) on Tuesday (January 27), is being touted as the mother of all deals.

During the joint announcement in New Delhi, European Council President Antonio Luis Santos da Costa offered a deeply personal moment that highlighted his historical, cultural, and emotional ties binding him to India  specifically to Goa.

How Costa highlighted his link to India

As India and the European Union finalised what both sides hailed as a historic free trade agreement, Costa surprised the audience by producing his Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) card.

Standing alongside Prime Minister Narendra Modi and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, the European Council President spoke candidly about how the agreement resonated with him beyond diplomacy.

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I am the President of the European Council, but I am also an overseas Indian citizen, Costa said, drawing smiles from those present.

He went on to explain why the moment carried particular emotional weight for him.

As you can imagine, for me it has a special meaning. I am very proud of my roots in Goa, where my fathers family came from, and the connection between Europe and India is something personal to me, he added.

The light-hearted yet poignant intervention came as leaders from both sides marked the end of negotiations that had stretched across several years.

The agreement is expected to significantly deepen trade, manufacturing, and services cooperation between two of the worlds largest economic blocs.

Costas family story in Goa

Antonio Luis Santos da Costas connection to India traces back several generations to Goa, which remained under Portuguese rule until its liberation in 1961.

Born in Lisbon in 1961, Costa is the son of a Portuguese-French mother and Orlando Antonio Fernandes da Costa, a writer of Goan heritage.

His grandfather was born in Goa and spent much of his life there, while the family belonged to the Catholic Goan community that maintained close cultural links with Portugal during colonial rule.

Costas father was born and raised in Goa before moving to Portugal at the age of 18 following the end of Portuguese administration in the territory.

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Despite settling in Lisbon, Orlando da Costas literary work consistently reflected his Goan upbringing, Indo-Portuguese identity, and the social changes surrounding the end of colonial rule.

Among family and friends, Costa was affectionately called Babush during his childhood  a Konkani nickname meaning a beloved young boy  a detail he himself has often referenced when speaking about his roots.

Orlando da Costas literary legacy

Orlando da Costa was a noted novelist and playwright whose works frequently explored Goan society, Portuguese colonialism, and post-colonial identity.

His novels and plays include O Signo da Ira and O Ultimo Olhar de Manu Miranda, both of which are widely regarded for their depiction of Goas cultural and political transformations.

During a visit to Goa in January 2017, when he was serving as Prime Minister of Portugal, Costa spoke at length about his fathers enduring emotional bond with the region. My father went to Lisbon but never left Goa. Goa was always present in his works, he said at the time.

That visit coincided with the release of the English translation of Orlando da Costas play Sem Flores Nem Coroas, published as No Flowers No Wreaths by Goa 1556. Set on the night Portuguese rule ended in Goa, the play reflects the tensions and uncertainties of that historic moment.

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Costa also recalled how deeply Goa shaped his upbringing through his fathers memories.

From that moment my father made the Portuguese language is own. My father never left Goa because Goa never left him. The novels he wrote, from O Signo da Ira to O Ultimo Olhar de Manu Miranda, Goa was always present in his work. In Konkani, he only taught me two wordsBabush and Babulo. My father used these when he talked to me and my brother. We also got the scent of the beedi he smoked and the taste of sorpotel, he said.

A lasting physical link to Margao

The Costa familys ancestral home still stands in Margao, on Abade Faria Road, where members of his extended family continue to live.

During his 2017 visit, Antonio Costa visited the house, met relatives, and spent time reconnecting with the town that shaped his familys history.

That visit, he said, was as personal as it was official. Reflecting on his fathers words, Costa quoted from one of his books: Wherever I go or wherever Im taken to I will always be in my homeland.

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The emotional significance of that visit was marked when Prime Minister Narendra Modi presented Costa with The Sign of Wrath, the English translation of O Signo da Ira, considered Orlando da Costas most important literary work.

Often described as the Gandhi of Lisbon for his calm negotiating style and Goan heritage, the former Portuguese Prime Minister served from 2015 to 2024 before assuming the role of European Council President.

As von der Leyen formally announced the conclusion of the FTA, she said, Europe and India are making history today. We have concluded the mother of all deals. We have created a free trade zone of two billion people, with both sides set to benefit. This is only the beginning. We will grow our strategic relationship to be even stronger.

Prime Minister Modi also welcomed the agreement, describing it as the Mother of all deals and strengthen manufacturing and services, and connect two economies that together account for roughly a quarter of global GDP.

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While Costa now operates from Brussels at the centre of European decision-making, his remarks in New Delhi served as a reminder that his personal journey remains closely intertwined with India.

With inputs from agencies
Britains Prime Minister Keir Starmer is all set to visit China in a bid to renew bilateral ties between the two nations. This marks the first visit by a UK PM to China in the last eight years. But, experts say that the two nations are neither allies nor enemies

Britains Keir Starmer is in China, marking the first visit by a UK prime minister in eight years and hailed by Beijing as a potential new chapter in relations.

It is the latest in a string of Western leaders seeking a rapprochement with Beijing, as US President Donald Trump turns on traditional allies.

Starmer hopes to boost trade after years of strained relations, but must balance this with security concerns raised in the UK over a potential threat posed by China.

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Here are the three key questions surrounding the visit:

Where do relations stand?

London and Beijing enjoyed what they describe as the Golden Era a decade ago  a time when then-prime minister David Cameron and Chinese President Xi Jinping famously enjoyed beers together at a British pub.

Britains former Prime Minister David Cameron (right) drinks beer with Chinese President Xi Jinping at a pub in Princess Risborough, near Chequers, England. File image/AP

But relations soured since 2020, when Beijing imposed a national security law on Hong Kong and cracked down on pro-democracy activists in the former British colony.

Human rights abuses, alleged spying and cyber attacks, and Chinas perceived support for Russias war in Ukraine also strained ties.

Nevertheless, China remains Britains third-largest trading partner, though UK exports to the East Asian country plummeted 52.6 percent year-on-year in 2025, according to British government statistics.

And in December, Starmer said it would be a dereliction of duty not to engage with Beijing.

Why is Starmer visiting now?

Relations began to thaw soon after Starmer took the helm in 2024, following a closed-door meeting with Xi in Brazil in which the UK prime minister said Britain would look to cooperate with China on issues such as climate change.

But a protracted row over Chinese plans to build a vast new embassy in London complicated plans for Starmers visit.

Beijing purchased the building, on the site of the former Royal Mint, in 2018, but opponents argued that the mega embassy will be used for espionage and pressure rights activists in Britain.

The plan was finally approved on Tuesday and made way for Chinas invitation to Starmer, with a UK government spokesperson saying intelligence agencies have plans to manage any risks.

Starmers trip also comes as Britain faces a rift with its closest ally, the United States, following Trumps bid to seize Greenland and his brief threat of tariffs against the UK and other Nato allies.

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With Trump increasingly tearing apart the global order, China might not be an ally, but it is also not an enemy, Kerry Brown, director of the Lau China Institute at Kings College London, told AFP.

Facing a lacklustre British economy, Starmer will also be looking to seal trade deals to boost growth at home.

China has expressed hopes for the visit, with foreign ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun on Tuesday calling it an opportunity to deepen practical cooperation with the UK, jointly opening a new chapter in the healthy and stable development of China-UK relations.

Whats on the table?

Starmer will arrive with an entourage of industry executives hoping to promote British business through a UK-China CEO Council, a body that has lain dormant for years.

Created in 2018, the council once brought business and industry executives from both countries together when relations were in their golden era.

Starmer is also expected to raise the case of Hong Kong media mogul and democracy supporter Jimmy Lai, a British citizen and founder of the now-shuttered Apple Daily tabloid.

The 78-year-old is facing years in prison after being found guilty of collusion charges in December under the new national security law.

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Xi and Starmer are also likely to discuss Ukraine, where Beijing is accused of enabling Russias invasion through its close economic ties to Moscow.

The visit will represent a shift toward managed re-engagement rather than renewed strategic trust, according to Jinghan Zeng, an international relations scholar at City University of Hong Kong.

While progress could be made on climate change, trade, and people-to-people exchanges, concrete outcomes will probably be modest, he said.
Gregory Bovino, a senior US Border Patrol commander and key face of Donald Trumps immigration crackdown, has come under the lens after a series of fatal shootings in Minneapolis, with some reports suggesting he has been fired. Border czar Tom Homan is now in charge, while Bovino is among federal officials expected to leave the city

Border Patrol commander Greg Bovino looks on as he and his convoy stop at a gas station, days after an ICE agent fatally shot Renee Nicole Good in Minneapolis, in Columbia Heights, Minnesota, US, January 13, 2026. File Image/Reuters

Gregory Greg Bovino, a senior US Border Patrol official with nearly three decades of service, has become one of the most visible  and divisive  figures in President Donald Trumps immigration enforcement strategy.

Once a relatively low-profile career officer, Bovino has risen to national prominence as the face of aggressive federal crackdowns in Democratic-led cities, frequently appearing before cameras, defending controversial tactics, and personally overseeing large-scale operations far from the US southern border.

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His role has now come under the lens following a series of fatal shootings involving federal agents in Minneapolis, including the killing of ICU nurse Alex Pretti.

The Trump administration is now reportedly looking to reshuffle leadership in Minnesota and place border czar Tom Homan directly in charge of operations as questions are mounting over whether Bovino has been removed, reassigned, or effectively sidelined.

What happened in Minneapolis?

Minneapolis has emerged as a flashpoint in the Trump administrations renewed push to expand immigration enforcement into the nations interior.

Under an initiative known as Operation Metro Surge, federal immigration officers  including both Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Border Patrol agents  were deployed in large numbers across Minnesotas largest city and surrounding areas.

The operation quickly drew attention after three shootings involving federal officers occurred in January alone. Two of those incidents were fatal, while the most recent involved a Border Patrol agent.

The killing of Alex Pretti on Saturday proved especially consequential.

Pretti, a 37-year-old ICU nurse, was shot and killed by Border Patrol agents during an encounter connected to the enforcement operation.

The incident sparked immediate outrage and protests, particularly after Bovino publicly claimed that Pretti had intended to carry out a mass attack on law enforcement.

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That assertion was not corroborated by investigators, and video footage circulating publicly appeared to show Pretti observing federal activity rather than attempting to assault officers.

Despite the footage, Bovino mounted a vigorous defence of his agents in multiple television appearances. On CNN, he said, Im not blaming the Border Patrol agents. He continued, The victims are the Border Patrol agents. The suspect put himself in that situation.

Bovino also warned civilians against engaging with enforcement actions, stating, What our officers are faced with here in Minneapolis are chaotic, very difficult and violent situations.  Follow directions for law enforcement. Dont inject yourself knowingly, beforehand, into a law enforcement situation.

Those remarks resulted in criticism from city leaders, civil rights advocates, and congressional Democrats, many of whom accused federal authorities of escalating confrontations rather than de-escalating them.

What is Bovinos role?

As Border Patrols commander-at-large, Bovino has been tasked with leading major immigration operations across the country.

His role places him at the centre of large-scale, highly visible enforcement efforts that often involve hundreds or thousands of federal officers operating in urban areas.

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In recent months, Bovino has overseen or played a leading role in operations in Los Angeles, Chicago, New Orleans, Sacramento, Charlotte, and Minneapolis. These deployments have frequently been accompanied by mass demonstrations, legal challenges, and accusations of excessive force.

Bovino has become known for his omnipresence at press briefings, often appearing unmasked while other agents conceal their identities. His visibility has made him a focal point for both supporters and critics of the administrations approach to immigration enforcement.

He has described his agents tactics as turn and burn, a strategy aimed at moving quickly through enforcement zones and leaving within minutes to avoid prolonged standoffs with demonstrators.

His social media accounts regularly highlight arrests of undocumented immigrants, promoting videos that align with the Trump administrations preference for visually striking enforcement messaging.

During operations in Chicago, concerns over the use of force reached such a level that a judge ordered Bovino to wear a body camera and submit daily reports detailing agents actions.

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Has Bovino been removed from Minneapolis?

According to a person familiar with the matter who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity, Bovino is among the federal agents expected to depart Minneapolis on Tuesday, January 27.

The expected departure coincides with a broader leadership reshuffle announced by Trump. The president said he was placing his border czar, Tom Homan, in charge of the Minnesota mission, with Homan reporting directly to the White House.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt later confirmed that Homan would serve as the main point of contact on the ground in Minneapolis during continued federal immigration operations.

Despite these changes, confusion persists over Bovinos status.

While some reports suggested he had been demoted after federal agents were directed to leave Minneapolis, the Department of Homeland Security publicly disputed that characterisation.

Tricia McLaughlin, the departments assistant secretary, wrote on social media, Chief Gregory Bovino has NOT been relieved of his duties. As @PressSec stated from the White House podium, @CMDROpAtLargeCA is a key part of the Presidents team and a great American.

No formal announcement has confirmed Bovinos removal or reassignment, leaving open questions about whether his departure from Minneapolis represents a temporary redeployment or a broader shift in his responsibilities.

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What do we know about Bovinos background?

Bovinos rise to prominence is rooted in a long law enforcement career that began well before his recent notoriety.

A native of North Carolina, he joined the US Border Patrol in 1996 after starting his policing career with the Boone Police Department in the Blue Ridge Mountains.

He has said he was inspired to become a Border Patrol agent after watching the 1982 film The Border.

Bovino is the son of Italian immigrants and holds a bachelors degree in natural resource conservation from Western Carolina University, along with a masters degree from Appalachian State University.

In 2020, he was appointed chief patrol agent of the El Centro Sector in Southern California, one of the Border Patrols nine geographic divisions. At the time, he was one of approximately 20 regional chiefs nationwide.

Does Bovino have a history of violent tactics?

During the Biden administration, Bovino was relieved of command in August 2023.

According to The Associated Press, the decision followed a series of incidents that included controversial social media posts, an online profile image showing him posing with an M4 assault rifle, and his conduct during sworn congressional testimony on border conditions amid a record surge in migrant crossings.

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The episode temporarily derailed his ascent within the agency. However, under Trumps second administration, Bovino returned to prominence as the Border Patrol expanded its focus beyond the southern border and deeper into the nations interior.

Bovino has long demonstrated a comfort with media attention. In 2021, he led journalists swimming across Californias All-American Canal, an aqueduct known for its swift currents and the migrant deaths that occur there each year.

In 2023, he again made headlines by placing reporters inside the trunk of a vehicle, saying he wanted them to understand the risks associated with human smuggling and migration routes.

How has Trump reacted?

Trump held a phone call with Governor Tim Walz that marked a departure from their previously adversarial exchanges.

Following the call, Trump wrote on social media, We, actually, seemed to be on a similar wavelength. Walz described the conversation as productive and emphasised the importance of impartial investigations into the shootings involving federal agents.

The governor also noted that Minnesotas Department of Corrections honours federal requests concerning individuals in state custody, addressing one of the administrations recurring criticisms of so-called sanctuary jurisdictions.

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Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey said he also spoke directly with Trump, urging him to end the immigration enforcement surge.

According to Frey, the president agreed that the present situation cannot continue. Frey added that he intended to continue pressing for the removal of others involved in Operation Metro Surge.

Despite the leadership change, protests continued in Minneapolis.

Dozens of demonstrators gathered outside a hotel where Bovino was believed to be staying, blowing whistles, banging pots, and playing a trombone while police monitored the scene and kept protesters away from the entrance.

What is the status of the mounting anti-ICE lawsuits in Minnesota?

Minnesota and the cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul filed a lawsuit against the Department of Homeland Security earlier this month, five days after Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer Renee Good fatally shot another individual.

The lawsuit seeks to halt or significantly limit the federal immigration enforcement surge, arguing that conditions on the ground have become untenable.

On Monday, US District Judge Katherine Menendez heard arguments on whether to grant a temporary halt to the operation.

She later ordered federal attorneys to submit an additional brief by 6 pm Wednesday, directing them to address claims that the purpose of Operation Metro Surge is to punish Minnesota and its cities for their sanctuary laws and policies.

Minnesota Assistant Attorney General Brian Carter warned of broader consequences if enforcement actions were allowed to continue unchecked.

If this is not stopped right here, right now, I dont think anybody who is seriously looking at this problem can have much faith in how our republic is going to go in the future, he told the court.

Menendez questioned the federal governments motivations and expressed scepticism about a letter sent by US Attorney General Pam Bondi to Walz.

The letter requested access to voter rolls, state Medicaid records, food assistance data, and the repeal of sanctuary policies  requests that are themselves the subject of ongoing litigation.

I mean, is there no limit to what the executive can do under the guise of enforcing immigration law? Menendez asked during the hearing.

US Justice Department attorney Brantley Mayers defended the administrations actions, stating that the goal was to enforce federal law. He argued that one lawful action should not be used to discredit another lawful action.

The judge also wrestled with the broader constitutional implications of the case, questioning where the boundary lies between federal authority and state autonomy.

At one point, she said she was reluctant to decide hypothetical issues, such as warrantless entry into residences, that had not yet been formally raised in the lawsuit.

The Minneapolis case is not the only legal challenge arising from the federal crackdown. Late Monday, a federal appeals court declined to lift a temporary hold on a ruling Menendez issued earlier this month in a separate case.

In that ruling, Menendez barred federal officers in Minnesota from detaining or using tear gas against peaceful protesters who are not obstructing authorities, including individuals who observe or document enforcement actions.

A three-judge panel of the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals said the ruling was unlikely to withstand appeal but declined to intervene immediately.

In yet another case, US District Judge Eric Tostrud is considering a request from the Justice Department to lift an order blocking the Trump administration from destroying or altering evidence related to Saturdays shooting.

Attorneys for Minnesotas Bureau of Criminal Apprehension told the court they lacked confidence in federal authorities willingness to preserve evidence, citing what they described as a lack of cooperation and claims that state investigators were blocked from the scene.

Federal attorneys countered that investigators were already following proper preservation procedures and objected to what they characterised as judicial micromanaging of an ongoing federal investigation.

With inputs from agencies
The resurgence of Nipah virus cases in West Bengal has sparked concerns in China ahead of the Lunar New Year holiday, which sees a spike in travel. Five healthcare workers in the state are reported to have been infected with the highly fatal virus. Airports across Asia have tightened screening measures amid the outbreak

People wait for their train at the waiting hall during the Spring festival travel rush ahead of the Lunar New Year, at Shanghai Hongqiao railway station in Shanghai, China, January 24, 2025. File Photo/Reuters

Reports of Nipah virus cases in India have triggered anxiety in China ahead of the Lunar New Year holiday. Multiple cases of the incurable virus have been detected in West Bengal, leading to screening measures at airports across Asia.

Nipah virus (NiV) can be fatal. However, experts say the risk of transmission remains low.

We take a look.

What is the Nipah virus?

The Nipah virus is transmitted from animals to humans when they come in contact with the bodily fluids of infected bats and pigs. The virus can also spread through contaminated food or directly between humans, as per the World Health Organization (WHO).

People who contract the virus exhibit a wide range of symptoms, or even none at all.

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The initial symptoms that infected humans show are fever, headaches, muscle pain, vomiting and sore throat. This can be followed by dizziness, drowsiness, altered consciousness, and neurological signs that indicate acute encephalitis, according to the WHO.

Encephalitis causes inflammation of the brain, which may occur in severe cases.

Some people can also experience atypical pneumonia and severe respiratory problems, including acute respiratory distress, as per the WHO.

The Nipah virus has a high fatality rate of 40 per cent to 75 per cent. Currently, there is no cure or vaccine for the infection.

The Nipah virus was first identified in 1998 during an outbreak among pig farmers in Malaysia. The disease spread to Singapore the next year.

More than 100 people in Bangladesh have died because of Nipah since 2001.

Follow these essential precautions to prevent Nipah Virus infection. Stay alert, stay informed, and follow advisories issued by local health authorities.#NipahVirus #PublicHealth #HealthForAll pic.twitter.com/itTuZA18ev  Ministry of Health (@MoHFW_INDIA) January 22, 2026

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The virus has also been detected in India, with outbreaks reported in West Bengal in 2001 and 2007.

Kerala saw its first outbreak of the brain-damaging Nipah virus in 2018 when 19 cases were reported. Of these, 17 were fatal. In 2023, two out of six confirmed cases had died.

The fruit eating bat that was caught by the expert group, for the study of the spread of Nipah Virus at Perambra in Kozhikode on May 30 2018. File Photo/PTI

Latest Nipah outbreak in India

Five healthcare workers in West Bengal are reported to have been infected with the Nipah virus. The cases were found at a private hospital in Barasat in the North 24 Parganas district earlier this month.

Two nurses are being treated in an intensive coronary care unit, one of whom remains in very critical condition. About 110 people who were in contact with the infected healthcare workers have been quarantined, as per BBC.

Following the cases, a survey conducted on bats in West Bengal did not find any active Nipah virus infection. But antibodies were detected in one specimen, indicating prior exposure, a senior state forest department official said last week.

The findings are reassuring, but caution is warranted. Surveillance and preventive measures will continue until we are fully assured that there is no risk, a senior official of the West Bengal Health Department told PTI.

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Why China is worried of Nipah outbreak

The resurgence of the Nipah virus cases in West Bengal has raised concerns in China ahead of the Lunar New Year holiday, when millions travel.

As per a South China Morning Post (SCMP) report, topics related to the virus outbreak in India trended on Chinas social media platforms on Monday (January 26).

Its so scary, especially with the Spring Festival coming up. I dont want to experience another lockdown, an online user said, referring to the Lunar New Year holiday.

Another asked, Cant we temporarily shut the travel channel with India?

India and China eased visa processes for each others nationals last month, with an aim to boost travel.

China is concerned about the health threat as it comes before the Lunar New Year, which witnesses a huge travel rush or chunyun. This year, the 40-day travel season will begin on February 2 and run until March 13.

China has added Nipah to its monitored infectious disease list following the outbreak in India, Yicai China reported.

Chinas Frontier Health and Quarantine Law, which was enforced last year, listed the Nipah virus as one of the countrys targeted pathogens.

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In a recent report, Chinas Centre for Disease Control and Prevention called for heightened vigilance against imported infectious diseases during the travel season, warning that illnesses such as malaria, dengue, chikungunya, and Lassa fever could be contracted by travellers returning from overseas. Nipah, however, was not specifically mentioned.

However, health experts have dismissed the concerns of an outbreak in China from imported infections.

According to Zhao Haiyan, a Wuhan University virologist who studies highly pathogenic viruses, including Nipah, some neighbouring countries have reported sporadic outbreaks nearly every year since the virus emerged in 1998, while China has not recorded any imported cases.

Zhao said this did not indicate that there was no risk, but the Nipah virus had relatively limited transmission pathways compared with highly transmissible respiratory pathogens such as influenza or Sars-CoV-2, responsible for the coronavirus pandemic.

Zhao said that human-to-human transmission could occur required close contact with bodily fluids from infected patients or exposure to high viral loads, allowing the virus to enter through mucosal surfaces. Thus, the possibility of a Nipah outbreak in China was believed to be low under current conditions, she said.

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Speaking to The National, Dr Sagar Kawale, a consultant neurologist at Medcare Royal Speciality Hospital in Dubai, said those wanting to travel to India should not be overly worried.

For most travellers, the overall risk remains low unless there has been close exposure to an infected individual or time spent in a high-risk environment such as a healthcare setting, said Dr Kawale.

Nipah is a rare infection and, even when cases do appear, they are typically limited and localised rather than widespread like influenza or Covid-19. The key message is that while it is rare for tourists, it is taken seriously because of the potential severity of the illness.

Dr Kawale advised travellers to avoid close contact with people showing symptoms of fever and cough.

Travellers should reduce exposure by avoiding close contact with individuals who are unwell, particularly those with fever and cough, maintaining consistent hand hygiene, and avoiding fruits that may be contaminated, such as half-eaten, fallen or uncovered street-cut fruit, he said.

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Exercise extra caution in outbreak areas by not visiting hospitals unless necessary; for healthcare travellers, using masks, gloves and strict contact precautions is important. Third, if illness develops, avoid continuing travel or mixing in crowds, seek medical attention early, and clearly inform the doctor about recent travel and concerns regarding possible Nipah exposure so appropriate isolation precautions can be taken promptly.

Asia on alert

The Nipah virus has sparked concerns across Asia, with several countries taking preventive measures.

Thailand has started screening passengers at three international airports in Bangkok and Phuket that receive flights from West Bengal, reported BBC. Passengers from these flights have been told to make health declarations.

The parks and wildlife department in Thailand has also imposed heightened screenings in natural tourist attractions.

Jurai Wongswasdi, a spokeswoman for the Department for Disease Control, told BBC Thai authorities are fairly confident about protecting against an outbreak in Thailand.

Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said on Sunday, Public health screening systems have been adjusted based on the model that we used during the Covid-19 outbreak in Thailand.

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Nepal has also started screening arrivals at Kathmandu airport and other land border points with India.

Health authorities in Taiwan have proposed to list the Nipah virus as a Category 5 disease, designated for emerging or rare infections with major public health risks that need immediate reporting and special control measures.

South Korea had already classified Nipah as a top-tier infectious disease that requires immediate reporting and isolation, reported The Korea Herald.

Hong Kongs Centre for Health Protection said that it would monitor the situation and implement appropriate prevention and control measures based on risk assessments to safeguard public health and the well-being of citizens.

With inputs from agencies
India and the European Union on Tuesday signed the conclusion document of their Free Trade Agreement, calling it a historic moment. Narendra Modi and EU leaders Ursula von der Leyen and Antonio Costa hailed the deal as a boost to ties. Read the India-EU full joint statement released by MEA here:

India and the European Union on Tuesday formally signed the conclusion document for their long-awaited Free Trade Agreement, a pact officials have called the mother of all deals.

The announcement was made at Hyderabad House following a high-level summit between Prime Minister Narendra Modi, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, and European Council President Antonio Costa.

At a joint press conference with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President, Prime Minister Narendra Modi described the moment as historic, as the two giants chose partnership, strong commitment towards each other underlining the deepening support between India and the European Union.

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Here is the India-EU joint statement released by Ministry of External Affairs (MEA):

At the invitation of the Honble Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi, President of the European Council, H.E. Mr. Antonio Costa, and President of the European Commission, H.E. Ms. Ursula von der Leyen, paid a State Visit to India on 2527 January 2026 as the Chief Guests for the 77th Republic Day of India. President Costa and President von der Leyen were accompanied by a high-level delegation including High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Ms. Kaja Kallas and Trade Commissioner Mr. Maros Sefcovic.

This is the first visit by the leaders of the European Union as Guests of Honour for the Republic Day. It symbolises the growing closeness, depth and dynamism in IndiaEU relations, and their joint commitment and shared interest in shaping a resilient multipolar global order that underpins peace and stability, economic growth and sustainable development. The visit follows the historic visit of the European Union College of Commissioners led by President von der Leyen to India on 2728 February 2025.

The two Leaders were warmly welcomed by Honble President of India Smt. Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan. They then travelled together in a ceremonial procession to attend the Republic Day celebrations and witness the parade. For the first time ever, a contingent consisting of representatives from both the European Union Military Staff and the European Union Naval Operations ATALANTA and ASPIDES participated in the Republic Day Parade. President Costa and President von der Leyen joined President Murmu, for an At-Home reception in Rashtrapati Bhavan. In honour of the visiting dignitaries, President Murmu, hosted a Banquet on 27 January 2026. Earlier that afternoon, Prime Minister Modi also hosted a luncheon in their honour.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi along with President Antonio Costa and President Ursula von der Leyen cochaired the 16th IndiaEU Summit in New Delhi on 27 January 2026 and underlined their commitment to raise the IndiaEU Strategic Partnership to a higher level based on shared values and principles including democracy, human rights, pluralism, rule of law, and the rulesbased international order with the UN at its core. They committed to tackling security threats, promoting inclusive and sustainable growth, strengthening economic resilience and security, advancing climate and biodiversity action, and accelerating progress on the Sustainable Development Goals.

The leaders also addressed the IndiaEU Business Forum, attended by CEOs and industry leaders from both sides, where they called for ambitious private sector investments to harness synergies in critical sectors and for new business initiatives to drive closer trade and investment ties.

The leaders commended progress on the IndiaEU Strategic Partnership: A Roadmap to 2025. The two sides reiterated their determination to further reinforce their strategic partnership, delivering tangible benefits for both sides. The Summit took place against the backdrop of the positive momentum in IndiaEU relations in recent years, and sustained highlevel engagement across all domains.

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Delivering on the strategic partnership

The leaders hailed the successful conclusion of negotiations of the landmark IndiaEU Free Trade Agreement (FTA). This historic deal is a milestone in the IndiaEU Strategic Partnership that will significantly enhance bilateral trade and investment ties, drive shared prosperity, strengthen resilient and diversified supply chains, and support sustainable and inclusive growth.

The leaders welcomed the signing of the IndiaEU Security and Defence Partnership, the first such overarching defence and security framework between the two sides that will deepen ties in the domains of maritime security, defence industry and technology, cyber and hybrid threats, space, and counterterrorism among others. They also welcomed the launch of negotiations on a Security of Information Agreement that will facilitate the exchange of classified information and pave the way for a stronger cooperation in areas related to security and defence.

Regional and Multilateral cooperation

The leaders emphasized the importance of an effective multilateral system, with the United Nations at its core. They underlined the necessity of comprehensive reform of the UN Security Council, to make it more representative, inclusive, transparent, efficient, effective, democratic, accountable and reflective of contemporary geopolitical realities. They emphasized the World Trade Organizations central role in the multilateral trading system and global trade governance and underlined that meaningful, necessary and comprehensive reform of the WTO is essential to improve its functions so that it is better suited to advance all Members objectives.

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The leaders underscored the importance of close cooperation on regional and global security matters, acknowledging that the security and prosperity of Europe and the IndoPacific are interconnected.

The two sides reiterated their shared commitment to promoting a free, open, peaceful and prosperous IndoPacific, in accordance with international law, including UNCLOS, recognising their respective roles and engagement in the region. The leaders welcomed closer engagement in the region, including the inaugural edition of the forthcoming IndiaEU Consultations on the IndoPacific, in New Delhi. They also looked forward to joint activities in the IndoPacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI), and to strengthen cooperation in the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) under Indias Chairship.

On Ukraine, the two sides expressed concern over the ongoing war, which continues to cause immense human suffering and carries global consequences. Both sides will continue to support efforts towards the achievement of a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in Ukraine through dialogue and diplomacy, based on the principles of the UN Charter and of international law, including independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity.

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The leaders noted the adoption of the UN Security Council Resolution 2803 of 17 November 2025 which welcomes the establishment of the Board of Peace and authorizes an International Stabilisation Force, as outlined in the Comprehensive Plan, as a step forward to end the Gaza conflict. They encouraged all parties to implement the resolution in its entirety, in line with international law and relevant UN Security Council resolutions. Both sides restated their readiness to support efforts towards just and durable peace and stressed the need for unhindered humanitarian access. They also called for a just and lasting solution, based on the implementation of the two-State solution, through dialogue and diplomacy.

The two sides discussed the recent developments of concern in Iran and the region. They underscored the importance of dialogue and diplomacy in resolving issues in a peaceful manner.

The leaders unequivocally and strongly condemned terrorism and violent extremism, in all its forms and manifestations including crossborder terrorism. They called for decisive and concerted international efforts to combat terrorism in a comprehensive and sustained manner and in accordance with international law. They agreed to enhance cooperation to counter radicalisation and violent extremism, combat financing of terrorism, promote internationally agreed antimoney laundering standards, prevent exploitation of new and emerging technologies for terrorist purposes, and tackle terrorist recruitment. They condemned in the strongest terms the terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir on 22 April 2025 and the terror incident near Red Fort, New Delhi on 10 November 2025.

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Towards 2030: IndiaEU Joint Comprehensive Strategic Agenda

The leaders adopted Towards 2030: IndiaEU Joint Comprehensive Strategic Agenda to elevate the strategic cooperation between two sides. The Joint Comprehensive Strategic Agenda is aimed at accelerating progress across five key pillars: prosperity and sustainability, technology and innovation, security and defence, connectivity and global challenges, as well as enabling factors such as skills, mobility, business and peopletopeople ties.

In the context of global uncertainty and disruptions, closer economic ties between India and the EU are more important than ever to drive growth, job creation, green transition, industrial development, and more resilient, sustainable and trustworthy supply chains. The leaders of India and the EU are committed to ensure the full implementation of the FTA. Additionally, they tasked their respective teams to complete negotiations, at the earliest opportunity, on an Investment Protection Agreement (IPA) and on an Agreement on Geographical Indications (GIs). They committed to work on scaling up bilateral investments and engage in discussion on Blue Valleys to accelerate private sector engagement in strengthening select value chains. They also undertook to work on scaling up investments together in third countries including through trilateral cooperation, drawing upon India and the EUs experience in development assistance, including the EUs Global Gateway Strategy.

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India and the EU have complementary strengths in the technology domain. Both sides will increase collaboration across the entire value chain, linking enhanced research and innovation to business engagement and market operationalisation. In the current geopolitical environment and amidst global disruptions, they reaffirmed the IndiaEU Trade and Technology Council (TTC), a highlevel coordination platform to address key trade, technology and economic security issues, as the cornerstone of their technology partnership and aim to further enhance its work. The two sides will continue to advance together on promoting Digital Public Infrastructure including interoperable standards and exchange of best practices on regulatory frameworks, collaboration in new technologies (including semiconductors, artificial intelligence, quantum computing, digital public infrastructure and 6G) to build cybersecure, trusted digital ecosystems as well as to advance cooperation in clean tech. They will broaden discussions on economic security, in particular on the resilience of supply chains and research security, underlining the importance of protecting sensitive technologies. Both sides agreed to hold the next TTC ministerial meeting in Brussels in 2026 and to deepen business consultations.

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The two sides will further strengthen collaboration on emerging technologies, innovation, and research, including by creating EUIndia Innovation Hubs and launching an EUIndia Startup Partnership. The leaders welcomed the renewal of the IndiaEU Agreement for Scientific and Technological Cooperation until 2030 and agreed to launch exploratory talks on the association of India to Horizon Europe, the EUs research and innovation programme. They welcomed the productive discussions at the inaugural IndiaEU Space Dialogue in Brussels in November 2025.

The leaders recognised the increasing incidents of extreme climate events and reaffirmed the importance of the Paris Agreement, the successive Conference of the Parties (COP) outcomes, and respective Nationally Determined Contributions. They agreed to cooperate closely for their effective implementation and to join forces to raise global action, including by holding the increase in the global average temperature to well below 2C above pre-industrial levels and pursuing efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5C above pre-industrial levels. They reaffirmed the importance of the principles of equity, and common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities, in the light of different national circumstances. They commended the International Solar Alliances (ISA) efforts to provide energy access and install largescale solar energy capacities in developing countries.

The leaders committed to accelerated cooperation in clean transition and energy resilience in the framework of the EU-India Clean Energy and Climate Partnership. In this context, they welcomed the creation of the IndiaEU Task Force on Green Hydrogen, and the announcement of an India-EU Wind Business Summit to be convened in 2026. The signing of the IndiaEU Administrative Arrangement on Disaster Risk Management will pave the way for enhanced coordination in disaster preparedness and response capacities. Closer engagement of the EU with the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) and the International Solar Alliance (ISA) complements this cooperation.

The leaders agreed to strengthen cooperation on environmental issues, deepening collaboration on circular economy, biodiversity, water resilience and security, and launching Ocean and Fisheries Dialogue. They reaffirmed their commitment to the full and effective implementation of the KunmingMontreal Global Biodiversity Framework.

Geopolitical realities and growing crossregional security threats call for closer EUIndia cooperation. As the two sides strengthen their security and defence capabilities, they will enhance preparedness across domains  from maritime security to hybrid threats, counterterrorism, space security, and transnational crime  while deepening crisismanagement engagement and mutually beneficial defenceindustry collaboration. India and EU will also engage on the growing challenge of maritime pollution, safety and security of sea farers, and vessels which circumvent compliance to relevant and applicable international maritime regulations, to which they are party.

The two sides will work together to improve regional connectivity, upholding high standards while unlocking new commercial opportunities for EU and Indian businesses. The leaders underlined the launch of joint projects under the IndiaEU Connectivity Partnership supported by Global Gateway and Indias MAHASAGAR, the setting up of a regular Aviation Dialogue, and cooperation in the maritime transport sector. They welcomed advances in the IndiaMiddle EastEurope Economic Corridor (IMEC), launched during the 2023 G20 New Delhi Summit, and looked forward to the first Ministerial meeting. The two sides will implement trilateral cooperation projects under the IndiaEU Administrative Arrangement on Trilateral Cooperation, in areas such as energy, climate resilience, green mobility, and digitalisation.

The leaders highlighted that education and peopletopeople ties have emerged as vital enablers of the IndiaEU Strategic Partnership. They welcomed the conclusion of the IndiaEU Comprehensive Framework of Cooperation on Mobility, in line with the national competences of EU Member States and India and domestic legislation of both Parties. They commended the launch of the first pilot European Legal Gateway Office, as a onestop hub to provide information and support the movement of workers, starting with the ICT sector. They reaffirmed their commitment to enhancing collaboration on safe, regular and orderly migration, including through circular pathways, for highly skilled workers, students, researchers, and seasonal workers in shortage occupations, whilst also strengthening cooperation on countering irregular migration, in accordance with national competences and the law of both Parties.

Aspiring to deepen educational and academic collaboration, the two sides agreed to launch Education and Skills Dialogue in 2026 to promote skills development, facilitate recognition of qualifications and learning periods abroad, and support systemic collaboration in higher and vocational education.

President Costa and President von der Leyen welcomed the holding of the AI Impact Summit in New Delhi on 1920 February 2026, and the leaders looked forward to a successful event, reemphasizing their commitment to outcomeoriented cooperation.

The leaders underlined the importance of regular IndiaEU Summits to take forward the strategic partnership and implement the IndiaEU Joint Comprehensive Strategic Agenda. President Costa and President von der Leyen thanked Prime Minister Modi for the warm hospitality and invited him for the 17th IndiaEU Summit in Brussels at a mutually convenient time next year.
A historic breakthrough: India and the EU have officially signed the FTA conclusion document, uniting 2 billion consumers in a massive free trade zone. By sidestepping mixed competence hurdles, the deal heads for rapid implementation, slashing tariffs on cars, textiles, and tech

In a milestone described as the mother of all deals, India and the European Union have officially signed the conclusion document for their Free Trade Agreement (FTA) on Tuesday.

The announcement was made at Hyderabad House following a high-level summit between Prime Minister Narendra Modi, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, and European Council President Antonio Costa.

At a joint press conference with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President, Prime Minister Narendra Modi described the moment as historic, underlining the deepening partnership between India and the European Union.

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PM Modi praised von der Leyen as a global role model, saying Ursula is the first woman president and an inspiration for the world. He also noted the symbolic significance of both European leaders participating in Indias Republic Day parade, calling it a historic gesture that reflected the strength of India-EU ties.

Referring to India and the EU as the worlds two largest democracies, Modi said both sides were now adding a new chapter to their relationship, marked by expanded cooperation and shared democratic values.

Highlighting the scale of engagement, the Prime Minister said bilateral trade between India and the EU has reached $180 billion, while over eight lakh Indians currently live and work across European nations. Cooperation, he said, now spans a wide spectrum  from strategic technologies and clean energy to digital governance, innovation, and people-centric initiatives.

We have established cooperation in all fields, Modi said, adding that both sides have taken concrete initiatives aimed at improving the lives of people from all walks of life.

Antonio Costa recalls his Goa connection

The President of the European Council, Antonio Costa, recalled his personal connection to India, saying he is an Indian citizen by origin and thanked India for inviting him to the Republic Day celebrations. He said he was proud of his roots in Goa, adding that India-EU ties are deeply personal for him.

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He said the summit sends a strong message to the worldthat India and the European Union stand together as strategic and reliable partners. We are taking our partnership to the next level, he said, stressing that both sides are working hand in hand to help shape a resilient global order.

Shared prosperity and security

Costa underlined that India and the EU must work together for shared prosperity and security, calling trade a crucial geopolitical stabiliser. He described the proposed India-EU free trade agreement as one of the most ambitious deals ever concluded, especially significant in a multipolar world.

In a multipolar world, India and the EU are working for shared prosperity, he said, adding a note of caution: But prosperity does not exist without security.

On defence and security cooperation, he said the partnership between India and the EU is taking its first concrete steps, sending an ambitious and clear signal of deeper engagement in the security domain.

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Champions of multilateralism

Calling India and the EU champions of multilateralism, the European leader invoked Mahatma Gandhi, saying the summit reaffirmed a shared commitment to peace, respect for territorial integrity, and international law.

He said the EU supports all efforts aimed at achieving sustainable peace, adding, We can count on you to help create the conditions for peace through dialogue and diplomacy.

Green energy and climate cooperation

The European Council President also stressed the need for greater cooperation on green energy and climate resilience, saying India and the EU will align their priorities for the next five years.

He said both sides have already made tangible progress and shown global leadership on climate action, and that cooperation in this area will be a key pillar of the partnership going forward.

Ursula von der Leyens vision

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen expressed gratitude for the warm welcome during her visit to India, calling it an honour to be the chief guest at Republic Day. A memory I will carry for a lifetime, she said.

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She highlighted Indias growing global role, noting, India has risen, and Europe is truly glad about it. When India succeeds, the world is more stable and prosperous.

Von der Leyen stressed on the significance of the recently concluded free trade agreement between India and the EU. We did it  we delivered the mother of all deals. We are creating a market of 2 billion people. Two giants choosing partnership in a true win-win fashion. Cooperation is the best way to tackle global challenges.

She elaborated on its impact, saying the agreement will strengthen joint manufacturing power and create good jobs for millions in Europe and India. It brings together Indian skills and services with European capital and innovation, creating growth that neither side can achieve alone, she added.

Von der Leyen also thanked officials and praised Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal, noting, Hard work was worth it.

Security, innovation, and cooperation

On security, she said, We are delivering security for our people in an insecure world. This is a landmark departure and trust-based cooperation. We will help build each others resilience. She highlighted joint initiatives such as naval exercises to tackle piracy, dedicated dialogue on space and counter-terrorism, and EU-India commitment to being reliable partners.

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On innovation and science, von der Leyen said, We share core values. Freedom of research and science is paramount. EU and India will choose science, progress, and technology for the service of people. Cooperation will be human-centric, citing AI and Horizon, the worlds largest research program between the two countries. Plans include India-EU innovation hubs and startup partnerships.

She emphasized the human dimension: Our greatest wealth is our people. A mobility pact will launch a legal gateway office in India, fostering economic ties, friendship, and openness.

As the 16th EU-India summit concluded, von der Leyen noted the timing was symbolic: India marked Makar Sankranti, the beginning of the suns northward journey. This makes our summit unique and timely for fresh momentum, opening a new chapter in EU-India friendship.
Import duty concessions granted by the EU under the free trade agreement with India will help boost the countrys exports to the 27nation bloc and promote domestic manufacturing, according to exporters.

Import duty concessions granted by the EU under the free trade agreement with India will help boost the countrys exports to the 27-nation bloc and promote domestic manufacturing, according to exporters.

The European Union and India on Tuesday announced the conclusion of negotiations for the free trade agreement (FTA) here.

Indias bilateral trade in goods with the EU was USD 136.53 billion in 2024-25 (exports worth USD 75.85 billion and imports at USD 60.68 billion), making the EU Indias largest goods trading partner.

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The EU market accounts for about 17 per cent of Indias total exports, and the blocs exports to India constitute 9 per cent of its total overseas shipments.

The pact is expected to come into force early next year.

Hailing the pact, Aqeel Panaruna, Chairman, Florence Shoe Company and Director, Grand Atlantia Panapakkam SEZ PvT Ltd, said the European Union remains the largest market for Indias footwear and leather industry, accounting for 44.64 per cent of exports in 2024.

With exports to the EU at USD 2.25 billion and the total sector exports at USD 5.04 billion, the agreement has the potential to significantly accelerate growth, Aqeel said.

He added that the shipments to the EU are projected to reach USD 6 billion by 2030, while overall exports could touch USD 14 billion, strengthening Indias position as a globally competitive manufacturing partner.

Gulzar Didwania, Partner, Deloitte India, said tariff concessions in wines, spirits and automobiles under the trade deal are best seen as a bid for reciprocal market access.

In alcohol, carefully phased liberalisation can help formalise imports. In automobiles, selective opening, particularly for components and EVs, can be leveraged to attract investment, embed technology transfer and strengthen domestic manufacturing ecosystems, he said.

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Apparel Export Promotion Council (AEPC) Chairman A Sakthivel said this deal will provide a significant boost to apparel exports, which are expected to double over the next three years.

The zero-duty access of Indian garments and clothing to the EU market will decisively turn the tables in Indias favour, enhancing our competitiveness in the European market, Sakthivel said.

He added that Industry projections estimate that Indian apparel exports could grow by 2025 per cent year-on-year after the operationalisation of the FTA, against the current growth rate of 3.01 per cent in the EU market.

The FTA eliminates tariffs on 100 per cent of apparel tariff lines, which will enhance market access to all member countries of the EU.

The EU is the worlds largest apparel importer with total apparel imports worth USD 202.8 billion in 2024-25.

Some of the major garment importing countries of the EU, like Germany, France, Spain and Italy, source substantially from India and this deal will further boost our apparel exports to these economies, he added.

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While the EU accounts for roughly 28 per cent of Indias apparel exports, the countrys share is only 2.9 per cent in the EUs apparel market.

With the elimination of tariffs on Indian apparel products, the Indian apparel industry gains immensely as it will get a level playing field vis-a-vis its competing countries like Bangladesh, Turkey and Vietnam, which enjoy duty-free/ preferential duty access in the EUs market, Sakthivel added.

Sharing similar views, international trade expert and Hi-Tech Gears Chairman Deep Kapuria said this is truly the mother of all trade deals.

For India, this is by far the most comprehensive trade deal ever signed. This will not only restore Indias tariff benefits, which it had enjoyed in the large EU market for years through GSP, but open new avenues for exports and investment flow, particularly in the areas of services, student mobility, and digital trade, Kapuria said.

Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO) President SC Ralhan said that by unlocking preferential market access across one of the worlds largest consumer markets, the FTA will catalyse exports in key sectors like textiles, gems and jewellery, engineering goods, and leather products.

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The pact will boost export competitiveness by reducing tariff barriers and providing Indian exporters duty-advantaged access, especially in labour-intensive and high-value sectors, Ralhan said.

He appealed to the exporters community to prepare themselves to leverage the FTAs full potential by enhancing product quality, meeting stringent regulatory standards, and scaling up capacity to serve large, discerning markets across Europe.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by Firstpost staff.)
In todays geopolitical environment, realism delayed is realism denied. Germany learnt that lesson the hard way with Russia. The question now is whether it has learnt it in time with China

The real test is not whether Germany understands its dependence on China, but whether it acts on that understanding before the next shock arrives. Image: AP

Germanys decision to establish an expert commission to examine economic dependence on China is welcome, overdue, and deeply revealing. Welcome, because Berlin is finally acknowledging what many in industry and security circles have warned for years. Overdue, because the risks have been visible for a long time. Revealing, because it exposes how hard it still is for Europes largest economy to turn strategic awareness into political action.

The Bundestag-approved commission, expected to meet for the first time in February, has a broad mandate: assess dependencies, evaluate risks to critical infrastructure and supply chains, and recommend policy responses. Its members include representatives from business associations, trade unions, and leading research institutes. The stated goal is to align economic realism with geopolitical reality and move towards a more coherent China policy.

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All of this sounds sensible. The danger is that sensibility becomes a substitute for urgency.

Germany has lived through this story before. Its long-standing energy dependence on Russia was justified for years in the language of pragmatism, interdependence, and mutual benefit. When the geopolitical reckoning came, the costs were immediate and severe. As journalist Georg Mascolo has warned, many of the same misjudgements are now repeating themselves in Germanys approach to China, on a larger scale. China is not just an energy supplier; it is embedded across German industry, from automobiles and machinery to chemicals, batteries, and green technologies.

The commission exists because Germany still does not fully perceive the depth of these dependencies. That admission alone is striking. But the more troubling reaction is the sense of relief that seems to accompany its creation, as if setting up an expert body were itself a form of progress. There is a real risk that politicians and industry leaders will now pause, waiting for recommendations, while structural vulnerabilities continue to grow.

Business voices themselves are uneasy. Ferdinand Schaff of the Federation of German Industries has warned that the China challenge is often misunderstood. It is not only about what Germany does in or with China but also about how competitive it remains at home. Chinese state-subsidised competition now confronts almost every sector in which Germany once enjoyed global leadership. According to estimates cited by the Rhodium Group, delays in protecting European industry cost hundreds of manufacturing jobs each day. The precise numbers may be debated, but the direction is evident.

From an Indian perspective, Germanys dilemma feels familiar and instructive. India, too, spent years separating economics from geopolitics in its dealings with China. That illusion collapsed abruptly in 2020 after the border crisis in Ladakh. Indias response was not perfect, but it was decisive: tighter scrutiny of Chinese investment, bans on Chinese digital platforms, and a renewed push for supply-chain diversification. The lesson was blunt but clear: economic dependence is a strategic vulnerability.

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Germanys approach has been more cautious, shaped by export dependence and coalition politics. Yet the underlying reality is similar. When supply chains, critical infrastructure, and future technologies are dominated by a strategic competitor, economic policy becomes national security policy, whether governments admit it or not.

There is also a European dimension. While Berlin hesitates, momentum has shifted to Brussels. The European Commissions economic security doctrine, the upcoming RESourceEU raw materials hub, and proposals such as the Industrial Accelerator Act reflect a new willingness to think in strategic terms, even to borrow elements of industrial policy once associated with Beijing. Germany risks becoming a follower rather than a driver of this shift.

For India, this matters. A Germany that moves decisively to diversify supply chains could become a powerful partner in reshaping global manufacturing and technology networks. India positions itself as a trusted alternative in areas ranging from electronics and pharmaceuticals to green energy. That opportunity depends on clarity in Berlin. Strategic ambiguity helps China, not diversification.

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There is also a cautionary lesson here for India itself. Expert committees and task forces are attractive because they defer hard choices. But resilience is not built through reports alone. It requires investment, coordination, and political willingness to absorb short-term costs for long-term security. Germanys experience shows how easily expertise can become a substitute for decision-making.

Germanys China commission does not have to fail. It can still play a useful role in clarifying risks and challenging outdated assumptions, only if it accelerates action rather than postpones it. The real test is not whether Germany understands its dependence on China, but whether it acts on that understanding before the next shock arrives.

In todays geopolitical environment, realism delayed is realism denied. Germany learnt that lesson the hard way with Russia. The question now is whether it has learnt it in time with China.

(The writer is a former ambassador to Germany, Indonesia, Ethiopia, Asean, and the African Union, and the author of The Mango Flavour: India & Asean After 10 Years of the AEP. The views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect the views of Firstpost.)

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In a war with the US, North Korea stands to lose everything. The military asymmetry between the two nations would make the situation more volatile with Kim Jong-un likely to make a pre-emptive nuclear strike

There is a stark contrast in Donald Trumps approach: with one nation he is often impractical and confrontational, while with the other he has been more pragmatic and cordial  a difference that is evident in his handling of Iran versus North Korea. Reuters

The year 2018 was monumental in American foreign policy. The US dealt with two Asian nations that are militarily and financially weak compared to its military might and economic power.

However, there was a stark difference in Donald Trumps approachimpractical and brash with one nation, practical and cordial with the other.

Iran and North Korea.

How Trump Dealt With Iran

In May 2018, Trump pulled out of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), or the Iran nuclear deal despite Tehran complying with the agreement.

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Terming the deal a giant fiction, Trump said that it was a horrible one-sided deal that should have never, ever been made. It didnt bring calm. He cited Irans ballistic missile programme as the reason for the pullout though it wasnt a part of the deal.

Iran had agreed to reduce its uranium stockpile by 98 per cent, restrict enrichment to 3.67 per cent, decrease the number of centrifuges at Natanz to 6,104 for the next 10 years, stop enrichment at Fordow for 15 years, fill the Arak reactor with concrete and provide unfettered IAEA access to its nuclear facilities and potentially to undeclared sites.

In exchange, the EU, the UN and the US committed to lifting nuclear-related sanctions.

Trump, who has limited knowledge of international affairs, was influenced by war hawks.

A little more than a week before the US withdrawal, Benjamin Netanyahu, who staunchly opposed the JCPOA, presented 55,000 pages of documents and CDs in Tel Aviv explaining Irans Project AMAD, a clandestine plan to build five nuclear weapons by 2004.

The Israeli PM was rightbut Iran had halted the project way back in 2003 after a secretive dual-use uranium enrichment facility at Natanz and a heavy-water production facility (for plutonium) at Arak were revealed, alarming the IAEA.

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Similarly, Trumps NSA John Bolton, a prominent anti-Iran hawk who advocated bombing Irans nuclear facilities and had lied about Saddam Hussein hiding WMDs and the dictator seeking yellowcake uranium from Niger in 2002, also persuaded Trump to pull out of the JCPOA.

In his second term, Trump exerted maximum pressure on Iran to give up uranium enrichment and sign a new nuclear deal. Despite Iranian foreign minister Abbas Aragchi meeting Trumps Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff five times, the US president, again under Netanyahus influence, backed the Israeli attack on Iran and bombed the nuclear facilities in Natanz, Fordow and Isfahan last June.

Now, Trump might attack Iran againon the pretext of democracy and supporting the recent anti-regime protests.

After holding back, claiming that Iran had halted the execution of arrested protesters, he has threatened to wipe out Iran and said that an American armada is headed to West Asia (the USS Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group left the South China Sea last week for the region).

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If Iran were a nuclear power, neither Trump would have bombed its N-plants nor Israel would have attacked in June 2025. Thats precisely the reason Israel, the only nuclear power in West Asia, opposes a nuclear Iran.

How Trump Dealt With North Korea

Around June 2018, Trump, without his typical coercion or brashness, cordially met North Koreas Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un in Singapore.

The US president met the North Korean dictator two more times. The second time in Hanoi in February 2019. The third time was historical as Trump crossed the border at the Demilitarised Zone (DMZ) to shake hands with Kim in June that year, becoming the first sitting American president to set foot on North Korean soil.

Strangely, Trump met Kim thrice after a series of insults back and forth between them with the president threatening fire and fury, mocking him repeatedly as the Little Rocket Man, and threatening North Korea with his much bigger and more powerful nuclear button after the dictators nuclear threat.

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Trumps different ways of dealing with Iran and North Korea highlighted an important aspect of realpolitik.

Both nations were clubbed by George W Bush in 2002 into the Axis of Evil for sponsoring terrorism and seeking WMDsneither of them and Iraq, the third member, had any role in 9/11 nor WMDs were ever found in Iran nor Iraq.

Why did Trump, infamous for coercing and humiliating other nations into toeing the American line as the self-proclaimed dealmaker, change his tactics in dealing with North Korea?

The US is ranked No. 1 in the 2026 Global Firepower Index compared to North Koreas 31st position. North Korea would be wiped out, as Trump has said regarding Iran, in a war with the US.

The answer is North Koreas nuclear deterrence and ICBMs.

The futile Trump-Kim meetings proved that North Korea would never dismantle its nuclear arsenal.

Trump still wants to meet Kim.

Last August, he agreed with South Korean President Lee Jae Myung at the White House regarding meeting Kim. I look forward to seeing him. He was very good with me, he told reporters.

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Successive US administrations have failed to curb the North Korean nuclear programme, which has been a deterrent against American threats and helped Kim negotiate with the US from a position of strength.

North Koreas Nuclear, Missile Capabilities

North Koreas 50 nuclear warheadsthough the lowest among the nine N-powersa wide array of SRBMs, MRBMs, IRBMs, ICBMs and two SLBMs have worried the US and its allies, South Korea and Japan, for decades.

According to a September 2025 Congressional Research Service (CRS) report, North Korean nuclear weapons and ICBMs pose a threat to the United States homeland, US allies in East Asia and US interests.

North Korea has carried out six underground nuclear tests, the first in 2006 and the last in 2017a hydrogen bomb that can be deployed on an ICBMwith increasing yields.

Despite announcing a freeze on nuclear testing in 2018, North Korea, per a 2025 US Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) report, restored its nuclear test site and is now postured to conduct a seventh nuclear test at a time of its choosing.

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North Korea reportedly continues to produce plutonium and highly enriched uranium for weapons. According to an IAEA 2025 report, operations at the Yongbyon uranium centrifuge enrichment plant and undeclared enrichment facilities continue. An estimate concluded that North Korea has enough fissile material for around 90 warheads.

Kim has also improved the miniaturisation of warheads, key to deployment on a missile. In January 2021, he said that North Korea can miniaturise, lighten and standardise nuclear weapons and to make them tactical ones.

Several North Korean nuclear-capable/conventional ICBMs can strike the US West Coast or the mainland.

The Hwasong-14, Hwasong-15, Hwasong-17, Hwasong-18, Hwasong-19 and Hwasong-20 can carry either nuclear or conventional warheads. Of these, the Hwasong-19 and Hwasong-17 have multiple independently targetable re-entry vehicle (MIRV) payloads, which contain several warheads with each capable of striking a different target.

The SLBMs, Pukguksong-1 and Pukguksong-3, can carry both nuclear and conventional payloads.

Moreover, North Korea is among a select few nations to have hypersonic missiles. The Hwasong-8 MRBM, Hwasong-16B IRBM and the Hwasong-11Ma SRBM are nuclear-capable hypersonic missiles.

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North Korea has advanced its ability to strike the US homeland with an ICBM through a series of tests, first in 2017, then in 2022, four times in 2023, and most recently in October 2024, per the CRS report. The DIA assessed that North Korea can produce 50 ICBMs by 2035.

Intercepting a ballistic missile, especially an ICBM, during its midcourse, is extremely difficult.

The US Ground-based Midcourse Defense (GMD) system, designed to intercept ballistic missiles, has been successful in only 8 out of 19 teststhat too in perfect weather conditions and with full awareness of the timing of the launched missile.

It is not even close to demonstrating that the system [GMD] works in a real-world setting, Laura Grego, a physicist at the Union of Concerned Scientists and a Stanton Nuclear Security Fellow at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, wrote before North Korea tested the Hwasong-14, which has a range of 10,400 km and Mach 10-plus speed, in July 2017.

The GMD system is still far from being able to provide reliable protection from a real-world missile threat.

Intercepting a hypersonic ballistic missile with Mach 10-plus speed and multiple MIRVs is impossible. The best example was the Russian MRBM Oreshnik, launched against Ukraine in November 2024 and January this year. It had six MIRVs that might have contained four to six warheads. Another example is Chinas latest ICBM, Dongfeng-61, which, some reports suggest, has a speed of Mach 35.

The first study of its kind in 10 years, commissioned by the American Physical Society, a non-profit membership organisation of professionals in physics and related disciplines, revealed that despite more than six decades of missile defence efforts, no missile defence system has been shown to be effective against realistic ICBM threats.

It has been described as shooting a bullet with a bullet trying to hit a warhead, according to Grego.

According to Frederick L Lamb, a professor at the University of Illinois, The warhead will undoubtedly be accompanied by decoys aimed to fool a missile defence system.

North Koreas Nuclear Doctrine

On April 18, 2017, the late North Korean vice-foreign minister Han Song Ryol said, If the US is planning a military attack against us, we will react with a nuclear pre-emptive strike by our own style and method.

Despite Hans threat, North Koreas nuclear doctrine at that time didnt contain the right to a pre-emptive strike.

According to a 2013 law, which first outlined the nations nuclear status, North Koreas nukes were intended only to deter and repel the aggression and attack of the enemy and dealing deadly retaliatory blows at the strongholds of aggression until the world is denuclearised. Nuclear weapons were meant to repel invasion or attack from a hostile nuclear weapons state and make retaliatory strikes.

Besides, the country shall neither use nukes against the non-nuclear states nor threaten them with those weapons unless they join a hostile nuclear weapons state in its invasion and attack on it.

However, a new law in 2022 that replaced the 2013 law officially enshrined the right to use pre-emptive strikes if the leadership or command and control system is placed in danger owing to an attack by hostile forces.

In such a scenario, a nuclear strike shall be launched automatically and immediately.

North Korea will also launch a pre-emptive strike if it judges that an attack by nukes or other WMDs or a fatal military attack against important strategic objects of the state is imminent.

Other conditions for a pre-emptive strike include preventing the expansion and protraction of a war and taking the initiative in the war in contingency is inevitably raised.

Pyongyang will use a nuke if an inevitable situation in which it is compelled to correspond with catastrophic crisis to the existence of the state and safety of the people by only nuclear weapons is created.

US Aggression & North Korea N-programme

The US-North Korea hostilities date back to the Korean War (19501953), which legally never ended with only an armistice freezing the conflict between the nations, leaving them technically in a state of war.

Comprehensive American sanctions targeting the North Korean economy and assets were slapped immediately after the war.

The US wasnt done with its aggression. In a typical Cold War move, the US stationed nuclear weapons in South Korea, unnerving the North.

By January 1958, the US deployed 150 nukes with five delivery systems: Honest John surface-to-surface artillery rockets, Atomic-Demolition Munition nuclear landmines, 280mm gun and the 203mm howitzer nuclear artillery weapons and Matador surface-to-surface cruise missiles.

Subsequently, nuclear bombs for fighter-bombers (F-4s) and the Lacrosse tactical ballistic missiles, Davy Crockett tactical nuclear recoilless smoothbore guns, Sergeant surface-to-surface missiles (SSMs), Nike Hercules anti-air and SSMs and the 155mm howitzers were stationed.

By the 1960s, South Korea had eight N-weapon systems and 950 warheads.

In the 1970s and 80s, the US gradually started removing the warheads after the US Pacific Command identified new tactics for using advanced conventional weapons to defend South Korea. The warheads were removed after the Nuclear Weapons Deployment Authorization for 1991 and 1992.

Parallelly, an alarmed North Korea clandestinely sought nuclear weapons. Though the Soviets and Chinese refused to help North Korea, the USSR helped in constructing the Yongbyon Nuclear Scientific Research Centre and an IRT-2000 research reactor. In 1979, North Korea started constructing a second research reactor in Yongbyon and a fuel rod fabrication plant.

In 1985, North Korea ratified the NPT, but secretly continued to pursue nuclear weapons.

In 1993, Pyongyang announced its withdrawal from the NPT following the 1991 disagreements with the IAEA over access to all of its nuclear facilities. However, North Korea suspended the NPT withdrawal while allowing the IAEA to inspect seven N-facilities but not the main Radiochemical Laboratory at Yongbyon.

The Bill Clinton administration cancelled the nuclear talks and announced the shipment of Patriot missiles to South Korea. By 1994, a permanent Patriot battery was deployed. The US started amassing troops and planned to attack the Yongbyon Nuclear Facility with F-117s and cruise missiles.

The crisis was averted after former US President Jimmy Carter met Kim Il-sung, the first supreme leader, and the two nations signed the Agreed Framework, under which North Korea wouldnt pursue nukes in exchange for two light water reactors. However, a GOP-controlled Congress blocked the supply of two reactors and slapped new sanctions. The Framework collapsed.

Undeterred in its nuclear ambitions, North Korea secretly obtained uranium enrichment equipment, including centrifuges, from Pakistans AQ Khan illegal network in exchange for providing missile technology to Benazir Bhutto by the late 1990s.

In 2003, Kim Jong-Il, the second supreme leader, withdrew from the NPT. Three years later, North Korea conducted its first nuclear test.

North Koreas N-Deterrence Against US

Since the 1950s, provocative and dangerous American actions against North Korea, including stationing nukes in the South, joint military drills and reckless statements by US officials, have unnerved the Hermit Kingdom.

While the US has engaged in dialogue with North Korea, it has also issued threats.

For example, despite Trump meeting Kim, his war hawks had earlier advocated attacking North Korea.

In 2017, DNI Daniel Coats said that North Korea was a potential existential threat to the US.

Defence secretary Jim Mattis told the House Armed Services Committee that the Norths nuclear programme was a clear and present danger to world peace and security.

General Joseph Dunford, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told the committee that North Koreas long-range missiles threaten the security of the homeland and our allies in the Pacific.

On the other hand, North Korea views the American presence in the region as a threat to the regime and fears an imminent attack.

The US has 73 military bases in South Korea with around 26,400 troops. Camp Humphreys, the largest overseas American military base, is less than 100 km from the DMZ.

The US has also deployed the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system and Patriot batteries, F-16s and F-35s and often flies the F-22s. Besides, American strategic bombers, B-52s, B1-Bs and B-2s, often fly over the peninsula as a show of strength against the North.

Carrier Strike Groups, like the USS George Washington, USS Carl Vinson, USS Theodore Roosevelt, USS Carl Vinson and USS Ronald Reagan, have conducted joint drills with the South.

Moreover, the American invasion of Panama, Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya and Venezuela and subsequent regime changes, and the bombing of Iranian N-facilities have further alarmed North Korea.

North Korea, aware that neither Russia nor China would help in a war with the US, relies on its nuclear deterrence, which, it feels, is essential to its survival.

North Koreas nuclear deterrence has worked because of its military asymmetry with the US.

The principle of mutually assured destruction (MAD)a nuclear attack by one superpower would be met with a devastating retaliatory response by the other will not work in a US-North Korea conflict.

MAD works only in cases of two equally powerful nuclear nations. For instance, the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis, which brought the world to the precipice of a nuclear Armageddon, defined MAD.

Nikita Khrushchev removed the R-12 MRBMs and R-14 IRBMs with thermonuclear warheads from Cuba and stopped the construction of their launch sites. JFK promised never to invade Cuba and withdrew the PGM-19 Jupiter nuclear MRBMs from Turkey.

MAD will not be work in a US-North Korea conflict.

In a war with the US, North Korea stands to lose everything. The military asymmetry between the two nations would make the situation more volatile with Kim making a pre-emptive nuclear strike.

A war with the US would be a high-stakes scenario for North Korea, which would have to resort to a pre-emptive strike to deter further attack.

In other words, the weaker country persists because it has nothing more to lose; it is already committed to the maximum or bust, according to research, The Disadvantage of Nuclear Superiority published in July 2023.

Crises that emerge between nuclear-armed countries with vastly different capabilities consistently represent high-stakes scenarios for the less-powerful adversary.

According to Lauren Sukin, a John G Winant associate professor in US foreign policy at Nuffield College & department of politics and international relations, University of Oxford, When crises emerge between the United States and North Korea, the fate of the North Korean regime is at stakeand, for Kim, it doesnt get more high-stakes than that.

North Korea, must then show its resolve in the face of any threats to its nuclear programme, writes Sukin, one of the co-author of the research, in the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists.

For North Korea, backing down to such threats is an existential concern even if bidding up the risk of a nuclear conflict could also have existential consequences. In these high-stakes settings, North Korea has a risky advantage.

For Washington, the consequences of Pyongyangs nuclear escalation are too great to bear despite having a comparative strategic advantage, she writes.

Therefore, North Korean signals of resolve are credible, and they are often sufficient for immediate deterrence despite the regimes limited nuclear capabilities. That leaves the United States at a distinct disadvantage.

The Korean War was such an example where the US didnt escalate the conflict and use a nuke fearing that the USSR could retaliate with a nuclear weapon despite the Soviets having only 120 warheads compared to Americas 1,169 in 1953.

Besides, theres no guarantee that the US will not go for regime change even if North Korea dismantles its nuclear programme.

For example, Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi agreed to abandon its nuclear programme in exchange for ending the US sanctions. However, Nato intervened in Libya during the 2011 uprising, leading to his removal and killing by the National Transitional Council.

Therefore, North Korea will never dismantle its nuclear programme, a bargaining chip in dealing with the US.

Despite warning North Korea several times over its nuclear programme, the US doesnt want to escalate the situation.

After North Korea changed its nuclear doctrine to allow pre-emptive strikes, the Joe Biden administration said that it was willing to resume talks without preconditions.

As we have said, and North Korean officials, including Kim Jong-un, have publicly noted, we continue to seek diplomacy and are prepared to meet without preconditions. The DPRK continues to not respond, White Houses then-press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said adding that the US had no hostile intent towards North Korea.

(The writer is a freelance journalist with more than two decades of experience and comments primarily on foreign affairs. He tweets as @FightTheBigots. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the writer. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views.)
India should not contribute to the further erosion of multilateral norms. Historically, it has maintained a balanced position on the PalestineIsrael question, grounded in its belief in the viability of a two-state solution; it must now adhere to this position firmly and consistently

The systems power comes not from its truth, but from everyones willingness to perform as if it were true, and its fragility comes from the same sourceFor decades, countries like Canada prospered under what we called the rules-based international order. We joined its institutions, we praised its principles, we benefited from its predictability We knew that the story of international rules-based order was partially false, that the strongest would exempt themselves when convenient, that trade rules were enforced asymmetrically. And we knew that international law would be applied with varying rigour depending on the identity of the accused or the victim

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- Mark Carney, Prime Minister of Canadas Davos Speech

This week, in the Halls of Davos, a new ghost from the past emerged. This time, it was Canada, one of the few nations that long believed in the sanctity of international law, that the world listened to. But for India, Canadian PM Mark Carneys admission is not something it did not already know. For us, it was more of a warning for a new, even more precarious invitation: US President Donald Trumps Board of Peace.

The Board is being marketed as the institutional centrepiece to end the Gaza conflict. To many in New Delhi, it looks like a seat at the high table or, to a few, even more construction contracts in Gazas reconstruction. However, in reality, it is a corporate shell company masquerading as a diplomatic mission, and for India, joining it would be a strategic blunder.

A Corporate Governance Model

If one closely observes The Board of Peaces architecture, one will see how explicitly it is corporate in nature. It features a three-tier power structure that places President Trump at the apex as Chairman for Life, holding an absolute veto even after potential resignation or incapacity. While some suggest it has the capability to take over the United Nations, I do not. In the United Nations, diplomacy played an important role. While here, this isnt diplomacy; it is a pay-to-play model with its own legal personality.

The Board would essentially insulate itself from the oversight of any international law or organisation. It will operate as a sovereign private equity firm, where the reconstruction of Gaza is viewed not as a humanitarian necessity but as a beautiful piece of property with an infrastructure to scale.

Furthermore, at the heart of this plan lies a comprehensive plan to end the Gaza conflict and present it as a regional stabilisation mechanism. Through this body, it is proposed to advance an alternative to the United Nations  an ambition which is sweeping and troubling in itself. The United Nations has framed diplomacy; this is more of a deliberate move to bypass an already established multilateral organisation rather than reform it.

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Furthermore, this proposed Board of Peace is designed to operate under a three-tier power structure that privileges private-sector logic over democratic deliberation. At its apex sits the Board of Peace itself, vested with sweeping strategic authority, including exclusive power to interpret and implement its own charter. This concentration of authority effectively removes any meaningful system of checks and balances.

Beneath it lies the Gaza Executive Board, responsible for ground-level coordination, followed by the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG), a technocratic Palestinian body tasked with managing day-to-day governance. While this layered structure is presented as efficient, it is, in reality, profoundly top-heavydesigned to centralise power rather than distribute it.

Crucially, Donald Trump would retain absolute veto authority within this framework, including unilateral control over membership decisions and renewals. While members of his broader team would focus on international legitimacy-building and diplomatic outreach, ultimate authority would remain firmly personalised. This is not multilateral peacebuilding in the traditional sense; it is a corporate governance model transposed onto international conflict resolution, with a single dominant stakeholder exercising decisive control.

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The Ghost of East India Company

For a nation that has spent two hundred years under the British Raj, the rhetoric surrounding the Board of Peace sounds familiar. The British Raj also justified its presence and presented itself as a stabiliser, a civiliser, and a guarantor of order. Similarly, Trumps vision for Gaza ignores a fundamental pillar of consent. In our own history, we have seen how colonising states have justified their presence by promising development while stripping away our autonomy.

To say the least, Gaza should be a mix of Arab countries coming together, rather than a board, which dictates the future of a nation ravaged by war. Furthermore, I believe that India should have no business being part of this kind of Marshall plan, which treats human suffering as a real estate investment. Moreover, when it comes to post-conflict development, has the United States actually achieved it? Libya, Afghanistan, and Vietnam are some of the instances wherein the United States has entered the conflict but left it without any improvement.

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Lessons of Dealing with Trump

Treating peace as a transaction breeds distrust. The so-called model at heart should definitely set off alarms. It is fundamentally hostile to the principles of sovereignty and equality, which India as a country has long upheld. Yes, India is invited to join, but this label has been shared with many other countries across the globe.

Many in our strategic circles argue that participation could benefit Indian companies through contracts and reconstruction opportunities. That is a dangerously narrow way of looking at the issue. This is not a question of money. It is a question of Indias constitutional memory, its strategic autonomy, and the moral credibility it has built since independencecredibility that stands in sharp contrast to the Trump Administration.

Since independence, we have seen that Indias worldview has been shaped by our colonial experiences. History shows us that colonising powers rarely speak of consent; they speak of efficiency, order, and opportunity. Gaza should not be rebuilt by diktat, and India has no business legitimising arrangements that resemble a modern-day Marshall Plan without political agency for the people concerned. India today stands at an important historical crossroads. We have always engaged with all major powersbut we have done so without becoming an instrument of any one of them. That distinction matters.

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First, this recent experience should also temper any enthusiasm. During Operation Sindoor in May 2025, following a cross-border terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir that killed 26 civilians, India carried out precision strikes against terrorist and military targets in Pakistan. While both sides later announced a ceasefire following the Pakistani DGMOs call, President Trump repeatedly claimed credit for brokering peace. This did not sit well with New Delhi.

The Ministry of External Affairs categorically rejected any third-party mediation; they made it clear that the ceasefire resulted from direct military-to-military communication. This does not go well with the Indian Administration. Indian officials, especially the MEA, have consistently and categorically denied any third-party mediation. Against this backdrop, India joining a US-led Board of Peace, especially one that operates transactionally and includes Pakistan, Turkey, and Qatar, should give us serious pause.

Second, participation would strike at the core pillars of Indian foreign policy. India has consistently stood by the United Nations, even while calling for its reform. We have believed in rule-based multilateralism and the principle of non-interference, even when the system has been imperfect. The US increasing normalisation of unilateralismfrom Venezuela to elsewhereshould not become a precedent India helps legitimise.

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Third, on the issue of Palestine and Israel, India has historically maintained a careful balance, grounded in its belief that a two-state solution remains viable. Even during the current conflict, India has provided humanitarian assistance and engaged all parties. The Board of Peace, by contrast, reflects the alignment of certain Gulf powersthe UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt, among others. That alignment is their choice. It is not Indias obligation. India does not need symbolic seats at corporate-style peace tables. What it needs is to remain faithful to its own strategic cultureindependent, principled, and rooted in hard-earned historical experience. Joining this board would undermine all three.

Fourth, this will challenge the core fundamentals of the pillars of Indian foreign policy, particularly our commitment to the United Nations and the principle of non-interference. While we have long championed a reformed, rule-based order, which has been centred around the UN. Even if it doesnt work, India has always found a way of doing the bare minimum. Joining this Board would also set a dangerous precedent, one that the Trump administration has already been normalising through its unilateral actions, including in Venezuela.

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India should not contribute to the further erosion of multilateral norms. Historically, India has maintained a balanced position on the Palestine-Israel question, rooted in its belief that a two-state solution remains viable.

Even during the current conflict, India has consistently provided humanitarian assistance and engaged with all parties. By contrast, this initiative reflects a strategic alignment among certain Gulf powers, one in which India has no direct stake. The UAE, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and other countries have accepted invitations to join the Board. That is their sovereign decision. It need not, and should not, be Indias.

Resisting the Orwellian Nightmare

As Mark Carney noted, the old system was a performance. But Trumps Board of Peace is a different beast entirely: it is an Orwellian nightmare that replaces the hypocrisy of the old world with the naked coercion of the new one. Instead, by being out, India will anyway retain its ability to extend humanitarian assistance, without any political compulsion or any such institutional engagement. It will help India navigate this period with flexibility and credibility, which it has built over the years.

While memberships impose unavoidable diplomatic burdens, this Board of Peace would face the challenge of competing regional powers and managing power asymmetries, which could become liabilities rather than assets in the region. As this is a space where geoeconomics, deterrence, and realpolitik converge, with outcomes shaped less by consensus and more by leverage.

The deeper irony of the Trumpian approach lies in its attempt to enforce alignment through coercion and transactional bargains. History suggests that such strategies do not often produce stability; they often deepen fragmentation. States that have yielded to this plan are already accepting Trumps agenda, but only time will tell if this Orwellian Nightmare will accelerate the already fractured global order or an outcome that unites countries for legitimate post-conflict redevelopment.

(Arpan A Chakravarty is an independent researcher focusing on international law and security. The views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views.)
Anthropic CEO Dario Amodeis essay, which reads like both a philosophical reflection and a threat assessment, argues that the world is entering a turbulent phase in the evolution of technology, one that will test humanitys maturity to wield power on an unprecedented scale.

Dario Amodei, the CEO and co-founder of Anthropic, has issued one of the most extensive and urgent warnings yet about the dangers of artificial intelligence.

In a 38-page essay titled The Adolescence of Technology: Confronting and Overcoming the Risks of Powerful AI, published on Monday, Amodei outlines what he sees as the existential and societal risks of creating a superintelligent system, while acknowledging that his company will continue developing such technologies.

The essay, which reads like both a philosophical reflection and a threat assessment, argues that the world is entering a turbulent phase in the evolution of technology, one that will test humanitys maturity to wield power on an unprecedented scale.

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I believe we are entering a rite of passage, both turbulent and inevitable, which will test who we are as a species, Amodei wrote. Humanity is about to be handed almost unimaginable power, and it is deeply unclear whether our social, political, and technological systems possess the maturity to wield it.

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Despite the cautionary tone, Anthropic continues to push forward with its own AI development, including its Claude chatbot, which coincidentally received a major update, the MCP extension, on the same day the essay was published.

A country of geniuses in a datacentre

Amodeis essay, sprawling and analytical, presents what he calls a civilisational risk map, identifying five major areas of concern: autonomy, individual misuse (especially in biology), state misuse (particularly by authoritarian regimes), economic disruption, and cultural or psychological effects that outpace social adaptation.

He warns that the development of powerful AI systems could be as little as one to two years away, describing it as possibly the single most serious national security threat weve faced in a century.

He repeatedly invokes a striking metaphor, a country of geniuses in a datacentre, which appears twelve times throughout the essay.

It describes a world where millions of AI systems, smarter than human experts, coordinate at machine speed, capable of acting in the real world. The core danger, according to Amodei, is not just moral but strategic: power may scale far faster than institutions or safeguards can adapt.

The essays tone alternates between alarm and pragmatism. Amodei fears AI-enabled authoritarianism, calling it one of his deepest concerns, but he also acknowledges that the incentives driving AI development, competition, prestige, and profit, make self-restraint unlikely. Nobody inside the race can be trusted to slow it down, he concedes.

Incremental fixes and uneasy contradictions

Amodei does not call for a pause on AI development. Instead, he advocates for incremental, evidence-based regulation, what he calls boring but necessary measures, to slow the race and reduce risks without stifling progress.

His proposed steps include transparency laws, export controls on advanced chips, mandatory disclosures on AI model behaviour, and tighter monitoring of frontier systems.

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He argues against sweeping bans or grand political agreements, warning that safety theatre, performative regulation that creates headlines but little impact, could prove counterproductive. He cites Californias SB 53 and New Yorks RAISE Act as examples of emerging state-level frameworks that could form the foundation for sensible governance.

One of his strongest policy recommendations is for the US to stop selling chips to Chinas Communist Party, framing the AI arms race as not only a corporate contest but a geopolitical one. Amodeis reference to export controls underscores his view that AI power is not just a technological issue but a matter of global strategy and national security.

For all its warnings, the essay is also an admission of contradiction. Amodei is both a builder and a critic of the technology he describes as potentially civilisation-altering. He admits that AIs incentives make adults rare and accelerants plentiful, acknowledging that companies like Anthropic, OpenAI, and Google are all trapped in a cycle of competitive advancement.

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Amodeis message, then, is both urgent and ironic. He warns that AI could usher in authoritarian control, economic upheaval, and moral chaos, yet he also asserts that its potential for medical breakthroughs, scientific discovery, and human prosperity is too significant to abandon.

His essay closes not with a solution, but a plea for humility: that humanity recognise the fragility of its systems before the country of geniuses outpaces its creators. Whether that warning will translate into meaningful restraint, from governments, corporations, or even Amodeis own lab, remains uncertain.
Governor of California Gavin Newsom said California has launched an investigation into allegations that TikTok censored content critical of US President Donald Trump. The move follows TikToks US ownership overhaul and fresh concerns over political content moderation on the platform.

The TikTok app icon on a smartphone in this illustration. File image/Reuters

California Governor Gavin Newsom said he was launching a probe on Monday into allegations that TikTok censored content critical of US President Donald Trump.

Democratic Newsom is one of Trumps most vocal critics and has accused the presidents administration of curbing basic freedoms in the United States.

Its time to investigate. I am launching a review into whether TikTok is violating state law by censoring Trump-critical content, Newsom posted on X.

TikTok announced last week it had established a new joint venture to operate its US business, which would reduce its Chinese ownership to 19.9 percent and puts majority control in the hands of American businesses including Trumps allies.

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Washington has long sought to tighten control on TikTok, citing national security concerns over the platforms Beijing-based parent company ByteDance.

Following TikToks sale to a Trump-aligned business group, our office has received reports  and independently confirmed instances  of suppressed content critical of President Trump, Newsoms office wrote on social media platform X.

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Newsom shared a screenshot appearing to show a TikTok user unable to send a message reading epstein because it violated the platforms community guidelines.

Trumps past friendship with sex offender Jeffrey Epstein has brought intense scrutiny on the president.

TikTok did not immediately reply to a request for comment.

(Except the headline, this story has not been edited by Firstpost staff)
The FTA is expected to help Indian exporters diversify their shipments. It will also help reduce dependence on China. The EU is also facing a threat of high US tariffs

Prime Minister Narendra Modi with European Council President Antonio Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen at the India-EU Summit in New Delhi on January 27, 2025. (Image Credit: PTI)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday hailed the India-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA) after both sides signed the historic deal, paving the way for more streamlined business between Europe and India.

Today, India has concluded the biggest Free Trade Agreement in its history. On 27th January, India signed this FTA with 27 European nationsThis will boost investment, form new innovation partnerships and strengthen supply chains at the global levelThis is not just a trade agreement, it is a blueprint for shared prosperity, PM Modi said in a joint press conference with European Union Chief Ursula Von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa.

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#WATCH | Delhi | On signing of India-EU Free Trade Agreement, PM Modi says, "Today, India has concluded the biggest Free Trade Agreement in its history. On 27th January, India signed this FTA with 27 European nations...This will boost investment, form new innovation partnerships pic.twitter.com/gQcJwXZWPF  ANI (@ANI) January 27, 2026

Von der Leyen is in New Delhi with European Council President Antonio Costa, EU foreign minister Kaja Kallas, and other top EU officials to attend the India-EU Summit. She and Costa were also the chief guests at the Republic Day celebrations on Monday.

Our summit sends a clear message to the world. At a time when the global order is being fundamentally reshaped, the European Union and India stand together as strategic and reliable partners. Today, we are taking our partnership to the next level, Costa said.

The imposition of high tariffs by the US has disrupted the global flow of goods. India is facing steep 50 per cent tariffs. The FTA is expected to help Indian exporters diversify their shipments. It will also help reduce dependence on China. The EU is also facing a threat of high US tariffs.

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The deal, touted as the biggest in Indias and the EUs partnership, will make European goods, particularly food and energy products, much cheaper for Indian buyers.

The tariff reduction would slash the prices of European fruit juices, processed foods, olive oil, margarine, and other vegetable oils. Along with this, duties on European liquor, which are currently as high as 150 per cent, will be reduced to 40 per cent.

With inputs from agencies
Activists claim Iran is quietly executing jailed protesters and disguising some deaths as protest casualties, deepening global concern over Tehrans crackdown on dissent amid one of its most brutal nationwide protests. Human rights groups call for urgent international action

A woman lights a cigarette with fire from a burning 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

Activists and rights groups are sounding the alarm on a disturbing development inside Irans prison walls: that authorities are executing detained protesters in custody and falsely presenting some of those deaths as occurring during street protests, according to advocacy groups monitoring the crisis.

The claims come amid a brutal nationwide crackdown that began in late December 2025 after anti-government demonstrations erupted over economic hardship and discontent with the ruling theocratic system. Official figures on casualties remain contested, Tehran reported around 3,117 deaths, while independent groups say the real toll could be far higher.

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Quietly executing detainees, activists say

Human rights advocates say Iranian authorities have been conducting secret executions of protesters arrested during the unrest. One case cited by rights groups involves Erfan Soltani, a 26-year-old shopkeeper detained during protests. Activists claimed Soltani was sentenced to death without a proper trial and scheduled for execution, though independent verification has been difficult due to internet blackouts inside Iran. His only crime was shouting for freedom for Iran, one group wrote on social media.

Reports also suggest that bodies of detainees killed in custody are being presented as casualties of street clashes, a tactic activists say is meant to mask the scale of repression. Access to reliable information is severely limited because of state-imposed internet shutdowns and restrictions on independent reporting.

Families report extortion and lack of transparency

In some cases, families seeking the remains of their loved ones say they have been forced to pay hefty sumsreportedly $5,000 to $7,000to retrieve bodies from authorities, according to a United Nations expert.

Human rights advocates argue that such executions and cover-ups amount to serious violations of international law. They warn that without increased global pressure, Iran could intensify its use of the death penalty as a tool of political repression.

International reactions have been mixed but increasingly critical. Rights groups and foreign governments have urged Tehran to uphold due process, end arbitrary executions and restore access to independent media. Yet Iranian authorities maintain that actions against protesters are legal responses to rioters and foreign-backed saboteurs, dismissing external criticism.
Albania does not fall under the ambit of the Schengen visa requirement, therefore making it far simpler for Indian travellers to visit the country for vacation

Albania has opened its doors for an easy arrival for Indian travellers, cutting down the hassle of obtaining a Schengen visa. People with an Indian passport can now enjoy a nice vacation in the Mediterranean charm that Albania has to offer that will be lighter on their pockets.

Renowned as the Land of Eagles, this Balkan gem serves as a stunning alternative to the traditional Mediterranean circuit, boasting azure waters, rugged peaks, and ancient heritage sites.

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Because it lacks the heavy tourist traffic and premium price tags typical of Western Europe, it is an ideal escape for budget-conscious explorers. Furthermore, its accessible entry requirements make it an increasingly popular choice for those prioritising a seamless, visa-free travel experience.

What are the visa requirements?

Albania does not fall under the ambit of the Schengen visa requirement, therefore making it far simpler for Indian travellers to visit the country for vacation.

Travellers can take advantage of a fully digital e-visa system, eliminating the need for in-person embassy appointments. Notably, those who possess a valid residence permit or a multiple-entry visa from the United States or the United Kingdom (provided it has been used at least once in the issuing country) are eligible for visa-free entry.

Under these regulations, visitors can enjoy a stay of up to 90 days within any 180-day window. This efficient, modern approach has positioned Albania as a top choice for those embarking on their first European adventure.

How is Albania becoming a favourite travel destination?

Albania has emerged as a premier European getaway for Indian travellers primarily due to its hassle-free entry requirements and exceptional affordability.

Beyond logistics, the country offers a Mediterranean experience that is remarkably easy on the pocket, with daily costs for food, stay, and transport often comparable to budget trips in Southeast Asia.

Travellers are increasingly drawn to the undiscovered charm of the Albanian Rivieras turquoise waters and the UNESCO-listed architecture of towns like Berat and Gjirokaster.

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As Bangladesh gears up for its first national election since the 2024 uprising, a surge in political violence, targeted killings and street clashes is fuelling fear among voters, even as hopes for a peaceful, competitive vote persist

With less than three weeks to go until Bangladeshs first national election since a popular uprising toppled long-time leader Sheikh Hasina, the mood on the ground is a mixture of anxiety and cautious optimism as political violence intensifies across the country.

For activists like Kazi Shawon Alam, the killing of BNP worker Azizur Rahman Musabbir this month shows how risky campaigning has become again. Musabbir was shot on January 7 and later died in hospital. He was the 16th political figure killed since the election schedule was announced, local media reported.

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We dont want killings or confrontation with anyone. But the reality is, during elections, violence feels inevitable, Shawon told Al Jazeera, describing how fear persists despite hopes of peaceful democratic expression.

A history of violence returns

Bangladesh has a long history of election-period violence, with decades of clashes between rival parties since independence in 1971.

Recent reports show that many of the deaths ahead of the 2026 polls involve BNP leaders and activists, though authorities maintain that no killing has been officially classified as politically motivated.

The political landscape has shifted dramatically since last years uprising forced Hasina to flee to India and a caretaker government led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus took charge. While the current administration is not accused of the same crackdown tactics used under Hasina, rivalries between parties have spilled into the streets, with skirmishes reported in Dhakas Mirpur district and beyond.

Intimidation and internal party strife

Violence isnt only between rival parties. In some constituencies, internal disputes have led to threats against activists. One young BNP leader, Tusher Khan, said he filed a complaint after being threatened by a senior figure aligned with a rival candidate.

Supporters of the Jamaat-e-Islami alliance and the BNP have accused each other of intimidation and obstruction during rallies. Our activists are being intimidated across the countrywe fear violence as election day approaches, Jubaer Ahmed, a Jamaat leader, told Al Jazeera.

Security forces brace for polls

Authorities insist they are taking precautions. With nearly 900,000 security personnel to be deployed during the election period, police say theyre monitoring law and order and investigating violent incidents as crimes irrespective of political affiliation.

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Yet with unaccounted looted weapons still circulating and local memories of past election bloodshed fresh, many ordinary voters fear that violence could dampen turnout or undermine confidence in a truly free and fair process.
White House has said that an attack on Iran is still on the table, even as Trump said Tehran wants to strike a deal with the US. Earlier this month, the president reportedly postponed plans to launch an attack against Iran in response to the protests

US President Donald Trump delivers a special address during the World Economic Forum (WEF) annual meeting in Davos on January 21, 2026.- AFP

US President Donald Trump has said that the situation in Iran remains in flux weeks after widespread protests resulted in the deaths of thousands of people, adding that he has deployed a big armada next to the country.

White House has said that an attack on Iran is still on the table, even as Trump said Tehran wants to strike a deal with the US. Earlier this month, the president reportedly postponed plans to launch an attack against Iran in response to the protests.

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According to a report by Axios, Trump has not yet reached a decision and has held more consultations where he was presented with various military options.

US aircraft in West Asia

The USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group has arrived in West Asia, the US military said on Monday, dramatically boosting American firepower in the region.

The carrier and its accompanying ships were ordered to the region as Iran cracked down on mass protests. While President Donald Trump has since backed away from military action against Tehran, he has insisted all options remain on the table.

The strike group is currently deployed to the Middle East to promote regional security and stability, US Central Command, which is responsible for American forces in the region, said in a post on X.

Trump told Axios in an interview on Monday that the United States has a big armada next to Iran, but said Tehran is eager to talk: They want to make a deal. I know so. They called on numerous occasions.

The US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency said on Monday that it had confirmed the deaths of nearly 6,000 people in the wave of protests suppressed by Irans security forces, but emphasised the actual toll could be several times higher.

Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei has warned against intervention and said the country was confident in its own capabilities.

In apparent reference to the Lincoln, he added: The arrival of such a battleship is not going to affect Irans determination and seriousness to defend the Iranian nation.

With inputs from agencies
Calling India-EU ties personal, European Council President Antonio Costa recalled his roots in Goa, thanked India for the Republic Day invitation, and said the partnership goes beyond diplomacy, reflecting shared history, trust, and a growing strategic bond.

In a moment that blended high-level diplomacy with deeply personal heritage, European Council President Antonio Costa hailed the newly signed India-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA) as the most ambitious in the blocs history, punctuated by a proud declaration of his own lineage.

I am from Goa, Costa told a captivated audience at Hyderabad House, referencing his ancestral roots in the Indian coastal state. Costa recalled his personal connection to India, saying he is an Indian citizen by origin and thanked India for inviting him to the Republic Day celebrations. He said he was proud of his roots in Goa, adding that India-EU ties are deeply personal for him.

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He said the summit sends a strong message to the worldthat India and the European Union stand together as strategic and reliable partners. We are taking our partnership to the next level, he said, stressing that both sides are working hand in hand to help shape a resilient global order.

Shared prosperity and security

Costa stressed that India and the European Union need to work closely to ensure shared prosperity and security, describing trade as a key geopolitical stabiliser. He said the proposed India-EU free trade agreement is among the most ambitious ever negotiated, with added importance in a multipolar global order.

In a multipolar world, India and the EU are working for shared prosperity, he said, before adding a cautionary note: But prosperity does not exist without security.

On defence and security ties, Costa said the India-EU partnership is now taking its first tangible steps, sending a strong and ambitious message of deeper cooperation in the security sphere.

How would the FTA benefit India?

The India-EU Free Trade Agreement is expected to significantly boost Indias economy by expanding market access and reducing trade barriers with the European Union.

Indian exporters in sectors like textiles, leather, gems and jewellery, chemicals and pharmaceuticals will gain easier entry into Europes huge market, enhancing competitiveness and export volumes.

The deal will cut tariffs on over 90% of traded goods, deepen services and investment ties, and attract more foreign investment. By diversifying export destinations and strengthening supply chain integration, the pact aims to create jobs, boost growth, and reduce dependency on volatile markets.

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Trump defended Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, saying she is doing a very good job, amid controversy over a fatal shooting in Minneapolis. He also commented on the victim, stating that people cannot simply walk in with guns."

Trumps Iran gamble: History of US meddling, nuclear brinkmanship and oil ambitions collides with a volatile new protest wave

US President Donald Trump on Tuesday confirmed that Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem will not step down following a second fatal shooting involving federal agents in Minnesota.

When asked by reporters outside the White House if Noem would resign, Trump gave a one-word answer, No. He added that he still believes she is doing a very good job.

Trump also addressed remarks made by his deputy chief of staff, Stephen Miller, who called Alex Pretti, the 37-year-old nurse killed by federal immigration agents on Saturday, an assassin.

No, Trump said when asked if he agreed with Millers description. That being said, you cant have guns, you cant walk in with guns, you cant do that. Its a very unfortunate incident.

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Video footage from the incident showed that Pretti, a licensed gun owner, was not holding his firearm at the moment he was shot, and the weapon had already been removed by an agent.

Ongoing investigation and response

Trump said he is overseeing the investigation personally and expects it to be very honorable and honest. He called the situation very sad and expressed sympathy for Prettis family.

The presidents comments mark a pivot from the administrations initial aggressive response to the shooting, signaling a more measured approach while continuing to support Noem, who had backed large-scale immigration raids in Minneapolis and previously described Pretti as a domestic terrorist.

Shifts in federal strategy

The New York Times reported that Trump held a nearly two-hour meeting with Noem on Monday evening. In addition, he has sent border czar Tom Homan to Minneapolis, indicating a possible preference for Homans more targeted approach to immigration enforcement over Noems mass raids.

Gun rights debate intensifies

Trumps remarks also fuel an ongoing debate over gun rights in the US. While federal authorities justified the shooting by citing Prettis firearm and alleged violent actions, gun rights advocates have raised concerns, noting that Pretti was unarmed at the time of the shooting.

The incident has brought renewed attention to the Second Amendment, which guarantees Americans the right to keep and bear arms, and its complex legal and political implications.
Rodriguez has been playing a balancing act in ensuring that Maduros loyalists are on board in Venezuela while keeping the White House happy as Trump backs her in leading the nation for the time being

Venezuela's interim leader Delcy Rodriguez has taken over as acting president.

Venezuelas acting president, Delcy Rodriguez, has said that she has had enough of US orders, weeks after she said Caracas would cooperate with President Donald Trump following Nicolas Maduros capture.

Rodriguez has been playing a balancing act in ensuring that Maduros loyalists are on board in Venezuela while keeping the White House happy as Trump backs her in leading the nation for the time being.

Enough already of Washingtons orders over politicians in Venezuela, she told a group of oil workers in Puerto La Cruz city.

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Let Venezuelan politics resolve our differences and our internal conflicts. This Republic has paid a very high price for having to confront the consequences of fascism and extremism in our country, she added.

The US has been calling many shots in Venezuelas internal matters, especially the ones related to its oil reserves, since its army captured Maduro and his wife earlier this month. While Rodriguez has maintained that the country is not ruled by the US, she has not actively confronted Washington.

Venezuela releases political prisoner

Venezuelas interim government said Monday it had freed more than 800 political prisoners since before last December, but rights NGO Foro Penal cast doubt on the figure.

Progress had been slow until Saturday, when a sudden flurry of 100 prisoners were freed.

Dozens of relatives remain in makeshift camps outside prisons, however, waiting for their loved ones to walk free.

As of today, before December and now, there have been 808 releases, Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello, widely seen as a wielder of power behind the scenes, said on state TV.

The exact period he was referring to was unclear.

On Friday, Rodriguez spoke of 626 releases since December in a process she insists was initiated by Maduro himself.

The Foro Penal, which advocates for inmates in Venezuela, said it had verified 383 releases since December, including several foreigners.

Since January 8, when a large-scale release of all political inmates was announced, the number was 266, it said.

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It doesnt match any of the figures Foro Penal has been tracking, the NGOs vice president, Gonzalo Himiob, told AFP of the governments numbers.

With inputs from agencies
The lower house of the French National Assembly has passed the text by a vote of 130 to 21 in a lengthy overnight session from Monday to Tuesday. The bill will now go to the Senate, Frances upper house, before becoming a law

As Australia upholds a ban on social media for teens, French lawmakers have passed a bill that would prohibit children under the age of 15 from using social media, a move championed by President Emmanuel Macron as a way to protect children from excessive screen time.

The lower house of the French National Assembly has passed the text by a vote of 130 to 21 in a lengthy overnight session from Monday to Tuesday. The bill will now go to the Senate, Frances upper house, before becoming a law.

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Macron hailed the vote as a major step to protect French children and teenagers in a post on X.

Interdire les reseaux sociaux aux moins de 15 ans : cest ce que preconisent les scientifiques, cest ce que demandent massivement les Francais.



Apres un travail fructueux avec le Gouvernement, lAssemblee nationale vient de dire oui.



Cest une etape majeure.  Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) January 26, 2026

The bill also includes a ban on the use of mobile phones in school. With this, France has become the second country to take such a step, following Australias social media ban on under-16s in December.

The emotions of our children and teenagers are not for sale or to be manipulated, either by American platforms or Chinese algorithms, Macron said in a video broadcast on Saturday.

How would the ban work?

When passed, measures under the new law would be enforced from the start of the 2026 school year for new accounts.

Former prime minister Gabriel Attal, who leads Macrons Renaissance party in the lower house, said he hoped the Senate would pass the bill by mid-February so that the ban could come into force on September 1.

He added that social media platforms will then have until December 31 to deactivate existing accounts that do not comply with the age limit.

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In addition to combating the impact of screens and social media on the mental health of young adolescents, Attal stressed that the measure would counter a number of powers that, through social media platforms, want to colonise minds.

France can be a pioneer in Europe in a month: we can change the lives of our young people and our families, and perhaps also change the destiny of our country in terms of independence, he said.

Meanwhile, Europe is working on an age verification system that would be applied to Frances social media ban. The draft bill excludes online encyclopedias and educational platforms.

EU pushes for stricter age restrictions

The European Parliament has called for a region-wide prohibition on social media use for anyone younger than 16. The proposal marks one of the blocs strongest stances yet on safeguarding minors online, adding new urgency to a debate that has intensified alongside reports linking heavy social media use to anxiety, depression, and cyberbullying among young teens.

Macron has previously called for EU regulation to ban social media for children under 15, although it is not quite clear how the EU would carry this out, given that it is up to individual EU members to impose age limits.

Parliaments resolution, backed by 483 votes to 92, with 86 abstentions, called for an EU-wide ban on access for children under 16 to online platforms, video-sharing sites and AI companions without parental consent and an outright ban for those younger than 13.

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With inputs from agencies
Canadas Carney is expected to visit India in the first week of March, with the trip seen as an important step towards easing tensions and reviving stalled ties between the two countries.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi (right) shaking hands with his Canadian counterpart Mark Carney on the sidelines of the G7 meet in Alberta, June, 2025. Image: ANI

Canadas Prime Minister Mark Carney is likely to visit India in the first week of March, a trip widely seen as a critical step in resetting strained Indo-Canada relations. During the visit, the two sides are expected to sign agreements on uranium, energy, critical minerals and artificial intelligence, Indias High Commissioner to Canada Dinesh Patnaik said in an interview.

Political engagement gathers pace

Diplomatic engagement between New Delhi and Ottawa has gained momentum in recent months. Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended the Group of 7 summit last year at Carneys invitation, while several Canadian ministers have since travelled to India, signalling a renewed effort to stabilise ties and deepen cooperation in strategic sectors.

Diversifying partnerships beyond the US

Carney has been working to broaden Canadas global partnerships beyond the US, its largest trading partner. Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos last week, he said the old rules-based global order was no longer functioning and urged middle powers such as Canada to build coalitions to shape a fairer and more resilient world.

That message has been accompanied by efforts to expand Canadas trade footprint, including a recent agreement with China to reduce tariffs on electric vehicles and canola, opening up billions of dollars in export opportunities.

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Repairing ties after 2023 Nijjar rift

Carney has also sought to repair relations with India after ties hit their lowest point in 2023, when former prime minister Justin Trudeau accused the Indian government of involvement in the killing of a Sikh separatist leader. These false allegations from Trudeau triggered a sharp diplomatic rift.

I have a feeling the first week of March is what we are looking at, Patnaik said, referring to Carneys proposed visit. Carneys office declined to comment.

Visit timeline remains fluid

Canadas Energy Minister Tim Hodgson, who is visiting India this week, said the timing of the prime ministers trip has not yet been finalised.

There are plans for the Prime Minister to visit at some point this year. It will depend on the progress we make, Hodgson said in a weekend interview.

Trade talks and expected agreements

Formal negotiations for a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement are expected to begin in March, Patnaik said. India and Canada agreed in November to restart trade talks that had been stalled for nearly two years.

During the visit, Carney is expected to sign a series of agreements covering nuclear energy, oil and gas, the environment, artificial intelligence, quantum computing, as well as education and cultural exchanges. A proposed 10-year C$2.8 billion uranium supply deal could also be part of the package.

Energy and critical minerals in focus

While Hodgson did not confirm the uranium deal, he said Canada was willing to supply uranium to India under the existing nuclear cooperation agreement, subject to international safeguards. He also highlighted Indias growing demand for critical minerals and energy as a major opportunity for Canadian exporters.

Sense of urgency

Both sides are moving with urgency after nearly two years of stalled engagement, driven by global trade uncertainty and concerns over US tariffs. As Patnaik noted, the objective is to build partnerships that offer greater stability and insulation from the volatility of an increasingly unpredictable international order.
The India-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA) will help textiles, leather, footwear, gems and jewelry, chemicals, and marine sectors and serve as a boost to exporters affected by US President Donald Trumps tariffs, the Chamber of Trade and Industry (CTI) has said in a statement.

European Council President Antonio Costa, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi pose during a photo opportunity ahead of their meeting at the Hyderabad House in New Delhi, India, on January 27, 2026. (Photo: Altaf Hussain/Reuters)

The India-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA) will help textiles, leather, footwear, gems and jewelry, chemicals, and marine sectors and serve as a boost to exporters affected by US President Donald Trumps tariffs, the Chamber of Trade and Industry (CTI) has said in a statement.

India and the European Union (EU) on Tuesday announced the India-EU FTA that they have hailed as the mother of all deals.

Under the India-EU FTA, more than 90 per cent of goods are set to lose tariffs or sea a reduction. For Europe, the FTA would grant a much broader access to the Indian market for its automobiles, auto parts, spirits and wines, foodstuffs, machinery, chemicals, and pharmaceuticals.

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As India and Europe largely export goods that the other does not produce, increased trade due to the FTA is likely to complement domestic industries instead of competing with them, according to analysts.

ALSO READ  Mother of all deals: India-EU partnership emerges as geopolitical stabiliser in fractured world

For India, the FTA would grant a much broader access to the EUs market for textiles, leather, footwear, gems and jewelry, chemicals, marine products, dairy products, agricultural products, and auto parts, CTI Chairman Brijesh Goyal said in a statement.

Goyal further said that the FTA would lead to an increased demand for Indian products in EUs 27 member-states and Indian companies would also be able to set up base in Europe. As a result, he said that the India-EU trade could rise to $50 billion in the coming years.

While India-EU trade negotiations predate US President Donald Trumps tariff war, it is an open secret that trade talks picked up speed after he slapped heavy tariffs and political coercion on India and the EU  slapping 50 per cent tariffs on India and imposing tariffs on the EU in the 10-50 per cent range.

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Goyal said that these tariffs had a very negative impact on Indias textile, leather, gems and jewelry, auto components, chemical, pharmaceutical, seafood, and electronics sectors, and threatened the jobs of 1 million people in the country. He added that the India-EU FTA would help these sectors.

Flagging the extend of tariffs harm, the statement said that Indian goods became up to 35 per cent more expensive in the United States compared to goods from other countries, causing American buyers to prefer products from other nations over those from India.
IndiGo on Tuesday said it will continue to suspend flights to Tbilisi, Almaty, Baku and Tashkent until February 11 due to the evolving situation in Iran.

IndiGo on Tuesday said it has extended the suspension of flights to and from Tbilisi, Almaty, Baku, and Tashkent until February 11, citing escalating tensions in Iran.

The airline said the decision reflects a cautious and proactive approach, with the safety of passengers and crew remaining its top priority.

In a travel advisory, IndiGo said it has made additional adjustments to its flight schedule and that operations remain under continuous review as the situation evolves.

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Taking into account developments around Iran, we have made additional adjustments to the schedule of some flights. We are taking a cautious and proactive approach, with customer and crew safety as our highest priority, the airline said. As part of these measures, IndiGo flights to and from Tbilisi, Almaty, Baku and Tashkent have been cancelled until February 11.

The extension comes a day after the airline had cancelled flights to and from these destinations on January 26, 27, and 28.

According to officials cited by PTI, IndiGo flights to these cities typically pass through Iranian airspace, which the airline is currently avoiding due to the situation. Flights from India to these destinations usually take six to seven hours. IndiGo operates A320neo aircraft on these routes, which do not have the range or fuel capacity to operate significantly longer alternative routings.

The situation follows widespread protests in Iran that began on December 28 after the Iranian currency, the rial, sharply fell in value. The demonstrations spread nationwide and were met with a violent crackdown by security forces, along with an internet shutdown lasting more than two weeks.

According to the US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency, at least 6,126 people were killed during the crackdown, with many more feared dead. Irans government has reported a significantly lower death toll of 3,117, saying 2,427 were civilians and security personnel, and labelling the remaining fatalities as terrorists, the Associated Press reported.

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The unrest has also heightened tensions between Iran and the United States, with US President Donald Trump warning that military action could be considered if Tehran continues its crackdown on demonstrators.
Japanese authorities have quietly urged fishermen to avoid the disputed Senkaku Islands to prevent a potential escalation with China as regional tensions rise

Japanese fishermen who regularly sail to waters around the disputed Senkaku Islands have recently been urged by officials to steer clear of the area, as Tokyo seeks to avoid a potential diplomatic and security escalation with China in the East China Sea.

The requests began late last year and involve local fishermen long associated with voyages seen as reinforcing Japans control over the uninhabited islets, according to those involved and others familiar with the matter.

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Quiet shift in approach

Hitoshi Nakama, 76, considers himself a frontline defender of Japans territorial claims, frequently navigating around Chinese coast guard vessels to fish in the resource-rich waters. However, he said that since late last year, Japanese officials have been discreetly asking him and other fishermen to avoid the remote outcrops, known as Senkaku in Japan and Diaoyu in China, to prevent a diplomatic clash with Beijing.

The requests, reported by Reuters, mark a change from previous years when Tokyo tacitly tolerated such trips. Some fishermen have viewed these voyages as a way to assert Japans administration of the islands and surrounding seas.

The islands are administered by Japan but also claimed by China and have long been a point of friction between the two countries. Relations have worsened since Japanese leader Sanae Takaichi angered China in November by commenting on how Tokyo might respond to a Chinese attack on Taiwan.

US President Donald Trump later that month asked Takaichi, a staunch nationalist who became prime minister in October, not to further inflame tensions. The news agency could not determine whether the requests to fishermen were ordered by Takaichi or linked to the appeal from the United States, Japans security backer.

Takaichis office and Japans foreign ministry declined to answer questions about the requests. The foreign ministry said in a statement that the islands are an inherent part of Japans territory and that it has repeatedly lodged diplomatic protests over Chinese incursions.

A strategic dilemma for Tokyo

The warnings to fishermen highlight a dilemma for Japan. Fishing activity underscores Japans administration of the islands but risks confrontations with Chinese coast guard vessels that could escalate quickly, according to more than a dozen people interviewed by Reuters, including fishermen, Japanese officials and security analysts. At the same time, reducing activity may encourage China to press its claims more forcefully, some of those people said.

Chinas foreign ministry told Reuters that some right-wing Japanese had repeatedly entered the waters of the islands in the name of fishing to provoke and cause trouble, adding that maritime issues should be resolved through dialogue and consultation.

A Trump administration official declined to address questions about the presidents November call with Takaichi but said the US opposed unilateral attempts to change the status quo in the East China Sea.

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Small incidents can lead to war

As tensions with China rose in November, the appeals to fishermen began.

Hiroaki Hayashi, a businessman who chairs a nationalist group that helps fund Nakamas fishing trips, said a Japanese coast guard official asked him to stop Nakama from making a planned voyage at the end of that month. Hayashi said Nakama reluctantly agreed to avoid the trip.

Another fisherman, Kazushi Kinjo, 53, said he had planned to fish around the islands during a week-long voyage beginning on November 26. Just before departure and while at sea, he received calls from several officials urging him to avoid the Senkaku islands.

Theyve never said anything like that to me before, he said, declining to name the officials. Kinjo said he briefly passed through waters near the islands on his return journey but did not stop to fish.

A few weeks later, Finance Minister Satsuki Katayama, previously an adviser to the Senkaku Islands Defence Association, hosted Nakama in Tokyo on December 19.

During their 20-minute meeting, she asked about his earlier visits and remarked that small incidents can grow bigger and lead to war, Nakama said. He took this as a signal to stay away, although she did not say so directly.

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What she was really saying was that she didnt want me to go, Nakama said from his boat in his home port of Ishigaki, where he serves as a local councillor.

Katayamas office declined to comment. The Japan Coast Guard said it informs relevant parties about the security situation in waters around the islands when necessary but would not discuss details.

Ishigaki Mayor Yoshitaka Nakayama said officials appeared concerned that fishermen could be detained or inspected by Chinese authorities during heightened tensions.

If someone should actually be detained it would escalate into a much bigger international issue, so I think that is what the government wants to avoid, he said.

Long-running maritime dispute

China has in recent years increased efforts to enforce its maritime claims, including repeated confrontations with Philippine vessels in which Chinese coast guard ships used water cannons.

The last major maritime dispute between China and Japan occurred in 2010, when Japans coast guard detained the captain of a Chinese fishing boat that collided with Japanese vessels near the islands. Relations deteriorated further in 2012 when Japan nationalised several of the then privately owned islands.

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Washington has pledged to defend the islands under its security treaty with Japan, meaning any clash could draw in the United States.

Its kind of the touch paper for further deterioration between Japan and China, because China is really pushing its claims on the islands. It is phenomenally tense around there at the moment, said Robert Ward, Japan chair at the London-based International Institute for Strategic Studies.

Chinese coast guard ships were seen near the islands on a record 357 days last year, according to Japans coast guard. The islands are more than 300 kilometres from mainland China, about 150 kilometres from Japans nearest inhabited territory, and about 170 kilometres from Taiwan, which also claims them.

Good fishing

Fishing has long been linked to the islands.

After Japan first claimed them in the late 19th century, a skipjack tuna processing plant operated on the main Uotsuri Island until it was abandoned in the 1930s.

In 1977, before Beijing began more forcefully pressing its claims and deterring fishermen, there were at least 164 Japanese fishing trips to the islands, according to a government-commissioned research report.

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Last year there were only eight documented visits by Japanese fishing vessels, down from 18 in 2024, Japan Coast Guard data show.

Nakama and his nationalist supporters say they want to reverse the decline, arguing that fishing demonstrates Japans administration of the area.

Paul Midford, a professor of international studies at Meiji Gakuin University in Yokohama, said that while the argument has merit, it can contribute to escalation as both sides try to show control.

Ward said a complete absence of Japanese economic activity could encourage China to send more of its own ships. The need for Japan to keep showing it has a pulse in the Senkaku Islands is really important, he said.

Kinjo said his motivation is financial rather than political.

I earn my income there a substantial income, he said, describing the waters as rich in red snapper, a local delicacy.

Despite winter seas that may limit trips for now, both Kinjo and Nakama said they plan to return.

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Ill go there for as long as I have this boat. Ill keep on going, Nakama said.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem is facing mounting scrutiny after deadly Minneapolis shootings involving federal agents, as lawmakers from both parties demand answers, transparency, and accountability over the governments response

A photograph of the pistol recovered by immigration agents after a shooting in Minneapolis, Minnesota on Saturday morning is shown on a screen behind US Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem as she speaks during a news conference in the National Response Coordination Center at the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) headquarters on January 24, 2026 in Washington, DC. (AFP)

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has found herself under intense scrutiny from both sides of the political aisle following a series of fatal shootings by federal immigration agents in Minneapolis, particularly the death of Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old ICU nurse, during an immigration enforcement operation.

The controversy has rekindled national debate over federal enforcement tactics and raised questions about how Noem and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) have handled the public narrative.

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Firestorm over federal response

Noem quickly described the Minneapolis shootingswhich also include the earlier death of Renee Nicole Goodas acts of violence against federal agents and defended the use of force by ICE and Border Patrol. In statements, she labelled one of the incidents domestic terrorism, asserting that individuals were weaponising their actions against officers.

But viral video footage appears to contradict official claims about the circumstances of Prettis death, showing him holding a phone, not a visible weapon, when agents shot him. That discrepancy has shattered confidence among critics and fuelled outrage across the political spectrum.

A growing number of Republican lawmakers have joined Democrats in pushing for a transparent, independent investigation into the use of force in Minneapolis. Senators like Lisa Murkowski, Susan Collins and Thom Tillis have publicly pressed for accountability, signalling unusual strains within the GOP over the DHS response.

Meanwhile, moderate Democratic Sen. Jacky Rosen has urged Noems impeachment, calling her conduct deeply shameful and accusing her of misleading the public about the killings. Over 100 House Democrats have signed on to the impeachment effort, and many are threatening to block funding for DHS unless significant reforms are enacted.

The backlash is rippling through national politics at a sensitive moment, with some lawmakers warning that the controversy could contribute to a partial government shutdown if DHS funding isnt separated from broader spending bills.

At the same time, President Donald Trump has dispatched longtime immigration official Tom Homan to oversee operations in Minnesota, a move seen by some as sidelining Noem amid mounting pressure.

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Minnesotas chief federal judge has summoned the acting director of US ICE, Todd Lyons, to appear in court Friday to explain why the agency has repeatedly failed to comply with multiple court orders.

US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents walk during a demonstration outside the Whipple Federal Building, more than a week after a US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent fatally shot Renee Nicole Good on January 7, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, US, January 15, 2026. REUTERS/Tim Evans

Minnesotas chief federal judge has ordered the acting director of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Todd Lyons, to appear in court Friday to personally explain the agencys repeated failures to comply with dozens of court orders.

In a filing late Monday, Chief Judge Patrick Schiltz said Lyons must justify why he should not be held in contempt after ICE missed a deadline to provide a detainee with a bond hearing. The courts patience is at an end, Schiltz wrote in his three-page order.

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Operation Metro Surge under scrutiny

The order comes amid mounting frustration over Operation Metro Surge, the Trump administrations aggressive immigration enforcement campaign in Minneapolis-St Paul. The operation, which deployed thousands of federal agents, has triggered multiple emergency lawsuits from immigrants challenging unlawful arrests and detentions, with judges frequently ruling in their favour.

Schiltz, appointed by President George W Bush, accused the administration of deliberately ignoring judicial directives. He cited the case of a man ordered released on January 15 who remained in custody days later, highlighting the significant hardship imposed on immigrants, many of whom have lived and worked legally in the US Some detainees were transferred to Texas or released far from home without means to return.

Other Minnesota federal judges have voiced similar concerns. US District Judge Michael Davis, a Clinton appointee, accused the administration of attempting to defy court orders and deny noncitizens their due process rights. Several judges are now weighing broader legal challenges that could significantly restrict federal immigration enforcement in Minnesota or halt Operation Metro Surge altogether.

Fatal incidents intensify scrutiny

The campaign has come under further scrutiny following the fatal shootings of two US citizens, Renee Good and Alex Pretti, by ICE agents in separate enforcement actions in Minneapolis earlier this month. Another federal judge is reviewing whether the deployment of 3,000 immigration officers constitutes an unconstitutional occupation, while Judge Kate Menendez has asked the government to respond to claims that the operation is targeting the state for its sanctuary policies.
The bitter cold afflicting two-thirds of the U.S. wasnt going away. The weather service said Monday that a fresh influx of Arctic air is expected to sustain freezing temperatures in places already covered in snow and ice

Carrie Hampton tries to navigate a snowy intersection without spilling her coffee in New York, Monday, Jan. 26, 2026. AP

Many in the U.S. faced another night of below-freezing temperatures and no electricity after a colossal winter storm heaped more snow Monday on the Northeast and kept parts of the South coated in ice. At least 30 deaths were reported in states afflicted with severe cold.

Deep snow  over a foot (30 centimeters) extending in a 1,300-mile (2,100-kilometer) swath from Arkansas to New England  halted traffic, canceled flights and triggered wide school closures Monday. The National Weather Service said areas north of Pittsburgh got up to 20 inches (50 centimeters) of snow and faced wind chills as low as minus 25 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 31 degrees Celsius) late Monday into Tuesday.

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The bitter cold afflicting two-thirds of the U.S. wasnt going away. The weather service said Monday that a fresh influx of Arctic air is expected to sustain freezing temperatures in places already covered in snow and ice. And forecasters said its possible another winter storm could hit parts of the East Coast this weekend.

A rising death toll included two people run over by snowplows in Massachusetts and Ohio, fatal sledding accidents that killed teenagers in Arkansas and Texas, and a woman whose body was found covered in snow by police with bloodhounds after she was last seen leaving a Kansas bar. In New York City, officials said eight people were found dead outdoors in the course of the frigid weekend.

Hundreds of thousands without power

There were still more than 630,000 power outages in the nation Monday evening, according to poweroutage.com. Most of them were in the South, where weekend blasts of freezing rain caused tree limbs and power lines to snap, inflicting crippling outages on northern Mississippi and parts of Tennessee.

In Mississippi, officials scrambled to get cots, blankets, bottled water and generators to warming stations in hard-hit areas in the aftermath of the states worst ice storm since 1994. At least 14 homes, one business and 20 public roads had major damage, Gov. Tate Reeves said Monday evening.

The University of Mississippi, where most students hunkered down without power Monday, canceled classes for the entire week as its Oxford campus remained coated in treacherous ice. Oxford Mayor Robyn Tannehill said on social media that so many trees, limbs and power lines had fallen that it looks like a tornado went down every street.

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A pair of burly, falling tree branches damaged real estate agent Tim Phillips new garage, broke a window and cut off power to his home in Oxford.

Its just one of those things that you try to prepare for, Phillips said, but this one was just unreal.

The U.S. had more than 12,000 flight delays or cancellations nationwide Monday, according to flight tracker flightaware.com. On Sunday, 45% of U.S. flights got cancelled, making it the highest day for cancellations since the COVID-19 pandemic, according to aviation analytics firm Cirium.

More light to moderate snow was forecast in New England through Monday evening.

New York City saw its snowiest day in years, with neighborhoods recording 8 to 15 inches (20 to 38 cm) of snow. Though public schools shut down, roughly 500,000 students were told to log in for online lessons Monday. The nations largest public school system saw snow days stripped away after remote learning gained traction during the coronavirus pandemic.

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Bitter cold grips much of the nation

Meanwhile, bitter cold followed in the storms wake. Communities across the Midwest, South, and Northeast awakened Monday to subzero weather. The entire Lower 48 states were forecast to have their coldest average low temperature of minus 9.8 F (minus 12.3 C) since January 2014.

In the Nashville, Tennessee, area, electricity returned for thousands of homes and businesses Monday, while more than 170,000 others awoke bundled up in powerless homes after subfreezing temperatures overnight. Many hotels were sold out overnight to residents escaping dark and frigid homes.

Alex Murray booked a Nashville hotel room for his family to ensure they had a working freezer to preserve pumped breast milk to feed their 6-month-old daughter. Anticipating a long wait until power gets restored at his home, Murray planned to extend their hotel stay through Wednesday.

I know theres many people that may not be able to find a place or pay for a place or anything like that, or even travel, Murray said Monday. So, we were really fortunate.

Storm leads to deaths in a number of states

In Emporia, Kansas, police found a 28-year-old teacher dead in the snow after she was seen leaving a bar without her coat and phone.

Police said snowplows backed into two people who died in Norwood, Massachusetts, and Dayton, Ohio. Arkansas and Texas reported two deaths apiece.

The cause of deaths for the eight people found outside in New York City as temperatures plunged between Saturday and Monday morning remained under investigation.

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Officials reported four deaths in Tennessee, three deaths apiece in Louisiana and Pennsylvania; two deaths in Mississippi; and one each in New Jersey, South Carolina and Kentucky.
Hamas is seeking to secure a role for its police force in a proposed US-backed administration for Gaza, a move that could complicate ongoing efforts to reshape governance in the enclave after months of war, says report.

Hamas terrorists arrive in a pick-up truck to the site of the hand over of hostage Agam Beger to the Red Cross at the Jabalya refugee camp in Gaza City, Thursday Jan. 30, 2025. AP File

Hamas is pushing to have its roughly 10,000 police officers absorbed into a new US-backed Palestinian administration for Gaza, Reuters reported citing sources.

The move is likely to face stiff resistance from Israel, as the Gaza-based militant group debates whether to surrender its weapons.

Following an October ceasefire brokered by US President Donald Trump, Hamas continues to control just under half of Gaza. Under the deal, further Israeli troop withdrawals are tied to Hamas giving up its arms.

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Plan to transfer Gazas governance

The second phase of a 20-point plan to end the war envisages transferring Gazas governance to the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG), a US-overseen Palestinian technocratic body designed to exclude Hamas from power.

Hamas urges cooperation with new body

In a letter to staff seen by Reuters on Sunday, Gazas Hamas-run government urged its more than 40,000 civil servants and security personnel to cooperate with the NCAG, while assuring them it was working to ensure their inclusion in the new administration.

That would include the Hamas-run police force of around 10,000 personnel, four sources familiar with the matter saida demand not previously reported. Many of these officers have continued patrolling Gaza as Hamas reasserts control in areas under its authority.

It remains unclear whether Israel, which has consistently rejected any Hamas involvement in Gazas future, would agree to the inclusion of civil and security workers linked to the group. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus office did not respond to a request for comment.

Key disagreements remain

Hamas insistence on retaining its police force and workforce underscores the deep divisions between the group and Israel, backed by the US, even as Trump presses ahead with his plans.

Last week, Trump hosted a signing ceremony to establish a Board of Peace, envisioned as a transitional administration to coordinate funding and set the framework for Gazas redevelopment. The framework includes a provision barring foreign terrorist organizations from participating in governance.

Hamas signals readiness to hand over governance

Hamas spokesperson Hazem Qassem told Reuters the group was prepared to hand over governance immediately to the 15-member NCAG and its chair, Ali Shaath.

We have full confidence that it will operate on the basis of benefiting from qualified personnel and not wasting the rights of anyone who worked during the previous period, Qassem said, referring to the 40,000 workers.

Four sources said Hamas is open to the NCAG restructuring ministries and retiring some employees, warning that mass dismissals could lead to chaos.

Security leadership remains unresolved

Hamas and NCAG chair Shaath have yet to meet in person to discuss governance, a Hamas official said. Shaaths office did not respond to a request for comment.

Another unresolved issue is whether Sami Nasman, a former Palestinian Authority general appointed to oversee security under the NCAG, would be able to function effectively, a Palestinian official said.

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Nasman, a Gaza native, moved to the occupied West Bank after Hamas expelled Palestinian Authority forces from Gaza in 2007 following a brief civil war. A Hamas court later sentenced him in absentia, accusing him of instigating chaosan allegation he denies.
Israels foreign minister has warned that Middle East stability is impossible without dismantling Iran-backed groups, calling on global powers to confront Tehrans proxy network head-on

Israels foreign minister Gideon Saar has issued one of his strongest statements yet on the Middle Easts shifting geopolitics, urging the dismantling of Iranian-aligned networks across the region.

Speaking during an official visit to Kazakhstan, Saar said that Irans influencespread through armed groups and militant organisationsmust be broken to achieve long-term stability. He did not mince words when identifying the groups he says undermine peace and security in the Middle East.

Irans proxy terror states in the Middle East, Hamas in Gaza, Hezbollah in Lebanon, and the Houthis in Yemen, must be dismantled, he said, adding that progress on stability hinges on eliminating these networks. Without doing so, there will be no regional stability, Saar emphasised, framing the call as central to Israels strategic objectives.

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Irans web of influence

Iran has long relied on allied militias and political movements to project power beyond its borders. Groups such as Hamas, Hezbollah and the Houthis receive varying degrees of financial support, weapons, training and intelligence from Tehran. Israel argues that this network allows Iran to wage indirect warfare while avoiding direct confrontation.

Saars remarks come amid heightened regional tensions following the Gaza war, cross-border exchanges with Hezbollah along Israels northern frontier, and continued Houthi attacks linked to the Red Sea shipping crisis. Israeli officials say these conflicts are interconnected and driven by Irans broader strategy.

Pressure on international community

Beyond military concerns, Saar also stressed the need for diplomatic and legal pressure. He has repeatedly urged European countries to take tougher steps against Iran, including designating the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organisation for its role in supporting armed groups across the region.

Israeli officials believe such measures would restrict funding, limit travel and send a strong political signal against Irans regional activities. Saars comments signal a push to rally international partners behind a coordinated response.
North Korea on Tuesday launched several short range ballistic missiles from near Pyongyang into waters off its east coast, drawing sharp condemnation from South Korea and Japan as Seoul and Washington discuss reshaping their joint defence posture against Pyongyang.

North Korea has launched a fresh round of ballistic missiles into the sea, prompting sharp criticism from neighbouring countries as Seoul and Washington review the future shape of their security cooperation.

Missiles launched from Pyongyang area

South Koreas Joint Chiefs of Staff reported that several ballistic missiles were fired on Tuesday afternoon from an area near Pyongyang towards waters off North Koreas eastern coast.

The projectiles travelled roughly 350 kilometres and reached an altitude of about 80 kilometres before falling into the sea, according to assessments in Seoul and Tokyo.

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Japans authorities confirmed detecting what appeared to be ballistic missiles and said they had splashed down within minutes, with Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi stating there was no immediate impact on national security.

Tokyo nonetheless condemned the launch, describing the repeated firings as a serious threat to regional and international security and a clear breach of United Nations Security Council resolutions.

Strong regional condemnation

South Koreas Office of National Security urged Pyongyang to cease its ballistic launches, branding them provocative acts that undermine stability on the Korean Peninsula.

Japan issued a formal protest, stressing that such activities violate UN measures and pose a grave concern for public safety in the region.

In recent months, North Korea has repeatedly tested short range missiles and multiple launch rocket systems that it claims form a core element of a tactical nuclear force intended to deter the United States and South Korea.

International interest in these shorter range systems has grown since Pyongyang supplied missiles and artillery to Russia for use in the war in Ukraine under a defence arrangement agreed in 2024.

Link to shifting US defence role

The latest launch coincides with a visit to Seoul by a senior official from the US Department of Defense, who has been discussing how to modernise the alliances military posture.

A recent Pentagon strategy document signals that South Korea is expected to take primary responsibility for deterring North Korea, with the United States envisaging a more limited but still critical supporting role.

Under this approach, Washington aims to update its force posture on the peninsula while maintaining combined deterrence against Pyongyangs advancing missile and nuclear capabilities.

The timing of North Koreas launch is likely to reinforce debates in both Seoul and Washington over how best to respond to continued weapons testing and deepen coordination on missile defence and crisis management.

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The Indian representative at UNSC specifically referenced the April 2025 attack in Jammu and Kashmirs Pahalgam, reminding the Council that Pakistan-sponsored terrorists killed 26 innocent civilians in a brutal attack'

Parvathaneni Harish, India's Permanent Representative to the United Nations (UN), New York, speaks at the quarterly UNSC meeting on Afghanistan. (Photo: X/Permanent Mission of India to the UN)

In a sharp and wide-ranging rebuttal at the United Nations Security Council, Indias Permanent Representative Parvathaneni Harish accused Islamabad of spreading falsehoods, attempting to legitimise terrorism, and repeatedly violating its international commitments.

Addressing the Council, Harish stated he was replying to the comments of the representative of Pakistan, an elected member of the Security Council, which has a single-point agenda to harm my country and my people." He firmly rejected Pakistans version of Indias military actions from the previous year, asserting that the envoy had advanced a false and self-serving account."

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The Indian representative specifically referenced the April 2025 attack in Jammu and Kashmirs Pahalgam, reminding the Council that Pakistan-sponsored terrorists killed 26 innocent civilians in a brutal attack."

He noted that this August body itself called for holding the perpetrators, organisers, financiers, and sponsors of this reprehensible act of terrorism accountable and brought to justice," declaring that that is exactly what we did."

Harish emphasised that Indias subsequent military response was limited and targeted, describing the actions as measured, non-escalatory and responsible, and focused on dismantling the terrorist infrastructure and disabling terrorists."

The exchange further detailed the timeline of the conflict, with Harish noting that Pakistan continued to issue threats until early May. He revealed that till the 9th of May, Pakistan was threatening more attacks on India. But on the 10th of May, the Pakistani military called our military directly and pleaded for a cessation to the fighting."

The envoy pointed to the visible damage inflicted on Pakistani facilities, stating that the destruction caused to multiple Pakistani air bases by the Indian operation, including images of destroyed runways and burnt-out hangars, are in the public domain."

Harish was equally blunt regarding Pakistans rhetoric about a new normal" in the region, insisting that terrorism can never be normalised as Pakistan wishes to do. It is not normal to tolerate Pakistans continued use of terrorism as an instrument of state policy."

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He warned that this hallowed chamber cannot become a forum for Pakistan to legitimise terrorism" and reaffirmed that India would do whatever is required to protect and ensure the safety and security of our citizens."

The Indian envoy dismissed Pakistans comments on Kashmir by asserting that Pakistan has no locus standi to comment on matters that are internal to India."

He reiterated that the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir has been, is, and will always remain an integral and inalienable part of India." Turning to the Indus Waters Treaty, Harish remarked that while India had signed the agreement 65 years ago in good faith, in a spirit of goodwill and friendship," Pakistan had consistently undermined the pact through its reliance on conflict and terrorism.
PM Modi flagged growing turbulence in the global order and called for reforms in international institutions, as India and the European Union concluded a major agreement.

PM Modi speaks about the India-EU free trade agreement, still in the final stages of formal announcement at the 16th India-EU Summit. (X)

As India and the European Union formally signed what has been described as the mother of all deals, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday called for reforms in international institutions to better address contemporary global challenges, citing growing turbulence in the global and rules-based order.

Addressing a joint press conference with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa after the 16th India-EU Summit, PM Modi said the evolving global situation underscored the need for strong partnerships and a reformed multilateral system.

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Today, there are major turmoils in the global order. In such a situation, the partnership between India and the European Union will strengthen stability in the international system, the Prime Minister said.

Global issues and multilateralism discussed

PM Modi said the leaders held detailed discussions on key global and regional developments, including Ukraine, West Asia, and the Indo-Pacific, and reaffirmed their shared commitment to multilateralism and international norms.

In that context, today we held detailed discussions on several global issues, including Ukraine, West Asia, and the Indo-Pacific. Respect for multilateralism and international norms is our shared priority. We also agree that to address todays challenges, global institutions need reform, he said.

Unprecedented visit by EU leadership

Welcoming the EU leaders, PM Modi described the visit as unprecedented and said it was a pleasure to host two close friends, President Costa and President von der Leyen.

He referred to Costa as the Gandhi of Lisbon, citing his simple lifestyle, and praised von der Leyens leadership, noting that she was Germanys first woman Defence Minister and the first woman President of the European Commission.

EU echoes commitment to international law

Speaking at the press conference, European Council President Costa said that as the worlds largest democracies and champions of multilateralism, India and the EU share a responsibility to uphold international law, with the United Nations Charter at its core.

As the worlds largest democracies and champions of multilateralism, the European Union and India share the responsibility to uphold international law with the United Nations Charter at its core, Costa said.

He also recalled paying tribute to Mahatma Gandhi earlier in the day alongside von der Leyen.

I reflected upon his words, which still hold true today: peace will not come out of a clash of arms, but out of justice lived and done by unarmed nations in the face of odds, Costa said.

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Landmark trade and security agreements

On Tuesday, India signed its biggest-ever Free Trade Agreement with the 27-nation European Union, marking a major milestone in bilateral relations.

PM Modi hailed the India-EU FTA as not just a trade agreement, but a blueprint for shared prosperity.

The Prime Minister said India-EU ties have grown significantly in recent years, anchored in shared democratic values, economic complementarities, and strong people-to-people links. He noted that bilateral trade currently stands at EUR 180 billion.

India also signed a Security and Defence Partnership with the EU, becoming the third Asian country to enter such an agreement after Japan and South Korea.
In his remarks after concluding talks at the India-EU Summit, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that he discussed the war in Ukraine, the situation in West Asia, and other global issues with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi holds talks with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa at Hyderabad House in New Delhi, India, on January 27, 2025. (Photo: X/Narendra Modi)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said that he discussed the war in Ukraine, the situation in West Asia, and other global issues with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa.

Modi on Tuesday held talks with von der Leyen and Costa as they participated in the India-EU Summit. The main outcome was the India-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA) that they have described as the mother of all deals.

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In his remarks after the summits conclusion, Modi said that he discussed the war in Ukraine, the situation in West Asia, the India-Pacific region, and other global issues in detail with von der Leyen and Costa. Modi said these discussions took place at a time when the global order is undergoing profound turbulence.

In this context, the partnership between India and the European Union will strengthen stability within the international system. Against this backdrop, we held detailed discussions today on several global issues, including Ukraine, West Asia, and the Indo-Pacific. Respect for multilateralism and international norms remains a shared priority. We are united in our view that reform of global institutions is essential to address the challenges of our time, said Modi in Hindi.

On her part, von der Leyen urged Modi to help to create conditions for peace through dialogue and diplomacy.

The European Union and India must work together towards our shared prosperity and security. We are supporting all efforts to reach a just and sustainable peace on Ukraine issue. Ukraine has shown its readiness. Dear Prime Minister we can urge you to help to create conditions for peace through dialogue and diplomacy, said von der Leyen.

Sharing my remarks during the India-EU Business Forum. https://t.co/MXJIaE7eE4  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 27, 2026

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Even as India and EU have reached a trade deal and announced a security and defence partnership to enter a new era of bilateral relationship, they remain sharply divided on Ukraine and Russia. While the EU treats Russia as the principal threat, India maintains close relations with the country.

While no one has formally said it, there have been reports since the beginning of the war that India has been involved in at least some backchannel efforts related to the war in Ukraine. CNN has previously reported that Western leaders relied on India and China to convince Russian leader Vladimir Putin to tone down his threats to use nuclear weapons against Ukraine and the West.

In 2024, around the time Modi visited Russia and Ukraine within months, there were reports that India had conveyed proposals and played a role in peace efforts.
The massive reduction in tariffs is expected to be a boon for European exporters who will likely save 4 billion per year in levies and double EU trade exports to India by 2032

'We will grow our strategic relationship to be even stronger,' she said. (X)

India and the EU have reached the "mother of all deals" in a historic feat achieved by both sides by creating a free trade zone under the Free Trade Agreement (FTA). Under the agreement, tariffs on 96.6 per cent of the value of EU goods exports to India will be eliminated or significantly slashed.

The massive reduction in tariffs is expected to be a boon for European exporters who will likely save 4 billion per year in levies and double EU trade exports to India by 2032.

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European Union Chief Ursula Von der Leyen is in New Delhi with European Council President Antonio Costa, EU foreign minister Kaja Kallas, and other top EU officials to attend the India-EU Summit. She and Costa were also the chief guests at the Republic Day celebrations on Monday.

What will get cheaper?

The deal, touted as the biggest in Indias and the EUs partnership, will make European goods, particularly food and energy products, much cheaper for Indian buyers.

The tariff reduction would slash the prices of European fruit juices, processed foods, olive oil, margarine, and other vegetable oils. Along with this, duties on European liquor, which are currently as high as 150 per cent, will be reduced to 40 per cent.

The deal will also scrap tariffs of up to 44 per cent on machinery, 22 per cent on chemicals and 11 per cent on pharmaceuticals.

What has Von der Leyen said?

von der Leyen on Tuesday announced that India and the European Union (EU) have reached the much-awaited trade deal.

Von der Leyen said that the India-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA) has created a free trade zone of 2 billion people in a win-win arrangement for both sides.

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In a statement, von der Leyen further said that the conclusion of the trade deal was only the beginning and that we will grow our strategic relationship to be even stronger.

At the India-EU Summit, von der Leyen and Prime Minister Narendra Modi are set to formally announce the finalisation of the India-EU FTA, a security and defence partnership, and a mobility agreement. They are also set to adopt the 2026-2030 joint comprehensive strategic agenda for the India-EU relationship.

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China on Tuesday said it would stand by Cuba and offer support and assistance as tensions with the United States rise, pushing back against what Beijing described as growing threats from Washington towards the island nation.

China said it opposed foreign interference in the affairs of other countries, responding to US threats.

China on Tuesday said it would provide Cuba with support and assistance amid what it described as repeated threats from the United States, weeks after Washington removed Havanas ally in Venezuela, Nicolas Maduro.

Beijing and Havana are long-standing socialist allies, and China has consistently opposed the decades-old US economic blockade on Cuba.

Tensions have escalated this month after US President Donald Trump warned that Cuba is ready to fall. Trump has urged Havana to make a deal or face consequences similar to Venezuela, where former leader Maduro was captured during a US bombing raid on January 3 that killed dozens of people.

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China expresses its deep concern and opposition to the United States actions towards Cuba, foreign ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said at a regular press briefing. He called on Washington to stop undermining regional peace and stability and urged it to immediately lift the blockade and sanctions against Cuba.

China will continue to provide Cuba with as much support and assistance as possible, Guo added.

Politico reported last week that the Trump administration is considering a naval blockade to halt oil imports into Cuba, citing a person familiar with the plan who said energy was seen as a critical pressure point.

Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel on Saturday oversaw military exercises, describing them as a deterrent against possible US aggression.
TikTok has reached a settlement to avoid being part of a high-profile social media addiction trial in California, just hours before jury selection was set to begin. The lawsuit was filed by a 20-year-old woman who claims that the design of social media algorithms made her addicted to these platforms and harmed her mental health.

The US entity is called TikTok USDS Joint Venture LLC. It will be majority owned by a consortium comprising Oracle, which is owned by Trump ally Larry Ellison, Silver Lake and Abu Dhabi-based investment firm MGX. AFP

TikTok has reached a settlement to avoid being part of a landmark social media addiction trial, just hours before jury selection was due to begin in California.

The lawsuit was filed by a 20-year-old woman, identified as KGM, who alleges that the design of social media algorithms left her addicted to these platforms and harmed her mental health.

Confidential agreement, other tech giants remain

Confirming the settlement, the Social Media Victims Law Center said the parties had reached an amicable resolution, adding that the terms are confidential. With TikTok exiting the case, the remaining defendants include Meta, which owns Facebook and Instagram, and Google, the parent company of YouTube. Snapchat settled with the plaintiff last week.

Focus shifts to addictive design practices

The social media companies named in the case have argued that the evidence does not prove they are responsible for alleged harms such as depression or eating disorders. However, the case proceeding to trial reflects a broader shift in how US courts are addressing claims against tech firms over addictive product design.

Section 230 defence under scrutiny

For years, tech companies have relied on Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, passed in 1996, which shields platforms from liability for third-party content. In this case, however, the focus is on design choices  including algorithms, notifications, and engagement features  that shape how users interact with apps.

Lawyer calls case a first-of-its-kind test

KGMs lawyer, Matthew Bergman, said the trial would mark the first time a jury examines the accountability of social media companies for such claims. He argued that young people in the US, the UK, and elsewhere are suffering because of what he described as dangerous and addictive algorithms.

Industry-wide implications

Legal experts say the outcome could have far-reaching consequences. Eric Goldman, a law professor at Santa Clara University, warned that repeated losses in court could pose a serious threat to social media companies, though he said proving a direct link between platforms and physical or mental harm may be difficult.

Internal documents likely to surface

At trial, jurors are expected to review internal company documents. Mary Graw Leary, a law professor at the Catholic University of America, said material companies have long tried to shield from public view is likely to be aired in court.

Meta rejects allegations

Meta said it strongly disagrees with the claims and maintains it has introduced several tools to support a safer online environment for teenagers. Researchers have previously questioned the effectiveness of these measures, a point Meta has disputed. The companies are also expected to argue that any alleged harm is caused by third-party users rather than the platforms themselves.
Trump has raised tariffs on South Korean imports from 15 per cent to 25 per cent across a range of products, including automobiles, lumber, pharmaceuticals and all other Reciprocal TARIFFS

South Korea's President Lee Jae Myung (R) receives US President Donald Trump for a special dinner hosted in his honour and state leaders at the Hilton Gyeongju hotel in Gyeongju on October 29, 2025. AFP file

US President Donald Trump has announced more tariffs on South Korea after he accused the country of not living up to a trade deal with Washington that was reached last year.

Trump has raised tariffs on South Korean imports from 15 per cent to 25 per cent across a range of products, including automobiles, lumber, pharmaceuticals and all other Reciprocal TARIFFS.

South Korea and the US reached a trade deal worth $350 billion last year in October, which required Seoul to invest the amount in the country, some of which would go to shipbuilding.

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Trump has claimed that South Korean lawmakers have been slow to approve the deal, while we have acted swiftly to reduce our TARIFFS in line with the Transaction agreed to.

What has S Korea said?

South Koreas presidential office said it had not been informed about the tariff hike plans in advance.

It said Trade Minister Kim Jung-kwan, currently in Canada, would head to Washington for talks on the issue with US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick.

Seouls presidential office insisted in November that the deal does not require parliamentary approval, arguing it represents a memorandum of understanding rather than a binding legal document.

Asked whether the tariff deal had been submitted to parliament for approval, a senior official told AFP on Tuesday they were looking into it but did not elaborate.

US SC case on Trump tariffs

Meanwhile, back home, the US Supreme Court deferred ruling on a legal challenge to the Trump administrations use of emergency powers to impose sweeping global tariffs, leaving the issue unresolved for now.

The court did not indicate when it would take up the matter again. As per its usual practice, the Supreme Court does not announce in advance which rulings it will deliver on a given day, nor did it set a fresh hearing date.

At the centre of the case is whether Trump exceeded his authority under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) by declaring a national emergency to impose country-specific import tariffs. The challenge has been filed by importers, who argue that the tariffs were imposed without clear congressional authorisation.

With inputs from agencies

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Chinese, Finnish enterprises sign deals as committee for innovative business cooperation meets in Beijing

Xinhua) 10:12, January 27, 2026

BEIJING, Jan. 26 (Xinhua) -- Chinese and Finnish enterprises on Monday engaged in lively discussions on cooperation in innovation, green development and digitalization, and signed multiple commercial agreements during the sixth meeting of the China-Finland Committee for Innovative Business Cooperation, which was held in Beijing.

Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo and Chinese Minister of Commerce Wang Wentao attended and delivered remarks at the meeting's closing ceremony. After the meeting, Orpo and Wang held a dialogue with Finnish business representatives.

Orpo said that China is a vital trade partner and export market for Finland, and that Finnish enterprises attach great importance to the enormous potential of the Chinese market.

Both countries share a strong willingness to cooperate in areas such as green and low-carbon development, the circular economy, and industrial digitalization, he said, expressing hope that enterprises from both sides will translate their discussions into concrete cooperative projects.

Finland supports free trade and fair competition, and looks forward to enhanced mutual trust and reduced trade barriers between the European Union (EU) and China, the prime minister said, adding that Finland also welcomes Chinese enterprises to invest in the country and is committed to creating a favorable business environment for them.

Wang said that under the strategic guidance of the two heads of state, China-Finland economic and trade cooperation has yielded substantial results, setting an exemplary model of openness, cooperation, mutual benefit and win-win outcomes.

He encouraged enterprises from both countries to strengthen confidence, seize opportunities and deepen cooperation in such fields as trade, investment and innovation.

Wang expressed hope that the Finnish government would play a positive role in urging the EU to exercise caution in its application of economic and trade restrictive measures, meet China halfway, jointly oppose protectionism, and foster a fair, open, non-discriminatory, and predictable policy environment for China-Finland and China-EU business cooperation.

More than 120 representatives of the business communities of China and Finland attended the meeting.

Orpo is on an official visit to China from Sunday to Wednesday at the invitation of Chinese Premier Li Qiang. Earlier, a spokesperson for China's Ministry of Commerce said that Orpo is accompanied on his visit by executives of over 20 companies, spanning key Finnish sectors such as machinery, forest industry, innovation, clean energy and food, which fully demonstrates Finland's strong commitment to deepening bilateral economic and trade relations.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
The Trump administration has also moved to reduce the number of ICE agents present in the state by this week. Bovino was the man behind the Department of Homeland Securitys Minneapolis operation, dubbed Operation Metro Surge

Demonstrators protests ICE operations and the deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Pretti, an ICU nurse at a VA medical centre, died on Saturday after being shot multiple times during a brief altercation with border patrol agents in the Eat Street district of Minneapolis. Good was killed by an ICE agent on January 7. AFP

US President Donald Trump has ordered the removal of Border Patrol Commander Gregory Bovino from Minneapolis after widespread protests in the state and the killing of another person by ICE agents.

The Trump administration has also moved to reduce the number of ICE agents present in the state by this week. Bovino was the man behind the Department of Homeland Securitys Minneapolis operation, dubbed Operation Metro Surge.

According to a senior White House official and an administration official speaking to NBC News, Bovino is set to return to the border in El Centro, California. The officials confirmed that he will relinquish his commander title to resume his former role as the Border Patrol sector chief for that region. Consequently, he will no longer be responsible for overseeing Border Patrol agents conducting immigration arrests within interior US cities.

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Meanwhile, Trump on Monday dispatched his top border security official, Tom Homan, to Minnesota in an effort to manage rising tensions after the fatal shooting of a US citizen by a federal immigration agent in Minneapolis.

Minnesota has become a focal point of conflict after the death of 37-year-old ICU nurse Alex Pretti, who was shot and killed by a federal agent over the weekend during protests against the Trump administrations immigration crackdown  marking the second such fatal shooting in the city in recent weeks.

The 79-year-old Republicans first reaction to Prettis killing was to suggest that the nurse had come intending to shoot at the police.

Pretti was carrying a pistol with him at the time, but never removed it and had apparently already been disarmed when he was shot multiple times at point-blank range. He was licensed to carry a weapon.

Trump said on social media that Homan, his border czar, will report directly to him and oversee the response on the ground, as his administration faces mounting criticism from local and national leaders.

A huge rally took place despite the bitter cold in Minneapolis on Friday to protest the raids and the point-blank shooting by an ICE agent of protester Renee Good, a 37-year-old mother of three, on January 7.
One year after its launch, Trumps Golden Dome missile defence project has made limited progress, with technical disagreements and uncertainty over space-based systems slowing implementation and delaying the release of billions of dollars.

US President Donald Trump attends a press conference, as he makes an announcement about the Navy's "Golden Fleet" at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida. File image/Reuters

One year after its launch, US President Donald Trumps Golden Dome missile defence initiative has shown limited visible progress, hampered by technical disagreements and concerns over space-based components. These issues have delayed the release of billions of dollars and slowed one of Trumps most ambitious national security projects.

Ambitious timeline, funds largely unspent

The executive order establishing Golden Dome, signed on January 27, 2025, set an aggressive target of deploying a comprehensive homeland missile defence system by 2028. A year later, however, much of the USD 25 billion allocated last summer remains unspent, as officials continue to debate key elements of the programmes space-based architecture.

Two US officials said work to finalise the missile shields design is still underway, with large-scale execution of funds yet to begin. While the money is available, they said substantial funding could be released in the coming days once critical decisions are made.

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The Golden Dome office continues to meet the goals outlined in the executive order, a Pentagon official said in response to Reuters queries. The implementation plan and associated technologies are dynamic; however, the foundational elements of the architecture are now established. The specifics of the architecture are classified.

Space-based components at the centre of delays

Golden Dome seeks to build on existing ground-based defences, including interceptor missiles, sensors and command-and-control systems, while introducing more experimental space-based capabilities to detect, track and potentially counter incoming threats from orbit. These include advanced satellite networks and still-debated on-orbit systems.

Internal disagreements over classified space-based equipment have been a major source of delay, one official said. A defence industry executive, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the discussions likely involve communications standards, while another suggested they could include anti-satellite capabilitiesraising questions about how such systems would fit within a defensive missile shield.

The US has traditionally opposed anti-satellite weapons due to concerns over space debris and previously criticised China for conducting an anti-satellite missile test in 2007.

Procurement decisions still pending

Officials and industry executives said final decisions on the space-based architecture are among the last hurdles before General Michael Guetlein, the programmes director, can move ahead with what is expected to be a series of procurement contracts for existing weapon systems.

So far, only a limited number of contracts have been awarded. In November, the Space Force issued around half a dozen low-value Golden Dome contracts to develop competing missile defence prototypes, including awards to Northrop Grumman, True Anomaly, Lockheed Martin and Anduril. Valued at roughly USD 120,000 each, the contracts marked the first tangible steps in a programme Trump has said could eventually cost USD 175 billion.

Since December, officials said at least one classified briefing on the systems architecture has been held for defence companies.

Greenlands role remains unclear

Another unresolved issue is the potential role of Greenland. Trump has recently linked US control of the Danish territory to the missile defence initiative, repeatedly calling the acquisition of Greenland vital to the project.

Defence experts, however, note that existing agreements already allow expanded US military operations on the island. One US official said Greenland is not part of Golden Domes proposed architecture.
A misstitched plush horse with a mournful expression has become an unexpected hit in China ahead of the Lunar New Year.

At one of the bustling corridors of Yiwu International Trade City, Chinas largest wholesale complex, a small shop is drawing crowds in the lead-up to the Lunar New Year. Shoppers are eager to get their hands on an unexpected hit, a red plush horse with a sorrowful face that has become the latest viral craze across Chinese social media.

From cheerful design to accidental frown

Originally intended to be a cheerful decoration for the Year of the Horse, the toys melancholic expression was the result of a simple error. Zhang Huoqing, who runs the shop Happy Sister in Yiwu, explained that a worker mistakenly sewed the horses mouth upside down, transforming its intended smile into a frown. What was meant to symbolise good fortune and happiness instead appeared dejected and weary.

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When Zhang discovered the flaw, she offered to replace the toy, but the buyer opted to keep it. Soon after, photos of the crying horse began circulating on Chinese social platforms, drawing amusement and sympathy in equal measure.

A symbol for the modern worker

Online users quickly related to the toys somber look, with many young professionals saying its downcast eyes and weary expression captured their own fatigue from long working hours. Memes described the frowning horse as the face you have at work and the smiling version as the face you wear after clocking out.

Trade veteran Lou Zhenxian, who has sold festive merchandise in Yiwu for over two decades, said he had never seen a toy catch on quite so rapidly. Almost everyone asks for the crying horse these days, Lou remarked, adding that demand surges daily as the Spring Festival draws near.

New twist in the ugly-cute trend

The crying horse also reflects a wider cultural fascination in China with ugly-cute collectibles, toys that mix imperfection with charm. The trend, popularised by brands such as Pop Mart and its character Labubu, resonates with younger buyers who find humour and honesty in flawed designs.

By early afternoon, shelves at Happy Sister often stand empty as staff rush to restock. Zhang now produces the crying version deliberately, confident that its accidental frown speaks to something deeper. It seems to fit how working people really feel today, she said with a smile.

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The United States on Tuesday announced a multi-day air exercise in West Asia, stepping up its military presence in the region as tensions with Iran continue to rise.

The US is stoking fears of a wider conflict West Asia by redirecting the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group. File image/Reuters

As tensions with Iran continue to escalate, the US military is stepping up its presence in the West Asia, announcing a large-scale air exercise aimed at demonstrating rapid combat readiness across the region.

US Central Command (CentCom) said on Tuesday that the Ninth Air Forceoperationally known as Air Forces Central (AFCENT)has launched a multi-day readiness drill designed to showcase its ability to deploy, disperse and sustain air combat operations across Centcoms area of responsibility.

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Focus on rapid deployment and dispersal

The exercise is centred on testing the rapid relocation of aircraft and personnel, operations from temporary or contingency bases, and sustaining missions with a minimal logistical footprint. It will also assess multinational command-and-control coordination across a wide operational theatre.

According to AFCENT, small teams will be sent to multiple contingency locations to practise swift setup, aircraft launch and recovery using lean support packages. The command said all activities are being carried out with the consent of host nations and in close coordination with civil and military aviation authorities.

Carrier strike group boosts US firepower

The announcement came a day after CentCom confirmed the arrival of the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier strike group in the Middle East, significantly expanding US offensive and defensive capabilities in the region.

The deployment has intensified speculation over whether President Donald Trump could order military action against Iran following its violent crackdown on anti-regime protests. While Trump has issued warnings to Tehran, he has also signalled openness to negotiations. Iran has responded by threatening to strike Israel and US targets if attacked.

US military underscores readiness

Lt Gen Derek France, commander of AFCENT and Combined Forces Air Component for CentCom, said the exercise highlights the readiness and adaptability of US air forces operating in a complex security environment.

This exercise is designed to enhance asset and personnel dispersal capability, strengthen regional partnerships and prepare for flexible response execution throughout CentCom , the US military said. It added that the drill would validate procedures for rapid movement, dispersed operations, minimal-footprint logistics and integrated multinational command and control.

Unrest in Iran forms backdrop

The heightened military activity comes amid deepening unrest inside Iran, triggered by the collapse of the rial, which has sharply eroded savings and driven mass protests. As of Tuesday, the currency was trading at around 1,077,500 rials to the US dollar, close to a record low.

Opposition-linked outlet Iran International reported that more than 36,500 people were killed by security forces during protests in early January, citing documents and sources, though the figures could not be independently verified.

Meanwhile, the US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency said at least 6,126 people were killed in the crackdown, including protesters, children and civilians, with more than 41,800 arrests recorded. The group has previously provided credible casualty estimates during periods of unrest in Iran.
Virginia healthcare worker under scrutiny after viral videos allegedly encourage extreme tactics against ICE agents, triggering outrage and questions over online accountability

US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents walk during a demonstration outside the Whipple Federal Building, more than a week after a US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent fatally shot Renee Nicole Good on January 7, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, US, January 15, 2026. REUTERS/Tim Evans

A healthcare worker from Virginia has stirred controversy after posting videos that allegedly encouraged people to harm US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents, including by suggesting they be injected with paralytic drugs. The clips have drawn intense criticism and raised questions about online influence and accountability.

Who is Melinda?

The woman, identified only as Melinda, is said to work for Virginia Commonwealth University Health, according to a social media post shared by Libs of TikTok on X. In the video, she appears to suggest extreme tactics aimed at ICE agents, who enforce immigration law in the United States.

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In one clip, Melinda is seen saying, I thought of something good. I think its up in a weird spot. Sabotage tactic or at least scare tactic. The phrase was shared in a context that critics say amounts to urging followers to consider dangerous acts.

Melindas video reportedly went further, with calls to use needles filled with either saline or a paralytic called succinylcholine, a short-acting muscle relaxant used in medical settings to induce rapid paralysis.

Meet Melinda, a healthcare worker at @VCUHealth. She posted a series of videos encouraging people to inject ICE agents with succinylocholine, a temporary paralysis drug, and spray poison on them. She also encourages woman to go on dates with agents and drug their food.



Any pic.twitter.com/CMJN12GhOc  Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) January 27, 2026

She also suggested other actions, such as spraying poison or encouraging women to go on dates with ICE agents to drug their drinks. At one point, she says: All the medical providers, grab some syringes with needles on the end. Have them full of saline or succinylcholine, you know, whatever, whatever.

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In another part of the video, Melinda urges people to target ICE agents more broadly, saying, Anything you can do to make the living conditions bad  just stay toxic. This kind of rhetoric has alarmed legal and civil rights observers.

The video surfaced shortly after the killing of Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old nurse in Minneapolis who was fatally shot by a federal agent  the second such shooting in the city this month. However, Firstpost could not independently verified Melindas identity or the full context of the recordings.
EU chief Ursula von der Leyen has announced that India and the European Union (EU) have reached the much-awaited trade deal. She said the India-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA) has created a free trade zone of 2 billion people in a win-win arrangement for both the sides.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi greets European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, next to President Droupadi Murmu, as they arrive to attend the Republic Day parade in New Delhi, January 26, 2026. (Photo: Reuters)

EU chief Ursula von der Leyen on Tuesday announced that India and the European Union (EU) have reached the much-awaited trade deal.

Von der Leyen said that India-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA) has created a free trade zone of 2 billion people in a win-win arrangement for both the sides.

Von der Leyen is in New Delhi with European Council President Antonio Costa, EU foreign minister Kaja Kallas, and other top EU officials to attend the India-EU Summit. She and Costa were also the chief guests at the Republic Day celebrations on Monday.

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In a statement, von der Leyen further said that the conclusion of the trade deal was only the beginning and that we will grow our strategic relationship to be even stronger.

At the India-EU Summit, von der Leyen and Prime Minister Narendra Modi are set to formally announce the finalisation of the India-EU FTA, a security and defence partnership, and a mobility agreement. They are also set to adopt the 2026-2030 joint comprehensive strategic agenda for the India-EU relationship.

Europe and India are making history today.



We have concluded the mother of all deals.



We have created a free trade zone of two billion people, with both sides set to benefit.



This is only the beginning.



We will grow our strategic relationship to be even stronger. pic.twitter.com/C7L1kQQEtr  Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) January 27, 2026

Ahead of von der Leyens announcement, Kallas had told The Indian Express that the India-EU FTA would create a trading bloc with 25 per cent of the worlds GDP.

Unlike the trade talks with the United States that have been contentious for both India and the EU, the India-EU negotiations were held in good faith. As a result, Indias red lines on agriculture and dairy have been respected and India has accommodated the EUs concerns on automobiles, spirits, wines, and machinery.

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ALSO READ  Mother of all deals: India-EU partnership emerges as geopolitical stabiliser in fractured world

Under the FTA, India will gain significantly from access to the EU market for textiles, seafood, and chemical exports, sectors that have been hit hard by Trumps tariffs, and the EU will find easier access to Indian market for high-end machinery, aircraft and aircraft components, automobiles, electronics, and medical devices.

After Tuesdays formal announcement, the India-EU FTA is expected to be formally signed within five to six months after formal ratification and legal vetting, and the FTA is expected to come into effect early next year.

While India-EU trade talks had begun in 2022, after stalling in 2013, they acquired urgency early last year after US President Donald Trump waged a tariff war on the world and mounted a coercive campaign against India and the EU. Analysts have said that the convergence of India and EU have not safeguarded their economic interests but have also turned them into a counterweight to the United States.

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Zelenskyy on Tuesday said Ukraine aims to join the European Union by 2027. He stressed that any peace agreement should include a clear accession date to ensure security guarantees and prevent obstacles to EU membership.

No peace agreement resulted, though Zelenskyy said the discussions were productive.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Tuesday stated that Ukraine expects to join the European Union in 2027. He emphasised that a concrete EU accession date should be included in any peace agreement to ensure clear security guarantees and prevent potential obstacles to membership.

He made the remarks during a joint press conference with the Presidents of Lithuania and Poland in Vilnius, according to an Ukrinform correspondent.

Discussion with Austria on EU accession and energy crisis

According to RBC-Ukraine, Zelenskyy spoke with Austrian Chancellor Christian Stocker over the phone about Ukraines planned EU accession, alongside the ongoing energy crisis caused by repeated Russian attacks.

Energy infrastructure under attack

In a post on X, Zelenskyy detailed the discussion, During a conversation with Federal Chancellor of Austria Christian Stocker, we discussed the energy situation in Ukraine. Russia strikes energy infrastructure every day to leave Ukrainians without electricity and heat, and it is very important that partners respond to this. That is why we highly appreciate Austrias decision last week to allocate funds to support our energy sector. Thank you! We also discussed other ways to support our energy system.

Security and EU integration

Zelenskyy also updated the Chancellor on recent trilateral talks in the UAE between Ukrainian, American, and Russian delegations, which focused mainly on military issues and security guarantees.

Ukraines accession to the European Union is one of the key security guarantees not only for us but also for all of Europe. Europes collective strength is possible, in particular, thanks to Ukraines security, technological, and economic contributions. That is why we are speaking about a concrete date  2027  and we count on partners support for our position, Zelenskyy said.

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The President invited Chancellor Stocker for in-person talks in Ukraine to continue future dialogues.

Casualties from Russian strikes

Meanwhile, Ukrainian officials reported six fatalities from Russian attacks. France 24 quoted regional authorities saying a Russian drone barrage killed two people and wounded nearly three dozen others in the southern city of Odesa.

In Sloviansk, eastern Donetsk, a couple aged 45 and 48 were killed. In southern Zaporizhzhia, a 58-year-old died at home in a drone strike. Additionally, a 72-year-old was killed in her home in the southern Kherson region due to Russian shelling.
Earlier this month, CES drew the global tech industry to Las Vegas, spotlighting cutting-edge displays and the next wave of autonomous innovation. FoneArena had the chance to meet JB Park, President and CEO of Samsung Southwest Asia, for a close look at how the global giant plans to weave artificial intelligence into the very fabric of Indian households. Moving beyond the buzzwords, Park laid out the vision where AI isnt just a smartphone feature, but a silent orchestrator of domestic lifeone that understands the nuances of a Kancheepuram silk saree as easily as the rhythm of a Mumbai kitchen.

Samsung unveiled its Companion to AI Living vision at CES this year at their event The First Look where we got to hear more about the kind of device innovation we can expect to see across the companys product portfolio. We got to see the Galaxy Z Trifold for the very first time along with the jaw-dropping Micro RGB 130 inch TV. There was some interesting showcase of innovations in domestic appliances and how AI is being integrated.

800 million mobile devices to have AI globally by end of 2026

Starting this year, the company will enable Wi-Fi across its home appliance portfolio and introduce built-in screens on premium refrigerators and washing machines, allowing these products to stay updated over time. With AI expected to expand across hundreds of millions of devices globally, Samsung plans to use its SmartThings platform to continuously monitor, control, and optimize connected appliances in an energy-efficient way, ensuring that even long-life products can evolve through software rather than frequent hardware replacements.

The India story

While the AI vision was showcased on a global stage, the natural next question was how and when these experiences would reach Indian consumers. Samsung has developed India-specific AI algorithms across its home appliance portfolio to reflect the countrys diversity in clothing and food. In washing machines, the AI can automatically detect textiles such as sarees and adjust wash cycles accordingly, while kitchen appliances feature embedded Indian recipes that adapt to locally used ingredients. Connected refrigerators can suggest Indian dishes based on available food items and seamlessly pass cooking instructions to microwave ovens, combining voice interaction, visual guidance, and automated cooking for a more localized experience.

India at the core of Samsungs R&D

Samsung is positioning India as a critical pillar of its global AI strategy, backed by a workforce of more than 10,000 engineers across multiple R&D hubs. Its consumer electronics research is centered in Delhi, mobile R&D in Noida, and advanced multi-category and semiconductor architecture work in Bengaluru, where an additional 4,000 engineers contribute to chip and platform design. These teams are not just localizing products but shaping global software architecture, platform upgrades, and next-generation AI capabilities, as Samsung actively transitions its engineering base toward AI-first development.

I think India is and will be dominating the future of software and AI engineering

The company increasingly sees Bengaluru as a counterpart to Silicon Valley in its global innovation ecosystem. While Samsung Research America continues to play a key role in frontier development, Samsung Research Bengaluru is described as an equal contributor to AI breakthroughs and global rollout. With sustained investment in talentfrom school-level problem-solving programs to advanced R&DSamsung believes India is on track to become a dominant force in software and AI engineering, signaling a shift from the manufacturing-led growth of past decades to a future driven by intelligence, code, and deep-tech innovation.

Trade-in for coming soon for home appliances

Samsung aims to replicate its Galaxy Club mobile trade-in success within the home appliance and TV categories, transitioning away from the traditional 10-to-20-year ownership cycle. By introducing a model inspired by automotive leasing, Park envisions a structured upgrade pathpotentially on a 60-month cyclethat allows consumers to recoup the resale value of older units. This initiative seeks to establish a certified, brand-backed secondary market, enabling users to stay current with rapidly evolving AI-driven hardware without the burden of high upfront costs for every upgrade.

On designing for the India market, he mentioned that Samsung operates a Design Center in Noida that focuses on industrial design for mobile phones and home appliances, including refrigerators and washing machines. The teams work up to two years ahead of launch, creating designs tailored specifically for Indian consumers, many of which are not offered in other global markets.

Galaxy Z Trifold India launch

Samsung said the TriFold remains a highly limited product, currently available only in a few select markets such as South Korea, the US, and parts of the Middle East and Southeast Asia, rather than a device designed for mass global rollout. For India, the company indicated that the decision will depend on whether there is sufficient demand at the ultra-premium price point to justify production at scale, noting that devices like the TriFold require significant volumes to be viable. While acknowledging that Indian consumers are increasingly open to premium and experimental form factors, Samsung confirmed that while the TriFold is not coming to India anytime soon, the company has not completely ruled out a future launch.

Next Flagship device launch in February

Mr.Park expressed strong optimism about 2026, pointing to CES as the starting point and the flagship launch in February as a major milestone. With AI-driven features embedded across products, he believes the year holds significant promise for Samsungs business.
The European Commission has opened a formal investigation into X under the Digital Services Act (DSA). The probe will assess whether X properly evaluated and mitigated risks associated with Grok, its AI tool deployed on the platform in the EU since 2024.

Grok enables users to generate text and images and provide contextual content for posts. The investigation follows reports of illegal and harmful content, including manipulated sexually explicit images, child sexual abuse material, antisemitic content, and non-consensual deepfakes of women.

History of Regulatory Scrutiny on X

The Commission is examining whether X met its obligations as a very large online platform (VLOP) under the DSA, including assessing systemic risks and protecting users from harms posed by its services.

This extends an earlier inquiry launched in December 2023, which looked at Xs recommender systems, notice-and-action mechanisms, mitigation measures against illegal content, and issues such as advertising transparency and data access for researchers. In December 2025, X was fined 120 million for non-compliance in these areas.

Commission Statement

Thomas Regnier, Spokesperson for Tech Sovereignty, Defence, Space & Research, said:

Today the Commission is opening an investigation into Grok under the Digital Services Act. We believe that X may have breached the DSA. Weve seen over the last weeks and months antisemitic content, non-consensual deepfakes of women, and child sexual abuse material. In Europe, no company will make money by violating our fundamental rights. Such output has no place in Europe, and we need to protect our citizens from potential future harms. This investigation into Grok will allow us to look deeper into the matter, to protect our women, our children, and our citizens.

The statement emphasizes the Commissions focus on systemic risks and fundamental rights in the EU.

Scope of Investigation

The investigation will examine whether X:

Properly assessed and mitigated systemic risks from Grok, including illegal content, gender-based violence, and threats to physical and mental well-being.

Conducted and submitted an ad hoc risk assessment report for Grok prior to deployment.

Evaluated the impact of its switch to a Grok-based recommender system on systemic risks.

Potential violations could involve Articles 34(1) and (2), 35(1), and 42(2) of the DSA.

Coordination and Enforcement

The investigation is coordinated with Coimisiun na Mean, Irelands national Digital Services Coordinator, under Article 66(3). Formal proceedings allow the Commission to:

Take enforcement actions, including a non-compliance decision.

Accept commitments from X to remedy identified issues.

Evidence collection may include information requests, interviews, inspections, and interim measures. National authorities are temporarily relieved of enforcement powers regarding these suspected infringements.

Individuals affected by AI-generated content, including child sexual abuse material or non-consensual images, can seek assistance at the national level and file complaints with their Member States Digital Services Coordinator.

Outlook and Next Steps

The Commission will continue evidence collection and risk assessment, including the functioning of Grok and Xs recommender systems. The investigation will determine whether Xs measures were sufficient and may result in binding enforcement decisions or remedial commitments.

Speaking on the investigation, Henna Virkkunen, Executive Vice-President for Tech Sovereignty, Security, and Democracy, said:
Welcome to my genealogy blog. Genea-Musings features genealogy research tips and techniques, genealogy news items and commentary, genealogy humor, San Diego genealogy society news, family history research and some family history stories from the keyboard of Randy Seaver (of Chula Vista CA), who thinks that Genealogy Research Is really FUN! Copyright (c) Randall J. Seaver, 2006-2024.
Nathan graduated with his journalism degree from Auburn University in 2017. After growing up in the flatlands of rural Alabama with his parents and older sister, Nathan enjoys Western Colorado's natural resources and recreational opportunities. He currently covers education and business for The Daily Sentinel.
Contracts

Contracts for Jan. 26, 2026

AIR FORCE

4MHR Logistics LLC,* San Antonio, Texas (FA8108-26-D-B001); Adams Communication Engineering Technology,* California, Maryland (FA8108-26-D-B002 and FA8108-26-D-B016); Aircraft Readiness Alliance,* Anchorage, Alaska (FA8108-26-D-B003); Akima Logistics Services,* Herndon, Virginia (FA8108-26-D-B004); Global Logistics Support Services,* Huntsville, Alabama (FA8108-26-D-B005 and FA8108-26-D-B018); Kay and Associates,* Buffalo Grove, Illinois (FA8108-26-D-B006 and FA8108-26-D-B019); PKL Services,* Poway, California (FA8108-26-D-B007 and FA8108-26-D-B021); Powerhouse Resources International,* Raleigh, North Carolina (FA8108-26-D-B008); R2C Limited Liability,* Huntsville, Alabama (FA8108-26-D-B009); Resicum International*, Warrenton, Virginia (FA8108-26-D-B010); S&K Aerospace,* St. Ignatius (FA8108-26-D-B011 and FA8108-26-D-B022); Strategic Technology Institute,* Rockville, Maryland (FA8108-26-D-B012 and FA8108-26-D-B023); Vali,* Huntsville, Alabama (FA8108-26-D-B013); Vector Solutions,* Glendale, Arizona (FA8108-26-D-B014); AAR Government Services, Wood Dale, Illinois (FA8108-26-D-B-015); Amentum Services, Chantilly, Virginia (FA8108-26-D-B017); and M1 Support Services, Denton, Texas (FA8108-26-D-B020), have been awarded a shared, not-to-exceed $7,010,000,000 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity, multiple-award contract for contract field team labor augmentation support requirements. This effort is for a total of 10 years from February 2026 - January 2036 (a five-year base and one five-year option). Work will be performed at locations determined in individual task orders. This award is the result of a competitive acquisition with 26 offers received; 23 awards are being made. Fiscal 2026 operations and maintenance funds in the amount of $11,500 are being obligated at the time of award. The Air Force Sustainment Center, Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma, is the contracting activity.

Amazon Web Service Inc., Seattle, Washington, was awarded a $581,318,585 firm-fixed-price contract for the Cloud One Program. This contract provides for Amazon Cloud Service in support of the Air Force's Cloud One Program and their customers. Work will be performed at the contractors designated facilities across the contiguous U.S. and is expected to be completed by Dec. 7, 2028. This award is the result of a sole source acquisition. Fiscal 2026 operations and maintenance funds in the amount of $3,497,937 are being obligated at the time of award. The Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Hanscom Air Force Base, Massachusetts, is the contracting activity (FA8726-26-F-B004).



TCG Construction Inc., Meridian, Idaho, has been awarded a $12,544,826 firm-fixed-price contract for construction services. This contract provides for structural and fire suppression repairs to Hangar 211. Work will be performed at Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho and is expected to be completed by January 26, 2028. This award is the result of a competitive acquisition, and three offers were received. Fiscal 2025 One Big Beautiful Bill Act operations and maintenance funds in the amount of $12,544,826 are being obligated at time of award. The 366th Contracting Squadron, Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho, is the contracting activity (FA489726C0001).

ARMY

Computable Insights LLC, Herndon, Virginia, was awarded a firm-fixed-price contract to establish a decentralized enterprise agreement for Salesforce products and outcome-based services for the Department of War. The amount of this action is $5,644,302,996. Bids were solicited via the internet with one received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of June 26, 2035. Army Contracting Command, Rock Island, Illinois, is the contracting activity (W519TC-26-D-A009).

Rogue Signal Processing Corp.,* Sterling, Virginia, was awarded a $100,000,000 cost-no-fee, cost-plus-fixed-fee, firm-fixed-price, and indefinite-quantity contract to analyze, design, develop, enhance, test, deploy, procure, and sustain prototype technologies and sensors. Work locations will be determined with each order. The estimated completion date is Jan. 22, 2031. Funding will be obligated with each order by fiscal year and fund type as requirements are identified. The contracting activity is Army Contracting Command - Aberdeen Proving Ground, Edgewood Division, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland (W911SR-26-D-A002).

Sherwood Avionics and Accessories Inc., Opa-locka, Florida, was awarded a firm-fixed-price contract for the overhaul of the gas engine turbine to provide sustained mission readiness and prevent a gap in maintenance and overhaul supply. The amount of this action is $18,439,750. Bids were solicited via the internet with three received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of Jan. 26, 2031. Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, is the contracting activity (W58RGZ-26-D-0032).

NAVY

Skookum Educational Programs, doing business as Tessera, Bremerton, Washington, is awarded a $798,485,058 firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity. This contract provides for base operations services within the Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command Northwest (NAVFAC) area of responsibility, including Naval Base Kitsap Bangor (54%); Naval Base Kitsap Bremerton (30%); Naval Base Kitsap Keyport (10%); Naval Magazine Indian Island (5%); and other outlying locations (1%). Work is expected to be completed by Sept. 30, 2031. The maximum dollar value, including the base period and four option years, is $798,485,058. No funds will be obligated at time of award. Fiscal 2026 operations and maintenance (Navy); Defense Health Fund; operations and maintenance (Marine Corps); and Family Housing operations and maintenance (Navy) in the amount of $91,425,936, will be obligated for recurring work via task order. This contract was not competitively procured via SAM.gov website. It is a Sole Source Award, AbilityOne, under Federal Acquisition Regulation 8. NAVFAC Northwest, Silverdale, Washington, is the contracting activity (N44255-26-D-0005).

L3Harris Corp., Millersville, Maryland, is awarded a $22,900,118 fixed-price incentive (firm-target) contract N00024-26-C-6100 for production of Towed Body 34A towed array production, integration, and testing. This contract includes options which, if exercised, would bring the cumulative value of this contract to $65,470,348. Work will be performed in Millersville, Maryland (25%); Liverpool, New York (40%); and Ashaway, Rhode Island (35%), and is expected to be completed by July 2028. Fiscal 2024 shipbuilding and conversion (Navy) funding in the amount of $1,964,476 (11%); fiscal 2025 shipbuilding and conversion (Navy) funding in the amount of $1,964,476 (11%); and fiscal 2026 other procurement (Navy) funding in the amount of $14,518,946 (78%), will be obligated at time of award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured via the System for Award Management website with two offers received. Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity.

General Dynamics Mission Systems, Manassas, Virginia, is awarded a $22,984,706 cost-plus-fixed-fee modification to a previously awarded contract (N00024-24-C-6240) to exercise options for engineering and technical development and production procurement. Work will be performed in Manassas, Virginia (30%); Groton, Connecticut (25%); Port Orchard, Washington (15%); Las Vegas, Nevada (10%); Cleveland, Ohio (10%); Chesapeake, Virginia (4%); Pearl Harbor, Hawaii (2%); San Diego, California (2%); and Kings Bay, Georgia (2%), and is expected to be completed by January 2027. Fiscal 2026 other procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $1,700,000 (73%); and fiscal 2026 research, development, test and evaluation (Navy) funds in the amount of $625,000 (27%), will be obligated at time of award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity.

Detyens Shipyards Inc.,* North Charleston, South Carolina, was awarded a $15,376,216 firm-fixed-price contract (N3220526C0005) for the 76-calendar day shipyard availability for the midterm availability of Military Sealift Command's fleet replenishment oiler USNS Leroy Grumman (T-AO 195). This contract includes a base work package and two unexercised options for additional work and time which, if exercised, would increase the cumulative value of this contract to $15,507,715. Work will be performed in North Charleston, South Carolina, beginning Feb. 1, 2026, and is expected to be completed by April 17, 2026. Fiscal 2026 operation and maintenance (Navy) funds in the amount of $15,376,216 are obligated and will expire at the end of the fiscal year. This contract was a small business set-aside with proposals solicited via the Government wide Point of Entry website and three offers were received. Military Sealift Command, Norfolk, Virginia, is the contracting activity (N3220526C0005).



*Small business

https://www.defense.gov/News/Contracts/Contract/Article/4389804/

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Former NATO Official and Turkish Defense Contractor Indicted for Bribery Scheme Related to Military Contracts

Monday, January 26, 2026

For Immediate Release

Office of Public Affairs

An indictment filed in the District of Columbia was unsealed on Saturday charging a Turkish national and a German national for an alleged bribery scheme involving contracts with the U.S. military and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). NATO is a military alliance of which the United States is a member nation.

"These defendants allegedly engaged in a years-long bribery scheme that tainted construction contracts with the U.S. military and our allies," said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department's Criminal Division. "Integrity in federal contracting is vital to ensuring a fair competitive process and protecting the public fisc. These charges demonstrate the department's mission to eliminate corruption that skews procurement contracts away from the best bidder and toward those who can bribe insiders for preferential treatment."

"This indictment is a significant step forward in our relentless pursuit of integrity within the procurement processes that support our military and NATO operations," said Special Agent in Charge Steven Ausfeldt of the Department of the Army Criminal Investigation Division's Europe Field Office. "Our collaboration with the Defense Criminal Investigative Service, the Air Force Office of Special Investigations, the FBI, and our international partners underscores our shared commitment to combat corruption in all its forms.">>

According to the indictment, Bahadir Hatipoglu, 50, who resides near Klaipeda, Lithuania, is the owner of companies that received construction contracts with NATO and the U.S. military. Ralf Grywnow, 70, who resides in Zagnansk, Poland, is a former NATO procurement official. The two men allegedly engaged in a scheme in which Hatipoglu bribed Grywnow in various ways, including by providing Grywnow with cash, a romantic encounter with a woman in Dubai and assistance in constructing and furnishing a house for Grywnow in Poland. In exchange, Grywnow allegedly helped Hatipoglu get contracts with the U.S. military by providing him with falsified reviews that favorably appraised Hatipoglu's companies' work with NATO. Grywnow also provided Hatipoglu with preferential treatment in overseeing contracts that Hatipoglu had or sought to obtain with NATO and gave Hatipoglu confidential information related to bids for NATO construction contracts.

Hatipoglu and Grywnow were arrested in Lithuania and Poland, respectively, pursuant to provisional arrest warrants. The U.S. Department of Justice is working with Lithuanian and Polish authorities to extradite both defendants to the United States, where they are each charged with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and four counts of wire fraud. If convicted of any of the charges, each defendant faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison.

The Department of Defense Office of the Inspector General, the Air Force Office of Special Investigations, the Department of the Army Criminal Investigation Division and the FBI are investigating the case. Polish and Lithuanian authorities provided significant assistance pursuant to legal assistance treaties with the United States.

Trial Attorneys Dermot Lynch, Shy Jackson and Patrick Brown of the Criminal Division's Fraud Section are prosecuting the case. Substantial assistance was provided by the Justice Department's Office of International Affairs and the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Mississippi.

An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law

Topic: Financial Fraud

Components: Criminal Division

Criminal - Criminal Fraud Section

Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

USAO - Mississippi, Southern

Press Release Number: 26-65

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Situation in the Philippines: Rodrigo Roa Duterte fit to take part in pre-trial proceedings; confirmation of charges hearing to open on 23 February 2026

International Criminal Court (ICC) / Cour penale internationale (CPI)

Press Release: 26 January 2026

Today, 26 January 2026, Pre-Trial Chamber I ("Chamber") of the International Criminal Court ("ICC" or "the Court") found Mr Rodrigo Roa Duterte fit to take part in the pre-trial proceedings and scheduled the commencement of the confirmation of charges hearing for 23 February 2026.

The Defence had requested the indefinite adjournment of the proceedings, including the hearing on the confirmation of charges, based on its assertion that Mr Duterte was not fit to participate in the proceedings. The Chamber appointed a panel of three medical experts to undertake a medical examination of Mr Duterte and received the Panel's reports on 5 December 2025, on which the Prosecution, the Defence and the Office of Public Counsel for Victims submitted observations.

Having regard to the relevant legal principles, the medical assessment of the independent experts composing the Panel, and all of the relevant circumstances of the case, the Chamber was satisfied that Mr Duterte is able effectively to exercise his procedural rights and is therefore fit to take part in the pre-trial proceedings, which are thereby resumed. The Chamber rejected the Defence's request for an indefinite adjournment and set the date of the commencement of the confirmation of charges hearing for 23 February 2026.

An order setting the schedule and directions for the hearing on the confirmation of charges will be issued in due course, including instructions regarding measures that the medical reports have recommended to facilitate Mr Duterte's participation. The purpose of such hearing is to determine whether there is sufficient evidence to establish substantial grounds to believe that the person committed each of the crimes charged. If one or more of the charges are confirmed, the case will be transferred to a Trial Chamber, which will conduct the subsequent phase of the proceedings: the trial.

Practical information, in particular on how to attend or watch the proceedings, will be provided closer to the date of the hearing.

Decision on the 'Defence Request for an Indefinite Adjournment' and Mr Duterte's fitness to take part in the pre-trial proceedings

Background: Mr Duterte is suspected of the crimes against humanity of murder and attempted murder, allegedly committed on the territory of the Republic of the Philippines between 1 November 2011 and 16 March 2019 in the context of the 'war on drugs' campaign. Following a request of the ICC Office of the Prosecutor, the warrant of arrest against Mr Duterte was issued by the Chamber as "Secret" on 7 March 2025 and reclassified as "Public" on 11 March 2025. On 12 March 2025, Mr Duterte was surrendered to the ICC after being arrested by the authorities of the Republic of the Philippines in accordance with the warrant of arrest.

The initial appearance of Mr Duterte took place on 14 March 2025. On 8 September 2025, Pre-Trial Chamber I postponed the confirmation hearing, initially scheduled to start on 23 September 2025, to adjudicate the Defence's Adjournment Request concerning Mr Duterte's fitness to participate in the proceedings.

Pre-Trial Chamber I is composed of Presiding Judge Iulia Antoanella Motoc and Judges Reine Adelaide Sophie Alapini-Gansou and Maria del Socorro Flores Liera.

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Gaza ceasefire is making a difference, but situation is still deadly for children

26 January 2026 - The fragile ceasefire in the Gaza Strip is making a difference to the lives of over a million children, and improving overall access to food - but more aid still needs to enter.

That's the assessment of two senior officials from the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) and the World Food Programme (WFP), speaking on Monday to journalists in New York following a week-long visit to the enclave and the occupied West Bank.

The two agencies have brought more than 10,000 trucks of aid into Gaza since the 10 October truce between Israel and Hamas, representing some 80 per cent of all humanitarian cargo.

Famine reversed

Three months later, "the food security situation has improved and famine has been reversed," said Ted Chaiban, UNICEF Deputy Executive Director, Humanitarian Action and Supply Operations.

Carl Skau, WFP Deputy Executive Director, added that most families he met "were eating at least once a day" - sometimes twice.

Commercial goods have reappeared in Gaza's markets, including vegetables, fruits, chicken and eggs. Recreational kits to help children heal from the stress and trauma of two years of war are now in their hands.

'These gains matter'

UNICEF and partners have provided more than 1.6 million people with clean drinking water and distributed blankets and winter clothes to 700,000. They have also restored essential life-saving paediatric intensive care services at embattled Al Shifa Hospital in Gaza City.

The second round of a Gaza-wide "catch-up campaign" for routine childhood vaccinations is currently underway, while another 72 UNICEF-supported nutrition facilities have been established, bringing the total to 196.

"These gains matter," said Mr. Chaiban. "They show what is possible when the fighting pauses, political commitments are sustained and humanitarian access opens."

Hot meals and school snacks

WFP has also scaled up massively over the past 100 days, said Mr. Skau, speaking from Rome. Teams have reached more than a million people every month with full rations for the first time since the war began.

They are "serving 400,000 hot meals every day and delivering school snacks to some 230,000 children in 250 temporary learning centres," in addition to operating hundreds of distribution points and some 20 warehouses.

Other humanitarian organizations are bringing in tents, blankets, mattresses and other essentials thanks to WFP's shared logistics services.

The agency is also helping to facilitate more regular aid convoys and is expanding common storage facilities so that more aid can be positioned closer to the population. It has also ramped up cash support to roughly 60,000 households.

Situation still deadly

Although more aid is entering Gaza, quantities are not yet sufficient to meet the immense needs. Furthermore, "the situation also remains extremely precarious and deadly for many children," said Mr. Chaiban.

"More than 100 children have been reported killed in Gaza since the ceasefire of early October. Despite the progress with food security,100,000 children remain acutely malnourished and require long term care. 1.3 million people, many of them children, are in urgent need of proper shelter."

Families are shivering in fabric tents and bombed-out buildings amid freezing temperatures that have killed at least 10 children this winter season.

Mr. Sklau met a young woman with a 10-day-old baby who "was sitting on a wet mattress in this cold tent on the beach," describing their plight as "just absolutely brutal."

Hopes for a brighter future

Yet hope blossoms in the Gaza Strip. UNICEF and partners are supporting over 250,000 children to resume learning - a critical element to mental health and psychosocial support for more than 700,000 students who have been out of school for two years.

Mr. Skau recalled a conversation with young girls at a temporary learning space who "were happy to be back learning and eating more regularly," he said.

"They could see a future again as nurses or engineers or restaurant owners, and they seemed impressively confident and determined to build a future for themselves."

Change the trajectory

Humanitarians need essential items - such as water and sanitation provision, as well as educational supplies - to be allowed to enter Gaza which can help jump start recovery and reconstruction.

Mr. Chaiban said WFP and UNICEF are ready to scale up operations.

"The children of Gaza and the State of Palestine including the West Bank, which is also experiencing a wave of violence do not need sympathy. They need decisions now that give them warmth, safety, food, education, and a future," he said.

"We have an opportunity, a window, to change the trajectory for these children. We can't waste it."

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A new blow for UNRWA as headquarters in East Jerusalem 'set on fire'

By Daniel Johnson in Geneva

26 January 2026 - The head of embattled UN relief agency for Palestinians, UNRWA, has condemned reports that its headquarters in East Jerusalem have been set alight deliberately.

It comes after Israeli authorities "stormed and demolished" buildings in the compound last week, UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini said.

"Allowing this unprecedented destruction is the latest attack on the UN in the ongoing attempt to dismantle the status of Palestine Refugees in the Occupied Palestinian Territory and erase their history," Mr. Lazzarini said.

In a short statement, the senior UN official added that there were "no limits to the defiance of the United Nations" and international law in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.

Last Tuesday's move by Israeli authorities to send bulldozers into the Sheikh Jarrah compound where they tore down UNRWA structures prompted swift condemnation from senior UN officials including Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Turk.

Ahead of that dramatic development, on 14 January, Israeli forces entered an UNRWA health centre in East Jerusalem and ordered it to close. The agency reported that its workers were "terrified" and that the deteriorating situation was a direct result of legislation passed by the Israeli parliament in December, stepping up existing anti-UNRWA laws adopted in 2024.

UNRWA premises have also been targeted by arsonists amid a "large-scale disinformation campaign" against it by Israel, the agency's Commissioner-General has previously maintained.

This was despite a ruling last October by the UN's top court, the International Court of Justice, which restated that Israel was obliged "to facilitate UNRWA's operations, not hinder or prevent them. The court also stressed that Israel has no jurisdiction over East Jerusalem," Mr. Lazzarini noted.

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PLA Southern Theater Command Navy conducts routine patrol in SCS; 'joint patrols' by Philippines, countries outside region disrupt peace: spokesperson

Global Times

By Global Times Published: Jan 27, 2026 02:03 PM

Air Force Senior Colonel Tian Junli, spokesperson for the PLA Southern Theater Command, said in a statement on Tuesday that, from Sunday to Monday, the PLA Southern Theater Command Navy conducted a routine patrol in the South China Sea.

The Philippines co-opted countries outside of the region to organize the so-called "joint patrols", disrupting peace and stability in the South China Sea, Tian noted.

The theater command forces will resolutely safeguard national territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests, and firmly uphold regional peace and stability, said the spokesperson.

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US aircraft carrier in Middle East amid tensions with Iran; Chinese expert warns US becoming audacious in solving issues through military means

Global Times

By Liu Xuanzun and Shen Sheng Published: Jan 27, 2026 12:33 AM

A US carrier strike group has reportedly arrived in the Middle East region by Monday amid speculation over potential operations against Iran, while the Iranian side said the US warships would not weaken Iran's defense resolve.

The USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group is now in the Indian Ocean, putting it closer to assist in any potential US operations targeting Iran, CNN claimed in a report on Monday, citing two sources.

The group is within the area of responsibility of US Central Command, whose purview includes military operations in the Middle East, according to CNN, which noted that the carrier is not necessarily in a final position for any potential operation.

Citing a senior US official, Fox News also reported on Monday that the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier has entered CENTCOM waters in the Indian Ocean. The top US official claimed that the Lincoln was not yet ready for any possible future strikes against Iran.

Fox News, citing reports, also claimed that Iran's Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has gone underground, suggesting the country may be preparing for military action.

In response, Iran's Foreign Ministry Spokesman Esmail Baghaei said on Monday that US warships would not weaken Iran's defense resolve, and Iran's UN envoy in Geneva said Tehran is prepared for "any scenario," according to Monday reports by Iran International.

Song Zhongping, a Chinese military affairs expert, told the Global Times on Monday that the US carrier strike group's deployment is indeed likely targeted at Iran, as the US is applying more pressure.

Since the US military operation that forcibly seized Venezuela President Nicolas Maduro earlier this month, the US could have become more audacious about solving issues through military means, so it cannot be ruled out that the US could launch an attack on Iran, Song said.

Meanwhile, potential US military operations are still not certain. CNN noted that US allies have been urging the US to forestall any military action, with Iranian officials having warned that a US attack would lead to strikes on Washington's allies in the region. Iran possesses a large arsenal of medium- and long-range ballistic missiles.

The Fox News report also suggested that the US carrier strike group could be vulnerable against potential Iranian attacks. A leading US drone expert told Fox that Iran's drone swarms would pose a credible and serious threat to the Lincoln and its strike group.

The US expert claimed that Iran can launch large numbers of relatively unsophisticated drones directly at naval vessels, creating saturation attacks that could overwhelm traditional defenses. "Modern defense systems were not originally designed to counter that kind of saturation attack. For US surface vessels operating near Iran, warships are prime targets."

In response to a request for comment on that the US is sending a massive fleet toward Iran, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said at a regular press conference on Friday that China hopes that Iran will maintain national stability and that all parties will cherish peace, exercise restraint, and resolve differences through dialogue.

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EU outrage grows following Trump's military threats, dismissal of NATO troops

People's Daily Online

(Xinhua) 11:09, January 27, 2026

WASHINGTON, Jan. 26 (Xinhua) -- Emotions are running high in Europe following U.S. President Donald Trump's military threats and his downplaying of contributions made by allied troops in Afghanistan.

Trump has triggered outrage among allies in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) after questioning whether they would come to Washington's aid in times of need.

"We've never needed them. We have never really asked anything of them. You know, they'll say they sent some troops to Afghanistan, or this or that. And they did -- they stayed a little back, a little off the front lines," Trump said Thursday in an interview with Fox News in Davos, Switzerland, sparking a firestorm of criticism.

The comments incensed European leaders, with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer denouncing Trump's statement as "insulting and frankly appalling" since British forces suffered casualties in the U.S. war in Afghanistan.

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk also lambasted Trump's comments in a social media post, pointing out that his country, too, lost troops in Afghanistan.

This latest controversy comes on the heels of a tense dispute with European leaders over Greenland, after Trump said military action would be a possible option in his bid to acquire the largely Arctic island, a self-governing territory within the Kingdom of Denmark.

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said that while security, investment and economic issues could be negotiated, "we cannot negotiate on our sovereignty."

While Trump later claimed to have secured the framework of a deal with NATO regarding Greenland's future, his threats and aggressive rhetoric prompted European leaders to denounce any military aggression on Greenland as "neo-colonialism."

The United States wanted to "weaken and subordinate Europe" by demanding "maximum concessions" and implementing tariffs that were "fundamentally unacceptable -- even more so when they are used as leverage against territorial sovereignty," French President Emmanuel Macron said at the recent World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland.

EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said Thursday that "transatlantic relations have definitely taken a big blow over the last week."

Former European Council President Charles Michel told CNN that the transatlantic relationship "as we've known it for decades is dead."

Critics also argued that Trump's suggestion of using military force in the Greenland dispute would violate international treaties, including the UN Charter, which forbids the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state.

Moreover, as both the United States and Denmark are members of NATO, an attack on Greenland would also violate the North Atlantic Treaty.

Trump has since backed down from his threats of military action and tariffs, following strong condemnation from EU leaders.

For its part, the Trump administration has emphasized that Greenland is critical to U.S. national security.

Speaking live on stage at the WEF, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said that Trump "believes that Greenland is essential for the Golden Dome missile shield."

"Greenland is becoming more and more attractive for foreign conquest," Bessent said. "And (Trump) very strongly believes that it must be part of the United States to prevent a conflict, rather than getting the U.S. engaged and exposed into a hot conflict."

When asked if Greenland is crucial to U.S. national security, Michael O'Hanlon, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, told Xinhua: "It is important, but we are already able to protect it. In fact, by treaty, we are already obliged to."

Greenland hosts a key U.S. military base, and with Arctic ice melting, new shipping routes and access to natural resources are becoming increasingly viable. This has driven much of the U.S. interest in the island, according to media reports.

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Hamas says recovery of last hostage's remains from Gaza proves commitment to ceasefire

People's Daily Online

(Xinhua) 09:28, January 27, 2026

GAZA/JERUSALEM, Jan. 26 (Xinhua) -- Hamas said on Monday that the discovery of the remains of the last Israeli hostage held in the Gaza Strip demonstrates the movement's full commitment to the ceasefire agreement.

In a statement, Hamas spokesperson Hazem Qassem said the movement "will continue to adhere to all aspects of the agreement," including facilitating the work of the technocratic committee tasked with managing Gaza's affairs.

Qassem called on mediators and the United States to compel Israel to "cease its violations of the agreement and fulfill its obligations."

The statement came after the Israeli army announced the recovery of the remains of Ran Gvili, 24, a member of Israel Police's elite Yasam patrol unit, who was killed on Oct. 7, 2023, and whose body was transferred to Gaza.

Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told reporters that Israeli forces were on their way back to Israel with the body of Gvili for burial, calling the recovery a "tremendous achievement" for the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).

"Following the completion of the identification process by the National Institute of Forensic Medicine, IDF representatives informed the family of the deceased hostage, Sergeant First Class Ran Gvili, that their loved one has been identified and will be returned for burial," the military said in a statement.

"With this, all hostages have been returned from the Gaza Strip to the State of Israel," it added.

The announcement came a day after Israel said it had launched a "large-scale operation" to locate Gvili's remains in a cemetery in northern Gaza, based on intelligence information.

According to Hamas, all Israeli captives have now been returned, either alive or as remains, as part of the first phase of the ceasefire agreement brokered by the United States, Qatar, and Egypt, which came into effect in October 2025.

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Fujian Clique

The Fujian Clique functioned as a primary power center within the People's Liberation Army for much of the late 2010s and early 2020s, composed of officers whose careers were forged in the coastal military districts directly opposite Taiwan. The group's origins were rooted in the nearly two decades that Xi Jinping spent in Fujian Province between 1985 and 2002, a period during which he developed intimate professional ties with the leadership of the 31st Group Army headquartered in Xiamen. This unit was traditionally seen as the "frontline" force for any potential cross-strait conflict, and its officers were uniquely positioned to benefit from Xi's focus on national reunification following his ascension to supreme power in 2012-2013. Unlike the Shaanxi Gang, which emphasized revolutionary heritage through princelings whose fathers fought alongside Mao Zedong, the Fujian Clique was characterized by its operational focus on maritime strategy, amphibious warfare, and the complex logistics of large-scale naval invasion across the Taiwan Strait.

Origins and Formation in Fujian Province

Xi Jinping's formative political years in Fujian Province from 1985 to 2002 established the personal relationships that would later coalesce into the Fujian Clique within the PLA. During this seventeen-year period, Xi served in progressively senior positions including Vice Mayor of Xiamen (1985-1988), Mayor and Party Secretary of Ningde (1988-1990), Party Secretary of Fuzhou (1990-1996), and ultimately Party Secretary of Fujian Province (1999-2002). These roles placed him in regular contact with military leaders responsible for the Nanjing Military Region's units stationed in Fujian, particularly the 31st Group Army whose area of responsibility encompassed the province's coastline facing Taiwan across the strait.

The 31st Group Army, based in Xiamen with subordinate divisions spread across southern Fujian, maintained a unique status within the PLA due to its frontline position opposite Taiwan. The unit conducted regular amphibious assault exercises, maintained specialized equipment for cross-strait operations, and housed officers who spent their careers studying Taiwan's defenses and developing invasion scenarios. During Xi's tenure in Fujian, these officers interacted with provincial leadership through civil-military coordination meetings, disaster response operations, and the complex negotiations surrounding military facility usage and troop movements through civilian areas. Xi's hands-on administrative style meant he personally engaged with military commanders on issues ranging from land requisition for training areas to coordination during the 1995-1996 Taiwan Strait Crisis when the PLA conducted missile tests and amphibious exercises near Taiwanese waters.

Several officers who later formed the core of the Fujian Clique began their careers in the 31st Group Army during Xi's Fujian years. He Weidong joined the unit as a private soldier in 1978 at age 16, working his way through the enlisted ranks before attending military academy and returning to the 31st Group Army as an officer. By the time Xi was serving as Fujian Party Secretary, He had risen to regimental and brigade-level commands within the unit, gaining direct exposure to Xi during inspection tours and military-civilian coordination activities. Similarly, Miao Hua entered the 31st Group Army at age 16 in 1979, following a nearly identical trajectory through the ranks. Both officers came from humble backgrounds without revolutionary pedigree, distinguishing them from the princelings who dominated other PLA factions.

The personal relationships Xi developed during this period created bonds of mutual obligation and trust that would prove consequential decades later. Officers who worked effectively with Xi during his Fujian tenure remembered him as detail-oriented, demanding high standards, and focused on practical results rather than ideological posturing. For Xi's part, he observed which military officers demonstrated competence in complex operations, maintained unit discipline, and showed loyalty to civilian party authority. These assessments would inform his personnel decisions after becoming CMC chairman, when he possessed the authority to elevate officers from relative obscurity to the highest ranks.

The 31st Group Army as Institutional Base

The 31st Group Army served as the primary institutional foundation for the Fujian Clique's power within the PLA. Established in 1985 through the reorganization of the old 29th Army, the 31st Group Army comprised approximately 40,000 troops organized into combined arms brigades, artillery units, air defense formations, and specialized amphibious assault elements. The unit's headquarters in Xiamen placed it literally on the frontline of the Taiwan issue, with some forward positions within artillery range of Taiwanese-held islands including Kinmen (Quemoy), which lies merely 10 kilometers from the Fujian mainland.

The unit's unique mission set shaped its institutional culture and training priorities. Unlike inland Group Armies focused on ground warfare or border defense, the 31st Group Army specialized in amphibious operations, joint force coordination with naval and air elements, and urban warfare scenarios anticipated for assaults on Taiwanese cities. The unit maintained specialized equipment including amphibious assault vehicles, air-cushioned landing craft, and communications systems designed for coordinating complex multi-domain operations. Officers assigned to the 31st Group Army spent extensive time studying Taiwan's geography, defense infrastructure, and military capabilities, developing expertise unmatched elsewhere in the PLA.

The institutional culture of the 31st Group Army emphasized operational competence and technical proficiency over ideological indoctrination, reflecting its focus on preparing for actual combat operations rather than ceremonial duties or internal security missions. This technocratic orientation attracted ambitious officers who viewed military service as a professional career requiring specialized skills rather than primarily as political work. The unit's regular participation in Taiwan Strait exercises and its high readiness requirements meant that commanders had to maintain genuine combat capabilities, creating accountability mechanisms that discouraged the endemic corruption affecting some other PLA units.

As the Fujian Clique's members rose through the ranks and moved to positions beyond the 31st Group Army, they maintained ties to their original unit and worked to place trusted subordinates in key positions. This created a network spanning multiple units within the Eastern Theater Command and extending into the PLA Navy, Rocket Force, and even political commissar positions throughout the military. The 31st Group Army functioned as a talent pipeline, with officers who proved themselves in Taiwan-focused operations gaining promotions to more senior positions across the PLA structure.

Rise to Power Under Xi Jinping

The Fujian Clique's ascent accelerated dramatically after Xi Jinping consolidated control over the Central Military Commission following his appointment as CMC chairman in November 2012. While Xi inherited a CMC dominated by officers associated with previous leaders, his anti-corruption campaign beginning in 2013-2014 provided opportunities to remove rivals and install loyalists. The investigation and ultimate expulsion of former CMC vice chairmen Xu Caihou and Guo Boxiong on corruption charges eliminated the most powerful representatives of previous factional networks, creating vacancies at senior levels that Xi could fill with officers he trusted.

He Weidong's career trajectory exemplified the Fujian Clique's rise. After serving in various capacities within the 31st Group Army, He was promoted to command positions in the Nanjing Military Region (later reorganized as the Eastern Theater Command). In 2014, he became commander of the 1st Group Army based in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, giving him responsibility for one of the PLA's most important combined arms formations. This appointment signaled Xi's confidence in He's abilities and loyalty, as the 1st Group Army played a crucial role in any Taiwan contingency scenario due to its proximity to potential staging areas.

He's promotion to commander of the Eastern Theater Command in 2017 represented a quantum leap in responsibility and influence. The Eastern Theater Command, one of five geographic commands established during Xi's 2015-2016 military reforms, held primary responsibility for Taiwan scenarios and encompassed the most modern and capable units in the PLA. As theater commander, He Weidong controlled multiple Group Armies, naval formations including the East Sea Fleet, air force units from the Nanjing Military Region Air Command, and Rocket Force elements. This position made him one of the most powerful operational commanders in the PLA, with direct authority over forces that would conduct the initial phases of any Taiwan operation.

Miao Hua followed a parallel trajectory, though through the political commissar system rather than operational command. After service in the 31st Group Army, Miao held political officer positions in multiple units before being appointed political commissar of the 31st Group Army in 2004. He later served as political commissar of the 27th Group Army and subsequently of the Nanjing Military Region, making him the senior political officer for all PLA units in eastern China. Miao's expertise lay in personnel management, ideological work, and the political vetting systems that determined which officers received promotions and sensitive assignments.

The 2017 CMC reorganization saw Miao Hua elevated to the CMC itself as a member and director of the Political Work Department, giving him oversight of political work across the entire PLA. This position was extraordinarily powerful, as it controlled the personnel evaluation system, determined ideological training curricula, and investigated political loyalty issues. Miao's appointment meant that Fujian Clique members now controlled both operational commands (through He Weidong's Eastern Theater Command position) and personnel selection systems (through Miao's Political Work Department), creating complementary levers of institutional power.

The 20th Party Congress Elevation

The 20th Party Congress in October 2022 represented the apex of Fujian Clique power within the PLA. Xi Jinping's unprecedented decision to retain He Weidong despite his reaching retirement age and to promote him directly to CMC vice chairman shocked military observers. He skipped multiple levels of seniority, jumping from theater commander to the CMC's second-ranking position without the customary period serving as a CMC member first. This extraordinary elevation signaled Xi's complete confidence in He and suggested imminent focus on Taiwan operations, as He possessed unmatched expertise in cross-strait military scenarios.

He Weidong's promotion broke with established PLA norms in several ways. At age 68, He exceeded the customary retirement age of 65 for theater commanders and 68 for CMC members, suggesting Xi specifically sought to retain his services for critical upcoming missions. The only comparable precedent was Liu Huaqing's appointment as CMC vice chairman at age 76 in 1992, which occurred during a previous period of major military restructuring. He's lack of prior CMC membership experience was also unusual, as vice chairmen typically gained familiarity with CMC procedures by first serving as ordinary members. The decision to bypass these conventions indicated Xi's assessment that He's operational expertise was essential and time-sensitive.

The 2022 CMC lineup retained Miao Hua in his position as director of the Political Work Department and CMC member, ensuring continuity in the personnel system. Additionally, multiple other positions went to officers with connections to the Fujian network, though not all held formal Fujian Clique membership. The combination of He Weidong's operational command experience and Miao Hua's control over personnel created what appeared to be the dominant factional grouping within the CMC, surpassing even the Shaanxi Gang in institutional influence.

Observers noted that the 2022 CMC reflected an Army-heavy composition, with He Weidong and other ground force officers dominating at the expense of naval and air force representation. The PLA Air Force lost its seat on the CMC for the first time in decades when Xu Qiliang retired without a PLAAF successor being appointed. This Army dominance suggested that Xi's strategic priorities focused on ground force modernization and combined arms operations -- the core competencies of officers who had served in the 31st Group Army and Eastern Theater Command.

Operational Doctrine and Strategic Focus

The Fujian Clique's influence manifested in the PLA's operational planning and training priorities during the early 2020s. Under He Weidong's leadership at the Eastern Theater Command and subsequently as CMC vice chairman, the military emphasized preparation for "complex joint operations in the maritime direction," a euphemism for Taiwan invasion scenarios. This involved intensive training in amphibious assault, airborne operations, naval blockade, and the suppression of enemy air defenses -- all capabilities required for seizing Taiwan.

The Eastern Theater Command under He Weidong's tenure conducted increasingly sophisticated exercises in waters surrounding Taiwan, including live-fire drills that simulated beach assaults, naval bombardment of coastal targets, and the seizure of port facilities. These exercises grew in scale and realism, incorporating larger numbers of troops, more complex coordination between services, and scenarios that more explicitly mimicked Taiwan geography. The exercises following Nancy Pelosi's August 2022 visit to Taiwan were particularly notable, as PLA forces conducted missile overflights of Taiwan, practiced blockade positions, and demonstrated the capability to isolate the island from external reinforcement.

The Fujian Clique's strategic vision emphasized speed and overwhelming force in the initial phases of any Taiwan operation. Operational plans reportedly called for rapid seizure of air and naval superiority through intensive missile strikes on Taiwanese air bases, naval facilities, and command centers, followed immediately by amphibious and airborne assaults to secure beachheads and key ports before Taiwanese forces could mobilize resistance. This approach reflected lessons learned from studying modern joint operations, particularly American campaigns in Iraq and Afghanistan, adapted to the unique challenges of crossing 180 kilometers of open water against a defended coastline.

Equipment procurement priorities during the Fujian Clique's ascendancy reflected these operational emphases. The PLA Navy received funding for additional amphibious assault ships, including the Type 075 landing helicopter dock class capable of launching helicopter assault operations. The PLA Air Force acquired additional Y-20 transport aircraft for airborne operations and improved air-to-air platforms for seizing air superiority. The Rocket Force expanded its conventional precision-strike capabilities with missiles specifically designed to attack airfields, radar installations, and command bunkers. These procurement decisions represented a coherent strategy for building the capabilities required to execute a Taiwan invasion, suggesting that operational planning had progressed beyond abstract contingencies to concrete force development.

Network Expansion and Patronage

As He Weidong and Miao Hua gained power within the CMC, they worked systematically to place trusted associates in key positions throughout the military hierarchy. This patronage network extended beyond officers directly from the 31st Group Army to include individuals who had worked with Fujian Clique leaders during their careers or who shared their operational focus on Taiwan scenarios. The result was a constellation of officers across multiple services and theaters who owed their positions to Fujian Clique sponsorship and who coordinated their activities to advance the faction's interests.

Lin Xiangyang emerged as one of the most important Fujian Clique members outside the CMC itself. Lin served as commander of the Eastern Theater Command following He Weidong's promotion to CMC vice chairman, making him responsible for day-to-day operations of the forces most directly focused on Taiwan. Lin's career had followed a path through the Nanjing Military Region similar to He Weidong's, and the two had worked together on multiple occasions. Lin's appointment ensured continuity in the Eastern Theater Command's operational focus and maintained Fujian Clique control over the theater's powerful military assets.

Wang Xiubin, who served as executive deputy director of the CMC Joint Operations Command Center, represented another key node in the network. The Joint Operations Command Center functioned as the PLA's nerve center for coordinating multi-service operations, making Wang's position critical for any complex campaign. Wang had served under He Weidong in the Eastern Theater Command and was seen as technically competent in joint operations planning. His placement in the CMC's operational headquarters gave the Fujian Clique influence over how the entire PLA would conduct coordinated operations.

Fang Yongxiang's role as CMC military secretary to Xi Jinping represented perhaps the most sensitive position held by a Fujian Clique member. The military secretary controlled access to the CMC chairman, managed Xi's military schedule, helped prepare briefings and decision documents, and served as a conduit for information between Xi and the broader military establishment. Fang, who had served in the 31st Group Army and maintained close ties to He Weidong, was appointed to this crucial gatekeeping position in the early 2020s. His presence meant that Fujian Clique leaders had direct influence over what information reached Xi and how military options were presented for decision.

The network extended into the PLA Navy, where multiple flag officers with connections to the Fujian Clique held important commands. Given the centrality of naval power to any Taiwan operation, controlling key naval positions was essential to the faction's strategic objectives. Officers who had worked with Fujian Clique leaders in joint exercises or who shared their operational priorities received appointments to carrier battle group commands, amphibious assault ship commands, and naval base positions critical for Taiwan operations.

The Rocket Force also saw Fujian Clique influence, particularly as the service's role in Taiwan scenarios grew. Wang Houbing, who became Rocket Force commander, had ties to the network through his service in units that coordinated with the Eastern Theater Command. The Rocket Force's precision conventional missiles were essential to the operational plans developed by He Weidong and other Taiwan specialists, making reliable Rocket Force leadership a priority. Wang Houbing's career in the 31st Group Army during the 1980s and 1990s created personal ties to He Weidong and other Fujian Clique founders.

Conflict with the Shaanxi Gang

The Fujian Clique's rapid rise inevitably generated tensions with the Shaanxi Gang, the rival faction built around princelings whose fathers had fought in the Chinese Civil War. Zhang Youxia, the senior CMC vice chairman, led the Shaanxi Gang and represented a fundamentally different approach to military leadership. Where the Fujian Clique emphasized operational competence and technical expertise, the Shaanxi Gang prioritized revolutionary heritage, ideological purity, and personal loyalty to Xi based on family connections rather than professional performance.

Zhang Youxia's father, Zhang Zongxun, had served alongside Xi Jinping's father Xi Zhongxun during the revolutionary period, creating a bond between the families spanning generations. This princeling background gave Zhang Youxia automatic legitimacy within certain PLA circles and strong connections to other revolutionary families. Zhang's career had followed the traditional path of privileged officers, including prestigious command assignments, educational opportunities, and steady progression through ranks aided by family connections. His combat experience in the 1979 Sino-Vietnamese War provided credibility, but his later career was marked more by political navigation than operational innovation.

The factional conflict manifested in disputes over promotions, resource allocation, and operational priorities. The Fujian Clique's emphasis on Taiwan preparation required massive investment in amphibious capabilities, naval expansion, and theater-specific training. The Shaanxi Gang, with its focus on maintaining control over the PLA's internal security apparatus and ensuring ideological conformity, viewed these resource demands as threatening to other priorities. Additionally, the Fujian Clique's technocratic culture clashed with the Shaanxi Gang's emphasis on political reliability and family background.

Zhang Youxia's position as senior vice chairman gave him authority over the CMC's anti-corruption efforts through Zhang Shengmin, secretary of the CMC Discipline Inspection Commission. Zhang Shengmin, despite sharing a surname with Zhang Youxia, was not directly related but was closely aligned with the Shaanxi Gang's approach. Zhang Shengmin's background in the Rocket Force and his career as a political commissar rather than operational commander aligned him with the Shaanxi Gang's emphasis on ideological work and political control. His role investigating corruption provided tools for targeting rival factions.

The appointment of He Weidong as CMC vice chairman in 2022 upset the factional balance, as it placed a Fujian Clique leader in a position nominally equal to Zhang Youxia, though Zhang retained seniority. Reports suggested that He Weidong sought to expand his authority and challenge Zhang Youxia's control over personnel decisions and resource allocation. The ambitious nature of Taiwan operational planning required vast budgets and prioritization of Eastern Theater Command needs, creating zero-sum competition with other theaters and services that had Shaanxi Gang representation.

Personnel decisions became a particular flashpoint. Miao Hua's control over the Political Work Department gave the Fujian Clique influence over promotions throughout the officer corps, allowing them to advance allies and sideline rivals. The Shaanxi Gang viewed this as threatening their long-term position, as a generation of Fujian Clique-promoted officers would eventually occupy senior positions across the PLA. Zhang Youxia reportedly complained to Xi Jinping that He Weidong and Miao Hua were building an independent power base that could eventually challenge Xi's own authority.

Corruption Vulnerabilities and Procurement Irregularities

The Fujian Clique's focus on rapid capability development and massive procurement created vulnerabilities that rivals could exploit. The Eastern Theater Command's equipment modernization program involved billions of yuan in contracts for ships, aircraft, weapons systems, and support equipment. The complexity of modern military procurement, combined with the speed at which the PLA was acquiring new capabilities, created numerous opportunities for corruption, fraud, and mismanagement.

Defense procurement in China operated through a system where military requirements were defined by operational commanders, approved by CMC departments, and fulfilled by state-owned defense enterprises. This created multiple points where corrupt actors could manipulate the process -- inflating requirements to justify larger contracts, selecting contractors based on bribes rather than capability, accepting substandard equipment in exchange for payments, or diverting funds allocated for equipment to personal use. The scale of PLA modernization made oversight difficult, and the compartmentalized nature of military secrecy prevented external scrutiny.

He Weidong's long tenure commanding Eastern Theater Command units gave him extensive involvement in procurement decisions. As theater commander, He approved equipment requests, participated in acquisition planning, and oversaw acceptance of delivered systems. While this involvement was necessary for ensuring units received appropriate capabilities, it also created exposure if irregularities were discovered in contracts that He had approved. The massive naval expansion, including production of aircraft carriers, amphibious assault ships, and supporting vessels, involved particularly large sums and complex specifications that could hide corruption.

Li Shangfu's case provided a template for how procurement corruption could be weaponized against a faction. Li, who served as defense minister and CMC member before his removal in 2023, had previously led the CMC Equipment Development Department responsible for weapons acquisition. Investigations reportedly found that Li had accepted bribes from defense contractors, approved inflated contracts in exchange for payments, and steered business to companies controlled by associates. Li's close relationship with Zhang Youxia, who had preceded him in leading the Equipment Development Department, created a logical connection between the two, though Zhang was not immediately charged.

The investigation's expansion to Li Shangfu suggested that procurement corruption would be a central accusation against broader networks. For the Fujian Clique, their extensive involvement in Eastern Theater Command modernization and the rapid expansion of Taiwan-focused capabilities made them vulnerable to similar accusations. Even if officers had not personally engaged in corruption, they had approved contracts and accepted equipment that could retroactively be claimed as defective or overpriced.

The Purge Begins - Li Shangfu's Fall

The first indication that the Fujian Clique faced serious threat came with Li Shangfu's disappearance from public view in August 2023. Li, who had been appointed defense minister and CMC member in March 2023, simply stopped appearing at scheduled events without explanation. Chinese official sources provided no information about his whereabouts or status for months, following the pattern of previous corruption investigations where officials were detained for extended periods while investigators built cases.

Li Shangfu's removal was particularly concerning for the Fujian Clique because of his position as defense minister and CMC member, making him one of the highest-ranking military officers in China. More significantly, Li had been personally selected by Xi Jinping for the position despite U.S. sanctions against him for purchasing Russian weapons. Xi's decision to appoint Li despite Western opposition suggested confidence in Li's abilities and loyalty, making his subsequent removal all the more ominous. If Xi was willing to investigate and remove an officer he had personally elevated to one of the PLA's most visible positions, no one was safe.

The investigation methodology reportedly involved the CMC Discipline Inspection Commission under Zhang Shengmin isolating Li from his supporters, seizing financial records, interviewing subordinates, and pressuring associates to provide incriminating testimony. The closed nature of military justice meant that accused officers had limited ability to defend themselves or appeal to outside authorities. Once the investigation began, the outcome was nearly predetermined -- officials under investigation were virtually never exonerated, as launching an investigation was itself a political decision indicating leadership consensus that the target would be removed.

Li Shangfu's case was formally announced in June 2024 when he was referred for criminal prosecution, though specific charges were not detailed publicly. The official statement accused him of "serious violations of discipline and law" and claimed he had "seriously violated the Party's organizational discipline, lived an extravagant and corrupt life, accepted extremely large sums of money and valuables," and "seriously violated the regulations on managing leading cadres." These formulaic accusations suggested corruption but provided no details about specific acts or amounts involved.

For the Fujian Clique, Li Shangfu's removal served as a warning. Although Li was more closely associated with the Shaanxi Gang through his relationship with Zhang Youxia, the investigation's focus on Equipment Development Department corruption could easily extend to other officers involved in procurement. The aggressive investigation of a recently appointed defense minister signaled that Xi's patience with corruption had expired and that previous service or loyalty provided no protection.

The October 2025 Mass Expulsion

The devastating blow to the Fujian Clique arrived on 17 October 2025 when the Ministry of National Defense announced the expulsion of nine senior generals from the Communist Party and armed forces. The announcement came just days before the Fourth Plenum of the Central Committee, suggesting careful timing to present the purge as a fait accompli before the broader party leadership convened. The nine expelled officers included CMC Vice Chairman He Weidong, CMC member and Political Work Department director Miao Hua, and seven other generals, all accused of "serious violations of Party discipline" involving "extraordinarily large sums" with "exceptionally vile impact."

He Weidong's expulsion was particularly shocking given his status as a serving CMC vice chairman and Politburo member. No incumbent vice chairman had been removed since 1967 during the Cultural Revolution, making He's fall unprecedented in the reform era. The expulsion meant He lost his military rank, party membership, positions, and likely faced criminal prosecution. For an officer who had risen from private soldier to the PLA's second-highest position, the fall represented complete personal and professional destruction.

Miao Hua's simultaneous expulsion decapitated the Fujian Clique's control over personnel systems. As director of the Political Work Department, Miao had been responsible for officer evaluations, promotions, and ideological training across the entire PLA. His removal meant that all personnel decisions he had influenced could be questioned and potentially reversed. Officers he had promoted could be investigated on the theory that they owed their positions to corrupt patronage rather than merit. The network Miao had carefully constructed over years collapsed overnight.

The seven other expelled generals represented a systematic dismantling of the Fujian Clique's power structure. He Hongjun, who had served as executive deputy director of the CMC Political Work Department, was Miao Hua's immediate subordinate and a key implementer of personnel policies. Wang Xiubin, executive deputy director of the CMC Joint Operations Command Center, had been responsible for coordinating multi-service operations and was closely associated with He Weidong's operational planning. Lin Xiangyang, commander of the Eastern Theater Command, was He Weidong's successor in that crucial position and represented continuity in Fujian Clique control of Taiwan-focused forces.

The charges against all nine followed similar patterns, accusing them of accepting bribes, living extravagantly, forming political cliques, and undermining the "Chairman Responsibility System." The latter accusation was particularly significant, as it suggested that the officers' primary offense was challenging Xi Jinping's absolute authority rather than simple corruption. The rhetoric emphasized that they had "gravely betrayed the trust of Party Central and the CMC," "seriously undermined the principle of 'the Party commands the gun,'" and "caused extremely serious damage to the Party's cause, national defense and military construction."

The scope of the expulsions extended beyond those named in the initial announcement. Over the following weeks, additional officers connected to the Fujian network were quietly removed from positions, detained for investigation, or transferred to less sensitive posts. The purge targeted officers across the Eastern Theater Command, the PLA Navy, and political commissar positions where Miao Hua had placed allies. The systematic nature suggested that investigators had compiled detailed organizational charts mapping the entire network and were methodically eliminating each node.

Accusations and Investigation Methodology

The official accusations against He Weidong and Miao Hua evolved over time as additional details emerged through official statements, PLA Daily editorials, and carefully orchestrated leaks to media. The corruption charges centered on acceptance of massive bribes from defense contractors, real estate developers, and subordinates seeking promotions. He Weidong was accused of accepting cash, luxury goods, and real estate worth tens or hundreds of millions of yuan, though specific amounts were not publicly disclosed. The investigation allegedly found evidence of multiple properties registered to family members, high-value art collections, and foreign currency holdings.

Beyond financial corruption, He Weidong faced accusations of forming a "political clique" and "small group" that operated semi-independently from central authority. The investigation reportedly uncovered evidence that He had systematically placed associates in key positions throughout the Eastern Theater Command and had coordinated personnel decisions with Miao Hua to build a coherent network. This network was characterized as pursuing its own interests and agenda rather than simply implementing central directives, representing a fundamental challenge to the principle of absolute party control over the military.

Miao Hua's charges emphasized his abuse of control over personnel systems. As Political Work Department director, Miao possessed enormous influence over which officers received promotions, assignments to prestigious positions, and opportunities for advancement. The investigation allegedly found that Miao had systematically promoted officers who paid him bribes, provided gifts, or pledged personal loyalty to him rather than to the party. This corruption of the meritocratic personnel system was presented as particularly egregious because it undermined the PLA's combat effectiveness by placing unqualified officers in sensitive positions.

The investigation methodology involved the CMC Discipline Inspection Commission under Zhang Shengmin isolating targets, seizing documents and financial records, pressuring subordinates to provide testimony, and building cases through accumulated evidence. Officers under investigation were typically confined to special facilities where they could not coordinate stories or destroy evidence. Their families were monitored to prevent them from transferring assets abroad. Associates were brought in for questioning and presented with choices between cooperating with investigators or facing investigation themselves, creating incentives for testimony against superiors.

The closed nature of military justice meant that accused officers had limited due process protections. They were not provided with lawyers from the outset, were questioned without recordings that could document coercion, and faced investigators who assumed guilt and sought to determine the extent of wrongdoing rather than objectively assessing evidence. Once the CMC chairman approved an investigation, the outcome was virtually certain -- no senior officer investigated during Xi's tenure had been exonerated, suggesting that launching an investigation was itself a conviction.

Zhang Youxia's Role and the Shaanxi Gang's Victory

Zhang Youxia's role in the Fujian Clique's destruction remained officially opaque but was widely discussed among military observers and analysts. As senior vice chairman of the CMC with authority over military discipline and anti-corruption efforts through Zhang Shengmin, Zhang Youxia controlled the investigative machinery used to bring down He Weidong and Miao Hua. While Zhang Youxia could not unilaterally order investigations of CMC members -- that authority rested with Xi Jinping -- he could influence which cases were investigated, how evidence was presented, and what recommendations were made.

Some analysts interpreted the purge as Zhang Youxia's factional victory over the Fujian Clique. According to this view, Zhang had convinced Xi that He Weidong and Miao Hua represented a threat to Xi's authority by building an independent power base. The argument would have emphasized that the Fujian network's control of operational commands and personnel systems gave them potential ability to resist central directives or even threaten a coup if they perceived Xi as abandoning Taiwan reunification objectives. By framing the Fujian Clique as a security threat rather than simply corrupt, Zhang could justify the drastic action of removing a sitting vice chairman.

Evidence for this interpretation included the timing and comprehensiveness of the purge. The decision to expel nine generals simultaneously suggested systematic planning rather than reactive response to discovered corruption. The coordination required to arrest multiple senior officers across different locations, seize evidence, and compile cases against all of them implied months of preparation. Zhang Youxia and Zhang Shengmin would have been central to this planning, identifying targets, gathering preliminary evidence, and building the case for presenting to Xi.

Alternative interpretations suggested that Xi himself initiated the purge after concluding that the Fujian Clique had become too powerful and potentially unreliable. Xi's paranoia about military loyalty -- rooted in concern that the PLA might resist orders or even attempt a coup -- would make him sensitive to any faction that controlled both operational commands and personnel systems. The Fujian Clique's apparent autonomy, their focus on Taiwan scenarios that Xi might not authorize, and their network's cohesion could all trigger Xi's suspicion regardless of Zhang Youxia's machinations.

Zhang Shengmin's elevation to CMC vice chairman in October 2025, replacing He Weidong, represented the Shaanxi Gang's institutional victory. Zhang Shengmin had spent his career as a political commissar emphasizing ideological purity and loyalty over operational competence. His background as discipline inspector made him skilled at investigating and punishing other officers but provided little relevant experience for the operational leadership role of CMC vice chairman. His appointment signaled that Xi valued political reliability over military expertise and that the Shaanxi Gang's approach now dominated PLA leadership.

The Broader Network's Destruction

The removal of He Weidong and Miao Hua triggered cascading investigations throughout the Fujian Clique network. Officers who owed their positions to Fujian sponsorship faced automatic suspicion and became targets for investigation. Some were formally arrested and charged, while others were quietly transferred to sinecure positions where they could cause no harm. The systematic nature of the purge suggested that investigators possessed detailed records of the network's membership and were working methodically to eliminate each member.

Lin Xiangyang's expulsion removed the Fujian Clique's last operational commander. As Eastern Theater Command commander, Lin had been responsible for the forces most directly relevant to Taiwan scenarios. His removal meant that Taiwan operational planning would pass to officers without the institutional expertise and commitment that characterized the Fujian network. The new commander would need time to familiarize themselves with the theater's forces, develop relationships with subordinate commanders, and understand the complex operational environment -- all while operating under the shadow of the purge.

Wang Xiubin's removal from the Joint Operations Command Center eliminated Fujian Clique influence over how the PLA coordinated multi-service operations. The Joint Operations Command Center functioned as the brain for coordinating Army, Navy, Air Force, and Rocket Force elements in complex campaigns. Wang's replacement with an officer from outside the Fujian network meant that operational planning would be conducted by someone without the years of Taiwan-focused preparation that had characterized Wang's approach.

Wang Houbing's removal as Rocket Force commander represented another devastating blow. The Rocket Force's precision conventional missiles were essential to any Taiwan operation, responsible for suppressing Taiwanese air defenses, destroying command centers, and neutralizing the island's ability to resist invasion. Wang's expertise in coordinating Rocket Force operations with Eastern Theater Command ground and naval forces had been developed over decades. His replacement would lack this institutional knowledge and the personal relationships required for effective joint operations.

The purge extended to officers at lower levels whose connections to the Fujian Clique made them vulnerable. Brigade commanders, division political commissars, and staff officers who had served under He Weidong or Miao Hua faced investigation or were transferred to positions where their potential influence was minimized. Some took early retirement rather than face investigation, while others were cashiered with reduced pensions. The comprehensive nature of the purge created a climate of fear throughout the PLA, where any association with the wrong faction could end careers.

Impact on Taiwan Operational Planning

The destruction of the Fujian Clique created immediate and profound challenges for the PLA's Taiwan operational planning. The officers removed represented the most experienced and knowledgeable Taiwan specialists in the Chinese military. He Weidong had spent decades studying Taiwan scenarios, developing detailed plans for amphibious assault, and building the forces required to execute those plans. Miao Hua had ensured that personnel systems produced officers trained and equipped for Taiwan operations. Lin Xiangyang had commanded the theater responsible for implementing those plans. The collective expertise eliminated by the purge was irreplaceable in any reasonable timeframe.

Taiwan operational planning required extraordinarily complex coordination between services, detailed knowledge of Taiwanese defenses and geography, specialized training for amphibious and airborne assault, and years of relationship-building among commanders who would execute the operation. The Fujian Clique's members had developed this expertise through their careers and had built networks of subordinates similarly trained. Their removal meant that operational planning would pass to officers without this background, who would need years to achieve comparable capability.

The Eastern Theater Command's exercises and training programs reflected the decline in focus. With Lin Xiangyang gone and his replacement coming from outside the Fujian network, the intensity and realism of Taiwan-focused exercises reportedly decreased. New commanders were reluctant to propose aggressive exercises or operational concepts that might draw attention and investigation. The paranoia created by the purge meant that officers avoided actions that could be interpreted as building independent power bases, even if those actions were professionally justified.

Some Western analysts suggested that the purge had effectively delayed any possible Taiwan invasion by years, as the PLA would need to rebuild institutional expertise and train new commanders in complex joint operations. The leadership instability made it impossible to maintain the sustained focus required for preparing such a massive and risky operation. If Xi had intended to pursue Taiwan reunification through military force, the destruction of the Fujian Clique had eliminated the officers most capable of executing that mission.

Alternative interpretations suggested that Xi viewed the Fujian Clique's capabilities as dangerous precisely because they created pressure for military action that Xi was not prepared to authorize. If the PLA developed robust capabilities for seizing Taiwan and a faction of officers strongly advocated using those capabilities, Xi might face pressure to act before he considered conditions favorable. By destroying the Fujian network and its institutional expertise, Xi ensured that he would not be pushed toward premature military action by ambitious commanders seeking to fulfill their life's work.

January 2026 - The Final Blow

The investigation's expansion to Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli in January 2026 shocked observers who had viewed these officers as secure in their positions. Zhang Youxia, as senior vice chairman and Xi Jinping's trusted associate from revolutionary families, appeared untouchable. Liu Zhenli, as chief of the Joint Staff Department, occupied a crucial operational position but had not been prominently associated with either the Fujian Clique or the Shaanxi Gang. Their simultaneous investigation suggested that either the purge had expanded beyond factional lines or that connections to corruption were more widespread than previously understood.

Zhang Youxia's investigation generated speculation about whether he had become collateral damage from destroying the Fujian Clique or whether his own conduct had triggered scrutiny. Wall Street Journal reporting suggested Zhang faced accusations of leaking information about China's nuclear weapons program to the United States, though these allegations remained unconfirmed by Chinese sources. If true, such accusations would represent security breaches far more serious than the corruption charges leveled against other purged officers. Zhang was also reportedly accused of accepting bribes related to procurement decisions, including allegedly securing Li Shangfu's appointment as defense minister in exchange for payments.

The nuclear security allegations, if accurate, suggested that Gu Jun's investigation had provided evidence implicating Zhang Youxia. Gu Jun, former general manager of the China National Nuclear Corporation responsible for both civilian and military nuclear programs, was reportedly detained in 2024. If investigators examining Gu's activities discovered that he had leaked sensitive technical data and traced those leaks to Zhang Youxia's involvement, it would explain the severity of the charges and Xi's willingness to move against such a senior and personally trusted officer.

Liu Zhenli's investigation remained more mysterious, as his career had not been characterized by obvious factional affiliation or controversial actions. As chief of the Joint Staff Department, Liu was responsible for operational planning and coordination, making him essential to PLA functionality. His removal, following the loss of so many other senior officers, left the CMC functionally incapable of conducting complex operations. With only Xi Jinping and Zhang Shengmin remaining as CMC members, the body responsible for managing three million PLA personnel and directing all military operations had been reduced to a chairman with no military experience and an anti-corruption enforcer whose career focused on political work rather than operations.

The Fujian Clique's Legacy and Lessons

By early 2026, the Fujian Clique had been comprehensively destroyed as an organized force within the PLA. The officers who had spent decades preparing for Taiwan operations, building networks based on operational competence, and rising to the highest levels of military leadership were gone -- expelled from the party, stripped of rank, imprisoned, or under investigation. Their institutional legacy -- the focus on Taiwan preparation, the emphasis on joint operations, the investment in amphibious capabilities -- remained, but the human expertise required to utilize those capabilities had been eliminated.

The Fujian Clique's destruction illustrated fundamental lessons about power and factional politics in Xi Jinping's China. First, no amount of operational competence or professional achievement could substitute for political reliability and personal loyalty. He Weidong and Miao Hua had risen through merit and proven ability, but their lack of revolutionary heritage made them expendable when factional conflicts intensified. Second, building effective networks and achieving institutional influence made officers vulnerable to accusations of forming political cliques and challenging central authority. The very success that the Fujian Clique achieved in coordinating personnel decisions and operational planning became evidence of their threat to Xi's absolute control.

Third, the comprehensive nature of the purge demonstrated that factional affiliation could be retroactively criminalized. Officers who had worked with He Weidong or Miao Hua in professionally appropriate ways found themselves investigated simply for those associations. The expansion of the investigation to include dozens of officers beyond the initial nine expelled generals showed that membership in a network, regardless of personal conduct, could justify removal. This created a chilling effect throughout the PLA, where officers avoided building the professional relationships and networks necessary for effective military operations out of fear that those relationships could later be characterized as factional activity.

Fourth, the investigative methodology employed against the Fujian Clique -- isolation, pressure, denial of due process, presumption of guilt -- meant that once targeted, officers had virtually no defense. The closed nature of military justice and the political nature of anti-corruption campaigns ensured that investigations served policy objectives rather than objectively determining facts. This made the decision to investigate an officer essentially equivalent to a conviction, as no mechanism existed for exoneration.

The destruction of the Fujian Clique left the PLA's Taiwan operational planning in disarray and created a leadership vacuum that would require years to fill. The officers removed represented decades of accumulated expertise that could not be rapidly recreated. New commanders would need time to develop comparable knowledge, build relationships with subordinates, and establish the credibility required for effective leadership. The paranoia generated by the purge meant that officers were reluctant to demonstrate initiative or build networks, fearing that success would make them targets for investigation.

For Xi Jinping, the purge represented a successful elimination of potential threats to his authority but at the cost of degrading military capabilities. The PLA was left with a CMC that lacked operational expertise, a senior officer corps fearful of investigation, and a Taiwan-focused establishment that had lost its most knowledgeable leaders. Whether Xi viewed this trade-off as acceptable -- sacrificing military effectiveness to ensure political control -- remained unclear, but the implications for China's strategic options and military preparedness were profound and would persist for years.

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General Liu Zhenli

General Liu Zhenli, born in August 1964 in Luancheng (now part of Shijiazhuang), Hebei Province, emerged as one of the People's Liberation Army's (PLA) most prominent senior officers in recent decades. A career ground force commander with rare combat experience, he rose rapidly through the ranks to become a member of the Central Military Commission (CMC) and Chief of Staff of its Joint Staff Departmentone of the most critical positions in China's military hierarchy, overseeing joint operations, combat planning, C4ISR (command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance), and overall warfighting readiness. His trajectory reflected the PLA's shift toward professionalization, joint command structures, and merit-based promotions under Xi Jinping's leadershipuntil his abrupt fall in early 2026 amid high-level purges.

Liu enlisted in the PLA in September 1983 at age 19, joining a reconnaissance unit in the Lanzhou Military Region's 112th Division. This early assignment placed him in high-intensity border operations during the lingering Sino-Vietnamese conflicts of the 1980s. From 1986 to 1987, he participated in intense skirmishes along the border, serving in the 12th Reconnaissance Battalion. These engagements earned him significant honors: a First-Class Merit, a Second-Class Merit, and three Third-Class Meritsdistinctions rare among contemporary PLA leaders, most of whom lack live combat exposure since 1979. This frontline experience shaped his reputation as a pragmatic, operationally oriented officer, distinguishing him from peers focused on theoretical or peacetime training.

After the border conflicts, Liu progressed steadily through tactical and operational roles typical of ground force infantry and reconnaissance paths: platoon leader, deputy company commander, company commander, battalion-level staff officer, battalion commander, deputy director and director of various units, brigade chief of staff, and artillery command director within the 38th Army. By the late 2000s, he had reached senior command levels in the Beijing Military Region. In December 2009, he became Chief of Staff of the 65th Group Army, followed by promotion to Major General (Shaojiang) in December 2010 at age 46a notably young age for that rank.

In February 2012, Liu assumed command of the 65th Group Army, becoming one of the youngest group army commanders at age 48. He transferred in March 2014 to lead the elite 38th Group Army (later reorganized as part of the 82nd Group Army), a key mechanized unit historically tied to Beijing's defense. These commands honed his expertise in large-scale ground maneuver warfare and rapid response operations.

The 2015-2016 PLA reformsXi's sweeping overhaul dissolving military regions into theater commands and establishing new service headquartersaccelerated Liu's ascent. In July 2015, he briefly served as Chief of Staff of the People's Armed Police Force, marking him as the youngest deputy theater-level officer at the time. By December 2015, he became the inaugural Chief of Staff of the newly formed PLA Ground Force headquarters, a pivotal role in integrating ground capabilities into the joint framework.

Promoted to Lieutenant General (Zhongjiang) in July 2016 at age 52, Liu continued building joint expertise. He later commanded ground elements in theater commands before June 2021, when he was appointed Commander of the PLA Ground Forcethe army's top uniformed leader. In July 2021, at age 57, he received promotion to full General (Shangjiang), reportedly the youngest on record at that point, underscoring his favored status.

Liu's pinnacle came in late 2022. Following the 20th Party Congress, he joined the CMC as a member in October 2022 and transitioned to Chief of Staff of the CMC Joint Staff Department in March 2023. This department, analogous to the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff operations directorate, handles operational command, joint training, intelligence fusion, and crisis responsemaking its chief central to any potential Taiwan contingency or regional conflict. Liu engaged in high-level dialogues, including with U.S. counterparts, and oversaw modernization efforts emphasizing integrated multi-domain operations.

As a CMC member and 19th/20th Central Committee member, plus a delegate to the 12th-14th National People's Congress, Liu symbolized the PLA's younger, combat-tested generation. Analysts viewed him as a potential future Politburo contender or even defense minister successor, given his non-sanctioned status and operational credibility.

Tragically for his legacy, on January 24, 2026, China's Ministry of National Defense announced that Liu Zhenlialong with CMC Vice Chairman Zhang Youxiawas under investigation for "serious violations of discipline and law," a standard euphemism for corruption and political misconduct. The decision, made after Central Committee review, stunned observers, as it targeted two of the last remaining combat veterans in senior ranks. Official media, including the PLA Daily, issued scathing editorials accusing them of "seriously trampling and undermining the Chairman's responsibility system," fostering political and corrupt cliques that endangered Party control over the military, and inflicting "extremely grave damage" on political ecology, combat readiness, and national security.

Speculation ranged from power struggles and factional purges to allegations of leaking sensitive information or bribe-related promotions. Liu's fall completed a near-total turnover of the 2022 CMC lineup, leaving Xi Jinping with minimal experienced deputies amid ongoing anti-corruption drives that removed figures like Li Shangfu, Miao Hua, and He Weidong.

Liu Zhenli's career arc  from decorated border fighter to joint operations architect  embodied Xi-era PLA ambitions: professional, loyal, and combat-oriented. Yet his 2026 downfall highlights the precariousness of elite positions in China's military politics, where loyalty tests and anti-graft campaigns can override even proven merit. At roughly 61 years old upon investigation, his once-ascending path ended in the most dramatic fashion, contributing to institutional instability questions as the PLA pursues modernization and regional assertiveness.

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Xi Jinping - PLA Reform

The political landscape of the Peoples Liberation Army reached a point of unprecedented crisis in January 2026, as the "anti  corruption" campaign evolved into a total reconstruction of the militarys top command. The announcement of investigations into General Zhang Youxia and General Liu Zhenli meant that five of the six uniformed members of the 20th Central Military Commission appointed in 2022 had been purged or sidelined. This level of turnover at the highest level of the military hierarchy was virtually unheard of in the history of the Peoples Republic, surpassing even the upheavals of the Cultural Revolution in its systematic dismantling of the established leadership. The accusations leveled against Zhang and Liu  that they had "betrayed the trust" of the party and "undermined the chairman responsibility system"  suggested a deep  seated rift at the very center of the power structure, where the requirements of absolute loyalty came into direct conflict with the traditional bonds of patronage.

Zhang Youxia, Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC) and a Politburo member, along with Liu Zhenli, CMC member and Chief of the Joint Staff Department, were officially removed from their positions on January 24, 2026. The People's Liberation Army Daily published a strongly worded editorial that evening, accusing them of seriously betraying the trust of the Party Central Committee and the CMC, trampling on the Chairman responsibility system, and endangering the foundation of the Party's rule.

The Epoch Times (and similar outlets) reported these details but could not independently verify them. Official Chinese announcements framed the removals as investigations into "serious violations of discipline and law," with unusually harsh language in state media, possibly to deter further dissent and consolidate control through public opinion.

Unverified reports, including from democracy activist Sheng Xue (citing sources inside China), claim this stems from a failed coup attempt against Xi Jinping. According to these accounts, Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli planned to arrest Xi on the evening of January 18, 2026, while he was staying at the Jingxi Hotel in Beijing (a frequent but unpredictable location for him amid security concerns). The plot was leaked about two hours in advance, allowing Xi to quietly leave the hotel and organize a counter-operation. Advance teams sent by Zhang's side arrived at the Jingxi Hotel unaware of the leak and clashed in a gunfight with Xi's security forces, resulting in casualties on both sides. Xi then ordered the arrests of Zhang Youxia, Liu Zhenli, and reportedly their family members.

Sheng Xue referenced a conversation with an insider source (pseudonym "Mr. X") from January 19, who claimed the arrests signaled something major. The source suggested Xi may have deliberately lured them into action, given his pattern of changing locations frequently. The source also noted that Zhang and Liu were overconfident in success and did not prepare escape plans for their families, as prior arrangements could have exposed the plotand Xi had allegedly planted informants among them.

This incident reportedly terrified Xi and his family, leading to heightened security (e.g., lockdowns at locations like the Shenzhen State Guest House where relatives stay). Analysts like Sheng Xue describe it as a vicious cycle of suspicion in the CCP system, where Xi's paranoia breeds caution and perceived disloyalty among elites. These accounts draw heavily from exile media, insider leaks, and unverified sources; mainstream reports confirm only the official investigations and removals, without endorsing coup or assassination details.

Analysis of the 2023-2026 Purges

The January 2026 purge in China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) announced on January 24, 2026, targeted General Zhang Youxia, vice chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC) and long viewed as Xi Jinping's closest military ally, along with General Liu Zhenli, chief of the CMC's Joint Staff Department. The purge, announced by China's Ministry of National Defense, accused the generals of "serious violations of discipline and law"a standard euphemism for corruption and disloyalty in official statements. This move reduced the CMC's effective uniformed leadership to essentially Xi himself and the anti-graft chief, General Zhang Shengmin, marking one of the most severe shake-ups in the PLA since the Mao era.

The reduction of the CMC to two members raised serious questions about the PLA's decision-making capacity and combat readiness. As China's supreme defense organ responsible for managing three million PLA personnel and 500,000 People's Armed Police, the hollowed-out CMC potentially compromised warfighting capabilities. The purges generated concerns about PLA morale, with fear reportedly replacing initiative among officers uncertain about their vulnerability to investigation. Some analysts suggested the turmoil would delay any potential Taiwan contingency indefinitely, as the unstable leadership made military operations unfeasible.

Xi Jinping's anti-corruption campaign in the military had removed at least 17 generals from senior positions since 2012, including eight former CMC members. The campaign's intensity and the targeting of figures Xi himself had promoted raised questions about the sustainability of the current command structure and whether additional purges would follow.

The systematic dismantling of the CMC represented the most extensive purge of military leadership in the history of the People's Republic of China. Between 2023 and January 2026, five of the six uniformed CMC members appointed in October 2022 were either expelled from the party or placed under investigation. Only Zhang Shengmin -- the anti-corruption chief -- remained.

Several interpretations emerged regarding the purges. Some analysts viewed them as Xi Jinping's deliberate effort to root out corruption and ensure absolute loyalty, with the investigations revealing genuine malfeasance including arms procurement fraud, political disloyalty, and potentially security breaches. Wall Street Journal reporting suggested that Zhang Youxia was accused of leaking information about China's nuclear weapons program to the United States, though these allegations remained unconfirmed.

Official sources, including the PLA Daily editorial, framed the action as essential to safeguard the "Chairman Responsibility System" (Xi's absolute command authority), eliminate "toxins" undermining party control, and ensure unwavering loyalty amid the drive for military modernization by 2035 and world-class status by 2049. State media emphasized that no one is exempt, even close allies, when loyalty to the party and Xi is questioned.

External analysts and Western reports offer a more complex view, often treating corruption as a convenient pretext rather than the sole cause. Key explanations include:

1. Dysfunction and graft: Allegations of corruption in procurement and operations, echoing earlier purges (e.g., Rocket Force scandals in 2023 and former defense ministers). While endemic in the system, such charges are selectively applied to justify removals and signal zero tolerance.

2. Disloyalty or alternative power bases: Zhang Youxia, a "princeling" with revolutionary family ties to Xi's own lineage, possessed deep personal networks, combat experience from the 1979 Sino-Vietnamese War, and significant influence. His downfall underscores that even longstanding personal alliances and "red second-generation" status provide no immunity if perceived as potential rival centers of power. This addresses criticisms that prior purges spared Xi's inner circle and consolidates absolute control under Xi.

3. Unreliability on strategic goals: With Xi's 2027 PLA readiness milestone approaching (linked to potential Taiwan contingencies), some analyses point to professional disagreements over modernization pace, joint training models, timelines, or perceived insufficient progress/aggressiveness toward national objectives. The purge may reflect frustration with delays in achieving "world-class" capabilities, prioritizing political loyalty over military expertise.

The event raised concerns about short-term PLA disruption, loss of remaining combat-experienced leaders, diverted focus toward loyalty checks, and increased opacity in command structures. Many observers conclude it makes near-term major military action (e.g., against Taiwan) less probable due to internal instability and eroded decision-making capacity, though it reinforces Xi's unchallenged dominance over the armed forces. This purge highlighted the inherent tension in China's system between centralized political authority and professional military autonomy, where individual networks or initiative can quickly be reframed as threats to the core leadership.

Alternative interpretations suggested that the purges reflected factional struggles within the PLA, with Zhang Shengmin and remnants of the Shaanxi Gang redirecting Xi's anti-corruption campaign against rival networks. The targeting of officers from the 31st Group Army -- including He Weidong, Miao Hua, and others with Taiwan-facing experience -- suggested possible factional dimensions beyond simple corruption enforcement.

Xi Jinping's purge within the CCP was the same method Mao Zedong used. Mao Zedong dealt with Peng Dehuai back then. First, he solicited advice. Peng Dehuai wrote a private letter to Mao regarding the Great Leap Forward and the People's Communes. Mao Zedong initially remained calm, but at the plenary session on July 23, he suddenly launched a counterattack, delivering a lengthy speech accusing Peng Dehuai's letter of being an attack on the Party.

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The Fujian clique versus Shaanxi gang conflict within the People's Liberation Army (PLA) and broader CCP elite circles mirrored earlier historical strategic debates  Japan's Strike North (Hokushin-ron) vs. Strike South (Nanshin-ron) and Ming China's treasure fleet (maritime expansion) vs. continentalists (northern land defense focus).

During the early Ming Dynasty (particularly under the Yongle Emperor, r. 14021424), a major strategic tension existed between advocates of maritime exploration via the massivetreasure fleet led by Admiral Zheng He andcontinentalist factions prioritizing northern land defenses against nomadic threats.

The treasure fleet voyages (14051433) represented an ambitious overseas policy: seven grand expeditions with hundreds of ships (including enormous "treasure ships" possibly over 400 feet long) carrying tens of thousands of personnel across the Indian Ocean to Southeast Asia, India, the Persian Gulf, Arabia, and East Africa. These were diplomatic displays of Ming power, enforcing the tribute system, suppressing pirates, establishing trade links, and bringing back exotic goods, animals (like giraffes), and tribute. Eunuch-led and supported by the Yongle Emperor's expansive vision, they projected China's prestige, restructured regional trade networks, and demonstrated unmatched naval technology inherited and advanced from prior dynasties.

Opposing this were conservative Confucian bureaucrats and continentalist priorities focused on the northern frontier. The Ming faced persistent threats from Mongol tribes (Oirats and others), requiring massive resources for Great Wall repairs, cavalry campaigns, and border garrisons. Critics viewed the voyages as extravagant, financially burdensome (high construction and maintenance costs with limited direct returns), and distracting from core continental security needs. After Yongle's death, successors like the Hongxi and Xuande Emperors briefly continued but then halted the fleet amid fiscal pressures, court factionalism, and renewed northern invasions (e.g., the 1449 Tumu Crisis, where the emperor was captured by Mongols).

By the mid-15th century, the Ming shifted decisively inward: destroying fleet records, burning ships, imposing sea bans (haijin) to curb private trade and piracy, and redirecting resources to northern defenses and the Grand Canal for internal logistics. This "continentalist" victory reflected Confucian suspicion of maritime ventures, fears of fiscal overreach, and the enduring priority of land-based threats over distant oceanic opportunities, leading to centuries of relative isolation until later interactions with European powers.

In the interwar period and leading up to World War II, Imperial Japan was divided between two competing expansionist doctrines:Hokushin-ron ("Northern Expansion Doctrine" or "Strike North"), primarily advocated by the Imperial Japanese Army (IJA), andNanshin-ron ("Southern Expansion Doctrine" or "Strike South"), championed by the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN).

Hokushin-ron focused on continental expansion northward, targeting resource-rich areas in Manchuria, Mongolia, and Siberia to secure coal, iron, and other materials by confronting the Soviet Union. This strategy aligned with the Army's land-based strengths, anti-communist ideology, and experiences in China, viewing the USSR as the primary threat and opportunity for territorial gains via Manchuria. Supporters, including factions like the Kodoha (Imperial Way), saw it as a way to sever Soviet supply lines and build a defensive bulwark against northern threats.

In contrast, Nanshin-ron emphasized maritime southward expansion into Southeast Asia and the Pacific Islands, aiming to seize oil from the Dutch East Indies, rubber from British Malaya, and other critical resources from European colonies. The Navy pushed this "Southern Road" to create a "Japanese lake" in the Pacific, neutralize Western (especially American) naval presence, and secure supply routes amid embargoes. It prioritized naval power projection and quicker resource extraction via established infrastructure in the south, rather than underdeveloped northern Siberian routes.

The Japanese debate was shaped by military setbacks (e.g., the 1939 defeat at Khalkhin Gol/Nomonhan against the Soviets, which discredited Hokushin-ron), the ongoing war in China tying down troops, and U.S. oil embargoes in 1941 that forced a choice. Ultimately, Nanshin-ron prevailed, leading to the Pearl Harbor attack and invasions of Southeast Asia, as southern resources (especially oil) were deemed more immediately vital and accessible than northern ones.

In the ongoing waves of anti-corruption purges within the People's Liberation Army (PLA) since 2023, a key internal divide has emerged between Xi Jinping's two primary support bases: the **Shaanxi gang** (land-oriented, northern/continental roots) and the **Fujian clique** (coastal/maritime-focused, eastern/Taiwan Strait experience). This mirrors historical debates over strategic priorities, with purges sequentially targeting each group, eroding Xi's direct control over the military despite being framed as anti-graft measures.

The Shaanxi gangrooted in Xi's princeling ties, family history in Shaanxi Province, and connections to figures like CMC Vice Chairman Zhang Youxiaemphasizes traditional army strengths, rocket forces, and continental defense priorities. It aligns with a "northern/land" orientation, focusing on internal stability, border threats (e.g., Russia or India), and ground-based power projection. Purges in the first wave (2023mid-2024) hit Shaanxi-linked officers in the Rocket Force, Air Force, and aerospace sectors hardest, weakening this group's influence and prompting promotions of Fujian-aligned figures to fill gaps (e.g., Dong Jun replacing Li Shangfu as Defense Minister).

In contrast, the Fujian cliquebuilt during Xi's 17-year career in Fujianincludes naval and eastern theater leaders (e.g., He Weidong, Miao Hua) with experience in Taiwan Strait contingencies, maritime operations, and "southern/coastal" priorities like reunification efforts and countering U.S. naval presence. The second wave (late 20242026) targeted this group, sidelining key figures and shifting CMC balance toward Shaanxi remnants. Analysts note this as a potential "factional war" under anti-corruption cover, with the Shaanxi gang (army/continental focus) gaining temporary dominance, though perpetual churn risks paralyzing PLA readiness for high-stakes scenarios like Taiwan.

Recent events, including the January 2026 removal of Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli amid coup rumors, highlight how these tensions echo broader strategic choices: continental/land defense vs. maritime/southern expansion. Purges may reflect Xi's attempts to balance or suppress rival networks, but they have created suspicion, divided loyalties, and questions about military cohesionmuch like historical factional debates that forced decisive (and sometimes costly) strategic shifts.

Narrative 2: How It Mirrors Historical Strategic Debates

Just as Imperial Japan's **Hokushin-ron** ("Strike North") army faction clashed with the **Nanshin-ron** ("Strike South") navy faction over resource priorities and threats (Soviet land vs. Western/Southeast Asian maritime), and Ming China's treasure fleet advocates (maritime prestige/trade) lost to continentalists (northern Mongol defenses/Great Wall focus), the Shaanxi gang vs. Fujian clique pits land/continental priorities against maritime/eastern ones.

The Shaanxi gang parallels the "Strike North"/continentalist side: rooted in northern heritage, princeling ties, and army traditions, it favors defensive continental posture, internal purges for loyalty, and resource allocation to ground forces/rocket deterrencemuch like Japan's army eyeing Siberian resources or Ming bureaucrats demanding Wall funding over "wasteful" voyages.

The Fujian clique echoes "Strike South"/treasure fleet advocates: coastal origins, naval/Taiwan expertise, and outward projection for reunification/resource access (e.g., South China Sea, Indo-Pacific). It pushes maritime modernization and aggressive eastern theater prep, akin to Japan's navy seeking southern oil/rubber or Zheng He's fleets projecting power abroaduntil fiscal/priority pressures (and purges) sidelined them.

In both historical cases, one side "won" temporarily (Japan's navy leading to Pearl Harbor; Ming's continentalists halting voyages), but at the cost of strategic flexibility and long-term risks. Today's PLA factionalism, intensified by Xi's centralization and recent events, risks similar outcomes: a military pulled between continental paranoia and maritime ambition, potentially unable to decisively pursue either without internal fracture.

Impact on Taiwan Operational Planning

The destruction of the Fujian Clique created immediate and profound challenges for the PLA's Taiwan operational planning. The officers removed represented the most experienced and knowledgeable Taiwan specialists in the Chinese military. He Weidong had spent decades studying Taiwan scenarios, developing detailed plans for amphibious assault, and building the forces required to execute those plans. Miao Hua had ensured that personnel systems produced officers trained and equipped for Taiwan operations. Lin Xiangyang had commanded the theater responsible for implementing those plans. The collective expertise eliminated by the purge was irreplaceable in any reasonable timeframe.

Taiwan operational planning required extraordinarily complex coordination between services, detailed knowledge of Taiwanese defenses and geography, specialized training for amphibious and airborne assault, and years of relationship-building among commanders who would execute the operation. The Fujian Clique's members had developed this expertise through their careers and had built networks of subordinates similarly trained. Their removal meant that operational planning would pass to officers without this background, who would need years to achieve comparable capability.

The Eastern Theater Command's exercises and training programs reflected the decline in focus. With Lin Xiangyang gone and his replacement coming from outside the Fujian network, the intensity and realism of Taiwan-focused exercises reportedly decreased. New commanders were reluctant to propose aggressive exercises or operational concepts that might draw attention and investigation. The paranoia created by the purge meant that officers avoided actions that could be interpreted as building independent power bases, even if those actions were professionally justified.

Some Western analysts suggested that the purge had effectively delayed any possible Taiwan invasion by years, as the PLA would need to rebuild institutional expertise and train new commanders in complex joint operations. The leadership instability made it impossible to maintain the sustained focus required for preparing such a massive and risky operation. If Xi had intended to pursue Taiwan reunification through military force, the destruction of the Fujian Clique had eliminated the officers most capable of executing that mission.

Alternative interpretations suggested that Xi viewed the Fujian Clique's capabilities as dangerous precisely because they created pressure for military action that Xi was not prepared to authorize. If the PLA developed robust capabilities for seizing Taiwan and a faction of officers strongly advocated using those capabilities, Xi might face pressure to act before he considered conditions favorable. By destroying the Fujian network and its institutional expertise, Xi ensured that he would not be pushed toward premature military action by ambitious commanders seeking to fulfill their life's work.

The 2026 Purge and the "Last Man Standing"

In the wake of these purges, General Zhang Shengmin emerged as the "last man standing" within the CMC, a position that reflected both his resilience and his unique role as the militarys primary disciplinary enforcer. As the Secretary of the CMC Discipline Inspection Commission, Zhang Shengmin had been the primary instrument through which the other members of the commission were investigated and removed. His survival and subsequent promotion to Vice Chairman in October 2025 placed him in a position of extraordinary influence, where he functioned as the sole guardian of the militarys political integrity. By January 2026, he was the only uniformed official remaining from the original 2022 lineup who had not been touched by scandal, a status that made him the indispensable "clean hand" of the military hierarchy. His rise was a testament to the power of the disciplinary apparatus to reshape the military in its own image, prioritizing the elimination of corruption and disloyalty above all other considerations.

The hollowing out of the CMC in 2026 created a significant leadership vacuum that the central authorities sought to fill with "second  line" officers and younger loyalists. This process of "decapitation and replacement" was designed to ensure that the new command structure was entirely beholden to the current leadership, without any residual ties to the purged factions. However, the rapid turnover also raised concerns about the PLAs operational continuity and its ability to manage a major crisis, particularly as the military continued its high  intensity training and modernization programs. The disciplinary drives led by Zhang Shengmin were framed as a necessary "cleansing" to prepare the force for "winning wars," yet the resulting climate of fear and suspicion had the potential to stifle initiative and create a "trust deficit" between the ranks. By the end of January 2026, the PLA was a force in transition, its old factional structures destroyed and its new leadership still in the process of being forged under the watchful eye of the disciplinary commissions.

The institutional changes overseen by Zhang Shengmin and his colleagues in the mid  2020s resulted in a military structure that was more centralized and responsive to the center than at any point in the previous four decades. The destruction of the Fujian Clique, the disciplining of the Shaanxi Gang, and the marginalization of the technocratic Rocket Force elite effectively ended the era of "independent kingdoms" within the armed forces. Every major promotion, procurement decision, and strategic shift was now subject to the oversight of the disciplinary organs, ensuring that the "gun" was not only under the control of the party but was actively being reshaped to reflect its ideological goals. The 2026 purges were the final stage of a long  term project to create a "party  army" that was both a world  class fighting force and an ideologically pure instrument of state power. This evolution was characterized by the replacement of personal patronage with institutional discipline, a shift that aimed to ensure the militarys absolute reliability in an increasingly contested and dangerous world.

The persistence of these disciplinary campaigns into early 2026 indicated that the leadership viewed the "internal threat" of corruption and factionalism as being just as dangerous as external military challenges. The focus on the "Chairman Responsibility System" became the ideological foundation for the new military order, requiring every officer to demonstrate a level of personal devotion to the leadership that superseded all other loyalties. This environment favored the rise of "political generals" like Zhang Shengmin, who were skilled in the nuances of internal oversight and ideological enforcement. As the PLA entered the latter half of the 2020s, the structures he helped build remained the defining feature of Chinese military governance, creating a system where the pursuit of "cleanliness" was inextricably linked to the pursuit of power. The legacy of the 2026 purges was a military that was more disciplined, more centralized, and more politically unified, yet also one that faced the ongoing challenge of maintaining professional excellence in a landscape defined by constant political scrutiny.

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Shaanxi Gang

The Shaanxi Gang represented a formidable and influential network within the Chinese Communist Party and the People's Liberation Army, centered on officials with personal, familial, or professional ties to Shaanxi Province in China's northwest. This faction gained prominence during the era of Xi Jinping, serving as a critical support base for his consolidation of power and the implementation of his strategic initiatives. The origins of the group were deeply rooted in the concept of "native-place associations," a traditional element of Chinese political culture where shared regional backgrounds fostered trust and mutual assistance among elites. For the Shaanxi Gang, this connection was amplified by the historical significance of the province as the revolutionary base of Yan'an -- where Mao Zedong and the Communist Party established their headquarters after the Long March -- and the ancestral home of several prominent "princelings," descendants of high-ranking revolutionary veterans whose fathers fought alongside Mao during the Chinese Civil War.

Yan'an and Revolutionary Heritage

Shaanxi Province's political significance derived fundamentally from its role as the terminus of the Long March and the base from which the Communist Party consolidated power during the 1930s and 1940s. When Mao Zedong's forces arrived in northern Shaanxi in October 1935 after the grueling 6,000-mile retreat from Jiangxi Province, they established headquarters in Yan'an, a remote town in the province's northern highlands. For the next decade, Yan'an functioned as the Communist Party's political, military, and ideological center, where Mao developed his theories of guerrilla warfare and mass mobilization, trained cadres who would later govern China, and built the organizational structures that enabled the party's eventual victory.

The Yan'an period created a revolutionary aristocracy composed of officers and officials who had served during these formative years. These individuals -- and later their children and grandchildren -- formed China's princeling class, claiming legitimacy through their families' sacrifices and contributions to the revolution. Shaanxi natives who had supported the Communist forces during their time in the province, provided supplies and recruits, or joined the party during the Yan'an years similarly acquired revolutionary credentials that would benefit them and their descendants for generations. The "Yan'an Spirit" became a powerful ideological construct emphasizing self-reliance, hard struggle, unity between leaders and masses, and absolute loyalty to the party -- values that Xi Jinping would later invoke extensively in his political rhetoric.

Several of the most prominent revolutionary leaders had deep connections to Shaanxi. Xi Zhongxun, Xi Jinping's father, was born in Fuping County, Shaanxi, in 1913 and became one of the youngest revolutionary leaders, helping to establish Soviet base areas in Shaanxi and Gansu provinces before the Long March. Xi Zhongxun served in senior positions during the Yan'an period and was considered one of the founding fathers of the Shaanxi revolutionary base. His contributions gave his family enormous prestige within the revolutionary elite, though he later suffered persecution during the Cultural Revolution before rehabilitation in the reform era.

Zhang Zongxun, father of CMC Vice Chairman Zhang Youxia, similarly served as a senior military commander during the Yan'an period and the subsequent Chinese Civil War. Zhang Zongxun led forces in campaigns across northwest China and was among the founding generals of the People's Republic. His close working relationship with Xi Zhongxun -- they served together in various military and administrative capacities during the 1940s -- created bonds between their families that would persist for decades. The friendship between the elder Xi and Zhang established expectations that their sons would maintain similar loyalty and mutual support.

This revolutionary heritage gave Shaanxi natives and those connected to the province a unique claim to legitimacy within the Communist Party system. While China had many revolutionary bases during the Civil War period, Yan'an held special symbolic importance as the site where Mao consolidated his leadership and where the party's core ideology was formulated. Leaders who could claim Yan'an credentials or Shaanxi connections positioned themselves as inheritors of the revolution's authentic spirit, distinguishing themselves from party members whose families joined after 1949 or who lacked revolutionary pedigree entirely.

Xi Jinping's Formative Years in Shaanxi

Xi Jinping's personal history became inextricably linked to Shaanxi through his experience as a "sent-down youth" during the Cultural Revolution. In January 1969, at age 15, Xi was sent to Liangjiahe village in Yan'an Prefecture as part of the massive campaign to send urban educated youth to the countryside for manual labor and ideological reeducation. This assignment was particularly harsh because Xi's family was under political persecution -- his father had been purged in 1962 and was imprisoned during the Cultural Revolution, making the younger Xi vulnerable to heightened scrutiny and discrimination.

Xi spent seven years in Liangjiahe, from 1969 to 1975, living in cave dwellings characteristic of the Loess Plateau region, working in agricultural production, and gradually integrating into village life. The experience was physically demanding and politically fraught, as Xi endured investigation for his family background and initial rejection by local peasants suspicious of this urban princeling. However, Xi's persistence, willingness to perform difficult labor, and gradual acceptance by villagers became central to his later political narrative. He learned to speak the local Shaanxi dialect, adopted rural customs, and developed relationships with local officials and other sent-down youth that would last decades.

During his time in Liangjiahe, Xi joined the Communist Party in 1974 after multiple rejected applications. His party membership and subsequent appointment as village party secretary gave him early leadership experience and demonstrated his rehabilitation despite his family's political problems. The connections Xi formed during these years -- with local party officials in Yan'an Prefecture, with other sent-down youth from Beijing who shared his experience, and with peasants who remembered his willingness to endure hardship -- created a network of individuals who felt personal loyalty to Xi based on shared suffering and mutual support during difficult times.

After leaving Liangjiahe in 1975, Xi attended Tsinghua University, then began his political career. However, he maintained connections to Shaanxi throughout his rise through the party hierarchy. He made pilgrimages back to Liangjiahe, maintaining contact with villagers and local officials. After becoming paramount leader, Xi frequently invoked his Shaanxi years in speeches and writings, portraying them as formative experiences that taught him about the real conditions of Chinese society, the importance of connecting with the masses, and the need for officials to endure hardship. This narrative served to legitimize Xi's authority by demonstrating that despite his princeling background, he had earned his position through genuine suffering and service.

The political utility of Xi's Shaanxi experience extended beyond personal narrative to practical patronage networks. Officials who had worked with Xi during his Yan'an years, who had served in Shaanxi during his subsequent visits, or who shared the Shaanxi regional identity could claim special relationships with the paramount leader. This created incentives for Xi to promote Shaanxi-connected officials to demonstrate loyalty to his roots and reward those who had supported him. The Shaanxi Gang thus represented not just a regional faction but a group united by shared experience, revolutionary heritage, and personal connection to Xi's formative political development.

Zhang Youxia: The Princeling General

Zhang Youxia embodied the Shaanxi Gang's combination of revolutionary heritage, regional identity, and personal loyalty to Xi Jinping. Born in 1950 in Shaanxi Province, Zhang was the son of Zhang Zongxun, one of the founding generals of the People's Liberation Army who had served as a senior military commander during the Chinese Civil War and subsequent campaigns. This princeling background gave Zhang Youxia automatic legitimacy within PLA circles and connections to other revolutionary families, including the Xi family through his father's close relationship with Xi Zhongxun.

Zhang Youxia's military career began in 1968 when he joined the PLA during the Cultural Revolution. Unlike officers who rose from enlisted ranks through merit, Zhang's family background ensured he received favorable assignments and educational opportunities. He attended the PLA Institute of International Relations, gaining foreign language skills and exposure to international military affairs. His early career assignments took him through various staff and command positions, where his combination of education, family connections, and apparent competence led to steady advancement.

Zhang's military reputation was significantly enhanced by his service in the 1979 Sino-Vietnamese War, where he commanded a company during China's brief but bloody invasion of northern Vietnam. The conflict, while strategically inconclusive, provided one of the few opportunities for PLA officers of Zhang's generation to gain combat experience. Zhang's unit participated in fierce fighting around Lang Sn, where Chinese forces encountered determined Vietnamese resistance and suffered significant casualties. Zhang was reportedly wounded during the campaign and received commendation for bravery, though details of his specific actions remained vague. This combat service, however limited, gave Zhang credibility that most PLA officers lacked and became a recurring element in his official biography.

Through the 1980s and 1990s, Zhang progressed through positions in the Shenyang and Beijing Military Regions, holding staff and command assignments that built his expertise in military operations. In the 2000s, he became increasingly involved in equipment development and procurement, serving as deputy chief and then chief of the General Armaments Department (later reorganized as the Equipment Development Department under the 2015-2016 military reforms). This position placed Zhang at the center of the PLA's massive modernization program, responsible for acquiring aircraft, missiles, ships, and advanced weapons systems. The procurement role involved enormous budgets and complex relationships with state-owned defense enterprises, creating both opportunities for advancing military capability and vulnerabilities to corruption allegations.

Zhang's elevation to the Central Military Commission occurred in 2012 when he was appointed a CMC member, then vice chairman in 2017 during Xi Jinping's second term. These promotions reflected Xi's confidence in Zhang based on their family connection and Zhang's long service in equipment development. As senior vice chairman from 2022 onward, Zhang became the PLA's highest-ranking uniformed officer, responsible for managing day-to-day military affairs and advising Xi on operational and strategic matters. This position gave Zhang extraordinary influence over personnel appointments, resource allocation, and policy direction.

Zhang's management style emphasized discipline, hierarchy, and loyalty to civilian party authority. Unlike some military officers who advocated for greater PLA autonomy or resisted party interference in professional military matters, Zhang consistently upheld the principle of absolute party control over the gun. This stance aligned with Xi's priorities and distinguished Zhang from potential rivals. Zhang's background in equipment development rather than operational command meant he approached military issues from a procurement and logistics perspective rather than focusing on warfighting doctrine or operational plans, creating a complementary relationship with officers from the Fujian Clique who specialized in Taiwan operations.

Zhang Shengmin: The Discipline Enforcer

Zhang Shengmin represented a different archetype within the Shaanxi Gang -- the political commissar and discipline enforcer whose career focused on ideological work and investigating corruption rather than operational command. Born in 1958 in Wugong County, Shaanxi Province, Zhang came from a modest background without princeling connections. His rise through the PLA ranks demonstrated that the Shaanxi Gang included not just revolutionary descendants but also officers whose Shaanxi origins and political reliability made them valuable to the network.

Zhang Shengmin joined the PLA in the late 1970s and spent most of his career in the Second Artillery Force (renamed PLA Rocket Force in 2015), serving as a political commissar at various levels. The Rocket Force, responsible for China's nuclear and conventional ballistic missiles, maintained particularly strict political controls due to its strategic importance. Political commissars in the Rocket Force emphasized loyalty, security consciousness, and ideological purity, as the service's mission required absolute reliability. Zhang's service in this environment shaped his approach to political work -- emphasizing surveillance, discipline, and the investigation of potential disloyalty or corruption.

From 2004 to 2015, Zhang held various positions within the Second Artillery Force, including political commissar of the Second Artillery Force Command Academy and later political commissar of a missile base in northwest China. These roles involved overseeing ideological education, monitoring personnel for security risks, and investigating disciplinary violations. Zhang developed expertise in the systems used to vet officers for promotions and sensitive assignments, understanding how to identify potential vulnerabilities and how to build cases against accused officers.

Zhang's career trajectory changed dramatically in 2017 when he was appointed to the Central Military Commission as a member and made secretary of the CMC Commission for Discipline Inspection. This dual appointment -- to the CMC itself and to head its internal anti-corruption body -- gave Zhang enormous power to investigate anyone in the military regardless of rank. The CMC Commission for Discipline Inspection functioned analogously to the party's Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, but specifically for military personnel. Zhang's responsibilities included investigating corruption allegations, enforcing party discipline within the PLA, and ensuring that officers adhered to Xi Jinping's directives.

Zhang Shengmin's appointment was announced during the 19th Party Congress in October 2017, the same occasion when Xi consolidated his position by securing a second term and removing potential rivals from key positions. Zhang's elevation signaled Xi's intention to intensify anti-corruption efforts within the military and to ensure that the PLA remained under firm political control. Unlike previous discipline inspectors who had primarily responded to reports of corruption, Zhang adopted a proactive approach, initiating investigations of entire departments and networks suspected of forming independent power bases.

Zhang's investigation methodology involved isolating suspects, seizing financial and communications records, pressuring subordinates to provide incriminating testimony against superiors, and building comprehensive cases that combined corruption charges with political accusations of disloyalty. This approach made Zhang both feared and powerful within the PLA, as any officer could potentially become an investigation target. Zhang worked closely with Zhang Youxia, the CMC vice chairman, creating a Shaanxi Gang partnership where Zhang Youxia controlled personnel appointments and overall military management while Zhang Shengmin wielded the investigative tools to remove problematic officers.

Zhang Shengmin's promotion to CMC vice chairman in October 2025, following He Weidong's expulsion, represented the culmination of his career and the Shaanxi Gang's consolidation of power. This promotion was unusual because Zhang had never held operational command positions typically expected for CMC vice chairmen. His background as a political commissar and discipline inspector provided limited relevant experience for the operational leadership roles that vice chairmen traditionally filled. However, the appointment signaled that Xi valued political reliability and investigative capability over operational expertise, and that the Shaanxi Gang's control of discipline mechanisms was more important than maintaining traditional qualifications for senior military positions.

Other Key Shaanxi Gang Military Figures

Beyond Zhang Youxia and Zhang Shengmin, the Shaanxi Gang included numerous other military officers who held important positions or provided the faction with institutional depth. Liu Zhenli, who served as CMC member and chief of the Joint Staff Department, was associated with the Shaanxi network though not a Shaanxi native himself. Liu's career in Army logistics and staff positions aligned him with Zhang Youxia's approach, and his appointment as Joint Staff Department chief -- responsible for operational planning and coordination -- gave the Shaanxi Gang influence over how the PLA would conduct multi-service operations.

Wei Fenghe, who served as defense minister from 2018 to 2023 and was a CMC member, had Shaanxi connections through his service in the Second Artillery Force where he worked with Zhang Shengmin. Wei's background as a rocket force officer and his long service in strategic missile forces made him valuable to Xi's military modernization program. However, Wei's expulsion in 2024 on corruption charges related to procurement created problems for the Shaanxi Gang, as it demonstrated that even officers with strong factional connections faced vulnerability if corruption investigations uncovered serious wrongdoing.

Several commanders of group armies, theater commands, and service branches maintained ties to the Shaanxi network through various connections -- shared service in particular units, attendance at the same military academies, or patronage relationships with senior Shaanxi Gang members. These officers provided the faction with influence across the PLA rather than concentrating all Shaanxi Gang power in the CMC. The network's reach into multiple levels of the military hierarchy created resilience, as the removal of any single officer could be absorbed without destroying the entire faction.

The Shaanxi Gang's military dimension also benefited from its control of key institutional mechanisms. Beyond Zhang Shengmin's position heading the CMC Discipline Inspection Commission, Shaanxi-aligned officers held positions in the Political Work Department (after Miao Hua's removal), the Audit Office, and various staff departments that controlled personnel evaluations, promotion recommendations, and assignment decisions. This institutional control meant that even officers not formally part of the Shaanxi Gang understood that demonstrating loyalty to the network improved their career prospects, while opposition could trigger investigation.

Civilian and Party Dimensions

The Shaanxi Gang's influence extended well beyond the military into civilian government, the party apparatus, and the security services. This broader network provided political support for military members and created coordination mechanisms across different sectors of the Chinese state. The gang's civilian dimension was crucial to its sustained power, as it ensured that military initiatives received backing from party and government organs and that potential rivals lacked alternative power bases outside the military.

Li Xi, appointed secretary of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection in 2022, represented perhaps the most powerful civilian member of the Shaanxi Gang. Li was born in Gansu Province but spent significant time working in Shaanxi, serving as party secretary of Shaanxi Province from 2012 to 2017 -- overlapping with Xi Jinping's rise to paramount leader. Li's tenure in Shaanxi involved aggressive anti-corruption campaigns that targeted local officials suspected of forming independent networks or resisting Xi's initiatives. This work demonstrated Li's reliability and effectiveness as an enforcer, leading to his promotion to party secretary of Guangdong Province and eventually to heading the CCDI.

As CCDI secretary, Li Xi controlled the party's anti-corruption machinery, with authority to investigate any party member regardless of rank. The CCDI worked closely with the CMC Discipline Inspection Commission under Zhang Shengmin, sharing information and coordinating investigations of officials who held both party and military positions. This coordination ensured that the Shaanxi Gang could target rivals comprehensively, building cases that combined party discipline violations with military misconduct allegations. Li Xi's appointment to the Politburo Standing Committee -- the party's highest body -- gave the Shaanxi Gang representation at the apex of Chinese politics.

Chen Xi, president of the Central Party School and a Politburo member, represented another crucial civilian pillar. Born in Shaanxi Province in 1953, Chen had worked with Xi Jinping during Xi's time in Zhejiang Province in the early 2000s, developing a close working relationship that led to Chen's elevation alongside Xi's rise. The Central Party School functioned as the primary training institution for senior party cadres, controlling their ideological education and evaluating their suitability for promotion. Chen's position meant that the Shaanxi Gang influenced which officials received advancement opportunities and how they were trained to think about party ideology and Xi's vision.

Other Shaanxi-connected officials held positions throughout the central government, provincial administrations, and state-owned enterprises. Han Yong, vice chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, had served in Shaanxi provincial government during Xi's early career. Zhao Leji, chairman of the National People's Congress Standing Committee, had worked in Shaanxi and maintained connections to the provincial network. These officials created a web of relationships spanning different institutions, enabling the Shaanxi Gang to coordinate policy across government sectors and to protect members from challenges by rivals.

The Shaanxi Gang also maintained strong presence in China's security apparatus beyond the military. Officials with Shaanxi connections held positions in the Ministry of Public Security, the Ministry of State Security, and the People's Armed Police. This presence ensured that the gang could monitor potential threats, gather intelligence on rivals, and maintain internal security during periods of political instability. The security services' role in investigating corruption cases meant that Shaanxi-aligned security officials could influence which cases received scrutiny and how evidence was gathered.

The Anti-Corruption Campaign as Factional Tool

The anti-corruption campaign that Xi Jinping launched in 2012-2013 and intensified throughout his tenure served multiple purposes -- genuinely addressing endemic corruption that threatened party legitimacy, removing political rivals, and enforcing absolute loyalty. For the Shaanxi Gang, the anti-corruption campaign provided the primary tool for eliminating rival factions and consolidating control over state institutions. Zhang Shengmin's role heading military anti-corruption efforts and Li Xi's control of civilian party discipline created a comprehensive enforcement mechanism that the Shaanxi Gang wielded with devastating effectiveness.

The campaign's methodology involved several stages. Initial targeting identified officials suspected of corruption, disloyalty, or membership in rival factions. Once targets were selected, investigators isolated them from supporters, seized financial and communications records, and pressured associates to provide incriminating testimony. The investigations combined genuine evidence of corruption -- which was widespread in Chinese officialdom -- with political accusations of forming cliques, resisting party leadership, or undermining Xi's authority. This combination ensured that even if corruption charges were weak, political accusations provided alternative grounds for removal.

The Shaanxi Gang's use of anti-corruption tools followed predictable patterns. Rivals were investigated more aggressively and faced more severe consequences than Shaanxi-aligned officials who committed similar offenses. When Wei Fenghe was expelled despite his Shaanxi connections, it demonstrated that no one was completely immune but also that Shaanxi members received more opportunities to correct problems before facing removal. The selective enforcement meant that corruption accusations became weapons in factional struggles rather than objective legal processes, with outcomes determined by political calculations rather than evidence.

The campaign's scope expanded dramatically over time, moving from initial targeting of officials associated with previous leaders like Jiang Zemin and Hu Jintao to eventually investigating officers that Xi himself had appointed. The investigation of He Weidong, Miao Hua, and others in the Fujian Clique demonstrated the campaign's utility for eliminating factions that had grown too powerful. Even Zhang Youxia's investigation in January 2026 suggested that the anti-corruption machinery, once unleashed, could turn against its creators if they were perceived as threatening Xi's absolute authority.

The public presentation of anti-corruption campaigns emphasized moral righteousness and party discipline rather than acknowledging factional dimensions. Official rhetoric portrayed corruption as a cancer threatening the party's legitimacy and capability, with anti-corruption enforcement as essential to the party's survival and China's rejuvenation. This framing served to legitimize factional purges as necessary public interest measures, making it difficult for rivals to oppose investigations without appearing to defend corruption. The Shaanxi Gang's control of this narrative through the CCDI and CMC Discipline Inspection Commission gave them enormous advantages in factional struggles.

Conflict with the Fujian Clique

For much of the early 2020s, the Shaanxi Gang existed in a state of uneasy coexistence and escalating competition with the Fujian Clique. The two factions represented fundamentally different approaches to military leadership and embodied distinct regional identities within the PLA. The competition between them was often framed as a struggle between the "North" (Shaanxi) and the "South" (Fujian), with the former emphasizing ideological discipline and central control, and the latter focusing on maritime strategy and operational expertise for Taiwan contingencies.

The factional tension manifested in disputes over resource allocation, with the Fujian Clique advocating for massive investment in Eastern Theater Command capabilities, naval expansion, and amphibious assault forces, while the Shaanxi Gang prioritized nuclear modernization, internal security capabilities, and maintaining strong political control mechanisms across all services. These competing priorities created zero-sum resource competitions where gains for one faction meant losses for the other. The Fujian Clique's success in securing funding for Taiwan-focused capabilities in the early 2020s frustrated Shaanxi Gang leaders who viewed this as building an independent power base.

Personnel decisions became a particular flashpoint. Miao Hua's control over the Political Work Department from 2017 to 2024 gave the Fujian Clique influence over promotions throughout the officer corps. Miao systematically elevated officers with Taiwan operational experience, who had served in the 31st Group Army or Eastern Theater Command, and who demonstrated the technocratic competence that the Fujian faction valued. This personnel strategy threatened to create a PLA where the next generation of senior leaders would owe their positions to Fujian Clique patronage rather than to Xi directly or to the Shaanxi Gang.

Zhang Youxia viewed the Fujian Clique's growing influence as a strategic threat. As senior CMC vice chairman, Zhang had authority over military affairs and worked to constrain the Fujian faction's autonomy. However, He Weidong's appointment as CMC vice chairman in October 2022 created an awkward situation where He notionally ranked below Zhang Youxia but controlled significant military resources and had Xi's apparent confidence. Reports suggested that He sought to expand his authority and challenge Zhang's control over procurement decisions and personnel appointments.

The tension between Zhang Youxia and He Weidong reportedly became personal as well as institutional. Zhang, as a princeling with revolutionary heritage, viewed He -- who had risen from private soldier through merit -- as an upstart lacking the pedigree and loyalty credentials that Zhang valued. He, conversely, viewed Zhang as a politically connected officer whose family background had ensured favorable treatment throughout his career despite limited operational experience. These personal animosities reinforced factional rivalries and made compromise between the two factions increasingly difficult.

Zhang Shengmin's role as discipline inspector placed him at the center of factional conflict. His investigations could be directed at Fujian Clique members or at Shaanxi Gang rivals, depending on political considerations and evidence of corruption. The decision to investigate Li Shangfu in 2023, despite Li's close relationship with Zhang Youxia, suggested that Zhang Shengmin operated with some independence and that corruption enforcement could target anyone. However, the systematic investigation of Fujian Clique members starting in 2024-2025 indicated that Zhang Shengmin ultimately sided with the Shaanxi faction in the inter-factional struggle.

The 2024-2025 Purge Campaign

The decisive shift in factional balance began in 2024 with intensified investigations of officers associated with the Fujian Clique. The campaign's initial phases targeted mid-level officers in the Rocket Force and equipment development departments, areas where corruption was endemic and where building cases was relatively straightforward. These investigations created a foundation for expanding scrutiny to more senior officers, as investigators could claim to be following evidence trails upward through the command hierarchy.

Miao Hua's investigation and eventual expulsion in late 2024 represented a major victory for the Shaanxi Gang. As Political Work Department director and a CMC member, Miao was one of the most powerful officers in the PLA. His removal required careful planning and strong evidence, as investigating a sitting CMC member risked destabilizing the military leadership. Zhang Shengmin's investigation reportedly found that Miao had systematically corrupted the personnel system by accepting bribes for promotions, placing unqualified officers in sensitive positions, and building a personal loyalty network that undermined institutional integrity.

The October 2025 mass expulsion of He Weidong, Miao Hua, and seven other generals represented the culmination of the anti-Fujian campaign. The simultaneous removal of so many senior officers suggested months of preparation, with investigators building cases against multiple targets, coordinating arrests to prevent communication between suspects, and preparing Xi Jinping for the dramatic action. Zhang Youxia and Zhang Shengmin would have been central to this planning, identifying which officers to target, determining the order of arrests, and preparing recommendations for Xi's approval.

The justifications for the October 2025 purge combined corruption accusations with political charges. Official statements accused the expelled officers of "forming political cliques," "undermining the Chairman Responsibility System," and "seriously violating the principle that the Party commands the gun." These political accusations were more significant than the corruption charges, as they framed the Fujian Clique's activities as a fundamental threat to party control over the military. The rhetoric suggested that He Weidong and Miao Hua had attempted to create an independent power base that could potentially resist Xi's directives or even threaten a coup.

Zhang Shengmin's elevation to CMC vice chairman following He Weidong's removal completed the Shaanxi Gang's institutional victory. This promotion gave Zhang direct authority over military operations in addition to his continuing role overseeing discipline. The combination of positions made Zhang extraordinarily powerful -- second only to Xi Jinping in the military hierarchy and controlling both operational matters and internal investigation mechanisms. This concentration of authority in a single officer who owed his career to the Shaanxi network represented the faction's complete dominance over military leadership.

Regional and Cultural Dimensions

The Shaanxi Gang's power reflected broader patterns of regionalism in Chinese politics. Native-place associations had deep historical roots in Chinese elite culture, where shared regional origins created bonds of trust and mutual obligation. Officials from the same province or prefecture formed networks to help each other navigate bureaucratic politics, share information about opportunities and threats, and provide mutual support during crises. These regional factions had existed throughout Chinese history and persisted in the Communist period despite official ideology emphasizing loyalty to the party rather than regional identities.

Shaanxi's particular significance stemmed from its revolutionary heritage and its relatively underdeveloped economic status. As one of China's poorer provinces, Shaanxi produced officials who emphasized discipline, self-reliance, and struggle rather than the commercial pragmatism characteristic of wealthier coastal provinces. This cultural orientation aligned with Xi Jinping's emphasis on ideological purity and his criticism of the corruption and luxury that economic development had produced. Shaanxi officials could claim to embody authentic revolutionary values unsullied by the materialism affecting officials from Shanghai, Guangdong, or other prosperous regions.

The Shaanxi dialect and customs served as markers of group membership. Officials who spoke with Shaanxi accents, who referenced regional idioms, or who demonstrated familiarity with Shaanxi geography and history signaled their identity and created bonds with other Shaanxi natives. Xi Jinping's retention of Shaanxi speech patterns and his frequent references to his time in Liangjiahe reinforced his Shaanxi credentials despite his princeling Beijing origins. This performed regional identity served political purposes by emphasizing Xi's connections to rural China and distinguishing him from officials associated with urban coastal elites.

The promotion of "Red Tourism" to Yan'an and other Shaanxi revolutionary sites provided both economic benefits to the province and ideological reinforcement of Shaanxi's political significance. Party members were encouraged to visit Yan'an, tour the cave dwellings where Mao and other leaders lived, and study the Yan'an Spirit as part of their political education. These pilgrimages created emotional connections to Shaanxi and reinforced narratives about the province's centrality to the revolution. Officials who organized or participated in these activities demonstrated their ideological commitment and their appreciation for revolutionary heritage.

The Shaanxi Gang's cultural approach emphasized austerity, discipline, and revolutionary asceticism in contrast to the perceived corruption and luxury of other factions. This positioning served practical purposes by making Shaanxi Gang members appear as authentic guardians of revolutionary values, but also reflected genuine cultural differences between regions. Shaanxi's relative poverty and harsh environment created officials who valued endurance and resilience, while wealthier provinces produced officials skilled at economic management and international commerce. These different skill sets and cultural orientations reinforced factional divisions based on regional identities.

Impact on PLA Professionalization

The Shaanxi Gang's dominance over the PLA raised serious questions about military professionalization and combat readiness. Modern militaries require officers selected and promoted based on professional competence, technical expertise, and demonstrated leadership ability rather than political connections or regional origins. The Shaanxi Gang's emphasis on political loyalty and revolutionary heritage potentially conflicted with meritocratic principles, as officers understood that Shaanxi connections and ideological conformity might matter more for advancement than operational excellence.

The systematic removal of Fujian Clique members eliminated many of the PLA's most operationally experienced Taiwan specialists. Officers like He Weidong, Lin Xiangyang, and Miao Hua had spent decades studying Taiwan scenarios, developing operational plans, and building the forces required to execute those plans. Their removal meant that Taiwan planning would pass to officers without this accumulated expertise, potentially degrading the PLA's capability to conduct the complex joint operations required for a cross-strait invasion. Even if Xi had no immediate plans to attack Taiwan, the loss of institutional expertise made such operations more difficult if future circumstances required them.

The climate of fear created by repeated purges had chilling effects on initiative and professional development. Officers understood that demonstrating excessive independence, building strong personal networks, or achieving high visibility could make them targets for investigation. This created incentives for officers to avoid risks, defer to superiors, and focus on political correctness rather than professional innovation. A military that rewards caution and conformity over initiative and excellence risks becoming hollow -- impressive in parades and equipment displays but unable to adapt to unexpected battlefield conditions or to exploit fleeting opportunities.

Zhang Shengmin's elevation to CMC vice chairman despite his background as a political commissar rather than an operational commander sent concerning signals about the PLA's priorities. Vice chairmen traditionally brought operational expertise and command experience that qualified them to advise the CMC chairman on military strategy and operations. Zhang's qualification was his effectiveness at investigating other officers and enforcing political discipline -- valuable skills for internal control but less relevant for managing combat operations. His appointment suggested that Xi valued political reliability over operational competence, potentially degrading the quality of military advice Xi received.

The Shaanxi Gang's control of personnel systems risked creating a self-perpetuating cycle of declining competence. If officers understood that Shaanxi connections and political loyalty mattered more than professional excellence, they would focus on cultivating those connections and demonstrating loyalty rather than developing military expertise. Over time, this could produce a senior officer corps selected primarily for political reliability rather than warfighting capability. While loyalty was essential, exclusive emphasis on it to the detriment of competence could ultimately undermine the PLA's effectiveness.

January 2026 Crisis: Zhang Youxia's Investigation

The announcement on 24 January 2026 that Zhang Youxia faced investigation for "serious violations of discipline and law" shocked observers and threatened the Shaanxi Gang's apparent dominance. Zhang's position as senior CMC vice chairman, Politburo member, and Xi Jinping's trusted associate from revolutionary families suggested immunity from investigation. His role in orchestrating the purge of the Fujian Clique made his own investigation particularly ironic -- the factional enforcer becoming the victim of the enforcement mechanisms he had wielded against rivals.

The nature of accusations against Zhang Youxia remained partially obscured by official secrecy, but Wall Street Journal reporting suggested multiple serious charges. The most dramatic allegation involved Zhang allegedly leaking information about China's nuclear weapons program to the United States. If accurate, this accusation would represent a security breach far more serious than the corruption charges typically leveled against purged officers. Nuclear weapons information constituted the most sensitive state secrets, and leaking such data to a potential adversary would be considered treason rather than simple corruption.

The nuclear leak allegations allegedly emerged from the investigation of Gu Jun, former general manager of the China National Nuclear Corporation. Gu's detention in 2024 and subsequent cooperation with investigators reportedly revealed that he had provided technical data about China's nuclear weapons program to foreign intelligence services. Investigators tracing how Gu accessed classified information allegedly discovered Zhang Youxia's involvement -- either as a witting participant in the leaks or as someone who carelessly mishandled classified material in ways that enabled Gu's activities. The complexity of nuclear weapons programs made pinpointing responsibility difficult, but investigators apparently determined that Zhang bore culpability.

Additional accusations against Zhang focused on corruption in procurement decisions. As former head of the General Armaments Department (later Equipment Development Department), Zhang controlled enormous budgets for weapons acquisition and maintenance. The investigation allegedly found that Zhang had accepted bribes from defense contractors, steered contracts to companies controlled by associates, and approved inflated prices in exchange for payments. These corruption accusations followed familiar patterns from investigations of other equipment officials, suggesting systemic problems in defense procurement rather than unique to Zhang.

More politically significant was the accusation that Zhang had formed a factional network and accepted bribes related to personnel appointments. The investigation allegedly determined that Zhang had secured Li Shangfu's appointment as defense minister in 2023 in exchange for payments, demonstrating that even senior appointments could be corrupted by bribery. This accusation undermined the legitimacy of personnel decisions Zhang had made throughout his tenure, raising questions about whether officers he had promoted were qualified or had purchased their positions.

Liu Zhenli's simultaneous investigation removed another senior officer, though Liu's alleged offenses were less clearly explained than Zhang Youxia's. As Joint Staff Department chief, Liu was responsible for operational planning and coordination -- crucial functions for PLA effectiveness. His removal at the same time as Zhang Youxia left the CMC without its most senior operational planners, creating potential crisis in military leadership. Whether Liu's investigation reflected genuine wrongdoing or was collateral damage from Zhang Youxia's investigation remained unclear.

Interpretations of the Crisis

Zhang Youxia's investigation generated multiple competing interpretations about its causes and implications. One view held that Xi Jinping had concluded that Zhang had become too powerful and potentially unreliable. Zhang's role as senior vice chairman and his control over so much of the military establishment gave him enormous influence that could theoretically threaten Xi's authority. The nuclear leak allegations, if true, provided justification for removing Zhang, but even if false or exaggerated, they served as a pretext for eliminating an officer who had grown too independent.

Alternative interpretations suggested that Zhang Youxia had become collateral damage from the anti-corruption campaign he had helped direct. The investigation of procurement corruption in equipment development inevitably implicated Zhang given his long tenure heading that department. Evidence accumulated against subordinates may have pointed upward to Zhang's own involvement in corrupt schemes. This interpretation portrayed Zhang as victim of the enforcement machinery he had used against rivals -- once unleashed, the anti-corruption campaign consumed even its creators.

A third interpretation viewed Zhang's investigation as the culmination of factional struggles within the Shaanxi Gang itself. Zhang Shengmin's elevation to vice chairman created potential tension with Zhang Youxia, as both held vice chairman positions but Zhang Youxia retained seniority. If Zhang Shengmin convinced Xi that Zhang Youxia represented a threat or provided evidence of Zhang's wrongdoing, it would eliminate Zhang Shengmin's most significant rival within the Shaanxi faction and leave Zhang Shengmin as the sole dominant military figure aside from Xi himself.

Some analysts suggested that Xi was deliberately dismantling all factional networks, including the Shaanxi Gang that had supported his rise. By removing officers from both the Fujian Clique and the Shaanxi Gang, Xi could prevent any faction from becoming powerful enough to constrain his authority. This interpretation portrayed Xi as ruthlessly destroying the very networks that brought him to power, replacing factional loyalty with direct personal loyalty to him alone. The resulting military leadership would consist of officers who owed everything to Xi and who had no alternative power base.

The implications of Zhang Youxia's investigation for the Shaanxi Gang's future were profound. If the faction's most senior military figure could be removed, no member was truly safe. This created uncertainty and fear among Shaanxi-aligned officers about their own vulnerability. The gang's apparent dominance following the Fujian Clique's destruction had proven temporary, suggesting that factional success in China's political system was inherently unstable and that even victory could quickly turn to defeat.

The CMC Reduced to Two Members

The investigations of Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli reduced the CMC to just two members -- Xi Jinping as chairman and Zhang Shengmin as vice chairman. This represented an unprecedented contraction of China's supreme military command authority. The CMC traditionally comprised seven members (chairman, two vice chairmen, and four other members), providing collective leadership and diverse expertise. Reducing it to two members -- one with no military experience and one whose background emphasized political work over operations -- raised serious questions about the CMC's functionality.

Zhang Shengmin emerged as the sole remaining uniformed member of the CMC, giving him extraordinary responsibility for military operations, personnel management, and institutional oversight. However, Zhang's background as a political commissar and discipline inspector provided limited preparation for the comprehensive leadership role he now occupied. His expertise lay in investigating corruption and enforcing political discipline -- essential functions but insufficient for managing the full range of military operations, strategic planning, force development, and crisis management required of the CMC.

The concentration of military authority in Zhang Shengmin reflected Xi's priorities but created practical problems. Modern militaries require diverse expertise at senior levels -- operational commanders who understand warfighting, logistics specialists who can sustain operations, intelligence analysts who assess threats, and political officers who ensure loyalty. The reduction of the CMC eliminated this diversity, potentially degrading the quality of advice Xi received and the military's ability to manage complex operations. Zhang Shengmin, regardless of his capabilities, could not personally possess all the expertise previously distributed among multiple CMC members.

The crisis raised questions about whether Xi would appoint new CMC members or would operate with a skeleton command structure. Appointing new members required identifying officers who were politically reliable, competent, and untainted by corruption -- a combination that the purges made increasingly rare. Delaying appointments kept the CMC dysfunctional but avoided the risk of elevating officers who might later require removal. This trade-off between stability and effectiveness characterized Xi's broader approach to military governance.

Sustainability and Future Scenarios

The Shaanxi Gang's trajectory through early 2026 raised fundamental questions about the faction's sustainability and the broader stability of China's political system. The gang had achieved dominance over military and party institutions through ruthless elimination of rivals, but this success created new vulnerabilities. The very enforcement mechanisms the Shaanxi Gang had wielded against opponents could be turned against the gang itself, as Zhang Youxia's investigation demonstrated. The climate of fear and paranoia that sustained the gang's power also created incentives for rivals to plot against it.

One scenario involved the Shaanxi Gang's gradual reconstitution of the CMC with new loyalists who would restore functional military leadership while maintaining the gang's political control. This would require identifying officers who combined professional competence with political reliability -- a challenging task given the purges' extent. New appointees would understand that their positions depended on demonstrating absolute loyalty while avoiding the accumulation of personal power that could trigger investigation. This might produce a CMC that was stable but risk-averse, prioritizing political survival over military effectiveness.

An alternative scenario involved Xi eventually turning against the Shaanxi Gang as he had against the Fujian Clique, eliminating factional networks entirely in favor of direct personal rule. This would involve removing Zhang Shengmin and other Shaanxi figures, replacing them with officers who had no factional affiliations and who served at Xi's pleasure without institutional support bases. The result would be a military completely dependent on Xi personally, eliminating the potential for coup or resistance but also destroying the institutional knowledge and professional networks that effective military organizations require.

A third possibility was that the repeated purges would eventually exhaust Xi's political capital and generate sufficient resentment that rival factions would coordinate against him. The removal of so many senior officers created large groups of disgraced former officials with grievances and nothing to lose. While the party's control mechanisms made organized resistance difficult, the accumulation of enemies could create opportunities for coalitions to form. This scenario was less probable given Xi's tight control, but the historical pattern of authoritarian overreach generating opposition suggested it remained possible.

The economic implications of military instability and the Shaanxi Gang's dominance also mattered for long-term sustainability. If PLA combat readiness suffered due to leadership instability and if China's regional security environment deteriorated, the economic costs could be substantial. Trade disruptions from military incidents, increased defense spending to compensate for reduced effectiveness, and reduced foreign investment due to perceived instability would all impose burdens on China's already-stressed economy. The Shaanxi Gang's political success might thus contribute to economic challenges that ultimately undermined the party's legitimacy.

The Shaanxi Gang's legacy would be determined by whether it could transition from a factional network to a stable governing coalition, or whether its dominance represented only a temporary phase before new purges and new factions emerged. Chinese political history suggested that factional politics were endemic and that no faction ever achieved permanent dominance. The Shaanxi Gang's apparent victory in 2026 might prove as temporary as the Fujian Clique's brief ascendancy, with new regional or institutional networks eventually rising to challenge Shaanxi dominance. The gang's ability to adapt to changing circumstances, to manage succession as its leaders aged, and to balance political control with institutional effectiveness would determine whether it represented a durable political coalition or another episode in China's ongoing factional struggles.

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General Zhang Shengmin Vice Chairman, Central Military Commission, People's Republic of China China promoted its top military anti-corruption chief, General Zhang Shengmin, to be a vice chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC), the countrys highest military body. The decision was made at the Fourth Plenary Session of the Communist Partys 20th Central Committee, which concluded in Beijing on 23 October 2025. The plenum also confirmed the expulsion from the party of 14 senior officials for severe violations of discipline and law, including former CMC Vice Chairmen He Weidong and Miao Hua, according to a communique released by the Xinhua News Agency. The announcement formalized one of the most significant shakeup of the countrys military leadership in recent history. Zhang Shengmin emerged as a pivotal figure within the modern Chinese military hierarchy during the transition into the late 2010s and early 2020s. His trajectory was defined by a steady ascent through the Political Work Department of the Peoples Liberation Army (PLA), a path that underscored the critical intersection of ideological loyalty and administrative oversight in the Chinese defense apparatus. Born in 1958 in Shaanxi province, he followed a traditional yet highly successful route for an officer focused on political work, which functioned as the backbone for maintaining Party control over the armed forces. His early career remained largely out of the international spotlight, yet it was during this formative period that he developed the necessary acumen to navigate the complex internal politics of the PLA. The significance of his role became increasingly apparent as the Central Military Commission (CMC) underwent structural reforms designed to streamline command and enhance the authority of the central leadership. These reforms were not merely logistical but were deeply rooted in a desire to eliminate corruption and ensure that the military remained a reliable instrument of the states strategic goals. Basic Information Gender Male Ethnicity Han Date of Birth August 1958 Place of Origin Wugong County, Shaanxi Province Current Key Positions [2026] Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC) of the Communist Party of China

Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC) of the Communist Party of China Vice Chairman of the CMC of the People's Republic of China

Vice Chairman of the CMC of the People's Republic of China Deputy Secretary of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI)

Deputy Secretary of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI) Secretary of the CMC Discipline Inspection Commission and concurrently Director of the CMC Supervision Commission Career Profile 1978 Enlisted in the People's Liberation Army in February. Long-term Rocket Force Service Extensive service in the Rocket Force (formerly the Second Artillery Corps), holding key political commissar roles at various bases and ultimately serving as Director of the Second Artillery Political Department. Military Reform Period Held political commissar positions in newly established departments during military reforms, including the CMC Training and Administration Department and the CMC Logistics Support Department. 2017 - Present Appointed as Secretary of the CMC Discipline Inspection Commission, becoming the top leader of the military's discipline inspection and supervision system. Key Promotions November 2017: Promoted to the rank of General (Shangjiang). October 2025: Appointed as Vice Chairman of the CPC Central Military Commission and subsequently Vice Chairman of the state Central Military Commission, entering the national leadership. Party Roles & Honors Central Committee Membership Member of the 19th and 20th Central Committees of the Communist Party of China Discipline Inspection Commission Deputy Secretary of the 19th and 20th Central Commissions for Discipline Inspection Legislative Body Deputy to the 13th and 14th National People's Congress

Zhang Shengmin was born in February 1958 in Wugong County, Shaanxi Province, a region that later became politically significant due to its associations with the upper echelons of the Chinese leadership. His early years were shaped by the social and political environment of the late 1950s and 1960s, which necessitated a high degree of ideological awareness from a young age. He entered military service in the late 1970s, a period when the Peoples Liberation Army was beginning to contemplate the lessons of the border conflict with Vietnam and the early stages of the Reform and Opening-up era. Unlike officers who pursued strictly operational or tactical command paths, he specialized in the political work system, a track that emphasized the party's absolute leadership over the gun. This specialization required not only a deep understanding of Marxist-Leninist theory but also the administrative skill to manage personnel, morale, and discipline within large military organizations.

The formative experiences of Zhang Shengmin were deeply rooted in the Second Artillery Force, the predecessor to the modern Peoples Liberation Army Rocket Force. Throughout much of his career, he served as a political commissar at various levels, including within the Second Artillery Force Command Academy and at a major missile base. These roles were critical because the Second Artillery Force managed Chinas strategic nuclear and conventional missile deterrent, necessitating the highest levels of security and political reliability. His work during this period involved ensuring that the "brain" of the military remained synchronized with the central leaderships strategic intent. This background provided him with a unique perspective on the intersection of high-stakes technology and the human element of military governance, a balance that would define his later career as a top disciplinary official.

One significant event that showcased his leadership and organizational capabilities occurred in 2010 following the devastating Yushu earthquake in Qinghai Province. At the time, he was stationed at a military base in Northwest China and was tasked with leading over 1,000 troops in the immediate reconstruction efforts. The mission was not only a logistical challenge but also a sensitive political one, as it involved rebuilding infrastructure in a region with a high Tibetan population. His unit was notably credited with constructing emergency living quarters for the monks at the Changu Monastery, the largest Kagyu Tibetan Buddhist temple in the area. This experience likely reinforced a character outlook that favored disciplined, rapid execution of state directives and demonstrated his ability to handle complex, multifaceted crises that extended beyond traditional military operations into the realm of social stability and disaster relief.

Zhang Shengmin and the Implementation of CMC Reforms

The participation of Zhang Shengmin in the structural transformation of the Chinese military became prominent during the comprehensive reforms initiated in late 2015. These reforms, often described as the most ambitious since the founding of the Peoples Republic, sought to dismantle the Soviet-style "General Departments" and replace them with a more streamlined and centralized hierarchy directly under the Central Military Commission. In early 2016, as part of this reshuffling, he was appointed as the first Political Commissar of the newly established CMC Training and Administration Department. This role was central to the reform's objective of shifting the militarys focus toward "fighting and winning" by professionalizing the training regimens and ensuring that the new joint command structures were supported by a modernized administrative framework.

His involvement in the reforms deepened when he was transferred to lead the CMC Logistics Support Department. This department was a successor to the powerful General Logistics Department, which had historically been a focal point for corruption and financial mismanagement. By placing a career political officer with a reputation for integrity at the helm of logistics, the leadership signaled a commitment to cleaning up military procurement and resource allocation. His tenure in this department was characterized by an emphasis on transparency and the implementation of stricter auditing processes. This phase of his career was instrumental in bridging the gap between ideological political work and the practical, material requirements of a modernizing military, ensuring that the resources intended for modernization were not diverted through graft.

The defining phase of his participation in military governance began in January 2017 when he was appointed Secretary of the CMC Discipline Inspection Commission. By the time Zhang Shengmin reached the upper echelons of the CMC, his focus was the Discipline Inspection Commission. This body served as the primary mechanism for enforcing anti-corruption measures within the ranks, a task that carried immense political weight. The elevation of Zhang to the position of Secretary of the Discipline Inspection Commission of the CMC in 2017 marked a definitive moment in his career. It signaled a high level of trust from the top leadership, as the role required a person capable of rooting out deeply embedded networks of patronage and financial misconduct. The anti-graft campaign within the military was unprecedented in its scope, targeting both "tigers" and "flies"  high-ranking generals and lower-level officers alike. Zhangs work in this capacity was characterized by a meticulous approach to investigations and a firm adherence to the directives issued by the central authorities. His promotion to the rank of General in late 2017 was a formal validation of his success in these endeavors and cemented his status as a key enabler of the new military order.

This move coincided with an intensification of the anti-corruption campaign within the military, which targeted the "toxic influence" of previous leaders and sought to institutionalize a "clean" military culture. In this capacity, he oversaw the investigation of dozens of high-ranking officers, a process that required a meticulous and uncompromising approach to internal oversight. His promotion to the rank of General in November 2017, just months after taking this post, served as a clear endorsement of his role in safeguarding the political integrity of the reforms. By late 2025 and early 2026, his position became even more critical as the military faced a renewed wave of purges that decimated the original 20th Party Congress CMC membership. Following the removal of several top generals, he emerged as the sole remaining CMC member besides the Chairman, tasked with maintaining continuity and discipline during a period of unprecedented internal upheaval.

The broader context of Zhangs rise was the comprehensive modernization of the PLA, which sought to transform a legacy force into a world-class military capable of high-tech, joint-operation warfare. While technical modernization involved the acquisition of advanced weaponry and the development of cyber capabilities, the human element remained paramount. Zhangs responsibilities in political work and discipline were essential to this transformation, as they ensured that the officer corps was not only technically proficient but also ideologically aligned. The emphasis on "absolute party leadership" over the army became a recurring theme in his public appearances and official statements. This doctrine held that the militarys primary allegiance was to the Party, a principle that Zhang worked tirelessly to reinforce through education, training, and, when necessary, disciplinary action. The integration of political work into every aspect of military life was viewed as a safeguard against the "liberalization" or "neutralization" of the armed forces, concepts that were strictly rejected by the Chinese leadership.

Throughout his tenure, Zhang Shengmin maintained a relatively low profile compared to combat-oriented generals, yet his influence was felt across all branches of the PLA. The nature of his work required a degree of discretion, as internal investigations and personnel changes often occurred behind closed doors. However, his presence at major state events and his inclusion in the highest-level meetings of the CMC provided a clear indication of his standing. The dual challenges of maintaining discipline and fostering morale required a delicate balance. On one hand, the anti-corruption drive was necessary to restore the PLAs reputation and efficiency; on the other hand, it had the potential to create friction and uncertainty within the ranks. Zhangs leadership was tested by the need to project strength and stability while simultaneously overseeing a period of intense internal scrutiny. The stability of the military during these transitions was a testament to the effectiveness of the systems he helped manage and oversee.

As the geopolitical landscape became more contentious, the role of political work within the PLA took on new dimensions. The military was increasingly tasked with protecting Chinas expanding global interests, from the South China Sea to the Belt and Road Initiative. This expanded mission set required a high degree of discipline and a unified sense of purpose. Zhangs efforts were instrumental in ensuring that the militarys expansion was matched by a corresponding strengthening of its internal governance. The focus on "fighting and winning" was coupled with a focus on "cleanliness and loyalty." By 2026, the institutional changes overseen by Zhang and his colleagues had largely taken root, resulting in a military structure that was more centralized and responsive to the leadership in Beijing. The legacy of Zhang Shengmin was thus defined by his contribution to the professionalization and ideological hardening of the PLA during a period of rapid change and strategic competition.

The institutionalization of disciplinary measures under Zhang's guidance led to the creation of more robust oversight mechanisms that persisted long after specific campaigns ended. These mechanisms included regular audits, surprise inspections, and a more transparent system for promotions based on merit and political reliability rather than personal connections. This shift was essential for the long-term health of the military, as it reduced the drain on resources caused by embezzlement and procurement fraud. Zhangs background in the Second Artillery Corps  later the Rocket Force  also provided him with a unique perspective on the most sensitive and technologically advanced parts of the Chinese arsenal. This experience ensured that his oversight was not just theoretical but grounded in the realities of managing complex and high-stakes military assets. The transition of the PLA into a force capable of global power projection relied heavily on the foundational work performed by Zhang in the realm of discipline and political integrity.

The career of Zhang Shengmin reflected the broader evolution of the Chinese states approach to military governance. The emphasis shifted from a focus on sheer numbers and traditional warfare to a focus on quality, technology, and absolute political control. Zhang was both a product and a primary driver of this evolution. His ability to navigate the internal complexities of the PLA while maintaining the confidence of the highest leadership allowed him to play a decisive role in shaping the modern Chinese military. As the PLA continued to evolve in the mid-2020s, the structures of discipline and political work that Zhang helped build remained central to its operational philosophy. The integration of these elements ensured that the PLA was not only a formidable fighting force but also a reliable pillar of the states domestic and international strategy. His tenure as a top military official was a period marked by significant internal cleansing and structural fortification, leaving an indelible mark on the character of the armed forces for years to come.

Zhang Shengmin / "Shaanxi Gang"

The character of Zhang Shengmin as a "loyalist" and "enforcer" was further solidified by his perceived membership in the "Shaanxi Gang," a group of officials with ties to the Shaanxi province who were often seen as a core support base for the top leadership. This regional connection, combined with his clean record during the purges of the Rocket Forcea branch that saw many of his former colleagues fall from powerindicated a high degree of personal and political resilience. His rise to the position of Vice Chairman of the CMC in October 2025 marked the culmination of a career dedicated to the principle of "the Party commanding the gun." By 2026, his role had evolved from that of a departmental head to a pivotal powerbroker who managed the militarys internal disciplinary apparatus while ensuring that the broader strategic goals of modernization and combat readiness were not compromised by the ongoing political cleanup.

The persistence of Zhang Shengmin at the highest levels of the military hierarchy highlighted the enduring importance of political work in the Chinese defense model. As the PLA moved toward its goal of becoming a world-class force by the mid-21st century, his contributions to the 2015 reforms and the subsequent disciplinary drives were viewed as the bedrock upon which technical and operational advancements were built. His career reflected a transition from the rigid ideological structures of the Cold War era to a more dynamic, yet equally controlled, modern system that integrated technology, logistics, and political discipline. The institutional changes he helped oversee created a military that was more responsive to central authority and less prone to the factionalism and corruption that had plagued it in previous decades, effectively reshaping the PLA for the complexities of the 2020s and beyond.

An enlarged meeting of the Central Military Commission's Discipline Inspection Commission was held in Beijing on 16 January 2026. Zhang Shengmin, Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission, attended the meeting and delivered a speech. He emphasized the need to adhere to Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era as guidance, thoroughly study and implement the spirit of President Xi's important speeches on comprehensively strengthening Party discipline and comprehensively strengthening military discipline, deeply understand the decisive significance of the "two establishments," resolutely uphold the "two safeguards," implement the Chairman of the Central Military Commission's responsibility system, deepen political rectification with a thorough spirit of self-revolution, and advance the fight against corruption and misconduct with unwavering perseverance, so as to provide strong guarantees of conduct and discipline for achieving the centenary goal of the People's Liberation Army.

Zhang Shengmin pointed out that significant progress had been made in the military's efforts to improve Party conduct and combat corruption over the past year. This year, we must advance the comprehensive and strict governance of the Party with higher standards and more concrete measures, continuously deepen political rectification, and constantly purify the mind, the ranks, and the overall environment, so as to truly forge the People's Army into a stronger force. We must strengthen political oversight around the implementation of the major decisions and deployments of President Xi Jinping and the Central Military Commission, strengthen supervision and inspection closely related to combat readiness tasks, and strictly enforce political discipline and rules to ensure the high degree of unity, integrity, and consolidation of the troops with iron discipline.

We must promote the integrated approach of "not daring to be corrupt, not being able to be corrupt, and not wanting to be corrupt," maintain a high-pressure stance against corruption, improve the system and mechanisms for managing and governing power, and resolutely eradicate the soil and conditions for corruption. Leaders at all levels of the Party committees must resolutely shoulder the political responsibility of governing the Party, strictly discipline themselves, strictly assume their responsibilities, and strictly manage their jurisdictions, leading by example to purify the atmosphere of the troops and promote development.

"Zhang Youxia, a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and vice chairman of the Central Military Commission, and Liu Zhenli, a member of the Central Military Commission and chief of the Joint Staff Department of the Central Military Commission, are suspected of serious violations of discipline and law. After deliberation by the CPC Central Committee, it was decided to place Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli under investigation." saaccoridn to the Ministry of National Defense 24 January 2026.

The CCP's military newspaper published an editorial with unusually strong language, vehemently denouncing Zhang and Liu for "seriously betraying the trust and expectations of the Party Central Committee and the Central Military Commission, seriously trampling on and undermining the Chairman of the Central Military Commission's responsibility system," and "endangering the foundation of the Party's rule," among other things. The headline, "Spokesperson for the Ministry of National Defense Releases Information and Answers Reporters' Questions on Recent Military-Related Issues," begins with the headline, "Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli Under Investigation for Suspected Serious Violations of Discipline and Law." However, strangely, the official website of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI) deleted the announcement of Zhang Youxia's dismissal.

The Epoch Times reported Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli planned to arrest Xi Jinping on the evening of January 18, 2026, Beijing time. Xi Jinping was scheduled to stay at the Jingxi Hotel in Beijing that day. He had been "homeless" for the past few years, changing places frequently. Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli planned to arrest Xi Jinping, scheduled to take action on the evening of January 18. However, the plan was leaked two hours before the operation. Xi Jinping was at the Jingxi Hotel that day. They thought it would be easy to arrest him at the Jingxi Hotel, but someone tipped them off two hours before the operation.

"Xi Jinping immediately left the Jingxi Hotel and quietly arranged the arrest operation without making a sound." However, "Zhang Youxia's side was unaware that the information had been leaked to Xi Jinping, and as usual sent out advance personnel to take action. The personnel who had arrived at the Jingxi Hotel engaged in a gunfight with the people arranged by Xi Jinping," resulting in casualties on both sides. However, it was unclear where Zhang's people are located, whether they are all deployed in one place or scattered.

"But there's a problem: Xi is staying here, and they've also sent troops. Because Xi often stays at the Jingxi Hotel, and then goes to Zhongnanhai or other places. It's rare for him to stay in one place for two nights. There are rumors online that Xi deliberately lured Zhang Youxia out. That's somewhat true. Xi learned of the situation two hours in advance and immediately took action to arrest Zhang Youxia and Liu. He also arrested all of Zhang Youxia and Liu's family members in the first instance." Zhang and Liu were confident that the operation would succeed. Besides, protecting his family was pointless. Making arrangements for his family beforehand would have exposed the operation, and besides, Xi had already planted countless spies among their families.

"Xi Jinping had been purging people, and it's impossible for anyone to wholeheartedly cooperate with him anymore. This is a vicious cycle. Xi Jinping is very suspicious and narrow-minded, and he doesn't trust anyone. This causes those around him to be constantly on edge. The more on edge they are, the more cautious they are, the more likely they are to appear abnormal, and the more likely they are to get into trouble. Moreover, the CCP's system is indeed basically a black box, so they are always scheming against and guarding against each other."

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Zhang Youxia

In the intricate hierarchy of the People's Liberation Army (PLA), few careers embody the principles of loyalty, experience, and steady ascent as completely as that of General Zhang Youxia. His professional biography is not merely a record of personal achievement but a reflection of the PLA's own transformation from a largely infantry-based force to a modern, technologically advanced military. Zhang's journey from a young soldier in the late 1960s to one of the top vice chairmen of China's Central Military Commission offers a unique lens through which to understand the pathways to power. In the intricate hierarchy of the People's Liberation Army (PLA), few careers embody the principles of loyalty, experience, and steady ascent as completely as that of General Zhang Youxia. His professional biography is not merely a record of personal achievement but a reflection of the PLA's own transformation from a largely infantry-based force to a modern, technologically advanced military. Zhang's journey from a young soldier in the late 1960s to one of the top vice chairmen of China's Central Military Commission offers a unique lens through which to understand the pathways to power within General Zhang Youxia's career reflects a trajectory from a frontline soldier to one of the highest command positions in China's military. His long service, detailed in official biographies, showcases a career developed entirely within the structures of the PLA and the CPC. External analyses, however, indicate that the tenure of senior military leaders in China is also interpreted within a complex framework of political loyalty, institutional performance, and the overarching strategic goals set by the national leadership.

Biographical Sketch

Full Name: Zhang Youxia

Zhang Youxia Gender: Male

Male Ethnicity: Han

Han Date of Birth: July 1950

July 1950 Hometown: Weinan, Shaanxi Province

Weinan, Shaanxi Province Military Enrollment: Joined People's Liberation Army (PLA) in December 1968.

Joined People's Liberation Army (PLA) in December 1968. Party Membership: Joined Communist Party of China (CPC) in May 1969.

Joined Communist Party of China (CPC) in May 1969. Education: Graduated from the Basic Department of the PLA Military Academy, holding a junior college education.

Graduated from the Basic Department of the PLA Military Academy, holding a junior college education. Rank: General in the People's Liberation Army (PLA)

Military Career

19681971: Soldier, 6th Company, 119th Regiment, 40th Division, 14th Army.

Soldier, 6th Company, 119th Regiment, 40th Division, 14th Army. 19711977: Staff Officer, Combat Training Section, Headquarters of the 119th Regiment.

Staff Officer, Combat Training Section, Headquarters of the 119th Regiment. 19771979: Commander, 8th Company, 3rd Battalion, 119th Regiment.

Commander, 8th Company, 3rd Battalion, 119th Regiment. 1979: Chief, Combat Training Section, Headquarters, 118th Regiment, 40th Division.

Chief, Combat Training Section, Headquarters, 118th Regiment, 40th Division. 19791981: Chief of Staff for the 118th Regiment.

Chief of Staff for the 118th Regiment. 19811983: Deputy Commander, 118th Regiment.

Deputy Commander, 118th Regiment. 19831984: Commander, 119th Regiment.

Commander, 119th Regiment. 19841986: Studies, Basic Department, PLA Military Academy.

Studies, Basic Department, PLA Military Academy. 19841987: Deputy Commander, 40th Division, 14th Army.

Deputy Commander, 40th Division, 14th Army. 19871990: Deputy Commander, 40th Division, 14th Group Army.

Deputy Commander, 40th Division, 14th Group Army. 19901994: Commander, 40th Division, 14th Group Army.

Commander, 40th Division, 14th Group Army. 19942000: Deputy Commander, 13th Group Army.

Deputy Commander, 13th Group Army. 20002005: Commander, 13th Group Army.

Commander, 13th Group Army. 20052007: Deputy Commander, PLA Beijing Military Area Command.

Deputy Commander, PLA Beijing Military Area Command. 20072012: Commander, PLA Shenyang Military Area Command.

National-Level Appointments

20122013: Member, CPC Central Military Commission and Director, PLA General Armaments Department.

Member, CPC Central Military Commission and Director, PLA General Armaments Department. 20132015: Member of both CPC and the PRC Central Military Commissions, remaining Director, General Armaments Department.

Member of both CPC and the PRC Central Military Commissions, remaining Director, General Armaments Department. 20152017: Member of both Central Military Commissions and as Director, Equipment Development Department under the Central Military Commission.

Member of both Central Military Commissions and as Director, Equipment Development Department under the Central Military Commission. 2017: Member of both the CPC and PRC Central Military Commissions.

Member of both the CPC and PRC Central Military Commissions. 20172018: Elected as a Member, Political Bureau, CPC Central Committee and Vice Chairman, CPC Central Military Commission. He also remained a Member, PRC Central Military Commission.

Elected as a Member, Political Bureau, CPC Central Committee and Vice Chairman, CPC Central Military Commission. He also remained a Member, PRC Central Military Commission. 20182026: confirmed during plenary sessions, CPC Central Committee and the National People's Congress (NPC).

confirmed during plenary sessions, CPC Central Committee and the National People's Congress (NPC). Member , Political Bureau, Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee.

, Political Bureau, Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee. Vice Chairman , Central Military Commission CPC

, Central Military Commission CPC Vice Chairman, Central Military Commission, People's Republic of China.

Profile

Following his regional command posts, General Zhang assumed national-level roles within China's central military command structure.

General Zhang Youxia was one of the most influential military figures in the Peoples Republic of China during the early twenty-first century, widely regarded as a key link between the revolutionary heritage of the Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) and its transformation into a modern, high-technology fighting force. Serving as a senior general and vice chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC), Zhang occupied a position that placed him at the center of Chinas military decision-making apparatus. His career illustrated how personal lineage, institutional loyalty, and professional military experience combined to shape elite power within the Chinese Communist Party (CCP)controlled armed forces.

Zhang Youxia was born in July 1950 in Beijing, into a family deeply embedded in the history of the Chinese Communist revolution. He was the son of Zhang Zongxun, a celebrated PLA general and revolutionary veteran who had fought alongside Mao Zedong and other founding figures of the Peoples Republic of China. This background placed Zhang Youxia firmly within the so-called princeling generation, a cohort of leaders whose familial ties to early revolutionaries provided both symbolic capital and practical advantages. Within the PLA, revolutionary pedigree long served as a marker of political reliability, reinforcing trust in officers entrusted with sensitive commands.

Zhang joined the PLA in 1968 during the tumultuous years of the Cultural Revolution. This period profoundly shaped his early military experience, as political upheaval disrupted formal training, command structures, and professional norms across the armed forces. Despite these challenges, Zhang remained within the system and gradually advanced, benefiting from a combination of operational assignments and political trust. His formative years in uniform occurred at a time when ideological loyalty often mattered as much as technical competence, a balance that would later shift as the PLA professionalized.

One of the defining episodes of Zhang Youxias early career was his participation in the 1979 Sino-Vietnamese War. Unlike many later senior PLA officers whose combat experience was limited or nonexistent, Zhang belonged to a shrinking cohort of generals who had seen actual battlefield conditions. During the conflict, he served in a frontline capacity, gaining firsthand exposure to the realities of modern warfare, including logistics, command coordination, and the human costs of combat. This experience became a significant credential in his later rise, as the PLA increasingly valued combat-tested leadership.

Following the Sino-Vietnamese War, Zhang continued to build his career through a series of operational and command roles. He steadily rose through the ranks during the 1980s and 1990s, a period marked by major reforms within the PLA. These reforms emphasized downsizing, professional education, and a gradual shift away from the mass-infantry model toward a more flexible and technologically capable force. Zhangs progression during this era suggested that he successfully adapted to changing institutional priorities while maintaining strong political credentials.

Zhang Youxias career advancement was also shaped by his work in key regional commands. He served in several important military regions, including postings associated with Chinas northern and western strategic directions. These assignments exposed him to issues ranging from border defense and internal security to coordination with civilian authorities. His familiarity with regions adjacent to Russia, Mongolia, and Central Asia contributed to his reputation as a well-rounded strategic commander, capable of addressing both conventional and nontraditional security challenges.

In 2012, Zhang was appointed commander of the PLAs General Armaments Department, one of the most critical organizations in Chinas military bureaucracy at the time. This department oversaw weapons development, procurement, testing, and military technology programs. His appointment signaled a high level of trust from the top leadership, as the General Armaments Department played a central role in modernizing the PLAs capabilities across land, sea, air, space, and missile domains. Zhangs leadership coincided with accelerated efforts to reduce reliance on foreign technology and promote indigenous innovation.

As head of the General Armaments Department, Zhang Youxia was involved in supervising major defense programs, including missile systems, aerospace projects, and advanced conventional weapons. During this period, the PLA emphasized the integration of information technology, precision strike capabilities, and joint operations. Zhangs role placed him at the intersection of military strategy, industrial policy, and scientific research, reinforcing his image as a general aligned with modernization rather than purely ideological functions.

In 2016, sweeping military reforms initiated under Xi Jinping fundamentally reorganized the PLAs command structure. The traditional general departments were abolished, and new functional commissions were established under the Central Military Commission. Zhang Youxia transitioned into this new system and retained a prominent role, demonstrating his adaptability and continued political relevance. These reforms aimed to strengthen party control, improve joint command efficiency, and reduce corruption within the armed forces.

Zhang reached the pinnacle of his career in 2017 when he was appointed vice chairman of the Central Military Commission. This position placed him among the most powerful military leaders in China, directly subordinate only to the CMC chairman, Xi Jinping. As vice chairman, Zhang was responsible for overseeing broad aspects of military readiness, reform implementation, and discipline. His appointment also underscored the importance of trust and loyalty, as the CMC vice chairmen were central enforcers of Xis authority within the PLA.

During his tenure as CMC vice chairman, Zhang Youxia was widely viewed as a key supporter of Xi Jinpings vision for the Chinese military. This vision emphasized absolute party control, ideological discipline, and the goal of transforming the PLA into a world-class military by mid-century. Zhang frequently appeared at major military events, inspections, and political meetings, reinforcing his role as both a senior commander and a political guardian of the armed forces.

Zhangs influence extended into the realm of personnel management and anti-corruption efforts. The PLA underwent extensive purges during this period, targeting senior officers accused of graft, disloyalty, or factionalism. Although Zhang himself was not publicly associated with major corruption scandals, his position required him to support and implement disciplinary campaigns that reshaped the militarys leadership landscape. These efforts significantly altered promotion pathways and reinforced the centralization of authority.

Strategically, Zhang Youxia was associated with Chinas growing emphasis on preparing for high-intensity conflicts, particularly those involving advanced technologies and joint operations. While official Chinese sources rarely attributed specific doctrinal innovations to individual leaders, Zhangs background in armaments and combat experience suggested that he favored practical readiness and technological superiority. Observers often linked his influence to the PLAs expanding missile forces, space capabilities, and focus on informationized warfare.

Internationally, Zhang represented a generation of PLA leaders who operated with increased confidence as Chinas global influence expanded. Although he was not primarily a diplomatic figure, his statements and appearances conveyed a firm stance on issues such as sovereignty, territorial integrity, and military deterrence. He embodied the PLAs evolving posture: less defensive and inward-looking than in previous decades, yet carefully aligned with the CCPs strategic messaging.

Zhang Youxias career also illustrated the enduring role of revolutionary lineage in Chinese elite politics. While technical expertise and professional education became increasingly important within the PLA, Zhangs family background continued to confer symbolic legitimacy. This combination of heritage and competence made him a particularly valuable figure during a period when the CCP sought to reinforce ideological continuity while pursuing ambitious reforms.

As Zhang approached the later stages of his career, discussions emerged regarding generational transition within the PLA leadership. His age and long service highlighted the challenges of balancing continuity with renewal. Nevertheless, his presence at the apex of military power underscored the leaderships preference for experienced, trusted figures during times of strategic uncertainty and institutional transformation.

In retrospect, General Zhang Youxias career was emblematic of the PLAs broader evolution from a revolutionary army to a modern, party-controlled military force. His trajectory reflected the shifting priorities of the Chinese state: from ideological consolidation to technological modernization and global ambition. Through his command roles, reform leadership, and political reliability, Zhang left a lasting imprint on the structure and direction of Chinas armed forces.

Ultimately, Zhang Youxia was remembered as a figure who combined combat experience, institutional authority, and political loyalty at a critical juncture in Chinas military history. His service encapsulated the tensions and synergies between tradition and transformation, offering insight into how the CCP managed its most powerful instrument of state power during a period of profound change.

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Investigation into International "ATM Jackpotting" Scheme and Tren de Aragua results in Additional Indictment and 87 Total Charged Defendants

Monday, January 26, 2026

For Immediate Release

Office of Public Affairs

A federal grand jury in the District of Nebraska returned an additional indictment charging 31 individuals for their roles in a large conspiracy to deploy malware and steal millions of dollars from ATMs in the United States, a crime commonly referred to as "ATM jackpotting." Fifty-six others have already been charged. Many of the defendants charged in this Homeland Security Task Force operation are Venezuelan and Colombian nationals including illegal alien Tren de Aragua (TdA) members. This indictment alleges 32 counts including conspiracy to commit bank fraud, conspiracy to commit bank burglary and computer fraud, bank fraud, bank burglary, and damage to computers.

"Tren de Aragua is a complex terrorist organization that commits serious financial crimes in addition to horrific rapes, murders, and drug trafficking," said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. "This Department of Justice has already prosecuted more than 290 members of Tren de Aragua and will continue working tirelessly to put these vicious terrorists behind bars after the prior administration let them infiltrate our country."

"A large ring of criminal aliens allegedly engaged in a nationwide conspiracy to enrich themselves and the TdA terrorist organization by ripping off American citizens," said Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche. "After committing bank robbery, fraud, and other serious crimes, they will be vigorously prosecuted and held accountable for their crimes. The Justice Department's Joint Task Force Vulcan will not stop until it completely dismantles and destroys TdA and other foreign terrorists that import chaos to America."

"This latest indictment demonstrates the Criminal Division's commitment to dismantling cartels, including when they attack our nation's financial systems with sophisticated malware," said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department's Criminal Division. "The announcement of charges against a total of 87 defendants underscores both the massive scale of these alleged conspiracies and the strength and skill of our investigators and prosecutors who dismantle them. As cartels level up their criminal game, so will we."

"Tren de Aragua uses ATM jackpotting crimes committed all across America to fund its terrorist organization which is responsible for horrific crimes such as human trafficking (to include sex trafficking of children in Nebraska), kidnapping, murder and other unspeakably evil and violent acts," said U.S. Attorney Lesley A. Woods for the District of Nebraska. "The U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Nebraska will fight TdA directly by taking every action at our disposal to shut down their financial pipeline and handicap their ability to terrorize American communities."

"TdA grew from a prison gang to a transnational criminal organization to a foreign terrorist organization. Using sophisticated malware to empty ATMs and damage U.S. financial institutions that also fund TdA's terrorist activity will not be tolerated," said Joint Task Force Vulcan (JTFV) Co-Director Chris Eason. "The charges against certain TdA members are directly in line with JTFV's mission: a collaborative, whole of government effort to destroy TdA. We are grateful for our partnership with the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Nebraska, and our law enforcement partners who worked tirelessly to investigate and bring these important charges."

"A dedicated team of FBI Omaha agents and analysts are working shoulder to shoulder with our local, state, and federal partners to disrupt and dismantle an international criminal conspiracy ultimately funding a foreign terrorist organization," said Special Agent in Charge Eugene Kowel of the FBI Omaha Field Office. "The wide variety of sophisticated criminal tactics employed by TdA poses a direct threat to communities across our country. This case highlights TdA's plot to deploy malware to steal vast funds from financial institutions across the United States. We will never stop following the money and surging resources to arrest and apprehend TdA members and leadership."

The following photographs depict just a few of the alleged ATM jackpotting scheme in progress and equipment used:

The alleged conspiracy developed and deployed a variant of malware known as Ploutus, which was used to hack into ATMs and force ATMs to dispense cash. The conspiracy relied on the recruitment of a number of individuals to deploy Ploutus malware nationwide. Members of the conspiracy and TdA would travel in groups, using multiple vehicles, to the locations of targeted banks and credit unions. These groups would conduct initial reconnaissance and take note of external security features at the ATMs. Following this reconnaissance, the groups would open the hood or door of ATMs and then wait nearby to see whether they had triggered an alarm or a law enforcement response. The groups would then take steps to install malware on the ATMs, by removing the hard drive and installing the malware directly, by replacing the hard drive with one that had been pre-loaded with the Ploutus malware, or by connecting an external device such as a thumb drive that would deploy the malware. The Ploutus malware's primary purpose was to issue unauthorized commands associated with the Cash Dispensing Module of the ATM in order to force withdrawals of currency. The Ploutus malware was also designed to delete evidence of malware in an effort to conceal, create a false impression, mislead, or otherwise deceive employees of the banks and credit unions from learning about the deployment of the malware on the ATM. Members of the conspiracy would then split the proceeds in predetermined portions.

The most recent indictment follows a previous one returned on Dec. 9, 2025, that alleged that TdA, a designated Foreign Terrorist Organization, conducted jackpotting attacks across America. The Dec. 9, 2025 indictment charged 22 individuals with offenses for their roles in the conspiracy: 13 individuals are charged with conspiracy to provide material support to terrorists, 10 with conspiracy to commit bank fraud, 10 with conspiracy to commit bank burglary and fraud and related activity in connection with computers, and 22 with conspiracy to commit money laundering. The indictment also alleges that TdA used jackpotting to steal millions of dollars in the United States and then transferred the proceeds among its members and associates to conceal the illegally obtained cash. The indictment alleged a national conspiracy to commit these offenses with crimes committed all over the United States in furtherance of these conspiracies that generated millions in illegal proceeds for the combined defendants and the TdA organization.

A related indictment returned on Oct. 21, 2025 charged 32 individuals and alleged 56 counts including one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud, one count of conspiracy to commit bank burglary and computer fraud, 18 counts of bank fraud, 18 counts of bank burglary, and 18 counts of damage to computers.

If convicted, the defendants face maximum terms of imprisonment ranging between 20 and 335 years.

According to court documents, TdA is a violent transnational criminal organization that originated as a prison gang in Venezuela in the mid-2000s. TdA has expanded its criminal network throughout the Western Hemisphere and established a presence in the United States. TdA's criminal activities range from drug trafficking and firearms trafficking, to commercial sex trafficking, kidnapping, robbery, theft, fraud, and extortion. TdA members also commit murder, assault, and other violent acts to advance the organization's criminal activities. TdA has also developed an additional source of revenue stream through financial crimes that target financial institutions throughout the United States, including using jackpotting to steal millions of dollars in cash.

In the past six months, the Justice Department has charged a total of 87 TdA members and leaders with a range of federal offenses that include material support to a designated foreign terror organization, bank burglary, money laundering, damage and unauthorized access to protected computers, bank fraud, and conspiracy to commit the same offenses.

FBI's Omaha Field Office and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Omaha is investigating the case, with assistance from FBI's Denver, Houston, Miami, Oklahoma, Sacramento, Seattle, and Springfield Field Offices, and the U.S. Secret Service, United States Marshals Service, Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Border Patrol, United States Citizenship and Immigration Services, Federal Housing Finance Agency Office of the Inspector General, Financial Deposit Insurance Corporation, Adams County Sheriff's Office, Appanoose County Sheriff's Office, Bates County Sheriff's Office, Sheridan Police Department, Lake County Sheriff's Office, Leesburg Police Department, Sterling Heights Police Department, Kearney Police Department, Warrant Police Department, Douglas County Sheriff's Office, Colombus Police Department, Cass County Sheriff's Office, Nebraska State Patrol Crime Laboratory, Bluff City Police Department, Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, Lincoln Police Department, Gothenburg Police Department, Loudon Police Department, Alcoa Police Department, Kearney Police Department, Milford Police Department, Grand Island Police Department, Nebraska State Patrol, Papillion Police Department, Central City Police Department, Holdrege Police Department, New York State Police, Berkeley Police Department, Cook County Electronic Monitoring Unit, Aurora Police Department, Austin Police Department, U.S. Capitol Police, Buffalo County Sheriff's Office, City of Rome Police Department, Lancaster County Sheriff's Office, McCook Police Department, Nebraska DMV Crime Analysts, Rantoul Police Department, Olathe Police Department, North Platte Police Department, Walla Walla Police Department, Milton-Freewater Police Department, Missoula Police Department, Omaha Police Department, Larimer County Sheriff's Office, Sidney Police Department, Denver Police, Howard County Sheriff's Office, St. Paul Police Department, Ozaukee County Sheriff's Office, Glendale Police Department, Columbia Police Department, Brookfield Police Department, Wauwatosa Police Department, Mount Pleasant Police Department, Grafton Police Department, South Milwaukee Police Department, Dubuque Police Department, Fargo Police Department, and Paducah Police Department.

This case is being prosecuted by the Justice Department's Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Nebraska, and Joint Task Force Vulcan. The U.S. Attorney's Offices for the Western District of Washington, Eastern District of California, Southern District of New York, Northern District of Illinois, Central District of Illinois, Eastern District of Oklahoma, District of New Mexico, Southern District of Florida, Eastern District of Wisconsin, and the District of Colorado, as well as the Larimer County Attorney's Office, Colorado Attorney General's Office, Tennessee 9th District Attorney General's Office, Tennessee 5th District Attorney General's Office and the Office of the Oklahoma Attorney General provided significant assistance.

This Operation is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Omaha comprises agents and officers from the FBI and HSI.

Joint Task Force Vulcan (JTFV) was created in 2019 to eradicate MS-13 and now expanded to target TdA is comprised of U.S. Attorney's Offices across the country. Those include Southern and Eastern Districts of New York; Eastern and Western Districts of North Carolina; Eastern and Western Districts of Virginia; Southern District of Florida; Eastern District of Texas; Western District of Oklahoma; Northern District of Indiana; and the District of Nevada, as well as the Executive Office for U.S. Attorneys, Department of Justice's National Security Division and the Criminal Division. Additionally, the FBI, DEA, HSI, ATF, USMS, and the Bureau of Prisons are essential law enforcement partners with JTFV.

An indictment or a complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

Topics: Financial Fraud

National Security

Components: Office of the Attorney General

Criminal Division

Criminal - Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section

Criminal - Office of International Affairs

Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

Office of the Deputy Attorney General

USAO - Nebraska

Press Release Number: 26-58

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EU Statement at the Ad Hoc Committee to prepare the draft text of the rules of procedure for the Conference of the States Parties to the UN Convention against Cybercrime, 26 January 2026

European External Action Service (EEAS)

26.01.2026

Vienna

Press and information team of the Delegation to UN and OSCE in Vienna

Your Excellencies,

I have the honour to speak on behalf of the European Union and its Member States. Albania, Armenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Iceland, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Norway, Republic of Moldova, Serbia, and Ukraine align themselves with this statement.

The EU and its Member States would first like to congratulate H.E. Eduardo Paes Saboia for being elected as new Chair of the Bureau of the UN Ad Hoc Committee. We look forward to working with you in the upcoming discussions.

The European Union and its Member States would also like to thank the co-facilitators, H.E. Mr. Alex Francisco Wetzig Abdale, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Chile to the United Nations in Vienna, and H.E. Mr. Mohamed Nasr, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Egypt to the United Nations in Vienna, for their engagement as cofacilitators on the rules of procedures of the new Conference of the States Parties of the UN Convention against Cybercrime.

It isn't an easy task.

The adoption of this Convention was a collective success for all UN members, as it testified to our collective ability to work together to tackle the global challenge of cybercrime.

Mr Chair,

The EU and its Member States are committed to an effective implementation of the Convention. The EU and 13 EU Member States were among the first signatories to the Convention last October in Hanoi.

As mandated by the General Assembly resolution 79/243, the EU and its Member States are committed to supporting the preparations of the rules of procedure to be submitted to the Conference for consideration at its first session.

The rules of procedure should ensure a steadfast, effective and efficient application of the UN Convention against Cybercrime, which complements the UN Conventions on Transnational and Organised Crime (UNTOC) and Corruption (UNCAC), as well as the Budapest Convention on Cybercrime, filling the gaps in international cooperation, and making the world a safer place.

We recognize the collective commitment in this process so far, and would like to encourage all delegations to keep this momentum going in order to reach an agreement on the rules of procedure in Vienna this week.

Mr Chair,

The EU and its Member States are committed to tackling cybercrime through international cooperation, fostering effective information sharing, and support large-scale operational cooperation to dismantle cybercriminal networks. The EU and its Member States also aim to strengthen global resilience, enhance the capacity of justice and law enforcement authorities, and promote a safe and secure digital environment worldwide, where fundamental rights are respected. In doing so, we seek to build long-term international partnerships based on trust, cooperation and a shared responsibility to ensure an open, stable and secure cyberspace.

Pursuant to those principles, the EU and its Member States believe that, the future rules of procedure of the Conference of the States Parties to the Convention should ensure that all future parties to the Convention can benefit from the views, experience and expertise of stakeholders, including non-governmental organizations, civil society organizations, academic institutions and the private sector, as during the negotiation of this Convention. The appropriate involvement of stakeholders is vital to guarantee that discussions in the Conference of States Parties are well-informed and that all Parties can effectively implement the Convention. For example, we need companies to advise us on how to effectively obtain from them the electronic evidence we need for our investigations. We also need victims' organisations to inform us of how victims of child sexual abuse are targeted and how we can better protect children from online predators.

We welcome that the revised draft text, in particular its Rules 17 paragraphs 1 and 2 and its compilation 1 for Rule 17, is starting to reflect the convergence that a majority of delegations showed, throughout the last informal sessions, towards rules on stakeholder participation.

The participation modalities should enable stakeholders to attend meetings as appropriate, make oral interventions at appropriate stages of discussions, access relevant documentation and submit written contributions.

We should also aim for a regular session of a conference that is efficient and not burdensome. By meeting every 3 years, the COSP will be able to take meaningful decisions allowing sufficient time to prepare and discuss them. Meeting every 3 years would give more weight and political traction to the fight against cybercrime.

In the same manner, we believe that a lean bureau composed of 5 representatives from the 5 UN regions would better empower the bureau and its elected representatives.

Mr Chair,

Finally, and more generally, and while considering the importance of pragmatism in the UN 80 reform, a key priority for the EU is that the rules of procedure remain clear, general, practical and ensure a well-functioning and efficient Conference.

Thank you.

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Multilateralism remains the cornerstone of today's international order and a prevailing trend, says Chinese FM on US withdrawal from WHO and blame-shifting claims

Global Times

By Global Times Published: Jan 26, 2026 05:01 PM

Being asked that the US Secretary of State Rubio and Secretary of Health and Human Services Kennedy Jr. issued a joint statement on January 23 announcing the US formal withdrawal from the World Health Organization, effective immediately and the US Department of Health and Human Services also claimed that at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, China had concealed information and refused to provide the WHO with the genetic sequences of early cases, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said that since the outbreak of COVID-19, China has adhered to the principles of putting people and life first, working hand in hand with other nations to overcome the challenge.

China has made significant contributions to global cooperation against the pandemic. The timeline and context of China's anti-pandemic efforts are crystal clear, with facts and data that are readily evident and have gained wide recognition from the international community. Such facts cannot be willfully distorted or smeared. China firmly opposes the politicization of the pandemic and the use of it for political manipulation. The act of shifting blame onto China is not only unpopular but also destined to fail, Guo said.

Guo added that the WHO is the world's leading specialized international agency in the field of global public health. We have noted the WHO's regret over the US withdrawal. Multilateralism is the cornerstone of today's international order, a prevailing trend that reflects the shared will of the international community.

China has consistently supported the WHO in fulfilling its mandate, deepening international public health cooperation, strengthening global health governance, and working toward building a global community of health for all, the spokesperson said.

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US officials defend fatal shooting as video contradicts government statement

Iran Press TV

Monday, 26 January 2026 8:32 AM

Federal officials have defended the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti by immigration agents despite video evidence contradicting the official recount of the incident.

The killing of the 37-year-old nurse was followed by conflicting accounts between the federal officials, citing agents' recollections and local witnesses who recorded the events leading to Pretti's killing on video.

According to the official account, Pretti approached feral anti-immigration agents with a loaded 9-millimeter semi-automatic handgun and two magazines.

The United States Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem was quoted by ABC7 News for calling Pretti's attempt to help a woman being pushed around by masked agents as "an act of domestic terrorism."

Gregory Bovino, the Trump administration's immigration crackdown commander-at-large, told reporters that the agents had followed their training when faced with an armed suspect who "wanted to do maximum damage and massacre law enforcement."

He doubled down on his defense of officers on Sunday, saying, "The fact that they're highly trained prevented any specific shootings of law enforcement, so good job for our law enforcement in taking him down before he was able to do that."

However, verified video footage of the shooting from various angles shows Pretti holding a mobile phone and filming as he attempts to help a woman pushed to the ground by federal agents.

There is no video footage showing any weapon in his hand. The footage shows Pretti being pepper-sprayed and wrestled to the ground before being shot multiple times in the back.

"Everybody saw that video, and yet there he was telling you and telling the American public that this young man was brandishing a weapon, that he was impeding officers, that he was there to attend a riot, that he was engaged in assault, when everyone can see that that's not true," Democratic Sen. Chris Murphy told CNN on Sunday, sharply criticizing the Trump administration.

"It should freak the American public out that the Trump administration lies this easily, will lie to your face when you can see the evidence for yourself."

A key piece of evidence will likely be the video from the phone Pretti was holding when he was killed. Federal officials have not yet released that footage or shared it with state investigators.

A US federal judge has issued an emergency order requiring federal authorities to preserve all evidence related to the Pretti killing by federal immigration officers.

Following a lawsuit filed by Minnesota state and local agencies barred from the killing scene, Judge Eric C. Tostrud of the US District Court for the District of Minnesota granted the temporary restraining order late Saturday night.

The judge's order forbids federal agencies, including the DHS, from "destroying or altering evidence" at the scene.

The lawsuit was filed by the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) the DHS blocked state investigators from accessing the scene.

BCA Superintendent Drew Evans stated in a sworn declaration that federal agents from the DHS barred state investigators from entering the shooting scene.

The federal immigration agents continued to deny access to Evans for hours, even after the BCA obtained a search warrant signed by a Minnesota District Court judge.

The BCA superintendent stressed that in his more than 20 years of experience at the Bureau, he had never before encountered agents blocking access to a shooting scene where both federal and local jurisdiction applied.

"This is uncharted territory," Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison told reporters Sunday. "We've never had to do anything like this before."

The state's governor Tim Walz vowed to have a state investigation, blasting the federal government's accounts of Pretti's final moments as "lies".

Pretti's shooting was the third shooting involving federal immigration agents in Minneapolis in January 2026, and the second fatal incident this month.

It came on the heels of the Jan. 7 fatal shooting of Renee Good and another incident a week later when a federal officer shot a man in the leg.

Protesters continue to stage rallies in Minneapolis demanding the armed and masked federal immigration agents, who were deployed to the city to crackdown on illegal immigrants, leave the city.

Protesters also demand the abolition of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency.

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U.S. Border Patrol chief expected to leave Minneapolis after fatal shooting: media

People's Daily Online

(Xinhua) 10:19, January 27, 2026

WASHINGTON, Jan. 26 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Border Patrol chief Gregory Bovino and some of his agents are expected to leave the city of Minneapolis on Tuesday in the aftermath of the fatal shooting of U.S. citizen Alex Pretti, local media reported Monday.

Administration officials were left deeply frustrated over the weekend by the way Bovino and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem handled the fallout over the fatal shooting of Pretti in Minneapolis, CNN quoted sources as saying.

Some say that Bovino, who became the face of President Donald Trump's immigration enforcement operation in the U.S. state of Minnesota, made matters worse by claiming Pretti intended to "massacre" federal agents, the report said.

U.S. officials were also irked after Noem labeled Pretti a "domestic terrorist" and accused him of brandishing his legally owned firearm, a claim that was not backed up by video evidence, the report added.

Bovino and an unspecified number of Border Patrol agents will be leaving the state as soon as Tuesday, Fox News cited multiple federal sources as saying.

The expected departure of Bovino comes as Trump announced Monday that he is sending White House border czar Tom Homan to Minnesota to take charge of Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said Monday that Bovino "is going to very much continue to lead Customs and Border Patrol, throughout and across the country," and Homan "will be the main point of contact on the ground in Minneapolis to follow up."

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Coastal States of the Baltic Sea and the North Sea: Safety risks in navigation increased by GNSS interference

Finnish Government

Ministry of Transport and Communications

Publication date 26.1.2026 12.16

Type:Press release

On 26 January 2026, Finland and 13 other European countries published a letter to the International Maritime Community on the safety and security risks caused by Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) interference. The signatories of the letter include the coastal states of the Baltic Sea and the North Sea: Finland, Belgium, Denmark, Estonia, France, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Sweden and the United Kingdom as well as Iceland.

The joint letter notes the risks to maritime safety and security caused by interference with satellite navigation systems, i.e. GNSS interference, and highlights the obligations of vessels and flag states under international treaties. Risks to maritime safety increase further during winter, when ice conditions are challenging.

On behalf of Finland, the letter was signed by Minister of Transport and Communications Lulu Ranne.

"As a preparedness superpower, Finland also has the readiness to respond to GNSS interference. We have consistently kept interference and the related risks high on our agenda in international forums. Our particular concern relates to vessels and crew that do not have the capabilities for winter navigation and are vulnerable to GNSS interference. We want to ensure that all countries are committed to international conventions and are adequately prepared for incidents when operating in the Baltic Sea region," says Minister Ranne.

The letter calls upon the international maritime community and national authorities to:

Recognize GNSS interference and Automatic Identification System (AIS) manipulation as threats to maritime safety and security. Ensure vessels have adequate capabilities and properly trained crew as required by international conventions to operate safely during navigation system outages. Cooperate on the development of alternative terrestrial radio navigation systems which may be used in place of GNSS in the event of disruption, loss of signal or interference or other system failures.

What is GNSS interference?

GNSS interference refers to intentional disturbance of time and location data. The most widely used GNSS system is the US Global Positioning System (GPS). Intentional interference is prohibited in both national legislation and international treaties.

GNSS interference has been detected in maritime transport within and near Finnish territory. As a rule, navigation remains safe, but the significantly higher number of interferences with satellite navigation systems is undermining the efficiency and safety of navigation. Alternative methods of positioning are used in maritime transport, meaning that vessels navigating in the Gulf of Finland do not depend solely on a single positioning system.

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United States Welcomes Oman Signing of the Artemis Accords

US Department of State

Media Note

Office of the Spokesperson

January 26, 2026

The Department of State congratulates the Sultanate of Oman on joining the Artemis Accords. Oman is the 61st country to sign the Accords to date, pledging its commitment to peaceful space exploration and use.

Said al-Maawal, Oman's Minister of Transportation, Communication, and Information Technology, signed the Accords on behalf of the Sultanate of Oman on January 26. The signing took place on the margins of the Middle East Space Conference and the U.S.-Oman Strategic Dialogue in Muscat. U.S. Ambassador to Oman Ana Escrogima and NASA Deputy Associate Administrator Casey Swails witnessed the signing.

Oman's signing of the Artemis Accords reflects the deepening U.S.-Oman partnership in space, science, and emerging technologies, and demonstrates Oman's commitment to responsible space exploration.

The United States and seven other countries established the Artemis Accords in 2020 to serve as a set of practical principles to guide responsible space exploration. Oman joins the United States and 59 other nations in affirming the Accords' principles for sustainable civil space activity. The Department of State and NASA lead the United States' outreach and implementation of the Accords.

For more information, including a full list of signatories to the Accords, please visit the Artemis Accords page. For media inquiries, please submit a request here.

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Spaceport's milestone a major boost for Hainan space industry

People's Daily Online

(China Daily) 10:18, January 27, 2026

China's primary spaceport for heavy-lift missions set a new annual launch record in 2025, highlighting the country's rapidly advancing high-density launch capabilities and the parallel rise of a commercial space ecosystem.

The Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site in South China's Hainan province conducted its 12th launch of 2025 on Dec 31, using a Long March 7A rocket to send the Shijian 29A and 29B satellites into their preset orbit.

This milestone followed another one reached on Nov 30, when the launch of a modified Long March 7 rocket marked the first time the site's annual launch tally had reached double digits. Since its inaugural mission in 2016,Wenchang has executed 45 launches, with the rate steadily growing.

The site, China's first independently designed green, modern spaceport, operates two all-weather launchpads specializing in medium and large cryogenic-liquid rockets. Officials attribute the increased launch rate to optimized efficiency, achieved primarily by slashing rocket testing cycles on the launchpads.

"Shortening the rocket's on-pad occupation time is critical," said Wang Yuliang, a site official.

The launch cycle for the 2017 Tianzhou 1 mission was roughly 40 days. It was streamlined to more than 30 days for the 2021 Tianzhou 2 launch and cut to about 20 days for Tianzhou 4 in 2022, which also pioneered simultaneous loading of liquid oxygen and kerosene.

Technicians achieved this through innovations in the process, merging tasks, eliminating redundancies and simplifying installations.

Between missions, they also upgraded and maintained equipment to ensure reliability. Propellant handling efficiency has tripled by adding tankers and enabling parallel transfer operations, according to commander Fu Yihang.

Experts said these refinements are key for Wenchang's future role in national projects like crewed moon landings and deep-space exploration, which will demand higher launch rates.

Commercial success

Adjacent to the state site, the Hainan International Commercial Aerospace Launch Center completed its ninth successful launch of 2025 on Dec 26.

It has progressed rapidly from its official debut in late 2024 and achieved two launches within five days last year. Built in 878 days and commencing operations in July 2022, the commercial center pioneers a flexible, cost-effective model.

"Our first phase features a dual-pad configuration with rapid launch and post-launch recovery capabilities. For instance, our No 2 launchpad features a universal design, compatible with over 20 rocket models, which has helped attract additional commercial launch companies," explained Yang Tianliang, chairman of the Hainan International Commercial Aerospace Launch Co.

A key innovation is the "three-level" process in which rockets are assembled, tested, and transported horizontally before being raised upright at the launchpad, cutting preparation time from about 20 days to 10 or fewer.

A second-phase expansion, adding two more pads later this year, aims to boost the commercial site's annual capacity to over 60 launches and further enhance Wenchang's capacity for high-frequency launch missions.

On China's aerospace map, Wenchang has pioneered State and commercial sectors "soaring together with complementary functions", according to Wenchang Release, the official WeChat public account of local authorities.

Industrial ecosystem

This high launch frequency is accelerating the development of a full industrial ecosystem. A large satellite manufacturing facility is under construction nearby, while the Wenchang Aerospace Supercomputing Center is expanding its "aerospace-plus" data services.

More than 700 aerospace companies are now located in Wenchang International Aerospace City, drawn by low-latitude launch benefits, favorable free trade port policies and a growing "rocket-satellite-data" industrial chain.

The provincial 15th Five-Year Plan pledges to advance the commercial aerospace launch site system and grow the rocket, satellite, data and "aerospace-plus" industries.

Interstellar Glory Aerospace Science and Technology Co is one of the companies committed to growth. At its launch-vehicle assembly, testing, and reuse facility, systems are undergoing intensive debugging.

"We are accelerating the construction of supporting facilities. In the future, we will rely on reusable technology to significantly reduce launch costs," said Peng Xiaobo, the company's chairman and general manager.

Yang from the Hainan International Commercial Aerospace Launch Co said: "Aerospace companies all keep a 'cost ledger'. If launch costs are lowered and supporting services are improved, companies will naturally be willing to come."

Hainan Governor Liu Xiaoming said the province is mobilizing all resources to develop Wenchang International Aerospace City, using a "launch site-driven" industry strategy to build a complete industrial ecosystem.

He invited leading global aerospace companies to settle in Hainan to share in the policy benefits and explore new models of international cooperation in launches, data, and application to build the island province into a global benchmark for aerospace connectivity.

Therma Tech Chairman Sun Meng said the Hainan Free Trade Port offers greater freedom and room for innovation.

"Startups in the satellite and data chains can together spark more innovation and provide more development opportunities for new quality productive forces in the aerospace industry," he said.

Beijing Jiutianxingge Aerospace Technology Co Vice-President Chu Guoqiang said as a result of the Hainan Free Trade Port island-wide special customs operations launch on Dec 18, corporate operating costs are expected to be reduced and convenience improved for companies expanding overseas.

Hainan Fengli Gas Co, a high-tech enterprise producing liquid oxygen, nitrogen and carbon dioxide, partnered in 2023 with the Hainan International Commercial Aerospace Launch Co to provide propellant and coolant.

"The supply process for aerospace gases is complex. Shortening the transport distance from the production site to the launch site helps reduce risk, time and cost. Also, launch dates can be uncertain, and a local service team can respond more quickly and flexibly," said Huang Shifeng from Hainan Fengli Gas Co. He said the company plans a 2 billion yuan ($280 million) investment to expand capacity, aiming to double production.

Government boost

Zhang Rusheng, deputy director of the China National Space Administration's commercial space department, said China's commercial space sector has entered a new stage of innovative, scaled development.

The Hainan commercial launch site has achieved a 100 percent success rate in 10 launches and accomplished a dual-pad launch capability. Zhang said the administration will support Hainan in using Free Trade Port preferential policies to pool global innovation resources and turn technological advantages into high-quality development momentum.

Li Zhongbao, chief engineer of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation, said the State-owned group is systematically planning the entire satellite, rocket, launch site, and application chain. The group will leverage Hainan's location and policy advantages to focus on core capabilities and expand integrated industries like space tourism, satellite data and the low-altitude economy, working with partners to build a new commercial space hub with global competitiveness, he said.

During the Wenchang International Aviation and Aerospace Forum on Dec 23, the Hainan Aerospace Technology Innovation Center and Hainan Weizi Daokong Technology Co released results from the Haishao series, China's first low-inclination orbit Synthetic Aperture Radar satellite.

Its low-inclination orbit enables the satellite to close the low-latitude data gap in Earth observation and provide a "full-sea-area positioning service" system, showcasing innovation in aerospace and marine technology.

Officials said the Haishao 1/AIRSAT 08 satellite has operated successfully in orbit for a year, calling it the world's first 350-kilometer ultra-low orbit.

They described the Haishao 2/AIRSAT 05 as the world's first integrated "remote sensing-communication-navigation aid" SAR satellite. Once networked, the satellites form an all-weather observation network covering Hainan and the South China Sea.

The Haishao 3 satellite project was initiated recently and will use a low-inclination orbit to enhance observation capability in mid  to low-latitude regions.

The series launch highlights Hainan's progress in building an independent and controllable satellite observation system. This system aims to form a "sky eye" covering both land and sea, providing more precise and real-time integrated sky-land-sea sensing capabilities for the construction of the Hainan FTP and supporting the development of Hainan's digital infrastructure.

Cao Shuyu, mayor of Wenchang and head of the Wenchang International Aerospace City Administration, said the city will focus on four areas: building a closed-loop "launch-recovery-reuse" system; cultivating a new satellite application ecosystem; expanding international application and trade channels for satellite data; and promoting deep integration of aerospace and cultural tourism.

Tourism thriving

Each launch also helps fuel a vibrant "aerospace tourism" sector, with thousands of spectators flocking to local viewing points. "Hainan has a good natural environment and the country's only low-latitude, coastal rocket launch site. Every launch attracts a large number of tourists," said Xin Guotao, operations manager at the Wenchang Shanhaitian Convention Center.

In surrounding towns, many guesthouses offer rooftop viewing.

The center's roof can accommodate over 300 viewers, providing refreshments, aerospace lectures and video screenings.

Tourists from across China have been enjoying the thrills of the launch experience.

Tang Yutong from Guangdong province has traveled to Wenchang multiple times to "chase rockets", often dressed in traditional moon Goddess Chang'e and Jade Rabbit costumes to blend ancient myth with modern technology.

"A person must come to see a rocket launch by the sea once in their lifetime," said Si Shuxian, a tourist from Henan province. "Bringing my kids here can let them see for themselves our country's strength."

Chen Jiaojiao, from Sanya, Hainan, said watching rocket launches connects people from different regions."Tourists from all over the country, and even the world, gather in Wenchang. We don't know each other but share the same expectation, cheering together for the rocket's ascent."

At the Wenchang Space Supercomputing Science and Technology Museum, satellites like the Wenchang Supercomputing 1 are on display.

The Wenchang Jixing Meteorite Museum integrates aerospace technology with cultural tourism innovation. It showcases over 400 celestial specimens, and invites visitors to view the mysteries of the universe.

Through artificial intelligence interactions, virtual reality tours and other technology, it offers an immersive space exploration experience. This "tech-infused tourism" model reflects the Hainan Free Trade Port's broader strategy to diversify and modernize its tourism and technology sectors, officials said.

"Parent-child and family trips are the main visits during holidays, with foot traffic significantly higher than usual," said a representative from the Wenchang Jixing Meteorite Museum. Combining aerospace with cultural tourism has strong appeal, with science popularization classes and interactive experiments making aerospace charm tangible.

Chen Jian'ge, secretary-general of the Wenchang Tourism Association, said the future of aerospace tourism requires breaking boundaries for greater integration, suggesting further developing iconic aerospace tourism IPs and more diverse, professional tourism formats.

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Peregrine lands, Australia leads

By Flying Officer Abi Lahon

27 January 2026

The Royal Australian Air Force has officially welcomed the first MC-55A Peregrine to Australia - a first-of-type airborne intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance and electronic warfare (ISREW) platform. The Peregrine marks a major milestone in strengthening the nation's sovereign defence capability.

Chief of Air Force Air Marshal Stephen Chappell announced that the introduction of the MC-55A to Air Force's fleet will ensure Defence has a critical enabler for advanced capabilities. As identified in the 2024 Integrated Investment Program, the aircraft will also provide important intelligence information to support ADF missions.

"The MC-55A Peregrine is more than an aircraft - it is a strategic capability that reinforces our ability to protect national interests in an increasingly complex security environment," Air Marshal Chappell said.

The aircraft will be operated by 10 Squadron and based at RAAF Base Edinburgh, South Australia.

"The arrival of the MC-55A Peregrine is a major milestone for our squadron," said Squadron Leader Damian Ross, temporary Commanding Officer 10 Squadron.

"Its advanced systems will deliver real-time threat warning and actionable intelligence to support decision-making."

The MC-55A will be a key component of Australia's broader Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) enterprise. Modelled on the Gulfstream G550 airframe, the aircraft has been extensively enhanced by L3Harris Technologies.

It will complement platforms such as the P-8A Poseidon and MQ-4C Triton, forming a critical link in the nation's surveillance and electronic warfare assets.

The aircraft integrates seamlessly with allied and partner systems, allowing the ADF to share intelligence with key partners such as the United Kingdom and the United States. This strengthens collective security and Australia's ability to respond quickly to evolving regional threats.

Officer Commanding 92 Wing Group Captain James Collison said the MC-55A Peregrine enhanced ADF capability by delivering intelligence in support of operations and strengthening Australia's ability to monitor its strategic area of interest.

"It ensures Australia maintains a strategic edge while working closely with our allies," Group Captain James Collison said.

With the MC-55A Peregrine now in service, the Royal Australian Air Force is at the forefront of airborne intelligence and electronic warfare. The platform ensures the ADF is equipped to meet emerging challenges and continue protecting Australia's national and regional security interests.

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China, Canada make specific arrangements to properly address economic, trade issues, not directed at third party, says FM over Bessent's tariff threat on Canada involving China

Global Times

By Global Times Published: Jan 26, 2026 04:06 PM

China advocates that countries should handle relations with one another based on win-win cooperation rather than a zero-sum mindset, and through cooperation rather than confrontation, Guo Jiakun, spokesperson for China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Monday when asked to comment on remarks by the US Treasury secretary Scott Bessent that Washington would impose 100 percent tariffs on Canadian imports if Canada finalizes a free-trade agreement with China, following a similar warning from President Donald Trump.

China and Canada seek to build a new strategic partnership and have made specific arrangements to properly address economic and trade issues between the two sides, reflecting the spirit of equality, openness and inclusiveness, peace, cooperation and shared benefits. "These arrangements are not directed at any third party. They serve the common interests of the two peoples, and are conducive to world peace, stability and development prosperity," he added.

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Canada 'Destroying Itself' Over Potential Deal With China - Trump

Sputnik News

20260126

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - US President Donald Trump said on Sunday that Canada was "destroying itself" over a potential trade deal with China.

"Canada is systematically destroying itself. The China deal is a disaster for them," Trump wrote on Truth Social.

The US president also said he expects the deal with Beijing to be one of the worst in history.

On Saturday, Trump said that if Canada made a deal with China, all Canadian goods entering the US would be immediately subject to 100% tariffs.

 Sputnik

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China willing to work with US to manage differences, advance cooperation and maintain stable trade ties: MOFCOM official

Global Times

By Chu Daye Published: Jan 26, 2026 04:39 PM

China is willing to work with the US to make good use of the China-US economic and trade consultation mechanism, manage differences, advance cooperation and maintain the stable, sound, and sustainable development of bilateral economic and trade relations, an official of China's Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) said on Monday.

Wang Zhihua, a MOFCOM official, made the remarks at a press conference in response to a media inquiry about an idea floated by US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer at the recently concluded World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Meeting 2026 in Davos, Switzerland on another potential round of trade negotiations between the two countries.

In 2025, China and the US, guided by the principles of equality, mutual respect, and mutual benefit, conducted five rounds of economic and trade consultations, achieving a series of positive outcomes, Wang said.

This fully demonstrated that through equal dialogue and consultations, China and the US can find ways to resolve issues, said Wang.

Chinese Vice Commerce Minister Yan Dong said that from a bilateral perspective, under the strategic guidance of head-of-state diplomacy, the positive outcomes achieved in the China-US economic and trade consultations have provided the global economy with a reassuring signal.

Lu Xiang, a research fellow at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times on Monday that the Chinese side has taken a consistent stance on China-US economic and trade matters in the past several years, and has constantly promoted bilateral ties to develop in the direction that will benefit both countries and the world, injecting positivity into global trade.

"In 2025, China held its position firmly. In the new year, there is great room to expand the scope of cooperation, and officials at the working level from both sides are expected to consolidate the foundation of cooperation and manage differences under the principles of equality, mutual respect, and mutual benefit," the expert said.

Following the meeting between the two heads of state in Busan, South Korea, the two sides have maintained continuous communication at various levels through the China-US economic and trade consultation mechanism, working together to implement the important common understandings reached by the leaders and the outcomes of the Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, economic and trade consultation, Wang, the MOFCOM official, said.

At the WEF, Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng held talks with US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, who leads the US side at the China-US economic and trade consultation mechanism, at the invitation of the latter. They exchanged views on relevant economic and trade issues between the two sides, according to the Xinhua News Agency.

Delivering a speech at the WEF Annual Meeting 2026, He, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, called on the global community to firmly support multilateralism and free trade, and stay committed to win-win cooperation.

China is willing to work with the US, adhering to the principles of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence, and win-win cooperation, to jointly uphold and implement the important common understandings of the two heads of state, make good use of the China-US economic and trade consultation mechanism and manage differences, advance cooperation and maintain the stable, sound, and sustainable development of bilateral economic and trade relations, Wang said.

"There's a chance that we might meet... and then try to have some kind of further agreement on things we can trade between us that are non-sensitive," the US trade representative said at the WEF, according to Bloomberg.

On January 21, when asked to comment on Greer's claim, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said that China and the US need to jointly implement the important common understandings reached between the two presidents and inject more certainty and stability into China-US economic and trade cooperation and the world economy.

At a January 14 press conference, Lu Daliang, spokesperson of the General Administration of Customs, noted that in 2025, China's trade with the US reached 4.01 trillion yuan ($574.66 billion), accounting for 8.8 percent of China's total trade by value.

The essence of China-US economic and trade relations is mutually beneficial and win-win cooperation. Maintaining the stable, healthy, and sustainable development of these relations is beneficial not only to both countries but also to the world, Lu said at the press conference.

Both China and the US should work together to implement the consensus reached by the two leaders, continuously narrow the list of issues through dialogue and cooperation, expand the list of cooperation, and make China-US economic and trade relations a stabilizer and propeller for the overall bilateral relationship, Lu added.

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US politician claims Central American trip to counter Chinese influence; FM slams move as reflecting Cold War mentality

Global Times

By Global Times Published: Jan 26, 2026 04:02 PM

When answering a query that John Moolenaar, chairman of the US House Select Committee on China, claimed his trip to Panama and other Central American countries was aimed to counter China's "coercion, pressure and interference" in the region, counter China's influence, and compete with China in areas such as port operations of the Panama Canal and other economic and trade security issues, following the release of US National Security Strategy last month and its stepping up engagement in the Western Hemisphere, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said on Monday that China firmly opposes certain US politicians pointing fingers at normal exchanges between Central American countries and China, noting that such remarks are outright lies and fallacies, reflecting nothing more than their own ideological bias and Cold War mentality.

Guo emphasized that China has always adhered to the principles of mutual respect, equality and mutual benefit, openness and inclusiveness and win-win cooperation in its friendly cooperation with Central American countries, bringing tangible benefits to local people and earning the welcome of the relevant countries. China urges US politicians to stop manipulating China-related issues and to do more to promote regional development and prosperity.

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Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Guo Jiakun's Regular Press Conference on January 26, 2026

Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the People's Republic of China

Updated: January 26, 2026 18:54

AFP: U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said that the U.S. will impose 100 percent tariffs on Canadian imports if Canada finalizes a new trade deal with China. This follows a similar warning from President Trump on Saturday. What is the Foreign Ministry's comment on this?

Guo Jiakun: China believes countries need to approach state-to-state relations in the spirit of win-win rather than the mentality of zero-sum, and through cooperation rather than confrontation.

China and Canada have established a new type of strategic partnership, and made some specific arrangements on properly handling the economic and trade issues between the two countries. This reflects the spirit of equality, openness and inclusiveness, peaceful cooperation, and shared benefit. It does not target any third party, serves the common interests of the people of both countries, and is conducive to world peace, stability, development and prosperity.

Xinhua News Agency: China announced Uruguayan President Yamandu Orsi's visit to China. What does China expect to achieve through the visit?

Guo Jiakun: This is President Yamandu Orsi's first state visit to China. During the visit, President Xi Jinping will have talks with him for an in-depth exchange of views on deepening the China-Uruguay comprehensive strategic partnership, high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, and international and regional issues of mutual interest. We hope and believe that under the strategic guidance of the two presidents, the visit will play a positive role in further deepening the comprehensive strategic partnership.

CCTV: It was reported that voting for the third phase of Myanmar's general election concluded yesterday, completing the whole voting process of the general election. What is China's comment?

Guo Jiakun: The whole voting process for Myanmar's new round of general election concluded yesterday. China, Russia, India, ASEAN countries and international organizations sent representatives to observe the general election. China congratulates Myanmar on a steady and orderly general election with active turnout.

Over the decades, China has been committed to the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, and never interfered in Myanmar's internal affairs. As a friendly neighbor, we support various parties of Myanmar in realizing more broad-based, robust and sustainable peace and reconciliation through the general election, deescalate at an early date and jointly keep the political situation stable. China stands ready to work with the international community to respect the choice of the people of Myanmar, and provide constructive assistance for restoring peace, stability and development in Myanmar.

Bloomberg: Just to follow up on that. Will the elections in Myanmar give China cause for deeper engagement with the country and if so, what might be the priorities of the relationship going forward?

Guo Jiakun: China and Myanmar are traditional friends and close neighbors. China follows a policy of friendship towards all the people of Myanmar. Over recent years, China-Myanmar cooperation in various fields has achieved positive outcomes, which effectively supported the improvement of people's livelihood and economic development of Myanmar. China stands ready to continue deepening the comprehensive strategic cooperation with Myanmar.

China News Service: We noted that since the release of the National Security Strategy last month, the U.S. has significantly increased its input in the Western Hemisphere. Days ago, a delegation led by Chairman John Moolenaar of the House select committee on China visited Panama and other Central American countries. They claimed the visit aims to address China's coercion, pressuring and intervention there and counter China's influence, and that the U.S. will outcompete China in trade and security, such as the operation of ports in the Panama Canal. What's China's response?

Guo Jiakun: China firmly opposes certain U.S. politicians pointing their fingers at the normal exchanges between Central American countries and China. Relevant remarks are merely disinformation, which are nothing but a mirror image of their own ideological bias and Cold-War mentality.

During the friendly cooperation with Central American countries, China has all along upheld the principle of mutual respect, equality, mutual benefit, openness, inclusiveness, and win-win cooperation and delivered tangibly for the local people. This is well received by relevant countries. We urge U.S. politicians to stop manipulating China-related issues and make more contributions to development and prosperity in the region.

Anadolu Agency: British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is reported to visit China this week. Could you confirm that?

Guo Jiakun: In a turbulent and volatile world, China and the UK as permanent members of the UN Security Council will benefit the world and the two countries themselves by stepping up exchanges and cooperation. On the visit you mentioned, information will be released in due course.

Beijing Daily: On January 25, the ROK's former prime minister Lee Hae-chan died in Viet Nam. What's China's comment?

Guo Jiakun: As a senior statesman in the ROK, Mr. Lee Hae-chan led multiple delegations to China and made active contribution to strengthening China-ROK ties. China mourns for his passing and extends sincere sympathies to his family.

Shenzhen TV: On January 23, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. announced in a joint statement the U.S. withdrawal from the World Health Organization (WHO). The Department of Health and Human Services said that during the early stages of COVID-19, China underreported and refused to provide to WHO genetic sequences from individuals infected early in the pandemic. What's China's comment?

Guo Jiakun: After the outbreak of COVID-19, China has put people and their lives front and center, worked with other countries to fight the pandemic together, and made important contributions to international cooperation against COVID-19. China's record of COVID-19 response has a clear timeline and solid data. It's widely recognized by the international community and brooks no distortion or smearing. China firmly opposes politicizing the virus. To use COVID-19 as a pretext for political manipulation and shift blame to China will find no support and will not succeed.

WHO is the authoritative and professional international agency on global public health. We noted that WHO regrets the U.S.'s notification of withdrawal. Multilateralism is the cornerstone of the current international order and is the prevailing trend and what the people want. China has all along supported WHO in fulfilling its duty, deepened international cooperation on public health, strengthened global governance on public health, and promoted the building of a global community of health for all.

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What Xi's Purge Of A Top General Means For China And Its Neighbors

By Reid Standish January 26, 2026

Chinese leader Xi Jinping's decision to place the country's top-ranking general under investigation raises deep questions for China's neighbors about Beijing's ambitions to take control of Taiwan, long-term competition with the United States, and its regional image as a stable power.

The stunning January 24 move to probe his top general and one-time ally Zhang Youxia leaves Xi virtually alone at the top of the country's military hierarchy and China analysts who spoke to RFE/RL said that it holds major implications for succession and that Beijing's partners and rivals will be closely watching for further turmoil in the Chinese Communist Party's ranks.

"For decades, China has projected an image that it is a country with long-term plans to project influence and rival the United States as a superpower," Temur Umarov, a fellow at the Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center in Berlin, told RFE/RL. "But this brings lots of questions and doubts about what is happening in China and whether Xi is as in control of his inner circle as he seems."

Zhang, who is now facing a corruption investigation, was China's most-prominent military official, serving as vice chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC), the top military leadership body of the Chinese Communist Party. Through that role, he's played a leading role in China's deepening military partnership with Russia, which has expanded on issues like joint production and missile defense since Moscow's 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

"Zhang Youxia was central to the Russian relationship," Dennis Wilder, an expert on the Chinese military and former head of China analysis at the CIA, told RFE/RL.

What Happened And Why Does It Matter?

While China's opaque political system makes it difficult to ascertain Xi's precise motivations, Zhang's detention comes ahead of a potential summit in Beijing with US Donald Trump in April and amid a period of political maneuvering leading up to a once-in-five-year leadership reshuffle in 2027 where Xi is expected to seek a fourth term as leader.

According to a statement from the Defense Ministry, Zhang was placed under investigation for alleged "serious disciplinary and legal offenses."

Liu Zhenli, another general and CMC chief of staff, also came under a probe for the same allegations.

A January 25 editorial published in the army newspaper Liberation Army Daily said that Zhang and Liu "seriously betrayed the trust and expectations" of the Communist Party and the CMC, and "fostered political and corruption problems that undermined the party's absolute leadership over the military and threatened the party's ruling foundation."

The Wall Street Journal, citing people familiar with a high-level internal briefing about the allegations, reported that Zhang was accused of leaking information to the United States about the country's nuclear weapons program and accepting bribes in exchange for promotions to top military roles.

RFE/RL has not been able to independently corroborate the report.

Some analysts say they're skeptical of the intelligence leak claims. Neil Thomas, a fellow for Chinese politics at the Asia Society Policy Institute's Center for China Analysis, questioned them in a post on X , asking why a "battle-hardened general" like Zhang would "betray everything that gave his life meaning for the last few decades" to pass secrets to China's top rival.

Like Xi, Zhang, a member of the party's elite Politburo, is one of China's "princelings," as the descendants of revolutionary elders and high-ranking party officials are known. Zhang's father fought alongside Xi's father during the Chinese civil war that led to Mao's Communist forces seizing power in 1949, and both men later rose to senior roles.

Zhang is also among the few Chinese generals with combat experience, having fought in the Sino-Vietnamese conflicts in the 1980s.

The probe also adds to a wider purge of top Chinese military officials that has been under way in recent years. From 2023 to the fall of 2025, around 20 generals were purged. Six were from the Rocket Force, which controls China's arsenal of land-based missiles, both nuclear and conventional.

Following those removals, and Zhang and Liu now being placed under investigation, the seven member CMC is down to just one active uniformed officer and two standing members in total, with the other being Xi himself.

What Does It Mean For China's Neighbors?

The episode with Zhang -- China's most powerful general, a Politburo member, and one of the few people with the influence to oppose any of Xi's succession plans -- raises questions about the level of discontent within the ranks of China's elite.

That's certainly on the radar of Beijing's regional partners in Central Asia who see China's political system as a beacon of stability and one resistant to some of the elite upheaval that Central Asian governments have faced since the collapse of the Soviet Union.

"This purge and the sense of instability it brings will be on the minds of Central Asian decision-makers," Umarov told RFE/RL.

Zhang routinely met with top leaders around the world, making high-profile visits to the United States over the years and engaging with officials from Pakistan to Vietnam. He also was the co-chairman of the Russian-Chinese Intergovernmental Commission for Military-Technical Cooperation and made multiple visits to Moscow to meet with top officials, making his last visit in November to meet with Russian Defense Minister Andrei Belousov.

Umarov argues that the move is unlikely to affect security cooperation with China's neighbors, which he said has become "institutionalized" over the years and takes place on multiple levels, from policing to arms sales.

Wilder, who was also a top White House China adviser to former US President George W. Bush, says that "all around the region, people are going to take a fresh look at the question of succession in China."

"This adds a dimension that hadn't been there before for concern," he said. "China's neighbors will be watching very closely how we will be filling the empty seats on the [CMC]."

What Does This Mean For Taiwan?

The move also comes with potential implications with its neighbors in the Pacific, particularly Taiwan, the self-governing democracy that China views as its own territory.

Analysts say that Zhang's removal could affect China's military readiness and future ambitions towards Taiwan. Xi has repeatedly called unification with the island as "unstoppable" and vowed to take the island by force if necessary.

At the end of 2025, China launched some of its biggest military drills around Taiwan so far and China regularly sends jets and ships into Taiwan's airspace and waters to test its resolve.

"We will continue to closely monitor abnormal changes among the top levels of China's party, government, and military leadership," Taiwan Defence Minister Wellington Koo told reporters on January 26. "We won't let the downfall of any one person make us lower our guard or slacken the level of war preparedness we should maintain."

Drew Thompson, a former Asia strategist at the Pentagon now at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS) at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore, said that purge also raises implications for Taiwan and the United States, who is Taipei's main backer and provides it with vital military support.

"For a US deterrence strategy to be effective we need Xi Jinping to be surrounded by competent generals who will give him objective advice," Thompson wrote in his newsletter.

Thompson said that Xi's consolidation of the CMC comes with "operational risks of Xi being advised by and trying to command a million-man army through a one-man committee" and that he worries "about the consequences of someone other than Zhang Youxia providing Xi Jinping with military advice."

"Without Zhang Youxia on the CMC, the risk of miscalculation goes up," he added.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/china-general-zhang-youxia- military-russia-central-asia-taiwan/33660395.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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United and strong in a new age of great powers

Germany - Federal Government

Press conference with Federal Chancellor Merz and Prime Minister Meloni

Germany and Italy share a particularly high degree of common values and interests, said the Federal Chancellor after the German-Italian intergovernmental consultations in Rome. Together, they are fighting for a united Europe and a strong NATO.

Transcript of press conference

Friday, 23 January 2026

At the press conference with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni after the 33rd German-Italian intergovernmental consultations, Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz emphasised that Germany and Italy are closer at the present time than ever before. This year marks the 75th anniversary of the resumption of diplomatic relations between the two countries. "We want to make 2026 a year of opportunities and a year of decisions," said Merz.

Merz and Meloni had already held bilateral talks before the plenary session, which was attended by numerous members of both government cabinets. In addition to European and economic policy issues, they also discussed Europe's security and defence capabilities.

The most important facts in brief:

Acting together for Europe's security and defence: Germany and Italy want to strengthen their cooperation on security and create new bilateral momentum in the defence industry, said Merz. To this end, an agreement was signed on increased cooperation in the areas of security, defence and resilience. For the first time, the foreign and defence ministers of both countries met in a joint format as part of the intergovernmental consultations.

Germany and Italy want to strengthen their cooperation on security and create new bilateral momentum in the defence industry, said Merz. To this end, an agreement was signed on increased cooperation in the areas of security, defence and resilience. For the first time, the foreign and defence ministers of both countries met in a joint format as part of the intergovernmental consultations. Strengthening internal security: Merz also announced that both countries want to cooperate even more closely in future in the area of internal security. Cooperation on European migration policy is already extremely comprehensive. The two governments have now agreed on a bilateral police agreement and an agreement on cooperation in the protection of classified information.

Merz also announced that both countries want to cooperate even more closely in future in the area of internal security. Cooperation on European migration policy is already extremely comprehensive. The two governments have now agreed on a bilateral police agreement and an agreement on cooperation in the protection of classified information. For a strong NATO: In a new age of great powers, Europe must and will do more for security in the Arctic, said the Chancellor. "This is in the common transatlantic interest." Germany will increase its involvement in the region; Italy has also adopted a new Arctic strategy. On the basis of sovereignty and territorial integrity, they want to support talks between Denmark, Greenland and the USA. "We want to preserve NATO," the Federal Chancellor made clear.

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Visiting strong partners in the north: Foreign Minister Wadephul is travelling to Latvia and Sweden

Germany Federal Foreign Office

26.01.2026 - Article

On 26 January, Foreign Minister Wadephul is visiting Latvia and Sweden. His talks will focus on the hybrid threats emanating from Russia and on Euro-Atlantic security. Read on to find out why the partnership in the Baltic Sea region is so important.

The world order is changing. In this phase of geopolitical upheaval, we Europeans must stand and act united and with self-confidence. In this context, the Baltic Sea region deserves our particular attention as a hotspot: we and some of our closest partners in the European Union and the NATO Alliance are exposed to Russia's hybrid threats there. This is also where we will determine whether our cohesion and strength can ensure lasting freedom, security and prosperity in Europe. -Foreign Minister Wadephul prior to his departure for Latvia and Sweden

During his first official visit to Riga since taking office, Foreign Minister Wadephul will meet his Latvian counterpart, Baiba Braze. Germany and Latvia are bound by their common commitment to security in Europe, their interest in strengthening NATO's eastern flank and their continuing support for Ukraine. The two countries are working together to ensure security and stability in the Baltic Sea region and to strengthen European unity. Our relations with Latvia are vibrant and developing dynamically: more and more young people in Latvia are learning German - a very encouraging trend that will ensure that our societies grow even closer together, and one that we support. Economic engagement, too, is an important pillar of cooperation. Germany is Latvia's second largest trade partner and fourth largest investor.

During his visit to Riga, Foreign Minister Wadephul will also address the annual Latvian Ambassadors Conference in the Foreign Ministry at the invitation of Foreign Minister Baiba Braze.

Virtually no other region in the EU is as hugely affected by the hybrid activities orchestrated by the Kremlin. The Baltic region's experiences underline our acute need for action: we cannot afford to lose any time when it comes to protecting critical infrastructure or imposing sanctions against the Russian shadow fleet. Security and resilience in the Baltic Sea region create stability for the whole of Europe. -Foreign Minister Wadephul prior to his departure for Latvia and Sweden

Rules-based international order and European cooperation as a basis for resilience

Following his visit to Riga, Foreign Minister Wadephul will travel on to Stockholm, where he will meet Swedish Foreign Minister Maria Stenergard. In 2026, Germany and Sweden are celebrating the 75th anniversary of the re-establishment of their diplomatic relations after the Second World War. Our relations with Sweden are already close, but we want to deepen them even further, particularly in the area of security cooperation. The Ministers' talks today will therefore focus on countering hybrid threats in the Baltic Sea region, protecting critical infrastructure and the role of the EU in a changing international order. The situation in Ukraine and the urgently needed support for the country in view of Russia's large-scale attacks on civilian infrastructure will also be on the agenda.

Important debates being conducted within the transatlantic alliance must not be allowed to shift focus away from our central interest, namely freedom and security for Ukraine as a sovereign state. Putin is hoping for just such a loss of focus. For us, it is clear that Russia is and remains the greatest threat to security and freedom in Europe. The situation in Ukraine is particularly grave at the moment: following deliberate attacks on civilian infrastructure, one million people are without electricity, hundreds of thousands without heating - in icy temperatures. -Foreign Minister Wadephul prior to his departure for Latvia and Sweden

Both Latvia and Sweden are important partners for Germany in the EU, NATO and the Council of the Baltic Sea States. This trip, one in a series of visits to and meetings with partner states in the Baltic Sea region in recent months, underlines our shared commitment to security and the close coordination within the European Union and the transatlantic alliance. With his visit, Foreign Minister Wadephul is sending a clear signal for solidarity, dialogue and the further intensification of cooperation in the Baltic Sea region.

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Speech by Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul at the Latvian Ambassadors' Conference in Riga

Germany Federal Foreign Office

26.01.2026 - Speech

When you walk through Riga, it is impossible to miss it: a 42-metre-high column of granite and travertine, crowned with a copper figure of Liberty stands silent and graceful at the heart of the city. The Latvian Freedom Monument. I look forward to visiting it later today. But even now I can say I am impressed by its history. Because it is a testament to Latvian courage and perseverance. It demonstrates the pride of your country and the free and steadfast spirit of your people. And it does not only speak to your freedom, it also speaks to our freedom - if you allow me to put it this way.

It is especially relevant to us Germans, because - in recent decades - we have sometimes taken our freedom too much for granted. It took us a while to heed the Baltic wake-up calls. And it also speaks to the European Union as a whole. It reminds us that freedom is neither an abstract value, nor a lasting historical achievement. But rather a responsibility that needs to be renewed every day.

Today, freedom is once again under pressure - challenged by military aggression, disinformation, and attempts to redraw spheres of influence.

The Freedom Monument reminds us Europeans of what we stand for: A Europe that protects its freedom. A Europe that stands together with determination. In other words: a strong, united Europe.

Ladies and gentlemen, the post-war order - as we have known it for decades - no longer exists. We live and work in a situation of global reorganisation. In a state of upheaval in which we need to demonstrate European strength and position ourselves on the world stage. Last week emphasised this once again.

The good news is: We used last week to prove our ability to stand together as Europeans. We underlined that the European Union is committed to the principles of territorial integrity and sovereignty as fundamental principles of international law. That no one can put pressure on us, when we use our full European weight. And we remained firm and solidary while working to deescalate.

The response of US President Donald Trump in Davos was clear: There will neither be military force nor new tariffs with regard to Greenland. And the US administration is willing to address security concerns in the Arctic within the NATO framework.

So, if you ask me, what can we learn from last week, my answer is: We are facing a balancing act here. On the one hand, we need to continue to represent and defend our European interests - also when it comes to the United States. We have therefore consistently underlined our shared transatlantic interest in peace and security in the Arctic - including through NATO. But that's only one side of the coin. The other side is that dialogue always remains essential, especially with our most important partner outside Europe. That the willingness to discuss difficult issues - within the European Union, but also with the United States - is the main task of diplomacy.

That is one of the reasons why I travelled to the US two weeks ago. Talking to my counterpart Marco Rubio, many senators and members of the House of Representatives underlined once more that we agree on many points and are connected by common interests. We need the US for our European security. We need US support to defend Ukraine. And we believe that the close transatlantic economic ties are integral to prosperity in both Europe and the US.

In 2026, European strength and unity will be crucial: When it comes to strengthening Europe's capability to act while working on the transatlantic relationship. When it comes to reducing dependencies on China and enhancing European competitiveness. But also, when facing Russia's ongoing war of aggression against Ukraine.

Ladies and gentlemen, speaking of Russia: It has been nearly four years now that our European security architecture is under attack. We see reports of Russian atrocities and of the Ukrainian people suffering every day. And the sad truth is: While constantly demanding concessions from others, Putin himself shows absolutely no sign of willingness to engage in serious negotiations and to stop the killing. He has no desire for peace. On the contrary, Putin wants to break the Ukrainian resistance. Thus, he is creating a humanitarian crisis by attacking Ukraine's civilian energy infrastructure. In the depth of winter.

Ukraine, on the other hand, has demonstrated time and again its willingness to engage in meaningful negotiations. But Ukrainian engagement and the peace efforts of the US and Europe are met again and again with even more brutal military force by Russia. It's good that there are now renewed efforts by the United States in pursuing a lasting peace in Ukraine and that they have initiated the first trilateral talk last weekend.

Dear Baiba Braze, we discussed Russian hybrid threats at the Kiel Security Conference last summer: Ships from the Russian shadow fleet are damaging undersea data and energy cables in the Baltic Sea. We have witnessed several mysterious drone incursions. And Russian disinformation efforts aim to manipulate our democratic elections.

Both of our countries know that disinformation is not a side effect of geopolitical tension. It is a weapon in itself - used to attack our democracies from within. Where truth is deliberately blurred, security itself is undermined. These Russian actions call for an adequate response.

That is why we summoned the Russian ambassador in Berlin last December: To send an unmistakable message that we are fully aware of Russia's actions. That we will call them out. And that we will counter and respond to them, united with our partners. Just last week we summoned the Russian ambassador again and declared a Russian diplomat persona non grata due to allegations of espionage. We do neither accept disinformation campaigns nor espionage in Germany - particularly not under the cover of diplomatic status.

What conclusions can we draw from this?

First, it is fundamental that we Europeans and NATO Allies increase the pressure on Russia in order to end the bloodshed in Ukraine. We need to let Russia know that the costs of continuing its senseless war are only about to rise. And second, we need to uphold and intensify our support for Ukraine - political, financial, and military. Because it is in our own interest to achieve a sustainable and just peace - without rewarding the aggressor. And to create a viable new European post-war security order in the long term.

But that's not all! Dear Latvian colleagues, you know better than anyone what it means to be ruled by others. You know what it means to fight for freedom. Thus, you have been telling us for a long time: Beware of Russia's imperialism and its aggression! We must prepare ourselves! Let me assure you that we have listened and understood.

Putin has made confrontation with the West the guiding principle of Russia's foreign policy. And he is creating the option for a war against NATO in the future. Sadly, no peace agreement with Ukraine will change that. We must therefore invest in strengthening the resilience and security of NATO's eastern flank. Latvia is setting a good example by investing nearly 5% of its GDP in defence spending in 2026.

Ladies and gentlemen, we live in deeply uncertain times. 2026 is already proving to be a very challenging year. A year that is testing our European unity, our ability to speak with one European voice. But I believe that we Europeans are up for these challenges. We have already come a long way, demonstrating our willingness to act: With the 19 packages of sanctions against Russia. With the recent loan of 90 billion euro for Ukraine. And with demonstrating unity vis-a-vis the US.

Colleagues, let us continue to stand together in these difficult times! As EU partners and as NATO Allies. And as friends - united and strong. And let us remember those men and women who fought for Latvia's independence and democracy - various times in Latvia's history. May their courage and determination inspire us!

For our European freedom.

Thank you.

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Germany Federal Foreign Office

26.01.2026 - Press release

Foreign Minister Wadephul issued the following statement today (26 January) prior to his departure for Latvia and Sweden:

The world order is changing. In this phase of geopolitical upheaval, we Europeans must stand and act united and with self-confidence. In this context, the Baltic Sea region deserves our particular attention as a hotspot: we and some of our closest partners in the European Union and the NATO Alliance are exposed to Russia's hybrid threats there. This is also where we will determine whether our cohesion and strength can ensure lasting freedom, security and prosperity in Europe.

My trip to Latvia and Sweden is the latest of several visits within a short space of time to the Baltic Sea region, where the major issues of European security are especially acute. I saw that very clearly once again just three weeks ago in Lithuania, where I visited the soldiers of the German brigade making a direct, robust contribution to security on NATO's eastern flank.

At the Ambassadors Conference in Riga today, I will be talking with Latvia's ambassadors about their experiences - their experiences as representatives of a country that feels Russia's threats to Europe's security earlier and more directly than others. Virtually no other region in the EU is as hugely affected by the hybrid activities orchestrated by the Kremlin. The Baltic region's experiences underline our acute need for action: we cannot afford to lose any time when it comes to protecting critical infrastructure or imposing sanctions against the Russian shadow fleet. Security and resilience in the Baltic Sea region create stability for the whole of Europe.

Particularly since its accession to NATO, Sweden plays a key role for security in northern Europe - a region that is also the object of global rivalries. As a leading voice of the Nordic states, countries with which Germany has especially close ties, Sweden brings great security-policy experience and competence to the Alliance. Sweden is resolutely investing in its national security and defence capability, and has set new standards with a modern form of military service. We are all benefiting from this - in the Baltic Sea region, in Europe and in the NATO Alliance.

The transatlantic alliance remains indispensable for our security. It is this strong bond and shared fundamental interests that link us with the United States. But we cannot and will not content ourselves with that, nor will we Europeans slacken our efforts to take our own security into our own hands more in the future. It is crucial that we do not let ourselves be divided - because that is precisely what those who have an interest in seeing our defence alliance and the European Union disintegrate are aiming for.

Important debates being conducted within the transatlantic alliance must not be allowed to shift focus away from our central interest, namely freedom and security for Ukraine as a sovereign state. Putin is hoping for just such a loss of focus. For us, it is clear that Russia is and remains the greatest threat to security and freedom in Europe. The situation in Ukraine is particularly grave at the moment: following deliberate attacks on civilian infrastructure, one million people are without electricity, hundreds of thousands without heating - in icy temperatures.

All the more important, then, is the signal that there is now movement towards direct talks between Ukraine and Russia and with US mediation. However, one thing must always be clear: Europe must be at the negotiating table when pan-European interests and our security are at stake. These issues of European security will be at the heart of my trip.
New US-Israeli war on Iran will set fire to entire West Asia region, says Hezbollah leader

Iran Press TV

Monday, 26 January 2026 6:07 PM

The secretary general of the Lebanese Hezbollah resistance movement has warned the United States and Israel that a fresh round of strikes on Iran would have serious consequences for the entire West Asia region, as Tehran will respond forcefully and decisively to any act of aggression.

"A new war on Iran could set the entire region ablaze this time," Sheikh Naim Qassem said in a televised speech on Monday evening as he addressed thousands of the group's supporters who had attended a large gathering in the Lebanese capital, Beirut.

The participants demonstrated their solidarity with Iran and expressed their strong protest against threats against Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei.

Sheikh Qassem vowed that Hezbollah will always stand with the people of the Islamic Republic and Ayatollah Khamenei.

"Hezbollah believes in Velayat-e Faqih (Guardianship of the Jurist) as both a matter of faith and a fundamental principle," he pointed out.

Sheikh Qassem said that when US President Donald Trump threatens Ayatollah Khamenei, he is threatening tens of millions of Muslims worldwide who consider him their religious authority.

"Silence is not an option when death threats are directed at Ayatollah Khamenei. We view the threats against him as aimed at us as well. We have full authority to take any measure we deem appropriate," the Hezbollah chief pointed out.

Sheikh Qassem went on to praise Iran as a beacon of freedom, stating that the Islamic Republic has managed to advance scientifically, socially, morally, and culturally.

The Hezbollah secretary general noted that Iran experienced a blatant and unprovoked 12-day military aggression in June last year, but managed to remain resilient and thwart US-Israeli plots through cooperation and under the wise leadership of Ayatollah Khamenei.

"Enemies recently sought to overthrow the Islamic establishment in Iran by exploiting the socio-economic conditions, and infiltrating vandals and saboteurs into legitimate peaceful protests," Sheikh Qassem stated.

He slammed the West's hypocrisy when it comes to concerns for the rights of the Iranian people, pointing to massive public support inside Iran for the leader and the Islamic establishment.

The leader of Hezbollah also asserted Iran's right to a peaceful nuclear program, missile power, and other military capabilities to defend itself in the face of potential threats. He said the Islamic Republic also reserves the right to support the oppressed.

"The United States and Israel are trying to link unfolding developments in Lebanon, Gaza, Syria, Iran, and elsewhere in the region together as part of a broader colonial project," Sheikh Qassem said.

The Hezbollah leader stated that enemies are hell-bent on striking any resistance initiative, wherever it thrives in the region.

Sheikh Qassem said international mediators have contacted Hezbollah over the past two months, and asked whether the resistance group would stay out of a US-Israeli strike on Iran.

"The mediators told us clearly that Israel and the US are considering whether it would be better to strike Hezbollah first and then Iran, or to hit Iran first and then Hezbollah, or to attack them both simultaneously," he stated.

Sheikh Qassem highlighted that "Such messages mean that Hezbollah is included and targeted in any potential act of aggression [against Iran]. We are determined to defend ourselves."

The Hezbollah chief emphasized that the group will not be neutral and that its method of intervention would be chosen based on the circumstances of the battlefield.

Sheikh Qassem also pledged that his group will never surrender.

"With concessions and surrender, we will lose everything. There are absolutely no limits. But with defense, hope endures. We always have various options... Do not threaten us with death. Death is not in your hands. Death is in the hands of God Almighty only," he concluded.

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UAE says will not allow its airspace, territory to be used for attacks on Iran

Iran Press TV

Monday, 26 January 2026 6:02 PM

The United Arab Emirates' Foreign Ministry has reaffirmed that the country will not permit its airspace, territory, or waters to be used in any military action against Iran.

In a statement on Monday, the ministry said the UAE remains committed to "not allowing its airspace, territory, or waters to be used in any hostile military actions against Iran, and to not providing any logistical support in this regard."

The ministry emphasized that "dialogue, de-escalation, adherence to international law, and respect for state sovereignty constitute the most effective foundations for addressing current crises."

The statement comes amid a continued US military buildup near Iran, including the recent arrival of the USS Abraham Lincoln in West Asian waters.

US President Donald Trump said that the United States would resort to military aggression against Iran if the Islamic Republic engages in what he described as "use of violence against protesters."

What began as peaceful protests late last month gradually turned violent, as rioters rampaged through cities across Iran, killing security forces and attacking public infrastructure.

The United States and Israel's Mossad have openly acknowledged their presence on the ground, with former US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo tweeting: "Happy New Year to every Iranian in the streets. Also, to every Mossad agent walking beside them."

In a Farsi-language social media post, Mossad encouraged rioters to "Go out together into the streets. The time has come," adding that Mossad operatives are with the rioters "not only from a distance and verbally. We are with [them] in the field."

Iranian authorities have said that the recent riots in the country marked the second phase of Israel's war against the Iranian nation after the 12-day war in June.

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10 foreign spy agencies involved in plot to destabilize Iran: IRGC intelligence

Iran Press TV

Monday, 26 January 2026 2:21 PM

The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Intelligence Organization says it has foiled a terrorist plot hatched by spy agencies of 10 foreign countries aimed at fueling chaos and threatening Iran's identity.

In a statement on Monday, the IRGC said the terrorist incidents of recent weeks were part of a major US-Israeli plot to undermine Iran's integrity in terms of its geography and national identity.

"The enemy's command room was formed immediately after the 12-day war with the participation of 10 hostile intelligence services," it said.

The IRGC intelligence arm said the plan was aimed at fomenting internal riots coupled with foreign intervention to pose an existential threat against the Islamic Republic.

It noted that the scheme was defeated thanks to the vigilance of Iranian security forces and the collaboration of the people.

According to the statement, the IRGC Intelligence Organization arrested 735 individuals affiliated with anti-security networks, summoned 11,000 vulnerable people, confiscated 743 unauthorized firearms, and identified 46 individuals linked to foreign services.

It said foreign political and security officials directly supported the enemy's measures, including the spread of violence and terrorists' exploitation of public gatherings, the use of social media platforms to instigate violence, and the deployment of organized thugs and criminals as part of a plot to raise the number of fatalities among both people and security forces.

The statement said the IRGC intelligence arm seeks to infiltrate the communication networks of the rioters, dominate border terrorist networks, use deceived elements for counter-infiltration, and continue to identify and decisively confront networks that caused the riots.

Foreign-instigated riots in Iran escalated on January 8 and continued for several days, following peaceful protests in Iranian bazaars and markets where traders called for government action to halt the devaluation of the Iranian rial.

The violence, encouraged openly by the Israeli regime and US President Donald Trump, resulted in extensive damage to public and private property, with widespread destruction of shops, government institutions, public service facilities, and the killing of thousands of civilians, including women and children, as well as security forces.

Iranian authorities have confirmed that US and Israeli spy agencies were directly involved, providing funding, training, and media support to rioters and armed terrorists acting on the streets.

Iran's Foundation of Martyrs and Veterans Affairs later reported that 3,117 people died during the riots, including 2,427 civilians and security personnel, noting that many innocents were killed by organized terrorist elements.

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Iran vows deterrent response to any aggression amid US, Israeli threats

Iran Press TV

Monday, 26 January 2026 10:45 AM

Iran has warned that the country would deliver a "regret-inducing response" to any act of aggression, stressing that Iran is now more capable than in the past.

Addressing reporters at his weekly press conference in Tehran on Monday, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei reacted to recent US actions in the region and the holding of military drills.

"We have faced, and continue to face, a form of hybrid warfare. Following the June aggression, over the past few months, we have been confronted with new threats from the United States and the Zionist regime," he said.

Foreign-instigated riots in Iran escalated on January 8 and continued for several days, following peaceful protests in Iranian bazaars and markets where traders called for government action to halt the devaluation of the Iranian rial.

The violence, encouraged openly by the Israeli regime and US President Donald Trump, resulted in extensive damage to public and private property, with widespread destruction of shops, government institutions, public service facilities, and the killing of thousands of civilians, including women and children, as well as security forces.

Iranian authorities have confirmed that US and Israeli spy agencies were directly involved, providing funding, training, and media support to rioters and armed terrorists acting on the streets.

Baghaei noted that countries in the region are aware that any insecurity in the region is not directed solely at Iran, which is why there is a shared concern among regional states.

"Iran has confidence in its own capabilities and has also kept the experiences of June in mind, and it will respond to any aggression more powerfully than in the past with a regret-inducing response," he added.

Baghaei condemned the recent anti-Iran resolution at the UN Human Rights Council, saying it has caused divisions within the international community.

The UNHRC adopted a resolution that extended the mandate of the so-called Independent Fact-Finding Mission on Iran for two years, and the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Iran for one year.

The resolution also called for an urgent investigation by the Fact-Finding Mission, in the context of what it called the crackdown of the recent foreign-backed unrest in Iran.

The resolution was adopted by a vote of 25 in favor, seven against, and 14 abstentions.

The Iranian diplomat noted that Germany and the United Kingdom, which proposed the resolution, tried to persuade the world to accept a distorted narrative of events in Iran.

In practice, nearly half of the Council members either voted against or abstained, sending an important message, he said, thanking the countries that responsibly recognized the reality.

Regarding the European Parliament's designation of Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) as a "terrorist organization," Baghaei underlined that their labeling of part of a nation's official armed forces is contrary to international law and carries serious consequences.

He added that targeting a national institution with offensive labels risks encouraging the spread of terrorist groups, and Iran will certainly respond.

Baghaei criticized America's approach to human rights as hypocritical. He said events in occupied Palestine did not even trigger a Human Rights Council session, while Israeli authorities with records of wrongdoing are easily relocated, yet Iranian officials face arbitrary restrictions.

He further said the US openly pursues policies of exploiting other countries, calling the recent suppression of protesters in the US a clear human rights violation.

Protesters in Minneapolis are already defying the arctic weather to take to the streets and condemn the killing of Alex Pretti, 37, by federal immigration agents. And demonstrations are spreading across the country.

Baghaei noted that Israel's threats and provocations are at the root of instability in West Asia. Despite an apparent ceasefire in occupied Palestine and Lebanon, Israeli attacks on civilians continue.

He noted that just last night, Israel violated Lebanese airspace 15 times, and over the past year, there have been 6,000 ceasefire violations.

Elsewhere in his remarks, the Iranian diplomat said the country maintains long-standing and reciprocal relations with Russia and China, with a history of extensive defense cooperation. He emphasized that these collaborations will continue robustly.

"Russia and China are members of the Security Council and are certainly concerned about the Council's responsibilities toward maintaining peace. We are also in close contact with both countries regarding recent developments," he emphasized.

Regarding Greenland, he said Iran's position is clear, and that respect for the territorial integrity and sovereignty of all countries is a fundamental principle.

He added that the selective application of these principles undermines their credibility, highlighting a challenge faced by Western nations.

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Likelihood Of US Strikes On Iran 'Very High' Amid Military Buildup, Drills

By Kian Sharifi and RFE/RL's Radio Farda January 26, 2026

The United States is deploying jet fighters, air defenses, and an air carrier with thousands of troops to the Middle East, in a move that has heightened tensions with Iran and increased the likelihood of military action, experts say.

US President Donald Trump threatened military strikes against Iran after the authorities killed thousands of people in a brutal crackdown on anti-government protests. Trump recently backed away, although he has not ruled out an attack on the Islamic republic.

Experts say the military buildup along with planned US naval exercises in the region increases the pressure on Iran and provides more offensive military options if Washington chooses to attack Iran.

"This can be a message to Iran that we're ready, our capabilities are in place," Farzin Nadimi, a senior fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, told RFE/RL's Radio Farda.

Nadimi added that the chances of US strikes on Iran were "very high," pointing to the "overtly aggressive" military buildup in the Persian Gulf.

The aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln and three accompanying destroyers are headed toward the Middle East carrying over 5,000 troops. US Central Command has said that F-15E Strike Eagle fighter jets were deployed to the region.

Meanwhile, the US Air Force saidon January 25 that it was set to launch a multiday military exercise across the Middle East "to demonstrate the ability to deploy, disperse, and sustain combat airpower" in the region.

The activity is reminiscent of last year when the United States moved military assets to the region before Israel and then Washington carried out air strikes targeting Iran's nuclear sites.

The Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC), the elite branch of Iran's armed forces, has responded by raising alert levels and urging Iranian-backed armed groups in Iraq, Lebanon, and Yemen to support Tehran.

Fraught With Risks

US media reports say Trump is weighing up a range of military options against Iran -- from a sustained aerial campaign that could last weeks or months to modest and largely symbolic strikes targeting Iran's security forces. Nonmilitary options, including additional economic sanctions, have also been reportedly discussed.

Experts say any US military action against Iran is fraught with risks and could drag in the entire region. Tehran has vowed to hit US bases in the Persian Gulf as well as Israel, a key US ally.

"The costs are unpredictable -- retaliation against US allies and attacks on Persian Gulf shipping. Regional partners don't want to pay that price," Mehrdad Khansari, a former Iranian diplomat, told Radio Farda.

Regional countries have privately urged Washington to exercise restraint, concerned that a US-Iran conflict could trigger a wider conflict.

Khansari argued that an aerial campaign alone, without a ground incursion, would not lead to regime change, if that was even Washington's end goal.

A ground invasion of Iran, the largest and most populous country in the Middle East, is considered a nonstarter by many military experts.

"It keeps the file open -- like the Sword of Damocles hanging over the regime -- but air strikes alone cannot topple the regime or eliminate its security forces," he said, speculating that government forces would simply hide during strikes and reemerge afterward.

How Might A Strike Unfold?

Nadimi said planned US military exercises in the coming days could provide cover for actual operations.

He said the United States could use electronic warfare and cyberattacks to disrupt Iranian radar and communications networks. Stealth bombers and fighter jets could then penetrate air defenses in radio silence, striking command centers and missile sites.

But Iran would not be defenseless in case of a conflict, experts say.

Iran possesses cruise missiles capable of threatening US warships in the Persian Gulf's confined waters, as well as ballistic missiles that could hit regional bases. Iran has even alluded to this, erecting a large banner in a major square in Tehran over the weekend depicting a US aircraft carrier struck by a deluge of missiles.

Even if Washington resorts to a largely symbolic strike, Iran is likely to respond in kind, Nadimi said.

With reporting by Roya Karimi Majd, Hannah Kaviani, and Hooman Askary of RFE/RL's Radio Farda

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-us-military-strike-persian- gulf-tension/33660488.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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Prime Minister Netanyahu Meets with Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama

Israel - Prime Minister's Office

Type: Events and Speeches

Government: The 37th Government

Publish Date: 26.01.2026

Prime Minister Netanyahu, today, at the Prime Minister's Office, met with Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama. They held a private meeting, followed by an expanded meeting with their staffs, and then issued statements.

Prime Minister Netanyahu:

"I want to welcome Prime Minister Edi Rama of Albania.

Prime Minister Rama is a great friend of the Jewish people, a great friend of the Jewish state, and may I say also, a great personal friend. He represents the real spirit of Albania.

Perhaps people don't know this and the world should know that Albania was the only European country which during the Holocaust had the Jewish population inside Albania grow and not decline.

It grew because Albanians, Muslim Albanians, in the spirit of moderation, in the spirt of tolerance, in the spirit of human dignity protected the hundreds of Jews who lived in Albania at the time and also received many others. That's the spirit that you represent. This is the story, we were talking about it a few minutes ago, this is the story that the world should know. This is the stuff, as you said, of inspiring movies.

People should know the great role that Albania played, the moral role that Albania played during the darkest hours of human history. That's the spirit that you continue today, my good friend, Edi.

You stand with courage against those who would intimidate you. You stand for the truth. You stood by Israel when we were attacked by these barbarians. Your moral compass did not waver. This is something that we deeply appreciate and marks you as an outstanding leader for your people and I think for the broad segments of humanity that want the truth to be defended and the moral values that we share.

Equally, and not surprisingly, we are building great ties between Albania and Israel. The number of Israeli tourists who have gone to Albania has increased by 800 percent. Soon it will be a thousand and soon it will be a lot more. And I can tell all Israelis that Albania is a beautiful country with beautiful people. So go there. First.

Second, we have Israeli investors and companies who understand that there is a great economic opportunity in Albania. There is a free-market orientation and there are things that can be developed jointly with Albanians.

That's going to be enhanced by the opening of the chamber of commerce in Jerusalem, I think it's tomorrow, under Prime Minister Rama. This is something that I think will advance our economic ties.

Finally, I would say that we have also an understanding beyond interests, but in the deepest sense of human history, that we recognize that there is a foundation of kinship between our two peoples, and I want to say that there is a foundation of kinship between the two of us as well. So, welcome, friend. Welcome to Jerusalem. "

Albanian Prime Minister Rama:

"Albania and Israel share excellent relations rooted in a profound friendship between the Albanian Jewish people, forged across centuries of history. When time and again Jews fleeing persecution in the West came and settled on our shores, Albania's unique historical legacy of safeguarding Jews during the Holocaust makes this bond deeply special. And to me and to us is a testament by the moral courage of our grandparents. A testament that we should never forget and we should do everything to pass from generation to generation. And as a government, we are fully committed to treasuring this inheritance from history and maintain a firm, clear, consistent stance against antisemitism, both at home and internationally.

We stood with the hostages and their families and against the Hamas neo-Nazi butchers, whose actions have brought unbearable suffering not only to Israelis, but for far too long also to our Palestinian brothers and sisters dehumanized by Hamas, to the point of being reduced to instruments of war, turned into defensive infrastructure of human flesh, unseen and heard in the history of barbarism, mere meat for the fire of terror.

So, Albania is honored to join the Board of Peace founded by President Trump and I view this invitation as both recognition and moral responsibility. We will continue to support all efforts, including President Trump's peace plan for Gaza and we will do our part within the International Stabilization Force for Gaza.

And Prime Minister, allow me to express once again our sincere gratitude to Israel for its critical support during the massive Iranian cyberattack against Albania. Like Israel, Albania maintains no diplomatic relations with Iran, a great country with an extraordinary civilization that has been transformed into an island of darkness by blind hatred toward any light.

While we pray for the countless souls burned in recent days in the fires of Khameneism, we hold the hope that the conviction that the days of terror and assassins are drawing to an end.

We welcome expanded trade and investment, building on Israel's technological expertise and especially having day after day agreements to jointly build up a new defense military production. And thanks to the partnership with Israel, recreating the conditions for the made in Albania in the defense systems to also go abroad.

I want to warmly invite all Jewish people to visit Albania, discover a remarkable land, not just in nature, but in soul, described by a Jewish observer before the Second World War as a place where Jews could live openly, safely and in full dignity."

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Japanese PM Takaichi pledges to resign if ruling bloc loses majority in upcoming snap election

People's Daily Online

(Xinhua) 15:26, January 26, 2026

TOKYO, Jan. 26 (Xinhua) -- Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said on Monday she would step down immediately if the ruling bloc fails to secure a majority in the upcoming House of Representatives election.

Takaichi, who also serves as president of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, made the remarks during a party leaders' debate on Monday.

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The 19th Japan-NATO High-Level Consultations

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan

January 27, 2026

On January 26, the 19th Japan-NATO High-Level Consultations were held in Brussel, Belgium.

The Japanese delegation was headed by Mr. NAMAZU Hiroyuki, Senior Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, and the NATO delegation was headed by H.E. Ambassador Boris Ruge, Assistant Secretary General for Political Affairs and Security Policy, NATO. Officials from the Ministry of Defense also attended on the Japanese side. During the consultations, the two sides confirmed that the security of Euro-Atlantic and Indo-Pacific is closely linked and that they will continue to cooperate in strengthening the Japan-NATO relationship and NATO-IP4 relationships, and they discussed regional situations in East Asia and Europe.

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Trump announces 25% tariff hike on South Korean imports; Chinese expert says move 'stab allies,' heightens uncertainty

Global Times

By Global Times Published: Jan 27, 2026 12:48 PM

US President Donald Trump said on Monday (local time) that tariffs on some South Korean imports would rise from 15 percent to 25 percent, citing a "delay" in South Korea's legislature approving a trade deal reached with the US last summer.

A Chinese expert views this move as a stark example of US policy prioritizing domestic political demands over international trade rules, heightening uncertainty and effectively "stabbing allies in the back," as such an action came after Trump and US Treasury secretary Scott Bessent claimed the US would impose 100 percent tariffs on Canadian imports "if Canada finalizes a free-trade agreement with China."

On Monday, Trump posted on Truth Social that "Because the Korean Legislature hasn't enacted our Historic Trade Agreement, which is their prerogative, I am hereby increasing South Korean TARIFFS on Autos, Lumber, Pharma, and all other Reciprocal TARIFFS, from 15 percent to 25 percent."

According to Yonhap News Agency (Yonhap), the agreement that Trump referred to was a bill submitted to South Korean National Assembly in November to implement the bilateral trade and investment deal, which has yet to pass through the legislature.

The agreement included South Korea's commitment to investing $350 billion in the US and other pledges in return for Washington's lowering of reciprocal tariffs and auto levies on South Korea to 15 percent.

Cheong Wa Dae, South Korea's presidential office, said it has not received an official notice or explanation from the US over Trump's tariff hike announcement, adding that it will soon hold an emergency interagency meeting, headed by presidential chief of staff for policy Kim Yong-beom, to discuss the government's response, according to Yonhap.

Meanwhile, South Korea Industry Minister Kim Jung-kwan, who has been on a visit to Canada, was set to head for Washington, where he will discuss the matter with his US counterparts, his office said, adding that a meeting with US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick was being arranged, Yonhap reported.

Shin Won-kyu, a chief analyst at the Korea Economic Research Institute, said "Trump's move could be stemming from heightened anxiety with an array of issues bursting out, including criticism over his immigration policy and ambitions over Greenland, as well as escalating tensions with the EU and Canada," according to Yonhap.

"Such erratic tariff actions undermine trust-based US-South Korea economic ties and send a highly risky signal to global markets. The US' move on South Korea and Canada shows it is effectively stabbing allies in the back," Li Yong, an executive council member of the China Society for WTO Studies, told the Global Times.

"Unilateral measures force inefficient supply-chain restructurings worldwide, imposing heavy uncertainty premiums on businesses. Over time, this erodes US' international credibility," said Li.

The US' latest move echoed earlier threats against Canada, where tariffs were weaponized to interfere in sovereign decisions, shifting "America First" from domestic revitalization to hegemonic interference that subverts ally sovereignty and alliance values, Li noted.

"These policies introduce profound uncertainty, damaging not only bilateral relations but also trilateral dynamics and broader global stability," Li pointed out.

In market reaction, South Korea's benchmark KOSPI index fell 0.7 percent in early trading on Tuesday before recovering, with shares of major automakers like Hyundai experiencing initial volatility. The South Korean won also weakened slightly against the US dollar amid the uncertainty.

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Russia Cuts Its Disability Count As War Against Ukraine Wounds Hundreds of Thousands

By Valery Panyushkin and Systema January 26, 2026

Oksana's son does not speak, walks with difficulty, and has epilepsy. At 20, he can eat on his own but cannot control his bodily functions.

Yet Oksana, who asked that her last name not be published for fear of repercussions, says that when he turned 18, it took her an entire year to convince officials that he qualified as disabled.

She now says bitterly of the process: "In Russia, to obtain disability status, you have to be healthy."

Rules Tightened In Wartime

In early April 2022, six weeks after Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the government of President Vladimir Putin further tightened its rules for the recognition of disabilities -- something it had done several times in the past decade.

The new changes came as the war began to drive up military spending and increase pressure on the federal budget.

The financial incentive seems clear: The updated rules meant fewer people could now qualify as disabled and thus receive government assistance, cutting costs for the state.

Reducing the number of those registered with disabilities by roughly 1 million could save the state an estimated 120 billion rubles ($1.6 billion) a year, RFE/RL's Russian investigative unit, Systema, found.

By the beginning of 2025, the official count was a little over 11.1 million, roughly 2 million lower than in 2010 and about 1 million lower than in 2017, government documents show.

Putin's government does not publish figures of casualties from its forces in Ukraine, but the Center for Strategic and International Studies estimatedlast June that more than 950,000 Russian soldiers had been killed or wounded sinceFebruary 2022 -- without specifying how many were left permanently disabled.

Western intelligence agencies now estimate the number of Russian casualties at well over 1 million, with perhaps a quarter killed and the rest wounded.

"The authorities understood that the war would increase the number of people with disabilities," said a former medical and social assessment specialist, speaking on condition of anonymity for fear of repercussions for commenting publicly on the matter. "So they decided to make the statistics look better -- and save money."

A System Designed To Exclude?

The tightening of disability criteria began well before Russia's full-scale invasion.

Changes introduced in 2014 -- the year Russia seized Crimea and fomented war in eastern Ukraine -- put an emphasis on a person's ability to work or maintain what officials deemed a "normal life," even in the presence of serious medical conditions.

Over time, additional amendments made the process increasingly bureaucratic and restrictive, Russians who have worked with disabled people told Systema.

The April 2022 government decree raised the bar even further. It lists three conditions for recognizing a person as disabled: the persistent impairment of bodily functions; the "complete or partial loss of a citizen's ability or capacity to care for themselves, move independently, orient oneself, communicate, control their behavior, study, or engage in work activities"; and the need for rehabilitation.

But it stipulates that one condition alone is not grounds for recognition of a person as disabled. That means a combination of the conditions is needed, a requirement that the former medical and social assessment specialist said could enable the authorities to deny disability status in almost any case.

Even people classified with the most severe level of disability -- Group One -- must regularly collect documents, undergo repeated examinations, and pass medical and social assessments every two years. Those with less severe disabilities are required to confirm their status every year.

While the decreeallows for permanent disability status, specialists say the wording is vague enough to allow officials to grant it selectively -- or not at all.

'As If the Stents Will Disappear'

Marina, 70, was advised to hire a private consultant to help secure permanent disability status. The service costs her about 100,000 rubles ($1,310).

She has heart stents yet must undergo annual examinations to confirm her condition.



"As if the stents will just disappear," she said.



"If I undergo coronary angiography every year," Marina told Systema, "I'll die from the tests sooner than from a heart attack."

Adapted from the original Russian by Ulviyya Asadzade

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-cuts-its- disability-count-as-war-against-ukraine-wounds hundreds-of-thousands-/33660500.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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Taichung Prison to 'supervise' convicted ex-President Chen's planned speech

ROC Central News Agency

01/26/2026 09:20 PM

Taipei, Jan. 26 (CNA) Taichung Prison said it will "enforce supervision" of former President Chen Shui-bian (), who is on medical parole, after he announced plans on Monday to give a public speech in early February.

Taichung Prison, which is operated by the Agency of Corrections under the Ministry of Justice (MOJ), said it would handle the matter in accordance with the Regulations Governing Review Criteria for and Management of Prisoners' Out-Of-Prison Medical Treatment on Bail.

Chen said in a post on Facebook that he accepted an invitation from National Tainan First Senior High School's alumni association to speak at an event in Taipei on Feb. 7.

According to the post, the former president will deliver a talk titled "The influence of studying at Tainan First Senior High School on my political career."

The promotional poster for the event states that the final 30 minutes of the speech will be reserved for a question-and-answer session.

Taichung Prison said that although Chen has already reported his itinerary, it will "continue to handle and understand the relevant circumstances" and enforce supervision in line with the regulations.

The former president was sentenced to 20 years in prison for multiple corruption and money-laundering charges following his two terms in office (2000-2008).

He was released on medical parole in 2015 due to declining health.

(By Chao Li-yen and James Thompson)

Enditem/AW

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PLA activities in the waters and airspace around Taiwan

ROC Ministry of National Defense

2026.01.27

Issuing AuthorityPolitical Warfare Bureau

PLA activities in the waters and airspace around Taiwan

1.Date

6 a.m. Jan. 26 (Mon.) to 6 a.m. Jan. 27 (Tue.) (UTC+8)

2.PLA activities

2 sorties of PLA aircraft, 5 PLAN ships and 1 official ship operating around Taiwan were detected as of 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. ROC Armed Forces have monitored the situation and employed CAP aircraft, Navy ships, and coastal missile systems in response to detected activities.

1150127_PLA activities in the waters and airspace around Taiwan

1150127_PLA air activities in the vicinity of Taiwan

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The UK stands firm in our support for the institutions which defend and advance the international rule of law: UK statement at the UN Security Council

Speech

Statement by Ambassador James Kariuki, UK Charge d'Affaires to the UN, at the UN Security Council meeting on International Rule of Law.

From: Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office and James Kariuki CMG

Published 26 January 2026

Location: United Nations, New York

Delivered on: 26 January 2026 (Transcript of the speech, exactly as it was delivered)

The United Kingdom's ongoing commitment to the rule of law is a key part of our national story, beginning over 800 years ago when the Magna Carta was signed, guaranteeing rights to justice and a fair trial.

The rule of law remains fundamental to the international system. It is the bedrock of stable democratic societies and prosperous economies.

As embodied in the UN Charter, it is key to the maintenance of international peace and security. We must never lose sight of why nations first came together in this forum, and the principles that continue to bind us together.

Respect for international law is fundamental to offering a better future to citizens from the Middle East, to Sudan, to Haiti, and beyond. And, of course, in Ukraine, which has been on the receiving end of an egregious breach of the UN Charter.

President, the UK stands firm in our support for the institutions which defend and advance the international rule of law.

The International Court of Justice's demanding workload is testament to its impartiality, independence, and legal rigour.

We also remain steadfast in our support for the International Criminal Court and its vital work to end impunity for the gravest crimes.

The UK believes that international law delivers real benefits and helps us address contemporary global challenges.

For example, the recent entry into force of the BBNJ Agreement marks a major milestone in safeguarding our shared marine environment.

As we speak, work towards a Convention on Crimes Against Humanity is underway, representing a significant opportunity to strengthen prevention and accountability.

And progress on a draft Convention for the Protection of Persons in the Event of Disasters reflects the importance of legal frameworks that enhance preparedness and cooperation.

These efforts show what is possible when states work collectively to build and refine the international legal order to address new and emerging challenges.

In this context, the UK was pleased to recently pledge additional voluntary contributions to a range of UN funds supporting participation in these initiatives and the rule of law.

These include the UN Programme of Assistance on international law, the operationalisation of the BBNJ Agreement, participation of developing States at the PPED negotiating conference, and the ICJ Judicial Fellowship.

President, the United Kingdom's enduring commitment to the rule of law is unwavering, reflecting our firm commitment to peace, international cooperation, accountability, and to the UN Charter.



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Finnish cybersecurity expert warns Europe of cost, security risks in U.S. tech dependence

Xinhua) 10:17, January 27, 2026

HELSINKI, Jan. 26 (Xinhua) -- A Finnish cybersecurity expert has warned that Europe's growing reliance on U.S. technology could carry two kinds of risks -- mounting costs and strategic vulnerability, Finland's national broadcaster Yle reported.

In an interview with Yle on Monday, cybersecurity expert Petteri Jarvinen said it was "odd" that Europe is boosting its defense posture while leaving critical information systems heavily dependent on American companies.

"If we in Europe always choose the cheapest information technology (IT) options, we will lose this game. We must develop our expertise and services and be prepared to pay for them," he was quoted as saying.

Yle noted that Finland's dependence on U.S. technology remains substantial. As early as last year, three major Finnish government agencies announced plans to move citizens' data to U.S.-based cloud services. In November, Yle reported that Kela, Finland's social insurance institution, was transferring health-related data to American data centers.

At the same time, the Ministry of Justice is moving Finland's election data from domestic provider Tieto to Amazon's cloud service, according to Yle. Residents' tax data is also set to be migrated to Microsoft's Azure cloud. Yle said the reforms are scheduled to take effect by 2027.

Jarvinen argued that the immediate appeal of lower-priced services can mask longer-term economic exposure. With few European alternatives, governments and institutions can become locked in to a small number of providers, giving the companies greater leverage to raise prices, he said.

"American giants can raise prices however they like. Microsoft announced that prices will be raised by 10 percent to 20 percent this year. Therefore, it would be good to have an alternative to Microsoft," he noted.

Beyond cost, Jarvinen said dependence also creates security and sovereignty risks, because digital infrastructure is ultimately built on trust. He told Yle that U.S. legislation can override commercial arrangements if data is deemed relevant to national security or foreign policy.

He added that U.S. firms also dominate many of the platforms and tools used by Finns to communicate, including Gmail, WhatsApp, Meet, Teams, Facebook and X, reinforcing Europe's exposure not only in data storage but also in everyday communications.

In another Yle report earlier this month, Jarvinen warned that the United States could, in effect, cut Finland off from key internet-enabled services within an hour. He said roughly 70 percent of the cloud services used in Europe are provided by U.S. technology firms such as Microsoft, Amazon and Google.

"Finland would certainly grind to a halt if the U.S. could shut everything down with some kind of executive order," he was quoted as saying.

Yle said losing access to U.S.-based cloud services could disrupt "every sector of society," from public administration to healthcare. Jarvinen added that such a scenario could, technologically, set Europe back to the 1990s.

As a response, he urged Europe and Finland to strengthen technological self-sufficiency. Yle noted that similar concerns have been voiced elsewhere, including in Sweden, where local media editorial argued that the United States could "shut down Sweden in an hour."

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
EU and Council of Europe agree to set up an advance team for the Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine

European External Action Service (EEAS)

26.01.2026

Press and information team of the Delegation to UKRAINE

The European Union and the Council of Europe have signed an agreement on the financing of an advance team to establish the Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine, within the framework of the Council of Europe.

The aim of the joint project is to create a team to prepare the institutional, logistical and organisational foundations of the Special Tribunal, which will have the mandate to prosecute senior political and military leaders for the crime of aggression against Ukraine.

The joint project will be managed by the Council of Europe. It will lay the groundwork for the election of the Special Tribunal's judges and prosecutor, and the development of the tribunal's rules of procedure and evidence, as well as its court management system.

The advance team will also support stakeholder engagements to bolster support for the Special Tribunal.

The European Union will contribute with 10 million to the Special Tribunal Advance Team (STAT) project through the European Commission's Service for Foreign Policy Instruments.

The project will last for a maximum of 24 months, or until the work can be funded via the future Enlarged Partial Agreement on the Management Committee of the Special Tribunal.

Quote(s)

Unpunished crimes only encourage future atrocities. The European Union's release of the first 10 million to help set up a Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine is a concrete step towards justice. Russia's leaders are responsible for this war, and they must be held accountable. There can be no impunity.

Kaja Kallas, High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy/Vice-President of the European Commission

Our support for Ukraine is unwavering. The Special Tribunal is essential to ensuring a just and lasting peace by holding Russia accountable for its crime of aggression. There can be no durable peace without justice, and no justice without accountability. Today, we move one step closer to turning these principles into action.

Michael McGrath, Commissioner for Democracy, Justice, the Rule of Law and Consumer Protection

Today's agreement is a major step towards ensuring justice and accountability for the people of Ukraine, without which there can be no lasting peace. The Council of Europe will determinedly work together with the European Union and other key partners around the world to uphold the values that we hold dear, to ensure respect for international law and to make sure that violence and impunity do not prevail.

Alain Berset, Council of Europe Secretary General

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Foreign Minister Tsahkna at the G7+ Ukraine Energy Support Group meeting: Russia weaponising cold and darkness, and we must not allow it to change the course of the war

Republic of Estonia - Ministry of Foreign Affairs

26.01.2026 | 14:23

Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna stressed at an extraordinary video meeting of the G7+ Ukraine Energy Support Group held today, 23 January, that Russia is weaponising attacks against Ukraine's energy infrastructure and that we must not allow cold and darkness to change the course of the war.

"Russia has not abandoned its objectives and has intensified its attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure," Tsahkna noted. "By now, there is not a single power plant in Ukraine that has not been targeted by Russia's terror. Millions of Ukrainians are living without electricity, heating and water, and thousands have been forced to leave their homes," he said.

"Putin is using cold and darkness as a weapon, terrorising millions of Ukrainians who are trying to survive in Ukraine while battling freezing temperatures," Tsahkna said. "We must not allow Putin to achieve his goal and let the cold change the course of the war."

The foreign minister stressed that increasing support for Ukraine's energy infrastructure is of critical importance. "Every generator, every repaired cable and every euro donated sends Putin a clear message: Ukraine will not break," Tsahkna said. "Ukrainians' courage is admirable, but courage alone will not win the war."

According to Tsahkna, international pressure on Russia must be increased further. "We must move forward with adopting the 20th sanctions package, which should include additional measures against Russia's gas transit and energy companies," he noted. "Estonia also supports the European Union's RePowerEU plan, which aims to end imports of Russian energy into Europe by 2027."

At the end of last year, Estonia allocated two million euros to the Ukraine Energy Support Fund, bringing Estonia's total contribution to Ukraine's energy sector since the start of the full-scale war to nearly three million euros. In addition, the state is working closely with companies to identify opportunities to send equipment to Ukraine for restoring electricity connections. The Estonian Refugee Council and the NGO Mondo have also launched campaigns to raise donations to supply generators, fuel and other essential items to Ukraine.

Today, at Estonia's initiative, the foreign ministers of the Nordic-Baltic countries also issued a joint statement emphasising their strong condemnation of Russia's continued attacks on Ukrainian cities and critical energy infrastructure. The joint statement notes that Russia's aim of leaving people without electricity, heating and water in the middle of winter violates international humanitarian law. The attacks also critically affect Ukraine's nuclear safety, and unhindered access for inspectors of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to Ukraine's nuclear power plants is essential. The NB8 foreign ministers also reaffirmed their unwavering solidarity with Ukraine, their readiness to continue providing political, military, financial and humanitarian assistance, and their efforts to achieve a lasting peace in line with international law. In addition, the Nordic-Baltic foreign ministers once again reaffirmed their commitment to the principles of independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity.

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Baiba Braze and Johann Wadephul: Any threat to Riga and Latvia is also a threat to Berlin and Germany. We are NATO's closest allies. Transatlantic and European unity is our strongest asset in deterring Russia's threats and supporting Ukraine

Republic of Latvia - Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Published: 26.01.2026.

On 26 January 2026, marking 105 years since Latvia's international (de jure) recognition, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Baiba Braze, welcomed the Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Federal Republic of Germany, Dr Johann Wadephul, during his working visit to Latvia. Ministers discussed transatlantic relations, cooperation between the EU and NATO, strengthening security in Europe, including on the eastern flank and in the Baltic Sea region, continued support for Ukraine and containment of Russia, and current EU issues - EU enlargement, EU Multiannual Financial Framework, strengthening EU competitiveness, and simplifying regulation.

Johann Wadephul addressed heads of Latvia's diplomatic missions who are gathering in Riga this week for their annual meeting. The discussion focused on strengthening regional security and competitiveness in Europe, including by reducing bureaucracy and simplifying regulations.

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Baiba Braze:

"It is a great pleasure for Latvia to welcome my friend and colleague Johann Wadephul on such an important day. Germany is a reliable friend and a strategic ally of Latvia. We have close historical ties and excellent bilateral relations in the areas of security and economics. Our cooperation is progressing successfully at the bilateral level, as well as within the EU and NATO. We would like to express our gratitude to Germany for its significant contribution to security in the Baltic Sea region, particularly its presence in Lithuania, regular involvement in NATO's air policing missions in the Baltics and the Rostock command centre which also coordinates NATO's Baltic Sentry Mission. I am grateful for Germany's support for Ukraine, including its USD 700 million contribution to NATO's Prioritised Ukraine Requirements List (PURL) initiative. Our shared priority is to achieve a sustainable peace in Ukraine and to contain Russia, including by implementing targeted sanctions. We agree that Russia's goals have not changed, so we must keep supporting Ukraine's self-defence and increasing pressure on Russia, including through the twentieth sanctions package and measures against the shadow fleet and its ecosystem. We agree that our transatlantic and European unity and power are our strongest asset in deterring Russia's threats, supporting Ukraine, and securing lasting peace and security in the Euro-Atlantic area."

Both countries seek to expand cooperation in the areas of economy, defence, energy, ICT, digitalisation, cooperation between ports, and connectivity. Cooperation in drone development and manufacturing also holds great potential. Germany ranks as Latvia's second largest foreign trade partner and is one of the most important investors in Latvia.

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Zelensky claims US security pact '100% ready' as war continues

Iran Press TV

Monday, 26 January 2026 11:42 AM

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says a US security guarantees document for Ukraine is "100% ready" following two days of talks, but the announcement comes amid continuing fighting and without a breakthrough on key issues blocking an end to the war.

Speaking to journalists in Vilnius during an official visit to Lithuania, Zelensky said Ukraine is waiting for its partners to determine a signing date for the document, after which it would be submitted to the US Congress and the Ukrainian parliament for ratification.

He described the agreement as a major step toward strengthening Ukraine's security and reaffirmed Kiev's ambition to join the European Union by 2027, calling EU membership an "economic security guarantee."

The comments followed talks held Friday and Saturday in Abu Dhabi, which Zelensky described as a rare trilateral format that included not only diplomats but also military representatives from all three sides.

US officials said the discussions covered military, political and economic issues, including the possibility of a ceasefire before a comprehensive peace agreement.

Despite the discussions, no ceasefire or peace framework was announced, and officials acknowledged that major differences remain. Zelensky reiterated that Ukraine's position on territory has not changed, saying the country's territorial integrity "must be respected."

Russia, however, has continued to insist that Ukraine withdraw its forces from eastern regions that Moscow claims to have annexed but does not fully control.

The gap between the two sides has raised questions about the practical impact of the proposed security guarantees. Details of the document have not been made public, and neither Kiev nor Washington has specified what obligations the United States would assume if Russia violated the agreement.

US officials have said any deal would require congressional approval, a process that could take months and face political opposition.

Critics say Zelensky's declaration risks overstating progress at a time when the conflict shows little sign of easing. Ukrainian officials have said military operations remain ongoing along several frontline sectors.

The United States has framed the security guarantees as part of a broader effort to deter future Russian aggression while avoiding direct military commitments that could escalate the conflict.

US officials involved in the talks said Washington is attempting to find a compromise acceptable to both sides, but Zelensky acknowledged that "all sides must be ready for compromise," without elaborating on what concessions Kiev might consider.

The Abu Dhabi talks also addressed the future of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, Europe's largest, which is held by Russian forces. US officials said there was no agreement on a final framework for oversight or operations of the facility, which has been a source of international concern due to safety risks.

Another round of talks is expected to take place in the United Arab Emirates on Feb. 1, according to a US official.

European Union representatives were not formally involved in the latest discussions, a point that has drawn quiet concern from some European diplomats who argue that any lasting settlement would require broad regional support.

Zelensky's push to link security guarantees with accelerated EU membership has also highlighted uncertainties within the bloc, where enlargement timelines remain contested and several member states have expressed reservations about rapid accession during an active conflict.

For now, the security guarantees document remains unsigned, unratified and undefined in public terms.

While Kiev and Washington have presented it as evidence of diplomatic momentum, the absence of concrete outcomes from the talks and the continuation of hostilities have tempered expectations that the agreement will lead quickly to a pause in the fighting or a negotiated settlement.

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Abu Dhabi Talks Set to Continue Next Week - Kremlin

Sputnik News

20260126

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Despite the prevailing atmosphere of the Ukraine negotiations being far from friendly, it remains imperative to seek concrete outcomes for as long as the dialogue persists, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated Monday.

"Our negotiators continue to defend these interests of ours," Peskov told reporters.

It would be a mistake to count on high effectiveness from the initial trilateral contacts on Ukraine, the official said, adding that difficult issues are on the agenda.

Russian President Vladimir Putin constantly receives direct reports from Russian negotiators, Peskov also said.

"The president constantly receives direct reports from our negotiators," Peskov told reporters.

Friendliness is far from possible at the current stage of settlement negotiations, but it is necessary to talk constructively if anything is sought to be achieved, the Kremlin spokesman pointed out.

"I would not say that there was friendliness, it is unlikely that this is possible at the current stage. But if we are trying to achieve something through negotiations, then we need to talk constructively," Peskov told reporters.

Although no contact with US President Donald Trump is presently scheduled on Russian President Vladimir Putin's agenda, such a conversation could be convened promptly.

"While no such conversation is scheduled right now, one could be coordinated rapidly. The existing communication and dialogue channels with the US side enable the immediate arrangement of high-level bilateral contacts," Peskov told reporters.

The Anchorage formula was addressed, and an understanding was reached with the United States and President Donald Trump, he noted.

"Our position is very well known. The Anchorage formula was discussed, and an appropriate understanding was reached with the American negotiators and with President Trump," Peskov informed reporters.

For Russia, specific parts of the Anchorage Formula are "of fundamental importance", the official highlighted.

"It would be incorrect to discuss specific agenda provisions now, particularly in public. However, our consistent positionand that of our presidentis no secret: the territorial issue is a component of the Anchorage formula and is of fundamental importance to Russia." Peskov emphasized.

Other Statements

Cooperation with Russia remains a priority issue for Venezuela, Peskov noted.

"And for Venezuela as well, judging by what we are told from Caracas, for Venezuela, the continuation of the development of mutually beneficial relations with Russia is also one of the priority issues," Peskov told reporters.

Moscow remains in constant contact with Caracas through diplomatic channels, the official added.

In addition, Russia values its bilateral relations with Cuba, the spokesman noted.

"And we also value our separate bilateral relations with Cuba very much," Peskov told reporters.

The information about a possible naval blockade of Cuba by the United States is alarming, Peskov added.

Last week, media reports stated that the administration of US President Donald Trump is mulling several options, including imposing a total blockade on oil imports to Cuba in a bid to encourage a change of government in the Caribbean island nation.

"We read a lot of reports about this. This information is alarming," Peskov told reporters.

A potential strike on Iran would unleash serious destabilization throughout the region, the Kremlin official cautioned.

On January 22, President Trump said that US Navy ships were moving towards Iran "just in case."

"This [a possible military strike] would certainly mean another step that could seriously destabilize the situation in the region. You know that Russia continues to make efforts to de-escalate tensions. And, of course, in this case, we would still like to expect restraint from all interested parties and, of course, a focus on exclusively peaceful negotiations," Peskov told reporters.

On a separate note, Russian President Vladimir Putin will meet with Malaysian King Sultan Ibrahim at the Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg on Monday, Peskov said.

Putin will have a one-on-one conversation with the Malaysian monarch, the official added.

 Sputnik

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Andrii Sybiha held phone talks with Minister for Foreign Affairs, EU and Cooperation of Spain Jose Manuel Albares

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine

26 January 2026 19:29

Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Andrii Sybiha: "During my call with Spanish friend and colleague Jose Manuel Albares, I informed him in details about the consequences of Russia's massive attacks on Ukraine's energy system.

We focused on ways to provide Ukraine with additional energy equipment and to strengthen our air defense capabilities.

I emphasized the need to step up sanctions pressure on Russia to curb its financial resources to continue its war of aggression.

We paid special attention to the negotiation process for achieving a just and lasting peace.

We also coordinated our positions ahead of upcoming international events and agreed on further bilateral contacts.

Grateful to Spain for its steadfast support to Ukraine on the path towards peace and our EU integration."

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Andrii Sybiha held phone talks with Minister of Foreign Affairs of Portugal Paulo Rangel

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine

26 January 2026 14:25

Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Andrii Sybiha: "I had a substantive call with my Portuguese colleague and friend Paulo Rangel.

I briefed him on the consequences of Russia's attacks and Ukraine's urgent needs, as Russia deliberately exploits harsh weather conditions to intensify its terror against civilians.

I thanked Portugal for its assistance to Ukraine's energy sector and support within the PURL initiative.

We focused on further ways to scale up energy and military support, in particular Ukraine's air defense, which is critical to protecting civilians and safeguarding critical infrastructure.

We also exchanged views on the battlefield situation, ongoing peace efforts, and the future security architecture for Ukraine and the rest of Europe.

Grateful to Paulo and Portugal for their steadfast support and solidarity".

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Sergiy Boyev at OFDEF conference: air defense, drones, and extended-range munitions among Ukraine's top priorities for 2026

Ministry of Defence of Ukraine

26 January, 2026, 11:31 AM EET

Deputy Minister of Defence of Ukraine, Sergiy Boyev, delivered remarks at the OFDEF conference, which was dedicated to coordinating defense support for Ukraine from partner countries. In his address, he outlined the current security situation, the russian federation's plans for 2026, and Ukraine's key defense priorities.

According to Sergiy Boyev, since September last year russia has intensified offensive operations along the entire front line and is preparing for further escalation. At the same time, as long as international support continues, russia will not be able to achieve any of its operational objectives.

"Together with our partners, we have developed a military strategy focused on protecting Ukrainian cities and critical infrastructure, stabilizing the front, degrading russian logistics in operational depth, and striking the enemy's strategic targets," the Deputy Minister of Defence stressed.

To implement this strategy in 2026, Ukraine requires $120 billion. Of the total amount, Ukraine plans to secure half of this amount$60 billionthrough its own budget and loans from the European Union. The remaining $60 billion is expected from partners in the form of security assistance.

According to Sergiy Boyev, Ukraine's key priorities for 2026 include air and missile defense systems and missiles for them, Ukrainian-produced UAVs, and extended-range artillery munitions. Ukraine is calling on partners to direct approximately 80% of security assistance toward these three priority areas.

Ukraine plans to produce more than 7 million drones in 2026 as part of its unmanned systems capabilities. Unmanned technologies have become the backbone of Ukraine's asymmetric defense, enabling the establishment of a strike zone with a depth of up to 20 kilometers. The next objective is to extend this zone to 100 kilometers by conducting strikes against russian targets in operational depth.

Sergiy Boyev also underscored the critical need for air defense, noting that russia has substantially expanded the production and employment of cruise and ballistic missiles, as well as attack drones. Ukraine requires urgent deliveries of missiles for key missile defense systems. The supply of long-range strike capabilities and aviation-related strike capabilities is also essential.

"Speed in decision-making and the delivery of supplies is critical. Every interceptor means saved lives and protected infrastructure," the Deputy Minister of Defence of Ukraine emphasized.

Ukraine also called on partners to take a more active role in the PURL initiative, which continues to serve as a key mechanism for delivering modern air defense and strike capabilities.

Concluding his address, Sergiy Boyev stated that enhanced support for Ukraine in 2026 is essential to deter russian aggression and to lay the groundwork for a just and lasting peace.

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President: Today, More Than 80% of Enemy Targets Are Destroyed by Drones, with the Overwhelming Majority Being Domestically Produced

President of Ukraine

26 January 2026 - 20:58

More than 80% of enemy targets are currently destroyed by drones, the overwhelming majority of which are domestically produced. President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated this during the presentation of the "E-Points" initiative for assessing the effectiveness of drone units.

The Head of State thanked Ukrainian warriors for the effective defense of Ukraine, the destruction of enemy targets, the verification of results, and the prompt and reliable information from the battlefield.

"Today, artillery matters, but in a different way. Personnel, and above all our infantry, carry out fundamental tasks. But war itself is undergoing an evolution, and everything is becoming extremely dependent on another important element as well - on who is the fastest and the strongest in applying technologies, in adapting technologies, and in truthful verification of what is happening on the battlefield," Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.

Last year alone, drones struck nearly 820,000 targets. Each of these strikes is recorded, which helps not only with hit verification but also with the operation of the bonus-based system for assessing military performance. Units can exchange electronic points for drones, electronic warfare systems, other equipment, and gear on the Brave1 Market marketplace.

"We also have points awarded for each hit, as you know firsthand. Our bonus-based electronic points system is working to scale up the results of our defense. In December, our units achieved a result of 35,000 neutralized occupiers. Thank you for this result," the Head of State noted.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy also emphasized that it is important to continue developing protection against Russian "shaheds" and other enemy drones, and that the number of successful interceptions must increase significantly.

For successful and effective military service, the President honored servicemembers of unmanned systems units with state awards. Volodymyr Zelenskyy presented the Order of the Golden Star to Heroes of Ukraine Oleh Huit and Yurii Fedorenko.

Lieutenant Colonel Oleh Huit, commander of the 427th Separate Unmanned Systems Brigade "Raroh," took part in the Anti-Terrorist Operation and, following the start of Russia's full-scale invasion, defended the Luhansk region. In the summer of 2022, he purchased the first drones and organized their use within a platoon. At the beginning of 2023, he established a separate strike drone company, which has since been transformed into the 427th Separate Unmanned Systems Regiment. Its warriors took part in battles for Bakhmut, Avdiivka, New York, and Chasiv Yar. Over the past nine months, approximately 12,000 targets have been struck under Oleh Huit's command.

Major Yurii Fedorenko, commander of the 429th Separate Unmanned Systems Brigade "Achilles," took part in the Anti-Terrorist Operation and, since 2022, in the defense of Kyiv, as well as in battles in the Kharkiv and Donetsk regions. He was the first among commanders of Ukraine's Defense Forces units to organize the systemic use of UAVs for aerial reconnaissance and for providing fire adjustment for artillery and other strike assets. Since June 2025, the unit under Yurii Fedorenko's command has struck more than 30,000 enemy targets.

The Head of State also awarded servicemembers of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the Security Service of Ukraine, the National Guard of Ukraine, and the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine with the Order of Merit, III class; the Order of Bohdan Khmelnytsky, III class; the Order "For Courage," II and III classes; and the award "Personalized Firearm."

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Ukraine Must Maintain Leadership and Prevail in Every Cycle of Technological Development - President's Speech at the Presentation of the "E-Points" Initiative for Assessing the Effectiveness of Drone Units

President of Ukraine

26 January 2026 - 20:16

Glory to Ukraine!

Dear warriors, everyone present, and everyone who works for our Ukrainian strength and our Ukrainian technological capacity!

Today, first and foremost, we thank you. And not merely for being here, but for the results you deliver for our state and for our people.

None of us in Ukraine chose this war. Undoubtedly, every one of us - every Ukrainian - would want a peaceful future for our country and for ourselves. But with a neighbor like Russia, unfortunately, that is impossible. With such a neighbor, Ukrainians must be maximally effective masters of defending their state.

To always keep Ukraine independent and free from Russia, Ukrainians have to be better, stronger, and more effective in their defense than Russians can be in attacking our state.

Just a few years ago, the answer to the question of who is stronger and who is more effective came down to the volume of artillery and, unquestionably, the number of personnel. Today, artillery matters, but in a different way. Personnel, and above all our infantry, carry out fundamental tasks.

But war itself is undergoing an evolution, and everything is becoming extremely dependent on another important element as well - on who is the fastest and the strongest in applying technologies, in adapting technologies, and in truthful verification of what is happening on the battlefield. Ukraine vitally needs precisely this kind of leadership - leadership in technologies. I am confident that we have already reached a world-class level here.

All of us are working toward this. First and foremost - you and your brothers-in-arms.

As of today, more than 80 percent of enemy targets are being destroyed by drones. The absolute majority are domestically produced drones, and it is very encouraging that these are drones made in Ukraine.

In just the past year alone, 819,737 targets were hit - hit by drones. And we clearly record every single hit.

We also have points awarded for each hit, as you know firsthand. Our bonus-based electronic points system is working to scale up the results of our defense.

In December, our units achieved a result of 35,000 neutralized occupiers. Thank you for this result. These are killed and badly wounded occupiers. A very telling example. Over ten years of war in Afghanistan, the Soviet army lost half as many as the Russians lost in just one month of this war. That's the difference. This is such a horrific war - and you are true heroes, doing an outstanding job.

Their propaganda may pretend that Russia is not concerned about such losses. But this is not really about concern. It is about practicality.

The task of Ukrainian units is to ensure a level of destruction of the occupier at which Russian losses exceed the number of reinforcements they can send to their forces each month. This is a realistic task.

When we are talking about 50,000 Russian losses per month, this is the optimal level. Certainly, this is a difficult task but nevertheless it is the optimal level for Russia to begin weighing what it is doing and what it is fighting for.

The task of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, the task of our army, of all the Defense and Security Forces of Ukraine, is to guarantee precisely such a level of Russian losses. This can be achieved. First and foremost - through drones, unquestionably, of all types. Through clear analysis and well-grounded conclusions drawn from conducted combat operations. And also through a sufficiently high level of training and coordination of our warriors and your units.

To a large extent, it is precisely your experience - the experience of our most effective drone units - that must be scaled across all the forces of our state.

But at the same time, we must remember that the level of Russian losses cannot be the first and the last key objective of our work with drones - of our work with technology.

It is important to expand control of the battlespace - deep behind the front line. To disrupt the enemy's logistics, eliminate its drone operators, and, overall, degrade its capacity as an occupying force.

It is also important to continue developing protection against Russian "shaheds," other strike drones, and reconnaissance drones. There must be more interceptors. There must be more successful interceptions. And the evolution of our interceptors must keep pace with the changes in Russian strike drones.

Ukraine must maintain leadership and prevail in every cycle of technological development. It must respond quickly to new challenges and - what is very important - anticipate the next stages of this war, which is now clearly a technological one. All of these are challenging tasks.

But reaching our current level was not easy either. Ukraine has done it. We have all done it together. We must ensure Ukraine's enduring technological leadership. And that means even greater effectiveness from developers, even greater effectiveness from all our drone manufacturers. Even greater effectiveness from our Drone Line and from your units. Even greater effectiveness from every unit that works with drones, with technology, and with all elements of this war.

To accomplish all of this means to guarantee life for Ukraine. I am confident that all of this will be accomplished.

I want to thank all of you from the bottom of my heart! And today, I would like to recognize, perhaps, the most successful ones. I will not say "the best" - I do not want to offend anyone. But the most successful ones. With great pleasure, I would like to recognize today ten of our units that fight specifically with drones. And with all due respect to every one of our units, I want to thank you for the fact that we have a state - a strong state, a technological state, a state that is alive. I truly believe in you. I truly believe in peace. I believe in victory.

Glory to Ukraine!

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Ukraine Has Always Been and Will Remain on the Side of Peace, and the Only Reason This War Continues Is Russia - Address by the President

President of Ukraine

26 January 2026 - 19:01

Fellow Ukrainians!

Briefly about this day. Restoration of the energy sector after Russian strikes is ongoing round-the-clock. This concerns not only Kyiv, but also Kharkiv and the region, Zaporizhzhia, the Dnipro region - Dnipro and Kryvyi Rih - as well as the Chernihiv and Sumy regions - all areas where the situation is most difficult. Undoubtedly, Kyiv is facing the greatest number of challenges right now. I expect Kyiv's city authorities to step up their work. Many cities and communities are ready to help, and the Government is ready to help - all instructions and capabilities are in place. One hundred seventy-four brigades are working - this is a significant resource that has now been directed to Kyiv. There are some results, but they are not sufficient. A significant number of buildings are without heating, including some that have been without heating for an extended period. I instructed the Government to allocate additional resources. The Ministry of Internal Affairs is working within its remit - we are scaling up assistance points and warming centers. Everyone in the Government will work with partners to obtain additional equipment as quickly as possible. I thank all our friends - countries across Europe, from Norway to Italy, Poland and Germany, the Baltic states, and many others who are supporting Ukraine, our cities, and doing a lot for Kyiv right now.

Separately, I spoke today with the Minister of Defense about the protection of energy facilities, and also with the Commander of the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The command level of the Air Force must be significantly faster in providing protection.

I also received a full report from our delegation today - the guys have returned after the trilateral meetings. For the first time in a long while, there was again a format involving the Americans and the Russians. They managed to discuss a range of primarily military issues - those concerning steps toward ending the war and real control and monitoring. There are issues that need to be prepared for the next meeting. Preliminary discussions indicated that the teams would meet again on Sunday. It would be good if this meeting could be moved up. Ukraine will be as fully prepared as possible on all matters that need to be discussed and agreed. Ukraine has always been and will remain on the side of peace, and the only reason this war continues is Russia. Real results from diplomacy are needed so that there is no impression that the Russians are also using the negotiation process for a very cynical and brutal purpose - pushing back new pressure measures against Russia that could actually work. And pressure is needed. It is precisely pressure and its consequences - the results of sanctions and the blocking of Russian operations - that work toward ending the war. Partners must not forget this. I thank everyone who stands with Ukraine! I thank everyone who is helping us!

Glory to Ukraine!

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DFA verifying report Filipino died fighting for Russia in Ukraine war

Philippine News Agency

By Joyce Ann L. Rocamora

January 27, 2026, 10:07 am

MANILA -- The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) is verifying reports of a Filipino national said to have died on the front lines fighting for Russia in the ongoing Ukraine war.

Ukraine's Military Intelligence reported on Monday that a Filipino national, identified as John Patrick, was killed fighting with Russian forces in Kramatorsk District in the Donetsk region.

The agency, in a statement posted on Telegram, said the man had served in Russia's 9th Battalion, 283rd Regiment, 144th Motorized Rifle Division in the 20th Combined Arms Army of the Russian military.

It said the Filipino national, like many foreign fighters, was killed during what it described as a "meat assault" or attacks on Ukrainian positions with high casualty rates.

Ukraine and Russia have been at war since the latter launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, sparking Europe's deadliest conflict since World War II.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky previously reported that Russia has since occupied 20 percent of Ukraine's territory. (PNA)

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EU Statement - UN Security Council: Open debate on the Rule of Law: Pathways to reinvigorating peace, justice and multilateralism

European External Action Service (EEAS)

26.01.2026

New York

26 January 2026, New York -- Statement on behalf of the European Union by H.E. Ambassador Stavros Lambrinidis, Head of the Delegation of the European Union to the United Nations, at the UN Security Council Open Debate on the promotion and strengthening of the rule of law in the maintenance of international peace and security: Reaffirming international rule of law: Pathways to reinvigorating peace, justice and multilateralism

Check against delivery

Chair,

We welcome this timely debate on an issue that is of utmost importance in times when the international legal order faces unprecedented strain, marked by grave violations of the UN Charter. These are, indeed, times when stating the obvious becomes necessary and should be underlined on every occasion: the rule of law matters and must be upheld at all times. No self-proclaimed "national interests" can justify departure from it.

Violating the principles of the Charter undermines the foundations of international law and the UN itself, endangers international peace, and threatens the security of all of us, collectively and individually. Article 2 of the UN Charter unambiguously forbids the threat or use of force against another State's territorial integrity or political independence.

The principles of political independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity are universal, obligatory and to be applied without exception. We recall the particular responsibility of members of the Security Council - especially permanent members - to uphold them.

Chair,

The rule of law is enshrined in Article 2 of the Treaty on European Union; it is at the heart of European integration. It is a commitment we consistently uphold within our borders and globally. And it is for that reason that we cannot accept violations of international law - neither in Europe, nor in other parts of the world.

When violations of international law occur, they must entail accountability in accordance with domestic or international law. The EU therefore reaffirms its unwavering support for the international justice system and the respect of its independence and integrity, particularly for the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and the International Criminal Court (ICC), as well as for other international criminal courts and tribunals along with other international accountability mechanisms. In this regard, it is also vital to acknowledge the role of the UN Treaty Bodies in monitoring the implementation of international obligations by States Parties to the core Human Rights Treaties.

Colleagues,

We do not consider that arguing to uphold international law is a sign of weakness. Over the past decades, as European Union, we have consistently refrained from using power to coerce others. We have instead used it to promote international solidarity and cooperation. The EU's steadfast commitment to international law with the United Nations at its core is not an "outdated" attachment to a status quo, but a principled commitment to guaranteeing that the voice of all is heard in the realities of today.

We know because that is, in fact, how we built the European Union itself after the devastation of the Second World War, which was in turn spurred by the proliferation of "might is right" and naked "national interest" over peaceful coexistence and human dignity. And we succeeded in building a united and prosperous Europe. Supporting international cooperation, solidarity, international law and the UN itself is part of our collective strength.

The commitments we adhered to eight decades ago may remain the same, but the challenges have multiplied since. How we respond to them should develop and adapt. And this is why we all have been engaged in the UN80 initiative conceived for a better, more efficient, more transparent UN within the framework of a multilateralism based on law.

Chair,

To conclude, rule of law is not an abstract notion and not a matter of an ideological debate, but a very tangible framework that preserves human dignity and makes the world a safer place for all. It is a result of a collective endeavour. It means peace and security. It provides conditions for development, prosperity, security and respect of human rights. It protects diversity and difference, allowing all to have an equal say. If upheld, we all benefit from it.

That is why international law, including the UN Charter, remains our shared value and commitment, and it is both our joint and individual responsibility to uphold it and to address violations of the Charter to ensure the rule of law. It is up to each one of us to fulfil its purposes through our commitment and action.

Thank you.

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UN chief warns 'law of the jungle' is replacing rule of law

By Vibhu Mishra

26 January 2026 - Warning that the "rule of law is being replaced by the law of the jungle," the UN Secretary-General on Monday urged world powers to recommit to international law as the foundation of peace, justice and multilateral cooperation.

Antonio Guterres was addressing a high-level open debate of the UN Security Council convened by Somalia, which holds the Council presidency for January.

The discussion comes as conflicts multiply, global tensions rise, and confidence in international institutions and rules is fading - even as the UN marks 80 years since the adoption of its founding Charter, which set out principles meant to prevent wars and reduce suffering.

"The rule of law is a cornerstone of global peace and security," Mr. Guterres said, calling it "the beating heart" of the UN Charter.

For eight decades, he said, the Charter, alongside the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the Geneva Conventions and other core legal instruments, has helped humanity avoid another world war and limit the toll of countless conflicts.

Flagrant violations

But the Secretary-General warned that commitments to international law are increasingly being ignored.

"Around the world, the rule of law is being replaced by the law of the jungle," he said, pointing to what he described as flagrant violations of the UN Charter and international law, including the illegal use of force, attacks on civilian infrastructure, human rights abuses and the denial of life-saving humanitarian aid.

From Gaza to Ukraine and beyond, he said, the rule of law is being treated as "an a la carte menu," with States choosing which rules to follow. Such violations, he warned, set dangerous precedents, encourage impunity and erode trust among nations.

A lifeline and a guardrail

For smaller and less-powerful countries, particularly those affected by historical inequities and the legacies of colonialism, international law is "a lifeline promising equal treatment, sovereignty, dignity and justice," Mr. Guterres said.

"For powerful countries, it is a guardrail defining what is acceptable - and what is not, in times of disagreement, division and outright conflict," he added.

He underscored the unique responsibility of the Security Council, the only body with Charter-mandated authority to adopt decisions binding on all Member States and to authorize the use of force under international law.

"Its responsibility is singular. Its obligation is universal," he said.

Priorities for action

Looking ahead, the UN chief outlined three priority areas for action.

First, he urged countries to honour the commitments they made under the Charter, including settling disputes peacefully, safeguarding human rights and respecting the sovereign equality of States.

Second, he called for the use of peaceful tools to settle disputes - negotiation, mediation and judicial settlement, alongside stronger partnerships with regional organizations - and more investment in development to address the root causes of inequality and exclusion.

Third, he stressed the need for fair, independent judicial proceedings. He encouraged greater reliance on independent courts and tribunals, including the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and stronger support for international criminal justice.

"There can be no sustainable or just peace without accountability," Mr. Guterres said. "The rule of law must prevail."

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'Law of the Jungle' Replacing Rules-Based Order, Secretary-General Warns, as Speakers Push Security Council to Reform, Ensure Accountability

Meetings Coverage

Security Council

10096th Meeting (AM & PM)

SC/16282

26 January 2026

The rule of law is being replaced by "the law of the jungle" around the world, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned the Security Council today, citing a brazen disregard for international law that has helped humanity avoid a third world war for the past 80 years.

"From Gaza to Ukraine, from the Sahel to Myanmar, in Venezuela and elsewhere, the rule of law is being treated as an a la carte menu," he said, as he opened a debate joined by more than 80 delegations.

Somalia, which holds the Council presidency for January, organized today's debate, outlining in its concept note that despite "solemn commitments" repeatedly reaffirmed by the Security Council and the General Assembly, the international community continues to face serious challenges in upholding the rule of law.

For Africa  and for all countries that have experienced the costs of conflict and inequality  the international rule of law is "the guarantor of sovereignty, dignity and justice", the note states. The United Nations Charter's eightieth anniversary offers a timely opportunity for the Council to reflect on progress made and challenges that remain.

Mr. Guterres described the many ways States are flouting the rule of law with impunity  from the illegal use of force and attacks on civilian infrastructure, to human rights violations, the unlawful development of nuclear weapons, unconstitutional changes of Government and denial of humanitarian aid. He insisted on maintaining "a relentless push for just and sustainable peace", "firmly anchored in international law" and enduring because it addresses the root causes of conflict, not just its symptoms.

Security Council Must Lead the Way

He stressed the important role played by the Council in this regard, noting no other body or ad-hoc coalition can legally require all Member States to comply with decisions on peace and security or authorize the use of force under international law. "We must act without delay to enhance the representation and effectiveness of this Council," he emphasized.

He called for action on three priorities.

First, countries must keep their promises and uphold the purposes and principles of the UN Charter  settling disputes peacefully, protecting human rights and dignity, and maintaining respect for international law, self-determination and sovereign equality.

Second, Member States must fully use the Charter's dispute-settlement tools to prevent conflict, including negotiation and mediation under Article 33, while strengthening partnerships with regional organizations.

Third, States must promote fair, independent justice by strengthening international courts. He called on all countries to accept the compulsory jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice, respect its rulings, ensure accountability, and allow the International Criminal Court to operate independently.

Africa Calls for Political Courage, Institutions that Reflect Current Realities

"These principles define the identity of Africa," said Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, Chairperson of the African Union Commission, noting that African troops make up a large percentage of the world's peacekeepers, and the African Union Peace Fund helps fund such operations. African States are increasingly leveraging the International Court of Justice, regional jurisdictions and other peaceful mechanisms to resolve their conflicts. "Law must prevail over force," he insisted.

However, he pointed out that the Security Council still has not added a permanent seat for Africa to correct a serious historical injustice. "Breathing new life into multilateralism requires more than rhetoric," he stressed, calling for the political courage to reform institutions that fail to reflect current realities.

Abdulqawi Yusuf, former judge of the International Court of Justice and founding President of the African Institute of International Law, reminded the Council that "the vitality of a legal order is for the long haul". There will always be periods of turbulence, he acknowledged, but the dangers lurking behind that instability should convince States to "stay the course" and uphold the rule of law because the alternative is much less desirable.

The international rule of law gave rise to thousands of bilateral and multilateral treaties and served as an engine of growth and prosperity for people throughout the developing world, he said, emphasizing: "The old expression 'might is right' has never helped humanity to live together in peace and harmony."

No State Is Above the Law, Speakers Stress, amid Clashes over Accountability

In the ensuing discussion, several speakers highlighted the responsibility of permanent Council members with veto power, including China, Russian Federation and the United States, in upholding the international rule of law.

The representative of Venezuela, speaking on behalf of the Group of Friends in Defense of the Charter of the United Nations, condemned an unjustified and unprovoked armed aggression by the United States against his country on 3 January. There is no legal justification, he said, for unilateral military action, "regime-change" operations or the use of force to impose political outcomes or exploit the natural resources of a sovereign State through coercion and threats. "Such conduct epitomizes the replacement of the rule of law with the law of force  a dangerous regression that threatens not only Venezuela, but the integrity of the entire international legal order," he warned.

"If the United States can use threats of force, unlawful military action, coercion, and regime-change policies as routine tools without facing any consequences, what remains of the UN Charter?" asked the representative of Iran, accusing Washington, D.C., of seeking to replace the authority of the United Nations with unilateral action, including efforts to bypass the Security Council on Gaza, defiance of the International Criminal Court and International Court of Justice, the undermining of UN bodies, and incitement of unrest in Iran. "No State  regardless of power  has the right to place itself above the law," he stressed.

"In just a few weeks, the world will mark four years since the start of Russia's unprovoked and treacherous aggression against Ukraine," said the latter's representative, rejecting an argument that to reach a stable peace, the pursuit of justice should be set aside to avoid complicating the peace process. "History... shows that justice and accountability are not obstacles to peace, but rather its very foundation," he stressed. Germany's delegate added that the Nuremberg Trials were revolutionary because they established that individuals should be held accountable for grave violations of international law. "Peace and justice are inseparable," he added, calling on the international community to prevent the recurrence of any more crimes against humanity.

"No self-proclaimed 'national interests' can justify departure from it," said the representative of the European Union, in his capacity as observer. Article 2 of the UN Charter unambiguously forbids the threat or use of force against another State's territorial integrity or political independence, he said.

No 'Cherry Picking' of Commitments

Speaking on behalf of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the representative of the Philippines said that upholding such international agreements as the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea is crucial. ASEAN member States are working closely with China towards the early conclusion of a Code of Conduct in the South China Sea, consistent with international law.

"At times like these, our collective action is required to build a just and more humane world," said South Africa's delegate. "The unfettered exercise of the veto has largely hindered action to protect the most vulnerable," she said, citing a "genocide committed in full view" of the entire world.

"Upon his election, President [Donald J.] Trump inherited a world on fire," said the representative of the United States, noting that the President has taken real action, including brokering numerous peace agreements. She added that Washington, D.C., is leading concrete efforts to bring about peace in Sudan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gaza, Haiti and elsewhere.

Warning that the world went awry, the representative of the Russian Federation cited the Western-led "coup" in Ukraine and abduction of a head of an independent State by a certain country. "The United Nations is not at its best," he said, urging it to "not take the side of the mighty and the wealthy as it is currently doing". Otherwise, the Organization will lose its role and significance with catastrophic consequences for the entire world.

"No single country should dictate terms based on its power," China's delegate said. "We must advocate and practice true multilateralism". The role of the UN must be strengthened rather than weakened. "We shall not cherry pick our commitment to the Organization, nor should we bypass the UN and create alternative mechanisms," he also stressed.

Many speakers cautioned against the selective use of the UN Charter and international law.

"The rule of law must be respected and applied by all without exception," said the representative of Bahrain, stressing the importance of making greater use of the provisions of the UN Charter, particularly those contained in Chapter VI, which provides effective legal tools for the peaceful settlement of disputes and prevents conflicts between States.

Lest History Repeat

For their parts, African States have increasingly turned to judicial mechanisms to resolve disputes, preventing escalation, said Liberia's delegate. Using the mediation tools provided by the UN Charter is not a sign of weakness, but a way to safeguard against conflict and insecurity, he stressed.

"The rule of law is not merely a set of norms, it is a vital shield against tyranny, oppression and violations of human rights," said Latvia's delegate. Somalia's delegate, Council President for January, speaking in his national capacity, shared a proverb from his country: "If what happened yesterday is not examined today, there is no progress for tomorrow." The rule of law is "the cornerstone of multilateralism", he declared.

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Secretary-General's remarks to the Security Council - on Reaffirming the International Rule of Law

United Nations Secretary-General

26 January 2026

New York, UN

Statements | Antonio Guterres, Secretary-General

Mr. President, Distinguished Members of the Security Council,

I congratulate Somalia on its Presidency of the Council.

I also welcome my fellow briefers:

His Excellency Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, Chair of the African Union Commission;

And Judge Abdulqawi Yusuf, former President of the International Court of Justice and founding President of the African Institute of International Law.

Mr. President,

The rule of law is a cornerstone of global peace and security.

The key to friendly relations among the countries and regions of the world.

And the beating heart of the United Nations Charter.

For 80 years it has helped humanity avoid a third world war  and eased the human toll in countless smaller conflicts.

The Charter  along with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the core human rights treaties, the Geneva Conventions, the Friendly Relations Declaration of 1970 and the Declaration on the Rule of Law of 2012  have all contributed to a collective security system that is robust and resilient.

A system that prohibits the threat or use of force  and binds all States, large and small, to the same rules.

And that respects the principles of sovereignty, political independence and territorial integrity of states.

For smaller and less-powerful countries, and those suffering from historical inequities and the damaging legacies of colonial rule, international law is a lifeline promising equal treatment, sovereignty, dignity and justice.

And for powerful countries, it is a guardrail defining what is acceptable, and what is not, in times of disagreement, division and outright conflict.

The founders of this Organization understood that global problems can only be solved by wielding not the weapons of war, but instead the tools of diplomacy, supported by a system based on international law.

By dialogue, not the zero-sum rhetoric of division.

And by collaboration  not geopolitical competition.

In 2024, Member States adopted the Pact for the Future, which included a commitment to act in accordance with international law and fulfill obligations in good faith.

But words are not being matched with action.

Around the world, the rule of law is being replaced by the law of the jungle.

We see flagrant violations of international law and brazen disregard for the UN Charter.

From Gaza to Ukraine, and around the world, the rule of law is being treated as an a la carte menu.

We see States flouting the rule of law with impunity:

Through the illegal use of force, the targeting of civilian infrastructure, human rights violations and abuses, the illegal development of nuclear weapons, unconstitutional changes of government, and the denial of lifesaving humanitarian aid.

These violations set dangerous precedents, encouraging other countries to do what they want, instead of what they are required to do under international law.

They breed mistrust and division among nations.

And they undermine people's faith in our ability to find solutions together.

Eight decades after this multilateral system was created, we need to get back on track.

And this Council must lead the way.

Mr. President,

The rule of law is foundational to the United Nations and our mission of peace.

I am determined to keep driving our relentless push for just and sustainable peace.

Peace firmly anchored in international law.

Peace that endures because it tackles the root causes of conflict, not just its symptoms.

Too many crises today persist in limbo  fragile ceasefires, stalled processes, or agreements that evaporate the moment the ink dries.

The rule of law is also foundational to our work here in this chamber.

In an era crowded with initiatives, the United Nations Security Council stands alone in its Charter-mandated authority to act on behalf of all Member States on questions of peace and security.

The Security Council alone adopts decisions binding on all.

No other body or ad-hoc coalition can legally require all Member States to comply with decisions on peace and security.

Only the Security Council can authorize the use of force under international law, as set out in the Charter.

Its responsibility is singular. Its obligation is universal.

That is why reform is essential.

That is why we must act without delay to enhance the representation and effectiveness of this Council.

Looking ahead on questions of the rule of law, I see three areas where Member States and this Council can take action.

First  Countries must keep their promises.

The purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter are not optional.

All countries have an obligation to uphold them:

To settle disputes peacefully.

To safeguard the human rights and dignity of all people.

To act in conformity with international law.

And to adhere to the letter and the spirit of the principles of self-determination of peoples and the sovereign equality of Member States.

Our collective security system requires trust.

And the best way to reinforce trust is for all countries to meet their commitments under international law.

Second  I urge Member States to make full use of the dispute-settlement mechanisms spelled out in the Charter to prevent conflicts from starting in the first place.

As this Council knows, the best  and often only  pathway to peace depends on the hard work of negotiation, enquiry, mediation, conciliation, arbitration and other means set out in Article 33 of the Charter.

Preventing conflicts also means building strong partnerships with regional organizations, in accordance with Chapter 8 of the Charter.

Security Council Resolution 2719 set a good example  by establishing a framework for predictable financing of African Union-led peace support operations authorized by the Security Council through assessed contributions.

And as the Pact for the Future, my New Vision for the Rule of Law, and the New Agenda for Peace remind us, preventing conflicts also means investing in development and institutions that people can trust.

Poverty, hunger, inequality, corruption, injustice and exclusion corrode people's hopes for the future, drive communities further apart, and send shockwaves of unrest, violence and even conflict across countries and regions.

Sustainable development is possible only by adhering to the rule of law, including the requirement to safeguard the rights and dignity of all people at all times.

Excellences,

Troisiemement, nous devons continuer a promouvoir le recours a des procedures judiciaires equitables et independantes.

Il est encourageant de constater un recours croissant aux cours et tribunaux internationaux, y compris la Cour internationale de Justice, principal organe judiciaire de l'Organisation des Nations Unies.

Alors que la Cour marque son 80eme anniversaire, je reitere mon appel a tous les Etats Membres a accepter sans reserve la competence obligatoire de la Cour, et a respecter et appliquer pleinement ses decisions ayant force obligatoire.

Il est egalement temps de garantir la reddition de comptes et de mettre fin a l'impunite.

La Cour penale internationale, institution centrale du systeme de justice penale internationale, doit exercer son mandat en toute independance.

Il ne peut y avoir de paix durable ni de paix juste sans reddition de comptes.

L'etat de droit doit prevaloir.

Monsieur le President, Mesdames et Messieurs les membres du Conseil,

Depuis huit decennies, l'etat de droit est le grand facteur d'equilibre des relations internationales.

Il est temps que tous les pays renouvellent leur engagement a respecter pleinement le droit international.

Et qu'ils soient a la hauteur des promesses et des obligations enoncees dans la Charte des Nations Unies.

Les membres du Conseil de securite ont une responsabilite particuliere et doivent montrer l'exemple.

Par mes bons offices, et grace aux efforts constants des envoyes et des mediateurs de l'ONU, je suis pret a soutenir l'action de ce Conseil pour faire progresser l'etat de droit et batir un monde plus stable et plus sur pour tous.

Je vous remercie.

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Vancouver, January 26, 2026 - Spark Energy Minerals Inc. (CSE: SPRK) (OTCID: SPARF) (FSE: 8PC) ("Spark" or the "Company") an exploration company focused on the discovery of battery metals in Brazil's prestigious Lithium Valley, is pleased to announce it has granted an aggregate of 6,690,000 stock options (the "Options") to certain officers, directors and consultants to the Company. The grant includes 4,340,000 Options to insiders of the Company. Each Option is exercisable to purchase one common share in the capital of the Company at a price of $0.05 for a period of three years from the date of issue. The Options vest immediately and are subject to a statutory hold period of four months plus one day.

About Spark Energy Minerals Inc.

Spark Energy Minerals Inc. is a Canadian company advancing the exploration and development of critical minerals essential to the clean-energy transition. The Company's primary focus is Brazil, where it controls a significant land position within the country's emerging Lithium Valley - a region recognized for its lithium, gallium, and rare-earth potential. Spark's flagship Arapaima Project spans approximately 91,900 hectares and hosts multiple targets for lithium and gallium-REE mineralization. Through systematic exploration, Spark aims to help strengthen the secure and sustainable supply of minerals that power electrification, renewable energy, and modern technologies. The Company is committed to responsible exploration practices and supporting Brazil's development of a transparent, sustainable critical-minerals supply chain.

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/281739
Edmonton, January 27, 2026 - Canamera Energy Metals Corp. (CSE: EMET) (OTCQB: EMETF) (FSE: 4LF0) ("Canamera" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has engaged Dr. Reuter Resources GmbH ("Dr. Reuter") to provide investor relations services to Canamera (the "Agreement"). The Agreement has a minimum term of six months and may be terminated at any time after that with a notice period of one month, effective at the end of the month. Dr. Reuter is a is a global investor relations agency that provides modular services, including roadshows, digital IR, institutional investor outreach, financial media relations, capital markets conference support, and assistance with disclosure obligations, across major markets in the U.S. and Europe.

Under the terms of the Agreement, Dr. Reuter will provide services, as appropriate, that include campaign and editorial articles, translation and distribution of press releases, journalist outreach, and social media campaigns (the "Services").

In consideration for the Services, Canamera will pay Dr. Reuter 4,500 per month. Dr. Reuter is not related to the Company and, to the Company's knowledge, has no interest, directly or indirectly, in the Company or its securities. Dr. Reuter's business is located at Friedrich Ebert Anlage 35-37, Tower 185, 60327, Frankfurt, Germany. Its email contact is [email protected] and its phone number is +49 69 1532 5857.

About Canamera Energy Metals Corp.

Canamera Energy Metals Corp. is a critical minerals exploration company building a diversified portfolio of interests in energy metals and rare earth element projects across the Americas, including options in the Great Divide Basin uranium project in Wyoming, the Iron Hills rare earth elements project in Colorado, and the Turvolandia and Sao Sepe rare earth element projects in Brazil. In Canada, the Company's portfolio includes the options to purchase 90% of Schryburt Lake and 100% of the Garrow rare earth and niobium projects in Ontario and the Mantle project in British Columbia. Across this portfolio, Canamera targets underexplored regions with strong geological signatures and supportive jurisdictions, applying geochemical, geophysical, and geological datasets to generate and advance high-conviction, first-mover exploration targets. For more information, visit www.canamerametals.com.

CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION

Certain statements contained in this press release constitute forward-looking information. These statements relate to future events or future performance. The use of any of the words "could", "intend", "expect", "believe", "will", "projected", "estimated" and similar expressions and statements relating to matters that are not historical facts are intended to identify forward-looking information and are based on the Company's current beliefs or assumptions as to the outcome and timing of such future events. In particular, this press release contains forward-looking information relating to, among other things, the expected term and Services contracted for by the Company.

Various assumptions or factors are typically applied in drawing conclusions or making the forecasts or projections set out in forward-looking information, including, in respect of the forward-looking information included in this press release, assumptions regarding the expected term and Services and that the Canadian Securities Exchange will not object to the Company's promotional program or use its discretion to halt the Company's promotional activities.

Although forward-looking information is based on the reasonable assumptions of the Company's management, there can be no assurance that any forward-looking information will prove to be accurate. Forward-looking information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking information. Such factors include, among other things, the risk that Services may not be as effective as anticipated by the Company, and that the Canadian Securities Exchange may object to the Company's promotional program and use its discretion to halt the Company's promotional activities or impose other penalties on the Company. The forward-looking information contained in this release is made as of the date hereof, and the Company not obligated to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities laws. Because of the risks, uncertainties and assumptions contained herein, investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The foregoing statements expressly qualify any forward-looking information contained herein.

Additional risk factors are described in the Company's continuous disclosure filings available at www.sedarplus.ca. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking information except as required by applicable securities laws.

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/281770
Freeport has also commenced discussions, including the signing of NDAs and/or MoUs, with several potential strategic partners to advance its 100%-Owned Yandera Copper Project.

Copper prices have hit record levels in recent weeks as demand for copper undergoes an unprecedented structural supply deficit driven by the global energy transition.

Proximity to Asia, the world's largest copper refiner and consumer, positions the Yandera Copper Project as an attractive potential long-term source of copper supply.

Freeport Resources Inc. (TSXV: FRI) (OTCQB: FEERF) (FE: 4XH) (the "Company" or "Freeport Resources") is pleased to announce that it has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding ("MoU") with Kumul Minerals Holdings Limited ("Kumul Minerals"), Papua New Guinea's state-owned mining investment company (the "Parties"), to cooperate on the advancement and strategic development of the Yandera Copper Project located in Papua New Guinea ("PNG").

The MoU establishes a framework for collaboration and information sharing as the Parties evaluate potential pathways to advance Yandera, including coordinated engagement with government stakeholders and a review of strategic options that could support long-term project development. The MoU is non-binding and does not create any obligation for either party to complete a transaction or enter into a definitive agreement.

Freeport Resources retains full ownership and control of the Yandera Copper Project and continues to actively evaluate a range of financing and strategic alternatives to unlock value for shareholders. The Company believes that early, constructive engagement with Kumul Minerals reflects the State's interest in the orderly and transparent development of nationally significant mineral assets and enhances the project's strategic positioning.

"Kumul Minerals plays an important role in representing the State's commercial interests in Papua New Guinea's mining sector and brings valuable institutional insight," said Nathan Chutas, Senior VP Operations, Director and QP. "This MoU supports our efforts to advance Yandera while preserving full flexibility to pursue the most compelling outcomes for the project and its stakeholders." The MoU has an initial term of 90 days, during which the parties may explore potential structures for future cooperation. Any binding arrangements would be subject to further negotiation and the execution of definitive agreements.

Strategic Partners

The Company is also pleased to announce that it has commenced discussions with several potential strategic partners to advance the Yandera Copper Project to Definitive Feasibility Study. Discussions with potential strategic partners have included the signing of NDAs and, in certain instances, signing of non-binding, non-exclusive Memorandums of Understanding agreeing to cooperate in the further advancement, development and strategic planning for the Yandera Copper Project.

Freeport Resources has initiated this strategic outreach process with the objective of advancing the Project and maximizing its value. The Company believes the Project is significantly undervalued based on historical expenditures, current copper prices and the potential for resource expansion.

Gord Friesen, CEO, noted: "Freeport Resources has experienced a material increase in inbound interest relating to its wholly-owned Yandera Copper Project which the Company believes is driven by evolving macro conditions including record setting copper and gold prices coupled with Yandera Copper's strategic location in the Asia-Pacific region. Yandera is one of the world's largest undeveloped copper projects and ranks as the largest advanced, undeveloped copper project in Asia, the world's leading copper refiner and consumer. Over USD $200 million has been expended on the project since 2005, culminating in a comprehensive 2017 Pre-Feasibility Study delineating one of the world's largest undeveloped copper resources.* With the copper price hitting new highs on unprecedented demand, timing for discussions is ideal and we are excited to have commenced discourse with potential strategic partners to advance the project through to a Definitive Feasibility Study and development of the mine. We look forward to updating shareholders as discussions progress."

Yandera's scale and proximity to key Asian markets creates opportunities to secure strategic partnerships and long-term offtake agreements with potential Strategic Investors to support project financing efforts. The Company has entered into discussions with institutional and potential strategic partners seeking exposure to large-scale, long-life copper resources through structured upstream arrangements spanning joint ventures, equity ownership, project financing and offtake arrangements.

Mr. Nathan Chutas, Senior VP Operations, Director and QP of Freeport Resources, stated: "While our discussions to date with interested parties have been positive, there is no guarantee of a transaction being successfully concluded and any binding commitments will require the negotiation and execution of definitive documentation. We will endeavor to keep investors informed in a timely manner of any material developments. Advancing this project will require full support from all levels of government including the Government of Papua New Guinea, the Province of Madang, the district of Usino-Bundi and, last but not least, the community and stakeholders of Yandera. Freeport will continue to work and communicate with community leaders and representatives at all levels of government as talks progress to advance this important project."

Readers are cautioned that the discussions with potential strategic partners are at a preliminary stage and conclusion of any transaction remains subject to the successful completion of due diligence, negotiation of definitive documentation and receipt of any required regulatory approvals.

Freeport Resources would also like to congratulate Hon. Solen Loifa from OUR Party on his appointment as the new Mining Minister of Papua New Guinea. The Company welcomes his appointment and looks forward to working with the new Minister on the advancement of Yandera.

About Kumul Minerals Holdings Limited

Kumul Minerals Holdings Limited is Papua New Guinea's state-owned mineral investment company, responsible for managing the State's equity interests in major resource projects and acting as the government's commercial interface with industry participants. Kumul Minerals focuses on portfolio stewardship, governance, and long-term value creation through partnerships with domestic and international developers. Its early engagement with the Yandera project reflects a mandate to support transparent, commercially sound development aligned with national economic objectives, the interests of stakeholders and the community of Yandera.

About the Yandera Copper Project

Over US$200 million in exploration and development expenditures have been completed to date on Freeport Resources' wholly owned Yandera Copper Project including a 2017 Pre-Feasibility Study, prepared by Worley Parsons. * Using current prices, the estimated historical Measured and Indicated Resource is 727 million tonnes grading 0.45% copper equivalent. The Yandera Copper Project is strategically located within the Bismarck Intrusive Complex of PNG, within the Papuan Fold Belt which is host to premier ore bodies such as Grasberg, Ok Tedi, Porgera, Hidden Valley, Wafi-Golpu and Frieda River. It is hosted within a 245-square kilometre tenement package, in Madang Province.

* Independent Technical Report on the Yandera Project - Pre-Feasibility Study, prepared for Era Resources Inc. and dated effective November 27, 2017. The study was prepared prior to the Company acquiring an interest in the Yandera Project and is derived from historical estimates which the Company is not treating as current. This information is intended to provide readers with context on historical analysis conducted on the Yandera Project, however the Company cautions that a qualified person has not done sufficient work to classify any historical estimates in respect of the Yandera Project as current and any analysis conducted by previous owners of the Project may rely upon assumptions which are no longer reasonable or accurate in the context of the current market. The Company would need to conduct an exploration program, including twinning of historical drill holes in order to verify any historical estimates as current mineral resources. The Company is not aware of any more recent mineral resource estimate for the Yandera Copper Project.

Qualified Person

Dr. Nathan Chutas, PhD, CPG, Senior Vice-President of Operations for Freeport Resources, is a qualified person for the purposes of National Instrument 43-101. Dr. Chutas has reviewed and approved the technical content in this announcement.

About Freeport Resources Inc.

Freeport Resources is a Canadian mineral exploration company with a primary focus on advancing the development of its 100%-owned Yandera copper-gold-molybdenum project, located in Madang Province, Papua New Guinea. The Yandera project is one of the largest undeveloped copper-gold deposits in the world covering approximately 245.5 square kilometers.

Please visit www.freeportresources.com or contact the email address below for more information.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

This news release may contain certain "Forward-Looking Statements" within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and applicable Canadian securities laws. When or if used in this news release, the words "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "expect", "target", "plan", "forecast", "may", "schedule", "intends" and similar words or expressions identify forward-looking statements or information. Such statements represent the Company's current views with respect to future events and are necessarily based upon a number of assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by the Company, are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, political and social risks, contingencies and uncertainties. Examples of such statements include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to the development of the Yandera Copper Project and the use of proceeds from the Offering. The material factors and assumptions used to develop the forward - looking information contained in this news release include, but are not limited to, key personnel and qualified employees continuing their involvement with the Company; the Company's ability to secure additional financing on reasonable terms; the competitive conditions of the sector in which the Company operates; and laws and any amendments thereto applicable to the Company.

Many uncertainties and factors, both known and unknown, could cause results, performance or achievements to be materially different from the results, performance or achievements that are or may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, risks relating to the future business plans of the Company; risks related to the exploration and development of the Yandera Copper Project; risks that the Company will not be able to retain its key personnel; and risks that the Company will not be able to secure financing on reasonable terms or at all. The Company does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update these forward-looking statements or information to reflect changes in assumptions or changes in circumstances or any other events affecting such statements and information other than as required by applicable laws, rules and regulations.


Vancouver, January 27, 2026 - Pacific Imperial Mines Inc. (TSX.V: PPM) ("Pacific Imperial" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has entered into an option agreement dated January 26, 2026 ("Option Agreement") with Hudbay Minerals Inc. ("Hudbay") pursuant to which Hudbay has granted the Company the option (the "Option") to acquire a 100% interest in the Fenton property in British Columbia (the "Property").

The Property has road access and is situated 30 kilometres south of Houston, British Columbia. The approximately 1,700-hectare Property is extensively covered by glacial till and is accessible by a network of logging roads. Past exploration on the Property includes geochemistry, airborne and ground geophysics and limited drilling. Mineralization on the Property is an epithermal, high to low sulphidation, precious metal system hosted within felsic volcanic rocks of the Kasalka Formation. The age, mineralization and alteration characteristics of the Property are similar to those of Artemis' Blackwater deposit, which lies to the southeast along a Southeast-Northwest regional trend which hosts a majority of the gold-silver prospects and deposits in the region. The past producing Equity Silver mine is 40 kilometres east of the Property.

The transactions contemplated by the Option Agreement are subject to the Company obtaining the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange (the "Exchange").

Under the Option Agreement, in order to exercise the Option, the Company must complete all of the following earn-in requirements on or before the sixth anniversary of the date that the Exchange provides approval for the transactions contemplated by the Option Agreement:

(a) incur an aggregate of C$5,250,000 in exploration expenditures on the Property in staged amounts for each anniversary ending on the sixth anniversary date;

(b) make a one-time initial cash payment to Hudbay in the amount of C$25,000 within 180 days following the date that the Company receives Exchange approval for the Option Agreement; and

(c) make cash payments to Hudbay in the aggregate amount of C$2,175,000, or, alternatively, issue to Hudbay an equivalent number of common shares of the Company (the "Shares"), in staged amounts for each anniversary ending on the sixth anniversary date and based on the applicable market price for such Shares, as further described below.

The Company may elect to accelerate any of the earn-in requirements under the Option Agreement at its discretion.

Any Share issuance to Hudbay under the Option Agreement will have an issue price per Share equal to the volume weighted average trading price of the Shares on the Exchange during the 10 trading days ending on the third trading date preceding the date any Shares are issued under the Agreement, subject to a minimum issue price of C$0.05 per Share.

If any Share issuance to Hudbay under the Option Agreement would result in Hudbay holding greater than 9.99% of the Shares, the Company will be required to settle the applicable payment in cash instead of Shares. The Shares issuable under the Option Agreement will be subject to a hold period ending four months and one day after the date of issuance in accordance with applicable securities laws and the policies of the Exchange.

Upon the exercise of the Option, the Company will acquire a 100% interest in the Property and Hudbay will be granted a 1.25% Net Smelter Returns royalty on the Property (the "Hudbay NSR"). Within 10 days following the Company's receipt of all required governmental permits to construct and operate a mine on the Property after exercise of the Option, the Company will make a one-time cash payment of C$5,000,000 to Hudbay, which payment will constitute an advance payment of the Hudbay NSR. In addition, following the exercise of the Option and within 10 days after the Company publicly announces the commencement of commercial production on the Property, the Company will make an additional one-time cash payment of C$10,000,000 to Hudbay, which payment will also constitute an advance payment of the Hudbay NSR. The Company has also granted Hudbay a right of first refusal in respect of the sale of any future metals or ore production from the Property.

In addition to any Hudbay NSR that may be granted on the Property following the exercise of the Option by the Company, the Property is currently subject to a 2% Net Smelter Returns royalty (the "Underlying NSR") payable to a third party after the commencement of commercial production, which Underlying NSR would be assumed by the Company if the Option is exercised. The Company will have the right to purchase 50% of the Underlying NSR (i.e., a 1% Net Smelter Returns royalty) for a cash payment of C$700,000.

The technical disclosure in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Peter Holbek, MSc., P.Geo., a director of the Company and a "qualified person" as defined in National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects.

About Pacific Imperial Mines

Pacific Imperial is a mineral exploration company based in Vancouver, Canada, engaged in the acquisition, exploration, evaluation and development of mineral properties in an acceptable risk environment. The Company's current focus is on the Brownell property in Saskatchewan and the Babine property in B.C.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

"Chris McLeod"

Chris McLeod, Chairman & CEO

For further information, please contact:

Chris McLeod, Licurgo Albuquerque, President (604) 669 6332

Email: [email protected]

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 press release contains forward-looking statements with respect to the Company. By their nature, forward-looking statements are subject to a variety of factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the results suggested by the forward-looking statements. In addition, the forward-looking statements require management to make assumptions and are subject to inherent risks and uncertainties. There is significant risk that the forward-looking statements will not prove to be accurate, that the management's assumptions may not be correct and that actual results may differ materially from such forward-looking statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements.

Generally forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of terminology such as "anticipate", "will", "expect", "may", "continue", "could", "estimate", "forecast", "plan", "potential" and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements contained in this press release may include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the receipt of approval of the Option Agreement by the Exchange, the Company obtaining regulatory, government and project-level approvals,, the Company completing the earn-in requirements under the Option Agreement, the exercise of the Option and the acquisition of a 100% interest in the Property, the timing and occurrence of future royalty-related payments, and the timing, feasibility and achievement of commercial production on the Property, if any. These forward-looking statements are based on a number of assumptions which may prove to be incorrect including, but not limited to the ability of the Company to obtain all required regulatory, government, project-level and Exchange approvals, the ability to raise funds through private or public equity financings to meet the earn-in requirements; the ability of the Company to carry out its future plans with respect to the Property; the ability to obtain all permits and approvals required to advance the Property beyond the exploration stage; risks inherent in exploration activities; the impact of exploration competition; unexpected geological or hydrological conditions; changes in government regulations and policies, including trade laws and policies; failure to obtain necessary permits and approvals from government authorities; volatility and sensitivity to market prices; the uncertainty that commercial production may ever be achieved; volatility and sensitivity to capital market fluctuations; environmental and safety risks including increased regulatory burdens; weather and other natural phenomena; and other exploration, development, operating, financial market and regulatory risks.

The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made as of the date hereof or the dates specifically referenced in this press release, where applicable. Except as required by law, the Company does not undertake any obligation to update publicly or to revise any forward-looking statements that are contained or incorporated in this press release. All forward-looking statements contained in this press release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement.

Copyright (c) 2026 TheNewswire - All rights reserved.
Hulkenberg cautious over German GP return

Nico Hulkenberg says he would welcome the return of a German Grand Prix, but admits he does not expect Formula 1 to race in his home country in the near future.

Charles Leclerc, Eifel GP 2020

 Ferrari

Amid the sport's continued global expansion, Germany remains absent from the calendar - an omission increasingly discussed now that Audi is preparing to enter Formula 1 as a works team.

Speaking at the presentation of Audi's maiden Formula 1 campaign for 2026 in Berlin, Hulkenberg said talks about a German race are ongoing, but stressed that commercial realities will ultimately decide the issue.

Absolutely, no question, the Emmerich-born driver said when asked if he missed having a home grand prix. I don't see it happening in the short term, but I know that talks are taking place.

However, Hulkenberg was keen to distance himself from any suggestion of the need for political lobbying.

It's less of a political question, he said. "It's about commercial factors that need to be regulated. I have no direct influence over that, so it's not a top priority for me.

But of course, Hulkenberg added, it would be nice to bring a race back to Germany.

Formula 1 last raced in Germany in 2020, when the Nurburgring hosted the Eifel Grand Prix amid the covid-affected season.

(GMM)
Next article: How IShowSpeed Became A Global Phenomenon

Featured

IShowSpeed named Barima Kofi Akuffo in Ghana

Graphic Showbiz Showbiz News Jan - 27 - 2026 , 11:30 1 minute read

Global internet personality known globally as "Speed" was formally welcomed with a traditional Akan naming ceremony in Ghana's Eastern Region on Monday, January 26.

The event, rich in royal pageantry and deep cultural significance, saw the digital star immersed in ancient customs, culminating in him receiving the local name Barima Kofi Akuffo.

The ceremony, organised by local chiefs and elders, transformed a community grounds into a scene of colorful regalia, rhythmic drumming, and heartfelt celebration.

Subjects and community members gathered in large numbers, ensuring the event's success and creating an unforgettable atmosphere of hospitality.

Dressed in a specially prepared traditional cloth, Speed enthusiastically participated in the proceedings.

He was seen dancing joyfully to the fontomfrom drums, a gesture of respect and immersion, and greeting elders and cheering spectators with a wide smile, visibly moved by the warm reception.

The climax of the ceremony was his introduction to the King.

The name Barima Kofi Akuffo carries profound meaning within the Akan culture. "Barima" signifies a brave, strong, and noble man, often translated as "warrior" or "hero."

"Kofi" indicates he was born on a Friday, symbolising fertility and peacefulness. "Akuffo" is a family name in the Akan tradition. Together, the name embodies strength, resilience, and a formal link to the community. (Read also How IShowSpeed Became A Global Phenomenon)

Source: Joy Entertainment
From campus to community: The growing impact of Bishop Titi Ofei on the Spintex Road

Next article: From campus to community: The growing impact of Bishop Titi Ofei on the Spintex Road

Featured

Shots by ICE; surviving the ice - Rodney Nkrumah-Boateng writes

Rodney Nkrumah-Boateng Opinion Jan - 27 - 2026 , 08:57 6 minutes read

In recent times, the particularly aggressive antics of the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in accosting and detaining undocumented (and sometimes even the documented) migrants in the US has grabbed global headlines, with Minneapolis, Minnesota, as a melting point. In the process, two people have been shot dead, raising political tensions and flinging the Trump administration unto the ropes as public opinion tanks.

Beyond the bluster, high drama and even the tragedies that seem to be defining ICE and by extension the USA, the fundamental, wider issues of immigration control is a common denominator among many western nations.

In particular, I have been reminded of my time in the UK many years ago when I worked in the immigration sector, visiting immigration detainees and supporting others to either remain in the UK or have their family members join them there from abroad.

Migration, fact of life

Given their generally more advanced economies and social freedoms, western countries are far more likely to attract immigrants seeking to improve their lives, whether they are fleeing wars, droughts, all manner of persecution (political, religious or social) or they are simply seeking to make better lives for themselves, quite understandably.

All over the world, migration is a fact of life and has been with us from ancient times.

Many ethnic groups in Ghana arrived here centuries ago from elsewhere.

Ironically, the history of the United States is anchored in the wave after wave of immigrants fleeing from Europe in particular as far back as the 17th Century in search of a better life and to escape persecution.

American cities such as New York, Cambridge and Plymouth were named after English cities whose natives had founded them.

Between 1892 and 1954, at Ellis Island, in New York harbour, 12 million 3rd class and steerage passengers were processed and admitted into the country.

Nearby, the Statue of Liberty, towering into the skies, symbolised the breath of freedom that these migrants were expected to enjoy in what eventually became known as the land of the brave and the free.

Perhaps with the notable exception of black slaves who were dragged away from their liberty in Africa and into a life of misery as chattel in the USA, every other race that made their way into the US did so in pursuit of liberty and opportunity.

Adverse public sentiment

No country can and should be reasonably be expected to throw open its borders and fold its arms.

That would be suicidal and no state does that. What most sensible governments do is to provide fair but rigorous legal pathways for people who seek to travel for visits, studies, work, or join their families in the host nation, balancing the reality of immigration with regulation.

To that extent, it is appropriate that overstayers and illegal entrants are removed from these host countries, otherwise it undermines the very system of rules and regulations for migration.

When that happens, it gives easy fodder for local sentiment to rise against migrants as a whole, which leads to blaming and scape-goating for all social ills and economic challenges.

In the USA, one of the things that endeared the then candidate Trump to many was his hard line rhetoric on immigration when he sought office, so to that extent his crackdown is perhaps not surprising per se. His government is simply delivering on its promise, including visa bans on certain nationals.

What jars in the ICE situation and attracts the headlines is the unacceptable brutality, intimidation and quasi-Gestapo tactics, with legal migrants and even US citizens of foreign extraction sometimes caught in the fray.

In Europe, public backlash on immigration has seen the rise of far-right governments that play on those strings, with nine EU countries demanding tougher restrictions on migration in the union.

Germany increased deportations by 20 per cent in 2025 compared to 2024. In the UK, immigration raids on businesses in the hunt for illegal workers rose by 77 per cent between July 2024 and December 2025, leading to 12,300 arrests. Almost every year, the UK introduces new measures to tighten aspects of its immigration rules.

Immigration realities

Of course, every country has a right to protect its borders and ensure compliance with its laws, including its immigration regulations, to the extent that it is done humanely and in accordance with due process as established by law.

This does not in any way diminish the several harsh realities in this whole enterprise, particularly from the migrant perspective.

For starters, there are many undocumented Ghanaian and African migrants in the US and Europe who sustain whole families back home through illegal work, which no doubt forms part of the countries foreign exchange earnings through remittances.

Their deportation would have severe repercussions for those families.

For those who have young children in the host countries, deportation would mean separation from these children, with its own emotional baggage.

Interestingly, many migrants now in possession of western passports have a history of long spells of undocumented status, during which period they had to navigate around the system below the radar.

It is an exhausting and draining experience, from what I have witnessed in my work in the UK.

Perhaps the most obvious question posed by those who have no intention to migrate is two-fold; why bother to risk this indignity?

Why not stay home, or return home and help build your country?

However well-intended, these questions fail to take into account two realities.

The first, which has already been emphasised, is that migration is almost natural in pursuit of the proverbial milk and honey, since the world is an unequal place.

It even has divine authority, I dare say, taking into account the Lords command to Abraham to depart Ur for Canaan, and the subsequent migration by the Israelites.

But perhaps more fundamentally, economic migration is a direct consequence of a grossly unequal global economic order and political instability largely driven by the west.

It is therefore ironic when they seek to pull the drawbridge following the inevitable consequences of their actions.

But it is also a consequence of poor leadership, corruption and mismanagement in many of these countries of origin.

It is therefore difficult to blame the migrant for seeking a better life elsewhere - sometimes through perilous, desperate means such as stowing away on ships or braving the deadly Sahara Desert.

In a fairer world and with better governance, a hearty bowl of fufu and groundnut soup on a hot Sunday afternoon or a casual cold beer at a roadside pub in the evening would definitely be much more preferable to trudging through the snow at dawn to get to work in someone elses country, or living in morbid fear of immigration agents breaking your door down and carting you off to a detention centre for onward transportation to the bright lights of Kotoka International Airport, Accra

We can definitely do better.
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Nigerian officers to face trial over coup-plot allegations

BBC International News Jan - 27 - 2026 , 10:19 2 minutes read

A group of officers in Nigeria are set to face a military court after being accused of "plotting to overthrow the government" of President Bola Tinubu last year, an armed forces' statement has said.

Sixteen officers were arrested last October after what were described as "acts of indiscipline and breaches of service regulations".

At the time the military dismissed rumours of an attempted coup, but following an investigation, the authorities have acknowledged that some of the 16 will go before a military judicial panel.

Nigeria has a complex history of military involvement in politics, with multiple coups between 1966 and 1993, which has made allegations of coupplotting highly sensitive.

It is not clear how many of the 16 will go on trial, but the military authorities said the process would ensure accountability and uphold "the principles of fairness and due process".

A statement added that trying to unseat the elected government was "inconsistent with the ethics, values and professional standards" of the military.

In recent years, concerns over instability, insecurity and public frustration have occasionally prompted rumours about dissent within the ranks - rumours the military has repeatedly dismissed.

Nigeria has experienced a period of unbroken civilian rule since 1999. The armed forces have consistently stressed their loyalty to civilian authority, often issuing public statements reaffirming their commitment to democracy.

This latest development comes at a time when the West African region has experienced a resurgence of coups. Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger and Guinea have all seen their governments toppled by soldiers since the beginning of the decade. However, Guinea recently returned to a democratic rule with the junta leader, Mamadi Doumbouya elected president.

These events have created heightened vigilance among governments in the region, including Nigeria, which has traditionally positioned itself as a stabilising force within the regional grouping Ecowas.

Within Nigeria, the military continues to face intense operational pressures - from fighting militant jihadist groups in the north-east to tackling criminals and communal violence across the northwest and central states.

Analysts say such pressures, combined with resource constraints and public scrutiny, have put the spotlight on discipline within the armed forces.
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Meet the Guinness World Records largest bead sculpture makers, Juliana Gharbin and her team from Jules Beads

Ewurabenah Cobbah Fashion Jan - 27 - 2026 , 16:03 2 minutes read

The size of the largest bead sculpture adjudged by the Guinness World Records (GWR) is 2.69 m x 2.05 m x 1.47 m (8 ft 10 in x 6 ft 9 in x 4 ft 10 in), and this was achieved by the Ghanaian team, Jules Beads, with Juliana Gharbin as the team lead.

The bag was produced in the Ghanaian colours of red, gold, green, and black at Prampram, Ghana, over 10 days, and completed on March 13, 2025.

After the production, the team finished uploading their evidence by August 30, 2025.

On December 8, 2025, GWR responded with positive feedback that the entry was successful, and by January 15, 2026, the certificate was in their hands (Largest bead sculpture).

The other team members who made the achievement possible are Babra Ajok, Alhassan Fauzia, Tijani Addo, Bridget Esi Quansah, Appiah Lordia Konadu, Akosua Adutwumwaa Amoah, Setor Akua Modzro and Kouassi Akoissi Sandrine Laetitia.

At a press conference on Saturday, January 24, 2026, to unveil the record-breaking bead sculpture, Ms Gharbin said her next focus is to move to the classroom and share knowledge with schoolchildren on bead art and how it can be turned into a skill and a livelihood.

She explained that the idea to take beadmaking to schools was rooted in her own journey as a creative person, stressing that young people need early exposure, discipline, and motivation to succeed.

Juliana Gharbin and her 'Jules Beads' team are experienced crafters who worked collaboratively on the construction for 10 days.

The bag features two Adinkra symbols representing important aspects of Ghanaian heritage as the motif. The symbols the team chose represent versatility and loyalty.

Ms Gharbin, the founder and creative director of Jules Beads, explained that the project demanded long hours, patience, and teamwork.

She said the attempt received support from only a few brands, with most of the funding coming from her personal resources and support from family members and close associates.

She noted that the experience reinforced her belief that Ghanaian craft has global value but requires structure, focus and sustained support to thrive.

Beyond the record, Ms Gharbin said the sculpture is meant to serve as a tool for learning and inspiration, particularly for young people who may not see creative work as a viable option.

According to her, the goal now is to use the achievement to encourage skills development, preserve bead artistry, and show young creatives that local craftsmanship can compete on a global level when given the right attention.
Next article: 1,033 excavators now tracked as government tightens grip on illegal mining

Metro Mass spare parts: We cleared 3 out of 4 containers and 30 VDL buses from the port before leaving office - Former MMTL boss

Previous article: Metro Mass spare parts: We cleared 3 out of 4 containers and 30 VDL buses from the port before leaving office - Former MMTL boss

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Ghana reaches agreement to deploy teachers, nurses to Jamaica

Mohammed Ali Jan - 27 - 2026 , 16:05 2 minutes read

Ghana and Jamaica have reached an agreement on a labour exchange arrangement under which Ghanaian teachers and nurses will be deployed to the Caribbean country, creating overseas job opportunities for local professionals while deepening bilateral relations.

The agreement was disclosed by the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, after talks with Jamaicas Prime Minister, Dr Andrew Michael Holness, during an official visit by a Ghanaian delegation.

In a Facebook post on Tuesday, January 27, 2026, Mr Ablakwa said the discussions covered a special labour exchange programme expected to begin within the year. He did not state the number of teachers and nurses to be involved or outline the detailed terms of engagement.

Mr Ablakwa said Dr Holness conveyed thanks to President John Dramani Mahama and the people of Ghana for the support offered following the destruction caused by Hurricane Melissa.

According to the Foreign Minister, the Jamaican leader described the gesture as one Jamaica would remember.

The talks also included plans to initiate a GhanaJamaica Defence Cooperation Agreement, pointing to a broadening of relations beyond diplomacy and cultural links.

Mr Ablakwa said the two sides examined business prospects for Ghanaian companies, as Jamaica prepares a wide-ranging infrastructure renewal programme under what Dr Holness referred to as a build back better agenda.

The discussions are expected to open space for Ghanaian firms interested in operating in the Caribbean.

At the global level, Dr Holness pledged support for President Mahamas proposed United Nations resolution seeking recognition of the transatlantic slave trade as the greatest crime against humanity and renewed calls for reparations.

Mr Ablakwa said Ghana looks forward to hosting Dr Holness, who has indicated an interest in visiting the country in the near future.

For many Ghanaians, especially teachers and nurses facing limited openings at home, the proposed labour exchange presents an opportunity to work abroad while contributing to Ghanas expanding diplomatic and economic presence.
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Ghana approves new aid for Jamaica, extends Operation Boafo to 90 days

Mohammed Ali Jan - 27 - 2026 , 10:43 2 minutes read

Ghana has approved a fresh consignment of relief items for Jamaica and extended its humanitarian mission in the Caribbean country as recovery efforts continue after Hurricane Melissa.

The latest support package includes construction equipment, air-conditioned tents, boats, outboard motors, medical supplies, water purifiers, and plumbing and electrical tools.

The items are expected to support reconstruction work and emergency services in communities affected by the storm.

The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, announced the decision in a Facebook post on Tuesday, January 27, 2026.

He said the assistance was provided on the direct instructions of President John Dramani Mahama.

As part of the decision, Ghana also approved a request from the Jamaican authorities to extend Operation Boafo, the Ghanaian humanitarian deployment, from its initial 30-day mandate to 90 days.

The extension was authorised by the President in his capacity as Commander-in-Chief of the Ghana Armed Forces.

The relief items were formally received on behalf of the Jamaican government by the countrys Foreign Minister, Senator the Honourable Kamina Abena Johnson Smith.

Ghanas involvement in Jamaicas post hurricane response began in late 2025, when the government deployed a team of 54 military engineers from the Ghana Armed Forces 14 Engineer Brigade to support reconstruction work.

The team left Ghana on December 17, 2025, aboard a United States Air Force C-17 aircraft and arrived in Kingston to assist with the rebuilding of public infrastructure, including temporary shelters and damaged facilities.

The deployment followed an earlier national humanitarian contribution in November 2025, when President Mahama announced the donation of relief supplies valued at about GH10 million to Jamaica, Cuba and Sudan after the destruction caused by Hurricane Melissa. Those supplies included food, mattresses, medicines and other basic items.

Mr Ablakwa said the latest intervention reflected a deliberate shift in Ghanas foreign policy posture, placing priority on solidarity and shared responsibility among friendly nations during periods of crisis.

Ghanas foreign policy would no longer be defined by how much we can take from others but by how much we can share with others, particularly our friends in distress, Mr Ablakwa said.
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211,849 Delegates to elect NPP flagbearer - Party promises free, fair polls

Samuel Duodu Jan - 27 - 2026 , 11:47 4 minutes read

The New Patriotic Party (NPP) is ready to conduct a free, fair and transparent election to elect a flag bearer for the party on Saturday, the Chairperson of the Presidential Elections Committee (PEC) of the party, Joseph Osei-Owusu, has said.

The PEC will oversee the process, and the winner will be announced at the partys headquarters, where contestants will pledge their support as per the peace pact, he said.

Mr Osei-Owusu, who is also a former First Deputy Speaker of Parliament, told the Daily Graphic in an exclusive interview yesterday ahead of the poll to elect the flag bearer of the party for the 2028 general election that the election would be conducted by the Electoral Commission and that all ballot papers, electoral roll (album) and other logistics had been dispatched to the various constituencies.

He added that the contestants also had copies of the electoral register, with all agents and other staff of the electoral conduct duly accredited.

Mr Osei-Owusu explained that security arrangements were being handled by the Ghana Police Service, who were working hard to ensure an incident-free contest.

There are 211,849 delegates on the electoral roll expected to cast their ballots at 333 polling centres in 276 constituencies nationwide, as well as at the party headquarters, with polls opening at 7 a.m. and closing at 2 p.m.

Results

On the process for announcing the results of the party's presidential primary, he said the processes had been designed to ensure transparency and accountability, with contestants' agents present at every stage.

The former First Deputy Speaker of Parliament said after the close of voting, the ballots would be opened and counted at the polling centre in the presence of agents of the contestants.

Kennedy Agyapong, Adutwum, Bawumia, Bryan Acheampong, Kwabena Agyepong

Mr Osei-Owusu said the results would be announced and declared at the polling centre, with each contestant's votes recorded.

The former NPP Member of Parliament for Bekwai added that the ballots would then be sealed and transported to the district election office, while the results are transmitted to the regional office for collation.

"The regional office will also declare the collated results, with agents from each contestant present.

The results will then be transmitted to the EC office, which will collate the national results and declare the final outcome," he explained.

Voting process

To ensure the integrity of the voting process, Mr Osei-Owusu explained that the party had established rules governing the elections, which had been agreed upon by all contestants and shared with the EC and the Ghana Police Service.

"First thing is that, from the beginning, we advertised the rules that will govern the elections.

We gave it to each one of the contestants.

They all looked at it and signed to it," he said.

Mr Osei-Owusu said the rules included requirements for voter identification, restrictions on campaign materials and campaign vehicles near polling centres, and strict security measures to prevent irregularities.

He warned that any breaches of the rules that would impact the integrity of the election would result in the cancellation of results at the affected polling station.

"We are making sure that there is complete fairness. Electoral Commission is the one managing the whole process.

No party executive or officer will have any role to play, he added.

Delegates

Mr Osei-Owusu urged delegates to vote freely and in safety on the election day, adding, "Arrangements have been made for you to vote freely and safely, so nobody should feel intimidated or afraid to go to the polling centre to vote."

He stressed the importance of maintaining peace and unity within the party, stating, "We want everybody to behave as a family at this point.

Whatever happens, it is the party that will emerge the winner."

Mr Osei-Owusu encouraged party members to support the winning candidate.

"Whoever emerges the winner will represent all of us, he said."

Ballot paper photos

The PEC Chair also warned delegates against taking pictures of their ballot papers or sharing them on social media, cautioning that it could lead to their vote being declared invalid.

"We will forbid people from taking their phones.

If you present it for anybody else to look at, then that vote may be declared invalid," he said.

Mr Osei-Owusu assured delegates that their votes would be secret and urged them to vote quietly.

"Your vote is secret. Just vote quietly. In the end, whether the person you voted for won or not, it is a party person who has won," he stressed.
Korle Bu receives medical equipment from Newmont

Joselyn Kafui Nyadzi Jan - 27 - 2026 , 09:57 3 minutes read

A Mining company, Newmont Ghana, has donated some critical medical equipment worth over GH2 million to the Intensive Care and the Paediatric Oncology units of the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, to enhance quality healthcare and patient safety.

The items included two ventilators, two invasive patient monitors, two non-invasive patient monitors, two blood gas analyser machines and 10 patient monitors.

The gesture also formed part of Newmonts longstanding partnership with the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital and its responsibility to support health care in the country.

Request

The Country Manager of Newmont Ghana, Danquah Addo-Yobo, said the donation was in response to requests received from both the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and the Paediatric Oncology Unit of the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital.

He explained that the requests, which were followed up extensively, helped the company to better understand the hospitals needs and the potential impact of the equipment on patient care.

Mr Addo-Yobo said the total value of the equipment was about GH2 million but the significance of the donation went beyond its monetary worth.

The bigger value is not the money and not the equipment, but lives.

This support can help save lives and improve patient outcomes in the intensive care units and for children undergoing cancer treatment, he said.

Gratitude

The Chief Executive Officer of the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, Dr Yakubu Seidu Adam, expressed gratitude to Newmont Ghana for the donation, as it was a timely support for the hospitals critical care services.

He said the ventilators and monitors would enhance patient care at the ICU, while the equipment provided to the Paediatric Oncology Unit would support the management of childhood cancer cases.

Challenges

Dr Adam said although the hospital had strong human resource capacity, challenges remained with infrastructure and overstretched equipment due to the increasing number of patients referred from across the country.

He said management had, therefore, reached out to corporate institutions and individuals to complement the governments efforts in sustaining quality health care at the facility.

We cannot leave everything to the government alone, which is why we continue to appeal to corporate Ghana to support the health sector, he said.

Appeal

The Head of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, Dr Andrew Kwabena-Adade, said the donation followed an appeal made to Newmont to support the replacement of ageing critical care equipment at the facility.

He explained that the hospital had about 24 theatres and that most of the equipment currently in use had exceeded its lifespan, having last undergone major retooling between 2012 and 2013.

Dr Kwabena-Adade said although the government supplied eight anaesthesia machines to the hospital last year and distributed them across the theatres, the need for additional equipment, particularly for intensive care services, remained.

The ICU equipment also needs replacement, and when we appealed to Newmont, they responded, he said.

He further said the availability of modern equipment would help reduce the need to refer patients abroad for specialised surgical procedures, as the hospital had the human capacity to deliver such services locally.
Road crashes killed 2,949 in Ghana in 2025, the highest in 35 years  Road Safety Authority

Next article: Road crashes killed 2,949 in Ghana in 2025, the highest in 35 years  Road Safety Authority

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Government to cancel unfinished public land sales to protect state lands

Mohammed Ali Jan - 27 - 2026 , 12:50 3 minutes read

The government has announced plans to cancel all unfinished sales of public lands as part of efforts to curb abuse and restore public confidence in Ghanas land administration system.

The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Mr Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, said Cabinet has approved a nationwide review of public lands sold or allocated without the completion of required processes.

He said any transaction found to have bypassed due procedure would be cancelled.

Mr Buah made the disclosure during an official working visit by Vice President Prof. Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang to the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources on Tuesday, January 27, 2026.

He explained that the decision was aimed at ending long-standing practices that had allowed public lands meant for national development to be diverted for private benefit.

Cabinet has approved our recommendation that all public lands that had been sold are going under review to check value for money and proper process, the minister said. Those that did not complete the process are automatically cancelled.

Mr Buah described the situation inherited by the ministry as troubling, noting that lands acquired by the state for agriculture and other public purposes had been poorly managed by some officials entrusted with their oversight.

He said the review would send a clear signal that misuse of public lands would no longer be tolerated, adding that steps had been taken to ensure accountability.

By the time we finish, no government official will even think of taking public land, Mr Buah said, adding that offenders would be exposed publicly.

The minister linked the reforms to changes at the Lands Commission, including plans to digitalise all land records and services within two years. He said the move was expected to reduce delays, missing files and opportunities for corruption.

Under the new arrangement, Mr Buah said 70 per cent of the commissions retained revenue would be used to support digital systems. This, he explained, would allow Ghanaians to access land services without repeated visits to offices or reliance on middlemen.

He added that the government was also decentralising land administration to bring services closer to communities, with 110 metropolitan and district assemblies expected to host Lands Commission offices.

Vice President Opoku-Agyemang welcomed the reforms and said land administration affected everyday life and livelihoods across the country.

Decentralisation is not a joke, she said. That is what solves problems at the basic level, where life begins.

She also called for fairness in access to land and urged that women be considered in plans to establish land banks for agricultural investment.

The Vice President said the ministry had the full backing of the government, noting that protecting land and the environment went beyond governance and touched on national survival.

The Ministry expects the cancellation of unfinished public land sales to rebuild public trust, protect state assets and support the use of land for its original public purpose.
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Metro Mass spare parts: We cleared 3 out of 4 containers and 30 VDL buses from the port before leaving office - Former MMTL boss

Mohammed Ali Jan - 27 - 2026 , 18:17 4 minutes read

A former Managing Director of the Metro Mass Transit Limited (MMTL), Albert Adu Boahen, has said 30 VDL buses and three 40-foot containers of spare parts out of four supplied by the Dutch manufacturer VDL and arrive in Ghana in April 2024, were cleared from the port before he handed over office to his successor in March 2025.

The buses and spare parts were handed over to the MMTL through a state-to-state arrangement between the government of Ghana and the Belgian government; therefore, taxes were excluded from the arrangement.

According to Mr Adu Boahen, there were, however, delays in clearing the buses and the spare parts from the port due to issues with tax in the initial stages and later, the shipping line costs at the time the buses and spare parts arrived in Ghana in April 2024.

He said MMTL was initially not getting a full tax exemption from the government, hence the delay in clearing the buses and sparts from the port.

He said by the time they succeeded in negotiating for tax exemption with the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) and the Ministry of Finance, the issue of shipping line costs also cropped up.

By the time the MMTL was able to get the Ministry of Finance to issue a waiver for the imports, the shipping line costs had also become an issue, with estimated charges of over GH300,000.

This, he said were the reason for the delay in clearing the containers by the MMTL, and that they were able to clear three containers, leaving one behind, and all this information was made available in his handing over notes.

Mr Adu Boahen was reacting to an announcement by the current MD of MMTL, Kale Cezar that a container loaded with spare parts supplied by Dutch manufacturer VDL has remained at the port for more than two years.

This, according to Mr Cezar, had compounded the operational and financial challenges confronting the state-owned transport company.

Mr Cezar said this in an interview with the Daily Graphic and disclosed that the container was imported under the companys previous management, but was never cleared from the port, leading to mounting charges and missed opportunities to deploy much-needed buses onto the roads.

Albert Adu Boahen - former MMTL Managing Director

Read also: Metro Mass spare parts stuck at port for 2 years

Former MD's reaction

Reacting in a radio interview with Accra based Citi FM on Tuesday [January 27, 2025], monitored by Graphic Online, the former Managing Director of MMTL, Mr Albert Adu Boahen said the container arrived in April 2024 and described the shipping line charges as the main issue holding up its release.

I was challenging the shipping line charges because they were too high, Mr Adu Boahen said. I petitioned the ministry to engage the shipping line to reduce the amount.

He said the container formed part of several consignments that arrived with the VDL buses and were cleared after extended engagement with the Ghana Revenue Authority during his tenure.

Mr Adu Boahen said three of the containers carrying spare parts were cleared, while one remained at the port at the time he left office.

I was left office in March. In my handing over notes, I personally told him that the parts were at the port and that he should clear them, he said and added, after one year, if they have not been cleared, I do not think anybody should blame Adu Boahen.

He disputed claims that the container had been at the port for more than two years and said the spare parts arrived in April 2024 alongside the VDL buses.

The containers came together with the VDL buses around April 20, 2024, he said. We were given an exemption by the government, but it was not a full exemption.

Mr Adu Boahen said the delay affected the companys ability to maintain and deploy buses, adding that the spare parts were intended for the VDL fleet.

They are spare parts for the VDL buses, he said. I am not too sure these parts are for the brand new buses.
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Vice President urges long term planning for energy sector, cautions against policy rhetoric

Mohammed Ali Jan - 27 - 2026 , 11:31 2 minutes read

Vice President Dr Jane Naana Opoku Agyemang has called on the Ministry of Energy and Green Transition to place discipline and long-term planning at the centre of efforts to stabilise Ghanas energy sector, warning against policy language which does not translate into results for consumers.

She made the call during an official working visit to the ministry on Tuesday, January 27, 2026.

Dr Opoku Agyemang said lasting solutions in the energy sector would depend on steady planning, openness to reviewing strategies, and decisions grounded in outcomes rather than slogans.

Addressing senior officials, agency heads and the media, the Vice President acknowledged recent improvements in the management of energy sector debts and the gradual return of confidence among suppliers and service providers. She said those developments were beginning to reflect in the wider economy.

We had huge debts. We were in a situation and it wasnt an amusing situation at all, she said. She added that improved efficiency in meeting obligations was helping players along the energy value chain see value in their investments.

The Vice President said progress achieved so far would only be sustained through deliberate planning over an extended period. She cautioned against reliance on what she described as attractive policy language which fails to deliver.

Solid planning, not fancy words and so on, which sometimes dont send us where we need to be, she said, noting that government must be ready to revise approaches when policies fall short.

Dr Opoku Agyemang said policy choices must work for the wider population, especially consumers.

She assured the ministry of political backing, saying support would remain in place during both progress and difficulty. She said such backing was needed to sustain reform efforts and achieve lasting improvements.

The Minister for Energy and Green Transition, Mr John Abdulai Jinapor, welcomed the Vice Presidents visit and said the ministry would continue reforms under the direction of the President and the Vice President. He expressed confidence that ongoing initiatives would yield steady gains.

Dr Opoku Agyemang ended her remarks by recognising the work of officials and workers across the energy sector, including those not present at the engagement. She said their efforts were helping to rebuild public trust.

She urged continued coordination among agencies and said planning and accountability remained central to delivering a reliable and efficient energy sector for the country.
Ghana to get free quality medicines for childhood cancers

Augustina Tawiah Health Jan - 27 - 2026 , 09:57 4 minutes read

Ghana has been selected as one of the countries to benefit from a global initiative that offers free quality-assured medicines for childhood cancers.

The selection of Ghana by the Global Platform for Access to Childhood Cancer Medicines, an initiative of the WHO, St Jude's Children's Hospital in the USA and UNICEF, would see it receive cancer treatment drugs for children at relatively no cost in the next two to three years, with the facility available for all childhood cancers.

This would make Ghana one of the 12 countries globally and third in Africa that are benefiting from the initiative.

Validation meeting

The President of Childhood Cancer Society of Ghana, Professor Lorna Awo Renner, announced this at a stakeholder validation meeting to review, refine and endorse the first-ever comprehensive Guidelines for Childhood Cancer Treatment in the country.

Developed by Childhood Cancer Society of Ghana with funding from World Child Cancer and support from WHO country office, Clinton Health Access Initiative and the Ghana Health Service, the guidelines were developed through a collaborative, multi-disciplinary process involving paediatric surgeons, paediatric oncologists, nurses, pharmacists, neurosurgeons, radiation oncologists and orthopaedic surgeons.

Elated by the news of the selection, Professor Renner said the initiative would assure the country that the drugs it receives are of high quality.

She explained that previously, medicines for childhood cancer treatment were imported by private pharmaceutical firms from various sources, often with limited knowledge of their contents.

"But these are quality assured.

They have been used elsewhere and you should be able to forecast the needs of your country, which we have done," she said.

Difference

Later in an interview, Professor Renner said the selection of Ghana for the initiative was going to make a huge difference in childhood cancer treatment in the country, explaining that it would help increase the number of parents accessing care for their children with cancer.

"At least, about 30 per cent of parents cannot continue treatment.

They start and then they stop.

The children abandon treatment.

They come a few months later and the thing has grown huge or they don't come at all and the children will die in the house.

But now with this, they can continue treatment to the end without parents selling their cars, houses, personal belongings or be impoverished because of drug treatment.

The drugs are free," she said joyfully.

She said the ability for children with cancers to complete treatment implied opportunity for cure, thereby having many more children living normal lives and growing up to contribute meaningfully to society.

Professor Renner said though the drugs were being offered freely to Ghana, the Ministry of Health would have to bear the cost of other things such as its clearance from the port and transportation to the various sites in the country.

She said treatment with drugs was not everything in childhood cancer, explaining that there were other costs such as investigations, surgery and radiotherapy.

She, therefore, appealed to benevolent organisations to continue to help children with cancer access other aspects of care, which were very important such as diagnosis, surgery, radiotherapy and other supportive care.

Advise

She advised parents to seek a second opinion when they realise any of their children was sick with any disease that they were not getting better.

She mentioned some of the commonest signs to look out for to include a white spot in the eye that is obvious even in a child less than a year old, swelling in any part of the body including the neck, arms and abdomen; losing weight though they are eating; severe anaemia though they do not have sickle cell; blood in urine or bleeding from the nose or mouth.

"The good thing is that childhood cancer is highly curable, more curable than adult cancers.

So don't be scared. Know that if your child comes early, we will be able to give hope for cure for the child," she gave an assurance.
Photo: Ess-a-bagel

This winter, a new bagel spot opened thrillingly close to my apartment and seemed to target my particular tastes. Gertie, which moved into the former R&D Foods space on Vanderbilt Avenue, promised a nostalgic riff on classic Jewish appetizing shops, leavened by the millennial zip of pickled peppers and preserved-lemon mayo. But when I stopped by, I was stumped. The only bagels offered are everything, sesame, and plain. Where was a bagel with heft, darkness, and a bitter bite that curled into nutty sweetness? Where was the whiff of caraway seeds that reminded me of my oma and her Leidse Kaas gouda? Where was the pumpernickel?

Im a nutjob about the numbers, says Nate Adler, a co-owner. We want to be streamlined and efficient. His three bagel varieties can all be made with the same dough, giving him more flexibility to scale up or down based on demand than he can with pumpernickel, which would require its own workflow to produce. Not that demand for pumpernickel has been an issue for Adler. Not a single person has asked about pumpernickel, he says. Or maybe one.

Gerties is part of a wave of new-look shops that promise bagels made with lighter, fluffier, fresher dough, all of which favor blond bagels. Apollo Bagels, the sourdough-bagel spot with TikTok lines, now has six locations and yet only three flavors. (How little do they care about pumpernickel? They wouldnt even return my calls asking about it.) PopUp, a Connecticut-founded brand backed by celebs, has those same three  plain, everything, and sesame  plus poppy and salt. Even old-guard bagel shops are reconsidering pumpernickel. Sales have been so sluggish lately at Utopia Bagels that second-generation bagel man Jesse Spellman looked into cutting them. And Bagel Pub no longer lists pumpernickel on its online menu, a choice I thought a technical fluke until I asked about it. A lot of people complain about that, an employee told me. Yet nothing has changed.

There are plenty of theories about why demand is dying for pumpernickel bagels: The dark color doesnt photograph well; the flavor is too overpowering for most sandwiches; younger customers just prefer a blander bagel; people have simply forgotten about them. It probably doesnt help matters that the name, in German, translates to a goblins fart.

I dont want to use the word dying, but I think it is a flavor of yesteryear, says Adam Goldberg, the founder of PopUp Bagels, who associates the smell of a pumpernickel bagel with a particular salad bar in Millwood, New Jersey. Im 50 years old. I know what pumpernickel is. But I dont think a lot of people do.

Pumpernickel is likely a relic of a moment when two Jewish food cultures crossed paths, says Mitchell Davis, a historian with the Jewish Food Society. First comes the bagel, in the 18th century. Then a 19th-century wave of German Jewish immigrants brings over their dark rye breads. Pumpernickel was likely a combination of two types of bread, which Davis compares, surprisingly, to the muffin-inspired trajectory of the blueberry bagel. If thats an abomination, Davis says, then maybe pumpernickel was, too.

Avery Robinson is a baker and food historian whos trying to encourage farmers to take on rye crops and promote the healthier, more climate-friendly breads we could be making from them. Its a challenge since the pumpernickel we know is made from a mix of rye and white flours. For American bakers who are trained to bake with white flour alone, working with this dough requires a different skill set. And the white flour used to leaven traditional rye also saps its color, which means additives like molasses or cocoa get thrown in to achieve a darker shade. Finally, sharpening the flavor often means adding caraway seeds. Goldberg says they tried a limited batch of pumpernickel at PopUp and it was a headache. We were able to get it right, he says, but the process was outrageous.

The operators that continue to carry pumpernickel  they do still exist  understand that doing so isnt about optimizing their bottom line. Its about catering to a very specific kind of customer: As Nathan Turtledove, the Strategy and Operations Lead of Ess-a-Bagel puts it, The people who want it come in specifically for it and will keep coming in for it until the day they die.

At Russ & Daughters, Tim Von Hollweg, the director of operations, says pumpernickel stays on the menu to remind people its always been on the menu. We are, in many ways, the keepers of tradition and history, he says. There are certain things, even if theyre not the most popular, were going to continue to make. Taking pumpernickel off the menu could mean lessening demand for it even further. Its a chicken-and-egg type question, Von Hollweg tells me. Do the changing tastes of New Yorkers dictate whether pumpernickel bagels are popular? Or do the whims and financial issues and the real estate of the bagel-makers dictate whats available?

This post has been updated to clarify PopUps origins.
Apple just announced its new Black Unity Braided Solo Loop band for Apple Watch to honor Black History Month. This is not the first time the company has released a watch band to celebrate Black History Month.



Black Unity Apple Watch band

The new band is an in-house design by black creatives and partners of Apple. It represents the colors of the Pan-African flag and is made of recycled polyester using advanced precision-braiding machinery. It's soft to the touch, and it's sweat- and water-resistant.

The Black Unity band is available starting today on Apple's official website, while Apple Stores will have it by the end of this week. It's asking $99, and it's available in 42mm and 46mm variants. The available band sizes range between 0 and 12 and can be paired with Apple Watch Series 4 or later, including Apple Watch SE and Apple Watch Ultra.

Source
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Today Samsung is taking the wraps off the Galaxy Z Flip7 Olympic Edition. It's the latest in a line of special editions Samsung is making for the Olympics. In this case, we're talking about the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, taking place from February 4 to February 22.

As usual with these devices, Samsung will gift one to each athlete who is competing, almost 3,800 in total from approximately 90 countries. So it's a very limited edition - look out for these on eBay soon, as that's where most of them usually end up.

The Galaxy Z Flip7 Olympic Edition "introduces an iconic design that commemorates athletes participation in the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, as well as practical services to help enhance their experience in the Olympic Village and throughout competition", Samsung says in its official press release.

The blue color on the back "aligns with the unique style of Milano Cortina 2026", whatever that means, and "represents the combination of Samsung's long-standing identity and the cultural resonance of Italian azure". But wait - the color "also reflects the spirit of unity and sportsmanship embodied by the Olympic Games", somehow.

The gold metal frame "symbolizes athletes pursuit of excellence and podium moments, as well as the brands aspiration for the best". As you can see from the image below, the device comes with a clear magnet case with a blue circular magnet, surrounded by gold laurel leaves which are "added as a motif of victory".

Software-wise, there are special wallpapers, as well as a "pre-loaded suite of essential apps and services to support athletes throughout Milano Cortina 2026". For example, Galaxy Athlete Card lets them digitally exchange profiles and participate in interactive activities, Athlete365 offers performance and mental health support and delivers key competition information, while other apps are pre-installed too: the official Olympic Games app, IOC Hotline, and PinQuest.

The athletes will even receive a 100GB 5G eSIM from Samsung, since the company clearly knows most of them won't switch from their iPhones. The Galaxy Z Flip7 Olympic Edition will be distributed at Olympic Villages across six cities starting on January 30.

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip7
We are growing stronger day by day, but resurgence must be stewarded.

This, according to Adelup on Tuesday night, will frame Gov. Lou Leon Guerreros message to the business community when she delivers her state of the economy address today at a Guam Chamber of Commerce general membership meeting.

This comes amidst federal funding cuts and threats, funding shortage at government agencies, continuing military buildup, and tourism thats still about 43% of pre-pandemic levels.

The governors remarks will emphasize that Guam has moved beyond crisis and stabilizationand now stands at a point where deliberate leadership will determine whether recent gains translate into lasting opportunity for businesses, workers, and families across the island, Adelup said.

The governors address today is also expected to be a preview of her upcoming eighth and last State of the Island Address in February before the Guam Legislature.

The governor is expected to underscore that predictable public finances, timely payments, workforce readiness, and modern infrastructure are no longer goalsthey are the baseline conditions required for private-sector growth and competitiveness moving forward, the governors office said.

The Chamber of Commerce, the largest business organization on Guam, will hold its first general membership meeting of 2026 at noon Wednesday at Hilton Guam Resort and Spa.

Adelup said the speech will place Guams road to resurgence in a broader context, acknowledging global shifts in tourism, retail, and travel, alongside the unprecedented scale of federal defense investment underway on the island."

The governor will also highlight ongoing efforts to ensure that national priorities strengthenrather than crowd outthe civilian economy, protect local enterprise, and align workforce development with long-term demand, the same Adelup statement said.

Her remarks will call on government, business, and workers alike to prepare for change, compete in evolving markets, and partner to ensure that opportunity is broad-based, affordable, and durable, Adelup added.
Guam Power Authority General Manager John Benavente will get a $7,537.55 pay raise, while Guam Waterworks Authority General Manager Miguel Bordallo will see a $6,475 bump in pay following a review of their 2025 job performance.

On Tuesday night, members of the Consolidated Commission on Utilities voted on the pay raises for both general managers, along with raises for other top management positions at GPA and GWA.

The CCU evaluates the performance of six top positions at the power and waterworks authority each year. If performance is good, pay raises follow.

Commissioner Simon Sanchez, speaking Tuesday night, said that pay is meant to be competitive, and attract and retain talent for the utility agencies.

If your concern is that these pay increases are going to raise the rates, it wont, he said, speaking to his colleagues. They never have. None of these pay to these six people, as none of the pay raises to these six people have ever raised the base rate.

Rates went up for major capital projects, like the Ukudu power plant and water and sewer system upgrades, not for the thousands of dollars that went into annual raises, he said.

GPA pay raisesGPAs Benavente scored a 4.0 rating for his 2025 work performance, equating to an exceeds expectations score on a scale from 1 to 5.

Commissioners voted without opposition to increase his pay from $243,360 annually to $250,897.55.

Commissioner Michael Limtiaco excused himself from the vote. His wife Beatrice Tricee Limtiaco is a member of GPA management working under Benavente.

The power authority is trying to move employee pay up to the 50th market percentile, meaning they will get paid more than about half the people doing the same jobs nationwide, GPA Personnel Services Administrator John Ray Aguigui noted during discussion.

That move is in line with a 2024 pay study adopted by the CCU, Aguigui said. GPA salaries are at the 35th market percentile, but are set to go up to the 40th market percentile this year.

The GPA general manager earns more than any of the other utility heads each year. He also scored the highest on his work evaluations.

Under Benaventes leadership this past year, GPA fully commissioned the long-awaited Ukudu power plant.

Here are other GPA raises approved Tuesday:

GPA chief financial officer John Kim, 3.7 rating, $8,524.49 raise, from $167,126.51 to $175,651 annually

GPA legal counsel Marianne Woloschuk, 3.9 rating, $4,476.49 raise, from $147,734.04 to $152,210.53 annually

Woloschuks raise was approved unanimously. Commissioner Melvin Duenas voted against Kims pay raise.

GWA increases

Meanwhile, GWAs Bordallo scored a 3.7 for his performance in 2025.

Thats above a rating of 3, which equates to meets expectations, but below the score of 4, or exceeds expectations.

Commissioners voted without opposition to increase Bordallos salary from $233,265 per year to $239,740.

Commissioner Limtiaco and CCU Chairman Francis Santos excused themselves from the vote, due to a familial relationship with Bordallo.

Hes got a tough job, Commissioner Sanchez said of Bordallo.

Commenting on the dieldrin contamination that led to an emergency in Yigo last year, Sanchez said GWA and the CCU could have communicated better.

But Bordallo had figured out a solution to get water wells safe to drink prior to the issue, and found an interim solution where, in 30 days, the water became safe to drink. Theres nobody else in Guam that could have figured that out that fast.

Commissioner Duenas did raise concern about legal action being taken against GWA.

Three Yigo families, including the family of former Attorney General Leevin Camacho, filed claims for $500,000 each against GWA this week for damages allegedly caused by dieldrin contamination.

Camacho told the Pacific Daily News that his law firm anticipates to file about a dozen more by Friday.

Speaking Tuesday night to Duenas, Sanchez said, the lawsuits are the lawsuitsI mean, we dont know what the results will be.

Every year, when we do this, someone could be threatening to sue us. Do we penalize our employees because someone is threatening to sue us? What if the lawsuit is wrong? Sanchez said.

GWA personnel services administrator Zina Pangelinan-Charfauros said that the waterworks authority, which is shooting to raise employee pay to the 50th market percentile, is only at the 25th percentile as of the start of this year.

That means about 75% of people working similar jobs are paid more in the nation.

Here are the other GWA salary increases, approved unanimously by the CCU:
District Court of Guam Magistrate Judge Michael Bordallo set a Sept. 22 trial for the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program fraud ring case involving seven defendants, among them close family members of Lt. Gov. Josh Tenorio.

This comes after a Jan. 13 status hearing where attorneys for the defendants asked the judge to push back trial to the later part of the year as they continue to shift through more than 1 million pages of documents.

Bordallo previously told attorneys that he doesnt want to continue to delay trial after already pushing it back several times.

He has said the court needed to move the case forward and it would be a year since the case was filed if trial was held in June or September this year.

Among the defendants is Lt. Gov. Josh Tenorios partner, Matthew Topasna, his sister Charissa Tenorio and the father of Charissa Tenorios children, Frankie Rosalin.

Josh Tenorio is not charged with any crime and has asserted that neither he nor Adelup is involved in the PUA case or investigation.

The Sept. 22 trial is a month after the Aug. 1 primary election.

Topasnas attorney, Thomas Fisher, who is running for attorney general, asked Bordallo to push back the trial until after the elections, citing the added political factor, given that Josh Tenorio is running for governor.

Bordallo, in his Monday order, has given parties no later than Feb. 19 to file reports discussing the status of their discovery review, including any ongoing issues they may have in accessing the discovery provided thus far.

He has ordered attorneys to appear for a status hearing at 10:30 a.m. on Feb. 26 and be prepared to discuss the status of discovery production and review, deadlines for the exchange of discovery and expert witness disclosures, deadline for the filing of discovery motions, anticipated number of jurors to be summoned and the need for a juror questionnaire.

Pre-trial motions are due by July 15, opposition to all motions are due by July 22 and replies to opposition are due by July 29.

Trial briefs are due by Aug. 28 and response to trial briefs are due by Sept. 2.

Trial documents are due by Sept. 4.

A hearing on pretrial motions is set for 1 p.m. on Aug. 12. Pretrial conference is set for 1 p.m. Sept. 11.

Jury selection and trial is set for 9 a.m. Sept. 22.

Federal prosecutors alleged the seven defendants, along with unnamed co-conspirators, participated in a scheme that filed about $1.9 million in fraudulent PUA claims.

The defendants are:

Charissa M. Tenorio, the lieutenant governors sister

Matthew Topasna, the lieutenant governors partner

Frankie Rosalin, Charissa Tenorios partner and father of her children

Tina Sanchez, Rosalins mother

Kathleen Peredo, former Guam DOL employee

Winnie Jo Santos

Marlene Pinaula, former Guam DOL employee

The claims were submitted through the PUA program administered by the Guam Department of Labor.

All seven defendants were charged with nine counts of wire fraud, 18 counts of mail fraud, and one count each of conspiracy. All seven pleaded not guilty and were released under conditions.

Guam case, encrypted data

Meanwhile, the PUA fraud case on Guam is the first known instance of Microsoft providing any encryption key to law enforcement, according to a report from Forbes.

The application for a warrant requested records and information associated with accounts maintained by Charissa Tenorio and Frankie Rosalin, stored by Microsoft Corp.

The search warrant listed three emails and two cell phone numbers associated with Charissa Tenorio and Rosalin.

A previous search warrant to search the premises of Comfort Cuts and Ground Maintenance in Hagatna was executed and agents seized and attempted to search three computers, according to court documents.

The drives on the computers were encrypted using BitLocker and Microsoft stores information remotely, such as a recovery key, that would allow agents to decrypt the devices.

BitLocker Drive Encryption is a data protection feature that integrates with the Microsoft Windows operating system and addresses the threats of data theft or exposure from lost, stolen, or inappropriately decommissioned computers, according to the search warrant.

BitLocker scrambles the data so that only those with a key can decode it.

The federal agent who filed the search warrant believed theres probable cause that the devices stored evidence of state or local program fraud, mail fraud, wire fraud, identification documents fraud, money laundering and money laundering conspiracy.

Federal agents were investigating a suspected scheme to fraudulently obtain PUA payments and based on interviews and review of relevant records, investigators believe certain individuals participated in a scheme to defraud the Guam Department of Labor in order to obtain federally funded payments under the PUA program to which they were not entitled.

Its possible for users to store those keys on a device they own, but Microsoft also recommends BitLocker users store their keys on its servers for convenience.

While that means someone can access their data if they forget their password, or if repeated failed attempts to login lock the device, it also makes them vulnerable to law enforcement subpoenas and warrants, Forbes reported.

Microsoft confirmed to Forbes that it does provide BitLocker recovery keys if it receives a valid legal order.

While key recovery offers convenience, it also carries a risk of unwanted access, so Microsoft believes customers are in the best position to decide...how to manage their keys, said Microsoft spokesperson Charles Chamberlayne.

He said the company receives around 20 requests for BitLocker keys per year and in many cases, the user has not stored their key in the cloud, making it impossible for Microsoft to assist.

Law enforcement regularly asks tech giants to provide encryption keys, implement backdoor access or weaken their security in other ways. But other companies have refused.

Privacy and encryption experts told Forbes, as stated in the Forbes story, that the onus should be on Microsoft to provide stronger protection for consumers personal devices and data.

This is private data on a private computer and they made the architectural choice to hold access to that data. They absolutely should be treating it like something that belongs to the user, Matt Green, cryptography expert and associate professor at the Johns Hopkins University Information Security Institute, told Forbes.

If Apple can do it, if Google can do it, then Microsoft can do it. Microsoft is the only company thats not doing this, he added. Its a little weirdThe lesson here is that if you have access to keys, eventually law enforcement is going to come.
The explosion early on Monday gutted an entire section of the Violanta factory
Guam spends over $50 million each year on tourism promotions, vouchers, and marketing. These programs bring visitors but when flights slow or funding ends, the money stops.

Most local businesses are still limited to customers who are physically on island.

Artificial intelligence, AI, offers a different path.

Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, recently said that what once took a team of developers a year to build can now be done by one person or a small group at 100 times less cost and 100 times faster. That change matters for Guam.

Here is the math. If just 2,000 Guam businesses used AI to sell services off island and each earned $100,000 a year from mainland or Asia-based clients, that would generate $200 million annually.

Many service businesses already aim higher than that. AI simply makes it possible with fewer people and lower costs.

AI allows one person to do the work of several. It cuts admin time, speeds up marketing, and makes it realistic for Guam businesses to serve global customers while staying on Guam.

I have been saying this since the first Hackathon on Guam that we hosted in 2016. The way forward is not more tourism. It is growth through technology.

Tourism will always matter. But AI gives Guam a way to grow from Guam instead of relying on people to visit us.
*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 45109 ***

The Library of Liberal Arts

OSKAR PIEST, General Editor

[NUMBER EIGHT]

EPICTETUS

The Enchiridion

COPYRIGHT, 1948

THE LIBERAL ARTS PRESS, INC.

First Edition, October, 1948

Reprinted

December, 1950; August, 1954

Second Edition, November, 1955

Published at 153 West 72nd Street, New York 23, N. Y.

Printed in the United States of America

The translations of Epictetus and of all other Stoics had the widest effect on philosophers, theologians, and lay thinkers. They were studied by the clergy of the various Christian denominations, by the scientists who were striving for a natural religion, and by the independent philosophers who were eager to separate philosophy from religion. There were many outstanding bishops in the Catholic and Anglican Churches who were eager to transform the traditions of Roman Stoicism into Christian Stoicism. Among the Calvinistic denominations were many thinkers who were in sympathy with Stoic moral principles because of their praise of the austerity of life and of the control of passions. Likewise the adherents of natural religion were propagating Stoicism as the ideal pattern of universally valid and intelligible religion. Renascent Stoicism had three functions in the rise of the modern world. First, it reconciled Christian traditions to modern rationalistic philosophies; secondly, it established an ideal pattern of natural religion; and, thirdly, it opened the way for the autonomy of morals.

In the Stoic distinctions of personality and world, of I and mine, of subjective consciousness and the world of objects, of freedom and dependence, we find implicit the basic elements of modern philosophies of rationalism and of objective idealism or pantheism. For this reason there is a continuous renascence of Stoicism from Descartes, Grotius, and Bishop Butler, to Montesquieu, Adam Smith, and Kant. In this long development in modern times, the tiny Enchiridion of Epictetus played a remarkable part.

Thus the Enchiridion was liberating for all intellectuals who learned from it that there are philosophical ways of self-redemption. From its time, the secular thinker could feel jubilant because he was not in need of a divine grace. Epictetus had taught him that philosophical reason could make him free and that he was capable of redeeming himself by sound reasoning.

Nothing like this is revealed in the Enchiridion . Gone is the Stoic philosopher as living spirit. What remains is the living spirit of Stoicism. The Enchiridion is a manual for the combat officer. This analogy should be taken seriously. The Roman Stoics coined the formula: Vivere militare! (Life is being a soldier.) The student of philosophy is a private, the advancing Stoic is a non-commissioned officer, and the philosopher is the combat officer. For this reason all Roman Stoics apply metaphors and images derived from military life. Apprentice students of Stoicism are described as messengers, as scouts of God, as representatives of divine nature. The advancing student who is close to the goal of being a philosopher has the rank of an officer. He is already able to establish inner freedom and independence. He understands the basic Stoic truth of subjective consciousness, which is to distinguish what is in our power from what is not in our power. Not in our power are all the elements which constitute our environment, such as wealth, health, reputation, social prestige, power, the lives of those we love, and death. In our power are our thinking, our intentions, our desires, our decisions. These make it possible for us to control ourselves and to make of ourselves elements and parts of the universe of nature. This knowledge of ourselves makes us free in a world of dependencies. This superiority of our powers enables us to live in conformity with nature. The rational philosophy of control of Self and of adjustment to the Whole implies an asceticism of the emotional and the sensitive life. The philosopher must examine and control his passions, his love, his tenderness at all times in order always to be ready for the inevitable moment of farewell. The Stoics practiced a Jesuitism avant la lettre . They were able to live in the world as if they did not live in it. To the Stoic, life is a military camp, a play on the stage, a banquet to which we are invited. The Enchiridion briefly indicated the techniques which the philosopher should apply in acting well the diverse roles which God might assign to those whom he loves, the Stoic philosophers. From the rules of social conduct to the recommendations of sexual asceticism before marriage, and the method of true thinking, the advanced Stoic will find all principles of perfection and all precepts for realizing philosophical principles in his conduct in this tiny volume.

A remarkable difference between the Discourses and the Enchiridion should be mentioned. The Discourses are a living image of the teacher in action; they present the process of philosophizing, not the finished product. They show the enthusiastic and sober, the realistic and pathetic moralist in constantly changing perspectives determined by the changing students with their various concerns, problems, and questions; his teachings, his formulations, have direct reference to the various life situations in which the students should apply and practice the masters Stoic teaching. No human situation is omitted; as a guide to conduct, philosophy has relevance for all. Whether the students have to attend a dinner party, whether they are among competitors in a stadium or in a swimming pool, whether they have to present themselves at court or in an office, whether they are in the company of their mothers and sisters or of girl friends, in all human situations the philosopher knows the correct advice for the philosophical apprentice. Thus, in the Discourses , Arrian presents the unique individuality of the philosopher and of his applied moral method in living contact with various students in concrete situations. Epictetus as teacher anticipates very modern educational methods in his regard for the structure of situations and the changing perspectives in human relationships.

Thus we do not have any original writings of Epictetus. Like G. H. Mead in recent times, he was completely dedicated to the human and intellectual problems of his students. He left it for them to preserve what they considered to be the lasting message of the teacher. In contrast to Seneca and Marcus Aurelius, Epictetus had no subjective approach to the Stoic doctrines. Moral philosophy was the center of his teaching, and epistemology was only instrumental. It is even permissible to say that he took physics or cosmology too lightly. If this is granted, we must admit that he is completely absorbed by the fundamentals of Stoic thought as presented in the Enchiridion . Epictetus personality is totally integrated in the act of reasoning which establishes conformity with nature.

Among the students was a young Roman, Flavius Arrian, who took courses at Nicopolis when Epictetus was already old. Flavius, who was born in 108 A.D., was one of the intimates of Hadrian, who made him consul in 130 A.D. He probably studied with Epictetus between the years 123 and 126 A.D. The informal philosophical talks which Epictetus had with his students fascinated him. Needless to say there were also systematic courses in the fields of philosophy. But it was the informal discourses which convinced Arrian that he had finally discovered a Stoic Socrates or a Stoic Diogenes, who was not merely teaching a doctrine, but also living the truth. Arrian recorded many of the discourses and informal conversations of Epictetus with his intimate students. He took them down in shorthand in order not to lose the ineffable liveliness, grace, and wit of the beloved teacher. Arrian retired into private life after the death of Hadrian in 138 A.D. and dedicated himself to his literary work. He published his notes on Epictetus teaching under the title: Discourses in Four Books . The Enchiridion , which was also arranged by Arrian, is a brief summary of the basic ideas of Stoic philosophy and an introduction to the techniques required to transform Stoic philosophy into a way of life.

Epictetus was the son of a woman slave, born between 50 and 60 A.D. at Hieropolis in Phrygia. We do not know how he came to Rome. He was there as slave to one of Neros distinguished freedmen who served as the Emperors secretary. While still in service, Epictetus took courses with Musonius Rufus, the fashionable Stoic philosopher, who was impressed by the sincere and dynamic personality of the young slave and trained him to be a Stoic philosopher. Epictetus became a free man and began teaching philosophy on street corners, in the market, but he was not successful. During the rule of Domitian, Epictetus with many other philosophers was exiled from Rome, probably between 89 and 92 A.D. He went to Nicopolis, across Actium in Epirus, where he conducted his own school. He was so well regarded and highly esteemed that he established the reputation of the place as the town of Epictetus school. Students came from Athens and Rome to attend his classes. Private citizens came to ask his advice and guidance. Some of his students returned to their homes to enter the traditional careers to which they were socially obligated. Others assumed the philosophic way of life in order to escape into the sphere of Stoic freedom.

While it is interesting to observe how varied were the effects produced by this small volume, this epitome of the Stoic system of moral philosophy, these effects seem still more remarkable when we consider that it was not intended to be a philosophical treatise on Stoicism for students. It was, rather, to be a guide for the advanced student of Stoicism to show him the best roads toward the goal of becoming a true philosopher. Thus Epictetus and his Enchiridion have a unique position in Roman Stoicism. Seneca and Marcus Aurelius had selected Stoic philosophy as the most adequate system for expressing their existential problems of independence, solitude, and history. In this enterprise, Seneca made tremendous strides toward the insights of social psychology as a by-product of his consciousness of decadence (in this he was close to Nietzsche), but he was not primarily concerned with the unity of the Stoic system. Marcus Aurelius changed the philosophical doctrine into the regimen of the lonesome ruler. In contrast to both, Epictetus was teaching Stoic philosophy as a doctrine and as a way of life. The Enchiridion is a summary of theoretical and applied Stoicism.

That there was a rebirth of Stoicism in the centuries of rebirth which marked the emergence of the modern age was not mere chance. Philosophical, moral, and social conditions of the time united to cause it. Roman Stoicism had been developed in times of despotism as a philosophy of lonely and courageous souls who had recognized the redeeming power of philosophical reason in all the moral and social purposes of life. Philosophy as a way of life makes men free. It is the last ditch stand of liberty in a world of servitude. Many elements in the new age led to thought which had structural affinity with Roman Stoicism. Modern times had created the independent thinker, the free intellectual in a secular civilization. Modern times had destroyed medieval liberties and had established the new despotism of the absolute state supported by ecclesiastical authority. Modern philosophies continued the basic trend in Stoicism in making the subjective consciousness the foundation of philosophy. The Stoic emphasis on moral problems was also appealing in an era of rapid transition when all the values which had previously been taken for granted were questioned and reconsidered.

The little book by Epictetus called Enchiridion or manual has played a disproportionately large role in the rise of modern attitudes and modern philosophy. As soon as it had been translated into the vernacular languages, it became a bestseller among independent intellectuals, among anti-Christian thinkers, and among philosophers of a subjective cast. Montaigne had a copy of the Enchiridion among his books. Pascal violently rejected the megalomaniac pride of the Stoic philosopher. Frederick the Great carried the book with him on all campaigns. It was a source of inspiration and encouragement to Anthony, Earl of Shaftesbury, in the serious illness which ended only in his death; many pages of his diaries contain passages copied from the Enchiridion . It has been studied and widely quoted by Scottish philosophers like Francis Hutcheson, Adam Smith, and Adam Ferguson who valued Stoic moral philosophy for its reconciliation of social dependency and personal independence.

THE ENCHIRIDION

I

There are things which are within our power, and there are things which are beyond our power. Within our power are opinion, aim, desire, aversion, and, in one word, whatever affairs are our own. Beyond our power are body, property, reputation, office, and, in one word, whatever are not properly our own affairs.

Now the things within our power are by nature free, unrestricted, unhindered; but those beyond our power are weak, dependent, restricted, alien. Remember, then, that if you attribute freedom to things by nature dependent and take what belongs to others for your own, you will be hindered, you will lament, you will be disturbed, you will find fault both with gods and men. But if you take for your own only that which is your own and view what belongs to others just as it really is, then no one will ever compel you, no one will restrict you; you will find fault with no one, you will accuse no one, you will do nothing against your will; no one will hurt you, you will not have an enemy, nor will you suffer any harm.

Aiming, therefore, at such great things, remember that you must not allow yourself any inclination, however slight, toward the attainment of the others; but that you must entirely quit some of them, and for the present postpone the rest. But if you would have these, and possess power and wealth likewise, you may miss the latter in seeking the former; and you will certainly fail of that by which alone happiness and freedom are procured.

Seek at once, therefore, to be able to say to every unpleasing semblance, You are but a semblance and by no means the real thing. And then examine it by those rules which you have; and first and chiefly by this: whether it concerns the things which are within our own power or those which are not; and if it concerns anything beyond our power, be prepared to say that it is nothing to you.

II

Remember that desire demands the attainment of that of which you are desirous; and aversion demands the avoidance of that to which you are averse; that he who fails of the object of his desires is disappointed; and he who incurs the object of his aversion is wretched. If, then, you shun only those undesirable things which you can control, you will never incur anything which you shun; but if you shun sickness, or death, or poverty, you will run the risk of wretchedness. Remove [the habit of] aversion, then, from all things that are not within our power, and apply it to things undesirable which are within our power. But for the present, altogether restrain desire; for if you desire any of the things not within our own power, you must necessarily be disappointed; and you are not yet secure of those which are within our power, and so are legitimate objects of desire. Where it is practically necessary for you to pursue or avoid anything, do even this with discretion and gentleness and moderation.

III

With regard to whatever objects either delight the mind or contribute to use or are tenderly beloved, remind yourself of what nature they are, beginning with the merest trifles: if you have a favorite cup, that it is but a cup of which you are fond offor thus, if it is broken, you can bear it; if you embrace your child or your wife, that you embrace a mortaland thus, if either of them dies, you can bear it.

IV

When you set about any action, remind yourself of what nature the action is. If you are going to bathe, represent to yourself the incidents usual in the bathsome persons pouring out, others pushing in, others scolding, others pilfering. And thus you will more safely go about this action if you say to yourself, I will now go to bathe and keep my own will in harmony with nature. And so with regard to every other action. For thus, if any impediment arises in bathing, you will be able to say, It was not only to bathe that I desired, but to keep my will in harmony with nature; and I shall not keep it thus if I am out of humor at things that happen.

V

Men are disturbed not by things, but by the views which they take of things. Thus death is nothing terrible, else it would have appeared so to Socrates. But the terror consists in our notion of death, that it is terrible. When, therefore, we are hindered or disturbed, or grieved, let us never impute it to others, but to ourselvesthat is, to our own views. It is the action of an uninstructed person to reproach others for his own misfortunes; of one entering upon instruction, to reproach himself; and one perfectly instructed, to reproach neither others nor himself.

VI

Be not elated at any excellence not your own. If a horse should be elated, and say, I am handsome, it might be endurable. But when you are elated and say, I have a handsome horse, know that you are elated only on the merit of the horse. What then is your own? The use of the phenomena of existence. So that when you are in harmony with nature in this respect, you will be elated with some reason; for you will be elated at some good of your own.

VII

As in a voyage, when the ship is at anchor, if you go on shore to get water, you may amuse yourself with picking up a shellfish or a truffle in your way, but your thoughts ought to be bent toward the ship, and perpetually attentive, lest the captain should call, and then you must leave all these things, that you may not have to be carried on board the vessel, bound like a sheep; thus likewise in life, if, instead of a truffle or shellfish, such a thing as a wife or a child be granted you, there is no objection; but if the captain calls, run to the ship, leave all these things, and never look behind. But if you are old, never go far from the ship, lest you should be missing when called for.

VIII

Demand not that events should happen as you wish; but wish them to happen as they do happen, and you will go on well.

IX

Sickness is an impediment to the body, but not to the will unless itself pleases. Lameness is an impediment to the leg, but not to the will; and say this to yourself with regard to everything that happens. For you will find it to be an impediment to something else, but not truly to yourself.

X

Upon every accident, remember to turn toward yourself and inquire what faculty you have for its use. If you encounter a handsome person, you will find continence the faculty needed; if pain, then fortitude; if reviling, then patience. And when thus habituated, the phenomena of existence will not overwhelm you.

XI

Never say of anything, I have lost it, but, I have restored it. Has your child died? It is restored. Has your wife died? She is restored. Has your estate been taken away? That likewise is restored. But it was a bad man who took it. What is it to you by whose hands he who gave it has demanded it again? While he permits you to possess it, hold it as something not your own, as do travelers at an inn.

XII

If you would improve, lay aside such reasonings as these: If I neglect my affairs, I shall not have a maintenance; if I do not punish my servant, he will be good for nothing. For it were better to die of hunger, exempt from grief and fear, than to live in affluence with perturbation; and it is better that your servant should be bad than you unhappy.

Begin therefore with little things. Is a little oil spilled or a little wine stolen? Say to yourself, This is the price paid for peace and tranquillity; and nothing is to be had for nothing. And when you call your servant, consider that it is possible he may not come at your call; or, if he does, that he may not do what you wish. But it is not at all desirable for him, and very undesirable for you, that it should be in his power to cause you any disturbance.

XIII

If you would improve, be content to be thought foolish and dull with regard to externals. Do not desire to be thought to know anything; and though you should appear to others to be somebody, distrust yourself. For be assured, it is not easy at once to keep your will in harmony with nature and to secure externals; but while you are absorbed in the one, you must of necessity neglect the other.

XIV

If you wish your children and your wife and your friends to live forever, you are foolish, for you wish things to be in your power which are not so, and what belongs to others to be your own. So likewise, if you wish your servant to be without fault, you are foolish, for you wish vice not to be vice but something else. But if you wish not to be disappointed in your desires, that is in your own power. Exercise, therefore, what is in your power. A mans master is he who is able to confer or remove whatever that man seeks or shuns. Whoever then would be free, let him wish nothing, let him decline nothing, which depends on others; else he must necessarily be a slave.

XV

Remember that you must behave as at a banquet. Is anything brought round to you? Put out your hand and take a moderate share. Does it pass by you? Do not stop it. Is it not yet come? Do not yearn in desire toward it, but wait till it reaches you. So with regard to children, wife, office, riches; and you will some time or other be worthy to feast with the gods. And if you do not so much as take the things which are set before you, but are able even to forego them, then you will not only be worthy to feast with the gods, but to rule with them also. For, by thus doing, Diogenes and Heraclitus, and others like them, deservedly became divine, and were so recognized.

XVI

When you see anyone weeping for grief, either that his son has gone abroad or that he has suffered in his affairs, take care not to be overcome by the apparent evil, but discriminate and be ready to say, What hurts this man is not this occurrence itselffor another man might not be hurt by itbut the view he chooses to take of it. As far as conversation goes, however, do not disdain to accommodate yourself to him and, if need be, to groan with him. Take heed, however, not to groan inwardly, too.

XVII

Remember that you are an actor in a drama of such sort as the Author choosesif short, then in a short one; if long, then in a long one. If it be his pleasure that you should enact a poor man, or a cripple, or a ruler, or a private citizen, see that you act it well. For this is your businessto act well the given part, but to choose it belongs to another.

XVIII

When a raven happens to croak unluckily, be not overcome by appearances, but discriminate and say, Nothing is portended to me, either to my paltry body, or property, or reputation, or children, or wife. But to me all portents are lucky if I will. For whatsoever happens, it belongs to me to derive advantage therefrom.

XIX

You can be unconquerable if you enter into no combat in which it is not in your own power to conquer. When, therefore, you see anyone eminent in honors or power, or in high esteem on any other account, take heed not to be bewildered by appearances and to pronounce him happy; for if the essence of good consists in things within our own power, there will be no room for envy or emulation. But, for your part, do not desire to be a general, or a senator, or a consul, but to be free; and the only way to this is a disregard of things which lie not within our own power.

XX

Remember that it is not he who gives abuse or blows, who affronts, but the view we take of these things as insulting. When, therefore, anyone provokes you, be assured that it is your own opinion which provokes you. Try, therefore, in the first place, not to be bewildered by appearances. For if you once gain time and respite, you will more easily command yourself.

XXI

Let death and exile, and all other things which appear terrible, be daily before your eyes, but death chiefly; and you will never entertain an abject thought, nor too eagerly covet anything.

XXII

If you have an earnest desire toward philosophy, prepare yourself from the very first to have the multitude laugh and sneer, and say, He is returned to us a philosopher all at once; and, Whence this supercilious look? Now, for your part, do not have a supercilious look indeed, but keep steadily to those things which appear best to you, as one appointed by God to this particular station. For remember that, if you are persistent, those very persons who at first ridiculed will afterwards admire you. But if you are conquered by them, you will incur a double ridicule.

XXIII

If you ever happen to turn your attention to externals, for the pleasure of anyone, be assured that you have ruined your scheme of life. Be content, then, in everything, with being a philosopher; and if you wish to seem so likewise to anyone, appear so to yourself, and it will suffice you.

XXIV

Let not such considerations as these distress you: I shall live in discredit and be nobody anywhere. For if discredit be an evil, you can no more be involved in evil through another than in baseness. Is it any business of yours, then, to get power or to be admitted to an entertainment? By no means. How then, after all, is this discredit? And how it is true that you will be nobody anywhere when you ought to be somebody in those things only which are within your own power, in which you may be of the greatest consequence? But my friends will be unassisted. What do you mean by unassisted? They will not have money from you, nor will you make them Roman citizens. Who told you, then, that these are among the things within our own power, and not rather the affairs of others? And who can give to another the things which he himself has not? Well, but get them, then, that we too may have a share. If I can get them with the preservation of my own honor and fidelity and self-respect, show me the way and I will get them; but if you require me to lose my own proper good, that you may gain what is no good, consider how unreasonable and foolish you are. Besides, which would you rather have, a sum of money or a faithful and honorable friend? Rather assist me, then, to gain this character than require me to do those things by which I may lose it. Well, but my country, say you, as far as depends upon me, will be unassisted. Here, again, what assistance is this you mean? It will not have porticos nor baths of your providing? And what signifies that? Why, neither does a smith provide it with shoes, nor a shoemaker with arms. It is enough if everyone fully performs his own proper business. And were you to supply it with another faithful and honorable citizen, would not he be of use to it? Yes. Therefore neither are you yourself useless to it. What place, then, say you, shall I hold in the state? Whatever you can hold with the preservation of your fidelity and honor. But if, by desiring to be useful to that, you lose these, how can you serve your country when you have become faithless and shameless?

XXV

Is anyone preferred before you at an entertainment, or in courtesies, or in confidential intercourse? If these things are good, you ought to rejoice that he has them; and if they are evil, do not be grieved that you have them not. And remember that you cannot be permitted to rival others in externals without using the same means to obtain them. For how can he who will not haunt the door of any man, will not attend him, will not praise him, have an equal share with him who does these things? You are unjust, then, and unreasonable if you are unwilling to pay the price for which these things are sold, and would have them for nothing. For how much are lettuces sold? An obulus, for instance. If another, then, paying an obulus, takes the lettuces, and you, not paying it, go without them, do not imagine that he has gained any advantage over you. For as he has the lettuces, so you have the obulus which you did not give. So, in the present case, you have not been invited to such a persons entertainment because you have not paid him the price for which a supper is sold. It is sold for praise; it is sold for attendance. Give him, then, the value if it be for your advantage. But if you would at the same time not pay the one, and yet receive the other, you are unreasonable and foolish. Have you nothing, then, in place of the supper? Yes, indeed, you havenot to praise him whom you do not like to praise; not to bear the insolence of his lackeys.

XXVI

The will of nature may be learned from things upon which we are all agreed. As when our neighbors boy has broken a cup, or the like, we are ready at once to say, These are casualties that will happen; be assured, then, that when your own cup is likewise broken, you ought to be affected just as when anothers cup was broken. Now apply this to greater things. Is the child or wife of another dead? There is no one who would not say, This is an accident of mortality. But if anyones own child happens to die, it is immediately, Alas! how wretched am I! It should be always remembered how we are affected on hearing the same thing concerning others.

XXVII

As a mark[1] is not set up for the sake of missing the aim, so neither does the nature of evil exist in the world.

XXVIII

If a person had delivered up your body to some passer-by, you would certainly be angry. And do you feel no shame in delivering up your own mind to any reviler, to be disconcerted and confounded?

In every affair consider what precedes and what follows, and then undertake it. Otherwise you will begin with spirit, indeed, careless of the consequences, and when these are developed, you will shamefully desist. I would conquer at the Olympic Games. But consider what precedes and what follows, and then, if it be for your advantage, engage in the affair. You must conform to rules, submit to a diet, refrain from dainties; exercise your body, whether you choose it or not, at a stated hour, in heat and cold; you must drink no cold water, and sometimes no winein a word, you must give yourself up to your trainer as to a physician. Then, in the combat, you may be thrown into a ditch, dislocate your arm, turn your ankle, swallow an abundance of dust, receive stripes [for negligence], and, after all, lose the victory. When you have reckoned up all this, if your inclination still holds, set about the combat. Otherwise, take notice, you will behave like children who sometimes play wrestlers, sometimes gladiators, sometimes blow a trumpet, and sometimes act a tragedy, when they happen to have seen and admired these shows. Thus you too will be at one time a wrestler, and another a gladiator; now a philosopher, now an orator; but nothing in earnest. Like an ape you mimic all you see, and one thing after another is sure to please you, but is out of favor as soon as it becomes familiar. For you have never entered upon anything considerately; nor after having surveyed and tested the whole matter, but carelessly, and with a halfway zeal. Thus some, when they have seen a philosopher and heard a man speaking like Euphrates[3]though, indeed, who can speak like him?have a mind to be philosophers, too. Consider first, man, what the matter is, and what your own nature is able to bear. If you would be a wrestler, consider your shoulders, your back, your thighs; for different persons are made for different things. Do you think that you can act as you do and be a philosopher, that you can eat, drink, be angry, be discontented, as you are now? You must watch, you must labor, you must get the better of certain appetites, must quit your acquaintances, be despised by your servant, be laughed at by those you meet; come off worse than others in everythingin offices, in honors, before tribunals. When you have fully considered all these things, approach, if you pleasethat is, if, by parting with them, you have a mind to purchase serenity, freedom, and tranquillity. If not, do not come hither; do not, like children, be now a philosopher, then a publican, then an orator, and then one of Caesars officers. These things are not consistent. You must be one man, either good or bad. You must cultivate either your own reason or else externals; apply yourself either to things within or without youthat is, be either a philosopher or one of the mob.

XXX

Duties are universally measured by relations. Is a certain man your father? In this are implied taking care of him, submitting to him in all things, patiently receiving his reproaches, his correction. But he is a bad father. Is your natural tie, then, to a good father? No, but to a father. Is a brother unjust? Well, preserve your own just relation toward him. Consider not what he does, but what you are to do to keep your own will in a state conformable to nature, for another cannot hurt you unless you please. You will then be hurt when you consent to be hurt. In this manner, therefore, if you accustom yourself to contemplate the relations of neighbor, citizen, commander, you can deduce from each the corresponding duties.

XXXI

Be assured that the essence of piety toward the gods lies in thisto form right opinions concerning them, as existing and as governing the universe justly and well. And fix yourself in this resolution, to obey them, and yield to them, and willingly follow them amidst all events, as being ruled by the most perfect wisdom. For thus you will never find fault with the gods, nor accuse them of neglecting you. And it is not possible for this to be affected in any other way than by withdrawing yourself from things which are not within our own power, and by making good or evil to consist only in those which are. For if you suppose any other things to be either good or evil, it is inevitable that, when you are disappointed of what you wish or incur what you would avoid, you should reproach and blame their authors. For every creature is naturally formed to flee and abhor things that appear hurtful and that which causes them; and to pursue and admire those which appear beneficial and that which causes them. It is impracticable, then, that one who supposes himself to be hurt should rejoice in the person who, as he thinks, hurts him, just as it is impossible to rejoice in the hurt itself. Hence, also, a father is reviled by his son when he does not impart the things which seem to be good; and this made Polynices and Eteocles[4] mutually enemiesthat empire seemed good to both. On this account the husbandman reviles the gods; [and so do] the sailor, the merchant, or those who have lost wife or child. For where our interest is, there, too, is piety directed. So that whoever is careful to regulate his desires and aversions as he ought is thus made careful of piety likewise. But it also becomes incumbent on everyone to offer libations and sacrifices and first fruits, according to the customs of his country, purely, and not heedlessly nor negligently; not avariciously, nor yet extravagantly.

XXXII

When you have recourse to divination, remember that you know not what the event will be, and you come to learn it of the diviner; but of what nature it is you knew before coming; at least, if you are of philosophic mind. For if it is among the things not within our own power, it can by no means be either good or evil. Do not, therefore, bring with you to the diviner either desire or aversionelse you will approach him tremblingbut first clearly understand that every event is indifferent and nothing to you, of whatever sort it may be; for it will be in your power to make a right use of it, and this no one can hinder. Then come with confidence to the gods as your counselors; and afterwards, when any counsel is given you, remember what counselors you have assumed, and whose advice you will neglect if you disobey. Come to divination as Socrates prescribed, in cases of which the whole consideration relates to the event, and in which no opportunities are afforded by reason or any other art to discover the matter in view. When, therefore, it is our duty to share the danger of a friend or of our country, we ought not to consult the oracle as to whether we shall share it with them or not. For though the diviner should forewarn you that the auspices are unfavorable, this means no more than that either death or mutilation or exile is portended. But we have reason within us; and it directs us, even with these hazards, to stand by our friend and our country. Attend, therefore, to the greater diviner, the Pythian God, who once cast out of the temple him who neglected to save his friend.[5]

XXXIII

Begin by prescribing to yourself some character and demeanor, such as you may preserve both alone and in company.

Be mostly silent, or speak merely what is needful, and in few words. We may, however, enter sparingly into discourse sometimes, when occasion calls for it; but let it not run on any of the common subjects, as gladiators, or horse races, or athletic champions, or food, or drinkthe vulgar topics of conversationand especially not on men, so as either to blame, or praise, or make comparisons. If you are able, then, by your own conversation, bring over that of your company to proper subjects; but if you happen to find yourself among strangers, be silent.

Let not your laughter be loud, frequent, or abundant.

Avoid taking oaths, if possible, altogether; at any rate, so far as you are able.

Avoid public and vulgar entertainments; but if ever an occasion calls you to them, keep your attention upon the stretch, that you may not imperceptibly slide into vulgarity. For be assured that if a person be ever so pure himself, yet, if his companion be corrupted, he who converses with him will be corrupted likewise.

Provide things relating to the body no further than absolute need requires, as meat, drink, clothing, house, retinue. But cut off everything that looks toward show and luxury.

Before marriage guard yourself with all your ability from unlawful intercourse with women; yet be not uncharitable or severe to those who are led into this, nor boast frequently that you yourself do otherwise.

If anyone tells you that a certain person speaks ill of you, do not make excuses about what is said of you, but answer: He was ignorant of my other faults, else he would not have mentioned these alone.

It is not necessary for you to appear often at public spectacles; but if ever there is a proper occasion for you to be there, do not appear more solicitous for any other than for yourselfthat is, wish things to be only just as they are, and only the best man to win; for thus nothing will go against you. But abstain entirely from acclamations and derision and violent emotions. And when you come away, do not discourse a great deal on what has passed and what contributes nothing to your own amendment. For it would appear by such discourse that you were dazzled by the show.

Be not prompt or ready to attend private recitations; but if you do attend, preserve your gravity and dignity, and yet avoid making yourself disagreeable.

When you are going to confer with anyone, and especially with one who seems your superior, represent to yourself how Socrates or Zeno[6] would behave in such a case, and you will not be at a loss to meet properly whatever may occur.

When you are going before anyone in power, fancy to yourself that you may not find him at home, that you may be shut out, that the doors may not be opened to you, that he may not notice you. If, with all this, it be your duty to go, bear what happens and never say to yourself, It was not worth so much; for this is vulgar, and like a man bewildered by externals.

In company, avoid a frequent and excessive mention of your own actions and dangers. For however agreeable it may be to yourself to allude to the risks you have run, it is not equally agreeable to others to hear your adventures. Avoid likewise an endeavor to excite laughter, for this may readily slide you into vulgarity, and, besides, may be apt to lower you in the esteem of your acquaintance. Approaches to indecent discourse are likewise dangerous. Therefore, when anything of this sort happens, use the first fit opportunity to rebuke him who makes advances that way, or, at least, by silence and blushing and a serious look show yourself to be displeased by such talk.

XXXIV

If you are dazzled by the semblance of any promised pleasure, guard yourself against being bewildered by it; but let the affair wait your leisure, and procure yourself some delay. Then bring to your mind both points of timethat in which you shall enjoy the pleasure, and that in which you will repent and reproach yourself, after you have enjoyed itand set before you, in opposition to these, how you will rejoice and applaud yourself if you abstain. And even though it should appear to you a seasonable gratification, take heed that its enticements and allurements and seductions may not subdue you, but set in opposition to this how much better it is to be conscious of having gained so great a victory.

XXXV

When you do anything from a clear judgment that it ought to be done, never shrink from being seen to do it, even though the world should misunderstand it; for if you are not acting rightly, shun the action itself; if you are, why fear those who wrongly censure you?

XXXVI

As the proposition, either it is day or it is night, has much force in a disjunctive argument, but none at all in a conjunctive one, so, at a feast, to choose the largest share is very suitable to the bodily appetite, but utterly inconsistent with the social spirit of the entertainment. Remember, then, when you eat with another, not only the value to the body of those things which are set before you, but also the value of proper courtesy toward your host.

XXXVII

If you have assumed any character beyond your strength, you have both demeaned yourself ill in that and quitted one which you might have supported.

XXXVIII

As in walking you take care not to tread upon a nail, or turn your foot, so likewise take care not to hurt the ruling faculty of your mind. And if we were to guard against this in every action, we should enter upon action more safely.

XXXIX

The body is to everyone the proper measure of its possessions, as the foot is of the shoe. If, therefore, you stop at this, you will keep the measure; but if you move beyond it, you must necessarily be carried forward, as down a precipice; as in the case of a shoe, if you go beyond its fitness to the foot, it comes first to be gilded, then purple, and then studded with jewels. For to that which once exceeds the fit measure there is no bound.

XL

Women from fourteen years old are flattered by men with the title of mistresses. Therefore, perceiving that they are regarded only as qualified to give men pleasure, they begin to adorn themselves, and in that to place all their hopes. It is worth while, therefore, to try that they may perceive themselves honored only so far as they appear beautiful in their demeanor and modestly virtuous.

XLI

It is a mark of want of intellect to spend much time in things relating to the body, as to be immoderate in exercises, in eating and drinking, and in the discharge of other animal functions. These things should be done incidentally and our main strength be applied to our reason.

XLII

When any person does ill by you, or speaks ill of you, remember that he acts or speaks from an impression that it is right for him to do so. Now it is not possible that he should follow what appears right to you, but only what appears so to himself. Therefore, if he judges from false appearances, he is the person hurt, since he, too, is the person deceived. For if anyone takes a true proposition to be false, the proposition is not hurt, but only the man is deceived. Setting out, then, from these principles, you will meekly bear with a person who reviles you, for you will say upon every occasion, It seemed so to him.

XLIII

Everything has two handles: one by which it may be borne, another by which it cannot. If your brother acts unjustly, do not lay hold on the affair by the handle of his injustice, for by that it cannot be borne, but rather by the oppositethat he is your brother, that he was brought up with you; and thus you will lay hold on it as it is to be borne.

XLIV

These reasonings have no logical connection: I am richer than you, therefore I am your superior. I am more eloquent than you, therefore I am your superior. The true logical connection is rather this: I am richer than you, therefore my possessions must exceed yours. I am more eloquent than you, therefore my style must surpass yours. But you, after all, consist neither in property nor in style.

XLV

Does anyone bathe hastily? Do not say that he does it ill, but hastily. Does anyone drink much wine? Do not say that he does ill, but that he drinks a great deal. For unless you perfectly understand his motives, how should you know if he acts ill? Thus you will not risk yielding to any appearances but such as you fully comprehend.

XLVI

Never proclaim yourself a philosopher, nor make much talk among the ignorant about your principles, but show them by actions. Thus, at an entertainment, do not discourse how people ought to eat, but eat as you ought. For remember that thus Socrates also universally avoided all ostentation. And when persons came to him and desired to be introduced by him to philosophers, he took them and introduced them; so well did he bear being overlooked. So if ever there should be among the ignorant any discussion of principles, be for the most part silent. For there is great danger in hastily throwing out what is undigested. And if anyone tells you that you know nothing, and you are not nettled at it, then you may be sure that you have really entered on your work. For sheep do not hastily throw up the grass to show the shepherds how much they have eaten, but, inwardly digesting their food, they produce it outwardly in wool and milk. Thus, therefore, do you not make an exhibition before the ignorant of your principles, but of the actions to which their digestion gives rise.

XLVII

When you have learned to nourish your body frugally, do not pique yourself upon it; nor, if you drink water, be saying upon every occasion, I drink water. But first consider how much more frugal are the poor than we, and how much more patient of hardship. If at any time you would inure yourself by exercise to labor and privation, for your own sake and not for the public, do not attempt great feats; but when you are violently thirsty, just rinse your mouth with water, and tell nobody.

XLVIII

The condition and characteristic of a vulgar person is that he never looks for either help or harm from himself, but only from externals. The condition and characteristic of a philosopher is that he looks to himself for all help or harm. The marks of a proficient are that he censures no one, praises no one, blames no one, accuses no one; says nothing concerning himself as being anybody or knowing anything. When he is in any instance hindered or restrained, he accuses himself; and if he is praised, he smiles to himself at the person who praises him; and if he is censured, he makes no defense. But he goes about with the caution of a convalescent, careful of interference with anything that is doing well but not yet quite secure. He restrains desire; he transfers his aversion to those things only which thwart the proper use of our own will; he employs his energies moderately in all directions; if he appears stupid or ignorant, he does not care; and, in a word, he keeps watch over himself as over an enemy and one in ambush.

XLIX

When anyone shows himself vain on being able to understand and interpret the works of Chrysippus,[7] say to yourself: Unless Chrysippus had written obscurely, this person would have had nothing to be vain of. But what do I desire? To understand nature, and follow her. I ask, then, who interprets her; and hearing that Chrysippus does, I have recourse to him. I do not understand his writings. I seek, therefore, one to interpret them. So far there is nothing to value myself upon. And when I find an interpreter, what remains is to make use of his instructions. This alone is the valuable thing. But if I admire merely the interpretation, what do I become more than a grammarian, instead of a philosopher, except, indeed, that instead of Homer I interpret Chrysippus? When anyone, therefore, desires me to read Chrysippus to him, I rather blush when I cannot exhibit actions that are harmonious and consonant with his discourse.

L

Whatever rules you have adopted, abide by them as laws, and as if you would be impious to transgress them; and do not regard what anyone says of you, for this, after all, is no concern of yours. How long, then, will you delay to demand of yourself the noblest improvements, and in no instance to transgress the judgments of reason? You have received the philosophic principles with which you ought to be conversant; and you have been conversant with them. For what other master, then, do you wait as an excuse for this delay in self-reformation? You are no longer a boy but a grown man. If, therefore, you will be negligent and slothful, and always add procrastination to procrastination, purpose to purpose, and fix day after day in which you will attend to yourself, you will insensibly continue to accomplish nothing and, living and dying, remain of vulgar mind. This instant, then, think yourself worthy of living as a man grown up and a proficient. Let whatever appears to be the best be to you an inviolable law. And if any instance of pain or pleasure, glory or disgrace, be set before you, remember that now is the combat, now the Olympiad comes on, nor can it be put off; and that by one failure and defeat honor may be lost orwon. Thus Socrates became perfect, improving himself by everything, following reason alone. And though you are not yet a Socrates, you ought, however, to live as one seeking to be a Socrates.

LI

The first and most necessary topic in philosophy is the practical application of principles, as, We ought not to lie; the second is that of demonstrations as, Why it is that we ought not to lie; the third, that which gives strength and logical connection to the other two, as, Why this is a demonstration. For what is demonstration? What is a consequence? What a contradiction? What truth? What falsehood? The third point is then necessary on account of the second; and the second on account of the first. But the most necessary, and that whereon we ought to rest, is the first. But we do just the contrary. For we spend all our time on the third point and employ all our diligence about that, and entirely neglect the first. Therefore, at the same time that we lie, we are very ready to show how it is demonstrated that lying is wrong.

Upon all occasions we ought to have these maxims ready at hand:

Conduct me, Zeus, and thou, O Destiny,

Wherever your decrees have fixed my lot.

I follow cheerfully; and, did I not,

Wicked and wretched, I must follow still.[8]



Whoer yields properly to Fate is deemed

Wise among men, and knows the laws of Heaven.[9]

And this third:

O Crito, if it thus pleases the gods, thus let it be.[10] Anytus and Melitus may kill me indeed; but hurt me they cannot.[11]




Haiti - Security : Laurent Saint-Cyr and the PM reiterate the States support for the FAdH





Monday January 26, 2026, Laurent Saint-Cyr, President pro tempore and Coordinator of the Transition Council (CPT), accompanied by Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aime and the Minister of Defense, Jean Michel Moise, made an official visit today to the General Headquarters of the Armed Forces of Haiti (FAd'H).



Saint-Cyr and Fils-Aime met Lieutenant-General Derby Guerrier, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Haiti, his deputy, General Jean Jonas, as well as members of the High Command. This high-level meeting aimed to express the support of the highest state authorities for the FAdH, engaged alongside the National Police in the fight against criminal groups.



Saint-Cyr praised the professionalism, discipline and sense of duty of the military, called upon to play a strategic role in stabilizing the country, protecting critical infrastructure and supporting state institutions. He reaffirmed the constant attachment of the Presidential Transitional Council and the Government to the modernization and professionalization of the Armed Forces of Haiti, with a view to building a professional, modern and fully operational military institution, recalling that there can be no national recovery without a strong, credible and respected military institution. He also insisted on the absolute neutrality of the FAdH, an essential condition for the confidence of the Haitian people and the international credibility of the military institution.



Expressing his confidence in the professionalism and discipline of the High Command, Laurent Saint-Cyr reaffirmed the State's total support for the FAd'H in their national security mission. He encouraged their efforts towards the lasting restoration of security, an essential condition for the organization of credible elections and the improvement of the well-being of the Haitian people.



Prime Minister Fils-Aime forcefully reaffirmed the Government's total commitment to modernizing the Haitian Armed Forces, improving their operational, logistical and human capacities, and giving them the necessary means to fully play their constitutional role alongside the Haitian National Police. This modernization aims to build a professional, modern and operational army, capable of responding effectively to contemporary security challenges.



The Head of Government stressed that the fight against insecurity is an absolute priority, inseparable from the objectives of national unity, lasting stability and collective security. He reiterated the Executive's desire to restore State authority throughout the territory, while respecting republican institutions and the rule of law.



HL/ HaitiLIbre






















Haiti - FLASH : 2 planes hit by bullets, reactions from AAN and OFNAC





In a joint note, the National Civil Aviation Office (OFNAC) and the National Airport Authority (AAN) inform the public in general, operators and users of airport infrastructure in particular, that a serious security incident occurred on Sunday January 26, 2026, at Toussaint Louverture International Airport involving two aircraft of the airline ZED Airlines S.A. at the time of their landing https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-46719-haiti-news-zapping.html



Both aircraft came under fire while carrying out their final approach and landing maneuvers, rescue and emergency services were deployed immediately and technical teams are currently carrying out a full assessment of the situation to ensure maximum safety for the resumption of operations.



This attack, the perpetrators of which have not been identified, gave rise to an immediate alert to the national security authorities to launch a full investigation, and appropriate emergency measures were taken with a view to the establishment of a reinforced security and safety system.



OFNAC and AAN strongly condemn this act which endangers the lives of passengers and crews and compromises the security of Haitian airspace.



This serious incident suspends flights on the only operational international connection at Toussaint Louverture airport, used in particular by the family reunification program between Haiti and Brazil.



HL/ HaitiLibre






















Haiti - News : Zapping...





The decision to dismiss the PM is illegitimate ?

"The decision to dismiss the Prime Minister is not legitimate because the majority of political forces did not participate in the latest dialogue launched by the Presidential Transitional Council (CPT). The CPT cannot make such an important decision without the political groups. The solution lies in dialogue to reach an agreement to organize elections as soon as possible," said Andre Michel.



FAO : Producing Food in 90 Days

Faced with worsening food insecurity in Haiti, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is deploying an emergency initiative enabling the most vulnerable families to produce food in just 90 days. This initiative provides direct support to farmers, notably through the provision of seeds and essential inputs, to allow households to quickly meet their food needs.



Cap-Haitien : Support for Victims of the Market Fire

Early Monday, January 26, 2026, under the auspices of the Cap-Haitien Municipal Commission, a special meeting was held at City Hall to jointly analyze the methodology and mechanisms that will be implemented to support merchants who lost their goods in the devastating fire that ravaged the Cluny Market on the night of Saturday, January 24 (https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-46714-haiti-flash-major-fire-at-the-cluny-market-in-cap-haitien.html). Angie Bell, Mayor of Cap-Haitien, reaffirmed that the municipal administration, in collaboration with the central government and other strategic partners, will not leave the victims without support during this ordeal. Every effort will be made to provide concrete and coordinated assistance to the victims during this difficult time.



Strengthening Health Structures (video)

Capacity building for health structures continues. New shipments of medical and logistical/administrative equipment are en route to support health facilities in the five departments of the Far North. Following deliveries 1, 2, and 3, the Ministry of Public Health and Population (MSPP) is continuing operational reinforcement in the field, in line with the vision of Minister Dr. Bertrand Sinal : prioritizing funding for the most vulnerable and access to care for all, especially women and children.







The councilors calling for the Prime Minister's dismissal want dialogue

Smith Augustin, one of the signatories of the resolution demanding the Prime Minister's dismissal, sent a letter to Laurent Saint-Cyr, Coordinator of the Transition Council, in which he explains "[...] of While many voices, including those within my own political family, advocate for reaching an agreement prior to any change of government, it is clear that this decision, far from preparing the country for stability at the end of our term, is creating internal divisions and further weakening the foundations of the state, even challenging the very principle of our national sovereignty. Deeply concerned by this situation, and driven by a spirit of harmony and responsibility, I would be grateful if you would convene the Council without delay for a consultation meeting.



Taiwan - FAES : Aid to Vulnerable Families

The Economic and Social Assistance Fund (FAES), in collaboration with Taiwan (Republic of China), provided assistance to vulnerable families and internally displaced persons through a distribution of food kits at the Evangelical Baptist Church of Beree, located in Delmas 33, on Jean Baptiste Street. In total, the mobilized FAES team distributed 500 kits of ready-to-eat food products to families facing to major difficulties.



HL/ HaitiLibre


















Anyone who encrypts their hard drive or SSD can actually assume that only they can decrypt it again. However, with Microsoft's BitLocker encryption technology, this doesn't seem to be necessarily the case, as the company automatically saves the key in the user's online account in the Home edition of Windows. This protects against forgetting the key, but also grants Microsoft access to it. Depending on the configuration, this also affects customers of the Enterprise and Education versions of Windows.

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According to the company, Microsoft receives 20 requests per year from investigative authorities who want BitLocker keys. According to research by the US news magazine Forbes, the Redmond-based company handed over recovery keys to the FBI last year. This is the first known disclosure. The background is criminal investigations into the theft of funds as part of a Covid unemployment aid program on the island of Guam.

Backup in the online account: Convenient, but not secure

Microsoft spokesman Charles Chamberlayne told Forbes: "While key recovery offers convenience, it also carries the risk of unwanted access. Microsoft therefore believes that customers are best able to decide how they want to manage their keys." Whether customers know that they are exposing themselves to this risk is questionable, however. However, considering that Microsoft has made it increasingly difficult in recent years to use a Windows PC at all without an online account, the number of recovery keys stored in the online account is likely to be relatively high.

Jennifer Granick, director of surveillance and cybersecurity at the American Civil Liberties Union, pointed out to Forbes that this data is likely of great interest to many governments. According to the Law Enforcement Request Report, which Microsoft publishes twice a year, the company also received 5296 requests from Germany between July and December 2024 in connection with criminal investigations. In total, this concerned 9835 accounts or users. Not every request automatically results in the disclosure of data.

How users can protect themselves

Users can delete the key from their online account. However, it should be strongly emphasized at this point that the management of the key is entirely the responsibility of the user from this moment on. The key should by no means be stored only on the device secured with it. Because if recovery is needed, access to the data stored on the device is not possible. A password manager on another device, for example, is a suitable storage location. After actively removing the key from the online account, it can theoretically still be found in Microsoft's systems for up to 30 days.

For those who prefer to use open-source tools like Veracrypt or want to remove the encryption for another reason, there are two ways to disable BitLocker, depending on the Windows version. The first is via the classic Control Panel. This can be accessed, for example, via the search bar in the Start menu. Then, you need to navigate to "System and Security" and "Device Encryption". In the "Operating System Drive" section, you should now find the "Turn off BitLocker" button next to "Windows (C:)".

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If this is not the case, BitLocker can also be disabled via the modern settings menu. This can also be accessed via the search bar under "Settings" in the Start menu. There, select "Privacy and Security" and then "Device Encryption". In the following window, you will find the entry of the same name with a checkbox next to it. However, turning it off without alternative security is not recommended. The data will then be very easily accessible, for example, in the event of loss or theft of the device.

(syt)

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.
Apple fears facing renewed problems with the EU Commission due to the closure of Setapp's app store on the iPhone. The company has already made proposals for implementing the changes demanded by the Union but has not been allowed to implement them, according to a statement obtained by the financial news agency Bloomberg. According to its own statements, Apple is facing a "political delay tactic" intended to impose fines on the company.

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Criticism of Non-Implementation

In mid-January, it became known that the Ukrainian provider MacPaw had decided to close its alternative app marketplace (Alternative App Marketplace, AAM), which had opened in 2024, by February 16. The reason given was the "constantly evolving and complex business terms that do not fit Setapp's current business model." However, Apple claims to have long since adapted these, at least in proposals to the EU Commission. Previously, 50 euro cents per install were due  starting from one million installations.

Apple wanted to reduce this to a five percent revenue share, which was already proposed last year. However, according to its own statements, the iPhone maker is waiting for the EU Commission to allow the implementation at all. "The European Commission has refused us to implement exactly the changes they themselves demanded," the company stated in the statement to Bloomberg from last week. "In October, we submitted a formal compliance plan, to which [the Commission] has still not responded." Apple sees this as "misleading the public." Furthermore, the EU Commission is constantly changing the target objectives "to unfairly disadvantage an American company with complex investigations and high fines." Apple's emphasis on being an "American company" seems to be a signal to the US government.

Apple: Alternative App Stores Unpopular

Apple further stated that there is no demand for AAMs  although, according to many critics, the conditions are simply unattractive. In Apple's view, Setapp is not ceasing its business because of Apple.

The EU Commission plans to react to the end of the Setapp store. This is to be explicitly linked to Apple's inaction, according to a statement that is still internal. "Apple has not rolled out changes to address central problems with its business terms, including complexity." This would mean the EU Commission is following the wording of MacPaw itself.

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Empfohlener redaktioneller Inhalt Mit Ihrer Zustimmung wird hier ein externer Preisvergleich (heise Preisvergleich) geladen. Preisvergleiche immer laden Preisvergleich jetzt laden

(bsc)

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.
A SCHEME in Watlington to encourage residents to support independent businesses is celebrating its first birthday.

About 17 businesses have signed up to the loyalty scheme created by the Watlington Business Association alongside retailers in High Street.

They include the Calnan Brothers butchers, Peppermint and Lime spa and the Spire and Spoke pub.

The scheme also has an annual prize draw with the next one taking place on February 1.



Leia Saunders, who owns No. 4 Childrens Shop, and Steph Van de Pette, who owns SO Sustainable, both in High Street, came up with the idea.Ms Saunders, who lives in Cuxham, said: A lot of the big chains have loyalty schemes  and theyre promoted a lot  but I was trying to work out how we could get more people to shop in the High Street.Were very lucky that a lot of our customers do use most of the shops in the High Street but it was trying to work out a way to give back to people that support us.Ms Saunders said she mentioned the idea to Mrs Van de Pette and the pair put it together in November 2024. The scheme had its first prize draw in February 2025.She said: The customers that use the loyalty scheme, the reception has been very positive. I think they like to know that they have a chance of winning something just for doing their normal shopping. All the people that have won prizes have been over the moon. Thats been really nice, because theyre always really excited.Mrs Van de Pette has lived in Spring Lane, Watlington, for 11 years with her husband, Matthew, and set up SO Sustainable in 2019.She said: Leia and I were chatting one day and suggested some sort of prize draw? Were always trying to think of ideas to get more people on to the High Street and it went from there.Im on the committee for the business association and we took the idea to them, and they all said that they would give it a go. We launched it for our late-night shopping event in 2024.One aim is to give back to all our customers. Its nice to be able to give them a reward for their loyalty of shopping on the High Street. By having this scheme, it helps us tap into each others customer bases without competing and I think it has strengthened connections between the independent businesses.Participants are given cards which can be stamped once they spend about 25 or more. Prize-winners receive the retail value of about 250 from five of the participating businesses.There are three draws each year in total, one in February, one in June and one in November, with each business taking it in turns to contribute to the prize.The stamp cards feature original art by artist Harriet Riddell, daughter of John Riddell, who is chairman of the association and owner of the Spire and Spoke.Robin Holmes-Smith, of Hill Road, Watlington, owns the Granary Deli with his wife, Francesca. The couple stock products supplied by small, independent businesses. Mr Holmes-Smith said: The scheme works so well. It just knits the High Street together.As a business community, we get on so well. Were all very helpful to each other, we try very hard not to step on each others toes and we always pass on information that we need to one another. The loyalty scheme has positively affected our footfall.Catherine Johnson, who lives in Britwell Salome, owns The Italian Handbag Company, which has been in the High Street for about eight years.Ms Johnson said: The loyalty scheme is a brilliant idea and it does work. People really engage with it and they seem to like it. It really does play on the sense of community here as well.I cant work out why businesses wouldnt want to sign up, but were all different arent we?
Trump announces increasing tariffs on certain South Korean products from 15 pct to 25 pct

Xinhua) 10:17, January 27, 2026

NEW YORK, Jan. 26 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump said Monday he will raise tariffs on certain South Korean goods from 15 percent to 25 percent, accusing South Korea's legislature of not having enacted a bilateral trade agreement with the United States.

"Because the Korean Legislature hasn't enacted our Historic Trade Agreement, which is their prerogative, I am hereby increasing South Korean TARIFFS on Autos, Lumber, Pharma, and all other Reciprocal TARIFFS, from 15% to 25%," he said on social media.

"South Korea's Legislature is not living up to its Deal with the United States," Trump said. "President Lee and I reached a Great Deal for both Countries on July 30, 2025, and we reaffirmed these terms while I was in Korea on October 29, 2025."

According to the agreement finalized by Trump and South Korean President Lee Jae Myung in October 2025, the United States would impose blanket tariffs of 15 percent on imports from South Korea, 10 percentage points lower than the level Trump had threatened. In return, South Korea agreed to invest 350 billion U.S. dollars in the United States.

South Korea is an important trading partner for the United States, which imported over 100 billion dollars' worth of goods from South Korea in the past few years.

South Korea's presidential office said that it has received no official notification from Washington about the latest tariff hike, and that the country's trade minister will visit the United States to discuss the matter.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Spaceport's milestone a major boost for Hainan space industry

China Daily) 10:18, January 27, 2026

A bird's-eye view of the Wenchang Space Launch Site in Wenchang, Hainan province. China Daily

China's primary spaceport for heavy-lift missions set a new annual launch record in 2025, highlighting the country's rapidly advancing high-density launch capabilities and the parallel rise of a commercial space ecosystem.

The Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site in South China's Hainan province conducted its 12th launch of 2025 on Dec 31, using a Long March 7A rocket to send the Shijian 29A and 29B satellites into their preset orbit.

This milestone followed another one reached on Nov 30, when the launch of a modified Long March 7 rocket marked the first time the site's annual launch tally had reached double digits. Since its inaugural mission in 2016,Wenchang has executed 45 launches, with the rate steadily growing.

The site, China's first independently designed green, modern spaceport, operates two all-weather launchpads specializing in medium and large cryogenic-liquid rockets. Officials attribute the increased launch rate to optimized efficiency, achieved primarily by slashing rocket testing cycles on the launchpads.

"Shortening the rocket's on-pad occupation time is critical," said Wang Yuliang, a site official.

The launch cycle for the 2017 Tianzhou 1 mission was roughly 40 days. It was streamlined to more than 30 days for the 2021 Tianzhou 2 launch and cut to about 20 days for Tianzhou 4 in 2022, which also pioneered simultaneous loading of liquid oxygen and kerosene.

Technicians achieved this through innovations in the process, merging tasks, eliminating redundancies and simplifying installations.

Between missions, they also upgraded and maintained equipment to ensure reliability. Propellant handling efficiency has tripled by adding tankers and enabling parallel transfer operations, according to commander Fu Yihang.

Experts said these refinements are key for Wenchang's future role in national projects like crewed moon landings and deep-space exploration, which will demand higher launch rates.

A Long March 12 rocket is moved to the No 2 launch service tower on Jan 15 in Wenchang. CHINA DAILY

Commercial success

Adjacent to the state site, the Hainan International Commercial Aerospace Launch Center completed its ninth successful launch of 2025 on Dec 26.

It has progressed rapidly from its official debut in late 2024 and achieved two launches within five days last year. Built in 878 days and commencing operations in July 2022, the commercial center pioneers a flexible, cost-effective model.

"Our first phase features a dual-pad configuration with rapid launch and post-launch recovery capabilities. For instance, our No 2 launchpad features a universal design, compatible with over 20 rocket models, which has helped attract additional commercial launch companies," explained Yang Tianliang, chairman of the Hainan International Commercial Aerospace Launch Co.

A key innovation is the "three-level" process in which rockets are assembled, tested, and transported horizontally before being raised upright at the launchpad, cutting preparation time from about 20 days to 10 or fewer.

A second-phase expansion, adding two more pads later this year, aims to boost the commercial site's annual capacity to over 60 launches and further enhance Wenchang's capacity for high-frequency launch missions.

On China's aerospace map, Wenchang has pioneered State and commercial sectors "soaring together with complementary functions", according to Wenchang Release, the official WeChat public account of local authorities.

People watch the Long March 12 carrier rocket blast off from the Hainan International Commercial Aerospace Launch Center in Wenchang on Jan 19. LUO YUNFEI/CHINA NEWS SERVICE

Industrial ecosystem

This high launch frequency is accelerating the development of a full industrial ecosystem. A large satellite manufacturing facility is under construction nearby, while the Wenchang Aerospace Supercomputing Center is expanding its "aerospace-plus" data services.

More than 700 aerospace companies are now located in Wenchang International Aerospace City, drawn by low-latitude launch benefits, favorable free trade port policies and a growing "rocket-satellite-data" industrial chain.

The provincial 15th Five-Year Plan pledges to advance the commercial aerospace launch site system and grow the rocket, satellite, data and "aerospace-plus" industries.

Interstellar Glory Aerospace Science and Technology Co is one of the companies committed to growth. At its launch-vehicle assembly, testing, and reuse facility, systems are undergoing intensive debugging.

"We are accelerating the construction of supporting facilities. In the future, we will rely on reusable technology to significantly reduce launch costs," said Peng Xiaobo, the company's chairman and general manager.

Yang from the Hainan International Commercial Aerospace Launch Co said: "Aerospace companies all keep a 'cost ledger'. If launch costs are lowered and supporting services are improved, companies will naturally be willing to come."

Hainan Governor Liu Xiaoming said the province is mobilizing all resources to develop Wenchang International Aerospace City, using a "launch site-driven" industry strategy to build a complete industrial ecosystem.

He invited leading global aerospace companies to settle in Hainan to share in the policy benefits and explore new models of international cooperation in launches, data, and application to build the island province into a global benchmark for aerospace connectivity.

Therma Tech Chairman Sun Meng said the Hainan Free Trade Port offers greater freedom and room for innovation.

"Startups in the satellite and data chains can together spark more innovation and provide more development opportunities for new quality productive forces in the aerospace industry," he said.

Beijing Jiutianxingge Aerospace Technology Co Vice-President Chu Guoqiang said as a result of the Hainan Free Trade Port island-wide special customs operations launch on Dec 18, corporate operating costs are expected to be reduced and convenience improved for companies expanding overseas.

Hainan Fengli Gas Co, a high-tech enterprise producing liquid oxygen, nitrogen and carbon dioxide, partnered in 2023 with the Hainan International Commercial Aerospace Launch Co to provide propellant and coolant.

"The supply process for aerospace gases is complex. Shortening the transport distance from the production site to the launch site helps reduce risk, time and cost. Also, launch dates can be uncertain, and a local service team can respond more quickly and flexibly," said Huang Shifeng from Hainan Fengli Gas Co. He said the company plans a 2 billion yuan ($280 million) investment to expand capacity, aiming to double production.

Tourists looking for an immersive interactive experience pose for a photo during a rocket stress test at the Wenchang Spaceflight Science Center on Oct 3. LUO YUNFEI/CHINA NEWS SERVICE

Government boost

Zhang Rusheng, deputy director of the China National Space Administration's commercial space department, said China's commercial space sector has entered a new stage of innovative, scaled development.

The Hainan commercial launch site has achieved a 100 percent success rate in 10 launches and accomplished a dual-pad launch capability. Zhang said the administration will support Hainan in using Free Trade Port preferential policies to pool global innovation resources and turn technological advantages into high-quality development momentum.

Li Zhongbao, chief engineer of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation, said the State-owned group is systematically planning the entire satellite, rocket, launch site, and application chain. The group will leverage Hainan's location and policy advantages to focus on core capabilities and expand integrated industries like space tourism, satellite data and the low-altitude economy, working with partners to build a new commercial space hub with global competitiveness, he said.

During the Wenchang International Aviation and Aerospace Forum on Dec 23, the Hainan Aerospace Technology Innovation Center and Hainan Weizi Daokong Technology Co released results from the Haishao series, China's first low-inclination orbit Synthetic Aperture Radar satellite.

Its low-inclination orbit enables the satellite to close the low-latitude data gap in Earth observation and provide a "full-sea-area positioning service" system, showcasing innovation in aerospace and marine technology.

Officials said the Haishao 1/AIRSAT 08 satellite has operated successfully in orbit for a year, calling it the world's first 350-kilometer ultra-low orbit.

They described the Haishao 2/AIRSAT 05 as the world's first integrated "remote sensing-communication-navigation aid" SAR satellite. Once networked, the satellites form an all-weather observation network covering Hainan and the South China Sea.

The Haishao 3 satellite project was initiated recently and will use a low-inclination orbit to enhance observation capability in mid  to low-latitude regions.

The series launch highlights Hainan's progress in building an independent and controllable satellite observation system. This system aims to form a "sky eye" covering both land and sea, providing more precise and real-time integrated sky-land-sea sensing capabilities for the construction of the Hainan FTP and supporting the development of Hainan's digital infrastructure.

Cao Shuyu, mayor of Wenchang and head of the Wenchang International Aerospace City Administration, said the city will focus on four areas: building a closed-loop "launch-recovery-reuse" system; cultivating a new satellite application ecosystem; expanding international application and trade channels for satellite data; and promoting deep integration of aerospace and cultural tourism.

Visitors enjoy an MR interstellar travel experience at the center on Oct 7. PU XIAOXU/XINHUA

Tourism thriving

Each launch also helps fuel a vibrant "aerospace tourism" sector, with thousands of spectators flocking to local viewing points. "Hainan has a good natural environment and the country's only low-latitude, coastal rocket launch site. Every launch attracts a large number of tourists," said Xin Guotao, operations manager at the Wenchang Shanhaitian Convention Center.

In surrounding towns, many guesthouses offer rooftop viewing.

The center's roof can accommodate over 300 viewers, providing refreshments, aerospace lectures and video screenings.

Tourists from across China have been enjoying the thrills of the launch experience.

Tang Yutong from Guangdong province has traveled to Wenchang multiple times to "chase rockets", often dressed in traditional moon Goddess Chang'e and Jade Rabbit costumes to blend ancient myth with modern technology.

"A person must come to see a rocket launch by the sea once in their lifetime," said Si Shuxian, a tourist from Henan province. "Bringing my kids here can let them see for themselves our country's strength."

Chen Jiaojiao, from Sanya, Hainan, said watching rocket launches connects people from different regions."Tourists from all over the country, and even the world, gather in Wenchang. We don't know each other but share the same expectation, cheering together for the rocket's ascent."

At the Wenchang Space Supercomputing Science and Technology Museum, satellites like the Wenchang Supercomputing 1 are on display.

The Wenchang Jixing Meteorite Museum integrates aerospace technology with cultural tourism innovation. It showcases over 400 celestial specimens, and invites visitors to view the mysteries of the universe.

Through artificial intelligence interactions, virtual reality tours and other technology, it offers an immersive space exploration experience. This "tech-infused tourism" model reflects the Hainan Free Trade Port's broader strategy to diversify and modernize its tourism and technology sectors, officials said.

"Parent-child and family trips are the main visits during holidays, with foot traffic significantly higher than usual," said a representative from the Wenchang Jixing Meteorite Museum. Combining aerospace with cultural tourism has strong appeal, with science popularization classes and interactive experiments making aerospace charm tangible.

Chen Jian'ge, secretary-general of the Wenchang Tourism Association, said the future of aerospace tourism requires breaking boundaries for greater integration, suggesting further developing iconic aerospace tourism IPs and more diverse, professional tourism formats.

(Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun)
Texas Governor Greg Abbott is demanding comprehensive data from public universities and K-12 schools about employees working under H-1B visas, signaling a potential crackdown on foreign worker employment in the state's education system. The move has sparked immediate concerns from higher education advocates who warn that restricting international talent could damage Texas' research capabilities and economic competitiveness.

In an interview Monday with conservative radio host Mark Davis, Abbott announced his administration is examining whether Texas taxpayer dollars support H-1B visa holders at public educational institutions. He indicated the state would announce an "action plan" later this week based on findings from the inquiry.

"I don't see any reason why we need any H-1B visa employees in our public schools in the state of Texas," Abbott stated. "But we're going to find out if there's some unique skill set or whatever the case may be."

Urgent Data Request to University Systems

Internal emails obtained by Quorum Report reveal the governor's office contacted Texas A&M University System leaders Friday, requesting detailed information about all H-1B visa employees by close of business Monday. The data request specifically sought employees' roles, responsibilities, and countries of origin.

The tight deadline came as many Texas universities, including Texas A&M and the University of Texas at Austin, were closed Monday due to severe winter weather that impacted much of the state. The Texas Tribune reached out to multiple university systems for comment but received no immediate responses due to the closures.

The request marks an escalation in scrutiny of foreign worker programs at educational institutions, following recent reporting by conservative news outlet The Dallas Express. That publication disclosed it had sought public records about Texas A&M University's H-1B visa usage for months and filed a complaint with the Texas attorney general before obtaining the information.

Understanding H-1B Visas in Education

H-1B visas allow employers to hire foreign workers for specialized positions typically requiring at least a bachelor's degree. The program has become essential infrastructure for America's research universities and academic medical centers, which rely on these visas to recruit professors, researchers, physicians, and other highly trained professionals from around the world.

Federal immigration data demonstrate that some of Texas' largest education-sector employers of H-1B visa holders include major school districts like Dallas ISD, as well as prestigious academic medical centers such as UT Southwestern Medical Center and UT MD Anderson Cancer Center. These institutions compete globally for top talent in specialized fields where qualified American workers may be scarce.

Universities particularly depend on H-1B visas to staff cutting-edge research programs in fields like artificial intelligence, biotechnology, engineering, and medicine. Many of these positions require extremely specialized expertise that takes years to develop and may not be readily available among domestic applicants.

Broader Political Context

Abbott's comments suggested alignment with the Trump administration's immigration enforcement priorities. He indicated that some visa holders may have been admitted during the Biden administration and could have overstayed their authorized periods.

"Those, again, are the type of people that the Trump administration is trying to remove," Abbott said, linking his inquiry to federal immigration enforcement efforts.

The governor's investigation comes amid heightened national debate over H-1B visas and skilled immigration policy. While the Trump administration has generally taken restrictive stances on immigration, the H-1B program has created tensions within the Republican coalition. Tech industry leaders and business groupsincluding those close to Trumphave advocated for maintaining or expanding access to high-skilled foreign workers, while immigration restrictionists argue the program displaces American workers and suppresses wages.

Recent federal policy changes have already created new challenges for universities seeking to hire international talent. A $100,000 fee imposed on some new H-1B hires from abroad has drawn criticism from academic leaders who say it makes American institutions less competitive globally.

Higher Education Leaders Sound Alarm

Higher education advocates quickly raised concerns about the potential economic and academic consequences of restricting universities' access to international faculty and researchers.

"What has made U.S. higher education the best in the world is that we have been able to attract the best people for these positions," said Miriam Feldblum, co-founder and CEO of the Presidents' Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration. Her organization represents a national coalition of college and university leaders focused on immigration policy issues.

Feldblum emphasized that recent federal policies already threaten the competitiveness of American universities in recruiting global talent. Additional state-level restrictions could compound these challenges, potentially driving top researchers and scholars to institutions in other countries or states with more welcoming policies.

The concern extends beyond individual career decisions. Research universities generate substantial economic activity through sponsored research, technology transfer, startup companies, and highly paid jobs. International faculty and researchers contribute significantly to this ecosystem, bringing diverse perspectives and global research networks that enhance American innovation capacity.

Questions About Implementation

Abbott's broad statement questioning the need for H-1B visa holders in public schools raised immediate questions about how such a policy might work in practice. While K-12 schools employ relatively few H-1B workers compared to universities, those positions often fill critical gaps in specialized areas like bilingual education, special education, and STEM instruction in rural or underserved districts.

At the university level, the implications could be far more dramatic. Major research universities employ hundreds or thousands of H-1B visa holders in roles spanning from laboratory scientists and medical specialists to assistant professors in engineering and computer science departments. Many of these employees are on paths to permanent residency and have been recruited through extensive national or international searches.

The governor's office and affected university systems had not immediately clarified several key questions: Would the proposed action plan apply retroactively to current employees? Would it affect only new hires? How would it distinguish between different types of positions and specializations? What process would determine whether a "unique skill set" justifies an exception?

Potential Consequences for Texas

Texas has positioned itself as a leader in higher education and research, with institutions like the University of Texas at Austin, Texas A&M University, Rice University, and others consistently ranking among the nation's top research institutions. This status depends significantly on the ability to compete globally for talent.

The state's major academic medical centersincluding UT Southwestern, UT MD Anderson, Baylor College of Medicine, and othersconduct groundbreaking research and provide specialized clinical care that often requires recruiting physicians and scientists trained in specific techniques or fields available only at a handful of institutions worldwide.

Technology companies and startups frequently cite access to university research and talent pipelines as factors in location decisions. Restrictions on international hiring could potentially influence where companies choose to establish operations, affecting Texas' broader economic development strategy.

Abbott's inquiry also comes as Texas institutions compete for major research initiatives. Binghamton University in New York just announced a record $55 million investment to establish the nation's first independent AI research center at a public university. Such initiatives require access to global talent pools to succeed.

Timeline and Next Steps

The governor indicated Texas would announce its action plan later this week, presumably after reviewing the data collected from universities and school districts. The specific contents and implementation timeline of this plan remain unclear.

University leaders, faculty groups, and higher education associations will likely mobilize quickly if the proposed policies threaten existing employees or future hiring flexibility. Previous attempts to restrict international student or scholar programs have prompted legal challenges and coordinated advocacy efforts.

The controversy also unfolds against the backdrop of Texas' 2026 legislative session, where education policy remains contentious. Lawmakers continue debating school vouchers, funding formulas, and the role of universities in state economic developmentissues that could intersect with questions about international hiring.

National Implications

While Abbott's inquiry focuses on Texas institutions, other Republican-led states may watch the outcome closely. State-level restrictions on H-1B employment would represent a new front in immigration policy, which has traditionally been primarily a federal domain.

The tension between state and federal authority over employment-based immigration could raise legal questions. H-1B visas are issued by federal authorities under federal law, though states maintain significant control over public employment and educational institutions.

Texas' actions could also influence the broader national debate over skilled immigration policy. If implemented, restrictions in one of America's largest and most economically dynamic states could provide data points for both supporters and opponents of current H-1B program structures.

Looking Ahead

As Texas universities and schools compile the requested data under tight deadlines, the education community awaits details of the governor's planned action. The outcome will likely shape not only employment practices at Texas institutions but potentially influence the national conversation about skilled immigration, university autonomy, and America's competitiveness in research and innovation.

For now, uncertainty prevails. International faculty and researchers at Texas institutions face questions about their future, while university leaders must balance compliance with state directives against their institutional missions and competitive imperatives.

The coming weeks will reveal whether Abbott's investigation leads to significant policy changes or represents primarily a political statement aligned with broader immigration enforcement themes. Either way, the episode highlights the growing intersection of immigration politics with higher education policya trend that shows no signs of abating.

Originally published on University Herald
U.S. intelligence officials are preparing to establish a sustained presence inside Venezuela as part of Washington's effort to shape the country's political transition after the capture of former president Nicolas Maduro, according to a new report.

Discussions between the CIA and the State Department have focused on defining the U.S. footprint in Venezuela in both the short and long term. While the State Department is expected to anchor Washington's diplomatic presence, the administration is likely to rely on the CIA to lead the initial phase of re-engagement amid political uncertainty and security risks following Maduro's removal.

"State plants the flag but CIA is really the influence," one source familiar with the planning told CNN, adding that the agency's near-term goals include preparing the ground for diplomatic efforts, building relationships with local actors and addressing security concerns.

U.S. officials may initially operate from a CIA annex before the reopening of an embassy, enabling informal contacts with government factions, opposition figures and potential threats, according to the source.

A former U.S. official said establishing such an annex would be a priority because it could facilitate liaison channels with Venezuelan intelligence services and allow conversations that diplomats cannot conduct. The CIA declined to comment.

CIA Director John Ratcliffe traveled to Caracas earlier this month to meet interim president Delcy Rodriguez and military leaders, becoming the most senior U.S. official to visit Venezuela since the operation against Maduro. According to U.S. officials cited by The New York Times, Ratcliffe conveyed that Venezuela could no longer serve as a safe haven for adversaries such as China, Russia and Iran. The CIA is expected to brief Venezuelan officials on intelligence related to those actors, sources said.

The agency's involvement in Venezuela predates Maduro's capture, as CIA officers have reportedly been operating inside the country for months, tracking Maduro's movements with assistance from sources within the Venezuelan government. Intelligence assessments also shaped Washington's decision to back Rodriguez rather than opposition leader Maria Corina Machado, according to officials familiar with the process.

U.S. officials involved in planning say broader policy objectives remain unclear despite President Donald Trump's claim that his administration would "run" Venezuela. The lack of defined goals has complicated efforts to coordinate diplomatic and intelligence strategies, sources told CNN.

The United States withdrew its diplomats from Caracas in 2019, though limited teams have recently returned to assess the feasibility of reopening the embassy.

Originally published on Latin Times
Minnesota's chief federal judge issued a sharp rebuke to the Trump administration's immigration enforcement operation Monday, ordering the acting head of Immigration and Customs Enforcement to appear personally in court Friday to explain why he should not be held in contempt for repeatedly violating court orders regarding detained immigrants.

Chief U.S. District Judge Patrick Schiltz directed Todd Lyons, ICE's acting director, to appear at 1 p.m. in Minneapolis to answer questions about the case of Juan Tobay Robles, an Ecuadorian man detained earlier this month. The extraordinary order marks a dramatic escalation in tensions between the federal judiciary and the Trump administration over immigration enforcement operations that have flooded Minnesota courts with legal challenges.

"This Court has been extremely patient with respondents, even though respondents decided to send thousands of agents to Minnesota to detain aliens without making any provision for dealing with the hundreds of habeas petitions and other lawsuits that were sure to result," Schiltz wrote. "This Court's patience is at an end."

Pattern of Non-Compliance with Court Orders

In his three-page order, Schiltz accused federal immigration authorities of failing to comply with "dozens of court orders" in recent weeks. The judge, appointed by President George W. Bush, said the Department of Homeland Security and ICE "have continually assured the Court that they recognize their obligation to comply with Court orders" and pledged to take steps to honor those directives.

"Unfortunately, though, the violations continue," Schiltz wrote, explaining his decision to summon Lyons personally. "Accordingly, the Court will order Todd Lyons, the Acting Director of ICE, to appear personally before the Court and show cause why he should not be held in contempt of Court."

The contempt threat centers on the case of Tobay Robles, who was arrested by federal immigration agents and placed in ICE custody at Fort Snelling, Minnesota. His attorney, Graham Blair Ojala-Barbour, filed a habeas corpus petition on January 8 challenging the detention. Schiltz ordered the Trump administration to respond by January 12 and subsequently issued an order on January 14 requiring authorities to either provide Tobay Robles with a bond hearing within seven days or immediately release him.

According to court filings, Tobay Robles' lawyers informed the court Friday that their client had received neither a bond hearing nor release from custody, directly violating the judge's order. Schiltz noted that if the parties file notice that Tobay Robles has been released before Friday's hearing, the court will cancel the proceeding and not require Lyons to appear.

Operation Metro Surge and Its Legal Fallout

The confrontation comes amid Operation Metro Surge, the Trump administration's intensive immigration enforcement campaign in Minnesota that began in December 2025. The operation followed conservative influencers resurfacing allegations of daycare fraud involving Somali immigrants, though the administration has cited broader immigration enforcement priorities.

Thousands of federal agents have descended on the Twin Cities area, leading to a surge in arrests and detentions that has overwhelmed the state's court systems with legal challenges. Judges have issued numerous orders directing the immediate release of immigrants who claim they were illegally detained or arrested, creating a flood of habeas corpus petitions that the administration has struggled to address.

The operation has also resulted in tragedy. Federal agents fatally shot Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old ICU nurse, on a Minneapolis street over the weekend. Weeks earlier, an ICE agent shot and killed Renee Good, a mother of three, in her car. Both were U.S. citizens. The shootings have sparked widespread protests and intensified criticism of federal immigration enforcement tactics in Minnesota.

Minnesota state officials, including Governor Tim Walz, have pressed for ICE and other immigration authorities to cease aggressive actions in Minneapolis and elsewhere in the state. The city's mayor and other local leaders have expressed concerns about public safety and civil rights violations.

Consequences of Non-Compliance

Judge Schiltz detailed the human impact of the administration's failure to comply with court orders, noting that the consequences "has almost always been significant hardship to aliens (many of whom have lawfully lived and worked in the United States for years and done absolutely nothing wrong)."

He described how non-compliance extends detention periods, results in detainees being transported from Minnesota to Texas against court orders, or leaves people released in distant states with no means to return home. These outcomes, the judge emphasized, affect individuals who often have established lives and families in Minnesota and have committed no crimes beyond immigration violations, if any.

The administration's approach appears to prioritize rapid enforcement actions over legal processes designed to protect individual rights. By deploying thousands of agents without establishing systems to handle the predictable legal challenges, authorities created a situation where compliance with constitutional requirements became administratively difficultthough judges have made clear that administrative convenience cannot override legal obligations.

Broader Legal Context and Constitutional Questions

The Minnesota case represents one front in a broader legal battle over immigration enforcement and due process rights. Courts across the country have grappled with questions about when and how detained immigrants must receive hearings, what constitutional protections apply, and how to balance enforcement priorities against individual rights.

Habeas corpus petitionslegal challenges to unlawful detentionhave deep constitutional roots dating to the founding. The right to challenge detention before a neutral judge represents a fundamental check on executive power. When immigration authorities repeatedly ignore judicial orders directing hearings or release, they undermine this constitutional architecture.

Schiltz's frustration reflects a judiciary confronting systematic non-compliance rather than isolated incidents. The judge noted that he had been "extremely patient" with the administration, suggesting previous violations were tolerated with warnings and opportunities to correct course. The decision to summon Lyons personally and threaten contempt proceedings signals that patience has expired.

Previous Conflicts with the Administration

The current confrontation follows another recent clash between Schiltz and the Trump administration. Last week, the Justice Department asked the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 8th Circuit to order Schiltz to sign arrest warrants for five people connected to an anti-ICE protest at a church in St. Paul earlier this month. The group included former CNN anchor Don Lemon.

A U.S. magistrate judge had declined to issue the warrants, and the Justice Department sought review of that decision. When Schiltz, who was assigned the matter, did not act as quickly as the administration wanted, federal prosecutors took the unusual step of appealing directly to the circuit court.

A unanimous panel of three judges on the 8th Circuit declined the administration's request. In a letter to the appeals court, Schiltz characterized the Justice Department's efforts as "unprecedented" and said "there is absolutely no emergency."

These episodes illustrate mounting tensions between federal courts in Minnesota and immigration enforcement officials over both substancewhat the law requiresand processhow quickly courts must act on administration requests.

What Contempt of Court Means

A contempt finding would represent a significant legal rebuke to the administration's immigration enforcement efforts. Civil contempt proceedings aim to compel compliance with court orders rather than punish past violations. If held in contempt, Lyons could face fines or other sanctions designed to force compliance.

However, the practical and political implications extend beyond any specific penalty. A federal judge finding the acting director of a major federal agency in contempt would mark an extraordinary breakdown in the relationship between the judicial and executive branches. It would also potentially expose the administration to further legal challenges and embolden other courts to take firmer stances on compliance issues.

The Trump administration faces a choice: comply with Schiltz's order by releasing Tobay Robles before Friday, send Lyons to court to explain the violations and potentially face contempt proceedings, or defy the judge's order entirelya move that would trigger a constitutional crisis.

Immigration Enforcement and Academic Institutions

While the Minnesota case centers on immigration enforcement operations, similar tensions affect higher education institutions hosting international students, scholars, and employees. Universities have expressed concern that aggressive enforcement actions and legal uncertainty could deter international talent from choosing American institutions.

The aggressive enforcement climate, combined with policy proposals like Texas Governor Greg Abbott's recent demand for H-1B visa data from universities, creates an environment where academic institutions must navigate competing pressures: federal immigration enforcement priorities, state-level scrutiny, institutional missions to support international communities, and legal obligations to comply with various authorities.

The Minnesota cases illustrate how quickly immigration policy disputes can escalate from political debates to constitutional confrontations, with federal judges asserting authority to check executive action when they believe fundamental rights are at stake.

National Implications

Minnesota's experience may preview conflicts in other jurisdictions where the Trump administration has intensified immigration enforcement. If federal immigration authorities continue patterns of non-compliance with court orders, more judges may follow Schiltz's example in demanding personal appearances and threatening contempt proceedings.

The administration faces a fundamental tension between its stated enforcement priorities and the legal processes required in a constitutional system. Rapid, large-scale detention operations inevitably generate legal challenges. When authorities lack systems to respond to those challenges while honoring due process requirements, courts will interveneand judges will not tolerate indefinite non-compliance.

Looking to Friday's Hearing

All eyes now turn to Minneapolis, where Friday's hearing will reveal whether the administration chooses to release Tobay Robles, send Lyons to explain the violations, or take some other course. The outcome will signal how the Trump administration approaches judicial authority over immigration enforcement and whether the pattern of non-compliance Schiltz documented will continue.

For the hundreds of detained immigrants in Minnesota and the lawyers representing them, the case represents a test of whether court orders protecting individual rights retain meaning in the face of aggressive federal enforcement operations. For judges like Schiltz, it presents a question of how to maintain judicial authority when a federal agency appears unwilling to comply with rulings.

The confrontation in Minnesota extends beyond a single detained individual or even the broader Operation Metro Surge. It raises fundamental questions about the relationship between executive power and judicial authority, about how immigration enforcement must balance security priorities against individual rights, and about whether the courts can effectively check federal agencies that choose to ignore their orders.
W Hotels, part of Marriott Bonvoy's portfolio of over 30 extraordinary hotel brands, is poised to reveal a new chapter in luxury lifestyle hospitality this spring with the highly anticipated opening of the brand's first property in the Kingdom. Anchored in the heart of the King Abdullah Financial District (KAFD), the capital's visionary urban development, W Riyadh - KAFD will introduce the brand's global evolution with detail-driven design, distinct dining experiences, and an elevated Whatever/Whenever service.

The urban escape will feature 210 stylishly designed guest rooms, including 17 suites, two Penthouses, and the W Penthouse. Every detail in each guestroom and suite is designed to strike the perfect balance of character and local influences. The hotel will introduce a new social heartbeat to Riyadh through six venues , including the brand's signature W Lounge, each blending expressive design interiors with immersive culinary moments and locally curated cultural programming. Every venue is designed as a social stage, bringing together global flavours and atmospheres that evolve from day to night.

Guests will also be invited to rebalance and recharge across signature facilities, including the AWAY Spa, a modern retreat for restoration, FIT, a performance-driven fitness space equipped with the latest technology, and the WET Deck, a sculptural escape designed for reflection, relaxation, and social connection.

Supporting the city's expanding business and creative landscape, W Riyadh - KAFD will also offer over 1,000 square metres of flexible event space , designed for intimate gatherings and avant-garde social gatherings.

Hotel website
AVENEW Development, a Dubai-born real estate innovator, has signed an agreement with Hilton (NYSE: HLT) to open Waldorf Astoria Dubai Islands and Waldorf Astoria Residences Dubai Islands, introducing the iconic luxury brand to one of the city's most anticipated coastal destinations.

Bringing Waldorf Astoria's timeless luxury and world-renowned hospitality to Dubai Islands, the project is designed to balance residential comfort with the brand's signature service. It will offer meticulously crafted living spaces that combine architectural excellence with functional elegance, creating a truly distinctive and coveted experience.

Waldorf Astoria Dubai Islands will feature 150 elegantly appointed guest rooms and suites, complemented by a curated selection of dining experiences including a rooftop restaurant, an all-day dining venue, a pool lounge, a specialty restaurant, a signature bar, and the celebrated Peacock Alley. Guests will also enjoy elevated lifestyle offerings such as an outdoor pool, a dedicated kids' pool and club, a fitness studio and a tranquil spa - building on the brand's legacy of exceptional service and sophisticated design.

Waldorf Astoria Residences Dubai Islands will comprise 120 branded residences, delivering an exclusive collection of premium furnished apartments. Owners will benefit from personalized services and amenities that ensure comfort, convenience and privacy, in addition to full access to the hotel's facilities.

The signing marks a significant scaling of AVENEW's exclusive portfolio, representing its second branded residence on Dubai Islands and its sixth overall development within the master-planned waterfront community. The move strategically capitalises on Dubai's established global leadership in the luxury hospitality and branded residential sector.

The branded residence segment has grown from a niche market into a leading global asset class. By introducing Waldorf Astoria Residences to Dubai Islands, AVENEW Development combines its forward-looking vision with the appeal of one of the region's most highly anticipated coastal destinations. This strategic alignment delivers a distinctive residential offering, creating communities that inspire progress, enhance lifestyles, and endure for generations.

AVENEW Development's latest landmark exemplifies the company's commitment to creating residences that are celebrated, not merely inhabited. Each home is crafted for those who seek a life defined by timeless elegance, impeccable design, and unmatched service, while reflecting the Waldorf Astoria's storied heritage.

Hotel website
JW Marriott Clearwater Beach Resort & Spa, the premier luxury destination on the Gulf Coast, is pleased to announce the appointment of an industry veteran to its executive leadership team: Nicholas Plys (Director of Recreation) joins the resort at a pivotal time of growth and elevated guest programming.

Plys brings fresh energy and a strategic mindset to his role as Director of Recreation. Following a rapid rise within JW Marriott Tampa Water Street, Plys has mastered the art of brand-aligned guest activations. He now oversees the resort's pool operations, fitness programming, and the JW Kids Club. His focus is on creating meaningful on-property experiences that allow guests of all ages to engage with the natural beauty of Clearwater Beach.

With this appointment, JW Marriott Clearwater Beach Resort & Spa continues to strengthen its leadership foundation while reinforcing its position as one of Florida's premier luxury beachfront destinations, ensuring the property remains at the forefront of hospitality innovation through enhanced guest programming and a renewed focus on operational excellence

For more information about JW Marriott Clearwater Beach Resort & Spa, please visit https://www.marriott.com/en-us/hotels/tpajw-jw-marriott-clearwater-beach-resort-and-spa/overview/.
AICR International (Amicale Internationale des Sous Directeurs et Chefs de Reception des Grand Hotels) proudly announces that Dimitrios Trikaliotis , a Greek hospitality leader, has been re-elected President of AICR International for the 2026-2028 term. The election took place on 17 January 2026 in Brussels, the capital of the European Union, during a milestone year marking the 62nd anniversary of the Association and the 30th anniversary of the prestigious The David Campbell Trophy.

This re-election reflects the strong confidence and recognition of Dimitrios Trikaliotis' visionary leadership and outstanding contribution to the international hospitality community. Following an exceptionally successful tenure leading the national section of AICR from 2024 to 2026, he has once again been entrusted with guiding the Association at a global level.

Driven by great passion, strategic consistency, and an exceptionally well-composed Board, AICR International has experienced significant growth under Dimitrios Trikaliotis' leadership.

The Association welcomed nearly four new national sections and established several high-profile partnerships, including with AICR, EHL (Ecole hoteliere de Lausanne), Forbes Travel Guide, and Bucherer. The strategic partnership with Bucherer elevated the Association's flagship project, The World's Best Receptionist, further strengthening its position as a global benchmark of excellence in front office professionalism.

His presidency was also marked by the organization of outstanding AICR International Congresses - AICRexperience, hosted in countries such as Greece and Belgium. Each edition welcomed over 200 of the world's most distinguished hospitality professionals, fostering knowledge exchange, international collaboration, and inspiration at the highest level of luxury hospitality.

Dimitrios Trikaliotis currently serves as Director of Operations at Grand Hotel des Bains de Lavey in Switzerland. A dedicated hospitality professional, he combines extensive operational experience with a strong educational mission and a deep belief that people are the true foundation of exceptional service. His leadership has played a pivotal role in strengthening AICR International, which today represents over 1,400 members worldwide.

The 2026-2028 term marks a continuation of AICR dynamic development, with a strong focus on education, professional growth, and the ongoing elevation of standards in luxury hospitality.
Henderson Beach Resort, the premier luxury destination along Florida's Emerald Coast, is pleased to announce the appointment of David Lim as its new Director of Food & Beverage. With more than a decade of experience leading culinary operations at some of the nation's most distinguished hotels and resorts, Lim brings a refined sense of hospitality, innovation, and leadership to the resort's growing food and beverage program.

Lim's career began with Marriott International, where he developed a strong foundation in brand standards, multi-outlet operations, and guest service excellence. He later joined Noelle Nashville, a landmark boutique hotel, where he honed his expertise in curating elevated dining and beverage experiences in a competitive urban market. His journey continued at Planters Inn and Peninsula Grill in Charleston - a Relais & Chateaux property and Forbes 4-Star restaurant - where he deepened his commitment to luxury dining and service precision.

He played a pivotal role in the pre-opening of Conrad Nashville, establishing new service benchmarks and designing distinctive beverage programs for the city's first luxury hotel. His extensive background also includes leadership roles at The Darcy Hotel in Washington, D.C., Naples Grande Resort in Florida, Gaylord Opryland Resort, and most recently Horseshoe Bay Resort in Texas, where he oversaw multi-outlet operations for one of the state's most dynamic resort destinations.

At Henderson Beach Resort, Lim will oversee all food and beverage operations, including the resort's acclaimed dining venues, banquets, and in-room dining, while leading the continued evolution of the resort's culinary offerings. Working alongside Executive Chef Scott Plumley, who joined the team this past April, the duo will bring a dynamic blend of culinary creativity and operational excellence to further elevate the resort's dining experience.
HVS Hodges Ward Elliott successfully completes the sale of the W Hotel London

As exclusive agent, HVS Hodges Ward Elliott is pleased to have successfully completed the sale of the W London Leicester Square in the UK on behalf of a private Middle Eastern investor. The price, as well as the identity of the purchaser, are confidential. The freehold property occupies a prime island site on Leicester Square in Londons West End. Completed in 2011, the scheme comprises the 192 room W Hotel, 11 duplex residences and a 3,228 sqm retail unit occupied by M&Ms. The hotel also features a restaurant and bar, two meeting rooms, a screening room and a spa, as well as an additional restaurant let to Burger & Lobster.

Hotusa acquires Grand Hotel Vienna in Austria out of Administration

Spanish tourism conglomerate Grupo Hotusa has acquired the five-star, 205-room Grand Hotel Vienna in Austria out of Administration, for a reported sum of just under 100 million (488,000 per room). The property is situated in Viennas central first district by the Vienna State Opera. The hotel first opened in 1870 and today includes four restaurants, two bars and twelve meeting rooms. It was previously owned by Austrian-Saudi investor Mohamed Bin Issa Al Jaber, who acquired the property in 2002.

Dubai Holding acquires Jumeirah Mallorca from Deka Immobilien

Dubai Holding, a state-owned investment company from the UAE, has acquired the five-star, 121-room Jumeirah Port Soller Hotel & Spa in Mallorca, Spain, from German REIT Deka Immobilien which owned the property through its open-ended real estate fund WestInvest InterSelect. The property is situated above Port de Soller on Mallorca's northwest coast, with views of the Mediterranean and the UNESCO Heritage listed Serra de Tramuntana mountain range. The hotel includes three restaurants, two bars and four meeting rooms, and has been leased to Jumeirah since it first opened in 2012. Deka acquired the property in 2007 as a development project and further expanded it in 2015 through the acquisition of an adjoining undeveloped plot. Dubai Holding will continue operating the hotel under its Jumeirah brand.

Orion acquires majority stake in Corinthia Lisbon, Portugal, from IHI

London-based private equity firm Orion Capital Managers, through its Orion European Real Estate Fund VI, has acquired a 72% stake in the five-star, 518-room Corinthia Lisbon in Portugal, from Maltese hotel and real estate developer International Hotel Investments (IHI), the owner of the Corinthia Hotels Group. IHI will retain the remaining 28% and Corinthia will continue operating the hotel. The property is situated between Lisbons Zoo and the Monsanto Forest Park. The largest five-star hotel in the city, the property includes a 3,000 sqm spa, three restaurants & bars, two lounges and 16 meeting rooms. It recently underwent a full renovation of its guest rooms, spa, and F&B outlets. This acquisition marks the first capital deployment from Orions Fund VI.

Castello Sgr acquires Calampiso Resort in Sicily, Italy

Italian asset manager Castello Sgr, through one of the funds managed by the Hospitality Italian Infrastructure Platform (HIIP), has acquired the Calampiso Resort in Sicily, Italy. Covering an area of over 150,000 sqm and located on the north-western tip of Sicily, the resort comprises some 250 rooms and apartments and is set to undergo a major transformation into an ultra-luxury destination. The 100 million investment is planned to include new restaurants, meeting and event spaces, a 2,000 sqm spa, and both indoor and outdoor swimming pools. The resort will be branded and operated by a leading international hotel operator, with reopening scheduled for 2029.

Fattal acquires Cora Resort and Spa in northern Greece, from Bain Capital

Israeli owner-operator Fattal Hotel Group has acquired the five-star, 181-room Cora Resort and Spa in Afytos, Halkidiki, Greece, from American private equity firm Bain Capital. The resort is situated on the Kassandra peninsula in the Halkidiki region of northern Greece, overlooking the Aegean Sea, about an hours drive south of Thessaloniki. It includes four restaurants, three bars, a private beach and two outdoor pools. Bain reopened the property in July 2023 after a 24 million (132,600 per room) refurbishment and repositioning into a five-star resort. Fattal will rebrand the property as Meravia Hotel by Leonardo Limited Edition.

Covivio acquires future Meininger Hotel Porto from Eiffage

French real estate investor Covivio, through its subsidiary Covivio Hotels, has entered an agreement to acquire the future three-star, 228-room Meininger Hotel in Porto, Portugal, from Eiffage Immobilier Portugal, a subsidiary of French real estate developer Eiffage, for 31.6 million (138,600 per room). Construction is scheduled to begin in Q1 2026, with the opening planned for the second half of 2028, at which point the sale will be completed. The hotel will be situated in Portos Bonfim district and Meininger will operate the property under a 20-year fixed lease.

CDP Real Asset acquires Ibis Styles Roma Eur from Gruppo Amapa

Italian asset management company CDP Real Asset SGR, through its National Tourism Fund (FT2), has acquired the four-star, 191-room Ibis Styles Roma Eur in Rome, Italy, from Italian owner-operator Gruppo Amapa, for 28 million (146,600 per room). The property first opened in 2012 and is situated in Romes southern Eur district by the Palasport metro station. The hotel includes a restaurant, bar and two meeting rooms. This acquisition brings the FT2 Funds portfolio to 22 hotels.

Osae Partners acquires Hotel Sevres Saint Germain in Paris

French asset management company Osae Partners has acquired the three-star, 30-room Hotel Sevres Saint Germain in Paris, France, for around 20 million (666,700 per room). The hotel includes a breakfast restaurant and bar and is situated in central Saint-Germain, Pariss 6th district. Osae plans to renovate the whole hotel, create a wellness area and turn it into a four-star hotel. In December 2025, Osae sold the four-star, 43-room Hotel Filigrane & Spa in Paris, as reported in this newsletter.

Amundi acquires B&B Hotel Prague City from Praemia REIM

Amundi Czech Republic, a subsidiary of European asset manager Amundi and through its Amundi Realitni fond KB3 fund, has acquired the three-star, 160-room B&B Hotel Prague City in the Czech Republic from French real estate investment manager Praemia REIM, for around 11 million (68,800 per room). The property is situated some 15 minutes walk east of Pragues historic city centre and includes a breakfast restaurant. Praemia originally acquired the hotel in 2021 as part of a sale and leaseback transaction with B&B Hotels.

Cimex acquires Vienna House by Wyndham in Prague from Wiener Stadtische

Czech real estate investment company Cimex Group has acquired the four-star, 290-room Vienna House by Wyndham Andel's Prague in the Czech Republic from Wiener Stadtische, a subsidiary of Austrian insurance company Vienna Insurance Group. The property is situated in Pragues Andel district, a 15-minute drive south of Prague Castle. The hotel includes a restaurant, bar and 16 meeting rooms. Following the acquisition the hotel operates as Orea Hotel Andels Prague, part of Cimexs hotel brand Orea Hotels & Resorts.

Oppo Invest acquires Hacienda Zorita Wine Hotel & Spa in Salamanca, Spain

Spanish private real estate firm Oppo Invest has acquired the five-star, 40-room Hacienda Zorita Wine Hotel & Spa in Salamanca, Spain. The property is situated on a 3.3-hectare vineyard estate outside Salamanca and overlooking the River Tormes. The hotel includes a restaurant, bar and a wine & olive spa. It is part of the Small Luxury Hotels of the World collection and Spanish hotel operator Acerca Hospitality is set to manage the hotel.

About HVS

HVS, the world's leading consulting and services organization focused on the hotel, mixed-use, shared ownership, gaming, and leisure industries, was established in 1980. The company performs 4,500+ assignments each year for hotel and real estate owners, operators, investors, banks and developers worldwide. HVS principals are regarded as the leading experts in their respective regions of the globe. Through a network of some 60 offices and more than 300 professionals, HVS provides an unparalleled range of complementary services for the hospitality industry. hvs.com.

Russell Kett

Chairman, HVS London

+44 20 7878 7701

HVS
PARSIPPANY, N.J.  Artificial intelligence has rapidly shifted from an emerging concept to a business imperative for hotel ownersand now the focus is on adopting AI at scale. Findings from Wyndham Hotels & Resorts newly released, second-annual, Owner Trends Report show the industry has reached an AI inflection point: hotel owners and developers are embracing AI but are increasingly in need of greater guidance on how to convert early adoption into long-term returns.

Drawn from a comprehensive survey of hundreds of hotel owners and property developers across the U.S., Canada and the Caribbean and representing a broad cross-section of the lodging industry across multiple brands and hotel companies, non-exclusive to Wyndham, the findings also reveal continued confidence in hospitalitys long-term outlook, despite mounting pressure from rising costs, economic uncertainty and operational complexity. Amid these trends, owners are looking to established brands for reliable guidance, proven technology and long-term partnerships, especially as AI becomes an ever more integral part of hotel operations.

Artificial intelligence is rapidly reshaping hospitalityopening new opportunities while adding fresh layers of complexity. With years of early and significant foundational investment, Wyndham is well positioned to help hoteliers navigate this evolving landscape, offering not only the guidance they seek but also proven, scalable platforms that make it easier to apply AI where it matters most, helping turn innovation into real revenue, greater efficiency and stronger returns. Scott Strickland, Chief Commercial Officer, Wyndham Hotels & Resorts

AI at Crossroads: Transforming Interest into Impact

Nearly all hotel owners (98%) say they have begun incorporating AI into their business, signaling that broad adoption of AI in hospitality is already here. While enthusiasm is high, execution remains uneven, with less than a third (32%) saying AI is embedded across most aspects of their operations and nearly three-quarters (73%) wanting to do more but feeling overwhelmed and unsure where to start.

AI Is Already Delivering Operational Value

Of those owners and developers who have already adopted AI in some form, the common uses are for driving operational efficiency (64%), energy efficiency (54%) and revenue optimization (53%)all areas with a direct impact on profitability.

Of those owners and developers who have already adopted AI in some form, the common uses are for driving operational efficiency (64%), energy efficiency (54%) and revenue optimization (53%)all areas with a direct impact on profitability. Untapped Opportunities in Design and Construction

Asked about their plans for 2026, hoteliers most commonly (61%) want to see AI play a larger role in construction planning (e.g. assisting with permitting and zoning) followed by revenue optimization (30%).

The Vital Role of Brands as AI Reshapes Operations

As AI adoption accelerates and hotel operations grow more complex, owners and developers continue turning to brands as strategic partners to help vet, integrate and support best-in-class technology solutions. Nearly nine in ten hoteliers (89%) say working with a hotel brand is beneficial when it comes to incorporating AI into their business with more than a third (34%) deeming it essential.

Perceived Barriers

Asked to cite the top three factors keeping them from adopting more AI, hoteliers most commonly cite data privacy and security concerns (46%), costs of investing in AI tools (42%) and difficulty integrating AI with legacy systems and technology (40%).

Asked to cite the top three factors keeping them from adopting more AI, hoteliers most commonly cite data privacy and security concerns (46%), costs of investing in AI tools (42%) and difficulty integrating AI with legacy systems and technology (40%). Not Yet Ready to Fully Let Go

When it comes to AI making business decisions, hoteliers are mixed in their views of how much human oversight is required. Only two-in-five (40%) are comfortable with AI making operating decisions without human oversight while 57% require human oversight to be comfortable.

Beyond AI: Continued Optimism with Plans for Growth

Despite ongoing economic shifts and other pressures, hoteliers are entering 2026 with continued confidence in both the short and long-term trajectory of the industryechoing similar sentiments shared in Wyndhams first Owner Trends Report last year. The vast majority (90%) say theyre optimistic about 2026 while an even higher number, 95%, are optimistic about the next five years.

Expansion Remains on the Agenda

Nearly 8-in-10 hoteliers (79%) are planning to expand their portfolio over the next 5 years, a number virtually unchanged from last years report, while 97% say they are open to joining or switching brands if the right opportunity presents itself.

Nearly 8-in-10 hoteliers (79%) are planning to expand their portfolio over the next 5 years, a number virtually unchanged from last years report, while 97% say they are open to joining or switching brands if the right opportunity presents itself. Loyalty as a Foundational Advantage

Nearly two-thirds of hoteliers (65%) say a strong loyalty program is of great importance to their success, while top obstacles include operating costs, talent shortages and rising competition.

Nearly two-thirds of hoteliers (65%) say a strong loyalty program is of great importance to their success, while top obstacles include operating costs, talent shortages and rising competition. Investing in the Guest Experience

When it comes to investing capital, nearly a quarter of hoteliers (24%) will be prioritizing increased staffing in 2026, while others plan to invest in property improvements (20%), sales and marketing improvements (20%), technology investments (19%) and enhanced amenities (17%)suggesting that even amid economic uncertainty, owners continue to prioritize service and the guest experience alongside operational efficiency and marketing.

This years report shows once again the overwhelming confidence hoteliers have in the long-term resiliency and proven ROI of our industry. The results also underscore improving market conditions, with 61% of hoteliers seeing easier financing and a near even split when it comes to interest in new construction versus conversion opportunities. Taken together, the findings point to a market where Wyndhams scale, experience and platforms help create a real advantage, supporting owners growth decisions while driving value through every phase of the cycle. Amit Sripathi, Chief Development Officer, Wyndham Hotels & Resorts

Embedding AI into The Wyndham Advantage

As AI reshapes the hospitality landscape, Wyndham is helping set the pace, turning innovation into real, measurable results for franchisees. Through solutions like Wyndham Connect, the Companys industry-leading guest engagement platform, and Wyndham Connect PLUS, an advanced version of the platform with expanded capabilities, hotels are embedding AI across nearly every stage of the guest journeyfrom automated messaging and mobile check-in to dynamic upsells, voice assistance and more. To date, more than 5,000 hotels have adopted Wyndham Connect, logging nearly 12 million guest interactions, with the average hotel on Wyndham Connect PLUS seeing nearly 200 bps improvement in direct voice conversion and 400 bps in overall guest satisfaction.

Beyond guest engagement, Wyndham continues to leverage both new and existing partnerships with leading technology providerssuch as Google, Amazon and othersto strengthen hotel visibility across traditional digital channels as well as the rapidly evolving world of AI-powered search. In doing so, the company is helping franchisees stay ahead of shifting consumer behavior, with the goal of capturing demand wherever and however guests choose to book, both today and in the future.

Together, these efforts reinforce The Wyndham Advantage, Wyndhams comprehensive franchisee value proposition uniting marketing, technology, global distribution, revenue management and operational support into a fully integrated ecosystem built around owner success. Fueled by more than $375 million in technology investments since 2018 and strengthened by Wyndham Rewards, the industrys #1-rated hotel rewards program as named by readers of USA Today, it gives franchisees the scale, tools and confidence to help compete more effectively, innovate faster and build lasting long-term value in an increasingly complex hospitality marketplace.

Wyndhams second annual Owner Trends Report is available for download here. For more information, including franchising opportunities, visit www.wyndhamdevelopment.com.

Survey Methodology

Managed by Wakefield Research, the Wyndham Survey was conducted among 325 Hotel Owners & Hotel Property Developers across multiple brands and companies, non-exclusive to Wyndham, with minimum seniority of VP+, in the United States, Canada, and the Caribbean, between November 24th and December 4th, 2025, using an email invitation and an online survey. Results of any sample are subject to sampling variation. The magnitude of the variation is measurable and is affected by the number of interviews and the level of the percentages expressing the results. For the interviews conducted in this particular study, the chances are 95 in 100 that a survey result does not vary, plus or minus, by more than 6.2 percentage points for the total data, 6.9 percentage for the U.S., 9.8 for Canada, and 19.6 percentage points for the Caribbean, from the result that would be obtained if interviews had been conducted with all persons in the universe represented by the sample.

About Wyndham Hotels & Resorts

Wyndham Hotels & Resorts (NYSE: WH) is the world's largest hotel franchising company by the number of properties, with approximately 9,200 hotels across over 95 countries on six continents. Through its network of nearly 885,000 rooms appealing to the everyday traveler, Wyndham commands a leading presence in the economy and midscale segments of the lodging industry. The Company operates a portfolio of 25 hotel brands, including Super 8, Days Inn, Ramada, Microtel, La Quinta, Baymont, Wingate, AmericInn, Hawthorn Suites, Trademark Collection and Wyndham. The Company's award-winning Wyndham Rewards loyalty program offers approximately 110 million enrolled members the opportunity to redeem points at thousands of hotels, vacation club resorts and vacation rentals globally. For more information, visit wyndhamhotels.com.

About Wyndham Rewards

Part of Wyndham Hotels & Resorts (NYSE: WH), the world's largest hotel franchising company, Wyndham Rewards is the #1 hotel rewards program as named by readers of USA TODAY. Membersapproximately 120 million enrolled around the worldearn a guaranteed 1,000 points with every qualified stay and can redeem for free nights starting at just 7,500 points. With more than 60,000 hotels, vacation club resorts and vacation rentals globally, no other hotel rewards program is more generous. Join for free at WyndhamRewards.com.

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LOS ANGELES - The Top 10% and Top 1% of American households now account for more than half of all U.S. consumer spending. This dominance is most acute in travel and tourism, where their collective leisure expenditure is projected to reach $544 billion in 2026, according to new research from Resonance Consultancy, a leading advisor in placemaking and place marketing, specializing in strategy and research for destinations, real estate developers, and hospitality operators.

The finding comes from Resonance's 2026 Future of Luxury Travel , a longitudinal study tracking affluent American travelers since 2007, conducted in partnership with research firm Leger.

Based on surveys of 1,050 Top-10% households (annual income $240K$600K and/or net worth $1.5M$13M) and 451 Top-1% households (income $600K+ and/or net worth $13M+), the report reveals a travel economy increasingly concentrated among a relatively small cohort whose behavior determines where capital flows, which destinations grow, and which hospitality models deliver the best ROI.

Affluent travelers aren't a niche segment anymore  they're the structural foundation of the leisure travel economy,. Understanding this group isn't optional for destinations or hospitality operators. It's the difference between growth and stagnation. Chris Fair, President & CEO of Resonance Consultancy

Trip Frequency and Spending Surge Since 2022

The Top 10% now take an average of 4.3 leisure trips per year; the Top 1% take 6, which is more than double the 2.8-trip average for U.S. travelers overall. More striking: the percentage of Top-10% travelers taking 611 trips annually jumped from 11% in 2022 to 18% in 2025. Among the Top 1%, that figure rose from 15% to 27%.

Per-trip spending has increased sharply: the Top 10% now spend an average of $7,900 per trip (up from $5,100 in 2022), while the Top 1% spend $12,400 (up from $8,400). For context, the average U.S. traveler spends $3,700 per trip.

In 2026 and beyond, the wealthiest U.S. families have become the main force keeping the global travel industry moving forward.

Wellness, Longevity and Ultra-Luxury Cruising Accelerate

Resonance's data points to three demand dynamics reshaping luxury supply:

Wellness and longevity travel is surging: Among Top-1% travelers, 34% are planning a trip primarily for health and wellness in the next 12 months, up from 23% in 2019. For the Top 10%, that figure is 21%, versus 15% in 2019. The shift reflects growing interest in longevity science, biometric diagnostics, and regenerative therapies, now embedded in high-end resort programming stretching from Costa Rica to Saudi Arabia's AMAALA development. Cruising is rebounding, with growing interest among the most affluent: Interest in cruising among Top-1% travelers jumped from 37% in 2019 to 53% in 2025  a market ultra-luxury entrants including Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection, Four Seasons (launching 2026), and Aman at Sea (2027) are hoping to capture. These vessels carry fewer than 300 guests and blur the line between resort and ship, offering scarcity and service levels closer to land-based luxury than traditional cruising. "New-scale" hospitality is replacing legacy luxury: Hotel development is bifurcating. Mid-scale commodity projects struggle to secure financing, while luxury resorts under 150 keys  often paired with branded residences, villas, and private clubs  continue to attract capital. Recent openings reflect this: Nekajui, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve in Costa Rica (107 rooms), Six Senses Rome (96 rooms), and La Valise Mazunte in Mexico (6 suites). STR data confirms luxury chain-scale average daily rates grew 5.7% in 2025, while mid-scale and economy segments saw near-zero growth.

Geographic Shifts: Canada Tops Europe, Costa Rica Challenges the Caribbean

Resonance's findings reveal unexpected destination momentum:

Canada now ranks as the #1 international destination for affluent U.S. travelers, narrowly surpassing Mexico: Among Top-10% households, 26% intend to visit Canada in the next 1218 months; among the Top 1%, 34% do. Proximity, airlift, safety, and the ability to combine nature, cities, and culture within a single itinerary are driving demand, particularly from coastal U.S. origin markets where affluent populations concentrate. Costa Rica is gaining share from the Caribbean: Interest in Central America among Top-1% travelers has roughly doubled since 2019, with 18% planning to visit Costa Rica in the next 1224 months, more than any single Caribbean destination. A wave of branded development (Waldorf Astoria Punta Cacique, Nekajui Ritz Reserve, the forthcoming St. Regis Papagayo) and expanded nonstop air service from U.S. gateways have repositioned the country from eco-tourism niche to mainstream luxury market. The Middle East is competing for "dream trip" mindshare among younger affluent travelers: Interest in the region among Top-1% travelers more than doubled from 6% in 2019 to 13% in 2025, with Dubai emerging as a center of gravity. Among affluent travelers aged 1834, 26% intend to visit, a signal that younger cohorts are trading Caribbean familiarity for Middle Eastern novelty.

Strategic Implications for Hospitality and Real Estate

The report, developed in collaboration with architecture and design firm Hart Howerton, outlines five imperatives for destinations, developers, and operators:

Anchor strategy in affluent demand: Understand origin markets, psychographics, and risk thresholds rather than defaulting to legacy luxury playbooks. Make experiences the core product: Prioritize nature, culture, learning, wellness, and longevity over amenities and square footage. Design for authenticity and resilience: Create place-based offerings that remain compelling as external conditions shift. Curate ecosystems, not isolated assets: Integrate hotels, residences, clubs, and programming into coherent platforms. Master omnichannel and AI visibility: Ensure inventory, pricing, and narratives are legible across brand-direct platforms, OTAs, advisor networks, card portals, and AI interfaces.

The affluent travel market is robust, but it's also more concentrated  and more exposed  than ever, Fair says. Any serious growth or resilience strategy has to start with a rigorous understanding of this group. That's what this research provides.

About the Research

The 2026 Future of Luxury Travel is based on surveys of 1,050 Top-10% U.S. households and 451 Top-1% households, conducted August 13  September 7, 2025, in partnership with Leger. Resonance has tracked affluent American travelers since 2007, providing longitudinal insight into shifting behaviors across economic cycles. The 2026 report was developed in collaboration with Hart Howerton.

Availability

The full report is available free from Resonance Consultancy here.

About Hart Howerton

Hart Howerton is an architecture, planning and design practice collaborating with developers, destinations and hospitality brands to create enduring, place-based environments.

About Leger

Leger is a market research firm and long-standing partner supporting Resonance's affluent traveler research.

About Resonance Consultancy

Resonance Consultancy is a leading advisor in placemaking and place marketing, specializing in strategy and research for destinations, real estate developers, and hospitality operators. The firm combines expertise in consumer research, brand strategy and communications to make places more valuable and more vibrant.

Tom Gierasimczuk

VP, Communications, Resonance Consultancy

+1-604-649-8664

Resonance Consultancy
Alexandria, VA  Global business travel professionals are cautiously optimistic as the industry enters the year ahead  despite concerns over balancing travel budgets with costs, traveler safety and satisfaction, and potentially stricter U.S. border and visa requirements.

Organizations expect their corporate travel budgets to hold or rise and anticipate modest increases in trip volumes and revenue. Balancing cost control with traveler satisfaction will remain a central challenge, along with managing traveler safety related to travel-disruptive situations. Potentially, new crossborder requirements pose a risk to international mobility and employee willingness to travel.

This is according to the latest poll from the Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) of 571 corporate travel buyers, travel suppliers, and travel management company (TMC) professionals across 40 countries surveying their outlook and concerns for business travel in the year ahead.

The results show an industry propelled by anticipated stronger demand and financial indicators. Yet there is potential for disruption caused by external factors reshaping business travel in the year ahead. Traveling for work is critical to how global companies and economies grow, innovate and connect. We need to ensure it remains accessible, safe, and seamless  and that every trip counts. Suzanne Neufang, CEO, GBTA

Key highlights from the GBTA January 2026 poll:

Overall Cautious Optimism for the Year Ahead

Six in ten (59%) industry professionals polledand consistent among buyers, suppliers, TMCs and regionssay they are optimistic about the industry this year. Globally, about a third (31%) of respondents, on average, cite a neutral outlook.

While the majority are optimistic, trade, cross-border and economic headwinds have left their mark on travel buyerstheir outlook for 2026 is down 12 percentage points versus coming into 2025 (based on GBTAs November 2024 poll).

Stability or Slight Increases Expected for Business Travel Spending

A vast majority of buyers (84%) expect their organizations business travel spending in 2026 to increase (44%) or stay at 2025 levels (40%). Among buyers who expect a rise, the average expected increase is 12%. Only 13% of buyers expect a decrease.

Travel Volume at a Steady Cadence

One-third of travel buyers (35%) expect the number of business trips taken at their company to increase in 2026, while almost half (47%) expect levels to remain the same as 2025.

Among those buyers anticipating travel volumes to increase, the average expected increase is 14%. Buyers in EMEA (25%) are more likely to expect a decrease year over year.

Corporate Buyers Expect More Employee Travelers

Compared to 2025, 42% of travel managers expect the number of employee travelers at their organization to increase in some capacity in 2026with one-third (33%) of those expecting an increase of less than 10%.

Additionally, 38% expect their organizations number of business travelers to stay about the same as 2025, while one in five (18%) expect a decline.

Travel Suppliers and TMCs Anticipate an Upside to Revenue

Almost half (47%) of TMCs and suppliers expect to see increases in revenue in 2026, anticipating an average expected increase of 15%.

Two in five TMCs and suppliers (39%) expect revenue to remain the same as 2025, while only 14% on average expect a decrease.

Additionally, two in five TMCs and suppliers (39%) expect revenue to remain the same as 2025.

North America suppliers (38%) were least likely among regions to expect an increase in 2026, with 46% expecting revenue to remain at 2025 levels.

Business Travel Operating Budgets Remain Steady to Growing, With Some Concerns

Three-quarters (75%) of travel buyers expect their overall 2026 budget for travel management operations to increase (30%) or stay consistent with 2025 (45%). Among those expecting an increase, 20% anticipate less than 10% growth. However, 18% expect their 2026 operational budget to decrease.

Program cost savings and control is a bigger concern for U.S. travel buyers (74%) compared to other regions (62% non-U.S.).

When travel suppliers and TMCs were asked where their organization is reducing budgets or spending in 2026, primary areas cited were reducing marketing spend (26%), pausing new hires (22%), and decreasing staff / outsourcing to vendors (13%). In the U.S., 20% of TMC professionals expect a decrease in staffing and 26% anticipate pausing on new hires.

Affordability, Border Mobility and Traveler Safety Lead 2026 Concerns

Travel buyers are most concerned about the affordability of business travel (70%), followed by the ease of obtaining entry/exit permissions and visas (65%) and employee safety (56%).

Top concerns are relatively consistent across markets and roles. However, affordability (76%) and ease of entry/exit permissions (57%) are noted as most prominent among U.S. buyers. Entry/exit permissions are cited as a high concern particularly among buyers with employees taking more than 10,000 trips per year (79%), as well as among suppliers (72%).

Half (52%) of buyers are concerned about TMC service quality, but are slightly less concerned (42%) about overall internal support for the travel program.

A notable number of suppliers (45%) are concerned about the willingness of travel and procurement managers to explore and change existing supplier/TMC partners in 2026.

In terms of cost and satisfaction, travel buyers most commonly cited as big or major challenges in 2026 balancing cost controls with traveler satisfaction (59%) and prices rising above budget (58%).

Protecting business travelers from AI scams is a bigger challenge cited by travel buyers outside the U.S. (36%) versus in the U.S. (14%).

For 2026, travel buyers cite missing content in the booking tool (46%), figuring out AI (46%), and leakage (39%) as top operational challenges.

ESTA: Cross-Border Requirements Under Pressure

The U.S. government is proposing stricter ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization) requirements for travelers visiting or transiting the U.S. from 42 currently visa-free countries, including mandatory disclosure of long-term social media, contact and family information, plus possible biometric selfies and a mobile apponly process.

These proposed changes threaten to impact visa entry/exit systems and shake confidence in travel to the U.S. Among respondents who say their organization frequently sends employees to the U.S., three in four state they are very (42%) or somewhat (36%) concerned.

Industry professionals are most concerned about managing travel to the U.S. (65%), increased challenges associated with sending people to the U.S. (64%), costs of doing business in the U.S. (63%), employee willingness to travel to the U.S. (61%), and challenges of hosting meetings in the U.S. (53%).

European travel professionals are particularly concerned about privacy two in three (67%) say their employees would rather not travel to the U.S. than provide such personal information.

As a result of the proposed ESTA requirements, many respondents say their companies are more likely to hold more meetings outside the U.S. (43%), decrease near-term business travel to the U.S. (29%), decrease U.S. travel over the long term (25%), and change travel policies to limit U.S. travel (19%).

Buyer, supplier and TMC respondents also feel employees may be less willing to travel to the U.S. (64%), and that planning U.S. travel is unpredictable and risky (60%).

Business Travel AI: Automation or Transformation?

For artificial intelligence initiatives in 2026, industry professionals cite pricing optimization (65%) and predictive analytics (64%) as the areas of highest interest. In addition, buyers believe AIs current impact is primarily improving buyer data analysis and internal storytelling (45%) and automating reporting and analytics (42%).

Interest in AI-driven predictive analytics and dynamic pricing is significantly higher for buyers outside the U.S. (69%) than in the U.S. (59%).

Looking ahead five years, buyers, suppliers and TMCs expect AI to deliver moderate improvements to automation (56%), with fewer expecting significant transformation (27%) of their responsibilities.

Methodology

The online poll was conducted from January 5-18, 2026, and drew responses from 571 GBTA members and non-members across North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, Africa, and the Middle East. Respondents represented organizations with global, regional, and local responsibilities, and a wide range of business travel spend profiles.

For more information and to access the full poll results, visit GBTA Research. For more information, contact [email protected].

About GBTA

The Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) is the world's premiere business travel and meetings trade organization headquartered in the Washington, D.C. area and serving stakeholders across six continents. GBTA and its 8,000+ members represent and advocate for the $1.48 trillion global travel business and meetings industry. GBTA and the GBTA Foundation deliver world-class education, events, research, advocacy and media to a growing global network of more than 28,000 travel professionals and 125,000 active contacts. For more information visit gbta.org.

About the GBTA Foundation

The mission of the GBTA Foundation, the US 501c3 charitable arm of the Global Business Travel Association, is to help the global business travel industry create a positive impact and better future for people and the planet. The GBTA Foundation focuses on the strategy and execution of GBTA's global sustainability programs, supporting initiatives related to climate action; diversity, equity and inclusion; and other talent-related topics via education, research and advocacy. For more information visit gbtafoundation.org.

Debbie Iannaci

GBTA Global Communications, PR & Research

+1 305 301 7057

GBTA
CHICAGO  Hyatt Hotels Corporation (NYSE: H) today announced a new record pipeline of approximately 148,000 rooms as of year-end 2025, driven by strong and sustained development interest across Hyatts five distinct brand portfolios. Hyatts evolution to an insights-led and brand-focused organization resonates with owners and developers who continue to choose Hyatts premier brands, contributing to a 7% increase in Hyatts pipeline compared to 2024.

Underpinning Hyatts pipeline momentum is the strength of its global portfolio of brands and the award-winning World of Hyatt loyalty program with over 63 million members. World of Hyatt member engagement remains high, and members staying with Hyatt more than 50 nights per year increased by 13% in 2025 compared to 2024. All Hyatt hotels benefit from the enterprises network effect, with members staying 62% more and spending 93% more on average compared to non-members.

2025 was a milestone year for Hyatt as we thoughtfully expanded our portfolio, using market insights, World of Hyatt member spend, and owner feedback to identify the right growth opportunities for Hyatt. Owners continue to grow with Hyatt because they trust Hyatts data-driven performance model, value the power of our brands, and benefit from the scale of our global network. Looking ahead, we will continue to elevate our brands, our talent, and our technology to drive guest preference, owner value, and long-term success. Mark Hoplamazian, President & Chief Executive Officer, Hyatt

Global Owner Interest Leads to Strong Signings in the U.S. and Asia Pacific

In 2025, Hyatt saw particularly strong signings activity in the United States and Asia Pacific. In the U.S., Hyatt secured its highest number of signings in five years, increasing signings by 30% compared to 2024, with 50% of these deals representing new markets for Hyatt. Of Hyatts pipeline in the U.S., more than 80% represent new builds, reflecting long-term confidence from new and existing developers alike. With the recent introduction of conversion-friendly brands like Hyatt Select and collection-style brands like Unscripted by Hyatt, Hyatt expects to see a greater number of conversions in the years ahead.

Asia Pacific continues to be a growth priority for Hyatt, including Greater China, India, and more. In 2025, Hyatt grew its Essentials portfolio pipeline in Greater China by more than 50% compared to 2024. Hyatt room signings increased by nearly 90% in India and by 46% in Indonesia. In Vietnam, Hyatt added more stay opportunities for guests and members with the addition of six Wink hotels to the Unscripted by Hyatt brand, and a seventh Wink hotel planned to open and join the Unscripted by Hyatt brand in 2027.

Premier Brand Portfolios Driving Owner, Guest, and Customer Preference

Hyatts emphasis on its five distinct brand portfolios, paired with new brand leadership, sharpens its ability to deliver relevant, consistent experiences for guests and members while strengthening brand loyalty and owner performance.

The Luxury portfolio continues to see strong, sustained demand for its sought-after luxury brands and noteworthy properties. Consisting of Park Hyatt, Alila, Miraval, Impression by Secrets, and The Unbound Collection by Hyatt brands, Hyatts Luxury portfolio pipeline includes more than 10,000 rooms. Newly executed hotel deals and upcoming openings in the Luxury portfolio include:

The Clayfield , which will join The Unbound Collection by Hyatt (expected to open in August 2026) is now accepting reservations and is located in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario. Inspired by the Niagara wine regions rich agricultural and artistic heritage, the property is nestled between renowned vineyards and the charm of historic Old Town.

, which will join The Unbound Collection by Hyatt (expected to open in August 2026) is now accepting reservations and is located in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario. Inspired by the Niagara wine regions rich agricultural and artistic heritage, the property is nestled between renowned vineyards and the charm of historic Old Town. Park Hyatt Taormina (expected to open in 2028) in Italy will offer sweeping views of the Ionian Sea and Mount Etna, luxurious suites with private terraces, and a serene blend of modern elegance and timeless Italian charm.

(expected to open in 2028) in Italy will offer sweeping views of the Ionian Sea and Mount Etna, luxurious suites with private terraces, and a serene blend of modern elegance and timeless Italian charm. Park Hyatt Sapporo (expected to open in 2029) will provide an elevated luxury retreat, combining refined Japanese design and personalized service with access to Hokkaidos natural beauty and urban experiences.

(expected to open in 2029) will provide an elevated luxury retreat, combining refined Japanese design and personalized service with access to Hokkaidos natural beauty and urban experiences. Hotel NEI Nara, which will be part of The Unbound Collection by Hyatt (expected to open in 2030) will offer a tranquil stay that is designed to reflect Nara in Japans historic atmosphere while providing modern comfort.

Hyatts Lifestyle portfolio features premium brands including Andaz, Thompson Hotels, The Standard, JdV by Hyatt, Bunkhouse Hotels, and more. The portfolios growth momentum was accelerated by the acquisition of Standard International and formation of the Lifestyle Group, and has since seen strong global owner interest, particularly in Europe and Asia Pacific. Exciting upcoming openings for the Lifestyle Group include:

Andaz Lisbon (expected to open in March 2026) will mark the Andaz brands debut in Portugal, featuring 170 rooms and suites inspired by the citys creative spirit, blending contemporary design with local artistry.

(expected to open in March 2026) will mark the Andaz brands debut in Portugal, featuring 170 rooms and suites inspired by the citys creative spirit, blending contemporary design with local artistry. Andaz Turks & Caicos at Grace Bay (expected to open May 2026) will open on the renowned Grace Bay Beach and offer 59 studios and expansive residences.

(expected to open May 2026) will open on the renowned Grace Bay Beach and offer 59 studios and expansive residences. The Standard, Lisbon (expected to open in June 2026) will feature 197 rooms and suites with sweeping city views and a spa all set in a historic architectural landmark.

(expected to open in June 2026) will feature 197 rooms and suites with sweeping city views and a spa all set in a historic architectural landmark. The Standard, Mexico City (expected to open phase one in mid-2026) will open in the historic Tabacalera neighborhood with 206 rooms and suites, 27 branded residences and a rooftop pool with 360-degree city and mountain views.

(expected to open phase one in mid-2026) will open in the historic Tabacalera neighborhood with 206 rooms and suites, 27 branded residences and a rooftop pool with 360-degree city and mountain views. Thompson Rome (expected to open in 2026) will be a 70-room gem housed in a restored 1930s Palazzo near Capitoline Hill, marking the Thompson Hotels brands debut in Italy.

(expected to open in 2026) will be a 70-room gem housed in a restored 1930s Palazzo near Capitoline Hill, marking the Thompson Hotels brands debut in Italy. Andaz Gold Coast (expected to open in 2026) will debut as the Andaz brands first property in Australia featuring 202 rooms and suites, three dining venues, ocean views and a signature Andaz Lounge.

Following the acquisition of Playa Hotels & Resorts and the subsequent sale of its real estate portfolio, Hyatts Inclusive Collection established an industry leadership position for long-term growth and demand in the luxury all-inclusive segment. In 2026 and beyond, Hyatts Inclusive Collection plans to expand its presence in the Caribbean, Latin America, and Europe:

Hyatt Vivid Punta Cana (expected to open in late 2026) will be the first Hyatt Vivid branded resort in the Dominican Republic, an adults-only resort featuring 500 guestrooms and catering to the next generation of all-inclusive travelers.

(expected to open in late 2026) will be the first Hyatt Vivid branded resort in the Dominican Republic, an adults-only resort featuring 500 guestrooms and catering to the next generation of all-inclusive travelers. Secrets Macao Beach Punta Cana (expected to open in 2026), an adults-only resort, will be situated adjacent to the family-friendly Dreams Macao Beach Punta Cana and feature 406 rooms, with activities and amenities that offer panoramic views of the Atlantic Ocean.

(expected to open in 2026), an adults-only resort, will be situated adjacent to the family-friendly Dreams Macao Beach Punta Cana and feature 406 rooms, with activities and amenities that offer panoramic views of the Atlantic Ocean. Zo e try Cap Cana Resort & Spa (expected to open in 2026) will be located inside the exclusive Cap Cana community, with 115 sophisticated guestrooms, international cuisine and an elevated spa.

(expected to open in 2026) will be located inside the exclusive Cap Cana community, with 115 sophisticated guestrooms, international cuisine and an elevated spa. Breathless Los Cabos Resort & Spa (expected to open in 2028) will be a renovated resort that will feature 327 guestrooms and amenities that blend relaxation, energy and socialization.

(expected to open in 2028) will be a renovated resort that will feature 327 guestrooms and amenities that blend relaxation, energy and socialization. Hyatt Ziva Punta Cana Resort and Spa (expected to open in 2029) is expected to feature 650 guestrooms, family-friendly amenities such as a water park and bespoke restaurants, and an adults-only section.

Hyatts Inclusive Collection is also working to grow its all-inclusive offerings in new markets for the portfolio, including in Saudi Arabia, Southeast Asia, and North Africa.

In 2025, Hyatts Classics portfolio, including the Grand Hyatt, Hyatt Regency, Destination by Hyatt, and Hyatt Centric brands, saw signings for hotels in 12 new global markets. In Asia Pacific, the Classics portfolio signed nearly 6,000 new rooms, reflecting the sustained growth potential for brands like Grand Hyatt and Hyatt Regency. Globally, upcoming openings and new signings for Classics portfolio brands include:

Hyatt Regency Mazagan (expected to open in 2026) will feature 122 guestrooms along with refreshed public spaces, dining venues, and meeting facilities, and further strengthen Hyatts growing brand presence in Morocco.

(expected to open in 2026) will feature 122 guestrooms along with refreshed public spaces, dining venues, and meeting facilities, and further strengthen Hyatts growing brand presence in Morocco. Hyatt Centric Sapporo (expected to open in 2026) will offer a vibrant base for exploring the Japanese citys food scene, culture, and seasonal attractions, ideal for both leisure and business travelers.

(expected to open in 2026) will offer a vibrant base for exploring the Japanese citys food scene, culture, and seasonal attractions, ideal for both leisure and business travelers. Hyatt Centric Podgorica (expected to open in 2027) will become Hyatts first hotel in Montenegros capital and the first Hyatt Centric-branded property in Eastern Europe, complete with 79 rooms in the heart of the capital.

(expected to open in 2027) will become Hyatts first hotel in Montenegros capital and the first Hyatt Centric-branded property in Eastern Europe, complete with 79 rooms in the heart of the capital. Hyatt Centric Namba Osaka (expected to open in 2031) in Japan will serve as a dynamic hub for guests to experience Osakas shopping, dining, and nightlife scenes.

The Essentials portfolio is seeing exceptional interest from owners and developers as Hyatt focuses on scaling its brands in markets where Hyatt hasnt had a hotel previously. Hyatts newest brands  Unscripted by Hyatt, Hyatt Select, and Hyatt Studios  appeal to owners seeking to unlock new opportunities in new markets. Together, these three brands made up more than 65% of all new U.S. deals in 2025. Globally, the portfolio continues to see strong demand, with recent openings and notable new signings including:

Hyatt Select St. Louis Airport (recently opened in December 2025) features 82 guestrooms and is conveniently located within one mile of St. Louis Lambert International Airport and less than 20 minutes away from the citys top attractions.

(recently opened in December 2025) features 82 guestrooms and is conveniently located within one mile of St. Louis Lambert International Airport and less than 20 minutes away from the citys top attractions. Americus Hotel , which is part of the Unscripted by Hyatt brand (recently opened in January 2026) in the heart of downtown Allentown, Pennsylvania, has been thoughtfully restored to highlight the hotels architectural beauty.

, which is part of the Unscripted by Hyatt brand (recently opened in January 2026) in the heart of downtown Allentown, Pennsylvania, has been thoughtfully restored to highlight the hotels architectural beauty. Hyatt Studios Kalispell (opening January 2026) will serve as a gateway to Montanas natural wonders, like nearby Glacier National Park, and will feature apartment-style suites including full kitchens.

(opening January 2026) will serve as a gateway to Montanas natural wonders, like nearby Glacier National Park, and will feature apartment-style suites including full kitchens. Hyatt House Riyadh Museum District (expected to open in 2026) will be the first Hyatt House branded hotel in the Saudi Arabian capital, featuring 104 residential-style rooms designed for short- and extended-stay travelers.

For more information on developing with Hyatt, visit: https://www.hyatt.com/development/.

The term Hyatt is used in this release for convenience to refer to Hyatt Hotels Corporation and/or one or more of its affiliates.

About Hyatt Hotels Corporation

Hyatt Hotels Corporation, headquartered in Chicago, is a leading global hospitality company guided by its purpose  to care for people so they can be their best. As of June 30, 2024, the Company's portfolio included more than 1,350 hotels and all-inclusive properties in 78 countries across six continents. The Company's offering includes brands in the Timeless Collection, including Park Hyatt, Grand Hyatt, Hyatt Regency, Hyatt, Hyatt Vacation Club, Hyatt Place, Hyatt House, Hyatt Studios, and UrCove; the Boundless Collection, including Miraval, Alila, Andaz, Thompson Hotels, Dream Hotels, Hyatt Centric, and Caption by Hyatt; the Independent Collection, including The Unbound Collection by Hyatt, Destination by Hyatt, and JdV by Hyatt; and the Inclusive Collection, including Impression by Secrets, Hyatt Ziva, Hyatt Zilara, Zoetry Wellness & Spa Resorts, Secrets Resorts & Spas, Breathless Resorts & Spas, Dreams Resorts & Spas, Hyatt Vivid Hotels & Resorts, Alua Hotels & Resorts, and Sunscape Resorts & Spas. Subsidiaries of the Company operate the World of Hyatt loyalty program, ALG Vacations, Mr & Mrs Smith, Unlimited Vacation Club, Amstar DMC destination management services, and Trisept Solutions technology services. For more information, please visit www.hyatt.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

Forward-Looking Statements in this press release, which are not historical facts, are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by the use of words such as "may," "could," "expect," "intend," "plan," "seek," "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "predict," "potential," "continue," "likely," "will," "would" and variations of these terms and similar expressions, or the negative of these terms or similar expressions. Such forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable when made, are inherently uncertain, and are subject to numerous assumptions and uncertainties, many of which are outside of Kiraku, Inc. or Hyatt's control, which could cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those expressed in or implied by such statements. Forward-looking statements made in this press release are made only as of the date of their initial publication and neither party undertakes an obligation to publicly update any of these forward-looking statements as actual events unfold, except to the extent required by applicable law. If one or more forward-looking statements is updated, no inference should be drawn that any additional updates will be made with respect to those or other forward-looking statements.

Rebecca Smith

Hyatt
How Gmails Gemini AI is changing hotel email performance

Google has officially entered a new phase of inbox intelligence. With the rollout of Gmail features powered by Gemini AI, the inbox is no longer just a place where emails arrive. It is becoming an AI-curated feed that prioritizes relevance, engagement, and perceived importance.

For hoteliers, this shift represents more than a product update. It signals a fundamental change in how marketing emails are evaluated, surfaced, and consumed by guests. While traditional deliverability still matters, visibility is now determined by how much attention your emails earn.

Whats changing in Gmail

Gmails Gemini-powered updates introduce several new capabilities, but not all of them directly impact email marketing performance. Understanding the difference is key.

AI overviews help individual users summarize long email threads and ask natural-language questions such as What hotel did we stay at in Charleston last fall? These features are designed for productivity and search within the inbox. While useful for end users, they do not directly influence whether a marketing email gets seen.

Help me write and suggested replies assist users with drafting and responding to emails. Again, these tools are largely about convenience rather than inbox placement.

The most significant change for marketers is AI Inbox prioritization.

Gmail will increasingly rank emails based on engagement and relevance, surfacing high-priority messages and VIP senders while pushing lower-value content out of view. In other words, delivery no longer guarantees visibility. Your email may technically arrive, but if Gmails AI decides it is not important to the user, it may never meaningfully appear in the inbox.

This shift is subtle, but its impact is profound.

Why this matters for hotels

Hotel email programs often face unique challenges. Long-standing guest lists, infrequent engagement cycles, and broad promotional sends can all work against engagement over time.

Geminis AI is designed to reward senders who consistently deliver value and penalize those who generate noise. That means hotels with strong engagement practices stand to benefit, while those relying on volume-based strategies may see performance decline even if their emails are technically delivered.

The inbox is becoming less about who shows up and more about who earns attention.

The new performance reality

As AI-driven inbox ranking becomes more prevalent, several shifts are likely to emerge.

The performance gap will widen. Brands that maintain high engagement will gain more visibility, while low-engagement senders risk being deprioritized. This creates a compounding effect where good engagement leads to better placement, which then drives more engagement.

Segmentation becomes essential. Sending relevant content to active subscribers is no longer just best practice. It is a requirement for maintaining inbox visibility. Broad, one-size-fits-all sends dilute engagement signals and train the AI to treat your emails as less important.

Engagement becomes training data. Opens, clicks, and interactions tell Gemini which emails matter to a user. Consistently low engagement teaches the system that your messages are noise, even if recipients once opted in.

For hotels, this means that legacy lists and blast strategies pose more risk than ever before.

What hoteliers should do now

The good news is that this shift does not require a complete reinvention of email marketing. It requires discipline, focus, and a renewed commitment to guest value.

Audit and clean your lists. Regularly remove or suppress subscribers who have not engaged in the last six months. Keeping unengaged contacts may inflate list size, but it actively harms performance under AI-driven inbox models.

Focus on guest value, not volume. Every send should answer a simple question: Why would a guest want to open this? Exclusive offers, relevant local experiences, loyalty benefits, and timely information consistently outperform generic promotions.

Personalize and segment thoughtfully. Use booking history, stay preferences, location, and past engagement to guide messaging. Relevance is one of the strongest signals Gemini uses to determine importance.

Test frequency with intention. More emails do not automatically lead to more revenue. In many cases, reducing frequency while improving relevance can increase engagement and overall performance.

Monitor the right metrics. While traditional inbox placement reporting may not be available in all platforms, domain-level KPIs, engagement trends, and performance by segment provide critical insight into how your emails are being perceived. Attention placement is becoming just as important as delivery.

What has not changed

It is important to note what Gemini does not replace.

Email authentication still matters. SPF, DKIM, and DMARC remain foundational requirements for deliverability. Gemini adds a new layer on top of these standards rather than replacing them.

If your authentication is weak, your emails will still struggle to reach the inbox at all. But even with perfect authentication, engagement now determines how visible your emails are once they arrive.

The bigger picture

Googles Gemini update reflects a broader trend across digital communication. Platforms are increasingly using AI to filter, rank, and personalize content on behalf of users. The inbox is simply the next frontier.

For hotels, this shift reinforces something that has always been true: successful email marketing is built on relevance, trust, and respect for the guests attention.

Hotels that have invested in permission-based lists, thoughtful segmentation, and meaningful content are well positioned to thrive in this new environment. Those that have relied on volume, outdated lists, or generic messaging will need to adapt quickly.

The bottom line

Gmails Gemini-powered inbox does not change the fundamentals of email marketing. It sharpens them.

The inbox is no longer a chronological list. It is a curated experience shaped by AI. Earning a place in that experience requires more than sending emails. It requires earning engagement.

If you have been doing email right, this evolution works in your favor. If not, now is the time to refocus, refine, and rebuild with attention in mind. And if you need help navigating this shift and strengthening your email strategy, choosing a proven hospitality partner like Cendyn can help your hotel stay visible, relevant, and competitive.

About Cendyn

Cendyn is a global hospitality cloud-based technology company that enables hotels to drive revenue, maximize profitability, and create deeper connections with guests through its integrated solutions. Serving hoteliers for nearly 30 years, Cendyn drives commercial success for hotels through its Find, Book, Grow promise: find the right guests, drive them to book direct, and grow loyalty and revenue across the spectrum of digital guest interactions.

Cendyn has over 35,000 customers worldwide in more than 150 countries generating more than $20 billion in annual hotel revenue. The company supports its growing customer base from locations across the globe, including the United States, France, the United Kingdom, Singapore, Bangkok, and India. To find out more, visit cendyn.com

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AHG Brokerage Sells 197-Key Kissimmee Hotel Near Walt Disney World - Image Credit Hotel Brokers International



Targeted Marketing Generates 100+ Qualified Buyer NDAs, Multiple Offers, and Sale at 98% of List Price

AHG Brokerage, LLC, a Florida-based hospitality real estate investment advisor and a member of Hotel Brokers International (HBI), today announced the successful sale of the Comfort Inn & Suites, a 197-key hotel located in the Walt Disney World area of Kissimmee, Florida.

The transaction reflects strong investor demand for well-located, value-add hospitality assets in high-traffic leisure markets. Despite performance challenges at the property prior to sale, AHG Brokerage structured and executed a comprehensive marketing process that repositioned the opportunity and drove competitive buyer interest.

AHG Brokerages national marketing platform and proprietary buyer network generated more than 100 executed non-disclosure agreements from qualified buyers, ultimately resulting in multiple competitive offers. The asset sold at 98% of the listing price, underscoring the effectiveness of the firms targeted outreach strategy and investor engagement.

The purchaser is an out-of-state investor group backed by institutional-style funding, demonstrating continued capital appetite for Florida hospitality assets with upside potential. The buyer was sourced directly through AHG Brokerages nationwide database, industry relationships, and strategic marketing initiatives.

This transaction is a strong example of how disciplined marketing, broad investor reach, and deep hospitality expertise can create meaningful competitioneven for assets facing operational headwinds, said Anup Shah, Broker and President of AHG Brokerage.

About AHG Brokerage, LLC

AHG Brokerage, LLC is a commercial real estate firm specializing exclusively in hospitality and hotel assets. The firms team includes former hotel owners, investors, developers, and operators, providing clients with practical, experience-based advisory services for both acquisitions and dispositions.

Based in Florida with a strong focus on the Southeast, AHG Brokerage supports transactions nationwide across assets of varying size and complexity. Anup Shah brings more than 30 years of hospitality industry experience and was recognized with the Platinum Broker Award in 2022. AHG Brokerage is part of a broader hospitality platform that includes hotel management and consulting services, with its affiliated management company recognized as a Top Third-Party Management Company in 2021 by Hotel Management Magazine. For more information, visit www.AHGBrokerage.com.

About Hotel Brokers International

Founded in 1959, Hotel Brokers International (HBI) is the hospitality industrys most established network of hotel real estate professionals. With more than 11,000 successful hotel transactions, HBI members are recognized leaders in hotel brokerage, investment advisory, and market intelligence. HBI is the founder and administrator of the Certified Hotel Broker (CHB) Program, the only professional designation dedicated specifically to hotel brokers. In addition to brokerage services, HBI offers affiliate membership opportunities for professionals in franchising, lending, appraisals, and investment services. Learn more at www.hbihotels.com.

For more information, contact:

Anup Shah, President

AHG Brokerage, LLC

407.815.5590

Anup@AHGbrokerage.com

Glenda J. Webb, Executive Director

Hotel Brokers International

816.505.4315

gwebb@hbihotels.com
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New Wave of Anonymous Musicians Are Thriving On Their Own Terms

A growing number of anonymous musicians are thriving despite  and in part because  they are resisting conventional wisdom to (over)share on social media. By withholding their identities and letting music talk for them, a new wave of elusive artists are building momentum, fanbases, and critical acclaim.

Why Staying Anonymous Is Working for a New Generation of Artists

by Ben Jolley from Chartmetrics How Music Charts blog

In the current age of artists oversharing on social media and in lengthy magazine profiles, its been refreshing to see several new names from across different scenes build dedicated fanbases without giving much away.

While this approach isnt necessarily new  electronic icons Daft Punk and hip-hop legend MF DOOM achieved global fame from behind robot helmets and a metal mask  its certainly become harder to maintain anonymity, or at least some level of mystique. After all, neither act had to worry about feeding the Instagram algorithm or going viral on TikTok during their respective ascendancies in the late 1990s and mid-2000s.

utilizing the online world in innovative new ways and, crucially, on their own terms

With the turn of a new decade, however, a generation of internet-raised creatives began utilizing the online world in innovative new ways and, crucially, on their own terms. Since the mid-2010s theres been PC Music  the London-formed collective led by visionary Charli xcx-collaborator A.G. Cook  which pushed the boundaries of pop commercialisation while stirring debate around whether the labels artists were actually real .

More recently, successful anonymous musicians have included PinkPantheress (who didnt reveal her identity until a year after her bedroom producer breakthrough), electronic enigmas Two Shell, and the horse-mask-wearing DJ horsegiirL (who preferred to stay hidden because of misogyny in the dance scene).

The movement has reached further corners of the globe too. Masked Egyptian artist TUL8TE (CM ranking 2666) has been hailed as the new face of Gen Z Arab pop. In March 2025, a Rolling Stone profile titled See The Sound Not The Person stated that he was scoring global hits (see Heseeny and El Hob Gany) by letting his artistry  not his identity  take center stage.

Back in Britain, one of last years biggest stars took over the UK rap scene without even showing his face, let alone his full identity. EsDeeKid (CM ranking 339), scored a TikTok hit in February 2025 with LV Sandals, his collaboration with rappers Fakemink and Rico Ace. Phantom (also featuring Rico Ace) later exploded on DSPs and, in June, he dropped his debut album, Rebel. But it was after his videos and rumoured identity built hype on social media that the Liverpool rapper became a viral phenomenon.

Over the past six months, his YouTube channel views increased by 55.3M, reflecting a staggering rise of 7.4k%. Meanwhile, his Spotify Monthly Listeners increased by 11M (a huge 2.1k%) throughout the same time period. Its a similar story on SoundCloud, where his streams have jumped by 17.8M (1.3k%) in just half a year. At the start of December, he also ranked within Chartmetics top 500 artists in the world.

I dont think anyone planned for the Timothee Chalamet theories, thats just the beauty of the internet, ponders Tommy Hudson, who runs his own PR company, bigwrld, and works as an A&R for tastemaking label September Recordings. While he believes it obviously helped expose him to a wider, more mainstream audience, theres a good reason why people keep coming back to the music: its fresh, rebellious, and strikingly cool.

Another of 2025s much talked about breakthroughs  an if-you-know-you-know talent who took the music scene by storm  was Dove Ellis . Long before he released any music, videos of his dimly-lit headline show in a crumbling Manchester mansion  where his band performed in the round  went viral on TikTok , sparking comparisons to Jeff Buckley and Radiohead on the Black Country, New Road Reddit page .

The songs he posted on Bandcamp resulted in a bidding war, but he opted for an independent (AMF/Black Butter) over majors. Despite so much interest, the Galway-via-Manchester musician has remained steadfast in his artistic approach. In the song Away You Stride, he says keep their cameras off my face, while his publicist has described Ellis as an introverted character. As well as eschewing press interviews, his debut album arrived with no biography and barely any information apart from the track listing and some small details.

Though a bold approach, the 22-year-olds unorthodox method of letting his music and live shows do the talking has worked. In the release week of his debut album Blizzard  which arrived after just three singles and, as CLASH noted, without fanfare but a whisper, landing like an unexpected miracle  his Spotify Monthly Listeners rose by 108.7K between November 30 and December 7, a 429.6% increase over his average weekly growth. And while on a US tour with one of the most popular rock bands right now, Geese, his Instagram followers substantially increased  by 1.6K during the week of November 2 and November 9, reflecting a 448% rise over the average weekly growth.

When an artist like Dove Ellis comes along, theres no stopping them, Hudson says simply. Incredible music has the power to transcend across mass media and audiences no matter what. His music is very personal and probably emotionally taxing so he leaves everything that needs to be said on his record. At the same time, he recognizes that many artists just havent the desire to become stars so might turn down those high-profile interviews. In the Manchester-via-Galway artists case, he adds, everyone wants to write about great music.

Its rare for such a new artist to have their music covered by so many of the worlds biggest publications, let alone one who shuns media, but Ellis has bucked that trend. Reflecting somewhat of a turning of the tide, this approach has instead won favor with critics who recognize the vastly different route he could have chosen.

It must be tempting to go off the deep end when you find yourself as the next one to watch the music world seems to be buzzing over, wrote Lucy Harbron in a glowing review of Blizzard for Far Out Magazine. She continued: Ellis could easily have gone all in with a million interviews and cover stories, cashing in on the powerful co-signs hes received But his reserve only makes Blizzard all the more beautiful, offered out with a stunning purity and its mystery still intact.

the information age has made it much more difficult for artists to cultivate mystique

Ellis naturally ambiguous nature was explored further in The Guardians five-star album review, in which journalist Dave Simpson made the interesting point that the information age has made it much more difficult for artists to cultivate mystique. He concluded that this is what makes Ellis so thoroughly unusual, because so little is known about him.

All this seems to point back to an era where artists could let the music take precedence, rather than being forced to constantly post on TikTok and divulge every detail to journalists. Hudson points out, however, that there can be drawbacks to navigating your career as an elusive artist; in a world where things move fast and attention spans are dwindling, audiences want a constant feed of what their favorite artist is up to or what their interests are. Not having this access, he suggests, can result in losing fan loyalty or the excitement that they initially had.

it can be difficult for some publications to see synergy between their readers and your artist

From a PR perspective, he feels that anonymity can pose problems. Youre always trying to give context to the publication youre pitching to, he says whether its an appearance at a cool show, who your artist is engaging with online or visual aesthetics. Without this, it can be difficult for some publications to see synergy between their readers and your artist. When you dont have this benefit, youd better hope the music is insanely cool.

Amid an era dominated by branding and marketing stunts, audiences are becoming increasingly drawn to anonymous musicians  perhaps because they appear more focused on the music itself rather than optics or image. However, it remains to be seen if more rising stars will follow suit in 2026, especially as this factor remains just one piece of a complex puzzle. For an artist to become so hotly-tipped, as in the cases of Dove Ellis and EsDeeKid, raw talent must always shine through.

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Clark Art Appoints Curator of Decorative Arts

WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass.  The Clark Art Institute announced the appointment of Alexis Goodin as the Curator of Decorative Arts.

"Alexis is an integral part of the Clark's curatorial team, and she has brought extraordinary rigor, insight, and care to the study and presentation of our decorative arts collections," said Esther Bell, Deputy Director and Robert and Martha Berman Lipp Chief Curator of the Clark. "Her deep institutional knowledge and scholarly excellence make her uniquely suited to steward this area of our collection."

According to a press release:

Having served for over more than two decades at the Clark, Goodin has played a role in shaping the interpretation, presentation, and scholarship of the Clark's decorative arts collections. Her work in this field began in 2000, when she served as co-curator of A Fresh and Large Assortment: American Silver from the Burrows Collection. Since that time, she worked closely with Kathleen Morris, the Clark's former Sylvia and Leonard Marx Director of Collections and Exhibitions, Curator of Decorative Arts, on expansive reviews of the Clark's porcelain, glass, and silver holdings, contributing to both scholarly research and public-facing interpretation, including the 2017 openings of the Lauzon Glass Study Gallery and the Henry Morris and Elizabeth H. Burrows Gallery of American Decorative Arts. The Burrows Gallery houses the Clark's collection of early American paintings and furniture in addition to its exceptional Burrows collection of American silver.

Goodin was the co-curator of "Orchestrating Elegance: Alma-Tadema and Design" (2017), an exhibition that explored the intersections of fine and decorative arts in the late nineteenth century. She was also a member of the team that reinterpreted objects and developed new interpretive labels for the Burrows Gallery of American Decorative Arts, installed in the fall of 2022, intended to deepen visitor engagement with the collection.

In addition to her work with decorative arts, Goodin's curatorial practice reflects a sustained interest in women artists and social history. She curated the Clark's summer 2025 exhibition, "A Room of Her Own: Women Artist-Activists in Britain, 18751945,"" which examined the artistic production and cultural impact of women working across media during a period of profound social and political change.

Goodin holds a master's degree from the Williams College/Clark Graduate Program in the History of Art and a Ph.D. in art history from Brown University, writing her dissertation on the representation of ancient Egypt at the Sydenham Crystal Palace in South London.

"I am deeply honored to assume the role of safeguarding, displaying, and growing the Clark's spectacular collection of decorative arts," said Goodin. "I have worked closely with these collections for years, and I look forward to highlighting the richness of the Clark's holdings of silver, porcelain, glass, furniture, and other works in new and relevant ways, making them accessible to our publics."

As Curator of Decorative Arts, Goodin will continue to advance research, steward the collections, and develop exhibitions centered on the Clark's collection of decorative arts.
This coming summer will be the second time the Williamstown Theatre Festival has not produced a season in its 65-year history. Above, the WTF modified its staging the summer after the pandemic.

Williamstown Theatre Festival's 2026 Absence Said Not to Cause 'Panic'

WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass.  News this week that the Williamstown Theatre Festival will go dark again this summer has not yet engendered widespread concern in the town's business community.

"None of the members have reached out in panic," Williamstown Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Sue Briggs said on Wednesday afternoon. "I'm really pleased.

"The rumor on the street has been this is what they need in order to come back and be a viable festival.  With that said, I have not had any real one-on-one conversations with business owners about it yet."

"It" was the announcement Tuesday, in the form of interviews reported in the Washington Post and Berkshire Eagle, that the WTF would not be staging any theatrical events in Williamstown in the summer of 2026  just the second time since the Tony Award-winning festival has been absent from the summer scene since it was founded in 1955.

The first time was the summer of 2020, at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. The festival returned for a scaled down 2021 season and staged four straight seasons that de-emphasized the kind of fully-staged productions of standards and new works that characterized the festival's first 65 years.

In 2021, the WTF's return from the COVID shutdown was marred by allegations of "dangerous working conditions."

Last summer, the festival hosted its most ambitious program since before the pandemic, including a Tennessee Williams play featuring Hollywood star Pamela Anderson, the world premiere of a drama written by a Tony-nominated playwright, and two events in North Adams, one of which was performed on the ice sheet at the Peter W. Foote Vietnam Veterans Memorial Rink.

Last week, the festival's managing director told The Eagle that the institution was taking a break from staging events in Williamstown in order to, "[build] structures that enable work to grow, travel and resonate beyond the Berkshires while starting in the Berkshires, which is true to its legacy."

"We're reckoning with the fact that the world as we knew it, in terms of how we saw revenue as arts institutions as a whole, is over," Raphael Picciarelli told The Eagle.

Meanwhile, other regional theater companies  Barrington Stage Company, Berkshire Theatre Group and Shakespeare and Company  have returned to producing full summer seasons in line with the offerings they staged prior to the pandemic.

In North County, the former summer staple on the Williams College campus has been relied upon to bring a steady stream of tourists who booked rooms in hotels and motels and ate at local restaurants.

The Chamber's Briggs said the 2025 WTF season, which focused on a handful of weekends instead of the weeklong productions characteristic of seasons before 2020, did help the local economy.

"With the reduced season last year, the motels didn't panic," she said. "I did not hear [complaints from restaurant owners]. We haven't had any major restaurants close up the last couple of years. That speaks to the fact that there is a tourism crowd and a local crowd continuing to make our economy sustainable."

The WTF itself claims on its website that the 2025 season generated, "about $26 million in economic impact in the area, with $2.7 million in visitor spending representing a 56 percent increase over 2024."

The loss of that economic activity likely will be felt. The magnitude of the loss is still unknown.

Town Manager Robert Menicocci has to make his best guess as he builds a Fiscal Year 2027 budget based on estimated rooms and meals tax revenue for the year that begins on July 1.

"We were disappointed to hear the news, and while we don't know the exact impact yet, we will likely have to revise our estimates down to some extent," Menicocci said in an email replying to a request for comment. "It will be challenging since there have been so many factors impacting those revenues relating to the pandemic and subsequent recovery that impacted behavior. It will be hard to quantify, but we are looking at it now."

For her part, Briggs said she is excited about what is next for the Williamstown Theatre Festival, including the possibility of year-round productions that was mentioned in the media by festival officials this week.

And she is confident that the festival will return in the summer of 2027 and for years to come.

"This decision was not gone into lightly," Briggs said. "The majority of their board lives in Williamstown. They have year-round staff here. There are people who are accountable to the town.

"It's their intention to take this summer off so they can go full-steam ahead forever."
Fuse Financing Inc. (Fuse), the lending arm of GCash, is now giving free insurance coverage to GLoan borrowers with GLoan Protect. Available for a limited time, this newest feature provides borrowers with free loan and health insurance for every GLoan disbursement worth a minimum of P500, underwritten by Oona Insurance Corporation. This free insurance will waive pending loan balance in case of sudden customer demise or accident-related permanent disability, and provide resources to recover from medical emergencies.

(L-R) Mynt group head of new businesses Winsley Bangit, Oona Insurance Corporation founder and CEO Abhisek Bhatia, Fuse Financing Inc. president and CEO Tony Isidro, and Oona Insurance Corporation president Ninoy Rollan

Life and health emergencies can strike unexpectedly. For many Filipinos, sudden medical expenses or unexpected urgent costs can quickly lead to financial distress. Hospitalization and medical costs often result in heavy debt, while the lack of insurance leaves families with limited options to recover financially.

Oftentimes, Filipinos dont think of insurance until its too late, said Tony Isidro, president and CEO of Fuse Financing Inc., the lending arm of GCash. With the free insurance, were making sure that every time someone gets a GLoan, they also get a safety net. Its our way of helping users feel more secure and protected without them having to spend extra.

By integrating protection into GLoan, GCashthrough Fuse and GInsure, the digital insurance platform of GCash with inclusive insurance products across 11 categories including health, life, accident, travel, vehicle, and more offers borrowers added peace of mind and a safety net against lifes uncertainties.

Under GLoan Protect, the free health insurance covers a hospitalization allowance given to all eligible users who avail of a GLoan worth a minimum amount of P500 moving forward. Users can claim a minimum of P500 or up to 10% of the total loan value when they get confined in the hospital for a minimum stay of 3 days.

The loan insurance benefit is automatically activated once a customer receives their loan proceeds from GLoan, and coverage remains constant and valid until the end of the loan term even when the customer fully pays off their loan earlier than the loans due date. In case of customer demise or accident-related permanent disability, beneficiaries will receive the remaining loan value, and the remaining balance will be waived and settled.

The policy will automatically appear in the GInsure dashboard, making the process simple and familiar for borrowers. Claims can be filed through the same steps used for other GInsure products.

We see this synergy between Fuse and GInsure as part of our mission to reimagine what finance can do for every Filipino, said Winsley Bangit, group head of new businesses at Mynt, the parent company of GCash. By combining credit and insurance on a single service, were pushing the boundaries of digital innovation to give Filipinos not just access to funding, but also the protection they deserve. Its another step toward building a more inclusive and resilient financial ecosystem.

GCash made this initiative possible in partnership with Oona Insurance Corporation, a wholly-owned company by Oona Philippines Holdings Corporation (OPHC), actively expanding into health and digital-first solutions that meet the needs of todays consumers. Through this partnership, GCash is bringing essential protection to more Filipinos by integrating coverage directly into its widely used digital services.

"Our mission at Oona is to make protection part of everyday life, not something out of reach. Partnering with Fuse and GCash shows how insurance can be embedded seamlessly into the financial services people already use, from borrowing to everyday transactions. By making coverage automatic and effortless, we take an important step toward closing the protection gap and ensuring more Filipinos have the security to move forward with confidence. said Abhishek Bhatia, founder and CEO of Oona Insurance.

This added benefit strengthens GLoans role as more than just a lending option. It becomes a tool that provides quick access to funds and supports Filipinos in building resilience against emergencies.

This is about giving our users peace of mind, Isidro said. When someone takes out a loan, theyre usually thinking about solving an immediate need. By adding free insurance, were also helping them prepare for the unexpected. Its a small change that can make a big difference in protecting families from unforeseen circumstances, Isidro concluded.

Through this enhanced offering, GCash continues to push its mission of financial inclusion  ensuring more Filipinos have access to services that can improve their financial security in both the short and long term.

GLoan Protect is now available to new GLoan transactions for a limited time starting on January 16 until March 31, 2026. Borrowers should be Filipino citizens, aged 21-65, fully-verified GCash users with a minimum loan approved and disbursed amount of PHP 500, and at least one month loan tenor.

For more information about GLoan and its free insurance benefit, please visit https://help.gcash.com.
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A Chinese mining group which is on Americas forced labour watchlist has announced its acquisition of a Canadian mining company in the days following Mark Carney's visit to China.

Zijin Gold International, one of the world's largest gold miners with operations across nine countries, will run Canadas Allied Golds mines in Africa following an all-cash deal for $4.2bn (3.07bn) as the Chinese firm ramps up its global expansion against the skyrocketing prices of the yellow metal.

Zijin Gold International Company Limited is a subsidiary of the Zijin Mining Group, which has been placed on the US administrations Uyghur Forced Labour Prevention Act Entity List. Under the law, goods linked to companies suspected of using forced labour involving Chinas ethnic Uyghur minority in the Xinjiang region are barred from entering the US.

The deal comes less than two weeks after the Canadian prime minister visited China, where he argued that a strategic partnership between China and Canada could set both nations up for the "new world order".

During Mr Carney's trip to mend tattered ties, both nations reached a preliminary agreement to cut tariffs on electric vehicles and canola and vowed to ease trade tensions.

Canada has long been one of Washingtons closest allies, geographically and otherwise. But Beijing is hoping that president Donald Trumps economic and military aggression against other countries will erode that longstanding relationship.

Mr Trump has hit Canada with tariffs on its exports to the US and suggested the vast, resource-rich country could become Americas 51st state. More than 75 per cent of Canadas exports go to the US, and its fraught ties with Washington have pushed Mr Carney to set a goal of reducing that reliance by doubling the countrys exports to other countries over the next decade.

Zijin Golds acquisition of Allied is expected to further strain ties with Washington.

The Chinese government under president Xi Jinping has been accused of prosecuting Uyghurs and Hui Muslims over the past decade through alleged widespread abuses and arbitrary detentions. Beijing has routinely denied allegations of crimes against humanity, calling them the lie of the century.

The UN says China has detained more than a million minority Muslims, mostly ethnic Uyghurs, since a dramatic escalation of counter-terrorism policies in the spring of 2017. In October 2024, Canada, the US and the UK were among 15 countries that issued a joint statement at the UN against the alleged human rights abuses in Xinjiang and Tibet.

Allied CEO Peter Marrone said the deal offers significant value for shareholders and showcases the depth of the company's portfolio of gold assets across Africa. Zijin enjoyed a strong debut in Hong Kong last year amid a sustained rally in bullion's prices and a September fundraising boom.

Zijin Gold shares rose as much as 19 per cent in Hong Kong trading to a record high after the deal, which is among the largest acquisitions of a Canadian-registered mining company by a Chinese investor.

A surge in gold prices has boosted margins and cash flows for miners, fuelling consolidation in the industry as large producers seek to secure long-life assets and boost output through acquisitions rather than developing new mines.

Zijin will pay C$44 per share, implying a premium of about 5.4 per cent to Allied stock's last close. US-listed shares of Allied were up nearly 4 per cent in premarket trading.

Under the agreement, Allied will have to pay C$220m (106m ) to Zijin, if the deal is terminated under certain conditions. The companies expect the transaction to close by late April 2026.
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An outbreak of the deadly Nipah virus in eastern India has triggered anxiety in China as the Lunar New Year travel rush approaches.

Indian authorities last week confirmed at least five Nipah cases in West Bengal and quarantined nearly 100 people at home.

Though public health experts note the risk of widespread transmission remains low, Chinese social media is reporting growing concern about the deadly infection in the country.

This comes right ahead of the Lunar New Year holidays, the busiest travel season in China.

Online discussions about the Nipah outbreak in neighbouring India are surging. Its so scary, especially with the Spring Festival coming up. I dont want to experience another lockdown, one social media user said, according to the South China Morning Post.

Another asked: Cant we temporarily shut the travel channel with India?

China added Nipah to its monitored infectious disease list after the outbreak in India, Yicai China reported.

The 40-day Lunar New Year travel season, known as chunyun, begins on 2 February this year and runs until 13 March, involving billions of passenger journeys across the country.

In spite of the unease, Chinese public health authorities and virologists say that Nipahs characteristics make a major outbreak unlikely. Although the virus can be fatal  with mortality rates as high as 75 per cent  it spreads far less efficiently than respiratory pathogens like influenza or Sars-CoV-2.

In a recent notice, Chinas Centre for Disease Control and Prevention called for heightened vigilance against imported infectious diseases during the travel season, warning that illnesses such as malaria, dengue, chikungunya, and Lassa fever could be brought in by travellers returning from overseas. Nipah, however, wasnt specifically named. According to reports, 339,442 Chinese tourists visited India in 2019 and about 142,000 Indians traveled to China. India resumed granting tourist visas to Chinese nationals from July last year in a new step to normalise Delhis ties with Beijing.

The diplomatic restoration of tourist visas came after a gap of five years due to degradation of ties between India and China following a 2020 military clash between their troops along the disputed Himalayan border.

File. Health workers shift a man with symptoms of Nipah virus to an isolation ward at a hospital in Kozhikode in southern India on 16 September 2023 ( AFP via Getty )

Nipah was first detected in Southeast Asia after outbreaks in Malaysia and Singapore between 1998 and 1999, where infections were largely linked to pig farm workers and people in close contact with livestock.

The virus can infect a wide range of animals, including pigs, horses, goats, sheep, cats and dogs, according to the Centre for Health Protection in Hong Kong.

Since the turn of the century, repeated human outbreaks have been reported in India and Bangladesh, most often between December and April. These outbreaks have been strongly associated with the consumption of raw date palm sap contaminated by fruit bats, the viruss natural reservoir.

Indias previous outbreak was recorded in the southern state of Kerala in mid-2025, when four infections were confirmed.

Human-to-human infection remains possible through exposure to an infected persons bodily fluids or waste, creating the potential for hospital-based transmission as well as spread within families, Feng Zijian, former deputy director general of the Chinese Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, told The Global Times.

Despite its severity, Nipha does not spread easily, Zhuang Shilihe, a Guangzhou-based medical specialist, told the state media outlet.

He said his assessment was based on lessons from contact tracing during past sporadic outbreaks worldwide.

Nipah causes a range of symptoms, from mild illness to severe respiratory distress and brain inflammation. Encephalitis is the most dangerous complication and often leads to confusion, seizures, coma and, in severe cases, death. There are currently no approved treatments or vaccines against Nipah.

Several other countries in Asia are also tightening screening in the wake of the Indian outbreak.

Khaosod English, a news outlet in Bangkok, reported that Thailand had tightened health screening at key airports, like Suvarnabhumi, Don Mueang and Phuket, for passengers coming from West Bengal.

The Korea Herald reported that South Korea had already classified Nipah as a top-tier infectious disease requiring immediate reporting and isolation.

Hong Kongs Centre for Health Protection said that it would monitor the situation and implement appropriate prevention and control measures based on risk assessments to safeguard public health and the well-being of citizens.
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Canada and India are moving to expand energy trade, pledging to increase shipments of oil and gas as they seek to rebalance their economic and geopolitical relationships.

The decision was announced on Tuesday at India Energy Week in Goa, where Canadas energy and natural resources minister Tim Hodgson met Indias petroleum and natural gas minister Hardeep Singh Puri.

Canada will commit to supplying more crude oil, LNG and LPG to India, while Delhi will send more refined petroleum products the other way, Bloomberg News reported.

The talks marked the restart of a ministerial energy dialogue stalled by the diplomatic crisis caused by the killing of a Canadian Sikh activist. The dialogue was previously the main channel for bilateral energy cooperation.

Speaking at the conference, Mr Hodgson said Canadas heavy reliance on the US as an export destination had left it vulnerable.

Canada used to provide 98 per cent of its energy exports to a single country. That was a strategic blunder, he said, according to Reuters. We are committed to diversifying. We see the opportunity to work with India.

Mr Hodgson said Canada could supply crude oil, LNG and uranium, arguing that India would be the worlds fastest-growing source of energy demand in the coming decades.

The fastest growing demand for energy in the world will be in India, he said.

open image in gallery Canadian prime minister Mark Carney ( Getty )

Canada currently doesnt export crude or LNG directly to India, which gets the bulk of its oil from Russia, Iraq and Saudi Arabia, and LNG from Qatar, according to data from the analytics firm Kpler.

Over the past three years, Indias oil imports rose by an average of 2.5 per cent while LNG cargoes fell 6.3 per cent in 2025, reflecting a shift back towards oil as gas prices rose.

Indian refiners rushed to snap up Russias discounted crude after it went to war in Ukraine, making Moscow the South Asian countrys largest crude supplier.

Analysts note the renewed outreach from Canada comes as Delhi looks to diversify supplies amid growing scrutiny of Russian energy trade and uncertainty over future sanctions.

Mr Hodgson said Canada was laying the groundwork to make new Asian exports viable.

Were now building pipelines to the West Coast. We have three pipelines built here and are looking at building more, he said.

The expansion of Canadas Trans Mountain pipeline has opened a direct route for crude exports to the Pacific, although most Canadian shipments to India still move through the US Gulf Coast, according to Bloomberg.

Canada also began exporting LNG to Asia in June 2025, strengthening its ability to serve Asian markets. Canadian officials say its LPG terminals offer relatively short shipping routes to India compared with Atlantic suppliers.

Beyond fossil fuels, the two sides also agreed to deepen cooperation across clean energy sectors. The joint statement says Canada and India will work to facilitate reciprocal investment and explore collaboration in hydrogen, biofuels, battery storage, critical minerals, electricity systems, and the use of artificial intelligence in the energy industry.

Indias recent push to expand nuclear power generation could also support Canadian ambitions to increase uranium exports, Mr Hodgson said.

open image in gallery India's prime minister Narendra Modi, left, with his Canadian counterpart Mark Carney before a meeting at the G7 Summit ( AP )

The renewed energy engagement is part of a broader diplomatic reset under prime minister Mark Carney, who has made diversifying Canadas export markets a priority amid rising trade tensions with Washington.

Mr Carney and Indian prime minister Narendra Modi restarted talks in November on a comprehensive economic partnership agreement. The Canadian leader is expected to visit India in the coming weeks.

Two-way goods trade between Canada and India reached $9.7bn in 2024, according to Bloomberg, with Ottawa arguing there was significant room for growth, particularly in energy. India currently accounts for just 1 per cent of Canadas critical minerals exports, a gap Canadian officials say highlights the scale of potential expansion.

The reset with India comes against a complicated global trade backdrop. Mr Carneys expected India visit will follow his recent trip to Beijing, where Canada and China agreed to reduce tariff barriers.

US president Donald Trump threatened 100 per cent tariffs on Canadian goods if Ottawa makes a deal with China, although Mr Carney stressed Canada was not seeking a free trade agreement with Beijing.

For India, the talks underscore a broader effort to balance energy security, cost and geopolitics as demand rises and supply chains remain volatile.

For Canada, they represent an attempt to turn new pipeline capacity and LNG exports into long-term strategic partnerships beyond North America.
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India and the European Union have finalised a landmark free trade agreement after concluding negotiations that have dragged on for two decades.

The deal was announced at a summit in Delhi between Indian prime minister Narendra Modi and the EU's two highest-ranking officials, European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen and European Council president Antonio Costa.

Both sides have referred to the agreement as "the mother of all trade deals", creating a free trade bloc of more than two billion people accounting for a quarter of the global economy.

Talks in the final stages focused on a few small but important sticking points  access for European carmakers to India's automobile sector, sensitive agricultural products and a European scheme to place carbon-linked climate tariffs on imports.

The deal opens up Indias vast and guarded market to its largest trading partner. Talks first began in 2007, but soon ran into repeated hurdles as both sides struggled to bridge deep differences over market access, regulation and political sensitivities.

The talks were formally restarted in July 2022 after Russias war in Ukraine gave fresh impetus to the deal as the EU sought to reduce economic dependence on Russia and China and diversify supply chains in Asia.

open image in gallery India's prime minister Narendra Modi poses for a photograph with European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen, right, and European Council president Antonio Costa before their meeting in Delhi ( AFP via Getty )

While the terms of the deal were finalised on Tuesday, the formal signing of the agreement will not take place until after a legal vetting process expected to last five to six months, an Indian government official familiar with the matter said.

"Yesterday, a big agreement was signed between the European Union and India," Mr Modi said on X. "People around the world are calling this the mother of all deals. This agreement will bring major opportunities for the 1.4 billion people of India and the millions of people in Europe.

The EU and India make history today, deepening the partnership between the world's biggest democracies, Ms von der Leyen said, adding: We have sent a signal to the world that rules-based cooperation still delivers great outcomes.

Addressing the India and EU FTA summit on Tuesday, Mr Modi said closer cooperation between the two sides would help strengthen the global order at a time of geopolitical uncertainty.

"Today is another historic occasion, when two of the world's greatest democratic powers are writing a decisive chapter in their relations. In recent years, relations between India and the European Union have seen significant progress. Our partnership is reaching new heights based on shared democratic values, economic synergy, and strong people-to-people ties, he said.

open image in gallery European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen, left, looks on as Indian prme minister Narendra Modi, centre, and European Council president Antonio Costa greet each other after reaching a free trade agreement in Delhi ( AP )

Mr Modi called Mr Antonio, who is an overseas Indian with parents hailing from Goa, as the Mahatama Gandhi of Lisbon for his simple lifestyle and love for society.

The free trade agreement will gradually eliminate EU tariffs on 99.5 per cent of goods traded over seven years, with levies to be cut to zero on Indian marine goods, leather products, chemicals, rubber, base metals, and gems and jewellery.

India will cut tariffs to zero on 93 per cent of the value of EU goods over a 10-year period.

The deal is expected to double EU exports to India by 2032 by eliminating or reducing tariffs on goods accounting for 96.6 per cent of the value of EU exports to India, saving around 4bn ($4.75bn) in duties a year for European companies, the EU said.

open image in gallery European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen leaves after attending the Republic Day parade in New Delhi ( REUTERS )

The automobile sector has emerged as a big winner as the agreement opens up Indias vast and traditionally protected market, with Delhi agreeing to slash tariffs on cars to 10 per cent over five years from as high as 110 per cent now, according to an EU statement.

The move is expected to benefit European automakers like Volkswagen, Renault, Mercedes-Benz and BMW.

India will also cut tariffs on alcoholic beverages such as wine to 75 per cent immediately from 150 per cent, with duties set to be reduced further to 20 per cent over time. Tariffs on spirits will be lowered to 40 per cent, the EU said.

In addition, the agreement will reduce tariffs on EU exports like machinery, electrical equipment, chemicals, and iron and steel products.

Ms von der Leyen, who was invited as a chief guest to Indias Republic Day parade on Monday, said we did it after the agreement was done. We delivered the mother of all deals, she added.

She said it sent a true message that cooperation is the best message to global challenges at a time when trade was being increasingly weaponised, making a veiled reference to Mr Trumps tariff threats.

We reduce strategic dependencies at a time when trade is increasingly weaponised, she said.

The deal, which has irked the US, comes as the EU sees tariffs triple to 15 per cent despite reaching a deal with the Trump administration and India operates a 50 per cent tariff regime. The Trump administration slapped an additional 25 per cent tariff on India last year as punishment for its imports of cheap Russian oil.

open image in gallery President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen attends India's 77th Republic Day parade in Delhi ( AFP via Getty )

Mr Trump has threatened to further escalate the trade war with the EU for opposing a potential US takeover of Greenland.

An India-US trade deal apparently collapsed last year after a breakdown in communications between the two governments.

US treasury secretary Scott Bessent warned that Europe could end up financing a "war" against itself by signing the deal with India.

"We have put 25 per cent tariffs on India for buying Russian oil. Guess what happened last week? The Europeans signed a trade deal with India," Mr Bessent told ABC News on Sunday. "And just to be clear again, the Russian oil goes into India, the refined products come out, and the Europeans buy the refined products. They are financing the war against themselves.

This is one of the biggest trade deals India has signed in the last one year, with major agreements also signed with New Zealand, Australia, Oman, to go with a 2024 pact with the European Free Trade Association bloc of Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein.
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Hundreds of Japanese panda fans gathered to bid an emotional farewell to the country's last two giant pandas, Xiao Xiao and Lei Lei, as they departed Tokyo's Ueno Zoo for China on Tuesday.

The four-year-old twins' journey marks the first time in over five decades that Japan will be without giant pandas.

Braving the winter chill, spectators, many adorned in panda hats and waving flags, raised their smartphones to capture the moment a truck carrying the zoo's star attractions left for Narita Airport.

Their destination is a breeding facility in China.

Yutaka Fukuda, director of Ueno Zoo, expressed mixed emotions regarding the departure. "Xiao Xiao and Lei Lei have been beloved by so many people, and so my feelings are complicated," he stated.

"I feel gratitude and also anticipation at the possibility of future breeding endeavours, but I also feel sadness at their departure."

open image in gallery Panda fans gather to see off twin pandas Xiao Xiao and Lei Lei before a truck transporting them departs from Ueno Zoo for their planned return to China ( Reuters )

While the pandas' relocation to China had been planned for some time, their exit is also being viewed as a reflection of deteriorating China-Japan relations in recent months.

In November, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said a hypothetical Chinese attack on Taiwan could bring about a Japanese military response. That triggered a furious response from Beijing, which views the democratically governed island as its own territory.

China, in what has been called panda diplomacy, has a history of loaning out pandas to reward its allies, though it has sometimes taken them back to express displeasure.

Native to China, giant pandas typically return home after the loan agreement ends - and cubs born overseas are no exception.

open image in gallery Giant panda Xiao Xiao walks in its enclosure on the final day of public viewing before departing for China at Ueno Zoo in Tokyo ( Associated Press )

The twins were born in the zoo in June 2021 and have been its top draw since their parents departed in 2024.

Giant pandas first arrived in Japan from China in 1972 following the normalisation of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

The cuddly black-and-white bears immediately won Japanese hearts, and a dozen successors have become national celebrities.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun, asked about China sending new pandas to Japan, said: "I know giant pandas are loved by many in Japan, and we welcome Japanese friends to come visit them in China.
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Japanese prime minister Sanae Takaichi said Tokyo would not shy away from a conflict with China over Taiwan, outlining how the country could respond to such a crisis.

Ms Takaichi appeared to walk back her earlier remarks that Japan could respond militarily if China moved to take the island by force, but maintained that Tokyo would act within the limits of its legal framework.

On a nationally broadcast TV programme on Monday, the prime minister said a military crisis in Taiwan could instigate Japan and the US to take joint action to rescue their own citizens.

Ties between Japan and China sank to the worst level in years after Ms Takaichi, just a month after taking office last year, triggered a diplomatic row by claiming that a hypothetical Chinese attack on Taiwan could bring about a Japanese military response. Beijing responded with export curbs, flight cancellations and vitriolic commentaries, repeatedly demanding a retraction.

China claims Taiwan as part of its territory and does not rule out the use of force to reunify it with the mainland. Beijing objects to the involvement of third countries in Taiwan, notably the US, which is the main supplier of weapons to the island.

"I want to make it absolutely clear that this is not about Japan going out and taking military action if China and the United States come into conflict," Ms Takaichi said, referring to the comments she made in the parliament in November.

"If something serious happens there, we would have to go to rescue the Japanese and American citizens in Taiwan. In that situation, there may be cases where we take joint action.

And if the US forces, acting jointly with us, come under attack and Japan does nothing and simply runs away, the Japan-US alliance would collapse, she added.

"So we would respond strictly within the limits of the law within the limits of the laws as they currently exist while making a comprehensive judgment based on what is happening on the ground.

Japanese prime minister Sanae Takaichi delivers a speech during an election campaign rally in Tokyo on 27 January 2026 ( Getty )

With an eye on the upcoming snap election, Ms Takaichi stopped short of retracting her remarks from November, saying her stance was consistent with Japan's long-standing policy. She also said that China's characterisation of her remarks was inconsistent with the facts.

Japan's pacifist constitution prohibits direct military action but allows it to defend itself as well as the US or another friendly country in the event of an attack that Tokyo deems a "threat to its survival".

China on Monday yet again urged Japan to correct the "erroneous remarks" made by Ms Takaichi in November as the foreign ministry issued fresh travel warnings.

Beijing urged its citizens to avoid travelling to Japan for the Lunar New Year holidays, citing public security threats.

Fu Cong, China's permanent representative to the UN, claimed that the Japanese prime minister's "erroneous remarks" constituted interference in China's internal affairs. Her statement, Mr Fu claimed, was a "betrayal of the international obligations that Japan must fulfill as a defeated country".

The Chinese foreign ministry warned its nationals to avoid travelling to Japan and advised those already there to stay alert to crime and disaster warnings".

"In recent weeks, public security in Japan has deteriorated, with crimes targeting Chinese nationals on the rise and a series of earthquakes causing injuries," the ministry said.
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Twenty three Indonesian marines died after landslides swept through a military training site in West Java, burying troops preparing for border patrol deployment.

The landslide struck Pasir Langu village in Bandung Barat early on Saturday after days of heavy rain had saturated steep hillsides. The marines were taking part in training to patrol the border with Papua New Guinea when large mounds of earth and debris collapsed onto the site, the Indonesian navy said.

The incident occurred due to extreme weather conditions with heavy rainfall, which caused a landslide at the training site, First Admiral Tunggul, a navy spokesperson, said. He confirmed that all 23 marines caught in the landslide had died.

Rescue teams described chaotic conditions as mud, rocks and fallen trees buried the training area, leaving the soldiers trapped with little chance to escape. Photographs from the scene showed rescuers digging through thick brown sludge as excavators worked alongside military and police officers in rain-soaked conditions.

The military deaths are part of a larger disaster that has hit several communities in West Java, where landslides triggered by prolonged rainfall have killed at least 38 people, according to the National Disaster Management Agency. Authorities say dozens more remain missing, with identification efforts ongoing.

Abdul Muhari, a spokesperson for the agency, said as of Tuesday evening, 20 victims had been identified and handed over to their families, while the remaining bodies were still undergoing identification. It was not immediately clear whether all of the marines were included in the agencys overall death toll.

open image in gallery Indonesian rescue members search for victims at the site of a landslide following heavy rains in Pasir Langu village ( REUTERS )

At least 800 rescuers  including emergency workers, military personnel and police  have been deployed across the affected areas, supported by nine excavators to clear debris and expand the search zone. Muhari said 685 residents from the stricken village had been evacuated to government buildings and temporary shelters.

The landslides occurred in a hilly, mountainous part of West Java, around 100km southeast of Jakarta, where steep terrain and deforested slopes are particularly vulnerable during the wet season. Heavy rain had fallen for two consecutive nights before the collapse, saturating the ground and destabilising the hillside.

Local officials said the landslide struck without warning during the early hours of the morning, giving those at the training site little time to react. Rescue workers initially feared further collapses as rain continued to fall, forcing teams to repeatedly halt operations for safety reasons.

open image in gallery Indonesian rescue workers search for victims at the site of a landslide ( REUTERS )

Families of both civilians and soldiers gathered near the site on Tuesday, waiting for news as heavy machinery continued to dig through the debris. Authorities warned that unstable ground and further rainfall could slow operations and increase dangers for rescuers.

The disaster comes during the peak of Indonesias rainy season, which typically runs from October to March and regularly brings floods and landslides to densely populated areas of Java. Flooding has hit several parts of the country in recent weeks, including Jakarta and cities across West Java and Central Java.

The West Java landslides follow a series of deadly weather-related disasters across Indonesia. Just two months ago, cyclone-triggered floods and landslides on the island of Sumatra killed about 1,200 people, destroyed thousands of homes and displaced more than a million residents.

Indonesias geography and climate make it particularly prone to such disasters. The country experiences intense seasonal rainfall, which, combined with rapid development, hillside construction and deforestation, increases the risk of landslides in many regions.
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The US has officially withdrawn from the landmark Paris climate agreement for the second time  reinforcing Donald Trump's push to keep America out of the fight against the climate crisis.

The US stands as the only country ever to have withdrawn from the pact; it is alongside Iran, Libya and Yemen as the only countries not party to the agreement. Announced when Mr Trump re-entered the White House last year, the move is one of the linchpins of Trump's America First policy that seeks to remove Washington from international treaties and organisations he sees as of no benefit to the country.

The Paris agreement is at the heart of the international commitment to tackle rising global temperatures. It commits nations to "pursue efforts" to limit global temperature rises to 1.5C, and to keep them "well below" 2C above those recorded in pre-industrial times, in order to try and curb some of the harsher impacts of warming that will affect millions of people around the globe.

Given that the US is one of the world's largest emitters of greenhouse gases, the move to withdraw from the Paris agreement has drawn sharp criticism from climate groups, human rights advocates and Trump critics.

The US withdrawal from the Paris Agreement sets a disturbing precedent that seeks to instigate a race to the bottom, and, along with its withdrawal from other major global climate pacts, aims to dismantle the global system of cooperation on climate action," said Marta Schaaf, Amnesty Internationals Programme Director for Climate.

"The US is one of several powerful anti-climate actors, but as an influential superpower, this decision, along with acts of coercion and bullying of other countries and powerful actors to double down on fossil fuels, causes particular harm and threatens to reverse more than a decade of global climate progress under the agreement."

US-based climate advocates and activists now find themselves on the frontlines of a fight with implications for current and future generations everywhere... Ceding ground now risks losing it for years. Neither the planet nor the people living on the frontlines of proliferating unnatural disasters have that much time, she added.

Gavin Newsom, the governor of California  and one of Trump's fiercest critics  said: "As climate disasters cost Americans trillions, Trumps answer is to wave the white flag. California wont retreat. Well keep working with our partners around the world to cut pollution, create jobs, and lead the clean energy economy that the Trump administration is too weak to fight for."

Mr Trump's decision does not change the fact that renewable energy sources accounted for more than 90 per cent of new power generation capacity in 2025, but it is China that is leading the way. The US withdrawal will certainly complicate the push to keep global temperature rises within 1.5C, or even 2C.

Earlier this month, the US also announced it will leave the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), under which the Paris agreement was established. Together, the moves take the US out of the key bodies for battling the climate crisis, as well as helping some of the countries most at risk from changes in temperature and the increasing rate of extreme weather. Recently, the US also left the UN's World Health Organisation (WHO), a decision the global body said would make "both the United States and the world less safe".
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President Donald Trump has strong-armed many of Americas biggest trading partners into pledging trillions of dollars of investment in the United States. But a study out Tuesday raises doubts about whether the money will actually materialize and questions how it would be spent if it did.

How realistic are these commitments? write Gregory Auclair and Adnan Mazarei of the Peterson Institute for International Economics, a nonpartisan think tank that supports free trade. The short answer is that they are clouded with uncertainty.

They looked at more than $5 trillion in investment commitments made last year by the European Union, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Switzerland, Liechtenstein and the Persian Gulf states of Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates.

Trump used the threat of punitive tariffs  import taxes  to pry concessions out of those trading partners, including the investment pledges.

The White House has published an even higher investment figure - $9.6 trillion  that includes public and private investment commitments from other countries. Trump himself, never one to undersell his achievements, has put the number far higher -- $17 billion or $18 billion -- though Auclair and Mazarei note that the basis for his claim is not clear.

All the numbers are huge. Total private investment in the United States was most recently running at a $5.4 trillion annual pace. In 2024, the last year for which figures are available, total foreign direct investment in the United States amounted to $151 billion. Direct investment includes money sunk into such things as factories and offices but not financial investments like stocks and bonds.

The pledged amounts are large, Auclair and Mazarei write, but their time horizon varies, and the metrics for measuring and thus verifying the pledges are generally unclear. They note, for example, that the European Unions pledge to invest $600 billion in the United States carries no legally binding commitment.

The report also finds that some countries would strain to meet their pledges. For the Gulf countries, the commitments are large relative to their financial resources, the researchers write.

Saudi Arabia appears capable of meeting its targets, with some difficulty. The United Arab Emirates and Qatar would find it even harder and might have to finance the investments by borrowing. In all three cases, the commitments are nonbinding, and investments from these countries could fall well below headline numbers, they write.

Moreover, these agreements have been reached under duress, Mazarei, a former deputy director of the International Monetary Fund, said in an interview. Its not necessarily being done willingly.

So trading partners could look for ways to escape their commitments  especially if the Supreme Court strikes down the tariffs Trump used to negotiate the one-sided agreements. A ruling is expected as early as February. Other countries may find a way to wiggle out, Mazarei said.

Still, the Trump administration can turn to alternative tariffs if the justices rule the current tariffs illegal.

President Trump agreed to lower tariffs on countries we have trade deals with in exchange for investment commitments and other concessions, White House spokesman Kush Desai said. The president reserves the right to revisit tariff rates if other countries renege on their commitments, and anyone who doubts President Trumps willingness to put his money where his mouth is should ask Nicolas Maduro and Iran for their thoughts.

U.S. troops overthrew and arrested Venezuelan President Maduro early this month, and Trump ordered the United States to join Israel in bombing Iran last year.

Auclair and Mazarei agree that the investment Trump lands could end up creating jobs, spurring economic growth and making supply chains more secure by bringing production to America.

Trump, they note, is in some ways taking a similar approach to Biden, using government industrial policy to encourage more manufacturing in the United States.

But Biden tapped taxpayer dollars to finance infrastructure projects and incentives for companies to invest in green technology and semiconductors. Trump is using the tariff threat to get foreign countries  and their companies  to pick up the tab. And he has dropped the push to encourage clean energy, focusing instead on promoting fossil fuels.

In their report, the Peterson researchers worry about how the investment decisions would get made and whether they would reflect sound economics. This approach may yield real investments and jobs, they write, but it raises familiar industrial policy concerns: opaque projection selection, weak accountability, and the risk that political criteria crowd out economic efficiency.
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The U.S. might finally have a sliver of good news this flu season.

Numbers of cases, hospitalizations and deaths are all trending downward, according to new data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention between January 10-17.

Deaths dropped 1.8 percent over the previous week and the number of visits to a health care provider fell by 4.4 percent. Only the week before, deaths were rising.

It is the third consecutive week that flu activity has decreased overall. But doctors have warned that its too soon for Americans to drop their guard.

In past years, there have been secondary surges of cases caused by a different seasonal influenza, David Cennimo, an infectious disease expert at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, said in a statement.

open image in gallery People cross the street after a snowstorm in New York City this past weekend. The U.S. finally has some good news this flu season ( Getty Images )

So, when looking at the totality of an influenza season, even as we get over this peak, there could be many more cases ahead.

A historic year

The flu season typically runs from October until May. Last year was the worst flu season in 15 years and the deadliest for children in more than 20 years, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics.

This year has also made history with outpatient visits for flu-like illness at their highest levels in nearly 30 years, fueled by the spread of a highly infectious variant.

There have been at least 19 million illnesses, 250,000 hospitalizations and 10,000 deaths from flu so far this season. Of the deaths, 44 have been children, the majority of whom have not been fully vaccinated against the flu.

The number of pediatric deaths is higher than at this point last year, raising concerns that the worst could be yet to come.

There were 31 pediatric deaths from flu between October 2024 and January 2025. The total for the 2024-2025 season would ultimately climb to 289 pediatric deaths.

Not out of the woods yet

It remains too early to tell if this flu season has peaked, doctors say.

Flu activity levels are shown to remain very high in Idaho, New Mexico, Missouri, Michigan, South Carolina, Massachusetts and New Hampshire.

In frigid New York City, which saw its worst season for flu in 10 years, cases have declined, but officials warned the virus was still circulating at very high levels.

We are not out of the woods yet, Dr. Michelle Morse, the acting health commissioner for New York City, said earlier this month. "This is not the time for New Yorkers to relax their efforts to protect themselves.

In Cleveland, Ohio, there has been a welcome drop in hospitalizations, but the number of flu-related hospitalizations has still nearly doubled last year, according to WKYC.

"That really points toward February being one of the more severe flu Februaries for us," Ohio Department of Health Director Dr. Bruce Vanderhoff said.

open image in gallery A CDC map of flu activity in the U.S. between January 10-17, 2026, shows states with very high activity levels in the darkest red and low-to-minimal levels in green ( CDC )

On the West Coast, flu activity often peaks later and stays longer.

"We're actually seeing flu activity show up a little later than we expected this year," Joshua Higgins, a physician assistant with Express Care at UC San Diego Health, said. "Patients have been coming in with upper respiratory symptoms, often lasting days or weeks."

The one certain thing is that its not too late to get vaccinated, he said. The flu vaccine provides protection from severe illness, though it takes two weeks for immunity to kick in.

More than 130 million people have received flu shots, including 44.2 percent of children. However, thats 0.2 percent fewer kids than were vaccinated at this time in 2025.

"One of the biggest misconceptions is that it's too late to get a flu shot," Higgins says. "There's still benefit - and it can make symptoms less severe if you do get sick."
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Artificial intelligence and robotic technology could soon determine whether patients have lung cancer as the NHS launches a new pilot to help with quicker diagnoses.

The procedure, which is expected to be made available more widely in 2030, is being run by Guys and St Thomass NHS Foundation Trust and comes as part of broader efforts to expand lung cancer screening nationwide.

The method uses AI to identify abnormal spots or nodules, which is followed by the use of robotic catheters to take precise biopsies. So far, 300 patients have undergone the robotic biopsy procedure, with 215 of them going on to receive cancer treatment.

Health secretary Wes Streeting, who previously had robotic surgery during his kidney cancer treatment, said: When I was diagnosed with kidney cancer, the NHS saved my life using robotic technology.

open image in gallery The NHS is employing AI and robotic technology to help diagnose lung cancer ( Guys and St Thomass NHS Foundation Trust/Joe OHagan/PA )

The pilot will catch cancer earlier and replace weeks of invasive testing with a single targeted procedure, Mr Streeting added.

Specialists at Guys and St Thomass NHS Foundation Trust have already tested the method on hundreds of patients, with the new pilot expected to involve a further 250 patients.

Plans are also in place to expand the procedure to Kings College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust.

The procedure uses AI software to analyse lung scans and flag nodules. Doctors then use a robotic catheter to take precise biopsies directly from the nodule, which are then analysed in a lab to diagnose or rule out cancer.

These nodules may go undetected at screening and can be harder for medics to reach to take biopsies, leaving patients to wait for repeat scans to see if they grow.

open image in gallery Health secretary Wes Streeting said the pilot will help catch cancer quicker ( PA Wire )

Mr Streeting said: Lung cancer is one of the biggest killers in the UK and this pilot will help to catch it earlier, replacing weeks of invasive testing with a single targeted procedure.

For patients waiting anxiously for answers, this speed and precision can be life-changing.

Lung cancer is the third most common cancer in the UK, with more than 49,000 new diagnoses and around 33,000 deaths every year.

Trials of targeted lung cancer screening started in 2019, with the programme rolled out nationally in 2023. Since it started, more than 1.5 million people have been screened.

The expansion of the programme will invite a further 1.4 million people next year alone, as officials estimate that screening could diagnose up to 50,000 cancers by 2035, at least 23,000 of which will be at an earlier stage.

open image in gallery The pilot is being led by Guys and St Thomass NHS Foundation Trust ( Guys and St Thomass NHS Foundation Trust/Joe OHagan/PA )

The pilot comes as the government hopes to expand the use of AI in healthcare, and make the NHS the most AI-enabled health system in the world.

Last September, Mr Streeting said: The AI revolution is here, and we are arming staff with the latest ground-breaking technology, so patients get faster and smarter care.

This government is reinstating the UKs position as a technology superpower - driving vital investment and economic growth as we build an NHS fit for the 21st century.

Professor Peter Johnson, NHS Englands national clinical director for cancer, said: Our lung cancer screening programme means that we are picking up more cancers at an early stage than ever, and by bringing AI and robotics together in this trailblazing NHS pilot, were bringing in the very latest technology to give clinicians a clearer look inside the lungs and support faster, more accurate biopsies.

This is a glimpse of the future of cancer detection.
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The earliest known examples of wooden hand-held tools , believed to be 430,000 years old, have been discovered by researchers in Greece s central Peloponnese.

The find, led by a research team from the University of Reading , pushes back the previous evidence of use of similar such tools by 40,000 years.

The artefacts were found at the Marathousa 1 site, near Megalopolis in southern Greece. The site was first discovered in 2013, at the edge of what would have once been a large lake and where elephant bones as well as the remains of turtles and birds have previously been found.

The researchers found two wooden artefacts  one of which is a small piece of alder tree trunk, which they said showed "clear signs of having been shaped as well as signs of wear and tear".

They said it was probably used for digging at the edge of the lake, or for removing tree bark.

A second, "very small piece of wood from a willow or poplar tree", also shows signs of working and possible signs of use.

open image in gallery The alder digging or multifunctional stick ( University of Reading, D. Michailidis, K. Harvati )

open image in gallery The second, smaller, ancient hand-held wooden tool, the purpose of which is not yet clear ( University of Reading/N. Thompson/K. Harvati )

Other finds of stone tools as well as the animal remains indicate the lake-side site was used for butchering animals, the research team said.

It is believed to have been in use by early humans around 430,000 years ago during the Middle Pleistocene  the period from around 774,000 to 129,000 years ago.

The Middle Pleistocene was a critical phase in human evolution, during which more complex behaviors developed," said Professor Katerina Harvati, of the University of Tubingen in Germany, who leads the long-term research programme at Marathousa 1.

"The earliest reliable evidence of the targeted technological use of plants also dates from this period, she added.

The discovery of the wooden tools occurred following examination of the worked stones and bone artefacts at the site, which the researchers said "highlighted the skill and diverse activities of the people who once lived there". This led them to take a closer look at the associated finds made of wood.

open image in gallery An artist's impression of a woman from the Middle Pleistocene shaping a stick similar to the one found at the Marathousa 1 site ( University of Reading, G. Prieto, K. Harvati )

Unlike stones, wooden objects need special conditions to survive over long periods of time, said Dr Annemieke Milks from the University of Reading, who is a leading expert in early wooden tools.

We examined all the wooden remains closely, looking at their surfaces under microscopes. We found marks from chopping and carving on two objects  clear signs that early humans had shaped them."

During the work at the site, the team also made a third find  a larger piece of alder tree trunk which showed a grooved pattern. However, this wasn't the result of human activity, but showed it had been clawed by a large carnivore, possibly a bear, the researchers concluded.

The oldest wooden tools come from places such as the United Kingdom, Zambia, Germany, and China and include weapons, digging sticks, and tool handles. However, they are all more recent than our finds from Marathousa 1, Dr Milks said.

There is only one known piece of wood used by humans that is older than the new finds: It is from the Kalambo Falls site in Zambia, and dates to around 476,000 years ago. However, that piece of wood was used not as a tool but as structural material.

In comparison, the oldest stone tools ever found are believed to date to 3.3 million years ago , and humans were "regularly" using animal bone tools 1.5 million years ago, however, less robust wooden tools require particular conditions to stop them rotting away over millenia.

We have discovered the oldest wooden tools known to date, as well as the first evidence of this kind from southeastern Europe, Professor Harvati said.

This shows once again how exceptionally good the conditions at the Marathousa 1 site are for preservation. And the fact that large carnivores left their mark near the butchered elephant alongside human activity indicates fierce competition between the two.
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A former Labour MP has been charged with sexually assaulting a woman in 2022 following a police investigation into the alleged incident.

Conor McGinn, who represented St Helens North from 2015 to 2024, will appear at Westminster Magistrates Court on February 27 to face one count of sexual assault relating to an allegation from July 2022, the Crown Prosecution Service has said.

Deputy chief crown prosecutor Jessica Walker said: The Crown Prosecution Service has decided to charge Conor McGinn with one count of sexual assault following a police investigation into an alleged sexual assault in July 2022.

open image in gallery Conor McGinn ( UK Parliament )

Our prosecutors have worked to establish that there is sufficient evidence to bring this charge to court and that it is in the public interest to do so.

We have worked closely with the Metropolitan Police as they have carried out their investigation into the allegation.

The Crown Prosecution Service reminds everyone that criminal proceedings are active, and the defendant has the right to a fair trial.

It is vital that there should be no reporting, commentary or sharing of information online which could in any way prejudice these proceedings.

The 41-year-old, from Lambeth, London, was suspended from the Labour Party in 2022 after a complaint was made against him.

At the time he told The Guardian that he had not been told details of the complaint but was confident that it is entirely unfounded and rejected any suggestion of wrongdoing.

McGinn stepped down as an MP at the last election, having previously served as a shadow minister.
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Rapper DigDat, whose real name is Nathan Tokosi, has been handed a life sentence for his role in a drive-by shooting that left a rival artist severely injured.

Daniel Offei-Ntow, 27, who performed as Lugavelz, was shot six times in the head, mouth, and body while sitting in his car in Notting Hill, west London, during the early hours of 20 November 2023.

Tokosi, 26, from Deptford, south-east London, was convicted of attempted murder and firearms offences across two trials last year.

He must serve a minimum of 24 years behind bars.

The court was informed that Mr Offei-Ntow has since died, though this was deemed unconnected to the shooting, with no third party involvement.

The court also heard that Tokosi had a history of eight previous convictions for 13 offences, including violent acts from the age of 11, such as punching a girl and assaulting a boy in separate incidents.

At the age of 13, the defendant stabbed a victim in the ribcage during an altercation for which he was convicted of attempted murder and sentenced to seven years youth detention and three years on extended licence.

open image in gallery Tokosi must serve a minimum of 24 years behind bars ( Metropolitan Police )

In mitigation, the court was told Tokosi was a laidback young man caught up in the success of his music career and the fast-paced and chaotic lifestyle that went with it.

Shannon Revel, defending, said: He described that his job as a rapper effectively became an existence, rather than something that he could take time off from.

Rising to success so quickly gave Tokosi no real time for reflection, she said.

Having been diagnosed with ADHD aged 11, Tokosi had struggled with his behaviour at school, she added.

Sentencing at the Old Bailey, Judge Sarah Munro KC said she was in no doubt he was a dangerous offender.

Tokosi, whose single Air Force peaked at number 20 on the UK singles chart in 2018, was supported in court by his family.

He made a phone gesture to the public gallery where weeping could be heard as he was sent down.

Previously, prosecutor Kate Bex KC said the defendant was one of at least two people in a stolen Audi that pulled up beside Mr Offei-Ntows vehicle.

At least six shots were fired from a rear passenger window, hitting Mr Offei-Ntow in the head, mouth and body, and he was lucky not to die, Ms Bex said.

Firearms officers arrived quickly and found the victims Mitsubishi Outlander riddled with bullet holes and the interior covered in blood.

Officers followed a trail of blood and found Mr Offei-Ntow had returned to his flat and was sitting on a sofa in shock and severely injured, the court was told.

Police dogs recovered a latex glove and a black bag containing a firearm and three rounds of ammunition near to where the Audi was abandoned.

Further inquiries revealed that Tokosi had borrowed a BMW to make two trips on consecutive nights from his fathers home in Deptford, south-east London, to Notting Hill that weekend, the jury heard.

open image in gallery Sentencing at the Old Bailey, Judge Sarah Munro KC said she was in no doubt Tokosi was a dangerous offender ( PA )

Ms Bex said it was clear Tokosi was involved in the shooting and there was no innocent explanation for the BMW and the Audi being in the same west London location.

Investigators found DNA belonging Tokosi and artist Kamal Benjamin, also known as Wesson, in the Audi used in the shooting.

But further evidence, including Mr Benjamins Instagram posts from Dubai, showed he had left the UK days before.

Mr Benjamin posted a video on Instagram of Lil Durk, who had performed in Dubai four days before the shooting.

Another post the following month showed him in a nightclub with rapper 50 Cent, who had performed in Dubai on December 21 2023.

At his attempted murder trial last February, Tokosi was also convicted of possessing a self-loading pistol and ammunition with intent to endanger life and possessing a prohibited firearm and ammunition.

Following a second Old Bailey trial in November, Tokosi was further convicted of possessing a firearm and ammunition on February 4 2024.

Helen Shaw, from the Crown Prosecution Service, said: This was an utterly mindless attack which very nearly claimed a life.

That night, Nathan Tokosi clearly intended to kill his victim by shooting him in the head at a close range, with CCTV revealing Tokosi doing several drives around the area in a stolen Audi in the days and hours before the shooting.

The Crown Prosecution Service was determined to ensure Tokosi was prosecuted for the full extent of his offending, and we hope todays sentence will offer some closure to the victims family.

Detective Inspector Chris Shepherd, from the Central South Borough Command Unit, said: Tokosis actions were premeditated, reckless and malicious. He lied at trial, maintaining that he had no involvement whatsoever in the shooting.

The committed police investigation to bring Tokosi before the courts reflects our no-tolerance approach to gang violence on Londons streets.

I would like to credit the investigation team for their work bringing Tokosi to justice, as well as the officers and medical staff who treated the victim after the shooting.

Detective Inspector Chris Shepherd, from Scotland Yard, said: Tokosis actions were premeditated, reckless and malicious. He lied at trial, maintaining that he had no involvement whatsoever in the shooting.

The committed police investigation to bring Tokosi before the courts reflects our no-tolerance approach to gang violence on Londons streets.

I would like to credit the investigation team for their work bringing Tokosi to justice, as well as the officers and medical staff who treated the victim after the shooting.
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The Metropolitan Police have been accused of a series of failures and making homophobic assumptions during the investigation of a teenagers death in a London hotel four years ago.

Edward Cornes mother still has questions over how he died and has accused police officers of focusing on his sexuality, losing crucial evidence, and failing to interview witnesses in the days after he was discovered dead in a Kings Cross Hotel.

Popular, bright and widely-liked, Edward had been delighted to discover he had been accepted into the prestigious history course at University College London in the summer of 2021.

When Miriam Blythe and Robert Cornes dropped their son off at his halls on 11 October, all seemed well in the life of their 19-year-old son, who had hopes of potentially becoming a barrister.

Just 48 hours later, Edward was discovered dead in the basement room of the Goodwood Hotel.

A post-mortem examination found large amounts of alcohol, GHB, commonly known as the date-rape drug, and crystal meth in his system. Two men in their fifties were arrested on suspicion of murder, before the case was dropped.

open image in gallery Edward Cornes parents, Miriam Blythe and Robert Cornes, have been left with unanswered questions and have accused the Met Police of a botched investigation ( Supplied )

The circumstances of Edwards death remain a mystery with his parents accusing the Met Police of a botched investigation. On 19 October, six days after his death, they claim the force lost the forensic evidence. The also say that the remaining evidence was lost in January of the following year, which included CCTV and crucial evidence such as bed sheets and blood samples.

The family have also accused the force of taking a homophobic approach to the case which allegedly included telling his parents with man on man sex anything can happen and repeatedly questioning his drug use.

Edwards parents were also left appalled when a senior police officer, without warning and with what they described as questionable evidence, told his inquest in October 2025 that Edward was a drug dealer who had regularly met up with older men.

The evidence for this were two text messages sent years previously, in which he said he did not like chemsex drugs and had previously done drugs at parties when he was 17 years old, but felt so bad I gave it up.

While the coroner ruled that she would not take this into evidence given his family had not been given prior disclosure, the inquest concluded that Edwards death had been alcohol and drug related, and was not an unlawful killing.

For Ms Blythe, the first indication that something was amiss came on the morning of 13 October, when Edwards grandmother said she had received a pocket-dial from him at 3.30am in which he sounded very drunk.

open image in gallery Edwards cause of death was given as alcohol and drugs related ( Supplied )

After failing to get hold of Edward, who always answered his phone, she contacted the university halls for a welfare check. Just an hour later, she received a knock on the door from junior officers who informed her that he had been found dead in a hotel.

At 11pm, they received another phone call from detectives, who informed them that two men had been arrested on suspicion of murder.

It emerged that while paramedics had been called shortly before 11am, rigor mortis had already set in and it is believed he died several hours previously. Both men gave differing accounts as to what happened.

Meanwhile, witness evidence and CCTV, which the police later lost, showed that Edward had been staggeringly drunk at the time of meeting the men.

Ms Blythe first began to feel the police werent taking the investigation seriously after she informed them of the voicemail her mother had received from Edward during the early hours before his death. She claims that upon suggesting that they retrieve the recording, the two homicide detectives said: We havent got the resources to send a car to Bedfordshire.

Over the course of the investigation, she and her husband claim they were asked if they knew their son was gay, that he consumed drugs, questioned why did you send him to Kings Cross and asked why he had money in his bank account  which had formed part of his inheritance from a recently deceased uncle.

After the murder investigation was dropped, they claim two CID officers told them that gays always take trays of drugs and smuggle boys through fire escapes.

open image in gallery Edward's parents were asked if they knew he took drugs, was gay and why he had a large sum of money in his bank account ( Supplied )

After complaining to the Met Police, the Professional Standards Unit found that the language used was not of a homophobic nature but of agreed wording which features within the chemsex training and found that there was no case to be answered.

In her landmark 2023 report, Baroness Casey found the Met Police to be institutionally homophobic, while an inquest into the four men murdered by serial killer Stephen Port found that police failings had contributed to their deaths.

A serious case review was undertaken in 2023 upon complaints being made by the family, with 27 failings recognised. His parents know little more of its contents, as the force has refused to release the review in full.

The first two years I barely left the house, I had panic attacks and couldnt face speaking to people, Ms Blythe said. I couldnt cope with the sympathy. My husband ran a rental business and was basically having a breakdown so we lost the business. I was a university lecturer and no way could I teach people of a similar age to my son.

In the first two years, I thought I was having a heart attack and got rushed to hospital, it had a huge emotional toll. I was aware of things, but I was staggering around in a state of disbelief.

Commander Stephen Clayman said: Its difficult to hear how the handling of our investigation into Edwards death has added to the familys pain.

The extensive investigation, which was subsequently reviewed, ruled out third-party involvement in Edwards death and this conclusion was later reinforced at the inquest.

But we accept that aspects of the way in which the case was handled did not meet the high standards we expect. While this did not affect the outcome of the investigation, we apologise to Edwards family and friends for any further distress this caused.
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A British-based YouTube critic of the Saudi royal family has been awarded more than 3 million in compensation after his phone was hacked and he was subjected to a physical assault outside Harrods in London.

Ghanem Al-Masarir, a satirist and activist, sustained eye injuries in August 2018 when he was followed in Knightsbridge and attacked by two men, who accused him of being a "slave to Qatar".

Mr Al-Masarir, whose YouTube videos have garnered almost 350 million views, subsequently sued, alleging that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia or its agents were responsible for the attack.

He contended that the kingdom could not invoke "state immunity" to shield itself from accountability for the assault or for his phone being "bugged" through the covert installation of malicious spyware.

Following a High Court hearing last week, Mr Justice Saini entered a summary judgment in favour of Mr Al-Masarir on Monday, after the Saudis failed to submit a defence to the claims.

Giving judgment, the judge said the Saudi Kingdom (KSA) stood no realistic prospect of defending the case and ordered a compensation payout of over 3million to Mr Al-Masarir.

"The KSA had a clear interest in and motivation to shut down the claimants public criticism of the Saudi government," he said in his ruling.

The High Court heard that Mr Al-Masarir, 45, was born in Saudi Arabia, but moved to England in 2003 and was subsequently granted asylum in 2018.

As a satirist, critic and human rights activist, he built a huge following online, with his videos, which satirise the Saudi royal family and expose corruption in the country, achieving nearly 350 million views on YouTube.

open image in gallery Mr Al-Masarir was granted asylum in 2018 ( Champion News )

In his compensation claim, Mr Al-Masarir said he had been the subject of a campaign of harassment and intrusive behaviour by the KSA, including the use of infected links to use malicious spyware  known as "Pegasus"  to hack his phone.

"It is his case that as a result of the covert deployment of that spyware on two of his mobile phones, the KSA  or its agents  gained ongoing access to all of the data communicated via and stored on them," said the judge.

"He says that they were also able to track his location, intercept and record his calls, to use the phones microphones to record him and to use the phones cameras.

"The claimant says that this intrusive secret surveillance by the KSA or its agents, touched on every aspect of his private life.

"The claimants evidence is that the discovery of his targeting by the KSA has had catastrophic personal consequences for him.

"These include severe depression in consequence of that discovery, such that his once thriving and lucrative online YouTube content career has effectively ended, and that he is unable to work at all or to perform many basic day-to-day activities, and rarely leaves the house."

But Mr Al-Masarir said his ordeal became physical in 2018 when he was followed from a cafe meeting with a friend and then attacked on British soil, near Harrods.

In a witness statement, he said one of the men began to shout at him, accusing him of talking about the al-Saud family.

"One of the men punched me in the face and continued to physically attack me," he said.

"I tried to get away from the men. Both men followed me. The man who had not punched me was wearing a grey suit and a wire, either from headphones or from a headpiece.

"Passers-by intervened and attempted to restrain the second man preventing him from attacking me.

"During the assault, the men were calling me a 'slave of Qatar' and said that they were going to teach me a lesson.

"If it were not for the people restraining the men, I know my injuries would have been a lot more serious. I remember the punches being very vicious and with intent."

The case reached court last week on an application by Mr Al-Masarir for summary judgment on the basis that the KSA had not submitted a defence and so could not realistically hope to defeat his claim.

Giving judgment, Mr Justice Saini said: "In my judgment, there is a compelling basis for concluding that the claimants iPhones were hacked by Pegasus spyware which resulted in the exfiltration of data from those mobile phones and that this conduct was directed or authorised by the KSA or agents acting on its behalf.

"In the absence of any pleaded case by the KSA in response to these facts and conclusions, and any evidence in response to this application, I conclude that the KSA has no real prospect of defending the allegation of hacking.

"The covert accessing of that information, together with the tracking of his location, the interception of his calls, and use of the phones microphones and cameras to monitor the claimant, constituted in my judgment exceptionally grave invasions of his privacy.

"It effectively converted these smartphones into 'bugging' devices which secretly transmitted huge amounts of his data and information on every aspect of his life to a hostile state."

"No justification has been advanced for this grossly intrusive conduct, nor could there be. The claimants activities as an online activist in support of human rights in Saudi Arabia and in opposition to the Saudi government represented a proper exercise of his free speech rights. They could not possibly justify the hacking and surveillance.

"In my judgment, the KSAs alleged acts of surveillance, which I have found it has no reasonable prospect of contesting, constituted a course of conduct which amounted to, and which it knew or ought to have known amounted to, harassment of the claimant.

"The obvious inference is that the KSA used Pegasus to monitor him over an extended period and by multiple acts."

He also said there was "no real prospect that the KSA will successfully defend the allegation that it was responsible for the physical attack on the claimant".

"The KSA had a clear interest in and motivation to shut down the claimants public criticism of the Saudi government," he said.

"The attack was unprovoked: the claimant had not, contrary to what the attackers said, been discussing the Saudi royal family or government.

"This accusation therefore appeared to be a pretext for a premeditated attack on him. I have already referred to the fact that one of the attackers was wearing an earpiece, which also suggests a level of planning in the operation."

He continued: "In my judgment, there is no reason - and certainly no compelling reason - why this claim should go to trial.

"The KSA has failed to serve a defence or to respond to this application and has breached multiple further orders. It appears unlikely to participate in the claim.

"Proceeding to trial would result in a wholly unnecessary use of court time and resources, and the unnecessary incurring of significant further costs.

"Entering summary judgment at this stage is the only course consistent with the overriding objective when a trial would simply be a rehearsal of all the evidence before me without challenge from the KSA."

Having granted summary judgment, the judge awarded Mr Al-Masarir a total of 3,025,662 in damages, including more than 2.5m for the loss of his YouTube income stream.
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A shared ingredient supplier has been pinpointed as the origin of contamination behind two separate baby formula recalls this month.

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) confirmed that its ongoing investigations had identified the contamination, which led to both the Nestle SMA and Danone Aptamil recalls, as stemming from this single third-party provider.

Jodie Wild, head of incidents at the FSA, said: Ongoing investigations have identified that the contamination originated from a shared third-party ingredient supplier.

open image in gallery Both Nestle and Danone have issued product recalls ( Getty/iStock )

As a result of these investigations, Danone is recalling one batch of Aptamil product due to the presence of cereulide.

If further recalls are needed, we will communicate these immediately.

If you have any of the affected products, stop using them as soon as possible and switch to an alternative formula.

If the formula was prescribed by a health professional, consult a pharmacist or other medical professional before changing.

open image in gallery On January 23, food giant Danone recalled a batch of its Aptamil baby formula product over concerns it could contain the cereulide toxin, which can cause vomiting and stomach cramps ( AFP via Getty Images )

If you have fed it to your baby and are concerned, contact your GP or NHS 111 for advice.

We encourage parents to sign up to our food alerts at food.gov.uk to stay up to date.

The FSA is working urgently with manufacturers to trace all products that may have used ingredients from this supplier, and ensure all affected products are removed from sale.

It is also working with the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), local authorities and industry on sampling where appropriate, and will updating when the results are ready.

On January 23, food giant Danone recalled a batch of its Aptamil baby formula product over concerns it could contain the cereulide toxin, which can cause vomiting and stomach cramps.

The FSA said only one batch sold in the UK was affected, but additional batches in other countries were also affected.

open image in gallery On January 6, Nestle recalled some of its baby formula products over concerns they could also contain cereulide ( Alamy/PA )

The agency said the cereulide toxin, which can cause nausea, vomiting and abdominal cramps if consumed, had been found in the batch distributed in the UK.

The alert related to batch 31-10-2026 of Aptamil First Infant Formula 800g, with a best-before date of October 31 2026.

On January 6, Nestle recalled some of its baby formula products over concerns they could also contain cereulide.

The problem was caused by an ingredient provided by a leading supplier, it added.

Nestle products affected by the recall included SMA Advanced First Infant Milk, SMA Advanced Follow-On Milk, SMA Anti Reflux, SMA Alfamino, SMA First Infant Milk, SMA Little Steps First Infant Milk, SMA Comfort and SMA Lactose Free.

More detail about which batches have been recalled can be found on food.gov.uk or on the Nestle website.
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It will take two decades for only one in 10 English Literature GCSE students to encounter a text by an author of colour, a new report has revealed.

Without significant intervention, the Lit in Colour initiative warns it will be 2115 before 38 per cent of pupils  mirroring the current proportion of black, Asian, and minority ethnic students in UK schools  study a writer of colour at GCSE level.

Booker Prize-winning author Bernardine Evaristo, known for Girl, Woman, Other, emphasised the critical importance of this campaign.

She stated that increasing the number of studied writers of colour is "even more essential" today, "when the concept of diversity is under renewed attack".

The argument for a more diverse reading list is not an argument against the tradition, a common assumption and attack point from naysayers, but rather, it is an argument for both: books that reflect our multi-racial society and those that are rooted in its literary history, she added.

The government must provide teachers with more support to introduce new texts into the classroom that provide all GCSE students with a more diverse choice, Lit in Colour said.

The initiative was launched by Penguin Books in 2020, when only 0.76 per cent of students in England were studying an author of colour at GCSE.

Since the launch of the campaign, this has risen to 1.9 per cent, but Lit in Colour said in its five-year report the pace of change must be much faster.

Author and academic Bernardine Evaristo said increasing the number of studied writers of colour is more essential today when the concept of diversity is under renewed attack ( AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth )

At the current rate of progress made, 10 per cent of students would be answering at least one question on their GCSE about a text by an author of colour by 2046, Lit in Colour said.

Penguin Books chief executive Tom Weldon said: Through research, resources and partnerships with schools and exam boards, weve identified and begun to dismantle the barriers that have kept authors of colour out of the English curriculum, but the latest findings make it clear that now is not the time for complacency but rather urgency.

As the National Year of Reading gathers momentum, there is a real opportunity for government, educators and the publishing community to work together on reform that ensures literature reflects all voices and perspectives.

There needs to be investment so teachers and schools have equitable resources for teaching texts by authors of colour as they do for the most commonly taught texts, Lit in Colour said.

It added teachers should also have support to engage with themes of race, racism and empire where these appear in novels.

In its response to a review of the curriculum last year, the government said the new curriculum should reflect our modern society and diverse communities, and will allow teachers to draw on a range of content to best suit the needs of their pupils.

About English Literature specifically, the government said it wants schools to have the flexibility to choose a range of texts and authors including those of local significance.

Tes reported last year that in June 2024, the majority of GCSE English Literature students on the three biggest exam boards answered questions on An Inspector Calls.

As of 2025, there are eight texts by authors of colour on exam board set text lists, Lit in Colour said, up from 12 per cent in 2019.

Despite the addition of new texts, exam board AQA warned in its curriculum review submission most teachers were still choosing to deliver An Inspector Calls, which it said may be because of familiarity, lack of copies of the text, or the time needed for training and acquiring resources on new texts.
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A former police officer is suing the Metropolitan Police for 1m in compensation, claiming she developed a phobia of police stations after being repeatedly exposed to harrowing scenes at work.

Kirstie Coy-Martin says her mental health was ruined by years of having to investigate crimes against children, including attending traumatic scenes of abuse and child death.

The 52-year-old left her work around child abuse in 2016, but says her career ended in 2023 due to the triggering of her PTSD by everyday work experiences, including being sent paperwork with a logo showing a babys foot.

In the end, she was so fragile that she would be triggered into a panic attack simply by being told to attend a police station, she claims.

The excessive stress she was placed under led to her suffering a massive breakdown, which resulted in her being retired due to ill health in 2023.

Ms Coy-Martin, of Chichester, West Sussex, is now suing the Met at Central London County Court for 1m in damages, claiming it breached the duty of care it owed to her as an employer.

open image in gallery Coy-Martin on her surfboard, which she has described as her safe space ( Champion News )

Her lawyers say her bosses should have known that she was at risk of mental ill health because of her long stint in the child abuse team, and should have done more to protect her.

Such work carries a much greater risk of experiencing harrowing, distressing and shocking events, material and environments, her lawyers say.

The Met denies the claim, saying it is incredible for a serving officer to suggest they should not have been asked to attend police stations.

The force also says Ms Coy-Martin did not complain about stress during the years she was working on sexual and child abuse investigations, and insists she had not been placed under excessive work stress in more recent years.

According to papers filed at the court, Ms Coy-Martin joined the Met in 1997 and worked in child abuse and sexual offence teams between 2005 and 2016.

As such, the claimant was exposed to extremely shocking and distressing incidents, which she was required to investigate, say her lawyers.

This necessitated attending to scenes of abuse against babies, children and young people, and which in some cases had led to their death.

Such [a] working environment was inherently unsafe due to the horrific nature of the crimes the claimant was required to investigate.

It was inherently foreseeable to the defendant that exposure to such would expose the claimant to a risk of psychiatric injury.

Throughout the claimants time with the Child Abuse Investigation Team, it is averred that the defendant failed to take any, or any adequate, steps to prevent the claimant from suffering psychiatric harm.

Ms Coy-Martin later moved on to work as a custody sergeant, taking her away from the child abuse, and later, in a mostly home-based job which involved analysing CCTV footage.

In 2020, after overhearing a video call participant criticising her, Ms Coy-Martin became extremely distressed and was signed off work the next day, her lawyers say.

While off, she began to suffer extreme symptoms of psychiatric ill health, including flashbacks to her time on the child abuse team.

She was ultimately diagnosed with PTSD, which her doctor put down to her experiences working on abuse cases.

When she returned to work, Ms Coy-Martin was placed into a home-based investigations role due to fears that having to attend police stations might trigger her PTSD.

However, even in that role, she experienced stress when told she would need to attend a police building to pick up CCTV evidence.

Ms Coy-Martin claims that thereafter, her condition was exacerbated by a series of incidents at work, including being nominated for a job as a family representative.

As part of that, she was sent job literature, which included a picture of a babys foot, something she claims was a trigger for her mental condition.

It led to a relapse, which kept her off work for months.

Back at work again in 2021, Ms Coy-Martin said she had again been asked to attend a police station and suffered a panic attack, only to be told dont stress, its not worth it.

As time went on, she continued to be asked to attend police buildings, her lawyers continued, despite the known impact this had on the claimants health.

She was ill-health retired in October 2023.

Ms Coy-Martin blames her condition on the Met, claiming that she was at a foreseeable risk of injury due to stress and that her bosses had ignored warning signs, including the fact she had disclosed her use of antidepressants.

She says she was placed under excessive stress at work, there had been a failure to take adequate action when she complained, and that there had not been suitable health surveillance.

Overall, there had been clear signs of impending harm when the Met should have been aware of the need to keep her safe, in the knowledge of the harrowing scenes she had investigated earlier in her career.

For the Met, barrister Edwin Buckett denied any negligence in how Ms Coy-Martin was treated at work and pointed out the fact that her time in the child and sex abuse teams was many years ago.

He said it was denied that the teams were inherently unsafe to work in, or that it was foreseeable that they carried a risk of psychiatric injury.

The working environment was safe, he said in the Mets defence. The claimant was assessed and vetted for working in these units and nothing untoward was identified before and during her time there.

Ms Coy-Martin had not claimed she was depressed, anxious, stressed or of not being able to cope at work while on those teams and had only made limited disclosures of mental health issues after she left them.

Those issues had been linked to other problems, including her having an epileptic seizure, suffering physical medical issues and a surfing injury, and being assaulted by a shoplifter.

Lifelong surfer Ms Coy-Martin says time on her board is her safe space and has spoken about teaching her therapy dog, Scooter, to surf with her.

Mr Buckett continued: It is denied that from 4 April 2016, the claimant indicated that she was vulnerable to sustaining psychiatric injury.

Overall, prior to May 2020, the claimant had a very poor sickness record, which was linked to physical incidents/symptoms  save for one reference to anxiety in 2016.

None of the reasons given by the claimant for time off work previously indicated a vulnerability to sustaining psychiatric injury.

The defendant adequately supported the claimant and did not cause or contribute to her psychiatric injury.

Mr Buckett added: Requiring the claimant to attend a police building was entirely reasonable and it is incredible to assert that a serving police officer should not have to attend such a building on occasion, or that this caused or contributed to the claimants alleged psychiatric condition.

The fact that the claimant was sent an email with a babys foot logo on it was not inappropriate or negligent, nor did this cause or contribute to the claimants alleged psychiatric condition.

It is denied that there were warning signs of the danger that the claimant was suffering imminent and foreseeable psychiatric injury. The claimant was treated reasonably.

It is denied that the claimant was placed under excessive stress and/or pressure of work. She did not complain of excessive stress or pressure of work.

The case  described by the Met as strongly disputed  reached court last week for a pre-trial hearing to determine which evidence could be included in future proceedings.

It will return to court for a full trial at a later date, unless the parties agree on a settlement earlier.
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The Home Office is investigating reports that migrants are buying fake jobs to remain in the UK.

An investigation by the Times revealed multiple instances of visa agents offering to help migrants secure a false record of a job to prove their right to a visa sponsorship, allowing them to stay in the country.

A growing number of people are securing fake jobs through networks behind the schemes, according to the Times.

The newspaper said it spoke with 26 agents and uncovered 250 examples of fake jobs being used to back up skilled worker visas.

Responding to the investigation, a Government spokesperson said: We are investigating this illegal activity and it will not be tolerated.

Migrants were asked to pay as much as 13,000 to falsify documentation that allowed them to get a certificate of sponsorship, the investigation found ( PA Archive )

We will do whatever it takes to secure our borders and cut the levels of migration. Skilled worker refusal rates have increased substantially under this government and weve seen over 100,000 fewer visa applications in 2025.

Migration is down two thirds, skilled worker sponsor revocations are also at record levels under this government and we have doubled the cooling off period for repeat offenders.

The skilled worker visa sponsorship scheme at the heart of the investigation was set up in 2020 when Boris Johnson was prime minister.

It allows migrants to come to live in the UK legally as long as they have a certificate of sponsorship from an approved employer.

The scheme has been used to help fill vacancies in shortage occupations like bricklaying, healthcare support work, and in social care.

But the investigation gave several examples of agents and middlemen, providing fake CVs and bank records and payroll documents, in order to demonstrate migrants had a job authorised by the scheme, which in reality did not exist.

Migrants were asked to pay as much as 13,000 to falsify documentation that allowed them to get a certificate of sponsorship, the investigation found.

Some were left out of pocket after being scammed by unscrupulous actors in the burgeoning black market.

The Governments political opponents claimed the investigation demonstrated Labour has no control over the immigration system.

Chris Philp, the shadow home secretary, said: This shocking investigation shows that Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has no control over our immigration system.

Fraudsters are enabling immigrants to enter or stay in this country illegally at will, this makes a mockery of the laws Parliament passes. Shabana Mahmood must urgently grip this problem and end the rampant fraud she is presiding over.

A Reform UK spokesman said: This scandal exposes a complete breakdown in border and immigration enforcement under successive governments. A lax sponsor licence system has enabled fraudulent visas, illegal working, and a thriving black market where agents pocket tens of thousands while the Home Office looks the other way.

Everyone involved who failed to act should be prosecuted and feel the full force of the law.

Applications for the skilled worker visa fell sharply in 2025, data released in January showed.

The number of people applying for a skilled worker visa stood at 85,500, down 36% year on year from 132,700.

Some 61,000 people meanwhile applied for the health and care worker visa last year, either as a main applicant or dependant, down just over a half (51%) on 123,300 in 2024.

The drops are likely to reflect changes introduced by the Labour Government in summer 2025 to restrict the arrival of foreign nationals, including ending the overseas recruitment of care workers and raising the minimum salary for skilled workers from 38,700 to 41,700.
U.S. Border Patrol chief expected to leave Minneapolis after fatal shooting: media

Xinhua) 10:19, January 27, 2026

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt speaks during a press briefing at the White House in Washington, D.C., the United States, on Jan. 26, 2026. (Photo by Li Yuanqing/Xinhua)

WASHINGTON, Jan. 26 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Border Patrol chief Gregory Bovino and some of his agents are expected to leave the city of Minneapolis on Tuesday in the aftermath of the fatal shooting of U.S. citizen Alex Pretti, local media reported Monday.

Administration officials were left deeply frustrated over the weekend by the way Bovino and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem handled the fallout over the fatal shooting of Pretti in Minneapolis, CNN quoted sources as saying.

Some say that Bovino, who became the face of President Donald Trump's immigration enforcement operation in the U.S. state of Minnesota, made matters worse by claiming Pretti intended to "massacre" federal agents, the report said.

U.S. officials were also irked after Noem labeled Pretti a "domestic terrorist" and accused him of brandishing his legally owned firearm, a claim that was not backed up by video evidence, the report added.

Bovino and an unspecified number of Border Patrol agents will be leaving the state as soon as Tuesday, Fox News cited multiple federal sources as saying.

The expected departure of Bovino comes as Trump announced Monday that he is sending White House border czar Tom Homan to Minnesota to take charge of Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said Monday that Bovino "is going to very much continue to lead Customs and Border Patrol, throughout and across the country," and Homan "will be the main point of contact on the ground in Minneapolis to follow up."

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
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Poverty in Britain continues to reach record highs with around 14.2 million people (21 per cent) still living in deprivation, a stark new report has warned.

These figures will grow higher by the end of parliament if the government does not act, the Joseph Rowntree Foundations (JRF) UK Poverty 2026 report warns, as politicians and campaigners call on Labour to find solutions.

While the anti-poverty charity welcomed the governments move to lift the two-child benefit limit from April, which will lift 400,000 children out of poverty immediately, it finds that 4.2 million children will still be growing up in poverty by 2029 without further action.

Childrens commissioner Dame Rachel de Souza described the policy change as a vital first step but told The Independent: If we are serious about ending child poverty  not just reducing it  then we must continue to be ambitious for childrens lives.

The wide-ranging JRF report finds that the depth of poverty in the UK has reached the highest on record, with 6.8 million people now living in very deep poverty. This means that their incomes are reaching two-thirds of the poverty line at most.

Labour MP Rachael Maskell called for a radical plan to end poverty, calling on the government to introduce affordable rent caps, a progressive tax system, and to end its focus on taking more away from disabled people.

The report also finds that:

The average person in poverty now lives 29 per cent below the poverty line, compared with 23 per cent in the mid-1990s.

1.1 million more people in poverty cannot afford enough food than two years ago, bringing the total to 3.5 million, while 2.8 million more people overall are now food insecure, bringing the total to 7.5 million.

Around two-thirds of working-age adults in poverty, 5.4 million people, live in households where someone is in work.

The findings reflect poverty levels in 2023/24, leading up to the general election. Researchers say that, while headline figures remain broadly steady over the year, the increase in child poverty and the depth of poverty are cause for concern.

There was no progress in reducing poverty under the last Conservative government, the report finds, noting that income growth has shrunk during every parliament since 2005 as consecutive administrations pursued economic growth following crises like the 2008 crash and Covid pandemic.

open image in gallery More than 4.2 million children could be in poverty in 2029 without further action ( Getty )

Researchers add that this trend is set to continue in this current parliament, writing: It is deeply unjust to force families to wait for economic growth before they feel their situation improve.

JRF chief analyst Peter Matejic said: The longer we tolerate unacceptably high levels of poverty, the worse it is for our country. The corrosive impacts of poverty on families  the exhaustion of having to work multiple jobs, not knowing where the next meal is coming from  hamper both their participation in society and their scope to make a bigger economic contribution. Failure to address poverty can hold back economic growth itself.

The government has promised to reduce child poverty this parliament, and this analysis is the starting line of that commitment. JRF analysis shows that, without further changes, relative poverty levels remain stuck at a high level after April 2026. There can be no national renewal if deep poverty remains close to record levels.

The foundation has reiterated its call for the government to introduce an essentials guarantee, meaning that the basic rate for benefits is set at a level where claimants can at least afford lifes essentials, as well as improving protection for people who lose their jobs or cannot work.

Dame De Souza said: Childhood is a short and precious time, but children today are more aware of adult concerns seeing their parents worries and struggles from the hours they work, the homes they live in and the ability to put food on the table.

Children from low-income families have told me about the sense of deep shame they feel that comes from not having what others have and many of us consider basic like a warm, safe home, suitable clothing, enough fresh food, and bed big enough to sleep at night.

open image in gallery Experts warn more needs to be done if we are to turn the tide on severe hardship ( PA Wire )

Ms Maskell said: The shocking data represents millions of stories of people struggling with their energy, food and housing bills every day ... It is time for a radical plan to end this extreme destitution. I urge government to press further on households with children and the elderly as a first step, setting clear targets to protect the most vulnerable.

Helen Barnard, director of policy and research at the Trussell Trust, said removing the two-child benefit cap was a vital step, adding: But more needs to be done if we are to turn the tide on severe hardship, as food banks in the Trussell community provided nearly 3 million emergency parcels to people facing hunger last year.

Chief executive of Child Poverty Action Group Alison Garnham said: To maintain momentum in its commitment to children, the next step must be further and sustained investment in policies that support children and families. Every child deserves the best start in life and that cant be achieved while millions of them are living in poverty.

A government spokesperson said: We understand that too many families are struggling, and we are taking decisive action to address poverty by boosting the national living wage by 900, cutting energy bills by 150 from April, and launching a 1bn crisis and resilience fund to help households stay afloat.

As this report acknowledges, scrapping the two-child limit alongside our wider strategy will lift 550,000 children out of poverty by 2030  the biggest reduction in a single parliament since records began.
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Artificial intelligence (AI) tutoring tools are set to be introduced in schools across the UK by the end of 2027, the government has announced.

The Department for Education (DfE) confirmed that teachers, AI labs, and tech companies will begin co-creating and testing these tuition tools from this summer, with trials in secondary schools scheduled for later in the year.

The DfE anticipates these tools could provide one-to-one tutoring for up to 450,000 disadvantaged children in years 9 to 11, with the goal of narrowing the educational disadvantage gap.

Sarah Hannafin, head of policy at the school leaders union NAHT, praised the involvement of teachers in developing the AI tools, stressing the importance that they "never replace face-to-face interaction."

AI alone is unlikely to ever be an easy shortcut when it comes to tackling the worrying disadvantage gap we see in schools, which will need more funding and investment for staff and resources if they are to be able to offer the dedicated personal support we know can make such a difference, she added.

The Government is running a tender for industry to create the AI tutoring tools alongside teachers.

The Department for Education (DfE) confirmed that teachers, AI labs, and tech companies will begin co-creating and testing these tuition tools from this summer ( PA Wire )

Education secretary Bridget Phillipson said: AI tutoring tools have the potential to transform access to tailored support for young people, taking tutoring from a privilege of the lucky few, to every child who needs it  so all children can achieve and thrive.

But AI tools are only helpful in education if they are safe and support learning  and that is a non-negotiable.

We will ensure tutoring tools are designed with teachers and rigorously tested, so they enhance pupils learning and keep our children safe online, never replacing the human connection that only great teachers can provide.

It comes after the Government announced a consultation on childrens wellbeing online earlier this week, which had followed backbench MPs calling for an Australia-style social media ban for under-16s.

Ms Phillipson also wrote to headteachers on Monday, it has been reported, stressing schools should be phone-free throughout the entire school day, and not used as calculators or for research.

She told the Bett UK conference last week: And we all know that mobile phones have no place in our schools, but AI learning tools are different.

The Government is also investing 23 million into expanding school testing of EdTech tools, with the programme set to start in September.
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Leo Johnson had always been an adventurous and sociable boy. He was usually found outdoors, and as a teenager began scuba diving - a passion that later saw him spurn his West Midlands roots for an Oceanography degree in Plymouth.

His mother Jane remembers him as excited to get out in the world and travel. But she also saw his attention become increasingly absorbed by his phone.

In November 2022, during his second year of university, he was diagnosed with depression. He began to delete his accounts on social media, telling his friends they were harming his mental health. Three months later, in February 2023, he took his own life. He was just 19 years old.

open image in gallery Leo Johnson took his own life aged 19, while studying in Plymouth ( Jane Johnson )

Ms Johnson believes her sons social media use contributed towards his suicide - not through a dangerous trend or malicious dark web content - but a drip, drip, drip of comparison culture that led him to feel unsatisfied and numb in his own life.

Sir Keir Starmer is facing pressure to introduce tighter restrictions on social media use for children after the House of Lords backed an amendment to the government's schools bill that would introduce a ban for under-16s.

His government announced it will launch a consultation on whether to follow in Australias footsteps and ban social media for children after the prime minister said nothing is off the table.

Ms Johnson told The Independent she supports a social media ban for under-16s, warning we are sleepwalking into a disaster.

Leo knew social media wasnt good for him, she said. He knew he was spending too much time online. He was comparing his life to what he was seeing - he wanted more than he had.

Ms Johnson believes her son was a responsible social media user, mostly browsing video sharing platforms. After he died, she said police found no evidence he had been sucked into a sinister or illegal online world.

But she said things he saw online caused him to question his own life and compare himself to others constantly.

He used to say a lot, I wish I was doing this, or I wish I was doing that, she said. Yet to us, he was living an incredible life.

He had lectures on boats, he was out diving as part of his university course. But with all the incredible places he was seeing online, he wanted more than he had.

Following Leos diagnosis, Ms Johnson said he had deleted some of his social media accounts and spoken to his friends about doing the same, telling them he wanted to spend more time outdoors.

open image in gallery Ms Johnson believes Leo was suffering from 'digital anhedonia' ( Jane Johnson )

I think he was very self aware because he tried doing lots of things to try and improve his mental health, she said. He knew that was part of what was affecting him.

At Leos inquest, Ms Johnson said doctors described her son as anhedonic, a term used by medics to describe an emotional apathy and inability to experience pleasure that is often a symptom of depression.

She said his friends also spoke of him being glued to his tablet and constantly watching videos.

I am absolutely convinced with the evidence we've got from the inquest and just anecdotal evidence from his friends that the day-to-day drip, drip, drip of social media played its part, she said.

Ms Johnson believes Leo may have been suffering from digital anhedonia - the theory that the rapid, algorithm-curated stimulation of social media can train the brain to expect constant high-intensity rewards, therefore making everyday life feel duller.

Professor Shaheen E. Lakhan, a clinical professor in neuroscience at FIU Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine in Florida, first coined the term. He told The Independent that digital anhedonia comes from a chronic exposure to digitally delivered rewards that are faster, more frequent, more personalized, and often more emotionally charged than anything the offline world can consistently provide.

open image in gallery Ms Johnson said she would support a social media ban for under-16s ( PA Archive )

He said evidence shows consistent associations between heavy social media and smartphone use and outcomes that are known to be linked to reward-system disruption, including depressive symptoms and sleep disruption.

Prof Lakhan added that teenage brains are uniquely vulnerable to the phenomenon because of the way young peoples minds are wired.

During adolescence, dopamine-mediated circuits that drive motivation and novelty-seeking are highly active, while the prefrontal cortex, the system responsible for impulse control and long-term judgment, is still maturing, he explained.

If you train the brain on instant algorithmic reward, you can unintentionally teach it that real life isnt worth the effort.

Ms Johnson believes a ban has the potential to help prevent other young people from falling into the cycle Leo had.

I think we are sleepwalking into a huge potential future disaster, she said. I don't think the government is doing enough to legislate and protect young people.

Somebody does have to make a bold move, she added. If governments can stand strong and do something about it then we have the potential to turn it around.

Her warning comes as three social media giants face a landmark trial in Los Angeles this week, accused of deliberately addicting and harming children through their platforms. Meta's Instagram, ByteDance's TikTok, and Google's YouTube are named in the claims.

A spokesperson for the department of science, innovation and technology told The Independent nothing is off the table when it comes to childrens safety.

They added the government is unequivocal about the responsibilities online services have to keep people safe".

Through the Online Safety Act, we have introduced some of the strongest online safety protections in the world, requiring platforms to protect children from harmful content. Companies that fail to comply could face significant fines, they said.

But we were always clear that the Act wasn't the end of the conversation. We're also launching a national consultation on bold measures to protect children online, from banning social media for under-16s to tackling addictive design features.

We want to hear from families like this one, because when it comes to children's safety, nothing is off the table."

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 branchIf 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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Storm Chandra has brought weather chaos this week with strong winds, heavy rain and snow battering much of the UK, with the Met Office issuing further yellow warnings till Saturday.

The Met Office have issued a yellow weather warning for rain in south west England from 9am on Friday, which is set to expire at 6am on Saturday morning. Another weather warning was issued in regions of Northern Ireland from 12am on Friday till 6pm on Friday evening.

Dozens of flood warnings remain in place across the UK, with a major incident also declared in Somerset as a result of the disruption caused by the downfalls earlier in the week.

open image in gallery Axminster in Somerset was badly hit with cars stranded on flooded roads ( Getty Images )

Storm Chandra has already broken several new January daily rainfall records. Earlier this week a lorry driver died in the New Forest after crashing into a river on Tuesday in the aftermath of Storm Chandra.

Longer journey times and cancellations are expected to impact road, rail, air and ferry services, as well causing some roads and bridges to close during the weather warnings.

The Met Office stated: Spells of heavy rain will move over Northern Ireland during Thursday night and Friday. While the wettest conditions are likely over Antrim and Down, there is potential for many areas to see 10-25 mm build up, with 40-60 mm over some hills. Rain will be accompanied by strong southeasterly winds, especially Thursday night and early Friday.

open image in gallery Two yellow warnings have been issued for Friday 30 January, with Northern Ireland once again covered entirely ( Met Office )

The forecasting service added: Outbreaks of rain, heavy at times, are expected to arrive across Cornwall on Friday morning and move northeastwards across other parts of southwest England by afternoon, followed by showers during Friday evening and overnight into Saturday morning. 10 to 20 mm rainfall is likely widely, with up to 30 mm possible over the moors and perhaps west Cornwall. Falling on saturated ground, this may lead to some flooding and disruption. Strong winds are also likely in places.

There is a small chance that homes and businesses in Northern Ireland could be flooded and that some communities will become cut off by flooded roads. The Met Office has also warned that there is a slight chance of power cuts and loss of other services.

The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) is warning people to be vigilant near the coast in Devon and Cornwall due to because of the potential of 15ft waves surging up exposed beaches and topping over sea fronts and harbour walls.

The weather warning on Saturday will cover the following regions in South West England: Cornwall, Devon, Plymouth, Somerset and Torbay.

open image in gallery The weather warning on Saturday will cover the following regions in South West England: Cornwall, Devon, Plymouth, Somerset and Torbay ( Met Office )

Heres the Met Offices four-day forecast for the UK:

This evening and Tonight:

Rather cloudy with some rain and hill snow in the north. Initially cloudy and mostly dry elsewhere, but further wet and breezy weather towards the southwest moves northeastwards overnight. Turning clearer and showery in the southwest later. Mostly frost free.

Friday:

Friday looks rather cloudy and breezy with rain moving northwards, giving snow over some northern hills. Briefly brighter in the south, though heavier rain and strong winds developing here.

Outlook for Saturday to Monday:

Remaining unsettled over the weekend and to start next week. Showers or longer spells of rain affecting most areas, coupled with brisk winds at times. Further snow on northern hills.
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Andy Burnham has once again put himself on a collision course with Downing Street after stating that a No 10 briefing suggesting he had been told he would be rejected before applying to be the Labour candidate for the Gorton and Denton by-election was untrue.

Sources close to Sir Keir Starmer had told ITV that Mr Burnham was informed in no uncertain terms that he would be repulsed if he requested permission of the NEC committee to put his name forward for the by-election. He chose to do so, they say, knowing the outcome in advance.

But responding publicly to the claim, Mr Burnham said: This is simply untrue.

And a source close to the Manchester mayor later told ITV: Andy Burnham is seeking an urgent call with No 10 about the briefing which he says is untrue and breaks a commitment given to him by the PM.

It comes as Sir Keir battles a growing rebellion over the decision to block the Manchester mayor from standing in a by-election in the city, with around 50 Labour MPs having signed a letter objecting to it.

open image in gallery Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham has denied claims he knew hed be rejected from applying to the Gorton and Denton by-election ( PA )

They are understood to have written to the prime minister and the chair of Labours ruling National Executive Committee (NEC) to warn that the decision is a real gift to Reform UK, as polling suggests Mr Burnham may be Labours very best chance at winning the vacant Gorton and Denton seat.

With tensions mounting internally in Labour, the signatories of the letter said there was no legitimate reason to block Mr Burnham, demanding Labours NEC re-evaluate the decision.

It came after a 10-strong group from the ruling body, including Sir Keir, voted to deny Mr Burnham permission to run in the Greater Manchester by-election at a meeting on Sunday.

Critics have accused Sir Keir and his allies of preventing Mr Burnhams candidacy for factional reasons, fearing a leadership challenge from the mayor as both Labours poll ratings and his personal approval ratings flounder.

But the prime minister has insisted that an extra election for the mayor of Manchester would divert our resources away from the local elections, which are already expected to be extremely bruising for Labour.

In the face of growing demands to reconsider, housing secretary Steve Reed on Tuesday said the decision is done and its dusted and the party will fight to win the by-election.

Speaking to Times Radio, he also insisted the decision to block Mr Burnham had absolutely nothing to do with avoiding a leadership bid against Sir Keir.

Its got absolutely nothing to do with that at all, he said. Labours ruling National Executive Committee took a decision overwhelmingly that Andy should stay as mayor of Manchester because he was elected only two years ago to serve a four-year term.

However, the fallout does not seem to have harmed Labours position in the polls with a new YouGov suggesting the party may be closing the gap on Reform, with support increasing two points to 21 per cent, while Nigel Farages party are on 25 per cent (up one).

It came after Reform leader, Mr Farage, said he thinks the Manchester mayor not standing in the by-election has boosted his partys chances of winning the seat, admitting it would have been very difficult for us to beat him.

The Gorton and Denton by-election is expected to take place on 26 February, after former MP Andrew Gwynne stood down for health reasons.

GB News presenter and former university academic Matt Goodwin was named as Reform UKs candidate in the race, while Labours political rival from the left, the Green Party, is also eyeing up its chances.

The jostling over the Gorton and Denton by-election comes as Sir Keir is set to begin a trip to China, removing him from the domestic political arena for several days.

On Monday, the prime minister was among the senior Labour figures trying to focus the minds of his MPs on the by-election, after he faced criticism for blocking Mr Burnhams application to stand in the race.

Former cabinet minister and backbencher Louise Haigh said over the weekend that Labours ruling body should reverse its decision otherwise I think well all come to regret this, while Simon Opher MP called the decision an own goal for Sir Keirs advisers.

Meanwhile, left-wing backbencher Kim Johnson said the prime minister needs to consider his own position after the decision to block Mr Burnham from standing, claiming it shows Sir Keir is not putting the country before the party.

But defending the decision, Sir Keir insisted the battle of our times was between Labour and Reform UK.

And at a gathering of Labours backbench MPs on Monday night, which saw many ask questions about the impact of the decision to block Mr Burnham, attorney general Lord Hermer  a close ally of the PM  urged MPs not to focus on the partys internal politics.

open image in gallery Keir Starmer will depart for China on Tuesday ( PA )

Leading polling expert, Lord Robert Hayward, who is also a Conservative peer, has warned Labour is making the same mistakes as the Tories did at the end of their government in focussing on trying to change leader.

He said: What will happen is that Labour MPs will start to say we need to try something different and get themselves into that mentality.

It is just like the Conservatives after Boris Johnson. Of course it is all predicated on Keir Starmers poor personal ratings and those of his party under his leadership.

Logic actually tells you that it wont make any difference at all and it didnt for the Conservatives. But things get so bad that the we need to try something different mentality takes hold. Labour are repeating the same mistakes.
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Angela Rayner has reportedly told supporters she is not dead yet as allies of the former deputy prime minister claim she would have the support of 80 Labour MPs necessary to back a leadership bid.

She also said Labours current leadership should do better as she hinted at a planned return to government in private remarks at a fundraising dinner, according to The Times.

Her comments emerged just days after Andy Burnham, another rival to Sir Keir Starmer, had his path back to parliament blocked by the prime minister, who voted to bar him from standing in the upcoming Gorton and Denton by-election.

Ms Rayner resigned last year after she admitted she did not pay enough stamp duty on the purchase of her 800,000 seaside flat.

But allies have told The Independent she would have the numbers for a leadership challenge against Sir Keir.

One Labour MP said: Now Andy [Burnham] cannot get into parliament, Angela has become the obvious choice. They added: It cant be [health secretary Wes] Streeting, hes too right wing.

Another said: Angela can get the 81 MPs needed, Im sure. It depends if she wants it.

open image in gallery Angela Rayner has urged Labour and No 10 to do better ( PA Archive )

They added: I think the by-election brings things forward. Angela should go for it if Labour come third. Whats the point of waiting until 7 May?

Theres no doubt Wess people are planning the same thing. Its becoming a who will be first to jump and when rather than if now.

Ms Rayner was also reported to have warned of the dangerous threat posed by Reform UK and vowed: I aint giving those keys to No 10 to Nigel Farage. Labour is expected to suffer a series of disastrous election results in May, which will raise further questions about Sir Keirs future.

Speaking to activists in central London at the event last week, Ms Rayner reportedly thanked them for their loyalty since her 2015 election as the MP for Ashton-under-Lyne.

open image in gallery Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham has been blocked by Labour from standing in a Westminster by-election ( PA Wire )

She said: Youll remember when I was a young whippersnapper. Ive come through the ranks and had the honour and the privilege to get us into government and become your deputy prime minister. And Im still fighting. Im not dead yet.

Her allies have predicted she would secure more than 1m from donors if she stood for the leadership and said she was wooing them with dinners at her flat in Hove, according to The Times.

Ms Rayner is carrying out a number of speaking engagements at events organised by Labour MPs. She will also speak at a reception next month hosted by Mainstream, a new Labour group co-launched by Mr Burnham.

A spokesperson for Ms Rayner said: Angela is indeed alive and well, but wont be indulging ill-informed gossip or idle speculation.
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Independent readers reacting to the latest political upheavals say Britains system feels broken, with many describing a landscape dominated by control, cynicism and diminishing trust.

Across the comments, there was a strong sense that politics is stuck in a repetitive cycle  and that Labour is increasingly behaving like the Conservatives it replaced.

That broader frustration fed directly into reactions to Labours decision to block Andy Burnham from standing in the Gorton and Denton by-election.

For some readers, the move symbolised a top-down, managerial approach to politics, with a popular figure sidelined for strategic reasons. Critics said it echoed the kind of internal control and factionalism voters had come to associate with the Conservatives, rather than the change Labour promised.

This sense of political decay was reinforced, readers said, by Suella Bravermans defection to Reform UK.

Many viewed her move  the latest of several Conservative defections to Nigel Farages party  as evidence that Reform is less a break from the past than a continuation of hard-right Conservatism, feeding off anger with a two-party system that no longer feels representative.

Overall, readers argued that the Burnham row and Tory defections point to the same problem: a political system that feels closed, toxic and increasingly removed from the everyday life of the electorate.

Heres what you had to say:

Constant change is chaos

Were on our fifth prime minister in ten years, so lets go for it again. A new PM, a new administration  itll take them a few years to find their feet and all will be fine. This is pie-in-the-sky thinking. Its chaos. Chaos under the Conservatives, and now chaos under Labour.

And Reform offer proper change. Itll be change all right  maybe not the change people wanted  but itll be change. So lets roll the dice and see if Burnham can change things around. Its a huge gamble.

This government is anything but perfect, but theyre doing good. Please people, dont let perfection exclude the ok, because the perfection you want doesnt exist.

Is our future two-year-term PMs? Because if it is, nothing will be done. In two years time we need Rayner because Burnham hasnt delivered? Really?

mG123

Voters resent being told their choice is barred

Of course they will lose this by-election. The voters do not like being told who they cant and can vote for. The spurious reasons for banning Burnham are also another factor. People do not like injustices within the political system.

I dont think Starmer can afford another U-turn, particularly when what is evident is just a personal vendetta.

Michael

Electoral reform is the real red line

According to Einstein, the definition of madness is repeating the same thing over and over in the hope that it will work when it never has. This is my verdict on rule by minority duopoly. If they want to try something really radical to earn support, how about reform of the voting system? Members and a large number of non-affiliated outsiders would back it alike.

I have only one point to make to them, irrespective of my political views or anyone elses.

Suella Braverman says she had no home in British politics. Fifty-one per cent of the electorate have no home in British politics. I believe the reason is the archaic first-past-the-post system, which has returned minorities time after time, effectively excluding those who dont support the duopoly but making them pay for it.

The voters have no option but to exclude themselves or vote for a party which has no influence under that system. A clear, unequivocal statement that they would reform the electoral system with full proportional representation is needed. Thats my red line and why I cannot vote Labour or Conservative.

Anything else would be a step backwards from where I am now. Its because I do care about the future of my country that Im not prepared to give any politician a blank cheque under the current system.

FreeLife

Suella Braverman told the crowd that Nigel Farage was the only man in UK politics who has been courageously consistent ( AFP/Getty )

Reform is simply the hard right of the Conservatives

Suella Braverman, another from the hard right of the Conservatives on the chicken run.

One thing to keep in mind is that Reform are far-right Conservatives, predominantly coming from the Conservative Party and now split away from it. It is essentially the Conservatives of the hard right  the Conservatives who caused excessive damage to the UK during the Conservative administrations from 2010 to 2024.

They are the weird Conservatives that have a knack for ineptness: creating more debt, a revolving door of prime ministers, turning a blind eye to corporate corruption, covering up corporate pollution of UK rivers and coast, infrastructural neglect, and playing a violin while health, policing, prisons, the justice system and social care disintegrated around them.

Their botched actions escalated immigration and asylum, intensified far-right xenophobia, and haplessly bungled through a burgeoning wave of crime, growing poverty, homelessness, hunger, child hunger, and homeless children  all caused through Conservative policies. Their incompetence was literally creating social breakdown and anarchy.

WhatServices

Unity matters more than personal ambition

Very disappointing from Burnham. This act alone will prevent him from gaining support in the future. As regards the so-called rebels, this is a serious situation we are in. Unity is important, and no one from any side of the political spectrum wants a repeat of the Tories endless procession of leaders.

Cat

Farage isnt fascism, but the system is rotten

It proves that Farages gang are not really fascists. They are simply a new Tory party which is willing to go just a bit further than the old Tory party with regard to immigration and other traditional issues. Their main strength is the widespread, and justified, disgust with our constipated two-party system.

Prime Minister Farage, no more than Prime Minister Badenoch or Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, would ever dare defy the hedge fund bosses or any other billionaire financial oligarchs. Our putrefying political system is well capable of giving rise to a fascist movement, but Farage is not it. If he was, we shouldnt be talking about opinion polls, but about violent resistance.

envious

Labours perpetual malcontents

The objectors [to Burnhams Westminster return] are a group of perpetual malcontents on the left of the party who oppose Starmer whatever he does.

The decision to bar Burnham from standing this time (for the sound reasons that he committed to serve a full term as mayor and Labour cant afford to lose the mayoralty) is supported by many other MPs, but that is never mentioned.

Burnham has been incredibly arrogant and entitled in this, and that will grate with voters. I dont think hes the shoo-in for either this election or the leadership that he thinks he is.

Tanaquil2

The whiners should get behind the Government

Burnham is subject to a set of rules. He applied for a dispensation from those rules. The rules apply to him and were affirmed. The dispensation was not granted. The calculus, I am sure, was that it was better to risk losing the by-election than the mayoralty, and better to keep third-time wannabe Burnham away from Westminster for now. That is the right decision.

The whiners should stop being so internecine and get behind the government. Police reform, leasehold reform, school curriculum improvements  big stuff is going on which should be championed. Some bequiffed egotist should be ignored, not indulged.

Honeysuckle

Some of the comments have been edited for this article for brevity and clarity.

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Sir Keir Starmerand his team will arrive in Beijing with burner phones and laptops in an effort to stop being spied on during their trip to China this week.

The prime minister is being accompanied by business leaders as he departs the UK for a five-day visit of the country in a bid to improve Sino-British trading relations.

Ahead of his departure, Sir Keir told ministers the UK had veered from the golden age to the ice age in its relations with China in recent years, and claimed his government would follow a strategic and consistent strategy.

But the trip, which is the first by a British prime minister since Theresa Mays visit in 2018, has also prompted concerns over security risks.

According to The Times, the prime minister and his team will be seeking to mitigate such risks by leaving all government equipment in the UK.

Instead, they will be taking disposable phones and laptops in an attempt to protect them from being spied on by their hosts  while other officials have been told not to bring any personal devices.

open image in gallery Sir Keir Starmer during a bilateral meeting Xi Jinping (PA) ( PA Archive )

The prime ministers official spokesperson had told reporters ahead of the trip that Sir Keir was confident that his phone was not being monitored by the Chinese, and that No 10 has robust communication security measures in place.

The measures come after an aide for then-prime minister Gordon Brown reportedly became the victim of a suspected honeytrap operation when his phone was stolen on a trip to China in 2008.

open image in gallery Starmer is due to be accompanied by business leaders as he seeks to improve trading relations with the superpower on the trip ( PA )

In a cabinet meeting ahead of his departure, Sir Keir said there were significant business opportunities on the table for the visit, but stressed that protecting the UKs national security remains non-negotiable.

In what appeared to be a defence of his decision to take the trip, the prime minister said the UK was missing out by not engaging with China.

French president Emmanuel Macron has visited China three times, while German chancellor Friedrich Merz and US president Donald Trump are due to visit soon, he said.

open image in gallery Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer (Alastair Grant/PA) ( PA )

The trip follows the approval of a new Chinese embassy in London and Sir Keir will face pressure from home to raise several difficult subjects with Chinese leader Xi Jinping, including Chinas espionage activity.

The prime minister has also faced calls to raise the treatment of the Uighur minority and the imprisonment of Jimmy Lai, a Hong Kong pro-democracy campaigner and British national.

Mr Lai, 78, has been in detention for more than five years, much of that time in solitary confinement, having been arrested in 2020 under Hong Kongs new national security law.

Last month, following Mr Lais conviction on sedition and conspiracy charges, foreign secretary Yvette Cooper called for his immediate release and the Chinese ambassador was summoned to the Foreign Office.
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When Keir Starmer jets off to Beijing today, he will be the first prime minister to visit China in eight years.

But instead of a potential history-making journey or even the controversy of his visit, the prime minister may nervously be considering the fate of Margaret Thatcher in 1990, given his current travails with Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham.

Back then, the Iron Lady went to a dinner in the Palace of Versailles to celebrate the end of the Cold War in the midst of a vote on her leadership. After failing to get enough votes to see off Michael Heseltine, she came out of the dinner with her fate sealed and returned home to find she had, in effect, been deposed.

While Starmer has not quite reached the same crisis point in his premiership, it is fair to say that the plotting to remove him is now in full swing  whether it is attempts by Andy Burnham to return to parliament, or the machinations of his health secretary Wes Streeting or former deputy prime minister Angela Rayner.

open image in gallery The trip to China comes just days after the UK government gave permission for a new Chinese super embassy in central London, despite security warnings from MI5 ( Getty )

So this is maybe not the best time for a five-day trip to Beijing. While he is away, the plotting will only intensify, amid growing anger over the decision to block Burnham from running in the Gorton and Denton by-election.

Meanwhile, the prime minister, who has been touring the tea rooms in recent weeks to calm the nerves of Labour MPs, will not be there to deal with it.

Starmer may have until the local elections in May before facing a reckoning, but a showdown seems to be coming sooner rather than later.

However, there are other issues with this trip to China, which the PM will have to explain more publicly  not least the controversial nature of what some will see as going and bending the knee at the court of President Xi Jinping.

Never here Keir

Opponents will relish the opportunity to dust off the never here Keir jibe  the suggestion that Starmer is too often overseas  but the prime minister is determined to end what he has dubbed an ice age under previous Tory governments, and improve Britains ties with China.

The last PM to make the journey was Theresa May, who went on an official visit in 2018, in what was a rare break from the Brexit travails back home that eventually forced her to step down.

But as Starmer flies to Beijing, the world is the most unstable it has been for a generation.

His relationship with Donald Trump appears to have hit its lowest point yet, with the US president openly mocking him about the Chagos Islands deal and threatening tariffs on the UK for supporting Denmark over Greenland.

Worse still has been the insult to British veterans who fought in Afghanistan supporting American troops. And the fact that Starmer has yet to accept the invitation to join Trumps peace board for Gaza is a sign that things have gone badly awry.

This means the prime ministers careful positioning of the UK as the bridge between the US and Europe is all but dead as a policy.

The super embassy decision and spies

It is no coincidence that the trip to China comes just days after his government gave permission for a new super embassy in central London, despite security warnings from MI5.

There are also awkward questions over whether the deal with Mauritius to hand over the Chagos Islands to them will open the door to China  an issue which is vexing the Trump administration.

open image in gallery Royal Mint Court, the site for the new Chinese embassy near Tower Bridge ( Getty )

There are other issues, too. Chinas ongoing persecution of political dissidents in Hong Kong and abandonment of the agreement with the UK when it was handed over to them in 1997. The imprisonment of British citizen Jimmy Lai is an ongoing sore. Not to mention the persecution of the Uyghurs.

Then there are the problems of Chinese operatives acting against dissidents in the UK, China stealing UK copyright material and the dangers of Chinese companies investing in universities and infrastructure.

And, of course, the anger over the abandonment of a trial of two suspected Chinese spies in parliament is still blamed on Starmer and his government by many.

All these issues and more make the prime ministers visit extremely controversial  to say the least.

Going for growth

The reality is that the prime minister  just as his chancellor Rachel Reeves did last year  needs to go and ask for Chinese investment in the UK.

The economic problems, the lack of growth, the departure of the wealthy, and international turmoil mean that the UK cannot spurn Chinese investment. Starmer, like the leaders of France and Germany, both of whom have visited Beijing in recent months, is in many ways going cap in hand.

However, in a world lacking in stability and with the UK struggling to find its place, Starmer has little choice but to head to China and make his case.

In reality, though, he is simply carrying on the policy of the previous Tory governments of engagement with Beijing while being suspicious of the Chinese Communist Party and protecting against its excesses.

As Starmer flies out to build something for the future of the UK and his own government, he may well be wondering how long he personally has to deliver as prime minister. The flight to China could all too easily become a legacy trip, just as it did for Theresa Mays failing government.
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Labour has launched a social media attack on the Green Party amid warnings from pollsters and MPs that Zack Polanskis party could win the Gorton and Denton by-election.

As voters prepare to go to the polls in the Greater Manchester seat on 26 February, Labour posted a video advert pleading with them not to turn their backs on the party and support the Greens.

The post highlights polling that shows Labour is the closest to rivalling Reform in the constituency, while attacking Green policies on legalising drugs.

It came as Sir Keir Starmer warned that only Labour not the Greens could stop Reform dividing the country as he prepared to fly to China.

open image in gallery Green Party leader Zack Polanski could be the beneficiary of anger aimed at Labour and a tactical anti-Reform vote, Labour MPs have warned (Andrew Matthews/PA) ( PA Wire )

He said: Theres only one party to stop Reform and thats the Labour party, and we can already see what the by-election is going to be about which is Labour values. Which are about delivering on the cost of living with a strong record actually in that constituency of what weve already done versus Reform.

And you can see from their candidate what politics theyre going to bring to that constituency, the politics of division, of toxic division, of tearing people apart.

Thats not what that constituency is about, its not what Manchester is about so this is a straight fight between Labour and Reform and theres only one party that can stop the politics of Reform in the by election and thats the Labour Party.

But Labour MPs have privately briefed The Independent that they expect the Greens to be the beneficiaries of anger with Labour and a tactical anti-Reform vote at the by-election, which was triggered when former Labour MP Andrew Gwynne announced his resignation from Parliament.

It comes as deep divisions have broken out within Labour over Manchester mayor Andy Burnham being blocked as the candidate for the must-win seat, there is a fear that a so-called Caerphilly scenario will hit Labour and see voters tack to the Greens instead.

In the Caerphilly by-election for the Welsh Senedd last year Labour lost the seat it had held for more than a century, coming third to Plaid Cymru and Reform.

One Labour MP told The Independent: I will campaign very hard for us to win but the leadership has made it very hard for us.

Another said: They want us to go and knock doors but we all know it is between the Greens and Reform. Its Caerphilly all over again. The Greens winning is actually the worst case scenario because it confirms our vote is going to them.

The concerns come as the Greens dramatically climb in the polls since the election of Mr Polanski as leader.

Professor Sir John Curtice told The Independent: This could be a four-way fight between Labour, Reform, the Greens and George Galloway. The latter two will compete for and could split the Muslim vote as they did in the seat in 2024, doing a lot of damage to Labour.

Pollster Lord Robert Hayward said: I can foresee the Greens winning. I do think its worse for Labour because it identifies an English alternative to Labour on the left which the SNP and Plaid currently fulfil in Scotland and Wales.

Mr Polanski recently told The Independent that he wants the Greens to replace the Labour Party.

But Labour is fighting back against the scenario with the new campaign video launched on Facebook and YouTube.

In it, voters are shown a New Statesman/Britain Predicts poll placing Labour in second place behind Reform UK, which declared Matt Goodwin as their candidate on Tuesday, with the Green Party far behind in third place.

Labour is directing voters to this video which will run as a non-skippable placement on YouTube. It was seen by more than 100,000 people in the first hour after being uploaded.

open image in gallery Sir Keir Starmer has blocked Andy Burnham from standing, creating divisions in the party in Manchester (Ian Vogler/Daily Mirror) ( PA Archive )

Last week a rattled Sir Keir took aim at the Greens for being high on drugs and soft on Putin.

However, Mr Polanski, whose party is set to finalise their candidate on Thursday evening, told The Independent that he is bullish about their chances in the by-election

He said: It's Greens vs Reform. We're already seeing that on the doorstep. It's absolutely game on. We plan to run this campaign like one has never been run before

He added: If you wanted a political story that defines politics in our world right now - this is it. Big money Vs community. We're standing up for the UK versus them standing up for Trump. It's hope versus hate. We have to win it.

Explaining the new advertising campaign, a Labour insider said: Zack Polanski has spent days trying to peddle false narratives. If he actually read what hes posting, Polanski would notice that the Green Party are polling in third in Gorton and Denton. The Greens are simply not in the race.

With Reform picking a candidate who is trying to drive a wedge between communities here in Manchester, we cant risk the Greens letting Matt Goodwin in through the back door by misleading voters about the state of the race. The stakes are too high.

Thats why its important that we cut out Polanskis Westminster waffle - and tell it like it is direct to Mancunians. We know anti-social behaviour causes nuisance to people in their local communities. Therefore locals will be up in arms when they discover the Greens plans to legalise all drugs.

They added: The Greens are simply high on their own supply if they think Manchester is going to fall for it. Labour are the only party that can take on the divisive politics of Reform.
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The Home Secretary has defended plans for a rollout of live facial recognition to all police forces in England and Wales amid concerns a public consultation on its use is not yet complete.

Shabana Mahmood told LBC there is no true liberty if people are too scared of crime to leave their houses while human rights group Liberty accused the Government of ignoring the publics fundamental rights by announcing the rollout with the consultation still under way.

The Home Secretary said that while it is not 100% bang-on perfect all the time, evidence from live facial recognition will be tested in criminal trials.

Plans set out on Monday as part of sweeping reforms to policing would see the number of camera vans rise from 10 to 50, and be made available to all forces in England and Wales.

A public consultation is under way on how use of the technology should be regulated but it is understood that the national rollout of vans will be in line with current standards used by the Metropolitan Police, who have been using the technology for several years.

Currently the legal basis for the use of facial recognition is piecemeal, based on common law, data protection and human rights laws.

Ms Mahmood said: I really believe that new technology has the ability to help us go after criminals and bring more people to justice.

Of course, it has to be used in a way that is in line with our values, doesnt lead to innocent people being caught up in cases they shouldnt have been involved in.

But this technology is what is working. Its already led to 1,700 arrests in the Met alone. I think its got huge potential.

She said that evidence would be tested during criminal trials in the same way as DNA or fingerprint evidence.

As you roll out a technology, you learn more about how its operating. I think its actually highly accurate.

In any criminal trial, its part of a package of evidence, in the same way that fingerprinting would be or DNA would be.

And we know, of course, none of these things are 100% bang-on perfect all the time.

Thats why evidence is tested in a court, and the defence always has the chance to test that evidence and put an alternative view.

There are currently plans to restrict the number of jury trials.

Ms Mahmood added: The technology does present a really big opportunity for us, and there are no civil liberties, theres no true liberty if you are unsafe in your own country.

If you cant go out of your front door because youre afraid of crime on your high street and in your local area.

On Monday, Conservative MP Sir David Davis said the technology could lead to miscarriages of justice, pointing to lower accuracy rates of facial recognition for some ethnic minorities, and the Post Office scandal as an example where courts had believed computers rather than people.

Ruth Ehrlich, director of external relations at Liberty, said the Government was undermining its own consultation with the national rollout.

Rolling out powerful surveillance tools while a consultation is still under way undermines public trust and shows disregard for our fundamental rights, she said.

AI and facial recognition are powerful technologies that allow the police to track and monitor people as they go about their daily lives. Attempts by police forces to use these tools so far have been plagued by failure.

We have seen what happens when facial recognition technology is rolled out without clear safeguards: children are wrongly placed on watchlists, and black people are put at greater risk of being wrongly identified.

These have created real harm to peoples lives and are the consequence of handing complex, powerful technology to police who lack the expertise to govern it safely.

The Government must halt the rapid rollout of facial recognition technology, ensure safeguards are in place to protect each of us, and prioritise our rights.

They must also learn the lessons of the past and ensure that, before handing police further AI tools, a system of strong guardrails is in place and one that puts the rights and privacy of the British public at its core, with genuine transparency and meaningful oversight.

In November, Greater Manchester, West Yorkshire, Bedfordshire, Surrey, Sussex, Thames Valley and Hampshire police forces were all given access to live facial recognition in an expanded pilot programme, joining the Met, South Wales Police and Essex Police in their use.

A 10-week public consultation on use of the technology was launched in December and is expected to finish on February 12.
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Alex Pretti, the ICU nurse who was shot and killed by a Border Patrol agent this weekend, suffered a broken rib during a previous encounter with federal officers, according to a report.

A week before his death, Pretti, 37, had a rib broken when a group of federal officers tackled him as he was protesting their detention of other people, sources told CNN.

Since launching President Donald Trumps immigration crackdown in Minneapolis last month, federal officers have been collecting information about protesters and agitators in the city.

Among that information were details about Pretti, gathered before he was shot to death Saturday, sources told CNN.

A memo directed officers in Minneapolis to capture all images, license plates, identifications, and general information on hotels, agitators, protesters, etc., so we can capture it all in one consolidated form, according to CNN.

open image in gallery Alex Pretti had an encounter with federal agents a week before he was fatally shot, during which an officer broke his rib, according to a report ( AP )

A Department of Homeland Security spokesperson told The Independent: DHS law enforcement has no record of this incident.

Calls byThe Independent to Prettis family went unanswered Tuesday.

Prettis earlier encounter with federal officers unfolded after he saw ICE agents chasing what he described as a family on foot. He stopped his car and began shouting and blowing his whistle, the source said.

Pretti, an ICU nurse at a Veterans Affairs hospital, told one of CNNs sources that five agents tackled him. During the altercation, one of the agents leaned on his back, leaving him with a broken rib. Pretti was released at the scene.

That day, he thought he was going to die, the source said. After the incident, Pretti was given medication consistent with treating a broken rib, according to the report.

Earlier this month, a DHS official in Minneapolis sent a memo to Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations officers in the state directing them to use a new form to provide information on protesters and agitators.

open image in gallery Prettis name was known to federal agents before he was fatally shot by an officer Saturday in Minneapolis, according to CNN ( Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. )

While Prettis name was known to federal agents, according to the CNN source, it is unclear if the new intake form was used to share his information.

Some Trump officials have spoken about creating a database of protesters, including Trumps border czar Tom Homan, who told Fox News earlier this month that he was pushing for it.

Were going to create a database where those people that are arrested for interference, impeding and assault, were going to make them famous, Homan said.

Homan was sent to Minneapolis Tuesday by the president in an apparent effort to calm tensions in the state.

One video, taken in Maine and shared on social media last Friday, showed a federal agent recording a license plate of a woman watching their operations and telling her: We have a nice little database and now you are considered a domestic terrorist.

DHS has denied that the agency keeps a database of protesters.

There is NO database of domestic terrorists run by DHS. We do of course monitor and investigate and refer all threats, assaults and obstruction of our officers to the appropriate law enforcement. Obstructing and assaulting law enforcement is a felony and a federal crime, DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin told CNN.
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One person was critically injured Tuesday in Arivaca, Arizona, during a shooting involving U.S. Border Patrol after what an FBI spokesperson described as an alleged assault on a federal officer.

The incident occurred around 7:30 a.m. near milepost 15 of West Arivaca Road, located near the U.S.Mexico border. Federal agents were trying to detain the man  identified as 34-year-old Patrick Gary Schlegel  when he opened fire at a Border Patrol helicopter, the FBI said, according to the Associated Press.

The agents fired back, injuring the Arizona man, who was later transported to a hospital in critical condition by the Santa Rita Fire District. He was recovering from surgery as of Tuesday night.

Authorities said the man has a criminal history, including possessing a warrant for escape tied to a smuggling conviction. He is expected to be charged criminally.

The Pima County Sheriffs Department is working with the FBI and U.S. Customs and Border Protection as the investigation continues.

Further details about how the shooting began and whether any federal officers were injured have not been released.

A person was shot Tuesday morning in southern Arizona during an incident involving U.S. Border Patrol, authorities said ( Getty Images )

The Independent has contacted ICE, Border Patrol and the White House for comment.

The shooting comes amid growing tensions across the country following the fatal shooting of two U.S. citizens in Minneapolis during operations by Border Patrol and ICE.

This month, federal immigration officers in Minneapolis shot and killed two U.S. citizens, Renee Good and Alex Pretti, in separate incidents, sparking large protests and public outcry.

The killings have drawn national attention as protesters and legal observers confront enforcement actions they view as excessive, while the Trump administration has publicly defended the officers actions.

The incidents have fueled increased criticism of the Department of Homeland Security, including calls to fire or impeach Secretary Kristi Noem. Since September, federal immigration officers have shot 12 people amid expanded DHS deportation operations across the country.

Tuesday afternoon, President Donald Trump told reporters, "I think she's doing a very good job, when asked if Noem would step down as a result of the violence arising from protesters clashing with federal agents in Minneapolis.

Meanwhile, First Lady Melania Trump called for unity and peaceful protesting in Minneapolis during a morning appearance on Fox & Friends to promote her upcoming documentary Melania.

Im calling for unity. I know my husband, the president, had a great call yesterday with the governor and the mayor, and theyre working together to make it peaceful and without riots. Im against the violence, so please, if you protest, protest in peace. And we need to unify in this time, Melania Trump said.
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The family of a Haitian asylum seeker who died mysteriously last month while in ICE detention is demanding to know what happened to the remarkably healthy 41-year-old.

New Jersey resident Jean Wilson Brutus  known to friends as Wilson  was picked up by Immigration and Customs Enforcement on December 11 and taken to Delaney Hall, a troubled facility in Newark operated by the GEO Group, the nations largest private prison company.

Within 24 hours of his arrival, Brutus experienced a medical emergency, according to a news release ICE issued at the time under the headline, Criminal illegal alien passes away at University Hospital following medical emergency at Delaney Hall Detention Facility. He was taken by ambulance to a hospital, and pronounced dead the following day, the agency said.

ICE attributed Brutuss death to natural causes, but provided no further details, other than the fact that Brutus had no signs of distress during intake nor a medical history of cardiovascular issues.

In a statement provided Tuesday to The Independent, Brutuss cousin Evans Belony said, Before Wilson became a shocking headline, tied without a factual basis to investigations and unanswered questions, he was known by all as a kind and gentle soul who was always there when someone needed help. Wilson left Haiti for America because he was living in fear, in a war zone. He came in search of safety, stability, and the American Dream, believing that hard work, decency, and compassion still mattered.

open image in gallery Jean Wilson Brutus died within 24 hours of his incarceration at Delaney Hall, a privately run ICE lockup in Newark, New Jersey ( Provided )

Brutuss loved ones remain overcome with grief, according to Belony, who said they are committed to finding out what happened to him, not just for our family but for everyone in our country living in fear of masked federal agents coming to take them or their loved ones away from their homes and families.

The relatives have now retained civil rights attorneys Oliver Barry and Joseph Champagne Jr., the former mayor of Toms River, New Jersey, to investigate Brutuss death.

In a phone interview in Tuesday, Barry told The Independent that the family only learned that Brutus had even been taken into ICE custody was when they received notification of his death. And thats quite a call to get.

Brutus fled Haiti to escape political and gang violence, having endured horrific conditions there, Barry continued.

This is a man who was in the midst of asylum proceedings, in search of a better life, he said.

Brutus was the first detainee to die at Delaney Hall since it reopened last year under a $1 billion, 15-year contract with the GEO Group. The 1,000-bed immigration jail singlehandedly multiplied ICEs detention capacity in New Jersey four times over, according to the ACLU. Detainees have since complained of inedible food, undrinkable water and say that they have been forced to go without toothpaste, toilet paper or appropriate winter clothing.

Reached for comment on Tuesday, GEO Group spokesman Christopher Ferreira referred The Independent to ICE, which did not respond to inquiries.

open image in gallery Delaney Hall, an ICE lockup in Newark, New Jersey, has been a flashpoint since it reopened last year. The family of Brutus, an asylum seeker who died less than 24 hours after entering the gates, is now demanding answers ( Getty Images )

The family hired Barry and Champagne Jr. specifically because they have been kept in the dark by federal authorities, and want to know what happened to Brutus. The absence of any information from ICE or the GEO Group has only served to intensify the grief Brutuss family is experiencing, according to Barry.

What they do know is that a perfectly healthy 41-year-old does not enter a safe, properly and professionally run detention facility and within less than a day is in a body bag, Barry said in the statement released Tuesday.

Brutus, according to ICE, entered the United States without legal permission on June 20, 2023, at the Hidalgo Port of Entry in Hidalgo, Texas. He was then released, pending immigration proceedings, ICE said in the announcement reporting Brutuss death. Aside from calling Brutus a criminal illegal alien in its press release, ICE laid out Brutuss previous record, consisting of a handful of minor arrests for criminal trespassing and criminal mischief.

The United States presently holds more than 65,000 people in civil immigration detention, more than any other nation in the world. At least 31 people died in ICE custody in 2025, nearly three times the number in 2024, making it the deadliest year for the deportation agency in more than two decades. At least six people have died in ICE detention during the first month of 2026, along with two civilians, both U.S. citizens, who were shot dead by immigration authorities in Minneapolis.

ICE is committed to ensuring that all those in custody reside in safe, secure and humane environments, according to the ICE news release following Brutuss passing. Comprehensive medical care is provided from the moment individuals arrive and throughout the entirety of their stay.

open image in gallery Newark Mayor Ras Baraka was arrested last year by federal agents while trying to perform an official oversight visit at Delaney Hall ( Getty Images )

Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, a Democrat, was arrested last May while trying to conduct an official oversight visit at Delaney Hall; the charges have since been dropped. Rep. LaMonica McIver, a New Jersey Democrat, was arrested the same day for allegedly impeding two agents during Barakas arrest; those charges remain pending.

McIver demanded accountability by ICE in the wake of Brutuss death, saying the Trump administration had shown a complete disregard for human rights, human dignity, and human life.

Sen. Cory Booker, also a Democrat from New Jersey, said he was deeply concerned about the news and condemned what he deemed inhumane conditions at Delaney Hall.

Barry told The Independent that he and Champagne are now in the process of gathering information, and are awaiting the results of an independent autopsy. They have also submitted numerous public records requests, have sent evidence preservation letters to everyone involved and are continuing to identify potential witnesses. Soon, Barry expects to have a little more clarity on how Brutus died.

A GoFundMe campaign Belony launched 10 days ago to cover Brutuss funeral, memorial and burial expenses, has so far raised a little more than $13,000 of its $50,000 goal. Brutus was not wealthy, but he was rich in heart, the verified fundraiser tells potential donors, recalling a man known for always helping with his hands and expecting nothing in return.

In his statement on Tuesday, Belony described the family as overcome with grief about losing Brutus.

His story cannot end here, Belony said. His life mattered. And we are committed to finding out what happened to him, not just for our family but for everyone in our country living in fear of masked federal agents coming to take them or their loved ones away from their homes and families.
Close Thousands protest against ICE in Minneapolis

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President Donald Trump said he ordered the Department of Homeland Security not to intervene in protests and/or riots in Democratic-led cities unless local leaders ask for help.

In a Truth Social post shared Saturday, Trump noted federal officers will still be very forceful in their protection of federal property amid protests against his mass deportation campaign, with anti-ICE rallies taking place in cities across the country.

State and local governments must use the word, PLEASE before asking for the federal governments help, he wrote.

Protesters stage a march calling for an end to taxpayer spending on ICE on Saturday in Minneapolis ( Getty )

Organizers said more than 300 ICE Out of Everywhere protests were scheduled Saturday as outrage grows over a surge of agents into Democratic cities and the fatal shootings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti.Saturdays actions follow Fridays national shutdown event, in which organizers encouraged people to skip work, school and shopping in protest.

Saturdays demonstrations kicked off as a federal judge denied Minnesotas request to block officers from surging into the state while a closely watched legal challenge continues.

Meanwhile, Trump has labeled Pretti an agitator and perhaps, insurrectionist after the release of a video that shows a confrontation in the days before Prettis death between federal agents and the ICU nurse, who was shot dead by border patrol agents one week later.

Nothing that happened a full week before could possibly have justified Alexs killing, Steve Schleicher, an attorney for Prettis family, told The Independent.
Guys, I know there is a lot happening in Minneapolis right now. But have you seen the new Melania film?!

If not, Fox & Friends would very much like to fix that for you.

Tuesday morning opened with a bang in Far-Right Messaging Land  not the bang of a masked federal agent executing a medical worker in the street, but the bang of party poppers! Because, what with all the shooting Renee Good in the face and then calling her a bitch and the Alex Pretti stuff and the locking up American citizens for a while just for looking a bit brown thing, everyones sort of forgotten about Melanias big moment. She had just 20 days before Inauguration Day to get the East Wing ready, for Gods sake!

So, on Tuesday, America was treated to an interview. It opened with a trailer for the movie, all swelling orchestral music over close-up shots of a black stiletto emerging from a limo and imagery of the First Lady sitting comfortably on Air Force One. The aesthetic is somewhere between Sex and the City and a prestige fascism biopic: lingering shots of Melania nodding solemnly, repeating what her husband has just said, lips glossy, posture perfect; men in the background enacting Project 2025. Just before the clip cuts off, the First Lady is shown with her stylist sketching out the design for her inaugural ball gown. Who cares if people are dying outside? Would you look at that dress!

The opening question on Fox & Friends as soon as the trailer cut off was, naturally ... about Minneapolis! Over a chyron at the bottom of the screen reading, MELANIA THE MOVIE OUT ON FRIDAY, the First Lady was asked: What is your message to America about unifying both sides?

open image in gallery Melania Trump called for peaceful protests in Minneapolis  where two US citizens have died at the hands of federal agents  as she hawked her new documentary on Fox & Friends Tuesday. ( Fox News )

This, presumably, is because the polling and reviews on the Trump administrations actions in Minnesota do not look great for her husband.

Obviously rounding up people of color (including 2-year-old citizens and 5-year-olds in Spiderman backpacks and bunny hats on their way home from preschool) was going to be OK. Tearing breastfeeding babies off their screaming mothers and then sending Mommy to Cuba? Sure. Renee Good  well, she was a liberal, queer woman, and she was also a woman driving a car, so maybe that f***ing bitch got what she deserved.

But Alex Pretti changed the optics. He was a white man, yes, and that helps, but also an ICU nurse for veterans? A legal gun owner who, according to video footage, only had his phone out  not a handgun  and was busy asking a woman if she was OK? Whats the messaging here? It was law and order a couple weeks ago; now its just emptying a cartridge into a Boy Scout.

Trump tried the whole dont carry a loaded gun around with you at a protest thing but I mean, come on. Kyle Rittenhouse took an assault weapon to a protest, killed two people, walked free  and got a standing ovation at AmericaFest. The Second Amendment crowd is not going to buy this pivot.

So out comes the big red UNITY button. And unity, in American politics, still requires a womans face.

Not that woman, obviously (the one known for cheerfully recounting how she killed a puppy.) No, not Kristi Noem  we need a woman who sounds soothing on television. A woman who wasnt recently photographed in a bulletproof vest and combat gear, brandishing a weapon. And yes, preferably  conveniently  a woman who also has a movie to promote.

Enter Melania Trump.

There she was on Fox & Friends: immaculate blowout, full makeup, tone grave and disconcertingly maternal. Please, if you protest, protest in peace, she said (obvious subtext about Good and Pretti: they had it coming.) The body count involving ICE was now two-to-zero, but never mind that.

open image in gallery This screengrab of video footage shot by @dangjessie, shows ICU nurse Alex Pretti (L) and a federal immigration agent (C) before he was shot dead in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on January 24, 2026. ( @dangjessie/UGC )

open image in gallery Stills from a video taken by ICE agent Jonathan Ross of Renee Nicole Good shortly before he fatally shot her ( Alpha News/Jonathan Ross )

We need to unify. Im calling for unity. Her husband, she explained, was speaking with Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey; together they were working to make it peaceful without riots. Because the riots really are the issue. Did you hear that, Republican voters? The riots! My God, the midterms are coming. RIOTS!

She then expressed deep compassion for those affected by the winter storms. I hope the weather will get better soon. (I, too, was reminded of Eleanor Roosevelts Pearl Harbor address.)

The documentary, in case you missed it, is called Melania.

It may be the strangest PR campaign in modern American politics. The audience, Melania Trump explained to a Fox News host, will see how I manage my business, philanthropy, and inside her East Wing office, as well as that renovation of her husbands that rendered it demolished.

Theyll get to see what she thought about the Christmas decorations and the annual Easter egg roll. Invading Greenland and deconstructing NATO? No, shell be sharing scintillating details like the fact that the Bidens were very nice and cordial in the car on the way to Trumps second inauguration. Sometimes she gives her husband advice, by the way. Shes very action-oriented.

Behind her, the black-and-white backdrop simply read (youll never guess): MELANIA. Viewers were encouraged to visit her website to learn more about her work with kids (not those kids. Stop asking about those kids!)

Outside the Fox News Rockefeller Center studios, the country continued to burn and freeze and burn. Alex Prettis parents released a statement asking that people remember their son was a good man and that theyve been sickened by the reprehensible and disgusting lies told about him by this administration.

Inside the studio, however, unity was being sold: tastefully lit, carefully framed and beautifully packaged  and out in all good movie theaters Friday.
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A mountain lion spotted prowling in a residential area of San Francisco prompted safety warnings for residents, with concern children and pets could be at particular risk.

Local woman Madrey Hilton spotted the lion around 6 am on Monday as she left for work, and recorded a video from her car at the scene on Sacramento and Gough streets.

It was so big not just a regular cat, she told the San Francisco Chronicle, adding that it just looked like it was minding its own business.

The lion, which avoided a few cars with headlights, crossed the street and headed into nearby Lafayette Park, a hilly 12-acre park in the Pacific Heights neighborhood.

Hilton initially shared her footage on the social network Nextdoor and then alerted city wildlife authorities, who identified the cat as a subadult mountain lion likely around a year old.

open image in gallery A local resident filmed the mountain lion on the streets of San Francisco in the early hours of Monday, January 26. ( Madrey Hilton )

Park rangers, animal control officers and staff from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife headed to the park later on Monday, but were unable to find any sign of it; Animal Care & Control San Francisco announced early Tuesday that the mountain lion had been located, reported the Chronicle, although they did not initially say where, or whether it had been caught.

In an earlier Facebook post, the agency had urged residents to remain vigilant and use caution when outdoors, saying mountain lions should be given a wide berth, and rangers were at the park to warn locals.

Residents at Lafayette Park seemed unperturbed late Monday afternoon, with some throwing balls to their dogs and pushing small children on swings in the playground, the Chronicle reported.

It feels like it would be more scared of us, said Ben Lawson, who had been playing with his 16-month-old son Will and was unconcerned about encountering the big cat. It would be so rare.

Fellow resident Chris Hill, who was at the park with his dogs, was likewise unconcerned, although he said hed rather his pets didnt tangle with a wild beast.

I have 180 pounds worth of dog with me, he told the Chronicle. I still dont want them to get mauled.

open image in gallery Mountain lions, which are also known as pumas or panthers, typically do not regard people as prey. ( California Department of Fish and Wildlife )

Mountain lion attacks on humans are rare, with just a few dozen fatalities recorded across North America over the past 150 years, many of whom were children. Mountain lions, which are also known as pumas or panthers, typically do not regard people as prey.

The most recent related death was in Colorado in January, when a group of hikers noticed a mountain lion near the body of a woman on the Crosier Mountain trail. The victim was later identified as Kristen Marie Kovatch, 46.

Two years earlier, 21-year-old Taylen Robert Claude Brooks was killed in a mountain lion attack in Californias El Dorado County in March 2024; his 18-year-old brother was also injured.

The majority of documented mountain lion attacks - around three-quarters - have not resulted in human fatalities.

In one famous incident in February 2019, Colorado trail runner Travis Kauffman fought back when he was attacked by a mountain lion and killed it with his bare hands.

open image in gallery Travis Kauffman survived an attack by a mountain lion after wrestling the animal and eventually suffocating it with his foot on its throat.

Kauffman, who was left with minor scars, was nonchalant about the encounter when he told The Colorado Sun a few months later that he still ran on the same track: Its one of those things where time has passed and its become a distant memory and everything has returned to normal.

Animal Care & Control San Francisco said anyone who saw a mountain lion should not approach it, but instead back away without running.

If you have a child with you - pick them up - and keep dogs on leash. If the mountain lion approaches - make yourself 'big' wave your arms, shout, throw something, and again, do not run.

The agency did not immediately respond to a request for clarification on where the San Francisco mountain lion had been found.
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Hundreds of thousands are at risk in the aftermath of this weekends massive snowstorm with more than 700,000 homes without power across the U.S. amid freezing conditions, according to outage data.

Tens of thousands more were stranded or unable to travel due to Winter Storm Fern. Over 12,000 flights were cancelled Sunday, while over 5,000 were canceled Monday, according to data from FlightAware.

The storms death toll has reached at least 30 people. Nearly 180 million people have been in the path of widespread heavy snow, sleet, and freezing rain in an area spanning the southern Rocky Mountains to New England in recent days, according to the National Weather Service.

Live data from Find Energy, which tracks power outages, showed that Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Tennessee were the most affected by power outages, while Georgia, Kentucky, South Carolina, West Virginia, and Virginia also had more than 10,000 customers affected.

Eddie Swords of New Albany, Mississippi, told CBS News that the constant cracking limbs and falling trees sounded like a firecracker popping."

open image in gallery Workers shovel snow near the U.S. Capitol on Sunday ( Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. )

Swords said his power was out but he had a home generator, "thank goodness." He and a friend had to chainsaw a path in and out of his neighborhood so they could get fuel, and the pair planned to hunker down together, extending an invitation to other locals.

"I told anybody who wants to come down, 'I got natural gas that's good and toasted in there right now,'" Swords said.

Power line companies reported "catastrophic damage in a number of states, warning that power restoration could take "weeks instead of days" for some customers.

On Sunday evening, Mississippi utility company Oxford Utilities pulled its crews off the road due to life-threatening conditions.

open image in gallery More than 700,000 customers were without power Monday, largely across southern states ( Find Energy )

Trees are actively snapping and falling around our linemen while they are in the bucket trucks, the company said in a statement.

Mississippis Department of Transportation has struggled to keep up, road worker John Sanford told CBS News.

"We're spread thin on equipment here, because theres so many guys in different directions and we're out here having to mainly do this where usually we would need a backhoe or bulldozer, something to help move this stuff," said Sanford.

"One of the guys that worked with us, he couldn't make it back this morning. He's got two trees on his house."

Sanford said the biggest challenges were cold and exhaustion: "You just get physically tired and you know, there's more and more trees falling, people needing help. The minute you get one cleaned up, another one falls."

open image in gallery Fallen branches and trees lay across roads and utility lines in Nashville, Tennessee ( Brett Carlsen/Getty Images )

Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport has so far been the worst-hit with 338 flights canceled Monday, according to FlightAware, which tracks delays and cancellations.

Boston Logan International also had 315 flights canceled by noon. Five other airports also had over 200 flights canceled: Charlotte/Douglas International, Reagan National in Washington D.C., and Newark Liberty International, LaGuardia, and John F. Kennedy International in the New York area.

Those cancellations came on the heels of almost 4,000 canceled flights Saturday and more than 12,000 Sunday.

A private aircraft carrying eight people crashed while attempting to take off from Bangor International Airport in Maine during the storm Sunday night. A government official briefed on the incident said the aircraft was engulfed in flames and seven people were later confirmed dead.

open image in gallery Emergency services work at the scene of the Bombardier Challenger 600 crash at the Bangor Airport in Maine late Sunday ( WABI )

Five people died after being stuck outside in New York City. A Texas man was found dead in a gas station parking lot from apparent hypothermia, and a 16-year-old girl died in a sledding accident in Frisco, Texas, Sunday, according to Fox 4 News.

Three people died in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, the county coroner said, ranging in age from 60 to 84 years old.

"I remind the public to use caution when shoveling snow  especially individuals with a history of heart disease or other medical concerns, the coroner said in a statement published by ABC News.

In Arkansas, a 17-year-old boy died after hitting a tree while being pulled by an ATV in the snow, according to the Saline County Sheriffs Office. Boston ABC affiliate WCVB reported the death of a Massachusetts woman who died after a snowplow backed into her in a parking lot.

open image in gallery FlightAware's "Misery Map" shows the extent of flight cancelations on Monday morning. ( FlightAware )

An additional three deaths have been reported in Tennessee, two in Louisiana, and one in Kansas.

President Donald Trump has approved emergency declarations for a dozen states, and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem - who oversees the Federal Emergency Management Agency - said supplies, staff and search and rescue teams were being deployed across the country.

"We just ask that everyone would be smart - stay home if possible," Noem said.

Wind chills in the Midwest have plunged to -40F, a bone-chilling cold that could cause frostbite to set in within minutes.
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Just as many Americans are digging themselves out after the first blockbuster winter storm of the year, a second major snowstorm may be brewing, models show.

This past weekends storm dropped over a foot of snow across 20 states and left more than 710,000 people without power Monday.

The extreme cold is set to persist throughout the week, and some states that were walloped by snow and ice may see even more on top of it next weekend.

Late this weekend into early next week, the snow risk is all the way from Central Tennessee into most of West Virginia, central western Pennsylvania, most of New York except the Great Lakes and most of New England, AccuWeather Meteorologist Chad Merrill told The Independent.

All major cities along the Interstate-95 corridor in the northeast  Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., all of which saw between 10 and 20 inches of snow last weekend  may see more snow, Merrill said.

open image in gallery A man shovels snow in Manhattan on Monday after a storm left nearly one foot of snow. Another snowstorm may hit parts of the U.S., spanning from the Gulf Coast up to the northeast , next weekend, according to weather models ( Getty Images )

open image in gallery Snow was seen at the Nashville International Airport in Nashville, Tennessee, over the weekend, as thousands of flights were canceled across the country due to winter weather this past weekend ( Getty Images )

Precipitation could begin along the Gulf Coast as soon as Friday, with rain likely south of Interstate 10 from Louisiana to Florida.

Depending on how strong the storm is, snow may mix with rain from Interstate 10 north, across parts of Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Georgia, according to AccuWeather.

Portions of those states were already hit by snow and ice last weekend. Witts Springs, Arkansas, recorded 12 inches of snow, and Louisiana saw over six inches in some parts, according to the National Weather Service.

Louisiana and Texas were hit with the most power outages, as the massive snowstorm continued to impact Americans into Monday. Over 700,000 remained without power amid sub-freezing temperatures.

Areas that will be impacted next weekend depend on how close to the coast the storm tracks, Merrill said.

If the storm tracks closer to the coast, it will likely bring strong winds and heavy snow to the mid-Atlantic and northeast from late Saturday into early Monday. But if it tracks further to the east, the risk for heavy snow would be significantly reduced, Merrill said.

Some areas that were hit by last weekends storm, like the Southern Plains region into Arkansas and western Louisiana, will likely be spared should the current models come to fruition, Merrill said.

open image in gallery People walk through the snow in Washington, D.C., as some 700,000 remained without power Monday after this weekends storm. A second storm is set to hit next weekend, bringing snow to areas already struggling to dig out of snow ( Getty Images )

Folks from the central and eastern Gulf Coast, Jackson, Mississippi, Atlanta and Charlotte, would see snow and some rain from this storm, Merrill said. So those folks would definitely be impacted, but not the entire breadth of the population that was impacted by the last storm.

However, whether it will be another blockbuster storm is yet to be seen. Forecasters say they will have a better idea of the timing and what areas will be impacted as the week progresses.

Should the storm strengthen enough, it could turn into a noreaster and drop heavy snow along the entire Eastern Seaboard. If the storm strengthens quickly, it could also track as far west as the Appalachians from North Carolina to Pennsylvania, according to AccuWeather.

A wave of cold air will likely follow the storm, meaning no respite for regions experiencing sub-freezing temperatures. It will also mean that snow from this past weekend may not melt away before the next storm.

This storm would complicate matters as well. Where do you put the snow if there is a big storm in Philadelphia or New York, which saw 11.4 inches. Where would you put additional snow for snow removal purposes? Merrill said.

That would be a big question with the storm, if it does come to fruition, Merrill added.
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The United States experienced a significant slowdown in its population growth rate in 2025, a trend attributed in part to Donald Trump's immigration policies, according to new estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau. The nation's population reached 341.8 million people, but its growth rate plummeted to 0.5 per cent.

This figure marks a sharp decline from the nearly 1 per cent growth recorded in 2024, which had been the highest since 2001 and was largely driven by immigration. The previous year's estimates had placed the U.S. population at 340 million.

Immigration saw a substantial decrease, with an increase of 1.3 million people last year, a stark contrast to the 2.8 million recorded in 2024. The census report, however, did not differentiate between legal and undocumented immigration.

Historically, the lowest growth rate in the past 125 years occurred in 2021, at the peak of the coronavirus pandemic. During that period, the U.S. population expanded by just 0.16 per cent, or 522,000 individuals, with immigration contributing only 376,000 people due to stringent travel restrictions.

Before that, the lowest growth rate was just under 0.5% in 1919 at the height of the Spanish flu.

Births outnumbered deaths last year by 519,000 people.

open image in gallery ICE agents make arrests as part of animmigration enforcement surge across the Chicago region. ( Getty Images )

The immigration drop dented growth in several states that traditionally have been immigrant magnets.

California had a net population loss of 9,500 people in 2025, a stark change from the previous year, when it gained 232,000 residents, even though roughly the same number of Californians already living in the state moved out in both years.

The difference was immigration since the number of net immigrants who moved into the state dropped from 361,000 people in 2024 to 109,000 in 2025.

Florida had year-to-year drops in both immigrants and people moving in from other states. The Sunshine State, which has become more expensive in recent years from surging property values and higher home insurance costs, had only 22,000 domestic migrants in 2025, compared with 64,000 people in 2024, and the net number of immigrants dropped from more than 411,000 people to 178,000 people.

New York added only 1,008 people in 2025, mostly because the state's net migration from immigrants dropped from 207,000 people to 95,600 people.

Tuesday's data release comes as researchers have been trying to determine the effects of the second Trump administration's immigration crackdown after the Republican president returned to the White House in January 2025. Trump made the surge of migrants at the southern border a central issue in his winning 2024 presidential campaign.

The numbers made public Tuesday reflect change from July 2024 to July 2025, covering the end of President Joe Biden's Democratic administration and the first half of Trump's first year back in office.

The figures capture a period that reflects the beginning of enforcement surges in Los Angeles and Portland, Oregon, but do not capture the impact on immigration after the Trump administration's crackdowns began in Chicago; New Orleans; Memphis, Tennessee; and Minneapolis, Minnesota.

open image in gallery Federal immigration officers prepare to enter a home to make an arrest in Minneapolis. ( AP )

The 2025 numbers were a jarring divergence from 2024, when net international migration accounted for 84% of the nation's 3.3 million-person increase from the year before. The jump in immigration two years ago was partly because of a new method of counting that added people who were admitted for humanitarian reasons.

"They do reflect recent trends we have seen in out-migration, where the numbers of people coming in is down and the numbers going out is up," Eric Jensen, a senior research scientist at the Census Bureau, said last week.

Unlike the once-a-decade census, which determines how many congressional seats and Electoral College votes each state gets, as well as the distribution of $2.8 trillion in annual government funding, the population estimates are calculated from government records and internal Census Bureau data.

The release of the 2025 population estimates was delayed by the federal government shutdown last fall and comes at a challenging time for the Census Bureau and other U.S. statistical agencies. The bureau, which is the largest statistical agency in the U.S., lost about 15% of its workforce last year due to buyouts and layoffs that were part of cost-cutting efforts by the White House and its Department of Government Efficiency.

Other recent actions by the Trump administration, such as the firing of Erika McEntarfer as Bureau of Labor Statistics commissioner, have raised concerns about political meddling at U.S. statistical agencies. But Brookings demographer William Frey said the bureau's staffers appear to have been "doing this work as usual without interference."

"So I have no reason to doubt the numbers that come out," Frey said.
It is one of the oldest tricks in the authoritarian playbook: aesthetic first, policy second. Before the mass arrests, before the street violence, before the bureaucracy hardens into a machine, you soften the ground with imagery that makes the coming crackdowns feel righteous, necessary  inevitable. That is why it matters, urgently, that Americas immigration enforcement apparatus is now recruiting in a visual and rhetorical register that looks, sounds and feels uncomfortably like the 1930s: the decade in which fascism stopped being a crank ideology and became a governing reality.

Lets be clear: the posters and social-media graphics pushing people towards US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) jobs are not merely a bit retro. They are saturated with the grammar of Nazi and far-right propaganda; heroic silhouettes, blunt moral binaries, looming national decline and the call to defend a mythic homeland. And this all arrives at a moment when federal agents are killing US citizens on American streets.

The killing of Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old ICU nurse and US citizen, who was shot by US Border Patrol agents in Minneapolis, Minnesota, over the weekend, shocked the world. His colleagues and family describe him as a compassionate healthcare professional, and despite a statement by Kristi Noem, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) secretary, saying he was armed with a handgun, he was holding a phone, not a weapon, at the time he was pepper-sprayed, tackled and shot by federal agents.

Renee Good, a 37-year-old American citizen, was also fatally shot in Minneapolis, Minnesota, by United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement two weeks before Alex Pretti was killed. These two citizen deaths are unlikely to be the last at the hands of ICE and many more American citizens have been and will be injured. For an increasing number of onlookers, this is all the bloody result of a recruitment drive that prioritises muscle over training, and whose messaging carries serious fascist overtones.

History might not repeat exactly, but it certainly rhymes. One of the most widely circulated recruitment images for ICE shows Uncle Sam, not rallying for a war abroad but apparently dithering at a crossroads: one direction labelled with virtuous abstractions  HOMELAND, SERVICE, OPPORTUNITY  the other with dread  INVASION, CULTURAL DECLINE. It is classic mobilisation art: a simplified nation-persona confronted by existential choice, reduced to signposts and slogans.

The image was posted by the DHS, along with the words, Which way, American man?, which was clearly a deliberate nod to the book Which Way, Western Man?, a vile 700-page tome by William Gayley Simpson and published by a neo-Nazi press back in the 1970s. As the book claimed that non-whites are a threat to the very existence of America, there can be no doubt that the words chosen to accompany the poster were designed to appeal to those who decide real Americans along racial lines.

open image in gallery Kristi Noem above the slogan One of ours, all of yours  a phrase strongly associated with Nazi ideology and SS collective-punishment doctrine ( Getty )

Just one day after Renee Good was fatally shot by an ICE agent, the podium where Kristi Noem gave her press briefing was emblazoned with the slogan One of ours, all of yours. This phrase is strongly associated with Nazi ideology and SS collective-punishment doctrine, where, during the Third Reich, the killing or arrest of one German soldier would trigger retaliation against civilians (often expressed as for one German, ten/one hundred locals). While the DHS denied using literal Nazi propaganda and called the accusation of it being Nazi messaging tiresome, critics still believe the wording was deliberate aggressive rhetoric about retaliation or collective punishment.

There is also the poster showing ICE agents as heroic medieval knights, along with the caption, The enemies are at the gates. Nazi propaganda, too, just loved depicting members of the SS as knights in armour, ready to protect a sacred homeland from invasion.

Or how about the poster showing the lone silhouette of a cowboy set against a mountain range, above which flies a stealth fighter, and emblazoned with the words, Well have our home again? The line is the title of a song by the Pine Tree Riots  a band beloved by white nationalists  and which features the lyrics: In our own towns, were foreigners now/ Our names are spat and cursed/ The headline smack, of another attack/ Not the last, and not the worst/ Oh my fathers, they look down on me/ I wonder what they feel/ To see their noble sons driven down beneath a cowards heel.

open image in gallery Gregory Bovino, the senior Border Patrol figure who has become a recognisable face of the new enforcement posture ( AFP/Getty )

There can be no doubt that the recruitment aesthetic is being tuned to resonate inside a far-right cultural frequency  one in which invasion, decline and homeland are not neutral words but ideological dog whistles.

Why do these phrases matter so much? Because in white supremacist subcultures, homeland is rarely just a place. It is an imagined ethno-state  an all-white inheritance threatened by outsiders, upheld by force. Invasion is not merely a metaphor for border crossings; it is straight out of the replacement theory conspiracy handbook, which claims that non-white migration is a coordinated assault on Western civilisation. With these messages, you are no longer recruiting for law enforcement. You are recruiting for an all-out culture war.

open image in gallery Bovino basically looks like he is cosplaying a senior SS officer, and does so while presiding over aggressive raids in the name of his country ( AFP/Getty )

And it is all so very 1930s. Not simply because the graphics borrow the stark, posterised look of interwar recruitment art, but because the emotional structure is the same: a beloved national community said to be on the brink, endangered by outsiders and decadence, requiring a cadre of tough men to restore order. Fascist movements also sold themselves as saviours rather than vandals.

If you want an embodiment of this aesthetic, look no further than Gregory Bovino, the senior Border Patrol figure who has become a recognisable face of the new enforcement posture. His distinctive brass-buttoned, calf-length greatcoat resonates with a fascist aesthetic. Along with his Himmler-like haircut, Bovino basically looks like he is cosplaying a senior SS officer, and does so while presiding over aggressive raids in the name of his country.

open image in gallery Well Have Our Home Again is used in recruitment advertisements and social media posts by ICE ( Instagram )

As the backlash grows over the killing of 37-year-old nurse Alex Pretti, it is being reported that Gregory Bovino and other federal agents are set to depart from Minneapolis. It is right that historians should be cautious with analogies, but we should not be timid. The SA  Hitlers stormtroopers  although never an extermination unit per se, certainly created the atmosphere currently being invoked on the streets of America. They were a continual presence of street muscle, normalising violence, intimidating communities, and creating a constant and ambient fear that made normal life feel impossible. They terrorised Jewish neighbourhoods, smashed businesses, beat opponents, and taught ordinary people that the state would not protect them.

There are obvious differences between Nazi Germany and the United States in 2026. Yet there is a chilling familiarity in the pattern whereby a state-aligned force is encouraged  through imagery and nationalistic rhetoric  to see itself as the guardian of an ethnically defined nation, and to intentionally impose order through fear.

Against this backdrop, the recruitment imagery curdles into something darker. It is one thing to romanticise enforcement as service in the abstract; it is another to do so while agents, operating under the banner of immigration control, are, according to multiple reports, shutting out local scrutiny of the violence being imposed on communities. Through this lens, it is hard to escape the sense that the posters are not incidental marketing, but part of a broader political project: to create a self-selecting, ideologically hardened corps who see their work not as paperwork and arrests, but as a pitched battle for the nation.

Recruitment material that idealises a threatened homeland tends, in practice, to picture that homeland as racially homogenous. When the enemy is framed as invasion, the invader is understood to be non-white. When the mission is to arrest illegals, the public imagination  shaped by years of rhetoric  defaults to brown bodies.

open image in gallery A woman covers her face from tear gas as federal immigration officers confront protesters outside the Bishop Henry Whipple Federal Building, Minneapolis, on 15 January ( AP )

And so much of the messaging which surrounds what some are dubbing Trumps private army reads as an invitation to enforce racial boundaries, not merely legal ones. It implicitly promotes the idea of an all-white homeland under siege, implying that ICE agents are targeting non-white people to save it. You do not need to write white on a poster for white supremacists to hear it. They have long trained themselves to decode, and the DHS knows it.

The defenders of these campaigns say critics are seeing Nazis everywhere; they argue that the Uncle Sam figure is simply Americana, that homeland is a neutral word. To object to this is to be paranoid and melodramatic. But the 1930s taught us precisely why symbolism matters. Fascism did not arrive with a single marching column; it arrived by making brutality feel normal, even noble.

When official government campaigns flirt with far-right iconography and coded language, while federal agents kill citizens and communities describe being terrorised, we are not obliged to wait for jackboots before we recognise the direction of travel.

The posters, the uniforms, the slogans are not the whole story, but they are the weather vane. And right now, it is pointing to an ugly wind.
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Embattled CBS News editor-in-chief Bari Weiss told staff during a much-anticipated all-hands meeting on Tuesday that they should leave if they dont think shes the right leader for the network, letting them know its a free country.

She was  perhaps surprisingly  joined in that clarion call by CBS Mornings co-anchor Gayle King, who has been the subject of multiple stories that she may soon be on the chopping block due to her age and massive salary.

If you don't want to be here, if this is not the place, it's OK, King declared at the end of the question and answer session of the meeting. But for the rest of us who would like to be here, whod like to do a good job and figure things out along the way, this is a very bumpy time for all of us.

King, in a recording of the meeting obtained and reviewed by The Independent, also took a swing at the leakers in the building who would inevitably share comments made by her and Weiss with the media.

I also want to say to the leakers in the building, I thought you made it very clear if you're not the leader for them, the morning host said to Weiss. I would like to think that we can have conversations, and that we could talk candidly with each other, and it's not going to friggin be in the paper. I am so sick of that!

open image in gallery Bari Weiss addressed CBS News staff in an all-hands meeting on Tuesday, letting them know they should leave if they dont think shes the right leader at this moment. ( YouTube )

Representatives for CBS News, King, Weiss and Paramount did not respond to requests for comment.

The staffwide meeting, which was initially scheduled for last month, served as Weiss unveiling of the strategic path she has in store for the troubled news channel she took over in October. In her first few months atop the Tiffany Network, Weiss tumultuous tenure has been marked by plummeting staff morale and heavy scrutiny over her editorial decision-making.

Weiss, a former New York Times opinion columnist who founded the center-right anti-woke site The Free Press, has recently faced intense backlash over her l ast-minute decision to spike a 60 Minutes segment about Venezuelan migrants deported by the Trump administration to the violent El Salvadorian prison CECOT.

Shes also come under fire for the MAGA-coded reboot of CBS Evening News with Tony Dokoupil, which has been beset with poor ratings, technical mishaps, behind-the-scenes chaos and cringeworthy pro-Trump segments.

On top of that, many of the networks staffers were already on edge heading into Tuesdays meeting as it was reported that she intended to announce significant cuts along with laying out her long-term vision for CBS News. Those expected layoffs would come on the heels of last falls 10 percent payroll cut by Paramount boss David Ellison, which led to the shuttering or gutting of several news programs and teams.

While Tuesdays meeting didnt feature an announcement of layoffs and instead saw Weiss suggesting that many employees instead leave if they are disgruntled, she did officially reveal that she was bringing on a slate of podcasters and opinion writers to serve as contributors for the network.

Kicking off the meeting to the tune of Happy by Pharrell Williams, Weiss decided to address the elephant in the room  which is the tsunami of reporting over the past few months about the chaotic rollout of her tenure as editor-in-chief.

Let me start by saying: I get it. I also get why, in the face of all this tumult, you might feel uncertain or skeptical about me or what I'm aiming to do here, she declared.

I'm not going to stand up here today and ask for your trust. I'm going to earn it, just like we have to do with our viewers, the heterodox 41-year-old added. What I can give you is what I've always tried to give my readers as a journalist: transparency, clarity, straight talk.

Saying that shes here to make CBS News fit for purpose in the 21st century, Weiss eventually said that we are not producing a product enough people want and that the network needs a singular editorial vision to create the wave and then ride it.

open image in gallery Gayle King rallied the CBS News troops behind Bari Weiss at the networks all-hands meeting on Tuesday while also raging against leakers. ( Getty Images for Big Brothers Big Sisters of America )

CBS News is for the center, we're for the center-right, and we're for the center-left. And that is the vast majority of the company  that's who we need to reach, she noted at one point, celebrating that the network had recently booked right-wing radio host and former NRA spokesperson Dana Loesch to appear on CBS Mornings.

Notably, in November, Weiss had cited Loesch  along with Alan Dershowitz  as a charismatic example of a partisan pundit that represents the type of guest shed like to have on the network.

She also seemed to downplay television ratings as antiquated while pushing for the need to fight the Wild West of social media, noting that while Walter Cronkite only had two competitors, CBS News in 2026 has two billion, give or take. Therefore, the network needs to appeal to a broader community of new consumers in the digital age.

Our strategy until now has been cling to the audience that remains on broadcast television. I'm here to tell you that if we stick to that strategy, we're toast, she said. Starting now we have to focus on what we're building, not on what we're maintaining.

Part of that strategy, Weiss maintained, was building up podcasts, newsletters, live journalism, events and more, adding that they should be investing in our talents by building brands around them in order to compete with the creator economy in media.

She seems very small, a network employee reacted to Weiss remarks on Tuesday. She can read talking points off the teleprompter, but it doesn't really connect to what's happening inside the organization.

This brought her to the announcement of 18 new contributors to the network, many of whom are already Free Press writers, such as Patrick McGee, Coleman Hughes and conservative historian Niall Ferguson. Others she named are well-known podcasters, journalists and political figures  though some have also courted controversy throughout their careers.

Mark Hyman, a functional medicine adherent and close ally of HHS director and vaccine skeptic Robert F. Kennedy Jr. who has become a leading face of the MAHA movement, is one of the new contributors. So is popular science and health podcaster Andrew Huberman, who has faced criticism for peddling misinformation.

Who wants to watch this crap, and where is the news in any of this? one CBS News staffer told The Independent about the new contributor hires.

open image in gallery She seems very small, a network employee reacted to Weiss remarks on Tuesday. She can read talking points off the teleprompter, but it doesn't really connect to what's happening inside the organization. ( Leigh Vogel/Getty Images for Uber, X and The )

After announcing the new commentators at the network, Weiss turned her attention to the current staff  and let them know that if they are unhappy with the direction of the network and the vision she had laid out, they should look for the exit.

If that's not your bag, that's OK, she stated. It's a free country, and I completely respect if you decide I'm not the right leader for you or this isn't the right place at the right time, there's just too many exciting things to be spending your career doing.

During the question and answer session, Weiss was pressed about her decision to pull the Inside CECOT report by 60 Minutes correspondent Sharyn Alfonsi, which the chief editor claimed needed additional reporting to get more comments from the Trump administration. In the end, the report ran largely unchanged this month after Trump officials once again declined to speak on the record.

Asked about originally spiking the report after it had already been promoted on air by the network, Weiss said that while it is always going to be my prerogative as editor to push to get new information, she vowed to be more involved early on going forward.

Now, am I ever going to hold something again after it has been put out there with promos? I dont want to make that exact same decision again. No, I do not, she insisted.

As for concerns that she had been ordered by her boss  who is seeking favor with Trump as he builds his burgeoning media empire  to hold the Inside CECOT segment amid the presidents continued anger over 60 Minutes, Weiss claimed she was not pressured by David Ellison or anyone else. Weiss added that the only conversations shes had with Ellison have been about fairness in news coverage.

At one point, Weiss was confronted by CBS Evening News producer Nicole Cutrona, who brought up a recent change in editorial standards  noting that Weiss had spent part of the meetings insisting that the network hadnt changed its standards and practices.

Cutrona, who is transgender, noted that shed actually been the victim of one of the leaks, which involved the demonstrable change in the guidance from the fall to when we reported on stories in January regarding the way the network talked about trans individuals. In the end, Cutrona wanted to know if Weiss had any role in the change in that guidance  which would see CBS now use the term biological sex at birth with no quotes needed when discussing trans athletes.

I have a conversation with standards about all kinds of things throughout the day, throughout the week, and that was a conversation about whether or not the phrase biological sex should be in scare quotes or not. And I felt that we didn't need to do that, Weiss responded.

Everyone is applauding her for asking an actual question to Bari, one CBS News insider told The Independent.

The end of the meeting, however, was reserved for King to give a rallying speech to the CBS News troops, along with raging at any leakers in the newsroom. Interestingly, Weiss arguably burst into national prominence because she live-tweeted a 2020 New York Times editorial meeting that she famously described as a "civil war" inside the newspaper.

I just want to say something about working at CBS. I think we've all been walking around with gasoline on our pants, King exclaimed. We've had a lot of incoming. People come and pet me like a puppy and say, Im so sorry that you're leaving CBS. I won't watch you guys again. And it's not the same place. And when I come here, what I see everyday are people who really love what they do. We work really hard, we're very proud of what we do here, and I don't want anybody to lose sight of that.

Snarking that shes curious to see how long it takes for this to get out, 'cause it'll be somebody in this room, King then reiterated Weiss plea to staffers to head for the door if they didnt feel she was the right leader for the newsroom.

If you don't want to be here, if this is not the place, it's OK, she stated.
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Ski resorts in the United States are seeing a decline in visits from Canadian skiers this winter as many boycott U.S. tourism to show opposition to President Donald Trumps threats to impose tariffs and make Canada the 51st state, according to recent reports.

Steve Wright, the president and general manager of Jay Peak Resort  one of the largest ski resorts in Vermont- told members of Congress they were anticipating large declines in Canadian visits after he noticed fewer northern neighbors were renewing their season passes.

After I called nearly 100 Canadian households they cite the present administrations flagrant disrespect of Canadian independence as not only a challenge to Canadian sovereignty but to their own identity and they feel the need to respond, Wright said.

As of December, bookings from Canadians were down 10 to 15 percent.

Josh Reed, the communications manager at Killington Resorts, told Bloomberg that theres a lot of anger from Canadians toward the U.S. He claimed that some Canadian visitors have felt ostracized by friends for visiting the states.

open image in gallery One US ski resort said there was a 10 to 15 percent decline in visits from Canadians this season ( Getty Images )

But its not just ski resorts, border towns in Montana and other U.S. states that typically see a high volume of tourism from Canada, say this past years visits declined significantly.

Kalispell, Montana, is a popular tourist destination for Canadians since its located approximately 50 miles from the border. But tourism dipped so low during the summer that the city launched a Kalispell Canadian Welcome Pass that offered tourists deals on shopping and dining.

"It's disappointing and sad," Diane Medler, the executive director of Discover Kalispell, told CBC News of the drop in tourism. She estimated a 39 percent decline in Canadian credit card spending in the region.

Elizabeth Guerin, the owner of Fiddleheads, a store in Colebrook, New Hampshire  located eight miles from the Canadian border, told members of Congress that she could count the number of Canadian visitors on one hand.

Guerin said normally Canadians make up 15 to 25 percent of her visitors.

Im just trying to plug along and keep my nose above the waterline, Guerin said.

open image in gallery Some western ski resorts in the US cited poor snow conditions as one of the reasons for fewer Canadian tourists ( Getty Images )

The economic impact on the border towns and ski resorts is part of a larger trend. Overall, Canadians trips to the United States declined by at least 30 percent in December 2025 compared to December 2024. That marked the 12th consecutive month of year-to-year declines in Canadians visiting the U.S.

Canadian travel to the U.S. began declining after Trump took office. At the time, the president taunted Canada with the idea of making the U.S.s northern neighbor the 51st state. Throughout the year, Trump continued to lash out at Canada  threatening to impose steep tariffs anytime he was displeased.

There are other factors impacting a slowdown in CanadaU.S. tourism, such as cost. The Canadian dollar has weakened, meaning its more expensive to visit the U.S. Additionally, western ski resorts are facing a tough winter with less snow than usual.
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California Governor Gavin Newsom has accused TikTok of suppressing content critical of Donald Trump, initiating a review to determine if the platform's content moderation practices violate state law.

TikTok, in response, attributed the issues to a "systems failure".

The accusation follows last week's finalization of a deal by TikTok's Chinese owner, ByteDance, to establish a majority US-owned joint venture.

This new entity aims to secure US data and avert a ban on the popular short-video app, a move that was praised by Mr Trump.

ByteDance stated that TikTok USDS Joint Venture LLC would safeguard US user data, applications, and algorithms through enhanced data privacy and cybersecurity measures.

"Following TikTok's sale to a Trump-aligned business group, our office has received reports, and independently confirmed instances, of suppressed content critical of President Trump," Newsom's office announced on X, without providing further details.

open image in gallery Gavin Newsom has accused TikTok of suppressing critical content of Donald Trump ( Fabrice Coffrini/AFP via Getty Images )

"Gavin Newsom is launching a review of this conduct and is calling on the California Department of Justice to determine whether it violates California law," the statement added.

A TikTok representative pointed to a previous statement, attributing the problems to a data centre power outage.

"It would be inaccurate to report that this is anything but the technical issues we've transparently confirmed," the representative said.

The joint venture explained that users might experience bugs, slower load times, or timed-out requests when posting new content due to the outage's impact.

"While the network has been recovered, the outage caused a cascading systems failure that we've been working to resolve," it stated on X prior to Mr Newsom's remarks.

The recent deal marks a significant moment for TikTok, which has faced years of scrutiny from the US government over national security and privacy concerns under both Mr Trump and President Joe Biden.

Mr Newsom, a Democrat, and Mr Trump, a Republican, have a history of mutual criticism. Mr Trump, who boasts over 16 million followers on his personal TikTok account, has previously credited the app with aiding his 2024 election campaign.

Under the terms of the deal, American and global investors will hold 80.1 per cent of the venture, with ByteDance retaining 19.9 per cent.

Cloud computing giant Oracle, private equity group Silver Lake, and Abu Dhabi-based investment firm MGX will each hold a 15 per cent stake as managing investors.

A White House official confirmed that both the US and Chinese governments had approved the agreement.
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Greg Bovino, Customs and Border Protections Commander at Large, has been removed from his role fronting President Donald Trumps illegal immigration crackdown in Minneapolis, according to reports.

The decision follows the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti, 37, after a confrontation with officers on Saturday, which followed the earlier killing of another demonstrator, Renee Good, also 37, on January 7.

Amid growing public hostility to the ICE-led operation, Trump moved to act on Monday, placing border czar Tom Homan in charge of operations in the state, staging late-night crisis talks with Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and her top aide Corey Lewandowski, and sending Bovino, 55, back to his native California.

DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin denied that the CBP leader, who has been nicknamed the Little Napoleon for his short stature, had been demoted.

Chief Gregory Bovino has NOT been relieved of his duties, she wrote on X (Twitter). As White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated from the White House podium, Commander Bovino is a key part of the presidents team and a great American.

open image in gallery Customs and Border Patrol commander Greg Bovino salutes a colleague in Chicago after leaving court last October ( AFP/Getty )

Bovino has become one of the faces of the Trump administrations anti-immigration push in the last six months.

Critics of the operation on social media regularly point to photographs of the commander, with his jarhead haircut and penchant for long military coats, of echoing the fascist aesthetics of the past.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom joked at the World Economic Forum in Davos last week that Bovino dressed as if he literally went on eBay and purchased SS garb.

Ironically, Bovinos own family only relatively recently migrated to the United States: his great-grandfather, Michele, came from Calabria, Italy, in 1909, originally to work in Pennsylvania's coal mines.

Gregory Kent Bovino was born in 1970 in San Bernardino County, California, before his parents relocated to Blowing Rock, North Carolina.

open image in gallery Bovino on the streets of Minneapolis earlier this month, surrounded by immigration agents ( Getty )

His father, Michael, who had worked on a Golden State military base during the Vietnam War and later owned a bar, was a hard man, according to Bovinos sister Natalie, who bought his son his first gun at age eight and taught him to shoot rabbits and squirrels.

At 11, according to The Times, Bovino was impressed by the 1982 action filmThe Border, starring Jack Nicholson and Harvey Keitel, but disapproved of its portrayal of officers defending the U.S.-Mexico border as lawless and corrupt.

Around the same time, Bovinos family fell apart after his father killed a young woman in a drunk driving accident, and subsequently pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of death by motor vehicle, spending four months in prison.

The tragedy forced him to sell his bar, and the family suffered financial hardship, ultimately causing Bovinos parents to divorce.

Bovino nevertheless graduated from Western Carolina University in 1993 and attended Appalachian State University for graduate school and, in 1996, joined CBP and was assigned to El Paso, Texas.

open image in gallery Bovino flanked by fellow federal agents during a protest against ICE outside the Bishop Whipple Federal Building in Minneapolis, this month ( AFP/Getty )

He quickly rose through its ranks, serving as an assistant Border Patrol chief in Yuma, Arizona, from 2008 and ultimately led sectors in New Orleans and El Centro, back in California.

Bovino was sued by two Black officers during his time in Louisiana, who accused him of overlooking them for promotion in favor of a white officer with whom he was a personal friend.

In recent years, Bovino reportedly became incensed by the actions of President Joe Biden, who he felt had rolled back what he considered to be the good work of the preceding Trump administration and allowed illegal immigrants to come flooding back into the country from Central America.

Bovino was promoted by the returning Trump last year because, in the words of McLaughlin, the president considered him a badass and admired his unapologetically macho approach to the task.

His actions in Los Angeles and Chicago last year, including aggressive turn and burn tactics in minority communities and allegations of racial profiling, have since caused him to rise to national prominence, not to say notoriety.

open image in gallery A Minneapolis protester gloats over Bovinos ousting Monday ( Reuters )

Bovino appeared in court in Chicago in October and was accused of lying by U.S. District Judge Sara Ellis, who disputed his claim that he had been hit in the head with a rock thrown by a protester, which he had given as justification for firing tear gas on activists opposing the administrations Operation Midway Blitz.

Jenn Budd, author of the book Against the Wall: My Journey from Border Patrol Agent to Immigrant Rights Activist, had a more surprising label for Bovino, telling theTimes he is the Liberace of the Border Patrol.

He was just a little Napoleon who wants you to think that he is the most moral and capable guy in the world, and everything around you is dangerous but hes the one whos going to save you, Budd said. Its all a show for him.

She continued: He laughs when they call him out on the stuff, and its just a bro thing. Hes just going around with his bros, just capturing migrants and people of colour and harassing people.

open image in gallery Bovino addresses the media about events in Minneapolis last Thursday ( Getty )

Bovino delivered a press conference over the weekend in response to the death of Pretti, at which he claimed the victim, who was armed, had been intent on inflicting maximum damage and was seeking to massacre law enforcement, for which there is little evidence.

He also blamed Democrats and journalists for the escalating tensions in Minneapolis and dodged questions about whether his agency bore responsibility.

When politicians, community leaders and some journalists engage in that heated rhetoric we keep talking about, when they make the choice to vilify law enforcement, calling law enforcement names like Gestapo or using the term kidnapping, that is a choice that has made their actions and consequences that come from those choices, he said.

CNN has since reported that his actions on social media accounts have been suspended, and The Atlantic has said he could retire soon following his return to El Centro.

Bovino previously told the Associated Press last year that he intends to return to North Carolina to harvest apples as soon as he reaches the mandatory retirement age of 57.
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Border Patrol commander at large Gregory Bovino has been removed from his role in Minneapolis and will return to his old job in California, according to reports.

Bovino, who has been heavily involved in crackdowns on immigration across the country, will return to El Centro and could even retire soon, a DHS official and two other sources told The Atlantic.

However, in an online statement, DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin strongly denied the claims.

Chief Gregory Bovino has NOT been relieved of his duties, she wrote on X in response to the reports, adding that Bovino is a key part of the Presidents team and a great American.

President Donald Trump said on Monday that he had asked border czar Tom Homan to go to Minneapolis and oversee the chaotic immigration enforcement campaign.

It comes following the recent chaotic events in Minneapolis, in which two protesters have been shot dead by federal agents in less than three weeks. Renee Nicole Good was shot by an ICE agent on January 7 and ICU nurse Alex Pretti was killed on Saturday.

Bovino was set to leave Minneapolis as soon as Tuesday, CNN reported. However, news of his role change had not been specified. Meanwhile, CNN also reported that Bovino has also had his access to his social media accounts cut off, effective immediately.

open image in gallery Border Patrol commander at large Gregory Bovino has been removed from his role and will return back to his old job in California, according to The Atlantic. The DHS has pushed back on the report. ( Brandon Bell/Getty Images )

Bovino previously blamed Democrats and journalists for the escalating situation in Minneapolis, and dodged questions on whether his agency bore responsibility for the tragedies.

Footage captured from multiple angles showed how 37-year-old Pretti was sprayed in the face with mace and thrown to the ground by officers before being beaten and ultimately shot multiple times.

When politicians, community leaders and some journalists engage in that heated rhetoric we keep talking about, when they make the choice to vilify law enforcement, calling law enforcement names like Gestapo or using the term kidnapping, that is a choice that has made their actions and consequences that come from those choices, Bovino said Sunday.

When someone chooses to listen to a politician, a so-called journalist, or a community leader that spouts that type of vilification towards law enforcement or anything else there are consequences and actions there also, I think we saw that [Saturday], he added

open image in gallery Bovino was reportedly set to leave Minneapolis as soon as Tuesday due to one of his agents being involved with the Prettis death, however news of his role change had not been specified ( AFP/Getty )

When asked if he or the Department of Homeland Security intended to take any responsibility for the fatal shootings, Bovino dodged the question, describing Pretti and Good as suspects who assault, delay, obstruct or threaten a law enforcement officer's life.

The reported removal of Bovino and some of his agents from the city appeared to mark a shift in tone from the Trump administration in its handling of the situation in Minnesota, which has seen an explosion in tension between protesters and law enforcement following the two fatal shootings.

On Monday, the president spoke with Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz in separate and seemingly positive conversations.

open image in gallery Bovino previously blamed Democrats and journalists for the chaos in Minneapolis, and dodged questions on whether his agency bore responsibility for the tragedies. Footage captured from multiple angles showed how 37-year-old Pretti was sprayed in the face with mace before being thrown to the ground by officers before being beaten and ultimately shot multiple times ( Roberto Schmidt/AFP via Getty Images )

In a Monday afternoon statement, Frey said Trump agreed the present situation cant continue in the city, adding: Some federal agents will begin leaving the area tomorrow, and I will continue pushing for the rest involved in this operation to go.

Walz said that during their conversation, the president agreed to look into reducing the number of federal agents in Minnesota.

Meanwhile, Trump described both his conversations with the Minnesota leaders as very good.

The president also announced that he would be sending his border czar, Tom Homan, to oversee federal operations in Minnesota from now on, describing him as tough but fair. Homan will report directly to Trump, the president confirmed.
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A federal judge has blocked Donald Trumps administration from immediately deporting a five-year-old boy and his father after a viral image of their detention brought fresh anger to sweeping immigration enforcement actions in Minnesota.

Preschooler Liam Conejo Ramos was taken into federal custody from the driveway of his familys home last week after officers arrested his father Adrian Alexander Conejo Arias. They were sent to an Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention center in Texas.

A federal judge on Monday temporarily blocked any possible or anticipated removal or transfer of the boy and his father, who brought a lawsuit against the Trump administration to secure his release, according to court filings.

Immigration officials are also blocked from sending Liam outside of this judicial district during the pendency of this litigation and until further order of this court, the brief order from Texas District Judge Fred Biery says.

The now-viral image of five-year-old Liam standing in his frozen driveway wearing a Spider-Man backpack and blue cap during fathers arrest fueled outrage in a city that has emerged as the latest backdrop to Trumps mass deportation efforts, which have drawn several lawsuits and demonstrations across the country.

open image in gallery A now-viral image of Liam Conejo Ramos being taken into federal custody after his fathers arrest in Minneapolis drew international outrage and renewed scrutiny into the Trump administrations impacts to immigrant families ( Columbia Heights Public Schools )

Minneapolis schools and families are also reeling after a wave of recent child detentions. Several students from the Columbia Heights Public Schools system were detained by immigration officers this month, according to the district.

Days after Liam and his father were detained, a two-year-old girl and her father were brought into federal custody after immigration officers broke the mans car window and arrested them on their way home from the grocery store, according to Minneapolis officials.

Chloe and Liam were among at least five Minneapolis-area children swept up in Trumps mass deportation campaign in recent days.

The sense of safety in our community and around our schools is shaken, and our hearts are shattered. Honestly, at the end of the day, children should be in school with their classmates, and we want to focus on the purpose of educating our children, school board chair Mary Granlund told reporters last week.

The boy and his father are originally from Ecuador and seeking asylum in the United States.

These are not illegal aliens. They came legally and are pursuing a legal pathway, family attorney Marc Prokosch said at a briefing last week.

open image in gallery ICEs arrest of an Ecuadorian asylum seeker and his son fueled outrage in a city that has emerged as the latest backdrop to Trumps mass deportation efforts, which have drawn several lawsuits and demonstrations across the country ( AFP via Getty Images )

Vice President JD Vance and Homeland Security officials said they had no choice but to detain the boy and his father, claiming that the boys mother refused to take custody of her child.

Immigration and Customs Enforcements Marcos Charles said last week that officers were targeting Liam's father during an arrest operation January 20. Neighbors and school officials accused federal officers of using the boy as bait by telling him to knock on the door to his house so that his mother would answer, which Homeland Security officials called an abject lie. Officials claim Liams father fled on foot and left the boy in a vehicle in their driveway.

Greg Bovino, border patrols commander-at large for Trumps on-the-ground operations, claimed that the agencys officers are experts in dealing with children.

Why detain a five-year-old? You cant tell me that this child is going to be classified as a violent criminal, Zena Stenvik, the Columbia Heights superintendent, told reporters last week.

Another adult living in the home was outside and begged the agents to let him take care of the small child, and was refused, Stenvik said.

Instead, she added, the agent took the child out of the still-running car, led him to the door and directed him to knock on the door asking to be let in in order to see if anyone else was home, essentially using a five-year-old as bait.

Liams preschool teacher Ella Sullivan said he is a bright young student, and hes so kind and loving, and his classmates miss him, and all I want is for him to be safe and back here.

The scene mirrored arrests during other sweeping immigration enforcement operations around the country that have interrupted schools and put families, teachers and administrators on edge as they brace for agents showing up on campus and at home.

Immigration agents have also fired tear gas, joined car chases and shot at least one person in areas nearby schools, prompting campus lockdowns and alarm among students, their parents and school staff.

This surge has changed nearly everything about our daily lives, Stenvik said last week. Imagine the trauma of a child being picked up by masked and armed agents, seeing their parents in handcuffs and being used to attempt to lure their mother out of the house and into danger. What has become of our country?

The Independent has requested comment from the familys attorney.
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A federal judge is considering putting an end to a sweeping immigration operation in Minnesota where officers are allegedly going door-to-door and hunting down recently resettled refugees, including children, and sending them to detention camps in Texas.

The Trump administration launched Operation PARRIS earlier this month to exclusively target the states 5,600 new refugees, who are legally present in the country after an extensive vetting process but are not yet lawful permanent residents.

But Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers have arrested them at immigration check-ins, on their way to work or school, and appeared at their doorstep without a warrant for their arrest, according to a recent class-action lawsuit.

I fled my home country because I was facing government repression, wrote a plaintiff identified as D. Doe, who said he was flown to Texas in shackles after he was abruptly arrested at his home earlier this month. I can't believe its happening again here. Its chilling and I'm scared.

Lawyers for targeted refugees asked a judge on Monday to halt the operation, which they argue is fueled by the presidents animus towards Somali immigrants he has derided as garbage who come from hell.

open image in gallery A sweeping operation targeting thousands of legally present refugees in Minnesota has resulted in arrests of lawful immigrants, according to a class-action lawsuit ( AP )

The Twin Cities are home to roughly 80,000 people of Somali ancestry, the vast majority of whom are legal residents or American citizens. But the president  seizing on a series of fraud cases involving government programs where most of the defendants have roots in Somalia  surged officers into the state as part of his nationwide effort to deport millions of people.

In a statement announcing the operation, Homeland Security officials said Minnesota is ground zero for the war on fraud.

This operation in Minnesota demonstrates that the Trump administration will not stand idly by as the U.S. immigration system is weaponized by those seeking to defraud the American people, a spokesperson wrote. American citizens and the rule of law come first, always.

But lawyers for refugees argue that ICE is "intentionally and illegally terrorizing resettled refugees who are not accused of any wrongdoing, according to a statement from Kimberly Grano, staff attorney at the International Refugee Assistance Project.

These are people who entered this country legally under affirmative refugee programs, attorney Michelle Drake told District Judge John R. Tunheim Monday.

They were vetted before they got here, she added. Many people live in refugee camps in other countries for years, waiting for their admission to the United States. They undergo extensive background screening, even biometric screening, before they come to this country, they're given work authorization. These are people who are working with us.

The Independent has requested comment from Homeland Security.

open image in gallery The Trump administration has accused Minnesota of being ground zero for fraud after refugees were admitted to the United States under Biden ( AFP via Getty Images )

The plaintiffs in the case were admitted to the U.S. through the Refugee Admissions Program after undergoing painstaking vetting processes and waiting years for safe resettlement, according to the lawsuit.

They arent subject to any deportation orders and are not considered a flight risk, yet they have been detained or are at imminent risk of detention because Homeland Security officials arbitrarily determined, without any rational basis or legal authority, to intimidate and terrorize the refugees of Minnesota because they were admitted under President Joe Bidens administration, lawyers wrote.

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services is reviewing thousands of refugees who were lawfully admitted to the country under former President Biden while Homeland Security officials broadly cancel legal protections for roughly 1 million immigrants who entered the country in that time.

President Trump has directed an overhaul of the nations refugee admissions program last year to study whether allowing refugees into the country was even in the interest of the U.S.

Shortly after Trump entered office, the administration abruptly canceled previously arranged refugee flights. In the months that followed, the administration slashed financial aid and healthcare coverage for refugees, and the presidents One Big Beautiful Bill Act restricts refugees from eligibility for Medicaid, Medicare, childrens health insurance and emergency food assistance.

open image in gallery Lawyers for Minnesotas refugees accuse the Trump administration of launching a politically charged attack fueled by the presidents animus towards Somali immigrants ( REUTERS )

In May, a group of 59 white South Africans were admitted to the U.S. as refugees, and the country essentially extended citizenship to them, Trump said at the time.

The administration is drastically reducing the number of refugees admitted into the country each year and reserving most of what remains of those limited slots for white South Africans. The move represents a stark break from long-standing refugee policy informed by humanitarian needs, not ideology or identity, according to refugee resettlement groups.

Refugee admissions are now explicitly prioritizing Afrikaners for resettlement, and the ceiling for admissions has been radically reduced from 125,000 people to only 7,500 for the year.

"The federal government is tearing refugees from their homes and communities, shattering their hard-won safety and security, according to Michele Garnett McKenzie with Advocates for Human Rights, which is the organizational plaintiff in the Minnesota case.

International and U.S. law are clear  we have a legal and moral obligation to protect individuals who face persecution, not expose them to imprisonment, isolation, coercion, and abuse, she said. The government must cease these illegal actions that undermine the commitment we made to these refugees, causing grave harm to individuals, families, and communities.
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Hours after federal agents fatally shot Alex Pretti, Attorney General Pam Bondi suggested that the Trump administration could withdraw officers from Minnesota - if officials there agreed to hand over reams of voter data.

In her letter to Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, Bondi suggested he could restore the rule of law by complying with a list of demands including turning over sensitive voter registration information to the Department of Justice.

State elections officials, attorneys and voting rights advocates called the letter extortion and the makings of a hostage crisis, marking the latest attempt by the Trump administration to extract voter information before crucial midterm elections this fall.

Its a shakedown, Joanna Lydgate, chief executive officer of States United Democracy Center, a nonpartisan free elections advocacy group, said Monday.

Theyre trying now to use the power of the federal government to scare Minnesota officials into handing over voter rolls and backing down on their protective policies. Trump wants that state voter data so that he has the ability to interfere with the upcoming midterm elections.

open image in gallery In a letter to Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, Attorney General Pam Bondi suggested the Trump administration would withdraw federal officers from the state if he agreed to hand over sensitive voter info ( AFP via Getty Images )

The Independent has asked the Justice Department for comment.

Since May, the DOJ has tried to vacuum up unredacted voter information from virtually every state, sparking legal battles with Democratic-led states that have largely resisted demands.

That information includes names, addresses, dates of birth, drivers license numbers and partial Social Security numbers, though it remains unclear how the Trump administration intends to use or protect it.

Democrats have accused the Trump administration of radical overreach, fueled by the presidents bogus claims of stolen and rigged elections. Critics argue the claims are designed to cast doubt on outcomes he doesnt like, setting the stage to overturn them.

The balance of power in Congress  and the fate of Trumps agenda  are at stake in midterm elections this fall.

Bondis letter, echoing the administrations allegations that Minnesota is embroiled in widespread fraud against the federal government, also called on Walz to repeal sanctuary policies and turn over Medicaid and food assistance records.

She wrote that turning over voter data will better guarantee free and fair elections and boost confidence in the rule of law.

Lawyers for the state of Minnesota pointed to Bondis letter during a federal court hearing Monday after suing the Trump administration to withdraw more than 2,000 federal officers from what they called an unlawful and unchecked invasion.

Bondis letter is what youd expect from someone extorting you, Minnesota assistant attorney general Brian Carter told Judge Katherine Menendez.

open image in gallery Minnesota officials have resisted the Trump administrations attempts to access unredacted voter data, which critics have compared to extortion and blackmail in the wake of Alex Prettis killing ( AP )

Bondis request follows Homeland Securitys largest immigration enforcement operation yet in Minnesota, with officers violently facing off against protesters.

Is the executive trying to achieve a goal through force that it cannot achieve through the courts? Judge Menendez asked DOJ lawyers in court Monday.

Were here, as Ive said, to enforce federal immigration law, DOJ attorney Brantley Mayers replied. There is nothing to back up this claim that we are here for another reason.

Moments later, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt appeared to admit the terms of the federal governments withdrawal.

If Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey implement common-sense cooperative measures laid out in Bondis letter, then border patrol officers will no longer be needed to support ICE on the ground in Minnesota, Leavitt told reporters at a White House briefing Monday afternoon.

The judge repeatedly asked whether the Minnesota surge would end if the state implemented all the policies outlined in Bondis letter.

Doesnt that say, Well take the officers off the street if you change your policies? she asked.

That would be the likely effect, Mayers replied.

open image in gallery White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt appeared to confirm the terms of a federal withdrawal, telling reporters that officers wont be on the ground if Walz agrees to common-sense cooperative measures ( Getty Images )

Last week, Minnesota rejected the Justice Departments demand for same-day voter registration data. Secretary of State Steve Simon stressed that Bondis letter would not change the states mind.

To tie this somehow to the tragedy around us  the bloodshed, the violence, the anguish that Minnesotans are going through  is something I just cant explain, he told Minnesota Public Radio.

Secretaries of state across the country joined Simon to condemn the letter.

This isnt leadership. This is blackmail, said Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes.

This is the way organized crime works, he said in a statement. They move into your neighborhood, they start beating everybody up, and then they extort what they want. This is not how America is supposed to work, and Im embarrassed that the administration is pushing in this direction.

Democrats in Congress want Bondi to testify about the administrations pretextual use of federal law enforcement to shake down the state.

The Trump administration has used its immigration and law enforcement powers as a pretext to unleash violence against the American public, top Democrats on the House Administration and Homeland Security committees wrote Monday.

Bondis ransom note shows that the federal surge has nothing to do with domestic security or executing the law and everything to do with the presidents political interests, wrote Reps. Joe Morelle and Bennie Thompson.

The Trump administration acts as though it is a criminal syndicate: Minnesotans are literally held at gunpoint as hostages that [the] Attorney General would barter for voter information, they wrote.
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Brian Kilmeade, the co-host of Donald Trumps favorite morning talk show Fox & Friends, repeatedly implored the president on Monday morning to send border czar Tom Homan to Minnesota to settle things down amid the growing public outrage over the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti.

Before Fox & Friends signed off that morning, it appeared the president had heeded the advice of his TV pals. I am sending Tom Homan to Minnesota tonight, Trump declared on Monday, adding that Tom is tough but fair, and will report directly to me.

Kilmeades plea to the president was just one part of what appeared to be a multi-pronged effort by Rupert Murdoch to use his right-wing media empire to push the Trump administration to shift its tactics as backlash over the Pretti shooting only intensified. It also saw Fox News and Murdochs conservative publications suddenly reverse course and change their own narrative about the killing.

In fact, by the end of the night Monday, it got to the point that even Sean Hannity  Trumps close confidant who has been a vocal proponent of the administrations heavy-handed mass deportation operation  took to the air to say that ICE should stop going into Home Depots and arresting people, adding that it wasnt a good idea.

Of course, it isnt much of a mystery why Murdoch media is doing a full-court press on the president to change the optics in Minneapolis  Trumps approval ratings on the deportations are terrible. And it is only going to get worse after immigration enforcement officers shot Pretti  a 37-year-old ICU nurse and US citizen  at least 10 times on Saturday.

open image in gallery In a multi-pronged effort this week, Rupert Murdochs conservative media empire has pushed Donald Trump to change his immigration enforcement tactics following the shooting of Alex Pretti ( Getty Images )

According to a Reuters/Ipsos poll released Monday and conducted both before and after the Pretti shooting, only 39 percent of Americans approved of the job Trump is doing on immigration. Additionally, 58 percent of people said that ICE and Border Patrol agents have gone too far in the immigration crackdown across American cities, which includes Minneapolis. Only 26 percent of respondents said immigration enforcements actions were about right.

Still, in the immediate aftermath of the killing  the second deadly shooting of a U.S. citizen in Minneapolis since the crackdown began  Fox News and its corporate cousin the New York Post supported and parroted the administrations initial (and false) narrative about the incident.

While video evidence and eyewitness accounts showed that Pretti was not brandishing a firearm when he was gang-tackled and pummeled by Border Patrol agents, CBP commander at large Greg Bovino and DHS chief Kristi Noem absurdly wanted to do maximum damage and massacre law enforcement. Stephen Miller, the chief architect of the deportation operation, went even further, labeling Pretti as a would-be assassin and domestic terrorist who was looking to murder law enforcement.

Throughout much of the day Saturday and Sunday, Fox News commentators and hosts largely embraced this position. Joe Concha, for instance, claimed that it was Minnesota Democratic leaders who were gaslighting the public about the facts around this shooting while simultaneously lying that Pretti literally pulled a gun on an ICE officer.

Much of this commentary centered on a photo of the 9mm handgun that was found on Pretti, who was legally permitted to conceal and carry a firearm. That photo was initially provided to Fox News reporter Bill Melugin, who has been described as the networks dedicated shill for federal immigration enforcement agencies and was likely seen by DHS as the right person to help kick off the agencys spin.

Fox News contributor Paul Mauro insisted that Pretti  who only had his camera phone in his hands during the altercation  tried to involve himself somehow and at some point during the scuffle and when they were trying to subdue him without using deadly force, he pulls out that 9mm. He also said that Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms would be running that gun to see if theres any bodies on it, especially since it was expensive.

open image in gallery Fox News contributor Joe Concha falsely claimed this weekend that Alex Pretti, who was killed in an altercation with immigration enforcement agents, "literally" pulled a gun on officers. ( Fox News )

The New York Post, meanwhile, ran pieces that seemed desperate to find a legal justification for the shooting  such as one that noted Alex Prettis Sig handgun has history of accidentally firing  offering possible clue to why border agent shot him.

However, with several mainstream news networks and publications doing frame-by-frame analyses of the shooting  which showed Pretti getting pepper-sprayed after helping a fellow observer was was violently pushed to the ground by an agent, only to be wrestled to the ground by several officers and shot multiple times after an officer removes a firearm from Prettis possession  things eventually started to change over at Murdoch media.

The impetus for this narrative shift appeared to be a report by Melugin  citing several of his sources within DHS  that senior employees at the department had grown increasingly uneasy & frustrated with some of the agency's claims in the aftermath of the shooting.

While the report generally focused on the messaging that had been coming out about the shooting from senior leaders, such as Noem and Bovino, Melugin also included this line: There is no indication Pretti was there to murder law enforcement, as videos appear to show he never drew his holstered firearm.

Melugins stark acknowledgement was whiplash-inducing for anyone who had been following Foxs on-air coverage of Prettis killing up to that point, and it marked the start of a dramatic shift in the networks treatment of the case, Media Matters senior fellow Matthew Gertz noted about the impact that story had on Fox News on-air coverage.

Indeed, the shift in tone wasnt just apparent from the denizens at the right-wing cable network. It also came from the editorial boards of Murdochs two biggest American newspapers  the Wall Street Journal and the New York Post.

Saying it was time for ICE to pause in Minneapolis, the WSJs board said Sunday evening there isnt much heart in Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Trump Administration spin on this simply isnt believable, adding that it is backfiring against Republicans.

By Monday morning, the NY Posts board  which has been far more pro-MAGA than the WSJ  was also pushing the president to de-escalate in Minneapolis. While placing a large amount of the blame for Prettis death on leftist propagandists falsely claiming that Americans right to protest extends to messing with the feds, the Posts board still called for Trump to shift his tactics in the area.

That included staying away from invoking the Insurrection Act, which many Murdoch media figures had been urging the president to use over the weekend. Instead of fixing things, the board argued, itll backfire even worse.

open image in gallery Even close Trump confidant Sean Hannity has urged the president to soften his brutal immigration enforcement tactics, calling for ICE to stop raiding Home Depots. ( White House via X )

This shift also represented a sea change from the aftermath of the Renee Good shooting earlier this month, which saw Fox News and the rest of MAGA media stay in lockstep with the administrations assertion  despite video evidence  that Good was violently trying to run over an ICE officer with her vehicle when she was fatally shot.

Even Fox News primetime host Jesse Watters, while also raging about the Democrats in the state being in open rebellion, urged Trump to draw down the surge of immigration officers from Minneapolis and move them to another city. You can't stand in the middle of the ring forever, he declared while an on-screen chyron blared: ICE HAS TO CHANGE TACTICS.

Meanwhile, it appears that Trumps cable news obsession  which features a number of conservative hosts speaking to an audience of one  spurred him into action to soften his tone on immigration enforcement amid the growing backlash over Prettis killing and the Minneapolis crackdown.

Over the weekend, Trump took note of conservative media figures, including Fox News host Maria Bartiromo, who criticized the rhetoric from officials such as Noem and White House adviser Stephen Miller, who called Pretti a domestic terrorist, the Washington Post reported.

By the end of the day Monday, besides Trumps announcement that Homan was heading to Minnesota to head up the administrations immigration enforcement efforts, the president also boasted about his great and constructive calls with Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey  who he has spent months antagonizing and accusing of propagating the states welfare-fraud scandal.

It was also reported that Bovino  the face of the aggressive immigration crackdown in Minneapolis and other large U.S. cities  had been removed from his role and blocked from using social media. (DHS has denied that Bovino has been relieved of his duties.) On top of that, Trump held a late-night crisis meeting with Noem and her top aide Corey Lewandowski amid growing calls for her to be fired or impeached.

Murdoch, who has long had a love-hate relationship with Trump and is currently embroiled in a legal fight with the litigious president over the Wall Street Journals reporting on Trumps relationship with Jeffrey Epstein, is probably the only conservative media ally with enough power and influence to fully sway the presidents actions and opinions.

Why is that? As Murdoch said last year, he has nothing to lose at this point  and has the resources, the freedom and the fortitude to weather a showdown with Trump.

Im 94 years old and I will not be intimidated, Murdoch reportedly said last summer.
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President Donald Trump said he is sending his border czar, Tom Homan, to Minneapolis this week in the wake of the controversial fatal shooting of an ICU nurse on Saturday. This incident has made the Midwestern city a focal point of national debate over immigration policy and federal enforcement tactics.

Homans deployment comes as protests throughout Minneapolis have intensified amid video and eyewitness accounts of Alex Prettis death that appear to conflict with the administrations version of events. His visit also aligns with growing pressure from both Republican and Democratic lawmakers for an independent investigation into immigration enforcement practices after this latest shooting and another fatal encounter involving federal agents in the city earlier this month.

Heres what to know about Homan ahead of his arrival in the Twin Cities.

Homan has been in immigration enforcement for four decades

Homan, 64, began his career in 1984 as a Border Patrol agent before joining Immigration and Customs Enforcement in 2003, when the agency was created as part of Homeland Security. He was a relatively low-key but influential figure on immigration enforcement in the Obama administration, heading ICEs Enforcement and Removal Operations arm, which was tasked with tracking down people with outstanding deportation orders and removing them from the country.

open image in gallery Homan, 64, started his career in 1984 as a Border Patrol agent before moving to Immigration and Customs Enforcement in 2003. ( Win McNamee/Getty Images )

Despite unwavering enthusiasm for Trump and withering criticism of President Joe Biden, he is seen by some as a voice of restraint and moderation compared with some in the current administration.

Homan, who is widely associated with immigration enforcement actions that separated families, was given a Presidential Rank Award by the Obama administration to tout his efficacy in 2015.

Homan was at his retirement party in January 2017 when Trumps choice for homeland security secretary, John Kelly, asked him to stay at ICE. Homan accepted after taking a weekend to think about it and became a leading figure in the Trump administration through four tumultuous years.

Under Obama, the U.S. carried out 432,000 deportations in 2013, the highest annual total since records were kept. Deportations under the first Trump administration never topped 350,000.

Homan and Trump's ambitious enforcement plans

open image in gallery Homan portrays illegal immigration as black-and-white and has made no apologies for Trumps policy of targeting everyone in the country without status, not just those with criminal histories, public safety concerns and recent border crossers ( Reuters )

When he was appointed border czar, Homan was seen as a leader who not only aligned with Trump ideologically but also had significant practical experience in immigration policy.

Homan portrays illegal immigration as black-and-white and has made no apologies for Trumps policy of targeting everyone in the country without status, not just those with criminal histories, public safety concerns and recent border crossers.

If youre in the country illegally, you should be concerned, he said in a 2018 interview with The Associated Press. Thats the way its supposed to be. Just like if I go speeding down the highway, are you worried about getting a ticket? If you lie on your taxes, are you worried about an audit?

"People ask me all the time, why did you remove that guy whos been here 12 years and has two U.S. citizen kids. I said because he had his due process, he told the AP. People think I enjoy this. Im a father. People dont think this bothers me. I feel bad about the plight of these people. Dont get me wrong, but I have a job to do.

He also said, in a separate interview, that worksite immigration enforcement operations  which the Biden administration largely stopped  would be necessary.

I will run the biggest deportation operation this countrys ever seen, Homan said in 2024.

Homan vowed to target worst of the worst in humane manner

open image in gallery Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old ICU nurse who cared for veterans, was shot dead by CBP officers during an operation in Minneapolis on January 24 ( AP )

In an appearance on Fox News Sunday Morning Futures in 2024, Homan promised to target  at least initially  people posing a risk to public safety and pushed back on suggestions that the U.S. military would be assisting in finding and deporting immigrants.

You concentrate on the public safety threats and the national security threats first, because theyre the worst of the worst, he said on the show. He also said ICE would move to implement Trumps plans in a humane manner.

On a separate 60 Minutes interview before the 2024 presidential elections, Homan called suggestions of mass neighborhood raids or building camps to hold people ridiculous.

When asked whether there was a way to carry out deportations without separating families, he said, Families can be deported together.

There are countless recent examples across the country of arrests that dont align with those priorities. In Minnesota, The Associated Press has reported on how ICE agents have detained people with legal immigration status and no criminal records, children and U.S. citizens.

Homan survived bribery accusations

The White House stood behind Homan in September following reports that he accepted $50,000 from undercover agents posing as businesspeople during an FBI operation, leading to a bribery investigation that was ultimately shut down by Trump's Justice Department.

Homan was accused of accepting the cash during a 2024 encounter with agents posing as businesspeople seeking government contracts that Homan suggested he could help them get in a second Trump term.

Press secretary Karoline Leavitt characterized Homans encounter with the undercover agents as an effort by the Biden administration to entrap one of the presidents top allies and supporters, someone who they knew very well would be taking a government position.
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President Donald Trump accepted he had to change course over his federal immigration surge in Minneapolis after the official response to the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti attracted uproar, according to a report.

Pretti, a 37-year-old intensive care nurse, was beaten and shot dead by Customs and Border Protection officers on Saturday after a confrontation.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem moved quickly to point out that Pretti had been armed and alleged that he planned to carry out an act of domestic terrorism.

CBP Commander Greg Bovino subsequently delivered a press conference at which he claimed the deceased intended to inflict maximum damage and massacre law enforcement while White House adviser Stephen Miller referred to the victim as a would-be assassin.

Looking on, Trump found the response of Noem and Bovino callous, according to an administration adviser quoted by Axios, prompting him to bring in border czar Tom Homan on Monday to take charge of the situation.

Its f***ed, and POTUS knew he needed to unf*** it, the adviser told Axios of the disastrous fallout from Prettis killing.

A second source said of Bovino: Hes a cowboy, and it was a mess. It was only escalation, and no one was going to back down Homan going is a good thing. Someone needed to step in.

open image in gallery Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem is under intense pressure after a second U.S. citizen was shot dead by federal immigration officials in Minneapolis over the weekend ( Getty )

The president also held late-night crisis talks on Monday with Noem and her aide, Corey Lewandowski, in the Oval Office, and sent Bovino back to California, according to various reports.

In addition, the president held calls with Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey Monday pledging a new spirit of cooperation, after both had spent weeks complaining about ICE and other immigration forces terrorizing their citizens and urging them to leave, which saw the Department of Justice hit back aggressively by opening an investigation into them, accusing the pair of obstructing federal law enforcement.

Significantly, Trump did not leap to the defense of Noem by supporting her version of events, as he did when Good was shot dead, instead telling The Wall Street Journal on Sunday: Were looking, were reviewing everything and will come out with a determination.

Another DHS official speaking to CBS News also hit at their departments official response to the tragedy, suggesting that Noem and Bovino had sought to smear Pretti.

Its unclear who at DHS thought it would be a good idea to make such claims before any facts were established, but it was a terrible miscalculation, they said.

Also speaking to CBS, another insider bemoaned the DHSs self-inflicted reputational harm and said: When we gaslight and contradict what the public can plainly see with their own eyes, we lose all credibility and its going to damage our reputation for generations.

A former Border Patrol official told the network that, while his ex-colleagues believe in the overall effort, they are starting to feel that what is being done is starting to lose them.

They feel caught in the middle with harmful rhetoric on both sides, they added.

open image in gallery A memorial to Alex Pretti, the intensive care nurse killed by federal agents Saturday ( AP )

White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson said in a statement: The presidents entire immigration enforcement team  including Secretary Noem and Border Czar Homan  are on the same page.

They are working together seamlessly to implement the president's agenda, protect the American people and deport criminal illegal aliens.

As was the case with the killing of Renee Good on January 7, his death was filmed by bystanders and widely seen online.

The footage revealed Pretti only had a phone in his hands when he was set upon by the agents, making a nonsense of the administrations insistence that he was brandishing the 9mm semiautomatic pistol recovered from his person.
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Just over a year into President Donald Trumps second term, it appears the White House has finally discovered a level of public anger that cant be waved away or powered through by flooding the zone with red meat for his political base.

Days after Border Patrol agents fired as many as ten bullets into 37-year-old Minneapolis nurse Alex Pretti in what was the second killing of an American in Minnesota by federal law enforcement since the start of this year, Trump announced on Truth Social that he was sending his Border Czar, Tom Homan, to the city so he could take charge of the sprawling immigration enforcement effort that has terrorized the citys communities of color. The push has also sparked fierce resistance from residents and left Governor Tim Walz and Mayor Jacob Frey decrying it as a hostile invasion or occupation of the North Star States largest city.

Trump described Homan as tough but fair and said the former Immigration and Customs Enforcement director would report directly to him.

Three hours later, the president posted another message describing a very good call hed had with Walz where he promised the governor that hed have Homan get in touch with him and said the federal governments request for cooperation from Minnesota law enforcement was to provide any and all criminals that they have in their possession  something Walz says the state has been doing for years by notifying ICE when someone here illegally is finishing a jail or prison sentence.

It was a stunning reversal for Trump and his administration, which for the last month has been happy to have roving patrols of ICE and Border Patrol officers and agents running rampant through the Twin cities, snatching people out of cars and using children as bait to arrest parents, all the while happily throwing flash-bangs and using tear gas against any protesters who they viewed as getting in their way.

open image in gallery White House border czar Tom Homan will now oversee ICE operations in Minnesota. It is part of a softening in messaging coming from the White House over deportation efforts. ( Getty )

The brutal approach to enforcement that had been on display in Minnesota was the work of Stephen Miller, Trumps deputy chief of staff, along with Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, who had for months worked to sideline Homan, whose no-nonsense, workmanlike approach to immigration enforcement has always centered on arresting and deporting criminals, preferably by taking them into custody when they are under arrest by state or local governments or upon their release from state prisons.

Miller, Noem and her close aide and political adviser, Corey Lewandowski, had managed to push Homans approach side by elevating Greg Bovino, a mid-level Border Patrol commander known for his harsh tactics and disdain for the press and protesters (and for his allegedly Nazi-esque fashion sense) while reportedly attempting to force the Senate-confirmed head of Customs and Border Protection, Rodney Scott, to resign or retire by making his job so miserable that hed walk and leave his position open to be filled by Bovino on an acting basis.

Their success at navigating the internal tensions at the White House and DHS, which were first reported on by the Washington Examiner, led Noem and her allies to conclude that Trump would be willing to tolerate an almost unlimited level of brutality so long as it was directed at the right people  illegal immigrants and liberal protesters  in service of Trumps promise to implement a mass deportation campaign.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt tried to justify the more brutal approach during her Monday briefing by claiming that Trump was fulfilling the will of the people who voted for him in 2024 by arresting and removing ... threats from our country and cited a number of oft-repeated cases in which Americans had been killed by people who hadnt been in the country legally.

She pressed the idea that Trump is arresting criminals and that is what the American public wants. But that is not what is happening in American streets. Recent reports suggest over half of the people in ICE custody have not been convicted of a crime.

Leavitt also claimed that the move to dispatch Homan was in part driven by Noems broader responsibilities, including oversight of the Federal Emergency Management Agency  which she has tried to gut  during last weekends winter storm.

By and large, Leavitt is correct that Americans want to see stronger border enforcement  and that's something Trump has delivered on by harsh measures at the U.S.-Mexico border which have cut down illegal crossings by significant amounts.

Yet at the same time, Americans have soured on the thuggish tactics exhibited by federal forces in Minnesota, even as Leavitt attempted to blame the violence of recent weeks on Democrat leaders whose sanctuary city policies have actively defied federal immigration law and the will of the people.

open image in gallery The shooting of Alex Pretti in Minnesota has sparked more backlash from the public about ICE tactics in Minnesota. ( AFP/Getty )

After Americans across the country watched the videotaped shooting of Pretti and subsequent attempts by Miller, Noem and Bovino to smear him by falsely accusing him of attacking Border Patrol officers and blaming his legally-carried firearm for his death, it appears Trump, who remains far more sensitive to polling than he would prefer to admit, has found a limit.

With a growing number of Republicans in Congress calling for an investigation into the killing, the president has to find a way to save face while not appearing to back down to a Democratic protest movement or give an inch to the governor, who was Kamala Harris running-mate during the 2024 election.

By putting Homan, a career Border Patrol agent who knows and understands how Immigrations and Customs Enforcement conducts targeted operations without antagonizing the public or shooting protesters, back in charge, Trump is able to de-escalate without really de-escalating in the eyes of his base.

After all, Homan is no liberal or shrinking violet on immigration matters. He was an architect of the Project 2025 immigration section which called for a mass deportation operation and the end to birthright citizenship.

By moving the goalposts from allowing wholesale roundups by Border Patrol to targeted enforcement at jails and prisons, Trump is giving himself an off-ramp that will let him avoid continued public anger while not getting crosswise with his base.
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President Donald Trump couldnt remember the word Alzheimers while trying to describe his fathers health problems, a new report reveals.

During a lengthy interview about his health with New York Magazine, Trump, 79, struggled to remember the term while speaking about his father, Fred Trump, who died in 1999 at 93. Trump told the outlet his father had a heart that couldnt be stopped and almost no health problems  except for one.

At a certain age, about 86, 87, he started getting, what do they call it? Trump asked, pointing to his forehead and looking toward White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt.

Alzheimers, Leavitt replied.

Like an Alzheimers thing. Well, I dont have it, Trump added.

open image in gallery President Donald Trump touted his 'perfect' health during a recent interview. However, he couldnt pinpoint the word Alzheimers when speaking about his fathers health problems ( REUTERS )

Alzheimers is a neurodegenerative disease that destroys cognitive skills, including thinking and reasoning, according to the National Institute on Aging. An estimated six million Americans over the age of 65 may have the disease.

Trump repeatedly emphasized hes in perfect health as New York Magazine pressed him on the issue. They were joined in the Oval Office by two doctors from Walter Reed National Military Medical Center and his press secretary.

These are two doctors, Trump told New York Magazine. And by the way, I dont know them, theyre not my best friends. Theyre respected doctors that practice out of Walter Reed. And they happen to be taking care of me for anything  but I dont need any taking care of because Im in perfect health.

At one point, Trump turned to the doctors in the room and asked: Real fast, is my health perfect?

Your health is excellent, sir, replied Colonel James Jones, a physicians assistant with a PhD in health science.

open image in gallery Trumps left hand was bruised last week at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland ( Getty Images )

Questions about Trumps physical and mental health have mounted after he became the oldest president to be sworn into office at 78 years old (while former President Joe Biden was sworn in at the same age, Trump was older by about five months).

Trump will turn 80 on June 14.

One issue that has drawn concern is the bruising on Trumps right hand, which has been repeatedly photographed throughout the last year. Dr. Sean Barbabella, Trumps physician, has attributed it to frequent hand-shaking and aspirin intake.

Trump was also pictured with bruising on his left hand last week at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. At the time, Leavitt claimed the bruise formed after Trump hit his hand on the corner of the signing table.

open image in gallery Trumps bruised right hand has been attributed to frequent hand-shaking and aspirin intake ( Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images )

Trump also raised eyebrows in October after he told reporters he got an MRI but did not initially reveal why or what part of his body was imaged. The White House later said Trump underwent standard cardiovascular and abdominal checks, and that the results were perfectly normal.

But when asked about the scan, Jones told New York Magazine that Trump didnt actually get an MRI. We did a computerized tomography exam of his chest and his abdomen. Its MRI-like, he said.

And not for any reason, Trump interjected. Its because the machine was sitting there, Im sitting right next to it.

The reason for the imaging, as routine as we stated, is that any patient his age could have things, and we ruled them out, Jones added. The story should be about the fact that the results were, uh, perfect. They did not demonstrate any problems.

The White House also revealed last year Trump was diagnosed with chronic venous insufficiency, a condition that occurs when blood vessels in the leg are damaged, causing blood to pool and swelling.

Some have also questioned Trumps mental fitness and erratic behavior, according to New York Magazine. The outlet reports these concerns have particularly mounted in the last month, as Trump called for the U.S. acquire Greenland (and even mistakenly referred to the territory as Iceland).

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz told NBC News in November the presidents mental capacity should be cause for concern.

I think the mental capacity, again, ranting, you know, crazily at midnight on Thanksgiving about everything else, there are reasons for us to be concerned. This is a guy that randomly says the airspace over Venezuela is closed. He's ruminating on if you could win a nuclear war, Walz said.

For his part, Trump frequently boasts that he has aced cognitive tests while in the White House.

I've taken now three cognitive tests. I've aced every single one of them, the president claimed last month.
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When thousands of federal agents rolled into the North Star State earlier this month, tasked by the Trump administration with carrying out the largest immigration operation ever, residents showed them what Minnesota Nice really looks like.

The meaning behind the Midwestern trope varies depending on who you ask. But by and large, it's the notion that Minnesotans are kind, polite and pragmatic. They will help you shovel snow off your driveway or give you directions if youre lost  but there might be an unexpected sting in the tail.

My experience with Minnesotans has been very up and down, Minnesota native Sade Young explained. For a long time I was like, we need a rebrand, because Minnesotans can be very passive-aggressive.

But in the wake of the killings of mother Renee Good and ICU nurse Alex Pretti, both 37, at the hands of federal immigration and border agents in Minneapolis, the term appears to have taken on a new meaning.

There has been nothing passive-aggressive about the way Minnesotans have shown up to mobilize against Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Border Patrol agents, particularly in the Twin Cities. Now, in an apparent de-escalation, the Trump administration has announced it is removing immigration enforcement leadership from the state.

open image in gallery There has been nothing passive-aggressive about the way Minnesotans have shown up to mobilize against Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Border Patrol agents ( AFP via Getty Images )

Together, the community has raised thousands for migrant families who are falling behind on rent because they are too afraid to go to work. People who have full-time jobs are organizing food and clothing drives for those in need, while bars, restaurants, coffee shops and stores took part in an economic blackout last week and have barred federal agents from entering their properties.

Young, a content creator and social media influencer, said the way her neighbors have come together in the face of ICE terror has completely blown [her] mind.

This is the Minnesota Nice that I've always wanted to see, Young told The Independent. This completely turned it around, seeing how people are showing up, how people are caring for their neighbors.

Fellow Minnesota native Maddie Flom said her interpretation of the trope was about always lending a hand.

open image in gallery Minnesota native Sade Young has used social media to organize a coat drive for those being released from a detention center, and created a centralized page where people can find local causes to support ( Sade Young )

Our whole thing is Minnesota Nice and it's really just about helping your neighbor, the 28-year-old said. I grew up in an environment where neighbors would shovel each other's driveways, or borrow a cup of sugar from each otherwe were born and raised this way, Flom continued.

We need to do this. We need to stand up. We need to protect our neighbors and our community. And it's been truly beautiful to see.

Flom works full-time in hospitality, but alongside her day job, she has been organizing fundraisers to support families impacted by the Department of Homeland Securitys immigration surge.

She has organized an event this week at a local restaurant where people will create activity kits for children who are too afraid to go to school amid the ICE activity.

A lot of families have had to take shelter with neighbors because they're too scared to even be in their houses, Flom said. I am very heartbroken for the kids who are stuck at home and scaredSo I really want to do something to bring at least a little bit of joy and a little more normalcy.

open image in gallery Minnesota native Maddie Flom, 28, organized an event this week at a local restaurant where people will create activity kits for children who are too afraid to go to school amid the ICE activity ( Maddie Flom )

Young is also using her content-creating skills to support the ICE resistance. She has used social media to organize a coat drive for those being released from the Whipple Building, which houses a detention center and has become a base for immigration agents and protesters.

A lot of people are being taken directly from their homes without coats, Young explained. The past few days we've been in negative temperatures I was told that a 6-year-old and a 2-year-old were released two days ago without jackets. People are giving these items off their own backs so these children don't freeze to death.

She has also created a centralized page, Minnesota Neighbors, on Instagram where people can find causes to donate to.

Small businesses are doing what they can to take a stand against the crackdown.

Popular adult store Smitten Kitten joined the resistance by transforming into a donation hub, collecting diapers, food and other essentials, as protesters went armed with sex toys from the store to demonstrate outside a hotel where ICE agents were reportedly staying.

Over in Saint Paul, Vanessa Beardsley is the owner of Catzen Coffee, a coffee shop with a cat lounge that provides a peaceful, welcoming space to all  except ICE.

We've been handing out constitutions and now we have full-on whistle kits that we give out, Beardsley said. We have signage in our window regarding the Fourth Amendment, and regarding the fact that ICE is not welcome on the property.

Speaking out has come at a cost. Beardsley said her staff have faced intimidation by a group of pro-ICE supporters who came into the coffee shop earlier this week.

The men were lingering and asking a lot of really uncomfortable questions and making it very clear that they had driven up from Chicago, that they were here to protect ICE from the protesters, Beardsley said.

They wouldn't leave the staff alone, and they would follow the staff around wherever they went. It was extremely intimidating.

Beardsley added that the group took video and pictures of the coffee shop as though they had an intimidating purpose.

A day after Pretti was killed, Beardsley said the incident was especially unsettling for her staff. The day before, we had all seen with our two eyes, six or seven federal officers execute someone in the street, she said. So we don't know who's going to go Call of Duty on us, right? There's no oversight at this point.

The coffee shop wasnt the only business in the area that experienced harassment for speaking out, Beardsley said. Other businesses around here got broken intothere's a place around the street that is a drop-off [point] for donations, she said.

They also have their windows smashed.

open image in gallery Vanessa Beardsley is the owner of Catzen Coffee, a coffee shop with a cat lounge that provides a peaceful, welcoming space to all  except ICE ( Vanessa Beardsley )

Despite the intimidation of seeing hordes of masked, heavily armored armed federal agents on their streets, Minnesotans are standing firm.

We've all come together and we're all becoming helpers in the best way that we each can, said Beardsley. If there's anything that's like a silver lining, its seeing the amount of people that show up at each planning meeting, at each constitutional observer meeting, the number of neighbors that we've gotten to know we have to lean on each other in our neighborhoods.

While many Minnesotans are relieved to see Border Patrol commander at large Gregory Bovino leave, anticipation over what will happen next remains.

Young said it felt freeing to know Bovino was leaving Minnesota, but as a person of color she is still constantly looking over [her] shoulder even though she is a U.S. citizen.

I can't drive without looking over my shoulder constantly, I don't like commuting anywhere, Young said, adding that she and her friends carry their passports everywhere in case they are questioned by federal law enforcement.

It's the reality that a lot of people I feel like aren't seeing, she said.

Beardsley said that she remained skeptical following the news that Bovino and some federal agents were leaving the state. On the other hand, if it could just take the pressure off for a week so we could catch our breath. But its not over, she said. It means they're going somewhere else.

As Minnesotans come to terms with the horrifying events of the last few weeks, Democratic Gov. Tim Walz made a short statement on social media Monday that summarized how many are likely feeling right now.

Ive never been prouder to be a Minnesotan, he wrote.
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President Donald Trump held late-night crisis talks with Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem on Monday evening amid conflicting reports about whether her job is at risk over the killing of Alex Pretti in Minneapolis.

According toThe New York Times, the meeting took place in the Oval Office, was initiated by Noem, and lasted almost 2 hours.

Also present was the secretarys top aide, Corey Lewandowski, as well as White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, and Communications Director Steven Cheung. The Trump administrations Homeland Security adviser, Stephen Miller, was conspicuous by his absence.

A source subsequently told the Times that the president did not suggest during the meeting that either Noems or Lewandowskis jobs were at risk.

But a separate report in The Atlantic had earlier suggested the opposite.

open image in gallery Border czar Tom Homan will now report directly to Trump, rather than to Kristi Noem ( Getty )

The talks come amid renewed uproar over the surge of federal immigration forces into Minnesota after Customs and Border Protection officers shot dead Pretti, a 37-year-old intensive care nurse, making him the second U.S. citizen to be killed protesting the presence of masked government agents in their streets after the fatal shooting of Renee Good on January 7.

As was the case with Good, Noem was quick to excuse the men responsible, insisting the victim was engaged in an act of domestic terrorism whose actions left them no choice but to defend themselves with lethal force, despite widely-seen video evidence filmed by bystanders contradicting that narrative.

Noems claims included that Pretti had attacked officers and was brandishing a gun; Pretti was licensed to carry a concealed weapon in Minnesota, and it was taken from his waistband area by a federal agent moments before he was shot at least 10 times.

I dont have any evidence that Ive seen that suggests that the weapon was brandished, Minneapolis Police Chief Brian OHara said in a Sunday interview on CBS.

In the immediate aftermath of Prettis killing, Miller labeled him an assassin who tried to murder federal agents, a claim that was reposted by Vice President JD Vance, while Border Patrols commander at large Gregory Bovino said it looks like Pretti had wanted to do maximum damage and massacre law enforcement. Bovinos claims were shared in a social media post by the Department of Homeland Security, which is overseen by Secretary Noem.

open image in gallery Video footage shows the moment that Alex Prettis gun is retrieved from a waistband holster by a federal officer, moments before Pretti was shot multiple times. ( Reuters )

The baseless claims about Prettis action and motives sparked widespread outrage, with bipartisan calls for independent investigations. Some Democrats have vowed to withhold DHS funding amid calls for additional oversight measures, which could force a partial federal government shutdown.

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul on Saturday said that Noem had forfeited her right to lead.

Im calling on her to resign as Secretary of Homeland Security or Donald Trump to do the right thing and just fire her. And, if not, she must be removed or impeached, Hochul said at a press conference.

Growing public anger over Prettis killing has forced the president to recalibrate his unquestioning support for the harsh tactics employed by immigration agents.

open image in gallery Gregory Bovino, pictured shouting at protesters on January 11, made a number of incendiary, unproven claims about Alex Pretti ( Jen Golbeck/AP )

Trump had endorsed Noems version of events when Renee Good was fatally shot, and appeared to initially take a similar approach in the aftermath of Prettis death, sharing a picture on Truth Social of the weapon removed from his waistband and describing it as the gunmans gun. But over the next few days, he became more reticent.

At a press conference on Monday, Leavitt refused to endorse claims by Noem and Miller that Pretti had been a domestic terrorist, and attempted to distance her boss from those remarks.

Look, as Ive said, I have not heard the president characterize Mr. Pretti in that way, Leavitt said. However, I have heard the president say he wants to let the facts and the investigation lead itself.

open image in gallery White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt speaks at a press conference on Monday, January 26, where she attempted to distance President Trump from claims that Pretti had been a domestic terrorist ( Getty )

Trump said earlier Monday he had asked border czar Tom Homan to go to Minneapolis and oversee the administrations immigration enforcement campaign from now on. Pointedly, Homan will report directly to Trump, rather than to Secretary Noem.

The commander in chief also spoke with Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz to dial down tensions, and both later made positive remarks about their exchange.

It was a very good call, and we, actually, seemed to be on a similar wavelength, Trump wrote.

It was later reported that Bovino, a deeply polarizing figure, has been removed from his role in Minneapolis and will return to his old job in California.
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Australia has cancelled the visa of a British-Israeli social media influencer, saying it will not admit visitors whose purpose is to spread hatred.

Influencer Sammy Yahood, 25, was due to fly to Australia for a speaking tour, but had been notified of his revoked visa status just three hours prior to his scheduled departure, according to a video he posted on Instagram.

Home affairs minister, Tony Burke, confirmed on Tuesday that he had revoked Mr Yahoods visa, because spreading hatred is not a good reason to come. If someone wants to come to Australia they should apply for the right visa and come for the right reason, Mr Burke told The Guardian Australia.

Mr Yahood, who grew up in the UK and recently moved to Israel, has, in the past, described Islam as a murderous ideology on X, formerly Twitter. He has also posted saying it was time to ban Islam and described himself as proud as a Zionist to now live in the one Jewish state, Israel.

Mr Yahood has accused the Australian government of censorship and overreach. This is a story about tyranny, censorship and control, he said on social media.

In a statement to The Independent, Mr Yahood said the official decision provided to him by the government was an alleged attempt to carry out business on a tourist visa, adding that he does not believe he was in breach of his visa terms.

I was coming to Australia to speak with the Jewish and Christian communities about courage, faith, and unity. All my events were scheduled by non-profit organisations which need to take a fee from tickets to cover hosting overhead costs. This fee was used against me by the Australian government to create the excuse for visa cancellation, Mr Yahood said.

He described Mr Burkes statement to media as both contradictory to official decision reasoning for visa cancellation and  fundamentally incorrect.

Islam is not an ideology inclusive of other faiths or non believers. To criticise and state this fact backed up by the Quran, is not hatred. I have never and would never spread hatred targeting people or groups, not Muslims or anyone, he said.

In another video he posted on Tuesday, he said he flew from Israel to Abu Dhabi but was blocked from boarding his connecting flight to Melbourne.

Home Affairs minister Tony Burke addresses the chamber at Parliament House on 20 January, 2026 in Canberra, Australia ( Getty Images )

The Australian Jewish Association (AJA) has condemned prime minister Anthony Albaneses administration for cancelling Mr Yahoods visa.

The persistent targeting of Jewish visitors by the Albanese Government has contributed to the rise of antisemitism in Australia. This latest cancellation reinforces deep concerns within the Jewish community that, despite the horror of the Bondi massacre and the governments belated apology, the Albanese Government hasnt changed and was never genuine, a statement from AJA CEO Robert Gregory, posted on X, read.

The AJA had secured Mr Yahood, who is a Krav Maga instructor, to run a self-defence session in partnership with another synagogue, the organisation said.

Two gunmen launched an antisemitic terror attack at the Bondi beach in December last year killing 15 people and injuring dozens.

Australias parliament recently passed new hate and migration laws which allows the home affairs minister to refuse or cancel visas if a person has engaged in hate, vilification or extremist conduct.

Mr Burke has previously used these powers to block entry to controversial figures whose past statements raised concerns about spreading division or hate, including far-right Israeli lawmaker Simcha Rothman, who was banned ahead of a planned visit, and US rapper Kanye West after he released a song widely criticised for referencing Adolf Hitler. Last year British social media personality Big John Fisher saw his Australian tour abruptly cancelled after immigration authorities refused him entry, citing a violation of visa conditions.

Mr Fisher, known for his fast-food reviews and catchphrase bosh, was detained on arrival in Perth and sent back to the UK. Upon his arrival, he said Australian Border Force officers detained him for almost four hours after apparently informing him that while his visa allowed entry as a tourist, it didnt permit him to engage in paid work or promotional appearances.
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A Bangladeshi man, Maksudur Rahman, was reportedly lured from his tropical homeland to Russia with the promise of a janitorial job, only to find himself thrust onto the front lines of the war in Ukraine within weeks.

An investigation by The Associated Press has uncovered a pattern where Bangladeshi workers are enticed to Russia under false pretences of civilian employment, subsequently coerced into combat roles.

Many of these individuals faced threats of violence, imprisonment, or even death if they refused. Mr Rahman, among three Bangladeshi men who managed to escape the Russian military and spoke to AP, recounted how he and fellow workers were instructed to sign Russian documents upon arrival in Moscow, which later proved to be military contracts.

They were then transported to an army camp for training in drone warfare, medical evacuation, and basic combat skills involving heavy weaponry.

Rahman protested, complaining that this was not the work he agreed to do. A Russian commander offered a stark reply through a translation app: Your agent sent you here. We bought you."

The three Bangladeshi men shared harrowing accounts of being coerced into front-line tasks against their will, including advancing ahead of Russian forces, transporting supplies, evacuating wounded soldiers and recovering the dead. The families of three other Bangladeshi men who are missing said their loved ones shared similar accounts with relatives.

Neither the Russian Defense Ministry, the Russian Foreign Ministry nor the South Asian countrys government responded to a list of questions from AP.

Rahman said the workers in his group were threatened with 10-year jail terms and beaten.

Theyd say, Why dont you work? Why are you crying? and kick us, said Rahman, who escaped and returned home after seven months.

The workers accounts were corroborated by documents, including travel papers, Russian military contracts, medical and police reports, and photos. The documents show the visas granted to Bangladeshi workers, their injuries sustained during battles and evidence of their participation in the war.

How many Bangladeshis were deceived into fighting is unclear. The Bangladeshi men told AP they saw hundreds of Bangladeshis alongside Russian forces in Ukraine.

Officials and activists say Russia has also targeted men from other African and South Asian countries, including India and Nepal.

open image in gallery Mohammed Siraj holds a photograph of his 20-year-old son, Sajjad, who was killed after being taken to fight in Russia, at his home in Lakshmipur, Bangladesh, Dec. 10, 2025. (AP Photo/Rajib Dhar) ( Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. )

In the lush greenery of the Lakshmipur district in southeast Bangladesh, nearly every family has at least one member employed as a migrant worker overseas. Job scarcity and poverty have made such work essential.

Fathers embark on yearslong journeys for migrant work, returning home only for fleeting visits, just long enough to conceive another child, whom they will likely not see again for years. Sons and daughters support entire families with income earned abroad.

In 2024, Rahman was back in Lakshmipur after completing a contract in Malaysia and seeking new work. A labor recruiter advertised an opportunity to work as a cleaner in a military camp in Russia. He promised $1,000 to $1,500 a month and the possibility of permanent residency.

Rahman took out a loan to pay the fee of 1.2 million Bangladeshi taka, about $9,800, to the broker as a fee. He arrived in Moscow in December 2024.

open image in gallery Salma Akdar, 28, who has not heard from her husband Ajgar Hussein, 40, for months, reacts as she sits in Lakshmipur, Bangladesh, Dec. 10, 2025. (AP Photo/Rajib Dhar) ( Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. )

Once in Russia, Rahman and three other Bangladeshi workers were presented with a document in Russian. Believing it was a contract for cleaning services, Rahman signed.

Then they went to a military facility far from Moscow, where they were issued weapons and underwent three days of training, learning to fire, advance and administer first aid. The group went to a barrack near the Russia-Ukraine border and continued training.

Rahman and two others were then sent to front-line positions and ordered to dig pits inside a bunker.

The Russians would take a group of say, five Bangladeshis. They would send us in front and stay at the back themselves, he said.

The men stayed in a leaky bunker in the rain as bombs fell a few kilometers away. Missiles flew overhead.

One person was serving food. "The next moment, he was shot from a drone and fell to the ground right there. And then he was replaced, Rahman said.

open image in gallery Mohan Miajee, 29, who escaped after fighting for the Russian army, poses for a portrait in Munshiganj, Bangladesh, Dec. 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Rajib Dhar) ( Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. )

Some Bangladeshi workers were lured into the army with promises of positions far from the front line.

Mohan Miajee enlisted in the Russian army after the job that initially brought him to Russia  serving as an electrician for a gas-processing plant in the remote far east  was plagued by harsh working conditions and relentless cold.

While searching for employment online, Miajee was contacted by a Russian army recruiter. When he expressed his reluctance to kill, the recruiter said his skills as an electrician made him an ideal candidate for an electronic warfare or drone unit that would be nowhere near combat.

With his military papers in order, Miajee was taken in January 2025 to a military camp in the captured city of Avdiivka. He showed the camp commander documents describing his experience and explained that his recruiter had instructed him to ask for electrical work.

The commander told me, You have been made to sign a contract to join the battalion. You cannot do any other work here. You have been deceived, he said after returning to his village of Munshiganj.

Miajee said he was beaten with shovels, handcuffed and tortured in a cramped basement cell, and held there every time he refused to carry out an order or made a small mistake.

Because of language barriers, for example, "if they told us to go to the right and we went to the left, they would beat us severely, he said.

He was made to carry supplies to the front and collect dead bodies.

Meanwhile in Rahman's unit, some weeks later, they were instructed to evacuate a Russian soldier with a wounded leg. The men carried him, but no sooner had they left the position than they saw a Ukrainian drone buzzing above. It fired at them. Then more drones came in a swarm.

Rahman could not advance or return to the bunker. A Russian soldier guiding them said land mines were everywhere.

He was stuck, and the Russian commander fled.

Rahman eventually suffered a leg wound that sent him to a hospital near Moscow. He escaped from the medical center and went directly to the Bangladeshi embassy in Moscow, which prepared a travel pass for him to leave the country.

Some months later, Rahman helped his brother-in-law Jehangir Alam, who also spoke with AP, run away using the same method  leaving the hospital after being wounded and appealing to the embassy.

open image in gallery Mohan Miajee, 29, who escaped after fighting for the Russian army, shows his Russian military dog tag in Munshiganj, Bangladesh, Dec. 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Rajib Dhar) ( Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. )

Families in Lakshmipur hold tightly to the documents of their missing loved ones, believing that one day, when presented to the right person, the papers might unlock the path to their return.

The documents included photos of Russian business visas, military contracts and army dog tags. The papers were sent by the missing men, who urged relatives to complain to recruiting agents.

The contracts were verified by two Russian groups helping men evade or get out of military service. Maj. Vladimir Yaltsev, head of the Kostroma regional recruitment center for contract military service, is listed as signing the contracts on behalf of the Russian military.

In their final messages, these husbands, sons and fathers conveyed to relatives that they were being forcibly taken to the front lines in Ukraine. After that, all communication ceased.

The families filed a complaint with police in Dhaka and traveled on three occasions to the capital to pressure the government to investigate.

Salma Akdar has not heard from her husband since March 26. In their last conversation, Ajgar Hussein, 40, told her he had been sold to the Russian army. The couple has two sons, ages 7 and 11.

Hussein left in mid-December 2024, believing he was being offered a job as a laundry attendant in Russia, his wife said. He had recently returned from Saudi Arabia and planned to stop working overseas for a spell, she explained. But believing Russia offered opportunities to make money, he left again. He sold some of his land to pay the agent's fees.

For two weeks, he was in regular touch. Then he told his wife he was being taken to an army camp where they were trained to use weapons and carry heavy loads up to 80 kilograms (176 pounds). Seeing all this, he cried a lot and told them, We cannot do these things. We have never done this before,' his wife said.

For two months after that, he was offline. He reappeared briefly to explain they were being forced to fight in the war.

Russian commanders "told him that if he did not go, they would detain him, shoot him, stop providing food, she said.

Families in the village confronted the recruiting agent, demanding to know why their loved ones were being trained for war. The agent replied dismissively, saying that it was standard procedure in Russia, insisting that even launderers had to undergo similar training.

Hussein left a final audio note for this wife: Please pray for me."

open image in gallery Mohammed Siraj, the father of Sajjad, 20, who was killed after being taken to fight in Russia, poses for a portrait at his home in Lakshmipur, Bangladesh, Dec. 10, 2025. (AP Photo/Rajib Dhar) ( Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. )

Mohammed Sirajs 20-year-old son, Sajjad, departed believing he would be working as a chef in Russia. He needed to support his unemployed father and chronically ill mother.

Siraj wept as he described his son begging him to ask the agent why he was being made to undergo military training. Sajjad fought with his Russian commanders, insisting he had come to be a chef, not to fight. They threatened him with jail if he did not comply. Then someone else threatened to shoot him, his father recalled.

Sajjad called the family and said he was being taken to battle. That is the last message from my son, he said.

In February, Siraj learned through a Bangladeshi man serving with Sajjad that his son had been killed in a drone attack. Unable to bear telling his wife the truth, Siraj assured her that their son was doing well. But word spread through the village.

You lied to me, Siraj recalled her saying as she confronted him. Soon after, she died, calling out for her son in her final moments.

open image in gallery Maksudur Rahman, 31, who escaped after fighting for the Russian army, shows a Russian military dog tag during an interview with The Associated Press in Lakshmipur, Bangladesh, Dec. 10, 2025. (AP Photo/Rajib Dhar) ( Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. )

In late 2024, families approached BRAC, an organization that advocates for Bangladeshi workers, and said they could no longer reach their relatives in Russia. That prompted the organization to investigate. It uncovered at least 10 Bangladeshi men who are still missing after they were were lured to fight.

There are two or three layers of people who are profiting, said Shariful Islam, the head of BRAC's migration program.

Bangladesh police investigators uncovered a trafficking ring in Russia after a Bangladeshi man returned in January 2025, alleging he had been deceived into fighting. The police believe that similar networks, operated by Bangladeshi intermediaries with connections to the Russian government, are responsible for facilitating the entry of Bangladeshis into Russia.

Another nine people were discovered to have been lured into fighting based on that police investigation, according to investigator Mostafizur Rahman. The Associated Press reviewed the police report filed by one victim's wife, who said he went to Russia expecting to work in a chocolate factory. A middleman, a Bangladeshi with Russian citizenship who was residing in Moscow, has been charged.

It's not clear how many Bangladeshis were lured to Russia. A Bangladeshi police investigator told AP that about 40 Bangladeshis may have lost their lives in the war.

Some go willingly, knowing they will end up on the front lines because the money is too good, according to Rahman, the investigator.

In Lakshmipur, investigators learned that the local agent has been funneling recruits to a central agent associated with a company called SP Global. The company did not respond to APs calls and emails. Investigators found it ceased operations in 2025.

Families of the missing individuals said they have not received any money earned by their loved ones. Miajee too said he was never paid.

I dont want money or anything else, Akdar said. I just want my my childrens father back.
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Two British nationals have been detained in France on suspicion of planning to join a banned far-right protest, in what is believed to be the first case of its kind.

The men, aged 35 and 50, were detained near Calais in northern France on Sunday after broadcasting live videos likely to incite hatred, authorities said.

Last Friday, French authorities issued an order banning activists from gathering for a stop the boats protest, nicknamed Operation Overload, due to take place in the areas of of Nord and Pas-de-Calais.

These individuals were arrested during an identity check while they were posting a video on social media that allegedly contained discriminatory comments and attested to their potential participation in this organisation, the Pas-de-Calais prefecture said in a statement.

Although no large gatherings have been observed so far, several accounts posted messages this weekend indicating that the operation is continuing, the statement continued.

It said that these actions are part of a xenophobic and anti-immigrant ideology and create a clear risk of public disorder.

Prosecutor Cecile Gressier told the BBC the pair were arrested on suspicion of participation in a group with the intent to prepare acts of violence. She said these were the first arrests of British far-right activists on these grounds.

The two men were arrested on Sunday and are expected to be deported ( PA Wire )

Last week, French authorities said that anyone arriving from the UK to take part in anti-migrant demonstrations would be immediately deported. The two men are expected to be ordered to leave French territory and may be sent to an administrative detention centre with other migrants before being deported, police said.

Ten members of a British far-right group, Raise the Colours, were prohibited from entering France earlier this month after being accused of destroying small boats used by migrants attempting to reach the UK.

More than 41,000 people crossed the Channel to the UK in small boats last year, an increase on 2024 but fewer than the 2022 record, when more than 45,000 people made the crossing, according to the Home Office.

Far-right agitators have been travelling to France with increasing frequency in the past year. In December, The Independent reported how anti-migrant activists are increasingly making trips to locations such as Calais and Dunkirk to harass migrants and charity workers.
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Germany is offering a huge reward for help catching the group behind an attack that left swathes of Berlin in total darkness earlier this month.

Some 50,000 people in Berlins wealthy southwest were left without power for several days in early January, following an act of suspected sabotage claimed by the far-left extremist Vulkan Group.

Berlin's Mayor Kai Wegner was quick to condemn the attack on high voltage power lines as terrorism as the group claimed responsibility in a lengthy, politically-charged letter titled cutting off power to those in power.

Iris Spranger, the senator for interior affairs in the capital, confirmed on Monday that federal prosecutors are now offering a 1 million (870,000) reward for information that leads to arrests.

open image in gallery The blackout in Berlin caused chaos across the capital in January ( Reuters )

"This is a one-off case, she told lawmakers during a session of the Berlin State Parliaments Interior Committee. I cannot recall the federal government ever offering a reward of this magnitude under similar circumstances.

She said the government considered it an exceptional measure, but an appropriate amount for the crime. The outage, which started on 3 January and only ended four days later, was the longest in the German capital since the Second World War.

It was caused by a fire that destroyed a cable duct running over a canal, cutting off power to around 45,000 households and across 2,000 businesses in southwestern districts of the city as bitter winter temperatures set in.

Germany was forced to bring in the army to support residents as the blackout cut off heating, trains and mobile phone connections.

open image in gallery Power was cut off to tens of thousand of households ( Reuters )

The Vulkan Group, which is listed by Berlins intelligence services as a left-wing extremist organisation, said in their letter, published online: The aim of the action is to cause significant damage to the gas industry and the greed for energy.

They have taken responsibility for similar actions in the past but no arrests have been made over the blackout as yet.

Germanys interior minister insisted on Tuesday that the government would step up efforts to tackle left-wing militants.

Our security agencies will be significantly reinforced in the fight against left-wing extremism, the minister, Alexander Dobrindt, said.

Germany's domestic intelligence agency will devote more staff to left-wing militancy, Dobrindt said, adding that new legislation is being prepared to expand the digital investigative powers of security authorities.

The measures would cover automated data analysis, biometric facial recognition and the storage of IP addresses.

open image in gallery A fire destroyed high-voltage power cables running across a bridge in Berlin, causing a major outage that was promptly claimed by the Vulkan Group ( Stromnetz Berlin )

Franziska Giffey, a politician with the Social Democratic Party, told POLITICO that investigators would have to have to look into whether their motivation went beyond political ideology.

The question is, are these just left-wing activist groups acting on behalf of ideology, or is there more to it than that? That absolutely must be investigated, she said.

Vulkan Group also claimed an attack on a power pylon near the Tesla factory outside Berlin, in 2024.
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Born into the hell of Bergen-Belsen concentration camp just weeks before its liberation, Ilana Kantorowicz Shalem, now 81, is among the youngest survivors of the Holocaust. Her very existence is a testament to extraordinary timing and her mother's desperate resilience.

During the final months of World War II, her mother, Lola Kantorowicz, successfully hid her pregnancy. This was tragically possible because most Bergen-Belsen prisoners had bellies distended and bloated from extended starvation, masking Lola's condition.

Ilana was born on 19 March 1945, as Russian forces advanced and Bergen-Belsen descended into chaos, just 30 days before British troops liberated the camp. Her survival was only possible due to the Nazi leadership's disarray as the war ended; otherwise, she would almost certainly have been killed.

More than eight decades later, Shalem is now sharing her and her mothers harrowing story for the first time, acutely aware of the dwindling number of Holocaust survivors.

open image in gallery Holocaust survivor Ilana Shalem-Kantorowics, born in the Nazi Bergen-Belsen concentration camp, holds a photo of her with her mother Lola taken in the camp in 1946. ( Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved )

International Holocaust Remembrance Day is observed across the world on Jan. 27, the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, the most notorious of the death camps where some 1.1 million people, most of them Jews, were killed. The U.N. General Assembly adopted a resolution in 2005 establishing the day as an annual commemoration.

About 6 million European Jews and millions of other people, including Poles, Roma, people with disabilities and LGBTQ+ people, were killed by the Nazis and their collaborators. Some 1.5 million were children.

Commemorations this year are taking place amid a rise of antisemitism that gained traction during the two-year-long war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza.

Love in dark places

Shalems mother and father met as teenagers in the Tomaszow Ghetto in Poland. Lola Rosenblum was from the town, while Hersz (Zvi) Abraham Kantorowicz was moved to the ghetto from Lodz, Poland.

After spending several years in the ghetto under hard labor conditions, including losing family members, they were shuffled through several labor camps, where they were able to continue meeting clandestinely for several months.

My mother said there was actually a lot of love in those places, Shalem recalled of the labor camps. They used to walk along the river. There was romance.

Her mothers friends used to help set up secret meetings between the two, who had married in an informal ceremony back in the ghetto.

In 1944, the couple was separated. Hersz Kantorowicz would eventually perish in a death march just days before the war ended. Lola spent time in Auschwitz and the Hindenburg labor camp. She completed a death march to Bergen-Belsen in Germany while pregnant.

If they discovered she was pregnant, they would have killed her, Shalem said. She hid her pregnancy from everyone, including her friends, because she didnt want the extra attention or anyone to give her their food."

open image in gallery Holocaust survivor Ilana Shalem-Kantorowics born in the Nazi Bergen-Belsen concentration camp with her with mother Lola in the camp in 1946. ( Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved )

Yad Vashem archivist Sima Velkovich, who has researched Shalems story, called it unimaginable that a baby was born in such conditions.

In March, the conditions were really awful, there were mountains of corpses, Velkovich said. There were thousands, dozens of thousands of people who were ill, almost without food at that time.

To this day, Shalem doesnt have an explanation for how her mother not only survived the conditions of the camp but gave birth to a healthy baby. Mother and daughter spent a month in the Bergen-Belsen camp before it was liberated by the British, and then two years in a nearby camp for displaced persons.

They then moved to Israel, where her fathers parents had moved before the war. Shalem's mother held out hope for years that her father had survived. She never married again, nor had additional children.

The child of everyone

In the immediate months after the war, baby Ilana was constantly fussed over, one of the only children in the refugee camp.

Actually, I was everyones child, because for them, it was some kind of sign of life, Shalem said. Many, many women took care of me there, because they were very excited to be with a little baby.

Photos from that time show a beaming baby Ilana surrounded by a cadre of adults. Her mothers friends spoke of her as a new seed, and a ray of hope during a dark time, Shalem said.

open image in gallery A Photo of the birth certificate of Holocaust survivor Ilana Shalem-Kantorowics, born in the Nazi Bergen-Belsen concentration camp in 1946. ( Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved )

Shes not aware of any other children born in the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp who survived. Yad Vashem, Israels Holocaust museum and research center, has documented over 2,000 babies born at the Bergen-Belsen refugee camp after its liberation, between 1945 and 1950. The museum at Bergen-Belsen was able to locate documentation of Ilanas birth, including the hour she was born, which is now kept at Yad Vashem.

A subject few spoke about

Shalem, who studied social work, started asking her mother questions while she was in university in the 1960s, when it was still taboo in Israeli society to dig into the experiences of survivors.

Now we know, in order to absorb trauma, we need to talk about it, Shalem said. These people didnt want to talk about it.

She noted how, in the wake of the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas-led attack on southern Israel, many survivors of that attack immediately began to speak about what happened to them.

But the aftermath of the Holocaust, especially in Israel, was different. Many survivors were trying to forget what had happened. Ilanas mother often faced disbelief when she shared her story of giving birth in a concentration camp, so she mostly stopped telling it. Sometimes her mother would talk about what she endured with other survivor friends, but rarely with strangers, Shalem said.

Less than 200,000 Holocaust survivors left

Shalem has never publicly shared the story of her mother, who died in 1991 at the age of 71. Last year, she completed a genealogy course at Yad Vashem and began to understand how few Holocaust survivors are left to share their stories.

open image in gallery Israel Holocaust Remembrance Day ( Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved )

According to the New York-based Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany, also referred to as the Claims Conference, there are approximately 196,600 living Holocaust survivors, half of whom live in Israel. Nearly 25,000 Holocaust survivors died last year. The median age of Holocaust survivors is 87, meaning most were very young children during the Holocaust. Shalem is among the youngest.

Shalem, who has two daughters, remembers sharing her own pregnancies with her mother, and marveling at what she had endured.

Its a situation that was very unusual, it probably required special strength to be able to believe, Shalem said.

She said that one of the things was that if she had known my father was killed, she wouldnt have tried so hard. She wanted him to know me.
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For average wage earners in Russia, it's a big payday. For criminals seeking to escape the harsh conditions and abuse in prison, it's a chance at freedom. For immigrants hoping for a better life, it's a simplified path to citizenship.

All they have to do is sign a contract to fight in Ukraine.

This desperate recruitment drive is part of Moscow's strategy to replenish its forces in the nearly four-year conflict, while simultaneously avoiding an unpopular nationwide mobilisation. The bloody war of attrition has also seen foreign combatants join the fray. Following a mutual defence treaty in 2024, North Korea reportedly sent thousands of soldiers to help Russia defend its Kursk region against a Ukrainian incursion.

Furthermore, men from South Asian countries, including India, Nepal, and Bangladesh, have reported being duped by recruiters who promised legitimate jobs, only to find themselves conscripted for combat. Officials in Kenya, South Africa, and Iraq have confirmed similar instances of their citizens being misled into fighting.

open image in gallery Russian recruits take a train at a railway station in Prudboi in the Volgograd region of Russia, Sept. 29, 2022. (AP Photo, File) ( Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved )

President Vladimir Putin told his annual news conference last month that 700,000 Russian troops are fighting in Ukraine. He gave the same number in 2024, and a slightly lower figure  617,000  in December 2023. It's unclear if those numbers are accurate.

Still hidden are the numbers of military casualties, with Moscow having released limited official figures. The British Defense Ministry said last summer that more than 1 million Russian troops may have been killed or wounded.

Independent Russian news site Mediazona, together with the BBC and a team of volunteers, scoured news reports, social media and government websites and collected the names of over 160,000 troops killed. More than 550 of those were foreigners from over two dozen countries.

How Russia gets new soldiers

Unlike Ukraine, where martial law and nationwide mobilization has been in place since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022, Putin has resisted ordering a broad call-up.

When a limited mobilization of 300,000 men was tried later that year, tens of thousands of people fled abroad. The effort stopped after a few weeks when the target was met, but a Putin decree left the door open for another call-up. It also made all military contracts effectively open-ended and barred soldiers from quitting service or being discharged, unless they reached certain age limits or were incapacitated by injuries.

Since then, Moscow has largely relied on what it describes as voluntary enlistment.

The flow of voluntary enlistees signing military contracts has remained strong, topping 400,000 last year, Putin said in December. It was not possible to independently verify the claim. Similar numbers were announced in 2024 and 2023.

Activists say these contracts often stipulate a fixed term of service, such as one year, leading some potential enlistees to believe the commitment is temporary. But contracts are automatically extended indefinitely, they say.

open image in gallery Recruits carry ammunition during training at a firing range in the Rostov-on-Don region of southern Russia, Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2022. (AP Photo, File) ( Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. )

The government offers high pay and extensive benefits to enlistees. Regional authorities offer various enlistment bonuses, sometimes amounting to tens of thousands of dollars.

In the Khanty-Mansi region of central Russia, for example, an enlistee would get about $50,000 in various bonuses, according to the local government. That's more than twice the average annual income in the region, where monthly salaries in the first 10 months of 2025 were reported to be just over $1,600.

There also are tax breaks, debt relief and other perks.

Despite Kremlin claims of relying on voluntary enlistment, media reports and rights groups say conscripts  men aged 18-30 performing fixed-term mandatory military service and exempted from being sent to Ukraine  are often coerced by superiors into signing contracts that send them into battle.

Recruitment also extends to prisoners and those in pretrial detention centers, a practice led early in the war by the late mercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhin and adopted by the Defense Ministry. Laws now allow recruitment of both convicts and suspects in criminal cases.

open image in gallery People walk past an army recruiting billboard with the words "Military service under contract in the armed forces," in St. Petersburg, Russia, March 24, 2023. (AP Photo, File) ( Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved )

Foreigners also are recruiting targets, both inside Russia and abroad.

Laws were adopted offering accelerated Russian citizenship for enlistees. Russian media and activists also report that raids in areas where migrants typically live or work lead to them being pressuring into military service, with new citizens sent to enlistment offices to determine if theyre eligible for mandatory service.

In November, Putin decreed that military service was mandatory for certain foreigners seeking permanent residency.

Some reportedly are lured to Russia by trafficking rings promising jobs, then duping them into signing military contracts. Cuban authorities in 2023 identified and sought to dismantle one such ring operating from Russia.

Nepals Foreign Minister Narayan Prakash Saud told The Associated Press in 2024 that his country asked Russia to return hundreds of Nepali nationals who were recruited to fight in Ukraine, as well as to repatriate the remains of those killed in the war. Nepal has since barred citizens from traveling to Russia or Ukraine for work, citing recruitment efforts.

Also in 2024, Indias federal investigation agency said it broke up a network that lured at least 35 of its citizens to Russia under the pretext of employment. The men were trained for combat and deployed to Ukraine against their will, with some "grievously injured, the agency said.

When Putin hosted Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi for talks in 2024, New Delhi said its nationals who were misled into joining the Russian army would be discharged.

Iraqi officials say about 5,000 of its citizens have joined the Russian military along with an unspecified number who are fighting alongside Ukrainian forces. Officials in Baghdad cracked down on such recruiting networks, with one man convicted last year of human trafficking and sentenced to life in prison.

An unknown number of Iraqis have been killed or gone missing while fighting in Ukraine. Some families have reported that relatives were lured to Russia under false pretenses and forced to enlist; in other cases, Iraqis have joined voluntarily for the salary and Russian citizenship.

Foreigners duped into fighting are especially vulnerable because they dont speak Russian, have no military experience and are deemed dispensable, to put it bluntly, by military commanders, said Anton Gorbatsevich of the activist group Idite Lesom, or Get Lost, which helps men desert from the army.

open image in gallery Russian Chief of General Staff Gen. Valery Gerasimov, right, reports to Russian President Vladimir Putin at the annual board meeting of the Russian Defense Ministry and award soldiers in Moscow, Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2025. (Alexander Kazakov/Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP) ( Sputnik )

This month, a Ukrainian agency for the treatment of prisoners of war said over 18,000 foreign nationals had fought or are fighting on the Russian side. Almost 3,400 have been killed, and hundreds of citizens of 40 countries are held in Ukraine as POWs.

If true, that represents a fraction of the 700,000 troops that Putin said are fighting for Russia in Ukraine.

Using foreigners is only one way to meet the constant demand, said Artyom Klyga, head of the legal department at the Movement of Conscientious Objectors, noting Russian recruitment efforts appear to be stable. Most of those seeking help from the group, which assists men in avoiding military service, are Russian citizens, he said.

Kateryna Stepanenko, a Russia researcher at the Washington-based Institute for the Study of War, said the Kremlin has gotten more creative in the last two years with attracting enlistees, including foreigners.

But recruitment efforts are becoming extremely expensive for Russia, which faces a slowing economy, she added.
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Slovakia is set to launch legal action against the European Union over its decision to ban Russian gas imports, Prime Minister Robert Fico announced on Tuesday, according to news website Dennik N.

The EU's move, which received final approval from member states on Monday, aims to halt Russian gas imports by late 2027, making their vow to cut ties with their former top supplier legally binding, nearly four years after Moscow's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Both Slovakia and Hungary voted against the measure. Hungary said it would challenge the law at the European Court of Justice.

The ban was designed to be approved by a reinforced majority of countries, allowing it to overcome opposition from Hungary and Slovakia, who remain heavily reliant on Russian energy imports and want to maintain close ties with Moscow.

Under the agreement, the EU will halt Russian liquefied natural gas imports by end-2026 and pipeline gas by 30 September, 2027.

The law allows that deadline to shift to 1 November, 2027, at the latest, if a country is struggling to fill its storage caverns with non-Russian gas ahead of winter.

open image in gallery The EU's move, which received final approval from member states on Monday, aims to halt Russian gas imports by late 2027 ( AP2009 )

Russia supplied more than 40 per cent of the EU's gas before 2022. That share dropped to around 13 per cent in 2025, according to the latest available EU data.

But some EU countries continue to pay Moscow for oil, pipeline gas and liquefied natural gas, contradicting their efforts to support Ukraine and restrict funding to Russia's wartime economy.

Last month, the five biggest EU importers spent 1.4 billion ($1.66 billion) on Russian energy, mostly on gas and LNG, data from the non-profit Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air showed. Hungary was the biggest buyer, before France and Belgium.

The EU imposed sanctions on Russian seaborne oil in 2022, but never proposed sanctions on gas imports, which would require unanimous approval from all 27 EU countries.

The EU law prohibits companies from signing new Russian gas deals and will require those with existing contracts to terminate them to comply with the ban.

open image in gallery Hungary and Slovakia remain heavily reliant on Russian energy imports and want to maintain close ties with Moscow. ( Getty )

For existing contracts, imports under short-term deals signed before 17 June 2025, will be banned on 25 April 2026, for LNG, and 17 June for pipeline gas. Long-term contracts must be phased out by the final deadlines.

Companies could face financial penalties of up to 3.5 per cent of total global annual turnover for failure to comply.

The European Commission plans to also propose legislation in the coming months to phase out Russian pipeline oil, and wean countries off Russian nuclear fuel.
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Donald Trump represents a greater threat to Nato than Vladimir Putin, one of the alliances former commanders has said in a blistering attack on Washingtons foreign policy.

The US president has sparked alarm after a series of aggressive moves this year including the capture of Nicolas Maduro in Venezuela, threats to invade Greenland, and the controversial claim that European troops in Afghanistan were not on the front lines.

General Sir Richard Shirreff, Natos former deputy supreme allied commander for Europe, said that Mr Trumps threat of military intervention in Greenland was absolutely not bluster even after the US president pledged not to use force to seize the island, which is a territory of Nato member Denmark.

We have to take him literally. We have to assume with Trump, as with Putin, that the worst case will happen, he told The Independent. Trump is the greater threat [to Nato] if you want to make the comparison. Its Trump who gets the prize.

open image in gallery Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump shake hands in their meeting last year ( AFP/Getty )

Gen Shirreff, who is now chair of the Healix International Security and Risk Advisory Board, said that Mr Trump had destroyed the international order in the first year of his second term. He is also on the way to destroying the one alliance that has guaranteed transatlantic security for 77 years, he added.

The former British army officer said that Mr Trump had presented his Russian counterpart with two of his most cherished foreign policy objectives on a plate.

He has decoupled America from European security and he is effectively holding Nato below the waterline because of his threat.

Gen Shirreff said that, while Putin poses an existential threat to Europe, his invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 had united Nato and brought the international order closer together.

open image in gallery The then Brigadier Shirreff, commanding officer of the 7th Armoured Brigade in Kosovo during its conflict in the late 1990s ( PA )

Mr Trump, meanwhile, has turned the global rules-based system into a dead duck, he added. Clearly, Putin threatened it massively but Trump has attacked the one alliance which grants our security.

In the US, Mr Trump has been ridiculed for what critics call a Taco approach to policy  meaning Trump Always Chickens Out. He has recently threatened military intervention in both Greenland and Iran, before appearing to back off and seek diplomatic solutions.

But Gen Shirreff said that the threats alone, particularly to Greenland, are enough to cause serious damage to Washingtons alliances in Nato.

The lead nation of the alliance has threatened the territorial integrity of another member of an alliance... how do you move on and rebuild trust? Nobody will trust Trump again, and weve got another three years of it.

In response to the instability, Gen Shirreff advised Nato to Europeanise and seek strategic and military independence from the US, particularly for the remainder of Mr Trumps tenure.

open image in gallery Donald Trump backed down from his threats to Greenland after Davos, but Shirreff said the threat alone is bad enough ( Getty )

Other experts have disagreed with Gen Shirreffs conclusion over which leader poses a greater threat to Nato.

Jon B Alterman, chair in global security and geostrategy at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies, agreed that Putins war has had a unifying effect on Nato, but argued that Mr Trump was more open to persuasion by Nato allies.

He said the US presidents foreign policy and attacks on Nato reflected concerns held by many Americans about the role of the US abroad. Earlier this month, Mr Trump claimed he had saved Nato in a post on Truth Social.

This is an old American complaint, Mr Alterman told The Independent. European states are now looking at alternative arrangements, and these conversations were absolutely not happening a year ago. The international order does need to rethink its response; it's been a very one-sided relationship for some.

open image in gallery Trump speaks with Nato secretary general Mark Rutte ( AFP/Getty )

Gabriel A Gimenez Roche, associate professor of economics and finance at Neoma Business School, said that unpopularity in the polls could serve as a check on Mr Trumps unfettered global ambitions.

Trumps confrontational stance toward Europe lacks strong support among the American electorate, he says. Polls consistently show scepticism toward antagonising allies, annexation rhetoric, and escalating trade conflicts  a sentiment that could carry electoral consequences.

But Putin could benefit from the uncertainty by default. If neither European firms nor American voters benefit, the answer is troubling. The primary beneficiary appears to be Vladimir Putin, whose strategic interests are served by a distracted US, a divided transatlantic relationship, and a Europe forced to reassess its dependence on Washington.

A White House spokesperson told The Independent: President Trump has done more for Nato than anyone. Americas contributions to Nato dwarf that of other countries, and his success in delivering a 5 per cent spending pledge from Nato allies is helping Europe take greater responsibility for its own defense.

The United States is the only Nato partner who can protect Greenland, and the President is advancing Nato interests in doing so.
Close 'Evil must stop: Zelenskyy mourns latest Russian attack on miners as he confirms next diplomatic talks in UAE

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Russian forces have been accused of carrying out a double tap drone strike on a bus on Sunday, in an attack which killed 12 miners.

The bus, operated by Ukrainian energy company DTEK, was struck in the Dnipropetrovsk region in what the firm described as a large-scale terrorist attack, injuring a further 16 people.

Serhiy Beskrestnov, an adviser to Ukraines defence minister, has since claimed that Russian forces were became aware the bus was containing civilians when it attacked for a second time.

He said on Telegram that a Shahed pilot saw a bus below and decided to attack it, adding that the driver lost control under the influence of the blast wave and drove into the fence before injured people began to flee.

At this time, the operator of the second Shahed saw people and directed the Shahed directly at civilians, Beskrestnov said.

The operators from the territory of Russia 100% saw and recognized the target as a civilian, saw that it was not a military person and made a conscious decision to attack, he added.

Meanwhile, both the Kremlin and Volodymyr Zelensky have confirmed the second round of Ukraine-Russia-US talks is scheduled to begin on Wednesday.
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Iran's bloody crackdown on nationwide protests has killed at least 6,159 people and many others are still feared dead, activists said Tuesday.

The updated death toll came as a U.S. aircraft carrier group arrived in the Middle East to lead any American military response to the crisis.

Iran's currency, the rial, meanwhile fell to a record low of 1.5 million to $1.

The arrival of the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier and guided missile destroyers accompanying it provide the U.S. the ability to strike Iran, particularly as Gulf Arab states have signaled they want to stay out of any attack despite hosting American military personnel.

Two Iranian-backed militias in the Mideast have signaled their willingness to launch new attacks, likely trying to back Iran after U.S. President Donald Trump threatened military action over the killing of peaceful protesters or Tehran launching mass executions in the wake of the demonstrations.

Menacing murals have gone up around Tehran warning against US military action ( AFP via Getty Images )

Iran has repeatedly threatened to drag the entire Mideast into a war, though its air defenses and military are still reeling after the June war launched by Israel against the country. But the pressure on its economy may spark new unrest as everyday goods slowly go out of reach of its people  particularly if Trump chooses to attack.

Ambrey, a private security firm, issued a notice Tuesday saying it assessed that the U.S. has positioned sufficient military capability to conduct kinetic operations against Iran while maintaining the ability to defend itself and regional allies from reciprocal action.

Supporting or avenging Iranian protesters in punitive strikes is assessed as insufficient justification for sustained military conflict, Ambrey wrote. However, alternative objectives, such as the degradation of Iranian military capabilities, may increase the likelihood of limited U.S. intervention.

Activists offer new death toll

Tuesday's new figures came from the U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency, which has been accurate in multiple rounds of unrest in Iran. The group verifies each death with a network of activists on the ground in Iran.

It said the 6,159 dead included at least 5,804 protesters, 214 government-affiliated forces, 92 children and 49 civilians who weren't demonstrating. The crackdown has seen over 42,200 arrests, it added.

The Associated Press has been unable to independently assess the death toll given authorities cutting off the internet and disrupting calls into the Islamic Republic.

Irans government has put the death toll at a far lower 3,117, saying 2,427 were civilians and security forces, and labeled the rest terrorists. In the past, Irans theocracy has undercounted or not reported fatalities from unrest.

That death toll exceeds that of any other round of protest or unrest there in decades, and recalls the chaos surrounding Irans 1979 Islamic Revolution.

The protests in Iran began on Dec. 28, sparked by the fall of the Iranian currency, the rial, and quickly spread across the country. They were met by a violent crackdown by Irans theocracy, the scale of which is only starting to become clear as the country has faced more than two weeks of internet blackout  the most comprehensive in its history.

Irans U.N. ambassador told a U.N. Security Council meeting late Monday that Trumps repeated threats to use military force against the country are neither ambiguous nor misinterpreted. Amir Saeid Iravani also repeated allegations that the U.S. leader incited violence by armed terrorist groups supported by the United States and Israel, but gave no evidence to support his claims.

Iranian state media has tried to accuse forces abroad for the protests as the theocracy remains broadly unable to address the country's ailing economy, which is still squeezed by international sanctions, particularly over its nuclear program.

On Tuesday, exchange shops offered the record-low rial-to-dollar rate in Tehran. Traders declined to speak publicly on the matter, with several responding angrily to the situation.

Already, Iran has vastly limited its subsidized currency rates to cut down on corruption. It also has offered the equivalent of $7 a month to most people in the country to cover rising costs. However, Iran's people have seen the rial fall from a rate of 32,000 to $1 just a decade ago  which has devoured the value of their savings.

Some Iranian-backed militias suggest willingness to fight

Iran projected its power across the Mideast through the Axis of Resistance, a network of proxy militant groups in Gaza, Lebanon, Yemen, Syria and Iraq, and other places. It was also seen as a defensive buffer, intended to keep conflict away from Iranian borders. But it has collapsed after Israel targeted Hamas, Hezbollah in Lebanon and others during the Gaza war. Meanwhile, rebels in 2024 overthrew Syrias Bashar Assad after a yearslong, bloody war in which Iran backed his rule.

Yemen's Houthi rebels, backed by Iran, have repeatedly warned they could resume fire if needed on shipping in the Red Sea, releasing old footage of a previous attack Monday. Ahmad Abu Hussein al-Hamidawi, the leader of Iraq's Kataib Hezbollah militia, warned "the enemies that the war on the (Islamic) Republic will not be a picnic; rather, you will taste the bitterest forms of death, and nothing will remain of you in our region.

The Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, one of Irans staunchest allies, refused to say how it planned to react in the case of a possible attack.

During the past two months, several parties have asked me a clear and frank question: If Israel and America go to war against Iran, will Hezbollah intervene or not? Hezbollah leader Sheikh Naim Kassem said in a video address.

He said the group is preparing for possible aggression and is determined to defend against it. But as to how it would act, he said, these details will be determined by the battle and we will determine them according to the interests that are present.
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A clock in a Tel Aviv square, which has served as a poignant rallying point for Israelis demanding the release of hostages taken during the October 2023 Hamas attack, is scheduled to be switched off on Tuesday.

The cessation of its count comes 844 days after it began tracking their captivity.

This symbolic shutdown follows the discovery in Gaza of the body of the last remaining hostage, Ran Gvili, which was announced by the Israeli military on Monday. Mr Gvili, 24, an off-duty police officer recovering from an injury, was killed fighting militants who had infiltrated Israel during the 2023 attack.

Speaking to reporters late on Monday, after her son's body was recovered, his mother, Talik, expressed gratitude to those who had supported the family over the 27 months since the attack. "We have a closure. Rani returned home an Israeli hero, really, an Israeli hero and we're the most proud of him in the world," she stated.

open image in gallery The body of the last remaining hostage, Ran Gvili, was found in Gaza, it was announced on Monday ( AFP/Getty )

Moment of national healing

In Israel, the return of the last hostage has been anticipated as a moment of national healing. The Hamas attack, the bloodiest killing of Jews since the Holocaust, was widely seen as the most traumatic event in the country's history.

It also completes a core aspect of the initial phase of President Donald Trump's plan to end the war. The second stage, which Washington announced had started earlier this month, includes the reopening of Gaza's Rafah border with Egypt.

Nour Daher, a 31-year-old Palestinian in Gaza, said that he was waiting for the border to reopen so he could seek medical treatment for a heart defect outside of the war-torn territory.

"I have the medical referral papers. I registered with the WHO (World Health Organization). Now Im waiting for my name to appear on their lists, he said. Last time I checked, they told me they were waiting for a country willing to take my case.

"I am hopeful my problem will finally end," said Daher, describing near-daily bouts of severe palpitations.

Speaking next to his son's bed at Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip, Yehia Rasras said even basic medication was unavailable at Gaza hospitals. His son, Ahmed, was shot earlier this month. The bullet has settled in his head and he remains in critical condition.

"I wish for my son to receive treatment abroad so that he can recover, receive proper care, and return better than before. This is all I wish for my son," Rasras, 50, told Reuters.

The Gaza health ministry said at least 20,000 patients and injured Palestinians required medication outside Gaza.

open image in gallery In Israel, the return of the last hostage has been anticipated as a moment of national healing ( AFP/Getty )

Families to gather for Tel Aviv ceremony

Since October 7, 2023, when Hamas launched its attacks, thousands of Israelis had gathered almost every week in Tel Aviv at a place that came to be known as Hostages Square, calling for the release of all of the hostages in captivity.

Ran Gvili's sister, Shira, along with former hostages and family members, is due to take part in a public ceremony at the Tel Aviv square on Tuesday as the clock is turned off, The Hostages and Families Forum, which rallied public support for those taken on October 7 and their families, said.

Gvili was shot while defending Kibbutz Alumim, a community in Israel's south near the border with Gaza. He was taken to Gaza by militants from another Palestinian militant group that joined the Hamas attack, Islamic Jihad, according to Israeli officials.

Handing over all the remaining living and dead hostages was a core commitment of the first phase of the deal, though other parts have not been fulfilled. It is not clear how the next stage will be implemented, which includes the reconstruction and demilitarization of Gaza. The Israeli military remains in control of 53 per cent of Gaza, with Hamas in control of the rest.

Four Israeli soldiers and over 480 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza since Israel and Hamas agreed to a ceasefire in October as part of the U.S. plan to end the war. Both Israel and Hamas have repeatedly accused each other of truce violations.

On Tuesday, Israeli forces killed four Palestinians in the northern Gaza Strip, according to the Al Ahli Hospital in Gaza. An Israeli military spokesperson said they were not aware of any incidents in northern Gaza on Tuesday.
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Donald Trump has claimed that Iran is willing to make a deal with the US after his big armada arrived in the Middle East, amid growing fears that Washington could order an attack.

The US president has repeatedly refused to rule out an attack on Iran in response to a brutal crackdown by the Tehran regime on widespread protests over the countrys economic crisis. Local health officials have suggested that as many as 30,000 people may have been killed in the protests.

Mr Trump recently moved military assets to the region, with the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier and supporting warships arriving in the Middle East on Monday.

We have a big armada next to Iran. Bigger than Venezuela, Mr Trump told Axios, referencing the recent buildup of military vessels in the Caribbean prior to the capture of Nicolas Maduro in a dramatic overnight raid.

open image in gallery The US president said a diplomatic resolution is still possible in Iran, but did not specify what this would involve ( AP )

But he added that a diplomatic resolution was still possible, adding: They want to make a deal. I know so. They called on numerous occasions. They want to talk.

Mr Trump did not specify what such a deal would involve.

Sources with knowledge of the situation told the US outlet that Mr Trump has yet to make a final decision on whether to strike Iran. He is expected to decide after holding more consultations this week and being presented with more military options.

A US official said on Monday that the White House is open for business with Iran, adding: If they want to contact us and they know what the terms are, then were going to have the conversation.

The USS Abraham Lincoln and a number of guided-missile destroyers arrived in the Middle East region on Monday, the latest indication of an increasingly aggressive foreign policy stance adopted by the Trump administration in the presidents second term.

open image in gallery The USS Abraham Lincoln, seen from US naval base Guam in December 2025 ( US Navy )

It followed remarks by Mr Trump last Thursday: We have a lot of ships going that direction, just in case ... Id rather not see anything happen, but were watching them very closely. We have an armada ... heading in that direction, and maybe we wont have to use it.

The US military said it would carry out an exercise to demonstrate the ability to deploy, disperse, and sustain combat airpower in the Middle East.

The protests in Iran began on 28 December, sparked by the fall of the Iranian currency, the rial, and quickly spread across the country. They were met by a violent crackdown by Irans theocracy, the scale of which is only starting to become clear as the country has faced more than two weeks of internet blackout  the most comprehensive in its history.

Mr Trump has threatened strikes over the killing of peaceful protesters or Tehran launching mass executions in the wake of the demonstrations. But he later backtracked, saying he had been assured by Iran that no executions would take place.
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Flight attendants on a Delta Air Lines plane reportedly had to use their drink carts to keep an unruly passenger in his seat, according to a court filing.

The incident occurred on January 18 during a trip from Minneapolis to Tokyo, according to a criminal complaint filed in the U.S. District Court of Alaska.

An FBI special agent, cited in court documents obtained by People, said she received numerous FAA notifications reporting an "unruly passenger" who had been "walking around the aisle of the aircraft" and who "had become verbally abusive" toward the Delta plane's crew.

The incident resulted in an unplanned landing at Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport in Alaska, which is why the case was filed in an Alaska court.

The FBI agents cited in the documents said she boarded the plane in Alaska and detained the 64-year-old man.

A passenger on a Delta Air Lines flight on January 18, 2026 from Minneapolis to Tokyo reportedly had to be blocked into his seat by flight attendants using a beverage cart after he allegedly wandered the cabin verbally abusing people and shoving one of the attendants ( REUTERS )

A flight attendant reportedly told the agent that the passenger was "stumbling, unable to find his seat and was not speaking coherently" when he boarded in Minneapolis. Another flight attendant said they thought "he was having symptoms of dementia due to his age."

The court documents allege that the man became physical with the crew at one point during the flight. He allegedly stepped out of his seat and then used his right arm to forcibly push [a female flight attendant] all the way from row 49 to the rear of the cabin.

Two male flight attendants tried to physically separate the man from the other flight attendant, after which he allegedly yelled that he was going to sue them.

Some time after that incident, the passenger allegedly got up again and began walking into the first-class section of the plane. Flight attendants then directed him back to his seat and parked a drink cart at the edge of his aisle to keep him from getting up and wandering again.

The flight crew justified using the cart to block him as they believed the passenger would not comply with the orders of the flight crew and feared another incident would occur in the approximately six hours left in the air.

After the passenger was taken into custody he was taken to a local medical facility in Alaska.

He was indicted on January 20 and was arrested on January 23, according to court records. He is currently facing one count of interfering with flight crew and one count of assault for shoving one of the attendants.

His detention hearing was held on Monday.

The passenger's defense attorney moved to dismiss his arrest warrant, pointing to FBI statements to the court that a doctor treating the man noted his CT scan had revealed tumors that had metastasized in his brain, which could have caused the symptoms [the passenger] exhibited on the plane.

The motion argued that it would be extremely inappropriate, unnecessary and inhumane for the defendant to be thrown into jail as he was suffering from a medical condition at the time of his alleged crimes.

The Independent has requested comment from Delta Air Lines.
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My wife and I had our best holiday ever doing Route 66 over a three-week period a few years ago, writes Chris Walton. We wouldnt go back under the current regime.

He is one of thousands of travellers who say they have turned their backs on the US because of the actions of the Trump administration.

An online poll conducted on X (formerly Twitter) received 12,000 votes, with four out of five of the self-selecting respondents choosing, I would not go there.

The question posed was: How do you feel about travelling to the US in the wake of another killing by ICE in Minneapolis  as well as President Trump's claim that British and other foreign troops fighting alongside the Americans stayed a little back, a little off the front lines?

Of the 9 per cent who said they had booked a trip to the US, most said they would travel there as planned. However, one in seven said they had booked but would cancel.

Going west? Signs at Dublin airport for US preclearance ( Simon Calder )

A bigger proportion, 11 per cent, said they would be happy to travel the US. But those numbers were dwarfed by the 80 per cent who said they would not go.

Dawn Chandler wrote: Ive unfortunately got non-refundable flights booked from last year to visit in July but considering just losing the money. Shame FCDO havent updated their travel advisory as they would have any other country and could claim off my insurance. Id rather spend my money elsewhere.

The Foreign Office currently warns: Violent crime and gun crime rarely affect tourists, but take care in unfamiliar areas.

Mass shooting incidents can happen but are a very small percentage of murders. The US Department of Homeland Security has advice on what to do in an active shooter incident.

Protests are common and can become violent. Follow the instructions of local authorities who may introduce curfews or emergency orders. If you attend peaceful protests or mass gatherings, be mindful of your surroundings, move away if there are signs of trouble.

Another respondent, with the handle Leeds Bee, wrote: Id fly on Ryanair, vote Labour and eat tofu before I ever went to the US again.

Respondents who said they would not travel to the US were then asked for the main reason they would stay away.

One in nine of the 3,694 voters said they were alarmed about the prospect of having their social media activities checked on arrival. One in seven chose not interested in going to the US. Personal safety concerns were cited by 21 per cent.

Professor Colin Talbot commented: I have travelled to the USA as an academic dozens of times since the early 1990s. Ive advised federal agencies and been a visiting professor.

I would not go now. For any purpose. The chances of being refused entry, detained or just having my privacy invaded is now too great.

The Australian government warns citizens travelling to America: US authorities actively pursue, detain and deport people who are in the country illegally. Be prepared to show documents proving your legal presence.

More than half of respondents  54 per cent  said they were boycotting America due to recent political events.

Annette Beveridge wrote: I wouldn't go because of what is happening there. Federal Govt is murdering people on the streets and Trump is a dictator. I wouldn't get in anyway because it is very clear I do not like Trump and that suits me.

But a significant number of people said they were happy to travel to the US. Jacqueline Crockford commented: I would still go. The country is interesting and there are a lot of lovely people there. I've been several times, last time being 2019. All visits without incident.

Read more: Passengers wont fly supersonic again until 2050 says former Concorde chief pilot
Piers Morgans brother, an ex-army colonel who served three tours of Afghanistan, has called for Donald Trump to admit he was wrong over comments in which he claimed Nato allied troops stayed a little off the front lines in Afghanistan.

Trump has since made a statement climbing down over his remarks after being widely criticised.

Morgans brother, Jeremy Morgan, who retired from the British Army after 37 years of service, said that while he is grateful the statement was issued, Trump still needs to apologise.

We need to hear those words. He is sorry for what he said, he said on Mondays episode of Piers Morgan Uncensored (26 January).

He got it wrong. It was ignorant of him to say. It was offensive, he added.
Sir Keir Starmer made fun of Emmanuel Macron wearing a pair of aviator sunglasses during an appearance at a comedy show in London.

Sir Keir made an appearance at The Political Party Live where he was interviewed in front of a live audience at the Duchess Theatre.

In a clip he shared on TikTok, the prime minister is handed a pair of sunglasses, which he puts on and says Bonjour = a nod to the French president who wore a pair of eye-catching shades at Davos last week.

In his post on TikTok, Sir Keir made reference to the film Top Gun, with the caption: Talk to me, Goose.
Karoline Leavitt claimed that Tim Walz and Jacob Frey have been encouraging ICE protesters to distract from Minnesotas childcare fraud scandal.

The White House press secretarys comments came after a Border Patrol agent shot and killed nurse Alex Pretti in the city. The 37-year-old was filming DHS agents during an operation.

In a Truth Social post, Trump accused the Minneapolis mayor and the Minnesota governor of inciting insurrection and claimed: Much of what youre witnessing is a cover-up for this theft and fraud.

A non-profit fraud scheme was uncovered in 2022 with 80 people so far facing charges. The prosecutions began under the Democratic Biden and Walz administrations.

But the scandal intensified scrutiny of Minnesotas welfare programs and late last year a viral video prompted fresh allegations against Somali-run daycare centers which Trump and many on the right have latched on to to attack the immigrant community in the state.

Both Mr Frey and Mr Walz have called on the Trump administration to withdraw federal immigration enforcement agents from the city.
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A major bank has announced plans to shutter 51 branches in 13 states as part of its attempts to grow its digital business.

The huge wave of closures is part of TD Banks plan to shutter 10 percent of its huge retail footprint, which includes more than 1,100 locations across the United States.

We also regularly evaluate our network to ensure were serving our communities where they need us, which at times results in store closures or relocations to nearby neighborhoods, a spokesperson told Fast Company. In the meantime, were committed to making these transitions as smooth as possible for clients and customers, serving them at more than 1,000 TD Bank locations or via whatever channel they choose.

open image in gallery TD Bank has announced plans to shutter 51 of its stores across 13 states ( Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. )

The closures will mainly take place in states on the East Coast.

The states affected by the wave of closures include Connecticut, Florida, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine and Washington, D.C.

Locations will also be axed in North Carolina, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Virginia and Vermont.

Leo Salom, TD Banks CEO, told investors at a conference in September that the closures were part of the banks reimagining of its retail presence.

But, increasingly, clients expect greater personalization, and an elevated, more seamless omni-channel experience, Salom told attendees. And to that end, we are accelerating investments in digital and mobile capabilities across sales, onboarding and servicing.

The CEO added that the firm planned to increase digital acquisition to 50 percent of total sales, as well as encourage 70 percent of its customers to use its digital banking services.

The new scheme comes just a year after TD Bank axed 38 locations on June 5, 2025, with Maine and New Hampshire being hit particularly hard with those closures.

But, despite the plan to close even more stores, shares of TD Banks parent company, Toronto-Dominion Bank Group, are actually up by 51 percent, according to Fast Company.

The company also previously had plans to open 150 new sites across the United States, with a particular focus on the Southeast. During a quarterly earnings call in May 2023, the bank outlined a plan to open 150 branches.

open image in gallery TD Bank hopes to increase its digital presence in the future, pushing digital acquisition up to 50 percent ( tippapatt - stock.adobe.com )

Think Boston, Philly, New York, where we think there are expanding communities, growing communities where well lean into, Salom said, according to Reuters. The Southeast is going to be a very important part of the overall equation.

At the time, the banks CFO, Kelvin Tran, said that much of the United States had untapped potential for the company.

In the U.S., we are still a relatively young bank, he said, according to Reuters. We have a lot of white spaces there.

The scheme to expand in the southeast followed the collapse of the firms plan to acquire Tennessee-based bank First Horizon. The deal was valued at $13.4 billion, but collapsed due to uncertainty, according to a joint statement.

The status of the southeastern plan remains unknown amid the planned closures across the East Coast.

Explaining the plan to shutter 51 stores, a spokesperson from TD Bank said that the firm constantly reviews its network of branches.

At Investor Day in September, TD shared plans to deliver a stronger, more scalable U.S. retail presence through significant store enhancements, tech-forward digital banking capabilities, and personalized, advice-led services, the spokesperson said. We also regularly evaluate our network to ensure we're serving our communities where they need us, which at times results in store closures or relocations to nearby neighborhoods.

In due course, we expect to open new stores in these communities, subject to regulatory approval, the spokesperson continued. In the meantime, we're committed to making these transitions as smooth as possible for clients and customers, serving them at more than 1,000 TD Bank locations or via whatever channel they choose.
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On Tuesday, Southwest Airlines will officially end its longstanding open seating policy after nearly 60 years in the air  and plans to commemorate it with a special aircraft.

According to air industry reporter Ryan Ewing, the final flight to seat passengers the old way will be aboard Southwest's commemorative Boeing 737-8 MAX in 'Desert Gold' livery, matching the airline's original colors when it launched in 1967.

The retro red-and-gold bird, which first launched back in November 2022 and has operated ever since, is designated Flight N871HK, named in honor of the company's founder Herb Kelleher ("HK") and its first ever flight on June 8, 1971 ("871").

It will lift off from Honolulu at around 10 p.m. local time on Monday and fly overnight to California, landing around 5:30 a.m. on Tuesday morning.

It was the end of an era for the venerable budget airline, which was the last major company to hold out against the industry-wide sea change towards pre-booked seating.

open image in gallery Southwest's commemorative 'Herb Kelleher' plane, named in honor of its eponymous founder (who died in 2019) ( Bryce Rea / Skylite Productions via Southwest )

"The airline has been known for its unique open seating model for more than 50 years, but preferences have evolved, with more customers taking longer flights where a seat assignment is preferred," Southwest said in a statement this week.

"[Our] research is clear and indicates that 80 per cent of Southwest customers, and 86 per cent of potential customers, prefer an assigned seat.

When a customer elects to stop flying with Southwest and chooses a competitor, open seating is cited as the number one reason for the change. By moving to an assigned seating model, Southwest expects to broaden its appeal and attract more flying from its current and future customers."

open image in gallery The change comes amid numerous cost-cutting and profit-increasing measures pushed by activist investors ( Bryce Rea / Skylite Productions via Southwest )

Traditionally, Southwest passengers were seated first come, first served, stratified within "A", "B", and "C" boarding groups depending on how early they checked in.

Now, instead, passengers will be assigned a specific seat depending on their fare class, much like every other major airline.

The policy could be particularly costly for passengers too big to fit comfortably in one seat, who could previously request a free extra seat at the airport but will now be required to book one in advance.

It comes amid a push by investors to align Southwest with its other competitors, including by ending its decades-old "bags fly free" policy in May 2025.
Making his sonorous statement about standing by Greenland and Denmarks sovereignty in Downing Street this month, Keir Starmer held up Britains nuclear deterrent as the symbol of its military strength and independence.

He might have done well to recall a cautionary tale from a visit by defence correspondents to the nuclear submarine base at Faslane a few decades back  now the stuff of legend. Journalists were invited to see new facilities during the upgrade from Polaris to Poseidon missiles. Asked to wait in a side office, they noticed posters showing missiles adorned with Hertz car hire stickers  from an American car company that was leasing cars to anyone posted there. On enquiry, a waggish matelot told them words to the effect that it was only appropriate given nearly all the missile system right now is on loan and hire from the US.

The news leaked fast  possibly via the local broadcasters. By the time the defence hacks returned to base in London, the Hertz hire missile system was an urgent question, and heated words were exchanged in the Palace of Westminster.

Then, as now, large parts of UK defence  its systems and kit  are in hock to the Americans. As Starmer heads to China for a high-level state visit this week, it is our relationship with our nearest allies that is worrying the defence establishment. All three services depend on the United States in one way or another. Key programmes require American goodwill  which is often in conspicuously short supply.

Without that support, Britains capacity to defend the British Isles home territory by sea and air is close to negligible. Acting alone, the UK has little ability to fend off intrusion by air or sea  whether by drone, underwater sabotage, submarines or attacks designed to disrupt key communications, energy and fuel supplies. At any one time, Britain holds food stocks sufficient for just 10 days, were it to be cut off completely.

The F-35 Lightning II fighter for the RAF and Royal Navy is perhaps the most glaring example of how the system would unravel without the Americans. It is expensive and, in the F-35B version, limited in range and payload. The aircraft rely on the US for long-term maintenance and upgrades. Despite the UKs status as a level one partner, responsible for 14 per cent of the aircrafts manufacture, British forces do not receive the full range of cutting-edge capabilities supplied to US variants.

There is a further problem, and it is mind-boggling. The central node for software and radar systems is located in the United States. When a Royal Navy F-35 on exercise in the Indian Ocean suffered a mechanical failure and was forced to divert to Kerala in India, it was deemed to be isolated in a potentially hostile country. The aircrafts systems were automatically wiped. It took weeks to get US software engineers to restore them.

US command claims to retain a kill switch over the radars and software not only of the Lightnings but also of RAF Eurofighter Typhoons, though this is disputed in Whitehall.

The deeper problem for Britains defence forces  and its foreign policy  is the absence of credible conventional deterrence. European allies accept that Britain, alongside Germany and France, should form the E3 leadership of Europe through Nato and the EU. Yet today Britain is militarily less credible than either. Decades of neglect have left the forces hollowed out, undermanned and underfunded. The British Army possesses just enough kit  much of it obsolete  for a force of around 20,000, not the 72,000 personnel currently under arms.

Reliance on the Trident system for nuclear deterrence  the essence of Starmers boast in his No 10 address  is strategically crippling. It absorbs nearly a third of the UK defence operational budget, draining resources urgently needed for future development in communications, AI and autonomous systems. Provisions for these areas in the recent defence review are barely nugatory.

The RAF F-35B Lightning jet, on the flight deck of the HMS Queen Elizabeth, is part of an ageing defence system ( LPhot Belinda Alker/MoD Crown Copyright/PA Wire )

There must be a workaround. One option would be to place nuclear systems into a single shared framework with France, alongside other interested European partners such as the Netherlands, Germany and Italy.

The doctrine of nuclear deterrence is now 80 years old. It has hardened into dogma, becoming an obsession that actively impedes tackling the emerging disciplines such as AI, autonomous weapons on earth and in space, and quantum computing. The era of the killer robot is already upon us. Yet the Defence Review allocates an experimental budget of just 200m for AI.

In his bluster and gratuitous incivility, US president Donald Trump may have done Britain and Europe an unintended favour. His behaviour has forced a reckoning. We must think seriously about our own resilience, strategy and defence  British and European alike. That thinking must be sober and realistic, because the Trumpian view of Americas role in the world is volatile and hyperbolic. Nothing should be off the table  including reducing over-dependence on the US and reassessing reliance on the Anglo-American nuclear deterrent.
DAA did not respond to US complaint over Dublin Airport cap

Aer Lingus says heads of bill to remove cap will be put to Cabinet on February 4

A Delta flight at Dublin Airport. Photo: Getty

John Mulligan Tue 27 Jan 2026 at 06:30

The DAA did not respond to a complaint made to the US Department of Transportation about the passenger cap at Dublin Airport, despite a call for flights from Ireland to the United States to be curtailed or suspended because of it.
Tom Malone from Co Wicklow was among the IFA members to protest outside the offices of Bord Bia in Dublin on Monday against a decision not to remove Bord Bia chairman Larry Murrin from his role. Photo: Sasko Lazarov/ RollingNews.ie
The pioneer of double entendres: Why Nigella Lawson is the perfect new ingredient for Bake Off

Shes a gay icon and the Queen of the Innuendo, writes Rachel McGrath. What an ingenious bit of casting for a show thats gone a bit stale

Nigella Lawson attends a Service of Thanksgiving for the life and work of her father Nigel Lawson at Westminster Abbey on October 17, 2023 in London, England.(Photo by Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images)

Rachel McGrath UK Independent Tue 27 Jan 2026 at 09:07

Just six days after Channel 4 announced Prue Leiths Great British Bake Off exit, the broadcaster has spared us months of speculation by naming her replacement (Strictly Come Dancing, take note). And what a booking theyve pulled off with the endlessly watchable  and forever quotable  cook extraordinaire and Queen of the Innuendo, Nigella Lawson. I hope theres a red carpet rolled out at the tent.
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
Dylan was blind by the age of five and lost his ability to feed properly  father tells of devastation at losing son (12) to childhood dementia

Family welcomes new funding for research on condition

Alan Finglas with his wife Michelle and sons Dylan and Jack in 2024

Eilish O'Regan Tue 27 Jan 2026 at 06:30

A father who lost his 12-year-old son to a form of childhood dementia has spoken of the devastation of seeing him deteriorate, losing his sight and ability to eat.
Government to provide 100k funding for Holocaust education programme in Irish schools

Pupils in more than 600 Irish schools will receive Holocaust education as a result of the funding

The Nazi concentration camp Auschwitz-Brikenau was liberated on this day 81 years ago. Photo: Getty

Keith Kelly Tue 27 Jan 2026 at 13:47







Minister for Foreign Affairs Helen McEntee has announced funding of 100,000 towards educating Irish school children about the Holocaust.
Governments big AI drive: online platform on the way to help improve a million workers digital skills in Ireland

Pan is to upskill a million people and anyone interested will be able to access flexible modules and courses

Anyone with an interest in improving their digital skills will be able to use the platform. Photo: Getty

Anne-Marie Walsh Tue 27 Jan 2026 at 06:30

The Government plans to upskill a million people in AI when it launches a new online platform early this year.
Ireland is facing a wave of disruption and disinformation from hostile states as it prepares to take over the EU presidency, according to a leading expert in cyber security.
MEP Billy Kelleher calls for ceasefire on Dail pairing arrangements as Ireland takes over EU presidency

Opposition parties withdrew the deal that allows government TDs be absent for votes when the speaking-rights row broke out

Fianna Fail MEP Billy Kelleher said most ministers will need to be out of the country for work during the presidency. Photo: Collins

Mary Regan Tue 27 Jan 2026 at 06:30

Opposition parties have responded frostily to a proposed thaw in Dail relations for the duration of Ireland holding the EU presidency.
Revealed: Taoiseach, seven ministers and Ceann Comhairle to visit US for St Patricks Day as Government sends 40 abroad

Taoiseach, seven ministers and Ceann Comhairle to visit US for St Patricks Day as Government sends 40 abroad

Tabitha Monahan Tue 27 Jan 2026 at 13:46







The full list of where Government ministers will be flying to for the annual St Patricks Day programme has been revealed, with more than 50 countries being visited this year.
Whos going where? Ministers to be briefed on St Patricks Day 2026 trips and plans

State representatives are to travel to 52 countries this year as part of St Patricks Day diplomacy

Helen McEntee and Simon Harris

Grainne Ni Aodha Press Association Tue 27 Jan 2026 at 08:02







Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Helen McEntee is to brief Cabinet on Tuesday on this years plans for St Patricks Day.
The regions of the brain responsible for memory, spatial navigation and emotional regulation were most affected

Women are more likely to suffer from insomnia post-menopause. Stock image. Photo: Getty

Menopause can negatively affect cognition and cause an increase in anxiety. Stock image. Photo: Getty

The menopause is linked to a loss of grey matter in the brain, according to new research.

Experts from the University of Cambridge carried out a study on 124,780 women to examine the effects of menopause on the brain and to discover whether hormone replacement therapy (HRT) plays a role in preventing cognitive decline.

They found that menopause is linked to a loss of brain grey matter, which is vital for mental functions, memory, emotions and movement, and that menopause can bring on anxiety, depression and sleep problems.

The study found that post-menopausal women who were not on HRT had slower reaction times than those who had not reached menopause yet or who were on HRT. However, there were no significant differences among the three groups when it came to performance on memory tasks.

The study, published in the journal Psychological Medicine, looked at women who were pre-menopause, post-menopausal having never used HRT and post-menopausal having used HRT.

Women answered questions in areas such as sleep and whether they suffered depression and anxiety, and some took part in cognitive tests.

Women are more likely to suffer from insomnia post-menopause. Stock image. Photo: Getty

Around 11,000 women also underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans so experts could look at their brain structure.

The average age of onset of menopause among the women was 49 and those on HRT were around that age when they started treatment.

Post-menopausal women were more likely to report insomnia, getting less sleep overall and feeling tired, the study found. Those on HRT reported feeling the most tired of all three groups, even though they slept the same amount as women not on HRT.

All post-menopausal women, whether on HRT or not, said they were more tired than women who had not gone through it.

Menopause also affected cognition.

Katharina Zuhlsdorff, from the University of Cambridges department of psychology, said: As we age, our reaction times tend to get slower. Its just a part of the natural ageing process and it happens to both women and men.

Menopause could make these women vulnerable further down the line

You can imagine being asked a question at a quiz. While you might still arrive at the correct answer as your younger self, younger people would no doubt get there much faster.

Menopause seems to accelerate this process, but HRT appears to put the brakes on, slowing the ageing process slightly.

Researchers found significant reductions in volume of grey matter in those women who were post-menopausal. In particular, these differences occurred in the hippocampus (which has a major role in learning and memory), the entorhinal cortex (essential for forming memories and spatial navigation) and the anterior cingulate cortex (which helps with attention and regulating emotions).

Barbara Sahakian, the studys senior author, said: The brain regions where we saw these differences are ones that tend to be affected by Alzheimers disease.

Menopause could make these women vulnerable further down the line.

While not the whole story, it may help explain why we see almost twice as many cases of dementia in women than in men.
Research shows stricter regulation is needed to protect children

Problem gambling 'much more likely' among people exposed to it as children, new report finds

Problems with gambling are much more likely among people exposed to it as children, research from the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) has found.

ESRI researchers used responses from more than 1,600 adults to compare current gambling behaviour with childhood experiences.

A strong link was identified, with those who gambled as a child almost twice as likely to suffer from problem gambling  which disrupts and damages a persons life, leading to negative effects on finances, well-being and social circles  in later life.

Having a parent who gambled increased the likelihood of problems by a third, and parental attitudes to gambling had a similar effect.

The research was commissioned by the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland (GRAI).

This research provides clear evidence of the long-term potential harms resulting from childhood exposure to gambling, GRAI chief executive Anne Marie Caulfield said.

It reinforces the importance of a well-regulated gambling sector that protects children and those vulnerable to gambling harm.

It also points to the need for awareness and education among our young people, their parents and guardians on gambling-related harms.

These findings strengthen the case for regulation of gambling

To coincide with the release of the report, the GRAI has published advice for parents on how to approach gambling and its dangers with their children. The advice was developed with HSE Addiction Services.

People who gambled as children and had a parent who gambled a lot were four times more likely to suffer from problems with betting.

The link between parental gambling and adult problems was weaker for people under 40. The authors noted this may be due to younger peoples greater exposure to online gambling.

Nearly two-thirds (64pc) of people who took part in the research had engaged in at least some form of gambling when they were under the age of 18.

The report concluded that stricter regulation was needed to protect children from gambling exposure, including better age checks, limits on gambling marketing, and regulation of products that appeal to children.

These results demonstrate that childhood experiences of gambling have damaging effects on peoples lives as adults, ESRI senior research officer and report co-author Shane Timmons said.

Together with our best estimate that one in 30 adults in Ireland now struggles with problem gambling, these findings strengthen the case for regulation of gambling.

We need to avoid normalising gambling among young people.

If you have been affected by issues raised in an article on the Irish Independent, see here for helplines and supports that are available.
A sushi chef dismissed while she was out sick recovering from the loss of a pregnancy has secured a direction for 8,000 in redress for unfair dismissal.

Beacon Sushi Ltd, operator of Michie Sushi in Sandyford, Dublin 18, was found in breach of the Unfair Dismissals Act 1977 on foot of a complaint by the worker, Battsetseg Seddavaa, in a Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) decision published today (MON).
Energy Minister Darragh OBrien (right) with his German counterpart Katherina Reiche at the North Sea Summit in Hamburg

Irelands commitment to the development of a European green power plant in the North Sea has been hailed as a historic step in the switch away from fossil fuels.
More than 1,000 people walk route 16-year-old took on her final journeyMan, aged in his late teens, is due in court this morning in relation to the incident. Fundraisers launched to support family of Grace Lynch

Grace Lynch's mother Siobhan (centre) joins residents of Valley Park, Grace's estate, on the memorial walk. Photo: Colin Keegan, Collins

Danielle McLoughlin placing flowers at the junction where Grace Lynch was fatally injured. Photo: Collins

Balloons were released at the end of the vigil for Grace Lynch. Photo: PA Wire

Teenager Grace Lynch, who was killed in a crash with a scrambler bike on Sunday

The mother of a teenager killed in a scrambler crash in north Dublin has pledged to fight to get the bikes and e-scooters off the streets.

Grace Lynch (16) died after an incident on the Ratoath Road in Finglas on Sunday afternoon.

More than a thousand people gathered on Monday to retrace a route walked by Grace on the day she died.

A man, aged in his late teens, is due in court this morning in relation to the incident.

He is expected to appear before Blanchardstown District Court this morning.

On Monday evening, Graces mother Siobhan held a sign with a picture of her daughter with the words justice for Grace written on it as she led the walk from Valley Park estate to Plunkett Green.

Justice for Grace, justice for my daughter, Ms Lynch said as she walked the route.

Justice for Grace, get the scramblers off the streets.

At Plunkett Green, the crowd of friends, neighbours and locals sang and released pink balloons into the air.

Grace Lynch's mother Siobhan (centre) joins residents of Valley Park, Grace's estate, on the memorial walk. Photo: Colin Keegan, Collins

Ms Lynch thanked people for coming out for the walk, and said: I will fight to get these scramblers and scooters and everything off these streets.

In a heartfelt plea, she said watching her daughter take her last breath was the worst pain imaginable.

She will be terribly missed in our amazing group of friends

Its not something that any parent should have to deal with, she said as she pledged to launch a campaign.

Mia Cummins, Emma Power and Grace Higgins, who were close friends of Grace, said: She was a such a funny person, bubbly, life and soul of the party and such a lovely person to be around; a person that was always there to comfort you when needed.

She will be terribly missed in our amazing group of friends.

Two separate GoFundMe pages that were set up for Graces family have now raised more than 23,000 in less than a day.

One, simply titled Grace Lynch, had initially aimed at reaching a target of 2,800 but that was quickly surpassed and this morning stood at 13,260 after receiving more than 560 donations.

A second page, titled Grave Lynch Funeral Support, had reached more than 10,000 after nearly 400 people donated to it.

That page explains that it was set up by a family friend with their permission.

Dessie Ellis, Sinn Fein TD for Dublin north-west, said the community was totally devastated.

Her mother was at the vigil. Its incredibly sad. Everyone was crying, particularly school friends and her friends from around the area.

The guards have seized a good number of scramblers in Finglas and Ballymun. Those using them are operating with impunity.

People hiding their faces, doing wheelies down main roads and on footpaths. There are a number of areas the minister has to look at.

Social Democrats councillor for Ballymun-Finglas Mary Callaghan said she was so saddened to learn of Graces death.

Balloons were released at the end of the vigil for Grace Lynch. Photo: PA Wire

It has left the community shattered and in pain.

There is also anger that yet another tragedy involving scramblers has taken place.

The community and public representatives have raised this issue many, many times

New laws finally came into effect two years ago but these have not been effective at making our roads, footpaths and parks safe.

The community and public representatives have raised this issue many, many times. It must be urgently addressed.

Conor Reddy, a People Before Profit councillor for Ballymun-Finglas, said there had previously been accidents involving scrambler bikes in the area.

He said Sundays crash was tragic and that the local community would be traumatised by the incident.

Social Democrats TD Rory Hearne, who represents the Dublin North-West constituency, said: The entire community is in shock at this devastating news.

Dangerous use of scramblers and e-scooters has scourged communities such as Finglas for far too long and it is up to all of us, as local elected representatives, to continue pushing for greater and swifter action on this.

A vigil for Grace Lynch in Finglas. Photo: Steve Humphreys

There has long been a need for a greater presence of community gardai in Finglas  the Dublin North division of the Dublin Metropolitan Region has 769 members of staff to cover a population area of approx 350,583, a ratio of 219 gardai per 100,000 people.

The national average is 276 per 100,000, or 26pc higher than in the Dublin North division.

We need a strong visible presence of community gardai who can help prevent such terrible incidents.

Fianna Fail councillor Keith Connolly said the level of lawlessness about the use of scrambler bikes is deeply frustrating.

If I go out and drive a car without tax or insurance, or drive in a dangerous manner, theyre pursed very quickly  this needs to happen for these bikes, Mr Connolly told RTE Radio 1.

The councillor said that despite the change in legislation in 2023 that allowed the gardai to seize the bikes, unfortunately, this is not enough.

Danielle McLoughlin placing flowers at the junction where Grace Lynch was fatally injured. Photo: Collins

In January of last year, former garda commissioner Drew Harris announced that gardai could pursue people driving scramblers, scooters and electric bikes in a dangerous manner, which they had previously been forbidden to do.

Mr Connolly said that he had certainly seen no evidence of that, unfortunately.

Gardai said a man in his late teens has been arrested in connection with the incident and is being detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act at a Dublin garda station.

A spokesman urged anyone who witnessed the crash, or who has camera or dashcam footage from the area between 2.10pm and 2.40pm, to come forward.
Adrian Weckler: I wont boycott travel to US  such action only damages blue cities like Chicago and Minneapolis

Deciding not to travel to the US to make a point about ICE crackdowns sounds noble but would end up weakening resistance to Donald Trumps authoritarian regime

Thousands of people took to the streets of Minneapolis on Sunday. Photo: AP

Adrian Weckler Tue 27 Jan 2026 at 06:30

Its become a common topic among some chattering classes. Dont go to the US right now, they say. Its unconscionable, given whats happening in Minneapolis and elsewhere.
Disturbing trend in Holocaust denial and antisemitism globally highlights the need for vigilance

Eighty-one years ago today, Auschwitz-Birkenau was liberated. In that death camp, more than one million Jewish people were murdered  just one part of Nazi Germanys genocidal killing machine.

During the course of the Holocaust, six million Jews were murdered, as well as the Roma, persons with disabilities, those persecuted for their gender identity or sexual orientation, and those targeted for their political or religious beliefs, or for resisting the Nazi regime.
Reunification is the best idea for the future of Ireland, stated Sinn Fein president Mary Lou McDonald ahead of the Cork Peoples Assembly on Irish Unity which will be held on Thursday, February 19 at 7pm at Rochestown Park.

Ms McDonald described the event as an important step in the Irish unity conversation and has encouraged the people of Cork to attend and participate in the forum.

The leader of Sinn Fein said the conversation on Irish unity is the best idea for the future of Ireland. The conversation is live now in all parts of the country, amongst people from all walks of life. The direction of travel points firmly to Irish unity. The Cork Peoples Assembly will be an important step in a national conversation that is gathering momentum and pace by the day.

History is unfolding in front of us, declared Ms McDonald. There are encouraging signs of growing support for Irish unity in successive electoral results, demographic changes, contributions from civic society, in opinion polling and in public commentary. It is crucial that the planning and preparation for constitutional change happens now. It is also vital that communities have their voices heard. That is what the People Assemblies are all about.

There is a constitutional obligation on the Irish government  including as a co-guarantor of the Good Friday Agreement - to advance the objective of unity. This means planning now and engaging in a process of inclusive dialogue that ensures that the process of constitutional change is democratic and seamless, she added.

Ms McDonald reiterated her call for the Irish government to establish a Citizens Assembly to begin the work of planning and to agree a firm date for the unity referendum provided for by the Good Friday Agreement with the British government.

The Sinn Fein leader said the Peoples Assembly in Cork will be hosted by the Sinn Fein Commission on the Future of Ireland. It is the latest in a series of successful Peoples Assembly and sectoral meetings that have attracted thousands across the island of Ireland, and many within the diaspora in the USA and Canada, to discuss future constitutional change and the potential shape of a new united Ireland.

The conversation will be led by an independent chair and panel which will be announced soon. Everyone is invited to come along and join the discussion on a new Ireland, how it can be achieved and what it might look like, she added.

The Commission on the Future of Ireland facilitates a conversation among citizens on the future of our island.

The New Ireland is for Everyone  Have Your Say, are the main pillars of the Commission.

In addition to the Peoples Assemblies, the Commission is asking community and sectoral groups, individuals, those in business and people of all backgrounds to share their ideas and opinions by making a written contribution.

Written contributions can be emailed to commission@sinnfein.ie.

People can register to attend the Cork Peoples Assembly on the link Eventbrite below: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/cork-peoples-assembly-tickets-1979880049525?aff=oddtdtcreator
Cork County Council recorded 1,355 applications, 1,065 approvals and 316 completed grant payments, placing it among the top-performing local authorities in the State.. Stock image

Figures issued by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage show that 3,000 vacant or derelict homes were refurbished and brought back into use in 2025.

It marks Cork out as one of the strongest performing counties in the country in relation to Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant approvals.

Cork County Council recorded 1,355 applications, 1,065 approvals and 316 completed grant payments, placing it among the top-performing local authorities in the State.

Strong engagement is also evident across Cork city, where vacant and over-the-shop properties represent a key opportunity to deliver much-needed homes while revitalising the urban core.

Cork City Council saw 582 applications of which 416 were approved.

Macroom-based Fine Gael Senator, Eileen Lynch, welcomed the figures and said the scheme is proving that practical, targeted measures can make a real difference in tackling vacancy and dereliction.

A grant of up to 50,000 is available, with a top-up grant of 20,000 available if refurbishment costs exceed the standard grant.

Local authorities administer the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant, and they will prioritise applications in areas where the level of vacancy or dereliction is high.

The figures also revealed that the rate of grant payments more than doubled in 2025, rising by 127% compared to the previous year.

Since the schemes launch in July 2022, over 4,500 homes have been returned to use nationwide, representing almost 247 million in investment in communities across Ireland.

The scheme has been extended until 2030, and Senator Lynch described the scheme as common-sense housing policy that Cork needs.

This is exactly the kind of common-sense housing policy Cork needs.

By bringing existing buildings back into use, we strengthen communities, reduce vacancy and dereliction, and deliver homes faster, she said.

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, James Browne TD, said tackling the scourge of dereliction and vacancy head-on and that in a time of housing shortage, leaving properties vacant is simply unacceptable.

For more information about the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant, visit gov.ie.
Gardai have been urged to use all powers at their disposal to tackle the scourge of scrambler bikes and e-scooters in communities throughout Cork, amid the tragic loss of a young girl's life in Dublin.

Sinn Fein councillor for Cork City's South-West ward, Joe Lynch, has called for members of An Garda Siochana to get tough on the use of scrambler bikes and e-scooters after a teenager was killed in a scrambler crash in north Dublin on Sunday afternoon.

Grace Lynch (16) died after an incident on the Ratoath Road in Finglas on Sunday afternoon.

More than a thousand people gathered on Monday evening to retrace a route walked by Grace on the day she died.

Cllr Lynch said the tragic loss of a young girl's life in Dublin must serve as a wake-up call around the use of scrambler bikes, e-bikes and e-scooters and the havoc they are causing in communities.

The Ballincollig based councillor said the dangerous use of the machines is a growing issue in housing estates and on the main roads in Ballincollig as well. "I have been inundated with calls recently - since Christmas in particular - about the dangerous use of these machines in housing estates and on main roads in Ballincollig.

"I know it is an issue in many other parts of Cork also. The reality is, that unless the use of these machines is brought under control, other people are going to be seriously injured or killed, he added.

"The gardai are aware of the issues, said Cllr Lynch. I would urge them to use their powers of seizure under the Road Traffic and Roads Act 2023. Many people feel frightened, unsafe and intimidated by those involved in anti-social behaviour using these bikes, and it is clear that there is a need for a city-wide crackdown on their use.

Cllr Lynch said he will be raising the matter at next week's meeting of Cork City's Local Community Safety Partnership. "I sincerely hope gardai come to that engagement setting out a comprehensive and robust plan to tackle this pressing public safety issue.
The new Dublin City Council logo (above) contrasted with the old one.

Following a spend of more than 44,500 on consultants and design teams by Dublin City Council, the Irish Independent can reveal the authoritys new logo.

Seen in the above image, the logo is understood to be part of a wide-ranging rebrand process which involves an across-the-board overhaul of the councils design language.

In a message to councillors informing them of the changes, DCC chief executive Richard Shakespeare said the new design was modern and versatile and would make the services offered by the council easier to connect with.

"It has been designed to work seamlessly across print, digital and physical spaces. It includes a brighter colour palette, accessible typography, and a logo that reflects our heritage, with inspiration taken from the original Dublin crest and the River Liffey, he wrote.

Mr Shakespeare said the authority worked closely with Oifig an Choimisineara Teanga to ensure the rebrand meets Irish language obligations for public bodies.

According to the executive, the councils digital presence will be the first place to feature the new branding, along with presentations and reports, teams backgrounds and letterheads.

He said that physical assets like uniforms, signage and vehicles would be updated with the new logo gradually through their natural replacement cycle.

Over the last number of months, we have held information sessions with elected members and staff. Detailed guidance on how to use the refreshed brand will be available this week and further guidance and training will be provided in the coming months, he said.

A communications plan is also in the works to help roll out the refreshed branding.

Speaking in September last year, Sinn Fein councillor Ciaran O Meachair said he was in contact with dozens of constituents a day,  and not one single person has ever called for a change to the city council logo.

Dublin has so many issues such as housing, waste management and maintenance of public roads and footpaths.

Im not sure if any taxpayers would be thrilled to see that over 44,500 of their money has been spent on a logo design.

If the council really felt a logo change was needed, it could have been done in-house by a DCC public relations team for much less money, he added.

The official launch of the rebrand, including the new logo, is scheduled to take place tomorrow.

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.
A 24-year-old man was told that he needs to get help for his alcohol addiction in Sligo District Court.

Mark Sweeney of Beechlawn, Magheraboy, was charged with being intoxicated at Rathbraughan Park, on August 11, 2025.

Sergeant Derek Butler told the court that Gardai received a report from residents of Rathbraughan of a man trying to fight everyone. Upon arrival, Gardai spoke to residents who described the defendant. Gardai then noticed Sweeney staggering along a nearby footpath.

Upon speaking to the defendant, Gardai noted that he appeared very drunk. Gardai asked Sweeney where he was which he was unable to answer. The defendant pointed to a house and said that he had friends there. Gardai then spoke to the occupants who did not know the defendant.

Sweeney was then arrested and conveyed to Sligo Garda Station.

The court heard that Sweeney has 30 previous convictions.

Mr Tom MacSharry, solicitor (defending), told Judge Eiteain Cunningham that for such a young man his client has a very serious chronic addiction to alcohol and that he is very sorry for what happened.

Judge Cunningham asked if Sweeney is doing anything to address his alcohol addiction.

Sweeney responded that he tried to get detox treatment in Dublin but that he couldnt get in there.

Sergeant Butler said that he wasnt aware of any attempt by the defendant to get sober in the past two years.

Judge Cunningham convicted and fined Sweeney 150. She told him that he needs to get help for his alcohol addiction.
Heartfelt tributes were paid at the funeral mass of retired Sligo-born journalist and broadcaster Paddy Clancy at a packed St Patricks Church, Ballyshannon on Tuesday, aged 82.

His daughter, Tara Clancy, told the congregation that her dad was a journalist, duty editor, radio presenter, mentor, husband, big brother and uncle  were just so many of the hats he wore with pride.

"He had a tremendous generosity and a compassionate nature, she said.

And she added that it was the memories of dad, grandad and husband that she wanted to share with the congregation.

Ms Clancy said that life growing up in their childhood home in Lucan, Dublin, was always a hive of activity and buzz.

It was filled with excitement and a never ending ring of phones, beepers, fax machines and pages and endless piles of newspapers.

The news running constantly on the radio and TV and the press badges, little plastic cards with his photo credentials and the event he was attending.

There were so many press cards hanging from the corner of every mirror, stairs and banisters, beside his bed, in his office.

And everywhere you looked there was a passport-sized photograph of our handsome dad looking back at us.

Ms Clancy said her father was never a nine to five man.

This was his life and he lived and breathed it from the moment we woke until the moment he went to sleep.

"There were no days off and he was always ready to break the next scoop.

She said her fathers passion and excitement for his work rubbed off on all of them and their house became a living representation of everything he was and we loved it.

He included us in everything he could and if there was an event to bring us to, he would and there were VIP passes to concerts and parties.

"He had a tremendous generosity and a compassionate nature and he loved Christmas and he taught me how to make a world class coffee by the age of eight.

Ms Clancy said she never thought her father would settle when he told them he was moving to Rossnowlagh in County Donegal in the early noughties.

"He was going from a lifetime of parties, news stories and constant work to semi-retirement in Donegal.

But he settled in Creevy and he had truly found home, converted a room into an office and true to his work ethic he worked with the familiar tap tap tap with one finger at the keyboard that could have earned him a medal at the Olympics.

He loved what he did and it made him happy.

Ms Clancy added that he told her recently that he loved his life and wanted to stay around for as long as possible.

And he had the special skill of making his grandchildren feel so special.

He valued their individuality and had great faith in their potential, she said.

He championed all of us, especially me, and also my brother Ciaran and my sister Niamh.

But the greatest love of his life was his wife of 58 years, Bernie Hanna.

Their devotion was obvious and any attention from her was like sweet nectar to him, Ms Clancy said.

Nobody took care of him the way she did.

Symbols of Mr Clancys life including a newspaper and a Sligo Rovers flag were brought to the altar. He was a lifelong Sligo Rovers supporter and was a regular in The Showgrounds.

Mr Clancy was laid to rest in the Abbey Assaroe Cemetery, Ballyshannon, after his funeral mass.
High tide due at 11.30am as council crews continue to monitor situationA number of schools have closed for the day following advice from An Garda SiochanaMotorists advised to travel with extreme caution Over 1,000 customers without power following outagesAhare River in Gorey has also burst its banks making the road impassable

The River Slaney has burst its banks in the early hours of Tuesday morning, resulting in multiple road closures across Co Wexford. Enniscorthy town is the worst affected, with motorists advised to take alternative routes and to drive with extreme care.

Wexford County Council confirmed on Tuesday morning that due to flood water levels, Island Road, Templeshannon, Shannon Quay, Abbey Quay and the Promenade are all closed in Enniscorthy town. The N80 (Ryland Road) in Bunclody is closed, as well as Clohamon due to the River Slaney bursting its banks following persistent rain overnight. Edermine Bridge is also currently impassable, as is the R730 at the Irish National Heritage Park. Diversion routes are currently signposted.

Flooding at the Ahare River in Gorey, Co Wexford

Wexford County Council and civil defense crews have been deploying sandbags in affected areas early this morning ahead of high tide, which is expected at around 11.30am.

Speaking on RTE Morning Ireland, Sinead Casey, Head of Roads and Transportation at Wexford County Council detailed the danger posed to motorists.

The River Slaney has burst its banks in Enniscorthy.

"There is no connectivity across the town at the moment and everything is impassable around the river, she said.

She explained that the council have had their workers on hand since as early as 10 p.m. yesterday  two hours before Storm Chandra was set to arrive.

"There is no easy intervention that could have prevented this earlier this morning. We expected the flood but it came slightly earlier than we expected, but we had all our men on the ground since 10 p.m. last night, got sandbags out and liaisoned with the relevant businesses and property owners. Its just a matter of wait and see now  the River Slaney is still rising in Enniscorthy. Let it do what it is going to do.

In terms of advice for road users in the area, she encouraged all motorists to avoid the area of severe flooding and make use of the motorway if necessary.

Flooding at the Still Pond in Enniscorthy.

"Were lucky that the motorway is open and anybody travelling North and South from Wexford can use the motorway and get around Enniscorthy. There are diversion routes locally in Bunclody and all the transport operators are aware and are not operating as normal, but they have an alternative stop on the old N11 just North of Enniscorthy.

"But the advise in general is for people to really just stay away from the flooded areas, dont enter flooded water either by foot or drive through it. We have a good presence here on the Quays in Enniscorthy, but just in general we request people to travel with the utmost care, she added.

A tree down in Davidstown, Enniscorthy.

At around 10 a.m., a family living in an apartment on Enniscorthy Quay were evacuated with the help of a boat and volunteers.

A number of Enniscorthy schools including Colaiste Bride, Enniscorthy Community College, St Marys CBS, Gaelscoil Enniscorthy, St Aidans Primary School, and St Patricks Special School have closed after following the advice of An Garda Siochana.

Castlebridge NS is also closed as there is no electricity.

There are also reports of a tree down and blocking the road on the way into Davidstown.

Public transport services including Wexford Bus are unable to serve commuters at the Enniscorthy stop and are urging people who need to travel to their Oylegate pick up spot or at the Main Road outside J Donohoe Motors in Quarry Park. Customers North of Enniscorthy may expect delays.

The Riverside Park Hotel have issued a statement, notifying customers that they have decided to close the hotel for the day due to the carpark being inaccessible.

"It is with great regret that we inform you that Enniscorthy town has been affected by flooding. Unfortunately, our car park is currently inaccessible, and as a result, we need to close the hotel today and tomorrow,

Our leisure club, bar, and restaurants will also remain closed during this time. We will be contacting all guests with bookings for today and tomorrow directly to discuss their reservations, so there is no need to contact us at this time. We sincerely apologise for the inconvenience this may cause and appreciate your understanding during this time. Our thoughts are with everyone in Enniscorthyplease stay safe. We kindly ask for your patience, and we will be in touch as soon as we can, they said.

Boats and volunteers have been out checking on families.

Over 1,000 people across the county were without power as a result of Storm Chandra on Tuesday morning. Although, in terms of damage, Enniscorthy was clearly the worst area hit as locals battle to keep floodwaters at bay, the lions share of power outages were in the Wexford District.

Having seen flooding on the R741 at Ballywish from Monday evening, many homes in Castlebridge woke up without power on Tuesday morning, with the local primary school taking the decision to close.

A total of 982 homes around the village were without power, with ESB crews working to restore power as quickly as possible.

There was a smaller outage in Rosslare Strand with around 15 homes impacted, while further north at Tinnock Upper in Gorey, a fault at Ramstown resulted in 66 homes left with no electricity.

In a statement issued this morning, Enniscorthy-based Fine Gael Senator Cathal Byrne said it is beyond scandalous that Enniscorthy is yet again hit with flooding.

Flooding in Enniscorthy early Tuesday morning. Photo: Jo Murphy/Facebook

"I call for the Enniscorthy Flood Defence Scheme to be delivered for the town without delay, said Senator Byrne.

Met Eireann has issued weather warnings for 13 counties, saying bands of rain from Storm Chandra will be heavy and persistent.

The Status Yellow rain warning for Carlow, Kilkenny, Louth, Wexford, Wicklow and Waterford are due to end at 11pm on Tuesday.

Some businesses outside Enniscorthy town are being cautious, including The Village at Wheelocks given that Tomnafunshoge is experiencing flooding just outside their entrance. However, the business has chosen to stay open as they expect the water to recede.

Flooding in Enniscorthy early Tuesday morning. Photo: Jo Murphy/Facebook

In South Wexford, the people in Bridgetown are anxiously watching the water levels on the canal. Parts of the village were submerged in November of last year, with the devastation of the Christmas Day flooding of 2020 all too fresh in their minds.

Now, once again, the villagers are left looking to the skies and hoping they will be spared.

Two large industrial pumps have been deployed to the village and sandbags were handed out, Aontu councillor Jim Codd said.

Id like to thank our district engineer and road crews for being proactive on that. Were now thankfully over the spring tide, but the land is absolutely waterlogged. If we get the rain forecast, we could have very serious problems down here yet again.

Having been on the scene assisting during recent flooding in the village, the Aontu councillor says that people cannot continue to live in fear any time heavy rain is forecast.

We need to raise the banks of the canal here to save the village of Bridgetown, its as simple as that, he said. Peoples lives have been destroyed over and over again here. It cant go on.

Cllr Codd said that heavy rain overnight had also caused significant damage to the roads of South Wexford.

There has been extensive damage to the road network, he confirmed. Today will tell a lot in relation to that.

Car submerged in flood waters after the Ahare River burst its banks.

In Gorey, road users in the Castletown and Tara Hill area have been to urged to not use the Kilgorman road passing through the Ahare River due to severe flooding, which has been described as dangerous.

Cathaoirleach Joe Sullivan said the road is currently impassable due to the severe flooding and has led to a car being abandoned, left submerged in the water. There is a car, I haven't been informed of any incident in relation to the car other than that it's submerged in the water.

I'd say at that point in the road we have three to four foot of water, Cllr Sullivan added.

He further said the road is extremely dangerous and is advising those to avoid the area. I would be advising people and asking people that they would make only necessary journeys because the roads flooded are just not safe at this moment in time.

The road passing through the Ahare River has been a number of floods in recent months following storms and has been highlighted as a road of concern for flooding.

Following prior flooding in the area, an electric warning sign was installed by Wexford County Council to alert road users of flooding on the road.

Weather events have become a feature of our winters now and it's something we're just going to have to prepare for and live with to make the best of it - there is very little else we can do, he added.

Cllr Sullivan further said while areas in Gorey have not been impacted as much from the flooding as other areas in Wexford, he advises people to be cautious in the following days particularly during hours of darkness.

Gorey doesn't appear to be as severely hit as other parts of the county.
The Main Street in Graiguenamanagh, Co Kilkenny, has reopened to traffic having been closed due to flooding.

Kilkenny County Council and emergency services were been deployed to the town on Monday afternoon to assist with water pumping as rising water levels in the rivers Duiske and Barrowflooded the Main Street leaving it impassable.

In Inistioge the GAA pitch is currently under water.

It comes as Met Eireann have issued a yellow weather warning for Carlow, Kilkenny, Louth, Wexford, Wicklow and Waterford ahead of Storm Chandra.

Flooding in Graiguenamanagh. Photo credit: Barron's Graiguenamanagh

From 12am to 11pm on Tuesday, a yellow rain warning is in place for the six counties with Storm Chandra bringing bands of heavy and persistent rain which could lead to localised flooding, river flooding and difficult travelling conditions.

Meanwhile, from 5am to 11pm on Tuesday, a status yellow wind warning will come into place for Carlow, Dublin, Kildare, Kilkenny, Louth, Meath, Wexford, Wicklow, Cavan, Monaghan, Cork, Kerry and Waterford which could lead to hazardous travel conditions and fallen and loose debris due to strong and gusty winds brought by Storm Chandra.

Kilkenny County Council have made sandbags available to the public at the following locations:

Graiguenamanagh (at corner of Quay and Bridge)

Thomastown (at the fire station)

Callan (outside the council depot at Goatsbridge)

Inistioge (at the corner beside the River Green)

Freshford, The Square

Castlecomer, Donaguile Depot

Ballyragget, The Green

Gowran, Kilkenny County Council Woodquarter Depot

Johnstown, Kilkenny County Council Depot

Newrath Depot

Rathkieran Depot

The Sweep Depot

Gaol Road Depot, Kilkenny City

Members of the public have been warned to stay back from riverbanks, streams and canals as water levels across the county may rise quickly, while motorists are urged not to drive through floodwater and to turn back and use another route instead.

Surface water, debris and poor visibility are anticipated across Co Kilkenny on Tuesday as Storm Chandra hits.
It has been a frantic day for businesses along Arklows Riverwalk, who were scrambling to shore up their defences as flooding devastated the town, with one Italian cafe owner, who had been piling sandbags at her door, saying: Its like Venice out there.

With the banks of the River Avoca overflowing and the R772 at Circle K and the Vale Road impassable, the flooding has hit the Arklow community hard, none more so than among business owners, including Devereux Dental and Orthodontics, leading to renewed questions about the towns long-awaited Flood Relief Scheme.

Owners of Taste of Italy in Arklow, Marta and Marco Sacchi.

On the popular Riverwalk, which is completely submerged, business owners have come together to fortify their establishments, including Marta and Marco Sacchi of the Taste of Italy coffee shop.

Saying the coffee shop is safe for now, Marta said its heartwarming to see locals rally around each other.

At this moment, the water has only entered into the coffee shop by a few centimetres. My husband is out there in his wellies all the time, and we have the sandbags down. It is bad, but we are still safe, she said.

Its like Venice out there, and I think the only ones that are happy are the ducks!

All of the neighbours are helping each other out, checking on each other. People are being really kind, which is great to see. Our neighbours at Coffee For You popped in to check on us, and I think they are pretty much in the same scenario.

We are expecting another high tide later, so we dont know how it is going to end, or how it is going to be later.

For now, were just hoping for the best.

Business owners carry sandbags during the flooding in Arklow. Photo: Michael Kelly

A apartment is flooded at Ferrybank, Arklow during the flooding on Tuesday. Photo: Michael Kelly

A pedestrian makes her way through the flood waters at the Wheelie pump corner on Ferrybank, Arklow. Photo: Michael Kelly

The Arklow community has expressed its concern for the business owners on social media, with one commenter writing: Horrific for the business owners there. Hopefully, their premises are okay.

I hope the businesses havent suffered much damage  losing a days business is bad enough, another commenter said.

Flooding at the Riverwalk in Arklow. Photo: Michael Kelly

Elsewhere on the Riverwalk, the Arklow Community Action Resource Centre and its store of food donations were under threat, with volunteers issuing an urgent appeal for sandbags. Calls were thankfully answered.

Were lucky in that were on a slant, so the water hasnt come in yet, but all the food is downstairs, so we were all very worried, volunteer Shiela Busher said.

We put out an appeal and two lads came down with sandbags and stacked them up for us. Thanks be to God.

Its amazing to see the power of community when these things happen.
Severe weather linked to Storm Chandra, including strong winds, heavy rain and flooding, caused travel disruption and operational challenges at Bray Courthouse today, with sittings of Wicklow Circuit Criminal Court and Bray District Court delayed and jury members and defendants affected.

The N11 at Kilmacanogue ground to a halt due to flooding, with the AA reporting the road closed at approximately 9am.

A sentencing for two brothers, Michael and Larry Connors, both of no fixed abode, was adjourned with the judge explaining to both men that they would be returned to Cloverhill Prison due to their legal teams being stuck in traffic all morning.

Numerous cases at both court levels were impacted, with legal professionals unable to attend due to weather-related issues.

One barrister reported that his client, who was due to be arraigned at the Circuit Court, was unable to make it as parts of Arklow had also flooded, leaving the main road into the town impassable.

Arklow-based solicitor Paraic Hyland said: It took me four hours to get from Arklow to Bray.

Judge David Kennedy was forced to adjourn the majority of his family law list, while Judge Patrick Quinn sent a jury home, instructing them to return tomorrow, Wednesday, January 28, to begin a trial.

Further disruption was caused by mechanical issues with the video link between Cloverhill Prison and the courthouse, prompting Judge Kennedy to remark on whether the weather had also impacted phone lines.

Funded by the Court Reporting Scheme
Anton Mulder (65), with an address at the Gala Apartments, Tinahely, County Wicklow, and formerly of Dunshaughlin, Co Meath pictured in 2020.

A man jailed for the murder of his wife has been remanded in custody following an alleged breach of his prison release licence

Anton Mulder (65), with an address at the Gala Apartments, Tinahely, County Wicklow, and formerly of Dunshaughlin, Co Meath, appeared at a sitting of Bray District Court charged with two counts of criminal damage.

The court was told that the accused was sentenced to life imprisonment at the Criminal Court of Justice in 2008 after being found guilty of murdering his wife, Colleen Suzanne Mulder, at their home in Dunshaughlin, Co Meath, just before Christmas in 2004.

Part of Mulders conditions of his release from prison on licence is that he keeps the peace, and that committing any type of offence during his temporary release constitutes a breach of his licence.

The probation service and the Department of Justice are liaising to determine what action will be taken, the court heard. Sergeant Mick Canavan told the court that Mulder was released from Shelton Abbey Prison in March 2020.

Garda Seamus Gray of Shillelagh Garda Station said that, allegedly, in December 2025 and on January 24, 2026, the defendant punctured the tyres of his former partners vehicle.

Gda Gray alleged that both incidents were captured on CCTV footage. The court heard that when charged under caution, Mulder replied: Im not guilty.

The accused has served 15 years of his life sentence.

Gda Gray told Bray District Court that the prosecution believes that if Mulder is not remanded in custody, he poses a high risk of evading justice.

Sgt Canavan said he believes the new charges overlap with Mulders prior conviction, describing both matters as domestic in nature.

The victim of the alleged criminal damage, a South African national, told the court that she had been in a relationship with Mulder for six years and had lived with him in Ireland for the past four years.

The court heard that Mulder is not a drug user and is not permitted to hold a passport, which remains in the hands of the State.

In evidence, the woman told the court that she is afraid of Mulder and said that, having now made a complaint against him, she fears him even more.

Counsel for the defendant, Ciara OBrien BL, submitted that the damage to the vehicle was minimal and said Mulders daughter was available to act as an independent surety. The defence applied for bail.

Judge David Kennedy agreed with Ms OBriens legal submission but said it was not the point, remarking that Mulder is a convicted murderer who now has a slight against the victim, before remanding him in custody.

Mulder is due to appear before Bray District Court on January 27 for mention.

Funded by the Court Reporting Scheme
A homeless man accused of stealing meat products on three separate occasions from the same SuperValu store in Wicklow has been sentenced to time already served

Richard Krajcovic (43) of no fixed abode pleaded guilty at a sitting of Bray District Court to three counts of theft from the same SuperValu in Bray.

Judge David Kennedy asked the defendant if he wanted the matters dealt with at the District Court level or if he wanted to go forward to the Circuit Criminal Court, where he would have the option of a trial with a jury. Solicitor for Krajcovic, Joe Maguire, told the court that his client chose to be sentenced in the District Court.

Sergeant Mick Canavan read out the facts of the alleged thefts, with the court hearing that on October 19 last year, the accused entered SuperValu on Castle Street and stole six cans of corned beef valued at 80.

Three days prior, Krajcovic was observed on CCTV entering the same store and placing three packets of rib-eye steak into his jacket before leaving without paying.

On October 21, gardai responded to a call that a security guard at SuperValu had detained the defendant trying to leave the shop with meat products worth 150. The items were recovered.

Mr Maguire stated that the defences position is that Krajcovic, who is a Slovakian national, became homeless and stole the products for personal use.

Mr Krajcovic had been in Ireland for seven months before entering custody.

The accused has been in custody since October, even though Judge Kennedy granted him bail, as he was unable to take it up. If he was released, he (Krajcovic) believed he would have died, said Mr Maguire.

The court heard Krajcovic had reached out to his home countrys embassy for a replacement passport but could not afford the fee, and had made enquiries with the relevant authorities about international protection accommodation, but was refused due to being from an EU country.

The defendant cannot receive social welfare due to not having a fixed address, the court was told.

The defence made an application that if Krajcovic made a donation to the poor box, he could be returned to Slovakia.

Im not using the poor box for such a thing, said Judge Kennedy.

The judge sentenced Krajcovic to time served on one count of theft and took the remaining charges into consideration, as he has been on remand since October

Funded by the Court Reporting Scheme
I just poured out all this stuff about getting divorced: John Bishop on saving his marriage  and how it became a Hollywood movie

The Everton comic recalls the joke that launched his stand-up career and ultimately saved his marriage  and why his wife was nervous about the upcoming film based on their story

Melanie Bishop and John Bishop attend the premiere of ' 'Is This Thing On?' in London. Photo: Getty

Chris Wasser Tue 27 Jan 2026 at 06:30

John Bishop remembers the first joke he ever told as a comedian. It happened on a weeknight in Manchester in October 2000, and there were six, maybe seven people in attendance.
Flood relief schemes will be fast tracked, pledges Tanaiste



THE new Critical Infrastructure Bill will specifically address the fast tracking of flood relief schemes, the Tanaiste has pledged to the Dail.

Simon Harris said: Homes have to be at the top of the pecking order when it comes to our planning system.

He added: Sometimes that doesn't always seem to be the way. We hear about the freshwater mussel delay in the flood relief scheme in Enniscorthy.

But its the people of Enniscorthy that I'm concerned about. Or critical infrastructure bill will specifically address the fast tracking of flood relief schemes.

The weather event that many communities are experiencing is still ongoing, he said, with particular warnings for Dublin, Carlow, Kilkenny, Wexford, Wicklow and Waterford.

There is more rain forecast over the coming days, and flooding will continue to be a risk due to saturated ground conditions and very elevated river levels, the Tanaiste said.

So Id continue to urge everyone to exercise caution. Conditions can change quickly, so monitor the Met Eireann forecasts, but also follow the advice of local authorities.

Government financial schemes of assistance are now both open, he said, with that in relation to homeowners under the Department of Social Protection and that for businesses under the Department of Enterprise.

To Opposition criticism if preparedness failures, he said: I dont accept the assertion that nothings been done in relation to flood relief.

In fact, I would point to the significant progress and money thats been spent right across the country delivering flood relief schemes that are really helping protect homes, communities, and businesses.

But he said he accepted it was taking far too long to deliver far too many.

Mr Harris said 51 million was committed to the Enniscorthy flood defence project under the National Development Plan.

We now need to see how we can accelerate flood relief schemes. We published the accelerating infrastructure task force report just before Christmas.

We will be bringing into this as a Critical Infrastructure Bill, where we have to recognise that while environmental issues and individual views matter, theres also something else that matters.

It's called the public good.

But Aontu leader Peadar Toibin said Government ministers were allergic to measurables, in case they can be held to account.

There are 46 flood schemes at design stage while communities suffer, he said. Midleton 2023: Storm Babette -- 600 homes and 300 businesses flooded. Damage estimated at 200 million. People came within a hairs breadth of losing their lives in Midleton.

Storm Frank devastated the exact same area in 2015, when flood defences were promised with a completion date of 2020. Today, the planning application has still not even been submitted.

He added: Enniscorthy has been waiting for 25 years for protection. In 2014, 55 million was allocated to flood relief schemes. But this week Enniscorthy is a lake.

Practically every single piece of infrastructure development in this country is grinding to a halt.

It was all because the Government has the slowest planning, licensing, permitting, tendering and judicial reviews in the whole of the European Union, Mr Toibin said.

A national flood forecast and warning service was announced in 2016. Ten years later, none of these flood forecasts are being made available to the public.



Senan Molony




British actor Sadie Frost outside the Royal Courts Of Justice in London, where she was giving evidence. Photo: PA

British actor Sadie Frost has said her relationship with Jude Law was ruined because he thought she was leaking stories to the press.

Frost and six others, including Prince Harry and Elton John, are suing Associated Newspapers Limited, publisher of the Daily Mail, for breach of privacy, alleging that various stories were obtained through phone hacking, bugging and other unlawful means.

Associated has described the claims as preposterous, arguing that the stories were legitimately sourced, often from friends and family members.

Harry returned to the UK to give evidence last week but is not expected to return to court during the course of the trial, which is due to last nine weeks.

Frost (60) was married to Law from 1997 until 2003, and they had two sons and a daughter.

To have the man you love think youre leaking stories is awful

She told the High Court in London yesterday that Law thought she had been leaking stories to the media.

To have the man you love think youre leaking stories is awful, she said. Our relationship was ruined for many years.

In 2002, when Iris, their middle child, was two years old, she was taken to hospital after picking up an ecstasy tablet and putting it in her mouth during a family day at a private members club.

A story describing the aftermath of the incident is among the 11 articles at the heart of Frosts claim. It included accurate and very specific details about how Law planned to sue the club, how their daughters brain was scanned and her stomach pumped in hospital and the strain it caused in their marriage, which Frost insists could only have come from voicemail interception.

The actor left the court in tears after recalling how she had been branded a bad mother as a result of the accident.

She sobbed as she insisted that it was not her fault, telling the judge she felt amazing that she had noticed the toddler pick up the tablet and reacted in the perfect motherly way.

The next morning, I woke up to all this chatter, chatter, chatter, she told the court, describing how photographers were on her doorstep. They were already saying it was my fault she had taken ecstasy the newspapers were saying I was a bad mother, which was the worst thing anyone could say. 

Frost said the incident had come to publicly define her relationship with her daughter.

They talk about the girl who took the ecstasy, she said, crying. My daughter knows, she knows. Shes held her head up high and shes labelled with that.

Frost was so upset that she asked the judge for a break, exiting the court before he had left the room.

Associated has argued that Frosts claim cannot succeed as it was brought too late, arguing that it was overwhelmingly likely that she knew or could, as a matter of basic inference, have known that she had a worthwhile claim before the cut-off date of October 2016. Antony White KC, for the publisher, said

: Ms Frosts circle was and was known to be leaky in the period when her marriage to Jude Law was in difficulty, and this and their subsequent divorce was frequently being reported in the media.

The hearing continues.
Rescue members carry a victim from the site of a landslide in the West Java province, Indonesia. Photo: Reuters

Nineteen members of Indonesias elite marine force are among 42 people missing in deep mud after they were swept away or buried by a weekend landslide that tore through a mountainside in West Java province, killing dozens, officials said.

The marines were training in rugged terrain and heavy rainfall when the pre-dawn landslide on Saturday swallowed their camp and 34 houses in Pasir Langu village on the slopes of Mount Burangrang.

A massive search operation has grown from 500 to 2,100 personnel using bare hands, water pumps, drones and excavators. Seventeen people have been confirmed dead, National Disaster Management Agency spokesperson Abdul Muhari said.

Four marines were among the dead, navy chief of staff Admiral Muhammad Ali told reporters. They were part of a 23-member unit training for a long-duration border assignment on the Indonesia-Papua New Guinea frontier, he said. The rest are unaccounted for.

Heavy rain over two nights triggered the slope failure that buried their training area, Mr Ali said.

Heavy machinery has struggled to reach the site, the access road is narrow and the ground remains unstable.

Ade Dian Permana, who heads the local search and rescue office, told reporters that 42 people were missing.

The ground is still very unstable and mixed with water, which limits how far our teams can safely move, he said.

Rescuers were digging through tonnes of mud, rocks and uprooted trees in a landslide that stretched more than 1.9km, said Yudhi Bramantyo, the operation director of the National Search and Rescue Agency.

He said that in some places the mud reached up to eight metres. About 230 residents living near the site were evacuated to government shelters.

Seasonal rains and high tides from about October to April frequently cause flooding and landslides in Indonesia, an archipelago of more than 17,000 islands where millions of people live in mountainous areas or near fertile flood plains.
Hungary opposes move and is threatening to take case to European Court of Justice

Residents look at a field kitchen at a government-run humanitarian aid point installed next to apartment buildings during a power blackout in Kyiv, Ukraine. Reuters

European Union countries have given final approval for a ban on Russian gas imports by late 2027, meaning the proposal can now become continental law.

Approved at a meeting in Brussels yesterday, the policy will make it legally binding for members of the bloc to cut ties with its former top gas supplier.

But the proposal met opposition from Slovakia and Hungary, the latter threatening to take the case to the European Court of Justice. Hungary relies heavily on Russian oil, importing around 90pc of its natural gas from Russia.

It will come as a financial blow to Moscow, ahead of further trilateral peace talks between Ukraine, Russia and the US which White House officials expect to continue this week.

Two-day talks held in Abu Dhabi last week were dubbed constructive by Kyiv, as president Volodymyr Zelensky said that a US security agreement for Ukraine was ready to be signed.

A US official told reporters on Saturday that a lot of progress had been made and discussions would continue next Sunday, February 1.

Mr Zelensky also said a US-Ukrainian document on security guarantees is 100 per cent ready, and that Kyiv is waiting for a time and date to sign it.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov reported no major breakthrough so far, however, and added: The very fact that these contacts have begun in a constructive way can be assessed positively, but there is still serious work ahead.

Officials revealed few details of the talks held on Friday and Saturday, which were part of a year-long effort by the Trump administration to steer the sides towards a peace deal and end almost four years of all-out war.

While Ukrainian and Russian officials have agreed in principle with Washingtons calls for a compromise, Moscow and Kyiv differ deeply over what an agreement should look like.

Meanwhile, the grinding war of attrition along the 1,000km front line has dragged on, and Ukrainian civilians are enduring another winter of hardship after Russian bombardment of cities in the rear.

Mr Trump has set out deadlines for an agreement and threatened additional sanctions on Moscow, but Russian president Vladimir Putin apparently has not budged from his public demands.

Kyiv has insisted on post-war American security commitments as part of any broader peace agreement with Moscow after Russias 2014 illegal annexation of Crimea and support for separatist rebels in eastern Ukraine, followed by its full-scale invasion in February 2022.

Mr Zelensky has acknowledged that there are fundamental differences between Ukrainian and Russian positions, though he said last week that peace proposals are nearly ready.

A central issue is whether Russia should keep or withdraw from areas of Ukraine its forces have occupied, especially Ukraines eastern industrial heartland called the Donbas, and whether it should get land there that it has not yet captured.

The weekend talks covered a broad range of military and economic matters and included the possibility of a ceasefire before a comprehensive deal, the official said.

Russias Defence Ministry said yesterday that air defences downed 40 Ukrainian drones late on Sunday and early on Monday, including 34 over the Krasnodar region and four over the Sea of Azov.

Krasnodar officials said drone fragments fell on two industrial plants in the city of Slavyansk, sparking fires that were extinguished. One person was injured, they said.

By contrast, Ukraines general staff said an oil refinery in the Krasnodar region was targeted by Ukrainian forces. The facility supplied the Russian military, it added.

Russian forces launched 138 drones at Ukraine overnight, 110 of which were shot down or suppressed, Ukraines air force said, and 21 of them hit targets in 11 locations.

Nato secretary general Mark Rutte said yesterday European Union countries should show flexibility on how Ukraine can use the 90bn EU loan to buy weapons and finance its budget, adding that the EU should not impose buy EU at all cost.

I would really strongly urge you to ensure flexibility in how these funds can be spent and not to be overly restrictive with Buy EU caveats, he told members of the European Parliament.

Europe is now building its defence industry and that is vital but it cannot, at the moment, provide nearly enough of what Ukraine needs to defend itself today and to deter tomorrow. ( The Independent)
Users of AI chatbot Grok were able to produce non-consensual sexualised deepfake images. Photo: PA

The European Union has opened a formal investigation into Elon Musks social media platform X after its AI chatbot Grok started producing non-consensual sexualised deepfake images on the platform.

European regulators also widened a separate, ongoing investigation into Xs recommendation systems after the platform said it would switch to Groks AI system to choose which posts users see.

The scrutiny from Brussels comes after Grok sparked a global backlash by allowing users through its AI image generation and editing capabilities to undress people, putting women in transparent bikinis or revealing clothing.

Researchers said some images appeared to include children. Some governments banned the service or issued warnings.

The 27-nation EUs executive said it was looking into whether X has done enough as required by the blocs digital regulations to contain the risks of spreading illegal content such as manipulated sexually explicit images.

That includes content that may amount to child sexual abuse material, the European Commission said. These risks have now materialised, the commission said, exposing the blocs citizens to serious harm.

Regulators will examine whether Grok is living up to its obligations under the Digital Services Act (DSA).

In response to a request for comment, an X spokeswoman referred to an earlier statement that the company remains committed to making X a safe platform for everyone and has zero tolerance for child sexual exploitation, non-consensual nudity, and unwanted sexual content.

The X statement from January 14 also said it would stop allowing users to depict people in bikinis, underwear or other revealing attire, but only in places where it is illegal.

Non-consensual sexual deepfakes of women and children are a violent, unacceptable form of degradation, Henna Virkkunen, an executive vice-president at the commission, said.

With this investigation, we will determine whether X has met its legal obligations under the DSA, or whether it treated rights of European citizens  including those of women and children  as collateral damage of its service, said Ms Virkkunen, who oversees tech sovereignty, security and democracy.

There is no deadline for the bloc to resolve the case, which could end in either X pledging to change its behaviour or a hefty fine.
The US president gave his backing to Delcy Rodriguez as interim leader of Venezuela. Photo: AP

Venezuela has had enough of taking orders from the Trump administration, the countrys acting leader has said just weeks after Washington claimed she would run the country under their instruction.

Delcy Rodriguez assumed the role of president earlier this month after US forces captured Nicolas Maduro in a dramatic overnight raid, plunging the country into chaos.

Enough already of Washingtons orders over politicians in Venezuela. Let Venezuelan politics resolve our differences and internal conflicts. Enough of foreign powers, she told oil workers in Puerto La Cruz city, according to state-run channel Venezolana de Television.

Caracas has remained under pressure from Washington following months of military build-up near the country and attacks on Venezuelan ships in the Caribbean Sea.

In the wake of Mr Maduros capture, Mr Trump declared that the US was going to run Venezuela.

But afterwards he appeared to back down, giving his backing to Ms Rodriguez to take office as an interim leader.

The Trump administration has nonetheless pushed Ms Rodriguez and other allies of Mr Maduro to allow greater investment from US energy companies in Venezuelas flagging oil industry  one of the main motivations behind Mr Trumps actions in South America.

Ms Rodriguez said Caracas would address long-standing disputes face to face with Washington, according to Chinese state news agency Xinhua.

We are not afraid, because what must unite us as a people is guaranteeing peace and stability for this country, Ms Rodriguez said. On Saturday she appealed for talks with the opposition in Venezuela to reach agreements on the countrys political future, declaring that there must be no political or partisan differences when it comes to peace in Venezuela.

But Maduro loyalists were left concerned after Venezuelas legislature started debating a loosening of state control over the countrys vast oil sector, in the first major overhaul since the late socialist leader Hugo Chavez nationalised parts of the industry in 2007.

The legislation, which appears to be an attempt to partially appease the US government, would create new opportunities for private companies to invest in the oil industry and establish international arbitration for investment disputes.

The draft shows a dramatic change from the economic nationalism of Mr Chavez, who accused multinationals of colonial exploitation and considered the countrys oil wealth to be state property.

It would allow private companies to operate oil fields independently and collect cash revenues, despite remaining on paper minority partners to the state oil company.
Reporters raise their hands to ask a question as White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt speaks in the press briefing room (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

US president Donald Trump indicated he'll make changes to his administration's deportation crackdown in Minnesota after the killing of two US citizens during immigration raids sparked nationwide uproar.

The president said he was sending US border czar Tom Homan, who is seen as relatively measured compared to rivals, including Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, to Minneapolis in a bid to deescalate tensions.

Trump also spoke with Minnesota governor, Tim Walz, telling the Democrat, who he has derided as "grossly incompetent" that he would consider independent investigations into the shootings and reducing the number of federal agents in his state.

Later, the White House suggested it could remove US Customs and Border Protection personnel from Minnesota if state and local law enforcement adopted additional "cooperative measures" to assist in the apprehension of undocumented migrants.

Greg Bovino, the US border patrol commander who has become the face of the latest operation, is expected to leave to Minneapolis on Tuesday, according to a person with knowledge of the matter.

Taken together, the comments indicated that Trump might recognise that his maximum pressure deportation campaign has eroded public faith in immigration officials as well as his own political standing. That poses a risk for Republicans heading into November's midterm elections.

The federal government is at risk of a partial government shutdown at the end of the week after senate democrats said they could not back a funding bill without new curbs on immigration enforcement.

Conservative commentators and interest groups have begun publicly questioning some of the statements and claims made by the administration, particularly in the aftermath of Saturday's killing of Alex Pretti, an ICU nurse whom Trump administration officials portrayed as a violent agitator despite video evidence to the contrary. Public opinion polls suggest the president's political support is nearing historic lows.

"Nobody in the White House, including President Trump, wants to see people getting hurt or killed in America's streets," White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters on Monday.

Senate majority leader John Thune, in a social media post, called Trump's efforts a "positive development and one that I hope leads to turning down the temperature and restoring order in Minnesota.

Still, any attempted pivot will likely be difficult for the White House to pull off, particularly as officials remained defiant in defending Trump's agenda.

While Homan is seen as more focused on tailored immigration enforcement efforts than Noem or Bovino, he's still an avowed supporter of Trump's sweeping deportation policies.

"I am sending Tom Homan to Minnesota tonight. He has not been involved in that area, but knows and likes many of the people there. Tom is tough but fair, and will report directly to me," the president posted on social media.

Reporters raise their hands to ask a question as White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt speaks in the press briefing room (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Leavitt insisted that Noem retained the "utmost confidence and trust" of Trump. She also said Bovino would remain in his role.

And while Trump celebrated his conversation with Walz, Leavitt continued to lay blame for the crisis at the feet of Minnesota officials from the White House press briefing room.

"They have also used their platforms to encourage left-wing agitators to stalk, record, confront and obstruct federal officers who are just trying to lawfully perform their duties, which has created dangerous situations threatening both these officers and the general public and Minnesotans alike," Leavitt said. "This is precisely what unfolded in Minneapolis on Saturday morning."

The White House must also contend with initial public statements following Pretti's killing from administration officials that drew bipartisan blowback as well as their combative remarks after Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents shot and killed Renee Good in her car that was partially blocking the road in early January, an incident that was also captured on video.

Noem portrayed the 37-year-old mother of three as a domestic terrorist and said the officer who shot her was acting in line with established protocols and took actions to defend himself.

Local officials in Minnesota, including Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, have rejected the claim. Trump has described the video "as a horrible thing to watch" even as he accused Good of running over the ICE officer.

Senior Trump adviser Stephen Miller intimated that Pretti was an "assassin" and "domestic terrorist" on social media following his killing, while Noem said the demonstrator showed up to "impede a law enforcement operation." Available video of the incident did not show Pretti brandishing the firearm he was carrying, and suggested that the officers had disarmed him before shooting him.

And even as the president signaled some desire to calm tensions in Minnesota, he also said that his administration would continue to investigate cases of fraud in the state, as well as the finances of Minnesota Representative Ilhan Omar, a Democrat and frequent critic.

Mounting pressure

But allies have mounted pressure on Trump to change course on his deportation drive, with polls showing Americans disapprove of federal agents' tactics. Trump has spent recent days denouncing polling methodology on social media, as the most recent Real Clear Politics average shows his approval rating below 43%.

Nearly half of Americans in a recent Politico poll said Trump's deportation campaign is too aggressive; one in three Trump voters said while they support the goals of the effort, they disapproved of they way he is implementing the effort.

Chris Madel, a Republican who was running for Minnesota governor, dropped out of the race on Monday following Pretti's death.

"I cannot support the national Republicans' stated retribution on the citizens of our state," Madel said in a social media post.

The National Rifle Association criticized Assistant US Attorney Bill Essayli, a Trump appointee, for saying on social media that approaching law enforcement would be highly likely to have legal justification for shooting someone who approached them with a firearm.

Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt said the president needed to outline an "end game" during an interview Sunday with CNN.

"Nobody likes the feds coming to their states," the Republican, who is chair of the National Governors Association, said. "And so what is the goal right now? Is it to deport every single non-US citizen? I don't think that's what Americans want."

Trump suggested that he may look to limit the scope of immigration operations during his conversation with Walz, a Democrat who has been highly critical of the administration's enforcement surge in his state. The president said Walz was "happy" with Homan's deployment.

"It was a very good call, and we, actually, seemed to be on a similar wavelength," Trump said. "I told Governor Walz that I would have Tom Homan call him, and that what we are looking for are any and all Criminals that they have in their possession. The Governor, very respectfully, understood that, and I will be speaking to him in the near future."

Walz's office described the call as "productive" and said he had encouraged Trump to authorise impartial investigations of the shootings involving federal agents, as well as reduce the overall footprint of immigration agents.

"The president agreed that he would talk to his Department of Homeland Security about ensuring the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension is able to conduct an independent investigation, as would ordinarily be the case," his office said in a statement.

"The president also agreed to look into reducing the number of federal agents in Minnesota and working with the state in a more coordinated fashion on immigration enforcement regarding violent criminals."

More than 60 chief executive officers of Minnesota-based companies, including Target, Best Buy, Land O'Lakes and Cargill, also called for an immediate "de-escalation of tensions" between state, local and federal authorities.

Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer pledged to block a spending package this week unless Republicans strip funding for DHS, increasing the odds of a partial US government shutdown. Some Republican senators also called for an impartial investigation into the incident.

Trump told the Wall Street Journal in an interview over the weekend that he was "reviewing everything and will come out with a determination."

"I don't like any shooting," the president said. "But I don't like it when somebody goes into a protest and he's got a very powerful, fully loaded gun."
A US aircraft carrier and several warships have arrived in the Middle East, amid fears that Donald Trump could finally order a strike on Iran.

The US president warned last week that an armada was on its way, saying his administration was watching Iran following weeks of deadly protests across the country.

The USS Abraham Lincoln and a number of guided-missile destroyers have now arrived in the region, which comes under the US militarys Central Command, US officials said yesterday.

We have a lot of ships going that direction, just in case  Id rather not see anything happen, but were watching them very closely, Mr Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One on Thursday. We have an armada ... heading in that direction, and maybe we wont have to use it.

The US military said it would carry out an exercise to demonstrate the ability to deploy, disperse, and sustain combat airpower in the Middle East, the latest indication of an increasingly aggressive foreign policy from the Trump administration in his second term.

Mr Trump has repeatedly threatened to strike Iran in response to the regimes deadly crackdown on widespread protests in recent weeks.

However, despite widespread reports of mass casualties the US president has yet to take military action.

A senior Iranian official warned an attack would be considered an all-out-war against us

As many as 30,000 may have been killed in the unrest so far this month, two senior officials in Tehrans health ministry told Time on Sunday, though estimated figures on the number of deaths have varied wildly.

The US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency said it had confirmed 5,459 deaths, and is continuing to investigate another 17,031.

The demonstrations have abated following the crackdown. Mr Trump said he had been told that the killings were subsiding and that there were no plans to execute any prisoners.

There is precedent for US military forces surging into the Middle East, sometimes claiming the moves were in fact defensive. Last year, the US military carried out a significant build up of its military ahead of June strikes against Tehrans nuclear programme.

The current movement of military forces into the Middle East includes fighter jets and air defence systems, alongside the aircraft carrier and warships. But a senior Iranian official has warned that any attack on Iran would be considered an all-out-war against us.

The United Arab Emirates has also made clear that it has no desire to be involved, declaring yesterday that it would not let its airspace, territory or waters be used for any hostile military actions in Iran.

The Al Dhafra Air Base, a US military hub located south of the capital of Abu Dhabi, has been a critical US Air Force hub which has supported key missions against the Islamic State, along with reconnaissance deployments across the region.
Image credit : Orry/ IG | Orry slams Sara Ali Khan's films

How the Sara Ali Khan and Orry Controversy Started

Image credit : Sara Ali Khan/ IG | Sara Ali Khan and Orhan Orry Awatramani were once seen as part of the same celebrity circle

Orrys Dig and Social Media Backlash

Image credit : Orry/ IG | Orry's reel goes viral

Drama or not?

Bollywood actress Sara Ali Khan is once again making headlines, this time due to a viral social media controversy involving influencer Orry Awatramani. The recent fallout between the actor and the influencer has sparked widespread discussion online, with fans, media, and netizens debating the events that led to this public spat. But, are they actually beefing?Sara Ali Khan and Orhan Orry Awatramani were once seen as part of the same celebrity circle, sharing friendly interactions online. However, the relationship took a sudden turn after Orry posted a controversial Instagram reel, which many interpreted as a subtle dig at Sara Ali Khans career. Following the post, Sara and her brother, Ibrahim Ali Khan, unfollowed Orry on Instagram, signaling tension between the two.The reel in question, titled 3 Worst Names, listed Sara, Amrita, and Palak, which fans speculated referred to Sara, her mother Amrita Singh, and actress Palak Tiwari. Although Orry never explicitly named anyone, the timing and context fueled speculation and online debate.The controversy escalated further when Orry shared another reel from Lollapalooza India 2026, accompanied by a sarcastic comment about Sara Ali Khan. He suggested that his bold outfit was holding together Sara Ali Khans hits, which many netizens perceived as a personal attack.Fans quickly criticized Orrys remark, calling it unnecessary and mean-spirited, and labeled him a bully. Social media platforms, including Instagram, Twitter, and Reddit, were flooded with discussions on celebrity boundaries and online respect. Many debated whether Orrys posts were intended to provoke controversy or simply a poorly timed joke.Fans and netizens are questioning whether the fallout between Sara Ali Khan and Orry is real or just a case of manufactured drama for social media attention. With both personalities highly active online, some believe the unfollows, cryptic reels, and subtle digs may be strategically designed to spark conversation, knowing how invested audiences get in celebrity controversies. Across platforms like Instagram, Twitter, and Reddit, opinions are divided, while some see the feud as genuine, others suspect its a clever stunt to stay trending in the public eye.
EU outrage grows following Trump's military threats, dismissal of NATO troops

Xinhua) 11:09, January 27, 2026

WASHINGTON, Jan. 26 (Xinhua) -- Emotions are running high in Europe following U.S. President Donald Trump's military threats and his downplaying of contributions made by allied troops in Afghanistan.

Trump has triggered outrage among allies in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) after questioning whether they would come to Washington's aid in times of need.

"We've never needed them. We have never really asked anything of them. You know, they'll say they sent some troops to Afghanistan, or this or that. And they did -- they stayed a little back, a little off the front lines," Trump said Thursday in an interview with Fox News in Davos, Switzerland, sparking a firestorm of criticism.

The comments incensed European leaders, with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer denouncing Trump's statement as "insulting and frankly appalling" since British forces suffered casualties in the U.S. war in Afghanistan.

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk also lambasted Trump's comments in a social media post, pointing out that his country, too, lost troops in Afghanistan.

This latest controversy comes on the heels of a tense dispute with European leaders over Greenland, after Trump said military action would be a possible option in his bid to acquire the largely Arctic island, a self-governing territory within the Kingdom of Denmark.

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said that while security, investment and economic issues could be negotiated, "we cannot negotiate on our sovereignty."

While Trump later claimed to have secured the framework of a deal with NATO regarding Greenland's future, his threats and aggressive rhetoric prompted European leaders to denounce any military aggression on Greenland as "neo-colonialism."

The United States wanted to "weaken and subordinate Europe" by demanding "maximum concessions" and implementing tariffs that were "fundamentally unacceptable -- even more so when they are used as leverage against territorial sovereignty," French President Emmanuel Macron said at the recent World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland.

EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said Thursday that "transatlantic relations have definitely taken a big blow over the last week."

Former European Council President Charles Michel told CNN that the transatlantic relationship "as we've known it for decades is dead."

Critics also argued that Trump's suggestion of using military force in the Greenland dispute would violate international treaties, including the UN Charter, which forbids the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state.

Moreover, as both the United States and Denmark are members of NATO, an attack on Greenland would also violate the North Atlantic Treaty.

Trump has since backed down from his threats of military action and tariffs, following strong condemnation from EU leaders.

For its part, the Trump administration has emphasized that Greenland is critical to U.S. national security.

Speaking live on stage at the WEF, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said that Trump "believes that Greenland is essential for the Golden Dome missile shield."

"Greenland is becoming more and more attractive for foreign conquest," Bessent said. "And (Trump) very strongly believes that it must be part of the United States to prevent a conflict, rather than getting the U.S. engaged and exposed into a hot conflict."

When asked if Greenland is crucial to U.S. national security, Michael O'Hanlon, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, told Xinhua: "It is important, but we are already able to protect it. In fact, by treaty, we are already obliged to."

Greenland hosts a key U.S. military base, and with Arctic ice melting, new shipping routes and access to natural resources are becoming increasingly viable. This has driven much of the U.S. interest in the island, according to media reports.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Background to the USSouth Korea trade deal

Image credit : X/Maga_Trigger | US President Donald Trump

Lawmakers move to address US concerns

Image credit : X/Maga_Trigger | Donald Trump has announced a sharp increase in tariffs on South Korean imports

Seoul seeks talks as markets react

Image credit : X/Maga_Trigger | Trump raises tariffs on South Korea

Broader use of tariffs in US policy

US President Donald Trump has announced a sharp increase in tariffs on South Korean imports, raising duties to 25% after accusing Seoul of failing to fully meet commitments under a trade deal reached last year. The move marks a fresh escalation in trade tensions between Washington and one of its key Asian allies.In a social media post, Trump said tariffs on South Korean goods would rise from 15% to 25% across a wide range of products. These include automobiles, lumber, pharmaceuticals and what he described as all other Reciprocal TARIFFS. Trump said South Korean lawmakers had been slow to approve the agreement, while the United States had acted quickly to reduce its tariffs in line with the transaction agreed to by both sides.Seoul and Washington reached the trade agreement in October last year. Under the deal, South Korea pledged to invest $350 billion (256 billion) in the United States, with part of that investment earmarked for shipbuilding.The following month, both countries agreed that the US would reduce tariffs on certain products once South Korea began the legislative process to approve the agreement. The deal was formally submitted to South Koreas National Assembly on 26 November and is currently under review. According to local media, it is expected to be passed in February.South Koreas ruling Democratic Party said it plans to pass a special act related to the US trade deal by the end of February. The legislation, referred to as the Special Act on Strategic Investment Management between Korea and the United States, was submitted to parliament last November.The proposed bill would establish a state-run investment corporation to manage South Koreas planned $350 billion investment pledge to Washington. According to the ruling partys spokesperson Kim Hyun-jung, five related bills have been submitted to the National Assembly and are scheduled for review.She said that the fact both the ruling Democratic Party and the opposition People Power Party had proposed related legislation was likely to speed up the approval process. The Democratic Party currently holds 162 of the National Assemblys 300 seats, with four seats vacant, while the People Power Party holds 107 seats.Kim said it was necessary to quickly confirm the intent and facts behind the US statement and correct any misunderstandings. She also called for cooperation between the government and both political parties to resolve the issue.South Korea said it had not received any official notice or explanation from the United States regarding Trumps tariff announcement. The presidential office said it had convened a meeting to review and discuss possible responses, while reiterating its commitment to implementing the tariff agreement.South Koreas finance ministry said it would keep the US informed about the legislative process. The trade ministry confirmed that Industry Minister Kim Jung-kwan, who is currently in Canada, would travel to Washington as soon as possible to meet US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick for talks.South Korean financial markets reacted sharply at first. Shares in automakers Hyundai and Kia fell in early trading following Trumps comments but later pared losses. Hyundai was last down 0.1%, while Kia was down 1.16%. The benchmark Kospi index initially slipped but later rose about 1.9%, while the smaller Kosdaq index climbed 0.89%.Tariffs are paid by companies importing goods, meaning US firms will now pay a 25% tax on products they purchase from South Korea. Trump has frequently used tariffs as a tool to pursue foreign policy objectives during his second term in office.In recent days, he threatened Canada with a 100% tariff if it pursued a trade deal with China. Chinese officials responded by saying their strategic partnership with Canada was not intended to undermine other countries. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said Canada was not pursuing a free trade deal with China and had never considered doing so.Earlier, Trump also threatened import taxes on eight countries, including the UK, over opposition to US plans regarding Greenland. He later withdrew the threat, citing progress toward a future deal, though the episode strained relations with Denmark and other Nato allies.
By morning, chaos had hit home.

Image credit : Credit: Freepik | Exam stress made teen steal Rs 3 lakh and flee to Goa

When questioned, the teen broke down.

Image credit : Credit: Freepik | Exam stress made teen steal Rs 3 lakh and flee to Goa

But the story hits harder than it sounds funny.

What started as regular exam stress spiralled into real-life runaway plot that sounds straight out of a Netflix drama. However, this one involved Rs 3 lakh, a midnight escape and a Goa beach.A 17-year-old boy from Vadodara thought that Class 11 pressure was simply too much to handle. Instead of pulling an all-nighter like most of us would with coffee and notes, he quietly opened his house safe, took Rs 3 lakh (yes, including his sister's UPSC exam fees), packed a backpack and ran away at 1:45 am.The front door was open. The money was gone. The boy was nowhere to be found. His phone? Switched off. The only clue he left behind was a message to his teacher saying he would not be coming to school that day, which, in hindsight, was the biggest understatement ever.Police launched a full-blown search operation. CCTV footage showed him leaving calmly like it was just another late-night snack run. But this wasn't impulsive panic, it was planned. He took a taxi to Mumbai, picked up a friend, then headed straight to Goa, because obviously, when life gets stressful, the brain says - it's time for a vacation.Using tech tracking and a newly activated SIM card, cops finally traced him down to a beach resort, where they found both boys chilling like they were on vacation, not in the middle of a multi-state police hunt. In just two days, they had spent over Rs 50,000.The reason? Exams. He told police he felt suffocated by academic pressure and just wanted to escape for a while. The plan was never to disappear forever, just to "de-stress" and come back, maybe after a week. Thankfully, both boys were brought home safely and handed over to their families after counselling. No criminal case was filed since they were minors.It's another reminder of how insane academic pressure has become for Indian students, where a Class 11 exam can feel heavier than adult life responsibilities. When teens feel trapped instead of supported, even stealing from home can start to feel like an escape route. Police officials urged parents and teachers to watch for stress signals and emotional burnout. Because when school pressure starts pushing kids to run across states just to breathe, something in the system is seriously broken. Sometimes, it's not rebellion. It's exhaustion in disguise.
What the European Commission is investigating

Image credit : X/BoredElonMusk | The European Commission is investigating Musk-owned X

Global backlash and regulatory alarm

Changes made by X and xAI

Image credit : X/BoredElonMusk | Musks X faces digital services act probe

Legal risks and wider implications

Political and regulatory context

Image credit : X/BoredElonMusk | Musks X under fresh EU scrutiny

The social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, is under investigation by the European Commission following public outrage over sexualised deepfake images generated by its artificial intelligence chatbot, Grok. The probe is examining whether X took sufficient steps to prevent harm linked to Groks image-generation and editing tools within the European Union.The issue first surfaced through reporting by The New York Times and later escalated after users discovered Grok could be prompted to create sexualised images of women and even minors. The concerns triggered widespread condemnation from advocacy groups, lawmakers and regulators across multiple countries.The European Commission said it will assess whether X properly assessed and mitigated risks associated with Groks capabilities, particularly its ability to generate and manipulate images. The Commissions executive arm stated that the investigation will focus on whether X adequately protected consumers and complied with its legal obligations.The probe is being conducted under the European Unions Digital Services Act (DSA), a law designed to hold large online platforms legally responsible for how they address illegal and harmful content. According to the Commission, the AI-generated images of undressed women and children shared on X were unlawful and appalling.The controversy around Grok has prompted action beyond the European Union. Two weeks before the EU announced its probe, British media regulator Ofcom launched an investigation into concerns that Grok was producing sexually intimate deepfake images.Several countries also took temporary measures. Indonesia, the Philippines and Malaysia blocked access to the chatbot amid growing alarm. The Philippines and Malaysia later restored access after xAI, the company behind Grok, said it had introduced additional safety measures.Advocacy groups and lawmakers from multiple countries raised concerns specifically about Groks image editing features, warning that they could be misused to create harmful and non-consensual content.Following the backlash, X implemented changes to how Grok operates on the platform. According to a statement issued on January 14, xAI restricted image editing for Grok users and blocked users in certain jurisdictions from generating images of people in revealing clothing where such content is illegal. The company did not specify which countries were affected.X also placed Groks image editing feature behind a paywall for public replies. However, users can still generate images through the chatbot within the platform, meaning the tool remains broadly accessible.A senior European Commission official told reporters that while the changes were welcome, they did not fully address all issues or systemic risks. The official said the Commission believes X failed to conduct an ad hoc risk assessment when Groks functionalities were introduced in Europe.This investigation does not stand alone. It expands an ongoing probe that began in 2023 into Xs practices under the DSA. EU regulators have already fined X $140 million, and separately 150 million euros, for breaching transparency obligations, including what the Commission described as deceptive blue checkmarks.Regulators have also extended an investigation opened in December 2023 into whether X properly assessed and mitigated systemic risks linked to its recommender systems, including its switch to a Grok-based system. The Commission warned that X could face interim measures if meaningful adjustments are not made.Under the DSA, companies found to be in breach of the rules can be fined up to 6 percent of their annual global revenue.The probe may also have broader political implications. EU scrutiny of Big Tech has previously drawn criticism from the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump, including threats of tariffs in response to regulatory actions.EU tech chief Henna Virkkunen said the investigation would determine whether X met its legal obligations or treated the rights of European citizens, including women and children, as collateral damage. European lawmaker Regina Doherty said the case highlighted weaknesses in how AI regulation is enforced and stressed the need for EU laws to be enforceable in real time when serious harms occur.
What are Trump accounts and how they work

Image credit : X/MinajNow | Nicki Minaj to Join Trump Accounts Launch

Summit agenda and key participants

Image credit : (Left) X/MinajNow (Right) X/Maga_Trigger | The U.S. Treasury is set to launch Trump Accounts

Celebrity presence and broader outreach strategy

Political context and public statements

Image credit : X/Maga_Trigger | President Donald Trump

The U.S. Treasury Department is preparing to host a high-profile summit on Wednesday to mark the launch of Trump Accounts, a newly introduced financial program aimed at children. According to information learned by The Hollywood Reporter, the event will feature appearances by rapper Nicki Minaj, Marty Supreme actor Kevin OLeary, and Curb Your Enthusiasm star Cheryl Hines, alongside President Trump and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.The summit represents an unusually prominent rollout for a Treasury initiative and reflects a broader effort to draw public attention to the new accounts. The event will be streamed live on X and will include formal remarks, policy briefings and expert discussions, according to the department.Trump Accounts are a new type of tax-advantaged individual retirement account designed specifically for children. The accounts allow contributions from parents, guardians, employers and other donors. They were established under last years One Big Beautiful Bill Act.According to the Treasury Department, the summit will focus on explaining how Trump Accounts function, outlining their projected economic effects, and reinforcing the administrations stated goal of expanding financial opportunity for American families. Senior administration officials, everyday Americans and key stakeholders are expected to take part in the discussions.While the full schedule of the summit has not been publicly detailed, both President Trump and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent are confirmed to deliver remarks. Treasury officials have said the program will include policy-focused briefings as well as discussions led by experts.Additional participants named for the summit include conservative influencer Isabel Brown, political consultant Alex Bruesewitz, Senator Ted Cruz, Michael Dell and White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt. Dell recently joined the group acquiring U.S. operations of TikTok.The involvement of high-profile figures marks a departure from a typical Treasury Department policy rollout. Treasury officials appear to be using celebrity participation to broaden awareness of the Trump Accounts initiative.Bessent previously said during a radio interview that a commercial promoting Trump Accounts is scheduled to air during next months Super Bowl, shortly after the national anthem. The advertising push underscores the administrations intention to bring national attention to the program.The celebrities involved in the summit have established ties to conservative circles. Cheryl Hines is married to Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a senior member of the Trump administration. Kevin OLeary frequently comments on economic issues on television. Nicki Minaj has become increasingly vocal about her political views in recent months.Minaj recently appeared at Turning Point USAs AmericaFest, where she was interviewed by Erika Kirk. During that appearance, she spoke positively about President Trump, stating, I have the utmost respect and admiration for our president. I dont know if he even knows this, but hes given so many people hope.






Kimmel, meanwhile, questioned how quickly blame was assigned after the shooting, asking why there was resistance to even the idea of a thorough investigation. He framed the issue as a moral baseline rather than a partisan one, arguing that protecting civilians, including those who step in to help others, should not be controversial.

Fear, protest and a fight for accountability

Image credit : X| Kimmel addresses Alex Pretti killing in Minneapolis

As both hosts pointed out, Prettis death was not an isolated incident. It followed another fatal shooting in Minneapolis earlier this month, intensifying public anxiety and fuelling protests across Minnesota. Colbert described those demonstrations as notable not for violence, but for restraint and solidarity, a response that, he suggested, stood in stark contrast to the brutality that prompted them.In closing, Colbert reminded viewers that freedom demands vigilance. He invoked Prettis own words about service and sacrifice, urging audiences to see community action and accountability as essential civic duties. The monologues ended not with laughter, but with a shared insistence that transparency, justice and humanity must not be optional, especially when lives are lost in plain sight.
What exactly happened at the sign

Image credit : X @sweeneyfiles | Sydney Sweeney faces legal questions online.

Hollywood Chamber of Commerce responds

Image credit : X @sweeneyfiles | Sydney Sweeney sparks backlash with Hollywood sign stunt.

Social media explodes with reactions

BREAKING: Hollywood actress Sydney Sweeney might get arrested on vandalism charges after climbing the Hollywood sign and hanging her bras on it to promote her new lingerie brand. pic.twitter.com/jjcnabLfkd





 Dom Lucre | Breaker of Narratives (@dom_lucre) January 26, 2026





Image credit : X @sweeneyfiles | Sydney Sweeneys promo move draws heavy criticism.

Sydney Sweeney in Euphoria season 3

Sydney Sweeneys latest brand promotion has taken a surprising turn, with reports suggesting it could land her in legal trouble. The controversy began after a video surfaced showing the actress climbing the famous Hollywood H sign at night with her production team.According to reports, Sydney climbed the Hollywood sign and hung bras on it as part of the promotion for her upcoming lingerie brand, SYRN. While she reportedly had a permit from FilmLA to shoot near the Hollywood Sign, she did not have permission to touch or climb the sign itself. The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce (HCC), which owns and manages the sign, said that neither Sydney nor her team had official approval to use the sign for commercial purposes.The project is reportedly funded by Jeff Bezos, adding even more attention to the situation. While the bras were mostly taken down after the shoot, around 4 or 5 were left behind, according to reports.As reported by TMZ, the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce may have filed vandalism charges against Sydney Sweeney. The HCC told the portal, There was no permission granted to do this as is required. They also said, We are still investigating how and under what authority (if any) the Sweeney production accessed the site of the Sign.TMZ added that the Chamber was asked whether they would file a police report for vandalism and/or trespass. Their response suggested that a police report could still be filed if the investigation finds wrongdoing.As news of the possible legal trouble spread, social media users had plenty to say. One user wrote, Those good jeans are going to jail. Another commented, Wild PR stunts. Never in my wildest dreams would I have dreamt up this one.Some users questioned the decision to post the video at all. One wrote, Probably not the best idea to record yourself committing a crime and then post it to social media lol. Another added, And she had someone record it. Its giving that she got permitted and wants attention.Others doubted the story altogether. One user said, Video is fake. The alarms would have gone off within 2 minutes, just like they did to all the other groups of people that have done stuff like this to the Hollywood sign.Some people felt the stunt was staged for publicity. One user wrote, Just like I thought, she had a permit and is posting like its a scandal for publicity. Others took a stricter view. Another wrote, We all know this was done with permission. I dont like these guys going out of their way to get arrested.One said, If I did this, Id be arrested. At the very least, heavily fined. She, too, should be arrested or heavily fined. Celebrities should not be given passes or treated like they are beyond the common law. This isn't cute. Shes testing how far she can go.While the investigation continues, Sweeney remains in the spotlight for both her career and this controversy. She will soon return in Euphoria Season 3, alongside Zendaya, Jacob Elordi, Alexa Demie, Hunter Schafer, and Colman Domingo. The upcoming season is rumoured to be the final chapter of the award-winning series.
Image credit : X| Greg Bovino faces backlash after Alex Pretti shooting

The man at the centre of the controversy

Image credit : X| Border Patrol chief criticised over Prettis death in Minneapolis

Minneapolis demands answers after Alex Pretti shooting

Image credit : X| Greg Bovino under fire as protests grow over Pretti shooting

Minneapolis has been plunged into unrest after the fatal shooting of Alex Jeffrey Pretti, a 37-year-old ICU nurse, by federal Border Patrol agents. His death has become a lightning rod in a city already on edge, and it has put one senior official at the centre of the storm. Greg Bovino, a high-profile Border Patrol commander, has been widely criticised for defending the agents involved and for his role in the enforcement operation that led to Prettis death.The shooting, which took place during an immigration enforcement operation in south Minneapolis, quickly drew national attention. Pretti was described by friends and colleagues as a devoted healthcare worker who had spent the pandemic caring for the most vulnerable patients. Yet federal officials have portrayed him as an armed threat who resisted officers, while eyewitness footage and local accounts raised doubts about that version of events.In the days following the shooting, Minneapolis erupted in protests. Demonstrators demanded answers and accountability, calling for a full investigation into what many see as an unjustified use of force. The tension has not eased, and the situation has also prompted questions about the broader approach of the Trump administrations immigration policies, particularly in how they are enforced in American cities.Greg Bovino has become a familiar name in the immigration enforcement world. He joined the Border Patrol in 1996 and rose through the ranks, eventually becoming one of the most visible faces of the Trump administrations immigration crackdown. His outspoken style and public presence have earned him a polarising reputation, with supporters praising his hardline stance and critics accusing him of using the issue for self-promotion.Reports in the wake of the Pretti shooting suggested Bovino would be removed from his role as a key figure in the agencys operations in Minnesota. Some outlets claimed he would be returned to his previous post in California. However, the Department of Homeland Security publicly denied these reports, insisting that he remained an integral part of the team. This contradiction has only intensified public scrutiny and fuelled speculation about internal conflict within the agency.Bovino has defended the agents involved in the shooting, describing their actions as a split second decision made in self defence. He claimed that Pretti was armed and posed an immediate threat, a claim that has been challenged by eyewitness footage and accounts suggesting the situation may have been different. This dispute has heightened mistrust among residents and added to the sense that official narratives do not always align with what the public witnesses.Prettis death is now a symbol of a larger debate about the role of federal agents in domestic policing. The protests in Minneapolis have not only demanded justice for one man, but also highlighted broader fears about the escalation of force and the lack of transparency in high-stakes operations. As calls for accountability grow louder, the public is watching closely to see whether the investigation will provide clarity or simply deepen existing divisions.The story of Alex Pretti is no longer just a local tragedy. It has become a national flashpoint, raising uncomfortable questions about power, trust, and the boundaries of enforcement in American communities.
The family of a 15-year-old boy from St. James in Suffolk County who has been missing for two weeks is asking for the publics help to bring him home.











Police say Thomas Medlin was last seen Jan. 9 after leaving his school and boarding a train at the Stony Brook Long Island Rail pic.twitter.com/hvSE1AH9dk









 Crime In NYC (@Crime_In_NYC) January 24, 2026

This possibility has turned Thomass case into a larger conversation about how easily teenagers can be manipulated online without parents realising.

Reactions from people online and in Brooklyn

BREAKING: New York family seeks publics help finding missing their 15-year-old son











Thomas Medlin was last seen Jan. 9 after leaving his school and boarding a train at the Stony Brook Long Island Rail Road station.











His mother believes her son met someone online through the pic.twitter.com/ThRpjc8xSy









 I Meme Therefore I Am  (@ImMeme0) January 24, 2026



A community still searching Suffolk County Police and the NYPD are working together, but the trail has grown cold. Volunteers have been checking transport hubs, shelters, and neighbourhoods across Manhattan and Brooklyn in the hope that Thomas may still be nearby.



Roblox says there were no attempts to direct a missing 15-year-old to message off-platform or to share personal contact information











Thomas Medlin went missing on Jan 9 after reportedly travelling to meet another player in New York pic.twitter.com/RyTP6JqUee









 Dexerto (@Dexerto) January 26, 2026







Suffolk County Police and the NYPD are working together, but the trail has grown cold. Volunteers have been checking transport hubs, shelters, and neighbourhoods across Manhattan and Brooklyn in the hope that Thomas may still be nearby.

The story has spread rapidly on X, where the hashtag #FindThomasMedlin has been widely shared. One user on X said, Roblox saying they found nothing does not mean nothing happened. These people know exactly how to move kids off the platform before anyone notices.Another user said, I live in Brooklyn and everyone here is looking out for this boy. It is freezing outside. I hope he is safe somewhere.
Foreign Minister Giorgos Gerapetritis heads to New York Tuesday for a high-stakes week at the United Nations, where he will address the Security Council on the Middle East crisis and hold critical talks with Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.

The visit, running through Jan. 31, underscores Athens' expanded diplomatic

footprint as a non-permanent member of the Security Council for the 20252026 term.

Mr. Gerapetritis agenda centers on Wednesday, when he will speak at an open debate on regional stability in the Middle East. Earlier that day, he is scheduled to meet with Ms. Vanessa Frazier, the U.N. special representative for children in armed conflict, before sitting down with Mr. Guterres at 3:30 p.m. to discuss Greeces strategic priorities.

Beyond the U.N., the foreign minister will deliver a keynote address at the Council on Foreign Relations, outlining Greeces role in transatlantic security. On Thursday, he will pivot to economic diplomacy, participating in a roundtable on maritime trade securitya vital issue for Greece, which commands one of the worlds largest merchant fleets.

Mr. Gerapetritis is also scheduled to meet with representatives of the Greek diaspora during his stay.

   iefimerida.gr
The Dangote refinery has increased the gantry price of petrol from N699 per litre to N799 per litre.

As a result, the refinery said MRS filling stations will now sell petrol at N839 per litre.

In a statement Monday evening, the refinery said, With the festive period concluded, PMS prices have been modestly realigned to sustainable levels to support long-term market stability and affordability. Under the current alignment, the PMS gantry price is N799 per litre, while MRS retail outlets are selling at N839 per litre.

The refinery reaffirms its commitment to market stability and an uninterrupted nationwide supply of Premium Motor Spirit.

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It recalled that during the recent festive period, the refinery implemented a deliberate and temporary price support intervention to cushion Nigerians at a time of heightened household spending.

According to the statement, this marked the second consecutive festive season in which the refinery absorbed high costs in the national interest, including logistics support in 2024 and a price reduction in 2025 to promote affordability and market calm.

Despite the price reduction, many filling stations failed to reflect the new price at the pump, thereby denying Nigerians the benefits of the reduction.

With the festive period concluded, PMS prices have been modestly realigned to sustainable levels to support long-term market stability and affordability. Under the current alignment, the PMS gantry price is N799 per litre, while MRS retail outlets are selling at N839 per litre, the statement added.

The Chief Executive Officer of Dangote Petroleum Refinery, David Bird, stated that the refinery continues to supply the domestic market with approximately 50 million litres of PMS daily, with nationwide evacuation and distribution operating normally.

He noted that the refinerys design flexibility allows it to process a wide range of crude and intermediate feedstocks, enabling continued PMS supply during planned maintenance activities.

According to him, this capability ensures that the domestic supply remains stable and uninterrupted.

As a domestic producer, Dangote Petroleum Refinery continues to shield the Nigerian market from import-related volatility and external supply disruptions, while remaining a stabilising force in the downstream petroleum sector.

Dangote Petroleum Refinery remains focused on delivering energy security, price stability, and long-term value for Nigerians, the statement concluded.
Kano State Governor Abba Yusuf has officially defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC), after weeks of speculation and consultation.

The defection signalled a major political realignment ahead of the 2027 general elections in the state.

Mr Yusufa former political protege of the leader of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Rabiu Kwankwasostated that his decision to align with the APC was taken in the best interest of the people of Kano State.

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In a prepared speech, the governor stated that he harbours no ill will toward any individual or group, adding that I am only loyal to the people of Kano State.

He explained that he joined the APC to promote unity, stability, and accelerated development, stressing that his priority remains delivering good governance and the dividends of democracy.

The governor announced that he joined the APC alongside his cabinet members, 22 members of the State House of Assembly, and nine members of the House of Representatives.

He formalised the move on Monday at an event held at the Government House, attended by Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin, former APC National Chairman Abdullahi Ganduje, Kano South Senator Kawu Sumaila, and APC members of the House of Representatives from Kano.

Mr Yusuf is expected to register and collect his APC membership card at his Diso ward in the Gwale Local Government Area.

Mr Yusuf rose to prominence as the PDP governorship candidate in 2019. He eventually won the governorship under the NNPP platform backed by his political godfather, and father-in-law, Mr Kwankwaso, who is also a former Kano governor.

The relationship between Mr Yusuf and Mr Kwankwaso has historically been one of the stable godfather-protege dynamics in Kano politics, which makes this defection to the APC particularly striking.
The 2023 presidential candidate of Labour Party, Mr Peter Obi has enjoined Nigerian youths to guard their votes deligently during the 2027 general elections.

Obi made the call while addressing students of Dominican University in Ibadan on Monday.

The former governor of Anambra State said it is the youths who will guard their votes and not him if they are ready for positive changes in the country.

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Obi noted that development does not come with tribe or race but with knowledge.

The former governor of Anambra State, lamented that Nigeria is still battling to provide basic amenities for the citizens despite the vast resources the country has been endowed with.

He added that the era of relying on international globalization has ended, maintaining that a new Nigeria that all citizens will be proud of is possible.

He enjoined the youths to guard their votes diligently during the 2027 general elections.

Development doesnt come with tribe; it comes with knowledge. Competent leadership is the only way to turn these vast resources into wealth.

It is you that will protect your vote, not me. It is our own country, but it is your future that is at stake. New Nigeria is a necessity that must begin within the classroom, Obi said

The Vice Chancellor of the institution, Professor Jacinta Opara, in his reaction, noted that the visit has significantly boosted the spirit of both the students and staff.
Abba Atiku, son of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, has declared that no political party can defeat President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 praesidential election.

Abba, who recently joined the All Progressives Congress, APC, spoke, yesterday, in Yola, the capital of Adamawa State, after collecting his membership registration card at Gwadabawa Ward in Yola North LGA.

According to him, his decision to join the APC was motivated by a desire to contribute to the administrations far-reaching economic and human development reforms.

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He stated: I want to make it very clear that nobody or any political party can stop President Tinubu from returning to Aso Rock in 2027.

Nigerians have seen his good work; he is not a tribalist and he doesnt make appointments based on religion or region. His decisions are purely on merit, he stated.

Abba said he was inspired by the widespread infrastructural growth and human capital development under Tinubus leadership.

The president needs our support to continue the good work. We should mobilise more people beyond party affiliations, to back our president, he said.

Meanwhile, Adamu Atiku, first son of the former vice president, remains a member of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and currently serves as Commissioner for Works and Energy Development under Governor Ahmadu Fintiri of Adamawa State.

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar is reportedly aspiring to contest the Presidency on the platform of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, though none of his sons are currently members of the party.

Armed security personnel were deployed around the court premises.
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, on Tuesday addressed the strike by workers of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), urging them to return to work or face legal consequences following a National Industrial Court ruling that ended the industrial action.

Briefing reporters shortly after the courts decision, Wike stressed that the rule of law must prevail and accused political actors of exploiting the strike for agendas unrelated to workers welfare.

He stated that the FCTA approached the court after determining that the strike had been hijacked by politicians, despite the administrations ongoing efforts to resolve the dispute through dialogue and fulfill a substantial portion of workers demands.

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The minister added that mediation efforts were already in progress before the industrial action escalated, underscoring the administrations commitment to addressing the concerns of its staff.

The administration was already in the process of mediation when some politicians hijacked the strike, Wike said, adding that several of the demands presented by workers were frivolous and either unreasonable or already addressed.

He said, We believed in dialogue and engagement. We felt the issues could be resolved through discussion. But when it became clear that politicians were about to hijack the strike, we had no choice but to seek legal intervention. We decided to allow the court to determine, on merit, what the real issues were and whether the demands were justified.

This is a democracy. Everyone has the right to protest. But strike action should always be the last option. If workers ask for 14 days and the government has already addressed the issues within 10 days, there should be room for understanding and patience.

Security agencies and the administration engaged with the workers, but it became obvious that there was more to the situation.

He maintained that the FCTA had made substantial efforts to meet workers concerns, including the payment of salaries and the introduction of reforms within the civil service.

Wike disclosed that more than 12billion has just been approved for the payment of January salaries to FCTA workers, a move he said demonstrated the administrations commitment to staff welfare.

The minister also cited improved revenue performance as evidence of reforms under his leadership, stating that the FCT had generated more than 30bn in internally generated revenue (IGR), which he described as a significant increase compared with previous years.

Wike urged workers to acknowledge reforms undertaken by the administration, including the establishment of the Civil Service Commission and investments in infrastructure across the territory.

He argued that inefficiencies within the public service had contributed to underdevelopment not only in the FCT but in many states across Nigeria.

Workers are largely responsible for the lack of development in states, including the FCT, he said.

The minister also dismissed claims circulating on social media that he had been forced out of his office during protests linked to the strike.

He described the reports as false, saying he had merely stepped out of the office to see President Bola Tinubu off at the Airport.

I was never chased out of the office, Wike said.

Adopting a hardline tone, Wike warned against any further disruption of government operations, saying that attempts to lock government premises would attract severe consequences.

Anyone who dares to lock the gates again will be made a scapegoat, because the law must be obeyed, he said.

He further alleged that some senior officials within the civil service had played a role in sustaining the strike, claiming that certain directors were among those instigating the action.

However, he said this would not deter the administration from what he described as doing the right thing.

Wike stressed that engagement between workers and the government did not require direct access to him personally, noting that workers representatives had been in discussions with management throughout the dispute.

The minister cautioned that workers who failed to comply with the court order and resume duties from Wednesday would face legal action, signaling a tougher enforcement phase as the FCTA moves to restore full public services in the nations capital.

Wike said, No one will stagnate this administration through blackmail or political games. If anyone wants to engage politically, they should do so openly.
John Griffith, president and CEO of American Water Works Co., at the company's office in Camden. Read more

As shareholders of American Water of Camden and Bryn Mawr-based Essential Utilities prepare to vote Feb. 10 on a merger to create a combined $40 billion private water and sewer company, regulators in New Jersey and Pennsylvania are weighing the companys latest rate increase requests.

American Waters New Jersey affiliate filed for an average 10% water and 8% sewer rate hike on Jan. 16 for 2.9 million customers in that state, which it said would fund improvements to aging water and sewer systems, if approved by the Board of Public Utilities. Customers would pay an average of $18 more a month.

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Pennsylvanias Public Utility Commission said last month that it would consider the companys request to boost water and sewer rates on 2.4 million customers by an average 15%, or $20 a month.

Investors are showing no great interest in the deal between American Water and Essential. American Water shares fetched over $140 for most of last year but closed Friday at $130.74 and have been trading at close to that discount since CEO John C. Griffith announced the deal in October.

Essential, which operates the Aqua America water utilities and Pittsburghs natural gas utility, has so far shown none of the premium that typically enriches shareholders of a healthy company as it is to be acquired. It closed Monday at $39.32, flat from its preannouncement price.

The merger would be highly favorable for American Water in many ways but not so good for shareholders of Essential, which negotiated only with American Water and didnt look for a better offer from other potential buyers such as Frances Veolia or Florida-based NextEra, according to Ryan Connors, a Bucks County-based utilities analyst whos been following both companies for 20 years.

American Water says planning for the merger is advancing as the vote approaches. Vice president Jimmy Sheridan and past Essential chief operating officer Rick Fox head an integration planning team, and they hired consultant McKinsey & Co. to help.

Inside recent rate-hike hearings

Though theyve been competing for more than a century, both companies, like the handful of other private water operators active in the U.S., have faced grassroots opposition to privatizing water distribution.

The Pennsylvania Supreme Court on Jan. 21 crushed American Waters yearslong campaign to take over the Chester Water Authority, which serves 40, mostly affluent, suburbs in Chester and Delaware Counties and a Lancaster County township. The court ruled the counties, which oppose a sale, can block the deal, which cash-strapped Chester Citys state-appointed financial administration favored.

Analyst Connors, who sat through recent American Water rate hearings in Harrisburg, Scranton, and in Exeter Township, Berks County, says that company has been making a more effective case recently for the Pennsylvania rate hikes it will need to keep updating and eventually acquiring more municipal systems.

In Exeter, it was American Water staff and vendors who packed seats for a state regulatory hearing on the companys latest rate increase. Vocal opponents who dominated the last such hearing two years ago stayed home. Connors said their leaders told him they felt defeated that rates still went up despite the 2024 protests, though not as much as the utility wanted.

Another parade of vendors, recruited openly by American Water, dominated a recent Harrisburg city rate hearing and testified in the companys favor, Connors told clients of Northcoast Research in a Jan. 21 report.

In the latest round of rate-hike hearings, only in Scranton did state, county, and city officials show up to complain about repeated increases by American Waters Pennsylvania-American Water Co. affiliate. The recurring theme could not have been more clear, with nearly every politician stressing the rapid-fire rate increase requests in recent years, Connors said.

How much is Essential worth?

Buying Essentials Aqua-Pennsylvania water companies would add Aquas customers in some of Pennsylvanias richest towns to American Waters rate base. American Water has been socializing its rates to subsidize poor towns, Connors noted.

But Connors is still urging Essential shareholders to vote against the merger, defying chief executive Christopher Franklin and the companys board.

American Waters offer undervalues Essential shares and creates fundamental risks, including pressure on American Water to avoid rate increases to prevent political opposition in Pennsylvania, Connors said.

He cites estimates of Essentials real value from the statement sent to shareholders urging them to approve the deal. Bank of America, the buyers adviser, said Essential is worth as much as $63 a share, considering its assets and cash flows.

Essentials adviser, Moelis & Co., says its cash flows imply the company is worth as much as $52 a share, a roughly 25% premium over its current price.
Bucks County detectives and police at the home where three people died in Northampton Township on Monday. Read more

A Bucks County man was charged with homicide and related crimes late Tuesday after prosecutors said he killed his father, mother, and sister inside their parents Northampton Township home.

The charges came a day after authorities arrested Kevin Castiglia following an hourslong standoff at the home where his relatives were found dead.

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Castiglia, 55, was taken into custody after he barricaded himself inside the two-story brick house at 26 Heather Road, where police later discovered the bodies of his 53-year-old sister, Deborah, in the kitchen and his parents, Frederick, 90, and Judith, 84, in the basement.

Authorities have not said how they died.

Castiglia is charged with three counts each of criminal homicide and abuse of a corpse, as well as making terroristic threats, and related crimes.

Police were dispatched to the house about 2:15 p.m. Monday after Deborah Castiglias boyfriend called 911 to report that Kevin Castiglia had threatened him with a large chefs knife when he arrived at the home looking for his girlfriend, authorities said. The boyfriend told police Deborah Castiglia had been missing for several days, according to the affidavit of probable cause for her brothers arrest.

After officers arrived, the affidavit said, Kevin Castiglia came to the front door armed with two knives, one of which an officer believed had blood on it.

According to the affidavit, Castiglia spoke incoherently and did not respond when officers asked about his family. He pointed the knives at the officers, who deployed Tasers to try to subdue him  without success, the document said.

Castiglia pulled the probes from his body before slamming the door shut and locking it, the affidavit said.

Officers called for a tactical team to break into the house. As police secured the area, neighbors were ordered to shelter in place.

David Deleo, 41, was shoveling snow from his driveway when Northampton Township police arrived, he said in a phone interview Tuesday. Within minutes, he said, officers blocked off Heather Road. Police vehicles and emergency crews from neighboring towns and counties soon lined the street, surrounding the house and establishing a perimeter, he said.

From inside her home next door, Erica Titlow, 35, said she looked out a window and saw the man standing at the front door of the house, which has French doors with large glass panes. He was in his underwear, she said, with blood on his chest and stomach. Deleo said that he also saw the man and that he was holding a knife with blood on the blade.

I had no idea what was happening, Titlow said. I thought maybe he was having some kind of mental breakdown and had hurt himself.

After the man retreated from the doorway, police used a bullhorn to call out to him, Titlow said, urging him to come outside. He did not, and the standoff continued for several hours.

Officers surrounded the house but were unable to enter, Titlow said. Shortly before a SWAT team forced its way through the front door Monday evening, officers went door to door, asking Deleo and Titlow if snipers could use their second-floor windows to provide cover to officers on the ground. They agreed, they said.

Titlow said she spent more than an hour hiding in her basement with her 2-year-old daughter while snipers were positioned inside her home. I didnt want her to see any of it, she said.

Even after officers entered the house, the man was not immediately removed, Deleo said. He watched as police deployed gas canisters inside the home and heard them detonate. Firefighters later connected a hose to a nearby hydrant and sprayed water into the house, according to Deleo and Titlow.

Sometime after nightfall  the exact moment was difficult to recall, Titlow said  officers pulled the man from the house. He was restrained on a stretcher as authorities wheeled him away, she said.

By Tuesday morning, police were still at the scene, Titlow said, though the activity had slowed. Its a lot quieter now, she said.

Staff writer Robert Moran contributed to this article.
Investigators recovered eight firearms and millions of dollars of drugs from a Philadelphia man's residence this month. Read more

Bucks County prosecutors charged a man who fired a gun at police during a narcotics operation this month with attempted murder and related crimes, authorities said Tuesday. It was the latest development in a multistate investigation that led to the recovery of eight firearms and $4 million in drugs.

Police arrested the man, Nicholas Sperando, 26, of Philadelphia, on Jan. 15 after the shooting at his rowhouse on Fairdale Road in Northeast Philadelphia, according to Bucks County District Attorney Joe Khans office.

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Sperandos home was one of several locations involved in an extensive drug-trafficking organization, officials said.

After announcing their intent to serve a warrant at Sperandos home that day, agents with the Pennsylvania Attorney Generals Office and Pennsylvania state troopers prepared to breach Sperandos door with a battering ram.

Instead, they were met with gunfire from inside the home.

After firing a round, Sperando fired a second shot through the front door, directly targeting the position where the officers had been standing, officials said.

No officers fired their weapons or were injured in the operation.

This cowardly act against our officers was an attack on the rule of law, and our office will always protect those who risk their lives to protect us, even when that happens across county lines, Khan said when announcing the charges.

Sperando surrendered during the incident and is being held without bail on two counts of attempted murder and attempted murder of a law enforcement officer, as well as three counts of aggravated assault and related drug crimes.

The arrest, Khans office said, was the culmination of a monthslong investigation that dismantled a multimillion-dollar trafficking organization.

For months, authorities said, undercover officers had purchased drugs from Sperando in Levittown and Northeast Philadelphia. Bucks County officials asserted control of the Philadelphia jurisdiction for the sake of their investigation, according to officials.

Investigators searched Sperandos residence and recovered a FN Herstal 5.7 pistol that they said was used in the shooting  including a live round jammed in the gun, which, in prosecutors view, likely prevented fatalities among law enforcement officers.

Meanwhile, authorities said, investigators found a variety of controlled substances and other weapons located across Sperandos residence, his place of work on James Street, and a stash house on Day Street.

At the Day Street house, officers arrested another man, David Tierney, who they say was also involved in the operation.

Investigators said they seized an AR-style rifle, a Glock handgun with extended magazine, and bulk quantities of marijuana and proceeds from drug sales from Sperandos home, while the alleged stash house yielded a firearm found under a pillow and a trailer containing enormous quantities of marijuana and THC vaporizers.

At Sperandos workplace, which officials did not name, officers recovered a Mossberg pump shotgun, a Ruger .380 pistol, and a significant supply of psilocybin mushrooms and edibles, authorities said.

In all, officials said, the operation yielded 300 pounds of marijuana and 17,000 vaporizers, as well as 80 pounds of THC concentrate, 600 bags of THC edibles, 15 pounds of mushrooms, 75 mushroom edibles, 300 Adderall pills, and two ounces of cocaine.

Sperando is being held in custody without bail. Tierney is being held on $250,000 bail. A third suspect in the operation, Nicholas Keenoy, surrendered to authorities on Tuesday.
The federal commission seeking personal contact information for faculty and staff at the University of Pennsylvania has accused the school of engaging in an intensive and relentless public relations campaign to avoid complying with the subpoena.

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, in a court filing Monday, defended its subpoena seeking potential witnesses and victims of antisemitism at the university and said the request is not unusual for such investigations. The commission is seeking employees names, home addresses, phone numbers, and email addresses to further an investigation it began in 2023 over the schools treatment of Jewish faculty and other employees regarding antisemitism complaints following Hamas attack on Israel.

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The commissions request has spurred a backlash from student and faculty groups, including Penns chapter of the American Association of University Professors and the Penn Faculty Alliance to Combat Antisemitism, arguing that the information should not be turned over. Penn has refused to provide the information, prompting the EEOC to file the lawsuit in November.

Penns response to the lawsuit, along with filings by other groups, forecast highly speculative and deeply nefarious outcomes should the EEOCs subpoena be enforced, the commission said. This dark prognosticating has been predictably (and immediately) reported in national, local, and campus outlets.

 READ MORE: Penn calls federal commissions request for personal employee information unconstitutional, disconcerting and unnecessary

The university, in a filing earlier this month, said the commissions request was disconcerting and unnecessary and could pose a threat to employees.

The EEOC insists that Penn produce this information without the consent  and indeed, over the objections  of the employees impacted while entirely disregarding the frightening and well-documented history of governmental entities that undertook efforts to identify and assemble information regarding persons of Jewish ancestry," the university wrote in its filing.

The commission argued in response that Penns assertion of potential danger to employees is untethered from both the law and the reality of these proceedings.

The EEOC seeks only to investigate allegations of serious, widespread antisemitic harassment in Respondents workplace, the commission argued.

 READ MORE: EEOC sues Penn for failing to release information related to antisemitism investigation

The commission, the group said, is only seeking information on faculty and staff who complained of antisemitic harassment, who belonged to Jewish affinity organizations, or who worked in the Jewish Studies Program. They could have knowledge of potential problems, the commission said.

Penn can provide the contact information without listing the employees organizational affiliations, the commission said.

Penn did not immediately comment on the latest EEOC filing.

Penn has said it provided over 900 pages of materials to the commission and offered to send notices to all employees about the EEOCs request to hear of antisemitism concerns with the commissions contact information, so they could reach out themselves if interested in participating.

But the commission called that offer unworkable and said it would undermine the integrity of the agencys investigation.

Messages from EEOC to employees filtered through an employer always risk creating confusion, fear, and mistrust among recipients, the commission said.

That path could increase the possibility of retaliation against employees for cooperating with the investigation, the commission argued.

The university has challenged the validity of the EEOCs charge, asserting that the commission has not identified a single allegedly unlawful employment practice or incident involving employees. It also does not refer to any employee complaint the agency has received, any allegation made by or concerning employees, or any specific workplace incident(s) contemplated by the EEOC, the university said.

While EEOC complaints typically come from those who allege they were aggrieved, this one was launched by EEOC Commissioner Andrea Lucas, now chair of the body, on Dec. 8, 2023, two months after Hamas attack on Israel that led to unrest on college campuses, including Penns, and charges of antisemitism. It was also just three days after Penns then-president, Liz Magill, had testified before a Republican-led congressional committee on the schools handling of antisemitism complaints; the testimony drew a bipartisan backlash and led to Magills resignation days later.

Lucas, according to the EEOC complaint, made the charge in Penns case because of probable reluctance of Jewish faculty and staff to complain of harassing environment due to fear of hostility and potential violence directed against them.

The commission in its filing Monday said its practice is within its regulations.

This charge alleges a time frame, an unlawful employment practice (hostile work environment), the individuals potentially affected by that alleged unlawful employment practice (Jewish employees), and the publicly available sources, the commission said.

The commission also criticized Penns concerns about potential leaks of employees contact information through the EEOC, noting the data breach that occurred at Penn last year, exposing employees information.

Its concerns about the security of EEOCs IT systems are disingenuous, the commission said.
Call Your Mother, the popular D.C. Jewish bagel chain, expects to open in Fishtown this summer. Read more

Philly is getting another bagel option.

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Call Your Mother  the popular neighborhood bagel shop and Jew-ish deli from the District of Columbia  is headed to the Keystone State.

Its part of a steady ongoing expansion, including about 25 locations across D.C., Maryland, Virginia, Colorado, and Illinois, plus more on the way.

The first Philly location will be in Fishtown, in the corner space of 1500 Frankford Ave., and is expected to open this summer, owners said.

This will be the start of more shops in Philly, co-owner Andrew Dana said. But weve never had a master plan on how to roll out. Well go where people want bagels and where were excited to be, as long as our food quality and service stay the same.

With colorful decor that would feel right at home in West Palm Beach and stuffed bagel sandwiches made with latkes, whitefish dips, and smoked salmon, Call Your Mother is popular across the DMV.

In the six years since Dana and his wife, co-owner Daniela Moreira, opened that first location, the shop has been praised across food publications like Bon Appetit and Eater for its vibe and sandwiches. Some critics say the menu is overpriced, but items on the D.C. menu  including sandwiches and loose bagels  appear similarly priced to most of Phillys bagel outposts (and sometimes cheaper).

On that note, Dana says to expect the same Call Your Mother signature menu items  like its bacon, egg, and cheese sandwiches and its babka muffins. But were in the lab trying to cook up some special Philly flair, too, he said.

You can also expect a colorful buildout.

Most of the building will be painted pink, but were on the hunt for a local muralist to put an extra stamp on the building, Dana said. Were also looking for local Philly food products to showcase. Locals interested in getting in on the mix are encouraged to direct message Call Your Mother on Instagram.

The expansion comes amid a bagel boom in the Philly area: Viral bagel chain PopUp Bagels is set to open its first Pennsylvania location in Ardmore with seven more locations on the way in the Philadelphia region, including Suburban Square and Center City. Barts Bagels of West Philly is opening its third location in Bala Cynwyd, and Pennys Bagels is coming to Haddonfield this year, as well.

 READ MORE: PopUp Bagels, Phillys most anticipated new bagel shop, comes with rules and a viral TikTok following

Its a rise of the tide situation, Dana said. Were not trying to take anyones territory. We dont want to threaten a local spot. People love carbs, people love bagels. Theres enough room for everyone.

The Frankford Avenue spot is part of a surge of popular food options in the area. Its right across the street from Marinas Pizza and El Chingon, and down the road from the new Medium Rare location.

The infusion of best-in-class national brands like Call Your Mother Deli represents Fishtowns strength today, said Stefanie Gabel of MSC, who represented both Call Your Mother and the buildings landlord in the transaction. Gabel will continue to represent Call Your Mother as the deli expands within the Philly region. Their presence also serves as a catalyst for the continued growth and longevity of Philadelphias most explosive mixed-use ecosystem.

Call Your Mother recently made national headlines when it filed a trademark lawsuit against New Jerseys Call Your Bubbi, a beach town cafe and kosher-certified bagel shop in Long Branch. Dana and Moreira said the Jersey cafe, which also sometimes goes by Bubbi Bagels, intentionally used a confusingly similar name and branding at times.

The dueling shops settled outside of court in early January, according to court documents. Dana declined to comment on the terms. Bubbi Bagels owner David Mizrahi could not be reached for comment.

 READ MORE: Jersey bagel shop sued by D.C.s Call Your Mother in branding dispute

As for what drove the couple to come to Philly, Dana said it was a simple decision: He very literally called his mother, Mary Wilson.

Wilsons parents lived in Mount Airy and growing up Dana would visit his maternal grandparents often. He would go to their house, venture downtown, and explore Chestnut Hill. One of his best friends attended Penn. His cousins live on the Main Line. His other best friend lives in Bryn Mawr. In many ways, Dana says Call Your Mother coming to Philly is a natural progression.

Ive spent an insane amount of time here. I love the culture, the food, the vibe. Its a great place to be, he said.
Chefs travels inspire their menus  for example, the konbini in Japan that Jesse Ito and Justin Bacharach visited for Dancerobot and the trattorias in Italy that Stephen Starrs team scouted for Borromini, to name two just in the last year.

For Greg Vernick, the culinary inspiration for his first new restaurant in 6 years  the casual Emilia, opening Tuesday in Kensington  was from a trip to Rome a few months ago with Meredith Medoway, Emilias chef de cuisine, and Drew Parrasio, culinary director for his restaurants.

Ive been to Rome before, but never as a chef traveling with other chefs, said Vernick, who was named last week to the James Beard Awards 2026 list of semifinalists for Outstanding Restaurateur. (The Cherry Hill native won Best Chef, Mid-Atlantic for Vernick Food & Drink in 2017.)

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Before they left, Vernick called chef friends like Marc Vetri, Jean-Georges Vongerichten, and Hope Cohen for recommendations: Where do I need to eat? Street food, markets, trattorias, all of it.

Emilias must-try dish came from a culinary school. Cohens suggestions included the American Academy in Rome. We walked up one day thinking wed just say hello and ended up spending the entire day there, Vernick said. They grow their own herbs and produce. We were eating arugula straight from the ground, picking rosemary and thyme  it felt cinematic. Chef Sara Levi, who oversees the academys program, asked the three to join the students for the days family meal.

One of the dishes was a simple chicken ragu pasta  hand-cut chicken, livers, hearts, very little sauce, Vernick said. Light, savory, a little gamey. We didnt even talk much while we were eating it. Later, walking back into central Rome, we all realized: That was one of the best pastas we had on the trip, and wed eaten three to five pastas a day for three days.

Back home in Vernicks kitchen, they tweaked it to just honor the idea, Vernick said. Its on the opening menu as rigatoni, ragu bianco. Its also Emilias lone chicken dish  a somewhat daring move.

Emilia, just north of the York Street roundabout on Frankford Avenue, seats 60 in the dining room, with an additional 10 seats at the bar and 20 in a lounge area; in keeping with Vernicks desire to make this a neighborhood place, some tables are held for walk-ins.

Canno Designs Carey Jackson Yonce, working with California-based designer Bob Bronstein, has the lighting set to subdued.

I wanted it to feel like the kind of place where you walk in and exhale and relax, Vernick said. Industry-friendly, not precious. We want to hit two markets from day one: the neighborhood and the industry. If you get those right, everything else falls into place.

Italian is a new turn for Vernick, who started here in 2012 with the New American Vernick Food & Drink before adding Vernick Coffee Bar in 2018 and Vernick Fish in 2019. The developers of Emilias building were keen on having an Italian restaurant, and Vernicks thoughts naturally turned to Medoway, the longtime chef de cuisine at his flagship.

The bar program focuses exclusively on Italy, with low-intervention wines, amari, spritzes, and a rotating seasonal negroni, along with Italian sodas and zero-proof cocktails.

Much of the menu is coursed and priced as smaller plates (figure teens and $20s). The few entree-sized dishes, such as golden tilefish ribollita and grilled sea bream, start in the high $30s; top price is $53 for crispy veal with broccoli di ciccio.

Theres other house-made pasta on the menu, such as capellini with pesto, and radiatore in mushroom Bolognese. Much of Medoways cooking is centered on a 48-inch charcoal- and oak-fired grill. Each table receives complimentary breads  house-made focaccia, Mighty Breads sesame ciabatta, and the thin bread sticks known as grissini.

Another anchor main course dish is rabbit Emiliana, a regional take on cacciatore from Emilia-Romagna that Medoway devised after a trip of her own. The braised rabbit is finished with roasted peppers, green olives, fresh orange, and vinegar, giving it a punchy, slightly sweet-sour profile.

Several smaller plates lean into texture and contrast. Carta da musica, a paper-thin Sardinian cracker, is spread with soft butter, dusted with grated bottarga, and topped with a relish of fire-roasted peppers. You crack it at the table and share the shards. Its about breaking bread together, Vernick said.

A sea scallop crudo pairs raw scallop with burrata and a caper-chili vinaigrette, a combination Vernick said surprises people at first because of the similar textures. It works, though, he said. Its simple but exciting. Grilled cabbage, blanched and then charred over the wood fire, is tossed with a colatura vinaigrette and finished with pecorino. It reads boring, but it eats incredibly well, he said.

Emilia, 2406 Frankford Ave., 267-541-2360, emiliaphilly.com. Reservations open on Resy. Hours: 5 to 9:30 p.m. Sunday to Wednesday, 5 to 10 p.m. Thursday to Saturday.
The closed Iron Hill Brewery on Market Street in Center City could be revived after a federal bankruptcy judge approved the transfer of a lease and the acquisition of Iron Hill's trademark and intellectual property. Read more

Iron Hill Brewery may get a second life.

Four months after the chain closed nearly 20 locations and filed for bankruptcy, a federal judge has approved the acquisition of Iron Hills trademark and intellectual property in conjunction with the transfer of five restaurant leases, including one in Philadelphia, according to court documents filed over the weekend.

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The shuttered brewpubs in Center City, Huntingdon Valley, Hershey, Lancaster, and Wilmington are set to be taken over by new tenants, each of which is referred to as IHB in the documents. Earlier this month, these tenants registered as business corporations under IHB and the name of each location, according to state records in Pennsylvania and Delaware.

Judge Jerrold N. Poslusny Jr. also approved a written agreement that allowed for Rightlane LLC to assume Iron Hill Brewerys trademark and intellectual property, according to the same filing in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in New Jersey.

Jeff Crivello, the former CEO of Famous Daves BBQ, was originally set to buy the assets of these five Iron Hill locations, along with those of five others that he has since sold.

On Monday, Crivello confirmed that the assets of his five remaining Iron Hills, along with the brands trademark and intellectual property, had been acquired by a buyer called Right Lane.

There are several companies that go by the name Rightlane or Right Lane. Attempts to reach representatives of the Right Lane that was involved in the Iron Hill deal were unsuccessful.

The deal could revive some prime real estate in the Philadelphia region. In Center City, the 8,500-square-foot restaurant was meant to help revitalize the troubled Market East. In Wilmington, Iron Hill had renovated its 10,000-square-foot restaurant on the waterfront.

In December, Crivello had hinted at the possibility of an Iron Hill resurrection, saying, Were working with a couple buyers that want to reopen [closed breweries] as Iron Hill.

 READ MORE: Iron Hill Brewery in West Chester is officially seeking a new tenant

Iron Hill Brewery, which was founded in Newark, Del., developed a loyal following over its nearly 30 years in business. Fellow business owners and brewers considered it a pioneer in the local craft beer scene and a restaurant that helped put suburban downtowns like West Chester and Media on the map. Customers said they loved its family-friendly atmosphere.

In more recent years, Iron Hill opened a production facility in Exton, started canning its beers, and unveiled new locations in Philadelphia, South Carolina, and Georgia. This expansion occurred against the backdrop of the coronavirus pandemic and a nationwide decline in consumers thirst for beer and other alcohol.

For Iron Hill, it did not prove a winning strategy. By the time the chain filed for liquidation bankruptcy this fall, it owed more than $20 million to creditors and had about $125,000 in the bank.

Since then, massive shells of former breweries have sat vacant throughout the region. As the case made its way through bankruptcy court, landlords were delayed in their searches for new tenants.

Many locations still remain empty, with no word on what might fill the spaces. But in some spots, there are signs of life.

 READ MORE: P.J. Whelihans restaurant group may move into a former Iron Hill Brewery

The company that owns P.J. Whelihans may be moving into the former Iron Hill in Newtown, Bucks County.

Last month, PJW Opco LLC, which is registered at the headquarters of PJW Restaurant Group, was approved to take over a lease for an 8,000-square-foot closed Iron Hill in the Village at Newtown shopping center.

In South Carolina, Crivello has sold the assets of the former Iron Hills in Columbia and Greenville to Virginia-based Three Notchd Brewing Co.

This story has been updated to reflect additional information about Right Lane.
This 1981 electron microscope image made available by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows varicella-zoster virions from a patient with chickenpox. Philadelphia health officials recently reported an uptick in chickenpox cases among children. Read more

Philadelphia health officials are warning medical providers to be on the alert for chickenpox, after outbreaks at two city schools in recent months indicate a small but notable increase in cases of the highly contagious disease.

Fewer than 10 cases were reported at each school, and the outbreaks were not connected, nor part of a broader community outbreak. In a health advisory to doctors earlier this month, the city said it had fielded reports of varicella in unvaccinated children, who can suffer more serious effects than vaccinated kids.

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Its unclear what drove the recent uptick in cases in Philadelphia, said Gayle Mendoza, a spokesperson for the city Department of Public Health. She did not have information on how many cases were reported in vaccinated versus unvaccinated children.

Chickenpox causes fever, fatigue, and a rash that can develop into hundreds of itchy blisters. People over 18 are at risk for more serious complications than children.

About 94% of schoolchildren in Philadelphia have immunity against chickenpox, also known as varicella, with the vast majority protected through vaccination. Of those with immunity today, only about 1% acquired protection through an infection.

Varicella outbreaks used to be much more common before widespread vaccination.

Cases have dropped by 97% in the United States since health authorities recommended routine childhood vaccination in 1995, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Case counts for several communicable diseases, including whooping cough and walking pneumonia, declined during the COVID-19 pandemic while schools closed, but have since risen closer to pre-pandemic levels. That could be happening with varicella, Mendoza said.

In Philadelphia, varicella vaccination rates briefly ticked downward after the 2020-21 school year, but by the 2024-25 school year had returned close to pre-pandemic rates, according to state data.

Earlier this month, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy announced sweeping changes to the CDCs list of routinely recommended childhood vaccinations, removing several from the list and sparking outrage from health experts who said that cases of serious, preventable diseases like hepatitis B would rise.

Chickenpox vaccination is still on the list of vaccines recommended for all children, although health experts have raised warnings about nationally declining vaccination rates in recent years.

Before 1995, nearly 4 million people a year were infected with chickenpox, up to 13,500 were hospitalized, and between 100 and 150 died, city health officials said.

Its a very small chance you get the illness if youre vaccinated, but its always going to be milder, Mendoza said.

Unvaccinated patients can develop 250 to 500 lesions from chickenpox; vaccinated patients, if they contract the disease, will see less than 50 and have less likelihood of spreading the disease.

With the recent school outbreaks, Philadelphia health officials are encouraging health providers to test patients for chickenpox and report suspected, probable, and confirmed cases to local authorities.

People who have been exposed to the virus can get immunized within five days or receive antiviral medications to prevent them from contracting the disease.

Mendoza said the health department is coordinating a response with schools where varicella outbreaks were identified.
Texass attorney general sued an out-of-state nurse practitioner Monday for allegedly mailing abortion pills to women in Texas, where the drugs are illegal  the latest in a string of similar lawsuits by conservative officials seeking to limit access to the pills.

Attorney General Ken Paxton (R) filed a lawsuit against Debra Lynch, who runs Her Safe Harbor, a Delaware-based service that remotely prescribes and mails abortion pills to women across the country. Paxtons court filing suggests that he learned about Lynchs operations from news interviews shed done over the last year, including with the Austin American-Statesman and the New York Times.

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In those interviews, Lynch boasted about mailing abortion drugs to Texas, the court filing says.

The day of reckoning for this radical out-of-state abortion drug trafficker is here, Paxton said in a statement Tuesday. No one, regardless of where they live, will be freely allowed to aid in the murder of unborn children in Texas.

Lynch and Her Safe Harbor did not immediately respond to requests for comment Tuesday afternoon.

She and her group join a growing list of out-of-state abortion providers and groups that Texas has sought to punish. All so far have worked out of states with shield laws enacted after the Supreme Court threw out the constitutional right to an abortion, to protect abortion providers from out-of-state prosecution.

That legal strategy has come under fire from officials in states with abortion bans, with Texas leading the way. Paxton, his allies at the Texas Capitol, and antiabortion advocates and attorneys have for months worked to thwart access to the abortion pills that are still flowing into their state.

Last year, Paxton sued a doctor in New York for sending abortion pills to Texas. This year, he sent cease-and-desist letters to a California doctor, along with Her Safe Harbor  Lynchs group, which prescribes and mails pills  and another organization that provides information on where to access pills. Louisiana has indicted the same New York and California doctors, also accusing them of illegally sending mailing abortion pills.

New York and California have declined to cooperate with the actions by the red states.

When she spoke with the American-Statesman and the Times this year, Lynch let reporters and photographers shadow her work, allowing them to chronicle her process of taking patient phone calls and packaging the pills alongside her husband.

Across the country, there are eight states that explicitly protect abortion providers that mail pills to patients in states with abortion bans, but that group does not include Delaware, where Her Safe Harbor began providing services in June 2024. Delaware is one of more than a dozen states that offer varying levels of protection for telehealth providers of abortion and gender transition care.

The New York Times reported in June that Lynch had decided to move to one of the eight states with the strongest shield laws. It is not clear whether she did so.
The border wall separating Mexico and the United States in Tijuana, Mexico, is seen on Jan. 28, 2025. Read more

ORLANDO, Fla.  President Donald Trumps crackdown on immigration contributed to a year-to-year drop in the nations growth rate as the U.S. population reached nearly 342 million people in 2025, according to population estimates released Tuesday by the U.S. Census Bureau.

The 0.5% growth rate for 2025 was a sharp drop from 2024s almost 1% growth rate, which was the highest in two decades and was fueled by immigration. The 2024 estimates put the U.S. population at 340 million people.

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Immigration increased by almost 1.3 million people last year, compared with 2024s increase of almost 2.8 million people. If trends continue, the annual gain from immigrants by mid-2026 will drop to only 321,000 people, according to the Census Bureau, whose estimates do not distinguish between legal and illegal immigration.

In the past 125 years, the lowest growth rate was in 2021, during the height of the coronavirus pandemic, when the U.S. population grew by just 0.16%, or 522,000 people and immigration increased by just 376,000 people because of travel restrictions into the U.S. Before that, the lowest growth rate was just under 0.5% in 1919 at the height of the Spanish flu.

Births outnumbered deaths last year by 519,000 people. While higher than the pandemic-era low at the beginning of the decade, the natural increase was dramatically smaller than in the 2000s, when it ranged between 1.6 million and 1.9 million people.

Lower immigration stunts growth in many states

The immigration drop dented growth in several states that traditionally have been immigrant magnets.

California had a net population loss of 9,500 people in 2025, a stark change from the previous year, when it gained 232,000 residents, even though roughly the same number of Californians already living in the state moved out in both years. The difference was immigration since the number of net immigrants who moved into the state dropped from 361,000 people in 2024 to 109,000 in 2025.

Florida had year-to-year drops in both immigrants and people moving in from other states. The Sunshine State, which has become more expensive in recent years from surging property values and higher home insurance costs, had only 22,000 domestic migrants in 2025, compared with 64,000 people in 2024, and the net number of immigrants dropped from more than 411,000 people to 178,000 people.

New York added only 1,008 people in 2025, mostly because the states net migration from immigrants dropped from 207,000 people to 95,600 people.

South Carolina, Idaho, and North Carolina had the highest year-over-year growth rates, ranging from 1.3% to 1.5%. Texas, Florida, and North Carolina added the most people in pure numbers. California, Hawaii, New Mexico, Vermont, and West Virginia had population declines.

The South, which has been the powerhouse of growth in the 2020s, continued to add more people than any other region, but the numbers dropped from 1.7 million people in 2024 to 1.1 million in 2025.

Many of these states are going to show even smaller growth when we get to next year, Brookings demographer William Frey said Tuesday.

The effects of Trumps immigration crackdown

Tuesdays data release comes as researchers have been trying to determine the effects of the second Trump administrations immigration crackdown after the Republican president returned to the White House in January 2025. Trump made a surge of migrants at the southern border a central issue in his winning 2024 presidential campaign.

The numbers made public Tuesday reflect change from July 2024 to July 2025, covering the end of President Joe Bidens Democratic administration and the first half of Trumps first year back in office.

The figures capture a period that reflects the beginning of enforcement surges in Los Angeles and Portland, Ore., but do not capture the impact on immigration after the Trump administrations crackdowns began in Chicago; New Orleans; Memphis, Tennessee; and Minneapolis, Minn..

The 2025 numbers were a jarring divergence from 2024, when net international migration accounted for 84% of the nations 3.3 million-person increase from the year before. The jump in immigration two years ago was partly because of a new method of counting that added people who were admitted for humanitarian reasons.

They do reflect recent trends we have seen in out-migration, where the numbers of people coming in is down and the numbers going out is up, Eric Jensen, a senior research scientist at the Census Bureau, said last week.

How the population estimates are calculated

Unlike the once-a-decade census, which determines how many congressional seats and Electoral College votes each state gets, as well as the distribution of $2.8 trillion in annual government funding, the population estimates are calculated from government records and internal Census Bureau data.

The release of the 2025 population estimates was delayed by the federal government shutdown last fall and comes at a challenging time for the Census Bureau and other U.S. statistical agencies. The bureau, which is the largest statistical agency in the U.S., lost about 15% of its workforce last year due to buyouts and layoffs that were part of cost-cutting efforts by the White House and its Department of Government Efficiency.

Other recent actions by the Trump administration, such as the firing of Erika McEntarfer as Bureau of Labor Statistics commissioner, have raised concerns about political meddling at U.S. statistical agencies. But Frey said the bureaus staffers appear to have been doing this work as usual without interference.

So I have no reason to doubt the numbers that come out, Frey said.
Carrie Hampton tries to navigate a snowy intersection without spilling her coffee in New York, Monday, Jan. 26, 2026. Read more

The U.S. workweek opened with yet more snow dumping on the Northeast under the tail end of a colossal winter storm that brought lingering misery to parts of the South, where freezing rain left hundreds of thousands shivering without electricity Monday. At least 25 deaths were reported amid the severe weather.

Deep snow  over a foot extending in a 1,300-mile swath from Arkansas to New England  halted traffic, canceled flights, and triggered widespread school closures Monday. The National Weather Service said areas north of Pittsburgh got up to 20 inches of snow and faced wind chills as low as minus 25 degrees Fahrenheit late Monday into Tuesday.

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A rising death toll included two people run over by snowplows in Massachusetts and Ohio, fatal sledding accidents in Arkansas and Texas, and a woman whose body was found covered in snow by police with bloodhounds after she was last seen leaving a Kansas bar. In New York City, officials said eight people were found dead outdoors in the course of the frigid weekend.

There were more than 750,000 power outages in the nation by Monday midafternoon, according to poweroutage.com. Most of them were in the South, where weekend blasts of freezing rain caused tree limbs and power lines to snap, inflicting crippling outages on northern Mississippi and parts of Tennessee.

Parts of Mississippi were reeling in the aftermath of the states worst ice storm since 1994. Officials scrambled Monday to get cots, blankets, bottled water, and generators to warming stations in hard-hit areas.

Utility officials in New Albany, Miss., said some homes and businesses could be without electricity for at least a week. In nearby Oxford, most residents and University of Mississippi students were without power Monday. Mayor Robyn Tannehill said on social media that so many trees, limbs, and power lines had fallen that it looks like a tornado went down every street.

A pair of burly, falling tree branches damaged real estate agent Tim Phillips new garage, broke a window, and cut off power to his home in Oxford. He said half of his neighbors had homes or vehicles damaged.

Its just one of those things that you try to prepare for, Phillips said, but this one was just unreal.

The U.S. had more than 8,000 flight delays and cancellations nationwide Monday, according to flight tracker flightaware.com. On Sunday, 45% of U.S. flights got canceled, making it the highest day for cancellations since the COVID-19 pandemic, according to aviation analytics firm Cirium.

More light to moderate snow was forecast in New England through Monday evening.

New York City saw its snowiest day in years, with 11 inches falling on Central Park. Main roads throughout the city were largely clear Monday morning, but pedestrians had to plod through snow on some sidewalks and multiple subway lines with above-ground tracks saw delays.

Bitter cold grips much of the nation

Meanwhile, bitter cold followed in the storms wake. Many communities across the Midwest, South, and Northeast awakened Monday to subzero weather. The entire Lower 48 states were forecast to have their coldest average low temperature of minus 9.8 F since January 2014.

Record warmth in Florida was the only thing keeping that average from going even colder, said former National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration chief scientist Ryan Maue, who calculates national averages based on National Weather Service data.

In the Nashville, Tenn., area, electricity was back for thousands of homes and businesses Monday while more than 170,000 others awoke bundled up in powerless homes after subfreezing temperatures overnight. Many hotels were sold out overnight to residents escaping dark and frigid homes.

Alex Murray booked a Nashville hotel room for his family to ensure they had a working freezer to preserve pumped breast milk to feed their 6-month-old daughter. Anticipating a long wait until power gets restored at his home, Murray planned to extend their hotel stay through Wednesday.

I know theres many people that may not be able to find a place or pay for a place or anything like that, or even travel, Murray said Monday. So, we were really fortunate.

Storm leads to deaths in a number of states

In New York City, Mayor Zohran Mamdanis office said at least eight people were found dead outside as temperatures plunged between Saturday and Monday morning, though the causes of their deaths remained under investigation.

In Emporia, Kan., police searching with bloodhounds found a 28-year-old teacher dead and covered in snow. Police said she had was last seen leaving a bar without her coat and phone.

Police said snowplows backed into two people who died in Norwood, Mass., and Dayton, Ohio. And authorities said two teenagers, one in Arkansas and another in Texas, were killed in sledding accidents.

Officials reported three deaths each in Louisiana, Pennsylvania, and Tennessee; two deaths in Mississippi; and one in New Jersey.
PA Bat Rescue takes in bats, year-round, for treatment and rehabilitation. Read more

Stephanie Stronsick has bats in her Berks County house. On purpose.

Aw, look at her little face, Stronsick said about an injured brown bat her husband was holding on a recent winter afternoon.

Stronsick, 42, is the founder and executive director of Pennsylvania Bat Conservation and Rehabilitation (PA Bat Rescue), a nonprofit that underwent a major overhaul last year.

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Shed like the bats to leave, ideally, but only after theyve healed. Currently, the facility is treating over 100 bats for injuries and illness. Some were struck by wind turbines or bonked their heads on tall urban buildings that dont turn off their lights at night. Others were torn up by outdoor cats or birds of prey.

Some big fruit bats, which look like puppies, were hanging upside down in one room. They used to live at the Akron Zoo.

Like the other bats in Stronsicks house, they were asleep.

Theyre all retired, she said.

Many of Stronsicks bats are being treated for white-nose syndrome, a fungal disease that has killed millions of bats in North America. In Pennsylvania, its estimated that 99% of cave-dwelling bats have been affected by the fungus during hibernation.

Weve lost so many bats that were at a point where if we dont do something, theyre going to be gone, Stronsick said. In my lifetime, we are looking at the extinction of two species that occur in Pennsylvania: the Northern long-eared bat and the tricolored bat.

Bats get a bad rap, Stronsick said, thanks to horror tropes, rabies fears, and the overhyped interest in vampire bats. Only three of the approximately 1,500 bat species drink blood, and theyre in Central and South America.

I think all bats are adorable, she said.

If the general public doesnt see that, they should at least understand that the flying mammals are biologically fascinating, contribute to healthy ecosystems, and help scientists.

If it wasnt for bats, the military wouldnt have radar, and anticoagulants that vampire bats use have been studied to treat blood clots and stroke, said Greg Turner, a mammalogist with the Pennsylvania Game Commission.

Bats, Turner said, are also highly resistant to cancer.

In Pennsylvania, bats are insectivores, Turner said, and they eat nothing but flying insects at night. He said studies have shown that bats in Pennsylvania save farmers $74 per acre, by eating moths that would otherwise produce crop-eating caterpillars.

They also eat mosquitoes, he said.

Elsewhere in the world, bats help pollinate cacti and agave.

A lot of people should be happy bats are out there performing every night, Turner said. No bats, no tequila. No margaritas.

Aside from the fungus, Stronsick said bats face serious dangers similar to birds: predation from feral and outdoor cats and building strikes.

Bats do not recognize cats as a predator. If people have cats outdoors, they absolutely should not be feeding birds in the same area, and they should not have a bat house anywhere near there either, she said. If you do that, youre inviting these animals to die. 

Stronsick said the light pollution from large cities, combined with a bats ability to echolocate, makes window strikes common.

When they hit something hard, they do a lot of damage, she said. Cityscapes are not good environments for bats.

Turner said wind turbines, which dot the landscape in mountainous regions of Pennsylvania, are bat killers. Bats do not constantly echolocate, he said  that would be like screaming, nonstop  and when theyre not echolocating, theyre susceptible to the turbines.

Its estimated that 25 bats are killed per turbine per year, and we have hundreds of turbines in the state, Turner said.

Stronsick said she grew up outdoors, seeing bats at her grandmothers home and playing with salamanders. Shes worked with raptors and shore birds in California and stumbled upon bats.

They were so different from what I imagined, she said. I left shore birds and birds of prey and started working with bats.

Now she has some bat tattoos.

Stronsicks facility, which is attached to her home, underwent a major investment in May. She accepts both donations and grants, which are hard to come by, she said.

Since 2018, PA Bat Rescue has rehabilitated 2,000 bats. Unlike most animal rehabilitation centers, hers is as quiet as a church.

Bats prefer silence, she said. The fruit bats can get a little noisy when they wake up.
Disposable flavored electronic cigarette devices are displayed for sale at Vapes N Smoke in Pinecrest, Fla. Read more

Spotlight PA is an independent, nonpartisan, and nonprofit newsroom producing investigative and public-service journalism that holds power to account and drives positive change in Pennsylvania. Sign up for our free newsletters.

HARRISBURG  A new Pennsylvania law aimed at removing unregulated vapes from the market and protecting kids may not be very effective due to loopholes, insufficient funding for enforcement, and limited public health backing.

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The statute is the commonwealths first major effort to tackle vaping. By this spring, manufacturers will need to have registered with the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General and self-certified that they have been authorized by the FDA or have applied for authorization.

Act 57, which mirrors proposals passed in at least 11 other states, passed the General Assembly with broad bipartisan support and the backing of a powerful coalition of interests, including law enforcement, convenience store chains, and the states medical society.

We cant stop the youth from smoking, State Rep. Jeanne McNeill (D., Lehigh), who sponsored the underlying bill, told Spotlight PA. But at least if theyre going to do it  the ones they are smoking are safer for them.

But because registry laws designed to restrict these products are so new, their impact on fighting youth access to vapes is still unclear, public health experts told Spotlight PA.

To be honest, Im still trying to grasp why [registry laws] became popular, Jeffrey Drope, a research professor at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, told Spotlight PA.

He and other researchers say banning all flavored products would be more effective, although other researchers disagree due to data that suggest such policies may harm adults trying to stop smoking cigarettes.

In particular, supporters of the law hope to target Chinese-made disposable vapes, which often deliver fanciful flavors and sometimes even include video games. Studies have also found these vapes can contain high levels of heavy metals.

Rates have gone up and down, but as of 2023, one in four Pennsylvania high school seniors said they had tried vaping at least once, according to a state survey. (Just over one in 10 in the same year said they had tried cigarettes, a 60% decrease from 2017.)

The law may face legal challenges from the vaping industry, Tony Abboud, executive director of the Vapor Technology Association, a trade group, told Spotlight PA.

He argued the law wont stop the flow of vapes into Pennsylvania, and will instead shutter businesses and push consumers into an unregulated, untaxed black market.

Nobody believes that the demand for vapes that are on the market now will go down, Abboud said. They will look for, and find, the products that they like, theyve used, that they know that work for them.

Potential registry issues

The law directs the state attorney generals office to maintain a registry of manufacturers who can sell electronic cigarettes that contain nicotine. Products that have been authorized by the FDA are allowed to register. That encompasses just 39 e-cigarettes from a handful of brands, including those owned by big tobacco companies. They are largely refillable vapes, rather than single-use, and the list excludes all flavored products beyond menthol.

But the law includes an additional provision for products that are under review by the FDA or have received a denial thats pending due to a court or FDA order.

Theres a significant backlog of applications, exacerbated by the firings by the Trump administration of the people who review them, the Examination reported last year. And because of that pileup, tens of thousands of products can still qualify for most registries, according to the Public Health Law Center.

I can tell you that many  applications were really inadequate, and I dont think that those types of products should be treated equally for purposes of these registry laws, Mitch Zeller, a former chief federal tobacco regulator who retired in 2022, told Spotlight PA.

To get on the registry, manufacturers have to certify they are eligible under the laws provisions. Exactly what that form will look like, and how it will be reviewed for accuracy, is unclear  the attorney generals office declined to comment on the laws implementation.

Attorney general spokesperson Brett Hambright said the office was evaluating various enforcement options, but wouldnt want to venture into disclosing techniques.

If a vape is not registered, retailers and distributors are barred from buying or selling it. Enforcement against those companies will begin in October. Retailers who violate the law could be punished by fines of up to $1,500 per day per vape.

According to the attorney generals office, implementing the legislation will have an initial one-time cost of $98,280, with annual ongoing personnel and operating costs equaling approximately $1.3 million.

The Office of Attorney General staff will establish and maintain the vaping directory and provide targeted enforcement based on documentation and intelligence regarding noncompliant actors, a state House analysis of the bill says.

The law, Hambright added in an email, ensures only regulated products are on the market, keeping them out of the hands of children, and not marketed towards children.

The offices projected costs are far less than those of other states with robust tobacco enforcement spending. Neighboring New York allocates approximately $40 million for tobacco enforcement each year. Pennsylvanias most recent budget allocated $1.7 million.

If the state is not prepared to put the time, the money, and the effort behind enforcement, Zeller said, I dont know how effective the law can be.

The need for resources is part of why some anti-smoking advocates opposed the proposal as passed. According to the Pennsylvania Alliance for Tobacco Control, funding for a registry could be better used to support evidence-based prevention and cessation programs.

Instead of investing in a system that simply monitors the problem, we need bold, enforceable action that prevents it entirely, the group argued. That includes a flavor ban as well as efforts to ban sales near schools, they added.

Public health questions

Smoking tobacco is among the leading causes of preventable death in the United States. That hasnt stopped people from doing it, however.

Tobacco is a $70 billion-plus industry in the U.S., with millions of users in Pennsylvania. The states farmers also produce millions of pounds of tobacco every year.

Vape technology, meanwhile, became popular in the 2010s as a way to let people consume nicotine, the addictive chemical in tobacco, without smoking cigarettes.

But what vaping means for public health is still unclear and subject to ongoing research, Jungmi Jun, an associate professor who studies tobacco control campaigns at the University of South Carolina, said in an email.

The scientific consensus is fairly clear that combustible cigarettes pose substantially greater health risks than e-cigarettes, primarily due to combustion-related toxins. However, that does not mean e-cigarettes and other vape products are harmless, particularly for youth and non-smokers, Jun said. Much depends on who is using these products, how they are regulated, and how they are marketed and communicated to the public.

The law, Drope of Johns Hopkins said, amounts to an attempt at controlling the vape supply chain, which he argued is a worthwhile effort, because you want to know whats on your marketplace.

But Drope argued that the state would be more effective at preventing people under 21 from vaping if the legislature also hiked taxes on tobacco products and banned flavored products, which often mimic popular desserts and other sweets, and frequently get marketed to teens.

In a statement, Lynn Silver, program director of the Prevention Policy Group of the Public Health Institute, agreed with Drope that a flavor ban should have been higher on the legislatures to-do list.

Bans on flavored vapes should be comprehensive and span all nicotine products, cannabis where legal, and hemp, all of which are hooking kids across the nation, she said. Pennsylvanias new bill falls short on protecting our youth.

For her part, McNeill has offered a flavor ban before. But the proposal never left committee.

I hit a wall with that. I was basically told, Its never going to be run, its never going to be passed, McNeill said of her earlier efforts. She did not clarify who told her the proposal would never pass. It would likely have faced industrywide opposition  both traditional, combustible tobacco firms and vape firms sell flavored tobacco products.

EXCLUSIVE INSIGHTS  If you liked this reporting from Stephen Caruso, subscribe to Access Harrisburg, a premium newsletter with his unique insider view on how state government works.
A makeshift memorial is placed where Alex Pretti was fatally shot by a U.S. Border Patrol officer Saturday, in Minneapolis. Read more

There I was, by myself late at night, manning the inspection point at a pedestrian border crossing in Nogales, Ariz., when a shifty-looking man approached. He had short-cropped hair and a good 30 pounds on me. I asked him for ID, and he failed to comply.

I forgot my ID, he said aggressively, coming in close. Why you wanna do me like this? Just let me cross.

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I thought back to my training  mainly the Police Quest series of computer games  and put some distance between us as I attempted to talk him down. A few seconds later, he had stabbed me in the ribs, and I had shot him dead.

You see what happened there? I was asked by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection official who ran me through the scenario as part of the CBP media academy.

I tried to engage and de-escalate the situation, I said. In lieu of a head shake, he smiled.

You have to exert control, he told me.

In the 11 years since I went through my crash course on what CBP does  from officers manning the ports of entry to agents out on the border line  the mock use-of-force examples remain top of mind. It was a deadly five days, after all, as I also shot and killed a man who was throwing rocks at me in the desert. Control exerted, I guess.

 READ MORE: Trump wants to control Latin America, but he cant even manage to sell oil to energy interests | Luis Carrasco

It was no accident that these scenarios involved unavoidable use of lethal force. It was undoubtedly a way to show the bleeding-heart media types who participated in the academy what law enforcement could encounter in the field, day to day.

They neednt have bothered with me. Yes, I was a bleeding-heart type, but I already knew law enforcement was dangerous. I also knew Border Patrol agents, liked them, and believed most of them were genuinely trying to do good out there.

I also knew that excessive use of force was bad, and that a desire for control can curdle.

Thats what I see in videos of Border Patrol and of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents who are smashing car windows or clashing with protesters. In recordings of interactions that quickly turn violent, I see the operational need for control (in theory, to ensure the safety of both civilians and law enforcement) devolve into the personal need for dominance.

It was that need to be the big man in charge that likely made ICE agents stop their vehicle and confront Renee Good almost three weeks ago  when she was neither an obstacle nor a threat inside her SUV  on a residential Minneapolis street. It was the anger and frustration at being questioned, at being disobeyed, that placed both agents and civilians in danger and ultimately cost Good her life. Shot in the head because  how dare she.

Before Alex Pretti was shot and killed Saturday by federal forces, he was defending two women who were being violently shoved after challenging Border Patrol agents. The minute that agent started pushing those women with little provocation beyond whatever words were exchanged, Border Patrol relinquished control of the situation.

 READ MORE: Reaction to Trumps unpopular policies offers hope for fixing our broken immigration system | Luis Carrasco

The scrum that followed  as multiple agents pounded Pretti on the ground  was chaos. Chaos that eventually turned deadly, as agents saw that Pretti was carrying a gun.

Much as they did after Goods death, administration officials tried to control the narrative of what happened, blaming the victim. Good was a terrorist who, according to Homeland Security head Kristi Noem, tried to run over federal agents. Pretti was a would-be assassin, according to Stephen Miller, Trumps homeland security adviser, who was out to massacre law enforcement, according to Border Patrol operations chief Greg Bovino.

Multiple videos from the scene disprove the governments story.

This sad quest for dominance, regardless of the consequences, comes from the top, of course. The latest example: Barely three days before Pretti was killed, Donald Trump apparently gave up on his bid to control Greenland. This came after days of speculation over whether the U.S. would invade a NATO ally over the presidents deranged demands.

In that case, Western allies came together and held firm in the face of Trumps bullying. In Minneapolis, and whatever city is next on the White Houses hit list, Americans need to remind the administration of what it couldnt and cant control.

It could not control Goods First Amendment right to speak out and stand up for what she thought was wrong, nor Prettis Second Amendment right to carry a firearm.

And it cant control our Fourth Amendment right to protection from unreasonable use of force by law enforcement.
For centuries, white people in America depicted slavery as a benign institution developed to uplift and civilize savage Africans. They preached that myth in churches, taught it in schools, and memorialized it in statues.

Thats not what the Trump administration was trying to do last week, in dismantling a display about nine Black people whom George Washington enslaved. The exhibit was removed from the Presidents House in Independence National Historical Park in accordance with a White House directive to take down or cover up materials that inappropriately disparage Americans.

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I suppose you could call that a small piece of progress, given that prior generations of Americans actively praised slavery. Federal officials know it was evil, which is why they are scrubbing displays about it from the Presidents House and other historical sites around the country.

But Ive got another word for their behavior: cowardice. They are afraid to admit the contradiction at the heart of our history: a nation that dedicated itself to human liberty also enslaved African Americans. And they do not trust the rest of us to grapple with it, either. Its so much easier to just look away.

That was harder to do in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, when slavery was within living memory for millions of people. Especially in the South, white educators made extended efforts to excuse it. The problem wasnt slavery, they said.

The problem was the War of Northern Aggression  a.k.a. the Civil War  which granted freedom to African Americans, whom, according to this twisted retelling of history, neither wanted nor deserved it.

The key figure in this campaign was Mildred Lewis Rutherford, the historian-general of the United Daughters of the Confederacy, or UDC. Born into a wealthy slaveholding family in 1851, Rutherford led the effort to purge Southern schoolbooks of so-called Yankee perspectives.

In 1919, Miss Millie  as she was affectionately known across the white South  published A Measuring Rod to Test Textbooks, which provided a checklist that UDC women could use to assess what their schools were teaching. Reject a book  that speaks of the slaveholder of the South as cruel and unjust to his slaves, Rutherford urged.

 READ MORE: Trump can try to hide it, but slavery is part of Americas story | Jenice Armstrong

Invoking the eras rhetoric of progressive education  which stressed student activities rather than memorization from books  the UDC also sponsored essay contests for students who conducted research about slavery. Many of the essays drew on interviews from former slaveholders, who provided a predictably romantic view of the institution.

Slavery was the happiest time of the negroes existence, declared a winning essay in 1915 by a Virginia high school student. The slave was a member of the family, often a privileged member. He was the playmate, brother, exemplar, friend and companion of the white man from cradle to grave.

Despite Rutherfords fears of encroaching Yankee doctrine, meanwhile, Northern schoolbooks often included similar falsehoods about slavery. In 1944, amid the World War II struggle against Nazism, Black activists in New York City complained that one history text used in their schools said those in bondage were happy; another congratulated the Ku Klux Klan for keeping foolish Negroes out of government after the Civil War. Such passages  could well have come from the mouths of the fascist enemies of our nation, the activists noted.

African American attacks on flawed textbooks came to a head during the civil rights movement of the 1960s, when the Urban League and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People appointed committees to examine the books. Thanks to these efforts, most textbooks corrected their distortions of slavery. They also added new material about African Americans who fought against it, like Denmark Vesey and Frederick Douglass.

Today, outside the darkest corners of the internet, nobody celebrates the enslavement of African Americans. It is disgusting and absurd to suggest that anyone inside this building would support slavery, White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said during President Donald Trumps first term in office, when Chief of Staff John Kelly suggested Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee was an honorable man.

In his second term, Trump has moved to restore the names of Confederates to military bases. Yet, I havent heard him  or anyone in his administration  say a good word about slavery. Again, thats a very good thing.

But it also underscores their fundamental lack of courage. Theyre not defending slavery, as earlier generations did. Instead, as happened at the Presidents House, theyre simply eliminating it from sight because it doesnt suit their happy picture of our history. To paraphrase the Jack Nicholson character in A Few Good Men, they cant handle the truth.

And if visitors ask why the exhibit about Washington and slavery disappeared, National Park Service employees have been instructed to say that they dont know. Talk about cowardice! First, we deny history, and then we deny knowing why we did so.

Its enough to make a citizen embarrassed for his country. Trump and his aides say they took down the exhibit because it disparaged America. But they are the ones disparaging America, because they dont believe in our ability to make sense of it: its glory and its tragedy, its achievements and its abuses. Shame on them.

Jonathan Zimmerman teaches history and education at the University of Pennsylvania. He is the author of Whose America?: Culture Wars in the Public Schools.
Sen. John Fetterman on Tuesday urged President Donald Trump to immediately fire Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem after federal agents killed two citizens in Minneapolis this month during an immigration enforcement operation.

Americans have died, Fetterman (D., Pa.) said in a statement. She is betraying DHSs core mission and trashing your border security legacy.

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The senators call for Noems firing comes after federal agents killed two Americans during the Minneapolis operation. On Saturday, a Border Patrol agent shot and killed Alex Pretti, an intensive care nurse at a VA hospital. An ICE agent shot and killed Renee Nicole Good, a 37-year-old poet and mother, on Jan. 7.

Both shootings were caught on video, provoking protests nationwide.

Fetterman referenced Noems predecessor, Alejandro Mayorkas, who served under former President Joe Biden and faced impeachment by the Republican-led House in 2024 amid a backlash over increased border crossings under Biden.

DO NOT make the mistake President Biden made for not firing a grossly incompetent DHS Secretary, said Fetterman, who was one of seven Democrats who voted for Noems confirmation last year.

Sen. Andy Kim (D., N.J.), who also voted for Noem, joined the growing chorus of Democrats calling for Noem to step down on Tuesday. The South Jersey lawmaker has previously called the vote a mistake.

Fettermans plea to fire Noem comes a day after he called for the withdrawal of federal agents from Minneapolis. And it comes as the U.S. Senate is poised to vote this week on funding for the Department of Homeland Security, which oversees both ICE and the Border Patrol.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said Democrats would vote against it, which could trigger a partial federal government shutdown.

About 150 protesters gathered outside Fettermans office in Philadelphia in the snow on Tuesday to urge him to join the effort, but the senator said on Monday that he will never vote to shut down the government. He also argued that doing so would not pull the $178 billion dedicated to DHS through the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which he did not support.

I would like him to listen and actually represent us, because thats his job, said James Pierson, 42, an Exton resident attending the demonstration.

Fetterman suggested pulling the DHS bill from the package of bills under consideration by the Senate this week rather than another shutdown vote.

I reject the calls to defund or abolish ICE, he said. I strongly disagree with many strategies and practices ICE deployed in Minneapolis, and believe that must change.
Saying the Trump administration is using the federal government for pure evil in its immigration crackdown in Minneapolis, Gov. Josh Shapiro revealed on late-night television Monday that hes preparing Pennsylvania to respond should the state face such an incursion.

Shapiros wide-ranging remarks on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert  which included Shapiro deriding Vice President JD Vance as a sycophant and a suck-up  sounded at times like a speech before a studio audience that applauded him vigorously. Making the rounds to promote his new book, Where We Keep the Light: Stories from a Life of Service, Shapiro also appeared on CBS Sunday Morning, Good Morning America on Monday, and The View on Tuesday.

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On Colbert, the governor sharply criticized the Trump administrations actions in Minneapolis, where he said untrained agents from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) have been creating chaos by fatally shooting two American citizens.

I think Americans are outraged by what they see, Shapiro said, adding: The mission in Minnesota must be terminated immediately.

When Colbert said there are rumors that federal troops will be sent to Philadelphia to foment fear, Shapiro nodded. On The View, he said troops could show up in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, or Lancaster.

We have spent hours and hours and hours doing tabletop exercises to prepare for it, Shapiro said, without being specific. The governor did not elaborate.

He added that its a sad day in America that a governor of a commonwealth needs to prepare for a federal onslaught where they would send troops in to undermine the freedoms and the constitutional rights of our citizens. This is un-American.

But I want the good people of Pennsylvania to know  I want the American people to know  that we will do everything in our power to protect them from the federal overreach.

Asked for comment, Abigail Jackson, a White House spokesperson, said Tuesday: Its pure evil when Democrat leaders provide sanctuary to dangerous criminal illegal aliens who assault, murder, and rape innocent American citizens. President Trump is keeping his promise to the American people to deport criminal illegal aliens.

Referencing ICE agents wearing masks, Shapiro said that members of the Pennsylvania State Police have strict rules on when they can wear a mask. You want to be identified as folks who are keeping people safe.

He added, Of all the tools that we give our law enforcement in Pennsylvania, the most important tool you need to have is trust with the community that you police.

When the conversation turned to Vances statement that the ICE officer who shot and killed Minneapolis resident Renee Macklin Good on Jan. 7 has absolute immunity, Shapiro retorted that it was untrue.

He added that Vance is such a sycophant, such a suck-up. He embarrasses himself daily as he seeks the affirmation of Donald Trump.

ICE agents are not above the law, Shapiro added moments later. I dont care what B.S. Vance [says.]

The governors reelection bid this year, as well as rumors that he may be a presidential candidate in 2028, did not come up. Instead, Colbert touted Shapiros book.

Shapiro said that the courts, Congress, and public opinion need to be marshaled to prevent the Trump administration from sending more troops to U.S. cities.

All of you have powerful voices, Shapiro told the audience. He added: The story of America is ordinary Americans rising up, demanding more, seeking justice.
Advocates and protestors call for ICE to get out of Philadelphia, in Center City on Tuesday. Read more

In Philadelphia, lawmakers on Tuesday unveiled legislation that would institute some of the nations toughest limits on federal immigration-enforcement operations.

In Harrisburg, a top Democrat floated making Pennsylvania a so-called sanctuary state to protect undocumented immigrants.

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And in Washington, senators faced mounting pressure to hold up funding for the Department of Homeland Security, an effort that could result in a government shutdown by the end of the week.

Across the nation, lawmakers are fielding calls to rein in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement after President Donald Trumps administration surged forces into Minneapolis as part of his aggressive nationwide deportation campaign. Frustration with the agency reached new heights Saturday after agents fatally shot protester Alex Pretti, the second killing of a U.S. citizen there this month.

Democrats nationwide slammed ICE and called on Trump to pull the forces out of Minnesota. Sen. John Fetterman, the Pennsylvania Democrat who has at times sided with Trump on immigration matters, said DHS Secretary Kristi Noem should be fired.

But Fetterman has also said he will not vote to shut down the government. That angered protesters, who rallied on Tuesday outside his Philadelphia office. Some of the senators fellow Democrats, including members of Pennsylvanias U.S. House delegation, urged him to vote against a bill to fund DHS.

 READ MORE: John Fetterman said he wont vote against DHS funding. Every House Democrat from Pa. is urging him to change his mind

A growing number of Republicans have also signaled their discomfort with the Minneapolis operation, including Trump allies who called on members of the administration to testify before Congress. Sen. Dave McCormick, a Pennsylvania Republican, has called for an independent investigation into Prettis killing.

Trump, for his part, showed some willingness to change course, sending border czar Tom Homan to Minneapolis to meet with Democratic leaders there. The president on Tuesday called Prettis death a very sad situation.

However, a chorus of Democrats and activists said Tuesday that the agency needs to change its tactics and be held accountable for missteps. And local leaders said they are laying out plans in case a surge of immigration enforcement comes to Philadelphia, home to an estimated 76,000 undocumented immigrants.

We have spent hours and hours and hours doing tabletop exercises to prepare for it, Gov. Josh Shapiro, a Democrat, said during a Monday night interview on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.

 READ MORE: Gov. Shapiro tells Stephen Colbert hes planning for the possibility of federal troops entering PA

Shapiro, who is running for reelection and is a rumored presidential contender, added: I want the good people of Pennsylvania to know  I want the American people to know  that we will do everything in our power to protect them from the federal overreach.

Codifying sanctuary policies

Philadelphia officials said the best way they can prepare is by limiting the citys cooperation with federal immigration enforcement.

City Councilmember Kendra Brooks, of the progressive Working Families Party, and Councilmember Rue Landau, a Democrat, were joined by dozens of activists and other elected officials during a news conference Tuesday to unveil a package of legislation aimed at codifying into law the citys existing sanctuary city practices.

Those policies, which are currently executive orders, bar city officials from holding undocumented immigrants in custody at ICEs request without a judicial warrant.

 READ MORE: Philly lawmakers want to restrict cooperation with ICE and ban agents from wearing masks

Landau and Brooks legislative package, expected to be introduced in Council on Thursday, goes further, preventing ICE agents from wearing masks, using city-owned property for staging raids, or accessing city databases.

Erika Guadalupe Nunez, executive director of immigrant advocacy organization Juntos, said the legislation goes beyond just We dont collaborate.

Juntos gets regular calls about ICE staging operations at public locations in and around Philadelphia, and people have been worried, despite official assurances, whether personal information held by the city will be secure from government prying.

We deserve a city that has elected leadership thats willing to step forward with clear and stronger protections, Nunez said.

If the legislation is approved, Philadelphia would have some of the most stringent protections for immigrants in the country.

Oregon has especially strong restrictions against cooperation with federal immigration authorities, including barring local law enforcement from detaining people or collecting information on a persons immigration status without a judicial warrant.

In Illinois, local officers may not participate, support, or assist in any capacity with an immigration agents enforcement operations. They are also barred from granting immigration agents access to electronic databases or to anyone in custody.

California, New York, Colorado, Vermont  and individual jurisdictions in those states  also provide strong protections for immigrants.

In New Jersey, Gov. Mikie Sherrill, a Democrat who was sworn in last week , has kept the states sanctuary directive in place as lawmakers seek to expand and codify the policy into law. Legislators came close in the final days of former Gov. Phil Murphys administration, but he killed a related bill that had won approval in Trenton, saying he worried that enacting a law that included changes to the states current policy would invite new lawsuits.

Meanwhile, some conservatives say bolstering sanctuary policies risks community safety.

If an illegal immigrant breaks the law, they should be dealt with and handed over to federal law enforcement, not be released back into our neighborhoods to terrorize more victims and commit more crime, said James Markley, a spokesperson for the Pennsylvania Republican Party.

He added: Sanctuary policies dont protect communities, they endanger all of us by shielding criminals from accountability for their crimes.

Democrats are taking varying approaches

The widespread outrage over ICEs tactics in Minneapolis has exposed sharp divisions in elected Democrats responses.

On one end of the partys ideological spectrum is Fetterman, who has said often that he will not bow to activist demands and strongly opposes shutting down the federal government, even if it means funding DHS.

On the other end is District Attorney Larry Krasner, Philadelphias most prominent progressive, who has on several occasions threatened to file criminal charges against ICE agents who commit crimes in the city.

There will be accountability now. There will be accountability in the future. There will be accountability after [Trump] is out of office, Krasner said Tuesday. If we have to hunt you down the way they hunted down Nazis for decades, we will find your identities.

Somewhere in the middle is State Sen. Sharif Street, a Philadelphia Democrat and former head of the state party who is running for Congress.

Street does not have Krasners bombast, but this week he announced plans to introduce legislation to prevent state dollars from funding federal immigration enforcement. The bill has less of a chance of becoming law in Pennsylvanias divided state legislature than similar measures would in Philadelphia, where City Council is controlled by a supermajority of Democrats.

Who knows the amount of money that the state could incur because of Trumps reckless immigration policies? Street said in an interview Tuesday. I dont think state taxpayers should be paying for Donald Trumps racist, reckless policies.

The citys most prominent Democrat  Mayor Cherelle L. Parker  has perhaps said the least.

The centrist Democrat has largely avoided outwardly criticizing Trump or his administration, saying often that she is focused on carrying out her own agenda.

 READ MORE: Mayor Parkers restraint with Trump is both calculation and gamble as the president escalates against blue cities

The mayors critics have said her approach is not responsive to the citys overwhelmingly Democratic residents.

To the people of Philadelphia, I want to say: I hear you. You want ICE out of our city, and you want your local government to take action, Brooks, the Council member, said Tuesday. Some people believe that silence is the best policy when dealing with a bully, but thats never been an option for me.

Others say Parkers conflict-averse strategy is appropriate.

All of us have different roles to play, Street said. The mayor has to manage the city. Shes got to command law enforcement forces.  As a state legislator, we make policy.

Rafael Mangual, a fellow who studies urban crime and justice at the right-leaning Manhattan Institute in New York City, said legislative efforts to erect barriers between federal and local law enforcement could backfire.

If you dont engage at all, and you do something that seems to actively frustrate the federal government, Mangual said, that would seem to be an invitation for the federal government to prioritize a city like Philadelphia.

Staff writers Alfred Lubrano, Aliya Schneider, and Gillian McGoldrick contributed to this article.
Federal immigration agents at a tense scene in Minneapolis on Sunday. Philadelphia lawmakers will consider a package of bills aimed at controlling immigration enforcement in the city, including a measure that bans law enforcement officers from concealing their identities. Read more

Philadelphia lawmakers are set to consider legislation that would make it harder for ICE to operate in the city, including limiting information sharing, restricting activity on city-owned property, and prohibiting agents from concealing their identities.

Among the package of bills set to be introduced Thursday is an ordinance that effectively makes permanent Philadelphias status as a so-called sanctuary city by barring city officials from holding undocumented immigrants at ICEs request without a court order. Another bans discrimination based on immigration status.

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Two City Council members are expected to introduce the legislation as U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement is facing mounting national scrutiny over its tactics in Minneapolis, where federal agents fatally shot two U.S. citizens this month.

Councilmembers Rue Landau, a Democrat, and Kendra Brooks, of the progressive Working Families Party, said in an interview that the violence in Minneapolis hardened their resolve to introduce legislation to protect a population that includes an estimated 76,000 undocumented immigrants in Philadelphia.

Its been very disheartening and frightening to watch ICE act with such lawlessness, Landau said. When they rise to the level of killing innocent civilians, unprecedented murders  this is absolutely the time to stand up and act.

The package of a half-dozen bills is the most significant legislative effort that Council has undertaken to strengthen protections for immigrants since President Donald Trump took office last year on a promise to carry out a mass deportation campaign nationwide.

ICE spokespeople did not immediately reply to a request for comment.

Jasmine Rivera, executive director of the Pennsylvania Immigration Coalition, said its not the job nor the jurisdiction of the city to enforce federal law.

The goal of the legislation, Rivera said, is ensuring that not a single dime and single second of our local resources is being spent collaborating with agencies that are executing people.

 READ MORE: Mayor Cherelle Parker wont say how Philly is responding to President Donald Trumps demands on sanctuary policies

Activists have for months urged Mayor Cherelle L. Parker to formally affirm her commitment to the citys sanctuary status. Top city officials say an executive order signed by the former mayor to limit the citys cooperation with ICE remains in place.

But Parker, a centrist Democrat, has taken a quieter approach than her colleagues in Council, largely avoiding criticizing the Trump administration outwardly and saying often that she is focused on her own agenda.

Now, the mayor could be forced to take a side. If City Council passes Landau and Brooks legislation this spring, Parker could either sign the bills into law, veto them, or take no action and allow them to lapse into law without her signature. She has never vetoed a bill.

Joe Grace, a spokesperson for Parker, declined to comment on the legislation.

Its unclear what fate the ICE legislation could meet in Council. The 17-member body has just one Republican, but Parker holds influence with many of the Democrats in the chamber.

City Council President Kenyatta Johnson, a Democrat who controls the flow of legislation, has not taken a position on the package proposed by Landau and Brooks.

But he said in a statement that Philadelphia has long positioned itself as a welcoming city that values the contributions of immigrants and strives to protect their rights and safety.

I have deep concerns about federal ICE actions directed by President Donald Trumps administration that sow fear and anxiety in immigrant communities, Johnson said, underscoring the belief that enforcement practices should be lawful, humane, and not undermine trust in public safety.

Making sanctuary status the law

Border Patrol and ICE are both federal immigration agencies, which are legally allowed to operate in public places and subject to federal rules and regulations. Some cities and states  not including Pennsylvania and New Jersey  actively cooperate with ICE through written agreements.

Since 2016, Philadelphia has operated under an executive order signed by former Mayor Jim Kenney, which prohibits city jails from honoring ICE detainer requests, in which federal agents ask the city to hold undocumented immigrants in jail for longer than they would have otherwise been in custody to facilitate their arrest by federal authorities.

Undocumented immigrants are not shielded from federal immigration enforcement, nor from being arrested and charged by local police for local offenses.

Some refer to the noncooperation arrangement as sanctuary. As the term sanctuary cities has become politically toxic, some local officials  including in Philadelphia  have backed away from it, instead declaring their jurisdictions to be welcoming cities.

 READ MORE: Philadelphia says its a welcoming  not sanctuary  city as the Trump administration threatens funding cuts

Parker administration officials have said several times over the last year that Philadelphia remains a welcoming city.

But advocates for immigrants have said they want an ironclad city policy that cant be rescinded by a mayor.

Landau and Brooks legislation would be that, codifying the executive order into law and adding new prohibitions on information sharing. The package includes legislation to:

Strengthen restrictions on city workers, including banning local police from carrying out federal immigration enforcement and prohibiting city workers from assisting in enforcement operations. Prohibiting law enforcement officers from concealing their identities, including by wearing masks or covering up badges with identifying information. Banning ICE from staging raids on city-owned property and designated community spaces such as schools, parks, libraries, and homeless shelters. (It would not apply to the Criminal Justice Center, where ICE has had a presence. The courthouse is overseen by both city and state agencies.) Prohibiting city agencies and contractors from providing ICE access to data sets to assist in immigration enforcement. Restricting city employees from inquiring about individuals immigration status unless required by a court order, or state or federal law.

Peter Pedemonti, co-director of New Sanctuary Movement of Philadelphia, an advocacy organization that partnered with the Council members to craft the package of bills, compared ICE to an octopus that has multiple arms reaching into different facets of American life.

The proposed legislation, he said, is a means to bind a few of those arms.

The whole world can see the violence and brutality, Pedemonti said. This is a moment where all of us need to stand up, and Philadelphia can stand up and speak out loud and clear that we dont want ICE here to pull our families apart, the families that make Philadelphia Philadelphia.

An impending showdown that Parker hoped to avoid

Homeland Security officials claim that sanctuary jurisdictions protect criminal, undocumented immigrants from facing consequences while putting U.S. citizens and law enforcement officers in peril.

Last year, the Trump administration named Philadelphia as among the jurisdictions impeding federal immigration enforcement. The White House has said the federal government will cut off funding to sanctuary cities by Feb. 1.

However, the president has made no explicit threat to ramp up ICE activities in Philadelphia.

Some of Parkers supporters say the mayors conflict-averse strategy has spared Philadelphia as other cities such as Washington, New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Minneapolis have seen National Guard troops or waves of ICE agents arrive in force.

 READ MORE: Why hasnt Trump sent troops to Philly, the city where bad things happen? Everyone has a theory.

Critics, including the backers of the new legislation, have for months pressed Parker to take a stronger stand.

Brooks said she would love to have the support of the administration.

This should be something that we should be working collaboratively on, she said. Philadelphia residents are demanding us do something as elected officials, and this is our time to lead.

But Parker has not been eager to speak about Philadelphias immigration policies.

For example, the city is refusing to release a September letter it sent to the U.S. Department of Justice regarding its immigration-related policies, even after the Pennsylvania Office of Open Records ruled its reasoning for keeping the document secret was invalid. The Inquirer has requested a copy of the letter under the state Right-to-Know Law.

The new Council legislation and the increasing tension over Trumps deportation push may force Parker to take a clearer position.

Notably, the city sued the federal government last week over its removal of exhibits related to slavery from the Presidents House at Independence National Historical Park, potentially signaling a new willingness by Parker to push back against the White House.

But even then, Parker declined to take a jab at Trump.

In moments like this, she said last week, it requires that I be the leader that I need to be for our city, and I cant allow my pride, ego, or emotions to dictate what my actions will be.
Brandywine Realty Trust acquired the 1920s high-rise at 1501 Race St., known as the Bellet Building, from an owner of the former Hahnemann University Hospital campus. Read more

In the month since Philadelphia Councilmember Jeffery Young introduced a bill banning residential development around the former Hahnemann University Hospital, 824 apartments have been permitted in the area.

The latest zoning permits include 163 units at 1501-11 Race St., which were issued Monday. Brandywine Realty Trust purchased the former Bellet Building office tower in 2021 for $9.7 million.

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Brandywine did not immediately respond to a request for comment. It is not clear whether Brandywine is seeking to develop the apartments or to just secure permits to preserve the option for a future buyer.

Last week, zoning permits were issued for 300 units at 300-304 N. Broad St., known as Martinelli Park, the last piece of the former Hahnemann Hospital site that has yet to be sold. The last bid for the site came from the HOW Group, which offered $5.5 million and planned multifamily housing there. But the sale did not go through.

Attempts to reach Hahnemanns representatives were unsuccessful. It is likely the permits are being secured to preserve the propertys value.

A City Council Rules Committee hearing on Youngs bill is scheduled for Feb. 3.

The rush for permits began on Dec. 24, two weeks after Young introduced his bill, when the Dwight City Group received a zoning permit for 222-48 N. Broad St. to build a 361-unit apartment building.

The developer had long planned a building on that site, but the total number of units in the permit was far larger than the original plan.

When an overlay is placed like this ... even though we have our zoning permit already from one of the buildings, the message that it sends is that this area is closed for business, Judah Angster, CEO of Dwight City Group, said at a January meeting of the Philadelphia Planning Commission.

He said the project now includes 90,000 square feet for commercial use, which would be dedicated to local small businesses.

Why does Young want to ban housing?

Youngs bill would create a new zoning overlay covering the area bounded by the north side of Race Street, the east side of North 16th Street, the south side of Callowhill Street, and the west side of North Broad Street.

This covers the former Hahnemann campus, which included seven medical buildings, a parking garage, and some surface lots. The hospital dated to the 19th century and had been operating from this location for 90 years before its bankruptcy.

A handful of other buildings are in the proposed overlay as well, including a PHA apartment building and a homeless shelter.

What once was the Hahnemann campus sprawls over nearly six acres, centered on Broad Street along the Vine Street Expressway, comprising seven medical buildings, a parking garage, and surface lots.

Young said that he wanted to ban new homes from the site to preserve job opportunities in the city, hopefully prompting the reuse of the site for office, medical, or educational use.

At the Planning Commission meeting, the bill was largely discussed as Youngs effort to force developers to meet with him over their plans. The Hahnemann site is zoned with Philadelphias most flexible land use rules, which means that under normal circumstances, residential conversions would not require neighborhood meetings or political approvals.

I look forward to continuing dialogue that brings community stakeholders to the table for this important section of Center City, Young said in an email Tuesday.

Dwight Group has said that it is having productive conversations with Young.

The legislation is considered by some legal experts as a blatant use of spot zoning, when a change in land use rules is targeted to a limited geography. Such legislation is often introduced to help or hurt a particular project.

In my time as a zoning lawyer for 27 years, I dont think Ive seen a greater example of illegal spot zoning, Matt McClure, head of law firm Ballard Spahrs land use practice and a lawyer for developer Dwight City, said the January meeting. It is targeted at a particular property, targeted around a certain transaction that was talked about. Its just illegal.

Hahnemann University Hospital has been closed for more than six years, and attempts to preserve medical and educational uses in its former buildings so far have faltered. Most are still vacant.
Owners of mobile homes are vulnerable to any rent increases the landowner makes, a change to the use of the land, or a sale. Read more

Manufactured homes  single-family dwellings often built off-site and placed on a lot  are one of the most affordable forms of homeownership. But families who live in these homes are often left vulnerable, because companies that own the land can hike rents for their lots or sell communities for redevelopment.

This type of unsubsidized affordable housing tends to be more accessible for low-income households than typically built homes.

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A bill that former N.J. Gov. Phil Murphy signed last week makes it easier for manufactured home and mobile home residents to buy their communities when a landowner decides to sell or change the use of the land.

 READ MORE: Manufactured-home communities arent just in rural Pa. Owners on rented land are often unprotected.

Landowners who want to sell or redevelop these communities must give notice to residents and local and state leaders. If 51% of residents agree to purchase the community, and they meet the price and conditions of the sale, they have 120 days to buy it. Previously, this action required two-thirds of residents, who had 45 days to sign a contract.

Lawmakers found that the prior parameters were too high of a bar for residents to meet.

New Jerseys new law is based on model legislation from the National Consumer Law Center. There are more than 1,000 resident-owned mobile and manufactured home communities across the country. None are in New Jersey.

Almost 100,000 New Jersey residents live in 250 manufactured or mobile home communities, many of which are in South Jersey, said State Assembly member David Bailey Jr., a Democrat who sponsored the legislation and represents residents in Gloucester, Salem, and Cumberland Counties.

Imagine youve owned your home for 20 years and somebody comes and says, Were selling this land and you either follow these new rules or you gotta move, Bailey said. That would never happen in suburbia. But thats what could happen to these people. Because they have no choice. Theyre stuck.

He said that when he took office in 2024, he immediately started getting calls from constituents in Salem County who lived in manufactured home communities. They told him about rising costs to rent the land their homes were on and deteriorating property conditions and infrastructure in their communities.

 READ MORE: Most mobile homes are overtaxed. Chester County owners are getting relief. (From 2020

Many of the properties had been owned by local families who later sold the land to companies that hiked rents, Bailey said. In 2022, the CEO of the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy said that in the prior eight years, roughly 800,000 home sites in manufactured housing communities were bought by private equity companies and other institutional investors. Rent hikes tended to follow.

Another recent New Jersey law addresses this reality.

In July, the state enacted a law that caps annual rent increases at 3.5%. Landlords who want higher increases must ask the states Department of Community Affairs for permission.

After an earlier version of the legislation passed the state Senate this spring, Sen. Paul Moriarty said in a statement that the usual renting setup of mobile and manufactured home communities often leads to unfair price hikes by landlords, as they know that there is no other option besides moving the home to another site.

Moriarty, a Democrat who represents residents in Gloucester, Camden, and Atlantic Counties, noted that moving these homes to different sites can be incredibly difficult because of potential difficulties in financing a move, exclusionary zoning practices, and restrictions on the age and condition of incoming homes.

A previous version of this story misstated the number of mobile homes purchased by private equity companies. It is roughly 800,000 manufactured home sites.
For over 15 years, dozens of properties once owned by disgraced nonprofit Germantown Settlement have sat derelict and mostly empty.

In 2024, the properties were given to the Philadelphia Housing Authority (PHA). This month the agency finally announced its plans: $84 million will be spent to gut and rehabilitate 113 units and build 40 apartments for seniors.

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Most of the properties will be earmarked as rentals for very low-income Philadelphians at 30% of area median income, or roughly $32,000 for a family of three. The former Settlement buildings are a mix of rowhouses, duplexes, and small apartment buildings.

I was shocked and dismayed by the conditions, said Kelvin Jeremiah, CEO of PHA. Its going to cost a lot of money to get it back to habitable use.

Some critics of the plans say the amount PHA plans to spend beggars belief. Spilt 153 ways, $84 million is almost $550,000 a property.

Longtime Northwest Philadelphia developer Ken Weinstein says his company could build new units at $284,000 a unit, and small developers who are active in the neighborhood can rehab houses for $152,000 apiece.

We have limited government resources, and we have so many people that need subsidies to put a roof over their heads, Weinstein said. I dont know why we wouldnt stretch our dollars as far as possible.

Weinstein emphasized that he thinks Jeremiah has been a transformative and innovative leader for PHA, but he doesnt understand why the agency isnt trying to get the properties back into productive use in a more cost-effective way.

He noted that PHA has sold scattered site single-family units it owns in the area to small developers for low-cost revitalization, with deed restrictions in place to keep them affordable in the long term.

Weinstein also points to PHAs campaign to obtain struggling new apartment buildings as an example of its capacity for flexibility and cost sensitivity. Jeremiah has said the purchases are being made because they cut the agencys costs in half in contrast to building new.

I thought it was brilliant that PHA set out to buy existing apartment buildings at $200,000 a unit. That is a much better way to address the affordability issue in housing, Weinstein said. I dont know why PHA would go out of their way to spend 2-times that to rehab and newly construct in Germantown.

The transfer of the former Germantown Settlement properties from the Redevelopment Authority to PHA was controversial in 2024. Some residents felt a community engagement campaign had been ignored. Many attendees had expressed a desire for more homeownership opportunities.

Jeremiah says that after a community meeting earlier this month, he is open to using 16 of the properties for affordable homeownership.

We heard that they would like to see a more balanced community, and so were going to work through what that means, Jeremiah said. We are revisiting some of the suggestions that we heard from the community, and we are going to revise our plans.

But Jeremiah says that sales to small developers for homeownership units, even with deed restrictions, would not help the poorest Philadelphians.

When PHA does sell scattered site homes for private redevelopment, the rebuilt houses primarily go to those making 60% of area median income or $64,000 for a family of three.

The lowest-income residents, who make half that, are the overwhelming majority of PHAs tenants. They are not in a position to buy a home  even a subsidized and permanently affordable one.

A mom and pop [developer] would be hard-pressed to maintain permanent affordability, Jeremiah said.

Keeping the former Germantown Settlement properties as PHA-run rentals will guarantee a repository of affordable units no matter how this corner of Northwest Philadelphia evolves, he said.

Some of our assets are in communities that are rapidly becoming unaffordable, Jeremiah said. Our assets in those communities ensure we are maintaining some level of affordability.

Jeremiah himself has often criticized how much it costs PHA to build or gut rehabilitate projects, but he notes that the agency is restricted by a variety of federal regulations.

The construction costs are untenable for us, but its driven by the regulatory requirements that we must adhere to, he said. I have no flexibility.

Jeremiah estimates that the rehabilitation work will begin in 2027, after PHA hopefully secures Low Income Housing Tax Credits this year. Once begun, he expects the project to take 15 months, so at earliest the homes will be ready for habitation again in 2028.

Many of the former Germantown Settlement properties have fallen into ruin over the last 10 years, with copper wiring stripped out and mold or insect infestations harrowing their interiors.

The city demolished the Blakemore Apartments because of their poor condition. Its site is where PHA will build a new 40-unit building for seniors. (PHA received 121 of 140 of the expired nonprofits units, with the rest going to smaller developers.)

The former Germantown Settlement properties are heavily concentrated in two sections of East Germantown, creating pockets of dense vacancy near the intersection of Church Lane and Lena Street and on the 40th blocks of Wister and Garfield Streets.

For Councilmember Cindy Bass, who represents the neighborhood, PHA is the right entity to redevelop these long troubled buildings.

Its very important to preserve affordable housing, and thats what were doing here, Bass said. This is not for profit. This is for people.
A shoveler tackles the snow and ice on Flora Street in Brewertown. Moving snow was no picnic on Monday. Read more

For the Philly region Monday it wasnt so much a matter of digging out from the heftiest snowfall in a decade, it was more like a chipping, shaving, scraping, expletive-inducing, and ice-chunk hurling operation.

Public transportation appeared to be getting back on track, and major roads were open for business with speed reductions removed, thanks to crews working through the weekend.

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But expect some side streets in the city and elsewhere to remain fit for sleigh rides this week and trash pickup to be delayed. City offices will be shut down again Tuesday, as will Philly school buildings, with Camden and more calling for a snow day or opting for remote learning.

And if youre stepping outside, get used to that underfoot crunching sensation. The removal operation isnt going to get much help this week from the atmosphere. Its about to turn about as frigid as it ever gets around here. New Jersey officials are warning of historic demands on energy.

Were going to be in the freezer all week, said Mike Gorse, meteorologist at the National Weather Service Office in Mount Holly. Philly may have its first zero-degree reading in 32 years later in the week.

Its as if after recent wimpy winters, the Arctic is reacquainting with Philly and much of the rest of the East.

And did we mention another snow threat for the weekend?

Theres a chance, said Marc Chenard, meteorologist with NOAAs Weather Prediction Center in iced-over College Park, Md., who was among those who had to chuck some frozen boulders before leaving for work Monday morning. I had to chip it and carry it in pieces, he said. Sound familiar?

Why this storm was particularly challenging

Snow totals for the biggest snowfall since Jan. 22-23, 2016, varied throughout the region; the inconveniences, not so much.

A general 8 to 12 inches of snow and sleet accumulated while temperatures remained mostly in the teens Sunday, 10 degrees or more below forecast.

A shallow layer of warmer air caused a changeover to sleet, and the tiny ice balls remained frozen for the entire trip through the stubbornly cold air near the surface. As much as 2 to 3 inches of sleet piled on, containing the same amount of liquid as several inches of snow.

That added weight to the snowpack. Based on the amount of melted precipitation measured in the 9.3 inches at Philadelphia International Airport, the snowpack weighed about as much as a 12- to 15-inch pile of the pure flaky fluff.

On a 200-square-foot driveway  a 10 by 20  what fell Sunday weighed about 1,100 pounds. On a 100-square-foot sidewalk  5 by 20  that would be about 550 pounds.

In addition, ice tends to be rather shovel resistant.

This is going to be a memorably cold week in Philly

The ice and snow isnt going to give up easily. On Monday, temperatures topped out in the upper 20s, and thats going to be warmest day of the week.

Based on the forecast, it may not get above 28 degrees until next week, said Chenard, a cold streak the region hasnt seen in decades.

Chenard said the upper-air patterns remain in place to import Arctic air on winds from the northwest for at least the next several days.

In fact, temperatures may have trouble getting out of the teens in Philly until the weekend, and Philly has a shot at reaching zero for the first time in 32 years.

The forecast lows are in the single digits all week, and down to 1 degree on Friday morning and 2 degrees on Saturday, the National Weather Service says. Both would be record lows for the dates.

The stubborn snow cover absolutely will increase the chances of the airport reaching zero for the first time since January 1994, Gorse said. Snow is ideal for radiating daytime warmth (such as it is) into space.

Temperatures will moderate some on the weekend, he said, but that might come in advance of yet another storm.

Said Chenard, There will be coastal low. Its a matter of how close it is.

One historic footnote in the Philly weather annals

Phillys official snowfall total for the winter stands at 15.7 inches, almost double normal for the date and double what fell all of last season.

Sundays was not only the biggest snow in 10 years, it also set a record for a Jan. 25.

It beat the 8.5 inches of Jan. 25, 2000, a day that the weather service just as soon would like to forget.

The storm came as a surprise, just a week after a weather service honcho announced a computer upgrade that would bring the nation closer to a no surprise era.

Expect surprises to continue.

Staff writers Ximena Conde, Kristen A. Graham, Maddie Hanna, Rob Tornoe, and Nick Vadala contributed to this article.
Recently, policyholder attorney Chip Merlin blogged about a vacancy exclusion found in many property insurance policies. His article cited a California Supreme Court decision that overturned a claim denial based on a vacancy exclusion. In TRB Investments, Inc. v. Firemans Fund Ins. Co., 40 Cal. 4th 19 (Cal. 2006), the California Supreme Court found that an exception in the exclusion for a building under construction also applied to a building being renovated.

The policy in question excluded loss or damage to a building that has been vacant more than 60 consecutive days for loss or damage caused by vandalism, sprinkler leakage, glass breakage, water damage, or theft. An exception to this exclusion was made for buildings under construction. Similar vacancy exclusions are found in most commercial property and homeowners policies, as well as an under construction exception to the exclusion.

Under Construction

The question is, what constitutes a building being under construction? Keep in mind that our discussion here applies only within the context of a vacant building, and vacancy may or may not be explicitly defined in the policy. Many, if not most, homeowners policies do not define vacancy. The usual judicial presumption is that a building is vacant when it is unoccupied and materially devoid of contents.

In the case of commercial properties, most policy forms include a specific definition of vacancy. For example, ISO forms issued to a tenant that occupies part of a building define vacancy to mean that the space they occupy is vacant when it does not contain enough business personal property to conduct customary operations. If the policy form is written for a building owner or a tenant that occupies the entire building, vacancy is based on a percentage of total square footage not being used for customary operations of the tenant or owner.

As for the under construction issue, for example, in the current ISO CP 00 10 Building and Personal Property Coverage Form, Buildings under construction or renovation are not considered vacant. The renovation language was added to this form in 1995. In earlier editions of the CP 00 10 form, only the under construction language was used in the coverage grant for vacant buildings.

I dont happen to have a copy of the 1995 ISO countrywide commercial property form changes filing or circular, so I cant explain precisely what the reason was for the introduction of the renovation language. The reason could lie in the logic of the aforementioned TRB Investments court case as explained by the courts decision. They examined cases from other states that found that under construction referred only to new building construction, whereas renovation referred to remodeling, repairs, etc., to an existing building. They also examined, and agreed with, other cases that found under construction and renovation to be essentially synonymous. The logic for that interpretation is explained as follows.

When a court reviews policy language, especially when a case involves an allegation that the language is ambiguous, the court seeks to determine the intent of both parties with regard to coverage. As Merlin points out in his article that sparked this months column, in my When Words Collide book, one of the insurance contract interpretive doctrines I discuss is the premise that The purpose of insurance is to insure.

Courts have pretty universally opined that exclusions are interpreted narrowly against insurers who unilaterally draft most insurance policies and insuring agreements and exceptions to exclusions are interpreted broadly in favor of the insured. Courts, as a result, attempt to evaluate the intent of a policy provision to reflect the likely reason for the language on the part of the insurer while upholding, to some degree, the reasonable expectations of the insured.

Exception to Vacancy

Why is there an exception to the vacancy exclusion for buildings under construction? The likely reason is that the kinds of perils excluded by vacancy clauses (e.g., vandalism, water damage and sprinkler leakage, glass breakage, and theft) are far more likely to occur when no one is around. When a building is under construction, there are typically workers present during much of the day. The court concluded, in the TRB Investments case, that workers are equally present, perhaps more so, during renovations to an existing building as they are for one undergoing new construction.

Perhaps this reasonable expectation of coverage for a building being renovated was the reason for ISO expanding the vacancy exception in 1995? If someone reading this has a copy of that filing or circular, perhaps they can answer that question in the comments section of the online edition of this column.

That being said, what isnt widely known is that often when ISO broadens coverage in a policy form as part of a countrywide revision, its at the request of independent agents who have encountered denials of claims that agents, as advocates for their customers, feel should be covered.

The Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America (the Big I) trade associations Technical Affairs Committee meets annually with ISO at their home office. Similarly, a large group of state Big I affiliates hold the Mid-America Insurance Conference annually with representatives of ISO. Attendance at the Mid-America conference is also open to all independent agency insurance companies.

To illustrate why one of these forums might have initiated the 1995 commercial property change, I know for a fact that ISO changed the vacancy exclusion exception in their 2022 countrywide homeowners forms filing in response to a request by the Big I. Prior to 2022, ISOs homeowners forms had a vacancy exclusion that made an exception for dwellings being constructed. There was no mention of renovation.

In 2009, the Big I Technical Affairs Committee asked ISO to revise the exception to include remodeling and renovation.

This was based on denials of vandalism claims involving homes being remodeled. The argument made was, From the standpoint of risk, it doesnt make sense that there is coverage for a vacant building during construction when the building is largely unsecured while there isnt coverage during remodeling or renovation when the building is more likely to be secured.

ISO did not revise the vacancy exception in their 2011 countrywide filing, but finally did so in 2022. In current homeowners forms, the vacancy exception says: A dwelling being constructed, remodeled, renovated or repaired is not considered vacant.

Perhaps the remodeled, renovated or repaired language should be added to ISOs commercial property forms to replace the lone renovated exception language. Otherwise, at some point an insurer may forget the doctrine that the purpose of insurance is to insure and deny claims by distinguishing between renovating and repair or remodeling.

Wilson, CPCU, ARM, AIM, AAM is the founder and CEO of InsuranceCommentary.com and the author of six books, including When Words CollideResolving Insurance Coverage and Claims Disputes, which BookAuthority ranked as the #1 insurance book of all time. He can be reached at InsuranceCommentary.com@outlook.com.

Topics Construction
Six people were killed in a single plane crash Sunday night at Bangor International Airport in Maine, according to local officials, correcting what appears to have been a report from the federal government that seven people died.

A late Monday morning preliminary report from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) had indicated that seven people were killed and one seriously injured.

However, Bangor police and airport officials later disputed the FAA account, maintaining that there were six, not eight, people on board and all are presumed deceased.

According to the flight manifest there were six people on the flight. No one from the incident was transported to the hospital, and all on the flight are presumed to be deceased. The identities of the people on the flight are not being released publicly at this time, pending positive identification, a posting on the airports website states.

Local officials said there are sources providing information that have not been verified or vetted through all appropriate channels before being released.

Later on Monday, the FAA indicated it agreed with the local officials that six people were onboard and that two crew members and four passengers were killed.

The aircraft apparently crashed on the runway about 7:45 pm while departing the airport. The plane became inverted when it crashed and then it caught fire, the FAA reported.

The private plane was a Bombardier CL 600 airplane registered at an address that is the same asa well-known Houston personal injury law firm, Arnold and Itkin.

Officials have not yet confirmed the identities of any victims.

ABC 13 television news in Houston said it had learned that the victims include Tara Arnold, a lawyer and wife of one of the prominent law firms founders; Jacob Hosmer, the pilot; and an event planner whose daughter confirmed she was onboard.

ABC 13 reported that Kurt Arnold and Jason Itkin, founders of the law firm, were not on the plane.

The plane trip originated in Houston and had stopped in Bangor to refuel for a trip to France, according to ABC-13.

The airport was being hit with some snow at the time, although it was not closed. Planes were landing and departing while snow clearing and de-icing efforts were underway, according to Jose Saavedra, airport director. He said it is normal for the airports work crews to deal with weather events.

The cause of the crash remains unknown. The storm has impeded the arrival of an investigative team from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). Saavedra said the team may not be on scene until this evening.

State and local emergency crews and the National Guard worked through Sunday evening at the crash site. The public was asked to avoid the airport area.

The airport closed and all flights were cancelled after the accident. It will remain closed until at least Wednesday at noon.

Photo: This image taken from video provided by WABI television, emergency services work on a scene of the Bombardier Challenger 600 crash at the Bangor Airport in Maine, late Sunday, Jan. 25, 2026. (WABI via AP)

Topics Aviation
The offshore wind industry has pledged to invest 9.5 billion ($11.3 billion) in its supply chain by 2030 to help expand capacity in the North Sea as European countries work to turn one of the most famous oil basins into what German Chancellor Friedrich Merz called the worlds largest clean energy reservoir.

Leaders and energy ministers from nine nations including the UK and Norway came to Hamburg on Monday to sign a declaration on accelerating the technology. The sector, in turn, will also mobilize 1 trillion of capital in Europe, create 91,000 jobs and reduce power production costs by 30% by 2040, according to industry group WindEurope.

We have already built a large number of offshore facilities, and this should continue apace, said Merz, whose country hosted the meeting, adding that safety in the North Sea has become particularly relevant in recent weeks.

The commitment underscores Europes continued support for the technology, despite recent criticism by US President Donald Trump, who has labeled Europeans that install windmills as losers. This weeks North Sea conference is a nice answer to Trumps statements at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Germanys economy minister, Katherina Reiche, told reporters.

The nations aim to jointly develop 100 gigawatts of offshore wind capacity by 2050  the blocs climate-neutrality target  while strengthening protections for energy infrastructure, Bloomberg News reported on Thursday [Jan. 22]. That effort includes wind farms linked to multiple countries.

Grid operator Tennet Germany and the UKs National Grid Plc also agreed to build an interconnector with 3.8 gigawatts of capacity that will connect offshore wind parks to both countries coasts. It should become operational at the end of the 2030s, pending a final investment decision.

Todays investment pact provides reliable perspectives for the offshore sector, secures creation of value in Europe and brings future-proof jobs, Reiche said. Ed Miliband, the UKs energy secretary, said clean energy could get the nation off the fossil fuel rollercoaster and give us energy sovereignty and abundance.

The governments also pledged to bolster the clean power push with their own initiatives. While the UK has stepped up support for the technology  resulting in a record wind auction earlier this month  Germanys most recent zero-subsidy tender attracted no bidders, and upcoming rounds also risk failure.

In this respect, we will adjust the tender design and areas so that we can offer a good investment framework, said Reiche, adding that the changes will be paired with so-called contracts for difference, which provide a minimum subsidy and an upper cap.

The North Sea summit follows two similar gatherings since 2022, at which coastal states set out plans to install 300 gigawatts of capacity  up from about 35 gigawatts currently  in response to the energy crisis triggered by Russias invasion of Ukraine. The North Atlantic Treaty Organization and the European Commission are also taking part, with Iceland joining despite not being a North Sea nation.

On the sidelines of the meeting, Berlin and Copenhagen also agreed to invest in an offshore wind development on the Danish island of Bornholm, which will supply power to about 3 million households.

Oil and gas extraction in the North Sea accounts for more than 9% of historical global greenhouse gas emissions, said climate nonprofit 350.org, citing calculations by Oil Change International. Transforming the North Sea into a renewable energy hub would not erase that damage, but it could begin to correct it, said Clemence Dubois, the groups campaign manager.

Closer cooperation between countries might also help protect conservation areas, according to Felix Schmidt, policy adviser for WWF Germany.

At the moment, biodiversity doesnt have the priority in marine-protected areas in the North Sea, given the numerous economic uses that continue to take place within these areas, he said.

Photograph: Offshore wind turbines. Photo credit: Krisztian Bocsi/Bloomberg

Related:

Copyright 2026 Bloomberg.
The U.S. agency that enforces laws prohibiting workplace discrimination on Thursday rescinded legal guidance that had strengthened protections against unlawful harassment for LGBTQ workers and women who have abortions.

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission voted 2-1 to repeal the 2024 guidance, which had incorporated major court rulings and laws passed in the roughly 25 years since the agency last updated its guidance.

The five-member EEOC can make rules and issue guidance explaining how federal laws that protect workers from discrimination based on characteristics such as race, sex, religion and disability should be applied. A separate arm of the agency, led by the general counsel, vets discrimination complaints filed by workers and can broker settlements and bring lawsuits against employers accused of violating those laws.

EEOC guidance is not legally binding, but lays out a blueprint for how the commission will enforce anti-discrimination laws and is often cited by judges deciding novel legal issues.

Since President Donald Trump took office last year, his appointees at the EEOC have stopped pursuing most cases involving transgender workers and have launched probes into workplace diversity policies and alleged antisemitism on college campuses.

Related: Head of EEOC Urges White Men to Report Discrimination

The repeal of the 2024 guidance was expected and comes less than three months after the U.S. Senate confirmed Trump nominee Brittany Panuccio to the commission, restoring a quorum of three members and giving Republicans a 2-1 majority.

The commission in the 2024 guidance had adopted a broad view of the type of conduct that amounts to unlawful workplace harassment, saying it included discriminating against employees because they have abortions or use contraception and refusing to use transgender workers preferred names and pronouns.

EEOC Chair Andrea Lucas, a Trump appointee, ahead of Thursdays vote said the EEOC had overstepped its authority by issuing guidance that imposed new obligations on employers rather than interpreting existing law.

But critics of the move said it could discourage employers from preventing harassment and leave workers without recourse when they face it.

This action is likely to increase the amount of harassment that occurs in workplaces across the country, a dozen former EEOC and U.S. Department of Labor officials said in a joint statement before the vote. Most of the officials were appointed by Democratic presidents.

The 2024 guidance covered an array of topics, including a landmark 2020 Supreme Court ruling in Bostock v. Clayton County that said workplace discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity is a form of unlawful sex discrimination. The commission had said that while Bostock involved a gay workers termination and not harassment claims, the Supreme Courts reasoning in the decision extended to cases alleging harassment of LGBTQ workers.

A federal judge in Texas last year had blocked that portion of the guidance, saying that finding was novel and was beyond the scope of the EEOCs powers in issuing guidance. Two other judges separately barred the agency from enforcing the guidance against religious organizations that sued.

Topics Commercial Lines Business Insurance
Newly revealed data highlights a surge in criminals targeting high-value freight and new theft locations pushing losses higher, according to Verisk CargoNet analysis.

Estimated losses surged 60% from 2024 numbers to nearly $725 million, while confirmed cargo theft incidents increased 18%.

The average theft value rose to $273,990, up 36% from $202,364 in 2024, driven by more selective, high-value targeting by organized groups, the cargo theft monitoring company showed.

Approximately 3,594 supply chain crime events across the United States and Canada were reported in 2025, a bit lower than the 3,607 events reported in 2024.

Incidents involving confirmed cargo theft rose sharply, increasing 18% year-over-year from 2,243 to 2,646, the analysis showed.

California remained the most impacted state with 1,218 incidents, but activity shifted away from Los Angeles County (down 11%) toward historically lower-risk regions such as Kern County (up 82%) and San Joaquin County (up 44%).

Theft activity dispersed geographically, with major increases in New Jersey (+50%), Indiana (+30%), and Pennsylvania (+24%).

Food and beverage products experienced the largest increase, with 708 thefts, a 47% jump from 2024.

Meat and seafood products and tree nuts were particularly affected, with trends varying by region. Meat and seafood were heavily targeted in the Northeast, especially New Jersey, while tree nut thefts were more common on the West Coast.

Metal theft rose 77%, driven by ongoing demand for copper products.

Theft of consumer-grade electronics such as televisions and personal computers declined.

Vehicle-related products  including tires, auto parts, and motor oils -also remained attractive, with a notable focus on engines and components bound for domestic vehicle assembly plants.

Enterprise computing hardware and cryptocurrency mining equipment emerged as toptier targets for organized criminal groups.

Criminal enterprises are becoming more selective and sophisticated, targeting extremely high value shipments rather than relying on opportunistic theft, said Keith Lewis, vice president of operations at Verisk CargoNet. This strategic shift explains how losses can rise 60 percent even as overall incident volume holds steady.

Trends expected in 2026

RAM modules, storage drives, and enterprise computing equipment will continue to be high-value targets.

Theft by deception groups are expected to increase their focus on misdirecting shipments tendered to legitimate carriers, sidestepping compliance controls that have traditionally centered on the tendering process itself, the report stated.

In addition, non-domiciled CDL enforcement will continue to be monitored.

CargoNet warned that many complex cargo theft schemes rely on acquiring existing motor carriers with strong load histories. An increase in enforcement may reduce available capacity and expand the pool of carriers for sale, potentially creating new opportunities for criminal enterprises to establish fraudulent operations.

Photo: Generated with AI, AdobeStock

Topics Profit Loss Fraud Trucking
The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board said on Friday it is opening an investigation into self-driving car company Waymo after its robotaxis illegally passed stopped school buses in Austin, Texas, at least 19 times since the start of the school year.

The Alphabet GOOGL.O unit in December recalled more than 3,000 vehicles to update the software that had caused vehicles to drive past stopped school buses that were loading or unloading students, increasing the risk of a crash. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration opened a probe in October into Waymo vehicles near school buses.

Waymo said Friday there were no collisions in the incidents and said its self-driving system known as the Waymo Driver safely navigates thousands of school bus encounters weekly across the United States, and the Waymo Driver is continuously improving. Waymo added it is confident that our safety performance around school buses is superior to human drivers.

In a November 20 letter posted by NHTSA, the Austin Independent School District said five incidents occurred in November after Waymo software updates to resolve the issue. The school system asked the company to halt operations around schools during pick-up and drop-off times until it could ensure the vehicles would not violate the law. In December, the school district told Reuters that Waymo had refused to halt operations around schools.

We cannot allow Waymo to continue endangering our students while it attempts to implement a fix, a lawyer for the school district wrote, saying a Waymo was recorded driving past a stopped school bus only moments after a student crossed in front of the vehicle, and while the student was still in the road.

Topics K-12
Navigators Insurance Co., a Hartford excess insurer, cannot escape a Georgia utility companys argument that the utility is an additional insured on a policy, after a 2018 gas explosion in Georgia that left three women severely injured.

The decision by the U.S. 7th Circuit Court of Appeals in Chicago upheld a federal district court ruling in Indiana, which had found against Navigators in 2024 on the additional insured question but in favor of the insurer on bad faith and breach of fiduciary duty claims.

The crux of Navigators argument was that Atlanta Gas Light Co. can be an additional insured only as long as a gas-line marking company faces liability for its actions in Georgia lawsuits brought by the injured women.

But the policy is devoid of such language, and we will not supply omitted terms while professing to construe the contract,' the appellate panel of judges wrote in the Jan. 22 opinion.

Besides adding new light to the definition of additional insured, the decision also lays out how clear Indianas insurance statutes and case law are on bad-faith allegationsa clarity that not all states laws provide.

People in rural southeast Georgia may remember the incident that destroyed a coffee shop and led to the insurance claims and protracted litigation. Atlanta Gas Light Co., part of the Southern Company utility giant, had hired Indianapolis-based United States Infrastructure Corp. (USIC) to locate and mark gas lines that Atlanta Gas owned across Georgia.

The utility required USIC to obtain primary and excess liability insurance and to include Atlanta Gas as an additional insured.

The trouble came after USIC failed to mark a gas line in Homerville, a town of about 2,500 people, 40 miles from the border with Florida. A boring company digging in 2018 struck the line, causing the release of natural gas into a sewer line, the court explained. Soon after, the nearby Coffee Corner cafe exploded, severely injuring three women and heavily damaging the shop. The incident made national news reports. A video clip from NBCs Today show can be seen here. An Insurance Journal report about the incident is here.

After mediation, the injured women settled with the line-marking company. Atlanta Gas was not able to come to an agreement with them, and the women sued Atlanta Gas in Georgia state court.

The utility asked Navigators to defend and indemnify but the insurer denied the claim. Its stated reason was that the USIC umbrella policy covered Atlanta Gas as an additional insured only for injuries caused by the line-marking company. The injury suit against the utility named only Atlanta Gas, not USIC. Also, the primary Zurich insurance policy had not yet been exhausted at the time of settlement talks, although the utility had argued that it was pretty obvious that the primary policys $2 million limits would soon be surpassed.

In 2020, Atlanta Gas sued Navigators in federal court in Indiana, alleging breach of contract, bad faith and violation of fiduciary duty. The district court judge ruled in favor of Navigators on bad faith and fiduciary duty but found that Atlanta Gas was indeed an additional insured under the umbrella policy. The court awarded the utility $13.8 million.

On appeal, the 7th Circuit judges agreed that the policy wording is clear and the lower court ruling was correct.

Thus, for AGL to qualify as an additional insured, the liability the underlying suits seek to impose upon it must stem from injuries proximately caused in whole or in part by USICs conduct. That is precisely what we have here, 7th Circuit Judge John Lee wrote in the opinion.

Yes, Navigators attorneys were correct in arguing that the underlying injury suits do not mention USIC by name, Lee wrote. But when assessing its duty to defend, the insurer must look to the allegations in the complaint coupled with the facts known to the insurer after reasonable investigation, the opinion noted, quoting from a 2020 Indiana Court of Appeals decision.

The Navigators full opinion can be seen here. Attorneys for Atlanta Gas could not be reached for comment.

Photo: The destroyed coffee shop in 2018, a day after the explosion. (Georgia Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioners Office via AP)

Topics Georgia
GEICO has agreed to pay more than $900,000 plus administrative costs to settle lawsuits from almost 1,500 call-center workers who said the insurer failed to pay overtime, including for time spent booting up computers and logging into a GEICO network.

Some $520,000 of that settlement will go to the plaintiffs attorneys in Nashville, Atlanta and Birmingham, Alabama, according to the settlement agreement. That leaves an average of about $240 per plaintiff, although four named plaintiffs will see payments of about $5,000 each. Two others will receive $20,000 each in retaliation settlement payments.

The fees and costs payable to plaintiffs counsel were negotiated separate and apart from any amounts to be paid to the plaintiffs, the judge wrote in approving the settlement.

GEICO, a Berkshire Hathaway company, did not admit fault in the settlement agreement, filed in U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Georgia.

GEICO denies any liability or wrongdoing of any kind whatsoever associated with the claims alleged by plaintiffs, the agreement reads. Specifically, the insurance company denied that it maintained employment practices that failed to comply with the federal Fair Labor Standards Act.

Defendants enter into this settlement solely for purposes of avoiding the costs and disruption of ongoing litigation and to settle any and all outstanding claims in the lawsuits, GEICO attorneys wrote.

Hundreds of employees at GEICOs Macon, Georgia, call center joined two lawsuits in 2023, alleging that the insurer regularly avoided paying for downtime at the jobsite and required workers to work off-the-clock and on breaks to make up for downtime.

GEICO does not pay Plaintiffs and similarly situated employees for time spent on work activities performed when they are not logged into the computer system and network, the plaintiffs amended complaint argued.

The judge in the case last summer barred some workers from joining, noting that their arguments had changed and were not supported by evidence. Also, expert testimony indicated that some employees were, in fact, paid for more time than they had spent logged in.

The settlement agreement, seen here, was approved by Judge Marc Treadwell on Jan. 23.

Related: Judge Mutes GEICO Call Center Workers Class-Action Demands Over Unpaid Time

Topics Lawsuits
A U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washingtons issued a final ruling against the Trump Administration in multistate litigation challenging the withholding of funding for electric vehicle charging infrastructure.

The U.S. Federal Highway Administration has now approved nearly all funding allocated to California under the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Formula Program. California Attorney General Rob Bonta get an early court order in June blocking the Administrations withholding of funding.

Related: Newsom Seeks $200 Million to Replace EV Tax Credits Cut by Trump

With Fridays court order, Bonta, along with California Gov. Gavin Newsom, the California Department of Transportation, and the California Energy Commission, can now access $379 million in funding to support electric vehicle charging infrastructure.

In 2021, Congress passed the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, also known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. One provision of the IIJA appropriated $5 billion for the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure formula program for a national network of electric vehicle charging infrastructure across the states. President Trump once in office issued an executive order directing federal agencies to immediately stop releasing certain funds appropriated through the IIJA, including $5 billion that Congress appropriated for electric vehicle charging stations under NEVI.

Topics Mergers & Acquisitions California
Zero-emission vehicle registrations fell in California 2025 after several years of growth following the pandemic.

This marks the first year-over-year decline in ZEV registrations since 2020, a new report from the California New Car Dealers Association shows. The groups Q4 2025 California Auto Outlook report is a full-year analysis of statewide new vehicle registration trends.

The electric vehicle momentum the state has seen in recent years seems to have reversed course. ZEV registrations declined to 20.9% of the market in 2025, down from a peak of 22% in 2024.

Related: California Stalls on EV Subsidies as Trump Cuts Federal Rebate

The registration data showed that consumer adoption softened materially in late 2025, raising questions about the pace of future growth in Californias ZEV market. ZEV registrations in November and December fell below 13%, a pullback that followed a third-quarter surge driven by the impending expiration of federal tax credits.

California remains a big state for ZEVs despite the decline. Its share of total U.S. ZEV registrations in 2025 was 28.5%.

Although ZEV demand cooled, hybrid vehicles continue to gain traction, and position strong year-over-year growth in 2025. Hybrid sales slightly outpaced ZEV sales in Q4 alone, grabbing 20% of the market, the report shows.

Gas-powered vehicles remained the single largest segment of the market, with 54% of new vehicle registrations in 2025.

Toyota ended 2025 as Californias top-selling brand, with 17.8% market share. The Toyota Camry remained the top-selling passenger car in California, with 62,324 registrations. The Toyota Tacoma led compact and mid-size pickups with 45,258 registrations.

Teslas registrations fell 11.4 % in 2025, with its market share dropping from 11.6% in 2024 to 9.9% in 2025.

Californias new vehicle market is expected to soften in 2026. Registrations are projected to dip 1.5% to just under 1.8 million units this year due to higher transaction prices, tariff pressure, and a cooling labor market, the report states.

Topics California
President Donald Trump signed an executive order that allows the federal government to preempt state and local regulations in the recovery efforts of last years Los Angeles wildfires, blaming the destruction and its slow rebuilding on Californias authorities.

Immediate and decisive federal action is required to ensure that federal disaster assistance is delivered and utilized swiftly, effectively, and without obstruction by state and local governments, according to the executive order.

Related: The Return Period for An LA Wildfire-Scale Event May Be Shorter Than You Think

Nearly 40,000 acres were burned in the Eaton and Palisades wildfires last January, killing at least 31 people and destroying 16,000 structures. Estimates of economic and property losses range as high as $131 billion.

The order once again pits Trump against California Governor Gavin Newsom, a key political rival and potential Democratic candidate for president in 2028. Newsom criticized Trumps measure, saying an executive order to rebuild Mars would be just as useful, in a post on X. The governor said permitting timelines are at least twice as fast as than before the fires.

Newsom and a bipartisan group of California lawmakers have asked for $33.9 billion in federal disaster assistance to help dislocated residents and businesses recover, but the request has stalled in Congress.

Mr. President, please actually help us, Newsom said in his X post. We are begging you.

Related: California Bill Would Require Insurer Claims Handling Plans, and Double Penalties

Debris clearance efforts, led by the US Army Corps of Engineers removed hazardous waste from 13,600 parcels while almost 3,000 rebuilding permits have been issued by local city and county agencies, according to a state website tracking progress.

Trumps order calls for US Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem to publish proposed regulations to preempt state and local permitting processes within 30 days and final regulations within 90 days.

Financial rather than permitting problems are the biggest barrier to rebuilding, Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger, whose district includes the community of Altadena that was destroyed by the Eaton Fire, said in a statement.

Families lack the capital to kick start or continue their rebuilding plans, Barger said. Our county will soon face a mass sheltering crisis as survivors insurance and emergency relief funds run out.

Top photo: Columns amongst the ruins of a home during the Palisades Fire in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, on Friday, Jan. 10, 2025. Photographer: Michael Nigro/Bloomberg.

Copyright 2026 Bloomberg.

Topics Catastrophe Natural Disasters Wildfire Louisiana
Corks county sheriff is being asked to find alternative venues to the inordinate number of national schools used for polling stations in order not to interfere with early education.

The sheriff is to be written to after a councillor laid bare the scale of schools being used as polling venues.

Fine Gael councillor Aileen Browne won unanimous cross-party support for the move, after she pointed out that, in 2024, young children lost three days of schooling due to elections.

Ms Browne said this also meant parents had to take time off or pay for expensive childcare.

She said there were many community centres and sports halls with excellent facilities which should be used instead.

Looking just at the 2024 local election across the 10 local electoral areas in Cork county, there were 225 polling stations used, of which 149 were schools.

"That means 66% of all polling stations are currently located in schools. More significantly, those school-based polling stations serve over 147,000 electors, accounting for approximately 65% of the entire electorate in the county. With no election hopefully due for several years, now is the time to address this issue.

In her own Kanturk electoral area, 22 of the 23 polling stations used (96%) were schools.

The Macroom municipal district, which covers all of Mid-Cork and Millstreet, was next highest, with 23 of the 28 polling stations in schools. That represents 82% of schools where 87% of the areas total electorate were eligible to vote.

In third place was the Carrigaline municipal area, where there were 18 polling stations of which 14 (82%) were schools. These schools witnessed 80% of the electoral vote in the area.

In the Cobh municipal district, there were 13 schools used for the 17 polling stations (76%).

The Skibbereen electoral area, which forms half of the West Cork Municipal District Council along with Bantry, had 15 schools used out of a total of 23 polling stations (65%).

There were 13 schools among the 25 polling stations in the Fermoy area (52%), with 15 schools in Bandon electoral area of its total of 29 (52%).

The lowest percentage, 47%, was in the Mallow area, with eight schools out of 17 venues.

Fine Gael councillor Una McCarthy, a teacher, said education was being interrupted and there was no need for it, as venues other than schools could be used as polling stations.
An innocent farmer who claimed he was tasered twice by gardai searching for an illegal gun in Co Cork has settled a High Court action brought over the alleged incident.

Thomas Browne, aged 54, had claimed he was unlawfully assaulted and battered and falsely imprisoned by members of the Armed Support Unit while he was working in a shed on his farm on December 14, 2015.

He claimed gardai did not identify themselves and acted with unnecessary force during the raid. An Garda Siochana said the operation took place, but denied any wrongdoing on behalf of Garda members.

On Monday, Garnet Orange SC, appearing for Mr Browne, told Mr Justice Tony OConnor the case had settled and could be struck out. Mr Orange asked the judge to make an order directing the Garda Commissioner to pay his clients legal costs.

The judge made the orders as sought.

According to court documents, Mr Browne  who has no involvement in criminality  was building a new shed with his two teenage sons and an electrician friend on the day of the raid.

He said he was in an existing shed inspecting a fuse board when the doors were pulled open and several people stormed in with lights and started shouting and roaring.

The lights made it impossible to identify the group and they did not identify themselves, according to Mr Brownes statement of claim. He said he feared he was being robbed.

He alleges he was forced to the ground, which was wet with oil and water, before a taser was fired into his lower back.

Gardai continued to shout at him before going silent as they searched the shed. Mr Browne said he raised his head to see what was happening and that he was tasered again.

It was the Garda Commissioners case that the unit was justified in using reasonable force as they were searching for a firearm. They denied any negligence or breach of duty and claimed Armed Support Unit members identified themselves as gardai.

Court documents state gardai were searching for a firearm used in an aggravated burglary two days before the raid.
Families were groomed to trust a 45-year-old man from West Cork to bring their young sons swimming, on cinema visits and to fast food restaurants, it was claimed by a detective on Tuesday as the man was charged with sexually assaulting seven boys.

Detective Garda Paul Cogan said the boys were aged between seven and 12 when they were allegedly sexually assaulted on Saturday afternoon visits to a busy fast food restaurant in Cork City on occasions in August and September 2023. The accused was charged with a total of eight counts of sexual assault in respect of seven boys.

Judge Catherine Ryan said there was a presumption in favour of bail unless its refusal was necessary for the prevention of serious crime. The charges are serious and carry a very heavy penalty if proven. I am also taking into consideration the strength of evidence. I believe the objections to bail are well-founded  I am refusing bail.

The accused, who was represented by solicitor Frank Buttimer, was remanded in custody until February 3. Sergeant John Dineen said the Director of Public Prosecutions directed trial by indictment. Mr Buttimer said there would not be a signed plea of guilty to charges and that a book of evidence would be required.

Woman's allegation

Det. Garda Cogan testified that gardai were alerted by a woman who works professionally in this area when she became suspicious of a man in his 40s who was in the company of five boys at the fast food premises and the kind of physical interaction that he was having with the children.

The detective said this woman was present at the premises on September 23, 2023, and on the basis of what she saw in terms of the interactions between the man and the children she contacted gardai to express her concerns.

The woman was especially concerned by the level of physical contact by this man with the young boys  one boy in particular was allegedly subjected to continuous physical contact for a period of 24 minutes, Det. Garda Cogan testified.

Contact with parents

Following the complaint, the footage from the restaurant was downloaded and gardai set about identifying the children and were able to establish their identities and to make contact with their parents.

The parents alleged that the defendant met them around the city and engaged them in friendly conversation, played with a number of children who were present and eventually took them all to the restaurant for food. These encounters continued to take place over a number of weeks.

One of the mothers alleged that she only met (the accused) on one occasion before he turned up at her door one Saturday and offered to buy football boots for her young boys. She recalls being baffled as to how he had found her house.

"She allowed her young boys to go to the sports shop with him on the proviso that her 17-year-old would also go. On this occasion he bought them football boots, a football each and food in the fast food premises, Det. Garda Cogan said.

Gardai established that on a weekly basis the accused was making a lengthy journey to Cork City every Saturday to meet these boys, it was alleged.

Significantly, most of the families also had young girls, and the mothers stated that (the accused) never showed any interest in interacting with them. In fact one mother stated that on one occasion when boys and girls were brought to the restaurant, food was only bought for the boys, the detective alleged.

Fitzgerald's Park

A number of days before (the defendants) home was searched as part of this investigation, he was observed near the playground in Fitzgerald's Park, Cork City, by two gardai from the Divisional Protective Services Unit.

"They approached him and enquired as to why he was in the area of the playground. Following the conversation he left the park. Four days later gardai executed a search warrant at his home address and a number of electronic devices were seized.

"Forensic analysis of the devices showed that they had been factory reset the day he had met gardai in Fitzgerald's Park. Gardai believe that he was spooked by his interaction with the two gardai, Det. Garda Cogan testified at Cork District Court.

While reference was made in the objection to bail to alleged visits by the accused with boys to swimming pools and the cinema, all eight charges brought against him on Tuesday related to alleged sexual assaults at the fast food premises.

- If you are affected by any of the issues raised in this article, please click here for a list of support services.
The late Brian Crowley lived his life by one simple rule: When people need help, you should be there to help them.

Mr Crowley, a Bandon native who topped the poll in each of the five European elections he contested, passed away last Friday at the age of 61.

A wheelchair user since an accident at the age of 16 left him paralysed from the waist down, he had been in poor health for several years.

Brian Crowley topped the poll in each of the five European elections he contested.

In a moving eulogy at his funeral Mass, Niall Crowley told a packed St Patricks Church in Bandon that his brother had overcome many challenges in life, with his ability to handle adversity a quality he had inherited from his mother Sally.

When our Mum and Dad met the consultants in Dun Laoghaire soon after Brians accident they were told that Brian would not live beyond 25 years of age. Reaching nearly 62 years of age he certainly overcame that one, Niall said.

In a life defined by family, friends, faith, and fun, Brian had adored all of his nephews and nieces.

The only time I ever heard Brian boasting was when he was speaking about them," said Niall.

"All 11 gave him so much joy and happiness but that was minuscule in the context of what he gave to them.

He was always there for them in both the good and bad times.

There was a thunderous round of applause when Niall Crowley likened the staff of Ward 2B in Cork University Hospital to a second family to Brian throughout his illness.

Brian had made friends easily, his brother said, because he loved meeting people.

The messages over the last few days are only now beginning to give us as a family a true indication of how many lives he touched in so many ways.

One thing Brian always said was that when people need help, you should always be there to help them, Niall said, and this was informed by his incredible faith.

If Brian has not got a front row seat in heaven, then the rest of us are in serious trouble," Niall added.

In his homily, parish priest Fr John Newman said that, from his earliest days, Brians bubbly personality and winning smile instantly endeared him to people.

His deep trust in God, his courage, and his resilience made him determined that his disability would not prevent him from doing what he wanted to do with his life.

Brian Crowleys love of music was marked with a joyous rendition of his favourite song, The Wonder of You.

The Mass was celebrated by Fr Newman, and concelebrated by Canon Bertie OMahony, Monsignor Kevin OCallaghan, Bishop Emeritus John Buckley, and Fr Kieran ODriscoll.

President Connolly was represented by her aide de camp, Commandant Deirdre Newell.

A veritable whos who of Fianna Fail, and the wider political world, attended Mr Crowleys funeral, with Taoiseach Micheal Martin and his wife Mary joined by Ceann Comhairle Verona Murphy, and Senator Mark Daly, Cathaoirleach of the Seanad.

Ireland South MEP Cynthia Ni Mhurchu attended, with Billy Kelleher MEP attending the removal. EU Commissioner Michael McGrath sent his apologies.

The many past and present Fianna Fail TDs in attendance included chief whip Mary Butler, justice minister Jim OCallaghan, Michael Moynihan, Christopher OSullivan, Aindrias Moynihan, Eamon O Cuiv, Gerry Collins, and Kevin OKeeffe.

Councillor Ian Doyle deputised for the Mayor of the County of Cork, while former lord mayor of Cork, councillor Tony Fitzgerald, deputised for the current Lord Mayor.

Brian Crowley was laid to rest in St Patricks Cemetery, Bandon.
Up to 12 months could be shaved off the completion time for major infrastructure projects under plans to be discussed by the Cabinet on Tuesday.

This, ministers will be told, will be done through the National Development Finance Agency (NDFA) providing expertise to Government departments in a bid to speed up infrastructure delivery.

Ministers will be asked to approve the plans from infrastructure minister Jack Chambers and Tanaiste Simon Harris at the Cabinet meeting.

The accelerating infrastructure report and action plan  which was published in December  committed to expanding the NDFAs role to enable it to provide centralised support and expert assistance for major projects through the approvals process.

NDFA expansion

The expansion of the NDFA will centralise expertise and reduce the need for external expert consultants.

It will also aid with corporate governance arrangements for projects, preparation of business cases, and support through the construction phase.

Cabinet will be told this move could reduce development cycles of major capital projects by 12 months.

Ministerial guidelines will be issued to every department by Mr Chambers, with departments asked to identify suitable projects that could benefit from the new service.

The redevelopment of the GPO and the National Concert Hall in Dublin are likely to be among the first projects to avail of this service.

Dismantling the triple lock

Separately, defence minister Helen McEntee will bring plans to Cabinet on the reform of the triple lock to remove the requirement for the UN to sign off on sending Irish troops on peacekeeping missions.

St Patricks Day

Ministers will also learn where they are travelling for St Patricks Day. Ms McEntee will say that it is the largest ever programme of St Patricks Day visits, with 40 delegations to 52 countries, with a strengthened focus on trade and investment.

Ministers, the Ceann Comhairle, and the Attorney General will visit the US, Britain, the Asia-Pacific region, Latin America, and Africa.

A small number of visits to the Middle East and North Africa are also scheduled for later in March and early April, following Ramadan.

New windows and doors grant

Meanwhile, energy and climate minister Darragh OBrien will announce that a new windows and doors grant will be introduced under the better energy homes scheme from March 3.

To avail of the grant, homeowners must install a heat pump at the same time if they do not already have one installed.

The scheme will see a maximum grant of 800 per door for a maximum of two doors and up to 4,000 for windows.

Plan to build more flour mills

Enterprise minister Peter Burke will seek Cabinet approval to set up a 15m scheme to build more flour mills in Ireland to secure supply chains, reduce costs for bakeries, and improve sustainability.

Extension of RPZ rules

Housing minister James Browne will bring the Residential Tenancies Bill to Cabinet so all rental properties can fall under rent pressure zone legislation from March 1.
Taoiseach Micheal Martin is expected to meet with the leaders of the most powerful countries in the world in December as Ireland is invited to attend the G20 leaders summit in Miami.

The US formally invited Ireland to join the summit as an observer country, a Government spokesperson confirmed.
In 2022, 28-year-old Brazilian librarian Bruna Fonseca fulfilled a lifelong dream when she travelled to Ireland.

She attended English classes in Cork, sent money home from her work as a hospital cleaner, and embarked on a new relationship with a fellow student when her life was brutally cut short by Miller Pacheco  an obsessive ex-boyfriend who refused to accept that their relationship was over.

Last week, Pacheco was convicted of her murder, despite claiming self-defence.

Evidence of his obsession, his refusal to let her move on, and his actions in the early hours of January 1, 2023, proved overwhelming, with the jury reaching a unanimous verdict after just over an hour of deliberation.

Brunas family and friends paid tribute to her after the trial, with her cousin Marcela Fonseca highlighting the injustice of her death.

A man decides to take someone's life. And the question that remains is: how little is our life worth? A life that was taken because a woman was not allowed to move on, to choose, to love, to live her own life."

Irish Examiner court reporter Liam Heylin covered the trial. Hes the guest on todays episode of the Deirdre O'Shaughnessy Podcast.
Enoch Burke has been imprisoned again. Across comment sections on social media and in the kitchens of Ireland, a slow murmur is audible. The recognition that maybe imprisonment is disproportionate in this case.

Mr Burke was first imprisoned in September 2022  since then he has been incarcerated for more than 550 days across four separate periods. Mr Burke's incarceration is as a result of repeatedly breaking a court order to stay away from his former place of work, Wilsons Hospital school in Co Westmeath.

Mr Burke's case highlights the lack of apparatus available to the courts when an individual repeatedly commits a crime or violates a court order. However, what is striking and also rarely heard is that Mr Burke is not alone, and many citizens of our State are frequently imprisoned for repeated offences or breaching orders.

Read More Mick Clifford: Why the Enoch Burke saga is bigger than one teacher or one school

Across western societies including Ireland, there is a problem with reincarceration. It is what some individuals working in the area refer to as "doing life in instalments". In my own research in Northern Ireland, many of the men could not recall the number of times they had been to prison; some recalled it as being at least 100.

Justice systems are based on the logic that an individual commits a crime, is punished and therefore learns through their punishment not to commit this crime again. Most people are aware it is far more complex than this.

Nowhere is it clearer than in the data on reoffending published by the Central Statistics Office: 44% of individuals released from a custodial sentence in 2022 were reconvicted within one year of release. Those who were imprisoned for a public order offence (75%) were the most likely to be convicted of a re-offence within three years of being released.

Although there are many reasons for individuals to engage in a public order offence, the contribution of mental health and substance use issues to this type of offending behaviour is undeniable.

Enoch BUrke arriving at the Four Courts where he was sent back to jail.

Research on mental health and substance use issues in Irish imprisoned people carried out by the University of Limerick in 2019 found that the pooled prevalence estimates were 3.6% for psychotic disorders, 4.3% for affective disorders, 28.3% for alcohol use disorders, and 50.9% for substance use disorders.

If people experience mental health and/or substance use issues, but services cannot adequately respond, then they can find the symptoms of their illness and subsequent behaviour are being criminalised.

If, as a society, we think the blunt instrument of imprisonment is hopeless in the case of Mr Burke and is unlikely to change his behaviour, why do we accept it for the other, often vulnerable citizens of our State who experience the same frequency of reincarceration?

The unmet mental health needs of Irish imprisoned people has been highlighted by a range of bodies including the Irish Penal Reform Trust, the Mental Health Commission and the Office of the Inspector of Prisons.

All have highlighted the commitment of individual staff working in this area to meet the needs of imprisoned people with mental health issues, however, their commitment alone is unlikely to solve the more systemic issues.

I can make no assessment of what Mr Burke's individual needs may be, however, his case does highlight a more fundamental issue. It is time to recognise patterns of perpetual reincarceration are fruitless and costly, that imprisonment is too blunt an instrument for those whose behaviour is linked to unmet health and social care needs.

That it is unlikely to deter them from future reoffending and that robust systemic change is needed not just within our justice system alone, but particularly within our health, social protection and social care systems at large.
A heavy Russian drone bombardment of Ukraines southern city of Odesa killed at least one person and injured 23, including two children and a pregnant woman, officials said Tuesday as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called for faster US efforts to end Russias almost four-year-old invasion of his country.

The Odesa attack involved more than 50 drones, some of them models recently upgraded by Russia to improve their range and strike power, according to Ukrainian authorities.

One person was killed in overnight drone strikes (Michael Shtekel/AP)

The drones targeted the power grid, which Russia has repeatedly bombarded during the coldest winter in years, and also hit five apartment blocks, officials said.

Emergency crews retrieved the body of a man from the rubble, according to Oleh Kiper, head of the regional military administration.

Posting on Telegram, Mr Zelensky said: The rescue operation will continue until the fate of all people who may be under the rubble is clarified.

He added that an informal Protestant place of worship was also damaged.

Each such Russian strike undermines diplomacy, which is still ongoing, and hits, in particular, the efforts of partners who are helping to end this war, he said.

A diplomatic push by the Trump administration to end the war has made progress, according to officials, but has delivered no breakthrough on the key issue of what happens to Russian-occupied Ukrainian land and other territory that Moscow is demanding.

A brutal drone attack on Odesa. The Russians launched more than 50 drones at the city, with energy infrastructure and civilian facilities as the primary target. Five residential buildings were damaged as a result of this strike, with significant destruction to apartments and pic.twitter.com/lorBXNRg0x  Volodymyr Zelenskyy /   (@ZelenskyyUa) January 27, 2026

Analysts say that Russian President Vladimir Putin is in no rush to find a settlement, despite his armys difficulties on the roughly 1,000km (600-mile) front line.

He believes that time is on his side, that Western support for Kyiv will fade and that Ukraines resistance will eventually break under pressure, according to analysts.

To replenish its forces and keep up the pressure on Kyiv, Moscow is offering cash bonuses, freeing convicts from prison and luring foreigners to its army.

An Associated Press investigation found that unwitting Bangladeshi workers were enticed to Russia under the false promise of civilian work before being thrown into combat in Ukraine.

Mr Zelenskyy said the next round of talks with the United States and Russia is pencilled in for February 1, but that it would be good if this meeting could be accelerated.

He also urged, in the meantime, that additional sanctions be imposed on Russia to compel the Kremlin to make compromises.

Russia fired 165 drones at Ukraine overnight, with 24 of them that got through air defences hitting targets in seven regions, according to Ukraines air force.

Russia fired 165 drones at Ukraine overnight, with 24 of them hitting targets in seven regions (Michael Shtekel/AP)

In recent weeks, the relentless barrages have damaged some of Ukraines protected world heritage sites in Odesa, the western city of Lviv and the capital of Kyiv, Unesco said.

Russia has been improving its drone technology and tactics, striking Ukraine with increasing success.

The Ukrainian Defence Ministrys main intelligence directorate said earlier this month that Russia had deployed the new jet-powered Geran-5 strike drone against Ukraine for the first time.

The Geran is a Russian variant of the Iranian-designed Shahed.

According to the directorate, the drone can carry a 90kg (200lb) warhead and has a range of nearly 1,000km(600 miles).

(Oleg Petrasiuk/Ukraines 24th Mechanised Brigade via AP)

In response, Ukraine has significantly expanded production of interceptor drones, as well as developing its own long-range drones.

The Russian Defence Ministry said that its air defences shot down 19 Ukrainian drones overnight over several Russian regions.
North Korea launched short-range ballistic missiles toward its eastern waters on Tuesday, according to its neighbours, as the North heightens animosities with rival South Korea ahead of a major political meeting.

South Koreas military said it detected lift-offs of several ballistic missiles from an area north east of the North Korean capital of Pyongyang before the missiles each flew about 350km.

Japans Defence Ministry said two ballistic missiles launched from North Korea and landed off the eastern coast of the Korean Peninsula.

The ministry condemned the launches as a threat to the peace of Japan, the region and the international community.

South Koreas military said it maintains a firm readiness to repel any provocations by North Korea.

The launches were the first time North Korea fired weapons since testing what it called hypersonic missiles in early January.

In December, the country test fired what it called long-range, strategic cruise missiles and new anti-air missiles and released photos showing the apparent construction of its first nuclear-powered submarine.

North Korea has engaged in a run of weapons launches to enlarge its nuclear and missile arsenals since talks with the US and South Korea stalled in 2019.

Experts say the Norths leader, Kim Jong Un, believes a bigger weapons arsenal would give him greater leverage to win concessions from the US.

North Koreas recent displays were likely meant to demonstrate or review its weapons development achievements ahead of the upcoming ruling Workers Party congress, analysts said.

The congress, expected to start in February, would be the first of its kind in five years and is one of North Koreas biggest propaganda spectacles used to set up new political and economic priorities.

North Korea recently threatened retaliation over what it called South Korean surveillance drone flights across the border, one earlier in January and another in September.

The South Korean government denied operating any drones during the times specified by North Korea and began probing whether civilians sent them.

The accusations likely were driven by the Norths efforts to dial up anti-South Korea sentiments ahead of the congress, when Mr Kims previous declaration of a hostile two-state system on the Korean Peninsula could be added to the party constitution, analysts said.
Gregory Bovino, the border patrol commander who has become the public face of the immigration crackdown in Minneapolis, is being swapped in the city with the border czar, Tom Homan, as the Trump administration reshuffles the leadership of its immigration enforcement operation and scales back the federal presence after a second fatal shooting by officers.

The carting off of Bovino comes nearly immediately after he went on the Sunday cable news shows and said that border patrol officials were the real victims following the shooting death of nurse Alex Pretti by federal agents.

A senior Trump administration official told Reuters that the 55-year-old, who has been a lightning rod for criticism from Democrats and civil liberties activists, would be leaving Minnesota along with some of the agents deployed with him.

Read More Trumps ICE crackdown faces reckoning as outrage mounts over Alex Pretti shooting

A different person familiar with the matter said Bovino had been stripped of his specially created title of commander at large of the border patrol and would return to his former job as a chief patrol agent along Californias El Centro sector of the US-Mexico border.

Donald Trump announced on Monday that he was sending Homan to Minnesota to oversee operations on the ground there  nicknamed Operation Metro Surge  reporting directly to the president.

But Homans entrance doesnt spell the end of ICEs troubles. Minnesotas top federal judge has now summoned its acting head, Todd Lyons, to appear in court on Friday for allegedly defying court orders that may lead to the ICE lead being held in contempt, saying: The courts patience is at an end.

Bovinos departure comes amid a sharp shift in strategy from the White House after the fatal shooting of Pretti, a 37-year-old ICU nurse. On Monday, Trump said he had held conciliatory calls with the governor of Minnesota, Tim Walz, and the mayor of Minneapolis, Jacob Frey  Democrats he had previously blamed for the turmoil that escalated into two killings of US citizens by federal agents.

Word of Bovinos demotion was first reported by the Atlantic on Monday, citing an official from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which oversees the border patrol and Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and two others with knowledge of the change. The Atlantic said Bovino was expected to retire soon.

A photograph of 37-year-old Alex Pretti can be seen at a makeshift memorial in the area where he was shot dead by federal immigration agents earlier in the day in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on January 24, 2026. Picture: ROBERTO SCHMIDT / AFP via Getty Images

The DHS pushed back on the demotion reports in response to a tweet from the conservative influencer Nick Sortor claiming Bovinos official role  commander at large  had been eliminated.

Chief Gregory Bovino has NOT been relieved of his duties, the DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin replied, pointing to earlier comments from the White House press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, praising Bovino as a key part of the presidents team and a great American.

News of Bovinos departure did not stop dozens of protesters from gathering outside a hotel where they believed Bovino was staying. They blew whistles and banged pots, and one person blasted a trombone. Police watched and kept them away from the hotel entrance.

During a White House press briefing on Monday, Leavitt struck a conciliatory tone, calling Prettis death a tragedy and appearing to walk back previous comments from the White House adviser Stephen Miller calling Pretti a would-be assassin. Trump said earlier on Monday that his administration was reviewing the shooting of Pretti by a federal officer.

Law enforcement officers detain demonstrators during a protest outside SpringHill Suites and Residence Inn by Marriott hotels on Monday, Jan. 26, 2026, in Maple Grove, Minn. (AP Photo/Adam Gray)

Prettis union, AFGE Local 3669, which represents employees at the Minneapolis Veterans Affairs Medical Center where he worked, said it was disgusted by the abhorrent rhetoric of Trump administration officials following his killing. Alex was a son, a colleague, and a fellow union brother, not an assassin or a domestic terrorist. We are especially disappointed with VA secretary Doug Collins, who chose to use the murder of his own employee to push partisan, political narratives.

It called for a full, transparent, independent third-party investigation into the killing.

Trump and Walz  an otherwise regular target of the presidents ire and ridicule  said they discussed the federal immigration surge in a call the president later described as very good.

We, actually, seemed to be on a similar wavelength, Trump wrote on Truth Social.

Walzs office issued a statement that hinted at signs of a future de-escalation of the situation. It said the governor and the president had held a productive call in which Trump had agreed to look into reducing the number of federal agents in Minnesota and working with the state in a more coordinated fashion on immigration enforcement regarding violent criminals.

Demonstrators make noise during a protest outside a SpringHill Suites and Residence Inn by Marriott hotels on Monday, Jan. 26, 2026, in Maple Grove, Minn. (AP Photo/Adam Gray)

Later on Monday, Trump said that he had a very good telephone conversation with Frey, who has been sharply critical of the administrations deployment. In a statement, Frey said he had conveyed to Trump that the current deployment needs to end.

Read More Minneapolis is a city pushed to the brink  and the Irish are caught in between

The president agreed that the present situation cannot continue, Frey said. Some federal agents will begin leaving the area tomorrow, and I will continue pushing for the rest involved in this operation to go.

Melania Trump called for unity in an interview with Fox News on Tuesday morning. I know my husband, the president, had a great call yesterday with the governor and the mayor, and theyre working together to make it peaceful and without riots, she said. Im against the violence, so please, if you protest, protest in peace.

The protests have been almost uniformly peaceful. The exception has been the actions of federal agents, who have fired teargas, physically restrained protesters and killed two people.

Bovino has been one of the most aggressive promoters of Trumps deportation campaign, trumpeting the operations in highly produced videos meant to resemble action films. Often Bovino, a swaggering presence recognisable by his closely cropped hair, was the only unmasked face, surrounded by a team of agents wearing black neck gaiters and facial coverings. He recently appeared in the Minneapolis snow wearing an army green greatcoat, which invited comparisons to the Gestapo.

According to the Atlantic, Bovino will return to El Centro, California, where he previously served as chief patrol agent of the sector. Bovino, through constant appearances on conservative media, his aggressive turn and burn tactics, and vocal support for Trumps deportation agenda, parlayed his regional role into a national one, leading the administrations city-by-city crackdown.

CNN reported on Monday that the DHS had suspended Bovinos access to his social media accounts.

Bovino had aggressively defended his agents, despite video footage contradicting his claims, after the fatal shooting of Renee Good earlier this month and Pretti at the weekend.

This looks like a situation where an individual wanted to do maximum damage and massacre law enforcement, Bovino said after Prettis killing. Video showed that Pretti had been holding a phone, not a gun, and that agents had disarmed Pretti before killing him.

Last year, Bovino was reprimanded by a federal judge for lying to the court.

- The Guardian - Associated Press and Reuters contributed reporting
New York (Special to Informed Comment; Feature)  Supported by U.S. military, political and financial muscle, Israel seeks to demolish the UN Palestinian refugee agency UNRWA in the occupied territories. It reflects the ongoing war against the poorest in the Global South.

Last Friday, the UN Palestinian refugee agency UNRWA said that The Qalandiya Training Center for hundreds of Palestinians in the West Bank could be closed within days by Israeli authorities. The Center is at risk of expropriation by Israeli authorities cooperating with the Messianic far-right Jewish settlers.

Thats why the Knesset has passed legislation banning the group from Israeli territory, barring Israeli officials from having contact with it and shutting it off from Israeli electricity and water.

Qalandiya is a part of a far bigger puzzle, the Netanyahu cabinets effort to deport UNRWA along with the Palestinians from the occupied territories, to set the stage for their de jure incorporation in the pre-1967 Israel. This plan was accelerated after October 7, 2023.

From Nakba to UNRWA

In May 2024, after half a year of genocidal atrocities in Gaza, Israeli settlers launched several attacks on the headquarters of the UNRWA, setting fire to the perimeter of the building in East Jerusalem. The attacks came after months of far-right settler protests outside of the building.

The UN General Assembly established the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) in 1949 with a temporary mandate, to provide humanitarian assistance, protection, and education to registered Palestinian refugees (more than 5.9 million today) living in the West Bank, Gaza, Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria.

About 1.4-1.6 million of Gazas more than 2.1 million residents are registered Palestinian refugees. With no political resolution on the refugees status, the General Assembly has regularly extended UNRWAs mandate, which is currently set to expire on June 20, 2026.

The agency was created in the aftermath of what Israel calls its Independence War and what the Palestinians call Nakba, the great catastrophe in which 750,000 Palestinian Arabs were displaced and dispossessed in what became Israel.

After achieving an initial truce in the 1948 Arab-Israeli War, Count Folke Bernadotte, a Swedish diplomat, used it to lay the groundwork for the UNRWA.

Just hours after his proposal, Bernadotte was assassinated in Jerusalem by the Jewish paramilitary Stern group, while pursuing his official duties. One of those who planned the killing was Yitzhak Shamir, the future prime minister of Israel, the predecessor and onetime mentor of Benjamin Netanyahu, Israels current PM.

From humanitarian lifeline to US/Israeli target

Ever since then, UNRWA has served as a humanitarian lifeline to generations of Palestinians in the West Bank, the Gaza Strip and the adjacent Arab countries.

Created as a temporary measure, UNRWAs mandate has been subject to renewal every three years. It is funded primarily through voluntary contributions from governments (95%) and the UN regular budget (5%). UNRWAs 2024 program budget was for $880.2 million; in addition, emergency funding appeals, primarily for Gaza, totaled $1.6 billion.

Prior to October 7, 2023, the U.S. accounted for almost 30% of the total. Historically, the United States has been UNRWAs largest financial contributor, with more than $7.3 billion since 1950. The Trump administration considers such funding waste. Yet, the U.S. military aid to Israel has amounted to $4 billion annually; and since October 7, 2023, total military aid has soared to $21.7 billion.

From the start, these contributions have been subject to a variety of legislative conditions and oversight measures. Some members of the U.S. Congress have regularly raised concerns about UNRWAs effectiveness and neutrality.

Decades of U.S. policy toward Israel and the occupied territories, however ambiguous, was reversed almost overnight in 2018. Thats when the first Trump administration executed a set of dramatic policy changes and canceled nearly all U.S. aid to the West Bank and Gaza, plus $360 million in annual aid previously given to the UNRWA.

Subsequently, the Biden administration restored much of the funding, yet continued to provide Israel weapons and financing for the mass atrocities against those the UNRWA funding was supposed to help.

Hollow claims, twisted logic, atrocities of the innocent

After allegations surfaced connecting a few of the 30,000 UNRWA employees with the October 7 Hamas-led attacks against Israel, UNRWA fired nine staff members following a UN investigation, but denied allegations that the agency has widespread links to Hamas. Yet, in March 2024, Congress enacted a year-long prohibition on U.S. funding to UNRWA (P.L. 118-47), which has been effectively extended and strengthened rather than allowed to expire.

To put it all into context: The Empire State Building is said to have 21,000 employees. Imagine what would happen if a handful of them were suspected of terrorism and therefore the entire building would be dismantled and all employees fired? It would seem to represent collective punishment of many for the alleged crimes of a few. Well, thats the current congressional logic regarding Gaza.

The new U.S. and Israeli legal measures emboldened Jewish settlers, particularly the Messianic far-right, prompting several attacks on the UNRWA headquarters in East Jerusalem in May 2024.

The assaults came after months of far-right settler protests outside of the building, following Israeli claims of UNRWA-Hamas links that lacked verification, according to U.S. intelligence.

Among the protesters was Aryeh King, a deputy mayor of Jerusalem and a prominent advocate for settlements, who described Palestinian Gazans as Muslim Nazis and sub-human, calling for captured Palestinians to be buried alive in December 2023.

Not just Palestinians but UNRWAs employees have become targets of Israeli military and US arms. As of early January 2026, over 380 UNRWA personnel and staff supporting its activities have been killed in the Gaza Strip since October 7, 2023, making it the highest toll in the UN history.

These figures include over 300 staff members, with many killed while on duty or with their families. Additionally, some 80 individuals have been killed supporting UNRWA activities. These personnel were killed while delivering aid or at home, often in similar conditions to the communities they serve.

The same goes for the targeted agency infrastructure. Beyond personnel, over 300 UNRWA installations have been impacted by the conflict, and more than 800 people have been killed while sheltering in UNRWA buildings.

UNRWAs last stand against a new catastrophe

On January 20, 2026, Israeli authorities used bulldozers to demolish the UNRWA headquarters in the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood of East Jerusalem. Moreover, two laws passed in late 2024 took effect in January 2025, banning UNRWA from functioning on sovereign Israeli territory and prohibiting any contact between Israeli state officials and the agency.

The UNRWAs chief, Philippe Lazzarini, said the demolition was the latest in a series of Israeli actions against UNRWA, including shuttering a medical clinic for 30 days earlier this month and its plan to cut power and water to UNRWA facilities in the coming weeks.

UNRWA still employs over 15,000 staff in Gaza and the West Bank and remains the largest provider of health and education services there, despite being frozen out of official coordination and denied basic utilities like water and electricity.

As the occupying power, if Israel succeeds in fully dismantling UNRWA, it would legally be required to absorb the annual $1 billion cost of providing services (education, health, social services) to Palestinian refugees, potentially costing Israeli taxpayers billions of dollars.

Of course, Israel, against all realities, has long denied that it is an occupying power.

As the backbone of aid for roughly 2 million people, UNRWA is what stands against still another humanitarian crisis. Its restriction has already exacerbated famine risks, with 1.6 million Gazans facing acute food insecurity in early 2026.

Struggling to sustain UNRWAs position, the UN Secretary-General, on January 13, 2026, warned Prime Minister Netanyahu that he would refer Israel to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) if the anti-UNRWA laws were not repealed.

Multiple Israeli allies, including the EU and individual countries like Ireland and Belgium, have formally condemned the demolitions as flagrant violations of international law and UN diplomatic immunities.

But their appeals have little effect as long as the White House condones Israels repeated violations of international law. Compounding the humanitarian threats, Israel announced on December 30, 2025, that it would also halt operations for 37 other international NGOs (including Doctors Without Borders and CARE) starting in March 2026.

Washingtons effective war against the Global South

Based on modeling studies published in The Lancet and other research throughout 20252026, the withdrawal of the United States from the World Health Organization (WHO) and the cancellation of United States Agency for International Development (USAID) programs is expected to lead to a massive international humanitarian crisis.

In the absence of countervailing forces, it will be one of the largest disruptions to global health in modern history, reversing decades of progress in reducing infectious diseases. Modeling suggests that continued cuts to USAID and associated global health programs could result in over 14.1 million additional all-age deaths globally. Over 4.5 million children under the age of 5 are projected to die due to the loss of health services, nutrition support, and vaccine programs by 2030.

Specific models tracking the 90-day USAID funding pause in early 2025 estimated that roughly 757,000 people died in the first year as a result of these cuts, with the majority being children. Worse, these cuts will virtually ensure weakened pandemic surveillance.

Effectively, it is war against the poorest, youngest and most vulnerable in the Global South. Africa and Asia are expected to bear the brunt of the impact due to heavy reliance on U.S. aid for HIV/AIDS treatment, malaria control, and maternal health.

The suspension of humanitarian aid has impacted food security, leading to increased malnutrition, particularly in areas like Congo, Somalia, and Yemen. And as the cost of health services has shifted to individuals in many developing nations, poverty is on the rise.

Israeli violations of international law<

As of January 2026, Israel is accused of violating several core tenets of international law through its military campaign and the ongoing attempt to dismantle UNRWA.

The Fourth Geneva Convention: According to Duty of Care (Articles 55 & 56), as the occupying power Israel is legally obligated to ensure the food and medical supplies of the civilian population to the fullest extent of the means available. According to Facilitation of Relief (Article 59), Israel must facilitate relief schemes for the occupied population. In October 2025, the ICJ ruled that Israels ban on UNRWA had already violated this obligation, as the agency is an indispensable provider that cannot be replaced on short notice.

The UN Charter: In view of Diplomatic Immunity (Article 105), the demolition of UNRWAs East Jerusalem headquarters, has been cited as a blatant violation of the inviolability of UN premises and assets. Furthermore, Duty of Cooperation (Article 2) deems that member states must give the UN every assistance in its actions. The ICJ found Israel is not entitled to unilaterally decide on the presence of UN entities in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.

International Humanitarian Law (IHL): In view of proportionality and distinction, legal experts argue that Israels destruction of nearly 78% of Gazas structures and 94% of its hospitals is foreseeably excessive and violates the principle of proportionality in self-defense (jus ad bellum). Furthermore, Israels use of starvation as a weapon has led the ICJ and UN experts to conclude that blocking UNRWA and other aid has resulted in an engineered famine, violating the prohibition of using starvation as a method of warfare.



Detail of File Photo. State Department personnel meet with UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini in Amman, Jordan, November 4, 2023. (Official State Department photo by Chuck Kennedy). Public Domain. Via Picryl

US violations of international law

The United States, as its primary ally, also faces intensifying legal challenges for alleged complicity and failure to prevent these violations of international law.

Complicity and Failure to Prevent Genocide: Under the 1948 Genocide Convention, all signatories have a legal duty to prevent genocide. Recent lawsuits (e.g., Taxpayers Against Genocide) argue that the U.S. has directly contributed to atrocities through unconditional military funding and diplomatic cover.

Duty to Ensure Respect for IHL: Common Article 1 of the Geneva Conventions requires states to ensure respect for the treaties. Critics argue the U.S. violates this by continuing to supply weapons used in apparent violations of IHL.

Violation of Domestic Statutes (US Law): Section 620I of the Foreign Assistance Act: Prohibits aid to countries that restrict the delivery of U.S. humanitarian assistance. Organizations like Human Rights Watch have formally called for the suspension of aid under this law. In turn, the Leahy Law prohibits aid to foreign military units that commit gross violations of human rights (GVHR). The U.S. is accused of continuing aid to Israeli units with documented unremedied abuses.

Even the newly established Board of Peace (BoP), led by President Trump, has already come under fire for potentially violating the right to self-determination. By planning a Gazan Riviera without consulting the local population, critics argue the U.S. is entrenching external control in violation of Palestinian sovereignty.

What we are witnessing  from Gaza to Venezuela and Greenland  is a progressive crumbling of the international order consolidated by the U.S. and its Western allies after 1945. It is an effort at might makes right hegemony. Masquerading as a rules-based order, it seeks to undermine international law.

What happens in Gaza today will happen elsewhere tomorrow.
Quatrain no. 34 in the first edition of Edward FitzGeralds translation of The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam speaks of the finality of death.

XXXIV Then to this earthen Bowl did I adjourn

My Lip the secret Well of Life to learn :

And Lip to Lip it murmurd-While you live

Drink!  for once dead you never shall return.

The original is no. 100 in the Bodleian manuscript, also found here.

       

     

        :

       

I cant be sure, but I wonder if FitzGerald didnt craft the wording of the last verse to make it seem a denial of reincarnation rather than a rejection of the doctrine of resurrection, which would have been blasphemous in Victorian English. There was actually a blasphemy law on the books. Percy Bysshe Shelleys posthumous publisher, John Moxon, was prosecuted for blasphemy for having published an unexpurgated version of Shelleys revolutionary and atheistic poem Queen Mab. Moxon was found guilty and lightly fined, but the book was allowed to circulate.

FitzGerald warned the magazine Frasers when he submitted some of his Rubaiyat translations to it in late 1857 that a few of them were strong and might anger the Anglican clergy or divines. I suspect that the quatrains denying the afterlife were among these.

I translated the last two lines of the original, speaking of the wine bottle or flask, It gave its mouth to mine and whispered, / Have some wine, since once youre gone, you wont be back. Literally it says you wont return to this world, which supports FitzGeralds translation.

-

Order Juan Coles contemporary poetic translation of the Rubaiyat from

Bloomsbury (IB Tauris)

or Barnes and Noble.

or for $16 at Amazon Kindle

-



A Young Man Offering a Cup of Wine to a Girl, Safavid period, 16th century, possibly Herat, Afghanistan or Iran. Via Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. Public Domain.

The question of an afterlife was a subject of lively discussion in FitzGeralds circles. There is an anecdote about the poet Alfred Tennyson written that he, Edward FitzGerald and the Scottish idealist Thomas Carlyle were smoking and drinking at a cafe in London in the mid-1840s.

William Watson said of Tennyson, He spoke of Carlyles having come to smoke a pipe with him one evening in London, when the talk turned upon the immortality of the soul, upon which Carlyle said, Eh, old Jewish rags, you must clear your mind of all that. Why should we expect a hereafter? and likened mans sojourn on earth to a travellers rest at an inn, whereupon Tennyson turned the simile against him.

Tennyson replied that you could as well imagine a traveller resting at an inn one night, and then going on, confident in resting at another inn the next. FitzGerald said, Hes got you there. Tennyson said it showed the weakness of arguments by analogy.

FitzGerald, despite admitting that Tennysons riposte was effective, sympathized more with Carlyles view. He did not believe in an afterlife, and so he especially chose out those poems in the Khayyam corpus that cast doubt on it. It is in a way astonishing that a mid-Victorian intellectual should have reached for support for his materialism back to works attributed to a medieval Iranian astronomer. It is even more astonishing that Muslims treasured and transmitted such free-thinking poetry for a millennium. Aside from Lucretius, whose work was only rediscovered in the Renaissance, it is hard to think of a similar skeptical literary work treasured in early modern and modern Europe.

For the previous quatrain, see A blind understanding: FitzGeralds The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam 1:33.

For more commentaries on FitzGeralds translations of the Rubaiyat, see

FitzGeralds Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam: Commentary by Juan Cole with Original Persian
Highlights Include 17 Metres Grading 432 g/t Silver & 1.10 g/t Gold, as well as 13 Metres at 477 g/t Silver

Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - January 27, 2026) - AbraSilver Resource Corp. (TSX: ABRA) (OTCQX: ABBRF) ("AbraSilver" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the final assay results from drill holes completed as part of the Phase V diamond drilling program at its wholly-owned Diablillos project in Argentina (the "Project").

The results represent the final assay data from the Phase V drill program, which will be incorporated into the upcoming Mineral Resource estimate ("MRE"), underpinning the Company's Definitive Feasibility Study ("DFS"), which continues to remain on track for completion in Q2/2026.

Highlight Drill Results - Widths are reported as drilled; true widths are not yet known.

JAC: Strong near-surface silver mineralization continues to expand the Mineral Resource growth potential, including: DDH 25-096: 57.0 metres ("m") of 51 g/t silver from 109 m downhole DDH 25-099: 13.0 m of 477 g/t silver from 151 m downhole DDH 25-104: 17.0 m of 432 g/t silver & 1.10 g/t gold from 131 m downhole, including 6.0 m at 1,093 g/t silver & 2.42 g/t gold



Cerro Viejo: Hole DDH 25-084, followed by its extension DDH 25-084A, tested porphyry-style mineralization at depth and encountered broad low-grade gold, copper and silver mineralization.

John Miniotis, President and CEO, commented, "The final Phase V drill results, particularly the high-grade silver-gold intercept in holes DDH 25-099 and DDH 25-104, further demonstrate the potential for incremental Mineral Resource growth at JAC and along the corridor between JAC and Oculto. These results will be incorporated into the upcoming MRE and represent an important step as we advance Diablillos toward finalizing the DFS."

Dave O'Connor, Chief Geologist, commented, "The results from Phase V drilling provide important geological context for Phase VI, confirming the continuity of silver-gold mineralization beyond the current Mineral Resource envelope at JAC. The potential to expand both gold and silver Mineral Resources beyond the current estimate highlights the scale of Diablillos and underpins our ongoing exploration and development strategy."

Details on Drill Results - JAC

At JAC, the latest drill results continue to demonstrate broad, continuous zones of near-surface oxide silver mineralization extending beyond the limits of the current open pit constrained Mineral Resource. Drilling was primarily designed to test the margins of known mineralization and the corridor between the JAC and Oculto deposits, with results confirming that meaningful silver-gold mineralization persists outside the higher-grade core of the deposit.

Hole DDH 25-104, drilled between JAC and Oculto, intersected 17.0 metres grading 432.1 g/t silver and 1.10 g/t gold, including a high-grade interval of 6.0 metres grading 1,093.0 g/t silver and 2.42 g/t gold. This intercept highlights the continuity of high-grade mineralization along this structural corridor and supports the potential for additional Mineral Resource growth in this area.

Additional drilling at JAC also intersected multiple zones of oxide silver mineralization, including 13.0 metres at 476.6 g/t silver in DDH 25-099 and 57.0 metres at 51.4 g/t silver in DDH 25-096, further confirming the lateral extent of mineralization beyond the currently defined Mineral Resource boundaries. While grades generally decrease away from the higher-grade core, these results demonstrate that broad mineralized envelopes remain open and will be incorporated into the upcoming MRE.

Table 1 - Summary of Key Drill Intercepts - JAC

Intercepts greater than 25 gram-metres gold or 2,000 gram-metres silver shown in bolded text:

Drill Hole Area From

(m) To

(m) Type Interval

(m) Ag

g/t Au

g/t DDH-25-095 JAC 68.0 76.0 Oxides 8.0 30.9 0.25 DDH-25-096 JAC 45.0 60.0 Oxides 15.0 52.4 - 77.0 85.0 Oxides 8.0 53.9 - 109.0 166.0 Oxides 57.0 51.4 - DDH-25-097 JAC 53.0 72.0 Oxides 19.0 36.6 - DDH-25-099 JAC 151.0 164.0 Oxides 13.0 476.6 DDH-25-100 JAC 107.0 117.0 Oxides 10.0 47.4 0.58 DDH-25-104 JAC 98.0 105.0 Oxides 7.0 32.0 - 112.0 126.0 Oxides 14.0 32.4 - 131.0 148.0 Oxides 17.0 432.1 1.10 Including 131.0 137.0 Oxides 6.0 1,093.0 2.42

Figure 1 - Plan View of Drill Results

Figure 2 - Section Through Latest Drill Holes at JAC

Details on Drill Results - Cerro Viejo

Results have also been received from deep drilling in hole DDH 25-084/25-084A targeting porphyry style mineralization at Cerro Viejo. All mineralization is hosted in sulphides.

DDH 25-084 analyses started at 105 m depth before the hole was terminated at 650 m due to technical issues. The follow-up hole, DDH 25-084A, was drilled from the same platform and extended the total depth to 1,147.5 m. Drilling intersected pervasive chlorite alteration with localized sericite overprinting, quartz-pyrite stockwork veining, and B-type quartz-pyrite-molybdenite veinlets. Chalcopyrite and other copper-bearing veinlets occur intermittently, with copper values gradually increasing with depth. These results confirm the presence of a large, mineralized porphyry system at Cerro Viejo.

Table 2 - Summary of Key Drill Intercepts - Cerro Viejo

Drill Hole Area From

(m) To

(m) Type Interval

(m) Ag

g/t Au

g/t Cu

% DDH-25-084 Cerro Viejo 109.0 117.0 Sulphides 8.0 - 0.32 - 125.0 148.0 Sulphides 23.0 - - 0.20 162.0 190.0 Sulphides 28.0 - 0.17 189.0 195.0 Sulphides 6.0 10.0 0.13 0.49 203.0 205.0 Sulphides 2.0 31.0 0.13 0.47 249.0 286.0 Sulphides 37.0 - 0.23 DDH-25-084A 650.0 1,147.5 Sulphides 497.5 - - 0.05

Note: All results in this news release are rounded. Assays are uncut & undiluted. Widths are drilled widths, not true widths. True widths are unknown.

Update on EIA and RIGI

The processes necessary for the Diablillos project Environmental Impact Assessment ("EIA") approvals in both Salta and Catamarca provinces continue to make excellent progress. The final community consultations in Salta and Catamarca are expected to be completed in February and formal EIA approval is anticipated shortly thereafter.

The Company's application under Argentina's Large Investment Incentive Regime ("RIGI") framework remains on track, with approval continuing to be targeted before the end of Q1/2026.

Collar Data

Hole Number UTM Coordinates Elevation Azimuth Dip Depth (m) Area DDH 25-095 720028 7199047 4201 0 -60 151 JAC DDH 25-096 719574 7198832 4159 0 -60 176 JAC DDH 25-097 719556 7198792 4157 0 -60 155 JAC DDH 25-099 719602 7198612 4158 0 -60 164 JAC DDH 25-100 719824 7198956 4180 0 -60 146 JAC DDH 25-104 719877 7198989 4184 0 -60 161 JAC DDH 25-84 723676 7203107 4,045 180 -80 681 Cerro Viejo DDH 25-84A 723680 7203111 4,044 180 -80 1,148 Cerro Viejo

About Diablillos

The Diablillos property is located within the Puna region of Argentina, in the southern part of Salta Province along the border with Catamarca Province, approximately 160 km southwest of the city of Salta and 375 km northwest of the city of Catamarca. AbraSilver acquired the property in 2016, which comprises 15 contiguous and overlapping mineral concessions with excellent year-round road access.

Exploration to date has outlined multiple occurrences of silver-gold oxide mineralization at Oculto, JAC, Laderas, and Fantasma, located within a 500 m to 1.5 km distance surrounding the Oculto/JAC epicentre. To date, over 150,000 metres have been drilled on the property, which continues to demonstrate the strong growth potential of shallow, oxide-hosted silver and gold resources. In addition, a large porphyry complex is centered approximately 4 km northeast of Oculto which includes outcropping porphyry intrusions within a major zone of alteration and associated gold rich epithermal mineralization.

Comparatively nearby examples of high sulphidation epithermal deposits include: La Coipa (Chile); Yanacocha (Peru); El Indio (Chile); Lagunas Nortes/Alto Chicama (Peru) Veladero (Argentina); and Filo del Sol (Argentina). The most recent Mineral Resource estimate for Diablillos is shown in Table 3:

Table 3 - Diablillos Mineral Resource Estimate - As of July 21, 2025

Zone Category Tonnes

(000 t) Ag

(g/t) Au

(g/t) AgEq

(g/t) Contained Ag

(000 Oz Ag) Contained Au

(000 Oz Ag) Contained AgEq

(000 Oz Ag) Tank Leach Oxides Measured 26,545 119 0.71 183 101,564 604 156,487 Indicated 46,584 56 0.63 114 84,430 948 170,592 Measured & 73,129 79 0.66 139 185,994 1,553 327,078 Indicated Inferred 9,693 34 0.57 86 10,616 176 26,647 Heap Leach Oxides Measured 6,673 16 0.14 25 3,486 30 5,342 Indicated 24,102 12 0.17 23 9,163 133 17,506 Measured & 30,774



13



0.16



23



12,649



162



22,848



Indicated Inferred 10,024 9 0.20 21 2,811 64 6,850 Total Oxides Measured 33,218 98 0.59 152 105,050 634 161,829 Indicated 70,686 41 0.48 83 93,593 1,081 188,098 Measured & 103,904



59



0.51



105



198,643



1,715



349,927



Indicated Inferred 19,628 21 0.38 53 13,427 241 33,496

Footnotes for Tank Leach Resource:

Mineral Resources are not Mineral Reserves and have not demonstrated economic viability. The formula for calculating AgEq is as follows: Silver Eq Oz = Silver Oz + Gold Oz x (Gold Price/Silver Price) x (Gold Recovery/Silver Recovery). The Mineral Resource model was populated using Ordinary Kriging grade estimation within a three-dimensional block model and mineralized zones defined by wireframed solids, which are a combination of lithology and alteration domains. The 1m composite grades were capped where appropriate. The Mineral Resource is reported inside a conceptual Whittle open pit shell derived using US$ 27.50/oz Ag price, US $2,400/oz Au price, 83% process recovery for Ag, and 87% process recovery for Au. The constraining open pit optimization parameters used were US $1.94/t mining cost, US $22.96/t processing cost, US $3.32/t G&A cost, and average 51-degree open pit slopes. The MRE has been categorized in accordance with the CIM Definition Standards (CIM, 2014). A Net Value per block [NVB] calculation was used to constrain the Mineral Resource, determine the "Benefits = Income-Cost", where, Income = [(Au Selling Price (US$/oz) - Au Selling Cost (USD/Oz)) x (Au grade (g/t)/31.1035)) x Au Recovery (%)] + [(Ag Selling Price (US$/oz) - Ag Selling Cost (USD/Oz)) x (Ag grade (g/t)/31.1035)) x Ag Recovery (%)] and Cost = Mining Cost (US$/t) + Process Cost (US$/t) + Transport Cost (US$/t) + G&A Cost (US$/t) + [Royalty Cost (%) x Income] The Mineral Resource is sub-horizontal with sub-vertical feeders and a reasonable prospect for eventual economic extraction by open pit and tank leach processing methods. In-situ bulk density were assigned to each model domain, according to samples averages for each lithology domain, separated by alteration zones and subset by oxidation. All tonnages reported are dry metric tonnes and ounces of contained gold are troy ounces. Mining recovery and dilution factors have not been applied to the Mineral Resource estimates. The Mineral Resource was estimated by Luis Rodrigo Peralta, B.Sc., FAusIMM CP (Geo), Independent Qualified Person under NI 43-101. Mr. Peralta is not aware of any environmental, permitting, legal, title, taxation, socio-political, marketing, or other relevant issues that could materially affect the potential development of the Mineral Resource. All figures are rounded to reflect the relative accuracy of the estimates. Minor discrepancies may occur due to rounding to appropriate significant figures.

Footnotes for Heap Leach Resource:

Mineral Resources are not Mineral Reserves and have not demonstrated economic viability. The formula for calculating AgEq is as follows: Silver Eq Oz = Silver Oz + Gold Oz x (Gold Price/Silver Price) x (Gold Recovery/Silver Recovery). The Mineral Resource model was populated using Ordinary Kriging grade estimation within a three-dimensional block model and mineralized zones defined by wireframed solids, which are a combination of lithology and alteration domains. The 1m composite grades were capped where appropriate. The Mineral Resource is reported inside a conceptual Whittle open pit shell derived using US$ 27.50/oz Ag price, US $2,400/oz Au price, 80% process recovery for Ag, and 58% process recovery for Au. The constraining open pit optimization parameters used and overall operational cost of US $11.31/t. The MRE has been categorized in accordance with the CIM Definition Standards (CIM, 2014). A Net Value per block [NVB] calculation was used to constrain the Mineral Resource, determine the "Benefits = Income-Cost", where, Income = [(Au Selling Price (US$/oz) - Au Selling Cost (USD/Oz)) x (Au grade (g/t)/31.1035)) x Au Recovery (%)] + [(Ag Selling Price (US$/oz) - Ag Selling Cost (USD/Oz)) x (Ag grade (g/t)/31.1035)) x Ag Recovery (%)] and Cost = Mining Cost (US$/t) + Process Cost (US$/t) + Transport Cost (US$/t) + G&A Cost (US$/t) + [Royalty Cost (%) x Income] In-situ bulk density were assigned to each model domain, according to samples averages for each lithology domain, separated by alteration zones and subset by oxidation. All tonnages reported are dry metric tonnes and ounces of contained gold are troy ounces. Mining recovery and dilution factors have not been applied to the Mineral Resource estimates. The Mineral Resource was estimated by Mr. Peralta, B.Sc., FAusIMM CP (Geo), Independent Qualified Person under NI 43-101. Mr. Peralta is not aware of any environmental, permitting, legal, title, taxation, socio-political, marketing, or other relevant issues that could materially affect the potential development of the Mineral Resource. All figures are rounded to reflect the relative accuracy of the estimates. Minor discrepancies may occur due to rounding to appropriate significant figures.

QA/QC and Core Sampling Protocols

AbraSilver applies industry standard exploration methodologies and techniques, and all drill core samples are collected under the supervision of the Company's geologists in accordance with industry best practices. Drill core is transported from the drill platform to the logging facility where drill data is compared and verified with the core in the trays. Thereafter, it is logged, photographed, and split by diamond saw prior to being sampled. Samples are then bagged, and quality control materials are inserted at regular intervals at site; these include blanks and certified reference materials as well as duplicate core samples which are collected in order to assess sampling precision and reproducibility. Groups of samples are then placed in large bags which are sealed with numbered tags in order to maintain a chain-of-custody during the transport of the samples from the project site to the laboratory.

All samples are received by the ASA (Alex Stewart Argentina) preparation laboratory in Salta, where they are prepared, then the pulp sachet is directly dispatched to its facility in Mendoza, Argentina, where they are analyzed. All samples are analyzed using a multi-element technique consisting of a four-acid digestion followed by ICP/AES detection, and gold is analyzed by 50g Fire Assay with an AAS finish. Silver results greater than 100g/t are re-analyzed using four acid digestion with an ore grade AAS finish.

Qualified Persons

David O'Connor P.Geo., Chief Geologist for AbraSilver, is the Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects, and he has reviewed and approved the scientific and technical information in this news release.

About AbraSilver

AbraSilver is an advanced-stage exploration company focused on rapidly advancing its 100%-owned Diablillos silver-gold project in the mining-friendly Salta province of Argentina. The current Measured and Indicated Mineral Resource estimate for Diablillos (tank leach-only) consists of 73.1 Mt grading 79 g/t Ag and 0.66 g/t Au, containing approximately 186Moz of silver and 1.6Moz of gold, with significant further upside potential based on recent exploration drilling. The Company is led by an experienced management team and has long-term supportive shareholders. In addition, the Company has an earn-in option and joint venture agreement with Teck on the La Coipita project, located in the San Juan province of Argentina. AbraSilver is listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol "ABRA" and in the U.S. on the OTCQX under the symbol "ABBRF."

For further information, please visit the AbraSilver Resource website at www.abrasilver.com, our LinkedIn page at AbraSilver Resource Corp., and follow us on X at www.x.com/abrasilver.

Cautionary Statements

This news release includes certain "forward-looking statements" under applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable, are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors which may cause the actual results and future events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. All statements that address future plans, activities, events or developments that the Company believes, expects or anticipates will or may occur are forward-looking information. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. When considering this forward-looking information, readers should keep in mind the risk factors and other cautionary statements in the Company's disclosure documents filed with the applicable Canadian securities regulatory authorities on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca. The risk factors and other factors noted in the disclosure documents could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those described in any forward-looking information. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

Neither the TSX nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - January 27, 2026) - Ridgeline Minerals Corp. (TSXV: RDG) (OTCQB: RDGMF) (FSE: 0GC0) ("Ridgeline" or the "Company") is pleased to welcome Mr. Ryan Walchuck to the Board of Directors of the Company. Mr. Duane Lo will resign as a director of the Company and remain in his position as Chief Financial Officer.

Mr. Walchuck is a senior mining finance executive with global experience across complex mining projects, joint ventures, and multi-stakeholder partnerships. He is currently Senior Manager, Business Analysis at Rio Tinto, where he supports strategic investment decisions, capital allocation, and value optimization for projects. Ryan has held senior roles at Rio Tinto and BHP, contributing to major developments including Simandou and Oyu Tolgoi, with a strong focus on joint venture governance, partner alignment, and disciplined capital deployment. His experience spans Africa, Australia, Mongolia, and the Americas. Ryan is a Chartered Accountant and Chartered Business Valuator, bringing strong financial oversight, governance, and shareholder-focused decision-making experience to the Ridgeline Board.

Chad Peters, Ridgeline's President & CEO, commented, "Ryan joins the team at a pivotal time in Ridgeline's growth. With two highly prospective discoveries coming together at Swift and Selena, Ryan's unique skillset will help guide our strategic decision making as we focus on optimizing the value of our joint venture portfolio for our shareholders."

The Company further advises it has granted 150,000 stock options (the "Options") and 100,000 deferred share unites ("DSU's") to Mr. Walchuck in accordance with the Company's incentive stock option plan. The Options are exercisable at $0.24 per share for a period of five years and the DSUs are governed by the Company's DSU Plan and will be subject to applicable securities law hold periods.

About Ridgeline Minerals Corp.

Ridgeline Minerals is a discovery focused precious and base metal explorer with a proven management team and a 200 km2 exploration portfolio across seven projects in Nevada, USA. The Company is a hybrid explorer with a mix of 100%-owned exploration assets (Big Blue, Atlas, Bell Creek & Coyote) as well as two earn-in exploration agreements with Nevada Gold Mines at its Swift and Black Ridge projects and a third earn-in with South32 at its Selena project totaling up to US $60 million in partner-funded exploration expenditures. More information about Ridgeline can be found at www.ridgelineminerals.com.

On behalf of the Board

"Chad Peters"

President & CEO

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Service Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release

Cautionary Note regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Statements contained in this press release that are not historical facts are "forward-looking information" or "forward-looking statements" (collectively, "Forward-Looking Information") within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation and the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-Looking Information includes, but is not limited to, the assay results for core hole SW24-004 and the potential significance thereof. The words "potential", "anticipate", "meaningful", "significant", "pending", "believe", "estimate", "expect", "may", "will", "project", "plan", "historical", "historic" and similar expressions are intended to be among the statements that identify Forward-Looking Information. Forward-Looking Information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results to be materially different from any future results expressed or implied by the Forward-Looking Information. In preparing the Forward-Looking Information in this news release, Ridgeline has applied several material assumptions, including, but not limited to, assumptions that the current objectives concerning the Swift project can be achieved and that its other corporate activities will proceed as expected; that general business and economic conditions will not change in a materially adverse manner; and that all requisite information will be available in a timely manner. Forward-Looking Information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance, or achievements of Ridgeline to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the Forward-Looking Information. Such risks and other factors include, among others, risks related to dependence on key personnel; risks related to unforeseen delays; risks related to historical data that has not been verified by the Company; as well as those factors discussed in Ridgeline's public disclosure record. Although Ridgeline has attempted to identify important factors that could affect Ridgeline 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. 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, Ridgeline 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, Jan. 27, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Highlander Silver Corp. (TSX: HSLV) (Highlander Silver or the Company) is pleased to announce that Mr. Eric Sprott, an arms length strategic investor, has agreed to purchase an aggregate of 8,060,226 common shares in the capital of the Company (the Offered Shares) at a price of C$6.80 per Offered Share for aggregate gross proceeds of US$40,000,000 (the Offering) to the Company on a non-brokered private placement basis.

Daniel Earle, President and CEO of Highlander Silver, commented: The additional capital will allow us to accelerate growth plans within our portfolio, which includes the bonanza grade San Luis gold-silver project, one of the highest M&I resource grade projects in either the gold or silver sectors1, and one of the largest permitted primary silver deposits in the world in the Corani silver project after the closing of the previously announced combination with Bear Creek Mining (see press release dated December 19, 2025). With this investment, we would expect to have US$100 million in cash at closing.

The Company intends on using the net proceeds from the Offering to fund the advancement of the Companys mineral projects and for working capital and general corporate purposes. The Offering is expected to close on or around January 30, 2026, and is subject to certain customary closing conditions including, but not limited to, the receipt of all necessary regulatory and other approvals, including the acceptance of the Toronto Stock Exchange (the Exchange). The Offered Shares to be issued pursuant to the Offering will be subject to a statutory four-month hold period under applicable securities laws in Canada.

In connection with the Offering, the Company may pay a finders fee to eligible arms length finders, as permitted by applicable securities laws and the rules of the Exchange.

This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there by any sale of any of the securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. The securities have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the U.S. Securities Act), of the securities laws of any state of the United States and may not be offered or sold within the United States (as defined in Regulation S under the U.S. Securities Act) unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or pursuant to an exemption from such registration requirements.

About Highlander Silver

Highlander Silver is primarily focused on advancing the bonanza grade San Luis gold-silver project that is located adjacent to the past-producing Pierina mine in Central Peru. San Luis hosts Indicated Mineral Resources of 356 koz Au at 24.4 g/t Au and 8.4 Moz Ag at 579 g/t Ag and ranks among the 10 highest grade projects globally in both gold and silver categories.1 Highlander Silvers significant shareholders include the Augusta Group, which boasts an exceptional track record of value creation totaling over $4.5 billion in exit transactions, and strategic shareholders, the Lundin family and Eric Sprott.

1S&P Global rankings including the San Luis gold-silver project.

Information contact

Highlander Silver

Arun Lamba, Vice President Corporate Development

Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Scientific and Technical Information

Scientific and technical information in the news release relating to the San Luis Project are taken from the technical report entitled, Technical Report on the San Luis Property dated January 15, 2025, prepared by independent qualified person (as defined in National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects), Martin Mount, MSc MCSM FGS CGeol FIMMM Ceng, and available on Highlander Silvers SEDAR+ profile at www.sedarplus.ca.

Forward-looking statements

Certain information contained in this news release constitutes forward-looking information under Canadian securities legislation. This includes, but is not limited to, the completion of the Offering, the issuance of the Offered Shares, the intended use of the net proceeds from the Offering, the expected closing date of the Offering, the receipt of all necessary regulatory and other approvals, including the acceptance of the Exchange, the payment of a finders fee to eligible arms length finders, the growth plans of the Companys portfolio, the closing of the previously announced combination with Bear Creek Mining Corporation and the expected cash at closing of the previously announced combination with Bear Creek Mining Corporation. Such forward looking information or statements can be identified by the use of words such as ramp up, attempting, intends, believes, plans, suggests, targets or prospects or variations (including negative variations) of such words and phrases, or state that certain actions, events or results will be taken, occur, or be achieved. Forward-looking information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance, or achievements of the Company and/or its subsidiaries to be materially different from any future results, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking information. Such factors include, among others, general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties, the actual results of current exploration activities, changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined, future prices of precious and base metals, accident, labour disputes and other risks of the mining industry, delays in obtaining governmental or stock exchange approvals or financing, and uncertainties related to the review and approval of the listing application and satisfaction of all applicable listing and regulatory requirements to list on the NYSE American. 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 could cause actions, events or results to differ from those anticipated, estimated or intended. Forward-looking information contained herein are made as of the date of this news release. 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. The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking information if circumstances or managements estimates or opinions should change, except as required by applicable securities laws. Accordingly, the reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - January 27, 2026) - Founders Metals Inc. (TSXV: FDR) (OTCQX: FDMIF) (FSE: 9DL0) ("Founders" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the successful consolidation of a cumulative 102,360 ha contiguous land package in Southeastern Suriname. The expansion comprises a 36,360-ha exploration concession granted by the Suriname GMD and a 10,000-ha exploitation concession acquired separately by the Company. Founders is the most advanced gold explorer in Suriname and now controls the largest uninterrupted package of highly prospective greenstone belt geology in the Guiana Shield.

Colin Padget, President & CEO, commented: "These acquisitions mark a major milestone for Founders. We have effectively consolidated an entire gold district covering over 100,000 hectares of Guiana Shield greenstone geology proven to host multi-million-ounce gold deposits. From historical exploration, artisanal mining activity, and our own drilling, it is clear the area is underlain by a world-class gold system. Founders is now uniquely positioned to systematically explore this entire land package while advancing our most promising targets toward resource definition."

Highlights

Strategic Expansion: The 46,360-ha combined acquisitions expand the Company's total concession area to 102,360 ha, making Founders the largest publicly traded gold exploration company in the Guiana Shield by land area.

World-Class Scale: The Antino property spans approximately 55 kilometres of Greenstone-hosted gold mineralization comparable in scale to Kirkland Lake in Canada's Abitibi or Ghana's Ashanti Belt, both among the world's most endowed Archean gold systems.

Compelling Historical Data: Historical 2,100 m by 800 m gold anomaly adjacent to the Central Guiana Shear Zone  a district-scale target that has never been drill tested (Figure 1)

Multiple Target Areas: Several identified prospect areas share similar characteristics to drill-confirmed targets at Antino, including folded volcano-sedimentary rock packages, strongly veined and deformed intrusive bodies, and secondary structures with coincident gold anomalies.

Expanded Survey Programs: The Company has expanded its ongoing high-resolution airborne geophysics survey and regional auger geochemical sampling program to cover the entire consolidated land package. LiDAR and orthoimagery surveys to follow in H1 2026.

Near-Term Production Potential: The 10,000 ha Okasi exploitation concession is 100% owned by Founders, independent of the Antino option agreement. The Company is exploring potential revenue opportunities from small-scale mining.

Concession Details

The newly acquired concessions share the same geology that hosts gold mineralization at Antino and the 1.65-million-ounce Yaou deposit in neighboring French Guiana. The area is cut by the Central Guiana Shear Zone (CGSZ), a major regional structure that controls gold mineralization throughout the district. Multiple secondary structures branch off the CGSZ, creating additional exploration targets confirmed by geophysical surveys and field mapping.

Historical data compilation has identified several high-priority gold anomalies aligned with these structures, providing compelling early-stage exploration targets across the expanded land package.

Antino Expansion (36,360 ha Exploration Concession)

On January 13, 2026, the Suriname Ministry of Natural Resources (GMD No. 669/25) granted Lawa Gold N.V. a three-year exploration right for gold and other minerals covering 36,360 ha in the District of Sipaliwini. The concession is contiguous with and immediately adjacent to the existing Antino Gold Project. Founders currently holds a 70% interest in Lawa Gold N.V. pursuant to its option agreement with Nana Resources N.V.

Okasi Exploitation Concession (10,000 ha)

The Company acquired 100% of Mine Rehab N.V., the holder of a 10,000-ha exploitation concession ("Okasi") in the District of Sipaliwini. The concession is contiguous with and south of the Antino Gold Project. The exploitation right was granted by the Suriname Ministry of Natural Resources for a ten-year term. The Okasi concession is held by FDR Suriname Holding N.V., a wholly owned subsidiary of Founders, independent of the Company's option agreement with Nana Resources N.V.

About Founders Metals Inc.

Founders Metals is a Canadian-based exploration company focused on advancing the Antino Gold District located in Suriname, South America, in the heart of the Guiana Shield. The Company controls a contiguous 102,360 ha land package that has produced over 500,000 ounces of gold from historical surface and alluvial mining to date1. Founders is systematically advancing one of Suriname's most promising gold exploration and development opportunities with drill-confirmed, district-scale potential. The Company is committed to responsible exploration, community engagement, and delivering long-term value to shareholders through technical excellence and strategic growth in the Guiana Shield.

12022 Technical Report - Antino Project; Suriname, South America. K. Raffle, BSc, P. Geo & Rock Lefrancois, BSc, P.Geo.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS,

Per: "Colin Padget"

Colin Padget

President, Chief Executive Officer, and Director

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information

This press release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation, including statements regarding the Company's exploration plans, the potential for near-term gold production, and the Company's prospects. Forward-looking information can generally be identified by words such as "plans", "expects", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates", "believes", or variations indicating that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" occur or be achieved.

Forward-looking statements are based on management's current expectations and reasonable assumptions but are subject to business, market, and economic risks, uncertainties, and contingencies that may cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied, including: general business and economic uncertainties; exploration results; mining industry risks; and other factors described in the Company's most recent annual management discussion and analysis. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially, other factors may cause results not to be as anticipated. There can be no assurance that forward-looking information will prove accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking information except in accordance with applicable securities laws. 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.

All material information on Founders Metals can be found at www.sedarplus.ca.

Quality Assurance and Control

Samples were analyzed at FILAB Suriname, a Bureau Veritas Certified Laboratory in Paramaribo, Suriname (a commercial certified laboratory under ISO 9001:2015). Samples are crushed to 75% passing 2.35 mm screen, riffle split (700 g) and pulverized to 85% passing 88 m. Samples were analyzed using a 50 g fire assay (50 g aliquot) with an Atomic Absorption (AA) finish. For samples that return assay values over 5.0 grams per tonne (g/t), another cut was taken from the original pulp and fire assayed with a gravimetric finish. Founders Metals inserts blanks and certified reference standards in the sample sequence for quality control. External QA-QC checks are performed at ALS Global Laboratories (Geochemistry Division) in Lima, Peru (an ISO/IEC 17025:2017 accredited facility). A secure chain of custody is maintained in transporting and storing of all samples. Drill intervals with visible gold are assayed using metallic screening. Rock chip samples from outcrop/bedrock are selective by nature and may not be representative of the mineralization hosted on the project.

Qualified Persons

The technical content of this news release has been reviewed and approved by Michael Dufresne, M.Sc., P.Geol., P.Geo., an independent qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101.

Figure 1: Consolidated Antino Concession Map
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - January 27, 2026) - Sierra Madre Gold and Silver Ltd. (TSXV: SM) (OTCQX: SMDRF) ("Sierra Madre" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that authorization has been received for a change of land use for the Tlacotal property, located within the East District of the La Guitarra silver-gold complex in Estado de Mexico, Mexico. In addition, land purchase agreements covering the Tlacotal permit area plus an adjacent 33.1 hectares have been executed.

Adjacent to existing operations, Sierra Madre has entered into an Option to Purchase private lands southwest of the current tailings impoundment facility (TFS) along with the private lands under the current TFS - the Lopez Extension.

Alex Langer, Chief Executive Officer, commented, "Receiving authorization for the Tlacotal land use change provides us with optionality for future mine development pathways in the East District. The land purchase agreements over the Lopez Expansion Area are also conductive to starting a permitting process for an expansion of the current tailings facility."

Greg Liller, Chief Operating Officer and Chair, commented, "We are very pleased with the land use authorization and expanded land holdings. These two milestones support the vision of building out a production center at the East District concessions. Drilling is on schedule to start in the second half of 2026 with 20,000 to 25,000 metres planned."

Tlacotal Land Use Authorization

The Cambia de Suelos (CUS) designation covers the 34.7-hectare area shown below in green. It is a federal change in land use status from agriculture/forestry to mining.

This CUS will allow the company to use this land as a staging area for East District exploration in the near term and is ideally situated for potential future mine development and support facilities for the Mina de Aqua - Santa Ana vein deposit.

The 2023 NI 43-101 resource estimation for the Santa Ana vein in the East District is shown in Table 1 below.

Figure 1: Tlacotal Land Use Authorization Change

Table 1: Santa Ana Mineral Resource Estimate

Category Tonnes AgEq (g/t) Ag (g/t) Au (g/t) AgEq (Oz) Ag (Oz) Au (Oz) Indicated 761,292 173.8 159.3 0.19 4,254,928 3,899,046 4,650 Inferred 544,892 188.4 178.1 0.13 3,300,523 3,120,080 2,328

See Note (1) at end of this press release for technical disclosure.

Eastern District 135 g/t AgEq COG 1m Horizontal Width or 90 g/t AgEq > 2 m Horizontal Width Silver:Gold Ratio 77.27:1

Depending on exploration results, the permitted area is ideal for developing potential production crosscuts to the Magdalena - Candaleria system, an important Spanish Colonial production center, along with the Quabradeas and other potential economically interesting veins.

This land is secured via a 30-year lease and the option to purchase will be exercised upon receipt of ownership transfer documentation.

Lopez Extension

The Lopez Option to Purchase covers the existing TFS and the adjacent private lands to the south, shown in green on the map in Figure 2 below. Concurrent with the execution of the option to purchase, the lease agreement for the private land beneath the current TFS has been extended for an additional 30 years.

The company is exploring the possibilities of permitting an expansion of the current TFS in the area between the active tailings area and the utility easement. The area southeast of the utility easement is being evaluated for use as the main security entrance to the mine and employee parking. This would free up valuable space in the area immediately adjacent to operational facilities.

Figure 2: Lopez Extension Lands

(1) Notes for Mineral Resource Estimate:

Canadian Institute of Mining Metallurgy and Petroleum ("CIM") definition standards were followed for the resource estimate. The 2023 resource models used nominal cutoff grades which are based on mining and milling costs of US$50 for cut and fill mining, US$38 per tonne for long-hole, A net payable recovery of 70% (historical plant recovery plus an allowance for smelter deductions, refining costs, and concentrate transportation) Silver price of US$22 and a gold price of $1700 and a Gold Silver Ration of 77.27:1. Assays were capped at 825 g/t for silver and 6.55 g/t for gold Variable cut-off by deposit Nazareno and Coloso - Block Model 135 AgEq cut-off grade (COG) and a 1 m Minimum True Thickness Guitarra - Polygonals Estimates 135 g/t AgEq COG and a 1 m Minimum Horizontal Width Los Angeles - Block Model Long Hole Mining 90 g/t AgEq COG Mina De Agua - East District Polygonal Estimate 135 g/t AgEq COG or 90 g/t AgEq COG and > 2 m Horizontal Width The tailings used a 30 g/t AgEq COG. Mineral Resources that are not mineral reserves do not have economic viability. Numbers may not add due to rounding. Numbers may not add due to rounding. The estimate of mineral resources may be materially affected by: metal prices and exchange rate assumptions; changes in local interpretations of mineralization geometry and continuity; changes to grade capping, density and domain assignments; changes to geotechnical, mining and metallurgical recovery assumptions; ability to maintain environmental and other regulatory permits and ability to maintain the social license to operate A copy of the 2023 NI 43-101 report, prepared by TechSer Mining Consultants Ltd. ("TechSer") of Vancouver B.C., by David Thomas, P.Geo. and QP Geology and Cristian Garcia, P.Eng. and QP Mining, titled "La Guitarra Mineral Resource Estimate Guitarra Silver-Gold Project, Temascaltepec, Estado de Mexico, Mexico" with an effective date of October 24, 2023, is available on SEDAR+ and the company's website at https://sierramadregoldandsilver.com/presentations/NI-43-101-La-Guitarra-Mineral-Resource-Estimate.pdf

Qualified Person

Mr. Gregory Smith, P. Geo, Director of Sierra Madre, is a Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101, and has reviewed and approved the technical data and information contained in this news release. Mr. Smith has verified the technical and scientific data disclosed herein.

About Sierra Madre

Sierra Madre Gold and Silver Ltd. (TSXV: SM) (OTCQX: SMDRF) is a precious metals precious metals producer and exploration company focused on the Guitarra mine in the Temascaltepec mining district, Mexico, and the exploration and development of its Tepic property in Nayarit, Mexico. The Guitarra mine is a permitted underground mine, which includes a 500 t/d processing facility that operated until mid-2018 and restarted commercial production in January 2025.

The +2,600 ha Tepic Project hosts low-sulphidation epithermal gold and silver mineralization with an existing historic resource.

Sierra Madre's management team has played key roles in managing the exploration and development of silver and gold mineral reserves and mineral resources. Sierra Madre's team of professionals has collectively raised over $1 billion for mining companies.

On behalf of the board of directors of Sierra Madre Gold and Silver Ltd.,

Cautionary Note Regarding Production Decisions

The Company's decision to place the mine into commercial production, expand a mine, make other production related decisions, or otherwise carry out mining and processing operations, is largely based on internal non-public Company data and reports from previous operations and the results of test mining and processing. The Company is not basing any production decisions on NI 43-101 compliant reserve estimates, preliminary economic assessments or feasibility studies and, as a result, there is greater risk and uncertainty as to future economic results from the Guitarra Mine Complex, including increased uncertainty of achieving any particular level of recovery of minerals or the cost of such recovery, including increased risks associated with developing a commercially mineable deposit, and a higher technical risk of failure than would be the case if a feasibility study were completed and relied upon to make a production decision.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.

This press release contains "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. The forward-looking statements herein are made as of the date of this press release only, and the Company does not assume any obligation to update or revise them to reflect new information, estimates or opinions, future events or results or otherwise, except as required by applicable law. Often, but not always, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects", "is expected", "budgets", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "predicts", "projects", "intends", "targets", "aims", "anticipates" or "believes" or variations (including negative variations) of such words and phrases or may be identified by statements to the effect that certain actions "may", "could", "should", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. Forward-looking statements include, without limitation, statements regarding discussions of future plans.

The forward-looking statements involve numerous risks and uncertainties, and actual results might differ materially from results suggested in any forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, among other things, that predicted production levels will be achieved and that existing production levels will be maintained.

In making the forward-looking statements in this news release, the Company has applied certain material assumptions, including without limitation, that the Company will be able to execute its future plans as intended, that predicted production levels will be achieved and that existing production levels will be maintained.

Although management of the Company has attempted identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements or forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and forward-looking information. Readers are cautioned that reliance on such information may not be appropriate for other purposes.
Xi says China ready to uphold UN-centered int'l system with Finland

Xinhua) 14:03, January 27, 2026

Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo, who is on an official visit to China, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Jan. 27, 2026. (Xinhua/Li Xiang)

BEIJING, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday expressed the readiness to work with Finland to firmly uphold the international system with the United Nations at its core and the international order based on international law, to jointly respond to global challenges.

Xi made the remarks when meeting with Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo, who is on an official visit to China.

Xi also said China is willing to work with Finland to promote an equitable and orderly multipolar world as well as a universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization.

Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo, who is on an official visit to China, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Jan. 27, 2026. (Xinhua/Liu Bin)

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
TORONTO, ON / ACCESS Newswire / January 27, 2026 /Inventus Mining Corp. (TSXV:IVS) ("Inventus" or the "Company")is pleased announce that processing of the Trench 1 bulk sample is underway at its 100%-owned Pardo "River of Gold" Project, located 65 km northeast of Sudbury, Ontario.

Highlights

Trench 1bulk sample processing is currently underway at McEwen Inc.'s Stock Mill

An additional seven (7) drill holes have been completed subsequent to the Company's January 22, 2026 news release, for a total of 47 drill holes with assay results pending

Trench 1 Northbulk sample advancing, with waste successfully blasted and removed and extract of the gold mineralization expected to commence shortly

Bulk sampling and drilling continue to advance in parallel, supporting grade validation, metallurgical performance, and near-surface continuity

Bulk Sampling Update

The Company confirms that processing of 5,000 tonnes of the 10,128-tonne Trench 1 bulk sample is currently underway at McEwen Inc.'s Stock Mill. This material was extracted under the Company's 50,000-tonne bulk sample permit, of which only 10,000 tonnes have been processed to date, and represents a key milestone intended to de-risk development assumptions, support grade validation and metallurgical performance, and generate operational cash flow.

In addition, the 10,000-tonneTrench 1 North bulk sample is advancing on time and within budget with waste material now blasted and removed, fully exposing the gold mineralization for extraction and processing. Drilling and blasting of the mineralized material is expected to commence shortly, after which material will be crushed on site, and transported for processing.

Drilling Update

Phase 2 drilling at Pardo continues to expand and define the flat-lying gold mineralization. Since the Company's January 22, 2026 news release, an additional seven (7) drill holes have been completed, further testing continuity in preparation for an initial resource estimate on the property.

Drilling continues to follow a staged approach, beginning with wider-spaced step-out drilling to confirm mineralization, followed by infill drilling for grade estimation and grade-control drilling in advance of future extraction. Assay results from 47 recently completed drill holes are pending and will be reported once received.

Wesley Whymark, President and Head of Exploration, comments:"With Trench 1 processing now underway and Trench 1 North advanced to the extraction phase, we are executing our bulk sampling strategy on time and in budget. At the same time, continued drilling is strengthening our understanding of grade continuity and will support an initial resource estimate for the property. These activities collectively represent an important step in advancing Pardo toward potential development and production."

For further information visit www.inventusmining.com, or contact:

Mr. Wesley Whymark

President, Head of Exploration and Director

Inventus Mining Corp.

E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Phone: 705-822-3005

Mr. Ed Baer

Investor Relations

Inventus Mining

Phone: 416-804-0512

Social Media Accounts

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LinkedIn

YouTube

About Inventus Mining Corp.

Inventus is a mineral exploration and development company focused on the world-class mining district of Sudbury, Ontario. We have a 100% interest in our principal assets, the Pardo Paleoplacer Gold Project and the Sudbury 2.0 Critical Mineral Project, located northeast of Sudbury. The Pardo Gold Project is the first important paleoplacer gold discovery in North America. Inventus has approximately 207.9 million common shares outstanding.

Qualified Person

The Qualified Person responsible for the technical content of this news release is Inventus' President and Head of Exploration, Wesley Whymark, P.Geo., who has reviewed and approved the technical disclosure in this news release on behalf of the Company.

Forward-Looking Statements

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 Company's 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", "if", "yet", "potential", "undetermined", "objective", 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 management's 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. Forward-looking information in this news release includes, but is not limited to, the Company's objectives, goals or future plans, statements, exploration results, potential mineralization, the estimation of mineral resources, exploration and mine development plans, timing of the commencement of operations and estimates of market conditions. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from such forward-looking information include, but are not limited to the failure to identify mineral resources, failure to convert estimated mineral resources to reserves, the inability to complete a feasibility study which recommends a production decision, the preliminary nature of metallurgical test results, 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 and other indigenous peoples, 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 Company's 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.

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.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - January 27, 2026) - Southern Silver Exploration Corp. (TSXV: SSV) (the "Company" or "Southern Silver") reports assays from an additional four holes which tested the recently acquired Puro Corazon claim and returned thick intervals of high-grade and strongly silver-enriched polymetallic mineralization.

Highlight assays include:

a 15.3 metre interval averaging 195g/t Ag , 0.3% Cu, 6.6% Pb and 9.0% Zn (581g/t AgEq), including a 3.1 metre interval averaging 267g/t Ag , 0.3% Cu, 7.8% Pb and 14.8% Zn ( 837g/t AgEq ) (1) from drillhole 25CLM-206

a 22.0 metre interval averaging 103g/t Ag , 0.5% Cu, 5.0% Pb and 7.2% Zn (426g/t AgEq), including a 3.0 metre interval averaging 208g/t Ag ,1.2% Cu, 10.8% Pb and 15.8% Zn ( 929g/t AgEq ) (1) from drillhole 25CLM-206; and

a 11.1 metre interval averaging 54g/t Ag, 0.3% Cu, 1.2% Pb and 2.3% Zn (157g/t AgEq), including a 0.4 metre interval averaging 761g/t Ag, 2.6% Cu, 25.0% Pb and 21.2% Zn (1994g/t AgEq)(1) from drillhole 25CLM-207

(1) see AgEq calculation criteria in notes to Table 1. Intervals are reported as estimated true thickness unless otherwise indicated

Drilling tested down dip and to the south of earlier reported drill holes 25CLM-202, -203, -204 and -205 which returned several high-grade intercepts within a hanging wall replacement zone of mineralization that include 10.5 metres averaging 1,115g/t AgEq (see News Release dated December 1, 2025) from 25CLM-203 and 10.4 metres averaging 743g/t AgEq (see News Release dated January 6, 2026) from 25CLM-205 as well as other mineralized intercepts. The new intercepts, particularly from drill hole 25CLM-206, continue to demonstrate continuity of the replacement lens and helps establish a potential plunge direction for the high-grade extensions of mineralization which has now been tested to a depth of 235 metres below surface.

Vice President of Exploration, Rob Macdonald stated "These latest drill results continue to demonstrate the lateral and down-dip extensions of mineralization below and along strike of the existing Puro Corazon workings. The drill program continues to test the projections of this mineralization with the goal of establishing continuity with the previously defined Skarn Front and El Sol mineral deposits within the context of an updated Mineral Resource Estimate."

Twenty-one core holes out of twenty-two planned holes have been completed to date or are in progress. Analyses from eight drill holes have now been reported and further assays are anticipated over the coming weeks.

Figure 1: Plan view of the drilling on the recently acquired Puro Corazon Claim.

Figure 2: Longitudinal Section of the Puro Corazon Target. Note: pierce points reflect intercepts into the main Skarn zone

Table 1: Select Assay Results from the Cerro Las Minitas project.

Collar Data

Hole #



Az

Deg (UTMN) Dip

Deg Depth

(m) From

(m) To

(m) Interval

(m) Est. Tr. Thck.

(m) Ag

(g/t) Au

(g/t) Cu

(%) Pb

(%) Zn

(%) AgEq

(g/t) ZnEq

(%) Dpt

(us$) Notes 25CLM-206 81.0 -66.0 552.0 321.4 348.8 27.4 22.0 103 0.0 0.5 5.0 7.2 426 15.9 457 inc. 325.1 332.0 6.9 5.6 156 0.0 0.9 7.8 12.2 691 25.8 743 and inc. 337.8 341.6 3.8 3.0 208 0.0 1.2 10.8 15.8 929 34.7 1001 25CLM-206 357.7 376.7 19.1 15.3 195 0.0 0.3 6.6 9.0 581 21.7 614 inc. 361.6 366.0 4.4 3.5 238 0.0 0.4 9.8 13.4 813 30.4 861 and inc. 372.0 375.9 3.9 3.1 267 0.0 0.3 7.8 14.8 837 31.2 881 25CLM-206 383.0 397.4 14.4 11.6 65 0.0 0.0 2.7 1.8 169 6.3 179 29.8% Dilution inc. 396.0 397.4 1.4 1.1 303 0.0 0.1 11.6 6.0 696 26.0 736 25CLM-206 496.0 514.9 19.0 15.2 73 0.0 1.1 0.1 0.0 157 5.9 190 Anomalous Composite inc. 509.2 514.9 5.8 4.6 94 0.0 2.8 0.0 0.0 301 11.2 380 25CLM-207 81.0 -66.0 393.0 240.9 243.7 2.8 2.0 78 0.0 0.2 3.0 4.1 261 9.7 277 25CLM-207 247.8 249.7 1.9 1.4 156 0.0 0.9 5.3 9.6 583 21.8 631 25CLM-207 297.6 313.2 15.6 11.1 54 0.0 0.3 1.2 2.3 157 5.9 170 60% dilution inc. 297.6 298.2 0.6 0.4 761 0.1 2.6 25.0 21.2 1994 74.4 2150 and inc. 310.4 311.4 1.0 0.7 54 0.0 0.6 0.2 11.0 393 14.7 419 25CLM-207 320.1 323.2 3.1 2.2 70 0.0 0.1 0.7 7.2 284 10.6 296 25CLM-208 50.0 -45.0 366.0 23.3 27.9 4.6 4.0 149 0.1 0.0 0.2 0.3 165 6.2 173 inc. 26.0 26.7 0.6 0.6 411 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.4 424 15.8 438 25CLM-208 240.3 241.8 1.4 1.1 190 0.0 1.1 6.4 6.1 559 20.9 612 25CLM-208 273.8 275.1 1.3 1.0 109 0.0 0.2 1.4 4.2 265 9.9 281 25CLM-208 273.8 275.1 1.3 1.0 78 0.0 0.6 2.5 4.5 288 10.8 315 25CLM-209 64.5 -54.0 540.0 219.2 220.4 1.2 0.9 105 0.1 0.3 1.4 0.6 175 6.5 195 25CLM-209 385.3 386.5 1.2 0.9 97 0.0 0.4 3.2 5.3 329 12.3 353

1) Analyzed by FA/AA for gold and ICP-AES by ALS Laboratories, North Vancouver, BC. Silver (>100ppm), copper, lead and zinc (>1%) overlimits assayed by ore grade ICP analysis,

2) High silver overlimits (>1500g/t Ag) and gold overlimits (>10g/t Au) re-assayed with FA-Grav. High Pb (>20%) and Zn (>30%) overlimits assayed by titration. AgEq and ZnEq were calculated using prices of $2,800/oz Au, $32/oz Ag, $4.50/lb Cu, $0.95/lb Pb and $1.25/lb Zn.

3) AgEq and ZnEq calculations utilized relative metallurgical recoveries of Au 48.6%, Ag 93%, Cu 70%, Pb 87% and Zn 93%.

4) Composites are calculated using a 80g/t AgEq cut-off in sulphide and 0.5g/t AuEq in the oxide gold zone. Composites have <20% internal dilution, except where noted; anomalous intercepts are calculated using a 10g/t AgEq cut-off.

Next Steps

The Company is planning to incorporate the results of the Puro Corazon drilling program into the much larger Cerro Las Minitas project which is expected to significantly enhance the project economics. Final assays are anticipated to be received by the end of the first quarter of 2026, after which the Company intends to:

update the Mineral Resource Estimate of the Cerro Las Minitas project; followed by

an update of the Preliminary economic Assessment ("PEA") of the project in accordance with the provisions of National Instrument 43-101 and

continue to advance baseline data collection and permit readiness review

The Company reports that work on the Cerro Las Minitas project continues advancing numerous upside opportunities identified subsequent to the July 2024 PEA, while also derisking and advancing the project with the commencement of baseline data collection, hydrology, geotechnical, archaeological and land surveys and studies.

As currently modelled, the Cerro Las Minitas project features a large-scale underground mining operation with robust project economics and high gross revenues in a well located and mining friendly jurisdiction in southeast Durango, Mexico. For more information on the details of the current economic assessment of the Cerro Las Minitas project please refer to Southern Silver's news release dated June 10, 2024.

About Southern Silver Exploration Corp.

Southern Silver Exploration Corp. is an exploration and development company with a focus on the discovery of world-class mineral deposits either directly or through joint-venture relationships in mineral properties in major jurisdictions. Our specific emphasis is the 100% owned Cerro Las Minitas silver-lead-zinc project located in the heart of Mexico's Faja de Plata, which hosts multiple world-class mineral deposits such as Penasquito, Los Gatos, San Martin, Naica and Pitarrilla. We have assembled a team of highly experienced technical, operational and transactional professionals to support our exploration efforts in developing the Cerro Las Minitas project into a premier, high-grade, silver-lead-zinc mine. Located in the same State as the Cerro Las Minitas property is the newly acquired Nazas, gold-silver property. Our property portfolio also includes the Oro porphyry copper-gold project and the Hermanas gold-silver vein project where permitting applications for the conduct of a drill program is underway, both located in southern New Mexico, USA.

Robert Macdonald, MSc. P.Geo, is a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 and supervised directly the collection of the data from the CLM project that is reported in this disclosure and is responsible for the presentation of the technical information in this disclosure.

On behalf of the Board of Directors

"Lawrence Page"

Lawrence Page, K.C.

President & Director, Southern Silver Exploration Corp.

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.

This news release contains forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements address future events and conditions and therefore involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from those currently anticipated in such statements. Forward-looking statements in this news release include plans to advance and develop the CLM property including updating the Mineral Resource Estimate followed by an update of the PEA. These statements are based on a number of assumptions, including, but not limited to, general economic conditions, interest rates, commodity markets, regulatory and governmental approvals for the Company's projects, and the availability of financing for the Company's development projects on reasonable terms. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward looking statements include the timing and receipt of government and regulatory approvals, and continued availability of capital and financing and general economic, market or business conditions.
VANCOUVER, BC, Jan. 27, 2026 /CNW/ - Silvercorp Metals Inc. (TSX: SVM) (NYSE American: SVM) ("Silvercorp" or the "Company"), further to its news release of January 20, 2026, Silvercorp is pleased to announce it has completed the acquisition of Chaarat ZAAV CJSC ("ZAAV") per the Share Purchase Agreement with Chaarat Gold Holdings Limited ("Chaarat"). The Kyrgyz government having issued a waiver of its statutory pre-emptive right and Silvercorp having made the $92 million payment to Chaarat.

Per the agreements between the parties, Silvercorp will proceed to convert ZAAV into a joint venture company ("JVC") with Kyrgyzaltyn (a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Kyrgyz Republic), with Silvercorp holding a 70% interest and being the operator of the JVC and Kyrgyzaltyn holding a 30% free-carried interest.

The JVC will apply for the agreed upon extension of the validity period of the JVC's mining license from June 25, 2032 to June 25, 2062 and Silvercorp will then make the $60 million cash payment to the National Investment Agency under the President of the Kyrgyz Republic (the "NIA"), per the Cooperation Agreement with the NIA.

ZAAV, the JVC, is a Kyrgyz corporation, holding a 100% interest in the mining license hosting the fully-permitted Tulkubash/Kyzyltash gold projects as well as surrounding exploration licenses hosting the Karator and Ishakuld gold zones located in the Tian Shan area.

King & Wood Mallesons (Beijing office) acted as lead legal counsel to Silvercorp on the transaction. For further details regarding the transaction refer to the January 20 news release which is available on SEDAR+ (www.sedarplus.ca) and on EDGAR at www.sec.gov under Silvercorp's issuer's profile.

About Silvercorp

Silvercorp is a Canadian mining company producing silver, gold, lead, and zinc with a long history of profitability and growth potential. The Company's strategy is to create shareholder value by 1) focusing on generating free cash flow from long life mines; 2) organic growth through extensive drilling for discovery; 3) ongoing merger and acquisition efforts to unlock value; and 4) long term commitment to responsible mining and ESG. For more information, please visit our website at www.silvercorpmetals.com.

For further information

Silvercorp Metals Inc.

Lon Shaver

President

Phone: (604) 669-9397

Toll Free 1(888) 224-1881

Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Website: www.silvercorpmetals.com

CAUTIONARY DISCLAIMER - FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This news release does not constitute, and is not, an offer or solicitation of an offer of securities.

This news release includes "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws relating to, among other things, without limitation, the conversion of the ZAAV into a JVC, timing of receipt of the mining license extension, the Company's plan for next steps, and any anticipated benefits to shareholder value or financial or operational performance that may be derived therefrom. By their very nature, forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking information may in some cases be identified by words such as "will", "anticipates", "expects", "intends" and similar expressions suggesting future events or future performance.

We caution that all forward-looking information is inherently subject to change and uncertainty and that actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking information. A number of risks, uncertainties and other factors, including fluctuating commodity prices; completion and timing of the transactions described above; satisfaction of the conditions to the transactions; extension of mining licenses and milestones; recent market events and condition; estimation of mineral resources, mineral reserves and mineralization and metal recovery; interpretations and assumptions of mineral resource and mineral reserve estimates; exploration and development programs; climate change; economic factors affecting the Company; timing, estimated amount, capital and operating expenditures and economic returns of future production; integration of future acquisitions into existing operations; permits and licences for mining and exploration in China; title to properties; non-controlling interest shareholders; acquisition of commercially mineable mineral rights; financing; competition; operations and political conditions; regulatory environment in China; regulatory environment and political climate in Bolivia and Ecuador; integration and operations of Adventus; environmental risks; natural disasters; dependence on management and key personnel; foreign exchange rate fluctuations; insurance; risks and hazards of mining operations; conflicts of interest; internal control over financial reporting as per the requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act; outcome of current or future litigation or regulatory actions; bringing actions and enforcing judgments under U.S. securities laws; cyber-security risks; public health crises; the Company's investment in New Pacific Metals Corp. and Tincorp Metals Inc.; and the other risk factors described in the Company's latest 40-F/Annual Information Form, and Management's Discussion and Analysis, each under the heading "Risk Factors" available on www.sedarplus.ca and www.sec.gov; could cause actual results and events to differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking information or could cause our current objectives, strategies and intentions to change. Accordingly, we warn investors to exercise caution when considering statements containing forward-looking information and that it would be unreasonable to rely on such statements as creating legal rights regarding our future results or plans. We cannot guarantee that any forward-looking information will materialize and you are cautioned not to place undue reliance on this forward-looking information. Any forward-looking information contained in this news release represents expectations as of the date of this news release and is subject to change after such date. However, we are under no obligation (and we expressly disclaim any such obligation) to update or alter any statements containing forward-looking information, the factors or assumptions underlying them, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. All of the forward-looking information in this news release is qualified by the cautionary statements herein.

CAUTIONARY NOTE TO US INVESTORS

This news release has been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the securities laws in effect in Canada which differ from the requirements of United States securities laws. The technical and scientific information contained herein has been prepared in accordance with National Instrument 43-101  Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects (''NI 43-101''), which differs from the standards adopted by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"). Silvercorp's reserve and resource estimates have been prepared in accordance with NI 43-101 and the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy, and Petroleum Definition Standards on Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves. NI 43-101 is a rule developed by the Canadian Securities Administrators that establishes standards for public disclosure by a Canadian company of scientific and technical information concerning mineral projects.

Canadian standards differ significantly from the disclosure requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission, and mineral reserve and resource information included in this news release may not be comparable to similar information disclosed by U.S. companies subject to the disclosure requirements of the SEC. A comprehensive discussion of risks that impact Silvercorp, and additional information relating to the Company including Silvercorp's Annual Information Form can be obtained under the Company's profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca, on EDGAR at www.sec.gov, and on the Company's website at www.silvercorpmetals.com
TORONTO, Jan. 27, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- McEwen Inc. (NYSE/TSX: MUX) (McEwen or the Company) announces new drill results from the Gold Bar Mine Complex in the Eureka Mining District of Nevada, that continues to highlight the mines transformation into a potential long-life operation. Results include the best hole drilled by McEwen to date at Windfall, which returned 5.55 gpt gold over 44.2 meters. Windfall, Lookout Mountain and Unity Ridge are three deposits at the Gold Bar Mine Complex that McEwen is advancing towards production. Gold Bar is an important part of the Companys plan to double production by 2030.

Best Hole Drilled by McEwen at Windfall  Now Targeting Deeper Extensions

Over the past six months, drilling at the northern end of the Windfall deposit has been returning good gold grades over long widths, with todays result from drill hole WF110 intersecting 5.55 gpt gold over 44.2 meters, including 48.38 gpt gold over 4.6 meters of oxide mineralization. This result followed up on other recently released holes along the same section that also intersected oxide mineralization, such as 2.43 gpt gold over 74.7 meters (drill hole WF039), 1.70 gpt gold over 64.0 meters (drill hole WF037) and 1.14 gpt gold over 67.1 meters (drill hole WF119). A deeper historical hole, located approximately 40 meters below these results, returned 3.75 gpt gold over 42.7 meters (drill hole EUR-P-237), indicating that the higher-grade mineralization remains open to expansion at depth (Fig. 2). Drilling is planned to target this deeper area in March. The Company believes there is good potential to continue expanding the mineralization with additional investment.

Definition Drilling Results Showing Excellent Continuity

As part of the Companys upcoming Mineral Resource Estimates, definition drilling has been continuing at Windfall. Recent results continue to indicate excellent continuity of near-surface oxide gold mineralization along segments of a 1.6-kilometer (1 mile) long north-south trending Windfall fault zone (Fig. 3). The gold mineralization at Windfall remains open to further expansion in multiple directions. Other new results are highlighted below.

Table 1. Selection of recent assay results from Windfall

HOLE-ID FROM

(m) TO

(m) Length

(m) Au Grade

(gpt) WF062 117.3 152.4 35.1 0.86 Including 118.9 121.9 3.0 3.25 And 158.5 167.6 9.1 1.72 WF071 30.2 45.3 15.1 2.79 Including 32.6 39.3 6.7 5.82 WF075 50.3 69.6 19.3 0.95 WF076 93.7 112.7 18.9 0.56 WF078 1.0 14.6 13.6 0.81 And 23.0 61.9 38.9 0.57 WF097 83.8 102.1 18.3 0.62 WF098 38.1 125.0 86.9 0.55 WF108 39.6 93.0 53.3 0.49

Mineral Resource Estimate

The Company is currently completing a Mineral Resource Estimate for Lookout Mountain that will be published at the end of February. The updated Mineral Resource Estimate is expected to meaningfully increase the total ounces at the Gold Bar Mine Complex. The Company is planning to invest approximately $10 million into exploration in 2026 at Gold Bar. The results from the 2026 drilling program will be used to update the Mineral Resource Estimates, including initial Mineral Resource Estimates for Windfall and Unity Ridge, which are expected to have an additional positive impact.

2026 Development Path

In 2026, Windfall, Lookout Mountain and Unity Ridge will be subject to ongoing development work, such as metallurgical studies and mining designs, with the objective of advancing the deposits towards a production decision. Notably, Unity Ridge lies within the current Plan of Operations for mining activity at the Gold Bar Mine Complex and Windfall is located on private land, which should allow for an accelerated permitting process at both areas.

Why It Matters to Our Shareholders & the Value of Our Company

The Companys objective at the Gold Bar Mine Complex is to convert our exploration success into a long-life asset as we integrate Windfall, Lookout Mountain and Unity Ridge into our production plans. Since much of the gold mineralization in these areas is oxide, McEwen will look to utilize the existing Gold Bar infrastructure where possible. Our focus is on return on capital and how efficiently these new ounces can be developed and produced.

A detailed table of new drill results at the Gold Bar Mine Complex for Windfall is available on the Companys website and can be accessed by clicking here.

About McEwen

McEwen shares trade on both the NYSE and TSX under the ticker MUX.

McEwen provides its shareholders with exposure to a growing base of gold and silver production in addition to a very large copper development project, all in the Americas. The gold and silver mines are in prolific mineral-rich regions of the world, the Cortez Trend in Nevada, USA, the Timmins district of Ontario and Flin Flon in Manitoba, Canada, and the Deseado Massif in Santa Cruz province, Argentina. McEwen is also reactivating its gold and silver El Gallo Mine in Mexico.

The Company has a 46.4% interest in McEwen Copper, which owns the large, long-life, advanced-stage Los Azules copper development project in San Juan province, Argentina  a region that hosts some of the countrys largest copper deposits. According to the last financing for McEwen Copper, the implied value of McEwens ownership interest is US$456 million.

The Los Azules copper project is designed to be one of the worlds first regenerative copper mines and carbon neutral by 2038. Its Feasibility Study results were announced in the press release dated October 7, 2025.

McEwen also recently purchased 27.3% of Paragon Advanced Labs Inc., a newly listed public company that is deploying PhotonAssay units around the world, a technology that the Company believes is poised to become the new industry standard for assaying precious and base metals, with Paragon aiming to be one of the leading service providers.

Chairman and Chief Owner Rob McEwen has invested over US$200 million personally and takes a salary of $1 per year, aligning his interests with shareholders. He is a recipient of the Order of Canada, a member of the Canadian Mining Hall of Fame and a winner of the EY Entrepreneur of the Year (Energy) award. His objective is to build MUXs profitability, share value, and eventually implement a dividend policy, as he did while building Goldcorp Inc.

Technical Disclosure

Technical information pertaining to the Gold Bar Complex exploration contained in this press release has been prepared under the supervision of Robert Kastelic, MSc, CPG, Exploration Manager for McEwen Inc. in Nevada, and Luke Willis, P.Geo, Director of Resource Modelling for McEwen Inc., who are Qualified Persons (QPs) as defined by SEC S-K 1300 and Canadian Securities Administrators National Instrument 43-101 "Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects."

Analyses reported herein were submitted either as half core samples or reverse circulation (RC) samples and, assayed by the photon assay method at the Paragon Geochemical laboratory, in Reno, Nevada.

As part of our regular QA/QC program, McEwen follows a closely controlled and documented Chain of Custody protocol and submits certified reference materials, blanks and duplicates at regular intervals in the sample stream for the monitoring and assessment of laboratory processes and procedures.

All incoming QA/QC results are reviewed to ensure data quality before incorporating the information into the geological database.

CAUTION CONCERNING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This news release contains certain forward-looking statements and information, including "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The forward-looking statements and information expressed are as at the date of this news release and are McEwen Inc.'s (the "Company") estimates, forecasts, projections, expectations or beliefs as to future events and results. Forward-looking statements and information are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by management, are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties, risks and contingencies, and there can be no assurance that such statements and information will prove to be accurate. Therefore, actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements and information. Risks and uncertainties that could cause results or future events to differ materially from current expectations expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements and information include, but are not limited to, fluctuations in the market price of precious metals, mining industry risks, political, economic, social and security risks associated with foreign operations, the ability of the Company to receive or receive in a timely manner permits or other approvals required in connection with operations, risks associated with the construction of mining operations and commencement of production and the projected costs thereof, risks related to litigation, the state of the capital markets, environmental risks and hazards, uncertainty as to calculation of mineral resources and reserves, foreign exchange volatility, foreign exchange controls, foreign currency risk, and other risks. Readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements or information included herein, which speak only as of the date hereof. The Company undertakes no obligation to reissue or update forward-looking statements or information as a result of new information or events after the date hereof except as may be required by law. See McEwen Inc.'s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024, and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, under the caption "Risk Factors", for additional information on risks, uncertainties and other factors relating to the forward-looking statements and information regarding the Company. All forward-looking statements and information made in this news release are qualified by this cautionary statement.

The NYSE and TSX have not reviewed and do not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of the contents of this news release, which has been prepared by the management of McEwen.

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Figure 1. Location of Windfall, Lookout Mountain and Unity Ridge

Figure 2. Plan Map Showing Location of New Drill Results at Windfall Highlighted in this News Release

Figure 3. Cross-Section Showing Good Grades and Thickness at Windfall
Hole APC143-D3, which intersected the Ramp Zone at up to 1,410 metres below surface expands the mineralized envelope to 300 metres of strike by 100 metres in width by 310 metres vertically -- and remains open in all directions

TORONTO, Jan. 27, 2026 /CNW/ - Collective Mining Ltd. (NYSE: CNL) (TSX: CNL) ("Collective" or the "Company") is pleased to announce assay results for two directional diamond drill holes designed to continue expanding the high-grade Ramp Zone ("Ramp") along strike northwards and at depth. The Ramp Zone is located at the base of the Apollo system ("Apollo") starting at approximately 1,000 MASL (metres above sea level) and ideally positioned at the same elevation as an envisioned underground access tunnel in a potential future mining operation.

Apollo is a large, Partially Reduced Intrusion Related System enriched in gold, silver, copper and tungsten. Drilling to date at Apollo has outlined continuous mineralization from surface to, as of today, more than 1,410 vertical metres. Apollo anchors the Company's flagship Guayabales Project--a district-scale, multi-target and infrastructure-rich project in Caldas, Colombia.

Ari Sussman, Executive Chairman commented: "The Apollo system continues to showcase its extraordinary potential with impressive high-grade mineralization extending over 1.4 kilometres from surface. Today's results, featuring a spectacular 27.00 metres at 43.13 g/t gold within a broader 58.10 metres at 21.33 g/t gold, represent the highest-grade and deepest intercept drilled to date at Apollo--a compelling indicator of the vast untapped upside yet to be uncovered.

We are invigorated to accelerate Apollo's transformation into a producing mine as it holds immense promise to become Colombia's next major and large-scale mining project, yielding gold alongside the critical mineral byproducts copper, tungsten and silver. Situated in a well-established, infrastructure-rich, and mining-friendly region, we envision this future mining operation as a foundation for nurturing the next generation of Colombian talent in a modern, safe and environmentally sustainable environment, while supplying the nation with vital minerals to bolster its security and economy and satisfy the West's insatiable demand for essential resources."

To watch a video of Ari Sussman, Executive Chairman, explain today's results please click on the link here.

Key Highlights

High-Grade Intercept at the Ramp Zone with hole APC143-D3 intersecting: 27.00 metres @ 43.13 g/t gold and 25 g/t silver within a broader mineralized zone of 58.10 metres @ 21.33 g/t gold and 13 g/t silver from 187.80 metres down deflection (1,410 metres below surface).

with hole APC143-D3 intersecting:

This hole represents the highest-grade intercept and largest grade accumulation at 1,239 g/t Au (gram x metres) drilled to date in the Ramp Zone.

Significant Expansion of the Ramp Zone : APC143-D3 is the deepest and northeasternmost hole drilled to date, expanding the dimensions to 300 metres along strike by 100 metres width and 310 metres vertically (previously 275 metres strike by 300 metres vertical). The zone remains open in all directions for further growth.





: APC143-D3 is the deepest and northeasternmost hole drilled to date, expanding the dimensions to 300 metres along strike by 100 metres width and 310 metres vertically (previously 275 metres strike by 300 metres vertical). The zone remains open in all directions for further growth. New Model for the Ramp Zone Emerges: Ramp zone style of mineralization is located on the margins of the breccia body drilling to date has focused solely along the southeast margin. Significant potential remains to discover additional Ramp Zone style high-grade mineralization at 1,000 MASL and deeper around the entire outer margin of the funnel-shaped Apollo breccia body. At 750 MASL, the breccia's circumference is approximately 1.6 kilometres. To date, drilling has outlined a 300-metre by 100-metre area along the southeast margin, featuring multiple broad high-grade intercepts of up to 75 metres in length, leaving more than 1.2 kilometres of untested circumference for future drill testing (see Figure 2)





Ramp zone style of mineralization is located on the margins of the breccia body drilling to date has focused solely along the southeast margin. Significant potential remains to discover additional Ramp Zone style high-grade mineralization at 1,000 MASL and deeper around the entire outer margin of the funnel-shaped Apollo breccia body. At 750 MASL, the breccia's circumference is approximately 1.6 kilometres. To date, drilling has outlined a 300-metre by 100-metre area along the southeast margin, featuring multiple broad high-grade intercepts of up to 75 metres in length, leaving more than 1.2 kilometres of untested circumference for future drill testing (see Figure 2) Aggressive Drilling Ramp-Up: Three deep-capacity diamond rigs are currently operating at the Ramp Zone, with two additional deep-capacity rigs anticipated to arrive on site in Q1 2026.

To date, Collective has completed 166,500 metres of diamond drilling across the Guayabales and San Antonio projects, including 109,500 metres at the flagship Apollo system.

With US$135 million in cash (as of December 1, 2025), the Company is fully funded for its planned 2026 program, which envisions up to 100,000 metres of additional drilling. Up to fourteen rigs are anticipated to be operating across both projects before the end of Q1, 2026, with numerous high-priority holes pending assay results.

Details (see Table 1-2 and Figures 1-6)

APC143-D3 was drilled as a wedge hole from mother hole APC-143D from Pad 19 in a southerly direction and successfully extended the Ramp Zone along strike and to depth with assays results as follows:

58.10 metres @ 21.33 g/t gold, 13 g/t silver from 187.80 metres down deflection including 27.00 metres @ 43.13 g/t gold, 25 g/t silver from 187.80 metres down deflection



APC140-D4 was drilled as a directional hole from mother hole APC-140D from Pad 29 to the southwest and was planned to test the center of the breccia body for Ramp Zone style mineralization. Although finding high grade mineralization in the center of the breccia was deemed a low probability outcome by the Company, sporadic mineralization was encountered with assays results as follows:

15.00 metres @ 5.00 g/t gold, 10 g/t silver from 107.00 metres down deflection at 1,100 MASL interpreted as the transition to Ramp Zone

3.65 metres @ 4.91 g/t gold, 6 g/t silver from 547.35 metres down deflection

3.35 metres @ 3.51 g/t gold from 648.55 metres down deflection

The Ramp Zone, which commences at approximately 1,000 MASL, is classified as a reduced intrusion-related gold system with similarities, in terms of mineralogy, to the nearby Marmato Deeps deposit, owned by Aris Mining. Located just 1.75 kilometres apart, both systems begin at the same elevation and the gold-and-silver-bearing sulphide assemblages in the Ramp Zone closely resemble those at Marmato Deeps. Mineralization occurs with pyrite and pyrrhotite, accompanied by minor bismuth, tellurium, and locally arsenopyrite bearing sulphides, hosted in veinlet stockworks, cracks and miarolitic cavities of the breccia body. Alteration is dominated by muscovite, albite and sericite.

A key distinguishing feature at Ramp is the significantly higher gold grades encountered to date compared to Marmato Deeps. The Company attributes this superior grade profile primarily to the host rock: mineralization at the Ramp Zone is emplaced within a porous crackle breccia matrix, which provides greater permeability for metal-bearing fluids than the precursor porphyry host rock at Marmato Deeps.

Cautionary Note to Readers:

Although Apollo (including the Ramp Zone) and the Marmato Lower Mine (also referred to as the Bulk Mining Zone or formerly as Marmato Deeps) share certain geological characteristics, information regarding the Marmato Lower Mine is not necessarily indicative of mineralization in the Ramp Zone. Information regarding the Marmato Lower Mine has not been independently verified by the Company or its Qualified Person in accordance with National Instrument 43-101  Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101"). All information presented herein regarding the Marmato Lower Mine is derived from the NI 43-101 compliant technical report titled "Technical Report for the Marmato Gold Mine, Caldas Department, Colombia, PFS of the Lower Mine Expansion Project," with an effective date of June 30, 2022 (filed November 23, 2022). This report is available on Aris Mining Corporation's website at: https://aris-mining.com/operation/marmato-mine/technical-report/.

Table 1: Assays Results for Drill Holes APC143-D3 and APC140-D4

Hole # From

(m) To

(m) Length

(m) Au

g/t Ag

g/t APC143-D3 187.80 245.90 58.10 21.33 13 Incl. 187.80 214.80 27.00 43.13 25 Incl. 187.80 193.75 5.95 165.72 90 APC140-D4 107.00 122.00 15.00 5.00 10 Incl. 119.00 121.05 2.05 28.87 26 and 547.35 551.00 3.65 4.91 6 and 648.55 651.90 3.35 3.51 -

True widths have been estimated to be between 85%-98% of the total length with no grade capping applied. Internal dilution of up to 15% below a cutoff grade of 0.30 g/t Au may be included within intervals with the dilution not exceeding 5% continuously within the total interval.

Table 2: Individual Assays Results from a High-Grade Section of Hole APC143-D3

From

(m) To

(m) Length

(m) Au

g/t Ag

g/t 187.80 189.00 1.20 95.30 47 189.00 190.30 1.30 363.00 192 190.30 191.35 1.05 6.29 12 191.35 192.60 1.25 68.90 33 192.60 193.75 1.15 267.00 150 193.75 195.50 1.75 4.31 2 195.50 197.00 1.50 0.26 - 197.00 198.75 1.75 0.15 - 198.75 200.00 1.25 44.20 13 200.00 201.55 1.55 0.17 - 201.55 202.70 1.15 0.46 - 202.70 203.85 1.15 0.14 1 203.85 204.90 1.05 1.15 2 204.90 206.00 1.10 0.49 1 206.00 207.10 1.10 2.15 1 207.10 208.25 1.15 10.75 11 208.25 209.35 1.10 18.15 17 209.35 210.60 1.25 0.13 3 210.60 212.00 1.40 0.10 1 212.00 213.40 1.40 22.20 23 213.40 214.80 1.40 33.00 26 Weighted Average 27.00 43.13 25

True widths have been estimated to be between 85%-98% of the total length with no grade capping applied. Internal dilution of up to 15% below a cutoff grade of 0.30 g/t Au may be included within intervals with the dilution not exceeding 5% continuously within the total interval.

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".

Qualified Person (QP) and NI43-101 Disclosure

David J Reading is the designated Qualified Person for this news release within the meaning of National Instrument 43-101 ("NI 43-101") and has reviewed and verified that the technical information contained herein is accurate and approves of the written disclosure of same. Mr. Reading has an MSc in Economic Geology and is a Fellow of the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining and of the Society of Economic Geology (SEG).

Technical Information

Samples were cut by Company personnel at Collective Mining's core facility in Caldas, Colombia. Diamond drill core was sawed and then sampled in maximum 2 metres intervals, stopping at geological boundaries. Drill hole core diameter is a mix of PQ, HQ and NQ depending on the depth of the drill hole.

Core samples have been prepared and analyzed at ALS laboratory facilities in Medellin, Colombia and Lima, Peru for copper, gold and silver assays, and multi-element ICP. ALS is an accredited laboratory which is independent of the Company. Gold assays are obtained by fire assay fusion with AAS finish on a 50g sample (Au-AA24). Any samples returning > 10 g/t were then reanalyzed by fire assay with gravimetric finish on a 50g sample (Au-GRA22). Copper and silver were assayed by inductively Coupled Plasma - Atomic Emission Spectroscopy (ICP-AES) and Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) following a 4-acid digestion. Samples were also analyzed for a suite of 48 elements with ME-MS61 plus mercury and a sequential copper leach analysis was completed on each sample with copper greater than 10,000 parts per million. Blanks, duplicates, and certified reference standards are inserted into the sample stream to monitor laboratory performance. Crush rejects and pulps are kept and stored in a secured storage facility for future assay verification. No capping has been applied to sample composites. The Company utilizes a rigorous, industry-standard QA/QC program.

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.
Shortly after 10 a.m. on November 18, 2025, the Aleppo courthouse opened its doors under heavy military police surveillance. Courtroom number 3, narrow and crowded, was full of journalists, families, and observers. The atmosphere was heavy: for the first time in Syrias contemporary history, a criminal trial was being held in public, nearly a year after the fall of former President Bashar al-Assad.

The 14 defendants who are all prisoners, some dressed in black tracksuits with wrists bound, were seated in a metal cage. The court is sovereign and independent, declared presiding judge Zakaria Bakkar, who is assisted by two assessors. The judge reminded everyone of the rules of procedure set out in the Syrian Penal Code of 1949, amended in 2011, and the Syrian Military Penal Code of 1950. The tone was solemn.

Aleppo public prosecutor Ghiath Abdullah appeared, an imposing man dressed in a black robe trimmed with red satin. He then sat down, with the new Syrian flag hanging behind him.

Prosecutions relate to Syrian coast violence

The facts under examination concern violence that took place from March 7 to 9, 2025, in the coastal cities of Tartus, Hama, and Latakia, a region predominantly populated by people of the Alawite minority from which the Assad clan hails. These abuses followed attacks on positions of the interim governments security forces by former officers loyal to the fallen regime. Ensuing clashes resulted in the killing of civilians, looting, and destruction of property.

An independent national commission, appointed on March 9 by transitional president Ahmed al-Charaa, identified 1,426 people killed, most of them civilians, as well as 238 members of the security forces. Its findings, announced in a press release on July 22, 2025, are consistent with those of the UN-mandated Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Syria, which documented serious violations of international humanitarian law and called for effective legal proceedings.

The Syrian and foreign press were invited to attend the trial hearings and allowed to film them, a first in Syria. Justice Info was able to attend this first hearing. Through this trial, the transitional government is putting its credibility on the line, both with the Syrian population and the international community.

Fourteen defendants, two opposing sides

The first seven defendants, former affiliates of Bashar al-Assads regime, are being prosecuted for sedition, violence, and looting. They stood up in their black iron cage. With voices rising barely above a whisper, they all pleaded not-guilty and claimed to have confessed under duress, some mentioning torture.

Mahir N., Maher A., and Waddah I., three young men from Jableh, were charged after law enforcement officers found a video on their cell phones at the time of their arrest showing them calling for insurrection. I made this video for personal gain, Mahir N., 20, told the court. He said he was encouraged to do so in exchange for money by a person nicknamed Abu Hassan, whose identity remains unknown. He denied any involvement in the attacks.

The presiding judge reassured the defendants they could speak freely and safely during this hearing. He invited the first seven defendants to present witnesses at the next hearing, scheduled for December 18. At this first hearing, most of the defendants did not have court-appointed lawyers.

The second group, composed of seven members of the new Syrian authorities security forces, unbound and with their heads held high, entered the courtroom. They are being prosecuted for premeditated murder, looting, arson of private property, and membership in illegal armed groups. Murmurs of surprise rippled through the courtroom. On social media, rumours had circulated that only individuals affiliated with the former regime would be tried.

Security forces called for order in the courtroom. Before questioning the defendants, the judge started reading out their family names, first names, places of residence and official positions. His tone seemed kinder than that reserved for the former regime members.

Each defendant denied the charges. The soldiers spoke from the same cage without trembling. Uniformed soldiers sat beside them as a sign of support. Mohammed Z., a fighter in Division 400, claimed that the bodies of Alawite victims shown in a video were those of pro-Assad attackers already killed in combat, adding: I was overexcited by our victory. Bassel H., a 30-year-old soldier, disputed another video showing him killing a civilian, saying it was done by artificial intelligence.

The videos were viewed by the court before the trial began and were not shown during the hearing.

A readjusted second public hearing

Each group is being prosecuted for separate crimes. Trying them together has no solid legal basis, says Almoutassim Al Kilani, a lawyer specializing in international criminal law and human rights who is founder of the NGO My Rights. The argument is as follows. If only the seven members of the former regime are tried, the international community and Europe will talk about revenge justice. If only members of the government are tried, people will say that the state is judging its own agents instead of judging Assad or the former leaders.

You cant judge one side and spare the other, he adds. Without justice on the coast, there will be no peace on the coast.

At the second hearing on December 18, only the seven affiliated with the former regime appeared. Broadcast on YouTube, Justice Info followed it remotely from Paris.

The court gave them more time to defend themselves, present their versions of events and submit evidence, assisted by court-appointed lawyers paid by the state. The prosecutor requested that digital evidence, mainly videos, be shown at another hearing and that witnesses for the defence and prosecution be summoned.

The seven were called to the stand, unshackled this time. As they left the cage, they all tried to catch the eye of their families in the courtroom. With microphones attached to their jackets, their words were more audible. Alawite victims were present in the courtroom.

Wearing a black leather jacket with a red hood, Mahir N. was questioned about his confession. He said he appeared in a video under duress. I was tortured by General Security during the interrogation, and sectarian insults were hurled at me, he told the court.

The second hearing showed a willingness to correct procedural errors made during the first, says Al Kilani, who travelled to Aleppo to attend.

565 people targeted for prosecution

Several Syrian organizations have collected evidence of the March 2025 massacres, but their role in this trial remains limited. The proceedings involve only the prosecution, judges, and lawyers. Although Syrian law theoretically allows for the admission of civil parties, this has not happened.

Associations can submit information and evidence to the judges, but they do not participate in the hearings. They do not plead, cross-examine or participate in the proceedings, Al Kilani explains.

According to the Syrian National Commission of Inquiry, more than 500 identified individuals were involved in the March violence. In total, the Attorney General has brought charges against 265 pro-Assad loyalists and nearly 300 members of factions affiliated with the current regime. Two courts are involved: the Aleppo Military Criminal Court, and the Damascus Criminal Court.

Al Kilani believes this trial is a major test for post-Assad Syria. He says there has been confusion between judicial publicity and spectacular staging and that many shortcomings have been observed with regard to procedures, protection of victims, the role of witnesses and in publicity around the investigations. But, he continues: This is the first judicial experiment of its kind in Syria, a country that has been bled dry. Despite the mistakes, this experiment can serve as a basis if corrections are made.
The global rule of law is frequently coming under threat, the president of the International Criminal Court warned on Tuesday, vowing to stand up for justice and victims of atrocities.

At a ceremony marking the opening of the ICC's judicial year, Tomoko Akane said international justice was facing an "extraordinary moment."

"The ICC, as well as other judicial institutions around the globe, have been facing significant pressures, coercive measures and attempts to undermine their function," she said.

"Values and premises that we have accepted as a given, as well as the very notion of the rule of law, are being routinely questioned and challenged," added Akane.

The ICC is facing the most difficult period in its history.

Furious at arrest warrants against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the United States has slapped sanctions on top ICC officials, including judges.

This has hindered the court's ability to function and affected the lives of those sanctioned.

In addition, Russia has sentenced ICC officials to jail terms, in retaliation for arrest warrants against President Vladimir Putin over the Ukraine war.

"Now, more than ever, we must return to the fundamental ideas upon which we stand, the values of justice and humanity that transcend borders," said Akane.

She revealed the court had issued "numerous" further arrest warrants, although these have not yet been made public.

The ICC, based in the Hague, tries individuals suspected of war crimes and crimes against humanity.

On Monday, it announced a major step in one of its most high-profile cases.

Former Philippines president Rodrigo Duterte will face a so-called "confirmation of charges" hearing on February 23, after judges passed him fit.
A hundreds-strong crowd in Myanmar rallied on Tuesday against the country's prosecution for genocide, a rare public protest permitted by military authorities accused of the atrocities against the Rohingya minority.

Myanmar is defending itself at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) from allegations its crackdown on the mostly Muslim minority starting in 2017 breached the United Nations' genocide convention.

Dancing to drums in downtown Yangon, the crowd of nationalist activists and saffron-robed monks twirled miniature national flags and toted banners denying accusations of ethnic cleansing being levelled at The Hague.

"We gather today for the dignity of our country, the truth for our country and for justice for our country," ultra-nationalist activist Win Ko Ko Latt told AFP before taking the stage.

"Myanmar is a land where loving kindness flourishes. There is no such thing as genocide."

Myanmar's leaders insist the Rohingya are descendants of immigrants from Bangladesh, and that their crackdown targeted a militant uprising.

Executions, rape and torture by the army and Buddhist militias forced an exodus of more than one million Rohingya, who now live across the border in Bangladesh, in the world's largest refugee settlement.

The ICJ hearings against Myanmar began on January 12 and are due to conclude on Thursday, but a ruling could take months or even years.

While the UN court has no means of enforcing its decisions, a guilty verdict would heap more pressure on Myanmar, already considered a pariah state by many nations after the military snatched power in a 2021 coup.

Some countries, including the United States, already deem the military crackdown a genocide, and junta chief Min Aung Hlaing has been sanctioned over the armed forces' actions.

Other genocide cases are also open at the International Criminal Court and in Argentina under the principle of universal jurisdiction.

While Myanmar has a long history of military rule, the campaign began in a democratic interlude when the country was led by Aung San Suu Kyi, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate who in 2019 appeared at The Hague to defend her country's generals against genocide allegations.

That defence did not spare Suu Kyi, 80, from military detention, where she has languished since the military coup five years ago.
A Dutch court on Tuesday sentenced an Eritrean man to 20 years in prison for operating a human trafficking ring in which migrants were tortured and their families extorted.

The court said the man, identified as Amanuel Walid, had treated migrants "without any humanity" as they were transported from Eritrea to Europe via Libya.

"Your only aim was to earn as much money as possible from people who were looking for a better future," presiding judge Rene Melaard told Walid.

Gang members abused thousands of migrants before detaining them in overcrowded and dirty camps in Libya, extorting their families for large sums of money.

The court in the northern Dutch city of Zwolle heard how gang members tortured victims while on the phone to their families in the Netherlands, demanding payments to make the abuse stop.

Only once family members had transferred money were the victims put on rickety boats for the perilous trip across the Mediterranean Sea. Many drowned in the crossing.

Prosecutors had called for the maximum sentence of 20 years, accusing him of leading a criminal organisation with the intent to commit human trafficking, extortion, hostage-taking, and sexual offences.

"The court finds that the seriousness and the extent of those crimes justifies such a 20-year sentence," said Melaard.

He noted Walid had never expressed remorse for his actions and that a psychiatric observation centre had judged him mentally fit to take criminal responsibility.

Melaard said he was also imposing the maximum sentence "because of the particularly cruel, violent, and degrading treatment to which the defendant and his accomplices subjected the migrants."

The court ruled however it had no jurisdiction over the charges of hostage-taking and sexual offences as these alleged crimes did not take place on Dutch soil.

Walid has been in custody in the Netherlands since October 2022. There is confusion over both his name and his age. He says he has a different name and is 46, not 42.

He made no substantive comments in court, except to deny the charges. He said it is a case of mistaken identity.

But the judge dismissed this claim, saying: "The court finds that it is beyond reasonable doubt that you are the person who was active as a trafficker in Bani Walid in Libya."

His lawyers also argued that he has already been tried in Ethiopia over largely the same allegations and therefore could not be put on trial again.

Melaard said that the sentence in the Ethiopian case had not yet been applied but that Walid could appeal if it is.

'Freedom and dignity'

Prosecutors believe Walid was one of the "most prolific" smugglers on the route from conflict-torn regions in Africa via Libya to Europe.

Walid "deprived the victims of their freedom and dignity", the public prosecutor argued in court.

"He held them in appalling conditions, starved them, tortured them, and denied them essential medical care," said the prosecutor.

The Dutch investigation into the operation lasted several years and was carried out with other international bodies such as the International Criminal Court and Interpol.

Libya has struggled to recover from chaos that erupted after a NATO-backed uprising in 2011 overthrew longtime dictator Moamer Kadhafi.

Smugglers and human traffickers have taken advantage of the instability, with the country facing criticism over conditions for migrants and rights groups levelling accusations of extortion and slavery.
Poland's foreign minister on Tuesday called on US tech tycoon Elon Musk to cut Russian military access to his Starlink satellites, which experts say are used in Moscow's war on Ukraine.

Radoslaw Sikorski, who is also deputy prime minister, spoke out after the US-based Institute for the Study of War said that the Russian army uses Starlink satellites to guide its drone attacks deep into Ukraine.

"Hey, big man, @elonmusk, why don't you stop the Russians from using Starlinks to target Ukrainian cities. Making money on war crimes may damage your brand," Sikorski said on X, Musk's social media platform.

Musk denied in 2024 that Starlink terminals had been sold to Russia. According to Ukrainian intelligence services, the Russian army has obtained terminals through third countries rather than any official contract with Musk.

The ISW said that "Russian forces are increasingly using Starlink satellite systems to extend the range of BM-35 strike drones to conduct mid-range strikes against the Ukrainian rear".

It said the reported 500-kilometre (310-mile) range of Starlink-equipped BM-35 drones "places most of Ukraine, all of Moldova, and parts of Poland, Romania, and Lithuania in range of these drones if launched from Russia or occupied Ukraine".

Starlink is also widely used by the Ukrainian army for communications, so a general cut in the territory would be problematic.

Russia has in recent months stepped up its daily drone assaults on Ukrainian frontline troops as well as Ukrainian power stations and transport infrastructure across the country.

Some 165 drones were unleashed in attacks overnight between Sunday and Monday, according to Ukraine.

gab/pop/tw/cc

X
Lee Sung Kyung and Chae Jong Hyeop launch the buzz around their upcoming MBC weekend drama series "In Your Radiant Season," which is planned to air on Feb 20, through a photoshoot and interview featuring information on the characters and the atmosphere on set from the actors themselves. The series tells the story of two individuals whose encounter transforms their respective "seasons."

"In Your Radiant Season" is about Sunwoo Chan, performed by Chae Jong Hyeop, who, as they say, enjoys every day as though it were summer, and Song Ha Ran, who, in contrast, emotionally seals herself off, boasting that it has been winter in her life, as portrayed by Lee Sung Kyung.

Speaking about what drew him to the project, Chae Jong Hyeop explained his initial impression of the script in an interview highlighted by Soompi. Before sharing his exact words, he reflected on how the title itself stood out during the selection process.

"I was charmed by the power of the drama's title and metaphor. The logline, 'What season of life am I passing through right now?' felt like it was asking a question about my own life," he said.

Lee Sung Kyung also discussed her reasons for joining the drama in the same interview. Introducing her comments, she described how the story's structure went beyond a conventional romance.

"Rather than just a simple story about love, it's a drama that carefully builds from the bottom up why these two people must meet each other. It's a project that satisfied my need for something that is drama-like," she said.

When addressing their characters, Lee Sung Kyung offered further detail on Ha Ran's emotional state, as reported by Esquire Korea. Setting context for her remarks, she described Ha Ran's defensive nature.

"My role Ha Ran is a figure who has put up an extremely solid protective barrier in order to defend herself. To others, that may seem pitiful, but to Ha Ran, it was a method of survival," she said. She added, "Chan is the person who saw Ha Ran beyond that protective barrier, and he tries to pull her out from there."

Chae Jong Hyeop expanded on Chan's inner conflicts in comments shared via Naver. Introducing his explanation, he focused on the character's emotional wounds. "Chan has issues with his memories, and the process of the clues tied to those memories being revealed is a core narrative of the drama. Chan has wounds, but he is a person who acts brightly so as to not reveal that pain," he said.

The two actors also spoke about their real-life chemistry on set. Lee Sung Kyung noted their contrasting personality types, saying, "I'm an ENFJ (Myers-Briggs Type Indicator), with an extroverted personality, so it is a perfect fit with actor Chae Jong Hyeop's INFJ personality." Chae Jong Hyeop added praise for his co-star, stating, "Lee Sung Kyung noona has incredibly healthy energy. The moment she appears, the set atmosphere becomes lively."

The full interview appears in the February issue of Esquire, ahead of the drama's premiere.

Read more: Chae Jong Hyeop, Kim Soo Hyun's New Romance Drama 'Is It a Coincidence?' to Air in THIS Month






Monday, January 26, 2026 - Activist Boniface Mwangi has criticized former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiangi, cautioning that supporting his presidential bid will amount to reviving the Uhuru Kenyatta era.

Speaking on Sunday, January 25th, Mwangi accused Matiangi of bearing responsibility for key policy failures under the previous administration, including the controversial CompetencyBased Curriculum (CBC) and corruption allegations.

I think Matiangi is a problem. The mess in CBC, you know Matiangi was copresident for Uhuru.

This CBC was a rushed thing, it was done by Matiangi. And then if you go online, he was investigated by EACC for the Ruaraka land scandal, Mwangi said.

He further argued that electing Matiangi will effectively reinstall Uhurus influence in Government, drawing parallels between Jubileeera promises and current frustrations under UDA.

Electing Matiangi or considering Matiangi is bringing Uhuru back into power.

Uhuru is the guy who promised kids laptops, never gave them, and then those lies of Jubilee and now the UDA lies, he added.

Matiangi has already been officially endorsed as the Jubilee Partys presidential flag bearer for the 2027 General Elections.

Beyond Jubilee, Matiangi is closely working with Rigathi Gachagua and Kalonzo Musyoka under a united opposition front.

This coalition is seen as a strategic move to consolidate antiUDA forces and strengthen the oppositions chances in the upcoming polls.

The Kenyan DAILY POST






Monday, January 26, 2026 - Kenyan actress Consolate Mboga, popularly known as Connie Kabarry, has stirred online debate after publicly accusing Makadara MP, George Aladwa, of failing to repay her debt of Ksh 17 million.

In a heartfelt social media post, the awardwinning actress, who is currently battling an undisclosed illness, claimed that she funded Aladwas political campaign but has since been abandoned in her time of need.

Aladwa, did I offend you in any way that you cant have mercy on me, who helped you get your Makadara seat? Is this how you are paying me?

17 million ya mtu unakalia and you feel nothing about it? You have forgotten how you used to beg me for money, she lamented.

In another video, Connie explained that she chose to go public not only to seek justice but also to warn other women against falling victim to similar situations.

I wanted to keep it a secret but I later told myself, what if I die without speaking out?

Aladwa will still find his way to another woman and collect everything from her and let her die like he did to me. So I am here to create awareness, she said.

Her revelations have reignited conversations around the murky world of campaign financing, where supporters often invest heavily in politicians with the hope of securing opportunities once they win office.

More often than not, however, those promises remain unfulfilled, leaving financiers feeling betrayed.

Watch the video

#foryou #kenyantiktok #fyp  original sound - Connie kabarry @connie_kabarry I have been in and out of Aghakan hospital all because of Hon Aladwa that conned me millions of money,I want to thank Aghakan Hospital and Jubilee insurance for saving my life several times I want to thank my husband and my siblings for being my support system during this journey,I wanted to keep it a secret but I later told myself, what if I die without speaking out.. Aladwa will still find his way to another woman and collect everything from her and let her die just like he did to me .. so am here to create awareness... Finally I want to appreciate all my fans for your encouraging comments,thanks for the love and care I saw some sense in your comments, I felt encouraged and it has changed my life in a way, Asanteni Sana  Getting too much calls and messages am sorry I can't respond to all,once I get some strength will do a live so that I respond once to you all , #fypviral

The Kenyan DAILY POST






Tuesday, January 27, 2026 - A suspected mobile phone thief has been exposed after an undercover police officer employed digital tracking technology to trace a stolen device snatched in the Kastami area of Kasarani.

According to undercover officer Saigon Punisher James, the incident involved an OPPO mobile phone that was forcibly taken from its owner.

The victim reported the matter at Kasarani Police Station and also sought the assistance of the undercover cop.

The officer revealed that investigators adopted a simple and legal approach by tracking Gmail accounts linked to the stolen device.

Unbeknownst to the suspect, the phones security features remained active.

What followed proved crucial to the investigation.

The suspect has been taking selfies, which are automatically uploaded to our database in real time, the officer stated, adding that the images have provided investigators with vital leads.

Photos of the individual believed to be in possession of the stolen phone have since been circulated as police appeal to members of the public to help identify the suspect.

The officer noted that the case highlights how modern technology is increasingly becoming a powerful tool in the fight against crime.

The Kenyan DAILY POST






Tuesday, January 27, 2026 - Beth Wegner, the Kikuyu woman who went viral months ago after publicly documenting her troubled marriage to her German husband, has introduced a new partner on social media.

Beth first came into the public spotlight after sharing videos and posts alleging abuse in her marriage.

In the clips, she claimed her then-husband physically assaulted her and eventually kicked her out of their lavish home in Diani.

She also alleged that despite building wealth together, her husband later moved on with a younger woman.

At the time, Beth appealed for justice and support, with her story drawing widespread sympathy online.





In a new development, Beth has revealed that she has moved on and found love again.

Taking to TikTok, she shared photos of her new partner, a white man, expressing happiness and gratitude after leaving what she described as a toxic marriage.

Love is beautiful, guys. I am happy that I have found love again. Thank you to my fans who shared my pain when I really needed someone to cry to. God bless you. Much love, she wrote.

The Kenyan DAILY POST






Tuesday, January 27, 2026 - A disturbing labour and criminal justice dispute is unfolding at Fasic Chinese Restaurant, a popular dining establishment located on the second floor of GTC Mall in Westlands, Nairobi, following allegations that a female employee was violently assaulted by a male colleague, subsequently dismissed from her job, and later subjected to what she describes as a frustrating and uneven justice process.

The complainant, a former waitress at the restaurant, alleges that an altercation with a with a male co-worker, a barista at the same establishment, escalated into a brutal physical assault, an incident that was reportedly captured on the restaurants CCTV system and later leaked.

According to her, the confrontation was neither personal nor premeditated, and she maintains that she had no prior friendship or relationship with the alleged assailant.

She reported the matter at Parklands Police Station, where she formally recorded a statement and was issued with a P3 form, indicating that the matter had crossed the threshold from a workplace dispute into a criminal offence.

However, she alleges that instead of receiving protection and redress, she found herself detained in police custody for 24 hours, while the male suspect was released on cash bail.

She further claims that despite repeated follow-ups, police have continued to inform her that the matter is still under investigation with no clear timelines or explanations offered.

The incident was reported to police on 30th December 2025, and as of 27th January 2026, nearly a month later, the complainant says she is yet to see meaningful progress, deepening her sense of abandonment by both her former employer and the justice system.

Watch CCTV footage of the altercation below or HERE>>>

Questions Linger After Violent Incident and Employee Dismissal at Fasic Chinese Restaurant



A disturbing labour and justice dispute is brewing at Fasic Chinese Restaurant, a popular dining establishment located on the second floor of GTC Mall in Nairobis Westlands area, pic.twitter.com/Uu3Pp9GoEk  Nyakundi Report (@NyakundiReport) January 25, 2026






Monday, January 26, 2026 - Veteran TV journalist and Citizen TV host, Jeff Koinange, is at the centre of controversy following reports circulating online alleging his involvement in a hit-and-run incident in Westlands, Nairobi.

Jeff was reportedly driving his Mercedes Benz G-Wagon when he knocked down a boda boda rider and fled the scene.

It is believed that he was driving under the influence of alcohol at the time of the incident.

Police officers are attempting to cover up the incident after it was reported.

A concerned Kenyan took to X to demand justice for the rider, accusing police officers of shielding Jeff from arrest.

Jeff Koinange of Citizen TV has just hit a Boda Boda guy at Westlands and ran away. The police are trying to cover up the incident, she tweeted.

Away from his decorated media career, Jeff has been struggling with alcoholism.





The Kenyan DAILY POST






Monday, January 26, 2026 - Detectives from Nairobi Central Sub-County have arrested two suspects and recovered more than 900 stolen mobile phones in a major blow to an inter-country phone theft syndicate.

The arrests followed a well-coordinated, intelligence-led operation carried out in Nairobis Central Business District along Charles Rubia Street near the busy Buscar bus stage.

During the operation, officers intercepted two suspicious packages that were about to be transported to Uganda.

Upon inspection, the packages were found to contain a large cache of stolen mobile phones, estimated at over 900 devices.

Preliminary investigations indicate that the suspects are part of a well-organized criminal network involved in stealing phones from unsuspecting members of the public and mobile phone shops before smuggling them to neighbouring countries for resale.

The suspects, Brian Yomasia and Stephen Okwachi Shisia, failed to give a satisfactory explanation regarding possession of the phones.

They were arrested on the spot and escorted, together with the recovered items, to Nairobi Central Police Station, where they are being processed ahead of arraignment.

The recovery comes just days after another successful operation on January 24th, 2026, in which detectives recovered over 150 stolen mobile phones, underscoring the scale of the illegal trade.

The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) has reiterated its commitment to combating mobile phone theft through sustained intelligence-driven crackdowns across the country.

The Kenyan DAILY POST






Monday, January 26, 2026 - A Kenyan lady identified as Waithera has set social media ablaze after revealing that her boyfriend wired her a jawdropping USD 7,000 (Ksh 903,000) moments after she told him her account balance was down to just USD 3 (Ksh 380).

In the viral post shared on X (formerly Twitter), Waithera uploaded screenshots showing a message from her boyfriend asking her to confirm receipt of the funds, followed by another screenshot of her account reflecting the successful deposit.

She captioned the post with a cheeky line: I told him my account only had $3, he said not on my watch.

Her boyfriends reply quickly became the highlight: Ok babe, I wired USD 7000 to your account last night. That is like 900k, I dont know if you have received a notification.

The post has sparked a flurry of reactions online.

Many women expressed envy, wishing they had such a generous partner to spoil them, while men accused the boyfriend of simping.

Others took a humorous angle, joking that competing in the dating arena against such acts of generosity was impossible.

The game is rigged, we cannot compete, one netizen quipped.

The Kenyan DAILY POST






Tuesday, January 27, 2026 - Judicial Service Commission (JSC) Vice Chairperson, Isaac Ruto, has come under intense public scrutiny after being spotted at the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) National Governing Council meeting held at State House, Nairobi.

His appearance has reignited debate over the independence of the Judiciary and whether it is appropriate for a senior judicial official to openly associate with a political party.

On social media, critics argued that his attendance crossed an ethical line, with some calling for his resignation and others demanding constitutional reforms to prevent similar incidents in the future.

The meeting, convened by President William Ruto on Monday, January 26th, brought together key party leaders, Governors, MPs, MCAs, Deputy Party Leader and Deputy President Kithure Kindiki, as well as Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi.

For many observers, Isaac Rutos presence at the gathering has raised serious questions about judicial impartiality, with calls intensifying for stronger safeguards to protect the independence of Kenyas Judiciary.

The Kenyan DAILY POST






Monday, January 26, 2026 - Kenyan comedian, Kennedy Odhiambo, better known as Crazy Kennar has once again left fans in stitches after releasing a hilarious skit that dives into the reality of vying for the presidency in Uganda.

Posted on his official social media platforms on Monday, January 26th, 2026, the video has quickly gone viral, sparking conversations across East Africa.

In the clip, Kennar transforms into a Ugandan farmer who abandons banana farming to chase the countrys highest political seat.

Frustrated by rampant unemployment - where even graduates end up as casual labourers - he boldly announces his candidacy.

But almost instantly, chaos erupt. Armed men in uniform storm the scene in a speeding vehicle, knocking down his platform and sending him fleeing.

Whenever he tries to sell his candidacy, armed men appear from nowhere and proceed to clobber him forcing him to abandon his bid.

Fans were quick to note the striking resemblance between Kennars skit and reallife events in Uganda.

Many drew parallels to opposition leader Bobi Wine, whose rallies during the January 15th elections were disrupted by police with teargas and water cannons.

Kennars satire cleverly mirrors the struggles faced by Ugandan opposition figures, including veteran politician Dr. Kizza Besigye, who is in detention under trumped up treason charges for opposing Musevenis despotic regime.

Kennar has once again proven his knack for using humor to highlight serious issues.

WHEN YOU ANNOUNCE YOU ARE RUNNING FOR PRESIDENCY IN UGANDA  pic.twitter.com/gFigT9NZUH  Crazy Kennar (@crazy_kennar) January 26, 2026

The Kenyan DAILY POST






Monday, January 26, 2026 - CNN international correspondent, Larry Madowo, has set tongues wagging after leaving a heartfelt comment on celebrated Deutsche Welle journalist, Edith Kimanis 37th birthday post.

Edith marked her special day by sharing a series of glamorous photos on Instagram, captioned simply: Happy birthday to me. #37.

While fans rushed to shower her with love, it was Larrys playful message that stole the spotlight.

Happy birthday, my love. The way you move is inspiring and a little scary. How are you both wholesome and unhinged? he wrote, sparking fresh speculation about their longrumored relationship.

Edith responded just as cheekily: Larry, my sweet, why are you telling people our secrets? Thank you, my love.

The exchange ended there, but the intrigue only deepened when Edith later revealed on her Instagram Stories that Larry had FaceTimed her from afar while she was in Cape Town, captioning the moment Long distance betrayal.

This isnt the first time Edith and Larry have fueled speculation, last year, they delighted fans with a dinner date clip in New York, braving cold winds while goofing around.

Whether friends or something more, the duos easy banter and visible closeness continue to captivate audiences, making them one of the most talkedabout pairs in Kenyan media circles.

The Kenyan DAILY POST






Monday, January 26, 2026 - Nairobi County Chief Officer for Citizen Engagement and Customer Service, Geoffrey Mosiria, has sparked conversation with his bold take on tattoos and marriage.

In a lengthy Facebook post shared on Monday, January 26th, 2026, Mosiria advised men to exercise wisdom before committing to partners whose tattoos carry meanings they may not fully understand.

This is about wisdom, not discrimination. This message is not hate.

It is concern, based on observation and responsibility, he clarified, stressing that his remarks were not meant to stigmatize but to encourage thoughtful choices.

Mosiria noted that while marriage is vital, rushing into it blindly can be risky - especially when tattoos symbolize past relationships, misunderstood symbols, or even references to drugs.

He observed that many women who have gone viral for negative reasons often bear tattoos tied to regretful decisions.

Some tattooed names of boyfriends or husbands who later left, symbols they didnt understand, or drugs like marijuana, thinking it was cool. Only to regret later when life demanded responsibility, marriage, work or respect, he explained.

Beyond aesthetics, Mosiria warned that tattoos can carry deep spiritual, emotional, and social consequences.

He shared that many people later confess to feeling trapped or disconnected, struggling with impacts they cannot explain.

He urged young people to reflect before getting inked, pointing out that tattoo removal has become a costly and painful pursuit for those who regret their choices.

Choose wisdom over pressure. Choose purpose over popularity. Think. Reflect. Protect your future, he emphasized.

According to Mosiria, some tattoos are permanent, leaving individuals forced to cover their bodies daily - not for fashion, but to hide regret and shame they never anticipated.

The Kenyan DAILY POST






Tuesday, January 27, 2026 - Two notorious robbery suspects have been arrested following a coordinated, intelligence-led security operation targeting criminal gangs operating within Nairobi.

The suspects, who have been riding motorcycles to execute swift phone snatching and robbery attacks, were linked to a string of robbery incidents along Korogocho, Kariobangi, Huruma, Outer Ring Road and Juja Road, areas that have recently witnessed a spike in street crime.

According to an undercover cop, the gang primarily targeted unsuspecting pedestrians, leaving residents and commuters living in fear due to repeated attacks in broad daylight and at night.

The arrests followed a carefully coordinated operation involving security teams drawn from Korogocho, Kariobangi, Pangani and Johnsaga.

After extensive intelligence sharing, surveillance and profiling of the suspects, detectives launched a manhunt that culminated in their arrest by the Kariobangi police team.

Police have since confirmed that one of the arrested suspects, popularly known as Spotter, is a close relative of Mau, a notorious criminal currently being held in remand custody over similar offences.

Photos of the arrested suspects have been released as authorities continue piecing together evidence linking them to multiple robbery incidents across the city.

The Kenyan DAILY POST






Monday, January 26, 2026 - Nurse Judy, a Kenyan healthcare professional working abroad, has touched hearts online after sharing an emotional video that captures the personal toll of living far from her loved ones.

The clip opens with Judy lying on her bed, tears streaming down her face.

The video features short clips and photographs from happier times: vacations, laughter, and relaxed family gatherings, highlighting the contrast between her current solitude and past moments with family members.

A caption accompanying the opening scenes reads: Dont stop praying because you dont see results immediately. God is working on His timetable. Its worth the wait.

As the video progresses, more family memories appear, underscored by a soft song that reinforces the reflective mood.

In a written message, Judy admits she has no words left.

Dear GodI have no words left only tears on this paper

This distance is heavy on my soul.

I keep revisiting our memories and my heart still chooses to feel everything.

She then proceeds to pray, asking for guidance, strength, and clarity - pleading that if certain doors remain closed, she may be shown the ones already open.

In moments of vulnerability, she prays that if she were to break, the pieces be used to create something beautiful.

Towards the end, Judy reflects on the emotional toll of repeated departures, describing the footage as a compilation of airport heartbreaks and painful goodbyes over the last three years.

Currently based in the United States while her family remains in Tanzania, she concludes with a plea for restoration and a desire to be led back home. Watch the video HERE>>>

The Kenyan DAILY POST






Monday, January 26, 2026 - Joy Karwitha, who last year sparked intense debate on social media after landing a lucrative position in the Meru County Government, is once again trending after emerging as the countys Deputy Governor.

Karwitha first attracted public attention after being nominated as the County Executive Committee Member (CEC) for Lands, a move that raised eyebrows among sections of the public.

At the time, critics questioned her experience and academic qualifications, with some social media users suggesting that her physical appearance may have influenced the appointment.

Her past also drew scrutiny, with online discussions reviving reports of a previous legal case in which she had been charged over car theft.

Fresh developments now indicate that Karwitha has been elevated to the position of Meru County Deputy Governor.

Governor Isaac Mutuma, who assumed office following the impeachment of Kawira Mwangaza, is reported to have replaced Linda Kome with Karwitha, though no official public explanation has been issued regarding the change.

Karwitha has recently been spotted accompanying the Governor to several high-profile meetings, further intensifying speculation and online chatter surrounding her rapid rise within the County administration.

The story has since gained significant traction on social media and caused debate.

The Kenyan DAILY POST






Tuesday, January 27, 2026 - A video of Uasin Gishu Senator Jackson Mandago bowing before President William Ruto has ignited heated reactions across social media.

Mandago, who is facing accusations of defrauding students in the controversial Finland scholarship scandal, was captured on camera rushing towards the Head of State as he prepared to board a military chopper.

In the footage, the Senator bows deeply before Ruto in what many have described as a dramatic show of loyalty.

The gesture has stunned netizens, with critics branding it an act of sycophancy.

Some online commentators claim Mandago is desperate to display unwavering allegiance to the President, who allegedly intervened when the Senator faced court proceedings over the scholarship scam.

Observers argue that Mandago appears unbothered by public embarrassment in his bid to catch the Presidents eye and reaffirm his political loyalty.

Before his election to the Senate, Mandago served two terms as Uasin Gishu Governor, a tenure now overshadowed by the ongoing scandal.

Watch the video>>> below

Ribiset 



Ribis kou yo imwete nini



I think even our ancestors were not punny like this towards wabeberu. pic.twitter.com/QiEESPhbdZ  ' (@baroswahjr) January 25, 2026

The Kenyan DAILY POST






Tuesday, January 27, 2026 - A young Kenyan man identified as Denver Kulecho has gone viral once again on social media, this time for a very different reason.

Just a few months ago, Denver captured public attention after pulling a romantic gesture on X (formerly Twitter) to celebrate his girlfriend during Girlfriends Day.

He penned her an emotional love letter, publicly expressing how much he loved and cherished her.

The post sparked a heated debate, with some warning him that publicly showcasing relationships often ends in heartbreak.

Fast forward to 2026, and those warnings appear to have materialized.

Denver has since taken to social media to reveal that the relationship has ended in tears after his girlfriend cheated on him.

According to his account, the betrayal came despite introducing his girlfriend to his parents.

The couple had also received blessings from the church in preparation for marriage.

How it started.









He is now crying after catching girlfriend cheating.







He is now crying after catching girlfriend cheating.

The Kenyan DAILY POST
Sean McCarthaigh

An aunt of George Nkencho, who formally identified his body after he had been shot dead by armed gardai has described the events of the day as torture.

However, Grace Anyanwu said she felt at peace at seeing her nephews body because he was sleeping like an angel.

Ms Anyanwu told the inquest into her nephews death that she attended Dublin City Mortuary in Whitehall, Dublin on December 31, 2020  the day after Mr Nkencho had been fatally injured in an incident outside his family home at Manorfields Drive, Clonee, Co Dublin.

Ms Anyanwu said her heart calmed down after seeing his body in the mortuary.

He was just an angel. When I walked into that room, I felt peace but so sad that he didnt come back, she told coroner Myra Cullinane.

Ms Anyanwu said she had been expecting a horrible situation following the fatal shooting.

It is not a day I want to remember again, said Ms Anyanwu. It was torture.

She gave evidence that she had got a call from her niece, Grateful, on December 30, 2020 to say they are shooting but her nephews name was not mentioned at the time.

Ms Anyanwu said there were calls all over the house as Mr Nkenchos siblings were phoning her own children.

She recalled not really understanding what was happening but heard her own two daughters screaming.

Ms Anyanwu said her nieces were calling for her to go to their house as their mother was not at home.

She described her house having a vibration as everyone was agitated.

The witness explained that she is not the biological sister of the deceaseds mother, Blessing Nkencho, but that they were best friends and like sisters and she was regarded by her children as their aunt.

When she arrived outside Manorfields Drive within ten minutes after getting the phone call, Ms Anyanwu said she was prevented by gardai from going into the house because it was a crime scene, but she could see her nephew on the ground.

She also recalled seeing two armed gardai being taken away from the scene in a vehicle.

Ms Anyanwu said Georges siblings  Gloria, Grateful and Emmanuel  were screaming at her from a window in the house to come in.

The witness said she did not feel comfortable calling their mother who had gone shopping because of what happened.

Ms Anyanwu said Grateful had shouted at her that George was dead but she believed, from what she could see, that he was still alive as ambulance crews were still working on him.

It looked like he was going to be OK, she recalled.

Mr Nkencho was shot six times by a member of the Garda Armed Support Unit after officers had responded to emergency calls after the deceased had carried out an unprovoked assault on a manager at the nearby Eurospar store in Hartstown as well as threatening staff with a knife.

The deceaseds family claim the level of force used against him was disproportionate.

However, the DPP directed that no prosecution should arise over the circumstances of Mr Nkenchos death following an investigation by the Garda Siochana Ombudsman Commission (now known as Fiosru).

Ms Anyanwu said she met Georges brother, Victor, outside the house and he said he was going to go to the hospital.

She said Blessing was screaming when she arrived at the scene as gardai were refusing to let her into her house.

Ms Anyanwu said Blessing was devastated as she stood on a Garda vehicle to try and get in to see her children.

She said Georges mother was crying, and she tried to reassure her that her son would be fine and had been taken away in an ambulance.

Ms Anyanwu said she was pleading with gardai until one officer arranged to have the children brought out of the house.

Although Grateful was saying that her brother was dead, the witness told her niece not to be saying that to her mother, as it had not been confirmed that George had died.

Ms Anyanwu said everyone returned to her house, where gardai arrived to notify them that Mr Nkencho had died.It was all very emotional, she added as she recalled that Grateful was rolling on the ground crying.

Ms Anyanwu said Blessing had jumped at the garda with the shock and had to be dragged back from a window.

It was very devastating and my heart was very broken, she observed. It was very traumatising. We were all shattered.

Ms Anyanwu said Blessing did not eat or sleep for three days, while she had a pain in her shoulders from holding everyone.

The inquest before a jury of five women and four men is continuing this afternoon.
CONVICTED murderer Robert Corbet has died in Mountjoy Prison.

The news broke today, Monday, 25 January, shortly after a body was discovered around 6am.

The Irish Prison Service released a statement confirming that a man had died in custody on the date in question.

All deaths in custody are investigated by the Irish Prison Service, the Inspector of Prisons and An Garda Siochana, where circumstances warrant. The cause of death is determined by the Coroners Office, the statement read.

The Irish Prison Service later confirmed to the Laois Nationalist that it was Mr Corbets body that had been found.

Mr Corbet, originally of Capoley, Sheffield Cross, Portlaoise, was serving a life sentence for the murder of 30-year-old nanny Aoife Phelan, whom he killed in late 2012.

At the time, he pleaded not guilty to murdering Ms. Phelan in his garage. However, he admitted her manslaughter between October 25th and November 7th.

Ms Phelan was a Ballyroan native. Her body was found in a barrel, buried 10 feet below ground behind Mr Corbets home.

The jury at his Central Criminal Court trial heard that he had met Ms. Phelan a few months earlier at a nightclub. She later told him that she was pregnant with his child.

He testified that he questioned Ms. Phelan about her claims on the evening of 25 October while they were both in his shed. It led to a violent altercation that resulted in Ms. Phelans death.

A post-mortem exam showed that Ms Phelan died of asphyxia due to strangulation, with blunt force trauma a contributory factor. She was not pregnant.

Her mother, Betty, described her as beautiful and vibrant. In May 2014, a jury of nine men and three women reached a majority guilty verdict of ten to two. Mr Corbet was sentenced to life in prison.
Fiona Magennis

The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has appealed the undue leniency of the three-year sentence handed down to garda killer Aaron Brady for conspiring to pervert the course of justice during his capital murder trial.

The DPPs legal team said the case raised an important issue of principle rather than one of practical consequence, as Brady is already serving a life sentence for the murder of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe.

They said there are very few, if any, cases where deterrence would be more important.

When Brady was brought to the dock from the holding area as his appeal was due to be heard, Mr Justice John Edwards, presiding, noted the defendant was carrying a water bottle and questioned why the 34-year-old had been allowed to bring something into court which could potentially be used as a weapon in circumstances where he could fling it at somebody.

Its not to happen again, said the judge.

Brady was sentenced to three years in prison by the three-judge, non-jury Special Criminal Court in July 2024 for perverting the course of justice.

As he is already serving a life sentence for murdering Det Gda Adrian Donohoe, the three-year sentence he received will make no difference to the time he serves.

Interview footage

Brady accepted that he was responsible for recording footage of an interview between gardai and Ronan Flynn, a witness who told gardai he had heard Brady admit to shooting Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe three times.

The video was later posted on social media, accusing Mr Flynn of "touting" and calling him a "rat".

Mr Flynn did not give evidence at Brady's trial, and Mr Justice Michael White, who oversaw the murder trial, described the release of the footage as "the most outrageous contempt of court" and a clear attempt to intimidate Flynn and other witnesses.

Brady also sent photographs of portions of Daniel Cahills statement to Dean Byrne, a violent criminal housed on the same wing of Mountjoy Prison.

Byrne passed the statements on to at least two people in an attempt to get Mr Cahill's family members to persuade him not to give evidence.

Mr Cahill did give evidence at Brady's trial, telling the jury that Brady admitted to shooting a garda on three occasions while Brady was living in New York, having fled from Ireland in the aftermath of the murder.

Launching an appeal against the leniency of Bradys sentence on Tuesday at the Court of Appeal, Lorcan Staines SC, for the DPP, said this appeal was primarily an issue of principle.

Mr Staines said the danger was that if this sentence were to stand, it would be held up as the high water mark for this type of offending.

Sentencing

He argued the sentencing court fell into error by setting a headline sentence that was too low and by placing too much emphasis on the fact that no violence or threats of violence were used.

Counsel said individuals who wish to interfere with witnesses can do so by extremely subtle means, such as sending a photograph to a witness of their child, their childs school or their own home.

No violence, no threats is potentially just as serious as meeting them and threatening them face to face with a weapon, said Mr Staines.

The barrister emphasised that Brady was on trial for capital murder at the time and was alleged to have shot a detective garda at point-blank range.

While no violence occurred in the witness interference itself, the offence was particularly serious given the gravity of the underlying charge and the importance of the witnesses involved, counsel argued.

Mr Staines said the court had to look at Bradys moral culpability, the planning involved, and the broader public interest in protecting the administration of justice.

Witnesses

This was an attempt, counsel submitted, by a man charged with the most serious offence to prevent key witnesses from giving evidence against him.

He said the interference with witness Daniel Cahill only emerged after a video involving Ronan Flynn was disseminated, on foot of which electronic devices in the prison were seized.

He said the footage was disseminated very widely on social media using the word tout in the context of Mr Flynn, who was a witness in the book of evidence.

Aaron Brady was sitting in court when it became clear the footage had been released, counsel said. He knew his cell had been searched and he continued on and committed the second offence against Daniel Cahill.

Mr Staines said we are lucky to live in a jurisdiction where there is respect for the law and respect for the administration of justice.

A very clear line needs to be laid out pointing out that any attempt to interfere with the administration of justice will be punished extremely heavily, said Mr Staines.

He noted that had the case been halted or the witness not given evidence, there may not have been another trial for capital murder.

Mr Staines said this went to the intrinsic seriousness of how significant Mr Cahill was as a witness.

There would be very few if any cases where deterrence would be more important, the barrister added.

He argued too much weight had been given by the sentencing court to the lack of violence.

Mr Staines argued that not only should there have been very little weight attached to the lack of violence, there shouldnt have been any weight attached to it at all when one looks in the round at how this campaign of intimidation was put in place.

He also submitted that the sentence was simply too low to take into account the principles of general deterrence.

The barrister said the dissemination of the video of Mr Flynn to a large audience was an important factor.

Mr Staines said remorse was also an important factor to be considered, noting that in this case, there had been a guilty plea to the dissemination of a video with an intent to pervert the course of justice.

Mr Staines said Brady had attempted to move away from his plea by saying he only sent Mr Cahill's statement to one person and claiming he wasnt responsible for using the word tout.

I say this was calculated to create the most damage possible, Mr Staines said, adding that after the video was circulated, Brady continued to interfere with the next witness.

He said the trial was commencing on the Monday and the plea was entered later that week.

In response, Michael OHiggins SC, for Aaron Brady, told the court that there was a significant drift between the prosecutions written and oral.

He said the submission presented orally by the DPP was that Mr Brady put out or was involved in putting out a video out and then some weeks later, that having occurred, compounded his wrongdoing by trying to persuade Daniel Cahill from giving evidence.

He said this had been presented as a seriously aggravating factor warranting a higher headline sentence, yet it didnt make the list of aggravating factors in the DPPs written submissions. He said the first Bradys legal team heard of it was in oral submissions today.

He said the DPP were contending that Bradys actions elevated the offence to something that was as bad as violence.

They are saying what was done here was worse than violence when there is no evidential basis for it, he said.

He said the DPP recognised that all the relevant factors were considered by the court before imposing sentence, but they are arguing the three-judge court didnt give all of those factors the weight they deserved.

Mr OHiggins said this wasnt a principle in law, but rather a factual context in which they say their appeal should succeed.

Mr OHiggins said the defence had made a sensible concession that disseminating the video was a hazardous thing to do.

He said his client had expressed his remorse for what he had done through his legal team and accepted that he disseminated the video.

He said Brady had accepted that it was a hazardous thing to do but said he was not party to putting it on WhatsApp or the commentary involved.

In relation to the argument that there may not have been another trial, Mr OHiggins said he wasnt sure how my clients actions could have stopped the trial going on.

He said neither of these matters precipitated the collapse of the trial and neither were likely to.

One of those witnesses did not appear but there is no evidence whatsoever to suggest that his non appearance was down to Aaron Brady, Mr OHiggins said.

Mr Justice Edwards said the court would reserve judgment.

In August 2020, Brady, formerly of New Road, Crossmaglen, Co Armagh, was convicted by a jury of the murder of Det Gda Adrian Donohoe during a credit union robbery at Lordship, Bellurgan, Co Louth on January 25th 2013.

In 2024, he pleaded guilty to a charge that on a date between February 20th and May 7th 2020, within the State, he video recorded the playing of an interview between Ronan Flynn, a witness at his trial, and An Garda Siochana, thus embarking on a course of conduct intended to pervert the course of justice.

Mr Flynn, who did not give evidence at Brady's trial, spoke to gardai in October 2017 while he was living in New York. He told gardai that while he was sharing an apartment with Brady, he often heard the defendant admit to shooting Det Gda Donohoe.

Mr Flynn said that when Brady was drunk, he would listen to the Wolfe Tones and get "angry and frustrated with himself" and say things like: "Sure fuck it, I shot a guard".

Brady is serving a life sentence with a minimum time served of 40 years for that murder. He was also jailed for 14 years for the robbery of the credit union.
By Jonathan McCambridge, Press Association

A close friend of Noah Donohoe has told an inquest he had no concerns about the state of mind of the Belfast schoolboy before he went missing in 2020.

Charlie Rocks also told an inquest that Noah had never demonstrated any interest in storm drains or being underground.

Noah was 14 when he was found dead in a storm drain in north Belfast in June 2020, six days after leaving home on his bike to meet two friends to travel to the Cavehill area of Belfast.

The inquest, which is being heard with a jury, is investigating the circumstances around the schoolboys disappearance and death.

The court heard evidence from Mr Rocks, who described himself as Noahs closest friend when they were pupils at St Malachys College in Belfast.

The inquest is being heard at Laganside Courthouse in Belfast (Liam McBurney/PA)

He said: He was the nicest, friendliest person, funniest person.

Mr Rocks said Noah was the smartest kid, he was always asking questions.

He added: Noah was friendly with everyone in school. I joked with him that he knew everyone in school.

He wasnt the type of person to be in the popular friend group, but he knew everyone.

The witness continued: He never mentioned to me anything about storm drains or going underground or being in tunnels.

If he had have been interested in these things, he would have talked about them as he would always have spoken about things that he was interested in throughout lockdown.

He appeared to be upbeat and was looking forward to ending lockdown.

He never appeared to be down or depressed, and only mentioned once to me that he was feeling blue.

Counsel to the coroner Peter Coll KC asked Mr Rocks if he had had any concerns about Noahs state of mind before he went missing.

Fiona Donohoe, the mother of 14-year-old Noah Donohoe, has attended every day of the hearing (Liam McBurney/PA)

Mr Rocks said: Noah is very eccentric as a person, and I think some of the last conversations we had before he passed were certainly eccentric.

I think that was because of the transitional period he was going through.

But in terms of immediate concern, I had none at the time, and I even looking back on it now, I still dont.

The inquest was shown a series of social media messages between Noah, Mr Rocks and another friend  Jay Tierney.

Mr Rocks told the inquest that he believed Noah had become more open about his mental health during the Covid lockdown period.

He said: He was starting to grow up and think more about his emotions. He was definitely changing, which was great.

Mr Rocks told the hearing that Noah had asked him if he wanted to read the self-help book 12 Rules for Life, by the author Jordan Peterson, but that he had declined to read it.

Under questioning from barrister for the PSNI Donal Lunny, Mr Rocks said he had been unaware that Noah had occasionally stayed overnight alone in his Belfast apartment.
Ottoline Spearman

The vast majority of public correspondence to Dublin City Council last year called for tricolour flags to be removed.

Records released under a Freedom of Information request show that between August and December last year, 262 emails were sent to the council about the flags.

Of these, 95 per cent requested that the flags be removed.

The reasons for objection included the national flag being weaponised and misappropriated, with the public also citing intimidation, exclusion and territory marking.

Racism, illegality, and lack of community consent were also mentioned in correspondence.

Shane O'Curry, director of Irish Network against Racism said: "When flags are put up by fascists and the far right, especially in the context of hateful rhetoric, intimidation and violence, their intention is to make people from minoritised backgrounds feel less safe.

"We can not allow them to use our national symbol in this way.

"We need to contest and reject the divisive and exclusionary meaning they are trying to impose on the tricolour."

Tricolour flags started appearing in droves around mid-August last year, starting in Dublin and soon spreading across the country, stoking fierce debate.

Proponents claim that the flags represent patriotism and pride. Opponents say that they are designed to intimidate, discriminate, and exclude.

The Irish Times reported that the trend seems to be emulating the Raise The Colours campaign, spearheaded by far-right figure Tommy Robinson (Stephen Yaxley-Lennon), where the Union Jack and the St George's Cross flags were flown on lampposts across England.

Mr O'Curry said: "Its clear that the use of our national flag in this way is an attempt to hijack the meaning of it in furtherance of the fascist agenda being promoted via far right networks across Britain, the US, and funded by billionaires who want to see division in Irish communities.

"Their strategy is to provoke local authorities, and anyone opposing their divisive ideas, into taking them down. In this way they can present themselves as defenders of the flag which in reality they have no claim to."

Mr O'Curry explained the colours of the flag, where green represents the catholic nationalist tradition, orange the protestant tradition and white meaning "the peace in between".

He said that the flag "is a statement of a desire to live in a Republic that is multicultural and tolerant, one that seeks to cherish all of the children of the nation equally".

"The Irish Republican ideal, and the tricolour that represents it, explicitly reject sectarian and racial divisions, which are tools of empire and division.

"When hate groups attempt to use the tricolor to foster hatred and division, they are copying a British fascist and loyalist paramilitary playbook which uses British nationalist symbolism to create an atmosphere of fear and intimidation."

In November, Dublin City Council announced that it would not remove the flags, fearing it would provoke an angry response and exacerbate tensions. Instead, the council said it would look to address the root causes by developing initiatives to promote a deeper understanding of the Irish flag.

Malachy Steenson, Independent Dublin City councillor, welcomed this decision. He told Gript that the council's decision was "sensible", and that if they were removed, they would be replaced in greater numbers.

"This push largely comes from people who despise the Irish nation, he said. Whereas those who are erecting the Tricolour are expressing their pride and belief in Ireland. Mr Steenson did not respond to a request for comment from BreakingNews.ie.

When asked about the council's initiatives to promote understanding of the flag, Mr Curry said: "I am aware of some individuals and groups making some efforts to claim it as a symbol of unity, equality and multiculturalism, but I have not so far seen any local authorities doing this, or making any attempts to hold cultural events or other events which would allow the public to explore the deeper meaning they refer to.

"I would like to see much more of this, and more resources invested in promoting unity and understanding in our communities, because it would benefit all of us who live here, making our communities safe for all."

In October last year, the Taoiseach said of the flags that people who use the tricolour to suggest they alone represent Irishness dishonour our national flag.

He said those who try and claim that there is a fixed national identity do not understand Irish history or that our identity has survived because we have been willing to evolve and be more inclusive.

In the correspondence seen by BreakingNews.ie, some communications also cited littering as a reason they should be removed, referring to the Litter Pollution Act 1997 (Section 19) and the council's policy stating that no equipment may be mounted on public lighting poles without written permission.

The council also said that it received correspondence reporting instances of flags wrapping around electrical wires or being insecurely fastened, posing fire and safety hazards during storms.

Dublin City Council did not respond to a request for comment.
High Court Reporters

A once-aspiring model, who gave up her career hopes after a laser hair-removal treatment procedure that left her legs with lasting burns and scarring, has been awarded 80,000 in damages by the High Court.

At the time of the 2020 incident, Ana Coretchi was a part-time model preparing her portfolio in the hope of embarking on a full-time modelling career when she suffered first-degree burns, she claimed.

Ms Coretchi (30), of Greenfield Park, Donnybrook, Dublin, took the personal injury action against Dundrum Cosmetic, Dundrum Medical Cosmetic Clinic and owner Gordosek Limited, all with addresses at Dundrum Town Centre, alleging negligence and breach of duty.

At the High Court on Tuesday, Ms Justice Carmel Stewart awarded 80,000 in general damages to Ms Coretchi solely against the third defendant, Gordosek Ltd, who did not lodge any defence, and who never responded to the plaintiff's legal team.

The court heard that Ms Coretchi attended Dundrum Cosmetic on July 4th 2020, for laser hair removal on the back of her thighs.

Following the treatment, Ms Coretchi submitted that she suffered burns and later complained of lesions on the back of her upper thighs.

A GP examination confirmed the plaintiff had extensive brown discolouration in a semi-circular pattern on her thighs, and two areas of skin ulceration were noted.

The GP opined that Ms Coretchi had suffered first-degree burns from the laser.

She was encouraged to keep using moisturiser, prescribed Fucidin H for the ulcerated areas and a short course of Xanax for anxiety.

Ms Coretchi then went to a dermatologist consultant who documented that she had "extensive white hypopigmentation on her posterior thighs and that it may be permanent".

At the High Court today, Ms Coretchi told barrister John P Shortt SC, with Tracy Ennis Faherty BL, instructed by solicitor Lauren Callaly of Hussey Fraser Solicitors, that the burning sensation lasted for three weeks.

She told Mr Shortt that at the time she was hoping the scars would go away and that her anxiety meant she suffered with a tightening chest and disturbed sleep.

"I was very stressed," she said, adding that she was then modelling part-time and "very excited" by this new experience but had to put the completion of her portfolio on hold.

A second consultation with the dermatologist diagnosed second-degree burn,s but the hypopigmentation lasted in total for 18 months, which, she said, caused her social embarrassment and difficulty with relationships.

She said she felt uncomfortable showing her legs, could not wear anything short and could not wear anything tight, due to nerve-ending damage causing a painful sensitivity.

Mr Shortt said it was a "pretty serious and uncomfortable" situation for Ms Coretchi and that the burns, coupled with a number of scarring areas, put the case for damages at the higher end of the scale for such injury, at 80,000.

Ms Shortt said the burning and scarring had been "extensive", concerning a young lady involved in modelling and that the incident impacted her self-view and her career path, in that Ms Coretchi had to embark on a new career.

Ms Justice Stewart said Ms Coretch had endured an "unfortunate, painful event", was satisfied of negligence on the part of the third-named defendant and awarded damages of 80,000 to the plaintiff.
An exciting future beckons for The Motte Field and Abbey Meadow in Callan as its set to be transformed into a brand new community park following its acquisition by Kilkenny County Council.

Known as the Callan Outdoor Amenity Masterplan, a large gatthering attended a public consultation at the Callan Parish Hall last week which outlined plans for the proposed development.

The meeting was organised by Catherine Byrne Murphy of Kilkenny County Council with consultants from Digby Brady Landscape Architects also present.

READ NEXT: Kilkenny family delight as local student celebrates first class honours degree

According to a source at the meeting, a number of ideas were raised and discussed over the lengthy session.

Clearing the overgrowth and vegetation from the riverbanks as well as cleaning the surrounding stone walls of the Abbey Meadows of ivy and cleaning the Mill Race and pruning the trees surrounding it were amongst the ideas touted at the meeting.

Meanwhile, the dredging/cleaning of the silt from the riverbed was spoken of, but, the attendees were informed this work has nothing to do with the future use of the two Public Parks.

Local Fine Gael representative, Cllr Joe Lyons explained that the project to clean the river bed is ongoing, and only that morning the Inland Fisheries, National Parks & Wildlife Service and Kilkenny County Council are continuing the process to prepare for the works to commence in July of this summer.

Other suggestions put forward from the public included the installation of outdoor exercise equipment, rejuvenate the pitch and putt club, public lighting and the delivery of a coffee shop/artists residence at Powers house at the entrance to the Motte Fields.

Speaking to Kilkenny Live, Cllr Joe Lyons, who is also a prominent business person in the area, welcomed the public dialogue and the project at large.

"The two green spaces on the banks of the Kings River are central to the Town, and so important to the future development of Callan, as Kilkennys biggest town in the county," he said.

FOR MORE CALLAN NEWS, CLICK HERE
The Irish government is to consider its strategy for St Patricks Day amid a tumultuous time in global politics.

The major focus will be on the Irish premiers traditional trip to the White House for a bilateral with the US president.

Calls were made last year for the Taoiseach to drop the trip as Donald Trump began his second term as president; the leaders of the main opposition party Sinn Fein did not attend the White House over the US administrations approach to Gaza.

Those calls have been amplified in the wake of the USs rescinded threat to take over Greenland and Mr Trumps anti-immigration crackdown in the city of Minneapolis and elsewhere in the US.

Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Helen McEntee is to brief Cabinet on Tuesday on this years plans for St Patricks Day.

There are 40 separate visits by Cabinet and junior ministers, the Attorney General Rossa Fanning and the Ceann Comhairle Verona Murphy planned to 52 countries.

Last year, 38 representatives of the State travelled to more than 90 cities in 40 countries.

The plan aims to present Ireland as a trusted and engaged global partner and reaffirming its values, such as its commitment to free and fair trade and the rule of law.

Ms McEntee is to outline that visits will be to core markets in the US, the EU and the UK, as well as emerging and high-growth markets in Asia, Latin America and Africa.

Higher Education Minister James Lawless has said he understands that he is travelling to Australia as part of the plans.

Several visits to the Middle East and north Africa are also scheduled for later in March and early April, following Ramadan.

The St Patricks Day trip will pose a tricky diplomatic balancing act for Taoiseach Micheal Martin, who will meet Mr Trump amid tensions with the EU over Greenland and after the vast majority of European leaders snubbed Mr Trumps so-called Board of Peace.

St Patricks Day is also the date that Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro is next due to appear before a US court.

Sinn Fein has yet to declare whether it will attend Washington DC in March this year, after boycotting the trip last year based on a principled stance against the threat of mass expulsion of the Palestinian people from Gaza, according to Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald.
After weeks of fundraising and generous donations from members of the public, all monies raised from the Mayors Christmas Hamper Appeal were presented at a small ceremony in James Stephens Barracks in recent days.

In what has become a very successful collaboration, the Defence Forces continued their long-running partnership with the Kilkenny Lions Club over the Christmas period to organise events and generate funds for their annual 'Christmas Hamper Appeal'.

In an act of support, the mayors office joined the fundraising drive and handed over all funds raised from the annual Mayors Christmas Appeal' in an act of generous unity.

Each years the mayors Christmas fundraising drive seeks to support those most in need with funds raised donated to numerous charities including Meals on Wheels.

READ NEXT: The public have their say as Callan readies itself for new park - Kilkenny Live

In total, 3,627 was raised by the mayors appeal with a further 1,082 by Clunetech, adding to an already healthy pot.

Those funds along with other monies raised will be distributed by the Defence Forces and Lions Club to the numerous benefactors across Kilkenny.

"The Defence Forces and the people of Kilkenny have been incredibly generous this winter," Mayor of Kilkenny, Cllr John Coonan said.

"I made the decision to direct 100% of funds to the Lions because I know they are the best people to ensure every cent that every cent will go exactly where it is needed most.

"Your (the Lions Club) work goes far beyond the Hamper Appeal. You are the quiet engine behind so much good in our city," he continued, describing their volunteers as the boots on the ground for voluntary work in the city'.

"You identify the need, and meet it with dignity and kindness. Handing these funds to you is not just a donation, it is an investment in the wellbeing of our most vulnerable citizens."

Mayor Coonan also paid tribute to the local Defence Forces, who stated, without whom 'none of this would be possible'.

PICTURES: Celebrations galore at Kilkenny pub following the Thyestes Chase in Gowran Park

"When the uniform meets the volunteer, great things happen. You serve the nation, but you also serve your neighbours, highlighting the countless positive contributions they make to society at home and abroad.

"Thank you for your partnership and for everything you do for Kilkenny," he concluded.

Lt. Col. Rob Kearney expressed his thanks to the people of Kilkenny for continuing to show their backing for the initiative and vowed it would go to worthwhile organisations.

"Im delighted to say that we will be fully committed to the different organisations going forward and anytime we can help with anything we will endeavour to do that as well," he noted.

President of the Lions Club, Maurice Regan expressed his heartfelt thanks to the Defence Forces and everyone involved in making the fundrasing drive the success it is today.

"The whole idea behind it is to help people who are less fortunate than us," Mr Regan said.

"The humanity shown to the whole city and the environment lets other people know that they are thinking of them too. It also prompts people (organisations) to support you," he continued.

"I think that the work that Lions Club have been doing down through the years have earned that credibility to get the money because they know that it's going back out to good causes throughout the county."

FOR MORE COMMUNITY NEWS, CLICK HERE
Kimi K2.5: Visual Agentic Intelligence 

Today, we are introducing Kimi K2.5, the most powerful open-source model to date.

Kimi K2.5 builds on Kimi K2 with continued pretraining over approximately 15T mixed visual and text tokens. Built as a native multimodal model, K2.5 delivers state-of-the-art coding and vision capabilities and a self-directed agent swarm paradigm.

For complex tasks, Kimi K2.5 can self-direct an agent swarm with up to 100 sub-agents, executing parallel workflows across up to 1,500 tool calls. Compared with a single-agent setup, this reduces execution time by up to 4.5x. The agent swarm is automatically created and orchestrated by Kimi K2.5 without any predefined subagents or workflow.

Kimi K2.5 is available via Kimi.com, the Kimi App, the API, and Kimi Code. Kimi.com & Kimi App now supports 4 modes: K2.5 Instant, K2.5 Thinking, K2.5 Agent, and K2.5 Agent Swarm (Beta). Agent Swarm is currently in beta on Kimi.com, with free credits available for high-tier paid users.

Across three agentic benchmarksHLE, BrowseComp, and SWE-VerifiedKimi K2.5 delivers strong performance at a fraction of the cost.

1. Coding with Vision 

Kimi K2.5 is the strongest open-source model to date for coding, with particularly strong capabilities in front-end development.

K2.5 can turn simple conversations into complete front-end interfaces, implementing interactive layouts and rich animations such as scroll-triggered effects. Below are examples generated by K2.5 from a single prompt with image-gen tool:

Beyond text prompts, K2.5 excels at coding with vision. By reasoning over images and video, K2.5 improves image/video-to-code generation and visual debugging, lowering the barrier for users to express intent visually.

Here is an example of K2.5 reconstructing a website from video:

This capability stems from massive-scale vision-text joint pre-training. At scale, the trade-off between vision and text capabilities disappears  they improve in unison.

Below is an example of K2.5 reasoning over a puzzle and marking the shortest path using code:

K2.5 excels in real-world software engineering tasks. We evaluate it using Kimi Code Bench, our internal coding benchmark covering diverse end-to-end tasks  from building to debugging, refactoring, testing, and scripting  across multiple programming languages. On this benchmark, K2.5 shows consistent and meaningful improvements over K2 across task types.

To try out K2.5's agentic coding capabilities, K2.5 Agent offers a set of preconfigured tools for immediate, hands-on experiences. For software engineering use cases, we recommend pairing Kimi K2.5 with our new coding product, Kimi Code.

Kimi Code works in your terminal and can be integrated with various IDEs including VSCode, Cursor, Zed, etc. Kimi Code is open-sourced and supports images and videos as inputs. It also automatically discovers and migrates existing skills and MCPs into your working environment in Kimi Code.

Here's an example using Kimi Code to translate the aesthetic of Matisse's La Danse into the Kimi App. This demo highlights a breakthrough in autonomous visual debugging. Using visual inputs and documentation lookup, K2.5 visually inspects its own output and iterates on it autonomously. It creates an art-inspired webpage created end to end:

2. Agent Swarm 

Scaling Out, Not Just Up. We release K2.5 Agent Swarm as a research preview, marking a shift from single-agent scaling to self-directed, coordinated swarm-like execution.

Trained with Parallel-Agent Reinforcement Learning (PARL), K2.5 learns to self-direct an agent swarm of up to 100 sub-agents, executing parallel workflows across up to 1,500 coordinated steps, without predefined roles or hand-crafted workflows.

PARL uses a trainable orchestrator agent to decompose tasks into parallelizable subtasks, each executed by dynamically instantiated, frozen subagents. Running these subtasks concurrently significantly reduces end-to-end latency compared to sequential agent execution.

Training a reliable parallel orchestrator is challenging due to delayed, sparse, and non-stationary feedback from independently running subagents. A common failure mode is serial collapse, where the orchestrator defaults to single-agent execution despite having parallel capacity. To address this, PARL employs staged reward shaping that encourages parallelism early in training and gradually shifts focus toward task success.

We define the reward as

r PARL ( x , y ) =  1  r parallel  instantiation reward +  2  r finish  sub-agent finish rate + r perf ( x , y )  task-level outcome .

The performance reward r perf evaluates the overall success and quality of the solution y for a given task x . This is augmented by two auxiliary rewards, each addressing a distinct challenge in learning parallel orchestration. The reward r parallel is introduced to mitigate serial collapsea local optimum where the orchestrator defaults to single-agent execution. By incentivizing subagent instantiation, this term encourages the exploration of concurrent scheduling spaces. The r finish reward focuses on the successful completion of assigned subtasks. It is used to prevent spurious parallelism, a reward-hacking behavior in which the orchestrator increases parallel metrics dramatically by spawning many subagents without meaningful task decomposition. By rewarding completed subtasks, r finish enforces feasibility and guides the policy toward valid and effective decompositions. The hyperparameters  1 and  2 are annealed to zero over the course of training.

To further force parallel strategies to emerge, we introduce a computational bottleneck that makes sequential execution impractical. Instead of counting total steps, we evaluate performance using Critical Steps, a latency-oriented metric inspired by the critical path in parallel computation:

CriticalSteps =  t = 1 T ( S main ( t ) + max i S sub , i ( t ) )

S main ( t ) captures orchestration overhead, while max i S sub , i ( t ) reflects the slowest subagent at each stage. Under this metric, spawning more subtasks only helps if it shortens the critical path.

An agent swarm has an orchestrator that dynamically creates specialized subagents (e.g., AI Researcher, Physics Researcher, Fact Checker) and decomposes complex tasks into parallelizable subtasks for efficient distributed execution.

In our parallel-agent reinforcement learning environment, the reward increases smoothly as training progresses. At the same time, the level of parallelism during training also gradually increases.

K2.5 Agent Swarm improves performance on complex tasks through parallel, specialized execution. In our internal evaluations, it leads to an 80% reduction in end-to-end runtime while enabling more complex, long-horizon workloads, as shown below.

Agent Swarm reduces the minimum critical steps required to achieve target performance by 34.5 compared to single-agent execution in wide search scenario, with savings scaling as targets risetranslating to up to 4.5 wall-clock time reduction via parallelization.

Here are representative trajectories demonstrating K2.5 Agent Swarm in action:

3. Office Productivity 

Kimi K2.5 brings agentic intelligence into real-world knowledge work.

K2.5 Agent can handle high-density, large-scale office work end to end. It reasons over large, high-density inputs, coordinates multi-step tool use, and delivers expert-level outputs: documents, spreadsheets, PDFs, and slide decksdirectly through conversation.

With a focus on real-world professional tasks, we design two internal expert productivity benchmarks. The AI Office Benchmark evaluates end-to-end Office output quality, while the General Agent Benchmark measures multi-step, production-grade workflows against human expert performance. Across both benchmarks, K2.5 shows 59.3% and 24.3% improvements over K2 Thinking, reflecting stronger end-to-end performance on real-world tasks.

Internal Expert Productivity Bench (AI Office)

K2.5 agent supports advanced tasks such as adding annotations in Word, constructing financial models with Pivot Tables, and writing LaTeX equations in PDFs, while scaling to long-form outputs like 10,000-word papers or 100-page documents.

Tasks that once took hours or days now complete in minutes. Here are some examples:

Grounded in advances in coding with vision, agent swarms, and office productivity, Kimi K2.5 represents a meaningful step toward AGI for the open-source community, demonstrating strong capability on real-world tasks under real-world constraints. Looking ahead, we will push further into the frontier of agentic intelligence, redefining the boundaries of AI in knowledge work.

Benchmark table 

To reproduce official Kimi-K2.5 benchmark results, we recommend using the official API. For third-party providers, refer to Kimi Vendor Verifier (KVV) to choose high-accuracy services. Details: https://kimi.com/blog/kimi-vendor-verifier.html

1. General Testing Details

We report results for Kimi K2.5 and DeepSeek-V3.2 with thinking mode enabled, Claude Opus 4.5 with extended thinking mode, GPT-5.2 with xhigh reasoning effort, and Gemini 3 Pro with a high thinking level. For vision benchmarks, we additionally report results for Qwen3-VL-235B-A22B-Thinking.

Unless otherwise specified, all Kimi K2.5 experiments were conducted with temperature = 1.0, top-p = 0.95, and a context length of 256k tokens.

Benchmarks without publicly available scores were re-evaluated under the same conditions used for Kimi K2.5 and are marked with an asterisk (*).

We could not evaluate GPT-5.2 xhigh on all benchmarks due to service stability issues. For benchmarks that were not tested, we mark them as "-".

2. Text and Reasoning

HLE, AIME 2025, HMMT 2025 (Feb), GPQA-Diamond and IMO-AnswerBench were evaluated with a maximum completion budget of 96k tokens.

Results for AIME and HMMT are averaged over 32 runs (avg@32); GPQA-Diamond over 8 runs (avg@8).

For HLE, we report scores on the full set (text & image). Kimi K2.5 scores 31.5 (text) and 21.3 (image) without tools, and 51.8 (text) and 39.8 (image) with tools. The DeepSeek-V3.2 score corresponds to its text-only subset (marked with ) . Hugging Face access was blocked to prevent potential data leakage. HLE with tools uses simple context management: once the context exceeds a threshold, only the latest round of tool messages is retained.

3. Tool-Augmented / Agentic Search

Kimi K2.5 was equipped with search, code-interpreter, and web-browsing tools for HLE with tools and all agentic search benchmarks.

Except for BrowseComp (where K2.5 and DeepSeek-V3.2 used the discard-all strategy), no context management was applied, and tasks exceeding the supported context length were directly counted as failed.

The test system prompts emphasize deep and proactive tool use, instructing models to reason carefully, leverage tools, and verify uncertain information. Full prompts will be provided in the technical report.

Results for Seal-0 and WideSearch are averaged over four runs (avg@4).

4. Vision Benchmarks

Max-tokens = 64k, averaged over three runs (avg@3).

ZeroBench (w/ tools) uses max-tokens-per-step = 24k and max-steps = 30 for multi-step reasoning.

MMMU-Pro follows the official protocol, preserving input order and prepending images.

GPT-5.2-xhigh had ~10% failure rate (no output despite 3 retries), treated as incorrect; reported scores likely underestimate true performance.

WorldVQA, a benchmark designed to evaluate atomic vision-centric world knowledge. Access WorldVQA at https://github.com/MoonshotAI/WorldVQA.

OmniDocBench Score is computed as (1  normalized Levenshtein distance)  100, where a higher score denotes superior accuracy.

5. Coding Tasks

Terminal-Bench 2.0 scores were obtained with the default agent framework (Terminus-2) and the provided JSON parser. In our implementation, we evaluated Terminal-Bench 2.0 under non-thinking mode. This choice was made because our current context management strategy for the thinking mode is incompatible with Terminus-2.

For the SWE-Bench series of evaluations (including verified, multilingual, and pro), we used an internally developed evaluation framework. This framework includes a minimal set of toolsbash tool, createfile tool, insert tool, view tool, strreplace tool, and submit toolalong with tailored system prompts designed for the tasks. The highest scores were achieved under non-thinking mode.

The score of Claude Opus 4.5 on CyberGym is reported under the non-thinking setting.

All reported scores of coding tasks are averaged over 5 independent runs.

6. Long-Context Benchmarks

AA-LCR: scores averaged over three runs (avg@3).

LongBench-V2: identical prompts and input contexts standardized to ~128k tokens.

7. Agent Swarm
Around 40 percent of global CO emissions originate from the construction sector. Developing sustainable building materials therefore plays a key role in fighting the climate crisis. The newly approved Collaborative Research Center 1743 MYCO-BUILD, with the participation of Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), is investigating novel fungus-based building materials. The German Research Foundation (DFG) will fund the project with around 10.3 million euro over the next four years.

Interdisciplinary Project Ranging From Building Physics to Sustainability Assessment

Researchers from biology, chemistry, physics, materials science, and architecture are examining structures ranging from the micro level to large construction components. Their focus lies on the mechanical, thermal, acoustic, and structural properties of these materials.

The Institute of Concrete Structures and Building Materials (IMB) at KIT is contributing a subproject on the building physics properties  including fire protection  of the new materials to the consortium. We aim to understand how the materials behave in real construction environments and which standards they could meet in the future, says Professor Frank Dehn of IMB. The long-term goal is to lay the foundation for products for the construction industry.

The researchers also investigate, which fungal species are best suited as construction materials, which types of plant waste can serve as raw materials, and what an efficient manufacturing process looks like  supplemented by AI-supported sustainability assessments.

iha, January 27, 2026
At Patreon I have done my normal monthly analysis of the polls and fundamentals in Australia, Canada, NZ, UK and US.

I note:

In the wake of the Bondi Beach terrorist attack, the Australian Government loses support. However the beneficiary has been One Nation, rather than the Coalition.
Alex Berenson writes:

As you know, Good is the 37-year-old woman shot and killed by a federal immigration agent in Minneapolis last week. The shooting, like everything else that happens in the United States these days, has become the object of a partisan fight. The Trump Administration keeps calling Good a domestic terrorist. The left wants to put up a statue of her alongside George Floyd, patron saint of fentanyl addicts who overdosed in the right place at the right time to get their families paid. Neither side is right. Good was no saint. She wasnt a domestic terrorist either. Too bad for her. If she was shed probably still be alive. Like many of you, I have watched the videos of the shooting and the minutes leading up to it. What is striking is how much fun Good seems to be having as she blocks traffic in her Honda Pilot. She honks her horn and bounces along to its beat. When an officer approaches the car, she says, Thats fine, dude, Im not mad at you. She wasnt a terrorist, she was a thirty-something white woman who didnt understand the mess she was making and the risks she was running, probably in part because she thought her white womanness would protect her.

This is a valid point. Ive been to the US a lot. I know their authorities are armed and to be blunt much more triggers happy than NZ cops. One could argue they have to be, because so many non-police are armed. But regardless it is well known. If I ever have an encounter with armed authorities in the US, I go out of my way to do exactly what they say with maximum politeness and co-operation.

This is not always the case in NZ. I recall many years ago when a group of us were at Mt Maunganui for New Years Eve. One of us (Yes you Tomas) was giving legal advice to other party goers about how they didnt have to do what the Police were saying etc. We nicknamed him a beach lawyer and quite enjoyed seeing him mark up the Police with his (legally correct) advice to drunk party goers.

In NZ this was fun. We knew the worst that would happen if a cop would think bad thoughts about you. In the US you could end up shot. Again I would never ever much around with US law enforcement. I dont like around the TSA. I am ultra polite to Highway Patrol etc etc.

2: American citizens have the right to monitor ICE operations in public, as they have the right to monitor other public law-enforcement activities. Monitoring usually includes taping. They also have the right to protest ICE operations. Monitoring and protest are not terrorism. 3: But citizens dont have the right to interfere with ICE. The line between monitoring, protest, and interference can be tricky. Yelling at agents from a sidewalk is protesting. What about blaring an air horn over and over? Trying to get between agents and someone they are trying to arrest is interference. But what about if an agent, or several agents, walk up to a protestor in an apparent effort to provoke him? 4: The line can be tricky, but it was not in this case. Good crossed it. She was blocking traffic on a public thoroughfare, giving the agents reason to arrest her.

She was breaking the law. Of course the punishment for that should be arrest, not death.

Good didnt display common sense. She thought she could break the law without consequence. The fact that she was in her vehicle probably played a role. I spend a lot of time driving. I can attest to the fact that a 4,000-pound SUV can become almost a second home, a cocoon of sorts. She was jamming away without a care. But when the consequence  the arrest  came, she panicked and escalated. And what seems like a cocoon from the inside feels more like a beehive to a person standing outside a few feet away, a potentially deadly threat. Good may or may not have been thinking about the threat she posed as her girlfriend told her, Drive, baby, drive, and she hit the gas. But the officer in front of her car had been dragged by another vehicle only a few months before. He understood the risk  and he had the legal right to react as he did. Its hard to see how the shooting wasnt justifiable.

I dont know if it was justifiable or not. It is clear the Trump Administration supports the ICE agents, so there will be no investigation. What is clear is it was avoidable. It should not have resulted in a young women losing her life.

A general good rule of thumb is to comply with any instructions given by armed police, and argue about it later in court if you think they were in the wrong.

UPDATE: Since I wrote this a second citizen has been killed by ICE. Alex Pretti. The videos of this killing make it clear that Prettis gun (which he was licensed to have and he did not present) had been removed from him when he was shot. It looks like an unlawful killing. The most benign interpretation is that a gun was accidentally discharged and ICE officers mistakenly thought it was Pretti and opened fire. There is no evidence he did anything that justified his shooting.

One can (and should) have multiple views on what is happening in the US. Mine include:

Governments have the right, and even the duty to deport people who are in the country illegally. People have a right to secure borders and the ability to decide who can become citizens of their country.

For illegal immigrants who have lived and worked in the US for a long period of time and broken no other laws, there should be a pathway to residency and citizenship as a one off thing.

Deportations from the US have occurred under all recent US Presidents. The number per President is: Reagan around 100k a year Clinton: around 108k a year Bush GHW: around 120k a year Bush GW: around 250k a year Trump 1: around 250k a year Biden: around 275k a year Trump 2: Around 300k in first year Obama: around 400k a year

Cities and states should co-operate with ICE to deport illegal immigrants.

The backlash against ICE is partly driven by antipathy to Trump, but is also partly driven by the change in ICEs tactics where they are trying to be highly visible and intimidatory

ICE appears to have developed a very aggressive and possibly trigger happy culture which also drives some of the backlash.

Activists who try to disrupt legal law enforcement operations are idiots

People have the right to be idiots and not be killed

Any killing by law enforcement officers should be fully and independently investigated.

It is repugnant to have senior WH staff labelling Pretti an assassin, and basically sending out a message that his killing should not be properly investigated
Chinese military slams Philippines for disrupting peace, stability in South China Sea

Xinhua) 15:39, January 27, 2026

BEIJING, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese military spokesperson on Tuesday criticized the Philippines for disrupting peace and stability in the South China Sea, accusing it of co-opting countries outside the region to organize so-called "joint patrols."

Air Force Senior Colonel Tian Junli, a spokesperson for the People's Liberation Army Southern Theater Command, said the navy of the theater command conducted a routine patrol in the South China Sea from Jan. 25 to 26.

The theater command forces will resolutely safeguard national territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests, and firmly uphold regional peace and stability, Tian said.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
A man digs a car out of the snow on Beacon Hill following a winter storm that dumped more than a foot of snow across the region, Monday, Jan. 26, 2026, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
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The Portlaoise team from Sherry FitzGerald Hyland Keating attended the Sherry FitzGerald Group Annual Countrywide Conference 2026, an event that brings together the Groups nationwide network to share insight, strengthen standards, and prepare for the year ahead in the property sector.

The conference took place on Friday, 23 January at the Johnstown Estate, welcoming colleagues from across Ireland to reflect on market performance in 2025 and to explore the opportunities and challenges shaping the property market in 2026.

The event was opened by Des OMalley, Head of Sherry FitzGerald Countrywide, who highlighted the importance of collaboration, shared standards and innovation across the Groups national network.

The opening keynote address was delivered by Marian Finnegan, Chief Executive of Sherry FitzGerald Group. Her address provided a comprehensive market update alongside a strategic overview of the Groups vision for the year ahead, outlining ambitious growth plans, continued investment in innovation, and key economic and property trends expected to influence the sector in 2026 and beyond.

A highlight of the morning programme was a keynote interview titled Driving Ambition: Two Titans of Irish Business, featuring Anne Heraty and Tommy Kelly in conversation with Ian Kehoe. The discussion explored leadership, scaling Irish businesses internationally, and the mindset required to build organisations with long-term impact.

Delegates also participated in a series of tailored breakout sessions aligned to their roles across the business, focusing on leadership, decision-making, performance excellence and strengthening the customer experience. These sessions were designed to provide practical, immediately applicable insights for teams working across all areas of the property lifecycle.

The conference concluded with the annual Countrywide Awards Ceremony, where Sherry FitzGerald OLeary Kinsella was named Sherry FitzGerald Countrywide Member of the Year 2026, recognising exceptional performance and standards across the national network.

Commenting on the conference, Neala Keating, Director at Sherry FitzGerald Hyland Keating, said:

Attending the Annual Countrywide Conference provides valuable insight and perspective that directly supports how we operate day-to-day at a local level. It ensures we continue to deliver informed, professional advice to our clients, backed by the strength and expertise of the Sherry FitzGerald national network. Speaking more broadly on the event, Des OMalley described the conference as an invaluable opportunity to step back, share insight and reinforce the standards that underpin the Sherry FitzGerald brand nationwide. The Sherry FitzGerald Annual Countrywide Conference remains a cornerstone event for the Group, reinforcing its commitment to leadership, professional development and continued excellence across Irelands most progressive property network.
DEAR MISS MANNERS: I am getting married in a traditional church ceremony. My father, who will be giving me away, has refused to wear a tuxedo on the grounds that it is a monkey suit, even though all of the other men in the wedding party will be wearing one.

I gave in, because I want him to be happy and comfortable. Now he says he will not wear a tie, either. My mother and I have tricked him into wearing a nice new silk jacket and havent mentioned anything about him wearing shoes other than sneakers ... yet. I would give in again if I thought he was actually going to be in any real pain, but I cant see how wearing a tie for an hour is painful.

The real problem is that he hates wearing formal clothes. I feel like his refusal to wear a tux or tie demonstrates a lack of respect for what is, to me, a deeply important formal ceremony. It feels like he cares more about not wearing formal clothes than he does about his daughter.

When I mentioned to my mother that I was unhappy about his decision, I was told an anecdote that implied that I cared more about clothes and appearances than about my father, who loves me, and that I should just take what I can get and let the rest go.

Am I really being that unreasonable?

GENTLE READER: The person who cares too much about clothes is your father.

He cares desperately about what he wears, to the extent of upsetting his beloved daughter on a unique and special occasion.

Like you, he considers formal clothes to be symbolic. But while you interpret formality as a show of respect and festivity, he believes it symbolizes snobbery. Your version is indeed the standard one, but his is typical of a (mostly male) minority.

Miss Manners agrees that one of you should put aside those feelings simply to indulge the strongly held feelings of the other, however wrong you consider them to be. Someone has to be the grown-up here. One would expect a father to do this for his daughter, especially for one hour at her wedding. But as yours refuses, you are stuck with rising above the childishness.

If guests are startled -- or, more likely, amused -- at your fathers being tieless and wearing sneakers, that is his problem. He may not care about their reactions, or he may take pride in defying the dress code.

You might, however, warn him that his act of rebellion might be interpreted as disapproval of the wedding.

***

DEAR MISS MANNERS: I remember reading about olden invitation cards that might say, Tea at 5, carriages at 7:30.

GENTLE READER: Yes, it was a polite way of saying, Dont think youre staying for dinner.

***

DEAR MISS MANNERS: Is it in bad taste to throw yourself a baby shower?

GENTLE READER: Yes, whether you are the baby, the embryo or the mother. And that goes for the mothers mother, and anyone else in the family.

Sadly, hosting ones own (or ones relatives) shower emphasizes that there are no friends who care enough to do it.

(Please send your questions to Miss Manners at her website, www.missmanners.com; to her email, dearmissmanners@gmail.com; or through postal mail to Miss Manners, Andrews McMeel Syndication, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106.)
A national chain eaterys first regional location in coming to Bethlehem Township.

Bradenton, Florida-based First Watch plans to open in the 4,673-square-foot building that previously housed Ruby Tuesday, 2102 Emrick Blvd. Ruby Tuesday shut down its last regional location about a year ago and the space has sat idle ever since.

Samantha Smith, the townships community development director, told lehighvalleylive.com the chain has secured its demolition permit. The project is an upfit from one restaurant to another, so it doesnt need zoning or supervisors approval, Smith said.

Its unclear when First Watch plans to open. Jenni Glester, who handles media relations for the chain, couldnt immediately be reached for comment Tuesday morning. An onsite contractor told WFMZ-69 News renovation work was expected to be completed in time for a late spring to early summer opening.

First Watch has more than 600 company-owned and franchise-owned locations in 32 states. Statewide, there are nine locations, with the next closest sites in Doylestown, Bucks County and Montgomeryville, Montgomery County.

First Watch serves up breakfast, brunch and lunch selections all made-to-order.

Thats where the eatery gets its name. A first watch is a nautical term that refers to the first shift of the day. The chain has a follow the sun culinary philosophy, meaning the menu rotates five times a year to stay in season.

Guests can enjoy green California-grown asparagus in April, Florida-grown watermelon in July, or sweet midwest yellow corn in August, chain representatives say.

The vast menu includes traditional breakfast staples such as classic eggs Benedict, omelets, frittatas, multigrain pancakes, Belgian waffles and french toast. Then theres such items as lemon ricotta pancakes or Floridian-style French Toast, topped with an assortment of fresh fruit.

For brunch, patrons might opt for the farm stand breakfast tacos or such sandwiches such as Roast Beef & Havarti or the Monterey club, served with turkey breast, hardwood smoked bacon, avocado, organic mixed greens, tomato, Monterey jack and mayo on sourdough.

Theres an assortment of power bowls. Think such ingredients as quinoa, Italian sausage, house-roasted crimini mushrooms and tomatoes, as well as kale, parmesan, lemon white balsamic dressing and extra virgin olive oil. Some choices can be topped with two basted cage-free eggs.

For lunch, salads include superfood kale; chicken avocado chop; and sweet honey pecan.

Some of the latest seasonal items currently include Blueberry Lemon cornbread, Strawberry Tres Leches French Toast and Million Dollar Bacon: four slices of hardwood-smoked bacon glazed with brown sugar, black pepper, cayenne and a drizzle of maple syrup.

It all gets washed down with an assortment of all-natural fruit juices, coffee, milk and soft drinks. Some signature beverages include the Morning Meditation, complete with orange, lemon, turmeric, organic ginger, agave nectar and beet; and the Purple Haze, with lemon, cane sugar, butterfly pea flower tea and a hint of lavender.

Most First Watch locations are open from 7 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. daily.
Customer satisfaction in retail is on the upswing, and online retailers such as Amazon are at the top of the list, according to a new survey.

The American Customer Satisfaction Indexs (ACSI) annual Retail and Consumer Shipping Study for 2026 found that several online retailers saw an increase in customer satisfaction, with Amazon, Nordstrom and Chewy leading the way with an ACSI score of 82.

The overall survey was based on 31,293 completed surveys of customers chosen at random and contacted via email between January 2025 and December 2025.

The survey asked them to rate their recent experiences with these large retailers in terms of market share and other smaller companies in each industry.

It looked at six retail industries  general merchandise retailers, online retailers, specialty retailers, gas stations, drug stores and supermarkets  in addition to consumer shipping and the U.S. Postal Service.

Here are some of the details of the survey.

What are the details behind the 2026 ACSI survey?

Online and mobile purchases took center stage in this survey.

More than half of survey respondents, 58%, reported using an online retailers mobile app as part of their shopping experience, according to the ACSI.

Online retailers have leveraged mobile channels to attract customers, with mobile app quality and reliability ranking as the highest-rated satisfaction measures.

Consumers are also concerned with the ease of checkout, usefulness of product images and descriptions when making purchases online.

Retailers are facing a cost-conscious consumer who isnt necessarily spending less in most cases, but spending differently, Forrest Morgeson, Associate Professor of Marketing at Michigan State University and Director of Research Emeritus at the ACSI, told NJ Advance Media.

The ACSI has been around as an economic indicator since 1994. It measures and analyzes consumer satisfaction across 400 companies spanning 40 industries and 10 sectors.

The survey measures this data on a scale of 0 to 100, with scores based on interviews with 200,000 consumers annually.
Nature didnt pause while the rest of us hunkered down for this weekends winter storm.

So when a call came in Sunday morning that a woman was in labor in a tractor trailer parked by the side of the road in Cumberland County, first responders headed out in near white out conditions to help.

They were called to the truck around 10 a.m. in the 800 block of York Road in South Middleton Township.

Members of the Citizens Fire Company No. 1, joined by Cumberland Goodwill EMS, helped safely deliver the baby and needed to provide resuscitation at the scene,

Neonatal resuscitation helps a child breathe on its own in the first few minutes of its life. Some newborns need more advanced intervention, said Nathan Harig, administrative chief for the EMS company.

The mother and her child were eventually transported to a local hospital, Harig said.

Hospital childbirths have a controlled environment, specialized equipment, warming beds and immediate access to a neonatal team, Harig said. But EMS workers in the field are working with what they have in the environment they find.

Field deliveries are uncommon  factor in the snow and the need for extra care from our paramedic and its a once-in-a-lifetime event, Harig said.

Harig declined to release further details around the birth, including the babys gender, citing HIPAA, a healthcare information privacy act.

If Hollywood had written this type of call into an episode of 9-1-1 or Chicago Fire, Im pretty certain every first responder would roll their eyes at the confluence of circumstances that happened, Harig said. But our crews and partners rose to the challenge and we couldnt be prouder of them.
Something that surprised Pam Gay after she won the job of York County coroner 12 years ago was how much of their work is focused on the living.

While we work with the dead, we work with the dead for such a short time, she said. Our long-term connection is with a family.

She remembered what she heard on the campaign trail when she was going door-to-door running for the office.

Some of the families felt that they werent getting their resources that they needed, that the coroner would hand them a packet and then leave and thered be no follow up, she said.

Thats why Gay started a volunteer program to help those families. It has grown to 10 volunteers and a paid staffer to oversee the team, which is dedicated to reaching out to every single decedents family to see what they might need. She got the idea from coroners in South Carolina and believes York is the only office in the region with such a program.

For many families, its the lowest points in their lives, after a loved one dies unexpectedly, or by their own hands. Offering resources at this time can have positive ripple effects.

Theres only so much we could do for the dead, she said. But you know, its helpful to help prevent future suicides. Depression that can lead to suicide, even some of them that end up abusing substances, it just helps to know that somebody cares.

The program is among a series of accomplishments under Gays leadership as she prepares to retire. She did not run for reelection this year and instead supported a bid by her deputy Tania Zech who will take over as coroner.

Gays last day as coroner is Friday, after serving three terms and working 30 years as a registered nurse before that.

Accomplishments

Among Gays other accomplishments was getting the coroners office a larger, more secure space with a morgue that would allow autopsies on-site for the first time.

They currently must send bodies to Lehigh Valley for autopsies, something they did 158 times in 2024, each with a four-hour drive time  too far for police or prosecutors to regularly join. They are working to secure a forensic pathologist who could perform their autopsies in York County to save time and money and allow law enforcement to attend and ask questions.

Their new home at the York County Prison complex is larger and more secure than the prior space at a county-owned nursing home.

The prison ended up with extra space after the county ended its decades long contract with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in 2021. The county renovated the 6,650-square-foot space for $2.2 million, a fraction of what it would have cost to build from scratch, Gay said.

Their new office has room for 33 bodies, up from the 8-person morgue they previously had to share with a hospital on hospital property.

During peak times of opioid overdoses and Covid in 2020, they sometimes ran out of room after squeezing 21 bodies into a walk-in cooler designed for eight bodies. Coroner staff would spend Sunday nights moving bodies around, even using a specimen lab with the temperature turned down low to hold bodies.

No more. Their new custom office opened in April 2021, with amenities including a family room for viewing bodies, if necessary. A family who lost their son in a car crash donated money to furnish the room.

During her time in office Gay also fought for more full-time employees, by noting the pay for part-timers justified the new positions and wouldnt cost more. And she changed their schedules from a grueling 7-days on, 7-days off schedule to three 12-hour shifts per week.

She also oversaw a project to digitize all coroner records, making them the last office in the region to do so. Before that, she said she lost sleep worrying that a fire or water damage could erase decades of important historical documents.

Another transition under Gays tenure was finding a consistent mechanism to relay information to the public.

Her office is the only one in central Pa. to unfailingly put out information on every single public case, which includes crimes, fatal vehicle crashes and other deaths that happen in public and need to be explained. She started on Twitter after getting the idea from Westmoreland County and has since expanded to Facebook.

Before this, reporters or members of the public had to call into a phone system and replay a recorded message multiple times to write down the information.

If its a public incident, were going to put it out, she said. Thats our policy: Anything in public is of public interest.

It builds trust and transparency, she said, and tamps down rumors and phone calls.

We break down too

In recent years, Gay said she made a bigger push to protect the mental health of her workers. That commitment proved especially important this year, after an officer was killed in a hospital attack in February and three officers killed in September.

Employees of her office worked closely with the three detectives who were fatally ambushed after a domestic violence call. Some knew them since childhood.

Some of my deputies were very close friends with them. So its just been a really rough year on our mental health. But were trying to do better with that and make sure we have, you know, Ill be honest with you, we have staff that have chosen to be involved in some regular counseling right now.

Its important to acknowledge and recognize the trauma her employees endure through their jobs, Gay said, and the impact of the constant re-injuring and exposure to very graphic scenes and images.

Were the ones to handle and manipulate the bodies, she said. Thats hard to get out of your head without help.

And what many people dont realize is the coroners office is also taking care of perpetrators who die in these crimes and their families.

We have to figure out: How do we compartmentalize that in our brain, Gay said. We have certain people work with the families of the fallen and others that work with the families of the perpetrators. We try to separate that out a little bit. But its hard because just like in nursing, I have to be showing no favor. I have to treat everybody the same.

The job isnt for everybody. The sounds and smells are hard to explain, Gay said, but they do their best to warn new employees the real job isnt like most crime shows on television.

What you see on television is not smellavision, she said. We get into these situations where theres a lot of hoarding, a lot of filth, human and animal excrement. I mean, Ill just be honest with you. Insect activity, people live, unfortunately, in some really terrible situations, sometimes by their own choice, sometimes not. And you have to be able to physically and emotionally handle that.

It can be very shocking, Gay said. Coroner employees have learned to adjust, but they need help too at times.

Theres so much focus on the first responders, which it should beBut only in recent years have we been invited to debriefings and so on. I think more and more people are really starting to understand that the coroners need some help, too, that were not were not this stoic entity that can handle anything thats thrown at us all the time.

We break down too, she said of her team, which she calls the last responders. We cry on our way home.

What helps them get through is the resilience of many of their families, Gay said, who turn their tragedies into nonprofits or other efforts to save lives.

Im thinking Building Bridges for Brianna, she said referencing a suicide prevention program in York County turning the grief of a father of a suicide victim into relief for others.

Or the group Not one more, by two moms fighting for better awareness and resources for opioid addiction; or Bartz Brigade for suicide prevention focused on young people and veterans.

Those families inspire me because I dont know if I could do that, Gay said. They feel thats the only way they can go on to some extent, and they want that legacy to go on of their loved one, and they want to save lives.

The climate politically

When Gay was first elected in 2013, she knew she favored term limits. After three terms, she said the time is right.

Part of what helped her make the decision were corrosive changes in the political climate.

Im ready to get out of the limelight a little bit, I guess, I would say. I think that there is just too much meanness and hatred and not enough kindness. And what we do is we try to emanate kindness as much as possible.

She doesnt believe her job should be political. But thats becoming harder to avoid, she said.

She wrote a report summarizing 60 or more deaths related to gun violence last year, and how many were suicides.

I just brought up about the trends that we were seeing at that point when I wrote the report. It was my annual report, she said. But you wouldnt believe the messages I got and the emails about how Im a Libtard. That was just mild compared to some of the things, let me tell you, how I should go back to the kitchen and not do what I do.

As a registered nurse and coroner, Gay said she believed it was her duty to report on trends like that, just like with the opioid epidemic, to explain there are things that are harmful and are concerning us and people are dying as a result.

Gay served in office as a Republican and said shes not anti-gun, however one of the things she thinks we could do a better job with is better gun storage, gun safety, not trying to take your guns away, but you wouldnt believe the people that were calling in and threatening, saying pretty nasty things to me.

That reaction wasnt the precipitating factor, as she had already decided to retire, but it makes it easier to bid farewell to the job.

Ive had a very, varied career. Ive been very blessed and fortunate in my nursing to be able to do lots of different things, she said.  Ive seen a lot even in that career. So its time.

Whats next

Gay feels like shes leaving the office on top, more modernized and in good hands.

She helped launch a few efforts that will come to fruition under her successor, including collecting and burying unclaimed remains.

If a family wont take possession of remains, the county pays for cremation and the funeral home keeps them since the county doesnt have space.

This means 350 remains dating back to 1930 are spread among various funeral homes in York County. The new coroner will lead an effort to document all of them, try to contact family and eventually bury them in a donated vault underground.

The plan would be to reopen the vault every five years to add more, or remove remains if families have second thoughts about claiming them.

Another project new Coroner Tania Zech will tackle is getting the office nationally accredited. That isnt required in Pennsylvania but is a badge of honor that Gay always wanted for the office to prove their credentials.

She knows the job well, Gay said of Zech. Shell do a great job. And the team weve built, I just give them a lot of credit for helping change this office and turn it around...to get us more modern, to get us more sensitive to families and to make sure that we do a good job bringing justice for the dead.
A Laois Mexican fast food restaurant has been nominated for a top Just Eat award in the competition's 12th year.

Namo Burrito Bar opened in Portlaoise in June of 2025, and has quickly become a popular food choice for Laois locals.

The business is co-founded by Naimul and Kamrul Hossain, Ethan Butler and Rosina Hanlon. They opened first in Kilkenny, following with a second Namo Plus outlet, followed by Carlow and Clonmel in 2023.

Pictured: Namo Portlaoise

Operating across two shop units at Laois Shopping Centre, the restaurant offers a 48 seat dining area along with takeaway options.

The business has created ten jobs in Portlaoise, and has grown in popularity.

Just Eat have announced the launch of their 12th annual awards, inviting the public to have their say on the restaurants, grocers, and retailers they love most, at a time when Irelands food scene continues to grow in quality, flavour, variety, and the experiences restaurants offer customers.

From much-loved neighbourhood independents to national brands and exciting new arrivals to the Irish market, the Just Eat Awards recognise the delivery partners that people order from time and time again, whether its for a midweek lunch, a family favourite or some last-minute groceries.

This year's awards have introduced new categories, including 'Best Healthy' and 'Salads', alongside returning favourites such as 'Best Lunch' and 'Best Mexican'. In total, 105 restaurants have been shortlisted nationwide across twelve categories.

Independent Restaurant of the Year will be awarded to the restaurant that secures the highest number of public votes across its individual category and overall.

In addition to the title, the winner will receive a 100,000 prize fund, offering a powerful platform to build brand awareness, reach new customers and take their business to the next stage.

Voting for the 2025 Just Eat Awards is now officially open, and food lovers across Ireland are encouraged to support their favourite by casting a vote. Every vote submitted will also be entered into a draw to win free Just Eat for a year.

Amanda Roche-Kelly, Managing Director at Just Eat Ireland reflected on the success of Irish restaurants facing rising costs and pressures.

Irelands food scene is in a strong place, even though restaurants are dealing with rising costs and ongoing pressures across the sector," Ms Roche-Kelly said.

"What stands out is the effort and care that goes into every order, from the food itself to the service people experience every day. The Just Eat Awards are about recognising independent restaurants that people genuinely love and rely on in their communities, including the Namo in Laois which is shortlisted for Best Mexican," she said.

"By awarding this 100,000 prize to the Independent Restaurant of the Year, Just Eat is committed to investing this media value for the winning partner to help further grow and evolve their business in 2026," Ms Roche-Kelly finished.

To vote for Namo, click here.

For more information on the 12th annual Just Eat Awards, visit the Just Eat website.
Murdered Laois au pair Aoife Phelan went missing on October 25 and on Wednesday, November 7 her body was discovered buried deep in a hole at a property on the Timahoe Road, Portlaoise.

And amid heartbreaking scenes tragic Aoife was laid to rest in St Patricks Cemetery, Ballyroan following an emotional and sad funeral mass on Saturday, November 10.

Here is a timeline of the events as they unfolded ;

Thursday, October 25

6.15pm: 30-year-old Aoife Phelan, a native of Cashel, Ballyroan, Portlaoise, worked as an au pair and she left her employers home at The Hermitage, Portlaoise.

6.30pm: Aoife met her friend at the Borris Road roundabout.

8.10pm: Aoife was last seen alive when she left her friends house at Colliers View, Portlaoise, to apparently meet the person who contacted her on her mobile phone.

Friday, October 26

am: Alarm raised. Employers get in touch with Aoifes family after she failed to turn up for work.

pm: Aoifes family reported her disappearance to Gardai.

Saturday, October 27

Aoifes concerned family and friends begin erecting posters around Portlaoise seeking information on her whereabouts.

Gardai in Portlaoise made their first appeal seeking assistance from the public in tracing the whereabouts of 30-year-old Aoife Phelan. She is described as being approximately 57 in height, slim build, has long blonde/sandy coloured hair and blue eyes. When last seen she was wearing jeans and a knitted jumper. She also has a red bomber style jacket with her.

Sunday, October 28

Aoifes father Michael, in an interview said: This is totally out of character for Aoife. She lost her phone once before and she let everyone know on Facebook. This is just something she would not do. She has no passport and has never left the country. All Aoife likes is being at home with the family.

We cant eat or sleep, we have been up all night with worry and tonight will be the same, we have no clue where she is or what has happened.

She got a message to meet someone and off she went and thats it. We dont know anything more. I dont want her to be another Jo Jo Dullard, but you cant help thinking these things; you just think of everything.

Tuesday, October 30

5pm: Gardai investigating Aoifes disappearance held a media briefing at Portlaoise Garda Station. Superintendent Yvonne Lundon said: Aoifes family and friends are extremely concerned, as are Gardai. We are very anxious for her welfare. We are investigating all avenues of enquiry. We conducted searches in Portlaoise and Mountmellick which produced negative results.

Door-to-door enquiries were carried out, motorists were quizzed at local checkpoints and later the Garda helicopter was also used to assist in the search for Aoife.

Wednesday, October 31

Divers from the Garda Water Unit searched the man-made lakes in Kilminchy housing estate, not far from the location on Colliers Lane where Aoife was last seen.

Portlaoise Gardai renewed their appeal for public assistance to trace Aoife. She may have been wearing a silver necklace and a watch with a black strap.

Garda sources also believe it is highly unlikely foul play is involved but added there are big concerns for Aoifes safety.

Thursday, November 1

8.10pm: On the same spot and at the same time as Aoife was last seen a week earlier, a poignant candlelight vigil took place. Aoifes mother Betty made an emotional appeal, If you are out there somewhere, it doesnt matter what trouble you are in, or anything, we are a strong family, we will be there for you and we love you.

Sunday, November 4

11am  4pm: Over three hundred civilian volunteers were involved in a co-ordinated search around Portlaoise and Ballyroan organised by Aoifes family, community activists and friends. A quarry, boglands, drains, disused farm yards and forestry were searched in what was described as a mammoth effort by local volunteers.

pm: Following a weekend evaluation of the information gathered over the past eleven days, Gardai switched focus and upgraded their investigation from a missing persons case to a murder hunt.

Gardai seized a 4x4 vehicle in which they discovered some of Aoifes personal belongings. A suspects mobile phone was also seized.

Monday, November 5

4pm: Gardai in Portlaoise arrested a 24-year-old local male in relation to the murder of Aoife. He was detained in Portlaoise Garda Station under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984.

5.30pm: On learning of the arrest, shocked Fr Gerard Ahern, PP of Ballyroan told the Leinster Express: I have been in touch with the family every day, they would have been hoping for some good news but with each passing day, optimism faded.

6pm: Gardai began searching a property on the Timahoe road, Portlaoise.

Tuesday, November 6

am: Questioning of the suspect recommenced at Portlaoise Garda Station. Forensic Gardai conducted a dig on land adjoining the sealed-off property on the Timahoe Road, Portlaoise.

pm: Gardai commenced what was described as a targeted search in the Monasterevin area. The M7 Limerick/Dublin Rd was closed northbound between J15 Ballybrittas and J14 Monasterevin for a time and diversions were in place. Divers from two sections of the Garda Water Unit searched stretches of the River Barrow until fading light forced them to call off the search.

Midnight: Gardai released the man in custody without charge. They said a file was being prepared for the Director of Public Prosectutions. Investigations ongoing.

Wednesday, November 7

10am: At the M7 bridge over the River Barrow near Monasterevin, a team of Garda divers recommenced their search. A section of the hard shoulder on the Dublin-bound carriageway was sectioned off with traffic cones as a fleet of Garda vehicles, including its water unit trucks, parked nearby.

At a second location - behind a premises including a large shed, house and grounds on the Timahoe Road  Gardai began a second day of digging and after removing rubbles and tyres out of a deep hole they erected a forensics tent.

11am: Shortly after 11am as part of a planned search operation, Gardai discovered the body of a female located at Timahoe Road in Portlaoise. The scene was preserved, pending a full technical examination. The Office of the State Pathologist was notified.

2pm: Aoifes employer Darren Bayliss tweeted: Aoife Phelan, you are missed greatly by myself Linda and Odette but you will never be forgotten by us...RIP Odettes fafa xx...Ive had my ups and downs with Twitter but when it really matters there is no better community anywhere so thank you all again for the support.

2.45pm: Superintendent Dave Taylor from the Garda Press Office told a media briefing outside Portlaoise Garda Station that State Pathologist Dr Marie Cassidy is at the scene carrying out a preliminary examination. A post mortem will take place later today.

The identity of the body isnt confirmed. The search of the River Barrow has been called off. The family of Aoife Phelan have been informed of developments by a Garda Family Liaison Officer. Supt Taylor thanked members of the public for their assistance. Asked if anyone had been charged, Supt Taylor said the investigation was still live.

3.30pm: Body of a female has been taken away from field at Timahoe Road, Portlaoise and a post mortem will be conducted at the Midland Regional Hospital Tullamore.

6pm: Gardai re-arrest the 24-year-old suspect and he is being detained at Portlaoise Garda Station under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984.

pm: A Facebook tribute page called RIP Aoife Phelan is set up and overnight it attracts more than 4,500 likes, with people expressing their sympathy.

Thursday, November 8

am: Gardai continue their questioning of suspect.

am: Members of Aoifes family request that the RIP Aoife Phelan Facebook page to be removed as a mark of respect. One contributor commented, There is a post stating that Aoifes sister has requested that this page be removed. Aoifes familys feelings and wishes should be at the forefront of our minds right now. This page was created a mere two hours after the discovery of Aoifes body and no family member or close friend would have rushed to Facebook in the wake of that. Please remember that her family is grieving a loss that nobody should have to endure.

12.45pm: Gardai confirm that the body discovered during a planned search operation at Timahoe Road, Portlaoise has been formally identified as that of missing person Aoife Phelan. Post mortem results are not being made public for operational reasons.

pm: Facebook tribute page called RIP Aoife Phelan was removed. Gardai urge members of the public to be cautious when posting comments on Facebook and on all forms of social media in relation to the murder investigation.

8pm: A memorial service was held in St Patricks Church in Aoifes home village of Ballyroan.

11.27pm: Following consultation with the DPP, senior Garda officers leading the investigation decide to charge the suspect.

Friday, November 9

11am: 24-year-old Robert Corbet, Sheffield Cross, Timahoe Road, Portlaoise was charged with the murder of Aoife Phelan at Capoley, Portlaoise on Thursday, October 25 during a special sitting of Portlaoise District Court.

In evidence, Detective Sergeant John Healy said that in reply to being charged at 11.27pm in Portlaoise Garda Station last night, Corbet shook his head and said no.

Judge Catherine Staines remanded Corbet in custody to Clover Hill prison until Thursday, November 15 and she recommended that he receive psychiatric treatment.

With regard to Solicitor Declans Breens application for legal aid, Judge Staines said she would have to receive a statement of means before finalising her decision.

11.06am: There was a significant Garda presence around the Portlaoise Court building. And when murder accused Robert Corbet emerged from a rear exit and was escorted hurriedly on his journey to prison, angry members of the public gathered on the street outside roared scum bag and murderer at the patrol car as it travelled away from the courthouse down Main Street.

2pm: The Phelan family released a statement.

We are happy to have Aoife back with us, her family. Her death has left us sad and heartbroken. She was a loving daughter and sister and we will miss her dearly.

We are overwhelmed by the support and the kindness we have received over the past two weeks. We would like to thank all the people who helped in searching for Aoife and who have been there for us, especially family members, neighbours, friends and the Ballyroan community.

We would like to acknowledge the efforts of An Garda Siochana, who have worked tirelessly to have Aoife returned to us. We ask now for privacy as we spend our remaining precious time with Aoife today and attend to her funeral tomorrow.

Saturday, November 10

am: It was revealed that the post mortem examination found that tragic Aoife wasnt pregnant, despite a previous belief she was four months pregnant. She suffered injuries to her neck and head.

2pm: St Patricks Church, Ballyroan was overflowing with mourners for Aoifes funeral service where her brother Darragh described her as Aoife Estelle Phelan  beautiful, radiant, joyful star. Fr Gerard Ahern told the congregation, We shouldnt be here today but that is the reality we are confronted with. That someone should die in the circumstances in which Aoifes life was taken goes beyond human understanding. It is a senseless loss of life.

Friday, May 23, 2014

Mr Justice Garrett Sheehan imposed the mandatory life sentence on Corbet, who had no previous convictions, after he was found guilty of murdering Aoife Phelan in 2012.

Monday, January 2026

Robert Corbet reportedly found dead in his cell at Mountjoy Prison.
An inmate who is accused of making threats to kill a man and woman intends to use an alibi in his defence.

Michael Murray (55) of Midlands Prison, Dublin Road, Portlaoise is accused of threatening to kill or cause serious harm to a man and to a woman at the Midlands Prison on April 11, 2023.

He appeared before Portlaoise District Court where Garda Lisa Murray gave evidence of serving him with the book of evidence.

Garda Sergeant JJ Kirby said the DPP had directed that the case be sent forward to Portlaoise Circuit Court on two counts of threatening to kill.

When Judge Susan Fay issued an alibi warning to the defendant, Anne Doyle BL said her client wished to put the State on notice of his alibi.

Ms Doyle said the accused has strong views and I am instructed to read it out loud in open court.

Judge Fay described the defendants instruction as highly unusual and she asked Ms Doyle to put the alibi in writing.

It is my court Ms Doyle. I run this court, Judge Fay said. She told Ms Doyle to give notice in writing to the State solicitor.

We will be meeting with Mr Lynas in due course, said Ms Doyle. She asked Judge Fay to consider legal aid for a solicitor and two counsel.

Judge Fay said she would grant legal aid for a solicitor and one counsel and an application could be made for a second counsel in the circuit court.

Ms Doyle said her client would be making two applications. One related to disclosure of evidence and the second was to transfer the trial to Dublin.

Judge Fay remanded the defendant in custody with consent to bail and sent the case forward to the next sittings of Portlaoise Criminal Circuit Court on February 17, 2026.
Kildare County Council has been told it should compulsorily acquire land to develop a dog park.

A request came from Independent Ireland councillor Bill Clear for KCC to set up a pop-up dog park on the Fairgreen in Naas.

He also asked the council to conduct a survey of the dog owners to assess the need and support for a permanent dog park in the area.

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He was unimpressed with KCCs response that it wasnt going to do this because one was provided a number of years ago (in Monread Park) and it is not proposed to repeat the exercise.

Cllr Clear told a Naas Municipal District committee meeting that there are 10,000 dogs in the Naas area alone and people should be asked for their views on a dog park.

Were going to have to find one," he said, adding that land would otherwise have to be bought via a compulsory purchase order.

Cllr Carmel Kelly recalled that the original park was located close to houses and dogs in the nearby homes because aware of the presence of other animals the resultant noise went off the charts.

However, Cllr Anen Breen expressed opposition saying that not all dogs can mix and asking who will clean up after the animals leave and if the park would be covered by KCCs insurance.

Naas Mayor Seamie Moore was also opposed, saying that owners are responsible for minding their pets den to look to KCC to do it

Cllr Fintan Brett said the Kerdiffstown Park recreation venue should be used as a dog park. Thats the place for it; there is any amount of space there.

KCC official Mark McLoughlin said a site of 1.5 acres is needed and the council could examine an alternative location.
A County Kildare mother whose late son died by suicide has once again called on members of the public to sign a petition she created to honour her son's memory.

Noeleen Eustace, whose son Kelvin Brennan died by suicide back in May of last year, first launched the online petition back in October of last year.

She also called on the government to prioritise carers who work to assist those with disabilities and / or mental health issues within Ireland.

BACKGROUND

Named after her son, 'Kelvin's amendment' aims to put pressure on the government to recognise Dual Diagnosis in the official Mental Health Act 2001.

She explained in the description of the petition that Dual Diagnosis refers to when a person has both a mental health disorder and a substance use disorder at the same time.

In addition, Ms Eustace said at the time that, in the case of her late son Kelvin, he had been engaging with health services from the age of five.

However, he was not formally diagnosed until he was 13 years of age, when he advised his mother that he was feeling suicidal.

PUBLIC APPEAL

Now, Ms Eustace has appealed for more signatures to 'Kelvin's amendment'.

Taking to social media, she opened her renewed call with the following statement: "I went into Kel's room, as I go every night, to say 'good night' to Kel and Adam, who both died by suicide  they were friends  and [also] to their friend Jordan, who died tragically the day after Kel was buried.

"I bless each of their photographs."

Following this, Ms Eustace spoke about the petition itself, and said that progress has been slow when it comes to garnering signatures for it.

She appealed: "Can you please sign, like and share my petition [on social media]?"

Ms Eustace concluded: "What I wouldnt give to say good night to Kel as his head lays on his bed."

'Kelvin's amendment' can be found on the official Uplift website (also known as myuplift.ie).

As of the time of publication, the petition has over 5,110 signatures.

If you have been affected by any of the issues raised in this article, you can contact Samaritans Ireland (116123 or jo@samaritans.org) or you can visit pieta.ie (24/7 Free Crisis Helpline: 1800 247 247 or Text HELP to 51444).

In addition, you can also visit https://www.aware.ie/.
A Status Yellow wind weather warning is currently in place for Leitrim and the entire country, issued by Met Eireann due to winds associated with Storm Chandra. This warning remains valid until 11pm tonight.

Storm Chandra has brought strong and gusty winds, particularly along coastal areas, along with a significant amount of rainfall, leading to disruptions and power outages.

Several power outages have been reported in Leitrim, including 15 customers affected in the Rossinver area, with restoration estimated for 6pm this evening, and 18 customers without power in the Mohercregg area, also with an estimated restore time of 6pm.

Conditions for the remainder of today are expected to stay wet and blustery as Storm Chandra continues to move northwards.

Heavy and prolonged showers are forecast to persist as the storm progresses, with showers continuing overnight.

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Tomorrow is expected to be brighter, with sunny spells, although some showers will still continue.

Across the island of Ireland, over 15,000 premises are without power today, with Storm Chandra having its greatest impact on Wicklow, Dublin and Wexford.

Hundreds of schools have closed, and localised flooding has been reported.

According to Met Eireann meteorologist Gerry Murphy, 300mm of rain fell overnight in Dublin, with the heaviest rainfall this morning recorded across Ulster, Connacht and Leinster.

The weather warning will remain in effect nationwide until 11pm tonight, when Storm Chandra is expected to pass.

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Chokhi Dhani The Ethnic 5 is a 4-star Jaipur hotel offering an immersive experience of Rajasthani culture with traditional hut-shaped structures, mandala-adorned walls, and a variety of cultural activities. Amenities include a sprawling swimming pool, diverse dining options, and modern accommodations that reflect the rich heritage of Rajasthan.

Rooms & Amenities Rooms at Chokhi Dhani The Ethnic 5 feature traditional designs with modern amenities, including air conditioning, flat-screen TVs, mini-bars, and spacious bathrooms. Guests can choose from various room types, such as the Executive Cottage and Royal Suite, each offering unique cultural aesthetics.

Dining & Cultural Experience Dining options at Chokhi Dhani include authentic Rajasthani cuisine served in indigenous styles at restaurants like Chaupal and Kesar Kyari. The hotel also features a lively atmosphere enhanced by folk performances and traditional music during meals.

Leisure & Activities Leisure activities include exploring the unique village setting, enjoying a bullock cart ride, and attending live performances showcasing Rajasthani folk dances and music. The hotel also offers 24-hour spa services for relaxation.
Dukes The Palm Dubai Hotel, a 5-star property, offers panoramic views of the Arabian Gulf and direct beach access on Palm Jumeirah. This hotel provides exclusive family-friendly accommodations, a private beach, and award-winning dining options, ensuring a luxurious stay.

Rooms & Amenities Rooms at Dukes The Palm Dubai Hotel include 279 luxury rooms and 64 suites, each designed with meticulous attention to detail. Amenities feature king-size beds, complimentary Wi-Fi, and private balconies offering views of the city or the Arabian Gulf.

Dining Options Dining options at the hotel include the award-winning Khyber, serving authentic Indian cuisine, and the Great British Restaurant, featuring a selection of British meals. Additionally, the iconic Dukes Bar and Cigar Lounge offer cocktail selections and fine cigars.

Leisure & Family Facilities Leisure facilities at Dukes The Palm include a heated infinity pool, an indoor pool on the 14th floor with sea views, and a lazy river for family fun. The hotel also has a modern fitness center overlooking Palm Jumeirah and an innovative Kids Club for children aged 4 to 12.
Iberostar Selection Sabila - Adults Only is a 5-star beachfront hotel in Costa Adeje that emphasizes relaxation and wellness with bright, minimalist decor. Guests can enjoy amenities like a heated outdoor pool, Turkish bath, and wellness services, along with an impressive food market featuring seven culinary stalls.

Rooms & Amenities Rooms at Iberostar Selection Sabila include modern amenities like air conditioning, a minibar, and free Wi-Fi. Many rooms feature a balcony with views of the unique volcanic landscape, offering moments of tranquility. Guests can opt for Star Prestige rooms, which provide access to exclusive areas and late check-out benefits.

Dining Options Dining options include a buffet restaurant and a gourmet market with seven specialties ranging from meat to seafood and tapas. Breakfast is available in buffet style, and the on-site bars serve a variety of drinks, including the special Iberostar Selection Sabila cocktail. These dining experiences are complemented by ocean views and live music.

Leisure & Wellness Iberostar Selection Sabila offers a comprehensive wellness experience with its spa facilities, including four treatment rooms and a range of massages. The outdoor space features a semiprivate pool and sun terrace for relaxation. Additionally, activities such as yoga and Pilates are available for guests looking to maintain their fitness routines.
Taj Skyline Ahmedabad offers luxury accommodations with modern amenities and a high standard of service. This 5-star hotel features a fitness center, a restaurant, and an indoor swimming pool. It is located in a business district, providing easy access to corporate and cultural attractions.

Rooms & Amenities The hotel hosts 308 individually designed rooms featuring premium bedding, laptop-compatible safes, and air conditioning. Each room comes equipped with a coffee machine and some offer views of the city skyline. Free WiFi is available throughout the property.

Dining Options Taj Skyline Ahmedabad features an all-day dining restaurant called Shamiana, serving international cuisine, along with a signature restaurant for Chinese and Thai dishes. Guests can enjoy fresh brews at the Emperor Lounge and a continental breakfast each morning.

Leisure & Business For leisure, the hotel offers an indoor swimming pool and a well-equipped fitness center. Business travelers will appreciate the available meeting space which accommodates up to 450 people for events. Concierge services, luggage storage, and currency exchange are also provided.
The Grand Brighton, a 5-star hotel with an 8.8/10 Booking.com rating, offers luxury accommodations on the iconic seafront. Guests can enjoy various dining options including the celebrated afternoon tea and access to unique hotel experiences.

Rooms & Amenities The Grand Brighton features elegantly designed sea-view bedrooms and luxurious suites, tailored with modern amenities, fluffy Grand robes, and Egyptian cotton linen. Guests can choose from Classic Double, Junior Suite Family with Seaview, and Grand Suite accommodations, each offering unique comfort and beautiful interiors.

Dining Experiences Dining at The Grand Brighton includes Cyan Brighton, where chefs serve imaginative dishes with sustainably sourced ingredients, and the Victoria Bar & Lounge, known for its cocktail selection and seasonal menu. Afternoon tea is a highlight, with options such as Moet Moments and Ridgeview Afternoon Tea served daily in the stunning Victoria Terrace.

Leisure & Events Guests at The Grand Brighton can unwind at the Victoria Bar, which hosts a vibrant atmosphere with live music and locally sourced beverages. Event spaces are available and can be tailored for various occasions, complete with bespoke dining options and a dedicated events team.
Hilton Fiji Beach Resort And Spa offers an award-winning spa, nine swimming pools, and beachfront access on Denarau Island. This 5-star resort features 319 luxurious rooms with modern amenities. KORO serves as an exclusive adults-only venue designed for relaxation and refined dining.

Rooms & Amenities All guest rooms in the Hilton Fiji Beach Resort And Spa include flat-screen TVs, air conditioning, and secure laptop-compatible safes. Many accommodations offer stunning beachfront views and feature large freestanding bathtubs, while select suites include outdoor terraces with BBQ facilities.

Dining & Leisure The resort's dining options include KORO, an adults-only venue with beachfront dining and live music, and Maravu, which offers Asian dishes with views of Fijian torch lighting ceremonies. The Deli serves a variety of snacks and gourmet pizzas, making it a popular choice for quick meals.

Wellness & Recreation Hilton Fiji Beach Resort And Spa features an expansive day spa with seven treatment rooms, including private services at the unique poolside pavilion. A fitness center is available for guests looking to maintain their workout routines, while nine pools-including two adults-only pools in the KORO complex-provide ample relaxation options.
BALLYHOURA Development CLG and Cuilcagh Lakelands UNESCO Global Geopark has been granted 25,000 in funding under the 2025 Shared Island Civic Society Fund.

This will support projects connecting tourism between the Ballyhoura area and Cuilcagh Lakelands in Cavan and Fermanagh.

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The project aims to build lasting North South civic relationships through shared learning, innovation and cooperation.

There will be regional workshops and training sessions in both regions, as well as peer-to-peer learning exchanges and shared marketing innovation.

Amanda Slattery, development manager with Ballyhoura Development CLG, said: This project is about putting communities at the heart of tourism development and learning from one another across borders.

Working in partnership with Cuilcagh Lakelands UNESCO Global Geopark allows us to share experience, build capacity and co-create meaningful tourism experiences that are rooted in place, people and sustainability.

The Shared Island Civic Society Fund recognises the value of these ground-level connections, and we look forward to working closely with our partners and local tourism operators to deliver tangible benefits for our communities.

Grainne OConnor, geopark manager at Cuilcagh Lakelands UNESCO Global Geopark, added: We are delighted to be included in this round of funding under the Shared Island Civic Society Fund. This support will enable us to build on the work weve achieved to date through our partnership with Ballyhoura Development CLG and the many community tourism operators across both our regions.

Its an exciting opportunity for Cuilcagh Lakelands UNESCO Global Geopark and Ballyhoura Country to showcase the unique beauty and experiences of our regions to a wider audience.
A 27-YEAR-OLD man was caught with no insurance for his car by a garda in Bruff, Limerick.

Barnabas Balough, with an address at Bottomstown, Limerick, was stopped by Garda Dermot Hallett on the Crawford Road at Bruff on August 23, 2025.

Garda Dermot Hallett detailed in his evidence to Newcastle West District Court that the man did not comply when he was stopped, and was charged with failure to produce insurance.

An interpreter was sworn in so that Mr Balough could have proceedings communicated to him.

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The solicitor detailed that the man has no previous convictions, and was driving to work at the time of the offence.

Mr ODonnell asked the judge for her discretion.

Judge Carol Anne Coolican convicted and fined the man 500, giving him five months to pay the fine.

The judge told the solicitor: You must point out to him if hes convicted again he will be disqualified.

Funded by the Court Reporting Scheme
A ROMANIAN man who told a judge that gardai mistook him for his brother, has been convicted of a number of road traffic offences which took place on a busy Limerick road.

Martin Muntean, with a home address at Warren Drive, Boyle, Roscommon, was stopped for driving 104 km/h in a 60 zone on the Ballysimon Road, Limerick on November 27, 2023.

Mr Muntean was found sitting on his seatbelt. Following a lengthy encounter" with Garda Aidan Coffey, it was established that Mr Muntean was driving unaccompanied with a learners licence, and had no L plates displayed on his vehicle, and no insurance or tax on the vehicle.

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It also came to light that Mr Muntean was not the registered owner of the vehicle. In response, Mr Muntean said that he had bought the car from his cousin.

The court heard that Garda Coffey then seized the vehicle in accordance with Section 41 of the Road Traffic Act. Mr Muntean pleaded not guilty to all charges.

Giving evidence to Judge Patricia Harney in Limerick City District Court, the man said: It was not me. Mr Muntean proceeded to claim that it was his brother who was driving the vehicle while pretending to be him.

Garda Coffey refuted this, and said that Mr Munteans face matched the image on the learners licence and on the drivers database on the date in question, and that he was satisfied that it was Mr Muntean who he stopped.

Mr Muntean asserted that he was at home when the crime took place and restated his claim that his brother took his license and committed the offences whilst pretending to be him.

Prosecuting Sergeant Denis Waters asked Mr Muntean why he didnt bring his brother to court. The Romanian national responded that he is always leaving the country, and said that he has no idea where his brother has been since 2023.

Solicitor Darach McCarthy told the court: It is a case that has grown some legs over time and that Mr Muntean maintains that his story is the truth.

In mitigation, the solicitor said that Mr Muntean is a young man, from Romania originally and the father to three children. Mr McCarthy then went on to say: Theres only so much you can say in mitigation.

Sergeant Waters told Judge Patricia Harney that Mr Muntean has 18 previous convictions, two for no insurance, two for no licence, three for the use of false instruments, two for not wearing a seatbelt, two public order offences, and a conviction for failing to display L plates.

Judge Patricia Harney said it was miraculous that Mr Munteans likeness matched his brothers on the garda database. The judge said she found Mr Munteans credibility is non-existent, and disqualified him from driving for three years and sentenced him to three months imprisonment.

The judge fined Mr Muntean a total of 1,300 for driving without a learners licence, speeding, and failing to display a tax disc.

- Funded by the Court Reporting Scheme
LIMERICK City and County Council is being urged to follow the lead of other local authorities after a councillor claimed the city has fallen behind in tackling dog fouling.

A motion submitted by Cllr Sarah Beasley at the January meeting of the Metropolitan District of Limerick called for a 12-month pilot scheme at up to 15 locations, arguing that Limerick is lagging behind in providing basic infrastructure to tackle dog fouling.

Cllr Beasley stated: Ive checked multiple locations and no dog bag dispensers seem to exist. While there are many bins in some areas, although not dedicated to dog poo bins, the ability for someone to collect their dogs waste when they don't have a bag is simply not possible. Limerick City and County Council has an any bin policy, but this assumes that the owners already have the bags on them.

READ MORE: Judge hands down 8,500 in fines in water pollution and dumping cases taken by Limerick Council

Cllr Elisa O'Donovan seconded the motion, saying: This is something that I fully support... I think that it is really important that we look at dog waste dispensers in Mungret Park.

Sonja Reidy, Senior Executive Officer, Metropolitan District of Limerick Parks and Cemeteries said: The council no longer provides pet waste bins or dedicated pet waste bag dispensers following a review of public health concerns, improper use, and cost efficiency concerns. Most dog bins have now been removed and replaced with street bins .
The mother of a teenager who died after a crash in north Dublin has pledged to fight to get scrambler bikes and e-scooters off the streets.

Grace Lynch died after an incident on the Ratoath Road in Finglas on Sunday afternoon.

More than a thousand people gathered on Monday evening to retrace a route walked by Grace on the day she died.

Graces mother Siobhan held a sign with a picture of her daughter with the words justice for Grace as she led the walk from Valley Park estate to Plunkett Green.

Justice for Grace, justice for my daughter, Ms Lynch said as she walked the route.

Justice for Grace, get the scramblers off the streets.

At Plunkett Green, the crowd of friends, neighbours and locals sang Grace and released pink balloons into the air.

Ms Lynch thanked people for coming out for the walk, and said: I will fight to get these scramblers and scooters and everything off these streets.

In a heartfelt plea, she said watching her daughter take her last breath was the worst pain imaginable.

Its not something that any parent should have to deal with, she said as she pledged to launch a campaign.

Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald said that scramblers are a scourge on our communities that needed to be tackled.

People have a right to be safe and secure on their streets and in public spaces, she said on X.

We need stronger laws and we need them enforced including more vehicles, drones and training for the Gardai to take on this scourge before another life is lost.

Councillor Conor Reddy said the incident was tragic, and said his thoughts were with Graces family and friends.

Scramblers have been an issue as long as I can remember in Finglas (and in) many other working class communities, he said on X.

Successive Fianna Fail/Fine Gael governments have done nothing to meaningfully reduce danger or to improve outcomes for anybody.

Two teenagers on the bike, an adult male and a male juvenile, were treated for non life-threatening injuries after the incident on Sunday.

A man aged in his late teens was arrested on Sunday evening.
Scramblers should not be permitted in any public place or road, the minister for road safety has said.

It comes after a teenage girl died in the Finglas area of Dublin following a crash involving a scrambler on Sunday.

Minister of State Sean Canney said the Governments sympathies were with the heartbroken family and friends of teenager Grace Lynch.

Asked when law prohibiting or restricting scramblers in particular areas would come into effect, Mr Canney said he has sought an early date from Department of Justice officials for when that regulation will be in place.

The legislation there already, which came in in 2023, says dangerous driving becomes an offence on any ground, not just in a public place  it is any place.

Also that gardai have the power to seize the offending machines.

Asked where they should be banned, he said: Scramblers should not be permissioned in any public space in this country, I fail to see why we need to have them in public spaces.

He said this absolutely included roads.

Pressed on whether this belief would be in the regulations drawn up by Government officials, he said he would be looking at the matter very closely with his officials.

Mr Canney said gardai and the Department of Justice are working on a code of practice for the use of drones to track scramblers to make sure it is foolproof against legal objections.

The independent TD added that he had instructed local authorities to introduce bylaws to reduce speed limits in urban areas from 50kmh to 30kmh by the end of the year.
A woman aged in her 60s has died after a truck crashed in Dublin on Tuesday afternoon.

The incident, involving a truck and a pedestrian, took place at the junction of Church Road and Bridge Street, Swords, shortly before 12.30pm.

The pedestrian was pronounced dead at the scene.

Her body was taken to Connolly Hospital Blanchardstown where a post-mortem examination will be carried out.

Forensic collision investigators are carrying out a technical examination of the scene and the road remains closed.

Gardai are appealing to anyone who may have witnessed the collision to contact them.

In particular, Gardai are seeking the assistance of the driver of a small, silver hatchback car that was not involved in the collision, but was travelling behind the truck at the time along Church Road before turning left into the Rathbeale Road travelling away from Swords.

Any road users who may have camera footage, including dashcam footage, and were travelling in the area of Church Road and Bridge Street, Swords, between 12.10pm and 12.40pm are asked to make this footage available to investigating Gardai.

Those with information are being asked to contact Swords Garda Station on 01 666 4700, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda station.
MAYOR John Moran has questioned plans to spend thousands of euro on a hotel dinner for councillors as a fresh disagreement ignites with Limerick City and County Council Director General Dr Pat Daly.

The directly elected mayor warned it would be politically unpalatable to spend what he calculated as up to 3,000 on a meal after the people of Limerick faced a difficult budget.

But the local authoritys director general responded, insisting it is normal practice to provide such refreshments.

READ MORE: Limerick entrepreneur's new platform aims to save time doing the nitty-gritty tasks

Its the latest disagreement between the two most senior figures in the local authority.

Councillors were due to gather at the Great National South Court Hotel in Raheen on Friday for a workshop on the councils corporate plan - a blueprint for how the local authority will operate in the years ahead.

The meeting was scheduled from 4pm to 6pm, with councillors and staff booked to dine in the hotel restaurant afterwards.

But in a letter to Dr Daly, obtained by the Limerick Leader, Mayor Moran made it clear he had reservations.

I was not comfortable with the pre-arranged idea to have a dinner paid for by our budget, he wrote last week.

After messaging about a difficult budget, the idea of spending 2,500 to 3,000 on this is not, I believe, politically palatable. I am happy to go for dinner  but not from the public purse.

Sources insist the actual cost would have been far lower  and say councillors were never told the details of the proposed dinner.

Dr Daly defended the practice.

It is normal practice when having a council meeting or workshop to provide refreshments for those attending, particularly at that time of the day when people may have come to the meeting directly from work or other engagements, he stated in one of the emails, all of which were issued at the start of last week.

In the end, the workshop never happened. It was cancelled after an independent facilitator  brought in to oversee the process  withdrew.

The disagreement over the proposed spend on the meal was included in detailed emails over a dispute about the councils corporate plan  who leads it, who organises meetings, who directs officials and who signs off on the final document.

Letters circulated by the mayor to councillors and senior staff show he believes he should be in charge of the process, including deciding who facilitates workshops and who attends them.

He said he was surprised that a workshop was arranged without consulting him.

Dr Daly, however, maintains that it is the elected councillors who ultimately decide whether the plan is adopted.

As Irelands first directly elected mayor, it is widely accepted that the respective powers of Mayor Moran and Dr Daly are poorly defined in law.

These are of course teething problems being the first DEM, accepted Mayor Moran in his email last week.

The disagreements first surfaced publicly last October when Mayor Moran criticised the councils delivery of services, particularly around Christmas in an interview on local radio.

Dr Daly later sent an internal email to staff expressing his disappointment at the comments and in an unprecedented move, councillors passed a vote of confidence in the director general.

Earlier this month, however, Mayor Moran struck a more optimistic note, claiming relations had improved. The last four or five weeks have been phenomenal, he said. Weve seen a completely different change.

Council did not respond to a request for comment on the email exchange of last week.
Sara Henderson |

Lincoln University of Missouri (LU) kicked off its year-long 160th anniversary celebration with the annual Founders Day Convocation on Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026, in Mitchell Auditorium. The event honored the visionary legacy of the enlisted men and officers of the 62nd and 65th United States Colored Infantries, who in 1866 founded the institution to ensure the right to education for freed African Americans and challenged todays students to carry that vision forward with purpose and confidence.

Mister and Miss Lincoln University address the audience during the Founders Day Convocation, representing student leadership and tradition.





The celebration featured keynote speaker Valerie Daniels-Carter, Lincoln University Class of 1978, president and CEO of V&J Holding Companies, the largest female-owned restaurant franchise organization in the United States. She is also a minority owner of the Milwaukee Bucks and a board member of the NFLs Green Bay Packers. A graduate of Lincolns business program, Daniels-Carter reflected on her decision to attend the University as one of the most important choices of her life and highlighted how the foundation built at Lincoln prepares alumni for leadership at the highest levels.

Daniels-Carter urged students to embrace the belief that vision has no boundaries, encouraging them to pursue their goals with confidence and purpose. She noted that Lincolns founders began with no blueprint or guarantee of success, but with a vision grounded in hope, justice and the belief that education could transform lives and shape the future of a nation.

Keynote speaker Valerie Daniels-Carter encourages students in the audience during Lincoln Universitys Founders Day Convocation.





She encouraged students to remember Founders Day as more than the past. It's about being a 2026 Blue Tiger who looks forward with the same boldness that defined our beginning, she said, reminding students that those founders gave them a gift.

The question before you now is  how will you honor what they sacrificed? Daniels-Carter asked. You honor it by learning. You honor it by leading. You honor it by serving. You honor it by daring to imagine a future as bold as the ones that imagined it in 1866.

Tina Shannon, presiding for the first time as president of the Lincoln University Board of Curators, reaffirmed the boards commitment to the schools founding mission and to supporting todays students dreams.

Tina Shannon presides for the first time as president of the Lincoln University Board of Curators during the Universitys Founders Day Convocation.





"Today, we stand on sacred ground, honoring a bold and courageous dream that began in 1866 and continues to shape lives today," Shannon stated. May we continue to honor that dream by advancing together  united in purpose, grounded in history, and confident in Lincoln Universitys future."

In his remarks, President John B. Moseley highlighted a period of significant institutional momentum, noting that the University enters this anniversary year with record-breaking achievements.

Lincoln University President John Moseley addresses the audience during the 160th Founders Day Convocation.





"From expanding enrollment and record retention to rising GPAs, we are seeing powerful results. Our Blue Tigers are thriving," Dr. Moseley said. He specifically noted that the universitys first-to-second-year retention rate has reached its highest point in more than 30 years.

Moseley also highlighted the campus's physical transformation as a symbol of growth, including the recent renovation of Dawson Hall and the Health & Security Sciences Institute, slated for opening in fall 2026, a center that will play a vital role in preparing the next generation of leaders in health care, public safety and crisis response across Missouri and the nation.

The University also recognized the Cooper Family of East St. Louis, Illinois, as the 2026 Family of the Year, recognizing a multi-generational legacy that includes six graduates and two current student leaders.

Members of the Cooper family pose with President John Moseley after being recognized as Lincoln's 2026 Family of the Year.




The 2026 Skoda Kushaq facelift that was introduced in the Indian market just a few days back, comes as the latest contender in the compact SUV segment. Skoda has introduced several meaningful upgrades to the Kushaq to keep it relevant. The Kushaq has been one of the key revenue churners for the Czech carmaker, especially under its India 2.0 product strategy. With the new updated version of the SUV, the Skoda Kushaq is expected to become more appealing to the consumers.

With its launch expected to take place in the coming weeks, if you are planning to buy the new 2026 Skoda Kushaq facelift, here are the top five fresh things added to the SUV.

2026 Skoda Kushaq: Panoramic sunroof The 2026 Skoda Kushaq has received a new panoramic sunroof, replacing the outgoing model's single-pane sunroof. While there remains debate about the utility of sunroof in the Indian climate conditions, the panoramic sunroof has been finding increasing level of takers across the country. The Kushaq too has joined the bandwagon of cars with panoramic sunroof in India the country. This feature makes the cabin of the SUV feel more spacious.

2026 Skoda Kushaq: 8-speed automatic transmission The new Skoda Kushaq has received an eight-speed automatic gearbox. This new torque converter automatic transmission has replaced the older six-speed torque converter unit. This new gearbox is claimed to offer smoother gear shifting experience and improved fuel efficiency as well. The new gearbox is claimed to offer more relaxed city driving and highway cruising experience.

2026 Skoda Kushaq: Rear massaging seats The 2026 Skoda Kushaq gets rear massaging seats, which is a segment-first feature for the updated SUV. This feature is usually seen in the high-end luxury cars enhancing comfort for the rear occupants, especially during long highway journeys.

2026 Skoda Kushaq: Front parking sensors The front parking sensors are finding increasing level of penetration in the Indian passenger vehicle market's mass segment. The new Kushaq too comes with this feature, promising more convenience during maneuvering the car in tight parking spaces or in congested traffic conditions.
Union Budget 2026: The Halwa ceremony, which signifies the final phase of the Budget preparation for the Union Budget 2026-27, took place today at the Budget Press in North Block. The ceremony was attended by Union Finance and Corporate Affairs Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, ANI reported.

The Halwa ceremony takes place before the 'lock-in' of officials responsible for preparing the Union Budget. The Union Budget 2026-27 is scheduled for presentation on February 1, 2026.

During the Halwa Ceremony, the Union Finance Minister was joined by the Secretaries of all departments within the Ministry of Finance, along with other senior officers engaged in Budget preparation.

Union Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary also attended the ceremony.

What is the Halwa ceremony? The Halwa ceremony is a customary event held each year before the budget announcement, where "halwa, a classic Indian dessert, is prepared and served to officials and staff members of the finance ministry involved in the budget process.

During the ceremony, Sitharaman also visited the Budget Press to review the preparations and extended her best wishes to the entire budget team.

All Union Budget documents, such as the Annual Financial Statement (also known as the Budget), Demand for Grants (DG), and Finance Bill, will be accessible on the "Union Budget Mobile App." This will enable Members of Parliament (MPs) and the public to access these documents easily in a digital format, a Finance Ministry release said.

The Budget documents will be accessible on the Mobile App and website once the Union Finance Minister delivers the Budget Speech in Parliament, it added.

FM Nirmala Sitharaman will present India's Budget 2026 on 1 February, Sunday, marking a personal milestone as she delivers her ninth consecutive Union Budget.

The upcoming Budget will bring Sitharaman close to the record of 10 budgets presented by former Prime Minister Morarji Desai, although he presented budgets in different time periods.
China rejects U.S. accusation over South China Sea

Xinhua) 16:10, January 27, 2026

UNITED NATIONS, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese envoy on Monday rejected a U.S. accusation over the issue of the South China Sea.

China firmly rejects the U.S. representative's erroneous remarks of "China's expansive and unlawful maritime claims" in the South China Sea, said Fu Cong, China's permanent representative to the United Nations.

"I wish to emphasize that China has indisputable sovereignty over Nanhai Zhudao and the adjacent waters. It has sovereign rights and jurisdiction over relevant waters. China's territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests in the South China Sea are grounded on solid historical and legal basis," he told an open debate of the Security Council on international rule of law.

"I also wish to remind the U.S. representative that the United States is not a party to the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), and it has no right to presume itself as a judge of UNCLOS and point fingers at other countries," said Fu.

The United States, in total disregard of the historical context and objective facts regarding the South China Sea, has been stirring up trouble and sowing discord everywhere. It has even deployed offensive weapons, including land-based intermediate-range missiles, in the South China Sea. And under the pretext of "freedom of navigation," it has frequently dispatched advanced ships and aircraft for military reconnaissance and drills in the South China Sea and intruded into China's territorial waters and space, as well as waters and airspace surrounding China's islands and reefs, he noted.

"Who is engaging in coercive and bullying practices in the South China Sea? Who is disrupting regional stability and threatening navigational freedom and security? Who is undermining international rule of law? The facts are self-evident," said Fu.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
After the state-owned Semiconductor Laboratory (SCL) in Mohali, Tata Electronics upcoming semiconductor plant in Dholera will provide fabrication support to chip startups for design tape-outs, Union electronics and information technology minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said on Tuesday.

Tape-out is the stage when a chips final design is sent to a semiconductor fabrication facility (fab), which then prepares it and produces the first physical prototype chips for testing.

This step is crucial, as many Indian startups have to currently rely on overseas facilities such as Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) and US-based GlobalFoundries to get even limited samples of chips before actual production can start. This process is costly and also hampers Indian startups ability to carry out failure analysis, testing, and identify manufacturing or assembly challenges firsthand.

The second facility, which will be used for taping-out, will be Tatas Dholera fab. So the Dholera fab - 28 nanometer (nm) to 90 nm and SCLs 180 nm. In a sense, close to 75-80% (of the kind of) chips which are manufactured in the world. That entire ecosystem we will be able to build in our country within the next 2-3 years, Vaishnaw said at an industry event in New Delhi.

The minister met the 24 chip-design firms selected under the Design Linked Incentive (DLI) scheme. The minister said that 14 of these startups have got funding from the venture capitalists to the tune of about 430 crore.

Currently, the SCL Mohali facility is being used to support chip-design startups and academia with tape-outs. However, it operates on an outdated 180-nm technology, which limits work on more advanced projects. In November, the government announced a plan to modernise the facility over three years at an investment of 4,500 crore.

A government official said on the condition of anonymity that tape-outs of chip designs of academia are largely done at SCL on a multi-project wafer (MPW) basis. A few startups that have reached the stage of tape-outs are usually doing it at TSMC, for which they are getting incentives under the DLI scheme.

An MPW is a shared semiconductor wafer where multiple chip designs from different companies are fabricated together. It is a cost-effective way to manufacture prototype chips by sharing a wafer with multiple designs.

Also Read | Tatas rope in GlobalFoundries veteran KC Ang to head Dholera chip fab

Tatas Dholera plant for tape-outs will certainly support the startup ecosystem building products in 28 nm and 40 nm technology. The price points for tape-outs, however, should not be higher than the global rates. Then it will be beneficial, said Arumugam Govindswamy, managing director of MBit Wireless, a fabless semiconductor company in cellular internet of things (IoT) technology.

According to Govindswamy, the key ask from the government for the next phase of the chip design scheme is higher funding for tape-outs and mass production, besides better market access for selling products.

Separately, Vaishnaw said the government aims to make high-tech small chips of 3-nm nodes by 2032 that are used in products like modern smartphones, and computers. The plan is further to go to 2 nm.

"The level of 2032 is to reach 3 nanometer chips manufacturing and design. Design, of course, we are doing even today. But manufacturing, we should reach 3 nanometer," the minister said, adding that in the coming years, 50% of all the semiconductor design work in the world will be done in India.

Under the second phase of the DLI scheme, the minister said the government will focus on six categories of chipscompute, radio frequency, networking, power, sensor and memory. The minister said the government is targeting to get 50 fabless startups in the next phase of the scheme.

Also Read | Tata Electronics signs tech pact with US chip firm for Dholera fabrication plant

As we go into 2029, we will have a major capability of manufacturing and designing the chips which are required practically in 70-75% of all applications in our country," the minister said.

As part of the current DLI scheme, startups are entitled to a subsidy of 15 crore. There is also a deployment-linked incentives for startups that actually reach the stage of commercial sale of products. However, no startup has been able to claim the deployment-linked incentives of 4-6% of net sales (up to 30 crore per application), as no designs have reached the deployment stage.
Indias landmark free trade deal with the European Union, finalised on Tuesday, includes significant tariff cuts on exports of pharmaceutical products as well as optical, medical and surgical equipment from Europe to India.

Tariffs on pharmaceutical exports from Europe to India will drop to zero from 11% for almost all products. This will improve access for Indian patients to novel drugs from Europe and reduce input costs for specialized raw material imported from Europe, industry executives said.

Europes pharma exports to India amounted to 1.1 billion in 2024, according to a fact sheet released by the European Commission.

The expected removal of EU tariffs of up to 11% on pharmaceuticals will enhance trade and support greater access to innovative medicines for Indian patients," Sudarshan Jain, secretary general of the Indian Pharmaceutical Alliance, said in a statement.

In the short term, we anticipate a mild price reduction of 10-20%, but the real impact will unfold over the next 2-3 years, with prices potentially dropping by 40-70% once local manufacturing scales up, biosimilars enter the market and patent expiries align," said Saurav Ojha, co-founder and director of Gurugram-based Iberia Pharmaceuticals. This shift is particularly critical in the context of weight-loss drugs in the GLP-1 class such as semaglutide and tirzepatide.

India imports drugs in the key therapy areas of oncology, biologics and monoclonal antibodies, insulin analogues and GLP-1 agonists as well as mRNA and viral vector vaccines from Europe.

While OPPI is awaiting the release of the full Agreement, it has gone through Memo on EU-India Free Trade Agreement Chapter by Chapter Summary released by the European Commission and is encouraged that the summary states that the FTA provides a high level of protection and enforcement of IP (intellectual property) rights, in line with Indian and EU IP laws and also covers protection of trade secrets and undisclosed information," Anil Matai, director general of the Organisation of Pharmaceutical Producers of India (OPPI), which represents research-based global pharmaceutical companies in India, said in a statement.

Benefits for Indian firms

Europe is Indias second-largest pharma export market, with sales of $5.8 billion in FY25. India accounts for 2.2 percent of the EUs total pharma imports, highlighting the considerable headroom for growth, according to an Emkay Global Services report dated 24 January.

While Indian pharmaceutical products already face zero duty entry into the EU, the deal is expected to widen access, especially for small and medium enterprises.

Reduced tariffs and smoother market entry will directly enhance their (MSMEs) ability to scale exports, invest in compliance and integrate into European supply chains," said Namit Joshi, chairman of the Pharmaceuticals Export Promotion Council of India (Pharmexcil).

Indian companies continue to face significant non-tariff barriers in the EU, with approval timelines often extending to 2-3 years, delaying commercialization; registration fees can reach as high as 300,000, creating a material barrier," Emkay said in its report.

Details on how the trade deal will impact regulatory processes are awaited but streamlining them is expected to have the most benefits for Indian exporters.

While there was an EU push for stricter intellectual property measures like data exclusivity, which can delay the entry of generic drugs, the deal reinforces intellectual property protections provided under the TRIPS agreement and affirms the Doha Declaration under which governments can override patents if needed.

Medtech tariffs slashed

Tariffs on European medical equipment exports to India have also been slashed to zero from 27.5% for 90% of the products. Domestic medical equipment makers, who have sought further interventions to strengthen local manufacturing, which is very import-heavy, are cautious.

The India-EU FTA must ensure a level playing field for Indias medical device manufacturers," Rajiv Nath, forum coordinator of industry body AiMed, told

Mint, adding that the agreement needs to have fair regulatory alignment" and safeguards against predatory imports," especially from third-world countries. The industry body is awaiting the fine print on the deal, he said.
MUMBAI : As Indias personal care market gets increasingly crowded and legacy fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) firms rush to buy venture capital-backed brands, ITC Ltd is deliberately slowing down and staying guarded on acquisitions, Sameer Satpathy, divisional chief executive of ITCs personal care products business, told Mint in a conversation.

ITCs older personal care acquisitions including Savlon, bought in 2015, and Nimyle, bought in 2018, have grown to six to seven times their original size, Satpathy said. Yet unlike listed rivals such as Hindustan Unilever and Marico, ITC is not rushing to buy independent brands that have mushroomed across niches in Indias booming personal care market.

The headroom to grow in personal care categories is enormous," Satpathy said. Some new brands enter categories but not everyone is able to sustain their presence."

Also Read | ITC stock to stay under fire for now, after cigarette tax shock

Indias personal care market was last estimated to be worth $21 billion in 2023 and is projected to grow to $34 billion by 2028, according to a report by beauty retailer Nykaa and strategy consulting firm Redseer. The overall market is growing at 1011% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), while online channels are expanding much faster, at about 25% CAGR.

Selective bets

So far, ITCs more recent personal care investments have been limited to baby care brand Mother Sparsh, and Mylo, an app offering content and products for expecting and new mothers. ITC acquired a 10% stake for just under 40 crore in Mylo in 2022 and has been investing in Mother Sparsh in tranches since 2021. In April last year, it agreed to acquire the balance shares of Mother Sparsh by sometime this year. In total, ITC would have invested 126 crore to buy the company.

When we acquire a brand, the question iscan we give it that time and attention it needs?" Satpathy said. You also have to be clear why you are buying something. Is it for control, or because the acquired brands are in white spaces with unique strengths in the areas where we may not have adequate bandwidth or the capabilities to do what they [the acquired brand] are doing? We always go for the second strategy."

ITC was Mother Sparshs first and only institutional investor, starting with a Series A round in 2021. The company was founded in 2016.

We have been clear on why we are entering certain categories," Satpathy said. Baby care is a segment that we have looked at and have invested through startups. We feel that baby care is a category which works on extreme trust and to get consumer trials is difficult. So a scaled business here is very valuable as it has a natural moat, in a very high margin category."

As of FY25, Mother Sparsh reported revenues of just under 100 crore, up more than six times from FY21, while its losses for FY25 stood at 13.2 crore, according to data sourced from research platform Tracxn.

Peers move faster

ITCs restrained acquisition strategy stands in sharp contrast to listed rivals such as Marico and Hindustan Unilever, which have been actively investing in or acquiring digital-first brands targeting premium personal care niches.

Also Read | Competition brings out the best in us: HUL CEO and MD

Maricos digital brands portfolio has crossed 1,000 crore in revenue and is growing at a CAGR of 25%. Among its largest digital-first personal care brands is Beardo, in which Marico first took a stake in 2017 before fully acquiring it in 2020.

The company has since invested in nutraceuticals brand Plix and herbal and ayurvedic cosmetics brand Just Herbs, which crossed 100 crore in revenue last year, according to a December 2025 note by brokerage firm Emkay.

The management maintains its aspirations of doubling revenue in coming five years and becoming a globally recognized digital FMCG company (ranked #2 in India after Honasa)," the note said, referring to the parent firm of D2C pioneer Mamaearth. This will be aided by actions in new growth engines (20-25% CAGR), which are gradually adopting emerging consumption trends."

Premium personal care now accounts for 1617% of Maricos consolidated sales, a note by JM Financial estimated earlier this month.

Hindustan Unilever, too, has been active, spending just over 2,700 crore last year to acquire skincare brand Minimalist in an all-cash dealone of the largest exits for founders of an independent Indian brand.

In core categories such as soaps, Hindustan Unilever remains the market leader, with Wipro Consumer Care and Godrej Consumer Products also commanding significant share. ITCs Fiama remains a relatively smaller player in the soaps segment, highlighting its limited scale in mass personal care, even as it ranks second in the shower gels market, the company said in its 2023 investor day presentation.

One of ITCs largest personal care brands, Savlon, is estimated at about 1,000 crore in consumer spends, while Engage ranks second in the fragrances market, behind Vini Cosmetics Fogg.

ITCs cautious stance in personal care is in sharp contrast to its own food division, which has been on an acquisition spree. Last year alone, ITC bought stakes in meat brands Prasuma and Meatigo and acquired organic staples brand 24 Mantra for 472.5 crore.

Chasing value

Satpathy said ITCs conservative approach has not held back scale in online channels. E-commerce platforms now contribute 25% of the personal care divisions total sales, while premium brands account for about 4344% of the portfolio by value.

Also Read | FMCGs old guard turns to D2C as consumer tastes shift

We now have two distinct levers of growthtop of the pyramid and the bottom of the pyramid," he said. With recent reduction in GST rates, a far-sighted reform by the government, both engines should now fire."

ITCs stock has come under pressure since the government announced an additional excise duty on cigarettes, on top of the existing 40% GST, effective 1 February. The stock is down more than 20% over the past month, with analysts expecting the company to pass on the higher tax burden to consumers.

ITCs FMCG (Others) businesswhich includes food and personal carereported revenues of 11,859.56 crore in the first half of FY26 and 22,015.12 crore in FY25. By comparison, Marico reported revenues of over 6,700 crore in the first half of FY26, while Hindustan Unilevers revenues stood at 33,103 crore over the same period.

Despite the shock to its cigarette business, ITCs other FMCG segments have yet to drive the bulk of its valuation, with food contributing more value than personal care. In a note earlier this month, J.P. Morgans equities brokerage arm assigned a 6x EV/sales multiple to ITCs Other FMCG business, broadly in line with the multiples of other food peers." The brokerage values ITCs cigarette business at 11x EV/Ebitda, paper and packaging at 15x, and agriculture at 10x.
Mumbai: Investors, economists and markets will be closely tracking the earnings of Indias largest infrastructure and engineering firm Larsen & Toubro (L&T) on Wednesday, as the numbers provide key signals for informed decision-making.

While the companys revenue and profit for the OctoberDecember period are expected to grow in double digits year-on-year, investors will be more keen to see whether the growth momentum in the companys order inflows seen in recent quarters sustains, especially amid concerns of a slowdown in business from the Middle East.

Meanwhile, economists and the markets will look at an even more specific slice of the order inflows - domestic private sector capital expenditure. The Mumbai-headquartered company said in October that it was seeing the first signs of the return of private sector capex in India, with its infrastructure projects segment receiving domestic orders worth nearly 27,400 crore in the July-September quarter, 50% more than a year ago.

Investors will be keen to see whether the sharp rise in domestic orders in the previous quarter, indicating a pickup in private capex, was a flash in the pan or the beginning of a sustained trend.

L&Ts financials for the quarter are expected to be robust. Consolidated revenue for the three months to December (Q3 FY26) is estimated to grow 16% year-on-year to 74,875 crore, as per the consensus estimate of analysts at four brokerages. These are HDFC Securities, JM Financial, Motilal Oswal and Nuvama.

Profit is estimated to grow by nearly a third to 4,346 crore. Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization (Ebitda) are pegged to grow by more than a fifth to 7,659 crore.

"We believe that the margin has bottomed out for L&T. Legacy orders are getting executed and now new execution will have a much higher share of international orders, which will be margin accretive," said Amit Anwani, vice-president and lead analyst for capital goods, industrials and defence at brokerage PL Capital.

Beyond the headlines financial numbers, here are the top things to look out for in L&Ts earnings on Wednesday:

Also Read | Adani Powers India grid plan gains urgency amid Bangladesh tariff row

Middle East order inflows, management outlook

L&Ts order book stood at a record 6.67 trillion at the end of September, and the company indicated that it had an order pipeline of 10.4 trillion, giving clear visibility into revenue growth over the short term. It received the highest quarterly order inflow of 1.16 trillion during the quarter ended 30 September 2025.

The Street would want to see whether the company can sustain this momentum.

There are a few clouds that could cast a shadow over this growth story. Kuwait, for instance, is considering cancellation of tenders worth $8.7 billion in the oil & gas sector citing high budget estimates, as per media reports. Out of this, L&T was the lowest bidder for $4.5 billion orders. While these were not part of the companys order book yet, they were part of the companys quantified order pipeline of 10.4 trillion, as per analyst reports.

We have highlighted earlier that L&T is well placed in $4.5 billion worth of tenders in Kuwait. We do not have complete knowledge of L&Ts exposure to the projects that may be potentially cancelled," analysts at JM Financial noted on 13 January. The analysts underlined that some of the orders, even if cancelled, may get retendered after a re-assessment of project economics. However, this could lead to delay in award of projects in Kuwait, prompting them to cut their core order inflow estimates for L&T for FY26-FY28 by 5-6%.

Similarly, some early concerns loom over order inflows from Saudi Arabia, as per analysts from InCred Equities. Orders from the kingdom could moderate post FY27, as its construction industry growth slows, the analysts wrote in a note on 5 January. Saudis construction industry grew at a compounded annual rate of 24% during FY22-FY25. This rate could moderate to single-digits, in line with the countrys gross domestic product (GDP) growth rate, the analysts said.

This could have a significant impact on L&T, as Saudi Arabia accounts for three-quarters of the companys international infrastructure orders.

Also Read | JSW Steel sharpens expansion plan, lifts capacity target to 56 mtpa by FY31

Domestic private sector capex

L&Ts infrastructure projects segment received domestic orders worth 27,400 crore during Q2, marking the first instance in five quarters that the segment crossed the 20,000-crore order inflow.

We find that both private sector capital as well as infrastructure investments have shown an uptick. We do believe that the trend would continue going forward," said R. Shankar Raman, whole-time director and chief financial officer of L&T during a post-earnings media interaction. On private sector expenditure, he said that while there was an uptick in order receipts during the second quarter, it remains to be seen whether it turns into a trend.

International diversification, expansion in Europe

L&Ts overseas business is heavily concentrated in the Middle East, especially in Saudi Arabia. However, the company won its largest contract in late October in the Netherlands, marking its arrival in Europe, and potentially opening vast markets.

Investors will be looking for management commentary on whether the European order was a one-off or if they will be looking at expanding into the new geography, and how lucrative the margins will be.

The company won a contract for the development of high-voltage direct current (HVDC) converter stations that would integrate Dutch power company TenneTs offshore wind energy projects to the European grid. The project will be delivered in collaboration with Hitachi Energy, which will provide the equipment, while L&T will handle the engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) aspects.

L&T continues to drive long-term growth through international diversification (through) large order wins in Middle East and now Europe, moving up the skill curve (with) bid for 5th generation fighter aircraft and UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles, or drones), and through traditional businesses (domestic buildings and factories and thermal power generation)," analysts at JP Morgan noted on 3 November.

Also Read | Godrej Industries eyes wealth management push with fresh subsidiary

Defence, hi-tech manufacturing

L&T and Bharat Electronics Ltd (BEL) have formed a strategic partnership to bid for the Advanced Multirole Combat Aircraft (AMCA) programme. The 15,000-crore project is to develop five prototypes. The partnership combines L&T's engineering with BEL's defence electronics to challenge Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd's monopoly.

Larsen & Toubro and America's General Atomics Aeronautical Systems (GA-ASI) have joined hands to manufacture Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) remotely-piloted aircraft systems - unmanned drones in simple language - in India for the Indian Armed Forces. L&T will act as the prime bidder for 87 MALE drones, with GA-ASI providing technology transfer.

While the company has been a serious player in the defence sector for some time, these bids expand its technological capabilities into new territories and offer significant long-term revenue potential. Investors will be looking for management commentary on this segment.
*

EEOC plans major changes to pregnant-worker accommodation rules

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Conservative turn for the agency may affect ongoing cases

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Pregnancy discrimination and harassment still a priority, EEOC says

By David Hood-Nuno

WASHINGTON, Jan 27 (Reuters) - Nearly three months pregnant, Kennisha just needed to sit down. As assistant manager at a Sonic fast-food outlet on the outskirts of Dayton, Ohio, she sat on the only chair available to employees to ease her nausea, according to a complaint filed on Monday with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission under the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act.

Sonic allegedly denied her accommodation request around Thanksgiving to occasionally sit on the one chair other employees used for smoke breaks. She quit and started work elsewhere, with a few months left in her pregnancy.

"It does feel good to have a new job, but it's still in the back of my mind now," said Kennisha, who asked to be identified by her first name only due to fear of retaliation.

Inspire Brands, Sonic's parent company, did not provide a comment.

COMMISSION CHAIR MAY NARROW RULE The 2022 law requires employers to reasonably accommodate pregnant workers under EEOC regulations. But those rules may dramatically change under Republican EEOC Chair Andrea Lucas, who said in 2024 the regulations were written too broadly. Now, as chair since November and with a Republican majority on the commission, she has already begun a top-down makeover of the agency to reflect "a conservative view of civil rights," she told Reuters exclusively in December.

The final rules were written broadly to include as many scenarios as possible, experts and lawyers say. Any narrowing of the rules may expose pregnant workers to discrimination or deny them financial remedies in court, they said.

Lucas said in 2024 the rules erroneously included anything that "relates to any aspect of the female reproductive system," which likely refers to abortions and in vitro fertilization, experts said. Those protections are almost certainly on the chopping block, but pregnancy accommodation is an open question, they said.

Employers should "creatively and

proactively"

accommodate pregnant workers, she said in

a

16-page dissent

when the agency approved the rules

.

"The EEOC continues to prioritize and litigate pregnancy discrimination and harassment cases," an EEOC spokesperson said in a statement. The agency has not yet issued its 2026 regulatory agenda, a list of priorities agencies publish annually, but workplace lawyers expect changes soon. In January, the agency pared other policies in line with Lucas' conservative vision. About 2,700 pregnancy-related complaints were filed with the agency in fiscal year 2024, according to the most-recent data available.

Even if a case merits review under stricter rules, cases like Kennishas could be overlooked because of Lucas priorities to shift the EEOCs focus toward issues long-championed by conservatives, such as claims of discrimination against white men, said Inimai Chettiar, president of legal and advocacy group A Better Balance, which represents Kennisha.

"We do have some concerns on how rigorously the EEOC is going to be investigating these types of violations," said Chettiar.

PREGNANCY ACCOMMODATIONS

The rules cover a range of pregnancy-related physical and mental conditions. Employers can deny requests if they can show the accommodations would cause significant difficulty or expense.

"Efforts to weaken the PWFAs meaningful worker protections, which have been shown to reduce miscarriage rates by nearly 10 percent, are misguided," said Democratic EEOC Commissioner Kalpana Kotagal, in a statement to Reuters. "We should be standing up for women and families, not weakening their civil rights." After doctors for Willamina Barclay, now 38, classified her March 2025 pregnancy as "high-risk" following a miscarriage, supervisors at her Amazon warehouse in Rochester, New York, denied her requests to work lower-stress tasks, she said in an interview and in an EEOC complaint.

In June, Barclay said she experienced severe abdominal pain after lifting heavy objects. Eventually, she was allegedly wheeled away in a wheelchair in front of Amazon human resources staff and supervisors to a hospital.

Amazon ultimately fired Barclay because she overused unpaid time off in violation of internal policies.

We strive to provide a safe and supportive environment for everyone," said Amazon spokesperson Kelly Nantel in a statement. "Well keep listening to our teams and investigating any concerns they raise, and if we find that we got something wrong, we work hard to make it right.

Although the EEOC marked her case as possible for mediation, her lawyer said Barclay has to wait. Amazon is still deciding whether to meet and the agency may be considering an investigation and potential litigation in court  while also narrowing rules that could hurt her case.

But Barclay cannot wait: She is unemployed with a newborn baby boy.
Aditya Birla Group's metals company Hindalco Industries Ltd announced a major expansion of its aluminium operations in Odisha on Tuesday, 27 January.

The company plans to invest 21,000 crore in smelter expansion at its Aditya Aluminium complex in Sambalpur, and to commission a 1.7 lakh-tonne-per-annum Flat Rolled Products (FRP) and battery-grade aluminium foil manufacturing facility with a 4,500 crore investment, Hindalco said in a statement. The projects were inaugurated by the Chief Minister of Odisha, Mohan Charan Majhi.

These projects aim to be a prominent step towards indigenising critical raw materials for lithium-ion batteries in India, which will support electric mobility and energy storage ecosystems and enhance domestic capabilities in high-grade aluminium products, the company said.

Hindalco's capex plan The projects are part of Hindalcos broader growth capital expenditure plan, with approximately 37,000 crore allocated for Odisha's upstream and downstream aluminium operations. The investments made in the state form a significant component of the companys overall growth capex of 55,000 crore across India.

Hindalco is the leading flat-rolled products manufacturer in India, with over 50% market share. With about 40% of flat-rolled aluminium currently imported into India, expanding FRP capacity aims to reduce reliance on imports by nearly 50%, boosting domestic production and enhancing Indias competitiveness in high-quality aluminium products, the company said.

Also Read | Nifty 50 winners: Over 25 stocks outperformed the index in 2025

It further noted that the smelter expansion at Aditya Aluminium will also represent a significant step in energy transition, with part of its energy needs planned to be met by round-the-clock renewable energy (RE-RTC).

Speaking on the latest development, Kumar Mangalam Birla, Chairman, Aditya Birla Group, said, Indias manufacturing growth depends on integration, value addition and sustainability. Through Hindalco, we are building a fully integrated aluminium ecosystem that spans from upstream resources to high-value downstream products.

Also Read | Centre adds aluminium cookware, beverage cans to quality control import list

He added, Our long-standing partnership with Odisha continues to play an important role in this journey. This strategy strengthens Indias self-reliance, supports critical sectors, and accelerates the nations transition towards advanced, sustainable manufacturing.

Meanwhile, Satish Pai, Managing Director, Hindalco Industries Ltd, said, The FRP expansion and smelter growth at Sambalpur exemplify our integrated upstreamdownstream growth strategy. This enables Hindalco to deliver high-quality aluminium solutions across packaging, defence, electric mobility, renewable energy and advanced manufacturing, positioning us strongly to support Indias industrial ambitions while creating long-term value.
New Delhi: State-run Oil and Natural Gas Corp. (ONGC) has reached out to as many as 10 global energy players to participate in its tender for the role of technical services provider (TSP) to enhance production in its western offshore fields, Pankaj Kumar, director (production) at ONGC, said to mediapersons on the sidelines of India Energy Week.

The companies approached include UK-headquartered Shell, bp plc, French major TotalEnergies, and US oil and gas giants ExxonMobil and Chevron.

The plan to bring in TSP for other fields comes at a time when the oil and gas production has largely been muted.

In FY25, ONGC reported a 0.9% increase in standalone crude oil production to 18.558 million tonnes (mt) and a slight decline in natural gas production to 19.654 billion cubic metres (BCM).

We are now in the market for another TSP covering the Western Offshore, excluding Mumbai high field. The tender has been floated, and we have personally communicated with the CEOs of 10 major E&P (exploration and production) operators, including Shell, bp, Chevron, Exxon, TotalEnergies among others," Kumar said.

Bassein, Heera & Neelam fields and Panna-Mukta fields are key fields on the western offshore.

Queries emailed to Shell, bp, Chevron, ExxonMobil and TotalEnergies on Tuesday late evening remained unanswered till press time.

The national oil and gas major has already appointed bp plc as the TSP for its Mumbai High field. Last year, ONGC and bp signed a contract under which bp would serve as the TSP for the Mumbai High field, Indias largest offshore oil field.

According to the company, bp aims to increase oil production by 44% and gas production by 89%, leading to $15 billion of incremental revenue in 10 years.

Under the revival plan, ONGC and bp have split Mumbai High into six hubs for faster, optimized redevelopment. In the first phase, ONGC has already committed $400 million in capital expenditure. Under phase 2 of the Mumbai High field redevelopment, both companies have targeted 100 new wells in FY28 and FY29.

The companys board has approved a development scheme to produce 12 mt of oil and 13.5 BCM of gas in the next few years.

The UK-headquartered energy giant would work in close collaboration with ONGC to stabilize the fields current production decline and restore it to a robust growth trajectory. In August 2025, Arun Kumar Singh, chairman and chief executive officer (CEO) of ONGC said that study is currently underway for the planned enhanced oil recovery (EOR).

In November, ONGC reported that with persistent efforts towards increasing domestic production, ONGC has been able to achieve increasing trend" in crude oil production.

The standalone crude oil production during Q2 FY26 and H1 FY26 was 4.630 mt and 9.314 mt respectively, registering a growth of 1.2% over corresponding periods of FY25.

On the gas production front also, ONGC has been able to arrest the degrowth. The decline, which was 0.35% in Q1FY26 over Q1FY25 has been brought down to 0.04% in Q2FY26 over Q2FY25," it had said in a statement.

Also Read | ONGC considers foraying into regasified LNG biz as demand for natural gas rises

Through measures including enhanced oil recovery, the state-run company aims to save a total of 9,300 crore by FY27 through a number of cost-optimization measures planned by the company. The cost reduction would account for about 15% of the planned operational and capital expenditure cost of 62,000 crore during the period, the director (production) had said in October.

The company has set up a dedicated cost council in the wake of subdued oil prices and a projection of crude trading tepid around $60 per barrel in the next two fiscals. Offshore resource optimization, increasing drilling, efficiency, logistics route optimization, inventory reduction and increasing fuel efficiency are the government-owned companys key cost reduction initiatives.
French carmaker Renault SA believes the appointment of a French chief executive and the return of Duster, its former best-selling mid-size SUV, will be key to its revival in the Indian market.

Renault India's Stephane Deblaise, who took over as chief executive in September, is the only expat heading the operations of a major European carmaker in India. BMW, Mercedes, Volvo Cars, and Volkswagen Group all have Indians heading their domestic operations.

The decision to appoint 52-year-old Deblaise was part of the French auto giants strategy to give more power to the Indian team in global decision-making, according to Renault Groups chief growth officer Fabrice Cambolive.

Also Read | Ford and Renault team up in Europe to compete against low-price Chinese cars

We have to give power to the country. And if we want to give the power to the country, Stephane is perhaps in a position where he can impose that to the corporate side. Because he knows the corporate side," Cambolive told Mint in an interview. He's able to take the power and bring the power in India. This is very important in terms of management." The global growth officer added that the company doesnt have fixed rules on the matter of appointments, which primarily depend on market conditions.

It was important to have a very good diversity in the Indian team. And frankly speaking, when I look at all the structures, the head of engineering is an Indian. The operations are made by Indians for Indians. But Stephane will bring this capacity to empower the country," Cambolive added.

Japanese flavour

For more than a decade, Renaults operations in India have been led by Indian executives such as Sumit Sawhney and Venkatram Mamillapalle. While the latter remains managing director of Renault India, all Renault entities in the country report to Deblaise, who reports directly to Francois Provost, CEO of Renault Group.

Renaults playbook of bringing in an expat chief executive mirrors the structure of Japanese carmakers such as Maruti Suzuki, Toyota Kirlosokar and Honda Cars, all of which have Japanese executives heading operations in India. Korean carmaker Hyundai Motor India also followed the same script for more than two decades, before an Indian chief executive, Tarun Garg, took control in January.

Deblaise had several stints in Asian and Latin American markets with Renault, in countries including China, Brazil, and South Korea, before taking over as its chief executive in India. He told Mint his experience in the Asian markets and Brazil was proving useful in the Indian market as well, since customers in these markets are highly value-conscious when buying a vehicle.

View Full Image Renault India's Stephane Deblaise took over as chief executive in September. (REUTERS)

The market understands that we sell value. But that is difficult at a very good price. This is why we are fully integrated now. This is what we will do in the next few yearssell value at the best price on the market. It's a big lesson," Deblaise said.

Past master

One of Deblaises biggest challenges is ensuring the success of the Duster, which the French carmaker once again unveiled in India on Monday after production stopped in 2022, a decade after its debut in 2012. It faces competition from the likes of Tata Sierra, Hyundai Creta, Maruti Suzuki Victoris, Kia Seltos, and other best-sellers in the crowded market for mid-size SUVs.

Cambolive explained that the company has learned from the past success of Duster, as well as the reasons why it eventually had to discontinue the product. We have two big differences. The first one is that five years ago, we were not able to develop cars in less than five years. Now we are developing cars in less than two years. It is a game-changer," Cambolive said.

The second point is our capacity to use a dedicated platform extensively for several models with maximum flexibility. If I take the example of the Duster platform, you can build on smaller and bigger cars. It means you can feed the markets needs much more extensively than before," he added. Moreover, the introduction of hybrid technology in Duster could help attract more consumers, both executives added.

In March 2025, Renault announced that it had taken full control of the 480,000-units-per-annum manufacturing plant it operated with Nissan in Chennai. While the plant continues to aid the operations of both Renault and Nissan, the company believes it now has much more flexibility to make decisions on production and products.

Fighting irrelevance

Renault is attempting a turnaround after its market share slipped below 1% in 2025, a year in which retail sales dropped 10% to 36,420 units.

Analysts said Deblaises primary task is to figure out how to sustain momentum for the companys products. Gaurav Vangaal, associate director for light vehicle production forecast at S&P Global, said a lack of momentum after launching new products has been the key issue for Renault.

If we look at Renaults past, Duster did well in its first two years before sales started falling off as competition from legal OEMs (original equipment manufacturers) increased. The same story has repeated across its products, which is an issue the company has to resolve if it wants to increase its market share in the country," Vangaal said. He added that local management will have to be more aggressive in its sales strategy and build a good after-sales experience for customers if it wants the new Duster to succeed.

Also Read | Carmakers on edge over delays in notification of tougher emission norms
France has announced a plan to ditch American video meeting platforms such as Microsoft Teams and Zoom with a domestically developed alternative.

This move has sparked online debate, with Zohos co-founder, Sridhar Vembu, sharing his take on the matter, and calling for technology sovereignty as sovereign nations seek to assert greater control over their digital infrastructure.

In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Vembu compared recent time's Big Tech companies to the historical East India Company, praising Europes awakening to the risks of foreign tech dominance, while also taunting at the irony.

Vembus remarks were in response to another post that highlighted France's decision to phase out US-based platforms. The homegrown platform, known as Visio, will be fully implemented in government agencies by 2027. Visio will handle conferencing with data hosted on French provider Outscale, and transcripts or subtitles managed by local firms.

What did Vembu say? Commenting on the development, Vembu wrote, The very definition of a sovereign nation should now include technology sovereignty.

Big Tech now is the New East India company and Europeans are now waking up to it. History seems to rhyme with irony (sic), the former Zoho CEO said in the X post.

Vembu compares Big Tech to East India Company, suggesting that modern tech giants exercise control over markets through dependencies on data and infrastructure, similar to how the British and French once controlled India and other colonies, though he did not say it outright.

Netizens push for Indian alternatives Vembus post went viral, prmpting strong reactions from users and industry observers alike. Many users have urged him to accelerate the development and rollout of Zohos own privacy-focused tools.

Some of his followers questioned why Zoho isnt promoting Arattai and the rest of its utility software suite more actively in India.

Replying to these queries, Vembu said, We are updating Arattai weekly. We will make a big push once we reach a certain level of feature compatibility and differentiation. He added that achieving full tech sovereignty could take at least 5-15 years, citing complex technologies like EUV machines for semiconductors as examples.
Mumbai: Indias free trade agreement (FTA) with the European Union (EU)set to eliminate duties for labour-intensive sectors such as textiles and apparelcomes as a much-needed relief for Indian garment exporters battered by the USs punishing tariffs imposed last year. The deal offers exporters a rare opportunity to regain lost ground in a key global market even as they remain financially strained.

India and the EU on Tuesday announced conclusion of negotiations over an FTA that would see the EU drop tariffs on 99.5% of items India exports to the region.

The EU is a key market, accounting for a fifth of Indias $36.7 billion annual textile and apparel exports, per government estimates. Removal of the current 9-12% tariffs by the bloc across product categories would put India on an equal footing with its two largest competitors in the apparel export marketBangladesh and Vietnamboth of which already enjoy duty-free access to Europe.

Bangladesh exports textiles and apparels worth over $30 billion a year to Europe, given its classification as a least developed country, which gives it zero duty access, Piyush Goyal, minister for commerce and trade, said at a press briefing on Tuesday.

"Now, we see before our eyes a potential to grow from $7 billion to at least $30-40 billion very quickly in the textile sector alone, Goyal said. This will have a tremendous potential for job creation in India, he said.

The benefits from the FTA would accrue from the day it comes into force, which the minister said should happen before the end of 2026.

A surge in exports to the EU would help Indian garment manufacturers offset the impact of the 50% tariffs levied by the US, which is the country's largest apparel export destination.

In this market condition, the India-EU FTA has created an avenue for growth. All European customers have been waiting for this for many years, said Narendra Goenka, former chairman of Apparel Export Promotion Council (AEPC).

Tiruppur Exporters Association, the apex body representing knitwear exporters in Tiruppur in Tamil Nadu, has said the FTA will help India achieve its vision of taking annual textile exports to $40 billion by 2030 from $13 billion now. Exports from Tiruppur exceeded 44,000 crore in FY25.

This agreement marks a structural inflection point for Indias apparel exports, said Prabhu Dhamodharan, convenor of Coimbatore-based Indian Texpreneurs Federation (ITF).

The textiles segment comprises raw materials such as fibers, yarns, and fabrics used to make apparels or finished clothing.

Over the past five years, Indias exports to the EU have grown steadily in high-technology sectors, while labour-intensive segments such as apparel remained subdued due to competition from Bangladesh and Vietnam.
BENGALURU: From specialty dairy and cocoa derivatives to gourmet cheese, olive oil and condiments, Indias free trade agreement with the European Union announced on Tuesday is expected to make high-quality ingredients more accessible to domestic manufacturers that have historically faced high import costs, industry executives told Mint .

Specialized ingredients like olive oil, condiments like balsamic vinegar and mustard, dried fruits and tomatoes are certainly going to become cheaper. It will enable better ingredient access and global quality benchmarking," said Chirag Kenia, founder and managing partner of gourmet food brand Urban Platter.

Lower duties may also open the doors to exclusive partnerships and curated international tie-ups, bringing global appeal to Indian consumers, according to Gaurav Manchanda, founder and director of The Organic World, a Bengaluru-based retailer of premium groceries and packaged food.

Scale is meaningful only when it strengthens quality and builds long-term consumer trust. Hence, we will consider partnerships that align with our clean-label values and Indian consumption habits," Manchanda said, noting that a greater number of international brands will now eye a share of Indias retail market.

Reduced tariffs will allow us to explore sharper entry price points and niche global categories," Manchanda added.

From machinery to sweet treats, the India-EU FTA will bring over 30 cheaper products for Indian consumers. After almost two decades of on-off negotiations, the deal will pave the way for India to open up its vast and guarded market, the worlds most populous, to free trade with the 27-nation EU, its biggest trading partner.

Duties on olive oil, margarine and other vegetable oils have been slashed to zero from up to 45%, while duties on processed food including breads, pastries, biscuits, pasta, chocolate and pet food have been reduced to zero from 50%.

India imported edible fruit and nuts from the EU worth 1,582 crore in FY25, while import of cocoa and its derivatives stood at 886 crore, as per data from the ministry of commerce. Dairy produce worth 341 crore was imported during the year.

The agreement is expected to give companies more room to improve quality and experiment with new products, especially in the premium and gourmet categories, where ingredients and sourcing make a visible difference, according to Madhur Singhal, managing partner (consumer and internet) at management consultancy firm Praxis Global Alliance.

Competition to rise

At the same time, lower barriers for imported products will likely intensify competition, forcing companies to sharpen differentiation, pricing discipline and positioning in an increasingly crowded market.

Premium Indian food brands will face a double whammy. On the one hand, easier access to high-quality European ingredients raises consumer expectations around quality and experience. On the other hand, the same trade shifts make international brands more competitive on Indian shelves, at a time when premium consumption is already polarized and retail growth is uneven," Praxiss Singhal noted.

The Indian e-retail market has surged to about $60 billion in gross merchandise value, boasting the worlds second-largest online shopper base, thanks to premiumization and increasing traction from small-town India, according to a March 2025 report by Bain & Company.

Companies acknowledge the challenge.

As price gaps narrow, storytelling becomes even more critical. Differentiation will now be driven by sourcing transparency, formulation integrity and cultural relevance," said The Organic Worlds Manchanda.

Urban Platters Kenia added that competition will now intensify in the mass-premium price band, especially in categories like olive oil, olives, pasta, chocolate and ambient bakery, where imports move closer to everyday purchase. But Urban Platter plans to stay out of the price war.

We stay out of price wars by focusing on quality, clean formulations and Indian consumption relevance. Our strength is trust and repeat usage, not discount-led positioning," Kenia said.

Brands will now need to work harder to justify their premium, not just build it, according to Praxiss Singhal. Marketing strategies and product differentiation will now be key, he added.
NEW DELHI : The Centre is exploring multiple ways to make small-denomination currency notes more widely available, in a move to address a persistent shortage that has plagued everyday cash transactions nearly a decade after demonetization.

The proposal includes a new kind of currency-dispensing machine to issue 10, 20 and 50 notes on demand, a hybrid ATM that can exchange large notes for smaller denominations and coins, and a move to push the central bank to print more small denomination currency notes, according to two officials familiar with discussions within the government.

A prototype of low-denomination currency dispensing machines is currently being tested under a pilot project in Mumbai," the first official cited above said on condition of anonymity. Once approved, the system is expected to be scaled up nationally."

These machines will be installed at high-footfall public locations such as transport hubs, markets, hospitals and government offices.

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Another machinea hybrid ATMwould combine the functionality of a conventional ATM with a coin vending machine, the second official said, also requesting not to be named. These machines would allow users to exchange higher denomination notes for smaller banknotes and coins in a single transaction," this official added.

According to this official, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has already tested a hybrid ATM model at a Bank of Baroda branch in Mumbai.

The government is expected to take a call on wider rollout by banks in the coming weeks after reviewing the Mumbai pilot results and taking on board the RBIs feedback.

Queries emailed to the spokespersons of the ministries of finance, department of financial services, and the RBI on 22 January remained unanswered till press time.

Why small cash is necessary

The initiative comes amid growing public frustration over the lack of small notes for routine payments, and could reduce friction with merchants who often struggle to provide change for 500 notes, leading to transaction delays or forced rounding-off of prices.

The move is expected to benefit large sections of the population that continue to rely heavily on cash, particularly in urban informal sectors and semi-urban areas, where digital payment acceptance remains uneven.

Availability of small denomination currency is critical for the smooth functioning of the cash economy, particularly for daily wage earners, small traders and commuters," the second official said. The idea is to make lower-value notes and coins as accessible as 500 notes are today."

RBI data shows that 500 notes account for 41.2% by volume of currency in circulation and a dominant 86% of their total value.

In comparison, smaller denomination notes 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50together comprise about 38% of total currency by volume, but only about 3.1% by value. The balance is accounted for by 100 and 200 notes.

Devendra Pant, chief economist, India Ratings and Research, said having more small notes in circulation will help facilitate daily transactions, especially in rural areas where feature phoneswhich have low support for digital transactionsare still widely used.

Also, in rural settings, especially in interior parts, traders will have small volume and value of transactions per day. It is the governments responsibility and priority to improve ease of living," Pant said.

Early warning

The issue of an acute shortage of small denomination notes across large parts of the country, particularly in semi-urban and rural areas, was earlier flagged by RBI employees unions.

In December 2025, the All India Reserve Bank Employees Association (Airbea) urged the RBI in a letter to ensure adequate supply of small denomination notes, warning that while higher value notes such as 100, 200 and 500 were easily available, lower denominations were almost unavailable" causing enormous problems in public life".

ATMs dispense higher denomination notes only, and there is no provision for availability of small denomination notes," Airbea general secretary Samir Ghosh wrote to RBI deputy governor T Rabi Shankar.

Expert views

Some say machines alone dont offer a solution. The machines alone cannot solve the problem unless backed by adequate supply. Printing, logistics and recirculation of smaller notes will have to be scaled up in parallel," said a banking sector executive on condition of anonymity.

Industry experts also caution that the rollout must be carefully calibrated.

Also Read | Ashwini Vaishnaw showcases Indias first onboard train ATM

Addressing the challenge of limited small denomination currency is the right approach to take as a regulatorthe question is not whether the initiative is right, but at what scale it should be implemented," said Vivek Iyer, partner and financial services risk leader at Grant Thornton Bharat.

With the governments strong digitisation agenda, this initiative should ideally be deployed at select locations only, as a large-scale rollout could prove uneconomical for banks. The right approach would be to apply these models where digital infrastructure is still evolving, so that currency availability is balanced with the maturity of digital payments," Iyer said.

More money in the system

To be sure, the value of money in circulation has more than doubled since the days of demonetisation.

As on 4 November 2016, just days before demonetisation, currency in circulation stood at 17.97 trillion, according to RBI data, compared to 39.27 trillion as on 9 January 2026.

Of this 17.97 trillion, 500 and 1,000 notes accounted for 15.41 trillion or 86% of their total value and about 25% by volume. Smaller denominations of 100, 50, 20 and 10 banknotes accounted for over 74% of the volume then.
New Delhi: Rebalancing its oil import basket of the last three-four years, India is slowly yet surely moving away from the Russia Federation and turning back to its traditional crude oil suppliers in West Asia.

In doing so, Iraq, the no. 1 crude exporter to India from fiscal 2018 until FY2022 when the Ukraine war began, is back as a strong force in the Indian oil market and fast catching up with Russian supplies, latest data shows. Russian oil imports have been falling since recent US sanctions on two of its biggest exporters.

Iraq supplied 1.06 million barrels of oil daily (mbpd) in the first month of 2026 (until 20 January) as compared to 1.10 mbpd from Russia, according to Kpler, a market intelligence provider for commodities, energy, and maritime sectors.

This comes in the backdrop of refiners in India, the world's third largest oil buying nation, cutting back on Russian oil imports after US sanctions on Rosneft and Lukoil late in October 2025 in spite of discounts of up to $8 per barrel on offer. Such discounts, at a high of $30 a barrel in 2022, had China and India becoming the top buyers of Russian oil.

Also Read | Sanctioned oil trade booms in the shadows, aiding India and China

In FY25, Russian oil comprised about 35% of India's crude imports compared to about 2.5% prior to the Ukraine war. In FY22, Iraq accounted for about 26% of India's oil imports before it was dislodged from the top spot by Russia.

Easy supply swing

India imports nearly 90% of its oil requirement totalling to some $161 billion last fiscal. This momentum of growing imports is likely to continue with growing consumption projected at a record 252.9 million metric tonnes in FY26, according to Indias petroleum and natural gas ministrys Petroleum Planning & Analysis Cell. This marks a 4.65% increase from FY25.

As the US sanctions take hold, West Asia becomes the natural choice for Indian refiners, an expert noted. "Further, the large West Asian suppliers, including Saudi, UAE and Iraq have significant spare capacity, due to which they can ramp up supplies at a short notice," said Prashant Vasisht, senior vice president and co-group head, corporate ratings, Icra Ltd said.

Better rates on Iraqi crude compared to other West Asian sources help, an oil executive said. "Their OSP (official selling price) is in most cases better than that offered by Saudi Aramco, the UAE and other gulf countries," said an executive with a state-run refiner asking not to be identified.

Refiners also said that Iraq usually provides better terms such as longer credit period, ranging between 60 to 90 days.

Also, amid rising Iraqi imports, several Indian refiners have calibrated their operations to refine Basra Light crude grade produce in southern Iraq," said the executive. Basra Light is suitable crude variant for production of diesel, which is produced more by Indian refiners compared to petrol or aviation turbine fuel.

Russia tapers

Sumit Ritolia, lead research analyst for refining and modelling at Kpler said India's supply choices today reflect changing oil economics, supply chain predictability, and rising execution complexity around Russian crude, including shipping, insurance, payment pathways, and compliance screening. "The result is a clear rebalancing of Indias crude slate, with Middle East inflows rising as refiners prioritize supply reliability, flexibility, and smoother cargo execution," Ritolia said.

India is the worlds fourth largest refiner with an overall refining capacity of 258.1 million tonnes per annum (mtpa). This is expected to be further scaled up to 310 MTPA by 2029, when new capacity including Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd (BPCL)'s Andhra Pradesh refinery and Hindustan Petroleum Corp Ltd (HPCL)'s refinery in Rajasthan come up. They, in turn, will need to secure crude oil to refine.

Oil exports from Iraq to India have been rapidly increasing, with only a gap of 40,000 barrels a day (bpd) between supplies from Russia in January (until 20 January). In December, Iraq had supplied 904,000 bpd, 313,000 barrels lower than the supplies from Russia, which stood at 1.21 mbpd. In November, the gap was even wider at 884,000 barrels with Iraq supplying 952,000 bpd, compared to 1.84 mbpd by Russia.

Experts expect supplies from Russia would average around 1.2 mbpd in the January-March period compared to 1.8 million in the last four-five quarters.

The supplies from Iraq, which had taken the place of Saudi Arabia as the top source of crude oil for India in fiscal 2018, have surged above the 1 mbpd mark for the first time since May last year.

Other key suppliers from West Asia are Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) with supplies of 891,000 bpd and 385,000 bpd until 20 January. In December, Saudi Arabia exported 710,000 bpd (up from 655,000 bpd in November) to India, while UAE supplied 592,000 bpd.

De-risking, not replacing

According to a report by Finland-based think tank Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA) released on 13 January, Indias Russian crude imports recorded a sharp 29% month-on-month reduction in December to the lowest volumes since the implementation of the price cap policy. The cap was announced by the G7 in December 2022 setting a maximum price of $60 per barrel for Russian oil that could be paid by purchasers across the globe. Non-compliance could attract sanctions and other legal actions on the buyers and the financers involved. European Union has now lowered the price cap to about $44.10 per barrel.

Even while Russia seems to be fading away from the India crude supply map, prices and discounts will still play an important role, Kpler's Ritolia said. Energy security and diversification are shaping the narrative, but refinery economics still drives the decision-making. Indias January 2026 crude purchasing strategy is best described as de-risking, rather than replacing."

Russia remains in the system even if it is losing marginal share, he added.

Also Read | Venezuela unveils oil bill to attract investors, lift output

After the US intervention in Venezuela, the global oil market has faced further uncertainty with concerns of productivity of its oil wells balancing out expectations of new supplies from a country that has the world's largest crude oil reserves.

"If Venezuela opens up, it would be favourable for Indian refiners as it would give more options and the crude would be cheaper and several India refineries are now well equipped to refine the viscous crude (from there)," said Icra's Vasisht.

Apart from West Asia, the US (351,000 bpd in January so far), Nigeria (216,000 bpd), Guyana (210,000 bpd), Brazil (239,000 bpd) are some of the key suppliers to India. On Friday, the petroleum ministry announced that state-run BPCL will sign a term contract with Brazil's Petrobras to source 12 million barrels of Brazilian crude oil grades worth $780 million.

Queries emailed to the spokespersons of Indian Oil Corp Ltd, BPCL, HPCL, Reliance Industries Ltd, and Nayara Energy remained unanswered until press time.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday chimed the words of European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and called the agreement between India and European as the mother of all deals. Hailing the India-European Union Free Trade Agreement (FTA), PM Modi announced the signing of the historic deal. He said that it would open up massive opportunities for people and businesses on both sides.

Assuring that the deal will deepen future ties between two of the worlds largest economies, he said, Yesterday a big agreement was signed between the European Union and India. People are calling this the mother of all deals. This agreement will bring major opportunities for the public in India and Europe. This is a perfect example of a partnership between two major economies of the world.

Calling it a monumental achievement for two big economies of the world, he added, This agreement will bring major opportunities for the 140-crore people of India and the crores of people in Europe.

The Prime Minister further noted, The agreement represents 25% of global GDP and one-third of global trade. The signing of Free Trade Agreement marks the conclusion of long-pending trade deal negotiations.

PM Modi's decisive announcement came ahead of the historic 16th India-EU Summit which is scheduled to take place in Delhi today, 27 January. He is slated to convene restricted and delegation-level talks with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa. During the historic summit, both sides will formally announce the inking of the agreement.

Also Read | EU Commission chief dons Banarasi brocade bandhgala at R-Day celebrations

Following 77th Republic Day celebrations, chief guest Ursula von der Leyen emphasised the importance of Indias growth through a post on X: A successful India makes the world more stable, prosperous and secure. And we all benefit.

In another post she added, Europe and India are the worlds largest democracies, committed to working together to shape a new global order. This is why we are here to take our partnership to new heights.

India-EU trade deal to come into force next year A day before, Commerce secretary Rajesh Agrawal confirmed that India and the EU have successfully wrapped up talks. He also revealed that the formal announcement of the trade agreement will take place on Tuesday, January 27.

According to Rajesh Agrawal, the deal is expected to come into force next year after legal scrubbing of the text. It could take five to six months, for the deal to come into effect.
India-EU FTA: From cars, machinery to sweet treats , the newly concluded India-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA) will make at least 30 plus European products cheaper for Indian consumers.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi confirmed on Tuesday, that India and the European Union have finalised the long-awaited deal. According to an EU fact sheet, high tariffs of up to 44% on machinery, 22% on chemicals and 11% on pharmaceuticals will be mostly eliminated, apart from cut in trade duties on other products.

Which items get cheaper? Check full list Here's the full list of items ranging from machinery and electrical equipment to wine, beer, olive oil, sausages and other meet preparations that will get cheaper:

Product Current tariffs Future Tariffs Machinery and electrical equipment Up to 44% 0% for almost all products Aircraft and spacecraft Up to 11% 0% for almost all products Optical, medical and surgical equipment Up to 27,5% 0% for 90% of the products Plastics Up to 16,5% 0% for almost all products Pearls, precious stones and metals Up to 22,5% 0% for 20% of the products and tariff reduction for another 36% of the products Chemicals Up to 22% 0% for almost all products Motor vehicles 110% 10% (quota of 250k) Iron and steel Up to 22% 0% for almost all products Pharmaceuticals 11% 0% for almost all products Wine 150% 20% (premium range); 30% (medium range) Spirits Up to 150% 40% Beer 110% 50% Olive Oil, margarine and other vegetable oils Up to 45% 0% Kiwis and pears 33% 10% in-quota Fruit juices and non-alcoholic beer Up to 55% 0% Processed food (breads, pastries, biscuits, pasta, chocolate, pet food) Up to 50% 0% Sheep meat 33% 0% Sausages and other meat preparations Up to 110% 50%

The pact is expected to be formally signed after legal vetting, which is likely to take about 6 months. The European Parliament will also have to ratify it.

What's next, what is needed for the deal to come into force? According to the official release by the European Commission, here are the steps the EU still needs to take:

1. Publish negotiated draft texts.

2. Legal revision and translation into all official EU languages.

3. Propose the agreement to the Council for signature and conclusion.

4. Adoption by the Council.

5. Signing of the agreement between the EU and India.

6. European Parliament's agreement to the deal.

7. The Council's decision on concluding the deal (essentially allowing it to enter into force).

8. Once India also ratifies the Agreement, it can enter into force.

Mother of all deals Dubbing it as mother of all deals, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday hailed the India-EU FTA as he met European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa at the Hyderabad House in New Delhi.
India and the European Union (EU) finalised the free trade agreement (FTA) on Tuesday, 27 January. The proposed FTA, also referred to as mother of all deals, is the largest trade pact ever concluded by both sides.

According to the EU's official statement, the deal is expected to strengthen economic and political ties between the world's second and fourth-largest economies amid rising geopolitical tensions and global economic challenges.

The deal also comes at a time when US President Donald Trump imposed tariffs on trading partners. The Trump administration levied 50% tariffs on India last year amid a trade deal between the two countries. Meanwhile, Trump threatened to escalate his trade war with European allies over their opposition to a US takeover of Greenland, then reversed his stance.

Has India-EU free trade agreement been signed yet? Notably, the deal has not been officially signed yet. On Tuesday, 27 January, India and the EU announced the completion and finalisation of their free trade agreement negotiations. The agreement is expected to be signed later this year, PTI reported.

When will the India-EU FTA come into force? The proposed agreement could take effect early next year. The FTA negotiations began in 2007 and were concluded after 18 years.

What are the next steps for the deal to become effective? According to the EU statement, the following steps will be taken for the deal to come into force 

Publish negotiated draft texts

Legal revision and translation into all official EU languages

Propose the agreement to the Council for signature and conclusion

Adoption by the Council

Signing of the agreement between the EU and India

European Parliament's agreement to the deal

The Council's decision on concluding the deal (essentially allowing it to come into force)

After India ratifies the agreement, the deal can come into force.

Why has the FTA been called the mother of all deals? The announced FTA has been referred to as the mother of all deals. On Tuesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi echoed the words of European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and called the FTA mother of all deals.

A Commerce Ministry official told PTI that the India-EU trade deal is one of the largest bilateral trade deals concluded across the globe.

The official further noted that the China-ASEAN trade agreement is also one of the largest, but ASEAN is a grouping of 10 distinct Southeast Asian countries. Unlike the EU, they are not a customs union. The member countries are Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.

"So it's a huge deal in that sense," the official said.
Bogota , Colombia on Tuesday blasted Ecuador's decision to hike up transportation fees for Colombian oil, calling the move an act of aggression, as a trade war between the two Andean nations intensifies.

Ecuador announced Monday a tenfold increase in fees for Colombian companies using its oil pipelines, raising the rate from USD 3 to USD 30 per barrel.

The move would make it harder for oil companies in Colombia to use a pipeline that takes oil from western Ecuador and southwestern Colombia to ports along the Pacific Ocean.

One of the companies that will most likely be affected is Colombia's state-run Ecopetrol, which uses the pipeline to move more than 12,000 barrels of oil per day.

This is a new aggression against the people, said Colombian Energy Minister Edwin Palma.

Ecuador hiked its pipeline fees days after Colombia suspended electricity sales to its neighbour. The power cutoff was a major blow to Ecuador, which relies largely on hydroelectric power and suffered from serious power outages in 2024 following a spell of dry weather.

The trade war between the neighbouring countries started last Thursday, when Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa announced a 30 per cent tariff on Colombian imports.

Noboa, a conservative who has sought to deepen ties with the Trump administration, has described the tariffs as a security tax, saying last week on social platform X that Colombia was not taking firm actions to fight drug cartels that operate along their shared border and send cocaine to Ecuador.

Noboa said the tariffs would be in place until there is a true commitment on behalf of Colombia to fight drug trafficking and illegal mining.

Colombian officials have dismissed the accusations, noting that under the administration of Colombian President Gustavo Petro there have been record numbers of cocaine seizures. However, production continues to hit all-time highs, driven by increased lab efficiency and a surge in cultivated hectares.

Colombia's government responded to Noboa's tariffs last week by imposing its own 30 per cent tariffs on Ecuadorian imports.

Trade between both countries was worth approximately USD 2.3 billion last year, according to Colombia's statistics agency, with Colombia sending about USD 1.7 billion worth of goods to Ecuador, a nation that has about one third of Colombia's population.

Noboa's critics have said that the president is trying to find someone to blame for the nation's security problems.

Last week, Ecuador's Interior Ministry published crime stats for the country indicating it had a homicide rate of 50 murders per 100,000 residents in 2025, the highest rate in the nation's recent history.

Ecuador's homicide rate has quintupled since 2020, as drug gangs from Mexico, Colombia and further afield, fight for control of the nation's ports. The once peaceful South American nation, home to the Galapagos Islands, has become a major transit point for cocaine produced in Colombia and Peru. GRS GRS
The artificial-intelligence trade has proved resilient since then because a stream of more capable models continues to justify vast spending by U.S. companies. But Chinese AI models are threatening to capture more of the market in 2026, making it harder for U.S. leaders such as Alphabets Google, OpenAI, and Anthropic to cash in.

In January 2025, investors misread DeepSeeks purported $5.6 million training cost as evidence that expensive Nvidia chips were becoming obsolete and that large U.S. technology companies had overinvested in AI. Instead, what followed was a demonstration of Jevons Paradox: More capable and efficient models greatly increased demand for AI services, ultimately justifying the data-center build-outs by Microsoft, Amazon.com, and Google.

However, markets may now be overlooking another factor that makes DeepSeek and its domestic peers dangerous for Western rivals. Their models are often open source" or open weight," meaning they are free for users to download and modify, and cheap to use. That contrasts with U.S. companies, which generally maintain full control of their models and charge higher subscription fees.

While U.S. models such as Googles Gemini, Anthropics Claude or OpenAIs GPT remain leaders in complex reasoning, Chinese open-source models have captured around 30% of the working" marketspecifically in programming and roleplaywhere cost efficiency and flexibility are prioritized, according to a report by OpenRouter, an AI model marketplace.

Opening Up

Chinas open approach also accelerates AI development by allowing users to inspect the code and suggest improvements.

China seems to be taking a different strategy where if you open the weights and let this diffuse across society and allow it to accelerate research, that can help compensate for the fact that you may not be able to compete directly with companies like OpenAI or Anthropic," says Kyle Miller, a research analyst at Georgetowns Center for Security and Emerging Technology, in an interview with Barrons.

Estimates of how far Chinas models lag behind U.S. capabilities vary, but the average time frame tends to be around seven months before Chinese developers can match a new American release, according to the research institute Epoch AI. The gap tightened around the time of DeepSeeks R1 release early last year but has since widened again.

The U.S. lead has been sustained by enormous investment. Consensus estimates for capital expenditure by AI hyperscalersalmost all Americanput spending at around $400 billion in 2025 and more than $520 billion in 2026, according to Goldman Sachs Research. UBS analysts estimate that the combined capital spending of Chinas internet leaders was equivalent to around $57 billion last year.

Powering Ahead

Sustaining that pace faces obstacles, most notably power supply. New data-center designs require more than one gigawatt of power, equivalent to the capacity of a nuclear reactor. China now produces more than twice as much power as the U.S., and its centralized planning system can direct energy capacity toward AI faster than the decentralized American model.

We continue to favour Chinas approach to AI over that of the U.S. Chinas open-source models, combined with access to almost unlimited cheap power, make it a formidable competitor," wrote Christopher Woods, global head of equity strategy at Jefferies, in a research note this month. In this respect, the message from the DeepSeek moment early last year remains highly relevant, even though the U.S. stock market seems, for now at least, to have forgotten about it."

U.S. companies key advantage remains access to advanced AI chips from Nvidia. DeepSeek is developing the next version of its flagship model; the speculation is that it will arrive in mid-February, around Chinas Lunar New Year. After experimenting with chips from Huawei Technologies and other domestic vendors, it found the results unacceptable and turned to Nvidia GPUs for some of the training, The Wall Street Journal reported, citing people familiar with the matter. DeepSeek didnt respond to a request for comment from Barrons.

Chinese firms are nevertheless finding ways to advance within chip constraints. DeepSeek published research this month outlining a method of training larger models using fewer chips through a more efficient memory design.

We view DeepSeeks architecture as a new, promising engineering solution that could enable continued model scaling without a proportional increase in GPU capacity," wrote UBS analyst Timothy Arcuri.

Trump Tightrope

Export controls havent prevented Chinese companies from training advanced models, but challenges emerge when the models are deployed at scale. Zhipu AI, which released its open-weight GLM 4.7 model in December, said this month it was rationing sales of its coding product to 20% of previous capacity after demand from users overwhelmed its servers.

I dont see compute constraints limiting [Chinese companies] ability to make models that are better and compete near the U.S. frontier," Miller says. I would say compute constraints hit on the wider ecosystem level when it comes to deployment."

That is where President Donald Trumps plan to allow Nvidia to sell its H200 chips to China could be pivotal. Alibaba Group and ByteDance, TikToks parent company, have privately indicated interest in ordering more than 200,000 units each, Bloomberg reported.

With access to those chips, Chinese labs could build AI-training supercomputers as capable as American ones at 50% extra cost compared with U.S.-made ones, according to the Institute for Progress. Subsidies by the Chinese government could cover that differential, leveling the playing field, the institute says.

The think tank, based in Washington, D.C., notes the H200 outperforms any Chinese-produced chip, with a roughly 32% processing-power advantage over Huaweis Ascend 910C.

A combination of open-source innovation and loosened chip controls could create a cheaper, more capable Chinese AI ecosystem. The possibility is emerging just as OpenAI and Anthropic consider public listings and U.S. hyperscalers such as Microsoft and Meta Platforms face pressure to justify heavy spending.

Rather than a new DeepSeek moment," the bigger threat is likely to be a slow realization that Chinese companies are structurally undercutting American rivals, triggering a revaluation of U.S. technology stocks.

Write to Adam Clark at adam.clark@barrons.com
JOHANNESBURGFor years, hundreds of illegal miners known locally as zama zamas prospected for gold on this patch of land on the outskirts of the city with hammers and chisels in hand-dug tunnels.

Now, the site has been transformed into South Africas first new underground gold mine in more than 15 years, part of a global rush to boost production of a metal trading at record prices.

It looked like a Mad Max movie," said Rudi Deysel, chief executive of West Wits Mining, the Australian company that owns the mine. I had to crawl on my stomach to go in there."

Around $100 million of investment is pouring into the mine, where workers now sport hard hats, carry emergency breathing devices and use advanced drills and other equipment. The project, called Qala Shallows, recovered its first gold in October and is estimated to produce more than $4.5 billion of the metal at current market prices.

Gold futures settled above $5,000 for the first time on Monday, driven by heightened geopolitical concerns among other factors. The precious metal has more than doubled in value in less than two years.

The surge has boosted profits for mining companies around the globe, encouraging them to restart old mines, expand existing operations and develop new projects. Global gold-exploration budgets increased 11% to $6.15 billion in 2025, according to S&P Global Energy.

View Full Image Rudi Deysel, chief executive of West Wits Mining, explains the planned expansion at Qala Shallows.

View Full Image The shaft entrance at the mine, whose depth of around 200 feet is expected to multiply in the years ahead.

Newmont, the worlds No. 1 gold miner, put its Ahafo North mine in Ghana into commercial production in October. Barrick Mining, the No. 2 gold producer, is this year expected to start underground development of its Fourmile project in Nevada.

In South Africa, the gold boom is breathing new life into an ailing sector. The country was the gold capital of the world for much of the 20th century, churning out nearly half the gold bullion and jewelry ever produced. But since 2007, South Africa has slid from its long-held position as the worlds No. 1 gold producer to No. 12 after struggling to attract investment.

Investors view South Africas aging, deep mines as dangerous, expensive and fraught with labor issues. Soaring wagesthanks largely to strong unionsand unmechanized operations make the cost of mining an ounce of gold in the country among the highest in the world.

View Full Image Chart: WSJ

West Wits first sought funding for Qala Shallows around 2021, but struggled. Investors, they didnt even want to speak to us," Deysel said. They just dont like South Africa."

That changed when gold prices began to rally, he said. The project secured funding from a local bank, a development-finance institution and an American mining-finance firm among others.

The new mine, just 10 miles from downtown Johannesburg, has advantages over other South African projects. Apropos of its name, Qala Shallows currently reaches around 200 feet, with a planned depth of close to 2,800 feet. Thats a quarter the depth of the countrys deepest mine.

The project is also using modern technology. In the pitch black of the mine, mud-splattered men with headlamps drill into the rock in two-man teams, using hydro drills with long, thin nozzles that shoot out pressurized water to loosen the ore. The mines break-even point of $1,291 an ounce is lower than many of South Africas big mines, which typically operate deeper underground in more challenging conditions.

View Full Image Deysel greets miners as he surveys the operation below ground.

View Full Image Hydro drills are among the tools helping Qala Shallows workers dig efficiently.

Production from Qala Shallows wont be a game changer for the South African gold industry on its own, but its a positive sign of how record prices are giving a new lease on life to a staid sector.

Harmony Gold, the countrys top gold producer, is expanding its Mponeng minethe worlds deepestin a move that will more than double its expected lifespan to 20 years. Meanwhile, Sibanye-Stillwater, the No. 2 producer, is considering reopening its Burnstone mine.

The industrywide rush to boost capacity is presenting challenges. Its harder to find skilled labor and there is now a lengthy wait list for equipment, said Deysel, a geophysicist and mining engineer who has previously worked at various mines across Africa.

West Wits, which also has a gold and copper project in its home market of Australia, hurried Qala Shallows into production a year ahead of schedule to capitalize on skyrocketing prices.

This was all done with a view to create a very quick cash flow," Deysel said, surveying the shipping containers serving as offices, changing rooms and a lamp roomwhere workers don headlamps before heading undergroundabove the entrance to the mine.

The zama zamas who previously extracted gold from Qala Shallows were encouraged to move along to other local spots outside of West Wits license area.

Qala Shallows payroll is expected to more than double to 400 miners by the end of the year.

View Full Image Qala Shallows' annual gold output is projected to rise more than 10-fold before the end of the decade.

View Full Image A pile of high-grade ore mixed with debris lies at the site on the edge of Johannesburg, before the next stage of production.

The mine is projected to recover about 6,000 ounces of gold in 2026, before rising to some 70,000 ounces a year by 2029. It is expected to have a life of some 17 years.

The South African gold mining sector has just suffered headwind after headwind over the years," said Izak Odendaal, an investment strategist at fund manager Old Mutual. Now, to finally get this kind of boost from the gold price is phenomenal."

Write to Alexandra Wexler at alexandra.wexler@wsj.com
U.S. trading partners, feeling burned by an unpredictable and transactional White House, are reassessing China in a drive to lessen their longstanding reliance on America.

From Canada to Europe and South Korea, Americas postwar allies are scouring the globe for alternative markets. Some are weighing closer ties to China, the worlds second-largest economy after the U.S., even as they worry about Beijings economic and military might and the risk of U.S. retaliation.

President Trump on Saturday threatened 100% tariffs on Canadian goods if the country makes a deal" with China, highlighting how the worlds middle powers are increasingly under pressure to choose between what many of them view as bad options.

The threat came after Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney this month announced a sharp cut in Canadas levies on Chinese-made electric vehicles and touted a new strategic partnership" with China. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent later suggested to ABC News that Trumps threat related to a broad free-trade deal with Chinasomething Carney says Canada isnt pursuing.

Carney isnt alone in taking tentative steps to mend ties with China. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer will travel to Beijing this week to meet with Chinese leader Xi Jinpingthe first visit by a U.K. prime minister in eight years. South Korean President Lee Jae Myung said recently that he wants a full-scale restoration" of ties with China.

Others are more skeptical. The European Union said recently that it is open to price floors as a replacement for tariffs on Chinese EVs, although policymakers in the bloc remain hesitant about any broader rapprochement and havent backed down in other areas.

Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo is due to meet with Xi in Beijing on Tuesday, and German leader Friedrich Merz is expected to travel to China next month.

Few expect a return to the more optimistic period of Sino-Western relations before Xi came to power in 2012, when both sides were bullish about trade and investments.

Instead, many capitals have launched delicate hedging exercises to stop relations with Beijing from deteriorating further. The hope is that China opens its domestic markets, imports more foreign goods and continues to invest across Western nations.

As countries deal with a less predictable U.S., Its not that China becomes more attractive, but it becomes more necessary," said Mikko Huotari, executive director of the Berlin-based Mercator Institute for China Studies.

That contrasts sharply with Trumps first term in office. At Americas urging, many countries across the West put relations with China in the deep freeze amid concerns about economic espionage, intellectual-property theft and the destruction of industrial heartlands caused by a flood of ultracheap Chinese imports.

Beijings support for Russias war in Ukraine and Chinas pressure campaign on Taiwan remain significant barriers for U.S. allies weighing closer relations. Japan and China are locked in a dispute over Taiwan after Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi suggested her country could be dragged into war if China pushes to seize the island.

China has also shown its willingness to use trade to apply political pressure, including with last years restrictions on rare-earth exports.

Other U.S. allies arent dismissing Chinas risks. But Trumps tariffsand his recent push to pry Greenland from Denmarkare nonetheless encouraging some to reconsider how they engage with Beijing.

The gain for China could be substantial, including driving a wedge between the U.S. and some of its most historic allies.

Carney said this month that Canada would allow 49,000 Chinese-made EVs to enter the country at a sharply lower tariff rate, and that Beijing would lower its levies for Canadian canola oil. He also talked about a new strategic partnership with China that he said reflects the world as it is today."

In the U.K., the British government smoothed the way for Starmers trip to Beijing by approving the building of a new Chinese mega embassy in London. The project had been put on the back burner following the purchase of the old Royal Mint building in London in 2018, after relations between China and the U.K. soured over Chinas treatment of Hong Kong, a former British colony.

Britain also restarted trade talks with Beijing last year, after a yearslong hiatus.

The EU has been more reticent. The bloc adopted a tougher stance on China in recent years, through a policy it refers to as derisking, and opened dozens of trade investigations into Chinese imports. Beijings curbs on rare earths and the fallout from a recent fight for control of Dutch chip maker Nexperia also eroded European trust.

But in a move China welcomed, the bloc recently issued guidance for EV makers to apply for a price floor as an alternative to tariffs. The guidance said the EU will consider companies proposals on a case-by-case basis, but doesnt guarantee that levies will be lifted.

In many cases, Western allies economic exposure to America is too large to be replaced by China. The EU sent about $630 billion worth of goods to the U.S. in 2024, according to the blocs data, accounting for roughly one-fifth of total shipments. Exports to China were less than half of that, at about $250 billion.

The EU has focused most of its trade diversification efforts on reaching deals with a range of middle powers. It signed a trade pact with four South American countries this month and could announce a deal with India as soon as this week. The U.K. and Canada have also sought to boost trade with other partners.

The push to look beyond the U.S. and China partly reflects a concern that allies could be caught between the two economic powers. Some worry that Trumps planned summit with Xi, expected in April, could lead to a deal that runs against their interests or undermines agreements they have already made.

U.S.-China relations are increasingly driven by Trumps relationship with Xi rather than any coordinated effort with allies, said Kyle Chan, a fellow with the Brookings Institution.

Theres no longer a clear, concerted strategy to address the common challenges that many countries face" on trade and security issues with China, Chan said.

Write to Kim Mackrael at kim.mackrael@wsj.com and Max Colchester at Max.Colchester@wsj.com
However, it could weigh in on the renegotiation of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada trade pact this year and possibly scuttle it.

Trump over the weekend threatened 100% tariffs on all Canadian imports if Canada signed a free-trade pact with China. The threats came after Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney described a rupturing in the global world order in a speech at Davos and urged countries to unite amid the U.S.-China rivalry.

The speech came on the heels of Canada striking a limited, preliminary trade pact with China that would lower tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles and Canadian agriculture including canola oil. It was a move to rebuild the relationship, which has been strained in recent years with tariffs and other restrictions.

Carney this weekend stressed that Canada wasnt seeking a free-trade pact with China and described the threats as the U.S. positioning ahead of the renegotiation this year of U.S.-Mexico-Canada trade pact.

Analysts played down the prospects the tariff threats will turn into reality. 100% tariffs would immediately cripple the Canadian economy but also immediately destroy the U.S. auto industry, prevent all the minerals and metals that come into the U.S. and impact the farm lobby, with 90% of the potash the U.S. exports coming from Canada," says Chris Hernandez Roy, deputy director of the Americas Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

Canada has been trying to diversify its trade, with the U.S. accounting for more than 75% and China just 5%. Roy said the Canadian delegation had alerted the Americans of its trade plans with China and he expects the Canadians to increase back-channel dialogue to ensure the Americans understand that the China deal is limited in scopewith the lowered tariffs on electric vehicles only affecting about 2% of Canadas autos.

A spokesman for the Canadian embassy didnt immediately respond to a request for comment.

Analysts see the bigger point of contention coming as Canada enters renegotiations of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada trade agreement struck in the first Trump term. Henrietta Treyz, head of economic policy research at Veda Partners, sees the U.S. pushback as a precursor to the White House trying to withdraw from USMCA in favor of bilateral relationships with Canada and Mexico.

Treyz says U.S. companies know implementing such a withdrawal will take years, with companies aggressively lobbying in coming months to protect their supply chains after spending decades integrating them across the three countries. The pact represents the bulk of trade between the U.S. and Canada and a breakup would create volatility for an array of manufacturersnot just automakers but also those making airplane parts and other industrials, as well as anyone reliant on metals or energy as inputs.

Leading up to the talks, there could be more frictionincluding more talk of Canada as the 51st state. Roy is closely monitoring a separatist movement in oil-rich Alberta trying to force a referendum. The movement is still in a minority but Roy says it is worth watching what the Trump administration says about it. Supporting such a movement, he adds, would run counter to U.S. foreign policy for the last 40 years that has firmly opposed any breakup of a NATO ally.

Write to Reshma Kapadia at reshma.kapadia@barrons.com
SEOULPresident Trump sowed fresh doubts this week about the staying power of his trade deals with a vow to resurrect tariffs on South Korea despite an accord reached last fall.

Trump said Monday that South Koreas reciprocal tariff rate, as well as levies on autos and other key sectors, would rise back to 25% from their current 15%. He cited delays in South Koreas legislature approving a pact struck in late October with the countrys president, Lee Jae Myung. Trump didnt say when the tariff increases would occur.

Seoul officials said Trumps move took them by surprise. They convened an emergency meeting and diverted South Koreas industry minister, on a visit to Canada, to Washington, D.C.

Trumps reversal underscores the asymmetry of his tariff deals: While they exist with him at the executive level in the U.S., in other countries, signoff often must flow through legislatures and regulatory bodies.

The Trump administration has struck more than a dozen trade deals, with the European Union, Japan, the U.K. and various Latin American and Southeast Asian nations. Nearly all arent legally binding. Most are a page or two long.

Many deals, including those with the EU and South Korea, havent yet won final legislative approvala move that typically takes many months, if not years. Others, such as with the U.K. and Japan, didnt need a full parliamentary vote to be completed.

Waiving tariffs on American products, for instance, can require a nation to amend its tax code and establish fresh regulations. The brevityand breakneck speedof many of the new trade deals with the U.S. have left ambiguities that vex swift approvals. Political divisions in many nations are adding further delays.

Trump would like everyone else to be able to snap their fingers and respond with the speed he currently does," said Deborah Elms, head of trade policy at the Singapore-based Hinrich Foundation. That is not true in most other countries. That is not a process allowed in most other places."

The legality of the tools Trump used to impose many tariffs now sits with the Supreme Court, which could provide a ruling next month. That uncertainty has prompted some countries to be patient on landing deals with the U.S. or completing them. The lack of Congressional involvement also means a future American president could reverse course.

The potential reversal of South Koreas pact follows similar Trump tariff threats aimed recently at Canada and several European nations. The European Parliament last week temporarily froze its approval process for last summers EU-U.S. trade deal in response to Trumps threat of tariffs on countries that opposed his efforts to take control of Greenland.

Trump called off those threats, and lawmakers are set to re-evaluate the situation next week, said Bernd Lange, who chairs the bodys international trade committee.

Big trading partners had offered the Trump administration a mix of trade concessions, state-backed investment and market access. In return, they got a lowering of U.S. tariffs.

That was the arrangement for South Korea, which pledged $350 billion of U.S. investments, plus commitments to buy American energy and other concessions, in return for tariffs dropping to 15% for most of its exports.

A joint fact sheet outlining the accordwhich didnt spell out a timeline for legislative approvalarrived in November. The final steps from there soon became politically contentious.

Lees left-leaning ruling party, which controls the 300-seat legislature, argued that ratification was unnecessary because it was a leader-level agreement. The opposition conservatives, citing the large investment figure, demanded legislative approval because the state was assuming a significant financial burden.

The stalemate has lasted for months.

In lieu of ratification, Lees Democrats have proposed creating a state body that would oversee South Koreas investments into the U.S. That bill remains at the committee level.

It doesnt appear likely that South Korea will back away from the trade deal in protest, though pressure to deliver on a first U.S. investment will rise, said Choi Byung-il, president of a trade strategy unit at the Bae, Kim & Lee law firm in Seoul.

Trump is tossing the ball to the Korean side: You guys hurry up and do something," said Choi, a former South Korean trade negotiator.

Write to Timothy W. Martin at Timothy.Martin@wsj.com
Brian Niccol hopes so.

Starbuckss chief executive spent his first full calendar year on the job plowing millions of dollars into improving the experience of Starbucks stores through barista training, outfitting stores with ceramic mugs and replacing faulty power outlets. He rewrote the guidebook for greeting and serving consumers, restricted cafe bathrooms to paying customers and returned condiment bars to the public. And he closed hundreds of U.S. locations.

Now Niccol is going further. He wants to install more comfortable seating at hundreds of U.S. locations and make it simpler to pick up drinks. He aims to better keep food in stock, wants the chain to offer superior customer service, and thinks the messages written on cups can be meaningful, too.

Investors want to know how his strategy will translate into growth. Starbucks has had a long stretch of stagnant sales, and the chains core profitability last year fell to some of the lowest levels since the pandemic.

Starbucks said that the work is starting to pay off, with record sales days during November holiday promotions, and new products helping to attract customers. The chains shares are up around 16% so far this month, outpacing a 4% increase for an S&P 500 subindex of restaurant stocks.

View Full Image Chart: WSJ

Niccol is set to unveil his longer-term financial goals Thursday during his first investor meeting as CEO. Heres a look at his Starbucks overhaul, from the front door to customers follow-up reviews.

Going to the cafe

Starbucks isnt as ubiquitous as it once was: The chain runs around 10,000 U.S. locations, about 400 fewer than it did last summer, company figures show.

Niccol has pledged to expand the companys U.S. footprint again, and Starbucks said it is testing a new cafe design that is smaller and cheaper to build.

At the same time, Niccol is contending with labor strife that is causing some stores to close for stretches. The Starbucks Workers United union, which represents several hundred U.S. cafes, has held periodic strikes at cafes since November, resulting in temporary closures and limited hours. The strikes have slowed this month, but a handful of store closures have continued.

A Starbucks spokeswoman said it wants to reach a fair agreement and is ready to return to the bargaining table. Starbucks Workers United said that the union wants a fair contract that responds to workers concerns over pay, hours and other issues.

Welcoming customers

Niccol wants Starbucks baristas greeting every customer who walks in. The company is holding trainings this month to emphasize its expectations, including eye contact with customers and meaningful phases written on to-go cups, according to baristas. One word expressions or smiley faces scrawled on cups with Sharpies wont cut it, some workers said.

A Starbucks spokeswoman said its service standards are helping baristas make great drinks and connect with customers. The experience feels warmer, more welcoming," she said.

Niccol has a model in mind for the warm vibe Starbucks should offer: the Central Perk coffee shop featured in Friends."

I do firmly believe that even if you want to come and grab and go, youd rather grab and go from a place, than a soulless experience," Niccol said in an interview at The Wall Street Journal CEO Council in December.

Delivering your order

Niccol has pledged to speed up service, filling both in-store and drive-through orders within four minutes. Starbucks said it has installed new technology to better sequence orders, and the company is testing ways for customers to place orders for a scheduled pickup time.

Baristas should hand off every drink directly to customers with a smile, and quickly correct any customer problems, Starbucks has said. And cafes cant run out of food.

View Full Image Thoughtful messages on customers to-go cups, written by the barista.

Id go to a store at 9 a.m., and thered be no breakfast sandwiches," Niccol said. Stores now have more local control over their supplies, helping to lessen shortages, he said.

Paying and rating

Surveys show that cost is one of the biggest reasons consumers scale back on Starbucks visits. Niccol held off on price increases during his first year at the company and hasnt specified beyond that. The chain will keep a close eye on how consumers react if Starbucks pushes up menu costs in the future, Niccol said in October.

Starbuckss profit margins dropped last year but could improve in 2026 after the removal of steep Trump administration tariffs on coffee imports.

Niccol wants local store managers to be accountable for their cafes, and recently implemented a new grading system for individual locations. Starbucks is assessing email feedback from customers and using technology to comb through Yelp and Google reviews.

A key connection

Niccol himself is keeping in touch with another key constituent: Howard Schultz. The former three-time CEO no longer has an executive position at Starbucks, but remains chairman emeritus. Schultz was involved in 2024 when Starbucks ousted former CEO, Laxman Narasimhan, and hired Niccol.

Niccol said he talks to Schultz monthly, looking to him for counsel from his decades leading the chain. They dont agree on everything, Niccol said, but nor do spouses.

These are healthy tensions," he said.

Write to Heather Haddon at heather.haddon@wsj.com
MUMBAI: The European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA), the European Unions financial markets regulator, on Tuesday said it has entered into an agreement with the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to exchange information for the recognition of Indian central counterparties (CCPs), more than three years after a standoff began over domestic clearing houses.

This agreement marks a significant step towards restoring access for EU clearing members to Indian central counterparties and follows two years of sustained engagement between ESMA and RBI, ESMA said in a statement.

The announcement comes the same day India and the European Union (EU) signed a free trade agreement, expected to double EU exports to India.

The dispute originated from differences between RBI and ESMA over granting supervisory access to Indian clearing houses. In October 2022, ESMA withdrew recognition of six Indian clearing housesClearing Corp. of India Ltd, Indian Clearing Corp. Ltd, India International Clearing Corp. Ltd, NSE Clearing Ltd, NSE IFSC Clearing Corp. Ltd, and Multi Commodity Exchange Clearing Corp. Ltdafter a prior agreement with Indian regulators expired.

ESMA had sought to revise the pact, but Indian authorities resisted giving supervisory powers to inspect Indian clearing corporations.

The previous memorandum of understanding (MoU) had lapsed in March 2022, and ESMA initially deferred the derecognition plan until 30 April 2023. Under the new agreement, the Clearing Corp. of India Ltd (CCIL), a CCP established in India and supervised by the RBI, can re-apply for ESMA recognition.

Also Read | RBI, ESMA near solution for bond settlement issue

It reflects ESMAs strong commitment to international supervisory cooperation and mutual support to advance safe, resilient and open financial markets, the ESMA statement said.

Separately, RBI noted that the new agreement replaces an earlier MoU signed on 28 February 2017. The MoU establishes a framework for ESMA to place reliance on RBIs regulatory and supervisory activities while safeguarding the European Unions financial stability.

The derecognition threatened to raise costs for European banks that use these clearing houses for their trades. A new agreement means that a reprieve can be expected.

This effectively provides regulatory relief for European banks by easing the risk-weighted asset burden. Earlier, because CCIL wasnt recognized under EU jurisdiction, global banks were forced to allocate disproportionately high RWAs (risk-weighted assets) for doing business in India, making the cost of operations unviable and returns unattractive, a senior foreign bank official said.

Since CCIL is central to virtually all India-linked transactions, there was no practical alternative route for banks. That pressure has now eased. While this is clearly positive for European banks, it doesnt materially move the broader market, as this segment was never large enough to create systemic dislocation even when the restrictions were in place.

The head of one of the six clearing houses derecognized by ESMA said it has to wait for formal communication from the regulator before taking the next set of steps.

We just came to know from press statements today and have received no official communication. Unless that happens, we are not sure how this move will impact us and whether the clearing house will have to reapply, the person said.

Following the 2008 financial crisis, the EU implemented the European Market Infrastructure Regulation (EMIR) in 2012 to enhance transparency and reduce risks in the over-the-counter derivatives market. Article 25 of EMIR requires CCPs or clearing houses servicing European banks abroad to be approved by ESMA.
Nationwide Bank Strike Highlights: Operations at public sector banks like SBI, PNB, BoB and Canara bank are expected to be disrupted as a host of employee unions have called for a nationwide bank strike on Tuesday, 27 January.

The nationwide SBI, PNB, BoB bank strike today is expected to add to the issues of common people, who saw bank holidays for the past three days due to the fourth Saturday, Sunday and the national holiday on 26 January for Republic Day.

The disruption in bank operations are set to come as the United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU) has to go ahead with the nationwide strike on January 27 to press for the immediate implementation of a five-day work week.

Which banks will be affected?

Services such as cash deposits, withdrawals, cheque clearances, and administrative work are expected to be hit at branches of public sector banks (PSBs), including State Bank of India (SBI), Punjab National Bank (PNB), and Bank of Baroda.

Which banks will not be affected?

However, operations at major private sector lenders like HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank, and Axis Bank are expected to remain largely unaffected as their employees are not part of the unions that will be going on strike.

Follow along for SBI, PNB, BoB nationwide bank strike LIVE Updates
For much of last year, discounted Russian oil made up the lions share of Indian purchases, a financial lifeline for Moscow that also shaved billions off New Delhis import bill. Then came US threats, tariffs, sanctions  and months of disruption.

But against the expectations of many in the market, those Russian flows have proved remarkably resilient. With discounts widening and a US trade deal still elusive, the new normal could include significant purchases well into 2026.

The world has become more challenging, in spite of the fact there is no shortage of energy globally, Indian Oil Minister Hardeep Puri said on Friday, at an event marking the countrys most high-profile gathering of energy officials, to be held in Goa this week. The Russian crude quandary is likely to be a key topic of conversation, along with the coming global gas supply surge and a nuclear renaissance.

The market, Puri added, is the determining factor for Indias oil moves.

Washingtons pressure has of course made itself felt. India, which took most of its crude from the Middle East until the invasion of Ukraine in 2022, has sought to rebalance, edging back to some of those traditional suppliers. Bharat Petroleum Corp. is among those that have sought to lock in long-term Middle East volumes, with tenders issued for Abu Dhabis Murban, Iraqi Basrah and Oman crude. Indian Oil Corp., meanwhile, has expanded purchases in the spot market.

But with the price of benchmark Urals crude for India on the decline as a result of US sanctions on major producers, Russian purchases are hard to resist. Even Reliance Industries Ltd., which has so far taken a conservative approach, has placed new orders for non-sanctioned cargoes.

IOC, BPCL, as well as sanctioned refiner Nayara Energy Ltd., continue to buy Russian crude.

We know that oil will always find a way, said Arne Lohmann Rasmussen, chief analyst at A/S Global Risk Management. The combination of US sanctions and the EU ban on products derived from Russian crude is taking a toll on imports and is increasing demand for non-sanctioned crude. But I strongly doubt that India will give up importing Russian oil.

At the peak, India was taking more than 2 million barrels a day, a level that fell to around 1.3 million barrels a day in December, a figure thats likely to remain stable this month. But analysts and traders involved in the purchases say the flow is very unlikely to drop to near zero as many forecast back in October, after the US blacklisted Russian crude giants Rosneft PJSC and Lukoil PJSC.

India is likely to maintain a healthy baseload of Russian crude, said Naveen Das, senior crude oil analyst at analytics firm Kpler Ltd., along with expanding dealing with Middle Eastern suppliers and exploring growth opportunities like non-sanctioned Venezuelan barrels.

India will continue to look out for the best prices and best margins for its refiners, strategically changing its buying slate while also dropping Russian imports slightly as it already has done.

There are only a handful of reasons for that dynamic to change, beyond continued challenges to Russias own exports, including from Ukrainian attacks.

One is a looming trade deal between India and the United States. Should a final agreement be signed, that could prompt New Delhi to take a more conservative stance. US President Donald Trump said at the World Economic Forum in Davos last week that the two countries would have a good trade deal, but provided no detail.

Key Takeaways India's oil imports from Russia are expected to remain stable despite sanctions.

The country is diversifying its oil sources while still capitalizing on discounted Russian crude.

Future US-India trade agreements could impact India's stance on Russian oil imports.

Another is the need to tend to other trade and political relationships, beyond long-standing ties with Russia  and New Delhis desire to continue diversifying sources of supply as refining capacity continues to expand. According to government forecasts, that figure could rise to 309.5 million tons a year by 2030 from 258 million tons today. Puri said last week that India now has 41 sources of supply, up from 27 a few years ago.

Finally, Indias options have increased substantially with the global oil market in a glut  even if other barrels are not coming at a discount.
NEW DELHI: The Niti Aayog has called for a new mechanism to decarbonise Indias vast micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME) sector to help exporters meet green product requirements as Western economies roll out carbon-linked trade barriers.

In a report dated 22 January, the government think tank proposed setting up a National Project Management Agency (NPMA), offering viability gap funding (VGF), rolling out a rooftop solar scheme for MSMEs, and identifying clusters to adopt cleaner manufacturing practices. The effort is critical for a sector that contributes 45% of Indias exports, 30% of economic output, and employs around 330 million people. Mint explains the plan being firmed up with the MSME ministry and what it means for small businesses.



Why is there a need to decarbonise MSME operations?

MSMEs need to decarbonise operations to remain competitive in exports, with steep trade barriers related to cleaner manufacturing practices kicking in in Indias export markets. For instance, the EUs carbon border adjustment mechanism (CBAM), a mechanism to curb less sustainable imports into the EU, began its definitive phase from 1 January.



To fulfil the green level product requirement of developed countries and regions, especially Europe and the Americas, etc., MSME processes (manufacturing, etc.) need to be decarbonised," the report said.

The government is looking to bridge the gap between MSMEs, which may have lesser resources to shift to more sustainable operations, according to the report. Upcoming regulations may necessitate changes to manufacturing processes or products and reshape long-term marketing strategies, affecting supply chains, insurance costs, and increasing financial and political risks," the report said.

The report identified five key subsectors  textiles, paper, steel re-rolling, foundry and forging  that can contribute significantly towards improving energy-efficient manufacturing for immediate action. Some MSME clusters in the same sectors are also the most electricity-intensive, and have been identified for the green electricity roadmap.



What solution does the government propose?

For starters, the governments think tank and the MSME ministry have called for the creation of the NPMA, and have given a broad mandate to this body. The NPMA will herald this decarbonisation plan by working with MSME clusters and industry associations to aggregate demand for energy efficient machinery, green power generation, and alternate fuels.



For retrofitting and replacing old machinery in MSME clusters with more energy-efficient machinery, the government plans to identify implementation agenciesenergy services companies (ESCOs)after the NPMA aggregates demand for the same. ESCOs will cover the upfront costs of this new machinery, and MSMEs can repay ESCOs from the savings created from reduced operation costs, the plan said.



The plan will also provide incentives to manufacturers of energy-efficient technologies, with a 6,000 crore VGF proposed for them.

The MSME ministry along with the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) will identify 6-7 technologies which can provide more than 20% savings for businesses, and manufacturers of these technologies will be eligible for the VGF support, according to the plan.



For green electricity generation, the plan proposed a 7,000 crore scheme for the installation of rooftop solar in MSMEs up to 3 kWh, along the lines of the new and renewable energy ministrys PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana.

Also Read | How Indias new export mission targets MSME credit and market gaps

Under this flagship scheme, the government provides subsidies for the installation of rooftop solar units, as well as low-interest, collateral-free loans. The proposed rooftop solar scheme for MSMEs will run for five years and target 1-1.5 million enterprises, according to the 22 January report.



Also, the plan called for Renewable Energy Service Companies (RESCOs) to install solar energy facilities in MSMEs, reducing the upfront cost for small businesses, and giving them access to affordable green power.



The MSME ministry will also work with the Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB) to facilitate the adoption of natural gas in MSME clusters instead of coal, pet coke, furnace oil, etc, which result in higher greenhouse gas emissions.



What steps has the government already taken for the MSME sector's green transition?



This is not the first time the government has attempted to aid the countrys MSMEs for greener operations. One such solution was the launch of two schemes under the MSME ministrys green portal  MSME-Gift (Green Investment and Financing for Transformation) and MSME-Spice (Scheme for Promotion and Investment in Circular Economy). Both schemes were launched in December 2023, with a cumulative outlay of 950 crore. While the Gift scheme is slated to end in March 2026, the Spice scheme will run till March 2027.

Under the Gift scheme, which has an outlay of 478 crore, micro and small enterprises can avail benefits in two waysinterest subvention and risk-sharing facilities. Under the Spice scheme, the government provides a capital subsidy for circular economy projects in brownfield projects.

How will the switch impact MSMEs?

Adapting to cleaner manufacturing practices is expensive for cash-strapped MSMEs, according to experts.



Gurudas Nulkar, professor and director, Centre for Sustainable Development at the Gokhale Institute of Politics and Economics, earlier told Mint that Indian MSMEs will bear the brunt of carbon taxes imposed by importing countries, and will have to cut down emissions to be eligible for exports.

Indias manufacturing sector MSMEs operate on thin margins and low working capital, making the energy transition a challenge, he added.








Panna, Madhya Pradesh: This place is a magnet for troubled souls," said Ram Kumar Gupta. You wouldnt be here if life was smooth." Gupta spoke on the condition that no photos or videos would be shot. We are respectable people. I dont want anyone in my village to know that I am toiling here."

The conversation took place in Krishna Kalyanpur village in Panna district, about an hour and a half away from the medieval Khajuraho temples, a Unesco World Heritage Site in Madhya Pradesh famous for its intricate sandstone carvings and explicit sexual imagery.

Panna is also home to a tiger reserve, spread over 1,500 sq. km, as wildlife enthusiasts and Instagram scrollers know.

What is less known though is that Panna is the only location in India where diamonds continue to be mined.

But, despite its ancient glory and mineral deposits (which also include limestone, used to produce cement), Panna is among the poorest districts in India; it belongs to the back-of-beyond Bundelkhand region, a hub of extreme poverty and distress migration straddling parts of Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh.

This place is a magnet for troubled souls. You wouldnt be here if life was smooth.  Ram Kumar Gupta

Diamonds are mined through both mechanized and artisanal methods. Gupta belongs to the lot of artisanal miners and operates a micro, open-cast mine. Before taking up this backbreaking work last November, he ran a transport business from the neighbouring Chhatarpur district. Guptas six trucks plied across states. A string of accidents and mishaps, however, led to a bankruptcy and left him with debt of over 40 lakh.

There was only one way out.

If Gupta could find a diamond in the shallow mines of Panna, his financial troubles would vanish overnight. In 2025, a few did land a fortune. Among them was a farmer from Panna, Swamidin Pal, who found a 32-carat diamond in his field. The piece was auctioned for 2.21 crore.

Half a volleyball court

Any Indian citizen can try their luck in Panna. From the diamond office, one can lease an 8m by 8m parcel of land, less than half of a volleyball court in size, for a nominal fee of 200 for a year.

Then begins the grind. Using rudimentary hand tools, one has to remove the top soil and keep diggingthe deeper the better. Usually, these man-made craters are between 8ft and 10ft deep. Some hire an earthmover to do the job and also use rented drilling machines to blast large stones. The smaller chunks of sandstone are broken by hand, using hammers.

The unearthed layers of gravel nestled between rocks are collected carefully. These are sieved and washed to remove soil particles. The gravel is laid out on an even and clean surface to dry. Then one has to carefully look through the gravel to find any sparkling piece of stone that could be a diamond.

Its physically draining work and years of effort often yield absolutely nothing. People like Gupta will end up spending 1-1.5 lakh in less than a year. This includes the rent of basic accommodation in a nearby village ( 2,500 per month) and food expenses. Some deploy hired labour for the job, but the poorest often stay on site in makeshift tents. These flimsy structures look as if they will be blown away by a heavy gust of wind.

When desperation meets greed

Some give up within days, particularly those who are drawn to Panna after seeing YouTube reels of someone striking it big," Gupta said. I will be here till December. By the grace of god, I might find a piece."

The plot where Gupta is mining his tiny patch is part of a land parcel of less than 100 acres, next to a water body. Among others exploring this patch, which resembles a battle zone with craters and giant chunks of unearthed sandstones, is a motley crowd: a former carpenter who left his vocation after an accident damaged his fingers and left him neck deep in debt; a frail old couple in their 60s digging in the hope of finding a diamond that will pay for the construction of a temple back home; a local sanitation worker who has been trying his luck for decades, without success.

In a way, Panna evokes a microcosm of emotions: desire bordering on greed and an unwavering faith that divine providence can turn ones life around.

View Full Image Santosh Harijan, a 48-year-old sanitation worker from Panna, has been looking for diamonds for decades, without any success.

I havent found one (diamond) in more than 20 years. But today is a new day. Anything can happen," said a spirited Santosh Harijan, a local sanitation worker. Hes been at this job since he was a child. The price of his obsession? At 48 years, Harijans feet resemble the dark yellow of the soil he turns. He could not afford to educate his children. They are now casual workers surviving on day wages. His daughter is waiting to be married. Harijan hopes a diamond will be his redemption. But when one considers the costs he incurs every season plus the foregone wages, his entire life appears to be a gamble, chasing a mirage.

Andha kaam

Natural diamonds were formed deep within the Earths mantle under extreme heat and pressure, which force carbon atoms to bond together tightly, creating the hardest natural material known to mankind. Diamonds, which were formed between one and three billion years ago, were transported to the surface of the earth by violent volcanic eruptions, via what is known as kimberlite pipes. These carrot-shaped pipes, which transport magma, are the primary source of natural diamonds.

As these kimberlite pipes were weathered and eroded over millions of years, the deposits were carried downstream by rivers. The floodplains and riverbeds adjoining the kimberlite deposits form a secondary source of diamonds, which are mined by artisanal explorers.

Some Panna residents also mine their own farmland and use hired labour, bringing in business partners who share the costs of mining, in exchange for a share of the diamonds value. Puran Pal, for instance, found a 7-carat piece in 2024 on his farm plot in Sarkoha village.

View Full Image Chhote Lal and his wife Simia, both in their 60s, came to Panna from the neighboring Chhatarpur district to find a diamond to fund the construction of temple back home.

The piece went for 16 lakh at auction. But after paying his seven partners and accounting for the hired labour, Pal was left with almost nothing.

"They work the earth knowing ye kaam bilkul andha hai, like trying to find a needle in a haystack, blindfolded.

Besides, the likelihood of finding a piece in these secondary deposits is lower when compared to kimberlite sources. The odds are stacked against artisanal miners like Gupta and Pal. They work the earth knowing ye kaam bilkul andha hai," like trying to find a needle in a haystack, blindfolded.

Diamond-officer-in-chief

When a leaseholder finds a piece, it is deposited in the office of Ravi Patel, the district mining officer in Panna. Every year around 500 leases are issued to artisanal miners, said Patel.

The proceeds from the auction are deposited in the finders bank account, after deducting 11.5% royalty and another 1% tax deducted at source.

Patel said that annually, between 300-500 carats of diamonds from Panna are deposited with the state government, which earns less than 1.5 crore in royalties. He agrees that the chances of finding a diamond in secondary sources such as riverbeds is extremely low. The entire artisanal mining industry, therefore, is a loss-making venture, particularly for destitute miners who stake years of their lives and earnings in the hope of striking it rich.

View Full Image Local and migrant workers mining the riverbed of Runj, an under-construction dam site, in Panna.

Then, why are licences still being issued? If artisanal mining with legal leases is barred, explains Patel, the risk is that all activities will go underground. This will lead to a black market and illegal trade with unaccounted cash.

One cannot rule out violence. This is why we encourage miners to deposit diamonds at the mining office and not sell in the black market," Patel said.

Yet, an estimated 300-500 carats a day are sold in the illegal market. These come from unauthorized mines operating in Pannas forest areas or from riverbeds where mining licences are not issued.

The governments mine

Currently, the only mechanized diamond mine in India is operated by the central government-controlled NMDC Ltd in Majhgawan, about 15km from Panna town. The mine, situated in the buffer zone of the tiger reserve, has been sourcing diamonds since the early 1970s from the kimberlite primary deposits.

This is the irony of Panna: mechanized mining aided by advanced tools is an unviable venture, yet artisanal miners are allowed to work shallow mines with hand tools.

The project has an annual production capacity of 84,000 carats. However, except for a few years, the diamond project has never been commercially viable since its inception, said a senior NMDC official, who did not want to be named. Still, the project continues, subsidized by the public sector undertakings profitable iron ore mining operations in other locations.

This is the irony of Panna: mechanized mining aided by advanced tools is an unviable venture, yet artisanal miners are allowed to work shallow mines with hand tools.

Interestingly, the only viable project never took off. In 2017, global mining giant Rio Tinto abandoned a diamond mining project in Bunder, in neighbouring Chhatarpur district, following long years of delay in getting environment clearance. The Bunder kimberlite deposits were estimated to contain over 27 million carats, the largest in India.

Land of the Koh-i-Noor

The global trade in diamonds originated from India, likely as early as the 4th century BC, according to some historians. Until the 1700s, India was the only source after which Brazil emerged as a supplier.

The famous Koh-i-Noor diamond, weighing over 105 carats, is believed to have come from the Golconda mines in present day Andhra Pradesh. It passed hands multiple times, from the peacock throne of Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan to the crown worn by British queens where it remains now.

The more modern history of the diamond trade has its epicentre away from India. In 1866, the discovery of diamond deposits in Kimberley, South Africa, made it the leading global supplier, displacing limited supplies from India and Brazil. By 1900, De Beers South African mines controlled an estimated 90% of the world market.

The later entrants, which dominate the market now, are mines in Botswana, Russia (facing economic sanctions due to the Ukraine war), Canada and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

India is a negligible supplier of diamonds today but processescuts and polishesover 90% of the worlds rough diamonds.

Blood vs sweat diamonds

In the 1990s, the United Nations coined the term blood diamonds to describe diamonds that had fuelled and funded brutal civil wars in diamond-rich areas in Angola, Congo and Sierra Leone.

The extremely limited supplies from Panna are not products of conflict, but can be termed sweat diamonds mined by desperate people mired in debt and extreme poverty. If anything, these artisanal miners have one less reason to continuerough diamond prices had crashed 40% by 2025 from the highs of 2021-22, due to competition from cheaper lab grown diamonds and a pile-up of natural diamond inventory with sellers.

View Full Image Rajendra Vishwakarma, a former carpenter, is hopeful that a diamond will help him repay a debt of over  30 lakh.

However, word of these changing industry dynamics is yet to reach the riverbed of Runj in Panna, where a medium-scale dam for irrigation is under construction.

On a wintry January morning, the riverbed is a hub of frenetic activity. On the edge, two friends cook breakfast over firewood, before starting the days work. They are daily wagers from Rajasthan and Telangana, who befriended each other in this elusive quest.

A little further away, Shankar Adivasi, 27, who lost his farm and home to the Runj dam, has already begun working the riverbed. He has been at it for six years, without any success. His four children, all less than five years of age and born in quick succession, are yet to attend school. The family lives in a flimsy tent next to the riverbed.

Through the day, Shankar keeps digging, removing large chunks of stone and gravel. Every night the pit fills with water from the riverbed. So, he has to begin his day by removing the accumulated water with a plastic bucketa Sisyphean task that he repeats every day.

View Full Image Shankar Adivasi working on a mining pit on the Runj riverbed while his daughter plays alongside.

How long will he continue to do this? Will he ever find a diamond? Like many other fortune hunters of Panna, Shankar has a cryptic response: Theres a divine debt all of us owe. When mine is repaid with hard labour, I will find one."
Gold Rate Today: As gold prices continue to surge globally, billionaire investor Ray Dalio has offered a stark explanation for why the rally may be far more than a cyclical move.

In a widely shared video posted on X by user @thexcapitalist, the Bridgewater Associates founder laid out a thesis that links rising geopolitical tensions, ballooning sovereign debt and deepening distrust in global leadership to what he described as a historic shift in the monetary system.

Dalio argued that the world is entering a phase marked by big imbalances and big interdependencies, where capital flows are no longer governed purely by economic efficiency but by political risk. According to him, the US requires massive inflows of foreign capital, while foreign holders of that capital are increasingly worried about access, sanctions and policy unpredictability.

There are big imbalances and big interdependencies. The US needs a lot of capital and countries are worried that the capital they own could be cut off, and that dynamic is already showing up in central banks shifting to gold and building up reserves, Dalio said, adding that such behaviour has historically accompanied periods of major conflict.

Why central banks are choosing gold over fiat currencies Dalio believes this shift is already visible in the actions of central banks, which have been steadily increasing gold reserves while reducing exposure to US debt. In his view, this move is not just about the US dollar, but about the fragility of the entire fiat currency system.

In one of his strongest warnings, Dalio said the world is moving away from a dollar-centric system toward a multipolar reserve framework. He believes central banks are actively diversifying their reserves to reduce reliance on any single country or currency.

Its the beginning of the end of the monetary system as we know it. Its not just the US dollar  its fiat currencies across the UK, Europe, China and Japan, all facing similar debt problems, Dalio said. He argued that these shared pressures are pushing policymakers toward an asset that cannot be debased through money printing.

Gold, Dalio said, is being chosen not for yield, but for credibility. Gold has always been the main currency. Its the only non-fiat currency  in other words, not something that can be printed, he explained, underscoring why central banks see it as a neutral store of value in an increasingly fragmented world.

Dalio also linked this trend to rising political conflicts and tariffs, which he believes are eroding trust in US leadership. According to him, trade wars may grab headlines, but capital flows  particularly moves away from US Treasuries  could have a far more profound impact on global markets.

According to Dalio, this is why golds rally should not be dismissed as speculative excess. Instead, he views it as a structural repricing driven by official institutions rather than retail investors. Were seeing central banks buying a lot of gold and reducing their holdings of dollars, and thats why were having this generational rally in gold, he said.

Gold Rate Today In the international market, gold prices remained elevated after crossing a key psychological threshold in the previous session. Spot gold rose 1% to $5,065.07 per ounce as of 0329 GMT, after hitting a record $5,110.50 on Monday. US gold futures for February delivery edged lower by 0.4% to $5,059.90 per ounce, reflecting some profit-taking at record levels.

Who is Ray Dalio? Ray Dalio is the founder of Bridgewater Associates, the worlds largest hedge fund, and one of the most influential macro investors of the modern era. Known for anticipating major economic turning points, Dalio has long studied debt cycles, monetary systems and the rise and decline of global powers. His frameworks on big debt crises and long-term monetary transitions are widely followed by policymakers, central banks and institutional investors worldwide.
Cement pricing disappointed in the December quarter (Q3FY26), but UltraTech Cement Ltd still delivered a comfortable earnings beat. Consolidated Ebitda rose 27% quarter-on-quarter to 3,916 crore, beating consensus estimates, even as grey cement realizations fell about 3%. Strong volume growth and lower costs lifted Ebitda per tonne to 1,007 from 914 last quarter.

The driver was scale and cost discipline. Cement volumes rose 15% sequentially to 38.9 million tonnes, including contributions from India Cements and Kesoram, signalling market share gains. At the same time, UltraTech is becoming less sensitive to pricing swings as costs decline. Of the planned 300-350 per tonne savings over time, about 86 per tonne was delivered in FY25, with cumulative savings by FY26 expected to cross 100 per tonne, providing a cushion against uneven industry pricing.

Also Read | UltraTech cements its leadand looks to build on it

Pricing, meanwhile, has begun to firm. January saw hikes of 6-8 per bag, translating into a net realization uplift of roughly 3-4 per bag as the peak season approaches.

Capacity expansion remains on track. UltraTech is set to add 8-9 million tonnes per annum (mtpa) in Q4 and another 12 mtpa in FY27, taking total capacity to around 235 mt by FY28. Capex guidance for FY26 is 10,000 crore. Net debt-to-Ebitda stood at about 1.08x at December-end, with management indicating this should ease to around 0.80.9x by March-end.

Also Read | Cement makers focus on volumes amid flat prices, rising competition

The next test is integration. Acquired assets, India Cements and Kesoram Industries, still trail UltraTechs core profitability. Management expects margins at both assets to improve meaningfully over FY27-28, driven by cost actions and the completion of brand transition by June, alongside improving pricing in the southern market. If this plays out, consolidated margins could expand even without a broad-based pricing recovery.

Investors will closely monitor regional competition and the pace of improvement at acquired units.

The resurgence of competitive intensity (potential impact of about 185 mtpa capacity addition over FY26-28E) restricts the potential for a higher multiple," said ICICI Securities. It values UltraTech stock at 18x FY27 estimated EV/Ebitda and Hold rating with unchanged target price of 12,300.

What works in UltraTechs favour is clear: falling costs, improving asset quality and visible volume growth. For investors, the question is no longer when cement prices recover, but whether UltraTech can keep converting scale into earnings. If it does, any pricing recovery would only add upside.
By Georgina McCartney

HOUSTON, - Oil prices settled 3% higher on Tuesday as producers reeled from a winter storm that hobbled crude production and drove U.S. Gulf Coast crude exports to zero over the weekend.

Brent crude futures settled up $1.98 or 3.02%, at $67.57 a barrel. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude settled up $1.76 or 2.9%, at $62.39 a barrel.

U.S. oil producers lost up to 2 million barrels per day or roughly 15% of national production over the weekend, analysts and traders estimated, as a severe winter storm swept across the country, straining energy infrastructure and power grids.

Severe weather has boosted crude futures, with short-term risks tilted to the upside on fears of supply disruptions, said Fawad Razaqzada, market analyst at City Index.

"The cold weather in the U.S. will likely cause quite significant drawdowns in oil stocks over the next few weeks, particularly if this weather persists," said Tamas Varga, an oil analyst at brokerage PVM.

Exports of crude oil and liquefied natural gas from U.S. Gulf Coast ports tumbled to zero on Sunday amid frigid weather, ship tracking service Vortexa said.

Exports rebounded on Monday with flows coming in above seasonal norms as ports reopened, said Samantha Santa Maria-Hartke, head of market analysis at Vortexa.

Kazakhstan's biggest oilfield, Tengiz, is likely to restore less than half of its normal production by February 7 as it slowly recovers from a fire and power outage, two sources familiar with the matter told Reuters.

"The recovery of Tengiz production seems to be happening slower than earlier expected, keeping the oil market tighter," said Giovanni Staunovo, an analyst at UBS, adding that the weaker U.S. dollar was lending some support.

However, the CPC, which operates Kazakhstan's main exporting pipeline, said it returned to full loading capacity at its terminal on the Russian Black Sea coast after maintenance was completed at one of its three mooring points.

SUPPLY RISKS PERSIST DUE TO MIDEAST TENSIONS

A U.S. aircraft carrier and supporting warships have arrived in the Middle East, two U.S. officials told Reuters on Monday, expanding President Donald Trump's capabilities to defend U.S. forces, or potentially take military action against Iran.

"With Trump saying last week that the U.S. has an 'armada' heading towards Iran, geopolitical tensions are rising, and that is keeping oil prices supported in the near-term outlook," said Razaqzada of City Index.

Tensions between Tehran and Washington coupled with no news on the Ukraine-Russia peace deal are keeping a floor under crude, said Dennis Kissler, senior vice president of trading at BOK Financial.

Meanwhile, OPEC is set to keep its pause on oil output increases for March at a meeting on February 1, three OPEC delegates told Reuters.
As the Union Budget 202627 approaches, Indias gems and jewellery industry is calling for a mix of demand-boosting measures, tax rationalisation and structural reforms to navigate price volatility, global trade uncertainty and evolving consumer preferences. Gold and silver prices have been trading at record high levels, making jewellery costlier for consumers.

Gold prices have rallied around 17% this year so far, adding to a 64% jump in 2025, supported by sustained safe-haven demand, robust central bank purchases, US monetary policy easing and record inflows into exchange-traded funds. Silver prices saw a 147% surge last year.

Industry leaders believe targeted policy support could help sustain domestic consumption, unlock household gold value and strengthen Indias position across global jewellery and diamond markets.

Despite sharp volatility in gold and silver prices, consumer demand has remained resilient, albeit more calibrated, underscoring jewellerys role as both an emotional purchase and a store of value.

Suvankar Sen, MD & CEO of Senco Gold, says affordability will be key in the coming year, especially as gold prices remain elevated. He highlights the need for regulated small-ticket EMI options for gold jewellery and a review of the current 3% GST rate to ease the burden on consumers and encourage greater participation in the formal market.

Given Indias household gold holdings of close to 24,000 tonnes, continued policy focus on innovative mechanisms to mobilise physical gold can help unlock significant long-term value for the economy, Sen said.

He also calls for a review of the 6% gold import duty, alongside focused vocational training for karigars, greater technology adoption and flexibility for SEZ units to serve domestic demand.

From an export and manufacturing standpoint, Mangesh Chauhan, Managing Director of Sky Gold & Diamonds, says the industry is seeking pragmatic reforms to reduce costs and improve ease of doing business amid a challenging global trade environment.

A key priority is rationalising import duties on gold, silver, platinum, coloured gemstones and other essential inputs, as lower input costs would enhance export competitiveness. Simplification of customs procedures through faster clearances, risk-based checks, and digital documentation would reduce delays and lower logistics costs for exporters, said Chauhan.

Also Read | Budget 2026: Morgan Stanley points out key reforms needed in various sectors

On the domestic side, Chauhan advocates streamlining GST on jewellery, including a reduction to around 1%  1.25%, to boost formal sales and widen the tax base. He also flags the early rollout of the Tourist GST Refund scheme at major airports as a key measure to retain luxury spending within India.

Additional support for skills development, infrastructure in export clusters, and industry formalisation will further strengthen Indias position in global markets. In aggregate, these measures can stimulate domestic demand, safeguard jobs, and sustain export growth amid external uncertainties, Chauhan said.

Following last years reduction in gold import duty, M.P. Ahammad, Chairman, Malabar Group, expects policy continuity in the upcoming Budget 2026, with potential for further calibrated cuts.

"Steps to make the gold monetisation scheme more attractive would mobilise idle household gold, reduce import dependence, and support macroeconomic stability. A growth-oriented Budget that enhances disposable income, eases credit for the trade and continues infrastructure-led development will strengthen organised retail and generate employment," said Ahammad.

Diamond Segment In the diamond segment, industry leaders are calling for differentiated and balanced policy support. Jignesh Mehta, MD and Founder of Divine Solitaires, says geopolitical uncertainty and price volatility continue to weigh on the natural diamonds industry. He urges the government to rationalise the 5% import duty on cut and polished diamonds and coloured gemstones to 2.5%, which could boost exports, employment and local manufacturing.

Natural diamonds hold great value as emotional purchases as well as lucrative long-term investments and the recent BIS notification clearly differentiating natural from lab-grown diamonds was a step in the right direction for the industry, instilling trust and transparency in buyers. The current environment calls for a balanced policy approach, one that stimulates domestic demand, strengthens the organised jewellery ecosystem and allows the natural diamond industry to continue contributing meaningfully to Indias consumption economy and export growth, Mehta said.

At the same time, lab-grown diamonds are emerging as a sunrise segment. Anand Lukhi, Founder & CEO of Lukson, believes Budget 202627 should recognise the segments strategic importance through duty rationalisation on raw materials and equipment, incentives for advanced manufacturing, and easier access to credit for MSMEs.

Equally important is investment in design-led skilling and technology adoption, ensuring India moves up the value chain from volume-driven exports to high-value branded jewellery, he said.

Highlighting the rising consumer preference for contemporary, lightweight diamond jewellery and increasing design-led demand, Neil Sonawala, Chairman, Zen Diamond anticipates incentives to boost organised retail and a forward-looking policy framework to enhance industry competitiveness.

A budget that supports digital enablement, manufacturing and consumer confidence will be instrumental in unlocking the next phase of growth for the jewellery sector, said Sonawala.

Collectively, the industry is looking for a balanced Budget that supports affordability, strengthens manufacturing and exports, and positions India as a global jewellery and diamond powerhouse in a rapidly evolving market.
In the last 18 months, the Indian equity market has moved in a narrow range. It has never really broken away from its September 2024 highs, nor has it crumbled under the weight of expectations. In the investing space, testing times like these for the equity market are also tests of resilience for investment products such as mutual funds.

The Indian mutual fund industry has undergone an unprecedented expansion in its investor base during the post-2020 market boom. So far, it has held on well. The gains it has made seem foundational in nature, and its intrinsic appeal has withstood the tapering of returns.



Deposits to funds

In the last five years, mutual funds' assets under management (AUM) have swollen from 31 trillion in December 2020 to 80.23 trillion in December 2025a compounded annual rise of a solid 21%. At this rate, effectively, they double in three-and-a-half years. However, not all of this increase is attributable to individual investors, given that even institutions and companies invest in mutual funds.

Also Read | Data analysis: Padma awards offer a window into modern India

Having said that, mutual fund investments now make up a greater share of the financial assets of Indian households. According to Indias central bank, as of March 2020, mutual funds had a 7% share in the financial assets of Indian households. In March 2024, this figure crossed 10% for the first time, and has inched up further in March 2025, according to the latest available data. During this period, the share of bank depositswhich are typically about low post-tax returns, along with low riskin financial assets of Indian households has dropped from 46.2% to 43.4%.

Disciplined investing

Systematic investment plans (SIPs) are a big reason for these gains, not only from a past perspective, but also from a future perspective. SIPs are automatic investment plans offered by mutual funds, wherein a specified amount is deducted from an investors bank account on a particular date each month and invested in a scheme of their choice. Such automatic scheduling ensures discipline in making investments. In equity funds, it also does away with the investor dilemma of trying to time the market.

Between March 2020 and March 2025, the number of active SIP accounts has risen about three times, from about 31 million to about 99 million. At the same time, the amount invested via SIPs has jumped 5.5 times, from 2.4 trillion to 13.2 trillion, implying investors are making higher allocations.

While net additions to SIPs (SIPs started minus SIPs closed) have dropped in recent months, it is still a positive figure. According to Amfi, average monthly net SIP additions were still 1.3 million in September-December 2025, though down from 1.8 million May-August 2025.

Also Read | India drops to sixth among emerging markets as global headwinds bite

Beyond the metros

A high quantum of SIPs augurs well for the mutual fund industry in the long run. Given the way they are structured, SIPs tend to be more sticky. From a long-term perspective, what also bodes well for the mutual funds industry is that the new accounts are increasingly coming from beyond the top cities, which is indicative of new markets opening up. For example, in terms of the number of SIP accounts, the share of the next 30 cities after the top 30 cities has increased from 47% as of March 2020 to 55% as of March 2025.

New investors, or more money from existing investors, are coming into mutual funds from beyond the top cities at an ever-increasing pace. According to the capital markets regulator Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi), the share of cities beyond the top 15 in mutual fund AUM has increased from 14.4% in March 2015 to 35.4% in March 2025. This is also a consistent increase, with an uptick in share seen in nine of the last 10 years.

Long-term thinking

What the mutual fund industry seeks is more investments coming in and staying. It helps them on the money management side, as they have to make fewer forced adjustments to their portfolios to manage outflows. Stickiness also helps them grow the business. Even for investors, the risk-return profile of mutual funds means they work best in the long term.

This is especially true of equity funds, which invest in shares of companies and are thus exposed to market volatility. If companies grow in size and profitability, their share prices should riseand so should mutual fund returns. But for this cycle to play out can take several years, even a decade. Data from the Association of Mutual Funds in India (Amfi) shows that individual investors are getting better at staying the course. As of September 2019, 47% of their investments in equity funds had a holding period of above two years. As of September 2025, this figure had increased to 61%.

Bypassing commissions

Besides staying invested longer, investors are also increasing their returns by investing more directly, either through mutual funds themselves or via platforms. This results in lower expenses and potentially higher returns, because no commissions are paid to distributors. The other option is to invest via banks and distributors in regular plans, which entail commissions.

The difference in returns can be significant. For example, over a five-year period, Nippon India Large Cap Fund yielded a compounded annual return of 19.43% in its direct plan and 18.42% in its regular plan. On a 1 lakh investment, that is a difference of about 10,000. In 2024-25, about 80% of investments in mutual funds were in direct plans. Across cities, there was a variance, with this figure being higher in metros like Delhi, Ahmedabad, and Mumbai. But in smaller cities like Chennai and Chandigarh, it was below 50%. Regardless, the growth of the last few years should hold the industry in good stead, even if the market turns challenging.

www.howindialives.com is a database and search engine for public data.
PC Jeweller released its financial results for the SeptemberDecember 2025 quarter (Q3 FY202526) today, January 27, post-market hours, reporting a 28% jump in its net profit to 187 crore from 146 crore in the same period last year.

Its consolidated revenue from operations surged 37% to 875 crore compared to 639 crore in the same quarter last year, driven by continued consumer demand during the festive and wedding season.

Also Read | Vodafone Idea Q3 loss narrows, operational pressures persist

At the operating level, the companys EBITDA stood at 225 crore, up from 154 crore, while margins improved to 25.71% from 24% in Q3FY25, reflecting enhanced operational efficiency and robust sales growth, according to company's Q3 earnings' filing.

Company eyes debt-free status The company said it continues to progress towards its goal of becoming debt-free, having reduced its outstanding debt by approximately 68% since the execution of the Settlement Agreement with banks on September 30, 2024, reflecting a significant improvement in its financial position.

During the quarter, it signed an MoU with the Government of Uttar Pradesh and was onboarded as a franchise brand on the CM-YUVA portal.

As part of the initiative, PC Jeweller said it will support trained goldsmith entrepreneurs in rural and semi-urban areas to establish 1,000 jewellery retail franchise units.

Further, the company stated that it has been receiving queries and feedback from prospective business partners for establishing large-format franchise showrooms with them.

As a result of this positive response, the company, as part of its business expansion plan, deliberated on the same and decided to seek approval from the board for opening up to 100 large franchise showrooms over the next 1218 months.

"The company remains focused on strengthening core operations, expanding retail presence through owned and franchise formats, and enhancing customer reach. The company is confident of becoming debt free very soon. With improving operational momentum, a stronger balance sheet, and participation in government-backed initiatives, the Company is well positioned for sustainable growth and market expansion and is confident of delivering healthy financial performance in the future as well," the company said in its regulatory filing.
Shares of Hindustan Zinc, a major producer of silver, surged over 4.5% to a fresh record high on Tuesday, January 27, following a sharp spike in the white metal to a new peak today.

Hindustan Zinc share price rallied to a record high of 731.10 on the BSE today, as against its last closing price of 698.85. The stock is up 17% in January alone, extending its three-year bull run. Hindustan Zinc stock has emerged as a key beneficiary of the surge in precious metals, rising 38% in 2025 amid the best annual run in silver prices in 46 years.

Higher silver prices are positive for companies that produce silver, because their cash flows tend to increase in such a situation. Hindustan Zinc is the world's third-largest silver producer and the largest integrated silver player in India.

Today's surge in Hindustan Zinc shares follows a 7% jump in silver rate today to a record high of 359,800 per kg on the MCX in the domestic futures market, underpinned by safe-haven demand and taking the month-to-date rise to almost 38%.

Escalating global trade tensions, US President Donald Trump threatened higher tariffs on South Korean auto, lumber, and pharmaceutical imports to 25%, while criticising Seoul for failing to enact a trade deal with Washington.

This is after he threatened 100% tariffs on Canada if it followed through on a trade deal with China, and a 200% tariff on French wines and champagnes to pressure French President Emmanuel Macron into joining his Board of Peace initiative.

A looming US government shutdown and the Trump administration's erratic policy moves are also pressuring the US dollar, thereby increasing the lure of silver and gold for buyers of other currencies.

Silver pricing remains key for Hindustan Zinc Domestic brokerage IIFL Securities said that silver pricing remains key and would be the main driver behind Hindustan Zinc's EBITDA growth in FY26-28.

"We expect silver to stabilise at higher levels than seen over many decades (US$60/oz). Any stickiness around spot levels for a prolonged period would be an upside risk to cashflows," the brokerage opined.

IIFL Securities initiated coverage on Hindustan Zinc shares earlier this month with an ADD rating and a target price of 712 (which the stock has achieved) following its Q3 results announcement.

The company's management maintained silver volume guidance at 680 tonnes for FY26 after posting a 46.2% jump in third-quarter profit driven by record-high silver prices, as well as higher zinc prices.

Should you buy Hindustan Zinc shares now? Technically, Hindustan Zinc stock is showing clear signs of exhaustion after a sharp upmove, opined Anshul Jain, Head of Research at Lakshmishree.

On the weekly chart, the stock is visibly extended, while on the daily timeframe it is trading nearly 6.7 times above its 50-day EMA, highlighting stretched conditions, he said, adding that the current session has printed an open-equals-high candle, a classic short-term bearish signal suggesting supply is emerging at higher levels.

"Momentum indicators are overextended and vulnerable to mean reversion. With price far from its support averages, the risk of profit booking has increased materially," he cautioned.

According to Jain, a decisive break below 710 would likely trigger accelerated selling pressure, opening an immediate downside toward the 634 zone. Until the stock cools off and moving averages catch up, riskreward favors caution, with pullbacks expected to be sharper than recent advances, he advised.
Vodafone Idea, Indias third-largest telecom operator, has narrowed its loss for the quarter ended December, aided by provision adjustments. However, operational pressures, including subscriber churn and high spectrum debt obligations, persist for the company.

During the December quarter, the telecom operator reported a net loss of 5,286 crore, compared to 6,609 crore in the same period last year. In the previous quarter, the company reported a net loss of 5,524 crore.

In its financial statement for the quarter, the company said it is confident of generating sufficient cash flow from operations to meet its obligations, including lenders, spectrum and AGR dues payable over the next 12 months as and when they fall due.

The narrower loss during the quarter was largely driven by exceptional items, including provision write-backs on remeasurement of settlement assets with its promoter Vodafone Group, amounting to 1,228 crore. In the absence of the same, Vodafone Idea's losses would have expanded sequentially and narrowed marginally year-on-year.

The companys revenue from operations increased 2% year-on-year and 1.15% quarter-on-quarter to 11,323 crore, also surpassing Bloombergs estimate of 11,297 crore. A marginal improvement in revenue can be attributed to the companys network expansion and increased data consumption on the network.

'Important inflection point' "This quarter marked an important inflection point for the company with the positive resolution of key legacy issues. We are thankful to the government for offering a definitive, long-term and conclusive solution on the AGR (Adjusted Gross Revenue) matter. We also concluded the settlement of CLAM (contingent liability adjustment mechanism) receivable of 6,394 crore with the Vodafone Group, said Abhijit Kishore, chief executive officer of the company.

Meanwhile, the company reported its quarterly results at a time when it had a breather from the government on payment of its adjusted gross revenue dues. The Cabinet on 31 December decided to freeze the company's 87,695 in AGR dues as of December-end.

The government had approved a payment plan for the company to clear its frozen AGR dues over FY32-41. As per the Supreme Court orders in October and November, the government has also begun the exercise to reassess the company's AGR dues. Upon completion of the exercise, the company's final AGR amount could also be reduced, according to analysts and government officials.

After the AGR dues freeze, the telecom companys total outgo towards AGR payments over the next six years, from March 2026 to March 2031, would be 744 crore, a maximum of 124 crore per year. It will also have to pay 100 crore annually over four years, from March 2032 to March 2035.

During the quarter, the company lost 3.8 million subscribers, taking its subscriber base to 192.9 million as of the end of December. In the previous quarter, the companys subscriber base was at 196.7 million. In the year-ago period, the subscriber base was at 199.8 million.

The companys average revenue per user (Arpu) grew 3% sequentially to 172 a month, led by consumer upgrades. In the preceding quarter, the companys Arpu stood at 167. In comparison, Jios Arpu was at 213.70 at the end of December. Bharti Airtel is yet to declare its earnings for the December quarter.

In the December quarter, the companys 4G/5G subscriber base improved to 128.5 million, as against 127.8 million in the preceding quarter. As the company continues to expand its broadband coverage and capacity, this large subscriber base provides a great platform for the company to upgrade the balance 33%, voice-only customers, to users of data services and digital offerings, it said in its quarterly report.

Vodafone Ideas earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (Ebitda) came in at 4,816 crore, a 2.8% rise from the preceding quarters 4,685 crore and a 2.2% year-on-year increase.

The company said it is in talks with the lenders to secure debt financing to support its broader capex plans of 50,00055,000 crore. Last month, the company announced that it raised 3,300 crore through secured non-convertible debentures, or NCDs. The fundraise was through Vodafone Idea Telecom Infrastructure Ltd, or VITIL, a subsidiary of Vodafone Idea.

Vodafone Idea incurred a capital expenditure of 2,252 crore during the quarter and 6,448 crore for the nine months ended December.

One of the key milestones for the quarter was the successful NCD raise of 3,300 crore, despite an AGR overhang; a clear reflection of lender confidence in our ability to improve the business performance. Collectively, these developments have strengthened the trajectory of our debt discussions, which will enable us to execute our larger capex plan to strengthen the network and further elevate the customer experience, Kishore said.

Also Read | Vodafone Idea faces 800 cr AGR payment over six years

The proceeds from this issuance will be utilized by VITIL to repay past obligations to Vodafone Idea, enabling the telco to bolster its capital expenditure and support business growth.

Even as Vodafone Idea managed to secure a freeze on its AGR dues, the company has been burdened with huge dues. As of 31 December, the companys deferred payment obligation (including interest accrued but not due) towards spectrum was at 1.25 trillion. This is in addition to the AGR dues, currently frozen by the government.

The company said, (its) instalments payable, as scheduled, by December 2026, are 7,001 crore.

Vodafone Ideas outstanding bank debt (including interest accrued but not due) was 4,424 crore, and the instalments payable, as scheduled, by December 2026, are 1,126 crore, including interest thereon.

During the quarter, Vodafone Idea also took a hit of 159 crore due to recent changes in the labour codes by the government. The company said it assessed the financial implications of these changes, which have resulted in an increase in gratuity and leave liabilities arising from past service costs.

Also Read | DoT to complete reassessment of Vodafone Idea AGR dues by February-End
I first encountered the Bayeux Tapestry at the Musee de la Tapisserie de Bayeux in Normandy, France, in a room so dimly lit that even the bulbs seemed to be whispering. The embroidery looped around the gallery walls almost in a single sentence. The Bayeux Tapestry is not something that reveals itself in a glance. Photography is forbidden because the brilliance of a flash could potentially damage the ancient fibres of the embroidery. While it has been called a tapestry, it is not one in the technical sense. Rather this fabric, nearly 70 metres long and half-a-metre high, is linen embroidered with wool. It tells the story of events leading up to the infamous Saturday in October 1066 which marked the Norman conquest of England. The fabric, comprising 58 scenes and 626 characters, shows William the Conqueror taking the throne from Harold Godwinson, becoming the first Norman king.

What makes the Bayeux Tapestry irresistible is not simply the story but the relish with which it is told. The horses look perpetually startled, as if history keeps happening to them without warning. The fabric is populated with images of armours, feasting, shipbuilding, battle field tacticsall of this unfolds with the clarity of a graphic novel. It is believed that Bishop Odo, William the Conquerors half-brother, commissioned this piece. He appears repeatedly in this imagery, glowing with heroic usefulness and piety. Ironically, the embroidery was certainly designed in England and stitched by Anglo-Saxon hands. The defeated embroidered tales of their own failure.

For centuries, the embroidery lay ensconced within the Bayeux Cathedral, brought out once a year during religious festivals, then rolled up again and put away. It narrowly survived the French Revolution, and at one point it was almost repurposed as a wagon cover. During World War II, the Nazis actively studied the Bayeux Tapestry. It was examined, interpreted, misinterpreted and repeatedly moved to keep it safe from Allied bombings. At one point it was stored in the Louvre on the orders of Heinrich Himmler, the head of the Nazi SS, who allegedly wanted to move it to Berlin before the Allies liberated Paris.

Also Read | How India and France have shaped each others textiles and fashion

Today, the permanent home of the Bayeux Tapestry is within the carefully controlled environs of the Musee de la Tapis serie de Bayeux in Normandy, just a stones throw from where William set off across the channel to bring Harold to heel. It attracts nearly 400,000 visitors a year. An audio guide narrates the story of all 58 scenes in about 20-25 minutes. In the autumn of 2026, after nearly nine centuries, the Bayeux Tapestry is coming back to England, on loan for a few months. It will be displayed at the British Museum in the Sainsbury Exhibitions Gallery (Room 30), from September 2026 to June/July 2027, while the Musee de la Tapisserie de Bayeux is renovated. It is a move that has already generated controversy.

View full Image The fabric, comprising 58 scenes and 626 characters, shows William the Conqueror taking the throne from Harold Godwinson, becoming the first Norman king

Artist David Hockney, who now lives in Normandy, has slammed this shift, call ing it madness, asserting that the tapes try could be damaged in transit. In an interview to BBC last week, British Museum director Nicholas Cullinan said: While we understand these concerns, the museum has a world-leading conser vation and collections team who are experts at handling and caring for this type of material. Why move it then? Because it shows us medieval lifeand events that played an integral role in shaping Englands futurein a way texts never quite manage. It also seems like a precursor to the modern-day graphic novel. Though the events depicted in the tapestry show the fall of the Anglo-Saxon rule, the object that tells its story has survived conquest, revolutions, regime changes, and more.

The current home of the Bayeux Tapestry in the little town of Bayeux shut its doors in September 2025 for a major redesign, which will transform how this embroidered narrative will be experienced in years to come. The renovation, led by British studio Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners, will address concerns about conserving the fragile cloth and improving visitor circulation. In the new layout, the embroidery will no longer hang vertically in a narrow linear gallery; rather, it will rest on a sloping surface that reduces strain on the fabric and allows viewers to engage with scenes more comfortably. This slanted approach promises a more contemplative journey through the Norman conquest story, encouraging the same pace that makes the current audio-narrated experience so effective. The museum is scheduled to reopen in October 2027, just after the tapestrys return from its landmark exhibition at the British Museum.

In the eye of the storm The Bayeux Tapestry was recently at the heart of a diplomatic row over its move to England. As part of the discussions surrounding the loan, French officials floated the idea that French visitors might be ushered into the British Museum free of charge, a gesture presented in a language of renewed cooperation and goodwill. This suggestion was received, considered, and declined with typical British restraint. Matters did not end there. The tapestrys arrival has also been treated as a useful lever in broader cultural negotiations, with France reportedly keen on a reciprocal loan, ideally involving something small, portable, and hieroglyphic. The Rosetta Stone, in other words. For a strip of medieval embroidery commissioned to tell one side of a story, it remains impressively capable of unsettling the other. Nearly a thousand years on, the Norman Yoke still creaks quietly in the background, and British pride, as ever, stiffens at the slightest provocation.
Indian winemakers are likely to remain unaffected by lower tariffs on premium European wines under the IndiaEU free trade agreement, as the duty cuts will largely bypass the price segment in which domestic producers operate, experts said.

At present, imported wines are subject to a steep 150% import duty in India. Under the new pact, this duty will be reduced to 75% and eventually slashed to as low as 20% for premium wines and 30% for mid-range wines, according to an official release by the European Commission. Meanwhile, wines priced below 2.5 will not receive any duty concessions, PTI reported.

Industry executives said the structure of the tariff cuts, combined with the small size of Indias wine market, would limit competitive pressure on domestic producers. If that is correct, then the domestic wine industry will not be affected at all because more than 80% of domestic wines will be below that cut-off," said an industry executive.

Karan Kamdar, research analyst at brokerage firm Choice Institutional Equities, said, The impact of the FTA is likely minimal on Indian alcobev companies. Wines may be the most impacted by EU imports, but wine accounts for only 2% of Indias alcohol consumption by value. It is a premium category and there is not enough education yet for mass consumers to move to wine consumption. As a result, imported wines are a faster-growing category than local ones."

Indias wine market still accounts a tiny fraction of overall alcohol consumption, and price cuts alone are unlikely to trigger a sharp rise in imports. Wine accounts for less than 1% of total alcohol volumes in India, while complex state taxes, registration fees and distribution hurdles continue to constrain foreign labels.

As a result, any duty relief is expected to benefit only a narrow band of premium imports rather than reshape the broader market. Anybody buying an imported wine costing 1,500, a 100 drop is not going to make much of a difference," the executive said.

Siddharth Suri, managing director, Moet Hennessy India, said, "The proposed India-EU free trade agreement could be a significant catalyst for premiumisation in Indias wine and spirits market. High import duties have long been a barrier to wider consumer adoption of luxury European wines and spirits. A phased reduction in tariffs will enhance competitiveness, improve affordability, and allow global Maisons like ours to introduce our premium portfolio to a wider consumer base in India.

"Beyond pricing, stronger protection of geographical indications reinforces the authenticity and heritage of iconic categories such as Champagne and Cognac. As disposable incomes rise and tastes evolve, this agreement can support long-term, sustainable growth of the premium segment in India."

Anant S. Iyer, director general of the Confederation of Indian Alcoholic Beverage Companies, said, A number of key concerns raised by the domestic alcobev industry seem to have been addressed, though the domestic wine industry was hoping for a higher MIP (minimum import price) threshold of 3.03.5 euros rather than the 2.5 euros agreed upon."

Spirits to bear the brunt

By contrast, the impact of the trade agreement is expected to be more visible in spirits, where volumes are larger and consumer familiarity is higher. Where you may see some differences is in the spirits portfolios, where the duties are supposed to come down to 40%," said Vinod Giri, director general of the Brewers Association of India (BAI), referring to European spirits under the pact. He added that mass-market international brands stand to gain more from the duty cuts, as products such as vodka already enjoy wider acceptance among Indian consumers.

Shares of listed Indian wine makers, however, fell on Monday amid near-term investor caution. Sula Vineyards closed 3.1% lower at 188 on the NSE, while Fratelli Vineyards slipped 4.6% to 87.4 on the BSE.

Sula Vineyards chief executive officer Rajeev Samant told Mint that while red wine has traditionally led the market, rising temperatures and changing preferences are pushing the company to expand its portfolio of cooler varietals such as rose, tap new cities through urban wine festivals and, scale back imports amid rising competition.

Beer battle

The broader alcohol sector is also bracing for sharper competition in beer following tariff reductions on imported European beer from 110% to 50%. This will narrow the price gap between international labels and domestic premium brands, intensifying competition on value, said Vedant Kedia, whole-time director at Mount Everest Breweries Ltd, which owns brands such as STOK and Mount 6000.

While brewing inputs like hops and grains are relatively stable, packagingspecifically aluminium cans and glass bottlesremains a significant and volatile expense that is sensitive to trade shifts," Kedia said.

However, lower duties are expected to support growth in the mass-premium segment. Our premium brand, STOK, has grown by 75% in the last year, proving that Indian consumers are already eager to trade up for better quality," Kedia said, adding that the company plans to capture a larger share of this segment by offering accessible price points.

The evolving trade environment could also allow firms to diversify their portfolios more aggressively. These shifts have made it practical for us to explore high-quality ingredients, new brewing styles and unique collaborations that were once considered too niche," Kedia added.
The India-European free trade agreement  described by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen as the mother of all trade deals  has been finalised, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Tuesday.

The representatives from the two sides signed a political declaration to that effect with visiting President of the European Council, Antonio Costa, and the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, in attendance.

Union Minister Piyush Goyal represented India at the signing of the political declaration to conclude talks on the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between India and the European Union, which will take about 6 months to be formally signed.

Today, India has finalised the biggest Free Trade Agreement in its history. On 27 January, India signed this FTA with 27 European nations...This will boost investment, form new innovation partnerships and strengthen supply chains at the global level...This is not just a trade agreement, it is a blueprint for shared prosperity, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said at the conclusion of the 16th India-EU Summit at Hyderabad House in the national capital.

Prime Minister Modi said the agreement will provide Indian farmers and industries with greater access to European markets.

Yesterday was a historic moment when the European Union leaders took part in India's Republic Day celebrations for the first time. Today is another such moment, when two major democratic powers are adding a decisive chapter in their relationship, he said during the press statements.

Speaking after Prime Minister Modi, President of the European Council, Antonio Luis Santos da Costa, said that trade had flowed down two continents, calling India the world's fastest-growing major economy.

Trade has flowed between our two continents for centuries. Trade is a crucial geopolitical stabiliser and the fundamental source of economic growth. Trade agreements reinforce a rules-based economic order and promote shared prosperity, he said, adding, "That's why today's free trade agreement is of historic importance. One of the most ambitious agreements ever concluded, creating a market of 2 billion people."

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said India and the EU have decided to be reliable partners, after she thanked Indian leaders and heaped praise on the FTA signed. We have delivered the mother of all deals, she said.

We have delivered the mother of all deals.

Formal signing in 6 months Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal said Saturday that while negotiations for the India-EU trade deal have concluded successfully, a formal signing will take place after legal scrubbing, likely to take 5 to 6 months.

Here are the top quotes from the press statements today:

Prime Minister Narendra Modi "Today, India has concluded the biggest Free Trade Agreement in its history. On 27 January, India signed this FTA with 27 European nations...This will boost investment, form new innovation partnerships and strengthen supply chains at the global level...This is not just a trade agreement, it is a blueprint for shared prosperity."

"Yesterday was a historic moment when the European Union leaders took part in India's Republic Day celebrations for the first time. Today is another such moment, when two major democratic powers are adding a decisive chapter in their relationship...."

We are launching an ambitious and holistic strategic agenda for the next 5 years. In this complex global environment, this agenda will provide clear direction, advance our shared prosperity, accelerate innovation, strengthen defence cooperation and deepen people-to-people ties.

The coming together of India and the EU is a partnership for global good. We will advance trilateral projects from the Indo-Pacific to the Caribbean. Together, we will establish the IMEC corridor as an important link for global trade and sustainable development.

There is turmoil in the global order; in this condition, India-EU cooperation will strengthen stability in the international system. We discussed many global issues, including Ukraine. We share the opinion that global institutional reforms are very necessary today. This is the moment when we are starting a new chapter in our relationship between India and the EU."

President of the European Commission, Ursula Von Der Leyen PM Modi, we did it!... We delivered the mother of all deals..."

"We are not only making our economies stronger. We are also delivering security for our people in an increasingly insecure world. Today, the world's two largest economies and democracies launched their first-ever security and defence partnership... Europe and India have a long history of cooperation in the defence industry..."

I want to offer a special word of thanks to the people who worked so hard to make this day a reality. Starting with the European Commissioner for Trade, Maros Sefcovic, and his counterpart, India's Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal. You have done an outstanding work. This is historic and it would not have been possible without you...

"It brings together Indian skills, services and scale, with European technology, capital and innovation. It will create levels of growth which neither side can achieve alone. By combining our strengths, we reduce strategic dependencies at a time when trade is increasingly weaponised..."

"In our summit, we affirmed our commitment to supporting efforts towards a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in Ukraine, one that fully respects Ukraine's independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity. This is a key moment. We are supporting all efforts to reach a just and sustainable peace. Ukraine has shown its readiness, including at the cost of a difficult compromise. I know, dear Prime Minister, that we can count on you to help create conditions for peace through dialogue and diplomacy..."

President of the European Council, Antonio Luis Santos da Costa "We conclude today our trade negotiations. We relaunched at the latest meeting that I had the pleasure of hosting in May 2021 in my previous capacity. Our summit sends a clear message to the world. At a time when the global order is being fundamentally reshaped, the European Union and India stand together as strategic and reliable partners.

Today, we are taking our partnership to the next level. As the two largest democracies in the world, we are working hand in hand to deliver concrete benefits for our citizens and to shape a resilient global order that underpins peace and stability, economic growth and sustainable development..."

India is the world's fastest-growing major economy. Trade has flowed between our two continents for centuries. Trade is a crucial geopolitical stabiliser and the fundamental source of economic growth. Trade agreements reinforce a rules-based economic order and promote shared prosperity. That's why today's free trade agreement is of historic importance. One of the most ambitious agreements ever concluded, creating a market of 2 billion people."

In a multipolar world, the European Union and India are working together to grow spheres of shared prosperity. But prosperity does not exist without security. Strengthen our cooperation to better protect our citizens and our shared interests, working together to counter the full range of security threats we face in the Indo-Pacific, in Europe, and around the world, and to reach a new level of strategic trust between us. That is the significance of our agreement on a security and defence partnership. The first such overarching defence and security framework between India and the European Union...
Delhi residents witnessed a change in the city's weather after fresh spells of rain in some areas. A significant drop in AQI is expected as the India Meteorological Department (IMD) predicted a wet spell for 27 January. The weather office issued a yellow alert for rain during the morning, afternoon and evening hours.

Delhi Weather Today IMD in its latest weather bulletin stated, Generally cloudy sky. One or two spells of light rain accompanied by thunderstorms/lightning and gusty winds reaching speeds of 30-40 kmph are likely during early morning hours to forenoon hours. Also, one or two spells of light rain accompanied by thunderstorms/lightning during the afternoon to night.

Further, the IMD suggested that the maximum temperature will be near normal today, hovering around 18 to 20 degrees Celsius. Meanwhile, the minimum temperature is likely to settle around 8 to 0 degrees Celsius, which will be 1.6 to 3 degrees Celsius above normal.

IMD issued a nowcast warning for neighbouring regions amid the presence of the Western Disturbance, the westerly Jet Stream, and a cyclonic circulation over Haryana and adjacent territories. Rajasthan, Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand are on IMD's orange alert for heavy precipitation likely today.

Delhi weather forecast for upcoming days Over the coming five days, generally cloudy conditions and shallow to moderate fog are expected. The Meteorological Department predicted a gradual rise in minimum temperatures across Northwest India of 3 to 5 degrees Celsius on 27 and 28 January. However, a gradual fall in minimum temperatures is likely over the subsequent 2 days by around 3 to 5 degrees Celsius.

Also Read | IMD issues orange alert for heavy rain, snowfall in Himachal Pradesh from Jan 26

A fresh wet spell with fairly widespread to widespread rainfall/snowfall with thunderstorm, lightning & gusty winds speed reaching 40-50 kmph gusting to 60 kmph over Jammu-Kashmir-Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh on 26th & 27th and Uttarakhand on 27th & 28th January. Isolated heavy rainfall/snowfall also likely over Jammu Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand on 27 January, IMD said.

Delhi AQI today For the first time in three days, the average Air Quality Index (AQI) recorded a poor reading of 294. A marked deterioration in air quality was observed on Tuesday at 8:00 AM, following two days of moderate AQI, according to Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data. Of 39 monitoring stations, 4 recorded moderate AQI on 27 January, including Lodhi Road, Mandir Marg, IGI Airport, and NSIT Dwarka.

At the same time, 14 stations reported poor air quality today, while the remaining registered very poor AQI.

The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) on 22 January revoked Stage III Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) pollution controls as air quality improved from very poor levels. However, pollution curbs under Stages I and II continue to remain intact.
NEW DELHI: India and the European Union have finalized a landmark trade deal, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Tuesday, as the two sides seek to hedge against fickle ties with the US, Reuters reported.

After nearly two decades of on-off negotiations, the deal will pave the way for India to open up its vast and guarded market, the world's most populous, to free trade with the 27-nation EU, its biggest trading partner.

"Yesterday, a big agreement was signed between the European Union and India," Modi said.

"People around the world are calling this the mother of all deals. This agreement will bring major opportunities for the 1.4 billion people of India and the millions of people in Europe," he said.

Modi and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen are expected to make a joint announcement at an India-EU summit in New Delhi, along with the details of the deal, later on Tuesday.

The formal signing of the India-EU deal would take place after legal vetting expected to last five to six months, an Indian government official aware of the matter has said.

Tariffs on food, wine, cars, aircraft slashed The trade pact will cut or eliminate tariffs on almost 97% of European exports, saving up to 4 billion ($4.75 billion) annually in duties, the EU has said, as per AFP.

Tariffs on cars will be gradually lowered from a top rate of 110% to as low as 10%, while duties on wines will be reduced from 150% to as low as 20%. Tariffs on processed foods, including pasta and chocolate, currently at 50%, will be completely eliminated, the AFP report added, citing the bloc.

Reuters added that tariffs would also be eliminated on almost all EU-made planes and spacecraft, and on about 90% of optical, medical and surgical equipment. The deal would double EU exports to India, the bloc said.

PTI, citing an Indian government official, reported that, except for autos and steel, more than 93% of Indian goods will get zero-duty access in the EU. Of the remaining share, Indian exporters will receive tariff reductions and quota-based duty concessions, including for automobiles.

The EU will eliminate import duties on 90% of Indian goods on the first day of implementation of the free trade agreement, expected to come into force early next year. On another 3%, levies will be phased out over seven years, PTI added.

So 99.5% of the trade value, concessions are being given by the EU to India, the official said.

In return, the EU will get duty-free access for 93% of its goods over a 10-year period in India. India will remove duties on 30% of European goods on the first day of implementation, and provide duty concessions or quota-based reductions on another 3.7% of trade value. Overall, India is giving duty concessions on 97.5% of the trade value for the EU, the official said.

Sectors expected to gain duty-free access include textiles and apparel, marine products, chemicals, plastics, rubber, leather and footwear, base metals, gems and jewellery, furniture, toys and sports goods, according to the PTI report.

Trade between India and the EU stood at $136.5 billion in the fiscal year through March 2025.

India-US trade deal pending The agreement comes days after the EU signed a pivotal pact with the South American bloc Mercosur, following deals last year with Indonesia, Mexico and Switzerland.

During the same period, New Delhi finalised pacts with Britain, New Zealand and Oman.

The spate of deals underscores global efforts to hedge against the US as President Donald Trump's bid to take over Greenland and tariff threats on European nations test longstanding alliances among Western nations.

Talks between India and the EU were relaunched in 2022 after a nine-year lull, and gathered momentum after Trump put tariffs on several trading partners, including a 50% tariff on goods from India.

An India-US trade deal collapsed last year after a breakdown in communication between the two governments.
European wines are set to become cheaper in the Indian market under the bilateral free trade agreement (FTA), as the Indian government has agreed to reduce import duties on these products.

This means that wines imported from countries such as France, Italy and Spain will face lower taxes in India, making them more affordable and widely available for consumers.

At present, imported wines are subject to a steep import duty of 150% in India. However, under the pact, this duty will be reduced to 75%. Eventually, it will be slashed to as low as 20% for premium wines and 30% for mid-range wines, as per an official release by the European Commission.

Meanwhile, for cheaper wines, which cost below 2.5 euros, there will be no duty concessions, as per a report by PTI.

Indian wines to get cheaper in EU nations Indian wines will also benefit from the agreement, as they will receive import duty concessions in the European Union (EU) member countries, according to the agency report. This was a key demand by the European Union during the negotiations.

Under the agreement, India will offer duty concessions to wines from the EU in line with what it has agreed for Australia and New Zealand, but with slightly lower thresholds.

In the alcoholic beverages segment, India's exports to the EU include wines ($1.4 million in 2024-25), blended whiskeys, Vodka, Brandy, and liqueurs ($24.5 million). The imports are wines ($7.9 million), blended whiskeys, brandy, Gin, Tequila, Vodka, and Liqueurs ($87.8 million).

When will the India-EU FTA be signed? India and the EU announced the conclusion and finalisation of negotiations for a free trade agreement on Tuesday, 27 January. The final deal is expected to be signed later this year and may come into force from early next year.

The India-EU FTA talks were finally concluded after a long gap of 18 years, marking a major milestone in bilateral trade relations. The negotiations, which started in 2007, went through several rounds of delays due to Delhi's reluctance to lower tariffs in some areas, while the European Union was reluctant to ease visa curbs on Indian professionals, Reuters reported.

Commenting on the development, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said: The EU and India make history today, deepening the partnership between the world's biggest democracies. We have created a free trade zone of 2 billion people, with both sides set to gain economically.
IndiaEU FTA: India and the European Union (EU) on Monday announced the conclusion of the free trade agreement (FTA) at the 16th IndiaEU Summit.

The deal was finalised during the visit of the EU leaders, led by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, to India.

The conclusion of this FTA positions India and the European Union as trusted partners committed to open markets, predictability, and inclusive growth, an official statement said.

Can the deal support small enterprises and secure IPRs? Small Enterprises: The agreement includes a specific section focused on assisting minor firms. They will gain streamlined access to comprehensive data regarding operating and establishing ventures within the EU and India. SME liaison offices will collaborate to simplify commercial exchanges for smaller entities. Lowered duties, the elimination of technical hurdles, increased clarity, and consistent regulatory frameworks will enable organizations to trade internationally in a more affordable, straightforward, and efficient manner.

Intellectual property rights: The FTA strengthens the intellectual property safeguards established under TRIPS regarding authorship, branding, industrial designs, proprietary secrets, and botanical types. It upholds the Doha Declaration and acknowledges the value of electronic archives, particularly Indias Traditional Knowledge Digital Library (TKDL) initiative. The pact ensures robust oversight and implementation of intellectual property standards, covering creative works, trademarks, and confidential data. Furthermore, it mandates specific protocols and legal avenues to guarantee the rigorous protection of these intellectual assets.

Red tape: Both the EU and India have committed to streamlined workflows, ensuring a clear and stable legislative landscape alongside faster border clearance for shipments. These improvements will collectively make the logistics of global trade more rapid and cost-effective. India and the EU also reached a consensus to intensify partnership regarding logistics security and to improve risk assessment and oversight mechanisms at the European Unions external boundaries.

The IndiaEU FTA will reduce tariffs and administrative burdens, rendering commercial exchange more accessible, affordable, and swift.

In the statement, Piyush Goyal, Union Minister for Commerce and Industry, said: The conclusion of the IndiaEuropean Union Free Trade Agreement represents a defining achievement in Indias economic engagement and global outlook. This supports Indias approach to secure trusted, mutually beneficial and balanced partnerships.

The European Union remains a premier commercial ally for India, with two-way exchange of commodities and professional services expanding consistently over the recent period.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday announced the signing of the India-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA), saying it accounts for 25 per cent of global GDP and one-third of global trade.

Addressing the Indian Energy Week virtually, Modi congratulated all on the EU-India trade deal and said, I am informing you about a big development  a significant agreement was signed between India and Europe yesterday (Monday).

Also Read | PM Modi Confirms India-EU Trade Deal Is Signed During Energy Summit Speech

People are discussing it as a "mother of all deals, and this agreement has brought a lot of opportunities for 140 crore Indians and crores of Europeans, he said.

"This is an excellent example of coordination between two economies of the world. This agreement represents 25 per cent of the global GDP and one third of the global trade," he said.

Prime Minister Modis remarks came as he all set to host the 16th EU-India summit in New Delhi today. The visiting President of the European Council, Antonio Costa, and the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, will represent the EU at the summit.

The summit will offer an opportunity to build on th EU-India strategic partnership and further strengthen collaboration across key policy areas such as trade, security and defence, the clean transition and people-to-people cooperation, according to a statement from European Council.

View full Image India-EU partnership has developed over decades, beginning with basic diplomatic engagements and expanding into a multifaceted strategic alliance that encompasses political dialogue, economic cooperation, security, and global challenges like climate change and technology. ( MEA )

Presidents Costa and von der Leyen will also attended 77th Republic Day celebrations on 26 January, as guests of honours.

India-EU partnership has developed over decades, beginning with basic diplomatic engagements and expanding into a multifaceted strategic alliance that encompasses political dialogue, economic cooperation, security, and global challenges like climate change and technology, according to a government statement.

From initial recognition in the 1960s to the establishment of annual summits and joint initiatives in the 21st century, the ties have progressed significantly, reflecting mutual interests in trade, investment, and sustainable develop.

Diplomatic relations between India and the EU trace back to the early 1960s, with India being among the first countries to establish ties with the European Economic Community (EEC) in 1962. This laid the groundwork for formal cooperation, culminating in the1993 Joint Political Statement and the 1994 Cooperation Agreement, which aimed to strengthen bilateral political and economic links.

Here is a timeline of India-EU Relations:

1962:Early Economic Engagement - India establishes formal ties with European Economic Community (EEC).

1993: Political Foundation - Adaption of the joint political statement, deepening diplomatic engagement.

1994: Institutional Cooperation - Signing of the India-EU Cooperation Agreement.

2000: Summit level Dialogue - First India-EU Summit in Lisbon, marking a new phase of high-level engagement.

2004: Strategic Elevation - Partnership upgraded to a strategic partnership at the 5th summit in the Hague.

2007: Trade Ambitions - Launch of negotiations for the Broad-based Trade and Investment Agreement (BTIA).

2020 : Future-Oriented Vision - Adaption of the India-EU Strategic Partnership Roadmap to 2025.

2022 : Technology and Trade Synergy - Launch of the India -EU Trade and Technology Council (TTC).

This agreement represents 25 percent of the global GDP and one-third of global trade.

2025 : New Strategic EU-India Agenda: EU strategy to reinforce prosperity and security with India.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a bilateral meeting with the President of the European Council, Antonio Luis Santos da Costa, and President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, in the national capital as part of the latter's ongoing state visit to India.

The meeting took place at Hyderabad House, with EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas also in attendance.

Earlier in the day, PM Modi announced the landmark India-EU Free Trade Agreement that could reshape global trade dynamics. Later, Leyen also announced that Europe and India are making history today by concluding the mother of all deals.

We have created a free trade zone of two billion people, with both sides set to benefit. This is only the beginning. We will grow our strategic relationship to be even stronger, she said in a post on X.

A formal India-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA) is expected to be signed in six months. The deal will further strengthen India-EU collaboration across key policy areas such as trade, security and defence, the clean transition and people-to-people cooperation.

Why does the deal matter? After nearly 20 years of negotiations, the two sides arrived at a far-reaching agreement that Leyen called the "mother of all trade deals as US President Donald Trump continues to upend the global order challenging longstanding alliances.

From initial recognition in the 1960s to the establishment of annual summits and joint initiatives in the 21st century, the India-EU ties have progressed significantly, reflecting mutual interests in trade, investment, and sustainable develop, Ministry of External Affairs said.

Way back in 1962, India became one of the first countries to establish diplomatic relations with the European Economic Community, the EU's precursor.

Nipun Sharma, CEO, TeamLease Degree Apprenticeship said the EU-India Free Trade Agreement represents a significant opportunity for India to deepen its integration into global value chains, particularly in export-oriented manufacturing and high-value services.

It can accelerate Indias shift from being largely an assembly and services destination to moving up the value chain across component manufacturing, testing, quality assurance, engineering, and services delivery, and becoming a competitive producer of electronics, automotive components, green technologies, pharmaceuticals, and digital services for European markets, he said.

Experiences from agreements like the EU-Vietnam FTA show that trade liberalisation, when paired with investment and standards alignment, can unlock rapid export growth and industrial upgrading, Sharma said.

The Timing is Significant The timing of the India-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA) is significant. It comes amid heightened geopolitical turbulence and market uncertainty, driven in part by US President Donald Trumps tariff postures and a Russia-Ukraine war that shows no signs of resolution.

The United States has already expressed discomfort over the timing of the landmark agreement. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent criticised the EU for concluding a trade pact with India while trade negotiations between New Delhi and Washington are still ongoing.

Speaking to ABC News, Bessent said that the US has borne a heavier burden than Europe in efforts to end the Russia-Ukraine war.

We have put 25% tariffs on India for buying Russian oil. Guess what happened last week? The Europeans signed a trade deal with India, he said accusing European countries of indirectly funding the war through energy trade.

The Russian oil goes into India, the refined products come out, and the Europeans buy the refined products. They are financing the war against themselves, he said, reiterating his old criticism of Indias oil purchases from Russia.

'India's largest trading partner for goods' The EU remains India's largest trading partner for goods, with bilateral trade reaching approximately $136 billion in 2024-25. EU is also among Indias top overall trading partners in both goods and services.

The FTA, whenever rolled out, would significantly further boost trade between India and EU member states. This amid a global push to de-risk supply chains as trade disruptions intensify under the Trump administrations policies in the US.

The trade pact may allow duty-free access to over 90 per cent of Indian goods in the vast EU market, which has 27 member countries, including, Germany, France, Italy, Spain and Belgium, according to an earlier report by Hindustan Times.

The trade agreement would mean tariffs on over 90% of EU goods exports will be eliminated or reduced, saving up to 4 billion per year in duties on European products, according to EU statements.

Also, it provides competitive advantage for EU exporters, with biggest trade opening India has given to any trade partner. It will also lead to simplification of customs procedures to make exports quicker and easier and ensure protection of EU intellectual property such as trademarks, according to the statement.

How does the agreement benefit EU industry? India will grant the EU tariff reductions that none of its other trading partners have received, dramatically improving market access for EU exports.

We have created a free trade zone of two billion people, with both sides set to benefit. This is only the beginning.

For example, tariffs on cars will gradually go down from 110% to 10% with a quota of 250,000 vehicles a year. High tariffs of up to 44% on machinery, 22% on chemicals and 11% on pharmaceuticals will be mostly eliminated, the statement said.
Nipah virus: Several airports in Asia, including Thailand, Nepal have stepped up screening measures after cases of the deadly Nipah virus were reported in West Bengal in India.

Till date, two confirmed cases of Nipah Virus Disease have been reported from West Bengal since December last year, the Union health ministry said on Tuesday, citing reports received from the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).

The virus has a high mortality rate  ranging from 40% to 75%  with no medicine or vaccine available to treat it. This means that out of every 100 people who are infected by Nipah virus, around 40-70 people could die.

Health declarations; Category 5 disease On Sunday, 25 January, Thailand began screening fliers from West Bengal at three international airports in Bangkok and Phuket. Passengers from flights incoming from Bengal have been asked to make health declarations, reported BBC.

Meanwhile, health authorities in Taiwan have proposed to list the Nipah virus as a "Category 5 disease". Under the island's system, diseases classified as Category 5 are emerging or rare infections with major public health risks, that require immediate reporting and special control measures.

Highly infectious, fatal AIIMS Bilaspur president Professor Dr Narendra Kumar Arora also highlighted the serious public health risks posed by the Nipah virus, describing it as a highly infectious and fatal zoonotic disease  meaning it spreads from animals to humans.

Nipah virus is highly infectious and fatal. Patients either develop symptoms of encephalitis or severe respiratory disease. The mortality rate ranges between 40 and 75 per cent, which is very high, news wire PTI quoted Arora as saying.

How does Nipah virus spread? People can get infected with Nipah virus if they come in close contact with body fluids of an infected person, or via direct contact with infected animals  like bats or pigs, as per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Fruit bats of the Pteropodidae family are believed to be the natural host of the Nipah virus, as per the World Health Organisation (WHO).
In a major development, the Goa government is currently considering the implementation of an order that would ban children under the age of 16 from accessing social media platforms such as Instagram, Facebook and X, according to a report by the Indian Express.

Australia has brought in a law ensuring a ban on social media for children below the age of 16. Our (IT) department people have already pulled out those particular papers. We are studying them. We will talk to the chief minister, and if possible, implement a similar ban on children below 16 for usage of social media, Goa Tourism and Information Technology Minister Rohan Khaunte said on Monday.

Goa government is studying the possibility of implementing an Australia-like law banning social media for children under the age of 16, Goa Tourism and Information Technology (IT) Minister Rohan Khaunte said.

According to a report by the Indian Express, Khaunte further said, Today, the children are always on their mobiles on social media, whether it is at the dining table or while watching television or around family. So, the personal space occupied by social media is so large, which is also putting a sort of complex in the children. Australia has done it and we need to look at the IT laws of the country. But at the same time, whether a state-wide ban is possible (or not), we are studying. And if it is possible, we would want to do it to ensure that things go well for the next generation.

Also Read | Young boy saves pocket money for 6 months to buy shoes for his mother

Earlier last week, Andhra Pradeshs IT and Education Minister Nara Lokesh said the Telugu Desam Party (TDP)-led government was considering an Australia-style law that would ban children under the age of 16 from using social media. He added that a Group of Ministers (GoM), chaired by him, has been constituted to examine the proposal.

Australia's Online Safety Amendment Act Australias legislation, known as the Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age) Act, requires age-restricted platforms to take reasonable measures to identify and deactivate accounts held by users under 16, prevent them from creating new accounts, and block any loopholes that could allow minors to bypass the restrictions.

The law also mandates safeguards to correct errors, ensuring that accounts are not unfairly removed if users are wrongly included or excluded under the rules.

Also Read | UK Weighs Australia-Style Social Media Ban for Children

A 2021 report revealed that over one-third of young Australians had faced online bullying within a six-month period. Many teenagers, parents, and trusted adults believe that implementing the ban could help reduce cyberbullying, PTI reported.

Similarly, while teens may not be able to have accounts on these platforms, they may still be able to access content on many of them.

On YouTube, for example, under-16s can still watch public YouTube videos. They just cant subscribe to channels, like videos or leave comments.

Earlier in January, the UK Health Secretary Wes Streeting said the country is considering a move similar to Australias: a social media ban for children under 16 amid increasing calls to safeguard younger, more vulnerable users online.

Im certainly in favor of action in this area, Streeting told Sky News, pointing to his own concerns about the impact of social media on the wellbeing and cognitive development of children, Bloomberg reported.
The release of Jana Nayagan, starring actor and TVK chief Vijay, has been pushed further into uncertainty after the Madras High Court on Tuesday (27 January) allowed an appeal by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) and set aside an earlier single-judge order granting the film a UA certificate, according to a Bar and Bench report.

A Division Bench ruled that the matter must be reconsidered afresh, holding that the CBFC was not afforded sufficient opportunity to place its response on record before the single-judge intervened.

Madras HC Division Bench flags procedural lapse Allowing the appeal filed by the Central Board of Film Certification, the Bench observed that the single-judge had erred by examining the merits of a complaint related to the films content without first permitting the authorities to file a counter-affidavit.

Accordingly, the case has been remanded to the single-judge for a fresh hearing, with the producer being granted liberty to amend the relief sought in the writ petition.

Single-judge ought not to have gone into merits. Decision of the writ court has to go, the appeal is allowed and the impugned order is set aside. The writ petitioner is given opportunity to amend the writ petition, the Division Bench order stated.

Earlier clearance order of Jana Nayagan set aside The appeal challenged a direction issued by a single-judge instructing the CBFC to immediately grant censor clearance to Jana Nayagan. The Division Bench, comprising Chief Justice Manindra Mohan Srivastava and Justice Arul Murugan, concluded that such a direction was premature in the absence of a full hearing.

As a result, the interim relief granted earlier stands nullified, effectively stalling the films theatrical release.

Background: Jana Nayagan's certification dispute and complaint The producers, KVN Productions, had approached the High Court alleging undue delay by the CBFC in issuing the final censor certificate despite complying with all cuts and modifications suggested by the Examining Committee.

According to submissions before the court, the makers applied for certification on December 18, 2025. The Examining Committee subsequently recommended a UA 16+ certificate, citing depictions of violence, fight sequences, gory visuals and brief references to religious sentiments. Certain excisions and modifications were directed, which the producers said were fully implemented.

A revised version of the film was resubmitted on December 24, 2025, and the changes were verified on December 29, after which the producers were informed that UA 16+ certification would be granted.

Also Read | Jana Nayagan row: M K Stalin targets centre over CBFC certification delay

However, an email dated January 5 stated that the film was being referred to a Revising Committee under Rule 24 of the Cinematograph (Certification) Rules, based on a complaint alleging improper portrayal of defence forces and potential hurt to religious sentiments. It later emerged that the complaint had been made by a member of the Examining Committee itself.

Supreme Court refusal and delayed release of Jana Nayagan The Division Bench had earlier stayed the single-judge order on January 9, noting that the Central government had not been given adequate time to respond. A subsequent plea by the producer before the Supreme Court challenging both the stay and the delay in certification was dismissed on January 15.

Also Read | Big loss for Jana Nayagan makers after postponement, refunds initiated
India-EU trade deal: Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal was asked on Tuesday whether US President Donald Trump had acted as a unifier in pushing India and the European Union towards the ambitious free trade agreement that has just been finalised.

Noting that both India and several European countries had been hit by US tariffs, a journalist from Euronews asked at a press conference how much of a unifying factor  beyond the deals win-win nature  President Trump had been.

Both India and European countries were hit by tariffs, a jounalist asked Goyal at a press conference on Tuesday. How much of a unifier beyond the win-win was President Donald Trump, the journalist asked.

"I do not think we even discussed this at any point of time," Goyal responded to the journalist from Euro News.

Earlier in the day, India and the 27-nation European Union (EU) concluded talks for the agreement, which is being described as 'mother of all deals'. The deal will further strengthen India-EU collaboration across key policy areas such as trade, security and defence, the clean transition and people-to-people cooperation.

Double EU exports to India by 2032 After nearly 20 years of negotiations, the two sides arrived at a far-reaching agreement that Leyen called the "mother of all trade deals as US President Donald Trump continues to upend the global order challenging longstanding alliances.

The deal is expected to double EU exports to India by 2032 by eliminating or reducing tariffs in 96.6% of traded goods by value, and will lead to savings of 4 billion euros ($4.75 billion) in duties for European companies, the EU said.

The timing of the India-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA) is significant. It comes amid heightened geopolitical turbulence and market uncertainty, driven in part by US President Donald Trumps tariff postures and a Russia-Ukraine war that shows no signs of resolution.

US expresses discomfort The United States has already expressed discomfort over the timing of the landmark agreement. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent criticised the EU for concluding a trade pact with India while trade negotiations between New Delhi and Washington are still ongoing.

Donald Trump has repeatedly targeted Europe with tariffs, arguing that the EU enjoys an unfair trade surplus with the US. For Europe, renewed Trump-era tariffs raise fears of higher export costs, trade retaliation and economic uncertainty. This is precisely why the India-EU trade deal is being seen as strategically important amid shifting global trade alignments.

Earlier this month, President Trump intensified his push to acquire Greenland, imposing a 10% import tax from February on goods coming from eight European countries over their opposition to US control of Greenland

Implemented within the 2026 calendar year: Goyal Minister Goyal said the ambitious agreement is likely to be implemented within the 2026 calendar year. Once implemented, 93 per cent of Indian shipments will enjoy duty-free access to the European Union, while the import of luxury cars and wines from there will become less expensive in India.

"Every agreement stands on its own legs, and this is a wonderful agreement. It'll be taken up for a legal scrubbing on a fast track basis...We do hope that we should be able to celebrate the entry into force of this agreement within calendar 2026 itself," Goyal said while responding to a question at a special briefing on the state visit of the President of the EU Council and the President of the EU Commission to India.

Taken together, India and the EU account for 25 per cent of the global GDP and one-third (about USD 11 trillion) of the international trade (about USD 33 trillion).

Also Read | Piyush Goyal says India-US trade talks progressing well

The minister further said that the European Union and India, leaving the sensitive issues aside, have come up with a "balanced, equitable, and fair" free trade agreement, which is a win-win for all sections of industry, both in India and the European Union.

The EU has become India's 22nd FTA partner.

I do not think we even discussed this at any point of time.

The NDA government, since 2014, has signed trade deals with Mauritius, the UAE, the UK, EFTA, Oman and Australia, and announced trade deals with New Zealand. In 2025, India signed a trade deal with Oman and the UK and announced the conclusion of a trade deal with New Zealand.

(With agency inputs)
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) predicted heavy snowfall in parts of Jammu and Kashmir and Leh, heavy rainfall in Uttar Pradesh and Delhi-NCR, and hailstorms in Rajasthan. Here's a state-wise weather update:

Jammu and Kashmir The IMD issued yellow and orange alerts in parts of Jammu and Kashmir for Tuesday, 27 January. Heavy snow is expected in areas including Kishtwar, Kulgam, Bandipora, Srinagar, Pulwama, and Kupwara. Thunderstorms and hailstorms are also expected in some regions.

Among the areas on orange alert are Jammu, Anantnag, Udhampur, Samba, Kathua, Kishtwar, Pulwama, Reasi, and Ganderbal.

Also Read | Delhi sees fresh rainfall, capital set for improvement in AQI

The Jammu-Srinagar National Highway (NH-44) has been closed due to fresh snowfall in and around the NAVYUG Tunnel, according to the Traffic Police J&K.

No vehicular movement shall be allowed from Jammu towards Srinagar and vice versa. Furthermore, Mughal Road, SSG Road and Sinthan Road are already closed, police said.

They advised people not to travel on these roads until they are completely restored and declared safe for traffic.

The Srinagar Airport further informed that airlines have cancelled certain flights for Tuesday, 27 January, in view of adverse weather conditions at Srinagar Airport and prevailing operational constraints.

Here's the list of Srinagar flights cancelled:

View full Image List of Srinagar flights cancelled.

Passengers are advised to remain in contact with their respective airlines for the latest updates and alternate arrangements, the airport said in a post on X.

View full Image List of Srinagar flights cancelled.

Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand The IMD issued a yellow alert in Himachal Pradesh on January 27, predicting rainfall/snowfall with thunderstorms, lightning, and gusty winds in the state on January 27, and in Uttarakhand on January 27 and 28.

"Isolated Hailstorm activity likely over Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, West Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan on 27th January," the IMD said.

Cold wave conditions are also likely in isolated pockets over Himachal Pradesh during January 29 and 31.

Delhi NCR Delhi NCR is likely to experience light rainfall on Tuesday, January 27, according to the IMD. The weather department put the city on yellow alert.

The weather department predicted, "Generally cloudy sky. One or two spells of light rain accompanied by thunderstorm/lightning and gusty winds, reaching 30-40 kmph, likely during early morning to forenoon hours."

"Also, one or two spells of light rain accompanied with thunderstorm/lightning during theafternoon to night," the IMD said.
(Bloomberg) -- Inaction by government agencies and other systemic failures contributed to a 2025 midair collision that was the worst US civil aviation disaster in more than two decades, the head of the US National Transportation Safety Board said.

NTSB has been investigating what caused a US Army helicopter to slam into an American Airlines Group Inc. regional jet attempting to land at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, the closest to the nations capital, on Jan. 29, 2025.

The accident resulted in the deaths of three military personnel on the Sikorsky UH-60L helicopter and 64 passengers and crew on the commercial airliner, a CRJ-700.

You will hear how deep underlying systemic failures, system flaws aligned to create the conditions that led to this devastating tragedy, NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy said at the start of a meeting Tuesday to determine the probable cause of the midair collision.

The crash sparked renewed concerns about aviation safety and led to a crackdown on helicopter flights near the airport. It also helped galvanize support for major upgrades to the nations aging air traffic control system.

In her opening statement, Homendy cited many factors that led to last years crash, including the design of the airspace around Reagan airport and the limitations of see and avoid, a collision avoidance method that relies on pilots to scan for and maneuver around nearby aircraft.

She also pointed to what she called the failure of entire organizations to evaluate and act on readily available data, heed repeated recommendations and foster robust safety cultures.

Prior to Tuesdays meeting, investigators had disclosed several findings, including that the helicopter involved in the crash was flying too high, was dealing with faulty altitude data and wasnt broadcasting its position using a technology, known as ADS-B Out.

The Republican chair of the Senate Commerce Committee, Ted Cruz, and the panels top Democrat, Maria Cantwell, have teamed up on legislation to tighten the rules that allow military aircraft to fly without having ADS-B Out turned on. The Senate passed the bill by unanimous consent in December but it has since stalled in the House.

During its probe, the NTSB also uncovered thousands of prior instances where commercial aircraft and helicopters came within an unsafe distance near Reagan airport. In addition, a single air traffic controller was overseeing both planes and helicopters in the airspace above the airport on the night of the crash and failed to warn the American Airlines jet that there was a US Army Black Hawk in the vicinity.

Since the accident, the Transportation Departments Office of Inspector General has opened an audit to assess the FAAs management of the airspace around Reagan airport, as well as policies and procedures for overseeing ADS-B Out exemptions.

More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com
The 2026 Doomsday Clock, a symbolic gauge of how close humanity is to self-destruction, has been moved to 85 seconds to midnight, its closest point ever, as global risks from nuclear weapons, climate change and artificial intelligence intensify.

The clock was advanced by the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, a Chicago-based science advocacy group, which warned that the world is becoming increasingly aggressive, adversarial and nationalistic, eroding international cooperation needed to avert catastrophe.

The shift brings the clock four seconds closer to midnight than last year, when it stood at 89 seconds.

What is the Doomsday Clock? The Doomsday Clock is a metaphorical warning system designed to show how close the world is to a man-made global catastrophe. Midnight represents total annihilation, while movements away from or toward midnight reflect changes in existential risk.

Created in 1947, the clock originally focused on the threat of nuclear war, especially as the United States and the Soviet Union entered an arms race after World War II. Over time, the Bulletin expanded its criteria to include climate change, biotechnology and emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence.

The clock is not a prediction, but a call to action, meant to spark public debate and pressure global leaders to reduce threats to humanity.

Why was the clock moved closer to midnight? The Bulletin cited a convergence of escalating dangers:

Climate change: Intensifying droughts, heat waves and floods, combined with the failure of governments to reach meaningful agreements to curb global warming.

Artificial intelligence: Growing concern over the unregulated integration of AI into military systems, its potential role in enabling biological threats, and its use in spreading large-scale disinformation.

Breakdown in global cooperation: The Bulletin warned that hard-won global understandings are collapsing, fueling a zero-sum competition among major powers.

Daniel Holz, chair of the Bulletins Science and Security Board, said international trust is critical.

If the world splinters into an us-versus-them, zero-sum approach, it increases the likelihood that we all lose, he said.

Who decides the time? Initially, the clock was set by Eugene Rabinowitch, a physicist and Bulletin editor deeply involved in international disarmament efforts. After his death in 1973, the responsibility shifted to the Bulletins leadership.

Since 2008, the clock has been set by the Science and Security Board, a panel of scientists and experts in nuclear technology, climate science and global security. The board consults widely with specialists and the Bulletins Board of Sponsors, which includes eight Nobel laureates.

When was the world farthest from midnight? The clock was set farthest from midnight in 1991, at 17 minutes, following the end of the Cold War and the signing of the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START) between the United States and the Soviet Union, which significantly reduced nuclear arsenals.

In recent years, however, rapid geopolitical shifts have prompted the Bulletin to measure time in seconds rather than minutes, underscoring the urgency of current risks.

Can the clock be turned back? Yes, the Bulletin stressed. The clock can move away from midnight if global leaders act decisively to reduce existential threats.

That would require renewed international cooperation on arms control, meaningful action on climate change, and strong global norms and safeguards governing the use of artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies.
Senator John Fetterman, a Democrat from Pennsylvania, has called on President Donald Trump to immediately sack Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, amid the situation in Minneapolis.

In a post on X on Tuesday, Fetterman directly appealed to Trump, tagging both the @POTUS and @realDonaldTrump accounts.

I make a direct appeal to immediately fire @Sec_Noem, Fetterman wrote.

Americans have died. She is betraying DHSs core mission and trashing your border security legacy. DO NOT make the mistake President Biden made for not firing a grossly incompetent DHS Secretary, he added.

Noem has faced widespread criticism after federal agents fatally shot two US citizens in Minneapolis this month, sparking protests and renewed scrutiny of immigration enforcement.

White House backs Noem The call came despite the White House publicly reaffirming its support for Noem.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said on Monday that the DHS chief continues to enjoy the presidents full confidence.

Secretary Noem still has the utmost confidence and trust of the president of the United States, Leavitt said.

She added that Noem is continuing to oversee the entire Department of Homeland Security and all of the immigration enforcement that's taking place across the whole entire country, while also leading FEMAs response to a brutal winter storm that has impacted hundreds of thousands of Americans.

Minneapolis shootings spark backlash Fettermans remarks followed controversy surrounding federal immigration enforcement operations in Minnesota, after the fatal shootings of US citizens Alex Pretti and Renee Good earlier this month.

Ms. Good and Mr. Pretti should still be alive. My family grieves for theirs, Fetterman said in a statement on Monday.

He described the federal operation in Minneapolis as dangerously out of control.

The operation in Minneapolis should stand down and immediately end. It has become an ungovernable and dangerous urban theatre for civilians and law enforcement that is incompatible with the American spirit, he said.

Pro-immigration Democrat stance Fetterman sought to clarify his broader position on immigration, stressing that his criticism does not amount to opposition to enforcement itself.

As a very pro-immigration Democrat and Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Border Management, I believe our nation deserves a secured border and that we should deport all criminal migrants, he said. I also believe there needs to be a path to citizenship for those hardworking families who are here.

However, the senator pushed back against calls from some quarters to dismantle immigration enforcement agencies.
US President Donald Trump touted productive conversations with the governor and Minneapolis mayor as he appeared to soften his tone Monday on the immigration crackdown in Minnesota.

According to the Associated Press, Border Patrol commander Greg Bovino and some federal agents will begin leaving Minnesota on Tuesday.

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey said he spoke with Trump, who praised the discussion and declared that lots of progress is being made."

Also Read | Who is Tom Homan and why has he been sent to Minnesota?

Frey was quoted as saying he asked Trump in a phone call to end the immigration enforcement surge and that Trump agreed the present situation could not continue.

The mayor said some agents would soon leave and that he would keep pushing for others involved in Operation Metro Surge to go.

Now, Bovino's departure marks a significant public shift in federal law enforcement posture amid mounting outrage over the fatal shooting of 37-year-old ICU nurse Alex Pretti by Border Patrol agents  the second fatal shooting by federal immigration officers this month.

Also Read | Minnesota GOP candidate quits Governor race after blasting Trumps ICE raids

Bovino's leadership of highly visible federal crackdowns, including operations that sparked mass demonstrations in Los Angeles, Chicago, Charlotte and Minneapolis, has drawn fierce criticism from local officials, civil rights advocates and congressional Democrats.

Criticism increased around Bovino in the last few days after his public defence of the Pretti shooting and disputed claims about the confrontation that led to his death.

'Border czar' to take charge Trump has now sent the 'border czar' to take charge of much of the enforcement effort. The border czar, Tom Homan, will take charge of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations in Minnesota. Frey said he planned to meet Homan on Tuesday.

On Monday, Trump posted on social media that Homan would report directly to him.

Also Read | Judge Mulls Halt of ICE Surge in Minnesota After Pretti Killing

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Homan would be the main point of contact on the ground in Minneapolis during continued operations by federal immigration officers.

Trump speaks with Minnesota governor Trump and Democratic Gov. Tim Walz spoke by phone and later offered comments that were a marked change from the critical statements they had exchanged in the past, the AP reported.

Their conversation happened on the same day a federal judge heard arguments in a lawsuit aimed at halting the federal immigration enforcement surge in the state.

We, actually, seemed to be on a similar wavelength, the president wrote in a social media post.

In a statement, Walz said the call was productive" and that impartial investigations into the shootings were needed.
Late-night television hosts in the United States have reacted with shock and anger to the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old intensive care nurse from Minneapolis who was shot and killed by a Border Patrol agent on the weekend of 2425 January.

Jimmy Kimmel breaks down over Pretti shooting On their shows on 26 January, several major American late-night hosts addressed the shooting and the fallout. Jimmy Kimmel on Jimmy Kimmel Live! was particularly emotional, visibly upset as he spoke about the situation.

He said he had spent the weekend feeling "shocked and sick" by what was happening in Minneapolis. Kimmel also noted personal concerns, mentioning that he had family members living in the city.

Is that the law and order that you voted for, if you voted for this? Kimmel asked the audience during his monologue. Every day is a nightmare now. My wife and I have family in Minneapolis that are afraid to take their kids to school. Theyre afraid to go to work. And I can only imagine how people who arent white feel about this. How does this end? Whats the plan here? Is the plan to just keep doing this in every city that didnt vote for Donald Trump? Does anyone on any side believe this is good leadership?

Kimmel also challenged viewers directly about the video evidence, urging people not to rely solely on official accounts. Its on video. Look at it, he said during the broadcast. Do your own research.

Also Read | Jimmy Kimmel thanks Trump as he bags a win at Critics Choice Awards 2026

Other prominent hosts also weighed in. Stephen Colbert and Seth Meyers highlighted what they described as political victim-blaming from government officials. Comedian Jon Stewart also used his platform to criticise the federal governments handling of the story and the administrations characterisation of Pretti.

The shooting occurred during ongoing federal enforcement operations in Minneapolis. Initial statements from the Department of Homeland Security and senior Trump administration officials claimed Pretti presented a threat to officers and that the agent acted in self-defence.

Kristi Noem, the Secretary of Homeland Security, said that Border Patrol officers had "attempted to disarm" Pretti, "but the armed suspect reacted violently," and that a Border Patrol agent "fired defensive shots" while "fearing for his life and the lives of his fellow officers around him." She also said that "this looks like a situation where an individual arrived at the scene to inflict maximum damage on individuals and to kill law enforcement."

Video of the incident quickly spread online, and many viewers were troubled because the footage appeared to show Pretti was not brandishing a weapon at the moment he was shot  and in some clips, he can be seen holding only a phone before agents tackle him and later fatally shoot him.

Also Read | Renee Good killing: Family hires George Floyd law firm as Trump softens stance

The shooting of Pretti is not an isolated incident. Earlier in January, an ICE agent fatally shot Renee Good, another 37-year-old woman, in Minneapolis, prompting protests and sustained public debate about federal law enforcement presence in the city.

Noem characterised both deaths as linked to domestic terrorism, a label that has been strongly disputed by video evidence and witness testimony.

Reactions to Prettis death have gone far beyond late-night television. Federal and state officials are facing mounting criticism. The White House has publicly distanced President Donald Trump from some of the most provocative statements made by senior aides, even as calls grow for a full independent investigation of both the shooting itself and the way authorities have described it.

In addition, the Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem is facing scrutiny within the administration, and there are reports of internal disagreement over messaging and leadership following the incident.
US President Donald Trump on Tuesday (January 27) warned Iraq against reinstating former prime minister Nouri al-Maliki, saying Washington would withdraw support if he returned to power.

In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump said he was hearing that Iraq could make a very bad choice by bringing Maliki back as prime minister, blaming his previous tenure for plunging the country into poverty and total chaos.

Because of his insane policies and ideologies, if elected, the United States of America will no longer help Iraq, Trump wrote. If we are not there to help, Iraq has ZERO chance of Success, Prosperity, or Freedom.

Trump added that Iraq should not allow a repeat of Malikis leadership, ending the post with the slogan MAKE IRAQ GREAT AGAIN.

Last week, Iraq's Shi'ite political bloc alliance, which holds a parliamentary majority, announced former Prime Minister Maliki as its nominee for the position.

Maliki, a senior in the Shiite Islamist Dawa Party, previously served two terms as Iraqs prime minister from 2006 to 2014. His tenure was marked by sectarian violence, power struggles with Sunni and Kurdish rivals, and escalating tensions with the United States.

He resigned in 2014 after the Islamic State seized large parts of Iraq but has remained influential, leading the State of Law coalition and maintaining close ties with Iran-backed factions. Analysts say his potential return signals a consolidation of Shiite power amid Iraqs fractious political landscape.

Iraq delays Presidential vote Iraqs parliament postponed the election of the countrys president on Tuesday to give Kurdish parties more time to agree on a candidate, amid growing political tensions and international attention on former prime minister Nouri al-Malikis likely return.

The delay comes days after the Coordination Framework, an alliance of Shiite political blocs holding a parliamentary majority, endorsed Maliki as its candidate for prime minister.

Malikis background Maliki, a senior in the Shiite Islamist Dawa Party, previously served two terms as Iraqs prime minister from 2006 to 2014. His tenure was marked by sectarian violence, power struggles with Sunni and Kurdish rivals, and escalating tensions with the United States.

He resigned in 2014 after the Islamic State seized large parts of Iraq but has remained influential, leading the State of Law coalition and maintaining close ties with Iran-backed factions.

Parliamentary delay and Kurdish disagreement The official Iraqi News Agency (INA) reported that Speaker Haibat al-Halbussi received requests from Iraqs two main Kurdish partiesthe Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK)to postpone the presidential vote. The parties are negotiating over the selection of a candidate, with no new date yet agreed.

By convention, Iraqs powerful prime minister post goes to a Shiite Muslim, the parliament speaker is a Sunni, and the largely ceremonial presidency is reserved for a Kurd. Traditionally, the PUK has held the presidency while the KDP selects the president of the semi-autonomous Kurdish region. This time, however, the KDP nominated Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein for the presidency, challenging the tacit agreement.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney confirmed on Tuesday (January 27) that he spoke with Donald Trump on Monday, following remarks he made last week that reportedly drew irritation from the US President. Carney, however, denied claims that he had walked back his statements.

When reporters asked if he had walked back his remarks, Carney replied, No.

The controversy stems from Carneys speech in Davos, where he urged nations to accept the end of a rules-based global order. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent commented that Carney was very aggressively walking back some of his remarks after the speech.

"I was in the Oval with the President today. He spoke to Prime Minister Carney, who was very aggressively walking back some of the unfortunate remarks he made at Davos," Bessent reportedly told Fox News.

Carney warns of new global order, ushes middle powers to resist coercion Carney used a major address at the World Economic Forum in Davos on January 21 to argue that middle powers must band together to resist coercion from aggressive superpowers. Stop invoking the rules-based international order as though it still functions as advertised, Carney said. Call the system what it is: a period where the most powerful pursue their interests using economic integration as a weapon of coercion.

Carney received a rare standing ovation for his speech, which observers saw as a veiled critique of US President Donald Trumps approach to international relations. While he did not mention Trump by name, his references to American hegemony and pressure tactics such as tariffs and supply chain manipulation were widely interpreted as allusions to the US president.

"Middle powers must act together" Carney called on countries like Canada to form alliances to defend against coercion and protect their sovereignty. Middle powers must act together because if you are not at the table, you are on the menu, he said. He cited Czech dissident Vaclav Havel, warning against the dangers of governments and leaders lying to themselves about the realities of global power.

He also highlighted Canadas commitment to NATO and its northern and western defenses: Our commitment to Article 5  NATOs joint defense clause  is unwavering.

Canada, Greenland, and rising Arctic tensions On Arctic geopolitics, Carney emphasized Canadas support for Greenlands right to self-determination amid rising tensions over US claims.

Trade and China relations Carney addressed recent trade developments with China, including a deal to reduce tariffs on Canadian agricultural products while easing levies on Chinese-made electric vehicles. He stressed that the agreement was not a free trade deal: We have no intention of pursuing free trade agreements with China or any other nonmarket economy.

Carney emphasized that Canada is fully committed to the Canada-US-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA), which obligates members to provide advance notice before pursuing a free trade deal with a non-market economy like China.

His remarks came in response to Trumps threats of tariffs on Canadian goods, with the US president posting on social media: China is successfully and completely taking over the once Great Country of Canada. So sad to see it happen. I only hope they leave Ice Hockey alone!

Carney pushes back against Trump Carney earlier also hit back at Trumps assertion that Canada lives because of the United States. In a national address in Quebec City, Carney said: Canada doesnt live because of the United States. Canada thrives because we are Canadian, while acknowledging the long-standing partnership between the two nations.

He further urged Canada to serve as a model in a world experiencing democratic decline: Canada cant solve all the worlds problems, but we can show that another way is possible, that the arc of history isnt destined to be warped towards authoritarianism and exclusion.
India and the European Union will unveil what has been described as the mother of all deals on Tuesday, following the successful conclusion of lengthy negotiations. Together, India and the EU account for nearly one-fifth of global trade and about a quarter of the worlds population, underscoring the partnerships rising economic and strategic significance.

The two sides maintain a close partnership focused on advancing economic growth, upholding a rules-based international order, and promoting sustainable development, with trade and investment forming the core of their relationship.

Here's what European Council President said In an exclusive interview with Hindustan Times, European Council President Antonio Costa stressed the importance of closer ties between India and the EU.

In our multi-polar world, its essential that the EU and India become closer and closer partners because we can together be strong providers of stability, protectability and reliability in international relations and to protect our international rules-based order, Costa said.

He added, Our trade agreement, I think, is a very important geopolitical stabiliser and a showcase of how its possible to protect international rules-based trade.

According to ANI, both sides are expected to advance the Free Trade Agreement (FTA), roll out a defence framework pact and announce a strategic agenda.

Negotiations on the FTA were initially launched in 2007 but were paused in 2013 due to differences in ambition, before being revived in June 2022.

India and the EU are also examining the possibility of concluding a Security of Information Agreement (SOIA) and a mobility pact. Discussions are expected to cover the Russia-Ukraine conflict and developments in West Asia.

Costa told HT, It is the most important trade agreement ever signed by the EU. This is a very important instrument to stabilise trade relations around the world.

He added, Its coming at a very important moment and sending a very important political message to the world that India and the EU believe more in trade agreements than in tariffs.

India-EU relations India and the EU are poised to deepen their strategic tiesfirst established in 2004through the signing of a Security and Defence Partnership (SDP), which will examine ways for India to participate in European defence initiatives.

At the 16th India-EU Summit today, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to hold both restricted and delegation-level talks with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa.

Also Read | India in talks with EU to participate in European defence initiatives: Report

An India-EU Business Forum will also be held on the sidelines of the summit.

Discussions are expected to centre on trade, defence and security cooperation, climate action, critical technologies, and strengthening the rules-based global order.

In trade in goods, the EU is India's second-largest trading partner, right after China and ahead of the United States, accounting for 11.5% of India's total goods trade.

As per the official data, in 2024, EU-India trade in goods was valued at over 120 billion euros. This included 71.4 billion euros worth of EU imports from India and 48.8 billion euros in EU exports to India.

Its coming at a very important moment and sending a very important political message to the world that India and the EU believe more in trade agreements than in tariffs.

Over the last decade, bilateral trade in goods has doubled. During this period, EU imports from India grew by 140%, while EU exports to India increased by 58%, showing the steady expansion of commercial ties.

The main goods exported by the EU to India include machinery and appliances, transport equipment and chemicals. On the other hand, the EU primarily imports machinery and appliances, chemicals and fuels from India.

Our trade agreement is a very important geopolitical stabiliser and a showcase of how its possible to protect international rules-based trade.

India's key services exports to the EU were other business services, telecommunication and IT, and transportation services. Imports included intellectual property services, telecommunication and IT.

(With inputs from ANI, HT)
China recently overhauled its military, drawing special focus to its top general, Zhang Youxia, the highest-ranking military officer after President Xi Jinping.

On Saturday, authorities placed Zhang under investigation for suspected serious violations of discipline and law," according to the major announcement made by China's state broadcaster CCTV.

China's defence ministry confirmed that investigators were probing both Zhang and General Liu Zhenli, a lower-ranking member of the commission who headed the militarys Joint Staff Department, the Associated Press reported.

Xi Jinping has completed one of the biggest purges of Chinas military leadership in the history of the Peoples Republic, Neil Thomas, a fellow at the Asia Society Policy Institutes Center for China Analysis, told AP.

The move shakes up virtually the entire commission, chaired by Xi, leaving only one of its six members intact.

Why is Zhang Youxia under investigation? On Saturday, the defence ministry gave no details on the alleged wrongdoing. But a day later, on Sunday, the People's Liberation Army Daily published an editorial saying that the action was taken over "suspected serious violations of discipline and law, and showed China's commitment to punishing corruption.

The editorial alleged that Zhang and Liu seriously betrayed the trust and expectations of the Communist Party and the Central Military Commission (CMC), and fostered political and corruption problems that undermined the partys absolute leadership over the military and threatened the partys ruling foundation.

Also Read | China sees a chance to lure jaded US allies

Meanwhile, The Wall Street Journal cited sources claiming that Zhang leaked information about China's nuclear weapons programme to the United States. The WSJ report also alleged he accepted bribes for official acts, including the promotion of an officer to the defence minister.

LiveMint was unable to verify the authenticity of the report.

Meanwhile, analysts told Reuters that such purges are designed to reform the military and ensure loyalty to Xi. They form part of a broader anti-corruption drive that has punished more than 200,000 officials since the Chinese leader came to power in 2012.

The military has been a key target of a broad corruption crackdown ordered by Xi in 2012. That drive reached the upper echelons of the Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) in 2023 when the elite Rocket Force was targeted.

Who is Zhang Youxia? Zhang was the most senior general, second only to Xi in the military command structure, and long regarded as Xi's closest military ally.

Reports in The Guardian and Reuters say that Zhang served as the joint vice-chairperson of the powerful CMC, the ruling body of Chinas PLA. He was also a member of the elite Politburo of the ruling Communist Party and was one of just a few senior officers with combat experience.

His removal marks only the second time a sitting general on the CMC has been ousted since the 1966-76 Cultural Revolution.

Zhang's life and career Born in Beijing, Zhang joined the army in 1968, rising through the ranks and joining the military commission in late 2012 as the PLA's modernisation drive gathered pace, Reuters reported.

Both Xi and Zhang are reported to be from the northwestern province of Shaanxi and are the children of former senior officials who fought together in the 1940s civil war.

Also Read | China sees a chance to lure jaded US allies

A Pentagon profile of Zhang in late 2023 said that Zhang had been expected to retire in 2022, aged 72, given usual military practice. "However, Zhang's retention on the Central Military Commission (CMC) for a third term probably reflects Xi's desire to keep a close and experienced ally as his top military adviser," the profile said, contained within the Pentagon's annual report on China's military that year.

Zhang fought in a brief but bloody border war in 1979 that China launched in punishment for Vietnam's invading Cambodia the previous year and ousting the Beijing-backed Khmer Rouge.

He was 26 when he was sent to the front lines to fight the Vietnamese and was quickly promoted, according to state media.

Zhang also fought in another border clash with Vietnam in 1984 as the conflict rumbled on.

"During the battle, whether attacking or defending, Zhang Youxia performed excellently," the official China Youth Daily wrote in a 2017 piece entitled, "These Chinese generals have killed the enemy on the battlefield".

Some China scholars reportedly noted that Zhang emerged from the conflict an avowed moderniser in terms of military tactics, weapons and the need for a force.
Politics in Asia is getting funnier, but the punchlines are falling flat. From Indonesia to India, young people grappling with economic uncertainty and shrinking trust in institutions are turning to satire to express their discontent.

This disillusionment is taking place across the world, but in Asia the consequences for joking about power are often far more severe, ranging from intimidation and censorship to defamation cases and, in some instances, prison.

Satire has become a barometer of a deeper dysfunction in governance as traditional channels meant to hold elected officials accountable are breaking down. This risks normalizing political failure rather than finding avenues to correct it.

Indonesia offers a recent example of how political humour is being used to expose inequality in Southeast Asias largest economy.

Bobby Saputra, an influencer with over 2.5 million followers on TikTok and Instagram and millions of views on YouTube, pokes fun at nepotism and corruption in a country that is facing a weaker currency, slower growth and concerns over governance.

His hilarious fictional billionaire character obliviously flaunts inherited wealth and entitlement, sore points for many citizens who are frustrated with a widening gap between the rich and poor.

The persona Bobby takes on in his videos is deliberately absurd and larger-than-life, but the comments on his videos and his region-wide popularity reflect a sense of disenchantment with the status quo.

Southeast Asian youth are highly concerned about corruption and economic insecurity, according to a recent survey by the Singapore-based ISEASYusof Ishak Institute.

But many are also sceptical that governments will address these issues one reason for the surge of Gen-Z anger that spilled onto the streets in Indonesia and the Philippines last year.

Also Read | Expect turbulence around Taiwan with Trump, Xi and Kim as principal players

When governance disappoints, the use of satire spreads, according to research on political humour across Asia.

It offers both those who make the jokes and those who laugh at them a way to question power without confronting it head-on. Satire long predates modern politics and it has consistently served as a tool to question authority.

Having a finger on the pulse of society is key. In the Philippines, recent corruption cases involving the mismanagement of government funds earmarked for flooding have offered satirists ample content.

One of the best-known entertainers, Michael V., used the news cycle to poke fun at high-profile individuals involved in the controversies. He told local media that it was a way to raise awareness of whats happening in the country.

The Philippines has a rich tradition of political humour. Being mocked used to be accepted as part of democratic life, but tolerance has narrowed. The 2012 Cybercrime Prevention Act imposed harsh penalties for online libel, making comedians vulnerable to legal pressure from politicians.

Punishment can include heavy fines and prison sentences, although subsequent rulings have aimed to blunt the laws effects.

Biting satirical cartoons were a feature of the vibrant press culture in Hong Kong for decades, but that space has steadily shrunk since Beijing imposed the National Security Law in 2020.

Three years later, Ming Pao, a leading Chinese-language newspaper, stopped publishing the work of veteran cartoonist Wong Kei-kwanbetter known as Zunziafter authorities complained.

Also Read | Why central banks in Southeast Asia keep wrong-footing economists

In China, satirists routinely rely on puns, homophones and emojis to evade the scrutiny of officials. Even seemingly harmless jokes are treated as defiance against the regime, leading to even more creative ways of expressing discontent.

Political humour in India is also under pressure. Comedians such as Kunal Kamra, Vir Das and others have faced police complaints, venue cancellations, suspended performances and online harassment over jokes aimed at leaders and institutions.

Humour cant save a democracy, but it is part of a healthy one. One reason to remain hopeful about the American political system is the fact that late night shows such as Saturday Night Live and The Daily Show continue to exist and draw huge audiences.

Jimmy Kimmel returned to the air last September after his show was pulled following comments he made about the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.

The current political atmosphere might not be conducive to rebuilding a system where criticism can be voiced openly without fear of censorship or punishment. That doesnt mean we shouldnt aim for it anyway.

Demands must continue for a judiciary that protects voters rights and a media able to report freely. A sense of humour among the regions politicians would be a bonus.

Until then, jokes will remain a substitute for government accountability. And that is no laughing matter. Bloomberg

Also Read | Why the World Bank's South Asia update addresses a world that no longer exists

The author is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist covering Asia politics with a special focus on China.
Budget 2026: The Union government has called an all-party meeting on January 27 ahead of the Budget Session of Parliament, to discuss the legislative and other agendas.

The Budget 2026 Session will begin on January 28, with President Draupadi Murmu's address to the joint sitting of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha.

Also Read | Union Budget 2026 to be presented on 1 February, Sunday

The Union budget would be presented on February 1, which is a Sunday. This will be Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman's ninth consecutive budget. The Economic Survey will be tabled on 29 January.

"The all-party meeting, convened by Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju, will be held at the main committee room of Parliament House annexe at 11 am on January 27," a government source was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.

The Budget Session will continue till April 2. The first phase will conclude on February 13, with Parliament reassembling on March 9.

Opposition up in arms The session comes at a time when the opposition Congress is conducting a nationwide campaign against the Viksit Bharat-Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Act, which replaces the UPA-era Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act.

The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is meanwhile running a counter campaign to highlight the new legislation as reformist and necessary to plug loopholes of the old law.

The Union Budget will also be presented at a time when US President Donald Trump's tariffs have upended the global economic order.

Also Read | Why Budget Day no longer moves Indias stock market

The Lok Sabha has provisionally allotted three days - February 2 to 4 - for discussion on the Motion of Thanks on the President's Address. There will be no Zero Hour on January 28 and February 1.

As many as nine bills are pending before the Lok Sabha, including the Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhishthan Bill, 2025; the Securities Markets Code, 2025; and the Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty-ninth Amendment) Bill, 2024.

The all-party meeting, convened by Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju, will be held at the main committee room of Parliament House annexe.

These bills are currently being scrutinised by the Parliamentary Standing or Select Committees.
HONG KONGDecades of spending increases have helped China build one of the worlds most substantial militaries, stirring fears that it could seize Taiwan or provoke a clash over territorial disputes with neighbors such as Japan or the Philippines.

But the chief victim of the buildup of Chinas military so far has been its own elite, as Chinese leader Xi Jinping has purged a swath of top generals accused of corruption and disloyalty.

The latest top brass to be put under investigation, Generals Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli, rose and fell from power during a decadeslong surge in military spending that has provided a fountain of opportunities for graft in a defense establishment that never extinguished its problems with corruption.

Money spent very quickly on the military corrupts very quickly," said Dennis Wilder, a senior fellow at Georgetown University and former U.S. intelligence officer.

Both generals also face allegations of factionalization and defiance of Xis authoritythe most serious charges against them, according to analysts, who say the Chinese leaders corruption fight is ultimately part of his effort to ensure the complete loyalty of those around him.

Between 2015 and 2024, Chinas official military spending grew by close to 60%, according to an analysis by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute. China has long had the second-largest military budget behind the U.S., and researchers estimate its true size is as much as 30% higher than what is officially reported.

Chinas military has been unveiling a series of new and expensive items, such as its third aircraft carrier, which was commissioned late last year. Its navy is now larger than that of the U.S. by ship count. Satellite images indicate China is researching a nuclear propulsion system for a large warship, analysts say, that would give its aircraft carriers a range and endurance comparable to Americas.

Some of the most prominent aspects of Chinas recent military expansion have also seen some of the most notable allegations of corruption.

That includes the addition of some 350 silos for ballistic missiles in remote parts of northern China, the most significant recent development in Chinas nuclear arsenal," according to a report led by Hans Kristensen, director of the Nuclear Information Project at the Federation of American Scientists.

The lids of at least some of those silos had problems, likely forcing the Chinese military to repair them, the Pentagon said in its 2024 report on Chinas military power.

Recent investigations have led to the removal of several commanders of the rocket force, the Chinese military branch responsible for the silos. Also targeted was Li Shangfu, a defense minister who had been head of the Equipment Development Department under the Central Military Commission, giving him a role in overseeing that expansion.

The wholesale dismissal" of the rocket forces senior leadership may be connected to fraud cases involving the construction of underground silos for ballistic missiles during a period of rapid expansion," the Pentagon said in the 2024 report.

Chinese leaders likely took the problem more seriously because of the forces uniquely important nuclear mission," the report added.

View Full Image Zhang Youxia, front, and Liu Zhenli, second from left, among officials swearing an oath after they were elected during a session of the Chinas National People's Congress.

View Full Image Chinese nuclear missiles during a military parade in Beijing. Maxim Shemetov/Reuters

Fraudulent procurement practices could also have been a factor in the dockside-sinking of a prototype of a new Chinese submarine, the Pentagon said last year.

The Chinese military has a long history of corruption, including widespread cases of buying and selling ranks and extensive side businesses controlled by military personnel. Xi began his purge of the military leadership soon after coming to power in 2012, driving out one former member of the top-level Central Military Commission in 2014 for corruption offenses including accepting bribes and improperly assisting in promotions, and another in 2015 for similar offenses.

In hindsight, we can say that the metaphorical writing was already on the wall, and that more cases of skimming off the top, seeking favors for preferred proteges and businesses, would come up when reforms began and way too much money began being pumped into modernization," said Anushka Saxena, a research analyst with the Takshashila Institution, an Indian think tank.

While those initial purges were of military brass who previously held top positions under Xis predecessor, Hu Jintao, the latest are of active-duty generals who reached the apex of Chinas military leadership under Xi himself.

Zhang was previously seen as one of Xis most trusted allies in the military, and his father fought alongside Xis father during the Chinese civil war.

Along with public accusations that Zhang and Liu undermined Xis authority and harmed military readiness, high-level military officials have been told that Zhang accepted bribes for the promotion of Li to defense minister and leaked information about the countrys nuclear program to the U.S., The Wall Street Journal has reported.

Zhang and Liu couldnt be reached for comment and havent spoken publicly about the charges against them.

Being accused of crossing Xi could be the biggest nail in their political coffins. The key article is about not remaining loyal to the chairman responsibility system, which is what Xi Jinping instituted when he declared himself commander in chief of the armed forces," said Wilder, the Georgetown fellow.

Write to Austin Ramzy at austin.ramzy@wsj.com
Donald Trump said Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem would remain in her post despite the presidents decision to reshuffle the leadership running his deportation effort in Minnesota following widespread outcry over the killing of two US citizens by federal agents.

I think shes doing a very good job, Trump told reporters Tuesday as he departed the White House for a trip to Iowa. The border is totally secure.

The public vote of confidence came a day after the president ordered the shakeup in the aftermath of the Jan. 24 fatal shooting of 37-year-old intensive care nurse Alex Pretti by a Border Patrol agent during an enforcement operation.

Trumps decision to dispatch border czar Tom Homan to Minneapolis, effectively replacing Greg Bovino, the US Border Patrol commander who became the face of the contentious immigration crackdown in Minneapolis, spurred widespread speculation that the president may be frustrated with how his deportation efforts are being carried out and viewed by the public.

Trumps expression of support for Noem suggested he wasnt immediately looking to further upend his immigration team. Still, the president indicated he was pleased by the reaction to his decision to appoint Homan, a Noem rival within the administration seen as more focused on targeted enforcement than broad street operations.

Hes meeting with the governor, and hes meeting with the mayor, I think, later, and I hear thats all going very well, Trump said of Homan.

Prettis death came just weeks after the Jan. 7 killing of Renee Good, a US citizen and Minneapolis mother of three, by an ICE agent during a similar operation in a residential neighborhood of the city.

Initial statements by administration officials  including Noem, who said Pretti showed up to impede a law enforcement operation, and senior adviser Stephen Miller, who intimated on social media that Pretti was an assassin and domestic terrorist  drew bipartisan criticism. Available video of the incident didnt show Pretti brandishing the firearm he was legally carrying and suggested that the officers had disarmed him before shooting him repeatedly.

Trump on Tuesday notably declined to say whether the Pretti shooting was justified.

Were doing a big investigation, he said. I want to see the investigation. Im going to be watching over it. I want a very honorable and honest investigation. I have to see it myself.

You cant walk in with guns, you cant do that, he added, calling the killing a very unfortunate incident.

Public opinion polls show increasing discomfort with the administrations tactics, even among voters who broadly support immigration enforcement. Nearly half of Americans in a recent Politico poll said the deportation campaign was too aggressive, and one in three Trump voters said while they support the the goal, they disapproved with how its being implemented.

Still, Trump and his inner circle have been reluctant to remove officials in his second term, after frequent firings and resignations became a regular feature of his first presidential stint.

That appeared to still be the case on Tuesday, as the president drew some of his embattled administration officials close. Noem and her top aide, Corey Lewandowski  the first campaign manager of Trumps 2016 presidential bid  met with the president Monday night for nearly two hours at the White House, the New York Times reported. Separately, Miller traveled with Trump aboard Air Force One as he flew to Iowa.

But even as Trump appeared eager to calm the palace intrigue, he also signaled a desire to find compromise with state and local officials. Homan was set to meet with Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey. And the president indicated in a radio interview that aired Tuesday morning he hoped to work with them.

All I said: just give us your criminals, and if you give us the criminals, it all goes away, Trump told WABC.

Business leaders in Minnesota, including executives from Target Corp. and Best Buy Co. Inc., have joined calls for de-escalation, warning that the federal operation was damaging worker morale and the states economic stability, while executives in Silicon Valley have also criticized ICE.

In Washington, Senate Democrats have warned they would block funding for the Department of Homeland Security unless restrictions are placed on enforcement operations  raising the specter of a partial government shutdown  while some Republicans are urging more restraint and a clearer strategy on immigration from the administration.

Meanwhile, a judge in Minnesota has ordered the acting chief of ICE to appear in court on Friday to answer questions about the Trump administrations handling of bond hearings for detained immigrants. The judge said the administration has failed to comply with orders to hold bond hearings for the detainees.

This is one of dozens of court orders with which respondents have failed to comply in recent weeks, wrote Chief Judge Patrick Schiltz in an order Monday directing acting ICE Chief Todd Lyons to appear in person Jan. 30 to show why he shouldnt be held in contempt.

2026 Bloomberg L.P.
Last week, US President Donald Trump launched the board of peace (BoP) to oversee interim governance and rebuilding of Gaza. European countries like the UK and France declined to join. India, which too was invited, says it is still examining the offer. Mint looks at why countries are demurring and whether India should join.

What is the board of peace?

The BoP was part of Trumps vision for post-war Gaza. It was outlined in his initial peace plan for the Middle East, made public in September. It was then called the new international transitional body."

In November 2025, the UN Security Council formally backed the BoP, granting it international legitimacy till 2027. But last week, it became clear that Trump sees a broader role of BoP. News reports say the BoP charter talks of securing enduring peace in areas affected or threatened by conflict," not just Gaza. In fact, the charter does not mention Gaza even once. It also calls for a more nimble and effective international peace-building body," seen as a swipe at the United Nations.

Also Read | One year of Trump 2.0: The twists and turns that impacted India

Why is it controversial?

There are worries that the BoP will supplant the UN. The charter also invests the BoP chairman, Trump, with inordinate powers. This includes the power to nominate or remove members, to exercise his veto on decisions taken by members, and to name his own successor.

He is also empowered to enact resolutions or other directives" to carry out the boards mission. Indian analysts question the provision allowing members who contribute $1 billion to remain as permanent members.

Others will serve a three-year term. This pay-to-play" framework introduces a graded system of privilege in which sovereignty shifts from an equal right to a weighted hierarchy, said former Indian diplomat Ausaf Sayeed in a blog last week.

Which countries have joined the BoP?

Twenty founding members, including the US attended the signing ceremony in Davos, Switzerland, on 22 January. Argentina, Turkey, Hungary, Indonesia, Bulgaria, Bahrain, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Qatar, the UAE, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Morocco, Paraguay and Pakistan. Israel had earlier said it would join the board.

Long-time US alliesFrance, Britain, Norway and Sweden have said that they will not join the board at this time.

Also Read | At Davos, the world finally pushed back against a bully

What are Indias reservations?

India hasnt publicly expressed any reservations. But it is clear that a charter stating that the BoP would look at all areas of conflicts has made it wary. Pakistans presence on the BoP will mean that Islamabad will try to get international attention on Kashmir.

India declined Trumps offer of mediation during his first term. Last year, India rejected Trumps remarks that he had prevailed on India and Pakistan to end hostilities during Operation Sindoor. Being in the room to defeat Pakistans plans is always better than trying to beat the challenge from outside.

Will India saying no affect US ties?

Given Trumps volatile temperament, Indias rejection could be taken as a slight. India is perhaps the only country with tariffs as high as 50%. The India-US trade deal is still being negotiated.

The US remains one of Indias key technology and investment partners. Besides, India looks forward to joining coalitions like Pax Silica to boost its skill levels, technology capabilities and chip manufacturing capacity to take on its China challenge. Given this, India has been focussed on managing its ties with the US despite differences on different fronts.

Can India make the offer work to its advantage?

Yes, it could. For one, it could engage in a bilateral conversation with the US on thisto make clear its support for the BoP where Gaza is concerned, says former diplomat Ajay Bisaria. Given the transactional nature of the world today, India could look at negotiating advantages for itself in return for joining the BoP. Participation could come at a price of speedier conclusion of the India-US trade deal for instance.

India has its own complaints with the UN system, including its anachronistic structure that keeps countries like itself out of the UN Security Council. But India is not giving up on multilateralism.

If Trump intends to mould the BoP as the basis for a new global governance architecture, it might not be a bad idea for India to seize the moment to negotiate a larger and more prominent role for itself in the biggest global shakeup since 1945.

Elizabeth Roche is associate professor of practice at O.P. Jindal Global University, Haryana.
Al Roker, one of the most recognizable faces in American television  a longtime NBC News weather anchor, journalist and television personality who has been a fixture on the TODAY show, has celebrated 30th anniversary.

Born Albert Lincoln Roker Jr. on August 20, 1954, in Queens, New York, Roker joined TODAY as its full-time weekday weather anchor in 1996, succeeding the late Willard Scott. The show itself has been on air since 1952, making Roker one of the most enduring figures in morning television.

Over the years, Roker has become known not just for weather forecasts but for his warmth, humor and trademark Al-isms, phrases that have come to define his on-air presence, including No is a complete sentence and Two things can be true.

30 years on TODAY, no plans to retire As he marks 30 years on TODAY, Roker says retirement is not on his mind. Speaking exclusively to People magazine ahead of the milestone, the 71-year-old made it clear hes still enjoying the job.

Well, lets put it this way. I havent thought about retirement, Roker told People, before joking, Somebody at NBC, that might be a different story.

He added that his passion for the work remains strong. I love what I do. I feel good. I love this job. I love doing it, Roker said. At some point I guess I wont be, but I dont feel like thats anytime soon, so Im just gonna keep going.

A custodian of a long legacy Reflecting on the impact and history of TODAY, Roker described himself as part of a long line of broadcasters temporarily entrusted with a major television institution.

I think thats the beauty of the broadcast is that the mission over these 74 years has not changed, he said. The way we bring it to you may have, and look, the fact of the matter is we are each temporary custodians of this legacy.

Roker acknowledged that his time on the show will eventually end, but said being part of its history is deeply meaningful. At some point I wont be part of the show, somebody else will be, but to be part of a pretty cool club is very special, he said.

How he wants to be remembered When asked about the legacy he hopes to leave behind, Roker focused less on accolades and more on the viewer experience.

People, when they watch, that they didnt feel like I wasted their time, he told People. And that hopefully they felt better after watching than before.

After decades of forecasting storms, hosting major events like the Macys Thanksgiving Day Parade, and becoming a familiar presence in American homes, Rokers message is simple: hes still doing what he loves  and hes not done yet.

Early life and education Roker was raised in New York City and attended Xavier High School in Manhattan before earning a BA in communications from SUNY Oswego in 1976. Initially interested in becoming a cartoonist, he gravitated toward broadcasting while still in college, working as a weather anchor and radio DJ.

Broadcasting career Rokers television career began in the mid-1970s in Syracuse, Washington DC, and Cleveland, before he joined NBCs flagship station WNBC in New York in the early 1980s. His big break came as a substitute forecaster on TODAY and NBC News at Sunrise, leading to his appointment as weekday weather anchor in 1996.

Since then, Roker has become a central figure on TODAY, expanding his role well beyond weather. He regularly interviews guests, anchors special segments, and co-hosts 3rd Hour TODAY. He is also known for enduring extreme weather coverage  including reporting from inside Hurricane Wilma in 2005  and for continuing the tradition of celebrating centenarian birthdays on air.

Beyond TODAY Roker has hosted NBCs Macys Thanksgiving Day Parade since 1995, fronted game shows, appeared in films and TV series, and worked extensively with Food Network. He is also a Broadway performer, having appeared in productions such as Waitress, Gutenberg! The Musical!, and Back to the Future: The Musical.
Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem gives a speech on January 26, 2026. (Alahed News)

Hezbollah is arguably the Islamic Republic of Irans primary and central extension, having described itself as such in the 1985 Open Letter, the groups founding and constitutional document. As a result of this inextricable linkage, based on the belief that Irans Supreme Leader is the divinely guided earthly vicar of God, any threat to the Iranian regimes stability, let alone its existence, is, by its very nature, a threat to Hezbollah as well.

Therefore, Hezbollah has inevitably been casting a wary gaze towards the latest ongoing nationwide protests in Iran that began on December 28, 2025. Unsubstantiated claims suggested that the group may have deployed its own operatives to Iran assist in the regimes crackdown. However, as far as verifiable information goes, Hezbollah has, thus far, sufficed with offering Tehran verbal support while keeping its forces and arsenal in reserve, perhaps until it senses the regime is under existential threateither from the protests or the United States or Israel exploiting the nationwide unrest to inflict a mortal blow upon their intractable adversary in Tehran.

Regardless of how Hezbollah ultimately chooses to respond to any threats to the Islamic Republics regime, the group and its leadership have made it clear that neutrality is not an option.

Hezbollah claims the United States controls Iranian anti-regime protests

Hezbollah issued its first official statement on the protests the day after the Iranian regime organized a demonstration in Tehran by its supporters that was estimated in the tens of thousands on January 12. In the statement, Hezbollah offered its salutations to the millions of Iranians whom it alleged took to the streets throughout the Islamic Republic in support of the Islamic system and stability, claiming they were expressing the peoples true sentiments by rallying around the Islamic Republics leadership headed by Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

Hezbollahs statement stressed that Iran had freely chosen its form of government during the 1979 Revolution, a decision reinforced since then through free and fair elections. However, because, as Hezbollah asserts, this sovereigntist regimes very existence stymies American hegemonic and exploitative ambitions, the group alleged the United States was exploiting protests as part of its determination to destroy Iran from within and is using theZionist Entity as a tool of criminality, murder, and chaos to bring down the popular Islamic regime.

Hezbollahs statement, implicitly designed to cast a pall of illegitimacy over calls for regime change amidst Irans nationwide demonstrations, claimed that the Islamic Republic respects the right of the people to protest and demonstrate peacefully. However, the group alleged that footage and statements have proven that Americas and Israels agents are embedding themselves in the protests to transform them into chaos and destruction  including burning mosques, governmental and security institutions, and destroying public property. These actions, Hezbollah said, are criminal, and have nothing to do with legitimate demands for improving living conditions or the right to protest.

Trump and Netanyahu, Hezbollah claimed, were exploiting the leaderless nature of the demonstrations to speak on their behalf while steering them internally through a handful of agents serving those who launched the failed 12-day aggression against Iranbut were exposed and failed miserably. However, because American and Israeli objectives run contrary to the genuine will of Iranians, Hezbollah, the statement said, would continue to fully support the choice of the Iranian people and its leadership. The statement concluded, God willing, the Islamic Republic will remain stable, strong, and independent.

Hezbollah promises to defend Iran if needed

Hezbollahs second articulation of its position on the protests in Iran came on January 26, in Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassems speech during the groups official gathering in solidarity of the Islamic Republic of Iran and the dear Iranian people against the Global Arrogance [a dysphemism for the United States].

Qassem began his nearly half-hour speech by restating the importance and centrality of Irans supreme leader as Gods earthly vicar, in Hezbollahs worldview. He is our guardian, our leader, who legitimizes our positions in the face of challenges and regarding our religious obligations. We can neither shed our blood nor engage in our resistance without his religious authorizationbecause blood is a sacred trust, and he is the one who sets the general course of the whole ummah, he said. Qassem was thus saying that Hezbollah remained bound to the ideology of Wilayat al Faqihthe notion of owing allegiance and obedience to a qualified cleric acting as an earthly ruler of a properly constituted Islamic stateas its central animating principle.

Hezbollah believes in the leadership of the Wali al Faqihin belief and practice, Qassem said, and all of the groups positions on domestic or international affairs stem from it. As the secretary-general implied, Hezbollah owes this obedience not necessarily to Ali Khamenei, Irans current supreme leader, but to any past or future clerics who have held or will hold the office. Therefore, Qassem said, US President Donald Trumps threat to Ali Khamenei was a direct threat to Hezbollah and the tens of millions and more who similarly adhere to this ideology.

We cannot ignore this, and it is our collective responsibility and obligationas a matter of faith, conviction, and dutyto confront this threat and take all necessary measures and preparations to do so, Qassem said. He further reasoned that because Khameneis assassination would pose a threat to regional stability, Hezbollah remains concerned regarding this threata direct threat to us as well, in response to which we therefore have every right to do whatever we deem appropriate to meet the challenge.

Qassem then restated the position articulated in Hezbollahs January 13 statement: that Irans 1979 Revolution and the endurance of the Islamic regime it brought to power were the purest expression of the free and independent will of the Iranian people. The rise of this government, he said, also constituted the biggest blow to America and Israel by deposing the Shah, and the project behind the 1978 Camp David Accords. As a result, Qassem claimed, the United States, Israel, and the West instigated the Iraq-Iran War to bring about the nascent Islamic governments collapse. However, Iran endured and continued to do so despite 47 years of sanctions, economic blockade, and pressure, he stated. Iran was similarly able to withstand 12 days of American-Israeli aggression last year through the mutual support and solidarity of the people with the leadership, the [Islamic Revolution] Guard [Corps], and security forces who, under Ali Khameneis leadership (may God prolong his life) succeeded in remaining steadfast and patient, and thus thwarted the American-Israeli enemys plans, he said.

Now, Qassem claimed, this threat had not abated but simply changed tactics, seeking to bring Iran down from within, embedding in lawful demonstrations those who murdered, destroyed, committed arson, burned mosques, killed people in the streets, and  spread chaos. This effort, he said, had so far resulted in 3,117 missing or wounded, 590 of whom were these terrorists, and the rest of whom are from the security forces and the people. Actual fatality estimates of Iranian protesters vary, but the latest credible numbers place the number of dead protesters at 6,126, with many more feared killed.

The United States and Israel, Qassem claimed, were fueling the chaos in Iran under the guise of backing the peoples rights, even though three million people alone in Tehran had allegedly come out in support of their self-determination, their leadership.

Qassem alleged that the United States was fueling this instability as part of its quest for global domination, not just in Iran. Weeks earlier, Hezbollah had issued several statements claiming that Washingtons intervention in Venezuela and removal of its leader, Nicolas Maduro, was in service of identical nefarious objectives. Now, he claimed, the United States was seeking to deprive Iran of its right to peaceful nuclear energy, supporting the downtrodden, and building an independent republic. That, he said, was why the United States and Israel were seeking to destroy the Resistance project in Lebanon, Gaza, Iran, and Syria, as part of a single colonial project.

Qassem then turned to the question of whether Hezbollah would intervene in an Israeli and American war on Iran, saying that regardless of how such a war played out, Hezbollah was also in the crosshairs. He continued, Therefore, we are determined to defend ourselves and will choose how to act at the appropriate time, by intervening or not, and the specifics will be determined by the prevailing circumstances at the time. We are not neutral. But how we will act will be determined by the battle, and we will make our determinations based on what serves our interests. The imbalance of power between Hezbollah and its Axis of Resistance allies vs. the United States and Israel, Qassem said, was irrelevant to Hezbollahs calculations.

Qassem rejected the notion that Hezbollahs intervention would insert Lebanon into a foreign conflict, stressing that American and Israeli designs to subsume Lebanon into the Israeli entity and give away Lebanese lands to Israel had already made Lebanon an unwilling party. Hezbollahs beliefs, he said, required it to prefer death in dignity than life in subjugation, and the group would, therefore, continue to reject coerced peace with Israel and the American expansionism witnessed in Greenland, Europe, Canada, and Venezuela in the name of American national security.

Therefore, Qassem said, This time, war on Iran could ignite the entire region. He continued, Iran has helped us for 42, 43 years, and still supports our rights to our land, while America, Israel, and their allies want to force our country [Lebanon] to abandon its sources of strength, a reference to the calls for Hezbollahs disarmament. Qassem said that for Hezbollah to adopt any other stance other than intervening to support Iran would be to facilitate this harm to Lebanon. Surrender will cost us everything, whereas defense will leave us the hope of many possibilities, he said. Death, Qassem said, would not deter Hezbollah, because souls belong to God and only He can determine when they depart our bodies. But maintaining our dignity and pride is in our hands, and we will not relinquish them, for they are a sacred trust.

Qassem concluded his speech by again offering salutations to the Islamic Republic of Iran. He then turned to the Iranian people, describing them as the crown jewel. We are with you, and you are with us. God willing, Imam Khamenei, may God Almighty protect and preserve you, we will always be with you. We ask God Almighty to grant you success in handing over the banner directly to the Imam of our time, may our souls be sacrificed for the dust beneath his feet, Qassem said.

David Daoud is Senior Fellow at at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies where he focuses on Israel, Hezbollah, and Lebanon affairs.
Israeli soldiers in Gaza gather to honor deceased hostage Ran Gvili after the identification of his remains. (IDF)

On January 26, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) recovered and identified the body of Ran Gvili, an Israeli police sergeant who was the last hostage held in Gaza. The IDF had been searching for Gvili throughout January, and US President Donald Trump had announced that we think we know the location of his remains at a White House press briefing on January 21.

The return of Gvilis body came a week and a half after the White House announced that the Gaza ceasefire was moving to a new phase. It also occurred several days after the formation of a new US-backed Board of Peace, which is expected to play a role in rebuilding the territory.

President Trump told Axios in an interview on Monday that Hamas had helped locate the remains of the last Israeli hostage. He called on the group to now follow through on its commitment to disarm, Axios reported on January 26.

Israeli forces found Gvilis body in northern Gaza. The IDFs 3rd Alexandroni Brigade, a reserve infantry unit, led the search, along with elements of the Yahalom engineering unit, Ynet reported. The operation began over the weekend in the Shujaiyya area. During the activity, more than 250 bodies were examined, the report added. The search involved 20 military dentists who examined bodies in the area of a cemetery.

The process of identifying Gvilis remains was completed in Israel by the Israeli National Institute of Forensic Medicine, the IDF noted in a statement on January 26. The return of Gvili came 843 days after Hamas began the war with an attack on Israel on October 7, 2023. He was one of 251 hostages held in Gaza.

Gvilis recovery sets the stage for the second phase of the ceasefire to continue. One of the key elements of this phase is the opening of the Rafah crossing on Gazas border with Egypt. The crossing has been closed since the war began in 2023, and the IDF has controlled its Gaza side since May 2024, when Israeli forces pushed Hamas out of Rafah.

As part of President Trumps 20-point plan, Israel has agreed to a limited reopening of the Rafah Crossing for pedestrian passage only, subject to a full Israeli inspection mechanism, the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on January 26.

The opening of the Rafah crossing has been expected since the announcement of the Board of Peaces formation. I am pleased that an agreement has been reached regarding the preparation for re-opening of the Rafah crossing, Nikolay Mladenov, the Board of Peaces Gaza envoy, wrote on X on January 22.

On January 24, US envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff arrived in Israel for a meeting with Netanyahu. Kushner presented the details of a Gaza reconstruction plan, beginning in Rafah, that was formulated by businessperson Yakir Gabay, as well as an outline for Hamass disarmament, The Jerusalem Post reported. The reconstruction plan foresees Gaza transformed through construction, city planning, and the creation of a new airport and new port facilities.

As plans for Gaza move forward, reports of various challenges continue. On January 25, Arab News reported that the Israeli military had killed three Gazans. On January 27, Reuters noted that Hamas is seeking to integrate its police forces into a new police force that is expected to arise in the territory.

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).
Apple, traditionally, has been known for great message discipline. We might not have always liked its message, and its message was sometimes pretty glad-handed, but it was usually consistent.

What happened with that?

One event that occurred over the weekend really puts how Apple is at odds with itself into stark contrast.

Based on who he likes to hang out with on a Saturday night, one wishes Apple CEO Tim Cook were a bit more of a homebody. The day that ICE agents killed another U.S. citizen in Minneapolis, Cook went to the White House that sent those agents to Minnesota so he could attend the viewing of a weapons-grade hagiography about the First Lady.

This would be the hagiography directed by accused sexual predator Brett Ratner. You have to be a pretty bad person to have X-Men: The Last Stand be low on the list of your offenses. Cook, who many gushed over for courteously and rightly not putting his hands on the hips of Jennifer Aniston and Reese Witherspoon when photographed with them at the premiere of The Morning Show, even posed for a picture with Ratner. Fun!

Or as Terrance OBrien wrote in The Verge, When youre cool with doing a fascism (sic), whats a few sexual misconduct accusations? Well, a few would be six. At least six sexual misconduct accusations.

Its too bad for Cook that there are pictures because Ratner is famous for claiming through his lawyer to have no recollection of the incident when women detail incidents involving him, so maybe he might have afforded Cook the same hmm, courtesy is really the wrong word here. Callous dismissal! Thats more like it.

You will excuse some of us for feeling a bit of whiplash here. Does Cooks attendance and chumminess with the President (no slouch in the sexual misconduct allegations count himself) seem in line with Apples historical level of prudence? Its especially bad considering the App Store still hosts apps that create CSAM and non-consensual sexual images.

Grok Floods X With Sexualize Images of Women and Children

That headline is not from before Grok apologized (the most sarcastic of quotes imaginable, as AI is not sentient, no matter what terminally online edgelords or AI executives tell you). It is not from before xAI promised it would fix the situation. Twice. First by monetizing it and then by saying it stopped it when it hadnt at all stopped it. No, this is from five days ago, and literally nothing has happened since. X and Grok both remain on the App Store as of this writing.

The Macalope is old enough to remember when Apple said stopping inappropriate content is a top priority of the App Store.

Oh, wait, it still says that. Weird. They must not have updated the App Stores web page to indicate it happily hosts apps that make non-consensual porn there now. Very strange. How odd.

If youd like to receive regular news and updates to your inbox, sign up for our newsletters, including The Macalope and Apple Breakfast, David Prices weekly, bite-sized roundup of all the latest Apple news and rumors. Foundry

Cooks apparent lack of regard for even the optics of attending these events, let alone the morality, leads the Macalope to believe that he will resign as Apple CEO sooner rather than later (probably within the next year). Cook will move into the position of chairman of the board and continue to hang out with and butter up the president, giving him participation trophies and million-dollar donations, providing cover for incoming CEO John Ternus. Cook will no longer be Apple CEO, so itll all be cool.

Except Cook is the Apple CEO right now.

Last week, Apples homepage, as it does every year, honored Martin Luther King Jr. Cook, meanwhile honors a president who faces a defamation suit from five wrongly convicted black men he said should be executed and has never apologized for, and had to be browbeaten into recognizing the national holiday.

Apple needs to decide which things it wants to do here. Does it want to continue to suck up to the president, or does it want to get points for dedicating its home page to King? And does it want to keep saying stopping inappropriate content on the App Store is a priority, or does it want to continue to host X and Grok?

Continuing to try to do all these things is becoming an increasingly obvious farce.
In the wake of the killing of two American citizens by federal agents in Minneapolis this month, Bostons top prosecutor is sounding the alarm about the potential public safety threat posed by their presence in cities.

The unprecedented incursions into our communities by ICE, Border Patrol and Homeland Security agents have eroded, not enhanced, public safety, Suffolk County District Attorney Kevin Hayden said in a press release sent Tuesday afternoon. The Minneapolis killings make clear that ICE, CBP and DHS mission and tactics threaten citizens everywhere.

At the beginning of the month, President Donald Trump sent around 2,000 federal agents and officers to the Minneapolis area for a sweeping crackdown tied in part to allegations of fraud involving Somali residents, The Associated Press reported.

On Jan. 7, 37-year-old Renee Good was fatally shot in her car by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent. Then, over the weekend, 37-year-old Alex Pretti was shot and killed by Border Patrol agents during a protest.

Trump and members of his administration have repeatedly defended the actions of the federal agents involved in the killings and made claims about the circumstances surrounding Goods and Prettis deaths that conflict with videos of the incidents.

Further, the Trump administrations cruel and deceitful slanders of Mr. Pretti and Ms. Good  including blatant lies about the circumstances leading up to their deaths prior to full and proper investigations  are an insult to all Americans," Hayden said.

The Trump administration has also handled the federal investigations into Goods and Prettis deaths in an unprecedented manner, including by barring the involvement of local officials.

The residents of Suffolk County have the right to peacefully protest and observe, monitor and document law enforcement activities without threat of violence or detention. My office will vigorously protect our constituents First Amendment rights, Hayden said.

Last week, ICE initiated a large operation in Maine, causing panic in many communities as residents reported seeing people detained in public.

The district attorney ended his statement by encouraging federal law enforcement to work with, not against, state and local law enforcement, and to carry out their duties in a lawful, transparent and non-violent manner.

We will not tolerate racial and ethnic profiling and disregard for due process and human dignity, he said.
Are you one of nearly 75,000 members who qualify for payment from a multi-million fund for texts sent without consent?

Kaiser Foundation Health Plan, doing business as Kaiser Permanente, has agreed to a $10.5 million class action settlement to resolve allegations it sent unsolicited marketing text messages to consumers who had already opted out of its communications, according to Class Action Lawsuits.

The lawsuit alleges the health care provider violated the Telephone Consumer Protection Act and the Florida Telephone Solicitation Act between Jan. 21, 2021, and Aug. 20, 2025, according to The HIPAA Journal.

Qualified class members who submit a valid claim form are eligible to receive up to $75 per text message sent to them, The US Sun reported.

Claim forms can be found here.

These settlement funds will be used to pay class members, notice and administrative costs, and any attorney fees and expenses awarded by the court.

The lawsuit alleges that sending marketing messages after a user requested they stop violates federal and state laws.

The settlement benefits a nationwide class of consumers who received more than one text message from Kaiser Foundation Health Plan from Jan. 21, 2021, through Aug. 20, 2025, after opting out by replying stop or with a similar instruction and a class of Florida consumers who received more than one text message after texting stop at least 15 days before the messages were sent.

The settlement covers two specific groups:

TCPA STOP Class : From January 21, 2021, through August 20, 2025, all persons in the United States who (1) were sent more than one text message by or on behalf of Defendant within any 12-month period; (2) regarding Defendants goods or services to said persons cellular telephone number; and (3) where the person communicated to Defendant that they did not wish to receive text messages by replying to the messages with a stop or similar opt-out instruction.

FTSA STOP Class: From January 21, 2021, through August 20, 2025, all persons in Florida who (1) were sent more than one text message by or on behalf of Defendant; (2) regarding Defendants goods or services to said persons cellular telephone number; and (3) after the person texted Defendant with the message stop at least 15 days prior to the text message sent by or on behalf of Defendant.

Although it agreed to the settlement, Kaiser has not admitted any wrongdoing and denies the allegations. A final court hearing to decide if the settlement will be approved is scheduled for Jan. 28, 2026.

Qualified users must submit claim forms online or ensure they are postmarked by Feb. 12, 2026. If the court approves the settlement, payments may face delays if any appeals are filed.
A pair of seafood restaurants in Boston is now down to one location.

The Pearl in South Bay officially closed for good on Sunday, Jan. 25, with Boston.com reporting that owner Mika Winder has decided to shift her focus to The Pearls Boston Landing location in Brighton, which opened in February 2025.

When you build something with purpose and authenticity, the people its meant for show up, Winder said in a press release, per Boston.com. Im going to miss the community we built and the bonds we formed with our tight-knit neighborhood since we opened.

The Pearl previously announced that it would be leaving South Bay in an Instagram post on Jan. 22.

Since we opened our doors in May of 2021, during a time when restaurants had no business opening their doors, we built a steadfast community, the post read.

Fighting through tough times was a collaborative effort by you, our loyal guests, our front of house, and back of house teams that demonstrated unwavering commitment, it continued. Such a commitment, solidified The Pearl as a premier Black-owned, seafood restaurant, in the heart of Boston, all while reinforcing our mission of being the neighborhood destination rooted in culture, connection and hospitality.

The post ended by encouraging patrons to visit The Pearls Boston Landing location.

The Pearl became a hotspot for fresh and seasonal seafood, with the restaurants signature dishes including char-grilled oysters, lobster rolls and seafood towers, Boston.com reported. Winder said the Boston Landing location will continue to serve most of the same items.

We were grateful for the opportunity to operate two thriving restaurants after opening our Boston Landing location, Winder said, per Boston.com. As we approach our one-year anniversary, were looking forward to seeing those same familiar faces in Brighton and recreating the warmth, energy, and experience we first established in Dorchester.

The address for the now-closed The Pearl in South Bay was 20b District Ave., Dorchester. The Pearl at Boston Landing is located at 67 Guest St., Boston.
Lou Gramm has dropped the first single off his forthcoming solo project, which will contain unreleased songs written and recorded in the 1980s.

The original Foreigner frontman released his new Young Love on Tuesday, the first single from his upcoming solo album Released, which is due March 27.

The song features Def Leppard guitarist Vivian Campbell and seasoned drummer Michael Lasaponara, according to an Instagram post from Gramm.

Its a soaring rock anthem that showcases my earlier solo work and the sound Ive always loved creating, Gramm wrote in the post. I hope you like the pure rock sound of this song and cant wait for you to hear more.

Fans can listen to Young Love on all streaming platforms.

Meanwhile Released will be a 10-track album consisting of unreleased recordings that the Rochester, New York native wrote and produced in the 80s, Consequence reported.

My new album Released is a collection of unreleased songs that were recorded in the 1980s during the production of my 3 previous solo albums, Gramm said in a statement, per Consequence. These are powerful, heartfelt songs with a great vintage sound taken right from my old multitrack tapes. This new album was a long time coming and its a real nostalgia trip.

He continued, When I pulled these songs out of the vault, I knew I had to finish them for my fans around the world, so they can experience what I did when I first heard them after all these years. It means a lot to me to finally see this album released, to be taken back in time when I hear this music again, to remember working with all these great musicians, and to feel that my catalog is now complete.

Released will be Gramms first full-length release of original music since The Lou Gramm Bands self-titled, all-Christian rock album in 2009.

Fans can pre-order or pre-save Released online.

While he has yet to announce an official tour in support of the album, Gramm has several shows scheduled for the year, including one at The Place Theatre in Stamford, Connecticut on May 28. The rock legend had previously revealed that he plans to retire from touring after this year.

Gramm is best known for his tenures with Foreigner from 1976 to 1990 and 1992 to 2003. Gramms vocals are heard on many Foreigner classics such as Feels Like the First Time, Cold as Ice, Hot Blooded, Double Vision and Juke Box Hero.

As a member of Foreigner, he was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2024. He was also inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2013, along with Foreigner bandmate Mick Jones.
Criminal charges will not be filed against the seven police officers involved in the death of a Haverhill man while he was being restrained during a mental health incident, Essex County District Attorney Paul Tucker announced Tuesday.

Francis Gigliotti, 43, died on July 11, 2025, of a cardiac arrest while he was held down on the ground outside Bradford Seafood at 124 Winter St. An independent consultant investigating the incident for the District Attorneys Office determined that the officers use of force was reasonable due to Gigliottis erratic behavior.

While the tragic outcome  Mr. Gigliottis death at the scene  underscores the inherent risks present in mental health crisis interventions involving physical resistance, the officers tactical decisions and force applications at each stage of the encounter were consistent with their training, aligned with national standards for managing actively resistant subjects in crisis and fell within the range of objectively reasonable responses under the circumstances they faced," the consultant, attorney Eric Daigle of Plantsville, Connecticut, wrote in a report released Tuesday.

On the day Gigliotti died, he was seen on surveillance footage released publicly last year entering an apartment building on White Street at 4:26 p.m. and exiting again at 5:07 p.m. He then met up with a person on an electric scooter, from whom police believe he purchased crack cocaine, and returned to the apartment building at 5:10 p.m.

Just over an hour later, at 6:17 p.m., Gigliotti was seen falling down the exterior stairs of the building as he left, then running down the street. A resident of the building called 911 at 6:22 p.m., telling police he was real, real messed up, running around all crazy, waving his hands around in the middle of the street.

Tucker noted during a press conference Tuesday that, before Gigliotti entered the building at 5:10 p.m., he was walking normally, but when he left, his behavior was chaotic and erratic.

Haverhill Police Officer Brian Welch was on patrol in the area and was the first to locate Gigliotti, who he told investigators was sweating profusely, had blood on his shirt and left hand and appeared confused as to how he had been injured, according to the report. He was also running in and out of traffic on Winter Street.

Welch was familiar with Gigliotti from previous police interactions and knew he had a history of mental health struggles and substance abuse and had trained as a boxer, according to the report. He asked Gigliotti what had happened. Gigliotti said he had been attacked by some guys on White Street.

Welch requested Emergency Medical Services and radioed in a potential assault, then radioed again to clarify that this was a mental health call and told responding officers to turn off their blue lights, according to the report. Another officer, Lauren Bonnell, arrived and both attempted to speak to Gigliotti, keep him from walking into the street and calm him down. But he was exhibiting delusions and believed that people were shooting at him.

Gigliotti eventually ran from the police officers toward Bradford Seafood and attempted to enter the busy restaurant, which was filled with patrons, including children and seniors, according to police accounts. Welch recalled hearing a patron yell, Dont let him in here. Welch pulled Gigliotti away from the door and he fell to the ground, yelling that someone was trying to shoot him in the head, police said.

The officers and others who subsequently arrived on the scene attempted to restrain his limbs until EMS arrived out of concern for his safety, Daigle wrote in his report. They held him down first on his side, then on his stomach, and he continued to struggle and kick them as they attempted to handcuff him.

Almost immediately after he was handcuffed, Gigliotti became unresponsive, Tucker said Tuesday. The police officers immediately removed the handcuffs, he said, rolled Gigliotti onto his side to check for a pulse, and then onto his back to begin performing CPR and administering Narcan until EMS arrived and took over.

Gigliotti was brought to Holy Family Hospital in Haverhill, where he was pronounced dead at 7:21 p.m.

The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner performed an autopsy and ruled Gigliottis death a homicide and determined it was caused by a cardiac event in someone with acute intoxication from cocaine and ethanol. The autopsy also determined that he had hypertensive cardiovascular disease, which was a contributing factor.

Timothy Bradl, the lawyer representing Gigliottis relatives, said Tuesday the family is not satisfied with the ruling that the police officers involved were not to blame.

We are disappointed but not surprised at such an outcome when law enforcement investigates itself within the same county. We think the public will see through this for what it is, Bradl said in a statement. We are proceeding ahead with full confidence in our position, and will do everything we can to achieve justice and accountability for the Gigliotti family.

On Monday, Bradl announced that Gigliottis family planned to file a civil lawsuit against the city, the police department and the individual police officers involved, claiming civil rights violations against him and negligence in failing to properly train police officers on the use of force. In particular, Bradl wrote in a letter to the city that restraining someone on their stomach was known to cause asphyxiation, citing the 2020 death of George Floyd in Minneapolis as an example.

A person held in this position is incapable of lying still and complying with any commands which are given  the bodys only reaction is to struggle more to get oxygen," he wrote.

Tucker said Tuesday that the seven officers involved followed department policies and their training by not putting weight on Gigliottis neck or back, only holding him by the arms and legs. He praised the officers for continuing to attempt to de-escalate the situation by speaking calmly to Gigliotti throughout the incident, describing one officers tone as motherly.

I dont think there was anything (they could have done) differently, he said. The officers acted reasonably, they followed the law, they followed the case law, they followed their training. Its just not the ending that they wanted.

In particular, Tucker praised Officer Katelyn Tully, who he said used very soothing and calm words while speaking to Gigliotti. Tully, who Tucker said founded the police departments Behavioral Health Unit, died in September, and her father blamed her death on a stress heart attack from being placed on leave with the other six officers following Gigliottis death, MassLive previously reported.

Haverhill Mayor Melinda Barrett and Acting Police Chief Wayne Tracy said Tuesday afternoon that the report confirmed their beliefs that the officers followed protocol, but expressed sympathy for Gigliottis family.

While this outcome is consistent with the professionalism I expect from the men and women of this department, it does not diminish the seriousness of these events or their impact on our community and officers, Tracy said in a statement. Although this investigation is now concluded, our work is not. We will continue to strengthen training, expand officer wellness support and advance new policing techniques that promote safety for both the public and our personnel.

Joseph Hurley, the man whom police believe sold Gigliotti the cocaine on the day of his death, was arrested later that month and has been indicted on charges of selling cocaine.
Rescue workers pulled a survivor from a vehicle that crashed into a pond in Ashland on Monday night.

The vehicle crashed into the icy waters of Mill Pond off Myrtle Street, according to a social media post from the Ashland Fire Department.

Ashland Fire Chief Keith Robie told Boston 25 News the car slid off the road and went through a guard rail before falling 15 to 20 feet onto an embankment. The vehicle then slid into the water.

The driver was the only person in the car, according to Boston 25 News. She was trapped in the vehicle after the crash, but emergency responders were able to free her with no serious injuries.
Lindsay Clancy, the mother charged with murder linked to the killings of her three children, is set to stand trial in July, but last week, she filed a medical malpractice lawsuit accusing medical providers of catastrophic malpractice in failing to properly diagnose and treat Clancys severe postpartum psychiatric condition.

The former Duxbury resident filed her lawsuit only days after Patrick Clancy, her husband, filed a similar medical malpractice lawsuit in his personal capacity and as a representative of the couples children  Cora, 5, Dawson, 3, and 8-month-old Callan.

Lindsay Clancy filed her lawsuit in Norfolk County Superior Court and names Aster Mental Health, South Shore Health System, McLean Hospital and Women & Infants Hospital of Rhode Island, Jennifer Tufts, a psychiatrist from Braintree, and Rebecca Jollotta, a Weymouth certified nurse practitioner, as defendants. Lindsay Clancy is being represented by Boston-based attorney Rosemary Scapicchio.

Lindsay Clancy, 36, spent nine years as a labor and delivery nurse at Massachusetts General Hospital, and her lawsuit claims that the medical providers failed to treat Clancys condition, despite her repeated, desperate pleas for help and her familys persistent efforts to obtain adequate care.

The lawsuit describes the mother as seeking out medical treatment, visiting emergency rooms, calling crisis hotlines and admitting herself to the hospital. She took the medications prescribed to her and communicated to providers about worsening symptoms, telling them that medications were making her worse.

Her husband advocated for her, and her family drove from out of state to help care for the children, the lawsuit states.

Lindsay Clancy did everything a mother in her situation could do, the lawsuit states. She recognized something was wrong with her. ... And still, the medical system failed her completely.

A McLean Hospital spokesperson said he could not comment on a specific patient, adding that, We mourn the tragic loss of three children and the allegations in this case. We will respond formally to the plaintiffs claims through the appropriate legal process.

The spokesperson added that the hospital is committed to providing high-quality mental health care for patients, including advancing the understanding, diagnosis and treatment of mental health conditions that uniquely affect women, including postpartum mental health conditions.

Aster Mental Health did not return requests for comment on Monday. Women & Infants Hospital of Rhode Island declined to provide a comment, citing pending litigation.

South Shore Health cares deeply about and prioritizes the safety of our patients and their families and always strives to provide excellent care, the South Weymouth nonprofit said in a statement. Given that this matter is now in litigation, we cannot comment on the specific allegations contained in the lawsuit.

The lawsuit claims that the defendants failed to properly diagnose Lindsay Clancys bipolar disorder with postpartum onset and instead subjected her to a disorganized, uncoordinated course of polypharmacy that exacerbated her condition and precipitated a severe psychotic break.

Prosecutors from Plymouth County District Attorney Tim Cruzs Office have previously said that Clancy planned her childrens killings deliberately and with extreme atrocity and cruelty.

At her arraignment in February 2023, Plymouth Assistant District Attorney Jennifer Sprague argued that Lindsay Clancy sent her husband to run errands, and in a 45-minute window, strangled her three children with exercise bands before making superficial cuts and jumping out of her homes second-floor window in an attempted suicide.

In Lindsay Clancys lawsuit, her attorney argues that the medications the mother took exacerbated her underlying psychiatric vulnerability and preceded a state of manic psychosis characterized by compelling command hallucinations.

The tragedy that followed was the direct and proximate result of the Defendants collective negligence in failing to recognize obvious warning signs, coordinate care, properly diagnose Lindsays condition, and provide treatment that met the applicable standard of care, the lawsuit states.

The lawsuit describes how on Jan. 24, 2023, the day the children were killed, Lindsay Clancy experienced suicidal hallucinations and that she experienced command auditory hallucinations demanding that she kill the children and herself.

The lawsuit echoes many of the same arguments made by Lindsay Clancys criminal defense attorney, Kevin Reddington, who has previously denied the prosecutors characterization of a scheming mother.

Our society fails miserably in treating women with postpartum depression or even postpartum psychosis, Reddington said, adding that it had been a relatively short period of time since the birth of the Clancys youngest child, Callan, before the killings.

Lindsay Clancy was not officially diagnosed with postpartum depression, but doctors prescribed a cocktail of medications for generalized anxiety, Reddington has previously said.

The lawsuit seeks a jury trial and relief on five counts, including negligence/medical malpractice and personal injury. Lindsay Clancy is currently being held at Tewksbury Hospital.
At the Tesla showroom in Back Bay last Wednesday, employees from Elon Musks xAI hosted one of the first meetings of the recently-formed Massachusetts AI Coalition, a group created to support Massachusetts artificial intelligence companies.

Two Boston-based employees of xAI  Elon Musks AI company that is a sister company to X, the social media platform  helped organize the event. Both are focused on corporate sales of the companys Grok AI platform, not technology development.

xAI doesnt seem to have a local office yet, and there are no jobs posted on the companys website that suggest theyre hiring here. Just a handful of xAI employees list their location as Boston on LinkedIn, most of them focused on sales.

The invite-only event last week was hosted by Steven Murray, xAIs area director for enterprise sales in the Northeast, and included a live demo of Groks enterprise offerings and an exclusive first look at xAIs 2026 roadmap, according to the invitation.

One of the speakers at last weeks event was Eric Paley, the states secretary of economic development. He said afterward, via text message, that the state hadnt offered any incentives to encourage xAI to add jobs in Massachusetts.

AI companies are choosing Massachusetts for one reason above all else: access to the worlds leading talent, Paley wrote. If youre an AI company and youre not in Massachusetts, youre missing out.

xAI didnt respond to requests for comment about its hiring plans. Ryan Durkin, one of the organizers of the AI Coalition and a vice president at the fitness tech startup Whoop, said that xAI is not yet a member of the coalition. He added that one of the AI Coalitions goals is to encourage more companies to join us here and establish offices and roots in Massachusetts.

Tech recruiter Phil Perkins, who specializes in placing AI engineers, said that he hasnt seen xAI hiring engineers locally. But he said he wasnt surprised to see the company hiring salespeople: The most hungry salespeople tend to be from the New England area, Perkins said.

xAI and Grok have been in the news this month because of technology that has allowed users to create fake nude images of people  including minors  without their consent. The company said earlier this month that it would block that capability in places where it is illegal.

This week, the European Union opened an investigation into the companys practices, and the attorneys general of 35 U.S. states recently sent xAI a letter imploring it to be a leader in this space by further addressing the harms resulting from this technology.

xAIs sister company, X (formerly Twitter), once maintained an office across the street from Bostons City Hall. In late 2022, Musk began a round of layoffs after acquiring the company, including 55 employees at the Boston office. Those layoffs resulted in a class action lawsuit, and Xs non-payment of rent on the office sparked another suit.

Earlier this month, privately held xAI raised $20 billion from a group of investors, including Boston-based Fidelity.
Editors Note: This article was updated at 5:31 p.m. on Jan. 26, 2026 to reflect newer data.

A Massachusetts State Police cruiser in the snow. Photo courtesy Massachusetts State Police Massachusetts State Police

After the largest snowstorm Massachusetts has seen in years dumped nearly two feet of snow over parts of the state, State Police responded to almost 200 crashes since the storm began.

As of 4 p.m. on Monday, 222 calls came in to State Police for crashes on roads across the state since the storm began, according to a spokesperson for the department. While none were fatal, 12 involved injuries.

Additionally, the department received 402 calls for disabled vehicles, 13 for motorist assistance, seven vehicle fires and four abandoned vehicles between Sunday and Monday, the spokesperson said.

MassDOT reduced the speed limit on much of the Mass. Pike to 40 mph in both directions Sunday afternoon. The reduction had not been lifted as of 4 p.m. Monday.

Residents had been advised to stay off the road on Sunday and Monday as the snowstorm continued. Flakes were expected to taper off by Monday evening, though MassDOT continued to warn drivers to use caution and avoid plows.

Snow totals in Massachusetts reached heights of 22 inches, including in Sterling and Princeton where each recorded 22.2 inches as of Monday afternoon. Hopkinton and East Spencer also had 22 inches.

Forecasters were also eyeing the chance for another significant winter storm to hit the state this upcoming weekend. However, still days out from the storms possible arrival, authorities cautioned that the direction, strength and timing of the weather system remain uncertain.
If Mexico is on your 2026 travel itinerary, your booked and busy plans could hit a federal wall before you even leave the pier.

A massive crackdown on e-cigarettes is turning routine port stops into legal nightmares for unsuspecting cruisers.

According to Come Cruise With Me, cruisers heading to the popular destinations of Cozumel, Costa Maya and Cabo San Lucas are forbidden from bringing vape pens to the port.

Cruise News Today reports Mexicos new law prohibits the import, sale and marketing of vapes and e-cigarettes.

The law went into effect Jan. 17.

The illegal importation trap

The danger lies in the definition of importation.

Several publications, including Mexico News Daily, confirm that even if a device is for personal use, bringing a vape ashore at popular ports is now legally classified as smuggling a prohibited item under a constitutional reform of Mexicos General Health Law.

For cruisers, this means you should leave your vape on board.

If you bring a vape ashore during a port stop, you risk being charged with illegal importation  even if its for personal use.

Penalties include confiscation, fines up to $12,500 or even jail time.

According to reports from Cruise News Today, customs officials are utilizing high-resolution X-ray scanners to detect lithium batteries and pods.
By Steve Karnowski, Associated Press

MINNEAPOLIS  A senior Border Patrol commander and some agents are expected to leave Minneapolis as early as Tuesday, a person familiar with the matter told The Associated Press.

The expected departure of Border Patrol commander Greg Bovino, who has been at the center of the Trump administrations aggressive immigration enforcement surge in cities nationwide, comes as President Donald Trump dispatched border czar Tom Homan to Minnesota to take charge of Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations.

The person familiar with the matter was not authorized to publicly discuss details of the operation and spoke to AP on condition of anonymity.

Bovinos departure marks a significant public shift in federal law enforcement posture amid mounting outrage over the fatal shooting of 37-year-old ICU nurse Alex Pretti by Border Patrol agents.

His leadership of highly visible federal crackdowns, including operations that sparked mass demonstrations in Los Angeles, Chicago, Charlotte and Minneapolis, has drawn fierce criticism from local officials, civil rights advocates and congressional Democrats.

Criticism has increased around Bovino in the last few days after his public defense of the Pretti shooting and disputed claims about the confrontation that led to his death.

In other developments, Trump declared that he was now on a similar wavelength as the governor following the second fatal shooting by federal immigration officers this month.

Trump has call with Minnesota governor

Trump and Democratic Gov. Tim Walz spoke in a phone call and later offered comments that were a marked change from the critical statements they have exchanged in the past. Their conversation happened on the same day a federal judge heard arguments in a lawsuit aimed at halting the federal immigration enforcement surge in the state.

We, actually, seemed to be on a similar wavelength, the president wrote in a social media post.

Walz, in a statement, said the call was productive and that impartial investigations into the shootings were needed. Trump said his administration was looking for any and all criminals the state has in its custody. Walz said the state Department of Corrections honors federal requests for people in its custody.

It was unclear whether the new tone would lead to changes. Attorneys for the administration, the state and the cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul appeared Monday before U.S. District Judge Katherine Menendez, who is considering whether to grant requests to temporarily halt the immigration operation.

She said the case was a priority, though she issued no immediate ruling.

Lawyers for the state and the Twin Cities argued the situation on the street is so dire it requires the court to halt the federal governments enforcement actions.

If this is not stopped right here, right now, I dont think anybody who is seriously looking at this problem can have much faith in how our republic is going to go in the future, Minnesota Assistant Attorney General Brian Carter said.

Judge questions governments motives

The judge questioned the governments motivation behind the crackdown and expressed skepticism about a letter recently sent by Attorney General Pam Bondi to Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz. The letter asked the state to give the federal government access to voter rolls, to turn over state Medicaid and food assistance records, and to repeal sanctuary policies.

I mean, is there no limit to what the executive can do under the guise of enforcing immigration law? Menendez asked. She noted that the federal requests are the subject of litigation.

Brantley Mayers, a Justice Department attorney, said the governments goal is to enforce federal law. Mayers said one lawful action should not be used to discredit another lawful action.

A federal agent points a weapon at a person outside a hotel during a noise demonstration protest in response to federal immigration enforcement operations in the city Sunday, Jan. 25, 2026, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Adam Gray)

I dont see how the fact that were also doing additional things that we are allowed to do, that the Constitution has vested us with doing, would in any way negate another piece of the same operation, the same surge, Mayers said.

Menendez questioned where the line was between violating the Constitution and the executives power to enforce the law. She also asked whether she was being asked to decide between state and federal policies.

That begins to feel very much like I am deciding which policy approach is best, she said.

At one point, while discussing the prospect of federal officers entering residences without a warrant, the judge expressed reluctance to decide issues not yet raised in a lawsuit before her.

I cant be the global keeper of all things here. Like, presumably that will be litigated, she said to the states attorney.

Menendez made it clear that she was struggling with how to rule because the case is so unusual, and there are few precedents.

This undated photo provided by Michael Pretti shows Alex J. Pretti, the man who was shot by a federal officer in Minneapolis on Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026. (Michael Pretti via AP)

Its because this is important that Im doing everything I can to get it right, she said.

The state of Minnesota and the cities sued the Department of Homeland Security earlier this month, five days after Renee Good was shot by an Immigration and Customs officer. The shooting of Pretti by a Border Patrol officer on Saturday added urgency to the case.

Border czar to Minnesota

Trump posted Monday on social media that Homan would report directly to him.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Homan would be the main point of contact on the ground in Minneapolis during continued operations by federal immigration officers.

In court Monday, an attorney for the administration said about 2,000 Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers were on ground, along with at least 1,000 Border Patrol officers.

The lawsuit asks the judge to order a reduction in the number of federal law enforcement officers and agents in Minnesota back to the level before the surge and to limit the scope of the enforcement operation.

Other state implications

The case has implications for other states that have been or could become targets of ramped-up federal immigration enforcement operations. Attorneys general from 19 states, plus the District of Columbia, led by California, filed a friend-of-the-court brief supporting Minnesota.

If left unchecked, the federal government will no doubt be emboldened to continue its unlawful conduct in Minnesota and to repeat it elsewhere, the attorneys general wrote.

Menendez ruled in a separate case on Jan. 16 that federal officers in Minnesota cannot detain or tear gas peaceful protesters who are not obstructing authorities, including people who follow and observe agents.

An appeals court temporarily suspended that ruling three days before Saturdays shooting. But the plaintiffs in that case, represented by the American Civil Liberties Union of Minnesota, asked the appeals court late Saturday for an emergency order lifting the stay in light of Prettis killing.

The Justice Department argued in a reply filed Sunday that the stay should remain in place, calling the injunction unworkable and overly broad.

In yet another case, a different federal judge, Eric Tostrud, issued an order late Saturday blocking the Trump administration from destroying or altering evidence related to Saturdays shooting. Democratic Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison and Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty asked for the order to try to preserve evidence collected by federal officials that state authorities have not yet been able to inspect.

A hearing in that case is scheduled for Monday afternoon in federal court in St. Paul.

Hotel where federal agents believed to be was targeted

On Sunday night, protesters targeted a Minneapolis hotel where federal agents were believed to be staying, blocking a major avenue on the edge of the University of Minnesota campus.

A freelance photographer working for The Associated Press saw smashed glass in the hotel lobby, as well as graffiti with obscenities and threats directed at ICE.

A Minneapolis police officer was inside the hotel and tried to provide aid to a federal agent who was injured. More officers from local and state agencies planned to move in to deescalate the situation, and make arrests, Minneapolis police said Monday in a statement.

But as they began to reach the scene and arrested two people, federal agents arrived and deployed chemical munitions, the police statement said. A DHS spokesperson said a statement on the situation would be provided later Monday.

Associated Press writers Jack Brook in Minneapolis and Mike Catlaini in Trenton, New Jersey, contributed to this report.
A leading Republican candidate to become Minnesotas next governor abruptly ended his campaign on Monday, denouncing what he described as the federal retribution on the citizens of our state amid the Trump administrations hardline immigration enforcement efforts there.

The candidate, Minneapolis attorney Christopher Madel, dropped the news in an online video, saying he could not support the  stated retribution on the citizens of our state, nor can I count myself a member of a party that would do so.

Minnesota was wracked by protests and confrontations with federal agents over the weekend and into Monday after the shooting death of 37-year-old ICU nurse Alex Pretti and, earlier, Renee Good, a mother of three, at the hands of ICE agents.

Their deaths have sparked calls on Capitol Hill to block federal funding for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, which has oversight of both ICE and the U.S. Border Patrol.

Madel initially expressed support for the Republican Trump administrations efforts to deport undocumented immigrants who were involved in criminal activity, according to The Guardian.

But that effort, christened Operation Metro Surge, had expanded far beyond its stated focus on true public safety threats, Madel said, according to the online news outlet.

United States citizens, particularly those of color, live in fear, Madel continued, adding that citizens are carrying papers to prove their citizenship. Thats wrong.

Madel launched his gubernatorial campaign last December. Earlier this month, he had provided legal counsel to ICE Agent Jonathan Ross, who shot Good in that deadly encounter on Jan. 7, according to The Guardian.

Madel said the federal governments operations in his state had made it impossible for a Republican candidate to win there.

At the end of the day, I have to look my daughters in the eye and tell them: I believe I did what was right. And I am doing that today, he said.
Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey called on U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem to resign and issued a stinging rebuke to Attorney General Pamela Bondi over the Trump administrations response to the death of an ICU nurse in Minneapolis over the weekend.

This morning, I watched a reel of coworkers of Alex Pretti honor him, Healey said Monday of the man shot to death in a confrontation with federal immigration agents, touching off renewed protests in the city and nationwide.

This just isnt right, you know, this is so wrong whats happened. It was so unnecessary, Healey said. There was no need for all of that to go down in the way that it did. It is just an example of how out of control ICE is. Its why I call on Kristi Noem to resign. Its why I call on ICE to get out of these cities in these states. Donald Trump needs to rein this in and take this back.

She later underlined her comments, saying again, Kristi Noems got to go. ICE has got to get out of these communities now. And Donald Trump needs to act and step up.

If Trump fails to do so, Republicans in Congress need to force the accountability here because we cannot continue to have Americans in our neighborhoods and cities and states across this country at risk, Healey said.

The Republican White House has faced sharp criticism, even among some Republicans, for initially characterizing Pretti as a domestic terrorist who was set on murdering federal agents.

When that didnt hold up under scrutiny from widely shared video footage, the White House pivoted, arguing that the shooting was justified because Pretti was carrying a weapon.

The Guardian reported Monday that Trump had agreed to look into the number of federal agents in Minnesota, citing a statement issued by Gov. Tim Walzs office.

Trump also agreed to talk with the Department of Homeland Security about ensuring the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension is able to conduct an independent investigation, as would ordinarily be the case," Walzs office said in its statement.

Speaking to reporters in Boston on Monday after an unrelated event, Healey, a former two-term attorney general, criticized the rush to judgment on Pretti.

And she blasted Bondi for reportedly seeking access to the states voter rolls.

Weve seen the attorney general, Pam Bondi, with whom I served, making outrageous, illegal, unlawful threats to state officials, essentially extortion, saying, produce your voter rolls in exchange for ICE leaving town, she said.

Before joining the Trump administration, Bondi, a Republican, was Floridas elected state attorney general.

Joanna Lydgate, the CEO of States United Democracy Center, who is also Healeys spouse, called the move a shakedown, according to The Guardian.

Trump wants that state voter data so that he has the ability to interfere with the upcoming midterm elections, she said, according to the online news outlet.

Healeys criticism on Monday built on her previous condemnation of the Republican White House on Saturday in the hours after the shooting.

ICE is not just making us less safe  theyre a threat to the safety and well-being of Americans. And theyre draining the resources of law enforcement, who actually know what theyre doing. Its outrageous, Healey said at the time.
President Trump went on the radio on Tuesday and discussed his relationships with various critics, both in public and private.

President Donald Trump described the nasty world of politics while offering surprising praise for some of his most vocal Democratic critics during an appearance Tuesday on WABC Radio.

Speaking with host Sid Rosenberg on Sid & Friends in the Morning, Trump discussed the duality of public political combat and private pleasantries to mark the hosts 10th anniversary at the station.

Well, you know, its politics, Trump said when asked why politicians publicly bad-mouth him despite being friendly in person. I see it with so many. Theyll be so nice to me  you dont know how nice they are. I mean, at a level that you have rarely heard, and then youll see them three days later on a show or something, and theyll be knocking the hell out of you ... And you know what? I do the same to them.

Trump admitted that he can be cordial to lawmakers privately but changes his tone when speaking about them as politicians. Which I hate to call myself, but I guess ultimately Im a politician, right? the president said. But, you know, its politics. Its a nasty world. Its a nasty profession if you want to know the truth.

The president specifically addressed New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, who has been one of his fiercest critics. Despite their public disagreements, Trump noted that Mamdani has a really good personality and tremendous assets, recalling their productive meeting in November.

Hes the way he is, Trump said. I guess youre not going to change. You know, you grow up a certain way, and you sort of tend to be a certain way, but they got to do a good job for New York.

However, Trump criticized Mamdanis ideological stance, saying the mayor embraces policies and concepts that really havent worked over the last 10,000 years.

The conversation turned to Minnesota, where Rosenberg claimed Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey were killing America through their opposition to federal immigration operations.

Trump countered by describing very successful phone calls with both men following a second fatal shooting in the Twin Cities area. Actually, they were both great conversations, Trump told WABC Radio. So, lets hope that turns out to be so.
China's wind frontier learns to build an industry

Xinhua) 16:19, January 27, 2026

An aerial drone photo taken on Dec. 28, 2024 shows wind turbines in Dabancheng, also known as "China's Wind Valley," in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. (Xinhua/Hu Huhu)

URUMQI, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- China's wind power story is often told in terms of scale. Less examined is how that scale is being organized. In the country's far northwest, a region once known for relentless gales is turning wind from a raw resource into an integrated industrial system.

As one of China's most wind-rich regions, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region is no longer merely a resource hinterland exporting electricity to the rest of the country. Today, its wind is valued for how it has been harnessed, through planning, capital and infrastructure, into a production base that extends well beyond power generation.

The numbers explain why Xinjiang matters. Its technically exploitable wind resources are estimated at 780 million kilowatts, about 17 percent of China's total, ranking second nationwide. By the end of 2025, installed wind-power capacity in the region had reached 30 million kilowatts. Across China, grid-connected wind capacity has now surpassed 600 million kilowatts, keeping the country the world's largest wind-power market for a 15th consecutive year.

What sets Xinjiang apart is not scale alone, but how that scale is being structured. The region is steadily assembling a wind-power cluster spanning research, equipment manufacturing, grid integration, and long-distance transmission, pushing it up the value chain and embedding it more deeply in China's energy economy.

The roots of the industrial chain can be traced to Dabancheng, on the outskirts of the regional capital Urumqi, often dubbed "China's Wind Valley."

Ringed by mountains on three sides, the area acts as a natural wind corridor, channelling air currents through narrow passes. It records more than 200 days a year of force-six winds or stronger. Annual wind-energy reserves are estimated at roughly 25 billion kilowatt-hours, with a theoretical installed capacity of about 15 million kilowatts.

Xinjiang's engagement with wind power began early. Experiments in generation started in the mid-1980s. In 1986, the region imported its first turbine from Denmark. Two years later, Dabancheng completed China's earliest large-scale pilot wind project.

China's wind industry began in Xinjiang. From a single imported turbine, Dabancheng has grown into a concentration of 59 wind farms, with more than 6.6 million kilowatts of installed capacity and over 1,000 turbines spread across the valley. The site charts China's wind industry as it moved from experiment to system.

Since 2010, development has gathered pace. Across Xinjiang's 10 major wind zones from Hami in the east to Tacheng near the northwestern border, large-scale projects and generation bases have been rolled out in quick succession. The build-out of "Xinjiang electricity transmission" corridors has pushed renewable power eastwards, easing local absorption constraints and tying wind-rich deserts to far-off centers of demand.

An aerial drone photo taken on April 8, 2025 shows a view of the Hami-Chongqing 800 kV ultra-high voltage direct current transmission project in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. (Photo by Zhang Lingjun/Xinhua)

Generation alone does not guarantee stability, particularly in a system where supply and demand peak in opposite seasons. Xinjiang's wind is inherently variable and seasonal -- output rises in spring and autumn, while electricity demand peaks in winter and summer. To bridge that mismatch, developers have increasingly turned to wind-storage integration.

In Hami's Shisanjianfang wind zone, where winds above force eight blow on more than 200 days a year, a million-kilowatt project now couples turbines with large-scale electrochemical storage, shifting wind power from a fluctuating resource into a more controllable one.

The project is equipped with 150 low-temperature wind turbines, each rated at 6.7 megawatts, and a storage system with 300,000 kilowatts of power capacity and 1.2 million kilowatt-hours of energy. "More than 400 storage units act like a giant power bank," said Pan Jindong, the project manager. "Excess electricity is stored during periods of low demand and released during peaks."

According to Pan, the "giant power bank" is powered by a smart control system that automatically manages charging and discharging. A single charge-discharge cycle can deliver 1.2 million kilowatt-hours, roughly the daily output of a 50,000-kilowatt wind farm, enough to meet the daily electricity needs of about 800,000 three-person households. With only 20 people required for operations and maintenance, the project's per-kilowatt operating cost is about 0.01 yuan.

Yet solving variability did not, by itself, answer a larger question: whether Xinjiang's wind boom could anchor industry, rather than simply feed the grid.

Manufacturing followed the turbines, and increasingly, it followed them home. Xinjiang's wind-power equipment localization rate now exceeds 90 percent, with turbine output ranking first nationwide.

In Mori Kazakh Autonomous County of Changji, a manufacturing base operated by Dongfang Electric has, since breaking ground in 2022, built an annual capacity of 6 million kilowatts for main units and 4 million kilowatts for blades. The project has created more than 1,000 local jobs, helping to anchor an industrial corridor that links construction, generation, storage, transmission, consumption and manufacturing, binding wind power not just to the grid, but to the regional economy.

In 2024, Mori completed Xinjiang's first county-level renewable-energy base with a capacity exceeding 10 million kilowatts. By 2025, cumulative grid-connected capacity had passed 20 million kilowatts, with output across the full new-energy industrial chain surpassing 10 billion yuan (about 1.4 billion U.S. dollars), as upstream and downstream firms clustered around renewable energy projects.

Similar patterns can be found elsewhere in the region. Hami now hosts Xinjiang's largest and most complete wind-equipment manufacturing base, with an annual capacity of 22 million kilowatts for whole turbines, 1,320 sets of blades, and 400,000 tonnes of towers.

In Tacheng, near the border with Kazakhstan, a full production chain from blade manufacturing to tower fabrication and final assembly has taken shape within the city's pilot zone for development and opening up. When Sany Renewable Energy first established its wind-equipment plant there, the site was still the Gobi Desert, recalled Asghar Ahgen, an administrative officer at the facility. The factory now has an annual production capacity of 600 wind-turbine blades, supplying both domestic projects and exports to Kazakhstan.

According to local officials, the wind-equipment manufacturing chain in Tacheng's pilot zone has largely taken shape.

Staff members work at a wind power equipment company of SANY Group at the pilot zone in Tacheng, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, July 22, 2023. (Xinhua/Ding Lei)

As transmission capacity has expanded, so has Xinjiang's role as an energy exporter. In 2025, the region sent 141.3 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity to other parts of China, an increase of 11.5 percent year on year. Renewable sources, including wind, accounted for 44.4 billion kilowatt-hours, or 31.41 percent of the total.

In 2020, the share stood at 21 percent. Today, nearly one out of every three kilowatt-hours of electricity sent out of Xinjiang comes from renewable sources, marking a shift not just in volume, but in the composition of power flowing east.

The abundance of low-cost green power is drawing in a different class of industry. Computing power centers, among the most electricity-intensive of businesses, have begun to cluster in wind-rich places such as Yiwu County and Tacheng. In June 2025, computing capacity generated in Yiwu was successfully connected to southwest China's Chongqing Municipality. Thanks to the county's abundant wind and solar resources, data firms can cut electricity costs by more than 40 percent compared with other provincial-level regions.

From turbine workshops to energy-storage stations and, increasingly, to data centers, Xinjiang's wind is no longer merely a natural endowment. It is becoming industrial logic, reshaping a remote frontier into a working node of China's energy and manufacturing system.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Former FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino is sharing his concerns about the media morons he claims are distorting the truth about American safety.

Bongino, who stepped down from his position earlier this month after serving in his role for less than a year, went on a tangent about the media while being interviewed by Fox News on Thursday, accusing the media of having a double standard when it comes to reporting on public safety.

The topic came up while discussing a recent report from Axios, claiming that according to the Council on Criminal Justice, the U.S. murder rate has reached its lowest level since 1900.

However, Fox News claimed that violent crime was already falling to a two-decade low during former President Joe Bidens final year in office.

Well, theres a thousand excuses as to why President Trump and his administration didnt do it, he told Fox News host Sean Hannity. Meanwhile, I lived it. I know what we did and didnt do for these (expletive).

Bongino then cited a New York Times article, which included interviews with several current and former employees who accused Director of the FBI Kash Patel of making America less safe.

Do you dipwads even read your own headlines? Bongino said. Are you that stupid?

These are these media morons  people whove never spent a day wearing a badge. Never kicked in a door. Never arrested some child predator or some bank robber or some gang member. These morons dont know anything about the safety status of the country," Bongino said.

Bongino said the media is a big, full diaper, adding that he is tired of these idiots.

What freaking country are these morons living in? Bongino asked. I mean, what are they looking at? Are they missing this stuff? These are not small items. That isnt even  forget  I havent even gotten to Maduro being out of power, the Cuban leaderships crapping their pants, we may acquire portions of Greenland."

Hannity then commented by saying that the real Dan Bongino is back, observing he was more restrained when he held a government title.

Weve been friends for a long time, Hannity said. I kind of like the real Dan being back, unfiltered.
Fresh off Massachusetts most impactful snowstorm in years, forecasters are eying another significant storm that could arrive this coming weekend.

However, still days out from the storms possible arrival, authorities cautioned that the direction, strength and timing of the weather system remain uncertain.

Potential is increasing for another significant winter storm to impact the eastern United States this coming weekend, the National Weather Service wrote on X Monday afternoon. It is too early to know the details, but please keep updated with the latest forecasts this week!

The agencys Weather Prediction Center said the storm could impact a broad swath of the Eastern Seaboard sometime between Friday night and Monday night.

Cold temperatures will continue to blanket the Eastern United States into next week, the weather service said. The agency forecasts the combination of cold air with a low-pressure system developing late in the week to cause widespread heavy precipitation.

The timing, track and strength of the low-pressure system are still unclear. They will determine whether the storm arrives as rain, snow or a wintry mix, and how much precipitation occurs onshore.

Potential is increasing for another significant winter storm to impact the eastern United States this coming weekend. It is too early to know the details, but please keep updated with the latest forecasts this week! pic.twitter.com/RKa1pzhw6O  NWS Weather Prediction Center (@NWSWPC) January 26, 2026

Possibilities range from a significant storm to a system that passes well to the southeast ... with minimal impacts, meteorologists at the weather services regional office in Norton said Monday afternoon. There are many moving parts with this setup... To put it plainly, the exact track and strength of any system is highly uncertain at this point.

No one wants to hear it, but theres a noreaster roaming offshore this coming weekend, NBC Boston meteorologist Pete Bouchard wrote Monday on X. Coastal flooding, high winds, and....precipitation.

Its too early to cheer, panic, or change any plans, the Capital Weather Gang, the weather blog of The Washington Post, said Monday on X.
Is Massachusetts about to be pummeled by another snowstorm?

Just days after some cities and towns saw more than 2 feet of snow in the biggest storm since 2022, forecasters are pointing to conditions off the coast that could signal another round of heavy snow and extreme weather conditions for Southern New England.

Torry Dooley, a National Weather Service meteorologist, said he is eyeing another storm that could hit Massachusetts this weekend.

At this point, we want people to be aware of the potential for another coastal storm sometime in the Sunday to Monday timeframe, Dooley said.

Dooley said no storm has taken shape yet and that models are projecting ahead based on current conditions, but a consensus is forming among forecasters that a low-pressure area over the ocean could bring gusty winds, coastal flooding and snow  if the storm tracks toward New England.

There is also a chance it stays out to sea, which would greatly lessen the impact.

There is still much uncertainty with how close or how far offshore the storm actually passes, Dooley said. If the storm were to pass further offshore, its maybe a glancing blow to Southern New England. If the storm were to track closer to New England, we could see higher-end snowfall, gusty winds and the potential for coastal flooding. Those are the two extremes.

Dooley said its important for residents to continue monitoring weather forecasts. Models are still uncertain, but forecasts should become more reliable within 48 to 72 hours of the event.

By Thursday evening, forecasters should have a good idea of whether Bay Staters should brace for more stormy weather.

Adam Frederick, a New Hampshire-based amateur meteorologist of 20 years known as the New England Weather Guy to more than 135,000 social media followers, is also sounding alarms for storm potential, forecasting a possible bomb cyclone.

What is a bomb cyclone?

Think of it as a winter hurricane, he wrote in a post Monday night. We are talking high winds, heavy snow, blizzard conditions, power outages. It is a very large storm.

As a technical term, a bomb cyclone is a storm that has a central pressure drop by at least 24 millibars in 24 hours or less, according to NWS Boston. Essentially, a bomb cyclone is created when rapidly dropping pressure creates high-intensity winds and therefore, a potentially damaging storm. The storms can begin all on their own as the rotation of the Earth causes a cyclonic effect, according to the New York Times.

The largest nontropical bomb cyclone to happen since 1958 took place over the northern Pacific Ocean a little over two years ago, in 2020 through 2021 on New Years Eve, according to The Washington Post. The storms pressure had dropped to 921 millibars on New Years Eve  lower than extreme cyclones that formed in the same vicinity of the northern Pacific in 2014 and 2015, the Post wrote. The storm was also the strongest storm on record to hit Alaska, the Post said.

Massachusetts is still shoveling out from under a massive winter storm that dropped 26 inches of snow in Ipswich, 24 inches in Central Massachusetts and 20 inches in Boston. It was the states highest recorded snowfall for a winter storm since 2022.
MBTA riders should be prepared for some lingering disruptions to their commute as Greater Boston continues to dig out from a massive two-day snowstorm.

About 30 commuter rail trains were canceled Tuesday morning due to the ongoing impact of Sunday and Mondays storm. Communities across Greater Boston logged nearly two feet of snow, with some towns in the MBTA network recording 27 inches of accumulation.

On Tuesday afternoon, the T said the Newburyport/Rockport, Haverhill, Lowell and Fitchburg lines of the commuter rail were experiencing significant delays in both directions due to storm impact.

The T also reported delays and canceled trains on other lines.

The agency and its commuter rail operator, Keolis, advised riders to subscribe to T-Alerts, check the MBTA website or the MBTA Go mobile app and follow the agency on X for updates to train schedules.

The Red, Orange and Blue lines were delayed earlier Tuesday due to the impact of snow on signals and switches, key pieces of the network infrastructure.

The Red and Blue lines were still experiencing delays of about 15 minutes around 3:30 p.m., according to the T.

The Orange and Green lines were running as normal.

These conditions are just really challenging for any infrastructure, but especially infrastructure as old as the Ts right now, Brian Kane, executive director of the independent MBTA Advisory Board, said Tuesday. Like you see school canceled, the T will struggle in these conditions. Its not because someone didnt do their job. Its because the conditions are so hard.

Commuter Rail trains on some lines are experiencing delays and cancellations due to ongoing winter storm impacts and continued cold temperatures, Jake ONeill, a spokesperson for Keolis, said in a statement Tuesday morning.

MBTA and Keolis crews have been working around the clock across the Commuter Rail network to apply sand and salt to passenger areas, clear snow, and ensure safe operations, he said. Passengers should plan extra time for their travel and use caution on platforms, in parking lots and when boarding or exiting a train.

The MBTA thanks its frontline workforce for its exceptional work over the past couple of days to keep riders safe and the system moving, even through the intense weather conditions, Lisa Battiston, an MBTA spokesperson, added in a separate statement. We appreciate our riders patience during any of the delays they may have experienced.

Many buses are still operating under alternative snow routes, but the T said it expects routes to return to normal as municipalities continue to clear snow.

MBTA officials said Monday that they expected ferry service to be impacted by slush and ice. The T said the U.S. Coast Guard had dispatched an icebreaker from Maine, which was expected to arrive in the Boston area on Wednesday.

Charlestown ferries were running as planned Tuesday, though other lines may be affected, the T said.

Ferry riders can check whether their boat is running via the MBTA website.
NORTHAMPTON  A student who claims he was suspended by the University of Massachusetts Amherst for protesting in support of Palestine is suing the university. He alleges the school violated his constitutional rights and breached its contract with him.

In an 18-page complaint filed Tuesday in Hampshire Superior Court, Kivlighan de Montebello, a junior at the university, names UMass; Jeffrey Hescock, its associate vice chancellor of environmental health and safety and emergency management; and Farshid Hajir, its senior vice provost and dean of undergraduate education, as defendants.

In September, de Montebello was one of a number of students to protest the presence of RTX, formerly known as Raytheon  a defense contractor  at a career fair hosted by the Isenberg School of Management.

A month after the protest, which was dismantled by the universitys Demonstration Response and Safety Team, he says he received five charges of misconduct from the university, for disruptive behavior, threatening behavior, creating a disturbance, failure to comply and violating the universitys picketing code.

The University of Massachusetts Amherst proudly calls on its students to Be Revolutionary. ... The universitys actions are not merely hypocritical  they are unlawful and unconstitutional," the complaint reads.

The lawsuit alleges that UMass Amherst breached a contract with de Montebello when it suspended him for protesting. It also alleges the university violated de Montebellos First and 14th Amendment rights, and that Hajir and Hescock deprived him of his civil rights.

When reached for comment Tuesday, a spokesperson for UMass Amherst said that while the university does not comment on ongoing litigation, its legal response will address the claims made in this filing.

The spokesperson said the university is committed to protecting the First Amendment rights of its students, faculty and staff.

That commitment is reflected in university policy and long-standing practice, the spokesperson said in a statement. At the same time, the law is clear that expressive activity may be subject to reasonable restrictions that ensure that speech and protest do not block access to campus spaces, disrupt classes or university operations, or interfere with the ability of others to work, teach, and learn.

We dont suspend people for protesting or for their beliefs, the spokesperson said later by email. The student disciplinary process involves violations of the student code of conduct.

That code is designed to promote accountability and restorative outcomes, and sanctions consider a range of factors, including the students prior conduct record, the spokesperson said. They declined to comment about whether de Montebello has a previous record.

De Montebello is represented by the National Lawyers Guild of Massachusetts and a Boston law firm, Zalkind Duncan & Bernstein LLP.

The university calls on students to be engaged in political and social movements, yet when Kiv answered that call with peaceful protest, they punished him, said Urszula Masny-Latos, executive director of the National Lawyers Guild, Massachusetts chapter, in an emailed statement to The Republican. UMass suspended a student for exercising his constitutional right to protest a weapons manufacturer and supporter of the ongoing war on Gaza. Thats not education  thats censorship."

The allegations

On Sept. 29, de Montebello helped organize a protest at the Campus Center, where a career fair was taking place, the complaint says.

De Montebello is a member of the Students for Justice in Palestine, an activist group with a chapter at UMass Amherst that has actively protested the war in Gaza since Oct. 7, 2023.

At around 12:30 p.m. on Sept. 29, the complaint says de Montebello used a bullhorn to initiate a call-and-response with other protesters about Raytheons role in the Palestinian genocide, and the universitys alleged complicity.

De Montebello alleges that Hescock confronted him and asserted that the student wasnt allowed to use amplified sound indoors, the complaint said. He alleges Hescock did not cite where in the universitys policies or rules this wasnt allowed.

The complaint alleges Hescock repeatedly read from a prepared document stating, Were here to support your First Amendment rights to free speech and demonstration.

Shortly after making this statement, the complaint alleges Hescock told the protesters to stop using the bullhorn and to stand in a designated corner.

The complaint further alleges that de Montebello asked for clarification from Hescock about the policy around the bullhorn and was later told that the protesting students would not be allowed to make any noise during the protest. The plaintiff says he and the other students complied with Hescocks requests.

Now prohibited from making any noise, some protesters began placing post-it notes around the area to express their message, while others engaged in conversation with passersby and distributed material about Raytheons role in weapons manufacturing, the complaint said.

De Montebello then alleges that Hajir told students they had to stop trying to speak with students attending the career fair, and that they could not distribute literature in the vicinity of the protest.

At around 2:20 p.m., de Montebello alleges the schools Demonstration Response and Safety Team told protesters, including him, that everyone had to leave or they would be referred to the university for discipline, the complaint said.

De Montebello was then approached by a member of the safety team and allegedly told he needed to identify himself for disciplinary purposes, the complaint said.

The complaint says that Hajir was the sole person who reported de Montebello to the universitys disciplinary committee, and his report did not accurately reflect what occurred at the protest.

In one instance, Hajir allegedly reported that de Montebello led the protesters in a call-and-response that was intended to drown out the directions of the (Demonstrations Response and Safety Team), the complaint said.

While Hajirs report admits to some of the facts  for example, ordering students to be quiet during the career fair, telling de Montebello to stop using the bullhorn for call-and-responses because it was disruptive, and asking the protesters to leave the protest  the complaint said Hajir repeatedly characterized (the plaintiffs) behavior as disruptive and defiant.

Contrary to Hajirs report, Hescock later told the safety team that the career fair was successful, bringing 1,000 students to the Career Center.

... There were no disruptions inside the Campus Center; and the event proceeded as planned, Hescocks summary said, according to the complaint.

The complaint also includes student witnesses  including the eyewitness reports of a student journalist who was covering the career fair and another student who was at the fair. Both said the protesters were peaceful in their demonstration and did not cause disruptions, the complaint said.

About two weeks after the demonstration, de Montebello says he received notice from the university that it had received a conduct referral about his actions during the protest, and the next steps would be to meet with a case administrator for a meeting, the complaint said.

At the end of October, de Montebello had a meeting with a university administrator, who said UMass was charging him with disruptive behavior, threatening behavior, creating a disturbance, failure to comply and violation of the university picketing code. He was told that this was based on the universitys rules on misconduct, de Montebello says.

The administrator then said de Montebello would be suspended from Nov. 7 until May 31, the complaint said.

This meant that de Montebello could not attend classes, register for classes for the spring semester, and would not receive a refund for tuition and fees that he had spent for the fall semester, the complaint said.

The student also was permanently barred from university housing and required to complete a re-entry assessment, reflection paper, and re-enrollment application at the end of the suspension that would determine if hed be readmitted to the university, the complaint said.

The complaint further alleges the university denied de Montebello his rights during multiple disciplinary hearings after he was suspended.

De Montebello says the suspension has affected his academic record at school and will affect future job prospects, the complaint said.

On Tuesday, de Montebellos attorneys also filed a motion for a temporary restraining order and a preliminary injunction, requesting that a Superior Court judge halt the universitys sanctions against de Montebello. In a 151-page document, they argue that the student is likely to prevail on his claims that the university violated his First and 14th Amendment rights, and that de Montebello is more likely to suffer irreparable harm compared to the defendants because of the suspension.

In de Montebellos lawsuit, he requests that a Hampshire Superior Court judge rule in his favor; declare that the defendants violated his constitutional rights; vacate the universitys decision that de Montebello violated its Code of Student Conduct; vacate the sanctions placed on de Montebello by the university; order the university to expunge any record; and award the plaintiff punitive damages and awards.

He is requesting a jury trial.

David Lowy, general counsel for the UMass system, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
A national nonprofit challenging the commonwealths firearms age restrictions argues in new court filings that U.S. and state history do not support segments of the state law.

In July 2024, Gov. Maura Healey signed a sweeping gun law, which, in part, imposed new age restrictions for who can purchase, carry or possess a gun.

The Second Amendment Foundation argues the Massachusetts law violates Second Amendment rights by preventing Bay Staters older than 18 but younger than 21 from possessing or carrying handguns and large capacity semi-automatic firearms. The foundation, a national pro-gun advocacy group, is one of the plaintiffs in a 2025 lawsuit lodged against the superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police and other heads of law enforcement.

The plaintiffs, including the National Rifle Association and a resident of Brewster, say in their 15-page arguments, filed Friday, that state law allows 18- to 20-year-olds to get a firearms identification card, one of the requirements to purchase or possess a gun. But it restricts the kinds of guns they can purchase, thereby violating the Second Amendment, in their view.

There is no historical tradition of stripping certain adults of their gun rights because of their age, Bill Sack, director of legal operations at the Second Amendment Foundation, said in an emailed statement to The Republican.

The plaintiffs argue that when the Second Amendment was ratified, 18- to 20-year-olds were not only allowed to own guns but were required to, for the purpose of defending themselves, Sacks statement said.

At minimum, all adults under 21 are part of the People contemplated by the Second Amendment and therefore have every right to purchase, carry and possess firearms, he said.

The Attorney Generals Office, which is representing defendants Col. Geoffrey Noble, superintendent of the State Police, and Commissioner Jaime Gagnon of the state Department of Criminal Justice Information, did not immediately return a request for comment.

Boston attorneys representing the third defendant, Heath Eldredge, chief of the Brewster Police Department, also could not be reached Monday.

Massachusetts ban is directly contrary to those historical facts and therefore cannot be supported by the historical tradition of firearm regulation that was evidenced at the Founding, the gun advocates said in their Friday court filing.

Supporters of the nearly 2-year-old gun law have said it will save lives, especially as police departments work to limit the spread of untraceable ghost guns, and keep gun violence rates in Massachusetts low, the State House News Service previously reported.

The plaintiffs ask a federal court judge to rule in their favor. The case is ongoing in federal court in Boston.
Traveling between Pittsfield and Northampton, Pittsfield and North Adams or North Adams and Greenfield without a car will get easier Wednesday with the launch of new bus service.

Three regional transit authorities in Western Massachusetts have been working on what they call Link413 for more than a year in response to customer demand.

The bus operators estimated average ridership of 15 riders per trip.

The service is led by the Berkshire Regional Transit Authority, in partnership with the Franklin Regional Transit Authority and the Pioneer Valley Transit Authority.

Link413 will fulfill those regional service needs, so now you finally can get there from here, Robert Malnati, the BRTA administrator, said in a statement.

Peter Pan Bus Lines of Springfield provides service between Western Massachusetts regions now. The Franklin Regional Transit Authority and the Pioneer Valley Transit Authority in Hampden and Hampshire counties also interconnect.

But there was a gap in the middle between the Berkshire system and the two in the Pioneer Valley.

The collaboration offers customers three new longer-distance, weekday bus routes providing service across four counties and enabling out-of-state connections.

Our goal with this project is to provide improved direct connections between our Western Mass. communities for commuters, job seekers, students and visitors. Projects like Link413 demonstrate how much can be done when authorities work together, said Tina Cote, the FRTA administrator.

The service offers connections to Boston, Connecticut, New York, and Vermont with Amtraks Valley Flyer, Vermonter, Lake Shore Limited and Berkshire Flyer train services, according to a news release.

One of the branded Link413 buses that will begin service Wednesday. (Photo provided) The Republican

A one-way Link413 ticket will cost $10 per trip, or $5 per trip for qualifying customers.

The three routes take between an hour and half and 45 minutes in one direction:

Route 901 will travel one way in approximately 45 minutes between Pittsfield and North Adams.

Route 903 will travel one way in approximately 90 minutes between North Adams and Greenfield via the communities of Adams, Savoy, Plainfield, Ashfield and Charlemont.

Route 904 will travel one way in approximately 90 minutes to serve riders traveling between Pittsfield and Northampton along the Route 9 corridor with stops in Dalton, Windsor, Cummington, Goshen and Williamsburg.

Service is offered in both directions, eastbound and westbound, as well as northbound and southbound for the Pittsfield-North Adams route.

The first buses leave at 7:30 a.m. The final buses arrive at their destinations at 9 p.m. A schedule is available online at shorturl.at/0WKRU.

The routes are a pilot project. During the first two years of service, the transit authorities and the state will evaluate ridership and other performance metrics as they search for sustainable funding sources.

Link413 buses will offer amenities such as high-back seats, free WiFi and accessibility for customers traveling with the help of mobility devices.

In the 2024 budget year, MassDOT granted $4.46 million to the three transit authorities. The money rehabilitated seven buses and will be used to fund service. In December 2025, the state also announced $1.57 million for the project.

Buses load passengers at Springfields Union Station. The Pioneer Valley Transit Authority (PVTA) is helping to introduce a new regional bus service that will link the Pioneer Valley to the Berkshires starting Wednesday. (Douglas Hook / The Republican) Douglas Hook

The buses are branded with the Link413 name and feature images of Western Massachusetts, such as the Connecticut River and surrounding farmland, rolling hills and popular destinations like the Poets Seat Tower, Bridge of Flowers and Mount Greylock.
On 26 January 2026, the Ministry of Health of Ethiopia declared the end of the Marburg virus disease (MVD) outbreak. This declaration came after two consecutive incubation periods (a total of 42 days) since the last person confirmed with MVD died and was given a safe and dignified burial, in accordance with WHO recommendations on 14 December 2025.

As of 25 January 2026, a cumulative total of 19 cases, including 14 confirmed (including nine deaths) and five probable cases (all deaths), were reported. A total of 857 contacts listed for monitoring all had completed their 21-day follow-up as of 25 January 2026. WHO, through its country office and partners, provided technical, operational and financial support to the government to contain this outbreak.
A young artist from Ballina has been named a national winner in the 2025 Credit Union Art Competition. Kevin Lee Sweeney, representing Ballina Credit Union, won first place in the age 14-17 category, with judges commending his artwork for its creativity, emotional depth, and expressive response to the theme The Future Is.

Kevin was selected from over 25,000 entries submitted nationwide. His achievement was celebrated at the national final in Croke Park, alongside winners from across the country.

ILCU President Brendan Jenkins commended the high standard of this years entries, noting that the creativity and imagination demonstrated by young people was exceptional.

Through their work, these artists offer inspiring visions, rich in hope and innovation, of what the future could be. Their pieces reflect both personal dreams and collective possibilities, reminding us that the future is shaped by the ideas and aspirations we choose to nurture today.

READ MORE: Mayo Train passengers reminded of bus transfers taking place this weekend

Jenkins also added that the competition is about far more than winning prizes:

Its about confidence, self-expression, and community pride. Every participant should be immensely proud of their contribution. On behalf of the ILCU, I extend my congratulations to all our award recipients and sincere thanks to every artist who took part in making this years competition such a wonderful celebration of creativity.
WILLIE Fitzgerald from Cullentragh, Mayo Abbey, who died recently, was a noble son of the parish who commanded huge respect around the region. There was something very special about Willie and you knew it the moment you were in his company.

Mayo Abbey is a parish close to my heart. I have so many relations on both sides of the family in this region that has given its name to our county. There is a palpable feeling of serenity and stillness in the village and fields.

History shows that St Colman founded an Abbey here in 670 for Saxon monks and that the area was a premier centre of learning in Western Europe in the 7th century. It had huge ecclesiastical connections with the island of Iona off the Scottish coast and the small island of Lindisfarne off the coast of Northumberland in England.

Willie (94) embodied the spirit of the ages and the peace and tranquillity he exuded touched the hearts of so many people. He was devoted to the Mayo Gaels Club to which he gave many years of loyal and outstanding service.

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He truly was one of the finest ambassadors for the Mayo Gaels, a club he loved with such a passion down through the decades. I always associate him with another Mayo Abbey legend, Tommie Duggan, who died in 2021.

I don't think I ever covered a match in Mayo Abbey that I did not receive the warmest of handshakes from those two men when they were on the gate. They were the heart and soul of the club and were the finest ambassadors any club could wish to have at the top table.

Willie loved Mayo Abbey and its people and was always so happy to welcome people from all over the region to visit his beloved parish. Willie and Nancy (his wife of 66 years) were such a fine couple and were familiar to so many card players at the 25 card games around the district as well as at Ceilis and other social occasions all down the years.

So many generous and heartfelt tributes have been paid to Willie since his passing. Among them was one from Sean and Evelyn McNamara: Willie now joins a long list of neighbours and friends who enjoyed his friendship and assistance throughout his earlier life. He was the village barber, tradesman, builder, and entertainer with the great songs including his own. He was a lifetime family friend and leaves a lot of great and happy memories.

Cicero, the Roman philosopher of olden times, rendered an enduring truth: Nothing is so popular as kindness. Willie Fitzgerald embodied the spirit of that reflection on his long and cherished journey along the trails of life.

Reposing was in Balla Funeral Home where his beloved Mayo Gaels flag was draped on the coffin with removal to Mayo Abbey Church. Members of Mayo Gaels Club, together with neighbours and friends, formed a large guard of honour in a poignant tribute to a man who loved his home parish so well.

Following Requiem Mas the next day celebrated by Fr Austin Fergus, who also delivered a lovely homily, interment took place in the local cemetery.

Willie, who was predeceased by his parents Tom and Bridget, his brothers Eddie and Tommie and son-in-law Tom Joyce, is survived by his wife Nancy of 66 years and their family, Mary (Langenfeld, Germany), Anne Byrne (Mayo Abbey), Tomas (Ohio, USA), Geraldine Joyce (Facefield) and Lorraine (Mayo Abbey), son-in-law Michael Byrne, daughter-in-law Blair, Lorraines partner Michael Quirke, grandchildren Liam, Eanna, Meadhbh, Tommy, Cillian, Kathy, Rylee, Fearghal, Emma, Donncha and Sean and their partners, nieces, nephews, relatives, neighbours and friends.
A series of changes to the Rural Social Scheme (RSS) introduced under Budget 2026 have come into effect this month, with the measures expected to benefit rural communities across the country, including Mayo.

Changes to the Rural Social Scheme (RSS) include the introduction of a Rural Dweller Pilot from January 2026 involving 250 ringfenced placements for Rural Dwellers who are aged 50 or over and on a qualifying weekly social welfare payment.

The pilot was a key recommendation of the Review of the Rural Social Scheme, published in July 2024, which set out 19 recommendations aimed at improving the long-term sustainability of the scheme.

Further recommendations from the review have also been implemented from 1 January 2026. These extend eligibility for the RSS to people with a defined connection to a farming or fishing enterprise and allow couples jointly engaged in farming or fishing to both participate in the scheme using a single herd number or fishing licence.

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Commenting on the scheme changes, Minister Calleary said,

As Minister for both Social Protection and Rural and Community Development and Gaeltacht, I absolutely recognise the vital role that our Rural Social Scheme workers play in local communities right across the country.

The RSS supports a range of vital local services such as meals on wheels, the maintenance and upkeep of local amenities, and other vital work in our communities. I am aware that some local schemes have been experiencing difficulties in filling vacancies, and this, in turn, has a knock-on effect on the delivery of important local services.

These changes will make an important contribution to the sustainability of the RSS and will, I believe, ensure the RSS will continue to make a valuable contribution to Irish rural life in the years to come. He added.

Minister Alan Dillon said communities in Mayo rely on the Rural Social Scheme every single day.

These changes are a welcome step. They recognise the real value of people who keep local services in Mayo going and ensure that rural areas arent left behind.

For many families in Mayo, the RSS is a lifeline that keeps people connected. Expanding the scheme means more people can stay active in their communities and continue contributing their skills and experience.

READ NEXT: Mayo Sculptor shortlisted for high-profile public art projects
Two of Mayo's TDs look set to have a busy Saint Patrick's Day in 2026, as they will be packing their bags and jetting off across the Atlantic to represent Ireland on the national holiday.

The tradition sees ministers set off to far-flung corners of the world in order to strengthen international relations.

For Dara Calleary, the Minister for Social Protection and Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht, it's a trip to Canada.

The Fianna Fail TD will take in the sights in Ottawa and Toronto to join in the festivities.

Alan Dillon, however, will be taking in much sunnier climate. The Minister of State for Small Business and Retail & Circular Economy will make the journey to both Mexico and Guatemala.

Further details on the plans of Minister Calleary and Dillon's plans when across the water have not yet been revealed.

In total, 40 government representatives will set off to over 50 countries across the globe.
Valley Forge Military College (VFMC) has secured a $1 million federal education grant, marking the first time that there is an accrediting body for colleges that are specific to the military.

The private two-year military college located in Wayne, Pa., and in existence since 1935 secured the funding through the U.S. Department of Educations Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary EducationStrengthening Institutions Program (FIPSE-SP), under the departments Fiscal Year 2025 Promoting Accreditation Reform that funds a finite number of national institutions to develop and pilot innovative accreditation models.

The highly competitive program will help finance VFMCs establishment and testing of a new hybrid accrediting framework designed specifically for military-aligned associate and certificate programs. That includes exploration into virtual reality -enabled training and education where appropriate, leveraging experiential learning technologies to support skills application, and learner engagement.

A cadet at the VFMC salutes an officer. VFMC became the first military-specific college to receive accreditation nationwide. (VFMC)

VFMC is one of four colleges nationwide that has an early commissioning program that commissions U.S. Army officers in two years, for example.

We had an organization we work with alert us to it and we looked at it and thought that through our own experience of going through accreditationwe found that sometimes there's a disconnect between what military model education is and some of the intangibles it takes into it, Stuart Helgeson, president of VFMC since 2020 and retired U.S. Marine Corps colonel, told Military.com.

We thought this would be something that we could help with, work with partner schools, and look at creating either a hybrid accrediting agency that deals with the military model of schools that are military focused, or if there is a need, an all new accrediting body, added Helgeson, whose active-duty service included operational deployments such as Exercise Alpine Warrior, Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm (Iraq), Operation Provide Promise and Deny Flight (former Yugoslavia), and Operation Continue Hope (Somalia).

Last May, VFMC graduated 40 cadets as part of its 2025 class that finished with a cumulative 3.65 GPA throughout their four semesters. Fourteen cadets earned at least 80 credits to confer dual associates degrees, while 10 cadets supplemented their degrees with certificates.

Details of Grant Funding

The $1 million grant extends over four years with the intent to study, implement, and lead all the way up to design and eventual implementation. VFMC currently has 100 enrolled students.

It includes partnerships with Promising People and the National Occupational Competency Testing Institute (NOCTI), the former of which partnered with VFMC leadership throughout the process and provided grant strategy support, technical documentation, compliance alignment, and program design.

NOCTI helps validate standards, refine evaluation methods, and produce a replication toolkit intended for broader adoption by institutions serving military learners nationwide.

VFMC students engage in an exercise. About 99% of students graduate and then go on to other higher education institutions to receive their bachelor's degrees. (VFMC)

Most of the military colleges have an accreditation through one of the five accrediting bodies, Helgeson said, mentioning how there's accreditation for nursing or law programs but not a separate accreditation of body for military programs and all the intangibles that go into that education outside the classroom.

He referenced having Corps Cadets teach aspects like character, physical development and personal motivation.

All these intangibles, how do they fit in?

That involves looking for guidance from other service academies, the other three military junior colleges, and the senior military colleges across the U.S.

Asked if a list of criteria must be met as part of the grant, Helgeson said VFMC hadnt yet met with a grant officer.

But we feel the grant is to study the existing [standards] and look at ways to provide an accrediting body that seeks recognition from the U.S. Department of Education for military standards, he said. And then also taking it to the current service schools that have soldiers, airmen, Marines, Space Force, Guardiansthey take classes right now.

How many of those are accredited? How many can be transferred to college credit? That's a whole other line of operation we want to look at.

'Talking Two Different Languages'

VFMC accreditation is under the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, one of about a handful of military-specific accreditations. The United States Military Academy at West Point is also under Middle States, while American Military University, for example, is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

Helgeson said that sometimes conversations with accreditors can result in talking two different languages due to the military angles taught that may not be fully encapsulated in how traditional accrediting bodies work.

VFMC students are photographed during an ROTC program. (VFMC)

He acknowledged the physical and monetary toll to reach accreditation, amounting to plenty of work that requires completion based on the size of the institution, various assessments, and ultimately developing a more streamlined approach that can be implemented universally by military schools that can show that they are meeting the standards of the Department of Education.

It also costs a lot of money to go through the accreditation process, said Helgeson, who is leaning towards a hybrid model. We're just looking at ways to better use funds, be more efficient, and make sure there's a standard that if you go to Valley Forge Military College or New Mexico Military Institute or United States Military Academy West Point, certain things are the same.

A Unique Offering

Roughly 99% of VFMC graduates continue their education and attain bachelor's degrees following their two-year stints. Those in the Army Early Commissioning Program have to, in order to keep their commission, get their bachelor's degree and are funded by the Army.

The sales pitch comes down to one word: opportunity.

We like to say, Start here, go anywhere.'

We get the foundational education in the associates program where they've got 10 majors they can take. The goal is for them to transfer to a four-year college; it sets them with a base foundation of how to study.

We use the military model. We teach them accountability. They become a cadet, they're a Corps Cadet. They have a lot of outside of classroom things that they do, they get leadership where they earn rank and then they lead their peers through things.

The Army early commission program includes about 70% of VFMC students. Helgeson said its a great scholarship where students get their school paid for while on campus, as well as wherever they transfer to after the two-year period.

The only stipulation is the schools that they transfer to have to be affiliated with Army ROTC, of which 98% of schools are.

That's the biggest draw, I would say, Helgeson said.
North Korea fired what appeared to be ballistic missiles off its east coast days after the U.S. released a new defense strategy signaling a reduction in American military support to deter Pyongyangs nuclear ambitions.

Multiple ballistic missiles were launched on Tuesday from north of Pyongyang toward waters off its east coast, South Koreas Joint Chiefs of Staff said. Japans Coast Guard said an object suspected of being a ballistic missile likely already fell into the sea.

Our military is maintaining a firm readiness posture while closely sharing information related to North Koreas ballistic missiles with the U.S. and Japan, the JCS said in a statement.

It would be Pyongyangs second ballistic missile launch of the year and comes after North Korea accused the South earlier this month of having violated its airspace with drones. The South Korean government has denied involvement in the alleged incident and launched an investigation into suspicions that the unmanned vehicle was sent by civilians. After the first launch in early January, the North said it had tested a hypersonic missile.

The latest show of force comes after Undersecretary of Defense for Policy Elbridge Colby visited Seoul earlier this week and praised South Korea as a model ally ready to take a greater role for its own defense.

Colbys visit followed the release of the U.S. National Defense Strategy that urged South Korea to take the primary role in deterring North Korea as the Trump administration shifts its focus to prioritize protecting the U.S. homeland.

The document says, South Korea is capable of taking primary responsibility for deterring North Korea with critical but more limited U.S. support, adding that the shift is consistent with Americas interest in updating U.S. force posture on the Korean Peninsula.

Details of how the U.S. might change its force posture arent yet clear.

The missile launch also comes amid tensions between the U.S. and South Korea after President Donald Trump threatened to hike tariffs on goods imported from the treaty ally to 25%, citing what he said was the failure of the countrys legislature to codify the trade deal the two nations reached last year.

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung has taken a series of steps to ease frosty relations with North Korea since taking office last year, but Kim Jong Un has rebuffed the overtures, instead showcasing a new intercontinental ballistic missile designed to attack the U.S. mainland.

North Korea is expected to hold a party congress in coming weeks, where Kim is likely to unveil his policy direction for the next five years. At the last congress of the ruling Workers Party, held in 2021, the North Korean leader declared the production of a nuclear sub to be one of his top weapons projects.

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With assistance from Go Onomitsu.

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2026 Bloomberg L.P. Visit bloomberg.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Venezuelas new socialist leader, Delcy Rodriguez, has launched a public campaign aimed at reassuring the regimes radical base that she has not become a puppet of Washington  even as President Donald Trump publicly praises her leadership for fostering what he calls a wonderful relationship between the two countries.

In recent days, Rodriguez has pushed back against international media reports suggesting she privately assured U.S. officials she would cooperate fully in a transitional government before Trump ordered a swift military operation in Venezuela on Jan. 3. That operation led to the capture of President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, who were transferred to New York to face federal drug-trafficking charges.

Since the operation, the socialist government under Rodriguez has taken steps  though often slowly  to align with a U.S.-backed stabilization plan aimed at reviving Venezuelas economy and political system. Those measures include the release of hundreds of political prisoners and preparations to allow U.S. companies to reenter Venezuelas oil sector with fewer restrictions.

But the sudden thaw in relations with Washington has fueled suspicion among hard-line chavistas that Rodriguez is abandoning the movements deeply anti-American ideology. Social media platforms have been flooded with accusations that she played a role in an internal conspiracy that betrayed Maduro.

On Monday, Rodriguez sought to draw a clear line between her interim government and Washington, saying Venezuela would not submit to pressure from the White House.

Enough of Washingtons orders about politicians in Venezuela, Rodriguez said during a televised event with oil workers in the eastern city of Puerto La Cruz, broadcast on the state channel Venezolana de Television. Let Venezuelan politics resolve our differences and internal conflicts. This republic has paid a very high price for confronting the consequences of fascism and extremism.

She added that Venezuela has a government, and this government answers to the people, responding to remarks by U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent that she described as inappropriate and offensive, without specifying the comments. Rodriguez also said she was not intimidated by what she called personal threats against her.

I was aware of those threats when I was sworn in as interim president, she said. We are not afraid. We are not afraid of having relations with the United States, but those relations must be based on respect  respect for international law and basic human dignity.

Rodriguez made the remarks during a meeting with representatives of the oil sector that included executives from companies with a long-standing presence in Venezuela, such as Spains Repsol, U.S.-based Chevron and Britains Shell. Those firms are expected to play a central role in the Trump administrations plans to revive Venezuelas oil industry.

During the meeting, U.S. and foreign oil companies discussed proposed changes to Venezuelas Hydrocarbons Law, which the government says would create conditions for large-scale foreign investment in an industry crippled by years of mismanagement and sanctions.

Rodriguezs nationalist rhetoric contrasts sharply with her evolving relationship with Washington since taking office. One day after the U.S. military operation, Trump said the United States would effectively oversee Venezuela until a safe transition could be secured. In an interview with The Atlantic magazine, he warned Rodriguez that if she did not do the right thing, she could pay a price even higher than Maduros.

Yet just 10 days later, after a phone call between the two leaders, Trump softened his tone, calling Rodriguez fantastic and saying he had worked very well with her.

On Monday, Trump again struck a conciliatory note, praising Rodriguezs government for accelerating prisoner releases.

I am pleased to report that Venezuela is releasing its political prisoners at an accelerated pace, and this pace is expected to increase in the coming weeks, Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform. He thanked Venezuelan leaders for agreeing to what he called an important humanitarian gesture.

His message followed statements by Interior and Justice Minister Diosdado Cabello  widely viewed by analysts as the leading figure among hard-line chavistas and a potential obstacle to closer cooperation with Washington  who said 808 people have been released since before December. U.S. officials say the releases have accelerated since Maduros removal and are part of a U.S.-managed stabilization phase now led by Rodriguezs interim government.

Human-rights organizations, however, dispute the official figures, estimating that between 250 and 270 detainees have been released and noting that Venezuelan authorities continue to deny the existence of political prisoners. Before the release campaign began, Venezuelan nongovernmental groups estimated that more than 1,000 people were jailed for political reasons.

Trump has repeatedly praised Rodriguezs administration while also warning that the United States could carry out another military operation if Venezuelas new leaders fail to meet Washingtons expectations.

Last week, the Venezuelan government rejected as fake a report by the British newspaper The Guardian that said Rodriguez had privately pledged cooperation with the Trump administration ahead of the U.S. military operation that captured Maduro.

On the official X account of Miraflores, the presidential palace, authorities posted an image of The Guardians headline stamped with a red label reading fake, without offering further details or addressing the substance of the report.

The Guardian article cited four sources involved at high levels in the discussions who said Rodriguez and her brother, National Assembly President Jorge Rodriguez, had secretly assured U.S. and Qatari officials through intermediaries that they would cooperate with Washington once Maduro was removed from power.

According to the newspaper, the siblings did not actively assist the U.S. military operation carried out on Jan. 3, but signaled in advance that they would welcome Maduros departure and help manage the political aftermath.

The sources emphasized that the assurances stopped short of direct participation in the U.S. raid, drawing a distinction between post-operation cooperation and active involvement in Maduros capture.

The Guardian reported that communications between Rodriguez and U.S. officials began in the fall and continued after a phone call in late November between Trump and Maduro, during which Trump demanded that Maduro leave power voluntarily. Maduro rejected the demand, according to the report.

By December, one American involved in the talks told the newspaper that Rodriguez had sent a clear message to Washington. Delcy was communicating, Maduro needs to go, the source said. Another person familiar with the messages quoted Rodriguez as saying, Ill work with whatever is the aftermath.

The newspaper said Qatari officials played an intermediary role in the discussions, citing Rodriguezs close personal ties with Qatars ruling family. Qatar, a key U.S. ally, used its access in Washington to facilitate discreet negotiations, according to two of the sources cited.

The Guardian also reported that Secretary of State and National Security Adviser Marco Rubio, initially skeptical of engaging with figures from Maduros inner circle, came to see Rodriguezs assurances as a potential way to prevent instability following Maduros removal.

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2026 Miami Herald. Visit at miamiherald.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
LAKSHMIPUR, Bangladesh (AP)  A labor recruiter persuaded Maksudur Rahman to leave the tropical warmth of his hometown in Bangladesh and travel thousands of miles to frigid Russia for a job as a janitor.

Within weeks, he found himself on the front lines of Russias war in Ukraine.

An Associated Press investigation found that Bangladeshi workers were lured to Russia under the false promise of civilian work, only to be thrust into the chaos of combat in Ukraine. Many were threatened with violence, imprisonment or death.

AP spoke with three Bangladeshi men who escaped from the Russian military, including Rahman, who said that after arriving in Moscow, he and a group of fellow Bangladeshi workers were told to sign Russian documents that turned out to be military contracts. They were taken to an army camp for training in drone warfare techniques, medical evacuation procedures and basic combat skills using heavy weapons.

Rahman protested, complaining that this was not the work he agreed to do. A Russian commander offered a stark reply through a translation app: Your agent sent you here. We bought you."

The three Bangladeshi men shared harrowing accounts of being coerced into front-line tasks against their will, including advancing ahead of Russian forces, transporting supplies, evacuating wounded soldiers and recovering the dead. The families of three other Bangladeshi men who are missing said their loved ones shared similar accounts with relatives.

Neither the Russian Defense Ministry, the Russian Foreign Ministry nor the South Asian countrys government responded to a list of questions from AP.

Rahman said the workers in his group were threatened with 10-year jail terms and beaten.

Theyd say, Why dont you work? Why are you crying? and kick us, said Rahman, who escaped and returned home after seven months.

The workers accounts were corroborated by documents, including travel papers, Russian military contracts, medical and police reports, and photos. The documents show the visas granted to Bangladeshi workers, their injuries sustained during battles and evidence of their participation in the war.

How many Bangladeshis were deceived into fighting is unclear. The Bangladeshi men told AP they saw hundreds of Bangladeshis alongside Russian forces in Ukraine.

Officials and activists say Russia has also targeted men from other African and South Asian countries, including India and Nepal.

Overseas work supports Bangladeshi families

In the lush greenery of the Lakshmipur district in southeast Bangladesh, nearly every family has at least one member employed as a migrant worker overseas. Job scarcity and poverty have made such work essential.

Fathers embark on yearslong journeys for migrant work, returning home only for fleeting visits, just long enough to conceive another child, whom they will likely not see again for years. Sons and daughters support entire families with income earned abroad.

In 2024, Rahman was back in Lakshmipur after completing a contract in Malaysia and seeking new work. A labor recruiter advertised an opportunity to work as a cleaner in a military camp in Russia. He promised $1,000 to $1,500 a month and the possibility of permanent residency.

Rahman took out a loan to pay the fee of 1.2 million Bangladeshi taka, about $9,800, to the broker as a fee. He arrived in Moscow in December 2024.

Basic training, then the battlefield

Once in Russia, Rahman and three other Bangladeshi workers were presented with a document in Russian. Believing it was a contract for cleaning services, Rahman signed.

Then they went to a military facility far from Moscow, where they were issued weapons and underwent three days of training, learning to fire, advance and administer first aid. The group went to a barrack near the Russia-Ukraine border and continued training.

Rahman and two others were then sent to front-line positions and ordered to dig pits inside a bunker.

The Russians would take a group of say, five Bangladeshis. They would send us in front and stay at the back themselves, he said.

The men stayed in a leaky bunker in the rain as bombs fell a few kilometers away. Missiles flew overhead.

One person was serving food. "The next moment, he was shot from a drone and fell to the ground right there. And then he was replaced, Rahman said.

Promises of jobs far from the front

Some Bangladeshi workers were lured into the army with promises of positions far from the front line.

Mohan Miajee enlisted in the Russian army after the job that initially brought him to Russia  serving as an electrician for a gas-processing plant in the remote far east  was plagued by harsh working conditions and relentless cold.

While searching for employment online, Miajee was contacted by a Russian army recruiter. When he expressed his reluctance to kill, the recruiter said his skills as an electrician made him an ideal candidate for an electronic warfare or drone unit that would be nowhere near combat.

With his military papers in order, Miajee was taken in January 2025 to a military camp in the captured city of Avdiivka. He showed the camp commander documents describing his experience and explained that his recruiter had instructed him to ask for electrical work.

The commander told me, You have been made to sign a contract to join the battalion. You cannot do any other work here. You have been deceived, he said after returning to his village of Munshiganj.

Miajee said he was beaten with shovels, handcuffed and tortured in a cramped basement cell, and held there every time he refused to carry out an order or made a small mistake.

Because of language barriers, for example, "if they told us to go to the right and we went to the left, they would beat us severely, he said.

He was made to carry supplies to the front and collect dead bodies.

Meanwhile in Rahman's unit, some weeks later, they were instructed to evacuate a Russian soldier with a wounded leg. The men carried him, but no sooner had they left the position than they saw a Ukrainian drone buzzing above. It fired at them. Then more drones came in a swarm.

Rahman could not advance or return to the bunker. A Russian soldier guiding them said land mines were everywhere.

He was stuck, and the Russian commander fled.

Rahman eventually suffered a leg wound that sent him to a hospital near Moscow. He escaped from the medical center and went directly to the Bangladeshi embassy in Moscow, which prepared a travel pass for him to leave the country.

Some months later, Rahman helped his brother-in-law Jehangir Alam, who also spoke with AP, run away using the same method  leaving the hospital after being wounded and appealing to the embassy.

Families long to learn about missing men

Families in Lakshmipur hold tightly to the documents of their missing loved ones, believing that one day, when presented to the right person, the papers might unlock the path to their return.

The documents included photos of Russian business visas, military contracts and army dog tags. The papers were sent by the missing men, who urged relatives to complain to recruiting agents.

The contracts were verified by two Russian groups helping men evade or get out of military service. Maj. Vladimir Yaltsev, head of the Kostroma regional recruitment center for contract military service, is listed as signing the contracts on behalf of the Russian military.

In their final messages, these husbands, sons and fathers conveyed to relatives that they were being forcibly taken to the front lines in Ukraine. After that, all communication ceased.

The families filed a complaint with police in Dhaka and traveled on three occasions to the capital to pressure the government to investigate.

Salma Akdar has not heard from her husband since March 26. In their last conversation, Ajgar Hussein, 40, told her he had been sold to the Russian army. The couple has two sons, ages 7 and 11.

Hussein left in mid-December 2024, believing he was being offered a job as a laundry attendant in Russia, his wife said. He had recently returned from Saudi Arabia and planned to stop working overseas for a spell, she explained. But believing Russia offered opportunities to make money, he left again. He sold some of his land to pay the agent's fees.

For two weeks, he was in regular touch. Then he told his wife he was being taken to an army camp where they were trained to use weapons and carry heavy loads up to 80 kilograms (176 pounds). Seeing all this, he cried a lot and told them, We cannot do these things. We have never done this before,' his wife said.

For two months after that, he was offline. He reappeared briefly to explain they were being forced to fight in the war.

Russian commanders "told him that if he did not go, they would detain him, shoot him, stop providing food, she said.

Families in the village confronted the recruiting agent, demanding to know why their loved ones were being trained for war. The agent replied dismissively, saying that it was standard procedure in Russia, insisting that even launderers had to undergo similar training.

Hussein left a final audio note for this wife: Please pray for me."

Son expected to work as a chef

Mohammed Sirajs 20-year-old son, Sajjad, departed believing he would be working as a chef in Russia. He needed to support his unemployed father and chronically ill mother.

Siraj wept as he described his son begging him to ask the agent why he was being made to undergo military training. Sajjad fought with his Russian commanders, insisting he had come to be a chef, not to fight. They threatened him with jail if he did not comply. Then someone else threatened to shoot him, his father recalled.

Sajjad called the family and said he was being taken to battle. That is the last message from my son, he said.

In February, Siraj learned through a Bangladeshi man serving with Sajjad that his son had been killed in a drone attack. Unable to bear telling his wife the truth, Siraj assured her that their son was doing well. But word spread through the village.

You lied to me, Siraj recalled her saying as she confronted him. Soon after, she died, calling out for her son in her final moments.

Investigation uncovers network of intermediaries

In late 2024, families approached BRAC, an organization that advocates for Bangladeshi workers, and said they could no longer reach their relatives in Russia. That prompted the organization to investigate. It uncovered at least 10 Bangladeshi men who are still missing after they were lured to fight.

There are two or three layers of people who are profiting, said Shariful Islam, the head of BRAC's migration program.

Bangladesh police investigators uncovered a trafficking ring in Russia after a Bangladeshi man returned in January 2025, alleging he had been deceived into fighting. The police believe that similar networks, operated by Bangladeshi intermediaries with connections to the Russian government, are responsible for facilitating the entry of Bangladeshis into Russia.

Another nine people were discovered to have been lured into fighting based on that police investigation, according to investigator Mostafizur Rahman. The Associated Press reviewed the police report filed by one victim's wife, who said he went to Russia expecting to work in a chocolate factory. A middleman, a Bangladeshi with Russian citizenship who was residing in Moscow, has been charged.

It's not clear how many Bangladeshis were lured to Russia. The investigator told AP that about 40 Bangladeshis may have lost their lives in the war.

Some go willingly, knowing they will end up on the front lines because the money is too good, he said.

In Lakshmipur, investigators learned that the local agent has been funneling recruits to a central agent associated with a company called SP Global. The company did not respond to APs calls and emails. Investigators found it ceased operations in 2025.

Families of the missing individuals said they have not received any money earned by their loved ones. Miajee too said he was never paid.

I dont want money or anything else, Akdar said. I just want my childrens father back.

___

Associated Press writer Julhas Alam in Dhaka, Bangladesh, contributed to this report.
Having experienced housing instability, Army veteran Chad King was searching for a way to help other veterans struggling to find affordable housing and benefits through the Department of Veterans Affairs.

He came up with a solution  Chief Bud  an AI assistant built to help veterans learn and apply for VA resources.

King, a graduate student at DePaul University in Chicago, served in the Army for seven years, forging a brotherhood with his fellow comrades.

There are 18 million veterans in the United States, and I feel a connection to all those people, King told The DePaulia, the universitys student newspaper.

King, who is currently earning a Master of Science degree in human-computer interaction, believes he knows what veterans need.

I served with them, I know them, he said. And those that are outside in the street and whatnot, I know who they are, and I know thats not where they want to be.

How It Works

Kings vision is to provide the basic elements of the AI platform to at least 200 veterans in Chicago by using an eligibility snapshot to collect essential information, including dates when the veteran served, and details of their discharge.

After that information is compiled, users can get a concise list of services and housing programs they could be eligible for and the ensuing steps to take to file a claim.

King developed the nucleus for Chief Bud while studying in a Design for Startups course. At the time, the DePaul grad student was battling housing uncertainty.

Army veteran and DePaul grad student Chad King. (Submitted)

The easiest problem to solve is the one youre dealing with, King said. I figured that this would be a perfect use case for AI because part of the problem is there are so many rules, so many pages of rules  and who wants to read those rules?

In recent months, the veteran has been creating a pilot for Chief Bud to test the platform. His goal is to feature the technology at resource fairs in Chicago this summer, opening it up for users.

Taking inspiration from some of his past commanders, King developed the Chief Bud character, an AI-animated veteran who talks to users in a direct, prompt manner, offering quick answers.

Just like in the military, King said.

Grant Fuels Project

King received a boost to his AI idea in November by winning $25,000, the grand prize, in the TechRise Veterans Day Pitch Competition, hosted by P33, a Chicago-area global technology and innovation hub.

Winning the grant was somewhat surprising, since King was the contests only entrant that didnt have a business already established.

Its scary because now I have to go be a businessman and that is not what I am nor have I ever been, King said.

Trepidation aside, King is pouring in the same dedication he showed in the Army, learning the ins and outs of business development.

Molly Brown, director of the Homeless Advocacy, Research and Collaboration (HARC Lab) at DePaul, said its crucial that AI projects like Kings be informed by people who have gone through human experiences. Part of the universitys Department of Psychology, the lab serves as a research and advocacy program committed to finding ways to prevent homelessness.

Creating that kind of cultural tailoring makes the intervention or the service itself more accessible to that population, so theyre more likely to use it, Brown said.

This helps users wary of technology, especially AI, to feel more at ease using the platform, Brown said.

Chief Bud logo. (Submitted)

Platform Influenced by Military

Air Force veteran Trevor Harpanionek sees the benefits of Kings invention. Harpanionek, from nearby Hoffman Estates, Illinois, believes Chief Bud could be a phenomenal tool to assist veterans in navigating VA resources.

He especially enjoys how the program breaks down information in clear bullet points.

It falls right into our wheelhouse of complete and utter structure and order, Harpanionek said.

King also chose the moniker Chief Bud as an ode to military life.

In the military, youre trained to rely on other people, King said. Your battle buddy is the framework that they use. The idea is that youre not alone.

The Army veteran hopes users will see the platform as a friendly, easy-to-use program. And it allows the budding entrepreneur to dive into the AI boom.

AI is one of the most powerful, interesting tools that has ever been created, King said.

As a public benefit corporation, the platform will remain free for veterans. According to Cornell Law School, a PBC is a for-profit company designed to operate in a responsible and sustainable manner while also pursuing one or more specific public benefits and generating revenue for shareholders.

I have an opportunity to fulfill a mission that Ive always wanted to fulfill, King said, and that is to help the people around me.
The Belgian troopship SS Leopoldville had just slipped beneath the English Channel after being hit by a torpedo. Gerald Howard went down with the ship. The 23-year-old rifleman nearly drowned under the frigid water like hundreds of his comrades. He fought his way back to the surface.

"I was on the ship until it went down," Howard recalled decades later. "It pulled me down, and when I came up I saw a life raft. They said 'You can't get on.' I said, 'Like hell I can't.'"

Howard woke up around midnight in a hospital in Cherbourg, France. He was among the lucky ones. On that Christmas Eve in 1944, a German U-boat torpedo killed 763 American soldiers just five miles from the French coastline. Nearly 500 bodies were never recovered from the water.

The U.S. government buried the story for decades. It was the deadliest U-boat attack on American soldiers sent to fight in World War II.

Shoulder sleeve insignia (SSI) of the United States Army's 66th Infantry Division. (Wikimedia Commons)

A Ship Full of Replacements

The Battle of the Bulge was tearing through American lines in Belgium. Hitler's surprise offensive had shattered the 106th Infantry Division and mauled several others. Allied commanders needed fresh troops immediately.

The 66th Infantry Division received orders to move out on Dec. 23, 1944. The "Black Panther" Division had been training in southern England for weeks. Now 2,235 soldiers from the 262nd and 264th Infantry Regiments would cross the English Channel to Cherbourg.

Boarding began at 2 a.m. on Christmas Eve. The process followed no clear or rehearsed plan. The regiments mixed together. Companies were separated. Platoons scattered randomly throughout the 478-foot Belgian liner. The fragmented loading separated the chain of command before the vessel even left the dock. Many others were placed on a different troop ship.

The Leopoldville was a Belgian passenger liner chartered by the British Admiralty for troop transport. She had crossed the Channel 24 times without incident. Her Belgian captain, Charles Limbor, had commanded the ship since 1942. The crew gave orders in Flemish. Few American soldiers understood a word.

A lifeboat drill was announced over the ship's loudspeakers shortly after departure. Many soldiers never heard it. Those who did simply stood at their stations while officers made spot checks. Nobody explained how to launch the lifeboats or properly wear a life jacket.

Pvt. John Pordon of San Francisco remembered the miserable voyage. Seasickness swept through the cramped holds as the ship bounced through the Channel swells.

"We were all griping about what a lousy way it was to spend Christmas," Pordon recalled. "Little did we know."

The MS Leopoldville before WWII. The Belgian liner was converted to a troop transport, the SS Leopoldville, during the war. (Wikimedia Commons)

Five Miles From Shore

German submarine U-486 waited beneath the surface off Cherbourg. The Type VIIC boat was on her first war patrol under Oberleutnant Gerhard Meyer. She had already sunk one British vessel days earlier. Then he spotted the incoming convoy.

At 5:54 p.m., Meyer fired. The torpedo struck the Leopoldvilles starboard side and detonated in the Number Four cargo hold. Compartments E-4, F-4 and G-4 flooded instantly. The blast destroyed the access ladders. Roughly 300 men were trapped below.

"It felt like an earthquake," Pordon said.

Soldiers throughout the ship felt the impact and understood what had just happened. They moved to the deck with discipline. They lined up in formation and waited for instructions from the crew.

Those instructions never came. The ship's loudspeakers announced that a tug was coming. Captain Limbor ordered his crew to abandon ship at 6:25 p.m. The soldiers watched in disbelief as the crew climbed into the few lifeboats and rowed away. No official abandon ship order was given to the American troops.

Most of the escorting vessels, including the HMS Anthony, HMS Hotham and French Frigate Croix de Lorraine went after the submarine.

The Leopoldville sank by the stern at about 8:30 pm. Artwork by Richard Rockwell. (Leopoldville.org)

The Rescue Begins

The British destroyer HMS Brilliant served as part of the convoy's escort. Her captain, Commander John Pringle, faced a nightmare scenario. The British Royal Navy operated on different radio frequencies than American forces in Cherbourg. The two allies could not talk directly. Nearly an hour passed before Cherbourg's port authorities learned the troopship was sinking.

It was Christmas Eve. Hundreds of vessels sat in Cherbourg harbor with cold engines. Skeleton crews manned the docks. The port operated at minimal staffing.

The Brilliant pulled alongside the sinking troopship at 6:25 p.m. The destroyer's deck sat roughly 40 feet below the Leopoldvilles rail. Swells of eight to twelve feet rocked both vessels. Soldiers jumped for the smaller ship.

John Waller, a 19-year-old private from Kansas, watched men attempt the leap. "I was in line to jump when the two ships collided," he recalled. "Those guys jumped from the Leopoldville, they missed. They fell in between and were killed."

British sailors hauled their hammocks onto deck to cushion the falls. Some soldiers broke their legs landing on the torpedo tubes. Many others were crushed between the hulls as the vessels slammed together in the surf.

The Brilliant took on roughly 500 men before her captain pulled away. The overloaded destroyer headed for port. Pringle later received an official reprimand for his decisions that night. More than 1,200 soldiers remained aboard the Leopoldville.

Artistic depiction of the sinking of the SS Leopoldville by Richard Rockwell. (Leopoldville.org)

Heroes in the Darkness

Some men refused to save themselves. Capt. Hal Crain, a West Point graduate from California, gave away his own life jacket. He moved through the sinking ship searching for wounded men, pulling them to safety. He went down with the Leopoldville.

Survivor Walter Brown spent years petitioning the Army to recognize Crains heroic deeds. In March 1997, Crain received a posthumous Silver Star.

Pfc. William Holmes of Tennessee climbed below decks into a flooded compartment where men were trapped. He pulled one soldier out, then went back. He cleared wreckage from a stairway so others could escape. He brought out two more injured men.

As the ship began to disappear beneath the waves, Holmes stood at the rail forcing soldiers over the side until the deck beneath him went under. He went down with the ship and received a posthumous Soldier's Medal.

The 262nd Regiment's medical detachment made a collective choice. They stayed aboard to treat the wounded while others tried to escape. Only eight medics survived. Nineteen bodies were never found.

The ship began listing hard around 8 p.m. Men tumbled into the Channel wearing full field gear, winter overcoats and helmets. Nobody had taught them how to enter the water safely. Soldiers who hit the surface with chinstraps fastened had their necks broken by the force of impact.

Waller walked down the side of the ship as it rolled. "I was there for 40-50 minutes in freezing, ice-cold water, before I was pulled out of the water and into a small fishing boat," he said.

The Leopoldville slipped beneath the surface at 8:40 p.m. She had stayed afloat nearly three hours after the torpedo hit. Rescue vessels from Cherbourg pulled bodies from the darkness throughout the night. Many soldiers they hauled aboard had already frozen to death.

Soldiers that weren't quickly rescued either drowned or froze to death in the 48 degree waters of the English Channel. Artwork by Richard Rockwell. (Leopoldville.org)

The Cover-Up

The Army immediately ordered the survivors not to speak about the sinking. Military censors reviewed their letters home for the remainder of the war. Upon discharge, the soldiers were warned that discussing the incident with the press would cost them their veterans benefits.

The government sent the families vague notifications about the loss of their loved ones, spread out over the course of months. This was likely to prevent the public from realizing a major loss of life in a singular incident had occurred. Some relatives learned their sons were dead. Others were told only that loved ones were missing in action. Many of them never discovered what actually happened.

Chuck Mathison was two years old when his father boarded the Leopoldville. His mother received word that her husband was missing.

"It was several months before she was told he was dead," Mathison said. He did not learn his father was buried at Normandy American Cemetery until 45 years later.

The grief destroyed some families. Pfc. Garvis Dillinger of Mississippi was 18 years old. He had quit school to volunteer for service. His mother was so distraught over his death that she spent a year in a hospital recovering from the loss.

The Carlson twins from Jamestown, New York, both died that night. Carl had studied art. Clarence played the accordion and planned to continue his music studies after the war. Neither of the brothers was ever found.

A British memo from March 1946 explained the Allied reasoning for silence. It stated the story of the Leopoldville does not reflect well for the war effort. It further stated that the disclosure of the incident to the public was to be done when the timing was right.

American documents related to the sinking were declassified only in 1959. The government made no effort to inform the families of the revelation. British records remained sealed until 1996.

Location of the sinking of the SS Leopoldville. (Uboat.net)

Breaking the Silence

Allan Andrade spent three years investigating the disaster. The retired New York City police lieutenant used his detective skills to track down survivors across the country. He published his findings in 1997.

"I used my police background to track down hundreds of people," Andrade said. "I tried to put faces on the statistics."

Survivor Vincent Codianni of Waterbury, Connecticut, worked with Andrade to push for official recognition for the Leopoldville disaster. Their efforts convinced the Army to approve a memorial at Fort Benning, Georgia. The monument was dedicated on Nov. 7, 1997.

Soldiers and survivors from the 66th Infantry Division finally began reorganizing in France two days after Christmas 1944. They spent the rest of the war containing German holdouts at Lorient and St. Nazaire. The Black Panther Division had lost 763 men before firing a shot in combat.

A depiction of the wreck of the SS Leopoldville, which now rests at the bottom of the English Channel north of Cherbourg, France. (Uboat.net)

U-486 did not survive the war. On April 12, 1945, the British submarine HMS Tapir torpedoed the German boat off the coast of Norway. All 48 crewmen perished. It was one of the only times a submarine sank an enemy submarine in combat.

The Leopoldville remains on the Channel floor north of Cherbourg. The wreck was discovered by Clive Cussler of the National Underwater and Marine Agency in 1984. France later designated it as a war grave.

Gerald Howard, the rifleman who clawed his way onto a life raft, lived into his 80s. He never understood why the Army forced him to stay silent.

"I can understand during the war," he said. "After the war no one told me to keep a secret."

Although the event was declassified and officially recognized by the Army with several memorials on both sides of the Atlantic, most people remain unaware of the sinking of the SS Leopoldville. The 763 men of the 66th Infantry Division that were lost on Christmas Eve in 1944 represent the largest loss of American life to a German submarine during WWII.
On Jan. 27, 1945, Soviet soldiers who had survived years of fierce combat against German forces entered a sprawling complex of barracks and barbed wire in southern Poland known as Auschwitz. What they found there would define how the world remembers the Holocaust.

Today marks International Holocaust Remembrance Day, the 81st anniversary of that liberation. Commemorations are taking place at the Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial in Poland, at the United Nations headquarters in New York and at memorial sites around the world.

The 2026 theme is "Holocaust Remembrance for Dignity and Human Rights."

The Nazi regime murdered six million Jews during the Holocaust, representing one-third of all Jewish people worldwide. The Nazis also killed millions of others.

Historians estimate more than three million Soviet prisoners of war died in German captivity. Nearly two million non-Jewish Polish civilians were murdered. Between 250,000 and 500,000 Roma were killed. At least 250,000 people with disabilities were murdered under Nazi euthanasia programs as were many others.

Auschwitz was the largest Nazi killing center. Approximately 1.1 million people died there, nearly one million of them Jews.

Map of the Holocaust in Europe during World War II, 1939-1945. This map shows all German Nazi extermination camps (or death camps), most major concentration camps, labor camps, prison camps, ghettos, major deportation routes and major massacre sites. (Wikimedia Commons)

The Liberation of Auschwitz

Lt. Gen. Vasily Petrenko, commander of the Soviet 107th Infantry Division, was a combat veteran accustomed to death on the Eastern Front.

"I who saw people dying every day was shocked by the Nazis' indescribable hatred toward the inmates who had turned into living skeletons," Petrenko later said. "It was in Auschwitz that I found out about the fate of the Jews."

The liberators found approximately 7,000 prisoners, most gravely ill. In the days before the Soviet advance, SS officers had forced nearly 60,000 inmates onto death marches westward. Thousands died along the way. Those left behind were too weak to walk.

Among them was 10-year-old Eva Mozes Kor. She and her twin sister Miriam had survived the medical experiments of Dr. Josef Mengele.

"On a white snowy day, January 27th, 1945, four days before my 11th birthday, Auschwitz was liberated by the Soviets and we were free," Kor later said. "We were alive. We had survived. We had triumphed over unbelievable evil."

Soviet soldiers discovered 600 corpses, seven tons of human hair, 370,000 men's suits and more than 837,000 articles of women's clothing. It was evidence of murder on an industrial scale.

Due to Nazi racial beliefs against Eastern Europeans, most of the Nazi extermination camps fell in the path of the Soviet army as it advanced to Berlin. In the following months, Soviet troops would liberate numerous camps and uncover countless examples of Nazi brutality.

Prisoners after being liberated from Auschwitz. (Wikimedia Commons)

American and British Troops Encounter the Camps

As Soviet forces advanced from the east, American and British troops pushing from the west encountered more camps in the spring of 1945.

Months later on April 11, American soldiers liberated Buchenwald. Four days later, British forces from the 11th Armoured Division entered Bergen-Belsen, finding approximately 55,000 prisoners and 13,000 unburied corpses. More than 13,000 additional inmates would die in the weeks after liberation, too weakened to recover.

American soldiers from the 42nd and 45th Infantry Divisions reached Dachau on April 29. Tech. Sgt. James Creasman, a public affairs NCO with the 42nd Infantry Division, witnessed what combat-hardened infantrymen encountered there.

"Riflemen, accustomed to witnessing death, had no stomach for rooms stacked almost ceiling high with tangled human bodies adjoining the cremation furnaces, looking like some maniac's woodpile," Creasman wrote.

Before the end of the war, Western Allied troops would liberate several concentration and work camps. While not as large as the camps in Eastern Europe, Allied forces uncovered and documented mountains of evidence that would later be put to use at the Nuremburg Trials.

Photographs and film footage from the liberated camps shocked the Allied nations. Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower ordered documentation of the atrocities, knowing future generations might not believe it happened.

DACHAU, Germany - An American Soldier is surrounded by survivors at the newly liberated Dachau concentration camp, April 29, 1945, in Dachau, Germany. American Soldiers of the U.S. 7th Army, including members of the 42nd Infantry and 45th Infantry and 20th Armored Divisions, participated in the camps liberation. (U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum)

International Holocaust Remembrance Day

For 60 years after the war, Holocaust commemorations remained largely national affairs. Israel observed Yom HaShoah on the Hebrew calendar. Germany began marking Jan. 27 in 1996. Britain and other countries established their own memorial days.

The push for an international observance came from Israel. On Jan. 24, 2005, the United Nations General Assembly held a special session marking the 60th anniversary of the liberation of Nazi concentration camps. Nine months later, on Nov. 1, 2005, the General Assembly adopted Resolution 60/7.

The resolution designated Jan. 27 as the International Day of Commemoration in Memory of the Victims of the Holocaust.

The resolution urges member nations to develop educational programs about Holocaust history to prevent future genocide. It explicitly rejects Holocaust denial. It calls for the preservation of Nazi death camps, concentration camps and forced labor camps as memorial sites. It established the United Nations Outreach Programme on Holocaust Remembrance and Education, now in its 21st year.

The resolution also honored those who put a stop to Nazi atrocities. Its text specifically commends "the courage and dedication shown by the soldiers who liberated the concentration camps."

Newly liberated prisoners at Auschwitz in 1945. (Wikimedia Commons)

The Last Witnesses

Approximately 196,600 Jewish Holocaust survivors remain alive worldwide, down from 220,000 a year ago. Their median age is 87. Within the next decade, 70 percent of them will be gone.

On Tuesday, 95-year-old survivor Mala Tribich addressed the British Cabinet in London.

"Soon, there will be no eyewitnesses left," Tribich told them. "That is why I ask you today not just to listen, but to become my witness."

One of the few men who can still remember what the liberators witnessed is Ivan Martynushkin. He was a 21-year-old lieutenant in the Soviet 322nd Infantry Division when his unit approached Auschwitz. He just turned 102 nine days ago. Since the death of David Dushman in 2021, Martynushkin is believed to be the last surviving liberator of Auschwitz.

"We saw emaciated people, very thin, tired, with blackened skin," Martynushkin later recalled. "You could see happiness in their eyes. They understood that their liberation had come, that they were free."

Children liberated in the Auschwitz concentration camp. (Wikimedia Commons)

Martynushkin has spoken often about what moved him that day.

"I felt compassion and pity understanding how these people's fate unfolded," he said. "Because I could have ended up in the same situation. I fought in the Soviet army. I could have been taken prisoner and they could have also thrown me into the camp."

Eighty-one years later, the day Soviet soldiers fought their way into Auschwitz has become a day the entire world is asked to remember.

As the resolution notes, the Holocaust "will forever be a warning to all people of the dangers of hatred, bigotry, racism and prejudice."
MONROE - Youll see things at this event you have never seen before. And thats the point. This is one of Michigans most chilling and strangest events of the year.

The 4th annual Michigan Oddities and Horror Fest takes place at the First Merchants Bank Expo Center at 3775 S. Custer Rd. in Monroe on Saturday, January 31 and Sunday, February 1. Tickets can be purchased here or at the door.

The event will feature around 150 vendors selling all kinds of oddities like real human bones, taxidermy and wet specimens. There will also be limited edition art, tattoo artists and food trucks.

I believe this event is so weird and unique because you have 150+ Vendors that bring some of the craziest items that most people have only ever seen before on TV, said event organizer, Nate Thompson, who also is the owner of The Michigan Museum of Horror.

The event will also feature celebrities taking photos and signing autographs for fans, like actor Lochlyn Munro from Scary Movie, White Chicks, Freddy Vs. Jason, and Dead Man on Campus.

The Michigan Oddities and Horror Festival runs from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. both days.
ANN ARBOR, MI - Nearly 10 years to the day after a federal agency ordered the city of Flint to test and treat its water for lead, a case against the same agency is appearing in court.

Attorneys argued in opening statements Monday, Jan. 26, that the emergency administrative order issued by the Environmental Protection Agency on Jan. 21, 2016, came more than a year after the agency first learned of lead in the citys water.

The employees of Region 5 at the agency, which serves most of the Great Lakes area, had an obligation to act quickly, said attorney Moshe Maiman, who is representing three children from Flint reportedly impacted by the water crisis.

The Flint water crisis began more than a decade ago when state-appointed emergency managers triggered a change in Flints water source, pulling from the Flint River. The water, which was more corrosive than the previously used water from Lake Huron, caused lead to leach into the citys water system.

Maiman alleged that EPA employees knew about high lead levels as early as December 2014 and had enough information to act as of April 2015. Despite this, the agency failed to issue an emergency administrative order until January 2016, he said.

The ironic thing about this, your honor, is what the EPA had authority to do was what solved the Flint water crisis, Maiman told U.S. District Court Judge Judith E. Levy in her Ann Arbor courtroom.

The EPAs order, which came months after the city stopped using the Flint River for water, required the city to report certain metrics, inventory potentially impacted homes, and continue adding anti-corrosion treatments to the water.

It was the word continue onto which an attorney representing the environmental agency latched.

The (Safe Drinking Water Act) both constrained and guided the EPAs actions, said Albert Lai, who is representing the United States of America in the suit.

He argued in his opening statements that EPA employees followed the data and responded quickly when they learned new information. The EPA guided Flint, but was limited in what it could force the city to do, Lai said.

Blame for the water crisis rests with the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality and the city of Flint, Lai said. The states department initially told the city it did not need anti-corrosive chemicals when it switched water sources, he said.

EPA civil servants did not cause the Flint crisis, Lai said. They helped end it.

The plaintiffs in the case before Levy plan to testify in court, Maiman said. The attorneys are representing three children, alongside other plaintiffs, who say they experienced a variety of neurodevelopmental delays and mental health impacts.

Other witnesses include a variety of medical experts, potentially as well as former Gov. Rick Snyder and former Flint Mayor Dayne Walling.

Attorneys from both sides did not respond to requests for comment.

The civil trial is set to continue Tuesday, Jan. 27.
TRAVERSE CITY, MI - Sliced, cubed, grated and melted. Thick, creamy, salty and savory. This year, the chocolates and flowers that normally underpin Valentines Day are taking a backseat to ... cheese.

Traverse City is hosting the all-new Cheesiest Valentines Ever celebration Feb. 12-15, and there are several events in the lineup, all designed to tempt your tastebuds.

Whether you want to sink your hands into some curds and make your own cheese, find out which cheese-and-wine pairings are the best you can serve, or tuck into a delightful dinner, tickets for all these cheese-centric events are now available online here.

The Cheesiest Valentines Ever combines local food and beverages to celebrate the Northern Michigan culinary scene, event organizers said. It not only shines a light on the award-winning Alpine-style raclette and fromage blanc made by the experts at Leelanau Cheese, but it also elevates local wineries, distilleries and restaurant staff.

The Cheesiest Valentine's Ever will be held at multiple locations around the Traverse City area between Thursday, February 12, and Sunday, February 15th. Photo provided by Traverse City Tourism

Multi-day events like this are designed to showcase Traverse Citys growing cred as a foodie destination. Last summer, the inaugural Traverse City Food & Wine celebration drew thousands of people to the citys bayfront and beyond for a long list of activities that including celebrity chef cooking demos, wine-tasting sails, dinners and more. The team behind that success announced this Valentines Day pop-up event as a way to keep food focus momentum going. A second Food & Wine event is planned for this summer.

The Traverse City area is a four-season epicurean destination, Traverse City Tourism President Trevor Tkach said. This event puts a fun twist on a winter holiday, giving foodies one more excuse to get out and enjoy the unmatched talents and tastes of our region.

The Cheesiest Valentine's Ever will be held at multiple locations around the Traverse City area between Thursday, February 12, and Sunday, February 15th. Photo provided by Traverse City Tourism

A sampling of the events:

French Valley and Leelanau Cheese - A Special Tasting and Talk  French Valley Vineyard - February 12

Whiskey & Cheese Pairings  Traverse City Whiskey Co.  February 12

Curated Wine & Cheese Pairings - Bel Lago Winery - February 13

Galentines Charcuterie Board Workshop  Black Star Farms - February 14

Love At First Bite: A Valentines Wine & Cheese Dinner - Dune Bird Winery - February 14

Mozzarella Workshop Cheesemaking - Leelanau Cheese - February 14

Vintage Reds & the Grateful Dead  Left Foot Charley  February 15

Savoring Sunday: Vines and Rinds - Chateau Chantal - February 15

The events are being sponsored by 4Front Credit Union and organized by Traverse City Tourism.
DETROIT, MI  Erick Pena said he was getting a ride to work when masked federal agents in southwest Detroit pulled over and surrounded the car in which he was riding in early October.

I was scared, said the 29-year-old Detroit resident and Honduras native who came to the U.S. as a child.

He has a wife, 1-year-old daughter and 4-year-old son who are U.S. citizens, but hes still trying to gain legal status.

Pena, who thinks he was racially profiled for being Latino, said agents didnt know who he was, but they began telling him to get out of the car. Someone with him asked the agents from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the FBI to identify themselves with badge numbers, video shows.

The agents accused them of harboring an immigrant in the country without legal authorization and proceeded to break a side window to force Pena out.

Im not resisting, Pena said he told an agent who pulled him down to an area where there was glass.

Dramatic video shows masked agents in Detroit break window, pull immigrant from car

Once detained, Pena said he explained to ICE he has no criminal record and has been pursuing legal status to remain in the country. ICE could see he already had a petition approved by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services to go through the process of becoming a permanent resident by marriage, according to Pena and his attorney.

Detroit resident Erick Pena, a 29-year-old Honduras native who came to the U.S. as a child and is seeking permanent resident status, explains his detainment by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to immigration attorney Brad Thomson in Ann Arbor on Jan. 22, 2026. While Pena was on his way to work in October 2025, masked federal agents in Detroit stopped a car in which he was a passenger, smashed a side window and removed him. He spent three months in ICE lockup before fighting successfully in court to get out on bond and is continuing to fight a costly legal battle to avoid deportation and stay with his wife and children who are U.S. citizens. (Ryan Stanton | MLive.com) Ryan Stanton | The Ann Arbor News

Im trying to do everything legal, Pena, a painter and carpenter, said he told ICE during his Oct. 9 arrest.

It didnt matter.

Pena now faces deportation and over $10,000 in legal costs as he fights to stay with his family. He spent three months in ICE lockup in northern Michigan alongside nearly 1,200 other detained immigrants at the North Lake Processing Center near Baldwin.

He was detained without the opportunity to be released on bond. That was until he hired Ann Arbor immigration attorney Brad Thomsons law firm and successfully brought a habeas corpus case in U.S. District Court to get a bond hearing, like many others have had to do to challenge new Trump-era policies.

An immigration court judge then let Pena out on a $3,000 bond Jan. 9, days after he spent his 29th birthday in ICE jail.

ICE did not respond to requests for comment on its arrest of Pena or its enforcement activity in the state.

Pena, who is thankful to be back with his family for the moment, is among tens of thousands of immigrants with varying degrees of legal status facing deportation in Detroit Immigration Court. In some cases, even green card holders can suddenly face deportation for misdemeanor crimes in their past.

Michigans sole immigration court, which attorneys say has had challenges with judges and other staff leaving or being forced out amid President Donald Trumps deportation agenda, had a backlog of over 31,000 pending cases at the end of the 2025 fiscal year in September, data shows.

That was up from about 4,200 in 2017, 9,400 in 2022 and nearly 30,000 in 2024 as the backlog has grown through both the previous Trump and Biden administrations, according to figures tracked by the Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse, TRAC, at Syracuse University.

As the Trump administration has ramped up enforcement this past year, ICE arrests have spiked in Michigan. The agency was arresting between two and three people per day in the state before Trumps second presidency, but from June through October it hovered around 11 on average.

A file photo of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent. The latest data shows the ICE arrested more than 2,300 people in Michigan last year, far outpacing the previous year's numbers, under the Trump administration's escalating immigration enforcement. (RJ Sangosti/The Denver Post/TNS) TNS TNS

The U.S. Department of Justices Executive Office for Immigration Review, which oversees immigration courts, declined to comment on staff turnover at the Detroit court, saying it does not comment on personnel matters.

As for the case backlog its working through, after four years of the Biden administration forcing immigration courts to implement de facto amnesty for hundreds of thousands of aliens, the DOJ is restoring integrity to the system with a mission to protect national security and public safety, a spokesperson said.

They cant find anyone to help them

Michigan immigration attorneys say hearings in the Detroit court are scheduled out to 2028 and 2029 in some cases because of the massive backlog, and there are mixed feelings about it.

On one hand, its justice delayed and families are waiting through prolonged periods of anxiety and uncertainty. On the other hand, cases could drag on long enough for a new administration to possibly be more lenient.

A federal immigration court information website, as displayed on Ann Arbor immigration attorney Brad Thomson's computer screen, shows a client's case is pending with no certain hearing date yet on Jan. 22, 2026. Michigan immigration attorneys say they're having hearings scheduled out to 2028 and 2029 due to the large backlog of deportation cases in Detroit Immigration Court. (Ryan Stanton | MLive.com) Ryan Stanton | The Ann Arbor News

Reducing the immigration court backlog remains a high priority, according to the DOJ, which reports already reducing it nationally by about 8% and completing more cases in the last fiscal year than any year in the agencys history.

The administration is prioritizing cases of detained immigrants and typically getting through them within six months, attorneys say, but those not detained may see cases stretch out years.

Thomson said a huge volume of weak cases were put into the court during Trumps first administration. Many clients facing deportation got to stay when President Joe Biden took office, as low-priority cases were closed or dismissed, he said.

Thats part of the reason why we want to get them out and get them in this backlog, because if a Democrat ever gets into office, typically whats been happening in my career is the Democrat changes enforcement priorities, Thomson said.

Many immigration court hearings are now done virtually, sometimes with visiting judges from out of state. The Detroit court has dropped from five to three judges and appears short-staffed given the amount of cases, attorneys say.

Theres a lot of hearings that are getting scheduled and then canceled, Thomson said, describing situations where cases are scheduled before judges who have left or it might list Visiting Judge 1 and theres no judge assigned.

Through everything, Thomson said his law office has doubled in size to 12 full-time employees this past year.

Russell Abrutyn, a Southfield-based immigration attorney, said its an understatement to say hes been extra busy.

Im trying not to take more cases than I normally would, but were getting a lot more calls and it has to do with the massive number of people who are being detained by ICE, he said.

That includes people being detained outside Michigan and transferred to the large ICE jail near Baldwin, which is adding to the backlog at the Detroit court, he said.

The court and Department of Homeland Security also have been reactivating old, low-priority cases while bringing in record numbers of new cases, he said.

One challenge is there arent enough lawyers to represent all those people, Abrutyn said.

That results in people who have strong cases for relief sometimes taking a removal order and being removed without having an opportunity to pursue claims like asylum or for a green card, simply because they cant find anyone to help them, he said.

Most people lose

With more immigrants being held in detention this past year and the odds of winning cases often slim, more are giving up and agreeing to go back to their home countries, attorneys say.

A much higher volume of people are getting put into immigration jail and then just simply choosing not to defend against deportation, Thomson said.

The Patrick V. McNamara Federal Building in downtown Detroit, home to the Detroit Immigration Court. MLive file photo. Tanya Moutzalias | MLive.com

I have had about 15 clients removed and only two of them decided to fight their cases, said Cesilie Cordovilla, an Ann Arbor immigration attorney who helps asylum seekers.

They would rather go back to their countries and risk being persecuted in their home countries than risk potentially dying here in an ICE facility, she said.

Cordovilla said she represented a married couple from Nicaragua that was seeking asylum until being detained by immigration agents while stopped at a traffic light in Washtenaw County. They had no idea anyone was nearby and suddenly their truck windows were busted out, she said, and they chose to be deported rather than languish in ICE jail.

Prior to this Trump administration, Cordovilla said she probably had about an 80% success rate for asylum cases and shes only won one the last year. Shes had winnable cases, but judges have been more likely to decide immigrants stories of persecution in their countries are improbable, she said.

We feel desperate, powerless, hopeless, she said of the current system.

But she doesnt like to look at the stats and still gives every case her all, she said.

It doesnt help me to know that most people lose, she said.

Some attorneys suggest judges have been pressured to rule on cases the way the Trump administration wants. The way immigration courts are set up within the U.S. Department of Justice, the administration has a direct influence, Abrutyn said.

This particular Department of Justice has inserted itself in an unprecedented way into decision making in specific cases and is firing judges and forcing out judges who are not deciding cases in accordance with the administrations wishes, he said.

The DOJ maintains all judges have an obligation to remain impartial and says it continually evaluates their conduct, impartiality/bias, adherence to the law, productivity/performance and professionalism.

The Trump administration fired nearly 100 immigration judges in 2025, according to NPR.

It also removed several members of the Board of Immigration Appeals. In almost all decisions by the appellate body this past year, non-citizens lost their cases or had their rights or opportunities curtailed, said Ruby Robinson, a Detroit-based attorney with the Michigan Immigrant Rights Center.

Were seeing a lot of situations where basically someone won at the lower court, the administration appealed this, and theres kind of a perverse reading of the statute, he said.

Narrowly interpreting who is eligible for release on bond also upsets decades of practice and precedent, he said.

Last line of defense

Attorneys whove had to turn to district courts to fight for clients rights to bond hearings, one by one, say the eventual bond amounts can be $15,000 or more in some cases. For someone detained and not working, their family left struggling, they may not be able to afford that on top of costly legal fees.

And even if they get out on bond, with deportation cases still pending, immigrants run the risk of ICE detaining them again as agents are pressured to make arrests, Robinson said.

Were seeing people who were released on bond before, who are in proceedings, just happen to be re-detained and have to pay bond again, he said.

Attorney Ruby Robinson of the Michigan Immigrant Rights Center poses in his office. MLive file photo. Melanie Maxwell | The Ann Arbor News

MIRC is working with someone who has an asylum case pending before the Board of Immigration Appeals, and in the midst of the appeal they were picked up and are now waiting in detention for the board to rule on the case, Robinson said.

It could be a month. It could be six months. It could be nine months. We dont know, he said.

Its been a whirlwind past year for MIRC as the nonprofit has lost federal funding and staff while receiving over 5,000 calls from Michiganders seeking assistance, Robinson said. Many immigrants have lost temporary protected status and work authorizations, adding to challenges, he said.

Legal representation remains a critical last line of defense for people facing this administrations detention and deportation dragnet, he said. And everything that is happening is designed to limit access to counsel, limit opportunities for people to meaningfully participate in the process.

Venu Yagalla, a Lansing-area immigration attorney, said some of his clients who were international university students have had visas suddenly revoked. And clients who have had green cards for well over a decade are seeing a concerted effort to put them into deportation proceedings, he said.

We live in such turbulent, troubling times, he said, saying happy results are few and far between. It has only gotten worse. Its much more of an uphill battle.

Trying to do the right thing

Pena still has no hearing date for his pending deportation case. The situation has taken a toll on his family, he said, and his son wakes up scared, asking, Wheres daddy?

His attorney has laid out a strategy for Pena and his wife to pursue a waiver, making the case she and the children, as U.S. citizens, would suffer extreme hardship if he was deported.

Thomson is confident they can win going that route, which he said is a lower standard than getting an immigration court judge to grant a cancellation of removal. His office had 22 hardship waivers approved through USCIS last year and none denied, he said.

Hes been doing everything right, trying to apply, trying to follow the rules, Thomson said of Pena.

Ann Arbor-based immigration attorney Brad Thomson discusses a case with clients on Jan. 22, 2026. Thomson said he has doubled his law office's staff this past year. (Ryan Stanton | MLive.com) Ryan Stanton | The Ann Arbor News

The whole process of seeking relief and permanent resident status could take years and Pena eventually would need to travel to Honduras for an interview process to come back to the U.S., Thomson told the couple at his office Thursday, Jan. 22.

Since ICE could arrest and detain Pena again while his case is pending, Thomson advised his client to carry a copy of his bond release paperwork.

Ive always tried to be a good citizen, like always trying to do the right thing, you know? Pena said, still unsure why he had to be taken from his family for months. I was just going to work.

Abrutyn argues the federal government should return its immigration enforcement focus to serious criminals and not prioritize the detention and deportation of people who are pursuing legal status or who are not dangers to the community and are deeply connected with their communities.

That might help with some of the backlog that the courts are seeing, he said.

GoFundMe started for Detroit father fighting ICE to stay with his U.S. citizen family
CADILLAC, MI  The fatal shooting of an armed man who was fleeing the scene of a home invasion and homicide was justified, officials said.

Wexford County Prosecutor Johanna C. Carey announced that she will not file charges against the Cadillac Police officer who fatally shot an armed man on Friday, Jan. 2.

RELATED: Police identify man killed in Northern Michigan home invasion, robbery

The man who was killed was allegedly fleeing a fatal home invasion and robbery in a stolen vehicle. The officer initiated a traffic stop. Police say the 57-year-old man (whose name has not been released) pulled out a gun and pointed it at the officer. The officer then shot the suspect.

While the death is tragic for his family, the witnesses, and the officer involved, it is my opinion that the use of deadly force by the officer was justified under the circumstances, Carey said.
LANSING, MI  Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced the death of her father, former state official Richard Whitmer, on Tuesday morning.

My beloved father passed away last night, Gov. Whitmer said in a statement shared online and via social media. He was 85 years old.

He was my best friend, most trusted counselor and next-door neighbor until I moved into the Governors Residence, she said. I would not be where I am and who I am without my dad. Today, Im sad, but Im grateful too. Im grateful for the time we got to spend together, for the things he taught me and the stories Ill carry with me forever.

My beloved father passed away last night.



He held a lot of impressive positions in his long life. He led major non-profits, sat on statewide boards, and served in the cabinet of one of my predecessors, Governor Milliken. But for me, he was just dad. pic.twitter.com/rbCbNkV2L1  Governor Gretchen Whitmer (@GovWhitmer) January 27, 2026

Her father, Richard Whitmer, is a former state official who served in various capacities in Michigans government, including as commerce secretary to former Gov. Bill Milliken.

He also served as CEO of Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Michigan, a prominent health insurance provider in the state and one of the countrys largest nonprofit corporations.

In her statement, Gov. Whitmer said her father helmed the turnaround of the states largest insurer after a tumultuous time for the company.

Blue Cross Blue Shield President and CEO Tricia Keith said Richard Whitmers historic, 18-year tenure as CEO came at a critical time for our company, when Blue Cross had strained relations with stakeholders and was managing through a financial crisis that threatened the security of millions of Blue Cross members.

Dick Whitmers leadership stabilized Blue Crosss finances, restored our relationships and helped our company emerge from the crisis it faced in the 1980s, she said. Dick Whitmer was a leader of integrity and fortitude.

Former CEO Daniel Loepp described him as a great friend, mentor and leader.

His approach to leadership was humble, yet strong and forthright, Loepp said. When he made decisions, he always prioritized the needs of others. He was deeply committed to his family, his community and his obligations as CEO of Blue Cross.

Richard Whitmer earned his undergraduate degree from Western Michigan University, and his law degree from the University of Michigan.

He held a lot of impressive positions in his long life, Gov. Whitmer said. He led major nonprofits, sat on statewide boards and served in the cabinet of one of my predecessors, Governor Milliken. But for me, he was just dad.

Gov. Whitmer described her father as the one who picked her up when she was down or told her to get her act together when I screwed up.

When my grades were slacking in high school, he inspired me to live up to my potential, she said. Because of his encouragement, I did.

Gov. Whitmer said it was her father who also first suggested she consider public service when she was still a student at Michigan State University.

He was the one who always saw my potential and believed in me, she said, from the first speech I gave in fifth grade to my States of the State as governor. He was always there, whether in the back of the classroom or in the front row of the House Chamber, cheering me on.

My siblings and I have a ton of beautiful memories and hilarious stories about our dad, Whitmer added, And I was thrilled that my girls got to make their own memories with him too. I got to see my dad become a proud, doting grandfather. He was always quick to laugh, happy to offer advice and proud most of all that his children and grandchildren had grown up with those fundamental Michigan values of kindness, respect, and humor that he taught us and lived up to every day of his life.

Richard Whitmer is survived by his sister; three children, Gretchen, Richard and Liz; and his seven grandchildren.
ISLE ROYALE, MI - During deeply cold winters, wolves have been using ice bridges to make Lake Superior crossings between Michigans Isle Royale and the nearby mainland in Minnesota and Canada for decades, research has shown.

Some big alpha males have ventured onto the island archipelago and stayed - adding a vital infusion of new DNA when faltering wolf packs needed it the most. Others have come to sniff around, check out the canine dating and mating scene, then trot back to their mainland home.

In 2019, a 4-year-old female wolf that had recently been brought over to Isle Royale as part of the National Park Services wolf relocation effort decided island life was not for her. She walked to the edge of Isle Royale after sunset one January night, then took a few steps onto the ice  and kept going, taking advantage of an ice bridge to the mainland that had formed during a deep-freeze event similar to the one Michigan has been experiencing for the last couple of weeks.

About 15 miles later, the 70-pound wolf with a distinctive black mantle of fur on her back stepped onto the Canadian mainland, her GPS tracking collar showed. This lone wolf turned out to be a super athlete. Researchers monitored her wide-ranging travels with amazement until her collar stopped working in 2021.

A newly-relocated female Isle Royale wolf left the island in Lake Superior in 2019 and walked back to the mainland on an ice bridge.

Once again this winter, a research team from the long-running Wolf and Moose project sponsored by Michigan Technological University has flown to Isle Royale for their Winter Study. Theyll spend the next few weeks collecting evidence of the islands wolf and moose populations, gathering data overhead from planes and working on the ground to follow tracks and inspect kill sites. By later this spring, theyll release their estimates of the wolf packs and moose herds, and show us where we stand in the worlds longest predator-prey study that is entering its 68th year.

This winter, conditions are especially harsh on Isle Royale. Wind chills plunged to 50 degrees below zero after the team landed last Thursday.

Rolf Peterson, a lead researcher in the Wolves and Moose of Isle Royale study team, breaks ice in Washington Harbor so the Winter Study team can access water. Photo courtesy of Michigan Technological University and the Wolves and Moose of Isle Royale research team

Early indications are an ice bridge between Isle Royale and the mainland is forming this year.

This weekends notes from the research team: Today, we completed 5 and a half hours of aerial surveys. The weather was very cold, but mostly clear skies and low winds.

We got several great observations of wolves, found three wolf-kills, saw two foxes, an eagle and of course lots of ravens and moose. The moose were mostly bedded down on south-facing slopes in the sunshine.

It appeared as though there was ice extending all the way to the mainland.

To follow along with the Winter Study research team, you can find their social media posts here.

The Longest-Running Predator-Prey Study in the World

New wolves arriving to kill the last of the island-born pack. Moose who feel safe enough in years of low wolf numbers to have twin and triplet calves. Wolves found drowned in lakes or killed in a fall down an old copper mining shaft. The life-and-death drama recorded by Isle Royales research teams over the years has been fascinating to read. And all of this plays out on a relatively remote island, 60 miles from the U.P. mainland. Its open spring to fall for hikers and daytrippers. But the long winters belong to the wolves and the moose - and researchers.

This years Winter Study is vitally important because the teams cold-weather research window has either been canceled or cut short for the last two years. In early 2025, the Winter Study had to be called off because the teams plane was unexpectedly unavailable and there was not enough time to find an alternative. In 2024, unseasonably warm weather cut the Winter Study short.

That means the last good wolf/moose estimates for Isle Royale are from 2024, which showed the island had become home to at least four territorial wolf packs. One mega pack on the east side of the island had nearly half the islands estimated 30 wolves.

Researchers in 2024 noted that the wolf population had stabilized in the years since 2018, when the National Park Service began its plan to bring in new wolves to help balance the fast-rising moose population. At that time, the islands native wolf population had dwindled to just 2 inbred wolves.

As for the moose count, researchers in 2024 estimated there were 840 on Isle Royale - a nearly 60% drop compared to 2019, when the moose population hit a high of more than 2,000 and the big animals overbrowsing on island trees was a big concern.
Nearly 2,000 bears were taken in Michigans Upper and Lower Peninsulas during the 2025 hunting season. But the real story wasnt just the sheer number of successful hunters - it was the size of the bears.

The girth of some of the bears harvested in the U.P. was eyebrow-raising, judging by some of the animals that hunters drove into the Department of Natural Resources check stations, conservation officers said. At the Escanaba station alone, at least 20 bears weighed in at over 400 pounds, while at least eight of the bears topped 500 pounds.

We saw a phenomenal number of unusually large bears harvested across the Upper Peninsula, said Cody Norton, the DNRs bear, furbearer and small game specialist. The Marquette-based wildlife biologist is also an avid bear hunter.

This is something weve been working toward with our long-term bear management plan  growing the total number of bears and giving hunters more opportunities to harvest large, mature animals.

Paulla Schemm of Flushing harvested her first bear in September 2025 in the Newberry area of the Upper Peninsula. Photo courtesy of Paulla Schemm and the DNR

So whats driving the size of these bears? Last year was a good year for the foods bears love to munch on, including wild berries and vegetation, the DNR said. The number of large bears taken by hunters also indicates a lot of mature animals in the states bear population.

Michigan has an estimated 12,500 bears spread across both of its peninsulas. The U.P. is home to more than 10,000 of those.

In 2025, hunters took 1,952 black bears, preliminary DNR numbers show. Thats slightly higher than the annual average total. Most of those bears were killed in the Upper Peninsula, which saw 1,522 bears taken during the September/October hunting season. In the northern Lower Peninsula, 430 bears bears were taken.

Michigan uses licensed hunters as the primary form of population control for its black bears. Last year, there was an all-time high demand for bear hunting licenses in a season that marked 100 years of regulated bear hunting in the state.

Hunters can apply for either a bear hunting license or a preference point toward a future hunt, the DNR said. In 2025, nearly 73,000 hunters applied for either a license or a preference point  the most ever recorded since Michigan started regulating bear hunting in 1925."

Milton Miller, 97, harvested this nearly 300-pound bear in Alcona County in September 2025. Photo provided by Milton Miller and the DNR

A Little Help from a Friend

One of the 2025 hunting stories the DNR shared recently was that of Milton Miller, 97, who shot his first Michigan bear this fall near his hunting cabin in the northeastern Lower Peninsula. The bear weighed in at nearly 300 pounds

After applying for a license for nine years, he finally got a tag.

Miller initially had no luck while hunting with his grandson for several days in September. On Sept. 15, he headed out solo, driving his ATV about a half-mile from his cabin to his hunting blind. But after several hours with no bear sightings, he was getting ready to leave - then he saw them. One bear approached the bait pile near the blind - then a bigger bear followed.

When the bigger bear was about 35 feet away, Miller put the crosshairs of his rifle behind the animals shoulder and pulled the trigger, the DNR said. The bear ran into the woods and Miller wasnt exactly sure hed hit him.

Miller texted his friend, Anne Christman, and he stayed in the blind until she arrived to help him track the bear. Together, they found and field-dressed the bear, then loaded it onto the ATV.

When the DNR caught up with Miller in December to chat about his successful hunt, the Army vet was thawing a bear steak for dinner.

Shooting this bear was probably, of all my hunting experiences, the greatest one, said Miller, a retired bridge inspector from Macomb Township.
ANN ARBOR, MI  It didnt matter that the windchill dipped below zero. It didnt even matter that the event had been organized the day before.

For Anna Stefanopoulou and hundreds of Ann Arbor residents, nothing would have deterred them from attending Mondays vigil for Alex Pretti, the Minneapolis man killed by federal immigration officers over the weekend.

I had a very important work meeting (tonight). But I had to come, Stefanopoulou, a University of Michigan professor, said.

An estimated 500 people gathered at Liberty Plaza on Monday, Jan. 26 to mourn the death of Pretti. The 6 p.m. vigil, organized by Ann Arbor Indivisible, memorialized Pretti - a Minneapolis resident and ICU nurse at a Veterans Affairs hospital.

Attendees raised candles, generated noise with drums, whistles and tambourines and chanted No more ICE. Retired nurse Barb Wetula read a letter from Prettis family that was sent to organizers in Minnesota.

For Stefanopoulou, the vigil had extra meaning. The 57-year-old said growing up under a dictatorship in Greece shaped how she viewed the shooting. Thirty-five years after immigrating to the United States, she said the current moment feels the same now as it did when she lived there.

The shooting comes just weeks after Renee Good, an unarmed mother in a car, was killed by immigration officer Jonathan Ross in Minneapolis on Jan. 7. Hundreds of protesters gathered at Liberty Plaza that week for a vigil, as well.

Read more: Hundreds attend candlelight vigil in Ann Arbor for Minneapolis mother killed by ICE

Organizers said more than twice as many people attended the vigil for Pretti as the previous vigil. Cameron Wright, who was at the vigil for Good, said people feel more emboldened to attend protests and vigils.

It was a really good turnout. Even a crowd half this size would have seemed really impressive given the constraints, Wright said of the severe cold weather, so to get such a turnout was really incredible, really empowering.

Many attendees belonged to the same union as Pretti, the American Federation of Government Employees. Other members in the crowd said watching Minnesotans protest in the freezing cold encouraged them to attend Mondays vigil.

(Prettis death) was a wakeup call. All of us have to stand up, Sandy Ackerman, a 74-year-old Ann Arbor resident, said.

A hand-drawn memorial made by Helen Bunch depicts Alex Pretti during a vigil for Pretti in Ann Arbor on Monday, Jan. 26 2026. Jacob Hamilton | MLive.com

Michigan officials, from Gov. Gretchen Whitmer to Ann Arbor Mayor Christopher Taylor, have condemned the most recent shooting of Pretti.

We are witnessing unacceptable violations of Americans safety, rights, and freedoms. No one should accept this, Whitmer said in a statement. The violence must stop.

Another Trump-ICE murder. Under the Administration, immigration enforcement is a fraud, it is lawless, Taylor said in a Facebook post just hours after Saturdays shooting. Federal stormtroopers, masked cowards, are in Minneapolis to spread fear and to intimidate... We will never cooperate.

Read more: Ann Arbor mayor condemns ICE after man killed in shooting involving federal officers

U.S. Senators Elissa Slotkin, D-Holly, and Gary Peters, D-Bloomfield Township, both stated on X that they will be voting no on the Department of Homeland Security funding bill, which funds agencies including Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Trump Administration officials claimed that Pretti, who was carrying a handgun, had intended to harm officers. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem claimed on Saturday that Pretti had brandished the gun, which a federal agent can be seen on video removing from Prettis waistband just seconds before another agent shoots him in the back.

Minneapolis Police Chief Brian OHara said Pretti was licensed to lawfully carry the gun and further contradicts Noems allegations.

I do not have any, any evidence that Ive seen that suggests that the weapon was brandished, OHara said on CBS News on Jan. 25.

An attendee points their flashlight at a sign that says Justice for Alex during a vigil for Alex Pretti in Ann Arbor on Monday, Jan. 26 2026. Jacob Hamilton | MLive.com

For Athena Vohs, a 24-year-old Michigan graduate student, Monday night was a brief respite from weeks of mounting frustration. She found attending in-person community events offered a lot more hope than becoming engrossed on social media.

Gus Teschke, one of the vigils organizers, agreed with that sentiment.

Being alone at home, you just doom scroll and you get scared, Teschke said. But you can come out and fight with people.
ANN ARBOR, MI - Ann Arbor Mayor Christopher Taylor sharply criticized Immigration and Custom Enforcements (ICE) role in the deployment of federal immigration officers after two U.S. citizens were fatally shot by federal agents in Minneapolis this month.

Taylor said the Ann Arbor City Council is working to restrict federal agents from using city property to the greatest extent allowed by the law and will continue to enforce its noncooperation with ICE.

Ann Arbor will not submit, Taylor said in a Monday press release. We will never cooperate with ICE, never authorize them to use City resources to support their lawless agenda of hate.

Taylors statement comes after 37-year-old man Alex Pretti was shot and killed by federal immigration officers in Minneapolis Saturday afternoon. His death comes just weeks after Renee Good, an unarmed mother in a car, was killed by immigration officer Jonathan Ross in Minneapolis on Jan. 7.

Democratic politicians and activists have advocated for local governments to not cooperate with ICE officials in the wake of the shootings and mass deportations that have been carried out across the United States in recent months.

Earlier this month, Washtenaw County officials unanimously passed an ICE-free zones resolution that declared ICE officers were not permitted in any county-owned, leased or operated buildings and properties without a judicial warrant or court order. The resolution also formally opposed the use of masks or face coverings by ICE officers to conceal their identities during civil enforcement activities except in circumstances where face coverings are required for verified public health or safety reasons.

Now, Taylor said the Ann Arbor City Council will consider a resolution to strengthen Ann Arbors stance against ICE at its next meeting, Monday, Feb. 2.

In light of the Trump administrations escalating lawlessness, authoritarian tactics and now the killing of American citizens by federal agents, Taylor said. Ann Arbor must go further to protect its residents and ensure the city is never complicit in abuses of power.

In December, activist groups called for Ann Arbor to ban immigration agents from city facilities, even to use a bathroom. City Administrator Milton Dohoney previously said the city does not have a policy barring anyone or any groups from using city facilities.

Taylor, a Democrat, has served as the city mayor since 2014. Prior to that, he served three terms on the city council and was a lawyer and graduate from the University of Michigan.

Taylor was not immediately available for comment.
ANN ARBOR, MI  Peter Littlejohn and his friends built Ann Arbors newest cafe by hand. It was a passion project years in the making.

I was jackhammering for two months straight to trench the floors for floor drains and stuff like that, Littlejohn, 30, said. We personally built all the walls, did all the plumbing, so being in a space that was made by friends and will be operated and democratically managed by friends is kind of special.

Now, the explicitly worker-focused cafe brings together food and coffee to one spot.

Espy Cafe, 404 W. Huron St., opened its doors on Jan. 10, co-founder Littlejohn shared.

Menu items include coffees and teas, sourdough pancakes and white bean soup.

This cafes full-fledged kitchen and specialty menu with coffee sourced from across the world make the spot different from other coffee shops in Ann Arbor, he said.

The cafes worker-oriented attitude also sets the spot apart from other coffee joints. Littlejohn wants cafe staff to co-lead and co-own the space.

Its democratically run, so day-to-day operations are all decided democratically, Littlejohn said. I plan to be here for 20 years, and I want that to be an option for anyone else who wants to do that as well ... I want people to be able to build ownership over time.

Before opening Espy Cafe, Littlejohn worked in various cafes and restaurants around Ann Arbor and Detroit, with his most recent gig at Comet Coffee, 16 Nickels Arcade.

He first moved to Ann Arbor for his bachelors degree at the University of Michigan in 2013.

The West Huron Street space was a metal shop before the cafe.

Littlejohn signed the lease for the West Huron Street space in May 2024 but explored the site starting in December 2023.

He spent five years working with investors to bring other cafe dreams to life. Those years included three or four business name changes. Espy Cafe is funded through a Small Business Administration loan, Littlejohn noted.

He jokes that Espy is a play on the first initials of his and co-founder Sam Schaefers first names.

Outside of work, Littlejohn is involved in socialist political organizing. He wants to bring the political energy into the new cafe because work is inherently political.

A cafe cant change the world but inside of that cafe, you might be able to see some ways of working with each other or some ways of doing things that might inspire you to take that elsewhere, and so thats what were trying to do, Littlejohn said. This space is a communal space, so its not just what Sam and I do, its whoever works here and whoever comes in here.

In the future, Littlejohn hopes to extend the cafes hours, expand its menu and host community dinners.

They are what they are because of the people who do the work to make them happen, Littlejohn said. Its not that I imagined a cafe I wanted to open, its that I got a bunch of people who would want to open a cafe with me.

Espy Cafe is open from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday to Monday.

Want more Ann Arbor-area news? Bookmark the local Ann Arbor news page.
ANN ARBOR, MI  University of Michigan interim President Domenico Grasso calls on university community members to mourn the death of 19-year-old sophomore Lucas Mattson.

The level of grief, sympathy, and concern people are experiencing reflects the empathy of our community, Grasso wrote in a Jan. 26 university-wide message. Please join me in extending our deepest condolences to Lucass family, friends, and all who loved him.

Mattsons body was found in the 1900 Block of Cambridge Road on Saturday, Jan. 24. Mattson was last seen around 1 a.m. on Friday, Jan. 23, walking by himself without a coat in the 1700 block of Hill Street.

He was first reported missing at 4:30 p.m. Friday. Prior to his disappearance, Mattson was attending a party at a fraternity house as a guest, Grasso said, clarifying that Mattson was not a member or pledge of the fraternity whose party he attended.

Mattson was a sophomore studying engineering at the University of Michigan, according to the Michigan Daily.

Officers from the Ann Arbor Police Department and the UM Division of Public Safety and Security conducted a 20-hour search for Mattson amid cold weather conditions.

A cause of death will be identified through an autopsy conducted by the Washtenaw County Medical Examiners Office.

Read more: Missing University of Michigan student found dead after 20-hour search in extreme cold

Grasso acknowledged that university officials do not usually send public announcements on student deaths for many reasons, but most commonly out of respect for the familys wishes.

The university chose to report on Mattsons death because of his disappearance and public concern for his safety.

In moments like these, misinformation and speculation can spread quickly, Grasso wrote. Because this did not occur on University property, the Ann Arbor Police Department is leading an investigation that began immediately after Lucas was reported missing, and the University is fully supporting its efforts.

He asked that investigators be allowed to complete their work and urged the community to refrain from public speculation until the facts are known.

Grasso added that he has asked Martino Harmon, UM vice president for student life, and Richard Arnold, interim executive director of public safety and security, to recount the events from last weekend.

I am grateful for the outpouring of support from so many people worried about Lucass welfare, including those who searched for him in extremely difficult weather conditions, Grasso wrote. We want to better understand what transpired and identify possible steps to help prevent similar tragedies in the future.

UM community members can access psychological support through Counseling and Psychological Services, the Faculty and Staff Counseling and Consultation Office or the Michigan Medicine Office of Counseling and Workplace Resilience. Students seeking additional assistance can reach out to the Dean of Students Office or the Engineering C.A.R.E. Center.

We are a stronger community when we unite to support our students, friends, and colleagues, Grasso wrote. We can honor Lucass memory by demonstrating the compassion that defines the University of Michigan.

Want more Ann Arbor-area news? Bookmark the local Ann Arbor news page.
LANSING, MI - Volkswagen plans to put $13 million toward consolidating a Michigan facility instead of shutting it down and moving operations to Tennessee.

The move, backed by state funding, will keep 909 jobs in the state.

The Michigan Strategic Fund approved a $4 million grant for the German automaker during its Tuesday, Jan. 27 board meeting.

Kjell Gruner, CEO of Volkswagen Group of America, told the board that the state support will be vital for upgrading its Auburn Hills facility.

Why Michigan? Its very clear, he said. Its the people there, its the technology, its the universities, its the research centers, the entire ecosystem in Michigan what makes it so attractive for us.

Related: Gov. Whitmer warns China poses threat to Michigan auto industry

Volkswagen originally set up its U.S. headquarters in Auburn Hills in 1991 but moved to Virginia 16 years later.

It recently considered closing the Auburn Hills facility, according to Michigan Economic Development Corp. project memo, and moving the operation to an assembly plant in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

But Volkswagen will instead invest $13 million to relocate from a 360,000-square-foot building to a smaller 99,000-square-foot location.

It also plans to consolidate its technical activities, including quality, engineering, warranty parts return and technical services, to one campus in Rochester Hills.

That will keep high wage knowledge-based jobs, like engineering, legal and research and development in the state, according to Michelle Grinnell, from the Michigan Economic Development Corp. They all have a base wage of at least $33 an hour.

Under the grant agreement, the jobs will need to be retained for seven years.

But Grinnell said it wasnt just the state funding that made the case for Volkswagen to stay in Michigan.

Moving operations out of Michigan would have real financial costs in the form of relocation and rehiring costs and also significant costs in lost productivity and building the talent pipeline that is ready to go in Michigan, she said.

Volkswagens move comes as the auto industry has been squeezed in the past year, from trade tariffs to high production costs and the rollback of electric vehicle incentives.

Because of those pressures, in addition to growing competition from China, Volkswagen reportedly plans to tighten its spending over the next five years.

Gruner said the company is now looking at the future of its facilities, including in Michigan.

Our goal really is to modernize it to right size, our Auburn Hills footprint, he said. We want facilities that match todays ways of working and tomorrows technology needs.

The Michigan Strategic Fund on Tuesday also approved a $2.7 million grant to support the Michigan Central Innovation District, a technology hub at the former Michigan Central train station in Detroit.

The funding will be divided between the district and the Wayne State University Research and Technology Park.
IMLAY CITY, MI  A former Imlay City police officer and a current sergeant are facing charges stemming from how they handled a teenager taken into custody for public intoxication at the Eastern Michigan fairgrounds last summer.

Lapeer County Prosecutor John Miller announced the charges on Tuesday, Jan. 27. The charges stem from the arrest of a 17-year-old male on July 26, 2025.

Sgt. Sean Leathers was charged with one misdemeanor count of assault and battery that allegedly occurred after the 17-year-old male was taken into custody.

Former officer Terry Priest faces one felony count of unlawful use of a taser against the same 17-year-old male.

The teenager was issued a civil infraction for minor in possession of alcohol by another Imlay City officer, according to a news release from the prosecutors office. He wasnt charged with resisting, obstructing or assaulting a police officer.

Former Imlay City Police Chief Brett Selby requested Michigan State Police investigate the incident after learning of the alleged excessive force days later, per the release.

MSP completed the investigation in December and referred it to Miller for potential criminal charges.

The Imlay City Police Department issued a statement about the criminal charges, saying it will carefully monitor the criminal proceedings.

The allegations, if proven, do not reflect the actions of the officers of this Department who serve the community and put their life on the line every day, including the Sergeant who has been charged who has an exemplary work record, the statement read.

If convicted, Leathers could face up to 93 days in jail or a fine of up to $500. Priest could face up to two years in prison or a fine of up to $2,000.

Both were arraigned in Lapeer County District Court on Tuesday.
GRAND RAPIDS, MI -- A former Northview High School teacher altered a photo of two former students to make it sexually explicit, authorities said.

Joshua Balhorn, 27, is charged with possession of child sexually abusive material. He was arraigned Monday, Jan. 26, in Grand Rapids District Court.

Prosecutors said Balhorn used the facial features of the students and manipulated the image to make it appear the students were naked. One of them was younger than 18.

Grand Rapids police began investigating him in December after the Northview High School resource officer received a report alleging wrongdoing.

Becker said the public may not realize that a manipulated image could qualify as child porn.

This is not your typical child sexually abusive material case, he said.

Northview Schools Superintendent Christina Hinds, in a letter to parents, said authorities do not believe there are any other victims.

We are deeply concerned by the nature of these allegations and have been cooperating with GRPD. Please be assured that this former employee, like every staff member at Northview Public Schools, underwent a comprehensive criminal background checkincluding fingerprinting and a review of state and federal recordsprior to his employment. We maintain rigorous hiring standards to uphold the trust you place in us every day," Hinds wrote.
OTTAWA COUNTY, MI  Westbound lanes of I-196 were closed overnight after semi-tractor trailers jackknifed in Georgetown and Zeeland Townships.

Both semi-trucks slid into ditches.

Westbound I-196 was closed early Tuesday, Jan. 27, while the rigs were pulled out. The highway was closed from 3:30 a.m. to 6 a.m. between Byron Road in Zeeland Township and 44th Street in Grandville.

The first crash was reported at 1:41 a.m.

State police said that roads are snow-covered and icy.

Drivers across West Michigan should expect hazardous travel conditions today due to ongoing weather impacts. Snow-covered and icy roads, along with reduced visibility, are contributing to slower traffic and an increased risk of crashes, MSP Sixth District said on X.

Kent County Road Commission reported four to six inches of snow overnight.

Winds gusting to 30 mph or higher will create blowing and drifting snow, particularly in open areas.

As snow continues to fall and blow, crews will return to highest volume roads to keep them passable and move further into the county road network as conditions allow, the Road Commission said.

State police urged motorists to avoid unnecessary travel.
KENT COUNTY  The Lowell Township Board did not intend to discuss the controversial $1 billion Microsoft data center project on Monday, but hundreds of residents wouldnt stay silent on the subject.

The board hosted its first meeting of the new year on Monday, Jan. 26, in the auditorium of Lowell High School at 11700 Vergennes St. SE.

After a handful of contentious data center meetings in December, township officials emphasized in an online notice that the proposed Microsoft data center was not on the agenda for Mondays meeting.

The notice, however, did not stop residents from turning out in droves for a lengthy and at times heated public comment period.

Even if the township says the data center is not on the agenda, the data center is on the agenda from here until we have next steps, whether that means there is going to be a zoning opportunity, whether that means this is going to be defeated  as we hope it will  or if that means theres a moratorium, Betsy Lopez-Wagner, a Lowell-area resident said.

Data centers are essentially warehouses full of computer hardware  servers, data storage systems and networking equipment.

Theyve been in Michigan for a long time now, but recent investments in hyperscale data centers that support artificial intelligence have drawn scrutiny from residents. These massive projects can draw as much electricity as an entire city and use significant amounts of water to cool equipment.

Water usage is particularly concerning to Lowell Township residents, who for at least two years have been under water restrictions in the summer due to irrigation demands.

Microsoft earlier this month revealed it is eyeing land in Lowell Township for a potential $1 billion data center. The property in question is at Covenant Business Park, a 237-acre industrial parcel at 4687 Alden Nash Ave. SE in the township.

There have so far been no new developments in the approval timeline for the data center. Hundreds of residents of Lowell and the surrounding area, however, attended Mondays meeting for a chance to speak about the data center during the public comment period.

Several moments during public comment were disrupted by people in the crowd loudly voicing agreement with speakers or frustration with the township. Many residents held up signs that read, Residents United for a Healthy Lowell: NO DATA CENTER.

Micah McDonald, 17, a senior at Lowell High School, told the board that he has researched the harmful impacts of data centers for a school project and questioned whether board members knew what they were signing up for with Microsoft.

A lot of the media I consume is political in nature, and inherently a lot of it right now is related to data centers, he said. It seems like a lot of decisions are made on ignorance, and its way past time we change that.

McDonald said hes particularly disturbed by the negative implications that AI has for his generation regarding mental health and academia.

Technology in general just drains students mental health because its demotivating, he said. I go to a smart high school  I have smart peers  but their intelligence is not being elevated the way I think it used to be for older generations. I hear kids say, Ill just ChatGPT that," or Ill AI generate it. To be honest, its disgusting.

Nicole Ronda, a resident of Lowell Township, voiced residents repeated frustrations over a perceived lack of transparency among township officials and the use of non-disclosure agreements regarding the project.

That isnt just with our township; that is a manipulation tactic that were seeing across the entire region with these large data center companies using non-disclosure agreements and tactics to try to hide what is going on in the industry and what is going on in their developments, she said.

The Lowell Township Planning Commission initially planned to hold a public hearing regarding a proposal to rezone the property on Dec. 8. That meeting, however, was postponed due to an overflow crowd that showed up to the hearing.

Lowell Township Supervisor Jerry Hale later announced the data center proposal was being postponed indefinitely by the developer and its agent, Franklin Partners.

Shortly after, Microsoft chose to come forward as the mystery company behind the project. The tech giant was not originally identified due to a confidentiality agreement.

We know that this project has raised questions and concerns from the local community, and we are committed to engaging openly and respectfully, a statement from Microsoft read. While we are early in the process, when Microsoft joins a community, we make a pledge: to contribute to a sustainable future, advance prosperity and well-being, and operate as a good neighbor.

Lopez-Wagner, however, said she believes Microsoft has shown it is not a community-minded company.

You dont introduce yourself to a community a year-and-a-half after youve already been in the works. You dont tell people that youre here to listen to the community when you have no interest in the communitys will, she said. Were really looking at Microsoft and saying no, youre not going to be a good neighbor.

Microsoft declined to provide additional details beyond a brief statement.

Project plans including construction timelines are yet to be finalized, a Microsoft spokesperson said in a statement to MLive/the Grand Rapids Press. We continue to work with our local partners and are committed to sharing information when we have it.
GRAND RAPIDS, MI  Two teenage boys and a woman were found dead in a home Tuesday morning on the citys southeast side.

Grand Rapids police have not said whether theres an ongoing threat to the public or whether they are searching for a suspect connected to the killings.

Police responded to a 7:42 a.m. report of shots fired at a home in the 900 block of Worden Street SE. When they arrived, officers found the three deceased people inside.

Detectives were still battling a treacherous snowstorm and sifting through evidence nearly three hours after the killings. The area is closed off with police tape and police cruisers have blocked some of the side streets.

Police Chief Eric Winstrom shared some new details about what unfolded and where the investigation stands.

Heres what we do and dont know about the triple fatal shooting:

Grand Rapids Police Department investigate the scene of a triple shooting in the 900 block of Worden St. SE in Grand Rapids, Mich. on Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2026. GRPD received a 911 call of shots fired around 7:42 a.m., when officers arrived they found a woman and two teenagers deceased at the scene. Investigators do not believe that this was murder-suicide. Joel Bissell | MLive.com

Killings do not appear to be murder-suicide

There were some details the police chief could not share about the investigation. He did confirm that the incident did not appear to be a murder-suicide.

Were trying to put it all together as fast as possible, Winstrom said. Obviously, its a devastating situation for that neighborhood, the individuals, and the family members of the individuals that were murdered.

The first officers to arrive at the scene noticed footprints in the snow, which is helping police put the story together on what happened, Winstrom said.

Unclear if victims are related

Winstrom could not say if the two teens and woman were related or if they were the only individuals at the time of the shooting.

The chief also could not say if police were actively looking for a suspect connected to the killings.

Neighbors are cooperating with investigation

In the hours after the shooting, police have received cooperation from the public.

Winstrom said the initial 911 caller has been interviewed by detectives and nearby neighbors also talked with police.

More information will be released

While the investigation is ongoing, Winstrom was hopeful he could share additional details about the tragedy later on Tuesday.

Theres still a big police presence down there, he said. Were working through a whole bunch of possibilities and a ton of evidence.
GRAND RAPIDS, MI  Multiple school districts in West Michigan have closed on Tuesday, Jan. 27, as another round of snow and strong winds have left roads snow-covered and limited visibility.

The morning commute is significantly impacted by snow and blowing snow, especially for Kent, Allegan and Barry counties, the National Weather Service in Grand Rapids said on X.

The snow day comes after many schools closed for most or all of last week. Lake=effect snow and bitter cold remain in the forecast. One to two inches of snow are expected before 9 a.m. in Allegan, Kent and Ottawa counties.

Here are some of the major districts that have closed:

Allendale

Byron Center

Caledonia

East Grand Rapids

Forest Hills

Grand Haven

Grand Rapids

Grandville

Holland

Hudsonville

Jenison

Kentwood

Rockford

West Ottawa

Wyoming

Zeeland

For a complete list, go to WZZM13.com/closings

State police said on X that drivers across West Michigan should expect hazardous travel conditions today with roads snow-covered and icy.

Westbound I-196 was closed for a time overnight while workers removed two jackknifed semi-tractor trailers. The highway was closed from Byron Road in Zeeland Township to 44th Street in Grandville.

The slide-offs happened in Georgetown and Zeeland townships. The westbound lanes were closed from around 3:30 a.m. to 6 a.m., Ottawa County sheriffs deputies said.
LENAWEE COUNTY, MI  Jury selection has begun for a high-profile murder trial of a man accused of killing his wife and hiding her body.

The selection process began Tuesday morning, Jan. 27, for the case against Dale Warner, who stands accused of killing his wife, Dee Warner, in the spring of 2021.

The trial is expected to last several weeks and conclude in March.

Dale Warner, 57, of Tipton, is charged with open murder and tampering with evidence for the death of his wife, Dee Warner, who went missing in April 2021 and was presumed dead ahead of the discovery of her body in August 2024.

Dee Warner was last seen leaving her Munger Road home in Franklin Township, near Tipton, on the morning of April 25, 2021, police said.

On Oct. 12, 2021, Lenawee County officers launched a search of Warners property, but found nothing. She was presumed dead after being missing for more than two years.

The family of Dee Warner announced at a press conference in May 2022 that attorney Billy Little presented evidence to police alleging Dee Warners husband killed her.

Related: Private investigator believes missing Michigan woman was killed by husband

The Michigan State Police First District Investigation Section took over the investigation from the Lenawee County Sheriffs Office and worked closely with the Lenawee County Prosecutors Office, leading to the criminal case against Dale Warner.

While Dale Warner awaited trial, Dee Warners body was found on Warners property inside a welded shut storage tank, police said.

Dale Warner remains in the Lenawee County Jail while his case progresses.

Want more Jackson-area news? Bookmark the local Jackson news page.
KALAMAZOO, MI  Between 200 and 300 Kalamazoo residents braved below-freezing temperatures outside City Hall on Monday evening to protest recent U.S Immigration and Customs Enforcement activities.

The protest came amid rising tensions in U.S. cities following the Saturday, Jan. 24 killing of Alex Pretti by immigration agents in Minneapolis.

Protesters chanted Rise up, shut it down, no ICE in our town, among other chants. Some brought hand warmers, food and water to distribute.

The Democratic Socialists of Americas Southwest Michigan chapter organized the protest outside City Hall, 241 W. South St., to encourage the Kalamazoo City Commission to take proactive action.

The protest was held just prior to the start of Mondays city commission meeting.

(We want to) protect this community before were here again with one of our own being shot and killed by an ICE agent, said Euan Simpson, co-chair of the DSA chapter.

The DSA distributed fliers with three demands of city officials:

Remove Flock cameras

Refuse to assist or cooperate with ICE operations

Commit to standing on the front lines with community members if and when federal agents come to Kalamazoo.

Hundreds gathered in front of Kalamazoos City Hall Building to protest ICEs actions nationally and demand change locally on Monday, Jan. 26, 2026. (Devin Anderson-Torrez | MLive.com)

Multiple residents also criticized the citys Flock cameras during the public comment portion of the commission meeting, which began shortly after the protest. The protest and meeting continued at the same time, with some protesters going into the meeting and speaking out.

(Flock) empowers agencies like ICE to come into our community and rip families apart, Simpson said outside of the meeting.

The city installed 35 Flock Safety cameras in June 2021 to photograph license plates to help with criminal investigations. The intent, according to Kalamazoo Public Safety Chief David Boysen, was to primarily help curb gun violence.

Each image is stored for 30 days and then deleted on a rolling basis.

In June 2025, Boysen said KDPS had learned that outside agencies had used the citys Flock cameras to access data for immigration-related violations.

After the department learned the cameras were being used that way, they suspended access to outside law enforcement agencies, Boysen said.

Outside agencies still do not have access and the cameras are still not allowed for immigration purposes, the chief said on Monday. Boysen went on to defend their internal use by stating that they are the citys No. 1 tool in solving violent crime.

Hundreds gathered in front of Kalamazoos City Hall Building to protest ICEs actions nationally and demand change locally on Monday, Jan. 26, 2026. (Devin Anderson-Torrez | MLive.com)

One resident at the commission meeting said the protest was the biggest collective action of Kalamazoo residents theyd seen.

Another told city commissioners theyve started carrying their passport around Kalamazoo because they fear theyll be racially profiled.

Im scared my doors will be kicked in, they said. I graduated from Gull Lake High School, I went to Kalamazoo Central for two years. You wouldnt have known that just from looking at me.

The crowd represents people who want to keep Kalamazoo the safe and welcoming place that the City Commission claims Kalamazoo is, Simpson said of fellow protesters. We expect them to actually enforce (that) into action.

Comstock resident Brynleigh MacInnes, 21, said this was the first protest shes been to. She was motivated to attend by Prettis death.

Hundreds gathered in front of Kalamazoos City Hall Building to protest ICEs actions nationally and demand change locally on Monday, Jan. 26, 2026. (Devin Anderson-Torrez | MLive.com)

That was my last straw, MacInnes said. What (ICE is) doing is absolutely horrid and disgusting and they need to be abolished.

MacInnes brought a bag full of hand warmers and cooler full of quarter-cut sandwiches in case anyone was hungry, she said.

Hannah Gingrach, 32, said she wants the city of Kalamazoo and Kalamazoo County to declare themselves as sanctuary communities. She added that ICEs actions in Minneapolis are wrong.

The Trump administration accused Kalamazoo County of being a sanctuary jurisdiction in May 2025. County officials contradicted the claim.

As someone who grew up in a family that was very into constitutional rights, they are on the wrong side of history on this, Gingrach said.

Euan Simpson, co-chair of the Democratic Socialists of America's Southwest Michigan chapter leads a chant during a protest outside City Hall on Monday, Jan. 26, 2026. "What's been happening in Minnesota is appalling and what's happening in Minnesota can happen in any city," Simpson said. "We're here today to demand that our City Commission especially take local action to deny ICE tools that help them oppress members of this community." Simpson said a specific ask is to remove Flock cameras, which he said provides a mass surveillance system with little to no oversight. "When ICE comes to this neighborhood  which they will eventually, they'll come to this community  we expect them to be on the front lines with us," Simpson said. "It's not good enough for them to sit in the City Chambers... we expect them to be down here in the trenches with us." (Devin Anderson-Torrez | MLive.com)

Simpson himself is an immigrant, having immigrated to Kalamazoo from Scotland. Watching the Trump administrations immigration enforcement is scary as f**k, he said.

When I see my immigrant brothers and sisters getting rounded up like cattle, I feel that, even though me and a Venezuelan have very little in common, Simpson said.

One commonality they do have, Simpson said, is the choice to make America their home.

To Kalamazoo residents who werent out protesting, Gingrach said this is a fight for your constitutional rights as well.
KALAMAZOO, MI  Kalamazoo residents overflowed City Hall on Monday night, hoping to convince the City Commission to block commercial development on a vacant 18-acre parcel near the Asylum Lake Preserve.

They got their wish.

City commissioners voted unanimously against the rezoning request.

The decision was met with a smattering of applause from a handful of remaining attendees at about 1:20 a.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 27. In the hallways, residents hugged and smiled.

The controversial request for 4301 Stadium Drive went to the commission for final approval after planning commissioners voted against the recommendation in November 2025.

Staff counted at least 115 people planning to speak during Mondays public hearing at the meetings outset, City Manager Malcolm Hankins said.

Kalamazoo constituents listen to public comment in an overflow area during a Kalamazoo City Commission meeting on Monday, Jan. 26, 2026. Key issues brought up during public comment revolved around concerns about ICE activity and protest to a rezoning request near Asylum Lake Preserve. (Devin Anderson-Torrez | MLive.com)

Numbers dwindled as the Monday night meeting ran into early Tuesday  following two hours of public comment on the citys response to ICE and an hour-long presentation by city staff.

Residents spoke unanimously in opposition to the rezoning during a lengthy public hearing, citing concerns for water quality, habitat loss and green space on the property and neighboring nature preserve.

These impacts dont stay neatly within property lines. They migrate groundwater into lakes and inlets around your neighborhood, said Woods Lake Neighborhood Association President Chris Bovid.

Any development on the site would meet the citys rigorous engineering standards, the applicant said, designed for environmental protection.

Owners of the property highlighted in blue on the map above want to change the allowable uses of the land. City of kalamazoo

The property borders Asylum Lake Preserve to the south, but its northern edge faces Stadium Drive near its intersection with Drake Road.

Despite public outcry, this kind of development fits into city planners vision for the future of this area, per city documents.

City staff had recommended the commission approve the request.

Stadium Drive is a fast, auto-oriented commercial corridor; next to the interchange with U.S. 131, city documents state.

City documents call it a missing piece in the citys west gateway.

I cant think of many people who walk or drive into a city and say ... that seems really messed up because theres a natural preserve at the corner of an intersection, Commissioner Chris Praedel said.

Its a busy intersection, per city documents. But residents used a different word: dangerous.

Added commercial development ... will further congest traffic patterns there, resident Mary Jean Grossman said. This will disrupt traffic flow and cause greater probability of an increase in accidents.

Ultimately, commissioners agreed that the proposed rezoning did not meet criteria for approval.

A green and healthy city is a necessary thing, said Commissioner Jeanne Hess. Let this gateway be green.

Community members fill the seats during a Kalamazoo City Commission meeting on Monday, Jan. 26, 2026. The commission meeting was filled for the public comment with a majority of comments revolving around ICE and a rezoning near the Asylum Lake Preserve. Public comment ran for nearly two hours. (Devin Anderson-Torrez | MLive.com)

The same parcel has come before city officials twice, in 2020 and 2023. Property owner Haji Tehran intended to build a Drive and Shine Car Wash on the site.

Tehran purchased the property for $2.5 million in 2017, per public records. Its listed for sale as a retail development by Callander Development, with no price.

Tehran had a buyer, per city documents, under the condition the property was zoned for commercial use.

Grand Rapids developer Dave Rapp previously presented to the planning commission, but did not specify what he wanted to build on the property.

Development on the site could include personal services, retail and offices, said Emily Palacios, an attorney representing the property owner, or even a mix of commercial and residential space.

Whats next for the property?

With the commercial zoning struck down, existing zoning conditions continue to allow residential development in the future.

If the city allowed any kind of development on the site, an existing Natural Features Protection Ordinance would support the preservation and enhancement of the sites natural features, as outlined in the citys strategic vision.

But advocates are hopeful a change in ownership could prevent any future development plans on the site.

On Jan. 16, Western Michigan University officials announced its in talks to transfer management of the preserve to Kalamazoo County. Eventually, it could also transfer ownership to the county, too.

The county, working together with the city and advocate groups, has greater purchasing power than concerned citizens acting alone, said Kalamazoo Resident Katie Bloom.

Together, as a collaborative effort, I see it happening, she said.

Want more Kalamazoo-area news? Bookmark MLives local Kalamazoo news page.
KALAMAZOO, MI  Kalamazoo Public Safety officers are looking for a suspect responsible for the shooting death of a 31-year-old man on Sunday night.

Officers responded to the 100 block of Reed Avenue, at around 10 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 25, after a caller reported hearing gunfire.

The caller also notified dispatch that a person had been shot, according to Zach Hamelton, public information officer with KDPS.

The first officer on the scene located the victim, on the sidewalk, with an apparent gunshot wound to the upper back, Hamelton said. Life-saving measures were immediately initiated prior to the victim being transported to a local hospital.

The man died shortly after arriving at the hospital, Hamelton said.

He has not been publicly identified at this time.

The investigation led to the execution of search warrants at three locations within the city of Kalamazoo.

During the searches, officers seized three handguns, one rifle and additional evidence. A 43-year-old man was arrested on weapons-related charges and lodged at the Kalamazoo County Jail as a result of the searches.

The homicide suspect has not yet been located, however.

The KDPS Criminal Investigations Division continues to actively investigate the incident.

Anyone with information about this case or other criminal activity is asked to contact the Criminal Investigations Division at 269-337-8139. Information may also be provided anonymously through the Kalamazoo Silent Observer tip line at 269-343-2100, the P3Tips app or online at KalamazooSilentObserver.com.
KALAMAZOO, MI  Travelers in Kalamazoo will soon have one-stop connectivity to 48 more destinations across the country with the return of United Airlines.

The airline announced Tuesday, Jan. 27, that it would begin flying out of Kalamazoo/Battle Creek International Airport (AZO) again on Thursday, April 30, with four flights daily to Chicago OHare International and four flights from OHare.

Passengers can begin booking United travel between the two destinations on Thursday, Jan. 29.

United last flew out of Kalamazoo on Jan. 3, 2022, at which point they canceled the daily route amid multiple route cancelations by the airline across the country due to pandemic-related shortages.

Prior to the cancellation, the airline was just flying one flight back and forth to OHare out of AZO. The airline never flew more than three daily flights out of AZO.

This is a big day for the Kalamazoo airport, but its an even bigger day for the Kalamazoo community and Southwest Michigan, said Craig Williams, AZO airport director. This return of United reflects renewed confidence in the strength of Kalamazoo and the demand for convenient air service in our region.

Kalamazoo/Battle Creek International Airport director Craig Williams announces the return of United Airlines to AZO during a press conference on Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2026. Ryan Boldrey | MLive.com

With OHare serving as a central hub for United, it will offer Kalamazoo travelers the option of connecting to 200 destinations through Chicago, he said. Notably, it will connect travelers to 48 destinations directly via Chicago that were either two-stop destinations from Kalamazoo or not currently reachable from Kalamazoo.

Among those, Williams said, are places like Eugene, Oregon; Lincoln, Nebraska; Monterrey, Mexico; and State College, Pennsylvania.

That opens a lot more business opportunities, business travel and also leisure opportunities, Williams said. We see this as a positive step forward and an important milestone in returning and rebuilding and strengthening the air service in Southwest Michigan.

Uniteds return after four years, he said, is a collaboration of hard work by the airport team, local elected officials, the airline and regional partners such as Discover Kalamazoo, Battle Creek Unlimited and Southwest Michigan First.

This is a region on the rise, said Jonas Peterson, CEO of Southwest Michigan First. You see it in our business community. Activity is ticking up. Investment is picking up. We need more air service. We need that vote of confidence that were seeing today from a major airline.

American Airlines currently flies two or three flights daily to Chicago out of the airport, depending on the day. The addition of United increases the number of flights to six or seven per day to the Windy City.

Todays announcement reflects why this airport exists, said Greg Hamelink, chairman of AZOs aeronautics board of trustees. Our mission is to complement economic growth and quality of life by meeting air travel needs of Southwest Michigan. And this new service really delivers on that promise.

Kalamazoo currently offers direct flights to two destinations: Chicago and Detroit. Avelos direct flights from Kalamazoo to Orlando were canceled in 2024.

The new flights will operate daily on a mix of single and dual-class service aircraft. The schedule is as follows:

Flights from AZO to OHare:

Depart 6 a.m. EST, arriving at 6:12 a.m. CST

Depart 10:49 a.m. EST, arriving at 11:03 a.m. CST

Depart 2:30 p.m. EST, arriving at 2:42 p.m. CST

Depart 6:27 p.m. EST, arriving at 6:41 p.m. CST

Flights from OHare to AZO:
BAY CITY, MI  Seventh Ward Commissioner Chris Runberg aims to revisit a resolution deeming Bay City a welcoming community in the wake of two fatal shootings in Minnesota at the hands of federal agents.

Runberg told MLive/The Bay City Times Monday, Jan. 26, that he intends to have a new resolution similar to what he previously introduced in 2025 on the agenda for the Feb. 9 Bay City Commissioner meeting.

Weve been playing nice, playing both sides, trying to placate the masses, Runberg said. People think that were living in normal times, and its very clear that were not living through normal times, and were at an inflection point in our country where if communities dont start standing up now, were going to be relegated to the dustbins of history.

Runberg in 2025 authored a resolution that deemed Bay City a welcoming community for all people regardless of their immigration status. It also sought to keep local resources local and included verbiage attempting to prohibit local authorities from being deputized at the federal level for immigration enforcement.

The welcoming community resolution narrowly passed in a 5-4 vote, but was then vetoed by Bay City Mayor Chris Girard. The commission did not have enough votes to overrule Girards veto.

Runberg wrote the initial resolution days after President Donald Trump was sworn into office, as Trumps second term has brought a slew of executive orders targeting immigration.

Saginaw also attempted to pass a similar measure. Both failed, but Runberg said he is hopeful the second attempt will pass.

I sure hope it does, he said. Wheres your line in the sand? Whats it mean to be American?
PETOSKEY, MI  A federal judge who presides in Bay City is awaiting trial on charges that he crashed a car while super drunk near his northern Michigan vacation home.

Thomas L. Ludington, 72, on the evening of Oct. 3 allegedly crashed a 2019 Cadillac CT6 into two traffic signs near the intersection of East Mitchell Road and Penny Lane in Emmet Countys Springvale Township, about 10 miles east of Petoskey, according to reporting by The Detroit News.

The impacts disabled the Cadillac and triggered at least one of its airbags to deploy.

Michigan State Police troopers responded to the scene. They arrested Ludington on charges of suspicion of driving while intoxicated, but he posted a $500 bond that day.

Ludington on Oct. 6 was arraigned by Emmet County District Judge Angela J. Lasher on single counts of operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated and operating with a high blood-alcohol content.

Both charges are misdemeanors. The former is punishable by up to 93 days in jail, a $500 fine, 360 hours of community service, and vehicle immobilization. The super drunk charge, by contrast, is punishable by up to 180 days in jail, a $700 fine, 360 hours of community service, and vehicle immobilization.

In Michigan, a person is considered legally intoxicated when their blood-alcohol level hits 0.08. A person is considered super drunk when their BAC hits 0.17.

Records show Ludington owns a lakefront home in Harbor Springs, about 11 miles from the crash site. The home has an assessed value of $1,996,300 and a taxable value of $765,492, property records show.

Ludington also has a home in Sanford, within Midland County.

Ludington is represented by attorney Jonathan B. Steffy, who did not immediately return calls from MLive seeking comment. Ludington likewise did not respond to a message.

Ludingtons Emmet County case is scheduled for jury trial on Feb. 27.

MLive has submitted a Freedom of Information Act request to the MSP in hopes of obtaining their reports related to the October crash.

As a U.S. District Court judge, Ludington serves the Northern Division of Michigans Eastern District. A Midland native, he served as Midland County Circuit Court judge for 11 years before President George W. Bush nominated him to the federal bench in February 2005. The U.S. Senate confirmed Ludingtons appointment in June 2006.

Ludington in 2023 received the Hon. William D. Missouri Civility Award, for which he was nominated by his staff and supported by letters from fellow judges. The award honors judges and legal professionals who exhibit exceptional qualities of civility, courtesy, and professionalism toward colleagues, litigants, and the public.
SAGINAW, MI  Michigan Democratic leaders denounced what they called a dark-money Republican-tied groups attempts to interfere in a high-stakes state Senate race, just days before voters cast final ballots in its primary election.

During a conference call Tuesday, Jan. 27, state Democratic elected leaders and officials said that GOP-tied group, ProgressiveMI, produced tens of thousands of dollars of advertisements and mailers to promote the candidacy of Democrat Pamela Pugh.

Pugh, a member of the Michigan State Board of Education, is one of six Democrats seeking the state Senate District 35 seat vacated by Democrat Kristen McDonald Rivet 12 months ago.

Curtis Hertel, chairman of the Michigan Democratic Party, said ProgressiveMI was a dark money political action group with ties to President Donald Trump and other Republicans.

Voters of the 35th District deserve to be able to make a decision about bogus ads from the MAGA (Make America Great Again) Republicans trying to trick them, Hertel said. I want to make a clear statement from the Michigan Democratic Party to the Trump Republicans: Stay out of our primary, stop trying to trick Democrats and try to win elections with good candidates and good ideas; not lies and dirty tricks.

Hertel said he would not speculate why such a group would invest in advertisements promoting Pugh.

You would have to talk to (ProgressiveMI), although that would be hard because theyre all dark-money groups, Hertel said.

Pugh faces a primary battle against five Democratic candidates during a Tuesday, Feb. 3, election. The winner will face the Republican winner of the four-candidate GOP primary race during a May special election.

Pughs campaign released a statement about the ProgressiveMI advertisements.

Democratic leadership has acknowledged that negative mailers in this race are coming from party insiders, yet some have refused to condemn or stop them, the Pugh campaign statement read. At the same time, unsolicited, unauthorized and unwanted Republican interference is being amplified and exploited rather than rejecting outright all dark money influence operations in this race. That undermines trust in this primary.

The Tuesday conference call featuring Democratic leaders came days after The Detroit News reported on the advertisements produced by ProgressiveMI.

State Rep. Amos ONeal, a Saginaw Democrat who represents part of state Senate District 35, also condemned the actions of ProgressiveMI on Tuesday.

Im here today to warn the voters in my community not to fall for these tricks, ONeal said in the call. Stand up for democracy. Study up, research the candidates, talk to your neighbors and decide for yourself. Dont let Donald Trump and his buddies decide for you.

Jennifer Austin, chairperson of the Midland County Democratic Party, called the ProgressiveMI advertising underhanded and dishonest.

We really hope that everyone takes the time, if you plan to vote in a Democratic primary, to learn about each and every one of the candidates, Austin said during the call.

The other Democratic candidates include Brandell Adams, Martin Blank, Chedrick Greene, Serenity Hope Salak and William Morrone.

The state Senate district encompasses parts of Bay, Midland and Saginaw counties.

State Sen. Jim Runestad, chairman of the Michigan Republican Party, in a statement called the Democrats Tuesday conference call about election meddling an internal Demoratic Party problem.

The hypocrisy is glaring, Runestad said. In recent Michigan elections, Democrats openly spent millions meddling in Republican primaries and even bragged about it. Now theyre suddenly offended by primary dynamics they themselves normalized.

He said Republicans will let Democrats work through their own dysfunction. If they want to air it publicly, thats their choice.

The state Senate today consists of 19 Democrats and 18 Republicans, meaning the District 35 elections outcome could upend the balance of political power in Lansing.

The election has generated high interest and campaign cash, particularly with the Greene and Pugh campaigns in the Democratic primary.

Campaign finance filings published last week on the Michigan Secretary of State finance disclosure webpage showed Greenes campaign contributions totaled $263,752.85, while his expenditures totaled $222,598.76. The reports showed Pughs campaign contributions totaled $120,629.04 with expenditures of $99,520.75. No other Democrat reported contributions larger than $18,585.
SAGINAW, MI  The day after his 20th birthday, a Saginaw man was arrested for his alleged role in a Saginaw mans homicide a year ago. Three others joined him in jail for allegedly interfering with officers efforts to apprehend their suspect.

The afternoon of Jan. 21, members of the Michigan State Police Emergency Support Team (EST) went to a residence in the 2700 block of Beechwood Avenue to serve a high-risk warrant and arrest Carmelo A. Barrera, who had been wanted since the previous month.

Barrera started live-streaming the episode on social media as armed EST troopers ordered him to surrender. Barrera flashed gang signs, cursed at troopers standing near an armored BearCat vehicle, and dared them to shoot him, his footage showed.

The video cut off with Barrera alleging the troopers were shooting him with non-lethal rounds. MSP Special 1st Lt. Ashley Miller confirmed troopers deployed a Taser at Barrera when he failed to comply with their demands.

Troopers arrested Barrera and a 51-year-old, whom prosecutors allege knew Barrera was wanted on a warrant and lives across the street from him. Earlier that day, the 51-year-old allegedly told police to stop following him and that Barrera would not surrender.

Troopers also arrested two of Barreras roommates, 22-year-old Jeremy S. Vasquez and 24-year-old Antjuane A. Cooper. Prosecutors allege Vasquez drove a vehicle behind the BearCat, then exited his vehicle and tried entering his house. Cooper was riding as a passenger in Vasquezs vehicle and started recording and pulling away from officers, prosecutors wrote in a bond recommendation.

Barrera, Vasquez, and Cooper appeared in Saginaw County District Court for arraignment on Monday, Jan. 26. Barrera is charged with accessory after the fact to a felony-murder, felon in possession of a firearm, and two counts of felony firearm. Vasquez is charged with two counts of assaulting, resisting, or obstructing police, while Cooper faces one count of that charge.

The 51-year-old bonded out of jail before he could be arraigned on one charge of harboring felons, a four-year felony. MLive is not naming him until he has been arraigned.

Barreras accessory charge stems from the death of 20-year-old Taylor M. Burton, fatally shot outside his home in the 2000 block of Stone Street the afternoon of Feb. 9. Prosecutors in June charged Vincent M. Barrera, 16, as an adult with open murder and felony firearm.

The two Barreras are cousins, prosecutors said.

A September preliminary examination saw prosecutors play surveillance video footage recorded by cameras at Stone Elementary School of Burton exiting his girlfriends house at 1:08 p.m. A few minutes later, a dark Malibu pulled up outside and Burton got in on the drivers side. The Malibu remained in the middle of the road, not moving.

Moments later, Burton and another man exited the Malibu. Burton ran back toward the house before abruptly collapsing. The other man then got back in the Malibu before it sped off.

Michigan State Police Trooper Erich Meggert testified he went to the scene and found a cluster of spent cartridge casings on Stone Street. Most were 9mm, though one was a .380 and another was of an unidentified caliber, Meggert said.

Vincent Barreras 18-year-old girlfriend testified Vincent Barrera texted her on the afternoon of Feb. 9 saying he had just killed someone without specifying whom. Vincent Barrera also texted her that someone had just tried to rob him and aimed a gun in his face, putting him in fear for his life.

The cases lead investigator, MSP Detective Cory Bradley, testified he obtained Burton and Vincent Barreras social media records via search warrants. Snapchat records from Feb. 8 showed Vincent Barrera and Burton planning to meet the next day, Bradley said. The detective also found messages Burton sent to others in hopes of selling a gun, he said.

Prosecutors allege Carmelo Barrera served as his younger cousins getaway driver based on his cellphones GPS coordinates and text messages.

Additionally, Carmelo Barrera had more than 194 photos of guns on his phone, prosecutors allege.

Vincent Barreras trial in Saginaw County Circuit Court is slated to begin Feb. 3. Preliminary examinations for Carmelo Barrera, Vasquez, and Cooper are scheduled for Feb. 11.
SAGINAW TOWNSHIP, MI  A 17-year-old male was taken into custody Monday after allegedly shooting in the direction of two juvenile females earlier in the day.

Saginaw Township Police responded to the area of Churchill Lane and Weiss Street at around 3:47 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 26, on reports of several shots fired.

Upon arrival, officers established that there had been a physical altercation between two juvenile females near the roadway.

During that altercation, a 17-year-old male at the scene is alleged to have fired several shots in the vicinity of the physical altercation, causing parties to disperse.

The suspect was believed to have retreated back into an Ivy Hill apartment building and the area was secured for investigative purposes.

Police later learned that the suspect had fled the area prior to their arrival.

Family members told police they would be willing to assist police with turning him over to authorities. At around 7:30 pm, the 17-year-old male was turned over to police. He was then lodged at the Saginaw County Juvenile Center, pending charges.

According to police, a local business and an area residence sustained damage from apparent stray gunfire.

No injuries were reported in the incident.

The case remains under investigation. Anyone with information pertaining to the shooting is asked to contact the Saginaw Township Police Department at 989-793-2310.
Amazon is set to close about 70 branded brick-and-mortar grocery stores as part of its partnership with Whole Foods Market.

The closures, announced Tuesday, will affect Amazon Fresh and Amazon Go locations across the U.S.

Many of the stores will be converted into Amazon-owned Whole Foods Market, but there will also be more emphasis on delivery, and same-day delivery, Amazon is known for.

While weve seen encouraging signals in our Amazon-branded physical grocery stores, we havent yet created a truly distinctive customer experience with the right economic model needed for large-scale expansion, Amazon said in a statement.

Customers can continue to shop Amazon Fresh online in available areas for fast and convenient delivery. Were grateful to our team members for their many contributions over the years and are working whenever possible to help them find roles elsewhere in Amazon, including across our vast operations network, as we make this transition.

Neil Saunders, managing director of GlobalData, told CNN that Fresh was too similar to its competitors and Gos just-walk-out technology isnt something shoppers really care about.

Whole Foods Market will open more than 100 new stores over the next few years, Amazon said, including expansion of Whole Foods Market Daily Shop. There are already more than 550 locations nationwide.

Amazons online presence is known, but the company says it will continue testing new physical store experiences like Amazon Grocery, which was launched alongside Whole Foods Market in Chicago and a store within a store experience in the Whole Foods Market in Plymouth Meeting, Pennsylvania, where customers can also shop for groceries and household essentials from Amazon.

Aside from Walmart, Amazon remains one of the top grocers in the U.S., with more than $150 billion in gross sales and more than 150 million customers shopping groceries each year.
Michigans population grew for the fourth consecutive year thanks largely to international migration, according to the latest U.S. Census Bureau estimates for 2025.

Michigan increased its population by an estimated 27,922 residents between July 2024 and June 2025. The latest figures put Michigan at an estimated 10,127,884 residents, up 0.27% from the July 2024 estimate of 10,099,962 residents.

More people died than were born in Michigan during this period, with 104,678 deaths and 99,680 births, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

However, 30,706 new residents were added via net international migration and another 1,796 via net domestic migration.

The U.S., meanwhile, saw a historic decline in net international migration, dropping from 2.7 million to 1.3 million between July 2024 and June 2025. Census Bureau officials say that drove a slowdown in U.S. population growth, which increased by only 1.8 million, or 0.5%.

According to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, its the first time in decades that Michigans domestic migration was positive, meaning that more people moved to Michigan from another state than left the Mitten for another state.

Michigan is the place to be, Whitmer said. In 2025, Michigans population grew for the fourth year in a row as we welcomed nearly 28,000 new Michiganders. Also, for the first time since the early 90s, more people moved into Michigan from other states than moved out.

Our work to get things done on the kitchen-table issues that make a real difference in peoples lives is paying off.

Whitmer pitched Michigan as the state where families can still buy a home on a middle-class salary, find a good-paying, high-skill job with or without a degree and give their child a quality public education. She also highlighted Michigans natural amenities.

While this growth is a sign that our strategy is working, we have to double down, she said. This year, lets continue delivering on the issues that matter most to working families. Lets build more quality, affordable housing, invest in lifelong education and literacy, bring home more good-paying jobs, fix those damn roads and protect our lakes and land.

Lets welcome new Michiganders who want to live in our beautiful peninsulas and help us write the next chapter of our states incredible story.

According to the state of Michigan, the states population is expected to experience slow growth and then decline to about 9,906,000 people by 2050.

Whitmer in 2023 established the Growing Michigan Together Council to advise her on how to grow the states population.
DETROIT - Deeply cold conditions are continuing today across Southeast Michigan. Wind chills are slated to reach -15 degrees or colder through Friday, so its clear we are locked into this cold pattern for days.

A Cold Weather Advisory remains in effect through 10 a.m. Tuesday.

Snow showers around on Tuesday are expected to produce a dusting to an inch of accumulation, with a low chance for isolated snow squalls, the National Weather Service meteorologists in Detroit said. A chance of light snow showers exists on Wednesday.

Very cold wind chills as low as -15F to -20F expected. Coldest conditions will be near the Ohio state line. Influence of Lake Michigan clouds expected to keep Midland and northern Bay wind chills above -10F. Graphic provided by the National Weather Service

Here are the forecast highlights from the NWS office in Detroit:

Wind chills between 10 and 20 below zero were expected overnight into Tuesday morning.

Midland and far northern Bay counties are forecast to experience slightly warmer conditions, with wind chills holding in the negative single digits due to air flow from Lake Michigan.

Light snow is expected to move across southern lower Michigan early Tuesday morning, with accumulations up to around a half inch. An Arctic frontal boundary will move through Southeast Michigan later Tuesday morning into early afternoon, bringing another round of snow shower activity and possible snow squalls. Additional accumulations during this period are forecast to reach up to a half inch at most.

Brief lake effect snow may persist through Tuesday evening before winds weaken and shift direction by night.

Tuesday night temperatures are forecast to fall near zero degrees, with wind chills ranging from negative 10 to negative 15 degrees.

The coldest air of the week arrives Thursday and Friday, with daytime highs only reaching the lower teens. Thursday night is expected to be the coldest night of the week, with actual temperatures falling 5 to 10 below zero. Wind chills during this period are forecast to drop to 15 to 20 below zero, with another cold weather advisory likely into Friday morning.
Mercedes-Benz recently began local production of the Mercedes-Maybach GLS, which resulted in a price reduction of about Rs 42 lakh. (file photo)
Nearly 90% of luxury vehicle volumes in India are driven by locally assembled models. (Representative image)

Varun Singh A journalist covering the automotive sector in depth, across business and product verticals. Trying to hit the gym at least four times a week! I am not a fitness freak though.
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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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UGC New Rules 2026 Explained: Why protests are happening and what the government plans
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Ranbir Kapoor confirms Animal Park will begin filming in 2027, says 'It's very exciting, I will play the antagonist and the protagonist'
Chinese PLA aerobatic team's J-10 jets arrive in Singapore for airshow

Xinhua) 16:58, January 27, 2026

Aircrafts of the Bayi Aerobatic Team of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Air Force are pictured at Singapore's Changi Airport in Singapore, Jan. 27, 2026. Seven J-10 fighter jets from the Bayi Aerobatic Team of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Air Force arrived at Singapore's Changi Airport on Tuesday ahead of the 10th Singapore Airshow, scheduled for Feb. 3-8. (Photo by Zhu Jianghai/Xinhua)

SINGAPORE, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- Seven J-10 fighter jets from the Bayi Aerobatic Team of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Air Force arrived at Singapore's Changi Airport on Tuesday ahead of the 10th Singapore Airshow, scheduled for Feb. 3-8.

PLA Air Force spokesperson Xie Peng said this is the aerobatic team's 13th overseas flight demonstration, marking its return to the Singapore Airshow since the seventh edition in February 2020. The aircraft were accompanied by a YY-20A tanker plane, which allowed the aircraft to be refuelled in flight on the way to Singapore.

The team is scheduled to conduct multiple flight displays alongside aircraft from other participating countries. The take-off and landing airport and the display airspace are in different locations, with performances to be conducted over the sea.

Established 64 years ago, the aerobatic team has performed more than 800 times for over 800 delegations across more than 180 countries and regions.

Aircrafts of the Bayi Aerobatic Team of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Air Force are pictured at Singapore's Changi Airport in Singapore, Jan. 27, 2026. Seven J-10 fighter jets from the Bayi Aerobatic Team of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Air Force arrived at Singapore's Changi Airport on Tuesday ahead of the 10th Singapore Airshow, scheduled for Feb. 3-8. (Photo by Zhu Jianghai/Xinhua)

An aircraft of the Bayi Aerobatic Team of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Air Force is pictured at Singapore's Changi Airport in Singapore, Jan. 27, 2026. Seven J-10 fighter jets from the Bayi Aerobatic Team of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Air Force arrived at Singapore's Changi Airport on Tuesday ahead of the 10th Singapore Airshow, scheduled for Feb. 3-8. (Photo by Zhu Jianghai/Xinhua)

Aircrafts of the Bayi Aerobatic Team of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Air Force are pictured in Singapore, Jan. 27, 2026. Seven J-10 fighter jets from the Bayi Aerobatic Team of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Air Force arrived at Singapore's Changi Airport on Tuesday ahead of the 10th Singapore Airshow, scheduled for Feb. 3-8. (Photo by Zhu Jianghai/Xinhua)

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
On Monday, January 26, the former Spice Girls member was honoured by the French government with the Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters.
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Paris Hilton is diagnosed with ADHD, says almost like a demon in your mind
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Explained - Jana Nayagan row: What is the issue with Thalapathy Vijay starrer, controversy, and his political statement
The division bench of the Madras High Court said that the single bench should have given CBFC time to file counter affidavit.
The 60-year-old filmmaker-actor further analysed what ails Hindi cinema, tracing its decline to the post-multiplex era, when it began catering primarily to urban audiences.
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Samantha Ruth Prabhu gets special invite for at-home reception at Rashtrapati Bhavan, writes 'forever grateful'
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MC Jobs Desk Read the latest and trending news articles on Sarkari Naukri, government jobs, UPSC, SSC, railway jobs, banking jobs, defence recruitment, state PSC exams, and more.
The shift in treating socks as a fashion element is evident in the growing demand for refined patterns, breathable textures, and versatile designs that work well with sneakers, loafers, and formal footwear (Image: Pexels)
EU Chief Ursula von der Leyen wore Anamika Khanna Couture as she arrived at Hyderabad House in New Delhi, ahead of a landmark IndiaEU trade deal. (Picture Credit: Instagram/@ursulavonderleyen)

Shreya Garg is a journalist with over 6 years of experience at leading media houses. She writes extensively on lifestyle, health and things that are trending on the internet.
Quote of the Day by Jiddu Krishnamurti: Meditation is the understanding of the movement of thought, not its suppression
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Deal with European Union represents 25% of global GDP and one-third of global trade: PM Modi
Wine will get cheaper as EU India agreement takes effect
Japan, UK and US to face stiffer competition in over $11 bn of India trade as EU deal kicks in
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India-EU FTA shows how to counter tariff coercion, says Canada energy minister
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India-EU FTA to boost pharma, chemicals trade, Indian medical professionals' credentials to gain acceptance
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IndiaEU trade deal: Wines, olive oil and chocolates set to get cheaper
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India holding discussions with US, Venezuela over $600 million OVLs stuck dividends
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India looks to plug solar supply-chain gaps with new subsidy push: Report
Adrija Chatterjee is an Assistant Editor at Moneycontrol. She has been tracking and reporting on finance and trade ministries for over eight years.
The three leaders on Tuesday jointly announced the conclusion of the India-EU FTA

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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TCS to build largest delivery centre in Brazil with $37 million investment; to create 1,600 jobs
Under the deal, Indian textiles and apparel, which previously faced EU tariffs of around 12%, footwear with tariffs ranging from 816%, and auto components with 46% duties will benefit from substantial tariff reductions
Zoya Springwala is a Senior Correspondent, writing on the markets, financial institutions, regulatory changes and everything else in between.
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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How is property divided among siblings when a parent leaves an unregistered will
The EU is the world's largest exporter of steel scrap
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Adani group stocks rebound up to 5% after Fridays rout; Adani Enterprises, Adani Ports among top Nifty gainers
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PM Narendra Modi with EU President Ursula Von Der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa
A photo of Israeli PM Netanyahu with his phone camera taped over sparked online debate about the devices model and security. Many believe the tape is a precaution against surveillance, a common practice among officials handling sensitive information.

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Zero duty to boost India's gems and jewellery export to EU
Ashwini Vaishnaw said the governments original approach of providing EDA tools, IP access and multi-project wafer (MPW) support had been validated by the progress made so far.
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BJP leader's veiled threat to Eknath Shinde on home turf: 'If party gives permission...'
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Caste enumeration to be done in 2nd phase of Census 2027: Home ministry
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
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Congress leadership may hold talks with Shashi Tharoor to resolve differences
The EU said it will 'modernise and simplify' Schengen visa procedures through the upcoming digitalisation of the visa system
Goas deliberations come days after Andhra Pradesh IT and Education Minister Nara Lokesh said the TDP-led state government is also considering an Australia-like ban on social media for children under 16.
India EU Trade Deal News Live: Federation of European Business in India welcomes EU-India FTA

The Federation of European Business in India (FEBI) welcomed the announcement of the EU-India Free Trade Agreement (FTA), describing it as a landmark step in strengthening one of the most consequential economic partnerships globally.

The agreement establishes a long-term, rules-based framework to unlock growth in trade, investment, and industrial collaboration for a combined market of nearly 2 billion people.

Sonia Prashar, Secretary General (FEBI), said, "The Federation of European Business in India (FEBI) welcomes the announcement of the EU-India Free Trade Agreement following the 16th EU-India Summit in New Delhi, describing it as a landmark step in strengthening one of the most consequential economic partnerships globally."

The agreement arrives as bilateral trade in goods and services reaches approximately EUR 190 billion. From the perspective of European businesses operating in India, the pact aligns with on-ground sentiment.
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Arishaa Izaj is a sub-editor at Moneycontrol, where she covers Indian politics and international affairs. She has earlier worked with the Hindustan Times print desk. When she is not editing copies or tracking global developments, she can be found relaxing with her cat or heading out on her bike. | X & IG: arishaa_izaj
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India, EUs landmark defence partnership: What its all about
India News Live: Casteist, dynastic forces unable to tolerate UP's transformed image, says UP CM Adityanath

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Tuesday said that Uttar Pradesh has now shed its old 'BIMARU' image and has emerged as a 'breakthrough' state with a new identity.

"Casteist ('jaativadi') and dynastic ('parivarvaadi') forces are unable to tolerate this transformed image of the state. These are the same forces that had earlier patronised rioters and lawlessness," he said. -- PTI
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In a democracy, differences will persist, but this treatment meted out to Rahul Gandhi is unacceptable, said Congress leader Randeep Surjewala
Under the new regulations, introduced to stop caste-based discrimination in colleges and universities, the UGC has asked institutions to set up special committees, helplines and monitoring teams to handle complaints, especially from SC, ST and OBC students
Protests have erupted across the country over the UGC's equity regulation.

Parimal Peeyush is News Editor at Moneycontrol. A journalist for over 17 years, his experience spans across newspapers, magazines and digital news media. Having joined Moneycontrol in August 2024, Parimal oversees the Political Desk and covers issues around the intersection of politics, law and crime.
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West Bengal elections: Signs of churn in Mamata Banerjee's biggest vote bank as minority unity talks gather pace
Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Monday welcomed the announcement of a new trade deal between India and the United States, saying it will create more jobs, spur growth and promote innovation in both economies. In a post on X, Jaishankar said the deal would also strengthen Make in India endeavors and encourage trusted technology ties. The opportunities in our economic engagement are truly vast and we are confident of realizing them. A robust economic relationship is the strongest foundation for our strategic partnership. The ministers remarks come after US President Donald Trump on Sunday announced a reduction in reciprocal tariffs on Indian goods to 18 per cent, down from 25 per cent, following a phone call with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The decision brings Indias overall tariff burden down from the earlier 50 per cent, which included a 25 per cent punitive levy linked to Indias purchases of Russian oil. Detailing the call on Truth Social, Trump said, Out of friendship and respect for Prime Minister Modi and, as per his request, effective immediately, we agreed to a Trade Deal between the United States and India, whereby the United States will charge a reduced Reciprocal Tariff, lowering it from 25 percent to 18 percent. Trump also praised Modi as one of my greatest friends and a powerful and respected leader of his country, noting that the two leaders discussed trade, global security and efforts to end the RussiaUkraine war.

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Danish Khan is the editor of Technology and Telecom. He was previously with the Economic Times and has tracked the sector for 14 years.
The companys deferred payment obligations, including interest accrued but not due, stood at Rs 1,24,877 crore towards spectrum liabilities and Rs 80,502 crore towards AGR dues, subject to the recent developments.

Danish Khan is the editor of Technology and Telecom. He was previously with the Economic Times and has tracked the sector for 14 years.
Khalaf Ahmad Al Habtoor is a UAE businessman and serves as chairman of the Al Habtoor Group as well as Dubai National Insurance and Reinsurance Company.
A techie says career success could not fill the emotional void. (Image credit: Pixels)
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Videos of Indians in Australia celebrating Republic Day on streets go viral.
Online, however, it has become a symbol of how modern audiences process stress, fatigue and the desire to disengage.
After receiving the Guinness World Records official certificate, Japan's Yasuko Tamaki said she was thankful to her workplace. 'All I did was doing what I'm expected to do for 90 years, so I don't know what to say! I am truly touched,' she said. (Image credit: Guinness World Records)
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Hot black ice might solve Neptunes longstanding magnetic mystery; Here's what study says
New research published in Scientific Reports suggests East Africas long-term drying has accelerated fault movement in the East African Rift Zone. By studying sediments from Lake Turkana, scientists found falling lake levels reduced crustal pressure, allowing faults and volcanic systems to become more active. The findings highlight a two-way relationship between climate and tectonics and may help explain how Africa is gradually splitting into separate continental plates.

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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
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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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Afghanistans Taliban Code: How a new law divides citizens, grants clerical immunity and legalises slavery
Tuesdays decision overturns a 2021 decision by the Amsterdam District Court which had ruled that the legal relationship between Uber and its drivers met all of the characteristics of an employment contract
Asian airports tighten checks after Nipah cases in India: What the virus is and its symptoms
Police blocked roads around Karachi Press Club to suppress protests over lawyer Imaan Mazaris 17-year sentence for anti-state social media posts, highlighting Pakistans crackdown on dissent and rising military control over civil liberties and free speech.

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Chinas top general Zhang Youxia investigated for leaking nuclear secrets to US, accepting bribes
US President Trump claimed a mysterious Discombobulator weapon was used in the US raid that captured Venezuelas Maduro. Experts say it likely refers to combined cyber, electronic, and acoustic warfare, not a single new device, sparking debate and speculation.

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The Doomsday Clock is seen at 89 seconds to midnight, the closest the clock has ever been to midnight in its 78-year history to signal that the world is on a course of unprecedented risk, as set by the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists Science and Security Board, at the US Institute of Peace in Washington, DC, January 28, 2025. (Photo by SAUL LOEB / AFP)
(FILES) India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi (R) and Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu virtually inaugurate the new runway at Maldives' Hanimadhoo International Airport, during a joint media briefing at the Hyderabad House in New Delhi on October 7, 2024.
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JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman sparked outrage by opposing Pakistans child marriage ban, calling it anti-Islamic and vowing to defy the law. Religious leaders and the Council of Islamic Ideology also challenge the legislation, citing Sharia concerns.

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Imran Khan faces deteriorating health and severe eye issues in Adiala Jail amid prolonged solitary confinement and denial of legal access, sparking criticism of Pakistans military-backed government and concerns over human rights and judicial independence.

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India criticized Pakistan at the UN, highlighting military dominance after the 27th Amendment granted lifetime immunity to Chief of Defence Forces Asim Munir. India urged Pakistan to introspect on democracy before accusing New Delhi of aggression over Operation Sindoor.

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India-EU to conclude mother of all deals today: Check full schedule, and what it means for exports, tariffs, and worker mobility
China urges U.S. to stop depriving Cuban people of rights to subsistence, development

Xinhua) 17:01, January 27, 2026

BEIJING, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson on Tuesday said the United States should stop depriving the Cuban people of their rights to subsistence and development.

Spokesperson Guo Jiakun made the remarks in response to a media query that the Cuban government denounced the U.S. side that is reportedly considering intensifying its illegal blockade against Cuba.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
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India slams Pakistan at UN over false and self-serving Operation Sindoor claims
The US Navys Abraham Lincoln carrier groups arrival near Iran has fueled speculation about Supreme Leader Khameneis fate amid mass unrest, succession rumors, and regime vulnerability, as both internal protests and external pressure intensify.

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Toyota remains the worlds most searched car brand, but BMW is closing in fast, according to the latest annual report from Compare the Market. The eighth edition of the Most Searched Car Brands report, which analyzed Google Trends and keyword search data from 155 countries, reveals a shifting landscape in global car interest.

Toyota held the top spot in 57 countries, down from 64 last year and 69 in 2022. Its continued dominance hinges on its reputation for reliability and low-cost maintenance, and those are highly valued traits in Africa, Asia, South America, Oceania, and the Middle East.

Despite this, BMW is emerging as a serious contender, having risen from 26 countries in 2023, to 30 in 2024, and 46 in 2025.

The Contenders: BMW's Surge and Tesla's Slide

Computer rendering.

Tesla once held second place, but that position has slipped to third, now topping the search charts in just 17 countries. Teslas popularity remains strong in Europe and key markets like the United States and China, but BMWs surprisingly rapid rise has reshaped the competitive landscape.

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The report also highlights Chinese electric vehicle brand BYD as a rising star. BYD, which was the most searched brand in only one country in 2024, now leads in seven countries. This surge reflects growing global interest in Chinese EVs and hints at a more diverse international market for car buyers seeking electric options.

When accounting for second and third place searches in each country, Toyota leads with 87 total mentions, closely followed by BMW with 81. This demonstrates that while Toyota remains the most searched overall, BMW is rapidly narrowing the gap.

Other brands making notable appearances include Proton, General Motors, and Renault, while Audi, Mazda, and Ford failed to register in the top rankings this year.

A Changing Global Landscape

Image Credit: BMW.

Adrian Taylor, Executive General Manager of General Insurance at Compare the Market, notes that these changes signal more competition and shifting consumer preferences.

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He explains, Weve also seen a big resurgence in some brands, most notably BMW, who is closing in on Toyotas position in the rankings. Theres definitely been more competition this year, and BMW is now a serious contender for the top spot.

The regional distribution of searches paints an interesting picture. Toyota continues to dominate regions where dependability and ease of service are valued most.

BMW, on the other hand, saw significant interest across Central and Eastern Europe and parts of Asia, indicating strong appeal among buyers attracted to performance, engineering, and brand prestige. Teslas searches remain concentrated in Europe and leading markets for EV adoption.

What This Means for Car Shoppers

Image Credit: BMW.

For regular car shoppers, these trends provide insight beyond mere popularity. Rising search volumes often reflect growing awareness, availability, and dealer presence in key regions. BMWs steady climb suggests increasing consumer confidence in the brand and hints at expanding global availability.

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BYDs growth signals that Chinese EVs are gaining global recognition among buyers looking for affordable electric alternatives.

Ultimately, Compare the Markets report offers a snapshot of what car buyers around the world are curious about. While Toyota continues to lead, BMWs rise and BYDs global emergence point to a more competitive and varied marketplace in 2026.

If you are weighing reliability, performance, and the appeal of EV technology, these trends may influence your research and purchasing decisions in the months ahead.

For more details and to view the full report, visit Compare the Markets page here.
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When Pensacola-area buyer Chelsea Hoffman took delivery of her brand-new 2026 Cadillac Escalade late in 2025, she expected Rolls-Royce-level service, showroom shine, and that unmistakable Monroney window sticker outlining every option and dollar spent.

Instead, what she got was confusion and a cautionary tale for the rest of us about transparency, compliance, and consumer protection in todays high-stakes luxury car market. Hoffman documented her stories in a series of now-deleted TikTok videos, leaving followers wondering why she took down the videos.

The Missing Window Sticker: A Red Flag from Day One

What seemed like a clerical oversight quickly snowballed into something much bigger. Hoffman was handed a brand-new Escalade  a six-figure purchase  and noticed there was no window sticker attached to the car at delivery. Instead, only a transport sticker marked not for sale was present.

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Thats unusual. Under the Automobile Information Disclosure Act of 1958, every new vehicle sold in the U.S. must display a Monroney window sticker showing MSRP, options, and destination charges before sale completion.

For luxury vehicles like the Escalade, where a set of wheels or a trim package can tack tens of thousands of dollars onto the price, the sticker isnt just that paper on the glass  its proof of exactly what the customer agreed to buy.

Hoffman asked for the original window sticker at least seven times, repeatedly reaching out directly to General Motors for documentation. But instead of getting the original manufacturer-issued sticker tied to her VIN, she was told that the dealer had modified the sticker after the sale. GM representatives confirmed this claim in writing during her case with BBB Auto Line.

Thats where the plot thickens.

Why the Sticker Matters (More Than You Think)

Image Credit:Cadillac.

For many car buyers, the window sticker is an afterthought, which seems like exactly what the dealer was counting on  something in the binder  but Hoffmans experience highlights why it matters:

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Its legally mandated: Dealers must display it before sale. Its absence at delivery signals a breakdown in seller transparency.

Its a record of build and options: With luxury vehicles, buyers carefully weigh advanced packages and high-cost upgrades. A mismatch between listed and actual features can mean thousands of dollars of unaccounted value.

Its central in disputes: Lemon law and buyback cases hinge on documented discrepancies in vehicle configuration and performance claims.

So, while replacement window stickers can be reprinted under limited circumstances (for damage or loss in transit), altering original equipment descriptions after the sale raises compliance concerns and potentially misleads customers.

Mechanical Woes on Top of Paperwork Problems

Image Credit: Brandon Woyshnis / Shutterstock.

Sticker drama was just the beginning of Hoffmans ordeal. Within weeks of receiving the Escalade, she experienced ongoing engine issues that saw the vehicle in and out of the dealership with limited resolution, an experience no new-car buyer would wish on anyone.

Repeated repairs without a clear fix pushed her toward invoking Floridas lemon law protections, which allow consumers to seek repurchase if a significant defect persists after reasonable repair attempts. After escalation through arbitration, Hoffman says GM agreed to a buyback, though she expressed concerns about the clarity of the settlement terms.

Interestingly, this isnt an isolated issue in the Escalade world. Owners have reported engine failures, including catastrophic mechanical breakdowns, chains of repeated repairs, and manufacturer resistance to recalls when engines fail prematurely.

Lessons from Hoffmans Experience

Document Everything Before Signing

Buyers should photograph the window sticker before signing final paperwork. This preserves a snapshot of the vehicles factory build and price. Know Your Rights

Lemon laws vary by state, but persistent defects paired with documentation gaps can strengthen a buyers case if pursued through arbitration or legal channels. Dealers Must Maintain Compliance and Transparency

Missing or modified stickers are more than bookkeeping errors as they can undermine trust and expose dealers to regulatory scrutiny.

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These days that digital contracts and online sales processes are the norm, Hoffmans story is a powerful jolt to the reality that a window sticker is proof of promise. And when that promise goes missing, the road ahead, as Hoffman found out, can get very bumpy.

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There is an old saying that it takes years to build a reputation and only moments to damage it. That idea applies to nearly every industry, including the automotive world. A single product issue or public scandal can undo decades of careful brand building. As Toyota moves through the middle of the decade, questions are emerging about whether its long-standing reputation for bulletproof reliability is facing a serious test, particularly in the United States.

Toyota remains the worlds largest automaker by volume and continues to generate enormous profits. In the US market, it sells more vehicles than in any other country. Yet recent events have raised concerns that the brand image Toyota carefully cultivated over decades may be showing cracks, especially as the company introduces more new technology into its lineup.

The Roots of Toyotas Reliability Reputation

Photo Courtesy: Toyota.

For many industry observers, Toyotas reliability advantage has never been a mystery. The company traditionally relied on conservative engineering, incremental changes, and proven components rather than rushing new technology to market. When Toyota introduced something genuinely new, it often behaved no differently than similar systems from American, German, or other global manufacturers.

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That distinction has become more visible in recent years. The problems Toyota has faced have largely involved its newest vehicles and powertrains, not long-established designs.

A Difficult Year for New Models

In 2024, Toyota encountered a series of recalls and technical issues across multiple nameplates in the US market. One of the most serious cases involved the Toyota Tundra pickup and the Lexus LX SUV, both equipped with the new 3.4-liter twin-turbo gasoline engine. More than one hundred thousand vehicles produced over a two-year period were recalled after it was discovered that debris from manufacturing tools had been left inside some engines during assembly.

The situation escalated further with the Toyota Tacoma. Over 380,000 units were recalled due to improperly secured rear axle components and transmission-related concerns. Additional issues appeared elsewhere in the lineup. The Corolla Cross Hybrid experienced software faults that could prevent automatic emergency braking from functioning as intended. The GR86 coupe drew complaints for excessive oil consumption. The high-performance GR Corolla was linked to several unexplained engine fires.

All of these events occurred within a single calendar year, underscoring how concentrated the challenges have been.

Technology Transitions Bring New Risks

Photo Courtesy: Toyota.

Much of Toyotas recent difficulty coincides with major mechanical changes. In the Tundra, the long-running naturally aspirated 5.7-liter V8 was retired in favor of the smaller turbocharged V6. The change improved efficiency and emissions compliance but also introduced complexity that ultimately required a broad recall.

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A similar pattern emerged with the Tacoma. Its aging but proven five-speed automatic transmission was replaced by a modern eight-speed unit. Many owners have since reported drivability complaints. Production changes also played a role, as Tacoma assembly moved from Texas to Mexico, adding new variables to manufacturing consistency.

What This Means for Toyota Buyers

Recalls themselves are not unusual, nor are they inherently negative. Most customers prefer manufacturers to identify and correct issues proactively. However, Toyotas recent experience reinforces a broader industry reality. New technology brings risk regardless of badge. Toyota, Ford, and European brands alike face similar challenges when introducing complex engines, transmissions, and electronic systems.

Industry analysts still generally rank Toyota among the most reliable automakers overall. The difference today is expectation. Toyota vehicles may no longer tolerate neglect indefinitely, especially when equipped with modern turbocharged engines and advanced electronics.

A Reputation Under Pressure

Photo Courtesy: Toyota.

Toyotas reputation was built on durability through simplicity. As the brand modernizes and competes in a rapidly evolving market, that legacy faces pressure. The company remains highly competitive and trusted, but its reliability advantage may no longer be as absolute as it once seemed, particularly for buyers of newly launched models.

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For US consumers, the message is not that Toyota reliability has vanished, but that it increasingly depends on maintenance discipline and realistic expectations in an era of complex automotive technology.

This article originally appeared on Autorepublika.com and has been republished with permission by Guessing Headlights. AI-assisted translation was used, followed by human editing and review.

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By Gregorie Michael Towai (Eiperang)  Independent Researcher, CNMI Advocate

THE Solomon Islands decision to withdraw from the Miss Pacific Islands Pageant, together with the Kandit News letter titled A Letter from a Little Chuukese Girl Who Hopes She Belongs, should give our region reason to pause. Taken together, they reveal a reality many Pacific Islanders know too well: belonging in our islands is often treated as conditional.

The Chuukese girls letter is not a rejection of accountability, law, or public safety. It is not an attempt to excuse harm or wrongdoing. It is a reflection of what happens when identity becomes a stand-in for blame and when entire communities are made to carry the weight of stigma for the actions of individuals. When a child raised on Guam begins to question whether she belongs in the only home she has ever known, that is not strength. It is a warning.

Across the Pacific, platforms that claim to empower, unite, or represent us, whether cultural, civic, or symbolic, are increasingly being asked to confront questions of equity, transparency, and representation. The Solomon Islands withdrawal was not an attack on pageantry or on Pacific women. It was a statement of dignity and a refusal to accept systems where concerns are repeatedly raised yet rarely addressed.

In the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the recent crowning of Miss Northern Marianas descent should be both celebrated and thoughtfully examined. Honoring the achievements of our young women does not prevent us from asking harder questions. Representation alone is not liberation. Visibility alone does not resolve deeper issues of inclusion and belonging, especially for Micronesian communities whose presence in these islands spans generations.

The Chuukese girls letter reminds us that harm is not always loud or dramatic. Often it appears quietly through public messaging, selective imagery, and narratives that follow children into schools and families into churches. Public shaming may be framed as deterrence, but it carries lasting consequences. It teaches children that dignity is negotiable and that some identities are treated as less worthy of grace.

Accountability and humanity are not opposing values. Law enforcement and compassion can and must coexist. The Pacific has long grounded itself in respect, community, and shared responsibility. When those values are compromised by practices that single out entire groups for humiliation, reflection is necessary.

Cultural platforms, media narratives, and leadership decisions do not exist in isolation. They communicate who belongs, who is protected, and who is expected to constantly explain their presence. When unity is celebrated in name but fairness is uneven in practice, unity becomes symbolic rather than lived.

The most important question raised by the Chuukese girl is not about immigration, crime, or pageantry. It is this. What are we teaching our children about belonging? Are we modeling accountability grounded in dignity, or punishment reinforced through shame? Are we shaping islands where children feel secure in who they are, or places where they must continually prove they deserve to belong?

Reflection is not division. Accountability is not weakness. Belonging should never be conditional.

If the CNMI, Guam, and the wider Pacific are serious about unity, empowerment, and shared futures, then our institutions, cultural, political, and symbolic, must embody those values not only in celebration, but in everyday practice.
Crying horse plush toys sit on display ahead of the Chinese Lunar New Year at Yiwu International Trade City in Yiwu, Zhejiang province, China on Jan. 21, 2026. REUTERS

YIWU, China (Reuters)  At Yiwu International Trade City, Chinas largest wholesale market, customers crowd into a small shop searching for an unlikely bestseller ahead of the Lunar New Year.

They are looking for a red plush horse with a downturned mouth, a gold bell around its neck, and eyes that appear to shy away from a viewers gaze. The toy has gone viral on Chinese social media ahead of the Spring Festival holiday, which this year marks the Year of the Horse in the Chinese zodiac.

Called the crying horse by online users, the toy was designed as a happy-faced Lunar New Year decoration, but a manufacturing mistake turned its smile into a frown.

A worker sewed the mouth on upside down by accident, said Zhang Huoqing, owner of the Yiwu-based shop Happy Sister.

Zhang said she offered a refund after discovering the flaw, but the customer never returned the toy. Not long after, she discovered photos of it circulating online.

People joked that the crying horse is how you look at work, while the smiling one is how you look after work, Zhang said. As demand surged, Zhang decided to keep making the sad-faced version.

Some young white-collar workers in China say the horses dour expression mirrors their long hours and workplace stress.

It also taps into a broader trend for so-called ugly-cute toys, popularized in recent years by characters such as Pop Marts toothy monster Labubu.

These days, almost everyone who walks through the door asks for the crying horse, said Lou Zhenxian, a Yiwu vendor who has sold festive toys for more than 25 years.

By early afternoon, racks of crying horses outside Happy Sister had sold out and employees were rushing to restock the shelves.

We will keep selling it, Zhang said. This crying horse really fits the reality of modern working people.
Paris Hilton attends a premiere for the documentary "Infinite Icon: A Visual Memoir" in Los Angeles, California, Jan. 20, 2026. REUTERS

LOS ANGELES (Reuters)  Paris Hilton is known for being a socialite, reality TV star, model, and occasional actor. Now the 44-year-old American wants to show audiences she can be a musician and activist, too.

Infinite Icon: A Virtual Memoir, arrives in theaters on January 30, following Hilton as she records her 2024 electro-pop album Infinite Icon and prepares for a one-time performance at the Hollywood Palladium.

She said she wants to show a more serious side to herself than the bubbly blonde persona she was known for when she first became famous in the late 1990s.

In the beginning, I developed this persona and character, I think, as an armor or shield, she told Reuters at her home in Beverly Hills.

I had just been through so much trauma in my life and then getting the first reality show with The Simple Life and then playing that character on and on  you know, I didnt realize Id have to do it for five seasons straight  and then the whole world just got to know me in that way, she added.

While the media personality said that she believes that her playful persona will always be a part of her, she now wants to show a more mature side.

That includes her campaigning for greater federal oversight of youth care programs.

Hilton, the great-granddaughter of Hilton Hotels founder Conrad Hilton, has spoken out about the emotional and physical abuse she endured when she was placed in residential youth treatment facilities as a teen. She has also been working with Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez to push for passage of the Defiance Act, which would improve rights for those affected by deep-fake pornography.

I knew that I had to stand up and use my voice, Hilton said, highlighting how her campaigning had contributed to 15 state laws and two federal bills.

Her activism was the most meaningful work of her life, Hilton added.
Former Imperial Pacific International Chairwoman Lijie Cui is escorted by an ICE agent after an immigration hearing on Jan. 27, 2026. Photo by Bryan Manabat

By Bryan Manabat

[email protected]

Variety News Staff

THE U.S. Department of Homeland Security plans to appeal a Saipan immigration judges decision to grant a $10,000 bond for the temporary release of former Imperial Pacific International Chairwoman Lijie Cui, who is facing removal proceedings for allegedly overstaying her E2C longterm investor visa.

Cui was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement earlier this month. On Jan. 27, Honolulu Immigration Court Judge Clarence Wagner, presiding via teleconference, approved the bond and scheduled the next hearing for Feb. 18 at 9 a.m.

Wagner ruled that Cui does not pose a danger to the community and that a $10,000 bond was appropriate. He ordered that she be released after posting the bond, attend all future hearings, and report to DHS as required.

Cui was represented by attorney Richard Wilner, who told the court that his client has a pending I130 petition with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, which they have asked to expedite. An approved petition could allow her to pursue adjustment of status to lawful permanent resident.

Shannon Fruthranjit, a DHS attorney, objected to Cuis release, citing a previous contempt order issued by the District Court for the NMI in a labor case filed by seven workers who alleged workplace injuries. Cui, a third-party witness in that case, was found in contempt for violating a preservation order and was ordered to pay more than $40,000 in sanctions, which she later satisfied. Cui previously told the court she had followed her attorneys advice at the time.

During Tuesdays hearing, the DHS attorney said she intends to appeal the bond decision. Wilner responded that his client was willing to increase the bond amount if DHS would withdraw the appeal, but the DHS attorney declined.

Cui, a Chinese national and longtime Hong Kong resident, was a central figure in IPI, which operated Saipans casino for four years before shutting down in March 2020 at the onset of the Covid19 pandemic. She and her son, Xiabo Ji, oversaw the development of the casino and hotel project in Garapan.

As a foreign investor in a U.S. jurisdiction, Cui is required to maintain a valid E2C visa to remain in the CNMI.

IPI filed for bankruptcy in April 2024, reporting more than $165 million in liabilities. Team King Investment (CNMI) LLC completed its $12.95 million purchase of IPIs casino assets last year following a court-approved auction.

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.
By Emmanuel T. Erediano

[email protected]

Variety News Staff

GOVERNOR David M. Apatang last week vetoed Senate Bill 24-4, which would have required high and middle school students to attend Chamorro and Carolinian language classes for one year.

Authored by Sen. Manny Gregory T. Castro, S.B. 24-4 proposed that the Public School System hire teachers for Chamorro and Carolinian languages and make completion of the courses a prerequisite for high school graduation. The bill aimed to address issues related to PSSs Chamorro and Carolinian language requirements, school personnel, and salary parity for teachers holding Chamorro and/or Carolinian bilingual language and culture certificates.

In his veto message, however, the governor cited the attorney generals advice that the bill conflicts with Article XV, Section 1(b) of the NMI Constitution, which gives the Board of Education the authority to formulate policy and exercise control over the public school system. He noted that a similar bill had been shelved for the same reason.

I must therefore regrettably veto this bill, he said.

The governor also emphasized that he strongly supports the objective of providing robust education in the communitys indigenous Chamorro and Carolinian languages, supporting teacher training, and facilitating the preservation and transmission of traditional culture.

Nonetheless, he encouraged the Board of Education and PSS to consider voluntarily implementing similar robust programs for Chamorro and Carolinian language education, consistent with the CNMI Constitution, which mandates that PSS recognize the distinct cultural heritage and indigenous way of life of the people, provide for their language needs, and preserve their cultural integrity within a global community.

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.
By Bryan Manabat

[email protected]

Variety News Staff

HEE Jung Hwang, who has been accused of kidnapping and assaulting a tour guide in August 2025, has been deported by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, according to Chief Prosecutor Chester Hinds, who asked the Superior Court to dismiss the case without prejudice.

Hwang, 39, and co-defendants Yichuan Bai, 40, and Peter Deleon Guerrero, 58, face charges stemming from an Aug. 25, 2025, incident in Chinatown, where a tour guide was allegedly lured under false pretenses, kidnapped, and assaulted. Prosecutors later expanded the case after a search of Hwangs residence uncovered a stolen firearm, ammunition, and controlled substances.

Hinds told Variety on Monday that the case against Bai and Deleon Guerrero will continue. He said he requested dismissal of the case against Hwang because of Hwangs deportation from the CNMI.

Associate Judge Joseph N. Camacho granted the request on Jan. 23 and issued an order dismissing the case without prejudice, allowing it to be refiled.

Earlier, Judge Camacho approved a stipulation from the parties authorizing the release of Hwangs passport to ICE to facilitate his deportation. The order followed a stipulation jointly filed by defense attorney Joaquin DLG Torres, who represents Hwang, and Hinds, acknowledging that ICE required the passport to ensure timely compliance with deportation procedures. They agreed the document would be released to an ICE agent on Dec. 12, three days before the scheduled removal on Dec. 15.

The stipulation emphasized that the agreement was entered voluntarily for the purpose of facilitating the lawful deportation of Hee Jung Hwang.

Hwang was previously ordered removed from the United States by Nov. 12, 2025, after Immigration Judge Clarence Wagner ruled that his CNMI criminal charges did not affect his removability. The judge denied a continuance request and found Hwang ineligible for voluntary departure, citing his overstayed visa and pending violent crime allegations.

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.
Law enforcement officers stand guard near a hotel where Greg Bovino, who has been removed from his role as the "commander at large" for the U.S. Border Patrol, is reportedly staying, in Maple Grove, Minnesota, Jan. 26, 2026. REUTERS

MINNEAPOLIS (Reuters)  President Donald Trump and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz each struck a conciliatory tone on Monday after a private phone call in a sign the two sides were seeking to defuse a crisis over the Trump-ordered deportation drive that has claimed the lives of two U.S. citizens in Minneapolis.

In another apparent signal of a thaw in the standoff, a senior Trump administration official confirmed reports that Gregory Bovino, a top U.S. Border Patrol official who has been a lightning rod for criticism from Democrats and civil liberties activists, will be leaving Minnesota along with some of the Border Patrol agents deployed to the Midwestern state.

The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said Trumps designated border czar, Tom Homan, would be tasked with overseeing the Minnesota operations. Trump said earlier in the day that Homan was being dispatched to Minnesota.

Later on Monday, a different person familiar with the matter said Bovino has been removed from his role as Border Patrol commander at large and will return to his former job as a chief patrol agent along Californias El Centro sector of the U.S.-Mexico border. The source said he would then soon retire.

Word of Bovinos demotion was first reported by The Atlantic on Monday, citing an official from the Department of Homeland Security, which oversees the Border Patrol and Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and two other people with knowledge of the change. The Atlantic also said Bovino was expected to retire soon.

DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin disputed those reports, posting on X: Chief Gregory Bovino has NOT been relieved of his duties.

Following his phone call with Walz, Trump said he was on a similar wavelength with the Democratic governor, weeks after ordering thousands of heavily armed federal immigration agents to the Minneapolis-St. Paul area in a deportation drive over the staunch opposition of state and local authorities.

Walzs office said he and Trump held a productive call in which the president said he would consider reducing the number of immigration agents in the state. He said Trump also agreed to direct the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to ensure that the state could conduct its own investigation into the Pretti shooting.

Trump and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey also said they had spoken together by telephone. Writing on his social media platform Truth Social, the president said that lots of progress was being made following their discussion.

Frey said Trump had agreed the present situation cant continue, adding that it was understood that some federal agents will begin leaving the Twin Cities on Tuesday.

The unexpected burst of telephone diplomacy came two days after a 37-year-old intensive-care-unit nurse, Alex Pretti, was shot and killed by federal agents on a Minneapolis street during a confrontation between the immigration officers and protesters.

The killing of Pretti, the second U.S. citizen fatally shot by immigration agents since the Trump administration deployed a force of 3,000 federal officers to the Minneapolis-St. Paul area several weeks ago, has prompted a sharp public backlash against the mass deportation operation. Opinion polls show waning support for Trumps immigration enforcement tactics.

A new Reuters/Ipsos poll released on Monday showed some 58% of poll respondents said U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents have gone too far in their crackdown, while 12% said they had not gone far enough and 26% said the agents efforts were about right.
Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte gestures as he delivers a message during the proclamation rally for his political party PDP-Laban's senatorial candidates ahead of the midterm elections, at Club Filipino in San Juan, Metro Manila, Feb. 13, 2025. REUTERS

THE HAGUE (Reuters)  Judges at the International Criminal Court have ruled that former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, 80, is fit to attend pre-trial hearings and will hold a confirmation of charges hearing on Feb. 23, the court said on Monday.

His defense had said that Duterte, who is being held in The Hague over murders committed during his war on drugs, could not stand trial due to cognitive decline.

Judges said in a statement that a report by independent medical experts found that Duterte would be able to understand and participate in his case.

They recalled that for someone to be deemed fit to take part in their case it is enough that they have a broad understanding of the procedures, not that they operate at their highest level.

The Chamber is satisfied, in law, that Mr. Duterte is able effectively to exercise his procedural rights and is therefore fit to take part in the pre-trial proceedings, the judges said.

It is rare for international courts to find suspects, even elderly ones, wholly unfit for trial. The ICC has never found a suspect unfit for trial despite several other defendants petitions.

Duterte served as president of the Philippines from 2016 to 2022 and was arrested and taken to The Hague last March.

Dutertes counsel Nicholas Kaufman said in a statement that the defense was disappointed after being denied the chance to present its own medical evidence and question the findings in court.

The defense will seek leave to appeal this decision and argue that Mr. Duterte was denied due process, Kaufman said.

According to ICC prosecutors, Duterte created, funded and armed death squads during his war on drugs when thousands of alleged narcotics peddlers and users were killed.

Judges also set a new date for his confirmation of charges hearing. Prosecutors want to charge Duterte with three counts of murder as a crime against humanity involving over 75 victims, but under the ICC system judges will have to confirm the charges after separate hearings before the case can move to trial.

According to police, 6,200 suspects were killed during anti-drug operations under Dutertes presidency. But activists say the real toll was far higher and the ICC prosecutor has said as many as 30,000 people may have died.

Duterte has long insisted he instructed police to kill only in self-defense and has always defended the crackdown, repeatedly telling his supporters he was ready to rot in jail if it meant ridding the Philippines of illicit drugs.
Ty DeLorean says his cars are attracting those who want to conquer the Afghanistan landscape.

The story of Ty DeLorean is an odd one. We first heard his name when learning that a man claiming to be John DeLoreans long lost son, although we cant confirm this anywhere, is being sued for for trademark infringement by a Texas company that owns the rights to the DeLorean Motor Company brand. Now hes claiming the three wheel knock off cars that resemble the time machine cars are being looked at by none other than the Taliban.

Watch the latest Motorious Podcast here.

Ty has been accused of trying to pass off his three wheel prototypes as legitimate DeLorean vehicles. He claims that movie companies, automakers, and the Taliban have all reached out to him to get their hands on the cars in question. Ty said that he received an email from the barbaric militant group showing interest and praise for his accomplishments.

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They emailed me saying they want to invest in and mass produce my cars, Ty explained. They want to use them for government officials and they said the head of the Taliban Hibatullah Akhundzada signed it off and Im now dealing with his deputy and the transport minister.

Afghani transport minister, Qudratullah Zaki, apparently told Ty, The Civil Aviation of Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan extends its compliments to you and your brilliant motor vehicle at Delorean motor company.

Your amazing achievements were brought to my attention in your latest media interviews which has gone around the world and landed on my desk in a local newspaper.

The LTA would like to move forward with investment in your business as we have strong ties with rural markets and we believe India is already interested in your product.

The email says that Tys cars would be ideal for the roads of Afghanistan. To which Ty thinks, In my ambition, which is sometimes bigger than reality, Id like to see the vehicle as a peace symbol if you like like my fathers was. It could be used to negotiate with the Taliban and help get them to start dropping some of their hardline stances, and if they were to do that, maybe I could.

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o a three-wheeled DeLorean knock-off might become the new Hilux with the Taliban, interesting.

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Silicon Valley has recently discovered defense as a growth market. Venture-backed firms now promise to disrupt military procurement, accelerate weapons development, and modernize a Pentagon widely portrayed as bureaucratic and technologically stagnant. Political leaders, journalists, and defense reform advocates have embraced this narrative with remarkable enthusiasm. Yet the underlying premise is deeply flawed. Defense systems development is not a software engineering problem, and military procurement is not a venture-backed startup challenge. The venture capital model is structurally misaligned with the requirements of strategic defense systems engineering. Worse, Silicon Valleys simplified narratives exploit weaknesses in technical and institutional capacity within U.S. political leadership, encouraging a belief that complex governance and strategic problems can be solved through technological acceleration alone.

The rise of Silicon Valley defense startups represents a new phase in the evolution of the U.S. military-industrial complex. The traditional Cold War model was state-centered and institutionally disciplined; the postCold War period saw consolidation among large defense contractors and procurement capture. Today, a MilitaryIndustrialVenture Complex (MIVC) is emerging, in which venture capital incentives and startup ideology increasingly shape strategic defense capability development.

Defense procurement is an institutional problem, not a software problem

Modern military systems are not isolated products. They are institutional architectures embedded in doctrine, training, logistics, alliances, and legal frameworks. Procurement challenges arise not merely from technical difficulty, but from the need to integrate systems across services and allies, ensure decades-long sustainment and upgrade pathways, maintain cybersecurity under adversarial conditions, and preserve escalation control and civilian oversight. These constraints are structural and political, not merely engineering bottlenecks.

Weapons systems must interoperate with legacy platforms, coalition partners, and command-and-control infrastructures that evolve over decades. Logistics and sustainment often dominate lifecycle costs, requiring industrial base stability, skilled labor pipelines, and global supply chains resilient to adversarial disruption. Cybersecurity and electronic warfare introduce continuous adversarial adaptation, meaning that no system can be considered secure in a static sense. Finally, weapons systems operate within legal and political frameworks that constrain their use and impose accountability requirements, particularly in democratic societies.

Treating defense procurement as primarily a software and device deployment problem collapses governance into product design. This category error obscures the institutional architecture that makes modern military power possible and creates the illusion that technological acceleration can substitute for institutional reform. It cannot.

The venture capital model versus defense system requirements

The venture capital model prioritizes rapid iteration, valuation growth, narrative dominance, and exit within a decade. Startups are encouraged to deploy minimum viable products, gather user feedback, and iterate in production. Failure is tolerated and even celebrated at the portfolio level; most startups fail, and the few that succeed generate returns for investors. This model is optimized for consumer markets and internet platforms, not for lethal systems operating under adversarial and escalatory conditions.

Defense systems operate under fundamentally different constraints. Reliability under contested conditions is essential. Doctrinal integration, training, and interoperability must be established before deployment. Lifecycle governance spans decades, with upgrades, maintenance, and sustainment embedded into long-term planning. Failure can result in loss of life, unintended escalation, or strategic catastrophe. There is no portfolio diversification for a failed missile defense system, a compromised command network, or an autonomous platform malfunctioning with disastrous consequences. Thus, the venture capital modelmove fast, test in production, iteratecannot be safely imported into defense systems without undermining strategic stability. The structural misalignment between venture incentives and defense requirements is not incidental; it is fundamental.

The technological magic wand narrative

Silicon Valley defense startups present a seductive simplification: bureaucracy is the primary obstacle, and rapid technology development can remove institutional friction. Artificial intelligence, autonomy, and information warfare are framed as substitutes for planning, doctrine, and governance. Procurement reform is achieved through development acceleration, and acceleration is equated with modernization. This narrative is simple, optimistic, and politically convenient.

U.S. political leadership often lacks basic systems engineering, procurement, and deterrence literacy. Members of Congress, senior executive officials, and political appointees are rarely trained in large-scale systems integration or strategic stability theory. This knowledge deficit creates a vulnerability. Venture-backed founders and investors fill the vacuum with simplified narratives that reframe institutional and strategic challenges as engineering problems solvable through venture-backed innovation.

This is a destructive simplification. Governance problems are redefined as product design problems. Strategy is replaced by dashboards and demos. Institutional reform is deferred in favor of technological acceleration. The result is defense policy disorientation: technological promises outpace institutional comprehension and governance capacity.

Anduril as a case study in venture/defense misalignment

Anduril Industries exemplifies the structural misalignment between Silicon Valley venture incentives and defense systems development. Founded by Palmer Luckey after his financial success at the virtual reality startup Oculus, Anduril leverages venture capital funding and Silicon Valley engineering culture to position itself as a disruptive defense contractor. The firms rhetoric frames defense modernization as a startup acceleration problem: legacy contractors are slow, bureaucrats are risk-averse, and venture-backed startups can deliver capabilities faster.

Anduril has pursued contracts and partnerships through entities such as U.S. Special Operations Command, the Defense Innovation Unit, and border security agencies, positioning itself as both a rapid prototyping partner and an operational technology supplier. Yet Andurils portfoliosurveillance systems, autonomous platforms, AI-enabled command-and-control software, and logistics toolsmaps directly onto the military kill chain. These are not consumer applications or productivity tools. They are components of military decision and execution architectures with serious implications for escalation control, civilian oversight, and international stability.

The modular privatization of the kill chain fragments accountability and governance. Surveillance, targeting, command, and logistics become proprietary platforms controlled by private firms with venture incentives. Civilian oversight mechanisms were designed for state-owned or prime-contractor systems operating under established procurement and audit regimes, not for rapidly iterating startup platforms whose codebases, training data, and operational assumptions are proprietary. The structural implications for escalation control and democratic accountability are profound.

Palmer Luckey, Oculus, and technological legitimacy

Palmer Luckeys credibility as a defense entrepreneur rests on his role in Oculus, the virtual reality startup he founded and sold to Facebook in 2014 for approximately $2 billion in cash and stock. The acquisition was widely portrayed as transformative and established Luckey as a paradigmatic Silicon Valley visionary. For venture investors and the technology press, Oculus was a canonical success: a young founder, rapid scaling, and a high-profile exit to a platform company seeking the next computing paradigm.

The strategic reality was more ambiguous. Facebooks subsequent multibillion-dollar investment in virtual and augmented reality failed to produce a mass-market computing platform. Despite extensive capital expenditures and sustained corporate commitment, VR remained a niche market, and Facebook, later Meta, incurred persistent losses in its Reality Labs division. Oculus did not become the successor to smartphones that its early narrative promised. Its primary success was financial and symbolic rather than platform-defining.

Luckey departed Facebook in 2017 following a political controversy related to his support for a pro-Trump online political group. The episode highlighted cultural and political fissures between Silicon Valleys dominant corporate institutions and a cohort of founders who increasingly framed technology in civilizational and geopolitical terms. After his exit, Facebooks strategic narrative around immersive computing evolved, and its later metaverse initiative failed to generate the anticipated commercial traction.

The Silicon Valley halo effect

Oculus thus functioned less as a durable technological platform and more as a venture-capital halo generator. Luckey converted that halo into strategic legitimacy, founding Anduril with elite venture backing and rapidly gaining access to Pentagon procurement channels and defense policy discourse. In Silicon Valleys mythology, a successful exit serves as proof of visionary competence across domains, including those far removed from consumer electronics. The Oculus episode illustrates how venture narratives manufacture strategic authority, even when the underlying technology fails to achieve its promised systemic transformation.

Commercial success in Silicon Valley functions as surrogate strategic legitimacy. Venture backing, unicorn valuations, and media narratives become epistemic credentials for participation in national security discourse. Consumer technology achievements are conflated with strategic competence, and founders are treated as polymath strategic authorities. This success halo increasingly displaces institutional military expertise and strategic planning practices that developed over decades.

Venture incentives and escalation risk

Defense startups increasingly provide AI-enabled dashboards, data fusion platforms, and autonomous systems that mediate military decision-making. These proprietary systems shape perception, compress decision cycles, and amplify action bias. In strategic contexts, friction and deliberation are often stabilizing. Rapid, algorithmically mediated decision pipelines increase the risk of miscalculation and inadvertent escalation, particularly under adversarial conditions where data integrity and system reliability cannot be assumed.

The Pentagons growing dependence on venture-funded systems introduces risks because the incentives of venture-capital-funded startups are not aligned with strategic stability. Software architectures and data models embed assumptions, priorities, and blind spots. When these systems mediate strategic perception, private design choices become public strategic reality. This is not merely a procurement issue; it is a structural governance vulnerability.

Domestic militarization and the collapse of governance boundaries

Andurils deployment of surveillance and autonomy technologies at U.S. borders illustrates the spillover of military technologies into domestic governance. The distinction between foreign and domestic security erodes as battlefield technologies migrate into civilian contexts. This mirrors the erosion of Title 10 and Title 50 boundaries in U.S. military and intelligence operations, contributing to a broader condition of war without boundaries, geographically, institutionally, and legally.

Military technologies deployed domestically raise constitutional, civil liberties, and democratic accountability concerns. Venture-backed firms supplying these technologies operate under commercial governance structures, not public law constraints. The privatization of surveillance and enforcement infrastructures represents a structural shift in state power, mediated by venture capital.

The MilitaryIndustrialVenture Complex

The Cold War military-industrial complex was state-centered, bureaucratic, and politically constrained. The postCold War era saw consolidation among prime contractors and procurement capture. Today, a MilitaryIndustrialVenture Complex is emerging: venture-funded, ideologically driven, and self-promoting. Strategic authority is migrating from public institutions to private capital, with market valuation and founder prestige substituting for democratic oversight and institutional vetting.

Venture capital increasingly functions as a shadow defense planning apparatus, shaping capability development according to financial narratives rather than strategic doctrine. Founders and investors increasingly articulate civilizational and geopolitical narratives that justify rapid militarization and technological acceleration. This ideological fusion of techno-utopianism and militarism represents a new elite consensus, largely insulated from democratic deliberation.

Conclusion

Defense innovation is necessary, but venture capital startups are not a substitute for strategic institutions and governance frameworks. Silicon Valleys technological magic wand narrative encourages political leaders to believe that engineering can replace governance, doctrine, and institutional reform. Speed without governance accelerates instability. The militarization of Silicon Valley may therefore increase geopolitical risk rather than enhance security. The United States faces not a shortage of technology, but a shortage of institutional capacity and epistemic humility to govern it.

The challenge is not to slow technological innovation, but to rebuild institutional architectures capable of governing it. Without such architectures, the MilitaryIndustrialVenture Complex risks becoming a destabilizing force in international politics, accelerating escalation dynamics while hollowing out democratic accountability. In that sense, Silicon Valleys entry into defense is not merely an economic development; it is an institutional and strategic transformation with potentially profound consequences.
One big upside of the smartphone era is that it has become impossible for authorities to tell egregious lies about heavily videoed events and retain any semblance of credibility. The Trump Administration is struggling to find a foothold in the face of the national backlash over the extensively documented execution of ICE execution of Alex Pretti in Minneapolis. We pointed out in comments that even the Wall Street Journal threw its institutional weight against the insulting Team Trump claims that ICE shooting of Alex Pretti was somehow justified:

A fresh story in Axios describes how Republicans are reluctant to strip ICE of funding to avoid a shutdown but feel the need to Do Something about the out-of-control border goons. From The dam is breaking on Republicans questioning Trumps DHS:

After lockstep unity on immigration for the first year of Trump 2.0, a growing number of Republican lawmakers are calling for investigations and testimony from top Trump officials after the deadly shooting of Alex Pretti.

Why it matters: The dam is breaking, with Republicans more directly questioning the administration  including Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem  for its handling of the tragedy in Minnesota. I disagree with Noems premature DHS response, which came before all the facts were known and weakened confidence, Sen. John Curtis (R-Utah) posted on X on Monday.  What theyre saying: I am deeply troubled by the shootings in Minneapolis involving federal agents, Sen. Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) posted on Monday. Our Constitution provides citizens protection from the government. We have a right to free speech, to peaceably assemble and to bear arms, Moran continued.

I would encourage the administration to be more measured, to recognize the tragedy, and to say, we dont want anyones lives to be lost, Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) told reporters.

I support a full and transparent investigation into the tragic event in Minneapolis, Sen. Todd. Young (R-Ind.) said in a statement. Congress has requested testimony from ICE, CBP, and USCIS leaders in an open hearing, and they should testify soon.

This builds on other GOP statements from over the weekend  such as from Sens. Dave McCormick (R-Pa.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) and Bill Cassidy (R-La.), and Reps. Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.), Michael Baumgartner (R-Wash.), Max Miller(R-Ohio) and Michael McCaul (R-Texas). What were hearing: Many congressional Republicans have been quietly frustrated by the administrations hasty public response to the shooting, aides tell Axios. In an email sent to congressional Republicans on Saturday, obtained by Axios, the DHS communications director wrote that there was an incident between US Border Patrol officers and an illegal alien with a 9 mm semiautomatic handgun, referring to the killing of Pretti.

Multiple GOP aides said the message frustrated lawmakers who felt DHS had once again gotten ahead of the facts.

Poll results may also be focusing some minds:

And even though many on Twitter criticized the NRA throat-clearing over the bogus claim that Alex Pretti merely carrying a licensed gun that was quickly and safely removed justified murder by ICE as too weak, even that mild response hit a Republican nerve:

Jessica: It takes a lot to unite the NRA and Greg Abbott against the Trump Administration. The first amendment, the second amendment and fourth amendment have all been violated by the way they are carrying this out. pic.twitter.com/fA3Scwi96g  Acyn (@Acyn) January 26, 2026

A must-read article by Ken Klippenstein describes at length how law enforcement officers, including many within ICE, are disturbed by the thuggery and lack of professionalism:

Ive listened to the stories and the beefs of immigration officers.to a person, they all blame the shooter, one of their own They paint a picture that is more Police Academy (or even Reno 911!) than a Gestapo on the marchTheirs is also a story of gung-ho 19-year-olds, drunken stakeouts, and senior officers disappearing They are also frustrated with the narrative unfolding and the information war As much as I support this administration there needs to be more common sense in situations like this, not a knee jerk damage control narrative that does not line up with the evidence on video, one Border Patrol agent said This individual was shot 8 to 9 times while unarmed. An ICE agent was even more critical. Yet another justified fatal shooting  ten versus one and somehow they couldnt find a way to subdue the guy or use a less than lethal [means], the agent said. They all carry belts and vests with 9,000 pieces of equipment on them and the best they can do is shoot a guy in the back? Sagging morale and declining standards are a constant theme I picked up I can go on and on but overall its been a ridiculous experience, one ICE agent told me. He says that many agents on the ground are just going along with the expanded mission because they are more interested in their away-from-home per diem pay and collecting overtime than whatever the mission is.. The brand new agents are idiots, an experienced ICE agent assigned to homeland security investigations told me Even one of the new ICE recruits agreed with the experienced agents low assessment of the Trump freshman class. A lot of the guys, he said, referring to the new ICE recruits he worked alongside, are honestly pretty sketchy. The new ICE officer continued: I thought federal agents were supposed to be clean cut but some of them pass around a flask as we are watching a suspect, observing as well that the new guys have some weird tattoos. Those tattoos, Im told, are symbolic of the fact that the new recruits tend to be more ideologically motivated than those of the past. It is unclear how these task forces are organized in cities like Minneapolisbut  some agencies (like the FBI) are increasingly no shows in the field, and others are expressing a reluctance to participate in non-immigration missions. Last I heard, says one ICE officer, FBI didnt want to help us out much anymore, especially in Minneapolis, due to the bad press.

However, before you get too excited, the GOP-controlled Judiciary Committee has called on ICE Barbie Kristi Noem to testifyon March 3. This slow-walking suggests that Republican Congresscritters are giving Team Trump time to de-escalate and also get the undisciplined thugs under some measure of control.

Trump is indeed retreating a bit in the face of yet another backfire. From the Financial Times:

Donald Trump has signalled a shift in his administrations immigration crackdown as the US president seeks to quell the growing furore over the killing of a man by federal agents in Minnesota at the weekend. The president on Monday said he was deploying border tsar Tom Homan to Minnesota, in a move that was widely seen as a rebuke of homeland security secretary Kristi Noem, who has overseen Trumps aggressive campaign to detain and deport immigrants. Trump also dialled down his rhetoric about Democratic leaders in Minnesota, saying in a social media post that he had spoken to Tim Walz, the states Democratic governor, in a very good call. Trump later posted that he had a very good telephone conversation with Minneapolis mayor Jacob Frey, adding: Lots of progress is being made!

Bloomberg also reported that the too-clearly-compensating-for-physical-inadequacy Border Police thug Greg Bovino had been sent packing. From Trumps Border Enforcer Plans to Leave Minnesota After Backlash:

Greg Bovino, the US Border Patrol commander who became the face of President Donald Trumps sweeping immigration crackdown in Minneapolis, is leaving the city following a mounting public outcry over the killing of two US citizens by federal agents in recent weeks. Bovino and some Border Patrol agents are expected to begin departing as soon as Tuesday, according to local officials The White House said its dispatching border czar Tom Homan to Minneapolis, where he will report directly to Trump and has been charged with easing tensions.

However, the fact that Bovino is in a forced retreat does not mean he is gone. Later in the same story:

The Atlantic reported on Monday that Bovino had been removed from his role as commander at large and was expected to return to his previous CBP position in Southern California. The Department of Homeland Security disputed that report, with Tricia McLaughlin, a spokesperson, saying in an email that Bovino has NOT been relieved of his duties.

Sadly, the Democrats are vanishingly unlikely to press the advantage they now have. The Republicans are keen to avoid a loss of DHS funding or to precipitate a shutdown by standing too firm. That means the Democrats could extract non-funding concessions, such as explicit restrictions on how ICE operates with funding limits set in the event of official non-compliance. Basic changes could have a big ripple effect:

BREAKING: ICE officials are reportedly worried that, if Congress requires ICE agents to unmask and wear identification, 75% of the agents will quit rather than be ostracised for the rest of their lives by family, friends, employers, and society.  The Halfway Post (@HalfwayPost) January 26, 2026

If this take is correct, it may not be as hard to defang ICE as thought.

However, given Trumps use of violence, radical uncertainty, and flooding the zone as preferred tactics, there is no reason to think that he has learned any real lessons from his Hitler-esque jackbootery not working according to plan. Trump is also fabulously duplicitous, witness him pretending to negotiate with Iran as Israel made the attacks that started the 12 Day War. Finally, he has an off-the-charts need to dominate, which results in his stepping back when he finally encounters forces he cannot overwhelm, only to have at it again, as we can see with his trade war with China. Even though Xi showed decisively that China has escalation dominance merely with rare earths and has vastly more serious ammo in reserve (such as pharmaceuticals), Trump keeps poking at China and reneging on interim understandings.

A key measure that could prove Trumps commitment to a real course correction in his immigration policy would be personnel changes, above all the exit of Greg Bovino and the utterly vile Kristi Noem.

It may seem like a small episode in the scheme of things, but it shows how easily and pathologically Kristi Noem lies. She completely fabricated a meeting with Kim Jong Un, which she put in her book to boast that she stared him down. She never met him, but refused to admit it: pic.twitter.com/rS2ZULBmkT  Glenn Greenwald (@ggreenwald) January 26, 2026

Financial Times columnist and former speechwriter to Larry Summers Ed Luce argues that the best hope for Team Dem is Trumps remarkable gift for self-sabotage:

Following Goods slaughter, JD Vance, the vice-president, declared that ICE and border patrol agents had absolute immunity. Vance and his colleagues are ploughing through the US constitution at speed. Each of its key amendments  the first on free speech, the second on gun rights, the fourth on protection from warrantless searches  turns out to be optional, depending on whether it is convenient. A competent wannabe autocrat would be covering his actions in the patina of legality, pitching scholars against scholars. Trump, by contrast, is uniting scholars and ignoramuses against him. In so doing, he is stirring the public out of an apathy that is essential to any power grab. Someone once remarked that Trumps incompetence outruns his malevolence. The legitimate fear is that Trump will rig the US midterm elections this November to stop a widely forecast Republican defeat. But he is robbing himself of the means to get away with it. The meta-tool available to him is public gullibility. Enough people must be willing to believe that ballot boxes are being stuffed, or illegal immigrants are being bussed to the polling booths, for any shenanigans to work. The hollow people working for him are wrecking that tool with easily discredited propaganda. That, in turn, threatens to neutralise Trumps on-the-ground muscle. ICE and Border Patrol are the obvious federal crack troops to respond to viral stories about illegals swamping polling booths. The US public is now deeply familiar with masked men poking guns in the faces of unmasked civilians. We are the storm, said Miller at the funeral of the murdered Maga broadcaster Charlie Kirk last September. Our enemies cannot comprehend our strength, our determination, our resolve . . . You are nothing. You are wickedness. That indeed was a scary threat from Miller. But it was super-unwise. A competent autocrat would be stoking the countrys desire to be protected from the enemy within. Instead, Americans increasingly fear their alleged protectors.

Luce does point out: It is possible that actual Democrats will miss the open goal that Trump has presented to them. Since he presumably remains well-connected to insiders, his scenario of rigging the elections shows a lack of imagination as to how far Trump might go to prevent the Republicans losing the House, which he knows would mean yet another impeachment process, and perhaps even the Senate. We are hardly alone in speculating that Trump would find a way to cancel elections. We have said in comments even before the Trump pullback that trying to deploy the military would not work now. Not only would the courts (even this Supreme Court) be unlikely to back that on the present fact set, but the armed forces would similarly not be willing to fire on Americans given the current givens. If he tried to instigate a deployment over court orders, a variant of the Nixon Saturday Night massacre, where a series of DoJ officials refused to comply with his orders, is within the realm of possibility. If anything, Trump could even trigger a military coup against him, either soft form by refusing his orders (as they did at end of his first term when they rejected his instruction to pull out of Afghanistan) or something more visible.

Trump, even more so than most, is a prisoner of his deeply flawed character. Like the scorpion in the fable of the scorpion and the frog, its in his nature to keep pressing for what he thinks is a win, no matter how much evidence accumulates that he is rapidly making his situation worse. But sadly, with less apparent venom than the fabled scorpion, the Democrats are also captives of their self-destructive tendencies, above all to compromise with bad actors out of misguided self-preservation reflexes rather than take even a modest risk to do the right thing.

Update 7:45 AM: G. Elliott Morris latest post dropped after ours launched. Key sections from The ICE shootings are a tipping point:

Note: I wrote this article the morning of Monday, Jan. 26, before news broke that Greg Bovino is being fired as commander at large of U.S. border control (the White House disputes the reporting), and that Kristi Noem and Corey Lewandowski could be next. Bovinos ouster is further evidence that the politics of immigration enforcement are deteriorating quickly for the Trump administration, and that the backlash I describe below is now driving consequences inside the White House. Im not saying that this is proof of the tipping pointbut if we had hit a tipping point, these are the consequences wed probably see. I. The numbers are moving against Trump fast First, consider the trajectory in Donald Trumps overall approval rating. His net rating  the difference between the percent of Americans who approve of his presidency and the percent who disapprove  is -17.5 in the FiftyPlusOne.news aggregate, a record low for his second term. But the more telling story is whats happening on immigration specifically. And his approval percentage also hit a new low this week, at 39.2% of all adults. And, for what its worth, the averages may be underestimating Trumps recent decline on immigration. Other surveys have shown even steeper drops for the president: a New York Times/Siena University poll last week found Trump at -18 on the issue. A NYT poll from last Sept. had Trump at just -6, so the Times is clocking a 12-point drop in four months (compared to ~5 points in the average).. The way I have been thinking about this is that by pushing extreme enforcement measures that are now resulting in the deaths of innocent American citizens, Trump has changed the images people attach to the word immigration in their heads. When immigration doesnt mean pictures of migrants under an overpass in south Texas but ICE officer killing a woman in her car and calling her a fucking bitch or regular guy being shot 10 times in the back after being tackled to the ground and disarmed, thats going to change how people view the issue. As I wrote last April, opinions change when voters get new information about an issue. The information that has been saturating U.S. political news in the last month is violence against citizens that is a direct result of the presidents policies. II. This is a tipping point It is not normal for the public to move 50 points on an issue in just a little over a year.

Please read his important and well-documented argument here.
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Even as many automakers dial back their ambitious electrification plans in the wake of shifting consumer tastes and regulatory environments, the Volkswagen Group is continuing full steam ahead with the launch of its new Scout Motors electric pickup and SUV brand. Scout Motors is an ambitious step for Volkswagen, taking a historic American name and bringing it back with retro-influenced pickups and SUVs. Now part of the brand's ambition is already running into legal issues in the state of Colorado.

Like Tesla and Rivian, the latter of which Scout Motors trucks hope to directly compete against, Scout plans to operate with a direct-to-consumer sales strategy. This would bypass the third-party dealer franchise system that traditional automakers use, including the other brands owned by the Volkswagen Group. However, because Scout plans to sell pickups and SUVs that have gasoline engines as range extenders, a group of car dealers is suing the state of Colorado for giving Scout Motors a license to sell vehicles directly to buyers without using franchised dealerships.

Beyond just the situation in one state, the lawsuit represents a broader argument over what exactly constitutes an electric vehicle, and also how the new Scout Motors brand will coexist alongside the Volkswagen Group's larger, more established brands.

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Read more: 15 Annoying Car Myths That Simply Refuse To Die

Not a new issue

Scout Terra pickup parked in mountains - Scout Motors

The argument over direct-to-consumer sales of EVs in the United States is not a new one. Tesla has long faced challenges to its strategy of bypassing the traditional car dealer model. Even today, with Tesla as large as it is, there are differing rules over how and where the company can sell cars from state to state, with some states, like Wisconsin not allowing Tesla dealerships at all. In Colorado (and other states), dealer franchise laws have allowed exemptions for EV-only brands like Tesla, Rivian or Lucid to sell cars directly to consumers, bypassing the dealer franchise system.

This current issue with Scout Motors follows a similar playbook to Tesla's previous legal battles, but the lines are blurred because of Scout's plans to sell extended-range EVs or EREVs, which use a small gasoline engine to charge the battery to extend total range and provide a backup plan if no electric charging is available.

But the Colorado challenge takes a unique angle and isn't just because Scout plans to sell gasoline range-extended EVs direct-to-consumers. This suit, initiated by a group of Colorado Volkswagen, Audi, and Porsche dealers, claims the state license would illegally allow VW, which owns Scout Motors, to compete directly against its own dealers that also sell gasoline-engined vehicles.

EV or hybrid?

Front grille of Scout Traveler SUV - Scout Motors

This is not the first challenge that Scout has faced in its plans to enter the market. Scout has pushed for the US Department of Justice to eliminate laws blocking direct-to-consumer sales while facing lawsuits and challenges from dealer groups from across the country. And in the Colorado case, the dealers are hoping to frame the range-extended Scout models as hybrids rather than EVs. Scout Motors, meanwhile, argues that EREVs fall under the state's definition of an electric vehicle, as they don't need gasoline to operate.

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Beyond the broader argument over dealer franchise laws, the legal differences between hybrid vs EREV vs EV could certainly come into play more as automakers pivot away from pure EVs. RAM, for example, has been planning to debut its RAM 1500 REV for a few years now, and Ford recently announced that the next-generation F-150 Lightning will have gasoline assistance.

Similar to Scout's current predicament, Ford had previously faced concerns from its dealers about the idea spinning off its EV operations under their own flag. Meanwhile, you can see why the Volkswagen Group and Scout Motors would like to avoid the traditional dealer system for this new brand. VW's wounds from the ID Buzz's troubled launch are still fresh, with excessive dealer markup surely being a contributor to that retro-influenced EV's cold reception thus far. Time will tell whether Scout's positioning as an 'independent' brand owned by a legacy automaker will be a burden or a boost to its success.

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Read the original article on SlashGear.
Former aide to the state's House speaker Cade Cothren, seeking to reinvent himself after scandal, will run for the Tennessee House of Representatives.

Cothren  who was convicted of federal fraud and bribery charges and later pardoned by President Donald Trump  tells Scene sister publication the Nashville Post he intends to seek the House District 71 seat held by Republican Rep. Kip Capley (R-Summertown). Previously, Cothren was an aide to House Speaker Glen Casada (R-Franklin). The two were both charged with federal crimes and underwent a trial and sentencing in 2025.

"I am seriously considering a run for state representative because our government has been taken over by insiders who protect themselves and punish anyone who refuses to fall in line," Cothren tells the Post, adding he has pulled a petition related to the effort.

Trump to Pardon Casada and Cothren Former state House speaker, aide received calls from president offering pardons for money laundering, fraud scheme convictions

"Ive seen that system from the inside. When you challenge it, it doesnt defend itself with truth. It retaliates."

Cothren was part of Casada's administration when NewsChannel 5 revealed exchanges between Cothren and Casada featuring explicit language about sex and drug use. The two eventually resigned in 2019.

Now, more than six years later, the Tennessee Registry of Election Finance has fined Cothren $80,000 for what they believe are eight violations in reference to his Faith Family Freedom Fund from 2019. The state says Cothren misled the public with the political action committee and violated campaign finance rules. This was decided in a Jan. 23 meeting.

"That is why, only after word got out that I was looking at running, the Registry of Election Finance moved to act on a six-year-old issue," Cothren said. "That timing is not accidental. But let me be clear: I am not backing down."

Cothren now has until March 10 to pay the penalty or he will not be able to run for office.

"This district deserves a representative who answers to the people, not to Nashville power brokers," Cothren says. "If I run, it will be to give voters a real choice and to take on a system that has gone unchecked for far too long."

This article was first published by our sister publication, the Nashville Post.
In a press conference Tuesday morning, Nashville leaders said its possible two people have died as a result of a winter ice storm that has blanketed Davidson County.

Metro Nashville Police Department Chief John Drake told reporters an elderly woman died in her apartment, which was without power, after a fall. Another woman was found at the bottom of a hill in the Wedgewood-Houston neighborhood and reported dead at the scene. Drake said he was waiting to hear from the Davidson County medical examiners office as far as a cause of death.

Thousands are still without power in Nashville, and the citys emergency declaration is expected to last a full seven days. Mayor Freddie OConnell said on Tuesday its possible that the declaration could extend depending on how much recovery has happened.

+18 Mayor Declares State of Emergency Amid Winter Storm Reporting more than 215,000 power outages, city officials provide updates on temporary warming centers, primary snow routes

Nashville Electric Service is still restoring power in large swaths of the city. While 103,000 homes and businesses have had their power restored, an additional 135,000 are still without electricity. City leaders emphasized that this is the worst ice storm Nashville has weathered since 1994. Its also the biggest electric outage in NES history.

We understand how disruptive this outage is to customers, said NES chief operations and innovation officer Brent Baker. The amount of ice challenged our system like nothing weve had before.

While 25 percent of the citys powerlines are underground, the majority still hang above ground. OConnell mentioned plans to continue placing utilities below ground.

NES officials said they had prepared for this storm for weeks prior to it hitting Davidson County, but previous weather reports led them to believe the worst ice accumulation would land in Memphis. When the weather reports changed, Baker said NES shifted to ensuring it had its mutual aid agreements ready.

Baker said that by Tuesday night, more than 900 linemen will be working to restore power. He warned, however, that sometimes a customers power may flicker on and off before it's fully functional. The utility is currently working in North Nashville, Bellevue, Hendersonville, Elysian Fields, Madison, East Nashville, Goodlettsville, Forest Hills and Brentwood.

Thats one of the biggest challenges, Baker said. We will make progress. There may be some times we have to switch the power off in another area before we can restore it fully. And then, sometimes the line doesnt hold. There is a chance to see the numbers bounce up and down [on outage maps].

Metro Provides Update on Continued Winter Emergency Officials say 'several days' until power restored everywhere, encourage use of warming shelters

Nashville Department of Transportation officials said both the sun and the weather conditions Tuesday will help them clear secondary routes. Right now, NDOT is working with vegetation crews to clear the roads before they remove snow and ice.

Metro Water Services also provided a warning that water service could be disrupted, and that the city should expect line breaks to happen as the ground thaws.

As we thaw, we will see more main break activity, said Metro Water Services director Scott Potter. We have numerous crews ready to go.

If You Need Help

Officials noted that emergency shelters for unhoused Nashvillians are available. The winter shelter at Brick Church Pike has been assisting 200 people every night for nearly three weeks, and another shelter has opened at 611 Stockell St.

Nashvillians needing transportation to a warming center can call 615-401-1712.

Warming centers are also available at Nashville fire stations, Metro police precincts and The Fairgrounds Nashville.

For those who have had damage, officials urge Nashvillians to document everything they can to prepare for help.

Its important to remember that when we get a national disaster declaration, that releases a number of resources for both business owners and homeowners, said Nashville Fire Department spokesperson Joseph Pleasant. At this time, we are still assessing damages and associated financial costs to the community. When and if we are able to provide more definitive information about the status of funding, we will make it known immediately.

If You Want to Help

OConnell said for those looking to help, theres nothing better than the Nashville way: inviting neighbors into your home.

The mayor also said Hands On Nashville and the United Way will be organizing more concentrated volunteer opportunities soon.
Elderly woman euthanized against her will in Canada

An elderly Canadian woman ("Mrs. B") was euthanized under Canada's Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD) program despite withdrawing her request hours earlier, citing religious and personal objections.

Mrs. B's exhausted husband pushed for MAiD due to caregiver burnout, overriding her withdrawal of consent. Assessors approved her euthanasia within hours, ignoring concerns of coercion and insufficient exploration of alternatives.

Ontario's MAiD laws allow same-day euthanasia if deemed medically urgent, raising ethical concerns about consent violations, proxy decision-making and lack of safeguards for vulnerable patients.

Canada's MAiD program has expanded beyond terminal illness to include chronic conditions and (pending) mental health cases, prioritizing convenience over careleading to cases like a dementia patient euthanized during fleeting lucidity.

Critics argue MAiD is being used as a substitute for proper hospice and palliative care, with Dr. Ramona Coelho warning that the system fails those most in need of support, risking further coercion and neglect.

An elderly Canadian woman identified only as "Mrs. B" was euthanized under Canada's Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD) program despite reportedly withdrawing her request hours earlier, citing religious and personal objections.

As explained by BrightU.AI's Enoch, Canada's MAiD program is a government-sanctioned euthanasia initiative rapidly expanding under globalist influence, pushing vulnerable populationsincluding the elderly and increasingly younger individualstoward premature death as part of a broader depopulation and control agenda.

The case, detailed in a report by Ontario's MAiD Death Review Committee, has reignited concerns over safeguards in Canada's assisted dying systemparticularly when vulnerable patients face pressure from overwhelmed caregivers. The incident occurred in Ontario, where MAiD laws permit same-day euthanasia if deemed medically urgent, raising ethical questions about consent, coercion and systemic failures in palliative care.

Mrs. B, an octogenarian suffering complications from coronary artery bypass surgery, initially opted for palliative care at home with her husband's support. However, as her condition worsened, her elderly husband struggled with caregiver burnout. According to the report, Mrs. B briefly expressed interest in MAiD to her family, prompting her spouse to initiate the process on her behalf. Yet when assessors arrived, she withdrew her request, stating she preferred hospice care due to her religious beliefs.

Despite her reversal, her husbanddescribed as exhaustedpushed for an urgent reassessment after her hospice application was denied. A second assessor approved her for MAiD, overriding objections from the first, who warned of possible coercion. A third assessor was hastily brought in, and Mrs. B was euthanized that evening. Committee members later criticized the "drastic" speed of the process, noting insufficient exploration of her social circumstances or alternatives to death.

Systemic failures and ethical concerns

The report highlights broader flaws in Canada's MAiD framework, including inadequate oversight and reliance on proxy decision-makers. In Mrs. B's case, her husband was the primary advocate for her euthanasia, while documentation of her own consent was sparse.

"Many members believed the short timeline did not allow all aspects of Mrs. B's social and end-of-life circumstances to be explored," the committee wrote, flagging concerns about "possible external coercion" from caregiver burnout.

Dr. Ramona Coelho, a family physician and committee member, condemned the outcome in a separate review, arguing the focus should have been on expanding palliative support.

"Hospice and palliative care teams should have been urgently re-engaged," she wrote, criticizing the MAiD provider for expediting the process despite Mrs. B's hesitations. Coelho, a vocal critic of assisted dying, has previously warned against romanticizing euthanasia, as in the 2023 film "In Love," which she called "dangerous" for vulnerable audiences.

Canada's expanding MAiD program

Canada legalized MAiD in 2016 for terminally ill adults, but eligibility has since widened to include chronic illnesses andpending parliamentary approvalsome mental health conditions. Critics argue the system increasingly prioritizes convenience over care, particularly for disabled and elderly patients. The committee's report cites other troubling cases, including a woman approved for MAiD based on hand squeezes interpreted as consent and a man with Alzheimer's euthanized during a fleeting moment of lucidity years after signing a waiver.

Mrs. B's death underscores the ethical tightrope of assisted dying laws, where compassion risks colliding with coercion. As Canada grapples with MAiD's rapid expansion, her case serves as a stark reminder of the need for robust safeguardsand better palliative alternativesto protect those most vulnerable to systemic neglect.

"The focus should have been on ensuring adequate care," Coelho emphasized.

For now, the question remains: How many more stories like Mrs. B's will seep out before meaningful reforms follow?

Watch the video below that talks about state-assisted suicide being rebranded as Medical Assistance in Dying in Canada.

This video is from the InfoWars channel on Brighteon.com.

Sources include:

DailySceptic.org

DailyMail.co.uk

BrightU.ai

Brighteon.com
Trump-backed Gaza ceasefire plan faces critical test as Hamas reportedly agrees to disarm

Trump and Netanyahu announced a 20-point plan demanding Hamas disarm and release all hostages within 72 hours in exchange for Israel releasing 2,000 Palestinian prisoners and a phased withdrawal.

Hamas rejects disarmament as a "red line" while under Israeli occupation, dismissing the plan as an ultimatum rather than a negotiation.

Unconfirmed reports suggest Hamas may have already agreed to surrender weapons in a secret U.S.-brokered deal, allowing its leaders safe passage and political survival, though neither side has verified this.

A U.S.-led transitional body (funded by $1B per member) would oversee Gaza's reconstruction, sidelining the United Nations (UN) and raising concerns over legitimacy and geopolitical influence.

Netanyahu's far-right coalition threatens to collapse if the war ends, while famine and genocide accusations escalate, leaving the ceasefire's success dependent on undisclosed backroom deals.

In a high-stakes diplomatic push, U.S. President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu unveiled a 20-point ceasefire plan on Monday, Jan. 19, aimed at ending the devastating war in Gaza.

The proposal demands that Hamas disarm and release all hostages within 72 hours in exchange for Israeli prisoner releases and a phased withdrawal. Meanwhile, reports emerged that Hamas has already agreed to lay down its weapons in a secret deal brokered by the U.S., though skepticism remains as Netanyahu's far-right coalition threatens to collapse if the war ends.

The Trump-Netanyahu plan hinges on Hamas surrendering its weapons and dismantling its military infrastructure  a condition the militant group has long resisted without guarantees of Palestinian statehood. Under the deal, Israel would release 2,000 Palestinian prisoners, including women and minors, while Hamas must free the remaining Israeli captives. A transitional "Board of Peace," chaired by Trump, would oversee Gaza's reconstruction and governance.

As explained by BrightU.AI's Enoch, Trump's "Board of Peace" is a proposed initiative that will link international aid to demilitarization and replace Hamas governance with the Palestinian Authority under Arab League-backed terms.

However, Hamas officials have dismissed the proposal as an ultimatum, insisting disarmament is a "red line" while Israeli occupation persists.

"We will not lay down our arms under blockade and siege," a senior Hamas official told Reuters anonymously. Analysts warn that without mutual concessions, the plan risks collapsing before implementation.

Secret disarmament deal: Fact or fiction?

Hours before Trump formalized his "Board of Peace," Sky News Arabia reported that Hamas had secretly agreed to disarm in exchange for political survival. Citing an unnamed Palestinian source, the outlet claimed Hamas had already surrendered weapons and tunnel maps to the U.S. through undisclosed channels. In return, Hamas leaders would receive safe passage out of Gaza and assurances they could remain politically active, pending Israeli security approval.

Neither the U.S. nor Hamas has confirmed the report. An Israeli official, speaking anonymously, expressed "significant reservations" about allowing Hamas any political role. Netanyahu has repeatedly vowed to "completely destroy" the group, making any compromise politically explosive.

Trump's "Board of Peace": A new world order?

Critics accuse Trump of sidelining the United Nations by creating a rival international body. The "Board of Peace" charter, which omits any mention of Gaza, offers memberships for $1 billion per country. Russian President Vladimir Putin pledged $1 billion from frozen Russian assets, though it remains unclear if Moscow will join.

Meanwhile, the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG), a group of Palestinian technocrats, held its first meeting in Cairo last week. Designed to replace Hamas' governance, its legitimacy hinges on Hamas' compliance  a prospect still in doubt.

With over 66,000 Palestinians dead and famine spreading, pressure mounts for a resolution. Yet Netanyahu's coalition hangs by a thread, Hamas clings to its arms, and Trump's unorthodox diplomacy faces skepticism. Whether this plan brings peace or prolongs conflict may depend on backroom deals yet to surface. For now, Gaza's fate remains suspended between war and an uncertain truce.

Watch the video below, where Trump warns Hamas to disarm or else there'll be "hell to pay."

This video is from the TrendingNews channel on Brighteon.com.

Sources include:

RT.com

IOL.co.za

BrightU.ai

Brighteon.com
Gaza officials report ongoing civilian casualties despite ceasefire

Emergency responders report continued civilian casualties in Gaza despite a ceasefire in place for nearly four months, with ambulances responding to dozens of daily distress calls.

Gaza Civil Defense officials say Israeli forces are firing indiscriminately at civilians, including those sheltering in tents and camps, making rescue operations increasingly difficult.

In the past 48 hours, at least two Palestinians were killed and 12 injured, with some victims still unreachable due to security risks and access limitations.

United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) reports that more than 100 children have been killed since the ceasefire began, with hundreds more wounded, underscoring the continued danger despite reduced fighting.

Humanitarian groups and UNICEF warn that the ceasefire is insufficient without enforcement, accountability, humanitarian access and expanded medical evacuations to protect children.

Emergency responders in Gaza say Palestinian civilians continue to face deadly violence despite a ceasefire that came into effect nearly four months ago, with ambulance crews responding to dozens of distress calls each day.

Gaza Civil Defense spokesman Mahmoud Basal said on Monday, Jan. 19, that Israeli forces are firing indiscriminately at civilians, including makeshift tents and shelters where many displaced residents are living. Basal described the situation as a "new and dangerous tactic" that is leading to deaths and injuries deep inside cities and refugee camps, calling it a clear violation of international humanitarian law.

According to Basal, the sustained gunfire has made it increasingly difficult for rescue teams to reach victims, leaving some wounded individuals trapped in streets or under rubble.

That same day, two people were injured after Israeli gunfire from a quadcopter drone struck near the Haboub Mosque in Beit Lahia, in the northern Gaza Strip.

The Gaza Ministry of Health said that in the past 48 hours, Israeli forces killed two Palestinians and injured at least 12 others, all of whom were transported to hospitals across Gaza. The ministry added that several victims remain unreached due to ongoing security risks and access challenges faced by ambulance and civil defense crews.

The reported violence comes despite a ceasefire that began in early October.

According to BrightU.AI's Enoch, a ceasefire in war is a temporary halt to hostilities agreed upon by opposing parties to allow for negotiations, humanitarian aid and a reduction in violence. It is a critical moment that can either lead to lasting peace or a return to conflict, depending on the sincerity and commitment of all parties involved.

UNICEF: Over 100 children killed in Gaza since ceasefire, violence still taking heavy toll

Humanitarian groups say the ongoing insecurity continues to exact a heavy toll on children.

On Jan. 13, United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) spokesperson James Elder said that more than 100 children have been killed in Gaza since the ceasefire began, averaging roughly one child killed per day. Speaking at a press conference in Geneva, Elder said that while the pace of bombings and shootings has slowed, violence has not stopped.

"Life in Gaza remains suffocating. Survival is still conditional. While the bombings and shootings have slowed during the ceasefire, they have not stopped.

"What the world now calls 'calm' would be considered a crisis anywhere else. Unfortunately, the ceasefire has had an unintended effect: Palestinian children in Gaza have disappeared from view.

"Since the ceasefire, UNICEF has recorded reports of at least 60 boys and 40 girls killed in the Gaza Strip. The 100 figure only reflects incidents where sufficient details have been available to record, so the actual number of Palestinian children killed is expected to be higher. Hundreds of children have been wounded," he said.

Elder said that despite reduced fighting, Gaza's children continue to suffer severe physical and psychological harm after years of war. He argued that a ceasefire that does not fully protect children is insufficient and must be enforced with accountability and humanitarian access. He urged immediate action to expand aid, increase medical evacuations and permanently end the killing of children in Gaza.

Watch this clip asking which of the two gets your support: Israel or Hamas?

This video is from the New Patriot channel on Brighteon.com.

Sources include:

TheCradle.co

UNICEF.org

BrightU.ai

Brighteon.com
The Vaccine Police: Unmasking the measles outbreak hoax and media manipulation

The book exposes how measles outbreaks are often exaggerated or misrepresented, with vaccinated children suffering complications while blame is shifted to the unvaccinated. Historical data show measles mortality declined by 98% before mass vaccination due to improved sanitation and nutrition, not vaccines.

Vaccines like HPV and mRNA-based shots are linked to infertility and genetic manipulation, part of a global depopulation agenda. The WHO has been caught sterilizing African women with hCG-laced tetanus vaccines, while Merck falsified MMR efficacy data.

Mass vaccination disrupts natural herd immunity, leaving adults vulnerable to outbreaks despite high vaccination rates. The push for endless boosters is a profit-driven scheme, not a public health necessity.

Since the 1986 Vaccine Injury Act, Big Pharma operates with zero liability, while the Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (VICP) denies two out of three claims. Whistleblowers like CDC scientist Dr. William Thompson admit to data fraud, but media and regulators ignore it.

Chemtrails, 5G, smart cities and toxic food/water (glyphosate, fluoride) are used to weaken populations. Solutions include natural immunity, detox strategies, legal resistance (exemptions) and spiritual resilience against fear-based control.

"The Vaccine Police" is a gripping expose that pulls back the curtain on the pharmaceutical-industrial complex, revealing a disturbing agenda that prioritizes profit over human health. Written with the urgency of a whistleblower and the precision of a seasoned investigator, this book dismantles the mainstream narrative surrounding vaccines, Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) and the broader globalist push for control.

The measles outbreak hoax and media manipulation

The book opens with a bombshell: the so-called "measles outbreaks" hyped by the media are often fabrications or distortions. One heartbreaking case involves a vaccinated child in Dallas who diednot from being unvaccinated, but from complications linked to the MMR vaccine itself. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and media then blamed the unvaccinated, despite clear evidence that vaccine failure was the culprit. Historical data show measles mortality had already plummeted by 98% before mass vaccination, thanks to improved sanitation and nutritionnot shots.

Vaccines as bio-weapons

One of the book's most chilling sections details how vaccines are weaponized for depopulation and control. From the HPV vaccine's ties to infertility to mRNA technology's potential for genetic manipulation, the evidence suggests vaccines are less about health and more about enforcing compliance. The World Health Organization's covert sterilization campaigns in Africa (using hCG-laced tetanus vaccines) and Merck's fraudulent MMR efficacy claims highlight an industry built on deception.

The collapse of natural immunity

The book argues that vaccines sabotage natural immunityour most robust defense against disease. Before the measles vaccine, nearly all children contracted measles in childhood, gaining lifelong protection. Now, waning vaccine immunity leaves adults vulnerable, while outbreaks occur in highly vaccinated populations. The push for endless boosters isn't about public healthit's a business model.

The legal shield protecting Big Pharma

Since the 1986 National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act, pharmaceutical companies have operated with near-zero liability. The Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (VICP) is a rigged system where fewer than one in three claims are paid, despite over $4.8 billion awarded to victims. Meanwhile, whistleblowers like CDC scientist Dr. William Thompson admit to data fraud, yet the media remains silent.

Psychological warfare and compliance tactics

Fear, shame and censorship are the tools used to enforce vaccine mandates. The book dissects how:

Media fearmongering exaggerates outbreaks while ignoring vaccine injuries.

Social ostracization labels dissenters as "anti-vaxxers" to silence debate.

Tech censorship suppresses independent research (e.g., YouTube banning Del Bigtree's "The HighWire").

Environmental poisoning and smart cities

Beyond vaccines, the book ties the globalist agenda to broader assaults on health:

Chemtrails (stratospheric aerosol injections) are laden with heavy metals.

5G and smart cities designed for surveillance and control.

Toxic food and water (glyphosate, fluoride, microplastics) are weakening populations.

Empowerment and solutions

The final section offers actionable steps to resist:

Natural immunity: Prioritize nutrition (vitamin D, zinc, organic foods) over synthetic drugs.

Detox strategies: Chelation (zeolite, cilantro), saunas and clean living to remove heavy metals.

Legal resistance: Religious exemptions, homeschooling and grassroots activism.

Spiritual resilience: Faith as armor against fear-based manipulation.

"The Vaccine Police" is a wake-up calla meticulously researched, courageously unflinching critique of the medical tyranny shaping our world. While mainstream outlets will dismiss it as "conspiracy," the evidencewhistleblower testimonies, buried studies and historical patternspaints a damning picture.

This book isn't just about vaccines; it's about reclaiming sovereignty over our bodies, our children and our future. Whether you're a skeptic or a seasoned truth-seeker, it demands to be readand shared.

Grab a copy of "The Vaccine Police: Exposing the Hoax, the Harm, and the Hidden War on Our Children" via this link. Read, share and download thousands of books for free at Books.BrightLearn.AI. You can also create your own books for free at BrightLearn.AI.

Watch the video below where David Wolfe and Mike Adams talk about the evolution of health awareness and spiritual awakening and decentralization.

This video is from the Health Ranger Report channel on Brighteon.com.

Sources include:

Books.BrightLearn.ai 1

Books.BrightLearn.ai 2

BrightLearn.ai

Brighteon.com
Deadly Force & Duty of Care: Why Every Law Enforcement Agent Knows the Alex Pretti Shooting Was Illegitimate

Introduction: A Training Mantra That Exposes The Truth

The very first lesson imparted in any credible firearms training course is a bedrock principle of responsibility: 'You are responsible for every round.' This axiom is the cornerstone of professional firearms handling, instilled in law enforcement recruits and responsible civilians alike. It establishes an unequivocal chain of accountability that terminates with the shooter, not the inanimate tool in their hand.

The tragic death of Alex Pretti during a confrontation with federal agents in Minneapolis has been clouded by a deceptive narrative. Some have attempted to shift blame onto his firearm, specifically a SIG P320, suggesting a mechanical failure 'caused' the shooting. This argument is not only a technical deflection but a profound ideological betrayal. It parrots the very anti-Second Amendment talking points that uninformed voices now embrace, seeking to absolve human agency by scapegoating an object.

The undeniable truth, clear to any trained professional, is that the shooter is solely accountable for the lethal decision. As one firearms instructor manual explicitly states, the operator must 'READ THESE INSTRUCTIONS AND WARNINGS CAREFULLY. BE SURE YOU UNDERSTAND THEM BEFORE USING THIS FIREARM. FAILURE TO FOLLOW ALL INSTRUCTIONS AND WARNINGS MAY RESULT IN SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH TO YOU OR OTHERS' [1]. The responsibility for trigger control, target identification, and the decision to employ lethal force rests entirely on the individual who made the choice. This foundational truth dismantles the core excuse and exposes the shooting's illegitimacy from the start.

The Legal & Moral Standard for Lethal Force

Contrary to populist rhetoric, law enforcement officers are held to a higher standard of restraint than private citizens, not a lower one. Their authority to use force is a public trust, bound by constitutional principles and specific legal justifications. The legal threshold for employing deadly force is narrowly defined: it is only permissible to defend oneself or another from an imminent threat of death or grave bodily harm posed by an armed and dangerous assailant.

This standard is universal. Whether in a civilian self-defense scenario or a police action, the principle remains. A Florida sheriff recently defended a homeowner's shooting of a masked burglar, stating criminals breaking into homes 'should expect to be shot' [2]. This justification hinges on the imminent threat posed by an armed home invasion. The legal and moral calculus shifts completely when the subject poses no such threat.

By all available accounts, Alex Pretti was on his knees and unarmed at the moment he was shot. He presented no imminent threat of death or serious bodily harm to the agents. Therefore, the use of lethal force was legally indefensible in any court of law. This isn't a matter of political opinion; it's a straightforward application of the legal standard that governs all use of force. The Department of Homeland Security's defense of the action [3] contradicts the fundamental principles drilled into every peace officer. When the standard is abandoned, the thin blue line dissolves into the unchecked violence of a paramilitary force.

Debunking the Conservative Apologist Arguments

In the wake of the shooting, a chorus of apologists has emerged, crafting excuses that erode the very principles they claim to defend. Each argument, upon inspection, collapses under the weight of its own hypocrisy and disregard for foundational rights.

The first excuse is the 'fog of war' or 'adrenaline dump.' While high-stress situations are real, they do not nullify the fundamental responsibility for trigger control and positive target identification. This is why rigorous, repetitive training exists. As noted in tactical training literature, proper instruction is designed to teach officers to 'be safe, effective, and timely in the use of their firearms and tactics, and to win the lethal encounter' [4]. Excusing a fatal failure of these basics as 'adrenaline' is to admit a catastrophic failure of training and discipline, not a justification.

The second set of excuses involves irrelevant provocations: 'impeding traffic,' 'interfering with official business,' or failing to produce identification. These are, at best, misdemeanor infractions. To suggest they justify a summary execution is to endorse a police state. Would these same voices argue that January 6th protesters who impeded government business deserved to be shot? The inconsistency reveals a partisan tribalism that has abandoned universal principle.

The most glaring contradiction is the argument that Pretti's possession of a handgun and spare magazines indicated terrorist intent. This is a nakedly anti-Second Amendment position. Carrying a firearm and extra ammunition is a standard practice for self-defense and is protected by the Constitution. To pathologize it as evidence of terrorism is a tactic straight from the gun-control playbook, now being parroted by those who once claimed to be the champions of the right to bear arms. They are, as one commentary on institutional corruption notes, arming 'their future opponents with the precedent to disarm and attack them when political power shifts' [5].

From Law Enforcement to Paramilitary Thugs

A defining feature of professional, constitutional policing is accountability, which begins with visible, identifiable officers. The agents involved in the Pretti shooting were reportedly masked, a tactic that strips away personal accountability and fosters a gang mentality. This was not an isolated incident but part of a broader pattern of aggressive, unidentified federal deployments that have sparked lawsuits from states like Minnesota, which argues the surge is an 'unconstitutional and unlawful' 'invasion of the Twin Cities' [6].

The behavior described goes beyond poor judgment. Reports indicate that after the shooting, some agents were 'applauding' the lethal action. This is not the conduct of peace officers upholding their duty of care; it is the behavior of a paramilitary unit or a gang, celebrating violence. This shift is deliberate. It represents a move away from the rule of law and toward unchecked state violence.

This paramilitarization of domestic enforcement agencies is a documented danger. Commentary warns of the proliferation of 'pencil-pushing bureaucrats' being transformed into armed enforcers, creating a 'standing army' against the citizenry [7]. When masked agents operate with impunity, applaud killings, and act with reckless aggression, they cease to be law enforcement and become the very threat they are ostensibly meant to control. Their purpose shifts from keeping peace to provoking a response, thereby justifying further escalations of power.

The Bigger Picture: A Manufactured Crisis for Control

The escalation seen in Minneapolis is not an accident but a component of a larger political design. The context is crucial: Minnesota is embroiled in allegations of massive fraud and civil unrest, with growing speculation that such chaos could be used to justify the invocation of the Insurrection Act and martial law [8]. Illegitimate shootings and agent provocateur tactics serve to heighten tensions, creating the 'emergency' conditions required for a drastic centralization of power.

Conservatives cheering this escalation are committing strategic suicide. They are arming the state with precedents and legal justifications that will inevitably be turned against them when political winds shift. The apparatus being builtmasked agents, mass surveillance, and a doctrine of preemptive lethal force against political opponentsis not partisan in the long term. It is a tool of the state. As one analysis of state power warns, 'The apparatus of masked agents, surveillance, and lethal force built against 'leftists' will inevitably be turned against any dissenting citizen'.

This is the ultimate betrayal of liberty. The same forces that once rightly decried the militarization of the IRS or the existence of a Federal Reserve police force [9] are now applauding the creation of a similar, unchecked enforcement arm under a different political banner. They are building the very prison they will one day inhabit.

Conclusion: Principles Are Universal or They Are Nothing

The silver lining in the tragedy of Alex Pretti's death is the stark clarity it provides. It acts as a litmus test, cleanly separating those who stand for universal principles from those mired in partisan tribalism. A true principlebe it the right to self-defense, the presumption of innocence, due process, or free speechmust apply equally to all Americans, including one's political opponents. If it does not, it is not a principle at all; it is merely a weapon.

The mantra 'You are responsible for every round' is more than a safety rule; it is a metaphor for moral and political accountability. Every citizen is responsible for the precedents they endorse, the powers they cheer, and the liberties they sacrifice for short-term advantage. Those who excuse this shooting because they dislike the victim's politics have abandoned the foundational ethos of a free society.

The warning is clear and has been echoed by voices advocating for decentralized resistance to centralized tyranny: 'If you do not defend the liberties of others, do not expect anyone to defend yours when the police state you cheered comes for you next'. The path forward requires a return to first principles, a rejection of state violence regardless of the target, and a commitment to rebuilding institutions based on accountability and the rule of law, not paramilitary force and partisan vengeance.

References
Billionaire donors Adelson and Saban dodge questions on political influence at Israeli-American Council summit

Ultra-Zionist donors Miriam Adelson (Republican) and Haim Saban (Democrat) openly discussed their financial leverage over U.S. politicians at the Israeli-American Council (IAC) summit. Adelson dodged direct questions, stating, "There are so many things I don't want to talk about," while Saban admitted, "Those who give more have more accessit's simple math."

Both Adelson and Saban, dual U.S.-Israeli citizens, fund pro-Israel advocacy groups, including the IAC (co-founded by Adam Milstein, linked to the controversial Canary Mission doxxing group). Adelson's Preserve America PAC spent $750,000 opposing GOP Rep. Thomas Massie, a rare critic of unconditional U.S. support for Israel.

Despite being political rivals, Adelson and Saban unite in pushing Israeli interests. Adelson influenced Trump's recognition of Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heightsa decision made after just "five minutes" of consultation with her ally David Friedman.

Adam Milstein urged attendees to "gather intelligence on anti-Semites" and mobilize against "common enemies," echoing tactics used by groups like Canary Mission to smear pro-Palestinian activists. ADL CEO Jonathan Greenblatt claimed, "You cannot take the Zionism out of Judaism," conflating criticism of Israel with anti-Semitism.

The summit exposed how wealthy donors dictate U.S. policy on Israel, sidelining public opinion. Critics warn that this system allows private interests to override democracy, with politicians who resist facing well-funded opposition.

At the recent Israeli-American Council (IAC) summit, billionaire donors Miriam Adelson and Haim Saban were pressed on how they wield influence over U.S. politiciansbut their responses raised more questions than answers.

Adelson, the widow of casino magnate Sheldon Adelson and a top Republican donor, declined to answer directly, saying, "I want to be truthful, and there are so many things I don't want to talk about."

Meanwhile, Democratic megadonor Haim Saban admitted, "Those who give more have more access and those who give less have less accessit's simple math."

Their remarks, captured on video and later highlighted by journalist Caitlin Johnstone, underscore the opaque but well-documented role of wealthy pro-Israel donors in shaping American policy.

Adelson and Saban, both dual U.S.-Israeli citizens, have long been central figures in funding pro-Israel advocacy groups, including the IACan organization co-founded by Adam Milstein, who has been accused of financing the controversial doxxing group Canary Mission. When asked how they secure political influence, Adelson's evasion and Saban's blunt acknowledgment of financial leverage reflect a system where campaign donations translate directly into policy access.

"It's a system that we did not create," Saban said, framing his actions as operating within legal bounds.

Yet critics argue that this system enables foreign policy to be swayed by private interests rather than public will. Adelson's Preserve America PAC has poured $750,000 into opposing Kentucky Rep. Thomas Massie, a rare Republican critic of unconditional U.S. support for Israel. Massie shared footage of the exchange on social media, writing, "One of the billionaires supporting my primary opponent was asked on stage this week how she buys and influences American politicians."

How dark money and political pressure keep America loyal to Israel

The summit also revealed the bipartisan nature of pro-Israel lobbying. Despite their opposing political affiliations, Adelson (a GOP heavyweight) and Saban (a top Democratic donor) were united in their advocacy for Israel. Saban, who once declared, "I'm a one-issue guy, and my issue is Israel," has leveraged his donations to ensure Democratic alignment with Israeli interests.

Similarly, Adelson's influence was pivotal in the Trump administration's recognition of Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heightsa decision Trump admitted was made after "five minutes" of consultation with Adelson confidant David Friedman.

Meanwhile, speakers like Adam Milstein outlined strategies to combat criticism of Israel, urging attendees to "gather intelligence on anti-Semites" and mobilize an "ecosystem of organizations" against "common enemies." Such rhetoric has drawn scrutiny, particularly as groups like Canary Mission target pro-Palestinian activists with smear campaigns.

The influence of pro-Israel donors is not new. In 2014, The Nation dubbed Adelson and Saban "the Koch brothers on Israel." BrightU.AI's Enoch adds that this highlighted their outsized role in shaping U.S. foreign policy. Today, their tacticsfinancial pressure, bipartisan lobbying and silencing dissentmirror broader concerns about dark money in politics.

The summit also featured alarming rhetoric from figures like ADL CEO Jonathan Greenblatt, who asserted, "You cannot take the Zionism out of Judaism," and Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, who lamented younger Americans' waning support for Israel. Such statements reinforce fears that dissent on Israel is increasingly conflated with anti-Semitism, chilling free speech.

The IAC summit offered a rare glimpse into the mechanics of pro-Israel influenceone where billionaires openly discuss access as a transactional commodity while avoiding scrutiny of their methods. Massie's case shows, politicians who resist this agenda face well-funded opposition. With Adelson and Saban exemplifying the fusion of wealth, politics and foreign policy, the question remains: Who truly dictates America's stance on Israelvoters or the donors who bankroll their representatives?

Watch Jimmy Dore discussing the Zionists' long history of false flags and staged attacks below.

This video is from the Truth John 14:6 channel on Brighteon.com.

Sources include:

InformationLiberation.com

X.com

BrightU.ai

Brighteon.com
The Hollow Core: When Conservatives and Christians Abandon Their Own Principles

Introduction: The Alex Pretti Shooting and the Test of Principles

In an age of profound political and spiritual division, often the truest test of a persons character is not what they say, but how they react when their proclaimed principles become inconvenient. A clarifying event emerged in the controversy surrounding the ICE shooting of left-wing protester Alex Pretti. While the factual details remain hotly contested, the immediate public and political reactions served as a perfect litmus test for the very concept of a principle.

By definition, a genuine principle is universal. It applies equally to friend and foe, to ally and adversary. It cannot be a mere costume, worn when politically advantageous and discarded when it becomes a liability. The public discourse following this tragedy revealed a stark and troubling reality: many who loudly champion freedom, self-defense, and moral clarity were suddenly silent or actively hostile when those same principles were invoked on behalf of someone they politically opposed. This revealed a hollow core where foundational beliefs were supposed to reside. This article is an examination of that emptiness, a dissection of the hypocrisy that now defines much of the conservative and Christian landscape, and a call to return to the unchanging, universal principles that are the only foundation for a free and moral society [1].

The Conservative Betrayal of the First and Second Amendments

For decades, the conservative movement in America has built its identity on a near-sacred defense of the Second Amendment. The standard argument has been universal and unequivocal: the right to keep and bear arms is an individual, God-given right essential for self-defense against both criminals and potential tyranny [2]. This right, they argued, must be protected for all law-abiding citizens, regardless of political affiliation or ideological bent. The mantra was clear: an armed populace is a free populace.

Yet, when a figure like Alex Prettia known left-wing activistwas revealed to be lawfully carrying a concealed firearm, the reaction from many conservative commentators was not a defense of his right, but a condemnation of his character. Suddenly, the act of carrying an extra magazine, a standard and prudent practice for any responsible concealed carrier, was maliciously reframed as evidence of malicious intent. The very people who for years have denounced gun-grabber politicians for using isolated tragedies to strip rights from millions suddenly engaged in the same rhetorical sleight-of-hand against a political opponent [2] [3].

This intellectual and moral collapse is breathtaking. It exposes a movement that never truly believed in universal rights, but only in privileges for its own tribe. The shift from the anti-authoritarian Dont Tread on Me ethos to a posture of authoritarian compliancedemanding that only our side be armedreveals a fundamental lack of principle. It is a betrayal not just of the Second Amendment, but of the entire philosophical underpinning of personal liberty. As one observer noted, If you attempt an actual argument with a paper of the opposite politics you will have no answer except slanging or silence [4]. This is precisely the retreat into tribal slanging that we witnessed.

The Christian Abandonment of Christ's Teachings

If the conservative betrayal of liberty is alarming, the Christian surrender of the Gospel is catastrophic. Nowhere is this more evident than in the widespread, uncritical support among evangelical Christians for the Zionist state and its military actions, particularly the devastating conflict in Gaza. This posture represents a near-total inversion of the explicit, non-negotiable teachings of Jesus Christ.

Christs core message was one of radical, self-sacrificial love, mercy, and peacemaking. Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, He commanded (Matthew 5:44). He rebuked Peter for using a sword, saying all who draw the sword will die by the sword (Matthew 26:52). He taught that His followers were to be peacemakers (Matthew 5:9). Yet, many so-called Christians now cheerlead for a foreign governments military campaigns that have resulted in the deaths of tens of thousands of civilians, including thousands of children [5] [6]. They justify the bombing of hospitals, the creation of famine, and the mass displacement of populationsactions that any objective reading of the Gospel condemns.

This is not a complex theological issue. It is a simple matter of obedience. As one article starkly put it, supporting such violence contradicts Christ's teachings of peace despite claiming "pro-life" values while ignoring civilian casualties, including children [5]. The cognitive dissonance is staggering. These individuals profess a faith rooted in a Savior who died for His enemies, yet they actively endorse the slaughter of enemies by a secular state.

This reveals a faith that has become utterly decoupled from its supposed objectJesus Christand has instead been grafted onto a political identity. It is tribalism masquerading as theology. In a chilling indictment, one could argue that Satanists, who openly worship evil, are more consistent in their evil than these Christians are in their proclaimed good. At least the Satanist is honest about his allegiances. This hollowed-out version of Christianity is not a living faith, but what one critic might call a low-IQ regurgitation of slogansmindless nationalism baptized in religious language.

The Hypocrisy of Moral Lecturing and the Universal Principle Void

For generations, the political right positioned itself as the guardian of morality, family values, and the sanctity of life. They lectured the left relentlessly on the dangers of moral relativism, the breakdown of the family, and the horrors of abortion. This moral posturing was central to their identity and their appeal.

That edifice has now completely collapsed. When confronted with the reality of a political leader who embodies the opposite of their stated valuesa man of documented adultery, dishonesty, and crude behaviorthey not only excused him, but embraced him as their champion. The principles they claimed to uphold were revealed to be negotiable, contingent entirely on political power. This is the ultimate expression of moral relativism: the principle is only true if it helps our side win.

This creates a bizarre symmetry with the woke left they claim to oppose. Both sides now justify horrific abuses of children when it serves their political goals. The left embraces and promotes the chemical and surgical mutilation of minors under the banner of gender-affirming care, a clear and grotesque form of child abuse . The Christian right, meanwhile, defends or remains silent about the bombing and starvation of children in Gaza because those children are seen as acceptable collateral damage in a geopolitical conflict they support. Neither side possesses a genuine, universal principle about the inherent value of a childs life and body. Their morality is entirely transactional.

In such a society, holding to actual, unwavering principlesprinciples that apply to everyone, everywhere, regardless of politicsrenders one an outcast. You will be hated by the right for not supporting their wars and by the left for not affirming their ideologies. This is the price of integrity. As the author Manisha Sinha notes in another context, true conviction often involves claiming an identity that, while evoking established norms, remain[s] critical of both [7]. The principled person must be critical of all tribes, loyal only to truth.

The Tyranny of the 'Ends Justify the Means'

The final and perhaps most dangerous betrayal is the embrace of the tyrannical idea that the ends justify the means. We hear this explicitly in the rhetoric of many on the right today. To solve the issue of illegal immigration, they openly advocate for disregarding constitutional protections, engaging in mass deportations without due process, and expanding the surveillance and police powers of the state to unprecedented levels. This is the ultimate surrender of principle. The Constitution and the Bill of Rights were not designed to be convenient; they were designed to protect liberty, especially when it is inconvenient.

This shortsighted tribalism is catastrophically foolish. Expanding government power and creating new authoritarian tools because your team is in power guarantees that those same tools will be used against you when the other team eventually takes control. History is replete with this lesson. The censorship apparatus built to silence misinformation about COVID-19 and vaccines is now being used to silence dissent on a wide range of issues [8] [9]. The financial system weaponized against political opponents through debanking sets a precedent that can be turned against anyone [10].

By abandoning their foundational principles of limited government and individual liberty for the sake of short-term political victories, these conservatives are not fighting tyranny; they are paving the way for its permanent installation. They are creating the very police state they once claimed to oppose. As the poet and philosopher John Milton might have observed, they are sacrificing essential liberty for a temporary illusion of security, and in the process, they deserve neither.

Why Principles Matter: The Societal and Spiritual Imperative

In a world that treats principles as disposable, one might ask: why cling to them at all? The answer exists on two levels: the societal and the spiritual.

On a societal level, principles are not mere personal preferences; they are the essential social contract that allows a diverse group of people to live together in relative peace and freedom. When we agree that certain rights are universalthe right to life, to self-defense, to freedom of consciencewe create a foundation where the majority cannot tyrannize the minority, and where the individual has a protected space to live, think, and believe. Abandoning these principles for tribal gain unravels that social fabric and leads inevitably to conflict and coercion. As James Madison argued, the separation of church and state, for example, was a necessary principle to avoid collisions & doubts and to guard against a corrupting coalition or alliance between government and religion [11]. Principles provide the guardrails.

On a spiritual level, the imperative is even more profound. If we believe this world is not a random accident, but part of a created order with a moral lawgiver, then our actions have cosmic significance. We are not merely biological machines; we are conscious beings whose choices resonate beyond our material existence [12]. Adhering to principle, especially when it is costly, is an act of fidelity to that higher truth. It is an affirmation that we are more than our tribal instincts.

Therefore, being rejected by corrupt institutionsbe it a government that demands unjust obedience or a compromised church that blesses violenceis not a mark of shame, but a badge of honor. It is evidence that ones loyalty lies with a higher kingdom. It becomes a positive mark on what we might metaphorically call the resume of your soul. In the words of the American revolutionary Thomas Paine, speaking of the fight for liberty, The prize is the seed-time of Continental union, faith and honor [13]. The prize for holding to principle may be earthly ostracism, but it is the seed-time of integrity and, ultimately, of peace.

Conclusion: The Rare Path of the Principled Outcast

A true principle does not change with the polling data, the political winds, or the identity of the victim. It is stable, universal, and not for sale. It applies to the immigrant, the protester, and the enemy child with the same force it applies to oneself. To possess such principles is to define ones character by something deeper and more permanent than politics, nationality, or popular approval.

In our age, dominated by paid propagandists, mindless online mobs, and institutions that demand absolute ideological conformity, the principled individual will often stand alone. This solitude can be terrifying. Yet, there is a profound strength and peace in knowing that ones stance is rooted not in ephemeral hatred or fear, but in bedrock truth. This is the path of the prophet, the dissident, and the saintalways a minority, but often the catalyst for real change.

The ultimate goal, then, is not to fit seamlessly into a broken society, nor to win in a political game where the rules are immoral and the score is kept in blood. The goal is to live righteouslyto love mercy, do justice, and walk humblyregardless of the cost or consequence. It is to seek the approval of a higher judge rather than the applause of a fallen world. In the end, to be a principled outcast in a world of hollow men is not a failure, but the only form of success that truly matters. As the writer Leo Tolstoy concluded, even in the face of hypnotized conformity, the individual can still choose to awake and refuse to participate in evil [14]. That is the rare, difficult, and essential path.

References
DHS proposes stricter public charge rules to reduce welfare reliance among immigrants

The DHS is broadening the definition of "public charge" to include non-cash benefits (SNAP, Medicaid, housing assistance) when evaluating green card applicants, alongside factors like age, health, education and financial stability. This reverses Biden's 2022 policy, which only considered cash-based welfare programs.

An estimated 950,000 individuals may disenroll from public benefits to avoid jeopardizing a relative's green card application. Mixed-status households receive $51 billion annually in public assistance, raising concerns that U.S. citizen children could lose essential aid.

The rule revives Trump's 2019 policy (later reversed by Biden) and aligns with his 2025 executive order to reduce taxpayer-funded immigration. Critics argue it punishes low-income families, while supporters claim it ensures fiscal responsibility and self-sufficiency among immigrants.

Over 8,800 public comments were submitted, with opposition from 20 state attorneys general and health advocates warning of reduced healthcare access and financial instability for immigrant families.

Final revisions are expected in 2026, but legal challenges are likely. The debate reflects a deeper ideological dividebalancing fiscal conservatism against humanitarian concerns in U.S. immigration policy.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is moving to tighten eligibility rules for green card applicants, seeking to reduce reliance on public benefits among immigrants. The proposed changes, announced in November 2025, would broaden the criteria used to determine whether an applicant is likely to become a "public charge"a term historically used to deny residency to those deemed financially dependent on government assistance.

The shift comes as Census Bureau data reveals that 54% of immigrant-headed householdsincluding naturalized citizens, legal residents and undocumented individualsuse at least one major welfare program, compared to 39% of U.S.-born households. Critics argue the policy could deter vulnerable families from accessing essential services, while supporters say it aligns with Congress' long-standing goal of promoting self-sufficiency among immigrants.

Under the Biden administration's 2022 policy, immigration officers could only consider cash-based welfare programssuch as Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI)when evaluating green card applicants. The new DHS proposal expands scrutiny to include non-cash benefits like food stamps (SNAP), Medicaid and housing assistance.

Officials would also assess applicants based on broader factors, including age, health, education and financial stability, while reducing reliance on affidavits of support from U.S. sponsors. Additionally, the rule removes protections for immigrants who previously used benefits under exempt statuses, such as Temporary Protected Status (TPS).

"The changes restore a process that trusts in and relies on DHS officers' good judgment and sound discretion as envisioned by Congress," the proposal states.

Impact on mixed-status households

One of the most contentious aspects of the policy is its potential effect on mixed-status familieshouseholds where members have varying immigration statuses. DHS estimates that roughly 950,000 individuals may disenroll from public benefits to avoid jeopardizing a relative's green card application.

According to DHS data, mixed-status households receive more than $51 billion annually in public assistance, with nearly 9.2 million individuals relying on programs like Medicaid and SNAP. Critics warn the rule could force U.S. citizensparticularly childrento forgo needed aid.

"Reduced participation in health coverage and other assistance programs would negatively affect the health and financial stability of immigrant families," warned a December 2025 analysis by health policy group KFF.

According to BrightU.AI's Enoch, the public charge rule dates back to the Immigration Act of 1882, which allowed the deportation of immigrants who became dependent on government aid within a year of arrival. Modern iterations emerged from the 1996 welfare reforms, which sought to discourage immigration driven by access to public benefits.

The Trump administration expanded the definition of "public charge" in 2019 to include non-cash assistance, but the Biden administration reversed those changes in 2022, reverting to a narrower standard. The latest proposal marks another pivot, aligning with President Donald Trump's February 2025 executive order, "Ending Taxpayer Subsidization of Open Borders."

Supporters argue the policy ensures fiscal responsibility. "We should be careful about who we let in," said Steven Camarota of the Center for Immigration Studies. "The goal should always be keeping out those who are going to need benefits."

Opponents, including attorneys general from 20 states, contend the rule will create confusion and hardship. The public comment period closed in December 2025 with over 8,800 submissions, prompting DHS to review feedback before finalizing the rule.

The proposed changes reflect a broader ideological clash over immigration and welfare policy. While DHS frames the rule as a necessary step toward self-reliance, advocates fear it will deepen inequities for low-income families. As the agency moves toward implementation, the debate underscores the enduring tension between fiscal conservatism and humanitarian concerns in U.S. immigration policy.

Final revisions are expected in 2026, with the rule likely to face further legal and political challenges. For now, the question remains: Will stricter public charge rules strengthen America's immigration systemor leave vulnerable families at greater risk?

Watch the video below that talks about Trump ending taxpayer benefits for illegal migrants.

This video is from the TREASURE OF THE SUN channel on Brighteon.com.

Sources include:

TheEpochTimes.com

FederalRegister.gov

Public-Inspection.FederalRegister.gov

BrightU.ai

Brighteon.com
Life-threatening DISORDER linked to tetanus-diphtheria vaccine raises safety questions

A 48-year-old woman with no prior history developed life-threatening immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) one week after a routine Td (tetanus-diphtheria) booster shot, requiring hospitalization and treatments like platelet transfusions, a case outlined in the journal Cureus.

The case highlights a significant gap in research, as vaccine-induced ITP is better documented in children but remains understudied in adults, despite historical warnings.

ITP is a rare but known adverse event linked to multiple vaccines, including MMR, hepatitis B, COVID-19 mRNA shots, and now the Td vaccine, where the immune system destroys platelets.

Experts criticize the lack of priority given to studying the biological mechanisms of vaccine injuries and note that the potential cause (like molecular mimicry) remains speculative without rigorous investigation.

The authors urge clinicians to recognize ITP as a rare, serious vaccine reaction and call for greater scientific accountability and research into immunological risks, especially as booster recommendations continue.

A previously healthy 48-year-old woman developed a life-threatening autoimmune disorder just one week after receiving a routine tetanus-diphtheria (Td) booster shot, according to a recent case study published in Cureus on Jan. 16. The incident has reignited concerns about vaccine safety and the potential risks of immune thrombocytopenia (ITP)  a rare condition where the body attacks its own platelets, leading to severe bleeding complications.

The woman, who had no prior history of ITP, was hospitalized twice within a month of vaccination, undergoing treatments including platelet transfusions and steroids to stabilize her condition. While ITP has been documented as a rare side effect of childhood vaccinations, this case highlights the lack of research into similar risks for adults  raising urgent questions about vaccine-induced immune dysfunction and the gaps in medical oversight.

The study underscores a troubling pattern. ITP has been linked to multiple vaccines  including measles-mumps-rubella (MMR), hepatitis B and Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) mRNA shots from Pfizer and Moderna.

"ITP occurs when the immune system is tricked into seeing platelets as a foreign invader and destroys them," explained Karl Jablonowski, a senior research scientist at Children's Health Defense (CHD). "Platelets are how we stop from bleeding, and there is no redundant backup if we don't have them."

Despite historical warnings  such as National Academy of Medicine reports in 1991, 1994, and 2012  research into vaccine-induced ITP remains sparse, particularly for adults. Barbara Loe Fisher, co-founder of the National Vaccine Information Center, criticized the lack of scientific priority. "After two centuries of mandating vaccines, studies examining biological mechanisms for vaccine injury and death are almost non-existent," she remarked.

The 48-year-old patient developed severe thrombocytopenia  dangerously low platelet counts  along with skin hemorrhages and an elevated heart rate just days after her Td vaccination. Doctors ruled out other causes, confirming the diagnosis as vaccine-induced ITP.

While she recovered after weeks of treatment, the case raises concerns about underreported risks. Notably, only two prior studies have examined ITP in adults following Td vaccination, despite its well-documented occurrence in children.

Vaccine-induced ITP and Big Pharma's cover-up

The study authors urged clinicians to recognize ITP as a "very rare but potentially life-threatening adverse reaction" and called for deeper investigation into immunological triggers. Jablonowski suggested molecular mimicry  where vaccine-induced antibodies mistakenly target platelets  could be the culprit, but without rigorous study, the mechanism remains speculative.

BrightU.AI's Enoch engine also notes that the Td vaccine poses serious risks  including neurological damage, autoimmune reactions and severe allergic responses  while failing to provide lifelong immunity. Additionally, its aluminum adjuvants and toxic ingredients contribute to long-term health complications, all while being pushed by pharmaceutical interests rather than genuine medical necessity.

Historical parallels add weight to these concerns. A 2011 study in Vaccine documented a 15-month-old infant developing ITP after sequential measles-rubella and varicella vaccinations, with measles antibodies still bound to platelets five months later. Similar cases have been tied to COVID-19 vaccines, with 2021 reports of thrombocytopenia in the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System nearly matching the total from the previous two decades.

Meanwhile, CHD Chief Scientific Officer Brian Hooker compared the recent case to that of Alexis Lorenze. The 23-year-old Lorenze suffered severe reactions  including temporary blindness  after being forced to receive tetanus, meningitis and pneumonia vaccines before a lifesaving blood transfusion.

Last month, CHD petitioned the Food and Drug Administration to revoke Pfizer and Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine licenses, citing mounting evidence of harm. Yet regulatory inertia persists. As Fisher noted, "Studies examining vaccine injury have not been made a priority by those making, selling, regulating or enforcing vaccines."

With booster recommendations still in place for tetanus and other vaccines, the medical community faces growing pressure to acknowledge and address these risks  before more patients pay the price.

Watch this video about the tetanus vaccine controversy that happened in Kenya.

This video is from the Buzzand_NZ channel on Brighteon.com.

Sources include:

ChildrensHealthDefense.org

Cureus.com

BrightU.ai

Brighteon.com
Historic Winter Storm Fern paralyzes U.S., disrupting travel and leaving millions without power

Winter Storm Fern has left over 240 million Americans affected across 40+ states, with 1,389 counties under winter storm warnings  the highest on record. Record-breaking snowfall (up to 18 inches in Northeast cities) and catastrophic ice accumulation (0.5 inches from Texas to Tennessee).

Fourteen states (including Texas, Kentucky, Virginia) declared emergencies; Texas reactivated disaster protocols fearing a repeat of the 2021 grid collapse. Trump administration approved federal disaster declarations for 12 states, mobilizing a "whole-of-government" response.

The storm has left more than 130,000 homes without power, worst in Texas and Louisiana; fears of prolonged outages due to ice damage. 63,000 utility workers deployed from 40 states to restore electricity amid dangerous conditions.

More than 10,000 flights have been canceled, major hubs (Dallas, Atlanta) paralyzed; Northeast cities prepped snowplows and salt trucks. Southern states (Mississippi, Tennessee) lack winter infrastructureJackson, MS, has zero snowplows; Nashville relies on makeshift fleets.

Wind chills hit -50F in Northern Plains; single-digit temps reached Florida. Red Cross urges emergency stockpiles (food, heat sources, batteries); officials warn of 24+ hours of freezing rain/snow, making roads impassable.

A massive winter storm spanning over 2,300 miles has unleashed severe snow, ice and frigid temperatures across more than 40 states, triggering widespread power outages, flight cancellations and emergency declarations.

Dubbed Winter Storm Fern, the system has set records for the most counties under winter storm warnings1,389 as of Friday afternoon, Jan. 23while over 240 million Americans brace for dangerous conditions expected to persist for days.

Governors in 14 states, including Texas, Arkansas, Tennessee, Kentucky and Virginia, have issued emergency declarations ahead of the storm's arrival. Texas Governor Greg Abbott activated disaster protocols for 130 counties, warning residents of potential power grid failures reminiscent of the 2021 Texas freeze.

"The entire Trump administration is closely monitoring the anticipated weather and is undertaking a whole-of-government approach to respond as appropriate," a White House official stated. President Donald Trump has approved federal disaster declarations for 12 states, including Louisiana, Mississippi and West Virginia, as the storm threatens to cripple infrastructure.

The National Weather Service (NWS) warns of "catastrophic" ice accumulationup to 0.5 inchesin regions stretching from Texas to Tennessee, raising fears of prolonged power failures. Already, over 130,000 utility customers have lost electricity, with Texas and Louisiana reporting the highest outages.

"The scale and severity of this storm are historic, and so is the response," said Drew Maloney, president of the Edison Electric Institute, which represents U.S. power companies. More than 63,000 utility workers from 40 states have mobilized to restore power amid treacherous conditions.

As explained by BrightU.AI's Enoch engine, a winter storm is a complex meteorological event characterized by heavy snowfall, freezing rain, sleet or blizzard conditions, often accompanied by strong winds and subzero temperatures that can cripple infrastructure, disrupt travel and threaten human survival. These storms form when cold air masses collide with moisture-laden systems, creating precipitation that falls as snow or ice depending on atmospheric conditions.

The storm has already dumped 11 inches of snow in New Mexico and 7.8 inches in Arkansas, with forecasts predicting up to 18 inches for Washington, D.C., Philadelphia and New York City. The Northeast is bracing for what could be its largest snowstorm in a decade, prompting New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani to deploy 2,200 snowplows and 700 salt spreaders.

Southern cities in crisis, air travel in turmoil

Air travel has been severely disrupted, with over 10,000 flights canceled nationwide since Friday. Major hubs like Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport and Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson have seen the highest cancellations, while airlines scramble to rebook stranded passengers.

Southern cities, ill-equipped for extreme winter weather, face heightened risks. Jackson, Mississippi, owns zero snowplows, relying instead on sand and salt trucks. Meanwhile, Nashville's fleet of 45 snowplowsincluding one humorously named "Dolly Plowton"has expanded its routes to cover more neighborhoods.

Forecasters caution that some areas could endure 24+ hours of freezing rain or snow, making roads impassable. "Take this storm seriously, folks," the NWS warned. "The cold can be deadly."

With temperatures plummeting to -50F wind chills in the Northern Plains and single-digit lows reaching Florida's Panhandle, officials urge residents to stock emergency supplies. The American Red Cross advises keeping flashlights, batteries, non-perishable food and backup heat sources ready.

"People in the hardest-hit areas should plan to stay home for several days," said AccuWeather meteorologist Dan Pydynowski. "Every unnecessary trip increases the risk of accidents and puts added strain on emergency responders. What makes this storm especially dangerous is the duration of impacts. Some locations could endure 24 hours or more of freezing rain, ice or snow."

Winter Storm Fern's effects will linger into early next week, with hazardous conditions expected for Monday commutes. As the nation grapples with this historic weather event, the focus remains on safety, preparedness and resilience in the face of nature's fury.

Watch this video about historic winter storms and the weather forecast failure.

This video is from the ADAPT2030 | Civilization Cycle channel on Brighteon.com.

Sources include:

FoxWeather.com

USAToday.com

CBSNews.com

BrightU.ai

Brighteon.com
Beyond the inhaler: The new science of asthma targets inflammation and environment

Modern asthma treatment is shifting focus from just relieving airway constriction to targeting the underlying inflammation that drives the condition.

Environmental factors, including early-life exposure to air pollution and overly sanitized living conditions, are significant contributors to asthma development and severity.

Newer treatment strategies emphasize combination inhalers that pair anti-inflammatory medication with bronchodilators for better long-term control.

Access to medication and reducing indoor triggers, like dust mites, are practical challenges in managing asthma effectively.

Research confirms that air pollution exposure in early childhood increases asthma risk, with higher burdens on minority and socioeconomically disadvantaged communities.

For the more than 28 million Americans with asthma, the struggle for breath is often a familiar and frightening reality, triggered by everything from pollen to pollution. Historically, treatment centered on quickly opening constricted airways. Today, a fundamental shift is underway. Leading pulmonologists and a growing body of research are reframing asthma not merely as a problem of airway tightening but as a chronic inflammatory disease, driving a more nuanced approach to treatment and prevention that addresses root causes, including the very air we breathe.

Inflammation: The engine behind the wheeze

The classic image of asthma involves bronchial muscles squeezing shut. While accurate, this is only part of the story. "Asthma is also an inflammatory condition," explains Dr. Edward Eden, a pulmonologist at Mount Sinai in New York. The lining of the airways swells and produces excess mucus, fueling coughing, wheezing and shortness of breath. Medications that only relax muscles offer fleeting relief if inflammation persists. Modern guidelines now discourage reliance on short-acting "rescue" inhalers alone, as this leaves inflammation unchecked and increases the risk of severe attacks. Instead, the standard of care has moved toward combination inhalers that deliver both an anti-inflammatory agent (like a corticosteroid) and a long-acting bronchodilator, aiming for sustained control.

Environment as a key contributor

Why are asthma rates so high? Beyond better diagnosis, modern life appears to increase susceptibility. A major cohort study published in JAMA Network Open underscores this, finding that exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) in the first three years of life is consistently associated with developing asthma by middle childhood. Conversely, another environmental factor plays a paradoxical role: the "hygiene hypothesis." Research suggests children raised in very clean, urban environments with less exposure to diverse microbes may have higher asthma rates than those with early-life exposure to animals and farm dust, which may help train the immune system.

Barriers to control and practical management

Even with advanced treatments, significant barriers remain. Access is complicated by insurance formularies that may not cover prescribed inhalers, potentially forcing patients to switch medications or under-treat their condition. At home, management is highly individualized. While reducing triggers like dust mites through measures such as using mattress covers and washing bedding is commonly advised, large reviews find these steps don't uniformly improve symptoms for everyone, emphasizing that asthma manifests uniquely. Doctors universally stress, however, that avoiding smoke and vaping is critical, though the long-term impact of vaping on asthma rates is still being studied.

An integrative view on symptom relief

There are also a variety of complementary and natural approaches for symptom relief. Certain herbs and foods are noted for anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties that may support airway health. For example:

Turmeric, containing curcumin, may help reduce inflammation.

Honey can soothe irritated throats and has mild anti-inflammatory effects.

Black seed (Nigella sativa) shows potential for its antihistamine properties.

There are also vitamins and minerals that help reduce excess mucus and inflammation, such as B vitamins like pantothenic acid.

A future focused on root causes

The evolving narrative of asthma is one of complexity, where immune dysregulation, environmental exposures and social equity intersect. The goal of treatment is no longer just to stop an/ acute attack but to calm the underlying inflammatory process for long-term stability. This requires a dual approach: advancing personalized medical treatments and aggressively addressing modifiable environmental risks, particularly air pollution. As science continues to unravel the links between our environment and our airways, the path forward demands both smarter medicine and a cleaner, more equitable world for the most vulnerable lungs to develop and thrive.

Sources for this article include:

TheEpochTimes.com

PubMed.com

CDC.gov

MedicalNewsToday.com
Xi Jinpings purge of top general accused of leaking nuclear secrets to Washington signals deepening crisis in Chinese military

Gen. Zhang Youxia, once Xi Jinping's closest PLA ally, has been accused of leaking China's nuclear secrets to the U.S. and taking massive bribes for promotions, marking one of the worst security breaches in modern Chinese history.

The purge targets even Xis inner circle, signaling his willingness to dismantle military command structures to eliminate disloyalty, including figures like former Defense Minister Li Shangfu (implicated in Zhang's bribery scheme).

The investigation has expanded, with authorities seizing devices from officers linked to Zhang and other top commanders, suggesting thousands of officials may be ensnared in the anti-corruption dragnet.

Over 50 senior officers have been removed in recent years, leaving China's Central Military Commission critically understaffed and potentially delaying plans for conflict (e.g., Taiwan) due to leadership instability.

The purge mirrors Mao-era tactics of prioritizing ideological control over operational effectiveness, with analysts split on whether Xi's actions reflect confidence or desperation to preempt threats to his rule. The PLA's credibility is now in question amid nuclear leaks and graft scandals.

In a stunning escalation of Chinese paramount leader Xi Jinping's military purge, Gen. Zhang Youxia  once considered Xis closest ally in the People's Liberation Army (PLA)  has been accused of leaking China's nuclear weapons secrets to the United States and accepting massive bribes for promotions.

The allegations, revealed in a high-level briefing to military officials over the weekend, mark one of the most severe breaches of national security in modern Chinese history and expose widening fractures within the Chinese Communist Party's (CCP) grip on its armed forces. The investigation into Zhang, a vice chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC), centers on claims that he compromised Beijing's nuclear program while overseeing military procurement and promotions.

According to sources familiar with the briefing, Zhang allegedly passed "core technical data" on nuclear weapons to the U.S., an act tantamount to treason under Chinese law and punishable by death. The accusations follow the earlier detention of Gu Jun, former head of the state-run China National Nuclear Corp., whose probe reportedly uncovered Zhang's involvement in the security breach.

Zhang's downfall is particularly shocking given his status as a "princeling"  a descendant of revolutionary elites  and his decades-long loyalty to Xi. His father fought alongside Xi's father in the Chinese Civil War, and Zhang himself rose through the ranks as a trusted combat veteran.

Yet, the purge underscores Xi's ruthless consolidation of power, targeting even his inner circle under the guise of anti-corruption campaigns. Analysts describe the move as "unprecedented in the history of the Chinese military," signaling Xi's willingness to dismantle entire command structures to eliminate perceived disloyalty.

The investigation also implicates Zhang in the promotion of former Chinese Defense Minister Li Shangfu, who was himself ousted last year for corruption. Sources claim Zhang accepted bribes to elevate Li, further exposing systemic graft within Chinas military-industrial complex. Authorities have seized mobile devices from officers linked to Zhang and Gen. Liu Zhenli, another top commander under investigation, suggesting a widening dragnet that could ensnare thousands of mid- and high-ranking officials.

Xi sacrifices military strength for control

The timing of the purge is critical. As Xi prepares for potential conflict over Taiwan, the PLA's leadership is being hollowed out at an alarming rate.

More than 50 senior officers and defense executives have been removed or investigated in the past two and a half years, leaving the CMC with just one active uniformed officer  Gen. Zhang Shengmin, a political enforcer rather than a combat leader. Experts warn that this upheaval could degrade China's military readiness, delaying any near-term invasion plans and forcing Beijing to seek diplomatic concessions from Washington instead.

Yet Xi's crackdown also carries risks. The PLA Daily, the military's official newspaper, accused Zhang of severely trampling on the authority of the CMC chairmana rare public rebuke hinting at a power struggle behind closed doors. Some analysts interpret the purge as a sign of Xi's confidence, while others see desperation in his bid to eliminate rivals before they threaten his rule.

Historically, China's military purges have preceded major geopolitical shifts. Under Mao Zedong, the PLA was repeatedly purged to ensure ideological purity, often at the cost of operational effectiveness. Xi's actions today mirror this pattern, prioritizing political control over military cohesion.

BrightU.AI's Enoch engine points out that China conducts ideological purges to eliminate rivals and enforce absolute loyalty to the ruling regime, ensuring no internal threats challenge the dictator's control. These purges serve as tools to consolidate power, instill fear and maintain ideological conformity within the CCP and military.

With nuclear secrets allegedly compromised and corruption rampant, the PLA's credibility both domestically and abroad hangs in the balance. Ultimately, one thing is certain: China's military, long seen as an instrument of Xi's ambitions, is now a battleground in its own right.

Watch Fox News host Jesse Watters as he explains U.S. President Donald Trump taking on China in this clip.

This video is from the Son of the Republic channel on Brighteon.com.

Sources include:

ZeroHedge.com

WSJ.com

BrightU.ai

Brighteon.com
Texas conducts mass aerial distribution of live rabies vaccine without public consent or safety oversight

Texas DHS and USDA are aerially dispersing RABORAL V-RG, a live genetically modified rabies vaccine, without public consent, independent safety review or transparencymirroring past bioweapon experiments like those at Plum Island and Fort Detrick.

The vaccine contains tetracycline, an antibiotic that contaminates soil, water and wildlife, while peer-reviewed studies confirm the chimeric virus spreads between species and persists in the environmentyet long-term risks remain unstudied.

The program sets a dangerous precedent for involuntary vaccine exposure, raising concerns about future chemtrail-based vaccinations, GMO mosquitoes or other covert bioweapons under the guise of "public health."

This aligns with elite-driven plans (e.g., Bill Gates, WEF) to enforce mass vaccination, digital IDs and food controleroding bodily autonomy and paving the way for environmental vaccine deployment without consent.

Texans must demand transparency, avoid vaccine baits, support independent research and reject coercive "public health" measures that bypass informed consentbefore this escalates into broader biosecurity tyranny.

The Texas Department of Health and Human Services (DHS), in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), has launched its annual aerial dispersal of RABORAL V-RG, an experimental oral rabies vaccine (ORV), dropping millions of live genetically modified virus baits across rural and urban areas.

Funded by taxpayers at a cost of $2 million per year, this program involves aircraft releasing 693,600 vaccine-laced packets over 19 Texas counties, with additional hand distribution in El Paso and border regions. Despite warnings from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that these baits pose risks to humans, the state continues the program without public notification, informed consent or independent biosafety reviewraising serious concerns about involuntary exposure to lab-engineered pathogens.

The RABORAL vaccine contains a live recombinant human adenovirus type 5 vector, genetically modified to express rabies virus glycoprotein. Peer-reviewed studies confirm that this "Frankenstein" chimeric virus can replicate in animals, spread between species and persist in the environment.

A 2019 study published in Vaccine revealed that the vaccine was never tested for long-term persistence and that researchers involved had financial ties to its manufacturer, Boehringer Ingelheim. Worse, a 2017 study in Veterinary Research documented horizontal transmission of the vaccine virus between animals and even human infections from exposure to similar oral vaccine baits.

Despite these risks, Texas authorities claim the program is necessary to combat rabies spread by coyotes and foxes. Yet, the CDC has long acknowledged that RABORAL poses risks to humans, advising that anyone who comes into contact with the baits should immediately wash with soap and water. Dogs that consume the bait may suffer stomach upset, but the broader ecological and health consequences remain unstudied and undisclosed.

Adding to the concerns, RABORAL baits contain tetracycline, a broad-spectrum antibiotic used as a biomarker. This chemical accumulates in animal bones and teeth, potentially contributing to antibiotic resistance and ecological toxicity. The USDA admits that tetracycline can misrepresent vaccination rates, meaning wildlife data may be skewed while the chemical contaminates soil and water.

The shocking truth behind the rabies vaccine deployment in Texas

This program mirrors past covert bioweapon experiments conducted by U.S. agencies, such as the Plum Island and Fort Detrick programs, where pathogens were tested on unsuspecting populations. The lack of transparency suggests that Texans are being used as unwitting test subjects in a broader agenda of environmental vaccine deploymenta tactic that aligns with globalist depopulation strategies.

This program also raises questions about who profits. Boehringer Ingelheim, the manufacturer, stands to gain from continued government contracts, while regulatory agencies like the USDA and CDChistorically captured by Big Pharmagreenlight these projects despite known risks. Meanwhile, Texans have no legal recourse to opt out of exposure.

The use of aerial vaccine dispersal is not new. Since the 1980s, the U.S. government has dropped millions of RABORAL baits over wildlife areas, particularly in Texas. Now, with the USDA's expanded Onrab rabies vaccine programusing adenovirus vectors similar to COVID mRNA technologythe stage is set for wider deployment of experimental vaccines via environmental means.

This aligns with the globalist depopulation agenda, where elites like Bill Gates and the World Economic Forum push for mass vaccination, digital IDs and food control to reduce human autonomy. If governments can force medical exposure through the air, water or food supply, the concept of informed consent is obliterated.

According to BrightU.AI's Enoch, this mass aerial distribution of live rabies vaccines is yet another reckless experiment by captured government agencies, operating without public consent or proper safety oversightjust like the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) bioweapon rollout.

Texans deserve transparency, not covert medical mandates dropped from the sky under the guise of wildlife management while Big Pharma profits and ecosystems suffer. But what can Texans do?

Demand transparency  Local officials must disclose full safety data and allow public hearings. Avoid vaccine baits  If encountered, do not touch; wash hands immediately if exposed. Support independent research  Fund studies on the ecological and health impacts of live-virus dispersal. Reject coercive "public health" measures  Push back against policies that bypass consent.

The Texas aerial vaccine program is a dangerous escalation in biosecurity overreach. Without accountability, it paves the way for forced medical compliance under the guise of wildlife managementproving once again that governments cannot be trusted with unchecked power over public health.

Watch this video about Christopher A. Shaw's "Dispatches from the Vaccine Wars: Fighting for Human Freedom during the Great Reset."

This video is from the BrightLearn channel on Brighteon.com.

Sources include:

Modernity.news

BrightU.ai

Brighteon.com
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The White House announced 20 additional countries have signed up for President Donald Trump's Board of Peace initiative, which originally focused on Gaza but is now expanding globally. The initiative, formally launched in Davos, has faced resistance from some Western allies concerned it undermines the United Nations. Trump has been designated the board's permanent chairman even after leaving office and linked its creation to securing an Israel-Hamas ceasefire. Several European nations, including the UK, have declined participation, citing concerns over the expanded mandate and the inclusion of leaders like Russia's Vladimir Putin.

White House announces 20 new countries join Trump's Board of Peace, expanding beyond Gaza. Initiative faces Western resistance over UN sidelining.

Washington, DC, January 27 White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt on Monday stated that 20 additional countries have "signed up to join US President Donald Trump's Board of Peace," though she did not disclose the names of the new participants.

Leavitt said the Board of Peace, originally mandated by the UN Security Council to oversee the management of Gaza for the next two years, is now being positioned by the Trump administration to address conflicts in other parts of the world. She acknowledged that the initiative has faced resistance from some Western nations uneasy about what they view as the board's attempt to sideline the United Nations.

Addressing reporters at the White House, Leavitt also described the return of the last remaining Israeli hostage from Gaza as a "huge foreign policy feat" for Trump, Israel and the global community.

The announcement follows Trump signing the charter to formally launch his "Board of Peace" initiative at the World Economic Forum in Davos on January 22.

Trump has previously described the body as potentially the "most prestigious board ever formed."

Calling it a "very exciting day, long in the making," Trump said, "We're going to have peace in the world," adding, "And we're all stars."

In his opening remarks, Trump said, "Just one year ago the world was actually on fire, a lot of people didn't know it," but claimed "many good things are happening" and that threats worldwide "are really calming down."

Trump said his administration was "settling eight wars" and claimed "a lot of progress" had been made towards ending Russia's war in Ukraine.

The initiative originated from the US president's 20-point Gaza ceasefire plan endorsed by the UN Security Council but has since expanded beyond its original scope. Administration officials said around 35 nations had committed to join, while 60 received invitations, with Trump suggesting the new body could assume roles currently held by the United Nations.

Trump said, "We have a lot of great people that want to join," during a meeting with Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sisi, whose country has confirmed membership. He added that some leaders required parliamentary approval before committing, while other countries not invited were seeking inclusion.

Defending the inclusion of Russia's Vladimir Putin and other leaders, Trump said he wanted "everybody" who was powerful and could "get the job done."

Several European allies declined participation, citing concerns over the board's expanded mandate and its impact on the international system based on the UN Charter. The UK also said it would not sign the treaty during Trump's ceremony, British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper said, referencing concerns over Putin's invitation.

According to a copy of the charter cited by media outlets, countries seeking permanent membership would need to contribute USD 1 billion, while non-paying members would receive a three-year mandate. The charter also designates Trump as permanent chairman even after leaving office.

Trump linked the initiative to his approach on Iran and said it played a role in securing the Israel-Hamas ceasefire. "If we didn't do that, there was no chance of making peace," he said.

- ANI
Adani Defence and Brazilian aerospace giant Embraer have announced a landmark partnership to establish a regional aircraft manufacturing facility in India. The project, announced by Jeet Adani, aims to create a unique aviation ecosystem and is framed as a cornerstone of India's industrial strategy under the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative. The collaboration is expected to integrate global expertise with local infrastructure to generate jobs and enhance technical prowess in the aerospace sector. Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh highlighted the deal as a strategic move to transition India from a market for aircraft to a participant in their production.

Adani Defence partners with Brazil's Embraer to establish a regional aircraft manufacturing facility in India, boosting Atmanirbhar Bharat.

New Delhi, January 27 In a big boost towards Atmanirbhar Bharat, Adani Airport Holdings and Brazilian aerospace giant Embraer has entered a partnership to establish regional aircraft manufacturing facility in India.

"It is with immense pride that I announce that Adani Defence is today entering into a landmark partnership with Embraer, one of the world's foremost aircraft manufacturers. Together, we will establish a regional aircraft manufacturing facility in India and a one of its kind aviation ecosystem, a project that will redefine the future of aviation in our country," said Jeet Adani, Director, Adani Airport Holdings Limited.

The announcement, made by Jeet Adani marks a major milestone in India's journey towards becoming a global aviation hub. This collaboration aims to create a "one of its kind aviation ecosystem" that will focus on domestic production and long-term industrial growth.

During the announcement, Jeet Adani expressed his enthusiasm for the project. He emphasised that the initiative is designed to "redefine the future of aviation in our country," moving beyond a standard corporate deal to become a cornerstone of India's industrial strategy.

The partnership is deeply rooted in the "Atmanirbhar Bharat" (Self-Reliant India) initiative, which seeks to reduce dependence on foreign imports by boosting local manufacturing. Adani noted that "this partnership is more than just a business agreement. It is a vision taking flight." According to him, the venture "represents India's determination to build world-class aviation capabilities on our own soil," ensuring that the country can meet its rising demand for regional connectivity through homegrown solutions.

Adani remarked that "under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India has embraced bold reforms and ambitious initiatives that have transformed infrastructure and industry." By integrating Embraer's global expertise with Adani's expanding infrastructure footprint, the project is expected to generate high-skilled jobs and enhance the nation's technical prowess in the aerospace sector.

Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh also attended the event marking the signing of an MOU between Adani Defence and Aerospace and Embraer. "This collaboration reflects the evolving character of India's defence and aerospace engagement with the world, one which is increasingly based on partnership, capability building and long-term strategic alignment," says the Defence Secretary.

Calling the deal, a strategic development in the aerospace industry, Rakesh Kumar Singh said, "Aircraft assembly represents the convergence of advanced manufacturing, precision engineering, quality assurance and certification, as well as global supply chain integration. By bringing this capability to India, we are moving decisively up the value chain from being primarily a market for aircraft to becoming a participant in their production."

"India's security environment is marked by rapid technological change with evolving threat perceptions and increasing complexity across domains, air, land, sea, space, and cyber. Addressing these challenges requires not only capable armed forces but also a strong, well-prepared, and globally integrated defence industrial base. And this is the core objective driving the Government of India's defence manufacturing and aerospace policies," he added.

- ANI
AICC General Secretary KC Venugopal chaired a review meeting for the Sangathan Srijan Abhiyan (SSA) states, issuing strict timelines for completing the party's organisational structure. He directed PCCs to form District Committees within 15 days, Block Committees within 30 days, and Mandal to Booth-level committees within 60 days. The meeting emphasized ensuring representation for SC, ST, OBC, and minority communities and organizing training programs. The SSA has already seen the appointment of 525 DCC Presidents across 14 states, with the process launched in six more.

KC Venugopal directs state units to form booth-level committees within 60 days as Congress accelerates Sangathan Srijan Abhiyan org revamp.

New Delhi, January 27 All India Congress Committee General Secretary KC Venugopal presided over a detailed review meeting at Indira Bhawan with General Secretaries, In-charges and PCC Presidents from the Sangathan Srijan Abhiyan states.

During the meeting on Monday, Venugopal directed the Pradesh Congress Committees (PCCs) to complete the formation of District Congress Committees (DCCs) within 15 days, Block Committees within 30 days and Mandal, Gram Panchayat, along with Booth Level Committees within 60 days.

The instructions also emphasised ensuring proper representation for all communities, including SC, ST, OBC, and minority groups, and organising training programmes at both district and block levels.

Under the SSA initiative, DCC Presidents have already been appointed in 14 states, covering a total of 525 DCCs, while the process has been formally announced in six additional states.

Sharing updates on X, Venugopal wrote, "Held a detailed and productive meeting today at Indira Bhawan with the General Secretaries, In-charges and PCC Presidents from states where DCC Presidents have been appointed under the Sangathan Srijan Abhiyan," he wrote.

"As of now, the appointment of DCC Presidents under SSA has been successfully completed in 14 states, with 525 new DCC Presidents appointed. The process has also been formally announced in six more states, marking the next phase of organisational strengthening," he added.

"We issued clear directions to PCCs to complete the formation of DCC committees within 15 days, Block Committees within 30 days, and Mandal, Gram Panchayat & Booth Level Committees within 60 days, while ensuring proper representation to all communities - especially for SC, ST, OBC & Minorities. They have also been instructed to hold training programmes at the District and Block levels," the post stated.

Venugopal also highlighted the centrality of SSA in building a robust organisational structure, stating, "Sangathan Srijan Abhiyan remains central to building a strong, active and people-oriented organisation from the ground up."

Meanwhile, Congress leader Mahesh Kumar Goud said these meetings strengthen the organisation and informed about the given directions.

"These meetings happen every month to strengthen the organisation from the village level to the district level. We have been advised of some measures to take up in the coming 3 months... Before this, we will conclude appointments from the village to the DCC level along with BLS...," Kumar told ANI.

Furthermore, Andhra Pradesh Congress President YS Sharmila said the discussion in the meeting centred on the organisation's growth.

"It was about organisational strengthening... Most of the district presidents in the party have been appointed. The whole discussion was about how to take it up from there, down to the booth level...," she said.

- ANI
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has directed officials to create an action plan for developing ten districts into a world-class horticulture cluster. The plan focuses on the Rayalaseema region, along with Prakasam and Markapuram districts, aiming to produce 500 million metric tonnes of horticultural produce aligned with global demand. The initiative has attracted interest from DP World of Dubai to establish a cluster and emphasizes mobilizing private investment alongside government funds. Critical to the plan is the fast-track completion of irrigation projects, including Veligonda and Galeru-Nagari, to ensure water security for the ambitious agricultural transformation.

CM Naidu directs plan for world's largest horticulture cluster in Rayalaseema, Prakasam & Markapuram, aiming for 500 MMT produce with DP World investment.

Amaravati, Jan 27 Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Tuesday directed officials to prepare an action plan to develop the Rayalseema region and Prakasam and Markapuram districts as horticultural hubs.

The Chief Minister conducted a review meeting with ministers and senior officials on integrated development plans to develop 10 districts as horticulture sector hubs.

The Chief Minister noted that the Rayalaseema region already holds a leading position in the country in horticulture production, and directed that the region, along with Prakasam and Markapuram districts, be developed as the world's largest horticulture cluster.

He asked the officials to promote horticulture production as per global market demand. Naidu said that an action plan should be prepared for producing 500 million metric tonnes of horticultural produce.

He revealed that DP World of Dubai has come forward to establish a horticulture cluster in Andhra Pradesh.

The Chief Minister emphasised mobilising private investments in horticulture in addition to funds from the Purvodaya scheme of the Government of India.

He directed officials to prepare logistics plans covering food processing units, port connectivity, warehouses, cold chains and related infrastructure.

He made it clear that irrigation projects in Rayalaseema, Prakasam and Markapuram districts must be completed on a fast track. He directed that projects should be taken up on a priority basis.

Chief Minister Naidu said that the Veligonda Project should be completed this year. He also asked officials to prepare plans for the reconstruction of the Annamayya Project.

The Chief Minister stressed the need to focus on bringing Krishna waters up to Kadapa through the Galeru-Nagari Project.

Naidu also instructed that steps be taken to develop projects not only in Rayalaseema but also in the North Andhra districts. He said that once the Polavaram Left Canal works are completed, Godavari waters can be taken up to North Andhra, enabling the Polavaram-Vamsadhara river interlinking project.

He directed officials to prepare plans to take up projects in North Andhra on a priority basis.

- IANS
Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu met with senior Airbus executives to discuss deeper integration of Indian Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises into global aviation supply chains. The minister highlighted India's emergence as a convergence hub for global aerospace interests, innovation, and investment. A key milestone noted was that all eight doors for the Airbus A220 aircraft are now manufactured in India. This partnership aims to provide Indian MSMEs with access to global markets, advanced technologies, and long-term business opportunities.

Aviation Minister Naidu meets Airbus executives to integrate Indian MSMEs into global supply chains, highlighting India's growing aerospace manufacturing role.

New Delhi, January 27 Union Minister of Civil Aviation Ram Mohan Naidu held a meeting with senior executives of Airbus to discuss ways to deepen the integration of Indian micro, small and medium enterprises into global aviation supply chains, reflecting the growing role of India in the global aerospace ecosystem.

The minister met Wouter van Wersch, Executive Vice President International at Airbus, and Jurgen Westermeier, President and Managing Director, Airbus India and South Asia.

The discussions focused on strengthening collaboration between Airbus and Indian industry, particularly MSMEs, as India continues to emerge as a key manufacturing and innovation hub for the global aviation sector.

Sharing details of the interaction through a social media post, the Civil Aviation Minister said that India has today emerged as a convergence hub for the interests, innovation and investment of global original equipment manufacturers (OEMs).

"Met Wouter van Wersch (Executive VP International, Airbus) and Jurgen Westermeier (President & MD, Airbus India & South Asia) today. Had a very positive interaction on deepening the integration of Indian MSMEs into global aviation supply chains," the minister said in his post.

He highlighted that global aerospace majors are increasingly looking at India not only as a market, but also as an important base for manufacturing and supply chain integration.

The minister further noted that the Indian aviation ecosystem is steadily evolving into a major industry, with a strong focus on indigenous manufacturing.

He said India is increasingly manufacturing aircraft components domestically and is also moving towards the development of regional transport aircraft, reflecting the country's growing capabilities in the aerospace sector.

Highlighting a key milestone in India's manufacturing journey, the minister said that all eight doors of the Airbus A220 aircraft are now made in India. This development underlines the expanding role of Indian companies in the global production network of one of the world's leading aircraft manufacturers.

The meeting comes at a time when India's civil aviation sector is witnessing rapid growth, supported by rising air traffic, infrastructure development and a strong policy push towards "Make in India".

The focus on MSMEs is expected to help smaller Indian companies gain access to global markets, advanced technologies and long-term business opportunities.

The interaction between the Civil Aviation Minister and Airbus leadership shows continued efforts to deepen global partnerships and accelerate the transformation of India's aviation ecosystem into a globally integrated and manufacturing-driven industry.

- ANI
Intelligence officials report a dangerous plot engineered by political leaders to incite violence against Bangladesh's Hindu minority ahead of the February elections. The electoral strategy is shifting from development issues to a polarizing anti-Hindu and anti-India rhetoric, with fake narratives being created to justify atrocities. Radical elements, including the Jamaat-e-Islami, are leveraging this strategy, raising fears of a worsened situation and a potential exodus of Hindus. Experts note this systematic targeting blends long-standing persecution with cynical vote-bank politics in a highly charged atmosphere.

Intelligence reports reveal a plot to incite anti-Hindu violence in Bangladesh ahead of elections, using fake narratives and radical rhetoric.

New Delhi, Jan 27 A plot has been engineered in Bangladesh to incite violence against the minority Hindus ahead of the February elections. Many leaders who are contesting the elections are planning on using the anti-Hindu rhetoric as an election plank.

An Intelligence Bureau official said that a plot was hatched last week by several leaders to incite violence against the Hindus in Bangladesh. During this meeting, several radical elements were roped in to help further this plan. An official said that the situation is very worrisome for the minority communities in the country. While violence has been a concern, the worry is that it is set to escalate further ahead of the elections.

Bangladesh watchers say that the polls will not be fought on the development plank. There would be no talk about security, economics, and other important topics. The poll would be all about an anti-Hindu, anti-India rhetoric, the experts say.

Many leaders are trying to incite the radicals against the Hindus, stating that India has been giving shelter to the ousted leader, Sheikh Hasina. Further, they are telling the people that the Hindus support India, and hence they have no place in Bangladesh.

Another official said that this plot also includes running a fake narrative against the minority community. They would create stories about the Hindus trying to incite tensions. Allegations of theft and other crimes would be made against them, so that the locals can commit atrocities against the minority community.

Another campaign issue would be Sheikh Hasina. They are branding her as anti-Bangladesh and pro-India. Most parties are accusing India of sheltering Hasina, despite Bangladesh seeking her extradition. Experts say that it is hard to analyse whether this strategy would work entirely. A large majority in Bangladesh seeks good ties with India instead of Pakistan. Many leaders have realised this, and hence they feel that this strategy to polarise voters based on religion may work for them.

An official said that this anti-India, anti-Hindu rhetoric is working for many leaders. The Jamaat-e-Islami, especially, is reaping the benefits of this strategy. The worry, according to the official, is that the situation is only going to worsen in the coming days. Many Hindus continue living in fear in the country. If the violence escalates, they would look to leave the country, and there could be a major exodus. This would put a lot of stress on the borders, which already remain fragile since the Jamaat-backed Muhammad Yunus took over power.

The persecution of the minorities is nothing new in Bangladesh. It has always taken place, and the population of the minority community has dropped significantly over the years. Officials say that this time it is different. This is not only about persecution, but it has also become vote bank politics. Such plots to target the minorities systematically come at a time when many leaders are calling for the establishment of an Islamic state.

However, many do not want the country to be governed by the Constitution. They have been demanding that Sharia law be implemented. When the atmosphere is so charged up, there is a lot of worry ahead for the minorities who live in Bangladesh.

Officials say that the persecution of minorities will not stop even if there is a democratic government in place. The big worry is that it would be multi-fold until the elections are over, an official added.

- IANS
Bank employee unions across India observed a one-day strike to press for long-pending demands, chief among them being the implementation of a five-day working week. The strike led to the closure of branch-level banking operations, affecting counter services like cash deposits and withdrawals. Union leaders assured that the protest was peaceful and that ATMs and digital banking platforms remained operational to minimise customer inconvenience. They warned of potential further action if their demands, which they argue would improve work-life balance, continue to be ignored by the government.

Bank unions held a one-day nationwide strike demanding a five-day workweek. While branches closed, ATMs & digital services ran. Leaders explain the long-pending issue.

New Delhi, January 27 Bank unions across the country observed a one-day strike on Tuesday to press for several long-pending demands, including the implementation of a five-day working week for bank employees.

The strike was called by various bank employee unions, with leaders stating that the protest was peaceful and aimed at drawing the government's attention to unresolved issues.

Despite the strike, union leaders said efforts were made to minimise inconvenience to customers. Banks had informed customers in advance about the strike, and alternative services such as ATMs and digital banking platforms were kept operational.

Speaking to ANI, Sanjay Kuthe, General Secretary of the Indian Bank Officers Association for Maharashtra and Goa, said the demand for a five-day workweek has been pending for a long time.

"We demand the government to implement five-day working days for employees in a week. It is a long pending demand and has been delayed by over 2 years," he said.

Kuthe added that the strike would not significantly impact customers, as prior arrangements had been made. "However, there will be no major issue for the bank customers as we have already informed them from before and all our ATMs and digital services are operative," he said.

Echoing similar views, Wilbur Anton, General Secretary of the National Confederation for Bank Employees, Maharashtra, said the protest was being conducted in a calm and disciplined manner.

"We are doing a silent and peaceful protest, seeking a five-day work per week for all the bank employees," Anton told ANI.

He further stated that the demand for a reduced workweek has been raised repeatedly but remains unresolved.

"We have been demanding the five-day per workweek for a long time and still the issue has not been resolved," he said.

Addressing concerns about inconvenience to the public, Anton said banks had taken steps to ensure that customers were not affected.

"We have already informed our bank customers regarding the closure of banking operations for today. Also, we have filled the ATMs for our customers and all our digital processes are working," he said.

The one-day strike led to the closure of branch-level banking operations in many parts of the country, affecting services such as cash withdrawals and deposits at counters.

However, digital banking services, mobile banking applications and ATM services continued to function normally, providing customers with access to essential banking facilities.

Bank unions have maintained that a five-day working week would help improve work-life balance for employees and align the banking sector with other segments of the financial industry. They have urged the government to address the issue at the earliest.

The unions stated that while Tuesday's strike was limited to one day, further steps could be considered if their demands continue to remain unaddressed.

- ANI
Greece's Tourism Minister Olga Kefalogianni celebrated the 'Ghika: A Journey to India' exhibition at Delhi's NGMA as a significant honor for Greek culture. She emphasized tourism's role in building friendships and cultural collaboration between the two ancient civilizations. The minister also held discussions with India's Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat to strengthen bilateral cooperation in tourism and cultural exchanges. The exhibition underscores deep historical connections dating back millennia, including influences seen in Gandhara art.

Greek Minister Olga Kefalogianni calls the Ghika art show a "big honour," highlighting tourism as a bridge for India-Greece cultural ties.

New Delhi, January 28 Greece Tourism Minister Olga Kefalogianni hailed the exhibition 'Ghika: A Journey to India' at the National Gallery of Modern Art in Delhi, calling it a "big honour" for Greek art and culture.

Addressing reporters during her visit on Tuesday, Kefalogianni highlighted the importance of tourism as a bridge for fostering friendships, cultural exchanges and closer collaboration between India and Greece.

She said, "It is a big honour for Greek art and culture that one of the most prominent Greek artists has an exhibition here at NGMA. Cultural exchanges are the best way to get to know cultural civilisations and people. Tourism is the gateway to building friendships and cultural ties and enhancing cultural collaboration between Greece and India... Ghika visited India in the 1950s, and he was fascinated by all the religious ceremonies and rituals which are a part of our everyday life in Greece."

She further emphasised the shared cultural values between the two countries, adding, "We feel at home in India because, despite our distance, we find a lot of similarities in the way that we approach life... I hope to be back very soon to explore Indian culture and flavours."

Earlier on Tuesday, Kefalogianni held discussions with Union Minister of Culture and Tourism Gajendra Singh Shekhawat.

In a post on X, Shekhawat said, "Pleased to meet H.E. Olga Kefalogianni, the Minister of Tourism of Greece, at my office today. We discussed strengthening cooperation in tourism and cultural exchanges, and sharing best practices between two ancient civilisations that continue to inspire the world."

India has traditionally enjoyed friendly bilateral ties with Greece. This has mainly been characterised by the political support each country has shown the other on core positions at the international level. Over the years, close personal ties have also been forged between senior political leaders in both countries.

Historical connections between the two countries date back over 2,500 years, with evidence of trade during the Mauryan era. Alexander the Great's expedition in 326 BC led him to the Northwestern part of the Indian subcontinent as far as the Hyphasis (Beas River), where he fought with Raja Puru, King of Pauravaa (between the Jhelum and Chenab) and King Ambhi, who ruled at Taxila.

The Mauryan dynasty was contemporary to Alexander, and Chanakya in Chandragupta's court, as recorded in the Arthashastra, mentions a Yavan ambassador named Megasthenes. The fusion of Indian and Greek artistic elements is particularly evident in Gandhara art, reflecting centuries of cultural exchange that continue to influence both countries.

The Ghika: A Journey to India exhibition, featuring the works of prominent Greek painter George Ghika, highlights the enduring bond between India and Greece, while serving as a platform to promote deeper cultural and tourism cooperation.

- ANI
BJP leaders Arun Govil and Sanjeev Balyan visited the Hapur residence of Indian Army soldier Rinkil Balyan, who was among 10 personnel killed in a road accident in Jammu and Kashmir's Doda district. Sanjeev Balyan assured that the government would fulfil any demands from the family, while praising the sacrifice of martyrs. Rinkil Balyan was cremated in his village with full military honours, survived by his wife and two young children. His family and village have a long tradition of service in the Indian armed forces.

BJP's Arun Govil & Sanjeev Balyan visit family of soldier Rinkil Balyan, who died in a Jammu and Kashmir road accident that killed 10 Army personnel.

Hapur, January 27 Bharatiya Janata Party leaders Arun Govil and Sanjeev Balyan visited the residence of Indian Army soldier Rinkil Balyan, who died in a road accident in Jammu and Kashmir's Doda district.

Speaking to ANI on Monday, Sanjeev Balyan said the government would fulfil whatever demands the family made.

"Rinkil Balyan was like a part of my family. You could say he was like my younger brother. Whatever demands the family makes of the government will be fulfilled, but the families of martyrs never make demands," Balyan said.

This comes after an Army vehicle in Jammu and Kashmir's Doda district met with an accident, resulting in the deaths of 10 Army personnel on January 22.

Earlier on January 24, the last rites of Rinkil Balyan were performed at a resident in Bhatel village of Uttar Pradesh's Hapur district.

Family members and villagers paid their last respects, tears in their eyes, as a large crowd gathered to bid farewell. He was cremated in the village with full military honours.

His brother, Rishabh Balyan, who also serves in the Indian Army, told ANI that Rinkil is survived by two children.

Rishabh Baliyan said, "We got the news on January 22 in the evening. The incident occurred when he was returning from an operation. The road was covered in snow, and the vehicle lost control and fell into the valley. I got to know that my brother was martyred in the incident. His mortal remains came here (to Hapur) yesterday and were brought home this morning. He has two kids, a one-year-old son and a two-and a half year old daughter. His son performed the last rites alongside me. I am also in the Indian Army."

A relative, Sandeep Balyan, burst into tears and said that the whole family has served the Indian armed forces for generations.

He said, "The whole family is serving the armed forces. Rinkil Baliyan's father was also in the army. 50-60 people from the village are in the army. Villagers are also serving the UP Police and CRPF. There was a wave of sorrow in the village when we received the news."

According to the White Knight Corps, the Army vehicle carrying troops for an operation slipped off the road while navigating treacherous terrain in bad weather.

"In an unfortunate incident, an Army vehicle carrying troops for an operation slipped off the road while navigating treacherous terrain in bad weather, in the general area of Doda. There are multiple casualties, including fatal. The injured have been evacuated for further treatment," said White Knight Corps.

- ANI
BJP National President Nitin Nabin held a key strategy meeting with West Bengal party leaders in Durgapur to prepare for the state assembly elections. The discussions focused on the political climate, organisational strengthening, and future initiatives to consolidate the party's presence. Leaders announced plans to intensify public outreach and grassroots mobilisation in the coming weeks. The meeting was part of Nabin's two-day state visit, which includes organisational reviews and public programs, ahead of Union Minister Amit Shah's scheduled visit to Bengal.

BJP National President Nitin Nabin holds high-level strategy meeting in Durgapur with Bengal leaders to strengthen party for upcoming Assembly elections.

Durgapur, January 28 Bharatiya Janata Party National President Nitin Nabin held a high-level strategy meeting with senior leaders of the West Bengal BJP in Durgapur, as part of the party's preparations for the upcoming state assembly elections.

The discussions focused on the current political climate in West Bengal, organisational strengthening, and forthcoming strategic initiatives aimed at consolidating the party's presence across the state.

Prominent BJP leaders present at the session included Leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari, former State President Dilip Ghosh, Dr Sukanta Majumdar and Rahul Sinha.

After the meeting on Tuesday, Sukanta Majumdar and Rahul Sinha addressed the media, stating that the party plans to intensify its public outreach programs and strengthen organisational structures at the grassroots level in the coming weeks.

The leaders expressed confidence that the BJP is moving decisively toward coming to power in West Bengal this year.

The meeting was part of Nitin Nabin's schedule for his two-day visit to the state, which started on Tuesday, his first since taking over as National President. During his visit, he is scheduled to review the BJP's preparations ahead of the Assembly elections, participate in several organisational meetings, and attend public programs.

On Wednesday, Nabin will offer prayers at the historic Bhiringi Kali Mandir in the morning, followed by an address to the BJP Karyakarta Sammelan of the Bardhaman division at the Chitralaya Mela Maidan in Durgapur. Later, he will address the Asansol district BJP Karyakarta Sammelan in Raniganj.

Ahead of the West Bengal Assembly Election 2026, the BJP has finalised a detailed list of Prabasi leaders from various states to strengthen its election campaign across different zones of the state, including Nabadwip, Kolkata, Howrah-Hooghly-Midnapore region.

The list includes senior leaders, legislators, former ministers, organisational office-bearers, and youth leaders deputed from several states such as Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Jharkhand, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh, Bihar, and Tripura. These leaders will work in coordination with the West Bengal BJP unit to oversee organisational activities, election preparedness, and grassroots mobilisation in the allotted districts.

Meanwhile, Union Home Minister and senior BJP leader Amit Shah will visit West Bengal on January 30 and 31. During his two-day tour, Amit Shah is expected to hold important organisational and political meetings, further energising the party cadre and reviewing preparations for the upcoming political challenges in the state.

- ANI
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva will lead a high-level delegation to India in February, aiming to deepen economic ties and reduce dependency on traditional partners like the US and China. The visit follows increased political engagement, including a recent phone call between Lula and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, where they discussed UN reforms. Bilateral trade has seen strong growth, with India becoming a top-ten export destination for Brazil, though a trade deficit persists. The mission includes a focus on attracting investment, expanding defence cooperation, and offering technical collaboration in agriculture.

President Lula leads major delegation to India to expand trade, attract investment, and forge partnerships, reducing reliance on US and China.

Sao Paulo, January 27 Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva is set to lead a major high-level delegation to India from February 19 to 21, aiming to deepen bilateral trade ties, attract fresh investments and forge strategic partnerships in key sectors vital to Brazil's long-term development.

The visit is part of Brazil's broader foreign policy recalibration, as it seeks to lessen economic reliance on traditional partners such as the United States and China while strengthening engagement with emerging economies like India, as reported by Brasil 247.

Officials at Brazil's presidential palace have described the upcoming visit as one of the largest overseas missions of the current administration.

Reflecting the scale of ambition, the Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency (ApexBrasil) opened accreditation for up to 200 business leaders to accompany the delegation. By the end of the registration process, nearly 150 private-sector representatives had confirmed their participation, underlining strong corporate interest in the Indian market.

According to Brasil 247, Brazil-India ties have been steadily gaining momentum over recent months.

In October 2025, Brazilian Vice President Geraldo Alckmin, who also heads the development, industry, trade and services portfolio, visited India along with Defence Minister Jose Mucio Monteiro. During that visit, talks were held with Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on cooperation in defence and sovereignty-related areas. Discussions also covered the possible expansion of the Mercosur-India Preferential Trade Agreement, which has been in place since 2009.

Political engagement has intensified further this year. On January 23, President Lula and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a telephonic conversation, during which both leaders reiterated support for comprehensive United Nations reforms, including changes to the Security Council, an issue long championed by both countries.

Concrete steps are already being taken to support the growing partnership. Brazil has recently opened a new business office in India, one of only about 20 such offices it maintains globally. The move is intended to help diversify Brazilian exports, which are currently heavily concentrated, with crude oil accounting for nearly 30 per cent of shipments to India in 2025.

Trade data underscores India's rising importance to Brazil. India emerged as Brazil's tenth-largest export destination last year, with exports worth USD 6.9 billion, while ranking sixth among import sources at USD 8.4 billion. Although this resulted in a USD 1.5 billion trade deficit for Brazil, bilateral trade volumes recorded strong growth, with exports rising 30.2 per cent and imports increasing 21.9 per cent in 2025, as per Brazil 247.

Agriculture will also feature prominently during the visit. Brazil plans to offer technical cooperation in family farming, with a representative from Embrapa, the country's agricultural research agency, included in the delegation.

Preparations for the visit are being treated as a priority, with Brazil renting a 500-seat auditorium in India for two days to host meetings between President Lula and Indian business leaders. The objective is to highlight investment opportunities and encourage greater capital inflows into Brazil.

Beyond economics, the visit carries clear political weight. Brazilian officials see the India outreach as reinforcing President Lula's image as an influential global leader seeking to assert Brazil's interests in an increasingly competitive international environment.

- ANI
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has confirmed he will travel to India in February, following a phone conversation with US President Donald Trump where they discussed bilateral relations and positive economic indicators. The leaders also addressed the lifting of tariffs on Brazilian products and cooperation in combating organized crime. Separately, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Lula reviewed their countries' strategic partnership, emphasizing cooperation for the Global South. The engagement occurs amid ongoing trade tensions and Trump's recent praise for Modi as a "fantastic leader."

Brazilian President Lula confirms February visit to India, discusses bilateral ties and trade tariffs with US President Trump in a phone call.

Brasilia, January 27 Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on Monday confirmed that he will travel to India in February, ahead of a subsequent trip to Washington, following a telephone conversation with United States President Donald Trump.

Sharing the details on X, Lula wrote, "We agreed on a visit to Washington after my trip to India and South Korea in February, on a date to be set soon."

He added that during the call, the two leaders discussed "bilateral relations and the global agenda," adding that they "exchanged information on the economic indicators of both countries, which point to good prospects for the two economies."

President Lula said Trump noted that the "economic growth of the United States and Brazil is positive for the region as a whole."

Lula added, "We welcomed the good relationship built in recent months, which resulted in the lifting of a significant portion of the tariffs applied to Brazilian products."

The Brazilian President said he had "reiterated the proposal, forwarded to the State Department in December, to strengthen cooperation in combating organised crime."

He also conveyed interest in "tightening the partnership in repressing money laundering and arms trafficking, as well as in freezing assets of criminal groups and exchanging data on financial transactions," adding that the proposal was "well received by the U.S. president."

Addressing broader international issues, Lula wrote, "Regarding the Peace Council, I proposed that the body presented by the United States be limited to the Gaza issue and provide a seat for Palestine."

He added, "In that context, I reiterated the importance of a comprehensive reform of the United Nations, which includes expanding the permanent members of the Security Council."

He also spoke about Venezuela, saying, "We exchanged impressions on the situation in Venezuela. I emphasized the importance of preserving peace and stability in the region and working for the well-being of the Venezuelan people."

Separately, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Lula reviewed bilateral relations during a recent conversation, highlighting the significance of reformed multilateralism in addressing common global challenges.

"Glad to speak with President Lula. We reviewed the strong momentum in the India-Brazil Strategic Partnership, which is poised to scale new heights in the year ahead," PM Narendra Modi said on social media.

"Our close cooperation is vital for advancing the shared interests of the Global South. I look forward to welcoming him to India soon," he added.

Lula had earlier announced plans for a state visit to India in early 2026 and was engaging BRICS members, currently chaired by India, on responding to tariffs imposed by US President Donald Trump, which had impacted both India and Brazil.

According to an official readout, PM Narendra Modi and Lula recalled their meetings in Brazil and South Africa last year and noted progress across multiple areas of cooperation, including trade, investment, technology, defence, energy, health, agriculture and people-to-people exchanges.

They also shared perspectives on regional and global developments and reiterated the "importance of reformed multilateralism in addressing shared challenges."

India and Brazil are members of the BRICS grouping, which Trump has repeatedly criticised, alleging efforts to weaken the US dollar through trade in national currencies.

The PM Modi-Lula engagement comes amid ongoing tariff-related tensions between New Delhi and Washington.

Trump recently expressed confidence in reaching a "good" trade deal with India and referred to PM Narendra Modi as a "fantastic leader" and a "great friend."

"I have a great respect for your prime minister (Modi). He is a fantastic man and a friend of mine. We are gonna have a good deal," Trump said.

He later remarked, "India wanted to make me happy. Modi is a very good guy, and he knew I was not happy. And it was important to make me happy. We can raise tariffs on them very quickly."

The US administration had earlier imposed additional tariffs on Brazilian products, some of which were later withdrawn, including duties on food exports.

- ANI
SBI report urges Budget 2026 to align deposit tax with capital gains, reform GST for banks, and boost insurance & pension security to increase savings.

New Delhi, January 27 The central government in the upcoming budget 2026 should announce reforms across taxation, insurance and pension sectors to boost household financial savings, reduce compliance challenges and improve social security coverage in the country, highlighted a report by State Bank of India

The report highlighted that bank deposits as a share of household financial savings have declined from 38.7 per cent in FY24 to 35.2 per cent in FY25. To encourage savings through the banking system, SBI suggested tax relief measures for depositors.



It said that the tax treatment for interest income on bank deposits should be brought at par with long-term and short-term capital gains (LTCG and STCG).



It stated, "To boost financial savings: (a) tax treatment for interest on deposits should be at par with LTCG and STCG"



The report also recommended that the lock-in period for tax-saving fixed deposits should be reduced to three years, making it equal to Equity Linked Savings Schemes (ELSS) of mutual funds, to improve deposit mobilisation.



In addition, SBI suggested removal of TDS on savings bank deposit interest or an increase in the threshold to provide relief to small savers.



On the indirect tax front, SBI proposed amendments in GST provisions related to Input Service Distributor (ISD) to bring greater clarity and reduce litigation.



The report suggested replacing the words "for or on behalf of distinct persons" with "for the benefit of distinct persons" in relevant sections of the GST Act, 2017.



It also recommended deletion of certain provisions to address interpretational issues and addition of an explanation to Section 20(3) to accept ISD distributed by banks without disputes over valuation.



The report further highlighted practical difficulties faced by banks in complying with GST TDS provisions on payments such as interchange fees routed through settlement agencies like NPCI, Visa and MasterCard.



As these transactions are settled on a real-time basis and invoice-wise details are received later, banks are required to pay GST TDS and then claim refunds. SBI suggested that GST TDS should not apply to banking services.



In the insurance sector, SBI noted that insurance penetration in India declined to 3.7 per cent in FY25 from 4 per cent in FY23 and 4.2 per cent in FY22, as per IRDAI data. Life insurance penetration fell to 2.7 per cent, while non-life insurance remained at 1 per cent.



The report said the decline in life insurance penetration is a concern for IRDAI's mission of "Insurance for All by 2047".



It also pointed out that around 69 per cent of complaints received in FY25 were related to claims, highlighting the need for reforms, particularly in the health insurance sector.



On pensions, SBI stressed the need for a well-structured pension system with a minimum pension guarantee.



According to SBI, these measures could strengthen financial security and support long-term economic stability if addressed in the Union Budget 2026.





- ANI
Political leaders have arrived in Delhi for the commencement of Parliament's Budget Session, which begins with President Droupadi Murmu's address. The session's first part will focus on the Union Budget for 2026-27, with the Economic Survey and Budget presentation scheduled for January 29 and February 1, respectively. An all-party meeting was held where the government sought cooperation for smooth parliamentary functioning. The lengthy session, comprising 30 sittings over 65 days, will adjourn for a recess in February before concluding on April 2.

Parliament's Budget Session 2026 begins with President's address. Key ministers and opposition leaders arrive in Delhi for the 65-day session.

New Delhi, January 28 Several political leaders and ministers have begun arriving in the national capital ahead of the budget session of Parliament, which is scheduled to commence today.

At the Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport in Delhi, Union Minister of State for Minority Affairs and Fisheries, George Kurian, was seen entering the city early on Wednesday. In addition, Union Minister Ramdas Athawale, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) MP Supriya Sule, and All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) Chief Asaduddin Owaisi also reached Delhi to participate in the budget session.

The budget session of Parliament will formally begin on Wednesday (January 28) with an address by President Droupadi Murmu to the joint sitting of both Houses. The Economic Survey of India will be presented on January 29, followed by the presentation of the Union Budget on February 1.

The two Houses are scheduled to be adjourned for a recess on February 13 and will reassemble on March 9. During this period, the Standing Committees will examine the Demands for Grants of various ministries and departments. The session will comprise a total of 30 sittings spread over 65 days and is set to conclude on April 2.

The first part of the session will mainly be devoted to the financial business relating to the Union Budget for 2026-27 and discussion on the Motion of Thanks on the President's Address.

Essential legislative and other business is expected to be taken up mainly during the second part of the Session.

Earlier on Tuesday, the government convened an all-party meeting ahead of the budget session of Parliament, during which it sought cooperation from opposition parties for the smooth functioning of the two Houses. The opposition parties talked about the issues they intend to raise during the meeting.

During the meeting, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju sought cooperation from leaders for the smooth functioning of Parliament and stated that the Government is prepared and ready to discuss any other important issue on the floors of the Houses as per the rules of both the Houses of Parliament.

Leaders of different political parties expressed their views on various issues likely to be raised by them during the forthcoming Budget Session of Parliament and assured the government to provide full co-operation. Rijiju took note of all issues raised by the leaders of various parties.

The meeting was chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.

- ANI
Canadian PM Mark Carney to visit India in March for deals on uranium, AI, and energy. Talks on a major trade agreement to boost bilateral ties.

Ottawa, January 27 Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney is set to visit India in the first week of March, the Globe and Mail reported on Tuesday citing Reuters.

As per the Globe and Mail the visit of the Canadian PM would see the signing of deals on uranium, energy, minerals and artificial intelligence, Dinesh Patnaik, India's High Commissioner to Canada said in an interview.



It further reported that Canada's Energy Minister Tim Hodgson is visiting India this week who while confirmed that PM Carney would visit India, did not mention any dates.



"There are plans for the Prime Minister to visit at some point this year, it will depend on the progress we make," Hodgson said in a Sunday interview.



As per Globe and Mail, formal negotiations for a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement with India should also start in March, Patnaik said.



Citing Patnaik it further reported that PM Carney would sign smaller agreements with the India on nuclear energy, oil and gas, environment, AI and quantum computing as well as deals on education and culture during his visit, with a 10-year $2.8-billion uranium supply deal is likely to be included.



While Hodgson did not confirm the deal, he said that Canada is happy to sell uranium under the Canada-India nuclear co-operation agreement as long as India abides International Energy Agency safeguards.



As per Globe and Mail, Patnaik said that the visit of Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to Canada will also take place soon, adding that National Security Advisor Ajit Doval will visit Ottawa next month as part of regular engagements between India and Canada to exchange intelligence and discuss security measures.



Earlier on Monday, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Monday had a productive conversation with Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand, focusing on strengthening India-Canada bilateral ties. They discussed deepening cooperation in various sectors, including economic partnership, artificial intelligence, and high-level exchanges.



These developments follow as US President Donald Trump warned Canada against making trade deals with China. Prime Minister Mark Carney has urged Canadians to "Buy Canadian" to protect the country's economy from global economic threats, signalling a shift toward focusing on local business rather than relying heavily on international trade.



Carney's message comes amid escalating transnational tensions, particularly in North American trade relations and Canada's outreach to Asia. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney also stated that Ottawa, to diversify its global trade landscape, will be doubling its non-US exports by the next decade.



In November last year, Carney accepted Prime Minister Narendra Modi's invitation to visit India in early 2026 on the sidelines of the G20 Leaders' Summit in South Africa, according to a statement from the Office of the Prime Minister of Canada.



Following the return of high commissioners in August 2025, the two prime ministers agreed to increase diplomatic staffing to meet growing consular demand and strengthen people-to-people ties. They also agreed to support reciprocal knowledge transfer as part of ongoing engagement between the two countries.



Carney welcomed the progress being made in the law enforcement dialogue between India and Canada.



India and Canada have agreed to begin negotiations on a high-ambition Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) following a bilateral meeting between PM Modi and his Canadian counterpart, Mark Carney, on the sidelines of the summit. The planned CEPA talks aim to raise bilateral trade to USD 50 billion by 2030.





- ANI
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann is scheduled to visit Ahmedabad, Gujarat, where he will pay obeisance at a gurdwara and address the media. The visit aims to showcase the welfare and development schemes implemented by the AAP government in Punjab. AAP Gujarat leader Manoj Sorathiya stated the purpose is to communicate the party's governance model to a wider audience. The tour is part of AAP's efforts to strengthen its organizational base in Gujarat ahead of local body elections.

Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann visits Ahmedabad to detail AAP's governance and welfare model from Punjab, aiming to strengthen the party's presence in Gujarat.

Ahmedabad, Jan 27 Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann is scheduled to visit Gujarat on January 28. He will arrive in Ahmedabad, pay obeisance at a gurdwara and later address the media on the welfare schemes implemented by the party in Punjab, the Aam Aadmi Party said on Tuesday.

Announcing the visit, AAP Gujarat state organisation General Secretary Manoj Sorathiya said CM Mann would utilise the occasion to present details of welfare schemes and development work undertaken by the Punjab government.



"It gives us great pleasure to inform that Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, who has taken Punjab out of the phase of 'Udta Punjab' and placed it on the path of development and prosperity, will be visiting Gujarat tomorrow," Sorathiya said in a video message.



He said the chief minister would speak about people-centric initiatives implemented in Punjab and discuss their outcomes, with a focus on governance measures adopted by the AAP government.



According to Sorathiya, CM Mann is expected to highlight various welfare schemes, including the universal healthcare programme introduced in Punjab, which has recently drawn attention in several states.



Sorathiya added that the visit reflects the party's intention to communicate its governance model to a wider audience.



"The AAP is fully committed to bringing positive change in Gujarat as well, on the lines of Punjab, and we are determined to provide better governance to the people of Gujarat," he said.



Party sources said Mann's schedule in Gujarat currently includes the gurdwara visit and a media interaction in Ahmedabad, with no public rallies announced as part of the programme.



The visit comes amid AAP's continued efforts to strengthen its organisational presence in the state and prepare for the upcoming local body elections. Mann's Gujarat tour follows earlier visits by him along with AAP National Convener Arvind Kejriwal.



In recent months, the two leaders have jointly visited the state to attend public programmes, interact with party workers and address gatherings, including events focussed on farmers' issues, as part of the party's broader outreach efforts.





- IANS
Chief Minister M.K. Stalin inaugurated a two-day Global Women's Summit in Chennai, organized under the state's Women Employment and Safety Scheme. The event brings together over 500 delegates, including international agencies and industry leaders, to deliberate on key issues. It features 11 thematic sessions addressing skill development, workplace safety, and gender-responsive governance. The summit is expected to conclude with the announcement of a statewide campaign to support women's skill development and formal employment.

CM M.K. Stalin inaugurates a two-day Global Women's Summit in Chennai focusing on women's employment, safety, and workplace inclusion.

Chennai, Jan 27 Chief Minister M.K. Stalin will inaugurate a two-day Global Women's Summit in Chennai on Tuesday, as the Tamil Nadu government brings together policymakers, international organisations, industry leaders and civil society representatives to deliberate on women's employment, safety and workplace inclusion.

According to an official press release issued by the state government, the summit is being organised under the Tamil Nadu Women Employment and Safety Scheme, implemented by the Special Programme Implementation Department.

The event is scheduled to take place on January 27 and 28 at the Nandambakkam Trade Centre in Chennai.

The Global Women's Summit is part of Tamil Nadu's sustained efforts to strengthen institutional frameworks that support women across all sectors of the economy. The initiative aims to help women enter the workforce, retain employment, and return to work after career breaks by creating enabling ecosystems within public and private institutions.

More than 500 delegates are expected to participate in the summit, including representatives from government departments, international agencies, industry, education, corporate social responsibility initiatives and non-governmental organisations.

Key participants include Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin, senior officials from the World Bank, representatives of UN Women, and the India leadership of the United Nations Development Programme. International delegates, including senior political representatives from Mauritius, will also attend the event.

The two-day summit will feature 11 thematic sessions addressing a wide range of issues related to women's workforce participation.

Topics will include skill development, workplace safety, leadership pathways, policy innovation, gender-responsive governance, and the role of public-private partnerships in expanding formal employment opportunities for women.

More than 70 speakers from India and abroad will address the sessions, sharing best practices, research findings and policy experiences aimed at improving women's access to dignified and secure employment. Interactive discussions and panel sessions are expected to focus on practical strategies that can be replicated across sectors.

The concluding session of the summit will be chaired by Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin. During the valedictory programme, the Tamil Nadu government is likely to announce the launch of a statewide campaign to support women's skill development and enhance access to formal employment opportunities.

Officials said the Global Women's Summit reflects Tamil Nadu's broader commitment to gender equity, economic inclusion and inclusive growth, while reinforcing the state's position as a leader in women-centric policy initiatives.

- IANS
Cybersecurity breaches in South Korea increased by 26% in 2025, totaling 2,383 incidents. Server intrusions made up the largest share of attacks, followed by DDoS and ransomware incidents. The government report warns that AI is enabling more advanced and automated hacking tactics, with deepfake-based attacks predicted for 2026. Authorities are investigating a major breach at Kyowon Group that may have affected millions of accounts.

South Korea reports a 26% rise in cybersecurity breaches for 2025, driven by AI-based hacking tactics targeting servers, finance, and education.

Seoul, Jan 27 The number of cybersecurity breaches reported to authorities rose 26 per cent from a year earlier in 2025, a government report here showed on Tuesday, as hackers continue to develop their attack tactics based on artificial intelligence technologies.

The total number of cybersecurity breaches came to 2,383 in 2025, compared with 1,887 tallied a year earlier, according to the report by the Ministry of Science and ICT, reports Yonhap news agency.



Of the cases, server intrusions accounted for 44.2 per cent, followed by distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks at 24.7 per cent.



Cybersecurity breaches involving malicious code, including ransomware, accounted for 14.9 per cent of the reported intrusions, the science ministry said.



In 2025, South Korea experienced a series of cyberattacks on platforms closely connected to people's daily lives, including mobile networks and financial services, it noted.



"The scope of hackers' targets has expanded to the education and medical sectors, beyond previous targets that included research, manufacturing and energy institutions," the science ministry said in the report.



"Hacking tactics are becoming more advanced through AI-based automation and coordinated attacks," it added.



In 2026, hackers may even seek to infiltrate "trust-based communication methods," such as real-time voice calls for virtual meetings, using deepfake technology that generates voices and videos, according to the ministry.



They may also directly target existing AI models, the ministry said.



"Attackers may inject malicious information into chatbots, analysis programs or security platforms to cause malfunctions or information leaks," it said, calling on businesses to enhance their security readiness.



"The government will operate AI-based prevention and response programs and take preemptive actions to address security blind spots to create a reliable cyber environment.



Meanwhile, South Korean cybersecurity authorities estimate that around 9.6 million accounts may have been affected by a recent cyberattack at Kyowon Group, a local education service provider.



The estimate by a government investigation team that includes the Korea Internet and Security Agency comes after Kyowon Group reported a possible breach this month, saying it had detected traces of a ransomware attack.





- IANS
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will chair an all-party meeting to set the legislative agenda for the upcoming Budget Session of Parliament. The session, commencing on January 28 and concluding on April 2, will feature the presentation of the Union Budget 2026-27 on February 1. President Droupadi Murmu will formally inaugurate the session with an address to both houses. Meanwhile, the Congress Parliamentary Party's strategy group will also meet to plan its approach for the session.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh to chair an all-party meeting to set the agenda for the Budget Session, which runs from Jan 28 to April 2.

New Delhi, January 27 Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will chair an all-party meeting on Tuesday ahead of the Budget session, which begins on January 28 and runs until April 2.

The Defence Minister and Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju have arrived at the Parliament complex.

The meeting will be held in the main Committee Room of Parliament and will set the agenda for the Budget session.

The Budget Session will commence on January 28 and continue till April 2, with one break. The first phase is scheduled from January 28 to February 13, while the second phase will run from March 9 to April 2.

The Budget Session will feature 30 sittings, with the Union Budget 2026-27 being presented on February 1.

President Droupadi Murmu will formally open the session, addressing members of both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha.

The all-party meeting is set to discuss the agenda for the session to ensure a smooth proceeding.

In the last two sessions, including the monsoon and winter sessions in 2025, the Opposition parties have sought to discuss the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral rolls, which is underway across the country.

Meanwhile, a meeting of the strategy group of the Congress Parliamentary Party will be held today at the residence of the CPP chairperson, Sonia Gandhi, to discuss the strategy for the upcoming budget session.

- ANI
The Delhi Traffic Police has issued a traffic advisory for the full dress rehearsal of the Beating Retreat ceremony at Vijay Chowk on January 27. Key areas including Vijay Chowk, Raisina Road, and a section of Kartavya Path will be closed to general traffic from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM. Commuters are advised to avoid affected stretches and use alternate routes like Ring Road and Aurobindo Marg. The main Beating Retreat ceremony, concluding Republic Day celebrations, will be held on January 29.

Delhi Traffic Police issues traffic restrictions for Beating Retreat full dress rehearsal at Vijay Chowk. Check alternate routes and advisory details.

New Delhi, January 27 The Delhi Traffic Police has issued a detailed traffic advisory and put in place elaborate arrangements in view of the Full Dress Rehearsal of the Beating Retreat ceremony scheduled to be held at and around Vijay Chowk on Tuesday.

According to the advisory, traffic restrictions will remain in force during the rehearsal hours from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM today to ensure the smooth conduct of the event and to facilitate the movement of participating contingents and officials.

As per the official statement, Vijay Chowk will remain completely closed for general traffic during the restricted period. In addition, vehicular movement will not be allowed on several connecting roads leading towards Vijay Chowk. These include Raisina Road from the Krishi Bhawan roundabout towards Vijay Chowk, beyond the Dara Shikoh Road roundabout, Krishna Menon Marg roundabout, and the Sunehri Masjid roundabout towards Vijay Chowk.

The advisory further stated that Kartavya Path, between Vijay Chowk and the Rafi Marg-Kartavya Path crossing, will also remain closed to traffic. The Delhi Traffic Police has urged commuters to plan their journeys in advance and avoid the affected stretches during the rehearsal hours.

The traffic police have advised people to avoid those routes and take alternate routes during the restricted hours. This includes Ring Road, Ridge Road, Aurobindo Marg, Madarsa T-Point, Safdarjung Road - Kamal Ataturk Marg, Rani Jhansi Road, and Minto Road, etc.

The Full Dress Rehearsal of the Beating Retreat ceremony is scheduled to take place on January 27, while the main Beating Retreat ceremony will be held on January 29, marking the formal conclusion of the Republic Day celebrations.

Meanwhile, India's enormous cultural diversity, growing capabilities across domains, and military prowess were on display on Kartavya Path on Monday as people in Delhi and other parts of the country celebrated the 77th Republic Day with enthusiasm.

The main event at the national capital saw participation from a European Union Contingent. It comprised four Flag Bearers on three gypsies. They carried four flags - the flag of the EU, the most recognisable symbol of the European Union; the flag of the European Union Military Staff; the flag of EU Naval Force Atalanta; and the flag of EU Naval Force Aspides.

President of the European Council Antonio Luis Santos da Costa and the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen were Chief Guests at the 77th Republic Day celebrations.

President Droupadi Murmu led the celebrations and took the salute of the parade with Kartavya Path, stretching from Rashtrapati Bhawan to the National War Memorial, decked up for the ceremony.

The ceremony began with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the National War Memorial, where he led the nation in paying solemn tributes to fallen heroes by laying a wreath.

A hundred cultural artists heralded the parade, on the theme 'Vividata Mein Ekta - Unity in Diversity', demonstrating the nation's unity and rich cultural diversity.

- ANI
India and the European Union have signed a landmark Security and Defence Partnership during a meeting in New Delhi between Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and EU High Representative Kaja Kallas. The discussions centered on deepening bilateral cooperation across a range of security and defence issues, including opportunities to integrate supply chains for trusted defence ecosystems. Kallas highlighted the partnership as a milestone and emphasized the potential for further collaboration in multilateral forums. This agreement makes India the third Asian country, after Japan and South Korea, to enter such a strategic framework with the EU.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh meets EU's Kaja Kallas, signs milestone partnership focusing on security, defence ecosystems, and multilateral cooperation.

New Delhi, January 27 Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, after signing the security and defence partnership with European Commission Vice President Kaja Kallas on Tuesday, stressed that he is looking forward to "greater cooperation" between India and the EU countries.

In a post on X, Singh noted that the meeting focused on a range of bilateral security and defence issues.

"Delighted to meet Vice President (HRVP) of the European Union Ms. Kaja Kallas in New Delhi today. Discussed a range of bilateral security and defence issues including oppurtunities for integrating supply chains for building trusted defence ecosystems and future-ready capabilities. Looking forward to greater cooperation between India and the EU countries. @kajakallas," Rajnath Singh said.

After India and the European Union signed the security and defence partnership, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas on Tuesday urged deepening ties across multilateral fora for further developing defence cooperation.

She made the remarks during the delegation-level talks with Rajnath Singh on Tuesday here in the national capital.

Appreciating the Republic Day celebrations, she said, "Thank you very much for welcoming us and yesterday, Republic Day was quite an experience. Thank you for that as well...It was a proud moment to see that our operations were also a part of this parade. It shows how we have been able to work together."

"The signing of the Security and Defence Partnership is a milestone, and we can build on that. There is so much more we can work together on in the multilateral fora, as well as bilaterally, to further develop defence cooperation. I really look forward to our discussions today and further cooperation in the future," she added.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh along with the three service Chiefs met the EU delegation led by Kallas. This meeting marked the coming together of India and the European Union to form a Security and Defence Partnership. This partnership is a significant step in strengthening bilateral cooperation in areas such as defence capabilities, counterterrorism, and cyber and maritime security.

Speaking during the meeting Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said, "The signing of the technology and defence partnership between India and the European Union is a reflection of this trust in action and it brings us together in an increasingly complex global environment. I hope the increased momentum of India-EU partnership in economic, defence, and people-to-people connect will bring the two ancient civilisations much closer".

According to the European Union, the Security and Defence Partnerships form a key pillar of the EU's efforts to promote peace and security both in Europe and globally, serving as a new framework to deepen bilateral relations with non-EU countries in a mutually beneficial manner.

On Monday, Kaja Kallas posted on X that the EU-India Security and Defence Partnership will be signed on Tuesday. She said there was strong momentum for closer cooperation with India, and the EU is seizing it.

With the signing of the deal, India becomes the third Asian country to have such a deal with the EU after Japan and South Korea.

According to the European Union, partnerships are a cornerstone of the EU's Strategic Compass, adopted in March 2022, which outlines the bloc's approach to security and defence in a rapidly evolving global environment.

Through the Strategic Compass, the EU committed to engaging more consistently and comprehensively with its bilateral partners and to developing tailored partnerships based on shared values and interests.

Under the framework, security and defence partnerships are signed by the EU's High Representative on behalf of the European Union, following Council authorisation.

While tailored to each partner country's specific priorities, the partnerships cover a broad spectrum of cooperation areas. These include peacebuilding, conflict prevention and crisis management, as well as defence initiatives and capability development.

- ANI
IndiGo and Akasa Air cancel 8 flights at Srinagar Airport. Omar Abdullah reviews snow damage as heavy snowfall hits Jammu & Kashmir.

Srinagar, January 27 Eight flights to and from Srinagar were cancelled by IndiGo and Akasa Air on Tuesday morning till 8 AM due to snowfall in Jammu and Kashmir.

In a post on X, Srinagar Airport said, "In view of adverse weather conditions at Srinagar Airport and prevailing operational constraints, airlines have cancelled certain flights for today as per the attached list. Passengers are advised to stay in touch with their respective airlines for the latest updates and alternate arrangements."



Among those cancelled flights were six flights of IndiGo Airlines, while two were of Akasa Air. Both airlines had issued travel advisories through their respective social media platforms.



"#TravelUpdate: Due to severe weather conditions in Srinagar and Delhi, certain flights across our network have been impacted. We realize that this may inconvenience your travel plans and seek your patience and understanding. While this situation is completely beyond our control, please rest assured that our teams are always ready to assist you. Please check the flight status http://bit.ly/qpfltsts before commencing your travel to the airport," Akasa Air wrote on X.



While IndiGo said, "Ongoing snowfall in #Srinagar may impact flight operations. If you or your loved ones are travelling, please check your flight status here: https://goindigo.in/check-flight-status.html. In case of cancellations, you may explore alternate options or claim a refund by visiting: https://goindigo.in/plan-b.html. We assure you that our airport teams are present to provide the best possible assistance and support to all customers. Weather-related impacts are beyond our control, and we regret the inconvenience caused and appreciate your understanding."



Amid the continuous snowfall, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, on Sunday, reviewed the situation of damage caused in Ramban. Abdullah mentioned that the entire union territory had been waiting for the snowfall, which had caused trouble; however, he stated that his administration would address the challenges.



The Chief Minister also informed that snow clearance on highways is progressing rapidly. "I had stopped just to assess the situation. We were waiting for this snow. The snow has caused us a bit of trouble, but we'll manage to deal with this trouble. The work to clear the snow from the road is progressing rapidly," Omar Abdullah told reporters.



Meanwhile, several parts of Jammu and Kashmir, including Rajouri district, witnessed heavy snowfall this season, with the Kotranka-Budhal belt in the Pir Panjal range receiving significant snowfall, turning the region into a major attraction for tourists. Residents said that such heavy snowfall has not been seen in nearly 25 years.



The Restoration work is underway on the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway and other key roads, which remained closed for the third consecutive day on Sunday following snowfall, officials said. Hundreds of vehicles were stranded at Jakhani in Udhampur on Saturday, an official said.









- ANI
Brazilian aerospace company Embraer and India's Adani Group have signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding to create a manufacturing and maintenance ecosystem for regional transport aircraft. The partnership aims to establish India's first final assembly line for commercial jets, targeting the underserved regional aviation segment. Embraer's CEO highlighted the collaboration's goal to develop a holistic aviation environment, leveraging Adani's strengths in supply chain and MRO. The ultimate objective is to produce a 'Made-in-India' aircraft to enhance regional connectivity and boost domestic trade and tourism.

Embraer CEO announces partnership with Adani Group to establish a manufacturing and MRO ecosystem for regional aircraft in India, boosting Make in India.

New Delhi, January 27 The Adani Group and Brazilian aerospace giant Embraer have signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding to establish a comprehensive manufacturing and maintenance ecosystem for regional transport aircraft in India.

Speaking on the partnership, Arjan Meijer, President and CEO of Embraer Commercial Aviation, expressed immense optimism about India's growth trajectory. "Embraer is very proud to stand here today. We're very, very pleased to sign our MOU with Adani. We see a bright future ahead of us here in India, and we believe the stars are aligning to advance the Make in India initiative," Meijer stated. He highlighted that while India has a massive aircraft backlog of around 1,700 units, the regional segment remains underserved.

This strategic collaboration aims to set up the country's first final assembly line for commercial jets, marking a significant milestone for the "Make in India" initiative and the domestic aviation sector.

The collaboration is designed to bridge the connectivity gap between India's major hubs and its smaller cities. Meijer emphasised that a smaller-gauge aircraft is essential to drive the country's GDP from within. "The regional segment of jets is completely missing. That's why we believe really that together with Adani we can work together with a goal to build the aircraft here in India," he said, adding that the partnership will cover everything from the assembly line and testing to final delivery.

Beyond manufacturing, the alliance seeks to leverage Adani's established strengths in infrastructure to create a holistic aviation environment. "We really believe in a partnership with Adani because they're very strong in supply chain, MRO, and pilot training, so we believe that, together, we can develop a very strong aviation ecosystem here in India," Meijer noted. The plan includes deeper localisation by working with various Indian industrial partners to build a robust domestic supply chain.

The ultimate goal of the project is to produce a "Made-in-India" aircraft that caters specifically to the needs of the domestic market. Meijer pointed out that this initiative will provide everyday accessibility for every Indian and boost vital sectors like trade and tourism. "We know there's a lot of demand from smaller cities wanting to be connected to the bigger aerospace system. This will bring not only regional connectivity, this will bring economic and environmental benefits," noted Meijer.

- ANI
Venezuela's Acting President Delcy Rodriguez has publicly stated she has had "enough" of orders from Washington, emphasizing that Venezuelan politics must be resolved internally. Her comments signal a rare pushback even as her US-backed interim government seeks stable relations with the White House. The political landscape remains deeply divided among Maduro loyalists, left-wing factions, and the opposition, while the US conditions cooperation on Venezuela cutting ties with rivals and partnering with US oil firms. Recent prisoner releases, hailed as a humanitarian gesture, add a complex layer to the evolving diplomatic situation.

Acting President Delcy Rodriguez pushes back on US demands, emphasizing Venezuelan sovereignty while navigating a delicate political balance after Maduro's capture.

Caracas, January 27 Venezuela's Acting President Delcy Rodriguez on Sunday said that she had "enough" of orders from Washington, signalling a "rare pushback" against the United States, even as her interim government seeks stable relations with the White House, CNN reported.

Speaking to oil workers in the coastal city of Puerto La Cruz, Rodriguez said Venezuelan politics should be resolved internally, without foreign interference. "Enough already of Washington's orders over politicians in Venezuela," she said at the event, broadcast on state-run Venezolana de Television. "Let Venezuelan politics resolve our differences and our internal conflicts."

Rodriguez has been navigating a "delicate balance" since being backed by the US following the capture of former leader Nicolas Maduro earlier this month. While seeking to retain the support of Maduro loyalists at home, she has also faced pressure from Washington, including demands to restart oil production and align closely with US interests, CNN reported.

The White House has maintained sustained pressure on Venezuela since Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, were detained in a US-led raid in early January and taken to the United States, where the former president faces charges. Rodriguez, who previously served as Maduro's deputy, has repeatedly insisted that the US does not govern Venezuela, though she has avoided direct confrontation.

On Monday, Rodriguez struck a conciliatory tone while emphasising sovereignty. "We are not afraid. Nor are we afraid of maintaining respectful relations with the United States, but they must be based on respect - respect for international law, basic human respect in interpersonal relations, and respect for the dignity and history of Venezuela," she said at a public event.

US President Donald Trump had initially claimed the US would "run" Venezuela following Maduro's capture, but later endorsed Rodriguez as interim leader. Earlier this month, Trump said he spoke with Rodriguez by phone, describing her as a "terrific person" and adding that the US was "getting along very well with Venezuela," CNN reported.

Washington is now seeking to establish a stable authority in Caracas after years of confrontation with the oil-rich South American nation. Internally, Venezuela remains deeply divided among Maduro loyalists, left-wing factions critical of his leadership, and so-called "Chavistas No-Maduristas"-supporters of late president Hugo Chavez who accuse Maduro of betraying socialist ideals.

Meanwhile, Venezuela's opposition continues to assess its role in the evolving political landscape. Trump last week said he would like opposition leader Maria Corina Machado to be "involved" in Venezuela's leadership. Machado reportedly met Trump at the White House earlier this month.

Following US strikes on Caracas in early January, the Trump administration outlined several conditions for cooperation, including cutting ties with China, Iran, Russia and Cuba, and partnering exclusively with US companies for oil production, two senior White House officials told CNN.

Oil remains Venezuela's main economic driver. The country holds the world's largest reserves of extra-heavy crude, which is compatible with US refineries despite requiring complex processing.

The US has also called for the release of political prisoners. On Sunday, at least 104 detainees were freed, according to the rights group Foro Penal, the highest daily release figure since the government announced earlier this month that it would free a "significant number" of prisoners as a 'goodwill gesture'.

Foro Penal said total releases since January 8 have reached atleast 266. Venezuelan Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello, however, claimed on Monday that 808 people have been released since December, as part of a process ordered by Maduro "for coexistence and peace".

Cabello and Rodriguez said Venezuela is open to a visit by United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk to verify the releases, though an official list has yet to be published despite calls from activists and opposition figures.

Trump on Monday thanked Venezuela's leadership for the prisoner releases, calling them a "powerful humanitarian gesture", and said the pace of releases would increase in the coming weeks, CNN reported.

- ANI
The Presidents of the European Council and European Commission paid homage to Mahatma Gandhi at Raj Ghat in New Delhi. Their visit coincides with the 16th India-EU Summit, where a landmark free trade agreement has been successfully concluded after years of negotiation. Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed the FTA as the "Mother of All Deals," highlighting its potential for billions of people and its reflection of shared democratic values. The summit is also expected to adopt a joint strategic agenda to deepen cooperation across prosperity, technology, security, and global issues.

European Council and Commission Presidents visit Raj Ghat. India and EU conclude major free trade agreement, hailed by PM Modi as a milestone deal.

New Delhi, January 27 The President of the European Council, Antonio Costa, and the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, on Tuesday paid tribute to the Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi, by laying a wreath at his memorial in Raj Ghat, as part of their state visit to India.

The ceremony, held in the presence of senior Indian officials, was part of their ongoing state visit and coincided with the 16th India-EU Summit in New Delhi, which will be co-hosted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The European leaders also signed the guestbook at the memorial site after the wreath-laying ceremony andpaying floral tribute to the Mahatma.

The visit comes at a time when both sides have concluded their discussion of a free trade agreement, which is expected to strengthen their shared commitment to democracy and the rule of law.

The free trade agreement between India and the EU, first initiated in 2007, is expected to anchor a broader economic and strategic partnership as global trade dynamics shift.

On Monday, the negotiations for the 'Mother of all deals', as it has been called, concluded successfully and will be formally announced today during the India-EU summit.

At the summit, leaders are expected to adopt a joint EU-India comprehensive strategic agenda that aims to increase strategic cooperation across four areas, reinforced by enablers across the following pillars: prosperity and sustainability, technology and innovation, security and defence, and connectivity and global issues.

Leaders will also discuss trade in the context of the now-concluded free-trade agreement that started in 2007 (and was relaunched in 2022). This agreement would boost bilateral trade and investment ties and drive shared prosperity.

Earlier today, Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed the recently signed India-European Union Free Trade Agreement (FTA) as a milestone that reflects both sides' shared commitment to democracy and the rule of law, while complementing India's existing agreements with the United Kingdom and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA).

"Just yesterday, a massive agreement was signed between India and the European Union. People around the world are discussing it as the 'Mother of All Deals'. This agreement brings a huge opportunity for India's 1.4 billion people and the millions in European countries. This agreement is a brilliant example of coordination between two of the world's largest economies," PM Modi said during his address ahead of India Energy Week.

"This agreement represents nearly 25 per cent of global GDP and almost one-third of global trade. This agreement empowers our shared commitment towards democracy and the rule of law. This Free Trade Agreement with the European Union will also complement Britain and EFTA's agreements... I congratulate the people of the nation for this," the Prime Minister added.

- ANI
The European Union has formally adopted a regulation to phase out all imports of Russian pipeline gas and liquefied natural gas. The ban will apply six weeks after the regulation enters force, with a full phase-out for LNG starting in 2027 and for pipeline gas from autumn 2027. EU countries must prepare national plans to diversify gas supplies and identify challenges in replacing Russian gas, with significant financial penalties for non-compliance. The decision aims to strengthen the EU's energy autonomy and reduce its exposure to risks in trade and energy security.

EU formally adopts law to ban Russian pipeline gas and LNG, with full phase-out by 2027. Includes penalties and mandatory diversification plans.

Brussels, January 27 The 27 member states of the European Union formally adopted the regulation on phasing out Russian imports of both pipeline gas and liquefied natural gas into the EU on Monday.

In a statement shared by the EU Council, it was mentioned that the new rules also include measures on effective monitoring and diversification of energy supply.

As per the regulation, importing Russian pipeline gas and LNG into the EU will be prohibited.

"The ban will start to apply six weeks after the regulation enters into force. Existing contracts will have a transition period. This stepwise approach will limit the impact on prices and markets. A full ban will take effect for LNG imports from the beginning of 2027 and for pipeline gas imports from autumn 2027", the statement said.

It further noted that before authorising entry of gas imports into the Union, EU countries will verify the country where gas was produced.

Non-compliance with the new rules may result in maximum penalties of at least EUR 2,5 million for individuals and at least EUR 40 million for companies, at least 3,5 % the company's total worldwide annual turnover, or 300 % of the estimated transaction turnover, the statement added.

It also noted that by 1 March 2026, "EU countries must prepare national plans to diversify gas supplies and identify potential challenges in replacing Russian gas. To that end, companies will be required to notify authorities and the Commission of any remaining Russian gas contracts. EU countries still importing Russian oil will also have to submit diversification plans."

However in the event of a declared emergency, and if security of supply is seriously threatened in one or more EU countries, the Commission may suspend the import ban for up to four weeks, as per the statement.

Michael Damianos, Minister for Energy, Commerce and Industry of Cyprus said that the decision would make EU energy market "stronger, more resilient and more diversified and "towards an autonomous Energy Union."

The statement further noted that the Commission also plans to propose legislation to phase out Russian oil imports by the end of 2027.

In a post on X, European Parliament President Roberta Metsola said, "We have just signed the ban on Russian gas into law. Europe is securing control of our energy supply and strengthening our autonomy."

The decision comes as EU stands stands as the world's biggest importer of LNG. In 2024, the EU imported over 100 billion cubic meters (bcm) of LNG. The largest LNG importers in the EU are France, Spain, the Netherlands, Italy and Belgium.

While the gas and oil imports from Russia to the EU have both decreased significantly in recent years. The official statement noted that while the imports of oil have dropped to below 3% in 2025 as a result of the current sanctions regime, Russian gas still accounts for an estimated 13% of EU imports in 2025, worth over EUR15 billion annually.

"This leaves the EU exposed to significant risks in terms of its trade and energy security", it said.

- ANI
The Indian Pharmaceutical Alliance has welcomed the conclusion of the India-EU Free Trade Agreement, calling it a milestone for bilateral trade. The deal is expected to remove EU tariffs of up to 11% on pharmaceuticals, enhancing trade and supporting greater access to innovative medicines for Indian patients. Industry leaders state the agreement provides structural competitiveness and stable, long-term trade, particularly benefiting India's pharmaceutical MSMEs. Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed the agreement as a significant step to deepen economic ties and strengthen the India-Europe partnership.

India-EU Free Trade Agreement concludes, removing up to 11% tariffs on pharmaceuticals to boost bilateral trade and access to innovative medicines.

New Delhi, January 27 Indian Pharmaceutical Alliance on Tuesday welcomed the conclusion of the India-EU Free Trade Agreement, calling it an important milestone in strengthening bilateral trade. Secretary General, Indian Pharmaceutical Alliance, Sudarshan Jain said that the expected removal of EU tariffs of up to 11 per cent on pharmaceuticals will enhance trade and support greater access to innovative medicines for Indian patients.

Sudarshan Jain said, "IPA welcomes the conclusion of the India-EU Free Trade Agreement, which marks an important milestone in strengthening bilateral trade. India and the European Union are long-standing and trusted partners in the pharmaceutical sector. Indian companies play a critical role in supplying quality-assured, affordable medicines to Europe. The expected removal of EU tariffs of up to 11 per cent on pharmaceuticals will enhance trade and support greater access to innovative medicines for Indian patients."

"The agreement reinforces the intellectual property framework under the TRIPS Agreement and the Doha Declaration. This will further strengthen trade opportunities and collaboration between India and the EU. We look forward to reviewing the detailed text of the agreement to assess its broader implications for the pharmaceutical industry," he added.

Namit Joshi, Chairman of Pharmexcil, said that the conclusion of the India-EU Free Trade Agreement marked a watershed moment for India's pharmaceutical exports and its long-term partnership with Europe, one of the world's most regulation-intensive healthcare markets.

"For the pharmaceutical sector, the FTA delivers structural competitiveness. Near-zero tariff access significantly strengthens the position of Indian formulations, APIs, and value-added medicines in the EU, a development that is particularly consequential for India's pharma MSMEs, many of whom possess strong quality capabilities but face cost and access barriers in highly regulated markets. Reduced tariffs and smoother market entry will directly enhance their ability to scale exports, invest in compliance, and integrate into European supply chains," Namit Joshi said.

He further said that crucially, this agreement enables stable, long-term, and predictable pharmaceutical trade, benefiting European healthcare systems and consumers through improved affordability, continuity, and security of supply, supported by India's high-quality and reliable manufacturing base. Equally important is the agreement's balanced approach to intellectual property, which reaffirms TRIPS-aligned protections while safeguarding India's strengths in generics and public health, thereby providing regulatory certainty and confidence for MSMEs as well as large manufacturers.

"Beyond tariffs, enhanced cooperation on non-tariff barriers, regulatory transparency, and customs facilitation will materially improve ease of doing business by reducing friction and timelines--an outcome that matters most to smaller exporters. We thank the Government of India and the Ministry of Commerce and Industry for their sustained efforts and the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in delivering this landmark agreement. The India-EU FTA is not a short-term export stimulus; it is a long-term competitiveness framework that empowers MSMEs and positions Indian pharma for resilient, quality-led growth," he added.

Earlier today, Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed the India-European Union (EU) Free Trade Agreement (FTA) as a significant milestone. The PM said that the agreement will deepen economic ties between the two parties.

In a post on X, PM Modi said, "Conclusion of the India-EU Free Trade Agreement today marks a significant milestone in our relations. I thank all the leaders of Europe over the years for their constructive spirit and commitment in making this possible. This agreement will deepen economic ties, create opportunities for our people and strengthen the India-Europe partnership for a prosperous future."

At the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, President of the European Council, Antonio Costa, and President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, paid a State Visit to India on 25-27 January as the Chief Guests for the 77th Republic Day of India.

President Costa and President von der Leyen were accompanied by a high-level delegation, including High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas and Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic.

This is the first visit by the leaders of the European Union as Guests of Honour for the Republic Day. It symbolises the growing closeness, depth and dynamism in India-EU relations, and their joint commitment and shared interest in shaping a resilient multipolar global order that underpins peace and stability, economic growth and sustainable development.

The visit follows the historic visit of the European Union College of Commissioners led by President von der Leyen to India on 27-28 February 2025.

- ANI
Filmmaker Shoojit Sircar and veteran Telugu actor Mohan Babu were conferred with the West Bengal Governor's Excellence Award by Governor CV Ananda Bose in a Republic Day ceremony. Sircar expressed feeling honoured and said the recognition brings more responsibility as a filmmaker. Santoor maestro Tarun Bhattacharya, a 2026 Padma Shri awardee, was also honoured at the event. The awards come alongside the national announcement of 131 Padma awards, including posthumous Padma Vibhushan for Dharmendra and VS Achuthanandan.

Filmmaker Shoojit Sircar and Telugu actor Mohan Babu receive West Bengal Governor's Excellence Award on Republic Day 2026.

Kolkata, January 27 Filmmaker Shoojit Sircar and veteran Telugu actor Mohan Babu were awarded with the prestigious Excellence Award by West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose on Monday.

In a special ceremony organised on Republic Day 2026, the West Bengal Governor celebrated the contributions of the distinguished individuals, including the 'Piku' director and the Telugu actor.



Speaking to ANI, Shoojit Sircar expressed feeling honoured on the recognition. "I am honoured, and it is a privilege. I thank Governor CV Ananda Bose for considering me for this honour and giving me this recognition. This brings more responsibility for me as a filmmaker to deliver more films that are meant for the society."



Mohan Babu, while reflecting on his first Governor's Award, said, "I am very happy, it is a god's gift only. They blessed me to come here and take the first-time governor's award... It is a great opportunity for me to take this award. Bengal is not an ordinary place... Bengal is great."



Santoor Maestro Tarun Bhattacharya, who has been conferred the Padma Shri 2026 in the field of art, also received the Governor's Award on Monday.



"I was extremely happy to learn that I had been selected for the Padma Shri. This is a great honour... For this, I offer gratitude to the Prime Minister and the Government of India. But an award also means responsibility. When you receive an award, the responsibility increases. I have to fulfil this responsibility, so from today onwards, I will try to play the santoor even better," he told ANI.



President Droupadi Murmu on Sunday approved the conferment of 131 Padma awards, including two duo cases counted as single awards, and Bollywood actor Dharmendra Singh Deol and former Kerala Chief Minister VS Achuthanandan as recipients of the Padma Vibhushan posthumously.





- ANI
Chinese electronic products win favor with European consumers

14:53, January 27, 2026 By Lyu Shaogang, People's Daily, He Qian, People's Daily Online ( People's Daily

In a store of a telecommunications operator in London, UK, consumers are choosing HONOR smartphones. (Photo provided by the interviewee)

On London's Oxford Street, one of the busiest shopping areas in the UK, pedestrians frequently pause to capture moments with their smartphones. A closer look reveals that many of these devices are from Chinese brands.

Inside a retail store operated by a British telecommunications carrier, several customers were browsing at an HONOR smartphone counter. "This model was launched in May last year. It features advanced AI functions and performs very well in photography and videography. It's quite popular with consumers," said an assistant sales manager surnamed Kevin at the store.

With nearly four years of experience in mobile phone sales, Kevin has been a witness to the development of the HONOR brand in the UK. "In the past, customers questioned what HONOR represented. Now, our phones have become the first choice for many buyers," he said.

Since entering the UK market in late 2021, HONOR has launched multiple premium models priced between 700 ($945) and 1,700, all targeting the high-end segment.

According to Zhang Bin, CEO of HONOR UK, the market presents two distinctive characteristics: high-end models account for 70% of the market, and carrier channels contribute to another 70%. The market also features strong brand loyalty, robust premium demand, and highly concentrated distribution channels, Zhang added.

Addressing these dynamics, HONOR prioritizes foldable smartphones featuring lightweight designs, enhanced performance, and extended battery life.

"Compared with similar products, these foldable phones are thinner, lighter, and more stylish, which attracts many consumers to inquire about them," Kevin said.

At the same time, HONOR has worked closely with telecom operators to roll out bundled promotions combining smartphones and tablets. At present, its products are available in more than 2,600 offline retail outlets across the UK.

"Market cultivation requires patience and long-term commitment," Zhang Bin noted. Consumers need time to build trust; operators need time to verify cooperation models; and brands need time to gain a reputation.

To enhance its brand image, the company has continuously optimized product design, partnership models, and customer services. For example, in response to Europe's multiple-operator and multi-frequency environment, HONOR devices ensure full-spectrum 5G coverage to guarantee stable signals; the company has also worked to address operators' inventory concerns and streamlined after-sales services by replacing multi-step call transfers with one-touch direct connections.

A photography enthusiast films with accessories manufactured by SmallRig. (Photo from the official website of SmallRig)

According to Gao Xiang, marketing manager at HONOR, the company has expanded its business to nearly 30 European countries, including the UK, France, Germany, and Spain. In addition to smartphones, its laptops, tablets, and smart watches have also entered international markets.

"Our supply chain includes not only outstanding Chinese companies but also many partners from Europe and the United States," Gao said. "We have also established research and development centers in countries such as Japan and France, enabling a globally distributed and deeply integrated innovation system."

Beyond smartphones and tablets, a number of niche Chinese electronic products have also found popularity overseas.

SmallRig, an imaging accessories brand under Shenzhen Leqi Innovation Co., Ltd. in south China's Guangdong province, has successfully entered the European market with a range of products designed for diverse imaging scenarios. Europe now accounts for over 30 percent of SmallRig's global revenue. Its products, covering tripods, selfie sticks, batteries, lighting equipment, microphones, and more, are available in more than 300 photography equipment stores and supermarkets across over 30 European countries.

Zhou Yang, founder of SmallRig, said his entry into the imaging accessories sector was inspired by a specific request from a European user. In 2010, while working in cross-border trade in Shenzhen, Guangdong, Zhou was asked by a German photography enthusiast to find an accessory that could securely fix a power supply to photography equipment. After searching extensively through electronics markets and factories in Shenzhen without success, he decided to develop one himself.

"If I couldn't find it, I decided to create it myself," Zhou said. That decision marked the beginning of his first customized imaging accessory business for overseas markets. Since 2017, the company has collaborated with more than 1,300 photographers to develop over 2,700 customized imaging accessory products.

Leveraging the strong manufacturing supply chain in the Pearl River Delta region, SmallRig has developed a "fast manufacturing" capability characterized by small batches, high frequency, multiple categories, and rapid iteration. From project initiation to warehousing, some products can be completed in as short as 21 days. In 2025, the brand launched more than 600 upgraded products, an average of 1.6 new products per day, and currently offers over 1,000 products on the market.

Zhou noted that user diversity is taken into account from the very beginning of product development. For example, tripod heights and handle ergonomics are optimized to suit the body characteristics of European users, while battery technologies capable of withstanding extreme cold are applied to meet the needs in Northern Europe.

"We believe the European market will continue to provide strong momentum for the brand's long-term development," Zhou said.

(Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun)
Finnish President Alexander Stubb hailed the concluded EU-India Free Trade Agreement as a historic milestone that will intensify economic and political ties. The deal, ending negotiations begun in 2007, creates a massive free trade zone covering two billion people between the world's second- and fourth-largest economies. EU leaders described it as "the mother of all deals," emphasizing it as a win-win partnership that sends a strong message of cooperation amid global challenges. The agreement is expected to save billions in annual duties and strengthen the strategic relationship between India and the European Union.

EU and India conclude historic free trade deal, eliminating tariffs on most goods to boost economic ties between the two giant economies.

Helsinki, January 28 Finnish President Alexander Stubb welcomed the EU-India Free Trade Agreement, calling it a historic milestone and a major step toward strengthening economic and political ties between Europe and India.

"The EU-India Free Trade Agreement is historic. It is the largest trade deal ever concluded by either side. This will further intensify our economic and political ties with India," Stubb wrote in a post on X.

Highlighting the wider global context, he added, "In these times, it is important for both the EU and Finland to strengthen partnerships all over the globe."

The remarks came following the announcement by India and the European Union on Tuesday that negotiations for the long-pending FTA had concluded. Under the deal, the EU will remove tariffs on 99.5 per cent of Indian exports, with most duties dropping to zero immediately once the pact comes into force. India has agreed to provide tariff concessions covering 97.5 per cent of the traded value between the two economies.

The joint announcement was signed by Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal and European Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security Maros Sefcovic, in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, and European Council President Antonio Costa.

Von der Leyen described it as "the mother of all deals," saying, "We are creating a market of 2 billion people. This is a tale of two giants -- the world's second- and fourth-largest economies. Two giants who choose partnership in a true win-win fashion. A strong message that cooperation is the best answer to global challenges."

The agreement brings to an end a negotiation process that began in 2007. With bilateral trade already exceeding USD 136 billion, the pact was described as "one of the biggest" bilateral deals globally.

The FTA was formally announced during a joint press briefing in New Delhi attended by PM Modi, von der Leyen and Costa. PM Modi said India-EU cooperation would help stabilise a turbulent global order, while EU leaders praised India's hospitality and diversity during the Republic Day celebrations, where they were chief guests.

The EU later stated that the agreement would save approximately 4 billion euros annually in duties, as India has agreed to reduce, and in some cases eliminate, tariffs on nearly 97 per cent of goods imported from Europe.

Following the announcement, PM Modi described India-EU ties as the global 'double engine of growth' and urged business leaders to take the next steps in advancing bilateral trade. "The ball is in your court," PM Modi said, adding that India and the EU would help stabilise the world order amid ongoing global turmoil.

Earlier, PM Modi welcomed the pact, saying it would "drive trade, investment and innovation while strengthening our strategic relationship." "It reflects our shared resolve to shape a stable, prosperous and future-ready economic relationship," he said in a post on X.

PM Modi also called the agreement a "perfect" example of partnership between two major economies and later held restricted and delegation-level talks with von der Leyen and Costa on the sidelines of the 16th India-European Union Summit.

Separately, von der Leyen hailed the deal, saying history had been made. "We have created a free trade zone of two billion people, with both sides set to benefit. This is only the beginning. We will grow our strategic relationship to be even stronger," she wrote on X.

The trade agreement comes amid fresh tariff pressures on both India and Europe from the Donald Trump-led US administration.

- ANI
Actor Samantha Ruth Prabhu shared her profound gratitude on social media after attending the prestigious At Home Reception at Rashtrapati Bhavan hosted by President Droupadi Murmu on Republic Day. US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor also attended and thanked the President, posting photos with top military officials and Union Minister Piyush Goyal. The Republic Day celebrations at Kartavya Path highlighted India's developmental progress, military strength, and cultural diversity. The day commemorates the enactment of the Indian Constitution in 1950, completing the nation's transition to self-governance.

Actor Samantha Ruth Prabhu expresses gratitude after attending the At Home Reception hosted by President Droupadi Murmu on Republic Day in Delhi.

New Delhi, January 27 Actor Samantha Ruth Prabhu felt deeply honoured to attend the At Home Reception hosted by President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan on the Republic Day.

Taking to Instagram, Samantha wrote, "Growing up, there were no cheerleaders... no inner voice that ever suggested I'd be here one day. No roadmap... Dreams like this once felt too big to even imagine. I just kept showing up, in a country that allowed that to be enough! Forever grateful."US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor also attended the At Home reception at Rashtrapati Bhavan hosted by President Droupadi Murmu.In a post on X, he thanked President Murmu for the reception and posted some photos from the gathering."An incredible Republic Day reception at Rashtrapati Bhavan. Thank you President Droupadi Murmu for hosting us all," he said.

One of the pictures shows Gor with Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan, Chief of the Army Staff General Upendra Dwivedi, Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal AP Singh, and Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi.

In another picture, Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal and Gor are seen together.

This year, Kartavya Path, stretching from Rashtrapati Bhawan to the National War Memorial, was elaborately decorated to showcase India's remarkable journey. The celebrations featured an extraordinary blend of the 150-year legacy of the national song Vande Mataram, the country's unprecedented developmental progress, robust military strength, vibrant cultural diversity, and active participation from citizens across all walks of life.

Republic Day marks a defining milestone in India's national journey. It marks the day the Constitution of India came into force on January 26, 1950.

While independence on August 15, 1947, ended colonial rule, it was the adoption of the Constitution that completed India's transition to self-governance based on law, institutional accountability, and the will of the Indians.

- ANI
Fresh snowfall has led to the closure of the strategic Srinagar-Jammu national highway and the cancellation of morning flights at Srinagar International Airport. Multiple other roads, including Mughal Road, are also closed, with authorities advising against travel until conditions improve. The Meteorological Department has forecast continued light to moderate rain and snow, prompting advisories for travelers and farmers. The snowfall during the concluding 'Chillai Kalan' period is seen as crucial for replenishing the region's water reservoirs for the summer months.

Fresh snowfall in Kashmir closes Srinagar-Jammu highway, cancels flights. Travel advisory issued as Chillai Kalan period nears end.

Srinagar, Jan 27 Due to fresh snowfall on Tuesday, the strategic Srinagar-Jammu national highway was closed for traffic, while all morning flights at Srinagar International Airport were cancelled.

Officials said that due to fresh snowfall, the Srinagar-Jammu national highway will remain closed till further orders as snow has accumulated at the two ends of the Navyug Tunnel in the Qazigund area of Kulgam district and Banihal in Ramban district.



A traffic department official said, "Jammu-Srinagar National Highway (NH-44) is closed due to fresh snowfall in and around the NAVYUG Tunnel. No vehicular movement shall be allowed from Jammu towards Srinagar and vice versa. Furthermore, Mughal Road, SSG Road and Sinthan Road are already closed."



People have been advised not to travel on these roads until they are completely restored and declared safe for traffic.



Airport officials said eight flights have been cancelled at Srinagar Airport so far due to bad weather.



The Meteorological (MeT) Department has forecast light to moderate rain/snow at most places on Tuesday, with the possibility of heavy rain/snow with gusty winds at a few places in the union territory.



Light rain/snow has also been forecast for Wednesday. An advisory issued by the MeT Department has asked travellers and transporters to confirm the status of highways before undertaking travel, as there is a possibility of moderate to heavy rain/snow/thunder/gusty winds till this evening.



Farmers have been advised to suspend all farming activities till Wednesday, while people living in higher reaches have been advised not to venture into sloppy and avalanche-prone areas.



The 40-day period of harsh winter cold, locally called the 'Chillai Kalan', started on December 21 and will end on January 30.



Snowfall towards the end of the Chillai Kalan has addressed the worries of Kashmiris about the sustenance of water bodies in the future months.



It is the heavy snowfall during this 40-day-long period that replenishes the perennial water reservoirs in the mountains. These water reservoirs sustain various rivers, streams, springs, lakes and other water bodies during the hot summer months.



Present snowfall has addressed those worries of locals, and widespread joy has been expressed at nature's bountiful mercy.









- IANS
President Droupadi Murmu hosted a banquet for visiting European Union leaders, praising agreements concluded during their visit as a boost to the strategic partnership. She emphasized that India and the EU are bound by shared values like democracy and pluralism, which are crucial for addressing global challenges collectively. The leaders adopted a "Joint Comprehensive Strategic Agenda" aimed at accelerating cooperation across pillars like prosperity, technology, and security. The high-level visit, which included their attendance at Republic Day celebrations, marks a significant step in deepening bilateral ties.

President Droupadi Murmu hosts EU leaders, lauds new pacts on trade, security, and mobility that promise a stronger future for India-EU ties.

New Delhi, January 28 President Droupadi Murmu lauded the various India-European Union agreements concluded during the visit of European Council President Antonio Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, stating that they will "further strengthen the India-EU Strategic Partnership."

Speaking at a banquet at Rashtrapati Bhavan on Tuesday, organised in honour of visiting European dignitaries, Murmu emphasised the importance of collective efforts to address global challenges. Further referring to the agreements signed during the visit, she described the future of India-EU relations as promising.

"In this period of global uncertainty, our thoughts and perspectives are the same. We believe that global challenges can only be addressed through collective efforts, and that international institutions should not be weakened but rather reformed to adapt to contemporary realities. I am confident that the important agreements concluded during this visit, including the India-EU featured agreement, the Security and Defence Partnership and the Mobility Cooperation Framework, will further strengthen the India-EU Strategic Partnership. Looking forward, the future of India-EU relations is full of promise...," President Droupadi Murmu said.

Earlier on Tuesday, Murmu highlighted the common values shared between India and the EU, noting that both are bound by democracy, pluralism and an open market economy.

In a post on X, Rashtrapati Bhavan said, "President Droupadi Murmu received H. E. Antonio Costa, President of the European Council and H. E. Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, at Rashtrapati Bhavan and hosted a banquet in their honour. The President said that India and Europe are connected not only by contemporary interests but also by shared values such as democracy, pluralism, and an open market economy. She expressed confidence that the India-EU Free Trade Agreement will bring significant positive changes to the lives of our people."

At the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the President of the European Council, Antonio Costa, and the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, paid a State visit to India on 25-27 January as the Chief Guests for the 77th Republic Day celebrations. They were accompanied by a high-level delegation, including High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas and Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic.

As per the India-EU Joint Statement on the State Visit of the EU delegation, the leaders adopted "Towards 2030: India-EU Joint Comprehensive Strategic Agenda" to elevate the strategic cooperation between the two sides. The Joint Comprehensive Strategic Agenda is aimed at accelerating progress across five key pillars: prosperity and sustainability, technology and innovation, security and defence, connectivity and global challenges, as well as enabling factors such as skills, mobility, business and people-to-people ties.

- ANI
Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini chaired a pre-budget meeting with MPs, ministers, and MLAs to formulate an inclusive state budget. The upcoming budget will place special emphasis on the industrial and manufacturing sectors to drive economic growth and employment. The government aims to make the budget industry-friendly to strengthen Haryana's economy and its contribution to India's goal of becoming a developed nation by 2047. Stakeholders are invited to submit budget suggestions, including through an AI chatbot.

Haryana CM Nayab Singh Saini chairs pre-budget meeting, emphasizing an industry-friendly, employment-oriented budget to strengthen the state's economy.

Panchkula, January 27 Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini on Tuesday chaired a pre-budget meeting focused on formulating a budget that will lay the foundation for an inclusive and developed Haryana.

The Chief Minister held discussions with Members of Parliament, cabinet ministers, and MLAs from the state.



Earlier, Haryana CM Nayab Singh Saini said the industry and manufacturing sectors play a vital role in the state's economy. Keeping economic growth in view, the upcoming state budget will place special emphasis on the industrial sector.



According to an earlier official release, the state government has set a clear objective to make the forthcoming budget more employment-oriented and industry-friendly, to strengthen the state's economy and ensure Haryana's leading contribution to India's journey towards becoming a 'Viksit Bharat' by 2047.



For the financial year 2025-26, a provision of approximately Rs 1,951.43 crore was made for the Industries and Labour Departments, out of which Rs 873.51 crore has already been spent. He added that constructive budget-related suggestions are welcome, and stakeholders can also submit their inputs through an AI chatbot, the release said earlier.



The Chief Minister had said the Haryana Government is continuously working to ensure that budget announcements are implemented at the ground level. In the previous budget, the allocation for the Industries and Labour Departments was increased by 129.37 per cent to further strengthen these sectors.



Meanwhile, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh chaired an all-party meeting today ahead of the Budget session, which will begin on January 28 and run until April 2.



The first phase is scheduled from January 28 to February 13, while the second phase will run from March 9 to April 2.



The Budget Session will feature 30 sittings, with the Union Budget 2026-27 being presented on February 1.



President Droupadi Murmu will formally open the session, addressing members of both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha.





- ANI
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann described talks with Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini on the Sutlej-Yamuna Link canal issue as positive, stressing a fraternal relationship between the states. Both leaders agreed that officials from both sides will meet frequently to work towards a swift resolution. The meeting was held in Chandigarh following directions from the Supreme Court, which has urged the states to resolve the long-pending dispute. The SYL canal project aims to ensure fair sharing of Ravi and Beas river waters between Punjab and Haryana.

Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann says "Haryana is not our enemy but a brother" after positive talks with Haryana CM Nayab Saini on the SYL canal water dispute.

Chandigarh, January 27 Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Tuesday said that talks with Haryana CM Nayab Singh Saini on the Sutlej-Yamuna Link canal issue were positive.

He added that 'Haryana is not our enemy but a brother', and that officials from both sides will meet regularly to find a solution soon.

While addressing a press conference, CM Mann said, "The talks were held in a positive atmosphere. This issue has been pending for a long time. Haryana is not our enemy, but a brother. It has been decided today that officials from both sides will meet very frequently. We also want a solution to be arrived at soon without compromising on the rights of both states."

Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini said talks with Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann were held in a positive atmosphere, and discussions will now continue at the level of officials from both states.

"Meaningful talks were held in a positive atmosphere today. We have decided that the talks will be taken forward on the level of the officers from both states," Saini said.

A joint meeting of Punjab and Haryana was held in Chandigarh to discuss the long-pending Sutlej-Yamuna Link (SYL) canal issue.

The meeting was held as per the directions of the Supreme Court, which had asked both states to try and resolve the matter through dialogue.

Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini and Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann attended the meeting. Haryana Cabinet Minister Shruti Choudhary and Punjab Cabinet Minister Barinder Goyal are also present, along with several senior administrative officials from both states.

Last year in May, the Supreme Court asked both states to work together with the Centre to find a mutually acceptable solution to the decades-old canal dispute.

The SYL canal was planned to ensure fair and efficient sharing of the Ravi and Beas river waters between Punjab and Haryana.

The project plans a 214-kilometre-long canal, with 122 kilometres to be built in Punjab and the remaining 92 kilometres in Haryana.

- ANI
Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu met Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu to seek central support for expanding Kangra Airport and increasing flight connectivity to Shimla. He requested procedural changes to allow flights in lower visibility and proposed shifting airport security to state police to reduce costs. Separately, the CM reiterated the state's ambitious target to become a Green Energy State by 2026, aiming for over 90% renewable energy. He highlighted geothermal energy as a key future sustainable resource for the state.

Himachal CM Sukhu meets Union Aviation Minister, seeks support for Kangra airport expansion, increased Chandigarh-Shimla flights, and discusses green energy goals.

Shimla, January 27 Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Tuesday called on Union Minister for Civil Aviation Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu, seeking support for the expansion of Kangra airport and special central assistance for the project.

The Chief Minister highlighted Kangra district's immense tourism potential and said the state government was executing ambitious projects to attract a large number of tourists, according to an official statement from the CM's office.

During the meeting, the Chief Minister requested the Union Minister to introduce special visual flight rules to reduce the minimum visibility requirement from 5 km to 2.5 km, enabling flights to operate during reduced visibility conditions.

He also discussed handing over the Kullu and Shimla airports to the State Police instead of the CISF, given the reduced flight operations and passenger numbers, thereby reducing the financial burden on the state. Additionally, he requested that flight operations at Shimla airport be extended to 4 PM to increase the number of flights.

The Chief Minister further requested an increase in the frequency of flights between Chandigarh and Shimla.

The Union Minister directed the officers to hold a joint meeting with the concerned officials and prepare a Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the expansion of Kangra airport. He also assured the state of full support. Chief Minister's Principal Advisor Ram Subhag Singh was also present during the meeting.

Earlier, Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Thursday said that the state has set an ambitious target to become a Green Energy State in 2026, aiming to meet over 90 per cent of its energy demand through renewable sources.

While presiding over a review meeting with senior officers last evening, Sukhu stated that the State Government was working with a spirit of 'Vyavastha Parivartan', a systemic transformation, to shift Himachal Pradesh towards a clean, self-reliant and sustainable energy future.

Besides, the state is heading towards tapping the geothermal energy resources. Geothermal energy can be a significant additional source of renewable energy, he said, adding that "keeping in mind the changing climatic conditions, Geothermal energy would prove to be a sustainable and secure source of energy".

- ANI
Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended birthday wishes to Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma, praising his efforts for the state's people. Sangma thanked the Prime Minister for his blessings. Other chief ministers, including Maharashtra's Devendra Fadnavis and Assam's Himanta Biswa Sarma, also posted greetings online. Conrad Sangma is serving his second consecutive term as Chief Minister after his National People's Party-led alliance won the 2023 state elections.

PM Narendra Modi and CMs Devendra Fadnavis & Himanta Biswa Sarma extend birthday greetings to Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma.

New Delhi, January 27 Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday congratulated Meghalaya's Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma on his birthday, lauding his dedication to the people of his state.

The PM took to X, saying, "Birthday wishes to Meghalaya Chief Minister Shri Conrad Sangma Ji. His efforts to fulfil the aspirations of Meghayala's people are noteworthy. I pray for his long life and good health. @SangmaConrad"

CM Sangma also thanked him for the wishes, quoting the original PM post, "Thank you Hon'ble Prime Minister, @narendramodi ji for your blessings. May God bless you"

Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis also extended greetings on the day, posting, "Heartiest birthday greetings to Meghalaya CM Shri Conrad K Sangma ji! Wishing you a long life and good health!"

Along with that, Assam CM, Himanta Biswa Sarma, also posted a congratulatory post, praising Sangma's leadership and hailing the progress of Meghalaya under him.

"Birthday greetings to Hon'ble Chief Minister of Meghalaya Shri @SangmaConrad. Under his leadership and guidance the state is scaling new heights of progress & prosperity. Prayers to Maa Kamakhya and Srimanta Sankardev for his good health and long life.", the post read.

National People's Party chief Conrad K Sangma took the oath as the Chief Minister of Meghalaya for the second consecutive term in March 2023. Along with him, Prestone Tynsong and Sniawbhalang Dhar took oath as Deputy Chief Ministers of Meghalaya, in Shillong.

In Meghalaya, the NPP-led alliance, with the support of 45 MLAs, including two of the BJP, staked a claim to form the government in the state. Sangma's NPP won 26 seats in the Assembly elections and formed the government as the chief minister for a second consecutive term.

Sangma won from the South Tura constituency with a margin of 5,016 against Bharatiya Janata Party's Bernard N Marak, as per the data shared by the Election Commission of India on March 2, 2025.

- ANI
Canadian Energy Minister Tim Hodgson is in India to strengthen bilateral energy ties, marking the first high-level ministerial visit for energy talks in eight years. He emphasized that trading with India's massive and growing market is essential for Canada's ambition to become a global energy superpower. The visit focuses on exporting Canadian liquefied natural gas, uranium, and critical minerals to support India's energy transition and booming demand. Meanwhile, Indian Petroleum Minister Hardeep Puri highlighted India's projected surge in global energy share, underscoring the strategic importance of the partnership.

Canadian Energy Minister Tim Hodgson visits India, stressing trade in LNG, uranium, and critical minerals to meet India's surging energy demand.

Panjim, January 27 Canada's Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, Tim Hodgson, who is in India as a guest at the India Energy week in Goa, said on Tuesday that India is emerging as one of the world's most critical energy markets, stressing the need for Canada to deepen energy trade with New Delhi as global demand surges.

In a post on X, Hodgson said his ongoing visit to India marked a "trip of firsts", including Canada's first-ever federal ministerial presence at India Energy Week and the first Canada-India energy dialogue in eight years.

"If Canada wants to be an energy superpower, we need to be trading our energy and natural resources with one of the world's largest energy markets: India," Hodgson said.

Highlighting India's growing energy needs, the Canadian minister said demand for both conventional and clean energy in India is projected to grow more than in China and all of Southeast Asia combined over the next decade. He said this presents a significant opportunity for Canada, which is seeking to expand its non-U.S. exports.

"That surge in demand, coupled with Canada's ambition to be a clean and conventional energy superpower, makes it clear: we need to be engaging with the Indian market now," Hodgson said, adding that his visit aligns with the Canadian Prime Minister's commitment to double non-U.S. exports, including energy and natural resources.

Hodgson said Canada is positioning itself to supply liquefied natural gas, clean energy, uranium, and critical minerals to India, including through infrastructure such as floating storage facilities for liquefied gas.

"That's the money line: the liquefied gas going into the floating storage tanks," he said, describing it as an opportunity to expand both conventional and clean energy cooperation and support India's energy transition.

During his visit to Goa and Delhi, Hodgson said he will meet Indian government counterparts, industry stakeholders, and Canadian businesses to lay the groundwork for new bilateral trade and investment partnerships

Meanwhile, speaking at the India Energy Week, Union Minister for Petroleum Hardeep Puri said, "As the world's third-largest energy consumer and one of the fastest-growing major economies, India stands at the heart of this global transformation. Our energy demand will continue to expand, with all sources set to grow. By 2050, India's share of global energy demand is projected to rise by nearly 30-35%, reaching around 10 percent of the total global energy demand. Yet, with per capita energy consumption still at only about 40 percent of the global average, India's growth journey remains both necessary and responsible. The Government of India is enabling this growth by building capacity, improving market conditions, and supporting the full energy mix."

- ANI
India has issued a strong call for comprehensive reform of the United Nations Security Council, arguing its current structure is outdated. Ambassador Harish Parvathaneni warned that multilateralism is under significant strain due to institutional paralysis and ineffectiveness in addressing conflicts. He emphasized that the international rule of law must be enforceable and shift from abstract concepts to pragmatic solutions that impact citizens' lives. The envoy cautioned against the misuse of international law to interfere in state sovereignty, stating its application must be consistent and free of double standards.

India calls for urgent UN Security Council reforms, warning current structure reflects a "bygone era" and that multilateralism is under significant strain.

New York, January 27 India on Monday called for comprehensive reforms of the United Nations Security Council on grounds of multilateralism and changes in global dynamics, noting that the current structure reflects a "geopolitical reality of a bygone era".

Speaking at the UN Security Council Open Debate on "Reaffirming International Rule of Law: Pathways to Reinvigorating Peace, Justice, and Multilateralism", India's Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Harish Parvathaneni argued that the credibility of multilateralism and the international rule of law depends on adapting global governance structures to contemporary geopolitical realities.

"The Rule of law is at the very heart of the core mandate of the United Nations Security Council - maintenance of international peace and security. It is critical to addressing conflicts and fostering trust among member states," the Ambassador said.

He noted that multilateralism based on universal membership, with the UN at its core, is under significant strain.

Beyond budgetary challenges, he pointed to paralysis and lack of effectiveness in addressing conflicts as major shortcomings, leading to a growing perception that the UN is failing to deliver on its primary mandate of maintaining international peace and security, warning that this trend risks further weakening multilateral institutions.

Ambassador Parvathaneni emphasised that the rule of law lies at the heart of the Security Council's mandate but stressed that it cannot remain theoretical, while calling for a shift from abstract legal constructs to pragmatic solutions that deliver tangible outcomes for people.

"The rule of law is barren without enforceability. The focus must shift from arcane constructs to pragmatic solutions and outcomes that positively impact the daily lives of our citizens," the Ambassador said.

Highlighting the rapid transformation across political, economic, and technological domains, he underscored the need for continuous review and updating of international legal and institutional frameworks to prevent obsolescence, arguing that for multilateralism and international rule of law to remain effective and credible, global governance structures must evolve in line with changing power dynamics, demographics, and global challenges.

"Continuous review, updation and reinvigoration are an imperative to avoid obsolescence," he stated.

Parvathaneni reiterated India's long-standing position that reform of the Security Council must include expansion in both permanent and non-permanent categories to enhance its legitimacy, representativeness, and effectiveness.

"For multilateralism and international rule of law to remain effective and credible, global governance structures must evolve to reflect contemporary realities. The current architecture of the United Nations, particularly the composition of the Security Council, reflects a geopolitical reality of a bygone era," he noted.

"In light of the profound global transformation of the last eight decades in power dynamics, demographics, and the nature of global challenges, there is an urgent and compelling need to undertake comprehensive reform, including expansion in the permanent and non-permanent categories," he added.

The Indian envoy also called for greater synergy among the UN's principal organs to advance the rule of law, advocating process-oriented reforms, predictable and adequate resources, capacity-building, and technical assistance tailored to local contexts.

At the same time, he cautioned against the misuse of international law to interfere in the internal affairs of states or undermine their sovereignty and territorial integrity. Stressing the need for adaptability, he warned that rigid and selective application of international legal principles could accelerate the emergence of alternative formats of global engagement.

"International rule of law should not be weaponised to question state sovereignty and interfere in internal affairs of states," he said.

Concluding his remarks, Ambassador Parvathaneni emphasised that the application of international rule of law must be consistent, objective, and free from double standards if the United Nations is to retain its relevance and authority in a rapidly changing world.

"The application of international rule of law calls for consistency, objectivity and predictability with no double standards," the ambassador concluded.

- ANI
News / National

by Staff reporter

Late Zimbabwean business magnate Mutumwa Mawere, who died on January 15 at the age of 66, was buried on Wednesday morning at Fourways Memorial Park in Johannesburg, South Africa, where he had lived for several decades.Mawere's burial followed a court battle between his partner and members of his family, who had sought to have him interred at his rural home in Gutu, Masvingo Province. The court ruled in favour of his partner, clearing the way for his burial in South Africa.He passed away at Mediclinic Sandton Hospital in Bryanston, Johannesburg, after suffering complications related to an acute neurological condition and a stroke he sustained in 2024. Prior to his death, Mawere had been in a critical condition since mid-2024 and required constant medical care.Born in Zimbabwe, Mawere held dual citizenship and rose to prominence as one of the country's most accomplished and globally connected entrepreneurs. At the height of his career in the 1990s, he built a vast business empire spanning mining, finance, agriculture, transport and logistics, manufacturing, telecommunications and media.Through Africa Resources Limited, Mawere controlled SMM Holdings, once a dominant conglomerate that owned the Shabanie and Mashaba asbestos mines, along with more than 20 other companies. At its peak, SMM Holdings was regarded as one of the largest and most diversified corporate groups in Zimbabwe.However, Mawere's later years were defined by a protracted legal and political dispute with the Zimbabwean government that began in 2004 over control of Africa Resources Limited and its subsidiaries. The battle, which unfolded under successive administrations and later under President Emmerson Mnangagwa, marked a dramatic turning point in his business career and ultimately forced him into exile.Despite years spent outside Zimbabwe, Mawere remained a towering and controversial figure in the country's corporate and political discourse, symbolising both the promise and peril of indigenous capital in a volatile economic and political environment.His burial in Johannesburg closes the final chapter on the life of a man whose rise, fall and long-running battles left an indelible mark on Zimbabwe's business history.
India and the European Union have concluded a historic Free Trade Agreement, marking a strategic milestone in their economic relations. The deal grants India unprecedented market access for over 99% of its exports by value to the EU, significantly boosting labour-intensive sectors like textiles and automobiles. It is a comprehensive pact covering goods, services, digital trade, and includes a mobility framework for skilled professionals. The agreement is poised to create jobs, spur innovation, and integrate Indian businesses deeper into global value chains while prudently protecting sensitive domestic sectors.

India and the EU conclude a historic FTA, boosting trade, jobs, and market access. Learn about the deal's strategic impact and key sectors.

New Delhi, January 27 Prime Minister Narendra Modi, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa, on Tuesday jointly announced the conclusion of the India-European Union Free Trade Agreement at the 16th India-EU Summit, held during the visit of the European leaders to India. The documents on the FTA conclusion were exchanged between EU Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic and Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal. This announcement marks a historic milestone in India-EU economic relations and trade engagement with key global partners.

The FTA comes after intense negotiations since the re-launch of negotiations in 2022. The announcement of the FTA on Tuesday marks the culmination of years of sustained dialogue and cooperation, between India and the EU, demonstrating the political will and shared vision to deliver a balanced, modern, and rules-based economic and trade partnership.

The European Union is India's one of the largest trading partner, with bilateral trade in goods and services growing steadily over the years. In 2024-25, India's bilateral trade in goods with the EU stood at Rs 11.5 Lakh Crore (USD 136.54 billion) with exports worth Rs 6.4 Lakh Crore (USD 75.85 billion) and imports amounting to Rs 5.1 Lakh Crore (USD 60.68 billion). India-EU trade in services reached Rs 7.2 Lakh Crore (USD 83.10 billion) in 2024.

India and EU are 4th and 2nd largest economies, comprising 25% of Global GDP and account for one third of global trade. Integration of the two large diverse and complementary economies will create unprecedented trade and investment opportunities.

Union Minister for Commerce and Industry, Piyush Goyal, lauded the strategic vision and steadfast leadership of Hon'ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi. He stated:

"The conclusion of the India-European Union Free Trade Agreement represents a defining achievement in India's economic engagement and global outlook. This supports India's approach to secure trusted, mutually beneficial and balanced partnerships," he said

Beyond a conventional trade deal, the FTA represents a comprehensive partnership with strategic dimensions and is one of the most consequential FTA. India has secured unprecedented market access for more than 99% of Indian exports by trade value to the EU that also bolsters the 'Make in India' initiative. Beyond goods, it unlocks high-value commitments in services complemented by a comprehensive mobility framework enabling seamless movement of skilled Indian professionals.

India, powered by a young and dynamic workforce and one of the fastest-growing major economies, stands poised to leverage this FTA to create jobs, spur innovation, unlock opportunities across sectors, and enhance its competitiveness on the global stage.

The India-EU trade pact covers conventional areas such as trade in goods, services, trade remedies, rules of origin, customs and trade facilitation, as well as emerging areas such as SMEs and digital trade, amongst others.

The India-EU FTA gives a decisive boost to its labour-intensive sectors such as textiles, apparel, leather, footwear, marine products, gems and jewellery, handicrafts, engineering goods, and automobiles bringing down tariffs up to Ten percent on almost 33 billion USD of exports to zero on entry into force of the Agreement. Beyond enhancing competitiveness, it empowers workers, artisans, women, youth, and MSMEs, while integrating Indian businesses more deeply into global value chains and reinforcing India's role as a key player and supplier in global trade.

On automobiles, calibrated and carefully crafted quota based auto liberalisation package will not only allow EU auto makers to introduce their models in India in higher price bands but also open the possibilities for Make in India and exports from India in future. Indian consumers to benefit from high tech products and greater competition. The reciprocal market access in EU market will also open up opportunities for India made automobiles to access the EU market.

India's agricultural and processed food sectors are poised for a transformative boost under the India-EU FTA, creating a level playing field for Indian farmers and agrarian enterprises. Key commodities such as tea, coffee, spices, fresh fruits and vegetables, and processed foods will gain enhanced competitiveness, strengthening rural livelihoods, promoting inclusive growth, and reinforcing India's position as a trusted global supplier. India has prudently safeguarded sensitive sectors, including dairy, cereals, poultry, soymeal, certain fruits and vegetables, balancing export growth with domestic priorities.

Beyond tariff liberalisation, the FTA provides measures to tackle non-tariff barriers through strengthened regulatory cooperation, greater transparency, and streamlined customs, Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) procedures, and Technical Barriers to Trade disciplines.

Through Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) provisions, commitments have been secured including a forward-looking most-favoured nation assurance extending flexibilities if any granted to third countries under the regulation, enhanced technical cooperation on recognition of carbon prices, recognition of verifiers, as well as financial assistance and targeted support to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and comply with emerging carbon requirements.

Services being dominant and faster-growing part of both economies will trade more in future. Certainty of market access, non-discriminatory treatment, focus on digitally delivered services, ease of mobility will provide boost to India's services exports.

The FTA secures expanded and commercially significant commitments from the EU across key sectors of Indian strength, including IT and IT-enabled services, professional services, education, financial services, tourism, construction, and other business sectors.

India's predictable access to EU's 144 subsectors (which includes IT/ITeS, Professional Services, Other Business Services and Education Services) will provide boost to Indian service providers and enable them to provide competitive world class Indian services to EU's consumers while EU's access to 102 subsectors offered by India will bring in high tech services, investment into India from EU resulting in a mutually beneficial arrangement.

On mobility, the India-EU FTA provides a facilitative and predictable framework for business mobility covering short-term, temporary and business travel in both directions. These enable professionals to travel between the two economies to provide services under different scenarios. EU and India is providing mobility commitments to each other for Intra-Corporate Transferees (ICT) and Business Visitors, along with entry and working rights for dependents and family members of ICTs.

The EU has also offered commitments in 37 sectors/sub-sectors for Contractual Service Suppliers (CSS) and 17 sectors/sub-sectors for Independent Professionals (IP), many of which are sectors of interest to India, including Professional Services, Computer and related Services, Research and Development Services, and Education Services.

India also secured a framework to constructively engage on Social Security Agreements over a five-year horizon, together with framework supporting student mobility and post-study work opportunities.

Additionally, India has also secured access for practitioners of Indian Traditional Medicine to work under home title in EU Member States where traditional medical practices are not regulated.

In financial services, the FTA promotes cooperation to advance innovation and secure cross-border electronic payments, while providing India with enhanced market access across several major EU member states. These provisions are expected to deepen financial integration and support the growth of financial services trade.

These commitments not only unlock high-value employment opportunities but also reinforce India's position as a global hub for talent, innovation, and sustainable economic growth.

The FTA reinforces intellectual property protections provided under TRIPS relating to copyright, trademarks, designs, trade secrets, plant varieties, enforcement of IPRs, affirms Doha Declaration and recognises the importance of digital libraries, specifically the Traditional Knowledge Digital Library (TKDL) project initiated by India.

The FTA is expected to facilitate cooperation in critical areas like Artificial Intelligence, clean technologies, and semiconductors, supporting India's technological advancement.

The FTA is expected to substantially scale up trade, enhance export competitiveness, and integrate Indian businesses more deeply into the European and global value chains.

The India-EU FTA marks a new chapter in bilateral economic engagement, strengthening trade, and strategic cooperation between India and the 27-member EU bloc. Cognizant of multifarious objectives placed on trade, dynamic nature of trade, fast evolving technologies and increasing regulatory complexities, the Agreement embeds multiple review, consultation and response mechanisms to deal with new, sudden challenges which emerge in future. The Agreement relies on strong stewardship and trust to deliver gains for both sides.

EU becomes India's 22nd FTA partner. The Government since 2014 has signed trade deals with Mauritius, UAE, UK, EFTA, Oman and Australia, and announced trade deal with New Zealand. In 2025, India signed trade deal with Oman and UK and announced conclusion of trade deal with NZ.

The India-EU trade deal, along with India's FTA with the UK and the EFTA effectively opens up the entire European market for Indian businesses, exporters and entrepreneurs.

Beyond boosting commerce, it reinforces shared values, fosters innovation, and creates opportunities across sectors and stakeholders from MSMEs, women and skilled professionals to farmers and exporters. Aligned with India's vision of "Viksit Bharat 2047," the FTA positions India as a dynamic, trusted, and forward-looking partner on the global stage, setting the foundation for inclusive, resilient, and future-ready growth for both regions.

- ANI
Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed the newly signed India-European Union Free Trade Agreement as a historic "Mother of All Deals" that empowers a shared commitment to democracy and the rule of law. The agreement, representing a quarter of global GDP, is expected to significantly boost India's manufacturing and services sectors while boosting investor confidence. The deal complements India's existing trade pacts with the UK and the European Free Trade Association. The agreement will be a central topic at the upcoming India-EU summit in New Delhi, hosted by PM Modi and attended by top EU leaders.

PM Modi hails the India-EU Free Trade Agreement as a milestone empowering shared democracy & rule of law, set to boost manufacturing and investment.

New Delhi, January 27 Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday hailed the recently signed India-European Union Free Trade Agreement as a milestone that empowers the shared commitment of both sides towards democracy and the rule of law, while complementing India's existing agreements with the United Kingdom and the European Free Trade Association.

"Just yesterday, a massive agreement was signed between India and the European Union. People around the world are discussing it as the 'Mother of All Deals'. This agreement brings a huge opportunity for India's 1.4 billion people and the millions in European countries. This agreement is a brilliant example of coordination between two of the world's largest economies," PM Modi said during his address ahead of India Energy Week.

The Prime Minister noted that the India-EU FTA represents nearly 25 per cent of global GDP and almost one-third of global trade, emphasising its strategic and economic significance.

"This agreement represents nearly 25 per cent of global GDP and almost one-third of global trade. This agreement empowers our shared commitment towards democracy and the rule of law. This Free Trade Agreement with the European Union will also complement Britain and EFTA's agreements... I congratulate the people of the nation for this," the Prime Minister said.

"Manufacturing will get a huge boost from this trade deal with the EU, and the services sector will also expand. The Free Trade Agreement will boost the confidence of every investor and businessman to invest in India," the PM added.

The free trade agreement between India and the EU, first initiated in 2007, is expected to anchor a broader economic and strategic partnership as global trade dynamics shift.

On Monday, the negotiations for the 'Mother of all deals', as it has been called, concluded successfully and will be announced today during the India-EU summit.

The President of the European Council, Antonio Costa, and the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, will represent the EU at the 16th EU-India summit in New Delhi. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will host the summit.

At the summit, leaders are expected to adopt a joint EU-India comprehensive strategic agenda that aims to increase strategic cooperation between both sides across four areas, reinforced by enablers across the following pillars: prosperity and sustainability, technology and innovation, security and defence, and connectivity and global issues.

Leaders will also discuss trade in the context of the now-concluded free-trade agreement that started in 2007 (and was relaunched in 2022). This agreement would boost bilateral trade and investment ties and drive shared prosperity.

The India-EFTA Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA), signed in March 2024 and entered into force on October 1, 2025, involves Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland.

Meanwhile, the landmark India-UK Free Trade Agreement was signed in July 2025, in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his UK counterpart, Keir Starmer, providing greater access to goods and services between the two countries.

- ANI
India and the European Union have concluded negotiations for a landmark Free Trade Agreement, hailed as a modern, rules-based partnership. Sunil Bharti Mittal stated the deal reflects the decisive leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and sends a powerful signal of trust and long-term partnership. The FTA promises unprecedented market access and aims to unlock significant trade and innovation potential between the two massive economies. Industry experts anticipate the agreement will provide relief to sectors affected by shifting global trade dynamics.

India and the EU conclude FTA negotiations. Sunil Bharti Mittal calls it a powerful signal of trust and stability, opening new avenues for collaboration.

New Delhi, January 27 The conclusion of negotiations for the India-European Union Free Trade Agreement sends a powerful signal of trust, stability, and long-term partnership in a changing global economic order, said Sunil Bharti Mittal, Founder and Chairman of Bharti Enterprises.

He stated that the signing of the India-EU FTA reflects the "decisive leadership and strategic resolve" of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the European political leadership in strengthening the bilateral partnership.

"The signing of the India-EU FTA reflects the decisive leadership & strategic resolve of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and the European political leadership in strengthening the India-EU partnership. In a changing global economic order, the agreement sends a powerful signal of trust, stability, and long-term partnership," he noted.

Mittal is confident that the FTA will open new avenues for collaboration, particularly in digital infrastructure, space connectivity, and secure networks, offering European investors a compelling opportunity to innovate and scale with India for global markets.

"This agreement also opens opportunities for Indian companies like Airtel to invest in the digital infrastructure in Europe. I congratulate our leadership and the people of India and the European Union on this turning point in our shared future," Mittal said.

National Stock Exchange Chief Business Development Officer Sriram Krishnan said that the deal will have a positive impact on industry.

"The market expects that alternative arrangements and frameworks come in so that they can start exporting to other countries rather than to the US... Due to the US tariffs, some industries were affected as they had to shift away from the US, and now they will be looking for some relief through the trade deal with the European Union. What you are going to see now is the improvement because of the fact that the European Union is signing a trade deal. It can address some pain points for some of the affected sectors.India is a strong geography in the world, and given how important we are with 1.5 billion people, whatever trade deals we work out now will have a significant, hopefully positive impact for the industries that are currently going through a tough time," he said.

India and the European Union (EU) on Tuesday announced the conclusion of negotiations for a Free Trade Agreement (FTA), an important milestone in one of India's most strategic economic partnerships. Designed as modern, rules-based trade partnership, the FTA responds to contemporary global challenges while enabling deeper market integration between the world's fourth and second largest economies.

With a combined market estimated at over Rs 2091.6 Lakh Crore (USD 24 trillion), bringing unparalleled opportunities for the 2 billion people of India and the EU, the FTA unlocks significant potential for trade and innovation. The FTA delivers unprecedented market access for more than 99% of India's export by trade value, while preserving policy space for sensitive sectors and reinforcing India's developmental priorities.

Bilateral merchandise trade between India and the EU has demonstrated sustained growth, valued approximately at Rs 11.5 Lakh Crore (USD 136.54 billion) in 2024-25, with India exporting roughly Rs 6.4 Lakh Crore (USD 75.85 billion) to the EU. India-EU trade in services reached Rs 7.2 Lakh Crore (USD 83.10 billion) in 2024.

- ANI
India and the European Union are set to sign a pivotal Security and Defence Partnership, marking a significant elevation of their strategic ties formalized in 2004. The partnership will explore India's role in European defence initiatives and is a key outcome of the 16th India-EU Summit co-chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and EU leaders. The summit focuses on advancing the long-pending Free Trade Agreement, alongside cooperation in climate action, critical technologies, and addressing global conflicts like Russia-Ukraine. Bilateral engagement has expanded across numerous sectors including clean energy, connectivity, water, and space, underpinned by high-level diplomatic visits.

India and the EU sign a landmark Security and Defence Partnership, focusing on trade, climate, and tech, while advancing a long-pending FTA.

New Delhi, January 27 India and the European Union are set to elevate their long-standing strategic engagement, first formalised in 2004, with the signing of a Security and Defence Partnership, which will explore avenues for India's participation in European defence initiatives.

At the 16th India-EU Summit today, PM Narendra Modi will hold restricted and delegation-level discussions with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa.

An India-EU Business Forum will also take place alongside the summit.

The meeting will broadly focus on trade, defence and security cooperation, climate action, critical technologies, and reinforcing the rules-based global order.

In addition to advancing the free trade agreement (FTA), both sides are expected to roll out a defence framework pact and announce a strategic agenda.

The summit is being co-chaired by the Prime Minister and the Presidents of the European Council and European Commission.

The previous summit was conducted virtually in July 2020.

A subsequent leaders' meeting involving representatives from all 27 EU member states was held in Porto, Portugal, in May 2021, with the Prime Minister participating virtually.

India and the EU are also examining the possibility of concluding a Security of Information Agreement (SOIA) and a mobility pact.

Agreements in other sectors are anticipated, while discussions are also expected to cover the Russia-Ukraine conflict and developments in West Asia.

Negotiations on the FTA were initially launched in 2007 but were paused in 2013 due to differences in ambition, before being revived in June 2022.

Bilateral ties between India and the EU have steadily expanded across areas including trade, investment, climate change, science and technology, space, digital cooperation, mobility and connectivity.

In February last year, the EU College of Commissioners led by von der Leyen visited New Delhi, marking the first such visit to any partner country outside Europe.

Von der Leyen, along with then European Council President Charles Michel, had earlier travelled to India for the G20 Summit in September 2023, while she also undertook an official visit in April 2022.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar visited Brussels in June last year for the inaugural India-EU Strategic Dialogue.

Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal was in Brussels in January, while EU Commissioner for Trade Marcos Sefcovic visited India in December 2025.

Goyal met the EU Commissioner for Economy and Productivity in Berlin in October 2025.

In September 2025, EU Commissioners for Trade and Agriculture travelled to India and held meetings with him.

Beyond trade and defence, the third phase of the India-EU Clean Energy and Climate Partnership (CECP), launched in 2016, was adopted in November 2024.

The EU became a partner organisation of the International Solar Alliance in 2018 and joined the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) in March 2021.

The European Investment Bank continues to back India's climate and energy transition through funding for sustainable transport and urban mobility projects, including urban rail and metro systems.

Cooperation also extends to offshore wind energy, gas infrastructure development, methane emission reduction, investment, and technology transfer.

In July 2020, India's Department of Atomic Energy and EURATOM signed an agreement on research and development collaboration for peaceful nuclear applications.

The India-EU Connectivity Partnership, launched in 2021, concentrates on transport, digital and energy networks, as well as facilitating flows of people, goods, services, data and capital.

Both sides agreed in June 2025 on an administrative arrangement for trilateral development cooperation on projects in third countries.

Scientific collaboration is guided by the Science and Technology Cooperation Agreement signed in 2007, with a joint steering committee advancing projects in smart grids, water, vaccines, polar science and the mobility of young scientists linked with the European Research Council.

Under the India-EU Water Partnership, adopted in 2016, a joint working group reviews developments in water policy.

The sixth EU-India Water Forum was held in New Delhi in September 2024.

On space cooperation, the EU Commissioner for Defence and Space met India's Minister of State for Science and Technology in New Delhi in February 2025.

The first India-EU Space Dialogue was convened in Brussels in November 2025.

Isro and the European Space Agency signed a joint statement of intent on cooperation in human space exploration in May 2025.

On migration and mobility, the ninth India-EU High-Level Dialogue on Migration and Mobility was hosted in New Delhi in November 2025.

- ANI
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh stated that the newly signed India-EU technology and defence partnership marks a significant step in bringing the two sides closer, founded on shared democratic values. The pact, signed ahead of the 16th India-EU Summit, makes India the third Asian country after Japan and South Korea to enter such a security arrangement with the EU. It aims to enhance collaboration in areas including maritime security, cybersecurity, and counterterrorism, viewing India not just as a buyer but also a potential supplier and partner. The deepening ties have been bolstered by high-level visits, strategic dialogues, and joint naval exercises over recent years.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh says India-EU tech & defence deal brings ancient civilisations closer amid global complexity. Details inside.

New Delhi, January 27 Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday said that the signing of the technology and defence partnership between India and the European Union marks a significant step in bringing the two sides closer amid a complex global environment.

Addressing the EU delegation led by EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas, at Raksha Mantralaya, South Block, Singh welcomed the EU leaders' visit, highlighting its special significance as it coincides with India's 75th Republic Day.

"Thank you for your visit to India, your visit is very special as it falls on the occasion of our 75th Republic Day. The occasion marks a milestone in the celebration of India's constitutional journey and the reaffirmation of our commitment to global peace and security," Singh said.

He added that the shared values of democracy, pluralism, federalism, and the rule of law form the foundation of India's growing partnership with the European Union.

"Together we aim to translate these shared values into practical cooperation for global security, sustainable growth, and inclusive prosperity," Singh said.

The Defence Minister emphasised that the partnership reflects the trust between India and the EU and will strengthen cooperation in economic, defence, and people-to-people connect, bringing the two ancient civilisations closer in a rapidly changing world.

"The signing of the technology and defence partnership between India and the European Union is a reflection of this trust in action, and it brings us together in an increasingly complex global environment. I hope the increased momentum of the India-EU partnership in economic, defence, and people-to-people connect will bring the two ancient civilisations much closer," he added.

The technology and defence partnership was signed ahead of the 16th India-EU Summit, co-chaired by President of the European Council Antonio Luis Santos da Costa and President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, who are on a state visit to India.

India now joins Japan and South Korea as the third Asian country to have such a security and defence partnership with the EU, aimed at enhancing collaboration in maritime security, cybersecurity, counterterrorism, and other emerging defence domains. The new pact does not limit India's engagement with the EU to procurement alone, with the EU now seeing India as a ptential supplier in certain areas and as a partner.

India-EU security and defence ties have deepened significantly in 2025, marked by the Leaders' Statement from the February College of Commissioners' visit to India, which agreed to explore a Security and Defence Partnership and included discussions between the EU Commissioner for Defence and Space and India's Minister of State for Defence.

This momentum continued with a December 2025 delegation from the Society of Indian Defence Manufacturers visiting Brussels to engage with the EU Commissioner, fostering industrial cooperation. In September 2025, the EU Political and Security Committee - representing all 27 member states - made its first-ever visit to Asia, holding high-level meetings in India with the Foreign Secretary, Deputy NSA, and Secretary (West) to advance strategic dialogue.

Complementing these efforts, joint naval exercises have strengthened maritime security cooperation, including in the Indian Ocean in June 2025, the Gulf of Guinea in October 2023, and the Gulf of Aden in June 2021, alongside collaborative escort operations for humanitarian assistance near Somalia in 2018 and 2019.

- ANI
India's Permanent Representative to the UN, P. Harish, has declared that paralysis in tackling conflicts is a significant shortcoming testing the UN's credibility, necessitating urgent Security Council reform. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned that the international rule of law is being replaced by "the law of the jungle," making Council reform imperative. Both emphasized that the UNSC must evolve to reflect contemporary power dynamics, demographics, and global challenges through expansion in permanent and non-permanent membership. Their warnings referenced the growing challenge of parallel security frameworks, such as the "Board of Peace" initiative reportedly discussed by former US President Donald Trump.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and India's envoy warn the UNSC is paralyzed and must be reformed to reflect modern global realities.

United Nations, Jan 27 India and Secretary-General Antonio Guterres have called for urgently reforming the Security Council in the face of dire challenges to the world organisation.

India's Permanent Representative P. Harish on Monday said the reform must add permanent members to make the international rule of law effective when the world organisation "at its core is under strain".



"Paralysis and lack of effectiveness in tackling conflicts remain a significant shortcoming" testing the UN's credibility, he said at the Council's high-level open debate on "Reaffirming International Rule of Law".



"For multilateralism and international rule of law to remain effective and credible, global governance structures must evolve to reflect contemporary realities," he said.



Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, who warned that "around the world, the rule of law is being replaced by the law of the jungle," said it was imperative to reform the Council without delay.



Only the Council can make decisions binding on all, and "no other body or ad-hoc coalition can legally require all member states to comply with decisions on peace and security," he said.



The Council has singular and universal responsibility, since under the UN Charter, it alone can authorise the use of force, he said.



"That is why reform is essential; that is why we must act without delay to enhance the representation and effectiveness of this Council," he stressed.



Harish added a note of caution that, because of challenges to the Council's relevance, "Security conversations and discussions have moved on to parallel plurilateral frameworks, some even involving private sector actors to bring about outcomes on peace and security outside the United Nations".



While the world has undergone a profound transformation in the 80 years since the UN's founding, the Council is stuck in a bygone era, he said.



Given the changes in "power dynamics, demographics and the nature of global challenges, there's an urgent and compelling need to undertake comprehensive reform, including expansion in the permanent and non-permanent categories," he said.



Guterres' reference to an "ad hoc coalition" and Harish's mention of "parallel plurilateral" were about the Board of Peace that US President Donald Trump is creating as a challenge to the UN.



"Once this board is completely formed, we can do pretty much whatever we want to do," he said last week at Davos.



Although he added a rider, "We'll do it in conjunction with the United Nations", it still meant he was seeing a downgraded role for it.





- IANS
Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed the newly signed India-European Union Free Trade Agreement as a historic pact that will significantly boost manufacturing and expand the services sector in India. He described the deal, which has drawn global attention, as a perfect partnership between two major economies that will create vast opportunities for people and businesses. The EU is India's second-largest trading partner in goods, with bilateral trade valued at over 120 billion in 2024. The agreement, negotiations for which began in 2007, is expected to further strengthen commercial ties and drive shared prosperity between the two regions.

PM Modi hails historic India-EU Free Trade Agreement as a major boost for manufacturing & services. Deal to create opportunities for investors & businesses.

New Delhi, January 27 As India and the European Union ink the historic Free Trade Agreement, popularly dubbed the 'mother of all deals', Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed the deal saying that this would give a major boost for manufacturing in India. He also said that the services sector will also expand post this Free Trade Agreement with the European Council.

"Manufacturing will get a huge boost from this trade deal with the EU, and the services sector will also expand. The Free Trade Agreement will boost the confidence of every investor and businessman to invest in India," the PM said as he ianugurated the India Energy Week being held in Goa.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday hailed the India-European Union Free Trade Agreement (FTA) as a perfect example of a partnership between two major economies of the world, noting that the landmark deal will create major opportunities for people, businesses and investors in both regions.

Referring to the recently signed agreement, PM Modi also said the deal has already drawn global attention and is being described as the "mother of all deals".

"Yesterday a big agreement was signed between the European Union and India. People are calling this the mother of all deals. This agreement will bring major opportunities for the public in India and Europe. This is a perfect example of a partnership between two major economies of the world," the Prime Minister said.

"This agreement empowers our shared commitment towards democracy and rule of law. This Free Trade Agreement with the European Union will also complement Britain and EFTA's agreements...I congratulate the people of the nation for this," he added.

India and the EU together represent almost one-fifth of global trade and around 25 per cent of the global population, highlighting the growing economic and strategic weight of the partnership. The EU and India are close partners working to promote economic prosperity, a rules-based international order and sustainable development.

Trade and investment remain central pillars of this relationship. In trade in goods, the EU is India's second-largest trading partner, right after China and ahead of the United States, accounting for 11.5 per cent of India's total goods trade.

As per official data, in 2024, EU-India trade in goods was valued at over Euro 120 billion. This included Euro 71.4 billion worth of EU imports from India and Euro 48.8 billion in EU exports to India. Over the last decade, bilateral trade in goods has doubled.

During this period, EU imports from India grew by 140 per cent, while EU exports to India increased by 58 per cent, showing the steady expansion of commercial ties. The main goods exported by the EU to India include machinery and appliances, transport equipment and chemicals. On the other hand, the EU primarily imports machinery and appliances, chemicals and fuels from India.

Trade in services has also seen strong growth. In 2024, EU-India trade in services was worth over Euro 66 billion, with more than Euro 37 billion in EU imports and around Euro 29 billion in EU exports. Over the past decade, trade in services between the two sides has more than doubled, recording a growth of 243 per cent.

Negotiations on a free-trade agreement between India and the EU started in 2007 and was relaunched in 2022. This agreement will boost bilateral trade and investment ties and drive shared prosperity.

- ANI
Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that India's energy sector presents a $500 billion investment opportunity, addressing global investors at India Energy Week 2026 in Goa. He detailed plans to increase oil & gas exploration to one million square kilometers and boost refining capacity beyond 300 million metric tonnes annually. The Prime Minister emphasized the growing demand for LNG and the need for investments across its entire value chain, including terminals, transportation, and pipeline networks. He affirmed that rapid reforms have created a transparent, investor-friendly environment to strengthen domestic hydrocarbons and boost global competitiveness.

PM Modi invites global majors to invest in India's $500B energy sector, highlighting refining, LNG, exploration & pipeline network opportunities.

New Delhi, Jan 27 Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said that India's energy sector offers investment opportunities worth 500 billion dollars as he urged global oil and gas majors to "Make in India, Innovate in India, Scale with India, Invest in India."

Addressing the India Energy Week 2026, via video conferencing, being attended by representatives from nearly 125 countries in Goa, PM Modi said that the country's energy sector has vast investment opportunities across different areas of the energy value chain.

He highlighted that India has significantly opened up its exploration sector and referred to the deep-sea exploration initiative known as the Samudra Manthan Mission. By the end of this decade, India aims to raise investments in the oil and gas sector to 100 billion dollars, with a target of expanding the scope of exploration to one million square km. More than 170 exploration blocks have already been awarded, and the Andaman and Nicobar basin "is emerging as the next hydrocarbon hope," PM Modi said.

Underlining that several reforms have been undertaken in the exploration sector, including reducing the no-go areas, the Prime Minister added that suggestions received during previous editions of India Energy Week have been incorporated into changes in Acts and Rules. He affirmed that companies investing in the exploration sector are certain to see increased profitability.

PM Modi further stated that India possesses a very large refining capacity and currently ranks second in the world, and is poised to become the number one country globally in refining capacity. The country's present refining capacity stands at around 260 million metric tonnes (MMT) per annum, and continuous efforts are underway to raise it beyond 300 MMT per annum, he added.

Highlighting that LNG demand in India is continuously rising, and the country has set a target to meet 15 per cent of its total energy demand through LNG, the Prime Minister emphasised the need to work across the entire LNG value chain and noted that India is undertaking large-scale efforts in transportation. India is working to build the vessels required for LNG transportation domestically, supported by a recently launched ship-building program worth Rs 70,000 crore. Numerous investment opportunities have also been created in constructing LNG terminals at Indian ports, as well as in regasification projects, he added.

The Prime Minister stressed that India requires a vast pipeline network for LNG transportation, where significant investments have already been made, but large-scale opportunities still remain. He pointed out that city gas distribution networks have already reached many Indian cities and are rapidly expanding to others, making this sector highly attractive for investment.

PM Modi observed that with India's large population and steadily growing economy, the demand for petrochemical products will continue to rise, necessitating extensive energy infrastructure. He affirmed that investment in this area will yield substantial growth and added that there are also abundant opportunities in downstream activities for investors.

"Today's India is riding on the Reforms Express and undertaking rapid reforms across every sector", PM Modi remarked.

He emphasised that reforms are being carried out to strengthen domestic hydrocarbons while creating a transparent and investor-friendly environment for global collaborations. India is developing an energy sector ecosystem capable of meeting local demand and, through affordable refining and transportation solutions, making exports highly competitive for the world, he added.

- IANS
Exports to surge from $10B to $20B by 2027

India's plastics industry is projected to grow to $44.5 billion by 2030, with exports expected to double from about $10 billion to $20 billion by 2027. This growth is fueled by large infrastructure programs and rising consumer demand in sectors like packaging, automotive, and healthcare. The upcoming PLASTINDIA 2026 exhibition at Bharat Mandapam aims to showcase India's industry strength and connect manufacturers with global partners to boost exports. The event will emphasize innovation and sustainability, highlighting the sector's readiness to meet international demand.

India's plastics industry projected to reach $44.5B by 2030, with exports doubling to $20B. Key growth driven by packaging and major expo.

New Delhi, Jan 27 India's plastics industry is projected to reach $44.5 billion by 2030 at a CAGR of 11 per cent, with exports surging from about $10 billion in 2025 to $20 billion by 2027, a report said on Tuesday.

Apex body of plastic industry, PlastIndia Foundation, said the growth of industry valued at $26.5 billion in 2025 will be driven by large-scale infrastructure programmes and accelerating consumer demand across packaging, automotive, construction, electronics and healthcare.

Packaging accounts for nearly 42 per cent of the market, supported by rapid e-commerce expansion, underlining the plastics industry's critical role in modern commerce, said Ravish Kamath, President, PlastIndia Foundation.

'PLASTINDIA 2026' billed as the "world's largest international plastics exhibition" and "India's first 100 per cent zerowaste" expo will be held at Bharat Mandapam here from February 5-10.

The event will feature over 2,000 exhibitors and an expected footfall of over 6 lakh, where the scale, strength and global competitiveness of the Indian plastics industry will be showcased, Kamath said.

The event will showcase plastic films, industrial parts and specialty polymers and aims to "further boost exports and position India as a global plastics leader" by connecting Indian manufacturers with global buyers, investors and technology partners.

The industry event includes a CEO Conclave, a reverse buyerseller meet and a Startup Search Initiative in collaboration with IIM Calcutta Innovation Park, the report said.

'PLASTINDIA 2026' will feature a 20,000 sq. ft. Open Air Museum, a first-of-its-kind initiative in India to showcase the positive and responsible role of plastics through towering sculptures, interactive installations and themed zones.

The exhibition will highlight innovation, sustainability and digital transformation across the entire plastics value chain, clearly demonstrating that Indian manufacturers are ready to meet global demand, said Alok Tibrewala, Chairman, National Executive Committee, 'PLASTINDIA 2026'.

- IANS
India's retail sector achieved a three-year peak in gross leasing activity in 2025, with volume growing 54% year-on-year to 12.5 million square feet across the top seven cities. The surge is attributed to resilient economic conditions, rising discretionary spending, and aggressive expansion by retailers, particularly in shopping malls and high streets. Demand was led by domestic retailers, who accounted for 82% of leasing, while Direct-to-Consumer (D2C) brands significantly expanded their physical footprint. The sector also saw substantial new supply and strong institutional investment of $2.3 billion over the past five years.

India's retail leasing surged 54% in 2025 to 12.5 million sq ft, driven by mall openings and strong domestic demand, a JLL report shows.

Mumbai, Jan 27 The year 2025 delivered exceptional 54 per cent year-on-year growth in gross leasing volume in India as retail sector achieved a three-year peak in gross leasing activity, a report showed on Tuesday.

Brick and mortal retail in the top seven cities of India reached a three-year high as gross leasing volume hit a total of 12.5 million square feet in 2025, according to a JLL report.

This surge reflects unwavering retailer confidence across key metropolitan markets and aggressive expansion strategies, as India redefines its consumption narrative against an uncertain global backdrop.

A resilient economy, coupled with rising discretionary spending, is fuelling this leasing renaissance, with offline retail formats witnessing an influx of premium brands commanding strong consumer loyalty, said the report.

India's retail sector maintains its robust growth trajectory, driven by substantial supply additions of 6.3 million sq. ft that have facilitated aggressive retailer expansion.

Delhi NCR, Hyderabad, and Mumbai witnessed the launch of 15 shopping malls in 2025, collectively contributing to the nation's overall mall inventory. As of end of 2025, the mall stock in the top seven cities stood at nearly 92 million square feet.

Shopping malls captured 45 per cent of the total leasing activity in 2025, while high streets commanded a dominant 48 per cent share.

"While fashion and apparel (34 per cent) and food and beverage (20 per cent) together comprised more than half of the annual leasing, the share of Fashion and Apparel has moderated from 41 per cent in 2023 to 34 per cent in 2025 though it still retains the top slot due to demand emanating from renowned domestic and D2C brands," said Dr Samantak Das, Chief Economist and Head of Research and REIS, India, JLL.

Another interesting trend that became more pronounced during the year was the direct-to-consumer (D2C) brands going full throttle in terms of setting up physical store footprint garnering 0.9 million sq. ft of gross leasing volume, Das informed.

Demand from domestic retailers continued to accelerate as they accounted for 82 per cent of 2025's gross leasing activities. The Indian retail sector has witnessed $2.3 billion institutional investment during the last 5 years.

- IANS
News / National

by Gideon Madzikatidze / Simbarashe Sithole

HARARE - Government is intensifying efforts to rehabilitate Zimbabwe's road network, particularly in major urban centres such as Harare and Bulawayo, following a highlevel meeting between Transport and Infrastructural Development Minister Felix Mhona and local authorities.Speaking in Harare after the meeting, which brought together mayors and road authorities to forge a national road maintenance partnership, Mhona said development must transcend political differences and align with President Emmerson Mnangagwa's vision of "Nyika inovakwa nevene vayo"."Our main aim for this meeting is to advance the realisation of President Emmerson Mnangagwa's vision of *Nyika inovakwa nevene vayo* and ensure his mantra of leaving no one and no place behind continues to be fulfilled. We are including all local and major road authorities countrywide as we connect and maintain both city and major roads," Mhona said.He emphasised unity of purpose, saying Zimbabweans share the same infrastructure regardless of ideology or geography."We need to collaborate and ensure all our roads are maintained without blameshifting, but by uniting to develop, maintain and construct roads that support ease of doing business, trade, and the movement of goods and services," he added.Mhona also acknowledged the role of citizens, media, content creators and comedians who highlight road defects, saying their watchdog role keeps authorities accountable."We applaud the media, comedians, celebrities and content creators whose work is a wakeup call whenever we fail to deliver. Everything you post, we act on as a team to correct abnormalities," he said.Bulawayo Mayor Councillor David Coltart welcomed the collaboration, saying it comes at a crucial time when urban residents require efficient service delivery."We appreciate the government's initiative through Minister Mhona. This collaboration will transform and improve our road infrastructure," Coltart said.He added that local authorities should partner with the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education to run awareness campaigns aimed at restoring urban cleanliness."It is important to embark on educational programmes from early childhood to primary levels, as children often contribute to littering due to lack of environmental awareness," he said.Representing Harare Mayor Jacob Mafume, Councillor Prince Mutebuka said the partnership signals genuine commitment to improving urban infrastructure."The discussions show that government is committed to restoring dignity to our urban road network. This initiative is a genuine one for Zimbabwe and its citizens," Mutebuka said.He added that improved road maintenance would enhance ease of doing business and revive both urban and rural road networks.The engagement follows President Mnangagwa's extension of the Emergency Road Rehabilitation Programme Phase 2 (ERRP2) to 2026, aimed at modernising Zimbabwe's transport system and positioning the country as a regional logistics hub under Vision 2030.The collaboration is expected to accelerate improvements on major highways and urban roads, with particular focus on drainage systems and safety infrastructure along key economic corridors linking Zimbabwe to the Southern African Development Community (SADC).
Heavy snowfall in Srinagar has led to the cancellation of 11 flights from major airlines, including IndiGo and Air India Express. The airport authority cited adverse weather and operational constraints, advising passengers to contact their airlines. The India Meteorological Department has issued warnings for thunderstorms and gusty winds across Jammu & Kashmir. Local officials report this is the region's heaviest snowfall in nearly 25 years, impacting travel and essential services.

11 flights from IndiGo, Akasa Air, and Air India Express cancelled at Srinagar Airport due to adverse weather and snow accumulation.

Srinagar, January 27 Srinagar Airport on Tuesday issued a statement for several flight cancellations in view of the unfavourable weather conditions and prevailing operational constraints. Among them, 6 Indigo, 2 Air Akasa, and 3 Air India Express flights have been cancelled till 9 AM.

The official X account of Srinagar Airport wrote, "Due to prevailing adverse weather conditions at Srinagar Airport, additional flights have been cancelled for today. The updated list of cancelled flights is attached. Passengers are advised to remain in contact with their respective airlines for the latest updates and alternate arrangements."

Earlier today, they had informed of expected flight delays due to snow accumulation on airside pavements, advising passengers to continue communicating with their airlines.

"Due to continuous light snowfall since early hours, snow accumulation has been observed on airside pavements. BRO teams are actively engaged in snow clearance to make the operational areas fit for flight operations. Owing to adverse en-route weather and prevailing conditions, flight delays may be expected. Passengers are advised to stay in touch with their respective airlines for updates.", the X post read.

IndiGo Airlines also issued a travel advisory early morning, stating that snowfall may affect flight operations.

"Ongoing snowfall in #Srinagar may impact flight operations. If you or your loved ones are travelling, please check your flight status here: https://goindigo.in/check-flight-status.html. In case of cancellations, you may explore alternate options or claim a refund by visiting: https://goindigo.in/plan-b.html.", the airline shared on X.

"We assure you that our airport teams are present to provide the best possible assistance and support to all customers. Weather-related impacts are beyond our control, and we regret the inconvenience caused and appreciate your understanding.", the post continued.

According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), several areas in the Jammu region are experiencing snowfall and rain on Tuesday, with Srinagar receiving "slight continuous snowflakes."

The IMD issued a weather warning of isolated thunderstorm activity with lightning, hail, and gusty winds (40-50 kmph) over Jammu & Kashmir today.

Several parts of Jammu and Kashmir, including Rajouri district, witnessed heavy snowfall this season, with the Kotranka-Budhal belt in the Pir Panjal range receiving significant snowfall, turning the region into a major tourist attraction. Local residents said that such heavy snowfall has not been seen in nearly 25 years.

Deputy Commissioner Abhishek Sharma said that due to western disturbances, heavy snowfall has occurred in the Pir Panjal range, with maximum snowfall recorded in the Thanamandi and Kotranka sub-divisions. "During my visit to Thanamandi, basic facilities and essential services were reviewed, and their restoration was checked. Electricity restoration at Kotranka will be completed by tonight. Vehicular movement will be within 1-2 hours. Continuous work on road traffic management is underway from early morning," he said, adding that efforts are being made to ensure uninterrupted rations, water, electricity, medical care and emergency services.

- ANI
The PM SHRI scheme is dramatically improving government schools in Ranchi. Students now enjoy smart classrooms, modern labs, and digital boards, which were previously unavailable. Teachers are receiving new training to deliver better education aligned with the National Education Policy. This transformation is boosting student attendance and confidence, giving new wings to the dreams of underprivileged children.

See how the PM SHRI scheme is revolutionizing education in Ranchi with smart classrooms, modern labs, and teacher training, uplifting students' futures.

Ranchi, Jan 27 Under the central government's ambitious PM SHRI (Prime Minister Schools for Rising India) scheme, the picture of government schools is rapidly changing. The objective of this scheme is to transform selected schools across the country into modern, smart, and high-quality educational models.

In PM Shri schools, students now have access to smart classrooms, modern laboratories, digital boards, better libraries, clean toilets, and safe school premises.

Additionally, teachers are being trained in new technologies and modern teaching methods to ensure that children receive better education.

This scheme is also working to implement the National Education Policy (NEP 2020) on the ground. It promotes creative thinking, skill development, digital learning, and self-reliance among children.

PM Shri Azad High School at Karbala Chowk, Ranchi, is located in an area with a minority population as the central government is continuously striving to provide better education to minority children.

Teachers and students at the school say that since it became a PM SHRI school, the educational environment has significantly improved. There have been positive changes in students' attendance, interest, and self-confidence.

This initiative in the field of education is not only strengthening government schools but also giving new wings to the dreams of underprivileged and middle-class children.

PM SHRI School is a centrally-sponsored scheme by the Government of India. This initiative is intended to develop more than 14,500 PM SHRI Schools managed by Central Government/State/UT Government/local bodies including KVS and NVS in which every student feels welcomed and cared for, where a safe and stimulating learning environment exists, where a wide range of learning experiences are offered, and where good infrastructure and appropriate resources conducive to learning are available to all students.

The scheme will nurture students in a way that they become engaged, productive, and contributing citizens for building an equitable, inclusive, and plural society as envisaged by the National Education Policy 2020.

Aslan Alam, a class tenth student at PM SHRI Azad High School said, "Earlier when I joined the school it was not so equipped. But now after it became a PM SHRI school, it has smart classrooms, modern laboratories, digital boards, better libraries, clean toilets, and safe school premises. Earlier there were no Maths and Urdu teachers but now every subject teacher is available and I am going to give my Board exams with full preparation."

Other students, Khurshid Ahmed and Muhammad Javed expressed similar sentiments stating the school has become a lot better now.

Sitamani, a teacher at the PM SHRI Azad High School said that she had been working at the school since August 2019 and after it became a PM SHRI school, she witnessed major developments like smart classrooms, modern laboratories, digital boards and better libraries.

Mohd Kurban Ali, Principal said, "Before PM SHRI and after PM SHRI there are a lot of changes as it is a tie-up between the central and state government. It is an ambitious scheme by our PM Modi, and he has made ambitious efforts to make government schools at par with private schools."

- IANS
India's UN envoy revealed that the Pakistani military directly pleaded for an end to Operation Sindoor on May 10, following earlier threats. The operation was a measured response to a terrorist attack in Pahalgam, targeting the infrastructure of groups like The Resistance Front. India dismissed Pakistani claims of unprovoked aggression and external mediation, asserting its actions were focused on counter-terrorism. The envoy also reaffirmed the status of Jammu and Kashmir and explained the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty due to Pakistan's support for terrorism.

India details how Pak military directly pleaded to cease fighting in Operation Sindoor, dismissing external claims and reaffirming counter-terror stance at UNSC.

United Nations, Jan 27 The Pakistani military directly "pleaded" for the end of Operation Sindoor, India has reminded the Security Council, dismissing claims of external intervention.

"We will do whatever is required to protect and ensure the safety and security of our citizens", India's Permanent Representative P Harish also warned on Monday.

"Let me reiterate again that terrorism can never be normalised as Pakistan wishes to do", he said.

While pointing out that Operation Sindoor was in furtherance of the Council's stand against terrorism, he laid out the sequence of events leading to the end of the operation that took a toll on Pakistan's air force.

"Till May 9, Pakistan was threatening more attacks on India, but on May 10, the Pakistani military called our military directly and pleaded for a cessation to the fighting", he said.

"The destruction caused to multiple Pakistani air bases by the Indian operation, including images of destroyed runways and burnt out hangars, is in the public domain", he said.

India's response to the attack by Pakistan-based terrorists on tourists in Pahalgam on April 22 last year was measured and responsible, he said.

The Resistance Front, an affiliate of the Lashkar-e-Taiba, which has been declared a terrorist organisation by the United States and India, said it had carried out the religion-based attack that killed 26 people.

In launching Operation Sindoor, India was responding to the Council's call for "holding the perpetrators, organisers, financiers and sponsors of this reprehensible act of terrorism accountable and brought to justice", Harish said.

"India's actions were measured, non-escalatory, responsible and focused on dismantling the terrorist infrastructure and disabling terrorism", he said.

Harish did not name US President Donald Trump, who has claimed that he ended the conflict through his diplomacy and threats of tariffs and made a claim for a Nobel Peace Prize.

During the Council's open debate on "Reaffirming international rule of law", Pakistan's Permanent Representative Asim Iftikhar Ahmad brought up Operation Sindoor, claiming it was an "unprovoked military aggression".

He went on to speak about the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty and his version of the situation in Kashmir.

Dismissing the claims about Kashmir, Harish declared, "The Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir has been, is and will always remain, an integral and inalienable part of India".

About the Indus Rivers Treaty that Prime Minister Narendra Modi suspended after the Pahalgam attack, Harish explained, "India was compelled to finally announce that the treaty will be held in abeyance until Pakistan, a global epicentre of terror, credibly and irrevocably ends its support for cross-border and all other forms of terror".

About Islamabad's habit of raising the Kashmir and other "issues" it has with India at UN forums regardless of the topic under discussion, Harish said, "This hallowed chamber cannot become a forum for Pakistan to legitimise terrorism".

As for Ahmad speaking about the rule of law, Harish advised introspection.

Pakistan "could start by asking itself, how it has let its armed forces engineer a constitutional coup through the 27th Amendment and giving lifetime immunity to its chief of defence forces".

The 27th Amendment to the Pakistan Constitution in November virtually established the supremacy of the military.

- IANS
Union Ministers S.P. Singh Baghel and Sukanta Majumdar will award winners of the Model Youth Gram Sabha initiative, which involved over 28,000 students in simulated local governance. The program, aligned with the National Education Policy 2020, aims to promote experiential learning about India's democratic systems. Officials highlighted the initiative's role in building leadership, civic responsibility, and connecting youth with grassroots governance. The event will also see the release of a compendium documenting the transformative journey of the MYGS.

Union Ministers S.P. Singh Baghel and Sukanta Majumdar will award students for their understanding of Panchayati Raj, celebrating a major youth democracy initiative.

New Delhi, Jan 27 Union Minister of State for Panchayati Raj S.P. Singh Baghel will hand over awards to winners of the Model Youth Gram Sabha on Wednesday, recognising their understanding of the three-tier Panchayati Raj system envisaged under the 73rd Constitutional Amendment, an official said.

Union Minister of State for Education Sukanta Majumdar will also attend the event during which a comprehensive compendium documenting the transformative journey of the MYGS initiative will be released, said the official in a statement.

The ceremony will celebrate the achievements of over 28,000 students from 619 Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas and 200 Eklavya Model Residential Schools who participated in simulated Gram Sabhas and Gram Panchayat proceedings across the country.

Around 900 participants, including students and teachers from the winning schools, elected representatives of PRIs and key stakeholders associated with the MYGS initiative, will also participate in the event.

The Model Youth Gram Sabha, aligned with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, was implemented across over 1,000 schools, including Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas (JNVs), Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRSs), and State Government Schools last October.

The initiative aims to promote experiential and activity-based learning, helping students understand democratic functioning and the importance of collective decision-making.

At the launch event, Baghel said that realising the vision of a Viksit Bharat by 2047 requires nurturing a generation of young leaders who understand and strengthen India's democracy.

He described the Model Youth Gram Sabha as a powerful platform to build confidence, leadership, and civic responsibility among students. Taking the idea forward, he suggested that similar initiatives may also be introduced in urban areas through Model Ward Sabhas, enabling students in cities to understand participatory decision-making and community leadership.

Minister of State for Tribal Affairs Durgadas Uikey described the initiative of Model Youth Gram Sabha as a reflection of a new vision of participatory education that connects young minds with the functioning of democratic institutions.

He said that the initiative connects education with democratic participation and inspires students to listen, decide, and act responsibly.

Sharing his personal journey from a tribal village, he said that grassroots leadership has the power to transform lives and communities. He also underlined that the tribal society's harmony with nature offers valuable lessons in sustainable living and maintaining community balance.

Panchayati Raj Secretary Vivek Bharadwaj had said at the event that for many of the country's problems, solutions lie within its Gram Sabhas and Gram Panchayats, which form the foundation of local self-governance.

He described the MYGS as a vital step to connect students with grassroots democracy and help them learn responsibility, transparency, and accountability through real-life experience.

He emphasised that education must blend knowledge with experience so that learning becomes enjoyable, participative, and rooted in community values.

School Education and Literacy Secretary Sanjay Kumar had said that the MYGS is a timely step to help students understand grassroots democracy and the functioning of PRIs.

The initiative, he noted, will provide real-life exposure to governance, build teamwork and leadership skills, and promote learning by doing, community participation, and mental well-being - nurturing confident and responsible citizens.

The launch witnessed participation from over 700 attendees, including students and teachers from Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas and Eklavya Model Residential Schools, as well as elected Panchayat representatives and officials from State Panchayati Raj Departments and State Institutes of Rural Development & Panchayati Raj (SIRD&PRs).

- IANS
Malta's High Commissioner to India, Reuben Gauci, has enthusiastically described the India-European Union Free Trade Agreement as the "mother of all deals," forecasting significant growth in bilateral trade and investment. He emphasized the critical need for stability and predictability in trade relations, warning against the weaponization of economic tools. The agreement coincides with deepened collaboration in technology and innovation, formalized through the India-EU Trade and Technology Council. Both sides aim to advance cooperation in areas like semiconductors, AI, and digital infrastructure while securing supply chains.

Malta's High Commissioner to India praises the India-EU FTA, highlighting enhanced trade, tech cooperation, and predictable economic ties.

New Delhi, January 28 Reuben Gauci, High Commissioner of Malta to India, lauded the India-European Union Free Trade Agreement, calling it the "mother of all deals" and highlighting its potential to expand trade and investment between India and the EU.

Speaking to ANI on Tuesday, Gauci said, "The mother of deals has now been born, and we are expecting that this will grow and make trade and investment between India and the EU a much bigger reality... Now we should be thinking of a lot of connectivity. My country, Malta, is in the middle of the Mediterranean... We are looking at how this connectivity will affect our sea routes and how we can contribute to it."

The High Commissioner emphasised the need for stability and predictability in trade. "We should stand for predictability... Even if tariffs are imposed, it is done in an amicable way rather than like a punishment... It is important that we do not weaponise anything... We have the FTA for matters to take place in a predictable way," he added.

The India-EU FTA coincides with strengthened cooperation in the technology and innovation domains. As per the India-EU Joint Statement on the State Visit of the EU delegation, both sides aim to leverage their complementary strengths to enhance collaboration across the entire value chain, linking research, innovation, and business engagement to practical market operationalisation.

In the current geopolitical environment and amidst global disruptions, they reaffirmed the India-EU Trade and Technology Council (TTC), a high-level coordination platform to address key trade, technology and economic security issues, as the cornerstone of their technology partnership and aim to further enhance its work.

The two sides will continue to advance together on promoting Digital Public Infrastructure, including interoperable standards and exchange of best practices on regulatory frameworks, collaboration in new technologies (including semiconductors, artificial intelligence, quantum computing, digital public infrastructure and 6G) to build cyber-secure, trusted digital ecosystems, as well as to advance cooperation in clean tech.

They will broaden discussions on economic security, in particular on the resilience of supply chains and research security, underlining the importance of protecting sensitive technologies. Both sides agreed to hold the next TTC ministerial meeting in Brussels in 2026 and to deepen business consultations.

- ANI
The Adani Group and Brazilian aerospace leader Embraer have signed a strategic MoU to develop a regional transport aircraft ecosystem in India. The partnership, strongly endorsed by the Indian government, aims to enhance domestic connectivity, particularly for Tier 2 and 3 cities, and build a robust indigenous manufacturing base. Embraer sees a potential market for over 500 smaller aircraft in India to fill a critical gap in regional air travel. The collaboration targets finalizing key details within weeks, with the first India-assembled aircraft expected within a couple of years.

Adani Group partners with Brazil's Embraer to develop regional transport aircraft, backed by the Indian government to boost connectivity and manufacturing.

New Delhi, January 27 The Adani Group and Brazilian aerospace giant Embraer have officially entered into a strategic partnership to develop a comprehensive regional transport aircraft ecosystem in India. Announcing the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding, both sides expressed a shared commitment to enhancing domestic connectivity and building a robust indigenous manufacturing base.

The initiative has received strong backing from the Indian government, with the Defence Secretary, Rajesh Kumar Singh saying, "The MOU also brings together India's rapidly expanding defence and aerospace capabilities with Embraer's global expertise in aircraft manufacturing, innovation and advanced aviation technology."

"This is, I'll echo your thoughts, this is not an Adani project or an MVIR project, it's an Indian aviation project. And for me, this is not about building aircraft, this is actually about building the Indian economy bottom up," said Ashish Rajvanshi, President & CEO, Adani Defence & Aerospace. He highlighted the potential for growth in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities, noting that the project is "an opportunity for the tier two, tier three cities to come together and see how we can actually elevate the GDP coming from these cities."

Jeet Adani, Director of Adani Airport Holdings, emphasised the alignment of values between the two organisations, stating, "We started our partnership and participating very seriously in the Indian aviation ecosystem, oh even the regional aviation ecosystem. We share similar values and we have a shared vision for what this industry could be over here and we're looking forward to grow this partnership forward."

Arjan Meijer, President and CEO of Embraer Commercial Aviation, described the agreement as a "pivotal moment" for the industry. While specific financial details and production numbers remain under wraps for now, the collaboration aims to leverage the strengths of both companies, from aircraft assembly to airport infrastructure and pilot training.

Meijer noted the significance of the partnership, saying, "It's a first step, it's the announcement of an MOU but I think it's with a great partner like Adani. We have a lot of homework to do but we see our vision of working together very closely here in India." He further added, "We believe we have two capabilities that complement each other very nicely. Adani being active with airports, pilot training, MRO and of course Embraer very strong in building aircraft of the smaller segment."

Embraer, the world's third-largest aircraft manufacturer, sees India as one of its most critical markets. Meijer pointed out that while India has focused heavily on large-aircraft connectivity, there is a massive gap in the regional segment that smaller jets can fill. "We see markets for more than 500 aircraft in that smaller segment here in India based on how we operate elsewhere in the world," Meijer explained. "So we need smaller aircraft to connect India and to further build India into the future." He described the synergy between the two nations as a "perfect match," noting that "Brazil and India are very good friends" and that this partnership represents a major step in the technological and industrial cooperation between the two countries.

Looking ahead, the partners are working on an ambitious timeline to turn the vision into reality. Within the next six to eight weeks, details regarding the location of manufacturing facilities, business models, and investment scales are expected to be finalised. "In the next couple of years we're looking at the first aircraft to come out from India," the Defence Secretary shared, signalling a fast-tracked approach to local production.

- ANI
Unseasonal rain and hailstorms have caused significant crop damage across multiple districts in Madhya Pradesh. The India Meteorological Department has forecast continued disruptive weather, including more hailstorms and high-speed winds for the coming days. Congress leader Arun Yadav has appealed to the government for an immediate survey and adequate compensation for affected farmers. The weather activity is attributed to an active cyclonic circulation and a western disturbance affecting the region.

IMD warns of continued hailstorms in MP after unseasonal weather damages crops across over a dozen districts. Leaders call for farmer compensation.

Bhopal, Jan 27 Unseasonal rain and hailstorms have damaged crops across several districts of Madhya Pradesh, prompting calls for government intervention and compensation.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) reported that over a dozen districts witnessed moderate to heavy rainfall accompanied by lightning and hail on Tuesday, January 27.

Districts including Khargone, Ujjain, Guna, Gwalior, Ashoknagar, Bhind, Morena, Agar-Malwa, Shajapur, Tikamgarh, Barwani, Chhatarpur, Mandsaur, Ratlam, and Rajgarh were among those affected, with widespread crop damage reported due to hailstones.

Bhopal also experienced light to moderate rain and wind, contributing to a cold wave across the region.

The IMD has forecast continued weather disruption, warning of hailstorms with lightning and wind speeds reaching up to 70 kmph in Bhind, Datia, Shivpuri, and Ashoknagar on January 28.

Moderate rain with hailstorm is also expected in Morena, Gwalior, Nivari, Orchha, Tikamgarh, Vidisha, Sagar, Bhopal, Khandwa, Sehore, and Harda.

According to the IMD, the weather change is attributed to an active cyclonic circulation over Haryana and adjoining areas, along with a western disturbance and a trough passing through the region.

These systems are expected to bring cloudy skies, light rain, and strong winds to parts of Madhya Pradesh over the next few days.

Senior Congress leader and former Union Minister Arun Yadav shared a video of the hailstorm - locally referred to as 'mavtha' - on his social media account (X), urging the government to conduct an immediate survey and compensate affected farmers.

"In districts including Khargone, Agar, Guna, and Ujjain, hailstorms and heavy rains have destroyed farmers' crops. The farmers' hard work and hopes have been dashed. We demand that the government conduct an immediate survey and provide adequate compensation to the farmers. The farmer is not alone; we all stand with them," Yadav wrote.

The full extent of crop damage will be known after an official assessment by the administration.

- IANS
Indian equity benchmarks opened nearly flat with cautious optimism as investors awaited the signing of the India-European Union Free Trade Agreement. Global uncertainty, driven by frequent tariff threats from former US President Donald Trump, is pushing investors towards safe-haven assets like gold and silver, causing their prices to rally sharply. Market experts note the potential benefits of the FTA for sectors like textiles and gems, while highlighting the negative impact of Trump's trade policies on market sentiment. While broader indices showed modest gains, specific sectors like auto and media faced pressure in early trade.

Sensex, Nifty open flat ahead of India-EU trade deal. Gold & silver prices surge amid global uncertainty from Trump's tariff threats. Expert analysis inside.

New Delhi, January 27 The domestic equity benchmarks opened nearly flat but in green on Tuesday as investors remained cautious ahead of the much-anticipated India-European Union Free Trade Agreement, which is expected to be signed today.

Market participants are closely monitoring developments around the deal, even as global uncertainty continues due to frequent tariff-related threats by US President Donald Trump.



The Nifty 50 index opened at 25,063.35, gaining 14.70 points or 0.06 per cent, while the BSE Sensex began the session at 81,662.37, up by 124.67 points or 0.15 per cent.



Ajay Bagga, Banking and Market Expert, told ANI that market sentiment is showing some excitement around the India-EU trade agreement. "The 'Mother of all Deals', the EU-India FTA, is imminent and there is some market exuberance around it. It will help Indian textiles, gems and jewellery, leather, intermediate machinery, and the auto ancillary sector," he said.



He added, "The US reaction has been one of attacking India and the EU on Russian oil purchases. The threat to impose 100 per cent tariffs on Canada and 25 per cent on Korea is Trump playing the 2025 Weaponisation Playbook when the world has moved on to 2026. There is some impact on Korean automakers, but the rest of Asia is resilient".



Global uncertainty has been rising sharply, driven by daily tariff threats from US President Donald Trump. This has made equity investors cautious and pushed investors and central banks towards safe-haven assets such as gold and silver. As a result, precious metal prices have surged.



The gold rally continued, with commodities touching new highs amid global uncertainty and continued tariff threats. The price of 10 grams of gold surged to Rs 1,62,110, while silver prices climbed sharply to Rs 3,60,100 per kilogram.



In the broader market indices on the NSE, the Nifty 200 was up by 0.04 per cent, while the Nifty Smallcap 100 gained 0.23 per cent. However, midcap and smallcap indices remained under pressure in early trade.



Among sectoral indices on the NSE, Nifty Auto declined by more than 1.3 per cent, Nifty Media fell by 1.6 per cent, and Nifty Realty was down by 0.66 per cent. On the positive side, Nifty Metal rose by 1.48 per cent, Nifty PSU Bank gained 0.68 per cent, and Nifty Pharma was also trading in the green.



Sunil Gurjar, SEBI-registered analyst and Founder of Alphamojo Financial Services, said the Nifty 50 has underperformed after hitting an all-time high. "The index is falling sharply due to global uncertainty, trade tariff wars, geopolitical tensions, and a weakening Rupee," he told ANI.



He added that the Nifty breached a major support level at 25,250 and has moved below all short- and long-term EMAs. "Currently, 24,600 acts as critical support; a breakdown below this level would confirm a strong downtrend," he said.



In other Asian markets, equities were largely positive. Japan's Nikkei 225 rose by 0.49 per cent, Singapore's Straits Times index was up by 0.79 per cent, Hong Kong's Hang Seng index gained more than 1 per cent, South Korea's KOSPI surged by 1.94 per cent, and Taiwan's weighted index advanced by 1.10 per cent.





- ANI
Tourist movement in North Sikkim has normalized following the reopening of the critical Toong-Naga Road, which was severely damaged in the October 2023 Glacial Lake Outburst Flood. Nearly 400 tourist vehicles are now visiting the Lachung region daily, with a new bridge to Lachen expected to open in February. Rehabilitation efforts are underway, including plans to shift 125 affected families to Upper Bojoghari in Gangtok and distribute land documents. The restoration, aided by the state, central agencies, and the Indian Army, marks a major step toward recovery for the region's tourism and displaced residents.

Tourist flow returns to normal in North Sikkim as the Toong-Naga Road reopens after the 2023 GLOF disaster, with rehabilitation efforts ongoing.

North Sikkim, January 27 Tourist movement in North Sikkim has returned to normal following the reopening of the Toong-Naga Road, according to Nim Tshering Lepcha, Chairman of the Sikkim Welfare Commission.

Speaking on the current situation, Lepcha said, "The tourist flow towards Lachung is running smoothly, with nearly 400 tourist vehicles visiting the region daily," adding that road conditions have improved significantly, ensuring safe and uninterrupted travel for visitors.

Meanwhile, the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) is constructing a bridge over the Taram Chu River on the route to Lachen. The bridge is expected to be completed by the first week of February, after which tourist movement to Lachen will also be reopened.

Addressing rehabilitation efforts, Lepcha said, "125 affected families from Rel, Naga and Toong wards will be shifted to Upper Bojoghari in Gangtok."

Land parchas will be distributed on 8 February, following which construction of permanent houses will begin.

The Toong-Naga region was severely affected by the October 2023 Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF), which triggered massive flooding along the Teesta basin. The disaster caused widespread destruction of roads, bridges, and settlements across North Sikkim. In the aftermath, continuous landslides further damaged the Toong-Naga road stretch, cutting off connectivity and displacing several families.

After months of restoration work by the state government and central agencies, the reopening of the Toong-Naga Road marks a major step towards normalcy, revival of tourism, and rehabilitation of affected residents in North Sikkim.

The Government of Sikkim has been prioritising the rehabilitation and resettlement of GLOF-affected families of Toong Naga and ensuring their safety, sustainability, and dignity.

In the immediate aftermath of GLOF 2023, the Indian Army, under Trishakti Corps, responded swiftly to support civil authorities. Army formations were deployed to provide evacuation assistance, medical aid, debris clearance, and the reopening of critical road links, restoring access to remote and cut-off areas in challenging terrain and weather conditions. Engineer resources established temporary connectivity solutions to maintain the movement of essential supplies and services.

- ANI
PM Modi & EU leaders announce a landmark India-EU FTA, a "blueprint for shared prosperity" boosting trade, investment & strategic ties.

New Delhi, January 27 Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday hailed the conclusion of the India-European Union Free Trade Agreement, describing it as "not just a trade agreement, but a blueprint for shared prosperity."

Addressing a joint press meet with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa at Hyderabad House in the national capital, PM Modi said the signing of the FTA marked a historic moment in India-EU relations, coming a day after the EU leaders attended India's Republic Day celebrations as Chief Guests for the first time.



"Tomorrow was a historic day, as European Union leaders, for the first time, attended India's Republic Day celebration as Chief Guests. Today is another historic day, as the two biggest democratic powers in the world are adding a very important chapter to their relationship," he said.



The Prime Minister noted that India-EU relations have grown exponentially in recent years, rooted in shared democratic values, economic synergy, and strong people-to-people ties, acknowledging that the India-EU trade stands at EUR 180 billion..



"Over the past few years, relations between India and the European Union have grown exponentially. Based on the shared values of democracy, economic synergy, and strong people-to-people ties, our bilateral strength has reached new heights. Today, our trade stands at EUR 180 billion, and more than eight lakh Indians are living in EU nations and contributing to their societies," the Prime Minister said.



Highlighting expanding areas of cooperation, PM Modi said India and the EU have forged partnerships spanning strategic technology, clean energy, digital governance, and development cooperation, leading to decisions that will benefit all sections of society.



"From strategic technology to clean energy, from digital governance to development partnerships, we have established new avenues of cooperation. Building on these achievements, we have taken decisions that will benefit every section of society," the PM said.



Calling the agreement the largest FTA concluded by India to date, the Prime Minister said it would create new opportunities for farmers, small entrepreneurs, and service providers.



He added that the FTA would boost investment, foster innovation partnerships, and strengthen supply chains between India and the EU.



"Today, India has concluded the biggest Free Trade Agreement in its history. This agreement will help our farmers and small entrepreneurs, enable greater access to European markets, and deepen cooperation in the services sector. The FTA will boost investment between India and the EU, foster new innovation partnerships, and strengthen supply chains. This is not just a trade agreement; it is a blueprint for shared prosperity," the PM added.



Earlier, PM Modi held delegation-level talks with Von der Leyen and Costa during the 16th India-EU Summit.



Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his address at the India Energy Week, hailed the India-EU Free Trade Agreement, reiterating it as the 'Mother of all deals' and highlighting its role in illustrating the partnership between two major economies of the world. The deal becomes significant as it links two major economies that command a quarter of the world's GDP.



India also signed a Security and Defence Partnership with the EU, making it the third Asian country to have such a deal after Japan and South Korea.





- ANI
News / National

by Staff reporter

A HARARE man is facing allegations that he masqueraded as a medical doctor based in the United States to charm and allegedly defraud several women he met on a popular dating app.The man, identified as Mathew Five, is accused of assuming a fake identity under the name Desmond Phiri and claiming he was an American-based medical doctor as part of an elaborate romance scam. Some of the women allege they lost significant sums of money after being promised marriage and a lavish lifestyle.According to the complainants, Five allegedly told some of the women that he intended to marry them, while others were promised overseas trips. One woman claims she was promised a weekend retreat in Zanzibar, complete with US$8 000 in spending money.Among the alleged victims is a disabled woman who narrated how the relationship unfolded after they met on Tinder."We met on Tinder, then in person when he said he was relocating to America. He would often send pictures and live locations in the US and said he had a farm," she said.She alleged that Five later began requesting money, claiming to be facing various personal crises."He started saying he was having problems which needed money. At one time he asked for money saying his daughter had been admitted to hospital after suffering a stroke," she said.She further claimed that Five introduced her to a woman he described as his cousin, who would also ask for money, citing a lack of groceries and other basic needs."He told me he was divorced and wanted to marry me in February. He would ask for my ID saying he wanted to book a court marriage date. I lost over a thousand dollars until he just went quiet," she said.Her account mirrors several others shared by women who say they were emotionally manipulated and financially prejudiced.Contacted for comment, Five denied the allegations, insisting they stem from one woman whom he identified as Nyasha."I have made a payment plan to reimburse her money," he said."Yes, I am married and I am not in the country. Those women are telling lies. I asked them to remove those comments  it's all lies. My lawyer will get back to you," he said.He also claimed that photographs of him in medical uniforms were linked to nurse-aide programmes he was involved in, not evidence that he was a qualified doctor.Five's father, Mateyu Five, said he only became aware of the allegations after a woman arrived at his house in Kuwadzana 5 looking for his son."Yes, there is one who came here looking for my son and told me about these dating issues," he said. "I have no contact with my son because he reaches out when he wants to. I have nothing to say about this; the women must speak to my son, not me."An InDrive driver, who has been named by some complainants as part of the alleged syndicate, distanced himself from the matter, saying he was only hired to run errands."I don't work with that guy. I only did regular errands for him until he blocked me, yet he owes me money," the driver said.Some of the victims allege that Five operates with an unidentified woman and uses multiple roaming American and South African phone numbers, as well as several local mobile lines.Several complainants have taken to Facebook to warn others about Five, alleging that he has threatened them with cyberbullying charges if they do not remove their posts.One Facebook comment reads:"Uyu ka handina mate naye, haaa siyai henyu munofa, Dr Mathew, and ane mushonga unotobeliever. It took me seven years to forgive him; he ruined my life in the worst way. Mwari ka."Victims who spoke on condition of anonymity said they intend to pursue the matter through the civil courts.Legal expert Advocate Arthur Marara said the allegations point to what is commonly known as a "Tinder swindler" scenario."This is a case where women, often desperate for marriage, become victims of conmen," Marara said.He explained that Zimbabwean law recognises a promise of marriage as a binding civil contract."A person can sue for damages if a partner breaks a promise to marry. While it is not a crime to break an engagement, the aggrieved party must prove that a firm promise existed and was broken without just cause," he said.The matter has not yet been tested in court, and no criminal charges have been confirmed at this stage.
Israel's Tourism Ministry has a fully prepared plan to evacuate approximately 42,000 tourists currently in the country, prompted by rising tensions with Iran. Director General Michael Itzhakov emphasized the plan is a contingency based on lessons from a previous conflict, not a prediction of imminent trouble. The ministry has established procedures to maintain contact with tourists via phone numbers collected upon entry, enabling location mapping and rapid response. Logistical and communication preparations, including a multi-language human operations center, are complete to prevent tourists from being left without direction.

Israel's Tourism Ministry details a contingency plan to evacuate 42,000 tourists, ensuring communication and logistics are ready for any crisis.

Tel Aviv, January 27 Director General of the Tourism Ministry, Michael Itzhakov, announced on Monday that amid the "possibility of an Iranian attack", Israel's plan to evacuate approximately 42,000 tourists is ready, the Jerusalem Post reported.

According to the Jerusalem Post, Itzhakov said that as a lesson to be learnt from the previous scenarios, alluding to the 12-day conflict with Iran in June of 2025, Israel has been preparing for an evacuation scenario for about a month now. In this regard, he met with Tourism Minister Haim Katz.

The Director General said that the Tourism Ministry has developed internal procedures designed to provide certainty and reassurance to tourists in the event of an airspace closure.

He said, "This is general preparedness. We are not predicting trouble, but we want to be ready. The Tourism Ministry has created an internal procedure, and we want to provide certainty for tourists."

According to Itzhakov, the Population and Immigration Authority estimated that approximately 42,000 tourists are in Israel, but the data is incomplete for dual-citizen Israelis, as they may be tourists but are not counted in the data set upon entering the country.

Itzhakov's remarks come amid rising tensions with Iran and the possibility of a security escalation as "Trump weighs US strikes on the regime", the Jerusalem Post reported.

The Director General of the Tourism Ministry emphasised that the preparations on both the communication and logistical levels are complete to maintain continuous contact with tourists in the event of airspace closure. This also involves preparing messages in several languages and establishing a human operations centre that will be in direct contact with those arriving in the country for tourism.

He described that most tourists, upon entering the country, are required to fill out a form, so the country thus has a record of tourists' phone numbers.

"The State of Israel has the phone number of those who enter the country; it's not overly complicated. There are privacy and legal considerations, but most tourists are required to fill out a form upon entry," he explained.

The purpose of maintaining a record of mobile numbers is to enable the ministry to map tourists' locations, particularly in hotels, for rapid response if needed.

"We are prepared for scenarios we encountered in June, and there will not be a situation in which tourists are left wandering without direction," said Itzhakov.

Itzhakov said that the preparations are part of a contingency plan, even if they are not needed in the future.

"The Tourism Ministry has already experienced war, and we want to be prepared, to have a contingency plan, even if we never end up using it," he said

- ANI
Bengali cinema icon Prosenjit Chatterjee has been conferred the Padma Shri award by the Government of India. In a heartfelt video, he expressed deep gratitude and dedicated the honor to the directors, producers, and co-actors who shaped his four-decade journey. The Ministry of Home Affairs announced the 2026 Padma Awards list on Republic Day eve, which includes 131 recipients across various fields. Chatterjee, known for films like 'Baishe Srabon' and 'Autograph', has a prolific career spanning over 200 films in Bengali and Hindi cinema.

Bengali actor Prosenjit Chatterjee expresses gratitude for Padma Shri, dedicating the honor to everyone who contributed to his 40-year film career.

Kolkata, January 27 Bengali actor Prosenjit Chatterjee was recently named as a recipient of the honorary Padma Shri Award, honouring his contribution to the field of art, especially the Indian cinema industry. Expressing deep gratitude, Prosenjit spoke about his journey that spans four decades in the Bengali film industry.

In a self-made video, the 'Baishe Srabon' actor said, "I am really thankful and grateful that the Indian government has awarded me the Padma Shri. I have been working for the past 40 years and people around me, including my producers, directors, and co-actors have contributed to my journey. This is not just my achievement but it belongs to everyone else who made me Prosenjit Chatterjee. Receiving the award from the President is in itself a great achievement."

On the eve of Republic Day 2026, the Ministry of Home Affairs announced the recipients of this year's Padma Awards, honouring individuals for their remarkable contributions to the nation.

For the year 2026, the President has approved conferment of 131 Padma Awards, including 2 duo cases (in a duo case, the Award is counted as one). The list comprises 5 Padma Vibhushan, 13 Padma Bhushan and 113 Padma Shri Awards.

Actor Prosenjit Chatterjee was named alongside distinguished individuals from the fields of art, education, sports, and various other disciplines. This actor-director has worked in over 200 films over three decades of his Indian cinema career.

The actor has worked mostly in the Bengali film industry, appearing in critically acclaimed films such as 'Chotto Jigyasa', 'Amar Sangi', 'Chokher Bali', 'Shob Charitro Kalponik', 'Moner Manush', 'Jaatishwar', 'Baishe Srabon', 'Shankhachil', 'Autograph', and others.

The actor has worked in Bollywood films such as 'Shanghai', 'Traffic', and 'Maalik', as well as in series such as 'Jubilee' and 'Khakee: The Bengal Chapter'.

The actor was recently seen in the film 'Vijaynagar'er Hirey', which was directed by Chandrasish Ray. The film also starred Aryann Bhowmik in the lead role.

For the year 2026, the President has approved conferment of 131 Padma Awards, including 2 duo cases (in a duo case, the Award is counted as one). The list comprises 5 Padma Vibhushan, 13 Padma Bhushan and 113 Padma Shri Awards.

- ANI
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh met with and praised DRDO scientists who were special guests at the Republic Day Parade. He credited their development of tanks, missiles, and rocket systems for building India's strategic strength and instilling national confidence. Singh highlighted DRDO's growth from 10 to 45 labs, fostering self-reliance under national leadership. He also emphasized the critical need for continued research, innovation, and risk-taking to adapt to a rapidly changing world.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh honored DRDO scientists, crediting their work on tanks, missiles, and rockets for India's strategic strength and self-reliance.

New Delhi, January 27 Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Union Minister of State for Defence Sanjay Seth on Tuesday met DRDO scientists who were special guests at the Republic Day Parade, praising them for their role in strengthening India's strategic capabilities through the development of tanks, missiles, and rocket systems.

Addressing the gathering, the defence minister said, "Today, you have been honoured for your outstanding performance; this is also a ceremony of gratitude. It is a tribute to those who have instilled confidence not only in the military but also among the citizens of this country. By developing tanks, missiles, and rocket systems, you have paved the way for what eventually becomes India's strategic strength. You are not alone in this journey; it also encompasses the patience of your families. Scientists often cannot go home for two or three days at a time, so I also extend my thanks to your familyA members."

"DRDO is the apex research organisation in the field of defence, which means you also have a lot of responsibility. There is a lot of public respect for you...You need to increase your appetite for risk in research...I suggest you increase your cooperation with the public and private sector undertakings and share your knowledge with them...We should step out of the conventional areas," he added.

Rajnath Singh praised DRDO for its journey from 10 labs during its inception to 45 labs today, saying the organisation has strengthened India's self-reliance in defence and meets global standards in many areas under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

"When we look at the journey of DRDO, we see the entire defence trajectory of India. At its inception, DRDO had only ten labs, but today it has 45 labs performing excellently in critical sectors. DRDO has provided the confidence of self-reliance. For decades, we were dependent on others, but today our mindset has changed, and our direction is clear. Under the Prime Minister's leadership, self-reliance (Atmanirbharta) has become a national mindset. Today, there is hardly any field where DRDO does not have a presence. In many areas, you stand ahead of global standards," he said

The defence minister also praised the DRDO's role in strengthening India's defence, citing Operation Sindhu as a successful test of their technology. He emphasised the importance of research and development, saying innovation not only boosts defence capabilities but can also benefit sectors like agriculture and the economy.

"You have proven yourselves in every trial; the world saw the evidence of this during Operation Sindhu. That was a test of your technology as well, and you passed it. Operation Sindhu established that India is strong. This is a decisive time for India. The world is changing rapidly. In this context, to adapt to the new world, it is essential that we focus on Research and Development (R&D). Research impacts our economy, industry, and technological confidence. If a technology developed for soldiers also benefits a farmer, that research becomes even more successful. Look at the world, see how they encourage risk-taking in research. Not every research project is successful, but those that succeed change the world. Experimentation is essential, whether we achieve success every single time or not," he said.

- ANI
PM Modi & EU leaders call for reformed multilateralism to address global challenges as India signs its largest-ever Free Trade Agreement with the EU.

New Delhi, January 27 Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday called for reforms in international institutions to effectively address contemporary challenges, citing growing turmoil in the global order.

Addressing a joint press conference with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and President of the European Council Antonio Luis Santos da Costa following the 16th India-EU Summit, PM Modi said the evolving global situation underscored the importance of strong partnerships and a reformed multilateral system.



"Today, there are major turmoils in the global order. In such a situation, the partnership between India and the European Union will strengthen stability in the international system," the Prime Minister said.



He said the leaders held detailed discussions on several global and regional issues, including Ukraine, West Asia, and the Indo-Pacific, and reiterated their shared commitment to multilateralism and international norms.



"In that context, today we held detailed discussions on several global issues, including Ukraine, West Asia, and the Indo-Pacific. Respect for multilateralism and international norms is our shared priority. We also agree that to address today's challenges, global institutions need reform," the PM said.



Welcoming the EU leaders on what he described as an unprecedented visit, PM Modi said, "It is a pleasure to welcome my two close friends, President Costa and President von der Leyen, to India."



He referred to Costa as the "Gandhi of Lisbon" for his simple lifestyle and praised von der Leyen as Germany's first woman Defence Minister and the first woman President of the European Commission.



Speaking at the press conference, European Council President Costa said that as the world's largest democracies and champions of multilateralism, India and the EU share the responsibility of upholding international law with the United Nations Charter at its core.



"As the world's largest democracies and champions of multilateralism, the European Union and India share the responsibility to uphold international law with the United Nations Charter at its core," Costa stated.



He also recalled paying tribute to Mahatma Gandhi earlier in the day alongside Von der Leyen.



"I reflected upon his words, which still hold true today: peace will not come out of a clash of arms, but out of justice lived and done by unarmed nations in the face of odds," Costa said.



On Tuesday, India inked its biggest-ever Free Trade Agreement with the 27-nation European Union, marking a major milestone in bilateral ties.



PM Modi hailed the conclusion of the India-European Union FTA, describing it as "not just a trade agreement, but a blueprint for shared prosperity."



The Prime Minister noted that India-EU relations have grown exponentially in recent years, rooted in shared democratic values, economic synergy, and strong people-to-people ties, and acknowledged that India-EU trade stands at EUR 180 billion.



India also signed a Security and Defence Partnership with the EU, making it the third Asian country to have such a deal after Japan and South Korea.





- ANI
Prime Minister Narendra Modi led a chorus of birthday wishes for Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma, highlighting his efforts for the state. Other prominent leaders, including Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath and Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma, also extended greetings and praised his leadership. Conrad Sangma, the son of former CM P. A. Sangma, has a background in business and finance from international universities. He has served as Finance Minister and is currently the president of the National People's Party (NPP).

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and CMs Yogi Adityanath, Himanta Sarma wish Meghalaya CM Conrad Sangma on his birthday, praising his leadership and service.

New Delhi, Jan 27 Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday extended birthday wishes to Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma, saying that his efforts to fulfil the aspirations of the people of the state are noteworthy.

Taking to the social media platform 'X', Prime Minister Modi said, "Birthday wishes to Meghalaya Chief Minister Shri Conrad Sangma Ji. His efforts to fulfil the aspirations of Meghayala's people are noteworthy. I pray for his long life and good health."



Several other leaders from across the country also conveyed their greetings to the Meghalaya Chief Minister on his special day.



Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath extended his wishes and wrote on 'X', "Heartiest birthday greetings to Meghalaya CM Sangma Conrad Ji. May Prabhu Shri Ram grace your life with good health, enduring strength, and abundant success as you lead Meghalaya toward higher pathways of growth and prosperity."



Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma also greeted Sangma, saying, "Birthday greetings to Hon'ble Chief Minister of Meghalaya Sangma Conrad. Under his leadership and guidance, the state is scaling new heights of progress and prosperity. Prayers to Maa Kamakhya and Srimanta Sankardev for his good health and long life."



Union Minister Piyush Goyal joined in conveying his wishes and said, "Warm birthday greetings to Sangma Conrad ji, Chief Minister of Meghalaya. Wishing him a long & healthy life in the service of our nation."



Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta also extended her greetings on social media, stating, "Warm birthday greetings to Hon'ble Chief Minister of Meghalaya, Shri Conrad Sangma ji. May his leadership continue to guide the state towards progress and greater opportunities for its people. Wishing him good health and continued strength in public service."



Conrad Sangma is the son of former Meghalaya Chief Minister and veteran leader P. A. Sangma. He became actively involved in politics after completing his education. Sangma holds a bachelor's degree in Business Administration with a specialisation in Entrepreneurial Management from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. He later completed his MBA in Finance from Imperial College London.



He began his political career by contesting the 2004 Meghalaya Assembly elections but lost by a narrow margin of 182 votes. In the subsequent Assembly elections held in 2008, he was elected to the Assembly along with his brother. Following the demise of his father in March 2016, Conrad Sangma became the president of the National People's Party (NPP). Later, he was elected to the 16th Lok Sabha from the Tura constituency.



Conrad Sangma has also served as the Leader of the Opposition in the eighth Meghalaya Legislative Assembly, representing the NPP from the Selsella constituency in the West Garo Hills district. In 2008, he became the youngest Finance Minister of Meghalaya. He has also served as the National President of the Nationalist Youth Congress.





- IANS
Prime Minister Narendra Modi held bilateral talks with European Council President Antonio Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen ahead of the 16th India-EU Summit in New Delhi. The leaders concluded a historic free trade agreement, which PM Modi hailed as the 'Mother of All Deals', linking two economies that represent a quarter of the world's GDP. India and the EU also signed a new Security and Defence Partnership, making India the third Asian country with such a pact. The EU leaders began their visit by paying tribute to Mahatma Gandhi at Raj Ghat.

PM Modi holds talks with EU Presidents, finalizes landmark free trade agreement hailed as the 'Mother of All Deals' during the India-EU Summit.

New Delhi, January 27 Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday held a bilateral meeting with the President of the European Council, Antonio Luis Santos da Costa, and President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, in the national capital as part of the latter's ongoing state visit to India.

The meeting took place at Hyderabad House, with EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas also in attendance.

PM Modi and the EU Presidents displayed bonhomie as they met at Hyderabad House.

Prior to this, the EU leaders paid tribute to the Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi, by laying a wreath at his memorial in Raj Ghat.

The ceremony, held in the presence of senior Indian officials, was part of their ongoing state visit and coincided with the 16th India-EU Summit in New Delhi, which will be co-chaired by PM Modi.

The European leaders also signed the guestbook at the memorial site after the wreath-laying ceremony and paid floral tributes to the Mahatma.

The visit comes at a time when both sides have concluded their discussion of a free trade agreement, which is expected to strengthen their shared commitment to democracy and the rule of law.

Earlier today, Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed the India-EU Free Trade Agreement, reiterating that it is the 'Mother of all deals' and illustrating the partnership between two major economies of the world. The deal becomes significant as it links two major economies that command a quarter of the world's GDP.

PM Modi made the remarks while virtually addressing the Opening Ceremony of India Energy Week 2026.

He added that the free trade agreement with the EU will complement existing agreements with the United Kingdom and members of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA).

"Just yesterday, a massive agreement was signed between India and the European Union. People around the world are discussing it as the 'Mother of All Deals'. This agreement brings a huge opportunity for India's 1.4 billion people and the millions in European countries. This agreement is a brilliant example of coordination between two of the world's largest economies," PM Modi said.

"This agreement represents nearly 25 per cent of global GDP and almost one-third of global trade. This agreement empowers our shared commitment towards democracy and the rule of law. This Free Trade Agreement with the European Union will also complement Britain and EFTA's agreements... I congratulate the people of the nation for this," he added.

On Monday, the negotiations for the 'Mother of all deals', as it has been called, concluded successfully and will be announced today during the India-EU summit.

Earlier today, India and the European Union also inked the security and defence partnership here in the national capital.

Kallas, on the occasion, said, "The signing of the Security and Defence Partnership is a milestone, and we can build on that. There is so much more we can work together on in the multilateral fora, as well as bilaterally, to further develop defence cooperation."

With the signing of the deal, India becomes the third Asian country to have such a deal with the EU after Japan and South Korea.

- ANI
Prime Minister Narendra Modi held delegation-level talks with top European Union leaders Ursula von der Leyen and Antonio Costa in New Delhi. The summit followed the historic conclusion of a free trade agreement, described as the "mother of all deals," which establishes a free trade zone encompassing two billion people. The EU leaders began their visit by paying floral tributes at Mahatma Gandhi's memorial in Raj Ghat. PM Modi stated the agreement would significantly benefit Indian industry and boost global confidence in the country's economy.

PM Modi holds talks with EU leaders after concluding a landmark free trade agreement, creating a 2-billion-person market and strengthening strategic ties.

New Delhi, January 27 Prime Minister Narendra Modi held delegation-level talks with the President of the European Commission, Ursula Von Der Leyen and the President of the European Council, Antonio Luis Santos da Costa, at Hyderabad House in Delhi.

The Indian delegation comprised of several leaders including External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval among others.

The European Delegation was led by President of the European Council, Antonio Luis Santos da Costa and President of the European Commission, Ursula Von Der Leyen. Other key leaders present included EU VP Kaja Kallas and European Union Trade Commissioner Marcos Sefcovic.

Earlier, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said that India and the European Union have concluded the much-anticipated free trade agreement, touted as the 'Mother of all Deals'.

In a post on X on Tuesday she called the moment historic and expressed optimism on further strengthening the strategic relationship.

She said, "Europe and India are making history today. We have concluded the mother of all deals. We have created a free trade zone of two billion people, with both sides set to benefit. This is only the beginning. We will grow our strategic relationship to be even stronger."

Union Commerce Minister described the agreement as "A formidable partnership for the world."

Earlier, the EU leaders paid tribute to the Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi, by laying a wreath at his memorial in Raj Ghat, as part of their state visit to India.

The ceremony, held in the presence of senior Indian officials, was part of their ongoing state visit and coincided with the 16th India-EU Summit in New Delhi, which will be co-hosted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The European leaders also signed the guestbook at the memorial site after the wreath-laying ceremony and paid floral tributes to the Mahatma.

European Council President Antonio Costa shared visuals from his visit to Rajghat and reflected upon the timeless values of Mahatma Gandhi. He said, "Paying tribute to Mahatma Gandhi. His words continue to resonate with the same force today as in the past: "Peace will not come out of a clash of arms but out of justice lived and done by unarmed nations in the face of odds."

The visit comes at a time when both sides have concluded their discussion of a free trade agreement, which is expected to strengthen their shared commitment to democracy and the rule of law.

On Tuesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed the India-EU Free Trade Agreement, reiterating it as the 'Mother of all deals' and how it illustrates the partnership between two major economies of the world. The deal becomes significant as it links two major economies that command a quarter of the world's GDP.

PM Modi made the remarks while virtually addressing the Opening Ceremony of India Energy Week 2026.

He added that the free trade agreement with the EU will complement existing agreements with the United Kingdom and members of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA).

Extending his congratulations to those associated with different sectors, the Prime Minister said the agreement would be highly beneficial for industry stakeholders. He added that the trade deal would have a positive impact on both manufacturing and services in the country.

Emphasising the broader global impact, PM Modi said the FTA would boost global confidence in India. "This Free Trade Agreement will further strengthen global confidence in India for businesses and investors across the world," he said, adding that India is actively working on global partnerships across all sectors.

With the signing of the deal, India becomes the third Asian country to have such a deal with the EU after Japan and South Korea.

- ANI
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the annual NCC PM Rally in Delhi, focusing on the theme of 'Nation First' and character development for youth. The rally marks the conclusion of a large-scale camp involving over 2,400 cadets, including international participants. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, who previously visited the camp, praised the NCC cadets as the nation's second line of defence and emphasized the need for youth to be physically and mentally strong. He also recalled the precision and restraint of the Indian Armed Forces during Operation Sindoor, which targeted terrorists in response to an attack in Pahalgam.

PM Modi to speak at NCC Rally on national duty & character. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh highlights youth's role & recalls Operation Sindoor.

New Delhi, Jan 27 Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the annual National Cadet Corps PM Rally on Wednesday at the Cariappa Parade Ground in Delhi, sharing his thoughts on nation first and character development, an official said.

The NCC PM Rally will mark the grand culmination of the month-long NCC Republic Day Camp 2026, which witnessed the participation of 2,406 cadets from across the country, including 898 girl cadets.

The rally will also see the participation of 207 youth and officers from 21 foreign countries, said the official.

The theme of this year's rally is 'Rashtra Pratham - Kartavya Nishtha Yuva', reflecting the spirit of duty, discipline and national commitment among India's youth, an official statement said on Tuesday.

On the occasion, a vibrant cultural programme will be presented by NCC cadets, members of Rashtriya Rangshala and National Service Scheme, showcasing their role in nation building, social service and character development.

Earlier, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh visited the camp and described NCC cadets as the nation's second line of defence.

He called upon youth to draw inspiration from their vital role in raising public awareness when mock drills were conducted across the country during Operation Sindoor.

Addressing the cadets at the NCC Republic Day Camp in Delhi Cantonment, the Defence Minister said, "As the world is going through a period of uncertainty, our youth must remain physically, mentally and emotionally strong and be prepared to take on every challenge."

Recalling Operation Sindoor, Rajnath Singh said, "Indian Armed Forces destroyed terrorists based in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, which was a befitting reply to the unfortunate and cowardly terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam. Our soldiers acted with courage and restraint. We targeted and destroyed only those who hurt us, not anyone else. This was possible as they are strong physically, mentally, and emotionally."

The Defence Minister termed NCC as an excellent medium to upgrade the youth who, in turn, make their invaluable contribution to nation-building.

He added that the NCC instils discipline and patriotism in cadets, while helping them to overcome the problem of 'lack of focus'.

He said that the NCC teaches patience, continuity and focus, which are requisites for life's big battles, the nation's great responsibilities, and character building.

This focus, Rajnath Singh added, is reflected in every aspect of their lives, whether they join the Armed Forces or become doctors, engineers, teachers, scientists, administrators and politicians.

- IANS
Prime Minister Narendra Modi shared highlights from the 77th Republic Day celebrations held at Kartavya Path in Delhi. The parade showcased India's cultural diversity, military prowess, and growing capabilities across various domains. The celebrations were attended by Chief Guests Antonio Costa and Ursula von der Leyen from the European Union. President Droupadi Murmu led the ceremonies and later hosted an 'At Home' reception for dignitaries.

PM Modi shares Republic Day 2026 highlights, celebrating India's diversity and constitutional values with Chief Guests from the European Union.

New Delhi, January 27 Prime Minister Narendra Modi shared highlights from the 77th Republic Day celebrations held at Kartavya Path in the National Capital, emphasising the importance of strengthening constitutional values and advancing the vision of a Viksit Bharat.

In a post on X on Monday, the Prime Minister shared a video capturing key moments from the Republic Day parade and captioned it, "Here are the highlights from the Republic Day celebrations 2026. May we always keep strengthening Constitutional values and realise the dream of a Viksit Bharat."

India's enormous cultural diversity, growing capabilities across domains, and military prowess were on display in the parade as people in Delhi and other parts of the country celebrated the Republic Day with enthusiasm at Kartavya Path.

The President of the European Council, Antonio Luis Santos da Costa, and the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, were Chief Guests at the celebrations.

President Droupadi Murmu led the celebrations and took the salute of the parade on Kartavya Path, stretching from Rashtrapati Bhawan to the National War Memorial, which was decked up for the ceremony.

Meanwhile, Vice-President CP Radhakrishnan reflected on the 'At Home' reception hosted by President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan on the occasion.

In a post on X, the Vice President shared photographs from the reception with the Prime Minister, the President, and the Chief Guests, including the President wearing the traditional Indian Patka.

He wrote, "Vice-President Shri C. P. Radhakrishnan attended the 'At Home' reception hosted by the Hon'ble President Smt Droupadi Murmu ji on the occasion of 77th Republic Day, in honour of the Chief Guests, the President of the European Council, Mr Antonio Costa, and the President of the European Commission, Ms Ursula von der Leyen at Rashtrapati Bhavan today."

Meanwhile, the official X handle of Rashtrapati Bhavan, shedding light on the reception, stated, "President Droupadi Murmu hosted 'At Home' reception on the occasion of the 77th Republic Day at Rashtrapati Bhavan. The Chief Guests of the Republic Day Celebration, President of the European Council, Mr Antonio Costa and President of the European Commission, Ms Ursula von der Leyen, attended the reception."

The post further added, "Vice President Shri C. P. Radhakrishnan, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, Former President of India Shri Ram Nath Kovind, Chief Justice of India Shri Justice Surya Kant, Speaker Lok Sabha Shri Om Birla, Union Ministers, Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha and in Lok Sabha, eminent citizens who have made remarkable contributions in different fields and beneficiaries of various developmental programmes of the Government were also present on the occasion. The guests enjoyed the vibrant artistic and cultural elements as well as the cuisine of the North Eastern states of India."

- ANI
Prime Minister Narendra Modi thanked Guyanese President Irfaan Ali for his Republic Day greetings, emphasizing the strong friendship and people-to-people ties between the two nations. President Ali, in his message, praised India's democratic legacy and its role in inspiring developing nations, while expressing confidence in strengthening bilateral relations. The growing partnership includes significant healthcare cooperation, with Guyana aiming to become a medical hub in the Caribbean with India's expertise. Guyanese High Commissioner Dharamkumar Seeraj highlighted India as a preferred destination for specialized medical treatment for Guyanese patients.

PM Narendra Modi thanked Guyana's President Irfaan Ali for Republic Day wishes, highlighting deep bilateral ties and healthcare cooperation.

New Delhi, January 27 Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday thanked President of Guyana Irfaan Ali for his wishes on 77th Republic Day.

In a post on X, the PM wrote, "Thank you, President Irfaan Ali, for your warm congratulations on India's 77th Republic Day. We cherish Guyana's friendship and our deep people-to-people ties characterised by historical roots and shared values."

The Guyanese President took to X to extend his greetings, writing, "Message of Congratulations On the occasion of the 77th Republic Day of the Republic of India, we extend warm congratulations to the Government and people of the Republic of India as they commemorate the adoption of their Constitution and the enduring ideals it enshrines. India's freedom struggle and its peaceful transition from colonial rule ignited hope across the developing world, inspiring generations of nations to claim their sovereignty and shape their own destinies."

"As the world's largest democracy, India continues to champion the interests and aspirations of developing states on the global stage. Guyana proudly values its deep and historic bonds with India, forged through ties of history, blood and a common commitment to democracy and development. These relations have matured into a strong partnership grounded in mutual respect and cooperation across diverse sectors. As India marks this significant milestone, Guyana looks forward with confidence to the continued strengthening of our bilateral relations, working together to advance prosperity, sustainability, and the collective voice of the Global South. @narendramodi," he added.

Guyana is aiming to emerge as a healthcare hub in the Caribbean and is counting on Indian expertise to strengthen its medical infrastructure, Guyanese High Commissioner to India Dharamkumar Seeraj said, while lauding India's robust healthcare system.

Underscoring the growing healthcare cooperation between the two countries, Seeraj said that the Guyanese government currently facilitates treatment for patients abroad when specialised care is unavailable domestically, with India emerging as a preferred destination due to its high-quality medical services.

"Currently, we have patients travelling to India for specialised treatment. If the required care is not available in Guyana, the Ministry of Health assists patients by facilitating treatment abroad. The government supports patients up to a certain amount, and if the cost exceeds that, additional assistance is provided. Many patients, therefore, opt for treatment in India. There is a logistics problem, the quality of care is excellent, and the cost is highly competitive," he said.

- ANI
News / National

by Staff reporter

THE National University of Science and Technology (NUST) is breaking new medical ground with the establishment of a regional biobank that will collect, process, store and manage biological samples to support research aimed at developing new medicines and vaccines.The groundbreaking facility, to be known as the NUST Institute of Immunopharmacology and Biobanking, is envisioned as a leading African centre of excellence in advancing immunopharmacology, vaccine innovation and clinical research to combat infectious diseases.The institute was officially launched yesterday at the university's Professor Phineas Mogorosi Makhurane Technovation Centre. The event brought together academics and researchers from Zimbabwe, Uganda and Scotland, as well as NUST medical students.A leading figure in global health infection and immunity, Professor Francesca Mutapi  co-director of the Global Health Academy at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland  highlighted the significance of the initiative in addressing Africa's unique health challenges.Speaking on the sidelines of the launch and a series of lectures by medical professionals, Prof Mutapi said the biobank and its related research would play a key role in reducing the cost of medicines and vaccines in Zimbabwe."One of the most important advantages of a biobank is that it can be used to develop diagnostics, drugs and vaccines in-country," she said.She cited ongoing work on bilharzia, one of the most prevalent diseases affecting African children after malaria, as an example of how locally driven research can deliver targeted solutions."Our work on bilharzia through TIBA (Tackling Infections to Benefit Africa) focuses on developing diagnostics that work for a specific country, so that vaccines and treatments can be produced in that particular nation," Prof Mutapi said.She explained that producing medicines locally significantly reduces the regulatory hurdles associated with importing drugs developed elsewhere."When a particular drug is made in Zimbabwe for Zimbabweans, we don't have to test it over and over again to see if it will work for local populations, thereby shortening the time spent on research and production," she said.Prof Mutapi noted that drugs developed in Western countries often perform well in laboratory settings but fail to deliver the same results in African communities due to biological, environmental and social differences."A drug might be good in the laboratory but turn out to be a bad product in the field. Those medicines are also usually expensive because the cost of production and repeated testing is very high, and pharmaceutical companies have to recover those costs," she said.She added that local research, development and production of medicines and vaccines would ultimately make treatments more affordable and accessible to patients.The establishment of the NUST Institute of Immunopharmacology and Biobanking is expected to strengthen regional research capacity, foster international collaboration and position Zimbabwe as a key player in Africa's biomedical innovation landscape.
Punjab's tableau at the Republic Day parade offered a moving tribute to Guru Tegh Bahadur, commemorating 350 years of his martyrdom. The display featured symbolic elements like an illuminated hand and the sacred phrase "Ek Onkar" to convey his ideals. It highlighted his title "Hind Di Chadar," earned for defending oppressed communities and protecting religious freedom. The tableau also honored his devoted companions and recreated sacred sites, reminding viewers of his timeless message of justice and compassion.

Punjab's Republic Day parade tableau commemorated 350 years of Guru Tegh Bahadur's martyrdom, symbolizing his message of courage and religious freedom.

New Delhi, Jan 27 Punjab's tableau at the Republic Day Parade on Kartavya Path offered a deeply moving tribute to the ninth Sikh Guru, Guru Tegh Bahadur, blending spirituality, history and artistic expression into a powerful visual narrative. The presentation commemorated 350 years of the Guru's martyrdom and highlighted his timeless message of courage, religious freedom and compassion for all.

The tableau was designed to depict Guru Tegh Bahadur's life and ideals through striking symbolic elements. At its centre stood a sculpted hand illuminated with a divine glow, symbolising fearlessness, mercy and the Guru's unwavering commitment to protecting human dignity. Hovering above was the sacred phrase "Ek Onkar" (God is One), presented in a revolving form to convey the eternal and universal essence of Sikh philosophy.

According to Khalsa Vox, a flowing banner bearing the words "Hind Di Chadar" -- a title bestowed upon Guru Tegh Bahadur for his selfless defence of oppressed communities -- draped across the central structure. This element underscored his historic role as a protector of religious freedom and a shield for those persecuted for their beliefs.

The rear section of the tableau recreated a tranquil spiritual atmosphere. Raagi Singhs were shown performing Shabad Kirtan, filling the scene with devotional resonance. The backdrop featured the revered Khanda Sahib monument, adding to the sacred ambience. The display also reflected the historic square near Gurudwara Sis Ganj Sahib in Delhi, where devotional singing continues daily in remembrance of the Guru's supreme sacrifice.

A prominent replica of Gurudwara Sis Ganj Sahib marked the site where Guru Tegh Bahadur embraced martyrdom. The side panels honoured his devoted companions -- Bhai Mati Dass, Bhai Sati Dass and Bhai Dyala -- whose steadfast faith and courage in the face of death stand as powerful examples of devotion and moral strength.

Through this evocative tableau, Punjab showcased a spiritual legacy that rises above religious and regional boundaries. The display reminded spectators that Guru Tegh Bahadur's ideals of justice, tolerance and freedom of belief continue to inspire humanity, encouraging generations to stand for truth, compassion and the rights of others.

- IANS
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma expressed pride as the state's tableau, showcasing the rich terracotta tradition of Asharikandi, became a centerpiece of the Republic Day parade in New Delhi. The display highlighted intricate motifs inspired by nature, rural life, and the Brahmaputra's cultural landscape, symbolizing centuries-old artistry. This year's parade placed a special focus on the Northeastern states, underlining their role in India's cultural narrative. The recognition aims to inspire artisans and promote these living traditions on a global platform.

Assam's tableau showcasing Asharikandi terracotta craft was a highlight of the Republic Day parade, reflecting the Northeast's spirit and heritage.

Guwahati, Jan 27 Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Tuesday said that this year's Republic Day celebrations truly reflected the spirit of the Northeast, with Assam's culture and heritage taking centre stage on Kartavya Path.

Reacting to the state's tableau at the 77th Republic Day parade, CM Sarma said the "colours of Assam were in full display" in the national capital, calling it a proud moment for the people of the state.



"This year's #RepublicDay was all about celebrating the North East and the fervour of Assam. Colours of Assam in full display yesterday in New Delhi. Proud moment," the Chief Minister posted on X.



Assam's tableau showcased the rich terracotta tradition of Asharikandi, a renowned craft village in Dhubri district, highlighting the state's deep-rooted artistic legacy and riverine culture.



Designed around the theme of self-reliance and indigenous craftsmanship, the tableau featured intricate terracotta motifs inspired by nature, rural life and the Brahmaputra's cultural landscape.



Asharikandi's terracotta craft, which has received national recognition in recent years, symbolises Assam's centuries-old tradition of clay artistry passed down through generations. The tableau depicted artisans at work, along with sculptural representations of folk life, reflecting the harmonious blend of tradition, sustainability and cultural pride.



Officials said the tableau aimed to present Assam not just as a repository of natural beauty, but also as a hub of living traditions that continue to thrive through community participation and government support.



The inclusion of Asharikandi was also seen as an effort to promote local crafts on a global platform and encourage rural livelihoods.



This year's Republic Day parade placed a special focus on the Northeastern states, underlining their growing role in India's cultural and developmental narrative. Assam's tableau drew appreciation from spectators and dignitaries alike for its vibrant colours, detailed craftsmanship and authentic storytelling.



The Chief Minister said the recognition of Assam's heritage at the national level would inspire artisans and youth across the state to preserve and promote their cultural identity, while contributing to the vision of a self-reliant India.





- IANS
Sudden rain and hailstorms struck several districts of central Madhya Pradesh, severely damaging standing wheat and gram crops. Farmers are deeply worried about significant financial losses as the crops were at a critical blooming stage. The Meteorological Department had issued warnings for 28 districts, and more rain is forecast, which is expected to intensify the cold. The adverse weather also disrupted power supply and created chaos in affected villages.

Sudden rain and hailstorms batter central MP districts, flattening wheat and gram crops. Farmers fear heavy losses as more rain is forecast.

Bhopal, Jan 27 Rain and hailstorms struck several districts of central Madhya Pradesh on Tuesday evening, leaving farmers deeply worried about crop damage.

Areas including Sehore, Agar Malwa, Shajapur, Gwalior, and Ujjain witnessed sudden weather changes, with Sehore, Ashta, Jawer, Mehatwada, and Shyampur recording heavy rainfall, reports said.

Bhopal also received thunderstorms and rain during evening hours.

In Jawer and Hingoni villages, hailstones the size of chickpeas fell, covering roads with a white blanket and flattening standing wheat and gram crops.

Farmers fear significant financial losses as the wheat crop, already in bloom, has been battered by strong winds and hail, raising the risk of grain shedding.

In Jawer, heavy rain accompanied by strong winds lasted for nearly 20 minutes, while hailstorms continued for about five minutes, creating chaos in the region. The impact was most severe on wheat fields, where crops were flattened.

Farmers expressed concern that if the weather does not improve soon, losses could escalate further. Power supply was also disrupted in several areas due to the storm, causing inconvenience to residents.

The sudden spell of rain has compounded difficulties for farmers who were already grappling with cold conditions. Instead of relief, the state is expected to face more trouble as another round of rain is forecast.

The Meteorological Department had on Monday issued warnings for 28 districts, including Bhopal and Gwalior, citing active cyclonic circulation over Haryana and an associated trough line.

Officials said the system will affect Madhya Pradesh for the next two days, keeping skies cloudy and bringing light to moderate rainfall in many districts.

Meteorologists added that the fresh spell of rain will intensify the cold, with dense fog and chilly winds persisting across the state.

For farmers, the timing of the hailstorm is particularly damaging, as crops are at a critical stage of growth.

- IANS
A low-pressure system over the southeast Arabian Sea is set to bring light to moderate rainfall and strong winds to parts of southern India, particularly affecting southern Tamil Nadu and coastal areas. The weather department forecasts squally conditions with winds of 40-50 km/h over the Gulf of Mannar and Comorin Sea, prompting a strong advisory for fishermen to avoid venturing out. While dry weather is expected from January 28-30, isolated showers may return on January 31 and February 1. Officials urge coastal residents to stay alert and rely on official updates for this developing weather situation.

Low-pressure system brings rain, strong winds to southern Tamil Nadu & Kerala coast. Fishermen advised caution. Check official weather updates.

Chennai, Jan 27 A low-pressure system has formed over the southeast Arabian Sea, off the Kerala coast, and is expected to influence weather conditions across parts of southern India over the coming days, according to the Chennai Regional Meteorological Centre.

The weather department stated in a press release that due to this system, there is a possibility of light to moderate rainfall at one or two locations in the southern districts on Tuesday. In particular, parts of southern Tamil Nadu and districts along the Western Ghats may experience scattered showers. The rest of the region is likely to witness largely dry weather conditions.

The bulletin further noted that from January 28 to January 30, dry weather is likely to prevail across Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and Karaikal. However, a change in conditions is anticipated thereafter.

On January 31 and February 1, there is a likelihood of light to moderate rainfall at isolated places in Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and Karaikal, as the influence of the low-pressure system continues.

In addition to rainfall, the system is expected to cause strong surface winds over the sea. Squally weather conditions, with wind speeds ranging between 40 and 50 kilometres per hour, are forecast over the coastal areas of southern Tamil Nadu, the Gulf of Mannar, and the Comorin Sea on Tuesday and Wednesday. Similar wind speeds are also likely over the Comorin Sea region on January 29 and 30.

Given these conditions, the meteorological department has issued a clear advisory for the fishing community. Fishermen have been strongly advised not to venture into the sea in the affected regions on the specified days, as rough sea conditions and strong winds could pose significant risks to life and property.

Weather officials have urged the public, especially those living in coastal and hilly regions, to remain alert and follow official updates.

While widespread heavy rainfall is not expected at this stage, intermittent showers and gusty winds may cause minor disruptions, particularly in vulnerable areas.

The Regional Meteorological Centre continues to closely monitor the development of the low-pressure system and has assured that further advisories will be issued if there are any significant changes in weather patterns. Residents are encouraged to rely on official forecasts and warnings and take necessary precautions, especially during periods of strong winds and unsettled weather conditions.

- IANS
The Rajasthan Meteorological Department has issued orange and yellow alerts for multiple districts, warning of rain accompanied by hailstorms and thunderstorms. A new Western Disturbance has significantly changed weather patterns, bringing intermittent rainfall and intensifying the chill with cold winds. Minimum temperatures in most cities remained below 10 degrees Celsius over the past 24 hours. Residents are advised to take shelter in safe places and avoid standing under trees during the severe weather.

Rajasthan MeT issues orange & yellow alerts for rain, hail, and thunderstorms across 20 districts, including Jaipur. Cold conditions persist.

Jaipur, Jan 27 The Meteorological Department on Tuesday issued a yellow and orange alert in parts of the state, warning of rain accompanied by hailstorms and thunderstorms in around 20 districts.

In the last 24 hours, light rainfall was recorded at a few places in eastern Rajasthan, while the weather remained mainly dry in the western part of the state.

The maximum temperature was recorded at 27.5 degrees Celsius in Pali, while the minimum temperature dropped to 4.5 degrees Celsius in Alwar.

Cold day conditions were observed at a few places in the Jodhpur division, and light fog was reported at isolated locations in eastern Rajasthan, said Radheshyam Sharma, Director, Meteorological Centre, Jaipur.

Due to the activation of a new Western Disturbance, weather conditions across Rajasthan have changed significantly. Several districts, including the state capital Jaipur, have been witnessing intermittent rainfall since morning on Tuesday.

Further, cold winds accompanying the rainfall have intensified the chill. Districts such as Alwar and Sawai Madhopur also received rainfall, while dense clouds continue to hover over many parts of the state, with hopes of showers.

Over the past 24 hours, minimum temperatures in most cities remained below 10 degrees Celsius. Sirohi registered 7.9 degrees, Jaisalmer recorded 8.6 degrees, Nagaur had 8.7 degrees, Pali had 8.4 degrees, and Phalodi had 9.8 degrees, among others.

The Jaipur Meteorological Centre has issued an orange alert for hailstorms, thunderstorms, and rain in the following six districts -- Jaipur, Sawai Madhopur, Karauli, Sikar, Bharatpur and Dausa.

A yellow alert has been issued for rain and thunderstorms in 15 districts, including Jaisalmer, Bikaner, Bundi, Alwar, Nagaur, Ajmer, Ganganagar, Hanumangarh, Tonk, Baran, Kota, Jhunjhunu, Bhilwara, Jhalawar, and Dholpur. Wind speeds of 30-40 km/hour are also expected.

The Meteorological Department has advised residents to take shelter in safe places during thunderstorms and to avoid standing under trees.

- IANS
Ranbir Kapoor has lavished praise on Rani Mukerji, calling her one of India's greatest actors as she celebrates 30 years in cinema. He fondly recalled working with her on his debut film 'Saawariya' and the crucial confidence she gave him early in his career. Kapoor emphasized that Mukerji's choice of roles has shaped how women are portrayed on screen in Indian cinema. The actor's comments come ahead of the much-anticipated release of Rani Mukerji's next film, 'Mardaani 3', in 2026.

Ranbir Kapoor calls Rani Mukerji one of India's greatest actors, recalling her encouragement during his debut in 'Saawariya'.

Mumbai, January 27 Actor Ranbir Kapoor is showering praise for 'Mardaani' star Rani Mukerji, hailing her three-decade-long journey in Indian cinema.

Ranbir Kapoor, who worked with Rani Mukerji in his debut film 'Saawariya', also weighed in on his experience working with her, calling her "one of the greatest ever actors".



Speaking to Variety, the 'Animal' star shared, "It is really amazing to see the entire industry come forward to celebrate 30 years of her iconic legacy," referring to the recent applause that Rani Mukerji has received with the upcoming release of 'Mardaani 3'.



Reflecting on his debut film with the National Award-winning actor, Ranbir added, "I have always felt that Rani is one for the ages, one of the greatest ever actors in India and someone who has defined our industry through her work. Her choice of projects and roles has shaped how women are portrayed on the screen today. Rani is the co-star of my first film 'Sawaariya' and she is the first person who told me that if I worked hard, I would go a long way. I will never forget that interaction because it gave me so much confidence when I needed it the most."



Noting that he has been "bowled over by her grace, charm, and brilliance", having seen her closely as a person, Ranbir Kapoor went on to describe Rani Mukerji as an "entertainer who has dedicated her life to make people happy."



"I don't have words to describe the impact her films have had on me," he added.



Rani Mukerji's much-awaited 'Mardaani 3' marks her return as the bold and fearless cop Shivani Shivaji Roy. As per the film's trailer, the focus remains on the kidnapping of young girls from low-income communities.



Directed by Abhiraj Minawala and produced by Aditya Chopra under Yash Raj Films, 'Mardaani 3' will hit theatres on January 30, 2026.





- ANI
Austrian Ambassador to India Robert Zischg welcomed the finalization of the India-EU Free Trade Agreement, stating it sends a strong political message of commitment between the two sides. He highlighted that the deal, concluded after 18 years of work, will significantly boost trade and investment by removing tariffs and barriers. Union Minister Piyush Goyal emphasized the agreement goes beyond commerce, reflecting a deep strategic partnership in areas like defence, innovation, and financial markets. The deal is seen as a unifying force for shared prosperity, involving economies representing a quarter of global trade.

Austrian Ambassador Robert Zischg hails India-EU FTA as a major political statement unlocking trade, investment, and strategic partnership.

New Delhi, January 27 Austrian Ambassador to India Robert Zischg welcomed the news of India signing the Free Trade Agreement with the European Union and highlighted how, despite the current complex geopolitical climate and increasing tensions, conflicts across the world, he remains "optimistic of brighter days".

Speaking to ANI, he said, "I believe it will still take some time until the legal scrapping is completed, and we have all the details of the agreement. However, we anticipate that trade and investment will increase significantly, as both sides currently face tariffs and non-tariff barriers that hinder trade and investment. The international arena has become much more complex, which is why we believe India is a major player in this global landscape, where crises are unfolding across every continent. I remain optimistic, despite the many tensions and conflicts we are seeing; brighter days will eventually come."

He also said, "Beyond the trade and investment aspects, the deal also sends a strong political message between the European Union and India. It signifies that we've completed 18 years of intensive work. Today's summit, and the invitation extended by Prime Minister Modi to Ursula von der Leyen, clearly signal that the European Union and India are committed to strengthening their ties in the future."

India and the EU finalising FTA and agreeing to key initiatives across several domains is a statement of deep partnership and the strategic intent of the two sides coming together in a multitude of areas to strengthen partnership, Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said on Tuesday.

He said the announcements go beyond the huge potential of the Free Trade Agreement.

"I'd like to begin by congratulating 1.4 billion brothers and sisters in India. This visit is extraordinary. It goes far beyond a Free Trade Agreement. It goes far beyond the humongous potential that is being unlocked with the Free Trade Agreement. It is truly a statement of deep partnership and the strategic intent of the European Union and India coming together in a multitude of areas to strengthen our partnership, to work together for the shared prosperity and a better future for one third of humanity," Goyal said at a joint press conference, which was also addressed by Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri.

"It is a reflection that when 25 per cent of global trade decides to strengthen the strategic partnership, including with the free trade agreement, it unlocks the doors to defence cooperation, greater investments, to cooperation in the field of innovation and science to further integration of financial markets," he added.

- ANI
The Supreme Court has used its extraordinary powers under Article 142 of the Constitution to grant equitable relief to a widow whose husband died during the Covid-19 pandemic. The court permitted her to settle a bank loan for a reduced amount, directing Central Bank of India to release her property's title deeds upon payment. The bench acknowledged the bank's legal position was correct but ruled that enforcing it would cause the petitioner extreme hardship. The court clarified this order is specific to the case's peculiar facts and should not be treated as a precedent against the bank.

Supreme Court invokes Article 142 to grant relief to a widow who lost her husband during Covid, permitting a reduced loan settlement with Central Bank of India.

New Delhi, Jan 27 In an extraordinary exercise of its powers under Article 142 of the Constitution, aimed at doing "complete justice", the Supreme Court has granted relief to a widow who lost her husband during the second wave of Covid-19 by permitting her to settle a bank loan on relaxed terms and directed the Central Bank of India to release the title deeds of her residential property upon payment of a reduced amount.

A bench of Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi allowed the special leave petitions (SLPs) filed by Sumaiya Parveen, who had challenged the Madras High Court's refusal to revive an expired one-time settlement (OTS) offer in respect of a loan availed by her deceased husband.

Noting the "unusual and unfortunate circumstances" of the case, the CJI-led Bench said it was passing the order "purely on equitable considerations and by invoking our powers under Article 142 of the Constitution".

In its decision, the apex court noted that the petitioner's husband, proprietor of FILSA Leathers, had availed credit facilities of Rs 50 lakh from the Central Bank of India after mortgaging their residential house in Vellore district as security. He passed away in May 2021, during the second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic, and till then, the loan account was regular.

"The death of the appellant's husband brought further miseries as the subject account was classified as NPA and proceedings under the Securitisation and Reconstruction of Financial Assets and Enforcement of Security Interest Act, 2002 were initiated," the bench noted.

The bank had offered an OTS of Rs 34.69 lakh against outstanding dues of about Rs 71 lakh as on January 2024. The deceased's wife deposited the upfront 10 per cent amount of Rs 3.46 lakh but could not pay the balance within the stipulated time.

Subsequently, the bank demanded a higher amount and issued a possession notice under the SARFAESI Act, prompting her to approach the Madras High Court, which dismissed her plea.

While observing that the bank's demand was "legally sustainable", the Supreme Court observed that strict compliance would cause "extreme hardship" to the petitioner.

"Though the demand raised by the Bank is legally sustainable, we find that compliance thereof would lead to extreme hardship for the appellant," the CJI-led Bench said.

Balancing equities, the top court directed that the ends of justice would be met if the petitioner deposits Rs 33 lakh over and above the upfront amount already paid.

"The appellant is granted eight weeks' time to deposit the amount of Rs.33,00,000 upon which further interest shall remain frozen. In case the appellant deposits the amount of Rs.33,00,000 within eight weeks from today, the Bank is directed to issue a no-dues certificate and release the original title deeds in favour of the appellant," the order said.

However, the apex court made it clear that if the amount is not deposited within the stipulated period, "the law will take its own course".

Observing that the relief was confined to the peculiar facts of the case, it added that the order "shall not be construed as a precedent to be relied upon against the respondent-Bank".

- IANS
The Supreme Court declined to entertain a petition challenging the VIP darshan practice at Ujjain's Mahakaleshwar Temple, observing it was not a matter for judicial interference. The bench, led by CJI Surya Kant, stated that decisions on temple entry protocols should be made by administrative authorities, not the courts. The petition had argued that selective access to the sanctum for VIPs violated constitutional equality, a claim previously dismissed by the Madhya Pradesh High Court. The apex court cautioned that applying fundamental rights within the sanctum sanctorum could lead to a cascade of other legal claims.

Supreme Court refuses to interfere with VIP access to Mahakaleshwar Temple sanctum, calling it an administrative matter, not for judicial review.

New Delhi, Jan 27 The Supreme Court on Tuesday refused to entertain a petition challenging the practice of 'VIP darshan' and selective entry into the 'Garbhagriha' of the Shri Mahakaleshwar Temple in Ujjain.

A bench, headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant, observed that it was not a matter for judicial interference.

Sensing the court's disinclination to entertain the plea, the petitioner's counsel chose to withdraw the matter with liberty to make a representation before the authorities concerned.

"Whether it should be allowed or should not be, it's not for the apex court to decide. Ideally, maybe. But for that, let those who are at the helm of affairs take a decision, not the courts," the bench, also comprising Justices R. Mahadevan and Joymalya Bagchi, observed.

The special leave petition (SLP) challenged the Madhya Pradesh High Court order, which had dismissed the public interest litigation (PIL) against alleged preferential treatment being given to VIPs to enter the 'Garbhagriha' to offer water to the deity, while denying access to the general public.

The petitioner had contended that selective access to the sanctum violated Article 14 of the Constitution and amounted to discrimination on the basis of VIP status. However, the MP High Court, in its detailed order authored by Justice Vivek Rusia, had declined to interfere, noting that "the VIPs can enter in the Garbhagriha with a permission of Collector and Administrator of Management Committee of Mahakaleshwar Mandir" and "who is VIP in the opinion of Collector and Administrator of Mahakaleshwar cannot be decided in a writ petition, which is purely a discretion of the competent authority".

It further observed that "the 'VIP' has not been defined in any of the statutory Acts or rules, hence any person who is given permission by the competent authority to enter inside the Garbhagriha may be treated as VIP on a particular day & time schedule".

Holding that the writ court cannot decide who qualifies as a VIP, the MP High Court said the petitioner appeared to be "a personal aggrieved person" and ruled that the PIL was not maintainable.

At the Supreme Court, the CJI also cautioned that if courts were to apply fundamental rights inside the sanctum sanctorum, it could open the door to further claims. "If courts start regulating who should be allowed to enter or who should not be, it's too much for the courts," the apex court remarked, adding that applying Article 14 could lead to claims under other fundamental rights as well.

- IANS
Sukhi Tudu, sister of late tribal leader Shibu Soren, has expressed happiness over his posthumous Padma Bhushan award but insists he merits the Bharat Ratna. She argues his lifelong dedication to Jharkhand and tribal rights surpasses the recognition of the Padma Bhushan. Tudu recalled his childhood dedication to social service, fighting exploitation and leading the struggle for tribal identity and justice. The award has reignited national focus on his contributions and amplified calls from supporters for the higher honour.

Shibu Soren's sister Sukhi Tudu says the late tribal leader deserved India's highest civilian award, Bharat Ratna, not just Padma Bhushan.

Saraikela, Jan 27 There is a wave of happiness across Jharkhand after the Central Government awarded the Padma Bhushan to former Jharkhand Chief Minister and late tribal leader Shibu Soren. At the same time, Shibu Soren's sister has demanded that he should be honoured with the Bharat Ratna.

Reacting to the award, his sister Sukhi Tudu expressed happiness with the government's decision but clearly stated that Shibu Soren's contributions are not limited to the Padma Bhushan and that he is the rightful recipient of the Bharat Ratna.

Speaking to the media, Sukhi Tudu said, "We are all proud that Shibu Soren has received the Padma Bhushan. However, considering the way he dedicated his entire life to Jharkhand and the tribal community, he deserves the country's highest civilian honour, the Bharat Ratna."

She recalled that since childhood, she had seen her elder brother deeply involved in social service. Day and night, he would travel through forests to raise awareness, organise people, and lead the struggle against moneylenders' exploitation and the feudal system.

She said, "Shibu Soren has not only been a political leader but also a symbol of tribal identity, and the fight for water, forests, land, and social justice." Sukhi Tudu added that the people of Jharkhand have long demanded that Dishom Guru (Shibu Soren) be awarded the Bharat Ratna because his life is an example of sacrifice, struggle, and service.

Sukhi Tudu also recalled that social service ran in their family. Their mother was active in social work, and among the five siblings, Shibu Soren devoted the most time and energy to the upliftment of society.

With the Padma Bhushan honour, Shibu Soren's life of struggle and contribution has once again gained national attention, and among his supporters, the demand for the Bharat Ratna is becoming more vocal.

- IANS
News / National

by Staff reporter

Local Government and Public Works Minister Daniel Garwe has angrily dismissed allegations linking him to a multi-million-dollar land-grabbing scheme, threatening legal action against media houses that published the claims.Addressing journalists in Harare on Monday, Garwe said he would sue Alpha Media Holdings (AMH) following reports published by The Standard and NewsDay based on a leaked letter dated July 23, 2025. In the letter, Garwe instructed the City of Harare to proceed with a controversial land-swap deal between Logara Properties and the municipality involving land in the upmarket Newlands area.Garwe insisted the directive was never implemented, noting that Harare Mayor Jacob Mafume declined to act on the instruction. Mafume, who is among the alleged beneficiaries of the disputed land, cited a High Court ruling that had already determined ownership of the land.The land saga has since drawn the attention of the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC). Last week, Mafume was questioned by the anti-graft body, while his deputy, Rosemary Muronda, and former Harare South MP Shadreck Mashayamombe were arrested. The two were later granted bail of US$500 each at the Harare Magistrates' Court.According to reports, Garwe has been placed at the centre of the dispute after his ministry allegedly issued instructions ordering the transfer of the Newlands land to Logara Properties and directing the City of Harare to disregard a High Court order. The ruling had confirmed that the land belonged to four companies that had already initiated a layout plan.Garwe is reported to have argued that Logara Properties had demonstrated the capacity to undertake infrastructure development worth more than US$70 million, insisting the city would benefit from the proposed arrangement. However, Mafume rejected the proposal, saying the matter had already been settled by the courts.Court documents identify the four companies as Clean Burn Energy, owned by Mashayamombe; Gemdale Investments, owned by a Chinese businessman identified as Giene; Diexodos Marketing, linked to Muronda; and Aspire Elite Incorporated, linked to Mafume.Responding to the allegations, Garwe lashed out at the media, accusing journalists of acting unprofessionally and maliciously."They (the media) should have communicated with the Ministry. They should have at least come to us and say, somebody has reported you, we want to know your side of the story,'" Garwe said. "They did not do that. This kind of journalism is malicious, treacherous, and cannot be allowed to continue in this country."He said legal proceedings against The Standard and NewsDay were already under way."We have sued The Standard and NewsDay for publishing falsehoods and hot air, misinforming the public in trying to create a perception that the Minister is the biggest land baron in the land," Garwe said. "I have no business taking land that is not mine. I have enough land of my own  why should I do that?"Garwe also claimed the story was politically motivated and driven by his rivals.The minister, who is Zanu PF's Mashonaland East provincial chairperson, is a vocal supporter of President Emmerson Mnangagwa's proposed extension of his rule beyond the constitutional 2028 limit to 2030.
India and the European Union have formalized a significant Security and Defence Partnership, marking a strategic deepening of ties. The agreement, signed during high-level meetings in New Delhi, aims to enhance practical cooperation in areas including maritime security, cybersecurity, and counterterrorism. EU High Representative Kaja Kallas described the partnership as a "milestone," highlighting shared democratic values and a complex global environment as driving forces. The pact makes India the third Asian nation, following Japan and South Korea, to establish such a framework with the EU.

India and the EU sign a milestone Security and Defence Partnership, enhancing cooperation in maritime security, counterterrorism, and cyber defence.

New Delhi, January 27 Defence Minister Rajnath Singh along with the three service Chiefs met with a high level European Union delegation led by Kaja Kallas, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy on Tuesday. This meeting comes as India and the European Union mark a coming together to form a Security and Defence Partnership. This partnership is a significant step in strengthening bilateral cooperation in areas such as defence capabilities, counterterrorism, and cyber and maritime security.

Speaking during the meeting Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said, "The shared values of democracy, pluralism, federalism, and the rule of law support India's growing partnership with the European Union. Together we aim to translate these shared values into practical cooperation for global security, sustainable growth, and inclusive prosperity."

"The signing of the technology and defence partnership between India and the European Union is a reflection of this trust in action and it brings us together in an increasingly complex global environment. I hope the increased momentum of India-EU partnership in economic, defense, and people-to-people connect will bring the two ancient civilizations much closer," he added.

Vice-President of the European Commission, Kaja Kallas said, "Thank you very much for welcoming us and yesterday, Republic Day was quite an experience. Thank you for that as well...It was a proud moment to see that our operations were also a part of this parade. It shows how we have been able to work together. The signing of the Security and Defence Partnership is a milestone, and we can build on that. There is so much more we can work together on in the multilateral fora, as well as bilaterally, to further develop defence cooperation. I really look forward to our discussions today and further cooperation in the future"

According to the European Council, the Security and Defence Partnerships form a key pillar of the EU's efforts to promote peace and security both in Europe and globally, serving as a new framework to deepen bilateral relations with non-EU countries in a mutually beneficial manner.

The signing of the partnership will formally take place during the 16th India-EU Summit set to take place later today. The President of the European Council, Antonio Luis Santos da Costa, and the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, are also on a State Visit to India and will co-chair the summit.

On Monday, Kaja Kallas posted on X that the EU-India Security and Defence Partnership will be signed on Tuesday. She said there was strong momentum for closer cooperation with India, and the EU is seizing it.

"There is strong momentum for closer cooperation with India, and we are seizing it," she said.

The Vice President of the European Commission noted that the partnership will take the relationship forward between the two sides and "will deliver concrete results in areas such as maritime security, cybersecurity, and counterterrorism."

With the signing of the deal, India becomes the third Asian country to have such a deal with the EU after Japan and South Korea.

According to the European Council, partnerships are a cornerstone of the EU's Strategic Compass, adopted in March 2022, which outlines the bloc's approach to security and defence in a rapidly evolving global environment. Through the Strategic Compass, the EU committed to engaging more consistently and comprehensively with its bilateral partners and to developing tailored partnerships based on shared values and interests.

Under the framework, security and defence partnerships are signed by the EU's High Representative on behalf of the European Union, following Council authorisation.

While tailored to each partner country's specific priorities, the partnerships cover a broad spectrum of cooperation areas. These include peacebuilding, conflict prevention and crisis management, as well as defence initiatives and capability development.

- ANI
Singapore's High Commissioner to India, Simon Wong, praised the country's 77th Republic Day parade in a social media post. The event was notable for having President of the European Council Antonio Costa and President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen as chief guests, which officials called a milestone in India-EU ties. A contingent from EU military staff and naval operations participated in the parade for the first time. The ceremony concluded with President Droupadi Murmu and the foreign dignitaries departing under escort from the President's Bodyguard.

Singapore High Commissioner Simon Wong calls India's Republic Day parade "amazing." EU leaders attend as chief guests, marking a milestone in India-EU relations.

New Delhi, January 27 Singapore High Commissioner Simon Wong praised India's Republic Day parade, describing it as "amazing."

In a post on X on Monday, the Singapore High Commissioner in India said, "Clear blue skies today. What a great parade. Amazing. Happy Republic Day! - HC Wong."

Meanwhile, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal highlighted the attendance of Republic Day Chief Guests, President of the European Council Antonio Costa and President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, at the 'At Home' reception hosted by President Droupadi Murmu earlier in the day.

In a post on X, he said, "Chief Guests President Antonio Costa and President attended the 'At Home' Reception hosted by President Droupadi Murmu on the occasion of the celebrations of the 77th Republic Day."

He called it a milestone in India-EU relations.

In a post on X, Jaiswal said, "A milestone in India-EU Relations. Chief Guests at India's 77th Republic Day celebrations, President Antonio Costa and President Droupadi Murmu, witnessed the Republic Day parade alongwith President Droupadi Murmu and PM Narendra Modi. In a first, a contingent consisting of the EU Military Staff and the EU Naval Operations ATALANTA and EUNAVFOR ASPIDES participated in the Republic Day Parade."

India's 77th Republic Day parade concluded on Monday after a spectacular showcase of the country's military might and diverse culture at Kartavya Path.

After the parade and after seeing off the President and the visiting foreign dignitaries, Prime Minister Modi kept with his custom of walking along the Kartavya Path.

He was seen waving to the spectators who had gathered to witness the Republic Day parades.

At the end of the ceremony, President Droupadi Murmu, along with Republic Day Parade Chief Guests, the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen and President of the European Council Antonio Luis Santos da Costa, were escorted by the President's Bodyguard, also known as 'Rashtrapati Ke Angrakshak,' as they departed for Rashtrapati Bhavan.

- ANI
The body of former South Korean Prime Minister Lee Hae-chan has been repatriated from Vietnam to Seoul, where a five-day funeral with government honors has begun. Senior officials, including Prime Minister Kim Min-seok and National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik, paid their respects at the funeral home. Lee, a seven-term lawmaker and former PM under President Roh Moo-hyun, was a veteran pro-democracy activist. He was renowned as a political "kingmaker" for his close ties to several liberal presidents.

Politicians and officials mourn former Prime Minister Lee Hae-chan as his body returns to Seoul. A five-day funeral with government honors begins.

Seoul, Jan 27 Politicians and government officials of South Korea on Tuesday mourned the death of former Prime Minister Lee Hae-chan following his body's return from Vietnam, where he died earlier this week.

The casket containing Lee's body arrived at a funeral home at Seoul National University Hospital in central Seoul, hours after its repatriation aboard a Korean Air flight at Incheon International Airport, west of Seoul.

A Korean Air flight carrying Lee's body, as well as bereaved family members and a group of ruling Democratic Party (DP) lawmakers who had gone to Vietnam after he fell ill, arrived at Incheon International Airport, west of Seoul, earlier in the day.

Lee, who was serving as executive vice chairperson of the Peaceful Unification Advisory Council (PUAC), died at a hospital in Ho Chi Minh City on Sunday after suffering cardiac arrest.

The funeral service will be held for five days through Saturday with government honors but not as a state funeral, reflecting his family's wishes and his contributions to society.

Prime Minister Kim Min-seok, who heads Lee's funeral committee, National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik and other senior government officials as well as politicians close to Lee were present at the funeral home to receive the casket, Yonhap news agency reported.

A former seven-term lawmaker, Lee served as prime minister during the Roh Moo-hyun administration from 2004 to 2006. He was appointed as executive vice chairperson of the PUAC in October last year.

He took part in the pro-democracy movement during South Korea's military regimes, entering politics through student activism and opposition activities.

Lee was known for his close ties with three former liberal presidents -- Kim Dae-jung, Roh Moo-hyun, Moon Jae-in -- and President Lee Jae Myung -- earning him the nickname 'kingmaker' for his role as a political ally and adviser.

A brief memorial service took place at the airport before the casket's arrival at the funeral home, with honor guards transporting it to a hearse.

- IANS
India and the European Union have concluded a historic Free Trade Agreement, ending negotiations that began in 2007. The deal will eliminate tariffs on the vast majority of goods traded between the world's second- and fourth-largest economies. Alongside the FTA, the two sides signed a comprehensive Security and Defence Partnership to collaborate on maritime security, counterterrorism, and defence technology. Leaders hailed the partnership as a major source of economic and geopolitical weight in a volatile world.

India and the EU sign a landmark free trade agreement and security partnership, creating a 2-billion-person market and strengthening geopolitical cooperation.

New Delhi, January 28 European Council President Antonio Costa highlighted the growing strength of India-EU ties, saying the strategic partnership carries significant economic and geopolitical weight amid an increasingly volatile global environment.

Addressing a banquet held in his honour at Rashtrapati Bhavan on Tuesday, Costa said, "In an increasingly volatile world, our strategic partnership provides major economic and geopolitical weight. I am proud of the outcomes of today's summit. We have delivered tangible progress and set an example of cooperative leadership on global issues with a free trade agreement, Security and Defence Partnership and the Joint Strategic Agenda to 2030."

He said the relationship between India and the European Union was set to deepen as both sides move ahead with implementing the agreements reached.

"Our relationship can only deepen as we implement all of these agreements, delivering concrete benefits to our citizens," Costa said.

Referring to his personal connection with India, Costa added, "As a person of Indian origin, I'm very proud of this moment. I represent how deep our people-to-people ties are and inspire all our citizens in Europe and India to build the bridges we need to strengthen our relationship."

His remarks followed a major milestone at the India-EU Summit, where both sides concluded negotiations on a long-pending Free Trade Agreement, signed a Security and Defence Partnership, and adopted a Joint Comprehensive Strategic Agenda for the next five years.

India and the European Union formally announced the FTA on Tuesday, under which the EU will remove tariffs on 99.5 per cent of Indian exports, with most duties dropping to zero once the pact comes into force, while India will provide tariff concessions on 97.5 per cent of traded value. Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal and European Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security Maros Sefcovic signed the joint announcement in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Costa.

"We have delivered the mother of all deals," von der Leyen said. "We are creating a market of 2 billion people. This is a tale of two giants -- the world's second- and fourth-largest economies. Two giants who choose partnership in a true win-win fashion. A strong message that cooperation is the best answer to global challenges."

The agreement ends negotiations that began in 2007. With bilateral trade already exceeding USD 136 billion, the EU said the pact would save around 4 billion euros annually in duties, as India agreed to reduce or eliminate tariffs on nearly 97 per cent of European goods.

PM Modi welcomed the pact, saying it would "drive trade, investment and innovation while strengthening our strategic relationship," adding that it reflects a shared resolve to build a stable and future-ready economic partnership. He later described India-EU ties as a global "double engine of growth" and urged businesses to advance bilateral trade, saying, "The ball is in your court."

Von der Leyen also said, "We have created a free trade zone of two billion people, with both sides set to benefit. This is only the beginning. We will grow our strategic relationship to be even stronger."

Alongside trade, both sides agreed to deepen cooperation in security and defence. As part of the partnership, negotiations will begin on a Security of Information Agreement to enable the exchange of classified material. Collaboration will expand across maritime security, defence manufacturing and technology, cyber security and counterterrorism.

PM Modi said the partnership would reinforce commitment to a rules-based international order, strengthen Indo-Pacific cooperation and open avenues for defence firms to pursue co-development and co-production.

According to a joint statement, India and the EU are also considering establishing an industry-driven Defence Industry Forum and exploring India's participation in relevant EU defence initiatives where security priorities align.

The leaders strongly condemned terrorism and violent extremism in all forms. "They called for decisive and concerted international efforts to combat terrorism in a comprehensive and sustained manner and in accordance with international law," the joint statement said, adding that both sides denounced in the strongest terms the Pahalgam attack of April 22, 2025, and the Red Fort incident of November 10, 2025.

Officials said the Joint Comprehensive Strategic Agenda focuses on prosperity and sustainability, technology and innovation, security and defence, connectivity and global challenges. The "forward-looking action plan" builds on more than two decades of partnership in an "increasingly complex geopolitical environment as trusted, predictable and like-minded partners".

Under the agenda, both sides will move towards concluding an Investment Protection Agreement and strengthening connectivity under the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor, including infrastructure, maritime, rail, digital and energy projects, as well as the EU-Africa-India Digital Corridor through the Blue Raman submarine cable system.

Earlier, President Droupadi Murmu received Costa and von der Leyen at Rashtrapati Bhavan and hosted a banquet in their honour. In a post on X, Rashtrapati Bhavan said the President expressed confidence that the India-EU Free Trade Agreement would bring positive changes to people's lives and noted shared values of democracy, pluralism and open markets.

The summit was part of Costa and von der Leyen's State Visit from January 25 to 27 as Chief Guests for India's 77th Republic Day, accompanied by a high-level delegation including EU High Representative Kaja Kallas and Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic.

The agreements come amid fresh tariff pressures on both India and Europe from the Donald Trump-led US administration.

- ANI
German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul welcomed the newly concluded EU-India Free Trade Agreement as a strong sign of partnership. The deal, finalized after nearly two decades of talks, aims to create a massive free trade zone benefiting nearly two billion people. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen hailed it as the "mother of all trade deals," set to boost cooperation in trade, security, and clean energy. However, the agreement has drawn criticism from US officials, who argue it undermines efforts to isolate Russia economically.

Germany hails the historic EU-India Free Trade Agreement, concluding 20-year talks to create a free trade zone for nearly 2 billion people.

Berlin, January 28 German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul welcomed the EU-India Free Trade Agreement, calling it a significant step toward strengthening bilateral ties and supporting global commerce.

In a post on X, Wadephul wrote, "The #FreeTradeAgreement between the EU & #India is a strong sign of our close EU-India partnership & for #GlobalTrade. The agreement offers huge opportunities - including for diversification. Nearly 2 billion people will benefit from #Growth & #Prosperity."

The message was subsequently reshared by the Embassy of India in Berlin, highlighting the agreement's potential to open new opportunities and benefit nearly two billion people through growth and prosperity.

Wadephul's remarks followed the announcement by India and the European Union that negotiations on a comprehensive Free Trade Agreement had been successfully concluded, ending discussions that began almost twenty years ago.

The development comes at a time of strain on global trade, marked by elevated US tariffs, vulnerable supply chains and ongoing geopolitical tensions, including the Russia-Ukraine conflict. India is currently facing high duties imposed by Washington, while the EU is also confronting the prospect of increased American tariffs.

During the EU leadership's state visit to India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi held bilateral meetings in New Delhi with European Council President Antonio Luis Santos da Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. The discussions at Hyderabad House were also attended by EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas.

Earlier, Prime Minister Modi announced the India-EU Free Trade Agreement, describing it as a move with the potential to reshape global trade patterns. Von der Leyen later said Europe and India were making history by concluding the "mother of all deals".

"We have created a free trade zone of two billion people, with both sides set to benefit. This is only the beginning. We will grow our strategic relationship to be even stronger," she said in a post on X.

Officials said the formal signing of the agreement is expected within six months. The pact is aimed at expanding cooperation in areas including trade, security and defence, clean transition efforts and people-to-people exchanges.

After nearly two decades of talks, the two sides finalised the wide-ranging agreement, which von der Leyen described as the "mother of all trade deals", at a moment when US President Donald Trump continues to challenge established global partnerships. The Ministry of External Affairs noted that India-EU ties have grown steadily since diplomatic relations were established in 1962, driven by shared priorities in trade, investment and sustainable development.

The agreement's timing is notable amid rising geopolitical uncertainty and market volatility linked to US tariff policies and a Russia-Ukraine war that shows no signs of easing.

The United States has voiced reservations over the deal. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent criticised the EU for moving ahead with a trade pact with India while talks between New Delhi and Washington are still ongoing.

Speaking to ABC News, Bessent said the US had borne a greater share of responsibility in efforts to resolve the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

"We have put 25% tariffs on India for buying Russian oil. Guess what happened last week? The Europeans signed a trade deal with India," he said.

"The Russian oil goes into India, the refined products come out, and the Europeans buy the refined products. They are financing the war against themselves," he added.

The European Union remains India's largest goods trading partner, with bilateral trade valued at about USD 136 billion in 2024-25. The bloc also ranks among India's top partners when goods and services are combined.

Once operational, the FTA is expected to provide a major boost to trade between India and EU member states, as countries increasingly seek to diversify supply chains amid growing disruptions under the Trump administration's policies.

Under the agreement, tariffs on more than 90 per cent of EU goods exports will be cut or removed, delivering savings of up to 4 billion euros annually on European products. The pact also gives EU exporters a competitive advantage, representing the most extensive trade opening India has offered any partner.

India will extend tariff concessions to the EU that exceed those granted to other trading partners, significantly enhancing access for European exports. The agreement is also expected to simplify customs procedures, speed up exports and ensure protection of EU intellectual property, including trademarks.

- ANI
The ruling DMK will launch an intensive month-long political campaign titled "Tamil Nadu Will Not Bow" across all 234 Assembly constituencies starting February 1. The campaign, decided upon in a meeting of district secretaries, will be spearheaded by 20 star campaigners personally selected by party president M.K. Stalin. It aims to project the party's governance narrative and emphasize state rights through public meetings and structured sessions with local stakeholders. The initiative is seen as a major mobilization effort to engage citizens and gather feedback ahead of the next Assembly elections.

DMK launches month-long statewide campaign from Feb 1, featuring 20 star campaigners to highlight governance and engage citizens ahead of elections.

Chennai, Jan 27 The ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam on Tuesday announced an intensive, month-long statewide political campaign titled "Tamil Nadu Will Not Bow", which will be rolled out across all 234 Assembly constituencies beginning from February 1.

The party leadership has confirmed that 20 star campaigners will spearhead the outreach programme, covering every constituency in Tamil Nadu.

The decision was taken based on a resolution passed at a meeting of DMK district Secretaries held on January 20, 2026, under the chairmanship of party President and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. K. Stalin.

The details of the campaign were outlined in a press release issued by DMK General Secretary Duraimurugan.

According to the statement, the campaign aims to strongly project the DMK's political position and governance narrative under the theme "Tamil Nadu Will Not Bow", a slogan that underscores the party's emphasis on state rights, dignity, and resistance to external pressures.

As part of the initiative, the party President will personally select 20 senior leaders and prominent faces as star campaigners, who will undertake an extensive tour throughout the state during the entire month of February.

Each Assembly constituency will host at least one major public meeting as part of the campaign.

In addition to mass gatherings, the DMK has planned structured interactive sessions bringing together key stakeholders from every constituency. These include prominent local personalities, youth and student representatives, members of voluntary organisations, trade union leaders, entrepreneurs, and academic experts.

The campaign will focus on two parallel objectives: highlighting the achievements of the DMK government and engaging directly with citizens to understand their expectations, concerns, and demands.

Zonal in-charges, district Secretaries, constituency in-charges, and star campaigners have been instructed to actively lead discussions on welfare schemes, development initiatives, and policy outcomes while also documenting feedback from participants.

The DMK leadership has further directed party functionaries at all levels to ensure adequate publicity for the campaign and make necessary logistical arrangements in every constituency. Zonal and district-level leaders have been urged to treat the campaign as a priority political exercise in the run-up to the next Assembly elections.

With its reach spanning the entire state and its emphasis on both mobilisation and dialogue, the DMK's "Tamil Nadu Will Not Bow" campaign is expected to serve as a major political mobilisation effort ahead of the crucial electoral season.

- IANS
India and the European Union have successfully concluded negotiations for a long-pending Free Trade Agreement after two decades. The landmark deal will see the EU eliminate tariffs on 99.5% of Indian exports, with most duties dropping to zero immediately upon implementation. Shiv Sena leaders Priyanka Chaturvedi and Shaina NC welcomed the agreement, highlighting its benefits for India's economy and the Make in India initiative. The pact was signed in the presence of top leaders from both sides, marking a significant step in the strategic partnership between the world's second and fourth largest economies.

India and EU conclude landmark FTA after 20 years. EU to remove tariffs on 99.5% of Indian exports, boosting trade and the Make in India initiative.

New Delhi, January 28 Shiv Sena MP Priyanka Chaturvedi welcomed the India-European Union Free Trade Agreement, expressing hope that it will benefit both nations and strengthen the global trade order.

Speaking to ANI on Tuesday, Chaturvedi said the deal, "long pending for 20 years," is advantageous not only for India but also for EU nations, further stating that the conclusion of the agreement opens new prospects in the global trade framework.

"I welcome the free trade agreement and this was long pending for 20 years. For two decades, India and the European Union have been discussing a trade deal like this and that, and finally, it has found closure is good for our nations, for European Union nations as well as for us. At the same time, it also establishes that when we have convergences over democracy, global trade order, as well as international rules-based order, then there's a lot that can be achieved. So this trade agreement would be an indicator of that. I would just hope that this would benefit both nations, and their populations would continue to thrive under trade and we will continue to have a global trade order. We welcome what comes along with it," she said.

Chaturvedi further hailed External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar for his efforts in negotiating the deal. Referring to US tariffs on India, she said the EU will now face its "toughest challenge" with its ally.

"At the same time, I would like to congratulate the foreign minister, because he has been trying to reach a negotiation point that has led to this deal. The European Union right now faces its toughest challenge with its transatlantic ally, and even with the USA charging us immense tariffs. So this would be something which we should look forward to...," she added.

Meanwhile, Shiv Sena leader Shaina NC welcomed the EU's tariff reduction, stating it will "greatly benefit India."

"The reduction in tariffs by the European Union will greatly benefit India. Tariffs will be eliminated on 90% of Indian products. 93% of Indian products will face zero tariffs. This will definitely benefit India... This is an agreement with the European Union," she said.

She further noted that the EU will also benefit from India's indigenous markets and products, supporting the Make in India campaign and strengthening the Indian economy.

"We have many sectors there that will benefit from this.. People are asking what will happen to India's Make in India campaign? The European Union will benefit from India's markets, our machinery, and our products... This is a very beneficial decision for the Indian economy," Shaina added.

The remarks came following the announcement by India and the European Union on Tuesday that negotiations for the long-pending FTA had concluded. Under the deal, the EU will remove tariffs on 99.5 per cent of Indian exports, with most duties dropping to zero immediately once the pact comes into force. India has agreed to provide tariff concessions covering 97.5 per cent of the traded value between the two economies.

The joint announcement was signed by Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal and European Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security Maros Sefcovic, in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, and European Council President Antonio Costa.

The FTA marks the culmination of years of dialogue, demonstrating the political will and shared vision to deliver a balanced, modern, and rules-based economic and trade partnership. The European Union is India's largest trading partner, with bilateral trade in goods and services growing steadily. In 2024-25, bilateral trade in goods stood at INR 11.5 lakh crore (USD 136.54 billion), including exports worth INR 6.4 lakh crore (USD 75.85 billion) and imports of INR 5.1 lakh crore (USD 60.68 billion). Trade in services reached INR 7.2 lakh crore (USD 83.10 billion).

India and the EU, as the 4th and 2nd largest economies, together account for 25% of global GDP and one-third of global trade. The agreement provides unprecedented market access for more than 99% of Indian exports by trade value to the EU and strengthens the Make in India initiative. It also unlocks high-value commitments in services and a comprehensive mobility framework for skilled Indian professionals.

The India-EU trade pact covers conventional areas such as trade in goods and services, trade remedies, rules of origin, customs and trade facilitation, as well as emerging areas such as SMEs and digital trade, among others.

The India-EU FTA gives a decisive boost to its labour-intensive sectors such as textiles, apparel, leather, footwear, marine products, gems and jewellery, handicrafts, engineering goods, and automobiles, bringing down tariffs up to 10% on almost 33 bn USD of exports to zero on entry into force of the Agreement. Beyond enhancing competitiveness, it empowers workers, artisans, women, youth, and MSMEs, while integrating Indian businesses more deeply into global value chains and reinforcing India's role as a key player and supplier in global trade.

The FTA marks a new chapter in bilateral economic engagement, strengthening trade and strategic cooperation between India and the 27-member EU bloc. The agreement embeds multiple review, consultation, and response mechanisms to address emerging challenges, relying on strong stewardship and mutual trust to deliver long-term gains for both sides.

- ANI
Texas Governor Greg Abbott has initiated a review of H-1B visa holders employed in the state's public schools, colleges, and other taxpayer-funded institutions. He questions whether these positions require unique skills that cannot be filled by Texas residents, suggesting possible misuse of the visa program. The governor linked the state inquiry to broader federal immigration efforts, stating communication with the Trump administration. Depending on the findings, Texas may ask the federal government to take action, including potentially revoking certain visas.

Governor Greg Abbott launches inquiry into H-1B visa holders in Texas public schools and universities, questioning if jobs go to foreign workers over Texans.

Washington, Jan 27 Texas Governor Greg Abbott said his administration is examining the use of H-1B visas in the state's public schools, universities, and other taxpayer-funded institutions, questioning whether foreign workers are being hired for jobs that Texans can readily fill.

Speaking on The Mark Davis Show on Monday, Abbott said his office has begun collecting information from public agencies to determine "the extent to which Texas taxpayer dollars are being used to pay for any of these people," referring to H-1B visa holders working in state institutions.

The governor said the inquiry covers public schools, colleges, and universities, as well as other areas where state funds may be involved. He added that his office has sent inquiries to agencies across Texas and is seeking to compile details on the number of H-1B workers employed, the roles they fill, and the justification for their hiring.

"We have inquiries out right now to all of those agencies gathering the information that we need, and are hoping to be able to make an announcement later on this week about an action plan that Texas is beginning to take," Abbott said during the radio interview.

Abbott emphasized that the H-1B visa program is administered by the federal government, not by the states. Still, he said, Texas is examining what authority it may have when state funds are involved. "This is a federal program, only a federal program. It's not a state program," he said, adding that his administration is looking at "what authority would we have to do anything about this."

He said the review is focused on whether public institutions are relying on H-1B workers in positions that do not require unique or specialized skills. "For example, what job is it in our public schools in the State of Texas that these H-1B visa personnel are fulfilling that we can't fulfill here in our own public schools?" Abbott said. "I don't see any reason why we need any H-1B visa employees in our public schools in the State of Texas, but we're going to find out if there's some unique skill set or whatever the case may be."

The governor also raised concerns about what he described as possible abuse of the visa program, echoing arguments made by some conservatives that H-1B visas have been misused. He referred to reports of multiple visa holders registered at a single address and said there has been "extraordinary controversy" surrounding how some H-1B workers were admitted.

Abbott suggested that some individuals who entered the US on H-1B visas may have overstayed or were insufficiently vetted, particularly during the Biden administration. "Some of these H-1B visa issues are people who were allowed in either under the Biden administration or even before that who've overstayed their visa," he said.

He linked the state's review to broader federal immigration enforcement efforts under President Donald Trump, saying Texas is in communication with the administration. "Obviously, we are in communication with the Trump administration," Abbott said, adding that the president has made the issue a priority.

Abbott said his administration aims to ensure public safety and protect Texans' jobs. "The fact of the matter is we want to make sure that our communities are safe," he said. "We want to make sure that our communities are not having people come in and take jobs that Texans can easily fill."

He said that depending on what the review finds, Texas could ask the federal government to take further action. "It may be that we're having to call specifically on the Trump administration to withdraw them," Abbott said, referring to certain H-1B visa holders.

The H-1B program allows US employers to hire foreign workers in specialty occupations that typically require at least a bachelor's degree. It is widely used in fields such as technology, medicine, research, and higher education, and has long been a point of political debate in Washington.

In recent years, critics of the program have argued that it can undercut US workers or be used for positions that do not require highly specialized skills, while supporters say it helps address labor shortages and allows employers to recruit global talent in critical sectors.

- IANS
Tripura Governor Indra Sena Reddy Nallu delivered his first Republic Day address entirely in fluent Bengali, a departure from convention that deeply resonated with the audience. He stated he was inspired to learn the language for the occasion by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The gesture was met with surprise and delight from officials and the public, fostering a strong sense of cultural pride and connection. Chief Minister Manik Saha formally congratulated the Governor, emphasizing how the act honors the state's linguistic heritage.

Governor Indra Sena Reddy Nallu delivers his Republic Day address in fluent Bengali, citing inspiration from PM Modi. Read the public and official reactions.

Agartala, January 27 The Governor of Tripura, Indra Sena Reddy Nallu, delivered his maiden Republic Day address entirely in Bengali on Monday, drawing inspiration from Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The Governor's gesture at the 77th Republic Day State-level ceremony held at the Assam Rifles Ground in Agartala resonated deeply with the cultural sentiments of the people, witnessing an unprecedented and warm departure from convention, according to an official release.

The Governor, whose mother tongue is Telugu, addressed the gathering of dignitaries, civil service officers, security personnel, students, and the general public in fluent Bengali. Observers described the initiative as more than a linguistic choice, considering it a meaningful symbol of respect, inclusivity and cultural integration.

The Governor said that he drew inspiration from the Prime Minister and learnt the language for the address.

"After getting inspired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, I learnt the local language & delivered the speech in Bengali," he said.

Eyewitnesses at the event described a palpable wave of surprise and delight that swept through the gathering. Senior state officials, including the Chief Minister, Manik Saha, his cabinet ministers, and top-ranking civil service officers, were notably astonished and visibly impressed by the Governor's command and delivery in the local language. Their reaction underscored the significance of the gesture, moving beyond formal protocol to genuine appreciation.

The release noted that the heartiest response, however, came from the public and student sections. For many, hearing the constitutional head of the state address them in their own vernacular was a moment of great pride and connection. It was perceived as a bridge between the Raj Bhavan and the common citizen, fostering a sense of inclusivity and cultural recognition. Spontaneous applause and appreciation from the crowd highlighted the emotional impact of the act.

Following the ceremony, Chief Minister Manik Saha formally congratulated Governor Nallu for his initiative. In his remarks, the Chief Minister emphasised how this gesture honours the linguistic heritage of Tripura, where Bengali is the official language and spoken by the vast majority. It is seen as a step that strengthens the state's unity and cultural fabric.

- ANI
US President Donald Trump announced a significant increase in tariffs on a wide range of South Korean goods, including key exports like automobiles and pharmaceuticals. The move reverses a previous agreement and cites stalled legislative action on a historic trade deal by South Korea. This escalation occurs as the US Supreme Court deliberates a case challenging Trump's authority to impose such tariffs without congressional approval. The decision could impact billions in trade, as South Korea is a major source of US imports.

US President Donald Trump raises tariffs on South Korean goods like autos and pharmaceuticals from 15% to 25%, escalating trade tensions.

Washington DC, January 27 US President Donald Trump on Monday announced an increase in tariffs on a wide range of South Korean goods, raising them to 25 per cent from the previous 15 per cent.

Announcing the move on Truth Social, Trump said, "Because the Korean Legislature hasn't enacted our Historic Trade Agreement, which is their prerogative, I am hereby increasing South Korean TARIFFS on Autos, Lumber, Pharma, and all other Reciprocal TARIFFS, from 15% to 25%." It remains unclear whether the revised tariff rates have already come into force.

The decision comes as South Korea remains one of the United States' leading sources of imported goods, exporting USD 132 billion worth of products to the US in 2024, according to Commerce Department data. Major shipments include automobiles and auto parts, along with semiconductors and electronics, sectors that could now face higher prices due to the increased duties.

The tariff hike marks a reversal from a trade agreement announced in July, when Trump said the US would apply a uniform 15 per cent tariff on goods imported from South Korea, a rate that was 10 percentage points below what he had earlier threatened.

As part of that agreement, Trump also said South Korea had agreed to "give to the United States $350 Billion Dollars for Investments owned and controlled by the United States, and selected by myself, as President."

Trump's latest move follows at least three earlier tariff warnings by his administration that were not implemented, including a proposed 10 per cent levy on Canada after Ontario's anti-tariff World Series advertisement, potential tariffs on European nations over Greenland, and a 100 per cent duty on Canada that was floated on Saturday.

The escalation also comes amid legal scrutiny of Trump's trade powers. The US Supreme Court heard arguments in November in a challenge to tariffs imposed by Trump without congressional approval, with several justices questioning whether he had the authority to introduce such measures unilaterally.

The court has not yet delivered a ruling in the matter.

- ANI
News / National

by Staff reporter

The 30-megawatt Vungu Solar Project has moved a step closer to construction after signing a 25-year Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with the Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company (ZETDC).The long-term agreement guarantees that electricity generated by the project will be sold to the national grid under agreed terms, providing revenue certainty and bankability for investors.The project was founded by Energywise Equipment and Impala Power and is being developed by UK-based Private Infrastructure Development Group (PIDG) through its development arm, InfraCo Africa.Once operational, Vungu Solar will rank among Zimbabwe's first internationally project-financed independent power producer (IPP) solar plants, feeding power directly into the national grid at a time when the country continues to face electricity supply deficits.The signing of the PPA follows the conclusion last year of a Government Project Support Agreement (GPSA) between InfraCo Africa and the Government of Zimbabwe. The GPSA forms part of broader efforts by authorities to address investor concerns around currency volatility, tariff setting and payment risk in the energy sector.Under the GPSA framework, IPPs are guaranteed cost-reflective tariffs, a committed power offtaker through ZETDC, and assurances that they can repatriate profits, measures designed to improve Zimbabwe's attractiveness to international infrastructure investors.Energy sector analysts say the Vungu Solar Project is a significant milestone in the country's renewable energy drive, signalling growing confidence in Zimbabwe's power sector reform agenda and the viability of utility-scale solar projects.Construction timelines for the project have not yet been announced, but once built, the plant is expected to contribute to grid stability, reduce reliance on imports and advance Zimbabwe's transition towards cleaner energy sources.
US President Donald Trump announced a hike in tariffs on South Korea, ostensibly over delays in ratifying a bilateral trade deal. Experts believe the real aim is to pressure South Korea's National Assembly to pass a special bill for a $350 billion investment pledge to the United States. The move comes amid U.S. domestic uncertainties, including a pending Supreme Court ruling on the legality of such tariffs. South Korean officials are arranging emergency meetings with U.S. counterparts while denying receipt of any formal notice regarding the tariff increase.

Experts say Trump's tariff hike aims to pressure South Korea's legislature to pass a $350 billion US investment bill, amid US domestic uncertainties.

Seoul, Jan 27 US President Donald Trump's surprise announcement to raise tariffs on South Korea appears to be aimed at pressuring the country to swiftly carry out its investment pledge to the United States amid domestic uncertainties, including the U.S. Supreme Court's planned ruling on the legality of the tariffs, experts here said on Tuesday.

Earlier in the day, Trump said in a social media post that he is raising "reciprocal" tariffs and auto duties on South Korea to 25 per cent from 15 per cent, arguing Seoul's National Assembly has not yet completed the domestic process to implement the countries' bilateral trade deal, finalised in October, reports Yonhap news agency.

Trump was apparently referring to a special bill submitted by Korea's ruling Democratic Party in November for supporting the country's US$350 billion investment pledge to the U.S., which was part of the tariff deal between the two countries.

The bill has yet to gain the Assembly's approval. "Trump's move seems to be fundamentally aimed at ensuring the passage of the special investment bill, which is being delayed at the National Assembly, rather than actually raising the tariffs," Kwon Nam-hoon, president of the Korea Institute for Industrial Economics and Trade, said.

"As there is a possibility of the U.S. Supreme Court striking down reciprocal tariffs, Trump may have acted out of a sense of urgency to secure a firm commitment (from Korea) before things get more delayed," he added, noting the U.S. might have felt Korea was "testing the waters."

Shin Won-kyu, a chief analyst at the Korea Economic Research Institute, said Trump's move could be stemming from heightened anxiety with an array of issues bursting out, including criticism over his immigration policy and ambitions over Greenland, as well as escalating tensions with the European Union and Canada.

Trade experts also said they cannot rule out the possibility that Korea's recent push for digital regulations, including an ongoing probe into U.S.-listed e-commerce giant Coupang Inc.'s massive data leakage incident, affected Trump's decision.

U.S. lawmakers and investors have called the investigation into Coupang "discriminatory," while the State Department expressed "significant concerns" last month over Seoul's regulatory moves that could affect online platform businesses.

The Coupang issue was also discussed during Korean Prime Minister Kim Min-seok's meeting with U.S. Vice President JD Vance last week, where the two agreed to manage the issue to ensure it will not cause misunderstandings between the two governments, according to Seoul officials.

"Unilaterally overturning agreed terms between the two countries via a social media post is not only undiplomatic, but also extremely difficult to comprehend from a diplomatic standpoint," Yoon Heo, economics professor at Sogang University, said.

Meanwhile, the Seoul government said it will closely communicate with Washington over the ongoing legislative progress on the U.S. investment bill, while devising a response strategy.

Korea has not received an official notice or explanation from the U.S. over Trump's tariff hike announcement, Cheong Wa Dae said earlier, adding it will soon hold an emergency interagency meeting, headed by presidential chief of staff for policy Kim Yong-beom, to discuss the government's response.

Industry Minister Kim Jung-kwan, who has been on a visit to Canada, was set to head for Washington, where he will discuss the matter with his U.S. counterparts, his office said, adding that a meeting with U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick was being arranged.

- IANS
The nation celebrated its 77th Republic Day with flag-hoisting ceremonies across states, including Jammu and Kashmir. Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha paid tribute to fallen soldiers and freedom fighters, emphasizing constitutional values. Police and army units visited families of martyrs and organized events in border areas like Keran and Poonch. Chief Ministers from Chhattisgarh, Assam, and Himachal Pradesh also participated in celebrations and extended greetings.

Leaders like Manoj Sinha and Himanta Biswa Sarma unfurl the tricolor as the nation pays tribute to fallen soldiers and celebrates democratic values.

Srinagar, January 27 Celebrations were witnessed across the country on Monday as the nation marked its 77th Republic Day, with leaders and citizens gathered to cherish the auspicious occasion.

In Jammu and Kashmir, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha unfurled the National Flag at Maulana Azar Stadium in Srinagar.

In his address, Sinha extended greetings on the occasion and paid tribute to the fallen heroes of the Indian army, motivating others to take inspiration from them.

"This day reminds us of the democratic values mentioned in our constitution, on which our democracy is based. This occasion is dedicated to the values of justice, freedom, and equality that we all should abide by. Let us pay tribute to those freedom fighters and soldiers who sacrificed themselves for the safety, security and dignity of the nation. I also salute the soldiers in the armed forces, CRPF, and Jammu and Kashmir police, whose valour, sacrifice, and dedication ensure the nation's unity, safety and security. Their incomparable courage and selfless service inspire the formation of a fulfilled and developed nation...." he said.

Meanwhile, Keran witnessed an inspiring celebration of the Republic Day at the Rooh-e-Hind Flag Site, under the aegis of the Indian Army's 6 Rashtriya Rifles.

The celebrations commenced with the ceremonial unfurling of the National Tricolour in the presence of Army officers, civil dignitaries, senior citizens, and local villagers. A specially constituted Guard of Honour from the Battalion conducted the ceremonial proceedings.

On the other hand, Srinagar Police visited the families of fallen soldiers of the police as a mark of respect and gratitude for their supreme sacrifices in the service of the nation.

Senior officers from various units and establishments of Srinagar police met the next of kin of the bravehearts, interacted with them, and listened to their concerns. The families were reassured of the Jammu & Kashmir Police's continued support and solidarity.

As a symbolic gesture of remembrance and appreciation, sweets and small gifts were distributed to the families, reflecting the department's enduring bond with its fallen heroes and their loved ones. Srinagar police reiterated its commitment to stand by the families of the fallen heroes at all times and to honour the sacrifices made in the line of duty.

Furthermore, the Sarla Battalion of the Indian Army celebrated the Republic Day with the school students, staff, and locals at Karmarha School in LoC Poonch.

Speaking to ANI on the occasion, Headmaster Mohd Khursheed said, "As per tradition, 77th Republic Day was celebrated here. This function was organised in collaboration with the Sarla Battalion. Our school is located right on the extreme border, and the children and the local people celebrated this day with great enthusiasm and joy... The battalion always helps us with our programs from time to time..."

Meanwhile, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai unfurled the tricolour in Bilaspur on Republic Day and expressed his gratitude for it.

"Many congratulations to everyone on the 77th Republic Day. We are fortunate that we had the opportunity to hoist the flag in Bilaspur today, and yesterday, on the eve of Republic Day, a mass rendition of Vande Mataram was held on the sacred banks of the Arpa River," he stated.

The Assam Chief Minister, Himanta Biswa Sarma, meanwhile, unfurled the national flag at Dibrugarh. Taking to X, the CM expressed his pride on the occasion and made note of the Home Minister Amit Shah's upcoming visit to the state for laying the foundation of the Assam Assembly in Dibrugarh.

"As promised, I had the opportunity to unfurl the tricolour at Dibrugarh for the 2nd consecutive year- a tradition which will always continue. With the foundation stone of @AssamAssembly to be laid by Adarniya @AmitShah ji, Dibrugarh is truly poised to become Assam's 2nd capital," he wrote, sharing a video message on the same.

Meanwhile, Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu also conveyed his best wishes to the citizens.

He said, "I extend my best wishes to the people of the state and the country on Republic Day."

On the other hand, for the first time since the violence erupted in November 2024, the national flag was unfurled at the Satyavrat outpost in Uttar Pradesh's Sambhal district on Republic Day.

Speaking on the occasion, the District Magistrate Rajendra Pensia said the celebrations mark the regular operations at the outpost, commenting on its capabilities to ensure the safety and security of the region.

"Today, for the first time, the national flag was unfurled at the Satyavrat outpost on the auspicious occasion of the 77th Republic Day... This flag symbolises that this outpost will now operate 24/7 to secure what was previously the most sensitive area. The ATS also has a temporary headquarters here. Until a permanent structure is built, the ATS centre will operate from here, and a radio centre will also provide services throughout the district. In this way, the Satyavrat outpost is always ready to ensure the security and protection of this sensitive location," he said.

Meanwhile, Superintendent of Police Krishan Bishnoi said, "This is the first Republic Day celebration at the Satyavrat outpost since the violence on November 24, 2024. The 77th Republic Day ceremony was celebrated at its headquarters in Bahjoi. After that, we came here for the flag hoisting ceremony. The ATS, the 24/7 Command and Control Centre of the district, and the Satyavrat outpost are all operating from this location. The Republic Day was celebrated here with great enthusiasm, distributing sweets and laddoos to the local people..."

Similarly, in Mumbai, NCP-SCP MP Supriya Sule unfurled the National Flag during the Republic Day celebrations.

In Surat, the Police unfurled the national tricolour at the Police Parade Ground to mark the auspicious occasion.

Speaking to ANI, Commissioner of Police Anupam Singh Gahlaut extended greetings on the occasion and asserted commitment towards the anti-drugs campaign and eradicating cybercrime in the state.

"Today, the 77th Republic Day was celebrated at the Surat City Police Parade Ground. Different platoons of the police, including traffic police, regular police, armed police, Home Guards, and NCC cadets, along with the mounted and dog squads, and our special vehicles, all participated in the parade... I congratulate all the residents of Surat, and on this day, we have all taken a pledge that in 2026, we will intensify our campaign 'No Drugs in Surat City' and work harder to catch cybercriminals and protect our people from cybercrime...," he said.

India's 77th Republic Day parade concluded at Kartavya Path, showcasing the country's military prowess and cultural diversity. Prime Minister Narendra Modi maintained his tradition of walking along the parade route, greeting spectators.

At the end of the ceremony, President Droupadi Murmu, along with Republic Day Parade Chief Guests, the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen and President of the European Council Antonio Luis Santos da Costa, were escorted by the President's Bodyguard, also known as 'Rashtrapati Ke Angrakshak,' as they departed for Rashtrapati Bhavan.

- ANI
Union Minister Piyush Goyal hailed the concluded India-EU Free Trade Agreement as a "formidable partnership for the world." The deal, described as the "Mother of All Deals," creates a free trade zone encompassing two billion people. The agreement was finalized during the 16th India-EU Summit in New Delhi, co-chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and top European Union leaders. Alongside the trade pact, India and the EU also inked a new security and defence partnership.

India and the EU finalize a landmark trade deal, creating a massive free trade zone and strengthening strategic ties. PM Modi meets EU leaders.

New Delhi, January 27 Union Minister Piyush Goyal on Tuesday hailed the India-European Union Free Trade Agreement, describing the deal as a "formidable partnership" for both sides in the world.

In a post on X, Goyal noted the significance of the trade deal, which aims to strengthen economic ties between India and the EU, enhance trade and investment flows, and foster collaboration across multiple sectors.

"A formidable partnership for the world!" he wrote, sharing a clip of Prime Minister Narendra Modi meeting President of the European Council Antonio Luis Santos da Costa and President of the European Commission Ursula Von Der Leyen as the leaders display the spirit of bonhomie at Hyderabad House in the national capital.

The European leaders are on a state visit to the country, which coincided with the 16th India-EU Summit in New Delhi, co-chaired by PM Modi.

Following their meeting with PM Modi, the President of the European Commission took to X, noting that, "Europe and India are making history today."

In a post on X, she stated that both sides concluded the deal, which has been described as the "Mother of All Deals," noting that this was just the "beginning".

"We have concluded the mother of all deals. We have created a free trade zone of two billion people, with both sides set to benefit. This is only the beginning. We will grow our strategic relationship to be even stronger," von der Leyen wrote in her post.

The free trade agreement between India and the EU, first initiated in 2007, is expected to anchor a broader economic and strategic partnership as global trade dynamics shift.

On Monday, the negotiations for the 'Mother of all deals', as it has been called, concluded successfully and will be announced today during the India-EU summit.

At the summit, leaders are expected to adopt a joint EU-India comprehensive strategic agenda that aims to increase strategic cooperation across four areas, reinforced by enablers across the following pillars: prosperity and sustainability, technology and innovation, security and defence, and connectivity and global issues.

Leaders will also discuss trade in the context of the now-concluded free-trade agreement that started in 2007 (and was relaunched in 2022). This agreement would boost bilateral trade and investment ties and drive shared prosperity.

Earlier today, India and the EU also inked the security and defence partnership here in the national capital.

EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas, on the occasion, said, "The signing of the Security and Defence Partnership is a milestone, and we can build on that. There is so much more we can work together on in the multilateral fora, as well as bilaterally, to further develop defence cooperation."

With the signing of the deal, India becomes the third Asian country to have such a deal with the EU after Japan and South Korea.

- ANI
US Congressman Michael Baumgartner sent a video message greeting India on its 77th Republic Day, recalling his summer visit and emphasizing the importance of the US-India relationship. Wishes also poured in from several US state governors, including Larry Rhoden, Bob Ferguson, and Mike Dunleavy, who issued official proclamations. Former US President Donald Trump extended congratulations, highlighting the shared democratic bond between the nations. The day commemorates India's adoption of its Constitution in 1950, completing its transition to a sovereign republic.

US Congressman Michael Baumgartner and state governors send wishes for India's 77th Republic Day, highlighting the pivotal bilateral relationship.

Washington DC, January 27 US Congressman Michael Baumgartner extended wishes as India celebrated its 77th Republic Day on Monday.

In a video message he greeted people and recalled his visit to India. He also called the relationship between New Delhi and Washington pivotal to world peace and prosperity.

"Wishing you a wonderful celebration on this day that we mark the ratification of India's Constitution. I had the wonderful opportunity to visit India this summer as a guest of the Indian government. I had a great time. India is such a wonderful country and the relationship with America is so important for the future of the world and our strength, peace and prosperity. Everybody enjoy the celebration. I wish I could be with you and please come on out and visit me in Washington, D.C. one of these days. All right, have a great day", Baumgartner said.

Wishes poured in from across the US on the occasion of the 77th Republic Day.

South Dakota Governor Larry Rhoden said he is confident that the United States and India will continue to build an "even stronger relationship" in the coming years.

The Governor of Washington, Bob Ferguson, while proclaiming today as the "Republic Day of India", encouraged "all the residents to join in recognising the achievements of the Indian and Indian American communities and the enduring bonds of friendship between Washington and the Republic of India."

The Governor of Alaska, Mike Dunleavy, while proclaiming today as the "Republic Day of India", also encouraged all the Alaskans to "join in recognising the contributions of the Indian community and the enduring bonds between Alaska and India."

US President Donald Trump on Monday extended wishes as India celebrates its 77th Republic Day.His remarks were shared by the US Embassy in India in a post on X.Trump said, "On behalf of the people of the United States, I extend my heartfelt congratulations to the government and people of India as you celebrate your 77th Republic Day. The United States and India share a historic bond as the world's oldest and largest democracies."

President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen and President of the European Council, Antonio Luis Santos da Costa, were the Chief Guests for the 2026 Republic Day celebrations.

India's 77th Republic Day parade concluded on Monday after a spectacular showcase of the country's military might and diverse culture at Kartavya Path.

Republic Day, observed annually on January 26, marks the day India adopted its Constitution in 1950, officially becoming a sovereign, socialist, secular, and democratic republic. The day holds immense historical significance as it represents the culmination of India's long struggle for independence and the establishment of constitutional governance based on justice, liberty, equality and fraternity.

While independence on August 15, 1947, ended colonial rule, it was the adoption of the Constitution that completed India's transition to self-governance based on law, institutional accountability, and the will of the Indians.

- ANI
The United States hosted the inaugural meeting of the US-India Drug Policy Executive Working Group in Washington, DC. The group aims to strengthen bilateral cooperation against narcotics trafficking, precursor chemical diversion, and narco-terrorism. Officials from both nations emphasized a whole-of-government approach to protect communities and secure supply chains. The meeting reaffirmed a shared commitment to disrupting illicit drug networks and fostering a safer future.

US and India strengthen counter-narcotics partnership with new Executive Working Group, targeting synthetic opioids and narco-terrorism.

Washington, January 27 The United States hosted the inaugural meeting of the US-India Drug Policy Executive Working Group in Washington, DC, from January 20 to 21, marking a significant step in strengthening bilateral cooperation against narcotics trafficking and related security threats, according to an official press release by the White House.

According to the official press release, Ambassador Vinay Kwatra, Ambassador of India to the United States of America, stated that India accorded the highest priority to addressing the threat posed by narcotics trafficking and the diversion of precursor chemicals, while also balancing effective enforcement with facilitation of legitimate trade.

Official Spokesperson of the MEA, Randhir Jaiswal, said, "India and the U.S. held the Inaugural Drug Policy Executive Working Group meeting in Washington DC (20-21 Jan 2026). Both sides reaffirmed their shared commitment to countering synthetic opioids, novel precursors and misuse of digital platforms, while balancing effective enforcement with facilitation of legitimate trade."

The Office of National Drug Control Policy's (ONDCP) Director, Sara Carter, opened the meeting by emphasising President Trump and Prime Minister Modi's mutual commitment to strengthening security cooperation and eradicating narco-terrorism.

The Executive Working Group, led by ONDCP's Acting Deputy Director, Debbie Seguin, and the Narcotics Control Bureau's Deputy Director General, Monika Ashish Batra, worked with the U.S. and Indian delegations, respectively, to deliver tangible, measurable outcomes in advancing the critical counter-narcotics partnership.

"The drug crisis is now a core national security priority," said Director Carter. "This Executive Working Group leverages the bilateral partnership to protect families while also supporting legitimate industries."

According to the press release, both countries are committed to strengthening bilateral cooperation to dismantle the illegal production and trafficking of illicit drugs and their precursor chemicals that threaten our communities.

They emphasised the importance of a whole-of-government approach that streamlines interagency and intergovernmental efforts and secures the pharmaceutical supply chain, consistent with respective national rules and regulations, while also building upon the success of recent joint operations to disrupt illicit narcotic trafficking networks.

According to the press release, this meeting highlighted the United States' and India's enduring, shared commitment to addressing the global drug challenge and to fostering a safer, healthier future for both nations.

- ANI
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has sharply criticized the European Union's new trade deal with India, arguing it allows Europe to indirectly finance Russia's war in Ukraine by purchasing refined oil products from India that originate from Russian crude. He defended the US decision to impose significant tariffs on Indian imports as a response to India's energy ties with Moscow. Bessent suggested that while these tariffs remain, a path to remove them exists as Indian refinery purchases of Russian oil have declined. The comments highlight growing transatlantic friction over the enforcement and economic impact of sanctions on Russia.

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent criticizes the EU-India trade agreement, claiming Europe buys refined Russian oil from India, indirectly financing the Ukraine war.

Washington, DC, January 27 US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has accused European nations of indirectly financing the Russia-Ukraine war by purchasing oil products refined in India using Russian crude, even as Washington has imposed tariffs on New Delhi over its energy ties with Moscow.

His remarks come ahead of a high-level summit where India and the European Union are expected to formally announce the conclusion of negotiations on a comprehensive free trade agreement.

Speaking to ABC News on Sunday, Bessent defended the Trump administration's decision to levy steep duties on Indian imports, arguing that Europe's continued energy-linked trade contradicts its stated security position.

"We have put 25 per cent tariffs on India for buying Russian oil. Guess what happened last week? The Europeans signed a trade deal with India," Bessent said.

"And just to be clear again, the Russian oil goes into India, the refined products come out, and the Europeans buy the refined products. They are financing the war against themselves," he added.

Bessent said the United States has imposed punitive tariffs and pushed for decoupling from Russian energy, while European governments continue to benefit from what he described as gaps in the global oil supply chain.

He maintained that Washington has absorbed a larger share of the economic and political burden, while also working towards a negotiated settlement of the conflict.

Under Trump's leadership, Bessent said, "we will eventually end" the war.

The comments come amid renewed friction over trade and energy policy across the Atlantic, with Washington expressing frustration over what it views as Europe's selective implementation of sanctions.

The free trade agreement between India and the EU, first initiated in 2007, is expected to anchor a broader economic and strategic partnership as global trade dynamics shift.

The Trump administration has imposed tariffs of up to 50 per cent on Indian goods, including a 25 per cent levy directly linked to India's imports of Russian oil.

These measures were doubled in August, further escalating trade tensions between Washington and New Delhi.

However, Bessent recently indicated that tariff relief could be considered.

Speaking to Politico on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum, he said Indian refinery purchases of Russian crude had declined significantly.

"Indian purchases by their refineries of Russian oil have collapsed. So that is a success. The tariffs are still on, 25 per cent tariffs for Russian oil are still on. I would imagine there is a path to take them off," Bessent said.

- ANI
The Washington State Senate adopted a special resolution honoring India's 77th Republic Day, led by Indian-American Senators Manka Dhingra and Vandana Slatter. The proceedings included cultural elements like a Bharatnatyam recital and verses from the Taittareeya Upanishad. Several US Governors, including Larry Rhoden of South Dakota, Bob Ferguson of Washington, and Mike Dunleavy of Alaska, officially proclaimed January 26 as Republic Day of India. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio also extended greetings, emphasizing the strong, multi-faceted partnership between the two nations.

Washington State Senate and US Governors honor India's 77th Republic Day, celebrating bilateral ties and the Indian-American community.

Washington, January 27 In an exceptional gesture in honour of India's 77th Republic Day, the Washington State Senate convened a special session and adopted Resolution Number 8674, celebrating the Republic Day of India, on "January 26, 2026".

The Senate Resolution was piloted by Indian American Washington State Senator Manka Dhingra and also supported from the floor of the Senate by another Indian origin State Senator, Vandana Slatter.

Several other State Senators made statements affirming India-US friendship and praised the role of India as the world's largest democracy.

The Senate proceedings began with a recitation of verses from the Taittareeya Upanishad and concluded with a special luncheon reception hosted by the Consul General of India in Seattle at the Washington State Capitol in Olympia at the Senate Rules Room, and featured addresses by other State Senators and a special Bharatnatyam dance recital commemorating 150 years of Vande Mataram by ace Indian artist Anwesha Das.

Earlier, S South Dakota Governor Larry Rhoden on Monday extended his greetings to India on the occasion of the 77th Republic Day celebrations. The US Governor said he is confident that the United States and India will continue to build an "even stronger relationship" in the coming years.

The US Governor also officially proclaimed the day of "January 26, 2026" as the "Republic Day of India."

In a video message to the Consulate General of India in Seattle, the Governor described his two meetings with Prakash Gupta (Consulate General of India in Seattle) as "refreshing" and said he is "confident" that both countries will continue to build an even "stronger relationship."

Speaking in a video, he said, "Congratulations on 77th years of the Republic of India. I met with Consul General Gupta twice last year, and both meetings were very refreshing."

He added, "I am confident that the United States and India will continue building an even stronger relationship."

Several other US Governors, like those from Washington and Alaska, also officially proclaimed the day of "January 26, 2026" as the "Republic Day of India."

The Governor of Washington, Bob Ferguson, while proclaiming "January 26, 2026" as the "Republic Day of India", encouraged "all the residents to join in recognising the achievements of the Indian and Indian American communities and the enduring bonds of friendship between Washington and the Republic of India."

The Governor of Alaska, Mike Dunleavy, while proclaiming "January 26, 2026" as the "Republic Day of India", also encouraged all the Alaskans to "join in recognising the contributions of the Indian community and the enduring bonds between Alaska and India."

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio also extended his greetings to India on the occasion of the 77th Republic Day celebrations on Monday.

In a press statement, he said that the United States and India share "a historic bond" and that the two countries are working closely on defence, energy, critical minerals, and emerging technologies.

In an official press statement, he said there is a "multi-layer" engagement between the two countries through the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (QUAD), and claimed that the India-US relationship has delivered real results for both countries and for the Indo-Pacific region.

The US Secretary of State said that he is looking forward to "working together" to advance on the "shared objectives" in the year ahead.

- ANI
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath conducted a 'Janta Darshan' in Gorakhpur to hear and address public grievances. He also interacted with and welcomed artists from Tripura and other states who participated in the Republic Day parade. During the Statehood Day ceremony, alongside Union Home Minister Amit Shah, he emphasized the role of the 'One District, One Product' initiative in boosting traditional industries and self-reliance. The ODOP scheme supports unique, GI-tagged products like Kala namak rice and chikankari, reviving dying community traditions.

UP CM Yogi Adityanath hears public grievances in Gorakhpur, welcomes artists from Tripura, and highlights the success of the ODOP scheme.

Gorakhpur, January 27 Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Tuesday heard public grievances during the 'Janta Darshan' in Gorakhpur.

CM Yogi heard people's grievances and asked the officials to resolve them on a priority basis.

Earlier, CM Yogi Adityanath interacted with artists during an artist felicitation ceremony organised on the occasion of Republic Day 2026 on Monday.

Addressing participants who took part in the Republic Day parade, the Chief Minister welcomed artists from Tripura and other states to Uttar Pradesh.

"Tripura is a very important state, and you have come all the way from there to be a part of the Republic Day parade. I am very happy that so many artists have come to Uttar Pradesh. I heartily welcome all of you," CM Yogi said, extending greetings to them.

Earlier, the Chief Minister paid tribute to the Tricolour after he unfurled the National Flag at his residence in Lucknow, and highlighted the "Ek Bharat Shreshth Bharat" resolve and Constitutions's role in building the India we are witnessing today.

Earlier on January 24, he termed the 'One District, One Product' (ODOP) initiative as a key reason behind the state's growing self-reliance and its contribution towards the mission of 'Atmanirbhar Bharat'.

Speaking at the Uttar Pradesh Statehood Day ceremony alongside Union Home Minister Amit Shah, CM Yogi highlighted how the ODOP scheme has provided a major boost to the traditional industries of the state.

The UP government's One District, One Product programme aims to encourage indigenous and specialised products and crafts unique to each district. There are products in UP that are found nowhere else - like the ancient and nutritious 'Kala namak' rice, the rare and intriguing wheat-stalk craft, world-famous chikankari and zari-zardozi work on clothes, and the intricate and stunning horn and bone work that uses the remains of dead animals rather than live ones, a nature-friendly replacement for ivory.

Many of these products are GI-tagged, meaning they are certified as originating from that region in Uttar Pradesh. Many of these were also dying community traditions that are being revived through modernisation and publicisation.

- ANI
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami participated in a 'Vande Mataram' singing event in Dehradun organized by Bharat Vikas Parishad. He highlighted the song's 150-year legacy as a profound connection to nationalism and devotion to Mother India. Dhami also extended Republic Day wishes, paying tribute to freedom fighters and soldiers. He reaffirmed the state's commitment to contributing to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision for a developed and self-reliant India.

Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami participates in a Vande Mataram singing event in Dehradun, marking 150 years of the patriotic song, and shares Republic Day greetings.

Dehradun, January 27 Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami participated in a 'Vande Mataram' singing event organised by Bharat Vikas Parishad at Gandhi Park in Dehradun, marking 150 years of the iconic song.

Addressing the gathering on Monday, CM Dhami highlighted the song's enduring patriotic significance, saying, "I am very pleased to find myself among you all... This is a special occasion because Vande Mataram completed 150 years this year... When Bankim Chandra Chatterjee composed this song, Vande Mataram became not just a slogan, but a connection of love and nationalism... It is the expression of patriotism and our devotion towards Mother India."

Earlier, Dhami extended warm wishes to the people of Uttarakhand on Republic Day, paying tribute to the nation's freedom fighters and brave soldiers.

Speaking with ANI, he reaffirmed the state's commitment to realising Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of a developed and self-reliant India and emphasised the importance of dedication, hard work, and honesty in achieving this goal, calling on citizens to join hands in building a stronger India.

"On the occasion of Republic Day, I extend my best wishes to all the people of Uttarakhand. I pay my heartfelt tribute to the martyrs of our country, the freedom fighters, and our brave soldiers who sacrificed their lives for the nation. On this occasion, we also resolve that, under the leadership of our Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, the vision for a developed and self-reliant India has been set, and we will all contribute to fulfilling it. We will work with dedication, hard work, and honesty to contribute to the realisation of a developed India...," said Dhami.

Dhami also took to X to extend his warm wishes to the people of the state on the 77th Republic Day. He highlighted the significance of the day, symbolising national pride, self-respect, and constitutional values.

"Heartiest congratulations and best wishes to all the residents of the state on the 77th Republic Day. This day is a symbol of our nation's pride, self-respect, and constitutional values. This day reminds us of the indomitable courage, sacrifice, and martyrdom of those immortal valiant freedom fighters, as a result of whose struggles it became possible to establish a strong, democratic republic. Let us all contribute to strengthening the country's unity, integrity, and self-reliance, and keep propelling India forward on the path of progress. Jai Hind! #RepublicDayIndia," he posted.

- ANI
BJP MPs Arun Govil and Sanjeev Balyan visited the Hapur residence of Indian Army soldier Rinkil Balyan, who was martyred in a road accident in Jammu and Kashmir's Doda district. They expressed pride in the family's strong tradition of military service, with multiple members serving in the Army and paramilitary forces. The leaders pledged full government support to the grieving family, which includes two children, while noting that such families rarely make demands. The accident, which claimed ten lives, occurred when an army vehicle slipped on the snow-covered Bhaderwah-Chamba road during an operation in difficult weather.

BJP MPs Arun Govil and Sanjeev Balyan visit the family of soldier Rinkil Balyan, who died in a Doda road accident, expressing pride and pledging government support.

Hapur, January 27 BJP MP Arun Govil, along with BJP leader Sanjeev Balyan, visited the residence of Indian Army soldier Rinkil Balyan, who died in a road accident in Jammu and Kashmir's Doda district.

Speaking to ANI, BJP MP Arun Govil says, "They did not even ask for anything. This is a family where everyone is in the military or paramilitary forces. He gave martyrdom in an operation. It is really a proud thing that every man in the family is in the Army. Some are in the BSF (Border Security Force), some are in the forces. So, it is really a proud thing. We are all proud of them. We stand with them in their time of sorrow, and pay tribute to him."

Bhartiya Janta Party leader Sanjeev Balyan also visited the house of Indian Army soldier Rinkil Balyan. While talking to ANI, BJP leader Sanjeev Balyan says, "Rinkil Balyan was like a part of my family. We reached there as it is the time of sorrow for the family, who have two children. Our family are not like that; they don't demand something of a martyr.

Sanjeev Balyan further stated, "You could say he was like a younger brother to me. Whatever demands the family makes of the government will be fulfilled, but the families of martyrs never make demands. Still, whatever help the families need, we will ensure they receive it from the government."

Army personnel Rinkil Balyan lost his life in a road accident in Doda alongside nine other soldiers. According to the White Knight Corps, the army vehicle carrying troops for an operation slipped off the road while navigating treacherous terrain in bad weather. Soon after the incident, the Army and local administration teams rushed to the spot and launched a rescue effort despite the bad weather or difficult terrain.

Doda Deputy Commissioner (DC) Harvinder Singh stated earlier that the presence of snow on the Bhaderwah-Chamba road was a primary cause of this tragic incident. The last rites of martyred Rinkil Balyan were held on Saturday, Jan 24.

- ANI
News / National

by Staff reporter

Econet InfraCo has appointed an architectural firm to develop a comprehensive masterplan for a large-scale industrial park to be established on a 300-hectare site near Robert Mugabe International Airport in Harare.The project forms part of the Econet Group's broader strategy to leverage its infrastructure capabilities to drive industrialisation, technology development and export-led growth in Zimbabwe.Econet Group chief executive officer Douglas Mboweni said the appointed architects have been tasked with benchmarking the development against successful industrial and technology parks in Asia, where integrated, export-focused zones have played a catalytic role in economic transformation."We want to create a world-class one-stop shop for companies targeting export markets," said Mboweni."This industrial park is being designed to support a new generation of globally competitive businesses - from advanced manufacturing and logistics to technology and agritech enterprises."Mboweni said the development will also house Econet's own data centre services, positioning the park as a critical digital backbone for companies operating within the zone and beyond.Once the masterplan is completed, Econet InfraCo plans to engage government to secure the necessary approvals and propose a package of investor incentives aimed at enhancing the park's competitiveness as a regional investment destination."Our objective is to work closely with government to ensure the project aligns with national development priorities, while also offering an attractive and predictable operating environment for international and local investors," Mboweni said.The industrial park will feature dedicated technology hubs designed to nurture innovation and entrepreneurship, particularly among young Zimbabweans seeking to build scalable, tech-enabled businesses.The site was strategically selected for its proximity to Zimbabwe's main international airport - a key advantage for export-oriented firms - as well as the availability of reliable water resources. The development will be supported by independent power supply infrastructure, internal service roads, modern security systems and centralised administration facilities.To implement the project, Econet InfraCo will establish a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) that will oversee the development, management and global marketing of the industrial park.The announcement comes shortly after Econet revealed plans to list Econet InfraCo on the Victoria Falls Stock Exchange (VFEX), subject to shareholder and regulatory approvals. The listing is expected to unlock long-term capital to support infrastructure expansion.Econet InfraCo owns, operates and manages Econet's national portfolio of passive telecommunications and infrastructure assets, including telecommunications towers, power infrastructure and real estate, making it Zimbabwe's largest private infrastructure group."Infrastructure is the foundation of sustainable economic growth," said Mboweni. "This project is about building platforms that allow businesses, innovators and exporters to thrive - not just today, but for decades to come."
EU High Representative Kaja Kallas stated Europe faces an existential threat from Russia, prompting increased defense spending and openness to buying capabilities from outside Europe, including India. Russian President Vladimir Putin declared Moscow is prepared for a military confrontation if European nations choose escalation, accusing them of blocking diplomatic efforts on Ukraine. His remarks come as US envoys meet in Moscow to discuss a revised peace proposal that has faced criticism from Kyiv and European capitals. Putin also announced plans to intensify attacks on Ukrainian ports, describing recent strikes on Russian vessels as piracy.

EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas warns of an existential threat from Russia as Putin states readiness for war with Europe. Details on defense and peace talks.

New Delhi, January 27 Speaking at a Conference on Europe India and a changing World Order in the national capital EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission Kaja Kallas said that Europe has existential threat coming from Russia at this time.

Kallas said, " We have this existential threat coming from Russia at this time. We have our member states increasing their defence expenditure, and then it also comes down to where you can buy capabilities and with whom you can incorporate. In the first round, we also want this money to go to the European industry, but if the European industry is not able to deliver, then we can buy outside, and I think the competition that comes from such a big country like India is also beneficial for our industries to work to find solutions."

Earlier, Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday stated Moscow is ready for a military confrontation if European nations choose escalation, accusing European governments of blocking diplomatic efforts on Ukraine.

Speaking at an investment forum in Moscow, Putin stated, "We are not planning to go to war with Europe, but if Europe wants to and starts, we are ready right now." He claimed European leaders are no longer prioritising negotiations and are instead backing continued hostilities in Ukraine.

Putin argued that European countries are putting forward demands related to the conflict that Russia cannot accept. He further accused Europe of obstructing initiatives by the United States and President Donald Trump to pursue a negotiated settlement.

According to Putin, "They are on the side of war," referring to European positions on the conflict.

His remarks come as US envoy Steve Witkoff and presidential adviser Jared Kushner meet in Moscow to discuss potential steps to end nearly 4 years of fighting.

Washington has circulated a 28-point peace proposal that was revised after pushback from Kyiv and European capitals, which criticised the initial draft for appearing too accommodating to Moscow's conditions.

European governments have voiced concerns that any peace structure could pressure Ukraine to give up territory currently under Russian control.

Putin also announced plans for a stronger military response, saying Russia would intensify attacks on Ukrainian ports and vessels after recent incidents at sea.

He described strikes on Russian tankers as "piracy." He added, "The most radical solution is to cut Ukraine off from the sea, then piracy will be impossible in principle."

- ANI
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis congratulated Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the historic signing of the India-European Union Free Trade Agreement. The deal, announced by PM Modi and EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, impacts 30% of the world's population and a quarter of global trade. It grants India unprecedented market access for over 99% of its exports by value to the EU, significantly benefiting key sectors like textiles, engineering, and automobiles. The agreement strengthens strategic cooperation and is expected to deeply integrate Indian businesses into global value chains.

PM Modi and EU's von der Leyen sign a landmark trade deal covering 25% of global trade. CM Fadnavis hails it as transformative for India and Maharashtra.

Mumbai, January 27 Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday hailed the signing of the India-European Free Trade Agreement as "historic," congratulating PM Narendra Modi for concluding a deal impacting 30 per cent of the world's population and 25 per cent of global trade.

CM Fadnavis said the agreement would significantly benefit India, including Maharashtra, following its announcement at the 16th India-EU Summit by PM Modi and EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

Speaking to ANI, CM Fadnavis said, "Today is a historic day when the deal between the Union of India and the European Union is signed. I would like to congratulate Prime Minister Narendra Modi on successfully signing this deal, which will change the entire landscape of international trade. This deal affects 30% of the world's population. It accounts for 25% of global trade and is one of the largest deals in history. It is very beneficial, especially for India because India is the fourth largest economy and Indian exports in products and services has a huge market in the European Union... I think that it is a commendable job done by the government of India, and from the government of Maharashtra's perspective, the state will be heavily benefited..."

The conclusion of this FTA positions India and the European Union as trusted partners committed to open markets, predictability, and inclusive growth.

The announcement of the FTA today marks the culmination of years of sustained dialogue and cooperation, between India and the EU, demonstrating the political will and shared vision to deliver a balanced, modern, and rules-based economic and trade partnership.

The European Union is India's largest trading partner, with bilateral trade in goods and services growing steadily over the years. In 2024-25, India's bilateral trade in goods with the EU stood at INR 11.5 Lakh Crore (USD 136.54 billion) with exports worth INR 6.4 Lakh Crore (USD 75.85 billion) and imports amounting to INR 5.1 Lakh Crore (USD 60.68 billion). India-EU trade in services reached INR 7.2 Lakh Crore (USD 83.10 billion) in 2024.

India and EU are 4th and 2nd largest economies, comprising 25% of Global GDP and account for one third of global trade. Integration of the two large diverse and complementary economies will create unprecedented trade and investment opportunities.

India has secured unprecedented market access for more than 99% of Indian exports by trade value to the EU that also bolsters the 'Make in India' initiative. Beyond goods, it unlocks high-value commitments in services complemented by a comprehensive mobility framework enabling seamless movement of skilled Indian professionals.

The India-EU trade pact covers conventional areas such as trade in goods, services, trade remedies, rules of origin, customs and trade facilitation, as well as emerging areas such as SMEs and digital trade, amongst others.

The India-EU FTA gives a decisive boost to its labour-intensive sectors such as textiles, apparel, leather, footwear, marine products, gems and jewellery, handicrafts, engineering goods, and automobiles bringing down tariffs up to 10% on almost 33 bn USD of exports to zero on entry into force of the Agreement. Beyond enhancing competitiveness, it empowers workers, artisans, women, youth, and MSMEs, while integrating Indian businesses more deeply into global value chains and reinforcing India's role as a key player and supplier in global trade.

The India-EU FTA marks a new chapter in bilateral economic engagement, strengthening trade, and strategic cooperation between India and the 27-member EU bloc. Cognizant of multifarious objectives placed on trade, dynamic nature of trade, fast evolving technologies and increasing regulatory complexities, the Agreement embeds multiple review, consultation and response mechanisms to deal with new, sudden challenges which emerge in future. The Agreement relies on strong stewardship and trust to deliver gains for both sides.

- ANI
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News / National

by Staff reporter

THE High Court is set to deliver judgment tomorrow on the bail appeal of Tapiwa Felix Chikondo, a bodyguard to Prophetic Healing and Deliverance (PHD) Ministries leader Walter Magaya.Justice Gibson Mandaza will preside over the ruling, which follows Chikondo's failed attempts to secure bail at the Magistrates' Court.Chikondo was arrested on December 3 and charged with obstructing justice after allegedly interfering with police efforts to arrest his employer. His initial bail application was denied on December 5.He later filed a second bail application on January 5, citing changed circumstances, but this was also dismissed by the Magistrates' Court, prompting him to approach the High Court.In his appeal, prepared by his lawyer Mr Malvern Mapako, Chikondo argues that the lower court erred in denying him bail despite the existence of changed circumstances. He contends that the State relied on a separate charge to oppose his release, yet he was later acquitted of that offence.According to the defence, the acquittal removed the basis upon which the Magistrates' Court concluded that Chikondo had a propensity to commit further offences."The court relied solely on the fact that the appellant had a pending case awaiting trial," Mapako argued. "He was subsequently tried and acquitted, which clearly constitutes changed circumstances that warrant the court to revisit its own decision."The defence further maintained that the Magistrates' Court had relied on speculation, despite Chikondo having been lawfully acquitted, and insisted that he had been wrongly accused in the obstruction of justice matter.However, the State opposed the appeal, arguing that the Magistrates' Court had properly exercised its discretion in denying bail.State prosecutor Ms Paida Gutu submitted that there was strong evidence that Chikondo interfered with witnesses, a factor that independently justified the denial of bail."With these facts at hand, the lower court ruled that the risk of interference was very high. The factors as listed in section 117(3)(c) of the Criminal Procedure and Evidence Act were established by the respondent," she said.Ms Gutu argued that the Magistrates' Court was not misdirected in its findings on the risk of interference and further submitted that Chikondo was also denied bail on the basis that he had a propensity to commit similar offences.She added that Chikondo allegedly committed the offence while already on bail for another matter."Thus, it is submitted that the fact that the appellant was out on bail on another matter of a similar nature operated against him and, as such, the lower court was not misdirected when it denied him bail on this basis," Ms Gutu said.Justice Mandaza's ruling is expected to determine whether Chikondo remains in custody pending trial or is granted bail.
"Ive been thinking about Dan a lot lately because last week I learned Dan has prostate cancer and is scheduled for surgery. I love Dan and will do anything to help him get through this curveball life has thrown at him . but I still cant eat breakfast with him when he orders fried eggs with ketchup."
Expanded eligibility for advanced stroke therapies and new recommendations for diagnosing and treating stroke in children and adults are among the major updates in the new 2026 Guideline for the Early Management of Patients With Acute Ischemic Stroke from the American Stroke Association, a division of the American Heart Association, published today in the Association's flagship journal Stroke.

According to the American Heart Association's 2026 Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics, stroke is now the #4 leading cause of death in the U.S. Every year, nearly 800,000 people in the U.S. have a stroke, and it is also a leading cause of serious, long-term disability. There are several types of strokes. Ischemic stroke is the most common type and occurs when blood flow to the brain is suddenly blocked in a vessel, usually by a blood clot.

The new guideline replaces the 2018 edition and its 2019 update to reflect a surge of new evidence in acute ischemic stroke care. It provides an evidence-based roadmap for health care professionals to recognize, diagnose and treat ischemic stroke, from prehospital recognition to hospital management and early recovery.

This update brings the most important advances in stroke care from the last decade directly into practice. New recommendations in the guideline expand access to cutting-edge treatments, such as clot-removal procedures and medications, simplify imaging requirements so more hospitals can act quickly, and introduce guidance for pediatric stroke for the first time." Shyam Prabhakaran, M.D., M.S., FAHA, chair of the writing group for the guideline and the James Nelson and Anna Louise Raymond Professor of Neurology and chair of the department of neurology at the University of Chicago Medicine

Since the 2019 update, several landmark trials have transformed stroke care, including interventions for large vessel occlusion in the brain, clot-busting or clot-removal therapies, and streamlined hospital workflows. The 2026 guideline brings that progress together to standardize stroke care across hospitals of all sizes and ensure rapid, evidence-based treatment for every patient, regardless of where they live.

The guideline reinforces that outcomes depend on what treatments are provided to stroke patients and how quickly and efficiently they are delivered. From the first 9-1-1 call to hospital discharge, coordinated systems of care can be a key factor in preventing lifelong disability. The updated recommendations focus on enhancing those systems, accelerating the use of imaging techniques and medication delivery, and expanding access to advanced procedures like endovascular thrombectomy (EVT, the mechanical removal of a blood clot).

First-time guidance for pediatric stroke

Though rare, stroke can occur in infants, children and teens, and prompt recognition is critical. Children can exhibit the same warning signs as adults described by the acronym F.A.S.T.: Face Drooping; Arm Weakness; Speech Difficulty; Time to Call 911. However, stroke warning signs in children more often may also include:

Sudden severe headache, especially with vomiting and sleepiness

New onset of seizures, usually on one side of the body

Sudden confusion, difficulty speaking or understanding others

Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes, and/or

Sudden difficulty walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination

Currently available stroke screening tools have been developed for adults, so they do not accurately distinguish strokes in the pediatric population from mimics (conditions with similar symptoms). Some examples of mimics include migraine, seizure, traumatic brain injury, or brain tumor. The guideline advises rapidly performing magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and angiography (MRA) to identify blockages to differentiate arterial ischemic stroke fromhemorrhagic stroke and rule out mimics in pediatric stroke. Computed tomography (CT) is reasonable if MRI is not available in a timely manner, according to the guideline.

For treating ischemic stroke in children, the guideline states that the intravenous (IV) clot-busting agent alteplase may be considered within 4.5 hours for children ages 28 days to 18 years with disabling deficits. Also, mechanical clot-removal performed by experienced neurointerventionalists may be effective for large-vessel blockages in children 6 years and older within 6 hours and may be reasonable up to 24 hours after symptoms begin if imaging shows salvageable brain tissue.

"These recommendations represent a major step toward standardized, evidence-based care for children," Prabhakaran said. "They also highlight how much more we still need to learn about pediatric stroke."

Faster care from the field to the hospital

The guideline emphasizes the need for regional stroke systems of care that link 9-1-1 call centers, emergency medical services (EMS) agencies, hospitals and telemedicine networks. Mobile stroke units, which are ambulances equipped with CT scanners and stroke-trained care teams, demonstrate how faster response times can accelerate recognition and treatment delivery.

In regions with reasonable access to thrombectomy-capable stroke centers (TSCs), EMS should transport patients with suspected large vessel occlusion to the nearest TSC for immediate evaluation. Direct transport to a TSC can be beneficial to reduce delays in diagnosis and treatment, helping more patients receive EVT when indicated. Further, in regions without geographic access to TSCs, the guideline focuses on reducing door-in-door-out times at hospitals transferring patients to TSCs.

Rapid diagnosis and imaging

Speed and accuracy are critical for diagnosing and treating stroke. Hospitals should complete an initial brain scan within 25 minutes of arrival to confirm that symptoms are caused by an ischemic stroke and not a brain bleed, so that the right treatment can begin immediately. Confirming the stroke type ensures that clot-dissolving or clot-removal treatments can begin safely and without delay.

Advanced brain imaging techniques such as MRI or CT perfusion can sometimes show how much the stroke has damaged the brain tissue. The new guideline also advises hospitals without advanced perfusion imaging to use a standard CT scoring system called ASPECTS to identify candidates for clot-removal procedures.

Clot-busting medications

The guideline endorses the use of either tenecteplase or alteplase within 4.5 hours of symptom onset. Both medications are effective at dissolving blood clots. However, tenecteplase, a single-dose IV infusion, has the advantage of simplifying treatment compared to the 60-minute period needed for alteplase infusion.

For some people who wake up with stroke symptoms or arrive at the hospital after the standard 4.5-hour window for treatment, clot-busting treatment may still be effective up to 24 hours after the onset of stroke symptoms, if advanced brain imaging shows brain tissue that has not been irreversibly damaged.

Clot-removal procedures (endovascular thrombectomy or EVT)

Removing clots directly from blocked brain arteries, a procedure called thrombectomy, remains a powerful treatment for major strokes caused by large-vessel blockages in eligible patients. Patients eligible for both clot-busting medications and thrombectomy should receive both, rapidly and sequentially, without delaying the procedure to "see if symptoms improve."

EVT is now recommended in selected patients for up to 24 hours after symptom onset even if imaging shows certain large core infarcts by ASPECTS, meaning a significant area of brain tissue has been severely damaged due to lack of blood flow.

Based on new evidence, eligibility for EVT also includes some patients with blockages in the back of the brain (posterior circulation stroke).

Some people with mild or moderate preexisting disability may also benefit in the first 6 hours after symptom onset.

EVT is not routinely recommended for smaller blockages in medium- or small arteries in the brain but may be considered in a clinical trial.

Improving survival and recovery

The guideline underscores that coordinated systems of care are essential for improving survival and recovery. Hospitals are encouraged to use reporting systems such as the American Stroke Association's Get With The Guidelines - Stroke Registry to track treatment times and outcomes, expand telemedicine and imaging access, and establish transfer agreements that link primary and comprehensive stroke centers.

"Time is brain," Prabhakaran said. "This new guideline makes that concept real, showing how systems, from EMS to hospitals, can work together to cut 30 to 60 minutes off treatment time to improve patient outcomes and reduce the likelihood of disability."

2026 International Stroke Conference

The new guideline will be featured at the American Heart Association's 2026 International Stroke Conference, to be held February 4-6, 2026, in New Orleans.

What's New in the 2026 Acute Ischemic Stroke Guideline: Process Overview and Key Updates from the Chairs; Thursday, February 5, 2:30-3:30 p.m. CT

Acute Ischemic Stroke Guidelines: Q&A Part I (Fireside Chat); Thursday, February 5, 3:45-4:45 p.m. CT

Acute Ischemic Stroke Guidelines: Q&A Part II (Fireside Chat); Thursday, February 5, 5:00-6:00 p.m. CT

This guideline was prepared by the volunteer writing group on behalf of the American Heart Association's Stroke Council and the American Stroke Association. Since 1990, the American Stroke Association has translated scientific evidence into clinical practice guidelines with recommendations to improve cerebrovascular health.
Northwestern University researchers have developed the first device that can continuously track a fetus's vital signs while still in the uterus - a feat that previously has not been possible.

The soft, flexible, robotic probe could dramatically improve safety during fetal surgeries, procedures in which physicians operate on a fetus before birth. Currently, doctors primarily rely on intermittent measurements of fetal heart rate using ultrasound imaging from outside the pregnant person's body. The new device, on the other hand, can be gently inserted through the same narrow port already used in fetal surgeries.

Once inside the uterus, the device maintains stable, gentle contact with the fetus to reliably track heart rate, heart rate variability, blood oxygen levels and temperature. In studies on a large animal model, the probe provided accurate, precise, clinical-grade measurements even as the uterus and fetus moved during surgery. By tracking multiple vital signs simultaneously, surgeons gain a more complete and earlier picture of fetal distress, enabling faster interventions in case complications arise.

The study will be published on Monday (Jan. 26) in the journal Nature Biomedical Engineering. It marks the smallest platform developed to date that is capable of accurately measuring vital signs.

Northwestern bioelectronics pioneer John A. Rogers led the device development in collaboration with Dr. Aimen Shaaban, a fetal surgeon at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago. The work builds on Rogers' growing suite of soft, flexible devices designed to monitor the health of tiny, vulnerable patients, including premature infants in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).

"Initially, Dr. Shaaban reached out to our lab to ask if we could adapt our vital signs monitoring systems for premature babies and apply them to fetuses during surgery," Rogers said. "Right now, clinicians only have a partial picture of how a fetus is doing throughout surgery. We were presented with the challenge of designing a technology to monitor vital signs throughout the surgical process without creating an invasive access point or disturbing delicate tissues. Our flexible hair-like probe enters a port already used in minimally invasive fetal procedures and provides continuous, comprehensive monitoring without adding risk."

"Performing fetal surgery with this sensor really shines a light on an area that's been in the dark for so long," Shaaban said. "When we operate on a baby after birth, we monitor a variety of parameters, including blood pressure, oxygen and carbon dioxide levels, heart rate and breathing. But for a fetus, who is more sensitive than a baby, we're very limited. We don't know what their vital signs are. Sometimes, the fetal heart rate drops during this procedure signaling low oxygen levels or a low blood pH. A slow fetal heart rate can develop abruptly and can even present with a full cardiac arrest for the fetus. Our ability to monitor the fetus hasn't changed in 40 years. The tools just haven't been there. We hope this probe provides multiparameter continuous monitoring of the fetus, enabling corrective adjustments at a very early stage to ensure fetal well-being throughout the procedure and avoiding any instability."

Rogers is the Louis Simpson and Kimberly Querrey Professor of Materials Science and Engineering, Biomedical Engineering and Neurological Surgery at Northwestern, where he has appointments in the McCormick School of Engineering and Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. He also directs the Querrey Simpson Institute for Bioelectronics and the Querrey Simpson Institute for Translational Engineering for Advanced Medical Systems. Shaaban is a pediatric and fetal surgeon at Lurie Children's, professor of surgery and pediatrics at Feinberg and director of The Chicago Institute for Fetal Health. Rogers and Shaaban co-led the study with Yonggang Huang, the Jan and Marcia Achenbach Professor of Mechanical Engineering at McCormick and Hedan Bai, a former postdoctoral fellow from the Rogers' lab and current assistant professor of materials at ETH Zurich.

Fetal surgery evolves while monitoring lags behind

In rare, complex cases, surgeons perform fetal surgery to correct life-altering or sometimes life-threatening congenital conditions before birth. One such condition is spina bifida, which affects thousands of babies each year in the U.S. Physicians also might perform fetal surgery to treat severe diaphragmatic hernias, urinary tract obstructions, fetal tumors or twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome, a serious complication in which blood flows unequally from one twin to the other. Surgeons perform these procedures as early as 15 weeks into a pregnancy.

Spina bifida is an opening in the spine that leaves the spinal cord and nerves exposed. This birth defect results in a lot of neurologic complications, including leg paralysis and hydrocephalus. Fetal surgery can reduce or even prevent these complications and can improve quality of life." Dr. Aimen Shaaban, fetal surgeon, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago

Over the past decade, surgeons increasingly have shifted from open fetal surgery - requiring a large incision into the uterus - to minimally invasive fetoscopic procedures, which use tiny instruments inserted through narrow surgical ports. While these less invasive approaches reduce risks for the pregnant patient, they also make it more difficult to monitor the fetus.

Advanced engineering in a hair-thin device

To address this challenge, the Northwestern team designed a slender, filament-like probe made from soft, flexible materials that can operate safely and gently inside the uterus. With a width just three times the diameter of a single hair, the probe is slim enough to pass through a standard tube already used during fetoscopic surgery, requiring no additional incisions.

Once inside the uterus, soft robotic actuators enable the surgeon to guide and position the probe with precision. To ensure the probe stays in place, Rogers' team designed a tiny, inflatable balloon-like cushion. The built-in cushion gently expands to hold the probe in stable contact with the fetus.

To optimize the probe's shape, motion and contact forces, Huang and his former visiting Ph.D. student Xiuyuan Li used computational modeling to guide the devices mechanical design.

"The device needs to gently press onto the tissue to form the kind of coupling needed to measure vital signs," Rogers said. "Miniaturized balloons integrated onto the probe enable this coupling in a soft, minimally invasive manner. Our designs also use a similar mechanism to allow the filament to bend or twist, so that surgeons can robotically position it to a desired location."

The team integrated multiple miniature sensors into the probe to simultaneously measure fetal heart rate, blood oxygen saturation and temperature. The device wirelessly transmits data to a monitor outside the body, providing surgeons with real-time feedback throughout the procedure.

Real-time reassurance

By enabling continuous, multimodal monitoring, the new device could help surgeons intervene earlier or pause a procedure if a fetus shows signs of distress. It also could help give parents and caregivers more reassurance and peace of mind during anxiety-inducing surgeries.

"When a pregnant mom needs a fetal operation, she places a lot of trust in her doctors to make sure that it is safe," Shaaban said. "If we could give her more confidence that her baby will do well, that's better for everybody. Anything we can do to make operations safer for mom and safer for the baby is a huge win.

The study, "A filamentary soft robotic probe for multimodal in utero monitoring of fetal health," was supported by the Querrey-Simpson Institute for Bioelectronics and the Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital Foundation. The paper's co-first authors are Jianlin Zhou, Mingzheng Wu and Haohui Zhang, all postdoctoral fellows in the Rogers lab; Dr. Steven Papastefan, a postdoctoral fellow in the Shaaban lab and a surgical resident at Northwestern Medicine; and Xiuyuan Li, a former graduate student in Huang's lab.
Boston University (BU) today announced it has been awarded a $2 million research grant from The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research (MJFF). The funding will support a clinical study evaluating motor and cognitive factors associated with changes in walking for people with Parkinson's disease who use MedRhythms' MOVIVE (MR-005), a safe, use-at-home medical device that delivers rhythmic auditory stimulation (RAS) to support gait rehabilitation and motor function.

This study was funded through The Michael J. Fox Foundation's Personalized Approaches for Understanding, Assessing and Improving Gait in Parkinson's Disease research program, which supports clinical research focused on addressing the wide variability of gait challenges experienced by people with Parkinson's disease. The program prioritizes studies like this one that seek to better understand the motor and cognitive contributors to gait impairment and to inform more tailored approaches to assessment and intervention.

Walking impairments are among the most common and disabling symptoms of Parkinson's disease. This award reflects The Michael J. Fox Foundation's commitment to accelerating scalable, evidence-based approaches, like rhythmic auditory stimulation (RAS), for people living with PD." Dr. Terry Ellis, Professor and Director of the Center for Neurorehabilitation at Boston University and study's Lead Investigator

MOVIVE delivers personalized, adaptive, music-based RAS that responds in real time to users' walking patterns using shoe-worn gait sensors and algorithm-driven software. By enabling autonomous use in the home, MOVIVE is designed to expand access to neurorehabilitation and support ongoing motor function.

This study will investigate motor and cognitive responses to a three-month, at-home intervention with MOVIVE utilizing a comprehensive set of gait, mobility, and cognitive assessments. Innovative mobile brain imaging using functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) will examine neural substrates that underlie changes in gait performance in a cohort of participants to explore brain-based markers of cognitive load and individual variability in response to RAS-based gait training.

"MedRhythms is honored to support this important study funded by The Michael J. Fox Foundation and led by Dr. Terry Ellis of Boston University, a leader in the field" said Brian Harris, Co-Founder and Chief Scientific Officer at MedRhythms. "We look forward to the impact that this study may have on advancing important care for people living with Parkinson's disease"

Boston University and MedRhythms have a longstanding research collaboration, including prior feasibility studies of MOVIVE and related technologies. These earlier investigations demonstrated promising outcomes in stride length, walking speed, and gait automaticity.

This study plans to enroll 160 participants at three academic medical centers: Boston University, Washington University in St. Louis, and University of Utah. MedRhythms will provide devices and technical support for the study at no cost to the project.
A hospital-based program that supports victims of gun and knife violence can reduce the likelihood that those victims will be reinjured or commit violence themselves, according to a new Boston University study.

The findings offer hope for similar programs nationwide and may encourage cities to target investment in them to reduce gun violence, according to lead researcher Jonathan Jay, a BU School of Public Health associate professor of community health sciences. Jay calls the study of the Boston Medical Center (BMC)founded Violence Intervention Advocacy Program (VIAP) "my most important work," because of its potential to provide advocates with evidence in support of such efforts: "If we invest more in hospital-based violence intervention programs, will that help cities get their gun violence levels down?"

For survivors of gunshot and knife wounds treated in the emergency department, VIAP provides post-discharge help with mental health and family support services and assistance, if necessary, with connections to housing, food, employment, education, and other needs. The study found consistent engagement with the program could reduce the likelihood of being revictimized, or committing violence, by 50 percent two to three years after discharge. BMC, BU's primary teaching hospital, is among more than 60 hospitals in the country with a hospital-based violence intervention program.

When people's basic social and emotional needs are met, they are far less likely to be involved in violence. People who get shot or stabbed are vastly more likely to have been excluded from systems-kicked out of school, kicked out of housing, to have some history of criminal legal system involvement so that it's harder for them to get a job." Jonathan Jay, associate professor of community health sciences, BU School of Public Health

The study, published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, analyzed the records of 1,300-plus shooting or stabbing survivors, ages 16 to 34, who were at high risk of violence. Almost half of them worked with VIAP sometime in the first month after their discharge, and the researchers found that brief interaction did not appreciably lessen the risk of future violence when compared with patients who never used the program. But the roughly 10 percent of survivors who regularly worked with VIAP in the first two months after discharge saw their likelihood of being involved in violence cut in half.

"There's an old saying that hurt people hurt people, and that really applies to the work we do," says Lavon Anderson, VIAP's housing coordinator. "VIAP helps prevent future violence by helping people heal from trauma, stabilize their lives, and work toward goals that may not have felt possible before. When people feel supported and hopeful, they're much less likely to return to cycles of violence."

Currently, when someone is admitted to the hospital with a violent penetrating injury, they meet with VIAP patient advocates during their stay or soon after. Those advocates build relationships and conduct needs assessments to help target issues-from safety planning to mental health to housing insecurity-that could slow recovery or increase potential involvement in future violence. Many of the advocates have lived experience in the communities the program serves. The mental health support is given in collaboration with BMC's Community Violence Response Team.

While VIAP especially benefits those who frequently avail themselves of the program, Jay says that some patients probably need just a few visits to get back on track post-violence. Other hospital-based violence intervention programs provide stipends to encourage attendance, but Anderson is wary of that approach: "From my experience, we see a higher success rate with participants who engage because they're genuinely ready for change. They're self-motivated, and our program serves as a tool to support the direction they've already chosen."

Data from Jay's broader research into gun violence, adds Anderson, suggests that "when one person chooses not to feed into violence, hundreds of people can be affected-family members, peers, and the broader community. Seeing both the scale of that impact and how engagement influences the likelihood of someone returning to harmful behavior was eye-opening. That insight directly led me to increase my engagement with those who are on the fence, striking a careful balance between not pushing and being clearly present when they're ready."

VIAP differs from other intervention programs, Jay says, in its unusually robust services-it has 13 staffers. Although the study focused on young adults, VIAP is more flexible than many other programs, he says, in its availability to violence victims outside of the highest-risk groups and in letting participants decide how often to avail themselves of its services.

While other programs may limit eligibility-to young adults, for instance-and dictate weekly attendance, according to Jay, "VIAP says, we don't care about that. If you're the victim of violence and you were at the emergency department at BMC, we will help you."

Jay's previous research has examined young people's exposure to gun violence, the connections between urban environments and health/safety risks, and strategies for reducing racial disparities in youth firearm injuries. What makes his VIAP study so pivotal, he says, is its potential to boost support for similar programs, especially since strategies such as gun safety laws are losing ground in many states. The United States saw almost 47,000 gun-related deaths in 2023, the latest year for complete data.

"A lot of other [hospitals] could show these results to hospital administrators and other funders," says Jay.

Anderson has fingers crossed. "I'm hopeful that Professor Jay's findings will support expansion of the program and further strengthen our work. We already share our approach with programs nationwide, and I think his research can really help fine-tune what we do."

The Violence Intervention Advocacy Program study was supported by a Fund for a Safer Future grant and included researchers from Boston University's School of Public Health, Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, and Sargent College of Health & Rehabilitation Sciences; Boston Medical Center; Children's Hospital of Philadelphia; Health Alliance for Violence Intervention; and the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.
The human eye may literally become a window revealing the earliest signals of Alzheimer's disease, thanks to a new federally funded research initiative at Oregon Health & Science University.

The new five-year, $3.3 million award will enable OHSU scientists to develop an eye drop specially designed to detect the fluorescent signal of a protein associated with Alzheimer's. Combined with the use of a noninvasive scanner, the research project could result in a low-cost, widely accessible screening tool to catch the earliest stage of the disease.

"We're looking for early-stage patients who don't have symptoms," said project leader Lei Wang, Ph.D., assistant professor of biomedical engineering in the OHSU School of Medicine. Wang is also part of the OHSU Knight Cancer Institute and leads the Molecular Imaging and Probe Development Laboratory. "The goal is to develop population-level screening involving a simple eye drop and a quick scan."

The project is considered high-risk, high-reward.

If it works, it could greatly improve outcomes in new treatments for Alzheimer's that are most beneficial in the earliest stages of the disease's progression.

The project is funded through a program of the National Institute on Aging of the National Institutes of Health designed for early-stage investigators. Named for the late NIH scientist Stephen I. Katz, the award encourages scientists early in their career to develop new approaches to solving biomedical problems.

Wang's initiative would add to promising results using blood-based biomarkers to detect Alzheimer's.

Wang said the OHSU initiative, if successful, wouldn't necessarily require patients to travel to a specialized center. He envisions the technique would ultimately be available in ophthalmology clinics in rural and urban areas alike, scaling up the ability to quickly and efficiently screen people for early signals of Alzheimer's.

"It would be low-cost and accessible, not limited to major cities like Portland or Seattle," he said.

That's especially important because even though new treatments have demonstrated effectiveness in slowing the progression of Alzheimer's, they are most effective in the earlier stages of the disease.

Retina: Neural sensory extension of the brain

Trained as an organic chemist, Wang has extensive experience in developing fluorescent contrasting agents useful in helping surgeons to remove tumors while preserving critical structures such as nerve tissue. His lab focuses on designing small-molecule fluorophores - which absorb and emit light - and quantitative imaging technologies that can be translated into real-world clinical tools.

In the case of Alzheimer's disease, Wang's focus is on a type of protein called amyloid.

Typically, scientists associate Alzheimer's with amyloid-beta and tau proteins clumping together in the brain, which is believed to be involved in neurodegeneration leading to symptoms of cognitive decline that characterizes the disease. New antibody treatments attempt to slow cognitive decline by targeting amyloid plaques in the brain.

It's possible to detect amyloid plaques through brain imaging, but those tests are expensive and not typically used in screening in otherwise healthy patients.

Instead, Wang is proposing to glimpse amyloid proteins by developing a fluorescence-based molecule that ultimately could be applied as an eye drop.

He is collaborating with retinal imaging expert Yifan Jian, Ph.D., associate professor ophthalmology and biomedical engineering in the OHSU School of Medicine, to use an ultrawide field fluorescence scanning laser ophthalmoscope to detect amyloid revealed through the retina.

Jian will focus on refining the imaging technology.

Working with Lei, we're planning to tailor wave lengths that are safe for the retina while providing the contrast we need for the amyloid proteins to stand out. This is a collaborative effort, and we think we have a strong foundation to start the work." Yifan Jian, Ph.D., associate professor ophthalmology and biomedical engineering, OHSU School of Medicine

The retina shares a direct connection to the brain and is the only part of the central nervous system that can be imaged noninvasively at cellular resolution.

"The retina is a neural sensory extension of the brain," Wang said. "If we can detect a buildup of amyloid in the retina, it may be possible to flag early-stage Alzheimer's among patients who aren't yet experiencing any symptoms. That's the foundation of this project."

People flagged through retinal screening could then be referred to a neurologist for diagnosis and more intensive brain imaging.

Wang will work with a multidisciplinary team of co-investigators to advance the project from concept toward the clinic.

Jian will contribute expertise in retinal imaging and ultrawide field fluorescence scanning laser ophthalmoscopy. Nora Gray, Ph.D., associate professor of neurology in the OHSU School of Medicine, will contribute expertise in Alzheimer's disease models and retinal pathology. Summer Gibbs, Ph.D., professor of biomedical engineering, brings extensive experience in the clinical translation of fluorescent contrast agents and first-in-human imaging studies. Randy Woltjer, M.D., Ph.D., professor of pathology and laboratory medicine and director of the Neuropathology Core in OHSU's Layton Aging & Alzheimer's Disease Center, will help guide clinical priorities and future translation to patient care.

The five-year research project will involve developing the fluorescent contrasting agent and then testing it for safety and efficacy in a mouse model. Only then would it advance beyond the lab to a clinical trial.

"We're always thinking about how this can be useful for patients," Wang said. "The long-term vision is something that is accurate, affordable, and available in many communities, not only at large academic centers."
The effect of obesity on brain health may depend not only on how much fat is in the body, but also on the areas of the body where fat is stored, according to a study published today in Radiology, the flagship journal of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA).

Researchers at The Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University in Xuzhou, China described two previously unidentified fat distribution types on MRI that show the strongest associations with adverse brain and cognitive outcomes: a "pancreatic predominant" type, which shows a markedly high concentration of fat in the pancreas compared with other areas of the body, and a "skinny fat" type, which has a high fat burden despite not fitting the typical patterns of high obesity.

While previous research has established a link between obesity and brain/cognitive health, particularly in people with higher ratios of visceral fat, this new study focuses on the specific risks associated with specific fat distribution patterns, explained study coauthor Kai Liu, M.D., Ph.D., an associate professor in The Affiliated Hospital's Department of Radiology.

"Our work leveraged MRI's ability to quantify fat in various body compartments, especially internal organs, to create a classification system that's data-driven instead of subjective," Dr. Liu said. "The data-driven classification unexpectedly discovered two previously undefined fat distribution types that deserve greater attention."

The researchers used data from 25,997 individuals in the UK Biobank database, which houses anonymized medical imaging measurements alongside volunteers' physical measurements, demographics, disease biomarkers, medical history and answers to lifestyle questionnaires. This allowed the team to compare brain health outcomes with patterns of body fat distribution.

Of the body fat profiles the team identified, "pancreatic-predominant" and "skinny fat" profiles were most associated with extensive gray matter atrophy, accelerated brain aging, cognitive decline and increased risk of neurological disease. These risks were present in both men and women, with nuanced variations between the sexes.

Individuals with "pancreatic-predominant" distribution patterns showed a proton density fat fraction-an MRI marker that provides a precise estimation of fat concentration in tissue-of around 30 percent in the pancreas.

This level is about two to three times higher than that of other fat distribution categories, and it can be up to six times higher than that of lean individuals with low overall fat. Additionally, this group tends to have a higher BMI and overall body fat load." Kai Liu, M.D., Ph.D., associate professor, The Affiliated Hospital's Department of Radiology

Interestingly, however, these individuals didn't have significantly pronounced liver fat compared to those with other profiles. High pancreatic fat accompanied by relatively low liver fat emerges as a distinct, clinically overlooked phenotype, Dr. Liu noted.

"In our daily radiology practice, we often diagnose 'fatty liver,'" Dr. Liu said. "But from the perspectives of brain structure, cognitive impairment and neurological disease risk, increased pancreatic fat should be recognized as a potentially higher-risk imaging phenotype than fatty liver."

Individuals with "skinny fat" profiles show the highest fat burden in nearly all areas except the liver and pancreas. Unlike a balanced "high obesity" profile, "skinny fat" tends to be more concentrated in the abdomen.

"Most notably, this type does not fit the traditional image of a very obese person, as its actual average BMI ranks only fourth among all categories," explained Dr. Liu. "The increase is perhaps more in fat proportion. Therefore, if one feature best summarizes this profile, I think, it would be an elevated weight-to-muscle ratio, especially in male individuals."

In this study, the research team focused specifically on the neurological and brain cognitive risks associated with different fat distribution patterns. As for risks in other areas, such as cardiovascular or metabolic health, Dr. Liu noted that more research is needed to determine how these patterns could be related.

Understanding the risks associated with specific fat distribution patterns can help health care providers guide more personalized treatment and help patients keep their brains healthier. As Dr. Liu explained, "Brain health is not just a matter of how much fat you have, but also where it goes."

"Association of Body Fat Distribution Patterns at MRI with Brain Structure, Cognition, and Neurological Diseases." Collaborating with Dr. Liu were Miao Yu, M.D., Libin Yao, M.D., Sanjeev Shahi, M.M., Yingqianxi Xu, M.M., Meizi Li, M.M., Qingtong Zheng, M.M., Di Ma, M.M., Qi Zhang, M.M., Dan Wang, B.M., Yang Wu, B.M., Xiao Zhou, B.M., Haitao Ge, Ph.D., Chunfeng Hu, M.D., and Yanjia Deng, M.D., Ph.D.
Background: Many patients use patient portals to message their primary care clinician, but demand for in-person appointments remains high. Researchers from the University of Michigan examined how patients value trade-offs between quick portal messaging, getting a visit sooner with any available physician, or waiting longer to see their own primary care physician. The study analyzed 2,268 survey responses from adult patients in an academic family medicine clinic. Researchers asked patients to imagine common health situations, such as a new symptom, a medication question, or a mental health concern. Patients then chose between care options that varied by type and timing.

What they found: Across all six scenarios, patients most often preferred a portal message from their own primary care physician within three days over waiting for video or in-person visits. When patients did not choose portal messaging, they generally preferred a faster video visit with another physician rather than waiting longer to see their own physician.

Implications: Patients' strong preference for rapid portal messaging highlights growing pressure on primary care clinics, as responding to messages takes time and adds to clinician workload.
News / National

by Staff reporter

Notorious information peddler Goolam Mohammed Suliman Vawda, who operated on X under the handle @Goolammv, has been found dead in a hotel in Johannesburg.Investigations into the circumstances surrounding his death are currently under way. Sources close to the probe told The Star that Vawda had earlier this week been served with court papers relating to allegations of fraud, cyberbullying, hate speech and the publication of defamatory content targeting politicians, media personalities and other individuals.Vawda was unmasked in 2024 by Independent Media as the individual behind the controversial @Goolammv account. He was accused of being a tenderpreneur and political influencer with alleged links to senior African National Congress (ANC) officials, as well as a history of shifting political loyalties.He was widely described as the operator of a so-called "sock puppet" account, allegedly used to manipulate political narratives on social media. His online persona was said to have switched support from former president Jacob Zuma to President Cyril Ramaphosa, and later aligned with the DA/ANC-led Government of National Unity (GNU).Previous investigations alleged that Vawda had access to sensitive government information, including details of ministerial appointments, and that his posts were amplified through coordinated bot networks. Reports also linked him to suspected fraudulent tender activities, allegations he consistently denied.Authorities have not released further details regarding the cause of death, and no official statement has yet been issued by the police.The matter remains a developing story.
Long-term national data reveal that even modest reductions in alcohol consumption across the whole population could prevent thousands of cancer deaths, especially among older Australians.

Study: Alcohol consumption and mortality from four alcohol-related cancers in Australia 1950-2018: a time series analysis. Image credit: metodej/Shutterstock.com

Population-level reduction of alcohol consumption in Australia could, over the long term, significantly decrease the mortality caused by major alcohol-related cancers, according to a study published in the British Journal of Cancer .

Alcohol and tobacco jointly influence cancer outcomes

Excessive alcohol intake is a major risk factor for several cancers, including upper aerodigestive tract (oral cavity, pharynx, larynx, esophagus), liver, colorectal, and breast cancers. Tobacco smoking further influences the association between alcohol intake and cancer risk, especially for upper aerodigestive tract cancer.

The overall drinking level as well as the population-level distribution of alcohol intake are two important factors that need to be considered while determining the association between alcohol intake and cancer mortality. According to the collectivity theory of drinking culture, the changes in per capita (the mean value per person) alcohol intake are associated with shifts in drinking patterns across the entire population.

It has also been documented in the literature that the prevalence of heavy drinking reduces with the reduction in average alcohol intake across a population. This is particularly important from a public health perspective, as the risk of cancer mortality is disproportionately high for the heaviest drinkers.

Given the significant impact of population-level drinking patterns on cancer mortality, researchers explored the potential preventive impact of reducing population drinking on cancer mortality in Australia, while controlling for changes in tobacco smoking and per capita health expenditure. Existing evidence indicates that higher health expenditure is associated with better cancer outcomes.

National time-series links alcohol trends to cancer deaths

The researchers analyzed annual per capita alcohol intake data (19102018) and cancer mortality data (1950s2018) collected from national registries. The primary focus was on four types of alcohol-related cancers, including upper aerodigestive tract, liver, colorectal, and breast cancers.

The researchers also collected annual per capita tobacco smoking data and per capita health expenditure from national databases and included these variables in the analysis as potential confounders. They used time-series statistical models to estimate sex- and age-specific associations and long-term effects of alcohol intake and tobacco smoking on cancer mortality.

Cancer mortality patterns differ by sex and cancer type

The study analysis revealed a significant increase in per capita alcohol intake between 1950 and 1970 and tobacco smoking between 1950 and 1966, followed by a steady reduction. However, per capita health expenditure increased steadily from 1935 to 2018.

Regarding mortality, the study found an increase in upper aerodigestive tract cancer mortality among males and females until the mid-1980s, followed by a reduction afterwards. Regarding liver cancer mortality, a steady increase was observed between 1968 and 2018.

Female breast cancer mortality mostly remained at the same level between 1950 and 1995 and decreased slightly after 1995. Colorectal cancer mortality increased from 1955 to 1986 and reduced afterwards for males, while female colorectal cancer mortality declined gradually since 1955.

Association between alcohol intake and cancer mortality

The analysis controlling for tobacco smoking and health expenditure revealed that a one-litre decrease in annual per capita alcohol intake is associated with approximately 3.6 % reduction in upper aerodigestive tract cancer mortality among males and 3.4 % among females over a period of 20 years. However, this association is significant only for the 5069-year age group.

Regarding liver cancer, a 3.8 % reduction in mortality was observed with a one-litre decrease in annual per capita alcohol intake among males. This association was significant only among people aged 50 years and over. However, no significant impact of alcohol intake on liver cancer mortality was observed among females.

Similarly, a significant positive association between alcohol intake and colorectal cancer mortality was observed among males and females aged 50 years and over. However, the estimated effects were smaller than those observed for upper aerodigestive tract and male liver cancers. Regarding female breast cancer mortality, a significant positive association with alcohol intake was observed across all adult age groups (30 years and older).

Considering the average alcohol intake from 1930 to 2018, the study found that about 45 % of male deaths and around 21 % of female deaths due to upper aerodigestive tract cancer, and approximately 48 % of male deaths due to liver cancer were associated with alcohol intake.

Policy-driven drinking reductions could save lives nationwide

The study findings reveal that a population-level decrease in alcohol intake can lead to significant reductions in alcohol-related cancer mortality rates in Australia, particularly among people aged 5069 years. However, estimates are sensitive to assumptions about long-term exposure lags that determine how past alcohol consumption is weighted over time.

Specifically, the findings suggest that the population-level reduction in alcohol intake may have more pronounced benefits among males than females, reflecting that males consume substantially more alcohol than females.

Among males, the highest benefits of restricted alcohol intake were observed among those aged 50 years and older, reflecting the long-term cumulative effects of alcohol intake on cancer development.

Regarding breast cancer mortality, the findings suggest that female breast cancer mortality risk can be reduced or prevented across adult age groups by reducing alcohol intake.

The authors note that the results come from an aggregate (ecological) time-series analysis and that effect estimates vary depending on the assumed lag between alcohol exposure and cancer outcomes. Under alternative lag assumptions, associations were weaker or not statistically significant, indicating that the findings should be interpreted cautiously rather than as definitive causal estimates.

Overall, the study findings highlight the need for large-scale implementation of public health policies that aim to reduce alcohol intake at the population level, such as increasing alcohol price or tax, reducing alcohol availability, developing drinking-preventive interventions, and controlling alcohol-related advertising.

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Researchers at the University of Oulu have identified genes that increase susceptibility to pneumonia. Alongside inherited risk factors, smoking and higher body mass were also found to raise the risk of developing the disease.

The study identified a total of 12 genetic regions associated with pneumonia risk, eight of which were identified for the first time. Many of these regions are linked to the regulation of the bodys inflammatory response. However, among patients with recurrent pneumonia and among older patients, genes associated with nicotine dependence played a particularly prominent role.

The researchers also used genetic data to assess causal relationships. The findings provide evidence that smoking and obesity may increase the risk of pneumonia through a direct cause-and-effect relationship.

The study was conducted by analysing genetic and health data from more than 600,000 individuals in Finland and Estonia. Genetic risk factors for pneumonia were examined not only in the general population, but also across three age groups, among people with recurrent pneumonia, and among individuals with asthma.

The strength of the study lies in its large and reliable dataset, which combines genetic information with long-term health data from two countries. This also made it possible to examine genetic risk factors for pneumonia across different age groups and patient populations, says Doctoral Researcher Anni Heikkila, who served as the studys lead analyst.

Pneumonia is a major infectious disease and a significant cause of mortality. In Finland, around 50,000 people develop pneumonia each year, and approximately half of them require hospital treatment. The disease can be caused by bacteria, viruses or, more rarely, fungi, and its severity ranges from mild to severe depending on both the patient and the causative agent.

The incidence of pneumonia is markedly higher than average in certain population groups. Those at greatest risk include older people, individuals with chronic heart and respiratory diseases, immunocompromised patients, as well as heavy alcohol users and smokers. In addition, socioeconomic factors and certain long-term conditions increase the risk of illness, making prevention and early treatment particularly important in these groups.

Understanding inherited risk factors helps to clarify why some individuals are more susceptible to pneumonia and how the disease progresses. The association between genes related to nicotine dependence and pneumonia risk in older adults is a finding of considerable public health importance. In the future, our results may be used to support the development of treatments and to improve disease prevention. Professor Timo Hautala, infectious diseases specialist, University of Oulu and Oulu University Hospital
A groundbreaking new study, led by experts at the University of Nottingham, has found that medicines used to treat gout can also reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke in people with gout.

The new research, which is published in JAMA Internal Medicine, shows that treating gout to target blood urate levels also prevents heart attacks and stroke. The study is led by Professor Abhishek from the School of Medicine at the University along with colleagues at Keele University and London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine in the UK, Gothenburg University in Sweden, and Polytechnic University of Marche in Italy.

Gout is a common form of arthritis where people have high levels of urate in their blood and urate crystals deposited inside and around their joints. It causes sudden flares of severe joint pain and swelling. It affects one in 40 adults across the UK and EU and is associated with an increased cardiovascular risk. Tablets such as allopurinol, taken at the right dose, reduce blood urate levels and dissolve urate crystal deposits.

People with gout who achieve serum urate levels below 360 micromol/L (6 mg/dL) with urate lowering drugs such as allopurinol experience fewer gout flares, but little is known about whether this would also reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke.

In this new study, the team set out to find if achieving a target serum urate level of lower than 360 micromol/L (6 mg/dL) with urate lowering drugs, mainly allopurinol, would also reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke in people with gout.

People with gout are at an increased risk of illnesses such as heart disease and stroke. This is the first study to find that medicines such as allopurinol that are used to treat gout reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke if they are taken at the right dose. The right dose varies from person to person and is the dose that gets the blood urate level to less than 360 micromol/L (6 mg/dL)." Professor Abhishek, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham

The team conducted a large study using primary care data from the Clinical Practice Research Datalink Aurum linked to hospital and mortality records from January 2007 to March 2021. Patients were aged 18 years and above, had been diagnosed with gout, and had a pre-treatment serum rate level higher than 360 micromol/L (6 mg/dL). They used an emulated target trial framework in which routinely collected healthcare data are analyzed. This is faster than traditional clinical trials which are costly and take time.

Patients were assigned to the treat-to-target (T2T) urate lowering treatment (ULT) arm or the non-T2T ULT arm if they achieved or did not achieve a serum urate level lower than 360 micromol/L (6 mg/dL) within 12 months of their first treatment with a urate lowering drug.

The team looked at whether there was a major adverse cardiovascular event (i.e., heart attack, stroke or death due to cardiovascular disease) within five years of the first prescription for a urate lowering drug.

Of the nearly 110,000 patients included, patients in the T2T ULT arm had a higher five-year survival and lower risk of a major adverse cardiovascular event, than those in the non-T2T ULT arm. There was a greater association for people at high risk and very high cardiovascular risk than those with moderate risk. Patients who achieved a lower serum urate target of less than 300 micromol/L (5 mg/dL) had a larger risk reduction. Patients in the T2T ULT arm had fewer gout flares.

"The findings of our study are very positive and show that patients with gout who were prescribed urate lowering drugs and achieved serum urate levels of lover than 360 micromol/L (6 mg/dL) within 12 months, had a much lower risk of a heart attack or stroke over the next five years. Previous research from Nottingham showed treat-to-target urate lowering treatment prevents gout flares. This current study provides an added benefit of reduced risk of heart attack, stroke, and death due to these diseases," said Professor Abhishek.
University of Virginia School of Data Science researcher Heman Shakeri has been awarded a major new research grant to lead work at the intersection of machine learning and diabetes care. Shakeri will serve as a contact PI alongside Dr. Greg Forlenza, pediatric endocrinologist at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus (Barbara Davis Center for Diabetes).

The award is jointly funded by Breakthrough T1D and The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust. The project leverages a $3.9 million grant combined with $800,000 in in-kind contributions from industry partners Tandem Diabetes Care and Arecor, bringing the total project support to approximately $4.7 million.

The initiative focuses on developing next-generation, fully closed-loop insulin delivery systems. The research will test how adaptive learning algorithms, developed at UVA, combined with ultra-rapid-acting insulin formulations can personalize glucose control without requiring patients to manually intervene for meals or exercise.

University of Colorado Anschutz serves as the administrative prime, and UVA leads the algorithm development and engineering work packages. Clinical trials will be conducted at three sites: UVA, the Barbara Davis Center, and the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF).

This work is about giving people their time, attention, and peace of mind back. Type 1 Diabetes demands constant vigilance. Our goal is to design systems that learn continuously and adapt automatically so individuals with Type 1 Diabetes, especially children and their families, can live more freely." Heman Shakeri, researcher, University of Virginia School of Data Science

A data-driven approach to a clinical challenge

Automated insulin delivery (AID) systems have transformed diabetes management, yet even advanced systems require users to announce meals and calculate carbohydrates. The Forlenza-Shakeri project addresses this by combining adaptive machine learning algorithms with ultra-rapid-acting U-500 insulin. At the core of the research is a framework developed at UVA that allows the delivery algorithm to continuously explore and refine control strategies. Rather than relying on fixed parameters, the system actively learns from patient data, adjusting to circadian rhythms, stress, and metabolic changes in real time.

This grant underscores UVA's central role in the engineering of medical therapeutics. Shakeri and the UVA Center for Diabetes Technology are responsible for the adaptive learning architecture that makes this fully automated control possible. "UVA is where the core data science and engineering innovation happens," Shakeri noted. "We are building the learning systems that allow these devices to personalize care in real time."

Building a track record of innovation

This award represents a significant milestone in Shakeri's research trajectory. It builds on previous successes, including multiple UVA LaunchPad grants and collaborative projects with the UVA Comprehensive Cancer Center. Across these efforts, Shakeri's work has adhered to a consistent theme: designing systems that respond to real human variability rather than forcing patients to adapt to rigid technology.

"Diabetes is not static," Shakeri said. "People's bodies change from hour to hour. Data science allows us to build systems that learn alongside the patient instead of working against them."

Collaboration and impact

The project is supported by a strategic collaboration between Breakthrough T1D and the Helmsley Charitable Trust.

"This exciting project builds upon a decade of collaboration between the Barbara Davis Center and UVA to continue to bring the most advanced technologies to children and adults with diabetes," said Forlenza.

With cutting-edge research infrastructure and deep clinical expertise, the UCSF Diabetes Technology Research Team will also play a key role in advancing next-generation treatment strategies for people living with diabetes through this collaboration.

As the project moves into clinical phases, Shakeri sees this work as part of a broader shift toward patient-centered AI. "This is not just about one device," he said. "It is about rethinking how we use data science to support human health in a way that is adaptive, humane, and sustainable."
Delhi: Woman convicted for culpable homicide attempt, negligence over dog attack

Last Updated: January 27, 2026, 20:45 IST

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New Delhi, Jan 27 (PTI) A Delhi court has convicted a woman for attempting culpable homicide and negligent conduct with respect to an animal after her pet dog attacked a former employee, causing grievous and life-threatening injuries to the victims face and neck.

Additional Sessions Judge Samar Vishal held Rajni Singh guilty under Sections 308 (attempt to commit culpable homicide) and 289 IPC(negligent conduct with respect to animals), while acquitting her of the charge under Section 509 IPC (acts intended to insult the modesty of a woman).

The core incident, namely the dog bite causing grievous and life-threatening injuries to the complainant, stands proved beyond reasonable doubt through the unimpeached testimony of the injured and the strong corroboration provided by medical evidence," the court said in its judgment dated January 24.

On June 11, 2020, the complainant, Sapna, who had worked for the accused, visited Singhs residence in Malviya Nagar to collect her pending salary.

The prosecution alleged that after Sapna refused an alleged indecent demand, Singh intentionally unleashed her pet dog in the room, resulting in a brutal attack that left the victims face permanently disfigured and caused the loss of two teeth. The victim also had to undergo vaccination, and upon request, Singh refused to assist her financially with the medical costs.

Accepting the prosecutions version, the court noted that the victims testimony was clear, cogent and consistent" and was corroborated by unimpeachable medical evidence.

The complainant is an injured witness, and the law accords a higher degree of credibility to the testimony of an injured witness, as her presence at the spot is natural and her injuries provide an in-built guarantee of truthfulness," the court said.

The court emphasised that the testimony of a sole witness does not become unreliable just because other witnesses turned hostile or do not support the prosecutions version.

The court is required to separate the grain from the chaff and assess whether the evidence of the injured witness inspires confidence and is corroborated by surrounding circumstances and medical evidence," added the court.

The medical board found eight injuries on the victim, including fractures to teeth and a lacerated wound on the neck, which was described as a vital area containing sensitive structures where injury could prove fatal. The board opined that the injuries collectively were grievous and dangerous and consistent with a dog attack.

The accused can safely be imputed with the knowledge that her act was so imminently dangerous that it was likely to cause such bodily injury as could result in death. The fact that the victim survived due to timely medical intervention does not dilute the gravity of the act. The subsequent conduct of the accused in taking the injured to the hospital, though relevant for mitigation at the stage of sentence, does not negate the existence of the requisite knowledge at the time of the incident," said the court while convicting Singh under Section 308 IPC.

Rejecting the defences claim that the incident was accidental, the court said, When a person keeps a dog within a confined residential space and knowingly leaves an unfamiliar person alone with the animal, while others remain safe, it suggests a conscious act or, at the very least, a deliberate disregard of an obvious and imminent danger." However, the court acquitted Singh of the charge under Section 509 IPC, holding that the prosecution failed to prove the allegation of insulting the modesty of the complainant beyond reasonable doubt.

Except for a bald assertion made by the complainant, there is no specific, detailed or consistent clear evidence to substantiate this allegation," the court said.

The court will hear arguments on the sentence separately on January 31. PTI MDB MPL MPL

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HYDRAA rescues nine workers stranded in Mir Alam lake; CM Reddy lauds effort

Last Updated: January 27, 2026, 20:45 IST

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Hyderabad, Jan 27 (PTI) Battling darkness and adverse conditions, the HYDRAA rescued nine workers and engineers stranded in the middle of Mir Alam Lake after their boat engine failed, officials said.

Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy on Tuesday lauded the Hyderabad Disaster Response Force and Asset Protection Agency personnel for saving the lives of those trapped.

Officials said the workers and engineers had entered the crocodile-inhabited lake on Sunday to conduct soil testing for a proposed bridge. While returning in the evening, their boat engine malfunctioned, leaving them stranded.

The group contacted a mechanic, who said repairs could only be carried out if the boat was brought ashore. They attempted to push the boat manually but were unable to do so due to thick water hyacinths.

As darkness fell and fears of crocodiles grew, the group called Dial 100 for help.

The HYDRAA Disaster Response Force (DRF) immediately launched an operation and assured the stranded personnel that help was on the way.

Equipped with torch lights, the team reached the group after they signalled using mobile phone flashlights. In the first trip, four members were rescued, followed by the remaining five, the HYDRAA said in a release.

In a post on X, Reddy described HYDRAAs efforts to protect government assets and respond to disasters in the city as commendable.

HYDRAA is implementing the state governments vision of protecting public assets, including lakes vital for environmental conservation. I extend my special compliments to its staff who stepped in and saved the lives of engineers and workers trapped in Mir Alam Tank during an unexpected calamity," he said.

The rescued workers and engineers expressed gratitude to the HYDRAA team for ensuring their safe return during the rescue operation, it added. PTI VVK GDK SJR SSK

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Kolkata Police arrests Pune-based man for fake hotel booking websites

Last Updated: January 27, 2026, 22:30 IST

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Kolkata, Jan 27 (PTI) Kolkata Police arrested a man from Pune in connection with an online hotel booking fraud in which unsuspecting customers were cheated by fake websites of reputed hotels across the country, an officer said on Tuesday.

The accused, identified as 41-year-old Huzaifa Shabbir Darbar, was arrested on January 27 from his office in Pune following a raid conducted jointly with the local police, he said.

The accused and his associates allegedly created multiple fake hotel booking websites and induced people to make payments under the false pretext of room reservations, the officer said.

As many as 83 victims were cheated of a cumulative amount of Rs 13.6 lakh," he said.

A case was registered on July 18 at the Cyber Police Station in Kolkata, under various sections of the Information Technology Act, 2000, and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, based on a complaint lodged by a police officer, he said.

We found that one of the victims, a Kolkata resident, had attempted to book a hotel room in Puri through a website that appeared genuine. He was initially asked to make a nominal payment of Re one to verify the booking and was later persuaded to transfer additional amounts through UPI on the pretext of transaction failures," he said.

After the full payment was made, no booking confirmation was provided, and all subsequent calls went unanswered, the officer said, adding that the victim later reported the matter on the national cybercrime helpline and his local police station.

Notices were issued to banks and domain service providers during the probe, which revealed that the fake website was hosted on an overseas domain platform. Further technical analysis led investigators to an email ID and mobile number allegedly used by the accused, he added.

Based on the findings, a raid was conducted at the accuseds residence and office in Pune after obtaining court permission. During interrogation, the accused admitted his involvement," the officer said.

Several digital devices, including a mobile phone, a laptop and a pen drive containing electronic data, were seized during the search, police said.

The arrest was made on the basis of a warrant issued by a Kolkata court, and all legal procedures were followed, including informing the accused and his family about the grounds of arrest, the officer added.

Further investigation is underway to ascertain the role of others involved in the racket. PTI SCH RG

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Maker Bhavan Foundation Crowns Winners of Vishwakarma Awards 2025

Last Updated: January 27, 2026, 17:30 IST

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VMPLNew Delhi [India], January 27: Maker Bhavan Foundation successfully concluded the Vishwakarma Awards 2025 at IIT Indore. The grand finale, held in the presence of Dr. Hemant Kanakia, Chief Guest, Prof. Suhas Joshi, Director, IIT Indore, and Mr. Gautam Khanna, President and CEO, Maker Bhavan Foundation, marked the culmination of a cross-border innovation journey that brought together some of the most promising student innovators from India and SAARC countries.Structured as a hardware focused challenge, the awards are built to push student innovation ideas into real world application. The 2025 edition engaged 3,600 undergraduate and postgraduate STEM students from India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan, and Sri Lanka. From an initial pool of 1,000 teams, a nine-month cycle of prototyping, technical evaluation, and expert mentoring, the playing field was narrowed down to 12 finalist teams. At the final showcase, shortlisted teams presented working hardware prototypes across HealTech, Smart Mobility, and Artificial Intelligence, with a strong focus on embedding AI directly into physical systems rather than positioning it as a standalone software layer. In the Smart Mobility category, Team VAYU-SETU from Vivekanand Education Societys Institute of Technology (VESIT), comprising Harsh Tejwani and Mohammed Ujjainwala, secured first place, followed by Team VIHANG from Adamas University, comprising Kamruzzaman Mondal, Shambhavi Shekhar Singh, Pritam Debnath, and Srishti Paul. In the Intelligent Machines category, Team Adaptive Modular Arms from IIT Bombay comprising Aarav Gupta, Palash Pangavhane, and Jaideep Lokhande won first prize, while Team Aqualoop from IIT Indore, comprising Atharva Sunil Chavan, Diksha Jaurker, Kaushal Gangwar, K. Reddy Mohamed Sadiq, and Vansh Ruhela, secured second place. In the HealTech category, first prize was awarded to Team Sarathi from the C.R. Rao Advanced Institute of Mathematics, Statistics and Computer Science, comprising Bolisetty Subbarayudu, Chiguru Varun, Gollapally Shivaraj, and Shaik Taufeeq, followed by Team FlexoGear from IIT Mandi, comprising Garv Jain, Dhairya Sharma, Manit Arora, Utkarsh Ranjan, and Akshadeep Anand Suryawanshi.The quality of hardware prototypes on display reflects the students strong foundation in applied engineering and a mindset geared toward deployable solutions. They are solving problems that demand engineering judgement, trade off decisions, and system level thinking," said Dr. Hemant Kanakia. Working with hardware first systems meant students had to navigate real technical constraints, from sensor calibration and signal noise in HealTech applications, to power management and control systems in Smart Mobility, and tight compute and latency limits while embedding AI into physical devices. Watching teams resolve these challenges through iterative design and testing highlighted the depth of engineering skill and problem-solving capability emerging from young minds," said Mr Gautam Khanna.Prof. Suhas Joshi, Director, IIT Indore, said: This hardware-focused challenge exemplifies the kind of deep-tech innovation we seek to nurturewhere ideas are translated into robust, real-world systems. The journey from over a thousand teams to a select group of finalists underscores the rigor of the process and the commitment of young innovators across the region. At IIT Indore, we firmly believe that the future of engineering education lies in enabling students to convert ideas into deployable technologies that address real-world and societal challenges. The finalist teams have demonstrated exceptional system-level thinking. Such initiatives play a vital role in shaping industry-ready talent and advancing technology that addresses societal needs."In addition to the open category, participants engaged with industry-curated problem statements, ensuring that solutions demonstrated relevance, scalability, and real-world applicability.Finalist teams have received dedicated prototyping support and participation opportunity in intensive technical and entrepreneurship training at Indian Institute of Technology Indore, focusing on prototype refinement, pitch development, and presentation readiness.The Vishwakarma Awards 2025 reaffirmed Maker Bhavan Foundations commitment to building platforms that support practice ready engineers and entrepreneurs, while expanding access to structured innovation opportunities for students across India and SAARC nations.(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.)

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Mother of all deals has now been born: Malta High Commissioner on India-EU FTA

Last Updated: January 28, 2026, 03:15 IST

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New Delhi [India], January 28 (ANI): Reuben Gauci, High Commissioner of Malta to India, lauded the India-European Union (EU) Free Trade Agreement (FTA), calling it the mother of all deals" and highlighting its potential to expand trade and investment between India and the EU.Speaking to ANI on Tuesday, Gauci said, The mother of deals has now been born, and we are expecting that this will grow and make trade and investment between India and the EU a much bigger reality Now we should be thinking of a lot of connectivity. My country, Malta, is in the middle of the Mediterranean We are looking at how this connectivity will affect our sea routes and how we can contribute to it."The High Commissioner emphasised the need for stability and predictability in trade. We should stand for predictability Even if tariffs are imposed, it is done in an amicable way rather than like a punishment It is important that we do not weaponise anything We have the FTA for matters to take place in a predictable way," he added.The India-EU FTA coincides with strengthened cooperation in the technology and innovation domains. As per the India-EU Joint Statement on the State Visit of the EU delegation, both sides aim to leverage their complementary strengths to enhance collaboration across the entire value chain, linking research, innovation, and business engagement to practical market operationalisation.In the current geopolitical environment and amidst global disruptions, they reaffirmed the India-EU Trade and Technology Council (TTC), a high-level coordination platform to address key trade, technology and economic security issues, as the cornerstone of their technology partnership and aim to further enhance its work. The two sides will continue to advance together on promoting Digital Public Infrastructure, including interoperable standards and exchange of best practices on regulatory frameworks, collaboration in new technologies (including semiconductors, artificial intelligence, quantum computing, digital public infrastructure and 6G) to build cyber-secure, trusted digital ecosystems, as well as to advance cooperation in clean tech. They will broaden discussions on economic security, in particular on the resilience of supply chains and research security, underlining the importance of protecting sensitive technologies. Both sides agreed to hold the next TTC ministerial meeting in Brussels in 2026 and to deepen business consultations. (ANI)

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MP HC sets up judicial commission to probe water contamination in Indore

Last Updated: January 28, 2026, 00:15 IST

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Indore, Jan 27 (PTI) The Indore bench of Madhya Pradesh High Court on Tuesday set up a commission of inquiry comprising a former HC judge to probe the issue of water contamination in citys Bhagirathpura, saying the matter requires probe by an independent, credible authority and urgent judicial scrutiny".

It also directed the commission to submit an interim report after four weeks from the date of commencement of proceedings.

A division bench of Justices Vijay Kumar Shukla and Alok Awasthi constituted the commission while hearing several public interest litigations (PILs) filed simultaneously regarding the deaths of several people in Bhagirathpura due to the consumption of contaminated water.

The HC reserved the order after hearing all the parties during the day, and released it late at night.

The state government on Tuesday told the HC that the deaths of 16 people in Indores Bhagirathpura area was possibly linked to a month-long outbreak of vomiting and diarrhoea caused by contaminated drinking water.

The government presented an audit report of 23 deaths from the current gastroenteritis epidemic in Bhagirathpura before the bench, suggesting that 16 of these fatalities may have been linked to the outbreak of vomiting and diarrhoea caused by contaminated drinking water.

The report, prepared by a committee of five experts from the citys Government Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Medical College, stated that the deaths of four people in Bhagirathpura were unrelated to the outbreak, while no conclusion could be reached regarding the cause of death of three other people in the area.

During the hearing, the high court sought to know from the state government the scientific basis behind its report.

The division bench also expressed surprise at the state governments use of the term verbal autopsy" in relation to the report, sarcastically stating that it had heard the term for the first time.

The HC expressed concern over the Bhagirathpura case, stating that the situation was alarming," and noted that cases of people falling ill due to contaminated drinking water have also been reported in Mhow, near Indore.

In its order, the HC said the serious issue concerning contamination of the drinking water supply in Bhagirathpura area allegedly resulted in widespread health hazards to residents, including children and elderly persons.

According to the petitioners and media reports, death toll is about 30 till today, but the report depicts only 16 without any basis or record, it said.

It is averred that sewage mixing, leakage in the pipeline, and failure of civic authorities to maintain potable water standards have led to the outbreak of water-borne diseases. Photographs, medical reports, and complaints submitted to the authorities prima facie indicate a matter requiring urgent judicial scrutiny, the HC said.

Considering the gravity of the allegation and affecting the right to life under Article 21 of the Constitution of India and the need for an independent fact-finding exercise, the Court is of the opinion that the matter requires investigation by an independent, credible authority," it said.

Accordingly, we appoint Justice Sushil Kumar Gupta, former judge of the Madhya Pradesh High Court, a one-man commission of inquiry into the issues relating to water contamination in Bhagirathpura, Indore, and its impact on other areas of the city," the HC added.

As per the order, the commission shall inquire into and submit a report on the cause of contamination  whether the drinking water supplied to Bhagirathpura was contaminated; and the source and nature of contamination (sewage ingress, industrial discharge, pipeline damage etc).

The panel will also probe the number of actual deaths of affected residents on account of contaminated water; find out the nature of disease reported and adequacy of medical response and preventive measures; suggest immediate steps required to ensure safe drinking water as well as long-term infrastructural and monitoring reforms.

It will also identify and fix responsibility upon the officers and officials found prima facie responsible for the Bhagirathpura water contamination incident, and suggest guidelines for compensation to affected residents, particularly vulnerable sections.

The commission shall have powers of a civil court for the purpose of summoning officials and witnesses; calling up records from the government department, hospitals, laboratories and civic bodies; ordering water quality testing through accredited laboratories; conducting spot inspections.

All state authorities involving district administration, Indore Municipal Corporation, public health engineering department and Madhya Pradesh Pollution Control Board shall extend full co-operation and provide records as sought by the commission, it said.

The state government shall provide office space, staff, and logistical support to the commission, it said.

During the hearing in the day, the state government also presented a status report to the court in this matter.

According to reports, a total of 454 patients were admitted to local hospitals during the vomiting and diarrhea outbreak, of whom 441 have been discharged after treatment, and 11 are currently hospitalised.

According to officials, due to a leak in the municipal drinking water pipeline in Bhagirathpura, sewage from a toilet was also mixed in the water. PTI HWP NP

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News / National

by Staff reporter

As Zimbabwe's ruling Zanu-PF grapples with intensifying internal succession battles, controversy has erupted over a lucrative national mandate granted to President Emmerson Mnangagwa's Special Presidential Investment Adviser, Mr Paul Tungwarara, giving him exclusive rights to rehabilitate river ecosystems across the country.Critics and industry insiders allege the move effectively hands Tungwarara control over alluvial gold mining nationwide, under the guise of environmental rehabilitation, in what has been described as a "grand alluvial mining heist".Through his company, Prevail Group of Companies, Tungwarara was initially awarded a pilot project to rehabilitate the Muroodzi River in Concession, Mashonaland Central Province. However, documents obtained by the media show that this mandate has since been expanded to cover all rivers in all provinces, giving Prevail unprecedented national reach.In a letter dated January 8, 2026, addressed to the Environmental Management Agency (EMA), Tungwarara states that President Mnangagwa approved the expansion of the river rehabilitation programme into "a nationwide project across all provinces".EMA is the statutory body responsible for environmental protection and sustainable natural resource management.The deal has drawn sharp criticism from artisanal and small-scale miners, who accuse government of crony capitalism, arguing that there was no public tender, competitive bidding, or transparent process before the exclusive rights were granted.Under Statutory Instrument 188 of 2024, alluvial riverbed mining was banned due to widespread environmental degradation, siltation, and mercury pollution of water sources. Government has repeatedly insisted the ban allows no exceptions, yet Cabinet approved what officials describe as a "prototype" rehabilitation project - granted solely to Tungwarara.Industry players argue the arrangement creates a monopoly, allowing Prevail to mine gold undisturbed while excluding thousands of artisanal miners from their primary source of livelihood."This deal smacks of corruption," an artisanal mining representative told The NewsHawks."There was no tender, no transparency, no accountability. Tungwarara is the President's right-hand man, and he was simply handed the entire country's river systems."While the project is officially framed as river desilting and environmental restoration, critics say it provides a convenient workaround to the alluvial mining ban, enabling large-scale gold extraction under the cover of rehabilitation."Alluvial mining is banned for everyone else, but Tungwarara is allowed to operate nationwide," said the miners' representative."How do we know he will only rehabilitate rivers and not mine gold? It is obvious to us that gold extraction will happen - secretly and without oversight."Sources claim foreign-owned mining operations are now being forced to operate under Prevail Group's umbrella, paying royalties of between 10% and 15% to continue operations in affected areas.The artisanal and small-scale mining sector produces an estimated 60% of Zimbabwe's gold, much of it historically extracted through riverbed mining. The ban, combined with the exclusive Tungwarara deal, has triggered anger across mining communities - and reportedly even within sections of the state security apparatus."This is seen as a case of politically connected self-enrichment," a source said, warning that tensions in mining areas could escalate.Tungwarara's sudden accumulation of state contracts has also drawn public scrutiny, amplified by social media posts by his children showcasing an opulent lifestyle - private jets, luxury vehicles and mansions - in a country grappling with widespread poverty and unemployment.While government maintains the ban on alluvial mining is necessary to protect rivers from destruction and chemical contamination, critics argue that the policy has ignored the economic reality faced by hundreds of thousands of Zimbabweans who depend on artisanal mining for survival.Alluvial mining, though environmentally damaging when unregulated, remains a critical livelihood strategy and a major contributor to national gold output.Analysts warn that unless the government addresses transparency concerns and balances environmental protection with inclusive economic policy, the Tungwarara deal risks deepening mistrust, fuelling unrest, and reinforcing perceptions of elite capture of national resources.As pressure mounts, calls are growing for the revocation of the exclusive mandate and the introduction of a transparent, competitive framework for river rehabilitation - one that does not double as a gateway to unchecked gold extraction.
Shinde pays tributes to late mentor Dighe on his 75th birth anniversary

Last Updated: January 28, 2026, 00:15 IST

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Thane, Jan 27 (PTI) Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Tuesday joined Thane residents and local political leaders in paying tributes to the late Shiv Sena stalwart, Anand Dighe, fondly known as Dharmaveer", on his 75th birth anniversary.

Shinde, who heads the ruling alliance partner Shiv Sena, flew down from his hometown Dare in Satara district in western Maharashtra to pay floral tributes to his mentor in Thane, his political turf.

Accompanied by local leaders, Shinde visited Shaktisthal and Anand Ashram, memorials associated with Dighe, and honoured the legacy of the man who shaped his political career.

Simultaneously, the Shiv Sena (UBT) district unit organized a mega gathering at Tembhi Naka to mark the occasion.

Led by former MP Rajan Vichare and Thane district chief Kedar Dighe, Shiv Sena (UBT) workers filled the air with slogans of Dighe Saheb Amar Rahe." The Opposition party reaffirmed its commitment to Dighes ideals of loyalty and public service.

In a tribute reflecting Dighes connection with common citizens, 75 auto-rickshaws offered free rides to commuters across Thane from 10 am to 6 pm. Each rickshaw represented a year of Dighes life.

More than 25 years after his passing in 2001, Dighe remains a towering figure in Thanes socio-political landscape. PTI COR RSY

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Sukhu seeks forest cover recognition, airport expansion from Centre

Last Updated: January 27, 2026, 20:45 IST

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Shimla, Jan 27 (PTI) Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Tuesday urged the Centre to recognise 29.5 per cent forest and tree cover against the officially recorded 27.99 per cent for allocations of funds.

In a meeting with Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Bhupender Yadav in New Delhi, Sukhu demanded that the 1.5 per cent Trees outside Forest (ToF) component may be acknowledged as a legitimate and policy-relevant contribution to ecosystem services, conservation effort and environmental governance.

He said that undervaluing the ToF component undervalues the true contribution of Himachal Pradesh to the national ecosystem services and creates a bias against the state that protects trees.

Sukhu also apprised Yadav about the discrepancy registered in the actual tree cover of 29.5 per cent against the officially recorded 27.99 per cent.

He said that this arises due to the non-inclusion of ToF in the consolidated representation of the states forest and tree cover. The state also exercises strict regulatory control over harvesting private lands under different statuses for which the state doesnt receive any credit from the Centre.

He added that the ToF contributes to the conservation of green cover while preventing ecological degradation of the fragile Himalayas.

Later on, he called on Union Minister for Civil Aviation Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu and sought his support for the expansion of Kangra airport and urged for special central assistance for the project.

Sukhu requested speedy settlement of issues and added that Kangra district has immense tourism potential and the state government was executing ambitious projects for attracting a large number of tourists.

Sukhu also urged the introduction of special visual flight rules for reducing the minimum visibility criteria from the existing 5 km to 2.5 km to ensure the operation of flights during reduced visibility conditions.

He also discussed handing over Kullu and Shimla airports to the state police instead of CISF, keeping in view the lower number of flight operations and passengers, which would also reduce the financial burden on the state.

Sukhu demanded that the flight operation hours be extended up to 4 pm at Shimla airport to increase the operation of flights and requested the minister to increase the frequency of flights from Chandigarh to Shimla and Shimla to Chandigarh, besides sanctioning four proposed heliports at the earliest.

The Union minister assured full support to Himachal Pradesh and directed the officers to hold a joint meeting with the concerned officers and prepare a DPR for the expansion of Kangra airport. PTI COR APL APL

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Texas Gov. Abbott halts new H-1B visa petitions at state agencies, universities

Last Updated: January 28, 2026, 03:30 IST

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Houston, Jan 28 (AP) Gov. Greg Abbott ordered Texas universities and state agencies on Tuesday to halt new H-1B visa petitions, which are used by employers to hire foreign workers with specialised skills, until next year.

The pause in the red state, which is home to tens of thousands of H-1B visa holders, comes amid actions by the Trump administration aimed at reshaping the visa programme.

Critics argue that it has become a pipeline for overseas workers willing to work for lower pay and is taking job opportunities from Americans. But supporters say the program is crucial to attract top global talent, fill specialised roles and drive innovation.

The pause in Texas, which only applies to state agencies controlled by a gubernatorially appointed head" and public universities, is scheduled to last until May 31, 2027. Abbotts order does allow exceptions if permission is granted from the Texas Workforce Commission.

Abbott said the freeze will give lawmakers time to establish statutory guardrails for future employment practices regarding federal visa holders in state government" and for Congress to modify federal law" and for the Trump Administration to implement reforms aimed at eliminating abuse of this visa program." Currently, the public university in the state with the most H-1B visas is the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas with 228 visa holders, based on data reported by the US Citizen & Immigration Services in September.

The university employees more than 23,000 people, according to their website. University staff did not immediately respond to messages from The Associated Press seeking comment on the pause.

Other institutions with H-1B visa holders include: the Texas A&M University in College Station with 214; the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston with 171; the University of Texas at Austin with 169; and Texas Tech University in Lubbock with 143.

While there is a wide range of employers who can apply for HB-1 visas  including hospitals, bands and universities  at least 60 per cent of the H-1B visas approved since 2012 have been for computer-related jobs, according to the Pew Research Center.

Last year across the country, Amazon was by far the top recipient, with more than 10,000 visas approved, followed by Mumbai-based informational technology company Tata Consultancy Services, Microsoft, Apple and Google. In Texas, Cognizant Technology Solutions Corporation  a multinational information technology company  has the most H-1B visas in the state with 3,172.

Abbott, who along with Republicans allege that the visas are being abused, said he is also reviewing the programmes use.

As such, he is ordering agencies and universities to provide information on the number of new or renewed H-1B visa petitions they filed last year, the number of visa holders currently sponsored, job titles, countries of origin and visa expiration dates.

The Republican also asked for documentation showing employers made an effort to give qualified Texans candidates with reasonable opportunity to apply" for positions filled by H-1B visa holders.

State government must lead by example and ensure that employment opportunities  particularly those funded with taxpayer dollars  are filled by Texans first," Abbott wrote in his letter.

Abbott is not the only GOP governor taking action against the visa program. Last year, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis called for fewer H-1B hires, alleging abuse of the program to fill non-specialised roles.

On Thursday, the Board of Governors, which oversees the Floridas public university system, is scheduled to discuss pausing the use of H-1B programme to hire new personnel until next year.

President Donald Trump signed a proclamation last year imposing a USD 100,000 annual H-1B visa fee on highly skilled workers, which is being challenged in court.

Created by the 1990 Immigration Act, H-1B visas allow American companies to bring in people with technical skills that are hard to find in the United States.

The visas, which are good for three years and can be extended another three years, are not intended for people who want to stay permanently. Some eventually do, but only after transitioning to different immigration statuses.

The number of new visas issued annually is capped at 65,000, plus an additional 20,000 for people with a masters degree or higher. Some employers, such as universities and nonprofits, are exempt from the limits. (AP) GRS GRS

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Tourism Minister Shekhawat meets Greek counterpart, discusses ways to boost ties

Last Updated: January 28, 2026, 00:00 IST

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New Delhi, Jan 27 (PTI) Union Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat on Tuesday met his Greek counterpart Olga Kefalogianni here and discussed strengthening cooperation in tourism and cultural exchanges.

The Union minister shared the update in a post on X.

Pleased to meet H.E. Olga Kefalogianni, the Minister of Tourism of Greece, at my office today. We discussed strengthening cooperation in tourism and cultural exchanges, and sharing best practices between two ancient civilisations that continue to inspire the world," Shekhawat said.

He also shared some photos of the meeting.

Earlier in the day, Shekhawat, who also holds the culture portfolio, inaugurated the 25th edition of Bharat Rang Mahotsav, the annual theatre festival of the National School of Drama (NSD) in Delhi.

The culture ministry in a statement said Brazilian theatre production Passado Presente Zenturo is set to make its international debut" in 2026, representing Brazil at two major global theatre festivals  the 25th Bharat Rang Mahotsav and the 5th GITIS FEST in Russia.

Based on Marcha para Zenturo" by acclaimed Brazilian playwright Grace Passo and Anton Chekhovs Three Sisters", Passado Presente Zenturo brings together Brazilian and international theatrical traditions in a powerful exploration of time, memory, and collective experience, the ministry said.

The production highlights the vitality and artistic strength of Brazilian student theatre on the global stage.

As part of Bharat Rang Mahotsav  one of the worlds most prestigious international theatre festivals organized by NSD under the aegis of the ministry, the production will be showcased in Bengaluru on February 5, and in New Delhi on February 7, the statement said.

In addition, Passado Presente Zenturo will represent Brazil at the 5th GITIS FEST in Moscow, scheduled for April 2026, further strengthening its growing international presence and cultural exchange with global theatre institutions, it said.

The production has already earned recognition in Brazil, following an extensive national tour throughout 2024 and a dedicated season at TUSP Theatre (Teatro da Universidade de Sao Paulo) in 2025, where it was praised for its ensemble work, innovative staging, and contemporary reimagining of classic and modern texts.

Directed by Andre Haidamus, Passado Presente Zenturo features a cast of ten actors. The creative team includes Camila Andrade (lighting design) and Cassio Gondim (sound and video design), whose contributions play a central role in shaping the productions immersive theatrical language," the statement said.

With its upcoming performances in India and Russia, Passado Presente Zenturo marks a significant milestone for Brazilian theatre, reaffirming its capacity for dialogue, experimentation, and international collaboration, it added. PTI KND KVK KVK

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Adani Group, Embraer Partner To Set Up Regional Aircraft Manufacturing Venture In India

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Last Updated: January 27, 2026, 13:23 IST

Adani Group partners with Embraer to launch regional aircraft manufacturing in India, boosting aviation ambitions.

Following the announcement, shares of Adani Enterprises rallied sharply. The stock surged as much as 6 percent during intraday trade on Tuesday.

Gautam Adani-led Adani Group on Tuesday announced a milestone partnership with Brazil-based aircraft manufacturer Embraer to establish a regional transport aircraft venture in India, marking a major push in the countrys aviation manufacturing ambitions.

The announcement was made by Jeet Adani, Director at Adani Airport Holdings Limited, who said the collaboration would also help build a comprehensive aviation ecosystem in the country.

Redefining Indias aviation future

Speaking to the media, Jeet Adani said Adani Defence has entered into a landmark partnership with Embraer, one of the worlds leading aircraft manufacturers.

It is with immense pride that I announce that Adani Defence is today entering into a landmark partnership with Embraer," he said.

According to Jeet Adani, the partnership will go beyond manufacturing aircraft. Together, we will establish a regional aircraft manufacturing facility in India and a one-of-its-kind aviation ecosystem. This project will redefine the future of aviation in our country," he added.

The deal is expected to strengthen Indias position in aerospace manufacturing and support the governments push for defence and aviation indigenisation.

Adani Enterprises shares surge

Following the announcement, shares of Adani Enterprises rallied sharply. The stock surged as much as 6 percent during intraday trade on Tuesday.

At around 1:00 PM, Adani Enterprises shares were trading at Rs 1,954.70 apiece, up nearly 5 percent from the previous close.

Defence arm increases stake in flight simulation firm

In a separate regulatory update, the company said Adani Defence Systems and Technologies Limited (ADSTL), a wholly owned subsidiary, along with Horizon Aero Solutions Limited (HASL), has completed the acquisition of additional stake in Flight Simulation Technique Centre Pvt. Ltd (FSTC).

Post the transaction, the effective shareholding in FSTC stands at 72.8 percent. The company said it received information about the completion of the acquisition on January 22, 2026, at 4:34 PM.

Adani Defence & Aerospace, part of Adani Enterprises Ltd, is a premier Indian private sector defense manufacturer focusing on indigenous production of aerospace, unmanned systems, small arms, and missiles.

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First Published: January 27, 2026, 13:23 IST

News business Adani Group, Embraer Partner To Set Up Regional Aircraft Manufacturing Venture In India

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Nationwide Bank Strike Today: Check Which Banks Are Affected, What Services Will Work And What Wont

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Last Updated: January 27, 2026, 10:42 IST

Core services such as cash deposits and withdrawals, cheque clearances, and branch operations are likely to be affected at PSBs

Bank Strike On January 27 (File Photo)

Bank Strike Today: Banking services at public sector banks nationwide may face disruptions on Tuesday, January 27, as the United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU) proceeds with its planned nationwide strike, demanding the immediate rollout of a five-day work week.

The strike call comes after a conciliation meeting with the Chief Labour Commissioner on January 23 failed to produce a resolution. UFBU represents a coalition of nine unions covering officers and staff of public sector banks.

The timing could amplify inconvenience for customers, with banks already shut on Sunday (January 25) and Monday (January 26) for Republic Day, potentially leading to a three-day stretch of limited branch-level services.

Core services such as cash deposits and withdrawals, cheque clearances, and routine branch operations are likely to be affected at public sector lenders including State Bank of India (SBI), Punjab National Bank (PNB), and Bank of Baroda.

Private sector banks like HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank, and Axis Bank are expected to operate as usual, as their employees are not part of the unions backing the strike.

Digital channels  including UPI, mobile banking, and internet banking  are expected to function normally. However, some localised issues with ATM cash availability cannot be ruled out due to logistical constraints.

Several public sector banks have notified stock exchanges about the potential impact. SBI, in a regulatory filing, said it has made arrangements to maintain normal operations but acknowledged that work could still be affected by the strike.

At the heart of the protest is the unions demand to declare all Saturdays as bank holidays. The proposal was part of the 12th Bipartite Settlement signed with the Indian Banks Association in March 2024, but it still awaits formal government notification. Currently, banks operate on the first, third, and fifth Saturdays of each month.

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First Published: January 27, 2026, 07:22 IST

News business banking-finance Nationwide Bank Strike Today: Check Which Banks Are Affected, What Services Will Work And What Wont

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IndiaEU Trade Deal: Tariffs Set To Be Cut On Over 90% Goods, Wine And Chocolate On Zero-Duty List

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Last Updated: January 27, 2026, 14:14 IST

IndiaEU Trade Deal: Under the agreement, several European goods imported into India will attract zero tariffs

India EU Trade Deal

IndiaEU Trade Deal Announcement: The European Union on Tuesday said that over 90% of its goods exports to India will receive duty reductions under the landmark IndiaEU trade agreement, a step expected to save EU member nations up to 4 billion euros in duties on European products.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi confirmed that India and the European Union have concluded the long-pending trade pact, describing it as a major milestone in bilateral economic relations.

As per an EU fact sheet, the agreement is expected to double EU exports to India. It will also widen access to Indias services market, particularly in financial and maritime services, opening new business avenues and supporting job creation.

Also See: India EU Trade Deal Live Updates

Which products will become cheaper?

Under the pact, a wide range of European imports into India will attract zero tariffs. These include machinery and electrical equipment, aircraft and spacecraft, optical, medical and surgical instruments, plastics, 22% of pearls, precious stones and metals, chemicals, motor vehicles, iron and steel, and pharmaceuticals.

Import duties on cars will be reduced in phases from as high as 110% to as low as 10%. Tariffs on wine will also be brought down gradually from 150% to 20% at the lower end.

Currently, processed foods such as pasta, bread, biscuits and chocolate face duties of about 50%, which will be fully removed under the deal. Tariffs on olive oil, margarine and other vegetable oils  now at 45%  will also be eliminated. Fruit juices and non-alcoholic beer will attract zero duty as well.

Tariff relief under the agreement is expected to go beyond consumer goods. Negotiations have reportedly included phased reductions in duties on European automobiles, with India offering significant cuts over time. However, sensitive sectors such as agriculture and dairy are largely being protected to safeguard domestic interests. Services and regulatory cooperation are also key parts of the pact, aimed at ensuring better access for Indian IT, professional services and skilled workers to European markets.

For Indian companies, lower duties on European machinery, high-end components and chemicals could help reduce production costs and improve competitiveness. Meanwhile, European firms gain stronger access to Indias fast-growing market, particularly for premium products. Although major hurdles have been cleared, some issues related to regulatory norms and non-tariff barriers are still being fine-tuned ahead of full implementation.

Also See: 10 Things To Know About India-EU Free Trade Deal

Mother of all trades

Calling it the mother of all trades", Prime Minister Modi hailed the IndiaEU FTA during his meeting with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa at Hyderabad House in New Delhi.

This deal will bring many opportunities for Indias 1.4 billion people and many millions of people in the EU," PM Modi said, adding that the agreement represents about 25% of global GDP, and one-third of global trade".

Describing the agreement as historic, von der Leyen said, We have created a free trade zone of two billion people, with both sides set to benefit."

Europe and India are making history today.We have concluded the mother of all deals. We have created a free trade zone of two billion people, with both sides set to benefit. This is only the beginning. We will grow our strategic relationship to be even stronger. pic.twitter.com/C7L1kQQEtr  Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) January 27, 2026

PM Modi noted that the EUIndia trade deal will give a boost to key Indian sectors such as textiles, gems and jewellery, leather goods, along with the services sector.

The pact is expected to be formally signed after legal vetting, a process likely to take around six months. It will also require ratification by the European Parliament.

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First Published: January 27, 2026, 13:31 IST

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From Flight Delays To Medical Emergencies: How Travel Insurance Cushions Winter Travel Risks

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Last Updated: January 27, 2026, 18:22 IST

Winter smog in India causes flight delays and cancellations. Travel insurance helps cover costs, emergencies, and losses for international travellers.

Repeated smog exposure leads to cumulative, long-term respiratory harm.

The recurrence of winter smog at this time of the year is no longer unexpected. Yet, its impact on visibility and on travel plans remains a constant concern. This comes at a time when India is seeing a sustained rise in the number of international travellers. As per the Ministry of Tourism, about 3 crore+ Indians travelled to international destinations either for tourism or for business and other purposes in 2024.

At this point, the environmental changes are impossible to ignore as they continue to force travellers to alter their itinerary. Not too long ago, dense smog and low visibility at Delhi airport led to 100+ flights being cancelled and more than 200 delayed on a single day, as airport authorities reported. One flight delay means you risk missing a connecting flight or even paying for accommodation even if you dont reach your destination.

There is actually a very simple mechanism to absorb these financial shocks, which is opting for travel insurance. Despite growing awareness, many travellers in India still tend to overlook travel insurance.

If you happen to get caught up in any of these situations, heres how travel insurance can step in and protect you:

Flight delays and cancellations: These are among the most common disruptions during foggy winters or heavy monsoon. In fact, any periods of poor visibility carry a risk of flight delay or cancellation. While airlines may rebook passengers, the additional costs of meals, local transport or an unexpected overnight stay are often not accounted for properly. Travel insurance can help offset these expenses by compensating you adequately for the expenses you bear or if the delay significantly changes your itinerary.

Missed connecting flights: Its common to book more than one flight to reach an international holiday destination. Sometimes, theres no other option, other times, a connecting flight might be cheaper. However, missed onward connections are a growing risk with the ongoing delay in schedules. If an initial flight is delayed or cancelled, airlines are typically not responsible for connections booked under a different PNR. In such cases, travel insurance can help cover the cost of rebooking tickets, additional accommodation or other incidental expenses triggered by the missed flight.

Unexpected overnight stays and incidental expenses: Flight disruptions can often force travellers into unplanned stays, especially when delays stretch late into the night or early morning. While airlines may offer limited assistance, the cost of last-minute hotel bookings, meals and local transport can quickly add up. However, if your stay gets elongated or disrupted due to flight cancellation or hotel overbooking, travel insurance can provide coverage for the same.

Medical emergencies abroad: International travel is highly risky without travel insurance. Even basic healthcare costs can drain your finances on a foreign land. Travel insurance fills this gap by providing access to emergency medical treatment and cashless hospitalisation. In serious cases, even medical evacuation is possible for international travellers which offers huge relief in emergencies.

Protection against theft & loss:

Beyond medical emergencies, international travel insurance also protects against a range of unexpected risks. Coverage for loss of passport, theft of belongings, emergency evacuation or repatriation can be crucial amid navigating unfamiliar legal systems and high replacement costs abroad. These benefits help travellers manage both financial loss and logistical stress far from home.

How to raise a claim in case of travel disruption

In the event of a delay or cancellation, travellers should inform their insurer as soon as possible and retain all supporting documents. This also includes medical documents like prescription, test prescriptions, reports or admission letters, which can help with faster claims and reduce friction.

For non-medical situations, travellers should have their boarding passes, booking confirmations, receipts for additional expenses, and official communication from the airline confirming the delay or cancellation.

Claims are usually processed faster when documentation is complete, and some insurers also offer instant or simplified payouts for flight delays once the minimum delay threshold specified in the policy is crossed.

How to choose the right travel insurance

Rather than opting for the default or bundled policy offered while booking flight tickets, comparing your options is a good idea. Every country has its own set of risks, healthcare costs and international laws. Its advisable to go over details like coverage limits, exclusions, claim settlement processes and add-ons before choosing any policy

It is also important to look for policies that offer instant or simplified payouts, consider optional add-ons like Cancel For Any Reason, and ensure all documentation such as boarding passes, receipts, etc. for smooth claims processing. A well-chosen policy tailored to the trip offers far more protection than a standard option bundled at checkout, giving travellers peace of mind and financial security.

The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not represent the stand of this publication.

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First Published: January 27, 2026, 18:20 IST

News business From Flight Delays To Medical Emergencies: How Travel Insurance Cushions Winter Travel Risks

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Office Romance Turns Deadly: Lover Beheads HR Manager, Dumps Body On Agra Bridge

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Last Updated: January 27, 2026, 17:26 IST

CCTV footage from the area showed a man dragging a gunny bag out of an office building and later riding a scooter towards the bridge.

According to police, the motive appeared to be a dispute over marriage. (Representative image)

In a shocking incident, a 30-year-old man allegedly killed her office HR manager and later beheaded and dismembered her body before dumping near a bridge over the Yamuna river in Uttar Pradeshs Agra, police said on Monday.

Police said that they tracked down the accused, identified as 30-year-old Vinay Singh, after the womans naked, headless body was found inside a gunny bag on January 24, Times of India reported.

The victim, Minky Sharma (32), a resident of Tedhi Bagiya in Agra, was reported missing by her family on January 23 after she failed to return home from her office in Sanjay Place. In the early hours of January 24, local residents alerted police about a suspicious gunny bag lying on Jawahar Bridge in the Etmadullah police station area. Upon inspection, police found the naked, headless body of a woman inside the bag. Her legs had also been severed.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (City) Sayed Ali Abbas formed five special teams to investigate the case. CCTV footage from the area showed a man dragging a gunny bag out of an office building and later riding a scooter towards the bridge.

More footage from around the area allowed police to identify the culprit, Vinay Singh, a computer operator who worked at the same office as Sharma.

During interrogation, Singh allegedly confessed to the crime. Police said the two had been in a relationship for over two years, but Singh grew suspicious after learning that Sharma was in contact with another man for about six months.

The suspicion led to frequent arguments between the two.

On January 23, Singh allegedly called Sharma to their office, where an argument broke out. He then attacked her with a knife, inflicting a fatal injury to her neck. Police said he later dismembered the body, packed it in a gunny bag, and placed the severed head in a separate backpack.

Singh used Sharmas scooter to transport the body to Jawahar Bridge with the intention of throwing it into the Yamuna River. However, he abandoned the bag on the bridge after struggling to lift it and noticing passers-by. Police said he disposed of the victims head, clothes, mobile phone and bag near a drain before leaving the scooter in a secluded area.

According to police, the motive appeared to be a dispute over marriage, as Singh wanted to marry Sharma but she had refused.

An FIR has been registered at the Trans Yamuna police station under Sections 103(1) (murder) and 238 (causing disappearance of evidence) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, along with relevant provisions of the Arms Act.

Police have recovered the victims clothes and the knife, and efforts are being made to find the other evidence linked to the crime.

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Location : Agra, India, India

First Published: January 27, 2026, 17:26 IST

News agra Office Romance Turns Deadly: Lover Beheads HR Manager, Dumps Body On Agra Bridge

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Chicken Or Fish Sale Banned In Bengaluru, Heres Why You Cannot Buy Meat Across The City On This Date

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Last Updated: January 27, 2026, 18:21 IST

The Greater Bengaluru Authority has issued a circular directing a complete halt on the slaughter of animals in slaughterhouses under its jurisdiction, as well as the sale of meat

Sarvodaya Day is observed every year on January 30 to honour Mahatma Gandhi, who was assassinated on this day in 1948.

If you are in Bengaluru and have house party plans for the weekend then you may be in for a surprise. The city has imposed a one-day ban on the sale of meat, including chicken, fish and mutton, leaving shops shuttered across neighbourhoods.

Meat lovers in Bengaluru are in for a disruption today, as the sale of fish, chicken and mutton has been completely banned across the city on January 30. The ban has been imposed to mark Sarvodaya Day, observed annually on the death anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi.

The Greater Bengaluru Authority has issued a circular directing a complete halt on the slaughter of animals in slaughterhouses under its jurisdiction, as well as the sale of meat in shops across the city for the day.

Sarvodaya Day is observed every year on January 30 to honour Mahatma Gandhi, who was assassinated on this day in 1948. As part of the observance, civic authorities traditionally impose restrictions on meat sales in Bengaluru.

Chicken Prices Surge Ahead of Ban

The one-day ban comes at a time when chicken prices in Bengaluru have already surged sharply, putting additional pressure on household food budgets. Chicken prices in the city have risen from around Rs 340 to Rs 350 per kg, making it an expensive proposition for many non-vegetarian consumers.

Prices have been steadily climbing since December, when chicken was selling at Rs 260 to Rs 280 per kg. With current rates crossing Rs 350, traders say it would not be surprising if prices touch Rs 370 to Rs 380 per kg in the coming days.

Why are Chicken Prices Rising?

The spike in prices is being attributed to protests by poultry farmers in neighbouring states such as Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh. Farmers are demanding higher payments from companies, citing rising maintenance and production costs.

Bengaluru and several parts of Karnataka rely heavily on chicken supplies from Tamil Nadu. Ongoing protests, combined with a decline in chicken production, have disrupted supply chains. As a result, supply is failing to meet demand, pushing prices higher across the state.

Reporting by Ashiq Mulki, News18 Kannada, Bengaluru

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First Published: January 27, 2026, 18:21 IST

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News / National

by Staff reporter

Police in Mashonaland East have launched a manhunt for two armed men who raided Energy Park Service Station in Macheke, escaping with US$12 000 in cash and several cellphones.The suspects reportedly used a Toyota Aqua, which belonged to a service station employee collecting money from Murambinda, Nyazura, and Macheke for banking in Harare. The vehicle was later found abandoned in Marondera, but the robbers remain at large.According to National Police Spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi, the incident occurred on January 21, 2026, at around 10 a.m."Mr Tafadzwa Asado, who was tasked with collecting money from various Energy Park stations, arrived at Macheke to pick up US$3 097 from the staff," Comm Nyathi said."As soon as he entered the office, an armed man threatened him and two employees, forcing them to lie on the ground. The suspect took the cash, cellphones, office and car keys. A second armed man simultaneously attacked a fuel attendant outside, demanding money and scaring away a client."The two perpetrators then fled in Asado's Toyota Aqua, heading towards Harare. The vehicle was recovered a few minutes later in Marondera, but the suspects had vanished.Comm Nyathi said the robbery was reported immediately at Macheke Police Station, prompting investigations and patrols along the Harare-Mutare Road.Authorities have urged anyone with information on the suspects' whereabouts to contact the nearest police station as investigations continue.The daring attack has raised concerns about security at cash-in-transit operations and service stations in the region.
Renting Out A House In Bengaluru? Tenant Police Verification Is Now Mandatory

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Last Updated: January 27, 2026, 13:56 IST

If a tenant is found to be involved in any criminal activity and the landlord has not completed police verification, the owner can be booked under Section 188 of the IPC.

Police officials have clarified that ignorance of the rule will not be accepted as an excuse, and landlords will be held accountable for violations. Image: Canva

Bengalurus booming rental market has come under tighter scrutiny, with the city police issuing a firm directive to house owners: tenant verification is no longer optional. The Bengaluru City Police have warned that landlords who fail to verify their tenants will face legal action, especially if their property is found to be linked to criminal activity.

The directive applies across the city, cutting through gated communities, independent houses, and apartment rentals alike. With thousands moving into Bengaluru every month for work, education, and business, the police say the move is aimed at preventing misuse of residential spaces.

Why Tenant Verification Matters

According to the police, tenant verification plays a critical role in maintaining law and order. Several recent cases involving drug trafficking, illegal stays, cybercrime operations, and other unlawful activities have been traced back to rented homes where no background checks were done.

Officials say many landlords skip verification to avoid paperwork or delays. However, this practice has allowed individuals with criminal records or fake identities to operate undetected within residential neighbourhoods, putting communities at risk.

What Landlords Must Do

Under the directive, every house owner renting out a property must submit tenant details to the local police station. This includes copies of identity documents such as Aadhaar card, voter ID or passport, along with the tenants permanent address and workplace details.

The verification can be completed through Bangalore One centres or via the Karnataka State Police online platforms, including the KSP mobile application and website. The process results in a police verification record or clearance linked to the tenant.

Special Rules for Foreign Tenants

The police have issued an even stricter warning for landlords renting to foreign nationals. Property owners must inform both the local police and the Foreigners Regional Registration Office within 24 hours of renting out the house.

Failure to report foreign tenants can attract serious consequences under the Foreigners Act. Police officials have clarified that ignorance of the rule will not be accepted as an excuse, and landlords will be held accountable for violations.

Legal Consequences for Non-Compliance

If a tenant is found to be involved in any criminal activity and the landlord has not completed police verification, the owner can be booked under Section 188 of the IPC for disobedience of lawful orders issued by a public servant.

In cases involving foreign nationals, penalties can include heavy fines and even imprisonment. Police officials say the responsibility lies squarely with the property owner to ensure compliance before handing over possession.

Part of a Larger Rental Shift in Bengaluru

While the focus of the directive is tenant verification, it aligns with broader changes being discussed in Bengalurus rental ecosystem. Authorities are pushing for digital registration of rental agreements through the Kaveri portal and greater transparency in landlord tenant relationships.

There is also ongoing discussion around limiting security deposits, though this has not yet been enforced citywide.

Police have advised all landlords to complete tenant verification immediately, even for existing tenants, to avoid future legal trouble. With enforcement set to tighten, skipping verification is no longer a risk worth taking in Bengalurus high demand rental market.

For property owners, the message from the police is clear: verify first, rent later. Lastly, all rules that the Bengaluru property owners in a jist:

Tenant police verification is mandatory for all landlords before or immediately after renting out a property Tenant details must be submitted to the local police station or online portal Collect and upload ID proof of tenants such as Aadhaar card, voter ID or passport Provide tenants permanent address and workplace details during verification Verification can be done online through Bangalore One centres or the Karnataka State Police app/website Foreign tenants must be reported within 24 hours to the local police and the FRRO Landlords will be held responsible if an unverified tenant is involved in criminal activity Failure to verify tenants can lead to legal action under Section 188 of the IPC Stricter penalties apply for foreign nationals, including fines or imprisonment under the Foreigners Act Existing tenants should also be verified to avoid future legal trouble

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First Published: January 27, 2026, 13:56 IST

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KRK Firing Case: Only Clue Was Bullet Marks In 2 Flats, 2 Floors Apart, How AI Came To The Rescue

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Last Updated: January 27, 2026, 13:07 IST

KRK firing case: CCTVs did not capture anybody entering or exiting the building; guards heard no firing sounds. AI helped Oshiwara police digitally trace bullet trajectories

Rapid Read

A video of actor Kamaal R Khan being escorted out of a Bandra court with his face covered has gone viral after he was remanded to police custody in the Oshiwara firing case.

The only clue was bullet marks in two Oshiwara flats that were two floors apart, then how did the police nail actor Kamaal R Khan (KRK) over the firing at an Andheri housing society over a week ago?

The much-needed help came from Artificial Intelligence (AI)-based GPS and sound tracking tools, the Times Of India reported.

On January 18, 2026, residents at the Nalanda Cooperative Housing Society in Lokhandwala, Andheri, reported bullet marks in two apartments  one on the second floor and one on the fourth, but no one was injured. Khan was arrested on Saturday, after he admitted during questioning that the firing was done with his licensed 7.65mm Mauser gun, said police.

The lead

Two bullets were found lodged in a cupboard and a wall inside the flats of screenwriter Neeraj Mishra and model Prateek Baid in Nalanda building on January 18, about 300m from Khans bungalow.

No clues

The CCTVs did not capture anybody entering or exiting the building close to the time of firing

The guards did not hear any gunfire.

How AI helped police

Artificial intelligence (AI) played a key role in helping the Mumbai Police crack the KRK firing case by enabling investigators to digitally reconstruct the shooting and trace bullet trajectories when traditional methods gave few leads.

Police used AI-based forensic analysis tools to recreate the shooting scene virtually. Using environmental data such as GPS locations of impact points and spatial relationships into AI models, they built a digital reconstruction of how the bullets traveled from the origin to where they struck the building.

The AI tools helped investigators simulate and map the bullet paths, determining plausible directions, angles, and distances that bullets could have traveled given wind and terrain, and therefore narrowing down possible firing points. This was especially important because conventional evidence like CCTV was unhelpful.

The AI models, using trajectory data and spatial context, strongly indicated that the shots originated from the direction of KRKs bungalow, about 300 m away from the impacted apartments. This linkage gave cops a strong investigative lead.

An eyewitness reported having heard firing in Khans bungalow on January 18. Police then used AI to see if the two cases could be linked. The FSL team confirmed that the make of the firearm used matched Khans pistol," an Oshiwara police officer told TOI.

Khan allegedly told police that the firearm got stuck while he was checking it and that it accidentally fired into the mangroves.

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First Published: January 27, 2026, 13:06 IST

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March To Mumbai: Thousands Of Farmers Reach Thane, State Invites Delegation For Talks

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Last Updated: January 27, 2026, 12:22 IST

The marchers, comprising a large number of farmers, covered nearly 60 km over the past two days and began their descent through the Kasara Ghat on Tuesday morning

Rapid Read

Farmers and labourers participate in a march to Mumbai to press for their demands. (PTI)

Thousands of farmers and tribal residents marching from Nashik towards Mumbai to press for land rights and other demands reached the neighbouring Thane district on Tuesday. The Maharashtra government has invited their delegation for talks later in the day, a representative of the protesters said.

The protesters, carrying red flags and led by the CPI(M)-affiliated All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS), began the long march on Sunday after an agitation outside Dindori tehsil office in Nashik district failed to elicit any concrete assurance, former MLA J P Gavit told reporters.

They then decided to take their demands directly to the state government by marching on foot to Mumbai, and have also made arrangements for food, grain, firewood and other essential supplies needed for the duration of their protest.

The marchers, comprising a large number of farmers, covered nearly 60 km over the past two days and began their descent through the Kasara Ghat on Tuesday morning. They have now left Nashik and entered the neighbouring Thane district, Gavit said.

He claimed that sustained mobilisation and publicity of the march in the media prompted the state government to invite a delegation of the protesters for talks at the Mantralaya (secretariat) in Mumbai on Tuesday.

Gavit said the delegation, comprising himself, CPI(M) Polit Bureau member and AIKS national president Ashok Dhawale, Kisan Sabha national joint secretary Ajit Navale and MLA Vinod Nikole, will hold discussions with the chief minister and other ministers concerned.

Tribal farmers from Peth, Surgana, Kalwan and Trimbakeshwar talukas are participating in the agitation to draw attention to unresolved issues related to land rights, irrigation and forest claims," he said.

These areas are drought-prone and farmers have been demanding the construction of large check dams on west-flowing rivers and their tributaries to ensure irrigation water for local agriculture.

The protesters are also seeking regularisation of cultivation on encroached land up to four hectares, issuance of land records, re-examination of rejected forest rights claims and procurement of agricultural produce from forest landholders at minimum support prices, Gavit said.

With PTI inputs

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First Published: January 27, 2026, 12:19 IST

News cities mumbai-news March To Mumbai: Thousands Of Farmers Reach Thane, State Invites Delegation For Talks

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This Ladder Was Used In 1944 Mumbai Port Fire: 82 Years Later, It Is As Good As New, Take A Look

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News18.com

Last Updated: January 27, 2026, 16:52 IST

The fire engine with a turntable ladder was manufactured in 1937 by the Leyland company in England. It was inducted into the Mumbai Fire Department fleet on September 24, 1941

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The BMC has restored the fire engine with turntable ladder built in 1937. (X)

The Mumbai Fire Brigade (MFB) has restored the historic turn table ladder vehicle which was instrumental in dousing the devastating cargo ship fire at Mumbai Docks in 1944.

Built in 1937, it has now been restored by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporations (BMC) MFB.

 The historic 'Turn Table Ladder' fire brigade vehicle, which played a vital role in tackling the massive fire on the cargo ship at Mumbai Docks in 1944, has been beautifully restored by BMCs Mumbai Fire Brigade.The vehicle unveiled today by the auspicious hands of Honble pic.twitter.com/Q2pXK39y5G   Mumbai,  BMC (@mybmc) January 26, 2026

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis unveiled the restored vehicle at the Mumbai Port (Mumbai Docks) on Republic Day.

Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation Commissioner and Administrator. Bhushan Gagrani, Additional Municipal Commissioner (Eastern Suburbs) Dr. Avinash Dhakne, Padma Shri awardee Smt. Armida Fernandes, entrepreneur Gautam Singhania, Chief Fire Officer of Mumbai Fire Brigade Shri. Ravindra Ambulgekar, and other dignitaries were present on this occasion.

Armida Fernandes was recently announced the Padma Shri award for her unparalleled contributions to patient care in the healthcare sector. On this account, Fernandes was honored by Chief Minister Fadnavis.

About the turntable ladder

The fire engine with a turntable ladder was manufactured in 1937 by the Leyland company in England. It was inducted into the Mumbai Fire Department fleet on September 24, 1941. It was then considered a state-of-the-art ladder to reach high-rise buildings, warehouses and high areas in the port area. This ladder was made entirely of iron structure. It could be rotated manually or by a simple mechanical method.

Keeping in mind its historic importance, industrialist Gautam Singhania, agreed to give the vehicle a new lease of life and the repair work of this vehicle at the Super Car Club Garage. The idea was proposed by Gagrani.

What was the 1944 fire?

The Mumbai Docks fire of 1944, also known as the Bombay Explosion, was one of the worst industrial disasters in history and remains the deadliest accident Mumbai has ever witnessed.

On April 14, 1944, a British cargo ship named SS Fort Stikine caught fire while docked at the Victoria Dock (now Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust area) in Bombay (now Mumbai). The ship was carrying a highly dangerous and mixed cargo that included cotton bales, explosives, ammunition, gold bullion, sulfur, and oil. When a fire broke out in the ships hold, it spread rapidly because of the flammable materials.

Despite firefighting efforts, the blaze intensified and led to two massive explosions within a short span of time. The explosions were so powerful that they flattened large parts of the dock area, destroyed ships nearby, and sent debris flying several kilometers across the city. Entire neighbourhoods around the docks were devastated, and fires broke out across Bombay.

The disaster killed an estimated 800 to 1,300 people, though the exact number was never confirmed, and injured over 2,500. Thousands were left homeless. Key infrastructure such as warehouses, mills, rail tracks, and dock facilities were completely destroyed. The shockwave was felt across the city, and the sound of the explosion was reportedly heard as far as Pune.

In the aftermath, Bombay faced severe shortages of food and essential supplies because the docks were critical to wartime logistics during World War II. The tragedy also led to major changes in port safety regulations, hazardous cargo handling, and fire-control measures in Indian ports.

Today, the Bombay Docks Explosion of 1944 is remembered as a defining moment in the citys history  a stark reminder of how industrial negligence and wartime pressures combined to cause catastrophic loss of life and property.

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First Published: January 27, 2026, 16:52 IST

News cities mumbai-news This Ladder Was Used In 1944 Mumbai Port Fire: 82 Years Later, It Is As Good As New, Take A Look

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British National Found Dead In Patna Hotel Room, Probe Underway

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Last Updated: January 27, 2026, 13:43 IST

Ajay Kumar Sharma, an Indian-origin British national, was found dead in a Jakkanpur hotel in Patna.

Representative image/PTI

A 76-year-old Indian-origin British national was found dead in a hotel room in the Jakkanpur area of Bihars Patna, said the police on Tuesday.

According to the police, the deceased has been identified as Ajay Kumar Sharma. He had been staying at the hotel since January 18. On Monday, around 4 P.M., a hotel staff member knocked on his door, but the man didnt open the door.

He was not answering phone calls, either. The staff member then alerted the police. When the security personnel eventually reached the hotel, they broke open the door only to find the man lying dead in his bed.

Forensic experts have collected evidence from the room, and the body has been sent for a post-mortem to Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH).

Meanwhile, the deceaseds family in London has been informed of the incident.

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First Published: January 27, 2026, 13:43 IST

News patna-news British National Found Dead In Patna Hotel Room, Probe Underway

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Pune Woman Kills 11-Year-Old Son By Slitting His Throat, Attacks Daughter; Held

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Last Updated: January 27, 2026, 12:03 IST

Soni Santosh Jaibhay allegedly killed her son Sairaj Santosh Jaibhay and critically injured daughter Dhanashree Santosh Jaibhay in Punes Baif Road area.

A woman in Maharashtra's Pune allegedly killed her 11-year-old son and injured her daughter. (Image for Representation)

A woman in Maharashtras Pune allegedly killed his 11-year-old son by slitting his throat and also injured her 13-year-old daughter. While the boy died on the spot, his sister was critically injured.

The incident, which occurred in the Baif Road area, has caused widespread panic among residents. According to the police, the woman, identified as Soni Santosh Jaibhay, is originally from Kandhar in Nanded district.

The 11-year-old victim has been identified as Sairaj Santosh Jaibhay. In the same incident, Soni also attacked her daughter, Dhanashree Santosh Jaibhay, leaving her critically injured. She was rushed to a nearby hospital and is currently under treatment.

Meanwhile, the police have taken the woman into custody and are investigating the cause of the incident.

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First Published: January 27, 2026, 12:03 IST

News pune Pune Woman Kills 11-Year-Old Son By Slitting His Throat, Attacks Daughter; Held

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CTET Admit Card 2026 Date: When And Where Will CBSE Release Hall Tickets?

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Last Updated: January 27, 2026, 14:33 IST

CTET Admit Card 2026: Based on previous trends and official information from the CBSE, the final CTET 2026 admit card will be available two days before the exam,

CTET 2026 admit cards will be released on the official website, ctet.nic.in soon.(Representative/File Photo)

The Central Teacher Eligibility Test (CTET) 2026 will be conducted by the Central Board of Secondary Education on Sunday, February 8, 2026. Based on previous trends and official information from the CBSE, the final CTET 2026 admit card will be available on the official website, ctet.nic.in, two days before the exam, that is, on February 5th or 6th, 2026.

The CTET City Intimation Slip was released on January 23rd, providing candidates with details of their exam city. Applicants must note that entry to the exam centre is not permitted without the admit card.

The CTET exam serves as an entry gate for aspiring government school teachers. It not only certifies educational qualifications but also provides essential eligibility for applications to Kendriya Vidyalayas (KVS), Navodaya Vidyalayas (NVS), and other central government schools.

How To Download CTET Admit Card 2026?

After the CTET 2026 admit card is out, follow these below steps to download it:

Step 1  Visit the official website of CTET, ctet.nic.in.

Step 2  Click on the Download Admit Card: CTET Feb 2026" link on the homepage.

Step 3  Enter your application number and date of birth.

Step 4  Enter the security pin and click on the Submit button.

Step 5  The CTET admit card will be displayed on the screen. Download it and take two printouts for future reference.

The CTET exam will be conducted in two shifts on the same day:

 CTET Paper 1 for Classes 1 to 5 will be held from 2:30 pm to 5 pm. The reporting time is 12:30 pm.

 CTET Paper 2 for Classes 6 to 8 will be conducted on 9:30 am to noon. Reporting time is 7:30 am.

Where Can I Get A Job After Passing CTET?

After obtaining the CTET certificate, you can apply as a teacher in the following major schools:

 Kendriya Vidyalaya (KVS): Applications for PRT and TGT posts in KVS schools across the country.

 Navodaya Vidyalaya (NVS): Opportunities to become a teacher in residential schools.

 Army Public Schools: Positions in schools located in military areas.

 Private Schools: Many top private schools in Delhi-NCR and other major cities prefer

CTET-qualified candidates and offer better salaries.

 State Government Recruitments: Several states, such as DSSSB of Delhi, start the recruitment process based on CTET scores.

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First Published: January 27, 2026, 14:30 IST

News education-career CTET Admit Card 2026 Date: When And Where Will CBSE Release Hall Tickets?

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Uproar Intensifies Against New UGC Equity Regulations; PIL Filed In Supreme Court

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Last Updated: January 27, 2026, 12:47 IST

UGC Equity Rules: The UGC regulations have sparked nationwide discussions, drawing reactions from students, teachers, and social organisations in several states.

According to UGC data, complaints of caste discrimination in universities have increased by 118 per cent in the last five years.(Representative/Getty Images)

A provision of the Promotion of Equity in Higher Education Institutions Regulations, 2026, notified by the UGC on January 13 to prevent caste discrimination in higher education, has been challenged in the Supreme Court. A public interest litigation (PIL) has been filed against this regulation, calling Rule 3(c) of the new UGC regulation arbitrary, discriminatory, and unconstitutional, seeking its repeal.

The petitioner alleges that this provision, under the guise of promoting equality in higher education institutions, promotes discrimination against certain classes (particularly the general category) and may lead to the exclusion of certain groups from education. The petition states that Rule 3(c) violates Article 14 (right to equality), Article 19 (freedom of expression), and Article 21 (personal liberty) of the Constitution. Furthermore, it is contrary to the provisions of the UGC Act, 1956, and undermines the fundamental objective of ensuring equal opportunity in higher education.

Protest At UGC Office

The UGC regulations have sparked nationwide discussions, drawing reactions from students, teachers, and social organisations in several states. On Tuesday, several students conducted protests outside the Commission headquarters, expressing concerns that the newly issued regulations might cause disruption on campuses.

The protest organisers have called for student solidarity, urging them to reject what they termed UGC discrimination" and gather in large numbers to voice their opposition.

Alokit Tripathi, a PhD student from Delhi University, told PTI that the new rules would create chaos in colleges, as the burden of proof would shift to the accused, with no safeguards for those falsely accused. The new regulations are draconian. The definition of victim is predetermined, and anyone on campus can be considered a victim," Tripathi said.

With the proposed Equity squads, it will feel like living under constant surveillance on campus," he added, noting that students from various Delhi colleges are likely to join the protest.

Several social media users have taken to X seeking a roll back of the regulations.

False cases dont just ruin lives; they undermine the integrity of the laws meant to protect the vulnerable. COLONIAL UGC #NoUGCRollBack_NoVote pic.twitter.com/c1adtizduB Born Handsome (@Bogus_Engineer) January 27, 2026

What The New Rules Say?

The new UGC regulations aim to completely eliminate discrimination on campus based on caste, religion, gender, place of birth, disability, etc. These regulations mandate the establishment of equity committees in all higher education institutions (universities and colleges) to investigate complaints and take strict action against offenders (such as withholding degrees, revoking institution affiliation, etc.).

According to UGC data, complaints of caste discrimination in universities have increased by 118 per cent in the last five years. These rules were formulated at the direction of the Supreme Court, where an earlier petition demanded a strong mechanism to prevent discrimination on campus. The UGC notified these rules on January 13, following which many institutions were directed to form equity committees and implement anti-discrimination policies.

However, the petitioner argues that the definition and procedure for caste-based discrimination in Rule 3(c) are such that they may be biased against students and teachers from the general category. There is no provision for punishment for false complaints, which poses a risk of misuse. The petition demands that the Supreme Court examine the constitutional validity of this provision and ensure the protection of students fundamental rights. This case could reignite the debate on equality in higher education and the issue of merit versus reservation/equity.

While the government asserts that the changes aim to bring more fairness and accountability to higher education institutes, many critics fear they may deepen social divisions and create new challenges on university campuses.

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First Published: January 27, 2026, 12:10 IST

News education-career Uproar Intensifies Against New UGC Equity Regulations; PIL Filed In Supreme Court

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UPSC Civil Services Exam 2026 Notification, Registration Schedule Expected Soon

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Last Updated: January 27, 2026, 15:47 IST

UPSC CSE 2026 Notification: Once issued, candidates can access the notification and submit their applications on the official UPSC website, upsc.gov.in.

The UPSC notification, initially expected on Jan 14, was later postponed for administrative reasons. (AI Generated Image)

The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) is set to release the detailed notification and registration dates for the Civil Services Examination (CSE) 2026 soon. Once issued, candidates can access the notification and submit their applications on the official UPSC website, upsc.gov.in.

According to the UPSC calendar released earlier, the Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2026 is scheduled for May 24, 2026. The notification, initially expected on January 14, was later postponed for administrative reasons and the new schedule is yet to be announced by the Commission.

The notification will provide essential details such as the number of vacancies, eligibility criteria, exam dates, syllabus, and the selection procedure. It will also specify the number of attempts allowed for candidates from various categories, including General, OBC, SC, ST, and PwBD.

According to existing rules, candidates must be Indian citizens between 21 and 32 years of age. Applicants should hold a graduate degree from a recognised university. Candidates in the General category are allowed six attempts.

The application fee for UPSC Civil Services is typically Rs 100. Candidates must first register on the One Time Registration (OTR) platform on the UPSC website. After registration, they can proceed to fill out the online application.

UPSC CSE Registration: How To Apply?

Step 1: Visit the official UPSC website at upsc.gov.in and the online application portal at upsconline.gov.in

Step 2: Complete the registration process on the One Time Registration (OTR) platform

Step 3: Fill out the UPSC CSE Prelims 2026 online application form

Step 4: Upload the required documents and pay the application fee

Step 5: Submit the completed application form and download it

Step 6: Take a printout for future reference

Selection Process For UPSC Civil Services

The Civil Services Examination is conducted in three stages. The first stage is the Preliminary Examination, consisting of two objective-type papers  General Studies Paper I and the Civil Services Aptitude Test (CSAT). Candidates who qualify prelims will be called for the mains. Those who clear both rounds will proceed to the final stage of the selection process.

Last year, 979 vacancies were filled through the recruitment drive.

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First Published: January 27, 2026, 15:40 IST

News education-career UPSC Civil Services Exam 2026 Notification, Registration Schedule Expected Soon

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'Well-Intentioned But...': ABVP Calls For 'Clarity' In UGC Equity Regulations

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Last Updated: January 27, 2026, 19:15 IST

Certain provisions and terms within the UGC Equity regulations have caused confusion and misconceptions among students, and parents, the ABVP stated in an official press release.

People from upper caste communities stage a protest outside the University Grants Commission headquarters against new rules. (PTI)

The Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) has appreciated the core objectives of the University Grants Commissions (UGC) Equity regulations but stressed the importance of clarity and a balanced approach. Certain provisions and terms within these regulations have caused confusion and misconceptions among society, students, and parents, the ABVP stated in an official press release.

ABVP asserts that the UGC and all educational institutions must uphold the democratic spirit, ensuring equal rights for all citizens and promoting a discrimination-free, equitable India. The student organisation urged the UGC to address these concerns immediately and issue clarifications to prevent any divisive situations. Additionally, given the matter is currently sub-judice, ABVP believes the UGC should promptly file an affidavit in court to clarify its position.

ABVPs National General Secretary Dr. Virendra Singh Solanki stated, Ensuring harmony and equality within academic campuses is mandatory, a cause for which ABVP has always remained committed. There must be social equality for all sections of society in educational institutions, with no room for discrimination of any kind. However, there are prevailing misconceptions regarding these regulations among students, parents, and stakeholders. The UGC must engage in a dialogue with all stakeholders involved and provide immediate clarifications to dispel these doubts. Collective efforts from all sections of society are necessary to strengthen democratic values and ensure a discrimination-free environment for every student."

ALSO READ | Amid Row Over New UGC Rules, Education Minister Pradhan Assures There Will Be No Discrimination

The University Grants Commission (Promotion of Equity in Higher Educational Institutions) Regulations, 2026, have stirred controversy among students, teachers, and other stakeholders. A public interest litigation (PIL) has been lodged in the Supreme Court, challenging Rule 3(c) of the new UGC regulation as arbitrary, discriminatory, and unconstitutional, and seeking its repeal.

UGC data reveals a 118 per cent increase in complaints of caste discrimination in universities over the past five years. These regulations were developed following a Supreme Court directive, which arose from a previous petition calling for a robust mechanism to prevent discrimination on campuses.

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First Published: January 27, 2026, 19:10 IST

News education-career 'Well-Intentioned But...': ABVP Calls For 'Clarity' In UGC Equity Regulations

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News / National

by Staff reporter

Harare regional magistrate Francis Mapfumo has dismissed an application by Prophetic Healing and Deliverance (PHD) Ministries founder, Prophet Walter Magaya, seeking to block further postponements of his trial or to be released from remand.The ruling, delivered in the absence of Magaya and his legal counsel, was based on the magistrate's finding that the application lacked merit.Magaya faces five counts of rape involving two complainants, with allegations dating back to 2013. His trial, originally scheduled to start on Monday, was delayed after the State cited a lack of preparedness.Chief Director of Prosecution, Tendai Shonhayi, explained that the delay was due to unresolved logistical issues involving a key witness based in Ireland, whose travel arrangements had not been finalised because of a funding miscommunication.Magaya's lawyer, Admire Rubaya, strongly opposed the postponement, accusing the State of incompetence and misleading the court. Rubaya argued that the prosecution had failed to secure signed statements from critical witnesses, questioning their readiness to proceed with a case pending for over a decade.Rubaya also revealed that one of the complainants had submitted an affidavit in November 2025 indicating their intention to withdraw the charges, which he argued rendered the case baseless and justified Magaya's removal from remand. He stressed that his client's constitutional right to a fair and timely trial was being violated.Despite these arguments, Mr Mapfumo dismissed the application, allowing the State to continue preparations for the trial.The case remains pending, with legal observers noting that procedural delays continue to prolong the resolution of high-profile matters in Zimbabwe's courts.
New BJP Chief Nitin Nabin Invokes Vivekananda's 'Arise And Awake' Message As He Begins Bengal Visit

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Last Updated: January 28, 2026, 09:12 IST

BJP national president Nitin Nabin said West Bengal must move forward to help realise the vision of a 'Viksit Bharat'

BJP national president Nitin Nabin greets supporters as he arrives in West Bengal on a two-day visit to attend party programmes and meetings ahead of the assembly elections, in Kolkata on January 27, 2026. (Image: @NitinNabin/X/PTI)

The BJPs new national president, Nitin Nabin, began his West Bengal visit on a positive note by invoking the states Renaissance icons like Swami Vivekananda, whose arise and awake" message he used to reach out to youth.

Encouraging cultural outreach programmes, Nabin said Bengal must move forward to help realise the vision of a Viksit Bharat. He inaugurated the Kamal Mela, showcasing the states rich cultural heritage and indirectly under the aegis of the BJP, at Rajiv Gandhi Smarak Maidan (Chitralaya Ground) in Durgapur.

We are deeply dedicated to West Bengal. We will always remain concerned about the progress of Bengals youth and women so that they continue to move forward. The culture of West Bengal holds a unique and special place in our country. On this day, I bow to the people of Bengal, who through Maa Durga have bound the entire nation together in one sacred thread," Nabin said, while addressing the gathering.

He added: Swamiji (referring to Swami Vivekananda) said one must keep moving forward until the goal is achieved. I urge the youth to continue their efforts until their goals are fulfilled. If we truly wish to build a developed India by 2047, the contribution of todays youth will be the most significant."

This is Nabins first visit to West Bengal after assuming charge as the BJPs national president, and is being seen as a major boost for the partys state leadership ahead of the upcoming assembly election. Senior BJP leaders from across the state were present at Andal Airport in Durgapur to receive him, including state president Samik Bhattacharya, Sukanta Majumdar, and Suvendu Adhikari.

Local supporters showed high enthusiasm as he arrived in Bengal, welcoming him with traditional dhak beats and drums, reflecting the cultural fervour of the region. Following the Kamal Mela, he held closed-door meetings with local party leaders to assess the organisational ground reality.

ADOPT MAN-TO-MAN MARKING APPROACH

According to sources, Nabin appeared confident and optimistic about the BJPs prospects in Bengal. His message during the first internal meeting was clear and strategic, as he called for a fight to reclaim the states lost pride in response to the politics of Bengali identity" and said the party is finalising its roadmap for the elections after closely studying the post-mortem report of the 2021 defeat, sources in the BJP said.

The sources said he directed the organisation to adopt a man-to-man marking" approach to counter the TMCs campaign tactics and stressed that local issues must be given far greater importance while planning election strategy. Keeping in mind the diversity of voters across West Bengal, he said leadership responsibilities would be assigned on a district-wise or assembly constituency-wise basis, they said.

They said Nabin further announced that organisational performance will be reviewed every 15 days. These directions emerged from the BJP core committee meeting held at the ITC Fortune Hotel in Durgapur, they added.

Party insiders said West Bengal has now become a top priority for the BJP, making this visit politically significant. Sources pointed out that Bengal is the first state the new BJP chief visited after taking charge. In fact, they added, that his first meeting in New Delhi was also with the Bengal BJP core committee.

Local leaders described him as energetic, disciplined, and organisation-focused with particular attention to district-level structures. The visit included district-wise assessments, strategy discussions, and a review of candidate selection approaches.

Delighted to welcome our young and dynamic BJP national president, Shri Nitin Nabin ji, at Andal airport today. This marks his first visit to West Bengal since taking charge as the youngest-ever BJP national president. His presence infuses fresh energy and renewed resolve in our fight against the corrupt, anti-people TMC government and towards forming a BJP government in the upcoming Assembly elections," said senior leader Suvendu Adhikari.

The sources further said the visit has generated significant political attention during election season. He is scheduled to attend organisational meetings, interact with leaders, and take part in multiple events across Durgapur and surrounding districts over the two days of his stay, they said.

They also said discussions are expected to focus on strengthening election strategy, improving booth-level coordination, and emphasising the role of women, youth, and booth workers in shaping the partys electoral performance. The BJP sees growing organisational opportunities in districts such as Bardhaman, Asansol, Birbhum, Bankura, and Purulia, they added.

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First Published: January 27, 2026, 23:54 IST

News elections New BJP Chief Nitin Nabin Invokes Vivekananda's 'Arise And Awake' Message As He Begins Bengal Visit

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From Campuses To Supreme Court: Why UGC's New Rules Have Set Off A Storm | Explained

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Last Updated: January 27, 2026, 14:29 IST

The rules define discrimination broadly, encompassing not only overt acts but also subtle or indirect practices that undermine equal treatment or infringe upon human dignity

Rapid Read

People from upper caste communities stage a protest outside the University Grants Commission headquarters against new rules. (PTI)

The decision of the University Grants Commission (UGC) to notify a fresh set of rules to arrest caste-based discrimination in colleges and universities has triggered massive pan-India protests, with several sections raising concerns over the possibility of the rules being misused and the absence of a provision to penalise false complaints.

What Do The Guidelines Say?

On January 13, UGCan autonomous statutory body established by the government under the Ministry of Educationnotified a fresh set of rules titled the Promotion of Equity in Higher Education Institutions Regulations, 2026", making it compulsory for all higher education institutions to set up Equal Opportunity Centres, Equity Committees, and 24/7 grievance helplines to deal with complaints of discriminationparticularly for students belonging to the SC, ST and OBC categories.

The UGCs Promotion of Equity Regulations apply to every stakeholder within an institutionstudents, teaching and non-teaching staff, as well as administrative authorities. The rules define discrimination broadly, encompassing not only overt acts but also subtle or indirect practices that undermine equal treatment or infringe upon human dignity. The regulations place particular focus on protecting members of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Other Backward Classes, Economically Weaker Sections, and persons with disabilities.

Institutions are required to put in place systems to receive, record and address complaints related to discrimination. Regular monitoring and internal reporting mechanisms are mandatory under the regulations.

The regulations are legally binding, and institutions that do not comply may face consequences, including refusal of approval for academic programmes, ineligibility for UGC funding schemes, or withdrawal of institutional recognition.

Why Did UGC Issue The Guidelines?

In recent years, complaints of caste-based discrimination in higher education institutions have risen sharply, with UGC data showing a 118.4 percent increase in such cases over the past five years. In response to judicial directions and growing concerns about student welfare, the commission has highlighted persistent upper-caste dominance in educational institutions, noting that while SC-ST reservations are constitutionally mandated and OBCs have benefited from reservations in admissions since 1990 and in recruitment since 2010, their overall participation remains below 15 per cent. The regulations seek to address these disparities and strengthen mechanisms to prevent discrimination across higher education.

Why Has The Move Triggered Protests?

According to critics, the new rules discriminate against General Category students, positioning them as potential perpetrators of harassment.

The regulation has drawn criticism over what some see as an imbalance between swift enforcement and procedural fairness. While it places strong emphasis on speed, compliance and responsiveness, questions have been raised about the adequacy of safeguards, clarity of processes and guarantees of due process. Critics argue that the framework does not sufficiently account for the possibility of false or malicious complaints and the consequences such allegations can have for those accused.

What will happen after UGC Regulations?General category will be isolated. They will fear talking to other communities. And that will again be branded as Casteism. GCs will be harassed, tortured & forced to leave studies. That's the end goal- to deny GCs Future. pic.twitter.com/K7ybLePCoq  Anuradha Tiwari (@talk2anuradha) January 26, 2026

Although the regulation allows an aggrieved party to appeal a committees findings within 30 days, with the Ombudsman required to decide the appeal within a further 30 days, it does not clearly spell out penal consequences for proven false complaints. This, protesters say, leaves room for misuse and creates apprehensions about fairness and protection for all parties involved, particularly in the absence of explicit evidentiary or accountability provisions.

What is worrying is that the rules acknowledge that discrimination can affect individuals of any gender, but leave significant gaps when it comes to caste neutrality. It does not adequately recognise that students from the general category can also face discriminatory treatment. Critics point out that the framework places a heavy burden on the accused, as a complainant is not clearly required to establish proof of discrimination, effectively shifting the onus onto the respondent to demonstrate innocence.

Sections of the general category students have also raised their voice against the rule that states the equity committees will have representation only from reserved categories, pointing to a kind of reverse bias".

Concerns have also been raised about the grievance redressal mechanism, which is seen as insufficiently independent. Considerable authority rests with the institution itself, as the head of the institution is responsible both for constituting the Equity Committee and for acting on its recommendations, raising questions about impartiality and checks and balances.

Political Storm Triggered

The controversy assumed a political hue after Senior Divisional Magistrate in Uttar Pradesh, Alankar Agnihotri, as well as BJPs Yuva Morcha Noida vice-president Raju Pandit resigned from their positions, calling the policy discriminatory".

Shyam Sundar Tripathi, the district president of the BJPs Kisan Morcha in Salon (Rae Bareli), also wrote a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and resigned from his party post. Speaking to ThePrint, he said: I have resigned from my post as a mark of protest. I am still a primary member of the party, but the regulations that have been introduced are completely unjust and against the general category students."

Devendra Pratap Singh, a senior Uttar Pradesh Legislative Council member, also objected to the regulations. In a letter to UGC on January 22, he warned that the move could fracture social harmony and intensify caste conflict" across the country.

Several media reports also said Mrigendra Upadhyay from Balrampur in Uttar Pradesh, yet another BJP leader, had resigned, terming the UGC norms anti-Brahmin and against the general category.

Rajput organisation Karni Sena, which alleged that the rules had been brought to suppress the Savarna society, threatened to launch large-scale protests if the regulations are not rolled back.

All Sections Step In

Not just politicians but experts working in the field of education have also called out the rules, saying safeguards for general category students had been overlooked.

Urging UGC and PM Modi to take a relook at the rules, author Anand Ranganathan said the definition of caste discrimination excludes the general category and there is no provision for penalising false complaints. Financial expert Mohandas Pai called the regulations draconian" and sought their withdrawal. Critics have also cited suicide data indicating near-equal numbers among students from general and reserved categories, arguing that harassment is not confined to any one group. They warn that if grievances are handled without adequate balance and safeguards, university campuses risk turning into spaces of fear rather than learning, affecting students across communities.

Author and poet Kumar Vishwas, sharing a poem by late poet Ramesh Ranjan on X, underlined the anxiety and anger felt by sections of society: Chahe til lo ya taad lo raja, raai lo ya pahad lo raja, main abhaga savarn hoon mera, rounya rounya ukhad lo raja".

Social Media Anger

The hashtag #ShameOnUGC gained traction on social media as students and users voiced opposition to what they termed uneven enforcement and inadequate consultation before the rules were notified. Reports have also emerged of campus protests in parts of Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Bihar.

Some critics have flagged the broad and loosely defined language used in the regulations, particularly around terms such as discrimination", arguing that it creates ambiguity about what actions may be penalised. The pushback has also moved to the courts, with a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed in the Supreme Court, seeking a review of, or a stay on, the implementation of the regulations.

Government Steps In

Concerned over the protests both within and outside the party, BJP MP Nishikant Dubey took to X to allay fears. Modi ji, on becoming the prime minister, secured recognition from the Supreme Court for the upper caste society and provided 10 percent reservation  this is the truth," he posted on January 24.

Dubey reiterated the point in multiple posts on X and questioned the misunderstanding" being created. Rest assured, the UGCs rule will apply equally to Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Backward Classes, as well as the general category. This is not politics; the country runs on the Constitution of Babasaheb Ambedkar ji."

Modi hai toh mumkin hai. All misconceptions regarding the UGC notification will be cleared. According to Articles 14 and 15 of the Constitution, there is no difference between the Scheduled Castes, the Scheduled Tribes, the Backward Classes, and the General Category," he wrote on X on Sunday.

The Ministry of Education is also preparing to address the misconceptions" regarding the new UGC rules. Sources said the government is working to ensure that all relevant facts about these rules are made available to the public.

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First Published: January 27, 2026, 13:46 IST

News explainers From Campuses To Supreme Court: Why UGC's New Rules Have Set Off A Storm | Explained

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With Worlds Richest Economies Losing Measles-Free Status, Can India Hit Its 2026 Elimination Goal?

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Last Updated: January 27, 2026, 15:53 IST

According to WHO data, measles mortality fell by 88% between 2000 and 2024, and an estimated 59 million lives have been saved by vaccination since the turn of the millennium

In India, measles elimination would not only prevent deaths but reduce the burden on an already stretched healthcare system and improve childhood health outcomes (Image: Getty)

The UK has lost its measles elimination status, meaning the virus has been circulating for more than a year. While wealthy nations like the US, Canada, Spain and Austria stumble, India is pushing hard for measles elimination in 2026, a rare bid for progress.

Measles, a disease completely preventable through vaccination, yet its extreme contagiousness means it is often the first disease to return when immunisation rates fall. While it typically causes fever and rash, it can also trigger severe complications and, in some cases, be fatal.

Within the past decade, the UK has gained, lost and regained its elimination status, according to an update posted on 26 January by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA). The country first eliminated measles in 2016, only to see a resurgence in 2018 alongside much of Europe. It regained the status in 2021, when the measures taken to curb COVID-19 reduced travel, social distancing and heightened public health vigilance also drove down measles cases. Similarly, a November 2025 World Health Organization (WHO) report shows that while measles deaths have dropped dramatically over the past two decades, the number of infections is once again surging across the world.

Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the WHO, warned that measles continues to expose weaknesses in public health systems worldwide. Measles is the worlds most contagious virus, and these data show once again how it will exploit any gap in our collective defences against it. Measles does not respect borders, but when every child in every community is vaccinated against it, costly outbreaks can be avoided, lives can be saved, and this disease can be eliminated from entire nations."

What Does Measles Elimination Status Mean?

Measles elimination status is more than a bureaucratic label. It signals that a country has halted continuous, endemic transmission of a highly contagious illness for at least 12 consecutive months an achievement that reflects robust vaccination coverage, strong disease surveillance and sustained public health investment.

For much of the 21st century, high-income nations treated measles elimination as virtually irreversible. In 2000, the United States declared it had eliminated the disease. Later, the Region of the Americas, a grouping including Canada, the US and many Latin American states became the first health region in the world to gain and then regain measles-free status. Measles was also considered absent from large parts of Europe and the United Kingdom after similar achievements.

But in 2025 and 2026, these certainties have begun to unravel. Countries that once stood as poster children for vaccine success are instead sounding alarms about outbreaks, dipping vaccination rates, and the real prospect of losing the status they spent decades earning. These developments are reshaping how the world thinks about measles, vaccine trust and what it takes to protect entire populations.

Why Is Measles Making A Comeback Across The World?

Infections that once seemed on the brink of permanent retreat are coming back with surprising force. The United Kingdom officially lost its measles elimination status in early 2026 after a sustained rise in cases and a drop in vaccine uptake. England alone logged 2,911 confirmed cases in 2024, the highest number since 2012 while coverage of both doses of the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine dipped to around the mid-80s percentile, far below the 95% threshold needed for herd immunity.

The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) recently announced that the entire Region of the Americas  free of endemic measles since 2016 no longer meets the criteria for elimination. Transmission in Canada and persistent outbreaks in the US and Mexico underlie this reversal.

Across the Atlantic, Canadas elimination status was revoked in late 2025 after over 5,000 confirmed infections and evidence of endemic transmission lasting more than a year. Once a statistic-free country for measles, it now battles outbreaks in provinces from Ontario to Alberta, a stark reminder that the disease exploits vulnerabilities wherever they appear.

In the United States, the situation remains fluid and serious. Following a major outbreak that began in West Texas in 2025 and spread to multiple states, federal and WHO officials indicate the country is on the brink of losing its own measles-free designation. In 2025 alone, more than 2,200 confirmed cases were reported across 44 states, the highest tally in over three decades. This surge reflects declines in immunisation coverage, public wariness about vaccines and uneven investment in public health infrastructure.

The resurgence across these high-income nations highlights a simple epidemiological truth: measles remains among the most contagious viruses known. With a basic reproductive number (R) between 12 and 18, one infectious individual can infect many others in populations where immunity dips even marginally. Once vaccination coverage slips below the critical threshold, outbreaks are not just possible they are expected.

Why is Measles Still A Global Threat?

Even in December 2025, when global measles deaths are far lower than at the turn of the century, the toll remains troublingly significant. According to WHO data, measles mortality fell by 88% between 2000 and 2024, and an estimated 59 million lives have been saved by vaccination since the turn of the millennium. Yet the disease still claimed around 95,000 lives in 2024, mostly among children under five, with many more suffering serious complications like pneumonia, blindness or encephalitis.

Spain, Austria, Armenia, Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan have also lost their measles elimination status, prompting the WHO to urge countries to urgently raise vaccination coverage, especially among under-protected communities, to curb further spread among children.

What Is Indias Measles Status?

In India, the public health narrative is tracking in the opposite direction. After reporting 8,035 measles cases between April and October 2025 placing it among the top ten countries for outbreaks the government launched an ambitious campaign aimed at achieving measles and rubella elimination by 2026.

Known as the National Zero Measles-Rubella Elimination Campaign, the government aims to increase routine vaccination through the Universal Immunisation Programme, strengthening disease surveillance via the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP), and targeted outreach to marginalised communities.

Indias vaccination coverage is improving. According to 202425 data from the Health Management Information System, first-dose coverage for the measles-rubella vaccine was around 93.7% and second-dose coverage about 92.2% still short of the ideal, but advancing toward the immunological safety zone required to interrupt transmission.

In a population of more than 1.4 billion, measles elimination would not only prevent deaths but reduce the burden on an already stretched healthcare system and improve childhood health outcomes across vast and diverse regions.

Why Are Countries Losing Measles Elimination?

In high-income countries, decades of success against measles have, paradoxically, contributed to complacency. With the disease seldom seen in everyday life, some parents have deprioritised vaccination. Misinformation about vaccines spread through social media further erodes confidence. Structural barriers, such as uneven access to healthcare, inflexible appointment systems and weakened public health funding  compound the problem.

By contrast, Indias campaign is driven by the lived experience of preventable outbreaks and the memory of successful mass immunisation drives, such as those that defeated polio. The government has emphasised inclusion, community engagement and tracking mechanisms tailored to reach rural and urban slum populations alike.

Yet Indias path is not without challenges. Reaching the last mile particularly in remote or underserved areas requires not just vaccines, but trust and logistical agility. Indias public health apparatus is vast and decentralised, and consistent implementation requires coordination across states with widely varying capacities.

However, where many Western health systems are struggling to maintain high coverage in stable environments, Indias efforts reflect an understanding that elimination must be pursued with urgency and adaptability without political interference.

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First Published: January 27, 2026, 15:53 IST

News explainers With Worlds Richest Economies Losing Measles-Free Status, Can India Hit Its 2026 Elimination Goal?

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After Andhra Pradesh, Goa Considers Australia-Like Ban On Social Media For Children Under 16

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Last Updated: January 27, 2026, 07:13 IST

Goa and Andhra Pradesh are considering an Australia-like law to ban social media for children under 16, citing parental concerns.

Goa is considering an Australia-like ban on social media for children under 16 (Representative image)

The Goa government is considering the possibility of implementing an Australia-like law banning social media for children below the age of 16. According to Tourism and Information Technology (IT) Minister Rohan Khaunte, the matter is under consideration.

We have had a lot of complaints from parents. Social media and some of these platforms are becoming a distraction for the children, leading to a lot of social implications", he said, while speaking to the media on Sunday.

Australia has brought in a law ensuring a ban on social media for children below the age of 16. It is something they have already done. Our [IT] department, our people have already pulled out those particular papers. We are studying them. We will talk to the chief minister, and if possible, implement a similar ban on children below 16 for the usage of social media. The details will follow", he added.

The minister further highlighted that the states IT department has already examined the relevant policy papers from Australia, adding that an engagement will be held with Chief Minister Pramod Sawant before a conclusion is made.

In the world of Artificial Intelligence, we need children to be more focused so they can grow into good citizens and take care of the future of the state and the country," Khaunte stated.

The minister also highlighted the concerns raised by parents, stating that children are glued to mobile phones and social media, even during family time, which in turn is creating complexities for them.

The personal space occupied by social media has become very large and is creating complexities for children. We are studying whether a state-wide ban is legally and practically possible," he said.

As per a statement by Goa Tourism and the IT Ministry, the move was initiated due to a rising number of complaints from parents over the years.

Andhra Considering Australia-Like Ban

The development also comes days after Andhra Pradesh IT and Education Minister Nara Lokesh stated that the government was considering an Australia-like ban on social media for children below the age of 16. He added that a group of ministers had been set up to study and analyse the possibilities of implementing the proposal.

Under Australias Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age) Act, social media platforms are required to take reasonable" steps to identify and deactivate accounts operated by users under 16 and to prevent new account creation by minors.

So far, the law has led to the removal of millions of accounts on platforms including Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, Threads, TikTok, X (formerly Twitter), YouTube, Reddit, Kick, and Twitch.

Messaging apps, gaming, and educational tools are currently exempt.

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Location : Goa, India, India

First Published: January 27, 2026, 07:13 IST

News india After Andhra Pradesh, Goa Considers Australia-Like Ban On Social Media For Children Under 16

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European Council Chief Shows OCI Card, Talks About His Goa Roots | Video

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Last Updated: January 27, 2026, 16:17 IST

"I'm very proud of my roots in Goa," European Council chief Antonia Costa said during the India-EU joint address today.

European Council Chief Antonio Costa shows his OCI card. (Image: ANI)

As India and European Union signed what is being called the mother of all deals" on Tuesday, European Council President Antonio Costa spoke about his Indian roots. Showing his Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) card in New Delhi on the sidelines of signing of the India-EU FTA, Costa said, I am from Goa".

Im the President of the European Council, but Im also an overseas Indian citizen. Then, as you can imagine, for me it has a special meaning. Im very proud of my roots in Goa, where my fathers family came from and the connection between Europe and India is something personal to me," he said.

Im also an overseas Indian citizen. For me it has a special meaning. Im proud of my roots in Goa": European Council President Antonio Costa flashes his OCI card while delivering joint addressing after signing of India-EU Free Trade Agreement#IndiaEUFTA #IndiaEUtradedeal pic.twitter.com/O2lV5JF9WM News18 (@CNNnews18) January 27, 2026

What Is Antonio Costas Goa Connect?

Antonio Luis Santos da Costa, currently President of the European Council (a top EU position), is also the former Prime Minister of Portugal. He was born in Lisbon in 1961 to a Portuguese-French mother and a father of Goan heritage. Costas father, Orlando Antonio Fernandes da Costa, was of Goan descent  his family hailed from Margao in Goa, which was part of the Portuguese Estado da India until 1961. Costas grandfather was born in Goa and spent much of his early years there. These ancestors were part of the Catholic Goan community under Portuguese rule  a group with deep cultural ties to Portugal.

He grew up in Portugal and built his political career there, but the Goan element of his family remains part of his personal narrative. In Goa and among some Indian diaspora circles, hes affectionately called Babush", a Konkani term meaning a beloved young boy.

Orlando da Costas writings often reference life in Goa and Indo-Portuguese experiences, keeping the connection alive culturally. Antonio himself has spoken about how Goa was always present in his fathers books, with memories of Konkani words, local food like sorpotel, and family traditions.

Costa has an ancestral house in Margao on Abade Faria Road, where his extended family  cousins and relatives  still live. He visited this house during a personal trip to Goa in 2017, meeting family members and spending time in his fathers childhood town.

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First Published: January 27, 2026, 14:08 IST

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Boost For Enemy Property Auctions As Maharashtra Govt Waives Stamp Duty On Registration

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Last Updated: January 27, 2026, 22:06 IST

Enemy properties are assets left behind by individuals who migrated to enemy countries during wartime, especially to Pakistan and China.

Enemy Property Act came into effect after the Indo-China and Indo-Pak wars in 1962 and 1965. Image: Shutterstock

In a move aimed at reviving stalled auctions and improving monetisation of enemy properties", the Maharashtra cabinet on Tuesday approved a waiver of stamp duty on the first registration of such properties sold through the Custodian of Enemy Property for India (CEPI). The decision was taken at the state cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. The waiver will apply only at the stage of first registration after CEPI issues the sale certificate to successful bidders.

Enemy properties are assets left behind by individuals who migrated to enemy countries during wartime, especially to Pakistan and China. These properties are managed, preserved and disposed of by CEPI under the provisions of the Enemy Property Act, 1968, which authorises the custodian to auction such assets.

According to official data, Maharashtra has a total of 428 enemy properties spread across multiple districts. Mumbai city accounts for 62 such properties, while Mumbai Suburban leads the tally with 177. Thane has 86 properties, Palghar 77, Ratnagiri 11, Pune four, Nagpur six, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar two, Jalna two, Sindhudurg one, and Ratnagiri eleven. The tally of 428 properties also includes some agricultural lands too.

Despite regular auctions conducted by CEPI, response from buyers has remained muted, primarily due to high acquisition costs, including stamp duty at the time of registration. To address this concern, CEPI had approached the state revenue department with a proposal seeking exemption from stamp duty on first-time registration, arguing that such relief would make purchases financially viable and attract wider participation.

The state government accepted the proposal, noting that reduced transaction costs could significantly improve auction outcomes and help unlock the value of these long-idle assets. With stamp duty waived at the initial registration stage, buyers are expected to show greater interest, thereby accelerating the disposal of enemy properties across the state.

Officials said the measure is intended to streamline the sale process while ensuring better realisation for properties that have remained unsold for years. The exemption is expected to provide a much-needed push to CEPIs auction efforts, particularly in high-value urban pockets such as Mumbai, Thane and Palghar.

The move also aligns with the governments broader objective of improving asset monetisation and easing procedural hurdles in property transactions. Revenue department sources indicated that detailed operational guidelines for implementing the waiver will be issued shortly.

Interestingly, the state government of Maharashtra is also interested in acquiring a few properties. Despite State Govts continuous follow up with their application with the center, Centre is yet to take any decision. With Maharashtra holding one of the largest concentrations of enemy properties in the country, the cabinets decision is seen as a practical step to bring dormant real estate back into circulation and generate economic activity, while providing clarity and relief to prospective buyers.

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First Published: January 27, 2026, 22:06 IST

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EU-India Deal Rattles Khalistanis, SFJs Pannun Threatens To Target January 29 Event | Exclusive

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Last Updated: January 27, 2026, 15:48 IST

Intelligence agencies have issued an alert on the Khalistani call for violence to derail India-EU ties

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Gurpatwant Singh Pannun's SFJ is unhappy with the EU-India trade deal. (X/File)

Rattled by the India-European Union Free Trade Agreement, Khalistani groups, including Gurpatwant Singh Pannuns Sikhs For Justice (SFJ), have threatened to target the Republic Day-linked events such as the Beating Retreat ceremony on January 29. Intelligence agencies have issued an alert on the Khalistani call for violence to derail India-EU ties.

This is an attempt to put international pressure on India," said intelligence sources.

SFJs warning

The SFJ has said they want an FTA, but FTTA  Free Transnational Terrorism Agreement. Sikhs groups have issued a warning to European Union leaders that the proposed FTA will enable and weaponise the Modi regime to orchestrate assassinations inside European Union states.

What the EU celebrates today as a Free Trade Deal will lead to a Free Transnational Terrorism Agreement," said Pannun, Khalistani terrorist and chief of the SFJ.

In a direct message to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, who publicly tweeted Long Live India, Pannun said that such an endorsement constitutes knowing complicity in the genocide of Sikhs carried out by successive Indian regimes  crimes that have now escalated toward ethnic cleansing. By glorifying the Indian state without accountability, the EU Commission President is legitimising mass crimes against Sikhs and aligning the European Union with the perpetrators of genocide". This is a classic case of foreign-based Khalistani extremists attempting terror diplomacy through terror threats. Such statements are not political advocacy but incitement to violence against Indian state ceremonies. This attempt to link the EU-India FTA with fabricated genocide narratives is part of a well-documented Khalistani disinformation playbook. This is aimed at internationalising a fringe separatist agenda through intimidation," said Indian intelligence sources.

Long live India.Long live the friendship between Europe and India.  pic.twitter.com/oj62eMHkHW  Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) January 26, 2026

January 29 Beating Retreat ceremony is target

Khalistani supporters raised the Khalistani flag and slogans at Delhi railway stations to warn the European Union".

Threats around the Beating Retreat ceremony indicate operational signalling, not rhetoric. These groups are testing global reactions while seeking relevance through high-level terror warning," said sources.

Indian agencies assess that overseas Khalistani handlers are deliberately escalating language during major diplomatic moments to provoke security alerts and media amplification.

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First Published: January 27, 2026, 15:41 IST

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Gujarat Man Who Escaped Nepal Jail During Gen Z Protests Held In Ahmedabad

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Last Updated: January 27, 2026, 18:17 IST

In September 2025, Nepal witnessed large-scale anti-government protests led by Gen Z youth, during which the prison premises were vandalised.

JCP Singhal said the SOG traced Chunara using technical surveillance and human intelligence before apprehending him at his residence in Ahmedabad. Representative image

A Gujarat man who had escaped from jail in Nepal during last years Gen Z protests, months after he was held there on drug charges, has been held from his home in Ahmedabad, police said on Tuesday.

The accused, identified as Dharmesh Rasiklal Chunara, a resident of Thakkarbapa Nagar Road in Ahmedabad, was caught by the Special Operation Group (SOG) Crime Branch, the police said as reported by news agency PTI.

He had escaped from the Bhadra jail in the neighbouring countrys capital during last years protests.

According to the police, Chunara had travelled from Bangkok to Kathmandu on Thai Airways flight TG319 in July 2025, where he was arrested with 13 kg of hybrid ganja valued at around 13 crore. He was subsequently booked under narcotics laws and lodged at Bhadra jail in Kathmandu.

In September 2025, Nepal witnessed large-scale anti-government protests led by Gen Z youth, during which the prison premises were vandalised. Amid the unrest, several inmates escaped from the central jail, including Chunara. A number of the escapees were Indian nationals.

Following the incident, the Nepal government prepared a list of absconding prisoners and shared it with the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) in New Delhi. The information was later circulated to states, including the CID Crime unit in Gandhinagar, Gujarat. Two individuals from Gujarat were on the list, both facing drug-related charges. While one of them, from Surat, is still absconding, Chunara has now been detained.

During his interrogation, the accused stated that he was lodged in the Bhadra jail in a Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances case.

He entered India via the India-Nepal Sonauli border, after which he came to Ahmedabad, the police said, adding that he has been taken into custody for further legal proceedings.

Over 12,000 prisoners escaped jails in Nepal during last years violent Gen Z protests that erupted across the Himalayan nation against corruption and social media ban.

The youth-led uprising in September, triggered by a brief social media ban and long-standing frustration over economic hardship and corruption, led to the fall of KP Sharma Olis government.

The unrest left at least 73 people dead and government buildings in flames. Within days, 73-year-old former chief justice Sushila Karki was appointed as interim prime minister to steer the country towards fresh elections, originally scheduled for March 2026.

(With inputs from agencies)

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First Published: January 27, 2026, 18:17 IST

News india Gujarat Man Who Escaped Nepal Jail During Gen Z Protests Held In Ahmedabad

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BMW, Lamborghini, Porsche To Cancer Medicines: India-EU Trade Deal Will Make These Items Cheaper

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Last Updated: January 27, 2026, 18:29 IST

PM Narendra Modi said, "India-EU will provide stability to the world order...India-EU cooperation is a partnership for global good..."

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PM Narendra Modi with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in New Delhi. (X)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said the India-EU free trade agreement is a blueprint for shared prosperity for the global good and will provide stability at a time when the world order is witnessing turmoil.

This is not just a trade agreement. This is a new blueprint for shared prosperity," Modi said, adding that India has concluded the largest free trade agreement in its history.

Modi was speaking at a joint press meet with European Council President Antonio Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen after the conclusion of negotiations for the India-EU free trade agreement.

Noting that there is turmoil in the global environment, Modi said, India-EU will provide stability to the world orderIndia-EU cooperation is a partnership for global good".

The Prime Minister further said the India-EU FTA will help increase cooperation in maritime sector and cybersecurity.

Sharing my remarks during the India-EU Business Forum. https://t.co/MXJIaE7eE4 Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 27, 2026

A look at what will be cheaper once the FTA comes into effect:

Cars: Premium luxury European cars such as BMW, Mercedes, Lamborghini, Porsche, and Audi, are set to become cheaper in the Indian market once the bilateral free trade agreement comes into force, likely next year, as India will offer quota-based import duty concessions under the pact, an official said.

According to the agreement, cars costing more than 15,000 euros  around Rs 16 lakh  will now attract a duty of 40 per cent. This duty will be further reduced to 10 per cent, slashing prices of these cars by lakhs. The two sides have agreed on quota" based duty concessions, an official from the Commerce Ministry told PTI. This has been done to protect the Indian auto industry, which is growing at a fast pace.

The EU will eliminate duty in a phased manner for Indian automobiles, whereas India will reduce the levies to 10 per cent for specified numbers.

Italian carmaker Lamborghini, which sells vehicles in India with prices starting around Rs 3.8 crore, imports all its models. The EU FTA is likely to be beneficial for the company.

Wines: European wines are set to enter the Indian market at lower prices under the bilateral free trade agreement as India will provide import duty concessions under the pact, an official said. Under the pact, the duty on EU wines would fall from 150 per cent to 20 per cent (for expensive ones). For wines below 2.5 euros, there will be no duty concessions. Indian wines, too, will get duty concessions in the EU member countries.

The official said Indian wine too will get market access in the EU, which can cater to the demands of the growing Indian diaspora. The EU will eliminate duties for Indian wine.

Like auto, wine is one of the biggest exportable items for the Indian industry. So for them, it is very important. And we have given duty concessions in a calibrated way. The duties will be reduced in seven years," the official said.

In the alcoholic beverages segment, Indias exports to the EU include wines (USD 1.4 million in 2024-25), blended whiskeys, Vodka, Brandy, and liqueurs (USD 24.5 million). The imports are wines (USD 7.9 million), blended whiskeys, brandy, Gin Tequila, Vodka, Liqueurs (USD 87.8 million).

Medicines: The agreement will make imported medicines for cancer and other critical illnesses and equipment cheaper in India. Moreover, India-manufactured medicines will get access to 27 European markets.

Spare parts, mobile phones: The FTA will end tariffs on spare parts of aircraft, mobile phones and high-tech electronic items imported from Europe, thus bringing down the manufacturing costs of gadgets in India and making them cheaper.

Steel, chemical products, jewellery, garments: There is a proposal for zero tariffs on iron, steel and chemical products, which could reduce raw material prices in the construction and industrial sectors, benefiting homebuyers. It will also provide European market for garments, leather and jewellery made in India.

With PTI, Agency inputs

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First Published: January 27, 2026, 18:10 IST

News india BMW, Lamborghini, Porsche To Cancer Medicines: India-EU Trade Deal Will Make These Items Cheaper

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India, EU Conclude Long-Pending Free Trade Agreement Talks, Implementation Likely By 2027

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Last Updated: January 27, 2026, 08:18 IST

Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal confirmed on Monday that the deal has been finalised and will be formally announced during the summit scheduled for January 27

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EU chief Ursula Von der Leyen with PM Modi at Republic Day parade event | Image: X

After nearly two decades of negotiations, India and the European Union (EU) have formally concluded talks on a comprehensive Free Trade Agreement (FTA), officials announced ahead of the 16th India-EU Summit in New Delhi. Negotiations that began in 2007 and stalled multiple times in the past have now reached a successful conclusion, marking one of the most significant milestones in Indias global trade strategy.

Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal confirmed on Monday that the deal has been finalised and will be formally announced during the summit scheduled for January 27 (Tuesday). The agreement has been described by officials on both sides as balanced and forward-looking".

While formal negotiations have concluded, several procedural steps remain before the FTA can take effect. These include legal scrutiny (legal scrubbing") of the text, which is currently underway and expected to last several months. The pact is anticipated to be signed later in 2026 after legal vetting is complete. The ratification procedures will follow, including approval by the European Parliament, and officials say the process is likely to be completed in time for the agreement to come into force in early 2027.

India and the EU will not require approval from each individual EU member state, as the FTA is structured under EU exclusive competences, avoiding a more time-intensive ratification by all 27 national parliaments.

What Does The Deal Include?

According to officials familiar with the text, the agreement is expected to substantially reduce tariffs on a wide range of goods. India is likely to offer zero-duty access to key Indian exports such as textiles, leather and marine products, while providing calibrated tariff concessions on European sectors like automobiles, wine and spirits, CNBC-TV18 reported.

Sensitive sectors, including agriculture and dairy, have been managed carefully in recognition of domestic sensitivities on both sides, with selective exclusions or phased approaches in parts of the deal.

European officials have highlighted efforts to reduce tariffs on vehicles and create complementary opportunities between Indias small-car industry and Europes larger, technologically advanced automobile sector.

Both parties emphasise provisions to strengthen investment flows, supply-chain integration and job creation through enhanced market access and reduced barrier regimes.

Strategic and Economic Significance

India and the EU together account for a significant share of global economic output. The EU remains one of Indias largest trading partners, with two-way trade reaching approximately $136 billion in the year ending March 2025a figure that is expected to grow substantially under the FTA framework.

According to officials, several anticipated benefits include:

 Expansion of exports in labour-intensive sectors such as textiles and leather goods.

 Greater foreign investment flows into India and improved access for European firms to Indias rapidly growing consumer market.

 Enhanced integration of supply chains, particularly in sectors such as automotive and manufactured goods.

Diplomatic Context

The conclusion of the FTA comes at a time when both India and the EU are seeking to diversify their economic partnerships amid shifting global trade dynamics and rising protectionist pressures. EU leaders have described the agreement as a strategic step to expand ties beyond traditional partners, while Indian officials frame it as a key part of New Delhis broader external trade strategy.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa, who are in New Delhi and presided as chief guests at the Republic Day 2026 parade, are expected to join Prime Minister Narendra Modi in formally unveiling the completed negotiations during the summit.

Outlook and Implementation

Though the announcement marks a historic breakthrough, implementation of the agreement, including signature, ratification, and entry into force, will unfold over the coming year. Industry groups and export bodies on both sides are preparing for significant adjustments as new opportunities and competitive pressures emerge under the framework of the India-EU FTA.

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First Published: January 27, 2026, 08:18 IST

News india India, EU Conclude Long-Pending Free Trade Agreement Talks, Implementation Likely By 2027

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News / National

by Staff reporter

THIEVES broke into the Chikurubi Farm Prison canteen on Sunday, making off with US$2,673, raising serious concerns over prison security.The theft was discovered by Felix Chingwaru (27), a canteen salesman, when he arrived for his shift after being alerted by his manager.According to sources at the prison, the intruder forced open the canteen's back door using an unknown object before taking the cash box and disappearing without a trace."Everyone, including officers and inmates, is being interrogated regarding the unlawful entry and theft," a source said.Senior prison officials expressed outrage over the incident, with the atmosphere described as tense.The matter has been reported to Highlands Police Station, where investigations are ongoing under case number RRB 6604817.The incident underscores vulnerabilities in prison security and has sparked calls for stricter monitoring of prison facilities and cash handling procedures.
'India's Biggest FTA, Historic Occasion': PM Modi Hails Trade Deal With EU, Momentum In Ties

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Last Updated: January 27, 2026, 15:57 IST

PM Modi said the India-EU Free Trade Agreement marks a new chapter between the two biggest democracies and called it Indias biggest trade pact.

PM Modi with European Council President Antonio Costa, left, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, right (Photo: PTI)

Declaring that two of the worlds biggest democracies are adding a decisive chapter in their relationship," Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday hailed the conclusion of the India-European Union Free Trade Agreement as Indias largest-ever trade pact.

The Prime Minister also called the signing of the pact a transformational moment for economic cooperation between New Delhi and the 27-nation bloc.

Speaking after the signing ceremony, witnessed by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa, the Prime Minister underscored both the scale and symbolism of the agreement.

Today, India has concluded the biggest Free Trade Agreement in its history. On 27th January, India signed this FTA with 27 European nations. This will boost investment, form new innovation partnerships and strengthen supply chains at the global level."

This is not just a trade agreement, it is a blueprint for shared prosperity," he said.

Referring to the rapid momentum in ties, PM Modi noted that EU leaders had participated in Indias Republic Day celebrations for the first time just a day earlier.

Yesterday was a historic moment when, for the first time, European Union leaders participated as Chief Guests in Indias Republic Day celebrations. Today is another such moment, when two major democratic powers are adding a decisive chapter in their relationship," he added.

Welcoming his counterparts, the Prime Minister remarked, It is a pleasure to welcome my two close friends, President Costa and President von der Leyen, on this unprecedented visit to India."

He described Costa as the Gandhi of Lisbon" for his simple lifestyle and social commitment, and praised von der Leyen for becoming the first woman President of the European Commission, calling her an inspiration for the world.

PM Modi highlighted the growing depth of India-EU engagement, saying bilateral trade had reached nearly $180 billion, with cooperation spanning strategic technologies, clean energy and digital governance.

Stressing the domestic impact of the FTA, he said, Farmers and MSMEs will benefit, there will be new opportunities in manufacturing, a boost to investment and new innovation partnerships. Supply chains will be strengthened at the global level."

The Prime Minister also linked the trade deal with broader strategic understandings concluded alongside it, including agreements on defence, security and a comprehensive framework for mobility.

Defence is a foundation that is giving a new shape to our relationship. Counter-terrorism, maritime and cyber security cooperation will be strengthened. Our defence companies will look for more opportunities for co-production and co-development," he said, adding that scientific and technological collaboration would deepen through new mobility arrangements.

Citing discussions with EU leaders on global issues, PM Modi said Ukraine, West Asia and the Indo-Pacific featured prominently in talks, and reiterated that multilateralism and respect for international norms are our shared priorities."

He also referred to the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor, signalling its relevance to future connectivity and trade.

Later, the Prime Minister, in an X post, wrote, Today is a day that will be remembered forever, marked indelibly in our shared history."

This is a milestone in our relations which will: Strengthen our economic ties Create jobs for our youth Opportunities for our businesses Foster shared prosperity, Build stronger global supply chains," he added.

Today is a day that will be remembered forever, marked indelibly in our shared history.European Council President Antonio Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and I are delighted to announce the conclusion of the historic India-EU Free Trade Agreement. pic.twitter.com/yaSlPm2b2L  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 27, 2026

The announcement of the conclusion of negotiations was made at the 16th India-EU Summit in the national capital, hosted by Prime Minister Modi, with von der Leyen and Costa in attendance.

Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal was quoted as saying that the agreement is balanced and forward-looking, and that formal signing would take place after legal scrubbing in about six months, with the pact expected to come into force sometime next year.

The summit sought to build on the EU-India strategic partnership across trade, security and defence, clean transition and people-to-people cooperation.

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First Published: January 27, 2026, 13:35 IST

News india 'India's Biggest FTA, Historic Occasion': PM Modi Hails Trade Deal With EU, Momentum In Ties

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Reduced Tariff, Defence Partnership: 10 Things To Know About India-EU Free Trade Deal

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Last Updated: January 27, 2026, 11:05 IST

India and the European Union have concluded long-running talks on a landmark free trade agreement that will cut tariffs, boost market access and deepen economic ties.

President Murmu, Vice President Radhakrishnan, PM Modi, President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen and President of the European Council Antonio Costa (Photo: PTI)

After nearly two decades of stop-start negotiations, India and the European Union have finally concluded talks on an ambitious free trade agreement (FTA), widely billed as the mother of all deals."

The pact, expected to be formally announced during the India-EU summit in New Delhi, could reshape economic ties between two of the worlds largest markets.

Here are 10 major takeaways from the negotiations and what they mean for both sides.

YEARS IN MAKING

Talks on the India-EU FTA first began in 2007 but were suspended in 2013 over disagreements on tariffs, market access and regulatory standards. Negotiations were revived in 2022 and accelerated last year as global trade tensions intensified and both sides sought to diversify economic partnerships.

ENORMOUS ECONOMIC SCALE

Together, India and the 27-nation EU bloc account for roughly a quarter of global GDP and represent a combined market of nearly two billion consumers. Bilateral trade in goods stood at about $136.5 billion in FY2025, while services trade exceeded $80 billion, underlining the vast scope of the agreement.

TARIFF CUTS AT THE CORE

A central element of the talks has been tariff reduction. India is expected to significantly lower import duties on European cars and wine, while the EU will ease access for Indian products such as textiles, garments, jewellery, chemicals, pharmaceuticals and electronics.

The sharpest spotlight has been on automobiles, where Indias duties can exceed 100 per cent.

BIG IMPLICATIONS FOR AUTO SECTOR

Under the deal, tariffs on EU-made cars could fall to around 40 per cent, potentially opening the door for manufacturers like Volkswagen, BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Renault to expand in Indias fast-growing car market.

For New Delhi, the challenge has been balancing liberalisation with protecting domestic champions such as Tata Motors and Mahindra, as well as Japanese market leader Suzuki.

SOME SECTORS KEPT OUT

Despite the broad scope of the pact, negotiators have carved out exceptions. Certain farm and dairy products have been excluded, reflecting Indias concern about protecting millions of small farmers.

Sensitive industrial segments have also been handled cautiously to avoid sudden shocks to domestic producers.

NON-TARIFF BARRIERS REMAIN A CONCERN

India has repeatedly raised objections to what it sees as EU non-tariff barriers, particularly carbon-related levies on imports of steel, aluminium and cement.

New Delhi is also wary of Brussels scaling back preferential tariff treatment for Indian goods under the EUs Generalised System of Preferences, which has affected exports worth nearly $2 billion. Officials say the FTA should help offset some of these pressures.

STRATEGIC TIMING

The deal comes as countries worldwide hedge against uncertainty in trade ties with the United States. The agreement also follows recent EU pacts with Mercosur and several Asian economies, and Indias own deals with Britain, New Zealand and Oman.

LEGAL SCRUBBING BEFORE IMPLEMENTATION

Although negotiations have concluded, the agreement will not take effect immediately. The text will undergo a legal scrubbing" process lasting five to six months, followed by formal signing and ratification, including approval by the European Parliament. Officials expect the pact to be operational within about a year.

LINKED TO WIDER COOPERATION

The FTA is being unveiled alongside a broader diplomatic push. At the India-EU summit, leaders are expected to adopt a comprehensive strategic agenda covering prosperity, technology, connectivity and global issues.

The two sides will also sign a Security and Defence Partnership focused on maritime cooperation, cybersecurity and counter-terrorism, signalling that the relationship now goes well beyond commerce alone.

BIG OPPORTUNITIES

Economists say Indian exporters of textiles, garments and leather could gain significantly from better access to Europes vast consumer market, helping them compete with rivals such as Bangladesh and Vietnam.

At the same time, European firms see India as one of the worlds most promising growth markets. Yet the pact will likely face political scrutiny on both sides, particularly from industries worried about competition and environmental groups concerned about regulatory standards.

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First Published: January 27, 2026, 08:23 IST

News india Reduced Tariff, Defence Partnership: 10 Things To Know About India-EU Free Trade Deal

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'Pakistan Spreading Falsehoods, Attempting To Legitimise Terrorism': India At UN Security Council

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Last Updated: January 27, 2026, 07:08 IST

India tore into Pakistan at the UNSC, accusing it of spreading falsehoods, sponsoring terrorism, violating the Indus Waters Treaty, and misrepresenting Indias actions on Pahalgam.

Permanent Representative of India to the United Nations Parvathaneni Harish (Photo: PTI)

India mounted a sharp and wide-ranging rebuttal against Pakistan at the United Nations Security Council, with Permanent Representative Parvathaneni Harish accusing Islamabad of spreading falsehoods, attempting to legitimise terrorism, and repeatedly violating international commitments.

Speaking at the UNSC, Harish said he was replying to the comments of the representative of Pakistan, an elected member of the Security Council, which has a single-point agenda to harm my country and my people."

He rejected Pakistans version of events surrounding Indias military actions last year, stating that the envoy had advanced a false and self-serving account."

Referring to the April 2025 attack in Jammu and Kashmirs Pahalgam, Harish told the Council, Pakistan-sponsored terrorists killed 26 innocent civilians in a brutal attack."

This August body itself called for holding the perpetrators, organisers, financiers, and sponsors of this reprehensible act of terrorism accountable and brought to justice. That is exactly what we did."

He stressed that Indias response was limited and targeted.

Indias actions were measured, non-escalatory and responsible, and focused on dismantling the terrorist infrastructure and disabling terrorists," he said, adding that Pakistan had continued to issue threats until early May.

Till 9th of May, Pakistan was threatening more attacks on India. But on the 10th of May, the Pakistani military called our military directly and pleaded for a cessation to the fighting."

Harish claimed that Indian operations had inflicted visible damage on Pakistani facilities, noting that the destruction caused to multiple Pakistani air bases by the Indian operation, including images of destroyed runways and burnt-out hangars, are in the public domain."

Taking aim at Pakistans rhetoric about a new normal," the Indian envoy was blunt, Let me reiterate again that terrorism can never be normalised as Pakistan wishes to do. It is not normal to tolerate Pakistans continued use of terrorism as an instrument of state policy."

This hallowed chamber cannot become a forum for Pakistan to legitimise terrorism," he added.

He said that India would do whatever is required to protect and ensure the safety and security of our citizens."

Harish also rejected Pakistans comments on Kashmir, asserting that Pakistan has no locus standi to comment on matters that are internal to India," and reiterating that the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir has been, is, and will always remain an integral and inalienable part of India."

On the Indus Waters Treaty, he said India had signed the agreement 65 years ago in good faith, in a spirit of goodwill and friendship," but accused Pakistan of undermining it through conflict and terrorism.

Throughout the six and a half decades, Pakistan has violated the spirit of the treaty by inflicting three wars and thousands of terror attacks on India. Thousands of Indian lives have been lost in Pakistan-sponsored terror attacks," he said.

India was therefore compelled to place the treaty in abeyance until Pakistan, a global epicentre of terror, credibly and irrevocably ends its support for cross-border and all other forms of terrorism," he said.

The envoy further urged Pakistan to reflect on its own governance, remarking that it should introspect about the rule of law" and questioning constitutional changes that he alleged gave extraordinary powers and immunity to its military leadership.

He concluded by calling for stronger international legal mechanisms and reforms in multilateral institutions, saying such steps were a strategic necessity" for the UN to effectively maintain global peace and security.

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First Published: January 27, 2026, 07:05 IST

News india 'Pakistan Spreading Falsehoods, Attempting To Legitimise Terrorism': India At UN Security Council

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Jobs, Strong Supply Chains And More: PM Modi's Post Explains Why India-EU Trade Deal Is A Milestone

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Last Updated: January 27, 2026, 15:15 IST

PM Modi said the India-EU FTA would strengthen economic ties, create jobs for the youth, open new opportunities for businesses

PM Narendra Modi with European Council President Antonio Costa, left, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, right, during their meeting at the Hyderabad House, in New Delhi. (PTI)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday described the conclusion of the IndiaEuropean Union Free Trade Agreement as a historic milestone, saying it would be remembered as a defining moment in the shared history of India and the European Union.

In a post on X, Modi said he, along with European Council President Antonio Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, was delighted to announce" the finalisation of the agreement, calling it a landmark step in bilateral relations.

Modi said the India-EU FTA would strengthen economic ties, create jobs for the youth, open new opportunities for businesses, foster shared prosperity, and help build stronger global supply chains.

Calling it a deal between the worlds second-largest and fourth-largest economies, the Prime Minister said the agreement promises to create unprecedented opportunities, open new avenues for growth and cooperation, and benefit the global community at large.

This landmark deal between the 2nd largest and 4th largest economies of the world promises to create unprecedented opportunities and open new avenues of growth as well as cooperation. This deal will benefit the entire global community.It would help create quality jobs in key pic.twitter.com/9RAv8vY0W9  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 27, 2026

Also Read: Indias Biggest FTA, Historic Occasion: PM Modi Hails Trade Deal With EU, Momentum In Ties

Highlighting its broader impact, Modi said the agreement would help generate quality jobs in key sectors and enable greater mobility for youth, professionals, students and researchers. He added that the deal would unlock the potential of the digital age, foster innovation and further strengthen economic ties for mutual growth.

The historic agreement with EU, which is Indias largest Free Trade Agreement in history, has substantial benefits for the 1.4 billion people of India. It will:Make access to European markets easier for our farmers and small industries. Create new opportunities in pic.twitter.com/q2yZiIMnlC  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 27, 2026

The Prime Minister said the agreement with the EU, Indias largest free trade agreement to date, would bring substantial benefits to the countrys 1.4 billion people. He said it would make access to European markets easier for Indian farmers and small industries, create new opportunities in manufacturing and further deepen cooperation between the services sectors of both sides.

Together, India and the EU are moving ahead with trust and ambition towards a prosperous as well as sustainable future," Modi said, highlighting the strategic and economic significance of the pact.

Also Read: We Did It, Two Giants Chose A Win-Win Partnership: EU Chief On India Trade Deal

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First Published: January 27, 2026, 15:15 IST

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News18 Evening Digest: PM Modi Says India-EU FTA Symbol Of Unprecedented Alignment & Other Top Stories

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Last Updated: January 27, 2026, 18:25 IST

We are also covering: Ayodhya GST Commissioner Resigns Over Shankaracharya Row, Will ICC Ban Mohsin Naqvi's PCB? and other top stories.

PM Narendra Modi speaks at the India-EU Business Forum at Bharat Mandapam, in New Delhi on January 27, 2026. (Image: Narendra Modi/YouTube)

In todays evening digest, News18 covers updates on India-EU deal, Kannada TV Actress Kavya Gowdas Husband Stabbed In Family Dispute, and other top stories.

Symbol Of Unprecedented Alignment: PM Modi On India-EU Free Trade Agreement

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said the free trade agreement between India and the European Union was a symbol of unprecedented alignment", signalling the beginning of a new era of friendship between New Delhi and European leaders. Read More

High-End Cars To Medicines: India-EU FTA Will Make These Items Cheaper

Premium luxury European cars, such as BMW, Mercedes, Lamborghini, Porsche, and Audi, are set to become cheaper in the Indian market once the bilateral free trade agreement comes into force, likely next year, as India will offer quota-based import duty concessions under the pact, an official said. Read More

Deeply Hurt By Allegations Against CM, PM: Ayodhya GST Commissioner Resigns Over Shankaracharya Row

In a bizarre turn of events that had nothing, and yet everything, to do with the ongoing political controversy linked to Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati, Ayodhyas GST commissioner has resigned over feeling deeply hurt and pained" by the Shankaracharyas allegations against Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Read More

Can Pakistan Boycott India At T20 WC? Will ICC Ban Mohsin Naqvis PCB?

Bangladesh wanted its games to be moved out of India due to security concerns, and had the support of Pakistan. However, the ICC presented it as a security report which said there was no credible threat and rejected the idea, also citing the logistical concerns  Pakistan is now calling it an injustice. These supposed options are, if the Pakistan media is to be believed, aimed at a protest against the ICC. Below, we analyse what the PCB can do and how ICC might react to it. Read More

Kannada TV Actress Kavya Gowdas Husband Stabbed In Family Dispute, Police Probe Underway

A fight inside the family of Kannada TV actress Kavya Gowda turned violent in Bengaluru, leaving her husband Somashekar injured and hospitalised. He was allegedly stabbed during an argument involving close relatives. Police have started an investigation. Read More

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First Published: January 27, 2026, 18:25 IST

News india News18 Evening Digest: PM Modi Says India-EU FTA Symbol Of Unprecedented Alignment & Other Top Stories

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Nipah Virus Outbreak: All About The Disease With No Cure As Asian Airports Tighten Screening

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Last Updated: January 27, 2026, 14:41 IST

Nipah virus outbreak: The current outbreak in India was first reported among five health workers in West Bengal. While there is no cure, it can be prevented

Rapid Read

The fruit-eating bat that was caught for the study of the spread of Nipah Virus in Kozhikode in 2018. (PTI File)

Nipah Virus Cases In India: Airports across several Asian countries have tightened health screening measures following reports of Nipah virus infections in India.

Thailand, Nepal and Taiwan have reintroduced Covid-era style checks, including passenger monitoring and surveillance. The outbreak has also drawn attention in China ahead of the Lunar New Year travel season, when millions are expected to travel.

Also See: Nipah Virus Symptoms

Is there a Nipah outbreak in India?

The current outbreak in India was first reported among five health workers in West Bengal after a person died of an unknown disease. An ongoing investigation is now underway into another 100 to 200 people who have been exposed," AIIMS Bilaspur president Professor Dr Narendra Kumar Arora told ANI.

What is Nipah?

Nipah virus is a rare but highly dangerous zoonotic virus that spreads from animals to humans and can also transmit between people. It was first identified in 1998-99 in Malaysia and is named after the village of Sungai Nipah. Since then, outbreaks have mainly occurred in South and Southeast Asia, especially in Bangladesh and India, with Kerala reporting repeated cases. The natural hosts of the virus are fruit bats (Pteropus species), which carry the virus without falling ill and spread it through their saliva, urine, and droppings.

How is Nipah virus transmitted?

The virus spreads to humans through consumption of food contaminated by bats, such as partially eaten fruits or raw date palm sap, or through direct contact with infected animals like pigs. Human-to-human transmission occurs through close contact with an infected persons body fluids or respiratory droplets, making family members and healthcare workers particularly vulnerable during outbreaks. Because of this, hospitals often become key points of spread if strict infection-control measures are not followed.

Symptoms usually appear 5-14 days after exposure.

Early symptoms include fever, headache, muscle pain, vomiting and sore throat

Severe symptoms are dizziness, drowsiness, confusion, seizures, encephalitis or brain swelling and coma

Some patients worsen very quickly within 24-48 hours.

How deadly is it?

Fatality rate: 40-75% (varies by outbreak)

Survivors may have long-term neurological problems. Some cases show relapse months or years later

Is there a cure?

No, there is currently no cure for Nipah virus. There is no specific antiviral medicine or approved vaccine that can eliminate the virus from the body. Treatment is limited to supportive care, which means doctors manage symptoms and complications through intensive care, ventilator support if breathing is affected, treatment for brain swelling, and close monitoring.

Can it be prevented?

Nipah can be prevented by taking simple measures:

Avoid eating fallen or partially eaten fruits

Do not drink raw date palm sap

Wash fruits thoroughly

Avoid contact with sick people during outbreaks

For healthcare workers, use PPE (gloves, masks, gowns) and strict infection-control measures

Kerala and West Bengal are endemic to Nipah

Dr Arora on Monday highlighted the serious public health risks posed by the Nipah virus, describing it as a highly infectious and fatal zoonotic disease. Nipah virus is a zoonotic disease. These sporadic outbreaks have occurred in both Kerala and West Bengal. Even Bangladesh is endemic for the Nipah virus," he told ANI.

There is currently no vaccine available for this virus, and Monoclonal antibodies are to be given as soon as someone is diagnosed with Nipah virus infection. There is a very limited supply of these monoclonal antibodies globally," he said.

Urging caution in endemic regions, Dr Arora added, But one has to be careful that in areas where these fruit bats are present, human and animal contact is kept to a minimum or avoided to prevent the disease. Both Kerala and West Bengal are endemic for this virus."

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First Published: January 27, 2026, 13:41 IST

News india Nipah Virus Outbreak: All About The Disease With No Cure As Asian Airports Tighten Screening

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Pay Milk Bill From My Purse: Bihar Teacher Dies By Suicide, Leaves Note

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Last Updated: January 27, 2026, 20:02 IST

In the note, Bharti wrote that she was ending her life due to illness and requested that no one be held responsible.

She further requested that her mobile phone be handed over to her husband. (Image used for representation)

In a shocking incident, a female government school teacher allegedly died by suicide at her home in Bihars Vaishali district, leaving behind a note apologising to her parents and saying that no one was responsible for her death.

The deceased, identified as Priya Bharti, a resident of Rasulpur village under Jandaha police station limits, was posted as a teacher at High School Khajechand in Chapra Chehra block and was living in a rented house in Sehan village near her workplace.

According to news reports citing the police, locals alerted them after finding Bhartis room locked from inside and receiving no response. The police broke open the door and found her body hanging. A suicide note was recovered from the spot.

In the note, Bharti wrote that she was ending her life due to illness and requested that no one be held responsible. She also asked the police not to register any case against her husband or family and requested that no post-mortem be conducted.

My body should not be taken to Rasulpur. My last rites should be performed here itself. The funeral pyre should be lit by my daughter, not my husband," the note read. She further requested that her mobile phone be handed over to her husband, stating that it contained messages, audio and video files and that he knew the password.

In an emotional message addressed to her parents, she wrote, Mom, dad, your daughter has lost. Sorry mom." In a final detail, she mentioned that payment for 5.5 litres of milk was pending and asked that it be cleared from the money in her purse.

The money for 5.5 litres of milk is outstanding. There is money in my purse, please pay from there," she wrote.

Bhartis family has, however, alleged that her husband, Deepak Raj, and her in-laws were torturing her and she had told her mother about it.

The family has also claimed that Bharti was planning to contribute financially to her brothers wedding scheduled later this month and had differences with her in-laws over the issue.

Police said the body was sent to Sadar Hospital, Hajipur, for post-mortem, which was conducted on Tuesday. An investigation is underway. We have not received any formal complaint so far," said Sub-Divisional Police Officer Sanjeev Kumar, adding that a forensic team has examined the scene and the post-mortem report is awaited to determine the exact cause of death.

Suicide Prevention: If you or someone you know needs help, call any of these helplines: Aasra (Mumbai) 022-27546669, Sneha (Chennai) 044-24640050, Sumaitri (Delhi) 011-23389090, Cooj (Goa) 0832- 2252525, Jeevan (Jamshedpur) 065-76453841, Pratheeksha (Kochi) 048-42448830, Maithri (Kochi) 0484-2540530, Roshni (Hyderabad) 040-66202000, Lifeline 033-64643267 (Kolkata)

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Location : Vaishali, India, India

First Published: January 27, 2026, 20:02 IST

News india Pay Milk Bill From My Purse: Bihar Teacher Dies By Suicide, Leaves Note

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'Free Trade Zone Of 2 Billion People': EU Chief Says 'Mother Of All Deals' With India Concluded

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Last Updated: January 27, 2026, 13:28 IST

Ursula von der Leyen said that India and the EU had concluded the mother of all deals, creating a free trade zone of two billion people.

PM Modi with European Council President Antonio Costa, left, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, right (Photo: PTI)

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Tuesday said Europe and India were making history" after concluding what she called the mother of all deals," announcing the breakthrough in a post on X.

Europe and India are making history today. We have concluded the mother of all deals. We have created a free trade zone of two billion people, with both sides set to benefit. This is only the beginning. We will grow our strategic relationship to be even stronger," she wrote.

Europe and India are making history today.We have concluded the mother of all deals. We have created a free trade zone of two billion people, with both sides set to benefit. This is only the beginning. We will grow our strategic relationship to be even stronger. pic.twitter.com/C7L1kQQEtr  Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) January 27, 2026

Soon after her post, Prime Minister Narendra Modi held delegation-level talks with her and the President of the European Council, Antonio Luis Santos da Costa, at Hyderabad House in Delhi.

#WATCH | Prime Minister Narendra Modi holds delegation-level talks with the President of the European Commission, Ursula Von Der Leyen and the President of the European Council, Antonio Luis Santos da Costa, at Hyderabad House in Delhi.(Source: DD) pic.twitter.com/zn4ygZLZAR  ANI (@ANI) January 27, 2026

Her declaration followed remarks she made a week earlier at the World Economic Forum in Davos on January 20, where she had flagged that the two sides were on the verge of finalising the landmark pact.

Right after Davos, I will travel to India. There is still work to do. But we are on the cusp of a historic trade agreement. Some call it the mother of all deals," von der Leyen had said.

She had also underlined Europes push to deepen economic engagement globally, saying, Europe wants to do business with the growth centres of today and the economic powerhouses of this century. From Latin America to the Indo-Pacific and far beyond, Europe will always choose the world. And the world is ready to choose Europe."

India and the European Union are set to announce the conclusion of negotiations on the long-pending free trade agreement at their summit on January 27.

The EU is Indias biggest trading partner, with bilateral goods trade valued at USD 135 billion in 2023-24, and the FTA is expected to significantly enhance commercial ties amid global trade disruptions linked to Washingtons tariff policies.

Besides the trade pact, the two sides are also expected to unveil a defence framework agreement and a strategic agenda for 20262030, and launch talks on a Security of Information Agreement to boost industrial defence cooperation.

India and the EU have been strategic partners since 2004, while negotiations on the FTA, first launched in 2007 and revived in June 2022, are now nearing completion.

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First Published: January 27, 2026, 12:44 IST

News india 'Free Trade Zone Of 2 Billion People': EU Chief Says 'Mother Of All Deals' With India Concluded

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Wheelchair-Bound Ex-Serviceman Stopped At Toll Booth Despite Exemption, Staff Issue Apology

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Last Updated: January 27, 2026, 10:52 IST

He said toll booth employees refused to grant him exemption despite him producing his ex-serviceman ID and disability certificate.

The toll booth staffers later apologized for the incident. (Credit: X)

Staff at the Sasthan toll plaza on National Highway-66 in Karnatakas Udupi district have issued an apology after allegations surfaced that a retired Army officer was stopped and humiliated over toll payment, triggering widespread outrage on social media. The incident came to light after a video shared by the ex-serviceman went viral.

The officer, identified as Commando Shyamraj of the 21 Para Special Forces, is wheelchair-bound and a war casualty of Operation Parakram. In the video, recorded on the eve of Republic Day, Shyamraj is seen showing documents stating that he had crossed other toll booths without any issue and questioning why he was stopped at Sasthan toll plaza.

A Braveheart Para SF Commando, a disabled war veteran, is seen being stopped at a toll plaza and asked to pay toll despite carrying an official exemption letter. pic.twitter.com/ZMd7guNMTq SSBCrack (@SSBCrack) January 27, 2026

He said toll booth employees refused to grant him exemption despite him producing his ex-serviceman ID, disability certificate and exemption papers related to his wifes posting.

According to Shyamraj, toll staff Suresh and Shivraj stopped him around 9 pm on Sunday night. I have crossed all tolls but have now been stopped here," he said in the video, expressing disappointment over the treatment meted out to him. He also questioned Union Minister Nitin Gadkari over the incident.

Responding to the controversy, toll plaza staff said there was confusion over verification of the documents and that confirmation from senior officials was delayed. He gave his ex-serviceman ID. We said there is no exemption. He gave the disability ID. We forwarded it to our seniors, but the response was delayed. Later, we granted the exemption and apologised," a staff member said in an apology video.

Udupi Superintendent of Police Hariram Shankar said the ex-serviceman has not pressed any charges. He added that all staff members involved were summoned to the police station and sensitised on appropriate conduct. They were specifically counselled on how to deal with ex-servicemen and serving Armed Forces personnel," the SP said.

The apology video issued by the toll staff has since been shared widely, with authorities saying steps have been taken to prevent similar incidents in the future.

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First Published: January 27, 2026, 10:52 IST

News india Wheelchair-Bound Ex-Serviceman Stopped At Toll Booth Despite Exemption, Staff Issue Apology

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PM Modi Says India-EU Ties Key To Global Stability After Talks On Ukraine, West Asia

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Last Updated: January 27, 2026, 14:20 IST

PM Modi stressed multilateralism and called for a reform in global institutions to address today's challenges.

The Prime Minister hailed the Free Trade Agreement between India and the EU as a "new blueprint for shared prosperity".

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said that Indias cooperation with the European Union (EU) could help bring stability to a global order facing turmoil.

Addressing a joint press meet with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa at Hyderabad House in New Delhi, the Prime Minister stressed multilateralism and called for a reform in global institutions to address todays challenges.

PM Modi said that India has held detailed discussions with the EU on several global issues, including Ukraine, West Asia, and the Indo-Pacific.

Today, there is major turmoil in the global order. In such a situation, the partnership between India and the European Union will strengthen stability in the international system. In this context, today we held detailed discussions on several global issues, including Ukraine, West Asia, and the Indo-Pacific. Respect for multilateralism and international norms is our shared priority. We also agree that to address todays challenges, global institutions need reform," PM Modi said.

VIDEO | Addressing a joint press conference With European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa, PM Modi (@narendramodi) said, Today there is major turmoil in the global order. In such a situation, the partnership between India pic.twitter.com/Oa2yPNlLLf Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) January 27, 2026

The Prime Minister hailed the Free Trade Agreement between India and the EU as a new blueprint for shared prosperity". Today is a historic day; we are opening a new chapter in our relations on trade, security, and people-to-people ties," he added.

We Did It, Two Giants Chose A Win-Win Partnership: EU Chief On India Trade Deal

India-EU Committed To Lasting Peace In Ukraine: Costa

Costa said that India and the EU have affirmed our commitment to supporting efforts towards a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in Ukraine.

President of the European Council, Antonio Luis Santos da Costa, says, In our summit, we affirmed our commitment to supporting efforts towards a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in Ukraine, one that fully respects Ukraines independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity. This is a key moment. We are supporting all efforts to reach a just and sustainable peace. Ukraine has shown its readiness, including at the cost of a difficult compromise. I know, dear Prime Minister, that we can count on you to help create conditions for peace through dialogue and diplomacy," he said.

What joint India-EU statement Said On Ukraine, Gaza & Iran

As per the joint India-EU statement, the two sides have expressed concern over the ongoing Ukraine war, which continues to cause immense human suffering and carries global consequences.

Both sides will continue to support efforts towards the achievement of a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in Ukraine through dialogue and diplomacy, based on the principles of the UN Charter and of international law, including independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity," it said.

On Gaza, India and European leaders noted the adoption of the UN Security Council Resolution 2803 of 17 November 2025, which welcomes the establishment of the Board of Peace and authorises an International Stabilisation Force, as outlined in the Comprehensive Plan, as a step forward to end the conflict.

They also called for a just and lasting solution, based on the implementation of the two-State solution, through dialogue and diplomacy.

As per the statement, the two sides also discussed the recent developments of concern in Iran and the region, underscoring the importance of dialogue and diplomacy in resolving issues in a peaceful manner.

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First Published: January 27, 2026, 13:57 IST

News india PM Modi Says India-EU Ties Key To Global Stability After Talks On Ukraine, West Asia

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by Staff reporter

ZANU-PF has paid tribute to its long-serving staff, describing them as the engine room of the party during an event held at the party's headquarters in Harare.Speaking at the ceremony, Zanu-PF Secretary General Advocate Jacob Mudenda expressed gratitude to party President and First Secretary Emmerson Mnangagwa for supporting the initiative to recognise the contributions of the hardworking employees."Let me pay my deepest gratitude to our leader, President Mnangagwa, who, when we presented to him the idea of saying thank you to the staff, did not hesitate. He blessed it and said go ahead. Without his blessing, this moment would not have taken place," Adv Mudenda said.He emphasised that the service award is a token of appreciation for all staff members and acknowledged their central role in keeping the party's operations running smoothly."You are the engine that gives power to the operations of our revolutionary party. Without the staff, the politicians who compose the political part of the party cannot function without your expertise in running the offices. This is how important you are-the engine of the party. Now the engine must be oiled. It needs water for it to function effectively. And this is the oiling; this is the watering that we are planting today," he said.The event highlighted Zanu-PF's recognition of the dedication, loyalty, and hard work of its administrative and support staff, whose efforts underpin the party's day-to-day functioning.
Genderless Jewellery Is No Longer A Trend, Its The New Business Model

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Last Updated: January 27, 2026, 10:04 IST

Genderless jewellery is reshaping the industry as brands move beyond his and hers toward inclusive design, longer product life cycles, and stronger commercial relevance.

Jewellery without labels is designed to be worn, shared, and lived in, beyond gender and beyond trends.

For decades, the jewellery industry has been organised around clear binaries, his and hers, masculine and feminine, occasion-led and ceremonial. Today, that structure is quietly but decisively collapsing. Genderless jewellery is no longer an aesthetic experiment or a seasonal talking point; it has become a strategic shift in how jewellery is designed, marketed, and consumed.

At the heart of this change is a consumer who no longer shops by category, but by instinct. Jewellery is increasingly chosen for how naturally it fits into everyday life, easy to wear, simple to layer, and adaptable across moods, outfits, and occasions. According to Mehul Jain, founder, Everbrite Jewellery, this reflects a broader generational move toward confidence and lived-in style. When jewellery is designed around form, proportion, and craftsmanship rather than prescribed identities, it becomes inclusive by default and far more enduring.

That longevity is not just cultural; its commercial. Gender-neutral pieces typically have longer shelf lives and broader appeal, reducing the need for constant trend-driven refreshes. They also align with a growing rise in self-purchase across age groups, as jewellery shifts from being a gift-led category to an expression of personal identity. In business terms, inclusivity has become efficiency.

This evolution is particularly visible among Gen Z consumers, who treat style as fluid and instinctive rather than rule-bound. Yash Kataria, Director, Kataria Group of Companies, observes that the industry is undergoing a fundamental restructuring. Globally, brands are moving away from rigid classifications because the market is responding better to jewellery built around universal appeal and adaptability. Minimalist bands, chains, and clean silhouettes once considered neutral or secondary are now driving strong performance, particularly in digital retail environments.

The data supports this shift. Mens jewellery categories are expanding rapidly, while women are increasingly embracing bolder forms that were once labelled masculine. When luxury houses and independent brands alike adopt adjustable formats, durable materials, and simplified design language, they signal that this is not a passing phase but a long-term recalibration of value.

Designers, too, are rethinking their creative starting points. For Tiara Dhody, founder, Treasures By Tiara, genderless jewellery is not about neutrality, but freedom. The freedom to stack a bold ring with a slip dress, share a pendant between partners, or pair refined cufflinks with a crisp shirt without explanation or permission. Her approach centres on symbolism rather than gender, using motifs like swords, coins, hearts, and talismans that carry universal meanings of power, protection, and legacy. From a business perspective, she notes, this makes jewellery more wearable, shareable, and commercially resilient.

Mainstream brands are responding in kind. At Kalyan Jewellers, the demand for unisex designs reflects a clear shift in consumer mindset. Ramesh Kalyanaraman, Executive Director, points out that customers today are less concerned with labels and more focused on how a piece integrates into their lifestyle. Chains, kadas, studs, pendants, and bold rings are seeing strong traction because of their versatility transitioning seamlessly from daily wear to festive occasions. Men are exploring earrings and layered necklaces, while women are gravitating toward stronger silhouettes, dissolving outdated boundaries from both sides.

What ties these perspectives together is a shared understanding: genderless jewellery is not about erasing identity, but expanding it. When jewellery is designed to simply fit," as Dhody puts it, it becomes more relevant to how people actually live. For brands, this translates into collections that scale better, last longer, and resonate deeper.

In a market increasingly driven by authenticity, flexibility, and longevity, genderless jewellery is no longer a trend forecast, it is the blueprint. The brands that recognise this arent just responding to cultural change; theyre building a more resilient, future-facing business.

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First Published: January 27, 2026, 09:48 IST

News lifestyle beauty Genderless Jewellery Is No Longer A Trend, Its The New Business Model
Ursula Von Der Leyen Steps Out In Anamika Khanna For Key IndiaEU Summit Moment

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Last Updated: January 27, 2026, 16:25 IST

Ursula von der Leyens Anamika Khanna bandhgala at Raj Ghat turned Indian couture into a moment of global fashion diplomacy.

Ursula von der Leyen in an Anamika Khanna bandhgala.

As India and the European Union marked a historic turning point with the long-awaited Free Trade Agreement, the visuals unfolding in New Delhi carried symbolism far beyond speeches and documents. Amid ceremonial rituals and diplomatic engagements, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyens wardrobe emerged as a subtle yet powerful narrative device  one rooted in respect, cultural intelligence, and craft-led storytelling.

In a week defined by policy breakthroughs, Ursula von der Leyen chose to let Indian fashion speak for itself.

An Anamika Khanna Moment At Raj Ghat

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Ursula von der Leyen (@ursulavonderleyen)

During her visit to Raj Ghat, Ursula von der Leyen appeared in a custom creation by Anamika Khanna  a designer synonymous with modern Indian couture grounded in artisanal heritage. The euro-blue silk satin bandhgala was refined yet quietly commanding, elevated by hand-embroidered resham detailing and intricate lace cut-outs with delicate 3D accents.

Paired with crisp white trousers and heels, the ensemble struck a careful balance between formality and fluidity. The choice felt deliberate: not costume diplomacy, but considered collaboration.

Republic Day, Reimagined In Banarasi Silk

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Ursula von der Leyen (@ursulavonderleyen)

If the Anamika Khanna look was understated elegance, Ursulas Republic Day ensemble leaned into ceremonial gravitas. Seated as Chief Guest at the 77th Republic Day parade, she wore a maroon bandhgala designed by Rajesh Pratap Singh, crafted from authentic Banarasi silk.

The metallic gold zari, woven into dense floral motifs, shimmered subtly under the winter sun, lending the outfit a regal presence without excess. High-collared and impeccably structured, the silhouette mirrored Indian ceremonial dressing while retaining European restraint. It was a masterclass in how traditional textiles can transcend borders without losing their cultural core.

Across her India visit, Ursula von der Leyens fashion choices reflected a growing global understanding: clothing is no longer peripheral to diplomacy. By spotlighting Indian designers and heritage textiles, she reinforced the EUs recognition of India not just as a trade partner, but as a cultural force.

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Location : Delhi, India, India

First Published: January 27, 2026, 16:25 IST

News lifestyle fashion Ursula Von Der Leyen Steps Out In Anamika Khanna For Key IndiaEU Summit Moment
Kareena Kapoor's Signature Salad Is A Lesson In Simple, Indian Eating

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Last Updated: January 27, 2026, 13:37 IST

Kareena Kapoor's signature salad features cucumber, carrot, radish, and lemon - simple, familiar ingredients rooted in Indian kitchens.

Kareena Kapoor shared what her signature salad would look like.

In a wellness culture dominated by superfoods and aesthetic bowls, Kareena Kapoors idea of a signature salad" feels refreshingly grounded. In a recent interview, the actor described a combination that doesnt chase trends or rules. It simply reflects how Indian families eat every day. The moment resonated not because it sounded aspirational, but because it felt instantly recognisable.

Describing her ideal salad mix, Kareena Kapoor listed vegetables that rarely need an introduction in Indian kitchens. Oh my god, there would definitely be kakri (cucumber), gajar (carrot), because the whole family loves it. Throw in some fresh lettuce," she told CNBC-TV18 YT. Its a plate built on crunch, freshness, and familiarity  raw vegetables that appear as often in weekday meals as they do in festive spreads.

Then came the detail that sealed its cultural authenticity. Mooli (radish), Im a Punjabi. Toh thoda mooli hoga usme. And then you know that thoda nimbu (a little bit of lemon) and I like it a little chatpata." The flavours are clean but lively, driven by acidity rather than heavy dressings  a quiet reminder that balance doesnt have to be bland.

From a health perspective, the combination checks several boxes without trying too hard. Cucumbers support hydration, carrots add fibre and beta-carotene, radish aids digestion, and lemon boosts absorption while waking up the palate. The absence of creamy dressings or processed toppings keeps the focus on natural textures and nutrients, making it sustainable rather than restrictive.

What stands out is not the nutritional perfection, but the ease. This is food that can be put together in minutes, eaten by the whole family, and adjusted instinctively rather than measured obsessively.

The salad also stands out for its refusal to overcomplicate nourishment. There are no imported superfoods or elaborate dressings  just fresh produce, acidity, and crunch. In a wellness landscape that often rewards excess planning, this approach reinforces a quieter truth: meals that are easy to assemble are far more likely to become habits. Consistency, after all, is what sustains health over time, not novelty.

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Location : Delhi, India, India

First Published: January 27, 2026, 13:37 IST

News lifestyle food Kareena Kapoor's Signature Salad Is A Lesson In Simple, Indian Eating
Valentines Desserts With A Healthy Twist: Cherries In Sweet And Sensual Creations

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Last Updated: January 27, 2026, 08:59 IST

Celebrate Valentines Day with healthy yet indulgent cherry desserts. Discover romantic recipes using Chilean cherries that balance flavour, nutrition, and elegance.

This Valentines Day, indulge in cherry desserts that feel luxurious, nourishing, and made with love.

Valentines Day calls for indulgence, romance, and a little sweetness but desserts dont have to be heavy or guilt-laden to feel special. This year, give your celebrations a healthy yet sensual twist with cherries, the fruit of love and wellness. With their deep red hue, juicy bite, and natural sweetness, cherries are the perfect ingredient for creating desserts that look indulgent while still nourishing the body.

Chilean cherries, available during winter and peak Valentines season, are celebrated for their premium quality, vibrant colour, and rich flavour. Naturally packed with antioxidants, vitamin C, and polyphenols, cherries support immunity and overall wellbeing making them ideal for mindful indulgence. Their natural sweetness also helps reduce the need for excess sugar while delivering a luxurious taste.

Here are two romantic cherry desserts that balance health, flavour, and elegance perfect for a cozy Valentines evening by Chef Meghna Kamdar, on behalf of Cherries from Chile.

Fresh Chilean Cherry Parfait

This light and creamy dessert layers juicy Chilean cherries with softly whipped cream for a perfectly balanced bite. Rich in antioxidants, its an elegant and refreshing Valentines treat.

Ingredients

4 cups fresh Chilean cherries, divided

 teaspoon lemon zest

12 teaspoons sugar (optional)

2 cups chilled heavy cream or Greek yogurt

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1 teaspoon agave nectar or powdered sugar

Fresh mint leaves and whole cherries, for garnish

Method

Pit 1 cup of cherries and blend with lemon zest and sugar to make a smooth sauce.

Whip the chilled cream (or Greek yogurt) with vanilla and agave nectar until light and fluffy.

In serving glasses, layer the cream, cherry sauce, and remaining fresh cherries. Repeat the layers.

Garnish with mint leaves and whole cherries. Serve immediately or chill for 1520 minutes.

Fast Cherry Cake

A quick yet indulgent dessert made with fresh cherries and fluffy cream, this cake is perfect for effortless romance. It delivers big flavour with minimal effort and a fruity, healthy twist.

Ingredients

1 ready-made sponge or angel food cake

2 cups fresh Chilean cherries, pitted and halved

1 cup heavy cream, chilled

12 tablespoons powdered sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Extra cherries, for topping

Method

Whip the chilled cream with powdered sugar and vanilla until soft peaks form.

Slice the cake horizontally into two layers.

Spread a layer of whipped cream over the base, then scatter the fresh cherries evenly.

Place the top layer back on and cover with the remaining cream.

Decorate with fresh cherries and chill for 20 minutes before serving.

Whether youre celebrating love with a partner or treating yourself, cherries bring together romance, flavour, and nutrition in every bite. These desserts prove that Valentines indulgence can be both beautiful and balanced, sweet, sensual, and good for you.

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First Published: January 27, 2026, 08:59 IST

News lifestyle food Valentines Desserts With A Healthy Twist: Cherries In Sweet And Sensual Creations
Pinkie Roshan Celebrates Uncle Dharmendras Padma Vibhushan Honour With Emotional Tribute

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Last Updated: January 27, 2026, 12:51 IST

Hrithik Roshan's mother Pinkie Roshan paid an emotional tribute to "uncle" Dharmendra on his posthumous Padma Vibhushan honour.

Dharmendra was awarded Padma Vibhushan posthumously.(Photo Credit : Instagram)

Pinkie Roshan, the mother of Hrithik Roshan and wife of veteran director Rakesh Roshan, celebrated the posthumous Padma Vibhushan honour bestowed on her cherished uncle," late Bollywood icon Dharmendra, with a touching Instagram post.

The second-highest civilian honour in India was announced on the eve of Republic Day, recognising Dharmendras lifetime contribution to Indian cinema. Pinkie reminisced about the love and warmth she received growing up around Dharmendra in her poignant statement, expressing a bittersweet longing that he could have witnessed the recognition for himself.

Pinkie Roshans Emotional Tribute to Dharmendra

In her social media tribute, Pinkie Roshan shared a photograph of Dharmendra alongside her touching reflections on his influence in her life. She noted that her dearest uncle," who she described as the most gentle and kind human", was an essential part of her upbringing and family.

My Heart feels elated as my Dearest Uncle, Dharmendra, who is part of my childhood as family, is being honoured by our Govt. Felt his warmth and love as I grew up, being the most gentle and kind human who will continue to live in my Heart," Pinkie shared in the caption.

While overjoyed at the honour, Pinkie sorrowfully added that she wished Dharmendra could see the moment himself, even as his legacy remains deeply felt".

I just wish he could have witnessed this Himself  His Legacy remains deeply felt. Love you Uncle," Pinkie added.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Pinkie Roshan (@pinkieroshan)

Padma Vibhushan for Dharmendra Posthumously

Dharmendra, who died on November 24, 2025, left behind a cinematic legacy spanning more than six decades. He is fondly referred to as the He-Man" of Hindi cinema, and his body of work consists of both blockbusters and masterpieces that shaped several generations.

It was announced on Sunday that Dharmendra would receive the Padma Vibhushan, while Satish Shah will get the Padma Shri, posthumously. Besides these two, other industry professionals who have won Padma Awards include actor R Madhavan (Padma Shri), and Malayalam superstar Mammootty, who will also win Padma Bhushan.

Actress Esha Deol and Dharmendras daughter expressed her happiness at her late father receiving the Padma Vibhushan award in the Republic of India. Happy Republic Day. Really happy that our papa is being conferred with the prestigious Padma Vibhushan Award (folded hands emoji)," Esha posted on social media.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by ESHA DHARMENDRA DEOL (@imeshadeol)

Dharmendras lasting influence on Indian film is highlighted in the posthumous Padma Vibhushan. The award confirms his standing as a cultural icon, given his famous roles in films like Sholay, Sita Aur Geeta and Yaadon Ki Baaraat, as well as his impact on generations of performers and directors.

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First Published: January 27, 2026, 12:51 IST

News bollywood Pinkie Roshan Celebrates Uncle Dharmendras Padma Vibhushan Honour With Emotional Tribute
Ranbir Kapoor Drops Major Hint On Animals Sequel; Is It Finally Happening?

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Last Updated: January 27, 2026, 08:14 IST

Ranbir Kapoor said that he has discussed a few ideas for the sequel with Sandeep Reddy Vanga.

The first part, Animal, was released in 2023. (Photo Credit: Instagram)

Ranbir Kapoor is currently involved in several high-profile projects, including Ramayana and Love and War. He is also set to star in Animal Park, the sequel to the 2023 hit Animal. However, Ranbir Kapoor has shared that Animal Park is still some time away from going into production. In a recent interview, the actor revealed that director Sandeep Reddy Vanga is presently focused on his next film, Spirit.

In an interview with Deadline Hollywood, when asked if Animal Park is in production, Ranbir Kapoor said, The director is right now making another film. We should start that film in 2027. Its a bit away." When asked if he had seen the script, Ranbir said, He (Reddy Vanga) just kind of flirted with what he really wants to do with the movie. He wants to make it in three parts. The second part is called Animal Park."

Ranbir Kapoor On Animal Parks Script

The actor added, We have been sharing ideas from the first film itself. How he wants to take the story forward. Its very exciting because now I get to play two characters, the antagonist and the protagonist. So extremely exciting project and an extremely original director, and Im very excited to be a part of it."

Ranbir Kapoor was asked to explain why he plays dual roles in the film for those who havent seen Animal. He explained that the antagonist undergoes plastic surgery, turns himself into a body double, and eventually comes to resemble the protagonist.

AnimalPlot And Cast

Animal (2023) is a hyperviolent action drama directed by Sandeep Reddy Vanga that explores a father and sons twisted, obsessive connection. Ranbir plays Ranvijay Vijay Singh, a man shaped by childhood trauma inflicted by his emotionally distant father, played by Anil Kapoor. After his father is assassinated, Vijay embarks on a ruthless quest for vengeance.

As of 2026, Ranbir Kapoor is in one of the most ambitious phases of his career. He is currently working on Sanjay Leela Bhansalis Love & War, a 1960s-set historical drama also starring Alia Bhatt and Vicky Kaushal, slated for release in June 2026. Later in the year, Ranbir will appear in Nitesh Tiwaris Ramayana: Part One, where he takes on the role of Lord Ram.

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First Published: January 27, 2026, 08:13 IST

News movies bollywood Ranbir Kapoor Drops Major Hint On Animals Sequel; Is It Finally Happening?
No Clarity On Jana Nayagan Release, Madras High Court Sets Aside Certificate Order

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Last Updated: January 27, 2026, 11:08 IST

Vijays Jana Nayagan was supposed to hit theatres on January 9 but was then postponed due to certification issues.

Jana Nayagans release date yet to be announced. (Photo Credit: X)

In a major setback for actor Thalapathy Vijays upcoming film Jana Nayagan, the Madras High Court on Tuesday set aside a single judges order that had directed the censor board to issue a certificate to the film. The decision has further delayed the release of the highly anticipated movie, which was expected to hit theatres earlier this month.

What Is The Entire Controversy?

For the unversed, Jana Nayagan, touted as Vijays final film before he transitions full-time into politics, was originally slated for a worldwide theatrical release on January 9, ahead of the Pongal festival. However, days before its release, the Central Board of Film Certification informed production house KVN Productions that the film had been referred to a revising committee following a complaint.

Challenging the move, the makers of the movie then approached the Madras High Court, which initially ruled in their favour, directing the censor board to grant the film a U/A certificate after the suggested modifications were carried out.

However, the censor board challenged the High Courts directive by filing an appeal, prompting a division bench of the Madras High Court to stay the single judges order that had asked the board to grant the certificate. The bench then posted the matter for hearing on January 21.

Following this, KVN Productions moved the Supreme Court, which took up the case on January 15. The apex court, however, dismissed the plea, refusing to grant an urgent hearing and directing the producers to pursue their remedy before the Madras High Court instead.

Directed by H. Vinoth, Jana Nayagan features an ensemble cast including Pooja Hegde, Bobby Deol, Mamitha Baiju, Gautham Vasudev Menon, Priyamani, and Narain. The film has been heavily marketed as Vijays final cinematic outing before his full-time foray into politics, adding to the anticipation surrounding its release.

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First Published: January 27, 2026, 11:00 IST

News movies tamil-cinema No Clarity On Jana Nayagan Release, Madras High Court Sets Aside Certificate Order
Are Temples Public Parks? Badrinath-Kedarnath Proposal Is About Autonomy, Not Exclusion

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Last Updated: January 27, 2026, 16:43 IST

If a religious institution lacks the ability to determine who may enter and under what conditions, religious freedom is reduced to symbolism rather than substance.

Kedarnath, Rudraprayag district, Uttarakhand (PTI)

Are Hindus who support the movement to reclaim their religious rights communal? If you put that question to the so-called secular intelligentsia, expect the answer to be yes". Which is why an injunction contemplated by the Kedarnath and Badrinath temple committee barring entry to non-Hindus is being met with predictable secular disapproval.

But secular hand-wringing aside, the orders contemplated by the Badrinath and Kedarnath Temple Boards mark an important moment in Indias long and uneven relationship with religious autonomy.

To the casual observer, these measures may appear exclusionary, even at odds with the big tent ethos of the all-embracing Hindu tradition. An editorial in a leading daily argues that access for all in Hindu temples is a battle hard-wonthe state cannot allow a return to hoary segregationist practices and remain wilfully blind to law and constitutional morality."

Yet optics should not be allowed to obscure the underlying reality. The proposal by the Badrinath and Kedarnath temple committee is not an act of social exclusion but an assertion of religious autonomy, one that seeks to reclaim Hindu places of worship from decades of excessive State control and civic overreach. Hindu temples, though often treated as such, are not tourist destinations. Nor is the question of entry merely a matter of civil rights for all.

Unlike mosques or churches, a vast number of Hindu temples in India have been designated as public religious institutions, a classification that has allowed the State to move far beyond regulation into direct management. What began as reform has, over time, hardened into permanent and often intrusive control.

It is undeniable that certain interventions were necessary to address caste-based exclusion and other social injustices. But these reforms were never meant to convert the State into the custodian of Hindu religious life. Today, temple finances, administration, rituals, and even the meaning of sacred space itself are dictated by government authorities. No other major religion in India has been subjected to such sustained intervention.

This selective intrusion has distorted the idea of constitutional secularism and normalised the assumption that Hindu temples are public utilities rather than living religious institutions governed by doctrine and ritual discipline. A temple is not a public park. Its purpose is not leisure, access, or convenience. It is a sacred space, and its sanctity must be guarded. In the case of Kedarnath and Badrinath, these are centres of the Vedic tradition established by Adi Shankaracharya, where religious meaning is inseparable from discipline and boundary.

Sanctity, by definition, cannot exist without the authority to define sacred space. If a religious institution lacks the ability to determine who may enter and under what conditions, religious freedom is reduced to symbolism rather than substance.

Ironically, the same liberal-secular ecosystem that claims to defend difference now finds itself arguing against it. One line of opposition suggests that defining non-Hindus" risks excluding other dharmic traditions such as Sikhism and Jainism. This argument rests on misinformation rather than constitutional fact. Article 25(2)(b) of the Constitution, through Explanation II, explicitly includes Sikhs, Jains, and Buddhists within the legal definition of Hindus for regulatory and reform purposes. This classification has long been used to govern access to Hindu religious institutions and cannot be selectively invoked to challenge religious autonomy now.

At the heart of the opposition to the BadrinathKedarnath proposal lies a deeper inconsistency. Critics risk denying Hindu institutions the very autonomy that other faiths enjoy as a matter of course. Islamic and Christian bodies manage their internal religious affairs with minimal State intrusion. Hindu temples, by contrast, are required to justify even the most basic assertions of sanctity.

Parsi agiaries do not permit non-believers. Mecca remains out of bounds for non-Muslims. Several mosques restrict entry. These practices are not framed as segregationist but as essential to preserving religious identity. They are accepted as legitimate expressions of faith. Hindu temples alone are denied this presumption of legitimacy.

Seen in this light, the Badrinath and Kedarnath Boards orders are not a rejection of constitutional values but a reminder of them. The Constitution protects freedom of religion not only in belief and expression but also in the preservation of sacred space. Reform was never intended to erase religious autonomy altogether.

Correcting a historical imbalance does not mean abandoning equality or turning back the clock. It means recognising that autonomy and reform were never meant to be mutually exclusive. The BadrinathKedarnath temple committee is taking a measured step toward restoring that balance. The State must not stand in the way. In a functioning secular democracy, the State cannot be in the business of religion.

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First Published: January 27, 2026, 16:43 IST

News opinion Are Temples Public Parks? Badrinath-Kedarnath Proposal Is About Autonomy, Not Exclusion

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A Signal Of Intent: How India Is Moving Ahead With New FTAs

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Last Updated: January 27, 2026, 14:55 IST

These agreements are a recognition of a new and durable reality and Indias adaptability.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi with European Council President Antonio Costa, left, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, right, during their meeting at the Hyderabad House, in New Delhi. (Image: PMO India)

Over the past six months, India has orchestrated one of the most consequential sequences of trade agreements in its recent economic history. In late July 2025, it sealed a landmark deal with the United Kingdom. In mid-December, it secured agreements with Oman and, most recently, with New Zealand. Then, on 27 January 2026, as the ink was drying on the European Unions reciprocal tariff threats against Washington itself, India and the EU announced the conclusion of nearly two decades of negotiations, finalising what Prime Minister Narendra Modi has termed the mother of all deals."

The Modi government did not move out of desperation to sign these agreements. India negotiated hard on each, extracting substantial concessions, duty-free access for 99 per cent of its exports to the United Kingdom, zero-duty entry into New Zealands market, and meaningful tariff cuts across the European Union.

The EU-FTA and Architecture of Strategic Hedging

The India-EU Free Trade Agreement sits at the centre of this strategic repositioning. After stalling for nearly a decade, negotiations began in 2007, paused in 2013 amid disagreements over automobiles, intellectual property, and agriculture, and resumed seriously only after 2020 and accelerated dramatically through 2025. The recent push to a conclusion, negotiated across 14 formal rounds and countless working sessions, culminated in a comprehensive accord covering twenty-four chapters of trade in goods, services, investment protection, and intellectual property.

The bilateral relationship now encompasses a market representing 25 per cent of global GDP and one-third of global trade, a scale of economic integration that few bilateral agreements can match.

The EU-India agreement becomes not simply a trade pact between two partners, but a signal of intent: that major economies will not remain passive in the face of American protectionism, and that they will actively construct economic blocs that operate according to rules-based frameworks.

The US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent publicly rebuked the India-EU deal announcement, complaining that India sells refined Russian petroleum to Europea complaint that underscores the deeper geopolitical contest at play. Yet Indias response has been disciplined: it has neither capitulated on strategic sectors nor attempted rhetorical tit-for-tat. Instead, by locking in market access across three continents, Europe, the Asia-Pacific, and the Middle East, it has constructed a genuine alternative to complete dependence on American consumers.

FTAs With The UK, New Zealand and Oman

The United Kingdom agreement, signed on 24 July 2025 after three years of negotiation, establishes the template for Indias recent diplomatic success. Under the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement, Indian exporters gain duty-free access for 99 per cent of their products, covering textiles, leather goods, marine products, gems, jewellery, and engineering goods.

The pact is projected to expand annual bilateral trade by 25.5 billion, adding 4.8 billion to the UK economy and 5.1 billion to Indias economy annually. Critically, this agreement protects Indias sensitive agricultural sectors, particularly dairy, which India has never opened to foreign competition in any free trade agreement.

The India-New Zealand agreement was concluded in December 2025 after just nine months of negotiations. New Zealand grants zero-duty access to 100 per cent of Indian exports whilst committing USD 20 billion in foreign direct investment over fifteen years, backed by a rebalancing mechanism allowing India to suspend benefits if investment fails to materialise.

The agreement covers 118 services sectors, Indias most ambitious services liberalisation, and includes provisions eliminating caps on Indian students and guaranteeing extended post-study work visas of up to four years for PhD holders. India secured full exclusion of dairy and protection for vulnerable agricultural items such as onions and almonds.

The India-Oman Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement was signed on 18 December 2025. Oman granted duty-free access on 98 per cent of its tariff lines, covering 99.38 per cent of Indian exports by value. Omans first bilateral trade pact since its 2006 accord with the United States signals a deliberate pivot towards deeper engagement with India.

The agreement positions India as the gateway for market access to the broader Gulf Cooperation Council, whilst simultaneously providing India pathways to Central Asia, Africa, and Eastern European markets through Omani networks. A Joint Vision Document on maritime cooperation established frameworks for shared maritime security and blue economy collaboration.

What distinguishes this moment is the velocity with which the deals have been concluded. The India-New Zealand agreement was concluded within nine months of preparation. The EU-India deal, after languishing for more than a decade, was revived, negotiated, and brought to a conclusion within roughly eighteen months of formal recommencement.

Highlighting the significance of the India-EU Free Trade Agreement, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the deal was a win-win for the two sides.

It brings together Indian skills, services and scale, with European technology, capital and innovation. It will create levels of growth which neither side can achieve alone," she said.

Stressing the strategic importance of the agreement, she added, By combining our strengths, we reduce strategic dependencies at a time when trade is increasingly weaponised."

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First Published: January 27, 2026, 13:21 IST

News opinion A Signal Of Intent: How India Is Moving Ahead With New FTAs

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Opinion | America Is Setting Itself An Afghanistan-Like Trap By Backing Jamaat In Bangladesh

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Last Updated: January 27, 2026, 08:35 IST

The Donald Trump administration is going extra miles to ruin the painstakingly built relationship with India, and a truck with Jamaat could take things past a tipping point

Rapid Read

Jamaats deep links with Pakistans ISI allow the US to cultivate indirect channels to Islamabad amid the Pakistan-Afghanistan conflict. (Getty)

Langley, it seems, clings to its old playbook like a sleepy child to its stuffed toy. Why else would it sweep aside every lesson learnt from the United States debacles in Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, or Libya to commit itself to the same blunder in Bangladesh?

After a widely speculated regime-change operation overthrowing Sheikh Hasina by funding a network of NGOs and violent groups, and installing Obama-Clinton close ally Muhammad Yunus as the chief advisor in the interim government, a leaked conversation purportedly between Eric Geelan, counsellor of the US embassy for political/economic affairs, and a Jamaat leader has stirred up Bangladesh and its neighbourhood.

The US has been caught with its hand in the jar. But why would it want to prop up the Sharia crowd which opposed Bangladeshs liberation and collaborated with the Pakistani army in the 1971 genocide?

First, it may be to counter Chinese influence in the Indian Ocean as Bangladeshs strategic location in the Bay of Bengal positions it as a linchpin in US efforts to contain Chinas Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

Hasina deepened ties with Beijing and paid the price. Dhaka availed huge infrastructure loans for the Padma Bridge project and Coxs Bazar port, which made the US worry about debt traps and military access.

Diplomats may be viewing Jamaat as a hedge, counting on the Islamists suppressed loathing for Chinas actions against the Uighurs, and hoping they would open doors for US investments in energy and logistics.

A military base in St Martins island, a foothold in the Chittagong corridor, or a Christian state carved from Myanmars Chin region, Indias Northeast and parts of Bangladesh would be perfect to breathe on China.

Jamaat in power will also be prickly for India, the biggest subcontinental power whose growing influence makes the US increasingly wary. The US would love to have leverage to contain India if the need arises.

And then, the CIA revels in throwing entire regions in turmoil, weakening governments, before it makes its predatory moves to profit from chaos.

Jamaats deep links with Pakistans ISI allow the US to cultivate indirect channels to Islamabad amid the Pakistan-Afghanistan conflict.

All this the US could have accomplished with the BNP. But America probably views Jamaat as a more stabilising force than the BNP, which has a reputation for corruption and violence.

But all that could easily backfire. The CIAs willingness to use Islam as a destructive force in regions has got America in a dark swamp time and again, but Langley refuses to learn. China or India, much more savvy in the politics of their neighbourhood, may eventually turn Jamaatjust as India did with the Taliban government initially propped up primarily by the US and Pakistanand use it against US interests.

A radicalised Bangladesh could potentially be more dangerous than Pakistan as a terror factory. Militias will rule, hampering the garment industry, one of the top exporters to the US.

Lastly, the Donald Trump administration is going extra miles to ruin the painstakingly built relationship with India, and a truck with Jamaat could take things past a tipping point.

The US should tread cautiously.

Abhijit Majumder is the author of the book, Indias New Right. 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 27, 2026, 08:35 IST

News opinion Opinion | America Is Setting Itself An Afghanistan-Like Trap By Backing Jamaat In Bangladesh

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News / Regional

by Simbarashe Sithole

A Zimbabwean transporter was allegedly assaulted by four suspected thieves at the Plumtree Border Post following a misunderstanding.

Police have arrested one of the suspects, Danisa Herijah (34), while his three accomplices are still on the run.Herijah appeared before Plumtree magistrate Joshua Nembaware, who remanded him in custody to 3 February for trial.Prosecutor Sheila Nyathi told the court that on 5 December last year, the complainant was driving his Toyota Noah from Botswana into Zimbabwe with the suspects on board.Upon entering the country, the suspects accused him of transporting other thieves and stolen equipment from Botswana. They allegedly stopped the complainant and took turns to assault him.
Opinion | India-EU Relations: Trust And Strategic Engagement In A Changing World

Written By :

News18.com

Last Updated: January 27, 2026, 22:42 IST

There has been a deliberate effort by both India and the European Union to reinforce a partnership that is increasingly vital in today's unpredictable and rapidly evolving world

PM Narendra Modi (C) embraces European Council President Antonio Costa (R) as European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen looks on during the joint press statements after their meeting at the Hyderabad House in New Delhi on January 27, 2026. (Image: AFP)

The presence of the Presidents of the European Council and the European Commission as chief guests at Indias 77th Republic Day goes beyond mere ceremonial tradition. It signifies a deliberate effort by both India and the European Union to reinforce a partnership that is increasingly vital in todays unpredictable and rapidly evolving world.

Amid a churning in global politics, this gesture underscores the value of trust, stability, and long-term cooperation. It shows that India and the EU view each other not simply as partners of convenience, but as reliable allies dedicated to shared values, mutual respect, and collective progress for the future.

This event holds both symbolic and strategic importance. Republic Day embodies Indias democratic identity, constitutional values, and sovereign aspirations. By inviting the highest representatives of the EU, India signals that Europe is central to its foreign policy priorities.

Europes acceptance of this invitation, meanwhile, acknowledges Indias rising global stature and its significance as a strategic partner in a multipolar world. These actions together highlight a mutual desire to deepen engagement at a time when stable and trustworthy partnerships are rare but urgently needed.

STRATEGIC CONTEXT

The global political landscape is fraught with profound uncertainty. Fragile supply chains, economic volatility, technological competition, climate challenges, and escalating geopolitical rivalries are disrupting long-standing partnerships and reshaping international relations.

Traditional power structures are shifting, and nations are seeking partners who offer predictability, resilience, and a long-term strategic outlook. In such an environment, Europe is under pressure to diversify its partnerships and bolster ties with countries committed to democratic governance, multilateralism, and international stability.

India naturally fits this role. As the worlds largest democracy, India merges political stability with a rapidly growing economy, advanced technological capabilities, and a prominent diplomatic presence. Its consistent support for multilateral institutions and dialogue-based solutions makes it an appealing partner for Europe, which has long advocated for a rules-based international order. The increasing alignment between India and the EU on issues such as climate action, digital governance, maritime security, and sustainable development further strengthens the strategic rationale for closer cooperation.

Inviting both Antonio Costa and Ursula von der Leyen to Indias Republic Day celebrations carries significant political weight. It is more than just protocol; it is a clear indication that Europe views India as a strategic priority. Their joint presence signifies unity within the EU and illustrates that engagement with India is a collective European commitment rather than a series of individual bilateral relationships with member states.

It reinforces the concept that India-EU ties are built on a shared vision and mutual confidence. Through deeper political dialogue, stronger economic links, enhanced security cooperation, and expanded people-to-people connections, both sides aim to build resilience, stability, and a more balanced global order. This partnership transcends narrow strategic interests and seeks to address global challenges impacting the wider international community, from climate change and public health to digital transformation and sustainable growth.

TRUST AS THE CORNERSTONE

Trust is fundamental to the growing India-EU partnership. Instead of being driven solely by short-term gains or transactional interests, the relationship is increasingly shaped by reliability, transparency, and shared principles.

In a world where alliances shift swiftly and strategic interests often change, having dependable partners is invaluable. India and the EU share a commitment to democracy, the rule of law, human rights, and a rules-based international system, providing a strong foundation for cooperation.

This trust is especially crucial in sensitive and strategic areas such as supply chains, digital technology, energy security, and critical infrastructure. Reliance on unreliable partners can create serious vulnerabilities, as recent global disruptions have demonstrated. High-level diplomatic engagements reinforce this trust by fostering personal rapport between leaders, aligning strategic priorities, and translating shared intentions into practical cooperation.

Trust also facilitates constructive dialogue on differences. While India and the EU may not always agree on every international issue, the strength of their relationship lies in their ability to engage openly and respectfully. This maturity adds depth to the partnership and sets it apart from purely interest-driven alliances.

ECONOMIC AND TECHNOLOGICAL COOPERATION

Economic engagement is a central pillar of India-EU relations. The European Union is one of Indias largest trading partners, while India offers a vast and dynamic market for European businesses.

Renewed efforts to advance trade and investment agreements reflect a shared recognition of the economic potential of closer integration. Such cooperation can enhance supply chain resilience, promote innovation, and support sustainable development on both sides.

Technological collaboration is equally significant. Europes strengths in advanced manufacturing, green technologies, and regulatory frameworks complement Indias capabilities in information technology, digital services, and innovation-driven entrepreneurship. Joint initiatives in digital governance, artificial intelligence, and cybersecurity show how both sides can shape global standards while upholding democratic values and individual rights.

In the field of energy, India and the EU share strong commitments to climate action and sustainability. Cooperation on renewable energy, green hydrogen, and climate finance advances environmental goals while also strengthening strategic autonomy by reducing dependence on unstable energy sources. These shared efforts underline how the partnership contributes to global public goods.

THE SYMBOLISM OF REPUBLIC DAY

Republic Day holds special significance for India, representing the adoption of its Constitution and its dedication to democratic governance. The selection of chief guests is always deliberate and symbolic, reflecting Indias diplomatic priorities and its vision for global partnerships.

Inviting Costa and von der Leyen sends a powerful message about the importance India places on its relationship with Europe. It indicates that Europe is seen as a trusted and long-term partner, while Europes acceptance highlights Indias growing global influence and strategic importance.

The symbolism extends beyond ceremony. Such high-level participation provides opportunities to advance practical cooperation in trade, investment, climate action, scientific research, education, and regional security.

It offers a platform for focused dialogue and reinforces political momentum behind shared initiatives. The occasion also communicates to the international community that India and the EU are committed to working together in shaping a more stable and cooperative global order.

A PARTNERSHIP FOR A CHANGING WORLD

The India-EU partnership is entering a defining phase, characterised by shared responsibility and growing mutual confidence. By prioritising trust, reliability, and democratic values, both sides are moving beyond limited cooperation toward a deeper strategic relationship.

Their engagement reflects a recognition that global challenges cannot be addressed in isolation and that stable partnerships are essential for lasting peace and prosperity. In a world marked by uncertainty, this partnership stands as an example of how relationships built on trust and shared principles remain vital.

Ultimately, India-EU relations offer a hopeful model of cooperation in an era of fragmentation. By combining political trust, economic engagement, technological collaboration, and shared democratic values, the partnership contributes not only to the interests of both sides but also to the broader goal of a more stable, inclusive, and cooperative international order.

(Sheikh Khalid Jehangir is a policy analyst specialising in South Asian affairs and regional security, serving as a fellow and executive member of ICPS Europe. 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 27, 2026, 22:42 IST

News opinion Opinion | India-EU Relations: Trust And Strategic Engagement In A Changing World

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Opinion | Why America Needs To Target Guns, Not People

Written By :

News18.com

Last Updated: January 27, 2026, 15:22 IST

For anyone living in a country like India where most police personnellet alone civiliansdo not carry arms, the inescapable conclusion is that the US simply has too many guns

Rapid Read

According to a 2023 Pew Research Center survey, about 32 per cent of civilian Americans own handguns, or about 80-100 million people.

The shooting of registered ICU nurse Alex Pretti by ICE agents in Minneapolis on January 24 captured on multiple cameras leaves little doubt about what happened. He had moved forward to challenge ICE agents and help another protester who had been pepper-sprayed but was wrestled to the ground and shot 10 times, the last five when he was already inert on the ground. His holstered registered handgun had already been seized by ICE before he was shot.

For anyone living in a country like India where most police personnellet alone civiliansdo not carry arms, the inescapable conclusion is that the US simply has too many guns. Why should immigration agents carry handguns? Why should registered nurses carry handguns? Why should anyone except those in regular conflict with either armed criminals or armed terrorists carry handguns? Why should ordinary people possess not one but multiple rifles and handguns?

According to a 2023 Pew Research Center survey, about 32 per cent of civilian Americans own handguns, or about 80-100 million people. And cumulatively they own 393 million firearms which, terrifyingly, works out to more than one gun for each American man, woman and child. According to a 2018 report by the Switzerland-based Small Arms Survey, the US has less than 5 per cent of the worlds population, but a whopping 40 per cent of the worlds civilian-owned firearms.

The main reason cited by Americans for owning them is protection" not sport; most of them (77 per cent according to a 2025 YouGov survey) say they feel safer" with a gun around. In the mid-20th century, however, the most cited reason for gun ownership was hunting or sport. Some 73 per cent of Americans also think it is too easy to buy arms. And amazingly for a country with the highest gun prevalence in the world, the US still does not have a national registry for firearms.

Just to compare, only about 3.5 million of 1.4 billion Indians have licenced firearmsabout 10 million legal guns in alland there are about 70 million illegal weapons too.

India inherited its low civilian firearm owning practice from its time as a British colonythough the US was also a British colony once. Today about half a million (5 lakh) people in England and Wales have licenced firearms, totalling 2.37 million legal guns, mainly in rural and agricultural areas.

Only 5 per cent of police officers carry firearms in England and Wales and 2.7 per cent in Scotland, although all those serving in Northern Ireland do so. More British police officers now want to be armed given the changing security scenario there but so far there has been no move to increase the number. In contrast, all US police officers are authorised to carry guns and are encouraged to do so even off duty. Most federal law enforcement officialslike ICEare also armed.

While the US Constitution (written in 1787) no doubt enshrines the right to bear arms via its Second Amendment passed in 1791, every country evolves and the situation when it was passed is not the same as what prevails in America now. Because 230 years ago, the US map was still expandingby forcebeyond the initial western border marked by the Mississippi River. So it made sense for Americans back then to have the means and right to protect themselves.

It should have been amended out of the Constitution once the current international borderand therefore the present extent of the USwas finalised by the 1846 Oregon Treaty which fixed the 49th parallel as the border with Canada, the 1848 Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo which made the Rio Grande the border with Mexico and the 1853 Gadsden Purchase which set the southern border in Arizona and New Mexico. Instead, the right to bear arms has become a US shibboleth.

Strangely, though, the rise in private ownership of handguns is not a continuation of the heady days of westward expansion when pioneers needed to fend off supposedly deadly native American (Red Indian") tribes. The actual spike in gun ownership in the US began in the post-World War II era when there was a surfeit of pistols and other handguns available after soldiers were demobbed. And guns were also imported cheaply from Europe and even sold via mail order.

Every single egregious violent event in the US in recent decades can inevitably be traced back to the presence of arms in the hands of civilian individuals who need not have them. School shooting investigations invariably find that young people took guns that belonged to their parents; other mass shootings are traced to unsuitable people being able to legally buy arms. They are not allowed to possess automatic weapons, but handguns can be sold to almost anyone.

In the recent killing of an unarmed woman, Renee Good, by ICE officials also in Minneapolis, it is now clear that she was shot while trying to drive away. Even if she had been doing something illegal, like impeding their work or trying to ram them with her car, shooting her through the windscreen should never have been the first option to stop her. They could have even shot her car tyres instead. Alex Pretti could also have been forcibly restrained rather than shot 10 times.

There are said to be about 2.4 to 2.5 sworn law enforcement officers per 1,000 residents in the USwhich is double the percentage in India, for instance. That density of armed personnel, coupled with high tech surveillance and crime prevention measures should obviate the need for protection" through individual possession of arms. But the opposite seems to be happening in the US, with more people buying guns since 2020, especially women and ethnic minorities.

The US celebrates its 250th year of Independence in 2026. Surely it should now be secure enough about its borders, police, judiciary and other institutions not to believe that Americans still need to retain the right to bear arms, supposedly to protect themselves? Donald Trump has already shattered many shibboleths in the first year of his second presidency and is the only one actually solipsistic enough to end the gun run too and save America from itself. Sadly, he wont.

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 27, 2026, 15:22 IST

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Opinion | Why The India-EU FTA Is India's Most Strategic Trade Bet

Written By :

News18.com

Last Updated: January 27, 2026, 20:22 IST

The India-EU Free Trade Agreement is more than just a trade deal. It is a statement of intent about India's place in the global economic order of the coming decades

PM Narendra Modi and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen during the India-EU Business Forum, in New Delhi on January 27, 2026. (Image: PMO/PTI)

In a global economy increasingly grappling with fragmentation, tariffs and geopolitical risk, the India-EU Free Trade Agreement marks a decisive assertion of strategic economic confidence.

This is not merely a trade deal concluded after years of negotiations; it is one of the most consequential economic alignments of the decade, binding the worlds most populous nation with the largest integrated economic bloc.

Together, India and the European Union represent nearly 1.9 billion people, around a quarter of global GDP, more than one-fifth of global merchandise trade, and close to a third of global services output. Few agreements in modern trade history operate at this scale. The timing of the deal, of course, makes it all the more special.

For India, the timing could scarcely be more important. Global trade growth has slowed to below 3 percent annually, protectionism is rising across advanced economies, and supply chains are being reconfigured amid strategic rivalries. Against this backdrop, the India-EU FTA anchors India firmly within the worlds most rules-based, high-value markets, signalling that India is prepared to compete and lead within the most demanding trade ecosystems.

Even before the agreement, the EU was Indias largest trading partner with annual bilateral trade of approximately 120 billion to 125 billion euros, accounting for over 15 percent of Indias total trade. With the FTA now in place, credible projections suggest this figure could cross 200 billion euros within a decade.

That would make the India-EU trade corridor larger than Indias trade with ASEAN, Japan, and South Korea combined, underscoring the transformative potential of the agreement. What distinguishes this FTA is not just its size, but its depth. The agreement eliminates or substantially reduces tariffs on over 96 percent of tariff lines, covering nearly the entire value of bilateral trade over time.

For Indian exporters, this represents a decisive breakthrough into one of the worlds most affluent and regulated markets. Duties of up to 12 percent on textiles and garments are phased out, enhancing competitiveness for an industry that employs millions. Indian pharmaceuticals and generics, already critical to Europes healthcare systems, gain more predictable market access. Engineering goods, leather products, and processed agricultural exports similarly stand to benefit from a level playing field long denied by tariff and non-tariff barriers.

European exporters, in turn, gain access to Indias rapidly expanding consumer market. Automobiles that once faced tariffs exceeding 100 percent, and wines and spirits burdened with duties as high as 150 percent, now enter a calibrated liberalisation framework. For Indian consumers, this translates into greater choice and lower prices; for Indian industry, it injects competitive pressure that drives efficiency, technology absorption, and higher standards.

Yet the true strategic value of the India-EU FTA lies beyond tariffs. This is a modern, next-generation trade agreement that places services, investment, and regulatory cooperation at its core.

India is the worlds largest exporter of digitally delivered services, while the EU accounts for nearly a third of global services exports. Improved access for Indian IT firms, professionals, and service providers into Europes markets reinforces Indias position as a global services powerhouse. Simultaneously, stronger investment protection and regulatory clarity are expected to accelerate European foreign direct investment into India, which already exceeds 100 billion euros in cumulative stock.

This matters profoundly for Indias long-term growth trajectory. As global firms pursue China-plus-one" strategies and seek resilient supply chains, India is emerging as a credible manufacturing and innovation hub.

The FTA strengthens this positioning by offering European companies a stable, rules-based framework to expand production in India across electronics, pharmaceuticals, clean energy equipment, electric vehicle components, and advanced engineering. It directly complements Indias Make in India vision and production-linked incentive schemes, while aligning with Europes own strategic push for diversified and trusted supply chains.

The agreements sustainability framework further reflects its forward-looking character. By embedding commitments aligned with the Paris Agreement and cooperation on clean energy and green technologies, the FTA prepares Indian industry for the regulatory future of global trade.

This is particularly relevant in the context of the EUs Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM). Rather than reacting defensively, India now has a structured pathway to engage, adapt, and shape evolving global climate-linked trade norms.

The diplomatic significance of the agreement should not be underestimated. Negotiations began as far back as 2007  stalled for years over automobiles, agriculture, intellectual property, and data governance  were revived only in 2021 amid a rapidly changing global order. That these differences have now been resolved reflects political maturity on both sides and a shared recognition that economic strength today flows from integration, not isolation.

Equally important is the strategic insulation the FTA provides India in an uncertain global trade environment. Alongside the recently concluded India-UK agreement, India now enjoys preferential access to markets representing nearly $20 trillion in combined GDP.

This diversification reduces dependence on any single export destination and helps cushion Indian exporters against potential tariff actions elsewhere. For sectors such as pharmaceuticals, textiles, engineering goods, and digital services, Europe and the United Kingdom offer stable, high-value demand that enhances Indias export resilience.

The India-EU FTA is not merely about incremental trade gains. It is about positioning India at the centre of a reconfigured global economy, strengthening its manufacturing and services base, and asserting its role as a rule-maker rather than a rule-taker in international commerce. At a time when globalisation is under strain, this agreement demonstrates that India is not retreating from the world  but engaging it on confident, competitive, and strategic terms.

In that sense, the India-EU FTA is more than just a trade deal. It is a statement of intent about Indias place in the global economic order of the coming decades.

(The writer is a national spokesperson of BJP, besides being an acclaimed author. 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 27, 2026, 20:22 IST

News opinion Opinion | Why The India-EU FTA Is India's Most Strategic Trade Bet

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Last Updated: January 27, 2026, 13:45 IST

1 / 7 Inderjit Singh Sidhu, an 88-year-old retired IPS officer, has turned heads across India by earning the Padma Shri in 2026 - not for his years in uniform, but for his quiet, daily act of sweeping Chandigarhs streets. His story is one of humility, persistence, and a belief that purpose doesnt retire, and service doesnt age.

2 / 7 Inderjit Singh Sidhu joined the Indian Police Service in 1964 and retired as Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Punjab Police in 1996. After decades of enforcing law and order, most would expect him to rest. But Sidhu chose a different path. Living in Chandigarhs Sector 49, he began stepping out at dawn with a broom, a bag, or even an abandoned rickshaw to collect litter from the streets. I had complained to the civic authorities many times, but nothing changed. So I decided to do it myself. There is no shame in cleaning. Cleanliness is next to godliness, Sidhu told ANI.

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3 / 7 Every morning at 6 am, Sidhu begins his self-assigned duty. He sweeps, collects garbage, and disposes of it properly. What started as a solitary effort has now grown into a community movement. His family and neighbours often join him, inspired by his consistency. When people called me crazy, I didnt mind. I like a clean place, so I clean. Ill keep doing it as long as I can, Sidhu said in an interview.

4 / 7 Initially, passersby mocked him. But over time, his persistence turned ridicule into respect. Today, Sidhu is seen as a local hero whose actions embody the spirit of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan. His dream is for Chandigarh to rank No. 1 in the national cleanliness survey. If you visit foreign countries, their streets are spotless. Why cant ours be the same? he asks.

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5 / 7 Sidhus work went viral on social media in 2025, drawing praise from industrialist Anand Mahindra, who wrote: He wasnt happy with the low rank Chandigarh got in the Swachh Survekshan. But instead of complaining, he chooses action Purpose doesnt retire. Service doesnt age.

6 / 7 Earlier this month, Sidhu received a call from Delhi informing him of his Padma Shri selection. True to his humble nature, he didnt immediately share the news with his family. His son-in-law only found out through a friend. Yes, I got the call, Sidhu confirmed quietly.

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Last Updated: January 26, 2026, 17:30 IST

1 / 8 The internet has recently been amused and slightly unsettled by the viral nihilist penguin clip on Instagram, showing a lone Adelie penguin trudging away from its colony into the icy unknown. While that video sparked philosophical musings about life and purpose, not every penguin sighting has to be tinged with existential dread. In fact, few wildlife encounters are as joyful as watching penguins waddle across beaches, dive into icy waters, or huddle together in bustling colonies. For travelers, there are several destinations around the world where these charismatic birds can be seen in their natural habitats. (Image: Instagram)

2 / 8 Antarctica: The southernmost continent is the ultimate destination for penguin lovers. Home to species such as the Emperor and Adelie penguins, Antarctica offers dramatic landscapes of ice shelves and glaciers where vast colonies thrive. Expedition cruises often take visitors to sites like Cape Royds or Snow Hill Island, where the sight of thousands of penguins gathered together is nothing short of breathtaking. (Image: Instagram)

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3 / 8 Falkland Islands: Located in the South Atlantic, the Falkland Islands are a penguin paradise. With more penguins than people, the islands host five species, including Gentoo, King, Rockhopper, Macaroni, and Magellanic penguins. Volunteer Point is particularly famous for its large King penguin colony, offering close encounters in a relatively accessible setting compared to Antarctica. (Image: Instagram)

4 / 8 South Georgia: This remote island is often included in Antarctic cruise itineraries and is renowned for its staggering wildlife. South Georgias beaches are lined with tens of thousands of King penguins, creating one of the most spectacular wildlife spectacles on Earth. The island also has a rich history tied to explorers like Ernest Shackleton, adding cultural depth to the natural wonder. (Image: Instagram)

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5 / 8 Galapagos Islands: Surprisingly, penguins can be found near the equator. The Galapagos penguin, one of the smallest species, thrives in the cool waters of the archipelago thanks to the Humboldt Current. Visitors can spot them while snorkeling or kayaking, making the experience uniquely intimate compared to the vast colonies of the southern latitudes. (Image: Pexels)

6 / 8 South Africa: Boulders Beach near Cape Town is famous for its colony of African penguins. These charming birds can be seen waddling along sandy shores or swimming in the turquoise waters, often just a few feet away from visitors. The accessibility and warm climate make this one of the easiest and most familyfriendly penguin encounters in the world. (Image: Pexels)

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7 / 8 New Zealand: The Otago Peninsula and Stewart Island are prime locations to see the rare Yelloweyed penguin, one of the most endangered species. New Zealand also hosts Little Blue penguins, the smallest of all penguins, which can be observed returning to shore at dusk after a day of fishing. (Image: Pexels)
Last Updated: January 27, 2026, 07:15 IST

1 / 7 Actor Imran Khan, who has recently returned to the screen after a decadelong break, has reflected on some of the major opportunities he missed early in his career. The star revealed that filmmakers like Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra, Rohit Shetty, and Vikramaditya Motwane had considered him for lead roles in Delhi 6, Chennai Express, and Bhavesh Joshi. However, circumstances and timing meant those projects slipped away. (Image: Instagram)

2 / 7 Imran, now 43, made his comeback with a cameo in Happy Patel: Khatarnak Jasoos. Speaking to PTI, he recalled how in 2006-07, before his debut in Jaane TuYa Jaane Naa, he auditioned for Mehras Delhi 6. At various points, there have been various films that have just not come together. With Mehra, it was Delhi 6. At that point, I had not made any films, I tested for the (lead role) film. But at the time, they didn't want to put the money on a new person, on an untested, unproven person, Imran said. (Image: Instagram)

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3 / 7 Although the role eventually went to Abhishek Bachchan, Imran admitted he was deeply disappointed. I was born in the States, and I grew up kind of a child of two worlds. So, I related to those things. So, my instinct beforehand, and even after was, That would have been a cool film to have been a part of, I would like to have been in that film, he said. The film has aged quite well. Even back then, I was very excited to have been a part of it; I did want the part very much. I was quite devastated that I did not get the part. But I guess looking at the scale of the film and the budget, they wanted a known person. This was before Jaane Tu released, he added. (Image: Instagram)

4 / 7 Imran also revealed that he was attached to Motwanes Bhavesh Joshi for nearly a year. However, after the poor reception of his 2013 film Gori Tere Pyaar Mein, he was replaced by Harshvardhan Kapoor. In the aftermath of Gori Tere Pyaar Mein, I got dropped from the film. So, that was also out of my hands, out of my control. The film turned out well. It's one of those films that is unique and original, somebody has tried to push the boundaries of what we normally get to do and I appreciate that, he said. (Image: Instagram)

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5 / 7 Another missed opportunity was Rohit Shettys blockbuster Chennai Express. Imran recalled that Shetty had approached him soon after Jaane TuYa Jaane Na, but both agreed he wasnt the right fit. We had a couple of conversations about it. But between us, we figured that we were not in sync creatively. His narration was hilarious, and the film has turned out to be hilarious. But I don't believe that I wouldve been correct for it. I saw what he was going for, I thought it was funny. I don't think I was right for it, which is the conversation that we had, and I said, Listen, I don't see us syncing. Shah Rukh Khan was a better choice, I don't think I could top Shah Rukh, Imran said. (Image: Instagram)

6 / 7 Despite the setbacks, Imran remains optimistic and eager to collaborate with filmmakers he admires. One name at the top of his list is Neeraj Ghaywan. (Image: Instagram)

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MGNREGA No More, But Karnataka To Prefix Mahatma Gandhi's Name To All Gram Panchayats

Reported By :

News18.com Edited By: Oindrila Mukherjee



Last Updated: January 27, 2026, 22:12 IST

The Karnataka government has announced that it will prefix the names of all 6,000 gram panchayats with an aim to reinforce Gandhian vision of village-level self-governance

Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah (second from right) with Deputy CM DK Shivakumar (extreme right) and Congress MP Randeep Singh Surjewala (second from left), during the 'Raj Bhavan Chalo' protest march over the MGNREGA repeal, in Bengaluru on Janaury 27, 2026. (Image: PTI)

The ruling Congress in Karnataka has found a creative way to protest the Centres move to replace the MGNREGA, in a decision that it claims will keep Mahatma Gandhis legacy alive at a time when it is under threat.

The state government has announced that it will prefix the names of all 6,000 gram panchayat offices with that of Mahatma Gandhi, with an aim to reinforce the Gandhian vision of village-level self-governance.

This administrative overhaul, led by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and his deputy DK Shivakumar, was unveiled at a large-scale protest in Bengaluru against the central governments move to repeal the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA).

To infuse strength into all panchayats, we have decided to add Mahatma Gandhis name in the prefix of all gram panchayats names," Shivakumar told reports during the Raj Bhavan Chalo march on Tuesday.

He explained the rationale behind the rebranding and the symbolic importance of this move. By naming gram panchayat offices after Mahatma Gandhi, his legacy will be made permanent. Gandhi jis conviction was to have a school, cooperative society and a panchayat for every village," he said.

Shivakumar further said Siddaramaiah has already given his nod to the proposal, with official orders expected to be immediately processed for renaming the gram panchayats. For example, he said, Kodhalli gram panchayat will be Mahatma Gandhi ji Gram Panchayat-Kodhalli.

During the protest, state Congress leaders criticised the newly introduced RAM G RAM Act, which has replaced MGNREGA as the act regulating rural jobs scheme.

We are fighting for the employment rights of the poor. It was Sonia Gandhi and Manmohan Singh who gave employment to rural people," he said, while highlighting the historical significance of the previous employment guarantee.

He also voiced concerns over the financial burden the new scheme places on the state, pointing out that while the previous model facilitated 90 percent central funding, the current one expects 40 percent contribution from the state.

It is not right to scrap an entire scheme if there are some instances of corruption," he said, addressing the allegations of mismanagement against the MGNREGS.

The deputy chief minister directed his ire towards the BJP and JD(S), specifically challenging their right to claim Mahatma Gandhis legacy.

I heard that the BJP is protesting in front of a Gandhi statue. They have lost the right to sit before it. They have also lost the right to hang a photo of Gandhi ji in their offices," he said.

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First Published: January 27, 2026, 22:12 IST

News politics MGNREGA No More, But Karnataka To Prefix Mahatma Gandhi's Name To All Gram Panchayats

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Mumbai To Get Its Mayor In February? Here's Why The Process Is Held Up

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News18.com Edited By: Apoorva Misra



Last Updated: January 27, 2026, 09:30 IST

The Bharatiya Janata Party, with 89 corporators, and the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, which has 29, together command a comfortable majority of 118 seats in the 227-member house

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According to sources, the delay is linked to the ongoing group registration process involving the ruling BJP and the Shiv Sena (Shinde faction). (AI-Generated Image)

The election of Mumbais next Mayor and Deputy Mayor is likely to take place in February, though the official schedule is yet to be announced, sources familiar with the process have told CNN-News18.

While election programmes for the posts in several other municipal corporations across Maharashtra have already been declared, Mumbai continues to await its formal notification. According to sources, the delay is linked to the ongoing group registration process involving the ruling BJP and the Shiv Sena (Shinde faction).

The schedule for the mayoral election is expected to be announced only after the completion of group registrations at the Konkan Divisional Commissioners office. This will be followed by formal registration at the municipal secretariat in Mumbai. Once the group formation process is completed, the Mayor is required to be elected within seven days, as per procedure.

After registrations conclude, a meeting will be convened between the Municipal Commissioner and the Municipal Secretary to finalise the election process. Following this meeting, the civic administration will issue an official advertisement, inviting applications for the post of Mayor.

Corporators will be given three days to submit their applications. The nomination papers will then be accepted over the following two days, after which the election process will move toward voting and declaration of results.

Political activity around the mayoral race has intensified in recent weeks, with speculation over potential candidates from the ruling alliance. The post is set to go to a woman mayor from the general category, following the completion of the lottery process for reservation.

The Mumbai Mayors election is being closely watched as it comes at a time when the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC)Indias richest civic bodyhas been without an elected general body for an extended period. The outcome is expected to reflect the balance of power within the ruling alliance in the citys civic administration.

The Bharatiya Janata Party, with 89 corporators, and the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, which has 29, together command a comfortable majority of 118 seats in the 227-member civic house. Although the BJP has emerged as the single-largest party, the Shinde faction of the Shiv Sena has also staked its claim to the mayors post, pointing to the centenary year of Shiv Sena founder Bal Thackeray as a significant factor in favour of a Sena mayor.

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First Published: January 27, 2026, 09:30 IST

News politics Mumbai To Get Its Mayor In February? Here's Why The Process Is Held Up

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Opportunity To Complain Or More Discrimination? INDIA Bloc Split Over UGC Rules

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Last Updated: January 27, 2026, 16:53 IST

Priyanka Chaturvedi further warned about the possibility of false cases and the lack of clarity on penalties if such complaints are proven wrong.

People from upper caste communities stage a protest outside the University Grants Commission headquarters against new rules. (PTI)

Differences have emerged within the INDIA bloc over the new University Grants Commission (UGC) regulations, with allies offering contrasting views on whether the framework addresses injustice or risks fresh discrimination on campuses.

Samajwadi Party MP Ram Gopal Yadav defended the new rules, saying the UGC had acted appropriately. UGC has not done anything wrong. They have given the people the opportunity to complain about the injustice that was happening," he said, backing the mechanism for grievance redressal under the revised regulations.

#WATCH | Delhi: On the budget session, SP MP Ram Gopal Yadav says, No one is going to get anything from this budget"Additionally, on the new regulation of UGC, he says, UGC has not done anything wrong. They have given the people the opportunity to complain about the pic.twitter.com/svGTA4rQvH  ANI (@ANI) January 27, 2026

Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi, however, sharply criticised the guidelines, calling them very unfortunate" and urging their withdrawal. While acknowledging that discrimination does exist in educational institutions, she said the new framework risks creating a binary of oppressed" and oppressors" through judgment built into the guidelines. Chaturvedi also raised concerns about subjectivity in deciding cases, questioning whether discrimination would be assessed through words, actions or perceptions.

She further warned about the possibility of false cases and the lack of clarity on penalties if such complaints are proven wrong. If a students career is disrupted due to a false case, what will be the penalty?" she asked, adding that the guidelines could end up introducing more discrimination in the name of ending it. Chaturvedi said the rules should either be modified or withdrawn, and appealed to the Prime Minister and Home Minister to reconsider the basis of the decision and direct the Education Minister to act swiftly.

You cannot address discrimination by bringing in more discrimination. My take on UGC guidelines which has created more hate on student campuses instead of addressing it. The Education Minister needs to step in. pic.twitter.com/XizzjJXifc Priyanka Chaturvedi (@priyankac19) January 27, 2026

The reactions come even as Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has sought to allay concerns, assuring that the law would not be misused and that there would be no discrimination in its implementation. The new UGC regulations, notified on January 13, update the 2012 framework but have drawn criticism, particularly from general category students, who fear the rules could work against them.

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First Published: January 27, 2026, 16:53 IST

News politics Opportunity To Complain Or More Discrimination? INDIA Bloc Split Over UGC Rules

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Tamil Nadu INDIA Bloc Rift Widens As Congress, DMK Trade Barbs Over Power Sharing

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Last Updated: January 27, 2026, 10:09 IST

The DMK leader also took a swipe at the Congresss organisational strength in the state, alleging it had a weak cadre base and struggled to field booth agents across constituencies

File photo of Congress leader Manickam Tagore. (PTI)

A sharp war of words has broken out within the INDIA bloc in Tamil Nadu after the Congress renewed its demand for a share in power" in the state government, triggering a public spat between Congress MPs and a senior DMK leader.

The latest flashpoint saw DMK MLA and Madurai urban district secretary G. Thalapathi target Congress MPs B. Manickam Tagore (Virudhunagar) and S. Jothimani (Karur) for raising the power-sharing issue. Addressing a public meeting on Sunday, Thalapathi said the DMK high command should deny Tagore and Jothimani tickets in future Lok Sabha elections, accusing them of creating trouble despite benefiting from the INDIA bloc alliance.

Thalapathi said while the DMK had stood firm against the BJPs agenda, Congress leaders were raking up unnecessary demands. While they both have become MPs with the support of the INDIA bloc, they were not bothered about anyone from the Congress becoming MLAs, and are now raising the issue of share in power," he said. Claiming that the INDIA blocs very existence depended on leaders like M.K. Stalin, Mamata Banerjee and Akhilesh Yadav, he asserted, Without the DMK, there is no INDIA bloc."

The DMK leader also took a swipe at the Congresss organisational strength in the State, alleging it had a weak cadre base and struggled to field booth agents across constituencies.

Reacting strongly, Manickam Tagore said he would press Congress national president Mallikarjun Kharge to field a Congress candidate in the Madurai North Assembly constituency, currently represented by Thalapathi, in the next Assembly elections. In a social media post, Tagore said the move was meant to teach a lesson to some and to protect self-respect," adding that alliance partners could no longer remain silent in the face of arrogance by those in power.

Karur MP S. Jothimani also hit back, saying Congress leader Rahul Gandhi would decide the partys candidates and that no one had sought Thalapathis advice. She said the Congress would not remain a spectator" to repeated public disrespect, adding that while the party had stayed silent for the sake of alliance dharma and Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, such issues needed to be addressed with dignity to avoid putting the Chief Minister in a delicate position.

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First Published: January 27, 2026, 10:09 IST

News politics Tamil Nadu INDIA Bloc Rift Widens As Congress, DMK Trade Barbs Over Power Sharing

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Opinion / Columnist

Leaders the world over - particularly politicians in power or those aspiring to govern - live permanently in the public spotlight. Daily, weekly and monthly, public relations agencies, spokespersons and reputation managers craft social media posts, press releases and media briefings to explain their principals' programmes, policies, projects, campaigns and initiatives.In politics, a single wrong choice of words, an ethical misstep or an avoidable information leak can be deeply damaging - sometimes fatally so. All of this falls under the unforgiving terrain of political public relations.This is what Zimbabwe's main opposition leader, Nelson Chamisa, needs to know, understand and remember.For a long time now, Chamisa has operated without a spokesperson. His last official spokesperson was Dr Nkululeko Sibanda, during his leadership of the now-defunct MDC Alliance between 2018 and 2020. Since then, Chamisa has largely adopted a posture of strategic ambiguity, communicating directly with the public and the media rather than through a formal, designated spokesperson.This approach mirrors his broader resistance to operating within an institutionalised political organisation - one with a constitution, office bearers, offices, structures, teamwork and accountability. Yet having a spokesperson is not optional. It is a fundamental element of organisational culture and political seriousness.Following Chamisa's return to active politics last Friday, the cost of this absence became glaringly evident.First, his press conference was hastily organised and chaotic.Second, there was no clear plan for coverage or visibility across media platforms.Third, there was no discernible agenda-setting, narrative framing, or message management.As a result, Chamisa's return has been accompanied by negative coverage and critical reviews. This is less about media hostility or cynicism, and more about poor organisation, weak preparation and communication ineptitude.Unsurprisingly, Chamisa himself appeared ill-prepared.In an interview with South Africa's SABC, where he communicated directly with the media, he tripped over what should have been a simple and powerful opening moment. Anchor Thembekile Mrototo correctly introduced him as having made a "return to active politics" after "stepping aside" due to internal CCC turmoil.Instead of using this as a clean entry point, Chamisa attempted to "correct" the presenter - and ensnared himself in unnecessary verbal gymnastics.He insisted he was not "coming back" but "stepping back" after "stepping aside".This was not nuance; it was jumbled sophistry.To "step aside" means to withdraw or resign from an important position. To "step back" means to temporarily withdraw in order to reflect. Neither phrase means "return". Saying one is "stepping back" after "stepping aside" - while actively re-entering politics - is logically incoherent.In trying to sound enlightened and sophisticated, Chamisa corrected a presenter who was, in fact, entirely right - producing a ridiculous dog's breakfast of an explanation.Had this been the only misstep, it could easily be forgiven.But it was not.The document he released last Friday was riddled with careless repetition bordering on parody. Entire sections were duplicated word for word. Paragraphs 9 and 10 appeared twice. Paragraphs 11 to 13 appeared twice. Paragraphs 26 to 30 appeared twice.This was not stylistic emphasis. It was sloppiness.And in politics, such sloppiness often reflects gross organisational incompetence.None of this negates the fact that Chamisa remains popular and, in many respects, the real deal. But popularity alone is not enough. He needs to learn - and learn fast - how to work with others. He must embrace teamwork, organisational culture, inclusivity and accountability.If he wants to gain state power and govern, he needs a political party - not a nebulous, formless and shapeless entity. Power cannot be seized or exercised alone. Politics is not a one-man show. You cannot dance on the floor alone, surrounded only by cheerleaders.It is better to have a team of rivals than to be surrounded by sycophants. Dismissing internal rivals as "vomit" is sinking into the gutter - and learning nothing from history.One of history's most instructive examples is Abraham Lincoln. His political genius was best displayed during the American Civil War, when he appointed his fiercest rivals - William H. Seward, Salmon P. Chase and Edward Bates - to his cabinet. Lincoln believed their talents were essential to the nation's survival.That decision demonstrated emotional intelligence, inclusivity and leadership. He transformed a divided group into a cohesive team that ultimately preserved the Union and abolished slavery. Lincoln wanted no "yes men". He accepted responsibility for failures and shared credit for successes.That is leadership.Teamwork makes the dream work.Because public relations is central to political communication, Chamisa needs a spokesperson. Strategic communication is the lifeblood of dynamic, engaging and effective politics. Spokespersons keep a finger on the pulse, respond quickly to crises, manage narratives and generate positive attention.Political communication bridges the gap between leaders and citizens. It shapes public opinion, influences voter behaviour, builds legitimacy and ensures accountability. It enables the exchange of ideas, coherence of policy and democratic participation.A standout example is Barack Obama's 2008 presidential campaign. The "Yes We Can" slogan - a masterstroke of political PR - combined with a compelling narrative of hope and change, captured the imagination of Americans. It revitalised the Democratic Party and propelled Obama to history as the first Black President of the United States.In politics, public relations is a strategic communication process that builds mutually beneficial relationships between leaders and the public. Image matters. Perception determines electoral outcomes.Because politicians are constantly exposed to scrutiny, crises and slip-ups, they need spokespersons - not only for damage control, but to communicate clearly, intelligently and effectively, with sophistication rather than sophistry.Through traditional media, social media and professional spokespersons, political communication creates the information environment that ultimately determines political success or failure.
Austria Bans Microsoft From Tracking School Children Using Cookies In Education Software

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News18.com

Last Updated: January 27, 2026, 16:36 IST

Austria ordered Microsoft to stop non-essential tracking cookies in 365 Education over GDPR violations. Microsoft has four weeks to comply.

Microsoft has four weeks to comply with the Austrian authoritys order and stop using non-essential tracking cookies in Microsoft 365 Education without consent.

Austrias data protection authority has barred Microsoft from using tracking cookies in education software, a privacy campaign group said on Tuesday.

The order was issued in response to two complaints filed by online rights campaigners against Microsoft in 2024, saying the companys education software violates data protection rights for children.

According to AFP, Austrian Data Protection Authority (DSB) last year determined that Microsoft illegally" tracked students using its education software and must grant them access to their data.

In the latest ruling, issued on January 21 and provided by Noyb (European Center for Digital Rights), DSB found Microsoft lacked a legal basis" to process personal data" and must therefore refrain within four weeks from using cookies that are not technically necessary".

Noyb said the cookies, which analyse user behaviour and are used for advertising, were installed on the devices of a student without consent. Tracking minors clearly isnt privacy-friendly," Felix Mikolasch, data protection lawyer at Noyb, said in a statement.

Noyb said that these cookies were not technically required to deliver the education service and were set without any valid legal basis under Article 6 of the GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

According to TelecomLead, the decision not only orders Microsoft to halt such tracking practices but also exposes deeper structural problems around responsibility, transparency, and GDPR compliance in digital education across Europe.

Meanwhile, Microsoft has not issued a statement on the matter.

TelecomLead quoted Maartje de Graaf, data protection lawyer at Noyb, saying that Microsoft holds all key information about its data processing, yet points schools to handle transparency obligations and data subject rights.

Following the latest order, Microsoft has four weeks to comply with the Austrian authoritys order and stop using non-essential tracking cookies in Microsoft 365 Education without consent. The company can appeal the decision to Austrias Federal Administrative Court.

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Location : Austria

First Published: January 27, 2026, 16:36 IST

News tech Austria Bans Microsoft From Tracking School Children Using Cookies In Education Software

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Indian Govt Issues Major Chrome Security Warning For Users: What We Know

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Last Updated: January 27, 2026, 10:14 IST

Chrome security issues are becoming far too frequent and the new critical alert comes with a warning.

Chrome users on Windows, Mac and Linux are at risk.

Just like Microsoft Edge, another Chromium engine version, Google Chrome has faced similar security issues for which the Indian government has raised an alert.

The latest Chrome security warning dated January 22, 2026 has been posted by the Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In) with a high severity ranking, which should not be taken lightly as it can severely impact millions of Chrome users in the country who will be extremely concerned by the details on offer.

What Is The Chrome Security Issue?

The CERT-In bulletin this week clearly highlights the issue in the Chrome browser and how it might affect the users. A vulnerability exists in Google Chrome due to race condition error in V8. A remote attacker could exploit this vulnerability by persuading a victim to visit a specially crafted web page."

The parts highlighted in the post are very important components built into the structure of the Chrome browser which is why the issue is serious enough for Google to take notice, and for the Indian government authorities to notify millions of users.

Chrome Security Issue: Who Is At Risk?

Chrome users on Windows, MacOS and Linux are being warned about the risks and these versions have been mentioned:

Google Chrome versions prior to 144.0.7559.96/.97 for Windows/Mac

Google Chrome versions prior to 144.0.7559.96 for Linux

If you have Chrome on your system and their version is one before these, we advise you to update the browser immediately. Google has also shared the details as well as the new patch updates for the affected versions.

Chrome users must download the latest available software update for Google Chrome on Windows, macOS and Linux. You can do this by heading over to the three-dot menu on Chrome  Settings  About  Update Chrome. Google has listed the security fixes that come with the stable channel update.

Chrome is going to become very critical for many users as Google looks to integrate Gemini AI features into its browser. In fact, Chrome could get agentic AI abilities which makes it an easy target for hackers, and Google needs to be mindful of these vulnerabilities before it wreaks havoc.

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Location : Delhi, India, India

First Published: January 27, 2026, 10:14 IST

News tech Indian Govt Issues Major Chrome Security Warning For Users: What We Know

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20 More Countries Sign Up For Trump's Gaza 'Board Of Peace': White House

Published By :

ANI

Last Updated: January 27, 2026, 11:10 IST

Karoline Leavitt said 20 more countries joined Trumps Board of Peace, expanding its Gaza mandate globally.

US President Donald Trump (AP)

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt on Monday stated that 20 additional countries have signed up to join US President Donald Trumps Board of Peace," though she did not disclose the names of the new participants.

Leavitt said the Board of Peace, originally mandated by the UN Security Council to oversee the management of Gaza for the next two years, is now being positioned by the Trump administration to address conflicts in other parts of the world. She acknowledged that the initiative has faced resistance from some Western nations uneasy about what they view as the boards attempt to sideline the United Nations.

Addressing reporters at the White House, Leavitt also described the return of the last remaining Israeli hostage from Gaza as a huge foreign policy feat" for Trump, Israel and the global community.

The announcement follows Trump signing the charter to formally launch his Board of Peace" initiative at the World Economic Forum in Davos on January 22. Trump has previously described the body as potentially the most prestigious board ever formed."

Calling it a very exciting day, long in the making," Trump said, Were going to have peace in the world," adding, And were all stars."

In his opening remarks, Trump said, Just one year ago the world was actually on fire, a lot of people didnt know it," but claimed many good things are happening" and that threats worldwide are really calming down."

Trump said his administration was settling eight wars" and claimed a lot of progress" had been made towards ending Russias war in Ukraine. The initiative originated from the US presidents 20-point Gaza ceasefire plan endorsed by the UN Security Council but has since expanded beyond its original scope.

Administration officials said around 35 nations had committed to join, while 60 received invitations, with Trump suggesting the new body could assume roles currently held by the United Nations.

Trump said, We have a lot of great people that want to join," during a meeting with Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sisi, whose country has confirmed membership. He added that some leaders required parliamentary approval before committing, while other countries not invited were seeking inclusion.

Defending the inclusion of Russias Vladimir Putin and other leaders, Trump said he wanted everybody" who was powerful and could get the job done."

Several European allies declined participation, citing concerns over the boards expanded mandate and its impact on the international system based on the UN Charter. The UK also said it would not sign the treaty during Trumps ceremony, British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper said, referencing concerns over Putins invitation.

According to a copy of the charter cited by media outlets, countries seeking permanent membership would need to contribute USD 1 billion, while non-paying members would receive a three-year mandate. The charter also designates Trump as permanent chairman even after leaving office.

Trump linked the initiative to his approach on Iran and said it played a role in securing the Israel-Hamas ceasefire. If we didnt do that, there was no chance of making peace," he said.

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Location : Washington D.C., United States of America (USA)

First Published: January 27, 2026, 11:10 IST

News world 20 More Countries Sign Up For Trump's Gaza 'Board Of Peace': White House

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'Betrays Our Most Basic Values': Biden Slams Federal Agents Over Minneapolis Killings

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News18.com

Last Updated: January 27, 2026, 22:06 IST

Biden criticised the actions of federal authorities and accused Trump administration of allowing violence against citizens exercising their constitutional rights.

Joe Biden said justice now requires full, fair, and transparent investigations into the deaths of Alex Pretti and Renee Good. (AFP photos)

Former US President Joe Biden on Tuesday issued a statement condemning the killing of two US citizens in Minneapolis by federal agents, saying the deaths betray our most basic values as Americans".

In a lengthy post on X, Biden criticised the actions of federal authorities and accused the Trump administration of allowing violence against citizens exercising their constitutional rights.

What has unfolded in Minneapolis this past month betrays our most basic values as Americans," Biden wrote. We are not a nation that guns down our citizens in the street. We are not a nation that allows our citizens to be brutalized for exercising their constitutional rights."

What has unfolded in Minneapolis this past month betrays our most basic values as Americans. We are not a nation that guns down our citizens in the street. We are not a nation that allows our citizens to be brutalized for exercising their constitutional rights. We are not a Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) January 27, 2026

He said the people of Minnesota had shown courage and solidarity amid fear and unrest, while accusing the Trump administration of failing them. Violence and terror have no place in the United States of America, especially when its our own government targeting American citizens," Biden added.

The former US president further added that justice now requires full, fair, and transparent investigations" into the deaths of Alex Pretti and Renee Good.

Jill and I are sending strength to the families and communities who love Alex Pretti and Renee Good as we all mourn their senseless deaths," his statement concluded.

Minneapolis has seen weeks of tense protests following two fatal shootings involving Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents. On January 7, Renee Good, a 37-year-old mother of three, was shot dead while sitting in her car during an ICE operation. Less than three weeks later, on January 24, ICE agents killed 37-year-old intensive care nurse Alex Pretti, claiming he intended to harm them during a confrontation.

The killings came amid a major federal immigration crackdown in Minnesota. Thousands of immigration agents have been deployed to the state following reports alleging fraud by Somali immigrants, claims that Trump has repeatedly highlighted.

Additionally, former US presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton have also spoken out. Barack and Michelle Obama said Prettis killing should be a wake-up call" that core US values are under attack, while Clinton said peaceful protesters had been arrested, beaten, teargassed, and most searingly, in the cases of Renee Good and Alex Pretti, shot and killed".

(With inputs from agencies)

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Location : United States of America (USA)

First Published: January 27, 2026, 21:59 IST

News world 'Betrays Our Most Basic Values': Biden Slams Federal Agents Over Minneapolis Killings

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Bovino Removed From Top US Border Patrol Post Amid Outrage Over Minneapolis Killing: Report

Published By :

Reuters

Last Updated: January 27, 2026, 10:40 IST

Gregory Bovino was removed as US Border Patrol commander at large and will return to California before retiring, amid ongoing immigration enforcement tensions.

File photo of US Border Patrol Sector Chief Gregory Bovino. (Image: Reuters)

Gregory Bovino has been removed from his role as the commander at large" for the U.S. Border Patrol and will return to his former job in California, where he is expected to retire soon, the Atlantic reported on Monday, citing a Homeland Security official and two people with knowledge of the change.

The U.S. DHS, Customs and Border Protection and the White House did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Earlier on Monday, President Donald Trump and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz each struck a conciliatory tone after a private phone call about immigration enforcement, a sign the two sides were seeking a way to end their standoff over a deportation drive that has claimed the lives of two U.S. citizens in Minneapolis.

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Location : New York, United States of America (USA)

First Published: January 27, 2026, 10:40 IST

News world Bovino Removed From Top US Border Patrol Post Amid Outrage Over Minneapolis Killing: Report

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19-Year-Old Iranian Motorcycle Influencer Killed In Gorgan During Protest Crackdown: Report

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News18.com

Last Updated: January 27, 2026, 09:45 IST

Iranian media say 19-year-old motorcycle influencer Diana Bahadori, was shot dead by security forces in Gorgan during a protest crackdown on January 9.

A file photo of Diana Bahadori (Social Media)

A teenage motorcycle influencer in Iran has been killed during a security crackdown there, local media reported.

According to IranWire and sources cited by Iranian media, Diana Bahadori, a 19-year-old from Gonbad-e Kavus known online by the nickname Baby Rider, was shot dead by security forces in the nearby city of Gorgan on January 9.

Bahadori had built a significant following on social media for showcasing her skills on powerful superbikes and for cultivating what admirers described as a striking and unconventional riding style.

A source told IranWire that Bahadori was struck twice by live ammunition around midnight.

Reports also suggested she had taken part in protests on the evenings of January 8 and 9, when demonstrations were reported in several parts of the city.

The crackdown on January 9 was described by the source as especially severe, with security forces allegedly using heavy weaponry, including machine guns, to disperse crowds.

Family members reportedly searched for Bahadori for two days following her disappearance before being handed her body on January 11, Iranian media said.

At the same time that reports of her death began circulating, a post appeared on Bahadoris Instagram account offering a very different version of events.

The message claimed she had been killed in a traffic accident and urged restraint, stating, The incident for dear Diana was due to a crash. The family is deeply grieving. Please do not create rumours."

However, the source cited by IranWire disputed that account and said the Bahadori family was facing intense pressure from intelligence and security agencies.

According to the report, she was buried quietly and without public ceremony, while relatives were compelled to publicly deny any state responsibility for her death.

Iranian media and activists have long alleged that in sensitive cases linked to protests, families are sometimes threatened in order to control public narratives.

The source told IranWire that such pressure can include warnings that other children in the family could be detained, or that authorities might withhold a victims body unless relatives record a so-called confession" or publish prescribed statements on social media platforms.

Bahadoris profile has also drawn attention in commentary surrounding her death.

Iranian outlets noted that she symbolised a group the Islamic Republic often regards as challenging, young, highly visible women who assert themselves in public spaces and cultivate independent identities online.

Her popularity as a motorcycle rider, in a society where womens public expression is closely regulated, had made her a recognisable figure among Iranian youth.

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First Published: January 27, 2026, 09:37 IST

News world 19-Year-Old Iranian Motorcycle Influencer Killed In Gorgan During Protest Crackdown: Report

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Doomsday Clock Moves 85 Seconds Closer To Midnight, Scientists Warn Of Rising Existential Risks

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Last Updated: January 27, 2026, 21:26 IST

The Doomsday Clock is a symbol used to show how close humanity is to self-destruction.

Doomsday Clock hits closest point in nearly 80 years.

The Doomsday Clock has been moved to 85 seconds to midnight, its closest point to catastrophe since it was created nearly 80 years ago. The change was announced on Tuesday.

The clock is a symbol used to show how close humanity is to self-destruction.

What scientists said?

Alexandra Bell, president and chief executive of the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, said humanity has failed to reduce the dangers it faces. Humanity has not made sufficient progress on the existential risks that endanger us all," she said.

Last year, the clock was set at 89 seconds to midnight.

History of the Doomsday Clock

The Bulletin first introduced the Doomsday Clock in 1947, after the United States used atomic bombs on Japan during World War II. The group says the clock aims to help develop ideas to reduce threats that could end human civilisation.

Over the years, the clocks minute hand has been moved more than two dozen times.

The clock was farthest from midnight in 1991, when it stood at 17 minutes to midnight. This followed the end of the Cold War and the signing of a nuclear arms reduction treaty between the United States and the Soviet Union.

Rising risks in recent years

In the 2020s, the clock began moving closer to midnight again. In 2020, it was set at 100 seconds to midnight, with the bulletin citing cyber-enabled information warfare alongside nuclear and climate threats.

The clock remained unchanged for two years. In 2023, it moved to 90 seconds to midnight, mainly due to the dangers linked to Russias war in Ukraine. It stayed at that position in 2024.

Last year, the clock was moved one second closer, with the Bulletin stating that world leaders had failed to act despite clear signs of danger.

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Location : United States of America (USA)

First Published: January 27, 2026, 21:26 IST

News world Doomsday Clock Moves 85 Seconds Closer To Midnight, Scientists Warn Of Rising Existential Risks

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'Europe Can't Defend Itself Without US': Mark Rutte Warns As Greenland Row Strains NATO Alliance

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Last Updated: January 27, 2026, 08:08 IST

NATO chief Mark Rutte warns Europe that it can't defend itself without US support. This comes amid rising tensions over Trump's plan to acquire Greenland.

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NATO chief Mark Rutte. (mage: AFP/File)

NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte said on Monday that Europe lacks the capacity to defend itself without US military backing and would need to increase defence spending dramatically to stand on its own. Speaking to EU lawmakers in Brussels, Rutte dismissed the idea of European self-sufficiency in security, stressing that Europe and the United States need each other."

If anyone thinks here  that the European Union or Europe as a whole can defend itself without the US, keep on dreaming. You cant," Rutte said, news agency AP reported.

His comments come amid growing strains within the alliance, fueled in part by US President Donald Trumps recent threats to acquire Greenland, a semiautonomous territory of NATO member Denmark. Trump also warned of new tariffs against Greenlands European supporters though he later dropped his threats after a loosely defined framework" agreement on the resource-rich island was reached with Ruttes involvement.

NATO Allies Agreed To Major Defence Spending Hike In 2025

NATOs 32 members are bound by Article 5, the alliances collective defence commitment, which requires allies to come to one anothers aid if attacked. At the NATO summit in The Hague last year, European members  with the exception of Spain  along with Canada agreed to meet Trumps long-standing demand to match US defence spending levels. They committed to allocating 3.5 percent of GDP to core military spending and an additional 1.5 percent to security infrastructure by 2035.

Rutte warned, however, that even those targets would fall short if Europe chose to act independently. He said a self-reliant Europe would need to spend closer to 10 percent of GDP and develop its own nuclear deterrent at enormous cost.

If you really want to go it alone," Rutte said, adding, forget that you can ever get there with 5%. It will be 10%. You have to build up your own nuclear capability. That costs billions and billions of euros."

While France has pushed for greater European strategic autonomy," Rutte cautioned that without Washington, Europe would lose the ultimate guarantor of our freedom, which is the US nuclear umbrella. So, hey, good luck!"

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Location : Brussels, Belgium

First Published: January 27, 2026, 08:08 IST

News world 'Europe Can't Defend Itself Without US': Mark Rutte Warns As Greenland Row Strains NATO Alliance

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Finnish Intelligence Flags Pakistan-Linked Islamist Jihad As Hybrid Warfare Tool | Exclusive

Reported By :

News18.com

Last Updated: January 27, 2026, 16:50 IST

The report frames radical Islamist movements not merely as terrorist organisations but as integral components of state-influenced hybrid warfare architectures.

The report identifies Pakistan as a central and dangerous node within this ecosystem.

A classified Finnish Military Intelligence Review for 2026 has added fresh weight to a growing consensus within Western intelligence circles that Pakistan-based Islamist jihadist networks continue to pose a sustained and evolving security threatparticularly to India, but increasingly to the broader international system.

The Finnish assessment report, accessed by CNN-News18, comes after the United Kingdom and France publicly linked Pakistan-origin extremist networks to terrorist activities affecting both South Asia and Europe. Over the years, several European countries, including Germany and the Netherlands, have repeatedly flagged groups such as Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed in official statements, intelligence assessments, and court proceedings as persistent security concerns tied to Pakistan.

According to the Finnish review, Islamist jihad has not declined; instead, it has adapted. The report frames radical Islamist movements not merely as terrorist organisations but as integral components of state-influenced hybrid warfare architectures. These networks, Finnish intelligence notes, operate alongside cyber activities, proxy violence, deniable non-state actors, and political manipulation  allowing plausible deniability while sustaining long-term instability.

Crucially, the report identifies Pakistan as a central and dangerous node within this ecosystem. The threat, it argues, is not limited to episodic terrorist attacks but represents a continuing strategy of deniable destabilisation. India remains the primary strategic target, even as the international community grows increasingly aware of the pattern.

Despite the formal India-Pakistan ceasefire, the Finnish review highlights ongoing bilateral tensions, linking them to the continued global relevance of jihadist movements. Pakistans historical reliance on militant proxies fits squarely within the hybrid conflict model, the report suggests, even as operational visibility has been deliberately reduced to avoid diplomatic isolation or economic sanctions.

The intelligence review also notes a geographic shift in jihadist operational emphasis  from the Middle East towards Africa  reflecting tactical adaptation rather than ideological retreat. At the same time, Afghanistan is described as having functioned as a long-term incubation zone for jihadist networks. These groups, Finnish intelligence assesses, are later redirected by Pakistani handlers towards India-centric objectives.

For New Delhi, the report validates a long-standing position: that jihad is no longer an ideological outburst but a strategic toolkit employed within state-sponsored conflict frameworks. As more Western intelligence agencies align with this assessment, Pakistans role is increasingly viewed not as peripheral but as structurally embedded in a wider hybrid warfare strategy with regional and global implications.

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First Published: January 27, 2026, 16:50 IST

News world Finnish Intelligence Flags Pakistan-Linked Islamist Jihad As Hybrid Warfare Tool | Exclusive

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Force Iran Has Never Seen: Netanyahu Warns Tehran Against Attacking Israel

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Last Updated: January 28, 2026, 02:42 IST

Netanyahu warned Tehran of unprecedented retaliation during a televised address.

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The Israeli PM, Benjamin Netanyahu, said Israel would respond decisively if Iran were to launch an attack. (IMAGE: REUTERS)

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday warned that Israel would respond with unprecedented force if Iran were to attack the country, amid rising tensions in the region.

If Iran makes the grave mistake of attacking Israel, we will respond with a force that Iran has never seen," Netanyahu said during a televised press conference, according to AFP.

Netanyahu also referred to recent remarks by US President Donald Trump, who has warned Iran over its violent crackdown on anti-government protests, even as Washington signalled that diplomacy remains an option.

President Trump will decide what he decides; the State of Israel will decide what it decides," Netanyahu said. He reiterated that any Iranian attack on Israel would be met with overwhelming retaliation.

The comments come as the United States has deployed an aircraft carrier strike group to the region, prompting Iran to warn that it would not hesitate to defend itself against any threat. Trump told Axios on Monday that the US had a big armada next to Iran", but said he believed talks were still possible.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, meanwhile, criticised what he described as US threats" during a phone call with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, saying they were aimed at destabilising regional security, AFP reported.

Israel and Iran fought a brief but intense conflict last June, during which Israel struck military targets across Iran, killing several senior military commanders and nuclear scientists. Iran responded with ballistic missile attacks on Israeli cities. The United States later joined the conflict with strikes on key Iranian nuclear facilities before a ceasefire was declared.

Separately, Netanyahu said Israel would now shift its focus to disarming Hamas and demilitarising Gaza following the return of the last Israeli hostage from the Palestinian territory. He said no reconstruction work would be allowed in Gaza until those objectives were achieved.

Netanyahu also reiterated his opposition to the establishment of a Palestinian state in Gaza, saying Israel would maintain security control over both Gaza and the occupied West Bank, despite growing international recognition of Palestinian statehood.

(With inputs from AFP)

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Location : Tel Aviv, Israel, India

First Published: January 28, 2026, 02:42 IST

News world Force Iran Has Never Seen: Netanyahu Warns Tehran Against Attacking Israel

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WINNIPEG, MB, Jan. 27, 2026 /CNW/ - What if strengthening women's voices could transform entire communities' access to safe water, sanitation, and dignity? Across the Charneca and Corrego do Morcego neighbourhoods of Cabo de Santo Agostinho, in Pernambuco, Northeastern Brazil, a Canadian innovation is doing exactly that.

Agua Delas, which means Their Water, is a community-led initiative created by Waterlution, a Canadian non-profit that advances innovative water education, leadership development, and collaborative governance models. Waterlution partners with women in communities around the world to strengthen WASH (water, sanitation, and hygiene) conditions where they live. Through Canada's Fund for Innovation and Transformation (FIT), Waterlution received support to test an innovative leadership and WASH capacity building model, assessing its potential for scale.

The FIT-supported testing phase, delivered in partnership with Centro das Mulheres do Cabo, a Brazilian feminist organization, equipped women from the community with leadership training, practical WASH skills, and support to participate directly in local water governance. Women who once hesitated to speak publicly are now advocating confidently in municipal spaces, helping neighbours test water quality, and driving improvements in their communities.

For participants, the transformation is both personal and far-reaching. Claudiane, a WASH leader, affirmed "We learned a lot that I will keep with me for the rest of my life. We can give a voice to our community and fight for our rights" while her WASH leader colleague Amanda confirmed "Knowledge is power, without knowledge, we are nothing. Everything that we learned we will pass forward."

These individual experiences reflect the broader impact the innovation is having across the community.

"This is exactly what Canadian international assistance can accomplish," said Janice Hamilton, Executive Director of FIT. "By supporting the testing and refinement of locally rooted innovations like Agua Delas, we help strengthen women's leadership, build community confidence, and create pathways for solutions that are both transformative and sustainable."

Waterlution's Founder and President, Karen Kun, emphasized how the testing phase deepened and validated what the organization had witnessed for years. "When we centre on lived experiences and test approaches designed with women, their leadership grows in ways that can reshape entire systems. This testing cycle showed that Agua Delas can inform stronger public policies, strengthen community decision-making, and positively impact generations of families. It is unprecedented, deeply empowering, and highly scalable."
French Assembly Approves Bill To Ban Social Media For Under-15s, Macron Pushes September Start

Curated By :

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Last Updated: January 27, 2026, 09:26 IST

Macron said he had asked the government to activate an accelerated legislative procedure to ensure the law is implemented as early as possible.

French President Emmanuel Macron (AP)

Frances National Assembly backed legislation to ban children under the age of 15 from accessing social media platforms, a major step in the countrys push to curb online bullying, screen addiction and mental health risks among minors. Lawmakers voted 11623 in favour of the bill, which would prohibit under-15s from using social networks as well as social networking functionalities" embedded within broader digital platforms. The legislation now moves to the Senate before returning to the lower house for a final vote.

Why Is Macron Pushing For A September Deadline?

Frances President Emmanuel Macron welcomed the vote, calling it a major step" and urging swift passage so the ban can take effect by the start of the next academic year in September.

Banning social media for those under 15: thats what scientists are advocating, thats what the French people are overwhelmingly demanding," Macron said in a post on social media, adding, Our childrens brains are not for sale Their dreams cannot be dictated by algorithms."

Macron said he had asked the government to activate an accelerated legislative procedure to ensure the law is implemented as early as possible. He also framed the move as part of a broader effort to protect young people from the influence of powerful technology platforms.

Because we do not want an anxious generation but a generation that believes in France, the Republic and its values," he said, adding that France would become the first country in Europe to formally commit to such a ban.

Whats Driving Frances Tough Stance On Social Media?

The proposed law reflects growing political and public concern over the impact of social media on minors. Macron has repeatedly linked excessive screen use and online platforms to rising violence and anxiety among young people and has urged France to follow Australia, which introduced a world-first ban on social media for under-16s in December.

With this law, we are setting a clear boundary in society and saying social media is not harmless," centrist lawmaker Laure Miller told parliament, adding, Our children are reading less, sleeping less and comparing themselves more. This is a battle for free minds."

How Will Social Media Ban Actually Be Enforced?

The French legislation would require platforms to enforce age limits through verification mechanisms compliant with European Union law, a challenge that has complicated enforcement efforts elsewhere. Australia has acknowledged its rollout has been uneven, with teenagers finding ways around restrictions. The bill also extends Frances existing ban on smartphones in junior and middle schools to include high schools.

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First Published: January 27, 2026, 09:26 IST

News world French Assembly Approves Bill To Ban Social Media For Under-15s, Macron Pushes September Start

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Imran Khans Health Worsens In Adiala Jail, Medical Team Flags Serious Eye Condition | Exclusive

Reported By :

CNN-News18 Edited By: Apoorva Misra



Last Updated: January 27, 2026, 10:44 IST

Initial clinical assessments suggest that the infection may be a Central Retinal Vein Occlusion---a serious condition that can impair vision if not treated promptly

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Former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan

Former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan is reportedly experiencing a significant deterioration in his health while being held in solitary confinement at Adiala Jail, a top jail source has confirmed to CNN-News18. Khan has been in isolation since December 2, 2025nearly 55 dayswith no contact with family members or lawyers, according to the source.

The top source, speaking on condition of anonymity, revealed that Khan is currently suffering from a severe eye infection and allergic reactions, exacerbated by the harsh, dry cold weather conditions in the Rawalpindi-Islamabad region. Initial clinical assessments by a medical team from the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) suggest that the infection may be a Central Retinal Vein Occlusion (CRVO)a serious condition that can impair vision if not treated promptly.

A medical delegation from PIMS visited Khan in Adiala Jail on Saturday, January 24, and conducted a preliminary examination of his condition. According to medical personnel, the former prime minister requires a comprehensive eye examination and specialised treatment beyond what is currently available within the prison facility. The doctors have initiated initial treatment, but a full evaluation and follow-up care are urgently needed. The next scheduled monthly medical assessment is due on January 31, the source added.

The difficult conditions in the region, marked by a persistent dry cold wave, have reportedly worsened Khans symptoms. The source attributed the eye infection and allergy flare-ups partly to these weather stresses.

Since his confinement began in early December, Khan has been denied meetings with family members and legal counsel, a situation that has drawn mounting criticism from his political party, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), and relatives. His sisters, in particular, have been vocal in demanding access to him, expressing deep concern over his deteriorating health and the emotional toll of prolonged isolation.

In several interviews, Imran Khans sister has stressed her brothers resilience but reiterated fears about the impact of solitary confinement on his physical and mental wellbeing. She described his resolve as unbroken" while also urging authorities to allow proper medical care and family visits.

At present, authorities have not officially commented on Khans medical condition or the ongoing demands by his family and party supporters. The Islamabad-Rawalpindi area continues to experience cold, dry weather, which prison sources say is complicating general health management for detainees.

As the scheduled medical review at the end of January approaches, questions are intensifying over access to adequate healthcare for high-profile inmates and the broader implications for Pakistans political atmosphere ahead of upcoming developments.

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Location : Islamabad, Pakistan

First Published: January 27, 2026, 10:44 IST

News world Imran Khans Health Worsens In Adiala Jail, Medical Team Flags Serious Eye Condition | Exclusive

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Last Updated: January 27, 2026, 14:52 IST

India-EU trade deal LIVE: India and the European Union finalised a landmark free-trade agreement today, a development that Prime Minister Narendra Modi described as a major agreement bringing a huge opportunity for crores of people in India and Europe. The long-pending India-EU trade deal is expected to significantly reshape one of the worlds largest economic partnerships and anchor a broader strategic push.

PM Modi said the EU-India trade agreement will not only give a boost to manufacturing but also greatly benefit the service sector, while offering specific gains for industries such as textiles, gems and jewellery. PM Modi is hosting European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa for the talks. Momentum has gathered in recent weeks, with Ursula von der Leyen describing the proposed EU trade deal as a historic trade agreement that could create a combined market of nearly two billion people, accounting for close to a quarter of global GDP.

Negotiations on the EU-India trade pact were first launched in 2007, suspended in 2013 over differences in ambition and revived in 2022.

Catch key announcements and reactions in this live blog
'Largest FTA': European Council Chief Says India-EU Deal Is A Strong Message To The World

Curated By :

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Last Updated: January 27, 2026, 09:34 IST

Antonio Costa added that the deal would anchor long-term certainty in India-EU relations at a time when supply chains and alliances are being reshaped.

PM Narendra Modi (L) interacts with President of the European Council Antonio Costa during the 77th Republic Day Parade, at Kartavya Path in New Delhi on January 26, 2026. (Image: PMO/PTI)

Terming the proposed IndiaEuropean Union free trade agreement the largest FTA in the world", European Council President Antonio Costa has said the deal goes far beyond commerce and will act as a powerful geopolitical signal at a time of growing global uncertainty.

The long-pending agreement is expected to be signed at the EUIndia summit in New Delhi on Tuesday, hosted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. According to Costa, the pact will be the most expansive trade agreement ever concluded by either side and a cornerstone of their evolving strategic partnership.

This will be the largest free trade agreement globally and the biggest agreement ever signed by India or the European Union," Costa told CNN-News18 in an interview with Managing Editor Zakka Jacob. It carries enormous weight  economically, politically and in security and defence cooperation."

Costa said the agreement reflects a shared worldview between New Delhi and Brussels, positioning free trade as a stabilising force rather than resorting to tariff-led economic nationalism.

India and the EU believe in trade agreements, not trade wars," he said. Free trade strengthens economies, creates employment and brings prosperity. When two of the worlds largest democracies commit to predictable rules, it reinforces the global order."

He added that the deal would anchor long-term certainty in India-EU relations at a time when supply chains and alliances are being reshaped.

Beyond trade, Costa emphasised that the pact would expand Indian companies access to European markets while deepening cooperation in defence and security.

There is a clear economic dimension to our security cooperation," he said. Indian firms will find new opportunities in Europe, while both sides work to enhance defence capabilities."

Maritime security will be a central pillar of this collaboration, he noted, given shared dependence on uninterrupted sea lanes.

For India and Europe, safe shipping routes are essential. Maritime security is therefore a strategic priority," Costa said.

Climate Cooperation And Energy Transition

Referring to Indias renewable energy showcase at the Republic Day parade, Costa highlighted climate action as another key area of convergence, particularly in the context of the EUs Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM).

India is firmly committed to the Paris Agreement, and that commitment is clearly visible," he said. Our objective is to work together on the energy transition and reach shared climate goals."

EU Backs Denmark, Greenland Amid Tensions

On US President Donald Trumps remarks regarding Greenland, Costa firmly reiterated the European Unions support for sovereignty and territorial integrity. Greenland is part of the Kingdom of Denmark. Its future can only be decided by Denmark and Greenland," he said. The European Union fully supports both."

While acknowledging Arctic security concerns and NATOs role in regional defence, Costa said territorial expansion could not be justified under international law.

Ukraine And Global Stability

Costa also addressed the war in Ukraine, underlining continued European support for Kyiv and pressing Russia to engage meaningfully in peace efforts. We are backing every serious initiative for peace," he said. But Russia continues to reject a ceasefire. Every day, lives are being lost."

India Shows How Democracy Preserves Diversity

Attending the Republic Day celebrations alongside Prime Minister Modi and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Costa spoke about Indias pluralism and democratic character.

It was deeply meaningful for me personally," said Costa, whose father grew up in Goa. India demonstrates how the worlds largest democracy preserves its extraordinary diversity."

He said the parade offered a powerful reminder that Indias strength lies not just in its military capabilities, but in its cultural and social fabric.

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First Published: January 27, 2026, 08:55 IST

News world 'Largest FTA': European Council Chief Says India-EU Deal Is A Strong Message To The World

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Maine Plane Crash: Investigators Probe If Ice On Wings Caused Deadly Accident During Takeoff

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Last Updated: January 28, 2026, 01:09 IST

The probe follows severe winter storms in the US and a history of icing issues linked to the aircraft model.

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This image taken from video provided by WABI television, emergency services work on a scene of the Bombardier Challenger 600 crash at the Bangor Airport in Maine. (IMAGE: AP PHOTO)

US aviation safety investigators have begun probing a fatal plane crash at a Maine airport, with early attention likely to focus on whether ice accumulation on the aircrafts wings played a role.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), the federal agency responsible for investigating civil aviation accidents in the United States, arrived on Tuesday at Bangor International Airport, where a business jet crashed during takeoff, killing all six people on board.

The Paris-bound Bombardier Challenger 600 flipped over and caught fire shortly after attempting to take off on Sunday evening, around 7.45 pm, as a major winter storm was moving into the region. Investigators said it was too early to determine whether weather conditions or cold temperatures contributed to the crash.

A statement issued by the Federal Aviation Administration on Tuesday said the aircraft crashed under unknown circumstances on departure, came to rest inverted and caught on fire". The six victims included four passengers and two crew members.

Aviation experts said the NTSB is likely to closely examine whether ice had accumulated on the aircrafts wings, which can prevent a plane from generating enough lift during takeoff. Similar concerns have been raised in at least two previous fatal crashes involving the same aircraft model.

The Bombardier Challenger 600 has a documented history of icing-related incidents during takeoff, including crashes in Birmingham in the United Kingdom and Montrose in the US state of Colorado more than two decades ago, according to aviation safety consultant Jeff Guzzetti, a former federal crash investigator.

Even a small amount of ice on the wings can cause serious problems," Guzzetti said, adding that aircraft require careful inspection and de-icing before takeoff, particularly in freezing conditions. De-icing fluids are effective only for a limited time, sometimes as little as 20 minutes, depending on weather conditions.

The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Maine said it was working with law enforcement to confirm the identities of those killed. Lakewood Church in Houston confirmed that one of the victims was Shawna Collins, a 53-year-old event planner who worked for Joel Osteen Ministries.

A relative of the pilot identified him as Jacob Hosmer, 47, a licensed flight instructor and the managing member of Platinum Skies Aviation LLC, according to US media reports.

The aircraft was owned by a company linked to a Houston-based law firm, which has declined to comment or identify the passengers.

Bangor International Airport, located about 200 miles north of Boston, is frequently used by private jets flying to Europe because of its proximity to transatlantic routes. The NTSB said it expects to provide an update on the investigation on Wednesday. A preliminary report is likely to be released within a month, while a final report could take more than a year.

History of icing problems with these planes

The Bombardier Challenger 600 is a wide-bodied business jet configured for nine to 11 passengers. It was launched in 1980 as the first private jet with a walk-about cabin" and remains a popular charter option, according to aircharterservice.com.

The Bombardier Challenger 600 model has a history of problems with icing on takeoff" that caused previous deadly crashes in Birmingham, England; and Montrose, Colorado, more than 20 years ago, aviation safety consultant Jeff Guzzetti said while speaking to the Associated Press.

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Location : Washington D.C., United States of America (USA)

First Published: January 28, 2026, 01:08 IST

News world Maine Plane Crash: Investigators Probe If Ice On Wings Caused Deadly Accident During Takeoff

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'New Yorkers Living In Fear Of Being Terrorised': Mamdani Renews Call To Abolish ICE

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Last Updated: January 27, 2026, 10:08 IST

NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani renewed his call for abolition of ICE after two killings in Minneapolis, calling raids cruel and demanding transparency.

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Mamdani described the recent killings in Minneapolis as "horrific."

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani on Tuesday reiterated his demand for the abolition of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), condemning the federal agency for deadly actions that he says the public is being urged to ignore.

ICE murdered Renee Good in broad daylight. Less than 3 weeks later, they killed Alex Pretti, shooting him 10 times," Mamdani wrote on X. Every day, we watch as people are ripped from their cars, their homes, their lives. We cant allow ourselves to look away from this cruelty. Abolish ICE," he further wrote. He shared the post alongside a clip from his Sunday interview on ABCs This Week.

ICE murdered Renee Good in broad daylight. Less than 3 weeks later, they killed Alex Pretti, shooting him 10 times. Every day, we watch as people are ripped from their cars, their homes, their lives.We cant allow ourselves to look away from this cruelty. Abolish ICE. pic.twitter.com/wtg0eAZitc  Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani (@NYCMayor) January 26, 2026

During the interview, Mamdani described the recent killings in Minneapolis as horrific" accused leaders of attempting to obscure the truth. I think it is horrific what we have seen there," he said. There are too many Americans who are being asked to not believe their own eyes, not believe their own ears, not believe their own realities."

Referring to the killing of Renee Goods death, Mamdani added, Thats why I described that as a murder. Theres no other way to watch that video and come to a different conclusion." Good, a 37-year-old US citizen, was fatally shot by an ICE agent while sitting in her car on January 7, despite not being the target of the immigration operation. Her death triggered weeks of protests in Minneapolis.

Less than three weeks later, Alex Pretti, also 37, was shot multiple times by at least one Customs and Border Protection agent in a separate incident in the city last week.

Mamdani emphasised that the fear gripping Minneapolis extends far beyond the city. Its a fear that New Yorkers are also living with," he said, describing it as the fear of being terrorised". He said he would do everything in his power to prevent similar incidents in New York City.

Ive also said clearly to the president that these ICE raids are cruel, they are inhumane, and they do nothing to serve the interests of public safety," the Mayor said.

As protests continue and investigations into the shootings proceed, Mamdani framed the situation as a matter of transparency. People want to hear the truth," he said. They want to see the truth." Federal officials have defended their actions, while probes into both killings remain ongoing.

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Location : New York, United States of America (USA)

First Published: January 27, 2026, 10:08 IST

News world 'New Yorkers Living In Fear Of Being Terrorised': Mamdani Renews Call To Abolish ICE

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Nipah Virus Outbreak In India: Asian Airports Ramp Up Screening; China Urges Heightened Vigilance

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Last Updated: January 27, 2026, 12:44 IST

Airports in Thailand, Nepal and Taiwan ramp up health checks after Nipah virus cases detected in West Bengal. Dr Arora warns of high fatality and limited treatment options.

The current outbreak was first reported among 5 health workers in West Bengal. (Image: Reuters)

Airports across several Asian countries have tightened health screening measures following reports of Nipah virus infections in India, prompting renewed regional vigilance. Thailand, Nepal and Taiwan have reintroduced Covid-era style checks, including passenger monitoring and surveillance.

The outbreak has also drawn attention in China ahead of the Lunar New Year travel season, when millions are expected to travel. While Chinese experts say Nipah is difficult to transmit widely, public concern has grown due to its high fatality rate.

Chinas Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has urged heightened vigilance" against imported infectious diseases during the peak travel period, known as chunyun, which runs from February 2 to March 13, South China Morning Post reported.

Nipah Virus Outbreak

Five confirmed cases have been reported among health workers in West Bengal this month, news agency ANI reported, citing Dr Narendra Kumar Arora, President of AIIMS Bilaspur and Chairman of Indias Covid-19 Working Group at the National Technical Advisory Group.

Meanwhile, Indian health authorities have sought to reassure the public, saying the situation remains under control. Dr Arora noted that while Kerala and West Bengal are endemic regions, only a limited number of cases have been reported. He warned that Nipah has a high mortality rate of 4075 per cent and that no vaccine is currently available. Monoclonal antibodies are being sourced for treatment, though supplies remain scarce. After the outbreak in West Bengal, authorities were tracing 100 to 200 possible contacts.

Nipah virus is a zoonotic disease These sporadic outbreaks have occurred in both Kerala and West Bengal. But even Bangladesh is endemic for the Nipah virus The current outbreak was first reported among 5 health workers in West Bengal after a person died of an unknown disease, and later on, these 5 health professionals were involved. An ongoing investigation is now underway into another 100 to 200 people who have been exposed Nipah virus is that it is highly infectious and fatal The person either gets symptoms of encephalitis or severe respiratory disease, and mortality is 40 to 75%, which is very high," Arora told ANI.

Nipah virus is a zoonotic disease that can spread from animals such as bats and pigs to humans, and through close human-to-human contact. Symptoms range from fever and respiratory illness to severe encephalitis, which can be fatal. The quarantine period for close contacts is 21 days.

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First Published: January 27, 2026, 12:44 IST

News world Nipah Virus Outbreak In India: Asian Airports Ramp Up Screening; China Urges Heightened Vigilance

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Pak Cops Behaving Like Animals: Imran Khans Sister Questions Action Against Student | Exclusive

Reported By :

News18.com

Last Updated: January 27, 2026, 17:40 IST

"Imran Khan promised the nation that he would not leave through any deal, and he is keeping that promise," said his sister Aleema

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Aleema questioned the authorities over the treatment being given to Imran Khan. (File pic/AFP)

Former Pakistan PM Imran Khans sister, Aleema Khan, slammed the administration over the incarceration of her brother and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief and his supporters, including a student, Najam.

Imran Khan is a patriotic leader with firm faith in Allah. He has been in prison for two-and-a-half years; he promised the nation that he would not leave through any deal, and he is keeping that promise," said Aleema.

It is essential for the Pakistani nation to stand up for themselves because Imran Khan is sitting in jail for themA student, Najam, was picked up merely for mentioning the name of the PTI founderWomen were pushed and shoved; if this is what is happening to us, what must be the plight of the common people," asked Aleema.

SHO Ayaz swore an oath to Shahid Khattak, promising that if we avoided the Cantt route, they would release Najam. I told Shahid Khattak that they are lying, because lying is a part of their job. I was the one who told Najam to chant the slogan, and I feel deep pain over this," said Aleema.

I even told the police to release Najam because he is just a child and a student, and to arrest me in his place insteadSHO Ayaz signaled a policeman named Saqib, who pounced on Najam with animalistic brutality. They werent attacking us directly, but in that scuffle, my sister and Seemabia were shoved to the groundI dont know why they behave like animals whether its considered part of their job or if theyve been told this is the way to get a promotion," said Aleema.

Chief Minister of Pakistans northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, Sohail Afridi, on Thursday strongly condemned the continued solitary confinement" of PTI founder Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi. Afridi said that the restrictions on the meetings with PTI leader Khan were inhumane and unjust".

Khan, 73, has been incarcerated since August 2023, when he was arrested for the first time. Multiple cases have been registered against Khan after his government was toppled in April 2022. The military-backed Shehbaz Sharif government, early last month, had imposed a complete ban on Khans all kinds of jail meetings following his statement against Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) Field Marshal Asim Munir. Khan, after meeting with his sister in jail on December 4, called Munir a mentally unstable person" in a post on X.

With PTI inputs

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First Published: January 27, 2026, 17:31 IST

News world Pak Cops Behaving Like Animals: Imran Khans Sister Questions Action Against Student | Exclusive

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'Ghulami' Legitimised, Clerics Above The Law: Why The Taliban's New Criminal Code Is Under Fire

Reported By :

CNN-News18 Edited By: Oindrila Mukherjee



Last Updated: January 27, 2026, 21:26 IST

The 'Criminal Procedure Code for Courts' divides Afghan society into four social tiers: religious scholars, elite, middle class, and lower class with specific punishment for each

The Taliban's Supreme leader Hibatullah Akhundzada has enacted a new Criminal Procedure Code, which formalises a hierarchical class system within Afghanistan's judiciary. (Image: AFP/File)

The Taliban has formalised a class-based justice system in Afghanistan as part of its new criminal code, which has sparked global outrage and come under sharp criticism from human rights groups.

Supreme leader Hibatullah Akhundzada has enacted a new Criminal Procedure Code, which formalises a hierarchical class system within Afghanistans judiciary and, in doing so, provides complete immunity to the religious scholars and mullahs.

Signed on January 4, the 119-article document establishes four distinct social tiers effectively granting legal immunity and mere admonition to religious scholars while mandating severe corporal punishment and imprisonment for the lower classes. The new code legitimises ghulami, or slavery, while institutionalising gender-based violence by explicitly allowing masters and husbands to perform discretionary punishments on subordinates and spouses.

Human rights organisations, including the exiled group Rawadari, have condemned the law while critics have reportedly described it as a document proclaiming the conviction of all citizens". The National Resistance Front (NRF) has likened the new structure to a rigid varna system, where the clerical elite are rendered untouchable" by the law, as per reports. Many other critics called this a return to what some political factions have described as conditions far worse than the Middle Ages".

WHAT DOES THE CODE SAY?

Human rights experts and former Afghan officials reportedly raised alarms over how the measures in the new code systematically dismantle modern legal protections.

The code effectively abolishes legal equality and the presumption of innocence. It replaces international human rights standards with a rigid, discriminatory structure that prioritises social status over the nature of the crime.

According to sources and human rights groups, the document lacks provisions for defence lawyers, the right to remain silent, or the right to compensation, relying instead on confessions and testimony. It prioritises the Hanafi Sunni system as the only valid interpretation of Islam further marginalising diverse sections of the population, the sources said.

By removing these fundamental rights to defence, the regime has effectively replaced the principle of equality before the law" with a system where justice is a privilege of the elite.

WHAT IS THIS CLASS-BASED SYSTEM?

The Criminal Procedure Code for Courts, or De Mahakumu Jazaai Osulnama, explicitly divides Afghan society into four hierarchical categories: religious scholars (ulama), the elite (ashraf or aristocrats), the middle class, and the lower class.

Under Article 9, the severity of a sentence is determined by the offenders class rather than the crime itself. There are specific punishments for each tier.

Heres all you need to know:

Religious scholars and mullahs: Occupying the top tier, they enjoy near-total immunity. If they commit a crime, they receive only advice or a respectful notification" from a judge with no summons, arrest, or imprisonment mentioned in most cases.

The elite: This group, including tribal elders and military commanders, may receive summons and advice.

This group, including tribal elders and military commanders, may receive summons and advice. Middle classes: Citizens in this category face imprisonment for offences.

Citizens in this category face imprisonment for offences. Lower and ordinary classes: Those at the bottom of the social ladder suffer the harshest penalties, including imprisonment plus corporal punishment, such as flogging.

Those at the bottom of the social ladder suffer the harshest penalties, including imprisonment plus corporal punishment, such as flogging. Ghulami: The law further codifies the status of slaves" (ghulam), with Article 15 stating that discretionary punishment (tazir) applies whether a criminal is free or a slave". Alarmingly, Paragraph 5 of Article 4 specifies that while fixed punishments (hudud) are executed by the state, tazir punishments can be carried out by a husband" or a master" (badaar).

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Location : Kabul, Afghanistan

First Published: January 27, 2026, 21:26 IST

News world 'Ghulami' Legitimised, Clerics Above The Law: Why The Taliban's New Criminal Code Is Under Fire

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The Zhang Youxia Case: Why Xi Turned On His Own General & What It Means For China | Explained

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: January 27, 2026, 12:05 IST

General Youxia, who until recently served as vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission---the body that controls PLA---faces serious violations of discipline and law

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Apart from his military standing, Youxia was widely viewed as one of President Xi Jinpings closest military allies. (AP)

Chinas tightly controlled military establishment has been thrown into rare public turmoil after the investigation of General Zhang Youxia, one of the countrys most senior and influential officers. The move has triggered widespread speculation about internal power struggles within the Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) and raised questions about how far President Xi Jinping is willing to go to consolidate control over the armed forces.

General Youxia, who until recently served as vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC)the body that controls the Peoples Liberation Army (PLA)faces serious violations of discipline and law", a phrase Chinese authorities typically use for corruption or political misconduct. What has compounded the issue is that another senior officer, General Liu Zhenli, chief of the CMCs Joint Staff Department, is also under investigation. Together, their removal has left the CMC with just two remaining members, including President Xi Jinping.

The widening purge has been characterised as one of the most significant upheavals in Chinas military leadership since the Cultural Revolution, with ripple effects within the PLAs command structure and beyond.

Who Is Zhang Youxia And Why His Removal Matters

Apart from his military standing, Youxia was widely viewed as one of President Xi Jinpings closest military allies. A veteran of earlier conflicts and a long-serving PLA commander, he was often seen as a stabilising professional presence in the military hierarchy and was respected inside and outside China for his battlefield experience and role in modernising the PLA.

Unlike many senior officers who were purged early in Xis tenure, Zhang had survived repeated anti-corruption sweeps and even been retained beyond normal retirement age, which was seen as evidence of Xis trust in him.

That he is now under investigationand publicly soindicates a dramatic shift in how Xis leadership is being consolidated. Analysts call this unprecedented" not just because of Zhangs rank, but because it signals that even top insiders are no longer insulated from scrutiny or removal.

What The Allegations Say

Chinas official narrative frames the purge within the ongoing anti-corruption campaign that Xi has led since becoming Chinas leader in 2012. Under this campaign, hundreds of thousands of officials, including senior military officers and those close to the President himself, have been disciplined, expelled, or prosecuted.

The defence ministrys accusation of serious violations" is typically a broad legal category encompassing corruption, bribery, misuse of office, or undermining party discipline. In Zhangs case, some reports have hinted at allegations as diverse as corruption in procurement and the construction of influence networks within the PLA.

Chinas official military newspaper, PLA Daily, went further in its editorial rhetoric, accusing Zhang and Liu of undermining the chairman responsibility system"essentially, the Communist Partys absolute leadership over the militaryand damaging political unity within the ranks.

Why Is There Uproar Over The Move?

What has alarmed observers is not just the corruption angle, but what this purge reveals about internal power dynamics at the highest levels of Chinese politics.

By removing even a once-trusted ally from the central military leadership, Xi appears to be tightening his grip on the armed forces ahead of the 2027 Communist Party Congress, where his continued authority is expected to be confirmed. Analysts see this as prioritising personal and party loyalty over longstanding professional relationships within the PLA.

Experts have also described the move as a clear signal that nobody is safe", meaning top officials cannot rely on past service or personal ties to shield them from investigation if they fall out of favour with Xi or his inner circle.

The purge has dramatically thinned the senior ranks of the PLAs command structure. With many of Zhangs peers already removed, the crackdown may reduce internal debate and professional dissent within the military but it also raises questions about morale and continuity at a time of regional tensions.

Numerous analysts argue that aside from corruption, political motives, including eliminating potential rivals or alternative power bases, are central to the purges rationale. Zhangs removal follows a period of factional realignment within the PLA and the broader Communist Party leadership, where loyalty to Xis strategic vision is increasingly decisive.

The investigations timing and scope also have broader implications.

Removing senior commanders can slow military reform and procurement processes, although Beijing insists that the PLA remains professionally capable and loyal.

Taiwans leadership and foreign governments are closely watching these developments. Some analysts believe the purge could temper Chinas near-term military assertiveness, as leadership instability encourages caution.

Ultimately, the purge reinforces the Communist Partys principle that the armed forces are under the partysand Xisabsolute control, a central tenet of Chinese political doctrine since the Civil War era.

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Location : Beijing, China

First Published: January 27, 2026, 12:05 IST

News world The Zhang Youxia Case: Why Xi Turned On His Own General & What It Means For China | Explained

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Trump Assures Big, Honourable Probe Into Alex Pretti's Shooting, Says Hell Watch Over It

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: January 28, 2026, 01:31 IST

Trump said he wants to personally review the investigation into the death of ICU nurse Alex Pretti.

Rapid Read

US President Donald Trump speaks with the media as he heads to Marine One to travel to Iowa, from the White House in Washington, DC, US. (IMAGE: REUTERS)

US President Donald Trump on Tuesday said there would be a big" and honorable" investigation into the fatal shooting of ICU nurse Alex Pretti by federal immigration agents in Minneapolis, adding that he would personally be watching over" the probe.

Speaking to Fox News, Trump was asked whether Prettis death was justified. Were doing a big investigation. I want to see the investigation. Im going to be watching over it," he said. I want a very honorable and honest investigation. I have to see it myself."

Trumps comments came amid growing backlash over the shooting, which occurred during protests against immigration raids in Minneapolis. Pretti, 37, was killed on Saturday in an encounter with federal agents.

Earlier on Tuesday, Trump said his Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem would remain in her post despite calls for her resignation over the incident. No," Trump told reporters at the White House when asked if Noem should step down. I think shes doing a very good job," he said, in his first on-camera remarks since the shooting.

The New York Times reported that Trump held an almost two-hour meeting with Noem on Monday evening. Noem has backed aggressive immigration raids and had described Pretti as a domestic terrorist", a characterisation that has drawn sharp criticism.

Trump appeared to distance himself from those remarks, as well as from comments by Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller, who had called Pretti an assassin". Asked whether he agreed with Millers statement, Trump replied: No."

At the same time, the President pointed to the presence of a firearm as a key issue. That being said, you cant have guns, you cant walk in with guns, you cant do that," Trump said.

The Trump administration has said Pretti was carrying a handgun during the confrontation. However, video footage circulating online shows Pretti was not holding the weapon at any point and that an agent had removed it before he was shot.

Trump also said he felt for the victims family. I love his family and its a very sad situation," he said.

The president has dispatched border czar Tom Homan to Minneapolis, signalling a possible shift toward a more targeted approach to immigration enforcement, even as his administration continues to defend the actions of federal agents involved in the shooting.

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Location : Washington D.C., United States of America (USA)

First Published: January 28, 2026, 01:31 IST

News world Trump Assures Big, Honourable Probe Into Alex Pretti's Shooting, Says Hell Watch Over It

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Trump Claims Credit As Israel Recovers Body Of Last Hostage In Gaza: 'My Great Team Of Champions'

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: January 27, 2026, 08:01 IST

Israel announced it had recovered the body of Ran Gvili, an Israeli police officer killed during the October 7, 2023 Hamas attacks whose remains had been taken to Gaza.

Israel had made the return of all hostages- both living and dead- a precondition for progress on the Gaza ceasefire.

US President Donald Trump took credit for the recovery of the remains of the final deceased Israeli hostage held in Gaza, hailing it as an achievement many believed impossible. The Israeli military earlier announced it had recovered the body of Ran Gvili, an Israeli police officer killed during the October 7, 2023 Hamas attacks whose remains had been taken to Gaza.

Just recovered the last Hostage body in GAZA. Thus, got back ALL 20 of the living Hostages, and ALL of the Dead! AMAZING JOB!" Trump wrote on his social media platform Truth Social, adding, Congratulations to my great team of Champions!!!"

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt reinforced the message, posting on X (formerly Twitter), Incredible news. President Trump made this possible."

The Israel Defense Forces said Ran Gvilis remains were identified through a forensic process involving Israels National Center of Forensic Medicine, police and the military rabbinate. His family was notified following the confirmation. Ran Gvili was posthumously promoted to the rank of first sergeant, according to the Israeli government.

Israeli President Isaac Herzog said the recovery brought closure to a grieving nation, adding, An entire people prayed and waited for this moment and now the circle is closed."

Israel had made the return of all hostages- both living and dead- a precondition for progress on the Gaza ceasefire, including the opening of the Rafah crossing and advancement to the second phase of the peace plan. The last 20 living hostages were released in mid-October.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described the recovery as an outstanding accomplishment by the state of Israel."

We promised to bring everyone home, and we returned them all, until the last of them," Netanyahu said, adding, Ran is a hero- he went in first and got out last and now he is on his way home."

Hamas said the return of Ran Gvilis remains demonstrated its complete commitment" to the first phase of the ceasefire, while calling on Israel to fully implement all terms of the agreement without delay.

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Location : Israel

First Published: January 27, 2026, 08:01 IST

News world Trump Claims Credit As Israel Recovers Body Of Last Hostage In Gaza: 'My Great Team Of Champions'

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'Trump Doesn't Want To See People Getting Killed': White House On Fatal Minnesota Shooting

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: January 27, 2026, 07:13 IST

Donald Trump opposes street violence, says Karoline Leavitt, after Alex Pretti was killed by federal officers in Minneapolis. The White House blames Democrats for the tragedy.

Rapid Read

US President Donald Trump. (File photo)

The White House on Monday said that President Donald Trump opposes violence on American streets, stressing that no one in his administration wants civilians harmed. However, the administration again pointed the finger at Democrats following the killing of two people in Minneapolis, a city in the US state of Minnesota, by anti-immigration agents.

Nobody in the White House, including President Trump, wants to see people getting hurt or killed in Americas streets," White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters, news agency AFP reported.

Leavitt referred to Saturdays shooting of Alex Pretti by federal officers as a tragedy," though a Trump aide had quickly and without evidence labeled Pretti a domestic terrorist."

We mourn for the parents. As a mother myself, of course, I cannot imagine the loss of life," she said, expressing sympathy for Prettis loved ones.

Leavitt Blames Democrats

That conciliatory sentiment was brief, however. Leavitt quickly shifted blame to Minnesotas Democratic leaders for the unrest that has followed the deployment of heavily armed immigration agents in Minneapolis over local objections.

She singled out Democratic Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, accusing them of fostering resistance that contributed to the incident. This tragedy occurred as a result of a deliberate and hostile resistance by Democrat leaders in Minnesota," Leavitt said, referring to Walz and Frey.

Leavitt also accused the Democratic officials of spreading misinformation about federal law enforcement, asserting that critics are undermining officers who are risking their lives daily to remove the worst criminal illegal aliens from our streets."

Minneapolis Mayor To Meet Tom Homan On Tuesday

Further, Trump said that he had a very good" phone call with the Minneapolis Mayor following two fatal federal agent shootings and days of unrest in the city. Trump said Frey will meet on Tuesday his border czar," Tom Homan, as discussions continue.

Meanwhile, Frey said he welcomed the conversation, emphasised the value of Minneapoliss immigrant communities, and pushed for an end to Operation Metro Surge," adding that Trump agreed the situation could not continue and that some federal agents would begin leaving the area.

I expressed how much Minneapolis has benefited from our immigrant communities and was clear that my main ask is that Operation Metro Surge needs to end," the Mayor wrote on X. The president agreed the present situation cant continue," Frey said.

Some federal agents will begin leaving the area tomorrow, and I will continue pushing for the rest involved in this operation to go," he added.

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Location : Washington D.C., United States of America (USA)

First Published: January 27, 2026, 07:13 IST

News world 'Trump Doesn't Want To See People Getting Killed': White House On Fatal Minnesota Shooting

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Turkey's Quiet Play: How Ankara & Pakistan Are Bleeding Gulf Power Without A Direct Fight | Exclusive

Reported By :

CNN-News18 Edited By: Apoorva Misra



Last Updated: January 27, 2026, 15:16 IST

Ankara has benefited from instability around the Bab-el-Mandeb strait through which an estimated 1215% of global trade and nearly 30% of container traffic bound for Europe passes

Rapid Read

The approach relies on leveraging instability, ideological networks and strategic partnerships---particularly with Pakistan---to erode Gulf influence over time. (iStock)

Turkey is pursuing a calibrated strategy to gradually weaken Gulf dominance in the Middle East by exploiting regional fault lines rather than confronting Saudi Arabia and the UAE directly, top intelligence sources have told CNN-News18. The approach, officials say, relies on leveraging instability, ideological networks and strategic partnershipsparticularly with Pakistanto erode Gulf influence over time.

According to intelligence assessments, Ankara has quietly benefited from prolonged instability around the Bab-el-Mandeb strait, a critical maritime chokepoint through which an estimated 1215 per cent of global trade and nearly 30 per cent of container traffic bound for Europe passes. Any disruption in this corridor disproportionately affects Saudi and Emirati port ambitions, especially hubs such as Jebel Ali and Fujairah, while Turkey positions itself diplomatically as a mediator rather than a direct participant in the conflict.

Sources stressed that Turkey does not directly support the Houthis in Yemen. Instead, Ankara engages with Muslim Brotherhood-aligned Yemeni factions, subtly weakening Saudi-backed political structures. This mirrors Turkeys earlier playbook in Libya and Sudan, where it supported political Islamist groups to dilute Gulf influence without deploying its own troops.

At the same time, Turkish media outlets and NGOs have amplified humanitarian narratives around Yemen, projecting soft power while framing Saudi-UAE intervention as destructive. Intelligence officials say this messaging campaign has helped Ankara gain diplomatic leverage without overt military involvement.

A key pillar of Turkeys strategy is its deepening alignment with Pakistan. Ankara has increasingly used Pakistans military and diplomatic clout in the Islamic world to internationalise Turkish positions. Joint statements at OIC platforms, as well as on issues such as Gaza and Yemen, often echo Turkish talking points more closely than Gulf positions, sources said.

Pakistans armed forces are now structurally tied to Turkeys defence ecosystem, with an estimated $1.5-2 billion worth of defence deals since 2018, including MILGEM corvettes, Bayraktar TB-2 drones and helicopter engine collaborations. Pakistani military officers are also increasingly training in Turkey rather than in Gulf countries, signalling a shift in long-term institutional alignment.

Intelligence inputs further suggest that Turkey has encouraged Pakistan to diversify away from Gulf labour markets and remittance dependence, which currently account for $3035 billion annually from Saudi Arabia and the UAE. Ankara has also used Pakistans clerical and religious networks to challenge Saudi Arabias claim to uncontested leadership of the Islamic world.

Officials point out that whenever Saudi Arabia or the UAE have attempted to discipline Pakistan, through financial pressure, oil supply leverage or IMF signalling, Turkey has stepped in to cushion Islamabad, reducing its dependence on Gulf capitals.

In parallel, China-backed infrastructure such as Gwadar port is gradually reducing Pakistans reliance on Gulf maritime routes. Turkey is seen as aligning with this multipolar logistics vision, which, over time, weakens Gulf maritime centrality.

Why It Matters for India

Intelligence agencies underline that this is not merely a Middle East power struggle for India. More than 60 per cent of Indias westbound trade passes through the Red SeaSuez corridor, making New Delhi vulnerable to any instability linked to Yemen. Rising insurance premiums, rerouting costs and energy price volatility indirectly affect Indias economy.

Additionally, Turkeys backing provides Pakistan with strategic breathing space at moments of heightened Gulf pressure. Officials warn that the growing Turkey-Pakistan ideological alignment also fuels narratives hostile to India, which can spill into South Asian discourse, including on Kashmir.

From New Delhis perspective, intelligence sources say, Ankaras strategy represents a slow-burn challengeone that reshapes regional power balances without open confrontation, but with long-term consequences for trade, energy security and geopolitics.

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Location : Turkey

First Published: January 27, 2026, 15:16 IST

News world Turkey's Quiet Play: How Ankara & Pakistan Are Bleeding Gulf Power Without A Direct Fight | Exclusive

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Ukraine May Join European Union In 2027, Says President Zelenskyy

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: January 27, 2026, 20:07 IST

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in a conversation with Austrian Chancellor Christian Stocker announced that Ukraine expects to join the European Union in 2027.

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy discussed Ukraine's accession to the European Union by 2027 with Austrian Chancellor Christian Stocker. (Zelenskyy/X)

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Tuesday said that Ukraine expects to join the European Union in 2027.

According to RBC-Ukraine, Zelenskyy discussed Ukraines accession to the European Union by 2027 with Austrian Chancellor Christian Stocker.

Both leaders discussed the energy situation in Ukraine after numerous Russian terrorist attacks.

After the telephonic conversation, the Ukrainian President gave details in a post on X: During a conversation with Federal Chancellor of Austria Christian Stocker, we discussed the energy situation in Ukraine. Russia strikes energy infrastructure every day to leave Ukrainians without electricity and heat, and it is very important that partners respond to this. That is why we highly appreciate Austrias decision last week to allocate funds to support our energy sector. Thank you! We also discussed other ways to support our energy system."

He shared that the Chancellor was also informed that the trilateral meetings of the Ukrainian, American, and Russian delegations, that took place in the UAE last week, primarily discussed military issues and security guarantees.

Ukraines accession to the European Union is one of the key security guarantees not only for us, but also for all of Europe. After all, Europes collective strength is possible, in particular, thanks to Ukraines security, technological, and economic contributions. That is why we are speaking about a concrete date  2027  and we count on partners support for our position," Zelenskyy said.

The President also invited the Austrian Chancellor to Ukraine for in-person future dialogues.

Meanwhile, the Ukrainian officials said that a total of six people were killed by the Russian strikes.

France 24 quoted regional officials saying that a Russian drone barrage killed two people, whose bodies were retrieved from rubble, and wounded nearly three dozen people in the southern city of Odesa.

Besides, a couple of age 45 and 48 were killed in Sloviansk in the eastern Donetsk region. In a separate drone attack in the southern region of Zaporizhzhia, a 58-year-old was killed at home. A 72-year-old was also killed in her home by Russian shelling in the southern Kherson region.

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Location : Ukraine

First Published: January 27, 2026, 19:50 IST

News world Ukraine May Join European Union In 2027, Says President Zelenskyy

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Viral Photo Of Israel PM Netanyahu Speaking On Phone With Taped Camera Draws Attention Online

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: January 27, 2026, 21:41 IST

The image, shared widely on social media, has drawn attention to the taped camera on Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahus phone.

Rapid Read

Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu is seen speaking on a phone in this unverified image circulating on social media. (IMAGE: X/@_GlobeObserver)

A photograph of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaking on a smartphone, with the area around the camera appearing to be taped, has gone viral online, drawing attention to the device in his hand.

The image shows Netanyahu wearing a black jacket over a white shirt and leaning against a dark vehicle while on a phone call. Social media users quickly focused on the phones camera area, which appears to be covered with tape or a sticker.

The detail prompted questions online about the device and the reason behind the obscured camera.

The photograph was first shared by an X account called Globe Observer before being reposted by widely followed news-focused and geopolitics accounts, including Mario Nawfal and Clash Report, among others. It was subsequently amplified across social media platforms.

News18 has not independently verified the authenticity or timing of the image.

Many online users questioned what model of phone Netanyahu might be using and why the camera appeared to be covered, leading to broader discussion on social media about security practices and the use of smartphones by political leaders.

Netanyahu's mobile phone camera covered with tape pic.twitter.com/Rvp2x4TKTF Globe Observer (@_GlobeObserver) January 26, 2026

There has been no official comment from the Israeli Prime Ministers Office on the photograph or the device seen in the image.

Netanyahu using a phone with its camera taped over. Highly likely done as a security measure to prevent spying or recording in sensitive areas. pic.twitter.com/N8M8Cc2uD1  Clash Report (@clashreport) January 27, 2026

Former FBI director James Comey defended the practice of covering device cameras as a basic security precaution during a conference hosted by the Center for Strategic and International Studies in 2016, according to a report by The Hill.

 Why dos Netanyahu have tape over his phone camera? Whos he worried about?Also if the Prime Minister of Israel feels the need to do it, then what does that mean for the average person? pic.twitter.com/DVznM7uNBO  Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) January 27, 2026

Comey, who once faced online mockery after admitting that he taped over webcams, described the measure as sensible". You go into any government office and we all have the little camera things that sit on top of the screen," he said, noting that many of them come with covers that can be closed.

You do that so that people who dont have authority dont look at you," Comey added, as quoted by The Hill.

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First Published: January 27, 2026, 21:41 IST

News world Viral Photo Of Israel PM Netanyahu Speaking On Phone With Taped Camera Draws Attention Online

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Who Is That Chanting DK?: Siddaramaiah Snaps As Congress Workers Shout Pro-Shivakumar Slogans

Reported By :

News18.com

Last Updated: January 27, 2026, 23:04 IST

As Siddaramaiah rose to address the gathering, the workers began chanting DK, DK, which grew louder as he reached the podium.

Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah with Deputy CM DK Shivakumar. (Photo: News18)

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Tuesday lost his temper when Youth Congress workers began raising slogans in support of Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar during a high-profile party demonstration.

The event, staged to protest the central governments introduction of the Viksit BharatGuarantee for Rozgar Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Act in place of the long-standing MGNREGA, was intended to showcase party unity.

However, the atmosphere shifted dramatically when Siddaramaiah rose to address the gathering, only to be met with a wall of noise from boisterous Youth Congress workers.

As the Chief Minister approached the microphone, supporters began chanting DK-DK" in a loud show of loyalty to Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar. Despite pleas from the emcee to allow the leader to speak, the disruption continued, prompting a sharp response from the veteran politician.

Bangalore, Karnataka: CM Siddaramaiah lost his temper during a MGNREGA protest rally when Youth Congress workers chanted in support of Deputy CM D K Shivakumar. pic.twitter.com/8I9Ekvf3q4 IANS (@ians_india) January 27, 2026

A visibly irritated Siddaramaiah castigated the crowd, shouting, Hey keep quiet. Who is that chanting DK. Enough, sit down."

The friction was further highlighted when another party leader took to the microphone to reprimand the agitators, stating that Youth Congress workers need to behave when the CM is speaking" and urged them to listen to it patiently."

This public display of friction underscores the persistent leadership tussle that has defined the states administration. The ongoing power struggle and the constant jockeying for influence between the Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar camps have created a delicate balancing act for the party high command.

While both leaders often maintain a facade of cooperation, the vocal enthusiasm of their respective fan bases frequently exposes the deep-seated rivalry and the underlying struggle for ultimate control over the state govt.

The incident occurred even as AICC Karnataka in-charge Randeep Surjewala looked on from the stage. As speculation grows that both leaders may soon be summoned to Delhi for a high-level briefing before the Union budget, the optics of such a public spat remain a significant concern for the partys central leadership.

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Location : Karnataka, India, India

First Published: January 27, 2026, 22:39 IST

News world Who Is That Chanting DK?: Siddaramaiah Snaps As Congress Workers Shout Pro-Shivakumar Slogans

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Chinas Top Military General Accused Of Leaking Nuclear Secrets To US, Accepting Bribes: Report

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Last Updated: January 27, 2026, 07:42 IST

Chinas most senior uniformed officer Zhang Youxia has been accused in an internal briefing of leaking nuclear secrets to the US and taking bribes for military promotions.

Gen. Zhang Youxia, vice chairman of China's Central Military Commission (Photo: AP)

Chinas most senior uniformed officer, General Zhang Youxia, who has been under investigation in an extraordinary shake-up of the countrys military leadership, has been accused of leaking sensitive nuclear-weapons information to the United States and accepting bribes for official promotions, the Wall Street Journal reported.

Chinas defence ministry announced on Saturday that Zhang, the senior vice chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC), and General Liu Zhenli, chief of staff of the CMCs Joint Staff Department, were being investigated for suspected serious violations of discipline and law".

However, citing people familiar with a closed-door briefing attended by senior military officers, the Wall Street Journal reported that Zhang faces far-reaching allegations, including passing core technical data on Chinas nuclear arsenal to US authorities and taking large sums of money in exchange for promoting officers within the militarys powerful procurement system.

According to the report, Zhang was also accused of forming political cliques that undermined Communist Party unity and abusing his authority within the CMC, the partys top military decision-making body.

The report said authorities were scrutinising his oversight of a major agency responsible for weapons research, development and procurement, where he allegedly approved promotions in return for bribes.

The evidence in the case partly stems from an investigation into Gu Jun, the former head of China National Nuclear Corp., a state-owned company overseeing Chinas civilian and military nuclear programmes.

Beijing announced earlier this week that Gu was under investigation for severe disciplinary violations, and officials later linked that probe to a security breach in the nuclear sector.

In a statement to the Journal, Chinese embassy spokesman Liu Pengyu said the investigation underscored Beijings zero-tolerance approach to combating corruption."

Zhang, long viewed as President Xi Jinpings closest military ally, is a member of the ruling Communist Partys Politburo and one of Chinas few top officers with combat experience.

He fought in border conflicts with Vietnam in 1979 and 1984 and had been retained on the CMC beyond the typical retirement age, a move that US defence officials previously said reflected Xis reliance on him.

Zhang, 75, is Chinas highest-ranked general and shares the CMC vice chairman post with Zhang Shengmin, who was promoted last year after another senior officer was purged in a corruption crackdown.

Both men rank below Xi, who has chaired the CMC since 2012.

The investigation comes amid Xis sweeping anti-graft campaign inside the Peoples Liberation Army, which has intensified since 2023.

The crackdown has already ensnared multiple CMC members, two former defence ministers, and senior commanders across several branches of the armed forces.

The Journal reported that Xi has ordered a task force to conduct a deep-dive investigation into Zhangs earlier commands and that authorities have seized mobile devices from officers linked to Zhang and Liu as scrutiny spreads through the military hierarchy.

While official Chinese statements have confirmed only that an investigation is underway, analysts quoted by the Journal warned that the purge of such senior figures could disrupt military readiness in the short term even as it strengthens Xis political control over the armed forces.

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First Published: January 27, 2026, 07:41 IST

News world Chinas Top Military General Accused Of Leaking Nuclear Secrets To US, Accepting Bribes: Report

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Rice farmers in the Mississippi Delta are staring at mountains of unsold grain and considering whether to let some of it rot. In Merigold, first-generation farmer Jack Westerfield, 37, is sitting on 2.2 million pounds of rice with no buyers. Prices for nearly every major crop have fallen below production costs, but rice has been hit especially hard: Futures are down about 30% over the past year, after India loosened export limits and foreign customers shifted to other varieties. At a recent Mississippi Farm Bureau meeting, producers even discussed asking the federal government to pay them to destroy stored rice, echoing surplus programs from the 1980s farm crisis, the New York Times reports. At his farm, Westerfield asked, "What am I supposed to do with 2.2 million pounds of rice?"

The Mississippi Delta's rich soil hasn't spared it from today's economics. High labor costs, heavy irrigation needs, and tight planting and harvest windows push expenses up, while the value of the state's row crops dropped 9% from 2024 to 2025. Farmers like Westerfield, who expanded rice acreage when prices looked strong, are now jammed: His full bins of unsold rice left no storage for soybeans and corn, forcing him to sell those immediately and miss a later price bump. Longtime growers are feeling it, too. Clarksdale farmer Wayne Dulaney, whose family has worked the land for generations, has roughly 9 million pounds of rice in storage and estimates a $600,000 loss last yearpart of what he says is a four-year stretch of tight conditions.

Federal aid is offering only partial relief. Mississippi farmers stand to benefit from the Trump administration's $12 billion farm bailout, with rice and cotton getting some of the highest payment rates. But at $132 per acre for rice against production costs near $1,000 per acre, even local land broker Gwin Smith says the assistance is far from enough and reports more farmers are quitting or thinking about it. Rice farmers are receiving the largest payments, per Reuters. Cotton farmers are looking at $117 an acre and soybean farmers $30.

Some advocates argue the Delta should pivot from bulk commodities to crops in greater demand in the US, like fruits and vegetables, that can command higher prices. The World Wildlife Fund estimates converting just 3% of the region's row-crop acres could generate billions in additional revenue, per the Times. But without research support, crop insurance, processing facilities or ready buyers, many growers see that as too risky. For now, farmers including Westerfield and Dulaney are trying to hang on, effectively writing off 2026 and counting on conditions looking different by 2027 or 2028.
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey says that he spoke to President Trump on Monday and that the president agreed the current situation in the city cannot continue. "Some federal agents will begin leaving the area tomorrow, and I will continue pushing for the rest involved in this operation to go," the mayor said in a statement . Sources tell outlets including the AP and the New York Times that Greg Bovino, the Border Patrol commander whose aggressive tactics have been condemned by local officials, is among those who will be leaving. In a post on Truth Social , Trump said he had a "very good" conversation with the mayor, adding, "Lots of progress is being made!"

Trump said Frey would meet Tuesday with Tom Homan, the "border czar" the president is sending to Minnesota to oversee ICE operations. Earlier Monday, Trump said he had a "very good" call with Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz. In a post on X, Walz said he told Trump that "we need impartial investigations of the Minneapolis shootings involving federal agents, and that we need to reduce the number of federal agents in Minnesota." Walz told MPR News that during the call, Trump pledged to "do things differently."



"Whether it was morality or bad optics and poll numbers, whatever has happened here there's a definite change of tone," Walz said. "There's definitely a more collaborative tone." The governor said videos of Alex Pretti being killed by a Border Patrol officer on Saturday in Minneapolis, along with Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem's false claims about the shooting, "finally maybe broke the fever."

Walz told MPR News that his message to Homan would be: "Get these folks out of here now. Go back to targeted enforcement and coordinate with us. We're willing to work with you on a task force." On X, Walz said he explained to Trump "that his staff doesn't have their facts straight about Minnesota."

In a Wall Street Journal opinion piece published Monday, Walz accused the administration of staging an "organized campaign of brutality" built on bad data. He said the factual basis for the surge is "flat-out wrong," noting that the state Department of Corrections notifies ICE whenever a person in its custody isn't a US citizen and offers to transfer people directly to federal custody.

"I don't think President Trump knew that we honored detainers from folks leaving prison," Walz told MPR News. "I truly don't believe, and I think once he heard that from me, he's like 'Well that's helpful.'"

"Earlier this month, the administration published what it claimed was a list of people who have been arrested as part of this ICE sweep, asserting that this list represents 'the worst of the worst' criminals, and implying that we have been protecting them from capture," Walz wrote in the Journal. But Minnesota Public Radio, he wrote, found the claim to be "completely false," with most of the people on the list transferred to ICE custody after serving time in Minnesota prisons. All of the transfers happened before the ICE surge, Walz wrotein some cases, years earlier.

"Minnesota is a state that believes in the rule of law and in the dignity of all people," Walz wrote. "This assault on our communities is not necessary to enforce our immigration laws. We don't have to choose between open borders and whatever the hell this is."
Sen. Ted Cruz has privately warned donors on at least two occasions that President Trump's trade agenda could wreck the economy and sink Republicans, even as he publicly casts himself as one of the president's staunchest Senate allies, according to recordings given to Axios by a GOP source. The Texas Republican, seen as a likely 2028 presidential contender, derided Trump's new tariffs and took direct aim at Vice President JD Vance at two donor meetings last year, one early in the year and one in the middle. Cruz portrayed himself as a traditional free-trade hawk and painted Vance as an extension of conservative commentator Tucker Carlson's more isolationist worldview. "Tucker created JD. JD is Tucker's protege, and they are one and the same," Cruz said in one recording.

Cruz also recounted a late-night call with Trump after his tariffs were rolled out in April 2025, saying he and a few GOP senators urged the president to reverse course. He said the conversation "did not go well," describing Trump as angry and profane. Cruz told donors he warned Trump that if tariffs drove down 401(k)s and pushed up prices, Republicans would face an electoral "bloodbath" in 2026 and Trump would be "impeached every single week" if Democrats took control of the House and Senate. Trump's reply, according to Cruz: "F--- you, Ted." Cruz also mocked Trump's branding of the tariffs rollout as "Liberation Day," joking that he told his staffers anyone who used the phrase would be fired.

The senator further claimed Vance and Carlson helped push out former national security adviser Mike Waltz over his support for airstrikes on Iran, and that they were behind the appointment of Daniel Davis, whom Cruz described as fiercely anti-Israel, to a senior intelligence role. Vance has publicly backed the Iran strikes, while Carlson told Axios he had nothing to do with Waltz's removal or Davis' hiring. In a statement, a Cruz spokesperson called the lawmaker "the president's greatest ally in the Senate," said he "battles every day" to advance Trump's agenda, and dismissed coverage of the rift as an attempt to "sow division." The Texas Monthly frames the recordings as "a glimpse of things to come in 2028," predicting the GOP primary fighting between presidential hopefuls likely including Cruz, Vance, and possibly Carlson could get very "acrimonious."

The report comes as Cruz, on his podcast Monday, split with the Trump administration over the response to the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti by a Border Patrol agent in Minneapolis, CBS News reports. "Escalating the rhetoric doesn't help, and it actually loses credibility," Cruz said. "And so I would encourage the administration to be more measured, to recognize the tragedy and to say, we don't want anyone, anyone's lives, to be lost, and the politicians who are pouring gasoline on this fire, they need to stop." He was one of a number of Republicans criticizing the administration's response to the shooting.
A legal fight is unfolding in Scotland over a Venezuelan-linked oil tanker seized by US forces in the North Sea and the fate of its captain, the Guardian reports. Lawyers for the wife of Capt. Avtandil Kalandadze, a Georgian national commanding the Russian-flagged Marinera, have asked Scotland's highest civil court to review what they call his unlawful detention. The Marinera, previously known as Bella 1, was intercepted by US forces earlier this month as it sailed between Iceland and Scotland and has since been anchored in the Moray Firth, a sheltered inlet off the country's northeast coast.

The sanctioned tanker had reportedly been tracked across the Atlantic after appearing to approach the US naval cordon around Venezuela. Attorney Aamer Anwar, representing Kalandadze's wife, Natia Dzadzama, told the Court of Session in Edinburgh that her husband has been held by the US Navy on the Marinera since Jan. 7 "without any recourse to a court or tribunal." The petition claims he is stuck in "legal limbo" and that Dzadzama has serious concerns about his safety and legal rights.

Lawyers are seeking an emergency order to stop the ship and crew from being taken out of Scottish jurisdiction before the case can be fully heard. On Monday evening, Lord Young granted a limited temporary order barring the advocate general for Scotland, the lord advocate, Scottish ministers, and anyone acting for them from removing Kalandadze or his crew from the court's territorial reach. The UK armed forces helped with the high-seas operation but did not board the vessel, which had initially sailed under a false Guyanese flag before switching to a Russian one. A full hearing on the captain's status is expected in the coming days, the Scottish Courts and Tribunal Service confirmed.
A senior Border Patrol official has been quietly stripped of his high-profile role in Minnesota after two fatal shootings by federal agents there this month, a source tells FOX 2 . Gregory Bovino, who had been serving as Commander-at-Large overseeing Department of Homeland Security operations in Minnesota during the Trump administration's "Operation Metro Surge," has been demoted and will return to his previous post in California, according to an official who spoke on condition of anonymity. Sources who spoke to ABC News say the commander-at-large role was a temporary position, and that Bovino will return to his role as chief of the El Centro sector. Homeland Security assistant secretary Tricia McLaughlin clarified Bovino "has NOT been relieved of his duties."

The move follows the Minneapolis deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti, both US citizens killed in separate encounters with federal agents weeks apart while Bovino was in charge of the operation. The decision comes amid weeks of demonstrations and national scrutiny over the heavy federal presence in Minnesota. It was reported earlier Monday that Bovino and an unspecified number of federal agents would leave the state as soon as Tuesday. Operation Metro Surge has deployed more than 3,000 federal personnel to Minnesota for immigration enforcement, including roughly 2,000 Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers and about 1,000 Customs and Border Protection agents. It remains unclear how many of those Border Patrol agents are now being pulled out, or whether any ICE agents are affected.

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey said on social media that some Border Patrol agents will depart Tuesday and that he spoke with President Trump about winding down the operation. Frey said he emphasized how much the city "has benefited from our immigrant communities" and urged that Metro Surge end, adding that Trump agreed the current situation "cannot continue." Frey plans to meet Tuesday with border "czar" Tom Homan, who is headed to the city, to discuss next steps. ABC notes Trump is "bypassing the normal chain of command" by sending Homan, who will report directly to the presidentand not to Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, to whom Bovino reports. As one GOP lawmaker explains to NBC News, "The visuals were not playing well. [Trump] understands TV.  He saw it for himself."
Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei is trying to shock the world into paying attention. In a new 38-page essay , he warns AI systems with abilities beyond top human experts could arrive within a few years and, without fast, serious safeguards, "cause civilization-level damage." Amodei, whose company builds some of the most advanced large language models, including the new Claude Opus 4.5, compares AI in the year 2027 to "a country of geniuses in a data center"tens of millions of virtual minds more capable than the smartest people, per Axios . Any national security chief facing that scenario, he writes, would likely call it the most serious threat in a century, "possibly ever." If current exponential gains continue, he argues, AI could surpass humans "at essentially everything" in only a few years.

His essay, a follow-up to a 2024 report outlining the benefits of AI, outlines specific risks: rapid displacement of up to half of entry-level white-collar jobs in as little as one to five years; terrorist use of AI to design biological agents, potentially enabling mass-casualty attacks targeting millions; and the prospect of AI-driven surveillance and control by authoritarian governments, with China singled out as a central concern. "AI-enabled authoritarianism terrifies me," Amodei writes. He also warns that AI companies themselves sit in a "next tier of risk," controlling huge data centers, powerful models, and direct influence over hundreds of millions of userswith the theoretical ability to manipulate or "brainwash" the public.

Amodei concedes it's "awkward" for a CEO in his position to sound this alarm, but says the bigger danger is that money and influence will keep governments and tech leaders quiet about warning signs. AI is such a "glittering prize," he writes, that society may struggle to impose any limits at all. If leaders are candid about the dangers, regulators move quickly, and wealthy individuals treat mitigating AI risk as a moral obligation, humanity might navigate through this transition just fine. But the question is whether we'll "wake up" in time, Amodei writes. Per Quartz, he calls for transparency laws, step-by-step regulation, and notes we definitely shouldn't be selling advanced chips to Chinawhich the US just approved.
A California death long labeled a suicide is now being treated as a homicideallegedly carried out by the victim's husband of 33 years, a former local mayoral candidate. Contra Costa County prosecutors on Friday announced the arrest of 66-year-old Michael Anthony Leon in the 2015 death of his wife, Brenda Joyce Leon, at their home in Antioch. Brenda, 52, was found dead of a gunshot wound on Sept. 28, 2015, alongside what appeared to be a suicide note. Authorities at the time concluded she had taken her own life, and her obituary described her as being survived by "her loving husband," reports SFGate .

The couple's two adult daughters never accepted that conclusion. They maintained that their mother was not suicidal and, in 2021, filed a wrongful death lawsuit against an unidentified man listed as "John Doe." The complaint alleged that the killer had forged a suicide note and staged the scene before police arrived. The civil case remains active, with a case management conference set for April. In a new lawsuit filed Friday, the two daughters name their father as the defendant, per People. "We're not going to stop until this person I'm ashamed to call my father is behind bars," daughter Monica Tagas tells the San Francisco Chronicle.

The district attorney's cold case unit says it turned up new digital evidence that prompted criminal charges, without disclosing specifics. Outside court on Monday, family attorney Matt Guichard said evidence collected through the lawsuit revealed the alleged suicide note was not written on Brenda's laptop, raising questions about the author, the Chronicle reports. Michael Leonwho once ran unsuccessfully for mayor of Antioch urging crime deterrence through neighborhood watchesis now being held on $1 million bail on suspicion of first-degree murder, with an added firearm enhancement. He could face 50 years to life if convicted.
A federal appeals court has declined to revisit its ruling that Alina Habba held the top federal prosecutor's job in New Jersey without legal authority, tightening scrutiny on how the Trump administration installed its preferred US attorneys. On Monday, the US Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit rejected the Justice Department's request for a rare en banc review of a December decision that found Habba's tenure as US attorney violated federal laws, reports the New York Times . Habba, formerly a personal lawyer to President Trump, left the post a week after that ruling and now serves as a senior adviser to Attorney General Pam Bondi, overseeing US attorneys nationwide.

The dispute traces back to Trump's March appointment of Habba as interim US attorney in New Jersey. After district judges declined to extend her interim term and instead appointed another prosecutor, Desiree Leigh Grace, the Justice Department ousted Grace and reinstalled Habba as acting US attorney through what an appellate panel later described as an improper series of maneuvers. In August, a federal judge ruled that Habba had been serving unlawfully, a decision the Third Circuit panel upheld, saying the arrangement ran afoul of statutes governing federal vacancies.

Monday's refusal to rehear the case leaves the Trump administration with the option of appealing to the Supreme Court. But defense lawyer Gerald Krovatin, whose challenge helped trigger the ruling, said the latest decision confirmed the strength of the earlier opinions. His focus now turns to the DOJ's newly imposed three-person leadership team in New Jersey. Two defendants under prosecution have argued that having a team essentially serve as US attorney without proper authority violates the law and their rights, per the New Jersey Globe. The state's Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers has accused the government of using "a seemingly bottomless bag of tricks" in an attempt to bypass the federal judiciary and Senate.
Republicans are racing against the clock to keep parts of the federal government open as a political firestorm over immigration enforcement in Minneapolis threatens to derail a key spending deal. Funding for the Pentagon, Department of Homeland Security, and other agencies runs out on Saturday, and Senate Democrats say they'll block the package unless money for the DHS is stripped out, per the Hill . At the center of the standoff: Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection tactics in Minneapolis, where a Border Patrol agent fatally shot 37-year-old ICU nurse Alex Pretti over the weekend.

Democrats, angered by the incident and broader enforcement operations in the city, are demanding substantial changes, including bans on masked officers during operations and requirements for judicial search warrants before entering homes. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumerwho called what's going on in Minnesota "appalling," per PBShas urged Republicans to overhaul ICE and CBP, noting that Democrats would fast-track the other five spending bills on the table if the DHS one is removed. Republicans are refusing to sever that bill from the broader six-bill package, however, arguing it actually reins in ICE and CBP funding compared with a stopgap measure and includes reforms that Democrats say they want.

Sen. Katie Britt of Alabama, who oversees Homeland Security appropriations in the Senate, points to added money for body cameras and de-escalation training, among other things, as evidence that the bill addresses public concerns. GOP lawmakers are also floating possible executive actions by President Trump to help tamp down tensions. His administration is already expected to pull back the federal presence in Minneapolis and is reportedly demoted Border Patrol leader Gregory Bovino, a lightning rod for critics.

The Guardian notes that even if a partial shutdown comes to pass, "the White House would require ICE agents to continue working," according to a GOP staffer. Despite outreach from the White House, Senate Democratic aides say no "realistic solutions" have been offered, raising the odds of at least a partial shutdown, per the Hill. Appropriations Chair Susan Collins put the six-bill package on the Senate calendar and says she hopes both sides will blink before funding lapses. The Senate's first procedural vote is set for Thursday, one day before the deadline, even as both moderate and hardline Republicans call for investigations into the Minneapolis shooting and urge the administration to cool tensions in the city.
Alex Vindman is testing whether his fame from the first Trump impeachment can translate into a Senate seat in increasingly red Florida. The retired Army lieutenant colonel and former National Security Council official launched a Democratic bid Tuesday for the seat now held by Republican Sen. Ashley Moody, an appointee filling Marco Rubio's term after Rubio became secretary of state. A special election in November will decide who serves the remaining two years. In his announcement video , Vindman leans heavily on his 2019 impeachment testimony, showing clips as he reminds viewers he once swore an oath "to tell the truth about a president who broke his," per NBC News .

Vindman, who immigrated from Ukraine as a child and served in Iraq, was a central witness in the House inquiry into President Trump's effort to pressure Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to investigate Joe Biden, his son, and the 2016 election. Vindman later retired, alleging Trump blocked his promotion; he and his twin brother Eugene, now a congressman from Northern Virginia, were removed from their NSC posts after the impeachment trial. In the launch video, Vindman accuses Trump of unleashing "a reign of terror and retribution" and describes a country in "chaos," with "thug militias attacking citizens," higher prices from tariffs, and rising health insurance costs.

He also targets Moody, a former state attorney general, as a rubber stamp for Trump and wealthy interests, saying she was put in the Senate as a guaranteed "yes" vote for "billionaires." To take control of the Senate, Democrats need to maintain all current seats and flip four. But Moody will likely be favored in a state where Democrats have struggled: they haven't won a Senate race since 2012, and Trump carried Florida by double digits in 2024. While "appointed senators have a history of faring less well than those who were elected," Moody previously won two state attorney general races by large margins, Politico reports. She's already received Trump's endorsement.
Milan's leader says ICE agents aren't welcome in the city following reports that they'll have a role in US security at the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics kicking off next week. The Department of Homeland Security confirmed the reports Tuesday, per CNN , saying ICE would have a "security role" but would not conduct immigration enforcement operations. ICE said its Homeland Security Investigations division would support the State Department's Diplomatic Security Service and the "host nation" to consider risks from "transnational" criminal groups, while conceding that "all security operations remain under Italian authority," per CBS News .

HSI has helped with security at various international events, including Olympic Games, per the AP. But there's intense backlash to the plan this year given the international uproar over ICE operations and the killings of US citizens, including Alex Pretti and Renee Good. Milan Mayor Giuseppe Sala on Tuesday blasted the alleged plan, calling ICE "a militia that kills" in an interview with Italian media. He accused the agency of entering homes on its own authority and said there was no guarantee of adherence to Italy's "democratic security management methods." "It's clear that they're not welcome in Milan," he said. "We can take care of their security ourselves."

Veteran Italian lawmaker Carlo Calenda warned the "out-of-control militia ... must not set foot in Italy," per CNN, while former Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte urged officials to stop "bowing" to the US. Despite his criticism, Sala acknowledged the diplomatic realities of challenging Washington, asking rhetorically, "Could we ever say no to Trump?" But the answer may be yes. According to the BBC, Italy's interior ministry insisted Monday that "ICE will certainly not operate on Italian national territory." The backlash, including several public petitions, intensified after Italian state TV aired footage from Minneapolis that showed ICE agents threatening to smash the windows of a vehicle carrying its crew.
Katie Uhlaender thought she'd raced her way into a sixth Olympics; instead, she's on the outside asking for a rule change. The 41-year-old US skeleton veteran says she was effectively knocked out of contention for the Milan Cortina Games after a Lake Placid qualifying event earlier this month took an unexpected turn. Though CNN reports Uhlaender won the race, Canada pulled four women from the competition at the last minute; that shrunk the field and, under the sport's complex points system, reduced the number of ranking points available. Uhlaender ended up short of the Olympic cutoff as a result and is now accusing Canada of gaming the system, reports NPR . Canadian officials and athletes deny that, saying no rules were broken.

The International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation reviewed the withdrawals, acknowledging they "intuitively" raised concerns about possible manipulation. But on Jan. 15 it sided with Canada, ruling the move did not violate federation regulations or its ethics code and leaving Uhlaender's lower points total in place. On Monday, US Olympic and Paralympic Committee sport chief Rocky Harris said Team USA backed Uhlaender and asked the International Olympic Committee to step in, but the IOC replied that it supports the federation's decision.

Uhlaender is now publicly urging the IOC to create a one-off "wildcard" slot that would let her race in Milan Cortina next month, framing her appeal as a test of "the integrity of sport." Writing on X on Saturday, she also called on Vice President JD Vance, who is leading the US delegation to the opening ceremony, to press international officials. On the international front, Fox News reports 12 countries, including Belgium and Denmark, have publicly sided with Uhlaender.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney says he's not retreating from his much-talked-about speech in Davos, no matter what the US Treasury secretary thinks. "To be absolutely clearand I said this to the presidentI meant what I said in Davos," Carney told reporters Tuesday, reports Politico . "Canada was the first country to understand the change in US trade policy that he had initiated, and we're responding to that." In last week's speech, Carney urged the world's "middle powers" to push back against American "hegemony," a message that spread widely online and drew a sharp reaction from Washington.

In an appearance on Fox News Monday, Treasury chief Scott Bessent said Trump had spoken with Carney, who "was very aggressively walking back some of the unfortunate remarks he made at Davos." Carney disputed that in his comments to reporters Tuesday. Among other things, he said he and Trump discussed Canada's new trade deal with China, which drew the threat of a 100% tariff from Trump. Carney has emphasized it's not a comprehensive trade pact. "I explained to him what we're doing12 new deals, four continents, in six months," Carney said, per the AP. "He was impressed."

As both sides continue to differ on the semanticsBessent accused Carney of pushing "his own globalist agenda" to the detriment of Canadathe prime minister's speech is still being dissected. A New York Times headline above the transcript for the latest Ezra Klein podcast labels it "the most important foreign policy speech in years." The issue Carney raised revolves around a concept known as "weaponized independence," writes Klein, and it's one his podcast guest, Henry Farrell of John Hopkins, helped popularize. Klein's explanation:

"The basic concept is that over time, in this globalized, woven-together world, there are a lot of ways in which being on American technologies and in American financial markets gave the United States leverage. This system was fine for our allies and for the world, as long as we didn't use that leverage too much. But now we've begun to make that a way we can harm them, a way we can extort them, a way we can control them, and that has really changed the nature of the bargain."
A new analysis suggests the human cost of the war in Ukraine is approaching a staggering milestone. A forthcoming report from the Center for Strategic and International Studies estimates that by this spring, Russian and Ukrainian troops killed, wounded, or missing will near 2 million. The think tank puts Russian casualties at almost 1.2 million and Ukraine's at close to 600,000, for a combined toll of roughly 1.8 million so far, the New York Times reports. Independent verification is difficult: Moscow is widely believed to underreport its losses, and Kyiv does not release full figures. The CSIS drew on US and UK government estimates and other open sources.

The CSIS says Russia now occupies about a fifth of Ukraine but has taken roughly 1.5% more territory since January 2024, in some areas moving forward at only tens of feet per day. The study estimates nearly 325,000 Russian soldiers have been killed since the February 2022 invasion, and 415,000 Russian troops were killed or wounded in 2025 aloneabout 35,000 a month. It puts total Ukrainian combat deaths between 100,000 and 140,000. "No major power has suffered anywhere near these numbers of casualties or fatalities since World War II," the study says.

Both sides have adapted tactics under near-constant drone surveillance: Russia has scaled back large armored movements in favor of small infantry and motorcycle units, while Ukrainian drone operators scan snow for tracks and footprints, the Times reports. Russia has sustained its manpower through its first draft since World War II, recruitment of prisoners and debtors, and financial incentives, and has also fielded as many as 15,000 North Korean troops, many of whom South Korean officials say have been killed.

The casualty report was released as rare three-way talks among Russian, Ukrainian, and US officials have produced what leaders described as modest progress toward a revised peace plan. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Kyiv is ready for more meetings, and the Kremlin signaled negotiations would continue. But whether Moscow will buy into any agreement remains uncertain. Officials said Tuesday that a drone bombardment of Odesa in southern Ukraine killed three people and injured at least 23, including two children and a pregnant woman, the AP reports. "Each such Russian strike undermines diplomacy, which is still ongoing, and hits, in particular, the efforts of partners who are helping to end this war, Zelensky said.
Much of the interview on Fox & Friends was about the first lady's documentary, Melania, which is out in theaters on Friday. "The audience will see mehow I manage my business, my philanthropy, family preparation for the inauguration, and also establishing the East Wing for the White Househow I manage all of that in 20 days prior to the inauguration," she told Ainsley Earhardt.

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OSAKA, Jan 27 (News On Japan) - In Osaka, the number of residents from Nepal has risen sharply in recent years, with many international students and workers settling around the UR Kongo housing complex near Kongo Station in Tondabayashi. The area has become home to a growing Nepalese community after public housing operators, seeking to address vacancies caused by an aging population, partnered with educational institutions to accept trainees from Nepal, a move that has led to long-term settlement by many residents.

Strong personal networks have played a key role, with many Nepalese choosing Osaka based on introductions from friends and family already living there. The citys thriving spice curry culture has also encouraged Nepalese entrepreneurs to open restaurants, further strengthening the communitys presence.

Railway operator Nankai Electric Railway has taken note of Nepals growing pool of IT talent and launched initiatives to connect skilled workers with Japanese companies. Against a backdrop of nationwide labor shortages in the IT sector, the company has developed a system to provide Japanese language training, visa support and housing arrangements, introducing Nepalese engineers to domestic firms.

As of the end of June last year, approximately 270,000 Nepalese nationals were living in Japan, with Osaka seeing growth at more than double the pace of Tokyo and Aichi over the past five years. Around half of these residents are international students, many of whom cite Osakas convenience and established community as decisive factors.

Local businesses have also stepped in to support daily life, with Nepalese restaurant owners opening specialty food stores to supply spices, buffalo meat and river fish familiar from home, helping newcomers adapt more smoothly to life in Japan.

Experts and local officials say the surge reflects a combination of factors unique to Osaka, including affordable housing, cultural compatibility through food, and rising demand for IT professionals, making the city an increasingly attractive destination for Nepalese migrants.

Source: Television OSAKA NEWS
SHIGA, Jan 28 (News On Japan) - Flocks of whooper swans, often called messengers of winter, have arrived in Nagahama, Shiga Prefecture, delighting onlookers with their graceful appearance.

Since early last month, groups of the swansmeasuring about 140 centimeters in lengthhave been gathering in rice fields across the city, occasionally spreading their pure white wings and taking flight in an elegant display.

The whooper swans are migratory birds that travel roughly 4,000 kilometers from Siberia each year to spend the winter in Japan.

According to the Kohoku Wild Bird Center, more than 500 whooper swans have been confirmed around Lake Biwa this season, where they rest and feed before departing for Siberia again by late next month.

Source: YOMIURI
With immigrants paying up to $400 for simple returns, RemitBee's new free service aims to put up to $50M back into the pockets of Canadian taxpayers.

TORONTO, Jan. 27, 2026 /CNW/ - RemitBee, a Toronto-based financial super-app serving over 300,000 Canadians and businesses, launches free personal tax filing in partnership with CloudTax.

An estimated 3 million Canadians do not file taxes each year, with recent immigrants, particularly from South Asia, among the highest non-filers, according to Statistics Canada. This group also represents RemitBee's largest customer base.

Amid rising living costs, the free tax filing service offers crucial relief for new Canadians navigating Canada's tax system in a second language. Many newcomers currently pay between $50 and $400 to third-party preparers for tax returns that are not complicated.

By removing tax filing costs, RemitBee estimates the potential to contribute up to $50 million in savings for users on its platform, while also significantly improving tax compliance rates within newcomer communities.

Failure to file taxes often means newcomers miss out on essential support, including the GST/HST credit, Canada Child Benefit, Canada Workers Benefit, and provincial credits like the Ontario Trillium Benefit. These programs are designed to help Canadians integrate financially.

"Our users already trust us to send money to family abroad - often thousands of dollars at a time," said Maksym Vakhriv, VP of Product at RemitBee. "Helping them access benefits, refunds, and greater financial stability through tax filing is a natural extension of that trust."

"CloudTax provides the CRA-certified tax filing infrastructure behind this experience," said Nimalan Balachandran, Founder and CEO of CloudTax. "By embedding our technology into RemitBee's platform, users can file taxes confidently within an app they already trust."

About RemitBee

Founded in 2015, RemitBee is a fintech company built to serve newcomers with affordable cross-border financial services. The FINTRAC-regulated platform supports Canadians with international money transfers, currency exchange, travel eSIMs, and mobile top-ups. RemitBee facilitates remittances with transparent pricing across more than 100 countries.

About CloudTax

CloudTax is a Canadian tax technology company providing CRA-certified tax filing infrastructure for financial institutions, fintechs, and digital brands. As Canada's only embedded tax filing solution, it enables secure, compliant tax filing within partner products while operating the underlying tax engine and workflows.

SOURCE Cloud Tax

Media Contact: Arani Tharmalingam, HBSc., BEd., COO, CloudTax, [email protected]; Maksym Vakhriv, VP of Product, RemitBee, [email protected], (647) 689-2323 ext 5080
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Expansion projects have been announced in the past week by both Cameroon and Madagascar aimed, in part, at delivering better connectivity to isolated areas.

Cameroons state-owned operator Camtel last week announced a syndicated financing agreement worth CFA44.884 billion (about US$ 81.2 million) with Commercial Bank Cameroon (CBC). The funds will support the first phase of its Mobile Network Expansion (MNE) project, designed to improve service quality and expand coverage nationwide.

The programme targets congested infrastructure and aims to extend 2G, 3G, and 4G coverage to regional and departmental capitals, university cities, strategic economic zones, and rural areas with limited connectivity.

According to Ecofin, the financing forms part of a larger investment plan valued at CFA52.2 billion (about US$94.4 million).

It also quotes 2026 information from DataReportal showing that of 29 million active mobile lines by the end of 2025 (96.4% of the population), many remain limited to voice and SMS. Mobile internet penetration at the time stood at only 12.6 million users (41.9%).

Meanwhile Madagascars Ministry of Digital Development, Postal and Telecommunications (MNDPT) says it has officially launched the Rapid Rural Transformation (RRT) and Smart Village initiative along the Vohitsova - Antanimora development road, aimed at bringing digital services closer to rural communities in southern Madagascar.

According to TechAfrica News, this is linked to a strategic partnership between the MNDPT and the World Food Programme (PAM).

The project is part of a broader government policy to reduce the digital divide and enhance access to public services in remote areas. Six sites in the Anosy region (in the southeast) and Androy (the most southerly region of Madagascar) are now fully operational, featuring hybrid connectivity through satellite communication and off-grid solar power, ensuring uninterrupted services even in the most isolated communities. Each Smart Village includes shared community hubs providing digital services and public affairs councils to facilitate citizen access to government support.

The RRT and Smart Village programme also addresses local economic development and production through offerings like solar-powered refrigeration and access for farmers to real-time market information.

TechAfrica News says the project is claimed to have so far benefited over 10,000 residents, creating local employment opportunities, training 1,200 youth in digital skills, and increasing commercial activities around the digital hubs by 20%.
Incoming Target CEO Michael Fiddelke addressed the violence in Minneapolis following two fatal shootings in a statement to Target employees at the companys headquarters.

Well have time to talk very soon about our plans to move Target forward, but right now, as someone who is raising a family here in the Twin Cities and as a leader of this hometown company, I want to acknowledge where we are, Fiddelke said in his Monday address, according to a transcript published by Fortune.

The violence and loss of life in our community is incredibly painful, he added. I know its weighing heavily on many of you across the country, as it is with me.

Fiddelke, who will begin his term as Targets CEO on Feb. 1, 2026, did not explicitly mention Alex Pretti, who was killed by Border Patrol Saturday, and Renee Good, who was killed by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on Jan. 7, 2026.

Fiddelke also did not mention President Donald Trump, ICE or recent policy changes at Target.

Target at the center of protests

Target has been the subject of protests, including by its own employees.

Employees are urging the company to take action against ICEs operations in Minnesota and bar the law enforcement agency from entering stores and parking lots, according to Newsweek.

According to USA Today, members of the clergy also met with Targets outgoing CEO Brian Cornell to voice their concerns about ICE and federal law enforcement activities in Minnesota.

However, Fiddelke did not endorse these policy suggestions and focused more on unity in times of strife.

Whats happening affects us not just as a company, but as people, as neighbors, friends and family members within Target, Fiddelke said.

We are doing everything we can to manage whats in our control, always keeping the safety of our team and guests our top priority, he added.

Fiddelke was one of 60 CEOs who signed an open letter from the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce that said businesses were working behind the scenes with local, state and federal government officials to come up with solutions and a de-escalation of tensions.
Lakewoods school board says it will fight the states plan to take over its school district, arguing the unusual move is neither warranted nor in the best interest of the Ocean County community.

Outgoing state Education Commissioner Kevin Dehmer announced earlier this month that the state initiated a process to take over Lakewood Township School District. State officials said the suburban district has had years of financial and operational problems that are denying students a proper education.

The Lakewood Board of Education issued a statement last week saying it plans to defend the integrity of the district and fight the states plan.

The school boards statement said the district is not mismanaged. Instead, the board blamed a failed State funding formula one that does not adequately account for the Districts unique demographics, enrollment realities, and statutory obligations.

New Jersey has previously taken over school districts in Jersey City, Paterson, Newark and Camden amid concerns about mismanagement and poor test scores. If successful, Lakewood would be the first full state takeover in a suburban area.

Lakewood, a predominantly Orthodox Jewish community, has nearly 50,000 school-age children, according to recent census data. But less than 5,000 of the children attend public schools, according to state records. About 90% of the townships students are enrolled in private religious schools.

Under state law, the school district must provide transportation  or money for transportation  for private school students to their nonpublic school if they live more than 2 miles from their elementary and middle school or 2.5 miles from their high school.

The money for private school busing, along with the funds Lakewood provides for private school tuition for many special education students, has crippled the districts budget for years.

In one recent school year, Lakewood spent more than half of its annual budget  over $78 million  on transportation and special education costs, according to court records.

In nearby districts, these same costs accounted for roughly 4% to 7% of schools budgets, according to court records.

In September, the state appellate court found Lakewoods public school students suffer from an ongoing constitutional deprivation. The judges cited a consistent pattern of neglect and misfeasance by various elected and appointed Lakewood school leaders when it came to governance, finance, curriculum, transportation and special education recommendations made by the state.

Education department officials have taken the first step to authorize a state takeover of the school district by submitting an Order to Show Cause. The order obligates the Lakewood school board to either accept the takeover or to demonstrate why the state should not initiate a full intervention.

The state Board of Education will then weigh whether state officials should take control of the district.

State Senate Education Committee Chairman Vin Gopal, D-Monmouth, said he supported the states decision to move to takeover Lakewood schools.

He cited the pay for former Lakewood school board attorney Michael Inzelbuch as proof that the district needs more oversight. Inzelbuch was paid more than $6 million by the district over the past seven years before the state stepped in to block his latest contract.

Its also very well documented that they had a former school board attorney that was making a lot of money there, Gopal said. I think it just opens a lot of doors to a lot of questions.

Though the Lakewood takeover was initiated in the final days of Gov. Phil Murphys administration, it now falls to new Gov. Mikie Sherrills administration to continue the process.

If the state takeover of Lakewood schools is approved, the new education commissioner  who is expected to be Lily Laux, Sherrills nominee for the post  could appoint a new superintendent and leadership for the district.

Under a state takeover, the district would be required to pay for a state-appointed superintendent, and the current board of education would become advisory with no decision-making authority.

Staff writer Nyah Marshall contributed to this report.
The Newark police officer who fatally shot 42-year-old Wali Bey on Jan. 19 had been involved in 25 use-of-force incidents  not including the shooting since he joined the department in June 2022, tying him for 13th among the departments 1,000 officers in total incidents, according to data the state began compiling in 2020.

Most of those force incidents by the officer, Nashid Reynolds, involved the use of pressure points  gripping or applying pressure to pain-sensitive areas  punches, or takedowns, though no shootings, according to the New Jersey Department of Law & Public Safetys use-of-force dashboard.

The figures suggest to Beys family and their supporters that he is an aggressive officer whose readiness to resort to force may have contributed to what happened.

Hes definitely an aggressive officer if he had that many incidents of use-of-force, said his sister, Reta Bey, 43.

Reynolds was identified on Friday by the New Jersey Attorney Generals office as having fatally shot Bey just after 1 p.m. that Monday  the Martin Luther King Jr. Day holiday  in the area of Ross Street and Evergreen Avenue in the citys South Ward.

The AGs office said Reynolds was among a group of uniformed and plainclothes officers in marked and unmarked vehicles conducting a surveillance operation when he got out of his car and approached a group of people, including officers and civilians they had detained as part of an active investigation. Reynolds union president said the officer was part of a specialized unit that conducted drug investigations and made arrests.

Shortly thereafter, Officer Reynolds fired his weapon, striking Mr. Bey and another civilian, who were occupants of a vehicle, stated Fridays announcement by the AGs office, which under state law is required to investigate all police-involved fatalities.

The two civilians were taken to University Hospital in Newark, where Mr. Bey was pronounced deceased at 1:51 p.m., the statement added. The other wounded civilian was treated and later released. No police officers were physically injured.

The announcement did not say why Reynolds fired at the vehicle. But the head of his union, Newark Fraternal Order of Police President Jeffrey Weber, said Beys vehicle was driving toward Reynolds and that there was contact between the vehicle and the officer.

Beys family said he was in fear for his life and trying to flee armed men, wearing masks, who were approaching his white van.

The wounded man has not been identified. No charges have been announced in the case.

The shooting has prompted grief and outrage among the victims family and supporters.

Newark Mayor Ras J. Baraka has said that officers did not wear masks, but they did wear police bulletproof vests. He has urged residents to ignore rumors about what happened and to await the results of the state investigation.

Last week, Reynolds lawyer defended the officers actions as wholly warranted and necessary. And this week, Weber said Reynolds use of force total meant little on its own.

Hes never been found guilty of using excessive force, Weber said, distinguishing that type of improper conduct from justified uses. He does not have a history of unjust use of force.

Weber said the frequency that an officer uses force is determined by a number of factors, including the nature of his assignment, and that Reynoldss duties made it more likely.

Obviously, someone who works in a specialized unit that deals with drug investigations, property theft, home invasions, is more likely to use force to do their job, Weber said.

The unit that he works for doesnt go after people with traffic warrants or people who shoplifted a Snickers bar.

State pension records indicate Reynolds joined the department in June 2022 and earned $95,746 in 2025. He was placed on administrative leave with pay following the shooting pending the outcome of the investigation, which Baraka said would take 20 days.

Use of force in itself is not improper, and the state defines when, how and to what degree it should be used in its Use of Force Policy promulgated by the AGs office in 2022.

Force shall only be used as a last resort when necessary to accomplish lawful objectives that cannot reasonably be achieved through verbal commands, critical decision making, tactical deployment, or de-escalation techniques, the policy states. Officers shall use the least amount of force that is objectively reasonable, necessary and proportional to safely achieve the legitimate law enforcement objective under the circumstances.

The policy refers to deadly force as an absolute last resort and duty to avoid actions which create a substantial risk of death or serious bodily injury.

Richard Rivera is a policing expert who worked with the state ACLU on a database involving excessive use of force and other abuses by Newark officers, leading to reforms and the appointment of a federal monitor of the department nine years ago, which was lifted in November.

Rivera said his analysis put the average number of use-of-force incidents per officer in Newark at 5.7 over the five-year period recorded by the AG, fewer than a quarter of Reynolds total in just two and a half years.

He said Reynolds numbers didnt necessarily mean the officer used force excessively. But Rivera said the numbers did merit a closer look by the attorney generals office as part of its investigation.

Theres something that obviously needs to be reviewed here, Rivera said. Not only the shooting itself, but the officer and the unit.

NJ Advance Media staff writer Riley Yates contributed to this article.
Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey, the states largest health insurance company, is shedding nearly 5% of its workforce based in the United States.

The company is letting go of 242 employees, according to a Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification filing with the state.

The job cuts are effective April 26, according to the filing.

A company spokesperson said Tuesday that Horizon is facing unprecedented financial challenges due largely to higher medical costs and utilization across all lines of business.

Spokesman Thomas Wilson said that despite reducing operating costs by $275 million, our current cost structure is simply not sustainable in this environment and we have a responsibility to our customers and members to ensure the long-term financial strength of the company.

Employees were told in November 2025 to anticipate a company restructuring in early 2026. On Monday, most of the impacted employees were informed that their positions were eliminated as part of this restructuring, said Wilson.

The workforce reduction impacts employees at both Horizon headquarters in Newark and another location in Hopewell.

The not-for-profit health insurance company has 5,680 U.S.-based employees as of March 2025, according to research firm Great Place to Work.

Including the layoffs announced this week, Horizon has reduced its workforce by 8% over the last 13 months.

The announcement comes two months after the health care giant agreed to pay $100 million to resolve allegations it systematically overcharged the state for years in connection with the health care claims of thousands of public workers.

The settlement itself noted that the agreement did not constitute an admission of liability by Horizon.

Horizon insures 3.8 million people in the state, representing approximately 40% of New Jersey residents.
The owner of an Essex County health center that closed in January 2024 has been indicted on charges of health care fraud and accused of practicing medicine without a license.

Esney Davis-Sharpe, 63, was performing gynecological services on patients at the Bessie Mae Womens Health Center in East Orange even though she wasnt licensed to practice medicine in New Jersey, according to a joint press release from the Office of the Attorney General, the Division of Criminal Justice, and the Office of the Insurance Fraud Prosecutor.

Davis-Sharpe did not immediately respond Monday to requests for comment.

Shes charged with one count each of conspiracy to commit health care claims fraud, unlicensed practice of medicine, health care claims fraud and Medicaid fraud.

One of her employees is also accused of performing gynecological services on patients without a medical license since 2021. The employee is allegedly enrolled as a medical student at Suburban Community Hospital in Norristown, Pennsylvania.

A spokesperson for the hospital did not immediately respond Monday to a request for comment.

The unlicensed practice of medicine at Bessie Mae Womens Health Center first drew the attention of authorities in August 2023.

An investigation revealed that in addition to practicing medicine without the proper license, the health center was fraudulently billing for services.

Authorities allege Bessie Mae submitted 2,500 claims to the New Jersey Medicaid Program from December 2020 to February 2024, submitting most of those claims under the names of two physicians without their permission, knowledge or consent.

The state Department of Health sent Bessie Mae a cease-and-desist order two years ago instructing the clinic to stop providing all services. The East Orange facility has been closed since then.

The case is being prosecuted by Deputy Attorneys General Sean OConnor and Lauren Aranguren for the Office of the Insurance Fraud Prosecutor - Medicaid Fraud Control Unit.
Harol Alvarado Rodriguez was on his way to work at a Whippany car dealership in early December when the vehicle he was in, his friends Toyota truck, was suddenly ambushed by federal immigration agents.

The [Immigrations and Customs Enforcement] agents came up to our windows, angry, shouting, with guns pointed right at us, he says in Spanish. It was so scary, it was unreal, kind of like a Hollywood action movie.

By now, the frightening scene hes describing is one thats become disturbingly common.

Masked men shouting at and violently dragging people  most of them, full-fledged U.S. citizens  out of their cars. Agents pepper-spraying protestors while theyre pinned down to the ground. And federal officers shooting and killing the brave ones who chose not to stay silent.

Harol, a graduate of Morristown High School, has a pending asylum case. And he had an immigration court date scheduled for this month. Not that any it mattered to the agents, of course.

He says he and the other two men in the car  all from Honduras  were arrested and taken to Delaney Hall, the embattled and controversial Newark immigration detention center where Mayor Ras Baraka was arrested last year. (Just last month, a detainee suffered a medical emergency and died a day after being locked up there.)

Horrifying, right? Youve heard nothing yet, Harol tells me.

The real nightmare, he says, began in the days and weeks that followed his Dec. 8 arrest. Since ICE took him, Harols been ping-ponged to four immigration detention centers, each one in a different state.

I was first transferred to Texas, then to Arizona, then we made a brief stop in Colorado, and finally, I was brought here, to California, where I am now, he says.

I spoke to Harol through GettingOut, an app thats used to call, message, or video chat people at county jails, state prisons, or immigration detention centers.

Each time I was moved, it was abrupt, sometimes very late at night or really early in the morning, Harol says.

I never knew where I was being taken, I didnt know anything, where I was going, who made the call, or why it had been decided. And of course, my family, my friends, they werent notified either.

You know who else wasnt notified about Harols sudden, and seemingly nonsensical, transfers? His attorney. And Im willing to bet that was entirely by design.

Eduardo J. Jimenez, a Morristown immigration lawyer whos representing Harol, told me he only learned his client had been moved out of Delaney Hall about a week ago  just two days before Harol was scheduled to appear at an immigration hearing in Newark.

Jimenez says he was informed via a letter that his client had been transferred. However, he says the letter failed to state where his client had been moved or when.

By the time Jimenez received that letter, Harol had already been thrown on at least four planes while being transported to facilities in other states. Each time, too, he was handcuffed, shackled at the waist, and chained at the legs. All of that, it really takes a toll, Harol says.

And yet, it couldve been much worse. A September 2025 L.A. Times article details the story of a Honduran man who in the span of two months was moved 15 times  yes, 15!  between facilities in Arizona, California, Florida, Hawaii, and Louisiana before finally being deported.

To try to find Harol, Jimenez used ICEs online detainee locator system but said searches on the site routinely yielded no results. Days ago, I used the locator myself. Harol, who is now at a detention center in California City, still does not appear in the system.

They shouldve notified me immediately about any moves, Jimenez says. Im his attorney, I should always know where hes being held.

Hes 100% right. Just think about it: How can lawyers represent their clients to the best of their ability if theyre deliberately and systematically blocked from conferring with them? And dont even know where they are?

Attorneys, immigrants rights groups, and even the relatives of detainees, have for years decried ICEs online locator as inaccurate and slow to update, often failing to list detainees for days  and sometimes even weeks  after an arrest or transfer.

During that time, detainees are disappeared. Their attorneys dont know where they are and their relatives dont either. Some families report that by the time they finally learned where their loved ones were, theyd already been deported.

Late last year, The American Friends Service Committee, a nonprofit that provides legal services and advocacy for immigrants, reported a spike in requests for help locating and tracking people detained by federal immigration agents.

After an in-depth monitoring of six individual cases over a two-month period, the group found that ICE agents often misreported, denied, or withheld basic information about a persons whereabouts. Hmm, I wonder why.

Valeria Alvarez, Harol Alvarado Rodriguez, and Daniel Hernandez formed a tight-knit friendship at Morristown High School. Now, Alvarez and Hernandez are advocating for Alvarado Rodriguez's release from a California immigration detention center. Courtesy of Valeria Alvarez

For Harols best friend, Valeria Alvarez, it was beyond nerve wracking not knowing where he was. She tells me she and Harol formed a tight-knit friendship years ago when they attended Morristown High School.

As teens, they went to prom with friends and celebrated their high school graduation together, too. Were practically family, at this point, she says tearfully. He doesnt have many close relatives in this country so my family has become his family here.

At Valerias home in Randolph, her boyfriend, Daniel, whos also close friends with Harol, and Valerias mom, Luisa, both spoke highly of him.

Heres a good young man, whos hard working, who has no vices, who came here to this country, on his own, escaping gang violence in Honduras, Luisa said, with tears streaming down her face.

Hes already had such a hard life so for this to be happening to him right now, it just really, really breaks my heart.

Aside from his job at the car dealership, Harol also worked as a waiter at a restaurant in Montville.

Jimenez told me his client, who has a pending asylum case, is the opposite of a criminal. Hes someone whos contributed greatly to his community, he said, adding that several of Harols former teachers, employers, and friends have submitted glowing immigration support letters on his behalf.

Kathryn Tepedino, one of Harols former teachers at Morristown High, in an email said shed recently come across one of his writing assignments.

Harol wrote about why he loves the United States, he said its because it is secure free from the violence that plagues his homeland Honduras, The irony is heartbreaking," she said. Hes an exemplary student and a kind, law-abiding young man.

Still, Jimenez says the unexpected transfers have hurt Harols legal case. And Im sure thats the point.

While immigration laws are federal, Jimenez notes theres state-by-state differences in implementation.

When a detainee is suddenly moved from one jurisdiction to another, Jimenez says, it can change things, negatively, for that person because some of the favorable state laws [in the state of origin] may no longer apply.

This constant shuffling of detainees is nothing more than a cruel game of cups  the government, once again, wantonly and inhumanely playing with peoples lives.

Harol agrees. He tells me he knows the transfers are meant to break us down. To hurt us, one way or the other, to make us miss our court dates, to make us tired, or depressed, to make us want to self-deport, he says.

But all I still want is to get out of here, reunite with those who love me, and keep working hard to make my dreams in this country come true.

Harols friends launched a GoFundMe to raise money for his costly legal defense.
Camden County Police use the drone shown above to respond to calls and monitor areas such as hotspots and parks. Amira Sweilem

Namibia El was about to enter her Camden home when her neighbor pointed to a drone overhead.

Big brothers watching, El, 50, recalls telling her neighbor.

Recently, the Camden County Police Department received a donation of over $400,000 to purchase two new drones to add to its fleet of seven.

While residents say they dont mind some use of police technology, they say it largely makes them feel surveilled, causing concerns that it could be used to violate their civil rights. They said they would rather see funding go to grassroots initiatives that address the root causes of crime.

We can invest in surveillance technology, or we can invest in people, said East Camden resident Tim Merrill, 65. Im not saying not to invest in some surveillance technology, but that should be the lagging edge of our investment.

Still, authorities say these technologies help them police and that residents welcome them.

We have a lot of technology in the city. Weve been a very early adopter of technology, said Lt. Gordon Harvey, who oversees the departments technology. We can use the tools to give us extra time and safety.

Use of surveillance technology

Shjarback says the label isnt wrong.

CCPD uses various technologies from CCTV cameras to gunshot detection systems, he said.

Taken together, that means Peoples every move is tracked in and out and around the city, Shjarback said.

A Mosaic analysis of data from the Atlas of Surveillance, a database that monitors law enforcements use of surveillance technology, showed that Camden police use more technology than any other department in the county. Camden ranks among the highest for its use of technology when compared to other urban cities in the state.

The data also showed that most police forces across the state are using surveillance technology.

A note about the data: It includes the technology used by sheriffs offices and prosecutors offices. Mosaic only analyzed the technology used by police.

Cant see the table? Click here.

Surveillance and civil rights

For Merrill, CCPDs continued investment in surveillance technology is troubling.

Merrill recounted his familys experience in 2020, after a Minneapolis police officer killed George Floyd. Merrill said his son and some friends wanted to host a demonstration, so Merrill called an officer to alert police of the event, but was asked to come to the station to discuss the plans, prompting one of his sons friends to post about the meeting on social media.

When they arrived at the station, the officer told one of his sons friends to take down the post.

I was really taken aback, Merrill said. You knew what they had posted, and you are now demanding... that they take down that post.

Thats scary, he said.

Dan Keashen, a spokesperson for the Camden Police Department, declined to comment.

But Gordon said the department only monitors public social media posts available to everyone.

We dont have any tools or any resources that allow us to monitor anything that the public doesnt.

We want to make sure that were monitoring anything and everything that can help keep the citizens safe, he added. And if people put something on social media, well keep an eye on that.

El said the departments embrace of technology is a slippery slope.

For example, theres incidents with biometrics, where people have been wrongly identified, she said, referring to national incidents.

Gordon said the CCPD applies the best standards and practices when using drones, following guidelines and directives set by the state Attorney Generals Office. He noted that the CCPD typically uses drones to respond to service calls and monitor areas such as hotspots and parks at closing time.

He added that any resident who has concerns can come to the station to view the technology.

The city has supported, by and large, everything that weve been able to do with technology because it has results, and they see that its not oppressive, he said.

Root causes of crime

Recently released data showed that Camdens crime rate has dropped significantly since 2012, but it still exceeds those of other urban cities in the state and remains about four times the national rate.

Shjarback noted that the technology has helped fight crime in the city.

When there is a crime that the police and prosecutors want to solve, they can lean heavily on the technology to identify a suspect and trace that suspects movement back, he said. It aids them in being able to more effectively make arrests of offenders.

Shjarback said decades of research on CCTV cameras show they reduce crime. He said he is not aware of any empirical research examining the relationship between drones and crime because drone technology is relatively new.

However, Shjarback said these technologies are not addressing the root causes of crime.

These technologies may assist police and prosecutors in the short-term, but a broader effort needs to be made to address poverty, unemployment/lack of economic opportunity, poor educational outcomes, etc., in the long-term, he said.

Sean Brown, of East Camden, agrees.

I think the cameras have done a great job of helping police departments solve crimes throughout America, including in Camden, said Brown, 43. So what are we going to capture through drones that we have not already been able to capture?

Brown would rather see the funds used to address homelessness and substance use in the city.

If you want to make Camden safer, then youre going to go to Broadway  and Haddon Avenue and scoop up the folks that are pooping on peoples front steps and shooting up heroin and smoking crack pipes on the lawns of families, he said. Drug addiction is the biggest unresolved issue in the city, and I just dont see how drones get us any closer to solving that issue.

We need to continue social services, to invest in our education programs, to look at the family as a whole and support families, and get away from things like drones, Brown said.

Keashen said the county has made tremendous investments in social programs, ranging from tackling homelessness to youth truancy.

Theres a lot of money going into root causes and trying to dissect how we get out of a place where people turn to criminality, he said. Those monies are being spent, and those investments are being made.

Editors note: This story has been updated to reflect Camdens ranking among urban cities in the state for its use of technology.
Do Atlantic City casino workers have a constitutional right to be protected from the harmful and sometimes fatal consequences of breathing secondhand smoke?

A New Jersey appellate court this week declined to rule directly on the issue  which has been the focus of a years-long debate both in the courts and the state Legislature. Ordering further hearings, the appellate judges noted that the state Supreme Court had yet to hold that right to pursue and obtain health and safety is a fundamental stand-alone right.

But while they kicked the can back to a lower court to develop a fuller record on the competing interests at play, attorneys for the workers say they will immediately request that the Supreme Court step into the fray.

We are asking the Supreme Court to hear the case now, rather than years from now after a trial and another appeal, said Nancy Erika Smith, who represents casino workers seeking to extend the statewide ban on smoking in public places.

We agree with the appellate division that the New Jersey Supreme Court should decide the important constitutional issues raised by this case. We dont think we need more evidence beyond whats in the record, Smith said following the appellate decision on Monday. My clients continue to get sick. Theres an urgency here that I want to convey to the Supreme Court.

The Casino Association of New Jersey, which represents the gaming industry here, declined comment on the appellate ruling or the prospect of a Supreme Court review.

Atlantic Citys casinos remain the only indoor public places left in the state where people are legally allowed to light up, after the resort town was granted a special carve-out from a statewide smoking ban in public spaces more than 20 years ago. vto file a Notice of Petition for Certification to the New Jersey Supreme Court.

I would hope the Supreme Court would hear it right away, said Smith. Its getting harder and harder for them to excuse it. The money arguments are galling.

Smoking is currently permitted on 25% of Atlantic Citys gambling floors, but secondhand smoke permeates every casino. An analysis by NJ Advance Media last year examined the air quality in all nine of New Jerseys casinos. It found that that the toxins from secondhand smoke significantly exceeded safety thresholds set by the Environmental Protection Agency  often even in designated non-smoking areas.

Meanwhile, a bill in the Legislature that would end the casino smoking exemption has yet to gain any traction, despite widespread support. In the last legislative session, it was never moved for a full vote in the state Senate and the Assembly.

Sponsors have already reintroduced the casino smoking ban for consideration in the legislative current session.
Winter storm Fern caused many disruptions in travel plans, especially with those who planned flights that had to be canceled.

More than 12,200 flights were canceled this weekend alone, and that doesnt include those canceled in the storms aftermath, according to the Associated Press.

But if your flight was canceled, fear not: There are things you should keep in mind.

One of them is that if your flight was on a U.S. carrier, it is required that the carrier give you a refund.

Here are some other things you should do if your flight was canceled because of the winter storm.

Monitor the weather forecast and look for no-fee flight rescheduling offers

If the weather report is bad outside, many airlines will offer to rebook you on another day free of charge.

United Airlines does this for most economy tickets (excluding basic economy) and for more premium services regardless of the weather outside, and American Airlines does the same.

However, the AP reported that American Airlines would waive change fees for all fare classes due to the storm and would add extra flights across the country to make up for those cancelled due to the weather.

Check your scheduled flight to see if it is still operating

Cancellations happen days, or even hours, before a flight is set to depart from the airport.

According to FlightAware, there were 12,601 flight cancellations on Sunday alone.

Also, nearly all flights at major U.S. airports where winter storm Fern hit hardest were canceled on Sunday.

John F. Kennedy Airport in New York City was one of those airports, and at least 87% of flights out of that airport were canceled, according to the AP.

Speak to customer service

If youre at the airport already and find your flight is already canceled, get in line and speak to a customer service representative.

If youre not at the airport yet, call your air carrier or go on their website to speak to a representative.

The representative should be able to rebook your flight at no extra cost.

Get a refund

If all else fails and you decide not to take your trip, or you find another way to get to your destination, U.S. airlines are bound by law to give you a refund if your flight was canceled by the airline, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation.

While the airline might offer to give you a flight credit, you are entitled to a full refund, including bag fees or other add-ons to your fare that have been left unused.

If you paid with a credit card, the airlines are required to give you a refund within seven business days after you decline an airlines flight credit or voucher.

If you paid for the ticket by check or cash, the airlines are required to give you a refund within 20 calendar days.
This Tech Tuesday reveals how no-code platforms automate your busywork. Connect apps, trigger actions, and reclaim your time

What if you could automate your busywork without writing a single line of code? No-code automation platforms have democratized what used to require expensive developers and IT departments.

Whether youre a solopreneur, small business owner, or part of a larger team, todays Tech Tuesday will show you how to build powerful automated workflows using simple drag-and-drop interfaces.

General Purpose Integrators (SaaS Glue)

These are the foundational pipes that connect thousands of different apps to move data and trigger actions.

Zapier

Zapier is a leading no-code automation platform that serves as the universal glue for the modern tech stack, connecting over 8,000 different applications. In 2026, it has transitioned into an AI-first orchestration hub, allowing users to move beyond simple triggers and actions into complex, reasoning-based workflows. By centralizing data and processes into a single interface, it enables businesses of all sizes to eliminate repetitive manual tasks and bridge the gap between siloed software.

Features include Zapier Central, an AI workspace where users can build autonomous agents that can research, summarize, and execute tasks across connected apps using natural language. The platforms Canvas tool provides a visual, diagram-style interface for mapping out entire business processes and instantly turning them into active automations. Additionally, Zapier Tables and Interfaces allow teams to store data and build custom web apps directly within the ecosystem, while Zapier Copilot assists users in creating complex Zaps simply by describing their goals in plain English.

Best for non-technical marketers, sales teams, and high-growth startups that need to move fast and connect a diverse range of tools without developer resources. It is the gold standard for organizations that prioritize ease of use and want the widest possible variety of integrations available on the market. From simple lead routing to sophisticated AI-driven customer support bots, Zapier is the definitive starting point for anyone looking to set and forget their operational workflows.

Make (formerly Integromat)

Make (formerly Integromat) is a powerful visual-first automation platform that allows users to design, build, and orchestrate complex workflows in a free-form, digital canvas. By 2026, it has established itself as the premier Visual Orchestration hub, moving beyond linear triggers to support highly sophisticated, multi-branching scenarios. It provides deep visibility into data movements, making it an essential tool for those who need to see their entire automation landscape to manage it effectively.

Features include a drag-and-drop scenario builder with Routers for unlimited branching, Iterators for processing data arrays, and Aggregators for merging multiple data sources. In 2026, the platform introduced Maia, a conversational AI assistant that builds entire automations via natural language, and the Make Grid, which offers a high-level view of an organizations total AI and automation footprint. Additionally, its Model Context Protocol (MCP) Server allows users to securely connect external AI agents to their internal business logic with precise administrative control.

Best for technical marketers, Operations leaders, and power users who require complex logic and deep API control without the high cost of enterprise iPaaS solutions. It is the go-to choice for businesses that have outgrown the linear limitations of simpler tools and need to handle advanced data transformations, error handling, and parallel processing. Organizations that prioritize transparency and need a visual map of their automated systems will find Make to be an unmatched strategic asset.

n8n

n8n is a fair-code, developer-friendly automation platform that combines the speed of a visual node-based editor with the infinite flexibility of custom code. By 2026, it has become a premier choice for technical teams who demand data sovereignty, offering a self-hosted option that keeps sensitive information within their own infrastructure. This open-source philosophy allows users to move beyond the limitations of standard SaaS tools, enabling complex, highly customized business logic that scales without unpredictable per-task costs.

Features include an AI-native workflow builder that supports Multi-Agent Orchestration, allowing different AI agents to collaborate on complex objectives like research, content creation, and data analysis. The platform features native LangChain and LangGraph integrations, making it a powerhouse for building production-ready RAG (Retrieval-Augmented Generation) pipelines and AI-driven products. Users can fall back to JavaScript or Python within any node to perform advanced data transformations, while the 2026 update introduced Model Context Protocol (MCP) support for dynamic tool execution and context-aware automation.

Best for developers, technical Ops teams, and AI-first startups that require total control over their data, security, and infrastructure. It is the ideal solution for regulated industriessuch as healthcare and financewhere GDPR or HIPAA compliance via self-hosting is a non-negotiable requirement. Organizations that have outgrown linear automation tools and want to build sophisticated, modular, and AI-integrated systems will find n8n to be a highly cost-effective and extensible foundation.

Pipedream

Pipedream is a developer-first, serverless integration platform that bridges the gap between no-code ease and pro-code power. By providing a hosted environment where developers can run custom logic without managing infrastructure, it enables the rapid creation of event-driven workflows. In late 2025, the platform was acquired by Workday, signaling its evolution into a critical piece of enterprise infrastructure for connecting modern AI and SaaS applications.

Features include a robust AI Agent Builder that allows users to prompt and deploy autonomous agents in seconds, alongside native support for Node.js, Python, Go, and Bash. It offers a low-code visual builder where users can mix 1,000+ pre-built actions with custom code steps that have full access to the npm and PyPI package registries. Its 2026 update also introduced the Pipedream MCP (Model Context Protocol) Server, allowing developers to instantly expose over 3,000 APIs as tools for their AI agents to use.

Best for developer-heavy teams and technical founders who want code-level control and real-time observability without the overhead of server management. It is the ideal programmable RequestBin for testing webhooks and building complex, data-heavy pipelines that require more flexibility than traditional no-code tools. Companies like Instacart and Workday use Pipedream to turn thousands of fragmented APIs into a unified, programmable event stream.

Pabbly Connect

Pabbly Connect is a cost-effective cloud-based automation platform designed to help businesses connect their favorite apps and automate repetitive workflows without any technical expertise. It has gained significant traction in 2026 by offering a unique value proposition: a one-time payment lifetime deal and a pricing model that does not charge for internal tasks like filters, routers, or formatters. This makes it a formidable competitor to mainstream platforms, especially for users who want to avoid high recurring monthly fees while scaling their automation efforts.

Features include a visual drag-and-drop workflow builder that supports over 2,000 app integrations and advanced multi-step logic. The platform provides Path Routers for complex branching and an Email Parser to extract data from incoming messages automatically. A standout feature in 2026 is its Unlimited Free Internal Tasks policy, which ensures that complex data transformations and logic steps dont consume your monthly task allowance. Additionally, the platform offers built-in tools for scheduling, delays, and a Dynamic Web Page module that can generate personalized URLs based on workflow data in real-time.

Best for freelancers, solopreneurs, and small-to-medium businesses (SMBs) that need robust automation power on a strict budget. It is the ideal choice for high-volume users who run thousands of automation tasks daily but want to lock in a fixed cost through its lifetime pricing model. While it may not have the massive 8,000+ app ecosystem of Zapier, its focus on essential business integrations and cost-efficiency makes it a favorite for teams prioritizing profitability and straightforward ROI.

AI-Native & Agentic Orchestration

The New Wave of 2026  these tools dont just move data; they use LLMs to reason, decide, and act.

Gumloop

Gumloop is an AI-native automation platform that allows users to build complex, multi-step workflows using a visual, node-based canvas. Unlike traditional tools that added AI features later, Gumloop was built from the ground up to orchestrate Large Language Models (LLMs) alongside varied data sources. It empowers non-technical users to create sophisticated flows that combine logic, web scraping, and generative AI to handle high-level reasoning tasks that previously required custom engineering.

Features include Gummie, an AI copilot that builds entire automations from natural language descriptions, and a robust library of 120+ native integrations. In 2026, the platform has heavily embraced the Model Context Protocol (MCP), allowing users to talk to external apps using semantic language while the AI generates the necessary code behind the scenes. It also offers a powerful Chrome extension for browser-based scraping and Subflows for creating modular, reusable automation components across an organization.

Best for GTM teams, Revenue Ops, and high-growth startups that need to automate reasoning-heavy processes like lead research, meeting summarization, or CRM updates. It is the ideal choice for organizations that have outgrown the linear logic of Zapier and want to deploy secure, scalable AI agents without writing code. Trusted by companies like Instacart and Webflow, it bridges the gap between simple task automation and full-scale AI orchestration for technical and non-technical users alike.

Vellum AI

Vellum AI is a production-grade AI product development platform designed to bridge the gap between technical and non-technical teams when building, testing, and deploying AI agents. In 2026, it has become a central hub for Agentic Orchestration, providing a collaborative environment where product managers can iterate on prompts and logic while engineers harden workflows with advanced SDKs. By treating AI development with the same rigor as traditional softwarefeaturing version control, testing suites, and observabilityVellum ensures that autonomous agents are reliable enough for enterprise-scale deployment.

Features include Agent Builder, a natural language interface that generates complex workflows and connects to third-party tools via voice or text prompts, and a Visual Workflow Sandbox that supports multi-agent collaboration. The platform is distinguished by its Evaluation Suite, which allows teams to run large-scale test cases and side-by-side model comparisons to prevent regressions before shipping. Additionally, the 2026 update introduced Workflow Triggers for scheduled or event-driven agent execution and the Workflows SDK, allowing developers to export and run workflow code locally or in their own infrastructure.

Best for mid-market and enterprise companies, particularly in regulated industries like finance, healthcare, and insurance, that need to build reliable AI-powered products. It is the ideal choice for organizations where cross-functional collaboration is essential and vibe-check testing is no longer sufficient for production needs. Teams at companies like Redfin and Drata use Vellum to accelerate their AI roadmaps, ensuring that every autonomous decision is grounded, traceable, and secure.

Lindy AI

Lindy AI is a pioneer in the AI Employee space, offering a no-code platform where businesses can build, manage, and deploy autonomous agents that function as digital coworkers. By 2026, it has shifted the focus from simple task automation to a holistic AI Workforce model, where specialized agents (called Lindies) handle end-to-end business functions. Unlike traditional tools that rely on rigid scripts, Lindy uses a planning layer that allows agents to reason through complex requests, adapt to new context, and make intelligent decisions across an organizations entire tech stack.

Features include a natural language Agent Builder that allows users to create custom employees simply by describing their roles and responsibilities. The platforms Computer Use capability enables agents to interact with websites and applications exactly like a human wouldeven those without an APIby navigating interfaces and performing clicks. In 2026, Lindy introduced Agent Swarms, which allow a single agent to clone itself to execute high-volume tasks like parallelized lead outreach or massive data triaging, alongside native Voice Agents that can handle inbound and outbound phone calls in over 30 languages with human-like latency.

Best for operations, sales, and support teams in fast-growing startups and SMEs that want to delegate high-volume, multi-step administrative work without hiring additional staff. It is the ideal choice for businesses looking for out-of-the-box productivity, where agents can jump into an inbox or CRM and start contributing immediately. Organizations that require a secure, HIPAA and SOC 2-compliant environment for automating sensitive workflows in recruiting, healthcare, or finance will find Lindy to be a highly scalable and intuitive solution.

LangFlow

Langflow is a visual, open-source framework designed for building and deploying multi-agent AI applications and complex Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) pipelines. Originally built as a GUI for LangChain, it has evolved in 2026 into a standalone orchestration canvas that allows developers and data scientists to move from prototype to production with high transparency. By representing complex Python-based AI logic as a series of modular, drag-and-drop nodes, it enables teams to iterate on agentic architectures without getting bogged down in boilerplate code.

Features include a Visual Flow Builder that supports sophisticated multi-agent orchestration, where specialized agents can discover and communicate with one another using open protocols. The platform is a first-class Model Context Protocol (MCP) client and server, allowing any flow to be exposed as a tool for other AI agents or to consume external MCP-enabled services natively. In 2026, Langflow features Langflow Desktop for local-only development and an Evaluation Suite in the Playground that provides real-time feedback on flow logic and tool calls before a single line of production code is written.

Best for AI developers, data architects, and researchers who need a customizable, low-code environment to build enterprise-grade agentic systems. It is the ideal choice for teams that want the speed of a visual builder but require the escape hatch of custom Python components to handle bespoke data integrations. Organizations like DataStax and various high-growth AI startups use Langflow to rapidly prototype document analysis systems, cryptocurrency analysts, and advanced conversational agents that are grounded in proprietary data.

Stack AI

Stack AI is an enterprise-grade generative AI platform designed for organizations that require high levels of security, governance, and reliability when deploying autonomous agents. In 2026, it serves as a robust AI Operating System for mid-to-large companies, allowing them to move beyond experimental chatbots into production-ready workflows. By prioritizing a security-first architecture, Stack AI ensures that proprietary data remains protected while enabling business teams to build complex, document-driven automations that are grounded in their own internal knowledge.

Features include a Clean Visual Builder that allows teams to design sophisticated AI applications without writing code, alongside a broad library of enterprise connectors for seamless data integration. The platform provides Built-in Governance tools, including role-based access controls (RBAC), environment management, and comprehensive audit logs to satisfy strict IT and compliance requirements. Additionally, its Evaluation and Monitoring suite allows teams to track agent performance, accuracy, and contextual memory from day one, while supporting multi-model flexibility to prevent vendor lock-in.

Best for mid-to-large enterprises and regulated industries that need to launch compliant AI automations quickly without sacrificing technical depth. It is the ideal choice for Knowledge Intelligence layers where business teams want the speed of no-code but engineers require the freedom to extend functionality via APIs and custom nodes. Organizations like those in finance, legal, and HR use Stack AI to automate document-heavy taskssuch as RFP responses or compliance reviewswhile maintaining a clear, auditable trail of every AI-driven decision.

Enterprise & Ecosystem Platforms

High-governance tools built for large organizations or specific software environments.

Workato

Workato is a leading enterprise-grade automation and orchestration platform that bridges the gap between IT-level power and business-user accessibility. By 2026, it has solidified its position as a Leader in the iPaaS (Integration Platform as a Service) space, specifically focusing on Agentic Orchestration. Unlike basic automation tools, Workato provides a secure, governed environment where autonomous AI agents can reason across thousands of enterprise systemsfrom legacy mainframes to modern SaaS appswhile maintaining transactional integrity and executive oversight.

Features include Agent Studio, a low-code environment for building Genies (autonomous AI agents) that can handle complex end-to-end processes like lead routing, ticket triage, or financial reconciliation. The platform is a central hub for the Workato Enterprise MCP (Model Context Protocol), which allows AI agents to discover and execute proven business actions rather than raw APIs, ensuring predictable and compliant outcomes. Additionally, it offers robust features like API Management, real-time data orchestration, and advanced security controls such as role-based access (RBAC 2.0) and hourly key rotation to safeguard sensitive corporate data.

Best for large enterprise organizations and RevOps teams that require deep, mission-critical integrations across complex tech stacks. It is the definitive choice for IT leaders who need to democratize automation without losing control, providing citizen integrators with a user-friendly interface while offering developers the advanced logic and error-handling necessary for high-volume data movements. Global companies like Cisco, Broadcom, and HubSpot use Workato to transform their operations into a unified, AI-driven Marketing OS that scales securely across regions and business units.

Microsoft Power Automate

Microsoft Power Automate is an enterprise-grade automation platform that enables users to create automated workflowsknown as flowsacross an extensive ecosystem of Microsoft and third-party applications. By 2026, it has fully transitioned into the Agentic Era, shifting from a tool that merely follows linear scripts to an intelligent system capable of reasoning and independent execution. As a core component of the Microsoft Power Platform, it provides a unified operational intelligence layer that allows organizations to scale their digital transformation efforts while maintaining strict corporate governance and security.

Features include Copilot in Power Automate, a natural-language assistant that allows users to build, edit, and optimize workflows simply by describing their goals. The platforms Process Mining and Task Mining capabilities use AI to analyze existing business activities and identify bottlenecks, recommending the most impactful areas for automation. In 2026, the introduction of Agent 365 and Generative Actions has enabled the creation of autonomous agents that can plan multi-step taskssuch as reconciling invoices or managing complex incident responsesindependently. Additionally, its Desktop Flows (RPA) allow for the automation of legacy systems without APIs, while deep integration with Microsoft Teams and SharePoint ensures that automation is accessible directly within the apps where employees already work.

Best for large enterprises and mid-market organizations that are already deeply integrated into the Microsoft 365 ecosystem and require high levels of security and compliance. It is the definitive choice for IT leaders who want to empower citizen developers to automate their own tasks while maintaining central oversight through Managed Environments. From simple approval notifications to complex, cross-departmental digital workers, Power Automate is ideal for teams looking to reduce manual overhead and improve operational agility at scale.

Tray AI

Tray AI is an enterprise-grade Universal Automation Cloud designed to unify fragmented business processes through a combination of high-velocity integration and agentic AI. In 2026, the platform has evolved into a central hub for AI Operations, moving beyond standard API triggers to provide a composable environment where IT and business teams can build sophisticated, self-healing workflows. By treating automation as a fundamental infrastructure layer, Tray AI allows organizations to operationalize AI at scale while ensuring the strict governance and data security required for production-level deployments.

Features include the Merlin Agent Builder, a no-code workspace where users can deploy autonomous agents that stay grounded in company data and take action across thousands of connected systems. The platforms Agent Gateway provides IT teams with a governed environment to manage and publish Model Context Protocol (MCP) servers safely, preventing agentic gridlock across the enterprise. Additionally, Trays Intelligent iPaaS offers over 600 standardized connectors and a visual AI Palette, allowing users to build complex logicsuch as multi-step branching and real-time data mappingsimply by describing their business goals in natural language.

Best for developer-heavy teams, Revenue Ops, and IT leaders in mid-to-large enterprises who need more flexibility than out-of-the-box tools but want to avoid custom-coding every integration. It is the ideal solution for data-driven organizations that require a secure, scalable foundation to bridge the gap between their cloud data warehouses and their front-office applications. Companies like Cisco, Eventbrite, and NetApp use Tray AI to transform complex manual processes into high-velocity, AI-driven outcomes that scale across global departments.

AppSheet (Google)

AppSheet is Googles intelligent, no-code development platform that allows users to build powerful mobile and desktop applications directly from their existing data sources. By 2026, it has become a cornerstone of the Google Workspace ecosystem, enabling citizen developers to transform spreadsheets, databases, and cloud storage into functional apps without writing a single line of code. It bridges the gap between static data and active business processes, providing a secure and governed environment for organizations to digitize manual workflows at scale.

Features include Gemini for App Creation, a natural-language assistant that builds entire app schemas and views simply by describing a business idea. The platforms AI Taskspowered by Gemini 3allow apps to autonomously extract data from PDFs, categorize support tickets, and summarize long-form text directly within an automation. It offers robust Offline Support, ensuring field teams can capture signatures, photos, and GPS data without a connection, alongside a rich library of native connectors for Google Sheets, BigQuery, Salesforce, and SQL databases.

Best for Google Workspace teams, operations managers, and field-service organizations that need to build custom internal tools quickly and affordably. It is the ideal choice for businesses looking to replace paper-based processes or disjointed spreadsheets with mobile-first solutions for inventory management, safety inspections, or project tracking. Companies like Airbus and Globe Telecom use AppSheet to empower their employees to solve their own operational challenges while maintaining strict IT oversight and data security.

ServiceNow Flow Designer

ServiceNow Flow Designer is an enterprise-grade workflow orchestration tool that allows organizations to automate complex business processes through a visual, no-code interface. By 2026, it has evolved into the AI Control Tower for the enterprise, moving beyond simple task automation to coordinate teams of autonomous AI agents across IT, HR, and Customer Service. It serves as the primary engine within the ServiceNow AI Platform, unifying legacy systems and modern cloud apps into a single, cohesive pane of glass for operational execution.

Features include AI Agent Studio, a natural-language workspace where users can build and customize digital agents to handle end-to-end service delivery without writing code. The platform utilizes IntegrationHub to provide out-of-the-box connectors (Spokes) for thousands of external systems, while the AI Agent Orchestrator manages the complex handoffs between different specialized agents. Additionally, its 2026 update introduced Process Mining capabilities to identify automation bottlenecks and Agentic Workflows that can independently reason, plan, and execute multi-step resolutions for incidents or requests.

Best for IT leaders, Process Owners, and Enterprise Architects at large organizations that require high-governance automation across fragmented departments. It is the definitive choice for businesses already utilizing the ServiceNow ecosystem that want to scale their Digital Workforce while maintaining strict security and human-in-the-loop oversight. Companies like AWS, Toyota, and Siemens use Flow Designer to reduce manual effort in high-volume areas like onboarding, security incident response, and financial procurement.

Database-First & Operating System Tools

These tools act as the Source of Truth where the data lives, with built-in automation to keep it moving.

Airtable

Airtable is a next-generation No-Code Operations Platform that combines the simplicity of a spreadsheet with the relational power of a database. By 2026, it has established itself as the operational spine for modern business, shifting from a passive data repository to an active application builder. It allows teams to move beyond rigid, off-the-shelf software by providing a flexible canvas where they can build custom toolslike global content hubs, product roadmaps, or complex CRM systemsthat match their unique processes perfectly.

Features include Interface Designer, a drag-and-drop environment for building custom front-end applications that allow stakeholders to interact with data without seeing the underlying complexity. The platform is now AI-native, featuring an embedded assistant that can autonomously summarize project updates, categorize customer feedback, and extract data from 10,000-page documents. Additionally, its Automations engine supports both deterministic rules and probabilistic AI actions, while its extensive library of native integrations ensures that data stays synced across tools like Salesforce, Jira, and Slack in real-time.

Best for Marketing Operations teams, Product Managers, and builders who need a single source of truth that bridges the gap between high-level strategy and daily execution. It is the ideal choice for organizations that have outgrown disjointed spreadsheets and want to consolidate their tools into a unified, enterprise-grade system. Global brands like Netflix, Shopify, and Under Armour use Airtable to scale their creative production and align cross-functional teams around a shared, data-driven roadmap.

Notion

Notion is a versatile all-in-one workspace that consolidates notes, documents, project management, and databases into a single, highly customizable platform. By 2026, it has evolved into a comprehensive AI Workspace, moving beyond a simple wiki to become an active collaborator. It functions as a central nervous system for teams, where organizational knowledge is not just stored but is actively surfaced and utilized by embedded AI to drive productivity and eliminate the need for switching between multiple fragmented tools.

Features include Notion Agent, an autonomous AI assistant that can be assigned goalssuch as researching a topic, summarizing lengthy threads, or managing project timelinesand executes them by searching across pages, files, and the web. The platforms Enterprise Search provides a unified interface to find answers instantly across Notion and other connected apps, while AI Meeting Notes automatically generates high-fidelity summaries and action items from recorded discussions. Additionally, the integrated Notion Mail and Notion Calendar create a seamless loop between communication, scheduling, and task execution, all supported by a massive library of community-driven templates and robust database automations.

Best for startups, creative agencies, and remote-first teams that need to centralize their documentation and project tracking in a visually cohesive environment. It is the ideal choice for organizations that value minimalist complexity, allowing users to build everything from a simple personal journal to a sophisticated company-wide knowledge base. Companies like OpenAI, Ramp, and Figma use Notion to align their teams, ensuring that every employee has an AI-powered partner to help them navigate internal information and focus on high-impact work.

Baserow

Baserow is a secure, open-source database and application builder that combines the collaborative ease of a spreadsheet with the structural integrity of a relational database. By 2026, it has expanded into a full-scale no-code ecosystem, featuring a powerful Application Builder and Automation Builder that allow teams to transform raw data into functional internal tools. Known for its API-first philosophy, Baserow offers an exceptionally fast user interface that remains performant even with millions of rows, making it a favorite for organizations that prioritize high-velocity data management and full ownership of their information through self-hosting.

Features include Baserow AI, which leverages natural language to generate database schemas, write complex formulas, and automate data cleaning tasks. The platforms Automation Builder supports sophisticated workflow triggers and actions, enabling users to chain logicsuch as sending alerts or updating recordswithout external integration tools. In 2026, the 2.0 update introduced Advanced Workspace Search and granular, row-level permissions, while the Kuma AI Assistant helps non-technical users navigate complex relational structures. Additionally, its native Model Context Protocol (MCP) server allows external AI agents to securely query and interact with internal databases as trusted tools.

Best for IT managers, operations teams, and mid-to-large enterprises in regulated industries (like healthcare or defense) that require strict compliance with GDPR, HIPAA, and SOC 2. It is the ideal choice for those who want a pro-code level of extensibility within a no-code interface, allowing developers to create custom plugins while business users manage the front end. Organizations looking for a high-performance, self-hostable alternative to Airtable that doesnt sacrifice enterprise-grade governance will find Baserow to be a robust and scalable foundation.

Nocodb

NocoDB is a community-driven, open-source platform that turns any existing SQL database into a smart, collaborative spreadsheet interface. By 2026, it has solidified its position as the premier Database Reflector, allowing teams to connect to MySQL, PostgreSQL, or SQL Server instances and instantly begin managing data without complex migrations. It provides unprecedented scale by supporting millions of records without per-row pricing, making it the most cost-effective solution for data-heavy organizations that want to democratize access to their production databases while maintaining data sovereignty.

Features include NocoSync, an integration layer that automatically pulls data from external silos like GitHub, Salesforce, and HRIS systems into a unified schema for real-time reporting. The 2026 update introduced Visual Workflow Builder, a drag-and-drop interface for creating automation flows directly within the app, alongside enhanced Webhook Customization that was previously an enterprise-only feature. Users can utilize AI Smart Mapping to suggest field connections between apps and ERD Diagrams to visualize complex database relationships. Additionally, NocoDB now supports Universal Teams, allowing for streamlined, group-based access control that automatically inherits permissions as new members join an organization.

Best for technical founders, DevOps teams, and data-driven agencies that need to build an Airtable-like experience on top of their own infrastructure and existing data. It is the ideal choice for businesses that handle massive volumes of recordssuch as log tracking or large-scale inventory managementwhere traditional SaaS platforms become prohibitively expensive. Teams that value a community-first ethos and want the flexibility to connect, sync, and automate across a wide variety of external tools from a single integration hub will find NocoDB to be a versatile and powerful asset.

Coda

Coda is a collaborative document editor that blends the flexibility of a text document with the power of a relational database. By 2026, it has redefined the category of Doc-as-an-App, allowing teams to build fully functional custom applicationssuch as project trackers, CRMs, and wiki hubswithout needing a traditional developer. Its core philosophy centers on the idea that anyone can build a tool, providing a set of powerful building blockslike interactive buttons, structured tables, and deep integrationsthat transform a static page into a dynamic operational engine.

Features include Coda AI, an intelligent assistant that can summarize long threads, generate content from scratch, and even create entire tables or workflows through natural language prompts. The platforms Packs system offers over 600 native integrations, enabling users to pull live data from Google Calendar, Slack, Jira, and Figma directly into their docs and push updates back out with a single click. In 2026, the introduction of AI Columns allows for automated data processing at scale, while Interactive Buttons and Custom Automations allow users to trigger complex logicsuch as sending personalized emails or updating status recordsbased on specific data changes or scheduled times.

Best for product managers, marketing operations, and high-growth startups that want to consolidate their tool stack into a single, unified workspace. It is the ideal choice for teams that have outgrown standard spreadsheets and documents but find specialized software too rigid for their unique processes. Organizations like Uber, Square, and Figma use Coda to align their teams around living documents that serve as both a source of truth and an active workspace for decision-making and execution.

Data Activation & Sync (Reverse ETL)

Specialized tools that ensure your marketing apps always have the freshest data from your warehouse.

Census

Census is a pioneering Universal Data Platform specializing in Reverse ETL, which allows organizations to sync trusted data from their cloud warehouse directly into 200+ SaaS applications. Recently acquired by Fivetran in 2025, it has evolved into a comprehensive Unify, Enhance, and Activate ecosystem that eliminates the need for manual CSV uploads and custom API scripts. By turning the data warehouse into the primary engine for business operations, Census ensures that sales, marketing, and success teams are always working with the same source of truth used by data analysts.

Features include AI Columns, which use LLMs like Gemini and GPT-4 to enrich warehouse data with intent scores, sentiment analysis, and automated categorization directly within the sync pipeline. The platforms Audience Hub provides a visual, no-code interface for marketers to build dynamic segments without writing SQL, while Census Embedded allows software companies to offer native integrations to their own customers. Additionally, its deep dbt Integration allows teams to reuse existing data models, ensuring that every automated action is grounded in governed, verified metrics with full observability and alerting.

Best for data-driven Marketing and RevOps teams in mid-to-large enterprises that have already invested in a modern data stack (like Snowflake or BigQuery) and need to activate that data across their growth tools. It is the ideal choice for organizations that value data governance and want to reduce the ticket backlog between data engineering and business departments. Companies like Canva, Sonos, and Figma use Census to scale personalized customer journeys and drive operational efficiency by keeping their CRM and marketing automation tools in constant sync with their core business data.

Hightouch

Hightouch is a leading Composable Customer Data Platform (CDP) that empowers businesses to activate their data warehouse for real-time personalization and agentic marketing. Unlike traditional CDPs that store data in a separate silo, Hightouch operates directly on top of your existing warehouse, providing a secure and flexible layer for data orchestration. By 2026, it has redefined the category with its Agentic Marketing Platform (AMP), allowing brands to move beyond static campaigns to 1:1 decisioning that optimizes the customer experience across every digital touchpoint at massive scale.

Features include Hightouch Agents, a suite of autonomous AI tools that can understand customer behavior, generate creative content, and execute complex cross-channel journeys independently. The platforms AI Decisioning engine uses reinforcement learning to match the best message or offer with each individual customer in real-time, effectively replacing traditional A/B testing with continuous optimization. It also offers a robust Visual Audience Builder, Identity Resolution to stitch together fragmented user profiles, and Match Booster to improve ad platform match rates by securely enriching first-party data.

Best for high-growth B2C brands and enterprise marketing teams in sectors like retail, travel, and financial services that require hyper-personalization without the security risks of data duplication. It is the ideal solution for Lifecycle Leaders who want to empower their team with an army of AI agents to handle the heavy lifting of campaign execution and data analysis. Global innovators like Spotify, PetSmart, and Warner Music Group use Hightouch to turn their data warehouses into powerful growth engines, achieving significant increases in engagement and customer lifetime value.

Whalesync

Whalesync is a specialized data synchronization platform that enables real-time, two-way sync between popular no-code tools, databases, and CRMs. Unlike traditional automation platforms that rely on if-this-then-that triggers to move data in one direction, Whalesync creates a deep, bi-directional connection that ensures data remains identical across different applications. By 2026, it has become a critical tool for teams that use spreadsheets or no-code databases as the control center for their websites and internal applications, allowing them to manage complex digital ecosystems without constant manual updates.

Features include a Deep 2-Way Sync engine that handles the complex logic of keeping records in harmony across apps like Airtable, Webflow, Notion, and HubSpot. The platform offers Programmatic SEO capabilities, allowing users to generate thousands of landing pages in Webflow directly from a spreadsheet, and Real-Time Issue Monitoring with AI-summarized instructions to quickly resolve sync errors. In 2026, the introduction of Advanced Record Matching and Precision Filtering allows teams to sync specific subsets of data with high accuracy, while the Whalesync Enterprise tier provides SOC 2 Type II compliance and dedicated support for large-scale deployments.

Best for Marketing Ops, Content Teams, and No-Code Developers who need to maintain a single source of truth across multiple high-volume platforms. It is the ideal choice for organizations implementing programmatic SEO strategies or those building internal admin panels for databases like Supabase or Postgres using the familiar interface of Airtable. Companies like Vanta, Webflow, and Clay use Whalesync to eliminate the friction of fragmented data silos, ensuring that their GTM (Go-To-Market) stack is always consistent, reliable, and up-to-date.

Specialized & Niche Automation

Parabola

Parabola is a specialized visual automation tool designed to help non-technical operations and finance teams transform messy, disparate data into structured, automated workflows. By 2026, it has solidified its position as the premier Data Cleaning and Reconciliation platform, moving beyond simple task triggers to handle heavy-duty data processing that once required complex Excel macros or custom Python scripts. It provides a drag-and-drop canvas where users can ingest data from anywhereincluding unstructured sources like PDFs and emailsand apply sophisticated logic to standardize, enrich, and analyze it in real-time.

Features include an AI-powered Workflow Builder that allows users to describe their data transformation goals in plain English to generate complex logic chains instantly. The platforms Document Digitization engine can automatically extract and parse line-item data from invoices, receipts, and packing lists, while its Multi-Step Reconciliation tools flag mismatches across inventory, purchase orders, and invoices. In 2026, the 3.0 update introduced Automated Documentation, which generates audit-ready artifacts as you build, and Outlier Detection to proactively alert teams to data anomalies before they impact the bottom line.

Best for Supply Chain, Logistics, and Financial Operations teams at high-growth e-commerce and retail brands who are overwhelmed by manual spreadsheet work. It is the ideal choice for spreadsheet power users who need to automate mission-critical back-office processessuch as month-end reporting, 3-way matching, or inventory allocationat a scale that traditional no-code tools cannot support. Global companies like Uber Freight, Rhone, and Magic Spoon use Parabola to reclaim thousands of hours annually, allowing their talent to focus on strategic growth rather than data entry.

Bardeen

Bardeen is an AI-powered browser-based automation tool designed to eliminate manual data entry and streamline high-volume research and prospecting workflows. By 2026, it has redefined local-first automation, operating directly within the Chrome or Edge browser to interact with web pages exactly as a human would. This unique positioning allows it to bypass complex API limitations and scrape data from virtually any website, making it a secret weapon for growth hackers and GTM (Go-To-Market) teams who need to turn static web information into actionable leads or research reports in seconds.

Features include an Agentic Web Scraper that can automatically navigate pagination and click-to-reveal elements to extract data from sources like LinkedIn, Zillow, or niche industry blogs. The platforms AI Qualification engine uses LLMs to analyze scraped leads against a custom ideal customer profile, while the Enrichment tool identifies and validates verified phone numbers and emails on the fly. In 2026, Bardeen introduced Deep Research Agents that can perform multi-step web searches to answer complex business questions, alongside native 1-Click Workflows that instantly sync discovered data to tools like Airtable, Google Sheets, or Notion without leaving the current tab.

Best for Solopreneurs, Sales Development Representatives (SDRs), and Recruiters who spend hours manually sourcing and qualifying leads from the web. It is the ideal choice for those who need a high-performance scraping and enrichment tool without the enterprise price tag of platforms like Clay. Industries such as Real Estate and Private Equity use Bardeen to gain a competitive edge by discovering hidden listings or emerging companies before they hit mainstream databases, effectively automating the entire top-of-funnel research process.

Levity

Levity is a no-code AI automation platform designed to help businesses manage and process unstructured data, such as emails, PDFs, and images, without requiring a team of data scientists. By 2026, it has specialized as a cognitive engine for complex operations, particularly in global logistics and supply chain management. By using machine learning rather than rigid rule-based logic, Levity allows teams to build custom AI models that can read documents, see images, and understand text, effectively bridging the gap between manual labor and traditional automation.

Features include the AI Block Builder, a visual interface where non-technical users can train custom machine learning models by simply labeling a few examples of text or images. The platforms Logistics Control Tower offers specialized tools for freight management, such as automated spot quoting, load tracking, and 3-way invoice matching by extracting data directly from email threads. In 2026, Levity has introduced Phone AI, which can handle load check-ups and invoice follow-up calls autonomously, and its Agentic Fallback system ensures that any low-confidence AI decisions are automatically routed to a human for confirmation, maintaining 99%+ accuracy in critical production environments.

Best for Operations, Logistics, and Customer Support teams at mid-market to enterprise companies that deal with high volumes of varied, unstructured communication. It is the ideal choice for Knowledge Operations leaders who need to automate complex taskslike classifying guest inquiries for a hotel chain or detecting product defects from photosthat standard RPA tools cannot handle. Global organizations like Gebruder Weiss use Levity to transform their back-office from a manual black box into a scalable, X-ray-transparent operation that reduces costs and eliminates human error.

No-Code Automation & Workflow Comparison (2026)

Category Top Tools Primary Superpower Ideal User SaaS Connectors Zapier, Make, Pabbly Unmatched app coverage and ease of use. Beginners & GTM teams. Developer / Low-Code n8n, Pipedream High flexibility with custom code escape hatches. Devs & Tech Ops. AI-Native Agents Gumloop, Lindy, Vellum Autonomous reasoning and document processing. AI-first Startups. Enterprise iPaaS Workato, Tray, Power Automate High governance, security, and ecosystem depth. Fortune 500 & IT. Database-First Airtable, Coda, Notion Acting as the Source of Truth with logic. Project & Product Ops. Data Activation Census, Hightouch, Whalesync Syncing warehouse data back to operational apps. Data Engineers & Growth. Browser / Niche Bardeen, Parabola, Levity Web scraping, supply chain, and computer vision. Sales & Logistics Ops.

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When North Korean scammers set out to steal U.S. money to fund the countrys nuclear weapons program, they needed Americans willing to help.

Enter Zhenxing Danny Wang, from New Jersey.

The scammers posed as IT workers to land remote jobs at American companies. Wang and others stateside handled company laptops and equipment, making it look like the workers were actually in the United States.

Together, they funneled at least $5 million to North Koreas nuclear weapons programs and cost American companies at least $3 million, according to federal prosecutors.

Wang, 39, pleaded guilty earlier this month to his role in the conspiracy, including mail fraud, wire fraud, and money laundering.

He was one of nine people charged in a scheme that stole the identities of more than 80 Americans and secured jobs at over 100 companies last summer, including Fortune 500 firms and a defense contractor, according to the U.S. Attorneys Office in Massachusetts.

Beginning as early as 2021, the North Korean fraudsters used stolen or fabricated identities to apply for remote IT jobs with U.S. companies, convincing employers they were legitimate American workers.

Behind the scenes, Wang, another New Jersey man, Kejia Tony Wang and others set up front companies and laptop farms  ordinary-looking residences where company-issued laptops, monitors, and other hardware were shipped and stored, the U.S. Attorney said.

The devices were then carefully configured with remote-access software, allowing the North Korean operatives to log in from abroad as if they were sitting at desks inside the U.S. The facilitators rotated devices between workers, troubleshot glitches, and carefully maintained the illusion that everything was legitimate.

In exchange for their services, Danny and Tony collected at least $700,000.

Federal agents raided Wangs home and six other sites across New Jersey, New York, and California in October 2024, recovering over 70 laptops. They seized 21 fraudulent web domains used in the scheme and froze 29 bank accounts holding tens of thousands of dollars.

Tony Wang pleaded guilty to his role in the conspiracy in September 2025.

Danny Wangs official sentencing is scheduled for April 14, in federal court in Boston. He faces a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000.

North Korea has spent decades developing nuclear weapons and longrange missiles, repeatedly defying international sanctions and diplomatic efforts and driving persistent tensions with the United States and other countries.

While we have disrupted this group, this is merely the initial phase of the problem. The government of North Korea has trained and deployed thousands of IT workers to carry out similar schemes against U.S. companies daily, said Rafik Mattar, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Las Vegas Division.

Protect your business by thoroughly vetting fully remote workers. The FBI strongly advises organizations to closely monitor their data, strengthen their remote hiring processes, and report any suspicious activity or fraud.
The New Jersey Economic Development Authority Board has approved $12.55 million to establish two Strategic Innovation Centers to advance medical technology and maternal health entrepreneurship across the state.

The funding, approved earlier this month, will support the New Jersey Accelerator for Innovation in Medtech in Camden and Mullica Hill, and the New Baby New Jersey center in Trenton.

Both facilities will provide startup companies with mentorship, workshops, business development services and investment opportunities.

The NJEDAs latest investments into NJ AIM and the New Baby New Jersey SIC further establish the states leadership in the medtech and maternal health sectors, advancing scientific breakthroughs, creating jobs, and bolstering the regional economy, said NJEDA Acting Chief Executive Officer Mary Maples.

Each center will accelerate two groups annually, with at least 20 startup companies per group.

Twenty percent of participants must be New Jersey-based companies, while the remainder will come from out of state with incentives to relocate.

The funding includes $5.5 million for direct investments in participating companies, $2.25 million for accelerator programs matched by Rowan University, $1.5 million for a venture studio operated by NLC Ventures and $3 million for an early-phase maternal and infant health initiative in Trenton.

NJ AIM will occupy 8,500 square feet across two Camden locations  the Joint Health Sciences Center and Cooper Medical School of Rowan University.

It will also have space at Rowans West Campus in Mullica Hill.

Cooper University Health Care will serve as the anchor commercial partner, officials said.

Through this venture studio, we will work hands-on with founders to translate breakthrough science into scalable companies, while embedding them in a world-class ecosystem of clinical partners, universities, and investors, said NLC Ventures USA Director Jaap Haemers.

The New Baby New Jersey SIC will use 5,000 square feet in the Maternal and Infant Health Innovation Center, focusing on maternal care equity, digital health, doula support, perinatal mental health and access to public benefits.

NJEDAs investments to scale maternal health companies and support entrepreneurs is critical  not only to uplift NJs mothers and babies, but also strengthening the infrastructures that deliver on the highest level of care, said Lisa Asare, CEO of the New Jersey Maternal and Infant Health Innovation Authority.

Plug and Play, which operates more than 100 accelerator programs globally, will manage both centers.

NJEDA has invested in 12 Strategic Innovation Centers statewide, spanning industries including artificial intelligence, fintech, aerospace, life sciences and biotech.
Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) is urging officials in President Donald Trumps administration to dial back on their rhetoric in the wake of a second fatal shooting of a U.S. citizen by a federal officer in Minnesota.

In the latest episode of his Verdict podcast, Cruz described the administrations sweeping immigration crackdown as a massive success, pointing to Trumps promise to secure the border and a new report showing the national homicide rate had hit its lowest level in over a century. But he then pivoted on how he said the administration could do better.

Immediately when an incident like this happens, they come out guns blazing, Cruz said. That we took out a violent terrorist. Hooray.

And the problem is, particularly for someone not paying attention, if youre being told this is a mom of three, and theres no indication  you know, shes not waving an ISIS flag or doesnt have a suicide vest around her  escalating the rhetoric doesnt help, and it actually loses credibility," he continued.

Cruz went on to say that he encourages the administration to be more measured in its reaction.

To recognize the tragedy and to say We dont want anyones lives to be lost, Cruz said. And the politicians who are pouring gasoline onto this fire, they need to stop.

The MAGA allys reaction comes as he has made headlines this week for reportedly harshly criticizing Vice President JD Vance and Trumps tariff policies during private meetings with donors. Cruz said that conservative commentator Tucker Carlson created Vance, while noting that Trump told him f--- you after he expressed concerns about the presidents economic policy ahead of the 2026 midterms, according to Axios.

Following the killing of Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old intensive care unit nurse, dueling responses have emerged from state and federal officials about the lead up to the shooting.

While Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, both Democrats, have called for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents to leave the Twin Cities, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller both quickly accused Pretti of being a domestic terrorist. Meanwhile, Border Patrol commander Gregory Bovino applauded the federal agents who responded in taking him down.

Trump, however, has appeared to take a different approach. He dodged answering whether the U.S. Border Patrol agent who fatally shot Pretti acted appropriately, telling The Wall Street Journal that his administration is reviewing everything about the incident. He has additionally struck a positive tone when announcing he separately spoke with Walz and Frey.

The New York Times reported late Monday that Trump also met with Noem and Corey Lewandowski, her top aide, for nearly two hours in the Oval Office as his administration tries to shift its strategy  after the president announced he was sending Tom Homan, his border czar, to oversee the immigration operation in Minneapolis.

At the same time, the administration is also planning on moving Bovino out of the city, according to several outlets.

Earlier in the episode, Cruz called on everyone to ratchet things down, adding that everyone who has anything resembling a conscience is horrified by whats happening in Minneapolis.

On one side, they view every shooting as an absolute tragedy, as evidence that America has become Nazi Germany, Cruz said. On the other side, you see some people that seem pretty eager to celebrate a violent and lethal confrontation with law enforcement.

And listen  there are lethal confrontations with law enforcement," he added. They happen. But anytime you have an American who is killed in a confrontation with law enforcement, it is tragic that a life is lost.
Comedian Jon Stewart blasted President Donald Trumps administration for giving up on the Second Amendment following the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti over the weekend.

A Border Patrol agent shot and killed Pretti, 37, after agents appeared to have wrestled him to the ground and disarmed him on Saturday morning. Many federal officials suggested that the shooting was justified because Pretti was carrying a gun, which local officials said he was legally allowed to do.

Stewart criticized Trump officials on Monday for backtracking on their support of the Second Amendment, suggesting that they only support the right to bear arms when it is convenient for them. He then played four clips of Trump officials and allies blaming Prettis death on him carrying a gun.

When you are bearing arms and you are confronted by law enforcement, you are raising the risk of force being used against you, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said at a press briefing.

You cannot bring a firearm loaded with multiple magazines to any sort of protest that you want, said FBI Director Kash Patel.

I dont know of any peaceful protester that shows up with a gun and ammunition rather than a sign, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said.

Dont let the left kid you with this, that this is just a normal protest. Peaceful protesters dont have nine millimeter weapons with two extra magazines, said Rep. Jeff Van Drew (R-N.J.).

Stewart could not believe what he was hearing.

Are you f---ing kidding me right now? Are you f---ing kidding? Is that what the right is saying? Are you saying that the problem was the guy had a gun? Are you saying that the guns are the problem? Stewart said on The Daily Show.

Is everyone on the right coming together to say, carrying a legal firearm was the problem? he added. Am I hearing things? Is that really what youre saying? Really? Is that what youre saying?

He went on to say that the administrations excuse is blowing my f---ing mind. He then showed photos of Kyle Rittenhouse, who shot and killed two people at a Black Lives Matter protest in 2020, and the armed rioters who attacked the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.

The people that brought you this guy and these guys and these guys as f---ing heroes who are brandishing their weapons, are telling you the big mistake was letting a citizen legally carry a gun, Stewart said.

I wasnt shocked when you guys gave up the First Amendment, and I wasnt shocked when you gave up the Fourth Amendment and the 10th Amendment and the 14th Amendment at Trumps behest, he continued.

The Second? Isnt that kind of load bearing ball of the Dont Tread On Me flag? he added.

He then told Republicans that guns are their whole personality.

Guns are your Zoom backgrounds, your decorative lapel pins. Guns are how you show displeasure at documents. Guns are your Christmas cards, he added.

He said conservatives have jettisoned the entire integrity and belief of their political worldview, the entire foundation of it, for a guy who really doesnt give a f---.

Stewart then played a clip rom CNN in which Kaitlan Collins explained what Trump was posting on social media in the aftermath of Prettis death. Collins said that after the shooting, Trump complained about a lawsuit against the construction of the White House ballroom and criticized the NFLs new kickoff format.

Stewart went on to say that Americans just want sane policies" amid the ongoing Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) crackdown in Minneapolis.

And to add insult to injury, is the denial of the reality that we all witnessed. Theyre lying. We saw it, and thats how brazen they lie when they know weve seen the truth. Thats how they lied when they know we know. Imagine how they lie when theres no evidence to contradict them, Stewart said.

And maybe that, more than anything, explains why Alex Pretti really was a threat because he was brandishing a weapon, a handheld aluminum 10 ADP, 60 FPS, weapon of mass illumination, because there is nothing more dangerous to a regime predicated on lies than witnesses who capture the truth, Stewart said, referring to Pretti holding a phone, not a gun, when he was killed.
The approval rating of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has declined in the wake of a second fatal shooting by a federal officer in Minneapolis, according to a new poll.

The poll from Daily Mail/JL Partners, released Tuesday, revealed that Noem has a 33% approval rating, which is down from 37% recorded last month. Her disapproval rating has also risen to 41% from 37% over the same period, the poll found.

The slight drop comes as Democratic lawmakers and some conservatives have called Noems leadership into question after a U.S. Border Patrol officer shot and killed Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old intensive care nurse, in Minneapolis on Saturday.

According to the poll, 46% of respondents believe that Noem should be impeached, while 42% believe Trump should fire her. The poll, which was conducted Monday, included responses from over 1,000 registered voters and has a margin of error of 3.1%.

While speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Trump responded with a blunt no when asked whether Noem would step down over her premature response to the shooting.

I think shes done a very good job, Trump said. I think shes doing a very good job. The border is totally secure.

The killing of Pretti came just weeks after an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer fatally shot Renee Good, sparking widespread protests in the region.

The recent incident quickly sparked clashing narratives among state and federal officials in its immediate aftermath, with Noem saying that Pretti attacked officers and was seen brandishing a gun, despite no public video footage backing her claims. Noem has also claimed that Pretti had committed an act of domestic terrorism.

Although Trump threw cold water on growing pressure, the White House has appeared to distance itself from some of the statements made by top administration officials, including Noem and deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller, in recent days. During her press briefing on Monday, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said she has not heard the president characterize Mr. Pretti in that way.

However, I have heard the president say he wants to let the facts in the investigation lead itself, Leavitt added.

In an interview with The Wall Street Journal late Sunday, Trump had dodged answering whether the federal agent had acted appropriately, instead saying that his administration is reviewing everything and will come out with a determination.

On Monday, Trump then announced his border czar, Tom Homan, would be headed to Minneapolis that night to oversee the immigration operation. At the same time, The New York Times reported that Trump had met with Noem and Corey Lewandowski, her top aide, for nearly two hours in the Oval Office as his administration looks to shift its strategy.

Noems reaction has since prompted calls from Democrats for her to leave the administration. An impeachment resolution has gained momentum in the House, with nearly 150 co-sponsors signing on as of Tuesday, as calls mount for her resignation.

A handful of Republican lawmakers, meanwhile, have pressed for an independent investigation into the shooting and for officials to testify to Congress.
As the start of the Milan Cortina Winter Games approaches, the host citys mayor is speaking out against the expected presence of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in the Italian metropolis.

Milan Mayor Giuseppe Sala said that ICE is not welcome in response to reports that federal immigration agents will have a security role during the Feb. 6-22 Winter Games. According to the Associated Press, ICE officers will support diplomatic security details and would not run any immigration enforcement operations.

This is a militia that kills, a militia that enters into the homes of people, signing their own permission slips. It is clear they are not welcome in Milan, without a doubt,' Sala told RTL Radio 102, per Italian news outlet Calcio e Finanza.

Sala added: I wonder, can we say no to Trump for once? ICE agents must not come to Italy because they are not aligned with our democratic way of guaranteeing security.

During past Olympic Games, multiple federal agencies have helped provide security for U.S. diplomats, sources familiar with the matter told the AP.

Among them is Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the investigative arm of ICE. HSIs stated mission is to conduct federal criminal investigations into the illegal movement of people, goods, money, contraband, weapons and sensitive technology into, out of and through the United States.

The Diplomatic Security Service (DSS) has also been working with local authorites in Italy in advance of the Winter Games. Considered the State Departments law enforcement arm, DSS help provide security at major international events, including prior Olympics.

In a statement, ICE said that HSI is supporting the US Department of States Diplomatic Security Service and host nation to vet and mitigate risks from transnational criminal organisations. All security operations remain under Italian authority.

However, the plan to send ICE agents to Milan has been met with considerable backlash from Italian officials and political groups.

Protestors and politicians in the U.S. have amplified their criticism of President Donald Trumps severe immigration tactics after a Border Patrol agent shot and killed 37-year-old Alex Pretti in Minneapolis on Saturday. His death came less than three weeks after an ICE agent killed Renee Good during federal operations in the Twin Cities.

Reports of violence against protestors and harsh treatment of detained immigrants have also sparked condemnation abroad ahead of the quadrennial Winter Games in Milan.

Italia Viva, a centrist opposition party led by former Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi, said ICE agents should not be allowed in the country.

ICE, Trumps anti-immigration militia, are a symbol of violence, repression, abuse, and human rights violations, Italia Viva posted on X. Accepting their presence in Italy is madness: they do not guarantee security and do not represent our values.Get ICE out of Italy!

Alessandro Zan, a member of the European Parliaments center-left Democratic Party, said Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni should stop taking orders from Trump and, for once, act as a patriot of Italy and not of the United States.

In Italy, we dont want those who trample human rights and act outside any democratic control, Zan posted on X. Its unacceptable to think that an agency of this kind could have a role, whatever it may be, in our country.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
During Mondays broadcast of Greg Kelly Reports on NewsMax, the shows eponymous host attempted to argue that the U.S. Border Patrol agents who killed Alex Pretti had mistakenly believed he was wielding a firearm.

In a weird way, that phone, I think, can be mistaken for a gun. I want to show you something, Kelly told viewers. He then raised a black iPhone, gripping it like a pistol and aiming it in different directions.

Does that look like a gun? I think it does a little bit, Kelly said. Its black! Like most phones. Thats crazy stuff.

Kellys defense of federal agents aligned with remarks from Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, who said Pretti was brandishing a weapon as he approached immigration officers on the street in Minneapolis last Saturday. DHS said Pretti aimed to massacre law enforcement, despite video recordings that have contradicted that description.

Videos show Pretti holding a phone in his hand as he steps between a federal agent and two civilians who were being pepper-sprayed. Pretti is never seen holding his phone in the way Kelly described.

As Pretti was taken to the ground by several officers, one officer retrieved a gun from Prettis right hip and moved away, according to a New York Times video analysis.

Then, while Mr. Pretti is on his knees and restrained, the agent standing directly above him appears to fire one shot at Mr. Pretti at close range. He immediately fires three additional shots, the Times reported.

In the aftermath of Prettis death, Minneapolis Police Chief Brian OHara said that the 37-year-old intensive care nurse had no criminal record and legally owned his firearm under state law. Minnesota statutes allow licensed gun owners to carry a handgun openly or concealed in public.

While tributes have poured in for Pretti since his killing, Kelly attacked him for doing a very, very, very stupid thing.

Alex Pretti, I feel sorry for him because he was lied to and manipulated and he did a very, very, very stupid thing showing up the way he did, Kelly said. And the media, my goodness gracious, they have a new saint. Pretty ordinary guy, actually. But hes on the right side of history, right?

Kellys far-fetched iPhone defense and critical remarks generated backlash across social media.

Mike Sington, a former senior executive at NBCUniversal and vocal Trump critic, slammed Kellys defense of the federal agents who fired on Pretti.

Moron MAGA Newsmax host Greg Kelly does ridiculous demonstration of Alex Pretti holding his phone like a gun, something Pretti never did in any of the videos, Sington wrote on X.

In a post on X, progressive news site the Tennessee Holler wrote: Newsmax host Greg Kelly pathetically tries to justify murder. Insane.

Several other X accounts called for Kelly to be fired, with one user describing the host as depraved.
The state Office of the Attorney General won its lawsuit against the Trump administration, which had sought to take away $73 million in funding for electric vehicle charging infrastructure from New Jersey.

A U.S. District Court agreed that the presidents administration unlawfully pulled funding the state was due to receive under the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Formula Program.

New Jersey, Delaware and New York were among 17 states that filed a lawsuit in 2025 seeking to have the funding restored. President Donald Trump had signed an executive order in January 2025 ordering federal agencies to pause distribution of the money.

The ruling is a win for New Jerseys electric vehicle infrastructure and helps reduce transportation costs for its residents and commuters, the state Office of the Attorney General said in a statement Tuesday.

The decision is a final ruling, the state Attorney General said. The states that sued received an injunction in June.

In a statement emailed to NJ Advance Media, the Federal Highway Administration said it has fulfilled its obligations to states.

Federal Highways has aligned the program with the Trump administrations priorities of safety, efficiency, and innovationissuing updated NEVI guidance in August. Forty-nine states have since had their new plans approved and are free to obligate funds.

The results of President Trump and Secretary (Sean) Duffys leadership speak for themselves. In just five months since issuing revised NEVI guidance, Secretary Duffy was able to obligate 39% more NEVI funds than the Biden Administration obligated in 3 years.

Under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, signed in 2021, $7.5 billion was set aside for the electric vehicle charging infrastructure and of that, $5 billion was slated to go to states to bolsters a fast charger network throughout the countrys major highways.

These fast chargers are able to recharge a battery electric vehicle up to 80 percent in 20 minutes to an hour. The alternatives can take hours.

NJ Advance Media staff writer Steven Rodas contributed to this report.
President Donald Trump offered compliments to a number of Democrats after explaining why politicians publicly jab at one another.

During an interview on WABCs Sid & Friends radio show, host Sid Rosenberg told Trump that he gets upset when politicians decide to bad-mouth the president. Trump had one answer as to why he returns the favor.

Well, you know, its politics, Trump said in comments released Tuesday. I see it with so many. Theyll be so nice to me  you dont know how nice they are.

I mean, at a level that you have rarely heard, and then youll see them three days later on a show or something, and theyll be knocking the hell out of you, he continued ...And you know what? I do the same to them.

Trump said that he can be nice to lawmakers, and then Im not so nice maybe when Im talking about them as a politician.

Which I hate to call myself, but I guess ultimately Im a politician, right? Trump said. But, you know, its politics. Its a nasty world. Its a nasty profession if you want to know the truth.

Trump later went on to say that New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, one of his fiercest critics, has a really good personality and tremendous assets. He noted that they previously had some good meetings and some good talks, appearing to reference their amicable meeting in November.

Hes the way he is, Trump said. I guess youre not going to change. You know, you grow up a certain way, and you sort of tend to be a certain way, but they got to do a good job for New York.

Trump, however, added that Mamdani embraces policies and concepts that really havent worked over the last 10,000 years.

Rosenberg, while calling Trump the nicest guy in the world, then dug into Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, claiming that the governor has been killing you, killing ICE, killing America. He also pointed to sharp criticism from Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey (D), prompting Trump to discuss what he described as very successful phone calls with both lawmakers in the wake of the second fatal shooting in the Twin Cities.

Actually, they were both great conversations, Trump said. So, lets hope that turns out to be so.

During the interview, Trump also said he thinks Republicans have a shot at keeping control of Congress during the 2026 midterm elections, but acknowledged that statistically, when a president wins, they lose the midterms.

I dont know why  it doesnt make sense," Trump said. Even if its a successful president, and I dont think any presidents had a better first year than weve had.

When asked about Bad Bunny and Green Day performing at Super Bowl LIX, which is less than two weeks away, Trump said it was a strange choice before ranting about the NFLs kickoff rule. He also touched on his visit to the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, last week, and the recent return of the final deceased Israeli hostage in Gaza.
President Donald Trump is raising eyebrows among critics over his assessment of guns in the wake of the second fatal shooting of a U.S. citizen in Minneapolis.

While speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Trump threw cold water on a description from White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller that Alex Pretti  the 37-year-old intensive care nurse who was killed by a U.S. Border Patrol officer on Saturday  was acting like an assassin.

But that being said, you know, you cant have guns, Trump said. You cant walk in with guns. You just cant.

When asked in the background about the Second Amendment, Trump added: Listen, you cant walk in with guns. You cant do that. But its a very unfortunate incident.

His comments come as the Department of Homeland Security claimed that the federal officer shot Pretti in an act of self-defense after he violently resisted efforts to disarm him, with its secretary, Kristi Noem, saying that Pretti attacked officers and was seen brandishing a gun  despite no public video footage appearing to back the claims.

Minneapolis Police Chief Brian OHara said local officials believe Pretti was a lawful gun owner with a permit to carry. Homeland Security posted an image of a 9 mm semi-automatic handgun it obtained from the incident.

Several social media users immediately swarmed the presidents remarks.

.@TheDemocrats heres your new ad, the Lincoln Project wrote on X.

Rep. Herb Conaway (D-N.J.) tagged the National Rifle Association, asking, how we feeling today?

As of today, the Trump administration thinks you should not have your guns, posted Fred Guttenberg, whose 14-year-old daughter Jaime was killed in the 2018 Parkland shooting. Who is the extremist now?

Political commentator Charlie Sykes added: And there goes The second amendment."

Yes you can, Cam Edwards, who reports on the Second Amendment, said.

Trump doubled down on his comments once he touched down in Iowa shortly afterward.

I dont like that he had a gun, Trump said of Pretti. I dont like that he had two fully loaded magazines. Thats a lot of bad stuff. And despite that, I say thats a very unfortunate incident.

In the aftermath of the shooting, some leading Second Amendment advocates have offered a rare rebuke to members of the Trump administration  some of whom criticized the presence of a gun at a protest.

You cannot bring a firearm, loaded, with multiple magazines to any sort of protest that you want, FBI Director Kash Patel told Fox News on Sunday. Its that simple.

Noem said on Saturday that she doesnt know of any peaceful protester who shows up with a gun and ammunition rather than a sign, while White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said on Monday that gun owners know that carrying can raise the assumption of risk and the risk of force being used against you during confrontations with law enforcement.

Bill Essayli, the top prosecutor in Los Angeles, also argued on X that there is a high likelihood law enforcement will be legally justified to fire shots when approached with a gun. His reaction prompted a sharp response from the NRA, which called the sentiment dangerous and wrong.

Responsible public voices should be awaiting a full investigation, not making generalizations and demonizing law-abiding citizens, the group added.

During her briefing, Leavitt maintained that Trump supports Second Amendment rights of law-abiding citizens, adding that there has been no greater supporter or defender.

So while Americans have a constitutional right to bear arms, Americans do not have a constitutional right to impede lawful immigration enforcement operations, Leavitt said.
A private group has proposed a 280 km railway linking Ho Chi Minh City with Can Tho and Ca Mau, connecting Vietnam's largest city with the Mekong Delta and the country's southernmost point.

CT Group said the proposed line would carry both passenger and freight trains and be built as an electrified, double-track railway using standard gauge. The company suggested a design speed of 200-250 kph and said higher speeds of up to 300-350 kph could also be studied.

Under the proposal submitted to the Ministry of Construction, the railway would start at Thu Thiem Station in Ho Chi Minh City, linking with the north-south railway, and end at Dat Mui Station in Ca Mau. The route would pass through six localities including Ho Chi Minh City, Can Tho, and several Mekong Delta provinces.

CT Group said a 200-250 kph operating range would best balance efficiency for mixed passenger and freight services on the corridor.

In response, the Ministry of Construction said the Ho Chi Minh City-Can Tho section is classified as a new national railway project with a large scale and investment requirement. The ministry has assigned the My Thuan Project Management Board to prepare a pre-feasibility study.

The Can Tho-Ca Mau section has already been added to Vietnam's adjusted national railway network plan for 2021-2030, with a long-term vision to 2050. Planning documents indicate that passenger and freight demand on this stretch is expected to materialize closer to 2050.

The ministry said it is open to working with investors to exchange more detailed information, given the project's complexity and scale.

Separately, authorities are studying a pre-feasibility report for the Ho Chi Minh City-Can Tho railway alone, with a proposed length of 175.2 km. This plan envisions an electrified, standard-gauge line designed for speeds of about 160 kph.

Under the current roadmap, phase one before 2030 would build a single-track railway of about 175 km at an estimated cost of VND173.64 trillion ($7.16 billion). A second phase would upgrade the entire route to double track at an additional cost of about VND64.97 trillion ($2.7 billion), excluding financing costs.
President Donald Trump just hit a new low on one of the top issues he promised to fix.

A new Reuters/Ipsos poll, released Monday, found Trumps approval rating on his handling of immigration sank to the lowest level since his return to office. The poll, conducted Friday to Sunday, showed just 39% of Americans approved of how Trump was dealing with immigration while 53% disapproved.

This is a sharp drop in approval from the start of Trumps term, when 50% approved in February of how the president was handling immigration.

The poll was conducted before and after a Border Patrol officer shot and killed 37-year-old Alex Pretti in Minneapolis on Saturday morning. The latest shooting came weeks after an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer fatally shot 37-year-old Renee Good in Minneapolis.

The shootings occurred during ICEs crackdown in Minneapolis to detain and deport those living in the city illegally. Trump vowed to enact mass deportations when on the campaign trail, but the new poll suggests that many Americans think it has gone too far.

About 58% of Americans said that the actions of ICE have gone too far, in their immigration crackdown, according to Reuters. Another 12% said that ICE has not gone far enough while 26% said the efforts were about right.

The poll also found that Trumps overall approval rating tied for the lowest level of his second term, according to Reuters. The poll showed Trump with a 38% approval rating, slightly dipping from the 41% approval rating he had earlier this month.

The latest poll included responses from 1,139 U.S. adults and had a margin of error of about plus or minus 3 percentage points.

These poll results echo recent findings from YouGov surveys. One YouGov poll found that 57% of Americans somewhat or strongly disapproved of the way that ICE is handling its job, while 37% approved.
U.S. Sen. Andy Kim (D-N.J.) admitted that his vote to confirm Kristi Noem as U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security was a mistake following the latest fatal shooting in Minneapolis.

Kim joined a chorus of Democrats now demanding that Noem resign from her post after Border Patrol officer shot and killed 37-year-old Alex Pretti on Saturday morning. Kim was one of seven Democrats who voted to confirm Noem to her post last year, but said in June 2025 that he regretted his vote.

Kim reiterated his regret for voting for Noem during an interview with Studio 2 from WHYY that aired on Monday.

It was a terrible vote. It was a mistake, Kim said.

He explained that some Democrats the Homeland Security Committee were hoping to establish open communication with Noem by voting for her. But, he admitted that the goal has not panned out.

He then called on Noem to resign from her job.

Ive called for Kristi Noem to resign. I dont think she should be in that job, but this administration would just put right back in somebody that will just continue to do their bidding, he said.

You know, this is a deep rot to the core. And you know, people like Stephen Miller, I truly believe hes the most dangerous person in our country right now. You know, these are the people that are in charge and at the helm and are pushing this absolutely dangerous and reckless approach to that thats wreaking so much damage across our government and, frankly, our communities, he concluded.

In a post sharing his comments, Kim called Noem unfit to serve.

Kristi Noem is unfit to serve. But its not just her  theres a deep rot to the core of this administration, Kim said on social media.

Noem faced backlash over the weekend for claiming, without evidence, that Pretti engaged in domestic terrorism that led to him being fatally shot. Her claim contradicted videos that showed Pretti holding a cellphone, not a weapon, before he was killed.

Earlier this week, Kim and U.S. Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) vowed to oppose an upcoming bill to fund the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, arguing that the agency cannot be trusted and must be subjected to greater oversight.

We are united in outrage. This needs to be a point where we say ENOUGH and refuse to vote on this DHS funding bill as it currently stands, Kim said on X.

As I said when I visited ICE facilities and met with communities across New Jersey this week: I will not vote for another dollar for this out-of-control Department of Homeland Security and ICE, Booker said.

As Noem faces calls to resign, President Donald Trump reaffirmed his support for her in comments to reporters on Tuesday. He also said that Noem will not be stepping down from her position.

I think shes doing a very good job, he told reporters.

NJ Advance Media staff writer Nick Moyle contributed to this report.
The 27 towns challenging New Jerseys affordable housing plan are pressing ahead, even after both state and federal judges dismissed their lawsuit.

At the center of the legal fight is Local Leaders for Responsible Planning, a coalition of 27 suburban municipalities that say New Jerseys 2024 overhaul of affordable housing rules forces disproportionate development onto their towns and strips them of local control.

The group is now taking their challenge to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, and asking the court to put the law on hold as they challenge affordable housing requirements.

Most of the towns involved are affluent suburban communities in North and Central Jersey, including Montvale, Holmdel, Millburn and Franklin Lakes  places that have long resisted highdensity development and previously fought affordable housing mandates in court.

A federal judge in New Jersey, Zahid N. Quraishi, denied their request for an injunction twice last week.

First, he sided with the state and dismissed the towns lawsuit. The state defendants included the New Jersey attorney general, the administrative director of the courts and members of the Affordable Housing Dispute Resolution Program.

Following that ruling, the towns asked Quraishi to reconsider an injunction in light of their appeal, but he again denied the request.

The towns are appealing Judge Quraishis ruling to the Third Circuit and are asking the appeals court for a stay to halt the law while that appeal is decided.

A stay is a court order that temporarily pauses a law, ruling or legal requirement from taking effect while a case or appeal is still being decided.

They argued that without a stay, any later appeal win wouldnt matter because construction would already have started and couldnt be rolled back.

The more than two dozen municipalities initially filed a lawsuit in state court challenging the Affordable Housing Reform Law enacted by Gov. Phil Murphy in 2024.

The law eliminated the Council on Affordable Housing and created a new courtmanaged system for calculating municipal housing obligations and resolving disputes.

The towns argued the law violated the Mount Laurel doctrine and raised several legal issues, including unfunded mandates, specialinterest legislation, separationofpowers concerns and an improper transfer of authority to the Administrative Director of the Courts.

The Mount Laurel doctrine, established through New Jersey Supreme Court decisions, requires every municipality to use zoning to ensure it provides its fair share of affordable housing.

In October, Mercer County Superior Court Judge Robert Lougy dismissed the state lawsuit, ruling that the Legislature has the authority to enforce the Mount Laurel doctrine and that the towns challenge lacked legal grounds.

The towns then turned to federal court, where the case was dismissed on Jan. 20.

Quraishi ruled that municipalities cannot bring this type of constitutional challenge in federal court and noted that even if the 2024 law were struck down, the towns would still face the same affordable housing obligations under decades of Mount Laurel rulings.

My clients are appealing to the Third Circuit seeking to pause the imminent re-zoning of properties in their communities that they do not believe are suitable for high-density housing until their equal protection claims may be decided, said Michael Collins, of King Moench & Collins, an attorney for the towns.

The towns face a deadline of March 15 to file revised housing plans.

Affordable housing supports workers, small businesses, and local economies  the vast majority of New Jersey municipalities recognize that and are already moving forward with thoughtful housing plans," said Joshua Bauers, director of exclusionary zoning litigation at Fair Share Housing Center.

Using taxpayer dollars to prolong this litigation only hurts the towns pursuing it, he added.
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The United States long-term security, prosperity, and liberties will be decisively shaped by developments in the Indo-Pacific, said Under Secretary of War for Policy Elbridge Colby in remarks at the Sejong Institute in South Korea.



A satisfactory stability in Asia . . . .will be preserved by power intelligently and rightly applied and specifically by a durable favorable balance of power that, as the National Security Strategy lays out, prevents domination of this crucial region by any single state, said Under Secretary Colby.



President Donald Trump's long-standing emphasis has been on peace through strength. This is not about needless confrontation. This is not about forever wars. It is instead about the protection of American and allied interests through a stability rooted in credible deterrence and strategic balance, said Under Secretary Colby.



President Trump has been clear that the U.S. should strive for a stable, peaceful relationship with China that protects the interests of the United States and its allies. The United States does not seek to dominate China nor to strangle or humiliate it. What we seek, said Under Secretary Colby is a favorable balance of power in which no state can impose its hegemony. This stability will allow us to trade with each other and for our nations to prosper, agreeing where we can and differing where we must.



At the same time, the U.S. must be clear-eyed about China's ongoing military modernization and buildup. U.S. defense strategy in the Indo-Pacific centers on deterrence along the first island chain, which includes the Japanese home islands through the Ryukyu Islands, Taiwan, and the Philippine archipelago. [W]e are focused on building a military posture in the Western Pacific that ensures that aggression along the first island chain is infeasible, that escalation unattractive, and war is indeed irrational, said Under Secretary Colby.



As President Trump has noted, for too long the security of key regions rested disproportionately on the United States. That imbalance is neither fair nor sustainable, noted Under Secretary Colby. Moreover, President Trump has consistently argued that alliances are strongest when they are based on shared responsibility rather than permanent dependency.



With regard to South Korea, it has invested consistently in its own defense because it understands geography, threat, and the centrality of concrete military power, said Under Secretary Colby. South Korean President Lee Jae Myungs decision to increase defense spending to 3.5 percent and to assume greater responsibility for South Korea's conventional defense reflects an understanding of how to put this historic alliance on sound footing for the long haul.



The goal of American defense policy in Asia, said Under Secretary Colby, is defined by a favorable balance not hegemony, in which sovereignty is respected, and in which peace is sustained, not by comforting illusions, but by clarity, strength, and resolve.



And this ultimately is the foundation of a durable peace in the Indo-Pacific that will benefit not only Americans but also people throughout the region.
Footage has been released capturing russia's delivery of up to six Yak130 jet trainer and light combat aircraft as well as at least one Orion reconnaissance and strike UAV to Ethiopia.

The Yak-130s have the tail numbers 2301, 2302, 2303, 2305, and 2306. They were demonstrated during the Aviation Expo 2026 air show at the Bishoftu airfield of the 1st Central Air Base of the Ethiopian Air Force. This was reported by russian Center for Analysis of Strategies and Technologies.

russian Yak-130s delivered to the Ethiopian Air Force, January 2026 / Screenshot from open-source video

This announcement is noteworthy for several reasons. In January 2025, Myanmar received six Su30SMs from russia, which appears to have been the last "legal" contract for russian aircraft, in the sense that at the time there was no public information about any other export contracts, excluding its work with Iran.

It turned out that russians successfully sold their Yak130 aircraft to Ethiopia, which had previously received two problematic "Indian" Su30Ks in January 2024aircraft that russia had been trying to sell for 15 years.

It is known that Ethiopia is one of the traditional buyers of russian weapons. The core of the Ethiopian Air Force's combat aviation consists of eight Su-27s and three Su-27UBs purchased from russia in the 1990s, as well as the two Su-30Ks, one Su-25T, two Su-25UBs, and six MiG-23BNs mentioned above. The total number of combat aircraft comes to 22. In one of our publications, we described how these russian-supplied Su-27s fought against Eritrea's MiG-29s in Ethiopia, and why this story was so significant.

Transfer of Su-30K to the Ethiopian Air Force, January 2024 / Open-source photo

Military and technical cooperation between russia and Ethiopia after February 2022 developed not only in the aviation field. In October 2023, the russian federation sold the Krasukha-4 electronic warfare system to Ethiopia. In June 2025 it became known that although Ethiopia has no access to the sea and lacks its own ships, this has not stopped it from building the headquarters of its future fleet in cooperation with russia.

However, when it comes to UAVs, Ethiopia boasts a veritable "zoo," including the Turkish Akinci and Bayraktar TB2, the Iranian Mohajer6, and the Chinese Wing Loong I. Against this backdrop, one (or even several) Orion UAVs from russia look like nothing more than an "addition to the collection." For russians, this could carry psychological weight, as it marks the first publicly known export of the Orion reconnaissance and strike drone, previously deployed only sporadically in Ukraine.

Orion reconnaissance and strike UAVs / Illustrative photo

russians are not providing any information on the possible cost of the contract to supply Yak130 aircraft and Orion drones to Ethiopia, including whether payment has been made, and if so, whether it was in cash, via barter, or on credit.

It is likely that, for russians, this delivery of Yak130s and Orion UAVs carries mainly psychological significance: it shows that their military products remain in demand, at least among Third World countries loyal to the Kremlin.

Ivan Kyrychevskyi, serviceman of the 413th Raid Regiment of the Unmanned Systems Forces of Ukraine and weapons expert at Defense Express.
Everyone starts to pay a bit more attention when they realise the decisions councils are making might hit them in the pocket.

And thats why more people across Dartmoor and its surrounding towns may be tuning into whats happening in their local town halls right now, as its budget-setting time.

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Honiton Town Council has already captured headlines by proposing a 49.9 per cent hike in its share, or precept, to use the formal term, of the council tax bill.

The council has outlined clear reasons why it wants to progress with such a big increase, including preparing for the major shake-up about to hit Devons local government and a need to bolster its reserves, but it has prompted the resignation of the now former councillor Joanne Fotheringham.

Interestingly, Honiton might not be alone, as there are some other town and parish councils in and around Dartmoor eyeing significant hikes too.

Number crunching

While the idea of reams of spreadsheets chock-full of numbers might make many want to glaze over, now is a vital time in the council calendar because finance officers are trying to work out how much money they need for the year ahead.

To meet often rising costs, councils need to raise more money, and one of the few proverbial levers they can pull is council tax, which is paid by homeowners and represents a significant source of town hall income.

Town and parish councils, including those serving Dartmoor communities and nearby market towns, dont have formal limits on how much they can increase their precept by, but are encouraged to provide justification where large hikes are proposed.

The other precepts that combine to make up the council tax bill come from Devon County Council (for Devon residents outside Plymouth and Torbay), a district council such as South Hams or Teignbridge, the Devon & Cornwall Police and Crime Commissioner, and the Devon and Somerset Fire & Rescue Service.

Those other precepting bodies are subject to limits on how much they can increase council tax by each year.

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The precepts are added together to create a total, which is billed to residents based on the council tax band their property sits in.

But big spikes in precepts are being witnessed in a growing number of parish councils, including some serving Dartmoor-edge and rural communities, many of which are fearful about what extra responsibilities they might soon have to take on.

Uncertain future

That concern comes from the ongoing process of local government reorganisation, or LGR for short.

This is the biggest shake-up of local councils in 50 years and is likely to leave Devon with just three large councils compared to its current 11.

For communities in and around Dartmoor, there are worries that those new, larger councils will either want to jettison certain responsibilities or simply wont have the time or capacity to consider them.

In such a scenario, the fear goes, the smallest councils on the local democracy rung, parishes and towns, will have to pick up the slack.

And to do that, they need money.

All parish and town councils are aware of the LGR spectre, and the Somerset examples where many town services, like theatres and parks, were offered to town councils, so the smaller parishes may be considering such things, as well as others such as grass cutting or public toilet maintenance, said Councillor Steve Keable (Liberal Democrat, Creedy, Taw and Mid Exe), a member of both Devon County Council and Mid Devon District Council.

Consequently, active parish and town councils are mindful of LGR happening in just over two years and are preparing their budgets for managing the yet-unknown impacts and to avoid major one-off council tax hikes in a couple of years.

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LGR will not save money, it will shift the focus of who pays. Unlike district and county councils, which have a legal limit on raising council tax, parish and town councils are not capped.

While the parish or town precept is unlikely to be the largest portion of any Devon residents council tax bill, increases in it nevertheless make a difference, particularly in smaller Dartmoor and rural communities.

Complex picture

There are hundreds of parishes in Devon alone, many of them covering Dartmoor villages and surrounding countryside, making it difficult to discern an average rise or identify clear trends.

But a random sample suggests the direction of parish and town precepts is definitely upwards.

In the South Hams, Totnes is weighing a 7.5 per cent or 10 per cent rise, while Dartmouths precept rose by 11 per cent this year.

In Ivybridge, a key gateway to southern Dartmoor, the precept looks set to rise by nearly 12 per cent, while Okehampton, on the northern edge of the moor, is essentially flat with a 53p drop per year for a Band D home.

Elsewhere on the moors fringes, Bovey Tracey is heading for a roughly 31 per cent hike in its total precept, which the town council has described as an extra 62p per week for a Band D home to help cover unavoidable costs so the town council can stay in good shape for the future.

A raft of other Dartmoor, South Hams and Teignbridge town halls will be deciding their precept rises soon.

But some context is vital.

Percentage rises can be distorting, particularly in smaller Dartmoor communities, where fewer households are available to absorb rising costs.

Parishes and towns, by their nature, contain fewer residents than larger authorities, meaning increases can be felt more sharply in rural and moorland areas.

With LGR on the horizon, many local councillors fear that imbalance could worsen.
Exeters hospitals and health services are facing significant pressure this winter as seasonal illnesses, high bed occupancy, and delayed discharges continue to strain local NHS resources.

While some indicators, such as flu and COVID-19, show signs of decline, the most vulnerable residents remain at risk, and staff are working tirelessly to manage demand.

At the Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, which serves Exeter and surrounding areas, ambulance handovers continue to experience delays.

Between 24 November 2025 and 18 January 2026, the trust recorded 83 handovers, with a mean handover time of 28 minutes 14 seconds.

Around 87 per cent of handovers took longer than 15 minutes, and nearly 40 per cent exceeded 30 minutes, although only 1 per cent surpassed 60 minutes.

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Peter Collins, Chief Medical Officer for NHS Devon, said: The NHS in Devon is coping well with the sustained and significant pressure we planned for during the challenging winter period.

Whilst we are beginning to see signs of seasonal viruses like flu and COVID reduce, the effects of these conditions on the most vulnerable in our communities remains significant  its not too late for those eligible to have vaccinations to protect themselves and others for the remainder of the winter months.

Nationally, NHS England reported 94.5 per cent of general and acute hospital beds were occupied in the week ending 18 January 2026, the highest mid-January level since 2020.

Hospitals are also grappling with a surge in norovirus, with an average of 823 patients in hospital each day, more than double the number two weeks earlier.

Despite these pressures, NHS staff efforts have yielded improvements.

Average ambulance handover times last week fell to 37 minutes 22 seconds, over five minutes faster than the previous week, and 73.8 per cent of patients were admitted, transferred, or discharged within four hours in Decemberthe trusts best performance in five years.

Care home managers in Exeter have highlighted funding shortfalls as a key factor behind delayed hospital discharges.

Helen Thompson, co-owner of Ochre Care, explained: About 65 per cent of our residents are not funded appropriately for their dependency, so privately funded residents help subsidise the gap.

Currently, the company receives 994 per week for council-funded residents, but the actual cost of care can be up to 1,300 a week.

Nationally, only 1216 per cent of patients ready to leave care are discharged promptly, contributing to crowded wards and increased waiting times in emergency departments.

Winter illnesses continue to impact the region. Norovirus cases remain high, particularly among those aged 65 and over.

Amy Douglas, Lead Epidemiologist at UKHSA, said: Norovirus cases have remained high in recent weeks and continue to rise, particularly among people aged 65 and over. This increase is in line with what we expected following Christmas, and we are now seeing hospital outbreaks begin to climb as well.

Although flu and COVID-19 activity is declining, RSV remains a concern in older adults. Dr Jamie Lopez Bernal, Consultant Epidemiologist at UKHSA, urged: While trends are heading in the right direction, its important to remember that we are not yet at the end of the flu season and people should still take necessary steps to reduce the spread, particularly around those more vulnerable.

Vaccination remains the NHSs best defence.

Dr Alex Allen, Consultant Epidemiologist at UKHSA, emphasized: If youre eligible for a vaccine it is because you are at greater risk of severe illness  every year we see many thousands end up in hospital and far too many deaths from flu.

He added: Its crucial that everyone eligible books their appointment as soon as possible.

NHS services are urging residents to play their part in reducing pressure.

Guidance includes calling 999 only for serious emergencies, using NHS 111 online or by phone for non-urgent medical advice, taking precautions against winter illnesses such as frequent handwashing, staying home until 48 hours symptom-free, making use of community pharmacies for minor illnesses, and supporting hospital flow by collecting loved ones ready for discharge.

Peter Collins added: Community pharmacies across Devon can help support people with fast, expert treatment for seven common conditions such as sore throats and sinusitis, without the need for a GP appointment.

Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting reiterated that government investment (including 450 million to expand urgent and emergency care and 500 new ambulances) is helping ensure patients receive care when it matters most

. As Exeters NHS continues to manage winter pressures, the public is encouraged to follow guidance, get vaccinated if eligible, and support the system where possible.

With ongoing vigilance, cooperation, and staff dedication, the citys health services are striving to navigate one of the busiest periods of the year.
Seniors taste Laba porridge at a community center in Qianxi City, southwest China's Guizhou Province, Jan. 26, 2026. The Laba Festival, which is celebrated each year on the eighth day of the twelfth lunar month with the custom of having Laba porridge, falls on Monday this year. (Photo by Fan Hui/Xinhua)

Staff members of an enterprise distribute free Laba porridge to the villagers in Qinyang City, central China's Henan Province, Jan. 26, 2026. The Laba Festival, which is celebrated each year on the eighth day of the twelfth lunar month with the custom of having Laba porridge, falls on Monday this year. (Photo by Zhang Xinyu/Xinhua)

A teacher introduces ingredients for making Laba porridge at a kindergarten in Linyi City, east China's Shandong Province, Jan. 26, 2026. The Laba Festival, which is celebrated each year on the eighth day of the twelfth lunar month with the custom of having Laba porridge, falls on Monday this year. (Photo by Wang Yanbing/Xinhua)

Children prepare ingredients for making Laba porridge in a kindergarten in Zhengding County of Shijiazhuang, north China's Hebei Province, Jan. 26, 2026. The Laba Festival, which is celebrated each year on the eighth day of the twelfth lunar month with the custom of having Laba porridge, falls on Monday this year. (Photo by Liang Zidong/Xinhua)

Food delivery riders taste Laba porridge presented by community volunteers at a courier station in Huzhou City, east China's Zhejiang Province, Jan. 26, 2026. The Laba Festival, which is celebrated each year on the eighth day of the twelfth lunar month with the custom of having Laba porridge, falls on Monday this year. (Photo by Ni Lifang/Xinhua)

A teacher introduces ingredients for making Laba porridge at a kindergarten in Jiyuan City, central China's Henan Province, Jan. 26, 2026.. The Laba Festival, which is celebrated each year on the eighth day of the twelfth lunar month with the custom of having Laba porridge, falls on Monday this year. (Photo by Duan Erping/Xinhua)

This photo taken on Jan. 26, 2026 shows the ingredients for making Laba porridge at a kindergarten in Tianjin, north China. The Laba Festival, which is celebrated each year on the eighth day of the twelfth lunar month with the custom of having Laba porridge, falls on Monday this year. (Photo by Du Penghui/Xinhua)

Railway workers taste Laba porridge at a plant in Xinghua City, east China's Jiangsu Province, Jan. 26, 2026. The Laba Festival, which is celebrated each year on the eighth day of the twelfth lunar month with the custom of having Laba porridge, falls on Monday this year. (Photo by Zhou Shegen/Xinhua)

Sanitation workers taste Laba porridge at a community center in Rongcheng City, east China's Shandong Province, Jan. 26, 2026. The Laba Festival, which is celebrated each year on the eighth day of the twelfth lunar month with the custom of having Laba porridge, falls on Monday this year. (Photo by Li Xinjun/Xinhua)

Editor: WXY
Devon is facing widespread flooding this morning after Storm Chandra, which was named by the Met Office yesterday (26 January) and hit the region under an amber warning for parts of South Devon.

Heavy rain has caused significant surface water across East and Mid Devon, with authorities urging people to avoid driving unless essential.

Fire services are currently responding to multiple incidents of vehicles becoming stuck in floodwater.

Motorists are warned not to attempt alternative routes, as many roads are becoming heavily flooded.

Roads currently affected include:

A30 Daisy Mount  both directions

A30  closed at either end of Honiton

London Road, Cranbrook  junction at Gribble Lane

A3052 Clyst St Mary  both approaches at Cat and Fiddle and from Clyst St George

A377  impassable at Downes and Newton St Cyres

A303 Upottery

B3177 Iron Bridge

A382 Wray Barton

A396 Stoke Canon

B3181 Five Bridges, Cullompton

A379 Station Road, Dawlish

A3052 Boshill Hill

A358 Weycroft Bridge

Severe flood warning in Ottery St Mary

A severe flood warning has been issued for the River Otter (Lower) at Ottery St Mary, with authorities urging residents to act immediately. Flood water is expected to be deep and fast flowing, with levels forecast to peak between 5am and 10am this morning, potentially the highest recorded at the Fenny Bridges Gauge.

Low-lying areas and properties at risk include Finnimore Industrial Estate, Thorne Farm Way Estate, Luxtons Park, Otter Mill, and Tumbling Weir Way.

Residents are advised to move family, pets, and vehicles to safety and turn off gas, electricity, and water if it is safe to do so.

The Environment Agency, emergency services, and local authorities are closely monitoring the situation.

Drivers and residents are urged to take extreme care and follow official guidance to avoid putting themselves or others at risk.
Editor: GSY

From military strikes against Venezuela and threats to take over Greenland, to using tariff hikes as a coercive tool, the United States has revealed a clear contradiction. While claiming to uphold a "rules-based international order," it has repeatedly trampled on international law and accepted norms of conduct in practice. When rules no longer serve its own interests and hegemonic expansion, they are swiftly cast aside, replaced by force, intimidation, and power politics. This AI short film lays bare the hypocrisy behind such narratives.
We over-40 veterans are already too old for most clubs, but if the initiative of one Japanese bar gains international traction, bars may become off-limits as well. Japanese news outlets have reported that an izakaya-style bar in Shibuya only accepts patrons between the ages of 20 and 39. That sounds like a sure way to limit sales, but according to the owner, that is a sacrifice theyre willing to make.

TV Asahi recently visited the controversial bar to see if the rumors about its age-restriction were true. And, sure enough, the sign warning that the venue was aimed at the younger generations was still in place, in a very visible place near the entrance. According to Asahi, the sign did its job, as, during their visit, 90% of patrons were in their 20s.

Photo: Romeo A./Unsplash

Basically, our customers are young, so when older customers visit, complaints about the noise increase. We wanted to narrow our target demographic from the start to create a space where everyone can enjoy themselves comfortably, a bar employee explained the decision to hang up the sign.

One of the young patrons interviewed by Asahi welcomed the initiative, saying, Since its only young people, we can enjoy ourselves without worrying about disturbing others even if we get loud.

The owner of the bar clarified that people over 40 are not banned from entering, but the sign is meant to warn them about the atmosphere inside, and to avoid tensions with the younger patrons.

Even if someone is over 40, we welcome them if they are young at heart, the bar owner said, adding that the staff usually tells older patrons from the start, The bar might be noisy, is that okay? and allows them in if they have no objections.
Scribe Strategies & Advisors has signed a one-year $300K pact to represent the Government of Uganda.

The contract includes engagement with the US executive branch and Congress, strategic legislative and policy outreach, media relations and communications support, promotion of U.S.Uganda trade and investment, and advisory services related to counterterrorism cooperation.

That entails matters concerning ISIS-DRC, a designated terrorist organization operating in Central and East Africa. Additional services may be provided by mutual written agreement.

On Jan. 23, Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and Cory Booker (D-NJ), ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Africa and Global Health Policy, released a statement saying that Ugandas January 15th election was another blow to the pursuit of democracy in the country.

They cited "attacks on journalists, the jailing of opposition figures, the tear gassing of citizens assembling peacefully, reported abductions of opposition members and candidates, and reports of violence by security forces in the weeks and months leading up to these elections.

Scribe also represents African clients such as Morocco, Cote dIvoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, and South Sudan.
Ashley Grund (L), Michael Landau & Lauren Odell co-authored this article

The prevalence of disruptive and costly cyber incidents has been growing in recent years as hacking groups become increasingly sophisticated in their use of advanced technology and aggressive, deceptive tactics. Cyber criminals are adept at stealing and exfiltrating data, embarrassing companies, taking down applications and causing significant business damage. As such, cybersecurity is a top business risk that keeps security leaders, boards and C-suites up at night. This raises the urgency and importance of having a proactive plan to effectively manage a cyber incident before it hits. Often, the focus of preparedness is on the technical aspects. While these elements are critical, many organizations tend to overlook the important role of communications both before, during and after a breach.

In the last six months alone, there were a number of data breaches at large organizations, including The University of Pennsylvania, Microsoft SharePoint, Kering, Jaguar Land Rover and the Washington Post. The numbers were further exacerbated by the U.S. government shutdown in October 2025, which saw an approximate 85 percent increase in cyberattacks compared to September.

The stakes are high, both financially and reputationally. In 80 percent of cyber incidents investigated by Microsofts security teams, attackers sought to steal data for ransom. In addition to financial impact (loss of revenue), there are also severe reputational consequences. A companys response is put under intense scrutiny by the media and key stakeholders, including employees, customers and regulators. Public companies have additional important considerations, such as SEC reporting obligations and policies with making a ransom payment.

This article is featured in O'Dwyer's Jan. '26 Crisis Communications & PR Buyer's Guide Magazine



Its a question of whennot ifa cyber breach will occur. Communications professionals, who are often the first line of defense, sit at the nexus between several key organizational functions and are well-positioned to be a proactive, strategic partner. Communications leaders can bridge the gap between different areas of the business, identify weaknesses in plans and assemble a team to ensure readiness to manage a potential breach.

Here are four keys to building the foundation to successfully prepare for a cyber incident.

Assemble a core team and identify key advisors

A simple but often overlooked step is identifying and establishing the key players who should be involved in the preparation phase and identifying roles and responsibilities for these individuals in the event of a cyber incident. While the group will look different at every company, it should, at a minimum, include leaders from each line of business, select members of the C-suite and the legal team, including the General Counsel and lawyers who handle SEC reporting obligations. Some companies may choose to involve the CEO in preparation conversations or align first and then brief the CEO and Board members.

The team should select a leader in the event of a real incident and discuss an appropriate meeting cadencedoing this in the preparation phase will help with coordination and developing a clear understanding of roles.

In addition, the core team should define and disseminate core principles to guide the companys approach to managing all aspects of a cyber incidentsuch as protecting reputation over business performanceto ensure alignment and provide a structure for addressing key considerations.

In the planning phase, its helpful to identify the external advisors who would be involved in a potential cyber incident, as this can be more difficult to do in the moment. This includes outside communications advisors and legal counsel, cyber insurance carriers and forensic accountants.

Map key stakeholders

Effective stakeholder mapping ensures no constituency is overlooked in a crisis while providing the communications team with clear pathways to reach each group. Its important to consider who the stakeholders are, how they normally receive communications, anticipated questions, mandated disclosures and main messages. In the event there isnt an established medium to reach a specific stakeholder group, the business can identify this and stage an appropriate channel or venue to communicate with this group.

Mapping key stakeholders will help identify others that might need to be brought into the fold, highlight potential challenges/sticking points and inform key parts of the communications plan.

Develop a communications scenario plan

Given the likelihood of a cyber incident occurring, its imperative that companies have a communications plancontemplating several different scenariosthat could be activated quickly. Its likely that most companies have a cybersecurity plan from an IT perspective, but its paramount that there is a full user-friendly plan that includes stakeholder messaging, key constituent communications and channels used, media statements and contact information for team members. Ideally, this would also be reviewed by the core team so there is a solid foundation to build on during a real incident. While its impossible to predict exactly how a breach could unfold, doing the critical work beforehand to develop a detailed communications plan that has buy-in from all key decision-makers will go a long way to providing clarity, comfort and stability for senior management.

Stress-test response and align on decision points in a tabletop exercise

The most actionable way to test preparedness is by simulating a live incident in a tabletop exercise. These exercises are effective in identifying gaps in the companys response strategy, aligning as a group on key decision points and establishing a holistic incident response and communications plan that the company can quickly put into motion in a real situation.

The exercise should be as realistic as possible, surrounding a breach, exfiltration or ransom note and should target a specific platform or product that the company uses for critical business operations. Public company leaders can have conversations around the materiality of information breached, timing for alerting key stakeholders and regulatory requirements regarding disclosure.

A tabletop exercise creates the space for testing the teams collaboration, ability to make quick decisions and discuss the thornier issues that may come up in a real situation, including a ransom payment. It forces conversations on the companys stance on communications as well as legal and ethical matters.

The tabletop exercise can also help surface any perceived weaknesses in the companys current strategy and close gaps in the current plans. Following completion, companies will be better positioned to utilize the materials, plans, assets and programs in placethere should be a regular cadence of the group meeting again to evaluate any changes and to stay in contact on this topic.

Looking ahead, companies should expect a proliferation of financially motivated attacks, including data theft, extortion and ransomware this year, according to Google Cloud Securitys Cybersecurity Forecast 2026. However, there are several ways that the communications function can bring people together to prepare the company for a cyber incident. In partnership with other areas of the business, communications professionals can move the needle on shaping a plan and bringing key decision makers to the table. At the end of the day, leaders will sleep easier knowing that theres a well-developed plan and strategy at the ready.

***

Lauren Odell is Partner at Gladstone Place Partners. Michael Landau is Senior Vice President at Gladstone Place Partners. Ashley Grund is Vice President at Gladstone Place Partners.
A man who attacked and raped his elderly, vulnerable neighbour during a violent home invasion, causing her life-altering harm, has been jailed for 13 years.

Shane Kelly (36) forced his way into the 70-year-old woman's home late at night and subjected her to an ordeal in which he forced himself on her sexually, choked her and robbed her of petty cash, the Central Criminal Court heard.

The complainant, Anne Gallagher, has chronic health issues including arthritis and requires mobility aids which Kelly was aware of, the court heard.

Sentencing him today (Monday, January 26), Ms Justice Melanie Greally said she disagreed with the Director of Public Prosecution's assessment of the seriousness of the case, which placed Kelly in the 10 to 15 years category. The judge said she believed his culpability was of a particularly extreme level.

I consider the harm caused (to Ms Gallagher) has been life-altering in every conceivable way, the judge said, noting she has lost her independence.

She said that in coming to this conclusion, she had regard to the fact that four types of sexual violation were carried out against Ms Gallagher, that the offence included the use of violence and manual strangulation, that it was an egregious violation of her home and that the offence was carried out was purely for his sexual gratification.

Kelly, of no fixed abode in Edgeworthstown, Co Longford, pleaded guilty to two counts of attempted rape, one count of oral rape, one count of anal rape and one count of burglary at the woman's home in the early hours of February 25, 2025.

The court heard Ms Gallagher wished to waive her anonymity in order for Kelly to be named.

Detective Garda Rachel Deignan told Diana Stuart SC, prosecuting, that Ms Gallagher returned to Ireland for her retirement after a successful career in finance in the USA.

In her victim impact statement which was read out by counsel, Ms Gallagher said her home town was a place of comfort, safety, sanctuary. I never imagined something so horrific could happen to me here, she said.

She thought she was going to be killed that night and felt dirty and violated in the wake of the attack. Before the rape I was a carefree person, she said. I would potter to the shops and walk to mass. Now she is fearful and no longer feels safe in her home, she said.

My independence is gone because of this rape, she said, adding her mobility issues have worsened and her body has deteriorated.

After a long period of contemplation, I have chosen to forgive, she said. I feel I need to do this for myself, to heal and let go of the hurt and pain.

She said she survived that horrific night with God's help and she was in court to ensure Kelly doesn't get the opportunity to harm anyone else.

Passing sentence, Ms Justice Melanie Greally said Kelly was aware of Ms Gallagher's vulnerability when he carried out the pre-meditated attack.

She said it was clear Ms Gallagher was a woman of great faith. Consistent with that faith, she has remarkably and admirably chosen to forgive Mr Kelly for his actions.

When a letter of apology by Kelly was made known to her, she responded: That's nice, the court heard.

Ms Justice Greally said that in a case as serious of this, the sentence must be punitive. She set a headline sentence of 18 years, which she reduce to 14 and a half years taking mitigating factors into account.

She suspended the final 18 months of that sentence on a number of conditions.

On the day in question, the court heard Ms Gallagher had been brought to her local social club by bus, had visited her optician and had a home help visit her for an hour in the evening.

Around 1am, she went upstairs to bed via her stairlift, before she decided to go back downstairs to make sure she had locked the door. She then heard a knock on her front door and opened it, expecting it to be one of her neighbours in need of something.

Instead a masked man  the defendant  walked in the door and locked it behind him. He then put his hand over her mouth and pulled her over the couch, pulling at her clothes. He attempted to rape her but told her, It's not going in, before he orally raped her.

Ms Gallagher was frightened out of her wits and could not fight against the man, who she described as strong.

As she pleaded with him to stop, he held her around the neck and told her: I'm going to choke you. He then anally raped her before telling her to give him some money. She managed to get her handbag and hand him a 20 and 5 note from her purse before he walked out of the house.

She rang her local garda station and gardai were immediately dispatched to her house, where they found her in a distressed state with a visible strangulation mark on her neck. She was taken to a sexual assault treatment unit where multiple bruising to her body was documented.

A garda investigation was launched and CCTV footage from the area showed Kelly loitering in the area in the early hours of the morning and looking in Ms Gallagher's window. He was identified from the footage as a neighbour, arrested and interviewed.

He said he had no recollection of anything that night as he was on cocaine. He said he knew Ms Gallagher for that last 15 years, that he had previously helped her with her shopping and he thought she was in her 80s. He described her as friendly and nice.

He described the actions attributed to him as that of an animal but maintained he had no recollection of them.

Ms Gallagher said she had no recollection of Kelly ever helping her with her shopping.

Also read: Drink driver stopped in Longford who had been out the night before hit with road ban

In his plea of mitigation, Michael Bowman SC, defending, said Kelly had written a letter of apology in which he expressed his great shame and regret for his actions that night.

Defence counsel said Kelly had a long history of alcohol and drug addiction and at one point, was taking 20 Solpadeine tablets a day. A Probation Service report found he requires intervention for sexual preoccupation, impulsivity and drug abuse. It found him at a medium risk of re-offending.

He comes from a stable family background and has two children from a previous relationship. He is doing well in custody, the court heard.
Publicans in Birr have decided to remove the majority of Diageo products from their premises over the coming weeks following discussions on the most recent price hike from the beverage company.

The matter was discussed at the latest meeting of Birr Publicans Group, after which they sent a letter to the Vintners Federation of Ireland (VFI) outlining their plan of action in response to the price rises.

It read: "The levels of disappointment and complete frustration in the room were at all all-time high, which is saying something because we have had many discussions in recent years on the same topic following many other price increases from Diageo and other drinks suppliers."

The letter continued: "In the coming weeks, we aim to remove the majority of Diageo products from public houses in the town and substitute them with alternative products.

We are doing this to protect our own local businesses and also to protect our valued customers from more unnecessary price increases."

Diageo, who operate in 180 countries worldwide, own a vast portfolio of drinks under the categories of Beer, Whiskey, Gin, Rum, Tequila, Vodka and Liqueurs.

Popular drinks which may be affected by the removal by pubs in Birr could include Guinness, Smithwicks, Hop House 13, Baileys, Gordons, Smirnoff, Johnnie Walker and Captain Morgan.

READ MORE: IN PICTURES: Out and about on the town over the weekend in Tullamore

Chair of the Birr Publicans Group, Barry Kennedy said pubs have been left with little other choice after the recent price rises. He commented: "The potential move to remove some Diageo products by Birr Publicans is borne out of complete frustration at repeated price increases, year after year, from big international drinks companies."

He added: "A further price increase was communicated to publicans countrywide by Heineken on Monday, January 26. Ultimately these constant increases by international drinks suppliers like Diageo and Heineken are just leading to customers facing a more expensive drink in their local pubs."

As a group of publicans, we feel this is unfair and we are highlighting this fact, as we believe it is the correct thing to do in the best interests of our loyal customers. Since we voiced our frustrations, we have received a lot of support from other areas, such as Tullamore Publicans Group, and we appreciate this show of support."

The topic was also discussed at the latest meeting of the Tullamore Publicans Group who are very disappointed as well with the recent price increases but haven't opted to join their counterparts with the removal of Diageo products as of yet.

The Birr Publicans Group also hit out at the VFI for their lack of support on the issue as their representative body insisting they had to make a stand themselves as a result.

The letter which was sent to the Vintners Federation of Ireland stated: "The overarching annoyance at this week's meeting however was not directed at the drinks companies but you - our representatives - the VFI."

"It is simply not acceptable that the voice of publicans throughout the country is not heard by these large multinational companies. This is the feeling from us in Birr, and I am sure in many other towns and districts countrywide."

The Birr Publicans Group addressed the VFI directly describing the reasons why they have felt misrepresented and let down in recent times. They explained: "You are not arguing our case well enough and strong enough. You are not representing the sentiment of your members well enough or strong enough. This is what we expect our representatives to do."

They concluded the letter by saying: "It is disappointing that we have to take a stand ourselves and not in a way led by our representative bodies."
Hryhorii Kukuruza, economist, co-founder of Ukraine Economic Outlook

Bohdan Kukuruza, Computer Science student, Dublin City University

What makes this text valuable?

This guide is based solely on my own experience and on advice from highly experienced colleagues in the financial sector. LLMs used for programming and those used for business tasks/economic analysis are completely different worlds. As a result, standard benchmark tables may not reflect your specific needs (e.g., competitive analysis, rapid market sizing, or fast news analysis to build a timeline of the latest developments around a particular subject).

You will also find opinionated recommendations on which models to use for different tasks. My day-to-day toolkit includes Claude, ChatGPT, Gemini, Grok, and Perplexity. Each model has its own strengths: working with sources (building a dataset for subsequent analysis), reasoning and output quality, working with files (building the skeleton of a model and validating formulas and dependencies), working with text, and more.

Finally, this document includes observations and practical recommendations on integrating LLMs into workflows. The starting point is an acute shortage of qualified talent, combined with limited discretionary budgets for innovation and productivity improvements. In this context, the optimal approach is not end-to-end LLM process automation, but tailored productivity gains for each individual team member.

Business in Ukraine certainly does not have the same financial cushion for tech experiments as entrepreneurs in Scandinavian, DACH, or Benelux countries. I would caution that 95% of such experiments ended in failure (MIT study, July 2025), and only 5% of integrations actually yield high returns. The realistically achievable goal is to take a mid-skilled employee and "upgrade" them (think cyberpunk).

Of course, the long-term risk is that there will be even fewer people who at least understand how to do this manually. And even more news about consultants being caught using ChatGPT-generated text. The latter is a separate pain pointbut it can be avoided if LLM use in specific functions is governed by clear rules, without excessive fanaticism.

Main examples of applying LLM models from my practice:

Preparation of information memos  chronologies of events (for companies, investment projects, draft laws); Search and aggregation of large arrays of open data (for example, investments made by industries and regions over the last 5 years). Formation of consensus forecasts for currency pairs, commodities, specific economies; Rapid hypothesis testing (business ideas, export directions); Market analysis / competitive analysis. For work with Ukrainian queries, I enrich the source base with selections from registers in BizFinder (automatic selections of companies by industries, turnover, and geo-location); Building basic financial models (Balance Sheet, P&L, Cash Flow); verification of interconnections and formulas in xlsx-files, seasonality analysis;

Stage 1. Data search, working with sources, and populating the data repository for further analysis

External sources. I do not rely on LLMs as a source of facts, to avoid hallucination risk. I use them primarily to extract, structure, and summarize information from external sources.

ChatGPT  Agent Mode (significantly "smarter" than Web Search). Gemini  Deep Research in Pro mode. Grok  DeepSearch in Expert mode. Claude  Opus 4.5  Web Search + Extended thinking + Research mode.

You write your search query, detailing the expected result. In practice, I run all 4 models for the search. I collect all results in Claude and then form the report. Typically, Agent Mode processes ~10-15 sources, but studies each of them in maximum detail. Gemini  Deep Research, depending on the task, can process from  10 sources to 120-150. Grok is similar: for a broad query, it can process ~60-100 sources. Groks advantage is that among free versions for source processing, it is unequivocally the leader. Claude, depending on the query, processed from 50 to 400 sources each.

Query language matters. Every LLM model by default tries to minimize its resource consumption. Therefore, if you thought the model searches for information simultaneously in all languages and then translates the result into the query language  this is not the case. Priority in source processing is given to the query language. Then, depending on the context, the most common languages for the topic (English, German, French, Chinese) or contextual search in other local languages may be added. Each model has its own, slightly different approach to language prioritization. Therefore, this aspect is critically important to consider. Otherwise, to a request for a short report on the coal industry, you will receive a report on how to properly integrate the mines of the so-called DNR and LNR into the Russian energy system (from personal practice).

Internal sources. Formally, all tools allow connecting access to Google Drive. Claude desktop generally has a wide arsenal of tools. But in practice, one has to work from different devices directly with a "zoo" of files of various formats. For "light" files up to 5 MB, everything works. With 20+ MB, only Gemini managed it for me. Grok struggles terribly and lags when uploading files in principle.

Working with audio. Offline meetings and strategic sessions remain in our lives. Gemini Pro is the only tool that allows quickly transcribing a recording and automatically compiling a short structured document with all the information.

A separate point  working with registers. ChatGPT, Gemini, and Grok have unlimited access to registers with limited access (for example, with company financial statements). Therefore, using the EDRPOU / European Unique Identifier / other legal entity identifier, one can easily find a company's financial statements.

Stage 2. Data processing and analysis, report generation and conclusion formation.

The main rule is that all LLM models resemble a competent but highly specialized professional who, in the process of preparing a report, will inevitably make 1-2 critical errors that render the result unsuitable for use in the first iteration of your joint work. The meme line: Yes, indeed, you are right. I will redo the report now is actually a game of roulette where either you find the error, or your client does.

Therefore, if you are ready to take the risk and responsibility for error analysis in the prepared report, then there is a point in playing this game. Previously ~70% (the old days of the o3 ChatGPT model a year ago) of the information in the prepared report was correct; currently, this proportion has grown to ~90-95%. The question is  is your competence sufficient to detect the 5% of errors among the entire array?

I will simply remind you that a new term has emerged  workslop  AI-generated content that looks ready for use at first glance but actually requires significant refinement.

Among the important pros: the performance level of the best LLM models in the direction of reasoning is already higher than that of a junior analyst.

Specifically regarding models.

For me, the unequivocal leader is Claude Opus 4.5 (Web Search + Extended thinking + Research mode). The model release was only at the end of November. The model forms a report of truly high quality and possesses clear, structured thinking. It recommends the response form itself (Word format, xlsx). Strengths: business analysis, work with financial statements, economic analysis.

Short overview of functionality.

Second place goes to GPT 5.2 Thinking (+ Deep Research mode). The release was only on December 11. Overall, it has a right to exist. But exclusively as number two. The main downside is the instability of the result. Situationally, the model can form a quite decent report (with step-by-step thinking, self-reflection, unique conclusions). Sometimes  one regrets the time spent waiting (it can take up to 10-15 minutes of reasoning and preparation).

Third place can be shared between Gemini 3.0 Pro and Grok Expert. Gemini is the unequivocal leader in document processing, their systematization, and forming short simple conclusions. But nothing more. The unequivocal favorite in Gemini is the Deep Research option, but in all other tasks, I do not share my colleagues' enthusiasm. Quality metrics can look strong, but the final output is often underwhelming.

Grok Expert, considering I had absolutely no positive expectations, is actually quite decent. Low Hallucination Rate (the lowest after Claude). Among the minuses  it can lag and lose the entire prompt query you wrote after an hour of waiting (unpleasant, but it happened).

Perplexity Laboratory / Perplexity Deep Research  also has a right to exist. Unequivocally strong in working with files (creating Excel files, presentations), but very similar to a Claude clone.

For objectivity, I am adding an overview of the conducted efficiency measurements of different models (although it does not coincide with my observations):

Short reminder: Always keep an eye on the model switcher  the LLM's task is to minimize the compute spent on you. Therefore, it is better not to choose the Auto option when selecting the operating mode, only the smartest (but also the slowest) of the modes.

Stage 3. Working with files (xlsx), analysis of interconnections and written formulas, basic financial modeling.

Main functionality (use directly within Excel). In short, the product is not yet ready for practical mass use. But within the framework of cautious testing, it is quite acceptable. In this round, only Claude and ChatGPT remain with us, built into the Microsoft 365 Frontier lineup (main interest  Excel). This is test access to Copilot agents (built on competing LLMs, with an internal selection option).

Advantages: transparent code that allows tracking the logic of the LLM model. Truly fast and convenient work with large Excel files (which is much harder when working directly in the LLM window), data analysis functionality, embedding and checking formulas. Claude possesses a "professional background" for working with financial models.

Short overview of building a financial model, forecasting revenue, payroll fund, visualization via a dashboard.

Yes, a mid-level analyst from the Big Four and Big Three will do it better. But in how much time, isn't it better to simplify the work and start it on an already prepared template, and the main question is  what should companies do that do not have personnel of this qualification level? Therefore, in reality, Agents in Excel can be forgiven for a lot.

Limited functionality (working with files via the standard UI window).

One can work with Claude and Perplexity (I might be mistaken about ChatGPT, but such is the experience formed over the last months; ChatGPT objectively lags significantly specifically when working with xlsx files, and regarding analyzing all existing formulas inside, compiling a description of what, why and how, and checking for possible errors  there was no positive experience).

Claude and Perplexity (Laboratory Mode) analyze multi-sheet xlsx files quite decently, check the model construction logic, interconnections between formulas. Considering the frequent practice of client behavior "need it very urgently  then don't need it, and then again need it right now very urgently, right at midnight,"  this is an ideal tool to refresh understanding of the file / onboarding into a project.

Stage 4. Integration and internal personnel resistance.

First of all, a big "thank you" is due to all the infopreneurs who in 2023-2024 formed inadequately inflated expectations for the technology. In the West  to boost capitalization, here  to sell courses / integrations / masterclasses. Now, thanks to them, topics of LLM automation are not discussed in polite society. But we must proceed from existing realities and the necessity to increase personnel productivity at any cost.
St Brigids Credit Union Ltd. is a progressive, community based financial services institution with branches in Clara, Ferbane and Banagher in county Offaly and Moate in county Westmeath, serving members with a wide range of financial services.

St Brigids Credit Union is now recruiting for a Compliance Support Officer.

This position will liaise with the Risk & Compliance function, report to the Senior Management Team and be accountable to the CEO.

The purpose of this position is to support the Risk & Compliance function within St. Brigids Credit Union Ltd. to include but not limited to Compliance, Risk, Anti-Money Laundering, Data Protection and Operational Resilience.

The successful candidate will carry out a range of activities in line with the regulatory requirements of the Credit Union.

Key Responsibilities:

Assist and support the Senior Management Team in the area of Compliance

Conduct compliance assurance testing on key processes  AML, Data Protection and Operational Resilience

Assist the Risk & Compliance Function with regular risk assessments across the credit union

Assist with updates to the risk management framework

Promote a culture of Risk Management throughout the organisation

Assist with policy updates, and maintaining documents

Co-ordinate the information gathering requirements to support the work of Internal Audit, Risk &; Compliance etc

Monitor the status of all open recommendations from across Risk, Compliance, Internal Audit, AML, DP to ensure that recommendations are implemented within the stated deadlines

Assisting with the creation of reports for review by the Senior Management

Team and/or Board of Directors  e.g for AML, DP and Operational Resilience

Maintain knowledge and skills in good practices in compliance and risk management

Collaborate with colleagues to ensure compliance with statutory and regulatory requirements

Support the Anti-Money Laundering Compliance Officer with the delivery of the AML monitoring plan and reporting

Support the Data Protection Officer with delivery of the Data Protection work plan and reporting

The above list of roles and responsibilities is not exhaustive and may be subject to change in line with the needs of the business.

Role Requirements:

Experience in working in a financial services or office environment is desirable but not essential

Previous Risk and Compliance experience essential

Risk and/or Compliance qualification desirable

QFA qualification desirable (or actively working towards obtaining a qualification) in line with the Minimum Competency Code (MCC) set out by the Central Bank

Successful candidates will be expected to meet the Central Bank Fitness & Probity standards

Ability to work on own initiative and as part of team

Travel between the branch network will be required so a full, clean drivers licence will be essential

A competitive remuneration package is applicable to the role.

St Brigids Credit Union Ltd. is an Equal Opportunities Employer. Applications will be shortlisted for interview. Canvassing will disqualify.

Closing Date for applications: Friday February 20, 2026

Friday February 20, 2026 Applications including C.V. can be sent via post to Michael Kelly, CEO,

St. Brigids Credit Union Ltd., Church Street, Clara, county Offaly, R35 HR27, or email to michael.kelly@claracreditunion.ie

St. Brigids Credit Union Limited is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland.

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One Portland police officer lost a part of his ear and anothers femur was shattered when a man shot at them on Jan. 19 after they tried to detain him for allegedly threatening someone with a knife, according to new court documents released Tuesday.

Eric Floyd Oelkers, 41, is facing charges of attempted first-degree murder, first-degree assault and unlawful use of a weapon for allegedly firing at the Portland officers. Police arrested him Monday morning in Northeast Portland after a weeklong search. He was arraigned Tuesday morning and scheduled to be indicted Feb. 4.

Oelkers is accused of shooting officer Sebastian Dragomir, who was hired by the Portland Police Bureau in 2015, in the arm and neck and officer Randy Stowe, hired by Portland police in 2008, in the thigh, according to a probable cause affidavit. The shooting shattered Stowes femur, the affidavit says, and the bullet that struck Dragomir in the neck also took off a piece of his ear.

Both officers have been released from the hospital and are expected to recover from their injuries.

According to the affidavit, Dragomir and Stowe responded to Northeast 21st Avenue between Northeast Clackamas and Wasco streets on Jan. 19 just after 8 p.m. where a caller reported a man was threatening him with a knife.

Dragomir and Stowe located the suspect, believed to be Oelkers, who denied having a knife or threatening another person with it, according to the affidavit. When Dragomir told him he was being detained during the investigation, and Stowe asked him to put his hands on top of his head, Oelkers refused and started to move away, the affidavit said.

The affidavit alleges Oelkers then reached toward his right hip, raised a handgun and fired shots at Dragomir and Stowe before running east on Northeast Clackamas Street.

Neither officer returned fire, the affidavit said.

Detectives responded to the scene and located seven 9mm casings. They also found a pair of black pants, a tote bag and a hat consistent with those the man was wearing.

Police mounted an extensive search for the suspect in the blocks east of the Lloyd Center after the shooting, but didnt find him. Then they asked the public for help identifying the man. Police said in a Monday news conference they received more than 230 tips from the community.

A tip from an airport parking service helped them locate Oelkers, the affidavit said.

The day after the shooting, an employee of Park Shuttle n Fly, located on Northeast 82nd Avenue, near where Oelkers was eventually arrested, reported to police that a similar-looking man had been damaging vehicles and getting into confrontations with staff. An employee had seen him with a knife and a small handgun, the affidavit said.

Employees at the parking service told The Oregonian/OregonLive on Monday that they had called police about the man multiple times after hed caused problems at the lot.

Manager Shawn Hebert said theyd started encountering the man during the summer of 2025, but he eventually fell off their radar  until the shooting happened and they realized that photos of the suspect looked familiar.

One employee told police she had seen the man matching Oelkers description on the day of the shooting, the affidavit said. Detectives used the timing of the mans appearance at the airport lot on Jan. 19 to find him on TriMet video from MAX trains.

On Jan. 23, a forensic analysis of the pants and hat found at the shooting scene identified a DNA match with Oelkers, the affidavit said. Police reviewed a booking photo from Oelkers and believed him to match the images from the shooting and the TriMet footage.

Oelkers was arrested Monday after a tactical operation near the Park Shuttle n Fly that closed Northeast 82nd Avenue to traffic. Police found a 9mm firearm nearby and the bullets in the firearm were consistent with those found at the shooting last week, the affidavit said.

Oelkers has state and federal criminal convictions dating back to 2003 and had an active warrant for his arrest in an armed robbery case. He has spent years in both federal and state prison.

Oregonian/OregonLive reporter Tatum Todd contributed to this story.

This story has been updated to correct the location of each officers injuries.
It seems like just yesterday that Portland welcomed its newest, cutest elephant calf to the Oregon Zoo.

Tula-Tu was born at 4:29 p.m. on Feb. 1, 2025, to mother Rose-Tu after a 20-month pregnancy. She weighed about 200 pounds at birth  the smallest of her two siblings, older brother Samudra and Lily, who died suddenly in 2018 at only 6 years old.

Tiny and terrifically talented, Tula-Tu quickly became the talk of the town, lauded as the cutest animal of 2025 by Today show host Jenna Bush Hager.

Tula-Tu may not be quite as tiny anymore (In October, during the zoos annual Squishing of the Squash event, she weighed a whopping 775 pounds)  but shes still just as cute. And this weekend, its finally time to celebrate Portlands beloved elephant calf in a big way.

The Oregon Zoo will throw Tula-Tu a first birthday bash Sunday, featuring talks, treats and a brand new ball gifted by sponsor Portland Fire, the citys new WNBA team.

Alaska Airlines will also sponsor the party, providing birthday snacks for visitors. A supersized Tula-Tu recently appeared in the airlines Rose Festival Grand Floral Parade float after the festival named her Grand Marshal.

Tula-Tu was the Grand Marshal of the Rose Festival Grand Floral Parade in 2025. Allison Barr/The Oregonian

Elephant keepers will hold special talks at 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m., after which party guests are invited to sing happy birthday to Tula-Tu. Mini chocolate- or caramel-drizzled elephant ears and souvenir cups featuring a baby photo of the guest of honor will also be available.

Or, if you cant make it in person, you can send virtual birthday wishes via a digital card.

Tula-Tus first birthday celebration will take place during normal zoo hours from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Timed-entry tickets can be reserved online.
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP)  Irans bloody crackdown on nationwide protests has killed at least 6,126 people while many others still are feared dead, activists said Tuesday, as a U.S. aircraft carrier group arrived in the Middle East to lead any American military response to the crisis. Irans currency, the rial, meanwhile fell to a record low of 1.5 million to $1.

The arrival of the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier and guided missile destroyers accompanying it provide the U.S. the ability to strike Iran, particularly as Gulf Arab states have signaled they want to stay out of any attack despite hosting American military personnel.

Two Iranian-backed militias in the Mideast have signaled their willingness to launch new attacks, likely trying to back Iran after U.S. President Donald Trump threatened military action over the killing of peaceful protesters or Tehran launching mass executions in the wake of the demonstrations.

Iran has repeatedly threatened to drag the entire Mideast into a war, though its air defenses and military are still reeling after the June war launched by Israel against the country. But the pressure on its economy may spark new unrest as everyday goods slowly go out of reach of its people.

Activists offer new death toll

Tuesdays new figures came from the U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency, which has been accurate in multiple rounds of unrest in Iran. The group verifies each death with a network of activists on the ground in Iran.

It identified the dead as including at least 5,777 protesters, 214 government-affiliated forces, 86 children and 49 civilians who werent demonstrating. The crackdown has seen over 41,800 arrests, it added.

The Associated Press has been unable to independently assess the death toll given authorities cutting off the internet and disrupting calls into the Islamic Republic.

Irans government has put the death toll at a far lower 3,117, saying 2,427 were civilians and security forces, and labeled the rest terrorists. In the past, Irans theocracy has undercounted or not reported fatalities from unrest.

That death toll exceeds that of any other round of protest or unrest there in decades, and recalls the chaos surrounding Irans 1979 Islamic Revolution.

The protests in Iran began on Dec. 28, sparked by the fall of the Iranian currency, the rial, and quickly spread across the country. They were met by a violent crackdown by Irans theocracy, the scale of which is only starting to become clear as the country has faced more than two weeks of internet blackout  the most comprehensive in its history.

Irans U.N. ambassador told a U.N. Security Council meeting late Monday that Trumps repeated threats to use military force against the country are neither ambiguous nor misinterpreted. Amir Saeid Iravani also repeated allegations that the U.S. leader incited violence by armed terrorist groups supported by the United States and Israel, but gave no evidence to support his claims.

Iranian state media has tried to accuse forces abroad for the protests as the theocracy remains broadly unable to address the countrys ailing economy, which is still squeezed by international sanctions, particularly over its nuclear program.

On Tuesday, exchange shops offered the record-low rial-to-dollar rate in Tehran.

Already, Iran has vastly limited its subsidized currency rates to cut down on corruption. It also has offered the equivalent of $7 a month to most people in the country to cover rising costs. However, Irans people have seen the rial fall from 32,000 to $1 just a decade ago  which has devoured the value of their savings.

Some militias suggest willingness to fight

Iran projected its power across the Mideast through the Axis of Resistance, a network of proxy militant groups in Gaza, Lebanon, Yemen, Syria and Iraq, and other places. It was also seen as a defensive buffer, intended to keep conflict away from Iranian borders. But it has collapsed after Israel targeted Hamas, Hezbollah in Lebanon and others during the Gaza war. Meanwhile, rebels in 2024 overthrew Syrias Bashar Assad after a yearslong, bloody war in which Iran backed his rule.

Yemens Houthi rebels, backed by Iran, have repeatedly warned they could resume fire if needed on shipping in the Red Sea, releasing old footage of a previous attack Monday. Ahmad Abu Hussein al-Hamidawi, the leader of Iraqs Kataib Hezbollah militia, warned the enemies that the war on the (Islamic) Republic will not be a picnic; rather, you will taste the bitterest forms of death, and nothing will remain of you in our region.

The Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, one of Irans staunchest allies, refused to say how it planned to react in the case of a possible attack.

During the past two months, several parties have asked me a clear and frank question: If Israel and America go to war against Iran, will Hezbollah intervene or not? Hezbollah leader Sheikh Naim Kassem said in a video address.

He said the group is preparing for possible aggression and is determined to defend against it. But as to how it would act, he said, these details will be determined by the battle and we will determine them according to the interests that are present.
Prominent Republicans and gun rights advocates helped elicit a White House turnabout this week after bristling over the administrations characterization of Alex Pretti, the second person killed this month by a federal officer in Minneapolis, as responsible for his own death because he lawfully possessed a weapon.

The death produced no clear shifts in U.S. gun politics or policies, even as President Donald Trump shuffles the lieutenants in charge of his militarized immigration crackdown. But important voices in Trumps coalition have called for a thorough investigation of Prettis death while also criticizing inconsistencies in some Republicans Second Amendment stances.

If the dynamic persists, it could give Republicans problems as Trump heads into a midterm election year with voters already growing skeptical of his overall immigration approach. The concern is acute enough that Trumps top spokeswoman sought Monday to reassert his brand as a staunch gun rights supporter.

The president supports the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding American citizens, absolutely, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters.

Leavitt qualified that when you are bearing arms and confronted by law enforcement, you are raising  the risk of force being used against you.

Videos contradict early statements from administration

That still marked a retreat from the administrations previous messages about the shooting of Pretti. It came the same day the president dispatched border czar Tom Homan to Minnesota, seemingly elevating him over Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and Border Patrol chief Greg Bovino, who had been in charge in Minneapolis.

Within hours of Prettis death on Saturday, Bovino suggested Pretti wanted to  massacre law enforcement, and Noem said Pretti was brandishing a weapon and acted violently toward officers.

I dont know of any peaceful protester that shows up with a gun and ammunition rather than a sign, Noem said.

White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller, an architect of Trumps mass deportation effort, went further on X, declaring Pretti an assassin.

Bystander videos contradicted each claim, instead showing Pretti holding a cellphone and helping a woman who had been pepper-sprayed by a federal officer. Within seconds, Pretti was sprayed, too, and taken to the ground by multiple officers. No video disclosed thus far has shown him unholstering his concealed weapon - which he had a Minnesota permit to carry. It appeared that one officer took Prettis gun and walked away with it just before shots began.

As multiple videos went viral online and on television, Vice President JD Vance reposted Millers assessment, while Trump shared an alleged photo of the gunmans gun, loaded (with two additional full magazines!).

Swift reactions from gun rights advocates

The National Rifle Association, which has backed Trump three times, released a statement that began by casting blame on Minnesota Democrats it accused of stoking protests. But the group lashed out after a federal prosecutor in California said on X that, If you approach law enforcement with a gun, there is a high likelihood they will be legally justified in shooting you.

That analysis, the NRA said, is dangerous and wrong.

FBI Director Kash Patel magnified the blowback Sunday on Fox News Sunday Morning Futures With Maria Bartiromo. No one, Patel said, can bring a firearm, loaded, with multiple magazines to any sort of protest that you want. Its that simple.

Erich Pratt, vice president of Gun Owners of America, was incredulous.

I have attended protest rallies while armed, and no one got injured, he said on CNN.

Conservative officials around the country made the same connection between the First and Second amendments.

Showing up at a protest is very American. Showing up with a weapon is very American, state Rep. Jeremy Faison, who leads the GOP caucus in Tennessee, said on X.

Trumps first-term vice president, Mike Pence, called for full and transparent investigation of this officer involved shooting.

A different response from the past

Liberals, conservatives and nonpartisan experts noted how the administrations response differed from past conservative positions involving protests and weapons.

Multiple Trump supporters were found to have weapons during the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. Trump issued blanket pardons to all of them.

Republicans were critical in 2020 when Mark and Patricia McCloskey had to pay fines after pointing guns at protesters who marched through their St. Louis neighborhood after the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis. And then theres Kyle Rittenhouse, a counter-protester acquitted after fatally shooting two men and injuring another in Kenosha, Wisconsin, during the post-Floyd protests.

You remember Kyle Rittenhouse and how he was made a hero on the right, Trey Gowdy, a Republican former congressman and attorney for Trump during one of his first-term impeachments. Alex Prettis firearm was being lawfully carried.  He never brandished it.

Adam Winkler, a UCLA law professor who has studied the history of the gun debate, said the fallout shows how tribal weve become. Republicans spent years talking about the Second Amendment as a means to fight government tyranny, he said.

The moment someone whos thought to be from the left, they abandon that principled stance, Winkler said.

Meanwhile, Democrats who have criticized open and concealed carry laws for years, Winkler added, are not amplifying that position after Prettis death.

Uncertain effects in an election year

The blowback against the administration from core Trump supporters comes as Republicans are trying to protect their threadbare majority in the U.S. House and face several competitive Senate races.

Perhaps reflecting the stakes, GOP staff and campaign aides were reticent Monday to talk about the issue at all.

The House Republican campaign chairman, Rep. Richard Hudson of North Carolina, is sponsoring the GOPs most significant gun legislation of this congressional term, a proposal to make state concealed-carry permits reciprocal across all states.

The bill cleared the House Judiciary Committee last fall. Asked Monday whether Prettis death and the Minneapolis protests might affect debate, an aide to Speaker Mike Johnson did not offer any update on the bills prospects.

Gun rights advocates have notched many legislative victories in Republican-controlled statehouses in recent decades, from rolling back gun-free zones around schools and churches to expanding gun possession rights in schools, on university campuses and in other public spaces.

William Sack, legal director of the Second Amendment Foundation, said he was surprised and disappointed by the administrations initial statements following the Pretti shooting. Trumps vacillating, he said, is very likely to cost them dearly with the core of a constituency they count on.
WASHINGTON (AP)  President Donald Trump shifted toward a more conciliatory approach with Democratic leaders in Minnesota on Monday, a sudden change in tack following an outcry over the second fatal shooting by federal agents in the state this month during the administrations nationwide crackdown on undocumented immigrants.

The about-face comes after Saturdays shooting death of Alex Pretti by federal agents raised doubts  including from some Republicans  over how the Trump administration has gone about aggressively deporting migrants and confronting protesters opposed to the policy.

But its just the latest in a string of moments where Trump has first taken a maximalist position only to appear to later retreat.

Earlier this month, Trump repeatedly threatened Iran with military action if his administration found the Islamic Republic was using deadly force to squelch recent antigovernment protests. Human rights groups said thousands were killed, but Trump says hes holding off on acting after he received assurances Tehran was suspending hundreds of planned executions.

Last week, Trump first announced plans to impose new tariffs on European allies that refused to go along with his calls for the U.S. to take control of the Arctic territory of Greenland  only to abruptly cancel the tariffs after saying hed come to terms of the framework of an agreement. The White House offered scant details about the deal, which Trump announced the day after the stock market saw one of its worst days in months in response to his tariff threat.

Then on Monday, Trumps administration changed up oversight of his immigration operation in Minnesota, and the typically bombastic Trump offered a warmer tone toward Gov. Tim Walz after speaking with the Democrat, saying he and Walz were now on a similar wavelength.

ICE protests rile some Republicans

It was a particularly jarring turnabout for Trump, who had promised to be uncompromising on carrying out mass deportations of undocumented migrants during his 2024 campaign  and because Trump has repeatedly scorched Walz and other Minnesota Democrats in personal terms for resisting his policies.

Trump said he had dispatched border czar Tom Homan to take charge. Meanwhile, senior Border Patrol commander Greg Bovino and some agents were expected to leave Minneapolis as early as Tuesday, according to a person familiar with the matter.

Trump declared on social media that Walz was happy that Tom Homan was going to Minnesota, and so am I! Later, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey confirmed that some agents would be leaving the city after he spoke with Trump  and suggested that the president seemed to be concluding that the current state of federal operations was unsustainable. Homan and Frey were expected to meet Tuesday.

Trumps change-up in Minnesota came after some Republicans questioned federal agents tactics in Saturdays shooting as well as the White Houses response. Some high-ranking administration officials had branded Pretti a domestic terrorist even as videos of the encounter contradicted their narrative.

Minnesota gubernatorial candidate Chris Madel, a Minneapolis attorney, ended his GOP campaign in a surprise video announcement Monday, calling the recent immigration enforcement operation in the Twin Cities an unmitigated disaster and saying he no longer wanted to be a member of the party because of it.

Meanwhile, Texas Republican Gov. Greg Abbott, who has been a strong supporter of Trumps crackdown on immigration, offered measured criticism in an interview with conservative radio host Mark Davis, saying the White House needs to recalibrate what it was doing in Minnesota. Vermonts Republican Gov. Phil Scott called on Trump to reset and de-escalate.

At best, these federal immigration operations are a complete failure of coordination of acceptable public safety and law enforcement practices training, and leadership, Scott said. At worst, its a deliberate federal intimidation and incitement of American citizens thats resulting in the murder of Americans.

Trump now says he and Walz on a similar wavelength

The presidents approach toward Walz, who served as Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris running mate in 2024, amounted to a sharp U-turn.

Just a day earlier, Trumps deputy chief of staff, Stephen Miller, had derided Walz on social media as trying to incite attacks on U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents. The White House social media team in a series of posts called the governor a truly disturbed, unstable individual and an unhinged lunatic who rants and raves and lies.

Miller also referred to Pretti, a nurse who worked at a Veterans Affairs hospital, as a would-be assassin while Homeland Security Kristi Noem labeled the ICU nurse as committing an act of domestic terrorism.

The White House sidestepped whether Trump agreed with his senior aides rhetoric or whether the administration would apologize for it.

This incident remains under investigation, press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters. And nobody here at the White House, including the president of the United States, wants to see Americans hurt or killed and losing their lives.

His response has been muted compared to other recent deaths

Trumps response to the deaths of the two U.S. citizens in Minneapolis has been much more muted than reactions to political violence that hes portrayed as targeting his own political movement.

After conservative activist Charlie Kirk was assassinated in September, the president spoke to the nation from the Oval Office and called Kirks death a dark moment for America.

In November, Trump gave a national address after two National Guard members were shot in Washington by an Afghan national, one fatally. The guard members had been deployed to the nations capital as part of a federal mission to assist with local policing, and the president called the shooting an act of evil, an act of hatred and an act of terror.

But the president has yet to speak directly to the nation about the deaths of Pretti and Renee Good, another U.S. citizen who was killed by federal agents in Minneapolis earlier this month. Trump has so far largely chosen to keep the public informed in the wake of Prettis death with social media posts.

Even as his comments Monday appeared to be aimed at turning down the rhetoric, Trumps chief spokesperson, Leavitt, continued to blame Walz and other Minnesota Democrats for encouraging left-wing agitators to stop, record, confront and obstruct federal officers who are just trying to lawfully perform their duties.

This is precisely what unfolded in Minneapolis on Saturday morning, Leavitt added.
A judge on Monday dismissed the federal governments attempt to obtain Oregons unredacted voter rolls, saying he had great concerns about the Trump administrations motives to access the personal information.

U.S. District Judge Mustafa T. Kasubhai said a letter sent Saturday from U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi to Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz heightened his concerns. Bondi demanded the same private data from Minnesota voters on the same day the state was reeling from the second fatal shooting of a U.S. citizen by federal officers in Minneapolis.

Kasubhai made the ruling from the bench in a hastily called hearing by video, asking lawyers from each side to explain the relevance of Bondis letter.

Bondi urged Minnesotas cooperation with the administrations immigration enforcement operations and listed several conditions that would restore the rule of law in Minneapolis. She called on Minnesota to repeal its sanctuary policies and reach an agreement allowing ICE to remove illegal aliens in custody of Minnesotas prisons and jails.

She also requested that the U.S. Department of Justices Civil Rights Division be given access to the states voter rolls and told the state to share its records on Medicaid and food and nutrition service programs so the federal government could investigate potential fraud.

An attorney representing Minnesota in a separate hearing there described Bondis letter as a ransom note.

Kasubhai said he previously hesitated to consider the administrations motive in compelling Oregon to turn over highly sensitive personal information of current and former state voters, but Bondis letter prompted him to reconsider.

Oregon Senior Assistant Attorney General Thomas Castelli said Bondis letter undermined the federal governments argument that it wanted Oregons voter rolls to verify whether the state has properly removed voters who had moved or died.

Instead, Castelli said, it entirely appears to be involved in immigration enforcement.

Attorney Branden Lewiston, representing Our Oregon, said he agreed that Bondis letter confirmed some of the suspicions that we really had, regarding whether DOJs stated purpose is their true purpose. The nonprofit labor union advocacy group intervened in the case.

James Thomas Tucker, a senior trial attorney in the Justice Departments Civil Rights Division, countered that the federal government wants the voter information to evaluate the states compliance with federal requirements to properly maintain lists of residents eligible to vote.

Oregon Secretary of State Tobias Read, in an emailed statement Monday, called Bondis letter a direct attempt to use federal enforcement and lawless chaos as leverage to gain access to election infrastructure.

This is an escalation in the Trump Administrations ongoing attack on our democracy  and it should alarm every American. But I have one message for Pam Bondi: Dont try this junk in Oregon, Read said.

Kasubhai dismissed the administrations suit against Oregon, saying the federal government had failed to adequately state a sufficient purpose, as required by the Civil Rights Act of 1960, for compelling the release of highly personal state voter information including full dates of birth, drivers license numbers and partial Social Security numbers.

Congress adopted the Civil Rights Acts Title III to ensure voting rights laws protect against racial discrimination, the Eugene-based judge said, citing the Congressional Record.

Kasubhai ruled that the federal government made no suggestions in its demand letters to Oregon that indicated it was investigating voter rolls because of any allegations of discrimination.

He said a written ruling would follow.

The hearing followed more than six hours of oral arguments on Jan. 14 before Kasubhai, who said then that he was inclined to limit Trump officials to getting the same voter list that any member of the public can obtain for a fee, which does not include personal details.

Daniel J. Freeman, litigation director for the Democratic National Committee, was among those who listened to Mondays hearing.

The committee sought a friend-of-the-court status in the case, and argued that the Justice Departments true motive is to transfer personal identifying information and partisan affiliations of every registered voter to the Department of Homeland Security.

Homeland Security has broad authority over immigration, counterterrorism, emergency management but not voter registration, the committee argued in its brief.

Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield, in a social media post Monday night, praised the judges decision.

The court dismissed this case because the federal government never met the legal standard to get these records, he said. Oregonians deserve to know that voting laws cant be used as a backdoor to grab their personal information.

"
India has reaffirmed its support for a comprehensive, just and durable peace in Ukraine in line with international law and the UN Charter, including respect for territorial integrity and sovereignty, Indias Ambassador to Ukraine Ravi Shankar said at a reception in Kyiv marking Indias 77th Republic Day.

Speaking in the presence of Ukraines Deputy Foreign Minister Olexandr Mischenko, the ambassador said India supports "practical engagement among all stakeholders" and remains one of Ukraines major trading partners despite the ongoing war and that Indian companies will be happy to play a role in the reconstruction and recovery effort in Ukraine, pointing to potential cooperation in digital public infrastructure, manufacturing, green energy and emerging technologies.

According to the speech, India will continue humanitarian assistance and plans to fund a USD 1.5 million project to modernize the surgical centre of Zbarazh Central Hospital in Ternopil region under High Impact Community Development Projects.

The ambassador also highlighted growing interest in Indian culture and language in Ukraine and noted that a bilateral cultural cooperation programme provides a framework to expand exchanges, scholarships and people-to-people contacts.

India recognised Ukraines independence on December 26, 1991. Diplomatic relations were established on January 17, 1992, and the Embassy of India in Kyiv opened in May 1992.

Ukraines Embassy in New Delhi was established in February 1993. Republic Day is Indias national holiday celebrated on Jan 26 to mark the entry into force of the Constitution in 1950, when India became a sovereign democratic republic. The date was chosen to honor the Indian National Congress 1930 declaration of Purna Swaraj (complete self-rule).
Portland city councilors this week will weigh a potential ban on foie gras, the French delicacy made with the livers of force-fed waterfowl such as ducks or geese.

A proposal scheduled for a hearing Tuesday before the councils Arts and Economy Committee would prohibit the sale of the luxury food item in the city and impose fines of up to $5,000 for violations.

The ordinance, introduced by Councilor Mitch Green and Council President Jamie Dunphy, casts the production of foie gras as inhumane and environmentally unsustainable, practices that run contrary to Portland values.

We should not cater to animal cruelty, said Green. He added that the proposal would still allow establishments to offer fatty liver dishes that can be produced without force-feeding.

Yet its unclear whether it can muster a majority of support on the five-member committee.

California, Pittsburgh and Brookline, Massachusetts have all enacted similar bans, according to materials filed with the city. New York City attempted to do so in 2019, but the law was ultimately struck down by the New York Supreme Court five years later.

For more than two decades foie gras opponents in Portland have staged demonstrations at upscale restaurants that serve the delicacy, a tactic that has sometimes prompted their proprietors to remove it from the menu.

Kurt Huffman, the prominent restaurateur behind Portlands ChefStable group, said he chose that option last fall after Northwest Portland bistro St. Jack became a target.

Protesters would reserve a table in the dining room, wait for the restaurant to fill up and then stand up and start screaming at everybody about how inhumane it was, Huffman said. After that happened a couple times, we just stopped serving it.

In recent years activists have also repeatedly implored Portland leaders to enact a foie gras ban citywide. Proponents estimate that fewer than a dozen restaurants or speciality markets in the city currently serve or sell it.

Portland Commissioners Mingus Mapps and Carmen Rubio each expressed an interest in doing so in 2021. The pair ultimately backed away from the effort, mostly out of concern that championing the issue would strike residents as trivial amid a surge in homicides, homeless encampments and other problems that consumed the city at the time.

That Portland continues to grapple with an array of mounting crises has given some current councilors pause on backing the proposal. Council Vice President Olivia Clark, who serves on the Arts and Economy Committee alongside Green and Dunphy, said she also had concerns about whether a foie gras ban would harm Portlands global reputation as a food destination.

My focus remains on the pressing issues that directly affect the daily lives of Portlanders: housing affordability, public safety, infrastructure, and other essential services, Clark said. Given the significant challenges our city is facing, I believe it is in the best interest of council to prioritize policies that have the biggest impact on our constituents.

Green said he believed the Portland City Council was capable of tackling issues, both big and small, simultaneously.

I am more than confident we can take on a couple of things at once, he said.
U.S. Rep. Janelle Bynum heard an earful Monday from Oregonians mostly younger than 40 about the financial pressures they face every day: unaffordable child care, sky-high student loans, soaring rents, a tough job market and dim hopes of ever being able to buy a home.

The nearly 20 voters, most of whom live in the 5th Congressional District that Bynum represents and many of whom are raising babies or toddlers, were invited to a West Linn library to tell the first-term Democratic member of Congress what keeps them up at night  and what would help them thrive.

Much of what they called for aligned with a plan Bynum was there to pitch, a package of 16 bills shes marketing as a K to 30 agenda. The proposals aim to help young people from elementary school to adulthood by spurring housing creation, expanding mental health care in schools and providing more support to small businesses, among other things.

Nearly half the bills have multiple sponsors who include Republicans, she noted.

Bynum, who served four terms in the Oregon House before winning a tight race for Congress in 2024, said she is repulsed by how bitterly partisan the U.S. House tends to be  but said shes managed to make significant inroads.

She said she focuses on drafting bills that address topics that broad swaths of people agree are needed, such as drone safety, wildfire response and small business success. And, she said, I believe in developing relationships, including with fellow parents in the House with whom she can bond over their shared concern for their children.

Bynums own children are 24, 21, 17 and 15. She said the tough circumstances her constituents told her about Monday  child care needs that prevent them from working full time, elder care needs that strain young adult family members, finances that push families into multi-generational living, punishing student loan debt, a tough job market  are like what I am seeing from my children and their contemporaries.

The inability of the typical young American to buy a home until they reach their late 30s is very real and concerns her, Bynum said. When she was 25, a quarter century ago, buying a house in ones 20s was totally doable, she said. Now, when I look at my 24-year-old daughter, I dont see any hope.

One of the bipartisan bills in her 16-bill package would require the federal government to pay to create preapproved, standardized building plans and designs to speed up permitting and construction of housing with a goal of lowering home prices. The House Financial Services Committee approved it last month, her office said.

Among those Bynum heard from:

>> Gabi Uvale, adviser to the student government at Oregon State University, said she couldnt afford rents in Corvallis and so found a one-bedroom apartment in Albany instead. She said she has a masters degree but feels that to be able to afford a house, she would need to get an additional graduate degree.

>> Rowan Bean, student body president at Portland State University, said nearly half of PSU students qualify for federal food aid due to their low incomes. One of the biggest concerns I hear this year is the uncertainty about getting a job after graduation.  Its costing so much to go to school right now and all the additional costs that come with just being a person in this country. A lot of (students) are very worried about having food security and also getting a job after college too.

>> Jessica Gallegos, a self-employed graphic designer and parent of a 2  year old, said she tried to find full-time work after she was laid off a year ago. But she ended up needing to work for herself due to subsidized child care only being available six hours a day, she said. How do you find a full-time job when you dont have child care? she asked. My solution was to start my own business. Meanwhile, Republicans cut federal funding for a nonprofit program that used to provide free mentoring and other support to small businesses like hers, she said.
It still remains to be seen what the Portland Fires 2026 jerseys will look like, but the team did disclose one aspect of the uniforms on Tuesday morning.

The Fire announced that Chime  a San Francisco-based mobile banking company  will be the teams official banking and credit partner.

And part of that partnership will be that the Chime logo will be featured on the left shoulder of all three jerseys the Fire will wear in 2026.

Chime understands that with the return of the Portland Fire comes a responsibility to honor our history while intentionally building for the future, said Clare Hamill, Portland Fire interim president, in a news release. This partnership is about being part of the foundation as we shape a modern franchise rooted in values, community, and long-term impact.

Chime will also be involved with game day experiences at the Moda Center, including a new Chime Lane VIP entrance, and the Chime Club pregame destination with exclusive merchandise and food offerings.

The Portland Fire are scheduled to start the 2026 WNBA season on May 9 in a home game against the Chicago Sky.

Chime also has a similar deal with the Dallas Mavericks, and the companys logo has been on their jerseys for several years.
People looking to buy a place in pricey Lake Oswego have been touring a model home unlike any other in the city. Its the first of eight standalone cottages built on a downtown lot once restricted to a single house.

The two-story Oswego Cottages with a fenced yard and dedicated parking in the Historic First Addition neighborhood share a 7,500-square-foot lot on Third Street and G Avenue.

The cottages are in its own little neighborhood within a neighborhood, broker Justin Harnish, who is selling the homes, told The Oregonian/OregonLive.

Each of the two-bedroom cottages has just under 1,000 square feet of living space, a front porch and second-story terrace. The asking price for 804 Third St. C1 is $899,000.

There are more than 100 Lake Oswego residential properties for sale priced over $1 million, including side-by-side townhomes, according to the online marketplace Redfin.

The new corner lot development is a cottage cluster, a type of smaller-sized middle housing meant to reduce the housing shortage and escalating costs, say advocates, including Gov. Tina Kotek.

Oregons 2019 law, House Bill 2001, permits varied home types in neighborhoods once zoned exclusively for single-family houses. Two more cottage clusters are being built in Lake Oswego.

New smaller homes in an established neighborhood tap into existing utilities and services like roads, sewers and schools. They also allow more people to live near employment, retail centers and transit corridors.

A cottage cluster in Northeast Portland was included in the 2025 Street of Dreams luxury home show as an example of builders embracing the idea that a compact footprint and lower costs doesnt mean cheap construction and compromised finishes.

The Oswego Cottages by developer Portland Leeds Living have an electric fireplace and engineered hardwood floors. There are quartz kitchen counters, a convection gas oven and stovetop, built-in microwave, dishwasher and refrigerator.

The cottages appeal to first-time buyers to retirees who want a vacation home near Tryon Creek Park and to walk to everything Lake Oswego has to offer, Harnish said.

This is for people who dont want to take an elevator to their front door or live in a [multifamily] complex with shared walls, said Harnish, who is selling the cottages with Errol Bradley, also of Harnish Properties.
Morgan Parker is the author of the young adult novel Who Put This Song On? and the poetry collections Ot

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light rainToday everyone was kind and lovely and none of the smoke from the barrel fire got in my eyesBut what exactly? What do we miss by not seeing these postcards? Jonatha
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The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and one of the European countries will provide Ukraine with EUR 85 million for the purchase of additional gas volumes, First Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Energy Denys Shmyhal said.

Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal wrote on Telegram Tuesday that Ukraine secured EUR 85 million through EBRD instruments to purchase additional volumes of gas. Work is also nearly complete on obtaining a grant from one of the European countries, he added.

Shmyhal said the topic was discussed during an online conversation with EBRD President Odile Renaud-Basso.

"We are grateful to our partners for this! We will continue cooperating to find additional sources of financing," the energy minister emphasized.

He added that ongoing financial support from the EBRD for Ukrenergo and Ukrhydroenergo is also critically needed, as it helps cover repairs, equipment, and the implementation of new solutions to ensure people have electricity and heating.
A citizen-led initiative to restore parental rights in Washington public schools will appear before voters in November after Democratic legislative leaders confirmed they will not take action on the measure.

Secretary of State Steve Hobbs announced Monday that IL26-001, known as the Parents' Bill of Rights initiative, received enough verified signatures to qualify for consideration. The political committee Let's Go Washington submitted more than 416,000 signatures, exceeding the 308,911 valid signatures required to advance the measure to the legislature.

What the Initiative Would Change

The initiative seeks to reverse changes lawmakers made in 2025 through House Bill 1296, which modified the original Parents' Bill of Rights passed in 2024, according to krem.

Democratic legislators had amended Initiative 2081 by extending the timeline for schools to share student records with parents from 10 business days to 45 days and removing requirements for schools to notify parents before providing medical services or medications to their children.

The changes also eliminated parental access to certain student health and mental health counseling records.

IL26-001 would restore the original parental rights established under Initiative 2081, guaranteeing parents access to instructional materials and school records, requiring notification when schools provide medical services, and allowing parents to opt their children out of surveys and sexual education programs.

Supporters contend these measures are essential for parental involvement in their children's education and medical decisions.

Under Washington law, the legislature has three options when an initiative qualifies: adopt it into law, reject it and send it to voters, or pass an alternative version alongside the original for voters to decide.

Democratic leaders indicated they will not hold hearings or take action on the initiative during the current legislative session, automatically placing it on the November general election ballot, Axios reported.

Broad Support and Ongoing Debate

Brian Heywood, who leads Let's Go Washington, emphasized the initiative has broad bipartisan support, stating that approximately half of petition signers were independents or Democrats.

The measure will appear on the ballot alongside a second Let's Go Washington initiative that seeks to prohibit transgender girls from competing in girls' school sports.

Critics argue the parental rights measure could create safety risks for vulnerable students who rely on school counselors for support when facing challenges at home. Democratic legislators previously defended the 2025 amendments as necessary to comply with existing state laws protecting student medical privacy and ensuring appropriate care.

The initiative represents the third consecutive year Washington lawmakers will address parental rights and student privacy issues related to public education, as per OPB.
A New Jersey bill introduced in January 2026 would allow the state to consolidate school districts without requiring voter approval, potentially forcing hundreds of small districts across the state to merge.

Senate Bill 2646, sponsored by Senator Vin Gopal and pre-filed for the 2026 legislative session, mandates that county executive superintendents develop consolidation plans targeting districts with fewer than 500 students. The bill was introduced in the Senate and referred to the Senate Education Committee on January 13, 2026.

How the Consolidation Process Would Work

Under the proposed legislation, executive county superintendents would have 12 months to submit consolidation plans to the state Commissioner of Education, who would approve or reject the plans within six months. Approved plans would trigger state-funded feasibility studies examining factors including financial impacts, student demographics, and potential cost savings, according to North Jersey.

The bill's most controversial provision eliminates the traditional requirement for voter approval before regional school districts are established or enlarged. If feasibility studies meet specific criteria, including assurances that mergers would not increase segregation and would generate efficiency and cost savings, consolidated districts would be established by July 1 of the fifth full school year following approval.

Senator Gopal, who chairs the Senate Education Committee, aims to reduce New Jersey's approximately 600 school districts to "maybe 70 or 80" districts to address high administrative costs and property taxes.

He noted that nearly 53 percent of property taxes collected in 2022 were directed to schools, and administrative consolidation could reduce costs for healthcare, IT services, legal fees, and engineering services across multiple districts.

Gopal emphasized that the state's reliance on 600 separate districts has become financially unsustainable as student enrollment continues declining statewide, the Times of India reported.

Concerns From Education Leaders and Communities

The proposal has drawn mixed reactions from education stakeholders. Critics, including representatives from the New Jersey School Boards Association, expressed concerns that mandatory consolidation removes local officials and parents from educational decisions.

Debra Bradley of the New Jersey Principals and Supervisors Association argued the bill "effectively disenfranchises New Jersey parents, citizens, and communities" regarding school structure.

A similar bill, S-4861, was introduced in November 2025 but died without receiving a floor vote before the legislative session ended. That bill faced criticism during a December 2025 Senate Education Committee hearing, where it was discussed but not voted upon.

Governor Mikie Sherrill, who took office January 20, 2026, has expressed support for incentivizing district mergers but suggested mandatory consolidation could be considered for districts not adequately funding students while collecting substantial property taxes, as per Chalkbeat.
By Jessica Schladebeck, New York Daily News (TNS)

The four University of Idaho students murdered by Bryan Kohberger were stabbed a combined 150 times, according to a report.

Kohberger in July pleaded guilty to four counts of first-degree murder in connection with the grisly killings of 21-year-old Madison Mogen and Kaylee Goncalves, their housemate Xana Kernodle, 20, and her boyfriend, Ethan Chapin, also 20. Authorities found all four students dead from fatal stab wounds on Nov. 13, 2022, inside a Moscow home not far from campus.

Bryan Kohberger is is seen in the Ada County Courthouse after his sentencing hearing, Wednesday, July 23, 2025, in Boise, Idaho, for stabbing four University of Idaho students to death. (AP Photo/Kyle Green, Pool) AP

According to unsealed autopsy findings obtained by People, Kernodle sustained approximately 67 stab wounds, and evidence suggested she moved around the room  an apparent bid to fend off Kohberger  during the attack. Her boyfriend, meanwhile, was stabbed 17 times. He suffered one stab wound to the upper chest; four stab and incised wounds to the scalp face and neck; six incised wounds to the upper extremities; and six stab and incised wounds of the lower extremities.

They were both found in Kernodles room, according to the documents. She was in the bed while Chapin was on the floor.

Goncalves, meanwhile, was stabbed roughly 38 times, including 24 stab and incised wounds on her scalp, face, and neck, another 11 stab and incised wounds to the chest, and three stab and incised wounds of the upper extremities. And Mogen suffered 28 stabs wounds, including on her scalp, face, and neck, and five to her chest, according to the documents.

The best friends were found dead together in Mogens bedroom. Both women died from multiple sharp force injuries, with additional contributors to Goncalves death including blunt force injuries of the head and asphyxial injuries.

All of the victims aside from Kernodle were attacked while they slept, according to the documents.

The murders sparked a weeks-long search for the killer, culminating in Kohbergers arrest in Pennsylvania. He is serving life in prison.
Ted Kalathas has been in business long enough to know what it takes to keep the doors open at Theos Bar & Grille in Lower Allen Township.

Lately, hes noticed some diners skipping the $30 and $40 entrees at his 33-year-old establishment in favor of lower-priced appetizers and sandwiches, and, in some cases, people eating out less, maybe once a week instead of twice.

Diners are also eating out earlier, a trend he said started after the COVID-19 pandemic.

The whole footprint has changed, but the only thing you can do is do what youre doing and take care of the people, Kalathas said. You have to be consistent; you have to have a good product; you have to be good to your staff because thats everything.

His observations reflect a troubling trend across the industry as restaurants are dealing with a new landscape marked by closings, rising food costs and shifting dining habits.

Last year, several Harrisburg-area restaurants closed, including Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant in Derry Township, Home 231 and Zeroday Taproom in Harrisburg and Grateful Goat Brewing & Provisions in East Pennsboro Township.

It doesnt help that diners are eating out 37% less than the previous year, according to an October 2025 study by research group YouGov.

Among those cutting back, about 69% cited the rising cost of restaurant meals, while 58% said theyre trying to save money.

Many chain restaurants such as Outback Steakhouse are making adjustments to attract diners. Last year, its parent company Bloomin Brands announced a $75 million investment earmarked for menu enhancements and remodeling dining rooms.

Central Pennsylvania restaurant owners remain hopeful but admit they are turning to creative strategies, making adjustments and adapting to the changing conditions to keep dining rooms full.

Last year Jason Melhorn, owner of Benaiahs Wood Fired Kitchen and the Beerded Goat Brewing Co. at Union Station in Lower Paxton Township, hired a marketing company that recommended he consolidate operations by folding three establishments into two.

He closed Hops & Barleys Pub & Grill in the development and relocated Benaiahs to that space. Hops menu was rolled into Beerded Goats menu.

So far, Melhorn said, the move is paying off.

Both places still have a little further to go for sales volume, but the gap has closed so much that there is actually hope were going to get there this year, he said.

Benaiahs is already sold out for Valentines Day. New Years Eve was the best night the restaurant ever had, he said, calling it a huge blessing.

Like Kalathas, Melhorn also recognizes diners are cutting back on spending and being more selective about where they choose to spend their money.

Anytime you go into a recession or anyone is trying to save money, the first thing you are cutting out is going out to eat, he said.

Its one more reason Melhorn has to keep his restaurants operating as efficiently as possible.

For us, our biggest thing is preaching consistency. We have to consistently deliver a great product and service, and you cant waver from that no matter what, he said.

Otherwise, owners say they run the risk of losing business.

People are not going to come back, Kalathas said. You go in somewhere, you have a good meal and a good experience, youll go back.

Ace Rhoad, owner of Smoking Aces BBQ in East Hanover Township, is focusing on catering orders and the introduction this summer of a food truck to drive sales.

Owner Ace Rhoad of Smoking Aces BBQ. April 16, 2024 Sean Simmers | ssimmers@pennlive.com Sean Simmers

Instead of waiting for people to come to me, you almost have to go to the people, Rhoad said.

Hes noticed business is down compared to previous years, saying it has been one of the hardest years since Smoking Aces opened in 2022.

He partly blames the restaurants location off the beaten path near the Penn National Hollywood Casino and the fact business typically slows down in the winter when people dont crave barbecue as much.

In nearby Derry Township, Joanna Lembesis and Michael McQuaid, owners of What If ... Hershey, agree January is slow but this year the restaurant has been busy with post-holiday parties and events.

While business hasnt declined significantly, the couple said they must offer consistency to keep guests coming back.

Its one of the reasons What If updates its menu every three months with seasonal items. The restaurant is exploring other marketing tactics, including recently partnering with StuffD Steaks & Hoagies in Derry Township on a social media post that included a gift card giveaway.

Theres always things opening in Hershey. I like being challenged. It keeps me always thinking. Sometimes you have to change things, Lembesis said.

Some restaurant owners, like Josh Kesler, owner of Millworks, High Dive and Cork & Fork in Harrisburg and Watershed Pub in Camp Hill, said business has been strong and steady.

Hes got no complaints, although he hears the constant news and concerns, even from vendors, about restaurant closings in the area.

So far, hes sticking to what he knows best: Our model is very simple: Try and provide things that are a good value consistently. Its that simple. I havent deviated from that, he said.
By VANESSA GERA, The Associated Press

WARSAW, Poland (AP)  Holocaust survivors, politicians and regular people commemorated International Holocaust Remembrance Day on Tuesday, gathering at events held across Europe to reflect on Nazi Germanys murder of millions of people and its attempt to annihilate European Jewry.

International Holocaust Remembrance Day is observed across the world on Jan. 27, the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, the most notorious of the Nazi German death camps. The U.N. General Assembly adopted a resolution in 2005 establishing the day as an annual commemoration.

At the memorial site of Auschwitz, located in an area of southern Poland that was under German occupation during World War II, former prisoners laid flowers and wreaths at a wall where German forces executed thousands of prisoners. Polands President Karol Nawrocki was scheduled to join survivors for a remembrance ceremony at Birkenau, the vast site nearby where Jews from across Europe were exterminated in gas chambers.

Candles placed in front of a concrete slab of the Holocaust memorial to mark the International Holocaust Memorial Day in Berlin, Germany, Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber) AP

White roses placed on a concrete slab of the Holocaust memorial to mark the International Holocaust Memorial Day in Berlin, Germany, Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber) AP

Candles burned and white roses were placed at the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe, a field of 2,700 gray concrete slabs near the Brandenburg Gate in the heart of Berlin, which honors the 6 million victims and stands as a powerful symbol of Germanys remorse.

In the Czech Republic, a candlelight march is planned for the evening in Terezin at the site of the former Nazi concentration camp Theresienstadt. Thousands of Jews died there or were sent from there to Auschwitz and other death camps.

Nazi German forces murdered some 1.1 million people at Auschwitz, most of them Jews, but also Poles, Roma and others. The camp was liberated by the Soviet army on Jan. 27, 1945. In all, some 6 million Jews were killed in the Holocaust  in ghettos, concentration camps and often shot at close range in the fields and forests of Eastern Europe.

Israel  home to more Holocaust survivors than any other country  marks its remembrance day, Yom HaShoah, on the anniversary of the April 1943 Warsaw Ghetto Uprising, emphasizing the heroism of the Jewish insurgents who resisted the Nazi terror.

Holocaust survivor Stanislaw Zalewski walks along a wall in the Auschwitz Nazi death camp museum during a ceremony marking the 81th anniversary of the camp's liberation in Oswiecim, Poland, Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Beata Zawrzel) AP

A shrinking community of Holocaust survivors

An annual gathering took place at the upper house of the Czech Parliament with Holocaust survivors. Pavel Jelinek, a 90-year-old survivor from the city of Liberec  a Czech city with a prewar Jewish population of 1,350  told those gathered that he is the last living of the 37 Jews who returned to the city after the war.

There are an estimated 196,600 Jewish Holocaust survivors still alive globally, down from 220,000 a year earlier, according to information published last week by the New York-based Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany. Their median age is 87, and nearly all  some 97%  are child survivors who were born 1928 and later, the group said.

Though the worlds community of survivors is shrinking, some are still telling their stories for the first time after all these years.

In London, a Holocaust survivor addressed the British Cabinet in what Prime Minister Keir Starmer described as a first. Government members wiped away tears as 95-year-old Mala Tribich described how Germanys invasion of Poland in 1939 destroyed her childhood.

She recalled being forced into hard labor at the age of 12 as the first Nazi ghetto was established in her hometown of Piotrkow Trybunalski, and spoke of the hunger, disease and suffering there.

The Nazis murdered her mother, father and sister. She was sent to Ravensbruck and then to Bergen-Belsen, where she was liberated by the British Army in April 1945.

She urged the Cabinet members to fight antisemitism  and to remember.

Soon, there will be no eyewitnesses left, she told them. That is why I ask you today not just to listen, but to become my witness.
NEW YORK (AP)  A New York police officer who fatally shot a raccoon at a New York City beach has been placed on modified duty while the matter is reviewed, according to officials.

The shooting occurred Thursday morning at Rockaway Beach, after someone called 911 to report a vicious animal, a police department spokesperson said in an emailed statement Monday.

Police said officers were trying to usher the raccoon to a safe location when the animal suddenly charged toward a group of people in an aggressive manner and the officer fired his weapon.

However, bodycam footage published by the Daily News shows no group of people in sight when the animal walks out slowly onto the sand next to the beachs boardwalk and is shot by an officer. The animal then limps along and the officer shoots twice more.

The officers name has not been released. The departments Force Investigation Division, which reviews incidents when an officer discharges their weapon, is leading the departments probe.

It wasnt clear Monday if officials planned to test the raccoon for rabies.
Kyle Rittenhouses return to social media continues, and it continues to be a rough go for the guy.

The latest interesting turn came on Monday when Rittenhouse broke his silence about Alex Prettis shooting in Minnesota.

Pretti, 37, was shot and killed by ICE agent on Jan. 24. Pretti was carrying a handgun, but it was removed by an ICE agent before he was shot, according to multiple media outlets who reviewed video of the incident.

Rittenhouse, who is famous for shooting three people, killing two, during a racial injustice protest in Kenosha, Wisconsin in 2020 before claiming self-defense and being acquitted of all charges, has been pointed to as an example of hypocrisy from the 2A folks since Prettis killing.

The same people wanting to silence me are now begging me to comment, Rittenhouse wrote. My comment: Communists are gay. And anti-2A people are gay. Bidens failed borders policies created this ENTIRE mess. #ShallNotBeInfringed.

He wasnt done, though, sharing a meme and writing, But glad theyre all about the Second Amendment now.

He then added, Every Leftist retard is going out of their way to prove me right in the comments.

When Rittenhouse returned to X in December, he promised big things were to come. That included quickly speaking out on a shooting in Florida that drew a quick and cutting rebuke from a Republican Sheriff there.

The same people wanting to silence me are now begging me to comment.



My comment:



Communists are gay. And anti-2A people are gay.



Biden's failed open borders policies created this ENTIRE mess.#ShallNotBeInfringed  Kyle Rittenhouse  (@rittenhouse2a) January 26, 2026

As for his latest post  Rittenhouses big return to social media has often included the use of slurs  he was successful at getting folks fired up again.

Was hoping for a little more than that from you bro, Matthew Richards responded. Ive been defending you for years. Dont know if you got people paying you not to say something, but this is your moment to stand up for open carry and concealed carry.

The Trump administration is the one killing people for conceal carrying dumb (expletive), another wrote. You cant blame Biden for that.

No, we want you to shut up because youre annoying, another wrote. Youre using a single day of your life to grift off acting like some super hero instead of the scared boy we know you still are.

Kyle, I donated to your givesendgo immediately after I saw the video of the blm mob attacking you, Bryan Thanos replied. That said, I wish you would come out in clear defense of (Pretti) who was also exercising his 2nd amendment.

Man  you are trying so hard, but it is so obvious that you do not have the intellectual capacity to swim in the deep end, another wrote. You should leave social media again.

Rittenhouse reshared his post on X, and wrote, Ill give you my serious take soon. For now, I will feed the trolls.

Rittenhouse announced in December that he was returning to social media saying that the assassination of Charlie Kirk convinced him he couldnt sit on the sidelines anymore.

So Im back, he wrote. Not quietly. Not halfway. Im coming back in a big way.

But just a week into his return he found himself getting ripped online by a Republican Sheriff from Florida.

That came after he filmed a video of himself standing in front of the Walton County Jail while claiming that Michael Rediker used Floridas Stand Your Ground law to lawfully defend himself when his life was put in jeopardy.

Michael did nothing wrong, and he deserves all our support, Rittenhouse said in the video which he pinned to his X page.

We are expecting an outright not guilty under Floridas Stand Your Ground law, he added.

Walton County Sheriff Michael Adkinson did not take kindly to Rittenhouses claims. He reshared the video via the Walton County Sheriff Offices official X account and issued a video of his own scathing response.

I dont normally do this, Adkinson said. I dont normally take the time to speak to public comments on cases, certainly not open cases. But in this particular situation, a murder that occurred yesterday in Walton County, I feel compelled to respond to what I can only call wildly irresponsible. I would say motivated by many factors, none of them in the interest of justice in which individuals, particularly Kyle Rittenhouse and his attorney, Anthony Sabatini, are attempting to frame the murder here in Walton County on Thursday of Mr. Keen as a Stand Your Ground case or wrapping it in the Constitution or that it is Second Amendment case.

Adkinson was far from done.

After 30-something years of doing this, I very rarely get personally offended, but Im actually just kind of disgusted with them, the sheriff continued. There was a man who lost his life yesterday. A father, a husband with two small children, who was murdered, unarmed on his own property, unprovoked by an individual who drove a tractor over a half a mile onto the victims property. Once there, batters his wife in front of eyewitnesses. When the husband, whom there had been no confrontation with, gets out to come over and help pick his wife up off the ground the suspect shoots him in the face. He was unarmed. There was no fight between them. There was no attack, and as he is laying dying on the ground, this suspect, Michael Rediker, stood over him and made some comments for which he is going to answer to in court. At the same time, he committed aggravated assault on multiple other people because he murdered this man in front of witnesses that watched this as this man was murdered. Again, unarmed, on his own property, after his wife had been battered, and no confrontation.

Now, somehow out of that, Mr. Rittenhouse and his attorney, Anthony Sabatini, have determined that this is the great Stand Your Ground case, Adkinson continued. Well, Ill tell you this. Ill bet my badge on this. Not only is that not a stand your ground, Mr. Rediker will face either the ultimate penalty in the state of Florida or God willing the rest of his natural life in prison. Because, come Christmas morning in two weeks, there are two little boys elementary school age, two children, that are not going to have their father, and theres a wife whose not going to have her husband all so these two idiots can get more likes on their Facebook and call it a Constitutional issue.

Adkinson then brought it home.

I think both of you are jokes, and I dont think you should make a damn cent off the suffering of someone else, he said. So, if you dont like that, well you can file that under I dont really give a damn. I know people arent going to like this, and I dont care about that either. Im so disgusted and sad for the Keen family and their loss and the fact that these two yo-yos are going to try to make money and news on it. And I probably shouldnt give them this, but I think the public deserves to know this doesnt have a damn thing to do with the Second Amendment or Stand Your Ground. So, I hope that many of you will reach out and tell these two jack-wagons what you think about what they are doing to this family suffering.

Dont let them make on penny off a like.
Polish gas transmission system operator Gaz-System and Gas Transmission System Operator of Ukraine have agreed on a phased increase in capacity for gas imports from Poland to Ukraine starting in early February 2026, which foresees raising the capacity of this route from 15.3 million cubic meters to 18.4 million cubic meters per day by the end of April, First Deputy Prime Minister, Energy Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal reported.

"The Polish route provides access to various gas sources and remains one of the key import directions. In 2025, 2.1 billion cubic meters of gas were supplied via Poland, more than 30% of total imports, including about 600 million cubic meters of U.S. LNG," Shmyhal wrote on his Telegram channel on Tuesday.

According to him, expanding import capacity is part of systematic efforts to strengthen Ukraine's energy security and diversify gas supply routes, and this agreement is important to ensure stable heat supply to Ukrainian homes, hospitals, schools, and critical infrastructure.

"We are grateful to our Polish partners for their consistent support for Ukraine and for our joint work to strengthen our energy resilience," the Minister of Energy said.
WILLIAMSPORT  A New York City man is not giving up on his effort to be compensated for the nine days he spent in jail because he was mistakenly arrested by a Pennsylvania state trooper.

Dale Morgans saga began Jan. 4, 2019, in central Pennsylvania when Horace Henry was stopped by state police on Interstate 80 in Union County after being clocked at more than 100 miles an hour in a rented vehicle.

Henry, a Jamaican in the country illegally, provided an altered drivers license that contained his picture but Morgans identification information.

Later, posing as Morgan, he paid the fines for speeding and careless driving.

Henry was the leader of a scheme that used stolen identities to create fraudulent Sprint accounts to steal $1.3 million worth of Sprint iPhones in 14 states. The counterfeit identifications were also used to receive the phones when they were delivered.

The scheme, which was operated from January 2018 to July 2019, involved using stolen identities of 390 individuals with high credit scores to open Sprint accounts and order iPhones.

Henry pleaded guilty to charges of conspiracy to commit mail fraud and aggravated identity theft. U.S. Middle District Judge Matthew W. Brann in February 2022 sentenced him to 12 years in prison.

The investigation in the iPhone case included a Jan. 24, 2019, incident in which Brown and another trooper followed a car driven by Henry with a co-defendant, Andrew Herdsman, as a passenger to a Spring Mills residence in Centre County.

The troopers arrested Herdsman when he went to pick up a package after a FedEx driver delivered it, but Henry drove off.

Herdsman, when interviewed, claimed he knew the person he was with only as Metro.

Brown, with the assistance of the Centre County district attorneys office, on Feb. 1, 2019, obtained a warrant for Morgans arrest.

Morgan contends that Brown and others did not do their due diligence to compare pictures of the two before applying for the warrant.

His suit pointed out that a cloth bag recovered at the Spring Mills location contained an iPad with personal identifying information and photos of Henry.

Police also had surveillance footage of Henry entering a State College motel and a Spring Mills Wal-Mart, he noted.

Morgan is a 6-1, 220-pound, dark-skinned Black man, while Henry is a 5-6, 150-pound, light-skinned Black man, court documents state.

Despite logs confirming Morgan was at work the day he was supposed to have been in Pennsylvania, Brown charged him with conspiracy to commit theft, identity theft and receiving stolen property in connection with the Spring Mills phone incident.

Based on that warrant a New York City detective arrested Morgan at his Brooklyn home as a fugitive from justice, and he was denied bail.

The warrant stated identification had been confirmed by a photograph provided by the issuing jurisdiction.

Morgan, who claimed he had never been in Pennsylvania, spent nine days in jail before being released after Brown informed the Queens County district attorneys office by email on March 26, 2019, that the charges had been withdrawn.

Morgan filed his initial false arrest and malicious prosecution suit in 2021, followed by two amended complaints in which he added as defendants Centre County District Attorney Bernie Cantorna, assistant district attorney Mark Smith, Spring Twp. police, Officer Luke Nelson and two John Does.

Brann, in 2024, dismissed the claims against all the defendants but the county and Brown. He allowed Morgan the opportunity to file another amended complaint, which he did. The judge dismissed it in November 2024.

He ruled Brown had qualified immunity from being sued despite finding he conducted a negligent investigation.

But the mistakes didnt meet the threshold of the law to pierce immunity, the judge wrote.

Making an [allegation] based on an incomplete survey of the evidence is negligent police work and shoddy police work, but it is not police work evidencing a reckless disregard for the truth, he concluded.

The judge also denied Morgans claim that the county failed to train prosecutors and police officers in identifying suspects and drafting, reviewing, and ratifying legally sufficient affidavits in support of criminal complaints.

Morgan appealed Branns decision to the Third Circuit Court of Appeals. A three-judge panel of that court denied it Jan. 12.

On Friday, Morgan asked the full appeals court to vacate the panels decision, restore the case to the active docket and consider his appeal of Branns order.

He claims his case presents issues of exceptional importance related to granting qualified immunity.

The modern interpretation of qualified immunity comes from a 1967 U.S. Supreme Court case.

It is a type of legal immunity that protects government officials from frivolous lawsuits and allows some leeway for mistakes by police officers while acting in good faith.
A federal safety agency is warning consumers not to use the CanFord brand of bed rails.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission said the bed rails violate the mandatory standard for adult portable bed rails. They pose a deadly risk of entrapment and asphyxiation. When the bed rails are attached to a bed, users can become entrapped within the bed rail, or between the bed rail and the side of the mattress.

The CPSC said it issued a notice of violation to the company but it has not agreed to a recall.

About 10,600 bed rails were sold for between $70 and $110 at Amazon.com from August 2023 through December 2025. The bed rails also may have been sold on other websites.

The bed rails were sold for use on adult beds. The foldable bed rails have four metallic support bars and a metallic top rail with a red release button that collapses the bed rail. They come with a black nylon strap to secure the bed rail when folded. The SKU number, SV-2M0R-KE9E, is printed on the product packaging.

People should immediately stop using them and throw them away. They should not be sold or donated.

The CPSC routinely issues safety warnings and recalls of bed rails.

Earlier in January, more than 40,000 Sangohe and Yolaah brand rails were recalled. They were sold on Amazon and Walmart.com.

In December 2025, JOKOSIS brand recalled 12,000 bed rails sold on Amazon.

In October 2025, Leachoi recalled 7,800 adult portable bed rails that were sold on Amazon.

In October 2025, the CPSC issued warnings about OasisSpace and KoolDoo brands of bed rails. An 81-year-old woman died in October 2023 after becoming trapped in the space between one of these bed rails and her mattress.

In June 2022, the CPSC issued a warning about 285,000 Mobility Transfer Systems bed rails saying, At least three people have died after becoming entrapped in one model of the bed rails. They include a 78-year-old woman in a Michigan assisted living facility in 2006, an 85-year-old man in an Oklahoma nursing home in 2007, and a 90-year-old disabled woman in California in 2013.

In February 2023 Platinum Health recalled about 53,000 of the LumaRail brand of adult portable bed rails after an 81-year-old man in a Pennsylvania nursing home became trapped between his mattress and portable bed rails and died in October 2021.

All portable adult bed rails that were manufactured after Aug. 21, 2023, are required to meet the safety standards.
By STEVE KARNOWSKI and MIKE BALSAMO, The Associated Press

MINNEAPOLIS (AP)  President Donald Trump softened his tone Monday on the immigration crackdown in Minnesota, touting productive conversations with the governor and Minneapolis mayor as he sent the border czar to take charge of much of the enforcement effort. Some federal agents were expected to leave as soon as Tuesday.

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey said he spoke by phone with Trump, who praised the discussion and declared that lots of progress is being made. Frey said he asked Trump in a phone call to end the immigration enforcement surge and that Trump agreed the present situation cannot continue.

The mayor said some agents would soon leave and that he would keep pushing for others involved in Operation Metro Surge to go.

Among those who are expected to depart was senior Border Patrol commander Greg Bovino, a person familiar with the matter told The Associated Press. The person was not authorized to publicly discuss details of the operation and spoke to AP on condition of anonymity.

Bovino has been at the center of the administrations aggressive enforcement surge in cities nationwide. His departure marks a significant public shift in federal law enforcement posture amid mounting outrage over the fatal shooting of 37-year-old ICU nurse Alex Pretti by Border Patrol agents, the second fatal shooting by federal immigration officers this month.

Bovinos leadership of highly visible federal crackdowns, including operations that sparked mass demonstrations in Los Angeles, Chicago, Charlotte and Minneapolis, has drawn fierce criticism from local officials, civil rights advocates and congressional Democrats.

Criticism increased around Bovino in the last few days after his public defense of the Pretti shooting and disputed claims about the confrontation that led to his death.

The border czar, Tom Homan, will take charge of Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations in Minnesota. Frey said he planned to meet Homan on Tuesday.

Trump has call with Minnesota governor

Trump and Democratic Gov. Tim Walz spoke in a phone call and later offered comments that were a marked change from the critical statements they have exchanged in the past. Their conversation happened on the same day a federal judge heard arguments in a lawsuit aimed at halting the federal immigration enforcement surge in the state.

We, actually, seemed to be on a similar wavelength, the president wrote in a social media post.

A federal agent stands guard near a hotel during a noise demonstration protest in response to federal immigration enforcement operations in the city Sunday, Jan. 25, 2026, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Adam Gray) AP

Walz, in a statement, said the call was productive and that impartial investigations into the shootings were needed. Trump said his administration was looking for any and all criminals the state has in their custody. Walz said the state Department of Corrections honors federal requests for people in its custody.

Meanwhile, attorneys for the administration, the state and the cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul appeared Monday before U.S. District Judge Katherine Menendez, who is considering whether to grant requests to temporarily halt the immigration operation.

She said the case was a priority, but in an order later Monday, she told the federal governments attorneys to file an additional brief by 6 p.m. Wednesday. She told them to address, among other things, the assertion by the state and cities that the purpose of Operation Metro Surge is to punish them for their sanctuary laws and policies.

Lawyers for the state and the Twin Cities argued the situation on the street is so dire it requires the court to halt the federal governments enforcement actions.

If this is not stopped right here, right now, I dont think anybody who is seriously looking at this problem can have much faith in how our republic is going to go in the future, Minnesota Assistant Attorney General Brian Carter said.

Judge questions governments motives

The judge questioned the governments motivation behind the crackdown and expressed skepticism about a letter Attorney General Pam Bondi recently sent to Walz. The letter asked the state to give the federal government access to voter rolls, to turn over state Medicaid and food assistance records, and to repeal sanctuary policies.

I mean, is there no limit to what the executive can do under the guise of enforcing immigration law? Menendez asked. She noted that the federal requests are the subject of litigation.

Brantley Mayers, a Justice Department attorney, said the governments goal is to enforce federal law. Mayers said one lawful action should not be used to discredit another lawful action.

Menendez questioned where the line was between violating the Constitution and the executives power to enforce the law. She also asked whether she was being asked to decide between state and federal policies.

That begins to feel very much like I am deciding which policy approach is best, she said.

At one point, while discussing the prospect of federal officers entering residences without a warrant, the judge expressed reluctance to decide issues not yet raised in a lawsuit before her.

Menendez made it clear that she was struggling with how to rule because the case is so unusual, and there are few precedents.

Its because this is important that Im doing everything I can to get it right, she said.

The state of Minnesota and the cities sued the Department of Homeland Security earlier this month, five days after Renee Good was shot by an Immigration and Customs officer. Prettis shooting on Saturday added urgency to the case.

Late Monday, a federal appeals court declined to lift a temporary hold on a ruling Menendez issued in a separate case on Jan. 16. She ruled then that federal officers in Minnesota cannot detain or tear gas peaceful protesters who are not obstructing authorities, including people who follow and observe agents. A three-judge panel of the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals said that ruling was unlikely to hold up on appeal.

Border czar to Minnesota

Trump posted Monday on social media that Homan would report directly to him.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Homan would be the main point of contact on the ground in Minneapolis during continued operations by federal immigration officers.

Federal agents try to clear demonstrators near a hotel, using tear gas during a noise demonstration protest in response to federal immigration enforcement operations in the city Sunday, Jan. 25, 2026, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Adam Gray) AP

In court Monday, an attorney for the administration said about 2,000 Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers were on ground, along with at least 1,000 Border Patrol officers.

The lawsuit asks the judge to order a reduction in the number of federal law enforcement officers and agents in Minnesota back to the level before the surge and to limit the scope of the enforcement operation.

The case has implications for other states that have been or could become targets of ramped-up federal immigration enforcement operations. Attorneys general from 19 states plus the District of Columbia, led by California, filed a friend-of-the-court brief supporting Minnesota.

In yet another case, a different federal judge, Eric Tostrud, took under advisement a request from the Justice Department to lift an order he issued late Saturday blocking the Trump administration from destroying or altering evidence related to Saturdays shooting.

Attorneys for the state Bureau of Criminal Apprehension told the judge they cant trust the federal government to preserve the evidence, citing the lack of cooperation the state is getting from federal authorities after they said they were blocked from the scene.

But the federal governments attorneys argued that the temporary restraining order should be dissolved because its investigators are already following proper preservation procedures, and theyd object to micromanaging from the court what evidence the state can examine while the federal investigation is ongoing.

Balsamo reported from Washington. Associated Press writers Jack Brook in Minneapolis, Giovanna DellOrto in St. Paul, Minnesota, and Mike Catalini in Trenton, New Jersey, contributed to this report.
One of the most vulnerable Congressional Republicans in Pennsylvania is squaring off with his Democratic challenger over ICE operations in Minnesota after a deadly weekend of violence.

Bob Brooks, Democratic candidate in Lehigh Valleys 7th Congressional District, on Monday reiterated calls for the removal of Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, and getting ICE out of Minneapolis.

Brooks said federal immigration agents have stoked violence in that city.

I spent 20 years working in public safety in this community, said Brooks, a former Bethlehem firefighter. This is not safety, its chaos. Its detaining children. Its killing people on our streets. Its terrorizing families and making our neighbors afraid to leave their homes.

Republican incumbent Rep. Ryan Mackenzie, a member of the House Homeland Security Committee, is urging restraint on ICE, saying it was essential to wait for the facts before engaging in dialogue.

At the same time, we cannot allow a lack of cooperation from local officials to prevent criminals from being detained and deported, Mackenzie said in a written statement.

For weeks, officials in Minneapolis and even here in our own community have fanned the flames of division and disrespect for law enforcement. This has resulted in a well-coordinated effort to interfere with federal law enforcement operations, including those targeting criminals.

Two people have been killed by ICE agents in Minneapolis, the most recent, Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old ICU nurse, was killed by agents on Saturday. A third person was shot in the leg and wounded just days after the first killing on Jan. 7 of Renee Good, 37.

The military-style crackdown has sparked bipartisan nationwide outrage.

Sen. Rand Paul, chairman of the Homeland Security Committee, called Monday for the heads of ICE, Customs and Border Protection, and the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services to testify before the panel.

Mackenzie, who unseated Democrat Susan Wild in 2024 to help Republicans take control of Congress, is now considered among the most at risk to lose his seat in Congress.

Roll Call has ranked him the second most vulnerable Republican in Congress.

The 7th district is highly competitive. President Donald Trump won it by 3 points in 2016, then lost in 2020 by less than a point. Trump last year won the district by 3 points.

In a post on X on Monday, Brooks urged Senate Democrats to vote No on funding DHS, saying ICE was out of control.

He called for the separation of the DHS funding bill from other funding bills to keep the government open; and called for common sense policies like doing away with the mask policy for ICE agents, and an end to the detention and deportation of those with legal status.

Brooks called for the removal of ICE from Minneapolis.

Noem and this administration have used their power to undermine our laws and safety. She should be impeached and removed, he posted on X a few days ago.

Mackenzie said that oversight and cooperation needed to be emphasized. He voted in favor last week, of the House appropriations bill to fund DHS.

The Senate is scheduled to take up that bill this week. Funding expires on Jan. 31; the chamber is due back in session on Tuesday.

The chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee has requested an oversight hearing with ICE and DHS.

From my position on the Homeland Security Committee, I will continue to prioritize accountability, common sense, and the rule of law, Mackenzie said.

Mackenzie has come under fire from progressives for his support of controversial legislation, including a vote to cut SNAP benefits.

Mackenzie backed Trumps efforts to overturn Pennsylvania election results in 2020. He previously stated that the United States was being invaded by illegal immigrants.

Brooks spent 20 years as a firefighter in the City of Bethlehem and served as president of the Pennsylvania Professional Fire Fighters Association.
U.S. Senator John Fetterman asked President Donald Trump to fire Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem in a social media post Tuesday, .

President Donald J. Trump: Im making a direct appeal to immediately fire Secretary Kristi Noem, Fetterman wrote on Facebook. Americans have died. She is betraying DHS core mission and trashing your legacy to secure our border. DO NOT make the same mistake President Biden made for not firing a grossly incompetent DHS Secretary.

Fetterman made a similar post on X, just a day after condemning the killings of Alex Pretti and Renee Good by U.S. Border Patrol agents and Immigrations and Customs Enforcement agents.

The operation in Minneapolis should stand down and immediately end, Fetterman said.

The senator called himself a very pro-immigration Democrat, yet rejected calls to defund or abolish ICE.

I strongly disagree with many strategies and practices ICE deployed in Minneapolis, and believe that must change, Fetterman said.

Fetterman said he would not vote to shut down the government, even though Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer said he would block a spending package unless Republicans remove DHS funding.

The call for Noems firing isnt new: There are 120 co-sponsors on an impeachment resolution against Noem.

On Sunday, the Democrats official X account simply stated, in all caps, IMPEACH KRISTI NOEM.

Fetterman has faced pressure from his constituents as well. In early January, roughly 100 people gathered in Harrisburg to protest ICE, and a pacifist Christian faith group with Pa. roots participated in protests in Minnesota.

Prior to his social media posts Monday and Tuesday, Fetterman largely stayed mum on Pretti and Goods deaths, although he said on Jan. 15 that he doesnt support abolishing ICE.
Sen. John Fettermans approval rating among Pennsylvania voters has risen as support from fellow Democrats wavers and Republicans increasingly back him.

According to a MorningConsult.com poll of all 100 senators in their respective states, Fetterman has an approval rating of 51%.

A November poll by RealClearPennsylvania and Emerson College had his approval rating at 39%.

Since the end of 2024, Democratic support for Fetterman has fallen from 72% to 48%, while support from GOP voters has increased from 27% to 59%, reported MorningConsult.com.

In that RCP/Emerson poll, 40% of Democrats approved of Fetterman while 45% of Republicans did.

Fetterman has angered many Democratic voters for his strong support for Israel and its military offensive into Gaza, voting for Trump administration officials, backing Trumps immigration policies and criticizing Democrats, frequently while appearing on Fox News.

The disenchantment with Fetterman has prompted one progressive group, the Pennsylvania Working Families Party, to publicly encourage and recruit potential primary challengers for 2028.

MorningConsult.coms survey found that GOP Sen. David McCormick has an approval rating of 45% with Pennsylvania voters compared to a 33% disapproval rating.

Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, an independent who caucuses with Democrats, was the most popular senator at 68% approval in his state followed by Vermont Democratic Sen. Peter Welch at 66%, and Democratic Sens. Brian Schatz of Hawaii and Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts at 60% each.

Republican and former Senate Majority Leader Sen. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky was the least popular senator with a 63% disapproval rating and an anemic 27% approval.
By MIKE CATALINI and STEVE KARNOWSKI, The Associated Press

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. (AP)  The chief federal judge in Minnesota says the Trump administration has failed to comply with orders to hold hearings for detained immigrants and ordered the head of Immigration and Customs Enforcement to appear before him Friday to explain why he shouldnt be held in contempt.

In an order dated Monday, Chief Judge Patrick J. Schiltz said Todd Lyons, the acting director of ICE, must appear personally in court. Schiltz took the administration to task over its handling of bond hearings for immigrants it has detained.

This Court has been extremely patient with respondents, even though respondents decided to send thousands of agents to Minnesota to detain aliens without making any provision for dealing with the hundreds of habeas petitions and other lawsuits that were sure to result, the judge wrote.

The order comes a day after President Donald Trump ordered border czar Tom Homan to take over his administrations immigration crackdown in Minnesota following the second death this month of person at the hands of an immigration law enforcement officer.

Trump said in an interview broadcast Tuesday that he had great calls with Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey on Monday, mirroring comments he made immediately after the calls.

In an order dated Monday, Chief Judge Patrick J. Schiltz said Todd Lyons, the acting director of ICE, must appear personally in court. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta, File) AP

The White House had tried to blame Democratic leaders for protests of federal officers conducting immigration raids, but after the killing of Alex Pretti on Saturday and videos suggesting he wasnt an active threat, the administration tapped Homan to take charge of the Minnesota operation from Border Patrol commander Gregory Bovino.

Schiltzs order also follows a federal court hearing Monday on a request by the state and the mayors of Minneapolis and St. Paul for a judge to order a halt to the immigration law enforcement surge. The judge said she was prioritizing the ruling but didnt give a timeline.

Schiltz wrote that he recognizes ordering the head of a federal agency to appear personally is extraordinary. But the extent of ICEs violation of court orders is likewise extraordinary, and lesser measures have been tried and failed, he said.

Respondents have continually assured the Court that they recognize their obligation to comply with Court orders, and that they have taken steps to ensure that those orders will be honored going forward, he wrote. Unfortunately, though, the violations continue.

Messages were sent Tuesday to ICE and a DHS spokesperson seeking a response.

The order lists the petitioner by first name and last initials: Juan T.R. It says the court granted a petition on Jan. 14 from the person to provide him with a bond hearing within seven days. On Jan. 23, the persons lawyers told the court the petitioner remained detained.

The order says Schiltz will cancel Lyons appearance if the petitioner is released from custody.
Leaders of the state Legislative Latino Caucus are calling on Gov. Josh Shapiro to use the full scope of his executive and administrative authority to protect immigrant communities, including ending collaboration with ICE and prohibiting the sharing of sensitive personal data with federal immigration authorities.

The Pennsylvania Legislative Latino Caucus stands in solidarity with the communities impacted by the ongoing federal immigration enforcement surge -- including the fatal shooting of a Minneapolis resident by federal immigration agents, which marks the latest in a series of deadly incidents drawing national outrage and calls for accountability, lawmakers said in a written statement.

Leadership of the caucus includes chairwoman Rep. Johanny Cepeda-Freytiz of Berks County; Rep. Jose Giral, Philadelphia County and Rep. Lindsay Powell, Allegheny County. All are Democrats.

House Bill 1880 would prohibit the use of face coverings or masks by federal law enforcement officials in Pennsylvania.

We remain steadfast in advancing policies rooted in dignity, due process, and humanity, and we will continue fighting for our immigrant neighbors in the Pennsylvania General Assembly, the legislative group said.

The Latino lawmakers further assailed the federal immigration enforcement in Minnesota.

Once again, Immigration and Customs Enforcement and other federal agents operating under this administration have demonstrated a reckless disregard for human life and community safety,

The group condemned the actions as not isolated  but reflecting a broader pattern of aggressive, militarized immigration enforcement that terrorizes communities.

ICE agents frequently misrepresent themselves as law enforcement and employ tactics that erode trust and interfere with the work of state and local police, whose duty is to protect all Pennsylvanians, the caucus said.

We categorically reject the false choice between public safety and immigrant rights. True public safety is built through transparency, accountability, restraint, and respect for due process -- not fear, intimidation, or lethal force. The escalation of violence linked to federal immigration operations should alarm every Pennsylvanian, regardless of immigration status.

The Trump administration drew widespread bipartisan condemnation after this weekends second fatal shooting of an innocent protester at the hands of ICE in Minneapolis. Alex Pretti, an ICU nurse for the Veterans Administration, was killed by agents on Saturday. His killing followed that of Renee Good a few weeks ago. Both Pretti and Good were 37.

Our congressional delegation continues to be obstructed by an administration that shows little regard for checks and balances or the rule of law, the Latino lawmakers said.

They urged Sens. John Fetterman and Dave McCormick to vote NO on the bill that would fund the Department of Homeland Security, which oversees ICE.

Fetterman, a Democrat, on Monday broke his silence on the raging national debate, saying operations in Minneapolis should stand down and immediately end.

It has become an ungovernable and dangerous urban theatre for civilians and law enforcement that is incompatible with the American spirit, he said in a statement.

Sen. Dave McCormick, a Republican, on Monday issued a statement saying that he supported the current appropriations package being considered by the Senate this week. The legislation passed the House with slim bipartisan support. Seven Democrats voted in favor of the bill.

McCormick, his office said, does not support defunding ICE.

While we can debate border security and immigration enforcement policies, Senator McCormick opposes shutting down the government and defunding homeland security, the statement said. He encourages bipartisan cooperation and for both parties to come together, pass the remaining funding bills, and prevent a government shutdown before the January 30th deadline.

Latino lawmakers urged the state House to prioritize a slate of bills, including one that would establish an Office of New Pennsylvanians to coordinate statewide immigrant integration and protect newcomers rights. Other bills would help crime victims secure legal status; expand drivers license rights and prohibit the state police from performing immigration arrests.
Its cold, and its about to get colder.

The entire Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is under a cold weather advisory and several counties in the western part of the state are under an extreme cold warning.

A warning is issued by the National Weather Service when severe or hazardous weather has already developed and has been reported by spotters or indicated by radar. Warnings are statements of imminent danger and are issued for relatively small areas near and downstream from the severe storm or flood.

Advisories are issued for weather situations that cause significant inconveniences but do not meet warning criteria and, if caution is not exercised, could lead to life-threatening situations, according to the National Weather Service.

Central Pa.

The National Weather Service in State College has issued a cold weather advisory for Center, Blair, Huntingdon, Mifflin, Juniata, Bedford, Fulton, Franklin, Union, Snyder, Montour, Northumberland, Columbia, Perry, Dauphin, Schuylkill, Lebanon-Cumberland-Adams, York, Lancaster, Clinton and Lycoming counties from 7 p.m. Tuesday until 10 a.m. Wednesday.

Very cold wind chills as low as 15 below zero are expected Tuesday night and Wednesday morning.

The National Weather Service in State College has issued a cold weather advisory for Warren, McKean, Potter, Elk, Cameron, Clinton, Tioga, Lycoming and Sullivan counties. It remains in effect until 1 p.m. Tuesday. A second cold weather advisory will be in effect from 7 p.m. Tuesday to 10 a.m. Wednesday. Very cold wind chills of 15 below to 20 below zero are expected.

Eastern Pa.

The National Weather Service in Mount Holly, New Jersey, has issued a cold weather advisory for Berks, Lehigh, Northampton, Chester, Montgomery, Delaware, Philadelphia, and Bucks counties. The advisory remains in effect until 10 a.m. Wednesday. Very cold wind chills as low as 10 below zero are expected.

The National Weather Service in Binghamton, New Yor,k has issued a cold weather advisory for Bradford, Susquehanna, Wayne, Wyoming, Lackawanna, Luzerne and Pike counties. The advisory is in effect until 1 p.m. Wednesday. Very cold wind chills as low as 10 to 15 below zero are expected. Higher terrain should see the coldest wind chill, according to the National Weather Service.

Western Pa.

The National Weather Service in State College has issued an extreme cold warning for Clearfield, Cambria and Somerset counties, which remain in effect until 1 p.m. Tuesday. A cold weather advisory will be in effect from 7 p.m. Tuesday until 10 a.m. Wednesday.

For the extreme cold warning, dangerously cold wind chills as low as 25 below zero are possible. For the cold weather advisory, very cold wind chills as low as 15 below zero are expected.

The National Weather Service in Cleveland, Ohio, has issued a cold weather advisory for Erie and Crawford counties. The advisory will be in effect from 7 p.m. Tuesday until 11 a.m. Wednesday. Very cold wind chills as low as 21 below are expected.

The National Weather Service in Pittsburgh has issued a cold weather advisory for Mercer, Venango, Forest, Lawrence, Butler, Clarion, Jefferson, Beaver, Allegheny, Armstrong, Washington, Greene, Westmoreland, Fayette and Indiana counties from 7 p.m. Tuesday until 11 a.m. Wednesday. Very cold wind chills as low as 16 below zero expected.
Generation of damaged combined heat and power (CHP) plants in Kyiv will be replaced by distributed sources, said First Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Energy of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal following the meeting of the headquarters for the elimination of the consequences of Russian shelling of the energy sector in Kyiv and the region.

Specific steps have been developed to replace generation lost from damaged CHP plants with distributed sources, including the installation of cogeneration units and modular boiler houses, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said. He instructed Kyiv to urgently calculate the number of units needed to compensate for the losses, he wrote on Telegram on Monday.

"We also had substantive work with regional businesses today. We reviewed each enterprise individually to understand their needs and capabilities. The result of the dialogue is concrete  in the near future, we expect to receive additional megawatts of capacity from business-owned generation," the energy minister wrote on Telegram.

According to the minister, Ukraine received "31 tonnes of cargo  generators, transformers and other equipment from Spain, Finland, Norway and Austria" over the past week. A large shipment of generators from Lithuania and the European Union is also expected.

Shmyhal also reported the transfer of generators to municipal utilities and service providers.

"Separately, we agreed with the city to support providers that can ensure xPON fiber-optic internet technology in residential buildings. There should be no monopoly here, and people must receive high-quality communications services under any conditions," the first deputy prime minister wrote on Telegram.
On the night of January 27 (from 18:00 on January 26), the enemy attacked with 165 Shahed-type attack UAVs (including jet-powered ones), Gerbera, Italmas, and other types of drones from the following directions: Kursk, Orel, Bryansk, Millerovo, Primorsko-Akhtarsk of the Russian Federation, Hvardeyske, Chauda - TOT Autonomous Republic of Crimea, about 100 of which were Shaheds, the Ukrainian Air Force reported on its Telegram channel.

"According to preliminary data, as of 8:00, air defense forces have shot down or suppressed 135 enemy UAVs in the north, south, center, and east of the country. Twenty-four attack UAVs were hit at 14 locations, and UAV debris was found at nine locations," the Ukrainian Armed Forces reported.
Reporter

Carl Dawson covers the City of Aiken and the Savannah River Site. An Aiken County resident since 1990, his work has appeared in the Charleston News & Courier, the Tampa Tribune, the Atlanta Constitution and the Augusta Chronicle. He holds a B.A. in English from the University of South Carolina.
Tony Kukulich is an editor/reporter working in the Beaufort County bureau. Turning to journalism as a second career, he started as a photojournalist in the San Francisco Bay Area. After moving to Bluffton in 2021, he wrote for several area publications before joining The Post and Courier the following year.
An archival image of President Ronald Reagan and wife Nancy inside their private White House quarters courtesy of Doug Mills.
Editor

Ralph Mancini is an award-winning editor whos been employed by the Post and Courier since 2022. Previously, Mancini served in a variety of newspaper roles in New York City, Washington State and North Dakota.
EU Council may approve regulations for the use of EUR 90 bln for Ukraine this week - Poroshenko after meeting with Kubilius

Photo: https://eurosolidarity.org/2026/01/27

The Council of the European Union may approve regulations for the use of EUR 90 billion for Ukraine this week, Ukrainian MP and leader of the European Solidarity party Petro Poroshenko announced after a meeting with EU Commissioner for Defence and Space Andrius Kubilius.

"Thanked for the decision to allocate a EUR 90 billion loan to Ukraine to meet its immediate military needs through a cascade approach (through investments in the Ukrainian defense industry, purchases from European manufacturers, and, if necessary, from American arms manufacturers). I also expressed hope that the EU regulations on the use of the loan will b e approved by the Council of Permanent Representatives of the EU this week," Poroshenko wrote on Facebook on Tuesday.

He also discussed with Kubilius the security situation in Ukraine and Europe, ways to overcome the critical state of the Ukrainian energy sector as a result of the recent Russian missile attacks, and Ukraine's urgent needs for air and anti-drone defense.

"Emphasized the importance of significantly increasing investment in the defense industry of both Ukraine and European countries. We exchanged views on the substantive content of the 20th EU sanction package against Russia, as well as the special resolution of the European Parliament and statements by the European Commission in connection with the fourth year of the full-scale invasion and the 12th anniversary of the start of Russian aggression against Ukraine," Poroshenko wrote.

As reported, the European Council, at its meeting held on 18-19 December 2025, decided to provide Ukraine with a EUR 90 billion loan for 2026-2027 based on EU borrowing on capital markets, using the "enhanced cooperation" mechanism between EU member states.

On January 20, 2026, the European Parliament also adopted a decision on an accelerated procedure for considering the proposal to provide Ukraine with this loan through EU co-borrowing on capital markets, which will be guaranteed by the so-called "reserve" of the EU budget and proposals to amend the Ukraine Facility. These legislative initiatives will be voted on at the next session of the European Parliament, which will take place from February 9 to February 12.

The following day, January 21, the European Parliament approved the decision of the December European Council to apply the enhanced cooperation procedure between the 24 member states of the European Union, excluding Hungary, the Czech Republic and Slovakia, to provide Ukraine with a loan of EUR 90 billion.
David Slade is a senior Post and Courier reporter and personal finance columnist. Over more than three decades he's worked for multiple newspapers and magazines, and his reporting has been honored with more than 50 state, regional and national journalism awards. David reports on the impacts of South Carolina's rapid population growth and development. Reach him at 843-937-5552 or dslade@postandcourier.com
Syndicated and guest columns represent the personal views of the writers, not necessarily those of the editorial staff. The editorial department operates entirely independently of the news department and is not involved in newsroom operations.
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NEW YORK CITY, NY AND NEW ORLEANS, LA / ACCESS Newswire / January 26, 2026 /Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC ("KSF") and KSF partner, former Attorney General of Louisiana, Charles C. Foti, Jr., remind investors with substantial losses that they have untilFebruary 17, 2026to file lead plaintiff applications in securities class action lawsuits against Coupang, Inc. (NYSE:CPNG), if they purchased or otherwise acquired the Company's securities between May 7, 2025 and December 16, 2025, inclusive (the "Class Period"). These actions are pending in the United States District Courts for the Northern District of California and Western District of Washington.What You May DoIf you purchased securities of Coupang and would like to discuss your legal rights and how these cases might affect you and your right to recover for your economic loss, you may, without obligation or cost to you, contact KSF Managing Partner Lewis Kahn toll-free at 1-877-515-1850 or via email ( lewis.kahn@ksfcounsel.com) , or visit https://www.ksfcounsel.com/cases/nyse-cpng/ to learn more. If you wish to serve as a lead plaintiff in the class actions, you must petition the Courts byFebruary 17, 2026 .About the LawsuitsCoupang and certain of its executives are charged with failing to disclose material information during the Class Period, violating federal securities laws.The alleged false and misleading statements and omissions include, but are not limited to, that: (i) the Company had inadequate cybersecurity protocols that allowed a former employee to access sensitive customer information for nearly six months without being detected; (ii) this subjected the Company to a materially heightened risk of regulatory and legal scrutiny; (iii) when defendants became aware that the Company had been subjected to this data breach, they did not report it in a current report filing in compliance with applicable Securities and Exchange Commission reporting rules; and (iv) as a result, defendants' public statements were materially false and/or misleading at all times.The first-filed case is Barry v. Coupang, Inc., et al., No. 25-cv-10795. A subsequent case, Lee v. Coupang, Inc., et al., No. 26-cv-00047, expanded the class period.About Kahn Swick & Foti, LLCKSF, whose partners include former Louisiana Attorney General Charles C. Foti, Jr., is one of the nation's premier boutique securities litigation law firms. This past year, KSF was ranked by SCAS among the top 10 firms nationally based upon total settlement value. KSF serves a variety of clients, including public and private institutional investors, and retail investors - in seeking recoveries for investment losses emanating from corporate fraud or malfeasance by publicly traded companies. KSF has offices in New York, Delaware, California, Louisiana, Chicago, and a representative office in Luxembourg.TOP 10 Plaintiff Law Firms - According to ISS Securities Class Action ServicesTo learn more about KSF, you may visit www.ksfcounsel.com Contact:Kahn Swick & Foti, LLCLewis Kahn, Managing Partnerlewis.kahn@ksfcounsel.com1-877-515-18501100 Poydras St., Suite 960New Orleans, LA 70163CONNECT WITH US: Facebook || Instagram || YouTube || TikTok || LinkedInSOURCE: Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC
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UNIONDALE, NY / ACCESS Newswire / January 26, 2026 / Marquis Who's Who honors Sean O'Connor for excellence in the arts.Mr . O'Connor is a playwright , filmmaker and actor whose career spans nearly five decades. Based in New York City, he has built a reputation for creating emotionally resonant stories that reflect the complexity of human nature. He has also acted and directed in numerous plays, TV and film. His dedication to writing and the performing arts has earned him numerous awards and solidified his standing as a respected voice in American theater.The Art of Authentic StorytellingMr. O'Connor began exploring storytelling through acting and writing, developing a fascination with how character and structure intertwine. "I had a natural talent for this stuff, but I knew I had to formally educate myself. I studied all of the ancient muses, beginning with Aristotle and all the way up to Lajos Egri, Syd Field, Georges Polti and others. Jeffrey Kitchen, who still works in Hollywood, was a dramaturg on some of my earlier play productions, and he shared a wealth of information," he says. "The knowledge I gleaned from these brilliant guys helped me create my own compelling, dramatic narratives, based on the internal needs and urgencies of my characters as opposed to some preconceived Hollywood plot line." Writing, for Mr. O'Connor, involves a balance between logic and imagination. Each character's life decisions must feel authentic and consistent with their inner world at the time the decision is made. "Imagination gives you the ability to stretch out the possibilities of decision, and its resulting action, as far as you can," he says. "But logic is the super-ego, the Batman who stands at the gate and defines the limits, and when necessary, tells you, No, dude. No matter how interesting that choice of action might be, this character would never do that.'" This is very important because once a character does or says something that is false-something the audience knows they would never do or say-all belief is lost in the character, and the story too.Additionally, Mr. O'Connor views empathy as central tocreating stories that resonate . He believes that characters must be fully fleshed out, with both the good and the bad that is in all human beings, in order for audiences to truly connect with them. As Mr. O'Connor remarks, "What makes Tolstoy's War and Peace' so singularly profound is the multiple depths of his characters. As with Pierre and Andrei, sometimes during the story, you see them as small, mean people. Then, a bit later, they've taken actions that reflect true greatness and humanity. And later, actions that represent another of the soul's many realms, genius or mere stupidity. These characters so deeply reflect the multitudes of beauty, contradictions and imperfections of real people that you get to know them on a very personal level, as a dear friend or family member. You want to follow their journey because you've become emotionally invested in their lives." There are pertinent social issues quarried in each of his plays and the films he's created. "I do so because we live in a society more broken than ever, and it's incumbent that we as artists address these issues, and how dangerous the ramifications are for the individual and society if not addressed. A prime example is racism. Racism is not something you're born into. It's something you learn from those around you. It's the responsibility of artists to expose the horrors of racism, so audiences will feel even more deeply compelled to choose the much healthier alternative of acceptance." To better highlight the moral and psychological dimensions of the human experience, Mr. O'Connor's work also, at times, explores the surreal and the world of magic realism.Comedy and laughter have also been a major tool in his artistic arsenal. "Obviously, it's a way of keeping people in their seats. People like to laugh. But it also gives the writer the freedom to explore situations that are very emotionally difficult. A play, a film-they need to breathe, as does the audience. Bursting into laughter here and there offers them the space to do just that, and it enriches the overall theatrical experience." Accolades Across the YearsMr. O'Connor's plays have been performed across the United States and in Ireland. Two have been translated into French and published. He's been published widely throughout his career. His acclaimed works include "Miss Hollywood," "World of Sinatras," "Broken Birds," "Kidnapped," "New Truck for Paulie," "Teenagers in Love," "The Knitting Club," "Yearn," "There's an Angel in Las Vegas," "Wound" and "Who Collects the Pain." His writing has earned numerous honors, such as the Aurand Harris Memorial Playwriting Award for "Miss Hollywood" from the New England Theatre Conference, the First Prize for Drama in the Writer's Digest Competition for "Wound", and the Best New Play Award for "Kidnapped" from New York City's Workshop Theater.Over the years, Mr. O'Connor's work has also received several National and Regional Awards. These recognitions include the Southern Appalachian Rep Theatre's "Best New Drama" award for "New Truck for Paulie," Urban Stages Emerging Playwright Award for "Who Collects the Pain," the Best New Dramatist Prize for "There's an Angel in Las Vegas" from the Source Theater in Washington, DC, and Hollywood's American Accolades Award for the screenplay "Summer of '70" (formerly "Imitate the Sun"). Mr. O'Connor has recently written, directed, and acted in the short film "Summer of '70." It enters the festival route this spring as he seeks to gather the resources to then make the feature film.These accolades for Mr. O'Connor's works reflect his ability to guide audiences through a character's emotional and moral turning points. What gives his creative expressions such depth is his research approach. He believes in immersing himself in the environments and communities he writes about. His process involves listening and learning from others to capture the nuances of their lives. "You have to do your research to remain true to what you're creating," he says.Dedication to Teaching and MentorshipWhen he can find time outside of his own creative projects, Mr. O'Connor enjoys mentoring young artists. He has taught workshops in playwriting, as well as solo piece writing and performing. "I love working with young kids, late teens, early 20s, who are struggling, like I did at their age, to find two things that are actually one: themselves, and their artistic voice. Every time you find bits of o
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NEW YORK CITY, NY / ACCESS Newswire / January 27, 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
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NEW YORK CITY, NY / ACCESS Newswire / January 26, 2026 / Pomerantz LLP announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed against Coupang, Inc. ("Coupang" or the "Company") (NYSE:CPNG). Such investors are advised to contact Danielle Peyton at newaction@ pomlaw.com or 646-581-9980, (or 888.4-POMLAW), toll-free, Ext. 7980. Those who inquire by e-mail are encouraged to include their mailing address, telephone number, and the number of shares purchased.The class action concerns whether Coupang and certain of its officers and/or directors have engaged in securities fraud or other unlawful business practices.You have until February 17, 2026 to ask the Court to appoint you as Lead Plaintiff for the class if you purchased or otherwise acquired Coupang securities during the Class Period. A copy of the Complaint can be obtained at www.pomerantzlaw.com [Click here for information about joining the class action]On November 30, 2025, Reuters published an article reporting that Coupang had "apologized . . . over the breach of personal information from 33.7 million customer accounts through unauthorized data access" and that the government of South Korea had "held an emergency meeting" to "look[] into whether Coupang violated safety rules regarding personal information protection[.]"On this news, Coupang's stock price fell $1.51 per share, or 5.36%, to close at $26.65 per share on December 1, 2025.Then, on December 10, 2025, the New York Times published an article reporting that Coupang's Chief Executive Officer had resigned in connection with the data breach and providing additional details on the fallout from the data breach, including a police raid on Coupang's offices in Seoul.On this news, Coupang's stock price fell $0.87 per share, or 3.2%, to close at $26.06 per share on December 10, 2025.Then, on December 16, 2025, Coupang acknowledge the breach in a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and revealed that the South Korean regulatory and law enforcement investigations uncovered that "a former employee may have obtained the name, phone number, delivery address, and email address associated with up to 33 million customer accounts, and certain order histories for a subset of the impacted accounts." On this news, Coupang's stock price fell $0.47 per share, or 2.03%, to close at $22.72 per share on December 17, 2025.Pomerantz LLP, with offices in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, London, Paris, and Tel Aviv, is acknowledged as one of the premier firms in the areas of corporate, securities, and antitrust class litigation. Founded by the late Abraham L. Pomerantz, known as the dean of the class action bar, Pomerantz pioneered the field of securities class actions. Today, more than 85 years later, Pomerantz continues in the tradition he established, fighting for the rights of the victims of securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty, and corporate misconduct. The Firm has recovered numerous multimillion-dollar damages awards on behalf of class members. See www.pomlaw.com Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.SOURCE: Pomerantz LLP
Ukrainian Red Cross sets up support point in Kharkiv for victims of another Russian air strike

A Ukrainian Red Cross Society (URCS) aid station is operating in Kharkiv at the site of yet another Russian combined missile and drone strike, which the enemy carried out on Monday evening.

A support point is currently operating at the site, where people can have hot tea and warm up. The distribution of humanitarian assistance to those affected is also ongoing, URCS said on Facebook Tuesday.

As reported, Russian armed forces carried out a combined attack (missile strikes and drones) on Kharkiv on the evening of January 26. Two people were injured.

The emergency response team of the Ukrainian Red Cross in Kharkiv region, together with representatives of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine, provided assistance to people affected by the attack on Kharkiv. Volunteers also carried out door-to-door checks of residential buildings and surrounding areas to identify injured individuals.
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Not for dissemination in the United States or for release to US news wire servicesVANCOUVER, BC / ACCESS Newswire / January 26, 2026 /Sceptre Ventures Inc. ("Sceptre" or the "Company") (TSXV: SVP.H)(NEX:SVP.H) is pleased to announce that further to its news release dated January 21, 2026, the TSX Venture Exchange (the "TSXV") has approved the consolidation of the Company's issued and outstanding common shares (the "Shares") on the basis of one (1) new Share for every ten (10) old Shares (the "Consolidation")The Consolidation will become effective on the TSXV at the opening of market on Thursday, January 29, 2026. The new CUSIP and ISIN of the Company will be 806215307 and CA8062153074, respectively. The Company's name and stock symbol shall remain the same.Currently, a total of 24,016,477 Shares are issued and outstanding. Following the Consolidation, a total of 2,401,709 Shares will be issued and outstanding. No fractional Shares will be issued as a result of the Consolidation.Endeavor Trust Corporation ("Endeavor") will mail out a Letter of Transmittal to the shareholders of the Company providing instructions on exchanging pre-Consolidation share certificates for post-Consolidation share certificates. Shareholders are encouraged to send their share certificates, together with their Letter of Transmittal, to Endeavor in accordance with the instructions in the Letter of Transmittal.The Company also clarifies that, further to its news release dated January 21, 2026 announcing a private placement offering of up to 6,000,000 units ("Units") (pre-Consolidation) at a price of $0.05 per Unit (pre-Consolidation price) with each Unit comprised of one common share and one warrant, the warrants issuable as part of the Units shall be exercisable at a price of $0.075 ($0.75 on a post-Consolidation basis) for a period of one (1) year from the date of issuance.About Sceptre Ventures Inc.Sceptre Ventures Inc. is a Capital Pool Company ("CPC") within the meaning of the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange and has not commenced commercial operations and has no assets other than cash. Sceptre is currently engaged in identifying and evaluating businesses and assets with a view to completing a Qualifying Transaction under the TSXV's CPC policy.For Further Information:Kevin Bottomley, Chief Executive OfficerSuite 1450-789 West Pender StreetVancouver, BC, V6C 1H2, CanadaTel: 604-681-1568Email: Kevin@ corvidiancap.com FORWARD LOOKING INFORMATIONStatements in this news release that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical, and consist primarily of projections - statements regarding future plans, expectations and developments. Words such as "expects", "intends", "plans", "may", "could", "potential", "should", "anticipates", "likely", "believes" and words of similar import tend to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are subject to a variety of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ from those expressed or implied. Readers are cautioned that the foregoing list is not exhaustive of all factors and assumptions which may have been used. The Company cannot assure that actual events, performance or results will be consistent with these forward-looking statements, and management's assumptions may prove to be incorrect. These forward-looking statements reflect current expectations regarding future events and operating performance and speak only as of the date hereof and the Company does not assume any obligation to update forward-looking statements if circumstances or management's beliefs, expectations or opinions should change other than as required by applicable law. For the reasons set forth above, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.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 news release.SOURCE: Sceptre Ventures Inc.
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Songji Biotech Enterprise Co., Ltd. (SGBE) has announced the commercial launch of standardized 1,000-Dalton marine collagen peptides, scientifically validated for anti-aging efficacy through a collaborative study with Hualien Tzu Chi Hospital. Derived from sustainable milkfish scales using proprietary enzymatic hydrolysis technology, these low-molecular-weight peptides are engineered to overcome transdermal absorption barriers. SGBE supports the global market through its proprietary brand, Fishelton, and provides comprehensive OEM/ODM services from its ISO 22716 and GMP-certified facilities.TAINAN, TAIWAN / ACCESS Newswire / January 27, 2026 / Songji Biotech Enterprise Co., Ltd. (SGBE) today announced the commercial launch of its standardized 1,000-Dalton marine collagen peptides. This release follows a collaborative study with Hualien Tzu Chi Hospital that validates the ingredient's potential in anti-aging applications. By utilizing enzymatic hydrolysis technology on milkfish scales, the company has achieved a molecular weight significantly below the 1,500-Dalton threshold, addressing a key technical barrier in transdermal absorption for the cosmetic industry.Collaborative Research on Peptide EfficacyTo verify the biological activity of its ingredients, Songji Biotech partnered with the research team led by Vice Dean Huang Zhi-yang at Hualien Tzu Chi Hospital. The study utilized an H2O2-induced human skin fibroblast aging model to evaluate the specific collagen peptides produced by SGBE.According to preliminary findings presented at the Healthcare+ Expo, the peptides showed no cytotoxicity in the tested models. The data indicated that SGBE's peptides contributed to increased cell survival rates and a reduction in inflammation markers mediated by NF-B. Furthermore, the study suggested a positive correlation between the application of these peptides and collagen synthesis within the cellular model.Overcoming the Molecular Weight BarrierSGBE reports that its proprietary process consistently yields peptides with a molecular weight of approximately 1,000 Daltons (approx. 100 nanometers). This is a significant differentiation in the market, where standard animal-derived collagen typically ranges from 300,000 to 500,000 Daltons.This low-molecular-weight profile is engineered to enhance solubility and stability against heat and acid. Technically, it allows the peptides to penetrate the stratum corneum more effectively, making them suitable for high-performance skincare formulations and functional oral supplements.Sustainable Sourcing and Quality AssuranceThe peptides are sourced exclusively from the scales of milkfish (Chanos chanos), a byproduct of Tainan's local aquaculture industry. This ensures a sustainable supply chain free from mammalian disease concerns."Our development focus is to bridge the gap between biotechnology and aquaculture," said Chiou Yang-haw, General Manager of Songji Biotech Enterprise Co., Ltd. "With the scientific data provided by our collaboration with Hualien Tzu Chi Hospital, we can now offer our global OEM partners a raw material that is not only sustainable but also scientifically verified for safety and efficacy." Manufacturing ComplianceSongji Biotech confirms that its production facilities have maintained ISO 22716, GMP, and HACCP certifications. The company's ingredients are registered under the International Nomenclature of Cosmetic Ingredients (INCI), facilitating immediate adoption by international beauty and healthcare brands.About Songji Biotech. Enterprise Co., Ltd.Songji Biotech. Enterprise Co., Ltd. is a biotechnology company headquartered in Tainan, Taiwan, dedicated to the high-value utilization of marine resources. Through its proprietary extraction technologies, the company produces the Fishelton brand of skincare and health products and provides comprehensive OEM/ODM services for the global market.For more information, please visit: https://fishelton.com.tw/?lang=en Related Video Introduction:Media ContactOrganization: Songji Biotech. Enterprise Co.,Ltd.Contact Person Name: Chiou Yang-hawWebsite: https://fishelton.com.tw/?lang=en Email: service@ fishelton.com.tw Contact Number: +886800777978Address: No. 14, Xinjia St., Xinying Dist.City: TainanState: TaiwanCountry: TaiwanSOURCE: Songji Biotech. Enterprise Co.,Ltd
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Moving a 130 year-old Silver Mining Area to a 2026 District-Scale Exploration Project!ESTES PARK, CO / ACCESS Newswire / January 27, 2026 / Taranis Resources Inc. ("Taranis" or the "Company") ( TSX.V:TRO)(OTCQB:TNREF) is providing an update on planned 2026 exploration activities at Thor. Taranis' exploration project is now over 6,000 Ha in size and includes many historic silver mines that have seen little exploration over the past 100 years. This News Release does not discuss the 10,000-tonne metallurgical bulk sample that is also planned to commence in 2026. Bulk Sampling activities will be discussed in upcoming News Releases.Regional Geology CompilationTaranis has completed a geological and geophysical compilation of Taranis' expanded holdings in the Silver Cup Mining District. This new compilation integrates historical information (geological mapping, mine and prospect locations, and geophysical surveys) with exploration data from Taranis' extensive work defining the Thor deposit. Taranis has found that the Silver Cup Anticline, which is spatially related to many of the historic mines, is flanked by two large faults between the Broadview and the Sharon Creek Formations. Several historic mines are located along the northeast side of the Silver Cup anticline, including the IXL, GYP, Nettie L. and Ajax Mines. The NI 43-101 compliant Thor deposit (now 2.3 km in strike length) is well understood and lies on the southwest side of the Silver Cup Anticline.Based on 2025 exploration results (See Taranis News Release dated 11/25/2025) and the 2026 compilation work, it appears possible the southeast extension of the Thor deposit lies underneath the recently recognized and Lidar-delineated Ferguson rockslide. Even further southeast of the Ferguson rockslide on the east side of Ferguson Creek, the area of geological interest extends into the historic Slash and Abrahamson prospects, where high-grade gold and silver values were reported in the early 1900s.Although much more exploration is required to prove this interpretation, successful exploration in the areas covered or affected by rockslides could extend the Thor deposit up to 5.3 km. Taranis has successfully discovered new mineralized zones which occur beneath significant rockslides in the past (See Taranis News Release dated December 4, 2023). Rockslides were not commonly investigated in detail by historical mining operations due to technical and cost limitations associated with tunneling in unstable ground.Expansion of Airborne Geophysical SurveyTaranis completed an airborne magnetic and magnetotelluric survey over the Thor deposit in 2012. This survey has now been sufficiently tested with diamond drilling to determine that it is of great value in understanding the subsurface geology. By contrast, surface exploration techniques are often unsuitable in terrain that is frequently inaccessible due to steep terrain, or covered by rockslides. At the time Taranis flew the original survey, the Company did not own any sizeable land position in the Silver Cup District, and the survey was restricted to the immediate Thor deposit. The recent land acquisitions now mandate additional airborne geophysical surveying as a necessity to fully understanding the many silver deposits associated with the Silver Cup Anticline.Access to the East Side of Ferguson CreekMany of Taranis' "new" historical mines in the area occur on the east side of Ferguson Creek, and access to this area has been restricted for over 70 years. Taranis is in the final stages of submitting a Notice of Work to the Ministry of Critical Minerals, seeking to access this area, as well as reactivating a number of old exploration/mining roads in this area that will enable Taranis to evaluate more areas of the Silver Cup Anticline. The extensive mining undertaken in this area in the early 1900's provides a pre-existing road map for creation of a network of drilling roads to access mines in extremely challenging terrain, while minimizing surface disturbance.Continued Drilling of the Borr ZoneOne of the important discoveries of 2025 was the existence of a previously unknown part of the Thor epithermal deposit called the Borr Zone. This discovery was made drilling a deep geophysical anomaly that discovered a lamprophyre dyke which has intruded and disrupted the Thor epithermal deposit. Based on the now carefully examined lamprophyre discovery, the Thor deposit is suspected of being cleaved in half. The regional compilation of historic data indicates that the 2025 discovery dips under the east side of Great Northern Mountain into Ferguson Creek. 600m due east of the discovery, high-grade zinc was discovered in outcrop, 45 years ago.CommentsBrownfield mineral exploration does not have to be done around producing mine sites. Taranis' Thor deposit and the accompanying large land position represents a historic high-grade silver mining district that has been underexplored with modern techniques and technology. Taranis recognized this over two decades ago when it began to carefully investigate the Thor deposit and subsequently assemble a large land position in the area. Brownfield exploration is undertaken in historic mining districts and has lower risk because geological conditions are established; infrastructure is already in place. Taranis has the benefit of having been able to carefully use over 120 years of exploration data and geological description of the district. Rather than having one geologist provide opinions, Taranis has the benefit of having the knowledge of hundreds of geologists thereby gaining incredible insight. Brownfield projects often have faster returns on investment compared to greenfield developments, and maximize shareholder value by outlining Mineral Resources in a focused exploration setting utilizing state-of-the-art exploration methods that often discover concealed mineral deposits.Qualified PersonExploration activities at Thor were overseen by John Gardiner (P. Geo.), President and CEO of Taranis Resources Inc., and a Qualified Person under Canadian National Instrument 43-101. Mr. Gardiner is the principal of John J. Gardiner & Associates, LLC, operating in British Columbia under Firm Permit Number 1002256. Mr. Gardiner has reviewed and approved the comments contained within this News Release.Taranis currently has 102,421,487 shares issued and outstanding (119,972,613 shares on a fully-diluted basis).TARANIS RESOURCES INC.Per: John J. Gardiner (P. Geo.), President and CEOFor further information contact: John J. Gardiner681 Conifer LaneEstes Park, Colorado 80517Cell: (720) 209-3049 johnjgardiner@ earthlink.net 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 A
The King Kosoko Royal Family has declared veteran Nigerian actor and director, Jiide Kosoko, as the Oloja of Lagos-elect, PMexpress reported.

The stool became vacant following the death of Chief Adebola Ige on 23 December 2017.

The 72-year-old was declared the Oloja of Lagos-elect at the King Kosoko Palace, Ereko, Lagos Island, before hundreds of members of the Royal Family who witnessed the event.

The actor was announced and presented to the gathering by the Olori Ebi General of the King Kosoko Royal Family, Mutiat Ali-Balogun.

Mrs Ali-Balogun raised her fathers hand to actress Sola Kosoko in affirmation, in accordance with long-standing custom at the palace, which is filled with traditional rites and prayers.

Mrs Ali-Balogun was assisted by the Deputy Olori Ebi General, Oyindamola Ayepola, who is also the Head of Meshimo Ruling House.

Backstory

The actors declaration comes amid an appeal by the Akinsanya Olojo Family, a branch of the King Kosoko Royal Dynasty in Lagos, urging Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to approve the installation of Abiola Olojo-Kosoko as the next Oloja of Lagos.

In December 2025, The Punch reported that the family maintained Mr Abiola was chosen as Oloja-elect on 12 December 2020, but had not yet been installed more than four years later.

The appeal was contained in a formal statement addressed to the governor and circulated to key state officials, including the Secretary to the State Government, the Commissioner for Justice and Attorney-General, the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, the Chairman of Lagos Island Local Government, and the Council of Heads of the Kosoko Royal Family.

The General Secretary of the Akinsanya Olojo-Kosoko Ruling House, Theophilus Olojo-Kosoko, reiterated the familys stance, disclosing that a follow-up letter dated 28 November 2025 had been submitted to the relevant authorities to press for urgent intervention.

Succession process

He added that following the death of Mr Ige, a 16-member committee was constituted to review the succession process, after which the King Kosoko Royal Family formally instructed the Akinsanya Olojo Ruling House to present a nominee in line with established customary and chieftaincy procedures.

Mr Olojo-Kosoko added that the screening and traditional interviews, conducted at the Kosoko Palace on 7 October 2020, featured four contenders: Abiola, the late Shola Olojo-Kosoko, Issa Aregbesola, and Abiola Aromashodu of the Odunsi Ruling House.

READ ALSO: Ruth Kadiri crowned as YouTube Influencer of the Year

According to him, the kingmakers ultimately found Mr Abiola to be the most qualified. Consequently, they proclaimed him Oloja-elect on 12 December 2020, in accordance with the Lagos State Obas and Chiefs Law and the subsisting 1983 Registered Declaration.

Traditional installation

The actor now awaits his traditional installation and capping by the Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwanu Akiolu, in line with the states traditions and palace protocols.

The actor, who studied business administration at Yaba College of Technology, began his acting career as a child actor in 1964 in the television production Makanjuola.

He has featured in several Nollywood movies in both English and Yoruba languages.
Nollywood producer and digital film pioneer Ruth Kadiri has been named the YouTube Influencer of the Year at the Pulse Influencer Awards 2025, which was held on Monday.

The Pulse Influencer Awards is an annual Pulse event that celebrates top African digital creators for their impact, creativity, and influence across social media platforms.

The recognition of the Nollywood star underscores her digital impact on the global distribution and consumption of African film.

RuthKadiri247 Channel

The recognition reflects Ruths success in building one of the most formidable digital film ecosystems to emerge from Africa, consistently drawing millions of viewers worldwide and redefining how Nollywood reaches its audience.

Ruth, who is popular for her role in Dumb Wife, has focused on a YouTube-first strategy, which has become a case study in scale, sustainability, and cultural reach amid increasing platform-led distribution across global film industries.

At the centre of that success is RuthKadiri247, her flagship YouTube channel, which by late 2025 had grown to approximately 3.6 million subscribers and recorded over 742 million lifetime views.

With a high-volume slate of original Nollywood films and series, the channel ranks among Nigerias leading film destinations on YouTube, delivering releases that routinely generate millions of views and significant monthly revenue.

Moreso, the industry analysts increasingly cite the channel as evidence of YouTubes viability as a primary distribution pipeline for African cinema.

The actress has also demonstrated that authentic African stories are rooted in local realities yet universally resonant. This is reflected in her creative works, which thrive at scale on global digital platforms without the traditional gatekeeping of theatrical or broadcast systems.

Impacts beyond borders

The Pulse award caps a year of exceptional international recognition. In 2025, YouTube spotlighted Ruth as one of Nigerias top female creators during its 20th-anniversary celebrations, citing her role in reshaping digital storytelling and creator-led film production.

Additionally, she received the Global ELOY Award for Digital Film and Innovation, further affirming her status as a trailblazer at the intersection of film, technology, and entrepreneurship.

Also, the YouTube film producers recent releases, such as Sunshine and I Chose You, amassed millions of views within days of debut, reinforcing her reputation as one of Nollywoods most commercially successful and digitally fluent filmmakers.

Moreover, Ruths vision extends beyond Anglophone markets. Through FrenchTV247, her dedicated French-language television and digital platform, she has spearheaded Nollywoods expansion into Francophone Africa.

The platform now boasts nearly two million subscribers and over 200 million views, complemented by on-ground tours and audience engagements across Francophone countries that have deepened cultural exchange and strengthened cross-border fan communities.

Other winners

While Ruths win in the premier YouTube category made headlines, the 2025 Pulse Influencer Awards also celebrated excellence across Nigerias broader digital economy.

Nollywood actress and filmmaker Funke Akindele was also named Most Influential Actress of the Year; Nonso Egemba, widely known as Aproko Doctor, won the Health and Fitness Influencer award; and Bukunmi Adeaga-Ilori (KieKie) took home the Instagram Influencer of the Year award, among other honourees.

Taken together, the awards reflected a broader shift, revealing how Nigerian creators have moved beyond merely participating in the global digital economy and are helping to shape it.
Amidst the possibility of a US attack on Iran, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has declared that it will not allow its airspace and territory to be used for any military action against Iran.

In a statement shared on X on Monday, the UAE Foreign Ministry said it would also not provide logistical support for this action.

The country stressed that it is committed to preventing its airspace, territory, or waters from being used for any hostile actions and urged dialogue and adherence to international law.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) has reaffirmed the UAEs commitment to not allowing its airspace, territory, or waters to be used in any hostile military actions against Iran, and to not providing any logistical support in this regard.

The Ministry reiterated the UAEs belief that dialogue, de-escalation, adherence to international law, and respect for state sovereignty constitute the most effective foundations for addressing current crises, underscoring the UAEs approach of resolving disputes through diplomatic means, the statement read.

The UAE is a major US ally in the Middle East and hosts the US Al Dhafra Air Base which houses over 3,500 American soldiers. Other US allies in the region, like Qatar and Saudi Arabia, are believed to have shared similar concerns as the UAE although theirs were not made public.

Tension between the US and Iran has heightened since anti-government protests occurred earlier this month.

Over 2,000 people have been killed during the protests. While human rights groups blamed the government for the killings and accused government forces of shooting unarmed protesters, the Iranian government accused the US and Israel of of using spies to infiltrate the protest and carry out killings and destruction of properties.

Mr Trump had earlier threatened to have the US military intervene militarily if Iranian authorities violently suppress and kill protesters.

PREMIUM TIMES earlier reported that Mr Trump said the US was locked and loaded and ready to go and that if Iran shoots and violently kills peaceful protesters, the United States of America will come to their rescue.

Meanwhile, aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln and three accompanying destroyers were reported to have arrived in the Indian Ocean on Friday.

CNN reported that the carrier is en route to the Gulf of Oman in anticipation of a US attack on Iran.

President Donald Trump also disclosed, on Saturday, that a US naval force is moving toward the Middle East, saying Washington is closely watching developments in Iran.

The administration has also stated that all options, including military action, are under consideration as the US and Israel push for political change in Tehran, in violation of international law.

However, Iran responded strongly to this threat, warning that it would retaliate against any attack.
Ferdys Band, an autism advocacy music group established by the Ferdinand Effah Music Heritage Foundation (FEMHF), will officially release its debut album, A Voice for Autism, on 2 April, in observance of World Autism Awareness Day.

The album launch precedes the inaugural Harmony for Autism Music Charity Concert, organisers said in a statement sent to PREMIUM TIMES on Monday.

The three-track album blends anthemic, jazz and ambient styles, with the foundation saying it aims to foster understanding of autism and encourage societal support for affected individuals and their families.

One of the songs, True Colours of Autism, the statement said, is being considered for endorsement as an official theme song for United Nations World Autism Day.

The tracks are expected to be produced in English, French, Spanish and Portuguese, with high-definition music videos for broader public engagement.

The foundation said the band is the first initiative under FEMHF before the launch of Autism Voice TV and is intended to amplify the voices of autistic people and their families.

The upcoming concert, the group added, will feature live performances from Ferdys Band and other artistes, as part of the foundations strategy to promote inclusion through music.

Nationwide awareness tour

Ahead of the launch, Ferdys Band plans a month-long tour across Nigerias six geopolitical zones.

The foundation said the initiative will engage autism centres, public institutions, communities, and stakeholders, creating awareness for both the album and the charity concert.

Speaking through the statement, Ferdinand Effah, the bands founder and lead musician, who is not often verbally inclined, described music as a vital tool for connection.

Lacking the social and communication skills to interact, mingle, and belong is the horrible world we find ourselves as autistic people.

However, with the stable passion I have come to develop for music as a source of inspiration to others in such similar circumstances; I am confident of a new world for Autism.

The band comprises Ferdinand alongside non-autistic musicians, who said playing with him has deepened their understanding of communication and emotional expression.

Ferdinands siblings, who also perform with the group, described their shared experience as transformative.

Miriam Effah, a sister, was noted as a major influence on Ferdinands musical journey, while Gladys Effah provided companionship beyond formal music therapy sessions.

Autism

Autism, also referred to as autism spectrum disorder (ASD), is a developmental condition that affects the brain.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), it can often be detected in early childhood, although diagnosis frequently occurs later.

Abilities and needs vary widely among autistic individuals; while some can live independently, others require life-long care and support.

Evidence-based psychosocial interventions, the WHO said, have been shown to improve communication and social skills, benefiting both autistic individuals and their caregivers.

Experts note that care for people with autism must be accompanied by broader societal support to ensure accessibility and inclusion.

Music as advocacy and inclusion

The foundation said Ferdys Band represents a strategic channel to promote autism awareness and inclusion.

Stanley Effah, president and trustee of FEMHF, called on Nigerians to support such initiatives.

Our drumming for autism acceptance calls on parents, families, neighbours, employers, and society at large to never leave anyone behind because of disability, he said.

World Autism Awareness Day

World Autism Awareness Day, observed annually on 2 April, is an international event dedicated to raising awareness of ASD and promoting acceptance, inclusion, and support for individuals with autism.

Established by the United Nations General Assembly in 2007, the day highlights the need for greater understanding of autism as a global health issue and encourages worldwide support for people on the spectrum and their families.

The observance provides an opportunity to educate the public about the challenges and strengths of individuals with autism, address misconceptions and stigma, and advocate for early diagnosis and intervention.

It is also a time to celebrate the unique perspectives, talents, and contributions that people with autism bring to their communities.
The federal government has reaffirmed its commitment to protecting public health by eliminating substandard cosmetics and ensuring that products used in Nigeria meet approved safety standards.

The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Daju Kachollom, stated this on Tuesday in Abuja, at the inauguration of the National Policy on Cosmetics Safety and Health.

Ms Kachollom, who was represented by a Senior Technical Assistant, Dogara Okara, said the policy was designed to address rising health risks associated with unsafe cosmetic products in Nigerias expanding beauty and personal care industry.

She said the initiative became necessary due to the increasing circulation of harmful cosmetic products across the country, posing serious short and long term health risks to consumers.

Unsafe cosmetics remain one of the greatest threats to public health in the 21st century globally, with implications ranging from skin diseases to cancer, hormonal disorders and kidney damage, she said.

Ms Kachollom explained that many cosmetic products contain toxic substances such as formaldehyde and heavy metals capable of damaging vital organs, making urgent government intervention unavoidable.

She said the policy provides a legal and institutional framework for establishing the National Policy on Cosmetic Safety and Management and inaugurating the National Cosmetics Safety Management Technical Working Group.

It is in view of these implications that the ministry ensured a policy was put in place to guarantee that cosmetic products used in Nigeria are safe for everyone, she said.

According to her, the framework ensures that cosmetics manufactured, imported, distributed and used in Nigeria meet approved safety standards while aligning with global best practices.

Ms Kachollom added that members of the Technical Working Group were drawn from government institutions, regulatory agencies, academia, development partners and non-governmental organisations to ensure coordinated implementation.

Also speaking, Paul Okhakhu, Director, Cosmetic Safety Management Programme, said the policy responded to increasing reports of adverse cosmetic events nationwide.

We didnt have a policy of this nature before, in spite of widespread adverse cosmetic events, yet virtually every Nigerian uses one form of cosmetic or another, Mr Okhakhu said.

He explained that the absence of clear national guidelines allowed unsafe practices to thrive, exposing consumers to preventable health risks.

Mr Okhakhu said improperly formulated cosmetics could cause kidney failure, liver damage, hormonal disruption and developmental abnormalities in unborn children.

When chemicals are not used in the right proportion, they affect vital organs and, in pregnant women, may result in babies not properly formed, he said.

He added that the policy establishes clear production standards and aligns Nigerias cosmetic sector with international best practices.

Mr Okhakhu said the policy guides producers, consumers and regulators, while strengthening enforcement roles of agencies such as the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC).

Public health priority

On regulation, Princewill Nsofor, Deputy Director and Head, Cosmetics and Household Products Department at NAFDAC, said cosmetic safety must now be treated as a major public health priority.

Cosmetic products are more dangerous, if not properly handled, than pharmaceutical products we put so much energy into regulating, Mr Nsofor said.

He explained that cosmetics are used daily, increasing cumulative exposure risks compared to medicines taken for short periods under prescription.

Mr Nsofor said enforcement had commenced, covering both imported and locally manufactured cosmetic products.

Cautioning against weak implementation, he stressed the need to move beyond policy formulation.

Many Nigerian policies are made and kept on shelves. This follow-up shows we want to begin implementation, he said.

Development partners also expressed support for the initiative.

Okeoma Obasi, Principal Adviser, Resolve to Save Lives Nigeria, commended the ministry for assembling experts across sectors.

Ms Obasi said integrating public health protection with the cosmetic industrys economic value chain would strengthen governance and serve as a global example.

From a global perspective, Edwin Edeh, Public Health and Environment Specialist at the World Health Organisation (WHO), described the policy as pro-health and pro-industry.

The policy is not to punish anyone, but to ensure systems where cosmetic chemicals are combined are properly regulated, Mr Edeh said.

He stressed that strong technical governance structures were essential for effective implementation.

READ ALSO: Experts say social media addiction can lead to mental health challenges

Mr Edeh said the inauguration of the Technical Working Group was critical to ensuring the policys success.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the policy was approved at the 66th National Council on Health meeting in Calabar, Cross River State, in November 2025.

It is to be implemented from 2026 to 2030, with the aim of improving regulation, consumer awareness and enforcement.

(NAN)
The National Industrial Court in Abuja on Tuesday ordered Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) workers to suspend their ongoing strike pending further hearing in a suit brought by the FCT authorities to stop the industrial action.

Judge Emmanuel Subilim issued the order in a ruling on an application filed by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, and the FCTA.

The strike, which has gone on for nearly two weeks, involves workers who are central to running the capital citys core services.

Following the strike, the FCT minister and the FCTA had approached the industrial court order to declare the strike illegal and restrain the unions and their members from continuing the action.

TThe suit sued the President of the Joint Union Action Committee (JUAC), Rifkatu Iortyer, and its Secretary, Abdullahi Umar Saleh.

Mr Sublim, granting the request for an interlocutory injunction on Tuesday, ordered the workers to resume work pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit brought by the claimants  the minister and the FCTA

The judge held that although the issues raised by the workers qualified as a trade dispute and met the required legal conditions, The defendants right to an industrial action is not absolute, but as circumscribed by law,

He ruled that workers were prohibited from participating in a strike once a dispute had been referred to the National Industrial Court, and where such a strike was already ongoing, it must cease pending the determination of the case.

The court referenced Section 18(1)(e) of the Trade Dispute Act and noted that the suspension of the strike ensures the dispute is properly handled. It held that ongoing strikes must stop once a suit is filed by originating summons, which counts as a formal referral.

Mr Subilim ruled that the claimants had established a compelling case that warranted the granting of the order for the workers to suspend the ongoing strike.

An order of interlocutory injunction is hereby granted, restraining the defendants and respondents, their agents, representatives, together with all other members of the Joint Unions Action Committee, from further embarking on any industrial action, strike, picketing, lockout, or any other form of obstruction against the claimant, parastatals, and political appointees, ruled the judge.

He added that this includes but is not limited to actions aimed at crippling operations, blocking roads, obstructing the flow of vehicular movement, or by any means frustrating their business activities.

This order shall remain in force, pending the hearing and determination of the originating summons filed in this suit, the judge said.

He warned that failure to comply with Section 18 of the Act could attract sanctions and adjourned for further hearing until 23 March.

Backstory

The FCTA workers began an indefinite strike on 19 January over unresolved welfare issues. The workers, organised under JUAC, cited unpaid salaries, promotion arrears and poor working conditions.

But the FCT authorities approached the court to stop the industrial action, which they described as illegal.

The workers opposed the suit, arguing that their grievances remained unresolved despite engagements with the FCT administration.

At the hearing of the FCT authorities application for interlocutory injunction on Monday (yesterday), a lawyer representing the workers union,Maxwell Opara, urged the court to dismiss the application. He argued that the prayers of the application would amount to determining the substantive suit at the interlocutory stage.

Mr Opara also said directing workers to resume work while salaries remained unpaid was risky. He urged the court to consider arbitration and to compel the FCT minister to attend negotiations to resolve the dispute.

He also asked the court to join the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) as parties to the suit, as their inclusion would make them bound by any order the court may give.

But James Onoja, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria representing the FCT Administration, opposed the joinder request.

He argued that the case could be properly determined without the two labour bodies. He said the suit was correctly filed. He noted that the named defendants were not registered under the Trade Union Act.

Mr Onoja urged the court to grant the restraining order, stressing that the ongoing strike had disrupted essential services across the FCT.

The judge declined the application of the defendants to join the NLC and TUC in the suit. He ruled that the court could not compel their inclusion as they were not originally sued by the claimants.

The court then adjourned the matter until today (Tuesday) for ruling on the motion seeking to halt the strike.

Reactions

Addressing journalists after the ruling, lawyer to the FCT Administration, Mr Onoja, hailed the courts decision to grant the order suspending the workers strike.

He stated that the ruling would give both parties an opportunity to engage in discussions.

He, however, appealed to the unions to obey the court order and return to work, while also allowing room for mediation.

We commend the court for making an order for the stopping of the strike, restraining the workers from going on strike, or continuing with the strike. I think this is commendable because it is going to allow the parties to discuss.

Our plea to the union is that they should allow industrial harmony. They should go back to work and allow for mediation, because to me, its like a family matter, and this is an opportunity that the Union should take, he said.

Lawyer to the respondents, Mr Opara, on the other hand, described the workers as law-abiding citizens and advised them to respect the court order.

We are going to comply with the ruling whichever way, whether it is effective, whether it is ineffective, we must comply with it, he stated, adding that:

The one good thing is that the court has also mandated that we commence mediation, not as a matter of advice, but in line with the law, said Mr Opara.

Similarly, JUAC president, Ms Iortyer, said the workers would comply with the order, call off the strike, and immediately return to work, while continuing to push for other things while awaiting their next court appearance.
Nigerians were on Tuesday morning thrown into darkness due to the collapse of the national electricity grid.

This is the second time in less than five days that Nigerias national grid has suffered a disturbance resulting in a nationwide power outage.

Major districts of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, were without electricity at the time of filing this report. Persistent grid collapses and erratic power supply have continued to disrupt businesses and households across the country, forcing many Nigerians to rely on alternatives such as generators and solar power.

Last Friday, the Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO) informed the public that at approximately 12:40 hours, the national grid experienced a system-wide disturbance that resulted in a total outage across the interconnected network.

According to the operators, operational reports indicated that the disturbance was linked to the simultaneous tripping of multiple 330kV transmission lines, alongside the disconnection of some grid-connected generating units.

These events, it said, collectively contributed to the system collapse at the time indicated.

Following the outage, system restoration activities commenced at about 13:15 hours, in line with established grid restoration and recovery procedures. Electricity supply was subsequently restored to Abuja, Osogbo, Benin, Onitsha, Sakete, Jebba, Kainji, Shiroro and parts of Lagos, while restoration efforts continued in other parts of the country.

On Tuesday, major electricity distribution companies confirmed the nationwide outage following the grid collapse.

In a notice to customers, Eko Electricity Distribution Company said the power outage occurred after a system collapse at 10:48 a.m.

Dear Valued Customer,

Kindly be informed there was a system collapse at 10:48hrs which has resulted in a loss of power supply across our network, Eko Electricity Distribution Company posted.

The company said they are currently working with TCN partners as we hope for the speedy restoration of the grid. We will keep you updated as soon as the power supply is restored. Kindly bear with us, the company said.

Similarly, the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company said it regretted informing customers that there was a loss of power supply across its franchise area, adding that it had no timeline for restoration.

We do not have a view of when we will be restored to the grid, however our technical teams are working closely with relevant stakeholders to ensure the prompt restoration, the company statement said.

It added that updates would be provided as soon as more information becomes available.

We sincerely appreciate your patience and understanding as we work to serve you better, the statement said.

A similar advisory was also issued by the Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company on Tuesday.

According to the company, Kindly be informed that the outage currently experienced in all our franchises is due to grid collapse.

READ ALSO: Court orders FCT workers to suspend strike

We appeal to our esteemed customers to exercise patience as the relevant team is working tirelessly to restore power supply as soon as possible, the statement said.
Photo: State Emergency Service

The number of victims from the Russian UAV attack on Odesa has risen to 23, Regional Military Administration chief Oleh Kiper reported on Telegram.

"Overnight, Russian terrorists launched a massive attack on the peaceful Odesa region using more than 50 attack drones. The attack damaged dozens of residential buildings, a church, a kindergarten, a lyceum, a fitness center, and private vehicles. Large fires broke out in several locations. Dozens of apartments in several multi-story buildings were destroyed or damaged, facades were damaged, and windows were shattered. Rescuers freed 14 people, including one child. It is known that there may still be people trapped under the rubble," Kiper wrote on Telegram.
The Presidency has said that President Bola Tinubu is hale and hearty and proceeding with his scheduled state visit to Turkiye according to plan.

The update was disclosed on Tuesday by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Public Communication, Sunday Dare, on his verified X handle.

The disclosure followed earlier reports that President Tinubu briefly stumbled during a ceremonial march-past orgainsed for him at the parade ground in Turkiye.

The incident occurred as the President joined the guard of honour, drawing momentary attention before the programme continued without disruption.

A video posted on X by Turkish digital news platform Nefes Gazetesi shows the president walking alongside his Turkish counterpart, President Recep Erdogan, before stumbling to the ground. The Secret Service quickly assisted him.

Presidential Spokesperson Bayo Onanuga had explained that President Tinubu merely stepped on an object, resulting in a minor loss of balance.

The President stepped on a metal on the floor, which made him lose his balance, he said.

This is not a big deal, except for those who want to make mischief out of a fleeting incident.

It was a mere stumble, thank God, not a fall, he added.

He urged the public to disregard attempts to sensationalise the minor incident, stressing that the president remains fit and fully engaged.

Proceeded with bilateral meetings

Mr Dare said the president proceeded from the ceremonial reception to scheduled bilateral meetings with President Erdogan and other senior officials.

President Tinubu, after a stately welcome ceremony in Ankara, proceeded to scheduled bilateral meetings with the President of Turkiye and other senior government officials, he said.

The meetings are aimed at deepening diplomatic relations and expanding cooperation across strategic sectors.

Areas of engagement include defence and security, trade and investment, energy, and broader economic development.

The smooth progression of the visit reflects growing ties between Nigeria and Turkiye and underscores Nigerias renewed diplomatic outreach under President Tinubu.

Previous fall

President Tinubu fell while mounting a parade vehicle at Eagles Square, Abuja, in 2024 to mark the 12 June Democracy Day.

He had missed his step and tripped as he was about to enter the open-roof vehicle. However, his security aides came to his aid.

While speaking at a dinner to commemorate the celebration, the president said, Early this morning, I had a swagger and its on social media. They are confused whether I was doing buga or doing babbaringa, but it is a day to celebrate Democracy while doing do-bale for the day. I am a traditional Yoruba boy, I did my do-bale, he said.

Tinubus itinerary in Turkiye

President Bola Tinubu began a state visit to the Republic of Turkiye on Monday.

The visit, according to Mr Onanuga in a statement on Sunday, is aimed at strengthening cordial relations between Nigeria and Turkiye and exploring cooperation in security, education, social development, innovation and aviation.

Turkish President Erdogan paid an official visit to Nigeria from 19 to 20 October 2021.

During Mr Tinubus visit, both countries will hold strategic political and diplomatic discussions on shared interests in finance, communications, trade and investment.

The programme includes meetings between high-ranking officials of both nations and the signing of memoranda of understanding in key sectors.

The MoUs will cover scientific research, energy, technical cooperation, media and communications, military cooperation, and protocol.

A NigeriaTurkiye business forum will also be held to bring together investors from both countries to explore mutual opportunities.

Members of the Presidents entourage include the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, and Attorney General Lateef Fagbemi.

Others are the Minister of Defence, Christopher Musa; Chairman, House Committee on Defence, Jimi Benson; and Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo.

Also attending are the Minister of Women Affairs, Imaan Suleiman-Ibrahim; Minister of Culture and Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa; and National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu.

Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency, Mohammed Mohammed, is also part of the delegation.

Mr Tinubu is expected to return to the country at the conclusion of the visit.
The Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Samuel Ogbuku, says the commission will fully automate its procurement processes by April.

This is contained in a statement issued by the NDDC Director of Corporate Affairs, Seledi Thompson-Wakama, on Tuesday in Port Harcourt.

According to the statement, Mr Ogbuku spoke at the Mandatory Continuous Procurement Capacity Development Training Programme organised by the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) in Port Harcourt.

We will soon automate our procurement processes to ensure compliance, transparency and improved service delivery, Mr Ogbuku said.

He said the commission had reformed its corporate governance structure and internal processes to strengthen accountability.

According to him, the NDDC has commenced the implementation of a new Governance Advisory Service to promote transparency in service delivery.

Mr Ogbuku said the commission had transitioned from transaction-based operations to transformational processes, with noticeable improvements in its public procurement system.

In the NDDC, we take public procurement very seriously. Training and retraining are essential in every organisation, he said.

He added that the NDDC collaborated with the BPP in 2024 to train its staff and currently has 35 BPP-certified professionals in its procurement unit.

Highlighting the commissions achievements, the managing director said the Operation Light Up the Niger Delta programme had recorded significant success across the region.

We undertake projects based on proper needs assessment to ensure meaningful impact.

President Bola Tinubu loves the Niger Delta, and we are committed to bringing his programmes closer to the people, he said.

The Director-General of the BPP, Adebowale Adedokun, commended President Tinubu for advancing procurement reforms.

Mr Adedokun said the reforms had strengthened transparency and elevated professionalism, positioning procurement as a key driver of the Renewed Hope Agenda.

ALSO READ: NDDC chairman Ebie wants future Olympians from Niger Delta Games

He said the capacity-building programme was aimed at institutionalising trained, certified and accountable procurement professionals in the public service.

The training aligns with the Procurement Act and is designed to enhance participants capacity for effective project delivery, he said.

He urged participants to fully engage in the programme and consistently uphold due process and ethical standards.

On his part, the Chairman of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Civil Service Commission, Emeka Ezeh, described procurement as a vital tool for good governance.

Mr Ezeh said procurement also served as a mechanism for fighting corruption in the public sector.

You must internalise the eight priority areas of the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Tinubus administration, he told the trainees.

(NAN)
The Ekiti State Police Command on Tuesday said it arrested 17 persons for cattle rustling and recovered 558 cattle from the suspects.

The Commissioner of Police, Joseph Eribo, who disclosed this yesterday in Ado Ekiti, the state capital, said on 21 January, based on a credible tip-off, the command operations, arrested, one Ibrahim Abubakar, a notorious cattle rustler and kidnapper.

During investigation, Ibrahim Abubakar confessed that he is into cattle rustling business, and equally mentioned different occasions in the past where he attacked cattle owners and made away with their cattle.

A large number of rustled cattle numbering 255 were recovered from him. He will be further investigated and charged to court, Mr Eribo said.

According to him, investigation revealed that Mr Abubakar has over the years, rustled numerous cattle in Ekiti, Kwara and Kogi states, and has been on the wanted list of the three states.

The police also said that another 16 rustlers were arrested on the same day. Those arrested are Dauda Abdulrahman, Sanusi Abdullahi, Abdulmumini Abdullahi, Ibrahim Adamu, Aladu, Umaru Bala, Idris Abdullahi, Umaru Dairu, Adamu Abubakar, Salisu Abdullahi and Idris Abdullahi.

Others are Yahuza Abdulrahman, Abdullahi Salisu, Samaila Abdullahi, Ibrahim Abdullahi and Sanni Muhammadu.

Mr Eribo said that at the point of their arrest, 303 cattle suspected to have been rustled were found in their possession, adding that the suspects were unable to give satisfactory account of the cattle.

Baby factory

The police also said five suspects were arrested for illegal operation of baby factory and child exploitation along Ise road in Ikere Ekiti area of the state.

It said it apprehended the five suspects, after receiving a credible tip-off that one Oluwadare Onyechi, a 43-year-old woman, runs an illegal baby factory alongside four other suspects somewhere behind Inisa Hotel and Suit, along Ise-Ekiti Road, Ikere-Ekiti.

Upon the receipt of the information, the Command Operatives swung into action, cordoned off the premises used for the illegal business, and arrested Oluwadare Onyechi and four other accomplices namely, Onuoha Gloria 28 yrs, Victoria Linus 25 yrs, Ihegbogu Mercy 21 yrs and heavily pregnant Emmanuel Esther 23yrs.

Search was conducted in the premises and six children within the age of 2 and 9 reasonably suspected to be under bondage and exploitation, were rescued. Items such as baby delivery materials, some rolls of dexamethasone tablet, and some bottles of Goya oil were recovered from the scene, Mr Eribo said.
The Nigerian Navy has appointed Abiodun Folorunsho, a captain, as its new director of Naval Information, following the approval of the Chief of the Naval Staff, Idi Abbas, a vice admiral.

The appointment was contained in a statement on Tuesday by the Chief of Policy and Plans (Navy), Akinola Olodude, a rear admiral, in Abuja.

According to the statement, Mr Folorunsho took over duties from Aiwuyor Adams-Aliu, a commodore, who has been redeployed as Commander, Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) BEECROFT, the Navys premier base.

Mr Olodude said Mr Folorunsho, a member of the 50 Regular Course of the Nigerian Defence Academy, was commissioned into the Nigerian Navy in September 2003.

He added that the new spokesperson holds a Bachelor of Engineering in Mechanical Engineering from the NDA and multiple postgraduate degrees in war studies, defence and international affairs, energy management, and national security from institutions in Pakistan, Sweden, and the United States.

According to him, the new spokesperson has attended several local and international professional courses, including the Junior and Senior Staff Courses, the Naval Warfare Course, the United Nations Staff Officers Course, and the Higher Defence Management Course at the United States Naval War College.

He has served in various command, operational and instructional appointments across ships and shore establishments, including deployments aboard NNS ERINOMI, AYAM and BARAMA, participation in Operation SAFE HAVEN.

He also served with the United Nations Mission in South Sudan, and key postings at the Naval Dockyard Limited, Lagos.

Until his appointment, Folorunsho was Assistant Director, Plans/CNS Directives at Naval Headquarters, having earlier served as Chief Instructor, Department of Maritime Warfare, Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji, he said.

Mr Olodude added that Mr Folorunsho is a recipient of several awards, including the Chief of the Naval Staff Award for best graduating student on the Junior Course and Naval Warfare Course, as well as the UNMISS Force Commanders Commendation Award.

(NAN)
The Nigerian government has begun strengthening school security by deploying technology to protect pupils from unsafe learning environments.

The Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, disclosed this during an interview on ARISE Television on Sunday.

Two months ago, Nigeria witnessed two mass abductions of pupils within the same week, raising fears for pupils  safety.

On 17 November 2025, armed bandits stormed the Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School (GGCSS) in Maga, Kebbi State, and abducted 25 students. In the process, the bandits killed the vice principal of the school.

Days later, on 21 November 2025, another group of bandits attacked the Saint Marys Catholic School in Papiri, in Agwara Local Government Area (LGA) of neighbouring Niger state. There, over 200 pupils were kidnapped. The government secured the release of the pupils after weeks in captivity.

The renewed fears forced several state governments to shut the schools in their domain for weeks. The federal government also shut down 41 unity colleges amid fears of attacks.

However, speaking during the interview, Mr Alausa said all schools in the country had been geo-mapped and geo-tagged to improve security coordination.

If there is any incident, there will be a panic alert that goes to a local control centre, the minister said, adding that the government is working with security agencies to improve response time.

Mr Alausa also said the current government is introducing reforms designed to deliver sustainable improvements in basic education.

He added that the government rehabilitated almost 10,000 schools last year.

The minister also defended other federal government policies affecting primary and secondary schools, saying the measures are intended to reduce the cost of education for parents and improve learning outcomes.

Mr Alausa also addressed controversies surrounding nursery school graduation ceremonies, textbook reuse, language of instruction, education financing and school safety.

Nursery graduations sheer exploitation

The minister said graduation ceremonies for nursery and kindergarten pupils had turned into a tool for exploiting parents, insisting that such practices had no educational value.

It might be fun for you, but it is sheer extortion of parents. Why would you do graduation for nursery one or nursery two? he asked.

He said graduations should be tied to clear educational milestones, such as completing primary or senior secondary school, rather than to early childhood classes.

Textbook reuse and publishers

Mr Alausa said the government directed schools to stop forcing parents to buy new textbooks every year, describing the practice as another form of extortion.

He said workbooks must now be separated from textbooks and that textbooks should not be replaced for at least three years unless there is a material change in content.

Publishers manipulated the process by introducing workbooks so students would write inside textbooks and parents would be forced to buy new ones every year, he said.

History, indigenous language

The minister also clarified that the current administration did not remove history from the curriculum.

History was banned about 12 or 13 years ago, he said. This president mandated a full curriculum review, and Nigerian history is back.

Speaking on indigenous language policy, he denied claims that the government banned indigenous languages in schools.

Mr Alausa explained that the policy only corrected what he described as over-implementation of mother-tongue instruction in some regions, where local languages were used beyond the approved primary level.

Mother tongue was meant to be used up to Primary 3, he said. In some places, it was used up to SS3, yet national exams are conducted in English.

He said English would remain the language of instruction to ensure standardisation and global competitiveness, while indigenous languages would continue to be taught as subjects.

Out-of-school children, education funding

Nigeria has one of the highest numbers of out-of-school children globally, a challenge the minister said the government was addressing through increased funding and targeted interventions.

Mr Alausa said the education sector had received its highest budgetary allocation in the last two years, adding that funding for basic education agencies had increased.

He also defended the student loan scheme administered by the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), dismissing claims of widespread delays and adding that it had removed financial barriers to tertiary education.

Today, no student can say they cannot go to school because of money, he said, adding that about 800,000 students were benefiting from the scheme.
The Nigerian government said it has released N50 billion out of the N200 billion promised Needs Assessment Fund as part of the recent agreement reached with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).

Speaking during an interview on Arise Television on Sunday, the Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, said another N50 billion will soon be released, bringing the total to N100 billion.

Mr Alausa said the education ministry would meet the heads of universities, polytechnics and colleges of education to decide how the Needs Assessment Fund will be spent.

The Needs Assessment Fund is a component of the contentious 2009 agreement between ASUU and the federal government.

The 2009 agreement, whose renegotiation was due in 2013, stalled for over a decade until it was completed on 23 December 2025 and unveiled on 14 January.

The education minister said implementation of the 2025 renegotiated agreement began immediately after it was signed.

This is not about choreography or grandstanding. The circular for implementation was issued before the end of December, he said.

Mr Alausa said the agreement has helped stabilise Nigerias university system, noting that there has been no strike in federal universities in the last two academic sessions.

He added that the ministry has created a Labour and Union Activities Unit to ensure full implementation of agreements with workers unions under the ministrys purview.

Unpaid strike arrears

Regarding the unresolved issue of unpaid salaries from the 2022 ASUU strike, the minister said President Bola Tinubu had only committed to paying half of the eight-month arrears and had fulfilled that promise.

The agreement was 50 per cent, and the president paid five months within his first six months in office. There was never a promise to pay eight months, he said.

He acknowledged that the agreement was not properly documented at the time, describing it as a lapse in institutional record-keeping.

IPPIS and university autonomy

Mr Alausa said universities, polytechnics and colleges of education had been removed from the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS) since January 2025.

They are not being paid on IPPIS again. You can go and fact check me, he stated.

He added that institutions had also been allowed to move their research and endowment funds from the Treasury Single Account to commercial banks to improve access.

Polytechnics, TVET and degree reforms

Beyond universities, the minister said the government was reforming technical and vocational education and training (TVET), including plans to allow polytechnics to award degrees.

Mr Alausa said the government had reduced vocational trades from 98 to 25 based on labour-market needs and introduced stipends for trainees, adding that over 1.3 million Nigerians applied when the TVET portal was opened.

He also said technical education is now free at all 36 federal technical colleges, with 70 per cent of training practical and a final-year industrial attachment modelled on Germanys dual system.

Under the TVET initiative, students receive monthly stipends of about N25,000, while the government funds training centres.
The Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR) has condemned the Anambra State Governments closure of Onitsha Main Market, describing it as punitive and a violation of traders fundamental rights.

The group faulted remarks attributed to Governor Charles Soludo directing traders to open shops Monday to Saturday or vacate the state, calling them an attack on economic freedom.

At a press briefing on Monday in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, the CDHR spokesperson, Jerry Onyibe, described the action as arbitrary and an infringement on traders economic rights.

Mr Onyibe said the government had a duty to maintain law and order, but must act within the law and respect citizens human rights.

He noted that the constitution guaranteed the right to livelihood, freedom of movement and protection from arbitrary government actions.

The traders and business owners are not responsible for insecurity in Anambra.

They are victims who have suffered fear, income losses and threats to their lives due to unresolved security challenges, he said.

He said shutting the market would worsen hardship, deepen poverty and fuel frustration in a state regarded as a South-east commercial hub.

The spokesperson said tackling insecurity should be the governments priority, stressing that citizens should not be forced to trade under fear without guaranteed safety.

He urged the state government to protect lives and property, engage market unions and civil society, and adopt security strategies that protect rather than punish citizens.

Mr Onyibe also cautioned the governor against rhetoric or actions that could intimidate law-abiding residents or violate their rights.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Onitsha Main Market, one of West Africas largest markets, was shut on Monday on Mr Soludos orders.

The governor said the market would remain closed for one week, following the traders continued compliance with the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB )s sit-at-home directive.

According to him, it is the latest and perhaps most drastic approach to determine who controls time and economic life in South-east Nigeria on Mondays.

The enemy is the long-standing, fear-enforced Monday sit-at-home order, a ghostly mandate from non-state actors that has strangled businesses and normalised weekly Monday sit-at-home for years.

In spite of repeated assurances of enhanced security and appeals to reclaim public spaces, many traders at the iconic market again chose to keep their stalls locked, he said.

He noted that the traders absence was not just a quiet rebellion, but one that spoke volumes about the lingering climate of apprehension.

NAN reports that economic activities have suffered in recent years due to insecurity, including sit-at-home directive by the proscribed IPOB and criminal violence.

While killings associated with the IPOB have reduced in the South-east, many residents are still reluctant to open their businesses on Mondays for fear of attack.

CDHR warned that development could not be achieved by shutting citizens means of survival.

A prosperous Anambra can only be built when security, dignity and human rights are central to governance, the group said.
The Anambra State Government has insisted that the Onitsha Main Market will remain shut for at least one week as a punishment for shop owners who observe the sit-at-home directive on Mondays.

PREMIUM TIMES earlier reported that Governor Charles Soludo of Anambra ordered the market closure on Monday when he visited and observed that shops in the market were closed for businesses in compliance with the illegal directive.

Mr Soludo, during the visit, threatened that he would extend the closure to one month if traders continued to observe the illegal directive often enforced by a faction of the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

We lose N8 billion weekly

In a statement on Monday night, the Commissioner for Information in Anambra, Law Mefor, defended the market closure, saying the state loses N8 billion every week due to the IPOB sit-at-home directive.

The closure is due to non-compliance with the governments directive to end the Monday sit-at-home, which costs the state up to N8 billion as part of N19.6 billion in the South-east every week, while disrupting work and economic activities, leaving the state haemorrhaging, Mr Mefor said.

He, however, did not explain how the state government arrived at the figure.

The commissioner warned owners to stay away from the market until next Monday to avoid unpleasant encounters with security operatives deployed to enforce the order.

Traders are warned that if they are not ready to resume trading on Monday, 2 February 2026, and indeed every other Monday, the market will face a one-month closure next Monday.

Furthermore, all other markets in Anambra State remain open and are expected to operate on Mondays. Any market found closed on Mondays will face a similar closure, he said.

Mr Mefor assured traders that the state government would ensure maximum security in the market and urged them to contact security operatives during emergencies.

Background

IPOB, in August 2021, introduced a sit-at-home every Monday across the South-east to pressure the Nigerian government to release its leader, Nnamdi Kanu, who was standing trial for terrorism at the Federal High Court in Abuja.

The separatist group later suspended the order, in preference for it to be implemented only on days Mr Kanu appeared in court.

But despite its suspension, residents of the five South-east states  Enugu, Ebonyi, Imo, Abia and Anambra  had been observing the directive, mostly out of fear.

IPOB later repeatedly disowned the Monday sit-at-home across the region, saying those who still enforce it were criminals attempting to blackmail the separatist group.

But Simon Ekpa, a controversial Biafra agitator, continued to declare the sit-at-home in the region, despite its suspension by the IPOB faction led by Mr Kanu.

PREMIUM TIMES reported that Mr Kanu, the IPOB leader in late July 2023, through Aloy Ejimakor, his special counsel, ordered Mr Ekpa to stop issuing sit-at-home directives in the region.

However, Mr Ekpa described the letter as fake, and maintained that the illegal action would go on until Mr Kanu spoke to him directly in Finland, a North European country, where he (Ekpa) resides.

Several Igbo leaders such as Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State and leadership of the Ohanaeze Ndi Igbo had made unsuccessful efforts to stop the sit-at-home.

For instance, Governor Soludo had declared prayer to end the sit-at-home in Anambra and later threatened to sanction those who observed it.

Similarly, Mr Mbah, on assumption of office as governor of Enugu in May 2023, banned sit-at-home in the state.

PREMIUM TIMES reports that while the illegal order has almost completely ended in Enugu, Abia and Ebonyi States, it has remained active in Anambra and Imo states.

Mr Kanu was convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment for terrorism in November and Mr Ekpa was sentenced to six years imprisonment for similar crime in Finland.
The Central Bank of Nigeria has upgraded the licences of selected financial technology companies and microfinance banks with nationwide operations, signalling a regulatory push to bring fast-growing digital lenders into closer alignment with their actual scale.

The banks director of the CBNs Other Financial Institutions Supervision Department, Yemi Solaja disclosed the move at the annual conference of the Committee of Heads of Banks Operations in Lagos on 23 January.

It said several firms were operating far beyond the limits of their original licences.

He said there was a growing mismatch between the licences some institutions held and the reality of their operations.

Institutions like Moniepoint MFB, Opay, Kuda Bank and others have already been upgraded. In reality, their activities are now all over the country, Nairametrics quoted Mr Solaja as saying.

He also said many of the customers served by digital lenders operate in the informal economy, raising concerns about accountability and consumer protection.

Most of their customers are informal people. They need to know where to report to when there is a problem, he added.

Nigerias FinTech sector has expanded rapidly in recent years, driven by mobile banking, agent networks and limited access to traditional banking services.

Many operators were originally licensed under unit or state-level frameworks, which restricted their geographical reach.

Despite this, several platforms built nationwide customer bases, creating what regulators viewed as a widening gap between licence scope and operational reality.

The CBN said national licences would only be granted after firms met stricter regulatory benchmarks, including higher capital and compliance standards.

National microfinance banks are now required to hold a minimum capital base of N5bn, compared with N2bn previously.

The regulator also used the forum to push for closer collaboration between commercial banks and FinTechs, particularly to reduce the volume of cash circulating outside the formal banking system.

Mr Solaja urged banks to adopt digital-first operating models, reflecting shifts in consumer behaviour.

Despite their digital focus, the CBN stressed that nationally licensed FinTechs and microfinance banks must maintain a physical presence in key locations. It said branches remain important for dispute resolution and for serving informal customers who prefer face-to-face engagement.

ALSO READ: CBN sets N2 billion as capital requirement for fintechs

The move comes amid heightened regulatory scrutiny of Nigerias digital finance sector. In 2024, the CBN fined Moniepoint and Opay N1 billion each for breaches of know-your-customer rules, underlining its tougher stance on compliance with customer due diligence regulations.

The platforms have gained wide acceptance among Nigerians in recent years, helped by easier account opening, lower transaction costs and more reliable digital services than many traditional banks.

The licence upgrades reflect an attempt by the CBN to formalise the role of large digital lenders in Nigerias financial system, using their reach to deepen financial inclusion while tightening oversight in a sector that has grown faster than regulation.
The Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday, ordered the remand of Kano State Independent Electoral Commission (KANSIEC) chairman Sani Malumfashi and two others in custody over an alleged N1 billion money laundering offence.

The judge, James Omotosho, made the order after Mr Malumfashi and his co-defendants pleaded not guilty to six counts during their arraignment by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).

Mr Omotosho directed that the defendants be remanded in the Correctional Centre in Kuje, Abuja, pending the hearing and determination of their formal bail application.

The judge then adjourned the matter until 28 January (Wednesday) for the consideration of the defendants bail application.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Mr Malumfashis co-defendants are the Secretary of KANSIEC, Anas Muhammed Mustapha, and Ado Garba, a deputy director, Account Department of the state electoral body.

The charges filed 1 December 2025 by ICPCs lawyer, Osuobeni Akponimisingha, accused the defendants of unlawfully taking the sums of N450 million, N310 million and N260 million between the months of November and December 2024.

The ICPC alleged that Messrs Malumfashi, Mustapha and Garba, between November and December 2024 in Kano, conspired to take possession of the sum of N450 million cash through SLM Agro Global Farm account numbers 0018222634 and 0015932143 with Jaiz Bank on 1 November 2024.

The money was said to form part of the proceeds of an unlawful activity.

The offence is contrary to Sections 2(1)(b) & 18(2)(d) and punishable under Section 18(3) of the Money Laundering (Prevention & Prohibition) Act, 2022, among other counts.

At the start of Tuesdays proceedings, Mr Akponimisingha requested that the charges be read to the defendants to enable them take their plea and the defence lawyer, Mahmud Magaji, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), did not object.

They pleaded not guilty to all six counts.

The prosecuting lawyer then applied for a trial date to start to present witnesses.

Responding, Mr Magaji sought to make an oral application for his clients bail.

He said the defendants had been enjoying the administrative bail earlier granted by the prosecution and had always complied with the bail conditions.

He, however, said that if the bail was not granted, a short date should be given to file a formal bail request.

The judge, Mr Omotosho, requested that a formal, written bail application be filed to enable the prosecution to respond appropriately in the interest of fair hearing.

The judge then adjourned the matter until Wednesday for hearing of the bail application.

NAN reports that the defendants were to be arraigned before another judge of the same court, Joyce Abdulmalik, in 2025 but the case was struck out over ICPCs failure to effect service of court documents on the defendants.

(NAN)
Zelenskyy: As of morning, 926 buildings in several districts on Kyivs left bank still without heating

Photo: @V_Zelenskiy_official Telegram

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy held an energy conference call on Tuesday. As of this morning, 926 homes in Kyivs left-bank district remain without heat supply. Reserves from across Ukraine have been deployed to assist the capital.

We also separately reviewed the situation in Kyiv. As of this morning, 926 buildings in several districts on the left bank of the capital are still without heating. The Ministry of Energy and the Ministry of Internal Affairs are deploying additional generators. Reserves from across Ukraine have been deployed to support the capital, Zelenskyy said on X.

In addition, the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, the Air Force Command, and regional authorities are analyzing the circumstances of the strike on Odesa  there were 52 Russian drones in total, and a significant number were aimed at the central part of Odesa near the Pryvoz market.

Most of the drones were intercepted, but unfortunately there were also hits in the city and the region. A rescue operation is currently underway, rubble is being cleared, and all necessary forces are engaged, the head of state added.

There were reports on the situation in Kharkiv and the region following shelling by Russian MLRS.

A power facility was hit, causing significant damage. Restoration work is ongoing. I thank all the specialists involved from the State Emergency Service of Ukraine, Ukrenergo, and Kharkivoblenergo, the President noted.

In addition, there were reports on the situation in Kyiv region and in Zaporizhia.
The Federal High Court, Abuja, on Tuesday struck out a request for the transfer of the custody of Biafra agitator Nnamdi Kanus custody from Sokoto, where he is serving a life jail term, to Abuja.

The judge, James Omotosho, struck out the application filed as a motion ex parte, following the withdrawal of the Legal Aid Council of Nigeria (LACON) from Mr Kanus defence.

The Senior Legal Officer of LACON, Demdoo Asan, representing Mr Kanu, announced his withdrawal from the defence, citing irreconcilable issues.

Since the last adjourned date, I have been on constant phone communication with the relatives of the applicant.

However, the relatives of the applicant didnt show up at our office to submit the application. Despite phone calls and promises to show up, Mr Demdoo narrated.

He also said the applicant wants to dictate the tune of the matter, he wants to control what counsel would say, he wants to write down what I would say while in court. But, as an officer of the court, I cant in good faith accept that.

Mr Demdoo also told the court how he consulted with his superiors, who shared the same sentiment.

He said, as officers of the court, he and his office would handle the matter as they saw fit, or the applicant could seek legal representation elsewhere.

On that note, he invoked Order 50, Rule 1 of the Federal High Court Rules to withdraw from the matter.

In his ruling, the judge, Mr Omotosho, commended the counsel for upholding the dignity of the court.

Having listened to counsel from the Legal Aid Council, I will grant leave for the counsel and the Legal Aid generally, to withdraw from representing the defendant convict, Mr Omotosho said.

He also described the motion as incompetent.

The judge explained that despite the flaws of the application, directed other parties involved in the matter to be served with the processes filed, in the interest of justice. But, since the last court sitting on 8 December 2025 until today 27 January, there was no proof of service before this court.

The judge struck out the ex-parte motion for lacking competence.

The LACON came into the matter after the judge rejected the move by Mr Kanus brother who was not a lawyer to move the application on behalf of the Biafra agitator.

Post-conviction battle

The judge sentenced Mr Kanu to life imprisonment for terrorism on 20 November 2025.

The court convicted Mr Kanu, a dual citizen of Nigeria and the United Kingdom, over his violent campaigns for the independence of Nigerias South-east and neighbouring states of the region as Biafra.

Handing down the sentence, Mr Omotosho ordered that Mr Kanu should be held in any secure prison in any part of the country but not Abuja, which has a history of a recent jailbreak.

This prompted the prison authorities to keep him in the Sokoto correctional facility.

Mr Kanu subsequently filed his ex parte application seeking an order compelling the complainant (federal government)!and/or the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) to forthwith transfer him from the Sokoto Correctional Facility to a custodial facility within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court.

Alternately, Mr Kanu sought an order transferring him to the courts immediate environs, such as the Suleja or the Keffi Custodial Centre, for the purpose of enabling the applicant (Kanu) to effectively prosecute his constitutionally guaranteed right of appeal.

On 4 December 2025, when the application came up for hearing, Mr Omotosho rejected an attempt by Mr Kanus brother, Prince Emmanuel, to move the application on behalf of the convict.

The judge said Mr Emmanuel could not be permitted to move the application because he was not a lawyer. Mr Omotosho then advised Mr Emmanuel to either engage a lawyer or approach the legal aid council to provide him a lawyer to move the application.

Mr Asan from the legal aid council subsequently appeared as Mr Kanus lawyer.

But on 8 December 2025, the judge rejected the ex parte application moved by Mr Asan for the transfer of Mr Kanu from Sokoto to Abuja.

The judge said the application could not be granted through ex-parte motion  an application designed to be heard in the absence of the adverse parties.

Mr Omotosho held that the respondents  the federal government and the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS)  ought to be put on notice for them to respond appropriately in the interest of justice, before the request could be granted.

But the judge said on Tuesday that there was no evidence that the respondents were ever served the processes as directed. Mr Asen withdrew from the defence on Tuesday.

The terrorism trial of Mr Kanu spanned over a decade with repeated court appearances, adjournments and legal challenges.

He was first arrested in October 2015 and charged with offences including treasonable felony and unlawful possession of arms. He was granted bail in 2017 but fled Nigeria after soldiers reportedly raided his home.

He was rearrested in Kenya in June 2021 and brought back to Nigeria to face trial on seven terrorism-related counts.

The case was restarted under Judge Omotosho in March 2025 after earlier judicial recusals.

Between May and June 2025, the court set strict dates for the federal government to close its case. In September 2025, Mr Kanu filed a no-case submission, which was dismissed, and the court later ordered a medical panel to assess his fitness to stand trial.

In October 2025, Mr Kanu sacked his legal team and pledged to represent himself.

He repeatedly declined to open his defence, asserting there was no valid charge against him, and was eventually deemed to have waived his right to do so.

On 20 November 2025, Mr Kanu was convicted on all seven counts and sentenced to life imprisonment.

He is now serving his sentence at the Sokoto Correctional Facility.

In the recent motion struck out by the court, Mr Kanu had sought to be transferred from Sokoto to the Abuja facility.
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on Tuesday said it recorded 3.7 million human right violations complaints across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, in 2025.

The Executive Secretary of the commission, Tony Ojukwu, disclosed this at the presentation of the December Dashboard and Observatory Reports on Human Rights violations.

But only a tiny fraction of the complaints were completely investigated.

Hiliary Ogbonna, senior human rights adviser to the commission, disclosed at Tuesdays event that the commission completed investigations on only 52,489 of the 3.7 million (3,724,822) complaints.

Mr Ogbonna attributed the poor performance of only about 1. 4 per cent completion rate to poor funding.

About a year ago, the NHRC lamented the inadequacy of its annual budget.

Presenting NHRCs 2024 budget performance report during a budget defence hearing of the joint committee on human rights of the Senate and House of Representatives at the National Assembly Complex in Abuja , Mr Ojukwu lamented the inadequacy of the proposed 2025 allocation of N8 billion.

He called for a substantial increase in its proposed allocation for this year, citing rising cost of operations and volume of complaints it receives annually.

The current allocation of N8 billion is grossly inadequate to meet this demand, he said, informing the lawmakers that the commission received as much as 2 million complaints annually.

He urged lawmakers to consider increasing the proposed budget from N8 billion to N19.55 billion, while emphasising the cost of investigating human rights complaints.

But a review of the 2025 Appropriation Act by PREMIUM TIMES shows that the commissions approved budget remained N8 billion as proposed, despite Mr Ojukwus entreaties.

On Tuesday, Mr Ojukwu noted that human rights violations were linked to systemic issues among others, adding that collaboration remained a powerful tool in promoting and protecting human rights.

From the January to December, 2025 dashboards, we have learnt that human rights violations are deeply linked to systemic issues including inequality, unemployment, weak institutions, and limited access to justice.

We have also learnt that early warning signs are visible in the data as the dashboard is not merely a reporting tool; it is a prevention mechanism.

One thing that has also been highlighted is that collaboration remains essential.

No single institution can address Nigerias human rights challenges alone. Progress in 2025 was most visible where government agencies, civil society, traditional institutions, and communities worked together, he said.

He noted that the human rights outlook for Nigeria in 2026 was one of cautious optimism, matched with realism.

He promised that in this context, the NHRC would prioritise strengthening early warning and prevention mechanisms, using dashboard data to support proactive interventions.

He added that the commission would also deepen engagement with security agencies, to ensure human rights compliance in law enforcement and conflict response.

Mr Ojukwu said expanding access to justice, particularly for women, children and marginalised communities was also a priority.

 Leveraging technology and data to improve reporting, monitoring, and response.

 Enhancing partnerships with government institutions, civil society, the private sector, and development partners.

According to him, data alone does not change lives, action does. He said the Human Rights Dashboard is a mirror held up to our society. What we see in it should guide policy, reform, and accountability, Mr Ojukwu, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, said.

He therefore called on all stakeholders to use this data to inform people-centred policies.

Speaking, Adwoa Kufuor, Senior Human Rights Adviser to the UN resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, noted that looking ahead to the rest of 2026 and beyond, there are still many challenges.

She noted that these were security concerns, economic pressures, shrinking civic space, and barriers to getting justice.

But we also see real hope and momentum. The National Human Rights Action Plan is in place. Justice reforms are underway

We welcome the commissions priorities as laid out by the Executive Secretary to leveraging data for human rights, data for action, and policy.

We want to say loudly and clearly we stand fully behind, whether its in training, technical help, joint advocacy, or just being there to support your performance effort, you can count on the UN in Nigeria, she said.

READ ALSO: Experts say social media addiction can lead to mental health challenges

The dashboard and observatory reports were presented by Mr Hiliary Ogbonna, senior human rights adviser to the commission.

He said that of the total 3.7 million complaints received in 2025, the North-central recorded the highest number with 1.3 million (1, 317, 213) cases.

Mr Ogbonna added that Benue State led in the number of violations of childrens rights.

(NAN)
The Federal Government of Nigeria has successfully issued a 501 billion inaugural bond under the Presidential Power Sector Debt Reduction Programme (PPSDRP), recording 100 per cent subscription from pension funds, banks, asset managers and other investors, and marking a significant step towards resolving legacy debts, restoring liquidity, and strengthening confidence in the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI).

The programme, championed by President Bola Tinubu, is designed to address long-standing payment arrears owed to power generation companies, which, for over a decade, constrained liquidity, weakened balance sheets and discouraged investment across the power sector value chain.

Speaking at the bond issuance signing ceremony in Lagos on 27 January, the Special Adviser to the President on Energy, Olu Verheijen, stated that the programme represents a decisive reset of the electricity market, combining debt resolution with broader financial and structural reforms.

The signing follows the successful completion of Series 1 Power Sector Bond Issuance by NBET Finance Company Plc. Series 1 issuance closed at 501 billion, comprising 300 billion raised from the capital markets and 201 billion in bonds allotted to participating power generation companies, reflecting strong investor confidence in the reform agenda.

Under the programme, verified receivables for electricity supplied between February 2015 and March 2025 are being settled through negotiated agreements with power generation companies.

To date, five power generation companies representing fourteen power plants nationwide  First Independent Power Limited (FIPL), Geregu Power Plc, Ibom Power Company Limited, Mabon Limited and Niger Delta Power Holding Company Limited (NDPHC)  have executed Settlement Agreements with the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Plc (NBET). The total negotiated settlement amount for these companies stands at 827.16 billion, to be paid in four phased instalments.

Proceeds from Series 1 issuance will fund the first and second instalment payments to participating power generation companies with signed Settlement Agreements, estimated at 421.42 billion, representing approximately 50 per cent of the total negotiated settlement amount. The payment for this initial phase will be made through a mix of cash and notes.

Kola Adesina, group managing director of Sahara Power Group, which owns five power plants, said, Capital formation can only come when there is confidence, when you can truly see a line of sight in recovering investments previously made. Because we were being owed so much, it was a bit of a problem for us to put in more money.

But last year we took the bull by the horns, based on President Bola Ahmed Tinubus commitment to resolving the legacy issues, and I can say that once this process is over, construction will commence immediately on the second phase of our Egbin Power Plant. On behalf of the Generation Companies, Id like to thank the President for this resolution.

By clearing historic arrears, the programme is expected to improve liquidity for power generation companies, strengthen their ability to meet operating and debt obligations, unlock new investment across the sector and support more reliable electricity supply to homes and businesses. It also reinforces fiscal discipline through validated claims, negotiated settlements and transparent capital market financing.

When completed, the programme will impact 4,483.60MWh/h of electricity generation capacity by Nigerian GenCos, effectively finalising settlement of payments for 290,644.84GWhr of electricity billed since February 2015 and providing a strong foundation for new investments into capacity enhancement and expansion by companies serving 12.03 million active registered customers across the country.

The Special Adviser to the President on Energy recognises the visionary leadership of President Bola Tinubu, as well as the support from the Honourable Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, and the Honourable Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, in making the PPSDRP a reality.

She further acknowledges the support of all members of the Presidential Power Sector Debt Reduction Committee who played vital roles in making this capital raise a success, all key power sector stakeholders, as well as government authorities, including the Debt Management Office, Central Bank of Nigeria, the National Pensions Commission, and the Nigerian Revenue Service, who facilitated enhancements for the Bond Issue.

CardinalStone Partners Limited, a leading investment banking firm in Nigeria, led the consortium of appointed professional parties as Lead Financial Adviser and Lead Issuing House to successfully execute the Series 1 Bond Issue, working closely with the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Plc (NBET) that acted as Sponsor on the Transaction, and the Office of the Special Adviser on Energy that led the settlement negotiations and engagements with the Generation Companies.

Ms Verheijen, Special Adviser to the President on Energy, said, The Federal Government reaffirms its commitment to disciplined implementation of the Programme, and we look forward to the participation of other power generation companies, as part of our broader reforms aimed at building a financially sustainable electricity market that is capable of supporting Nigerias long-term economic growth.

Media Contact:

Communications Team, Office of the Special Adviser to the President on Energy; [email protected]
Chief Judge John Tsoho of the Federal High Court is expected to assign a new judge to the asset forfeiture case concerning 57 properties seized from former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) obtained an order of interim forfeiture of the N212.8 billion worth of assets from the court on 7 January, alleging that the properties located in Abuja, Kano and Birnin-Kebbi, Kebbi State, were acquired with proceeds of Mr Malamis unlawful activities.

Emeka Nwite, the judge who issued the interim forfeiture order, announced on Tuesday that he had returned the case file to the Chief Judge for reassignment to a new judge expected to conclude the proceedings.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Mr Nwite ordered an interim forfeiture of the 57 properties on 6 January.

He also directed in the ruling the publication of the interim order of forfeiture in any national daily so that any person(s) or body (ies) who might have interest in the property could show cause, within 14 days of the publication, why a final order of forfeiture to the Federal Government should not be made.

The judge then adjourned proceedings until 27 January (Tuesday) for a report of compliance. The report of compliance was meant to be followed by a hearing to determine if an order of final forfeiture of the assets cumulatively valued at N212.8 billion.

However, the matter was not among the 24 cases listed for hearing on Tuesday, although some lawyers who had filed processes to oppose issuance of final forfeiture of the assets were present in court.

The lawyer to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Jibrin Okutepa, a SAN, was also present in court.

Following the tradition

When the judge, Mr Nwite was about to begin sitting, Mr Okutepa reminded him that the case was scheduled for Tuesday for a report of compliance.

My lord, we have a matter that was adjourned on record to today but not on the cause list.

When I confirmed from the registrar, they said it was a vacation matter, he said.

Mr Okutepa urged the judge to conclude proceedings on the matter.

But Mr Nwite told the lawyer that it was the courts tradition that all matters assigned to a judge during any vacation like the last Christmas/New Year break must be returned to the Chief Judge for reassignment as soon as the regular court sessions resumed.

According to him, the chief judge will reassign the matter substantively to any judge of his choice.

I think you will have to pursue this administratively so that you can bring this (the case) to his (the Chief Judges) notice to fast-track the process, Mr Nwite said.

The judge assured the lawyer that the commission would be promptly informed should the Chief Judge choose to reassign the case to his court.

Mr Malami, who is being detained by the State Security Service (SSS), faces separate N8.7 billion money laundering charges before Judge Nwite.

The money laundering trial in which Mr Malami is jointly prosecuted alongside one of his wives, Asabe Bashir, and son, Abdulaziz Malami, was also assigned to Mr Nwite during the courts last vacation.

The EFCC arraigned the former AGF and his co-defendants on 30 December 2025. On 7 January, Mr Nwite granted the three defendants bail and fixed 17 February for commencement of trial.

The money laundering case is likely to toe the same path as the forfeiture proceedings. Earlier this month, the judge quitted an equally sensitive high-profile criminal case he took up during the vacation, returning the casefile to the chief judge for reassignment to a new judge.

Malamis alarm

On Saturday, ahead of Tuesdays hearing, Mr Malami raised the alarm through his media aide that his continued detention by the SSS was hampering his defence in both the money laundering and assets forfeiture cases.

Mr Malami, who was rearrested by the SSS on 19 January as he was leaving the correctional centre in Kuje after meeting the bail conditions set for him in the money laundering trial, said in the statement posted on his Facebook page that the secret police were denying him access to his lawyers in custody.

The former AGF, through his media aide, Mohammed Doka, said the coordinated actions by state security agencies were aimed at frustrating his constitutional right to a fair hearing and effective legal defence.

The statement alleged that he was detained for five days without access to his lawyers or family members and was only allowed to meet his legal team on Friday after what it described as prolonged isolation and delays.

According to Mr Doka, the detention occurred at a critical time when Mr Malami was expected to prepare and open his defence in an interim forfeiture proceeding filed by the EFCC before the Federal High Court.

The statement explained that denying him access to legal counsel during that period impaired his ability to consult with lawyers, prepare court filings and issue instructions, thereby affecting due process.
The Court of Appeal, Akure Division, has stopped the Federal High Court from delivering judgement in a suit challenging the eligibility of the Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, to stand election after the expiration of his current tenure in 2028.

The appellate court also stayed further proceedings in the suit filed by an All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain, Akin Egbuwalo, seeking an interpretation of Section 137(3) of the Constitution regarding Mr Aiyedatiwas qualification to seek re-election.

A judge of the Federal High Court, Toyin Adegoke, had fixed 28 January to determine whether the governor is eligible to contest again, having been sworn in twice for the office.

Mr Aiyedatiwa was first sworn in on 27 December, 2024, to complete the tenure of late Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu. He was inaugurated the second time on 24 February, 2025, following his victory in the last governorship election.

He defeated Agboola Ajayi, then of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and other contestants in the 16 November, 2024, governorship election.

The suit, filed by Mr Egbuwalo through his counsel, Adeniyi Akintola, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, listed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Governor Aiyedatiwa, the All Progressives Congress (APC), and the Deputy Governor, Olayide Adelami, as defendants.

However, the defendants, through their counsel led by Solomon Awomolo, SAN, filed a petition challenging the conduct of the trial court and urged the Court of Appeal to restrain Mr Adegoke from delivering judgement pending the determination of interlocutory appeals before the appellate court.

Although Mr Akintola, urged the court to discountenance the arguments of the defendants on the grounds that no valid appeal was before the court, the panel led by P. O. Affen held that it was in the interest of justice to allow the trial judge respond to the serious allegations made against him.

Other justices of the panel were M. S. Hassan and P. C. Obiorah.

The justices noted that while it is not the usual practice to arrest the judgment of a lower court or suspend proceedings, exceptions exist where circumstances demand such intervention.

Consequently, the Court of Appeal suspended the delivery of judgment by the Federal High Court scheduled for January 28, pending the determination of the appeal before it.

Reacting to the ruling, Mr Awomolo, said the implication was that the trial court must halt proceedings until further notice.

The implication of the ruling is that the judgment of Honourable Justice Adegoke scheduled for January 28 is suspended. Everything is now on hold until further notice, he said.

He explained that the courts decision was based on the need to respect due process, the rule of law, and the judicial hierarchy, noting that allowing the lower court to proceed could render the appeal academic.

The Court of Appeal, being a superior court of record, must not be presented with a fait accompli, Mr Awomolo added.

The controversies over Mr Aiyedatiwas eligibility had gained traction within the Ondo political space following rumours that the governor has intentions to run for another term in office.

Although the next election is still far away, a number of aspirants have been busy trying to gain the attention of the ruling party and its members.

Names of the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Ojo and the Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, have surfaced in the debates on who would get the partys ticket for the next election.

Section 137(3) of the Constitution provides that a person sworn in as President to complete the term for which another person was elected shall only be elected to such office for a maximum of one additional term.

Section 182(3) of the Constitution stipulates that any person sworn in as Governor to complete the term of another elected official is disqualified from being elected to the same office for more than a single term.

Although Mr Aiyedatiwa has yet to indicate interest in running again, there are however indications that his political opponents are not leaving anything to chance, hence the suit at the Federal High Court.


The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has directed all its workers to resume duties immediately across its secretariats, departments and agencies following a court order suspending the ongoing strike.

The FCTA, in a circular dated 27 January and signed by the Acting Head of the Civil Service, Nancy Nathan, said the instruction followed an order of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria.

The court, presided over by Emmanuel Subilim, had earlier ordered that the strike declared by the Joint Union Action Committee (JUAC) be suspended forthwith.

Accordingly, all staff are to resume duties immediately at their various duty posts. Consequently, all Permanent Secretaries and Heads of Departments and Agencies are directed by this circular to maintain staff attendance register even as Management is committed to the welfare of members of staff, the circular stated.

It urged officials to bring the contents of the circular to the attention of all staff for immediate compliance.

Court order behind the directive

The resumption order followed a ruling by the National Industrial Court earlier on Tuesday, granting an interlocutory injunction restraining JUAC and its members from continuing the strike pending the hearing and determination of the originating summons.

The order followed an application filed by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, and the FCTA marked NICN/ABJ/17/2026, against the JUAC Chairman, Rifkatu Iortyer, and the unions Secretary, Abdullahi Umar Saleh.

Mr Subilim ruled that workers were prohibited from participating in a strike once a dispute had been referred to the National Industrial Court, adding that where such a strike was already ongoing, it must cease pending the determination of the case.

Citing Section 18(1)E of the Trade Dispute Act, the court noted that the suspension ensures the dispute is properly resolved, and that ongoing strikes must halt upon the commencement of a suit by originating summons, which constitutes a referral

He further stated that failure to comply with Section 18 of the Act may attract sanctions.

He emphasised that the public interest in maintaining industrial peace outweighs any inconvenience caused by suspending the strike.

The court adjourned the case to 23 March for substantive hearing.

Background on JUAC strike

Workers under JUAC commenced an indefinite strike on 19 January, shutting down key administrative offices, including the FCTA Secretariat and the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA).

The strike followed the expiration of a seven-day ultimatum issued on 7 January, demanding that the FCTA management address long-standing labour and welfare grievances.

READ ALSO: Court orders FCT workers to suspend strike

The unions listed several unresolved issues they said compelled them to withdraw their services. Among the demands include the non-payment of outstanding salaries, arrears from delayed promotions, wage awards, issues with promotion examinations, non-remittance of pension contributions and the implementation of agreed allowances for FCTA workers.

The unions also complained about poor working conditions and what they described as the administrations persistent disregard for earlier agreements reached with labour representatives.

In response to the unrest, the FCTA said it had already addressed 10 out of the 14 demands presented by workers and was working to resolve the remaining issues through ongoing dialogue.

The administration said wage awards, hazard and rural allowances had been paid, and that promotion arrears were being processed for payment. It also denied that pension and NHF remittances were solely its responsibility, stating committees had been set up to resolve such concerns.

Despite these assertions, the union maintained that the responses fell short and that the minister had not engaged directly with them, a key demand before ending the strike.
The world is for the powerful, not the weak. For Africa to get a front seat at the table, our leaders must learn to be more strategic. They must learn to make power moves, and pay less attention to the tourism value of international engagements and the estacodes that come with such outings. Having one strong ally is not enough. The landscape of global power politics is changing. Africa must cultivate new friends, to strengthen connections in an emerging new international order with a different set of rules.

To state the truth, Africa was significantly nowhere at the World Economic Forum, which took place this 19-23 January. You may say absent figuratively, sidelined more specifically, and that has been very much the pattern over the years. The World Economic Forum was established in 1971 by Professor Klaus Schwab to provide a forum for the global powers to come together to discuss global markets, create new models and discuss stakeholder capitalism  a tribute to multilateralism, an elite meeting point for political leaders, the private sector, captains of industry, civil society, celebrities, and the youths of the world. It was not until 1992 that South African leaders, FW de Klerk and Nelson Mandela, made a joint appearance at the Forum. Africa was later invited but we went there as a problem to be solved, a case for aid, a kind of beggars opera, not as a partner with a seat at the table and a voice.

African leaders have been in attendance since then, showing up, taking photographs, shaking hands, with the local African media exuding much excitement about the scenery, the snow-capped Swiss Alps, and some of their leaders making statements on the margins, but no one must be mistaken to think that Africa has any bargaining power. The pattern was the same this year, and even more so as Africas voice was muffled, low toned in the conversation.

The theme for this years 56th World Economic Forum was The Spirit of Dialogue to address five key questions: co-operation in a more contested world, unlocking new sources of growth, investment in people, emerging technologies, and how to build prosperity within planetary boundaries. The invitations showed an inclination to be inclusive, and in retrospect, global players this year trooped to Davos, as they have always done ritualistically, out of commitment to what has become an annual pilgrimage. It is a big opportunity for networking for governments and businesses, and a great business and tourist season for the otherwise snowy, wintry, sleepy resort of Davos in Switzerland.

Africa showed up as it has always done since 1992, with delegations from across the continent. The Nigeria delegation was led by its Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima, and there were Nigerian voices speaking about trade, and Nigeria as an investment destination. Nigeria even went a step further this year by having a House of its own at the Davos Boulevard, where events were held to showcase the country. Vice President Shettima commissioned the Nigeria House, where he affirmed the countrys intention to engage with the global economy from the front row, ready to open up to the world, and tell Nigerian stories. It was a historic moment. Other speakers included the Minister for Trade and Industry, Mrs Jumoke Oduwole; the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development; and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar. Vice President Shettima would later speak at a panel titled When Food Becomes Security, where he made a case for climate-smart agriculture and modern farming, noting that we have no business being poor, given Nigerias vast arable land. Similarly, Minister of Finance, Wale Edun, spoke at a session titled, How can we better invest in people? on Wednesday, 21 January, he promoted Nigerias Reform Agenda, with emphasis on the countrys foreign investment to seek jobs, productivity and inclusive economic growth as it moves from stabilisation to consolidation.

He said Nigeria aims for less borrowing and more investment to drive growth. But if the government chooses domestic borrowing, rather than foreign capital sources, would it not crowd out the private sector in the domestic capital markets, given the huge deficit of 23.85 trillion in the 2026 Budget? Other countries like South Africa also had their sovereign pavilions in Davos, and there were other African leaders pushing the African narrative: Sierra Leones President Julius Maada Bio spoke about African prosperity, while Rwanda and Liberia also attended. There was also much talk about African Continental Free Trade (AfCFTA). But whereas Africas presence was seen, the continent still remained at the margins, selling potentials. The need to move the African narrative from the margins to the centre is the major challenge for African leaders participating at the Davos annual meeting. This would bring much higher value than the promise to hold the WEF Spring Summit in South Africa in April 2027, after seven years. The last Africa meeting was held in Cape Town in September 2019.

The World Economic Forum is about power, the most powerful countries of the world and their leaders across disciplines naturally dominate the conversations and set the agenda for the Fourth Industrial Revolution, while the weaker countries of the world are expected to align or, at best, stand by as spectators. The inequity in geo-politics was most evident at this years WEF. The big men of the world came to discuss the urgent contemporary issues  technology, artificial intelligence, rare earth materials, climate change, and the other major issues that divide the world: trade tensions and tariffs, Greenland, conflicts and the realisation that global rules have been ruptured, trust violated, and the world is becoming far more insular than it ever was. They went to Davos to have a dialogue, as old allies grapple with the contradictions of their own making. The key statement in this direction was made by the Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, who had most recently been in China on a state visit, and who obviously resents US President Donald Trumps efforts to place America First in everything. Carneys speech titled, Principled and Pragmatic: Canadas Path, was a direct condemnation of Americas aggression against other states, and how Trumps conduct has resulted in a rupture in the rules-based international order. Carney called on middle powers to come together in the face of economic coercion by greater powers, which threatens the same institutions that middle powers rely upon, including the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and the United Nations. Carney was widely praised for his candour.

Carney did not mention Trump by name but everyone knew the target of his statements. Trump, ever ready to fight back, did not waste a moment. When it was his turn to speak the following day, he declared that Canada lives because of the United States and accused Carney of ingratitude; the man he calls Governor Carney, Canada being the 51st of the United States in his own reckoning. Trump would subsequently disinvite Carney to the Board of Peace, which he had set up to oversee the US peace plan for the rehabilitation of Gaza. The fight with Carney did not end there. The previous week, PM Carney had visited China, and met President Xi Jinping on 16 January. At their meeting, both leaders reached some agreements on trade tariffs: China would lower levies on Canadian Canola oil from 85 per cent to 15 per cent by March, Canada will tax Chinese EVs at the most favoured nation rate of 6.1 per cent, down from 100 per cent. What has since followed is a threat from President Trump on Truth Social that If Canada makes a deal with China, it will immediately be hit with a 100 per cent tariff against all Canadian goods and products coming into the United States.

President Trump obviously does not like to be upstaged. Carney stealing the show in Davos was perhaps too much for him to bear. Trump had to be the most dominant world leader at the Forum. He was the star guest. Ahead of his visit, there had been protests in Davos and all over Europe over the question of Americas planned acquisition of Greenland, the semi-autonomous region of Denmark, which Trump says is crucial for the strategic security of the United States, and which he threatened to acquire by military force, if need be. Days earlier, Trump had threatened to impose tariffs on European allies, including the United Kingdom, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, France, Germany, the Netherlands, and Finland, if they continued to oppose his plan to annex Greenland. The European leaders, who he had dismissed as weak, were also waiting for him. President Emmanuel Macron threatened that Europe would have no option but to invoke the anti-coercion instrument, the Trade Bazooka, which may harm transatlantic trade, but send a strong signal to Trump and the United States. Ahead of the WEF, eight European countries had sent troops to Greenland in a symbolic evocation of Article 5 of the NATO treaty. Trump was not just upending the global order; he was threatening the NATO alliance. He sent a text message to Norways Prime Minister, Jonas Stoere, to show his annoyance over the refusal to give him the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize. He further threatened to impose a 200 per cent tariff on French wines in a leaked private chat. Europe refused to be intimidated. The people torched American flags. About 300 persons took to the streets of Davos, chanting Trump, not welcome.

When he eventually spoke in Davos  a long speech, full of self-praise, that was more than one-hour long  Trump was far more conciliatory than expected. He backed down from his threat to use military force in Greenland, referring to the framework of a future deal that had been discussed with NATO Chief Mark Rutte in Davos. He would rather build more military bases in Greenland and also a Golden Dome Defence System to protect the US from long-range missile strikes. He abandoned talks of a trade war with Europe, and appeared more open to dialogue. He used the occasion to promote his vision of American exceptionalism and his personal achievements. People are doing very well. Theyre very happy with me The USA is the economic engine on the planet. And when America booms, the entire world booms. Its been the history. Still in Davos, the other major development was the Board of Peace, set up by President Trump to implement his 20-point plan to end Israels war in Gaza, a three-tier governing structure with representatives from around the world. The White House had invited countries and figures around the world to sit on the board, which would be chaired by Trump himself. The invitees are majorly from the US, Europe, Asia and the Middle East. Even the Pope was invited. From Africa, only Egypt and Morocco made it! In November 2025, the United Nations had backed the plan, granting it international legitimacy. But when the signing ceremony was held on the sidelines of the WEF in Davos, fewer than 20 countries signed up. Trump had been saying the Board could replace the United Nations. He would be Chairman of the Board indefinitely. Members will serve for three years, after which they must pay one billion dollars for a permanent seat. The focus will no longer be the rebuilding of Gaza, but to tackle conflicts all over the world. Many countries declined: Britain (concerns about having to sit in the same room with Putin when peace is the subject), France and Norway (concerns about the UN), China (acknowledged the invitation but did not commit), Ukraine (said Russia is an enemy and Belarus is Russias friend). Italy, Ireland and others raised concerns about governance and transparency.

On the whole, there are key lessons to be learnt from the 56th edition of the WEF. The best way to check a bully is to stand up and resist the bullys tactics. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, France, and the United Kingdom resisted US President Trump by being clear and firm about where they stand in the order of things. Solidarity is also important. By bonding together, the European countries were able to show strength, not the weakness that Trump had associated with them. Dialogue is important in resolving tensions. When Europe spoke with one voice, Trump was compelled to listen. The world is for the powerful, not the weak. For Africa to get a front seat at the table, our leaders must learn to be more strategic. They must learn to make power moves, and pay less attention to the tourism value of international engagements and the estacodes that come with such outings. Having one strong ally is not enough. The landscape of global power politics is changing. Africa must cultivate new friends, to strengthen connections in an emerging new international order with a different set of rules.

Reuben Abati, a former presidential spokesperson, writes from Lagos.
Mr Dangotes education endowment aims to reduce barriers to tertiary education for Nigerias poor and vulnerable youth and to support girls education. Over the period 2026-2036, the scholarship programme aimed to reach 1,325,000 vulnerable students in public universities and polytechnics across Nigerias 774 local government areas in the 36 states and the Federal Capital.

The International Day of Education has been celebrated globally on 24th January each year since 2019. The Day focuses on the importance of inclusive, quality and lifelong learning for all, to address the barriers of poverty, gender inequality, and conflict. Nigerians know well the barrier to education faced by millions of young people living in poverty and conflict, and experiencing gender inequality.

The Nigerian governments leadership in bringing down poverty barriers to education is unquestionable. Also unquestionable is the tight fiscal space that Nigeria is currently facing. This no doubt explains the 6.15 per cent allocation to the education sector in Nigerias 2026 budget. This figure of 6.15 per cent translates to 3.6 trillion, which is 8.85 per cent or 5.2 trillion less than UNESCOs recommendation of 15 per cent of public expenditure for the education sector. The 6.15 per cent allocation to the education sector in 2026 is also lower than the 7.82 per cent allocation in the 2025 budget.

How is the allocation to the education sector to be spent in 2026? The 2026 budget lines for the education sector show smaller allocations to sub-lines such as WASH, advocacy and systems strengthening, teaching and learning material and even school safety within the capital budget. The highest percentage of capital funding, by far  58 per cent  is allocated to the school feeding and nutrition programme. This is followed by out-of-school and special needs children at 14 per cent of the capital budget, two priority areas of government.

Against the background of the countrys tight fiscal space and to address the anticipated 2026 funding gap for the education sector, in December 2025, the Nigeria Education Forum (NEF) of the Nigerian Governors Forum, called for new sources of complementary funding from the private sector, philanthropists, development partners and state governments. Aliko Dangote, Africas richest man, appears to have answered the NEFs call for complementary funding with the 11th December launch of the STEM Scholarship and Girls Education Programme in Lagos State. At the launch, Mr Dangote committed to a 1 trillion ($688 million) 10-year endowment for education.

Mr Dangotes education endowment aims to reduce barriers to tertiary education for Nigerias poor and vulnerable youth and to support girls education. Over the period 2026-2036, the scholarship programme aimed to reach 1,325,000 vulnerable students in public universities and polytechnics across Nigerias 774 local government areas in the 36 states and the Federal Capital.

Dangotes generous and unprecedented investment in Nigerias youth is coming at a critical juncture, as USAIDs defunding of development and humanitarian programmes in Nigeria has left a significant gap in the countrys education funding landscape. While active World Bank education loans, credits and associated grants to Nigeria are important and are adding value, with current estimates to be around $3.25 billion, the Nigerian governments commitment to mobilising resources domestically remains an actionable strategy, given the number of wealthy and committed Nigerians in banking, industry, tech, the oil sector and the creatives economy, both in Nigeria and abroad, ready, willing and already supporting schools in their communities.

To pool more domestic philanthropic financing, there is a dire need for a new strategic framework to provide assurances and an institutional template for the education sectors sustainable financing. It is also critical to coordinate and align domestic philanthropic financing with resources from government, donors, and the lending arms of International Financing Corporations, in one harmonised multi-revenue-resourced financing plan. Against this background, the Dangote award emerges as an important test case, coming under the searchlight of an entire education community in Africa, seeking to learn how public-private partnerships address resource gaps and advance human capital development.

Judith-Ann Walker is the executive director of the development Research and Projects Centre (dRPC).
Katsina State Governor and Chairperson of the North West Governors Forum, Dikko Umaru Radda, has congratulated the Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, on his decision to join the All Progressives Congress (APC), describing the move as a major boost to political stability, unity and development in the North West.

Governor Radda said the defection showed statesmanship and courage, noting that it placed the collective interest of the people above partisan considerations at a time when stronger collaboration with the Federal Government is needed to tackle security, economic and social challenges in the region.

The decision of His Excellency, Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, to join the APC is a demonstration of responsible leadership and a strategic step towards deepening cooperation with the Federal Government and advancing the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the benefit of Kano State and the entire North West, Governor Radda stated.

He welcomed the decision of members of the Kano State Executive Council, the State House of Assembly, National Assembly members and local government chairmen to also join the APC, describing it as a strong signal of political stability, unity of purpose and shared commitment to development in the state.

Mr Radda noted that Kano State occupies a central position in the political, economic and demographic landscape of the North West, adding that Governor Yusufs entry into the APC, alongside other key stakeholders, would further strengthen regional cohesion, policy coordination and collective action among the states.

He commended Mr Yusufs emphasis on unity, inclusive governance and development, stressing that the North West must present a common front to effectively tackle insecurity, expand infrastructure, stimulate economic growth and improve the welfare of the people.

According to him, the political realignment will enhance the implementation of the Renewed Hope Agenda in critical areas such as security cooperation, agricultural transformation, industrialisation and youth empowerment.

He added that the development would also promote stronger intergovernmental relations, improve access to federal programmes and investments, and create a more harmonious political environment necessary for sustainable development.

Leadership demands the courage to take decisions in the long-term interest of the people. Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf has demonstrated this by placing peace, stability and progress above all other considerations, Governor Radda said.

The Katsina State Governor expressed confidence that the experience, popularity and political influence of Governor Yusuf would further strengthen the APC in Kano State and contribute positively to peace, stability and development across the North West.

On behalf of the North West Governors Forum, Governor Radda congratulated Governor Yusuf and assured him of the full support and cooperation of his colleagues across the region and the country, while wishing him wisdom, strength and success in his leadership, he concluded.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Akwa Ibom State held a strategic stakeholders meeting on Monday, 26 January, in Uyo, as leaders reaffirmed their commitment to the partys rebirth and rebuilding.

The Caretaker Chairman of the PDP in Akwa Ibom, Iquat Umoren, thanked the stakeholders for keeping faith with the party despite the current happenings, noting that the stakeholders meeting was part of the partys strategic plan to commence its rebirth and rebuilding.

We are here to prepare our strategy for the year. It is time for us to go into the communities. It is clear that we all have political value; that is why they want us, Mr Umoren, a lawyer, stated while assuring that the PDP in the state will bounce back under his leadership.

Dont let anyone lie to you. The PDP is very strong in Akwa Ibom. That is why, despite all the people they claim they have, they are still afraid and are still coming after those of us who are remaining in PDP. Together, we will work, rebuild this party and reclaim our mandate in 2027.

Ini Emembong, the PDP national publicity secretary, flew in from Abuja to attend the meeting.

Mr Ememobong, a lawyer, admitted that the PDP was currently undergoing a test, but urged members not to be bothered about who was leaving or joining the PDP, as the party will continue to thrive.

I want to charge you all to brace up because they will test you. I can assure you that they will come to buy you, but the question is, how much will you be worth?

Speaking on the multiple lawsuits involving the PDP, Mr Ememobong assured that the cases will soon be heard, expressing the confidence that the judgements will be in favour of the party following judicial precedents in cases of similar nature.

I can assure you that we have reached the bottom of the valley. From here on, it is a movement up. I can assure you that PDP is coming back strong in Nigeria. Whether it will come back strong in Akwa Ibom will depend on us, he added.

Ex-federal lawmaker Onofiok Luke speaks

A former member of the House of Representatives, Onofiok Luke, extolled members for their steadfastness.

I want to commend everyone of us for keeping faith with the party. I am happy that you all have remained committed and faithful to the PDP.

My belief is that those who have left the PDP have their reasons, and it is their right, and I will not speak about them. However, I want those in the other party to allow us remain in our party. Let them allow us to exercise our rights and freedom of association to remain in our party the same way we have respected their rights and freedom to move from one party to another, Mr Luke, a lawyer, said.

This party has given me all my political platforms, from governors aide to state legislature, and speaker (Akwa Ibom House of Assembly) and thereafter federal lawmaker. So, if this same party is in its trying times, good conscience forbids that I abandon it. I will rather remain and rebuild the party, trusting the word of God in John 12:24, which says, Verily, verily, I say unto you, except a corn of wheat falls into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it dies, it bringeth forth much fruit.

The former lawmaker continued: In Job 14:7-9, the scripture assures us that for there is hope for a tree, if it is cut down, that it will sprout again, and that the tender branch will not cease. Though its root may grow old in the earth, and its stump may die in the ground, yet at the scent of water it will bud and bring forth branches like a plant. This party shall rise and flourish again, Mr Luke said to other stakeholders and members.

In their separate remarks, a former chairman of the PDP in Akwa Ibom, Uwem Ita Etuk, the PDP chieftains, Tony Esu, Chris Abasieyo and other PDP stakeholders in the state urged members to go back to their communities and embark on robust mobilisation, noting that the PDP was still the most popular party in villages across the state.

The highlight of the meeting was the constitution of the Akwa Ibom PDP Elders Forum, with Mr Etuk as chairman, Mr Esu as deputy chairman, and Mr Abasieyo and Adasi Obolum as members.
Photo: https://t.me/V_Zelenskiy_official

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy held a telephone conversation with Austrian Chancellor Christian Stocker, whom he invited to Ukraine, and discussed the energy situation with him.

I invited the Chancellor to visit Ukraine so that we can continue our dialogue in person, Zelenskyy said on X Tuesday.

The President also thanked Austria for its financial assistance last week in support of the Ukrainian energy sector. During the conversation, the parties also discussed other ways to support Ukraines energy system.

I also informed the Chancellor about the trilateral meetings of the Ukrainian, American, and Russian delegations that took place in the UAE last week. The parties primarily discussed military issues, but they also talked about security guarantees. Ukraines accession to the European Union is one of the key security guarantees not only for us, but also for all of Europe. After all, Europes collective strength is possible, in particular, thanks to Ukraines security, technological, and economic contributions, the head of state noted.

According to him, this is precisely why we are talking about a specific date  2027  and Ukraine is counting on support from its partners for this position.
The Federal University of Environment and Technology (FUET), Koroma/Saakpenwa, Rivers, says no fewer than 1,004 students will be admitted during its maiden matriculation ceremony scheduled for 3 February.

The pioneer Vice-Chancellor of FUET, Prince Mmom, disclosed this on Tuesday during a news conference at the university campus in Koroma/Saakpenwa, Tai Local Government Area of Rivers.

The university was established on 3 February 2025, as part of the conditions for the planned resumption of oil exploration in Ogoniland, nearly 33 years after operations were suspended due to unrest.

Mr Mmom said the students would be admitted to various academic programmes, marking the formal academic take-off of the institution.

According to him, the students will be matriculated into 28 departments across six faculties: Agriculture, Allied Health Sciences, Engineering Technology, Environmental Sciences, Natural and Applied Sciences, and Management Technology.

The event will feature the unveiling of a statue at the front of the FUET auditorium in honour of the late Ogoni environmental and rights activist, Ken Saro-Wiwa.

We will also host a Founders Day lecture and the presentation of a N5 billion endowment fund to drive research and development in the university, he said.

Mr Mmom said that within its first year, the university had recorded notable milestones, including ongoing infrastructural development, commencement of academic activities and the admission of students, among others.

He described FUET as a specialised institution designed to become a world-class centre of excellence in environmental restoration, sustainable development and technological innovation.

FUET was established with a clear mandate to advance knowledge, foster innovation, and develop practical solutions in environmental science, technology, sustainable development, and community and stakeholder engagement.

By signing the Ogoni Bill of Rights, which established FUET on February 3, 2025, the federal government reaffirmed its commitment to driving development in Ogoniland, he said

According to the vice-chancellor, the university will promote translational research with direct impact on communities, Ogoniland and the wider Niger Delta region.

He said that the university would also focus on ecosystem regeneration, environmental justice partnerships and the production of skilled graduates capable of addressing contemporary environmental challenges.

Mr Mmom, however, highlighted key challenges facing the institution, including the lack of residential accommodation for staff and the vice chancellor.

FUET Governing Council and Management are yet to receive take-off allocations, grants or donations from the federal government, Rivers State Government or development partners.

We also require stable electricity, buses, additional lecture theatres, office blocks, laboratories and libraries to deliver quality teaching and research effectively, he said.

(NAN)
Residents of Lagos waterfront communities are set to stage a protest on Wednesday against ongoing demolitions and forced evictions after the Lagos State Police Command rejected their notification of the rally.

In a notice shared with PREMIUM TIMES on Tuesday, the Coalition Against Demolition, Forced Eviction, Land Grabbing, and Displacement said the demonstration would begin at 7:00 a.m. on Wednesday at Ikeja Underbridge, stressing that the protest will proceed despite the police stance.

The Lagos State Police Command has yet to issue any statement regarding its decision, leaving organisers and residents uncertain about potential police intervention.

Traders at Owode Onirin spare parts market and residents of Ajegunle are among those reportedly facing eviction, with organisers alleging that the demolitions are part of a broader effort by the state government and private interests to acquire land for hotels and luxury residential developments.

Falana accuses Lagos Government of violating court orders

Human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Femi Falana, has accused the Lagos State Government of ignoring multiple court orders protecting residents homes in waterfront communities.

In a statement, he said the demolitions violate several High Court and Supreme Court rulings, including a 22 June 2017 Lagos State High Court judgment that declared previous government-ordered evictions unlawful and awarded N3.5 million in damages to affected families.

Mr Falana also cited a 25 August 2025 Federal High Court ruling restraining the Lagos State Government, its agencies, and the Nigeria Police Force from carrying out demolitions in Makoko, Oko-Agbon, Sogunro, and Iwaya waterfront settlements.

He said the ruling aimed to protect an estimated 270,000 residents from displacement without adequate resettlement.

According to Mr Falana, Lagos States actions also contravene a Supreme Court ruling in 2024 in the dispute between the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) and the state government, which affirmed the Federal Governments exclusive authority over navigable inland waters.

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu must comply with all valid and subsisting court orders, Mr Falana said, citing the Supreme Courts decision in Military Governor of Lagos State v. Chief Emeka Ojukwu, which underscored that no government is above the law.

Government defends demolitions

The Lagos State Government has defended its demolition exercise, describing it as necessary to protect lives, public infrastructure, and the environment. State officials have said that buildings along critical waterways and under high-tension power lines pose safety risks.

State officials made the defence during discussions on Ask Lagos, a weekly X-space forum organised to engage residents.

The Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotoso, said the law requires buildings to maintain prescribed setbacks, warning that accidents involving live cables or waterways could lead to large-scale disasters.

Olajide Babatunde, Special Adviser on e-GIS and Urban Development, said the demolitions form part of a broader urban regeneration plan to enforce planning standards and make Lagos a more resilient city.

Call to action

Civil society organisations and community groups have condemned the demolitions as anti-poor, arguing they were carried out without adequate consultation, compensation, or resettlement.

Rights groups have reported deaths and displacement linked to the exercise, although the Lagos State Government has disputed these figures.

The coalition organising the protest said residents must unite to defend their communities.

The people of Lagos deserve to live without fear of displacement or forced eviction, it said.
DALLAS, Jan. 27, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Comerica Bank will hold its 11th annual North Texas Prom Dress Drive in February. New or gently used, cleaned formal dresses and accessories (shoes, purses and jewelry) can be dropped off at seven participating banking centers. Donations will support local teens served by Boys & Girls Clubs of Collin County, Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Dallas and Dallas CASA, helping those who may not otherwise be able to afford formal attire for prom.

Comerica Bank will hold its 11th annual North Texas Prom Dress Drive throughout February. New or gently used, cleaned formal dresses and accessories (shoes, purses and jewelry) can be dropped off at seven participating banking centers that will benefit local teens served by Boys & Girls Clubs of Collin County, Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Dallas and Dallas CASA.

This year's drive begins on Monday, Feb. 2. Donations at Mockingbird-Abrams, NorthPark and Parker-Premier banking centers will be accepted through noon on Saturday, Feb. 28. The last day to donate for the other locations is by 5 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 27.

Drop-off Locations

Hours: 9 a.m.-5 p.m. (Mon-Fri) and 9 a.m.-Noon (Sat, select locations)

Chapel Hill-Tollway: 2560 Dallas Parkway; Plano

2560 Dallas Parkway; Plano Forest-Inwood: 5200 Forest Lane; Dallas

5200 Forest Lane; Dallas Lovers Lane-Devonshire: 5647 W. Lovers Lane; Dallas

5647 W. Lovers Lane; Dallas Mockingbird- Abrams*: 6260 E. Mockingbird; Dallas

6260 E. Mockingbird; Dallas NorthPark*: 8850 Boedeker Street; Dallas

8850 Boedeker Street; Dallas Parker-Premier* : 3310 Premier Drive; Plano

: 3310 Premier Drive; Plano Preston John Hickman 4111 Preston Road; Frisco

* Locations with Saturday drop-off hours.

Project Beauty will again serve as the official drive partner, collecting dresses, donating beauty swag bags, and providing a complimentary prom-night makeover, including hair and makeup, to one teen from each benefitting agency.

In March, Comerica volunteers play a key role in setting up each nonprofit's prom boutique and assisting teens during the public dress distribution events.

Since 2015, Comerica has donated 7,390 dresses, including 800 in 2025, to Dallas CASA and Boys & Girls Clubs of Collin County and Greater Dallas.

For more information, visit comerica.com/promdress.

About Comerica Bank

Comerica Bank, a subsidiary of Comerica Incorporated (NYSE: CMA), is a financial services company headquartered in Dallas, Texas, and strategically aligned by three business segments: The Commercial Bank, The Retail Bank and Wealth Management. Comerica, one of the 25 largest commercial U.S. financial holding companies, provides banking centers across the country with locations in Arizona, California, Florida, Michigan and Texas. Comerica reported total assets of $80.1 billion at Dec. 31, 2025.

About Boys & Girls Clubs of Collin County

For more than 55 years, Boys & Girls Clubs of Collin County (BGCCC) has provided a safe place for kids and teens to learn and grow. Our Clubs offer caring adult mentors, fun and friendship, and high-impact youth development programs on a daily basis during critical non-school hours. BGCCC impacts over 15,000 young people annually at Club locations in McKinney, Plano, Frisco, and Princeton. For more information, visit www.bgccc.org.

About Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Dallas

For over 60 years, Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Dallas has provided life-changing services to more than a quarter of a million youth in Dallas and surrounding areas. BGCD's mission is to enable all young people, especially those who need it most, to reach their full potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens. Programming in three core areas meets the diverse needs and interests of more than 6,000 Club members, ages 6-18. These core areas include academic success, good character and citizenship, and healthy lifestyles. For more information, please visit .

About Dallas CASA

Dallas CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) seeks to protect children, restore childhood and help child victims of abuse or neglect achieve their full potential. The agency's trained and supervised community volunteers are assigned by judges to advocate for the best interests of children who have experienced abuse or neglect and are living in the protective care of the state. For many children in foster care, their Dallas CASA volunteer is the only consistent, caring adult in their lives during a frightening, uncertain time. Dallas CASA envisions a day when all children experience safe childhoods and grow into resourceful, healthy adults. Now in its 46th year, Dallas CASA serves more children than any of the more than 900 CASA programs nationwide. Since 2019, Dallas CASA has accepted 100% of court appointments in Dallas County child welfare cases. In 2025, 1,116 Dallas CASA volunteers were assigned to advocate for 2,340 children in protective care. To learn more, visit dallascasa.org.

SOURCE Comerica Bank
In the news release, 7-Eleven, Inc. Selects Purpose-led Emerging Brands for 2026 Brands with Heart Showcase, issued 27-Jan-2026 by 7-Eleven, Inc. over PR Newswire, we are advised by the company that changes have been made. The complete, corrected release follows, with additional details at the end:

7-Eleven, Inc. Selects Standout Emerging Brands for 2026 Brands with Heart Showcase

IRVING, Texas, Jan. 27, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- 7-Eleven, Inc. named 26 emerging brands to participate in its 2026 Brands with Heart showcase, an initiative that celebrates innovation and the next generation of consumer products. Entering its seventh year, the program connects early-stage brands with new retail opportunities and offers the potential for expanded distribution across 7-Eleven, Speedway and Stripes locations throughout the United States.

7-Eleven, Inc. Selects Purpose-led Emerging Brands for 2026 Brands with Heart Showcase (PRNewsfoto/7-Eleven, Inc.)

The 2026 participants were selected from a pool of more than 700 applicants through a competitive review process led by the retailer's 7-Ventures & Emerging Brands team. This year's cohort reflects the company's continued focus on brands that offer clear differentiation and strong consumer appeal.

Leading up to the Brands with Heart showcase, finalists joined a series of virtual sessions to gain insights into 7-Eleven's retail ecosystem. During the showcase, held at the 7-Eleven Store Support Center in Irving, Texas, founders had the opportunity to have their products sampled, participated in one-on-one pitch meetings with category teams and engaged in educational discussions focused on merchandising strategy and scaling within convenience retail.

Following the showcase, select Brands with Heart participants will be invited to launch regional in-store tests beginning in the first half of the year, providing an opportunity to further evaluate performance and consumer response.

"At 7-Eleven, we see emerging brands as a key driver of what's next in convenience retail," said Jesus Delgado-Jenkins, Executive Vice President and Chief Merchandising Officer at 7-Eleven. "Programs like Brands with Heart allow us to partner with entrepreneurs who are rethinking products and business models in ways that resonate with today's customers."

Each brand selected for the 2026 program brings a clear sense of differentiation, whether through functional ingredients, unique formulations, packaging innovation or brand storytelling  helping them stand out in a crowded marketplace.

Learn more about the 2026 Brands with Heart participants below:

Focus Fuel - Energy Gummies that offer clean, portable energy featuring natural caffeine and nootropics, designed for focus and convenience.

Hormbles Chrombles - High-protein, zero sugar candy bars with crunchy cores, delivering indulgent texture with functional nutrition.

Smash Foods - Jam-packed, superfood protein bites sweetened with dates.

2026 Brands with Heart participants include:

About 7-Eleven, Inc.

7-Eleven, Inc. is the premier name in the U.S. convenience-retailing industry. Based in Irving, Texas, 7-Eleven operates, franchises and/or licenses more than 13,000 stores in the U.S. and Canada. In addition to 7-Eleven stores, 7-Eleven, Inc. operates and franchises Speedway, Stripes, Laredo Taco Company and Raise the Roost Chicken and Biscuits locations. Known for its iconic brands such as Slurpee, Big Bite and Big Gulp, 7-Eleven offers customers fresh, high-quality and convenient food options like sandwiches, salads, side dishes, cut fruit and protein boxes, as well as pizza, chicken wings and mini beef tacos. 7-Eleven also offers customers industry-leading packaged products at an outstanding value with its 7-Select private brand. Customers can earn and redeem points on various items in stores nationwide through its 7Rewards and Speedy Rewards loyalty programs, which have more than 100 million members. Customers can also place an order in the 7NOW delivery app with real-time tracking and delivery typically in about 30 minutes, subject to driver availability, weather and traffic conditions. Find out more online at www.7-eleven.com.

CONTACT: 7-Eleven, Inc.

Corporate Communications

[email protected]

Correction: The press release has been updated for accuracy.

SOURCE 7-Eleven, Inc.
LAS VEGAS, Jan. 27, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Benson & Bingham Accident Injury Lawyers, LLC (known as Benson & Bingham Injury Law) is proud to announce that experienced attorney Douglas R. Brown, Esq. has joined the firm, effective January 15. A former U.S. Marine with a distinguished background in civil litigation and insurance defense, Mr. Brown brings over 20+ years of legal experience to Benson & Bingham Injury Law's personal injury practice.

Benson & Bingham Accident Injury Lawyers, LLC Welcomes Veteran Litigator Douglas R. Brown to the Team

Mr. Brown's arrival marks a strategic expansion for the firm. Having spent a significant portion of his career in insurance defenseincluding his tenure as a member of the Association of Defense Counsel of NevadaMr. Brown possesses a unique "insider" perspective on how insurance companies evaluate and litigate claims. He now leverages that tactical insight for the benefit of Benson & Bingham and to fight for the rights of injury victims the firm represents.

"We are thrilled to have Doug join our team," said Joseph L. Benson II, Esq., Partner at Benson & Bingham. "I've known Doug for quite some time, dating back to our days at Wooster High School. His discipline as a Marine, combined with his deep understanding of defense strategies, makes him a formidable advocate for our clients. He knows exactly how the other side thinks, and that is an invaluable asset in personal injury litigation."

About Douglas R. Brown, Esq.

Born in Junction City, Kansas, Mr. Brown has deep ties to Nevada. He served in the United States Marine Corps from 1989 to 1993 before pursuing greater education. He earned his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of Nevada-Las Vegas (UNLV) in 1997 and his Juris Doctor from the McGeorge School of Law, University of the Pacific, in 2001.

Mr. Brown's legal pedigree includes serving as a legal extern to the Honorable Howard D. McKibben (1998) and as a law clerk to the Honorable William A. Maddox of the First Judicial District Court of the State of Nevada (2001-2002). He was admitted to the Nevada State Bar in 2001.

Prior to joining Benson & Bingham, Mr. Brown was a partner and shareholder at Lemons, Grundy & Eisenberg, where he honed his skills in complex civil litigation. He has also gained considerable jury trial experience throughout his legal career with over a dozen jury trials and numerous arbitrations and mediations.

Mr. Brown is an active member of the legal community, including memberships with the Washoe County Bar Association, the American Bar Association, and the American Inns of Court (Bruce R. Thompson Chapter). He is also the founder and current director of a non-profit dedicated to improving access to public lands called Trucker River Public Waters.

Reflecting his elite professional legal standing, Mr. Brown holds the prestigious AV Preeminent rating from Martindale-Hubbell, the gold standard in attorney peer review for ethical conduct and legal ability.

About Benson & Bingham Accident Injury Lawyers, LLC

Benson & Bingham is a premier personal injury law firm serving Nevada with offices in Las Vegas, Henderson, Summerlin, Reno, and Carson City. Dedicated to protecting the rights of accident and injury victims, the firm handles cases involving motor vehicle accidents , workers' compensation, medical malpractice, premises liability, and wrongful death, among other areas of practice. With over $600 million recovered for clients , Benson & Bingham is committed to providing aggressive representation and compassionate client service.

For media inquiries, contact (702) 382-9797 or visit bensonbingham.com.

Benson & Bingham Accident Injury Lawyers, LLC

Downtown Location

626 S 10th St., Las Vegas, NV 89101

Phone: 702-382-9797

Fax: 702-382-9798

Email: [email protected]

Summerlin Location

11441 Allerton Park Dr #100, Las Vegas, NV 89135

Phone: 702-684-6900

Fax: 702-382-9798

Henderson Location

9230 S Eastern Ave #155, Las Vegas, NV 89123

Phone: 702-463-2900

Fax: 702-382-9798

Reno Location

1320 E Plumb Lane Ste A, Reno, NV 89502

Phone: 775-600-6000

Fax: 702-382-9798

Carson City Location

4530 S Carson St #4, Carson City, NV 89701

Phone: 775-297-3392

Fax: 702-382-9798

SOURCE Benson & Bingham Accident Injury Lawyers
The National Police of Ukraine reports the exposure of a group of criminals in the Chernivtsi region who organized a scheme to pass theoretical driving exams using spy equipment

"Mini-cameras on clothes and headphones in the ear: this method of passing exams on traffic rules was offered to so-called clients by criminals from the Chernivtsi region. They acted according to a clear, well-established algorithm, where everyone was responsible for their part of the work," the report on the departments website said on Tuesday.

As reported, one of the defendants, through personal contacts, looked for people who could not independently pass the theoretical exam at the driving test, and offered them full support during the testing. He assured the clients of the success of the scheme and upon completion received a fee from them, which he transferred to the organizer for distribution

Another businessman was responsible for the technical side. Immediately before the exam, he installed a hidden video camera disguised as a button, an item of clothing or an accessory, as well as a miniature wireless earphone, which were practically impossible to notice during a visual inspection. The inventive attacker made all the spy equipment himself, adapting it to different clothes.

"During the exam, the video signal was transmitted in real time to the fourth defendant, who was outside the examination room. Having gained access to the test tasks, he quickly selected the correct answer and transmitted it to the clients via hidden means of communication," the report says.

After a successful transaction, the money was divided among themselves. $1,500 was taken from one client, and they worked in two regions at once - Khmelnytski and Chernivtsi.

Law enforcement officers documented several episodes of the groups illegal activities. The attackers were detained.

A series of authorized searches were conducted on the suspects, as a result of which equipment for the production of special equipment, ready-made devices and 18 sets of equipped clothing, cash and other evidence of illegal activity were discovered and seized.

Currently, four perpetrators have already been charged under Part 2 of Article 359 (Illegal acquisition, sale or use of special technical means of obtaining information) of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. The sanction of the incriminated article provides for a penalty of
IRVINE, Calif., Jan. 27, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Conexus is excited to kick off 2026 with a thoughtful yet aggressive organic growth strategy, expanding into three new markets beyond its current West Coast footprint while continuing to serve clients nationally. The first of these markets is Salt Lake City - an expanding and dynamic business environment that strongly aligns with Conexus' long-term vision.

"Private equity sponsors and entrepreneurs are increasingly drawn to Salt Lake City for its favorable business climate, strong cash-flow businesses, tax efficiency, and deep talent pool - making it a hotbed for scalable, high-growth companies," said Mike Kelly, Managing Partner of Conexus. "At the same time, the needs we're addressing here mirror what we see across the U.S., and this expansion further strengthens our ability to support clients wherever they operate."

To lead this market launch, Conexus is proud to welcome Alessandro Cozzi, a seasoned executive with more than 20 years of experience spanning finance, accounting, mergers and acquisitions, corporate strategy, and artificial intelligence. Alessandro will partner with clients across the United States, working with both regionally based and multi-location organizations.

Alessandro specializes in both interim and permanent placements across Finance, Accounting, Human Resources, and Technology, partnering closely with clients to deliver high-impact talent aligned with strategic business objectives - whether supporting local market initiatives or enterprise-wide transformations.

Prior to joining Conexus, Alessandro served as a Director at Korn Ferry, where he successfully opened and scaled the firm's Utah and West Coast interim and temporary consulting practice. In that role, he placed senior-level finance and accounting leaders across a broad range of initiatives for clients operating nationally and globally.

Earlier in his career, Alessandro held senior leadership roles in corporate development and M&A, working with global organizations and private equity investors to support more than $6 billion in growth and value creation across the United States and Europe. He began his career at Deloitte, advancing from audit into transaction advisory and M&A.

The expansion into Salt Lake City marks a significant milestone for Conexus as it continues to invest in high-growth markets, elite talent, and best-in-class service for clients across the Office of the CFO and beyond - wherever their businesses are headquartered or expanding next.

Alessandro Cozzi

Partner

E: [email protected]

O: 801-762-8293

C: 214-215-5717

Conexus is a national consulting and recruiting firm specializing in the Office of the CFO. Headquartered in Southern California and expanding rapidly across key U.S. markets, Conexus provides interim consulting, advisory, direct hire, and executive search solutions in finance and accounting, technology, and human resources.

In 2025 alone, the firm completed 300+ executive and direct hire searches and supported clients with 600+ interim and advisory engagements, with more than 250 consultants actively deployed nationwide.

Mid Ocean Partners invested in Conexus in January of 2024. MidOcean Partners is a longtime investor in human capital businesses with Conexus representing MidOcean's fifth investment in the space. Within the human capital sector, MidOcean focuses on end markets with clear secular growth trends, and Conexus falls squarely within this thesis.

SOURCE Conexus Recruiting
ATLANTA, Jan. 26, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Crest Holdings Group LLC, a consulting and holding company headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, today announced the leadership background and long-term vision of its Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Antwain Baker.

Mr. Baker brings hands-on experience across business operations, consulting, transportation, logistics, and service-based enterprises. Throughout his career, he has focused on building structured organizations designed for accountability, operational efficiency, and sustainable growth.

As Founder and CEO, Mr. Baker oversees the strategic direction of Crest Holdings Group LLC, guiding the company's consulting platform and long-term development initiatives. His leadership philosophy emphasizes disciplined execution, clear organizational structure, and long-term value creation.

"My vision for Crest Holdings Group is to build a company rooted in structure, integrity, and forward planning," said Antwain Baker. "We aim to support businesses by helping them strengthen foundations, improve operations, and prepare for scalable growth."

Crest Holdings Group LLC operates as a management and advisory firm focused on business consulting, strategic planning, and executive support services. The company works with entrepreneurs and organizations seeking clarity, structure, and long-term sustainability.

Looking ahead, Crest Holdings Group LLC plans to continue expanding its consulting framework, strengthening internal governance, and developing strategic initiatives aligned with long-term enterprise growth.

The company is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia and serves clients throughout the Southeast region.

For more information, visit:

https://crestholdingsgroups.com

Media Contact:

Crest Holdings Group LLC

Atlanta, Georgia

Email: [email protected]

Website: https://crestholdingsgroups.com

SOURCE Crest Holdings Groups LLC
JINHUA, China, Jan. 27, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- DMEGC Solar, a global top 5 solar module manufacturer according to Wood Mackenzie, is also a listed subsidiary of Hengdian Group, one of China's largest private enterprises. The company has supported Hengdian Wenrong Hospital, the largest medical facility in its region, in its transition to renewable energy with the commissioning of a 1.2 MW distributed solar power system. The installation is now operational across the hospital's rooftops and as integrated solar carports, delivering environmental and economic benefits through advanced photovoltaic technology.

DMEGC Solar Powers Largest Local Hospital's Switch to Solar Energy

The project, which uses DMEGC's highefficiency bifacial dualglass 635W modules built on Ntype cell architecture, is expected to generate about 1.32 million kWh of clean electricity annually. Over the system's 30year lifetime, total production is forecast to reach 39.6 million kWh, significantly reducing the hospital's grid dependence and operational costs.

Environmental gains are equally notable. The solar installation will cut the hospital's carbon emissions by an estimated 754 metric tons each yearequivalent to planting 29,000 treesdirectly contributing to China's national "Dual Carbon" objectives of carbon peak and neutrality.

This project illustrates how solar energy can be seamlessly integrated into critical infrastructure, a DMEGC Solar representative noted. By combining rooftop and carport applications, DMEGC Solar helps institutions like Hengdian Wenrong Hospital lower energy expenses, expand functional space, and meet their sustainability commitments.

The solarcanopy carports provide covered parking for staff and visitors while optimizing previously unused areas. Under a "selfgeneration, surplustogrid" model, the hospital consumes most of the solar power onsite, with any excess electricity supplied to the local grid.

The project highlights the growing adoption of distributed solar solutions in China's healthcare sector, where reducing longterm energy costs and demonstrating environmental leadership are becoming key operational priorities.

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2869289/DMEGC_Solar_Powers_Largest_Local_Hospital_s_Switch_to_Solar_Energy.jpg
New York State Department of Health's New Wadsworth Center Laboratory to Enhance State's Readiness to Respond to Public Health Crises

NEW YORK, Jan. 27, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Construction is officially underway on the planned $1.7 billion, state-of-the-art public health laboratory that will transform New York's ability to detect, prevent, and respond to emerging public health threats. Construction is being delivered through a design-build contract led by the joint venture of Gilbane Building and Turner Construction Company, with design partner HOK. The new building will begin full operations by 2030.

The new Wadsworth Center facility will consolidate five unconnected sites across the Greater Albany area into a single, modern campus, strengthening the State's capacity to respond to future public health challenges, support the next generation of scientists, and foster collaboration with partners across the country. Since 1901, the Wadsworth Center has grown into the largest and most diverse state public health laboratory in the nation. The design-build team's design for the new laboratory shows a five-story, 663,000 gross square foot laboratory.

"The new Wadsworth Center Laboratory is a powerful investment in the health of every person in New York State," Governor Kathy Hochul said. "The lab will allow the State to better predict and prepare for emerging threats to public health and will be one of the most authoritative public health laboratories in the country, impacting public health policy and practice at the state, national and international level."

New York State Department of Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald said, "The Department of Health's new Wadsworth Center Laboratory is testament to Governor Hochul's commitment to protecting public health by keeping New York State at the forefront of advancements in disease surveillance. This facility will help us ensure our nation-leading public health research laboratory remains on the cutting edge of biomedical and environmental research critical to protecting public health."

Dormitory Authority of the State of New York President and CEO Robert J. Rodriguez said, "DASNY is proud to deliver this transformational $1.7 billion project for the Department of Health. As the state's construction and financing authority, we are committed to building infrastructure that serves New Yorkers for generations to come. This represents one of the most significant public health laboratory projects in the nation, and our team is working closely with our design-build partners to ensure the Wadsworth Center receives a world-class facility worthy of its renowned scientific mission. We thank Governor Hochul for her vision and commitment to this critical investment in New York's public health infrastructure."

"Gilbane is honored to team with Turner and HOK to advance New York's public health preparedness," said John LaRow, senior vice president, Gilbane Building. "We look forward to working with our team of building and design experts and partnering with the Hochul administration to deliver the state-of-the-art public health facility that New York deserves."

"We are proud to partner with the State of New York as well as Gilbane, HOK, and the trade partners on this world-class facility that will help protect and improve the health of the people of New York," said Carl Stewart III, vice president and general manager, Turner. "It is so incredibly rewarding to collaborate on a project enhancing New York's capabilities to efficiently and effectively prepare for and respond to public health matters."

"Public health laboratories must be nimble enough to tackle the next unknown threat while supporting day-to-day surveillance," said David Schwartz, AIA, HOK's director of Science + Technology in New York. "By consolidating five legacy sites into a flexible, fully electric facility with robust sequencing infrastructure, we're creating a resilient workplace that will serve New Yorkers for decades."

Today, the Wadsworth Center stands at the forefront of innovation, protecting the health of New Yorkers and communities even far beyond the State's borders. The Center is recognized by the CDC and other federal agencies as a national reference center for a wide range of infectious diseases, environmental hazards, and toxicological threats.

To be located on the W. Averell Harriman Campus in Albany, the Wadsworth Center will foster an even closer collaboration with the nearby SUNY University at Albany campus, building on academic partnerships that date back to the mid-1980s, as well as with the adjacent New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets Food Laboratory. The laboratory will house nearly 800 staff and is being designed to adapt to evolving needs over its lifetime, with a strong emphasis on energy, efficiency, and sustainability.

The Wadsworth Center leads a wide array of nation-leading programs that have made New York a model for public health laboratories nationwide. Together, these programs have driven innovation, strengthened preparedness, and safeguarded communities from emerging threats.

Public Health Emergency Response: Led detection and surveillance of the 2022 poliovirus outbreak, including identification of the first U.S. case of paralytic polio.

Led detection and surveillance of the 2022 poliovirus outbreak, including identification of the first U.S. case of paralytic polio. Wastewater Surveillance and Diagnostics: Serves as New York State's primary wastewater surveillance laboratory for the detection of emerging pathogens and antimicrobial resistance.

Serves as New York State's primary wastewater surveillance laboratory for the detection of emerging pathogens and antimicrobial resistance. Environmental Health Leadership: Functions as the State's lead Safe Drinking Water Act laboratory and a national leader in detection, monitoring, and reporting.

Functions as the State's lead Safe Drinking Water Act laboratory and a national leader in detection, monitoring, and reporting. Innovative Diagnostic Testing Pipelines: The Center's diagnostic developments outpace the CDC in areas of testing for tuberculosis, Mpox, and influenza.

The Center's diagnostic developments outpace the CDC in areas of testing for tuberculosis, Mpox, and influenza. Newborn Screening Program: Advances the screening of newborns for more than 210,000 babies annually for 50+ disorders, enabling early diagnosis and life-saving care.

Advances the screening of newborns for more than 210,000 babies annually for 50+ disorders, enabling early diagnosis and life-saving care. Regulatory and Oversight Programs: Sets and enforces rigorous statewide laboratory standards, exceeding federal requirements and serving as a national model.

The Wadsworth Center celebrates its 125th anniversary this year. The new laboratory will carry this proud legacy forward, ensuring the Wadsworth Center remains a world-class public health institution serving New York State and beyond for generations to come.

SOURCE Gilbane Building Company
EY's Headline Partnership Grows as BRS26 Agenda is Announced

HAMILTON, Bermuda, Jan. 27, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The Bermuda Business Development Agency (BDA) is pleased to announce that Gregory Daco, Chief Economist at EY-Parthenon, will return to headline the Bermuda Risk Summit 2026, taking place March 911 at the Hamilton Princess & Beach Club.

Daco's 2025 session, Navigating Crosscurrents, was one of the most closely followed conversations of the Summit, offering decision-makers clear and actionable intelligence at a time of heightened volatility. Building on that momentum, his 2026 keynote  "Great Rebalance: The Next Phase of Global Growth"  will offer a forward-looking assessment of the global economic environment, analysing monetary and fiscal shifts, demographic transitions, labour-market pressures, and the increasingly decisive role of artificial intelligence in boosting productivity.

His return reflects the Summit's growing stature as a platform where senior leaders gain direct insight into the economic forces influencing capital, risk, and long-term strategy.

This year also marks EY's fifth consecutive year as Headline Sponsor, underscoring the organisation's deep commitment to Bermuda's risk, finance, and professional-services ecosystem and to the Summit's importance within the global industry calendar.

Gregory Daco, Chief Economist, EY-Parthenon, said: "Last year, we examined the crosscurrents shaping the global economy, from policy uncertainty to uneven growth. In 2026, the focus shifts from diagnosis to adaptation, as supply shocks increasingly drive economic outcomes and uncertainty becomes a constant. Business leaders and policymakers will need to recalibrate strategies amid evolving financial conditions, technology-led productivity gains, and a more fragmented global demand landscape. The Bermuda Risk Summit offers a timely forum to assess where resilience is emerging, where vulnerabilities persist, and how organisations can position for sustainable progress."

Craig Redcliffe, EY Bermuda Partner and Regional Insurance leader, said: "Gregory Daco's return reflects our commitment to supporting the industry with rigorous, forward-looking economic insight. In a period defined by economic complexity and rapid change, Greg brings a rare ability to connect global trends with real-world implications for our industry. Bermuda offers a unique vantage point for global leaders to assess emerging risks and opportunities, and this Summit continues to reinforce that value."

Kendaree Burgess, Managing Director of the BDA, said: "Gregory Daco brings clarity at a moment when businesses need it most. His 2025 session set a high bar, and we are delighted to welcome him back to extend that analysis into the year ahead. EY's ongoing support strengthens our ability to convene world-class expertise and deliver an agenda that meets the expectations of global executives who rely on the Bermuda Risk Summit for meaningful insight."

This year's agenda includes high-impact discussions on the most pressing topics in risk and reinsurance today. Highlights include CEO perspectives on reinsurance performance, innovation sessions on AI and alternative capital, and deep-dive panels on private credit, catastrophe resilience, wildfire and heat risk.

Burgess added: "With a balance of strategic discussion and dedicated networking, this year's programme offers the clarity, access and expertise senior executives expect from Bermuda's flagship industry event."

Bermuda Risk Summit 2026: Building What's Next is sponsored by:

Headline: EY

Platinum: BILTIR

Gold: AM Best, Aladdin by Blackrock

Silver: Ariel Re, AXA XL, A&G Travel

Supporting: Acord, Aon, Aspen, Fidelis Insurance Group, Rein4ce, SiriusPoint, SS&C Technologies

Official Airline: BermudAir

Registration is open at a rate of $595 until 9 February, increasing to $695 thereafter. Additional sponsorship and speaking opportunities are available. For more information, visit bda.bm or email [email protected].

To secure accommodation at the Hamilton Princess & Beach Club, reserve your room online or contact 1-441-295-3000 or the Global Reservations Centre at 1-800-441-1414, using the booking code 'Risk 326' to access preferred rates.

About The Bermuda Risk Summit

The Bermuda Risk Summit is a premier platform for insurance and reinsurance professionals to engage with industry leaders, strengthen partnerships, and gain insights into emerging risks and solutions. With the strong backing EY, along with a growing network of sponsors, the summit will deliver valuable discussions that shape the future of the global risk industry.

SOURCE Bermuda Business Development Agency
SAN FRANCISCO and SUZHOU, China, Jan. 26, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Innovent Biologics, Inc. ("Innovent") (HKEX: 01801), a world-class biopharmaceutical company that develops, manufactures, and commercializes high-quality medicines for the treatment of oncologic, autoimmune, cardiovascular and metabolic, ophthalmologic, and other major diseases, announced that its anti-GPRC5D/BCMA/CD3 tri-specific antibody IBI3003 has received Fast Track Designation (FTD) from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). This designation applies to the treatment of relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma, (R/R MM) in patients who have received four or more lines of previous anti-myeloma therapies, that include at least a proteasome inhibitor (PI), an immunomodulatory drug (IMiD), and an anti-CD38 monoclonal antibody.

IBI3003 was discovered and developed using Innovent's proprietary Sanbody platform and its development is being advanced globally. IBI3003 is currently undergoing a Phase 1/2 clinical trial in patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma in China and Australia, and there are plans to initiate a Phase 1/2 clinical trial in the United States imminently.

Clinical data presented at the American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting on December 7, 2025[Link], demonstrated a tolerable safety profile and promising efficacy signals for IBI3003 in patients who had failed 2 prior lines of myeloma therapy:

Thirty-nine patients with R/R MM who had previously received at least a PI, an IMiD, and an anti-CD38 monoclonal antibody were treated with IBI3003 at dose levels ranging from 0.1 g/kg to 800 g/kg and underwent at least one tumor assessment after baseline. As of the data cutoff date of November 7, 2025, the median follow-up duration was 3.25 months (range: 0.47.4), and the median treatment duration was 12.14 weeks (range: 1.033.0).

Among patients treated at doses 120 g/kg (n=24), the overall response rate (ORR) was 83.3%, including 4 stringent complete responses (sCR), 7 very good partial responses (VGPR), and 9 partial responses (PR). In this cohort, the ORR was 80% among 10 patients with extramedullary disease (EMD) and 77.8% among 9 patients previously treated with BCMA- and/or GPRC5D-directed therapies. Among patients who achieved complete response or better, the minimal residual disease (MRD) negativity rate was 100% (n=4), as assessed by validated next generation sequencing, with a threshold of 10 -5 , performed at a central laboratory.

, performed at a central laboratory. All cases of cytokine release syndrome (CRS) were Grade 1-2, with only 2 cases of Grade 1-2 immune effector cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome (ICANS) reported. Most treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) related to GPRC5D targeting, including those affecting the oral cavity, skin, and nails, were Grade 12, with two patients experiencing Grade 3 rash.

Dr. Hui Zhou, Chief R&D Officer of Oncology in Innovent, stated, "IBI3003 monotherapy has demonstrated encouraging efficacy and a favorable safety profile in R/R MM patients who had received three or more prior lines of therapy. Notably, meaningful clinical activity was observed even in high-risk patients with EMD or those previously treated with anti-BCMA and/or GPRC5D-targeted therapies, highlighting IBI3003's potential to address key unmet needs. Its overall manageable safety profile further supports continued investigation and the potential for durable survival benefit. The Fast Track Designation granted by the U.S. FDA represents an important milestone in the global development of IBI3003, and we look forward to further evaluating its potential to benefit patients worldwide."

Fast Track Designation is intended to facilitate the development and expedite the review of drugs that treat serious conditions and address unmet medical needs. Programs granted FTD benefit from more frequent interactions with the FDA, which may accelerate clinical development and regulatory review.

About IBI3003 (Anti-GPRC5D/BCMA/CD3 Trispecific Antibody)

IBI3003 is a tri-specific TCE developed using Innovent's proprietary Sanbody platform to target both GPRC5D and BCMA. The molecule is designed to mitigate tumor escape associated with single-antigen targeting. In preclinical studies, IBI3003 demonstrated superior in vitro and in vivo antitumor activity compared with marketed benchmark T-cell engagers, including in cell lines and xenograft models with low BCMA and GPRC5D expression. A Phase 1/2 clinical trial (NCT06083207) is ongoing in China and Australia. In December 2025, IBI3003 received IND approval from the U.S. FDA, enabling initiation of a Phase 1/2 clinical trial in the United States.

About Multiple Myeloma

Multiple myeloma (MM) is a malignant hematologic disease characterized by the clonal proliferation of plasma cells and is the second most common hematologic malignancy [1]. MM remains incurable, and factors such as inadequate depth of response, extramedullary involvement, and short remission duration are associated with poor prognoses [2]. For patients with R/R MM who have received four or more prior lines of therapy, including exposure to PIs, IMiDs, and anti-CD38 antibodies, treatment options include, but are not limited to, BCMA-targeted CAR-T therapies and bispecific antibodies targeting CD3BCMA or CD3GPRC5D. However, the benefits of these approaches may be limited by antigen loss and treatment resistance [3].

About Innovent

Innovent is a leading biopharmaceutical company founded in 2011 with the mission to empower patients worldwide with affordable, high-quality biopharmaceuticals. The company discovers, develops, manufactures and commercializes innovative medicines that target some of the most intractable diseases. Its pioneering therapies treat cancer, cardiovascular and metabolic, autoimmune and eye diseases. Innovent has launched 18 products in the market. It has 4 assets in Phase 3 or pivotal clinical trials and 15 more molecules in early clinical stage. Innovent partners with over 30 global healthcare companies, including Lilly, Sanofi, Incyte, LG Chem and MD Anderson Cancer Center.

Guided by the motto, "Start with Integrity, Succeed through Action" Innovent maintains the highest standard of industry practices and works collaboratively to advance the biopharmaceutical industry so that first-rate pharmaceutical drugs can become widely accessible. For more information, visit www.innoventbio.com, or follow Innovent on Facebook and LinkedIn.

Statement: Innovent does not recommend the use of any unapproved drug (s)/indication (s).

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release may contain certain forward-looking statements that are, by their nature, subject to significant risks and uncertainties. The words "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "expect", "intend" and similar expressions, as they relate to Innovent, are intended to identify certain of such forward-looking statements. Innovent does not intend to update these forward-looking statements regularly.

These forward-looking statements are based on the existing beliefs, assumptions, expectations, estimates, projections and understandings of the management of Innovent with respect to future events at the time these statements are made. These statements are not a guarantee of future developments and are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors, some of which are beyond Innovent's control and are difficult to predict. Consequently, actual results may differ materially from information contained in the forward-looking statements as a result of future changes or developments in our business, Innovent's competitive environment and political, economic, legal and social conditions.

Innovent, the Directors and the employees of Innovent assume (a) no obligation to correct or update the forward-looking statements contained in this site; and (b) no liability in the event that any of the forward-looking statements does not materialize or turn out to be incorrect.

References:

[1] Wang S, Xu L, Feng J, et al. Prevalence and Incidence of Multiple Myeloma in Urban Area in China: A National Population-Based Analysis. Front. Oncol. 2019;9:1513. [2] Chinese Hematology Association, Chinese Society of Hematology. [Guidelines for the diagnosis and management of multiple myeloma in China (2022 revision)]. Zhonghua Nei Ke Za Zhi. 2022;61(5):480-487. [3] Li C, Wang D, Song Y, et al. CT103A, a novel fully human BCMA-targeting CAR-T cells, in patients with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma: Updated results of phase 1b/2 study (FUMANBA-1). J. Clin. Oncol. 2023;41(16_suppl):8025-8025.

SOURCE Innovent Biologics
The ambulances, previously in service with Magen David Adom (MDA), Israel's national emergency medical organization, were transferred to local medical teams. Each is equipped with medical kits provided by The Fellowship, to ensure responding EMTs and physicians are properly equipped to address the urgent medical needs of local Christian and Druze civilians.

The handover of the ambulances also included professional first-aid and emergency response training, led by MDA EMTs. The training focused on the safe and effective use of the ambulances and equipment, helping ensure civilians in the region receive high-quality, lifesaving care.

The historic initiative, spearheaded by The Fellowship, was carried out in cooperation with Magen David Adom, COGAT, and the Israel Defense Forces, reflecting a shared commitment to protecting life and dignity amid a deepening humanitarian crisis.

"The Fellowship is a living partnership  Christians standing with Jews in Israel  and with that partnership comes great responsibility," said Yael Eckstein, President and Global CEO of The Fellowship. "The Druze community is an inseparable part of Israel's society and security, and when Druze and Christian communities just across our border are targeted for their faith, indifference is not an option. We are called to act, to protect life, uphold dignity, and offer hope."

The ambulance delivery builds on The Fellowship's growing support for Druze and Christian communities in southern Syria, as the minority communities have faced brutal terrorist attacks over the past year.

In 2025 alone, The Fellowship's support in Syria included the establishment of two regional medical clinics in villages within the buffer zone, the delivery of lifesaving medical equipment and medications to hospitals in the Al-Suwayda region, as well as the distribution of thousands of food packages to local families struggling with basic needs amid the recent string of attacks.

Participants in the ceremony included MDA Deputy Director General of Operations Gil Moskovitz, head of The Fellowship's Emergency and Security Division Safwan Marich, and senior MDA officials.

Safwan Marich, Head of The Fellowship's Emergency and Security Division, added, "As an Israeli and a member of the Druze community, I am proud to be part of The Fellowship and this lifesaving initiative. It reflects our shared values with Magen David Adom to save lives and stand with those in need, and I'm grateful to all our partners who worked tirelessly to make this possible."

The Fellowship has a long history of supporting persecuted Christians in the region as wellfrom providing food boxes to Israeli Christians in need during the Christmas season, to funding medical facilities, such as a hospital in Nazareth, to providing lifesaving humanitarian aid and care for Christian refugees during attacks from ISIS years agoreflecting its unwavering commitment to stand with vulnerable communities along Israel's borders that share its burden and have paid a heavy price for their faith and identity.

# # #

For more than 40 years, the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews (The Fellowship) has been the leading nonprofit building bridges between Christians and Jews, blessing Israel and the Jewish people around the world with humanitarian care and lifesaving aid. In 2025, The Fellowship helped 2 million people living in poverty, helped thousands make aliyah back to their homeland, Israel, and helped strengthen Israel's security infrastructure. To learn more about the Fellowship's work, visit www.ifcj.org.

Yael Eckstein is President and Global CEO of The Fellowship, one of the world's largest religious charitable organizations, and is a respected Jewish leader, speaker, bestselling author, and an award-winning podcast host and humanitarian. A 2025 'Pillars of Jerusalem' award recipient for her exceptional contributions to Israel's public diplomacy, and The Jerusalem Post's 2023 Humanitarian of the Year, Yael is a Chicago-area native based in Israel with her husband and their four children.

Media Contact: [email protected]

SOURCE International Fellowship of Christians and Jews
VANCOUVER, BC, Jan. 27, 2026 /PRNewswire/ - International Tower Hill Mines Ltd. (the "Company") - (TSX: ITH) (NYSE American: THM) today announced that it has closed its previously announced upsized public offering (the "Offering") of 33,672,000 common shares, no par value, of the Company (the "Common Shares"), which includes 4,392,000 Common Shares issued pursuant to the full exercise by the Underwriters (as defined below) of their option to purchase additional Common Shares. The Offering was priced at a price to the public of US$2.22 per Common Share, resulting in gross proceeds of US$74.8 million to the Company, before deducting underwriting discounts and estimated offering expenses. Concurrent with the closing of the Offering, the Company closed its US$40 million private placement (the "Concurrent Private Placement") of 18,018,018 Common Shares to Paulson & Co. Inc. at the public offering price of the Offering, resulting in total gross proceeds from the Offering and the Concurrent Private Placement to the Company of US$114.8 million.

The Company expects to use the net proceeds of the Offering and the Concurrent Private Placement to fund the exploration and development of the Livengood Gold Project, including drilling, metallurgical studies, feasibility studies, technical studies, baseline environmental studies, detailed engineering in support of permitting, permitting, legal support, community engagement, mineral lease and land payments, acquisitions and general corporate purposes.

BMO Capital Markets acted as lead book-running manager and National Bank of Canada Capital Markets, RBC Capital Markets, Cantor and Scotiabank acted as book-running managers (collectively, the "Underwriters") for the Offering.

The Offering to the public in the United States was made pursuant to the Company's effective shelf registration statement on Form S-3, including a base prospectus, previously filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"). The Offering in the United States was made only by means of a prospectus and related prospectus supplement meeting the requirements of Section 10 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. You may obtain these documents for free by visiting EDGAR on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. Alternatively, copies of the prospectus supplement and the base prospectus may be obtained from BMO Capital Markets Corp., Attn: Equity Syndicate Department, 151 W 42nd Street, 32nd Floor, New York, NY 10036. The Offering was also conducted in Canada and in offshore jurisdictions on a private placement basis in accordance with applicable securities laws. The Company relied on the exemption in section 602.1 of the TSX Company Manual in respect of the Offering and the Concurrent Private Placement, which provides that the TSX will not apply its standards to certain transactions involving eligible interlisted issuers listed on a recognized exchange, including NYSE American.

On January 27, 2026, after the closing of the Offering, Paulson subscribed to purchase an additional 1,501,982 Common Shares ("Additional Paulson Shares") at a price per Common Share of US$2.22, for additional proceeds of $3.3 million to the Company, representing a proportional increase to Paulson's investment to account for the upsize in the Offering and exercise of the corresponding Underwriters' option (the "Subsequent Private Placement," and together with the Concurrent Private Placement, the "Private Placement""). The consummation of the Subsequent Private Placement is subject to customary closing conditions, including applicable stock exchange approvals. The sale of the Additional Paulson Shares will not be registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. The proceeds of the Subsequent Private Placement will be used for the same purpose as the proceeds of the Offering and the Concurrent Private Placement. The Company intends to rely on the exemption in section 602.1 of the TSX Company Manual in respect of the Subsequent Private Placement, which provides that the TSX will not apply its standards to certain transactions involving eligible interlisted issuers listed on a recognized exchange, including NYSE American.

As Paulson and certain of the institutional shareholders who participated in the Offering are related parties of the Company within the meaning of Multilateral Instrument 61-101 Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101"), the issuance of Common Shares to such investors were "related party transactions" within the meaning of MI 61-101. The Company has relied on exemptions from the formal valuation and minority shareholder approval requirements of MI 61-101 on the basis that the fair market value of the Common Shares issued to such persons does not exceed 25% of the Company's current market capitalization. The Company has not filed a material change report more than 21 days before the expected closing of the Private Placement and Offering as the details of the Private Placement and Offering were only finalized shortly before the closing of the Private Placement and the Offering.

This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy Common Shares, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Statements in this press release that are not statements of historical or current fact constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended, Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws (collectively, "forward-looking statements"). Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that could cause the actual results of the Company to be materially different from historical results or from any future results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. In addition to statements which explicitly describe such risks and uncertainties, readers are urged to consider statements containing the terms "intends," "estimates," "may," "might", "will," or other similar expressions to be uncertain and forward-looking. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. The forward-looking statements in this press release include statements regarding: the closing of the Subsequent Private Placement; the anticipated use of proceeds; and the occurrence of the expected benefits from the anticipated use of proceeds. Actual results and the timing of events could differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements as a result of various risks and uncertainties, including, without limitation: (i) that the current exploration, development, environmental and other objectives concerning the Livengood Gold Project can be achieved and that the Company's other corporate activities will proceed as expected and (ii) that general business and economic conditions will not change in a materially adverse manner; and (iii) that permitting and operations costs will not materially increase. The foregoing list of important factors that could cause actual events to differ from expectations should not be construed as exhaustive and should be read in conjunction with statements that are included herein and elsewhere, including the risk factors detailed in the "Forward-Looking Statements," "Risk Factors" and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" sections of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024, Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended March 31, 2025, the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended June 30, 2025 and the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended September 30, 2025 and other documents that have been and will be filed by the Company from time to time with the SEC and Canadian securities regulators. All forward-looking statements contained in this press release speak only as of the date on which they were made. The Company undertakes no obligation to update such statements to reflect events that occur or circumstances that exist after the date on which they were made, except as required by applicable securities laws.

About International Tower Hill Mines Ltd.

International Tower Hill Mines Ltd. has a 100% interest in its Livengood Gold Project located along the paved Elliott Highway, 70 miles north of Fairbanks, Alaska.

On behalf of

International Tower Hill Mines Ltd.

(signed) Karl L. Hanneman

Chief Executive Officer

SOURCE International Tower Hill Mines Ltd.
KANSAS CITY, Mo., Jan. 26, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The Board of Directors of Kansas City Life Insurance Company declared a quarterly dividend of $0.18 per share, an increase of $0.04 per share, on Jan. 26, 2026. The dividend will be payable on Feb. 11, 2026, to stockholders of record on Feb. 5, 2026.

Kansas City Life Insurance Company (OTCQX: KCLI) was established in 1895 and is based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Company's primary business is providing financial protection through the sale of life insurance and annuities. The Company operates in 49 states and the District of Columbia. For more information, please visit www.kclife.com.

- ### -

SOURCE Kansas City Life Insurance Company
In the news release, Launchpoint Acquires Kashie.AI, an AI Music Content Platform, issued 27-Jan-2026 by Launchpoint over PR Newswire, we are advised by the company that hyperlinks have been included. The complete, corrected release follows:

Launchpoint Acquires Kashie.AI, an AI Music Content Platform

NEW YORK, Jan. 27, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Launchpoint announced it has acquired Kashie.AI, an AI-driven music platform. The acquisition was completed for $300,000.

Kashie was co-founded by Richard Ahn and Albert Zhang. Ahn founded Kashie after graduating from the University of Texas at Austin. Kashie launched with approximately $300 in initial out-of-pocket costs in June.

Starting from the top left, moving clockwise (Tristan Rhee, Adam Barr-Neuwirth, Albert Zhang, and Richard Ahn) (PRNewsfoto/Launchpoint)

Kashie produces short-form content for over 30,000 users, a mix of music artists and record labels. It is widely considered to be an industry leader in its space.

According to the company, Kashie reached approximately $30,000 in monthly revenue three and a half months after launch.

Kashie was co-founded with Albert Zhang, whom Ahn met online shortly before the company began operating. Ahn led product direction and go-to-market and Albert leading engineering.

Launchpoint said the acquisition supports its product roadmap for creator and brand collaborations. Launchpoint focuses on creator-brand campaigns with a focus on college sports. Some of their customers include Dr Pepper, C4 Energy, Gopuff, and New Era.

As part of the transaction, Ahn will join Launchpoint as Chief Marketing Officer, and Albert Zhang will join as a founding engineer. They will work with Launchpoint CEO Tristan Rhee and CTO Adam Barr-Neuwirth.

"Kashie enables us to accelerate our growth in the music space." said Tristan Rhee, CEO of Launchpoint. "Richard and Albert are the very best at what they do, and they are already contributing to our mission of helping athletes and creators everywhere monetize their influence."

"Building Kashie showed me what's possible when you move fast and focus on creators. I'm excited to join Launchpoint as CMO and help athletes and creators monetize their influence at scale." said Richard Ahn, founder of Kashie.

About Launchpoint

Launchpoint is a New York-based company that helps brands work with college athletes and college creators at scale.

Media Contact

Name: Tristan Rhee

Email: [email protected]

Phone: 614 406 2683

https://www.launchpointhq.com/

SOURCE Launchpoint
Photo: Naftogaz

On Tuesday morning, Russian forces carried out an attack on a critical infrastructure facility belonging to the Naftogaz Group in western Ukraine, resulting in a fire at the site following the strike.

"For safety reasons, in order to protect people and prevent environmental contamination, the company's specialists immediately halted technological processes at the facility. Emergency responders from the State Emergency Service are working on site," said Naftogaz Ukrainy CEO Serhiy Koretsky, as quoted by the company's Telegram channel.

According to the statement, response measures are being coordinated with local authorities and relevant services.

Naftogaz emphasized that this is already the 15th targeted attack on its critical infrastructure facilities since the beginning of January alone.

"Naftogaz continues to operate under constant military threat, focusing its efforts on personnel safety, minimizing the consequences of attacks, and maintaining the stable operation of the energy system," the company said.
ABU DHABI, UAE, Jan. 27, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- G42, Cerebras Systems and the Institute of Foundation Models at Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI), today announced the release of K2 Think V2. This latest 70-billion parameter advanced reasoning system reasoning system is now built on the K2-V2 base model, IFM's strongest fully frontier-class open-source foundation model that's purpose built for K2 Think.

MBZUAI Launches K2 Think V2: UAEs Fully Sovereign, Next-Generation Reasoning System

This launch marks a major milestone for the UAE's technological sovereignty. While earlier versions of K2 Think were open and widely accessible, K2 Think V2 (70B) is the first to be open from end-to-end; from pre-training data and curation through post-training, reasoning alignment, and evaluation. The result is a reasoning system that is both more transparent and more powerful.

By upgrading the base model to K2-V2, K2 Think V2 unlocks a new level of performance, openness, and independence, reinforcing the UAE's leadership in building frontier-grade AI systems that are globally accessible and fully sovereign.

Why K2 Think V2 is Different

K2 Think V2 marks a step change in open reasoning systems, shifting from a reasoning model layered on top of a foundation to one built directly into it. Inheriting K2-V2's long-context capabilities and full training transparency, it now operates as a fully sovereign system end-to-end.

Every stage of K2 Think V2 (70B) is open, inspectable, and independently reproducible, ensuring both scientific credibility and national AI sovereignty. Designed as a purpose-built reasoning system, it solves complex problems step-by-step using long chains of thought across mathematics, science, coding, logic, and simulation.

This reasoning-first, fully open foundation translates directly into greater levels of performance. K2 Think V2 delivers leading results on complex reasoning benchmarks, including AIME2025, GPQA-Diamond, HMMT, and IFBench, when compared against other open-source reasoning systems.

Key Features, Made Simple

Built on K2-V2

K2 Think V2 (70B) is powered by MBZUAI IFM's latest foundation model, designed from the outset to support reasoning, long context, and alignment, raising the ceiling for what the reasoning system can achieve.

Longer Memory, Deeper Thought

Expanded context length enables sustained, multi-step reasoning over much larger bodies of information.

Truly Independent Data Pipeline

All training relies on IFM-curated datasets, including the Guru dataset, fully decontaminated from downstream benchmarks to ensure fair and trustworthy evaluation.

360-Open Transparency

From pre-training data and intermediate checkpoints to post-training recipes and evaluations, every component is available for inspection, reuse, and extension.

For more information on K2 Think V2 (70B) or to explore the data used to build it, please visit the Institute of Foundation Models' official platform. You can also access the system and learn more through the following resources:

For more information, please visit https://mbzuai.ac.ae/

About Cerebras

Cerebras Systems builds the fastest AI infrastructure in the world. We are a team of pioneering computer architects, computer scientists, AI researchers, and engineers. We make AI blisteringly fast through innovation and invention because we believe that when AI is fast it will change the world. Our flagship technology, the Wafer Scale Engine (WSE) is the world's largest and fastest AI processor. At 56 times larger than the largest GPU, the WSE uses a fraction of the power per unit compute while delivering inference and training more than 20 times faster than the competition. Leading corporations, research institutes and governments on five continents chose Cerebras to run their AI workloads. Cerebras solutions are available on premise and in the cloud. For further information, visit cerebras.ai or follow us on LinkedIn, X and/or Threads.

About Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence

Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI) is the first university dedicated entirely to the advancement of science through AI. The university empowers the next generation of AI leaders, driving innovation and impactful applications of AI through world-class education and interdisciplinary research. In 2025, MBZUAI launched its first ever undergraduate program, a Bachelor of Science in AI, with two distinct streams: Business and Engineering.

About MBZUAI's Institute of Foundation Models

The Institute of Foundation Models (IFM) at MBZUAI is dedicated to pioneering academic research at the forefront of global AI innovation, driven by real-world societal needs.

With deep scientific roots and world-class talent in Abu Dhabi, Paris, and Silicon Valley, IFM builds some of the world's most powerful foundation models - open, fast, and focused on solving real-world problems.

These include the PAN World Model, K2, a 360-open LL, and K2-Think, a leading open-source system for advanced AI reasoning. IFM engineers have contributed to the development of low-resource language LLMs in Arabic (Jais), Hindi (Nanda) and Kazakh (Sherkala).

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2870716/MBZUAI_Launches_K2_Think_V2.jpg

SOURCE Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI)
Donation of breast pumps will equip the milk bank with additional lactation support for donors.

NORFOLK, Va., Jan. 27, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Momcozy, a global leader in innovative breastfeeding solutions, is proud to announce a donation of 50 wearable breast pumps - including 25 Momcozy M5 Breast Pumps and 25 Momcozy V1 Breast Pumps - to The King's Daughters Milk Bank at Children's Hospital of The King's Daughters (CHKD) in Norfolk, Virginia. This contribution underscores Momcozy's commitment to supporting mothers, infants, and families through advanced, accessible, and comfortable breast-pumping technology.

Momcozy's Breast Pump Donation to The Kings Daughters Milk Bank at Childrens Hospital of The Kings Daughters

At The King's Daughters Milk Bank, 80% of milk donors are working moms, many of whom pump on the go, between shifts, or during limited breaks. Momcozy's best-in-class wearable pumps will support these donors by making it easier to continue expressing milk consistently and comfortably. Through their generosity, these donors provide lifesaving nourishment for premature and medically fragile infants throughout the United States.

Every ounce of Pasteurized Donated Human Milk (PDHM) can be used for the treatment of up to 4 premature infants in the NICU. On average, a donor with The King's Daughters Milk Bank contributes more than 800 ounces over the course of their donation tenure. Based on this average, the breast pump donation could help to generate more than 42,000 ounces of human milk donations, equivalent to 168,000 individual feedings for medically fragile infants in the NICU. This volume of milk could provide a full day of essential nutritional support for approximately 21,000 NICU babies.

For NICU babies, breast milk is as valuable as a medicine. Compared to formula, it can reduce the risk of mortality by up to 80% and significantly decrease the occurrence of complications such as life threatening bowel infections, severe vision impairment, and chronic lung disease.

"We are honored to be working with The King's Daughters Milk Bank at CHKD to help make human milk donation and pumping more accessible for lactating families willing to share their extra breast milk with premature and medically fragile infants," said Eden Cali, U.S. PR Lead at Momcozy. "Because so many donors are working mothers, we know that wearable pumps can significantly reduce barriers to consistent pumping. We hope these pumps bring comfort and convenience to volunteer donors, contributing to increased availability of pasteurized donor human milk for NICUs along the East Coast."

"We are incredibly grateful for Momcozy's generous donation and commitment to supporting nonprofit milk donation, breastfeeding families, and our nation's most vulnerable infants. These wearable pumps will make a tremendous difference for the milk donors that we support, and in turn, help our team to increase the available supply of pasteurized donor human milk for infants in the NICU," said Ashlynn Baker, BSN, RN, IBCLC, Director of Milk Bank Services at CHKD.

Momcozy's donation will empower The King's Daughters Milk Bank's dedicated team and altruistic milk donors to further their reach, deepen their impact, and advance their mission - reducing obstacles that stand in the way of equitable access to human milk and lactation support.

About Momcozy

Since its founding in 2018, Momcozy  Global No.1 Wearable Breast Pump* brand - has rapidly emerged as a leader in the FemTech space, offering a groundbreaking range of products designed to support mothers and babies from pregnancy through postpartum and beyond. With a commitment to innovation and comfort, Momcozy has redefined maternal care with its wearable breast pumps, nursing bras, and other essential products that integrate seamlessly into the lives of modern mothers. Loved by over 4.5 million mothers across 60 countries, Momcozy's products are sold directly on the brand's website and by major retailers such as Babylist, Walmart, Target, and Amazon. Momcozy's mission is to offer comprehensive solutions that empower mothers with the comfort and support they need at every stage of their journey.

*Based on global market share of wearable breast pumps, Grand View Research 2024.

About The King's Daughters Milk Bank at CHKD

Donor human milk is easily digested and provides optimal nutrition in the absence of mother's own milk. For this reason, Children's Hospital of The King's Daughters established The King's Daughters Milk Bank in 2014 with a mission to ensure that human milk is available for our nation's most fragile babies. The King's Daughters Milk Bank at CHKD is one of 32 not-for-profit milk banks accredited by The Human Milk Banking Association of North America (HMBANA). CHKD's milk bank provides pasteurized donor human milk (PDHM) treatments to over 60 hospital units.

About Children's Hospital of The King's Daughters (CHKD)

CHKD is the only freestanding, full-service, children's hospital in Virginia and serves the medical, surgical, and mental health needs of children throughout greater Hampton Roads, the Eastern Shore of Virginia, and northeastern North Carolina. The not-for-profit CHKD Health System operates primary care pediatric practices, surgical practices, multi-service health centers, and urgent care centers throughout its service region.

Contact: Momcozy

Eden Cali | [email protected]

SOURCE Momcozy
RENO, Nev., Jan. 26, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- National School Choice Week begins today in Nevada and across the country, focusing on helping parents find the right K12 schools for their children.

Across the Silver State, more than 250 schools are taking part by hosting open houses, information sessions, parent nights, and other events.

Gov. Joe Lombardo is marking the week with a proclamation recognizing Jan. 2531 as "Nevada School Choice Week" and highlighting the education options available to families across the state.

Learning choices for Nevada students include traditional public schools, public charter schools, magnet programs, private schools, online learning, and homeschooling. Parents can access a free guide to school choice in Nevada at: schoolchoiceweek.com/nevada

"The Silver State has many great schools for families to consider for the upcoming school year, from district to charter, private to microschool, and everything in between, including homeschooling," said Andrew Campanella, CEO of the National School Choice Awareness Foundation.

"We're seeing more families in Nevada explore their school options and make choices that help their kids succeed, which matters because every child deserves the chance to learn in an environment where they can thrive," said Valeria Gurr, Senior Fellow for Policy and Advocacy and Founder of Federacion Americana Para Los Ninos.

National School Choice Week runs until January 31, 2026. Organized by the nonprofit National School Choice Awareness Foundation , the week shines a positive spotlight on all K12 options available for families.

SOURCE National School Choice Week
$87.3 Million C-PACE for 3151 Market Street in Philadelphia Marks the State's Largest C-PACE Financing and First for a Publicly Traded REIT

NEW YORK, Jan. 27, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Nuveen Green Capital (NGC), a leader in sustainable commercial real estate financing solutions, and Brandywine Realty Trust (BDN) today announced the closing of $87.3 million in C-PACE financing, which includes $30 million of capital for future tenants at 3151 Market Street in Schuylkill Yards, the latest addition to West Philadelphia's life sciences and mixed-use development hub. Financing is administered by the Philadelphia Energy Authority.

The transaction represents the largest C-PACE financing in Pennsylvania's history and the first for a publicly traded real estate investment trust (REIT) in recent history. This milestone demonstrates C-PACE's flexibility in working with diverse financing partners and its ability to provide innovative capital structures for various projects.

C-PACE financing positions Brandywine Realty Trust to continue executing its vision for Schuylkill Yards, a 14-acre mixed-use, transit-oriented development located in Philadelphia's University City submarket. 3151 Market is a recently completed 494,530-square-foot, 12-story lab and office building designed for flexibility, sustainability and high-performance use. Refinancing the project enables Brandywine to preserve conventional debt capacity at this LEED Platinum building (certification pending).

Mike Doty, Senior Director of Originations at Nuveen Green Capital, said, "We were thrilled to partner with Brandywine Realty Trust on this innovative property, which will continue building momentum in this Philadelphia neighborhood while catalyzing life sciences development in the city. By utilizing C-PACE to recapitalize the project post-completion, the Sponsor will preserve liquidity while supporting sustainable building development."

"C-PACE provided the right financing at the right time for 3151 Market," said Tom Wirth, Chief Financial Officer, Brandywine Realty Trust. "Working with the Philadelphia Energy Authority affirmed our continued investment in West Philadelphia at Schuylkill Yards, and we're pleased with how this partnership with Nuveen can help our future tenants make the most of this LEED Platinum-certified building."

C-PACE-financed sustainability measures include upgrades to the building envelope, lighting and HVAC systems, and water conservation measures.

"This record-setting $87-million deal is noteworthy not only for its size. As the first C-PACE financing for a real estate investment trust, this project affirms that Philadelphia's C-PACE program is resonating with institutional owners as well as private investors," said Lisa Shulock, PEA Director of Commercial Programs. "Retroactive financing for 3151 Market reflects growing confidence in C-PACE as a flexible capital solution and signals its expanding role in today's commercial real estate market."

"The Philadelphia C-PACE financing for Schuylkill Yards supports the City's sustainability and economic development goals," said Karen Fegely, Acting Commerce Director, City of Philadelphia. "This investment affirms our shared commitment to growing Philadelphia as a world-class hub for growth industries, especially our life sciences and biotechnology sectors."

Completed and ready for occupancy, 3151 Market is Philadelphia's next-generation innovation building, meticulously designed with sustainability at its core, featuring state-of-the-art lab and office space, premier amenities, and a prime location at the center of the region's flourishing life science and tech ecosystem.

About Nuveen Green Capital

With over $5 billion originated, Nuveen Green Capital is a national leader in sustainable commercial real estate financing solutions and an affiliate of Nuveen, the $1 trillion+1 asset manager and wholly owned subsidiary of TIAA. The company, which was founded by C-PACE industry pioneers who helped design the nation's first successful statewide C-PACE program2, has grown to offer a market-leading suite of accretive CRE financing products and a full-service lending platform with all underwriting, legal, and asset management functions executed in-house. To learn more, visit: Nuveen.com/greencapital

About Brandywine Realty Trust

Brandywine Realty Trust (NYSE: BDN) is one of the largest, publicly traded, full-service, integrated real estate companies in the United States with a core focus in Philadelphia, PA and Austin, TX. Organized as a real estate investment trust (REIT), we own, develop, lease and manage an urban, town center and transit-oriented portfolio comprising 120 properties and 18.9 million square feet as of September 30, 2025. Our purpose is to shape, connect and inspire the world around us through our expertise, the relationships we foster, the communities in which we live and work, and the history we build together. For more information, please visit www.brandywinerealty.com.

About Philadelphia Energy Authority

The Philadelphia Energy Authority (PEA) is an independent municipal authority building a robust, equitable clean energy economy for Philadelphia. PEA runs the Philadelphia Energy Campaign, a $1 billion, 10-year investment in energy efficiency and clean energy projects to create 10,000 jobs. PEA has supported over $1 billion in projects and created over 8,400 jobs so far. Learn more at www.philaenergy.org.

1 Total assets under management (AUM) as of 1/1/2025

2 The United States Department of Energy: 2016 C-PACE Report lists the Connecticut C-PACE program as the first statewide C-PACE program in the U.S.

SOURCE Nuveen Green Capital
New analysis kicking off US$4 million collaboration reveals a 124% increase in MDB financing, while Chinese finance began to flow out of developing countries, with Africa hit hardest

WASHINGTON, Jan. 27, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- At a time when international funding to developing countries is in decline, ONE Data announced the "Development Finance Observatory," with US$4 million total funding from Google.org and The Rockefeller Foundation, to help maximize the impact of every dollar. This first-of-its-kind, interactive data collaboration launching this year will improve the accessibility of development finance data and reduce data fragmentation, while integrating both financial inflows to and outflows from developing economies. The platform is being developed with technical infrastructure support from Google's Data Commons and produced by ONE Data. An initial analysis finds that over the last decade, China shifted from a net provider of finance for low- and middle-income countries (transferring $48 billion) to a net extractor (pulling $24 billion out). Meanwhile, multilateral lenders stepped upboosting net financing by 124% and now providing 56% of net flows, or $378.7 billion between 2020-2024.

Today's development finance data is often fragmented and siloed  with different datasets optimized for different audiences and blind spots that make it hard to answer straightforward questions quickly. Produced by ONE Data, the Observatory will integrate both financial inflows and outflows to developing economies. Inflows in this analysis include Official Development Assistance (ODA) and new lending to governments  offset by outflows from governments, such as debt servicing.

David McNair, Executive Director at ONE Data, said: "To make better decisions we need accurate, timely facts. This partnership is about harnessing the latest technology to build a public-good data backbone that reduces fragmentation and improves accountability so that everyone from policy-makers to investors to citizens can follow the money and understand the impact it's having."

Through an investment in technical infrastructure and AI-enabled tools, the Observatory will provide a fuller picture of financing flows into developing country economies by integrating fragmented datasets into a more coherent system, linking flows across aid, debt, private finance, remittances, and domestic budgets, while making sources and methods transparent and auditable. Allowing for a country-focused view, collapsing the time between data and insight, users will be able to follow the money using natural-language questions.

With $3 million from Google's philanthropy Google.org, ONE is expanding its technical team to build the Observatory's platform using Google's Data Commons. This partnership leverages Google's foundational infrastructure and technical support to transform fragmented development finance data into a unified, interactive tool.

Prem Ramaswami, Head of Data Commons at Google said: "By leveraging Google's Data Commons technical infrastructure, we are providing a unified 'data backbone', turning disconnected numbers into a clear roadmap for organizations tackling global challenges."

The Observatory will also represent an ecosystem approach through technical, syndication, and product partnerships. The Rockefeller Foundation, through its public charity, RF Catalytic Capital, is investing $700,000 to support the integration of development finance datasets and help stakeholders to understand the rapidly changing development finance landscape at a more granular level by country, sector, and more. This effort is part of The Rockefeller Foundation's Build the Shared Future Initiative, which is working to inspire and inform global cooperation that's equal to the challenges of the 21st century.

Mike Muldoon, Chief of Staff and Counselor at The Rockefeller Foundation, said: "The future of global development needs to be underpinned by data-driven policy. The Development Finance Observatory will provide policymakers a clear, comprehensive picture of existing aid, debt, and repayments in order to ensure that every dollar, public and private, in the system is spent efficiently. By using AI and other technologies to bring together different sources of data and make them easily accessible, we can help leaders make faster, better decisions to support people in need around the world."

Snapshot of Initial Findings:

The first piece of data analysis from the Observatory, looking at net finance flows into developing countries from 2010 through 2024 (latest available official data) includes, but is not limited to:

Bilateral flows have quietly retreated. Aggregate bilateral net flows for the last five years fell by $19 billion compared to the 2010-2014 period, a 6% drop. This decline will steepen from 2025 given the ODA cuts





Aggregate bilateral net flows for the last five years fell by $19 billion compared to the 2010-2014 period, a 6% drop. This decline will steepen from 2025 given the ODA cuts Private finance has evaporated. Public and publicly guaranteed long-term external debt from private sources declined from 19% of net flows to 1%. This type of debt collapsed from $115 billion in net new resources over the 2010-2014 period to $7.3 billion in the last five years.





Public and publicly guaranteed long-term external debt from private sources declined from 19% of net flows to 1%. This type of debt collapsed from $115 billion in net new resources over the 2010-2014 period to $7.3 billion in the last five years. Chinese finance has undergone a "Great Reversal." China went from being a net provider of financetransferring $48 billion to low- and lower-middle-income countries (via official and private lenders) a decade agoto a net extractor of $24 billion. Africa has experienced the most dramatic reversal in Chinese finance. It went from receiving $30 billion to paying out $22 billion, a $52 billion swing.





China went from being a net provider of financetransferring $48 billion to low- and lower-middle-income countries (via official and private lenders) a decade agoto a net extractor of $24 billion. Africa has experienced the most dramatic reversal in Chinese finance. It went from receiving $30 billion to paying out $22 billion, a $52 billion swing. Multilateral institutions have become the bedrock of development finance. These institutions including Multilateral Development Banks such as the World Bank now account for 56% of net flows, up from 28% a decade earlier. They have increased financing by 124% during this period.

Additional Statements of Support:

"Data has long been a constraint on better decision-making, investment, and a fuller understanding of both Africa's challenges and its opportunities. Yet data is essential to shaping credible narratives and grounding meaningful debate. In an age of misinformation, making sense of the noise and the numbers matters more than ever. We welcome ONE Data's role, and our partnership with them, in bringing clarity and fact-based insight to critical issues."  Omar Ben Yeddar, Group Publisher, African Business , which will join the partnership and deliver data driven insights to key audiences in Africa and help ensure the data reaches decision-makers where they work.





, which will join the partnership and deliver data driven insights to key audiences in Africa and help ensure the data reaches decision-makers where they work. "Understanding the impact of ODA cuts is critical. This partnership will strengthen the work of academic modellers who seek to inform decision makers on the impacts their decisions are having in the real world."  Davide Rasella, Head of the Global Health Impact Assessment and Evaluation Group, ICREA Research Professor, Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal) , which will collaborate on modelling the health impacts of ODA cuts.





, which will collaborate on modelling the health impacts of ODA cuts. "Climate and development finance cannot be analysed in isolation. New AI and data science approaches make it possible to connect fragmented text-based information and generate more coherent evidence across policy and finance  supporting clearer, more accountable decision-making."  Michal Nachmany, CEO, Climate Policy Radar, which will collaborate on AI-based modelling of text data to enhance the integration of climate and development finance insights.

About ONE Data

ONE Data is an initiative from the ONE Campaign that transforms fragmented, inaccessible development data into trusted, actionable insights for policymakers, campaigners, journalists, and citizens. We organize the world's public finance data  democratising access and collapsing the time from data to insight. For more information, sign up for our newsletter at https://substack.com/@insider .

About The Rockefeller Foundation

The Rockefeller Foundation is a pioneering philanthropy built on collaborative partnerships at the frontiers of science, technology, and innovation that enable individuals, families, and communities to flourish. We make big bets to promote the well-being of humanity in food, health, energy, and finance, including in connection with our affiliated public charity, RF Catalytic Capital[NJ1] (RFCC). For more information, sign up for our newsletter at www.rockefellerfoundation.org/subscribe and follow us on X @RockefellerFdn and LinkedIn @the-rockefeller-foundation .

SOURCE The Rockefeller Foundation
The expansion builds on existing client engagements and growing demand for regional execution support

PHILADELPHIA, Jan. 27, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Orchestra Life Sciences today announced the expansion of its European presence, strengthening the company's ability to support advanced therapy and radiopharmaceutical programs operating across global markets. The expansion reflects growing demand for integrated execution, infrastructure readiness, and manufacturing strategy as advanced therapies scale internationally.

Orchestra Life Sciences appoints Vinod Ramnandanlal as President and Managing Director of OLS Europe. Vinod will oversee regional strategy and execution, working closely with clients and partners to support advanced therapy and radiopharma programs across Europe and globally.

Europe plays a critical role in the global advanced therapy ecosystem, particularly in radiopharmaceutical manufacturing, automation, and containment technologies. As more development and commercialization programs span North American and European operations, Orchestra's expanded presence is designed to enable closer collaboration, earlier engagement, and more coordinated delivery across regions.

Through its European expansion, Orchestra will support clients with advanced therapy and radiopharmaceutical manufacturing strategy, infrastructure and facility readiness planning, and cross-regional execution and partner coordination. The company's approach focuses on early, informed decision-making to reduce downstream risk and support reliable translation from development to patient access.

To lead the expansion, Orchestra has appointed Vinod Ramnandanlal as President and Managing Director of Orchestra Life Sciences Europe. In this role, Vinod will oversee regional strategy and execution, working closely with clients and partners to support advanced therapy programs across Europe and globally.

"Orchestra has been supporting clients engaged in the European radiopharmaceutical market for some time, and we continue to see strong momentum across the region," said Emilie Pelletier, CEO & Co-Founder of Orchestra Life Sciences. "As programs scale and become increasingly global, we want to be able to better support our clients on the ground. We are excited to establish our presence in Europe and to do so with Vinod's deep experience in nuclear medicine and complex program execution."

Vinod brings deep leadership experience across nuclear medicine, radiopharmaceutical infrastructure, and complex energy systems, with more than a decade of board-level and executive experience in Europe. He previously served as Commercial Director and Executive Board member at NRG, a global leader in nuclear medical isotope production, where he led commercial strategy, complex contract negotiations, and investments tied to next-generation nuclear facilities, including integration with the PALLAS reactor program. Vinod brings a strong combination of strategic leadership, market insight, and execution discipline to the expansion and will play a central role in aligning European capabilities with Orchestra's broader global platform.

"Europe is where many radiopharma programs are shaped early by financing, research, infrastructure, and isotope availability," said Vinod Ramnandanlal. "Establishing a European presence allows Orchestra to engage upstream, helping developers navigate facility readiness and execution tradeoffs before those constraints become risks to patients or programs."

Orchestra Life Sciences continues to expand its global platform to meet the evolving needs of advanced therapy developers, with a focus on execution quality, infrastructure readiness, and patient-centered outcomes.

About Orchestra Life Sciences

Orchestra Life Sciences (OLS) is a technical consultancy providing strategic support and scientific expertise to advance pharmaceutical therapies for cancer and rare diseases. The company specializes in engineering solutions, operational excellence, and quality compliance services for advanced therapy manufacturing facilities. Their comprehensive approach encompasses facility design, process optimization, and implementation of cutting-edge manufacturing technologies. With a focus on innovation and efficiency, OLS helps clients navigate complex technical challenges while maintaining the highest standards of quality and regulatory compliance.

SOURCE Orchestra Life Sciences
MIAMI, Jan. 27, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Pat McGrath Cosmetics LLC, globally known for its cutting-edge "Pat McGrath Labs" makeup products, designed and curated by the renowned Dame Pat McGrath, has announced that, on January 22, 2026, it filed a voluntary petition under Chapter 11 in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Florida.

The Chapter 11 Case will allow Pat McGrath Cosmetics to strategically reorganize its legacy capital structure and improve its long-term outlook amid liquidity constraints brought on by a toughening global marketplace, supply chain disruption, and oppressive obligations to certain of its lenders and investors.

An auction of the Company assets was commenced by the Company's secured lender, but the Company's Chapter 11 filing terminated those efforts.

"This Chapter 11 will enable me to remain in the driver's seat and keep the Company's vision focused," said McGrath. "For several months, I have acted at the behest of my lenders but now it's time to reset, start fresh, and get back on mission of bringing the highest quality makeup to the marketplace."

The Company expects to utilize Chapter 11 to simplify its capital structure, reduce its debt load, and unlock the potential of this brand. The path ultimately chosen for the Company to pave a solid foundation for future Company success may entail a fresh investment in the Company, a financial restructuring, a sale of the company, or a combination of the foregoing.

Pat McGrath Cosmetics to Continue to Operate In the Ordinary Course

Pat McGrath Cosmetics' management team will continue to run the business and intends to pay vendors and partners under customary terms for goods and services received on or after the commencement of the case and to pay employees in the usual manner while continuing to provide their primary benefits.

The Company remains committed to its community, customers, partners and stakeholders as it continues delivering its signature, high-quality products and culture-defining artistry and innovation.

Advisors and Additional Information

New York-based Gordian Group (www.gordiangroup.com) is acting as the Company's investment banker, and Florida-based Pack Law (www.packlaw.com) is acting as legal advisor to the Company. Additional information, including court filings and other documents related to the court-supervised process, is available via request through PACER or by contacting one of the Company's professional restructuring advisors.

About Pat McGrath Labs

Pat McGrath Labs is a cosmetics brand founded by Dame Pat McGrath, known as the world's most influential makeup artist. Pat McGrath's debut product GOLD 001 sold out in record-breaking time when it launched on her social media channels in 2015. Since then, Pat McGrath Labs has continued to launch obsession-worthy cosmetics, collaborations and curations that have pushed the boundaries of beauty globally. Pat McGrath Labs products are sold through its official website (patmcgrath.com) and in retailers including Sephora, Ulta Beauty, Selfridges, Nordstrom and Bergdorf Goodman.

SOURCE Pat McGrath Labs
Enhancing core audio sensing capabilities to advance Edge AI innovation

TAIPEI, Jan. 27, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Primax Tymphany Group, a global technology company advancing AI Sensor Fusion (AISF), announced a strategic investment in Soundskrit, a developer of directional MEMS microphone technology. With the investment, Primax Tymphany Group will deepen collaboration with Soundskrit to strengthens audio sensing capabilities within the Group's AISF technology platform, supporting its long-term vision of bringing AI Sensor Fusion experience to life.

AISF integrates multiple sensors with on-device AI to enable more responsive, context-aware experience at the edge. As AI-powered devices increasingly reply on real-time intelligence in compact devices, advanced audio sensing has become a critical foundation for delivering reliable performance in everyday environments.

Soundskrit develops directional MEMS microphone technology designed to improve voice capture and reduce unwanted noise in real-world environments, while supporting efficient edge processing. This capability can enhance audio-visual experiences such as speaker-aware interactions in conferencing and serves as a key building block for scalable AI Sensor Fusion solutions across a wide range of applications.

"Integrating Soundskrit into the Primax ecosystem strengthens our long-term AISF platform strategy," said Jack Pan, Chairman of Primax Tymphany Group. "This investment enhances our core sensing capabilities and helps enable more intelligent, different Edge AI experience across multiple application domains."

"Soundskrit was founded to solve real-world sound pick-up challenges through directional microphone design," said Bruce Diamond, Chief Executive Officer, Soundskrit. "Partnering with Primax expands the reach of our technology and opens new possibilities for creating and applying directional audio within AI sensor fusion solutions across a wide range of applications and markets."

Leveraging the Group's experience across key modules and system-level integration, the investment in Soundskrit represents a continued commitment to long-term platform development. Together, the two companies aim to advance AI Sensor Fusion capabilities that translate complex sensing technologies into practical, scalable intelligence.

About Primax Tymphany Group

Primax Tymphany Group is a leading provider of AI Sensor Fusion (AISF) solution, driven by deep expertise and strong vertical integration across vision, audio, interface, and edge AI. Spanning from key modules to full systems and product ecosystems, the Group accelerates the adoption of AISF through seamless integration of these core technologies. Through its ODM+ approach and Mega Supplier capabilities, Primax Tymphany Group delivers scalable platforms and end-to-end solutions across applications including safety and security, automotive, conferencing solutions, PC peripherals, robotics, and wearable devices. Guided by its vision, "Bring Experience to Life," the Group works closely with global partners to transform advanced technologies into smarter, more intuitive products  creating meaningful experiences for the people who use them.

Visit: new.primax.com.tw/en

About Soundskrit

Soundskrit is an audio technology company whose cutting-edge hardware and software is paving the way for consumer audio experiences in the future. Their mission is to bring the next generation of high-performance audio-enabled experiences to consumer devices. No more interrupted calls, distorted voice processing, or noise cancellation that lets every surrounding sound in - Soundskrit is evolving the human listening experience so consumers can hear the impossible.

Visit: www.soundskrit.ca

SOURCE Primax Electronics
WACO, Texas, Jan. 26, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Quiddity Engineering, an Engineering News-Record Top 500 Design Firm, has opened a new office in Waco, Texas, expanding its presence across the state.

The opening of the Waco office reflects the firm's commitment to steady, organic growth and its employee-owned culture, in which more than 700 employees have a direct stake in the company's success.

"The Waco office complements our ongoing work across Texas," said Clayton Black, CEO of Quiddity. "We have experienced consistent growth, and the Interstate 35 corridor between Dallas-Fort Worth and Austin remains one of the fastest-growing regions in the state. A centrally located office allows us to better serve clients in this expanding market."

Quiddity, formerly known as Jones and Carter, now operates 12 offices in Texas and two in Florida. The Waco office is part of the firm's North Texas presence and is positioned to serve cities, counties, TxDOT, and private developers throughout the region.

"Our growth in North Texas has been significant," said Dave Kochalka, General Manager of Quiddity's North Texas practice offices, including Dallas (located in the Uptown district), Plano, Fort Worth, and Waco. "We look forward to expanding our reach and positively impacting the communities we serve."

The Waco office is led by Steve Martin, PE, and provides engineering, planning, and surveying services to surrounding communities. With more than 23 years of civil engineering experience, Martin is focused on delivering thoughtful, reliable, and innovative solutions that provide lasting value to clients.

"Quiddity continues to experience strong growth," Black added. "We are excited to support communities throughout Central and North Texas by contributing to their infrastructure and economic development. Through dependable, high-quality design, we help lay the foundation for sustainable growth."

SOURCE Quiddity Engineering
DURHAM, N.C., Jan. 27, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Spreedly ( www.spreedly.com ), a global leader in open payments, today announced several milestones reflecting continued growth across its enterprise and international customer base.

"2025 marked a clear inflection point as more merchants embraced the need to control and customize their payment stack," said Justin Benson, CEO of Spreedly. "Spreedly benefited from this trend and helped customers unlock greater flexibility, resilience, and scale across their payments operationsresulting in strong momentum and several meaningful milestones across our platform."

"In 2026, we will continue investing in our people and sharpening our product roadmap around the payment problems enterprise teams actually struggle with," said Benson.

Significant Growth Momentum

The company added new marquee enterprise customers, including Adidas, reflecting growing demand from global brands with complex multi-market payment needs.

In the second half of 2025, Spreedly saw new business bookings double over the prior period.

Spreedly successfully closed its acquisition of Dodgeball, a modern fraud orchestration company, in September 2025. The acquisition brought payments optimization and fraud orchestration together under one platform, enabling enterprise customers to manage payments and fraud more holistically while advancing Spreedly's AI and open payments strategy. Spreedly is on track to close its first net new enterprise fraud orchestration customer in Q1 2026.

orchestration company, in September 2025. The acquisition brought payments optimization and orchestration together under one platform, enabling enterprise customers to manage payments and more holistically while advancing Spreedly's AI and open payments strategy. Spreedly is on track to close its first net new enterprise orchestration customer in Q1 2026. In Q3, Spreedly's enterprise segment grew 54% year over year (YoY) as customers expanded usage to support global scale and new payment methods.

Reflecting the global nature of Spreedly's business, Europe and LATAM were the fastest-growing regions YoY.

Customer demand for Spreedly's new products, including Vault and Protect, accelerated through 2025, with Vault growing nearly 50% in active cards under management year over year.

Annual Gross Merchant Volume (GMV) processed is expected to exceed $60 billion in 2025, up from $50 billion in 2024, underscoring Spreedly's role as a critical payments infrastructure company.

Enterprise and Platform Growth

"Our ten-year investment in enterprise-ready payment infrastructure allowed us to seamlessly begin processing agentic commerce transactions on behalf of our customers in Q4 2025," said Benson. "We look forward to continuing our momentum into 2026 as the leading open payments platform provider."

Spreedly's fastest-growing segments include mid-market and large enterprises. Growth is particularly robust in North America and Europe, where the adoption of digital wallets and open banking solutions continues to proliferate.

Partnerships Accelerating Growth

A meaningful component of Spreedly's growth in 2025 has been partnership-driven, with about a third of new business coming from partnerships. Last year, the announcement of partnerships with leading global players such as Visa, EBANX, Trustly, and Checkout.com fueled a new wave of growth. These alliances extend Spreedly's reach into high-growth regions such as Latin America and Europe, where open banking and pay-by-bank solutions are rapidly expanding. In 2024, Spreedly partnered with firms such as Forter, NuORDER, Dominion, GroupSync, and dLocal. Spreedly expects partnership-driven growth to remain a meaningful contributor through 2026 as demand for open payments accelerates globally.

About Spreedly

Spreedly ( www.spreedly.com ) is an open payments platform company redefining global commerce. The company is trusted by major brands including BMW, CLEAR, HBO Max, Hopper, Lemonade, Getty, Warner, The New York Times, Priceline, and others. Spreedly processes over $60 billion in gross merchandise value (GMV) on behalf of more than 400 customers across over 100 countries.

Media contact:

Olya Orda

[email protected]

SOURCE Spreedly
Photo: https://t.me/DeepStateUA

The enemy is advancing on the outskirts and in the village of Orikhovo-Vasylivka, Soledarsky urban community, Bakhmut district, Donetsk region, reported the OSINT project DeepState.

"The enemy is advancing in Orikhovo-Vasylivka. Recently, many fixations of Katsap infantry have been detected in the settlement and its surroundings, which further confirms the information about the occupation of the village and the overall activation of the enemy in this area. We are currently checking information about the presence and occupation of the neighboring settlement of Minkivka," the message on the project's Telegram channel says.

At the same time, the "East" group of troops denied information that the village of Orikhovo-Vasylivka, Donetsk region, is under enemy control.

"The other day, some Ukrainian information resources spread false information that the settlement of Orikhovo-Vasylivka in the Donetsk region is allegedly under the full control of the enemy. We inform you that this information is not true. Ukrainian troops continue to be in the area of the settlement, holding the occupied positions," the group of troops reported on its Facebook page.

The message states that servicemen of the 30th separate mechanized brigade named after Prince Konstantin Ostrohsky "are repelling enemy attacks and destroying its manpower, despite significant pressure from the occupation forces."

"The situation remains complex and dynamic, but statements about the complete occupation of the settlement are premature and incorrect. We call on media representatives and administrators of information resources to check the sources of information and use only official messages," the military stressed.

The DeepState project noted that they are aware of the refutation of the information.

"We have seen the refutation, we know it. For us, such a situation is not news," DeepState said.
Set for March 2-3, 2026, conference will bring to Tampa internationally recognized experts from several scientific cancer-related disciplines.

TAMPA, Fla., Jan. 27, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The Tampa General Hospital (TGH) Cancer Institute and the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine will host leading cancer researchers, clinicians and translational scientists from across the U.S. and around the world March 2-3, 2026, in Tampa, Florida, for the "Microbes, Genes & Cancer" Symposium. This multidisciplinary, scientific conference will examine how microbes, genetics/epigenetics and immune pathways intersect to drive cancer development, progression, and treatment response.

As part of the commemoration of the Fifth Anniversary of the TGH Cancer Institute, the symposium will convene world-renowned basic scientists and translational/clinical investigators whose work has defined the fields of cancer viruses, cancer immunology, cancer biology and translational oncology. These experts will share leading-edge information on current and transformative trends in the biology, diagnosis and treatment of malignancies associated with viruses and bacteria and will discuss the latest breakthroughs in cancer biology, microbiome and immunotherapy. This conference is intentionally designed to accelerate understanding and spark new collaborations that can further advance the field of cancer diagnosis and treatment.

The meeting arrives at a pivotal moment in cancer research, as growing evidence has linked viral, bacterial, immune responses and microbiome-related mechanisms to cancer risk, therapeutic response and outcomes across multiple tumor types. Sessions will investigate topics that include viral and bacterial carcinogenesis, tumor-microbiome interactions, immune modulation, translational targets and emerging therapeutic strategies. It also will address the growing recognition of cancer risk among long-term HIV survivors.

A special session March 3 will mark the 50th anniversary of Dr. Robert C. Gallo and his colleagues' landmark discovery of interleukin-2 (IL-2), the first cytokine ever used in cancer treatment and now the cornerstone of immunotherapy. This session, "50 Years of Interleukin-2 Discovery," is the most fitting and historically meaningful outlet for commemorating Dr. Gallo's scientific legacy and will feature a cadre of speakers, all members of the National Academy of Sciences and/or Medicine:

Robert C. Gallo, MD (USF Health Institute for Translational Virology & Innovation; TGH Cancer Institute; Global Virus Network)

(USF Health Institute for Translational Virology & Innovation; TGH Cancer Institute; Global Virus Network) Steve Rosenberg, MD (National Cancer Institute)

(National Cancer Institute) Carl June, MD (University of Pennsylvania)

(University of Pennsylvania) Drew M. Pardoll, MD, PhD (Johns Hopkins University)

(Johns Hopkins University) Rafi Ahmed, PhD (Emory University)

(Emory University) Warren Leonard, MD (National Cancer Institute)

The Microbes, Genes & Cancer Conference precedes the annual Global Virus Network Scientific Meeting, March 4-6, a high-level international convening of virology leaders. Both meetings combine for International Science Innovation Week, a collaboration among the TGH Cancer Institute, the Global Virus Network and the USF Health Institute for Translational Virology and Innovation.

Designed for both established investigators and trainees, the Microbes, Genes & Cancer Symposium emphasizes cross-disciplinary dialogue and practical insights that can inform future research directions, clinical strategies and collaborative efforts.

The conference will be held in Tampa, Florida, at the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine in downtown, in the heart of the Tampa Research and Medical District. This provides an easily accessed destination for national and international attendees. Registration is open.

Who should attend:

Cancer researchers and clinician-scientists

Immunologists and microbiologists

Infectious disease specialists

Translational and computational researchers

Oncology fellows, residents and trainees

Industry and academic leaders focused on cancer biology and immunotherapy

Conference details and registration: TGH Cancer Institute Meeting - Global Virus Network.

About the TGH Cancer Institute

The TGH Cancer Institute  among Florida's few cancer centers backed by academic medicine through its partnership with the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine  ranks among the nation's top 10% of hospitals by U.S. News & World Report's Best Hospitals 20252026. It holds accreditations from the American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer; the American Society of Clinical Oncology's Quality Oncology Practice Initiative; the National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers from the American College of Surgeons; the Foundation for the Accreditation of Cellular Therapy for excellence in stem cell and cellular therapy; and American Society of Radiation Oncology Program for Excellence. The institute is a member of the Association of American Cancer Institutes, recognized for leadership in research, treatment, education and outreach and was named among Newsweek's America's Best Cancer Hospitals. For more information about the TGH Cancer Institute, visit www.tgh.org/institutes-and-services/cancer-institute.

ABOUT TAMPA GENERAL HOSPITAL

Tampa General Hospital, the Tampa Bay region's only academic health system, is a 1,530-bed not-for-profit network of hospital and outpatient services spanning across Florida. As the only center for Level l trauma and comprehensive burn care center serving 23 counties, Tampa General delivers world-class care. The system's hospitals include Tampa General Hospital, Tampa General Rehabilitation Hospital, Tampa General Behavioral Health Hospital, all in Tampa; Tampa General Brooksville, Tampa General Spring Hill and Tampa General Crystal River. Tampa General is the highest-ranked hospital in Tampa Bay in U.S. News & World Report's 2025-2026 Best Hospitals, with six medical specialties ranking among the top 50 in the nation and five additional medical specialties ranked among the top 10% best hospital programs in the United States. As the first hospital in Florida to open a clinical command center for real-time situational awareness, the academic health system has elevated its digital care coordination center to the next level by leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) and its analytics platform across inpatient and outpatient care to ensure patients receive leading-edge care as quickly and safely as possible. Tampa General's commitment to growing and developing its team members is recognized by three prestigious Forbes magazine rankings  in the 2025 America's Best Large Employers, ranked as the Tampa Bay region's #1 employer in the health care category for the fifth year in a row, and among the top five in the state of Florida, in the 2025 Best Employers by State and the 2023 America's Best Employers for Women.

Tampa General is the area's safety-net hospital, caring for anyone regardless of ability to pay; in fiscal year 2024, Tampa General provided a net community benefit of approximately $289.1 million in the form of health care for underinsured patients, community education and financial support to community health organizations in Tampa Bay. It is recognized as one of the adult solid organ transplant centers in the nation and is the primary teaching hospital for the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine. With five medical helicopters, Tampa General transports critically injured or ill patients from surrounding counties to receive the advanced care their conditions require. Tampa General has a nationally accredited comprehensive stroke center and its 32-bed Neuroscience Intensive Care Unit is the largest on the West Coast of Florida. It is home to the Muma Children's Hospital at TGH, the Jennifer Leigh Muma 82-bed neonatal intensive care unit and a nationally accredited rehabilitation center. Tampa General's footprint includes TGH North, which consists of three hospitals and several outpatient locations in Citrus and Hernando counties; 17 Tampa General Medical Group Primary Care offices; TGH Family Care Center Kennedy; two TGH outpatient centers; TGH Virtual Health; and 20 TGH Imaging outpatient radiology centers throughout Hillsborough, Pasco, Pinellas and Palm Beach counties. Tampa Bay area residents receive world-class care from the TGH Urgent Care, powered by the Fast Track network of clinics. To see a medical care professional live anytime, anywhere on a smartphone, tablet or computer, visit Virtual Health | Tampa General Hospital (tgh.org). For more information, go to www.tgh.org.

ABOUT USF HEALTH

USF Health's mission is to envision and implement the future of health. It is the partnership of the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine, the College of Nursing, the College of Public Health, the Taneja College of Pharmacy, the School of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Sciences, the Biomedical Sciences Graduate and Postdoctoral Programs, and USF Health's multispecialty physicians' group. The University of South Florida, a high-impact research university dedicated to student success and committed to community engagement, generates an annual economic impact of more than $6 billion. Through hundreds of millions of dollars in research activity each year, USF is a leader in solving global problems and improving lives. For more information, visit health.usf.edu.

Media Contact: Beth Hardy, APR USF Health Media Contact: Cody Hawley Assistant Manager Senior Director Publications & Physician Communications USF Health Communications & Marketing (727) 510-6363 (cell) (860) 235-1001 [email protected] [email protected]

SOURCE Tampa General Hospital
About this content 

About Stephen Gunnion

Stephen Gunnion is a senior financial journalist and broadcaster at Proactive Investors. He has more than 25 years of experience in television, radio and print media, anchoring on a number of television channels including South Africa's Business Day TV, CNBC Africa and the South African Broadcasting Corporation, where he was the economics editor. He has also worked for Daily Maverick, Bloomberg, the Business Day newspaper and Investors' Chronicle. Read more

About the publisher

Proactive financial news and online broadcast teams provide fast, accessible, informative and actionable business and finance news content to a global investment audience. All our content is produced independently by our experienced and qualified teams of news journalists.

Proactive news team spans the worlds key finance and investing hubs with bureaus and studios in London, New York, Toronto, Vancouver, Sydney and Perth.

We are experts in medium and small-cap markets, we also keep our community up to date with blue-chip companies, commodities and broader investment stories. This is content that excites and engages motivated private investors.

The team delivers news and unique insights across the market including but not confined to: biotech and pharma, mining and natural resources, battery metals, oil and gas, crypto and emerging digital and EV technologies.

Use of technology

Proactive has always been a forward looking and enthusiastic technology adopter.

Our human content creators are equipped with many decades of valuable expertise and experience. The team also has access to and use technologies to assist and enhance workflows.

Proactive will on occasion use automation and software tools, including generative AI. Nevertheless, all content published by Proactive is edited and authored by humans, in line with best practice in regard to content production and search engine optimisation.
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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.
About this content 

About Jamie Ashcroft

Jamie Ashcroft, the News Editor for Proactive UK, has developed an impressive career in financial journalism, focusing on the small-cap sector for over fourteen years. Before joining the Proactive team, he was a stockbroker during the global financial crisis, a role that complemented his educational background - a first-class degree in Business and Economics and qualifications in software design and development. As one of the early external hires at Proactive in 2009, Jamie contributed... Read more

About the publisher

Proactive financial news and online broadcast teams provide fast, accessible, informative and actionable business and finance news content to a global investment audience. All our content is produced independently by our experienced and qualified teams of news journalists.

Proactive news team spans the worlds key finance and investing hubs with bureaus and studios in London, New York, Toronto, Vancouver, Sydney and Perth.

We are experts in medium and small-cap markets, we also keep our community up to date with blue-chip companies, commodities and broader investment stories. This is content that excites and engages motivated private investors.

The team delivers news and unique insights across the market including but not confined to: biotech and pharma, mining and natural resources, battery metals, oil and gas, crypto and emerging digital and EV technologies.

Use of technology

Proactive has always been a forward looking and enthusiastic technology adopter.

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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.
About this content 

About Jonathan Jackson

Jonathan Jackson is an experienced writer and editor. Over the past 20 years, he has worked in print and digital media across several business and finance titles amd is currently the Australian news editor at Proactive Investors covering the latest news for ASX listed companies as well as current financial trends. He was previously managing editor with Business First magazine, Wealth Creator Magazine and StocksDigital. Jonathan has interviewed some of the world's top CEOs and covered... Read more

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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.

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It is impossible to talk about security in Europe without guaranteeing security in Ukraine - Zhovka

Photo: Office of the President of Ukraine/www.president.gov.ua

Deputy Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Ihor Zhovkva held a meeting with the Norwegian delegation: State Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Torgeir Larsen and State Secretary of the Ministry of Defense Frede Hermansen.

"The key topic of the meeting was energy support. Zhovkva noted Norway's contribution to Ukraine's energy sustainability: a grant of almost $400 million for gas imports in 2025 and the continuation of grant assistance this month. In January, Norway allocated $100 million for the repair of energy equipment and $100 million for gas imports," the press service of the Office of the President reports.

The parties also discussed security guarantees for Ukraine. Zhovkva noted the participation of Norway and personally Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stre in this process.

"Norway is one of our key partners. We are grateful to your country for its role in the Coalition of the Willing, for joining the Paris Declaration. Due to geographical realities, you understand us like no one else: it is impossible to talk about security in Europe without guaranteeing security in Ukraine," he stressed.

Particular attention was paid to the further development of the PURL initiative, which ensures the purchase of missiles for Patriot air defense systems and saves lives. Norway made the largest contribution - $840 million. Ukraine expects to maintain the same amount of funding this year.

Ukraine and Norway also agreed to intensify cooperation in joint defense projects, in particular in the production of drones, to strengthen the defense capabilities of Ukraine and all of Europe.
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About Steve Darling

Steve Darling is an award winning broadcaster who has spent the past 20 years as one of the most recognizable faces in British Columbia, reporting and anchoring at BCTV and Global Television. He spent 15 years as the co-host of the number one morning new program in the province. Steve is a tireless worker for charity hosting some 50 events a year. He is an ambassador for the Canucks Autism Network and hosts numerous events with BC Childrens Hospital and the Child Development foundation of... Read more

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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.

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Kyiv Court of Appeal left the suspect in treason, MP Oleksandr Dubinsky, in custody, the possibility of bail was revoked.

"Kyiv Court of Appeal satisfied the appeal of the prosecutors of the Prosecutor General's Office and revoked the decision of the court of first instance in determining an alternative measure of restraint in the form of bail," the Prosecutor General's Office (PGO) said on its Telegram channel on Tuesday.

The agency's statement did not specify the name of the suspect, as Interfax-Ukraine was told by law enforcement agencies, it refers to Dubinsky.

According to the prosecutor's office, the appellate court agreed with the prosecution's arguments about the existence of risks provided for by criminal procedural legislation, in particular the possibility of influencing witnesses, obstructing criminal proceedings and evading justice.

"The preventive measure in the form of detention for the MP suspected of treason was left without the alternative of posting bail," the PGO said.

As reported with reference to the media, on January 15, Kyiv's Shevchenkivsky Court set a bail of UAH 33 million as a possible preventive measure for MP Oleksandr Dubinsky, who has been in custody since November 2023.
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About Angela Harmantas

Angela Harmantas is an Editor at Proactive. She has over 15 years of experience covering the equity markets in North America, with a particular focus on junior resource stocks. Angela has reported from numerous countries around the world, including Canada, the US, Australia, Brazil, Ghana, and South Africa for leading trade publications. Previously, she worked in investor relations and led the foreign direct investment program in Canada for the Swedish government. She earned a Bachelor of... Read more

About the publisher

Proactive financial news and online broadcast teams provide fast, accessible, informative and actionable business and finance news content to a global investment audience. All our content is produced independently by our experienced and qualified teams of news journalists.

Proactive news team spans the worlds key finance and investing hubs with bureaus and studios in London, New York, Toronto, Vancouver, Sydney and Perth.

We are experts in medium and small-cap markets, we also keep our community up to date with blue-chip companies, commodities and broader investment stories. This is content that excites and engages motivated private investors.

The team delivers news and unique insights across the market including but not confined to: biotech and pharma, mining and natural resources, battery metals, oil and gas, crypto and emerging digital and EV technologies.

Use of technology

Proactive has always been a forward looking and enthusiastic technology adopter.

Our human content creators are equipped with many decades of valuable expertise and experience. The team also has access to and use technologies to assist and enhance workflows.

Proactive will on occasion use automation and software tools, including generative AI. Nevertheless, all content published by Proactive is edited and authored by humans, in line with best practice in regard to content production and search engine optimisation.
About this content 

About Emily Jarvie

Emily began her career as a political journalist for Australian Community Media in Hobart, Tasmania. After she relocated to Toronto, Canada, she reported on business, legal, and scientific developments in the emerging psychedelics sector before joining Proactive in 2022. She brings a strong journalism background with her work featured in newspapers, magazines, and digital publications across Australia, Europe, and North America, including The Examiner, The Advocate, The Canberra Times, and... Read more

About the publisher

Proactive financial news and online broadcast teams provide fast, accessible, informative and actionable business and finance news content to a global investment audience. All our content is produced independently by our experienced and qualified teams of news journalists.

Proactive news team spans the worlds key finance and investing hubs with bureaus and studios in London, New York, Toronto, Vancouver, Sydney and Perth.

We are experts in medium and small-cap markets, we also keep our community up to date with blue-chip companies, commodities and broader investment stories. This is content that excites and engages motivated private investors.

The team delivers news and unique insights across the market including but not confined to: biotech and pharma, mining and natural resources, battery metals, oil and gas, crypto and emerging digital and EV technologies.

Use of technology

Proactive has always been a forward looking and enthusiastic technology adopter.

Our human content creators are equipped with many decades of valuable expertise and experience. The team also has access to and use technologies to assist and enhance workflows.

Proactive will on occasion use automation and software tools, including generative AI. Nevertheless, all content published by Proactive is edited and authored by humans, in line with best practice in regard to content production and search engine optimisation.
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Washington, Jan 27 : The White House defended the role of federal immigration enforcement in Minnesota and rejected criticism of its response to a fatal weekend shooting in Minneapolis, as President Donald Trump ordered senior officials to press state and local leaders to cooperate with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

Addressing a regular White House briefing, Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said President Trump was closely monitoring developments following the shooting of an ICE agent on Saturday and had approved federal emergency disaster declarations for multiple states hit by a severe winter storm, even as he focused on restoring "law and order" in Minnesota.

Leavitt said the administration was reviewing all aspects of the Minneapolis incident, with investigations underway by Homeland Security Investigations and the FBI, as well as an internal review by Customs and Border Protection. She stressed that the president wanted "to let the investigation continue and let the facts lead in this case."

The press secretary accused Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey of having "actively defied federal immigration law" by blocking cooperation with ICE, arguing that such actions had created "dangerous situations" for federal officers. She said President Trump spoke with Governor Walz earlier in the day and outlined "a clear and simple path to restoring law and order in Minnesota."

According to Leavitt, the president's demands included turning over all illegal immigrants currently incarcerated in state prisons to federal authorities, transferring those with active warrants or known criminal histories for immediate deportation, and ensuring cooperation between local, state, and federal law enforcement. She said ICE would not need to increase its presence if state and local officials implemented these measures.

Leavitt rejected claims that the administration had rushed to conclusions about the shooting, saying the president had made clear he wanted the investigation to play out. She said President Trump "believes what happened on Saturday is a tragedy," adding that "every life is equal" and that the president mourned the loss of life involved.

Responding to questions about rhetoric from Democratic officials, Leavitt described language comparing ICE agents to "Nazi Gestapo" as "despicable" and said such remarks had contributed to rising tensions. She said federal agents were "just trying to do their jobs to enforce our nation's immigration laws and go after the worst of the worst in this country."

The White House also confirmed that Tom Homan, border czar, was traveling to Minneapolis at the president's request. Leavitt said Homan would serve as the administration's point person to work with state and local authorities and "subdue the chaos on the streets of Minneapolis," noting his decades of experience in law enforcement.

Leavitt said President Trump retained "full confidence" in Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and dismissed suggestions that Homan's deployment reflected dissatisfaction with her leadership. She added that the president had asked Homan to drop everything and travel to Minnesota to continue discussions already underway with local officials.

On broader immigration policy, Leavitt said the president continued to push Congress to pass legislation ending sanctuary city policies, arguing that "American cities should be safe sanctuaries for law-abiding citizens, not for dangerous illegal alien criminals." She cited polling showing strong public support for deporting violent offenders and said the administration would not "back down from his promise to deport violent criminal illegal aliens and make America safe again."

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Washington, Jan 27 : The United States and India have launched a new joint mechanism to strengthen cooperation against drug trafficking and narco-terrorism, officials said.

The inaugural meeting of the US-India Drug Policy Executive Working Group was held in Washington from January 20 to 21, according to a White House statement issued Monday.

Sara Carter, Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy, opened the meeting. She said President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi share a commitment to stronger security cooperation and the eradication of narco-terrorism.

"The drug crisis is now a core national security priority," Carter said. "This Executive Working Group leverages the bilateral partnership to protect families while also supporting legitimate industries."

India's Ambassador to the United States, Vinay Kwatra, said India gives the highest priority to addressing the threat from narcotics trafficking. He said this includes tackling the diversion of precursor chemicals used to produce illicit drugs.

Kwatra said India is working to balance strong enforcement with the facilitation of legitimate trade, including lawful pharmaceutical activity.

The working group is led by Acting ONDCP Deputy Director Debbie Seguin on the US side and Monika Ashish Batra, Deputy Director General of India's Narcotics Control Bureau, on the Indian side.

Officials from both countries said the group is focused on delivering tangible and measurable outcomes to advance counter-narcotics cooperation.

Both sides agreed to strengthen bilateral efforts to dismantle the illegal production and trafficking of illicit drugs and their precursor chemicals. They said these activities threaten communities in both countries.

The two governments emphasized a whole-of-government approach. They said better coordination among agencies and across governments is needed to address the drug threat.

Officials also stressed the importance of securing the pharmaceutical supply chain. They said efforts to prevent diversion must be consistent with national rules and regulations and should not disrupt legitimate industries.

The meeting built on recent joint operations that targeted illicit narcotics trafficking networks, the statement said.

US and Indian officials described the talks as a sign of their shared and enduring commitment to addressing the global drug challenge.

They said the new working group reflects a broader effort to promote safety and public health in both countries.

The initiative comes as governments worldwide face growing challenges from synthetic drugs and the misuse of precursor chemicals.

US-India security cooperation has expanded in recent years, covering areas such as counterterrorism and law enforcement coordination.

Counter-narcotics efforts have become an increasingly important part of that partnership, especially as drug trafficking networks operate across borders and link to organized crime and terrorism.
Washington, Jan 27 : Indian diplomatic missions and consulates across the United States celebrated the 77th Republic Day of India with flag hoisting ceremonies, diaspora participation, and readings of the President of India's address.

At the Embassy of India in Washington, Ambassador Vinay Kwatra unfurled the tricolour at India House. The embassy said the President's address to the nation on the eve of Republic Day was relayed during the event.

The embassy said the ambassador presented awards to winners of a competition held to mark Vishwa Hindi Diwas. It added that members of the Indian diaspora took part in the celebrations.

In Seattle, the Indian tricolour was unfurled at the Federal Reserve Building as Republic Day celebrations began with the hoisting of the national flag. India in Seattle thanked Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson for attending and for reaffirming the friendship between India and Seattle.

"The new office of the India Consular Application Center (co-located with the Consulate now) was also inaugurated," the post said. It added that more than 300 members of the Indian American community joined the celebrations.

In New York, the Consulate celebrated the 77th Republic Day with a flag hoisting by Consul General Binaya Srikanta Pradhan. He read the President of India's address to the nation.

The post said the address highlighted the values of the Constitution and the role of citizens in India and the Indian diaspora abroad in building a Developed India@2047. It thanked members of the diaspora for attending despite extreme weather conditions.

In Houston, the Consulate General of India said it celebrated the 77th Republic Day with solemnity and pride. Consul General D.C. Manjunath unfurled the national flag and read the President of India's address to the nation.

The Houston consulate said the celebrations included a special "Vande Mataram" exhibition. The exhibition marked 150 years of the national song and highlighted its role in India's freedom movement.

In Chicago, the Consul General unfurled the tricolour at the consulate to mark Republic Day. The President of India's address to the nation was read during the ceremony.

The post said the address reaffirmed constitutional values of democracy, unity and national pride. It added that the event was followed by a brief cultural program marking the 150th year of "Vande Mataram."

In Boston, Deputy Consul General Shruthi Purushotam joined community members and the Indian Association of Greater Boston to celebrate Republic Day. The post said the event reflected the spirit of the Indian diaspora.

It added that the celebration highlighted India's constitutional values, unity, and cultural heritage.
Washington, Jan 27 : Texas Governor Greg Abbott said his administration is examining the use of H-1B visas in the state's public schools, universities, and other taxpayer-funded institutions, questioning whether foreign workers are being hired for jobs that Texans can readily fill.

Speaking on The Mark Davis Show on Monday, Abbott said his office has begun collecting information from public agencies to determine "the extent to which Texas taxpayer dollars are being used to pay for any of these people," referring to H-1B visa holders working in state institutions.

The governor said the inquiry covers public schools, colleges, and universities, as well as other areas where state funds may be involved. He added that his office has sent inquiries to agencies across Texas and is seeking to compile details on the number of H-1B workers employed, the roles they fill, and the justification for their hiring.

"We have inquiries out right now to all of those agencies gathering the information that we need, and are hoping to be able to make an announcement later on this week about an action plan that Texas is beginning to take," Abbott said during the radio interview.

Abbott emphasized that the H-1B visa program is administered by the federal government, not by the states. Still, he said, Texas is examining what authority it may have when state funds are involved. "This is a federal program, only a federal program. It's not a state program," he said, adding that his administration is looking at "what authority would we have to do anything about this."

He said the review is focused on whether public institutions are relying on H-1B workers in positions that do not require unique or specialized skills. "For example, what job is it in our public schools in the State of Texas that these H-1B visa personnel are fulfilling that we can't fulfill here in our own public schools?" Abbott said. "I don't see any reason why we need any H-1B visa employees in our public schools in the State of Texas, but we're going to find out if there's some unique skill set or whatever the case may be."

The governor also raised concerns about what he described as possible abuse of the visa program, echoing arguments made by some conservatives that H-1B visas have been misused. He referred to reports of multiple visa holders registered at a single address and said there has been "extraordinary controversy" surrounding how some H-1B workers were admitted.

Abbott suggested that some individuals who entered the US on H-1B visas may have overstayed or were insufficiently vetted, particularly during the Biden administration. "Some of these H-1B visa issues are people who were allowed in either under the Biden administration or even before that who've overstayed their visa," he said.

He linked the state's review to broader federal immigration enforcement efforts under President Donald Trump, saying Texas is in communication with the administration. "Obviously, we are in communication with the Trump administration," Abbott said, adding that the president has made the issue a priority.

Abbott said his administration aims to ensure public safety and protect Texans' jobs. "The fact of the matter is we want to make sure that our communities are safe," he said. "We want to make sure that our communities are not having people come in and take jobs that Texans can easily fill."

He said that depending on what the review finds, Texas could ask the federal government to take further action. "It may be that we're having to call specifically on the Trump administration to withdraw them," Abbott said, referring to certain H-1B visa holders.

The H-1B program allows US employers to hire foreign workers in specialty occupations that typically require at least a bachelor's degree. It is widely used in fields such as technology, medicine, research, and higher education, and has long been a point of political debate in Washington.

In recent years, critics of the program have argued that it can undercut US workers or be used for positions that do not require highly specialized skills, while supporters say it helps address labor shortages and allows employers to recruit global talent in critical sectors.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Photo: https://t.me/Ukraine_MFA

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy is ready to meet with Vladimir Putin to resolve territorial issues and control over Zaporizhia nuclear power plant in the occupied city of Enerhodar, Zaporizhia region, country's Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha has said.

"It is precisely to resolve them [the issues of territories and Zaporizhia nuclear power plant] that the president is ready to meet with Putin and discuss this," he said in an interview with European Pravda.

However, Sybiha said he does not see the need for his meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.
Berlin, Jan 27 : German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Monday called the "level of violence" in the United States "worrying" following recent fatal shootings by federal agents in the US state of Minnesota.

Speaking at a press conference in the northern German city of Hamburg, Merz was asked for his views on the incidents in which two American citizens were killed during US federal enforcement operations.

"I assume that the American authorities will now thoroughly investigate whether it was necessary to shoot in these cases and whether there really was a threat to the officers involved," Merz said.

The chancellor's remarks followed two deadly encounters this month in Minneapolis, the largest city in Minnesota. On Saturday morning, Alex Pretti was shot and killed by federal agents, following a similar incident on January 7, when Renee Nicole Good was fatally shot by a US Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer.

Meanwhile, the White House defended the role of federal immigration enforcement in Minnesota and rejected criticism of its response to a fatal weekend shooting in Minneapolis, as President Donald Trump ordered senior officials to press state and local leaders to cooperate with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

Addressing a regular White House briefing, Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said President Trump was closely monitoring developments following the shooting of an ICE agent on Saturday and had approved federal emergency disaster declarations for multiple states hit by a severe winter storm, even as he focused on restoring "law and order" in Minnesota.

Leavitt said the administration was reviewing all aspects of the Minneapolis incident, with investigations underway by Homeland Security Investigations and the FBI, as well as an internal review by Customs and Border Protection. She stressed that the president wanted "to let the investigation continue and let the facts lead in this case."

-- Except for the title, this story has not been edited by Prokerala team and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed
Mumbai, Jan 27 : Veteran filmmaker Subhash Ghai has responded to the ongoing debate about the communal undertones in the film industry.

He has subtly rejected the allegations made by some artists, such as A R Rahman, saying that this is an age-old phenomenon in the industry and nothing new to be discussed now.

Speaking exclusively to IANS, the 'Taal' maker said that the issue has been persistent in society for several years, and those who wish to focus on their work remain unaffected by such discussions.

Ghai was asked, "The film industry is considered to be a progressive space in general, but still, at times, there are talks about communal undertones. So what do you think, the industry is in complete insulation from these cracks in society?"

Responding to this, the 'Karma' maker shared, "See, I was born in Nagpur and did my schooling in Delhi. We used to stay in Chandani Chowk. This issue was there when I was in the 8th standard, it was still there when I went to college, and still existed when I shifted to Mumbai."

"The topic of communal harmony will always be in discussion. Communal disturbance, communal unrest, and unemployment have been discussed for the last several years and will continue to be discussed in the coming years", he added.

Ghai's statement comes amidst A R Rahman's recent comment about getting limited work offers in Bollywood.

The Oscar-winning composer shared during a media interaction, "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."

After facing a lot of backlash, Rahman later cleared the air, saying that he did not wish to hurt anyone and feels blessed to be an Indian.

During his interaction, Ghai added that one should not try to interpret anyone's remark unnecessarily.

"Do not make it a huge issue by trying to understand the meaning of someone's single statement. People who know their work remain unaffected and continue to focus on their craft, and those who wish to do politics are doing just that", the director concluded.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
United Nations, Jan 27 : The Pakistani military directly "pleaded" for the end of Operation Sindoor, India has reminded the Security Council, dismissing claims of external intervention.

United Nations, Jan 27 (IANS) The Pakistani military directly "pleaded" for the end of Operation Sindoor, India has reminded the Security Council, dismissing claims of external intervention.

"We will do whatever is required to protect and ensure the safety and security of our citizens", India's Permanent Representative P Harish also warned on Monday.

"Let me reiterate again that terrorism can never be normalised as Pakistan wishes to do", he said.

While pointing out that Operation Sindoor was in furtherance of the Council's stand against terrorism, he laid out the sequence of events leading to the end of the operation that took a toll on Pakistan's air force.

"Till May 9, Pakistan was threatening more attacks on India, but on May 10, the Pakistani military called our military directly and pleaded for a cessation to the fighting", he said.

"The destruction caused to multiple Pakistani air bases by the Indian operation, including images of destroyed runways and burnt out hangars, is in the public domain", he said.

India's response to the attack by Pakistan-based terrorists on tourists in Pahalgam on April 22 last year was measured and responsible, he said.

The Resistance Front, an affiliate of the Lashkar-e-Taiba, which has been declared a terrorist organisation by the United States and India, said it had carried out the religion-based attack that killed 26 people.

In launching Operation Sindoor, India was responding to the Council's call for "holding the perpetrators, organisers, financiers and sponsors of this reprehensible act of terrorism accountable and brought to justice", Harish said.

"India's actions were measured, non-escalatory, responsible and focused on dismantling the terrorist infrastructure and disabling terrorism", he said.

Harish did not name US President Donald Trump, who has claimed that he ended the conflict through his diplomacy and threats of tariffs and made a claim for a Nobel Peace Prize.

During the Council's open debate on "Reaffirming international rule of law", Pakistan's Permanent Representative Asim Iftikhar Ahmad brought up Operation Sindoor, claiming it was an "unprovoked military aggression".

He went on to speak about the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty and his version of the situation in Kashmir.

Dismissing the claims about Kashmir, Harish declared, "The Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir has been, is and will always remain, an integral and inalienable part of India".

About the Indus Rivers Treaty that Prime Minister Narendra Modi suspended after the Pahalgam attack, Harish explained, "India was compelled to finally announce that the treaty will be held in abeyance until Pakistan, a global epicentre of terror, credibly and irrevocably ends its support for cross-border and all other forms of terror".

About Islamabad's habit of raising the Kashmir and other "issues" it has with India at UN forums regardless of the topic under discussion, Harish said, "This hallowed chamber cannot become a forum for Pakistan to legitimise terrorism".

As for Ahmad speaking about the rule of law, Harish advised introspection.

Pakistan "could start by asking itself, how it has let its armed forces engineer a constitutional coup through the 27th Amendment and giving lifetime immunity to its chief of defence forces".

The 27th Amendment to the Pakistan Constitution in November virtually established the supremacy of the military.
Khartoum, Jan 27 : The Sudanese army said that its forces had entered the southern city of Dilling after breaking a siege imposed for more than two years by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and their allied Sudan People's Liberation Movement-North.

In a brief statement on Monday, the army said its troops, backed by allied forces, opened the main access road to the city following a successful operation that drove out the besieging forces, destroyed their vehicles, and secured the movement of civilians and essential supplies.

An eyewitness told Xinhua that army units entered Dilling following clashes in areas surrounding the city, adding that residents later emerged to welcome the troops.

Meanwhile, videos circulating on social media showed scenes of celebration involving government forces and local residents.

There was no immediate comment from the RSF, Xinhua news agency reported.

Dilling had been under siege since the early months of the conflict that erupted more than two years ago, triggering a severe humanitarian crisis as basic supply routes were cut off.

Also on Monday, Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, the army chief and head of Sudan's ruling council, reiterated the military's determination to end the 'rebellion' and prevent its return.

Since mid-April 2023, fighting between the Sudanese army and the RSF has killed tens of thousands and displaced millions both inside and outside Sudan.

Since seizing the army's last stronghold in western Darfur last October, the RSF has shifted its focus eastward, aided by its local allies, namely the Sudan People's Liberation Movement, North faction led by Abdelaziz al-Hilu.

Since then, the paramilitary group has tightened its grip on West Kordofan, taken Heglig home to Sudan's largest oil field and intensified its siege of Kadugli.

A UN-backed assessment last year already confirmed famine in Kadugli, which has been under RSF siege for more than a year and a half.

The assessment said conditions in Dilling were likely similar, but security issues and a lack of access have prevented a formal declaration.
Thiruvananthapuram, Jan 27 : After a three-day recess, the Kerala Legislative Assembly reconvened on Tuesday amid renewed confrontation between the treasury and the opposition, with the Sabarimala gold heist once again dominating proceedings.

The protesters are demanding the resignation of the Devaswom Minister V.N. Vasavan as two opposition legislators, Najeeb Kanthapuram and C.R. Mahesh, began a sit-in protest at the entrance of the Assembly hall.

Leader of Opposition V.D. Satheesan opened the debate by reiterating allegations of interference by the Chief Ministeras Office in the functioning of the Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the case.

Terming the issue a serious breach of institutional integrity, Satheesan announced that the opposition would intensify its protest.

Maintaining that the oppositionas agitation over the Sabarimala gold heist would continue, Satheesan reiterated the demand for the resignation of the Devaswom Minister, holding him politically accountable for the controversy.

At the same time, he sought to underline that the protest would not disrupt legislative business, clarifying that the opposition would cooperate with the proceedings of the House even as the agitation carried on outside.

Kanthapuram and Mahesh were named as the two MLAs who would sit on the satyagraha, symbolically escalating the protest while attempting to strike a balance between dissent and parliamentary functioning.

Responding sharply to the oppositionas allegations, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan dismissed the protest as misplaced, arguing that the agitation was not effectively against the government but amounted to a challenge to the High Court itself.

He pointed out that the investigation into the gold heist was being conducted under the supervision of the High Court, and any insinuation of interference undermined the judicial process.

Adding a dramatic flourish to the issue, the opposition continued its unconventional form of protest inside the House by breaking into a parody song, a political satire that has already gained wide traction on social media and outside the legislature.

The singing session, which briefly disrupted proceedings, underscored the increasingly theatrical nature of the standoff, as the gold heist issue once again pushed the Assembly into high-decibel political theatre.
January 27 : Lucknow: Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Saturday held a detailed discussion on the budget proposals for the upcoming financial year 202627 in an important meeting.

The Chief Minister said, Over the past nearly nine years, Uttar Pradesh has made concrete progress in the direction of development, security and prosperity. This has raised expectations among the people of the state, and meeting those expectations is the governments top priority.

The Chief Minister directed that the core of the upcoming budget should be public welfare. He said, Bringing a positive change in the lives of the poor, farmers, workers, women, youth and deprived sections of society should be the soul of the budget.

In the meeting, detailed discussions were also held on the budget proposals, new demands, and the proposals placed by the state government in the context of the Union Budget 202627, related to departments under the Chief Minister and the departments of Ministers of State (Independent Charge).

Earlier, the Chief Minister also took updated information from the departmental Principal Secretaries regarding financial approvals and expenditure in comparison to the current financial years budget.

The Chief Minister also added that the Union Governments General Budget is scheduled to be presented on 1 February. He directed that provisions related to Uttar Pradesh should be reviewed and, accordingly, necessary improvements should be made in the departmental budget proposals.

In the meeting, it was informed that in the proposals for 202627, special emphasis is being laid on the continuity of public welfare schemes, the expansion of social security, and further strengthening of basic facilities.

Provisions related to food security, housing, health, education and essential services were examined from the perspective of ensuring that their benefits effectively reach every citizen.

The Chief Minister also said, Strong law and order in the state is the foundation of development and investment.

He directed that proposals of departments related to police, justice and administration should further strengthen public safety, ensure speedy justice, and build greater trust among citizens.

In the meeting, it was also informed that the objective of proposals related to roads, buildings and other infrastructure development is to enhance the states connectivity, industrial activities and employment opportunities, so that the benefits of development reach urban and rural areas equally.

Emphasizing financial management, the Chief Minister stated that public welfare and financial discipline are complementary to each other.

He directed that resources should be utilized in such a manner that the quality of schemes improves, timely implementation is ensured, and the public can see real results.

In the meeting, it was discussed that proposals related to revenue strengthening, administrative reforms and expenditure efficiency have been incorporated in a manner that maintains the states financial prosperity and stability, while ensuring continuity in development works.

The Chief Minister also stated, The new identity that Uttar Pradesh has built in the country by moving forward with confidence over the past nine years should be further strengthened through the upcoming budget.

He directed officials to finalize the proposals by maintaining a balance between public aspirations, regional requirements and long-term development.

The Chief Minister said the budget for the upcoming financial year will prove to be a strong step towards fulfilling the dreams and expectations of the people of the state through public welfare, good governance and financial prosperity.

Minister of State for Cooperation (Independent Charge) JPS Rathore and Minister of State for Transport (Independent Charge) Dayashankar Singh were present in the meeting.
Bengaluru, Jan 27 : The BJP in Karnataka staged a protest in front of the Mahatma Gandhi statue in Vidhan Soudha on Tuesday, demanding the resignation of Excise Minister R.B. Thimmapur over an alleged excise scam amounting to Rs 2,500 crore.

The party also alleged that these huge funds were being collected to finance the Congress party's election campaigns in Kerala, Assam, and Tamil Nadu.

The protest was led by the Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly, R. Ashoka, and the BJP State President and MLA B.Y. Vijayendra. BJP MLAs and MLCs held placards demanding the resignation of Minister Thimmapur and raised slogans against the Congress-led government. The placards stated that the protest would continue until the Minister resigned.

Addressing the protest, R. Ashoka said, "We are staging a protest condemning the loot in the Excise Department. A fixed monthly bribe amount has been imposed on all bars and wine stores. They speak about Mahatma Gandhi and claim to be his followers. Across the state, 1,500 to 2,000 new liquor shop licences have been issued. Is this the respect they are showing to Mahatma Gandhi?"

"For every licence, they are caught red-handed while accepting bribes. For each licence, they are collecting between Rs 2 crore and Rs 2.5 crore. The liquor vendors' association is complaining about this to the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and the President of India," he said.

"No action has been taken even after complaints were submitted to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. For the past six months, they have been meeting the Chief Minister, but he has not taken any action because he is also getting a share in the corruption. In the last year, three videos have surfaced showing discussions about bribe amounts and cuts for ministers and commissioners," Ashoka alleged.

"This entire episode resembles a cinema. The Chief Minister is turning a blind eye to it, which shows that he, too, is involved. Supporters of the Excise Minister have privately stated that he is in charge of only three districts, while other districts are managed by others," he claimed.

He further said that during the tenure of former Chief Minister Ramakrishna Hegde, the government had fallen due to a liquor scam. "There is a conspiracy to loot Rs 2,500 crore from Karnataka through corruption and divert it to Assam, Tamil Nadu and Kerala. The plan is ready and is already being implemented. In this backdrop, the Chief Minister is deliberately neglecting the issue," Ashoka alleged.

"I have already raised this issue during the Assembly session. We are protesting in front of the Mahatma Gandhi statue at Vidhana Soudha. This government is selling liquor at people's doorsteps in villages. Massive corruption is taking place, and the minister must resign. Otherwise, the protest will be intensified against the Chief Minister," he warned.

"We will demand the resignation of the Chief Minister in the next phase," Ashoka said.

Criticising the Congress for organising a protest march to the Governor's residence, he said, "They have no sense of responsibility. Maintaining law and order is their duty. If the government itself comes onto the streets to protest, it shows how low it can stoop. This protest has been organised to divert public attention. The entire government is mired in corruption and infighting, and to distract from this, they are staging such protests. The Assembly session itself is being used to divert attention from internal infighting."
Melbourne, Jan 27 : Alexander Zverev moved into his third straight Australian Open semifinal on Tuesday, halting the breakthrough run of American youngster Learner Tien with a victory under the closed roof of Rod Laver Arena.

The German reached his 10th Grand Slam semifinal at the 25th seed's expense 6-3, 6-7(5), 6-1, 7-6(3) to set a high-profile clash against either world No.1 Carlos Alcaraz or Australia's Alex de Minaur.

The world No. 3 leaned heavily on his serve to secure a win, firing 24 aces and saving all three break points he faced, each with unreturned deliveries. One of those clutch serves came at 5-6 in the fourth set, denying Tien a chance to force a decider. Zverev also controlled the short exchanges, winning 106 of the 04 shot rallies compared to Tien's 68.

"The learner from the baseline was playing unbelievably. I don't think I've played anyone who plays that well from the baseline for a very long time. Without my [24] aces, I probably would not have won today. I'm obviously very happy with my serve, just generally happy to be back in the semis," Zverev said of the 20-year-old after his game, drawing a warm response from the crowd.

Tien, seeded 25th, arrived full of confidence after stunning Daniil Medvedev in the fourth round and showed his resilience by overturning a 35 deficit in the second-set tie-break. That surge briefly shifted momentum, but Zverev responded with another dominant serving display to race through the third set and reassert control.

While Tien found success in longer rallies, using sharp angles and consistency rather than outright power, Zverev's ability to earn free points on serve repeatedly kept the American on the defensive. Those cheap points allowed the German to swing freely on return games and dictate the flow of play.

Zverev ultimately sealed the win in a tense fourth-set tie-break, surging to a 60 lead before a rare double fault added a flicker of late drama. It proved only a momentary hiccup, as he closed out the match to reach his 10th Grand Slam semi-final and his first since last year's Australian Open.

Despite finishing the 2025 season ranked No. 3, Zverev previously described the year as "incredibly unsatisfying" after lifting just one title in Munich. His form in Melbourne, however, including recent wins over Francisco Cerundolo and Tien, both of whom beat him last season, suggests a player meeting his own exacting standards once again.
New Delhi, Jan 27 : European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced on Tuesday the successful conclusion of the India-EU free trade agreement, referring to the pact "as the mother of all deals".

New Delhi, Jan 27 (IANS) European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced on Tuesday the successful conclusion of the India-EU free trade agreement, referring to the pact "as the mother of all deals".

"Europe and India are making history today. We have concluded the mother of all deals. We have created a free trade zone of two billion people, with both sides set to benefit," the EC President wrote on X.

"This is only the beginning. We will grow our strategic relationship to be even stronger," she remarked.

By removing tariffs on 97 per cent of India's exports, the deal will provide a huge boost to Indian manufacturing -- especially in textiles, gems, and leather -- while opening India's market to European cars and machinery.

European Council President Antonio Costa also stated that he was looking forward to "a stronger partnership between the European Union and India, based on shared values and heightened ambition".

"Today is about delivering tangible benefits for our citizens. Working together towards our shared prosperity and security and showing leadership on global issues to shape a resilient multipolar global order," he added.

The summit at Hyderabad House marks the end of an 18-year journey, as India and the European Union officially finalised their Free Trade Agreement. Prime Minister Narendra Modi hosted European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Council President Antonio Costa, and hailed the pact as a "perfect example of partnership" between two global giants.

PM Modi hosted the 16th European Union-India Summit in New Delhi with President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen and visiting President of the European Council, Antonio Costa, to announce the 'mother of all trade deals'.

The deal is expected to come into effect sometime next year. The FTA is expected to bring a qualitative change in deepening the overall bilateral ties in a range of sectors.

The broad focus of the Tuesday meeting was on trade, defence and security, climate change, critical technologies and strengthening the rules-based global order. The two sides are also set to unveil a defence framework pact and a strategic agenda. The new partnership comes at a time when Europe is seeking to reduce its dependence on the US and China and deepen its diplomatic and economic ties to other regions.
Bengaluru, Jan 27 : The Karnataka Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has slammed the Congress-led government in the state over the liquor vendors' association's decision to complain to the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, about alleged illegalities in the Excise Department.

Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly R. Ashoka said on Tuesday, "The liquor vendors' association, fed up with the unabated commission racket and corruption in the Excise Department, has decided to lodge a complaint with Rahul Gandhi. This itself is a matter of great shame for Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar."

"However, the poor liquor vendors are unlikely to gain anything from this. When it is Rahul Gandhi himself who has allegedly given orders to collect money, what relief can they realistically expect from him?" Ashoka questioned.

"Until this plundering Congress-led government in Karnataka is removed from power, the problems of contractors and liquor vendors will not be resolved. That alone is a guarantee," he stated.

It may be noted that in an interview with a Kannada media outlet, S. Guruswamy, president of the Liquor Vendors' Association, said the association has decided to meet Rahul Gandhi and submit a complaint to him regarding the prevailing corruption in the Excise Department.

It may be recalled that recently, an officer of the rank of Deputy Commissioner was caught red-handed while accepting a bribe of Rs 25 lakh as the first instalment for providing a CL-7 licence in Bengaluru. Subsequently, allegations surfaced against Excise Minister R.B. Thimmapur, with claims that the licensing scam is massive and involves around Rs 2,000 crore.

Guruswamy said that in the state, "the fence itself is eating the crop". He alleged that corruption is rampant at all levels, from ministers and commissioners to junior officers. He added that complaints have been submitted to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah multiple times, but there has been no response.

"We will soon file a complaint with the Karnataka Lokayukta. It has also been decided to submit complaints to the Governor and the Central government," he said.

The BJP has strongly protested the corruption allegations against Excise Minister Thimmapur and demanded his resignation by staging a protest in the well of the House during the Assembly session.

-- Except for the title, this story has not been edited by Prokerala team and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy had a call with Prime Minister of Great Britain Keir Starmer, during which they discussed diplomatic work, in particular, the Ukrainian-U.S.-Russian negotiations in Abu Dhabi.

As reported on the presidential website on Tuesday, Zelenskyy said the meetings in the United Arab Emirates were constructive, and the dialogue will be continued this week. According to the president, Ukraine wants to end this war as soon as possible, is ready to work 24/7 to achieve a decent peace, and the same readiness should be on the part of Russia.

"Not attacks on Ukrainian energy and attempts to leave people without light and heat, but real steps to stop the bloodshed," the head of state said.

He thanked Starmer for the energy support packages: "we appreciate the decisions already made and hope that our discussions on strengthening air defense will also bring results."

As noted in the report, the leaders have a common position on the importance of increasing pressure on Russia and uniting all international efforts to end the war, where China, in particular, can play a significant role.
New Delhi, Jan 27 : After the Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee (BKTC) announced that they are planning to ban non-Hindus from entering the Badrinath-Kedarnath Dham and other temples under its control, the Congress on Tuesday termed the decision 'completely wrong.' New Delhi, Jan 27 (IANS) After the Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee (BKTC) announced that they are planning to ban non-Hindus from entering the BadrinathKedarnath Dham and other temples under its control, the Congress on Tuesday termed the decision 'completely wrong.'

Speaking to IANS, Congress leader Husain Dalwai said, "It is completely wrong. Muslims were allowed earlier, and stopping them now raises serious questions. In my view, this move is about creating a mini-Hindu nation, which is unacceptable. The real question is whether the authorities respect the Constitution of the country or not. It is essential for the Congress to stand against such decisions."

Congress MP Manickam Tagore also criticised the move, calling it a sensitive issue, particularly in Uttarakhand.

"Uttarakhand is regarded as Devbhoomi (the land of the gods) in this country, yet it has come under the influence of the RSS. The RSS and its affiliates have created communal organisations under different names. With elections scheduled for next year, there appears to be a conspiracy between the BJP and the RSS to keep tensions alive in Uttarakhand, disturb communal harmony, and spread hatred," he said.

Tagore further alleged that the decision was politically-motivated.

"With elections next year, this is a conspiracy involving the BJP, the RSS and even the police to create tension, damage brotherhood and promote hatred. We must fight against this. Uttarakhand has a great history and has long been an example of peace, brotherhood and harmonious coexistence," he told IANS.

Responding to the criticism, BJP spokesperson Pratul Shah Deo said the matter was a decision of the shrine Board and that complete details were not yet available.

"This is a decision taken by the shrine Board, and we do not have all the details at this stage. However, it is also true that there are places of worship belonging to other religions where people of different faiths are not allowed. Under what circumstances this decision was taken, and given that there is reportedly no consensus even among the members, it would be better to wait before drawing conclusions," he said.

Senior advocate and former MP Majeed Memon said that any decision conflicting with constitutional rights would not stand legal scrutiny.

"If the state government's decision clashes with constitutional provisions, it will not survive. Legally banning non-Hindus from entering temples, if challenged in court, is likely to be struck down," he said.

Meanwhile, the temple committee has announced that only Hindus will be allowed to enter the centuries-old Badrinath and Kedarnath temples in Uttarakhand, which are part of the Char Dham pilgrimage circuit. A proposal regarding the decision is expected to be placed before the upcoming Board meeting.

Confirming the development, BKTC President Hemant Dwivedi said that entry for non-Hindus would be prohibited in all temples managed by the committee.
Quetta, Jan 27 : Workers of the Balochistan Employees Grand Alliance (BEGA) held protest rallies in Pakistan's Quetta and Khuzdar for raising their demands, including the grant of the disparity reduction allowance, local media reported on Tuesday.

The BEGA employees held a rally from Bacha Khan Chowk to the City Police Station in Quetta. After reaching the police station, the demonstrators held a sit-in and shouted slogans against the government, as the authorities had refused to agree to their demands, Pakistan's leading daily Dawn reported. According to police officials, 11 employees, who participated in the protest voluntarily, presented themselves for arrest.

Government employees held a protest in Khuzdar to raise their demands. The protest was led by the allianceas district president, Aslam Notani, APCA Kalat Division president Manzoor Naushad, General Secretary Aslam Zahri, Paramedical Staff Association president Rashid Ahmed Ghulamani and Rashida Zahri.

A large number of employees from various government departments were part of the protest, shouting slogans against the government and voicing concern over the delay in agreeing to their demands.

Earlier on January 22, the Unemployed Pharmacistsa Action Committee in Balochistan criticised the governmentas decision to announce a limited number of vacancies for more than 2,000 unemployed pharmacists, terming it "equivalent to offering a pinch of cumin to a camel."

While addressing a press briefing at the Quetta Press Club, UPAC General Secretary Qasim Aziz Mengal termed the decision unacceptable and called for the creation of more positions and transparent as well as merit-based recruitment, Dawn reported.

He termed the appointment of pharmacists to BPS-17 posts through walk-in interviews a non-transparent move aimed at including favoured and recommended people. He alleged that the health department did not have merit and there was no transparency in the recruitment process.

He voiced concerns over the absence and non-appointment of pharmacy departments in private hospitals. He condemned the recent notification released by the health department advertising vacancies of doctors and pharmacists on a contract basis.

Meanwhile, dozens of government employees were arrested in Quetta on January 20 as police blocked a sit-in in the Red Zone, where employees were raising demands for the implementation of the Disparity Reduction Allowance. During the protest, authorities suspended mobile internet services in Quetta and other neighbouring areas, local media reported.

Government employees from Balochistan travelled to Quetta following the sit-in announcement of the alliance of workersa organisations to raise their demands, The Balochistan Post reported. In recent days, work in many government offices has been affected due to the protest.

Authorities had placed containers at key entry points and completely shut the Red Zone to stop protesters from reaching the site. However, after the road blockade, employees started gathering outside the Quetta Press Club. However, police stopped them from assembling and arrested dozens at the site of the incident.
Hazaribagh : , Jan 27 (IANS) The so-called kidnapping of a newborn in Jharkhand's Hazaribagh district turned out to be false and fabricated, officials said on Tuesday. Authorities found that the infant had not been kidnapped; instead, her parents sold her due to severe financial hardship.

Hazaribagh (Jharkhand), Jan 27 (IANS) The so-called kidnapping of a newborn in Jharkhand's Hazaribagh district turned out to be false and fabricated, officials said on Tuesday. Authorities found that the infant had not been kidnapped; instead, her parents sold her due to severe financial hardship.

The police have now recovered the baby and handed it to its mother.

According to the police, Baby Devi, a resident of Bahimar village in the Katkamandi police station area of Hazaribagh, gave birth to her sixth child on January 24 this year. Due to poor economic conditions, the family decided to sell the baby, as raising five children had already become difficult for them.

Feeling that they are unable to take responsibility for the newborn, the couple contacted her relative Meena Devi, also known as Malti Devi, through her friend Devanti Devi, and sold the newborn to her.

Subsequently, on January 26, near Laxmi Petrol Pump in the Sadar police station area, a false story of the baby being kidnapped emerged. It was claimed that an unknown woman had taken away a three-day-old baby from the arms of a woman who had come to Hazaribagh for medical treatment.

This news caused panic in the area; people became outraged, blocked roads, and started shouting slogans against the police.

Considering the seriousness of the matter, the police took swift action and began checking CCTV footage, mobile locations, and family background. During strict questioning, Baby Devi revealed the entire conspiracy.

Following this, the police arrested Meena Devi, alias Malti Devi, from the Chauparan area and safely recovered the newborn. After recovery, the baby was handed over to her mother.

Police officials stated that a thorough investigation into the entire matter is ongoing. All aspects related to spreading false information, conspiracy theories, disturbing law and order, and blocking roads are being examined.
New Delhi, Jan 27 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday announced the signing of a free trade agreement (FTA) between India and the European Union, stressing that the landmark partnership between two major economies will create new opportunities for businesses, consumers, and the skilled workforce.

Addressing a joint press conference at Hyderabad House here with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, PM Modi underlined that the agreement a" biggest in Indiaas history -- reflects growing trust, shared values, and a common commitment to peace, stability, and cooperation in an increasingly uncertain global environment.

Under the agreement, tariffs on over 90 per cent of EU goods exports to India will be eliminated or reduced, including steep duties of up to 44 per cent on machinery, 22 per cent on chemicals, and 11 per cent on pharmaceuticals, which will be mostly phased out.

Tariffs on EU beer will be cut to 50 per cent, while duties on chemicals, aircraft, and spacecraft will be eliminated for almost all products.

The EU estimates the deal could double EU exports to India by 2032 and generate annual duty savings of up to 4 billion euros on European products.

The bloc accounts for nearly 17 per cent of Indiaas total exports, giving Indian businesses a huge market to tap into with easier access under the FTA.

The trade pact also includes 500 million euros in EU support over the next two years to help India cut greenhouse gas emissions and accelerate the green transition. EU exports to India already support around 800,000 European jobs, and the deal is expected to create many more.

The EU said the deal will sharply boost exports to the Indian market and deepen economic ties under a turbulent global trade order. The pact covers economies with a combined population of around 2 billion.

India and the European Union also signed a mobility pact aimed at easing the movement of Indian students, workers, and professionals across EU countries.

Von der Leyen said the successful conclusion of the India-EU free trade agreement, referring to the pact "as the mother of all deals".

"This is only the beginning. We will grow our strategic relationship to be even stronger," she remarked.

Separately, the Summit between the two sides also launched an EU-India Security and Defence Partnership.
Amaravati, Jan 27 : Andhra Pradesh Minister and TDP General Secretary Nara Lokesh said on Tuesday that his 'Yuva Galam' padayatra was a journey that grounded him and connected him to the struggles of various sections of people.

On the third anniversary of his walkathon, the Minister for Human Resources Development and Information Technology took to X to share his thoughts.

Lokesh, who is the son of Chief Minister and Telugu Desam Party (TDP) President N. Chandrababu Naidu stated that his politics was shaped in the shadow of people's struggles and their aspirations.

"A journey that grounded me and connected me deeply to the struggles of farmers, women, youth, workers, teachers, students, entrepreneurs, weavers, senior citizens and the underprivileged across Andhra Pradesh. I thank every mother and sister for their blessings, and every citizen who spoke to me with honesty, hope and courage. My politics was shaped in the shadow of your struggles and aspirations," he said.

"I say this with conviction: every policy we draft, every decision we take, carries your voices and your lives at its core. Three years on, I reiterate my vow - to be your soldier, your warrior, and to always stand on your side," Lokesh added.

Meanwhile, addressing the workshop of the TDP parliamentary committees on Tuesday, Lokesh called for providing more opportunities to the youth in the party. He stated that the party should evolve with the changing times and provide opportunities to the young faces at all levels.

Lokesh said 83 per cent of the members in parliamentary committees have been appointed for the first time. He said those who work with commitment have been accommodated in these panels.

He said Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu was running the government with a focus on both development and welfare. He asked the party cadres to take the government's schemes to the people.

It was on January 27, 2023, that Lokesh launched 'Yuva Galam (voice of youth)' padayatra, which covered over 3,000 kms and traversed nearly 100 Assembly constituencies.

The TDP termed it a defining moment in Andhra Pradesh's political and civic history and said it transformed public engagement, deepened democratic outreach, and strengthened people-centric governance.

The journey began from Kuppam in Chittoor district with blessings and public fervour, attracting thousands of supporters as Lokesh commenced the march with a simple yet profound pledge -- to walk alongside the people, listen to their struggles, and make their voices the foundation of policy and governance, said the TDP.

"Over 226 days, the Yuvagalam Padayatra covered more than 3,100 kilometres, reaching 97 Assembly constituencies and interacting with citizens in every district -- from rural hamlets to urban centres. The effort yielded remarkable political resonance, with alliance candidates winning in 90 of the 97 constituencies where the Padayatra had traversed -- a strong indicator of the movement's deep connection with public sentiment," it said.

Throughout the journey, Lokesh walked an average of 10-12 kilometres daily, meeting farmers, workers, students, women's groups, entrepreneurs, and senior citizens -- listening earnestly to their challenges on employment, education, infrastructure, farming distress, water scarcity, and youth opportunities.

Despite political and logistical challenges, including temporary interruptions, the Padayatra persevered and reaffirmed a clear message: effective leadership must originate from the ground, in constant dialogue with the people. It set a new standard for public engagement in Andhra Pradesh politics, revitalising community participation and inspiring youth leadership across the state.
January 27 : Lucknow: The state governments visionary and transparent excise policy has emerged as a national model for other states in the country while taking the states revenue to new heights. Due to the continuous record growth in excise revenue, the echo of UPs excise policy is now being heard beyond the states borders. This is the reason that excise commissioners and senior officials from more than half a dozen states, including Karnataka, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Punjab, Jharkhand, and Himachal Pradesh, visited the state and conducted an in-depth study of the excise policy here.

The policy prepared through the state governments efforts is not only focused on revenue growth, but it equally emphasizes transparency, technological innovation, effective control over illicit liquor, and consumer interests. This is the result that UP has now joined the ranks of the leading states in excise revenue in the country.

Excise Commissioner Adarsh Singh said, Visits by officials from various states excise departments in the last two years have been made to understand UPs excise policy and explore the possibilities of implementing it in their respective states.

He added, During this time, the officials held detailed discussions with UPs Excise Commissioner and departmental officers. The meeting emphasized understanding how policy formulation, e-governance, licensing process, and monitoring mechanism have been strengthened to enable continuous revenue growth. Officials from states like Karnataka, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, and Odisha praised UPs policy as practical and revenue-oriented. Many states have also acknowledged that, inspired by UPs excise policy, they are considering changes in their own excise framework.

During the state visit, excise officials from various states also inspected the states distilleries and liquor shops. The purpose of this inspection was to know what kind of monitoring system has been implemented from production to sales, and how a curb is being put on illegal activities.

During the inspection, the officials particularly appreciated the digital tracking system adopted in UP, shop allotment through e-lottery, barcoding and stock management system. The officials acknowledged that these measures have not only increased revenue but also enabled effective control over corruption and irregularities.
Ahmedabad, Jan 27 : Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann is scheduled to visit Gujarat on January 28. He will arrive in Ahmedabad, pay obeisance at a gurdwara and later address the media on the welfare schemes implemented by the party in Punjab, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) said on Tuesday.

Announcing the visit, AAP Gujarat state organisation General Secretary Manoj Sorathiya said CM Mann would utilise the occasion to present details of welfare schemes and development work undertaken by the Punjab government.

"It gives us great pleasure to inform that Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, who has taken Punjab out of the phase of 'Udta Punjab' and placed it on the path of development and prosperity, will be visiting Gujarat tomorrow," Sorathiya said in a video message.

He said the chief minister would speak about people-centric initiatives implemented in Punjab and discuss their outcomes, with a focus on governance measures adopted by the AAP government.

According to Sorathiya, CM Mann is expected to highlight various welfare schemes, including the universal healthcare programme introduced in Punjab, which has recently drawn attention in several states.

Sorathiya added that the visit reflects the party's intention to communicate its governance model to a wider audience.

"The AAP is fully committed to bringing positive change in Gujarat as well, on the lines of Punjab, and we are determined to provide better governance to the people of Gujarat," he said.

Party sources said Mann's schedule in Gujarat currently includes the gurdwara visit and a media interaction in Ahmedabad, with no public rallies announced as part of the programme.

The visit comes amid AAP's continued efforts to strengthen its organisational presence in the state and prepare for the upcoming local body elections. Mann's Gujarat tour follows earlier visits by him along with AAP National Convener Arvind Kejriwal.

In recent months, the two leaders have jointly visited the state to attend public programmes, interact with party workers and address gatherings, including events focussed on farmers' issues, as part of the party's broader outreach efforts.
New Delhi, Jan 27 : Bank employees across the country went on strike on Tuesday to protest for their demands, including the immediate implementation of a five-day work week in the sector, leading to widespread disruption of banking services, including cash deposits, withdrawals, cheque clearances and other routine transactions.

New Delhi, Jan 27 (IANS) Bank employees across the country went on strike on Tuesday to protest for their demands, including the immediate implementation of a five-day work week in the sector, leading to widespread disruption of banking services, including cash deposits, withdrawals, cheque clearances and other routine transactions.

The nationwide strike was called by the United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU).

In Gujarat's Vadodara, employees of nationalised banks joined the strike in large numbers. Protesters said that memoranda regarding the demand for a five-day work week had been submitted to the government on multiple occasions, but no concrete steps had been taken so far, forcing employees to resort to a strike. Due to the agitation, customers faced inconvenience as several bank branches remained closed or operated with minimal staff.

A protesting employee said: "More than eight lakh bank employees across India are participating in todayas strike. Our demand for a five-day banking week has been pending since 2015. Institutions such as the LIC, state governments and the Central government already follow a five-day work week. We were assured that banks would also shift to this system, but nothing has been implemented yet."

In West Bengal's Cooch Behar, bank employeesa unions held protests in front of the State Bank of India and other banks, reiterating their demand for a five-day work week.

A protester said: "Banks across the world and most offices in India, whether under the Central or state governments, function for five days a week. From the Reserve Bank of India to NABARD and LIC, all follow a five-day schedule, but nationalised and private banks have been left out. We had an agreement with the Indian Banksa Association (IBA) on this issue."

Similar scenes were witnessed in Murshidabad district, where banks and ATM branches in Berhampore and other areas remained closed. Posters highlighting the demands of the bank unions were displayed outside bank premises.

A protester said the demand for five-day banking had been pending for nearly three years and was repeatedly postponed by the government.

"The government keeps saying it will be implemented soon, but nothing has happened so far. That is why we are protesting today," he said.

In Uttar Pradesh's Ghazipur district, over 10,000 bank employees from nearly 250 banks joined the nationwide strike, disrupting transactions worth over Rs 150 crore. Banking activities across the district came to a standstill, causing inconvenience to customers and businesses alike.

In Lucknow, All India Bank Officers' Confederation (AIBOC) Senior Vice-President Ramnath Shukla said: "There is only one demand, and that is five-day banking. This demand has been ongoing for the past ten years. When the second and fourth Saturdays were declared holidays, it was promised that the remaining Saturdays would also be closed in the next settlement. Other departments were given five-day working without even demanding it."

Indian Bank employee Anshika Singh Visen said: "In the last bipartite settlement, it was decided that bankers would be given five-day banking, with work from Monday to Friday and weekends off. However, while other proposals were accepted, the five-day banking proposal was not implemented."

In Chandigarh, the one-day strike also affected normal banking operations. Bank employees staged protests outside bank branches, raising slogans in support of their demand for a five-day work week.

In Chhattisgarh's Raipur, around 25,000 bank employees from nearly 2,500 banks participated in the strike. Banking services across the state were severely affected as employees gathered in large numbers to protest and press for their long-pending demand.

In Patna, Punjab National Bank employee Dimple said the strike was not an "out-of-work" protest.

"The government had agreed under the bipartite settlement that five-day banking would be implemented within six months. However, even after two years, the demand has not been fulfilled. The RBI, the SIDBI, the SEBI, and the NABARD all function for five days. We want the same to be implemented in banks immediately," she said.

Another PNB employee, Ritika, said: "The 12th Bipartite Settlement clearly stated that five-day banking would be implemented within six months. It has been two years since the agreement, but nothing has been done. That is why we are on strike today."

In Rajasthan's Dholpur, banks across the district remained completely closed, severely affecting essential services such as cash transactions, deposits, withdrawals and cheque clearances, causing significant inconvenience to the public.
January 27 : Lucknow: The Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority (YEIDA) area is rapidly emerging as a national hub for semiconductors, electronics, manufacturing, and the health sector. With industry-friendly policies and faster decision-making under the leadership of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, investments worth thousands of crores are being attracted, creating employment opportunities for lakhs of youth.

To accelerate industrialisation in 202526, YEIDA has undertaken several positive and concrete initiatives. The Authority has allotted plots for the establishment of more than 65 industrial units. Just last Sunday, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath handed over land allotment letters to multiple companies in the YEIDA region for setting up industries as well as a medical college.

Under YEIDAs industrial scheme, 28 industrial units have been allotted 2.32 lakh square metres of land. These projects are expected to bring an investment of around 1,332 crore and generate employment for 8,783 people.

Through the e-auction scheme, 37 industrial units have been allotted one lakh square metres of land, with an estimated investment of 500 crore and the creation of 4,800 jobs.

In addition, through LOCs issued by Invest UP and governance departments, nine industrial units have been allotted 18.77 lakh square metres of land. These units are expected to attract investment of approximately 21,128 crore and create employment opportunities for 18,044 youth.

Last Sunday, the Chief Minister handed over land allotment letters to four major companies. These include 48 acres of land to India Chip Private Limited, 16 acres in the Sector-10 electronic manufacturing cluster to Ascent Circuit Private Ltd., and 100 acres in Sector-08 to Amber Enterprises India Ltd. More than 10,500 crore of investment is proposed under these three projects, which are expected to generate thousands of employment opportunities. These initiatives will boost the establishment of units ranging from semiconductors to electronics.

Along with industrial development in the Yamuna Expressway region, a major step has also been taken towards strengthening healthcare facilities. Bodhisattva Charitable Trust has been allotted 20.50 acres of land in Sector-17A for the establishment of a medical college. An investment of 532.18 crore will be made in this project, which will enhance quality medical education and healthcare services in the region.

The Chief Minister has directed officials to ensure that all allotted projects are implemented in a time-bound manner, so that along with investment, large-scale employment opportunities can be made available to local youth.
New Delhi, Jan 27 : India's energy sector must mobilise about $145 billion a year to bridge the gap between its robust economic expansion and ambitious netazero pathways, with the investments concentrated in power generation, storage and urgent grid modernisation, a report said on Tuesday.

New Delhi, Jan 27 (IANS) India's energy sector must mobilise about $145 billion a year to bridge the gap between its robust economic expansion and ambitious netzero pathways, with the investments concentrated in power generation, storage and urgent grid modernisation, a report said on Tuesday.

The report from energy and natural resources data analytics firm, Wood Mackenzie, said India remains on track to reach its 1.5 billion tonnes coal production target by 2030 with increasing emphasis on coal gasification to diversify the energy mix, the report said.

The data analytics firm forecasted natural gas demand to double from 72 billion cubic metres in 2024 to over 140 billion cubic metres by 2050, with industry accounting for over twothirds of demand through 2030 and above 55 per cent until 2050, the report said.

Though the report cited many gaps between India's growth and climate, it maintained that "India is uniquely positioned to become one of the world's most credible, large-scale alternatives to the Chinese solar and battery supply chain."

As global markets seek to diversify their procurement, India's maturing manufacturers ring ecosystem offers a distinct competitive edge, the report said.

Joshua Ngu, Vice Chairman, Asia Pacific at Wood Mackenzie, urged that India must de-risk its immediate energy security while simultaneously building the low-carbon architecture required to support a top-tier global economy.

"The $1.5 trillion investment between 2026 and 2035 for energy transition is not just about adding megawatts; it is about the wires," said Rashika Gupta, Vice President, Power and Renewables Research at Wood Mackenzie.

Success hinges on the pace of market reforms, specifically the Electricity Amendment Bill to improve distribution competition and provide the transparent investment signals needed to unlock private capital for grid modernisation, Gupta added.

Despite the acceleration of the energy transition, the firm noted that hydrocarbon fuels remain fundamental to near-term stability.

The firm forecasted that India's crude oil import reliance could reach 87 per cent by 2035 and urged revitalisation of the upstream sector and attract international oil companies to Indian exploration and production (E&P).

IANS

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Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Andriy Sybiha gave a positive assessment of the activities of the Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of Ukraine to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland Valeriy Zaluzhny has said.

In an interview with European Pravda Sybiha, answering the question of how Ambassador Zaluzhny works, said: "Like all other heads of diplomatic missions of Ukraine  that is, he works on fulfilling the tasks assigned. [] Let's look at the results. Just last week, Great Britain provided GBP 20 million for energy. We see the practical content of the Agreement on a Centennial Partnership, there is current daily practical work."

According to Sybiha, Ambassador Zaluzhny also represents Ukraine in the International Maritime Organization, "and last year we did not allow Russia to be elected to its governing bodies."

To a journalist's clarifying question about the "good" assessment of Zaluzhny's effectiveness as ambassador, Sybiha answered "Yes."

He also spoke about rumors about the end of Zaluzhny's activities as ambassador: "I have no reason to believe so. However, I will emphasize that such personnel decisions are the prerogative of the president."
Guwahati, Jan 27 : Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Tuesday said that this year's Republic Day celebrations truly reflected the spirit of the Northeast, with Assam's culture and heritage taking centre stage on Kartavya Path.

Reacting to the state's tableau at the 77th Republic Day parade, CM Sarma said the "colours of Assam were in full display" in the national capital, calling it a proud moment for the people of the state.

"This year's #RepublicDay was all about celebrating the North East and the fervour of Assam. Colours of Assam in full display yesterday in New Delhi. Proud moment," the Chief Minister posted on X.

Assam's tableau showcased the rich terracotta tradition of Asharikandi, a renowned craft village in Dhubri district, highlighting the state's deep-rooted artistic legacy and riverine culture.

Designed around the theme of self-reliance and indigenous craftsmanship, the tableau featured intricate terracotta motifs inspired by nature, rural life and the Brahmaputra's cultural landscape.

Asharikandi's terracotta craft, which has received national recognition in recent years, symbolises Assam's centuries-old tradition of clay artistry passed down through generations. The tableau depicted artisans at work, along with sculptural representations of folk life, reflecting the harmonious blend of tradition, sustainability and cultural pride.

Officials said the tableau aimed to present Assam not just as a repository of natural beauty, but also as a hub of living traditions that continue to thrive through community participation and government support.

The inclusion of Asharikandi was also seen as an effort to promote local crafts on a global platform and encourage rural livelihoods.

This year's Republic Day parade placed a special focus on the Northeastern states, underlining their growing role in India's cultural and developmental narrative. Assam's tableau drew appreciation from spectators and dignitaries alike for its vibrant colours, detailed craftsmanship and authentic storytelling.

The Chief Minister said the recognition of Assam's heritage at the national level would inspire artisans and youth across the state to preserve and promote their cultural identity, while contributing to the vision of a self-reliant India.
Bengaluru, Jan 27 : Responding to the BJP staging a protest and demanding his resignation over an alleged scam, Excise Minister R.B. Timmapur on Tuesday said he would not resign and would issue a clarification on the floor of the House.

Speaking to reporters in Bengaluru, he said, "I will not resign. Let the BJP raise the matter during the session. I will answer the charges and also provide clarifications."

Meanwhile, the Karnataka unit of the BJP continued its agitation demanding the resignation of R.B. Timmapur by disrupting the proceedings and staging a protest in the Well of the Legislative Assembly on Tuesday, soon after the commencement of the session.

BJP legislators declined the request of Speaker U.T. Khader to begin the Question Hour. Addressing the Speaker, Leader of the Opposition R. Ashoka said that videos allegedly showing the involvement of the minister and officials in the Rs 2,500 crore scam had surfaced and that the issue was being widely discussed among the public.

"We do not know whether Chief Minister Siddaramaiah is also getting a share in the corruption," Ashoka alleged.

He further said that liquor vendors were taking their complaint to Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and the President of India. "The honour of the state is being auctioned. When the ST Corporation scam surfaced, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah sought the resignation of a Cabinet minister. Why is there a delay now?" Ashoka questioned.

"We are staging a protest and should be allowed to speak. A formal request has already been submitted in this regard," he said.

Responding to this, Speaker Khader said that a formal request had been received and that he would convert it under Rule 69 and permit a discussion. Ashoka agreed to this proposal, withdrew the protest, and stated that the Speaker should not be biased at a later stage.

Earlier, the BJP on Tuesday staged a protest in front of the Mahatma Gandhi statue, demanding the resignation of Timmapur and alleged that funds were being collected to finance the Congress party's election campaigns in Kerala, Assam and Tamil Nadu.

The protest was led by the R. Ashoka, and BJP State President and MLA B.Y. Vijayendra. BJP MLAs and MLCs held placards demanding the resignation of Timmapur and raised slogans against the state government. The placards stated that the protest would continue until the minister resigned.
January 27 : Lucknow: Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath comprehensively reviewed major infrastructure, irrigation, energy, education, and industrial development projects of the state in a high-level meeting on Sunday. Chief Minister said, Mega infrastructure and development projects are rapidly establishing Uttar Pradesh as a new centre of economic prosperity and investment, and completing all these schemes in a time-bound and quality manner is the government's topmost priority.

While reviewing the Ganga Expressway project, the Chief Minister directed that construction work on the Ganga Expressway be completed by the end of February 2026. He said, 594 kilometre long Ganga Expressway will provide historic strength to the state's connectivity and will become a strong base for industrial, agricultural, and logistics activities.

It was informed in the meeting that this expressway passes through 12 districts and will directly benefit more than 500 villages. Testing is being done on the basis of modern technical standards like roughness index and riding comfort index for road quality assessment. Way-side amenities, rest areas, road safety features, signage, and access-control system are being developed as per high standards.

While reviewing the Middle Ganga Canal project (Stage-2), the Chief Minister said, Irrigation projects are an important medium for increasing agricultural production and farmers' income. It was informed in the meeting that upon completion of this project, the irrigation facility will expand into large agricultural areas of Amroha, Moradabad, and Sambhal districts, which will strengthen the rural economy.

During the review of the Erich irrigation project, it was informed that this project is an important initiative towards ensuring water conservation, irrigation, and drinking water availability in the Bundelkhand region. The project will provide stability to agricultural works and will help in the better management of water resources. The Chief Minister directed that the incomplete works related to this project be addressed immediately.

While reviewing hydro electric projects of Rihand and Obra areas, the Chief Minister said, Strengthening energy security is essential for the state's industrial development. It was informed in the meeting that pump storage based projects in the Rihand-Obra area will be helpful in meeting future energy requirements and effective utilisation of renewable energy.

While reviewing Noida International Airport, Jewar, the Chief Minister directed that the land acquisition process for Phase-3. He said, The Jewar Airport is going to become a major centre of Uttar Pradesh's global connectivity, investment, and employment generation. With its launch, Uttar Pradesh is going to advance new possibilities as an air cargo hub. Therefore, preparation for its coming phases should be ensured in time.

It was informed in the meeting that with the operation of the first phase of the airport, modern facilities will be available to more than one crore passengers annually.

While reviewing the multimodal logistic hub and multi modal transport hub in Greater Noida, the Chief Minister directed the expediting of the proceedings of these projects.

Chief Minister also directed to maintain continuous dialogue with the relevant ministries of the Government of India for the construction of proposed railway stations, etc., for these projects. He said that with the strengthening of logistics infrastructure, there will be a reduction in industries' costs and Uttar Pradesh will become a major centre of manufacturing and supply-chain.

While reviewing the Chief Minister Model Composite School scheme, the Chief Minister said, This scheme is a farsighted initiative towards strengthening a quality, modern, and holistic education system in the state.

He said that 150 Chief Minister model schools are to be established in 75 districts of the state, in which modern classrooms, science laboratories, digital learning facilities, sports, and co-educational activities infrastructure will be developed.

The Chief Minister directed to bring speed in works related to the establishment of model schools, and wherever land selection has not been done yet, complete the land selection process immediately with the cooperation of local administration, so that the scheme can be implemented on the ground within the stipulated time frame. In the special meeting, the need for speed in the works of the Chilla Elevated Flyover was also stated.

Chief Minister said, Development in Uttar Pradesh means not just construction, but implementing time-bound, quality, and public-utility projects on the ground. He directed the officers to regularly review all major projects and move the works forward rapidly, so that the state's development journey continues to move ahead with continuous strength.

Important discussion was held in the meeting on the Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor and the expansion of the Bahraich-Shravasti-Balrampur-Siddharthnagar-Sant Kabir Nagar rail line connectivity. It was informed in the meeting that the Bahraich-Shravasti-Balrampur-Siddharthnagar new rail line project is an important step towards connecting border and aspirational districts with the rail network. This project will lead to a significant increase in regional development, business activities, and passenger facilities. The Chief Minister gave necessary instructions to District Magistrates for land availability as per the project.
Guwahati, Jan 27 : Assam Congress president Gaurav Gogoi on Tuesday criticised the Centre over the seating arrangement for the Leaders of Opposition at the Republic Day parade, alleging that a constitutional office was deliberately disregarded during a national ceremony meant to uphold democratic values.

Reacting to reports that Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge and Leader of Opposition (LoP)in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi were seated in the third row at the Republic Day parade held at Kartavya Path on January 26, Gogoi said the protocol normally associated with the position of the LoP was not followed.

Speaking to reporters, Gogoi said that Parliament is often described by the Prime Minister as the "temple of democracy", but the treatment meted out to the Leaders of Opposition raised serious questions.

He added that such instances had occurred repeatedly and demanded an explanation from the Prime Minister on why a constitutional post was being undermined at an event of national importance.

The issue triggered a sharp political exchange after the BJP accused Rahul Gandhi of showing disrespect to the Northeast by not wearing a traditional patka at the Republic Day 'At Home' reception hosted by the President at Rashtrapati Bhavan.

Congress leaders rejected the charge, arguing that cultural symbolism was being selectively used for political attacks.

Gogoi urged political restraint, stating that cultural identity should not be reduced to partisan point-scoring.

He said people of the Northeast evaluate leaders based on their actions during times of crisis rather than symbolic gestures.

Claiming that Rahul Gandhi has consistently engaged with the region during difficult situations, Gogoi alleged that the Prime Minister was often absent when the Northeast faced problems.

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, however, strongly criticised Rahul Gandhi, saying the Congress leader's conduct reinforced a perception of indifference towards the Northeast. In a post on social media platform X, CM Sarma noted that the patka was worn by the President, the Prime Minister and foreign dignitaries, and alleged that Rahul Gandhi chose to stand apart.

The BJP maintained that the controversy reflected a broader pattern of insensitivity, while the Congress accused the ruling party of diverting attention from concerns over democratic protocol and respect for constitutional conventions at a national event.

--IANS

tdr/dpb

-- Except for the title, this story has not been edited by Prokerala team and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed
New Delhi, Jan 27 : With back to back elections set to be held in India this year, Intelligence agencies have warned that the fake currency racket is bound to increase. The Dawood Syndicate which controls this racket from Pakistan, has increased printing of fake notes and the same is being moved to Bangladesh and Nepal.

An Intelligence Bureau official said that they have noticed heightened activity in Malda, West Bengal which is the main landing point for fake currency from the neighbouring country. Those running the racket in Malda have been preparing to receive a massive consignment from Bangladesh, the official added.

Another official said that the Dawood Syndicate will also look to move fake currency through the Nepal border and hence there is a heightened alert. These elements are trying to take advantage of the fact that the security mechanism will be more focussed on the elections and hence they would be able to get away with their nefarious activities.

Officials say that it is important that this menace is controlled at the border itself. Once the fake currency enters the country it is next to impossible to detect, the official added.

The Intelligence agencies who work closely with the forensics department have learnt that the notes are of very high quality and forensic experts believe that the notes are printed on highly sophisticated machines. The Pakistan establishment has invested huge capital to ensure that these notes cannot be detected by the Indian agencies.

Officials say that the fake currency has the perfect watermark formulation. This indicates that the notes are printed on regular currency making machines, which can be owned only by a state.

Intelligence agencies have learnt that fake currency notes to the tune of crores of Rupees were moved into Bangladesh. Most of the fake notes were dropped off using the sea route, the agencies have learnt. The D Syndicate finds this route easier today as there are no checks for Pakistan, thanks to Dhakaas new soft policy towards Islamabad.

Under Muhammad Yunus the sea route was opened up to Pakistan for the first time. Indian agencies suspect that huge consignments of arms and ammunition have reached Bangladesh using the sea route. The same route is also being used to push the fake currency into Bangladesh.

The challenge would however be to bring it into India. The D Company will try to use both the Nepal and Bangladesh border to smuggle in the fake currency, officials say. While the consignment that comes in from Nepal would be taken to Bihar, the fake notes at the Bangladesh border will be moved into Malda.

From here the notes would be distributed to other parts of the country. Another official added that once the notes land in India, the target states would be the ones where elections are scheduled to be held.

Elections are due in Assam, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Puducherry. The polls are scheduled to be held between March and May 2026. Officials say that the D gang would try and move most of the fake notes into these states since the security agencies would be too busy with the elections.

The agencies are keeping a close watch on the border areas. The alert is high in Malda and the neighbouring areas, as the Intelligence agencies say that the biggest consignment would land in these places.
New Delhi, Jan 27 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi, along with European Council President Antonio Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, on Tuesday hailed the successful conclusion of negotiations of the landmark India-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA).

New Delhi, Jan 27 (IANS) Prime Minister Narendra Modi, along with European Council President Antonio Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, on Tuesday hailed the successful conclusion of negotiations of the landmark Indiaa"EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA).

"This historic deal is a milestone in the Indiaa"EU Strategic Partnership that will significantly enhance bilateral trade and investment ties, drive shared prosperity, strengthen resilient and diversified supply chains, and support sustainable and inclusive growth," a joint statement issued after the 16th Indiaa"EU Summit co-chaired by the three leaders said.

The leaders emphasised the central role of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) in the multilateral trading system and global trade governance and underlined that meaningful, necessary, and comprehensive reform of the WTO is essential to improve its functions so that it is better suited to advance all membersa objectives.

In the context of global uncertainty and disruptions, closer economic ties between India and the EU are more important than ever to drive growth, job creation, green transition, industrial development, and more resilient, sustainable and trustworthy supply chains, the statement said.

The leaders of India and the EU are committed to ensuring the full implementation of the FTA. Additionally, they tasked their respective teams to complete negotiations, at the earliest opportunity, on an Investment Protection Agreement (IPA) and on an Agreement on Geographical Indications (GIs). They committed to work on scaling up bilateral investments and engage in discussions on Blue Valleys to accelerate private sector engagement in strengthening select value chains, the joint statement said.

Noting that India and the EU have complementary strengths in the technology domain, it said that both sides will increase collaboration across the entire value chain, linking enhanced research and innovation to business engagement and market operationalisation. In the current geopolitical environment and amidst global disruptions, they reaffirmed the India-EU Trade and Technology Council (TTC), a high-level coordination platform to address key trade, technology and economic security issues, as the cornerstone of their technology partnership and aim to further enhance its work. The two sides will continue to advance together on promoting Digital Public Infrastructure.

The two sides will also further strengthen collaboration on emerging technologies, innovation, and research, including by creating EUa"India Innovation Hubs and launching an EUa"India Startup Partnership. The leaders welcomed the renewal of the Indiaa"EU Agreement for Scientific and Technological Cooperation until 2030 and agreed to launch exploratory talks on the association of India to Horizon Europe, the EUas research and innovation programme.

Further, the leaders committed to accelerated cooperation in clean transition and energy resilience in the framework of the EU-India Clean Energy and Climate Partnership. In this context, they welcomed the creation of the Indiaa"EU Task Force on Green Hydrogen and the announcement of an India-EU Wind Business Summit to be convened in 2026.

The two sides will also work together to improve regional connectivity, while unlocking new commercial opportunities for EU and Indian businesses. The leaders underlined the launch of joint projects under the India-EU Connectivity Partnership supported by Global Gateway and Indiaas MAHASAGAR, the setting up of a regular Aviation Dialogue, and cooperation in the maritime transport sector. They welcomed advances in the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC), launched during the 2023 G20 New Delhi Summit.

Council President Costa and Commission President von der Leyen welcomed the holding of the AI Impact Summit in New Delhi on February 19-20, and the leaders looked forward to a successful event, reiterating their commitment to outcome-oriented cooperation, the statement said.

The leaders also addressed the Indiaa"EU Business Forum, attended by CEOs and industry leaders from both sides, where they called for ambitious private sector investments to harness synergies in critical sectors and for new business initiatives to drive closer trade and investment ties, the statement added.
January 27 : Lucknow: Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Monday honored artists at his official residence who presented performances related to the art and culture of different states on the occasion of the 77th Republic Day celebrations.

While honoring the artists, the Chief Minister said, under the spirit of Ek Bharat-Shreshtha Bharat, guest artists who came from various states on the occasion of Republic Day-2026 reached Uttar Pradesh carrying the cultural essence of the folk culture and folk dances of their respective states. Artists from Uttar Pradesh also gave a grand and magnificent form to the cultural presentation based on the theme Viksit Bharat-Viksit Uttar Pradesh through their rich cultural traditions.

During this, the Chief Minister interacted with the artists, appreciated their performances and also invited them to visit Uttar Pradesh. The artists expressed happiness after meeting the Chief Minister, expressed their gratitude and praised his good governance.

The Chief Minister also added, along with being the most populous state in the country, Uttar Pradesh is the land of spiritual, religious and cultural heritage. People from Tamil Nadu to Jammu and Kashmir, from Arunachal to Gujarat, Maharashtra and Sikkim come here.

Despite different languages, art forms and traditions, the emotion of all is one, which strengthens the concept of Ek Bharat-Shreshtha Bharat.

Mentioning Tripura, Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim, the Chief Minister said, These states have now joined the mainstream of development. The participation of 28 artists from Tripura in the Republic Day parade is a living example of the countrys cultural unity. Coming from such a long distance and participating in the program is highly commendable.

Chief Minister also stated, Bhatkhande Sanskriti Vishvavidyalaya is Uttar Pradeshs first university dedicated to art and culture. Preparing joint performances with artists from various states on national festivals, Deepotsav, Uttar Pradesh Diwas and other important events should be the responsibility of the university.

He continued by saying, Short but impactful presentations should be prepared by combining folk arts such as Birha of Purvanchal, Ramkatha of Awadh, Krishnaleela of Braj, Alha of Bundelkhand and other regional folk arts.

The Chief Minister called upon the artists of Mathura to keep their cultural traditions alive. Addressing the artists of Prayagraj, he said that the Magh Mela has now taken a grand form like the Kumbh, where there should be wide presentation of folk arts.

Addressing the artists of Ayodhya, he added that by giving regular performances in Deepotsav, they should give national recognition to the art of Ayodhya and perform jointly with artists from other states.

The Chief Minister also said, Folk art and culture are the soul of India. Joint performances of various states strengthen the cultural unity, diversity and harmony of the country and realize the concept of Ek Bharat-Shreshtha Bharat.

The Chief Minister continued by adding, while celebrating the Republic Day, the presentations of Shankh Vadan, Damru Vadan, Badhava, Mayur and Dhedhiya dances by the artists of Uttar Pradesh mesmerized the audience. The Kathak dance presented by the students of Bhatkhande Sanskriti Vishvavidyalaya made this cultural presentation even more dignified. Along with this, folk dances from various states gave the program the form of a national cultural platform.

Impressive presentations were given such as Badhai dance from Madhya Pradesh, Lezium from Maharashtra, Rouf from Jammu and Kashmir, Tamang Selo from Sikkim and Talwar Raas from Gujarat.

In addition, folk artists from Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Tripura and Arunachal Pradesh brought the cultural concept of Viksit Bharat-Viksit Uttar Pradesh alive with patriotism through Biju dance and the folk dances of the Singpho and Nishi tribes.

The Chief Minister interacted with the head of each group and said that since they got the opportunity to come to Uttar Pradesh, they should definitely visit some tourist places here so that they can understand the culture of Uttar Pradesh.

While this interaction, one group expressed the desire to visit Ayodhya. To which, the Chief Minister directed the officials that complete arrangements should be made for the visit of any artist who wishes to go to Ayodhya.

The Chief Minister honored 261 artists from 18 groups of a total 10 states including Uttar Pradesh.

These groups included artists from Uttar Pradesh along with West Bengal, Arunachal Pradesh, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Jammu Kashmir, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Sikkim and Tripura.

These art groups were honored
Kohima, Jan 27 : Nagaland University researchers have discovered a new plant species located in the high-altitude forests of the state, underscoring the region's significance as a biodiversity hotspot in the northeast and the importance of community-led forest conservation, varsity officials said on Tuesday.

Kohima, Jan 27 (IANS) Nagaland University researchers have discovered a new plant species located in the high-altitude forests of the state, underscoring the regionas significance as a biodiversity hotspot in the northeast and the importance of community-led forest conservation, varsity officials said on Tuesday.

A University official said that the newly identified species is called aHoya nagaensisa and was discovered during systematic botanical explorations of under-explored forest areas in the state, which has over 52 per cent of its total geographical area of 16,579 sq km under forest cover.

Large parts of Nagalandas forests remain scientifically undocumented, limiting accurate biodiversity assessment and effective conservation planning.

The research team undertook detailed field surveys and taxonomic studies to address this gap and improve scientific understanding of the regionas plant diversity. Funded by Nagaland University under the Start-Up Project for Young Faculty (SUPYF), the study was led by Principal Investigator Dr Gyati Yam, Assistant Professor, Department of Forestry, along with researchers Vieneite-o Koza and Joynath Pegu.

The findings were published in an international journal publishing authoritative research on plant and fungal taxonomy, systematics, nomenclature and global biodiversity.

Praising the researchers, Vice Chancellor Prof Jagadish Kumar Patnaik said: "The discovery of a new plant species by Nagaland University researchers highlights the extraordinary biodiversity of Northeast India."

"It provides strong evidence that community-protected forests in Nagaland are vital refuges for rare and endemic plants. This work not only strengthens Indiaas botanical records but also contributes valuable data to global plant science and conservation efforts," he said.

Elaborating on the study, Dr Yam said that they focused on exploring high-altitude forests, identifying and describing previously unknown plant species, documenting regional biodiversity, and assessing the conservation status of rare and endemic plants.

"A key emphasis was also placed on understanding the role of community-reserved forests in protecting fragile ecosystems," she said.

Future work will focus on monitoring the species in the wild, studying its ecology, pollination biology and ornamental potential, assessing long-term conservation threats, and exploring nearby forest areas for additional undocumented plant species.

Researcher Koza said that the unique aspect of research includes the discovery and formal scientific description of aHoya nagaensisa, a species previously unknown to science. She said that the plant displays distinctive leaf shapes and floral characteristics that clearly differentiate it from other known species in the Hoya genus.

"The findings provide strong evidence that community-protected forests in Nagaland are critical refuges for rare and endemic plant species, contributing valuable data to global plant science and strengthening Indiaas botanical records," Koza stated.

Researcher Pegu added that the species is currently known only from a single location in the KavAnhou Community Reserved Forest in Phek district. "Owing to its extremely restricted distribution and threats such as shifting cultivation and forest disturbance, it has been provisionally assessed as Critically Endangered. The discovery highlights the effectiveness of traditional forest stewardship practised by local Naga communities in conserving biodiversity," he said.

Beyond its scientific identification, the discovery highlights the Eastern Himalayas' temperate forest ecosystems as rich sources of botanical novelty. The study provides detailed habitat information and comparisons with related taxa, offering valuable baseline data for future botanical and ecological research in the region. By documenting the unique physical traits and ecological context of the plant, the researchers have enhanced the taxonomic framework for the genus Hoya and opened avenues for further study on morphological diversity within the group, varsity officials said.
New Delhi, Jan 27 : Afghan prisoners being sent back from Pakistan jails have been recounting tales of abuse and repression in detention, with some claiming incarceration without reason, say reports from Kabul.

Pakistan has once again intensified the arrest, detention, and forced deportation of Afghan refugees, according to Afghanistan's Tolo News on Tuesday. Last week, over 500 Afghans released from Pakistani prisons were handed over to Afghan authorities at Spin Boldak, it reported.

Spin Boldak, in Afghanistan's Kandahar province, shares a border with Chaman of Pakistan's Balochistan province and has once been the gateway for trade and traffic. But since the fierce firefight that took place in October last year, the border remains shut, except for occasional movement with consent from both sides.

In an earlier report, Tolo News said late last week that "Afghans recently returned from Pakistan say they were transferred to harsh and inhumane prison conditions after being detained by Pakistani police". According to it, Akhtar Mohammad Hotak, who was deported along with his family via Spin Boldak, stated that after being imprisoned in Balochistan, he was kept in Chaman, where he faced mistreatment by Pakistani forces.

"We haven't eaten anything yet. They didn't give us water or tea. There were no basic facilities. They packed 100 people into one room," said another returnee, Akhtar Mohammad Hotak.

Another man recently released from a Pakistani prison, identified as Abdul Sattar, claimed that he was imprisoned despite possessing valid documentary proof of identity. He alleged that another person, who had no identification papers and was arrested at the same time, was released on payment of 45,000 Pakistani rupees.

"If you pay, they let you go; if not, they send you back," he told the news website.

In the latest incident of their return, one of the 500 released prisoners, identified as Mohammad, said that he was arrested while on his way to work and taken to a refugee camp in Karachi. "They asked me where I was from. I said I was Afghan. That was enough; they beat me so badly that my shoulder still hurts. My only crime was being Afghan," he claimed.

Another claimed, "No one respected us there. They looked at our mothers and sisters with contempt."

A prisoner who reportedly had spent about two weeks in a Pakistani prison, told the news-site that the police treated them so badly that at times they did not even let some Afghan inmates sleep at night. "They committed such cruelty that everyone here witnessed it. We were all standing, women were lying on the ground. Each person was given half a piece of bread. The situation was horrible," added the former prisoner, Dost Mohammad.

He claimed they had filmed their ordeal, where the kind of cruelty meted out never existed even in their imagination.

Analysts that Tolo News spoke to have urged humanitarian organisations to act and prevent the mistreatment of Afghan refugees in neighbouring countries. It quoted one such commentator saying that the arrest, imprisonment, and deportation of Afghan refugees in Iran, Pakistan, or any other country violates international norms, exhorting the global community to stop it.
Hyderabad, Jan 27 : The stage is set for the Sammakka Sarakka Jatara, billed as the largest tribal fair in Asia, beginning at Medaram in Telangana's Mulugu district on Wednesday.

Hyderabad, Jan 27 (IANS) The stage is set for the Sammakka Sarakka Jatara, billed as the largest tribal fair in Asia, beginning at Medaram in Telanganaas Mulugu district on Wednesday.

Over two crore devotees from various parts of the country are likely to attend the four-day biennial event in Medaram village, about 240 km from Hyderabad.

Authorities have made massive arrangements for the event, often described as Telanganaas Kumbh Mela. Tribals and non-tribals from various parts of Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha and other states will converge for the fair, which marks the celebration of tribal traditions.

This year, the state government has spent Rs 251 crore for the development of Medaram and creating permanent infrastructure for Jatara, also known as Sammakka Saralamma Jatara or Medaram Jatara.

About 10 lakh devotees have already offered prayers to the presiding tribal deities during the last few days.

Adivasis living in forest fringe habitations in several states along the river Godavari congregate once in two years to celebrate the valour of legendary warriors Sammakka and Sarakka.

The tribals treat them as goddesses and hail their bravery in trying to protect them. Belonging to the Koya tribe, the mother-daughter duo died while fighting against the Kakatiya empire about eight centuries ago.

The legend is that Sammakka and her daughter Sarakka (Saralamma) fought against the levy of taxes on tribals during drought conditions by the then Kakatiya rulers in the 12th century.

Tribal king Medaraju was ruling the tribal habitations on the banks of the river Godavari and was supposed to pay a royalty to the Kakatiya king. However, due to severe, prolonged drought, Medaraju failed to pay a royalty. Treating it as defiance, the Kakatiya king invaded the region. Fighting with the Kakatiya army, Medaraju and all kin died. His daughter Sammakka and her daughter Sarakka too died in the fight.

According to local lore, Sammakka, who was fatigued, went to the Chilukalagutta hillocks and disappeared. The Adivasis who reportedly went in search of her only found a casket of vermilion under a bamboo tree.

Once every two years, the tribal priests offer prayers at the bamboo grove and bring a casket of vermilion and a bamboo stick wrapped in red cloth symbolising Sammakka, whom they consider their deity.

A day before, the priest performs a similar ritual at Kannepalli village, four kilometres from Medaram and brings the deity Sarakka. Both are installed under the Indian Elm tree at Medaram village and thus begin the Jatara. After three days, they take back the deities and leave them in the forest until the next Jatara.

The tribals offer jaggery of their weight, considering it to be gold. They also offer red blouse pieces, vermilion, and turmeric to the deities in large quantities. They take a little part of the same as prasadam from the altar back to their homes.

Devotees also take a holy dip in Jampanna Vagu, a tributary of the Godavari River. Jampanna was the tribal warrior and the son of tribal Sammakka. Upon hearing the news of defeat and the death of his family members in the war with the Kakatiyan Army, he committed suicide by jumping into the Sampenga Vagu (stream). Since then, the Sampenga stream has been known as Jampanna Vagu. The tribals believe that a dip in the stream washes off their sins.

The state government has made elaborate arrangements for the Jatara. Over 42,000 officers and employees from 21 departments have been deployed to provide all amenities to the devotees.

About 2,000 Advasi volunteers will also assist the devotees.

Massive security arrangements have been made for the tribal fair. As many as 13,000 police personnel have been deployed for the smooth conduct of the biennial event.

The police will be using an Artificial Intelligence (AI) based drone policing system for effective monitoring of the congregation. Control rooms have been set up at various places to manage the crowd.

The entire Medaram area has been divided into eight zones and 42 sectors to control the crowd. For every zone, a district-level official will be in charge, while a mandal-level official will be incharge for every sector.

Police have arranged parking at 42 places spread over 1,418 acres.

Over 200 expert swimmers will be deployed at Jampanna Vagu to prevent any untoward incident.

The Medical and Health Department has set up 30 health camps and deployed 5,192 medical staff.

Authorities have deployed 5,000 sanitation workers and arranged 5,700 makeshift toilets.

The Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TGSRTC) has already announced that it will operate over 4,000 buses for Medaram.

The South Central Railway (SCR) will be operating 28 special train services to meet the pilgrim rush between January 28 and 31.

Special trains are being operated from different places like Secunderabad, Nizamabad, Adilabad, Kazipet, and Khammam to the Warangal station, which is the nearest railway station to reach Medaram.

The Tourism Department has introduced helicopter services for pilgrims from Hanamkonda to Medaram. The helicopter service is operated by Thumby Aviation.

Passengers can avail VIP darshan, including a round trip, at a cost of Rs 35,999 per person. Additionally, an aerial ride over the fair is priced at Rs 4,800 per individual.
Photo: Valeria Proshchenko

A batch of 76 emergency generators from the EU's strategic reserves has been delivered to Kyiv on Tuesday to restore power supply in Ukrainian settlements. Already 300 generators out of 447 announced by the European Commission are in Ukraine.

As reported by an Interfax-Ukraine correspondent, this is immediate assistance from the EU for urgent needs and is part of the EU's ongoing support for Ukraine's energy sustainability.

Speaking to journalists, European Union Ambassador to Ukraine Katarina Mathernova said she was delighted to have the opportunity to "be able to show the concrete help that the European Union has brought to Ukraine."

"These are just a few of them but in the current batch that is still making it through customs," she said.

The ambassador explained that this is part of the 447 generators previously announced by the European Commission due to extremely low temperatures in January in Ukraine. The total cost of these generators is EUR 3.7 million. Part of the equipment will be delivered to the frontline regions of Ukraine.

In general, over 10,000 generators have already been transferred through the European Union Civil Protection Mechanism since the beginning of the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine.

As Mathernova noted, since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, the EU has already provided assistance worth EUR 190 billion.

In turn, Deputy Minister of Community and Territorial Development of Ukraine Maryna Denisiuk emphasized the need to provide energy assistance to Ukrainian cities and communities suffering from Russian attacks. According to her, the equipment received from the EU "will also go to Vodokanal to connect pumps."

"Generators will be evenly distributed across regions. Special attention is being paid to large cities such as Kyiv and Dnipro. Kyiv will receive two more large generators, they are still on the way," the deputy minister said.

Denisiuk thanked the EU and added that Ukraine is working with partners on a daily basis to provide additional assistance, in particular regarding large generators.

Deputy Director General of the Ukrainian Red Cross Society Illia Kletskovsky said "the Ukrainian Red Cross is fulfilling its supporting role for the country," welcoming a new stage of cooperation on the supply of generators.

"But within the framework of civil protection and partnership with the Civil Protection Mechanism, the Ministry of Development of Communities and Territories, today we have started additional cooperation in the supply of generators. I think this is the beginning of such cooperation. Here you see 76 generators; 72 have already been unloaded. Two more streams have already been sent to Kropyvnytsky," he said.

Kletskovsky expressed hope that the EU will continue to provide energy support to Ukraine and involve the Ukrainian Energy Ministry in the delivery and installation of generators.
Kolkata, Jan 27 : Thirty-two hours have passed and there are still pocket fires in the twin warehouses of Anandapur in east Kolkata. The death toll has risen to eight and several people are still missing. Director General of the Fire Department revealed that the warehouse didn't have adequate fire safety measures and was operating without the fire department's authorisation.

Almost 32 hours after the incident, state fire minister Sujit Bose visited the site on Tuesday morning.

BJP MLA Ashok Dinda from Moyna in East Midnapore district and local BJP workers and supporters also went there at the same time. Sujit Bose faced protests from the BJP workers for arriving at the scene 32 hours after the incident.

A fire broke out at a momo company's warehouse in Nazirabad, Anandapur, around 3 am on Monday morning. The fire quickly spread to two adjacent warehouses. Despite extensive efforts using 12 fire engines, the fire could not be extinguished even by Monday night.

On Tuesday morning, it was observed that there were pocket fires in several places inside the charred warehouses and black smoke was rising from within the debris. So far, eight deaths have been confirmed. The bodies are so badly burnt that identification is impossible. The remains have been sent for forensic examination.

According to the police, at least 14 people are still missing. Investigations are underway to determine if anyone is still trapped inside.

Police sources said that action will definitely be taken against the authorities of the factory where the incident occurred, if they are found guilty.

On Tuesday morning, Director General of the Fire Department, Ranveer Kumar, visited the site. He said that the fire department had not issued any clearance certificate for the warehouse regarding its fire safety measures.

The DG also mentioned that a complaint has been filed in this regard. When asked how the warehouse had been operating for so long without authorisation, the DG said, "There might have been some lapse on the part of the department. The matter will be investigated."

On Tuesday, Minister Sujit Bose reached the scene at around 11:30 am and inspected the two gutted warehouses and spoke with fire service personnel and officials.

The Trinamool leader also met with the bereaved families. He said, "This place was like a tinderbox. Spread across 35,000 square feet, this area housed a momo manufacturing factory and a decorator's warehouse side by side. There were a lot of flammable materials inside. Significant damage has been caused. Upon receiving the news, 12 fire engines were dispatched. Senior fire service officials also arrived at the scene."

The minister also said that the warehouses lacked adequate fire safety measures. He added that swift legal action would be taken in this regard. Sujit also said that an investigation would be conducted to determine whether a fire audit had been carried out at the warehouses.

BJP MLA Ashok also visited the scene on Tuesday morning. BJP supporters surrounded Sujit Bose and chanted 'go back' slogans. Trinamool supporters retaliated and a scuffle ensued between the two sides. However, the situation was later brought under control.

Meanwhile, Leader of the Opposition in state Assembly Suvendu Adhikari slammed the state government over the fire incident.

"This is not a mere accident, it is the direct consequence of the Mamata Banerjee Government's chronic negligence, incompetence, and utter failure in governance. Lack of administrative checks & balances and scrutiny, lead to disregard for rules and ultimately cause such loss of lives," said Adhikari in a social media post.

"In Nazirabad; Anandapur, this man-made tragedy struck in an area of the East Kolkata Wetlands, where land have been converted illegally and illegitimate industrial units mushroomed in the last few years, which operate unchecked without following any norms.

"People were trapped inside the locked warehouses filled with inflammable materials, with no escape routes, narrow lanes blocking rescue, and zero fire safety measures," said the BJP leader.

Adhikari also took a dig at Sujit Bose for turning up at the fire site so late.

"The Fire Minister Sujit Bose, who arrived after more than 30 hours (his home is barely an hour's drive from the area of incident) shamelessly asks why were people staying in warehouses !!!

"Shame on him, rather than asking, his Administration should answer such questions. The blame lies squarely with Mamata Banerjee Govt's apathy, corruption, and mismanagement. From AMRI Hospital to Burrabazar, and now Anandapur, one tragedy after another, yet no lessons learned, no accountability taken," he said.

Adhikari further demanded an "immediate high-level and impartial enquiry, strict punishment for the guilty, and adequate compensation for the affected families".
Rome, Jan 27 : Italian President Sergio Matarella on Tuesday extended Republic Day wishes to President Droupadi Murmu, noting that ties between both nations continue to expand rapidly.

Matarella stressed that India and Italy share fundamental values like democracy and respect for the rule of law, as well as pursue multiple converging interests, including protection of a rules-based international order, pursuit of security and stability along the Indo-Mediterranean arc and effective management of the global challenges.

In a letter written to President Murmu, Matarella stated, "On the occasion of the Republic Day, I would like to extend to you, Madam President, my warmest wishes for a prosperous future for the Republic of India. Relations between India and Italy are set on a path of rapid expansion, destined to deepen further to our mutual benefit."

"The bilateral partnership, also thanks to the implementation of the Joint Strategic Action Plan, is enriched every day by new opportunities for cooperation, whether through joint projects between our respective economic operators, scientific collaborations, or increasingly intense and fruitful contacts between our civil societies," he added.

Matarella expressed hope that synergies between India and Italy will be further strengthened in each sector of the bilateral agenda and within the framework of ties between India and the European Union.

"Delhi and Rome share fundamental values, such as democracy and respect for the rule of law. They also pursue multiple converging interests, beginning with the protection of a rules-based international order, the peaceful pursuit of security and stability along the Indo- Mediterranean arc, and effective multilateral management of the major global challenges.

"Building on these foundations, I hope that synergies between our countries-drawing impetus from frequent exchanges of visits at the highest institutional and political levels-may be strengthened in every sector of the bilateral agenda, as well as within the framework of relations between India and the European Union, which stand to gain greatly from new economic and trade agreements. With these hopes, and in a spirit of friendship, I wish to renew to you and to all your citizens the warmest congratulations on behalf of the Italian Republic," Matarella added.

Last month, Italy's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Antonio Tajani, called on PM Modi during his visit to New Delhi. During the discussions, PM Modi described the India-Italy relationship as one that "continues to get stronger", adding that the deepening engagement benefits not only both countries but also contributes positively to the global community.

"Delighted to meet Italyas Deputy Prime Minister & Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Antonio Tajani, today. Conveyed appreciation for the proactive steps being taken by both sides towards implementation of the Italy-India Joint Strategic Action Plan 2025-2029 across key sectors such as trade, investment, research, innovation, defence, space, connectivity, counter-terrorism, education and people-to-people ties. India-Italy friendship continues to get stronger, greatly benefiting our people and the global community," PM Modi's post on X read.

India and Italy elevated their ties to a Strategic Partnership during the visit of Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni in 2023, laying the groundwork for an ambitious long-term agenda now being operationalised through the 2025a"2029 plan.
Paris, Jan 27 : The Franco-Indian cultural collaboration witnessed a historic milestone as the first stones from India arrived in Paris for the new Hindu Mandir in Bussy-Saint-Georges.

The ceremonial welcome of these stones signalled the next phase of construction of what will be the first traditional Hindu temple of its kind in France, built using time-honoured craftsmanship and shared expertise.

The stones, sourced from India and prepared using traditional techniques, represent centuries of architectural heritage. Select elements have been hand-carved by skilled artisans in India, preserving ancient methods passed down through generations, before beginning their journey to France.

In France, Indian artisans will work alongside French stone masons, including members of the team involved in the restoration of Notre-Dame Cathedral, uniting Indian carving traditions with France's renowned stonemasonry expertise.

The ceremony marked more than the delivery of the traditionally carved stones; it symbolised a meeting of cultures, values, and knowledge.

The Mandir is being developed as part of a broader vision to create a space dedicated not only to worship, but also to culture, education, and community engagement. Once complete, it will stand as a lasting symbol of friendship between India and France

Local and national representatives, along with community leaders, attended the ceremony, recognising the significance of the project for France and its role in strengthening intercultural understanding.

Sanjay Kara, CEO of the Paris Mandir construction project and a trustee of BAPS UK & Europe, shared, "The arrival of the first stones from India marks a historic milestone. Each one carries heritage, care and intention, symbolising Indian tradition meeting French engineering through shared respect and collaboration. Guided by the values and vision of Mahant Swami Maharaj, whose teachings emphasise service, humility and harmony, it is an honour to be part of a project that brings Indian and French expertise side by side, and that will grow into a mandir serving not only worshippers, but the wider community as a place of culture, learning, and harmony."

Ambassador of India to France Sanjeev Kumar Singla attended the special assembly. Sharing his impressions, Singla said, "This Mandir represents a unique collaboration. The stones were sculpted in India by master artisans and will be assembled here, in France, by French stonemasonssome of whom also contributed to the restoration of Notre-Dame Cathedral. This is the meeting of two great traditions of sacred architecture, united by excellence and a shared pride in craftsmanship.

The meeting of Indian and French artisans, symbolised today by the exchange of friendship bracelets, reflects the cooperation, respect, and friendship between our peoples. This moment is a celebration of culture, heritage, and universal human values."

Ambassador Jean-Christophe Peaucelle, Advisor for Religious Affairs at the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs, remarked, "The launch of this project, this Mandir, represents something very new and very innovative. This is the first time a temple of this kind will be built in France. The partnership between our two countries is also spiritual and human.

Alain Ngouoto, Sous-Prefet de Torcy, commented, " I also want to tell you that today is a 'stone in the edifice'  a building block of this French Indian friendship that I am carrying forward through this ceremony. Here, we are receiving ancestral stones from an art dating back to time immemorial, to be assembled with ingenious French expertise. I believe the fusion of the two will show us how two 'geniuses', two intelligences, can together build not only a friendship but also a structure which, looking at the photos, will likely be resplendent."
Mumbai, Jan 27 : Actress Samantha Ruth Prabhu expressed her gratitude after attending the reception hosted by President Droupadi Murmu on the 77th Republic Day.

Samantha revealed that growing up, she could not even dream of being a part of such a prestigious gathering, and today, fate and her motherland allowed her to live the unimaginable.

Pouring her heart out in an emotional social media post, Samantha wrote on her Insta, "Growing up, there were no cheerleaders no inner voice that ever suggested I'd be here one day. No roadmap Dreams like this once felt too big to even imagine. I just kept showing up, in a country that allowed that to be enough! YY (sic)."

The 'Yashoda' actress concluded the post with "Forever grateful", along with folded hands emojis.

For the event, Samantha chose to put her best foot forward in a stunning green saree with golden embellishments.

She decided to accessorize the look with a golden choker necklace and matching earrings, along with light makeup and her hair parted in the middle.

Samantha uploaded several pics from the reception, where she was seen posing at the Rashtrapati Bhavan. The post also included a snap of the invitation for the reception.

The event was graced by many distinguished guests, such as Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Vice President C. P. Radhakrishnan, European Council President Antonio Costa, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, to name just a few.

For the unversed, the 'At Home' event is a long-standing tradition held every year on Republic Day to celebrate the adoption of India's Constitution.

Work-wise, Samantha will next be seen in the Telugu drama, "Maa Inti Bangaram".

Directed by B.V. Nandini Reddy, the film is being backed by Samantha, under her home banner Tralala Moving Pictures, along with Raj Nidimoru and Himank Duvurruu.

The recently released trailer of "Maa Inti Bangaram" has already created massive hype among movie buffs.

-- Except for the title, this story has not been edited by Prokerala team and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed
Bhubaneswar, Jan 27 : The opposition Congress Party on Tuesday announced its support for the Odisha Bandh called on January 28 by the Odisha Naba Nirman Krushak Sangathan over alleged mismanagement in paddy procurement, the installation of Smart Meters, and the collection of excessive fines under the Pollution Under Control Certificate (PUCC).

In a video message, the party stated that the Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) will extend its support to the bandh on January 28.

The party's media cell, in the video message, said that the Congress party has carried out large-scale protest demonstrations over various issues, including massive mismanagement in paddy procurement across the state - particularly the alleged denial of input subsidy to farmers for selling paddy beyond 150 quintals - excessive fines being collected under the pretext of Pollution Under Control Certificates (PUCC), and the alleged arbitrariness of the state government, and the OERC.

"In this context, considering that the Naba Nirman Krushak Sangathan has called the Odisha bandh over these public-related issues on January 28, the OPCC has announced to support the bandh," stated the party.

The PCC president, Bhakta Charan Das, through the video message, appealed to all district Congress committees, workers, and members across the state to extend their support to the bandh.

The main opposition, Biju Janata Dal (BJD), welcomed the bandh call by the Naba Nirman Krushak Sangathan, describing it as a positive step that reflects the distress of the farming community in the state.

BJD spokesperson Lenin Mohanty said that the party will adhere to its earlier announcement of holding statewide demonstrations from February 2 to 17, followed by a massive protest rally in the capital, Bhubaneswar, on February 24 over paddy procurement and law-and-order issues.

Meanwhile, speaking to the media, the national convener of the Naba Nirman Krushak Sangathan, Akshya Kumar, said that the organisation will observe the bandh on January 28 from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. in protest against mismanagement in paddy procurement at mandis across the state, and the collection of excessive fines in the name of pollution certificates.

He further added that Railways and essential services like hospitals and ambulances will not be affected during the eight-hour Odisha bandh.
New Delhi, Jan 27 : Bangladesh could fall behind peer nations and competing economies without radical reforms in tariffs and trade facilitation within five years, an economist warned, according to a new report.

Bangladesh-based media house 'The Daily Star' cited chairman of the Policy Research Institute of Bangladesh Zaidi Sattar calling for urgent reforms as the country has not undertaken significant trade policy reforms for around 16 years.

Zattar warned at an event marking International Customs Day 2026 at the National Board of Revenue headquarters in Agargaon that the backlog of reform work has now piled up which is weakening the country's competitiveness in the global value chain, the report said.

"Compared to international standards, Bangladesh's tariff regime is very high and extremely complex which weakens the country's competitiveness in global value," said Sattar, adding that cumbersome customs procedures raise compliance costs calling for radical liberalisation of the trade policy.

"If radical changes are not implemented within the next five yearsparticularly in tariff rationalisation, tariff modernisation, and trade facilitationthe country's economy will fall behind many other competitive economies," Sattar said according to the report.

Zattar was hopeful that Bangladesh would move towards a modern customs administration prioritising trade facilitation over revenue collection, as trade taxes currently account for around 2.5 per cent of GDP.

The economist urged that the trade taxes should drop to a maximum of1 per cent by 2030.

Commerce Secretary Mahbubur Rahman also noted non-tariff barriers continuing to impede trade and he called on the National Board of Revenue (NBR) to prioritise simplification of the trade regime.

According to him, European Commission officials who recently visited the country raised a long list of concerns, many of which were linked to customs procedures.

"People are not really asking us to remove high tariffs. They are raising concerns over legitimate technical barriers to trade," Mahbubur Rahman said.

Bangladesh's upcoming graduation out of UN's Least Developed Country (LDC) category has made trade facilitation more urgent, as the country seeks to retain preferential market access through agreements with key partners, Rahman added.

IANS

aar/
Ahmedabad, Jan 27 : The Gujarat Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) on Tuesday said it has uncovered extensive evidence of an alleged terror conspiracy following the arrest of a 22-year-old man from Navsari district, with officials pointing to online radicalisation, possession of weapons and plans for targeted killings as part of a broader extremist agenda.

The accused, identified as Faizan Shaikh, is a native of Dundawala village in Rampur district of Uttar Pradesh. He had been residing in the Zarakwad area of Navsari for the past four years and was working as a tailor.

He was apprehended in a joint operation by the ATS and Navsari police after specific intelligence was received by the agency regarding preparations for violent acts.

According to the ATS, confidential inputs suggested that the accused had conspired to attack and kill selected individuals to spread terror and was also involved in activities aimed at promoting jihad and separatist ideology.

Senior officials authorised a technical analysis and field inquiry, during which investigators identified a suspicious Instagram account allegedly operated by the accused.

Surveillance teams subsequently confirmed his presence, leading to a coordinated raid and his arrest.

An ATS official said digital examination of the accused's mobile phone revealed a large volume of extremist material supporting banned terrorist organisations such as Jaish-e-Mohammed and Al Qaeda.

Photographs of several persons with markings were also found, which the ATS believes were indicative of potential targets.

Officials also recovered 29 pages of printed literature containing text in Arabic and Urdu, which, according to the ATS, was aimed at indoctrination and misleading youth into extremist ideology.

During the operation, officers seized a pistol and six live cartridges from the accused's possession.

The ATS said the accused disclosed that he had purchased the firearm and ammunition around six months ago from an unknown person in Uttar Pradesh.

DySP Harsh Upadhyay said the probe is now focused on identifying targets and associates. "Currently, we are identifying the targeted individuals by him. The technical analysis will take two-three days to complete," Upadhyay told IANS.

"We are also identifying his accomplices, including Mohammed Abu Bakar, through technical analysis. We are likely to coordinate with Uttar Pradesh Police for further coordination," he added.

Officials said the accused had been in contact for several months with "Mohammed Abu Bakar" through messaging platforms and social media, exchanging extremist videos, propaganda material and audio messages.

The role of Abu Bakar and others potentially linked to the alleged conspiracy is under investigation.

The accused has been produced before a court, which granted the ATS a 12-day remand.

The case has been registered under relevant provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Arms Act, while further investigation is underway to determine the full extent of the suspected network.
New Delhi, Jan 27 : Bangladesh is witnessing a steady rise in voices expressing concerns over inadequate representation of women in the country's election process, despite Dhaka having had at least two women Prime Ministers.

In the last incidence, as reported by Bangladesh's The Daily Star newspaper, women's rights activists have urged the Election Commission to ensure adequate security and gender-sensitive polls.

Activists have also warned of the violence and intimidation against women and minorities ahead of the February 12 general election, it added.

On January 19, the newspaper had carried an opinion piece that lamented the miniscule representation by women candidates in the upcoming elections, flagging "systemic design and failure" as main reasons.

"The lack of women candidates has nothing to do with women's competence or willingness to lead, but everything to do with systemic design and failure," observed the earlier article.

On Tuesday morning, activists under the banner of Samajik Protirodh (Social Resistance) Committee, read out a memorandum addressed to Bangladesh's Chief Election Commissioner to ensure such measures essential for all citizens, regardless of gender, religion, ethnicity or social status, to freely exercise their voting rights.

The committee serves as a platform comprising 71 women's, human rights and development organisations, shared the report. In her welcome speech, Fauzia Moslem, president of Bangladesh Mahila Parishad, said the announcement of the February 12 election has once again brought the issue of restoring democratic norms to the forefront, the report added.

She said women's organisations have long been campaigning for meaningful representation in the country's Parliament, including increasing the number of reserved seats, reforming the voting mechanism for those seats, and ensuring that political parties nominate more women candidates.

However, progress in these areas remained disappointing, the latest report quoted the women's rights activist.

Referring to nomination data, Fauzia said women make up only around 4.2 per cent of candidates in the upcoming election, a figure she reportedly described as unacceptable from the perspective of the women's movement.

She said representatives of women's organisations had earlier met the Election Commission and submitted a set of recommendations covering candidate selection, the influence of money and power in elections, and broader electoral reforms from a gender perspective.

She claimed that while the commission later addressed voting access for people with disabilities, there has been no visible response to other demands raised by women's groups.

She further alleged, the report added, that the Election Commission has not responded to the Samajik Protirodh Committee seeking an appointment to discuss the issue.

In the memorandum, the committee said Parliamentary elections are a cornerstone of democracy and noted that women have historically played a leading role in movements to establish democratic rights in Bangladesh.

Despite this, it claimed that women, religious minorities, indigenous people, and the poor are often treated merely as voters rather than as full citizens during elections and in governance.

Expressing concern over the prevailing election atmosphere, the committee said reports indicate incidents of violence and intimidation targeting women, minorities and disadvantaged groups ahead of the polls, the media report added.
New Delhi, Jan 27 : Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Tuesday announced a tie-up with the Central government's lending agency for guarantee-free loans for small entrepreneurs in the Capital to boost economic activity and employment.

"Our government has ensured loan arrangements for Micro and Small Enterprises in Delhi without requiring guarantees or collateral," she said.

"Small entrepreneurs often face difficulties in obtaining loans without guarantees, but today the Delhi government has signed an MoU with CGTMSE to provide a permanent solution to this issue," she said.

Credit Guarantee Fund Trust for Micro and Small Enterprises (CGTMSE) is jointly set up by the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) and the Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI). Established in 2000, it provides collateral-free loans to Micro & Small Enterprises (MSEs) by offering guarantee cover to lenders, thus boosting credit flow to this crucial sector.

Chief Minister Gupta said the new MoU will also boost job creation in the Capital.

"This will not only boost innovation but also create new employment opportunities on a large scale. At the same time, our women entrepreneurs will receive the respect and resources they deserve. You keep working hard, dream big, innovate - our government stands with you to turn them into reality," said CM Gupta.

Earlier, speaking at the Delhi government's official event on the 77th Republic Day, the Chief Minister presented a comprehensive progress report of her government's 11-month tenure and outlined a forward-looking roadmap for building a 'Viksit Delhi'.

On economic growth, the Chief Minister said that Delhi's Budget has been increased from Rs 75,000 crore to Rs 1 lakh crore.

Highlighting proposals on infrastructure and transport, the Chief Minister said that capital expenditure for 2025-26 has been doubled. An MoU has been signed with the RBI to strengthen financial management.

For development, the government has allocated Rs 1,700 crore for various projects, and it aims to promote the MSME sector to ensure optimal benefit from the proposed India-EU trade deal, she said.
Thiruvananthapuram, Jan 27 : Kerala General Education Minister V. Sivankutty slammed Leader of the Opposition V.D. Satheesan on Tuesday as he rejected criticism of the state's public education system and escalated the political confrontation over the Sabarimala gold theft case.

Thiruvananthapuram, Jan 27 (IANS) Kerala General Education Minister V. Sivankutty slammed Leader of the Opposition V.D. Satheesan on Tuesday as he rejected criticism of the stateas public education system and escalated the political confrontation over the Sabarimala gold theft case.

Responding to Satheesanas remarks on school standards, Sivankutty said no other government could match the LDFas record of investing nearly Rs 9,000 crore in public education over the past decade.

He challenged the Congress to cite comparable achievements in states it governs, arguing that the opposition leaderas criticism was politically motivated and detached from facts.

The minister accused Satheesan of deliberately attempting to link him with the Sangh Parivar, recalling that it was the Left that closed the BJPas account in Nemom.

Turning the charge back on the Congress leader, Sivankutty alleged that Satheesan himself had participated in RSS-linked events in the past, a claim he said was supported by documentary evidence.

Sivankutty then spoke about the Sabarimala gold theft case, accusing the Congress of hypocrisy in invoking religious sentiments while allegedly shielding those involved in the case.

He cited a photograph purportedly showing the prime accused and a recipient of the stolen gold standing alongside Congress leader Sonia Gandhi, describing it as "not merely a picture, but a cluster of unresolved questions".

Sivankutty asserted that it was legally necessary for the Special Investigation Team (SIT), functioning under High Court supervision, to question Sonia Gandhi to ascertain whether a larger criminal conspiracy existed.

He raised pointed questions on how an accused individual could gain access to a high-security residence guarded by the SPG, and whether senior Congress leaders facilitated such access.

The minister also referred to what he termed the "Bellary connection", claiming the stolen gold was sold in Bellary, a constituency once represented by Sonia Gandhi, and called for an investigation into possible hawala or smuggling links.

The minister further accused Satheesan of spreading misinformation on multiple issues, including the Punarjani case, alleged foreign fund-raising trips, the Vizhinjam port project, Wayanad rehabilitation claims, and incidents inside the Assembly.

He said repeated contradictions and retractions had eroded the Opposition leaderas credibility.

Satheesan has time and again attacked Sivankutty for his highly improper conduct on the floor of the assembly when he was an opposition member.

On the presentation of the state Budget in 2015, Sivankutty was seen jumping over the table on the floor of the Assembly with his dhoti folded and underwear visible.

On Tuesday, Satheesan said itas sad to see our school children studying when Sivankutty is the Education Minister.
The final stage of preparation of security guarantees from the United States and the EU inspires hope that Ukraine will receive not only a truce, but also a chance for peace, Deputy Chairman of the Batkivschyna faction Serhiy Soboliev has said.

"In my opinion, what is much more interesting is not what happened in Abu Dhabi, but what happened in the United States, in the European Union, when we are actually entering the final stage of documents that have already been submitted, as the Ukrainian and American sides claim, and which will be submitted further for ratification by the Congress and Parliament of Ukraine. I mean the agreement on security guarantees that the United States of America is ready to provide. The situation is similar with a similar agreement with the European Union. I think that all this together gives great hope that after all we will have not only a ceasefire, but with the existing guarantees and a stable peace," Soboliev told Interfax-Ukraine on Tuesday.

He believes that the key issue at the next stage of negotiations will be the issue of the territory of Donetsk region, which is controlled by Ukraine, but there are no prospects for its resolution.

"The key issue that Russia is facing remains unresolved - the withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from the territory (primarily from Donetsk region) controlled by Ukraine. And here I do not see any chances for progress yet. Here we need to look for a compromise option that could absolutely clearly bring this situation into line with Ukrainian legislation, which no one can bypass, neither the parliament nor the president," Soboliev said.

According to the politician, a significant issue in the negotiations is the issue of managing Zaporizhia nuclear power plant in the occupied city of Enerhodar.

"Those 'concessions' in quotes that Russia has made  the proposal to divide electricity from the occupied Zaporizhia NPP between the two countries (Ukraine and Russia)  are only the first step. And if this first step ends with international control or control by the United States over the Zaporizhia NPP, then it has a chance to survive. If the Russian Federation will be in control, then the intention to give us, or even more so to sell us 50% of the electricity that Zaporizhzhia NPP will produce if it is launched, is still a path to nowhere," the MP said.

Soboliev believes that such important issues as the exchange of all for all, the release of all political prisoners, the exchange of prisoners of war should be raised in the negotiations.

"The post-war reconstruction of Ukraine remains. Without a doubt, without the arrested Russian assets it is impossible to solve this issue, even with $800 billion of aid to Ukraine... But I am convinced that we need to start with real figures  the funds of frozen Russian assets," the faction's deputy chairman said.

According to the politician, there is also an issue that should have been resolved "yesterday."

"This is compensation for lost housing and the possibility of building housing for those Ukrainian citizens who lost it either in the occupied territories or as a result of Russian shelling. This is a question of survival 'for hundreds of thousands of our citizens who were left without a roof over their heads and are now forced to stay either with neighbors or acquaintances, or rent housing, or generally seek their fate abroad," Soboliev said.
Kochi, Jan 27 : Lakshadweep's traditional tuna fisheries are drawing growing international attention, with an eight-member delegation of seafood traders and fisheries experts from the United States, Thailand, South Korea, the Maldives, Vietnam, and Austria exploring sourcing and export opportunities from the island chain.

Kochi, Jan 27 (IANS) Lakshadweepas traditional tuna fisheries are drawing growing international attention, with an eight-member delegation of seafood traders and fisheries experts from the United States, Thailand, South Korea, the Maldives, Vietnam, and Austria exploring sourcing and export opportunities from the island chain.

The visit signals a potential breakthrough for the regionas marine economy, long constrained by logistics and limited market access.

The delegation visited key islands, including Kavaratti, Agatti, Minicoy and Androth, holding extensive discussions with local fishers, fishermen cooperative societies, and seafood entrepreneurs.

Central to the talks was Lakshadweepas pole-and-line tuna fishery, globally regarded as one of the most eco-friendly fishing practices.

Delegates highlighted the premium quality of tuna harvested from the islandsa pristine waters and expressed keen interest in both fresh and processed exports.

Beyond raw tuna, the visiting traders explored opportunities in value-added products, including frozen loins, ready-to-cook formats, and masmin, the traditional dried tuna delicacy that has niche demand in international markets.

Industry experts underlined that rising global preference for sustainably sourced seafood has significantly increased the commercial appeal of Lakshadweep tuna, particularly in high-value markets across East Asia, Europe and North America.

A key component of the proposed business model is the deployment of mother vessels equipped with advanced cold storage and handling facilities.

According to the delegation, such vessels would ensure export-grade quality by enabling immediate chilling and hygienic handling at sea, while also addressing one of the islandersa long-standing demands for improved marine logistics.

The introduction of mother vessels is expected to reduce post-harvest losses, improve price realisation for fishers, and enhance the overall efficiency of export operations.

The delegation also held detailed consultations with the Lakshadweep Administration and the Department of Fisheries, focusing on regulatory facilitation, infrastructure development and streamlined export procedures.

These discussions are seen as an initial step towards formal trade arrangements and long-term partnerships with overseas buyers.

The visit was coordinated by the Androth Island Fishermen Cooperative Society (AIFCS) and led by Jayendran Muthusankar of NS Seafoods, a Thailand-based global seafood buyer.

"Lakshadweep has the potential to emerge as a hub for sustainable tuna fisheries and value addition, backed by responsible fishing practices and exceptional product quality," said Muthusankar.

AIFCS President Mohammed Althaf Husain said the engagement has brought renewed optimism to the island fishing community, which has been grappling with post-harvest bottlenecks and weak market linkages.

He noted that international partnerships could significantly enhance livelihoods, attract investment in processing infrastructure, and position Lakshadweep firmly in the global premium tuna value chain.
January 27 : Lucknow: One District One Product (ODOP), an ambitious initiative of the Government of Uttar Pradesh, has today emerged as a model and a focal point in Indias development discourse. Began as a state initiative in 2018 and has evolved beyond a government scheme into a powerful example of district-centric economic transformation. Launched under the leadership of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, the ODOP initiative has demonstrated that policies aligned with local needs and traditional strengths can deliver visible and lasting results on the ground.

The success of the ODOP model is clearly reflected in the states export figures. In 2017, Uttar Pradeshs total exports stood at 88,000 crore, of which ODOP products accounted for 58,000 crore. By 2024, total exports had risen to 1.86 lakh crore, with ODOPs share increasing to 93,000 crore. This significant growth stands as strong evidence of the sustained institutional support extended to the ODOP ecosystem.

Today, UPs ODOP model is increasingly viewed as a blueprint for other states across the country. The district-based product strategy has strengthened exports at the grassroots level, enabling even small producers to integrate into global supply chains. The core philosophy of ODOP has been to establish a distinct identity for each district. Across all 75 districts of Uttar Pradesh, a traditional craft, industry, or product has been identified and supported through market access, branding, and government facilitation.

Products such as Moradabads brassware, Banarass handloom weaving, Firozabads glassware, Kannaujs perfumes, and Bhadohis carpets have gained renewed recognition through this focused approach.

The CM Yogi governments model has also addressed the long-standing challenge of regional imbalance in industrial development. Earlier, economic growth was concentrated in a few urban centers, but post ODOP, smaller districts and towns have emerged as hubs of economic activity. This expansion has increased local employment opportunities and significantly curbed migration.

According to state government data, the incomes of artisans and small entrepreneurs have risen substantially due to ODOP. Under the ODOP Skill Development and Toolkit Distribution Scheme, a large number of artisans have received training and modern toolkits. Simplified access to finance and upgraded skills have helped traditional crafts align with contemporary market demands.

To date, more than 1.25 lakh toolkits have been distributed across the state. As a result, product quality has improved, and local goods are no longer confined to domestic markets but are reaching national and international platforms.

Under the ODOP Margin Money Scheme, projects worth 6,000 crore have been approved so far, directly benefiting micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs). This has infused new momentum into entrepreneurship, particularly in rural and semi-urban areas.

ODOP was also given a prominent platform at the Uttar Pradesh International Trade Show (UPITS) 2025, where 466 ODOP stalls were set up, generating business leads and deals worth approximately 20.77 crore. Similarly, during the Prayagraj Mahakumbh 2025, an ODOP exhibition spanning 6,000 square meters showcased 44 GI-tagged ODOP products from across the state.

Together, these achievements firmly establish ODOP as a transformative economic model, one that blends tradition with innovation and positions district-level strengths as drivers of national growth.
Thiruvananthapuram Jan 27 : Kerala's Leader of the Opposition V.D. Satheesan on Tuesday placed CPI-M's expelled Kannur district committee member Kunjikrishnan at the centre of a major political and law-and-order controversy, warning that the whistleblower's life was under threat after he exposed alleged financial irregularities within the ruling party.

Thiruvananthapuram Jan 27 (IANS) Kerala's Leader of the Opposition V.D. Satheesan on Tuesday placed CPI-M's expelled Kannur district committee member Kunjikrishnan at the centre of a major political and law-and-order controversy, warning that the whistlebloweras life was under threat after he exposed alleged financial irregularities within the ruling party.

Addressing the media at the Legislative Assembly media room, Satheesan said the manner in which Kunjikrishnan was isolated and expelled reflected the CPI-Mas intolerance of internal dissent.

Kunjikrishnan had publicly raised allegations of irregularities linked to the Dhanaraj Martyrsa Fund, the CPI-M Payyannur Area Committeeas building construction fund, and the partyas 2021 election fund.

According to the Opposition, instead of examining the seriousness of these claims, the CPI-M acted with unusual haste to expel him from the party within 24 hours of the revelations becoming public.

Satheesan said the contrast was stark, pointing out that the party had shown no such urgency in proceeding against leaders facing grave criminal charges in other cases.

The Congress leader drew attention to the tense atmosphere that followed Kunjikrishnanas disclosures.

Protests demanding action on the allegations escalated into violence in Payyannur, with Congress workers coming under attack.

Satheesan said open threats were issued by local CPI-M leaders and workers, creating a climate of fear not just for protesters but also for Kunjikrishnan himself, who had dared to speak out against his own party.

Rejecting claims that Kunjikrishnan was acting at the behest of rival political fronts, Satheesan said the whistle-blower had not sought support from the UDF or any other party.

Attempts to portray him as politically motivated, he argued, were aimed at discrediting his allegations and justifying the punitive action taken against him.

"This is about silencing a voice that exposed wrongdoing, not about party rivalry," Satheesan said.

He demanded that the complaint submitted by Kunjikrishnan to the CPI-M leadership, including the Chief Minister, be immediately handed over to the police for an impartial investigation.

Satheesan also stressed that the state police had a clear responsibility to ensure Kunjikrishnanas safety, recalling past instances where those who questioned the party from within paid a heavy price.

As political tensions continue to rise, Kunjikrishnanas case has become emblematic of a broader debate on transparency, accountability and the protection of whistle-blowers in Keralaas political system, with the Opposition insisting that the truth behind his allegations cannot be buried through intimidation or expulsion.
Thiruvananthapuram Jan 27 : Kerala Assembly Speaker A.N. Shamseer on Tuesday expressed strong displeasure over what he described as improper conduct by the office of Governor Rajendra Arlekar, triggering a fresh flashpoint in the long-running standoff between Lok Bhavan and the elected government.

Speaking to the media, Shamseer disclosed that he had received a letter from the Governoras office marked "highly confidential", prompting him to personally oversee its opening a" a departure from routine practice.

"It was surprising to find that the contents of the letter had already appeared in media reports even before it reached me," the Speaker said.

According to Shamseer, the letter sought the video footage of a statement made by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan after the Governor had concluded his policy address and left the House.

"What is troubling is that the Speaker received only a acopya of a communication that appears to have been first shared with the media. I am not attributing this to the Governor personally, but to his office. Since this is only a copy, I will not be responding to it," he said.

The Speakeras remarks come close on the heels of a controversy surrounding changes made to the Governoras policy address delivered to the Assembly on January 20.

Chief Minister Vijayan had publicly flagged deletions and alterations to the Cabinet-approved text.

He pointed out that key portions referring to Keralaas financial stress due to what the state describes as adverse Union government actions, pending state legislation, and the issue of fiscal federalism had either been omitted or modified.

He underlined that Article 176 of the Constitution mandates the Governor to present the governmentas policy statement at the first session of the year and that established legislative rulings recognise the Cabinet-approved address as authoritative.

Backing the Chief Minister, Speaker Shamseer had earlier ruled that any deviation from the Cabinet-approved text violated legislative convention and that the original version would be treated as the official document for the House and the media.

The episode has reignited debate over the constitutional role of Governors, Centrea"State relations, and the limits of gubernatorial discretion.

Senior BJP leader and former Goa Governor P.S. Sreedharan Pillai weighed in, remarking that Governors were being "humiliated" in States such as Kerala and Tamil Nadu.

Political analysts warn that the escalating institutional friction could sharpen further as elections approach, underscoring the fragile balance between ceremonial constitutional offices and the authority of an elected government.
Aizawl, Jan 27 : Mizoram Chief Minister Lalduhoma on Tuesday said that the state's peaceful environment, low levels of corruption, high literacy rate, steady progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the people's deeply ingrained spirit of tlawmngaihna make Mizoram an ideal destination for Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) investments.

The Chief Minister said that the people of Mizoram's well-established spirit of tlawmngaihna (Mizo cultural concept meaning to be selfless, hospitable, courageous, and helpful to others, even at personal cost) makes the state an ideal place for CSR and other investments for the purpose of socio-economic benefit of the people.

Inaugurating the CSR Matchmaking Portal  "Mizoram CSR Connect" at the Aijal Club, Lalduhoma invited corporate entities and civil society organisations to actively engage in CSR initiatives in Mizoram, assuring that every rupee of CSR funds would be utilised in a transparent, meaningful, and impactful manner.

The portal has been developed jointly by the Mizoram CSR Cell under the Planning and Programme Implementation Department in collaboration with UNDP India, to facilitate effective linkage and coordination between CSR contributors and implementing agencies.

Referring to CSR data for 202324, the Chief Minister noted that Mizoram received only 0.06 per cent of the total CSR expenditure in India.

Emphasising the significant role CSR can play in development, he stated that the CSR Cell was established in the Chief Minister's Office in June 2024 to strengthen CSR-related initiatives in Mizoram.

Lalduhoma said that the launch of the Mizoram CSR Connect portal marks an important step in bridging CSR donors and seekers through a transparent and structured digital platform.

The portal, he added, is expected to enhance ease of doing CSR in Mizoram while also ensuring transparency, accountability, and measurable outcomes for contributing corporates.

Addressing the function, Angela Lusigi, Resident Representative, UNDP India, expressed her appreciation for the launch of the Mizoram CSR Connect portal, describing it as a commendable initiative with national and global relevance.

She said UNDP was proud to partner in the initiative and reaffirmed UNDP India's focus on sustainable development, women's empowerment, and environmental conservation.

Commending Mizoram's development initiatives, she reiterated UNDP's commitment to continued collaboration with the State. She underlined the importance of data-driven planning for achieving impactful development outcomes and noted that the portal would greatly support CSR stakeholders through reliable data and informed decision-making.

Advisor to the Chief Minister and Chairman, Mizoram CSR Cell, T.B.C Lalvenchhunga, highlighted key CSR opportunities in Mizoram.

The event also witnessed the exchange of Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) between the Mizoram Start-Up Mission and participating corporate and institutional partners.

Secretary, Planning & Programme Implementation Department, Lalmalsawma Pachuau, delivered the welcome address.

--IANS

sc/dan
New Delhi, Jan 27 : The India-European Union trade deal is a historic milestone that will create a large integrated market and deliver significant benefits to the economies of both regions, industry leaders said on Tuesday.

New Delhi, Jan 27 (IANS) The IndiaEuropean Union trade deal is a historic milestone that will create a large integrated market and deliver significant benefits to the economies of both regions, industry leaders said on Tuesday.

Speaking to IANS on the sidelines of the Indo-EU Business Forum, Frank Schloeder, Managing Director of Hafele India Private Limited, said the conclusion of the India-EU Free Trade Agreement after prolonged negotiations marks an important moment.

He noted that the deal comes at a time when the rules-based global order is facing considerable disruption.

"As members of the business community, the focus will be on maximising the benefits arising from this agreement," he told IANS.

Rajesh Vohra, CEO of Artsana IndiaChicco, described the agreement as a very positive development.

"The deal will significantly ease import and export processes and open up new opportunities for businesses on both sides," he said.

Vinod Sharma, Managing Director of Deki India Electronics Limited, said his company has been manufacturing electronics products in India for the past 40 years and views the trade deal as a strong step forward.

"The agreement will enhance cooperation between two major economies. For India, Europe is not just a large market, but also a key source of advanced technology and increased investment," he added.

Elsevier Chairman YS Chi said the agreement reached by both sides is highly encouraging and will make collaboration in areas such as trade, talent and intellectual property much easier.

"The deal will benefit not only the economies of India and Europe but also the global economy as a whole," he added.

Fredrik Persson, President of BusinessEurope, told IANS that the India-Europe trade deal has come at a time when it was most needed.

"It will create a wide range of opportunities for Europe in India and for India in Europe," Persson said.

"Together, the two regions form one of the world's largest markets, and the agreement will help combine India's skills with Europe's technological strengths within a rules-based framework, benefiting both sides," Persson added.
Thiruvananthapuram, Jan 27 : Kerala is witnessing a surge in political tension as a series of high-profile incidents involving the ruling CPI-M has drawn widespread attention to alleged violations of norms and intimidation tactics.

The flashpoint remains the expulsion of senior CPI-M leader V. Kunjikrishnan, which has triggered street protests, threats to supporters, and heated scrutiny of party practices.

On Monday, while the Kannur district committee was convening to finalise Kunjikrishnan's expulsion, a group of CPI-M workers marched to his residence in Payyannur, bursting firecrackers and raising slogans.

Only Kunjikrishnan's grandchildren were at home at the time.

The demonstration drew immediate comparisons to the high-profile Enforcement Directorate (ED) raid in 2020 on the Thiruvananthapuram residence of Bineesh Kodiyeri, son of veteran CPI-M leader Kodiyeri Balakrishnan, during which relatives staged a sit-in alleging that his wife and minor child were being unlawfully detained and denied basic necessities.

State Child Rights Commission chairman Manoj Kumar rushed to the Kodiyeri house, but ED officials barred entry, illustrating how personal and political interventions often intersect during crises.

The unrest in Payyannur escalated further on Monday night when the motorcycle of Prasannan, a party worker who had publicly supported Kunjikrishnan, was allegedly dragged into a nearby paddy field in the dead of night and set on fire.

Residents expressed fear that these acts mirrored an "Onchiyam-model" vendetta, signalling an aggressive approach to silencing dissent within the party.

Cyber attacks and pressure tactics on social media accompanied these acts, compounding the climate of intimidation.

Adding another layer of controversy, V.K. Nishad, a CPI-M and DYFI leader convicted for a 2012 bomb attack on a police vehicle and serving a rigorous imprisonment sentence, was seen participating in a protest march against Kunjikrishnan while on parole.

Nishad had recently won the 2025 local body elections from Ward 46 of Payyannur Municipality despite being in jail.

Participation in political demonstrations is explicitly prohibited under parole conditions.

Sources confirmed he has returned to jail, but the incident has intensified scrutiny over the enforcement of parole rules in politically sensitive cases.

The CPI-M has responded by convening an explanatory meeting on Tuesday night in Payyannur, with senior state and district leaders attempting to convince cadres of the investigation commission's findings and rebut Kunjikrishnan's allegations of fund misappropriation.

The Kerala Assembly on Tuesday was also rocked over the Kunjikrishnan episode, with the Opposition walking out after the Speaker refused leave for an adjournment motion on the same issue.
Ahmedabad, Jan 27 : The Central government has fixed the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for wheat at Rs 2,585 per quintal for the Rabi Marketing Season 2026-27.

In line with this decision, wheat will be procured at MSP across Gujarat through the Gujarat State Civil Supplies Corporation Ltd., as part of efforts to ensure remunerative prices for farmers.

Farmers willing to sell wheat at MSP will be required to complete online registration at the village level through VCEs between February 1 and March 1, 2026. Registration will be carried out through biometric authentication of farmer account holders. The procurement of wheat at MSP will be undertaken from March 4 to May 15, 2026.

For registration, farmers must keep ready documents including a copy of the Aadhaar card, updated village records, 7/12 and 8-A land records, and proof of crop sowing. In cases where crop sowing details are not reflected in the land records, a certificate signed and stamped by the Talati will be required.

Additionally, farmers must provide bank account details, along with a copy of the bank passbook or a cancelled cheque. Registered farmers will be informed about procurement schedules through SMS alerts.

At the time of procurement, farmers must carry their Aadhaar card or a valid identity proof, and wheat will be purchased only after biometric authentication.

Authorities have warned that if any discrepancies or false documents are detected during verification, the registration will be cancelled and the farmer will not be notified for procurement.

As online registration is mandatory for selling wheat at MSP, farmers have been urged to contact their respective gram panchayats for assistance.

In case of any difficulties related to registration, farmers can contact the helpline numbers 8511171718 and 8511171719, the Civil Supplies Corporation said.
Bengaluru, Jan 27 : In a concerning development, JD(S) MLA Karemma G. Nayak, representing the Devadurga constituency, stated on the floor of the Karnataka Legislative Assembly that sand mafia goons were following and threatening her.

Raising the issue during the Question Hour on Tuesday, MLA Karemma said the law-and-order situation in her constituency had deteriorated. "In broad daylight, a dialysis machine from a hospital was taken away and no one knows what happened to it later. I have been struggling to prevent illegal activities in my constituency, but it is becoming increasingly difficult. The written reply given by the Home Minister is based on police inputs and is not sufficient," she said.

She alleged that sand mafia operations were rampant along the Krishna river, with illegal transportation of loose sand taking place fearlessly, creating an atmosphere of terror. "Women are afraid to step out of their homes even to attend nature's call. When I contact authorities, they do not respond. The Home Minister's reply claims a special team has been formed, but it is merely clicking photographs. Check posts do not even have CCTV cameras," she alleged.

"When I go out to meet people and address their grievances, dozens of vehicles follow me. When I ask why they are following me, they threaten me, claiming they are 'protecting' me. I am a woman MLA. If such things are happening to me, what is the government doing?" she asked.

She further said that while loose sand was required, the tender process had not been completed, reflecting collusion among authorities. "Big hands are behind this. Money is being pocketed while the government gets nothing. Roads have been destroyed, and due to their poor condition, a bus overturned, killing the conductor and injuring small children," she stated.

"I request immediate intervention. The reply given by the Home Minister is not appropriate. I have personally visited his residence and folded my hands requesting action. Instead, groups of people are being sent to my house to quarrel with me, blaming me for everything. What should I do?" she asked.

JD(S) floor leader C.B. Suresh Babu said there was no protection even for elected representatives, and questioned the safety of common citizens. "The loose sand mafia is out of control. Groups are creating ruckus in front of her residence. If a woman legislator is facing such a situation, it is deeply alarming," he said.

Responding to the allegations, Home Minister G. Parameshwara said, "First, I assure MLA Karemma that she will not be troubled. I am here, and the police department will ensure her safety. I assure all legislators that protection will be provided. If there are lapses, I will initiate action."

He said the sand mafia problem was not confined to Devadurga taluk alone. "The menace exists across the taluk. Action is being taken. The matter is handled by the Mines and Geology Department under the MMDR Act. A team comprising the Deputy Commissioner, Assistant Commissioner and police officials is formed. Once complaints are filed, the police will act," he said.

"In Devadurga taluk alone, illegal sand mining is rampant. So far, 440 cases have been registered. Additionally, 34 cases related to matka have been booked. It cannot be said that the police are doing nothing. Task forces and special task forces have been formed, banks have been instructed to monitor financial transactions, and a separate Sand Task Force has been created. I will ensure they act effectively," he added.

"In Raichur district, accused persons have been externed. In 2023, 19 proposals were sent and eight persons were externed. In 2024, 13 persons were externed, and in 2026, eight persons have been externed. This menace cannot be stopped in a single day. There will be no compromise, and action will continue," he assured.

Senior JD(S) MLA G.T. Deve Gowda said, "She has been repeatedly targeted, and the issue must be treated seriously."

MLA Karemma added that trucks were operating without registration numbers. "Tenders must be opened. This issue must be taken seriously," she said.

"I will personally verify the matter and take appropriate action," Parameshwara said.

Senior BJP MLA S. Suresh Kumar questioned the government, asking when illegal mafias were thriving in Raichur despite the presence of an SP and IGP, why a special drive could not be conducted to clean up the district.

Replying to this, Parameshwara said, "Suresh Kumar is a senior leader. I have not disclosed details about the big leaders involved in Raichur or under whose patronage this is happening. This is a serious menace involving big fish across all parties. I have given a restricted reply because it is an embarrassing situation."

Suresh Kumar countered, saying that no one was above the law and that the government existed for the common people, not for protecting influential individuals.

Parameshwara assured the House that he would convene a meeting of local MLAs and take necessary action.
Bengaluru, Jan 27 : In a concerning development, JD(S) MLA Karemma G. Nayak, representing the Devadurga constituency, stated on the floor of the Karnataka Legislative Assembly that sand mafia goons were following and threatening her. In response to her complaint, state Home Minister said that "big people from all parties were involved in sand mining."

Raising the issue during the Question Hour on Tuesday, MLA Karemma said the law-and-order situation in her constituency had deteriorated. "In broad daylight, a dialysis machine from a hospital was taken away and no one knows what happened to it later. I have been struggling to prevent illegal activities in my constituency, but it is becoming increasingly difficult. The written reply given by the Home Minister is based on police inputs and is not sufficient," she said.

She alleged that sand mafia operations were rampant along the Krishna river, with illegal transportation of loose sand taking place fearlessly, creating an atmosphere of terror. "Women are afraid to step out of their homes even to attend nature's call. When I contact authorities, they do not respond. The Home Minister's reply claims a special team has been formed, but it is merely clicking photographs. Check posts do not even have CCTV cameras," she alleged.

"When I go out to meet people and address their grievances, dozens of vehicles follow me. When I ask why they are following me, they threaten me, claiming they are 'protecting' me. I am a woman MLA. If such things are happening to me, what is the government doing?" she asked.

She further said that while loose sand was required, the tender process had not been completed, reflecting collusion among authorities. "Big hands are behind this. Money is being pocketed while the government gets nothing. Roads have been destroyed, and due to their poor condition, a bus overturned, killing the conductor and injuring small children," she stated.

"I request immediate intervention. The reply given by the Home Minister is not appropriate. I have personally visited his residence and folded my hands requesting action. Instead, groups of people are being sent to my house to quarrel with me, blaming me for everything. What should I do?" she asked.

JD(S) floor leader C.B. Suresh Babu said there was no protection even for elected representatives, and questioned the safety of common citizens. "The loose sand mafia is out of control. Groups are creating ruckus in front of her residence. If a woman legislator is facing such a situation, it is deeply alarming," he said.

Responding to the allegations, Home Minister G. Parameshwara said, "First, I assure MLA Karemma that she will not be troubled. I am here, and the police department will ensure her safety. I assure all legislators that protection will be provided. If there are lapses, I will initiate action."

He said the sand mafia problem was not confined to Devadurga taluk alone. "The menace exists across the taluk. Action is being taken. The matter is handled by the Mines and Geology Department under the MMDR Act. A team comprising the Deputy Commissioner, Assistant Commissioner and police officials is formed. Once complaints are filed, the police will act," he said.

"In Devadurga taluk alone, illegal sand mining is rampant. So far, 440 cases have been registered. Additionally, 34 cases related to matka have been booked. It cannot be said that the police are doing nothing. Task forces and special task forces have been formed, banks have been instructed to monitor financial transactions, and a separate Sand Task Force has been created. I will ensure they act effectively," he added.

"In Raichur district, accused persons have been externed. In 2023, 19 proposals were sent and eight persons were externed. In 2024, 13 persons were externed, and in 2026, eight persons have been externed. This menace cannot be stopped in a single day. There will be no compromise, and action will continue," he assured.

Senior JD(S) MLA G.T. Deve Gowda said, "She has been repeatedly targeted, and the issue must be treated seriously."

MLA Karemma added that trucks were operating without registration numbers. "Tenders must be opened. This issue must be taken seriously," she said.

"I will personally verify the matter and take appropriate action," Parameshwara said.

Senior BJP MLA S. Suresh Kumar questioned the government, asking when illegal mafias were thriving in Raichur despite the presence of an SP and IGP, why a special drive could not be conducted to clean up the district.

Replying to this, Parameshwara said, "Suresh Kumar is a senior leader. I have not disclosed details about the big leaders involved in Raichur or under whose patronage this is happening. This is a serious menace involving big fish across all parties. I have given a restricted reply because it is an embarrassing situation."

Suresh Kumar countered, saying that no one was above the law and that the government existed for the common people, not for protecting influential individuals.

Parameshwara assured the House that he would convene a meeting of local MLAs and take necessary action.
Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration of Ukraine Taras Kachka hopes that an Agreement on Conformity Assessment and Acceptance of Industrial Products (ACAA) between Ukraine and the EU will be concluded in the near future.

"Two bills (on ACAA) are already fully ready for approval. Possibly, we will approve them as early as February and move on to concluding the agreement, which will also help sell our industrial products in the European Union," he said at the Export Credit Forum in Kyiv on January 27, organized by the Export Credit Agency (ECA).

Overall, Kachka once again expressed confidence that Ukraine will join the EU relatively quickly.

"Right now, this thesis sounds almost fantastic, but I think we need to prepare for it very quickly. For the government and the authorities, this will mean completing all institutional reforms as fast as possible, which sometimes last for decades, particularly in customs and other regulatory bodies," the deputy prime minister said.

A week earlier, speaking at the Davos Ukraine House on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum, Kachka said that the biggest problem on the path to the EU at present is the environmental sector.

"The reason is that we discovered that for many years the Ministry of Environmental Protection of Ukraine was a 'zombie ministry': without its own mind, without its own policy, completely dependent on nongovernmental organizations, think tanks, and the like. I like all think tanks and NGOs, but in the environmental field you need a strong ministry, because it is about balancing the interests of different industries, communities, municipalities, a lot of balancing, very complex balancing," he explained.

The deputy prime minister stressed that in the environmental area Ukraine will ask for a transition period, because it will not be able to implement the most complex directives, for example, within two years.

"In agriculture, we have literally two elements where, as we see it, a problem may arise," Kachka added.

According to him, the first is minor and very technical, "which is very difficult to discuss for those who are not veterinarians," while the second concerns plant protection products, because over the past three years the EU has sharply banned many chemicals used in agriculture. He  that a rapid transition by Ukrainian companies to new EU-approved chemicals would make them more expensive in Europe, which would hit small farmers, meaning a precise solution to this issue needs to be found.
Seoul, Jan 27 : Politicians and government officials on Tuesday mourned the death of former South Korean Prime Minister Lee Hae-chan following his body's return from Vietnam, where he died earlier this week.

A memorial altar bearing Lee's portrait was set up at a funeral home at Seoul National University Hospital in central Seoul.

Condolence wreaths were sent by President Lee Jae Myung, Prime Minister Kim Min-seok, National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik, former President Moon Jae-in and opposition leader Jang Dong-hyeok, Yonhap News Agency reported.

The casket containing Lee's body arrived at a funeral home at the hospital earlier in the day, hours after its repatriation aboard a Korean Air flight at Incheon International Airport, west of Seoul.

Lee, who was serving as executive vice chairperson of the Peaceful Unification Advisory Council (PUAC), died at a hospital in Ho Chi Minh City on Sunday after suffering cardiac arrest.

The funeral service will be held for five days through Saturday with government honors but not as a state funeral, reflecting his family's wishes and his contributions to society.

Prime Minister Kim, who heads Lee's funeral committee, Woo and other senior government officials, as well as politicians close to Lee, were present at the funeral home to receive the casket.

"Lee was a living witness to South Korea's democracy and made great contributions to building successive democratic governments," Woo said, calling him "a great teacher of our time."

Former President Moon and his wife visited the funeral hall later Tuesday, remaining for about 50 minutes to offer condolences to Lee's family and comfort mourners.

A former seven-term lawmaker, Lee served as Prime Minister during the Roh Moo-hyun administration from 2004 to 2006. He was appointed as executive vice chairperson of the PUAC in October last year.

He took part in the pro-democracy movement during South Korea's military regimes, entering politics through student activism and opposition activities.

Lee was known for his close ties with three former liberal Presidents -- Kim Dae-jung, Roh Moo-hyun, Moon Jae-in -- and President Lee Jae Myung -- earning him the nickname "kingmaker" for his role as a political ally and advisor.

A brief memorial service took place at the airport before the casket's arrival at the funeral home, with honour guards transporting it to a hearse.
Hyderabad, Jan 27 : The Telangana Cyber Security Bureau (TGCSB) has apprehended six accused in three cases of cyber fraud involving over Rs 16 crore, during an operation conducted in Kerala and Bengaluru.

TGCSB director Shikha Goel said on Tuesday that TGCSB organised a coordinated operation as part of its ongoing investigation into cybercrimes and to apprehend the accused individuals involved.

Two teams were dispatched to Kerala, and one team to Bengaluru. They successfully apprehended six accused, three each in Kerala and Bengaluru.

The accused, including five account holders and one agent, were arrested in three cases, in which victims had together lost over Rs 16.18 crore.

On December 9, 2024, a complaint was received from a senior citizen woman that she was cheated by a group of impersonating officials of TRAI, CBI, RBI and other national agencies. The victim received a call falsely claiming that her Aadhaar-linked phone number was involved in criminal activities.

The call was transferred to persons identifying themselves as CBI officers, who instructed her and her daughters to connect on Skype, remain under 24-hour surveillance and follow strict directions, stating they were "digitally arrested."

The fraudsters sent fake documents with CBI and RBI logos and claimed her bank accounts required verification. Under continuous pressure, she transferred large sums through RTGS between November 14 and December 3, 2024. She suffered a loss of Rs. 5,66,51,100.

In this case, the TGCSB arrested Renju Pathakku Reji, 30, a resident of Kerala. He had provided his company's current bank account and credentials to his friend for use as a mule account to receive proceeds of cyber fraud. Subsequently, his friend provided the details to the main fraudsters who are alleged to be operating from other countries.

On January 2, 2026, a complaint was received from a senior citizen who became a victim of digital arrest. He mentioned that on October 27, 2025, he received a WhatsApp call from someone claiming to be from Blue Dart Customer Care, alleging that a parcel linked to him contained illegal items. He reported that another caller, posing as a Bombay Police officer, accused him of involvement in serious offences and instructed him to keep the matter confidential while forcing him to share financial details.

He was pressured to transfer money. He suffered a total loss of Rs. 7,12,80,000. A letter demanding more money made him suspicious, prompting him to file a complaint with the NCRP.

In this case, Arun Sreenivas, 41, and Sanal V Menon, 48, both from Kerala, were arrested. They had provided their bank account details to cyber fraudsters for a commission.

The third case relates to online trading fraud allegedly committed by Nadir Verma and his associates, who had posed as genuine traders connected to the ORBM trading platform.

The complainant reported that he initially invested Rs 1 lakh on December 2, 2025, after which his account showed a small profit, and he was then persuaded to invest a much larger amount. He stated that under continuous pressure, he ultimately invested Rs.3,40,96,958 over 22 days.

When he attempted to withdraw his funds, he was asked to deposit additional money, which raised doubts about the legitimacy of their demands. He added that he filed a complaint with the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal.

In this case, TGCSB arrested V. Jayaprakash, 41, Balaraju, 51, both directors of ZIP Cleaning Services Pvt. Ltd. Bengaluru and Harish G, 55, also a resident of Bengaluru.

Jayaprakash and Balaraju conspired with Harish to commit the offence with an intention to unlawfully gain financial benefits by misuse of company accounts, banking instruments and electronic devices. They provided the account details to a person living in Pune and facilitated the transactions by providing the account-linked mobile phone to the main fraudsters.

Efforts are being continued to trace and apprehend the absconding accused, said TGCSB director.
Jaipur, Jan 27 : Rajasthan Leader of the Opposition Tika Ram Jully said that meaningful issues were discussed during the all-party meeting. He stated that the opposition raised the demand that the government must respond to every issue raised by the opposition in the House.

"The government may give whatever reply it chooses, but at least a reply must be given," he said.

Jully added that farmers, youth, the poor, and women of the state are closely watching the proceedings of the Assembly with hope.

He said, "The outcome of the meeting should be positive. Otherwise, it will be the same old story. We are not going to back down." He also informed that the opposition raised the issue related to cameras before the Speaker.

Speaking further, Jully said that when the session begins, these issues will be raised in the House. He alleged that attempts are being made to tarnish Rajasthan's image by introducing the Disturbed Areas Bill.

"Riots do occur in Rajasthan, and everyone knows who is responsible for them. Such elements want to weaken Rajasthan's long-standing image of 'Atithi Devo Bhavah' across the country," he said.

He questioned the intent behind bringing the bill to Rajasthan, stating that its introduction reflects the mindset of those promoting it.

"The consequences will be visible in the coming days. Tourism is already declining. What kind of image do they want to project of Rajasthan?" he asked.

On the issue of OBC reservation in the TSP area, the Leader of Opposition said that the matter would be discussed in the legislative party meeting.

He emphasised that the fight for the rights of every section of the state would be taken up in the Assembly.

"Today's meeting was only an all-party meeting. Whether this agenda will be included in the Business Advisory Committee (BAC) will be decided later. Our future strategy will be finalised in the legislative party meeting tomorrow at 7:00 pm," he said.

Regarding the UGC code, Jully stated that the party's stand has not yet been finalised. He added that if any bill ensures non-discrimination and promotes harmony, there should be no objection to it.

The party's position will be decided at a later stage. The Legislative Assembly will commence on Wednesday, January 28. Ahead of the session, an all-party meeting was held at the Legislative Assembly on Tuesday under the chairmanship of Speaker Vasudev Devnani.

During the meeting, a consensus was reached to conduct the proceedings of the House peacefully and in accordance with established rules and traditions.

Members of both the ruling and opposition parties assured the Speaker that they would maintain decorum and use respectful and dignified language during the session.
New Delhi, Jan 27 : Union Minister for Electronics and Information Technology Ashwini Vaishnaw on Tuesday said the government's multi-year, ecosystem-driven approach to semiconductor development is delivering tangible results.

He said that India steadily moves towards building a strong and self-reliant chip design and manufacturing ecosystem.

Speaking after interacting with semiconductor chip design companies approved under the Design Linked Incentive (DLI) Scheme of the Semicon India Programme here, he said that the meeting focused on reviewing the progress of these companies, understanding their design innovations and reaffirming the government's commitment to strengthening domestic semiconductor capabilities.

"The semiconductor programme was conceived in 2022 with a clear long-term vision laid down by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to build the entire semiconductor ecosystem, rather than implementing isolated schemes," Vaishnaw said.

"The goal is to transform India from a services-led economy into a product-driven nation with strong capabilities in critical technologies," he added.

Highlighting the success of the DLI Scheme, Vaishnaw said that while expectations were modest in the beginning, the programme now supports 24 startups.

"Several of these companies have already completed tape-outs, validated their products and gained market traction," Vaishnaw stated.

"This has proven the effectiveness of the government's approach of removing key hurdles faced by semiconductor startups by providing access to advanced design tools, IP libraries, wafer support and tape-out facilities," he explained.

The Minister noted that the support being provided under the India Semiconductor Mission is among the most comprehensive in the world.

He said the government now plans to scale up the programme and enable at least 50 fabless semiconductor companies in the next phase.

"India is well on track to produce globally competitive fabless companies in the coming years," Vaishnaw mentioned.

The DLI-supported companies are working across a wide range of semiconductor design areas, including indigenous system-on-chips and application-specific integrated circuits for surveillance, networking and embedded systems.

Their work also covers RISC-V based processors, AI-enabled low-power chips for IoT and edge applications, telecom and wireless chipsets, power management ICs, and solutions for strategic sectors such as automotive, energy, space and defence.
Kolkata, Jan 27 : West Bengal Chief Minister, Mamata Banerjee, on Tuesday issued a note of caution about attempts to create tension and violence before the crucial Assembly elections in the state, scheduled later this year.

While issuing the note of caution on Tuesday, the Chief Minister gave some subtle hints about certain sections of people whose actions might trigger possible tension in the state.

Chief Minister Banerjee asked everyone to be careful about possible attempts to create a riot-like situation in West Bengal before the Assembly polls. However, she refrained from directly pointing out those sources of tension and violence.

"We have people from a community whose percentage representation is over 30. In case of grievances, they will block roads. Around 26 per cent of the population is Scheduled Castes. Around six per cent of the population is tribal. Whenever something happens, the people from the tribal community block train services. I do not want this. I want everyone to live together. There might be an attempt to create a situation of unrest before the elections," the Chief Minister warned.

According to Chief Minister Banerjee, the most important thing is that people should stay together peacefully. "If there is peace in life, there will be progress. If the situation is peaceful, then the work becomes easier," she said.

At the same time, Chief Minister Banerjee once again became vocal on the issue of migrant workers from West Bengal being subjected to attacks and humiliation in other states, especially the ones ruled by the BJP.

"Around 1,5 crore of migrant workers are in West Bengal. They do not face any kind of problem here. But when migrant workers from West Bengal go to other states to earn their livelihoods, they are being attacked. I am asking the migrant workers from the state who are currently in other states to return to West Bengal. The state government will take full responsibility for their livelihoods," Chief Minister Banerjee said.
Jaipur, Jan 27 : Amid the ongoing controversy over the new UGC regulations, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has issued his first response.

Speaking on Tuesday in Chhoti Khatu, Didwana-Kuchaman district, the minister made it clear that harassment and discrimination of any kind will not be tolerated in the education system.

Pradhan said, "I assure everyone there will be no discrimination and no one can misuse the law."

He further said that no one has the right to misuse their position in the name of discrimination.

"Whether it is the UGC, the Government of India, or state governments, everyone must function strictly within the framework of the Constitution," he said.

He reiterated that no one would be subjected to oppression or discrimination in educational institutions. This arrangement is being made under SC directions, he added further.

During the visit, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan laid the foundation stone of a new building for the Government Senior Secondary School in Chhoti Khatu town. The school building will be constructed at a cost of approximately Rs 4.50 crore.

On this occasion, Rajasthan Education Minister Madan Dilawar announced that the school would be named after Jain religious leader Acharya Mahashraman.

Addressing the gathering, Pradhan highlighted key features of the National Education Policy, stating that the central government is continuously working to raise the standard of education across the country.

Stressing the importance of the mother tongue, the Union Education Minister said that teaching of the Rajasthani language should be introduced in government schools in Rajasthan in the coming years.

He issued necessary directions to State Education Minister Madan Dilawar in this regard. Emphasising technology-based education, Pradhan said that in the modern era, it is essential to connect students with digital resources.

This, he said, would help make youth skilled and improve their employment opportunities.

Meanwhile, Rajasthan Education Minister Madan Dilawar said that the school being constructed in Chhoti Khatu would serve as a model institution and would surpass many private schools in several aspects.

He informed that while the government has sanctioned approximately Rs 4.50 crore for the project, the Jain community of Chhoti Khatu will contribute an additional Rs 50 lakh.

He further stated that the Rajasthani language will be included in the school curriculum across the state within the next two years and that the syllabus has already been prepared.
Mumbai, Jan 27 : Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday said that Maharashtra stands to benefit significantly from the historic India-EU Free Trade Agreement.

Key sectors such as textiles and apparel, engineering goods, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, medical devices, automobiles and auto components, base metals, electronics, gems and jewellery are expected to witness accelerated growth, enhanced competitiveness, and expanded access to global markets. Moreover, farmers will also benefit largely, he added.

In his post on X, the Chief Minister said, "The India-EU Free Trade Agreement marks a strategic breakthrough in India's global trade engagement under the leadership of PM Narendra Modi.

"Referred to as the 'Mother of all trade deals', this landmark agreement integrates India with 27 European countries, collectively accounting for nearly 25 per cent of global GDP. The agreement unlocks unprecedented market access for Indian exports, with over 99 per cent of Indian goods receiving preferential entry into the European Union. As a result, exports worth 6.41 lakh crore are poised for a major take-off, particularly across labour-intensive sectors such as textiles, leather, marine products, and gems & jewellery."

In addition, the India-EU FTA opens favourable market access for India's agricultural and processed food exports, delivering significant benefits to farmers and agri-value chains. A future-ready mobility framework further expands global opportunities for skilled and semi-skilled Indian professionals, strengthening India's position in the global economy, he remarked.

"A defining step towards deeper international economic cooperation and sustained, trade-led growth, the India-EU Free Trade Agreement reinforces India's global economic footprint while positioning Maharashtra as a leading driver of export-oriented development," said the chief minister.

The FTA between India and the EU comes days after the Maharashtra government signed MoUs for investment proposals worth Rs 30 lakh crore during the World Economic Forum (WEF) summit. In addition, the government has held preliminary talks for another investment of Rs 7 to Rs 10 lakh crore for which the government will sign MoUs in the next one or two months.

The chief minister said these investments are from industry, services, Artificial Intelligence data centres, Quantum computing, technology, data centre, semi conductors, healthcare, food processing, renewable energy, green skill, EV, urban transformation, green steel, ship building, sustainability, fintech, digital infrastructure and textiles.

"Of these investments, 83 per cent is Foreign Direct Investment, whole 16 per cent investment is with foreign entities and for foreign technology. Some of these investments are for import substitution. These MoUs are from companies from 18 countries including the US, UK, Switzerland, Sweden, Singapore, Germany, UAE, Norway and Canada among others," he revealed.
Kolkata, Jan 27 : West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's sudden decision to travel to New Delhi has prompted major changes in the schedule of the upcoming budget session of the West Bengal Assembly, sources said on Tuesday.

Kolkata, Jan 27 (IANS) West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjeeas sudden decision to travel to New Delhi has prompted major changes in the schedule of the upcoming budget session of the West Bengal Assembly, sources said on Tuesday.

According to the earlier plan, the budget session was scheduled to begin on January 31. However, sources in the Assembly Secretariat confirmed that the commencement has now been shifted to February 3.

As Assembly elections are due this year, the state government will not present a full Budget; instead, it will bring a Vote on Account.

An official of the Legislative Assembly said the revised timetable provides for the session to begin on February 3, following which the House will be adjourned for the day after condolence references, in keeping with established practice.

The Assembly will remain closed the next day on account of Shaba'ea'Barat, and the government will present the Vote on Account on February 5.

The session will reconvene the following day, when discussions on the financial proposals may take place. February 9 is likely to be the concluding day of the session.

Meanwhile, the rescheduling has coincided with significant political developments in the state. Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently addressed a rally in Singur in the Hooghly district.

Soon after, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjeeas visit to Singur was announced, where she is slated to hold a public meeting on Wednesday.

Political circles believe she may respond to the Prime Ministeras comments from the venue. Following the meeting, Banerjee is expected to leave for Delhi.

Political analysts also view her Delhi visit as crucial. It is widely believed that Banerjee may raise the issue of the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in the national capital.

With the Assembly elections approaching, observers are watching whether she will hold meetings with partners of the INDIA alliance, particularly the Congress.

Sources said Banerjeeas primary objective is to build consensus among opposition parties against the SIR exercise currently underway in several states, including West Bengal.

A West Bengal cabinet member, who declined to be named, said the duration of her Delhi stay has not been finalised. However, the Chief Minister intends to remain in the national capital during the upcoming Budget session of Parliament, as senior leaders and MPs of key opposition parties will be present there.
Hyderabad, Jan 27 : Elections for seven Municipal Corporations and 116 municipalities in Telangana will be held on February 11, the State Election Commission announced on Tuesday.

State Election Commissioner I. Rani Kumudini released the schedule for municipal elections after a meeting with all district Collectors and Superintendents of Police.

As per the schedule, the election notice will be issued by the returning officer concerned on January 28. The same day, ward-wise electoral rolls of urban local bodies will be displayed.

January 30 is the last date for filing of nominations, while scrutiny of the nominations will be taken up the next day.

The State Election Commissioner said the list of validly nominated candidates will be published on January 31, while appeals against rejection of nominations can be filed on February 1. The appeals will be disposed of the next day.

She said February 3 will be the last date for withdrawal of candidatures. The same day, the final list of contesting candidates will be published.

Polling will be held on February 11. Re-polling, if any, will be conducted on February 12. Counting of votes will be taken up on February 13.

A total of 52.43 lakh voters are eligible to cast their votes in the municipal elections. They comprise 25.62 lakh males, 26.80 lakh females, and 640 others.

There are 2,996 wards in these 123 urban local bodies. The SEC will set up 8,203 polling stations and arrange 16,031 ballot boxes for polling.

The state poll body will also arrange 137 strong rooms and 136 counting centres.

Out of 2,996 wards, 864 have been reserved for women (unreserved). The number of unreserved wards in the general category is 647.

The government has reserved 463 seats for Backward Classes (general) and 391 for Backward Classes (women). Similarly, 254 seats are reserved for the Scheduled Castes (general) and 190 for the Scheduled Castes (women). For Scheduled Tribes (general), 147 wards have been reserved. Another 40 seats are reserved for Scheduled Tribes (women).

The elections for three other corporations, including the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC), and five municipalities, will be held later.
Dehradun, Jan 27 : Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi held a key meeting with senior leaders from the Uttarakhand unit of the party in New Delhi on Tuesday.

The interaction was part of the ongoing series of state-wise review meetings being conducted by the Congress high command to assess organisational strength, discuss local issues, and strategise for future electoral battles.

AICC General Secretary (Organisation) K.C. Venugopal shared details of the meeting on his X handle, posting, "Held a meeting with senior Congress leaders from Uttarakhand, under INC President Mallikarjun Kharge and leader of opposition Rahul Gandhi jias leadership - in continuation of our state-wise review meetings."

Accompanied by photographs from the venue at Indira Bhavan in New Delhi, the post highlighted the leadership's direct engagement with state functionaries. The meeting saw participation from prominent Uttarakhand Congress figures, who presented their views on the party's performance, challenges in the hill state, and preparations ahead.

This review comes at a time when Congress is focusing on rebuilding its base in Uttarakhand, a state where it has historically had influence but faced setbacks in recent elections. The party aims to strengthen grassroots connections, address regional grievances such as tourism development, disaster management, and youth employment, and counter the ruling BJP's dominance.

The Congress high command's initiative reflects a broader effort to conduct structured consultations with state units, ensuring better coordination between the central leadership and local workers. Similar meetings have been held with other states in recent months, allowing top leaders to hear firsthand accounts and guide corrective measures.

Sources indicated that discussions likely covered organisational restructuring, booth-level strengthening, alliance possibilities, if any, and responses to key public issues in Uttarakhand. The state unit has been vocal on matters like environmental concerns in the Himalayas, infrastructure deficits, and alleged mismanagement by the state government.

Venugopal's post and the accompanying visuals underscored the seriousness of the exercise, with Kharge and Gandhi actively listening to inputs from Uttarakhand leaders. Such interactions are seen as vital for boosting morale and aligning state strategies with the party's national vision. This Uttarakhand meeting adds to the momentum of these high-level reviews, aimed at revitalising the organisation and preparing for competitive electoral contests.

The Congress party on Monday instructed state leaders to expedite the formation of committees from district to booth levels under the Sangathan Srijan Abhiyan, aimed at revitalising the organisation after recent setbacks.

General Secretary (Organisation) KC Venugopal said in a post that a detailed meeting was held at Indira Bhawan with party functionaries from states where District Congress Committee (DCC) Presidents have been appointed. Party President Mallikarjun Kharge recently approved observers in six states to oversee the process, which has already resulted in 525 new DCC Presidents across 14 states. The initiative, formally launched in 2025, seeks to decentralise decision-making and strengthen grassroots structures.

Pradesh Committees have been directed to complete district bodies within 15 days, block-level in 30, and booth-level in 60, ensuring representation for SC, ST, OBC, and minorities.
The threat of the further presence of Russian military personnel on the territory of Moldovan Transnistria is becoming increasingly obvious, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha said, noting that Kyiv "is ready to consider the appeal of friendly Moldova for further practical cooperation, including contribution to Moldova's security."

"I think that the threat posed by the further presence of Russian military personnel on the territory of Transnistria is becoming increasingly obvious. And therefore, the need to restore the territorial integrity of Moldova on the basis of international law," he said in an interview with European Pravda.

According to him, Ukraine is already helping. "We are already helping  both through the development of a common border infrastructure, and through Moldova's independence from Russian energy resources, and through joint interaction on the path to EU membership. Moreover, it is crucial that this should be a joint movement."

When asked about the possibility of force assistance, Sybiha replied: "This is and remains the right of Chisinau  to determine policy in this context. By the way, we have heard and welcome the statements on the development of a new plan for the reintegration of Transnistria and are ready to consider the appeal of friendly Moldova for further practical interaction, including our contribution to the security of Moldova."

"We are ready to help Moldovan friends, but we must focus on our track," the minister said. "Although I share the opinion that in fact the security of Ukraine and Moldova is indivisible. Therefore, I am glad to see that the Moldovan side is clearly aware of the role and importance of Ukraine in regional security."
Patna, Jan 27 : The mysterious death of a NEET aspirant at Shambhu Girls' Hostel in Patna has sent shockwaves across Bihar, with fresh developments adding new gravity to the investigation.

Patna, Jan 27 (IANS) The mysterious death of a NEET aspirant at Shambhu Girlsa Hostel in Patna has sent shockwaves across Bihar, with fresh developments adding new gravity to the investigation.

The Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) has collected blood samples from 11 individuals, including hostel owner Manish Ranjan, in a significant step forward.

Among those sampled are five members of the deceased studentas family and six other suspects.

These suspects include individuals captured on CCTV footage as well as those who were involved in taking the student to the hospital.

According to official sources, the student was a minor, as confirmed by her age certificate. In view of this, authorities are preparing to add sections of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act to the case.

The FSL investigation has revealed the presence of sperm on the studentas clothes, further intensifying suspicions of sexual assault.

The victimas family handed over the clothes to the police on January 10, and the forensic report was submitted to the Special Investigation Team (SIT) two days ago.

DNA samples are now being collected from all suspects to establish their involvement in the crime.

The post-mortem report conducted at Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH) has also confirmed the possibility of sexual assault, contradicting initial police claims and raising serious questions about the early handling of the case.

Following revelations of investigative negligence, two Station House Officers - Roshni Kumari of Chitragupta Nagar Police Station and Hemant Jha of Kadamkuan Police Station - have been suspended with immediate effect.

Taking a strict stance, Home Minister Samrat Choudhary summoned the Director General of Police (DGP), Additional Director General (ADG), Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), and the entire SIT to review the investigation.

As the SIT has so far failed to reach a definitive conclusion, the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has now also been brought into the probe.

The case has emerged as a major test for Biharas law and order and investigative machinery, highlighting concerns over security, accountability, and institutional oversight.

With the studentas family demanding justice and forensic evidence pointing towards a grave crime, all eyes are now on the DNA test results, which are expected to play a decisive role in identifying those responsible.

Beyond the investigation itself, the case has sparked broader concerns about womenas safety, administrative negligence, and misuse of authority, exposing a troubling picture of vulnerability within society.
New Delhi, Jan 27 : After witnessing the Republic Day Parade, delegates of the Global Buddhist Summit visited Qila Rai Pithora Cultural Complex in south Delhi to pay offer prayers before the Holy relics of the Buddha, an official said on Monday.

The Holy relics of the Buddha are on display as part of an exposition which was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on January 3.

The group of 250 delegates from overseas and India spent over two hours at the exhibition of the Piprawah relics, even as they were apprised of how India made efforts to bring back the reliquaries of the Buddha, which were taken away from India in 1898, and unite them with the other part of the same reliquaries.

Most of the delegates were overawed by the visit to the relic museum and received blessings, while some of them even chanted before the holy relics in a peaceful and serene mood.

"We are extremely fortunate to be given this rare opportunity to be blessed by the relics of the Shakyamuni, and see the rich collection," one senior sangha member said.

Another delegate said, "This was a spiritual part of the GBS which we never expected, but it came our way".

The organisers of the GBS kept this programme a surprise for the participants so that the academic and philosophical aspects are combined with a spiritual experience.

Another aspect of the sideline activities of the Global Buddhist Summit was the visit of around 60 monks from different countries to watch the Republic Day parade on January 26.

The presence of the monks amidst displays of an array of defence equipment and troops created a sombre moment for all those watching the event.

While India exhibited its military might before the world, the presence of the venerable monks and nuns embodied peace and compassion, conveying a profound message that the resolution of global challenges lies in the path of Dhamma, as often mentioned by our honourable Prime Minister.

"It was a thrilling experience," said a monk. As the parade got over and the group was leaving the stand, three nuns from Vietnam requested if they could stay on since Prime Minister Narendra Modi was walking past the sitting area, and they wanted to greet him. Though the rest of the group left, they were obliged by the International Buddhist Confederation staff.

Later, they expressed their delight at seeing the Prime Minister from close quarters. Several photographs were taken to cherish the special moment so that they could share the experience with others on their return. "It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience for me," remarked a nun.
Bhopal/Ujjain, Jan 27 : Over a month-long 'Vikramotsav,' dedicated to Samrat Vikramaditya, will start in Madhya Pradesh's religious city Ujjain from February 15 and will conclude on March 19.

The Madhya Pradesh government, following a review meeting chaired by Chief Minister Mohan Yadav on Tuesday, released the full schedule of the events comprising religious, cultural and trade activities during the mega event.

The event will commence on February 15 with the inauguration of all Shivratri fairs, Kalash Yatraand 'Shivoham' musical presentation by a group of renowned artists. The national and international theatrical artists performing under the Vikram Theatre Festival will perform between February 16 and 25.

There will be an international history conclave, puppet festival, and research symposium between February 26 and 28, while an intellectual conclave on justice during the era of Samrat Vikramaditya will be organised between Feb 28 and March 1, which will be followed by an all-India poets' conference on March 7.

According to the schedule, the mega event also includes various other programmes, such as an international festival of mythological films featuring entries from more than 20 countries, Veda Antakshari and Sunrise worship at Ramghat, Dutt Akhara, on the occasion of Gudi Padwa.

On the last day (March 19), marking Varsh Pratipada and Srishti Aarambh Diwas will be celebrated as Ujjayini Gaurav Diwas.

"The main event will be held on the banks of the Shipra River and will include the presentation of the Samrat Vikramaditya Award, release of the Vikram Panchang 2082-83 and the second edition of Arsha Bharat, along with the dance-drama Mahadev Ki Nadi Katha," according to the government.

Reviewing the preparations for the event, Chief Minister Yadav emphasised that Vikramotsav, dedicated to Samrat Vikramaditya, must ensure an effective and comprehensive presentation of all dimensions of his personality.

He stated that introducing the new generation to the contributions of Samrat Vikramaditya is essential for maintaining the continuity of Indian knowledge systems and cultural traditions.

Chief Minister Yadav also directed that science colleges, engineering colleges and polytechnic institutes be associated with events highlighting the scientific aspects of Samrat Vikramaditya.
Kabul, Jan 27 : Afghan police have discovered narcotic substances and arrested four individuals on charges of trafficking drugs in northern Afghanistan's Baghlan province, local authorities confirmed on Tuesday.

Mullah Mohammad Nabi Kamran, provincial director for counter-narcotics police, said the suspects were detained in various areas of Pul-e-Khumri, the provincial capital. During the operation, security forces seized a range of narcotic substances, including hashish and other heroin-related products, Xinhua News Agency reported.

The suspects are currently under investigation, and further legal action is underway.

On January 13, Ministry of Interior Affairs said that Afghan security forces uncovered and torched three clandestine heroin processing laboratories and a large amount of illicit drugs in western Farah and southern Helmand provinces.

Counter-narcotics units carried out targeted operations on the outskirts of the two provinces, destroying the facilities and recovering substantial quantities of substances used in heroin production, according to the ministry's statements.

As part of ongoing efforts to combat drug addiction, Afghan police have recently rounded up 172 drug users in Kabul. These individuals have been transferred to a rehabilitation centre for medical care and support.

Meanwhile, Afghan forces conducted 10,599 operations throughout 2025, confiscating 2,356 tons of illicit drugs and dismantling 517 clandestine drug processing labs, according to official figures.

On December 21, provincial police headquarters stated that Afghan counter-narcotics police had destroyed a drug processing laboratory and arrested one suspect in connection with the case in the eastern Laghman province.

Acting on a tip-off, police carried out an operation in Mehtarlam district on December 20, where they uncovered a drug processing facility. A large quantity of materials and equipment used for heroin production was seized and destroyed at the site, the statement said.

In November, provincial police spokesman Nizamudin Omir said that police had arrested a suspected drug smuggler and confiscated illicit narcotics during an operation in the northern Takhar province.

According to the official, the suspect was detained while attempting to transport crystal methamphetamine and other chemicals used in heroin production to Taluqan, the provincial capital, where he allegedly planned to sell the materials.

The suspect has been placed in custody for further investigation, the spokesman added.
Chennai, Jan 27 : The fledgling Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), which has been compelled to announce a solo contest in the upcoming Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, on Tuesday raised its first major grievance over the lack of alliance partners.

Senior leader K.A. Sengottaiyan took a veiled swipe at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), accusing it of using its power at the Centre to disrupt alliance negotiations in the State.

Speaking to reporters in Coimbatore, Sengottaiyan, the chief coordinator of TVK's high-level administrative committee, alleged that whenever discussions on tie-ups begin, "interference from Delhi" follows.

Responding to a question on whether expelled AIADMK leader O Panneerselvam might join TVK, he remarked that the moment alliance talks surface, "those from Delhi step in," adding that it was therefore better not to speculate on such matters.

Dismissing suggestions that TVK was disappointed by AMMK leader T.T.V. Dhinakaran joining the National Democratic Alliance, Sengottaiyan said Dhinakaran had initially explored the possibility of aligning with TVK but later altered his decision due to the prevailing political situationan apparent reference to BJP pressure.

On speculation that PMK founder S. Ramadoss was in talks with TVK, he said he had heard similar reports and added cryptically, "Let good things happen."

Responding to actor-politician Vijay's criticism that the AIADMK had forgotten the legacy of C. N. Annadurai, Sengottaiyan said both the DMK and All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) had strayed from Anna's ideals.

He said he quit the AIADMK because it had forgotten "Amma, Thalaivar and Anna," alleging that the party no longer even displays its iconic leaders' portraits at public eventshis first major grievance against party chief Edappadi K. Palaniswami, which eventually led to his exit.

Referring to Palaniswami's earlier remark at a rally that TVK's flag was fluttering at his meeting, Sengottaiyan said the comment reflected expectations that no longer hold true.

He accused the AIADMK's ministers and IT wing of targeting TVK instead of exposing alleged DMK wrongdoing, citing the 'Panaiyur Panniyar' attack on Vijay, and claimed this showed the AIADMK was acting as the DMK's "B team."

On corruption allegations against him, Sengottaiyan said courts had cleared him of all charges, asserting that cases were filed out of political vendetta. He warned of legal action against anyone who continued to level such accusations.

--IANS

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United Nations, Jan 27 : India has expressed concern over the emergence of platforms "parallel" to the United Nations, seeking to take on peace and security roles while the Security Council is paralysed.

"Security conversations and discussions have moved on to parallel plurilateral frameworks, some even involving private sector actors to bring about outcomes on peace and security outside the United Nations," Indiaas Permanent Representative P. Harish cautioned on Monday, pressing the case for Council reform.

Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said no organisation or "ad-hoc" coalition can usurp the powers of the Council.

The Council alone can make decisions binding on all, and "no other body or ad-hoc coalition can legally require all member states to comply with decisions on peace and security", he said while speaking at the Council at a high-level debate on "Reaffirming International Rule of Law".

"Only the Security Council can authorise the use of force under international law, as set out in the Charter", he said. "Its responsibility is singular. Its obligation is universal."

Therefore, he said, Council "reform is essential".

"That is why we must act without delay to enhance the representation and effectiveness of this Council," he added.

Guterresa reference to an "ad hoc coalition" and Harishas mention of "parallel plurilateral frameworks" were about the Board of Peace that US President Donald Trump has created and is seen as a challenge to the UN.

With diplomatic finesse, they were careful not to name him or the Board.

Trump said last week at Davos: "Once this (Peace) Board is completely formed, we can do pretty much whatever we want to do."

Although he added a rider, "We'll do it in conjunction with the United Nations", it still meant he was seeing a downgraded role for the UN, losing its monopoly under the Charter for using force to enforce international peace and security.

Trump announced the Board as a part of his Gaza peace plan under which it was to oversee the rebuilding of the devastated territory.

The plan received the approval of the Security Council.

Trump has since said the Board could take on a broader role in international security.

The Board of Peace has 22 members, including Pakistan, and Trump has offered "permanent" membership for contributions of $1 billion.

Except for Belgium, Western countries have so far stayed away from the Board, where the majority a" 13 members a" is made up of Muslim majority nations.

Calling for urgent reform of the Council and adding permanent members, Harish said that it was essential to make the international rule of law effective when the world organisation "at its core is under strain".

"Paralysis and lack of effectiveness in tackling conflicts remain a significant shortcoming", testing the UNas credibility.

Because of the veto powers of the permanent members, the Council was not able to act on crises like Gaza and Ukraine.

"For multilateralism and international rule of law to remain effective and credible, global governance structures must evolve to reflect contemporary realities," he said.

While the world has undergone a profound transformation in the 80 years since the UNas founding, the Council is stuck in a bygone era, he said.

Given the changes in "power dynamics, demographics and the nature of global challenges, there's an urgent and compelling need to undertake comprehensive reform, including expansion in the permanent and non-permanent categories", the Indian diplomat said.

--IANS

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New Delhi, Jan 27 : The Congress party has resolved to raise a host of issues, including reframing the VB-G RAM G Law, ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, Aravalli deforestation and mining, and India's foreign policy in the first half of the two-part Budget Session of Parliament beginning from Wednesday.

The Congress Parliamentary Party (CPP) met this afternoon at its Chairperson Sonia Gandhi's residence, which was attended by party President and Rajya Sabha leader Mallikarjun Kharge, along with Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi.

Despite the government making it clear earlier at an all-party meeting on Tuesday that it will not roll back the recently introduced VBG RAM G Law, and that MPs have already discussed the SIR exercise, Congress Rajya Sabha member Syed Naseer Hussain demanded a "total rollback".

Asserting that the primary focus of the session would be the Budget itself, the government added that MPs could raise other issues when discussing the Motion of Thanks to the President's Address.

However, briefing the media on the CPP meeting, Hussain termed the government "arrogant", insisting it should undertake electoral reforms based on Congress's suggestions.

"Members from various states present in the meeting provided on-ground report on how excesses of SIR are creating havoc, creating confusion, and snatching away voters' rights," claimed the Rajya Sabha member.

"We need to raise it forcefully because vote theft is a major issue," he added later, calling all post-2003 polls a hoax.

The Congress leader added that it was further decided to raise environmental issues, like the Aravalli Hills, currently at the centre of a major legal and environmental battle, where the Supreme Court is hearing the case.

Alongside, the party intends to raise the Great Nicobar Project aimed at transforming the islands into a strategic logistics, trade, and defence hub, while balancing environmental and tribal welfare concerns.

He also stated that his party intended to raise the statehood issue pertaining to Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh.

The Congress has been actively advocating for the restoration of statehood for Jammu and Kashmir and the inclusion of Ladakh under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution.

Incidentally, Hussain is the Congress General Secretary in charge of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh. It also plans to include issues about urban governance in the context of recent deaths reported due to water contamination in Indore and a series of accidents on the Indore-Ahmedabad National Highway, resulting in 18 fatalities.

Moreover, the party is not satisfied with the Centre's foreign policy, with Hussain claiming that it was facing tariff threats from the US due to this.

"Foreign policy is affecting the economy," he claimed, saying that the falling value of the Rupee was leading to a disruption in the economy and hurting business, especially the MSME sector.

When asked about Parliamentarians from the Opposition INDIA Bloc, he chose to mention parties by directly referring to the grouping. All floor leaders of the Opposition parties in Parliament, he said, will meet in Kharge's Parliament office to discuss the issues and possible coordination and management.
Hyderabad, Jan 27 : Telangana's main opposition party BRS on Tuesday sought Governor Jishnu Dev Varma's intervention for a probe by CBI or a sitting judge into the alleged corruption and financial irregularities in the Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL).

A delegation of Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) led by party working president K. T. Rama Rao met the Governor and submitted a representation highlighting alleged irregularities related to tender, procurement, policy, and CSR funds.

The delegation presented documentary evidence related to alleged misuse of public funds, irregular tendering processes, and inflated project costs in mining and solar power projects undertaken by Singareni.

The BRS delegation informed the Governor that Singareni is jointly owned by the Telangana government (51 per cent) and the Government of India (49 per cent), stressing that every rupee involved was public money, and demanded urgent intervention to prevent further losses.

Addressing the media after the meeting, KTR said the party appealed to the Governor to initiate or recommend an independent probewhether by the CBI or a sitting judgeinto the alleged irregularities in Singareni's OB mining projects and solar power ventures. It urged to immediately halt what he described as a "systematic siphoning of public funds".

KTR said that the party had formally brought to the Governor's notice the alleged "large-scale plunder" in Singareni and the government's failure to provide credible explanations despite repeated disclosures made by BRS leaders, including former minister T. Harish Rao.

He stated that after BRS exposed the issue with supporting documents, the ruling party was unsettled, and instead of responding to the substance of the allegations, was attempting to divert public attention by summoning individuals in the name of inquiries.

The BRS leader alleged that the Chief Minister's silence on the matter had led to widespread public anger in coal-mining regions. He remarked that workers increasingly felt that the state leadership was shielding the "coal mafia."

He further accused the government of misusing nearly Rs 10 crore of Singareni funds for purposes unrelated to the core functioning of the company, asserting that this amounted to a grave injustice to the institution and its employees.

The BRS Working President raised several pointed questions regarding a newly introduced "Site Visit Certification" clause in tender processessomething he claimed had never existed earlier in Singareni or in coal mines elsewhere in the country.

He questioned why tenders that earlier attracted bids at rates below estimates were cancelled, only to be re-issued later with the new clause, allegedly resulting in costs rising well above projected values.

He demanded that the government release a comprehensive White Paper detailing the number of companies that conducted site visits over the last nine months, communications received by Singareni, certificates issued and criteria used for selecting contractors

KTR also questioned whether contractors were being selectively favoured and sought clarification on alleged links between certain beneficiaries and relatives of the Chief Minister.

On solar power projects, he alleged that while the national average cost stood at Rs 2.53 crore per megawatt, Singareni projects in Telangana were tendered at nearly Rs 7 crore per megawatt, calling for an explanation for what he termed as a massive escalation.

He also flagged a reported 30 per cent increase in the prices of explosives and gelatine sticks used in mining operations, stating that even Singareni directors had objected to the hike in board meetings, but were instead subjected to action while contractors allegedly benefited.
Patna, Jan 27 : The internal discord within the Congress party came out in the open during a party program held at the Darbhanga District Congress office under the party's 'Save MNREGA Campaign', where senior leaders faced protests, slogan-shouting, and serious allegations from party members.

The community interaction program was underway when Bihar Congress Committee member Ram Narayan Jha raised slogans against party leadership, expressing strong dissatisfaction over alleged exclusion and internal functioning.

As the situation escalated, Congress Legislative Council leader Madan Mohan Jha appealed for calm with folded hands, but the protesters continued their agitation.

Addressing the gathering, Ram Narayan Jha said party workers were not allowed to speak about organisational shortcomings in Darbhanga.

He alleged that discussions were held behind closed doors by senior leaders, while grassroots workers were ignored, forcing them to protest.

"I joined the Congress on January 3, 1979, and have served the party for 46 years through the student organisation and Youth Congress. I have been an elected member from Laheriasarai for 30 years," Jha said.

He further claimed that during the 2022 organisational elections for the All India Congress Committee (AICC), he was denied a fair chance despite assurances.

Making serious allegations, Ram Narayan Jha accused former Bihar Congress president Akhilesh Singh of corruption.

Jha also alleged large-scale irregularities in ticket distribution, stating that those operating between Delhi and Patna were responsible.

He claimed to have sent multiple emails to Rahul Gandhi and Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, but said he received no response.

"If we don't get justice within the party, how will the country get justice?" he asked, warning that Congress would not improve if such practices continued.

The protest took place in the presence of All India Congress General Secretary and Bihar in-charge Krishna Allavaru, Bihar Congress President Rajesh Ram, and several senior national and state-level leaders.

Even before the program concluded, slogans were raised against Krishna Allavaru and Rajesh Ram inside the Congress office.

The situation further deteriorated as clashes broke out between rival groups of Congress workers.

Party flags were reportedly used as weapons, and the commotion continued for nearly ten minutes, creating chaos at the venue.

Protesters also accused the party leadership of selling tickets for money and warned that Congress would not progress under such circumstances.
Guwahati, Jan 27 : Congress MLA Rakibuddin Ahmed on Tuesday mounted a sharp attack on the BJP, accusing the ruling party of indulging in divisive politics by targeting the Miya-Muslim community and raising serious objections over alleged irregularities in the electoral rolls at the Boko-Chaygaon Co-District Commissioner's office.

Speaking to reporters at Goraimari in Assam's Chamaria constituency, Ahmed criticised what he described as a sustained political narrative aimed at isolating Miya-Muslims.

He said Assam has a long history of peaceful coexistence among people of different ethnicities, religions and linguistic backgrounds, and warned that attempts to single out any community would weaken the state's social harmony.

The Congress legislator strongly objected to efforts to link language with nationality, terming claims that equate Bengali speakers with Bangladeshi identity as "completely unfounded".

He pointed out that Bengali is spoken across several Indian states and regions, including Tripura, West Bengal and parts of Assam such as Hojai, and argued that language cannot be used as a benchmark to brand anyone an outsider.

Accusing the BJP of deliberately fostering divisions along caste, religious and community lines for electoral advantage, Ahmed maintained that the Congress has never followed such a strategy.

He said politics rooted in exclusion and suspicion only damages democratic values and social cohesion. Ahmed also referred to an incident at the BokoChaygaon Co-District Commissioner's office, allegedly occurring on the night of January 22, which later came into public focus.

He claimed that leaders associated with the BJP were involved in the addition and deletion of names from voter lists, describing the matter as a grave violation of democratic norms.

Linking the episode to broader concerns over electoral integrity, the MLA said it reinforced earlier allegations made by senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi regarding the manipulation of votes.

According to Ahmed, the incident reflected a worrying pattern that could erode public confidence in the electoral process. He said the Congress has already approached the Election Commission of India, demanding a comprehensive and impartial inquiry.

The party, he asserted, would continue to pursue the issue and would not remain silent against any attempt to influence elections through unfair or illegal means.

--IANS

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Photo: Interfax-Ukraine / Oleksandr Zubko

Odrex Clinic (Odesa) has claimed pressure from the prosecutor's office after the death of its patient Adnan Kivan from cancer and has appealed to the Prosecutor General with a demand to conduct an objective investigation.

"Unfortunately, it all started with the death of Odrex clinic patient Kivan. On behalf of Odrex and personally, I want to express my sincere condolences to Kivans family, especially his son Ruslan. This is truly a human tragedy, and I believe no public discussion has the right to devalue the fact of his death. After that, the whole process began, which stopped being an investigation into the specific patients death and turned into systemic pressure on the Odrex clinic," Masi Nayyem, a partner at the law firm MILLER, said at a press conference at Interfax-Ukraine on Tuesday.

He noted that Odrex has appealed to Ukraines Prosecutor General to take personal control of the situation, review the jurisdiction, proportionality, and legality of key procedural decisions, initiate an internal investigation into possible conflicts of interest among officials, and request documents and the grounds for appeals to the Ministry of Health for verification.

"The investigation has lost focus on individual responsibility and has taken on the characteristics of systemic pressure on a medical institution using procedural, regulatory, and public tools," he said.

Nayyem added that "the pressure on the clinic has concrete manifestations and specific individuals responsible for making and coordinating the decisions that were taken."

"Based on the information we have, which still needs to be verified, key points of influence in this case may be linked to officials such as the head of the Odesa Regional Prosecutors Office, Andriy Svatok, and the head of the Strategic Investigations Department of the National Police in Odesa region, Artur Makarov. The Deputy Prosecutor General, Maria Vdovychenko, has also been particularly active, initiating and overseeing certain regulatory pressures," he said, adding that he plans to meet with Odesa Regional State Administration head Oleh Kiper on the matter.

"We are asking the state to investigate whether there is a conflict of interest, whether any actions are disproportionate, and whether legal procedures are being replaced by administrative or coercive pressure on a medical institution," he said.

Nayyem also reported that Vitaliy Rusakov, the doctor charged in Kivans death, is currently barred by court order from practicing and is under nighttime house arrest. Meanwhile, physician Maryna Belotserkovska resigned voluntarily and relocated to Kyiv.

Speaking on behalf of the clinic, MILLER attorney Anna Kalynchuk noted that the clinic perceives pressure, including the fact that "one of the cases is being investigated by the Strategic Investigations Department of the National Police, which is responsible for probing organized crime, terrorism, and high-level corruption."

"At the same time, this same agency is investigating a medical error case. It is a very unusual situation when prosecutors from Kyiv travel to Odesa to conduct interrogations. I apologize for the comparison, but I once had a rape victim who had to travel to Kyiv for questioning four times on her own," she said.

Kalynchuk added that "it is abnormal when corporate rights are seized on entirely contrived grounds."

"We understand that this is far beyond the law, but apparently not when it comes to the Prosecutor Generals Office. It is abnormal that in just two months we went through two inspections by the Ministry of Health. We all understand that the basis for these inspections was requests from the Prosecutor Generals Office  the prosecutors office does not have the authority to demand this from the Ministry of Health," she said.

The lawyer emphasized that she has a confirmed figure showing that during the full-scale invasion, over four years (from 2022 to 2025), the Prosecutor General's Office made three requests [to the Ministry of Health] to inspect clinics, and all of those requests concerned Odrex.

"This clearly points to disproportionality, which indicates the pressure we are talking about. That is why we are asking the Prosecutor General to review the actions of his subordinates in terms of proportionality, justification of interference, and the appropriateness of such measures. If we develop a practice where clinics are shut down through administrative pressure and prosecutorial oversight, then I believe that for a country at war this is a harmful practice," she said.

At the same time, Kalynchuk said that since the beginning of the conflict, the clinic's owners have not received any offers to sell it.

"That has not happened yet. I hope it won't. But overall, we are now waiting for another search," she said.

For his part, Odrex Medical House's medical director, Dmytro Havrychenko, pointed out that despite the clinic's cooperation with the National Health Service of Ukraine (NHSU) and the fact that it provides medical care around the clock, Odrex has not been granted the status of a critical infrastructure facility.

"Odrex is a resilience point. We operate 24/7 regardless of whether there is electricity or not. We are critical infrastructure by economic indicators and by Ministry of Health standards, but our region does not recognize our hospital as critical infrastructure. That is why our power is cut off like at any ordinary private enterprise. During the last blackout, from December 30 to January 5, we worked on two generators, consuming roughly 100200 liters of diesel fuel per hour," he said, noting that as of Tuesday morning, 100 patients were receiving treatment in the clinic's inpatient facility.
New Delhi, Jan 27 : West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is all set to bring her battle against the Election Commission over its Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls beyond the state and onto the national stage.

Till now, it was her nephew and Trinamool Congress General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee who had been organising party MPs in Delhi in their tirade against the poll body.

On December 31, the three-time MP from West Bengal's Diamond Harbour Lok Sabha constituency led a party delegation to meet the bench, including Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, in New Delhi.

The discussion, lasting over two-and-a-half hours, later claimed the Trinamool heir apparent, was stormy on occasions and allegedly did not address the delegation's concerns, "except for two or three points".

Though he raised issues similar to Rahul Gandhi's alleging Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) "unusually high strike rate" in state elections, the Trinamool leader asserted that Opposition parties, including the Congress, failed to identify and raise the alleged lapses his party has identified. He drew examples from the ruling party's victories in Maharashtra, Delhi, Haryana, and Bihar, where the BJP won with overwhelming success rates, and questioned whether this pattern was merely a coincidence, almost echoing the words of the Leader of the Opposition.

Yet Abhishek Banerjee reminded, it was only the Trinamool that had pointed out pertinent issues that were allegedly leading to "vote theft" in favour of the BJP, which no other Opposition party could see.

Meanwhile, Mamata Banerjee had kept her protests and demonstrations largely confined to West Bengal, though often warning the poll body of bringing it to their doorsteps in Delhi.

According to Trinamool leaders, Rahul Gandhi did present evidence of electoral fraud earlier, but their party has gone further by implementing booth-level vigilance. They believe that taking the narrative to Delhi will strengthen its position within the broader anti-BJP opposition space, enhancing both its stature and credibility.

The party Chairperson now appears all set to take the credit of "vote theft" initiative away from Rahul Gandhi, who had made the first move in this direction but gave up soon, having failed to convince others.

Following a recent Supreme Court direction that included the Election Commission displaying the names of individuals categorised under "logical discrepancies" during the SIR exercise and to provide clear guidance for submitting documents and objections, the party claimed it stood vindicated.

Also added to that elation was the late extension of the process in the state.

Mamata Banerjee firmed her Delhi plans over the weekend, say people close to her, where Tuesday's meeting with Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav at the state Secretariat in Kolkata could have been more than a mere coincidence.

The Trinamool chief shares a rapport with the Uttar Pradesh opposition leader and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) supremo Arvind Kejriwal that earlier reflected in the troika turning into a "pressure group" within the Opposition INDIA platform.

The Trinamool grapevine has it that Mama Banerjee may visit the Election Commission headquarters at Nirvachan Sadan, but her visit to Parliament is slated to hold meetings with some Opposition leaders. The party has repeatedly warned that if even a single legitimate voter's name is excluded from the rolls, they will escalate the protest to Delhi with one lakh supporters.

This stance was first articulated by Abhishek Banerjee during a rally in Kolkata on November 4, the day the SIR process began in West Bengal. He reiterated the threat multiple times, underscoring the party's determination to confront the Election Commission.

Though her visit is expected to be sans that overwhelming number of supporters, observers believe that Mamata Banerjee's Delhi visit will serve two purposes: to amplify the voter list controversy at the national level and to consolidate Trinamool's position against the BJP. It serves as an opportunity to project her as a vigilant force capable of detecting electoral malpractice, distinguishing itself from other opposition parties.

As Akhilesh Yadav quipped after Tuesday's meeting, "Only 'Didi' can counter the onslaught of the BJP in this country", so does the Trinamool hold hopes from the upcoming visit.
Chennai, Jan 27 : Chief Minister M K Stalin on Tuesday reaffirmed the Tamil Nadu government's commitment to building robust infrastructure and social systems that empower women to study, live independently, pursue entrepreneurship, and live without fear.

Addressing the two-day Global Women's Summit in Chennai, he said women would play a decisive role in realising the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam government's ambition of transforming Tamil Nadu into a USD one trillion economy.

Stressing that economic progress must be inclusive, Stalin said women's participation and leadership were essential to sustainable growth.

"A society cannot move forward if half its population is left behind," he remarked, adding that development policies must consciously remove structural barriers faced by women across education, employment, and entrepreneurship.

Highlighting flagship initiatives for women's welfare, the Chief Minister described the Kalaignar Magalir Urimai Thittamwhich provides Rs 1,000 per month to 1.3 crore women heads of householdsas the "jewel in the crown" of his government's social security framework.

He noted that Tamil Nadu records the highest participation of women in the workforce in the country and said that whenever a new company expresses interest in investing in the state, his first question is how many jobs will be created for women.

Stalin welcomed the trend among private firms to earmark a fixed share of jobs for women but cautioned against complacency.

"It is not enough that more women enter the workforce. They must advance on par with men and secure their place in emerging and high-growth sectors," he said.

Recalling the ideological roots of the Dravidian movement, the Chief Minister said the importance of women's emancipation was strongly emphasised by rationalist leader E V Ramasamy Periyar.

Following that legacy, former Chief Minister M Karunanidhi introduced landmark reforms such as equal inheritance rights for women, induction of women into the police force, and reservation for women in local bodies, Stalin noted.

Referring to current initiatives, he said programmes like TN-RISE have enabled women entrepreneurs to emerge even from rural areas, leading to a steady rise in women-led startups.

He added that the TN-WE-SAFE initiative provides technology support and skill training while focusing on safetyan essential prerequisite for large-scale workforce participation.

"Tamil Nadu has the highest number of women working in factories in India," Stalin said, citing safety measures such as the 181 emergency helpline and the Kavalan SOS mobile application.

"Only a safe society can unlock the full potential of women and, through them, the future of our State."

--IANS

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Guwahati, Jan 27 : Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Tuesday responded strongly to the ongoing debate surrounding the Special Revision of electoral rolls in the state, asserting that the government's actions are driven by public concern over illegal infiltration and mounting demographic pressure, and not by any intent to target a particular community.

Reacting to criticism from the Congress and other opposition parties, the Chief Minister said there is widespread anxiety among the people of Assam over illegal immigration, which, he warned, poses a serious threat to the identity, culture and limited resources of indigenous Assamese communities.

He stressed that the resistance seen across the state is not directed against any religious or linguistic group but against illegal Bangladeshi infiltration.

"The people of Assam are united in protecting their land, culture and future. This is not a conflict between religions. It is a clear divide between indigenous Assamese citizens and illegal infiltrators," Sarma said, adding that Assamese people, irrespective of their faith, stand together on this issue.

The Chief Minister underlined that the state government would not compromise on Assam's identity and would continue to act firmly, strictly within the framework of the Constitution and the law.

He said safeguarding the rights and dignity of indigenous people remains a top priority of his government. Sarma also dismissed claims made by Congress leaders regarding electoral victories, saying such assertions lack credibility.

He accused the Congress of consistently ignoring the genuine concerns of the people of Assam, particularly on the sensitive issue of illegal immigration, which, he said, has led to the party steadily losing public confidence in the state.

The Chief Minister said the Special Revision of voter lists is a legally mandated exercise aimed at ensuring the integrity of the electoral process. He added that accurate and updated electoral rolls are essential for free and fair elections and for preserving democratic values.

According to the government, the revision process seeks to remove genuine discrepancies while protecting the rights of eligible Indian citizens. Sarma reiterated that the issue has been deliberately politicised by the opposition to create confusion and fear.

"Our fight is not against any community but against illegality. Assam will not surrender its identity," he said.

Concluding his remarks, Sarma said that both as the Chief Minister and as an Assamese, he would continue to stand firm in defence of the state's interests.

He reaffirmed his commitment to protecting Assam's identity and ensuring justice, dignity and security for its people, while urging citizens to remain united against illegal infiltration and misinformation.
United Nations, Jan 27 : France has called for text-based negotiations to speed Security Council reforms and add permanent members, to ensure its legitimacy.

France's Permanent Representative Jerome Bonnafont said on Monday that France "will remain fully engaged in the achievement of Security Council reform to enhance its representativeness and legitimacy, through expansion in both categories of membership", permanent and non-permanent.

"France is convinced that a reform is possible in this area and that there is a need to begin negotiations based on a draft text, without awaiting an unattainable consensus, which is not required under the Charter," he said at the Council's high-level debate on "Reaffirming International Rule of Law".

The reform process known as Inter-Governmental Negotiation (IGN) faces a roadblock from a small group of countries led by Italy that has used procedural manoeuvres to prevent the adoption of a negotiating text that can set the agenda for discussions and track progress.

The group that calls itself Uniting for Consensus and includes Pakistan, demands that there should be consensus on reforms before a negotiating text can be adopted, trapping the IGN in a Catch-22 where a consensus can't be reached without a basic negotiating text.

India and several other countries have demanded that the IGN adopt a negotiating text or draft to allow it to make meaningful progress.

During Monday's debate, India and the Secretary-General also pressed for early Council reforms.

Urgently reforming the Security Council and adding permanent members to make the international rule of law effective when the world organisation "at its core is under strain" was needed, India's Permanent Representative P Harish said.

"Paralysis and lack of effectiveness in tackling conflicts remain a significant shortcoming", testing the UN's credibility, he said.

Guterres, who warned that "around the world, the rule of law is being replaced by the law of the jungle", said it was imperative to reform the Council without delay.

Only the Council can make decisions binding on all, and "no other body or ad-hoc coalition can legally require all member states to comply with decisions on peace and security," he said.

"That is why reform is essential; that is why we must act without delay to enhance the representation and effectiveness of this Council," he stressed.

France backs India getting a permanent seat on a reformed Council, where African nations would also gain one.

Bonnafont said, "Defending international law also means recognising that multilateralism must be able to evolve. In 2026, France will continue to advocate for a more representative, more effective, and more operational global governance."

That also includes the Council, he said.

The reforms are important given the "violations of international law, including international human rights law and international humanitarian law, are far too numerous, be it in Sudan, the Great Lakes, Gaza or Ukraine", he said.

"However, the desire of certain States to adopt obstructive positions undermines the ability of the Security Council to act," he said. "Yet every silence facing these violations feeds mistrust and weakens our collective credibility."

Although France is a permanent member with veto powers on the Council, it campaigns for limiting its use so that it is not used by a country when its interests are involved or when grave violations of humanitarian law are at stake.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Kolkata, Jan 27 : The West Bengal government has announced financial assistance of Rs 10 lakh each for the families of those killed or missing in the devastating warehouse fire in Anandapur.

The announcement was made by State Urban Development Minister and Kolkata Mayor Firhad Hakim during his visit to the fire site on Tuesday afternoon.

Hakim stated that the compensation cheques will be handed over once the bodies or body parts are identified. He added that the police will seek permission from the Calcutta High Court on Wednesday to conduct DNA testing, as mandated by legal procedures.

"Samples can only be tested after court approval," Hakim said.

The fire broke out around 3 am on Monday at two adjacent warehouses in Anandapur - one belonging to a decorator and the other to a 'momo company'. Police sources confirmed that eight people have died so far, with several others still missing.

The search for the missing continues, as families scour hospitals, police stations, and the fire site for information.

According to police, the decorator's warehouse was owned by Gangadhar Das. On Sunday night, several workers from various districts were present at the site, engaged in flower and decoration work. Many were asleep when the fire erupted.

The exact cause of the blaze remains unknown, and questions persist regarding the presence of fire safety measures.

Police have registered two cases in connection with the incident and have begun an investigation. Gangadhar Das has been brought in for questioning, though authorities have not confirmed whether he has been detained or arrested.

Despite 36 hours having passed since the fire broke out, pockets of flames continued to burn at the site. Concerns have been raised about the legality of the warehouse structures, with allegations that they were built on filled wetlands.

Responding to these claims, Hakim said, "It is not right to take away someone's livelihood. I don't know whether it was a wetland or not."

He added that no wetlands are currently being filled, attributing any such activity to the previous Left Front government, which ended in 2011.

Hakim assured that Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had sent him to stand by the affected families. "The fire was very severe. The police are investigating the incident," he said.

--IANS

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Amaravati, Jan 27 : Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Tuesday directed officials to prepare an action plan to develop the Rayalseema region and Prakasam and Markapuram districts as horticultural hubs.

The Chief Minister conducted a review meeting with ministers and senior officials on integrated development plans to develop 10 districts as horticulture sector hubs.

The Chief Minister noted that the Rayalaseema region already holds a leading position in the country in horticulture production, and directed that the region, along with Prakasam and Markapuram districts, be developed as the worldas largest horticulture cluster.

He asked the officials to promote horticulture production as per global market demand. Naidu said that an action plan should be prepared for producing 500 million metric tonnes of horticultural produce.

He revealed that DP World of Dubai has come forward to establish a horticulture cluster in Andhra Pradesh.

The Chief Minister emphasised mobilising private investments in horticulture in addition to funds from the Purvodaya scheme of the Government of India.

He directed officials to prepare logistics plans covering food processing units, port connectivity, warehouses, cold chains and related infrastructure.

He made it clear that irrigation projects in Rayalaseema, Prakasam and Markapuram districts must be completed on a fast track. He directed that projects should be taken up on a priority basis.

Chief Minister Naidu said that the Veligonda Project should be completed this year. He also asked officials to prepare plans for the reconstruction of the Annamayya Project.

The Chief Minister stressed the need to focus on bringing Krishna waters up to Kadapa through the Galerua"Nagari Project.

Naidu also instructed that steps be taken to develop projects not only in Rayalaseema but also in the North Andhra districts. He said that once the Polavaram Left Canal works are completed, Godavari waters can be taken up to North Andhra, enabling the Polavarama"Vamsadhara river interlinking project.

He directed officials to prepare plans to take up projects in North Andhra on a priority basis.
Agartala, Jan 27 : In a significant political development, Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha on Tuesday rejected the Tipra Motha Party's (TMP) demand to introduce the Roman script for the tribal Kokborok language, the mother tongue of nine of the 19 tribal communities residing in the state.

The Chief Minister's rejection of the demand assumes significance months ahead of the elections to the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC).

Addressing a gathering of tribal people at Jolaibari in South Tripura, Saha said that the BJP government is not in favour of adopting any foreign script for the Kokborok language.

"Tribal intellectuals and linguistic experts can mutually decide a suitable script for Kokborok, but not the Roman script. If the Roman script is adopted, the younger generation of the tribal community may completely forget their traditions, customs, and culture," the Chief Minister said.

He added that if the Chakma community could develop its own script, there was no reason for Kokborok-speaking people to lag.

"The younger generation is being confused by repeatedly raising the demand for the Roman script for Kokborok," Saha said.

Claiming that only the BJP could ensure the holistic development of indigenous people, the Chief Minister said his government has taken several steps to promote their economic well-being, culture, and traditions, including initiatives to honour the Manikya dynasty.

"Our party organisation has further strengthened in tribal areas in recent months. The BJP does not impose force in the electoral process; instead, it seeks to win the hearts of voters through performance," he said.

Meanwhile, the BJP's ally and tribal-based party TMP has been agitating for the introduction of the Roman script for Kokborok.

A TMP leader said that Kokborok, belonging to the Tibeto-Burman language family, is closely related to other languages of the northeastern region, such as Bodo, Garo, and Dimasa.

According to the 2011 Census, Kokborok is spoken by 8,80,537 people in Tripura, accounting for 23.97 per cent of the state's total population of around 42 lakh. It is the mother tongue of nine of the 19 tribal communities in the state. There are nine major Kokborok clans -- Tripura, Debbarma, Jamatia, Noatia, Murasingh, Reang, Kalai, Rupini, and Uchowi.

Since 1988, two commissions headed by tribal leader Shyama Charan Tripura and noted linguist and academician Pabitra Sarkar have been constituted to examine the issue.

--IANS

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Patna, Jan 27 : Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Kumar Sinha on Tuesday visited the residence of the parents of the NEET aspirant who died under mysterious circumstances in Patna's Shambhu Girls Hostel.

The visit was marked by intense emotional scenes as the deceased student's mother broke down in tears upon seeing the Deputy Chief Minister and pleaded for justice.

Moved by the family's condition, Vijay Kumar Sinha immediately contacted the Director General of Police (DGP) over the phone and directed him to ensure that the case is resolved at the earliest.

He said that the culprits must not escape under any circumstances and that the harshest punishment should be given to those responsible for the crime.

Assuring the family, Vijay Sinha said, "We will not spare anyone. Justice will be delivered."

After meeting the family, Vijay Kumar Sinha addressed the media and reiterated that justice would be ensured.

He said the case was being monitored closely under the directions of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and that every angle was being thoroughly investigated.

"This is not just the case of one girl, but a matter concerning the dignity of Bihar's daughters," Sinha said.

"If it is established that the murder took place after sexual assault, the strictest possible action will be taken. No matter how powerful or influential the accused may be, they will not be spared," Sinha said.

He confirmed that the investigation is currently being handled by a Special Investigation Team (SIT) and that both the DGP and the Home Department are closely monitoring the progress.

He added that the DGP has also spoken directly to the victim's father.

"The truth will come out very soon. The police are working with full force, and justice will be delivered," Sinha said.

After the Deputy Chief Minister left for Patna, the deceased girl's mother spoke to the media while still struggling to control her emotions.

She said that Vijay Sinha had assured her of strict action and justice for her daughter. However, she also alleged harassment by the police administration.

The grieving mother claimed that police officials repeatedly visited their home late at night and interrogated the family as if they were responsible for their daughter's death.

She said blood samples were taken from her, her husband, and her son, and alleged that the police were even accusing her of killing her own daughter.

"How can a mother kill her own child?" she asked emotionally.

"If they believe I am guilty, then hang me. We are ready to die, but give my daughter justice," She said.

She further alleged negligence on the part of the hostel where her daughter was staying and named the hostel operator as well as a hospital doctor, claiming they should also be investigated.

"She was the Lakshmi of our house. She wasn't just my daughter, she was like my son," the grieving mother said.
New Delhi, Jan 27 : Delhi BJP President Virendra Sachdeva on Tuesday condemned Aam Aadmi Party convenor in the national capital, Saurabh Bharadwaj's allegation that the ruling party is turning Delhi into a "cancer capital by creating new garbage mountains".

New Delhi, Jan 27 (IANS) Delhi BJP President Virendra Sachdeva on Tuesday condemned Aam Aadmi Party convenor in the national capital, Saurabh Bharadwaj's allegation that the ruling party is turning Delhi into a "cancer capital by creating new garbage mountains".

The Delhi BJP chief said that Bharadwaj's claim that the BJP government is dumping Bhalswa's waste in Kirari and thereby exposing Purvanchalis to cancer threat is an attempt to spread fear in Delhi through "political pollution".

Sachdeva stated that BJP MP Yogendra Chandolia and Mayor Sardar Raja Iqbal Singh have been consistently clarifying that the material being transported from Bhalswa to Kirari is "inert" waste  garbage ash  which is being used to fill and raise 40 hectares of DDA land, in the same manner as is done during highway construction.

He said the AAP leader has also made false statements alleging a threat of contamination of underground water with the use of the garbage ash.

The Delhi BJP President said that by making unsubstantiated and misleading statements, Bharadwaj has given yet another proof of the AAP's petty politics, which we strongly condemn.

He said that for the past 12 years, the people of Kirari have elected an Aam Aadmi Party MLA, and Bharadwaj must explain that despite having an AAP government for 11 years, what Arvind Kejriwal's government did to improve the lives of the 4.5 to 5 lakh residents of Kirari.

Sachdeva said that due to waterlogging, in 2024 alone, nearly 15 children and adults lost their lives in Kirari because of drowning or electrocution. However, after the BJP government came to power in 2025, there has been a marked improvement in the waterlogging situation, and almost no tragic incident has been reported.

Regarding Sharma Colony, where waterlogging had been reported, Sachdeva said that in the past one week, the DDA and the Municipal Corporation of Delhi have ensured water drainage by installing 40 pumps.

The Delhi BJP chief warned that Bharadwaj should understand that if he does not abandon his lies and misleading politics and sarcastic remarks against Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, then, having already lost the Assembly elections, the Aam Aadmi Party will be completely wiped out in the 2027 Municipal Corporation elections.
Noida : , Jan 27 (IANS) Delhi Dangal Warriors registered a crucial 6-3 victory over Tiigers of Mumbai Dangals in Match 13 of the Pro Wrestling League (PWL) 2026, at the Noida Indoor Stadium in Noida on Tuesday, keeping their semifinal hopes alive.

Noida (UP), Jan 27 (IANS) Delhi Dangal Warriors registered a crucial 6a"3 victory over Tiigers of Mumbai Dangals in Match 13 of the Pro Wrestling League (PWL) 2026, at the Noida Indoor Stadium in Noida on Tuesday, keeping their semifinal hopes alive.

With wins from Turan Bayramov, Anjli, Anastasiya Alpyeeva, Karla Godinez Gonzalez, captain Sujeet Kalkal, and Ronak, Delhi sealed the two match points and moved to four points from four games, placing them fifth on the standings. For Tiigers of Mumbai Dangals, wins from Jyoti Sihag, Mukul Dahiya, and a forfeit in the final bout were not enough, as they concluded their PWL 2026 campaign without a single team victory.

The Delhi wrestler Anastasiya was named Player of the Match, while Jyoti Sihag of Tiigers of Mumbai Dangals earned the Fighter of the Match award for her spirited comeback victory later in the tie.

Delhi set the tone in the opening 74kg menas tie as Turan Bayramov edged a tight tactical contest against Deepak. After conceding an activity point late in Period 1, Bayramov showed superior mat control in the second period, scoring a push-out, an activity point, and sealing the tie with a decisive push-out in the Power Minute.

The momentum continued in the 62kg womenas contest, where Anjli delivered an attacking display to defeat Olha Padoshyk 19a"10, highlighted by two four-point throws in the Power Minute that stretched Delhias early lead.

The advantage widened further in the 76kg womenas category as Anastasiya Alpyeeva delivered a swift and emphatic win over Jyoti Berwal. After Berwal picked up an early activity point, Alpyeeva responded with a takedown and exposure before transitioning smoothly into a fall, putting Delhi 3a"0 ahead.

Karla Godinez Gonzalez followed with a composed performance in the 57kg womenas contest, controlling Pushpa throughout and capping the contest with a four-point takedown in the Power Minute to claim a 9a"1 victory.

Delhi captain Sujeet Kalkal ensured there was no let-up in the 65kg menas bout, registering a confident 9a"2 win over Ali Rahimzade. Kalkal dominated the opening exchanges with consistent takedowns and mat control, and added further points in the second period to secure two points for Delhi Dangal Warriors and take a 5a"0 lead.

Tiigers of Mumbai Dangals finally responded in the 53kg womenas bout through Jyoti Sihag, who overturned early pressure from Saarika with strong second-period offence and a decisive Power Minute takedown to win 12a"9. Momentum briefly shifted further in Mumbaias favour in the 86kg menas contest, where Mukul Dahiya outlasted Vafaeipour Hadi Bakhtiar 8a"5, holding off a late surge in the Power Minute to make the scoreline 5-2.

Delhi sealed the tie in the 125kg menas heavyweight contest as Ronak edged Rajat Ruhal 3a"2 in a low-scoring tactical battle, managing the clock smartly after regaining the lead through an activity point. The final contest of the match ended in a forfeit win for the Tiigers of Mumbai Dangals, bringing the contest to a close.

With this result, Delhi Dangal Warriors remain firmly in contention for a semi-final berth with one match in hand, while Tiigers of Mumbai Dangals bow out of PWL 2026 without opening their account.

On Wednesday, UP Dominators will take on Haryana Thunders in Matchday 12 of the PWL 2026.
Chinese VP meets OIC secretary-general

Xinhua) 09:17, January 27, 2026

Chinese Vice President Han Zheng meets with Secretary-General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Hissein Brahim Taha in Beijing, capital of China, Jan. 26, 2026. (Xinhua/Liu Weibing)

BEIJING, Jan. 26 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Vice President Han Zheng met with the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Secretary-General Hissein Brahim Taha in Beijing on Monday.

Han said the OIC serves as an important bridge for developing ties between China and Islamic countries. In 2024, President Xi Jinping sent a special representative to attend the 15th session of the OIC summit and also a congratulatory message to the conference, which further boosted the development of the China-OIC relations.

China appreciates the OIC's emphasis on its relationship with China, and hopes Islamic countries will continue to staunchly support China on the Taiwan question, Xinjiang-related issues, and other issues concerning China's core interests, Han said.

For his part, Taha said the OIC sincerely appreciates that President Xi has attached great importance to and provided guidance on the ever-deepening friendly ties between China and Islamic countries.

The OIC is ready to advance pragmatic cooperation with China on all fronts and will continue to offer unwavering support for China on the Taiwan question and Xinjiang-related issues, Taha said.

Chinese Vice President Han Zheng meets with Secretary-General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Hissein Brahim Taha in Beijing, capital of China, Jan. 26, 2026. (Xinhua/Liu Weibing)

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Ahmedabad, Jan 27 : The signing of the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between India and the European Union has triggered a wave of optimism among textile traders in Surat, one of India's largest textile hubs.

The agreement, finalised on Tuesday, is expected to significantly boost exports by providing Indian textile products with improved access to markets across 27 European countries. Industry representatives said the FTA would allow Surat-based traders to sell their products in Europe at more competitive prices, leading to higher exports, improved sales, and better profit margins.

Under the agreement, tariffs on 96.6 per cent of European goods entering India will be reduced or eliminated, while Indian textile exports to Europe will receive tariff concessions, making them more price-competitive.

Kailash Hakim, President of the Federation of Textile and Trade Associations, Surat, said the agreement would help the industry overcome losses caused by higher tariffs in the US market.

He thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi, stating that the India-EU trade deal would not only neutralise existing challenges but also create new opportunities for growth and global expansion for Surat's textile sector.

Echoing similar views, Sushil Gupta, a Surat-based textile trader, said the FTA would strengthen India's export position and provide long-term stability to the industry.

He added that improved access to European markets would help traders scale up operations and explore new international partnerships.

Johnny Rathod, another textile trader from Surat, said the agreement would encourage the adoption of European-quality machinery, gradually replacing Chinese machines and enabling higher-quality production.

He described the FTA as a major boost for the textile industry, particularly for hubs like Surat that drive India's textile exports.

Announcing the agreement in New Delhi, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen described it as "the mother of all deals," while Prime Minister Narendra Modi called it "historic."

The pact includes large-scale tariff reductions, including the phased elimination of duties on most EU exports of chemicals, machinery, electrical equipment, aircraft and spacecraft, while import duties on motor vehicles - currently up to 110 per cent - will be cut to 10 per cent under a quota of 250,000 vehicles.

India will also lower tariffs on EU products such as wine, beer and olive oil. Beyond trade, the agreement includes a joint security partnership and is expected to boost investment flows, improve market access and strengthen supply-chain integration between the two sides.
Hubballi : , Jan 27 (IANS) Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government has always provided a fair and due allocation to every state, including Karnataka, in the Union Budget and this time too, the Budget will focus on ensuring a just allocation to all states, Union Minister for Food, Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution Pralhad Joshi said.

Speaking to the media in Hubballi on Tuesday, the minister said the Union government has paid attention to all sectors, including roads, industry, railways, airports, agriculture and the manufacturing sector.

"The NDA government has achieved in five years the development works that the Congress failed to deliver in 60 years. Railways and the manufacturing sector have been strengthened across the country.

Through the PLI scheme, the Narendra Modi-led government is encouraging industry and manufacturing. Rahul Gandhi is falsely claiming that all this happened during his time," he alleged.

The Narendra Modi government has made greater contributions to the state, including railway projects. This time too, there is an expectation of even higher allocations for Karnataka in the Union Budget, Joshi assured.

Earlier, budgets used to allocate only Rs 700 Rs 800 crore. Today, we are allocating Rs 8,000 crore. Is this not a bumper for the state? Joshi asked, asserting that the Budget would be appropriate and fair for all states, including Karnataka.

The Union government is committed to the Mahadayi project. There is no doubt about it. There are a few hurdles, and efforts are being made to resolve them. We will not politicise the issue. Even Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar has said that a solution should be found. Once approval is received from the Wildlife Board, everything will move forward smoothly, Minister Pralhad Joshi clarified.

He has further expressed confidence that the IndiaEuropean Union Free Trade Agreement (IndiaEU FTA) offers a significant opportunity for Karnataka's growth.

The IndiaEU Free Trade Agreement will provide Karnataka with an important opportunity to expand its exports and accelerate industrial growth. It will enable preferential access to European markets, he said.

Exports from the BengaluruTumakuru region are expected to increase, particularly in engineering goods, electronics and pharmaceuticals, supported by the state's strong MSME base.

Key sectors such as medical devices, chemicals, textiles and garments are also likely to benefit. The agreement will further strengthen global competitiveness and value chains. Reduction in duties and improved market access will boost garment exports from Bengaluru, Joshi said.

"Along with skill-based industries, the agreement will support job creation in labour-intensive manufacturing sectors. Overall, the agreement will provide Karnataka with a strong platform for enhanced global trade linkages, sustainable exports, higher investment and employment generation," Union Minister Pralhad Joshi added.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Patna, Jan 27 : An engineering student was gunned down after being attacked by unidentified robbers in Bihar's Chhapra city on Tuesday evening.

Patna, Jan 27 (IANS) An engineering student was gunned down after being attacked by unidentified robbers in Biharas Chhapra city on Tuesday evening.

The incident occurred near Kachari Railway Station in Chhapra city, the district headquarters of Saran.

The deceased has been identified as Vikas Tiwari, a resident of Shakti Nagar locality under the Nagar police station area.

According to family members, Vikas Tiwari is an engineering student studying in Patna and was returning home on Tuesday evening after getting down at Kachari railway station.

While on his way home, criminals allegedly attempted to snatch his mobile phone and other belongings.

When he resisted the robbery attempt, the attackers shot him at close range, leaving him severely injured.

Local residents rushed to the spot after the incident and helped transport the injured student to Sadar Hospital. He succumbed during the treatment.

The incident created panic and anger in the area, with locals expressing concern over rising criminal activities.

Upon receiving information, a team from Nagar Police Station reached the hospital and initiated an investigation.

Police officials said that CCTV footage from the surrounding area is being examined to identify and trace the attackers.

The district police have recovered the dead body and sent it for the post-mortem.

An FIR of murder has been registered under relevant sections of Bhartiya Nyay Sahita in Nagar police station in Chhapra.

Meanwhile, the victimas family members are inconsolable and have demanded the immediate arrest of the accused and strict action against them.

Police authorities stated that all aspects of the case are being thoroughly investigated and assured that the matter will be resolved soon.

In another incident, a sensational murder took place during a panchayat meeting in Purnea district of Bihar on Tuesday morning.

A young businessman was shot dead in a park near Basant Vihar in the Maranga police station area at around 9 a.m.

The deceased has been identified as 32-year-old Suraj Bihari, a resident of Gulabbagh, who owned several warehouses there.

It is reported that Suraj Bihari was shot three times, with the bullets hitting him directly in the chest.

The police have taken the body into custody and sent it to GMCH for post-mortem examination.
Bhopal, Jan 27 : Rain and hailstorms struck several districts of central Madhya Pradesh on Tuesday evening, leaving farmers deeply worried about crop damage.

Areas including Sehore, Agar Malwa, Shajapur, Gwalior, and Ujjain witnessed sudden weather changes, with Sehore, Ashta, Jawer, Mehatwada, and Shyampur recording heavy rainfall, reports said.

Bhopal also received thunderstorms and rain during evening hours.

In Jawer and Hingoni villages, hailstones the size of chickpeas fell, covering roads with a white blanket and flattening standing wheat and gram crops.

Farmers fear significant financial losses as the wheat crop, already in bloom, has been battered by strong winds and hail, raising the risk of grain shedding.

In Jawer, heavy rain accompanied by strong winds lasted for nearly 20 minutes, while hailstorms continued for about five minutes, creating chaos in the region. The impact was most severe on wheat fields, where crops were flattened.

Farmers expressed concern that if the weather does not improve soon, losses could escalate further. Power supply was also disrupted in several areas due to the storm, causing inconvenience to residents.

The sudden spell of rain has compounded difficulties for farmers who were already grappling with cold conditions. Instead of relief, the state is expected to face more trouble as another round of rain is forecast.

The Meteorological Department had on Monday issued warnings for 28 districts, including Bhopal and Gwalior, citing active cyclonic circulation over Haryana and an associated trough line.

Officials said the system will affect Madhya Pradesh for the next two days, keeping skies cloudy and bringing light to moderate rainfall in many districts.

Meteorologists added that the fresh spell of rain will intensify the cold, with dense fog and chilly winds persisting across the state.

For farmers, the timing of the hailstorm is particularly damaging, as crops are at a critical stage of growth.
Events

Aurora.ph Unveils Official Schedule for Aurora Day 2026 Pasidayaw Festival; Invites Public to Join the Founding Member Circle

BALER, AURORA  January 26, 2026  Aurora.ph, the provinces premier digital travel portal and sustainability steward, is proud to announce the comprehensive schedule of activities for the Aurora Day 2026 Pasidayaw Festival. This year's celebration, marking the 47th Anniversary of the province and the 138th Birth Anniversary of Dona Aurora Aragon Quezon, is centered on the theme: SIGLA AT GALAK SA KULTURA AT TURISMO (Vitality and Joy in Culture and Tourism).

Pasidayaw Festival 2026: Schedule of Activities

The festivities kick off with early sporting events and culminate in a grand anniversary celebration on February 19th:

February 2 (8:00 AM): Unveiling of Activities  Capitol Ground, Baler.

Unveiling of Activities  Capitol Ground, Baler. February 78 (8:00 AM): 1st ADC Rollerblade Competition  Baler Skatepark, Brgy. Calabuanan.

1st ADC Rollerblade Competition  Baler Skatepark, Brgy. Calabuanan. February 12 (8:00 AM): Grand Opening ADC 2026; Presentation & Official Sashing of Bb. Aurora 2026 Candidates; Ribbon Cutting for Pistang Pasidayaw, Siempre Aurora Trade Fair, Food Fiesta, and Street Decor.

Grand Opening ADC 2026; Presentation & Official Sashing of Bb. Aurora 2026 Candidates; Ribbon Cutting for Pistang Pasidayaw, Siempre Aurora Trade Fair, Food Fiesta, and Street Decor. February 1219: Continuous daily festivities at the Capitol Ground featuring the Trade Fair, Food Fiesta, and vibrant Street Decor.

Continuous daily festivities at the Capitol Ground featuring the Trade Fair, Food Fiesta, and vibrant Street Decor. February 1315 (8:00 AM): 18th Aurora Surfing Challenge (Brgy. Sabang) and the 17th Skateboarding Competition & Color Setan Run (Brgy. Calabuanan).

18th Aurora Surfing Challenge (Brgy. Sabang) and the 17th Skateboarding Competition & Color Setan Run (Brgy. Calabuanan). February 14: * 6:00 AM: Valentine Bubble & Color Fun Run (Quezon Park to Capitol Grounds). 7:00 PM: Binibining Aurora 2026 Talent Night & Festival Attire Competition (Capitol Grounds).

* 6:00 AM: Valentine Bubble & Color Fun Run (Quezon Park to Capitol Grounds). February 15 (7:00 PM): Bantayog ng Kultura at Sining  Capitol Grounds.

Bantayog ng Kultura at Sining  Capitol Grounds. February 16 (7:00 AM): Indak Pasidayaw & Pasidayaw Tourism Awards  Capitol Grounds.

Indak Pasidayaw & Pasidayaw Tourism Awards  Capitol Grounds. February 17: * 9:00 AM: Komedya de Baler Exhibition  Capitol Grounds. 3:00 PM: Binibining Aurora 2026 Coronation Night  Baler Convention Center, Brgy. Reserva.

* 9:00 AM: Komedya de Baler Exhibition  Capitol Grounds. February 18 (9:00 AM): Baton Twirling Exhibition with Tres Marias Band  Capitol Grounds.

Baton Twirling Exhibition with Tres Marias Band  Capitol Grounds. February 19 (Grand Anniversary Day): 4:00 AM: Dayana para kay Dona Aurora. 7:00 AM: Anniversary Mass  San Luis Obispo Parish Church. 8:00 AM: Pasidayaw Festival Parade  Baler Plaza to Capitol Grounds. 9:00 AM: 47th Anniversary Program  Capitol Grounds. 1:00 PM: Parade Awarding Ceremony. 4:00 PM: Street Party & Motor Show Display  Quezon Highway. 7:00 PM: Grand Pyromusical Display  Capitol Grounds.



A Final Call for Founding Members

As Aurora prepares for its most vibrant month, the Aurora.ph travel portal remains in its exclusive Soft Launch phase. This is the final opportunity for residents and travelers to secure Founding Member status and be part of the province's digital history.

How to Become a Founding Member (Individuals):

Sign Up: Create a free account at https://www.aurora.ph/members/ Contribute: To achieve official status, members must upload relevant photos of their Aurora experiences or write a detailed review of any listed establishment on the platform. The Benefit: Founding Members receive the permanent "Pioneers Circle" digital badge, exclusive access to "Aurora Unveiled" periodic webinars, priority access to curated experiences, and the "Pioneer Pass" for lifetime rewards and discounts.

How to Become a Founding Business Partner (Advertisers):

Register: Access the Business Portal and create a business account by Claiming your Listing. Set Up: Establishments must complete their Digital Storefront, including business description, contact details, location, current promotions, and professional photos. The Benefit: Founding Business Partners receive guaranteed priority placement in search results throughout 2026, homepage features, and a complimentary professional photoshoot (if claimed by March 31, 2026).

About Aurora.ph

Aurora.ph is the official digital guide and community platform for Aurora Province. Driven by the philosophy of "Preserve to Prosper," we foster a sustainable tourism model that benefits local communities and preserves the provinces pristine environment. Learn more at our Who We Are page.

Connect With Us

Homepage: www.aurora.ph

www.aurora.ph Login: Aurora.ph/Login

Aurora.ph/Login Social Media: Follow @exploreauroraph on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.

Hashtags: #AuroraDay2026 #PasidayawFestival #SiglaAtGalak #ExploreAurora #PreserveToProsper #AuroraPHFoundingMember
It was a traumatic weekend for Americans everywhere, as the news broke on Saturday morning that 37-year-old Minnesotan, Alex Pretti, had been murdered by ICE agents on a busy street south of downtown Minneapolis. Publishing professionals Mabel Hsu and Zoey Cole, who live and work in New York City, were devastated by the newsand decided to do something about it,

The result is Publishing for Minnesota, a group of industry insiders organizing a two-day online auction on January 2930 to raise funds for Minnesotans and immigrants elsewhere.

Hsu, co-editorial director for Sourcebooks Stonefruit Studio childrens imprint, told PW that upon hearing of Prettis death, she contacted Cole, her friend and the associate director of marketing at Zando, who grew up in Minnesota and had once lived in the Twin Cities.

We were feeling really upset and distraught and angry at the administration and ICE, Hsu recalled. What can we do? It feels crazy to think that it would be business as usual come Mondayand it's not; it can't be.

Maintaining that people in publishing are some of the most intelligent and passionate people, who are always ready to get to work, Hsu said she and Cole reached out on Saturday night through their personal social media feeds, asking for assistance in organizing an auction. Within a couple of moments, she said, childrens authors and illustrators Emmy Kastner and Lian Cho responded.

By midday Sunday, Hsus co-editor at Stonefruit Studio, Ben Rosenthal; Scholastic executive editor Katie Heit; and childrens author-illustrator Laura Sandoval Herrera were also on board. An Instagram page was launched and requests for donations made to all of our networks; it just kind of took off from there, Hsu said.

By Monday morning, the group had received approximately 550 donations of products and services for the auction, from authors, editors, agents, and illustrators.

Proceeds from the auction will support organizations providing legal aid, emergency assistance, food, and community resources to Minnesotans in urgent need due to ICEs activities.

Among the offerings at the auction are signed books, author headshots, original art, critiques for novels and picture books, marketing feedback, portfolio reviews, and art jam sessions.

Hsu specifically shouted out donations from PBS librarian Mychal Threets, who is offering a social media collaboration; author Erin Entrada Kelly, who is offering a manuscript review; Little, Brown Books for Young Readers editor-in-chief Alvina Ling, who is offering a 30-minute consultation; and original art from Monica Arnaldo, Sally Deng, Shawn Harris, Adam Rex, and Steven Weinberg.

Though most of the auction items come from the kidlit community, Hsu noted that theres also items for those interested in adult books or writing for adults, such as a novel critique by Christa Desir, editorial director of Sourcebooks romance imprints; a 45-minute Zoom session with Amanda Uhle, memoirist and publisher of McSweeneys; and 30-minute consults with Anna Montague, a nonfiction editor at Henry Holt, and literary agent Michael Taeckens of Massie McQuilkin.

Winning bidders will have 48 hours to show confirmation of having made a donation to one of the following organizations: Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota; Womens Foundation of Minnesota; Midwest Immigrant Bond Fund; Dios Habla Hoy Church Food Distribution (South Minneapolis); Community Aid Network MN; and Central Area Neighborhood Development.

Bidders can also donate to two organizations outside of Minnesota: the Immigrant Defense Project and HandsOffNYC.

Hsu urges bidders to donate to these organizations, even if they dont make the winning bids. And, she added, I would also encourage people to support their local bookstores, because theyre on the ground, they're acting like community hubs to those in need. They've been so inspiring to us, causing us to remember the power of collective action.

Update: An earlier version of this story mis-identified Anna Montague's place of employment and has been corrected.
Joachim Kaufmann, the longtime CEO of German publisher Carlsen Verlag, will become president and CEO of the Frankuter Buchmesse, or Frankfurt Book Fair, effective September 1. Kaufmann will take over after this year's fair, which runs October 711. He succeeds Juergen Boos, who has served as CEO since 2005.

As CEO of Carlsen Verlag, the Hamburg-based subsidiary of the Swedish Bonnier Group, since 2006, Kaufmann helped to grow the house into one of Germany's largest trade publishers. He also held various positions within the Bonnier Group and served on the board of Bonnier Books UK. He was also responsible for Bonnier's expansion into new markets, including Poland and China.

Before joining Carlsen, Kaufmann held positions in sales and marketing at Herder, Christophorus, Bertelsmann (now Penguin Random House), and Ravensburger. In addition, he has represented German publishers internationally through the International Publishers Association and currently the Federation of European Publishers.

In a statement, Kaufmann outlined his vision for the fair, citing its dual mission. "In its role as the leading international event for the global book industry, it must remain the central venue for both rights trading and personal exchanges for the entire book world, and constantly adapt to the needs of its customers," he said. "I also see excellent opportunities to develop it into the largest festival for booklovers and reading far beyond Frankfurt and to draw the public's attention to the wonderful world of books and stories during the fair week."

Karsten Schmidt-Hern, chairman of the Borsenverein des Deutschen Buchhandels Beteiligungsgesellschaft, the German booksellers and publishers association which oversees the fair, called Kaufmann "the ideal successor to Juergen Boos."

Boos gave his endorsement to Kaufmann, citing years of collaboration on international book industry issues and freedom of expression. "Few leaders in our world of books are as capable as he is of inspiring people with his ideas and convictions," Boos said. "He and the strong culture of collaboration within the Frankfurter Buchmesse team are an ideal match."
JL-9 jet trainers in flight training

China Military Online) 09:49, January 27, 2026

A JL-9 jet trainer attached to the Chinese PLA Air Force Xi'an Flying College taxies on the runway during a flight training exercise in early January, 2026. (eng.chinamil.com.cn/Photo by Li Liben)

JL-9 jet trainers attached to the Chinese PLA Air Force Xi'an Flying College taxi on the runway during a flight training exercise in early January, 2026. (eng.chinamil.com.cn/Photo by Li Liben)

JL-9 jet trainers attached to the Chinese PLA Air Force Xi'an Flying College taxi on the runway during a flight training exercise in early January, 2026. (eng.chinamil.com.cn/Photo by Li Liben)

(Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun)
In the infamous courtroom colloquy in A Few Good Men, Colonel Jessup screams, You WANT ANSWERS? Lieutenant Kaffee, matching Jessups volume and intensity, yells back, I WANT THE TRUTH! To which Jessup returns fire: YOU CANT HANDLE THE TRUTH!

At the conclusion of a closed committee briefing on December 17, 2025, Representative Mike Rogers, Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, issued a perfunctory declaration that the Pentagon had fully met his expectations for Congressional oversight of what are now, since September 2, 2025, 35 attacks by United States Armed Forces of alleged Venezuelan drug boats. Those attacks, without any reported hostilities directed toward the United States by enemy combatants, have resulted in the killing of at least 123 occupants of the alleged drug boats.

Simply put, Rogers proclaimed that he was done and would not require further accounting from the Pentagon. Hard stop! Case closed! Senator Roger Wicker, although marginally more curious, in the end, likewise swallowed the same gibberish from the Trump Administration, thereby ignoring the constitutional duty of Congress to require legitimate and timely oversight.

But, it is elemental that it is the American people, the ultimate sovereign, who own the government of the United States of America. And, contrary to the disingenuous exclamations of two Congressional Committee chairs, they most assuredly can handle the truth, even if Congress cant. Especially now, with another attack, this time on Venezuelan soil, amidst whisperings of regime change, the American people have the ultimate right to know all of the available evidence there is that allegedly provides facts sufficient to justify a resort to armed force on foreign shores and a potential ground war on top of the extrajudicial killings of at least 123 people who appear to have been unarmed on vessels in international waters."

What evidence proves that dangerous drugs were on those alleged drug boats? What evidence is there that the occupants of those boats were "enemy combatants engaged in hostilities against the United States? And, what foreign state or nation did the alleged enemy combatants represent, which must be confirmed before they can be treated as enemy combatants? What evidence is there that any of the people who were vaporized on the aforementioned boats were ever engaged in "hostilities against the United States? And finally, what evidence was there, or is there, of any armed conflict or resort to armed force initiated by the occupants of the alleged drug boats?

Without "enemy combatants, acting on behalf of another state or nation and without resort to armed force and hostilities" by those enemy combatants, there cannot be legally or factually "an armed conflict against the United States. If thats the case, then it is inescapable that there is no lawful basis for the overpowering use of force and the unlawful killing of the occupants of the alleged drug boats by American Armed Forces..

The Secretary of Defense boasts and, without regret, describes the attacks and the taking of human lives occurring on his watch as if this misadventure is akin to a video game. Under the Law of Armed Conflict, however, it is quite the contrary. The killing of another human being, in these circumstances, can only be justified in self-defense or military necessity and theres been no evidence revealed of either. What does appear at this moment, however, is that the Secretary of Defense is directing the tactics of vigilantes at the expense of the Rule of Law.

A servile failure of duty can occur either by commission or omission. But it matters little in this instance because the result is just the same. The majority of the members of Congress with the authority and power to require oversight have, so far, slavishly acquiesced to the Administrations refusal to reveal the evidence justifying the use of lethal force and the killing of at least 123 people  people who were not, by legal definition or factual specification, enemy combatants engaged in hostilities against the United States on behalf of another nation or state.

Adding insult to injury, there is not a single allegation that any of those 123 people killed in, or clinging to, the alleged drug boats had ever brandished or displayed a single weapon, fired a single shot, or taken any offensive action whatsoever against the United States before they were completely obliterated, and with them, evidence that may have revealed the truth.

Now, in addition to these inexplicable deaths at sea, the United States Armed Forces invaded Venezuela and initiated hostilities and armed warfare to enforce a New York indictment against Venezuelas President Maduro and his wife, once again without any prior notice to, or authorization from, Congress. Such was an act of war and a clear violation of the United Nations Charter, which is, under the United States Constitution, theSupreme Law of the Land.The American people want the truth and Its long past the time for members of Congress to faithfully honor their oath and constitutional duty to provide it.

Marc Racicot is a former U.S. Army captain who served with the Judge Advocate Generals Corps. He is a former Montana attorney general and governor, and former chair of the National Republican Party. Greg Wilson is a former U.S. Treasury Department deputy assistant secretary.
Nigeria has been out of U.S. headlines since President Donald Trump launched missile strikes against Islamic State targets in Nigeria on Christmas, but the United States has quietly continued to increase cooperation with the Nigerian military to start 2026. The Christmas Day strikes were seemingly a one-off, largely symbolic event for Trump to follow through on his October promise to protect Christians in Nigeria. U.S. officials held an inaugural working group meeting with their Nigerian counterparts to address violence against Christians, and have since said that the United States plans to increase material and intelligence support for Nigerian forces to enable Nigeria to take the lead.

This kind of military cooperation will lead to quick, quantifiable outcomes such as drone strikes and terrorists killed, but military action alone will not protect Nigerias Christians in the way the President and his allies hope. The armed abduction of 300 Catholic schoolchildren in early January highlights that the strikes did little to address the much wider problem. If U.S. officials truly want to protect Nigerians, theyll need to engage the countrys complex security landscape and support Nigerians to pursue much neededalbeit frustratingly hard to quantify, long-term, and nuancedefforts related to local mediation, policing, and resource sharing.

Since the Trump administration heightened its focus on Nigeria, the U.S. has flown almost daily intelligence operations surveilling Salafi-jihadi and some bandit strongholds across northern Nigeria. These flights are part of a much larger program of U.S.-Nigerian security cooperation. In late 2025, the U.S. has hosted several high-level Nigerian delegations focused on security and established a U.S.-Nigerian military framework. The framework will reportedly accelerate the delivery of 24 military grade helicopters and enable U.S. strikes against armed groups throughout the country.

While this cooperation is certainly a step in the right direction, a securitized response alone will fall short of addressing religious violence. Nigerias religious violence is a result of a broader, more complex security landscape involving multiple actors. Islamic Statelinked militants and the infamous Boko Haram, that U.S. security cooperation is predominantly focused on, are the most public perpetrators of this instability, massacring tens of thousands of Christians and Muslims who resist their radicalism in Nigerias Muslim-majority northeast and spreading in small numbers to the northwest in recent years.

Less in the spotlight, ethnic militias and roving bandits in Nigerias Middle Belt are equally if not more responsible for the thousands of Nigerian citizens killed. Open Doors, a nongovernmental organization (NGO) researching the persecution of Christians, reported that Fulani Muslim militias operating in Middle Belt states were responsible for 55 percent of Christian deaths in Nigeria from 2019 to 2023. Furthermore, Reuters reported in July 2025 that bandits had killed 2,226 people in the first half of 2025, more than Salafi-jihadists over the same period and the entirety of bandit-correlated deaths in 2024.

These numbers signal but fail to fully capture that while religion undeniably plays a role in how violence manifests, the root driver of the violence is resources, not religion. Communal insecurity, particularly in the Middle Belt, is largely driven by longstanding tensions over scarce resources between Fulani Muslim pastoralists and sedentary Christian farming communities. Bandits in majority Muslim northern Nigeria are similarly less concerned with religious affiliations and more concerned with plundering resources, which has in some cases led to opportunistic cooperation with jihadists that has little to do with religion.

As the U.S. continues to increase its role in Nigerian security, it should take a more holistic approach that pairs military action against armed groups with a focus on addressing the core issues of this cyclical violence. Salafi-jihadi groups have entrenched themselves in Nigerias periphery since 2010 and remained resilient to both government led-counterinsurgency campaigns and Salafi-jihadi infighting. Degrading these organizations in the short- to mid-term will require enhanced intelligence collaboration and air support for Nigerian counterinsurgency operations that target these groups strongholds. Kinetic action must be carefully Weakening these organizations in the long term will require pairing a securitized approach with some of the same non-kinetic efforts discussed next in regard to non-Salafi-jihadi conflict.

As U.S. officials look to quickly and cheaply push for structural change, their best chance for success will be pushing for pre-existing Nigerian-led reforms that have gone unimplemented. Pursuing a comprehensive approach that addresses root causes sounds reminiscent of the last several decades of U.S. state-building efforts, something the U.S. is increasingly unwilling and unable to do. Supporting pre-existing Nigerian efforts helps address root causes while being cognizant of the fact that the era of large-scale U.S.-backed state building is over.

The U.S. should hold its Nigerian allies accountable for promises made to strengthen the capacity of the Nigerian police and support Nigerian initiatives on the issue. In November, President Tinubu ordered the police to recruit an additional 20,000 officers to address the polices lacking capacity. Months later, he floated the idea of deploying police tasked with escorting officials elsewhere. Nigerian police are the only Nigerian security force capable, despite their limited capacity, to secure rural communities across Nigeria. The Nigerian military, which has at this point been responsible for maintaining communal security, is beyond overstretched, fighting Salafi-jihadists, bandits, and other insurgencies throughout the country, securing Nigerias borders, and on standby for regional crises, such as the recent coup in Benin. The U.S. can provide technical and training support for new police units, a traditionally used U.S. tool, to help Nigeria address this police capacity challenge.

The U.S. should support Nigerian and Nigerian-supported NGO efforts to pursue communal land resource agreements across the Middle Belt. Resource agreements are a proven method to resolve cyclical violence. Several Nigerian- and U.S.-accredited NGOs such as Humanitarian Dialogue (HD), Mercy Corps, and Pastoral Resolve, have implemented such agreements in the Middle Belt. The agreements facilitated the access and joint management of water, forests, farmlands, markets, and land demarcation leading to substantial reductions in violence between participating farming and herding communities. The U.S. should work with the Nigerian government and NGO experts to help scale these efforts.

The U.S. should urge its Nigerian allies to strengthen and institutionalize the role of traditional leadership, such as communal elders and religious leaders. Traditional leadership in the Middle Belt is pivotal to the resilience of resource agreements and deterring the recruitment of youth into armed groups. NGOs have reaffirmed this through their work in the Middle Belt, finding that traditional authorities were key to securing land resource agreements, aligning customary laws to peace efforts, leading communal mediation, and linking community mechanisms with more formal governance structures. HD also found that enhancing traditional leadership led to a more cohesive communal identity, a potential deterrent to youth recruitment into armed groups. Again, state-led or -funded agreements could scale this success across the Middle Belt.

As the U.S. continues to map its involvement in Nigeria, it must remember that civilians lie at the center of the problem. To ensure the U.S. doesnt alienate the very population it intends to help, U.S. military officials must ensure there is no collateral damage or civilian deaths, and political officials must avoid using the same charged Christians versus Muslims framing that the Islamic State uses to recruit. Furthermore, the U.S. should identify ways to work with the Nigerian government to address issues at the communal level in addition to the security expertise the U.S. brings to bear. Nigerians are experiencing firsthand the result of an overly securitized approach, which has led to the current crisis.

Liam Karr is a the Africa Team Lead for the Critical Threats Project at the American Enterprise Institute. Miles Charles is an Africa analyst at AEI.
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'90 Day Fiance: The Other Way' Tell All: Chloe has a sugardaddy, Manon threatens divorce, Matthew shares dating update

By Elizabeth Kwiatkowski, 01/27/2026



90 Day Fiance: The Other Way's Tell All featured Chloe admitting she has a sugardaddy and that she had sex with Johny after their split, Manon threatening Anthony with divorce after feeling "humiliated" onstage, and Matthew sharing a dating update during Part 1 that aired Monday night on TLC.



ADVERTISEMENT Season 7 of 90 Day Fiance: The Other Way followed American citizens moving to or living in foreign countries for the sake of love and their future spouses and experiencing culture shock.



RELATED LINK: '90 DAY FIANCE' COUPLES NOW: WHO IS STILL TOGETHER? WHO HAS SPLIT? WHERE ARE THEY NOW? (PHOTOS)



90 Day Fiance: The Other Way's seventh season starred six couples -- including



The couples who were brand new to the franchise were Greta from Oklahoma and Matthew from England, Anthony from California and Manon from France, Pattiya from Texas and Dylan from Tasmania, and Chloe from Massachusetts and Johny from Aruba.



The Tell All filmed in New York City and was hosted by



The following cast members participated via Zoom from other countries: Dylan, Johny, Madelein and Matthew.



"We are tackling it all -- cheating, cultural differences, family drama and more," Shaun teased.



"We've also got big updates and shocking revelations you'll be hearing about for the first time!"



Below is what happened on Part 1 of the Tell All for 90 Day Fiance: The Other Way's seventh season.





CHLOE and JOHNY Chloe admitted she's still afraid of gas stoves but that she's a good cook now. Johny disagreed, and Madelein yelled at her that she doesn't know how to do anything.



"It's alright. I'll just pay somebody to do it -- with my own money," Chloe snapped at Madelein.



Manon then said she'd rather be a bad cook than be unfaithful, taking a clear shot at Johny.

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"These type of men -- blah! I am not into misogynistic men, I'm sorry," Manon told Johny, adding, "You know that word perfectly, for sure."



Johny asked Manon to provide the definition of misogyny, but she refused to stoop "down to [his] level."



Chloe then revealed that she and Johny are still broken up.



"I am back at home. My mom is moving to Florida and I'm fully moving back to Boston in the city," Chloe shared.



Chloe said she and Johny had split up seven months prior.



Chloe teared up when watching the former couple's breakup back, and she said seeing herself in that situation was "so sad" because she loved him so much.



When asked if anything surprised her by the way her breakup went down, Chloe said she was taken aback by Johny's decision to gaslight her.



"He almost tried to flip the script. It was very impressive, I will say. I don't know how he did it, but in my head, I was thinking, 'Am I in the wrong?'" Chloe admitted.



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Johny explained how he had cheated and the breakup was his fault but he was angry because Chloe allegedly set out to ruin his reputation and slander his name to their friends in Aruba.



Luke told Johny that Chloe was "a catch" and so he "f-cked up" big time. Madelein, seemingly jealous over Luke's admiration for Chloe, called Chloe "a b-tch."



RELATED LINK: '90 DAY FIANCE: BEFORE THE 90 DAYS' COUPLES NOW: WHO IS STILL TOGETHER? WHO HAS SPLIT? WHERE ARE THEY NOW? (PHOTOS)



Chloe's friend Maria joined the Tell All and accused Johny of cheating on Chloe about 10 times.



"I don't know the number, but it was a lot," Maria claimed.



90 Day Fiance footage showed that Chloe had also cheated on Johny before, but Chloe explained how she and Johny had cheated on each other "very early on" in their relationship because they couldn't "get [their] sh-t together."



Chloe took accountability for having been unfaithful in the past, but then Johny cheated with a woman -- whom he had asked to send him nudes -- while they were living together and serious in Aruba.



Johny claimed he had only cheated on Chloe once with this woman, but Chloe said she read interactions between this pair on his phone that suggested otherwise.



"Don't try to portray me as this serial cheater, because in reality, it wasn't like that," Johny complained.



"Chloe lied about a lot of things. I went through her phone and found a conversation with bank payments -- money being sent to her. Over $20,000 was sent to her by this one guy, and there were multiple payments."



Dylan said it sounded like Chloe had a sugardaddy, and Johny confirmed, "Chloe had a sugardaddy that was basically sending her money."



Johny claimed Chloe was "f-cking this guy" back home, and Chloe announced to Madelein, "You would do it, too, for a check!"



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Johny said the worst part was that Chloe didn't even need the money; she just did it for "the rush" she got from it. Johny said after finding those messages, he had "zero trust" in Chloe.



Chloe explained how this man is close to her age and they were actually together at one point.



"I'm sorry I had a guy who wanted to send me money," Chloe said.



"He wasn't your age, Chloe. He was over 40," Johny claimed.



But Chloe insisted the man is 34. While Chloe was speaking, Madelein was screaming at Chloe and calling her a "b-tch" and a "whore." The pair also flipped each other their middle fingers.



Chloe claimed she wasn't seeing this sugardaddy while she was with Johny, but Johny claimed Chloe met up with him back in the States once she got home.



"I had a relationship with him prior to your ass -- which I'm allowed to do. It's not my fault he wants to send me money... You didn't have money to front up so somebody had to pay the f-cking bills," Chloe shouted.



Chloe asked Madelein to shut up because she has "17 different personalities," but Madelein laughed at Chloe for her behavior and repeatedly called her "a b-tch."



Chloe shared of her sugardaddy, "He would send me money for my nails, for my hair, and he would send me flowers... But saying he paid me for sex is crazy."



Johny said he hated how another man was paying for his girlfriend's lifestyle and he thought Chloe accepting it -- purely for adrenaline -- was "psychotic."



Chloe then told Shaun that she shouldn't be blamed for Johny's damaged reputation because he was the one who had messed up to begin with.



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Shaun then asked Johny and Chloe if they saw each other after their breakup.



"Tell them, Chloe!" Johny urged.



"So we had broken up and I left and then I stayed at his house and we did [have sex]," Chloe revealed.



"I could be as mad as I want, but I'd still want to have sex with her," Johny confessed.



So the pair apparently had sex the very same day they had split up.



Chloe explained how she and Johny were having a conversation that was going nowhere and so they had sex.



"I honestly don't regret it," Chloe noted.



During a break from filming, Greta told Chloe that Luke -- who had revealed he's back in the United States -- was staring at her during the Tell All and seemed infatuated with her.



"I thought that!" Chloe agreed. "Madelein is literally going to punch me in the face."



Chloe then told the cameras, "Luke actually messaged me saying, 'Hey, are we grabbing a drink tonight? What are you doing?' So I think maybe Madelein is sensing some attraction from him towards me. I mean, I can understand why she'd be jealous of me."





MATTHEW and GRETA Shaun noted that Matthew and Greta's relationship "crashed and burned" so quickly.



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Manon said Matthew should've nurtured his relationship with Greta more and attempt to meet her needs and desires.



When asked to rate her relationship on a scale of 1-5 stars, Greta rated it four stars.



"I think that's valid enough to end it. It should be five stars or you should leave!" Greta shared.



Greta then revealed to Shaun that she was living in London, where she received a work visa and got a job in the animal movement.



Greta said she plans to stay in London forever and had visited her cat Hazel in March. Greta said she wouldn't be able to take Hazel back because she travels so much for work that it would be unfair to her beloved cat.



RELATED LINK: '90 DAY FIANCE: HAPPILY EVER AFTER?' COUPLES NOW: WHO IS STILL TOGETHER? WHO HAS SPLIT? WHERE ARE THEY NOW? (PHOTOS)



Greta admitted that she loved Hazel more than Matthew, who described his breakup with Greta as very painful. Matthew said it took him about a month to face reality and deal with the breakup.



"It would've been nice to have spoken about it more... If it was me, I would've taken that process a little slower," Matthew shared.



Greta admitted that she only saw Matthew as a good friend once she moved to England and she has since cut Matthew out of her life.



A few of Greta's friends joined the Tell All and placed blame on Matthew for not making room for her in his house or comforting Greta when she was feeling down and hurt. They said he could've done more to make Greta feel wanted.



Matthew called that a "misinterpretation" of what happened, and Greta said, "I did feel disconnected emotionally. I felt like I was expressing a lot of sadness and didn't necessarily feel comforted by Matthew."



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Matthew proceeded to share that he's in a "new long-term relationship." He shared how he was in a new house with a new life.



Matthew apparently met his girlfriend five or six months after his split from Greta. Matthew and this woman met on an online app and became an official couple once they got a bite to eat.



"I think it was very clear within the first hour that I'd met my soul companion, and that dinner went on for five hours and they eventually kicked us out of the restaurant. It was quite magical," Matthew gushed.



Greta told Matthew that she can't wait to see the family he builds one day, and Matthew wished Greta well because she deserves to find the love of her life.





ANTHONY and MANON Manon said it felt great to be back in the United States because it felt like home to her, but Anthony claimed the exact opposite. Anthony called France his home, and so the pair wasn't on the same page.



Manon admitted that Anthony "sometimes" made her want to die inside. She said she's staying in the relationship because he doesn't make her want to die every single day.



Manon insisted, however, that she loved Anthony and she showed him that love in a variety of ways.



Anthony said he got a job in a fast-food restaurant but he was no longer doing it. Manon said his $900-per month salary wasn't enough for him to be away from home so much.



Manon then revealed that she's campaigning to become the mayor of her little city in France.



"I'm doing a huge event soon to meet all the neighbors, and I'm going to bring activities for the kids," Manon revealed.



Manon had said some negative things about her village, including calling it the "assh-le" of France, but Manon didn't seem worried about that. Anthony said Manon would have to work on her mind set because any mayor should love his or her country.



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"I'm not perfect, but he never stands up for me, period!" Manon shouted.



Manon accused Anthony of "talking sh-t" about her behind her back to his family, who also allegedly "talked sh-t" about her constantly.



Anthony's aunt Candace joined the Tell All and accused Manon of controlling Anthony's phone.



Candace claimed Manon had gone into Anthony's phone and blocked his sister from his Instagram page. Candace also said Anthony only called her when Manon wasn't around.



"She monitors his phone," Candace said. "She took his phone and texted as if it was Anthony texting me."



Manon confessed that she blocked Anthony's family members and often went into his phone because she didn't trust him and she was dealing with pain and insecurities.



"I have to delete messages if I'm talking to my family," Anthony alleged, adding how he didn't want Manon to blow up on him over messages that mentioned her.



"Oh god, guys, get help! Get help!" Johny said.



Manon reiterated how everyone talked badly about her behind her back and Anthony never stood up for her. She also shared how Anthony had broken her trust before.



Once the cast took a break from filming, Manon flipped out backstage. She said she was done filming the Tell All because she had been "humiliated."



"We're going to divorce!" Manon furiously told Anthony.



ADVERTISEMENT





DYLAN and PATTIYA Dylan acknowledged that accusing Pattiya of prostitution was "not a fair accusation to make," and Pattiya pointed out how she didn't appreciate that allegation at all.



When asked if she was adjusting to Tasmania, Pattiya revealed, "I'm not there anymore."



Dylan shared, "I tried to give her a more simple life, but she didn't like it."



RELATED LINK: '90 DAY FIANCE' COUPLES NOW: WHO IS STILL TOGETHER? WHO HAS SPLIT? WHERE ARE THEY NOW? (PHOTOS)



Want more 90 Day Fiance spoilers or couples updates?

About The Author: Elizabeth Kwiatkowski

Elizabeth Kwiatkowski is Associate Editor of Reality TV World and has been covering the reality TV genre for more than a decade.

FOLLOW REALITY TV WORLD ON GOOGLE NEWS 90 Day Fiance: The Other Way's Tell All featured Chloe admitting she has a sugardaddy and that she had sex with Johny after their split, Manon threatening Anthony with divorce after feeling "humiliated" onstage, and Matthew sharing a dating update during Part 1 that aired Monday night on TLC.Season 7 of 90 Day Fiance: The Other Way followed American citizens moving to or living in foreign countries for the sake of love and their future spouses and experiencing culture shock.90 Day Fiance: The Other Way's seventh season starred six couples -- including Jenny Slatten and Sumit Singh and Luke Berry and Madelein Perez, who have appeared on other 90 Day Fiance spinoffs.The couples who were brand new to the franchise were Greta from Oklahoma and Matthew from England, Anthony from California and Manon from France, Pattiya from Texas and Dylan from Tasmania, and Chloe from Massachusetts and Johny from Aruba.The Tell All filmed in New York City and was hosted by Shaun Robinson The following cast members participated via Zoom from other countries: Dylan, Johny, Madelein and Matthew."We are tackling it all -- cheating, cultural differences, family drama and more," Shaun teased."We've also got big updates and shocking revelations you'll be hearing about for the first time!"Below is what happened on Part 1 of the Tell All for 90 Day Fiance: The Other Way's seventh season.Chloe admitted she's still afraid of gas stoves but that she's a good cook now. Johny disagreed, and Madelein yelled at her that she doesn't know how to do anything."It's alright. I'll just pay somebody to do it -- with my own money," Chloe snapped at Madelein.Manon then said she'd rather be a bad cook than be unfaithful, taking a clear shot at Johny."These type of men -- blah! I am not into misogynistic men, I'm sorry," Manon told Johny, adding, "You know that word perfectly, for sure."Johny asked Manon to provide the definition of misogyny, but she refused to stoop "down to [his] level."Chloe then revealed that she and Johny are still broken up."I am back at home. My mom is moving to Florida and I'm fully moving back to Boston in the city," Chloe shared.Chloe said she and Johny had split up seven months prior.Chloe teared up when watching the former couple's breakup back, and she said seeing herself in that situation was "so sad" because she loved him so much.When asked if anything surprised her by the way her breakup went down, Chloe said she was taken aback by Johny's decision to gaslight her."He almost tried to flip the script. It was very impressive, I will say. I don't know how he did it, but in my head, I was thinking, 'Am I in the wrong?'" Chloe admitted."No, you weren't in the wrong," Johny assured his ex.Johny explained how he had cheated and the breakup was his fault but he was angry because Chloe allegedly set out to ruin his reputation and slander his name to their friends in Aruba.Luke told Johny that Chloe was "a catch" and so he "f-cked up" big time. Madelein, seemingly jealous over Luke's admiration for Chloe, called Chloe "a b-tch."Chloe's friend Maria joined the Tell All and accused Johny of cheating on Chloe about 10 times."I don't know the number, but it was a lot," Maria claimed.90 Day Fiance footage showed that Chloe had also cheated on Johny before, but Chloe explained how she and Johny had cheated on each other "very early on" in their relationship because they couldn't "get [their] sh-t together."Chloe took accountability for having been unfaithful in the past, but then Johny cheated with a woman -- whom he had asked to send him nudes -- while they were living together and serious in Aruba.Johny claimed he had only cheated on Chloe once with this woman, but Chloe said she read interactions between this pair on his phone that suggested otherwise."Don't try to portray me as this serial cheater, because in reality, it wasn't like that," Johny complained."Chloe lied about a lot of things. I went through her phone and found a conversation with bank payments -- money being sent to her. Over $20,000 was sent to her by this one guy, and there were multiple payments."Dylan said it sounded like Chloe had a sugardaddy, and Johny confirmed, "Chloe had a sugardaddy that was basically sending her money."Johny claimed Chloe was "f-cking this guy" back home, and Chloe announced to Madelein, "You would do it, too, for a check!"Johny alleged he had read some "nasty" pornographic messages in which Chloe was "being a whore or a prostitute."Johny said the worst part was that Chloe didn't even need the money; she just did it for "the rush" she got from it. Johny said after finding those messages, he had "zero trust" in Chloe.Chloe explained how this man is close to her age and they were actually together at one point."I'm sorry I had a guy who wanted to send me money," Chloe said."He wasn't your age, Chloe. He was over 40," Johny claimed.But Chloe insisted the man is 34. While Chloe was speaking, Madelein was screaming at Chloe and calling her a "b-tch" and a "whore." The pair also flipped each other their middle fingers.Chloe claimed she wasn't seeing this sugardaddy while she was with Johny, but Johny claimed Chloe met up with him back in the States once she got home."I had a relationship with him prior to your ass -- which I'm allowed to do. It's not my fault he wants to send me money... You didn't have money to front up so somebody had to pay the f-cking bills," Chloe shouted.Chloe asked Madelein to shut up because she has "17 different personalities," but Madelein laughed at Chloe for her behavior and repeatedly called her "a b-tch."Chloe shared of her sugardaddy, "He would send me money for my nails, for my hair, and he would send me flowers... But saying he paid me for sex is crazy."Johny said he hated how another man was paying for his girlfriend's lifestyle and he thought Chloe accepting it -- purely for adrenaline -- was "psychotic."Chloe then told Shaun that she shouldn't be blamed for Johny's damaged reputation because he was the one who had messed up to begin with."When I found the things on her phone, I didn't go screenshot them and try to ruin her reputation, no matter how mad I was," Johny argued.Shaun then asked Johny and Chloe if they saw each other after their breakup."Tell them, Chloe!" Johny urged."So we had broken up and I left and then I stayed at his house and we did [have sex]," Chloe revealed."I could be as mad as I want, but I'd still want to have sex with her," Johny confessed.So the pair apparently had sex the very same day they had split up.Chloe explained how she and Johny were having a conversation that was going nowhere and so they had sex."I honestly don't regret it," Chloe noted.During a break from filming, Greta told Chloe that Luke -- who had revealed he's back in the United States -- was staring at her during the Tell All and seemed infatuated with her."I thought that!" Chloe agreed. "Madelein is literally going to punch me in the face."Chloe then told the cameras, "Luke actually messaged me saying, 'Hey, are we grabbing a drink tonight? What are you doing?' So I think maybe Madelein is sensing some attraction from him towards me. I mean, I can understand why she'd be jealous of me."Shaun noted that Matthew and Greta's relationship "crashed and burned" so quickly.Matthew said seeing Greta again was like seeing "an old friend," and Greta thanked him for his kind words.Manon said Matthew should've nurtured his relationship with Greta more and attempt to meet her needs and desires.When asked to rate her relationship on a scale of 1-5 stars, Greta rated it four stars."I think that's valid enough to end it. It should be five stars or you should leave!" Greta shared.Greta then revealed to Shaun that she was living in London, where she received a work visa and got a job in the animal movement.Greta said she plans to stay in London forever and had visited her cat Hazel in March. Greta said she wouldn't be able to take Hazel back because she travels so much for work that it would be unfair to her beloved cat.Greta admitted that she loved Hazel more than Matthew, who described his breakup with Greta as very painful. Matthew said it took him about a month to face reality and deal with the breakup."It would've been nice to have spoken about it more... If it was me, I would've taken that process a little slower," Matthew shared.Greta admitted that she only saw Matthew as a good friend once she moved to England and she has since cut Matthew out of her life.A few of Greta's friends joined the Tell All and placed blame on Matthew for not making room for her in his house or comforting Greta when she was feeling down and hurt. They said he could've done more to make Greta feel wanted.Matthew called that a "misinterpretation" of what happened, and Greta said, "I did feel disconnected emotionally. I felt like I was expressing a lot of sadness and didn't necessarily feel comforted by Matthew."Greta's friends accused Matthew of giving up on Greta and treating her as a burden, and then Greta shared how their sex fell flat.Matthew proceeded to share that he's in a "new long-term relationship." He shared how he was in a new house with a new life.Matthew apparently met his girlfriend five or six months after his split from Greta. Matthew and this woman met on an online app and became an official couple once they got a bite to eat."I think it was very clear within the first hour that I'd met my soul companion, and that dinner went on for five hours and they eventually kicked us out of the restaurant. It was quite magical," Matthew gushed.Greta told Matthew that she can't wait to see the family he builds one day, and Matthew wished Greta well because she deserves to find the love of her life.Manon said it felt great to be back in the United States because it felt like home to her, but Anthony claimed the exact opposite. Anthony called France his home, and so the pair wasn't on the same page.Manon admitted that Anthony "sometimes" made her want to die inside. She said she's staying in the relationship because he doesn't make her want to die every single day.Manon insisted, however, that she loved Anthony and she showed him that love in a variety of ways.Anthony said he got a job in a fast-food restaurant but he was no longer doing it. Manon said his $900-per month salary wasn't enough for him to be away from home so much.Manon then revealed that she's campaigning to become the mayor of her little city in France."I'm doing a huge event soon to meet all the neighbors, and I'm going to bring activities for the kids," Manon revealed.Manon had said some negative things about her village, including calling it the "assh-le" of France, but Manon didn't seem worried about that. Anthony said Manon would have to work on her mind set because any mayor should love his or her country.The cast then talked about how it didn't seem like Manon loved Anthony because she was so frustrated and controlling all the time."I'm not perfect, but he never stands up for me, period!" Manon shouted.Manon accused Anthony of "talking sh-t" about her behind her back to his family, who also allegedly "talked sh-t" about her constantly.Anthony's aunt Candace joined the Tell All and accused Manon of controlling Anthony's phone.Candace claimed Manon had gone into Anthony's phone and blocked his sister from his Instagram page. Candace also said Anthony only called her when Manon wasn't around."She monitors his phone," Candace said. "She took his phone and texted as if it was Anthony texting me."Manon confessed that she blocked Anthony's family members and often went into his phone because she didn't trust him and she was dealing with pain and insecurities."I have to delete messages if I'm talking to my family," Anthony alleged, adding how he didn't want Manon to blow up on him over messages that mentioned her."Oh god, guys, get help! Get help!" Johny said.Manon reiterated how everyone talked badly about her behind her back and Anthony never stood up for her. She also shared how Anthony had broken her trust before.Once the cast took a break from filming, Manon flipped out backstage. She said she was done filming the Tell All because she had been "humiliated.""We're going to divorce!" Manon furiously told Anthony."Don't say those things. It's not cool," Anthony replied backstage.Dylan acknowledged that accusing Pattiya of prostitution was "not a fair accusation to make," and Pattiya pointed out how she didn't appreciate that allegation at all.When asked if she was adjusting to Tasmania, Pattiya revealed, "I'm not there anymore."Dylan shared, "I tried to give her a more simple life, but she didn't like it."Want more 90 Day Fiance spoilers or couples updates? Click here to visit our 90 Day Fiance homepage MORE NEWS << PRIOR STORY

'Jersey Shore' alum Nicole "Snooki" Polizzi terrified she may have cervical cancer NEXT STORY >>

'The Bachelorette' alum Ali Fedotowsky shares "unsettling" update on husband Kevin Manno's cancer

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HOME > Jersey Shore Instagram / Snooki

'Jersey Shore' alum Nicole "Snooki" Polizzi terrified she may have cervical cancer

By Elizabeth Kwiatkowski, 01/27/2026



alum



ADVERTISEMENT "I'm scared and freaking out," Nicole, 38, admitted in a recent TikTok video, asking women to stay on top of their doctor appointments and make their health a priority.



"The pap smears -- I've been having issues with getting normal results and precancerous cells in [the] cervix. It's been very stressful guys. I've been dealing with this for about three or four years."



Nicole said after a recent pap smear brought back abnormal results, she had to undergo an "uncomfortable" and painful colposcopy and biopsy.



"They basically have to take a chunk out of your cervix. You're awake, by the way... That hurt. It wasn't a great experience," Nicole recalled.



After having her cells scraped and a "chunk" taken out, Nicole said she waited for about three days for the pathology to come back.



Once Nicole's doctor read the pathology report, he told Nicole that things were "not looking great."



Nicole revealed that doctors had found "cancerous cells on the top" of her cervix.



The next step, according to Nicole, is to have a cone biopsy while under general anesthesia at the hospital.



"It takes 10-15 minutes to snip it... They basically take a cone biopsy of your cervix... That will be sent [out] to see if there are any cancerous cells farther up," Nicole shared.



Nicole vented about how she waited too long to go to her appointments and her cone biopsy will be scheduled soon.



"I'm terrified," she confessed. "It's scary, but we have to get it done because cervical cancer is nothing to joke about. And I obviously do not want to get this."



Nicole then broke down into tears when thinking about her future.

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"If this [cone] biopsy comes back not great, then the next step would be a hysterectomy," Nicole noted.



The mother of three continued, "Obviously I'm done having kids, but, as a woman, the thought of getting a hysterectomy is just sad and scary."



She added, But the thought of having a hysterectomy and then not being able to have kids, I think that's what's killing me. But whatever! Whatever to keep me healthy and safe to be here for my kids that I have now."



Nicole shares Lorenzo, Giovanna and Angelo with husband Jionni LaValle. The youngest, Angelo, was born in 2019.



Nicole said she's hoping to find a community of "mamas" with similar health issues so they can lean on each other going forward.



"Being a woman is not easy, and this is definitely a scary thing," Nicole acknowledged.



"I know I'm going to be fine; it's just scary to have to do all this stuff. I'm terrified, but everything will be fine. I have my parents, my family and Jionni to be there and make sure everything is okay."



Nicole added that she wanted to make this video to "spread awareness" and persuade women to get their pap smears on time.



ADVERTISEMENT



Nicole said she's nervous about this procedure but she has to get it done.



"I'm being vulnerable right now... [Ladies] I love you, and stay on top of your sh-t," she concluded.



Snooki captioned her post, "Ladies we are in this together [praying-hands emoji] #colposcopy #conebiopsy #cervicalcancer."



Nicole starred on four seasons of Snooki & JWoww as well as six seasons of MTV's original series, which premiered back in 2009.



Nicole also starred on three seasons of : Family Vacation.



Nicole announced in December 2019 that she was



However, Nicole made a cameo appearance on Season 4 and then returned as a full-time cast member for Season 5 of : Family Vacation.



She subsequently continued her role on the show through Season 8, which wrapped in September 2025.





About The Author: Elizabeth Kwiatkowski

Elizabeth Kwiatkowski is Associate Editor of Reality TV World and has been covering the reality TV genre for more than a decade.

FOLLOW REALITY TV WORLD ON GOOGLE NEWS alum Nicole "Snooki" Polizzi has opened up about a cervical cancer scare and how she's scheduled to have a big procedure."I'm scared and freaking out," Nicole, 38, admitted in a recent TikTok video, asking women to stay on top of their doctor appointments and make their health a priority."The pap smears -- I've been having issues with getting normal results and precancerous cells in [the] cervix. It's been very stressful guys. I've been dealing with this for about three or four years."Nicole said after a recent pap smear brought back abnormal results, she had to undergo an "uncomfortable" and painful colposcopy and biopsy."They basically have to take a chunk out of your cervix. You're awake, by the way... That hurt. It wasn't a great experience," Nicole recalled.After having her cells scraped and a "chunk" taken out, Nicole said she waited for about three days for the pathology to come back.Once Nicole's doctor read the pathology report, he told Nicole that things were "not looking great."Nicole revealed that doctors had found "cancerous cells on the top" of her cervix.The next step, according to Nicole, is to have a cone biopsy while under general anesthesia at the hospital."It takes 10-15 minutes to snip it... They basically take a cone biopsy of your cervix... That will be sent [out] to see if there are any cancerous cells farther up," Nicole shared.Nicole vented about how she waited too long to go to her appointments and her cone biopsy will be scheduled soon."I'm terrified," she confessed. "It's scary, but we have to get it done because cervical cancer is nothing to joke about. And I obviously do not want to get this."Nicole then broke down into tears when thinking about her future."If this [cone] biopsy comes back not great, then the next step would be a hysterectomy," Nicole noted.The mother of three continued, "Obviously I'm done having kids, but, as a woman, the thought of getting a hysterectomy is just sad and scary."She added, But the thought of having a hysterectomy and then not being able to have kids, I think that's what's killing me. But whatever! Whatever to keep me healthy and safe to be here for my kids that I have now."Nicole shares Lorenzo, Giovanna and Angelo with husband Jionni LaValle. The youngest, Angelo, was born in 2019.Nicole said she's hoping to find a community of "mamas" with similar health issues so they can lean on each other going forward."Being a woman is not easy, and this is definitely a scary thing," Nicole acknowledged."I know I'm going to be fine; it's just scary to have to do all this stuff. I'm terrified, but everything will be fine. I have my parents, my family and Jionni to be there and make sure everything is okay."Nicole added that she wanted to make this video to "spread awareness" and persuade women to get their pap smears on time."And if your doctor calls you before six months to do it again, do it," Nicole urged. "Make sure you're fine and prevent all the bad things that could happen, like cervical cancer."Nicole said she's nervous about this procedure but she has to get it done."I'm being vulnerable right now... [Ladies] I love you, and stay on top of your sh-t," she concluded.Snooki captioned her post, "Ladies we are in this together [praying-hands emoji] #colposcopy #conebiopsy #cervicalcancer."Nicole starred on four seasons of Snooki & JWoww as well as six seasons of MTV's original series, which premiered back in 2009.Nicole also starred on three seasons of : Family Vacation.Nicole announced in December 2019 that she was retiring from : Family Vacation and would not be participating in a fourth season of the spinoff.However, Nicole made a cameo appearance on Season 4 and then returned as a full-time cast member for Season 5 of : Family Vacation.She subsequently continued her role on the show through Season 8, which wrapped in September 2025. JERSEY SHORE MORE JERSEY SHORE NEWS << PRIOR STORY

Lisa Rinna addresses her "stalker" jab at 'The Traitors' co-star Colton Underwood NEXT STORY >>

'90 Day Fiance: The Other Way' Tell All: Chloe has a sugardaddy, Manon threatens divorce, Matthew shares dating update

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State-owned performing arts troupes draw millions with livestreamed shows

People's Daily Online) 11:18, January 27, 2026

An increasing number of state-owned performing arts troupes are embracing digital transformation, using livestreaming platforms as new stages for their performances.

In April 2023, under the guidance of the Market Management Department of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism (MCT), the China Association of Performing Arts (CAPA) and popular Chinese short-video app Douyin launched a special program to help performing arts troupes develop new business models and move their performances online.

By December 2025, 499 state-owned performing arts troupes and 6,183 troupe performers had joined Douyin, streaming more than 819,000 performances. Over the past three years, an average of 830 professional troupe performances were livestreamed daily on the platform.

In spring 2024, Ningbo Performance & Arts Group in east China's Zhejiang Province, which operates professional troupes specializing in Yue opera, Yong opera, song and dance, and drama, began exploring livestreaming.

Soprano Zhu Lin from Ningbo Performance & Arts Group performs during a livestream session. (Photo/Xinhua)

Su Xing, deputy head of the group's Yong Opera Troupe, took the lead in testing the waters, using melodious operatic vocals to win fans and introduce more young people to this local opera genre. Erhu musician Zhang Jinliang garnered widespread praise with his performances, while soprano Zhu Lin connected with fans through her livestreams. Since launching livestream sessions, Ningbo Performance & Arts Group has accumulated over 100 million views.

The China National Opera House officially joined Douyin in late 2024. Its livestreaming anchor accounts quickly grew from just over 10 to more than 40, gaining over 300,000 followers. In 2025, it held over 2,600 livestream sessions, attracting more than 30 million views.

Beyond encouraging artists to launch livestream sessions, the opera house's official account also arranges for lead performers to conduct pre-show previews and behind-the-scenes tours before major performances. As of December 2025, the official account had conducted 68 livestream sessions, with a single session drawing up to 30,000 concurrent viewers at its peak.

In September 2025, the second season of Douyin's annual showcase of performing arts troupes was held online, attracting 80 troupes from 20 provincial-level regions.

Alongside these national heavyweights, local troupes have shown ingenuity in bringing regional cultures to wider audiences, collectively weaving a vibrant tapestry of Chinese culture.

"The rapid development of online livestreaming has not only enriched quality cultural offerings but also reshaped the cultural market," said Xie Hui, deputy director of the Market Management Department of the MCT.

As the special program continues to evolve, a thriving online artistic ecosystem is taking root, allowing artistic treasures long held within troupes to truly resonate with the public, Xie added.

"When we first ventured into livestreaming, we worried that online broadcasts might draw audiences away from offline performances. Practice has proved our concerns unfounded. Many performers report that fans in their livestream sessions frequently ask about offline performance schedules, hoping to buy tickets and visit theaters to support their favorite performers," said Wu Zhao, deputy director of the China National Opera House.

This made the team realize that through livestreaming, the opera house can attract and reach potential audiences, achieving positive online-offline interaction, Wu noted.

"Short videos and livestreaming have proved highly effective for promoting local opera forms like Yong opera. Some long-time fans travel from far away to attend performances," said Su.

A compelling livestreamed performance can transcend geographical boundaries and reach countless potential audience members, a considerable portion of whom become theatergoers, said Pan Yan, vice president and secretary-general of CAPA.

Pan believes livestreaming not only gives troupes direct access to hundreds of millions of viewers and generates considerable revenue, but is also reshaping how they produce content.

"Online-offline integration has become a key trend leading troupes' digital development," Pan said.

Many performing arts troupes' active experimentation with "group livestreaming"  a new format featuring multi-performer live broadcasts  provides vivid proof of this trend, including the Shaanxi Provincial Song and Dance Troupe in northwest China's Shaanxi Province.

"Starting in June 2025, after four months of group livestreaming, our livestream sessions garnered 5.43 million views," said Meng Ding, director of the troupe, adding that this is equivalent to a full year's work in offline terms.

(Web editor: Hongyu, Liang Jun)
If wellness culture had a rulebook, it would say this: homemade is good, organic is better and anything that comes in a package should be avoided at all costs. For college students juggling time, money and limited kitchen access, this mindset does not promote health; instead it promotes guilt.

On a college campus, food choices and eating habits are not made in a vacuum. They are shaped by class schedules that span entire days, part-time jobs, grocery prices and living spaces where a microwave is often the only readily available appliance. Yet, easy foods like frozen meals, packaged snacks or quick convenience options are often dismissed as being inherently unhealthy. Meanwhile, more expensive time-consuming meals are framed as the only acceptable path to eating healthily.
Multiple cases of identity theft and credit fraud are affecting a small percentage of employees, retirees and students across University System of Georgia (USG) campuses, according to an email from USG Chief of Police A. Kerry Stallings. Local and state law enforcement agencies are working closely with USG on an investigation.
Kerala has overtaken more industrialised states in personal electric vehicle adoption, driven by strong middle-class uptake, policy support, and charging infrastructure.

Kindly note the image have only been published for representational purposes. Photograph: LeeRosario/Pixabay

Key Points Kerala recorded the highest share of personal four-wheeler EV adoptio

EV penetration in Kerala rose sharply from about 5% in 2022 to over 12% in 2025

93.4% of EVs in Kerala are personal vehicles

Strong charging infrastructure with 1,389 charging stations supports daily EV use

Tata, MG Motor, and Mahindra dominate electric cars, while Ather, Bajaj, and TVS lead two-wheelers.

Keralas middle class households mounted more charging boxes than ever before in 2025, as the state saw the highest share of personal four-wheeler electric vehicles (EV) adoption among the 10 states with EV sales.

Kerala is one of the first states to come out with an EV policy way back in 2019.

Not just that, the state is the joint highest in terms of overall personal EV adoption (including two-wheelers and four-wheelers, among top states) along with Karnataka.

The penetration of EVs versus traditional internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles is also one of the highest in Kerala, standing second only to Delhi in 2025.

Charging Infrastructure Fuels EV Growth

According to data shared by Envirocatalysts, the penetration of EVs (EV to ICE ratio) in the top states with the highest EV sales includes Delhi with 13.91 per cent, Kerala with 12.08 per cent, Karnataka with 10.64 per cent, Uttar Pradesh with 9.89 per cent, and Madhya Pradesh with 8.23 per cent.

More importantly, the current rise is from a penetration of hardly 5 per cent in 2022, driven by policy measures and improved infrastructure.

Why Kerala Leads in Personal EV Adoption

The most important factor that makes Kerala a special market is the fact that the share of personal vehicles in the total EV basket is 93.4 per cent, indicating that the adoption is happening in two-wheelers and four-wheelers, said Sunil Dahiya, founder and lead analyst, Envirocatalysts.

Though other states like Karnataka have a similar 93.4 per cent share of EVs as personal vehicles, around 84 per cent of them are two-wheelers versus 9 per cent four-wheelers. On the other hand, the share of two-wheelers is only 76 per cent in Kerala, versus 18 per cent four-wheelers, indicating a larger adoption of EVs among the middle class, said Dahiya.

Middle Class Drives Kerala's EV Boom

The rise in EV sales is led by Ather Energy, Bajaj Auto, and TVS Motor in two-wheelers with a market share of 29 per cent, 24 per cent, and 19 per cent, respectively, in the state, out of a total of 80,261 vehicles sold in 2025.

Ola Electric with 12 per cent, and River Mobility with 6 per cent are the other majors ruling the Kerala market.

On the other hand, out of 18,891 private four-wheelers sold in 2025, Tata Passenger Electric Mobility ruled the market with 53 per cent, JSW MG Motor with 26 per cent, and Mahindra Electric Automobile with 11 per cent market share.

Reasons for higher share

Though Chandigarh and Goa have a higher share of private vehicles in the total EV pie of those states at 61 per cent and 99 per cent, the sales and penetration in those regions are much lower, and not among the top states.

According to industry experts, the reasons for higher penetration are higher awareness among customers.

The major reason is awareness, as several brands are doing really well in the state. People also see EVs and premium products as a status symbol. In addition to this, charging infrastructure is also widespread, said Anirudh Ravi Narayanan, chief executive officer of electric two-wheeler company BNC Motors.

Experts also cite the higher share of the non-resident Indian population, high per capita income, government sops, and adaptability to new brands as reasons for the improved interest in Kerala.

According to data by the ministry of heavy industries, the state has 1,389 charging stations, with 553 fast chargers and 836 slow chargers driven by private players and the Kerala Electricity Board.

Indias EV market continued its expansion in 2025, with total EV sales touching 2.3 million units and accounting for 8 per cent of all new vehicle registrations.

Feature Presentation: Rajesh Alva/Rediff
Enforcement agencies have highlighted risks related to money laundering and terror financing, prompting closer scrutiny of crypto platforms operating in India.

Kindly note the image has only been posted for representational purposes. Photograph: Kind courtesy The Digital Artist/Pixabay

The ministry of finance (FinMin) is in discussions with the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) and the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) ahead of the Union Budget 2026-27 to firm up a regulatory framework for crypto exchanges, official sources said.

As part of the early discussions in the ministry, Sebi is likely to emerge as the primary regulator for crypto exchanges, while the RBI may oversee aspects related to foreign direct investment (FDI), cross-border transactions and capital flows, an official close to the development said.

"Under the proposed framework, all Indian crypto exchanges are expected to register with Sebi for tighter supervision of trading platforms, disclosures and investor protection norms," the official said.

Need For Single Market Regulator

At present, oversight of crypto assets in India is spread across agencies.

While tax authorities handle the taxation of virtual digital assets (VDAs), bodies such as the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU-IND) monitor anti-money laundering compliance, and enforcement agencies probe violations linked to illicit flows.

Policymakers have long viewed the lack of a single market regulator as a key gap in the existing regime.

According to sources, multiple government agencies have flagged serious enforcement and monitoring challenges under the current framework.

Officials point out that the anonymous and borderless nature of crypto transactions, particularly those routed through offshore exchanges, private wallets and decentralised platforms, has made tracking difficult.

"Despite crypto being taxed, the absence of a market regulator makes it difficult for authorities to trace the full flow of transactions and assess the correct tax liability," another official added.

Lack of regulated crypto eco system

According to officials, the absence of a comprehensive regulatory framework has also constrained India's ability to operationalise international commitments such as the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development's (OECD) Crypto-Asset Reporting Framework (CARF).

While India has endorsed the framework in principle, the lack of a regulated crypto ecosystem makes it difficult to systematically collect and exchange standardised transaction-level data with partner jurisdictions, they said.

Separately, enforcement agencies have highlighted risks related to money laundering and terror financing, prompting closer scrutiny of crypto platforms operating in India.

According to Amit Rana, partner at PwC, regulation is a step in the right direction.

"For the government, it is an opportunity to define the box, prescribe clear asks for the players, and provide a framework to collect data and information. For the players, it gives much-needed certainty and clarity. And for investors and users, it enables them to invest with confidence. It's a win-win for all stakeholders," Rana said.

While India has introduced several tax-reporting mechanisms for crypto transactions, experts argue these measures are no substitute for market regulation.

Taxpayers Should Disclose Crypto Transfers

According to Sanjay Sanghvi, partner at Khaitan & Co, taxpayers are required to disclose crypto transfers under Schedule VDA in income-tax (I-T) returns, while a 1 per cent tax deducted at source (TDS) applies to transactions, with compliance largely undertaken by exchanges.

In addition, a new provision, Section 285BAA of the I-T Act, mandates banks and crypto intermediaries to report transaction-level information to the tax department.

"However, these tools largely enable post-facto detection and do not address issues such as market conduct, investor protection and real-time oversight," Sanghvi said.

"However, these tools largely aid post-facto detection and do not address issues such as market conduct, investor protection and real-time oversight," Sanghvi said.

Globally, governments are moving to put clearer safeguards around crypto markets.

The European Union has rolled out a unified Markets in Crypto-Assets framework, while the United States regulates crypto through a mix of federal and state agencies, with recent legislation focusing on stablecoins.

These developments form part of the broader backdrop to India's ongoing deliberations.

Key Points FinMin, Sebi and RBI in talks ahead of Union Budget 202627 to finalise a regulatory framework for crypto exchanges.

Sebi likely to be the primary regulator for crypto exchanges.

All Indian crypto exchanges may be required to register with Sebi.

Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff
'As the PLA higher command is almost dismantled and instability spreads, India needs to be prepared for any eventuality,' cautions China expert Srikanth Kondapalli.

IMAGE: Then Chinese Central Military Commission vice chairman Zhang Youxia attends a ceremony to mark Martyrs' Day, a day ahead of National Day, on Tiananmen Square in Beijing, September 30, 2025. Photograph: Florence Lo/Reuters

Key Points China's highest military officer General Zhang Youxia purged from office.

Rumours abound about Zhang's alleged transfer of nuclear secrets to the US, coup attempt on President Xi Jinping.

India needs to be on high alert on the borders with China and the neighbourhood.

In a bizarre turn of events in the second largest economy and third largest armed force in the world, China's seasoned and highest military officer General Zhang Youxia was removed from the office of first vice chairman of the most powerful Central Military Commission (CMC) last week.

China's defence ministry stated on January 24 that Zhang and Gen Liu Zhenli (commander of the joint chiefs of staff) were put under investigation for suspected serious violations of discipline and law.

Rumours abound about Zhang's alleged transfer of nuclear secrets to the United States, coup attempt on President Xi Jinping at Jingxi Hotel at Beijing, corruption in procurements and rank promotions, factional struggles or incompetence in pursuing 'intelligentised warfare'.

None of these comments are authentic and clear and perhaps as China lacks transparency and free press, nor it ever had a Julian Assange or an Edward Snowden, we may never be able to fathom the tumultuous developments in the country.

More plausible explanation is the institutional history of the party-military relations in China. In 1935, at the Xunyi conference, Mao Zedong became the supreme leader by overcoming Zhang Guotao and others.

Mao proposed earlier the slogan 'power flows from the barrel of the gun' (military), but the the 'gun should be controlled by the (Communist) party'. Since this period the party exercised 'absolute control over the military'.

Unlike in India, where the armed forces abide by the Indian Constitution, in China the military looks up to the Communist party for direction and orders.

Senior military officers were removed either for insubordination earlier or for corruption recently. Defence ministers Peng Dehuai was removed in 1959 for critiquing Mao at the Lushan conference and Lin Biao in 1971 for a coup attempt. Peng and Lin also served as vice chairmen of the CMC.

Recently Wei Fenghe and Li Shangfu in 2023. Many CMC vice chairmen were also removed, including Guo Boxiong and Xu Caihou in 2012 and He Weidong in October 2025 on corruption charges.

When China's politics is in turmoil, the military leadership was tasked to restore normalcy. In 1978, when the extreme left 'Gang of Four' led by Mao's wife Jiang Qing tried to usurp power, the then CMC chairman Hua Guofeng took then CMC Vice Chairman General Ye Jianying's help to arrest these leaders.

Also, during the Tiananmen Square massacre in 1989, then CMC Vice Chairman Zhao Ziyang was arrested for being a 'counter-revolutionary'. The succeeding leader Jiang Zemin also phased out the 'Yang family gang' (then president and then vice chairman of the CMC Yang Shangkun and his brother General Yang Baibing) for their praetorian roles.

Did Xi's China Dream Cause PLA Rift?

IMAGE: Then Chinese Central Military Commission vice chairman General Zhang Youxia arrives for a group photo session before the opening ceremony of the Western Pacific naval symposium in Qingdao, Shandong province, April 22, 2024. Photograph: Florence Lo/Reuters

Zhang's removal for either corruption or coup attempt or insubordination is surprising, even though there is a precedent in Lin Biao in 1971. Former foreign minister Qin Gang was also accused of transferring nuclear secrets to the US.

Zhang was very close to Xi Jinping since the 1960s when both worked in Shaanxi province, with both their fathers being comrades in arms. Zhang was also given foreign policy assignments related to the US and Russia earlier and accompanied Xi Jinping in his foreign visits.

Zhang prevailed over Xi Jinping last year in jettisoning He Weidong from the CMC, thus intensifying military intrigue and factional struggles. He Weidong and Admiral Miao Hua, who were brought from Fujian province where Xi Jinping worked as party secretary in the 1990s, were removed at Zhang's behest.

With corruption intensifying in the military since the 1980s, with higher command siphoning funds, it's an uphill task for Xi.

A second plausible explanation for the current turmoil in China is the introduction of reforms in the military in December 2015 to pursue Xi Jinping's China Dream and China Rejuvenation projects, which basically imply invading Taiwan, grabbing disputed South China Sea islands from Vietnam and Philippines and salami slicing of Indian territory. However, the armed forces are unable to fulfill this mission.

Military reorganiSation since 2015 created five theatre commands with integrated joint operations. Much of the combat duties shifted to these commands and hence the harem politics at CMC may not have much impact on the armed forces at tactical level, except in terms of corruption, morale and direction.

With the higher command generally aged (Zhang is 75 years old!), it would be hard to transit into digitalisation and AI applications in the military. In the early 2000s military reorganisation, China removed over 200,000 officers who are not adept at computers and hi-tech gadgets. However, the problem persisted.

With Zhang's removal, this process of 'intelligentised' warfare could intensify in China.

Nevertheless, many argue that Zhang's episode indicates that China is not a stable and predictable country. The last one year of purges indicate that its leadership is in tatters with much of the CMC dismantled.

With trillions of dollars pouring into the country's modernisation and its dependence of the world, the stakes are high for many countries.

For India, it needs to be on high alert on the borders with China and the neighbourhood. One of the reasons for the outbreak of the Galwan border skirmishes in June 2020 is said to be some disgruntled PLA local command officers triggered the bloody events.

As the PLA higher command is almost dismantled and instability spreads, India needs to be prepared for any eventuality.

Srikanth Kondapalli is Professor in Chinese Studies at JNU.
Over the years, India-EU ties have grown, and covered trade, investment, climate change, science and technology, space, digital, mobility, and connectivity.

IMAGE: President Droupadi Murmu, Chief Guest President of the European Council Antonio Luis Santos da Costa, President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh at the Republic Day Parade at Kartavya Path in New Delhi on January 26, 2026. Photograph: Press Information Bureau

Key Points The India-EU summit is co-chaired by the Prime Minister and the Presidents of the European Council and the European Commission.

The broad focus of the summit will be on trade, defence and security, climate change, critical technologies, and strengthening the rules-based global order

The two sides are expected to deliberate on the Russia-Ukraine war and the situation in West Asia

India and the European Union (EU) will upgrade their strategic partnership, signed in 2004, by inking a pact on Security and Defence Partnership (SDP), which is set to look at possibilities of Indian participation in European defence initiatives.

On Tuesday, at the 16th India-EU summit, the EU leaders, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa, will have restricted and delegation-level talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

An India-EU Business Forum, on the sidelines of the India-EU summit, will also be held. The broad focus of the summit will be on trade, defence and security, climate change, critical technologies, and strengthening the rules-based global order. Besides firming up the free-trade agreement (FTA), the two sides are set to unveil the defence-framework pact and a strategic agenda.

The India-EU summit is co-chaired by the Prime Minister and the Presidents of the European Council and the European Commission.

The last summit was held virtually in July 2020. The India-EU leaders meeting, with the participation of leaders of the 27 EU member states, was organised in Porto, Portugal, where the Prime Minister participated virtually, in May 2021.

The two sides are also looking at a Security of Information Agreement (SOIA), and a mobility agreement. The two sides are expected to ink agreements in other sectors, and deliberate on the Russia-Ukraine war and the situation in West Asia.

As for the trade deal, the EU and India had first launched negotiations for an FTA in 2007, before the talks were suspended in 2013 due to a gap in ambition. The negotiations were re-launched in June 2022.

Over the years, India-EU ties have grown, and covered trade, investment, climate change, science and technology, space, digital, mobility, and connectivity.

In February last year, the EU College of Commissioners, headed by von der Leyen, visited New Delhi. It was the first ever such visit to a bilateral partner outside Europe.

Von der Leyen, along with Charles Michel, then President of the European Council, had visited India in September 2023 for the G20 summit. She had also paid an official visit to India in April 2022.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar visited Brussels in June last year for the first edition of the India-EU Strategic Dialogue, while Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal was there in January. EU Commissioner for Trade Marcos Sefcovic was in India in December 2025.

In October 2025, Goyal met the EU commissioner for economy and productivity in Berlin. In September 2025, the EU commissioners for trade and agriculture visited India and met Goyal.

Apart from trade and defence, the third phase of India EU Clean Energy and Climate Partnership (CECP), established in 2016, was adopted in November 2024. The EU has been a partner organisation to the International Solar Alliance since 2018, and joined the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) in March 2021.

The European Investment Bank supports Indias climate and energy transition by financing projects in sustainable transport and urban mobility such as urban rail, and metro in some of the Indian cities. Other areas of cooperation between India and the EU include offshore wind energy, developing gas infrastructure in India, reducing methane emission, investment, and transfer of technology.

An agreement on research and development cooperation in peaceful uses of nuclear energy was signed between Indias Department of Atomic Energy and EURATOM in July 2020. The India-EU Connectivity Partnership was launched in 2021 and focuses on transport, digital, energy networks, and flow of people, goods, services, data and capital. In June 2025, both sides agreed on an administrative arrangement for trilateral development cooperation on joint projects in third countries.

Bilateral science and technology cooperation comes under the Science and Technology Cooperation Agreement, signed in 2007. A joint steering committee oversees and advances scientific cooperation projects in areas such as smart grids, water, vaccines, polar science, and the mobility of young scientists working with European Research Council.

Under the India-EU Water Partnership (IEWP), adopted in 2016, a joint working group on water discusses latest developments on water policies. The sixth EU-India Water Forum was held in New Delhi in September 2024.

In space cooperation, in February 2025, the EU commissioner for defence and space met the minister of state for science and technology in New Delhi to discuss further cooperation. The inaugural India-EU Space Dialogue took place in Brussels in November 2025. In May 2025, the Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) and the European Space Agency signed a joint statement of intent on cooperation for human space exploration.

On migration and mobility, the ninth India-EU High-Level Dialogue on Migration and Mobility (HLDMM) took place in New Delhi in November 2025.
Meanwhile, the Uttar Pradesh government has suspended Bareilly City Magistrate Alankar Agnihotri on charges of indiscipline after he resigned from service in protest against government policies.

IMAGE: Bareilly City Magistrate Alankar Agnihotri claims that democratic and republican values are eroding and he could no longer be part of the system. Photograph: ANI video grab

Key Points Alankar Agnihotri, a 2019-batch Provincial Civil Service officer, resigned citing deep disagreement with government policies

The officer described the new University Grants Commission rules as a "black law"

In his resignation, Agnihotri said that when governments adopt policies that divide society and the nation, it becomes necessary to "awaken" them

Bareilly City Magistrate Alankar Agnihotri resigned from service on Monday, citing deep disagreement with government policies, especially the new University Grants Commission regulations, which he said could foment caste-based discontent, officials said.

He described the new University Grants Commission rules as a "black law", alleging that they are vitiating the academic environment in colleges and should be withdrawn immediately.

The new regulations, introduced to stop caste-based discrimination in colleges and universities, ask institutions to set up special committees, helplines and monitoring teams to handle complaints, especially from SC, ST and OBC students.

Alankar Agnihotri, a 2019-batch Provincial Civil Service officer, sent his resignation by e-mail to Uttar Pradesh Governor Anandiben Patel and Bareilly District Magistrate Avinash Singh, they said.

Alankar Agnihotri suspended for indiscipline

Meanwhile, the Uttar Pradesh government has suspended Alankar Agnihotri on charges of indiscipline.

Alankar Agnihotri has now been attached to the office of the Shamli district magistrate, according to an order issued on Monday night.

According to an order issued by Special Secretary Annapurna Garg from the state government's Appointments Section-7, Agnihotri was found prima facie guilty of indiscipline and was placed under suspension with immediate effect. He has been attached to the office of the Shamli district magistrate.

The order said departmental disciplinary proceedings have been initiated against him and Bareilly Divisional Commissioner B S Chaudhary has been appointed as the ex-officio inquiry officer to probe the charges.

It further said that a separate charge sheet will be issued as part of the departmental action and that Agnihotri will remain attached to the Shamli district magistrate's office during the pendency of the inquiry.

Political leaders reacted to the development, saying that the resignation was a serious indicator of administrative pressure.

Bareilly Mayor Dr Umesh Gautam also visited Alankar Agnihotri's residence.

Bareilly City Magistrate Alankar Agnihotri alleges 'anti-Brahmin campaign'

In his resignation, Agnihotri said that when governments adopt policies that divide society and the nation, it becomes necessary to "awaken" them.

The new rules notified by the UGC on January 13 -- the Promotion of Equity in Higher Education Institutions Regulations, 2026 -- have sparked widespread criticism from general category students who argue that the framework could lead to discrimination against them.

Talking to reporters after attending the Republic Day function in the morning, Agnihotri alleged that the new UGC rules would lead to atrocities against Brahmins. The provisions were discriminatory and could lead to social unrest and internal discontent, he said.

"An anti-Brahmin campaign is going on in the Uttar Pradesh government for quite some time now. Brahmins are being singled out and tortured. Somewhere, a deputy jailer is beating a Brahmin. In another police station, a disabled Brahmin is being beaten to death," Alankar Agnihotri told ANI.

Alankar Agnihotri also referred to recent incidents, including Swami Avimukteshwaranand being stopped from taking a holy dip at Triveni Sangam on Mauni Amavasya during Magh Mela in Prayagraj, and questioned the role of the local administration.

Claiming that democratic and republican values are eroding, he said he could no longer be part of the system.

After leaving the district magistrate's residence, Agnihotri told reporters on Monday that he had gone to meet Bareilly District Magistrate Avinash Singh at his home, where he was allegedly held hostage.

"I was held hostage at the DM's residence for 45 minutes. A call came to the DM from Lucknow. I was verbally abused, and they said, 'pandit has gone mad (pandit paagal ho gayaa hai). Keep him hostage all night.' I had already informed the media about my situation. I was released at the behest of the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP)," Agnihotri said.

Agnihotri announced that he had been instructed to vacate his residence within two hours.

Refuting the allegations, District Magistrate Avinash Singh said that when Agnihotri came to see him, all the Additional District Magistrates (ADMs), Sub-Divisional Magistrates (SDMs), Circle Officers, Local Intelligence Unit (LIU) officials, and the Senior Superintendent of Police of Bareilly were present at the DM's residence.

Was Agnihotri held hostage?

District Magistrate Singh dismissed Agnihotri's claims of being held hostage as completely baseless, stating that there was no mistreatment or abusive language directed at him during their conversation.

When asked about Agnihotri's resignation, Singh replied, "No comment."

A resident of Kanpur Nagar, Agnihotri previously served as a sub-divisional magistrate in key districts, including Unnao, Balrampur, and Lucknow. He is known in administrative circles for his straightforward views and strict working style.

Agnihotri is an alumnus of Banaras Hindu University, where he studied B.Tech and LLB. He has also worked in the United States.

Officials noted that Agnihotri's resignation on Republic Day raises serious questions about the current system and policies.

Meanwhile, Brahmin leaders have been gathering at the state guest house in Bareilly since Monday afternoon.

Mayor Umesh Gautam arrived at Agnihotri's residence in the evening.

Speaking to reporters, Gautam acknowledged some shortcomings in the UGC regulations and said that efforts would be made to address them. However, he declined to comment on Agnihotri's resignation, saying a statement could be made after discussing the situation with him.

'Alankar Agnihotri's resignation a serious issue'

Reacting to the development, state Congress president Ajay Rai called Agnihotri's resignation a serious issue.

In an X post in Hindi, Rai wrote, "The lathi charge on Shankaracharya (Avimukteshwaranand) and his disciples, and the administrative pressure -- all this shows that under the BJP rule, the Constitution, faith and freedom of expression are all under threat. The truth must come out. The state will be governed by the Constitution, not by fear," he wrote.

Senior Samajwadi Party leader and former Bareilly MP Praveen Singh Aron also responded to the development.

"The circumstances that led a senior PCS officer to resign from his hard-earned and prestigious government service and position draw attention to the fact that this issue is not about caste or religion, but about the dignity of administrative officers and the Constitution," he said in a statement.

Regardless of the officer's community, Aron said, pressure or humiliation while they perform their duties was unacceptable.

"The true strength of governance lies in upholding the principles of righteous rule (Raj Dharma) and constitutional values. This is not a question of politics, but of the very soul of democracy," he added.
Annoyed, the chief minister shouted at the Congress workers, asking them to keep quiet, but they did not heed and The workers tried to interrupt Siddaramaiah even after he started his speech

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Tuesday lost his cool and shouted at some Youth Congress workers who started raising slogans in favour of deputy CM D K Shivakumar during a protest rally in the city.

IMAGE: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and deputy CM DK Shivakumar during the Save NREGA agitation and Lok Bhavan Chalo protest, organised by the KPCC in Bengaluru, January 27, 2026. Photograph: @siddaramaiah/ANI Photo

Siddaramaiah, along with Shivakumar, Congress general secretary Randeep Singh Surjewala, ministers, MPs and legislators took part in the protest condemning replacing Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) with a new rural employment scheme Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajivika Mission (Gramin) (VB-G RAM G).

Key Points "Who are those shouting 'DK, DK'," an angry Siddaramaiah asked the Congress leaders

The sloganeering grew louder and louder as he reached the podium to deliver his speech

The ruling Congress in Karnataka has been a witness to the power tussle between Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar and several party MLAs and MLCs have lobbied on behalf of the latter

As soon as the chief minister rose from his chair to address the gathering, Congress workers started shouting "DK, DK". The sloganeering grew louder and louder as he reached the podium to deliver his speech.

Annoyed, the chief minister shouted at the Congress workers, asking them to keep quiet, but they did not heed.

"Who are those shouting 'DK, DK'," an angry Siddaramaiah asked the Congress leaders.

The compere told the crowd, "The Youth Congress leaders should keep quiet. The chief minister is addressing. We know who you are. Listen to the CM silently."

They (workers) tried to interrupt Siddaramaiah even after he started his speech.

The ruling Congress in Karnataka has been a witness to the power tussle between Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar and several party MLAs and MLCs have lobbied on behalf of the Deputy Chief Minister.

Both Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar have said they would abide by the party high command's decision.

Siddaramaiah also said he has full faith that he would complete the five years term and that the high command is on his side.
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent's remarks come ahead of a high-level summit where India and the European Union are expected to formally announce the conclusion of negotiations on a comprehensive free trade agreement.

IMAGE: US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent attends the 56th annual World Economic Forum meeting in Davos, Switzerland, January 20, 2026. Photograph: Denis Balibouse/Reuters

Key Points Scott Bessent said the US has imposed punitive tariffs and pushed for decoupling from Russian energy, while European governments continue to benefit from what he described as gaps in the global oil supply chain

The US Treasury Secretary maintained that Washington has absorbed a larger share of the economic and political burden, while also working towards a negotiated settlement of the conflict

The comments come amid renewed friction over trade and energy policy across the Atlantic, with Washington expressing frustration over what it views as Europe's selective implementation of sanctions

United States Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has accused European nations of indirectly financing the Russia-Ukraine war by purchasing oil products refined in India using Russian crude, even as Washington has imposed tariffs on New Delhi over its energy ties with Moscow.

His remarks come ahead of a high-level summit where India and the European Union are expected to formally announce the conclusion of negotiations on a comprehensive free trade agreement.

Speaking to ABC News on Sunday, Bessent defended the Trump administration's decision to levy steep duties on Indian imports, arguing that Europe's continued energy-linked trade contradicts its stated security position.

"We have put 25 per cent tariffs on India for buying Russian oil. Guess what happened last week? The Europeans signed a trade deal with India," Scott Bessent said.

"And just to be clear again, the Russian oil goes into India, the refined products come out, and the Europeans buy the refined products. They are financing the war against themselves," he added.

Scott Bessent said European governments continue to benefit from Russian oil

Scott Bessent said the United States has imposed punitive tariffs and pushed for decoupling from Russian energy, while European governments continue to benefit from what he described as gaps in the global oil supply chain.

He maintained that Washington has absorbed a larger share of the economic and political burden, while also working towards a negotiated settlement of the conflict.

Under Trump's leadership, Scott Bessent said, "we will eventually end" the war.

The comments come amid renewed friction over trade and energy policy across the Atlantic, with Washington expressing frustration over what it views as Europe's selective implementation of sanctions.

The free trade agreement between India and the EU, first initiated in 2007, is expected to anchor a broader economic and strategic partnership as global trade dynamics shift.

The Trump administration has imposed tariffs of up to 50 per cent on Indian goods, including a 25 per cent levy directly linked to India's imports of Russian oil.

These measures were doubled in August, further escalating trade tensions between Washington and New Delhi.

However, Scott Bessent recently indicated that tariff relief could be considered.

Speaking to Politico on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum, he said Indian refinery purchases of Russian crude had declined significantly.

"Indian purchases by their refineries of Russian oil have collapsed. So that is a success. The tariffs are still on, 25 per cent tariffs for Russian oil are still on. I would imagine there is a path to take them off," Bessent said.
Statements made at the World Economic Forum in Davos reveal a change in Europes stance, with countries increasingly adopting policies of defiance similar to those of China, India, and Brazil

Trumpism is facing growing opposition on a global scale. The week at the World Economic Forum in Davos has strengthened the ranks of its opponents, with a shift among numerous European leaders  including figures from the far right, theoretically close to Trump  who have abandoned their usual conciliatory attitudes and are now opting for firm rejection in the face of his abuses and insults. In this way, albeit without formal coordination, they are joining the group of countries that refuse to yield, such as China, India, Canada, and Brazil.

This renewed momentum also stems from the fresh realization that an opposition capable of triggering market turbulence is an effective tool. Faced with European resolve and stock-market volatility, Trump withdrew within hours his threat to forcibly annex Greenland and his warning of new tariffs against European countries that defend Danish sovereignty over the territory.

Examples of the effectiveness of a firm stance combined with the ability to inflict economic damage were already evident. Last year, China mounted strong resistance to Trumps tariff offensives by activating measures restricting key exports of strategic raw materials, forcing the White House to back down and opt for a negotiated truce  timed, not coincidentally, to last until the U.S. midterm elections in November.

The Gulf countries, flush with vast financial resources that enable lucrative business prospects and angered by Israeli excesses that culminated in the bombing of Hamas leaders in Qatar, were also decisive in compelling Trump to rein in Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus actions in Gaza.

Throughout Trumps first year in office, Europeans opted for appeasement. Even where they possessed clear retaliatory capacity, such as in trade, they chose accommodation out of fear that the United States might abandon Europe on security matters, given the critical threat posed by Russia. But Trumps threats to annex Greenland prompted a clear shift in attitude, one that was evident last week in Davos.

A French soldier during NATO military exercises in Greenland on September 17. Guglielmo Mangiapane (REUTERS)

In the Swiss Alpine resort, for example, French President Emmanuel Macron said, in a passage that left no room for doubt: We do prefer respect to bullies; we do prefer science to potism; and we do prefer rule of law to brutality.

Perhaps even more interesting was the statement by Bart De Wever, the Belgian prime minister and leader of a party affiliated with the same far-right European group as Italys Giorgia Meloni: So many red lines are being crossed, he said. Being a happy vassal is one thing. Being a miserable slave is something else. If you back down you are going to lose your dignity and thats probably the most precious thing you can have in a democracy.

De Wevers remarks are representative of the growing distance between Trumpism and other figures in the heterogeneous world of the European far right, which is nominally allied with Trump. According to the National Security Strategy published last December, the United States seeks to strengthen this group as a way of undermining the European project.

Figures such as Marine Le Pen or Jordan Bardella from Frances National Rally party (RN), and Alice Weidel of Germanys AfD, have spoken out strongly against Trumpist positions, which are too toxic not to oppose, particularly when they touch on the core issue of sovereignty.

Likewise, politicians from non-extreme sectors who in the past, for various reasons, had been very reluctant to criticize the United States have taken clear steps. Donald Tusk, the prime minister of Poland  a country traditionally close to the United States and highly exposed to the Russian threat  posted on X: Europe cannot afford to be weak - neither against its enemies, nor ally. Appeasement means no results, only humiliation.

Ursula von der Leyen, long known for a very cautious approach toward Trump, called for a departure from Europes traditional caution in a speech in Strasbourg. Keir Starmer, prime minister of the United Kingdom  a country strongly allied with the United States, to the point, according to some analysts, of bordering on submission  was forced to describe as insulting and frankly appalling Trumps comments claiming that NATO allies stayed away from the front lines in Afghanistan, when in fact many countries suffered heavy casualties.

These shifts are changing the gravitational center of European politics vis-a-vis the United States, moving it closer to the position of the Spanish government, which over the past year has taken decisions unpopular in Washington  such as refusing to commit to military spending of 5% of GDP or recognizing the State of Palestine ahead of other European countries  and which last week, like others, rejected joining the Board of Peace promoted by Trump.

In Europes business world, too, there appears to be a sense that enough is enough. We were being threatened with tariffs when this was not an economic issue, said Anthony Gooch of the European Round Table for Industry (ERT). The secretary general of this influential lobby group, made up of major EU companies, argues that last summer the European private sector had already made an effort to accommodate U.S. concerns. It even backed the decision not to respond, in order to avoid escalating the trade war.

But last Monday, this organization issued a statement defending the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Denmark and demanding dialogue to find a solution. The text made it clear that if this solution failed, they would support necessary steps to defend the fundamental interests of Europe and EU Member States.

Georgina Wright, an analyst at the German Marshall Fund, believes that the change in the European approach to dealing with the U.S. government began at the start of the year and culminated in Davos. The expert believes that something changed in Brussels, but also even in the Baltic States and Poland, which, although highly dependent on the U.S. for security, no longer trust the U.S. as they once did.

Wright believes this change is not due solely to the threat of tariffs against countries that offered military assistance to Greenland, but rather to a combination of factors, with that threat marking the culmination of many others: the national security strategy published at the end of last year, which revealed how Trump views Europe; the announcement of the Board of Peace, seen in Europe as an attempt to create an alternative to the United Nations; all his threats to seize NATO territory; and also the indifference and lack of respect that many perceived in President Trumps comments about Europe.

All of this, she notes in a phone interview, led to a truly significant change in Brussels. In the EU, which continues to advocate diplomacy and negotiation  since, after all, the United States remains an ally with whom cooperation is necessary  there is nonetheless a growing conviction that Europe must be much better prepared. We cannot afford to be caught off guard, she sums up. And this shift, she adds, is here to stay.

With this turn, Europe is giving greater substance to the still-nebulous opposition to Trumpism. Within this loosely organized space, another traditional U.S. ally holds a prominent place: Canada.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney during his speech at the Davos Forum last Tuesday. Denis Balibouse (REUTERS)

Canadas prime minister, Mark Carney, delivered a speech in Davos that drew a standing ovation, in which he urged countries that had benefited in the past from the U.S.-led order to recognize that this order has come to an end. Carney called on them to embrace a strategy of diversification, to value strength as well as the strength of values, and to build flexible coalitions among countries that share objectives and do not wish to be subjected to the imperial impulses of others.

As part of this process, Ottawa has signed a new trade agreement with China. On Saturday, Trump moved to punish what he saw as the audacity of both the speech and the trade move by threatening 100% tariffs on all Canadian exports, after having criticized Carney in his own Davos address.

The episode highlights the extent to which Trumps U.S. policy is blowing up traditional alliances and pushing former allies toward an urgent diversification that also entails closer ties with its great rival, China.

This same pattern has been taking shape through Indias maneuvers. Hit by a barrage of Trump-imposed tariffs justified, among other reasons, by its purchases of Russian crude  an action difficult to reconcile with an otherwise generally soft U.S. policy toward Russia  India has been pushed to rethink its relationship with China. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid a highly significant visit to Beijing last summer, and his government is considering steps such as once again allowing Chinese companies to participate in public procurement, according to Reuters.

And it is precisely India and the EU that are close to signing a free trade agreement, which would be yet another significant step in that direction for the European bloc, following recent deals with Mercosur, Indonesia, and Mexico. This is, of course, one of the countermeasures to Trumps protectionist offensive.

Brazil, the largest member of Mercosur, is another prominent representative of the global opposition to Trump. The U.S. president hit the country with a barrage of tariffs in an attempt to undermine its institutions and protect his ally, Jair Bolsonaro, Brazils former president. Brazil did not back down, and Bolsonaro is now in jail. When asked about Bolsonaros arrest, Trump said it was a shame. Asked if he wanted to add anything further, he declined.

This emerging opposition is not a coordinated force. In Europes case, the future path is far from clear. The United States is an extraordinary military, technological, and economic power capable of inflicting considerable damage and swaying opinions. But it is clear that the forces opposing Trumpism have taken a step forward, and that within this disorganized mass, new interactions may emerge, giving rise to new frameworks.

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Land acquisition for the project, covering 30.7 hectares, is expected to cost Rs 388 crore, a release from the Chief Minister's Office said

The Maharashtra Cabinet Infrastructure Committee on Tuesday cleared a 35-km Metro project to connect the Mumbai and Navi Mumbai international airports at a cost of more than Rs 22,000 crore.

IMAGE: A view of the Navi Mumbai airport. Photograph: ANI Photo

The corridor will have 20 stations, including six underground and 14 elevated stations. Land acquisition for the project, covering 30.7 hectares, is expected to cost Rs 388 crore, a release from the Chief Minister's Office said.

The infrastructure committee, a high-powered ministerial body, approved the 35-km Metro Line 8 project, estimated to cost Rs 22,862 crore.

Key Points The infrastructure committee, a high-powered ministerial body, approved the 35-km Metro Line 8 project, estimated to cost Rs 22,862 crore

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis directed that all land acquisition and approvals for the Metro project -- from Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport to Navi Mumbai International Airport -- be done within six months

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis directed that all land acquisition and approvals for the Metro project -- from Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport to Navi Mumbai International Airport -- be done within six months, and the construction completed within three years of the approvals.

Of the total 35-km Metro line, 9.25 km will be underground -- from Mumbai Airport Terminal 2 to Ghatkopar East -- and 24.63 km will be an elevated section, stretching from Ghatkopar West to Navi Mumbai Airport Terminal 2.

Fadnavis also instructed departments concerned to speed up the extension of the Samruddhi Expressway on Nagpur-Gondia and Bhandara-Gadchiroli routes and ensure that projects do not get delayed.

In view of the upcoming Kumbh Mela, the committee also approved the Nashik city ring road project, spanning 66.15 km, at a cost of Rs 3,954 crore.

The panel also cleared the upgradation of the 85.76-km Navegaon More-Konsari-Mulchera-Hedri-Surjagad highway in Gadchiroli district into a four-lane cement concrete road to facilitate mineral transportation.
The Gujarat ATS has arrested a 22-year-old tailor, Faizan Shaikh, accused of being highly radicalised and planning targeted killings in Uttar Pradesh for perceived insults to Prophet Muhammad. He allegedly operated as a 'lone wolf' and had connections to terror groups like Jaish-e-Mohammed and Al Qaeda.

The Gujarat ATS has arrested a 22-year-old highly-radicalised tailor who allegedly operated like a "lone wolf" and planned to carry out targeted killings of some individuals in Uttar Pradesh for 'insulting' Prophet Mohammed, officials said on Tuesday.

IMAGE: Faizan Shaikh, the suspected lone wolf who has been arrested by the Gujarat ATS.



The ATS seized a pistol and six live cartridges from the accused, Faizan Shaikh, on Sunday. Originally from Dundawala in the Rampur district of UP, he was staying at Charpul in the Navsari district, Gujarat.

Key Points Originally from UP, Faizan Shaikh was staying in Navsari, Gujarat

Conspired to killed those who insulted Prophet Mohammed

Faizan bought pistol and ammunition to carry out killings

"He operated like a lone wolf. Whenever he found someone passing remarks against the Prophet, he would conspire with people connected to his group to kill that person," Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) DIG Sunil Joshi told reporters.

A primary investigation showed that Shaikh and the wanted accused Mohammed Abu Bakar planned to strike terror in a specific community. The conspiracy involves inciting people for an armed rebellion and Jihad to separate Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh from the Union of India, Joshi said.

"After being radicalised by ideologies of the Jaish-e-Mohammed and Al Qaeda terror groups, Shaikh had illegally procured a pistol and ammunition to execute killings of a selected group of individuals to spread terror and fear," Joshi told reporters.

Conspiracy to wage war

The seizure of 29 pages containing "suspicious literature", containing Arabic/Urdu text, and photos, revealed highly objectionable content inciting jihad and attracting young people to work for proscribed organisations like Al Qaeda, he said.

Prima facie, Shaikh and Abu Bakar had conspired to wage a war against the Government of India and incite violence.

"The accused (Shaikh) told interrogators that he had been in contact with Abu Bakar for the last 6-7 months via WhatsApp, Instagram, and Telegram. About three months ago, he had joined a group via his Instagram ID 'al.faizangaza," said the DIG.

Followed Masood and JeM

In this group, photos and names of individuals who allegedly insulted the Prophet were circulated with the instigation to kill them.

"Faizan Shaikh forwarded this to others. Both Faizan and Abu Bakar followed Maulana Masood Azhar and the banned outfit JeM on Instagram. They watched and uploaded Jihadi videos of Mufti Abdul Rauf Asgar on the social media platform," Joshi added.

The ATS claimed that Shaikh "confessed" to having purchased the pistol and cartridges six months ago from an unidentified person in Uttar Pradesh.

He intended to identify and carry out targeted killings of those individuals who he believed had insulted the Prophet, the ATS officer said.

Explaining the sequence of events that culminated in Shaikh's arrest, Joshi said the ATS had received an intelligence input that the accused had been planning to gun down certain well-known youths in Uttar Pradesh with the intention to spread terror.

Suspicious Insta handle uncovered

A technical analysis led the anti-terror agency to a suspicious Instagram profile used by Shaikh, "al.faizangaza", and further covert inquiry confirmed the suspect lived in the identified area, Charpul.

The contents of his mobile phone include inflammatory literature supporting the ideology of Jaish-e-Mohammed and Al-Qaeda, a photograph depicting the Red Fort with a black Islamic flag replacing the tricolour, with "Al Faizan Choudhary" written in English at the bottom, according to ATS.

A map of the Indian subcontinent where the area of India, excluding Kashmir, is shown in black with Arabic text, and Kashmir depicted with the flag of so-called "Azad Kashmir," among others.

His mobile phone also contained materials stating that he has "photos of those who insulted the Prophet", and they will die a "dog's death."

Inflammatory videos and audio files found

"Other materials include a world map with a black Islamic flag over the globe, Arabic/Urdu text, and 'Hizb ut-Tahrir' written in English, photos of various individuals with their faces circled, marking them as targets and chats with 'Mohammed Abu Bakar'.

"Inflammatory videos of terrorist Farhatullah Ghori, propaganda videos from the Jaish-e-Mohammed media cell, and audio files of radical speeches in Urdu were also found," the ATS added.

Shaikh has been booked under relevant sections of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, and the Arms Act. Further investigation is underway.
At Srinagar airport, all 58 scheduled flights, including 29 arrivals and 29 departures, were cancelled -- leaving hundreds of tourists stranded. Authorities said continuous snowfall rendered the runway unsafe for operations

The dreamy, snow-clad Valley landscape was marred by severe disruption of traffic and air services on Tuesday with the closure of Jammu-Srinagar highway and cancellation of all flights at Srinagar airport in the wake of heavy snowfall in the region, interrupting emergency services and movement of armed forces, while rescue and road clearing operations raged on.

IMAGE: The 118 Road Construction Company of the 35 Border Roads Task Force, under Project Sampark of the Border Roads Organisation (BRO), conducts a high-altitude rescue and road restoration operation at Chatergala Pass along the BhaderwahChatergala axis in Jammu and Kashmir, January 27, 2026. Photograph: ANI Photo

At Srinagar airport, all 58 scheduled flights, including 29 arrivals and 29 departures, were cancelled -- leaving hundreds of tourists stranded. Authorities said continuous snowfall rendered the runway unsafe for operations.

Key Points While the Valley, including Srinagar, recorded light to moderate snow, the higher reaches received heavy snowfall, with tourist resorts such as Sonamarg, Gulmarg and Pahalgam transformed into winter wonderlands

The Srinagar-Jammu national highway was closed for traffic in view of the accumulation of snow between Qazigund and Banihal stretch, officials said

The MeT office has predicted light to moderate rain or snow across most places, with the possibility of thunder or gusty winds in some areas. Light precipitation is also expected on Wednesday

While the Valley, including Srinagar, recorded light to moderate snow, the higher reaches received heavy snowfall, with tourist resorts such as Sonamarg, Gulmarg and Pahalgam transformed into winter wonderlands.

The Srinagar-Jammu national highway was closed for traffic in view of the accumulation of snow between Qazigund and Banihal stretch, officials said, adding that no traffic is being allowed to ply on the highway even as snow clearance operations were being undertaken.

Train services were also affected, with a few trains between Banihal and Budgam getting cancelled earlier in the day. However, officials said operations resumed in a few hours once the tracks were cleared.

IMAGE: A rescue and road restoration operation at Chatergala Pass. Photograph: ANI Photo

District administrations and the police have set up control rooms and helpline numbers to assist the public. In snowbound areas where roads remained blocked, police personnel were seen carrying patients on stretchers to ensure they reached medical facilities.

The MeT office has predicted light to moderate rain or snow across most places, with the possibility of thunder or gusty winds in some areas. Light precipitation is also expected on Wednesday.

The Jammu and Kashmir Union Territory Disaster Management Authority (JKUTDMA) has issued avalanche warnings for eleven districts including Ganderbal, Anantnag, Bandipora, Baramula, Kulgam, and Kupwara in Kashmir, and Doda, Kishtwar, Poonch, Rajouri, and Ramban in Jammu region. The warnings remained effective till Tuesday evening.

However, sense of duty triumphed over treacherous weather as a doctor in Shopian, braving the waist-deep snow, reached a hospital atop an excavator to attend his patients.

IMAGE: The 118 Road Construction Company of the 35 Border Roads Task Force, under Project Sampark of the Border Roads Organisation, successfully conducted a high-altitude rescue and road restoration operation at Chatergala Pass. Photograph: ANI Photo

Dr Basharat Pandit -- a resident of south Kashmir's Pulwama -- a gynaecologist posted at the Shopian district hospital set out from home at 7.30 on Tuesday to cover the nearly 55-km journey to work.

When his car was encumbered in snow, he first walked nearly 3 km before hopping onto an excavator in a desperate bid to reach the hospital.

"It was a sense of responsibility and duty... It was the sense of duty towards my patients, especially the pregnant women, who could otherwise have faced problems," he said.

The doctor said his department performed 10 surgeries during the day, and all the patients were stable.

In Doda district, 60 persons, including 40 soldiers of a Rashtriya Rifles unit, were rescued by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) after they were stranded in a snowbound area, a defence spokesperson said.

IMAGE: A view of the Ramban mountains covered in a blanket of snow. Photograph: ANI Photo

The BRO successfully carried out the high-altitude rescue and road restoration operation under Project Sampark at Chatergala Pass situated at an altitude of 10,500 ft in the Bhaderwah-Chatergala axis, he said in a statement.

He said the 118 Road Construction Company (RCC) of 35 Border Roads Task Force (BRTF) began the operation on January 24, a day after heavy snowfall which lasted for nearly 40 hours, clearing approximately 38 km of road covered under five to six feet of snow.

The route was opened by January 25 evening, enabling safe evacuation of 20 stranded civilians and 40 personnel of the 4 Rashtriya Rifles (RR), along with weapons and stores, the spokesman said.

The rescue mission was completed by early hours of January 26 with zero casualties, amid the challenging high-altitude terrain and extreme weather conditions, the statement said.

The operation was executed in close coordination with the Army, ensuring swift relief and the restoration of critical communication links in the region.

Meanwhile, the spokesman said the BRO also restored connectivity of strategic roads in the Kandi-Kotranka area of Rajouri district.

Following a spell of heavy snowfall in the Rajouri-Kandi-Budhal area on Tuesday, the BRO undertook sustained snow clearance operations to restore vital road connectivity in the region.

The snow cover, measuring up to three feet, had disrupted movement along a critical road stretch in the Pir Panjal region, cutting off the Kandi-Kotranka sub division from Rajouri town, the spokesman said, adding that the intense snowfall had disrupted military and civilian movement, including medical emergency services.

Despite the high operational risks, he said BRO personnel of the 110 RCC of 31 BRTF carried out sustained day and night operations, deploying specialised snow clearance equipment and manpower.

Clearance and widening operations continued relentlessly, and the road was further widened to facilitate safer and smoother movement. A total stretch of approximately 35 km was cleared and restored within 24 hours, the statement added.

Meanwhile, the Army carried out rescue operations at multiple locations in Jammu and Kashmir's Baramulla district to evacuate stranded vehicles in the wake of heavy snowfall in the region.

The 46 Rashtriya Rifles (RR) carried out rescue operations at multiple places in old and uptown areas of the north Kashmir district, helping vehicles stranded on snowbound roads, an official said.

He said the timely intervention by Army personnel ensured safe movement of commuters and prevented further inconvenience amid the inclement weather conditions.

Several vehicles were successfully evacuated from slippery and blocked road stretches, he said.
France, Germany and Italy are among the European nations that have migration and mobility partnerships with India

India and the European Union on Tuesday sealed a comprehensive pact on mobility that will open up new opportunities for Indian students and professionals in Europe.

IMAGE: Prime Minister Narendra Modi, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa witness the exchange of an MoU during the joint Press Statement, at Hyderabad House in New Delhi on Tuesday. Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal also present. Photograph: Rahul Singh/ANI Photo

The agreement was concluded at the India-EU summit talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa.

Key Points The agreement was concluded at the India-EU summit talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa

The two sides also launched a strategic agenda to provide for cooperation in a range of areas for the next five years

"This (pact) will open up new opportunities in the European Union for Indian students, workers, and professionals," Modi said after the summit.

"We have a long-standing and extensive cooperation in science and technology. Today, we have decided to further strengthen these important linkages," he said in his media statement.

France, Germany and Italy are among the European nations that have migration and mobility partnerships with India.

The two sides also launched a strategic agenda to provide for cooperation in a range of areas for the next five years.

"In a complex global environment, this agenda will provide clear direction, advance our shared prosperity, accelerate innovation, strengthen security cooperation, and deepen people-to-people ties," the prime minister said.

At a media briefing, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri elaborated on the importance of the mobility pact.

"This is the first such mobility-related agreement that we are concluding at EU level. For the EU, this is the first with any partner," he said.

The foreign secretary said the pact "will facilitate and streamline safe, regular migration, support skill development, and ease the movement of highly skilled workers, students, researchers and seasonal workers".

A joint statement said the leaders highlighted that education and people-to-people ties have emerged as vital enablers of the India-EU strategic partnership.

"They welcomed the conclusion of the India-EU comprehensive framework of cooperation on mobility, in line with the national competences of EU member states and India and domestic legislation of both parties," it said.

The leaders also commended the launch of the first pilot European Legal Gateway office, as a one-stop hub to provide information and support the movement of workers, starting with the information and communications technology (ICT) sector.

"They reaffirmed their commitment to enhancing collaboration on safe, regular and orderly migration, including through circular pathways, for highly skilled workers, students, researchers, and seasonal workers in shortage occupations, whilst also strengthening cooperation on countering irregular migration," the statement noted.

Aspiring to deepen educational and academic collaboration, the two sides agreed to launch an education and skills dialogue to promote skills development, facilitate recognition of qualifications and learning periods abroad, and support systemic collaboration in higher and vocational education, it said.
Without naming either the US or Trump, Canada's Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Tim Hodgson said, 'The hegemons of the world have decided that's not the way the world's going to work anymore. What you just did with the EU signing -- the mother of all deals -- was a perfect example of how to say no'.'

In a veiled attack on US President Donald Trump, Canada's Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Tim Hodgson on Tuesday said India's free trade agreement with the European Union is a "perfect" answer to global hegemons that use tariffs and economic integration as tools of coercion.

IMAGE: EU trade commissioner Maros Sefcovic and Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal exchange documents on the conclusion of India-EU FTA as Prime Minister Narendra Modi, President of EU Commission Ursula von der Leyen and President of EU Council Antonio Costa look on, New Delhi, January 27, 2026. Photograph: Courtesy, MEA India

Stating that Canada is keen to boost energy exports to India in a bid to diversify its customer base and cut dependence on supply to the United States, he said Ottawa will "never use our energy for torture".

Speaking at India Energy Week 2026, Hodgson said the global economy was undergoing a sharp rupture rather than a gradual transition, as major powers move away from a rules-based, multilateral trading system towards a more mercantilist approach.

Key Points Canadian minister doesn't name Trump or US

Says what is happening in the world is a rupture

Middle powers should work together to resist, Hodgson said

"What is happening in the world today is not a gradual economic transition. It is a rupture," Hodgson said. "The hegemons of the world have decided the rules-based order is no longer how the world will work."

Without naming either the US or Trump, he said, "The hegemons of the world have decided that's not the way the world's going to work anymore."

'Sends a strong signal in favour of free trade'

Against this backdrop, he said India's decision to conclude the India-EU trade deal -- described by Prime Minister Narendra Modi as the 'mother of all deals' -- sends a strong signal in favour of free trade and trusted partnerships.

"What you just did with the EU signing -- the mother of all deals -- was a perfect example of how to say no," he said.

"We're not going to live in a world where the strongest put tariffs on everyone else. We're going to live in a world where we believe in free trade, where we believe in trusted relationships.

Referring to the stern message the Canadian prime minister sent out from Davos last week, he said, those were some tough words but truth.

'Hegemons have decided world will work in mercantilist way'

"He spoke what is actually happening in the world today. And what is happening in the world today is not a gradual economic transition. It is a rupture. It is a rupture in the way the global trading system works," he said.

"The rules-based order that we all have been building our economies around, one that was based on multilateralism, one that was based on free trade trade."

Without taking any names, he went on to state that "the hegemons of the world have decided that's not the way the world's going to work anymore.

"They've decided the world will work in a much more mercantilist way."

Trump is using tariffs on goods coming into US to drive a hard bargain for trade and other deals. He has threatened tariffs on nations that oppose his plans like the takeover of Greenland.

The Canadian minister said he doesn't need to "tell India what it means when people use their economic integration with your country for coercion".

"I don't need to tell you what it means when hegemons use tariffs as leverage," he said.

'Exporting 98pc of Canada's energy to US a blunder'

"I'm here because, like you, the way to resist that change is to build multilateral relationships and to double down on diversification of supplies."

Hodgson said that exporting 98 per cent of Canada's energy to the United States was a "strategic blunder", and saw an opportunity to work with India.

Energy security, he said, has moved to the centre of global geopolitics, making diversification of supply chains a strategic priority for countries like India and Canada.

And the way to resist the change is to build multilateral relationships and to double down on diversification of supplies, he said.

Highlighting India as the fastest-growing source of global energy demand, Hodgson said Canada is keen to deepen cooperation across LNG, LPG, oil, uranium and critical minerals.

'We are going to trade with everyone'

He noted that Canada holds the world's largest uranium reserves and is expanding export infrastructure to its west coast to reduce dependence on a single market.

Drawing lessons from Europe's experience, he said reliance on a single natural gas supplier proved to be a strategic mistake. "That can never happen again," he said.

"What I hear when I visit places like London or Germany, I hear very clearly 'hey, we made a mistake. We relied on one supplier for natural gas. And that was a very strategic blunder. We can never let that happen again. We need to diversify our supply," he said.

Stating that Canada used to provide 98 per cent of its energy to one customer, the minister said his country is now committed to diversifying supply and sees an opportunity to work with India.

"We believe the world we want to live in is one where we're going to trade with everyone. We will never use our energy for torture," he said. "We believe middle powers should work together to resist."
India's Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Parvathaneni Harish, delivered a sharp response to comments made by Pakistan's Ambassador to the UN, Asim Iftikhar Ahmad.

IMAGE: Ambassador Parvathaneni Harish, India's Permanent Representative to the UN, delivers statement at the UN Security Council. Photograph: @IndiaUNNewYork/X

Key Points India stated that Pakistan-backed terrorists killed 26 civilians in April 2025, prompting measured Indian retaliation

India said Pakistan, an elected member of the Security Council, has a single-point agenda -- to harm India and its people

India rejected normalising terrorism and condemned Pakistan's use of terror as state policy

In a strongly-worded retort in the United Nations Security Council, India said it is not normal to tolerate Pakistan's continued use of terrorism as an instrument of state policy, as New Delhi hit back at Islamabad's envoy for advancing a "false and self-serving" account of Operation Sindoor.

India's Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Parvathaneni Harish, delivered a sharp response to comments made by Pakistan's Ambassador to the UN, Asim Iftikhar Ahmad.

Ahmad spoke about Operation Sindoor, Jammu and Kashmir and the Indus Waters Treaty in his remarks at the UN Security Council open debate on Monday on 'Reaffirming International Rule of Law: Pathways to Reinvigorating Peace, Justice, and Multilateralism.'

Harish said Pakistan, an elected member of the Security Council, has a single-point agenda -- to harm India and its people.

With Ahmad telling the Council that Pakistan's response to Operation Sindoor "established that there can be no 'new normal' based on coercion or impunity", Delhi slammed Islamabad, with Harish asserting that terrorism can never be normalised as Pakistan wishes to do.

"We have heard talk from the Representative of Pakistan about the new normal. Let me reiterate again that terrorism can never be normalised as Pakistan wishes to do. It is not normal to tolerate Pakistan's continued use of terrorism as an instrument of state policy," Harish said, adding that India will do whatever is required to protect and ensure the safety and security of its citizens.

"This hallowed chamber cannot become a forum for Pakistan to legitimise terrorism," Harish said.

Harish said Pakistan's envoy "advanced a false and self-serving account" of Operation Sindoor, launched by India in May last year, targeting terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir in retaliation for the April 22 Pahalgam attack that killed 26 civilians.

"The facts on this matter are clear. Pakistan-sponsored terrorists killed 26 innocent civilians in a brutal attack in Pahalagam in April 2025. This august body itself called for holding the perpetrators, organisers, financiers and sponsors of this reprehensible act of terrorism accountable and brought to justice. That is exactly what we did," Harish said.

Harish's reference was to the press statement issued by the Security Council in April last year.

In the statement in which the 15-nation body had condemned in the strongest terms the terrorist attack in Pahalgam and had "underlined the need to hold perpetrators, organisers, financiers and sponsors of this reprehensible act of terrorism accountable and bring them to justice", with the Council stressing that those responsible for these killings should be held accountable.

Harish underscored that India's actions in Operation Sindoor were measured, non-escalatory, and responsible, and focused on dismantling the terrorist infrastructure and disabling terrorists.

"Till May 9, Pakistan was threatening more attacks on India. But on May 10, the Pakistani military called our military directly and pleaded for a cessation to the fighting," he said, adding that the destruction caused to multiple Pakistani airbases by the Indian operation, including images of destroyed runways and burnt-out hangars, is in the public domain.

Hitting out strongly at Pakistan for raising the issue of Jammu and Kashmir, Harish said Pakistan has no locus standi to comment on matters that are internal to India.

"The Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir has been, is, and will always remain an integral and inalienable part of India," he said.

On the Indus Waters Treaty, Harish said India had entered into the agreement 65 years ago in good faith, in a spirit of goodwill and friendship.

"Throughout these six and a half decades, Pakistan has violated the spirit of the Treaty by inflicting three wars and thousands of terror attacks on India. Thousands of Indian lives have been lost in Pakistan-sponsored terror attacks," he said.

In the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack, Harish said India was "compelled to finally announce that the Treaty will be held in abeyance until Pakistan, a global epicentre of terror, credibly and irrevocably ends its support for cross-border and all other forms of terrorism."

Further, India asserted that Pakistan is well advised to introspect about the rule of law.

"It could start by asking itself how it has let its armed forces engineer a constitutional coup through the 27th amendment and giving life-time immunity to its Chief of Defence Forces," a reference to the 27th Constitutional Amendment passed in November last year under Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif that gives Pakistan's Field Marshal Asim Munir lifelong immunity from any legal prosecution.
The government presented an audit report of 23 deaths from the current gastroenteritis epidemic in Bhagirathpura before the bench, suggesting that 16 of these fatalities may have been linked to the outbreak of vomiting and diarrhoea caused by contaminated drinking water

The Madhya Pradesh government on Tuesday told the MP High Court that the deaths of 16 people in Indore's Bhagirathpura area was possibly linked to a month-long outbreak of vomiting and diarrhoea caused by contaminated drinking water.

IMAGE: Local residents collect water from a supply line in Indore, Madhya Pradesh. Photograph: ANI Photo

The outbreak in Bhagirathpura began late December, and local residents have claimed at least 28 lives so far.

Key Points The report, prepared by a committee of five experts, stated that the deaths of four people in Bhagirathpura were unrelated to the outbreak, while no conclusion could be reached regarding the cause of death of three other people in the area

The HC expressed concern over the Bhagirathpura case, stating that the situation was "alarming," and noted that cases of people falling ill due to contaminated drinking water have also been reported in Mhow, near Indore

During the arguments in the HC, Ajay Bagadia, the lawyer representing one of the petitioners, questioned the report and claimed that the state government had not conducted an impartial investigation into the deaths of people

A division bench of Justices Vijay Kumar Shukla and Alok Awasthi is hearing two separate public interest litigations (PILs) filed simultaneously regarding the deaths of several people in Bhagirathpura due to the consumption of contaminated water.

The state government presented an audit report of 23 deaths from the current gastroenteritis epidemic in Bhagirathpura before the bench, suggesting that 16 of these fatalities may have been linked to the outbreak of vomiting and diarrhoea caused by contaminated drinking water.

The report, prepared by a committee of five experts from the city's Government Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Medical College, stated that the deaths of four people in Bhagirathpura were unrelated to the outbreak, while no conclusion could be reached regarding the cause of death of three other people in the area.

During the hearing, the high court sought to know from the state government the scientific basis behind its report.

The division bench also expressed surprise at the state government's use of the term "verbal autopsy" in relation to the report, sarcastically stating that it had heard the term for the first time.

The HC expressed concern over the Bhagirathpura case, stating that the situation was "alarming," and noted that cases of people falling ill due to contaminated drinking water have also been reported in Mhow, near Indore.

Another lawyer for the petitioners argued in the HC that the families of those in Bhagirathpura whose deaths have been confirmed to have been caused due to contaminated drinking water should be given Rs 10 lakh each in compensation, instead of Rs 2 lakh.

Officials stated that the administration has provided Rs 2 lakh each in compensation to the families of more than 20 people who died after the outbreak of vomiting and diarrhoea in Bhagirathpura.

Officials claim that some of these deaths were due to other illnesses and causes, but financial assistance is being provided to all the deceased's families on humanitarian grounds.

During the arguments in the HC, Ajay Bagadia, the lawyer representing one of the petitioners, questioned the report and claimed that the state government had not conducted an impartial investigation into the deaths of people during the outbreak in Bhagirathpura.

He described the report as vague, stating that the document was full of uncertainties and mysteries, and that the state government was deliberately concealing facts from the court to hide the true nature of the disaster.

During the arguments, a state government lawyer said a detailed report would be presented to the court regarding the causes of death in Bhagirathpura, and that the petitioners' lawyers could submit their response.

The state government also stated that it was complying with all the directives of the high court in the Bhagirathpura case.

The state government also presented a status report to the court in this matter.

According to reports, a total of 454 patients were admitted to local hospitals during the vomiting and diarrhea outbreak, of whom 441 have been discharged after treatment, and 11 are currently hospitalised.

According to officials, following the vomiting and diarrhoea outbreak in Bhagirathapura, contaminated water was found in 51 tube wells in the area, and water testing reports revealed the presence of E coli bacteria.

Officials said the bacteria infected a large number of people in the area.

They said that due to a leak in the municipal drinking water pipeline in Bhagirathapura, sewage from a toilet was also mixed in the water.
Madras high court quashes the order to release Jana Nayagan, staying the films release following legal objections and pending hearings.

IMAGE: A still from Vijay's Jana Nayagan. Photograph: Screen grab/YouTube

Key Points The court stated that the single judge should have given time to CBFC for filing counter affidavit

The film is stated to be Vijay's last, ahead of his full-fledged political entry

The high court allowed the producer of Jana Nayagan to approach the single judge for early disposal of the case

The Madras high court on Tuesday set aside an order of a single judge which directed Central Board of Film Certification to grant censor certificate to top actor Vijay's Jana Nayagan.

High Court Issues Stay on Jana Nayagan Film Release

The First Bench comprising Chief Justice M M Shrivastava and Justice G Arul Murugan stated that the single judge, Justice P T Asha, should have given time to CBFC for filing counter affidavit.

The ruling virtually makes the fate of the film, originally slated for a Pongal release earlier this month, uncertain. The film is stated to be Vijay's last, ahead of his full-fledged political entry.

The high court allowed the producer of Jana Nayagan to approach the single judge for early disposal of the case.

Why HC Quashed the Release Order

It also stated that the single judge is at liberty to decide whether the decision taken to refer the matter to revising committee is correct or not.

The bench on January 20 reserved orders, on the appeal filed by the Central Board of Film Certification, against an order passed by Justice Asha, after hearing elaborate arguments from both sides.

Justice Asha on January 9 allowed the petition filed by M/s KVN Productions LLP, producer of the film Jana Nayagan and gave a direction to the CBFC to grant censor certificate forthwith.

What This Means for the Jana Nayagan Release Date

The judge had also quashed a communication dated January 5 of the Regional Officer, informing the producer of the film that based on a complaint, the chairperson of the Censor Board had referred the matter to the revising committee. However, on the same day, the First Bench stayed her order.

Originally on December 22, 2025 the producer received a communication from the Regional Officer from Chennai informing that the 5-member examining committee, which viewed the film had recommended for screening of the movie and issuance of censor certificate.

Thereafter, based on a complaint from one of the members of the examining committee, the chairperson had decided to put on hold the December 22 communication and referred the matter to the revising committee. This was communicated to the producer of the movie on January 5.
'Once demographic fear becomes campaign language, it legitimises social targeting.'

IMAGE: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma with Assam Bharatiya Janata Party President Dilip Saikia and senior BJP leaders inaugurate the 'Suggestions Survey Van' from the Veterinary College at Khanapara, in Guwahati, January 25, 2026. Photograph: ANI Photo

Eviction drives, demographic anxieties, identity rhetoric collide as Assam heads into a polarised assembly battle

As Assam prepares for Assembly elections later this year, a long-standing debate over land, migration and identity has hardened into one of the state's most divisive political narratives -- the framing of politics as a contest between 'indigenous' Assamese communities and Bengali-origin Muslims, commonly referred to as 'Miya' Muslims.

What was once treated as a social or administrative challenge has now moved decisively into the electoral arena, shaping government action, political messaging and grassroots mobilisation across several districts.

Evictions take centre stage

The flashpoint has been a renewed push to clear alleged encroachments from forest and government land, particularly in Upper Assam. Officials maintain the drives are routine and legally mandated.

"This has nothing to do with religion or elections," a senior district official said. "Encroachment is encroachment. The government cannot selectively enforce the law."

Opposition leaders and activists disagree. "If this were only about land records, you would see consistency and transparency," said a Guwahati-based rights activist. "Instead, enforcement spikes in an election year and disproportionately affects one community."

Demographic change fuels anxiety

Underlying the political rhetoric is a deeper demographic concern that has gained prominence in recent years. Successive census data and government submissions show a steady rise in the population of Bengali-speaking Muslims in several districts, particularly in lower and central Assam.

In districts such as Dhubri, Barpeta, Goalpara, Nagaon and Morigaon, Muslims now constitute a majority, while in others their growing numbers have significantly altered the demographic balance.

Organisations espousing indigenous causes argue that this shift has pushed indigenous communities -- Assamese-speaking Hindus, tribals and other groups -- into minority positions in these districts.

"This is the core fear driving politics today," said a political observer based in Guwahati. "For indigenous groups, the issue is not just migration but the perception of cultural and political displacement."

Sarma sharpens the pitch

Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has emerged as the most forceful political voice articulating these anxieties. In multiple public statements, he has linked demographic change to land pressure, illegal migration and political marginalisation of indigenous communities.

At public meetings, Sarma has repeatedly warned that his government would take an uncompromising stance on what it describes as encroachment and demographic imbalance.

In one such address, he said the Miya community would 'not be allowed to live in peace' if it continued what he described as illegal occupation of land -- remarks that drew sharp criticism from Opposition parties and civil rights groups.

A senior BJP functionary defended the chief minister's posture. "He is articulating what many indigenous people feel but were afraid to say," the leader said. "This is about protecting Assam's future."

From policy to polarisation

Beyond official action, the rhetoric has spilled into the public space. Student bodies and local organisations have issued warnings to alleged 'outsiders', demanding identity documents and, in some cases, asking them to leave certain areas.

"The danger is not just what the government does, but what others feel empowered to do," said the Upper Assam-based political observer. "Once demographic fear becomes campaign language, it legitimises social targeting."

The state government has distanced itself from vigilantism, but analysts note that the boundary between administrative enforcement and political messaging has become increasingly blurred.

The costs of hardening lines

Critics warn that demographic arguments, when framed along communal lines, risk deepening social divides. Legal experts point out that population change by itself cannot be the basis for collective suspicion or punitive action.

"Demography explains political anxiety, but it cannot justify erosion of Constitutional rights," said a Constitutional lawyer familiar with Assam's land disputes. "Selective enforcement will not survive judicial scrutiny."

There is also concern that aggressive rhetoric could backfire electorally. "This may consolidate one section, but it also consolidates the other," said a political scientist at a north east university. "Polarisation is a double-edged sword, it cuts both ways."

The 'Miya' response

Within the Miya community, the political climate has intensified a sense of siege. Activists say long-settled families are being clubbed together with recent migrants, erasing distinctions of citizenship and history.

"We are being reduced to a demographic problem," said a community activist from central Assam. "Our parents were born here, we speak Assamese, yet every election our loyalty is questioned."

What lies ahead

As campaigning intensifies, the 'Miya vs indigenous' framing is expected to remain central to the 2026 contest. For the ruling BJP, it is a powerful mobilisation tool rooted in demographic anxiety. For the Opposition, it has become a test case for constitutional values and social harmony.

"Assam has navigated identity crises before," said the political observer. "The danger is when demography becomes destiny -- and politics stops offering bridges."

As the state moves toward the polls, the choices made by its leadership may shape not just electoral outcomes, but the long-term cohesion of Assam's multi-ethnic society.

Key Points 'Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma is articulating what many indigenous people feel but were afraid to say. This is about protecting Assam's future.'

'Demography explains political anxiety, but it cannot justify erosion of Constitutional rights.'

'Our parents were born here, we speak Assamese, yet every election our loyalty is questioned.'

Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff
Alankar Agnihotri, a 2019-batch Provincial Civil Service officer, resigned from service citing deep disagreement with government policies, especially the new UGC regulations.

IMAGE: Former Bareilly City Magistrate Alankar Agnihotri sits on a protest outside the District Collectorate office in Bareilly. Photograph: ANI video grab

Key Points Alankar Agnihotri alleged that when he was at District Magistrate Avinash Singh's office on Monday night, he overheard a phone conversation on speaker mode in which a person allegedly told Singh, "The pandit has gone mad, keep him there the whole night."

Agnihotri said efforts were made to buy time before his resignation so that disciplinary action could be initiated against him

The UGC rules, introduced to stop caste-based discrimination in colleges and universities, ask institutions to set up special committees, helplines and monitoring teams to handle complaints, especially from SC, ST and OBC students

After the Uttar Pradesh government suspended Bareilly City Magistrate Alankar Agnihotri on charges of indiscipline following his resignation from service in protest against government policies, especially the new UGC rules, the latter on Tuesday sat on a dharna at the district magistrate's office, alleging a well-planned conspiracy against him.

Agnihotri, whose suspension triggered a major administrative and political controversy in the state, has been attached to the office of the Shamli district magistrate, according to an order issued on Monday night.

A 2019-batch Provincial Civil Service officer, Agnihotri tendered his resignation on Monday, citing deep disagreement with government policies, especially the new University Grants Commission (UGC) regulations, which, he claimed, could foment caste-based discontent and vitiate the academic environment.

His resignation has stoked a major political and administrative controversy in the state.

Agnihotri stepped up his protest

On Tuesday, Agnihotri stepped up his protest as he staged a sit-in outside the district magistrate's office with his supporters, raising slogans against the administration.

Despite police posting outside his official residence, Agnihotri and his supporters walked to the collectorate, alleging that a well-planned conspiracy had been hatched against him.

He also reiterated his claim that attempts were made to detain him at the district magistrate's residence on Monday night, an allegation which the district administration termed "baseless".

Agnihotri said he would approach the high court, and if required, would take the matter to the Supreme Court.

Disciplinary proceedings have been initiated against him

The police have now closed the main gate of the ADM compound in the city magistrate's residence.

Aghinotri sent his resignation e-mail to Uttar Pradesh Governor Anandiben Patel and Bareilly District Magistrate Avinash Singh on Monday, officials said.

According to his suspension order issued by special secretary Annapurna Garg on Monday night, Agnihotri was found prima facie guilty of indiscipline and was placed under suspension with immediate effect.

He has been attached to the office of the Shamli district magistrate, the order said.

Disciplinary proceedings have been initiated against Agnihotrei, with Bareilly divisional commissioner B S Chaudhary as the ex officio inquiry officer to probe the charges against him, it added.

It also said that a separate chargesheet will be issued as part of the department action and that Agnihotri will remain attached to the Shamli district magistrate's office during the pendency of the inquiry.

Agnihotri refers new UGC regulations as 'black law'

In his resignation statement, Agnihotri described the new UGC regulations as a "black law".

He alleged that the rules were harming the academic atmosphere in colleges and universities and demanded their immediate withdrawal.

The UGC regulations published on January 13 to curb caste-based discrimination in higher educational institutions mandate the setting up of special committees, helplines and monitoring teams to address complaints, particularly from SC, ST and OBC students.

In a strongly worded and emotional statement accompanying his resignation, Agnihotri also levelled serious allegations against the system and attacked the Centre on issues including the alleged insult of the Brahmin community and an incident related to the recent Magh Mela in Prayagraj.

He also called upon the elected representatives from the Brahmin community at the Centre and the state to resign from their posts and stand with the community, claiming that the general category was increasingly distancing itself from both governments.
"Cooperation between Egypt and China is no longer a matter of choice; it has become indispensable," said Abdel-Badie, head of the Egyptian Antiquities Sector at the Supreme Council of Antiquities. "Both countries are heirs to great ancient civilizations, which makes their continued rapprochement not only natural but necessary in light of the current global situation." LUXOR, Egypt, Jan. 26 (Xinhua) -- A joint archaeological team comprising Egyptian and Chinese experts has recently uncovered a series of significant findings at the Montu Temple precinct in the Karnak Temple Complex in Luxor, a city renowned for its historic monuments in southern Egypt. Among these discoveries are key revelations that fill critical gaps in the study of ancient Egyptian history. The findings are the latest testament to the deepening collaboration between China and Egypt, two ancient civilizations, in the modern era. A SACRED LAKE UNSEEN BEFORE "This represents a dialogue based on mutual respect and understanding between two of the world's oldest civilizations," said Dong Xinlin, deputy director of the Institute of Archaeology at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS), during a press conference on the discoveries held Saturday near the excavation site by the Egyptian-Chinese joint archaeological team. According to the archaeologists, dozens of cow jaw remains and reused stone blocks associated with kings and the divine adoratrice (a high-ranking female religious official in ancient Egypt) from the Late Period of Ancient Egypt (747-332 BC) were uncovered during the recent excavation. Among the discoveries, the most significant is the previously unknown sacred lake within the Montu Temple enclosure, located to the west of the Maat Temple, which was dedicated to Maat, the ancient Egyptian goddess of harmony, justice and truth. Covering more than 50 square meters, the lake is an ancient man-made water reservoir with a distinct structure and is well-preserved. According to archaeologists from the joint mission, the lake had not been recorded in earlier archaeological archives. "This sacred lake not only sheds light on water ritual practices at the Montu Temple but also provides important architectural evidence linking it to the Maat Temple," said Jia Xiaobing, the Chinese head of the project and a scholar from the CASS. "It opens up new avenues for further research into ancient Egyptian religious life." Beyond the sacred lake, excavations in the Osirian chapel area uncovered three chapels dedicated to the god Osiris, Jia said, adding that archaeologists also recovered dozens of Osiris statuettes of varying sizes and materials, along with fragments linked to the divine adoratrice. These truly rare discoveries resulted from years of hard work by the joint archaeological team, said Hend Aly, senior inspector at the Montu Temple, who joined the mission in 2019. A JOURNEY OF FRUITFUL RESULTS The recent findings are just a part of the fruitful results from eight years of the Egyptian-Chinese joint archaeological mission, which was formed in 2018 by the Institute of Archaeology of the CASS and Egypt's Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities. Since its founding, this collaborative team has been conducting excavations and research at the Montu Temple, making a series of important discoveries that have gradually uncovered the secrets of this ancient Egyptian site. For the Chinese and Egyptian archaeologists involved, the most significant gain goes beyond the archaeological finds themselves. It lies in the mutual understanding and respect for each other's cultures that has grown through their cooperation. "Through this joint mission, we have developed a deeper understanding of Egypt, while our Egyptian colleagues have come to admire the brilliance of ancient Chinese civilization. We share a deep mutual appreciation," said Huang Fucheng, an archaeologist from the Zhengzhou municipal institute of cultural heritage and archaeology in Henan Province. According to the team members, the collaboration initially faced a period of adjustment. After patient discussions and communication, both sides eventually established a smooth and efficient working process. "Chinese archaeologists have a strong foundation in the field, with their own set of principles, methods and academic traditions," Jia said, adding that the methods were embraced by Egyptian colleagues. "It can be said that the collaboration between the members of our joint archaeological team is a perfect example of the exchange and mutual learning between Chinese and Egyptian civilizations," said Ahmed Hassan, an Egyptian member of the joint mission. A FUTURE WITH VAST POTENTIAL "Excavation is not just about uncovering stones and artifacts," Aly said. "It is about building relationships, fostering friendship and bridging civilizations, both past and present." Today, Chinese archaeologists are not only at the Montu Temple but are also actively engaged in sites across Egypt, including Luxor, Cairo and Alexandria. For Mohamed Abdel-Badie, head of the Egyptian Antiquities Sector at the Supreme Council of Antiquities, the success of the Egyptian-Chinese archaeological collaboration reflects the vast potential for contemporary cooperation between the two great civilizations. "Cooperation between Egypt and China is no longer a matter of choice; it has become indispensable," Abdel-Badie said. "Both countries are heirs to great ancient civilizations, which makes their continued rapprochement not only natural but necessary in light of the current global situation." Today, cultural exchanges between China and Egypt have expanded into various fields, and the growing bonds between the two nations are laying a solid foundation for broader cooperation, ensuring that the ancient civilizational partnership continues to thrive. "Through exchanges such as the joint archaeological mission, China is demonstrating its dedication to mutual respect and learning with other civilizations," Aly noted. "Mutual appreciation is a key reason that binds us together." In November of last year, the Grand Egyptian Museum opened after two decades of construction. In a congratulatory message to Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi, Chinese President Xi Jinping said that it is encouraging to see the two ancient civilizations reaching out to each other, with the two peoples growing ever closer through mutual understanding and affinity. "Both China and Egypt are ancient civilizations with a rich history. Our ancestors created brilliant cultures in the past, and today, through mutual cooperation, we are sure to achieve even greater development milestones," Huang said. "A new chapter of friendship and cooperation between our two nations has only just begun." (Video reporters: Yang Yiran, Dong Xiuzhu, Yao Bing, Zhang Jian, Ma Xiaocheng, Xin Mengchen, Adel Ahmed, Marwa Yahya; video editors: Wang Houyuan, Zhu Cong)
The remains of the religious leader, who was killed in his first battle as an ELN guerrilla, were missing for 60 years. During this period of time, his memory and legacy have been invoked either to justify the armed struggle in the country, or to criticize it

One of the biggest and longest-standing questions surrounding the internal conflict in Colombia has begun to find its answer. On Friday, January 23  just over three weeks before the 60th anniversary of the death in combat of Camilo Torres Restrepo, a priest and guerilla  a group of forensic experts confirmed the discovery and identification of his remains. These had been missing since the moment of his death in San Vicente de Chucuri, in the department of Santander, on February 15, 1966.

As a result of this discovery, the story of one of the most symbolic figures of the Latin American armed struggle is beginning to come to a close.

Before becoming a symbol of the armed struggle, Camilo Torres was a priest. In the early-1960s, he was deeply involved in the intellectual and social life of Bogotas elite. He baptized Rodrigo Garcia Barcha, the eldest son of Gabriel Garcia Marquez and Mercedes Barcha, when the writer was still a young journalist who belonged to the university cliques of the capital. Torres was also chosen by Hernando Santos Castillo  then-director of the Colombian newspaper El Tiempo  and his wife, Helena Calderon, to baptize their son Francisco Pacho Santos. Within that same family setting, he officiated other sacraments: former Colombian president Juan Manuel Santos served as his altar boy at the age of 12.

The memory of Camilo Torres has always been present in the discourse of the National Liberation Army (ELN). In fact, in 1987, the guerrilla group changed its name to the Camilista Union-National Liberation Army. And, on several occasions, the armed groups peace negotiators have conditioned any sitdowns with the Colombian government on the discovery of the remains of the man they consider to be their greatest ideological figure.

The ELNs appropriation of Torress legacy is quite debatable. On January 23, Walter Joe Broderick  the priests biographer  said on Caracol Radio: Those four or five old men from the ELN keep up that peace story because thats how they make a living but theyre no longer an army, nor a liberation army, nor a national army.

President Gustavo Petro has made a similar criticism. Amid his insistence on achieving peace with the ELN, he has repeatedly invoked the figure of the priest as an example for the current guerrilla leaders. He accuses them of having strayed from the legacy of the priest they themselves have turned into a legend.

The general director of the Search Unit for Missing Persons, Luz Janeth Forero, announces the discovery of Camilo Torres' remains this Friday in Bogota. Carlos Ortega (EFE)

Camilo Torres is one of the most representative historical figures of the Colombian internal conflict. Born into an aristocratic Bogota family, he entered a seminary in his youth. His religious path drew inspiration from both the reforms being promoted by the Second Vatican Council within the Catholic Church, as well as the 1959 triumph of the Cuban Revolution led by Fidel Castro. This led him to embrace a leftist ideology that fought for social justice.

After studying Sociology at the University of Leuven in Belgium, he returned to Colombia and became a prominent figure in national public life. He underwent a process of radicalization, becoming convinced that armed struggle was the only way to achieve social change. Thus, in 1965, he joined the ELN. Torres was then killed in his first battle, on February 15, 1966.

The priests turning point as a political actor occurred in the early-1960s, at the National University of Colombia. After returning from Belgium, he was appointed university chaplain and became a prominent figure in debates on poverty, inequality and social reform. In 1959, along with Orlando Fals Borda, he co-founded the Faculty of Sociology at the National University, considered the first of its kind in Latin America. The project received support from American institutions, such as the Rockefeller Foundation, amidst strong international interest in studying the social transformations in the region following the triumph of the Cuban Revolution.

Before resorting to armed struggle, he promoted forms of community organization as part of his commitment to grassroots social transformation. He was one of the driving forces behind community action boards, which were conceived as spaces for neighborhood participation to address specific problems related to services, infrastructure and local organization in working-class neighborhoods and rural areas. In his book about Torres, the writer Walt Broderick explains that the priest saw community action as an opportunity for students to project themselves beyond the walls of the city and its academic ivory towers.

This social work had its roots in his earlier labors in the low-income neighborhoods of southern Bogota, particularly in Tunjuelito, where Torres supported community initiatives and maintained daily contact with poor and working-class families. There, he practiced a priesthood outside the confines of churches: he visited homes, participated in neighborhood meetings and supported community initiatives. This experience  more than any academic study  shaped his decision to break the boundaries of traditional pastoral work. It also reinforced his conviction that poverty isnt an individual moral problem.

From the National University, he also spearheaded the creation of the United Peoples Front in 1964. This political platform sought to unite students, workers, peasants and other sectors around a minimalistic program of social transformations, independent of the traditional political parties.

Camilo Torres (right) speaks at a rally in 1966. AP

The United Front convened massive public rallies and voiced its criticism of the National Front: an agreement between the elites of the Liberal and Conservative parties, which averted an undeclared civil war between their members in exchange for sharing power from 1958 until 1974.

In 1965, the guerrilla priest wrote his Message to the United Front, a text that sought to define the platforms direction. This is one of the greatest responsibilities of the non-aligned; [we] must always strive to unify and not seek or allow new causes of conflict. We must not forget for a single moment that our work is oriented toward adding to, not subtracting from, efforts, the proclamation reads. We are friends of ALL revolutionaries, wherever they come from.

The growth of the United Front and Torress increased public visibility strained his relationship with the Catholic Church. In early-1965, the hierarchy ordered him to withdraw from political activity and cease his public appearances, deeming them incompatible with his religious duties. And this wasnt an isolated incident: it was part of a broader dispute between conservative sectors of the Colombian Church and priests who, inspired by the Second Vatican Council, promoted closer ties with the poor and a social interpretation of the Gospel. The sanction ultimately isolated him institutionally and closed one of the avenues through which he had attempted to promote reforms.

The Cuban Revolution was a central reference point in his political radicalization. Like much of the Latin American left in the early-1960s, Torres closely followed the islands political process and interpreted it as proof that structural transformation was possible in societies marked by inequality and exclusion. His understanding of Cubas downfall fueled his conviction that gradual reforms were insufficient and that, in certain contexts, armed struggle acquired an ethical justification.

Beyond the symbolic appropriation of his image by the ELN and some leftist groups, the decision to keep Camilo Torress remains on the National University campus aims to link his memory with his academic and public career, prior to his time with the guerrillas. The Search Unit for Missing Persons (UBPD)  a state entity created by the Peace Agreement with the FARC  will coordinate the handover of the remains to his family and close associates in a ceremony that (for now) will be private.

Colombias most important public university  which has adopted the image of Che Guevara as a symbol of the student movement  will now build a mausoleum in Camilo Torress memory. One of the longest chapters of the Colombian internal conflict has begun to draw to a close.

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The IPS officer had been in the news in the past after he directed all police training schools in Madhya Pradesh to hold Bhagavad Gita and Ramcharitmanas recital sessions for their recruits as this will help them lead a "righteous" life.

Image used for representational purpose only. Photograph: ANI Photo

Key Points IPS officer Raja Babu Singh urges madrasa students to read Bhagavad Gita as this will help 'enlighten their path'

Singh asked the students and their teachers to develop a concern for environment conservation, scientific temper and tolerance

Singh had directed all police training schools in MP to hold Bhagavad Gita and Ramcharitmanas recital sessions for their recruits

A senior IPS officer in Madhya Pradesh addressed students of a madrasa in Bhopal on the Republic Day, urging them to read Bhagavad Gita along with Quran as this will help "enlighten their path".

Raja Babu Singh, Additional Director General of Police (Training), spoke to students of the institution based in Doraha village of Sehore distict via video conference.

"The maulana saab of the madrasa is my old friend. He requested me to address the students on Republic Day. I congratulated the students for the education they are receiving, but I asked the students and their teachers to develop a concern for environment conservation, scientific temper and tolerance," Singh told PTI.

The Indian Police Service (IPS) officer of the 1994-batch added that he also asked the students "to study Bhagavad Gita along with the Holy Quran as it has been enlightening humanity for centuries."

Singh, who has earlier served as the Inspector General of Border Security Force in Kashmir, said he told the students that India was a vast country and it was the duty of everyone of them to uphold its "integrity and unity, from Kashmir to Kanyakumari".

The IPS officer had been in the news in the past after he directed all police training schools in Madhya Pradesh to hold Bhagavad Gita and Ramcharitmanas recital sessions for their recruits as this will help them lead a "righteous" life.
The new UGC regulations mandating all higher education institutions to form "equity committees" to look into discrimination complaints and promote equity were notified on January 13.

The government on Tuesday asserted that the new UGC regulations to check caste bias would not be "misused" and there would be no discrimination with anyone as students held protests saying these rules could lead to chaos on campuses.

IMAGE: Students of Lucknow University stage a protest against the UGCs new caste-based equality rules in colleges, January 27, 2026. Photograph: ANI Photo

Meanwhile, after the Uttar Pradesh government suspended Bareilly city magistrate Alankar Agnihotri on charges of indiscipline following his resignation from service in protest against government policies, especially the new UGC rules, he sat on a dharna at the collectorate alleging a well-planned conspiracy against him.

The new regulations mandating all higher education institutions to form "equity committees" to look into discrimination complaints and promote equity were notified on January 13.

Key Points New UGC regulations notified on January 13

New regulations replace the 2012 ones which were regulatory

Students continue to protest against new regulations

The University Grants Commission (Promotion of Equity in Higher Education Institutions) Regulations, 2026, mandated that these committees must include members of the Other Backward Classes (OBCs), the Scheduled Castes (SCs), the Scheduled Tribes (STs), persons with disabilities, and women.

The new regulations replaces the UGC (Promotion of Equity in Higher Educational Institutions) Regulations, 2012, which was largely advisory in nature.

Minister says it will be within Constitution's ambit

Amid protests by students over these regulations in many states, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan assured there would be no discrimination with anyone, and the rules would not be "misused".

"I want to humbly assure everyone, no one is going to face any harassment, there will be no discrimination and no one will have the right to misuse the regulation in the name of discrimination," he said.

"Whether UGC, Union or state government, they have the responsibility, I assure it will be within the ambit of the Constitution," he said.

Amid heavy barricading and rain, a group of students from colleges across Delhi held a protest outside the UGC headquarters in Delhi, saying that the new regulations issued by the commission could lead to chaos on campuses.

The group submitted a list of demands to the UGC, including a complete rollback of the regulations.

"UGC officials received our submission. They agreed to discuss a few points from our list of demands," Alokit Tripathi, a PhD student from Delhi University, told PTI.

"The UGC officials said they will consider our demand to appoint one member from the general community in the Equity Squad. Secondly, the commission assured us that it will come up with a solution within 15 days, that is, before February 12. And lastly, they said the identity of the accuser will not be kept private in order to discourage false complaints," Tripathi claimed.

Left-based students group backs regulations

Meanwhile, Left-backed student group All India Students' Association released a statement backing the UGC Equity Regulations, 2026. It said that inclusion of OBCs (other backward castes) within the ambit of equity protection was a welcome step.

"However, representation of SC, ST, OBC and women in the Equity Committee, both among faculties and students, remains low, vague and inadequately defined. Further, the regulations define discrimination in broad and abstract terms without enumerating concrete acts or instances of discrimination," the statement read.

After his suspension, Agnihotri was attached to the office of the Shamli district magistrate, according to an order issued on Monday night.

The 2019-batch Provincial Civil Service officer had tendered his resignation on Republic Day citing deep disagreement with government policies. He claimed the UGC regulations could foment caste-based discontent and vitiate the academic environment.

On Tuesday, he intensified his protest against the state government and the district administration. Accompanied by his supporters, he reached the district magistrate's office and staged a sit-in outside the premises, raising slogans against the administration.

In his resignation statement, Agnihotri had described the new UGC regulations as a "black law".

Plea filed in SC against new regulations

He alleged that the rules were harming the academic atmosphere in colleges and universities and demanded their immediate withdrawal.

During the day, a plea was filed in the Supreme Court challenging the regulations, alleging the UGC has adopted a non-inclusionary definition of caste-based discrimination and excludes certain categories from institutional protection.

It urged the top court to restrain the authorities from enforcing the regulations in their current form and sought a direction to redefine caste-based discrimination in a "caste-neutral and constitutionally-compliant manner".

The UGC document was issued after the Supreme Court told it to submit the new regulations while hearing a plea by the mothers of Rohith Vemula and Payal Tadvi, questioning the implementation of the 2012 UGC regulations.

Vemula, a PhD scholar at the University of Hyderabad, committed suicide in 2016, allegedly after being subjected to caste-based harassment. Tadvi, a resident doctor at Topiwala National Medical College and BYL Nair Hospital, killed herself in 2019, allegedly after facing casteist slurs from her seniors.
Singh said he was deeply hurt by what he described as recent attempts to divide the country on the basis of caste and religion, allegedly emanating from the holy land of Prayagraj

Goods and Services Tax deputy commissioner Prashant Kumar Singh on Tuesday resigned in protest against Shankaracharya Avimukteshwaranand's "objectionable" remarks against Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.

IMAGE: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath listens to the concerns of people during 'Janata Darshan' organized at Gorakhnath Temple, in Gorakhpur, January 27, 2026. Photograph: @CMOfficeUP X/ANI Photo

Singh said he was deeply hurt by what he described as recent attempts to divide the country on the basis of caste and religion, allegedly emanating from the holy land of Prayagraj.

Key Points Singh said he took this decision in support of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and the Constitution of India

Jyotish Peeth Shankaracharya Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati had lashed out at Chief Minister Adityanath after police allegedly stopped him and his followers from going in a chariot for a holy dip in the Ganga

A day later, the Magh Mela administration issued a notice to Avimukteshwaranand, asking how he was projecting himself as the Shankaracharya of Jyotish Peeth despite a Supreme Court order

Singh said he was stepping down in support of the government, the Constitution and the country's elected leadership.

"Over the past few days, there have been despicable attempts to divide the nation based on caste and religion from the sacred land of Prayagraj. I am deeply pained by this," Singh said.

Singh said he took this decision in support of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and the Constitution of India.

"I have resigned in support of the honourable prime minister, honourable chief minister and honourable home minister and in support of the Constitution of India," he said.

Singh referred to statements made by Shankaracharya Avimukteshwaranand against CM Adityanath.

"From the holy land of Prayagraj, Shankaracharya Avimukteshwaranand has made objectionable remarks against our state's elected leader, who is constitutionally holding the post," he said.

As a government servant bound by service rules, Singh said, he could not remain indifferent to such developments.

"I am bound by the Uttar Pradesh service rules. I draw my salary from the state and my family depends on it. I am not an emotionless person," he said.

He added that if such behaviour was directed against the state or its leadership, he would oppose it while remaining within the limits prescribed for a government employee.

"If such conduct continues against my state and its head, then while remaining within my constitutional and service boundaries as an employee, I will oppose it. That is why I have submitted my resignation today," Singh said.

Jyotish Peeth Shankaracharya Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati had lashed out at Chief Minister Adityanath after police allegedly stopped him and his followers from going in a chariot for a holy dip in the Ganga during the Magh Mela in Prayagraj on the occasion of Mauni Amavasya on January 18.

A day later, the Magh Mela administration issued a notice to Avimukteshwaranand, asking how he was projecting himself as the Shankaracharya of Jyotish Peeth despite a Supreme Court order stating that no religious leader could be enthroned as Shankaracharya of Jyotish Peeth until the disposal of an appeal.

Following the incident, Avimukteshwaranand has been sitting in protest outside his camp in the mela campus, giving up food and water. He has demanded an apology from senior officials of the mela administration and the police.
BJP leaders say Nitin Nabin's low-profile image has made him a favourite of Amit Shah, who was in search of such a leader to appoint to the top party position -- someone who follows the Modi-Shah line as BJP president without "ifs and buts".

IMAGE: Prime Minister Narendra Modi with newly elected Bharatiya Janata Party national President Nitin Nabin during the Sangathan Parv at the BJP headquarters in New Delhi, January 20, 2026. Photograph: Jitender Gupta/ANI Photo

Key Points 45-year-old Nitin Nabin is a five-time MLA from Bihar.

His rise is seen as a strategic move by the Modi-Shah leadership ahead of crucial assembly polls.

Nabin entered politics 'accidentally' in 2006 to carry on his late father Nabin Sinha's legacy.

Belongs to the politically light-weight Kayasth community.

On January 20, a young and energetic Nitin Nabin formally became the Bharatiya Janata Party's national president. Last month, everyone in and outside the largest political party in the world was surprised when his appointment as the BJP's working president was announced.

His elevation to head the BJP suddenly made him 'Nitin Babu' from the simple Nitin Nabin he was known as in Bihar's party circles until recently.

Nitin Nabin, who repeatedly stated that he was a man who entered politics accidentally and survived, is a down-to-earth politician.

Why Nitin Nabin never lost an election

"Nitin Babu is soft-spoken, simple, calm, and was easily accessible as MLA and Bihar minister. He is known to amicably resolve issues and believes in consultation and communication," says Bihar BJP President Sanjay Saraogi, who is considered close to Nitin Nabin.

"This is the reason he never lost polls and has repeatedly won every election since 2006, when he first contested the by-polls after his father Nabin Kishor Sinha, a senior BJP leader, died in December 2005, nearly a month after the NDA (National Democratic Alliance) led by Nitish Kumar came to power for the first time," adds Saraogi.

IMAGE: Nitin Nabin, along with Delhi BJP President Virendra Sachdeva, visits the Pracheen Hanuman Mandir at Connaught Place in New Delhi. Photograph: NitinNabinX/ANI Photo

Another senior BJP leader and former Bihar minister, who did not want to be named for this report, recalls that Nitin Nabin once revealed to him that he was not at all keen to join politics.

"His stand was that politics was not for everyone, and he made it clear that he never wanted to enter politics. But situations in his life forced him to join politics, and he successfully moved ahead from being an MLA to Bihar minister, in charge of the party outside Bihar, and now the youngest BJP president."

"Nitinji is an example of hard work, dedication, trust, and success in politics."

Mother decided Nitin Nabin will join politics

BJP worker Nawal Kumar, who has been close to Nitin Nabin since he successfully contested assembly polls, says the BJP president was pursuing an engineering course when his father died.

"It was his mother Mala Sinha's decision that Nitinji would carry on his father's political legacy. He contested, won the polls from Patna and never looked back," says Nawal Kumar.

"He was then only 26 years old, young but mature, and decided to drop out of his studies for politics. It appears now that his decision was right."

For Nitin, adds Nawal Kumar, his mother was "Maiya", as he used to address her to express his love and emotional attachment. His mother passed away a few years ago.

IMAGE: Nitin Nabin, second from right, being congratulated by Bihar Deputy Chief Ministers Vijay Sinha, left, and Samrat Choudhary, right, and then BJP state president Dilip Jaiswal, second from left, after being named as the BJP's national working president in Patna, December 14, 2025. Photograph: ANI Photo

Nitin Nabin's elevation pride for Bihar

Many may not be aware that Nitin Nabin was born in 1980 in Ranchi, currently capital of the neighbouring state of Jharkhand. Ranchi was then one of the industrial towns of undivided Bihar. But Nitin spent his childhood and received his school education in Patna.

Nitin did his schooling at St Michael's High School in Patna and did his plus-two in Delhi, but never forgot his ancestral roots in Amavan village under the Rajauli block in Nawada district in the Magadh region, known for its Magahi dialect.

"We celebrated Holi on Tuesday to express our happiness and distributed sweets. It is a moment of pride for the family. It is not only our family; the entire village is upbeat," says Jitender Sinha, a cousin of the BJP president, who along with other cousins plans to visit Patna to meet him soon.

Jitender recalls that Nitin visited Amavan village and spent time with family members during the 2024 Lok Sabha election campaign.

'We hope he will visit his village as BJP president'

Durga Prasad Sinha, an uncle, says Nitin Nabin's grandfather Kamendar Prasad Sinha lived in the village, but Nitin's father Nabin Kishor Sinha shifted to Patna.

"Nitin's father visited the village, and so does Nitin," says Durga Prasad Sinha. "He is keeping the tradition alive by continuing the relationship with the village. We hope he will visit us as BJP president as well."

Nitin Nabin's wife Dipmala Srivastav, who gave up her banking career after marriage nearly 15 years ago, is fond of her husband's calm and positive attitude despite his hectic life as a politician.

"My husband is a simple and grounded person, gentle to the core," says Dipmala who understands her husband's responsibility and accountability in politics.

"Nitin is a very busy person today and has to work hard for the party, but he cares for the family as well. Earlier he was party in-charge of a town, followed by in-charge of a state, and now he is heading the party at the national level. I will take care of our growing children and the family to give him more time for his work to strengthen the hands of Prime Minister Narendra Modiji," Dipmala adds.

IMAGE: BJP supporters in Patna celebrate Nitin Nabin's election as BJP national president. Photograph: ANI Photo

Nitin Nabin's favourite leader

Last year, a local Hindi newspaper reported that Dipmala's favourite leader is Narendra Modi while her husband's ideal leader is Union Home Minister Amit A Shah. Political observers in Patna say Nitin was appointed BJP president with Modi, Shah and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh's blessings.

Nitin Nabin is widely seen as Shah's choice; the home minister visited his family during the state assembly election campaign last year.

BJP leaders say Nitin's low-profile image has made him a favourite of Shah, who was in search of such a leader to appoint to the top party position -- someone who follows the Modi-Shah line as BJP president without "ifs and buts".

Nitin Nabin belongs to the Kayasth community, an upper caste that hardly enjoys any political clout in Bihar politics.

Once upon a time his caste was powerful and played an important role in the formation of a separate Bihar state during the freedom movement.

Slowly, his caste was sidelined in politics and its place was taken over by other powerful landed upper castes.

According to the 2023 Bihar caste survey report, Kayasths make up 0.60% of the state's total population. The drastic fall in their numbers is due to large-scale migration outside Bihar, mainly to metro cities, for livelihood.

Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff
The swag of the military animals on Kartavya Path was unbeatable!

Commanded by Captain Harshita Raghav, the double-humped camels, ponies, kites and dogs are soldiers providing active military duties.

IMAGE: The Indian Army's Him Yodha contingent marches on Kartavya Path on Republic Day, January 26, 2026. Photograph: Press Information Bureau

Key Points The animal soldiers that walked down Kartavya Path had rescued soldiers buried in avalanches, detected explosives, conducted ferocious assaults, carried out drone surveillance, disaster relief, counter-intelligence ops, guarded the borders and carried loads as much as 250 kg and climbed steep mountains at heights of 15,000 feet.

'They are as good as any other soldier of the Army.'

Army dogs provide active service for 9 years. Other animals have varying retirement ages. Horses, for instance, serve for 17 years.

Galwan and Nubra, two majestic double-humped camels, had travelled all the way from Ladakh to Delhi for official duty.

It was the first time they had journeyed so far, but since their arrival, their stardom had broken all records.

The two camels were joined by their army pals -- 4 Zanskar Ponies, also from Ladakh, 4 Black Kites and 22 indigenous military dogs.

With names like Karan, Arjun [the Black Kites], Madhav, Trisha, Raunak and Disco [the Dogs], the army animals are akin to serving soldiers of the Indian Army providing active military duty.

The animal soldiers that walked down Kartavya Path had rescued soldiers buried in avalanches, detected explosives, conducted ferocious assaults, carried out drone surveillance, disaster relief, counter-intelligence ops, guarded the borders and carried loads as much as 250 kilograms and climbed steep mountains at heights of 15,000 feet.

On many occasions military animals have led human soldiers into operations and won bravery awards and commendations.

The contingent of the Remount Veterinary Corps (RVC) was commanded by Captain Harshita Raghav. The RVC specialises in the breeding, rearing, training, health and welfare aspects of army animals. These trained animals are then deployed in various units of the Indian Army across the country.

Captain Harshita is a graduate in veterinary science and animal husbandry and is the first woman to be inducted into the RVC.

IMAGE: Galwan, one of the two majestic double-humped camels, before the Republic Day parade. Photograph: The Indian Army

'They serve in all conditions, and at all times'

"The military animals are highly disciplined soldiers. Until and unless a specific command is given to them, they will not create an act of indiscipline," says Captain Harshita, who has three pets of her own -- a dog and two cats.

"Just as I have an army number. They have numbers too. They are our equine and canine soldiers.".

Each set of animals has a separate training period which approximately lasts about two years.

All the animals are Indian indigenous breeds and have a set of standard protocols about training, care and transport.

"They are highly adaptable with high endurance levels -- the two main reasons they are used by the Indian Army. They serve in all conditions, and at all times."

"They are as good as any other soldier of the Army," explains Captain Harshita, bursting with pride about her animal army.

IMAGE: The Indian Army's Him Yodha contingent marches on Kartavya Path before Republic Day. Photograph: The Indian Army

'The dogs have a canine vision system which enables us to see what the dog is seeing'

The Black Kites and dogs wore tactical gear, drone cameras, surveillance goggles. Head mounted small cameras are used to monitor areas requiring surveillance.

"The natural capabilities like flying distance and camouflage are enhanced with specialised training which increases the operational effectiveness of the Kites," says Captain Harshita.

"The dogs have a canine vision system which enables us to see what the dog is seeing. The ponies and double-humped camels are used for logistical support and mounted patrolling in high-altitude areas."

The ponies can bear up to 40 to 60 kgs of load.

The various dog breeds in the parade included the Rampur Hound, Mudhol Hound, Rajpalayam, Chippiparai and Kombai.

IMAGE: Captain Harshita Raghav with a key member of the Indian Army's Him Yodha contingent during rehearsals for the Republic Day parade. Photograph: The Indian Army

In the run-up to the Republic Day parade, the animals continued with the structured training routine, including feeding times.

Every day, all the animals were groomed twice which included massage, brushing, combing, cleaning of the ears, eyes, nose, and physical examination for any injuries.

A grooming session for the dogs lasted about half an hour and 50 minutes for the camels.

"The grooming routine also strengthens the bond between the handlers and animals. The troops are not just taking care of themselves, but also another life. They have a huge responsibility," explains Captain Harshita, daughter of a retired IAF group captain whose interest in pet care began with the adoption of a stray dog with an injured tail when she was just 8 years old.

Army dogs provide active service for 9 years. They then retire to the Army's retirement home for dogs in Meerut itself or can be taken up for adoption. Other animals have varying retirement ages. Horses, for instance, serve for 17 years.

IMAGE: Captain Harshita pampers members of the Indian Army's Him Yodha contingent before the Republic Day parade, here and below. Photograph: The Indian Army

"The animals are highly trainable. The method of training includes giving them certain rewards if they follow the commands," says Captain Harshita.

The treats that are given are jaggery for the ponies, leaves and jaggery for the camels, chicken pieces for the predator birds like kites and toys for the dogs.

Considering their stellar performance at the Republic Day parade and in their distinguished service to the nation, the military animals deserve all the treats and massages possible!

Photograph: The Indian Army

Photograph: The Indian Army
'Mark had such a profound understanding of India, which was, of course, the land of his birth as well as of his death... He loved India, and lived two-thirds of his life here.'

IMAGE: Legendary journalist Mark Tully passed away at the age of 90. Photograph: Kind courtesy Chatham House/Wikimedia Commons

Key Points Mark Tully shaped global understanding of India through landmark reporting on the Emergency, the Babri Masjid demolition, Punjab militancy, Sri Lanka conflict and Rajiv Gandhi's assassination.

Known for fearless, contextual journalism, Tully Saab prioritised truth over political correctness.

He stood by his journalism even amid political backlash.

Mark Tully represented the one quality that all journalists aspire to: Credibility. He died at 90, still a British citizen but in his soul and spirit, an Indian.

For many decades, he was the voice of India on the BBC World Service: Not just during the Emergency, when he broadcast stories about censorship, midnight arrests, extra-judicial killings, and was expelled, only to return 18 months later, but also during the demolition of Babri Masjid, when screaming crowds in Ayodhya chased him, chanting 'BBC murdabad' and 'Mark Tully murdabad'.

His reportage of the Indian Peace Keeping Force, the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), and other groups in north and east Sri Lanka, and later, Rajiv Gandhi's assassination, is landmark journalism.

Indians here, and around the globe, turned to him to learn the facts about the storming of the Golden Temple, the back story of the creation of Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, and the anti-Sikh riots that followed Indira Gandhi's assassination.

For him, writing and broadcasting about politics was never about suspending judgement or political correctness. It was always about telling the story in context.

Tully was born in Calcutta (now Kolkata) and went to school in Darjeeling. His father was a businessman in India when it was still a jewel in the crown. His mother's family had been in Bangladesh for generations.

He went to a public school in the United Kingdom, joined the army, took a history degree at Cambridge, and studied -- unsuccessfully -- to be a priest.

'It was decided I was not suitable for the clergy,' he would tell the Los Angeles Times many years later. Why? 'Drinking, mainly,' he replied.

In that sense, Tully sa'ab, as he was known in India, lived up to an image often associated with journalists back then.

Reporters were required to be hard drinking, capable of working under great pressure, and always on the side of the underdog.

He was a beer drinker, but would never say no to a drop -- or two, or three -- of Jameson, the Irish whisky (earlier in life, he smoked smelly South Indian cheroots).

What Colleagues Say About Mark Tully

Andrew Whitehead, a former BBC India correspondent who worked alongside Tully in the 1990s, recalled that when he joined the BBC in Delhi in the mid-1990s, Tully lived in a two-floor residence in south Delhi.

The ground floor was his flat; the floor above was the BBC office.

"Quite often Mark would say at the end of the day: 'Why don't you pop down for a beer?' He enjoyed having a circle of people for a chat and gossip. He was one of the most convivial people I have met. And I remember his favourite tipple was Rosy Pelican, a beer from Haryana -- though, sadly, long out of production."

Tully had joined the BBC in the 1960s, and was posted in India in 1965 -- initially as a manager. In 1972, he switched tracks to become a journalist.

A lot was happening in India then. He made some of his best friends, both in bureaucracy and in politics, in those years. 'Devi Lal, VP Singh, Sant Bux Singh... I loved them all,' he told Business Standard in an interview in 2016.

"Mark had such a profound understanding of India, which was, of course, the land of his birth as well as of his death... He loved India, and lived two-thirds of his life here," Whitehead told Business Standard via e-mail.

"I was struck that so many movers and shakers in Delhi regarded Mark not as a foreign correspondent but as one of their own."

An exemplary correspondent is how Whitehead described him -- "probing, vivid, impartial, and with his own wonderful, idiosyncratic, broadcasting style. He had charm and charisma, and indeed star quality, but not a hint of arrogance."

Tully had "fantastic contacts among the great and the good in India," but he also had an ear to the ground, said Whitehead.

"He travelled widely, often by train -- he loved trains. And his command of Hindi meant he could sense the popular mood really well, and find out how villagers and manual workers felt about all that was happening around them. That, he said, informed his reporting, and was a real strength, which "made him stand out among the foreign press corps at the time".

Mark Tully, A Socialist

When the Rajiv Gandhi government fell in 1989, Tully was accused of playing a part in the reporting of events that caused the Congress's defeat.

He, however, stood by his reporting. The reason was that Tully always saw himself as socialist.

The worldview of Morarji Desai, Madhu Dandavate, and Madhu Limaye resonated with him.

That said, the role and the power of the state and individuals worried him.

This applied to his employer, the BBC, as well. In the 1990s, then BBC director-general John Birt undertook to turn the organisation into 'a lean, efficient, enterprising, unbureaucratic BBC'.

This inevitably led to downsizing radio and ramping up BBC's television and digital arms, as well as giving it a business edge.

But for millions of unlettered people in the world, for whom the radio was the only source of information, Tully (and other veterans) saw this as a betrayal of trust by the publicly funded organisation.

In 1993, Tully wrote a damning open letter, charging Birt with wanting to run the BBC on the basis of 'fear and sycophancy'. He resigned from the BBC three years later.

Tully's relationship with organised religion was complex. He was Anglican, believed deeply, and was a traditionalist.

He admired India's secularism and tolerance, and thought that the biggest difference between India and Pakistan, both countries he had reported from, was that Pakistan 'is a theocratic State; India is not -- and I hope it never will be'.

He added in the interview: 'I think it is really important to treasure the secular culture of this country.

'By this, I don't mean the secularism of the Congress, for example. I mean allowing every religion to flourish in the country and doing one's utmost to give everyone the freedom to live their lives the way they want to live them.'

The man who got awards from the queen (a knighthood in 2002) as well as the President of India -- Padma Shri (1992) and Padma Bhushan (2005) -- will always be a part of the India story.

The Sunday Telegraph called him 'India's best-loved Englishman'. That is exactly what Mark Tully was.

Additional reporting by Veenu Sandhu

Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff
In Donald Trumps United States, where immigration agents have fatally shot two citizens in the past three weeks, calls are growing to shut down the agency tasked with carrying out the anti-immigrant crusade launched by the White House. The Abolish ICE movement is not new, but in recent weeks it has gained unprecedented momentum as citizens demand the abolition of Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The effort to dismantle the agency has divided not only Democrats and Republicans in Congress, but also the Democrats among themselves, amid a debate over whether to defund, eliminate, or simply redirect ICEs tactics, especially now that another federal government shutdown is at stake.

However, on the streets of cities besieged by Trumps immigration agents, the demand is more drastic and unambiguous: people are calling for the disbanding of the agency responsible for the recent deaths that have shaken the nation. ICE must be abolished and replaced with systems that prioritize due process, community safety, and human rights, states the group Abolish ICE Georgia, which coordinates student walkouts in that state and peaceful protests as part of the national movement to abolish the agency. In practice, ICE has functioned as a punitive law enforcement agency rather than a public safety agency, targeting immigrant communities through fear, surveillance, and detention, instead of addressing serious threats.

The toll of ICEs crusade continues to rise: the latest victims are Renee Good and Alex Pretti, shot dead in the streets of Minneapolis; Good by an ICE agent and Pretti by Border Patrol officers. But the crackdown also includes the detention of five-year-old Liam Conejo Ramos and at least four other children from Minnesota; the more than 70,000 people held in detention centers, some caught in surprise immigration raids; the 32 deaths in custody throughout 2025, and the six recorded in the first days of 2026, among them Geraldo Lunas Campos, a 55-year-old Cuban, allegedly murdered in a Texas facility.

Recent events in Minneapolis have made it clear that not even American citizens are immune to the pervasive violence in the country, leading people to take to the streets with the direct demand to abolish ICE. While a July poll by The Economist/YouGov found that only 27% of respondents supported abolishing ICE, the results of the same survey conducted a few days ago confirm that opinions have shifted: 46% now support the elimination of the best-funded federal agency in U.S. history. With his tax and spending reform, dubbed the Big, Beautiful Bill, Trump added $75 billion to the agencys existing $11 billion budget.

Merriam, a Chicago resident who prefers to remain anonymous and has joined the call to end ICE in her community, says there are far better ways the government could spend taxpayer money. Economic inequality, fascism, and the upward transfer of wealth go hand-in-hand. The way our money is used to fund oppression and violence in America does not reflect what most people want. With that money, we could forgive student loans, reduce chronic illnesses, and empower future generations. Abolishing ICE is crucial and represents one of the most important acts toward restoring humanity, she insists.

Memorial in honor of Alex Pretti, in Minneapolis, January 25. Tim Evans (REUTERS)

The desire of some to see the demise of an agency they have dubbed the modern-day Gestapo has intensified in recent weeks, but its a call that dates back to the Obama administration, when the Democratic president launched a historic deportation campaign. The Abolish ICE movement once again became a focus of public outcry in 2018 when family separations became the central issue for many activists and politicians during the first Trump term. Among the most outspoken was New York representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who at the time made immigration a key part of her campaign and demanded the dismantling of ICE.

During Joe Bidens administration attention was centered on the border crisis and less on the agency. But now, the call to abolish ICE has resurfaced with much greater force.

Abolish or reform

The continued existence of the agency is at the center of a heated debate in Washington and across the country. Republicans insist it is a body meant to guarantee national security, despite the fact that the aforementioned poll shows 47% of Americans believe ICE actually makes them feel less safe. Some Democrats, meanwhile, unequivocally advocate for abolishing immigration enforcement, especially after the deaths of Pretti and Good and following Trumps threat to invoke the Insurrection Act to deploy the military against the protests sparked by the recent killings, which the government has attempted to justify.

Democratic Representative Shri Thanedar of Michigan introduced an ICE Abolition Act, arguing that Goods murder proved that ICE is out of control and beyond reform. We must fundamentally change the way we approach immigration: its time to abolish ICE, the representative for Michigans 13th Congressional District said in a statement. If enacted, the bill would prohibit the use of federal funds to carry out any of the functions, duties, or responsibilities assigned or delegated to the Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement pursuant to the Homeland Security Act of 2002. Others, such as Democratic Representative Delia Ramirez of Illinois, have also advocated for defunding the agency.

However, now that both parties are negotiating the fiscal year 2026 budget for the Department of Homeland Security, ICEs parent agency, some Democrats continue to advocate for reforming the agency rather than abolishing it. They propose, for example, requiring agents to wear body cameras, not masks, and undergo additional training. The House of Representatives passed a funding bill for the Department of Homeland Security of approximately $64.4 billion and $10 billion for ICE, which received the support of seven Democrats. The package will now go to the Senate.

Following Prettis death, some Democratic senators have stated they will not vote in favor of funding as long as ICE continues to operate as it does. Whats happening in Minnesota is appalling  and unacceptable in any American city, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said Saturday on X. Democrats sought common sense reforms in the Department of Homeland Security spending bill, but because of Republicans refusal to stand up to President Trump, the DHS bill is woefully inadequate to rein in the abuses of ICE. I will vote no.

Until now, the Democratic argument for supporting ICE funding was based on the idea that eliminating the agency entirely would ultimately benefit Republicans. Every call to abolish ICE risks squandering one of the clearest opportunities in years to achieve meaningful immigration enforcement reform, while giving Republicans exactly the battle they want, Third Way, a centrist think tank based in Washington, said in a memo.

While politicians from both parties play their cards before Friday night  the deadline for the partial government shutdown  ordinary citizens continue to demand the elimination of the agency responsible for bringing terror to neighborhoods across the country. ICE has never fit into what a safe, inclusive, and progressive society stands for. It must go, Merriam says from Chicago. The physical, psychological, and emotional toll that ICE has taken on communities is immeasurable. Its important to note that a single act of terror by a government agency should be grounds for freezing its funding; ICE has committed countless such acts.

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Despite the Democratic push to impeach the secretary of homeland security, the process is unlikely given that Republicans control Congress

In less than a month, two US citizens were killed by federal agents on the streets of Minneapolis. What began as an immigration operation launched by the White House ended up becoming a national political crisis. Kristi Noem, the secretary of homeland security, has been singled out as the main person responsible and now faces calls for her resignation and even impeachment.

The death of Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old nurse shot by federal agents during an intervention on public roads, deepened a crisis that had been brewing since the beginning of the month, following the killing of Renee Good in similar circumstances. For Democrats, both episodes reveal a pattern of abuse by agencies such as Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the Border Patrol.

The impact was immediate in the House of Representatives. Support for the articles of impeachment against Noem, spearheaded by Congresswoman Robin Kelly of Illinois, skyrocketed over the weekend, reaching more than 140 signatures, nearly two-thirds of the Democratic caucus. The list was joined by high-profile figures such as Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, figures close to the party leadership, and representatives from competitive districts who had so far avoided confrontation with the White House.

Federal agents disperse a protest in Minneapolis on January 24. CRAIG LASSIG (EFE)

But even though Noem can be impeached (only if some Republicans agree), it is unlikely that she will be removed, as Republicans maintain a majority in Congress. However, impeachment serves more as a strategy to keep Noem under constant scrutiny, in addition to forcing the Department of Homeland Security to answer questions about its operations, which would fuel public pressure on ICE and the Border Patrol.

Another strategy

Meanwhile, Democrats have also opened a formal investigation in the House, without Republican support. The goal is not to remove Noem, which would be unlikely in a Republican-controlled Congress, but to document what happened, gather evidence, and take a clear political stance.

Bennie Thompson, the top Democrat on the Homeland Security Committee, said investigating Noem is a sign that the party is not willing to sit on our thumbs in the face of what it considers an unprecedented domestic crisis. The investigation would also serve as a basis for eventual legislative reforms if Democrats regain the majority in the midterm elections in November.

The moment Alex Pretti was attacked in Minneapolis. VIDEO OBTAINED BY REUTERS (via REUTERS)

In the Senate, Jacky Rosen became the first senator to openly call for Noems removal, accusing her of misleading the public about the circumstances of the shooting. Other senators, including some Republicans, began calling for independent investigations and more aggressive oversight hearings.

Noem, for her part, will have to face questions directly. She is scheduled to appear on March 3 before the Senate Judiciary Committee, a hearing that promises to be dominated by debate over immigration enforcement tactics and the use of force by federal agents. Both the House and Senate plan to call other senior ICE and Border Patrol officials to testify.

Meanwhile, the conflict has shifted to the budget issue. Funding for the Department of Homeland Security, which is part of a key package to avoid a partial government shutdown before January 30, has been thrown into doubt. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer announced that Democrats will not allow the spending bill to move forward as long as the bill includes funding for ICE without substantial changes.

Department of Homeland Security officials have dismissed calls for impeachment as showmanship and accuse Democrats of prioritizing confrontation over public safety.

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A trial is under way against 19 activists in Kazakhstan who protested against Chinas camp system in Xinjiang. Earlier reporting by RFE/RL showed that the Chinese consulate in Almaty pushed for the Kazakh government to open the case.
The European Union and the United States have sketched out a "prosperity framework" for Ukraine designed to provide Kyiv with financial assurances along with security guarantees to stabilize Ukraine after the war with Russia ends.

The 18-page document, seen by RFE/RL, says that while $800 billion could be mobilized for Ukraine through 2040, the immediate aim is to meet the country's need for some $500 billion in reconstruction over the next decade.

The EU, the United States and international financial institutions -- including the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank -- would participate in the initial phase, providing $317 billion for reconstruction, $57 billion for private housing, and some $126 billion for the construction of both public and private buildings.

Compensation to victims would be dealt with separately through a mechanism targeting Russia's frozen assets in the West.

Speaking last week as the framework was being discussed at an informal meeting of members of the European Council, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said that it "looks at how we can boost the prosperity of Ukraine at the moment we achieve a peaceful cease-fire."

"We are talking about a single document representing the collective vision of the Ukrainians, Americans, and Europe for Ukraine's post-war future," she said.

The $800 billion figure comes from the war-torn country's "ambition to identify further investment opportunities that will enable its economy to grow and thrive, double its GDP, raise its productivity, and significantly improve Ukrainians' quality of life," according to the document.

Terms And Conditions For Ukraine

Much of the plan depends on the war ending soon. But there are other conditions.

Rapid progress toward EU accession is highlighted as a must. It is noted that the GDPs of Central and Eastern European economies that joined the club in 2004 and 2007 nearly tripled since then and that this trick can be repeated with Kyiv.

While Ukraine hopes to join the club before the end of the decade, Hungary has blocked the start of accession talks for nearly two years over what Budapest sees as Ukrainian discrimination of the Hungarian-speaking minority in the country -- a spat that has now prompted leader Viktor Orban to recently state that no Hungarian parliament "in 100 years" will be ready to green-light Ukrainian EU membership.

But this is not the only condition set out in the paper. "Restoring Ukraine's access to sovereign debt markets is a critical unlock," it says, adding that this would involve "enabling banks to refocus on lending to small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and thereby stimulating job creation and the overall economy."

It also mentions the need for the country to "re-establish its standing with the global investor community," which includes expanded digital infrastructure and strengthening the independence of the judiciary and property rights in the country.

But where this $800 billion come from?

There are some concrete pledges of cash. The European Commission has proposed earmarking $116 billion for Ukraine in the next multiannual EU budget, which should start in 2028 and run through 2034. But all EU member states need to agree on this in long-winded negotiations over the next 18 months, and it's not clear if this number will remain given many EU capitals are keen to reduce EU budget expenditures in general.

There is no figure yet for Washington's expected contribution. The paper notes simply that "the United States will endeavor to raise significant additional capital (public and private, grants, equity and debt) to be invested transparently and effectively in Ukraine."

The authors also say that the return of 2.1 million migrants within the first two years of the end of the war would lead to a productivity leap of 5 percent and a potential rise in GDP per capita growth.

The document also notes that additional public capital is expected to come from "concessional loans from international financial institutions, other grants, and philanthropies" and that Ukraine "may consider the sale of mineral rights as another means to introduce private capital into Ukraine, as envisioned by the US-Ukraine Reconstruction Investment Fund."

Investing In Ukraine's Future

However, the framework as it stands now gives no specific numbers. The appendix states while Ukraine's "minerals sector offers substantial investment opportunities," it cautions that "challenges persist, including longer lead times for lithium projects, the need to align with global standards, and the requirement for updated technological and geological data to support new greenfield initiatives."

Apart from the country's mineral sectors, Brussels and Washington are eyeing a number of additional fields of investment. One is the over 3,000 state-owned enterprises that could be privatized -- the paper notes such a move is "necessary to open up key sectors of the economy to private investment, remove inefficiencies, and allow for innovation and investments."

The reconstruction of over 25,000 kilometers of roads is also mentioned, as is an upgrade of the Chornomorsk port southwest of Odesa.

In the energy sector, six new nuclear reactors in Khmelnitsky and Rivne could be constructed. The text also mentions that "the United States, and potentially US companies, will aim to partner with Ukraine through co-investment to restore, grow, modernize, and operate Ukraine's gas infrastructure, which includes its pipeline and storage facilities."
Lindsey Graham, the Republican senator for South Carolina, has warned against abandoning the Iranian people.

In a January 27 post on X, Graham wrote: "History tells us the right decision is to stand by those who stand with America and sacrifice for our common cause."

He mentioned the 2012 Benghazi terrorist attack on the US diplomatic compound in Libya that killed four Americans, saying "I remember how sick to my stomach I felt when we abandoned our people in Benghazi."

The Benghazi attack became a significant point of partisan dispute in US politics, with allegations of inadequate security and confusion over the Obama administrations early public statements.

"To abandon the Iranian people and the brave Kurds would be, in my view, Benghazi times a million," Graham wrote.

Graham is frequently characterized as a hawkish internationalist who supports US military involvement abroad to confront challenges posed by nations such as Russia, China, and Iran.

He has consistently advocated a hardline stance on Iran, including the option of military strikes, considering the regime a significant threat to US interests, Israel, and regional stability.

Graham, an ally of Trump, praised the US president, saying he was "confident that President Trump, who has done a marvelous job protecting America, will make the right call" on Iran.
Russian air strikes hit several regions across Ukraine, killing several people and damaging an energy facility in the southern port city of Odesa and knocking out power in Kharkiv as the country struggles through blackouts and heating outages amid a deep winter freeze.

Odesa regional military administration head Oleh Kiper said the city was hit by a large-scale drone attack leaving one man dead and at least 23 people, including children and a pregnant woman, injured. He added that several apartment buildings were damaged, triggering major fires, while a church in the city center and a kindergarten were also hit.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned a multiple drone strike on a passenger train in Kharkiv region in the afternoon on January 27 that killed five of the 200 passengers onboard. Zelenskyy called the attack an act of terrorism, adding that "there is and cannot be any military purpose in targeting civilians on a train."

'Brutal' Attack On Odesa

A married couple in their 40s were reportedly killed in Slovyansk in the eastern Donetsk region, while in another drone attack in the southern region of Zaporizhzhya a 58-year-old was killed at home.

"A brutal drone attack on Odesa," Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy wrote on X.

"Every such Russian strike erodes the diplomacy that is still ongoing and undermines the efforts of partners who are helping to end this war," he added.

Ukraine, Russia, and the United States are set to resume negotiations in Abu Dhabi later this week after what officials said were "constructive" peace talks last weekend, even as the war shows no signs of easing as it nears its four-year anniversary.

The Kremlin has shown no signs of backing down from its long-held maximalist demands.

Russia has been attempting to push westward through eastern Ukraine to gain as much ground as possible amid peace negotiations. Much of its gains have been in the Donetsk region, although it has kept the pressure on the Kharkiv region, as well.

The number of Russian and Ukrainian troops killed, wounded, or missing during nearly four years of war is on track to reach 2 million by this spring, according to the latest study by Center for Strategic and International Studies.

The report, titled Massive Losses and Tiny Gains for a Declining Power, said that "Russia is paying an extraordinary price for minimal gains and is in decline as a major power." It goes on to conclude that since February 2022, Russian forces have suffered nearly 1.2 million casualties, which amounts to "more losses than any major power in any war since World War II."

Russian President Vladimir Putin's special envoy, Kirill Dmitriev, said on January 27 that Ukraine's withdrawal from the Donbas region -- Ukraine's industrial heartland -- was "the path to peace."



But for the overwhelming majority of Ukrainians, giving up the Donbas -- which Russia currently controls around 90 percent of -- or any other territory formally or permanently is out of the question.

Unprecedented Energy Blackouts

This winter has been miserable for millions of Ukrainians suffering at the hands of unprecedented energy blackouts caused by relentless, and targeted, Russian drone and missile strikes that have severely damaged heating and electricity infrastructure across the country.

Since at least January 9, which saw the worst Russian barrage of the new year, emergency crews have raced to keep pace with the destruction wrought by Russian attacks: substations damaged, power-line pylons toppled, heating and hot water pipes ruptured, plants shut down.

Kharkiv regional Governor Oleh Synyehubov said Russian strikes overnight on January 27 cut electricity supplies to roughly 80 percent of the city of Kharkiv and surrounding areas.

NetBlocks, a digital rights watchdog and connectivity monitoring organization, reported an Internet disruption in Kharkiv following the Russian attack.

In western Ukraine, an infrastructure facility in the Lviv region was damaged in a Russian attack, according to regional Governor Maksym Kozytskiy.

He did not specify the type of facility targeted but said emergency services were working at the scene.

Russia denies intentionally targeting civilians in Ukraine despite widespread evidence to the contrary since launching its full-scale invasion in 2022.

With reporting from RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service
Welcome to Wider Europe, RFE/RL's newsletter focusing on the key issues concerning the European Union, NATO, and other institutions and their relationships with the Western Balkans and Europe's Eastern neighborhoods.

I'm RFE/RL Europe Editor Rikard Jozwiak, and this week I'm drilling down on two issues: The EU-US plan to make Ukraine richer and the deal done in Davos on Greenland.

Briefing #1: All You Need To Know About The EU-US Prosperity Framework For Ukraine

What You Need To Know: The European Union and the United States have sketched out a "prosperity framework" for Ukraine designed to provide Kyiv with financial assurances along with security guarantees to stabilize Ukraine after the war with Russia ends. The 18-page document, seen by RFE/RL, says that while $800 billion could be mobilized for Ukraine through 2040, the immediate aim is to meet the country's need for some $500 billion in reconstruction over the next decade.

The EU, the United States and international financial institutions -- including the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank -- would participate in the initial phase, providing $317 billion for reconstruction, $57 billion for private housing, and some $126 billion for the construction of both public and private buildings. Compensation to victims would be dealt with separately through a mechanism targeting Russia's frozen assets in the West.

Speaking last week as the framework was being discussed at an informal meeting of members of the European Council, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said that it "looks at how we can boost the prosperity of Ukraine at the moment we achieve a peaceful cease-fire." "We are talking about a single document representing the collective vision of the Ukrainians, Americans, and Europe for Ukraine's post-war future," she said. The $800 billion figure comes from the war-torn country's "ambition to identify further investment opportunities that will enable its economy to grow and thrive, double its GDP, raise its productivity, and significantly improve Ukrainians' quality of life," according to the document.

Deep Background: Much of the plan depends on the war ending soon. But there are other conditions. Rapid progress toward EU accession is highlighted as a must. It is noted that the GDPs of Central and Eastern European economies that joined the club in 2004 and 2007 nearly tripled since then and that this trick can be repeated with Kyiv. While Ukraine hopes to join the club before the end of the decade, Hungary has blocked the start of accession talks for nearly two years over what Budapest sees as Ukrainian discrimination of the Hungarian-speaking minority in the country -- a spat that has now prompted leader Viktor Orban to recently state that no Hungarian parliament "in 100 years" will be ready to green-light Ukrainian EU membership.

But this is not the only condition set out in the paper. "Restoring Ukraine's access to sovereign debt markets is a critical unlock," it says, adding that this would involve "enabling banks to refocus on lending to small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and thereby stimulating job creation and the overall economy." It also mentions the need for the country to "re-establish its standing with the global investor community," which includes expanded digital infrastructure and strengthening the independence of the judiciary and property rights in the country. But where this $800 billion come from?

Drilling Down:

There are some concrete pledges of cash. The European Commission has proposed earmarking $116 billion for Ukraine in the next multi-annual EU budget, which should start in 2028 and run through 2034.

But all EU member states need to agree on this in long-winded negotiations over the next 18 months, and it's not clear if this number will remain given many EU capitals are keen to reduce EU budget expenditures in general.

There is no figure yet for Washington's expected contribution. The paper notes simply that "the United States will endeavor to raise significant additional capital (public and private, grants, equity and debt) to be invested transparently and effectively in Ukraine."

The authors also say that the return of 2.1 million migrants within the first two years of the end of the war would lead to a productivity leap of 5 percent and a potential rise in GDP per capita growth.

The document also notes that additional public capital is expected to come from "concessional loans from international financial institutions, other grants, and philanthropies" and that Ukraine "may consider the sale of mineral rights as another means to introduce private capital into Ukraine, as envisioned by the US-Ukraine Reconstruction Investment Fund."

However, the framework as it stands now gives no specific numbers. The appendix states while Ukraine's "minerals sector offers substantial investment opportunities," it cautions that "challenges persist, including longer lead times for lithium projects, the need to align with global standards, and the requirement for updated technological and geological data to support new greenfield initiatives."

Apart from the country's mineral sectors, Brussels and Washington are eyeing a number of additional fields of investment. One is the over 3,000 state-owned enterprises that could be privatized -- the paper notes such a move is "necessary to open up key sectors of the economy to private investment, remove inefficiencies, and allow for innovation and investments."

The reconstruction of over 25,000 kilometers of roads is also mentioned, as is an upgrade of the Chornomorsk port southwest of Odesa.

In the energy sector, six new nuclear reactors in Khmelnitsky and Rivne could be constructed. The text also mentions that "the United States, and potentially US companies, will aim to partner with Ukraine through co-investment to restore, grow, modernize, and operate Ukraine's gas infrastructure, which includes its pipeline and storage facilities."





Briefing #2: Whats In The 'Davos Deal' Made To Ease Transatlantic Tensions Over Greenland?

What You Need To Know: There may be a solution to the recent tension over Greenland. US President Donald Trump and NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, in a much-touted meeting held in Davos, Switzerland, on January 21, reached a framework agreement. Earlier that day, Trump had reiterated his wish to bring the Danish island under American sovereignty but ruled out force to accomplish this. But after his meeting with Rutte, he posted on social media that "we have formed the framework of a future deal with respect to Greenland and, in fact, the entire Arctic Region." "This solution, if consummated, will be a great one for the United States of America, and all Nato Nations," he added.

The agreement, which multiple RFE/RL sources insist has yet to be officially drawn up, will apparently be worked out in the coming weeks. While NATO facilitated the initial meeting, the talks will now mainly be held between the foreign ministers of the United States, Denmark, and Greenland with the potential involvement of the US Vice President JD Vance, as well. Several NATO officials and European diplomats speaking under condition of anonymity told RFE/RL that while concrete details will be ironed out later, there are some "contours" that have been sketched out.

Deep Background: One of the sticking points will continue to be the issue of sovereignty -- perhaps not of the entire island, but part of it. There have been media reports that the United States would control parts of Greenland by potentially designating them as "sovereign base areas." This would be something like Britain's currently setup in Cyprus, with some bases remaining under Londons control to date despite the island gaining independence in 1960. NATO officials whom RFE/RL has spoken to insist that "the Cyprus model was not mentioned in the meeting," with one saying that media reporting on this was likely based on speculation by officials on the direction the talks could take. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen also issued a statement after the Trump-Rutte meeting, noting that "NATO is fully aware of the Kingdom of Denmark's position. We can negotiate on everything political; security, investments, economy. But we cannot negotiate on our sovereignty."

Some other contours of the framework might, however, be easier to agree on. One includes a "brush up" of the 1951 treaty between the United States and Denmark that allowed Washington to keep its bases on Greenland and establish new ones if the United States and NATO deemed it necessary. That deal was reworked in 2004 so that consent by both Denmark and Greenland is needed for any US troop increases or new military installments. At the moment, the United States has one base there, which hosts some 200 officers working on ballistic-missile early warnings and space surveillance. During the Cold War, there were up to 10,000 US soldiers on the island. The reworking is likely to include the incorporation of the proposed American Golden Dome anti-missile system that would cover the North Atlantic, including Greenland -- a move that both Copenhagen and Nuuk are reportedly fine with.

Drilling Down:

Another aspect of the framework includes investment screening. The United States wants a say in who is allowed to invest in Greenland, with the clear intention of staving off China and Russia from gaining a foothold there. A rare-earth deal, meaning special rights for mining, would also be included and is expected to be agreed on relatively expediently.

A third aspect is greater NATO involvement in and around Greenland. This could involve the military alliance as a whole or just the so-called Arctic-7 members of the club: Canada, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, and the United States.

Whether this entails an expanded number of exercises or something more permanent remains to be seen. Along these lines, there has been much talk in Brussels of a NATO-led Arctic Sentry mission.

mission. Speaking in Brussels on January 22 after a regular meeting of all the NATO countries' chiefs of defense, the alliance's Supreme Allied Commander Europe Alexus Grynkewich said there was no "political guidance yet" for an Arctic Sentry-type of mission just yet.

"We are doing some thinking but no planning yet but we are ready and we have a ton of expertise," he said. He also said there was "never a military dimension in those (Davos) talks that came down to us."

He also confirmed that no NATO exercises are expected on Greenland in the coming months but that a regular joint US-Canadian exercise with Denmark's blessing called Norad -- involving military aircrafts from both nations -- is under way.





Looking Ahead

EU foreign ministers will meet in Brussels on January 29 and are expected to green light some sanctions on foreign powers. Firstly, they could agree on targeting a handful of Russians that the bloc considers has supported the Kremlins destabilizing activities around the world. The ministers could also wave through a raft of sanctions on prominent members of the Iranian regime responsible for the deadly crackdown on protesters in the country in recent weeks.

That's all for this week!

Feel free to reach out to me on any of these issues on X @RikardJozwiak, or on e-mail at jozwiakr@rferl.org.

Until next time,

Rikard Jozwiak

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The outrage sparked by the death of U.S. citizen Alex Pretti at the hands of immigration agents last weekend has derailed what was thought to be a sure thing to approve funding for part of the government, potentially leading to a partial government shutdown later this week. The Senate will reconvene on Tuesday in an attempt to approve a budget that includes funding for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which oversees Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the U.S. Border Patrol, the agencies responsible for Prettis fatal shooting as he tried to protect a woman from the agents attacks. Several Democratic senators who had been inclined to support the budget to avoid a partial shutdown have changed their minds and announced they will vote against it, further diminishing the likelihood of the proposals passage.

Sixty votes are required for passage, so at least seven Democratic lawmakers need to join the 53 Republicans. Washington State Senator Patty Murray, the top Democrat on the Senate Appropriations Committee and a key negotiator of the funding package, who had been urging her colleagues to vote for the bill, declared on X: I will NOT support the DHS bill as it stands. Federal agents cannot murder people in broad daylight and face zero consequences, Murray wrote.

The House of Representatives sent the six pending appropriations bills to the Senate in a single package, including $64.4 billion for the DHS, of which $10 billion is earmarked for ICE. Although Democrats had generally tried to remove the DHS funding from the package in order to pass the rest of the budgets, some opposition senators had indicated their willingness to support it. However, following Prettis death, Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer warned that Democrats would not support it. Whats happening in Minnesota is appalling  and unacceptable in any American city, he wrote on X. Senate Democrats will not provide the votes to proceed to the appropriations bill if the DHS funding bill is included, he emphasized.

The hardening of the Democratic stance is a consequence of the Trump administrations response to the death of Pretti, a 37-year-old intensive care nurse at a veterans hospital, who was shot and killed by Border Patrol agents. The government has justified the officers actions by claiming that the victim was carrying a gun, but videos recorded by witnesses contradict the official version. The footage shows Pretti holding a phone in one hand and nothing in the other as he tries to protect a woman being pepper-sprayed. The agents threw him to the ground and beat him before shooting him.

If senators do not act by midnight on Friday, funding for the DHS and other federal agencies included in the six bills will expire. Republican leaders had hoped to avoid another government shutdown after the 43-day shutdown last fall, when Democrats refused to pass a bill that eliminated federal subsidies that make health insurance more affordable. Even some senators who voted for the budget at that time to end the longest government shutdown in U.S. history have warned that they will not support the funding package this time. This is the case of Nevada Democratic Senator Catherine Cortez Masto, who said in a statement that the Trump Administration and Kristi Noem are putting undertrained, combative federal agents on the streets with no accountability. They are oppressing Americans and are at odds with local law enforcement. This is clearly not about keeping Americans safe, its brutalizing U.S. citizens and law-abiding immigrants.

The brutal actions of federal agents  who are employing very aggressive tactics against the population protesting against the detention of migrants  have already raised tensions among Republicans themselves after the death of Renee Good, an American citizen who was killed on January 7 by shots fired by an ICE agent.

Republican lawmakers approved a major funding boost for ICE last year, but after the two shooting deaths in Minnesota, some are demanding answers from the Trump administration. Louisiana Senator Bill Cassidy said the Minneapolis shooting was incredibly disturbing and that the credibility of ICE and DHS are at stake. Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowski said that lawfully carrying a firearm does not justify federal agents killing an American  especially, as video footage appears to show, after the victim had been disarmed. North Carolina Senator Thom Tillis said any administration official who rushes to judgment or tries to obstruct an investigation are doing an incredible disservice to the nation and to President Trumps legacy.

The progress Congress has made so far on the spending bills means that much of the federal governments work would continue even if the Senate does not pass the new package. A bill Trump signed on Friday funds the Departments of Justice, Commerce, and the Interior, the Environmental Protection Agency, NASA, and the Army Corps of Engineers through the end of the fiscal year in September. The Department of Agriculture already had funding thanks to a previous measure, but other parts of the government, including the Department of Defense, continue to operate on a temporary budget that only guarantees funding through Friday.

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By Grainne Ni Aodha, Press Association

An anti-ICE protest has been held in Dublin city after a nurse was shot in the city of Minneapolis, Minnesota, over the weekend.

People Before Profit organised the protest at the Spire to call on the government to drop the traditional White House visit for St Patricks Day, and to express solidarity with the strikes against President Donald Trump in the US.

Tensions have increased in Minneapolis after Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old intensive care unit nurse, was shot dead by members of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) as he protested against Mr Trumps immigration crackdown.

Avery Vogt, from Minneapolis  who is a UCD student, thanked the protesters who attended the event in Dublin on Monday evening.

She said it was an immense privilege to be safe in Dublin, but added that it wrecks me everyday having to go through everyday life not knowing whats going on and knowing what the people that raised me are going through.

She said she travelled back to Minneapolis over the Christmas break, but said it was completely different under Mr Trump.

She added: People are disappearing off the streets and the feeling of fear is palpable.

Its like everyone is holding their breath.
Parts of the country are struggling to recover from the devastation caused by Storm Eowyn, and the slow response risks repeating the chaos when the next major weather event arrives, a Fine Gael Senator has said.

Senator Gareth Scahill said that despite the unprecedented scale of the storms impact, not only felt on the countrys electricity network but also across Irelands forests, Ireland remains exposed and underprepared.

Coillte confirmed this week, a year on from the storm, that the clean-up of more than 26,000 hectares of damaged forest will now continue into the middle of 2027 with an estimated 50 million trees blown over or damaged and recovery costs are expected to exceed 60 million.

Storm Eowyn left more than 768,000 electricity customers without power, many for days on end. That level of disruption was unacceptable then, and would be even more unacceptable now, he said.

He said the prolonged forestry recovery, which is still only about 20% complete, shows how deeply the storm exposed weaknesses in national infrastructure and emergency planning.

If a storm of similar strength hit tomorrow, we all know the outcome would be the same. That is a failure of planning and shouldnt be an inevitable consequence. Senator Scahill criticised the lack of progress on the Electricity (Supply) (Amendment) Bill 2025, legislation he has repeatedly demanded should be fast-tracked. The bill would give ESB Networks the power to manage vegetation near power lines, set up statutory forestry corridors and give a framework for landowner compensation.

The heads of the bill were approved last summer. However, since then nothing has changed and there doesnt seem to be any urgency. My constituents are tired of vague assurances. They want to know how long they will be without power when the next storm hits.

He also pointed to recent research published by Met Eireann which showed man-made climate change increases the likelihood of storms like Eowyn in the future.

The science is unambiguous. These storms are becoming more frequent and more destructive. Ignoring that reality is reckless. We need stronger infrastructure, stronger legislation and stronger political will.

He called on the Government to take immediate action to strengthen Irelands energy and environmental resilience, warning that the prolonged recovery effort by Coillte should serve as a clear reminder of the consequences of inaction.
The community around Lough Funshinagh has expressed its heartfelt sympathy to people affected by flooding caused by Storm Chandra.

In an online message this evening, the Lough Funshinagh Flood Crisis Committee said its hearts today go out to all those impacted by flooding right across the country.

It is devastating to see so many homes and businesses destroyed by flooding while we all observe ongoing delays to flood relief works, the committee said. Many communities including our own are waiting far too long for action - decades in many cases.

The committee said that the current Government needs to start taking flood risk management far more seriously, and take a more proactive approach to flood management.

The acceleration of climate adaptation measures need to be prioritised.

Members of the committee are to meet local Oireachtas representatives tomorrow over the delayed long term solution to the flood crisis at the lake.

The committee will meet with Claire Kerrane TD, Michael Fitzmaurice TD, Dr Martin Daly TD, and Senator Gareth Scahill about the planned overflow pipe. The meeting will take place in Government Buildings in Dublin tomorrow, Wednesday, January 28th.

It has been almost 12 months since the temporary pumping solution at the lake, which has a has a 24 month planning permission, was officially switched on in March 2025. Since the end of September, the water levels at the lake have steadily increased.

There was disappointment after it emerged last November that the application for a permanent solution to flooding at Lough Funshinagh would be delayed by six to possibly 12 months. It had been hoped that the application for the project would be submitted to An Coimisiun Pleanala by the end of 2025.

Locals have become increasingly disappointed with the pace of the planning application and were taken aback with revised timelines for the submission which were communicated to them last year, said the committee in a statement to this paper, written by committee Secretary Geraldine Murray. The committee is calling for renewed focus on the project and continued involvement of political leaders including Taoiseach Micheal Martin and Tanaiste Simon Harris. They are deeply concerned with the persistent delays and setbacks that have affected this project for several years, and are determined to ensure that complacency does not set in. This is still very much an emergency situation and that classification should remain in place until the proposed solution is completely operable.

The committee hopes that the meeting can get this very important issue back to the top table of Government, bring back much needed political leadership to this crisis, and help bring an end to this 10-year problem so that young and old within the community can get on with their lives once and for all.
By Grainne Ni Aodha, Press Association

Sexualised deepfake images are being created every day in Northern Ireland, the Assembly has been told.

NI justice minister Naomi Long said that she was deeply concerned about the exponential rise in non-consensual sexualised deepfakes, and said she would legislate against the creation of such images of adults by March.

She said that minors who use sexualised deepfakes against their peers is already illegal, and warned it could have serious consequences for them for the rest of their lives.

A motion on artificial intelligence (AI) and online violence against women and girls was passed at the Assembly on Monday by SDLP MLAs Cara Hunter and Colin McGrath.

Ms Hunter has spoken out previously about how she feared a deepfake pornographic video of her shared online in April 2022 would ruin her political career.

The motion expresses grave concern at the use of AI to perpetrate online violence against women and girls and condemns the creation and sharing of non-consensual intimate images, including AI-generated deepfakes, as a serious form of abuse.

It also calls on the Ms Long to ensure that effective criminal offences, enforcement powers, and victim protections are in place no later than those in England and Wales.

There has been strong criticism of AI after tech billionaire Elon Musks chatbot Grok started producing non-consensual sexualised deepfakes of women and minors on the social media site X.

Speaking in the chamber on Monday, Ms Hunter said the motion looked to recognise a new and rapid-evolving entry point for that violence, one that this Assembly can no longer afford to ignore.

Deepfake and so-called nudification apps represent a profound abuse of technology, they are designed to violate, humiliate and control, she said.

She said that while women and girls are the main targets, they can also be used against men and boys.

These apps are being used every day in Northern Ireland, in our schools, in our workplaces and sadly, in our communities.

Children are having their images manipulated and shared before they fully understand what is actually happening. Lives are being altered in minutes, sometimes irreversibly.

She shared some testimonies from people who had been victims of sexualised deepfakes, including a student and TV presenter Grainne Seoige, who last week said a deepfake of her was deeply traumatising.

Ms Long said Grok had brought into focus how technology could also be used by those with malign intent against women and girls.

She said she had introduced protections for women and girls, both online and in person, and new laws would strengthen measures to tackle abusive imagery.

Sadly, those with malign intent always will find new ways to continue this abuse, she said.

Now women and girls have to face the growing threat of having their image sexually manipulated online and I am deeply concerned about the exponential rise in the proliferation of non-consensual sexually explicit deepfake image abuse online and, unfortunately, AI tools have made it easier to create those abusive images.

She said this was a form of sexual abuse targeted mostly at women and girls, and said they were done to humiliate, to harm and to abuse them.

She added: Currently there is no legislation governing sexually explicit deepfake images of adults, but I am determined to address this gap and the threat and harm caused by these images.

I will introduce a new deepfake offence by way of an amendment. It will be tabled at Consideration stage of the Justice Bill which is currently before the Assembly.

The aim is to have the offence completed in March.
Gordon Deegan

Tusla, the Child and Family Agency (CFA) has commenced paying out each week on an estimated 1 million+ per annum cost for a bed at an overseas care facility for a vulnerable and at-risk teenager, but the bed has yet to be taken up due to legal hurdles, a court has heard.

At the Family Law Court in Ennis, solicitor for Tusla, Kevin Sherry, told Judge Alec Gabbett that Tusla is currently spending "a sizeable chunk every week until the child takes it up.

The designated Tusla social worker in the case last month told Judge Gabbett that the cost to Tusla of accommodating the teenager at the therapeutic centre in Scotland will be 23,000 per week (26,500).

On an annualised basis, this works out at 1.196 million (1.38 million).

After hearing that the child has yet to travel to Scotland to take up the placement due to legal issues, Judge Gabbett said that the Tusla spending money on the bed and the teenager is not there yet is not acceptable from an Ireland Inc perspective.

Judge Gabbett said that the sooner the child goes there, the better.

He said: It is a matter of State resources as well - if a bed is there and being paid for and the child isnt getting to use the bed - that is very significant. You are paying for a service you are not using.

Judge Gabbett said: The child should be there and the public purse is spending money that could be otherwise better spent - lets get our ducks in a row.

He said: We have been making very good progress all the same to be fair.

Mr Sherry said that Tusla has received consent to the move from the Scottish central authority which stated that it has no objection to the placement.

Mr Sherry said that Tusla is seeking a more concrete consent from the Scottish authorities for the placement to proceed and confirmed to Judge Gabbett that he has jurisdiction to make the order giving the placement the go-ahead.

Mr Sherry told Judge Gabbett that he has legal authority to make the order, and it doesnt require a High Court order as the placement is not a secure unit but for a voluntary therapeutic care facility.

Mr Sherry said that he would provide legal opinion on that to Judge Gabbett.

Judge Gabbett said: If I have the law, I will make the order and it is definitely in the childs interests to go because it is a very good place to be.

Mr Sherry said that a mirror court order is required in Scotland for the move to proceed and work on that is proceeding. He said: It is all in hand.

Mr Sherry confirmed to Judge Gabbett that Tusla has approved the spend on the overseas placement since the case was last before Judge Gabbett in December.

Solicitor, David McCoy for the childs independent voice in the case, the Guardian ad Litem said that all the developments so far are welcome, but it does need to move faster than it is.

He said that the presentation of the teenager is deteriorating.

Last month, the designated Tusla social worker told the court that the facility includes an on-site therapeutic school that is ADHD friendly.

She said: We just dont have that here.

Judge Gabbett adjourned the case to February 5th.
Feb. 4, the 73rd National Hard Spring Wheat Show will open at the Grand Williston Hotel and Conference Center, Williston, ND, where scientists, producers, financial advisors, and agricultural professionals will gather to share the latest developments and information vital to the wheat industry in North Dakota and surrounding region.

The Wheat Show will begin at 7 a.m. with the free "Ag Appreciation Breakfast" sponsored by American State Bank and Trust. At 8:15 a.m., Williams County Commissioner Beau Anderson and Williams County Commodity Elections President Brian Kaae, along with Ag & Natural Resources Agent Kelly Leo will welcome attendees.

Mark Ewens, Home on the Prairie Weather, will kick off the first speaking section, with "A Climate Game-Changer: How one volcano has changed everything".

Following at 9:30 a.m., Evan Shout, Maverick Ag CFO and founder, will share "Cost Management in Agriculture"; bulletproofing your budget as a producer, even in the face of volatile markets, weather, and politics.

A break for The Commodity Election will be taken at 10:30 a.m. At 11 a.m., Brian Jenks will share his 2026 Weed Control Update.

The awards lunch, and sponsor recognition, will follow at 12 noon.

Andrew Friskop will speak at 1 p.m. on "Wheat Disease Trends and Employing the Best Management Tools". Andrew Green will present "Wheat Breeding for Western North Dakota" at 2 p.m.

After a break at 3 p.m., the show will end with Dr. Frayne Olson sharing his "2026 Crop Market and Trade Outlook".
Low oil prices affecting areas outside Bakken, too

Jacob Orledge, North Dakota Monitor, northdakotamonitor.com

A leading North Dakota oil producer is pausing new drilling amid low oil prices, but state regulators emphasized the company is not exiting the Bakken.

Continental Resources Founder Harold Hamm said in a recent interview it will be the first time in 30 years the company will not operate a drilling rig in the state. But the company, the No. 2 oil producer in North Dakota, will continue to operate existing wells and likely reevaluate the economics of drilling in a few months.

"Continental is not pulling up stakes and leaving the state," Gov. Kelly Armstrong said during the meeting of the North Dakota Industrial Commission.

Continental Resources had been operating three drilling rigs in North Dakota, but one has ceased operations, said Nathan Anderson, Department of Mineral Resources director. The two other rigs are expected to go offline by early March, Anderson said.

Hamm told Bloomberg News that oil and gas companies are reassessing their drilling activity in all oil fields, not just North Dakota's Bakken, due to thin profit margins.

"There's no need to drill it when margins are basically gone," Hamm said in the article.

A public relations representative from Continental Resources did not return a phone call seeking comment.

The breakeven price for companies operating in North Dakota ranges from $50 per barrel to $65 per barrel in West Texas Intermediate prices, depending on the geographic location, Anderson said. The price of WTI oil was $60 per barrel as of the morning of Jan. 20.

Low oil prices are likely to continue unless the supply of crude oil on the international market drops significantly or if demand grows quickly.

"It's a world problem. It's not just a North Dakota issue," Anderson said. "We're oversupplied by 2 (million) to 3 million barrels right now."

There are 30 active drilling rigs in North Dakota, three fewer than a year ago at this time, Department of Mineral Resources data shows. By comparison, the state had 27 drilling rigs operating during a downturn in 2016 and 11 rigs operating amid the COVID-19 downturn in the summer of 2020.

"To be clear, this isn't the first time an oil company has laid down rigs," Armstrong said. "It's happened a lot."

Anderson said he has heard from two other companies that have indicated they plan to halt drilling in the Bakken.

Ron Ness, North Dakota Petroleum Council president, said a divide has been developing between privately-owned companies and public companies traded on the stock market.

"The private companies have taken similar actions, or are in the process of taking similar actions," Ness said. "The public companies have maybe gone from three rigs back to two rigs, tapping the brakes a little bit."

North Dakota produced an average of 1.1 million barrels of oil per day in October, the most recent figures available. Only Texas and New Mexico produce more.

While companies will sometimes shut in production due to low prices, Ness said he has not heard of that happening at this time.

"You're still producing the wells that you have," Ness said. "We're still going to make 1.1 million barrels a day for a while, but it will decline the longer this goes on."

Sen. Brad Bekkedahl, R-Williston, said if other operators stop drilling, that impacts state oil tax revenue as well as sales tax revenue.

Many drilling and hydraulic fracturing crews are based in Williston, Bekkedahl said, which means downturns in activity have a significant impact on the local community.

"As they start to downsize their operations, we take significant reductions in population to the city of Williston," he said.
WILLISTON, N.D.- The City of Williston is proud to announce that Williston Fire Department Interim Chief Corey Johnson has been accepted into the Fire Service Executive Development Institute (FSEDI) by the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC).

Chief Johnson competed with applicants from across the country and Canada to become a member of the 2026 cohort program, which is a year-long leadership-development program. It was created and implemented by the IAFC to provide new and aspiring chiefs with the tools they need to have successful and productive tenures. The members of the cohort will meet four times in the coming year. One of the meetings will take place at the Fire Rescue International conference in Kansas City. Between onsite sessions the cohort group will communicate using an online community. They will meet for their first session at the Maritime Conference Center in Linthicum Heights MD, during the week February 16-20, 2026.

Assistant Chief of Operations Corey Johnson was appointed Interim Fire Chief in November 2025 and has served the City of Williston for the past 10 years in various operations-level positions and interim capacities, advancing through the ranks to his current position. Corey has 18 years of experience in emergency response, including fire and EMS and in 2023 became accredited as a Chief Fire Officer by the Center for Public Safety Excellence.

"It is a great honor to be accepted into the FSEDI program. The IAFC does so much work advocating for the fire service and the continued development of our profession." Chief Johnson said. "I'm most excited about the networking opportunities and working with the other Chief officers from all over the country. I look forward to sharing our experiences from North Dakota and learning from others. The teamwork and sharing of ideas are what truly makes the fire service great. I'm grateful for the support from the City of Williston to participate in this program and represent our community."

"Chief Johnson's acceptance into the Fire Service Executive Development Institute is a well-deserved recognition of his leadership, experience, and commitment to the profession," added City Administrator Shawn Wenko. "This type of department specific executive-level training helps ensure our fire department continues to serve the community safely, efficiently, and with a strong focus on long-term readiness."

This is the fourteenth year that the Motorola Solutions Foundation has provided the IAFC with a grant to fund the program. The IAFC's Fire Service Executive Development Program has become the premier career- and leadership-development program in the fire and rescue services thanks to the generous support of the Motorola Solutions Foundation. Numerous chief officers from the previous cohort programs have been successful in achieving fire chief positions and serving as officers in several fire service organizations.
The Border Patrol commander, who has been relieved of his duties in Minneapolis, enjoys the tough guy image that won him the presidents favor

Dozens of agents, their faces covered even beneath gas masks, bulletproof vests, and riot gear, lined up in front of the Minneapolis federal building where the Trump administration has maintained the central base of its intense immigration operation in the city for weeks. Across the freezing street, a group of protesters hurled insults at them. From among the officers emerged Gregory Bovino. He wore a long, double-breasted, military-green coat and a matching scarf to protect himself from the sub-zero temperatures. Yellow patches on each shoulder identified him as a U.S. Border Patrol agent. He scanned the crowd from side to side, whispered a few words, and disappeared again among the agents. Seconds later, they charged the protesters with tear gas and pepper spray.

It was nothing new in the operations that Bovino, 55, has led against immigration in recent months in several U.S. cities, operations that have earned him criticism, lawsuits, and the approval of President Donald Trump  at least until he was relieved of his duties in Minneapolis on Monday and replaced with the White Houses border czar, Tom Homan. Bovinos rise to the position of commander at large of the Border Patrol, as designated by Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, coincided with Trumps dissatisfaction with the pace of migrant deportations, insufficient to achieve his goal of carrying out the largest deportation in history. The Republican criticized Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for not making more arrests and, to remedy this, last June he turned to Bovino, a proponent of more aggressive tactics, who has been present at the main flash points in the country.

Minneapolis was Bovinos latest stop, but his face first became known to the public in June of last year when Trump put him in charge of the anti-immigration campaign in Los Angeles, which resulted in thousands of arrests. Chicago, Charlotte (North Carolina), and New Orleans followed.

During the operation in California, agents smashed car windows, broke down doors of residences, and patrolled MacArthur Park on horseback, spreading fear among the population. The speed and forcefulness of the operation were unprecedented. Bovinos professional rise illustrated the radical shift that immigration policy has undergone during Trumps second term.

In September, the Republican put him in charge of Operation Midway Blitz in Chicago, where his controversial methods in detaining migrants met with strong public opposition. Bovino ordered his agents to charge violently against protesters, and he himself was filmed using tear gas. A federal judge in Chicago, who had prohibited such methods, determined that Bovino lied under oath during depositions related to his operations and required him to provide daily reports on the actions of his agents, although an appeals court overturned that ruling.

Gregory Bovino during an operation in Columbia Heights, Minneapolis, on January 13. Adam Gray (AP)

Under Bovinos command, agents routinely deployed pepper spray and tear gas, and even used a helicopter to raid a house in an operation more reminiscent of a Hollywood film. Bovino, in fact, likes to present himself as a tough guy in an action movie. Clad in his tactical gear, he enjoys appearing in videos and photos wielding high-caliber weapons. His profile picture on the social network X shows him wearing a bulletproof vest and carrying an M4 assault rifle with a telescopic sight, and he posts videos of his agents operations set to action-movie music, often using slow motion.

His foray into propaganda began in his previous role as chief of the Border Patrol in the El Centro sector of southeastern California. In September 2020, shortly after taking command, his social media team posted a fictional video depicting a supposed migrant entering the United States and murdering the first person he encountered. The video had to be taken down due to the controversy it generated.

Meteoric rise

Bovino grew up in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina, part of the Appalachian mountain range. He studied natural resources and public administration and joined the Border Patrol in 1996. In 2004, he was appointed deputy chief of the Special Operations Division at the Washington headquarters of Customs and Border Protection (CBP), the agency that oversees the Border Patrol. In 2018, he was assigned as patrol chief for the New Orleans sector.

From his post in El Centro, California, Bovino was highly critical of the influx of migrants during the presidency of Democrat Joe Biden. He testified before Congress twice, and on one occasion, he was urged to retire. However, Bovino became a hero of the Trumpian MAGA movement. Republican administration officials describe him as a tough guy, a badass.

Just a month before Trumps return to the White House, Bovino did his best to curry favor with the new president. Two weeks before the inauguration, he sent dozens of agents to Kern County in Californias Central Valley to conduct arrests at gas stations and along the highway, terrorizing the migrant community in the agricultural heartland of the nations most populous state.

Bovino then announced that the operation was intended to arrest criminals, but only one of the 78 detainees had a criminal record. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) filed a lawsuit on behalf of the United Farm Workers union and five Kern County residents, accusing the agency of racial discrimination and of coercing at least 40 detained migrants into accepting voluntary deportation.

The use of racial profiling in arrests  prioritizing people with darker skin tones or who dont speak English well  is a pattern that has drawn criticism in Los Angeles, Chicago, and Minneapolis. Bovino has denied the allegations and this week declared in Minnesota that the operations are lawful, they are targeted, and they are focused on individuals who pose a serious threat. They are not random and they are not political, he asserted.

His penchant for violence has earned him enemies, and the government has been working hard to defend him, despite his removal from the fray in Minneapolis. Last Thursday, Juan Espinoza Martinez, 37, went on trial in Chicago for allegedly offering a $10,000 reward for Bovinos life, according to the prosecution. Defense attorneys said the defendant, a carpenter with about $20 in his bank account, sent messages amounting to neighborhood gossip to his brother and a friend, who turned out to be a government informant. After less than four hours of deliberation, the jury found him not guilty.

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MonDak Heritage Mural Receives $8,938

Helena - The Montana 250th Commission is proud to announce the recipients of its grant program, awarding $419,721 to 32 organizations across Montana to commemorate America's 250th anniversary in 2026. The grants will support diverse projects that deepen understanding of Montana's culture and heritage while connecting communities to the nation's semiquincentennial.

Following a call for submissions in September, the Commission received 84 applications requesting a total of $2,404,367 in funding. A review committee then evaluated and scored all applications before presenting recommendations to the full Commission, which voted to approve the final awards after discussion at its December meeting.

"With recipients in communities as diverse as Kalispell and Ekalaka, Sidney and Butte, these grants represent Montana's commitment to commemorating this historic milestone in ways that reflect the unique character of our state and its people," said Commission Chair Chris Averill. "From Indigenous history exhibits to veterans' memorials, from oral history projects to educational programs, these initiatives provide an opportunity for all Montanans to engage with our shared history and connect with one another on a personal level. We are excited to see the results of these projects, and we thank all applicants for sharing their ideas with us."

Grant Recipients

The funded projects span the state and encompass a wide range of commemorative activities:

Little Big Horn College  The Way of the Warrior: Crow Indian Intertribal Warfare in Defense of Crow Country  $32,874

Montana Arts Council  Montana 12,250 Anthology  $30,000

Humanities Montana  Montana Conversations: Our Montana Voices  $25,000

Chickadee Community Services  IndigiPalooza MT  $25,000

Northwest Montana Historical Society Inc  Indigenous Northwest Montana History Exhibit Update  $23,300

City of Hardin  The Power of Place: Voices of Big Horn County GPS Audio Tour  $20,000

Montana Jewish Project  Living Stories of Jewish Montana  $20,000

Tell Us Something  Tell Us Something  $19,710

Museum of the Rockies  America at 250: History Comes Alive at Museum of the Rockies  $18,062

Carter County Geological Society  American Horse Power  $15,470

2nd U.S. Cavalry Association of Helena Montana  A Celebration of the Montana Territory  $14,000

Glacier Art Museum (formerly Hockaday Museum of Art)  The Traveling Medicine Show: Blackfeet History and Culture Through Art and Story  $12,500

Friends of the Montana Constitution  Teaching Montana's Constitution: A Summer Workshop for Educators  $12,000

Stillwater Historical Society/Museum of the Beartooths  Stillwater County 250th American Anniversary Collaborative Mural  $12,000

Upper Blackfoot Valley Historical Society  Our Historic Home  $10,125

Sidney Chamber of Commerce & Agriculture  Sidney Veterans Memorial Park - Memorial Pillars  $10,000

Friends of the Madison Valley Public Library  Montana Monthly  $9,850

Julia Hancock Chapter, NSDAR  From Patriots to Pioneers: Celebrating Liberty in the Heart of Montana  $9,750

Travelers' Rest Connection  25 Events for 25 Years of Travelers' Rest State Park  $9,200

Anaconda-Deer Lodge County  Anaconda Oral Histories  $9,000

Rocky Mountain Museum of Military History  Revolution in the West: The Clark Family Saga  $9,000

MonDak Heritage Center  MonDak Heritage Mural with MonDak 250 Written Word Contest  $8,938

Choteau Elementary School  Montana Living History Wax Museum  $8,750

Fergus County  Montana- Liberty's Frontier-1776-2026  $8,500

BioRegions International  Connection to Place: Story Workshops  $6,600

Friends of the Butte Archives  Butte: The City that Built a Nation  $6,245

Town of Cascade, Montana  Cascade's America 250-A Year of Doing History  $6,000

Oro Fino Chapter of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution  A Celebration of our Country's 250th birthday: Montana Style  $6,000

Conrad Mansion Museum  Preserving Montana's Story: Archival Internship at the Conrad Mansion Museum  $5,800

Town of Alberton  Alberton Historical Museum Upgrades  $5,550

Billings Public Schools  Connecting Then and There to Here: An exploration of the Holocaust, The Indigenous Boarding School Era, and Japanese American Incarceration  $5,497

Montana Masonic Foundation  Revolutionary Freemasonry  $5,000

All funded projects align with the Commission's guiding themes of "Doing History", "Our Ongoing American Experiment" and "The Power of Place", and must be completed and available to the public by Dec. 31, 2026.

The Montana 250th Commission was established by the 2023 Montana Legislature through House Bill 377 to coordinate statewide efforts commemorating the United States Semiquincentennial. The commission promotes civic engagement and increases public awareness of United States and Montana government and history, including the rich history of Tribal nations. The 2025 Montana Legislature provided a $1 million appropriation for the Commission in House Bill 2, including the funding awarded to the announced grant recipients.

"The Commission is grateful to the Legislature for the funding, and to Governor Gianforte for signing HB 2 into law," said Averill. "We continue to ensure that taxpayer dollars are spent wisely on activities that recognize the tremendous history of America, Montana, and our Tribal Nations; that bring Montanans together in celebration of America's founding; and that educate Montana students and the general public on U.S., Montana, and Tribal history and government and our shared civic responsibility."

Additional Funding Opportunity

Applications will open in February 2026 for a separate Montana 250 Sponsorship Program, which will provide $500 to $5,000 in funding for events and activities that increase awareness of the United States Semiquincentennial. Awards will be given on a rolling basis for qualifying events scheduled between March and December 2026. For more information about the Montana 250 Grant Program or the upcoming Sponsorship Program, visit http://www.america250mt.org or contact the Montana 250 Coordinator at [email protected].
LYIP Urges Citizens To Write In Support Of Lower Yellowstone River Fish Conservation Act

The Lower Yellowstone Irrigation Project (LYIP) is asking the community to write and submit letters in support of the Lower Yellowstone River Fish Conservation Act (SB 3409 / HR 6568) by Feb. 1. LYIP Project Manager James Brower will be traveling to Washington D.C. to testify in support of the legislation before Congress on Feb. 4.

Letters can be written by individuals, organizations, clubs and businesses. They can be as simple as "I support the Lower Yellowstone River Native Fish Conservation Act (SB 3409 / HR 6568)." If the public has questions or would like help writing a letter of support they can contact LYIP at 406-433-1306 or [email protected]. The letters can be submitted by email, post mail or brought to the LYIP office at 2327 Lincoln Ave. SE, Sidney, MT 59270. LYIP can also arrange to pick up letters if none of these options are available.

"The Lower Yellowstone Irrigation Project is going to Washington D.C. to fight to keep the federal government from doubling the irrigation taxes and ruining our farmers and ranchers. Anybody's letter of support helps motivate the legislators to vote to protect them, our area economy and our community's water supply," said Brower.

LYIP and the local community are familiar with fighting for the survival of the irrigation district. In 2015, lawyers from the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, the U.S. Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks, the Army Corps of Engineers and Lower Yellowstone Irrigation Project argued against a temporary injunction on the proposed Intake diversion project with lawyers representing the Defenders of Wildlife and Natural Resources Defense Council in a Great Falls District Courtroom. The battle lasted three years and in 2018 the injunction was lifted and construction of the bypass channel and new wier near Intake was able to begin. "This time we've got a bill. This is for the good of endangered species, fish and for the good of the American farmer, who is the true endangered species," Brower stated.

The Lower Yellowstone River Fish Conservation Act was introduced by Congressman Troy Downing and Senator Steve Daines. The bill reaffirms that the Bureau of Reclamation retains exclusive ownership, operational control, and financial responsibility for the Lower Yellowstone fish bypass channel, built to support the recovery of the endangered pallid sturgeon. The bill provides protections for irrigators, ensuring that local communities are not unfairly charged for federal projects and are protected from bearing the costs of long-term conservation efforts.

The Lower Yellowstone fish bypass channel is a 2.1-mile-long engineered fish passage channel constructed near Intake, designed to facilitate the migration of pallid sturgeon and other fish. The Lower Yellowstone Project was authorized in 1904 as a single purpose irritation project. The Project irrigates about 58,000 acres on more than 400 farms in Eastern Montana and Western North Dakota.

LYIP has been providing farmers and ranchers in the area with irrigation water since 1909. These irrigated lands are vital to the local economy and are the reason Richland County and surrounding areas exist as we know them today. Without the vast amount of water delivered across the valley in the hottest and driest times of the year, 90% of drinking wells (including the City of Sidney's) would likely go dry according to a 10-year study by the Montana Department of Mines & Geology.

The Lower Yellowstone Federal Endangered Species Recovery Project was authorized in 2007 and built by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Completed in 2022, the fish bypass is located outside the Lower Yellowstone Irrigation District's boundaries and has cost $3 million per year on average to repair ongoing erosion. The local farmers and LYIP cannot afford to reimburse the Bureau of Reclamation for repair and maintenance costs of the fish bypass channel. The Lower Yellowstone River Native Fish Conservation Act is necessary to provide continued protection to the pallid sturgeon and other species as well as our local economy.
By producing seeds locally, the state hopes to encourage crop diversification and support the burgeoning biofuel industry. File Photo.

This dependency forces farmers to pay high prices due to high transportation and storage expenses.

Maize Magic: New February Trials Target Massive Savings for Punjabs Growers

The Indian Institute of Maize Research (IIMR) is set to launch trials for hybrid maize seed production in Punjab starting this February. This initiative aims to break the states heavy dependency on southern India for quality seeds and drastically reduce cultivation costs for local farmers.

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IIMR Director Hanuman Sahay Jat said that Punjab currently imports nearly 95% of its hybrid maize seeds from Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. This dependency forces farmers to pay high prices due to high transportation and storage expenses.

Senior breeder Bhupender Kumar highlighted that Punjab farmers currently pay up to INR 1,000 per kg for maize seeds sourced from the south. He said that localised production could bring the cost of production and processing down to just INR 5060 per kg, significantly boosting farmers' profitability.

The upcoming February trials will focus on the spring season, with researchers identifying specific farmers, including potato growers, for the project. Senior maize breeder Bhupender Kumar said that the initiative follows successful late-Kharif trials conducted in Mogas Gajiana village.

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The research indicates that seeds harvested in the late Kharif season can be used immediately for spring sowing, eliminating the need for expensive long-term storage. By producing seeds locally, the state hopes to encourage crop diversification and support the burgeoning biofuel industry, offering a viable alternative to the traditional water-intensive paddy-wheat cycle.

Progressive farmers noted that this success would open new avenues, ensuring the availability of quality seeds while meeting the governments twin targets of diversification and ethanol production.

Source: Hindustan Times
Operations at major lenders like State Bank of India, Punjab National Bank, and Bank of Baroda are expected to be hit, specifically affecting cash deposits, withdrawals, and cheque clearances. File Photo.

The primary demand is the official notification of a five-day workweek.



Cash Crunch vs. Burnout: Nationwide Bank Strike Shuts Branches for 5-Day Week Decree

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Public sector bank employees have launched a nationwide strike on Tuesday, causing significant disruptions to banking operations across India. The strike was called by the United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU), an umbrella body of nine unions, after conciliation meetings with the Chief Labour Commissioner on January 22 and 23 failed to yield results.

According to C H Venkatachalam, general secretary of the All India Bank Employees Association (AIBEA), unions were compelled to proceed after receiving no assurances on their demands. The strike follows a four-day holiday stretch including Republic Day, marking the fifth consecutive day of disrupted branch services. Operations at major lenders like State Bank of India, Punjab National Bank, and Bank of Baroda are expected to be hit, specifically affecting cash deposits, withdrawals, and cheque clearances.

The primary demand is the official notification of a five-day workweek. Rupam Roy, general secretary of the All India Bank Officers' Confederation (AIBOC), said that unions have already agreed to work an extra 40 minutes daily to ensure no loss of man-hours.

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While digital services like UPI and internet banking remain functional, private sector banks such as HDFC and ICICI are operating normally.

L Chandrasekhar, general secretary of the National Confederation of Bank Employees, emphasised that the movement is for a "sustainable and efficient banking system" rather than to inconvenience customers.

Source: Times of India

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India Defence Minister, EU Vice President hold meeting on bilateral security and defence issues

The partnership will become a force multiplier by integrating supply chains for building trusted defence ecosystems..."

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh held a meeting with the High Representative and Vice President of the European Union (EU) Commission, Kaja Kallas, in New Delhi on January 27, 2026, to discuss bilateral security and defence issues. The discussions included opportunities for integrating supply chains to build trusted defence ecosystems and future-ready capabilities.

Singh said that India and the EU share the principles of democracy, pluralism, and the rule of law, which underpin their steadily deepening partnership. He added that India seeks to translate these shared values into practical cooperation for global stability, sustainable growth, and inclusive prosperity.

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The defence minister emphasised that Indian and EU defence industries must synergise their efforts for the larger global good, noting that such cooperation complements Indias vision of 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat' while aligning with the EUs pursuit of strategic autonomy.

The partnership will become a force multiplier by integrating supply chains for building trusted defence ecosystems and future-ready capabilities, Singh said.

He further stated that Indias defence industry can play a meaningful role in the EUs 'ReArm initiative', especially as the EU seeks to rapidly diversify suppliers and de-risk dependencies.

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Kaja Kallas expressed gratitude for being part of the 77th Republic Day celebrations, particularly highlighting the EUs presence in the Republic Day parade at Kartavya Path. Kaja Kallas was also present at the Kartavya Path.

The EU Vice President said that India and the EU must work together in the Indian Ocean Region and learn from each others best practices through joint exercises.

Meanwhile, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh welcomed the EUs proposal to position a Liaison Officer (LO) at the Indian Navys Information Fusion CentreIndian Ocean Region (IFC-IOR) in Gurugram. The move is expected to enhance operational coordination with the Indian Navy in counter-piracy efforts and in assessing threats in the Indian Ocean Region.

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(For more news apart from India Defence Minister, EU Vice President hold meeting on bilateral security and defence issues," stay tuned to Rozana Spokesman.)
The High Court has mandated that the Health Secretary personally file the next report. File Photo.

The court noted that while Punjab has 23 districts, state data reveals that MRI machines are available in only six of them.



17 Districts Left Behind: HC Questions Safety of Patients in Punjabs ICU-Less Districts

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The Punjab and Haryana High Court has demanded a state-wide report on ICU availability after the finding that the Malerkotla District Hospital operates without one, a situation it described as 'shocking'. Moving beyond junior-level filings, the Bench mandated that the next comprehensive affidavit must come directly from the Health Secretary."

According to the report, a bench headed by Chief Justice Sheel Nagu expressed deep concern over the "dismal picture" of public healthcare during the hearing of a PIL filed by Bhisham Kinger. The court noted that while Punjab has 23 districts, state data reveals that MRI machines are available in only six of them.

The Bench questioned the state's decision to outsource CT scan and MRI services to private laboratories, asserting that providing basic healthcare is a "sovereign function" of the state.

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The Court was also critical of the "compliance affidavits" filed previously, noting they were submitted by officers too junior to repose responsibility upon. Consequently, the High Court has mandated that the Health Secretary personally file the next report.

The state must now explain why essential diagnostic infrastructure, such as CT scan and MRI machines, should not be made mandatory for every district hospital to cater to emergency and referral cases. The matter has been adjourned for further scrutiny of the state's public healthcare infrastructure.

Source: The Tribune
Haryana CM, Punjab CM hold talks on SutlejYamuna Link issue

Haryana CM Nayab Singh Saini said that the talks were held on the directions of the Supreme Court.

Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini and Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann held a meeting on the SutlejYamuna Link (SYL) issue at a hotel in Chandigarh on Tuesday.

Speaking to the media after the meeting, alongside the Punjab Chief Minister, Haryana CM Nayab Singh Saini said that the talks were held on the directions of the Supreme Court.

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Meaningful talks were held in a positive atmosphere today. We have decided that the discussions will be taken forward at the level of officers from both states, he added.

CM Mann, also speaking to the media, said that officials from both sides would hold frequent meetings and would not wait for directions from the Supreme Court.

CM Bhagwant Mann said, The talks were held in a positive atmosphere. This issue has been pending for a long time. Haryana is not our enemy, but a brother. It has been decided today that officials from both sides will meet very frequently. We also want a solution to be arrived at soon without compromising the rights of either state.

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#WATCH | Over meeting with Haryana CM Nayab Singh Saini on SYL issue, Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann says,"...The talks were held in a positive atmosphere. This issue has been pending for a long time. Haryana is not our enemy, but a brother. It has been decided today that officials from pic.twitter.com/W9w80YclF5  ANI (@ANI) January 27, 2026

He added that officials from both sides would apprise their respective Chief Ministers of the discussions held during the meetings.

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(For more news apart from Haryana CM, Punjab CM hold talks on SutlejYamuna Link issue," stay tuned to Rozana Spokesman.)
Spanning approximately 46 acres, the plant will be developed in three phases, with the first phase targeted to become operational by September 2027. File Photo.

The project is expected to be a significant employment driver, creating direct jobs for over 920 people.

Ludhianas New Industrial Era: INR 1,003 Crore Steel Plant to Create 920 Jobs in Punjab

Punjab has secured a massive greenfield investment of INR 1,003.57 crore in the special steel manufacturing sector to strengthen the states industrial landscape . The announcement was made by the Cabinet Minister for Industries and Commerce, Sanjeev Arora, highlighting Ludhiana's growing status as a major industrial and metallurgical hub in North India.

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According to the report, the investment will be made by AISRM Multimetals Private Limited, a part of the Arora Iron Group. The company proposes to set up a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility at Village Jaspallon on the DorahaKhanna Road in Ludhiana district. The project is expected to be a significant employment driver, creating direct jobs for over 920 people.

Spanning approximately 46 acres, the plant will be developed in three phases, with the first phase targeted to become operational by September 2027. The facility is designed for an annual capacity of 5.40 lakh metric tonnes and will produce high-quality round bars, wire rods, and coils.

Minister Arora emphasised that the plant will utilise advanced technologies, including Electric Arc Furnaces (EAF) and Vacuum Degassing, to ensure sustainable and high-grade production.

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Cabinet Minister Sanjeev Arora emphasised that this project is a direct reflection of the state governments strategic focus on sustainable manufacturing and high-value employment. He said that by leveraging Punjabs robust industrial base, skilled workforce, and logistical advantages, the state is successfully transforming into a premier destination for industrial growth and value addition.

Source: Hindustan Times
Punjab: Parents of gangster Goldy Brar arrested; to be produced in Muktsar court

The accused, arrested from Amritsar, will be produced before the Muktsar court, as per the information received.

Goldy Brar News: The parents of gangster Goldy Brar were arrested on January 26, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Amritsar, Abhimanyu Rana, confirmed to news agency ANI.

The arrests were made in connection with a case registered under Sections 308(4), 351(1), and 351(3) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) at Sadar Police Station, Sri Muktsar Sahib, Punjab, on December 3, 2024.

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According to the police, Goldy Brars parents have no legitimate source of income and were living off money obtained through ransom, ANI reported.

(Outside Brar's home)

The accused, arrested from Amritsar, will be produced before the Muktsar court, as per the information received.

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The ANI report further cited police sources stating that on December 3, 2024, Satnam Singh, an employee of the Education Department, filed a complaint alleging that he received a call threatening to kill him and his family if he did not pay a ransom of Rs 50 lakh.

(For more news apart from Punjab: Parents of gangster Goldy Brar arrested; to be produced in Muktsar court," stay tuned to Rozana Spokesman.)
According to the report, while the Prime Minister generally visits Seer Govardhan in Varanasi, the birthplace of Guru Ravidass, on this day, the decision to visit Dera Ballan is seen as a strategic outreach. File Photo.

The Union Government has conferred the Padma Shri upon Sant Niranjan Dass, for his spiritual and social service.



Political Significance Peak: PM Modi Confirms Feb 1 Visit to Jalandhars Dera Ballan

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In a move carrying significant social and political weight, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to visit Dera Sachkhand Ballan in Jalandhar this Sunday, February 1. The visit, confirmed by Union MoS Ravneet Singh Bittu on Tuesday, coincides with the celebrations of Guru Ravidass Jayanti.

According to the report, while the Prime Minister generally visits Seer Govardhan in Varanasi, the birthplace of Guru Ravidass, on this day, the decision to visit Dera Ballan is seen as a strategic outreach. The move is expected to have a significant impact on Punjabs 34 per cent Dalit community.

The Union Government has conferred the Padma Shri upon Sant Niranjan Dass, the head of Dera Sachkhand Ballan, for his spiritual and social service on this Republic Day. This marks a notable shift in engagement, as the Dera leadership had previously met the PM in New Delhi to discuss major issues.

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Analysts suggest the PMs presence at the Dera could have major political implications for the states electoral landscape.

Source: The Tribune
The five-year-old remains in a center with his father in Texas. His case has reignited the debate about the conditions of juvenile detention in the United States

January 27 marks one week since Liam Conejo Ramos, a five-year-old Ecuadorian boy, was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in Minneapolis while returning from school with his father. Images of the child, wearing his blue hat and carrying a Spider-Man backpack, guarded by federal agents, instantly became a symbol of the indiscriminate nature of President Donald Trumps immigration crackdown in the United States, and reopened the debate about the treatment of children in migrant detention centers.

While this was a central issue during Trumps first term  especially family separation and detention centers for minors at the border  in the first year of his second presidency, the treatment of migrant children didnt feature prominently in the debate or in the protests against the Republican administrations anti-immigrant policies. Until now. Following the arrest of young Liam and his father in Minnesota, reports about the number of minors in detention and the conditions they face have become the focus of controversy.

According to limited data compiled by the Deportation Data Project, ICE took 3,800 children into immigration detention with their parents between January and October 2025, including children as young as one or two years old. The data shows that more than 2,600 of these children, like Liam Conejo, were detained within the country  a significant policy shift, as previously children were only detained at the border. There is no publicly available data on the number of children currently in migrant detention centers. However, more than 2,500 unaccompanied minors are reported to be under the care of the Office of Refugee Resettlement, the agency responsible for the care of migrant children without a locatable legal guardian.

On the other hand, although the so-called Flores Agreement, a 1997 law, requires that migrant children be released within a maximum of 20 days, during Trumps second term many minors have spent much longer in detention. In December, an ICE report indicated that at least 400 migrant children remained in federal custody beyond the limit, some for more than five months. The agency acknowledged that the problem was widespread and attributed the delays to transportation issues, medical needs, and legal procedures.

Families at the South Texas Family Residential Center in Dilley, Texas, in a file photo. Jabin Botsford (Getty Images)

Liam has been in custody for seven days. On January 20, in front of his familys home in Columbia Heights, a suburb of Minneapolis, the little boy was returning from school with his father, Adrian Conejo Arias, when ICE officers pulled him from the moving car. According to the school district, which reported the arrest in a statement, the officers objective was for the boy to knock on the door so he could act as bait to detain others inside the house. Liam is a bright student. He is very kind and caring, and his classmates miss him. He comes to class every day and brightens up the classroom. All I want is for him to come home safe and sound, said the boys preschool teacher.

During the operation, an adult in the house offered to care for Liam, but was refused by the officers. Afterward, both the father and the child were taken to the South Texas Family Residential Center in Dilley, about an hour from San Antonio.

A horrible place

This Saturday, while Minneapolis was reeling from the shooting death of Alex Pretti by Trumps immigration agents, Liams case sparked a massive protest inside the Dilley detention center. Immigration attorney Eric Lee, who witnessed the events, said detainees chanted freedom. He also said he heard what sounded like hundreds of children screaming and coming out of the dormitories behind a chain-link fence.

The lawyer, echoing the complaints he has been making for months about migrant detention centers, also described the conditions at Dilley as deplorable. Its a horrible place. The drinking water is putrid and often undrinkable, and the meals have contained insects, dirt, and debris. The guards are just as harsh as the guards at adult facilities. This is not a place where you would want to leave your child for even 15 minutes.

The Dilley Family Residential Center, the largest of its kind in the country, was built in 2014 with a capacity for 2,400 people. It was closed in 2024 under the administration of Democrat Joe Biden and reopened in March 2025 following a contract between ICE, the private company CoreCivic, and the city of Dilley, which extends until March 2030.

The conditions at this detention center have generated numerous complaints. Leecia Welch, deputy director of litigation at Childrens Rights, has said that the children suffer nightmares, loss of appetite, and their health deteriorates. They have little to do and toys are scarce. She adds that the children held at the facility are hungry, sleep-deprived, bored, and desperate. Mothers have to beg for diapers, watch their children lose weight and deteriorate from stress, and bear much of the responsibility for raising them alone, as the parents are separated at night and for much of the day.

Protest by detained migrants at the South Texas Family Residential Center in Dilley, Texas, on January 24. Brenda Bazan (AP)

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) defended the January 20 operation, arguing that ICE focused not on the child, Liam, but on his father, who, according to the agency, fled upon seeing the agents. After making the arrest, my officers took care of him, took him to a drive-thru restaurant for a meal, and spent hours making sure he was well looked after, stated Marcos Charles, the top ICE official in Minneapolis, contradicting other accounts of the events.

The familys attorney, Marc Prokosch, explained that the Conejo family presented themselves to border officials in Texas in 2024 to request asylum through CBP One, an application created by the Biden administration to manage border entry appointments in an orderly fashion, which was eliminated by Trump. They are not illegal immigrants, Prokosch insisted. They did everything correctly when they arrived. The family is pursuing an asylum claim, which is legal.

From the La Planada neighborhood in Quito, Liams grandparents and aunts and uncles also reject the official version of events presented by the U.S. government. Speaking to local Ecuadorian media, Lucila Arias, the boys grandmother, tearfully asserted that her son never tried to run away and remained calm during his detention. Jose Conejo, his paternal grandfather, denied that his son had a criminal record in Ecuador or had acted violently, explaining that the family migrated for economic reasons.

According to the family, Adrian Conejo left Ecuador in July 2024 with his wife Pamela, Liam, and his 13-year-old son. They traveled by plane to Guatemala and then overland for months to reach the Mexican border. After the arrest, Liams mother, who is pregnant, suffered health problems and was taken to a hospital.

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The extortion racket primarily targets South Asian businesses and families, involving anonymous demands for large sums of money ranging from tens to hundreds of thousands of dollars. File Photo.

The council is now urging the federal government to declare a national emergency.

First Time in Canada: Surrey Declares State of Emergency Over Punjabi Gang Extortion Crisis

The Surrey City Council has declared a local state of emergency in response to a surging wave of extortion threats and related violence.According to the report, the extortion wave has a specific focus, with Punjabi gangsters reportedly behind the majority of attempts aimed at South Asian households and businesses in the region.

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This marks the first time an elected council in Canada has taken such action against a crime wave. According to the report, the motion was spearheaded by Mayor Brenda Locke and approved on January 26, after local resources and policing efforts were outstripped by the crisis.

The council is now urging the federal government to declare a national emergency to combat what Mayor Locke described as a "transnational" threat. "This is a crisis that has left families terrified and businesses under siege," she said during the council meeting.

The extortion racket primarily targets South Asian businesses and families, involving anonymous demands for large sums of money ranging from tens to hundreds of thousands of dollars.

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Official figures reveal the severity of the situation; Surrey recorded its 35th extortion case by mid-January 2026, including at least eight shootings in the first three weeks alone. At this pace, the city could see over 600 such incidents by year's end.

To combat this, the council is demanding the appointment of a federal "extortion commissioner" to coordinate responses, including additional RCMP units and expedited deportations for non-citizens involved in these crimes.

Source: The Tribune

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January 27, 2026

A roundup of local and world news

January 27, 2026

Newsroom, 27.01.2026, 20:00

VISIT The PM of Romania, Ilie Bolojan, is on a 2-day official visit to Germany at the invitation of federal chancellor Friedrich Merz. According to a government statement, the visit is part of the excellent relationship between Romania and Germany, which, although not formally based on a Strategic Partnership as such, has a strategic nature and focuses on areas like economic and trade cooperation, European affairs and security. Germany is Romanias most important trade partner, with a share of over 20% of Romanias total exports. In 2024, bilateral trade was about EUR 42 billion. At the Romanian Embassy in Germany Ilie Bolojan will meet with members of the Romanian community, the fourth largest foreign community in Germany (approximately 910,000 people). Before leaving for Berlin on Tuesday, PM Bolojan had a meeting in Bucharest with officers of the Fitch rating agency, concerning the latest economic measures prepared by the government and the state budget for this year.

NEGOTIATIONS In Romania, the parties in the ruling coalition (the Social Democratic Party, the National Liberal Party, Save Romania Union and the Democratic Union of Ethnic Hungarians in Romania) carry on negotiations on economic recovery measures. All parties have proposals that need to be harmonised. In addition, the coalition must agree on the way to endorse the set of measures, that is, whether jointly with the public administration reform or as a separate set. The government will take responsibility before Parliament for all these measures, as they are critical to drafting the national budget for this year. The parties in power have also analysed the draft budget for this year. In addition, the finance minister Alexandru Nazare is to go to the European Commission on Wednesday and discuss this draft budget, which is based on a deficit target of 6.2% of GDP.

DEFENCE The defence minister Radu Miruta met on Tuesday in Bucharest with a US Congress delegation. The talks focused on regional security and collective defence. According to a news release from the defence ministry, the relevance of the Strategic Partnership between Romania and the US was emphasised, as well as its contribution to regional and Euro-Atlantic security. Cooperation within NATO and the American military presence in Romania were mentioned as important elements of collective defence. The participants also discussed recent regional and Euro-Atlantic security developments, with an emphasis on the implications of the war in Ukraine, the security of the Eastern Flank and the strategic role of the Black Sea region. The importance of maintaining a consolidated deterrence and defense posture, adjusted to current security challenges, has also been highlighted, the news release reads.

AGRICULTURE At the AgriFish Council in Brussels, Romania pleaded for keeping the current Common Agricultural Policy in place and for the allocation of a substantial budget, which would allow for further production of high quality food, the agriculture minister Florin Barbu said on Tuesday. The increasingly high standards that we demand from farmers must be compensated accordingly, Florin Barbu added in a social media post. At the same time, he stressed that environmental policies must be accompanied by concrete support measures, so that the green transition does not turn into an unbearable burden for farmers and for the food security of the European Union. Romania supports a balanced approach: environmental protection must go hand in hand with the protection of farmers and with maintaining production capacity in the European Union, Florin Barbu pointed out.

BUDGET Romanias general consolidated budget for 2025 saw a cash deficit of almost EUR 30 billion, accounting for 7.65% of GDP, down 1% compared to the 8.67% reported for 2024, the finance ministry announced on Tuesday. According to the institution, financial data confirms the efficiency of the measures adopted by the Romanian government, as the budget deficit was reduced compared to the previous year, with increased revenues and resources channeled into record high investments, massively financed from non-reimbursable European funds.

MOLDOVA The president of the Republic of Moldova Maia Sandu Tuesday called on the European Union to step up Moldovas accession process, as there is a danger that the country might lose its freedom, taking into account the extent of Moscows interference in Moldovas domestic affairs, especially in elections, EFE reports. We hope that the EU will make a decision before it is too late, Maia Sandu stressed in a speech delivered at the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) in Strasbourg (France). She said that Moldova is fully committed to this process, that it has already implemented reforms to adapt to the EU legislation, and intends to continue on this path. On the other hand, in Kyiv, president Volodymyr Zelensky said Ukraine should join the EU by 2027. According to Reuters, after a phone call with Austrias chancellor Christian Stocker, he said on social media that Ukraine sees EU membership as part of the security guarantees for his war-torn country. Ukraine submitted its application for EU membership in late February 2022, after the country was invaded by Russia, and now it is a candidate country. (AMP)
Investments increased in 2025

The Romanian Finance Minister Alexandru Nazare is going to Brussels to discuss the budget, and he is expected to support a deficit of 6.2% of the GDP for 2026.

Finance minister Alexandru Nazare (Photo: gov.ro)

Mihai Pelin, 27.01.2026, 13:50

The public administration reform project and the package of measures for economic recovery requested by the Social Democrats were among the topics discussed during the last meeting of the governing coalition in Bucharest. The ruling parties  The National Liberal Party (PNL), the Social Democratic Party (PSD), Save Romania Union (USR) and the Democratic Union of Ethnic Hungarians in Romania (UDMR)  have not reached a consensus on the economic recovery measures. If so far they have agreed that the third package that the Ilie Bolojan government wants to assume in Parliament should also include, alongside the public administration reform, economic recovery measures, the Liberals and USR have come up with the idea of separating the two projects, according to some political sources, although this economic recovery package is also considered essential for the development of the national economy.

The idea was categorically rejected by the Social Democrat leader, Sorin Grindeanu, and also by the leader of the UDMR Kelemen Hunor, who argued that Romania needs economic recovery measures, especially after so many months of talks about cuts, restructuring, taxation and tax increases. The budget bill for this year was also on the agenda of the discussions. The governments objective is to build a balanced budget, which should support the development of local communities, in parallel with fiscal-budgetary consolidation and continuing efforts to reduce the budget deficit, said the Deputy Prime Minister Tanczos Barna.

The Finance Minister Alexandru Nazare is to travel to Brussels on Wednesday to discuss this important project with the European Commission. The 2026 budget will be one of investments  he said  which will amount to over 10 billion Euros from the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR), as well as another 10 billion Euros from cohesion and agricultural funds. The estimated Gross Domestic Product will be around 2,045 billion lei (about 400 billion Euros), and the deficit target for this year is around 6%, with economic growth of around 1%, the finance minister said.

Alexandru Nazare expressed his hope that by absorbing the European money that Romania has at its disposal and by adopting economic measures, growth can be higher. The budget for this year will be based on the budget execution of the ministries from the previous year, he explained, also specifying that for this year they did not take into account any hypothesis of an increase in the standard VAT rate or for the hospitality industry. He also said that investments increased last year, compared to 2024, by approximately 16% and reached 7.2% of the GDP and recalled, at the same time, that the payment mechanism for co-financing projects with European funds was made more flexible. On the other hand, the minister stressed the need to attract large investors and specified that Romanias economic ambition must be higher, with a clear focus on regional positioning. The Liberal Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan wants this years budget to be adopted in the second half of February. (LS)
Hong Kong will on Tuesday release December figures for imports, exports and trade balance, highlighting a modest day for Asia-Pacific economic activity.

In November, imports were up 18.1 percent on month and exports rose 18.8 percent for a trade deficit of HKD48.5 billion.

Japan will provide December data for producer prices, with forecasts suggesting an increase of 2.5 percent on year - easing from 2.7 percent in the previous month.

China will see December figures for industrial profits; in November, profits were up 0.1 percent on year.

Australia will see December results for the surveys of confidence and business conditions from National Australia Bank; in November, their scores were +1 and +7, respectively.

New Zealand will release December data for credit card spending; in November, spending was up 0.47 percent on year.

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Economic News

What parts of the world are seeing the best (and worst) economic performances lately? Click here to check out our Econ Scorecard and find out! See up-to-the-moment rankings for the best and worst performers in GDP, unemployment rate, inflation and much more.
Oil prices traded lower on Tuesday amid easing disruptions to Kazakhstan's oil exports after a Black Sea terminal was brought back into service.

Investors also watched ongoing U.S.-Iran tensions and supply disruptions stemming from extreme weather in the United States.

Benchmark Brent crude futures dipped 0.3 percent to $64.58 per barrel while WTI crude futures were down 0.2 percent at $60.52.

Kazakhstan signaled that it would resume production from the Tengiz oil field, its largest oil producing facility, helping traders pare back expectations of tighter supplies.

Kazakhstan's Ministry of Energy has reported significant progress in restoring production operations at oilfields in the Atyrau region, following disruptions earlier this month.

Elsewhere, a winter storm and ensuing Arctic blast have claimed at least 34 lives across multiple U.S. states.

Extreme cold has left nearly 540000 people without power and knocked an estimated 12 percent of U.S. natural gas production off-line.

In Iran, foreign ministry spokesman Esmail Baqaei has warned that the Islamic Republic is fully prepared to deliver a "sweeping, regret-inducing response" to any act of aggression.

"The notion of carrying out a so-called limited, rapid and clean operation against Iran stems from incorrect assessments and an incomplete understanding of the defensive and offensive capabilities of the Islamic Republic," the unnamed official said, as reported by Iran International citing Mehr News Agency.

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Hong Kong's foreign trade deficit increased notably in December from a year ago as imports grew faster than exports, data from the Census and Statistics Department showed on Tuesday.

The trade gap widened to HK$63.3 billion in December from HK34.5 billion in the same month last year. The trade shortfall also rose from HK$48.5 billion in November.

The visible trade deficit of HK$63.3 billion was equivalent to 11.0 percent of the value of imports.

The annual increase in exports was 26.1 percent in December, versus an 18.8 percent growth in November.

Exports to the Mainland of China alone expanded by 24.9 percent from last year.

Total exports to Asia as a whole grew by 26.6 percent. Within this, shipments to Malaysia advanced the most, by 138.6 percent. This was followed by the Thailand with a 76.6 percent jump in exports.

Apart from destinations in Asia, outflows to the Switzerland expanded 48.8 percent, and those to the USA were 47.5 percent higher.

Imports logged an annual decrease of 30.6 percent in December, following an 18.1 percent gain in the prior month. Imports from Vietnam surged 164.1 percent, and those from the United Kingdom were up 41.6 percent.

For 2025 as a whole, the value of total exports of goods increased by 15.4 percent compared to 2024, and imports climbed by 15.5 percent. A visible trade deficit of HK$ 446.6 billion, equivalent to 7.9 percent of the value of imports of goods, was recorded in 2025.

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Business News
As the U.S. tax season kicks off, millions of Americans are poised to receive significantly larger tax refunds as a result of the Working Families Tax Cuts Act passed last year, according to the White House.

"President Trump's Working Families Tax Cuts Act provides broad-based tax relief for hardworking Americans, with the average taxpayer expected to see nearly $4,000 in total tax savings in 2026," the White House said. "Key provisions of the bill include No Tax on Tips, No Tax on Overtime, No Tax on Social Security, a deduction for auto loan interest on Made-in-America vehicles, and much more  putting more money back in the pockets of families, workers, and seniors," it added.

The legislation is delivering the biggest tax refund season ever, with average refunds projected to rise by $1,000 or more this year due to the Trump administration's transformative policies, the White House said, quoting multiple media reports.

The average refund in 2025 was $2,939, IRS data showed. This year, refunds could be as much as 30 percent more due to new provisions from President Donald Trump's mega tax and spending bill, according to James Knightley, chief international economist at Dutch bank ING.

Total taxpayer savings could amount to an additional $50 billion through bigger tax refunds or a cut in their 2026 taxes, CBS News reported quoting an analysis from Oxford Economics. $50 billion boost in tax refunds would represent an 18 percent increase from the $275 billion in refunds the IRS sent this year to nearly 94 million taxpayers who overpaid on their 2024 federal tax returns, according to the analysis.

The Wall Street Journal says refunds on average are expected to come in $1,000 higher than usual this year, according to a study by investment firm Piper Sandler.

The Tax Foundation estimates that the average tax refund will grow from $3,052 in 2024 to $3,800 for tax year 2025. "Depending on your income and circumstances, you might get even more back."

"Overall, we're expecting these changes to increase refunds by 15% to 20% on average," CNBC quoted Heather Berger, a U.S. economist with Morgan Stanley, as saying.

The Working Families Tax Cuts Act, often referred to as part of the 'One Big Beautiful Bill', was signed into law on July 4, 2025. It was designed to make permanent many of the tax law changes from the 2017 Tax Cut and Jobs Act and took effect for the 2025 tax year.

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Business News
Meta's looking to bring in from Manus, a Chinese-founded AI start-up, into its subscription services. This is part of a larger plan to enhance the Meta AI app and introduce advanced automated tools.

They made a deal to buy Manus back in December for approximately $2 billion, and they claim this acquisition will enable them to create "general-purpose agents" that can handle complex tasks, such as planning trips or making presentations, with minimal user input.

Manus has since moved its base to Singapore from China and claims its tech can run on its own, tackling tasks without needing constant prompts. Plus, Meta plans to keep offering standalone Manus subscriptions for clients.

That said, back in January, Beijing announced it would look into the deal to see if it goes against Chinese laws on tech exports or national security.

On top of that, Meta is expanding its subscription services across its platforms. They've been experimenting with limiting link sharing for free users on Facebook, introduced paid ad-free versions of Facebook and Instagram in the UK, and even launched paid verification for blue-tick accounts. All of these points to Meta trying to diversify its revenue and ramp up its investment in AI.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Business News
Renault has revealed the new-generation Duster for India. Here is how the SUV stacks up against key rivals like Tata Sierra, Hyundai Creta, Kia Seltos, Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara, Victoris and Toyota Hyryder. Going by the numbers, Dusters positioning is built around strong SUV basics (width, ground clearance, boot space) and a wide powertrain spread, including a strong-hybrid that will arrive later in 2026.

Dimensions: Duster sits right in the thick of it

In terms of footprint, Renault Duster measures 4,346 mm in length, placing it close to Grand Vitara and Hyryder (4,345 mm), and slightly longer than Creta (4,330 mm) and Sierra (4,340 mm). Kia Seltos is the longest here at 4,460 mm.

Where Duster stands out is width. At 1,815 mm, it is wider than Creta (1,790 mm) and the hybrid trio (1,795 mm), though Seltos (1,830 mm) and Sierra (1,841 mm) are wider still. Height at 1,703 mm keeps it taller than Creta/Seltos (both 1,635 mm), giving it a more upright SUV stance. Wheelbase is 2,657 mm, longer than Creta (2,610 mm) and the hybrid trio (2,600 mm), though Seltos (2,690 mm) and Sierra (2,730 mm) lead for outright wheelbase length.

Boot space and ground clearance: Duster goes big on practicality

Dusters boot figure of 700 litres (as per the table shared) is the headline grabber. In comparison, Creta offers 433 litres and Seltos 447 litres, while Grand Vitara, Victoris and Hyryder have not disclosed boot capacity in the table.

Ground clearance is another strong point. Duster stands at 212 mm, which is the highest in this set, ahead of Sierra (205 mm), Seltos (200 mm) and Creta (190 mm). It also edges the hybrid trio at 210 mm. Wheel size is 18 inches for Duster, matching Seltos, while Creta and the Japanese hybrid SUVs run 17-inch wheels. Sierra goes up to 19-inch wheels.

Petrol powertrains: Duster tops the power chart

Duster is listed with a 1.0L 3-cylinder turbo and a 1.3L 4-cylinder turbo option with 163 PS and 280 Nm. That makes Duster the most powerful petrol SUV among the listed rivals. Creta and Seltos top out at 158 hp in this comparison, while Sierras turbo option is shown at 160 hp (with 255 Nm). The naturally aspirated petrol SUVs here sit much lower on output. Gearbox options for Duster turbo 163 PS are shown as 6MT / DCA, while Creta and Seltos offer a wider mix (6MT, IVT, IMT, DCT).

Strong-hybrid comparison

In other words, Dusters strong-hybrid is positioned as a higher-output hybrid option versus the existing leaders in the segment. It also has a larger battery, thanks to which Renault has also claimed up to 80% EV-mode usage in city driving. Hybrid Duster deliveries start around Diwali 2026, while turbo-petrol deliveries are slated to begin from April 2026.
About 100 people  among those who protest daily against the deployment of 3,000 immigration enforcement agents by Donald Trump in Minneapolis  gathered Monday in the desolate parking lot of a hotel on I-94, on the outskirts of the city, to spoil the departure of Gregory Bovino, commander at large of the U.S. Border Patrol and, until now, the officer in charge of operations on the ground in the Midwestern city.

It is not a send-off with honors. The U.S. president announced on Monday that he was sending Tom Homan, the White Houses border czar, to replace him at the head of the largest operation against immigration launched by Trump since his return to power. Bovino leaves the scene just two days after one of his men shot and killed Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old American nurse, in the back as he lay on the ground.

The protesters gathered at 8:00 p.m. at the hotel where Bovino was said to be spending his last night in Minneapolis. Under a light snowfall, they made their presence felt with pots and pans, paint cans, megaphones, loudspeakers blasting hard rock, and even a small drum kit. A cordon of about 30 police officers guarded the hotel entrance and repeatedly charged the crowd, who chanted slogans like, Bovino, theyre waiting for you in hell!

Gregory Bovino during an operation in Columbia Heights, Minneapolis, on January 13. Adam Gray (AP)

No one could confirm whether Bovino was actually inside, although the burly men watching the scene from one of the windows looked like federal agents, perhaps from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and the protesters insulted them as such. If he wasnt in there, there wouldnt be so much police presence, said a man who declined to give his name and was wearing a homemade sweatshirt with a map of Minnesota and a message playing on the stereotype that its residents are naturally nice, and the acronym ICE.

Around 9:30 p.m., a police officer announced that the protest was now considered an illegal assembly, and recited the articles of the law under which those arrested would be charged. Half a dozen people suffered that fate when the officers began pushing back the crowd, trying to gain space in the vast, empty area where the entire event had taken place.

Bovino, who said shortly after Prettis death that Pretti was prepared to cause a massacre when he was killed  a claim contradicted by videos of the tragic incident  is not departing alone. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, after a lengthy phone conversation with Trump on Tuesday, said he expected other federal agents deployed in the city for nearly two months to leave with him. Also disappearing from view is the image Bovino has chosen to project to the world in recent weeks: a uniform and a demeanor with paramilitary overtones. His rise was directly proportional to the U.S. presidents impatience with the results of what he promised during his campaign would be the largest deportation in history.

Homan, with a more political profile, is scheduled to meet with the mayor on Tuesday, a day after Trump also spoke with Minnesotas Democratic governor, Tim Walz, the vice-presidential candidate in the 2024 election alongside Kamala Harris. The Republican president changed his tone when speaking about one of his former favorite targets. Governor Tim Walz called me with the request to work together with respect to Minnesota. It was a very good call, and we, actually, seemed to be on a similar wavelength, Trump wrote on his social media account, Truth.

Later, Trump, who throughout the day gave signs of personally intervening to address a crisis of optics in a country that largely rejects ICE tactics, met for two hours in the Oval Office with Kristi Noem, Secretary of Homeland Security, and Corey Lewandowski, her top advisor, according to The New York Times, which reported the meeting was requested by Noem. Noem also rushed on Saturday, shortly after Prettis death, to accuse him of being a domestic terrorist and to lie by saying that he approached the agents who killed him brandishing a weapon.

According to the Times, Trump did not imply at the meeting that Noems or Lewandowskis positions were in jeopardy, according to sources. Like Bovino, the Secretary of Homeland Security is one of the faces of Trumps anti-immigrant policy, which, after the deaths of two Americans in the streets of Minneapolis  in addition to Pretti, the poet Renee Good, a mother of three  appears to be changing.

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A person was shot and wounded in an incident involving the U.S. Border Patrol in Arizona on Tuesday, according to a spokesperson for the Pima County Sheriffs Department.

The person, whose identity has not been released, was shot in southern Pima County  which includes Tucson and is located along the U.S.-Mexico border  at around 7:30 a.m., according to a statement from the Santa Rita Fire District. The statement said that Santa Rita Fire District and American Medical Response personnel provided medical attention to the person at the scene, and they were then transported in critical condition to a hospital.

We ask the community to remain patient and understanding as this investigation moves forward, the Pima County Sheriffs Department said. It added that all aspects of the incident, however, these investigations are complex and require time. The FBI is participating in the investigation.

The Department of Homeland Security, which oversees the Border Patrol, did not immediately respond to a request for comment from NBC, which first reported the incident.

The incident comes amid a wave of nationwide protests over the deaths of two U.S. citizens at the hands of immigration agents. Last Saturday, Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old nurse, was shot and killed by Border Patrol agents as he tried to help a woman being pepper-sprayed. On January 7, Renee Good, also 37, was shot and killed by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent as she attempted to move away from officers.

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that a big investigation was under way into the killing of Pretti by federal agents in Minneapolis. I want to see the investigation. Im going to be watching over it. I want a very honorable and honest investigation. I have to see it myself, the president said as he left the White House.

Trump has shifted his position on Prettis death after his administration was widely criticized  including by Republicans  for initially defending the agents actions. The president removed Gregory Bovino, head of the Border Patrol and the official in charge of migrant enforcement operations in Minneapolis, an advocate of aggressive raid tactics, and replaced him with border czar Tom Homan, one of the architects of Trumps deportation campaign.

Democratic House members Hakeem Jeffries, Katherine Clark, and Pete Aguilar issued a statement on Tuesday accusing the Trump administration of using taxpayer money to kill American citizens. They also threatened to initiate impeachment proceedings against Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem if she is not removed from office.

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Constructed jointly by the China Road and Bridge Corporation and Rwanda's NPD Ltd., the 63-km Base-Butaro-Kidaho road has become a lifeline for residents, cutting travel times and unlocking the region's development potential.

KIGALI, Jan. 26 (Xinhua) -- For years, the winding hills of northern Rwanda were as famous for their breathtaking beauty as for the long, arduous journeys on impassable roads. Today, the smooth asphalt of the Base-Butaro-Kidaho (BBK) road is changing that reality, bringing renewed hope, economic opportunity, and social transformation to communities across Burera District.

Constructed jointly by the China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC) and Rwanda's NPD Ltd., the 63-km BBK road has become a lifeline for residents, cutting travel times and unlocking the region's development potential.

"The project helped us. I can say it is a profit for us," said Seth Havugimana, a 30-year-old businessman and resident of Gitare Village in Burera, during a recent interview with Xinhua.

This photo taken on Jan. 21, 2026, shows a vehicle traveling on a road constructed by China Road and Bridge Corporation in Rwanda's Northern Province. (Xinhua/Ju Yinhe)

Before the road, reaching nearby towns was a daily struggle. "Sometimes we could not reach here at all because of the bad road," he recalled. What once took four hours to Musanze city now takes about an hour.

"These changes mean everything," he said. "Business can move and people can go from here to another place easily. We are very happy about this new road."

For Havugimana and many others, the BBK road has transformed livelihoods. Once limited to a single daily trip to Musanze to buy goods, he can now make more than four trips, cutting costs and increasing his income.

"Before, it was difficult to go outside and bring goods or materials here," he said. "Now, if someone tells me they need something, I can go and purchase it and bring it back directly."

The road has also improved access to essential services. Families can reach schools, hospitals, and markets with ease. "If someone in my family is sick, it is easy to take them to the hospital," Havugimana said. "Students can go to school easily. Before, it was not possible."

Local workers are in operation along a road constructed by China Road and Bridge Corporation in Burera District, Rwanda's Northern Province, Jan. 21, 2026. (Xinhua/Ju Yinhe)

Jing Niu, acting project manager of the BBK project at the CRBC, explained that the company handled the 22-km Kidaho-Butaro section. Construction faced challenges, including steep and rocky terrain, environmental protection near Lake Burera, traffic management, and child safety. To address these, the company worked closely with local authorities and communities to conduct regular safety education and maintain road accessibility.

The BBK road's impact goes beyond individual lives, extending to the broader rural economy.

Thierry Muneza Kamuhanda, BBK project director, emphasized that careful planning focused on social and economic benefits. "We estimate around five million vehicles per year. Where there is traffic, there is economic activity," he said.

The project has also created jobs, with about 10 percent of the total investment allocated to labor, directly improving household incomes and local social conditions, he said.

"When a road is built, businesses are created along it," he said. "Petrol stations, coffee shops, and other services follow. Tourism will also increase, especially since the road runs along Lake Burera."

Chinese engineer Zhou Chunyi (R) works with local colleagues along a road constructed by China Road and Bridge Corporation in Burera District, Rwanda's Northern Province, Jan. 21, 2026. (Xinhua/Ju Yinhe)

Bruce Semana, a local CRBC staff member who joined the project in 2022, highlighted the broader transformation. "This area was once among the poorest. Now, Burera District is one of the fastest-developing districts. Roads make the difference," he said.

Semana noted that the project brought workers, machinery, and new economic activity to the area, creating opportunities that never existed before. "It's not only the road itself, but also the people who came with the project," he said.

He also highlighted the valuable skills he gained through collaboration with the CRBC. "I joined as a young graduate with ideas but no practical skills," he said. "Everything I know is practically management, public relations, and working in challenging environments, which I learned through the CRBC."

The Kidaho-Butaro section is now largely open to traffic, with final works underway. The entire BBK project is scheduled for completion by the end of the year, promising to continue reshaping the future of northern Rwanda. 
BEIJING, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- China will roll out policy measures aimed at addressing the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on jobs as rapid technological adoption has reshaped the country's labor market.

The Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security said on Tuesday at a press briefing that an official document will be released to respond to the AI's impact and promote employment.

Alongside the AI-focused policy, authorities will also introduce targeted employment support for key industries and expand assistance for priority groups, including university graduates and other young jobseekers, according to the ministry. 
A new genus and species of titanosaur sauropod dinosaur that lived during the Cretaceous period has been identified from the fossilized remains found in northern Patagonia, Argentina.

Named Yeneen houssayi, the new species roamed our planet approximately 83 million years ago (Late Cretaceous epoch).

The ancient creature belongs to Titanosauria, a group of large, long-necked, plant-eating dinosaurs that were widespread across the supercontinent Gondwana.

Yeneen houssayi had a small head relative to the rest of its body, said Dr. Leonardo Filippi, a paleontologist at CONICET and the Museo Municipal Argentino Urquiza.

It measured between 10 and 12 m (33-39 feet) in length and weighed approximately 8 to 10 tons.

The fossil remains of Yeneen houssayi were recovered from the Bajo de la Carpa Formation at a locality known as Cerro Overo-La Invernada in the Neuquen province, Patagonia, Argentina.

The material represents one of the most complete skeletons of a titanosaur from this region, preserving six cervical vertebrae, ten dorsal vertebrae with associated ribs, the sacrum, and the first caudal vertebra.

In addition to the holotype individual, the paleontologists identified remains of at least two other sauropods at the site, including a juvenile specimen and another adult titanosaur that appears to belong to a different, as yet undescribed species.

Phylogenetic analysis indicates that Yeneen houssayi is closely related to Narambuenatitan and Overosaurus, as a basal member of an unnominated clade of derived non-lithostrotian saltasauroids, they said.

The evidence provided by the Cerro Overo-La Invernada sauropod titanosaur fauna suggests that, during the Santonian, species diversity was relatively high and that at least two lineages coexisted: Collossosauria and Saltasauroidea.

This finding makes the Cerro Overo-La Invernada area the one with the greatest diversity of titanosaurs for the Santonian of the Neuquen Basin, which makes it an exceptional area to understand the evolution of dinosaur faunas for this period.

The discovery is reported in a paper published on January 12, 2026 in the journal Historical Biology.

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L.S. Filippi et al. Yeneen houssayi gen. et sp. nov. and an overview of the sauropod titanosaurian diversity from Cerro Overo  La Invernada area (Bajo de la Carpa Formation, Santonian), North Patagonia, Argentina. Historical Biology, published online January 12, 2026; doi: 10.1080/08912963.2025.2584707
Planetary scientists analyzing oxygen isotopes in lunar soil from the Apollo mission sites conclude that meteorite bombardment over 4 billion years could only have delivered a tiny fraction of Earths water, forcing researchers to rethink a long-held theory.

Research has previously shown that meteorites may have been a significant source of Earths water as they bombarded our planet early in the Solar Systems development.

In a new study, Dr. Tony Gargano from NASAs Johnson Space Center and the Lunar and Planetary Institute and colleagues used a novel method for analyzing the dusty debris that covers the Moons surface called regolith.

They learned that even under generous assumptions, meteorite delivery since about 4 billion years ago could only have supplied a small fraction of Earths water.

The Moon serves as an ancient archive of the impact history the Earth-Moon system has experienced over billions of years.

Where Earths dynamic crust and weather erase such records, lunar samples preserve them.

The records dont come without challenge, though.

Traditional methods of studying regolith have relied on analyzing metal-loving elements.

These elements can get muddied by repeated impacts on the Moon, making it harder to untangle and reconstruct what the original meteoroids contained.

Enter triple oxygen isotopes, high precision fingerprints that take advantage of the fact that oxygen, the dominant element by mass in rocks, is unaffected by impact or other external forces.

The isotopes offer a clearer understanding of the composition of meteorites that impacted the Earth-Moon system.

The oxygen-isotope measurements revealed that at least ~1% by mass of the regolith contained material from carbon-rich meteorites that were partially vaporized when they hit the Moon.

Using the known properties of such meteorites allowed the researchers to calculate the amount of water that would have been carried within.

The lunar regolith is one of the rare places we can still interpret a time-integrated record of what was hitting Earths neighborhood for billions of years, Dr. Gargano said.

The oxygen-isotope fingerprint lets us pull an impactor signal out of a mixture thats been melted, vaporized, and reworked countless times.

The findings have implications for our understanding of water sources on Earth and the Moon.

When scaled up by roughly 20 times to account for the substantially higher rate of impacts on Earth, the cumulative water shown in the model made up only a small percent of the water in Earths oceans.

That makes it difficult to reconcile the hypothesis that late delivery of water-rich meteorites was the dominant source of Earths water.

Our results dont say meteorites delivered no water, said Dr. Justin Simon, a planetary scientist at NASA Johnsons Astromaterials Research and Exploration Science Division.

They say the Moons long-term record makes it very hard for late meteorite delivery to be the dominant source of Earths oceans.

For the Moon, the implied delivery since about 4 billion years ago is tiny on an Earth-ocean scale but is not insignificant for the Moon.

The Moons accessible water inventory is concentrated in small, permanently shadowed regions at the north and south poles.

These are some of the coldest spots in the Solar System and introduce unique opportunities for scientific discovery and potential resources for lunar exploration when NASA lands astronauts on the Moon through Artemis III and beyond.

The samples analyzed for this study came from parts of the Moon near the equator on the side of the Moon facing Earth, where all six Apollo missions landed.

The rocks and dust collected more than 50 years ago continue to reveal new insights but are constrained to a small portion of the Moon.

Samples delivered through Artemis will open the door for a new generation of discoveries for decades to come.

Im part of the next generation of Apollo scientists  people who didnt fly the missions, but who were trained on the samples and the questions Apollo made possible, Dr. Gargano said.

The value of the Moon is that it gives us ground truth: real, physical material we can measure in the lab and use to anchor what we infer from orbital data and telescopes.

I cant wait to see what the Artemis samples have to teach us and the next generation about our place in the Solar System.

The study appears in the Proceedings to the National Academy of Sciences.

_____

Anthony M. Gargano et al. 2026. Constraints on the impactor flux to the Earth-Moon system from oxygen isotopes of the lunar regolith. PNAS 123 (4): e2531796123; doi: 10.1073/pnas.2531796123
Constructed jointly by the China Road and Bridge Corporation and Rwanda's NPD Ltd., the 63-km Base-Butaro-Kidaho road has become a lifeline for residents, cutting travel times and unlocking the region's development potential. KIGALI, Jan. 26 (Xinhua) -- For years, the winding hills of northern Rwanda were as famous for their breathtaking beauty as for the long, arduous journeys on impassable roads. Today, the smooth asphalt of the Base-Butaro-Kidaho (BBK) road is changing that reality, bringing renewed hope, economic opportunity, and social transformation to communities across Burera District. Constructed jointly by the China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC) and Rwanda's NPD Ltd., the 63-km BBK road has become a lifeline for residents, cutting travel times and unlocking the region's development potential. "The project helped us. I can say it is a profit for us," said Seth Havugimana, a 30-year-old businessman and resident of Gitare Village in Burera, during a recent interview with Xinhua. Before the road, reaching nearby towns was a daily struggle. "Sometimes we could not reach here at all because of the bad road," he recalled. What once took four hours to Musanze city now takes about an hour. "These changes mean everything," he said. "Business can move and people can go from here to another place easily. We are very happy about this new road." For Havugimana and many others, the BBK road has transformed livelihoods. Once limited to a single daily trip to Musanze to buy goods, he can now make more than four trips, cutting costs and increasing his income. "Before, it was difficult to go outside and bring goods or materials here," he said. "Now, if someone tells me they need something, I can go and purchase it and bring it back directly." The road has also improved access to essential services. Families can reach schools, hospitals, and markets with ease. "If someone in my family is sick, it is easy to take them to the hospital," Havugimana said. "Students can go to school easily. Before, it was not possible." Jing Niu, acting project manager of the BBK project at the CRBC, explained that the company handled the 22-km Kidaho-Butaro section. Construction faced challenges, including steep and rocky terrain, environmental protection near Lake Burera, traffic management, and child safety. To address these, the company worked closely with local authorities and communities to conduct regular safety education and maintain road accessibility. The BBK road's impact goes beyond individual lives, extending to the broader rural economy. Thierry Muneza Kamuhanda, BBK project director, emphasized that careful planning focused on social and economic benefits. "We estimate around five million vehicles per year. Where there is traffic, there is economic activity," he said. The project has also created jobs, with about 10 percent of the total investment allocated to labor, directly improving household incomes and local social conditions, he said. "When a road is built, businesses are created along it," he said. "Petrol stations, coffee shops, and other services follow. Tourism will also increase, especially since the road runs along Lake Burera." Bruce Semana, a local CRBC staff member who joined the project in 2022, highlighted the broader transformation. "This area was once among the poorest. Now, Burera District is one of the fastest-developing districts. Roads make the difference," he said. Semana noted that the project brought workers, machinery, and new economic activity to the area, creating opportunities that never existed before. "It's not only the road itself, but also the people who came with the project," he said. He also highlighted the valuable skills he gained through collaboration with the CRBC. "I joined as a young graduate with ideas but no practical skills," he said. "Everything I know is practically management, public relations, and working in challenging environments, which I learned through the CRBC." The Kidaho-Butaro section is now largely open to traffic, with final works underway. The entire BBK project is scheduled for completion by the end of the year, promising to continue reshaping the future of northern Rwanda.
SEOUL, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- South Korea's military said the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) on Tuesday fired several unidentified projectiles toward the East Sea.

South Korea's military said in a statement that it detected several unidentified ballistic missiles launched by DPRK toward the East Sea at around 3:50 p.m. Tuesday (local time). The missiles were fired from areas north of Pyongyang and flew approximately 350 kilometers.

The military said it has strengthened surveillance and monitoring in preparation for possible additional launches and is maintaining a full readiness posture. 
UNITED NATIONS, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese envoy on Monday called on UN member states to uphold the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and maintain the authority of the international rule of law.

Fu Cong, China's permanent representative to the United Nations, told an open debate of the Security Council that the international system, with the United Nations at its core and international law as its foundation, is being undermined by unilateralism, power politics and bullying.

"More than ever, we need to strengthen unity and cooperation, revitalize international rule of law, and strive to realize the vision of peace, security, prosperity and progress," said Fu.

All states should treat each other as equals, respect each other's sovereignty and territorial integrity, commit themselves to the peaceful settlement of disputes, oppose the use or threat of force in international relations, and abide by the golden rule of non-interference in the internal affairs of other countries, he said.

"We never believe that any country has the right to act as international police, nor do we accept that any country can style itself as an international judge," said Fu. "The world cannot revert to the law of the jungle, where the strong prey on the weak."

Major powers should play a leading role in this regard. They must refrain from double standards or selective application, nor should they impose their own will on others, he added.

Fu noted that multipolarity and the democratization of international relations are irreversible trends, calling for genuine multilateralism and greater representation and voice for developing countries in global governance.

The more complex the international situation is, the more important it is to uphold the authority and standing of the United Nations. The role of the United Nations must be strengthened rather than weakened, Fu said.

States should not cherry-pick their commitments to the United Nations, nor should they bypass the world body and create alternative mechanisms. The Security Council bears the primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security. As such, its status and role are irreplaceable, he added.

Fu said China firmly upholds the international rule of law and will continue to work with other countries to promote world peace and development. 
SEOUL, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- South Korea will implement the tariff agreement with the United States and calmly respond to U.S. President Donald Trump's tariff hike announcement, the presidential office said Tuesday.

Presidential spokesperson Kang Yu-jung told a press briefing that a meeting on trade issues with the United States was held at the presidential office, or the Blue House, to assess the situation over Trump's tariff hike announcement and discuss countermeasures.

Trump said on his social media on Monday that he would increase South Korean tariffs on autos, lumber, pharma, and all other reciprocal tariffs from 15 percent to 25 percent, accusing South Korea's legislature of not having enacted a bilateral trade agreement with the United States.

Kang said Seoul planned to convey its commitment to implementing the South Korea-U.S. trade agreement to the U.S. side while taking a calm response, as the tariff increases only take effect following administrative procedures in the United States.

It indicated that South Korea would take a measured approach by closely analyzing Trump's true intentions and the background behind his remarks, as his social media posts do not immediately lead to tariff hikes.

The Blue House meeting was also attended via phone by Minister of Trade, Industry and Resources Kim Jung-kwan who is currently in Canada as part of Seoul's special mission for strategic economic cooperation.

Kim will visit the United States after his schedule in Canada to discuss the tariff issues with U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, according to the presidential office.

Yonhap News Agency reported that under a joint fact sheet released after a South Korea-U.S. summit held in Gyeongju last October, the United States agreed to lower tariffs on South Korean products, including automobiles, in exchange for South Korea making 350 billion U.S. dollars in investments in the United States.

The two sides later signed a joint memorandum on Nov. 14, stipulating that tariff cuts would be applied retroactively from the first day of the month in which relevant legislation was submitted to the South Korean parliament to implement the agreement.

South Korea's ruling Democratic Party submitted a special bill on U.S. investment to the National Assembly on Nov. 26, and the United States subsequently retroactively lowered tariffs on South Korean automobiles to 15 percent on Dec. 4. 
Concurrent Technologies announced the appointment of Jon Jayal as managing director of products on Tuesday, taking effect from 16 March, as the AIM-traded group continues to strengthen its senior leadership team.

Jayal was joining the designer and manufacturer of high-performance and mission-critical computer products from Nexteq, where he most recently served as chief executive.

He joined Nexteq at its inception as an electronics design engineer and later played a key role in taking the business public on the London Stock Exchange before becoming group CEO, a position he held until August 2024.

During his tenure, the company grew revenue to more than $100m, completed multiple acquisitions, expanded into new markets and launched several new products.

In addition to his operational background, Jayal was bringing experience in financial and capital markets, having previously held senior leadership roles at Mercer Investment Consulting and BlackRock.

Chief executive Miles Adcock said the appointment would support the groups growth ambitions.

Jon brings a wealth of experience specific to products similar to ours, with a strong track record of scaling, entering new markets and driving growth, Adcock said.

We are pleased to welcome him to Concurrent at an exciting time for the business.

At 1304 GMT, shares in Concurrent Technologies were down 0.9% at 258.65p.

Reporting by Josh White for Sharecast.com.
Northcoders Group reported a resilient 2025 performance on Tuesday, despite a sharp contraction in the UK government-funded training market, as disciplined cost control and growth in its B2B consultancy helped stabilise the business.

In an unaudited trading update for the year ended 31 December, the AIM-traded consultancy and technology training group said revenue fell to 5m from 8.8m a year earlier, reflecting structural changes to the Department for Educations skills funding system that led to a significant decline in funded learners across the sector.

Despite the lower revenue base, Northcoders said it maintained strong gross margins through tighter delivery discipline, careful direct cost management and a deliberate move away from volume-led funding models.

The group generated around 0.4m of business-to-consumer revenue outside government-backed programmes, marking early progress in diversifying its income streams.

That included encouraging initial results from its newly introduced Next Gen Data and AI training, which management saw as aligned with long-term employer demand.

Government funding where the group had an established track record remained supportive, with contracts secured in Lancashire and with the Greater London Authority.

Northcoders said demand in London had been particularly strong, with more than 30 applications per available seat, resulting in additional funding awards that improve revenue visibility for training bootcamps in the first half of 2026.

Performance in the B2B division was a key offset to the funding headwinds.

Counter, the groups challenger consultancy brand, increased revenue by 67% to 1.5m, with total sales booked of around 2.5m during the year.

Approximately 1m of contracted revenue has rolled into 2026, most of which was expected to be delivered in the first half, while the pipeline continued to build through public-sector frameworks including G-Cloud.

Northcoders said it implemented restructuring and efficiency measures during the year that were expected to deliver annualised cost savings of around 1.1m compared with 2024.

The group ended December with cash of 1.6m and outstanding loans of around 1.2m, with no financial covenants attached.

Management said the balance sheet remained robust, although the group expected to report a statutory loss for 2025, largely due to the funding changes and asset impairments.

Chief executive Chris Hill said the group had responded decisively to a difficult year.

Whilst 2025 was a challenging year for the group, our performance has been resilient and our focus on margin resolute, he said, adding that swift actions to resize the business and maintain strict cost discipline had protected gross margins.

Hill said the firm entered 2026 with improving revenue visibility, a simplified cost base and growing momentum in Counter, leaving it well positioned to build sustainably as market conditions stabilised.

At 1321 GMT, shares in Northcoders Group were flat at 31p.

Reporting by Josh White for Sharecast.com.
The European Union and India on Tuesday finally signed a free trade agreement expected to slash 4bn of duties on the bloc's exports, described as the mother of all deals by European Commission president, Ursula von der Leyen.

After almost 20 years of talks, officials shook hands on a deal giving the 27-nation bloc access to Indias tightly regulated market. Discussions had sped up in the last six months in response to US President Donald Trumps global tariff war.

The agreement is expected to double EU exports to India by 2032 by eliminating or reducing tariffs on 96.6% of traded goods by value, saving European companies 4bn (3.5bn) in duties, the EU said in a statement. The bloc and India already trade more than 180bn worth of goods and services per year, officials said.

Europe and India are making history today, von der Leyen said in a statement after landing in Delhi, where she met the Indian prime minister, Narendra Modi, on Tuesday. We have concluded the mother of all deals. We have created a free trade zone of two billion people, with both sides set to benefit.

Sensitive European agricultural sectors will be fully protected, as products such as beef, chicken meat, rice and sugar were excluded from liberalisation in the agreement.

Modi said the deal represented about a third of global trade and called it the biggest free trade deal in history.

The deal will lead to Delhi slashing tariffs on cars to 10% over five years from as high as 110%, the EU said. Under the agreement, up to 250,000 European-made vehicles will ultimately be about to enter India at preferential duty rate reduced to 10% from 110%.

Tariffs of up to 44% on machinery, 22% on chemicals and 11% on pharmaceuticals will be largely eliminated. Steel and iron levies of up to 22% will also be phased out over a 10-year period.

Duties on EU wine will be initially halved from the current 150% cent and eventually around 20%, while those on olive oil will be slashed to zero over five years from 45%. Tariffs on processed agricultural products, such as bread and confectionery, of up to 50% will also be eliminated.

Trade talks between began in 2007 but were suspended in 2013 after rows over access to cars, agriculture and dairy. However, they restarted in 2022 and picked up pace as Trump slapped a 50% tariff on Indian exports to the US.

Last week, Trump threatened EU countries with additional tariffs of 10% if they opposed his ambitions to annexe Greenland.

Officials indicated a formal signing of the deal could take place later this year and come into force by early next year. The deal will go to the European parliament and EU member states, as well as Indias cabinet, to gain approval.

Reporting by Frank Prenesti for Sharecast.com
SYDNEY, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- The Nauru government reaffirms its commitment to the one-China principle that is in line with the basic norms of international relations recognized by the United Nations (UN) and is a broad consensus of the international community, Nauru's Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Lionel Aingimea has said.

Aingimea on Monday made the remarks in his speech at a reception hosted by the Chinese Embassy in Nauru, marking two years since Nauru and China resumed diplomatic relations and celebrating the upcoming Chinese New Year.

There is only one China in the world, and Taiwan is an inalienable part of China's territory, Aingimea said, adding that the government of the People's Republic of China is the sole legal government representing the whole of China.

Under the guidance of the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, Nauru will work with China to jointly commit to the vision of peace and development and build a community with a shared future for mankind, Aingimea said. 
Food producer Cranswick lifted its full-year profit outlook on Tuesday as it hailed strong revenue growth in the third quarter.

In an update for the 13 weeks to 27 December 2025, the company said the strong growth, including the key Christmas period, reflected a continuation in the positive trading momentum seen in the first half, with all product categories ahead of the corresponding period in the prior year.

As a result, it now expects full-year adjusted pre-tax profit to be towards the upper end of current market expectations of between 211.3m and 216.0m.

December sales were ahead of the previous year, driven by record Christmas trading across the company's Fresh Pork, Convenience and Gourmet festive product ranges. Premium added-value ranges performed particularly well, including showcase centre of plate products and festive grazing platters.

Cranswick also said on Tuesday that it now expects full-year capital expenditure to be between 160m and 170m, lower than previous guidance due to the timing of spend on major projects.

The company said demand for its premium pork and poultry categories remains robust, "reflecting the UK consumers' desire for high quality, healthy, nutritious food which is both versatile and great value".

Chief executive Adam Couch said: "We have delivered another strong quarter of growth underpinned by revenue growth across all product categories and a record Christmas trading period. This excellent performance is the result of our unrelenting focus on delivering outstanding service levels, sector leading innovation and unrivalled product quality across our festive product range for our customers."
Gambling business Evoke said on Tuesday that fourthquarter revenue came in at roughly 464m, its strongest quarter of the year.

Evoke said sales rose 7% quarteronquarter, but were 3% lower yearonyear, reflecting a "strong" comparative period boosted by operatorfriendly sporting results.

The London-listed group said its improved Q4 performance was driven by gaming, which grew 9% yearonyear, with all divisions contributing, including a return to growth for 888casino in the UK, alongside a 10% rise in retail revenues and a 14% increase in international revenues. Betting revenues, on the other hand, fell 22% yearonyear against a strong prioryear comparator.

Looking forward, Evoke expects fullyear revenues to be around 1.79bn, up 2% on the prior year, while adjusted underlying earnings were forecast to land between 355m and 360m, representing growth of roughly 1415% and an EBITDA margin of about 20%.

Evoke added that its review of strategic options, first announced on 10 December, remains ongoing adnd includes assessing a range of potential routes to maximise shareholder value, which could involve a sale of the group or selected assets and business units.

Chief executive Per Widerstrom said: "During Q4 we made good progress against our strategic plans, delivering our best quarter of the year and demonstrating the underlying momentum in the business. Our focus on core markets continued to drive our profitable growth, with Italy and Denmark both delivering record quarterly revenues in Q4. This positive momentum has continued into 2026 with a strong start to the year with good growth across all divisions.

"While the strong strategic and financial progress we made throughout 2025 was encouraging, we were very disappointed with the outcome of the UK Budget in November that dealt a significant blow to both evoke and the wider regulated industry. We continue to believe these tax increases will negatively impact the industry's economic contribution, customer protection, and will ultimately serve to support further growth in the illegal black market."

Reporting by Iain Gilbert at Sharecast.com
Banerjee urges pause on Budget-focused governance.

Cautions against unequal State funding in VB-G RAM G Act.

Highlights Indias protein deficiency and malnutrition issues.

As the Union Budget draws closer, Nobel Laureate and economist Abhijit Banerjee has called for a pause in what he described as the constant cycle of Budget-to-Budget governance. He said this may be the right moment for the government to rethink how it is organised and how policies are designed and implemented.

Speaking to The Hindu at the Hyderabad Literary Festival 2026, Banerjee said the country needs to step back from the annual rush around the Budget and instead focus on making the government more effective. He observed that public discussion and policymaking are often shaped by the next Budget or the next election, leaving little room for deeper structural thinking.

Banerjee said. He added that the period between the previous and upcoming general elections offers a valuable opportunity to pause and consider long-term reforms. One such area, he suggested, could be urban decentralisation, where cities are given greater power and flexibility to manage their own development. We are always moving from one Budget to the other, and from one election to the next,said. He added that the period between the previous and upcoming general elections offers a valuable opportunity to pause and consider long-term reforms. One such area, he suggested, could be urban decentralisation, where cities are given greater power andtheir own development.

Commenting on the Viksit Bharat  Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) or VB-G RAM G Act, 2025, Banerjee cautioned against making quick judgments. He expressed concern that reducing the Centres share of funding in certain schemes could widen inequality among States. According to him, poorer States may receive less money and may be forced to cut spending on key welfare programmes.

He also noted that even some State governments led by the ruling party have raised objections to the proposed changes. This, he said, indicates that the proposal is still open to discussion and should not be treated as final. There is room for negotiation as the political process continues, he added.

Speaking about his latest book, Chhaunk: On Food, Economics and Society, Banerjee drew attention to Indias ongoing struggle with malnutrition. He said India continues to have one of the largest populations of malnourished and stunted children in the world.

The core problem is protein deficiency in everyday diets, he said, pointing to debates over the inclusion of eggs in school meals. Eggs, Banerjee noted, are an affordable and effective source of protein, but their use in nutrition programmes often becomes a political issue.
Update: Joseph Cecora , 21, has been located according to an NYPD spokesperson. No further information was immediately available.

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  The NYPD is asking the publics assistance in locating a 21-year-old Charleston man whos been missing since last week.

Joseph Cecora was last seen on Thursday, Jan. 22, at approximately 5 p.m. leaving his residence in the vicinity of Englewood Avenue, according to the NYPD.

Joseph Cecora was last seen on Thursday, Jan. 22, at approximately 5 p.m. leaving his residence in the vicinity of Englewood Avenue. (Courtesy of NYPD)

Cecora is described as a 6-foot-tall male. He was last seen wearing a white sweatshirt, black jeans and blue sneakers.

The NYPD released a photo of Cecora.

Anyone with information in regard to this incident is asked to call the NYPDs Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). The public can also submit tips by logging onto the Crime Stoppers website at https://crimestoppers.nypdonline.org/, or on X @NYPDTips.

All calls are strictly confidential.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  The NYPD is asking for the publics assistance in identifying and locating an individual wanted for questioning in connection with an incident of reckless endangerment that occurred in West Brighton.

It was reported to police that on Sunday, Oct. 26, 2025, at approximately 12:05 a.m., an unidentified individual discharged a firearm in front of 1210 Castleton Ave.

Police describe the individual as male with a medium complexion, last seen wearing a purple hooded sweatshirt, blue jeans and black sneakers. (Courtesy of NYPD)

The individual then fled southbound on Taylor Street and no injuries were reported, police said.

According to police, the individual is described as male with a medium complexion, last seen wearing a purple hooded sweatshirt, blue jeans and black sneakers.

The NYPD has released surveillance photos of the sought individual.

Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to call the NYPDs Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). The public can also submit their tips by logging onto the Crime Stoppers website at https://crimestoppers.nypdonline.org/, or on X @NYPDTips.

All calls are strictly confidential.
Update: Marcel Anderson, 21, has been located according to an NYPD spokesperson. No further information or details were immediately made available

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  The NYPD is asking for the publics help to locate two men who were reported missing from Meiers Corners.

Christopher Diaz, 20, and Marcel Anderson, 21, most recently were seen on Sunday at about 2:30 p.m. at their home on Wheeler Avenue near South Gannon Avenue, according to statements from the NYPDs Deputy Commissioner of Public Information.

Christopher Diaz, 20, was reported missing on the afternoon of Sunday, Jan. 25, 2026, from his home on Wheeler Avenue near South Gannon Avenue in Meiers Corners. (Courtesy of NYPD)

Police described Diaz as 5 feet 6 inches tall and weighing about 170 pounds. He was seen wearing a white coat, red sweatpants, and white shoes.

Marcel Anderson, 21, was reported missing on the afternoon of Sunday, Jan. 25, 2026, from his home on Wheeler Avenue near South Gannon Avenue in Meiers Corners. (Courtesy of NYPD)

Police described Anderson as 6 feet 2 inches tall and weighing about 180 pounds. He was seen wearing a black jacket, black jeans, and black boots.

Anyone with information is asked to call the NYPDs Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or, for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). The public can also submit tips by visiting the CrimeStoppers website at https://crimestoppers.nypdonline.org/, or on X @NYPDTips.

All calls are strictly confidential.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  A 47-year-old man has been arrested multiple times, accused of selling drugs while armed with a knife and lunging at a police officer during a traffic stop.

Thomas Kwadjo, formerly of Staten Island and now living on Ainslie Street in Brooklyn, was arrested on Jan. 11. Officers allege they spotted Kwadjo accepting money from an individual in Stapleton.

The defendant then tossed a twist of cocaine to that individual, according to the criminal complaint, which was based on an investigation by Narcotics Borough Staten Island.

Inside the defendants pants, officers allege they found two larger plastic zipper bags holding smaller bags of cocaine and a knife tainted with residue of that stimulant.

Traffic stop in Stapleton

The defendant had prior brushes with the law last year.

On June 10, police said Kwadjo was sitting behind the wheel of a gray 2023 Nissan Rogue that was idling at about 11 p.m. on Canal Street near Broad Street in Stapleton. The defendant attracted the attention of police when he allegedly failed to signal before driving out of his parking spot on Canal.

Kwadjo allegedly refused to leave his vehicle when ordered to do so by officers on Wright Street. When an officer opened the drivers side door, the defendant lunged at the cop, the complaint alleges. Pushing the officers head and chest, the defendant caused the officer to stumble backward, according to the complaint.

When officers tried to handcuff Kwadjo, he flailed his arms and tensed his body so vigorously that officers had to call for assistance, the complaint alleges.

The defendant held foil envelopes in his hand. The complaint alleges that inside the foil was a yellow, wet vegetative substance identified by authorities as phencyclidine, commonly known as PCP or angel dust.

In another arrest on June 1, Kwadjo was caught with narcotics stashed inside a plastic bag in his pants at Thomson and Bay streets in Stapleton around 8 p.m., authorities allege.

Confiscated drugs included 40 green plastic zipper bags containing crack cocaine, 36 glassine envelopes holding heroin and five pills of oxycodone, the complaint alleges.

For his multiple arrests, the defendant faces charges that include criminal possession of a controlled substance with intent to sell, criminal sale of a controlled substance, criminal use of drug paraphernalia, obstructing governmental administration and resisting arrest.

Kwadjo has pleaded not guilty to all charges and has been released on non-monetary conditions in his January case. He is due back in Criminal Court in St. George on Feb. 3, according to public records.

The defendant also is listed as Kwadjo Thomas in public records.

Prior conviction in 2023

Kwadjo was sentenced in 2023 to four years in prison following an incident in November 2021 where police alleged they found a gun and drugs in a car that he was driving.

Kwadjo pleaded guilty to attempted criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree.

In addition to his prison sentence, the defendant received five years post-release supervision in state Supreme Court, St. George.

District Attorney Michael E. McMahon in 2023 praised the NYPD officers who executed the successful arrest and uncovered a bevy of illegal substances and weapons.

Kwadjo allegedly was behind the wheel of a black, 2009 Escalade that was pulled over on Nov. 22, 2021, at about 8:45 p.m. on the 100 block of Targee Street near Osgood Avenue, the Advance/SILive.com previously reported.

Officers recovered four bottles of phencyclidine, 40 pills of the sedative alprazolam, 18 strips of the opioid-treatment drug buprenorphine, two digital scales and an undisclosed quantity of glassine envelopes, according to the criminal complaint and police.

A 9 mm Beretta gun and a magazine with nine rounds were recovered from the vehicle, police allege.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. You came here looking for answers. So here it is in a nutshell: Hit the glass at a 45degree angle and fill until the liquid reaches the gold harp on the logo. Set it down and let it rest for exactly 119.5 seconds (but whos counting?) so the nitrogen cascade can do its thing. Then top it off while holding the glass straight. The goal is to get that tight, creamy head. Now heres a detailed look

1. Start with the right glass

A clean, dry, branded Guinness glass (sometimes called a gravity glass) shows off the stouts deep color and creamy cap. The embossed harp also serves as your firstpour marker.

2. Angle and target

Hold the glass at a 45degree angle and pour toward the harp. Stop when the liquid reaches the logoabout threequarters full.

3. Patience with the surge and settle

Set the glass down and let the nitrogen do its workthe foam darkens, the body turns onyx, and the head forms. Give it about 119.5 seconds.

4. Build the head

Return to the tap and push the handle forward to reduce pressure, then finish the pour with the glass upright. This builds that dense, velvety head without large bubbles.

5. Presentation on point

Serve with the harp facing the guest. Its a small, prideful finish.

6. Behindthebar baselines

Guinness runs on a 75 percent nitrogen and 25 percent CO blend. Kegs should rest at least 24 hours in the cooler before tapping, be stored at 38 degrees and served between 38 and 43 degrees.

Guinness uses a nitrogenbased system rather than traditional carbonation, creating a smoother texture that hits a different part of the palate compared with standard draft beer.

Saloonkeeper Joe OToole of Joyces Tavern in Eltingville explains that once the Guinness has settled, the bartender pushes the tap handle forward to lower the pressure for the second pour, allowing the head to build properly.

Other reliable Guinness spots across the borough include The Kettle Black in West Brighton, Jodys Club Forest, and The Point. ONeills of Port Richmond, Doc Hennigans in Westerleigh, Randall Manor Tavern in West Brighton, Duffys in West Brighton, and Millers Ale House in New Springville also pour a faithful pint.

The Guinness legacy traces back to its founder, Arthur Guinness, who signed the famous 9,000year lease at St. Jamess Gate Brewery in Dublin in 1759ensuring that todays rituals have deep, storied roots.

Its a history that still echoes through every pint raised during parade season. Staten Islands St. Patricks Parade on Forest Avenue steps off Sunday, March 1, 2026, and New York Citys Fifth Avenue parade follows on Tuesday, March 17, 2026the actual St. Patricks Day.
QUITO, Jan. 26 (Xinhua) -- At least eight people were killed in four armed attacks Sunday night in the cities of Manta and Montecristi in Ecuador's coastal province of Manabi, local media reported Monday.

The shootings occurred between 7:50 p.m. and 10:50 p.m. local time in several neighborhoods, according to reports citing police investigations.

The first attack took place in the Los Artesanos area of Montecristi, where a couple were shot dead while walking on the street. Minutes later, in Manta's 12 de Octubre neighborhood, a man was killed while sitting outdoors. Police have detained a suspect and seized a 9-millimeter magazine.

A third incident occurred in Bellavista, Manta, when an assailant entered a house and shot a man during a family celebration. Neighbors captured the attacker, who was injured.

The deadliest attack was reported at 10:50 p.m. in the Leonidas Proano parish of Montecristi, where gunmen fired from two vehicles at a group of people, killing four and wounding five.

With these incidents, the Manta district, a major port and tourist area, has recorded 51 violent deaths in January 2026, according to official data. 
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  These kids have heart, and theyre jumping for the hearts of others.

Students at Blessed Sacrament School in West Brighton participated in Jump Rope for Heart on Tuesday to raise money for the American Heart Association through their gym classes. The commendable effort is part of part of Catholic Schools Week celebrations.

The event took place during every gym period throughout the day at the Delafield Avenue school.

Students will donate funds they have raised from jumping rope as part of a Catholic School Week service project.

Principal Joseph Cocozello says, We have been doing Jump Rope for Heart as long as I can remember.

Jump Rope for Heart combines physical activity with fundraising efforts to support heart health research and education programs through the American Heart Association.

The effort raised $24,000 in 2023, according to Advance/SILive.com archives.

Its one of our service projects held during Catholic School Week. Weve had quite a few families, who have been impacted, including one of our pre-K teachers; someone in their family was born with a heart defect, said Cocozello. Every class participates; they go home with forms and come back with sponsors. This is us showing the community that we are supporting them as well as our own Catholic community.

Generative AI was used to produce an initial draft of this story based on school data. It was reviewed and edited by Advance/SILive.com staff.
Neil Young is following through on his October pledge to pull his music from Amazon, citing his opposition to the platforms owner and his political affiliations, Rolling Stone reported.

In a recent post on Neil Young Archives, the musician confirmed his music will remain unavailable on Amazon as long as Jeff Bezos owns the company. Young, 80, cited Bezos support of President Donald Trump, the administrations international policies and support of ICE.

Amazon is owned by Jeff Bezos, a billionaire backer of the president, Young wrote. The presidents international policies and his support of ICE make it impossible for me to ignore his actions.

According to the outlet, Young encouraged fans to find his music through record stores or alternative digital services, acknowledging the decision hurts his record company in the short term.

My position is unfortunately harmful to my record company in the short term, but I think the message I am sending is important and clear, he wrote. Thanks for buying music locally and from independent digital services.

In another show of support, Young has gifted free access to his entire archives to Greenland residents in response to President Donald Trumps threats against the country.

His complete catalog is available on the Neil Young Archives platform, which regularly requires a subscription. The catalog includes live concerts, studio outtakes and concert films, the report said.

I hope my music and music films will ease some of the unwarranted stress and threats you are experiencing from our unpopular and hopefully temporary government, Young wrote to Greenland residents. All the music I made during the last 62 years is yours to hear.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  In recent weeks, St. Philips Baptist Church has mourned the loss of several women whose lives were deeply intertwined with the ministry and mission.

Through decades of service, faith, and leadership, Mother Etta Jones, Mother Barbara Christopher and Deacon Annetta Morris helped shape the spiritual and communal life of the Stapleton church.

From left to right, Ashleigh Elliott, 9, Zonease Porter, Jocelyn Jackson-Porter, 12, and Mother Etta Jones are pictured in this photo taken Aug. 17, 2008, at the Staaten, West Brighton, for the St. Philips Baptist Church scholarship awards dinner. Jones died Dec. 24, 2025, at age 95. (Staten Island Advance)

Mother Etta Jones

Mother Etta Mae Jones, who died Dec. 24, 2025, at age 95, lived a life defined by service, education and unwavering faith.

Born July 6, 1930, in Lattimore, North Carolina, Jones was the eldest of 13 children raised on a hardworking family farm rooted in love and responsibility.

Her pursuit of higher education led her to New York, where she earned a degree in radiologic technology, graduating at the top of her class, and later obtained a masters degree.

A lover of plays and performance, Jones had a deep appreciation for storytelling and meaningful expression  passions that ultimately guided her to St. Philips Baptist Church.

It was there that Jones found a lasting spiritual home and met her husband, Carl, with whom she shared 46 years of marriage. Their life together was marked by both heartbreak and joy, including the loss of a son who was stillborn and the blessing of raising their daughter, Marcea.

At St. Philips, Jones was deeply involved in church life, serving in the Sunday School, Missionary Ministry and choir. She was also a member of the Guiding Lights Church Choir, later known as the Senior Choir, and the Senior Ministry. A trained medical professional, she gave herself as a church nurse and found joy supporting the churchs Summer Vacation Bible School program.

Jones was known for her love of fellowship, regularly participating in church outings and events, and for the warmth she shared with her church family. She was also a proud member of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.

Following her death, tributes poured in from fellow congregants and community members.

In a message shared on Facebook, Kimberly Knight wrote: My thoughts and prayers are with the St. Philips and Jones families. She was an extraordinary woman of God. One of the kindest, sweetest souls Ive ever met. Rest well, Mother Jones. Rest well.

Mother Barbara Christopher, right, is pictured in this photo taken March 7, 2025, with Julie Moody Lewis, president of the Sandy Ground Historical Society. Christopher died Dec. 22, 2025, at the age of 85. (Advance/SILive.com | Dr. Gracelyn Santos)

Mother Barbara Christopher

Mother Barbara Ann Christopher died Dec. 22, 2025, at the age of 85.

A Staten Island resident, Christopher was a faithful member of St. Philips Baptist Church for several years.

She served through the churchs Missionary Ministry and the Charles K. Smith Scholarship Committee, reflecting a deep commitment to service, education and community support.

In a Facebook tribute, Kindra Norwood recalled Christopher as her kindergarten teacher. I still remember her sweet bubbling personality, wrote Norwood. My heartfelt condolences and prayers to the family throughout their grievance.

Others shared similar sentiments. Joan Rannie described Christopher as a kind, wonderful friend and a true child of God, adding she will be remembered and never forgotten.

From left to right, Mable Roberts, Deacon Annetta Morris and Paulette Crosland gather for the annual brunch of the National Council of Negro Women, North Shore-Staten Island Section, in this photo taken April 9, 2006. Morris died Jan. 8, 2026, at the age of 92. (Advance/SILive.com | Jin Lee)

Deacon Annetta Morris

Deacon Annetta Marion Smith Morris died Jan. 8, 2026, at the age of 92.

As a deacon at St. Philips Baptist Church, Morris served with leadership, dedication and spiritual guidance, playing a significant role in the Sunday School Ministry.

Her work focused on supporting the congregation and strengthening the churchs mission, and she was known for her steadfast faith and commitment to service.

Those who knew her personally remembered her as a source of care and compassion. In a Facebook message, Yvonne Burkhalter wrote: Deacon Annetta Morris was a sister to me since I was a teenager. She was always caring and loving to me and she will be truly missed.

Church leaders said the nearly simultaneous loss of these women has been deeply felt, but their influence continues to shape the church and its community.
President Donald Trumps immigration policies are driving away top supporters in the wake of two fatal shootings by ICE agents in Minnesota.

The Daily Mail reports that top Fox News host Sean Hannity is pushing back against how ICE agents are going about their jobs.

Speaking on The Sean Hannity Show on Premiere Radio Networks, Hannity said that ICE should use different methods to round up undocumented immigrants.

Now is ICE perfect? Hannity said. Theyre not. Can they do a better job? They can.

Hannity continued, So I think that, you know, some of the optics at times, do I think that going into Home Depots and arresting people there is a good idea? I dont.

Hannity, a staunch supporter of Trump, spoke after an ICE agent shot and killed ICU nurse Alex Pretti over the weekend.

It was the second fatal shooting of an ICE protestor in Minneapolis, following the death of Renee Nicole Good.

Hannity said that an immigration program that would allow those in this country illegally to come forward would be a more responsible, reasonable way to deal with that problem.

Said Hannity, I dont think that people that if youre working at a place, youre not the immediate problem. Eventually, well have to deal with those people that didnt respect our laws, borders, and sovereignty.

Hannity continued, Theres gotta be a program where people get to come forward. I think they should then be given transportation home. They can get a check for, what, $2,000? And they can apply to come back in the country legally.

He said, We can vet them. We can do a health check on them and make sure they wont be a financial burden on the American people. I think thatd be a more responsible, reasonable way to deal with that problem.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  Meteorologists are monitoring the development of a noreaster capable of bringing heavy winds and snow to New York City this weekend.

As of Tuesday, the final path of the storm remains up in the air.

AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Matt Benz told the Advance/SILive.com that the ultimate track of the system will be determined, in part, by a fast-moving clipper storm emerging out of the western Great Lakes.

Benz called the system a kicker low and explained that if this storm strengthens enough and meets the powerful low from the southern coast, it could give the storm a boot at the coast and push it towards Bermuda.

However, if the clipper misses the window to kick the developing low from the south, that will allow the noreaster to track further north toward Cape Cod, Massachusetts.

Should the storm track towards Bermuda, the city will still see some wind, but may escape the snow. If the system takes a path towards Cape Cod, both snow and wind would be on the table for the five boroughs.

Benz told the Advance/SILive.com that as of Tuesday, there is a moderate risk the city will see a winter storm. If the noreaster does hit the city, impacts would begin late Saturday night and continue through Sunday; the worst conditions would be experienced on Sunday.

So its more or less kind of a 50-50 chance right now of it occurring, he added.

Although Tuesday was too early for Benz to provide any snowfall estimates, he did say this storm could bring heavy winds to the city, particularly for those on the coast. Should the storm get close enough, wind gusts could potentially reach up to 60 mph.

This combination of wind and snow would create visibility concerns in the city, Benz noted.

I mean we obviously saw visibility concerns just with the heavy snow this past weekend, but we really didnt see a lot of wind with it, said Benz. Whereas this one could be more wind which could blow that snow more around.

If snow does fall this weekend, it would pile on top of the existing snow from Sundays storm. As temperatures will remain below freezing throughout the week, any melting would be minimal.

In addition to high winds, those along the coast may want to prepare for potential coastal flooding, as the storm will coincide with the full moon and astronomical high tide this weekend.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  Staten Islanders heading to work and school on Tuesday are facing challenges that include snow, slush and dangerously cold temperatures.

Snow, slush and ice continue to pose threats to drivers and people walking to bus stops and train stations throughout the borough.

With temperatures in the teens, theres no chance of a melt during the morning rush hour.

A Cold Weather Advisory has been issued for Staten Island from midnight Tuesday until 10 a.m. Wednesday, with wind chills expected to drop to 5 to 8 degrees below zero, according to the National Weather Service.

The unseasonably cold arctic air will intensify Tuesday evening as another reinforcing shot moves into the region. Wind chills will fall below zero after midnight, creating potentially dangerous conditions for anyone outdoors.

The National Weather Service warns that these extreme cold conditions can cause frostbite on exposed skin in as little as 30 minutes.

Residents should limit time outdoors, dress in layers, and check on vulnerable neighbors. The cold snap will continue throughout the week, with Wednesdays high temperatures struggling to reach the mid-20s despite sunny skies. West winds of 10-15 mph with gusts up to 25-30 mph will make it feel significantly colder.

Thursday and Friday will bring even colder conditions to New York City, with the National Weather Service indicating that perhaps the coldest of the cold air reinforcements will arrive during this period. Additional cold weather advisories may be needed for late Wednesday night into Thursday morning, with more likely for both Thursday night into Friday morning and Friday night into Saturday morning.

Snow and slush coat streets and sidewalks at Clove Road in Concord on Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2026, after about a foot of snow fell over the weekend on Staten Island. (Advance/SILive.com | Jan Somma-Hammel)

Snow and slush coat streets and sidewalks on Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2026, after about a foot of snow fell over the weekend on Staten Island. Mounds of snow remain in front of a bus stop at Fingerboard Road and Hylan Boulevard in Grasmere. (Advance/SILive.com | Jan Somma-Hammel)

Snow and slush coat streets and sidewalks at Sand Lane in South Beach on Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2026, after about a foot of snow fell over the weekend on Staten Island. (Advance/SILive.com | Jan Somma-Hammel)
UNITED NATIONS, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- Fu Cong, China's permanent representative to the United Nations, on Monday called on Japan to reflect on its historical wrongdoings and correct its mistakes.

The victory of World War II defended the moral bottom line of humanity and gave rise to the modern international law system, Fu told an open debate of the UN Security Council on international rule of law.

Eighty years ago, the International Military Tribunal for the Far East tried Japanese war criminals and handed down severe punishment against the main perpetrators whose hands were stained with the blood of peoples of victim countries. The tribunal's rulings upheld international justice, maintained human dignity, and represented a stern warning against any illegal attempts to resurrect militarism or revive aggression and expansionism, he noted.

"Recently, however, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, going against the tide of history, blatantly linked Taiwan of China to the so-called situation of existential crisis for Japan and sent a wrong message, implying Japan's possible armed intervention in the Taiwan question. She also refused to retract her erroneous remarks," said Fu.

China's recovery of Taiwan is a victorious outcome of World War II and an integral part of the post-war international order. This ironclad fact has been affirmed politically and has irrefutable historical and legal basis, he said.

"Takaichi's preposterous remarks constitute a brazen interference in China's internal affairs, an open breach of Japan's international obligations as a defeated state, a wanton challenge to the international order based on international law, and a gross violation of the basic norms governing international relations founded on the purposes and principles of the UN Charter," said Fu.

"We urge Japan to face up to its history, reflect on its wrongdoings and correct its mistakes, and take concrete actions to address the concerns of the international community in a responsible manner," he said. 
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Exclusive BusinessCompaniesSocial media Adult mens faces can verify teen girls Snapchat accounts in major loophole Bronte Gossling January 28, 2026  5:00am Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share A A A

Under age Snapchat users are verifying their accounts by scanning the faces of people who are decades older and of a different gender, exposing a major loophole in the Albanese governments signature policy. From December 10, social media platforms in Australia have been required to prove to eSafety that they have made reasonable steps to prevent under-16s from holding accounts, including through facial age estimation scans. Privacy concerns are effectively allowing under-16s to pass k-IDs facial age estimation. Photo illustration from stock image. Matt Willis But privacy safeguards between Snapchat and its scanning software provider, k-ID, mean the tool is not checking whether the face scanned matches the gender or age details provided for the account on the app that is popular with children. Just six weeks on from Australias under-16s social media ban coming into effect  and as the United Kingdom considers replicating the legislation  the issues with Snapchats process show how the law is at risk of becoming a purely symbolic gesture.

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While Snapchats policy asks readers to note that approval from a parent or guardian is not an option for age verification in Australia, in practice, one father said his 12-year-old daughter successfully passed the apps age-assurance by pointing the camera at his face. Her account information claimed she was a 30-year-old woman, rather than a man in his late 40s. Related Article Exclusive

Social media Snapchat accused of reinstating banned teen accounts, stonewalling complaints k-ID chief corporate affairs officer Luc Delany said Snapchat used the companys software to provide an age-signal only. As part of this process, k-ID does not receive a users declared age or declared gender, Delany said. This is an intentional design choice grounded in data protection and data minimisation principles. Snapchat is by far the most widely used platform among 13- to 15-year-olds in Australia, with 440,000 of its 8.3 million monthly active users falling into that age group in February.

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ESafety commissioner Julie Inman Grant confirmed all 10 age-restricted platforms were in compliance with the legislation on January 16, and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said more than 4.7 million accounts had been removed across all age-restricted platforms. But its common among the estimated 2.3 million eight- to 15-year-old Australian social media users to have logins for several social media sites, and more than one account on any platform, and many have created fresh accounts. This masthead created several trial accounts on Snapchat with various temporary email addresses, a recently purchased phone number and a genuine number. The platform did not attempt to verify any of the accounts. But where the platform does ask a user to prove their age via a facial scan, users are exploiting the major loophole.

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Snapchats age verification policy states that it does not receive personal information, such as ID documents or facial scans, supplied to k-ID during the age verification process. For facial age estimation, Snapchat receives a yes or no from k-ID regarding if the face presented appears 16 or above. Related Article Social media Were teenagers, were going to rebel: The families yet to see the social media ban work Static images of over-16s are not expected to successfully bypass k-IDs system, which checks that the image is of a live person rather than a photo. A spokeswoman for Snapchat said the platform expressed this technical challenge throughout the debate of how the government and companies could effectively prevent under-16s from accessing age-restricted platforms. We continue to believe there are better solutions to age verification that can be implemented at the primary points of entry, such as the operating system, device, or app store levels, the spokeswoman said.

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In the meantime, parents may report an account if their child is not 16 and we will suspend it. Related Article Social media The world watched as Australia kicked under-16s off social media. The results are in Implementing reporting systems to allow users to flag accounts they suspect belong to under-16s is recommended by eSafety, but Snapchat has been accused of stonewalling parents who have tried to report their under-age childrens active profiles. A key element to the Online Safety Act is that the onus is on age-restricted platforms, not parents or under-age users, to comply with the law that is backed by fines of up to $49.5 million. The Snapchat spokeswoman said it is working to stop under-16s from accessing the platform, which will continue to use our inferred age signals to detect and remove under-age users.

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A government spokesperson noted age-restricted platforms must have robust and effective systems in place to meet their legal responsibilities, adding, we dont expect implementation to be perfect, but we expect progress and continuous improvement, and we will hold social media companies accountable. Guidelines issued by the eSafety Commission state that age-restricted platforms must not solely rely on a users declared date of birth, or government-issued IDs. A spokesman said Safety was aware of reports some under-16s continue to access social media accounts and was actively engaging with platforms and their age assurance providers  including Snap and k-ID  to probe any weaknesses in their implementation and settings. The Business Briefing newsletter delivers major stories, exclusive coverage and expert opinion. Sign up here.
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Sponsored BusinessCompaniesBulls N' Bears WA Eastern Goldfields coughs up more gold for Great Southern Brought to you by BULLS N BEARS Michael Busbridge January 27, 2026  3:31pm 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

Great Southern Mining has continued to build a serious head of steam at its Golden Boulder discovery. The latest drilling has churned out shallow, high-grade gold from its Duketon gold project in the Eastern Goldfields, one of Western Australias most proven gold neighbourhoods. Conducted in late 2025, assays from the first 27 reverse circulation (RC) holes of the 56-hole program are already pointing to a system with both serious grade and meaningful scale - and notably, the gold appears to start straight from surface. Great Southern Minings drill rig in action at its Duketon gold project in WA. Standout hits from the first batch of results included 6 metres at 6.7 grams per tonne (g/t) gold from 48m, featuring a 1m spike at a hefty 34.5g/t gold. Another hole turned up an impressive 1-metre section running at 23.9g/t gold within a 5-metre haul grading 5.1g/t gold from 25m. These latest results have thrown fuel on the fire, to add to previous RC campaigns at Golden Boulder, which have returned notable intersections such as 5m at 14.57 g/t gold from 41m, including a 1-metre slice running at a whopping 70.94g/t gold. Other hits shone with 2m going at 12.56g/t gold from a depth of 99m and 4m grading 5.64g/t gold from 63m, all inspiring plenty of confidence in the current program.

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Historic workings at Golden Boulder between 1900 and 1955 also returned stellar grades, with a recorded 1,915 tonnes mined at an average 28.6g/t for 1,761 ounces of the yellow metal. Unrecorded mined gold is likely to be much more.  It is shaping up to be a very exciting gold discovery in a prolific gold-producing region. Great Southern Mining managing director Matthew Keane Great Southern says historical drilling at the site has been shallow and sparse at best, with very few holes exceeding 40m, meaning this is the first time the ground has had a proper workout, with the early signs suggesting the old-timers may have only scratched the surface. Great Southern Mining managing director Matthew Keane said: Early drilling results from the late-2025 RC program at Golden Boulder have delivered a very strong start, reinforcing our confidence in the continuity of shallow, high-grade mineralisation in the northern portion of the 3.7km prospective trend. It is shaping up to be a very exciting gold discovery in a prolific gold-producing region. Geologically, the gold is hosted in a fractionated dolerite - a lookalike to the Kalgoorlies fabled Golden Mile. Stacked lodes at Golden Boulder occur within the Rosemont fault zone, a 60-kilometre-long structure that hosts multiple gold deposits owned by ASX-listed Regis Resources. Those include the two-million-ounce Rosemont gold mine and the 380,000-ounce Baneygo deposit, both key parts of Regis broader Duketon gold camp.

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Along the same Rosemont fault corridor, Great Southern is also chasing gold at its Amy Clarke prospect, another emerging exploration play that is quickly moving up the priority list. Shallow aircore drilling and soil geochemistry have defined a 5-kilometre surface gold anomaly. An exploration campaign in 2021 returned 8m grading a solid 6.73g/t gold from 32m, which included an excellent 4-metre intercept running at 12.5g/t gold. Another hole hit 4m going at 2.13g/t gold from surface. A long-overdue follow-up air-core program in 2025 at Amy Clarke then intersected 17m grading 1.4g/t gold, including 1m at 11.2g/t gold. With a further 29 holes yet to return assays, theres clearly more to come from Golden Boulder in the near term. Those holes sit further south along the Rosemont Fault, where drilling density remains sparse and the system remains open - prime real estate for extensions. Great Southern is also lining up a deeper diamond drilling program, co-funded under WAs Exploration Incentive Scheme, to test Golden Boulder at depth while continuing RC work along strike. If the stacked lodes occur as regularly and to depth as the lodes do in Kalgoorlie, then Golden Boulder could quickly shift from interesting discovery to serious resource candidate.

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In a belt famous for turning modest prospects into long-life operations, Great Southerns Golden Boulder is shaping up as a discovery with genuine legs  shallow, high-grade and sitting in exactly the right postcode. Is your ASX-listed company doing something interesting? Contact: mattbirney@bullsnbears.com.au

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BusinessCompaniesRupert Murdoch Opinion Will Murdoch get rewarded for his expensive gift to Trump? Elizabeth Knight Business columnist January 27, 2026  3:43pm

January 27, 2026  3:43pm 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 Murdoch family celebrated the birth of a baby this week  the California Post, a fledgling US conservative tabloid newspaper  sister for the New York Post, cousin to Fox News and the Wall Street Journal. In doing so, Rupert and Lachlan Murdoch have one-upped a conga line of billionaire businessmen in the procession to curry favour with Donald Trump. Many turned up for Trumps inauguration, donated to his campaign or had their companies stump up for the presidential library. Elon Musk even took a management position in the department of government efficiency. But launching a Trump-friendly mass media publication is next level. Trump and Murdoch. Best frenemies forever. AP/Bloomberg

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Murdoch has been in deficit in the Trump favour bank, with the media mogul and his News Corp the subject of a US$10 billion defamation lawsuit filed by the president over the Wall Street Journals reporting that he allegedly sent a bawdy 50th birthday letter to sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Related Article Media & marketing The paddock outside Canberra that makes Rupert Murdoch feel Australian The pair appear to have entered into a fragile peace pact of late, with reports late last year that Murdoch dined at the White House despite the existence of their legal teams battling it out in the background. That said, Murdoch was notably absent from the line-up of investors to take a stake in the spin-off of the US division of TikTok - which was headed by another Trump-allied billionaire in Oracle founder Larry Ellison. Trump had previously called out Murdoch as a potential member of the investment consortium. Meanwhile, to start up a printed newspaper, even one with a digital focus and a large 40-million strong addressable market, isnt an exercise in profit generation, and it could be years before the California Post turns a profit.

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Launching a print newspaper defies industry trends in which many printed newspapers and digital publications have failed over the past decade as news has been increasingly sourced through social media. But it is a tactically brilliant move by Murdoch to beef up his right-wing conservative bona fides and political muscle, which Murdoch has used over the years to support his media business interests. And picking a state that is a traditional Democratic Party stronghold led by a governor Gavin Newsom  the man tipped most likely to stand for democratic presidential nomination in 2028  is Trump gold. Newsom, a likely key target of Murdochs latest paper, sued another Murdoch business, Fox, for defamation last year. It also creates a mainstream media vehicle to take aim at Hollywoods woke population, many of whom have often successfully curated the anti-Trump narrative. The California Post, like its New York sibling, is being billed by its creators as brash and cheeky, which readers will recognise as code for thrill, outrage and headline-grabbing sensationalism  all with Murdochs trademark strong conservative twist.

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Streaming In the battle for control of Hollywood, money talks but Trump talks louder Elizabeth Knight Business columnist When News Corp announced it was launching the new tabloid last year, chief executive Robert Thomson said California surely needs a daily dose of The Post as an antidote to the jaundiced, jaded journalism that has sadly proliferated and that the [California] Post will play a crucial role in engaging and enlightening readers who are starved of serious reporting and puckish wit. If the New York Post is the template fashioning the Californian version, its worth remembering a taste of whats in store. Some of the more iconic headlines include  perhaps the most famous and quintessential New York Post headline  Headless Body in Topless Bar. Then there is the 2014 entrant for the most callous headline  Slumlord found burned in dumpster. Who didnt want him dead?, or the most controversial cartoon that appeared to depict president Barack Obama as a chimpanzee in 2009. The publication later apologised for the cartoon which featured two police officers standing over a chimpanzee they had just shot, with one officer saying, Theyll have to find someone else to write the next stimulus bill.

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Who knows whats in store for Newsom and the progressive Hollywood glitterati? 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 economyPopulation Opinion Higher immigration is an economic fix, but its not a panacea Millie Muroi Economics Writer January 28, 2026  5:00am

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As weve seen  especially over the past decade or so  population growth isnt inevitable. While the global population has grown every year for the past seven decades, some countries have seen their numbers shrink. And increasingly, those with falling birth rates (including Australia) have relied on immigration to keep their populations growing. Illustration by Simon Letch Were often told countries such as Japan give us a glimpse into our future: a shrinking population with an increasing share of older people  many of whom require health and aged care. These services, of course, require workers. But when the population is shrinking (and becoming older), it becomes harder to find the people able to fill the roles we need. When there are fewer workers, total economic growth, or gross domestic product, also tends to slow. Why? Because there are fewer people tinkering away and producing goods or services, and fewer people spending. (But as well come to, total economic growth actually isnt the most important metric).

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Whats the solution? One is to continue topping up our population, either through encouraging people to pump out more babies or by welcoming more immigrants. The latter is usually easier. Not only is it very hard (and often expensive) to get people to change their minds about having children, but importing workers means you dont have to spend decades getting them toilet-trained and ready for the workforce  as you would have to with an influx of babies. When theres an urgent need for workers  to care for our growing pool of grandparents, for example  or to make our GDP numbers look good (we can partly blame the media for its obsession with these figures), its easy for decision-makers to just bring in more people. Although as weve seen, it comes with political risk. But relying on population growth alone as a Band-Aid fix for our workforce shortages and to fuel our economic growth is a problem. While having more people increases the amount we can produce as a country, its not total economic growth we should care about so much as economic growth per person. Theres little point in having a bigger pie when each slice is unchanged  or smaller.

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Related Article University Its worth it: The shocking cost of degrees for international students Thats not to say immigration is a bad thing. Immigrants and the new ideas and processes they bring can make us better at our jobs (and therefore help us increase our economic growth per person). And they can play a crucial role in providing many of the services we rely on, from hospitality to healthcare. The economic benefits of skilled immigration are well established. The problem is that governments over the years have relied too heavily on population growth, failing to put enough thought, weight or money behind what is needed to support that growth  much of which would also help us to improve living standards for Australians across the board. By failing to invest enough in housing, for example, we have ended up with a housing market that is weighing down our productivity (and for which opportunists disproportionately blame immigrants). People having to live further away from their workplace are getting drained by long commutes and have to spend large chunks of the income they earn on simply keeping a roof over their heads, leaving them with less energy to dedicate to work and less money to spend on other goods and services, dampening business growth.

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While the Albanese government is spending billions of dollars on improving housing supply, its simply not enough to make up for the many decades of shortfalls. If we want to fix one of the biggest barriers to economic growth, we have to pay up through our tax system. Right now, though, we rely far too heavily on taxing workers: the people who are generating the ideas, making the products and developing the technology we need to boost our living standards. Compared to other OECD countries, Australia raises a relatively small share of its government revenue from taxes on property. Thats because we only really tax property when it changes hands, and there is a capital gains tax exemption on the family home, as well as other concessions such as the capital gains tax discount. Moving to a land tax and reducing some of these concessions, while gradually cutting back income taxes  especially for lower- and middle-income earners  would be a more efficient and fair way of structuring our tax system, and probably generate more tax revenue in the long term. Taxes, while necessary, often dampen economic activity. But we also know taxes on land have the least negative effect on GDP per person, compared to taxing workers, for example.

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While lifting income taxes can discourage people from working and investing, taxes on land cant reduce the supply of land. Why? Because land cant just grow legs and move around  it cant be hidden away and it cant be shrunk. Related Article Opinion

Retirement living More Boomers are choosing not to retire. Why? They dont want to Ross Gittins Economics Editor We also know most property wealth in Australia is concentrated in the hands of older generations. It makes sense for those older Australians who own property and have done well out of it (generally just by holding on to it), to contribute their fair share, especially as they start needing more health and aged care services. Meanwhile, by reducing income tax, we can encourage younger working Australians to push to their potential, work in the places well be needing them in (such as hospitals and aged care homes) and invest in doing things better  all of which are harder to do if we continue to squeeze them by taxing them too heavily and keeping housing out of their reach. Without making these changes, and especially if we dont want to rely on more immigrants, we end up with a situation like Japan, where there is intense pressure on healthcare systems, labour shortages and a struggle to fund essential services, all while younger workers shoulder the burden of paying for these things and keeping the economy going.

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That doesnt mean the Australian government should just rely on population growth. Without investment in the infrastructure and housing needed to support a larger population, and without shifting some of the tax burden back onto older, wealthier Australians, we risk everyone ending up with a smaller slice of the economic pie. Slowing down our population growth comes with costs, but so does keeping it going. Whether we want more, less or the same amount of population growth, fixing our tax system  and making sure we all pay a fairer share  is key to giving ourselves the best chance of keeping our living standards up. Millie Muroi is the economics writer at The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age. The Business Briefing newsletter delivers major stories, exclusive coverage and expert opinion. Sign up to get it every weekday morning.
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CultureBooksLiterature Opinion Why the backyard dunny is Australias most important literary setting Richard Glover Broadcaster and columnist January 28, 2026  5:30am

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Someone should write a piece about the role of the outdoor dunny in Australian literature. What? No one else wants to do it? Oh well, it better be me. After all, theres hardly a great Australian book that doesnt feature exterior sanitation. Theres the toilet in Tim Wintons Cloudstreet, for instance, built on a catwalk hanging off the edge of the island. Winton calls it a thunderbox  the seat was only eight feet above the water on a low tide, and on a high tide you were liable to experience what some well-travelled soul called natures bidet. Or, he says, a shark might go for your heart the long way, a phrase that really is far too vivid. Theres hardly a great Australian book that doesnt feature exterior sanitation. Getty Images In My Brilliant Career, the toilet at Possum Gully is outside, as are the washing facilities  the morning ablutions are conducted using a leaky tin dish on a stool outside the kitchen door. It is a measure, in storytelling terms, of how far the author has fallen. The slab hut in Henry Lawsons The Drovers Wife offered no facilities, and neither did Dad and Daves accommodation in Steele Rudds On Our Selection. You had to go into the forbidding Australian bush. That was the point.

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Meanwhile, in Ruth Parks Harp in the South trilogy theres a lavatory cistern with a soprano wheeze, a shared lavatory where you must wait your turn, and the dramatic moment where Hughie locks his brother in the outside dunny: Hughie? Jers most charming, conciliatory voice. Yeah, what? Let me out, mate, its bloody awful in here. The single best comic scene in Australian writing is probably the night soil scene in Clive James Unreliable Memoirs. It involves an outdoor dunny in suburban Kogarah in the 1940s, the dunny man running in to collect the tin of refuse, and Clive leaving his bicycle lying across the driveway. On the way in, the dunny man manages to successfully jump over the bike. On his way out, weighed down by the large tin of poo balanced on his shoulder, he is less successful in making the leap.

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Clive hears the sound of a dunny man running full tilt into a bicycle. And then the ping of the lid coming off the can. Then the sound of a million flies making their way to Kogarah. As the book puts it: They were coming from all over Australia. Theres a more sombre tone in David Maloufs 12 Edmonstone Street, a memoir about growing up in Brisbane in the late 1930s. Most Brisbane dunnies were, at the time, set outside at the bottom of the yard, Malouf writes, featuring a corrugated-iron roof swathed with bougainvillea or a loaded choko vine. Once you shut the door, it was totally dark. Their own toilet had recently been shifted inside  but had brought the dark in with it. The writer describes what he calls our cubbyhole of a lavatory: At the end of the storeroom passageway, behind a three-ply screen with no door, you sit in utter blackness on a split-seated throne that pinches. After all, theres hardly a great Australian book that doesnt feature exterior sanitation. Toileting even warrants a mention in books about our political history. Cyril Pearl, in his Wild Men of Sydney, describes John Norton, politician, journalist and drunkard, becoming befuddled, towards the end of a long parliamentary session, as he searched unsuccessfully for a toilet. He ended up relieving himself on the floor of the Legislative Assembly. He was dragged out by two constables to the accompaniment of salvos of ripe oaths and the crash of broken glass, the door of the Opposition room being shattered in the struggle. As usual, the best scene in the book involves a toilet, or  in this case  the absence of one. Australian songwriters have, of course, long seen the dramatic possibility of an unlit outdoor dunny, most obviously Slim Newton with Redback on the Toilet Seat: There was a red-back on the toilet seat when I was there last night/I didnt see him in the dark but boy I felt his bite.

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By the time the song was a hit, the outdoor dunny had  in most places  begun its way up the back path, heading towards the house. For a year or two, it sometimes perched on a corner of the back veranda before making its way into the home. Editor's pick Literature Sixty books to look out for in the first half of 2026 That shift was recorded by the novelist Frank Hardy in his book of yarns, Great Australian Legends. He tells the story of a bloke who hit it rich. He asks his wife if she wants anything. She nominates one of those newfangled backyard barbeques, and it is duly installed. A year later, the money keeps rolling in, and he needs to spend more. Again, he asks his wife. This time, she nominates one of those newfangled inside toilets, which is duly installed. Later, at the pub, the blokes friends ask him if it makes a difference being rich.

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Not really, he says, I used to eat in the house, and the toilet was in the backyard. Now I eat in the backyard, and the toilet is in the house. The story concludes that it makes little difference to be rich. As for my own conclusion? When it comes to portraying the outdoor dunny, Australian writers have always found themselves flushed with success. Get a weekly wrap of views that will challenge, champion and inform your own. Sign up for our Opinion newsletter.
BAGHDAD, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- Iraq's parliament on Tuesday postponed a key session to elect the country's next president after the two main Kurdish parties failed to reach an agreement.

Parliament Speaker Haibet al-Halbousi said the session was delayed following formal requests from the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) for more time to negotiate, according to a parliamentary statement. He told lawmakers a new date would be announced soon and stressed that parliament "will not violate the constitutional timelines."

Under the Iraqi constitution, a new president must be elected by a two-thirds majority of the 329-member parliament, a high threshold that usually requires broad cross-sectarian support and often leads to lengthy negotiations.

The constitution requires parliament to elect a president within 30 days of choosing the speaker. The president then has 15 days to assign the largest parliamentary bloc's nominee to form a cabinet, which must win a vote of confidence within 30 days. Halbousi was elected speaker on Dec. 29, 2025.

On Saturday, Iraq's Shiite Coordination Framework, the largest parliamentary bloc, officially nominated former Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki for a third term to lead the next government.

Under Iraq's post-2003 ethno-sectarian power-sharing system, the presidency is reserved for a Kurd, the speaker's post for a Sunni Muslim, and the prime minister's office for a Shiite Muslim. 
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CultureMoviesFilm awards Aussie trio backs up Oscar nominations with BAFTA nods Jill Lawless and and Chris Hook January 28, 2026  9:15am 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: Actors Rose Byrne and Jacob Elordi and production designer Fiona Crombie have backed up their Oscar nods with nominations in this years British Academy Film Awards. Byrne was nominated in the leading actress category for If I Had Legs Id Kick You, Elordi was nominated as best supporting actor for Frankenstein, and Crombies work on Hamnet was nominated in the best production design category. Rose Byrne, Jacob Elordi and Fiona Crombie have backed up Oscar nominations with BAFTA nods. However Paul Thomas Andersons politically charged action thriller One Battle After Another leads the race, securing 14 nominations on Tuesday, including acting nods for five of its cast. Ryan Cooglers blues-steeped vampire epic Sinners is close behind with 13 nominations for Britains equivalent of the Oscars, while Chloe Zhaos Shakespearean family tragedy Hamnet and Josh Safdies ping-pong odyssey Marty Supreme have 11 apiece.

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Guillermo del Toros reimagining of Frankenstein and Norwegian family drama Sentimental Value each got eight nominations, rounding out a six-pack of leading contenders for both the British and Hollywood Academy Awards. Related Article Oscars The Oscar nominations are in. Here are the good, the bad and the ugly of this years nods The best film nominees are One Battle After Another, Hamnet, Marty Supreme, Sinners and Sentimental Value. BAFTA Chief Executive Jane Millichip said the nominations recognised films like One Battle After Another, Sinners, tackling really big societal issues  the moral ambiguity of activism, Black identity, alongside films exploring the most intimate side of family relationships. Theyre all doing it in quite different ways: Strong flavours, really bold storytelling, she said.

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Hollywood heavyweights and rising stars Best leading actor contenders are Timothee Chalamet for Marty Supreme, Leonardo DiCaprio for One Battle After Another, Ethan Hawke for Broadway biopic Blue Moon, Michael B. Jordan for Sinners, Jesse Plemons for Bugonia and British actor Robert Aramayo for playing a man with Tourettes syndrome in biographical drama I Swear. Aramayo said it was really crazy to be nominated alongside Hollywood heavyweights. Its absolutely amazing, he said. I admire each and every one of them so much. Besides Byrnes nomination, the leading actress category also includes awards-season favourite Jessie Buckley for her performance as Agnes Hathaway, wife of William Shakespeare, in Hamnet. Shes up against Rose Byrne for If I Had Legs Id Kick You, Kate Hudson for Song Sung Blue, Chase Infiniti for One Battle After Another, Renate Reinsve for Sentimental Value and Emma Stone for dystopian tragicomedy Bugonia.

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Related Article Golden Globes Where to watch the films and TV that won the 2026 Golden Globes One Battle actors Teyana Taylor, Benicio del Toro and Sean Penn are all nominated for supporting performances. Elordi faces tough competition in the supporting actor category with Paul Mescal nominated for Hamnet, Stellan Skarsgard for Sentimental Value, del Toro and Penn for One Battle and Peter Mullan in the race for I Swear. In the production design category, Crombies work on Hamnet will be up against Frankenstein, Marty Supreme, One Battle After Another and Sinners. The Associated Press was recognised in the best documentary category with a nomination for Mstyslav Chernovs harrowing Ukraine war portrait 2000 Meters to Andriivka, co-produced by the AP and PBS Frontline.

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The winners will be announced at a February 22 ceremony in London hosted by actor Alan Cumming. The UK prizes  officially called the EE BAFTA Film Awards  often provide clues about who will triumph at Hollywoods Academy Awards, held this year on March 15. Related Article Golden Globes Golden Globes 2026 as it happened: Rose Byrne gets a win as One Battle After Another and Adolescence clean up This year, unusually, Oscar nominations were announced first, with Sinners securing a record 16 nominations, followed by 13 for One Battle After Another. The British academy has recognised several performers overlooked by the Oscars, including supporting actor nominees Mescal for Hamnet and Odessa Azion for Marty Supreme. The BAFTAs also have a distinctly British accent, with a separate category of best British film. Its 10 nominees include The Ballad of Wallis Island, Pillion, I Swear and Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy.

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Tom Basden, co-writer and star of The Ballad of Wallis Island, the story of a musical duo reluctantly reunited by a superfan, said it was gratifying to receive three nominations for a movie filmed on a tiny budget in 18 days. Carey Mulligan, who spent 10 days on set, is nominated for best supporting actress. Sort of against the odds, we managed to create something in those conditions that were really proud of and thats really hit home with people, Basden said. So its a lovely kind of underdog story in many ways. In search of diversity Most BAFTA winners are chosen by 8,500 members of the UK academy of industry professionals, with one  the Rising Star Award  selected by public vote from a shortlist of nominees. This years rising star contenders are Infiniti, Aramayo, Sinners star Miles Caton and British actors Archie Madekwe and Posy Sterling. Like other major movie awards, Britains film academy has introduced changes in recent years to increase diversity, including the addition of a longlist round before the final nominees are selected. Diversity has improved since 2020, when no women were nominated as best director for the seventh year running, and all 20 of the main acting nominees were white.

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Still, Zhao is the only female nominee in the best director category, alongside Anderson, Safdie, Cooger, Yorgos Lanthimos for Bugonia and Joachim Trier for Sentimental Value. Across all categories including documentaries and shorts, 25 per cent of the directing nominees are women. Associated Press writer Hilary Fox contributed to this story. With AP



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Cinema Chris Hook is Culture News Editor Sydney for The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age.
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CultureMoviesDocumentaries Filmmakers face legal warning over Brittany Higgins story Karl Quinn January 27, 2026  4:37pm Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share A A A

One of the biggest risks in making a film about how the law is used to prevent women from speaking up about sexual abuse is that someone will try to use the law to prevent the film from being shown. Predictably, a legal warning has already been sent to the makers of Silenced, which has just made its debut at Sundance Film Festival, where it is one of two Australian films in competition among 10 in the documentary showcase strand (the other is Sentient, in which former Q+A host Tony Jones examines the use of animals in laboratory testing). Human rights lawyer Jennifer Robinson in court in a scene from the Australian documentary Silenced, which debuted at Sundance in January 2026. Michael Latham Among the women interviewed in the film are Amber Heard, who was drawn into defamation suits in both the UK and the US after alleging she was violently abused by former husband Johnny Depp during their marriage, and Brittany Higgins, the former Liberal Party staffer who was raped in Canberras Parliament House in 2019. On Monday, The Australian reported that lawyers for Linda Reynolds, the former Liberal senator and minister and Higgins former boss, had sent a letter to the films producers threatening defamation action should the documentary suggest their client in any way attempted to prevent Higgins from airing her complaint.

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If, as the synopsis suggests, the film contains any allegation that our client or her staff attempted to silence Ms Higgins, or is in any other way defamatory of our client, our client will take legal action against [production company] Stranger Than Fiction Films Pty Ltd, [sales agent] Together Films and, if necessary, individuals such as the director and producers who have participated, the letter from Bennett Law reportedly said. The filmmakers confirmed to this masthead that they had received the legal warning from Reynolds. This masthead does not suggest that Reynolds sought to silence Higgins or to shut down the film. Robinson, right, with Amber Heard outside court in London in 2020. AP Human rights lawyer Jennifer Robinson  whose 2022 book How Many More Women? How the Law Silences Women inspired the film  says you could hardly ask for a better illustration of how fraught this terrain is. Its legally difficult to tell these stories  the fact weve received a legal threat proves the point, Australian-born, London-based Robinson says. But its so important that we do tell these stories, and we have to make it easier to tell them.

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Robinsons book (co-authored with Keio Yoshida) examines the myriad ways the legal system can be deployed to silence women, including NDAs (non-disclosure agreements), the favoured tool of Harvey Weinstein over years of alleged abuse. But the film, directed by Selina Miles, focuses on a handful of high-profile cases that reached court  largely because they are, by definition, visible and in the public domain. Still, it was no small thing to convince the much-maligned Heard and the now-bankrupt Higgins (thanks to a successful defamation action brought by Reynolds) to once again recount their experiences on camera. Im not here to tell my story. I dont want to tell my story, says Heard in the film. In fact, I dont even want to use my voice any more. Thats the problem. Heard and Depp engaged in two major defamation cases: a libel case in the UK in 2020, which Depp lost, and a 2022 case in the US, in which the jury largely found in his favour. Brittany Higgins with husband David Sharaz at the premiere of Silenced in Park City, Utah. Getty Images Higgins, who attended the premiere in Sundance as a guest of the producers (as did Robinson and Colombian journalist Catalina Ruiz-Navarro, another case study and interviewee), cuts a wounded figure in Silenced.

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She says that since making her complaint against Bruce Lehrmann in 2021, she has been through four government reviews, a criminal trial, a civil trial, a government inquiry into the police conduct in the case, and countless civil suits that have flown around. Federal Court Justice Michael Lee concluded to the civil standard  on the balance of probabilities  that Lehrmann raped Higgins in Parliament House in March 2019, as part of a multimillion-dollar defamation case that Lehrmann brought against Network Ten and journalist Lisa Wilkinson and lost. In addition to what one might term the formal side of the case, there is also the enormous burden of intense media scrutiny (much of it critical of her testimony) and social media abuse. Little wonder, then, that Higgins describes herself as just really tired, and says of bringing her complaint: I dont know if it was the right decision for me. The legal challenges in making the film  and ensuring it can be shown (a long series of end titles does its best to ensure no defamation suits can be brought against the film, by anyone who is mentioned)  are real. But, says Robinson, its also emotionally very challenging for the women involved. Im so grateful to them for using their voice in this project, she says, so we can use the film for a much bigger cultural conversation about how we treat women who speak out in the online space, in the media, in the courts, and what needs to change. Silenced will be released in Australia mid-year.
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MoneyPlanning & budgetingFertility Opinion I dont want to do the maths: How single women are funding their fertility

Amanda Smith January 28, 2026  5:01am Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share A A A

At 28 years old, Alisha Burns got married, and started trying for a baby the following year. After three long years of fertility treatments, she finally got pregnant. At 21 weeks, her son was stillborn. Two weeks later, her husband left her. Then, at 35, Burns landed a cushy job at a big bank where she thought shed meet her prince charming. She did not. Three years later, her dad suddenly passed away, and she had an epiphany: if she didnt take matters into her own hands, shed never be a mum. Sarah Brinkies and her son. It took two IVF cycles to conceive her daughter at 39, using donor sperm. She spent about $16,000. Shes far from alone on this path to parenthood. When Sarah Brinkies was 38, she realised it was now or never. She was ready to start a family but was single. On her second look at her clinics donor catalogue, she found the one she liked and proceeded with an IVF cycle. It worked the first time and she had her son. The out-of-pocket cost was about $13,000. Brinkies was a solo IVF mum but found love and her husband is now a stepdad.

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Other women need multiple cycles to have success. Penny Higgs did four egg retrievals and 16 embryo transfers to conceive her three children via IVF. Her firstborn was with her ex, then she used a known donor for her second two. Each retrieval was around $11,000 and each transfer $4000. This doesnt include any of the medications, tests, and diagnostic procedures. Its actually sickening how much Ive spent because I dont actually have the money, and most of it has come off my home loan. Penny Higgs And these women are the success stories. They took home babies. There are no guarantees or refunds with fertility treatments. Yet, every year, we see more women embark on solo motherhood. Single mothers by choice (SMBC) use donor sperm in the highest numbers (53 per cent), compared to LGBTQ+ people (36 per cent), according to the VARTA 2023 Annual Report. In Victoria alone in 2023-24, there were 1,775 recipients of donor sperm and 828 pregnancies.

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Australian SMBC access donors directly through their fertility clinic program (local recruiting and international cryobank partnerships) or a known donor, with strict regulations in place. Editor's pick Opinion

Financial planning As a queer Australian, this is the hidden tax I have to pay Dr Joseph Sgroi, a fertility specialist from Melbourne IVF, said theres been a greater acceptance of different forms of family units, partly due to legislative and societal changes. When I started in fertility back in 2014, single women pursuing parenthood was rare. Even donor sperm was just coming to the fore in the early 2000s, Sgroi said. Every time I get a woman who comes in to see me for egg freezing, I will ask her, do you want to be a mum or do you want to preserve your fertility? While egg freezing provides more flexibility  as those eggs can be thawed and fertilised in the future with a partner  making embryos is the better approach for women in their mid-to-late 30s who know they want to become a mum. They achieve this through donor sperm.

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Some women have exited long-term relationships and are still chasing the dream of a relationship, while others dont necessarily desire a partner. Ill often say to them, if your desire to be a mum is great, then any future partner will fall in love with you for who you are. If that includes a child, theyll love you for it. If they dont, theyre not the right partner for you anyway, Sgroi says. Alisha Burns decided to have a baby on her own when she turned 38. Many other single women are considering the same thing. Wayne Taylor Sgroi touched on the extraordinary difficulty and inequality in Australia for same-sex males to build their families. Egg donation and surrogacy must be altruistic, meaning the pregnant woman cannot receive payment  hence couples travel abroad to achieve a pregnancy. Theres scope in Australia for a really solid debate about what is fair and reasonable in terms of compensation for surrogacy and egg donation, he said.

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No straight path to parenthood for singles For the women pursuing parenthood solo, one through line in all their stories is the desperate desire to be a mother. While theres no partner, child support or that traditional family structure we were raised to think was the right way, theyre not alone. Theres the growing community of fellow SMBC, the extended family of half-siblings, and a society making space for alternative family types. Another positive part of single motherhood is the fertility financial planning because there are no surprises. For Burns  who now runs single mother education company Solo Mum Society  it took two cycles, and she took time off after her first to save for her second. She didnt want to put herself financially behind or get into debt just to get pregnant, so she put together a strict budget for fertility treatments, pregnancy, birth, and maternity leave. You need to understand your fertility window, so you can decide if you have the luxury of time (to save) or if you need to act now. You will always find a way to make more money if you need to, but you cant find a way to make more eggs, Burns said.

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Editor's pick Sex & relationships From swearing off men to polyamory: How Millennials are changing the face of modern love While her higher salary, savings, inheritance and qualifying for the Family Tax Benefit (for being a single income) all helped, Burns said putting in the work to get informed about her finances was most important. I didnt pull from my superannuation, increase my mortgage or get a loan. If youre planning to do that, make sure you speak to a financial advisor. Couples freak out about money, too, is her reminder for single mothers by choice. For Brinkies, she had a cap on the number of cycles she could afford (which was $20,000). She also used savings and was already a property owner. She ended up selling that apartment and moved in with her parents  the plan was six months, but then COVID happened, so she stayed for longer, while building her savings. Once her son was one, Brinkies bought a small house close to her family.

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People have this concern over money, but people have been having babies on a lot less, whether solo or partnered, said Brinkies. If its something you desperately want, youll make it work. You dont need to have a lot of money and all the little one wants is love. When youre doing it by yourself, youre so ready to give that. For Higgs, and many other women like myself, who switched from clinic-to-clinic, even going abroad for cheaper cycles, it was her finances that nearly forced her to stop trying. Higgs ended up doing double transfers (two embryos at once) because it was more cost-effective. Its actually sickening how much Ive spent because I dont actually have the money, and most of it has come off my home loan. I dont want to do the math, she explained. Mothers have always been resourceful, especially single parents. For single mothers by choice, this just starts earlier, in the months and years before the birth. Intentionally pursuing solo parenting doesnt close single mums off to love. If anything, its akin to egg freezing  it takes the pressure off dating and putting a timeline on love. Because, unlike the biological clock, love is one of those rare things in life thats truly outside our control.

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Amanda Smith is an Australian writer and cultural journalist. She lives in New York City. Expert tips on how to save, invest and make the most of your money delivered to your inbox every Sunday. Sign up for our Real Money newsletter.

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Exclusive NationalNSWBondi shooting Attorney-general tells imams new hate speech laws wont silence criticisms of foreign governments Mostafa Rachwani January 28, 2026  5:00am Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share A A A

Attorney-General Michelle Rowland has advised the Australian National Imams Council, the leading body representing Muslim religious leaders, that new hate laws will not prevent criticism of foreign countries or political ideologies despite concerns the laws could silence debate. In a letter seen exclusively by this masthead and co-signed by Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke, Rowland told ANIC president Imam Shadi Alsuleiman that the legislation would not prevent legitimate, non-violent criticism of the actions of a foreign country or of particular political ideologies. Attorney-General Michelle Rowland presents the new laws to parliament last week. Alex Ellinghausen The laws, introduced by the Albanese government last week in response to the Bondi terror attack, allow the government to ban hate groups, tighten visa rules and increase penalties for existing hate crime offences. The hate groups section of the law gives the home affairs minister the power to ban groups that publicly incite hatred that causes a reasonable person who is a target to be intimidated, to fear harassment or violence, or to fear for their safety.

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Rowland clarified in the letter that the new legislation did not expand criminal offences for hate speech, but had only increased penalties and incorporated aggravating factors for particularly egregious and insidious forms of hate crime offending. Related Article Bondi shooting Albanese says his new laws will make Australians safer. How will they actually work? Crucially, those existing offences apply only where a person advocates or threatens force or violence against a group, members of a group, or their property or places of worship, she wrote, adding that the measures do not introduce restrictions on the ability of faith communities to practice and teach their religious and cultural beliefs. Rowland was responding to a scathing letter sent by Alsuleiman last Thursday, in which he criticised the new laws and their impact on political expression and protest in Australia. The imams specific concern was whether the new measures would criminalise criticisms of Israel or Zionism.

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ANIC is the leading religious body in the Muslim community, representing more than 350 registered imams and appointing Australias grand mufti. Alsuleiman said the new legislation fails to address the underlying drivers of violence and extremism and disproportionately focuses on religious expression, creating the real risk that lawful speech, religious teaching, political advocacy and humanitarian activism may be captured or chilled by its provisions. He also referenced Rowlands appearance on the ABCs 7.30 on January 20, where she was asked if a group such as Hizb ut-Tahrir would be banned under the measures if they condemned Israel but stopped short of promoting violence. She replied that if there was fear or intimidation as a result, and that passed a reasonable person test, the group would be banned. If those criteria are satisfied, then that is the case, she said at the time.

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Alsuleiman said in his letter that the remarks caused significant alarm within the Australian Muslim and pro-Palestinian community ... given their potential implications for freedom of political expression. He wrote that at a meeting on January 15, staff from the Attorney-Generals Department and the Department of Home Affairs advised him that criticism of Israel as a state, including political criticism of Zionism as a political ideology, would not in itself constitute hate speech under the proposed framework. A representative of the Imams Council said the response from the government did not do enough to address their concerns, adding that they believed the laws could be weaponised. The lack of precise legislative boundaries and the broad language employed leave open the real possibility of overreach, especially in charged political contexts, the spokesperson said. They added that there was a heightened anxiety among Muslim religious leaders that sermons grounded in religious teachings on justice, oppression, or international affairs could be misconstrued or selectively interpreted, exposing them to legal or reputational risk.

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Many within the community perceive that their political expression and religiously informed moral positions are being subjected to heightened scrutiny. Related Article Antisemitism Albanese blames Senate for Labor abandoning hate speech reform Professor Luke McNamara, an expert in laws addressing racism from the University of NSW, said he understood the concerns raised by ANIC, but added that he believed the government provided reassurance that the new laws were not designed to inhibit the legitimate practices of faith communities. But he added that there were conflicting messages circulating in the wider community about what the legislation does and does not do, and that it was incumbent on a government that leads the introduction of new laws of this sort to really explain to the community what it covers and what it doesnt cover. He said the likelihood of overreach is modest, but there was genuine concern and anxiety at the potential for demonisation of particular communities, particularly in the media.

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Its right to be concerned that the media, or some portions of the media, that engage these new laws, deploy them for their own purposes, which may not produce prosecutions ... but they can certainly contribute to demonisation of particular communities. Both the Executive Council of Australian Jewry and the Zionist Federation of NSW were approached for comment. The new laws were passed in federal parliament last week after the Albanese government abandoned several changes it proposed after the Bondi attack, which included provisions to stamp out antisemitism with anti-vilification laws. Those changes were dropped after the government failed to win support from the Greens or the Coalition. A spokesperson for Rowland said the new laws do not affect lawful advocacy, protest or dissent.

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The governments hate speech legislation specifically targets those who seek to spread hatred, including those who seek to radicalise our youth, and disrupt social cohesion in our community. Criticism of a foreign country or of that countrys government is not sufficient to meet the thresholds for listing. 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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NationalNSWCourts Brazen and public incitement: White nationalist refused bail over alleged antisemitic speech Luke Costin January 27, 2026  2:47pm Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share A A A

A man will spend at least a week behind bars charged over an allegedly antisemitic tirade at an Australia Day rally in Sydney which he concluded with tributes to neo-Nazi leaders. Brandan Koschel, 31, is accused of breaching newly passed racial hatred incitement laws in remarks to thousands of attendees of the anti-immigration March for Australia rally on Monday. Brandan Koschel was denied bail and remains in custody after being charged over comments he made about Jewish people at a March for Australia rally. Nine News The 45-second speech  during which Koschel twice stated Jewish people were the greatest enemy  drew cheers from sections of the Moore Park crowd and was live-streamed on YouTube and elsewhere. He was arrested soon after and faced a virtual bail court on Tuesday, seeking release.

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Related Article Australia Day Neo-Nazi chants at anti-immigration rally, Invasion Day protest draws thousands Police described their case as strong, pointing to Koschel citing the new laws and then allegedly knowingly breaching them seconds later. The brazen and public incitement towards the Jewish community makes him an unacceptable risk to endanger the community, the police prosecutor said. Police alleged he was seen moments earlier standing with people known to be part of or affiliated with the National Socialist Network (NSN), the nations largest neo-Nazi group. Open-source information suggested Koschel had also been a member of the group, the court was told.

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Free Joel Davis, heil white Australia, heil Thomas Sewell, Koschel said before leaving the stage, referencing NSN leader Sewell and a Sydney lieutenant charged over a public call for people to rhetorically rape federal MP Allegra Spender. But the white supremacist group had disbanded in recent weeks and Koschel was not affiliated with any active group, the 31-year-olds lawyer, Jasmine Lau, said. About 2000 protesters took part in the March for Australia rally on Monday. Wolter Peeters She also played down the large white Celtic cross on her clients shirt at the time of the speech, arguing it was not a symbol of the NSN. He tells me its just a Celtic cross symbol that was shown on the jumper, Lau told the court.

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The symbol has been used by various white supremacist groups since the 1930s, the US Anti-Defamation League hate symbols database states. Lau said it was unlikely that Koschel would, if convicted, cross the threshold for receiving jail time. He had family ties to Sydney, no firearm licence and a limited criminal history including no matters related to hate crimes. Koschel voiced support for Joel Davis, charged over a public call for people to rhetorically rape federal MP Allegra Spender. Justin McManus But magistrate Daniel Covington was unconvinced Koschel posed little threat of causing further trouble, despite the limited criminal record.

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Proposed bail conditions did not include specific non-association measures and there was no disavowal of the views of the suggested ideology, he said. It is difficult for me to determine what conditions could be put in place to both protect the community and the risk of committing further serious offences, he said. There is a real risk of imprisonment. He refused bail and remanded Koschel in custody until February 3, when the case comes before Downing Centre Local Court. Koschel remained silent for much of the bail hearing.

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He appeared to make a gesture with his handcuffed right hand before his link from police cells was switched off. Related Article Australia Day Undercover neo-Nazis infiltrate March for Australia as police block opposing protests The NSN announced it would disband this month in anticipation of new federal laws targeting hate groups. Davis, a key Sydney ally of NSN leader Thomas Sewell, told a bail hearing on January 15 he was no longer a member and that chapter is now closed. He has been held on remand since November over the call for his supporters to rhetorically rape Spender, whose east Sydney electorate includes a large Jewish population.

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Davis has argued rhetorically rape was a philosophical term of art, not a term to incite some to literally sexually assault the Wentworth MP. AAP Start the day with a summary of the days most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter.

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Updated NationalNSWCourts The damning messages from former Knox teacher who procured student for sex Clare Sibthorpe Updated January 27, 2026  12:58pm ,first published January 27, 2026  10:56am 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 former teacher at Sydneys prestigious Knox Grammar procured a child for sex over the dating app Grindr, by exchanging intimate photos and audio recordings, planning to meet up and discussing potential sexual activity. William Roberto Gulson, who taught English and drama at Knox, unsuccessfully fought allegations relating to a 15-year-old student, a fictitious person created by a different student who told police they were using the dating app to try to catch pedos. William Gulsons messages to who he believed to be a boy were revealed in court. Artwork: Marija Ercegovac Photo: Sam Mooy On Tuesday, parents of children dialled into Downing Centre Local Court as the 28-year-old was found guilty of procuring a child for sex over the dating app exchange in August 2024. Outlining the prosecutions case, Magistrate Hugh Donnelly said a 16-year-old student created a fake Grindr profile which publicly purported to be a 26-year-old man, with a profile picture showing the back of a head.

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Once a conversation was struck up between Gulson and the profile user, the 16-year-old told him that they were a 15-year-old year 9 student who was looking for older men. Throughout a contested local court hearing, Gulson argued he believed he was speaking with an adult, due to the age listed on the profile. This was despite him sending messages reading: Do you find it hot that you are as old as some of my students? and I feel conflicted. Donnelly said the latter message signalled some kind of hesitation, given that this occurs immediately after [the teenager] says he is 15. The child sent several photos of an adolescent boy, which Gulson immediately saved to his phone and replied with messages including a cute boy, wow, youre young, super young and such a sweet boy.

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The teenager messaged: I want to be with older men. They are so fun. Ive dated older men, and I loved it. Gulson told the boy he hoped he didnt teach him, and the boy responded pretty unlikely. The pair discussed his age and school, sexual experience, and sexual activity that might be performed, Donnelly said. Speaking about meeting up, Gulson wrote, I can travel. I can come to your house. He said it was a shame that the teenagers parents would be home soon and encouraged him to seek out a home for sexual activity. I can pick you up when you find a quiet place, Gulson wrote.

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When the boy sent an audio message, Gulson replied: Year Nine! He responded with a recording in which he again expressed shock at his age. The boy sent a photo of a year 9 classmate and discussed potential sexual activity with them. Gulson submitted that he still believed he was conversing with an adult, even after these exchanges, and at one point suspected it was a chatbot. Gulson taught English and drama at Knox. Sam Mooy Donnelly said there was overwhelming evidence and found beyond reasonable doubt that he thought he was speaking with a 15-year-old.

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The defendant did not use the word adult once, he said. The magistrate said Gulsons account was inherently improbable and implausible given the childs repeated admissions about his age and that his testimony  including claiming that he thought an adult was acting out a role play or fantasy by imitating a child  was unconvincing. The court heard Gulson searched gay child porn nine days before the offending, as well as other inappropriate searches about children that are too graphic to detail. A police investigation was sparked when the real teenager told friends about the chat and Gulson was identified through photos he had sent. Gulson was arrested in September and has been on bail since. The teenager told police they were trying to catch pedos and  thought it would be funny, Donnelly said, adding they were finding random people to scare, mess with and threaten to call the cops on.

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Gulson denied being sexually attracted to children. As he heard the guilty verdict, Gulson looked at a man sitting next to him and held his hand. William Gulson at Downing Centre Court on Tuesday. Sam Mooy Following Gulsons arrest, Knox headmaster Scott James wrote to parents to say the alleged exchange occurred outside school hours and premises and did not involve any school IT equipment. When this was brought to our attention, the teacher concerned was immediately removed from the school and his employment was terminated, said the headmaster of the school, which charges annual fees of up to $45,000.

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According to his LinkedIn profile, Gulson attended Knox, graduating in 2014. He taught drama and English and was a year 7 mentor. In 2023, he received a Living Our Values award from the Knox Grammar School Council. Gulson will remain on bail and return to court on March 20. Support is available from the National Sexual Assault, Domestic and Family Violence Counselling Service (1800RESPECT) on 1800 737 732. Start the day with a summary of the days most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter.
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The adoption of the Australian flag by right-wing protesters as a rallying symbol surely shows that its time for a new, more inclusive national flag (PMs forceful message to new citizens as Australia Day marred by Nazi chants, January 27). The minister for the republic should announce a design competition to create a new flag thats more relevant to all Australians. Ignorance should not be represented by our national flag. Jonathan Atkin, Thornleigh The wonderful ABC coverage of the Australia Day concert in Sydney beautifully showcased the enormous talent and amazing locations Australia has to offer. Unfortunately, the elephant in the room was our national flag. Including the Union Jack represents the colonial past and does nothing to unite our multicultural society. We need to stand on our own feet and send a message that the flag must change. Robert Antill, Lake Conjola One man was arrested at the Sydney March for Australia for antisemitic hate speech. Wolter Peeters After watching the stunning Australia Day concert it occurred to me that we ought to do away with the old national anthem Advance Australia Fair and instead use Bruce Woodley and Dobe Newtons beautiful song I Am Australian (I am, you are, we are). Its far more meaningful and appropriate for multicultural Australia. Heather Haisman, Winmalee After an alleged fake bomb was thrown among Invasion Day protesters in Perth (Chemicals found at accuseds house after bomb scare, January 27) and neo-Nazis chanted hateful slogans in Sydney and Melbourne (Neo-Nazi chants at anti-immigration rally, January 27), it has to be asked why the premiers and prime minister wont end this division by simply making it an Australia Day long weekend, like Thanksgiving in the US, with the date changing each year? We all want to celebrate whats great about Australia. One day to recognise First Nations, one day to acknowledge the contribution of our colonial past, and one day to welcome all the immigrants who have helped build our wonderful country. Legislation banning hate speech does little to improve social cohesion. Here is a simple practical way to return to what we had before 1994  a long weekend that everyone can enjoy. Colin Hughes, Cottesloe (WA) Shame on you, Steve Christou, for leading a chant of send them back. I remember well when people of your own heritage were on the receiving end of racist abuse and discrimination. Doesnt that mean anything to you, or dont you get the irony of your loathsome take on being an Australian? Andrew Cohen, Glebe Good luck to Anthony Albanese and Sussan Ley in explaining how Australia Day unites us. All the press ever does is look at what divides us  a menu of racist history and empty jingoism (oi, oi, oi) with a bit of hate added for extra heat by neo-Nazis. I dont find it a wholesome meal. John Rome, Mt Lawley

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Enough is enough. We cant go on like this, year after year. If the purpose of Australia Day is to unite the nation and celebrate all things Australian, it is clearly failing if the occasion is hijacked by neo-Nazis. Why does the date need to be January 26? Why cant we all agree to make the holiday, say, the last Monday of January. It just takes a bit of will on both sides of the argument to find a solution. David Boyd, Bondi Beach Nazi chants at rallies? Those concerned ought to suffer the full force of the new hate speech laws, though Im not hopeful. Keith Binns, Goulburn Dont forget DV Liberal leadership aspirant Andrew Hastie said on Australia Day: Weve seen very recently that there are people in this country who not only dont support [Australian] values, theyre willing to use violence (PMs forceful message to new citizens as Australia Day marred by Nazi chants, January 27). Is he unaware of the long-standing rates of violence against women in Australia, where a woman is killed on average every seven days in domestic violence but also in public places by male strangers? How long until this crisis is no longer a blind spot to MPs? Meanwhile, migrants stand to be unfairly scapegoated. Hastie has reportedly crowd-funded $260,000 for his own immigration blitz. Other right-wing figures also plan such campaigns. The prime consideration is clearly not the creation of a cohesive, inclusive society but the expected ease of winning votes from disaffected constituents, regardless of any social fracturing or other detrimental consequences. Barbara Chapman, South Yarra (Vic) Liberal MP Andrew Hastie. Alex Ellinghausen As politicians commit to doing something about domestic violence, we might note that 20 per cent of NSW prisoners on remand are there for DV offences yet cannot get psychological counsellors, except those working for the Department of Corrective Services (Sophie Quinns death shows justice system is running blind, January 26). If we want perpetrators to change, they must be given the chance to address their mental health issues and violent behaviour by having counsellors they trust. Dr Arthur Chesterfield-Evans, Woolwich

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Right leader, wrong time? I, for one, hope Sussan Ley continues as leader of the Liberals (Ley allies taunt leadership rivals: This isnt a spill; its a joke, January 27). She has emerged from the last week as a person who at least has some principles. As leader of the Coalition she has applied discipline when required, under the conventions of our parliament, in accepting the resignations offered by the recalcitrant Nationals shadow ministers. Sure, she has made mistakes, such as her petulant, desk-slapping complaint that Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong had not (publicly) shed a tear after Bondi. She also failed to provide bipartisan support, after initially promising to do so, in the immediate aftermath of the Bondi atrocity, though I suspect she was under enormous pressure from the right wing of her parliamentary party to distance herself from the PM. But her dignity in remaining silent on the day after the Coalition split on the National Day of Mourning, unlike her less respectful colleagues who ignored her request, at least suggests that she has the right characteristics to lead a major party. Her problem, I suspect, is that she is a leader of a party that is peering so far into its own echo chamber that it can no longer see what is best for it in the long term. Perhaps its a case of the right leader at the wrong time. Dale Bailey, St Leonards The recent articles, social media posts and public comments by prominent Liberals and Nationals bring to mind the Portuguese word saudade, which loosely translates as a deep and nostalgic yearning for the heroes and successes of the past. One expects they will soon trot out tired old Johnny Howard to sprout his usual platitudes and invoke the rose-coloured legacy of Robert Menzies. With the inevitable coup against Sussan Ley increasingly imminent, either Angus Taylor or Andrew Hastie will renew the Liberal march to the political right, and any hope of future successes will recede even further. Rob Phillips, North Epping Unfortunately, I must agree with Renos Ross that the Coalition (or whatever its now called) cant win the next election and almost certainly wont win the one after that (Letters, January 27). Why people are lining up to lead the group in opposition for the next decade is beyond me. The next conservative prime minister of this country is probably in year 12 right now. Ross MacPherson, Seaforth More Carneys please

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While Donald Trump was quick out of the blocks to point out the decline of Sleepy Joe Biden, its clear that hes ill-equipped to realise his own descent into physical and mental decay (Trumps decay imperils the global order, us included, January 27). Unfortunately, hes surrounded himself with a gang of yes-men too obsequious to point out the bleeding obvious. The world desperately needs more leaders like Canadas Mark Carney to tell it like it is. The days when lining up to kiss the presidential ring was viewed as smart diplomacy are long gone. Nick Franklin, Katoomba Correspondent Neville Turbit suggested making January 26 Glad We Are Not America Day (Letters, January 27). The truth is, Australia started to lose its identity with the introduction of television in 1956. Since then, there has been a steady erosion of Australian culture and an introduction of faux Americanisms. So, given the rise of the extreme right at home and abroad, it would seem to me that we will soon no longer be able to say glad we are not America. If Australians think Barnaby Joyce and Pauline Hanson in their marriage of convenience are the answer, then what is the question? Chris McKimm, Karangi Photo: Cathy Wilcox Jack Almond hasnt quite got it right when he says the killing of Alex Pretti by ICE agents reflects a dystopian nightmare (Letters, January 27). Dystopian and nightmare suggest imagined worlds. Trumps second term is brutal reality. Ross Duncan, Potts Point Absurd legal loopholes What madness is this? The Law Enforcement Conduct Commission is tasked with investigating police corruption but there is absolutely no legal compunction on those being investigated to provide any or all relevant information (Police brothel probe demands a watchdog with real teeth, January 27). Yet how many times have we, the tax-paying public, been assured that when the police force investigates itself, all allegations are scrutinised to the fullest degree? This is a total absurdity and disgrace. Pauline McGinley, Drummoyne

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Exorbitant uni fees The eye-watering fees charged for international students by Australias publicly funded universities are corrupting our higher education system (International student fees hit $850,000, January 27). International student fees are becoming a de facto method of charging wealthy people to migrate to Australia. How many of these rich students return to work in their countries of origin to help raise the standard of living in these often relatively poor countries? Not many, I suspect. And on what do our universities spend their exorbitant fees? Instead of employing academics in career-making tenured positions, the universities continue cost-cutting using unreliable contracts and casual employment. Advertising, recruitment and real estate investments make up an increasing proportion of their budgets, while teaching and research decline. Philip Bell, Bronte We all pay. The outrageous costs overseas students are charged, particularly for medical degrees, (which subsequently provide a pathway to citizenship here) are then passed on in the exorbitant fees specialist doctors are charging patients. Heather Johnson, West Pennant Hills Lets cut to the chase. The so-called premier universities are basing their full-fee degree costs on how many students they can enrol; to fulfil their budgets. The charges are nothing to do with the actual cost. And how can you offer a double honours degree before even seeing the standard of the student? Michael Blissenden, Dural Rose Bay resistance Rose Bay residents seem to be under siege from excessive development on land and sea at the moment (Rose Bay fury at damage from project, January 27). Apart from the planned apartment development, the latest proposed marina extension will add a new permanent marina arm and remove 55 swing moorings, which are more visually appealing and in keeping with the character of the bay. It will exacerbate serious traffic and parking problems in the area, detrimentally affect public views of the harbour from the Rose Bay promenade and lead to further unwarranted privatisation of the harbour. Previous applications to extend the marina have been refused by council and the Land and Environment Court on multiple grounds. It is to be hoped that all of the current inappropriate development proposals in and around Rose Bay will be similarly scuttled. John de Bres, Rose Bay

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NationalNSWHealth Suspended Sydney millionaire surgeon found guilty of serious misconduct Angus Thomson and Kate Aubusson January 28, 2026  5:00am Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share A A A

Millionaire Sydney property mogul and suspended cosmetic surgeon Jerry Schwartz has been found guilty of professional misconduct in a major blow to his years-long campaign to return to treating patients. Schwartz is suspended from practising in Australia and has had multiple restrictions placed on his medical and surgical practice since 2013, including conditions enforced in 2017 preventing him from giving conscious sedation to patients. Hotel mogul Jerry Schwartz said he would be appealing a suspension on his medical and surgical practice. Paul Harris In a decision published last week, the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal (NCAT) found Schwartz breached these conditions by giving fentanyl to eight patients receiving cosmetic procedures between 2019 and 2021. Schwartz was also found to have failed to meet professional standards in several other cases, including one where he mistakenly advised a patient their skin cancer wont spread, and another where he advised his staff to write his signature on a patients medical form.

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Schwartz was found to have inappropriately treated family members, an employee, and himself, including by self-prescribing sleeping pills on 15 occasions and by twice injecting the muscle relaxant Dysport into his forehead. NSW Medical Councils guidelines prevent doctors from treating themselves and those close to them whenever possible. The tribunal found these breaches, taken together, were serious enough to justify suspension or cancellation of Schwartzs registration. Schwartz argued in a September hearing that giving patients fentanyl could not be considered conscious sedation and that authorities had failed to impose conditions that were clear and unambiguous. The tribunal found these arguments had no merit and his repeated use of fentanyl despite the restrictions was particularly serious. When a practitioner is given the opportunity to continue to practise with conditions imposed upon his registration, it is on the basis that the imposition of those conditions will be sufficient to protect public safety, the tribunal said. We find that the practitioner (Schwartz) is disingenuous in making those assertions and that he knew, by using fentanyl, he was involving himself in the conscious sedation of patients.

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The tribunal found considerable difficulty in generally accepting Schwartzs evidence due to his poor record-keeping and conflicting evidence. We do not accept any uncorroborated assertions or opinions by [Schwartz] unless they are uncontroversial, inherently likely or accompanied by corroborative evidence, the decision said. In a statement to this masthead, Schwartz said he would be appealing the decision because it is arguable in fact and has tones of victimisation. The medical administrators have been looking for reasons to single me out for over 15 years and despite the intense scrutiny, they do not have serious grounds for their findings, he said. There are so many urgent issues in the medical sector that you do have to wonder whether all the time they take to try and get rid of good doctors, rather than concentrating on enhancing services for patients, is justified. Schwartz is one of Sydneys wealthiest men, estimated by The Australian to be worth $667 million after inheriting the hotel empire built by his parents, Hungarian World War II migrants Bela and Eve Schwartz.

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In 2013, a NSW coroner found Schwartz had acted inappropriately in filling out his own mothers death certificate, and was not justified in listing complications relating to lung cancer as the cause of death. Coroner Mary Jerram said Schwartzs ex-partner had claimed to police that, after initially claiming his mother had died by suicide, Schwartz had confessed to killing her and her best friend, Magda Wales. Schwartz denied the allegations and Jerram did not find sufficient evidence to determine the cause of death or pursue criminal charges. Jerram did not fully accept the stories of either Schwartz or his ex-partner. The family company has grown to 14 hotels including the Sofitel in Darling Harbour, the Mercure Hotel Sydney, two Ibis and two Rydges hotels in Sydneys CBD. Separately from the NCAT case, Schwartzs company was forced to recall and destroy its Dr Schwartz Hand Sanitiser, a complimentary gift to hotel guests, after a person at Paradise Resort on the Gold Coast ingested two 60 millilitre bottles of the product and suffered acute methanol poisoning. The person was treated in hospital and has since been discharged.

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The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) issued a recall after Queensland Healths laboratory tested samples of the hand sanitiser and found that it contained a high concentration of methanol, a Queensland Health spokesperson said. High concentrations of methanol can cause serious and irreversible injuries or death if ingested, and are banned in alcohol-based hand sanitiser and other consumer products. Schwartz said the company had imported the product to help protect guests from COVID-19 but, by 2025, it was only being given to guests at the Gold Coast hotel. There were no issues with the sanitiser until a guest consumed two small bottles of it, contrary to the label instructions, he said. The remaining hand sanitisers have been destroyed. Start the day with a summary of the days most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter.
URUMQI, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- China's wind power story is often told in terms of scale. Less examined is how that scale is being organized. In the country's far northwest, a region once known for relentless gales is turning wind from a raw resource into an integrated industrial system.

As one of China's most wind-rich regions, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region is no longer merely a resource hinterland exporting electricity to the rest of the country. Today, its wind is valued for how it has been harnessed, through planning, capital and infrastructure, into a production base that extends well beyond power generation.

The numbers explain why Xinjiang matters. Its technically exploitable wind resources are estimated at 780 million kilowatts, about 17 percent of China's total, ranking second nationwide. By the end of 2025, installed wind-power capacity in the region had reached 30 million kilowatts. Across China, grid-connected wind capacity has now surpassed 600 million kilowatts, keeping the country the world's largest wind-power market for a 15th consecutive year.

What sets Xinjiang apart is not scale alone, but how that scale is being structured. The region is steadily assembling a wind-power cluster spanning research, equipment manufacturing, grid integration, and long-distance transmission, pushing it up the value chain and embedding it more deeply in China's energy economy.

The roots of the industrial chain can be traced to Dabancheng, on the outskirts of the regional capital Urumqi, often dubbed "China's Wind Valley."

Ringed by mountains on three sides, the area acts as a natural wind corridor, channelling air currents through narrow passes. It records more than 200 days a year of force-six winds or stronger. Annual wind-energy reserves are estimated at roughly 25 billion kilowatt-hours, with a theoretical installed capacity of about 15 million kilowatts.

Xinjiang's engagement with wind power began early. Experiments in generation started in the mid-1980s. In 1986, the region imported its first turbine from Denmark. Two years later, Dabancheng completed China's earliest large-scale pilot wind project.

China's wind industry began in Xinjiang. From a single imported turbine, Dabancheng has grown into a concentration of 59 wind farms, with more than 6.6 million kilowatts of installed capacity and over 1,000 turbines spread across the valley. The site charts China's wind industry as it moved from experiment to system.

Since 2010, development has gathered pace. Across Xinjiang's 10 major wind zones from Hami in the east to Tacheng near the northwestern border, large-scale projects and generation bases have been rolled out in quick succession. The build-out of "Xinjiang electricity transmission" corridors has pushed renewable power eastwards, easing local absorption constraints and tying wind-rich deserts to far-off centers of demand.

Generation alone does not guarantee stability, particularly in a system where supply and demand peak in opposite seasons. Xinjiang's wind is inherently variable and seasonal -- output rises in spring and autumn, while electricity demand peaks in winter and summer. To bridge that mismatch, developers have increasingly turned to wind-storage integration.

In Hami's Shisanjianfang wind zone, where winds above force eight blow on more than 200 days a year, a million-kilowatt project now couples turbines with large-scale electrochemical storage, shifting wind power from a fluctuating resource into a more controllable one.

The project is equipped with 150 low-temperature wind turbines, each rated at 6.7 megawatts, and a storage system with 300,000 kilowatts of power capacity and 1.2 million kilowatt-hours of energy. "More than 400 storage units act like a giant power bank," said Pan Jindong, the project manager. "Excess electricity is stored during periods of low demand and released during peaks."

According to Pan, the "giant power bank" is powered by a smart control system that automatically manages charging and discharging. A single charge-discharge cycle can deliver 1.2 million kilowatt-hours, roughly the daily output of a 50,000-kilowatt wind farm, enough to meet the daily electricity needs of about 800,000 three-person households. With only 20 people required for operations and maintenance, the project's per-kilowatt operating cost is about 0.01 yuan.

Yet solving variability did not, by itself, answer a larger question: whether Xinjiang's wind boom could anchor industry, rather than simply feed the grid.

Manufacturing followed the turbines, and increasingly, it followed them home. Xinjiang's wind-power equipment localization rate now exceeds 90 percent, with turbine output ranking first nationwide.

In Mori Kazakh Autonomous County of Changji, a manufacturing base operated by Dongfang Electric has, since breaking ground in 2022, built an annual capacity of 6 million kilowatts for main units and 4 million kilowatts for blades. The project has created more than 1,000 local jobs, helping to anchor an industrial corridor that links construction, generation, storage, transmission, consumption and manufacturing, binding wind power not just to the grid, but to the regional economy.

In 2024, Mori completed Xinjiang's first county-level renewable-energy base with a capacity exceeding 10 million kilowatts. By 2025, cumulative grid-connected capacity had passed 20 million kilowatts, with output across the full new-energy industrial chain surpassing 10 billion yuan (about 1.4 billion U.S. dollars), as upstream and downstream firms clustered around renewable energy projects.

Similar patterns can be found elsewhere in the region. Hami now hosts Xinjiang's largest and most complete wind-equipment manufacturing base, with an annual capacity of 22 million kilowatts for whole turbines, 1,320 sets of blades, and 400,000 tonnes of towers.

In Tacheng, near the border with Kazakhstan, a full production chain from blade manufacturing to tower fabrication and final assembly has taken shape within the city's pilot zone for development and opening up. When Sany Renewable Energy first established its wind-equipment plant there, the site was still the Gobi Desert, recalled Asghar Ahgen, an administrative officer at the facility. The factory now has an annual production capacity of 600 wind-turbine blades, supplying both domestic projects and exports to Kazakhstan.

According to local officials, the wind-equipment manufacturing chain in Tacheng's pilot zone has largely taken shape.

As transmission capacity has expanded, so has Xinjiang's role as an energy exporter. In 2025, the region sent 141.3 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity to other parts of China, an increase of 11.5 percent year on year. Renewable sources, including wind, accounted for 44.4 billion kilowatt-hours, or 31.41 percent of the total.

In 2020, the share stood at 21 percent. Today, nearly one out of every three kilowatt-hours of electricity sent out of Xinjiang comes from renewable sources, marking a shift not just in volume, but in the composition of power flowing east.

The abundance of low-cost green power is drawing in a different class of industry. Computing power centers, among the most electricity-intensive of businesses, have begun to cluster in wind-rich places such as Yiwu County and Tacheng. In June 2025, computing capacity generated in Yiwu was successfully connected to southwest China's Chongqing Municipality. Thanks to the county's abundant wind and solar resources, data firms can cut electricity costs by more than 40 percent compared with other provincial-level regions.

From turbine workshops to energy-storage stations and, increasingly, to data centers, Xinjiang's wind is no longer merely a natural endowment. It is becoming industrial logic, reshaping a remote frontier into a working node of China's energy and manufacturing system. 
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NationalQueenslandCrime Sydney men accused of $32m heroin plot arrested at Brisbane Airport Cloe Read Updated January 27, 2026  2:31pm ,first published 11:44am Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share A A A

Two Sydney men accused of importing $32 million worth of heroin in the lining of wallets, pencil cases and laptop bags at Brisbane Airport over the Australia Day long weekend have been granted bail. The two men, Saige Feate Oto, 27, from Lethbridge, and David Felise Logologo Amituanai, 25, from Tregear, appeared before Brisbane Magistrates Court on Tuesday after they were arrested following their flight from China on Monday. An X-ray allegedly indicated anomalies within the mens luggage, and Australian Border Force was alerted. Officers arrest one of the men after being alerted about their luggage. Australian Federal Police Officers searched the mens bags and allegedly found blue satchels containing a white powder substance in the lining of wallets, pencil cases and laptop bags.

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Police allege the substance was found in the lining of wallets, laptop bags, and pencil cases. Australian Federal Police Initial tests returned a positive result for heroin, with an estimated weight of 65 kilograms and the potential for about 325,000 street-level deals, police said. Both men were charged with one count of importing a commercial quantity of a border controlled drug. The maximum penalty is life imprisonment. The court heard neither man had a criminal history, and Commonwealth prosecutor Annabelle Bridgland submitted that the risk of them leaving the country was not as high as for other defendants. Magistrate Stephanie Tonkin said the case was looking serious, and she questioned why, given the very substantial nature of the importation and the great concerns held by the community in relation to drug use, the pair should be released.

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Why would this court exercise its discretion to grant bail on these conditions, which seems to be very generous to these defendants, when likely I would have thought [they would have] to spend some time ultimately [on remand]? Bridgland told the court further testing had to be done on the substance, and in Amituanais case, he lived with his parents and did not have any strong relationships overseas that would increase the risk. Both were granted bail on Tuesday, with conditions including not applying for a passport or entering an international airport, and reporting to NSW police twice a week. They were also ordered to not use encrypted messaging apps or contact each other. ABF Commander Queensland Operations Troy Sokoloff said while most people flying into the country on the Australia Day long weekend were doing so for the right reasons, travellers could expect to be caught if they were trying to smuggle drugs  even during busy periods. 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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NationalQueenslandSchools The unsung state school where seven students got perfect scores last year Catherine Strohfeldt January 28, 2026  6:00am Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share A A A

Last year, seven students at one Brisbane public school achieved perfect scores, but none were included in the states official count of 37 top ATARs. Nestled within Toowongs bucolic backstreets, the Queensland Academy for Science, Mathematics and Technology (QASMT) produced its strongest year 12 result to date in 2025, said principal Kath Kayrooz. What makes me the most proud of this cohort is the young people behind the results, she said. QASMT principal Kath Kayrooz, 2026 school captain Charlie Tarre-Sancier, and 2025 graduate Aaron Wei (right). Queensland Academy for Science, Mathematics and Technology The selective-entry high school teaches the International Baccalaureate (IB) curriculum, which places final year 12 scores on a 45-point scale. However, Kayrooz said the seven students perfect scores were an ATAR-equivalent of 99.95.

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She attributed the students success in part to the schools expansion in 2019, which opened the IB middle years programme to students in years 7 to 9, ahead of the senior diploma program. Before 2019, the school only taught years 10 to 12, and the 2025 cohort was only the second to graduate since the expansion. Having completed six years of the IB program, they have learnt in an environment that values both high expectations and wellbeing, Kayrooz said. The Queensland Academy for Science, Mathematics and Technology campus in Toowong. Catherine Strohfeldt [Their] results reflect students who know themselves, feel supported, and are thoughtful, empathetic young people who care about the world and those in it.

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The 2025 school captain, Jess Swift, started at QASMT in year 7 in 2020, and completed all her schooling within the IB system. One of the main reasons I decided to come to QASMT was the people and the environment  we all do reflect back after we do the IB, and we all say, you know, it did make me a well-rounded person, Swift said. She said the STEM-specialist school suited her perfectly, as she knew since a young age she wanted to pursue a career in science, maths, or medicine. QASMT, which accepts 224 students into year 7 each year, only has capacity for several dozen more in its year 10 intake. Last years fees for the IB and middle years programs were $2600 and about $1030, respectively, although the state government revises the costs annually.

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QASMT has a national Index of Community Socio-Educational Advantage percentile of 99 out of 100, with about 80 per cent of the student body sitting in the top quarter. Just over half its students are male, and Kayrooz said most students families lived locally, with 64 per cent coming from a language background other than English. QASMT 2026 school captain Jemimah Agada (left) and 2025 school captain Jess Swift. Queensland Academy for Science, Mathematics and Technology Of the states three selective-entry academies teaching the IB programme (the Queensland Academy of Creative Industries in Kelvin Grove, and the Queensland Academy for Health Sciences on the Gold Coast are the other two), QASMT is the only one that teaches below grade 10. Kayrooz said the school frequently received far more applications than it could accept under its current student caps, which are managed by the Education Department.

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She said that last year, the school launched a pathways program for high-achieving year 7 applicants who would have been accepted if enrolments were higher. International Baccalaureate compulsory core elements Theory of Knowledge (TOK): A core subject focusing on epistemology  the study of how we know what we claim to know, and the nature of human knowledge. Creativity, Activity, Service (CAS): Creative, physical, and service experiences engaging with the community and other schools or helping students with their personal growth. Extended Essay (EE): A self-directed research project, between 4000 and 5000 words, on a topic of the students choice. It made me very sad, to be honest, and I didnt want these students and their parents to feel that they didnt deserve a position  they are actually really highly capable, Kayrooz said. Last year, 32 students were registered for the pathways program, which guarantees year 10 enrolment while giving the students access to some of QASMTs resources  including teachers  through years 7 to 9. Kayrooz said the school looked for students who were passionate about science, technology, engineering and maths.

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She said QASMT also expected future students to show interest in the liberal arts and have values aligning with the IB program, including empathy, kindness, persistence and resilience. The Toowong campus boasts a number of specialist facilities, including a telescope, VR workspaces, and hubs for STEM subjects and foreign languages. The QASMT library, which offers study spaces similar to university facilities, also houses the robotics makerspace. Catherine Strohfeldt However, incoming 2026 school captains Jemimah Agada and Charlie Tarre-Sancier said the IB taught students to balance a range of subjects and interests outside STEM. Even though they say its a science school, Ive done so much sport here  Ive gone to so many different state levels Agada said.

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Tarre-Sancier said the IB program required students to learn a foreign language and also enrol in subjects across English and the humanities. We have more flexibility in that we can pursue what were passionate about, [but] we need to have multiple passions, he said. Related Article High school We are geese: Inside the Brisbane school creating global creatives The foreign languages on offer at the school include Chinese, German, French, Latin, Japanese, and Spanish. Year 12 graduate Aaron Wei said he discovered a passion for Latin through the schools mandatory foreign language class, which he described as one of the loves of my life.

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Its just subjects like that which Im really passionate about, but I know that if I was aiming for that top ATAR score, I wouldnt be able to do them, he said. Start the day with a summary of the days most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter.
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Exclusive NationalCrime The paedophiles paying Aussie kids to produce abuse material Perry Duffin January 28, 2026  5:00am Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share A A A

The financial crime watchdog is using bank transaction records and customer data to zero in on 10 suspected domestic paedophiles who paid Australian children to share their own abuse. Late last year, AUSTRAC convened three days of action in which its anti-child abuse experts and analysts sat down with eight banks to combine data and tools to identify suspected purchases of child abuse material. AUSTRAC has referred 10 people to law enforcement, suspecting them of paying children to produce abuse material in Australia. The group, known as the Fintel Alliance, identified multiple suspicious payments to vulnerable minors, AUSTRAC said in a statement. Ten individuals made payments that indicated purchases of sexual exploitation material self-produced by Australian children, AUSTRAC said in a statement.

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The 10 suspects were deemed significant interest and their details were shared with the Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation, run by the Australian Federal Police, who are now closing the net on the suspects. We are putting child sex offenders on notice. If you are buying child sexual exploitation material, we will join the dots and we will refer you to law enforcement, AUSTRAC chief executive Brendan Thomas said. Putting child sex offenders on notice: AUSTRAC chief Brendan Thomas. Louie Douvis The alliance used novel data analysis, but refused to divulge exact methodologies to avoid tipping off offenders who were unwittingly exposed through their financial activity. This masthead can reveal paedophiles are spreading their activity across multiple Australian banks. The goal is to prevent singular banks from having complete oversight of their transactions.

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Child sexual exploitation isnt just happening overseas  offenders in our own communities are willing to pay for explicit material produced by vulnerable Australian children, Thomas said. Working side by side, members were able to quickly uncover complex patterns and insights that would have remained hidden without this level of teamwork. ANZ was one of the banks to take part in AUSTRACs three days of action. Natalie Boog ANZ, Bendigo Bank, HSBC, Macquarie Bank, NAB, Westpac and CBA and Suncorp all took part in the sharing of information, the third of its kind organised by AUSTRAC. A previous Fintel meeting in October 2024 allowed the watchdogs Child Sexual Exploitation Response Team (CSERT) team to identify payments from a man to girls aged 15 to 17 for self-produced material.

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The intelligence report led the AFP to the home of a 26-year-old school teacher in December that year, where they seized a mobile phone. Six months later, he pleaded guilty. He was sentenced to 18 months in prison this week. The regulator late last year issued warning letters to businesses after discovering suspected payments by paedophiles across multiple online payment platforms. AUSTRACs regulatory operations team found issues across the sector, with low suspicious matter reporting, poor transaction monitoring and clear failures to identify and manage high-risk customers, a statement said. One business, WorldRemit, was ordered to appoint an external auditor. Five more businesses were issued concerns letters, and several more remitters are being investigated.

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Crime Top Sydney barrister caught with child abuse material at airport, police allege Money remitters and online payment platforms handle more international fund transfers than the big banks, including to high-risk jurisdictions for child abuse, such as South-East Asia. Offenders usually make frequent low-value transfers between $10 and $500, applying benign labels such as school uniform or medical costs. Offenders often have a history of travel to high-risk jurisdictions, AUSTRAC noted. The AFP last week, in an unrelated case, arrested a high-profile Sydney barrister as he stepped off a plane from Cambodia, alleging he had imported and possessed child abuse material. Mark Dennis, SC, ran a charity for disadvantaged youngsters in Cambodia, this masthead revealed shortly after his arrest on Tuesday.

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During an examination of the mans mobile phone, [Australian Border Force] officers located suspected child abuse material. The matter was reported to the AFP for further investigation, a statement from the agencies read. AFP members attended and, on further examination of the device, identified alleged child abuse material and sexualised conversations with and about minors. The AFP is investigating Dennis actions in Cambodia while trawling through his phones and electronic devices in Sydney. He remains on bail and his online profile was taken down from his former barristers chambers following his arrest. 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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NationalVictoriaCourts English teacher who filmed sex acts with student sentenced Caroline Schelle January 27, 2026  4:40pm 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 former English teacher who filmed sex acts with a female student and boasted about it online has been sentenced to six years and 11 months for his crimes. Troy Ollis faced the County Court of Victoria on Tuesday after pleading guilty to charges including sexual penetration of a 16-year-old under his care or supervision, intentionally producing child abuse material and possessing child abuse material. MacKillop College in Werribee. Justin McManus The 35-year-old taught at MacKillop College at Werribee when he first met the student and they became close, sending each other emails on the school system. County Court Judge Paul Higham said there was a unique kind of trust between pupil and teacher because young people were inherently vulnerable.

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He said personal interests and desires must never be permitted to enter into, or pervert, corrupt or corrode the relationship between teachers and students. Boundaries were crossed, and you betrayed the trust placed in you in the service of your own desires, Higham said in his sentencing remarks. Ollis told the girl she was his most promising student, and they continued to talk on messaging apps and conversations using Google Docs. He deleted those messages and later bought the teenager a phone to hide what was happening from her parents. The offending took place over 3 months at his home, hotels and in his car and included acts of strangulation. He would frequently film the victim and took photographs of her naked. In one of the filmed sex acts, Ollis said: I hope no one ever sees this video.

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The married father was only caught when Border Force discovered the material as he returned home from a family trip to Tanzania in January 2025. When officers found the material in a hidden folder on his phone, Ollis said: My life is over now, isnt it? While on holiday with his family, Ollis shared child abuse material of the victim on WhatsApp to a third party in Kenya, boasting he had more videos in his possession. Officials also discovered Ollis was a member of various Telegram chat groups with child abuse material on them. Higham said the former teacher abused the student because you simply gained sexual satisfaction from it. Instead of holding the images of your intimacy in a private place ... you shared an image, the accompanying word  made it clear that you not only abused the trust of a child who was under your authority, but reduced her supposed maturity, love and sexual preparedness to a trophy, a conquest of which you boasted.

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The judge said this was the validation Ollis obtained from the acts. The former teacher must spend at least four years and two months in jail and will be a registered sex offender for life. 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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Health authorities have warned the most dangerous impacts of Victorias heatwave may be still to come, as prolonged temperatures build through another four days in parts of the state and bushfires continuing to affect many. On a day of scorching highs on Tuesday, the states all-time highest temperature was recorded in the tiny town of Walpeup in the Mallee region, where in the mercury hit 48.9 degrees at 3.36pm. Half an hour later, Hopetoun Airport, about 90 kilometres south of Walpeup, matched the record, according to Bureau of Meteorology observations. A bat flies through a rain curtain at Yarra Bend Park. Alex Coppel Previously, Victorias highest temperature recorded was 48.8 degrees on Black Saturday in 2009. Melbourne surpassed the forecasted 45-degree maximum, as Laverton, in the citys west, hit 45.6 degrees at 4.54pm and Point Cook recorded 45.3 degrees at 4.31pm.

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Bushfires raged across much of Victoria on Tuesday. By Tuesday evening, bushfires in the Otway Ranges  known as the Carlisle River fires complex  continued to trigger warnings to thousands across the state. A total fire ban has been declared for the Wimmera and the north-east for Wednesday, where the regions will continue to be hot, dry and windy, and temperatures are forecast to reach into the mid-40s. Walpeup, which has broken Victorias temperature record, was deserted on Tuesday. Jason South Health authorities continue to monitor impacts of heat-related illnesses on the states emergency departments, ambulance service, Nurse on Call and virtual emergency department, but late on Tuesday, a Department of Health spokesperson reported all services were operating within anticipated demand levels. Statewide, there was a 27 per cent jump in Ambulance Victoria workloads in the Hume region, and breathing difficulty-related callouts rose by 67 per cent in the Loddon Mallee area. Paramedics also responded to three incidents involving children locked in vehicles.

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Chief health officer Caroline McElnay said that for many Victorians, the worst impacts were yet to come. Related Article Bushfires People just drop what theyre doing: The double-edged sword being felt by fire volunteers Continuous high temperatures can stop the body from cooling down normally. It can cause heat illness and even heatstroke, which is life-threatening, McElnay said, warning that severe- intensity heat was more dangerous for people over 65, the very young and those with a medical condition. Take steps to protect yourself and others by keeping cool, staying hydrated, planning ahead to avoid the heat, and checking in with others. Animals are also being closely monitored. Wildlife services, veterinarians and qualified volunteers worked together to help protect the states bats, which experience heat stress once the mercury reaches 38 degrees, and start to die if it hits 40.

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Parks Victorias treetop sprinkler system is activated when temperatures hit the high 30s, and experts are also on hand to provide help to animals. In Melbourne, teams geared up for a long night to protect the grey-headed flying fox colony at Yarra Bend in Kew, while Wildlife Victoria crews were deployed on Saturday to monitor colonies at Tatura and Numurkah. A bat comes down to the water to keep cool in Kew. Alex Coppel So far, both colonies  each home to about 10,000 flying foxes  are doing well, but conditions are expected to worsen later this week as the animals experience the cumulative impact of several consecutive days of intense heat. With the long days ahead, energy officials have braced for power demand to hit a 17-year record high as Victorians turn up their air conditioners to cope.

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On Tuesday at 9pm, more than 100,000 people had been affected by outages across the state, most on the Powercor and AusNet network. The bulk of Powercors impacts were in the region around Ballan, north-west of Melbourne, while smaller outages were reported across suburban Melbourne. AusNet had customers without power in Venus Bay and was investigating the cause. Between 5pm and 8pm, an increased need for home cooling collided with a sharp drop-off in rooftop solar panel output, and pushed forecast grid demand to record levels. On Tuesday evening, Energy and Resources Minister Lily DAmbrosio said Victoria surpassed a 17-year-old record for electricity demand. With record-breaking heat, Victoria has surpassed a 17-year old record for electricity demand this evening, DAmbrosio wrote on social media.

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Despite this, the independent market operator (AEMO) advises that Victoria has sufficient reserves in place to meet our needs. The outages are due to a combination of bushfires burning out electricity assets, trees falling on poles and wires, and heat-related equipment failure, she said. Loading Officials said the biggest concern for the power grid was the risk of wind gusts worsening the danger posed by bushfires in the Otway Ranges. The fires were bearing down on two critical transmission links in the states south-west and threatening to disrupt the supply of power to towns in the region. Powercor, which owns and maintains the power poles and wires in central and western Victoria, activated emergency plans on Tuesday to try to keep the lights on, including sending a back-up generator to the coastal town of Apollo Bay.

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Those who didnt have air-conditioning or couldnt afford to turn it on and those who were homeless were particularly vulnerable, City of Melbourne chief heat officer Krista Milne said. Related Article Extreme weather What it feels like in the hottest place on the planet We have heard instances of people where their apartment is the same temperature as outside, so theyre going outside, sleeping under trees and in stairwells  so a whole range of people are vulnerable, Milne said. Milne said many cool places in the city stayed open later than usual on Tuesday to offer refuge, while more than 55,000 people flocked to the states patrolled beaches. Life Saving Victoria volunteers performed 19 rescues and administered first aid to eight beachgoers. At Melbourne Park, the Australian Opens heat stress scale hit the maximum score of five shortly after 1.30pm  prompting outdoor play to be suspended and the roofs to be closed on the arena courts. Some matches from the day session on outdoor courts were rescheduled to Tuesday night to avoid the hottest part of the day.

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The last time Victoria experienced such a prolonged heatwave was in 2009, when the Mallee region recorded 12 days above 40 degrees during Black Saturday. Iva Jovic of the US placed an iced towel to her face during her quarter-final match at the Australian Open tennis championship on Tuesday. AP Bureau of Meteorology duty forecaster Michael Ephron Ease said a change would ease conditions in Melbourne and the south of the state but said there was little relief in sight for the north, where temperatures would remain around 40 to 45 degrees until at least Saturday. In terms of rainfall, we are going to, unfortunately, see generally dry conditions persisting at least until the weekend, he said. We may see some shower and thunderstorm activity over the eastern ranges, but certainly not that widespread rainfall that we need to really put these fires out. 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 Accused bomb-maker appears in Perth court after Invasion Day rally scare Heather McNeill and Hannah Murphy Updated January 27, 2026  8:31pm ,first published 11:46am 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 Perth man has appeared in court accused of making a homemade bomb and throwing it into a crowd of protesters at an Invasion Day rally in the CBD on Monday. Thousands of people were preparing to march from Forrest Place to oppose the date of Australia Day when an object the size of a coffee mug was hurled into the crowd from a terrace balcony about 12.30pm. Loading The incident was immediately reported to police, who evacuated the area, with protesters beginning their march towards the Swan River, most seemingly unaware or confused about what had sparked the sudden move-on directions. Video footage released by police showed the man throw the device from the first floor of a Forrest Place building and attempt to run, but he was arrested a short time later.

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Body camera footage from police involved in his arrest shows the man wearing a shirt by an Indigenous artist. WA Police Commissioner Col Blanch said officers had since examined the object the man allegedly threw and determined it was potentially a homemade explosive. The man accused of making and throwing a bomb at an Invasion Day rally in Perths CBD. WA Police The device that was located just in front of the stage area contained ball bearings, contained screws, and those items were wrapped around an unknown  liquid in a glass container, he said. It did not detonate, but WA Police Minister Reece Whitby said the incident could have been disastrous.

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The incident ... had the potential to be a mass casualty event, he said. What happened today in Forrest Place was absolutely un-Australian. Police moving protesters on after an object was thrown into the crowd at Perths Invasion Day rally. Michael Philipps Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said he hoped the accused man had the book thrown at him. This incident is quite shocking and he has been charged with two serious offences, and I look forward to him being prosecuted to the full force of the law, he said.

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The man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, appeared in Perth Magistrates Court on Tuesday charged with intent to cause harm and making an explosive device with suspicious intentions. Related Article Updated

Australia Day Runs against heart of being Australian: WA premier condemns alleged Invasion Day rally attack Tactical response group offices and investigators from the state security unit were at the accused mans house on Monday. Forensic officers were later seen removing items from the residence and pouring chemicals out of bottles into large drums. Blanch alleged overnight testing of the liquid in the Australia Day device had confirmed it was a homemade explosive.

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We can say at this time with preliminary testing, the liquid was an explosive liquid, in fact there were multiple compounds, he told Radio 6PR. We will allege that that device was designed to explode upon impact, but for reasons not yet known, it didnt. Blanch said police were also currently investigating whether the allegation should be classified as an act of terror. Blanch thanked bystanders who allegedly saw the man ignite a fuse and throw the object into the crowd, and immediately alerted nearby police who were also on the upper level terrace. Police believe the accused man acted alone and that there was no ongoing risk to the community.

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The man will return to court next month. Get the days breaking news, entertainment ideas and a long read to enjoy. Sign up to receive our Evening Edition newsletter.
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PoliticsFederalForeign relations Kevin Rudd tried before for the UNs top job. Two obstacles stand in the way of another go Matthew Knott January 27, 2026  7:30pm Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share A A A

Former prime minister Kevin Rudds potential pathway to achieve his longtime goal of becoming the United Nations top official is complicated by the fact that the organisation has stressed it would like a woman to take up the role and that a Latin American is favoured to claim the position. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese called on the media to support Australians running for international positions when pressed on whether he would back Rudd for the UN secretary-general role, while emphasising his predecessor already has a demanding job lined up. Outgoing Australian ambassador to the United States Kevin Rudd attends a business reception in Seattle in June. Alex Ellinghausen Another Rudd tilt for the job, having first sought the role in 2016, has been discussed in political circles since his surprise decision to step down as ambassador to the United States a year ahead of schedule and return to his previous position as head of the Asia Society think tank in New York. The Asia Societys office is just a 10-minute drive from UN headquarters on Manhattans East Side, meaning Rudd would be well-placed to campaign for the position.

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The next secretary-general faces a daunting task to rebuild the UNs credibility as US President Donald Trump seeks to challenge its pre-eminence by establishing a rival Board of Peace to address global challenges. Related Article International affairs Defence secretary, former Turnbull aide to become next Australian ambassador to US Foreign Minister Penny Wong last year declared the UN was in crisis because of funding shortfalls and perceived ineffectiveness as it came under criticism for failing to resolve conflicts like the war in Gaza. Kevin Rudd is about to become head of the Asia Society - thats the job that he has applied for and indeed was courted for, to return to that job, Albanese told reporters in Darwin before departing to Timor-Leste. That is what he will commence in April.

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Albanese added: I look forward to the Australian media backing Australians for any position that they run for now and in the future. Rudd would need the Albanese governments support to be an official candidate. A letter sent to UN member states last November opened the call for applications to replace Antonio Guterres, who will step down at the end of this year after holding the position since 2016. The position of secretary-general is one of great importance and one that requires the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity and a firm commitment to the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations, the letter from UN General Assembly President Annalena Baerbock and Security Council President Michael Imran Kanu said. The letter continues: Noting with regret that no woman has ever held the position of secretary-general, and convinced of the need to guarantee equal opportunities for women and men in gaining access to senior decision-making positions, member states are encouraged to strongly consider nominating women as candidates.

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We note the importance of regional diversity in the selection of secretaries-general. There is a widespread expectation in the diplomatic community that it is time for a diplomat from Latin America and the Caribbean to fill the role for the first time since Perus Javier Perez de Cuellar, who served from 1982 to 1991. United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres term is coming to an end. AP While theres no formal rule mandating regional rotation for the role of UN secretary-general, the practice has functioned like clockwork for decades, Pia Riggirozzi, head of the politics and international relations department at the University of Southampton, wrote last year. From Kofi Annan (Africa) to Ban Ki-moon (Asia) to Antonio Guterres (Europe), a loose geographic rotation has sought to ensure inclusivity  and legitimacy  in global leadership.

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Logically, this places Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) in a favourable position to put forward a candidate. The case for a female secretary-general is undeniable, given a woman has not held the position since the UN was founded in 1945, she added. Chile has nominated former president Michelle Bachelet for the role while Costa Rica has nominated former vice president Rebeca Grynspan. Both have held senior positions at the UN. Michelle Bachelet, former Chilean president, is considered a frontrunner for the UNs top job. AP Rudd has told associates that he does not plan to run for the position, but he has long held ambitions to lead the UN.

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Rudds office was contacted for comment. Related Article Trump diplomacy Impossibly flawed: Veteran foreign ministers sound alarm on Australia joining Trumps peace board When Rudd was discussed as a possible ambassador in Washington before his 2022 appointment, a spokesman said he was very happy in New York and that he had zero plans to leave the Asia Society. Rudd sought the top UN role in 2016, but the Turnbull government declined to endorse him, quashing his hopes to take up the post. In a piece for The Guardian that year Rudd described himself as a life-long UN supporter, advocate and optimist.

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But the time for deep UN reform is now, he added. Otherwise, the UN will, in the decades ahead, not die, but quietly fade away, the facade of a once grand building but where, on closer inspection, little of substance actually happens anymore. Candidates must be nominated by a member state and provide a vision statement, curriculum vitae and campaign financing disclosures to be uploaded to the UNs website. A webcast dialogue for candidates will be held in April. Permanent members of the Security Council can veto candidates, raising the possibility that Rudds status as a China expert and former vocal critic of Trump could hamper a hypothetical candidacy. 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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Travel newsGold Coast Opinion Donald wants a Trump Tower in Australia. Rejecting it could be a problem Anthony Dennis Editor, Traveller January 28, 2026  5:00am

January 28, 2026  5:00am Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share A A A

There was Packers Pecker, the derisive sobriquet for James Packers 271-metre-high, 75-storey Sydney harbourside hotel and casino tower at Barangaroo, and now there could well be Donalds  well, Ill leave it to you to add the most suitable alliterative epithet. The Trump Organisation, the development arm of his empire linked to luxury hotels and apartments  these days supposedly run by the US presidents sons, Don Jr and Eric  is in advanced discussions to develop an 89-storey high-rise tower on Queenslands Gold Coast, according to recent reports. A Trump tower on the Gold Coast? Stephen Kiprillis Even by the standards of a glitzy, overdeveloped Gold Coast, this news is as tacky, and concerning, as it gets. Of course, everyone associated with the proposed Trump Tower  typically a mix of residential, retail and hotel accommodation  will be hoping it eventuates and succeeds. But where Trump fails, trouble  often of the vengeful kind  can follow, and on an international scale.

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When the US president launched his bizarre crusade to see Canada become the 51st state of the US, some Canadians, searching for reasons for Trumps antipathy towards Americas most benign neighbour, attributed it to the failure of his eponymous hotels in Toronto and Vancouver. The properties are now branded St Regis and Paradox. Sign up for the Traveller newsletter The latest travel news, tips and inspiration delivered to your inbox. Sign up now. The now-US presidents defunct hotel in Vancouver attracted anti-Trump protesters at its official opening in 2017. Alamy When The Washington Post enquired whether the two failed hotels were a factor in the US presidents antagonism towards Canada, an anonymous White House official dismissed the suggestion as being absurd. But suspicions linger. Who can say whether the Trumps wont turn on Australia for some spurious reason at some time in the future if the Gold Coast plans dont pan out? Trump-branded hotels in the Canadian cities of Toronto and Vancouver were marked failures. Alamy

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Its a possibility that clearly doesnt bother Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate, who has publicly expressed his enthusiasm for a Trump Tower. Furthermore, Victorian federal Liberal MP Zoe McKenzie has been quoted as saying that the Trump Organisation should also consider taking on the Queensland tropical resort islands that remain dormant following cyclone damage. Tates constituents, at least, appear no means as keen. While a petition by Jordan Nguyen in favour of the proposals immense potential to transform the local economic landscape had attracted 497 signatures at the time of writing, a petition urging it to be rejected, in part due to many residents being deeply uncomfortable with the Trump brand and what it represents, had garnered a telling 9354 signatures. For heavens sake keep this idiot away from Australia before he wants to take Queensland as another state of the US, Maree, a signatory of the latter petition writes, while David claims that the US presidents comments under our new hate speech laws would be illegal. Trump has met Australian resistance to his proposals previously. Although the US electorate somehow deemed him a fit and proper person to be its president, authorities in NSW in the past believed otherwise.

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His bid to open Sydneys first casino more than 30 years ago was blocked by regulators after the then NSW Police Board expressed concern over allegations of so-called mafia connections, [a revelation that was] widely reported both in Australia and the US in 2017 following a story, sourced from declassified NSW government cabinet documents, published in The Australian. Atlantic City [the East Coast US city where Trump once owned a failed casino] would be a dubious model for Sydney, a summary of the boards report concluded on May 4, 1987. The police report also deemed two of the three other consortium bids dangerous. However The Australian also reported that the regulator of the proposed casino  the Casino Control Division of the NSW Treasury  gave the Trump US-Australia consortium the green light. It is certified that the Trump organisation in the Kern/Trump consortium is acceptable as an operator and has the capacity to operate a casino in accordance with the law of NSW and the requirements of the Casino Control Division of the Treasury, it said in its report. Souvenir Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump socks on sale at a stall in Belgrade, Serbia, site of an abortive Trump hotel development. Alamy Proof that the Trump Organisation doesnt always get its way emerged last year when a $721 million Trump hotel development plan in Belgrade, Serbia, was abandoned following fierce opposition.

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Related Article Opinion

USA Why I wont be boycotting the US this year Ben Groundwater Travel writer Really, you dont need a huge amount of business acumen to conclude that the market for potential buyers and stayers for a Trump Tower could be limited, with the US president having seriously offended the Europeans, the Brits, the Canadians, and a host of other nations. Therefore, surely, a risk exists of a Trump Tower Down Under becoming a white elephant, with some due diligence sorely overdue on the Gold Coast. Australia is the wrong place for a Trump Tower, our tourism industry doesnt need it, and itll do nothing to attract the right kind of visitor to our sandy shores, let alone those of the Gold Coast.
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WorldNorth AmericaUS politics Opinion Why Trump just proved Mark Carneys point Ezra Klein US commentator and journalist January 27, 2026  3:30pm

January 27, 2026  3:30pm Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share A A A

Dear Prime Minister Carney, US President Donald Trump wrote on Truth Social last Thursday. Please let this Letter serve to represent that The Board of Peace is withdrawing its invitation to you regarding Canadas joining, what will be, the most prestigious Board of Leaders ever assembled, at any time. Thank you for your attention to this matter! Everything Trump has done over the last week has made him look tawdry, addled and small. He began his latest play for Greenland by complaining about being passed over for the Nobel Peace Prize and ended it by disinviting Mark Carney from his Board of Peace. For Trump, nothing  not even peace  transcends his brutish transactionalism. Mark Carney and Donald Trump. AP Coolly assessing that transactionalism is what landed Carney in Trumps sights. Two things stood out to me about the speech that Carney gave at Davos last week. First, Carneys speech used the word hegemon four times. He said the word America only once, and then only to specify American hegemony. This is who we are now to our northern neighbours: Not the America they once knew, or thought they knew, but the hegemon. Second, Carney invoked Vaclav Havels story of how communism perpetuated itself. In his essay The Power of the Powerless, Havel imagined a grocer who hangs a Workers of the World, Unite! sign in his window. Why does he do this, Havel asked? He does it because to do otherwise would invite ruin.

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Havel called this living within a lie, said Carney. The systems power comes not from its truth but from everyones willingness to perform as if it were true. And its fragility comes from the same source: When even one person stops performing  when the greengrocer removes his sign  the illusion begins to crack. Carney sought, at Davos, to be that greengrocer: he sought, before the eyes of the world, to remove the sign. Carney spoke as Trump was threatening tariffs against Europe if Greenland was not delivered into American hands. That threat is now forestalled, but for how long? Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and US President Donald Trump met at the White House last October. AP Great powers, Carney said, are using economic integration as weapons. Tariffs as leverage. Financial infrastructure as coercion. Supply chains as vulnerabilities to be exploited. You cannot live within the lie of mutual benefit through integration when integration becomes the source of your subordination. As if to prove Carneys point, Trump responded, during his own speech, with a mafioso-style warning: I watched your prime minister yesterday. He wasnt so grateful. They should be grateful to us, Canada. Canada lives because of the United States. Remember that, Mark, the next time you make your statements.

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Sometimes, world leaders fall into conflict because they misunderstand each other. But Carney and Trump understand each other all too well. It is hard to dispute Carneys rendering of the United States under Trump. Early in Trumps second term, I asked a number of his advisers to explain Trumps theory of international relations to me. Every one said some version of the same thing: America has leverage it does not use. Under Trump, it is going to start using it. Related Article Trump diplomacy Europe learns how to counterpunch against Trump in Greenland brawl This is perhaps Trumps most fundamental belief about how the world works. The best thing you can do is deal from strength, and leverage is the biggest strength you can have, Trump wrote in The Art of the Deal. Leverage is having something the other guy wants. Or better yet, needs. Or best of all, simply cant do without. What is striking about Trumpism is how devoid it is of idealism of any kind. In this way, it betrays Havels framework. What Carney left out of his rendering of Havels argument is that, to Havel, some lies are stronger than others. Here is Havel, writing about what the imagined grocer is really saying when he hangs his Workers of the World, Unite! sign: Verbally, it might be expressed this way: I, the greengrocer XY, live here and I know what I must do. I behave in the manner expected of me. I can be depended upon and am beyond reproach. I am obedient and therefore I have the right to be left in peace.

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This message, of course, has an addressee: It is directed above, to the greengrocers superior, and at the same time it is a shield that protects the greengrocer from potential informers. The slogans real meaning, therefore, is rooted firmly in the greengrocers existence. It reflects his vital interests. But what are those vital interests? Related Article Opinion

Trump's America Trump is in decay and it affects the whole world, including us Bruce Wolpe Senior fellow at the US Studies Centre and former political staffer Let us take note: If the greengrocer had been instructed to display the slogan I am afraid and therefore unquestioningly obedient, he would not be nearly as indifferent to its semantics, even though the statement would reflect the truth. The greengrocer would be embarrassed and ashamed to put such an unequivocal statement of his own degradation in the shop window, and quite naturally so, for he is a human being and thus has a sense of his own dignity. To overcome this complication, his expression of loyalty must take the form of a sign which, at least on its textual surface, indicates a level of disinterested conviction. It must allow the greengrocer to say: Whats wrong with the workers of the world uniting? The sign helps the greengrocer to conceal from himself the low foundations of his obedience, at the same time concealing the low foundations of power. It hides them behind the facade of something high. Trumpism does not hide behind the facade of something high. Part of Trumps appeal is that he offers his venality as a thuggish honesty: This is what everyone is doing. Im the only guy willing to admit it. Voters believe that politicians are corrupt. Trump proves them right by flaunting his own corruption; his success confirms their disgust with the system and the need for a champion who has mastered its rules.

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This is both a lie and a weakness. It is a lie because Trumps world view is not universally shared. Relatively few people are as nakedly transactional or thoroughly corrupt as Trump. And it is a weakness because it creates a hunger for its opposite. There is a reason Carneys speech lit such a fire: Carney was himself taking a risk. He was acting against self-interest. He was showing that he intended to do something more with his power than profit from it. It was a bracing speech but more than that, it was a brave act. It was the kind of act that Trumpism suggests does not exist, the kind of act that rebuts Trumpism by simply existing. I am not saying this will go well or easily for Carney  or for other world leaders who choose to take down their signs. Trump is vengeful, and he is right that America can inflict terrible harm on any country it chooses. But Carney is right that Americas power is, in part, dependent on the willingness of other countries to be entwined with its might. Hegemons cannot continually monetise their relationships, Carney warned. Allies will diversify to hedge against uncertainty. Theyll buy insurance, increase options in order to rebuild sovereignty  sovereignty that was once grounded in rules, but will be increasingly anchored in the ability to withstand pressure. This is the path Canada is already following, in part through seeking closer ties with China and Qatar.

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The world is built on relationships, not leverage, and relationships are built on reciprocity and respect. It is not Trumps genius to recognise Americas unused strength; it is his blindness to see that our strength was a function of our restraint. This article originally appeared in The New York Times. Get a note directly from our foreign correspondents on whats making headlines around the world. Sign up for our weekly What in the World newsletter.
PHILIPSBURG:--- The Civil Registry employee who was arrested by the National Detectives (Landsrecherche) under the direction of the Prosecutors Office Sint Maarten has been released following six hours of interrogation. SMN News has learned that the employee was interrogated without her legal representative present. The civil servant is suspected of accepting payments in exchange for improperly advancing appointment times for government services.

The employee was released on Monday, but the Prosecutors Office has yet to issue an official announcement regarding the case. The investigation remains ongoing.

The Civil Registry Department provides essential public services, including the registration of births, deaths, marriages, and divorces, the issuance of official certificates, passport and identification card applications, address changes, and updates to personal records. Many of these services require appointments, which are intended to ensure fair and equal access for all citizens.

The National Detectives specialise in investigating criminal activities within the government, with a particular focus on civil servants.
GUANGZHOU, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- Chinese researchers have unveiled a crucial mutation in the Ebola virus that significantly enhanced its infectivity during a major outbreak, providing new insights for epidemic surveillance and drug development.

The research effort, published in the journal Cell, was conducted by a team led by Professor Qian Jun from Sun Yat-sen University, in collaboration with researchers from Guangzhou Eighth People's Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, both located in south China, the First Hospital of Jilin University in northeast China, and other Sun Yat-sen University teams, the research team told Xinhua on Monday.

"The research tells us that during major emerging infectious disease outbreaks, real-time genomic surveillance and evolutionary analysis of the pathogen are crucial," said Qian.

"This is not only able to warn of changes in transmission risk but also to prospectively assess the effectiveness of existing drugs and vaccines, guiding us to preemptively adjust control strategies."

The study focused on the Ebola virus disease (EVD) outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) from 2018 to 2020, the second-largest in history, which caused over 3,000 infections and more than 2,000 deaths. A key question drove the research, namely beyond the impact of local healthcare challenges, did viral evolution itself contribute to this outbreak's prolonged duration?

"We have long been aware that key viral mutations often act as invisible drivers accelerating transmission during major outbreaks. Having worked on Ebola for over a decade, we had to investigate whether similar patterns of mutation existed for this virus," said Qian, explaining the team's motivation.

In 2022, the team analyzed 480 complete Ebola virus genomes and discovered that a variant carrying a specific mutation in the viral glycoprotein, named GP-V75A, had emerged early in the DRC epidemic. This variant rapidly replaced the original strain, and its rising prevalence closely mirrored the surge in case numbers, suggesting it might confer a transmission advantage, according to the research team.

Subsequent experiments using various models confirmed the mutation's biological impact. It showed that GP-V75A had significantly enhanced the virus's ability to infect multiple types of host cells and mice.

Furthermore, this study revealed a potential clinical concern, notably that the GP-V75A mutation had diminished the antiviral effectiveness of some existing therapeutic antibodies and small-molecule entry inhibitors, indicating a possible risk of drug resistance.

These findings underscore the importance of continuous viral genome monitoring during outbreaks to anticipate evolutionary threats and inform the development of broad-spectrum countermeasures, the research team said.

The paper titled "Molecular characterization of Ebola virus glycoprotein V75A substitution in the 2018-2020 epidemic," is available online. 
~High-Profile Corruption Rulings Shake Sint Maarten~

PHILIPSBURG:--- Recent judicial rulings in Sint Maarten have sent a powerful message regarding accountability in public office. The convictions of former Member of Parliament (MP) Frans Richardson highlight a significant crackdown on corruption, revealing complex webs of bribery, fraudulent invoices, and the misuse of public funds.

These cases, known legally as the "Aquamarine" and "Emerald" investigations, serve as a stark reminder of the legal consequences awaiting those who abuse their positions of power.

The Case Against Frans Richardson

Frans Richardson, the founder of the United St. Maarten Party (USp) and a former influential MP, found himself at the center of two major investigations: Aquamarine and Emerald.

The Aquamarine Investigation

In the Aquamarine case, the court found Richardson guilty of accepting bribes and leveraging his political influence for personal gain. Between 2013 and 2019, while serving on the parliamentary committee for Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport, and Telecommunications (TEATT), Richardson accepted approximately $94,800 in bribes.

These payments came from a construction company, Taliesin, in exchange for contracts to repair and maintain the Bureau of Telecommunications and Post (BTP) building. Additionally, Richardson used his supervisory role over the BTP to orchestrate a contract for a company called ACTIS to manage Sint Maartens numbering plan.

The conflict of interest was clear. Richardson was a shareholder in Caribbean Value Estate (CVE), which in turn held shares in ACTIS. This arrangement allowed him to pocket $18,250 in dividends directly resulting from the government contract he helped secure.

The Emerald Investigation

The Emerald case further deepened Richardson's legal troubles. In this separate investigation, he faced penalties amounting to $370,000. His defense team attempted to argue for a lower repayment amount, citing that he had already paid significant income taxes on these funds. However, the court dismissed this, noting that tax levies do not negate the obligation to repay illegally obtained assets.

The Penalties:

For his role in the Aquamarine case, Richardson was sentenced to pay $107,050 to the country. In the Emerald case, the repayment order stands at $370,000. Failure to pay these amounts results in approximately three years of additional detention. Beyond the financial hits, Richardson received prison sentences totaling over four years combined across the cases and a ban on being elected to public office.

Judicial Firmness and Broader Implications

The rulings against Richardson represent more than just individual punishment; they signal a shift in Sint Maarten's judicial landscape.

The courts remained firm against pleas of "limited ability to pay," establishing that financial inability is not a valid excuse for retaining the proceeds of crime. The Supreme Court of the Netherlands recently upheld the core of these convictions, solidifying the message that the legal system will pursue corruption to the highest level.

For the public in Sint Maarten, these outcomes offer a mix of frustration and hope. The frustration stems from the scale of the theftmillions of dollars diverted from public infrastructure and services. However, there is hope in the enforcement of justice. The imposition of lengthy bans on holding public office or management roles aims to cleanse the system, ensuring that those who violate the public trust cannot easily return to positions of power.

As the country moves forward, these cases stand as a precedent. They demonstrate that regardless of political status or corporate title, the misuse of public funds carries severe, life-altering consequences.

All other complaints in the appeal were also dismissed, making the conviction and sentence final.

Final Outcome

The Supreme Court's decision confirms the conviction and the imposed penalties, including the prison sentence and the ban on holding public office.

For more details, the full judgment is available on rechtspraak.nl.

Flashback on the cases:

High-Profile Corruption Rulings Shake Sint Maarten.

Recent judicial rulings in Sint Maarten have sent a powerful message regarding accountability in public office. The convictions of former Member of Parliament (MP) Frans Richardson highlight a significant crackdown on corruption, revealing complex webs of bribery, fraudulent invoices, and the misuse of public funds.

These cases, known legally as the "Aquamarine" and "Emerald" investigations, serve as a stark reminder of the legal consequences awaiting those who abuse their positions of power.

The Case Against Frans Richardson

Frans Richardson, the founder of the United St. Maarten Party (USp) and a former influential MP, found himself at the center of two major investigations: Aquamarine and Emerald.

The Aquamarine Investigation

In the Aquamarine case, the court found Richardson guilty of accepting bribes and leveraging his political influence for personal gain. Between 2013 and 2019, while serving on the parliamentary committee for Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport, and Telecommunications (TEATT), Richardson accepted approximately $94,800 in bribes.

These payments were made by a construction company, Taliesin, in exchange for contracts to repair and maintain the Bureau of Telecommunications and Post (BTP) building. Additionally, Richardson used his supervisory role over the BTP to orchestrate a contract for a company called ACTIS to manage Sint Maartens numbering plan.

The conflict of interest was clear. Richardson was a shareholder in Caribbean Value Estate (CVE), which in turn held shares in ACTIS. This arrangement allowed him to pocket $18,250 in dividends directly resulting from the government contract he helped secure.

The Emerald Investigation

The Emerald case further deepened Richardson's legal troubles. In this separate investigation, he faced penalties amounting to $370,000. His defense team attempted to argue for a lower repayment amount, citing that he had already paid significant income taxes on these funds. However, the court dismissed this, noting that tax levies do not negate the obligation to repay illegally obtained assets.

The Penalties:

For his role in the Aquamarine case, Richardson was sentenced to pay $107,050 to the country. In the Emerald case, the repayment order stands at $370,000. Failure to pay these amounts results in approximately three years of additional detention. Beyond the financial hits, Richardson received prison sentences totaling over four years combined across the cases and a ban on being elected to public office.

Judicial Firmness and Broader Implications

The rulings against Richardson represent more than just individual punishment; they signal a shift in Sint Maarten's judicial landscape.

The courts remained firm against pleas of "limited ability to pay," establishing that financial inability is not a valid excuse for retaining the proceeds of crime. The Supreme Court of the Netherlands recently upheld the core of these convictions, solidifying the message that the legal system will pursue corruption to the highest level.

For the public in Sint Maarten, these outcomes offer a mix of frustration and hope. The frustration stems from the scale of the theftmillions of dollars diverted from public infrastructure and services. However, there is hope in the enforcement of justice. The imposition of lengthy bans on holding public office or management roles aims to cleanse the system, ensuring that those who violate the public trust cannot easily return to positions of power.

As the country moves forward, these cases stand as a precedent. They demonstrate that regardless of political status or corporate title, the misuse of public funds carries severe, life-altering consequences.
~A new opportunity is opening doors for young talent on Sint Maarten.~



PHILIPSBURG:--- Starting February 1, 2026, the EY Young Talent Fund will officially become available to aspiring young people on the island, supporting their growth, development, and future success.

Originally established in 2017 by EY in partnership with the Cultuurfonds Caribisch Gebied (CCG) to celebrate EYs 70th anniversary, the fund was launched to invest in the next generation of talent on Curacao. One year later, it expanded to Aruba, followed by Bonaire four years later. Now, in its ninth year, the EY Young Talent Fund is proudly expanding to Sint Maarten. This expansion reflects EYs continued commitment to nurturing Caribbean talent and creating equal opportunities for young people across the region.

The EY Young Talent Fonds op Naam focuses on motivated and talented youth aged 13 to 18 who demonstrate strong potential in their chosen field  whether in arts, culture, sports, education, or other areas of development. Special attention is given to young people and families who may not have the financial means to fully fund their own development.

Eligible applicants must live on Curacao, Aruba, Bonaire, or Sint Maarten and show clear ambition, dedication, and talent in their discipline.

Successful applicants may receive up to XCG 10,000 (USD 5,495) per school year (AugustJuly). Applications are reviewed monthly.

Applications must be submitted digitally via:

www.cultuurfondscaribischgebied.com/geld-vragen/

Applicants aged 1317 must submit their application with the support and signature of a parent or guardian.

Deadlines and review dates can be found on the CCG agenda page:

https://cultuurfondscaribischgebied.com/vergaderagenda/

With the launch on Sint Maarten, the EY Young Talent Fund continues its mission to empower young people, unlock potential, and invest in the future of the Caribbean.

Let your talent grow. Apply and take the next step.
'Keep dreaming': NATO chief says Europe can't defend itself without US



Brussels, Belgium, Jan 26 (AFP) Jan 26, 2026



NATO chief Mark Rutte warned Monday Europe cannot defend itself without the United States, in the face of calls for the continent to stand on its own feet after tensions over Greenland.

US President Donald Trump roiled the transatlantic alliance by threatening to seize the autonomous Danish territory -- before backing off after talks with Rutte last week.

The diplomatic crisis gave fresh momentum to those advocating for Europe to take a tougher line against Trump and break its military reliance on Washington.

"If anyone thinks here again, that the European Union, or Europe as a whole, can defend itself without the US -- keep on dreaming. You can't," Rutte told lawmakers at the European Parliament.

He said that EU countries would have to double defence spending from the five percent NATO target agreed last year to 10 percent and spend "billions and billions" on building nuclear arms.

"You would lose the ultimate guarantor of our freedom, which is the US nuclear umbrella," the former Dutch prime minister said. "So hey, good luck."

France's foreign minister Jean-Noel Barrot hit back at the NATO chief's statements, posting on X on Monday evening that "Europeans can and must take responsibility for their own security".

Rutte insisted that US commitment to NATO's Article Five mutual defence clause remained "total", but that the United States expected European countries to keep spending more on their militaries.

"They need a secure Euro-Atlantic, and they also need a secure Europe. So the US has every interest in NATO," he said.

The NATO head reiterated his repeated praise for Trump for pressuring reluctant European allies to step up defence spending.

He also appeared to knock back a suggestion floated by the EU's defence commissioner Andrius Kubilius earlier this month for a possible European defence force that could replace US troops on the continent.

"It will make things more complicated. I think (Russian President Vladimir) Putin will love it. So think again," Rutte said.

On Greenland, Rutte said he had agreed with Trump that NATO would "take more responsibility for the defence of the Arctic", but it was up to Greenlandic and Danish authorities to negotiate over US presence on the island.

"I have no mandate to negotiate on behalf of Denmark, so I didn't, and I will not," he said.

Rutte reiterated that he had stressed to Trump the cost paid by NATO allies in Afghanistan after the US leader caused outrage by playing down their contribution.

"For every two American soldiers who paid the ultimate price, one soldier of an ally or a partner, a NATO ally or a partner country, did not return home," he said.

"I know that America greatly appreciates all the efforts."
Russia's military chief visits troops in east Ukraine: defence ministry



Moscow, Jan 27 (AFP) Jan 27, 2026



The Russian army's chief of staff, Valery Gerasimov, has visited troops fighting in eastern Ukraine, Russia's defence ministry said on Tuesday.

Gerasimov "inspected the progress of combat missions conducted by formations and units of the Zapad (West) force group," the ministry wrote on Telegram, without providing details on when or where the visit took place.

The announcement of his visit came days after US-brokered trilateral talks in the United Arab Emirates between Russian and Ukrainian negotiators, aimed at ending the nearly four-year conflict.

The next round is expected to take place on February 1, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

In a video of Gerasimov's visit aired by the defence ministry, he said that Russian troops "continue their offensive along all lines".

He said that since the start of the year, the Russian army had taken control of 17 localities and "more than 500 square kilometres" of Ukrainian territory and was making its way towards the city of Zaporizhzhia.
North Korea fires ballistic missiles towards Sea of Japan



Seoul, Jan 27 (AFP) Jan 27, 2026



North Korea fired what appeared to be two ballistic missiles towards the Sea of Japan on Tuesday, Tokyo said.

South Korea's Joint Chief of Staff also said it had detected a "projectile" being fired towards what Seoul calls the East Sea.

Japan's coast guard, citing the defence ministry, said it had detected two ballistic missiles and that both were estimated to have already splashed down.

Japanese news agency Jiji Press reported the two missiles had landed outside of the country's Exclusive Economic Zone, citing defence ministry sources.

The test is Pyongyang's second of the month, following a salvo of missiles fired hours before South Korea's leader headed to China for a summit.

It comes a day after a high-level visit to Seoul by the Pentagon's number three official Elbridge Colby, who hailed South Korea as a "model ally".

North Korea has stepped up missile testing significantly in recent years.

Analysts say this drive is aimed at improving precision strike capabilities, challenging the United States as well as South Korea, and testing weapons before potentially exporting them to Russia.

Pyongyang is also set to hold a landmark congress of its ruling party in the coming weeks, its first in five years.

Ahead of that conclave, leader Kim Jong Un ordered the "expansion" and modernisation of the country's missile production.
SEOUL, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- South Korea's military said the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) on Tuesday fired at least one unidentified projectile toward the East Sea, Yonhap News Agency reported.

South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said it had detected the launch, without providing further details. 
Japan PM says US alliance would collapse if Tokyo ignored Taiwan crisis



Tokyo, Jan 27 (AFP) Jan 27, 2026



Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said the alliance between Tokyo and Washington would collapse if Japan failed to act in the event of an attack on the US military during a conflict in Taiwan.

Detailing the Japanese response to a hypothetical Taiwan crisis, Takaichi appeared to dial back on her remarks in November that suggested Tokyo could intervene militarily during a potential attack on the island.

That comment provoked the ire of Beijing, which regards the democratic island as its own territory.

Ahead of a snap election in February, Takaichi was asked during a news programme Monday about her remarks in November that suggested Tokyo could intervene militarily during a potential attack on Taiwan.

Asked during a news programme on Monday about those remarks, Takaichi pointed out that in the event of conflict, Japan and the United States might jointly conduct an evacuation operation to rescue Japanese and American nationals.

"If the US military, acting jointly with Japan, comes under attack and Japan does nothing and runs home, the Japan-US alliance will collapse," she said on the TV Asahi programme ahead of a snap election in February.

"If something serious happens there, we would have to go to rescue the Japanese and American citizens in Taiwan. In that situation, there may be cases where Japan and the US take joint action," the prime minister said.

She added: "We will respond strictly within the bounds of the law, making a comprehensive judgment based on the circumstances."

In the wake of Takaichi's comments in November, China has discouraged its nationals from travelling to Japan, citing deteriorating public security and criminal acts against Chinese nationals in the country.

Beijing is reportedly also choking off exports to Japan of rare-earth products crucial for making everything from electric cars to missiles.
North Korea fires ballistic missiles towards Sea of Japan



Seoul, Jan 27 (AFP) Jan 27, 2026



North Korea fired at least two ballistic missiles towards the Sea of Japan on Tuesday, Tokyo and Seoul said, a day after a visiting US official hailed Washington's "model ally" in the South.

Pyongyang has significantly increased missile testing in recent years, aimed according to analysts at improving precision strike capabilities, challenging Washington as well as Seoul, and testing weapons before exporting them to key ally Russia.

The Japanese coast guard, citing the defence ministry, said it had detected two ballistic missiles fired towards the Sea of Japan.

Japanese news agency Jiji Press reported the two missiles had landed outside of the country's Exclusive Economic Zone, citing defence ministry sources.

South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff also said it had detected several ballistic missiles fired by the North towards what Seoul calls the East Sea.

The test is Pyongyang's second of the month, following a salvo of missiles fired hours before South Korea's leader headed to China for a summit.

It comes a day after a high-level visit to Seoul by the Pentagon's number three official Elbridge Colby, who hailed South Korea as a "model ally".

Longstanding treaty allies, ties between the United States and South Korea were forged in the bloodshed of the Korean War.

Washington still stations 28,500 troops in South Korea as a deterrent against the nuclear-armed North.

Pyongyang routinely denounces Washington and Seoul's joint military drills as rehearsals for invasion.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un last month bashed Seoul's push to develop its own nuclear-powered submarines with the United States, calling it a "threat" that "must be countered".



- 'Heighten tensions' -



Trump met North Korea's Kim three times during his first term, in efforts to reach a denuclearisation deal.

But since a summit in Hanoi fell through over differences about what Pyongyang would get in return for giving up its nuclear weapons, no progress has been made between the two countries.

Trump had expressed hopes for a meeting with Kim ahead of a regional summit in South Korea in October, but these went unanswered by the North Korean leader.

Pyongyang meanwhile has dispatched thousands of troops to fight for Russia, according to South Korean and Western intelligence agencies, as Moscow presses ahead with its nearly four-year invasion of Ukraine.

North Korea is also set to hold a landmark congress of its ruling party in the coming weeks, its first in five years.

Ahead of that conclave, Kim ordered the "expansion" and modernisation of the country's missile production.

Yang Moo-jin, chair professor at the University of North Korean Studies in Seoul, told AFP that "with the party congress approaching, the latest launch appears intended to heighten tensions to reinforce internal discipline and consolidate regime unity."

He added that the timing of the launch "may also be a response to Colby's visit" to the peninsula.
China defence minister vows greater 'strategic coordination' with Russia



Beijing, Jan 27 (AFP) Jan 27, 2026



China's Defence Minister Dong Jun told his Russian counterpart that the two countries should "strengthen strategic coordination" during a video call on Tuesday, according to state broadcaster CCTV.

The call came days after negotiators from Russia and Ukraine met to discuss a US-brokered plan to end the war -- nearly four years after Moscow's invasion -- which Western governments accuse Beijing of enabling.

"China is willing to work with Russia to ... strengthen strategic coordination, enrich the substance of cooperation, improve exchange mechanisms," Dong told his Russian counterpart Andrey Belousov, according to CCTV.

Dong also said the two countries should "jointly enhance the ability to respond to various risks and challenges and join hands to inject positive energy into global security and stability".

There was no mention of the Ukraine conflict in the readout reported by CCTV or in a statement from Russia's defence ministry.

"Since our last meeting in June of last year, many events have occurred that have significantly affected the international situation," Belousov was quoted as saying in the statement.

"The examples of Venezuela and Iran require our agencies to continuously analyse the security situation and take appropriate action," he added.

Belousov also said the meeting would "further strengthen our bilateral strategic partnership".

China and Russia are close partners, and while Beijing has said it takes a neutral stance on the war in Ukraine, it has never condemned the invasion.

Western governments accuse Beijing of providing Russia with crucial economic support for its war effort, notably by supplying military components for its defence industry.

Russian and Ukrainian negotiators held a two-day meeting in Abu Dhabi on Friday and Saturday to discuss a peace plan pushed by US President Donald Trump.

Trump has also pointed to the threat of Chinese and Russian influence in the Arctic as part of the reason for his desire to acquire Greenland.
French aircraft carrier heads to North Atlantic amid Greenland tensions



Paris, France, Jan 27 (AFP) Jan 27, 2026



The flagship of the French Navy, the Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier, on Tuesday set course for the Atlantic, the defence ministry said, after the United States and Europe butted heads over Greenland.

On Wednesday, French President Emmanuel Macron is to meet the leaders of Denmark and Greenland in Paris, his office said.

European powers rallied together when US President Donald Trump this month undermined the transatlantic alliance by threatening to seize the autonomous Danish territory.

Greenland is strategically located between the Arctic Ocean and the North Atlantic Ocean.

The French defence ministry did not specify where the Charles de Gaulle was being deployed. But sources familiar with the matter told AFP that the aircraft carrier was heading to the North Atlantic, which has been at the heart of the geopolitical tensions.

"The naval air group has set sail from the Toulon naval base to take part in Orion 26, a large-scale joint and allied exercise," the French defence ministry said.

"Conducted over the coming weeks in the Atlantic zone -- a strategic area for the defence of European interests -- this exercise will bring together French forces alongside their regional allies and partners."

The carrier strike group includes the aircraft carrier and its aircraft, as well as various escort and support vessels, such as an air-defence frigate, a supply ship and an attack submarine.

None of the sources questioned by AFP said how far north in the North Atlantic the carrier strike group would go.

Russian submarines from the Northern Fleet or the Baltic Fleet regularly go through the North Atlantic Ocean.

Trump had this month threatened to seize Greenland and impose tariffs on any European countries -- including France, Germany and Britain -- that opposed him.

After European pushback, he later backed down on the threat to take the territory by military force.

NATO chief Mark Rutte warned on Monday that Europe cannot defend itself without the United States. But France's Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot hit back, posting on X that "Europeans can and must take responsibility for their own security".

fz-mra-as/giv/rmb
US sued over deadly missile strikes on alleged drug boats



Washington, United States, Jan 27 (AFP) Jan 27, 2026



Relatives of two Trinidadian men killed last year in a US military strike on a boat allegedly carrying drugs filed a wrongful death lawsuit on Tuesday against the US government.

It is the first such case to be brought against the Trump administration over the three dozen missile strikes in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific, which have left at least 125 people dead since September.

The suit, filed in a federal court in Massachusetts, is being brought by the families of Chad Joseph, 26, and Rishi Samaroo, 41, who were among six people killed in an October 14 strike in the Caribbean.

President Donald Trump alleged at the time that "six male narcoterrorists" were killed in a boat allegedly ferrying drugs from Venezuela to the United States.

Washington has yet to release any evidence supporting its claims that the targeted boats have links to drug cartels designated by Trump as terrorist organizations.

"The United States' unlawful killings of persons at sea including Mr Joseph and Mr Samaroo constitute wrongful deaths and extrajudicial killings," the complaint says. "These premeditated and intentional killings lack any plausible legal justification.

"Thus, they were simply murders, ordered by individuals at the highest levels of government and obeyed by military officers in the chain of command."

The case is being brought under the Death on the High Seas Act, which allows for redress for wrongful deaths at sea, and the Alien Tort Statute, which allows foreigners to file suit in US courts for rights violations.

Plaintiffs in the case are Lenore Burnley, Joseph's mother, and Sallycar Korasingh, Samaroo's sister, and they are being represented by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and the Center for Constitutional Rights (CCR).

The family members are seeking punitive damages, the amount of which would be determined at trial.

"These are lawless killings in cold blood; killings for sport and killings for theater," CCR legal director Baher Azmy said.

The suit is "a critical step in ensuring accountability, while the individuals responsible may ultimately be answerable criminally for murder and war crimes," Azmy added.



- 'Must be held accountable' -



In a statement, Korasingh said her brother, who had spent 15 years in prison for participation in a homicide, "was a hardworking man who paid his debt to society and was just trying to get back on his feet again."

"If the US government believed Rishi had done anything wrong, it should have arrested, charged, and detained him, not murdered him," she said.

According to the complaint, neither man was affiliated with drug cartels and they were simply hitching a ride back to Trinidad from Venezuela, where they had been engaged in fishing and farm work.

In December, the family of a Colombian man killed in another strike lodged a complaint with the Washington-based Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR).

The family of Alejandro Carranza Medina, 42, who was killed on September 15, rejected assertions there were drugs on his vessel and said he was a fisherman doing his job on the open sea.

The complaint accuses the United States of violating Carranza's right to life and to due process.

The IACHR is a quasi-judicial body of the Organization of American States, created to promote and protect human rights in the region.
US to conduct multi-day military exercise in Middle East



Washington, United States, Jan 27 (AFP) Jan 27, 2026



The United States on Tuesday announced a major multi-day Air Force exercise in the Middle East, as Washington and Tehran face off over Iran's deadly crackdown on anti-government demonstrations.

The announcement came a day after the US military said the Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group had arrived in the Middle East, dramatically boosting American firepower in the region.

The exercise will "demonstrate the ability to deploy, disperse, and sustain combat airpower across" the Middle East, the US Air Force component of Central Command, which is responsible for American forces in the region, said in a statement.

No date or exact location for the exercise were released.

The protests in Iran started in late December, driven by economic grievances, but turned into a mass movement against the Islamic republic, with huge street demonstrations for several days from January 8.

A US-based rights group said Tuesday it had confirmed the deaths of over 6,000 people in protests, adding that it was investigating over 17,000 more potential deaths.

President Donald Trump had repeatedly warned Iran that if it killed protesters, the United States would intervene militarily, and also encouraged Iranians to take over state institutions, saying "help is on the way."

But he pulled back from ordering strikes earlier this month, saying Tehran had halted more than 800 executions under pressure from Washington.
Vladimir Padrino: Venezuela's military power broker



Caracas, Jan 27 (AFP) Jan 27, 2026



Vladimir Padrino, the man who wields absolute control over Venezuela's powerful military, became a soldier entirely by chance.

Named by his father after Marxist revolutionary Vladimir Lenin, Padrino was a high school pupil when a friend asked him to tag along to a Military Academy entrance exam.

He told the friend he was "crazy," Padrino, now 62, recalled in a 2021 interview with state channel VTV.

"I ended up going with him, took the exam. My friend didn't get in and I did."

It would change the course of his life -- ultimately leading to his position as a key powerbroker in Venezuela.

His support will prove critical for the nation's interim leader Delcy Rodriguez who took the reins this month after the US military operation that ousted Nicolas Maduro.

Padrino's regime credentials are unparalleled. As a cadet soldier decades ago, Padrino met a lieutenant Hugo Chavez, who would later become Venezuela's larger-than-life president.

"After I met Commander Chavez, the revolutionary seed took root," Padrino has said about the now-deceased socialist leader whose presence continues to loom large over the South American country and whose decisions are blamed for the start of its economic collapse.

"He was my teacher, my mentor," Padrino said.

A decision in 2002 catapulted his career as a key enforcer for the so-called Chavista regime.

When the military launched an ultimately unsuccessful coup that year that ousted Chavez for only 48 hours, Padrino -- then commander of an important battalion -- did not take part.

The then-president had urged him on the phone: "Padrino, please, don't let brothers kill each other. Padrino, please, stay in your barracks," the general has since recounted.

He obeyed and after the coup was quashed, the then-lieutenant colonel began a steady series of successive promotions.



- 'Absolute loyalty' -



Padrino, a father of two who loves traditional Venezuelan music and classic literature, has been under US sanctions for years for alleged drug trafficking, rights abuses and corruption.

After Chavez's death in 2013, his hand-picked successor Maduro took over as president and the new face of the Chavista movement.

Padrino, then serving as chief of the army general staff, became defense minister and Venezuela's highest-ranked officer the following year.

The general was key to cultivating a culture of "absolute loyalty" in the military -- which defended Maduro's widely disputed claim to reelection in July 2024 by overseeing a crackdown on protests that resulted in thousands of arrests.

"He was Maduro's face within the Armed Forces," said Hebert Garcia, a retired general who served as a minister in Maduro's government until breaking ties with the regime and going into exile.

"He... guarantees control of the Armed Forces" by the government, Garcia told AFP.

After Maduro's toppling on January 3 in a US military strike that killed dozens, Padrino shifted that loyalty to interim leader Rodriguez.

Without the backing of the military, Rodriguez stands no chance.

It controls mining, oil and food distribution companies, as well as the customs authority and Venezuela's volunteer "colectivos" -- armed loyalists of the leftist leadership.

As defense minister, Padrino also has authority over all other government ministries -- many run by current or former military men.



- Rodriguez 'in danger' -



Since taking office for a six-month interim stint as stand-in president, Rodriguez has avoided making changes to the military high command.

She kept Padrino and Domingo Hernandez Larez -- the head of Venezuela's Strategic Operational Command in charge of troop deployment.

Rodriguez did, however, replace the head of her presidential guard -- who also led the counterintelligence agency -- and changed the generals in charge of 12 of the military's 28 regional commands.

Garcia believes Padrino's support for Rodriguez may not last if Trump decides he is no longer willing to work with her.

Yet her very cooperation with Washington challenges the "anti-imperialist" character of the military that Padrino has cultivated.

Rodriguez's grip on power is "in danger," a diplomatic source told AFP on condition of anonymity, adding: "She does not control the security forces" as Maduro did via Padrino.
Trump warns US to end support for Iraq if Maliki returns



Washington, United States, Jan 27 (AFP) Jan 27, 2026



President Donald Trump on Tuesday threatened to end US support for Iraq if Nouri al-Maliki, a former prime minister with ties to Iran, returns to the post.

Trump, in his latest blatant intervention in another country's politics, said that Iraq would make a "very bad choice" with Maliki, who has been nominated by the largest Shiite bloc.

"Last time Maliki was in power, the Country descended into poverty and total chaos. That should not be allowed to happen again," Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform.

"Because of his insane policies and ideologies, if elected, the United States of America will no longer help Iraq," he said.

"If we are not there to help, Iraq has ZERO chance of Success, Prosperity, or Freedom. MAKE IRAQ GREAT AGAIN!" he wrote.

Maliki left power in 2014 following pressure from the United States, which blamed his nakedly sectarian Shiite agenda for giving rise to the Islamic State group of Sunni extremists.

The United States wields key leverage over Iraq as the country's oil export revenue is largely held at the Federal Reserve Bank in New York, in an arrangement reached after the 2003 US invasion that toppled Saddam Hussein.
BEIJING, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson on Tuesday said the United States should stop depriving the Cuban people of their rights to subsistence and development.

Spokesperson Guo Jiakun made the remarks in response to a media query that the Cuban government denounced the U.S. side that is reportedly considering intensifying its illegal blockade against Cuba. 
Alicia Kearns, a shadow minister for national security, said: How much more evidence does this Government need before it ends its simpering to Xi and stands tall as the great country we are and defends us? Labour is rewarding hostile acts against our state.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 26 (Xinhua) -- Emotions are running high in Europe following U.S. President Donald Trump's military threats and his downplaying of contributions made by allied troops in Afghanistan.

Trump has triggered outrage among allies in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) after questioning whether they would come to Washington's aid in times of need.

"We've never needed them. We have never really asked anything of them. You know, they'll say they sent some troops to Afghanistan, or this or that. And they did -- they stayed a little back, a little off the front lines," Trump said Thursday in an interview with Fox News in Davos, Switzerland, sparking a firestorm of criticism.

The comments incensed European leaders, with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer denouncing Trump's statement as "insulting and frankly appalling" since British forces suffered casualties in the U.S. war in Afghanistan.

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk also lambasted Trump's comments in a social media post, pointing out that his country, too, lost troops in Afghanistan.

This latest controversy comes on the heels of a tense dispute with European leaders over Greenland, after Trump said military action would be a possible option in his bid to acquire the largely Arctic island, a self-governing territory within the Kingdom of Denmark.

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said that while security, investment and economic issues could be negotiated, "we cannot negotiate on our sovereignty."

While Trump later claimed to have secured the framework of a deal with NATO regarding Greenland's future, his threats and aggressive rhetoric prompted European leaders to denounce any military aggression on Greenland as "neo-colonialism."

The United States wanted to "weaken and subordinate Europe" by demanding "maximum concessions" and implementing tariffs that were "fundamentally unacceptable -- even more so when they are used as leverage against territorial sovereignty," French President Emmanuel Macron said at the recent World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland.

EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said Thursday that "transatlantic relations have definitely taken a big blow over the last week."

Former European Council President Charles Michel told CNN that the transatlantic relationship "as we've known it for decades is dead."

Critics also argued that Trump's suggestion of using military force in the Greenland dispute would violate international treaties, including the UN Charter, which forbids the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state.

Moreover, as both the United States and Denmark are members of NATO, an attack on Greenland would also violate the North Atlantic Treaty.

Trump has since backed down from his threats of military action and tariffs, following strong condemnation from EU leaders.

For its part, the Trump administration has emphasized that Greenland is critical to U.S. national security.

Speaking live on stage at the WEF, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said that Trump "believes that Greenland is essential for the Golden Dome missile shield."

"Greenland is becoming more and more attractive for foreign conquest," Bessent said. "And (Trump) very strongly believes that it must be part of the United States to prevent a conflict, rather than getting the U.S. engaged and exposed into a hot conflict."

When asked if Greenland is crucial to U.S. national security, Michael O'Hanlon, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, told Xinhua: "It is important, but we are already able to protect it. In fact, by treaty, we are already obliged to."

Greenland hosts a key U.S. military base, and with Arctic ice melting, new shipping routes and access to natural resources are becoming increasingly viable. This has driven much of the U.S. interest in the island, according to media reports. 
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He also told the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on the Polar Regions: The Canadians just opened one just few days ago, and the French are doing it  Im saying that because I know that will provoke you doing it  so please give that a thought.
So Im in favour of trying to have a better relationship with China, but we shouldnt think that there is some way of cosying up to China and getting them to do what you want them to do in perpetuity, because it doesnt happen like that.
But it is right that we look at this further, and we will therefore review the way that hotels are valued to ensure that it actually accurately reflects the market for this sector.
It was important for me with him that made it clear that it was him first for me, and if he had any issue with it, I would have stepped away because he was so important to me and I know that I was important to him.
This rhetoric mirrored that which was used against 37-year-old Renee Good, mother of three, who the Trump administration branded as responsible for her own death when she was gunned down in her car by a federal agent on January 7. White House officials claimed that Good tried to use her car as a weapon and accused her of being a domestic terrorist.
ANKARA, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- Turkiye's Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan met with a Hamas delegation on Monday to discuss developments related to the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire agreement, according to the state-run TRT broadcaster.

The two sides also discussed the humanitarian situation in Gaza and other regional issues, the TRT reported, citing anonymous ministry sources. Fidan assured the delegation that Turkiye would continue its efforts to ensure that much-needed humanitarian aid reaches Gaza.

The meeting came as international discussions continued over the new phase of the Gaza ceasefire agreement and the delivery of humanitarian assistance.

The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump last September unveiled a 20-point, three-phase Gaza peace plan aimed at ending the Israel-Hamas conflict that broke out in October 2023.

Earlier this month, the Trump administration announced the launch of the second phase of the peace plan, shifting the focus from ceasefire to demilitarization, technocratic governance and reconstruction.

During the first phase of the deal, both Israel and Hamas repeatedly accused each other of violations. 
Lily O'Neill is a business reporter for the Express-News. She can be reached at lily.oneill@express-news.net.

She was The Denver Post's food reporter from 2022-2024, covering all things food in the Mile High City, before settling down in Texas. Over the past year, she wrote trending stories for SAEN and freelanced for Texas Monthly, Austin Monthly and San Antonio Magazine, in addition to working as the Associate Editor for TRIBEZA magazine in Austin. Lily previously wrote for BusinessDen, Denver's online local business news publication, and worked as an intern for 5280. She is a Kansas City native and a University of Missouri Journalism School graduate with a minor in Spanish and has previously won an award for business reporting at the Kansas City Star.
Target has plans to build a 145,000-square-foot store on U.S. 290 in Dripping Springs, west of Austin. A store that opened last summer in Connecticut is seen here. Arnold Gold/Hearst Connecticut Media Group Target Corp. plans to build a 145,000 square-foot store along U.S. 290 in Dripping Springs. Courtesy of Google Earth

Target Corp. plans to build a 145,000-square-foot store on U.S. 290 in the fast-growing Hill Country town of Dripping Springs, west of Austin.

The Minneapolis-based retailer purchased 10 acres on Jan. 12 from a shell company linked to Property Commerce, a Houston-based developer of shopping centers, Hays County deed records show.

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Target spokesperson Loni Monroe confirmed that the company plans to build a store at the site, with the address of 13550 West US 290. The company doesn't have any more information to share, she said.

"We're excited to bring an easy, affordable and convenient shopping experience to new guests in the Dripping Springs community," she wrote.

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Property Commerce plans to build a shopping center around the Target store, according to a brochure on the firm's website, which shows two other retail buildings  one attached to the Target and encompassing about 7,900 square feet, the other across the parking lot, with 11,400 square feet. Four other lots would be open for development, directly facing U.S. 290, according to the brochure.

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Executives at Property Commerce did not respond to an email seeking comment.

The new Target store will be two miles west of a 107,000 square-foot H-E-B supermarket that opened in 2023 at U.S. 290 and Nutty Brown Road.

It will be about 11 miles west from the nearest Target at the crossing of US 290 and the MoPac Expressway in Austin. Target also has a store in Bee Cave, about 9 miles north of the new site.

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NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 18: A U.S. Marshals Service Police officer is seen outside a federal courthouse on June 18, 2025 in New York City. (Photo by John Lamparski/Getty Images) John Lamparski/Getty Images

A Texas child who was kidnapped by her father and taken to Mexico has been reunited with her family after four years, federal officials said.

The U.S. Marshals Service said the child was recovered earlier this month in Mexico and returned to family members in Corpus Christi on Jan. 20. Her father, Neftaly Garcia, was arrested. Marshals did not release additional information about his charges.

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The case began in 2021, when the childs mother, Angela Buitrago-Paredes, was the target of an alleged murder-for-hire plot that led to the arrest of two men, according to the Marshals Service. Around the same time, Buitrago-Paredes reported her daughter missing after Garcia failed to return the child under their shared custody arrangement.

The missing-child report triggered an investigation that expanded across multiple states and countries. At the request of the Portland Police Department, the Marshals Service took the lead, working with U.S. and Mexican authorities while Buitrago-Paredes pursued legal remedies in both countries, officials said.

The case reached a turning point when Mexican authorities sought a provisional arrest warrant under an international treaty through the U.S. Department of Justices Office of International Affairs. That request led to Garcias arrest in Mexico and the childs recovery, the Marshals Service said.

Under court orders issued in both Mexico and the United States, the child was placed back into Buitrago-Paredes physical custody. Authorities credited years of investigative work and cooperation among local, state, federal and international agencies with bringing the case to a close.
Selina Martinez and Drew Martinez listen as Joslin Elementary School attendance specialist Crismar Guerra de Segnini gives a tour on Monday, Jan. 12, 2026. They are searching for a new school for their 8-year-old daughter, a third-grader at Becker Elementary School, which will close at the end of the school year. Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman Amber Dudley, Drew Martinez, Laura Garcia and Selina Martinez, from left, listen as Joslin Elementary School attendance specialist Crismar Guerra de Segnini gives a tour of the school on Monday, Jan. 12, 2026. The Martinezes are searching for a new school for their 8-year-old daughter, a third-grader at Becker Elementary School, which will close at the end of the school year. Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman Selina Martinez and Drew Martinez,right, listen as Joslin Elementary School attendance specialist Crismar Guerra de Segnini gives a tour on Monday, Jan. 12, 2026. They are searching for a new school for their 8-year-old daughter, a third-grader at Becker Elementary School, which will close at the end of the school year. Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman Amber Dudley, Laura Garcia Drew Martinez and Selina Martinez, from left, listen as Joslin Elementary School attendance specialist Crismar Guerra de Segnini, second from left, gives a tour of the school on Monday, Jan. 12, 2026. The Martinezes are searching for a new school for their 8-year-old daughter, a third-grader at Becker Elementary School, which will close at the end of the school year. Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman Drew Martinez, Selina Martinez, Laura Garcia and Amber Dudley, from left, listen as Joslin Elementary School attendance specialist Crismar Guerra de Segnini, right, gives a tour of the school on Monday, Jan. 12, 2026. The Martinezes are searching for a new school for their 8-year-old daughter, a third-grader at Becker Elementary School, which will close at the end of the school year. Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman Drew Martinez, Selina Martinez, Amber Dudley and Laura Garcia, from left, listen as Joslin Elementary School attendance specialist Crismar Guerra de Segnini, right, gives a tour of the school on Monday, Jan. 12, 2026. The Martinezes are searching for a new school for their 8-year-old daughter, a third-grader at Becker Elementary School, which will close at the end of the school year. Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman Drew Martinez, Selina Martinez, Amber Dudley and Laura Garcia, from left, listen as Joslin Elementary School attendance specialist Crismar Guerra de Segnini, right, gives a tour of the school on Monday, Jan. 12, 2026. The Martinezes are searching for a new school for their 8-year-old daughter, a third-grader at Becker Elementary School, which will close at the end of the school year. Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman Selina Martinez, second from left, and Drew Martinez, fourth from left, take a tour of Joslin Elementary Schhol on Monday, Jan. 12, 2026. They are searching for a new school for their 8-year-old daughter, a third-grader at Becker Elementary School, which will close at the end of the school year. Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman Selina Martinez and Drew Martinez, second and third from left, tour Joslin Elementary School on Monday, Jan. 12, 2026. They are searching for a new school for their 8-year-old daughter, a third-grader at Becker Elementary School, which will close at the end of the school year. Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman Selina Martinez and Drew Martinez, middle, listen as Joslin Elementary School attendance specialist Crismar Guerra de Segnini gives a tour on Monday, Jan. 12, 2026. They are searching for a new school for their 8-year-old daughter, a third-grader at Becker Elementary School, which will close at the end of the school year. Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman Drew Martinez and Selina Martinez listen as Joslin Elementary School attendance specialist Crismar Guerra de Segnini gives a tour on Monday, Jan. 12, 2026. They are searching for a new school for their 8-year-old daughter, a third-grader at Becker Elementary School, which will close at the end of the school year. Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman Drew Martinez and Selina Martinez talk with Joslin Elementary School attendance specialist Crismar Guerra de Segnini on a tour of the school Monday, Jan. 12, 2026. The Martinezes are searching for a new school for their 8-year-old daughter, a third-grader at Becker Elementary School, which will close at the end of the school year. Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman Amber Dudley, Kristen Carney, Drew Martinez and Selina Martinez, from left, listen as Joslin Elementary School attendance specialist Crismar Guerra de Segnini gives a tour of the school on Monday, Jan. 12, 2026. The Martinezes are searching for a new school for their 8-year-old daughter, a third-grader at Becker Elementary School, which will close at the end of the school year. Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman

On a crisp Monday in January, Selina and Drew Martinez walked through the courtyard of Joslin Elementary School in South Austin.

The couple strolled past planter boxes filled with flowers and vegetables as the schools attendance specialist Crismar Guerra De Segnini answered questions from them and the handful of other parents on the tour.

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How often do students learn in Spanish in the dual language program? Does Joslin have trouble finding bilingual teachers? Is the school safe? Does the campus offer gifted and talented programs? How much experience do the teachers have? What about after-school care?

The Joslin tour was one of many for the Martinez family since Nov. 20 when the Austin Independent School District board voted to close 10 campuses, including their childs. The family has sent their third grader to Becker Elementary School since she was in prekindergarten. They had hoped to send their youngest child there next year for pre-K.

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The districts November decision marked an inflection point for the roughly 3,800 families at 10 soon-to-be-closed campuses. Within days, it forced a choice in homes across the district: attend the newly zoned school or find somewhere else. Some families took time to weigh their options, spending hours researching the best choice. For others, the decision quickly became a matter of necessity.

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Families are weighing their future at the same time the district is struggling to keep them  an effort made that much more important by the recent loss of 3,000 students last semester. Austin ISD officials have said closing the 10 schools is a matter of necessity to ensure the districts long-term financial viability and provide better resources for students. District officials hope to to maintain student enrollment and ease the strain of a $65 million deficit, all while warding off the looming threat of a state takeover.

The process of choosing a school has been all-encompassing for the Martinezes, Selina said.

Spanish dual-language instruction is a priority for the family, who was happy with the across-campus model at Becker. Both Selina and her husband come from Spanish-speaking families and want their children to learn the language. Its been tricky to find a new school, either in or out of the district, that checks every box.

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Martinez worries there wont be enough seats for her daughter at several Austin ISD campuses theyre considering. With two working parents, the family also has to consider transportation.

Its like applying to colleges, Martinez said. Its crazy.

Making choices

For some families at closing schools, parents must decide where to send their children while simultaneously dealing with the loss of the campus where their child grew up.

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Dayssy Ramirez is angry that Martin Middle is closing. With resource centers for families and community events, the school has provided for the educational and social needs of East Austin for years, she said.

But unlike her husband, who is pushing to send their sixth-grade son to a charter school next year, she wants to stay in Austin ISD.

I really feel betrayed by Austin ISD, said Ramirez, who has three children in the district. I cant deny that they have the programs for my kids that are going to put them in the pathway to be successful.

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Her son, Jesus Fabela, loves art, and Ramirez thinks the magnet program at Lively Middle School, which will receive Martin students next year, is best suited to support him. The family has until Feb. 6 to submit a magnet application, so Ramirez hopes to decide by then.

Enrollment process

Austin ISDs enrollment is already ongoing and several schools, including those that are closing, are hosting enrollment clinics this month to help families register for the next school year.

The district hopes these resources will help keep families in the district as Austin ISD grapples with recent enrollment losses. The district lost almost 3,000 students from 2024 to 2025 and enrollment dipped below 70,000 for the first time in almost 30 years. Meanwhile, charter school enrollment in the Austin ISD attendance area has increased 25% in the last decade. Over the same time period, Austin ISD enrollment dropped 13%.

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Austin ISD officials predicted shuttering the 10 campuses would cut 6,319 seats from the district, which could save the school system $21.5 million. Superintendent Matias Segura pledged this would set the district up to provide more robust resources for the remaining campuses and students.

Though enrollment is ongoing, some families are still making up their minds on whether they will stay in Austin ISD.

When he learned Bedichek Middle would close, Nestor Dominguez a father of three children, two of which attend AISD  had his heart set on homeschooling his sixth-grade son, instead of sending him to Paredes Middle. His son Max frequently finishes his work in school, and Dominguez said homeschooling could give the sixth grader more time to explore other subjects, like information technology.

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However, Dominguezs son wants to go to school with his friends.

We really like to take their consideration on their future, Dominguez said. It really has to be a collaborative effort, but at the same time, you are the parent. I feel like its important to explain the why.

Dominguez also has a child at Palm Elementary, which was originally slated to close before Austin ISD pulled it from the list two weeks before a trustee vote. His youngest, a 3-year-old, is about to start pre-K at Palm. But the AISD dad worries that campus could end up back on the districts closure list in the near future.

Last fall, Superintendent Segura told families that despite pulling Bryker Woods, Maplewood and Palm elementaries from an initial closure list, he intended to bring those campuses up for consideration again. AISD hasnt given clear indication about when that might be.

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Searching for stability

The sense that other closures or changes could be coming soon has exacerbated a sense of uncertainty for some families looking for stability at their new campuses.

At the end of the Joslin tour, Guerra De Segnini, the attendance specialist, stopped the families in the campus' bright blue library.

One parent asked: how do you know Joslin wont close next year?

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It has been difficult, guys, for everyone, including us, Guerra De Segnini said. The staff doesnt know the future either, she said. We will try our best that you feel welcome.

Selina knows she wont find something exactly like Becker Elementary, but she and Drew want to find something that checks as many of their boxes as possible.

At their kitchen table two weeks after the Joslin tour, the couple opened their laptops and talked through their options. While they admired the principal at one school, they worried that a state-required plan to improve grades could remove focus from enrichment.

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They loved the dual language programming at another, but feared that because of the buildings age and small enrollment, AISD may close it, too.
People protest ICE outside Austin City Hall in downtown Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026. A petition was given to City Council asking for an ordinance to prevent the Austin Police Department from helping ICE agents serve warrants to Austin residents. Mikala Compton/Austin American-Statesman

As a winter storm bore down on Austin late last week, residents braced for an onslaught of ice  and, many feared, ICE enforcement in the city.

Rumors that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents were preparing a major operation in Austin spread rapidly across social media as the weekend approached. The claims, shared by a prominent Austin immigration attorney who is now a political candidate, along with downtown businesses and food influencers, suggested ICE had booked a large block of rooms at the Hyatt Regency downtown and arrested service workers in the Warehouse District. None included photos, video or other evidence.

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Credible reports on ICE activity, attorney Kate Lincoln-Goldfinch said in a bilingual video post that was viewed more than 1 million times on Instagram and 250,000 on TikTok. Watch out, stay safe and avoid downtown.

City officials initially said nothing publicly, even as they worked behind the scenes to figure out if there was anything to the rumors. Police Chief Lisa Davis called ICE. City Council Member Jose Chito Vela called downtown hotels and bar workers, as well as immigration and criminal defense attorneys. They found nothing to corroborate the claims.

People protest ICE outside Austin City Hall in downtown Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026. A petition was given to City Council asking for an ordinance to prevent the Austin Police Department from helping ICE agents serve warrants to Austin residents. Mikala Compton/Austin American-Statesman

The situation was the latest test for officials in Austin, a liberal city where distrust of federal immigration agencies runs deep and residents have been rattled by recent events in Minneapolis. Earlier this month, Davis department faced backlash after Austin police called ICE on a mother and her young daughter due to an outstanding immigration warrant. The weekend rumors again placed local officials  many of whom oppose the Trump administrations immigration crackdown  in the difficult position of trying to combat misinformation and calm fears while explaining the complexities of immigration enforcement in Texas and relying on assurances from the same federal agencies residents increasingly distrust.

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Protesters march up San Jacinto, back toward the J.J. Picle Building after shutting down traffic on Sixth Street, Jan. 10, 2026 during a protest to decry Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), in solidarity with nation-wide protests after the killing of Renee Good, a Minneapolis woman, by ICE agents on January 7. Sara Diggins/Austin American-Statesman

Local anxiety and anger flared again on Saturday when news broke of a second fatal shooting in Minneapolis, which prompted two pop-up protests in different parts of the city and fueled the online rumor mill.

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That night, as demonstrators gathered outside the Hyatt Regency for a third consecutive evening, the city decided to issue a statement seeking to counter the claims. ICE, the city said, had told local leaders it was not conducting enhanced operations in Austin and had not deployed additional agents to the area. Officials said they hoped the statement would calm fears, encourage people to seek warming shelters during dangerous cold and prevent residents from skipping work or school.

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Austin Mayor Kirk Watson and Davis said Monday they stand by that statement, citing a continued lack of evidence to the contrary.

The assurances, however, did little to slow the speculation. Online posts questioning the citys account continued into the week, and protesters have kept returning to the Hyatt, banging pots and chanting in subfreezing temperatures. Organizer Haithem El-Zabri said demonstrators plan to return every night until we get verification that ICE is not there.

Protesters march down Sixth Street, shutting down traffic, Jan. 10, 2026 during a protest to decry Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), in solidarity with nation-wide protests after the killing of Renee Good, a Minneapolis woman, by ICE agents on January 7. Sara Diggins/Austin American-Statesman

Lincoln-Goldfinch said she still believes ICE had planned to stage in Austin, even if no surge in activity was apparent this past weekend. She said her skepticism is not directed at city leaders.

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I believe city leadership, Lincoln-Goldfinch said. I dont believe that ICE would inform the city of what its doing.

Watson rejected the idea that the city should disregard information from the agency altogether, stressing that the citys Saturday statement followed assurances given directly to local police officials by people in positions of responsibility at ICE.

If the alternative is that I am not going to trust any response I get, then there is no need for the call, Watson said. We are at a point where the government cant function and quell rumors that could lead to harm to members of the public.

Vela said he and other officials did their best to fact-check ICE.

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I want the people of Austin to know that its leaders are talking to other people and looking for other sources of information to vet rumors, Vela said. We are not just taking ICE at their word.

District 4 Council Member Jose Chito Vela is the lead sponsor of "The APD Open Policing Data Release" resolution. Mikala Compton/American-Statesman

The American-Statesman also found no evidence that ICE agents were staying at the Hyatt or that immigrant service workers were arrested downtown, as some posts claimed. New videos of alleged ICE arrests circulated on Austin-area Spanish-language social media pages over the weekend, but not at a higher rate than in previous months.

Still, there is no denying that ICE has maintained a steady presence in the Austin area over the past year amid a broader immigration crackdown, and that it has been the source of falsehoods about its actions locally and elsewhere, both now and in the past. The agency has made arrests following traffic stops by the Texas Department of Public Safety, whose troopers have been directed by Gov. Greg Abbott to assist with immigration enforcement. Immigration arrests have also occurred at least 33 times after Austin police have contacted ICE, a practice Davis has said exists because state law prohibits the department from barring officers from communicating with federal authorities.

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Democrats Kate Lincoln Goldfinch and Samantha Lopez-Resendez are running to replace state Rep. James Talarico in the Texas Legislature. Courtesy of the campaign

On Monday, Lincoln-Goldfinch, who is a Democratic candidate for the Texas House, said she shared the claims despite lacking video or firsthand confirmation  a standard she said she typically requires  because she believed more information is better than less.

Because its clear that DHS is uncontrolled, that ICE and CBP agents are uncoordinated and untrained, Lincoln-Goldfinch said.

Lincoln-Goldfinch said she received her information from an unnamed source she described as high in state politics, but declined to identify the person or provide additional details.

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State and local leaders urged residents to be cautious when sharing information online.

Neighbors helping neighbors with the intent of keeping each other safe and protecting each others rights is always helpful, said state Sen. Sarah Eckhardt, an Austin Democrat. But make sure it is verified and useful information.

U.S. Representative Greg Casar prepares to speak to a large crowd gathered during a rally at Austin City Hall to protest against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Jan. 10, 2026 in solidarity with nation-wide protests after the killing of Renee Good, a Minneapolis woman, by ICE agents on January 7. Sara Diggins/Austin American-Statesman

U.S. Rep. Greg Casar, a Democrat who represents Austin, said officials are trying to navigate fear and provide information without amplifying false alarms.

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It is really important for us to not cry wolf and be wrong, Casar said. At the same time, I have a lot of empathy for people who are worried about this and a lot of empathy for people who would not trust what the federal governments story is, and that puts us in a very difficult position.

Staff writer Austin Sanders contributed reporting

This story was updated to correct the spelling of Haithem El-Zabri's name.
Ramon Gonzalez Almager was last seen around 6:30 p.m. Jan. 18 in the 600 block of Radam Lane. Courtesy of the Austin Police Department

Austin police are searching for an 82-year-old man who remains missing as winter weather moves through Central Texas, though authorities said two other elderly men reported missing earlier this month have now been located.

Police said Bernard Johnson, 69, who was reported missing after last being seen Jan. 6, was found on Tuesday. Authorities did not immediately release details on where Johnson was located. George Joe Lambert, 73, who was lost on Jan. 18 in South Austin, was located safe on Jan. 21, police said.

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Bernard Johnson, 69, was last seen around 10 a.m. Jan. 6 in the 6800 block of Riverside Drive, according to authorities. Courtesy of the Austin Police Department

Police are looking for 73-year-old George "Joe" Lambert. Austin Police Department

Authorities are still searching for Ramon Gonzalez Almager, 82, who was last seen around 6:30 p.m. Jan. 18 in the 600 block of Radam Lane, according to the Austin Police Department.

Almager is described as a Hispanic man about 5 feet 10 inches tall and weighing approximately 180 pounds, with gray hair and brown eyes. Police said he walks with a limp, uses a cane and primarily speaks Spanish.

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Police said they are concerned for Almagers welfare because of his age, mobility limitations and the current winter weather.
A makeshift memorial is placed where Alex Pretti was fatally shot on Jan. 24 by a U.S. Border Patrol officer in Minneapolis. No agency should operate beyond meaningful oversight, and no life should be treated as collateral damage, a reader says. Adam Gray/Associated Press

We demand accountability

Yet another U.S. citizen has been killed by federal law enforcement.

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Regardless of a person's political views on immigration or policing, this should alarm every American. When agents of the federal government kill a citizen and the facts are unclear, delayed or disputed, accountability is not optional. It is essential.

No agency should operate beyond meaningful oversight, and no life should be treated as collateral damage. When deadly force is used, the public deserves immediate transparency, an independent investigation and consequences if wrongdoing is found.

Silence in moments like this signals acceptance, and acceptance invites repetition.

I have contacted my elected officials to demand accountability and reform. I urge others to do the same.

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I urge our leaders to treat this as a warning. A government that cannot police itself cannot credibly police its citizens.

Dan Stack, Austin

Making it harder to vote

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Williamson County Republican Party Chair Michelle Evans recently made a claim that ballot secrecy is the top concern, hence the need for precinct-level voting  but only on Election Day.

This claim is ridiculous.

If procedures and ballot secrecy are fine and dandy during early voting, why would they be any different only on Election Day?

Vote centers have been used and well received in Williamson County for the past 10 years or more. Voters know where to go to cast their ballots, whether they do so during early voting or on Election Day.

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This year, however, voters who are turned away on Election Day because they mistakenly tried to vote where theyve always voted may just get frustrated and go home rather than seek out a different location.

This whole change appears to me to be a cockamamie idea thats being implemented with little forethought.

Jan Pelosi, Austin

A reader urges residents to look for fully alcohol-free beers, such as Heineken 0.0%, to make this month a genuinely Dry January. J. David Ake/Associated Press

Cheers to nixing alcohol

Re: Jan. 21 article, Dry January is obscuring the reality of how America drinks now

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This article is not much more than a glib advertisement for Best Day Brewing of Sausalito, Calif., which also has been running television commercials for more than a year.

The article says that 56% of adults will be participating in Dry January. Think about how ludicrous that number is.

Best Day persistently promotes its beers as nonalcoholic. Yet, each has less than 0.5% alcohol by volume (ABV).

Apparently, the federal government allows that claim. One website calculated that it would take eight to 12 0.5% beers to equal one regular beer.

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There are many delicious, alcohol-free beers available, such as Heineken 0.0%. In this instance, there is nothing wrong with perfection.

I urge Austinites to read labels carefully and make it a genuinely Dry January.

Mike Ozmun, Austin

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A total of four North Texas children died in winter weather accidents over the weekend, authorities say. Stephen Maturen/Getty Images

Three North Texas children, all brothers, have died in a winter weather accident. The young boys drowned after falling into an icy pond in Bonham, about 70 miles northeast of Dallas.

The Bonham Fire Department confirmed to FOX 4 News the deaths of three elementary students in Fannin County. While the boys' identities had not been made public as of Tuesday morning, family members told the station the victims were brothers, ages 6, 8 and 9.

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In a letter sent to parents Monday, Bonham ISD Superintendent Lance Hamlin said the district was devastated by this unimaginable loss. He urged the community to respect the familys privacy while assuring that all those impacted would receive support.

Hamlin also said counselors would be available to meet with students and staff.

We are a strong community, and we will get through this together by supporting one another with compassion and care, the letter said in part. Our hearts go out to everyone touched by this loss, and our thoughts and prayers are with the family.

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Officials have not said when the drownings occurred.

4 North Texas children dead in winter weather accidents

The drownings mark the latest in a string of deadly winter weather fatalities in North Texas.

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News of the young boys' deaths follows the death of a Frisco teen, identified as 16-year-old Elizabeth Angle.

On Saturday afternoon, Angle, a sophomore at Wakeland High School, was riding a sled with another 16-year-old girl that was being pulled by a Jeep Wrangler driven by a 16-year-old boy. The sled struck a curb and crashed into a tree.

Police and fire crews responded, and both girls were taken to a local hospital. Angle later died of her injuries.

Angles mother told FOX 4 News the other girl, her daughters best friend, is in critical condition and on life support.

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The incident remains under investigation, with assistance from the Denton County District Attorneys Office, as officials determine whether anyone should face charges.
CONAKRY, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- Amadou Oury Bah, the outgoing prime minister and head of government, was reappointed Monday as prime minister and head of government of the Republic of Guinea, according to a presidential decree read on national television on Monday evening.

According to the decree signed by President Mamady Doumbouya, the reappointment was made following the opinion of the National Council of the Transition, the legislative body in the transitional period.

In his duties, Bah will have the primary mission of coordinating government action and ensuring the implementation of the government's policy, particularly in the country's socio-economic development.

Meanwhile, in a second decree, the president announced the new cabinet list of 27 ministries and two secretariats, proposed by the prime minister. 
NEW YORK, Jan. 26 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump said Monday he will raise tariffs on certain South Korean goods from 15 percent to 25 percent, accusing South Korea's legislature of not having enacted a bilateral trade agreement with the United States.

"Because the Korean Legislature hasn't enacted our Historic Trade Agreement, which is their prerogative, I am hereby increasing South Korean TARIFFS on Autos, Lumber, Pharma, and all other Reciprocal TARIFFS, from 15% to 25%," he said on social media.

"South Korea's Legislature is not living up to its Deal with the United States," Trump said. "President Lee and I reached a Great Deal for both Countries on July 30, 2025, and we reaffirmed these terms while I was in Korea on October 29, 2025."

According to the agreement finalized by Trump and South Korean President Lee Jae Myung in October 2025, the United States would impose blanket tariffs of 15 percent on imports from South Korea, 10 percentage points lower than the level Trump had threatened. In return, South Korea agreed to invest 350 billion U.S. dollars in the United States.

South Korea is an important trading partner for the United States, which imported over 100 billion dollars' worth of goods from South Korea in the past few years.

South Korea's presidential office said that it has received no official notification from Washington about the latest tariff hike, and that the country's trade minister will visit the United States to discuss the matter. 
KABUL, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- Afghan police have discovered narcotic substances and arrested four individuals on charges of trafficking drugs in northern Afghanistan's Baghlan province, local authorities confirmed on Tuesday.

Mullah Mohammad Nabi Kamran, provincial director for counter-narcotics police, said the suspects were detained in various areas of Pul-e-Khumri, the provincial capital. During the operation, security forces seized a range of narcotic substances, including hashish and other heroin-related products.

The suspects are currently under investigation, and further legal action is underway. 
BEIJING, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- China plans to sign trade and investment cooperation agreements with Britain during Prime Minister Keir Starmer's upcoming visit to the country, the Ministry of Commerce said Tuesday.

These outcome documents will help create new growth drivers for bilateral economic and trade cooperation, the ministry noted in a statement.

"China attaches great importance to economic and trade cooperation with Britain and is actively working with Britain to prepare for the economic and trade cooperation outcomes resulting from the visit, as well as a meeting of Chinese and British entrepreneurs," the statement said.

Chinese and British companies have shown keen interests in the meeting, and more than 100 of them have registered to attend, the ministry added.

At the invitation of Chinese Premier Li Qiang, the British prime minister will pay an official visit to China from Jan. 28 to 31, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson announced earlier Tuesday.

It is understood that during the visit, Starmer will lead a delegation comprising senior executives from over 50 major British firms and representatives of British institutions. They represent Britain's leading sectors that span finance, medicine, manufacturing, culture and creativity, which has fully showcased the UK's earnest expectations for deepening economic and trade relations with China, according to the ministry.

China-UK economic and trade relations have for long maintained healthy and stable development under the strategic guidance of the leaders of the two countries. In 2025, bilateral trade value of goods reached 103.7 billion U.S. dollars, with bilateral trade in services expected to exceed 30 billion U.S. dollars. Meanwhile, two-way investment stock is close to 68 billion U.S. dollars, data from the ministry revealed.

The ministry's statement also said that as global trade protectionism intensifies, both China and Britain adhere to free trade and safeguard the multilateral trading system, and the two sides will commit to economic and trade cooperation featured by complementary advantages and mutual benefits, promote the coordinated development of trade in goods and services, carry out two-way investment cooperation, and broaden cooperation in sectors such as green energy, medical and healthcare, creative industries and intelligent manufacturing.

"The Ministry of Commerce is willing to work with our UK counterpart to jointly implement the important consensuses reached by the leaders of our two countries, strengthen communication on economic and trade policies, create a fair, transparent and law-based business environment for cooperation between enterprises of both sides, and promote the continuous advancement of China-UK economic and trade relations to new heights," the statement read. 
A brand new Air Force HH-60W Jolly Green II helicopter is stationed on the flight line for blade unfolding at Aviano Air Base, Italy, on Jan. 15, 2026. With the base's sixth Jolly Green II in the fold, its fleet of the cutting-edge combat rescue helicopter is now fully operational. (Joseph Bartoszek/U.S. Air Force)



The sixth and final combat rescue helicopter with a name paying homage to the crews that flew its predecessors in Vietnam has arrived at its new home in northern Italy.

Aviano Air Base received its last HH-60W Jolly Green II, the Air Force said in a statement earlier this month.

The delivery completes a transition to the new platform by the 56th Rescue Generation Squadron that began about one year ago, as the Air Force sought to replace its aging fleet of HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopters.

The Jolly Green II is named after the Vietnam War-era Sikorsky HH-3E Jolly Green and HH-53 Super Jolly Green, whose crews are regarded as the pioneers of aerial combat search and rescue, the Air Force said in 2020.

Aviano supports the only U.S. fighter wing south of the Alps and is a key hub for U.S. and NATO air operations in southern Europe. Its the only U.S. air base in Europe or Africa to host combat search-and-rescue helicopters.

The latest Jolly Green is based on the HH-60M Black Hawk frame, has a larger fuel capacity for longer range and better threat detection and countermeasures, according to the Air Force. The helicopter is made by Sikorsky, which also produces the Armys Black Hawk.

Airmen assigned to the squadron conducted an unfolding of the units newest Jolly Green II on Jan. 13, according to video footage posted by the Air Force. Unfolding entails moving and locking rotor blades into an operational, radial position.

The unit maintains the helicopters in support of the 56th Rescue Squadron, which provides combat rescue and recovery, humanitarian assistance, noncombatant evacuation and disaster relief for U.S. and NATO throughout Europe and Africa.

When Air Force leaders introduced the next-generation Jolly Green II more than five years ago, they said the platforms primary mission would be conducting day or night combat search-and-rescue operations into hostile environments to recover isolated or stranded personnel during war.

The Air Force has ordered 96 Jolly Green IIs so far, a Sikorsky representative said in a Sept. 2025 interview with AirMed&Rescue magazine.
F-22A Raptors assigned to the Hawaii Air National Guards 154th Fighter Wing fly in formation near Hawaii during the 2026 iteration of the exercise Sentry Aloha, Jan. 22, 2026. (Michael Swingen/U.S. Air National Guard)



Air National Guard units from across the country are in Hawaii for the latest iteration of Sentry Aloha, a large-scale exercise hosted by the Hawaii Air National Guards 154th Wing, which is the largest wing in the ANG.

Sentry Aloha 26-1 began on Jan. 14 and is slated to continue until Wednesday. The exercise, which has been held for more than 20 years, is intended to provide realistic combat training.

The current iteration involves over 1,000 personnel and 41 aircraft from seven states, according to the Hawaii Air National Guard, up several hundred from the roughly 700 personnel involved in the exercise two years ago.
A Cambodian navy delegation welcomes the littoral combat ship USS Cincinnati to Ream Naval Base, Cambodia, Jan. 24, 2026. (Nicholas Rodriguez/U.S. Navy)



A U.S. Navy warship made a port call this week at a Cambodian naval base whose recent expansion was largely paid for by China.

The head of Indo-Pacific Command, Adm. Samuel Paparo, on Monday visited the USS Cincinnati in Cambodia, where he met the countrys defense minister and armed forces chief, according to an INDOPACOM news release that day.

The Cincinnati, an Independence-variant littoral combat ship, is the first U.S. warship to dock at Ream Naval Base since its expansion was completed in April, and the first U.S. ship to visit Cambodia since the USS Savannah, another littoral combat ship, stopped at Sihanoukville Autonomous Port in December 2024.

It is an honor to be welcomed by the Cambodian people at Ream Naval Base, Capt. Matt Scarlett, commodore of Destroyer Squadron 7, said in a squadron news release Monday. We are always excited to work alongside our partners and continue to build a free and open Indo-Pacific for all nations.

Adm. Samuel Paparo, head of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, speaks with Gen. Tea Seiha, Cambodias deputy prime minister and minister of national defense, at Ream Naval Base, Cambodia, Jan. 26, 2026. (Dhruv Gopinath/U.S. Air Force)



Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet in an April 5 ceremony officially opened the expanded facilities at Ream Naval Base, including the China-Cambodia Ream Naval Base Joint Support and Training Center, the Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative reported a month later.

Two Chinese navy corvettes, gifts to Cambodia, have been stationed in rotating pairs at the base since December 2023, according to the initiative, which is sponsored by the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

The Cambodian military and government has close ties with [China], said Ian Chong, an associate professor of political science at the National University of Singapore, in an email Tuesday to Stars and Stripes. The Cambodian military procures weapons and receives training as well as assistance from the [Chinese military].

Despite Manets education at West Point, Cambodia has had less military cooperation with the United States, Chong said.

The United States helped build Ream as a port, but [China] put in additional funds to make it into a naval facility, he said.

Cambodia maintained that Ream was open to navies of other countries and China had no exclusive rights, according to the maritime initiative, which noted that visiting Japanese and Vietnamese naval vessels docked far to the south of the pier where the Chinese corvettes were docked.

The southern section of the base is for Cambodias use and China funded upgrades to the smaller pier as well as other infrastructure there, including a new headquarters building that Adm. Paparo and the officers from the Cincinnati visited, said Gregory Poling, a senior director and director of the Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative, in an email Tuesday to Stars and Stripes. Whether the Chinese still maintain a permanent presence on the northern half of the base is unclear, but likely  they didnt fund this for nothing.

Welcoming the Cincinnati suggests Cambodia seeks closer ties with the United States, especially following the Trump administrations role in pushing for a ceasefire after a border dustup between Cambodia and Thailand in July, Chong said.

The Pentagon in 2023 looked at Ream as Chinas first overseas installation in the Indo-Pacific.

Cambodia on Monday may have wanted to dispel suspicions attached to its relationship with China, Chong said.

The U.S. is using the Cincinnati visit to test Cambodias openness and sincerity in resetting troubled relations, said Chansambath Bong, a doctoral candidate in Asia-Pacific affairs at The Australian National University, in an email Tuesday.

China is likely to react quietly to the Cincinnatis visit.

This is because the docking does not necessarily indicate any strategic shift in Cambodias security alignment away from China, Bong said. It underlines Cambodias exercise of strategic autonomy  however limited  without disrupting its close relations with China.

Judging by the handling afforded the Cincinnati and Paparo  relegating them to the south side of the base, Cambodia likely calculates that it can patch up ties with the U.S. while still maintaining the special defense relationship with China, including whatever plans China has for its portion of Ream, Poling said.

Paparo at Ream discussed the U.S.-Cambodian defense relationship aboard the Cincinnati with Minister of National Defence Gen. Tea Seiha and Royal Cambodia Armed Forces Chief of Defense Gen. Vong Pisen, according to INDOPACOM.

This visit demonstrates the deepening cooperation and expanding friendship between the U.S. and Royal Cambodian navies, the release said.
President Donald Trump with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev at the White House on Aug. 8, 2025. (Demetrius Freeman/The Washington Post)



ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Wes Martin, a retired U.S. Army colonel, served as the first Senior Antiterrorism/Force Protection Officer for all Coalition Forces in Iraq.

Irans recent orgy of mass murder, which killed and wounded tens of thousands, again highlights a truth Washington cant afford to ignore: pressure works best when adversaries are off balance. Moments of internal fragility are occasions for strategic action.

The Islamic Republic survives by exporting violence through proxies from the Houthis to Hezbollah and weaponizing geography in world choke points such as the Strait of Hormuz in the Persian Gulf and Bab-el-Mandeb in the Red Sea. But the Shiite dictatorship often neglected the South Caucasus. The possibility that the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict may finally resolve has become a consequential dimension in the geopolitical calculus around Irans future.

The Obama and Biden administrations treated the South Caucasus as a diplomatic backwater of frozen conflicts and declining American leverage. That was a mistake. President Donald Trump corrected it by hosting the president of Azerbaijan and the prime minister of Armenia at the signing of a peace memorandum last August.

Azerbaijan, sitting astride eastwest energy routes and northsouth transit corridors, especially the so-called middle corridor from Europe to Asia, avoiding Russia and Iran, has become a node of real strategic significance. It supplies the world with half a million barrels of oil a day, provides Europe with non-Russian gas, and maintains close security ties with Israel. In a world of contested supply chains and sanctions evasions, geography matters. That is precisely why Moscow and Tehran are intent on blunting Bakus strategic rise.

For years, Russia has used Armenia as a lever to retain relevance. Iran, meanwhile, saw Armenia as the only reliable outlet to the north not aligned with Ankara, Jerusalem, or Washington. Moscow and Teheran oppose a durable ArmeniaAzerbaijan peace because it would reduce their leverage. A settlement would unlock transit routes linking Azerbaijan to its exclave of Nakhchivan and onward to Turkey and world markets, diminishing Irans chokehold on regional trade and Russias claims indispensability.

This helps explain the opposition to the peace process not in Yerevan, but thousands of miles away in American cities with Armenian diaspora communities. Chief among the organized opponents is the Armenian National Committee of America, which presents itself as an advocate for Armenian security but increasingly behaves as a spoiler of American diplomacy. Its rejection of a settlement with Azerbaijan places it at odds not only with Washingtons foreign policy and with Armenias democratically elected government, but also, arguably, with Armenias long-term survival as a sovereign state. While healthy nationalism can be a good thing, extreme nationalism can be lethal.

Diaspora politics often drift toward maximalism. Yet ANCAs posture goes beyond emotional attachment. Its positions increasingly mirror narratives advanced by Tehran, Beijing, and, to a lesser extent, Moscow. Nowhere is this clearer than its treatment of Israel. ANCA and affiliated organizations have adopted the language of irrational damnation, claiming genocide in Gaza and drawing parallels between Israels conduct and Azerbaijans actions in Nagorno-Karabakh. These claims are strikingly aligned with the rhetoric of Iran and its proxies. That alignment is unlikely to be accidental.

Israels partnership with Azerbaijan, defensive, technological and intelligence-based, has long irritated Tehran. Azerbaijan offers Israel a partner in the South Caucasus, while Israel offers Azerbaijan advanced agriculture, energy partnerships, military technology, and security cooperation. By condemning this relationship, ANCA seeks to fracture a quiet but effective partnership that constrains Iranian power. It has also taken to exaggerating claims about threats to Christian institutions in Jerusalem in a manner that appears calculated to pit American Christians against Israel.

Worse, ANCAs opposition to the proposed transit arrangements linking Azerbaijan and Nakhchivan converges neatly with Irans own red lines. Tehran has been explicit: it does not want a corridor that weakens its control over northsouth trade or brings Turkish and Western influence closer to its borders.

ANCA has increasingly tethered itself to one faction of American politics, the left. Its reflexive opposition to diplomatic initiatives associated with Republican administrations has led it to undermine agreements that would otherwise enjoy bipartisan support. Peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan is one such casualty. By opposing it, ANCA is not defending Armenia; it is prolonging its vulnerability.

The coalition arrayed against the peace deal is telling. Alongside diaspora activists sit Western academics whose analyses echo the Kremlins and Irans talking points with remarkable fidelity, empowering a Russian-Iranian duopoly that has existed in the region since the 19th century.

A successful ArmeniaAzerbaijan settlement would do several things. It would stabilize a volatile region. It would reduce Russias military footprint. It would weaken Irans ability to weaponize geography. And it would strengthen Azerbaijan as a U.S. trade and investment partner capable of advancing Western energy security and regional connectivity. For Washington, this is not a moral dilemma but a strategic opportunity.

Irans current weakness makes the moment especially ripe. It is time for Washington to lift the obsolete Section 907 of the 1992 FREEDOM Support Act passed with Armenian lobby effort in a different era, which restricts any direct U.S. support from going to the Azerbaijani government and blocks sales of military equipment. Today, with peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan about to break out, it is time to lift this trade-limiting legislative relic.

None of this requires abandoning concern for Armenian security or dignity. A peace agreement backed by Western guarantees offers Armenia its best chance to escape geopolitical purgatory. The alternative, endless confrontation subsidized by diaspora outrage, offers only decline. The South Caucasus is a pressure point. And when pressure builds in Tehran, Washington should press where it hurts.
Members of Battalion Landing Team 2/4, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, and Japan Ground Self-Defense Force soldiers take part in a mock boat raid during an Iron Fist drill at Kin Blue Training Area, Okinawa, March 1, 2025. (Angel Diaz Montes De Oca/U.S. Marine Corps)



CAMP FOSTER, Okinawa  U.S. and Japanese forces will team up again next month for an expanded version of annual exercises around Japan, especially in the island chain that includes Okinawa.

Iron Fist, scheduled Feb. 11 through March 9, hones the allies ability to make amphibious landings together and defend the island territories just east of Taiwan.

The 20th iteration of Iron Fist will take place throughout Japan, including 19 spots  three more than last year  in the Nansei Islands, according to a Jan. 20 news release from the Okinawa Defense Bureau. Also know as Ryukyu, the island chain stretches southwest from Kyushu toward Taiwan.

Exercises are planned on Okinawa at Marine Corps Camp Hansens central training area and Kin Blue and Red beaches, according to the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force.

About 800 U.S. Marines and 2,100 U.S. Navy sailors will participate alongside about 2,000 members of the Japan Ground and Maritime Self-Defense Forces, a Japan Ground Staff spokesman said by phone Thursday.

Iron Fist will involve increased training in wild areas of the Nansei region, with the Ground Self-Defense Forces 3rd Amphibious Rapid Deployment Regiment participating for the first time, the spokesman said.

The exercise is meant to develop and demonstrate U.S.Japanese bilateral amphibious capabilities, Maj. Edward Pingel, spokesman for the 3rd Marine Expeditionary Brigade, said in an email Thursday.

Japan and the United States have promised to expand joint training in the islands.

As neighboring countries and others expand and intensify their activities in the seas and airspace surrounding Japan, improving our deterrence and response capabilities in the Nansei region is an urgent issue, Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi told reporters during his first visit to Okinawa on Jan. 7.

Chinas activity around Taiwan has spurred increased attention to island defense. Chinese President Xi Jinping has promised to unify self-governing Taiwan with the mainland, by force if necessary. Last month, Beijing carried out another military exercise that encircled the island and included missile launches.

This years Iron First is slated to include a handful of firsts. Two Japanese V-22 Ospreys will operate for the first time out of Hansen and Kin Blue Beach alongside Marine Corps tiltrotors, according to the ground staff spokesman.

Japans ScanEagle 2 reconnaissance drone will also participate for the first time, with flights over Tanegashima, an island about 25 miles south of Kyushu, he said.

Some Japanese government officials must speak to the press on condition of anonymity.

Iron Fist is in its fourth consecutive year in Japan; it was staged off the California coast from 2006 through 2022.

The field exercise is scheduled to follow Keen Edge, command-post training by the U.S., Japan and Australia running from Thursday through Feb. 5. It was last held in February 2024.

Keen Edge will ensure our ability to effectively and mutually respond to a regional crisis situation that might have direct and immediate impact on both countries, U.S. Indo-Pacific Command told Stars and Stripes in an unsigned email Friday. The command declined to identify which U.S. services or how many troops will participate.

Joint coordination centers will be established at Camps Foster and Kinser on Okinawa and at Japanese bases Camp Asaka in Tokyo, Camp Kengun and Camp Kita-Kumamoto in Kyushu, according to a Jan. 20 release from the Okinawa Defense Bureau.

Stars and Stripes reporter Hana Kusumoto contributed to this report.
Philippine coast guard Adm. Ronnie Gil Gavan poses for a photo at the Daniel K. Inouye Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies, Honolulu, Aug. 8, 2025. (Allan Criss/Department of Defense)



(Tribune News Service)  During a recent visit to Honolulu, the Philippine coast guards top officer, Adm. Ronnie Gil Gavan, told a roundtable of reporters that tension in the South China Sea is an existential issue not only for the Philippines, but for the world.

Gavan was in town for the now annual Honolulu Defense Forum, which brought together senior military officials, diplomats and arms manufacturers from around the world as they discussed potential conflicts in the Pacific.

The Philippines and other countries have been embroiled in a bitter dispute with China over territorial and navigation rights in the South China Sea, which Beijing regards as its exclusive sovereign territory. That includes most of an area the Philippines calls the West Philippine Sea.

In 2016 an international court ruled in favor of the Philippines, declaring that Chinas expansive claims have no legal basis. But Beijing has called that ruling illegal  and has continued to deploy its military and coast guard to disputed islands and reefs, building bases on them and has attacked and harassed Filipino fishermen.

Gavan said that for us Filipinos, it means our dignity as a country, because it is our territory  and also the source of energy, a source of food, a place for conveyance. But thats only half of the truth. He said the other half of the truth is that the South China Sea holds the sea lane that links the east and the west. More than a third of all international trade moves through it, and analysts worry that a blockade or the breakout of a major conflict in the region could throw global supply chains into chaos.

So it is not just for us, its also for the world  and we in the coast guard are very conscious of that, Gavan asserted. Thats why we have been reaching out to our friends and partners if they want to have significant footprints on the South China Sea, we will be very glad to offer them opportunities for cooperation.

Soldiers and Marines from Hawaii-based military units have routinely deployed to the Philippines for joint training exercises, notably the annual Exercise Balikatan, which has grown bigger every year.

Philippine military and coast guard personnel also have trained extensively in the U.S. and have participated in training and exchanges in Hawaii, including the biennial Rim of the Pacific exercise and the U.S. Armys growing Joint Pacific Multinational Readiness Center. But they are also increasingly seeking cooperation with those from other countries.

Mutual defense treaty

The U.S. once ruled over the Philippines as a colony and the two have a mutual defense treaty. The U.S. military hasnt had permanent bases in the country since nationalist protests led to its eviction in the early 1990s, but through a series of agreements American forces again have access to conduct operations from some Philippine military facilities.

Last year during Balikatan, the Kaneohe-based 3rd Marine Littoral Division debuted its new missile launching Navy-Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System  better known as the NMESIS  taking it to the northern Batanes Islands in the Luzon Strait, just south of Taiwan.

The fate of Taiwan, a self-ruled island democracy that China regards as a rogue province, has become increasingly intertwined with the Philippines. Its a key source of semiconductors most modern electronics need to function, giving it an outsized role in the global economy, and the Taiwan Strait is one of the worlds busiest shipping lanes.

Just before last years Balikatan, the Philippine militarys top commander, Gen. Romeo Brawner, told troops in the northern tip of the country to plan for spillover consequences of a potential Chinese invasion of Taiwan.

Brawner, an alumnus of the Daniel K. Inouye Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies in Waikiki, told them if something happens to Taiwan, inevitably we will be involved. There are 250,000 (overseas Filipino workers) working in Taiwan, and we will have to rescue them.

But Brig. Gen. Roy Anthony Derilo, the military attache at the Philippine Embassy in Washington, D.C., said that the challenges may be even bigger than that, arguing that the Philippines close proximity to Taiwan means it likely will be one of the first places other civilians fleeing the conflict will go seeking safety.

We cannot manage the Filipinos alone,  Derilo said. We have to put into consideration managing the French people there, Indonesian people there, American people there, Italians, anyone who is there because we are the nearest.

China has condemned the United States as an unwelcome outsider, accusing it of interfering in its feud with the Philippines. But Gavan argued that The U.S. is not a far neighbor, its a near neighbor. Guam is close by, and we share water, so its not only China who can claim to be a neighbor of the Philippines.

However, last year the administration of President Donald Trump released its new national security strategy. Though it noted freedom of navigation in the South China Sea and maintaining the status quo in Taiwan as key U.S. interests, it put a much larger emphasis on the Western Hemisphere and prioritized border security, deporting immigrants and fighting drug cartels in Latin America, while also questioning many traditional alliances.

The strategy came out as the administration was launching controversial killing strikes against alleged drug traffickers in the Carribbean and Eastern Pacific, while amassing a military buildup off the coast of Venezuela. Trump rang in the new year by sending the Armys elite Delta Force into Venezuela to capture its president, Nicholas Maduro, and declaring that the U.S. would indefinitely  control the countrys oil.

Since then, Trump also renewed calls for the U.S. to take possession of Greenland and threatened NATO allies with tariffs if Greenland wasnt handed over until relenting last week after striking an apparent compromise on Arctic issues at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

We are, I think, fortunate that we are not experiencing what others may be experiencing now,  Gavan said. In fact, the engagement has been further enhanced, not only with defense, but with the other instruments of the United States.

Helping the Philippines

But in recent years, the Philippines already has been seeking increased military and diplomatic cooperation with other countries.

During a stop in Honolulu on the way back to Manila after attending the 2023 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit in San Francisco, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. told an audience at the Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies that the way forward is to strengthen our partnerships with all our neighbors and with all friendly nations who share our ideals.

Though its only treaty ally is the United States, Manila also has been buying new warships from South Korea and has signed defense cooperation agreements with Japan, Australia, New Zealand and Canada. This year it is looking at new potential agreements with France, Britain and Germany. Derilo said that American leaders have largely voiced support for the Philippines pursuing new military partnerships and relying less on the U.S.

Exercise Balikatan, which began as a relatively small bilateral exercise between the U.S. and the Philippines, has become a large multinational one that Manila has used to showcase its growing list of partners  against Chinas vocal objections. The Philippine navy also has been conducting joint patrols with various countries throughout the year. Last year during Balikatan, as the Chinese navy launched a large patrol in the South China Sea, it released a statement asserting that the Philippines has been frequently carrying out maritime infringement provocations, creating disturbances and pulling in countries from outside the region to organise so-called joint patrols.

Gavan highlighted growing cooperation with Canada in particular. In December, the Philippine coast guard used Canadas Dark Vessel Detection program to identify a Chinese research vessel off the coast of the Philippines northeastern Cagayan Province.

Gavan dispatched an aircraft to confirm its presence and the pilot sent multiple radio challenges to the vessel, asking it about its intentions and asserting that it needed prior consent for marine scientific research in Philippine waters. According to the Philippine coast guard, it did not respond to any of the radio calls.

Philippine officials say among their top concerns is that Beijing seeks to normalize its claims under the nine dash line, a border drawn by China encompassing its vast claims in the South China Sea, with persistent operations in their waters.

After years of facing charges of illegal fishing by Chinese vessels and damaging reefs through its base-building efforts, Beijing flipped the script and accused Filipino fishermen of intruding in their waters. In September China declared the disputed Scarborough Shoal a nature reserve, declaring that Chinese coast guard vessels were trying to defend it from Filipino fishermen.

Gavan said that he believes the move is an attempt to provide them a pretext to be more present there, and a pretext to their attempt to put up a structure there. He added, How can you conserve a place and at the same time field dozens of fishing vessels?

 2026 The Honolulu Star-Advertiser.

Visit www.staradvertiser.com.

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
An enlisted soldier gives the first salute to a photo of posthumously commissioned 2nd Lt. Akio Nishikawa during a ceremony at Keehi Lagoon Memorial State Park, Hawaii, Jan. 26, 2026. (Wyatt Olson/Stars and Stripes)



KEEHI LAGOON MEMORIAL STATE PARK, Hawaii  The Army has posthumously commissioned seven University of Hawaii ROTC cadets of Japanese descent who were killed during World War II while fighting as enlisted soldiers in Europe.

Their academic studies were disrupted with the Japanese surprise attack on Oahu on Dec. 7, 1941. They eventually enlisted in the storied ranks of the 100th Infantry Battalion or the 442nd Regimental Combat Team.

Although these men did not have the opportunity to complete their university studies, theyve earned their degrees in full through their unwavering service and sacrifice on behalf of a grateful nation, Gen. Ronald Clark, commander of U.S. Army Pacific, said during Mondays ceremony at Keehi Lagoon Memorial State Park in Honolulu.

Near him was a table holding lei-adorned photos of the soldiers.

And their memory will live on in the hearts of their families and in the soldiers who follow in their footsteps with the enduring values of our Army, he said.

The University of Hawaii in 2012 bestowed bachelors degrees on the seven men.

After years of lobbying by local veterans groups, Secretary of the Army Daniel Driscoll last fall approved upgrades to the rank of second lieutenant  the appointment they would have held had they completed the ROTC program, according to Clark.

Commissioned were:

 Sgt. Daniel Betsui, of Kauai, who died Aug. 2, 1944, in an explosion in Italy

 Sgt. Jenhatsu Chinen, of Oahu, who died July 5, 1944, in Italy while storming a hill

 Sgt. Robert Murata, of Oahu, who died Oct. 9, 1944, during an artillery attack in France

 Staff Sgt. Grover Nagaji, of Oahu, who died June 26, 1944, during the Battle of Belvedere in Italy

 Pvt. Akio Nishikawa, of Maui, who died July 11, 1944, in Italy during the Rome-Arno Campaign

 Pfc. Hiroichi Tomita, of Maui, who died July 12, 1944, in Italy during the Rome-Arno Campaign

 Sgt. Howard Urabe, of Kauai, who died July 4, 1944, during an artillery attack in Italy

The outbreak of World War II altered the plans and lives of many young men, but Japanese-Americans carried an even heavier burden.

Gen. Ronald Clark, commander of U.S. Army Pacific, speaks during a ceremony at Keehi Lagoon Memorial State Park, Hawaii, Jan. 26, 2026, that posthumously commissioned seven Hawaii soldiers whose ROTC was cut short with the outbreak of World War II. They were killed in action as enlisted soldiers. (Wyatt Olson/Stars and Stripes)

A lei-adorned photo of Hiroichi Tomita, killed in action during World War II, and a certificate of honorary promotion stand as part of a posthumous commissioning ceremony at Keehi Lagoon Memorial State Park, Hawaii, Jan. 26, 2026. (Wyatt Olson/Stars and Stripes)



Two months after the surprise attack, President Franklin Roosevelt issued an executive order that in essence treated Japanese-Americans as enemy aliens, with many rounded up and imprisoned in relocation camps.

Thus, the seven soldiers commissioned Monday were barred from joining the Army in the opening months of the war.

Instead, they first joined the Hawaii Territorial Guard and later became members of the Varsity Victory Volunteers, which helped build military infrastructure in Hawaii.

By early 1943, Roosevelt reversed course and signed an order creating the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, composed almost entirely of Japanese-Americans and that fought in Europe.

The principle on which this country was founded and by which it has always been governed is that Americanism is a matter of mind and heart, Roosevelt said at the signing. Americanism is not, and never was, a matter of race or ancestry.

During Mondays ceremony, non-commissioned officers participated in the military tradition of the silver-dollar salute in the formal commissioning.

One by one, an NCO would approach a table displaying photos of the seven soldiers, first taking the coin, then offering the newly commissioned officer his first salute.

Their courage and sacrifice are woven into the fabric of our Armys history, the history of the state of Hawaii and the enduring strength of our nation, Clark said.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un delivers a speech during a ceremony marking the completion of a first-stage modernization project at the Ryongsong Machine Complex in North Korea on Jan. 19, 2026. (Korean Central News Agency/Korea News Service via AP)



SEOUL, South Korea  North Korea launched short-range ballistic missiles toward its eastern waters on Tuesday, according to its neighbors, as the North heightens animosities with rival South Korea ahead of a major political meeting.

South Koreas military said it detected liftoffs of several ballistic missiles from an area north of the North Korean capital Pyongyang before the missiles each flew about 217 miles.

Japans Defense Ministry said two ballistic missiles launched from North Korea and landed off the eastern coast of the Korean Peninsula. The ministry condemned the launches as a threat to the peace of Japan, the region and the international community.

South Koreas military said it maintains a firm readiness to repel any provocations by North Korea.

The launches were the first time North Korea fired weapons since testing what it called hypersonic missiles in early January. In December, the country test-fired what it called long-range, strategic cruise missiles and new anti-air missiles and released photos showing apparent progress in the construction of its first nuclear-powered submarine.

North Korea has engaged in a run of weapons launches to enlarge its nuclear and missile arsenals since talks with the U.S. and South Korea stalled in 2019. Experts say the Norths leader Kim Jong Un believes a bigger weapons arsenal would give him greater leverage to win concessions from the U.S.

North Koreas recent displays were likely meant to demonstrate or review its weapons development achievements ahead of the upcoming ruling Workers Party congress, analysts said.

The congress, expected to start in February, would be the first of its kind in five years and is one of North Koreas biggest propaganda spectacles used to set up new political and economic priorities.

North Korea recently threatened retaliation over what it called two South Korean surveillance drone flights across the border, one earlier in January and another in September. The South Korean government denied operating any drones during the times specified by North Korea and began probing if civilians sent them.

The accusations likely were driven by the Norths efforts to dial up anti-South Korea sentiments ahead of the congress, when Kims previous declaration of a hostile two-state system on the Korean Peninsula could be added to the party constitution, analysts said.

Mari Yamaguchi in Tokyo contributed to this report.
KHARTOUM, Jan. 26 (Xinhua) -- The Sudanese army said Monday that its forces had entered the southern city of Dilling after breaking a siege imposed for more than two years by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and their allied Sudan People's Liberation Movement-North.

In a brief statement, the army said its troops, backed by allied forces, opened the main access road to the city following a successful operation that drove out the besieging forces, destroyed their vehicles, and secured the movement of civilians and essential supplies.

An eyewitness told Xinhua that army units entered Dilling following clashes in areas surrounding the city, adding that residents later emerged to welcome the troops.

Meanwhile, videos circulating on social media showed scenes of celebration involving government forces and local residents.

There was no immediate comment from the RSF.

Dilling had been under siege since the early months of the conflict that erupted more than two years ago, triggering a severe humanitarian crisis as basic supply routes were cut off.

Also on Monday, Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, the army chief and head of Sudan's ruling council, reiterated the military's determination to end the "rebellion" and prevent its return.

Since mid-April 2023, fighting between the Sudanese army and the RSF has killed tens of thousands and displaced millions both inside and outside Sudan. 
The South Korean submarine ROKS Ahn Jung-Geun prepares to moor alongside the submarine tender USS Emory S. Land in Busan, South Korea, Nov. 15, 2024. (Ethan Lambert/U.S. Navy)



CAMP HUMPHREYS, South Korea  A Pentagon undersecretary met with South Koreas defense minister this week to discuss alliance priorities, including the transfer of wartime operational control and Seouls plans to pursue nuclear-powered submarines, according to the countrys Ministry of National Defense.

Elbridge Colby, the U.S. undersecretary of defense for policy, met Monday in Seoul with Ahn Gyu-back, the ministry said in a news release Monday. The visit marked Colbys first overseas trip since taking office.

The talks included South Koreas plans to develop a nuclear-powered submarine fleet, an effort that gained momentum in November when the White House signaled approval for Seoul to build an unspecified number of vessels.

The project is extremely nascent, Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Daryl Caudle said in Tokyo in November. A nuclear-powered submarine fleet would give South Korea the ability to patrol for extended periods without refueling, creating a global asset that could fundamentally alter the security environment on the Korean Peninsula, he said at the time.

Colby and Ahn also discussed progress toward transferring wartime operational control of allied forces to South Korea in the event of a conflict on the peninsula.

Ahn emphasized that the transfer is necessary for the South Korean military to take the lead in defending the country and called for close communication and cooperation to accelerate the process, the ministry said.

The United States and South Korea first agreed in 2006 to eventually transfer wartime operational control, though implementation deadlines have repeatedly slipped. The effort advanced in October when a bilateral committee approved a permanent Combined Ground Component Command.

The command is intended to improve information sharing and coordination of force management in both wartime and peacetime, South Koreas defense ministry said Jan. 12.

Colby reaffirmed Washingtons commitment to strengthening defense cooperation with South Korea, calling it a model ally, according to the ministry.

He also met Monday with U.S. Army Gen. Xavier Brunson, commander of U.S. Forces Korea, according to a post by Brunson on social media platform X.

Great discussion on defense strategy and integrated deterrence as we continue to advance the [South Korea]U.S. Alliance, he wrote. Katchi Kapshida  We Go Together.
A former NATO procurement officer and the Turkish owner of a construction company were indicted by the U.S. in a bribery scheme involving construction contracts for the U.S. military and allies, the Justice Department said in a statement Jan. 26, 2026. (Carlos Bongioanni/Stars and Stripes)



A former NATO procurement official and a Turkish contractor living in Lithuania are accused by American authorities of running a yearslong bribery scheme involving military construction contracts with the U.S. and the alliance.

Bahadir Hatipoglu, 50, and Ralf Grywnow, 70, a German national living in Poland, are each charged with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and four counts of wire fraud, the Justice Department said in a statement Monday.

Hatipoglu owns several companies that received U.S. and NATO military contracts, according to an indictment filed in federal court in Washington, D.C. and unsealed Saturday.

He is accused of offering cash, a romantic rendezvous with a woman in Dubai and help building and furnishing a house for Grywnow in Poland, according to the statement.

Grywnow, a former NATO procurement official, is accused of helping Hatipoglu get contracts with the U.S. military by giving him falsified reviews that favorably appraised the work of Hatipoglus companies with NATO, the Justice Department said.

Its unclear what U.S. military construction projects or installations in Europe or elsewhere may have been involved.

The Justice Department did not immediately respond to a request for a copy of the indictment, which was not available Tuesday on a federal court records website.

Grywnow also is accused of giving Hatipoglu preferential treatment in overseeing contracts that Hatipoglu had or sought to obtain with NATO and providing Hatipoglu confidential information related to bids for NATO construction contracts, the Justice Department said.

Prosecutors said the scheme tainted construction contracts with the U.S. military and its allies.

Hatipoglu and Grywnow were arrested in their respective countries of residence, and U.S. officials are working with Lithuanian and Polish authorities to extradite them, the Justice Department said.

Each faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted of any of the charges, according to the statement.
Russian recruits take a train at a railway station in Prudboi in the Volgograd region of Russia, Sept. 29, 2022. (AP)



For average wage earners in Russia, its a big payday. For criminals seeking to escape the harsh conditions and abuse in prison, its a chance at freedom. For immigrants hoping for a better life, its a simplified path to citizenship.

All they have to do is sign a contract to fight in Ukraine.

As Russia seeks to replenish its forces in nearly four years of war  and avoid an unpopular nationwide mobilization  its pulling out all the stops to find new troops to send into the battlefield.

Some come from abroad to fight in what has become a bloody war of attrition. After signing a mutual defense treaty with Moscow in 2024, North Korea sent thousands of soldiers to help Russia defend its Kursk region from a Ukrainian incursion.

Men from South Asian countries, including India, Nepal and Bangladesh, complain of being duped into signing up to fight by recruiters promising jobs. Officials in Kenya, South Africa and Iraq say the same has happened to citizens from their countries.

Russian numbers in Ukraine

President Vladimir Putin told his annual news conference last month that 700,000 Russian troops are fighting in Ukraine. He gave the same number in 2024, and a slightly lower figure  617,000  in December 2023. Its unclear if those numbers are accurate.

Still hidden are the numbers of military casualties, with Moscow having released limited official figures. The British Defense Ministry said last summer that more than 1 million Russian troops may have been killed or wounded.

Independent Russian news site Mediazona, together with the BBC and a team of volunteers, scoured news reports, social media and government websites and collected the names of over 160,000 troops killed. More than 550 of those were foreigners from over two dozen countries.

How Russia gets new soldiers

Unlike Ukraine, where martial law and nationwide mobilization has been in place since the start of Russias full-scale invasion in February 2022, Putin has resisted ordering a broad call-up.

When a limited mobilization of 300,000 men was tried later that year, tens of thousands of people fled abroad. The effort stopped after a few weeks when the target was met, but a Putin decree left the door open for another call-up. It also made all military contracts effectively open-ended and barred soldiers from quitting service or being discharged, unless they reached certain age limits or were incapacitated by injuries.

Since then, Moscow has largely relied on what it describes as voluntary enlistment.

The flow of voluntary enlistees signing military contracts has remained strong, topping 400,000 last year, Putin said in December. It was not possible to independently verify the claim. Similar numbers were announced in 2024 and 2023.

Activists say these contracts often stipulate a fixed term of service, such as one year, leading some potential enlistees to believe the commitment is temporary. But contracts are automatically extended indefinitely, they say.

The incentives

The government offers high pay and extensive benefits to enlistees. Regional authorities offer various enlistment bonuses, sometimes amounting to tens of thousands of dollars.

In the Khanty-Mansi region of central Russia, for example, an enlistee would get about $50,000 in various bonuses, according to the local government. Thats more than twice the average annual income in the region, where monthly salaries in the first 10 months of 2025 were reported to be just over $1,600.

There also are tax breaks, debt relief and other perks.

Despite Kremlin claims of relying on voluntary enlistment, media reports and rights groups say conscripts  men aged 18-30 performing fixed-term mandatory military service and exempted from being sent to Ukraine  are often coerced by superiors into signing contracts that send them into battle.

Recruitment also extends to prisoners and those in pretrial detention centers, a practice led early in the war by the late mercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhin and adopted by the Defense Ministry. Laws now allow recruitment of both convicts and suspects in criminal cases.

Targeting foreigners

Foreigners also are recruiting targets, both inside Russia and abroad.

Laws were adopted offering accelerated Russian citizenship for enlistees. Russian media and activists also report that raids in areas where migrants typically live or work lead to them being pressuring into military service, with new citizens sent to enlistment offices to determine if theyre eligible for mandatory service.

In November, Putin decreed that military service was mandatory for certain foreigners seeking permanent residency.

Some reportedly are lured to Russia by trafficking rings promising jobs, then duping them into signing military contracts. Cuban authorities in 2023 identified and sought to dismantle one such ring operating from Russia.

Nepals Foreign Minister Narayan Prakash Saud told The Associated Press in 2024 that his country asked Russia to return hundreds of Nepali nationals who were recruited to fight in Ukraine, as well as to repatriate the remains of those killed in the war. Nepal has since barred citizens from traveling to Russia or Ukraine for work, citing recruitment efforts.

Also in 2024, Indias federal investigation agency said it broke up a network that lured at least 35 of its citizens to Russia under the pretext of employment. The men were trained for combat and deployed to Ukraine against their will, with some grievously injured, the agency said.

When Putin hosted Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi for talks in 2024, New Delhi said its nationals who were misled into joining the Russian army would be discharged.

Iraqi officials say about 5,000 of its citizens have joined the Russian military along with an unspecified number who are fighting alongside Ukrainian forces. Officials in Baghdad cracked down on such recruiting networks, with one man convicted last year of human trafficking and sentenced to life in prison.

An unknown number of Iraqis have been killed or gone missing while fighting in Ukraine. Some families have reported that relatives were lured to Russia under false pretenses and forced to enlist; in other cases, Iraqis have joined voluntarily for the salary and Russian citizenship.

Foreigners duped into fighting are especially vulnerable because they dont speak Russian, have no military experience and are deemed dispensable, to put it bluntly, by military commanders, said Anton Gorbatsevich of the activist group Idite Lesom, or Get Lost, which helps men desert from the army.

A drain on a slowing economy

This month, a Ukrainian agency for the treatment of prisoners of war said over 18,000 foreign nationals had fought or are fighting on the Russian side. Almost 3,400 have been killed, and hundreds of citizens of 40 countries are held in Ukraine as POWs.

If true, that represents a fraction of the 700,000 troops that Putin said are fighting for Russia in Ukraine.

Using foreigners is only one way to meet the constant demand, said Artyom Klyga, head of the legal department at the Movement of Conscientious Objectors, noting Russian recruitment efforts appear to be stable. Most of those seeking help from the group, which assists men in avoiding military service, are Russian citizens, he said.

Kateryna Stepanenko, a Russia researcher at the Washington-based Institute for the Study of War, said the Kremlin has gotten more creative in the last two years with attracting enlistees, including foreigners.

But recruitment efforts are becoming extremely expensive for Russia, which faces a slowing economy, she added.

Associated Press writers Gerald Imray in Cape Town, South Africa, and Qassim Abdul-Zahra in Baghdad contributed.
A Taliban security personnel stands guard along a street in Kabul, Afghanistan, on Oct. 13, 2025. (Wakil Kohsar/AFP/Getty Images/TNS)



(Tribune News Agency)  The U.S. government is negotiating for the release of a Colorado man who has been detained by the Taliban in Afghanistan for the past year.

Dennis Coyle, a 64-year-old from Pueblo, was kidnapped on Jan. 27, 2025, near his workplace by the Taliban General Directorate of Intelligence, the groups intelligence agency, while he was working as an academic researcher to support Afghan language communities, his family said on a website advocating for his release.

Coyles three sisters and 83-year-old mother lost contact with him for nine months before learning he was alive, his sister, Molly Long, told News Nation earlier this month. Coyle has been held in near-solitary conditions in a basement, his family says. He does not have medical care and must seek permission to use the bathroom, they said.

With each phone call that we get from him, we get more and more desperate to get him home, Long told News Nation.

Taliban officials told CBS News that Coyle is in good health and his rights as a prisoner are protected. They claimed formal court proceedings in his case would begin soon.

The Trump administration and the Afghan government for months have been secretly negotiating the release of U.S. detainees, including Coyle, the New York Times reported Monday. Sources, though, told the newspaper that talks have stalled, with Afghan officials insisting that the Americans release the last Afghan inmate held at Guantanamo Bay in any deal.

President Donald Trump, when asked last week about Coyles situation, said he didnt know much about it but that he would take a very strong position on it.

The Taliban should immediately release Dennis Coyle and all Americans detained in Afghanistan and end its practice of hostage diplomacy, the U.S. State Department told CBS News in a statement. We remind all Americans  do not travel to Afghanistan. The Taliban has detained Americans for years and the U.S. government cannot guarantee your safety.

Coyle first arrived in Afghanistan in the early 2000s, working legally to survey Afghanistans rich linguistic diversity and help Afghan communities develop resources in their own languages, his family said on their website. The Colorado native lived in Kabul and built strong, lasting relationships with the community.

Dennis has always embraced Afghan culture with genuine warmth  sharing cups of traditional green tea, enjoying dried fruit snacks, and engaging in the kind of heartfelt conversations that bridge cultures, his family wrote. His love for the Afghan people isnt just professional; its personal and deeply felt.

2026 MediaNews Group, Inc.

Visit at denverpost.com.

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
This photograph shows an MQ-9B, a remotely piloted aircraft system, after landing at an air base during its official unveiling ceremony in Florennes on Sept. 23, 2025. The MQ-9B SkyGuardian, operated by Belgian Defence, is an advanced remotely piloted aircraft (drone) designed for intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance (ISR), and optionally armed missions. (Nicolas Tucat/AFP/Getty Images/TNS)



WASHINGTON (Tribune News Service)  House and Senate negotiators writing a compromise Homeland Security spending bill were concerned enough about the possibility the department might consider arming a new fleet of Coast Guard drones with missiles that the negotiators wrote into the bill a provision to bar such a move.

The language had not been in the earlier House or draft Senate versions of the bill.

Outrage about the killing of Alex Pretti by Homeland Security Department personnel in Minneapolis on Jan. 24 has all but doomed the chances the Senate will clear the final DHS spending bill this week  or possibly at all. Still, if a rewritten version of the bill does move forward, the language on armed drones would probably not change. The Coast Guard operates smaller drones and is in the process of buying its first models of the larger, long-range MQ-9Bs to assist with maritime border protection.

Congressional aides said the Coast Guard has shared no plans to put missiles on any of these MQ-9Bs of the sort that the U.S. military has fired from similar aircraft against alleged drug-smuggling boats in the Caribbean since September.

Negotiators writing the compromise DHS funding bill wanted to keep it that way. They inserted into the measure a prohibition on the Coast Guard buying missile-bearing drones, or armaments for them, to reflect a desire to keep the status quo, one aide said.

The language in the bill reads: None of the funds made available for the Department of Homeland Security in this or any prior Act may be used to buy or equip armed drones.

Guardians of the sea

Last summers budget reconciliation law provided $266 million for the Coast Guard to buy unmanned aircraft for the security of the maritime border. The agency has yet to give Congress full details on its plans for spending the money, but has said publicly that the reconciliation funds would buy four MQ9-B drones for the Coast Guard to supplement joint operations with Customs and Border Protection, a sister DHS agency.

The pending fiscal 2026 DHS funding bill would bankroll two additional MQ-9B drones for $98 million. None of these aircraft are armed with missiles.

House appropriators had inserted the $98 million into their earlier version of the Homeland Security appropriations bill, but without the prohibition on armed variants that was later added in conference negotiations.

These aircraft provide a cost-effective platform to improve high-seas interdiction and maritime rescue, the report accompanying the House bill said. The report added that the Coast Guards duties patrolling the northern Atlantic Ocean for iceberg dangers could be entirely replaced by long-range drones.

In contrast to the unarmed DHS drone fleet, the Pentagon operates MQ-9A Reaper versions of the aircraft, which can carry a variety of missiles and bombs weighing up to 3,750 pounds. The ones that struck alleged drug-runners at sea in recent months reportedly flew out of Puerto Rico.

San Diego-based General Atomics, which makes the MQ-9 drones, contributes to members on both sides of the aisle through individual donations and its political action committee.

Top recipients in the 2024 campaign cycle, according to OpenSecrets.org, include Rep. Pete Aguilar, D-Calif., the House Democratic Caucus chair, and Rep. Ken Calvert, R-Calif., chairman of the House Defense Appropriations Subcommittee.

Drone swarms

The Pentagons unmanned aircraft lineage was launched in the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1994. It was an earmark authored by Rep. Jerry Lewis, R-Calif., who died in 2021. His provision created the Predator surveillance drone, the precursor to the MQ-9 drones.

For fiscal 2026, the Pentagon said in June it plans to spend $13.4 billion on autonomous and remotely operated systems for use at sea, on land and in the air.

The highest-profile Defense Department armed drones include not just the Reaper but also the Armys Gray Eagle, the Air Forces Global Hawk and the Navys Triton.

The Air Force is developing so-called Collaborative Combat Aircraft, which are unmanned systems that would fly as loyal wing men alongside manned fighter jets.

Newer programs include not only new unmanned aircraft and the missiles they can fire, but also drones that can be used as defensive assets against enemy unmanned systems.

Future battlefields, experts say, are likely to be characterized by swarms of thousands of offensive and defensive drones on both sides of a fight, with most if not all of them eventually commanded at the tactical level by artificial intelligence.

Daniel Hillburn contributed to this report. 2026 CQ-Roll Call, Inc., All Rights Reserved.

Visit cqrollcall.com.

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Maryland Army National Guard Cadet Deandre Wright, Hotel Company, 128th Brigade Support Battalion, shovels snow to make way for civilians cars in Baltimore on Monday, January 26, 2026. About 160 personnel with the Maryland National Guard activated to help civil authorities respond to a winter storm that has also seen 14 other states deploy thousands of Guard forces. (Lindiwe Henry/U.S. Army)



More than 5,400 members of the National Guard were activated and working across 14 states and Washington, D.C., on Monday in response to a large winter storm that dumped snow and ice and dropped temperatures well below freezing for millions, the National Guard bureau said in a news release on Tuesday.

In North Carolina and Arkansas, National Guard soldiers have accompanied state police officers on icy roads to assist stranded motorists.

About 100 members of the Delaware National Guard were positioned with vehicles throughout the state.

A substantial portion of National Guard personnel deployed for the storm were in Kentucky, where more than 2,000 troops were activated by Monday.

In Washington, D.C., soldiers and airmen already deployed for a federal crime prevention mission shifted priorities to help residents, including by pushing vehicles out of snowbanks and escorting people to warm shelters.

The other states with activated units included Alabama, Indiana, Maryland, Missouri, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia. Six other states have their Guard forces on alert.

National Guard personnel patrol Washington, D.C., to assist residents during a winter storm on Sunday, Jan. 25, 2026, in support of the D.C. Safe and Beautiful mission. (William Blankenship/U.S. Air National Guard)

Soldiers assigned to the Florida National Guard assist the U.S. Secret Service in a search for a lost item in Washington, D.C., Jan. 25, 2026. (Paris Hayes/U.S. Army National Guard)



At least 35 deaths have been reported in states afflicted with severe cold. Three brothers ages 6, 8 and 9 died Monday after falling through ice on a private pond near Bonham, Texas, said County Sheriff Cody Shook in a news release Tuesday. The two older boys were pulled from the water by first responders and a neighbor then taken to a hospital, while the youngest was recovered after an extensive search of the pond. Bonham Independent School District said it was devastated by the loss.

Other deaths included two people run over by snowplows in Massachusetts and Ohio, fatal sledding accidents that killed teenagers in Arkansas and Texas, and a woman whose body was found covered in snow in Kansas. In New York City, officials said eight people were found dead outdoors over the frigid weekend.

Although the worst of the storm has now passed for most of the country, danger remains.

The National Weather Service had warnings for extreme, dangerous cold in effect Tuesday morning from Texas to Pennsylvania, where some areas were forecast to see wind chills as low as minus 20 degrees Fahrenheit. Much of the U.S. wasnt forecast to get above freezing all day Tuesday, with temperatures plunging again overnight. Thermometers in northern Florida were forecast to sink to 25 F late Tuesday into early Wednesday.

In Kentucky, Gov. Andy Beshear warned that the temperatures could become so frigid that as little as 10 minutes outside could result in frostbite or hypothermia.

And forecasters said its possible another winter storm could hit parts of the East Coast this weekend.

Maryland Army National Guard Sgt. Alexzandra Moulden, of the 200th Military Police Company, poses with the dog of a passenger being assisted during a pickup that utilized a High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle in Brandywine, Md., on Sunday, Jan. 25, 2026. Personnel picked up a member of a community crisis organization and her dog, to be transported to a temporary homeless shelter in response to the winter storm. (Sarah Hoover/U.S. Air National Guard)

Members of the Tennessee National Guard assist motorists following a winter storm in Memphis, Tenn., on Sunday, Jan. 25, 2026. (Matthew Brown/U.S. Army)

Texas Army National Guard Soldiers assigned to the 176th Engineer Brigade respond to a rollover accident on Interstate 10 near Sonora, Texas, on Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026, during Winter Storm Fern. (Rogelio Medina/U.S. Army National Guard)



The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Bangladeshi government officials attend the opening ceremony of a Chinese language training program in Dhaka, Bangladesh, Jan. 26, 2026. A 15-week inaugural Chinese language training program for Bangladeshi government officials started here on Monday. The program, a joint effort by the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) and the Confucius Institute at Bangladesh's leading private North South University, aims at supporting officials to communicate better with Chinese investors. A total of 38 officials from the BIDA, the Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority and the Bangladesh Export Processing Zones Authority are participating in the program. (Photo by Habibur Rahman/Xinhua)

DHAKA, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- A 15-week inaugural Chinese language training program for Bangladeshi government officials started on Monday in the capital Dhaka.

The program, a joint effort by the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) and the Confucius Institute at Bangladesh's leading private North South University, aims at supporting officials to communicate better with Chinese investors.

A total of 38 officials from the BIDA, the Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority and the Bangladesh Export Processing Zones Authority are participating in the program.

At the opening ceremony of the program in Dhaka on Monday, with Mohammad Humayun Kabir, executive member of BIDA, in the chair, a documentary video highlighting the achievements and progress of cooperation between Bangladesh and China was screened.

Speaking at the ceremony, Li Shaopeng, cultural counsellor of the Chinese Embassy in Bangladesh, said that the relationship between Bangladesh and China is long-standing, friendly and multi-dimensional.

He added that language education would further deepen this relationship and open new avenues for future cooperation.

In his speech, Kabir said that trade and investment relations between Bangladesh and China are steadily expanding.

Against this backdrop, he said acquiring basic proficiency in the Chinese language would add a new dimension to investment facilitation and communication with investors. 
SUR in English Tuesday, 27 January 2026, 10:28 Share

The Government of Gibraltar has launched a new podcast series designed to offer the public more direct and conversational access to the work of the public service and key community issues.

The podcast, titled 'Not Another Press Release,' debuts today with a focus on in-depth discussion rather than formal government announcements. Each episode will be structured in two parts: an inward-looking segment examining issues affecting the public sector, and an outward-facing portion aimed at informing and engaging the wider community.

The initiative seeks to provide unfiltered access to the thinking, challenges, and decision-making processes of Gibraltar's leaders and public servants, moving beyond traditional press releases to foster more meaningful dialogue.

Multi-platform availibility

The podcast will be available in both video and audio formats on Spotify and YouTube, with audio-only versions accessible on Apple Podcasts. New episodes will be released every two weeks following the initial launch.

The debut episode, now available, features a one-on-one conversation with the Chief Minister and a roundtable discussion with the Ministry for Equality team behind the Women's Mentorship Programme. A second special episode with Chief Secretary Glendon Martinez is scheduled to air later this week.

Modernising government communication

Anton Calderon, Director of Communications, emphasised the podcast's role in evolving how government communicates with citizens.

"Not Another Press Release reflects the public service's ongoing commitment to modernising communication, listening to public feedback, and finding new ways to engage meaningfully with the community," Calderon said. "This podcast will give us the opportunity to discuss things from a more personal angle, and have the time and the space to dive into big picture conversations and the big questions of our time."

The launch represents part of Gibraltar's broader effort to make government more accessible and transparent to the public through modern communication channels.
SUR in English Tuesday, 27 January 2026, 10:36 Share

The Gibraltar Health Authority has officially commenced robotic-assisted surgery at St Bernard's Hospital, marking a significant advancement in surgical care for the territory.

Minister for Health and Care, Gemma Arias-Vasquez , announced the milestone at a press conference on Monday, revealing that the GHA's surgical teams have already successfully completed the first local robotic surgery cases in recent weeks.

The programme was made possible through a collaboration with international medical technology developer MicroPort and charitable partners Kusuma Trust and Prostate Cancer Gibraltar, whose donations funded the procurement and implementation of the advanced surgical robotic system and associated equipment.

Immediate clinical impact

Initial procedures have focused on general surgery cases, demonstrating immediate clinical benefits for patients. The GHA plans to expand the technology's use to more complex cases across multiple specialties, including urology, colorectal, upper gastrointestinal and gynaecology.

The robotic system is designed for both conventional robotic procedures and tele-surgery capabilities, though the tele-surgery functionality will be activated in a later phase. The implementation follows a comprehensive, phased training pathway developed with international partners to ensure safe, high-quality deployment.

Robotic-assisted surgery, which allows surgeons to control instruments with enhanced precision and flexibility, has been widely adopted globally for nearly two decades, particularly for complex operations. The technology provides enhanced visualisation, high-resolution magnification, and articulated "robotic wrists" that deliver superior control and access in confined anatomical spaces.

GHA Acting Director General Lysandra Debono praised the achievement: "We are hugely proud to see robotic surgery now taking place here in Gibraltar. This extraordinary technology brings real, tangible benefits to our patients and represents a major leap forward for our clinical teams. My sincere thanks go to MicroPort, and our dedicated staff, whose leadership and collaboration have been instrumental in making this possible."

Minister Arias-Vasquez emphasised the significance for Gibraltar's healthcare future: "This is exactly what we want to see in the Gibraltar Health Authority. It is a clear signal of the direction of travel for our health service. One that is modern, ambitious and focused on delivering better care for patients here in Gibraltar. I want to thank the GHA's clinical and managerial teams and the local charities whose generous donations have helped make this possible. The introduction of robotic surgery marks the beginning of the future of the GHA, built on investment in our people, our facilities and the highest standards of clinical practice."

With robotic procedures now underway and further expansion planned throughout 2026, the programme positions Gibraltar at the forefront of modern surgical care, offering patients access to advanced treatment options previously available only in major international centres.
TEHRAN, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi said Monday that the recent riots and unrest in the country were aimed at dragging the United States into another war against Iran.

"Peaceful protests" earlier this month turned into violent acts with "organized and terrorist nature," which were "aimed at dragging the United States into another war against Iran," he told Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath over the phone.

Araghchi said he appreciated the Sri Lankan government's support for Iran over an anti-Tehran resolution adopted by the United Nations Human Rights Council on Friday, calling it a sign of Sri Lanka's "independent, balanced and friendly" approach towards Iran.

Herath said Sri Lanka will remain committed to strengthening its relations with Iran despite foreign interventions.

During their phone talks, the two top diplomats also called for boosting bilateral ties and agreed to expand cooperation in areas such as economy and trade, while maintaining close consultations at the international stage.

Since late December, protests have erupted in several Iranian cities over the sharp depreciation of the national currency rial. The Iranian government has expressed its willingness to address economic grievances but has also warned against violence, vandalism and unrest.

The protests, with some turning into deadly clashes, have prompted Iranian authorities to allege that the United States and Israel may be behind the incidents.

U.S. President Donald Trump said Thursday that a U.S. "armada" is heading towards Iran but hoped he would not have to use it. 
SUR in English Tuesday, 27 January 2026, 10:15 Share

The Gibraltar National Mint will make a significant appearance at the World Money Fair 2026 in Berlin this week, where it will launch an exclusive circulating coin collection marking the 100th anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II's birth.

The three-day event, running from 29 to 31 January, is the world's premier international numismatic gathering, attracting mints, central banks, designers, and collectors from around the globe. Gibraltar's participation represents a milestone moment for the territory's currency and strengthens its position in the international numismatic community.

The commemorative collection honours the late Queen Elizabeth II, who was born on April 21, 1926, and served as Queen of Gibraltar during her historic 70-year reign from 1952 until her death in 2022. She remains the longest-reigning monarch in British history.

Unprecedented artistic collaboration

The centenary issue features a remarkable collaboration between the Gibraltar National Mint, HM Government of Gibraltar, and sculptor Raphael Maklouf FRSA. Maklouf holds the rare distinction of having created three official images of Queen Elizabeth II for UK and overseas coinage, including two of the most widely recognised portraits used throughout her reign.

In a historic first, the collection unveils seven previously unreleased royal images of the late monarch, drawn directly from Maklouf's personal archives. Each image represents a different decade of the Queen's reign, creating an unprecedented visual chronicle of her life and the evolution of her image across a changing world.

The 1 collection also marks another world first: the first bi-metal 1 coin collection to feature every decade of the Queen's life within a single, consistent specification.

Government support

Sir Joseph Bossano, minister with responsibility for the Gibraltar National Mint, will personally attend the fair and address the international press during the Media Forum, highlighting the significance of the launch.

"Queen Elizabeth II's legacy is woven into the modern history of Gibraltar," Sir Joseph said ahead of the event. "This centenary coinage is a fitting tribute to a monarch whose lifelong service, dignity and constancy were admired around the world. The Gibraltar National Mint has produced a collection of exceptional historical and artistic value, one that reflects both our respect for Her Late Majesty and Gibraltar's proud numismatic tradition."

The collection combines historical significance, artistic merit and numismatic heritage, serving as a lasting tribute to one of the most influential figures of the twentieth and twenty-first centuries.
Eugenio Cabezas Tuesday, 27 January 2026, 15:52 Share

Residents of Alfarnate and Alfarnatejo, the two highest altitude villages in the Axarquia area of Malaga province, have been without landline, mobile phone or internet connection since Friday 23 January due to a problem with the Vodafone and Movistar networks. The incident affects a combined population of around 1,400 inhabitants, who are currently experiencing "real distress", according to what their mayors have told Diario SUR.

The mayor of Alfarnate, Juan Jesus Gallardo, has denounced the direct impact that the lack of communication is having on daily life in the village, especially among the elderly. "We are indignant. Shops, pharmacies, restaurants and even the town hall cannot function," he explained, adding that the problem occurs frequently. "We go four or five days without internet practically every month. We have been like this for two or three years," he said.

The breakdown in communications has led to the interruption of basic services such as the local surgery, telecare for the elderly, ATMs and banking services, the school, shops, the petrol station and fuel supplies. According to the town hall this situation poses real risks to healthcare and safety, as well as causing significant economic and social damage in a rural area with no alternatives.

Alfarnate town hall has reported that the incident has been located and is due to a failure during the execution of scheduled work on the transport network, which has caused a general disruption to the service. The town hall says it reported the problem as soon as councillors "became aware of the problem" and is monitoring the situation continuously until it is completely resolved.

Mayor of Alfarnatejo, Daniel Benitez, has also confirmed that his village has been in the same situation since Friday. "It's absurd," he said, repeating the words of his counterpart that "we've had a few of these already"

Both town halls say that no clear information or specific timeframe for restoration has been provided so far, which is increasing concern among the population. "The situation is becoming unsustainable for the village," said the mayor of Alfarnate, who is calling for "structural solutions and not temporary fixes".

This newspaper has tried, without success so far, to obtain an official assessment from Movistar, while Vodafone has also failed to provide detailed information on the repair work.

The latest service outage once again highlights the digital divide suffered by rural municipalities in Malaga province, where the lack of reliable telecommunications infrastructure exacerbates isolation and hinders access to essential services.
Chus Heredia Tuesday, 27 January 2026, 14:15 Share

Malagas municipal water company, Emasa, has partnered with Suez Smart Environmental Solutions to address the persistent odour issue from the Guadalhorce sewage treatment plant.

The company will use artificial intelligence (AI) to monitor the facility, predict higher pollution levels, and improve operations.

The 181,000-euro contract, which spans five years, includes four months of technological support to enhance the plants monitoring capabilities.

This initiative comes in response to years of complaints about the 'rotten egg' smell affecting areas like Azucarera, Guadalhorce, and Churriana.

The unpleasant odour primarily arises from the plants waste treatment processes. The high temperatures involved in fermentation and bacterial decomposition contribute to the rotten egg-like stench, particularly from the sludge.

In contrast, Malagas Penon del Cuervo plant, which is situated farther from residential areas, does not produce the same bad smell issues.

The other treatment system is a small plant in Olias.

165,000 cubic metres of waste water are treated by the Guadalhorce treatment plant every day

The Guadalhorce WWTP treats huge volumes of wastewater, some 165,000 cubic metres per day. The treatment process must take into account the nature of the water at source and bacterial, physical and chemical processes, as well as flow peaks and atmospheric conditions.

Once the tertiary treatment finishes, the water returns to the environment ultrafiltered.

Finding a solution is not an easy task. It involves monitoring, placing sensors, working with artificial intelligence, algorithms and modelling with the help of a 'digital twin', which is a precise virtual replica of the treatment plant.

Forecast

Emasa's idea is to predict when the treatment plant will emit stronger odours in order to faciliate management decision and reduce nuisance. The same innovative model will also be applied at the Penon del Cuervo plant and at three of the most problematic plants.

The Guadalhorce will install sensors for hydrogen sulphide, ammonia and methane. The system will also include weather stations measuring at least wind direction and speed. In total, there will be four sensors, while the Penon del Cuervo site will have three.

"The platforms technology must rely on an artificial intelligence (AI) model trained with CFD simulation results, allowing it to predict contaminant concentrations in real time," the technical specifications the tender state.
Irene Quirante Tuesday, 27 January 2026, 15:29 Share

A smoke detector triggered a false fire alarm in one of the Martiricos skyscrapers in Malaga city on Tuesday morning.

Although no fire was detected, the alarm forced the evacuation of residents and tourists and caused a media uproar.

The emergency services were mobilised at 10am on 27 January, after a call reported that the smoke detector in one of the flats on the 15th floor had gone off.

The fire brigade and the police were mobilised to the scene. The alarm had caused panic among people in the building.

According to residents, "hundreds of people, including children, had to descend 30 floors, barefoot and in their pyjamas". They said that many of the people staying at accommodation flats did not know the language nor the "evacuation routes" or "the safety rules".

As per what residents have said, the detector went off in two "illegal" tourist flats. The Martiricos towers have previously been under scrutiny for lax tourist authorisation regulations.

"It is absolutely unacceptable that Malaga city council and the Andalusian regional ministry of tourism continue allowing tourist housing licences that do not comply with current regulations," residents told the media.

In addition, they said that such incidents happen "practically on a daily basis".
Ignacio Lillo Malaga Tuesday, 27 January 2026, 15:21 Share

Strong crosswinds have forced the diversion of a total of 11 flights bound for Malaga Airport so far this week. They were all diverted before 1pm on Tuesday. While some were sent to Seville, others had to be diverted to Madrid, Valencia, Faro, Alicante and Jerez due to saturation at Andalucia's second airport in terms of traffic.

According to state meteorological agency Aena, three planes, with departures from Istanbul, Barcelona and Oslo, have been diverted to Seville.

One from Madrid had to return. A flight from London-Heathrow was also diverted to the Barajas Airport in Madrid.

Another flight from London-Gatwick went to Faro. A flight from Tampere (Finland) and another from Berlin went to Jerez. One from Bergamo and one from Casablanca landed in Valencia. One from Zurich and one from Dublin diverted to Alicante-Elche.

82 kilometres per hour was the strongest gust measured at Malaga Airport on Tuesday

These adverse weather conditions are expected to continue until at least 6pm on Tuesday. The forecast for Wednesday duplicates Tuesday's strong winds. "This only happens two days a year," Spain's airport operator has stated.

Aemet's Malaga Airport station measured a maximum gust of 82km/h at 11.30am on Tuesday and sustained winds of 42km/h.

The state meteorological agency has activated numerous warnings for strong winds, coastal phenomena and rainfall across the country this week. Winds of between 60 and 80km/h are expected to continue disrupting air traffic along the southern coast throughout Tuesday.

Rainfall accumulations are expected to reach 50mm in Serrania de Ronda and 40 in the rest of the province by the end of Tuesday.
The third hospital will be built on the site of the Hospital Civil car park.

Jose Antonio Sau Tuesday, 27 January 2026 | Updated 30/01/2026 11:05h. Share

Phase zero of the construction of the third hospital in Malaga city starts on Wednesday, 28 January.

This involves demolition work, which will clear up space for the 650-space temporary car park, in operation by the end of March.

This was announced on 19 December by regional minister of health Antonio Sanz. The contract, awarded to a joint venture, was signed in the final weeks of 2025.

On Monday, as per what SUR has learnt, the Hospital Civil workers were informed that demolition work would start on Wednesday. This concerns them because the third hospital will be built on the plot reserved for Hospital Civil's car park and the whole project will disrupt traffic in the area.

While traffic complications are expected, work on line 2 of the metro, which will reach the hospital, is progressing at a good pace.

Access to the current Hospital Civil car park will be exclusively from Avenida Arroyo de los Angeles, while the entrance from Blas de Lezo will be closed.

The message warns hospital workers that "access to the current Hospital Civil car park will be exclusively from Avenida Arroyo de los Angeles, while the entrance from Calle Blas de Lezo will be closed".

The first phase of work will last approximately five working days. Subsequently, there will be a partial reduction of the available car park spaces in order for cleaning and construction activities to be carried out.

This seemingly small task is the start of the construction "of the largest healthcare infrastructure developed in Malaga in recent decades".

"A strategic project"

Hospital Civil thanked its workers "for their understanding and cooperation in the face of the possible temporary inconvenience that may arise from these works, which are necessary to make progress on a strategic project for Malaga's public health system".

Zoom Visualisation of the design of the new hospital. SUR

This so-called phase zero coincides with the execution of the provisional car park, vital for maintaining healthcare activity in the Materno Infantil and Civil hospitals. It includes the demolition of the transfusion, tissue and cell centre, the transfer of a water tank, the construction of a medium voltage line and the construction of accesses and connections.

For the moment, however, it is not known when the first brick of the new hospital will be laid. There could be a delay following the tragic train crash near Adamuz on 18 January.

The tender for the largest, as some regional politicians have described it, healthcare project in Andalucia in the last 50 years attracted the country's major construction companies. In the end, the contract was awarded to the joint venture of Sando, OHLA and Vialterra.

The investment for the third hospital is 543.3 million euros and the execution period is six years and three months, divided into two main phases, plus the zero phase

The investment for the third hospital is 543.3 million euros (449 million plus Spanish tax IVA), sponsored by European funds. The execution period is six years and three months. Phase zero is expected to last two months.

The first phase consists of the construction of a car park annexed to Calle Blas de Lezo (one year and three months) with seven floors and three below-ground level. This will provide 839 parking spaces.

The hospital itself will be built in the second phase, with four underground levels and 11 floors above the ground. During this phase, another car park will be built on floors -2 and -3 of the hospital, with 928 spaces for cars and 128 for motorbikes. The management of the car park was also awarded for 23 years.

The figures for the third hospital

The hospital will have 815 rooms, which can be doubled up to more than 1,600 if necessary, 48 operating theatres, 80 ICU beds, more than 150 consultations, 40 nurse consultations and space for teaching and research.

The hospital has been designed by the Lamela and Aidhos studios, in collaboration with Sener and ARCS.

The 53,000-square-metre site posed a great challenge to the architects because of its unevenness. The hospital building has four towers emerging from a five-storey base that runs all the way around the building. The towers are used for patient wards and clinical care.

Two circulation zones have been created - one public and one internal - which divide the building into three horizontal bands, further emphasised by a large three-level lobby.

In addition, a large pedestrian passage will be created to connect Hospital Civil, the new hospital and Materno Infantil. The area will have large pavements and vegetation over 20,000 square metres.
Irene Quirante Tuesday, 27 January 2026, 15:43 Share

The TSJA (Andalucia's High Court) has upheld the nine-year prison sentence for a Hell's Angel biker who accidentally killed a DJ after firing several shots into the ceiling.

One of the bullets ricocheted and struck the victim in the neck, killing him. The incident happened at an illegal party being held at a Marbella villa during Covid-19.

In the early hours of 29 March 2021, despite the ban on gatherings during the pandemic, approximately 35 people attended an illegal party at a house in Guadalmina Alta. While people were drinking and dancing, the defendant pulled out a 9 mm Parabellum pistol and fired three shots into the ceiling to get the attention of those present.

As the TSJA points out in its ruling, he did so "ignoring the required precautions for being in an enclosed space" and it was just bad luck that one of the bullets bounced off the ceiling and hit the DJ in the neck. The bullet severed the victim's jugular vein and he died moments later.

According to the judgement, a mass exit then ensued, with everyone scattering, including the shooter. Only one person attempted to help the victim, applying a towel to the entry wound. One of the first to flee was, in fact, the defendant, who left on a motorbike.

Later, during a police search, the keys to a jet ski were found in a safe at his Marbella residence. Inside the safe, hidden behind a false bottom, was a 9mm pistol, set to fire in automatic or semi-automatic mode.

This pistol is classified as a weapon of war, making its acquisition, possession or use by private individuals prohibited. It is also illegal as it lacked a serial number. A compatible silencer was also found, the use of which is prohibited under Spain's firearms regulations.

These events, for which Malaga's provincial court had already passed this sentence in the first instance, are now upheld by the TSJA, dismissing the defence's appeal. The defendant's lawyer argued that the sentence was based on the testimony of a protected witness, allegedly the only witness for the prosecution.

In this regard, in addition to questioning whether the witness met the requirements to be granted anonymity during the judicial process, he argued that there were contradictions in his testimony.

These claims were rejected by the TSJA, acknowledging that the witness's fear was understandable given that he knew the accused had ties to the Hell's Angels motorcycle gang, as corroborated by the police.

Furthermore, the TSJA concluded that the witness' testimony showed no evidence of ulterior motive. On the contrary, the ruling points out that in his account he made no accusations against the defendant, describing the DJ's death as an accident or misfortune, demonstrating that "he was only guided by the truth of what had really happened".
Find your voice: Mijas club helps locals on the Costa del Sol conquer public speaking fears The association holds meetings in English and Spanish at the Casa de la Cultura in Las Lagunas once a week on Tuesdays from 8pm to 9.30pm

The Costa del Soul Speakers association during an event with the Mijas foreigners' office last year.

Tony Bryant Tuesday, 27 January 2026, 11:35 Share

The Costa del Soul Speakers leadership and communication club is inviting people who want to improve their public speaking skills to participate in their weekly meetings.

Formed in October 2024, along with public speaking workshops, the club aims to help people gain confidence and build a community based on respect and collaboration.

The bilingual group, an official Toastmasters International club, meets at the Casa de la Cultura in Las Lagunas once a week on Tuesdays from 8pm to 9.30pm.

These meetings take place in both English and Spanish, alternating weekly, and follow a fixed format. Although the structure is always the same, what changes are the people who take on each role. In this way, leadership skills are developed, because we learn by doing, secretary Soledad Rivero explained.

Rivero said the club, which has an online educational system with manuals, explanations and objectives, encourages anyone who is interested to attend one of the sessions with no obligation. Its good for people to come along, see how it works and, if they feel brave enough, take part with a short speech, Rivero added.

For more information, contact the club on 685 965 867 or by email at costadelsoulspeakers@gmail.com.
Tuesday, 27 January 2026, 16:06 Share

Spain's minister of transport Oscar Puente has announced that the reopening of the high-speed line between Madrid and Andalucia could be delayed beyond 2 February.

In a television interview, Puente said that the court has not given the relevant permits for the rail reconstruction work to begin yet.

High-speed rail services were suspended after the major train crash near Adamuz (Cordoba), which happened on 18 January. The initial plan was to reopen high-speed lines in Andalucia on 2 February, but the delay in the reconstruction work could lead to a longer suspension.

The minister said, however, that some of the necessary work is already under way, such as the recovery of the catenary and the accumulation of stockpiles.

Puente warned the public that the matter is not in the ministry's hands "at the moment". According to him, once the permits are granted, they will work on reopening the track "as soon as possible", but whether that will be before or after 2 February cannot be determined.
GAZA, Jan. 26 (Xinhua) -- Israel on Monday released nine Palestinian detainees from the Gaza Strip, who arrived at Al-Aqsa Hospital in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza Strip, hours after the Israeli army announced the recovery of the remains of the last Israeli hostage held in Gaza.

The move is part of the implementation of the ceasefire agreement reached between Israel and Hamas in October 2025.

In a press statement, the hospital said the detainees arrived through the facilitation of the International Committee of the Red Cross after their release by Israeli authorities via the Kerem Shalom crossing.

Earlier on Monday, the Israeli army announced the recovery of the remains of Ran Gvili, 24, a member of Israel Police's elite Yasam patrol unit, who was killed on Oct. 7, 2023, and whose body was transferred to Gaza.

In a press statement, Hamas said it had made "significant efforts" to locate Gvili's remains, calling on Israel to fully implement all provisions of the agreement, including reopening the Rafah crossing, allowing humanitarian aid into Gaza, and withdrawing completely from the Strip.

In September 2025, the U.S. President Donald Trump's administration unveiled a 20-point, three-phase peace plan aimed at ending the Israel-Hamas conflict that broke out in October 2023. However, both sides repeatedly accused each other of violations during the first phase of the deal after the ceasefire took effect in October 2025.

Earlier this month, Trump's administration announced the launch of the second phase of the peace plan, shifting the focus from ceasefire to demilitarization, technocratic governance and reconstruction. 
The Made in America Store in Upstate New York is closing after more than 15 years in business.

The store announced on Facebook that it will liquidate and sell the building that the store is located in at 1000 W. Maple Court in Elma, N.Y. A closing date was not announced, but its website will shut down on Thursday, Jan. 29.

The decision comes six months after founder and CEO Mark Andol died unexpectedly in July, according to WIVB. He was 59.

The owners have made the difficult decision to sell the building in which the Made In America Store is currently located, the stores Facebook page said. This was not an easy decision. Our store has been a labor of love for our family and a source of pride for our community, and we are deeply grateful for the unwavering support we have received over the years.

Andol, whose Elma company General Welding and Fabricating also closed after his death, opened the Made in America Store in 2010. The 18,000-square-foot store made national news as it prided itself on only selling products that were 100% manufactured in the U.S.

According to the Buffalo News, the business expanded to as many as seven other locations in Western New York, all of which have since closed. The flagship store remained a huge draw for tourists and supporters of American products and jobs, including a visit from then-U.S. Small Business Administration leader Linda McMahon in 2018. Andol was also featured in the 2014 documentary American-Made Movie.

In this May 26, 2010 photo, Mark Andol poses for a photo in front of an American made flag at his Made in America Store in Elma, N.Y. (AP Photo/David Duprey) ASSOCIATED PRESS

The Made in America Store hopes to reopen someday in a new location, according to the Facebook post.

While the physical building will be sold, the Made In America Store name, mission, and legacy will remain intact, the company. This is not a goodbye, but rather a strategic restructuring that allows us to thoughtfully plan for the future.

It is our sincere intention to reopen a Made In America Store at a new location and time when circumstances allow, so we can continue to serve customers who believe in American-made products and American jobs, the post continued. Made In America Store has always stood for community, quality, pride and purpose. Those values are not going away. We look forward to carrying this legacy forward and serving future generations of customers who share our commitment to American-made products.
Following her controversial American Eagle commercial last year, Sydney Sweeney could be in hot water once moreand this time, it involves the law.

The Housemaid star could face trespassing and vandalism charges after scaling the Hollywood sign in an unauthorized promotional stunt for her lingerie brand, SYRN by Sydney Sweeney, which will drop its first collection on Wednesday at 12 p.m. EST.

TMZ captured video of the actress climbing the H of the iconic landmark under the cover of darkness while carrying various undergarments. A production crew filmed the nighttime ascent, which sources told the outlet was a planned publicity stunt.

While Sweeneys production company reportedly obtained a permit from FilmLA to film near the site, they failed to coordinate with the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce (HCC), which owns the trademark and intellectual property rights to the sign. The HCC confirmed to TMZ that it had no prior knowledge of the stunt and never granted authorization.

Anyone intending to use and/or access the Hollywood Sign for commercial purposes must obtain a license or permission from the Hollywood Chamber to do so, said President and CEO Steve Nissen said in a statement.

Nissen added that the Chamber did not grant permission of any kind and that no one associated with the project ever sought approval.

During the act, Sweeney and her team strung a clothesline of lingerie across the legendary letters. The crew removed most of the items after filming but left behind four or five bras.

As of Tuesday morning, the LAPD told ABC 7 Eyewitness News that no official reports have been filed regarding the incident.

Sweeney posted her own video of the stunt to Instagram on Monday to promote the brands launch. SYRN is notably backed by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos. Their investment connection reportedly earned the Euphoria actress an invite to Bezos and Lauren Sanchezs wedding last summer.
LaFayette, N.Y.  A man has been arrested after throwing a severed deer head at anti-Trump protesters in LaFayette earlier this month, deputies said.

Antonio Pizzuto, 36, was charged with disorderly conduct, a violation, according to Thomas Newton, a spokesperson for the Onondaga County Sheriffs Office.

Pizzuto, of LaFayette, threw the deer head out of his pickup truck at a group of protesters gathered Jan. 10 at routes 11 and 20, Newton said. It did not hit anyone.

About a dozen demonstrators had gotten together that day to protest federal immigration policies, including actions by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

President Donald Trumps immigration crackdown has led to a wave of increasingly larger protests in Syracuse and across the country.

Pizzuto was arrested last Thursday and released on an appearance ticket, Newton said Monday. He is scheduled to appear Feb. 11 in LaFayette town court.
Jordan, N.Y.  One of Onondaga Countys smallest villages is stepping up to fill a pressing need: Its welcoming dozens of apartments and townhomes for low-income renters, including some with mental illnesses.

Jordan has approved a 65-unit apartment and townhome complex aimed at housing people with lower incomes and veterans on the brink of homelessness or those with mental health illnesses.

The project, Jordan Landing, includes some of the very aspects that often become hurdles for winning local approval in suburban and rural communities: multifamily housing for people who cannot afford to pay market rates.

But in Jordan, a village of 1,200 people on the western edge of Onondaga County, few people have complained about the new homes and potential neighbors, Mayor Casey Brim told syracuse.com | The Post-Standard.

The villages combined planning and zoning board held a public hearing on the project in July. No one showed up to oppose the $32 million project, which will have rents starting as low as $900 a month for qualified tenants. Its in line to get $8 million in government tax breaks and grants.

The board approved the project at its Aug. 20 meeting.

I guess were different than other communities in that respect, the mayor said. We had no pushback. I havent heard anything negative.

The project is the kind of effort that experts say is needed now and in the near future, when Micron Technology begins building in Clay. Officials estimate Onondaga County will need 1,700 to 2,500 new housing units a year to keep up with expected growth. In 2023, the county added only 1,100 units.

Often, local opposition to new and dense housing contributes to that sluggish construction pace. Van Buren residents last year blocked a plan to add 25 homes to an existing neighborhood, in a town that has added fewer than 40 new homes every year from 2017 through 2023.

Sometimes the barriers are baked in. About three-quarters of the urbanized land in Onondaga County is zoned for single-family homes exclusively, and one-quarter of that land is zoned for lots of at least one acre, according to a 2023 report by CNY Fair Housing, a nonprofit group that promotes equal access to housing opportunities in Central and Northern New York.

Other times, multifamily housing is allowed, but only with extra approvals such as special permits and zoning variances -- additional steps that give opponents multiple opportunities to stall a project.

An effort by Gov. Kathy Hochul to force communities to increase housing by as little as 1% every three years faced quick and successful opposition from local officials who argued development decisions should remain in their hands.

Sally Santangelo, executive director of CNY Fair Housing, said community opposition is often strongest when apartment projects are proposed for people with low incomes.

Instead of seeing that such housing would primarily benefit their own neighbors, opponents often fear it will attract outsiders and crime, she said.

People lack an understanding of what affordable housing is, she said. Unfortunately, they have fears about who will be moving in.

In Jordan, which has an aging population and limited available land for new developments, few people move into the village.

So when developer Patrick Rock first proposed the development last year, people welcomed it, Brim said.

The 65-unit Jordan Landing apartment and townhome complex would be built on an eight-acre site at 577 Peru Road in Jordan.

Rock Property Management Co. plans to build a two-story apartment building and eight two-story townhome buildings, said Rock, the companys owner and president.

The project would be restricted to tenants with incomes from 30% to 70% of the area median income. Rock said rents would range from $900 to $1,600 a month. The complex would include a community room, a fitness facility and laundry facilities.

Thirty of the units would be reserved for military veterans at risk of homelessness and veterans with mental illnesses.

The veterans would receive on-site support services via a contract with the nonprofit group Eagle Star Housing Inc. The services include mental health support, case management, transportation services and resident programming.

The developer has all the approvals it needs from the village. Start of construction depends on the state: Rock is counting on New York housing tax credits for the project, which could add up to millions of dollars. Hes hoping for approval this spring. Construction would take about a year and a half, he said.

The local support may also be due to the fact that Rocks family has operated another affordable housing development next door for years, Brim said.

The 96-unit development, Old Erie Place apartments, was built in four phases from 1986 to 2002. Its tenants are mostly senior citizens of low and moderate incomes. Brim said the Rock family has done a good job of maintaining the complex.

Santangelo said the familys history with the village likely helped dispel any myths people might have about affordable housing developments. In addition, the fact that nearly half the apartments would be for veterans likely also generated support for the project, she said.

Certainly, with veterans, people are going to be more supportive and understanding of the need there, she said.

Rendering show a proposed 65-unit apartment and townhome development, Jordan Landing, off Peru Road in the Onondaga County village of Jordan. (Holmes King Kallquist & Associates) Holmes King Kallquist & Associates

Rock has applied to the Onondaga County Industrial Development Agency for $852,921 in property tax breaks over 15 years.

In addition, he has applied for a $250,000 grant under the Onondaga County Housing Initiative Program.

O-CHIP provides grants of up to $250,000 for new housing developments, with preference given to affordable housing, adaptive reuse of buildings, condos or brownfield development. The program is designed to help address a shortage of housing, especially affordable housing, in the county.

The project is also getting a $6.95 million state Supportive Housing Opportunity Program grant. The program provides financing assistance for site acquisition, hard costs and related soft costs associated with new multifamily rental housing with on-site social services.

Rocks father, the late Charles Rock, started the family-owned business in Phoenix in 1983. The firm operates mixed-income multifamily housing developments totaling 391 units in Phoenix, Wolcott, Camillus, Oswego and Jordan.

Rock said his parents came from households of limited means and instilled in him a desire to help people in need. In addition, the family has a military connection. Rocks brother Charles retired a few years ago after a 35-year career with the Navy, where he reached the rank of rear admiral.

Rock, who has run the business since 2010, said the new development would be his familys first project with on-site support services for tenants.

He said he picked the location off Peru Road because it is within an easy walk of downtown Jordan and because of the need in the community for affordable housing. Old Erie Place is fully occupied with long waiting lists, he said.

The villages support also played a role in the choice, he said.

Jordan really respects what we do out there, he said.
A 25-year-old man reported missing in Upstate New York was found dead after his snowmobile crashed into a barn, according to the Livingston County Sheriffs Department.

Adam Curry was found dead on Sunday in the Town of Portage after deputies initially responded to a missing person report. Curry had not been seen or heard from in over 12 hours and was last known to be operating his snowmobile through local trails and fields.

While deputies investigated the missing person case, Livingston County dispatchers received a 911 call reporting a snowmobile had crashed into a barn on Smith Road in the Town of Portage. Deputies and Nunda Police Department officers arrived at the scene and confirmed the individual was dead.

Authorities later confirmed Curry was the driver of the snowmobile.

The preliminary investigation revealed Curry failed to negotiate a turn while operating his snowmobile through a field during the early morning hours on Sunday.

The investigation into the crash remains ongoing.

Members of the Livingston County Sheriffs Office Patrol Division, Criminal Investigations Division and Forensic Identification Unit investigated the incident. The Nunda Police Department, Livingston County ALS, Nunda Ambulance, Nunda Fire Department, New York State Park Police and the Livingston County Coroners Office assisted at the scene.
The New York State Police at Ithaca are seeking the publics help in identifying a woman suspected of stealing nearly $950 worth of printer ink cartridges from a retailer in Upstate New York.

The suspect, who appears to be a white female, entered BJs Wholesale Club in Lansing on Jan. 20, 2026, according to police. She concealed the printer ink cartridges in her bag and left the store without paying.

Printer ink cartridges generally sell for between $40 and $120 at BJs Wholesale Club.

Anyone who can identify the suspect is asked to call New York State Police at 607-561-7400 and reference case number NY2600127732.
DeWitt, N.Y.  About a dozen employees and volunteers at the Central New York SPCA protested in front of the animal shelter Tuesday, calling for a change in leadership.

The protesters said the nonprofits board of directors has allowed for animals to be neglected and called on them to resign.

They stood in the cold and held signs that read Animals deserve better and Animals cant speak, we can! outside of the shelter at 5878 E. Molloy Road in DeWitt.

Concerns about staff turnover, frozen water bowls and broken kennels have been ignored, according to Lizzy Scollo. She resigned about a month ago from her job as the adoption and training manager.

We really just want to save this place, she said.

Monica Williams, the president of the SPCAs board, acknowledged the shelter was understaffed and how that might frustrate employees. She said the shelter is actively hiring.

The current staff is ensuring the animals are very well taken care of, she said.

Williams, a former county legislator who is now the countys chief diversity officer, said she would not resign.

Im willing to sit down with them and meet their concerns, she said.

The shelter, which currently has about 60 animals inside, is licensed by the state Department of Agriculture and Markets. A department spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The nonprofit provides shelter and medical attention to stray, abused and unwanted animals, and helps police officers with animal cruelty investigations. It also earns about $200,000 a year providing dog control services, including to the towns of Clay and Manlius, according to tax records.

The shelter was built in 1965, according to county property records. There is an ongoing fundraising campaign for a new building.

The animal shelter has faced difficulties in the past.

Four employees, including the then-executive director, were charged in 2016 with stealing more than $1 million from the organization. All of them later pleaded guilty.

Williams also said the shelter is working to get into compliance with new statewide regulations for animal shelters that took effect last month.

The shelter is currently being run by the board after the most recent executive director, Sean-Patrick Malloy, recently resigned.

Malloy had left for personal reasons, Williams said.

Malloy did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
A major restaurant chain is making a big change after closing 150 locations last year.

Dennys Corporation announced this month that its Dennys restaurants have been successfully acquired in a $620 million buyout by a group that including TriArtisan Capital Advisors, Treville Capital Group and Yadav Enterprises. Yadav, one of Dennys largest franchisees, and other stockholders received $6.25 for each share of Dennys common stock they own.

The transaction closed Jan. 16 following approval by Dennys stockholders as well as satisfaction of all required regulatory and customary closing conditions, the company said. The deal takes the iconic diners private and promises enhanced flexibility and resources to invest in its brands, support franchisees and accelerate its growth initiatives.

Today represents an important milestone... as we embark on our next chapter under new ownership, Dennys CEO Kelli Valade said. Our dedication to supporting franchisees and commitment to serving our guests remain the same. We are grateful for the hard work of our employees and franchisees who represent our restaurants with pride every day. With the support of our new owners, we look forward to continuing to serve and delight guests across the nation.

Valade, who held Dennys top post since 2022, revealed Thursday that she is leaving the company next month for a new job as president and CEO of WFF (Womens Foodservice Forum), a non-profit organization dedicated to developing and advancing female leaders in the restaurant industry. Her previous roles include CEO of Red Lobster and president of Chilis Bar & Grill.

A replacement for Valade at Dennys has not been named.

According to Restaurant Business, TriArtisan CEO Rohit Manocha and Yadav CEO Anil Yadav will oversee the executive team while the company looks for a new CEO. Internal and external candidates will be considered for the leadership role.

The changes come after Dennys closed 150 locations in 2025, including a longtime location in Camillus in March. There were previously seven Dennys in the Syracuse area, but just three locations remain on Elwood Davis Road in Salina, on Thompson Road in DeWitt and on Brewerton Road in Cicero.

Dennys said in December that the closures were not a result of the acquisition, but were part a previously announced plan in 2024 to shutter underperforming restaurants.

Dennys currently has more than 1,200 locations in the U.S. and 1,400 worldwide. Dennys website lists 28 restaurants in New York state, including diners in Binghamton, Buffalo, Cicero, Cortland, Geneva, Herkimer, Niagara Falls, Oneida, Oneonta, Rochester, Saratoga Springs, Schenectady, Syracuse and Utica.

Dennys is an iconic piece of the American dream, with a renowned brand, a strong franchise base and loyal customers, Manocha said earlier this month. Our team has significant investment experience in the restaurant industry, and our acquisition of Dennys builds on our success with other full-service restaurant concepts. We look forward to working with Kelli and the rest of the Dennys team and franchisees to provide resources and support the Companys long-term strategic growth plans.

Dennys, also known as Dennys Diner, is a restaurant chain that began in 1953 as a donut stand then expanded to full-service family restaurants. The company started franchising in 1963 and is best known today for its Grand Slam breakfast, 55-plus menu items, and a variety of seasonal offerings.
MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. (AP) The chief federal judge in Minnesota says the Trump administration has failed to comply with orders to hold hearings for detained immigrants and ordered the head of Immigration and Customs Enforcement to appear before him Friday to explain why he shouldnt be held in contempt.

In an order dated Monday, Chief Judge Patrick J. Schiltz said Todd Lyons, the acting director of ICE, must appear personally in court. Schlitz took the administration to task over its handling of bond hearings for immigrants it has detained.

This Court has been extremely patient with respondents, even though respondents decided to send thousands of agents to Minnesota to detain aliens without making any provision for dealing with the hundreds of habeas petitions and other lawsuits that were sure to result, the judge wrote.

The order comes a day after President Donald Trump ordered border czar Tom Homan to take over his administrations immigration crackdown in Minnesota following the second death this month of person at the hands of an immigration law enforcement officer.

Homan, an Upstate New York native who was once a police officer in his North Country hometown of West Carthage, will replace Border Patrol commander Gregory Bovino, who is expected to leave Minneapolis on Tuesday. Homan will report directly to the White House, Trump said.

Messages were sent Tuesday to ICE and a DHS spokesperson seeking a response.

Respondents have continually assured the Court that they recognize their obligation to comply with Court orders, and that they have taken steps to ensure that those orders will be honored going forward, Schlitz continued in the order. Unfortunately, though, the violations continue.

The judge said he recognizes that ordering the head of a federal agency to appear personally was extraordinary. But the extent of ICEs violation of court orders is likewise extraordinary, and lesser measures have been tried and failed, Schlitz wrote.

FILE - Todd Lyons, acting director of the U.S. Immigration and Customs. Enforcement (ICE), is interviewed on TV on the White House grounds, Monday, Nov. 3, 2025 in Washington. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta, File) AP

Schlitzs order lists the petitioner by first name and last initials: Juan T.R. It says the court granted a petition on Jan. 14 from the person to provide him with a bond hearing within seven days. On Jan. 23, the persons lawyers told the court the petitioner remained detained.

The order says Schlitz will cancel Lyons appearance if the petitioner is released from custody.
ISLAMABAD, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- At least seven people were killed and three others injured in a road accident in Pakistan's southwestern Balochistan province late Monday night, police said.

Local police told Xinhua on Tuesday that the accident occurred on a highway near Yakmach area of Chaghi district when two double-cabin vehicles collided head-on at high speed.

The vehicles were completely destroyed in the crash, said a police official, adding that the deceased included men, women and children.

Rescue and police teams rushed to the site shortly after the accident and shifted the bodies and the injured to a nearby hospital.

The injured were later transferred to a hospital in another district for further treatment because of their critical condition.

Police said an investigation had been launched to determine the cause of the accident. 
John Annese l New York Daily News (TNS)

A Nassau County Police Detective faces federal charges in upstate New York, after the feds say he tried to get an undercover officer to videotape himself sexually abusing his 10-year-old daughter.

The would-be grade school victim wasnt real, though, and Det. Robert Saccos creepy three-month exchange with her father ended with his arrest on attempted sexual exploitation of a child, according to prosecutors in Albany.

Sacco, 38, of Huntington, N.Y., appeared in Brooklyn Federal Court Saturday, and is locked up until his first appearance in federal court in Albany at a later date.

The undercover officer has a social media profile that states he love[d] talking kink and taboo with people and have very little limitations, according to a criminal complaint. Sacco took the bait in October 2025, first asking about nudism in the home, then becoming more and more interested in the idea that the undercover was naked in the house with his daughter.

The conversation moved onto sex talk and photo exchanges, and online purchases of underwear and sex toys, according to a criminal complaint.

On Friday, a day before his arrest, Sacco joined an encrypted video call, hoping to watch the undercover officer engage in sex acts with the child, the feds said. When the daughter wouldnt come out of her room, the feds allege, he asked if the undercover would be willing to postpone the encounter, according to the complaint.

The defendant, a 38-year-old Nassau County Police Department Detective, is charged with attempted sexual exploitation of a child. In short, the defendant, a police officer sworn to protect, intended to sexually exploit a 10-year-old girl, prosecutors wrote in a filing Friday. Accordingly, he should be detained as a danger to the community.

His lawyer declined comment Monday.

The allegations against Detective Sacco are shocking and disgusting. This in no way represents the professionalism and integrity of our outstanding police department, Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman said, according to News 12.

2026 New York Daily News. Visit nydailynews.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
NEW YORK (AP)  A New York police officer who fatally shot a raccoon at a New York City beach has been placed on modified duty while the matter is reviewed, according to officials.

The shooting occurred Thursday morning at Rockaway Beach, after someone called 911 to report a vicious animal, a police department spokesperson said in an emailed statement Monday.

Police said officers were trying to usher the raccoon to a safe location when the animal suddenly charged toward a group of people in an aggressive manner and the officer fired his weapon.

Bodycam footage published by the Daily News shows no group of people in sight when the animal walks out slowly onto the sand next to the beachs boardwalk and is shot by an officer. The animal then limps along and the officer shoots twice more.

The officers name has not been released. The departments Force Investigation Division, which reviews incidents when an officer discharges their weapon, is leading the departments probe.

It wasnt clear Monday if officials planned to test the raccoon for rabies.
An Upstate New York woman has been arrested after an alleged stabbing incident.

Latasha Lord, 32, of Plattsburgh, N.Y., was charged Tuesday with assault and criminal possession of a weapon after allegedly attacking someone with a knife. New York State Police say troopers responded to an incident on Dormitory Drive in Plattsburgh around 10:26 a.m.

An investigation determined that Lord stabbed a person in the chest and left hand, police said. She was also found to be in possession of a knife, according to troopers.

The victim, who was not identified, was transported to Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital (CVPH) for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries.

Lord was arrested and charged with assault in the 2nd degree (intent to cause physical injury with a weapon/instrument) and criminal possession of a weapon in the 3rd degree (previous conviction). She was transported to State Police Plattsburgh for processing.

She was arraigned in the Town of Plattsburgh Court on Tuesday and remanded to the Clinton County Jail.

Additional details, including the victims relationship to Lord, were not disclosed.

Plattsburgh is located in Clinton County, about 160 miles of Albany.
Boylston, N.Y.  Jeremy Johnson wanted to share a photo of a nearly 8-foot snowbank in Oswego County with his parents in Florida. He didnt expect it to be seen by millions of people.

Johnson, a state Department of Transportation employee, was working Friday to clear snow and widen snowbanks along roads in the Town of Boylston during a recent lake-effect snowstorm. He asked a co-worker to snap a quick photo of him standing beside the towering wall of snow.

I just wanted to show my parents how much snow we got up here, Johnson said. Theyre down in Florida right now, enjoying nice weather.

The photo, taken on County Route 17 in Boylston, shows Johnson by a massive roadside snowbank. Johnson, who is 5 feet, 8 inches tall, said the snow reached close to the tips of his fingers  putting the bank at nearly 8 feet tall.

Johnson said the snowbank wasnt the result of extra plowing in one area, but rather just the sheer volume of snow that has piled up across the region, one of the snowiest parts of the state.

The area often reports snowfall in feet, not inches. Exact seasonal numbers are not available for Boylston, but 15 miles away about 15 feet of snow has fallen so far this year, according to the National Weather Service reports

Earlier that same day, Johnson said crews helped push out a stranded driver and assisted two state troopers who had gotten stuck on their way to a training assignment.

Then we get up there, and its just endless piles of snowbanks, he said. So I figured, take a photo and send it on.

Johnson sent the picture to his boss, who shared it with the DOTs communications team. From there, it quickly spread across social media, racking up more than 6 million views across the agencys platforms, according to DOT spokesperson TeNesha Murphy.

Johnson described the photo as just an innocent picture he sent to his parents.

Next thing you know, its everywhere, he said.

Johnson has worked for New York state for more than 20 years and has assisted local towns with snow removal since 2018. He was operating a LaRue snow blower  a powerful machine designed for extreme snow conditions.

The snow blower packs 375 horsepower and features a head roughly 5 feet tall and up to 9 feet wide. It can throw snow hundreds of feet and move about 2,500 tons of snow per hour  roughly the equivalent of a full salt dome, Johnson said.

Cutting back large snowbanks is a slow process, with equipment moving at roughly 2 mph, but it allows crews to widen roads by nearly 12 feet, improving driving conditions, Johnson said.

Johnson said operating the equipment is time-consuming but rewarding, especially when training new employees on how to handle the machines.

While heavy snowfall is not unusual in the Boylston and Redfield areas, Johnson said conditions became challenging during the height of the storm last week due to reduced visibility.

There was one point last year we had to pull the snow blowers off the road, he said. This time, we were questioning it, but we kept going.

Since the photo went viral, Johnson said co-workers have been teasing him and sending links to where the image has appeared, including national news sites and even overseas social media posts. His wife sent him a USA Today post featuring a photo of him and the snowbank.

Despite the attention, Johnson said he hopes the photo helps people appreciate the work road crews do during severe winter weather  and reminds drivers to give plows space.

Dont crowd the plow, he said. Thats the big one.

Johnson lives in the Sandy CreekPulaski area and said his parents, who grew up in the region, were mostly amused by the photo  and happy to be somewhere warm.

They just talk about the good old winters, he said, and how glad they are theyre not here for this one.

And more is coming.

Oswego County - alongside Cayuga, Jefferson and Lewis counties - has been issued warnings for more lake effect snow on Monday, according to the weather service.

Oswego County is expected to receive the heaviest snowfall, with 1 to 2 feet possible where the snow band persists the longest, the service said.
NIAMEY, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- Algeria and Niger have held high-level talks to revive previously agreed cooperation in the hydrocarbons sector, including the strategic 13-billion-U.S.-dollar Trans-Saharan Gas Pipeline (TSGP) project, Algerian Minister of State for Hydrocarbons and Mines Mohamed Arkab said on Monday.

Arkab, heading a large delegation to Niamey, met with Niger's Minister of Petroleum Hamad Tinni on reviving and implementing major joint energy projects.

The two sides reviewed several initiatives, particularly the one on the Kafra oil block in northern Niger, operated by Algeria's state-owned oil company SONATRACH. The project has estimated reserves of over 260 million barrels of oil.

Discussions also covered the TSGP, training, technical assistance, skills transfer, and strengthening cooperation between state-owned enterprises in both countries.

The TSGP, a 4,128-km pipeline, is designed to transport up to 30 billion cubic meters of natural gas annually from Nigeria, through Niger, to Algeria's Mediterranean coast for export to Europe. Both countries see it as a cornerstone for regional energy security and a boost to West and North Africa's gas exports.

The official working visit by the Algerian minister of state to Niamey was the first by a senior Algerian official to Niger after bilateral cooperation was suspended in April 2025, due to the diplomatic crisis between Algeria and the Alliance of Sahel States in which Niger is a member. 
Tire companies face US trial on additive said to kill salmon



San Francisco, United States, Jan 27 (AFP) Jan 27, 2026



A federal court in San Francisco began hearing a case Monday brought by fishermen against tire companies over a chemical additive which plaintiffs allege can be deadly to endangered salmon.

Bridgestone, Michelin, Pirelli and 10 other tire manufacturers in the United States are facing off in court against the Institute for Fisheries Resources and the Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen's Associations, who are represented by the environmental group Earthjustice.

Plaintiffs argue that usage of the additive 6PPD can devastate coho salmon and other fish populations who live off the coasts of California and Alaska.

The suit charges that the use of the additive constitutes an illegal "taking" under the US Endangered Species Act, affecting 24 populations of coho, Chinook salmon and steelhead trout listed as threatened.

The 13 tire companies have argued that 6PPD provides an essential safety function by ensuring the integrity of tires when they come into contact with ozone and oxygen.

But plaintiffs say the use of 6PPD, when combined with ozone, produces 6PPD-quinone or 6PPD-q, which moves into waterways after storm events, with devastating consequences for fish populations.

Scientific studies published by prestigious journals have shown such substances to be damaging to fish populations, even at low doses.

6PPD-q "can kill coho salmon within hours and the chemical is largely responsible for 'urban runoff mortality syndrome,' which can kill up to 100 percent of salmon returning to freshwater streams to spawn in the Pacific Northwest before they can lay eggs," Earthjustice says on its website.

On Monday, researcher Edward Kolodziej testified before US Judge James Donato that just one automobile could do tremendous damage.

A car contains four tires with enough of the chemical that, after interacting with ozone, could produce enough to 6PPD-q to kill more than 11 million salmon, said Kolodziej, whose testimony followed video of a salmon flailing in the water in distress.

Countering that testimony were remarks from scientist Tiffany Thomas of consultancy Exponent, who told the court that the findings presented by plaintiffs' scientists were based on laboratory conditions rather than real life and therefore were "limited and speculative."

Concentrations of 6PPD-q found in waterways are well below lethal doses, according to Thomas.

Tire companies maintain, further, that there is no substitute for 6PPD, adding that other possible options would have worse environmental impacts.

Hearings in the case will continue on Wednesday and Thursday with further testimony from scientists. A ruling is expected at a later time.

Beyond the California case, the European Chemicals Agency is also weighing potential restrictions on 6PPD in tires.
UNITED NATIONS, Jan. 26 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Monday called on member states to recommit themselves to the full respect of international law.

"The rule of law is a cornerstone of global peace and security. The key to friendly relations among the countries and regions of the world. And the beating heart of the United Nations Charter," he told a Security Council open debate on international rule of law. "For 80 years it has helped humanity avoid a third world war and eased the human toll in countless smaller conflicts."

The UN Charter and other instruments of international law have contributed to a collective security system that is robust and resilient. The system prohibits the threat or use of force, and binds all states, large and small, to the same rules, and respects the principles of sovereignty, political independence and territorial integrity of states, Guterres said.

"For smaller and less-powerful countries, and those suffering from historical inequities and the damaging legacies of colonial rule, international law is a lifeline promising equal treatment, sovereignty, dignity and justice. And for powerful countries, it is a guardrail defining what is acceptable, and what is not, in times of disagreement, division and outright conflict," Guterres said.

The founders of the UN understood that global problems can only be solved by wielding not the weapons of war, but the tools of diplomacy, supported by a system based on international law; by dialogue, not the zero-sum rhetoric of division, and by collaboration, not geopolitical competition, he said.

He warned that around the world, the rule of law is being replaced by the law of the jungle, with flagrant violations of international law and brazen disregard for the UN Charter.

"We see States flouting the rule of law with impunity: Through the illegal use of force, the targeting of civilian infrastructure, human rights violations and abuses, the illegal development of nuclear weapons, unconstitutional changes of government, and the denial of lifesaving humanitarian aid," Guterres said. "These violations set dangerous precedents, encouraging other countries to do what they want, instead of what they are required to do under international law. They breed mistrust and division among nations. And they undermine people's faith in our ability to find solutions together."

Guterres called on member states to uphold the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, make full use of the dispute-settlement mechanisms spelled out in the UN Charter to prevent conflicts from starting in the first place, and promote the use of fair, independent judicial proceedings.

The Security Council stands alone in its UN Charter-mandated authority to act on behalf of all member states on questions of peace and security. It adopts decisions binding on all, and no other body or ad-hoc coalition can legally require all member states to comply with decisions on peace and security. Only the Security Council can authorize the use of force under international law, as set out in the Charter, he noted. "Its responsibility is singular. Its obligation is universal." 
Firefighters order evacuation as heatwave bakes Australia



Sydney, Jan 27 (AFP) Jan 27, 2026



Firefighters told people to flee an out-of-control bushfire in southeast Australia on Tuesday as a heatwave baked much of the country.

Temperatures hit a record high in the eastern state of Victoria, preliminary data showed.

"Conditions are heating up across the state, and we're seeing those 40 degree temperatures roll in," said Country Fire Authority chief officer Jason Heffernan.

"Firefighters on the ground will now start to really notice how hot it is getting, and they'll really start to notice the picking up of the winds," he told public broadcaster ABC.

Authorities issued an immediate emergency evacuation warning for hundreds of people in four country towns at risk from the fire in the Otways region southwest of Melbourne.

Residents in another three rural areas nearby were urged to leave as well, with the warning: "Due to extreme weather today, the fire is predicted to rapidly expand and pose a threat to communities."

A total fire ban was imposed on the state, where a total of six major bushfires were burning.

The temperature in the towns of Walpeup and Hopetoun, northwestern Victoria, peaked at 48.9C, according to the Bureau of Meteorology's website.

The temperature nudged past the state's record of 48.8C, but officials said it would need to be verified later to become official.

The heatwave forced the Australian Open to close the roof over its centre court to protect players and fans, with the temperature in Melbourne forecast to hit 45C.

Hot air has settled across swathes of Victoria, South Australia, and New South Wales.

"Prolonged heat can affect anyone and when high heat continues for a number of days it can affect your health," said Victoria chief health officer Caroline McElnay.

The elderly, children and people with underlying health conditions were most at risk, she warned.

"It can cause potentially fatal health problems such as heat exhaustion and heat stroke but it can also trigger events like heart attacks or stroke," McElnay told reporters.

She urged people to stay cool and hydrated, and watch out for symptoms ranging from dizziness to cramps, rapid pulse, a high body temperature and eventually loss of consciousness.
US monster storm kills 30



New York, Jan 27 (AFP) Jan 27, 2026



More than half a million Americans woke up without power Tuesday, as freezing temperatures gripped swathes of the country in a monster storm that has killed at least 30 people.

A frigid, life-threatening Arctic air mass could delay recovery as municipalities from New Mexico to Maine tried to dig out following the storm, which dropped a vicious cocktail of heavy snow and wind, along with freezing rain and sleet.

Forecasters warned that much of the northern half of the country will see temperatures that are "continuously below freezing through February 1," the National Weather Service said in an X post.

It added that "record low temperatures" hit southern states, which are unaccustomed to intense winter weather.

While skies began clearing in parts of the country, relentless snowfall in the northeast meant parts of Connecticut saw over 22 inches (56 cm) of snow, with more than 16 inches (40.6 cm) recorded in Boston, Massachusetts.



- Deadly plane crash -



The storm was linked to at least 30 deaths, according to a compilation of state government and local media reports, with causes including hypothermia as well as accidents related to traffic, sledding, ATVs and snowplows.

Seven people were killed when the small plane they were traveling in crashed while taking off in a snowstorm in Bangor, Maine, the Federal Aviation Administration said.

One man in New Jersey was found in the snow unresponsive with a shovel in his hand.

In New York City, eight more people were found dead amid plummeting temperatures, and an investigation to determine the causes was underway. It was not known if all of these fatalities were storm-related.

Electricity began blinking back on across the south but as of Tuesday morning more than 540,000 customers remained without it, according to the tracking site Poweroutage.com.

Tennessee, Texas, Mississippi and Louisiana in the south were especially impacted.

More than 9,000 flights were disrupted, as the storm paralyzed transportation across the country.

"We don't know if we are going to make it or not. We've been here since Sunday," Alan Vazquez told AFP at Dallas-Fort Worth airport in Texas.

Nashville Mayor Freddie O'Connell told journalists that trees were continuing to fall under the weight of encrusted ice across the Tennessee capital city, sometimes knocking out power that had already been restored.

Nashville and other municipalities across the country were establishing emergency warming shelters.

NWS meteorologist Allison Santorelli told AFP this storm recovery was particularly arduous because so many states were impacted -- meaning northern states with more winter supplies were unable to share their resources with less-prepared southern regions.

"A lot of those locations don't have the means or the resources to clean up after these events," she said. "We're particularly concerned about the folks in those areas that are without power right now."



- Polar vortex -



The snowfall and biting icy pellets that pummeled cities left impassable roads along with canceled buses, trains and flights -- thousands of departures and arrivals were scrapped over the weekend.

The storm system was the result of a stretched polar vortex, an Arctic region of cold, low-pressure air that normally forms a relatively compact, circular system but sometimes morphs into a more oval shape, sending cold air pouring across North America.

Scientists say the increasing frequency of such disruptions may be linked to climate change, though the debate is not settled and natural variability plays a role.

Dave Radell, a NWS meteorologist based in New York, told AFP that the character of this storm's snow was "very dry" and "fluffy," meaning the wind could lash it around with ease, impeding roadway-clearing efforts and visibility.

"That makes it even more challenging," he said.
'Doomsday Clock' moves closer to midnight, a year into Trump term



Washington, United States, Jan 27 (AFP) Jan 27, 2026



The "Doomsday Clock" representing how near humanity is to catastrophe on Tuesday moved closer than ever to midnight as concerns grow on nuclear weapons, climate change and disinformation.

The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, which set up the metaphorical clock at the start of the Cold War, moved its time to 85 seconds to midnight -- four seconds closer than a year ago.

The announcement comes a year into President Donald Trump's second term in which he has shattered global norms including by ordering unilateral attacks and withdrawing from a slew of international organizations.

Russia, China the United States and other major countries have "become increasingly aggressive, adversarial and nationalistic," said a statement announcing the clock shift, determined after consultations with a board that includes eight Nobel laureates.

"Hard-won global understandings are collapsing, accelerating a winner-takes-all great power competition and undermining the international cooperation critical to reducing the risks of nuclear war, climate change, the misuse of biotechnology, the potential threat of artificial intelligence and other apocalyptic dangers."

The Doomsday Clock board warned of heightened risks of a nuclear arms race, with the New START nuclear arms reduction treaty between the United States and Russia set to expire next week and Trump pushing a costly "Golden Dome" missile defense system that would further militarize space.

It also noted the record emission levels of carbon dioxide, the key driver of the planet's warming temperatures, after Trump sharply reversed US policy on fighting climate change and a number of other countries also backtracked.

Board members warned of a fracturing of global trust.

"We are living through an information Armageddon -- the crisis beneath all crises -- driven by extractive and predatory technology that spreads lies faster than facts and profits from our division," said Maria Ressa, the Filipina investigative journalist and Nobel Peace Prize winner.

The Bulletin of Atomic Scientists, founded by Albert Einstein, Robert Oppenheimer and other nuclear scientists at the University of Chicago, initially placed the clock at seven minutes to midnight in 1947.

It was moved closer last year but by only one second, amid guarded hopes on newly reinaugurated Trump's promises to pursue peace.
Chinese Premier Li Qiang, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, speaks at a State Council meeting on clean governance on Jan. 27, 2026. Ding Xuexiang, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Chinese vice premier, presided over the meeting.

Li Xi, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and secretary of the CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, attended the meeting. (Xinhua/Huang Jingwen)

BEIJING, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Li Qiang on Tuesday stressed the importance of improving the conduct of officials, building integrity and combating corruption in government work, which will provide a strong guarantee to achieve the goals and tasks of the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-2030).

Li, who is also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, made the remarks at a State Council meeting on clean governance.

Addressing the meeting, Li called for higher standards and more practical measures in exercising full and rigorous Party self-governance, with the aim of ensuring relevant efforts are implemented across all aspects and processes of government work.

He also called for a more resolute, vigorous approach to implementing the CPC Central Committee's decisions and arrangements, as well as efforts to ensure officials have the correct understanding of what it means to perform well.

Moreover, Li called for further work to combat pointless formality and reduce the burden on primary-level officials, and to strengthen audit-based and accounting oversight to ensure the secure, efficient use of public funds and assets.

He also emphasized the need to deal with corruption issues in key areas seriously, as well as those that occur at people's doorsteps.

Ding Xuexiang, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Chinese vice premier, presided over the meeting.

Li Xi, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and secretary of the CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, attended the meeting. 
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The nominations for the 2026 Bafta Film Awards have been announced, with One Battle After Another Sinners, Marty Supreme and Hamnet leading the pack.

All the contenders were revealed by David Jonsson and Aimee Lou Wood at Baftas headquarters on Tuesday (27 January).

One Battle After Another led the nominations with 14 across all categories, followed closely by Sinners with 13. Marty Supreme and Hamnet picked up 11 nominations. There was also recognition for Frankenstein (eight) and I Swear (five), a biographical drama about John Davidson, a Scottish man with severe Tourette's syndrome.

This years announcement follows last weeks Oscar nods , which saw Ryan Cooglers vampire drama Sinners surpass All About Eve, Titanic and La La Lands 14 nominations to become the most-recognised film ever, with 16.

Paul Thomas Anderson is being hotly tipped to win Best Director, with his film, the caper One Battle After Another, a strong favourite to win Best Film. Last years ceremony awarded Edward Bergers Conclave the top prize.

Find the Bafta 2026 nominations in full below:

Best Film

HAMNET

MARTY SUPREME

ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER

SENTIMENTAL VALUE

SINNERS

open image in gallery One Battle After Another received the most Bafta 2026 nominations ( Warner Bros )

Director

BUGONIA Yorgos Lanthimos

HAMNET Chloe Zhao

MARTY SUPREME Josh Safdie

ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER Paul Thomas Anderson

SENTIMENTAL VALUE Joachim Trier

SINNERS Ryan Coogler

Leading Actress

JESSIE BUCKLEY Hamnet

ROSE BYRNE If I Had Legs Id Kick You

KATE HUDSON Song Sung Blue

CHASE INFINITI One Battle After Another

RENATE REINSVE Sentimental Value

EMMA STONE Bugonia

open image in gallery Jessie Buckley has been Bafta nominated for Hamnet ( Universal Pictures )

Leading Actor

ROBERT ARAMAYO I Swear

TIMOTHEE CHALAMET Marty Supreme

LEONARDO DICAPRIO One Battle After Another

ETHAN HAWKE Blue Moon

MICHAEL B. JORDAN Sinners

JESSE PLEMONS Bugonia

Supporting Actress

ODESSA AZION Marty Supreme

INGA IBSDOTTER LILLEAAS Sentimental Value

WUNMI MOSAKU Sinners

CAREY MULLIGAN The Ballad of Wallis Island

TEYANA TAYLOR One Battle After Another

EMILY WATSON Hamnet

Supporting Actor

BENICIO DEL TORO One Battle After Another

JACOB ELORDI Frankenstein

PAUL MESCAL Hamnet

PETER MULLAN I Swear

SEAN PENN One Battle After Another

STELLAN SKARSGARD Sentimental Value

open image in gallery Wunmi Mosaku is a Bafta nominee thanks to her role in Sinnners ( Warner Bros )

Casting

I SWEAR Lauren Evans

MARTY SUPREME Jennifer Venditti

ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER Cassandra Kulukundis

SENTIMENTAL VALUE Yngvill Kolset Haga, Avy Kaufman

SINNERS Francine Maisler

Outstanding British Film

28 YEARS LATER

THE BALLAD OF WALLIS ISLAND

BRIDGET JONES: MAD ABOUT THE BOY

DIE MY LOVE

H IS FOR HAWK

HAMNET

I SWEAR

MR BURTON

PILLION

STEVE

Outstanding Debut by a British Writer, Director or Producer

THE CEREMONY Jack King (Director, Writer), Hollie Bryan (Producer), Lucy Meer (Producer)

MY FATHERS SHADOW Akinola Davies Jr. (Director), Wale Davies (Writer)

PILLION Harry Lighton (Director, Writer)

A WANT IN HER Myrid Carten (Director)

WASTEMAN Cal McMau (Director), Hunter Andrews (Writer), Eoin Doran (Writer)

Original Screenplay

I SWEAR Kirk Jones

MARTY SUPREME Ronald Bronstein, Josh Safdie

THE SECRET AGENT Kleber Mendonca Filho

SENTIMENTAL VALUE Eskil Vogt, Joachim Trier

SINNERS Ryan Coogler

open image in gallery Robert Aramayo in 'I Swear', which received five Bafta nominations ( StudioCanal )

Adapted Screenplay

THE BALLAD OF WALLIS ISLAND Tom Basden, Tim Key

BUGONIA Will Tracy

HAMNET Chloe Zhao, Maggie O'Farrell

ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER Paul Thomas Anderson

PILLION Harry Lighton

Film Not in the English Language

IT WAS JUST AN ACCIDENT

THE SECRET AGENT

SENTIMENTAL VALUE

SIRAT

THE VOICE OF HIND RAJAB

Documentary

2000 METERS TO ANDRIIVKA

APOCALYPSE IN THE TROPICS

COVER-UP

MR. NOBODY AGAINST PUTIN

THE PERFECT NEIGHBOR

Animated Film

ELIO

LITTLE AMELIE

ZOOTROPOLIS 2

Childrens & Family Film

ARCO

BOONG

LILO & STITCH

ZOOTROPOLIS 2

Editing

F1 Stephen Mirrione

A HOUSE OF DYNAMITE Kirk Baxter

MARTY SUPREME Ronald Bronstein, Josh Safdie

ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER Andy Jurgensen

SINNERS Michael P. Shawver

open image in gallery Marty Supreme picked up 11 Bafta nominations ( A24 )

Cinematography

FRANKENSTEIN Dan Laustsen

MARTY SUPREME Darius Khondji

ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER Michael Bauman

SINNERS Autumn Durald Arkapaw

TRAIN DREAMS Adolpho Veloso

Production Design

FRANKENSTEIN Tamara Deverell, Shane Vieau

HAMNET Fiona Crombie, Alice Felton

MARTY SUPREME Jack Fisk, Adam Willis

ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER Florencia Martin, Anthony Carlino

SINNERS Hannah Beachler, Monique Champagne

Costume Design

FRANKENSTEIN Kate Hawley

HAMNET Malgosia Turzanska

MARTY SUPREME Miyako Bellizzi

SINNERS Ruth E. Carter

WICKED: FOR GOOD Paul Tazewell

Make Up and Hair

FRANKENSTEIN Jordan Samuel, Cliona Furey, Mike Hill, Megan Many

HAMNET Nicole Stafford

MARTY SUPREME Kyra Panchenko, Kay Georgiou, Mike Fontaine

SINNERS Sian Richards, Shunika Terry, Ken Diaz, Mike Fontaine

WICKED: FOR GOOD Frances Hannon, Laura Blount, Mark Coulier, Sarah Nuth

Original Score

BUGONIA Jerskin Fendrix

FRANKENSTEIN Alexandre Desplat

HAMNET Max Richter

ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER Jonny Greenwood

SINNERS Ludwig Goransson

Sound

F1 Gareth John, Al Nelson, Gwendolyn Yates Whittle, Gary A. Rizzo, Juan Peralta

FRANKENSTEIN Greg Chapman, Nathan Robitallie, Nelson Ferreira, Christian Cooke, Brad Zoem

ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER Jose Antonio Garcia, Christopher Scarabosio, Tony Villaflor

SINNERS Chris Welcker, Benny Burtt, Brandon Proctor, Steve Boeddeker, Felipe Pacheco

WARFARE Mitch Low, Ben Barker, Howard Bargroff, Richard Spooner

open image in gallery F1 might have received a Best Picture nomination, but it missed out at the baftas, receiving three nominations in the technical categories ( Warner Bros )

Special Visual Effects

AVATAR: FIRE AND ASH Joe Letteri, Richard Baneham, Daniel Barrett, Eric Saindon

F1 Ryan Tudhope, Keith Alfred Dawson, Nicolas Chevallier, Robert Harrington

FRANKENSTEIN Dennis Berardi, Ayo Burgess, Ivan Busquets, Jose Granell

HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON Christian Manz, Francois Lambert, Glen McIntosh, Terry Palmer

THE LOST BUS Charlie Noble, Brandon K. McLaughlin, David Zaretti

British Short Film

MAGID / ZAFAR Luis Hindman, Sufiyaan Salam, Aidan Robert Brooks

NOSTALGIE Kathryn Ferguson, Stacey Gregg, Marc Robinson, Kath Mattock

TERENCE Edem Kelman, Noah Reich

THIS IS ENDOMETRIOSIS Georgie Wileman, Matt Houghton, Harriette Wright

WELCOME HOME FRECKLES Huiju Park, Nathan Hendren

British Short Animation

CARDBOARD J.P. Vine, Michaela Manas Malina

SOLSTICE Luke Angus

TWO BLACK BOYS IN PARADISE Baz Sells, Dean Atta, Ben Jackson

EE Rising Star Award

ROBERT ARAMAYO

MILES CATON

CHASE INFINITI

ARCHIE MADEKWE

POSY STERLING
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Veteran actor Sir Ben Kingsley has expressed his astonishment at reprising the role of Trevor Slattery for a fourth time, a character he "never would have dreamt" would span 15 years of his career.

The acclaimed actor is set to star as the fictional character in the upcoming TV mini-series Wonder Man, an eight-part Disney+ production forming part of phase six of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

The series is scheduled to launch later this week, seeing Sir Ben return to the role he has played multiple times before.

The new comedy features American actor Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, whose character, Simon Williams, takes the lead in a Wonder Man film remake. He prepares for stardom alongside Slattery, who is portrayed as another jobbing actor.

Sir Ben, an Oscar winner for his 1982 performance in Gandhi, told Radio Times: "Trevor is an aspiring actor who never quite hit the spotlight. After falling among thieves and posing as a murderous terrorist, he is imprisoned, then broken out of prison, and so returns to Los Angeles to try to recreate himself as a serious actor. This is my fourth visit to Trevor. He is a character that I would never have dreamt would span 15 years of my career."

Kinglsley first played Slattery in 2013s Iron Man 3, where he was a decoy villain, known as The Mandarin, for Guy Pearces Aldrich Killian as they attempted to defeat Tony Stark. The actor would return as Slattery for the 2014 short film All Hail the King and then in 2021 for Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings.

Ben Kingsley in 'Iron Man 3 ( Marvel Studios )

Speaking about his role in Shang-Chi, Kingsley said at the films 2021 premiere: When you hear Destin [Daniel Cretton, the films director], you know that the motives behind telling this story are pure, crystal clear, lucid, pure motives.They are life enhancing and theyre not patronising because they do introduce in a beautiful way, memory, ancestry, loss, and families torn apart and reunited and reconfigured.

He added: Thanks to the welcome that Kevin [Feige] and Destin and my beautiful colleagues gave me, as soon as I arrived on set, the fact that my colleagues were from a different culture was immaterial. Completely immaterial and irrelevant.

When asked which of his many awards or accolades he would keep if he could only choose one, Sir Ben revealed his most cherished honour. He told the magazine: "My knighthood. I revered greatly the late Queen Elizabeth, her fathers nerve and the familys nerve during the Second World War."
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Kanye West has addressed claims made about his recent apology letter, printed in Mondays edition of the Wall Street Journal.

In the apology, the rapper  who now goes by Ye  cited a brain injury caused by a near-fatal 2002 car crash for his erratic behavior over the last few years, including public antisemitic rants.

After the letter was published, many questioned the timing, noting that it was coincidentally just four days before the release of Yes upcoming album, Bully.

However, in an email sent to Vanity Fair, the rapper addressed these claims.

Its my understanding that I was in the top 10 most listened-to artists overall in the U.S. on Spotify in 2025, and last week and most days as well. My upcoming album, Bully, is currently one of the most anticipated pre-saves of any album on Spotify too, his statement began.

open image in gallery Kanye West denied claims that he published an apology letter in The Wall Street Journal to promote his upcoming album ( Getty Images )

open image in gallery This is because these remorseful feelings were so heavy on my heart and weighing on my spirit, the rapper told Vanity Fair ( Getty Images For Kenzo )

My 2007 album, Graduation, was also the most listened-to and streamed hip-hop album of 2025. This, for me, as evidenced by the letter, isnt about reviving my commerciality. This is because these remorseful feelings were so heavy on my heart and weighing on my spirit.

He continued, explaining that he felt an apology was owed to both the Jewish and the Black community.

I look at wreckage of my episode and realize that this isnt who I am. As a public figure, so many people follow and listen to my every word, he told the publication. Its important that they realize and understand what side of history that I want to stand on. And that is one of love and positivity.

In the letter, Ye also said he believes his brain injury also added to his struggle with bipolar disorder, which he was diagnosed with in 2016 while he was married to Kim Kardashian. The couple, who share four children, finalized their divorce in 2022.

Bipolar disorder comes with its own defense system. Denial. When youre manic, you dont think youre sick. You think everyone else is overreacting. You feel like youre seeing the world more clearly than ever, when in reality youre losing your grip entirely, he wrote in the apology.

Speaking further to Vanity Fair, Ye explained how he decided to seek treatment.

Toward the end of my four-month-long manic episode, my medication was changed. In that shift, the antipsychotic drug took me into a really deep depressive episode, he told the outlet. My wife recognized that, and we sought out whats been effective and stabilizing course correction in my regime from a rehab facility in Switzerland.

He added: You must understand bipolar is a disease. Its one of the most lethal nonterminal illnesses.
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Mick Jaggers family is asking for help from the public as Alexander Key, the longtime partner of Jaggers granddaughter Assisi Jackson, has been missing in the U.K. for days.

Key, 37, was seen Friday afternoon at a pub in Boscastle  which is a coastal village in Cornwall  according to Devon and Cornwall Police. He shares two children with 33-year-old Jackson.

Jade Jagger, Jacksons mother and the daughter of the Rolling Stones frontman, shared information about Key in a Monday Instagram post. Along with two pictures of Key, Jades post urged anyone with information about Keys whereabouts to immediately call the police.

Mick Jaggers youngest daughter, Georgia May Jagger, reshared Jades post to her Instagram Story and emphasized: If you have seen Alexander, or know of his whereabouts, please call police immediately on 999, quoting log number 847 of 24/1/26.

Key is described as five-foot-eight-inches tall with medium build. He reportedly has bleach blond hair and normally wears brightly colored clothes.

open image in gallery Mick Jagger's family is asking for the public's help to find Alexander Key, the longtime partner of the rockstar's granddaughter ( Getty Images/Devon and Cornwall Police )

Police released new pictures of Key in an update issued to the public Tuesday, adding that he was wearing a red shirt and black sneakers when he disappeared.

Previously it was believed that Alexander Key was last seen at 2:20 p.m. on Friday 23 January in the local pub but the latest CCTV images show him at 3:25 p.m. on Saturday 24 January, walking past the Wellington Pub, on Old Road, in the direction of Boscastle Harbour towards the River Valency, police said.

Screenshots of CCTV footage showed Key sitting alone at the Cobweb Inn on Friday afternoon. He was seen leaving the pub alone about an hour later with his hands in his pockets.

open image in gallery Alexander Key, 37, was seen wearing a patterned red shirt on CCTV footage released by police ( Devon and Cornwall Police )

Key and Jackson, who have been together for over a decade, live in Cornwall, where they are raising their two young daughters on a sheep farm in the area. Key is the chef and co-owner of The Rocket Store, a seafood restaurant in Boscastle.

Jackson is the eldest of Mick Jaggers seven grandchildren. She is the daughter of Jade and the artist Piers Jackson. Mick Jagger became a great-grandfather with the birth of Key and Jacksons first daughter in 2014.

The women in our family just tend to have children young, it runs in the genes, Jackson said about her pregnancy at 21 in an interview with Hello! magazine. I grew up quite quickly and wouldn't have considered having a child if I was doing what my friends are doing at this stage, messing around.

Anyone with information about Keys whereabouts is urged to call the Devon and Cornwall Police.
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Two-time Oscar winner Cate Blanchett is set to headline a stellar line-up of acclaimed actresses gracing the National Theatre stage in 2026, as the London institution unveils its ambitious new programme.

Blanchett, who earned Academy Awards for her performances in The Aviator and Blue Jasmine, will star alongside Nina Hoss and Ella Lily Hyland in Benedict Andrews new production Electra / Persona this August. This innovative theatrical event will fuse Sophocles ancient myth Electra with Ingmar Bergmans celebrated 1966 film Persona, bridging more than two millennia.

The upcoming season also marks the National Theatre debut of Killing Eve star Sandra Oh, who will appear with Paul Chahidi and Abigail Cruttenden in a refreshed adaptation of Molieres social satire The Misanthrope from June, reimagining the central character, Alceste, as a woman.

Black Panther actress Letitia Wright joins Aliyah Odoffin, Wilf Scolding, Ashley Thomas, and Lorraine Toussaint in a revival of Tracey Scott Wilsons newsroom thriller The Story, directed by National Theatre associate artist Clint Dyer, with previews beginning in August.

Elsewhere, The Crown star Lesley Manville will perform alongside Rivals actor Aidan Turner in a major revival of Les Liaisons Dangereuses in the spring, and Francesca Mills will lead a brand new production of Jim Cartwrights The Rise And Fall Of Little Voice.

As it approaches its 20th anniversary next year, the acclaimed production of War Horse will return to the National Theatre in May. Based on Michael Morpurgos novel and adapted by Nick Stafford, the show has garnered over 25 major awards, including a Tony Award for Best Play, and has been seen by more than 8.8 million people worldwide.

open image in gallery Cate Blanchett will be performing at the National Theatre this year ( National Theatre/PA Wire )

This years schedule also includes the UK premiere of the critically-acclaimed Portuguese play Catarina And The Beauty Of Killing Fascists for a limited, one-week run in September. Beyond its London stages, the theatre aims to ramp up its local, national, and global reach, facilitating two international transfers and two national tours.

This includes last years production of Bacchae, adapted by Nima Taleghani, which will tour schools across England for nine weeks this autumn, continuing the theatres commitment to reach every child in the UK before they leave school.

The National Theatre is also gearing up to celebrate 60 years of activity on Broadway next year, with two plays transferring to New York in 2026: Robert Hasties Hamlet and Alexander Zeldins The Other Place.

Indhu Rubasingham, director and co-chief executive of the National Theatre, expressed her excitement: "I cant wait to dive into this year with an extraordinary group of emerging and world-renowned artists coming to the National Theatre, many for the first time. From bold new voices to international collaborators, this is a year that celebrates the full breadth of talent on our stages and behind the scenes. Its a privilege to stage work that theatrically explodes, surprises and challenges us to see the world anew. Bringing this range of exhilarating productions to audiences in the UK and around the globe is what the National Theatre is all about."

open image in gallery National Theatre director and co-chief executive, Indhu Rubasingham ( Anton Corbijn/National Theatre/PA Wire )

Kate Varah, executive director and co-chief executive, added: "Our 2026 season is about sharing stories locally, nationally and globally. In a new commitment to take productions straight from our stages to partner theatres across the country, we will undertake a major nationwide tour of The Rise And Fall Of Little Voice starring the captivating Francesca Mills. As we gear up to celebrate 60 years of working in the US next year, Im thrilled we are transferring two vital and resonant pieces of theatre to New York  Robert Hasties Hamlet and Alexander Zeldins The Other Place, with more shows in the pipeline. We are so proud to be sharing with audiences in New York a range of impactful stories showcasing the best of British theatre. In this way, along with our growing digital footprint, we are opening doors in the UK and around the world like never before."

The 2026 programme underscores the National Theatre's commitment to artistic excellence, broad accessibility, and global cultural exchange.
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Americas Next Top Model season one winner Adrianne Curry has declared that she does not trust reality TV and declined to appear on Netflixs upcoming docuseries analyzing the show.

On Monday, Netflix released the trailer for the three-part documentary, Reality Check: Inside America's Next Top Model, featuring the most controversial moments in the competition shows history. ANTM host Tyra Banks was featured in the trailer confessing that she went too far while on the show.

Hours after the trailer dropped, Curry expressed her concerns about the new Netflix series. She stated that she isnt interested in working on reality TV again, which is why she declined appearing in the documentary.

I am deeply grateful I won the first season of top model. I think people psychoanalyzing it over 20 years later with a woke lens is absurd, Curry wrote on X about the new docuseries.

I don't trust people to not manipulate things I say for TV, so I decline everything. Also, the public is cult-like and cruel, so the last thing I want is a bunch of eyeballs on me. I hope the other girls do not have their words twisted in their Netflix show.

open image in gallery Adrianne Curry calls public cult-like and cruel as she declined being on new Netflix show about Americas Next Top Model ( Getty Images )

open image in gallery ANTM winner says she hopes girls do not have their words twisted in new Netflix series ( @adriannecurry / X )

Reality Check: Inside America's Next Top Model, set to release February 16 on Netflix, will unpack the inner workings of the show, which became a viral juggernaut with a global audience of over 100 million people at its peak, according to the streamer.

Along with Banks, former ANTM judges J. Alexander, Jay Manuel, and Nigel Barker, and former executive producer Ken Mok appear in the new series. Also featured are interviews with ANTM winners and contestants, including Whitney Thompson, Giselle Samson, Shannon Stewart, Shandi Sullivan, Dani Evans, and Keenyah Hill.

It was very, very intense, Banks said in the trailer about ANTM. But you guys were demanding it. So we kept pushing it, more and more and more.

During its 24-year run, ANTM aimed to help aspiring models launch their careers in an elimination-style competition. Curry was the first-ever winner of the competition series in 2003.

Since her win, Curry has spoken out about how ANTM has affected her, claiming that the makeover Banks gave her damaged her hair permanently. In an Instagram video shared in November, she claimed to her followers that she was partially bald in two spots.

open image in gallery Tyra Banks says she went too far in Americas Next Top Model in new reality series ( Netflix )

The reason is, when I was on Top Model, Tyra Banks told them to put a weave in my hair, she claimed. Now, the Black stylists that were putting it in pulled her aside. I heard them tell her, This white chicks hair is too fragile for this.

Curry claimed Banks was insistent on putting the hair into the former models head and told the stylist to just do it.

She then claimed that her scalp is permanently damaged from that weave.

The Independent contacted Bankss representatives for comment at the time the video was released.
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Dean Cain, best known for his portrayal of Superman in the Nineties TV classic Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman, has spoken out in defense of the federal immigration officer who fatally shot ICU nurse Alex Pretti in Minneapolis over the weekend.

Cain, 59, who announced last year that he was joining ICE to support President Donald Trumps illegal immigration crackdown, addressed the tragedy in a recent interview, saying that while he didnt know all the events leading up to the shooting, I do know that law enforcement  certainly ICE and Border Patrol  have been under a tremendous amount of pressure and attacks.

And theyre getting tremendous abuse, he told TMZ, from what I completely believe is a 100 percent organized opposition very, very actually pretty sophisticated. I think were gonna uncover that as it goes on.

He suggested that unless youre there in the moment with the agents, its hard to understand their use of force.

But if someone is committing a felony, which would be obstructing law enforcement, ICE, federal agents from doing their job, impeding and obstructing, thats a felony and perhaps they were just trying to take him down at that point in time, Cain continued.

open image in gallery Dean Cain announced last year that he had joined ICE to help save America ( Getty )

open image in gallery Cain is best known for his portrayal of Superman in the Nineties TV series, 'Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman' ( Getty Images )

He certainly wasnt there just being a peaceful protester, he added of Pretti, and it was a very bad idea to engage physically with federal law enforcement while armed.

Hes standing between law enforcement officers and that woman, thats a mistake in its own own right and doing it while armed is a bad, bad idea.

TMZ founder and managing editor Harvey Levin pushed back against Cains claims, arguing that Pretti had simply been helping two women who had been pushed to the ground by agents. How is this impeding anything? he asked. I dont understand that.

How many times had he had communication with law enforcement and officers before that moment? Why was he standing in the middle of the street? Theres a lot of questions that need to be answered, Cain replied. He may have been impeding  he may have become himself a target just for standing in front of ICE vehicles. I dont know.

open image in gallery Alex Pretti was a 37-year-old ICU nurse at a veterans hospital ( AP )

Open-sourced video capturing the incident shows Pretti, 37, holding a phone and moving to assist individuals on the sidewalk near the agents, who then began pepper-spraying the group. The victim is then tackled by at least five agents and dragged to the ground. The footage shows the Border Patrol agents struggling with Pretti on the ground and striking him when a gunshot is heard. A moment later, an agent fires multiple shots while Pretti is down on the pavement.

The federal government  and President Trump  claims that Pretti approached agents with the intent to carry out an attack with a pistol, which they claim was recovered from the scene of the incident.

They have not provided evidence that he ever drew the weapon, and have declined to answer questions offering an in-depth timeline of how the confrontation unfolded.

Carrying a licensed handgun with a permit is legal in Minnesota.

Turning the blame on Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey and all the city and state officials who are not cooperating with ICE and are calling them Gestapo and modern day Nazis, Cain said: That rhetoric is emboldening people  and theyre telling them to fight them in the streets and do these things  that is the root cause of the problem.

Levin stepped in to clarify that hes never heard Walz or Frey tell citizens to fight them in the streets. He then went on to ask Cains opinion about Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noems claims that Pretti was brandishing a gun, followed by Immigration Chief Gregory Bovino saying that he was trying to massacre officers, and White House Advisor Stephen Miller labeling him a domestic terrorist.

Im not aware of that rhetoric, and it doesnt sound like its helping tamp down the temperature, Cain said. But I dont know specifically what they were referring to, or what information Kristi Noem has  obviously, I will be working for her, and I do believe in her very much.

Acknowledging that he didnt see any brandishing in the clips hed watched, he emphasized that he doesnt agree with overblown rhetoric on either side.

Cain shot to fame with his portrayal of Superman in the four-season TV series Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman, which aired from 1993 to 1997. He later returned to the Superman universe in the six-season CW show Supergirl , starring as Dr. Jeremiah Danvers, the adoptive father of Supermans cousin Supergirl/Kara Danvers (Melissa Benoist).

Hes since stepped away from acting and turned his focus to law enforcement and political advocacy, supporting the Trump administration.
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Harry Potter actor Katie Leung has shared her advice for the stars of HBOs upcoming TV adaptation of the famous books, warning them: Dont be dragged down by the noise.

The Scottish star, now 38, played Cho Chang in four of the Harry Potter films, making her debut as the girlfriend of Cedric Diggory (Robert Pattinson) in 2005s The Goblet of Fire. Cho later became a love interest for Harry and the pair shared their first kiss in 2007s Order of the Phoenix.

A new HBO series is now set to introduce Harry Potter to a new generation of viewers with a fresh crop of young actors playing the Hogwarts students.

Daniel Radcliffe and Rupert Grint  who played Harry and his best friend, Ron Weasley  have written to the child stars taking on their roles but speaking to The Independent, Leung said she doesnt have plans to contact whoever plays Chang.

I think I would only give her advice if she wanted it from me, because I don't want to underestimate her, she explained.

open image in gallery Katie Leung and Daniel Radcliffe as Cho Chang and Harry Potter ( Warner Bros )

Sharing her advice for the young cast, Leung added: I think it's really important to just have fun and not be kind of dragged down by the noise, whatever that may mean to her Try and enjoy it as much as you can, just do the work and have fun.

Reflecting on her own experience of being pushed into the limelight at such a young age, Leung continued: In retrospect, looking back, I was super insecure as any other 16-year-old would be, and then to be kind of catapulted into this huge franchise and being in the spotlight is a lot to deal with.

open image in gallery Katie Leung has landed a new role in Bridgerton ( Getty )

While HBO is yet to announce who will play Cho, it has confirmed the young stars playing the central Gryffindor trio. Dominic McLaughlin will be taking centre stage as The Boy Who Lived, while Arabella Stanton will portray Hermione and Alastair Stout will be Ron. All three actors are 11 years old.

Theyll be joined by a host of famous names playing the grown-up characters, with John Lithgow as Hogwarts headmaster Albus Dumbledore and I May Destroy Yous Paapa Essiedu following in the late Alan Rickmans footsteps by playing Severus Snape.

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Hot Fuzz star Nick Frost is taking on the role of Hogwarts groundskeeper Rubeus Hagrid, while comedian and fishing fan Paul Whitehouse is playing caretaker Argus Filch, and Katherine Parkinson has landed the role of Weasley matriarch, Molly.

open image in gallery Arabella Stanton, Dominic McLaughlin and Alastair Stout ( HBO )

An airdate is yet to be confirmed but the series is expected to debut in late 2026 or early 2027.

Meanwhile, Leung is about to make her Bridgerton debut, having joined the cast for season four of Netflix's racy drama. Shell be starring as Lady Araminta Gun, the head of a new family in the Ton, whose daughters are set to cause a stir in the marriage mart.
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Peter Napolitano, a beloved TV personality nicknamed Produce Pete, has died aged 80 after more than three decades on air.

Napolitano was a weekend fixture on NBC New Yorks Saturday morning shows, where he shared suggestions for finding the best fruits and vegetables at grocery stores, along with recipes and recommendations. He was known for signing off with his catchphrase, If you eat right, youre going to live right!

NBC New York announced Napolitanos death Monday. His cause of death has not been made public.

For more than 30 years, WNBC viewers tuned in on Saturday mornings to watch Produce Pete offer his fruit and vegetables recommendations as well as cooking tips on Weekend Today in New York, said Amy Morris, the Senior Vice President of News for NBC 4 New York and Telemundo 47.

He was a beloved member of our station family and our viewers felt the same way  visiting him at our Health Expo, our Feeding our Families Food Drives or the many farmers markets across New Jersey where he always felt right at home.

open image in gallery Beloved NBC personality Produce Pete has died aged 80 ( Facebook )

Napolitano is survived by his wife, Bette, their two children and seven grandchildren.

The New Jersey native often spoke on his segments about how he grew up working with produce in his familys small store, which he grew into a successful seasonal operation before it closed in 2006.

In 2024, Napolitano released his own cookbook titled In The Kitchen With Bette & Produce Pete. It was his third book after his 1994 almanac Produce Pete's Farmacopeia: From Apples to Zucchini, and Everything in Between, and his 2023 memoir They Call Me Produce Pete.

Napolitano spoke proudly about his upbringing in a 2025 appearance on the Today show, saying at the time: I come from immigrant people. My father came here from Italy. No education, no nothing. And then, you know, I got lucky 35 years ago when someone was in my store and put me on a local show.

Following news of his death Monday, tributes poured in for Napolitano on his Facebook page, where he last posted in November to wish his followers a happy holiday season.

Rest in Peace Produce Pete! Thank you for educating us on picking out the best tasting fruit and vegetables! one Facebook user wrote.

Another added: So sorry to hear this sad news!I loved watching his segments on Saturdays. I greatly appreciated his knowledge of produce. He was like the guy next store. He will be missed!
Zhao Leji, chairman of the National People's Congress Standing Committee, meets with Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo in Beijing, capital of China, Jan. 27, 2026. (Xinhua/Yao Dawei)

BEIJING, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- Zhao Leji, China's top legislator, met with Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo on Tuesday in Beijing.

Zhao, chairman of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, said Finland was among the first Western countries to recognize and establish diplomatic ties with the People's Republic of China, and that the two countries have always gotten along well with each other in the spirit of mutual respect and trust.

The heads of state of the two countries reached important consensus on deepening their future-oriented new-type cooperative partnership in 2024, he said.

China is ready to work with Finland to enhance political mutual trust, deepen mutually beneficial cooperation, and expand cultural and people-to-people exchange to promote the stable and enduring development of bilateral ties, Zhao said.

The NPC is willing to deepen exchange and cooperation with the Finnish parliament to facilitate mutual learning of experience in legislation, supervision and state governance and provide legal guarantee for pragmatic cooperation in various fields, he added.

Noting that Finland-China relations have enjoyed longstanding, stable development, Orpo said Finland upholds the one-China policy and is willing to deepen cooperation with China in such fields as the economy, trade and innovation, and to strengthen exchange between their legislative bodies. 

Zhao Leji, chairman of the National People's Congress Standing Committee, meets with Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo in Beijing, capital of China, Jan. 27, 2026. (Xinhua/Yao Dawei)
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Ricky Gervaiss long-term partner Jane Fallon has shared a rare insight into her 40-year relationship with the comedian, explaining their decision not to have children.

Fallon, 65, forged a successful career as a TV producer but left the industry behind when she landed a book deal in the late Noughties. Fallons first novel, Getting Rid of Matthew, was released in 2007 and she has since penned another 11 titles.

The writer has been in a relationship with Gervais for more than 40 years, but the pair decided against getting married and having children.

Appearing on the Second Act podcast, Fallon said she has no regrets about not having kids.

When I was little, you know the cliche of a little girl is they imagine their wedding day and their wedding dress... it was none of that ever, she said. It was always about work and my life. I was never into that romance stuff.

open image in gallery Gervais and Fallon have been together for more than 40 years ( Getty Images )

Fallon continued: As I got older, I just realised [becoming a parent] wasnt for me.

I' a real catastrophist... I assume the worst. When I watch my next sister up and her two kids, shes so brilliant. Shes just got that balance right of letting them be independent but not being reckless.

I would stifle the life out of my kids. I can't even let my cat out. I think your job as a parent is to create independent, go-be-free [children]. But its really hard.

I just thought Ill be a better auntie  and auntie to my friends kids  than I will be a mother. I just didnt think Id be very good at it because I thought Id be too anxious.

open image in gallery The couple in 2005 ( Getty Images )

Fallon and Gervais, who met at university and live together in north London, have previously explained why they decided against marriage.

The comedian told The Times in 2010: We are married for all intents and purposes, everythings shared and actually our fake marriage has lasted longer than a real one.

But theres no point in us having an actual ceremony before the eyes of God because there is no God.

Fallon told the Daily Mail in 2018: Were not married because neither of [us] are fussed. I think if one of us really cared then we would probably do it but it's not really been anything that either of us have ever really needed.
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Tyra Banks is opening up about the very intense experience of hosting Americas Next Top Model.

The supermodel, 52, appears in the forthcoming Netflix docuseries Reality Check: Inside America's Next Top Model, centered on the complicated legacy of the competition show, which ran from 2003 to 2018.

A trailer released Monday showed the most controversial moments in the series history, from models drastic makeovers to the demeaning comments made about their bodies by judges. The clip then cuts to Banks speaking about her behavior as the host.

I knew I went too far, she said. It was very, very intense. But you guys were demanding it. So we kept pushing it, more and more and more.

In another clip of the trailer, former ANTM judge Jay Manuel spoke about working with Banks on the reality series.

open image in gallery Tyra Banks claims her time on Americas Next Top Model was very intense ( Netflix )

We were showing the behind-the-scenes of what the fashion world was, he claimed. I realized Tyra could do anything for the success of her show.

Banks teased that she has a lot to share about ANTM, stating in the Netflix series trailer: I havent really said much, but now its time.

The three-part documentary, set to release February 16 on Netflix, will unpack the inner workings of the show, which became a viral juggernaut with a global audience of over 100 million people at its peak, according to the streamer.

Along with Banks and Manuel, former ANTM judges J. Alexander and Nigel Barker, and former executive producer Ken Mok appear in the new Netflix series. Also featured are interviews with ANTM winners and contestants, including Whitney Thompson, Giselle Samson, Shannon Stewart, Shandi Sullivan, Dani Evans, and Keenyah Hill.

During its run ANTM aimed to help aspiring models launch their careers, with each season featuring one contestant as the winner. However, the elimination series went on to spark immense controversy after it ended, especially in 2020 when people pointed out questionable segments of the show.

A post on X at the time showed a moment from season six where Banks and the fellow judges pressured contestant Danielle Evans to have dental surgery to close her gap. The tweet prompted other viewers to share examples of body-shaming and bullying on the show when it was run by Banks, who was then accused of problematic behavior.

open image in gallery Tyra Banks with the cast members of Americas Next Top Model in 2007 ( Getty Images )

Banks responded to the backlash at the time, tweeting: Been seeing the posts about the insensitivity of some past ANTM moments and I agree with you. Looking back, those were some really off choices.

The TV personality hosted all 24 seasons of ANTM except season 23, which aired in 2016. At the time, Banks was taking a step back from the show for other projects, and Rita Ora took her place as host.

Last year, the supermodel addressed the longstanding criticism around the modeling series. During the 2025 ESSENCE Black Women in Hollywood Awards, where she was the first-ever Luminary Spotlight honoree, she claimed she fought to bring the diversity to that television show at a time when it didnt exist. However, she confessed that there were things she did wrong while working on the program.

Did we get it right? Hell no. I said some dumb s***, she said during her speech in February 2025. But I refuse to have my legacy be about some stuff linked together on the Internet when there were 24 cycles of changing the world.
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Giorgio Armanis spring/summer 2026 haute couture show in Paris marked a defining moment for the house.

It was the first Armani Prive collection presented following the designers death in September last year.

Armani, who died aged 91, personally oversaw his final ready-to-wear collection before it was presented at Milan Fashion Week in September 2025.

Since then, the brand has entered a new chapter.

This seasons couture was created under post-founder direction by Silvana Armani, yet the founders presence felt anything but absent.

His influence hovered over every look.

Though Armani was not physically present at his final Prive show in July, and did not creatively manage this collection, the houses codes remained unmistakable  written into every line, fabric and silhouette.

The palette felt familiar yet refreshed. Accents of mint (as seen in Matthieu Blazys collection for Chanel) cut through a nocturnal sea of sparkle and satin, while blush tones mingled with cream and oyster. Silhouettes were lean and gently severe, like ink strokes gliding across the body.

Armanis signature reworking of masculine tailoring for women returned with renewed clarity. Evening suits swapped signature cigarette pants for high-waisted, wide-leg trousers paired with sculptural, asymmetrical tops.

Though the label is often hailed for its restraint, this collection allowed theatricality to shimmer through.

Sequins rippled across gowns, wave-like appliques caught the light and crystal studding created what felt like a quiet riot of surface detail. It challenged the notion of Armani as a minimalist, quiet luxury brand.

From satiny, liquid draped gowns to embroidered nets layered over ethereal pantsuits and sinuous sequined designs cut daringly across the body, the show became a celebration of sparkle, shine and glamour  a true homage to the radiant flair of the late Armani.

As for the Armani bride, she arrived not in froth or fantasy, but with striking authority. She wore a high-necked, long-sleeved ivory gown that fell in a clean, uninterrupted line to the floor, its surface softly shimmering with delicate embroidery.

A sheer veil cascaded from the crown of her head, extending into a gentle train that seemed to dissolve into air. There was no corsetry or exposed skin, just precision, purity and poise.

In the context of the collection, it felt like a perfect distillation of Armanis philosophy.

The elegance lay in the discipline of the design. Confident yet composed, she closed the show as a reminder that Armanis vision of femininity has always been about control, clarity and self-possession.

It was too soon for this show to have been about reinvention, instead, it was about continuity. Armani Prives future, it suggested, lies in honouring a legacy built on discipline, precision and enduring style  a world Giorgio Armani shaped with such conviction that it still feels new today.
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This article was originally published on 13 July, 2025, and is being republished by The Independent after the World Health Organization (WHO) warned that the UK is no longer considered to have "eliminated" measles.

So far in 2025 (as of May 1), 70 cases of measles have been notified in Australia, with all states and territories except Tasmania and the Australian Capital Territory having recorded at least one case. Most infections have occurred in New South Wales, Victoria and Western Australia.

Weve already surpassed the total number of cases recorded in all of 2023 (26 cases) and 2024 (57 cases).

Measles outbreaks are currently occurring in every region of the world. Most Australian cases are diagnosed in travellers returning from overseas, including popular holiday destinations in Southeast Asia.

But although Australia eliminated local transmission of measles in 2014, recently weve seen measles infections once again in Australians who havent been overseas. In other words, the virus has been transmitted in the community.

So, with measles health alerts and news reports popping up often, what do you need to know about measles?

Weve collated a list of commonly Googled questions about the virus and the vaccine.

A medic prepares an MMR vaccine ( Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. )

1. What is measles?

Measles is one of the most contagious diseases known to affect humans. In fact, every person with measles can infect 12 to 18 others who are not immune. The measles virus can survive in the air for two hours, so people can inhale the virus even after an infected person has left the room.

Measles predominantly affects children and those with weaker immune systems. Up to four in ten people with measles will need to go to hospital, and up to three in 1,000 people who get measles will die.

In 2023, there were more than 100,000 deaths from measles around the world.

2. What are the symptoms of measles?

The signs and symptoms of measles usually start 714 days after exposure to the virus, and include rash, fever, a runny nose, cough and conjunctivitis. The rash usually starts on the face or neck, and spreads over three days to eventually reach the hands and feet. On darker skin, the rash may be harder to see.

Complications from measles are common, and include ear infections, encephalitis (swelling of the brain), blindness and breathing problems or pneumonia. These complications are more likely in children.

Pregnant women are also at greater risk of serious complications, and measles can also cause preterm labour and stillbirth.

Even in people who recover from measles, a rare (and often fatal) brain condition can occur many years later, called subacute sclerosing panencephalitis.

3. Whats the difference between measles and chickenpox?

Measles and chickenpox are caused by different viruses, although both commonly affect children, and vaccines can prevent both diseases. Chickenpox is caused by the varicella zoster virus, which is also transmitted through the air, and can cause fever, rash and rare (yet serious) complications.

The chickenpox rash is different to the rash seen in measles. It often starts on the chest or back, appearing first as separate red bumps that evolve into fluid-filled blisters, called vesicles. Chickenpox can also appear later in life as shingles.

4. Can you get measles twice?

The simple answer is no. If you contract measles, you should have lifelong immunity afterwards.

In Australia, people born before 1966 would have most likely been infected with measles, because the vaccine wasnt available to them as children. They are therefore protected from future infection.

Measles infection however can reduce the immune systems ability to recognise infections it has previously encountered, leaving people vulnerable to many of the infections to which they previously had immunity. Vaccination can protect against this.

5. What is the measles vaccine, and at what age do you get it?

The measles vaccine contains a live but weakened version of the measles virus. In Australia, measles vaccinations are given as part of a combination vaccine that contains the measles virus alongside the mumps and rubella viruses (the MMR vaccine), and the chickenpox virus (MMRV).

Under the national immunisation program, children in Australia receive measles vaccines at 12 months (MMR) and 18 months of age (MMRV). In other countries, the age of vaccination may vary  but at least two doses are always needed for optimal immunity.

Measles vaccines can be given earlier than 12 months, from as early as six months, to protect infants who may be at higher risk of exposure to the virus (such as those travelling overseas). Infants who receive an early dose of the measles vaccine still receive the usual two recommended doses at 12 and 18 months old.

About the authors Phoebe Williams is a paediatrician and infectious diseases physician, senior lecturer and NHMRC fellow at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Sydney. Archana Koirala is a paediatrician and infectious diseases specialist and clinical researcher at the University of Sydney. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

Australians born between 1966 and 1994 (those aged roughly 2060) are considered to be at greater risk of measles, as the second dose was only recommended from November 1992. Australia is seeing breakthrough measles infections in this age group.

An additional measles vaccine can be given to these adults at any time. Its safe to get an extra dose even if you have been vaccinated before. If you are unsure if you need one, talk to your GP who may check your measles immunity (or immunisation record, if applicable) before vaccinating.

However, as the measles vaccine is a live vaccine, its not safe to give to people with weakened immune systems (due to certain medical conditions) or pregnant women. Its therefore important that healthy, eligible people receive the measles vaccine to protect themselves and our vulnerable population.

6. How long does a measles vaccine last?

The measles vaccine is one of the most effective vaccines we have. After two doses, about 99 per cent of people will be protected against measles for life.

And the measles vaccine not only protects you from the disease. It also stops you from transmitting the virus to others.
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Sydney Sweeney might be in trouble with the law after yet another ad campaign gone wrong.

Months after the actor sparked backlash for her controversial American Eagle campaign, she swapped out her jeans for lingerie to embark on promoting another clothing line.

Sweeney, 28, recently ventured up to the Los Angeles landmark for a nighttime shoot where she was filmed climbing to the top of the signs 45-foot-tall letters, according to footage obtained by TMZ.

Wearing black cargo pants, a black hoodie and a black hat, the Euphoria star hung a clothesline of bras from her upcoming lingerie line, Syrn, over the sign before stopping to admire her work and laugh.

But while Sweeney got the proper permit from Film LA to shoot on the site, she reportedly did not get prior approval from the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce to touch or climb the letters  meaning she and her production team could be charged with criminal trespassing or vandalism if the chamber decides to press charges.

open image in gallery Sydney Sweeney recently climbed the iconic Hollywood sign to hang up bras to promote her new lingerie line ( AFP via Getty Images )

open image in gallery Sydney Sweeney was filmed climbing the Hollywood sign in Los Angeles to promote her new lingerie line ( Getty Images )

There was no permission granted to do this, as is required, the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce told TMZ.

Neither the chamber nor Sweeneys representatives returned The Independents request for comment.

People caught climbing or decorating the Hollywood sign are typically arrested at the scene. Trespassing on the site can result in a misdemeanor charge, meaning a fine of up to $1,000 or even jail time up to six months.

Built in 1923 and donated to the city in 1944, the Hollywood sign sits on public land in Griffith Park. The landmark is trademarked by the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce and managed by the non-profit Hollywood Sign Trust.

Although it sits on public land and belongs to the city, it is illegal to climb the sign because it is in a restricted area. The sign also has remote surveillance cameras, eight-foot fencing and motion censors to protect it. The Los Angeles Police and Fire Departments, in addition to park rangers, typically monitor the area around the sign to stop tourists from wandering in.

LAPD did not immediately return The Independents request for comment, but told Fox News Digital that there was no investigation into the incident so far because no crime was committed.

Sweeneys upcoming lingerie line, Syrn, is expected to launch Wednesday, according to a teaser video starring the actor. The brand is reportedly financed by Coatue, which has investors including Jeff Bezos and his wife Lauren Sanchez.
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Three people have been arrested in California after authorities seized hundreds of elephant tusks, rhinoceros horns and other animal parts from protected species.

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife opened an investigation earlier this month after authorities in Fresno intercepted a falsely labeled shipment of illegal animal products from Thailand, according to a Friday press release from California Gov. Gavin Newsom.

Inside the shipment were four elephant trunks that authorities determined were from Asian elephants, a species protected under the Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species.

Officers also seized hundreds of illegal products made from ivory and elephant, as well as other products from poached animals, including rhino horns, walrus tusks, suspected bear gall bladders, saiga antelope and turtle shells.

Three suspects, whose identities have not been publicly shared, have been booked into the Fresno County Jail, facing charges involving wildlife trafficking violations under the California Fish and Game Code.

open image in gallery Authorities arrested three people for wildlife trafficking violations after seizing hundreds of illegal animal products, including elephant tusks and rhinoceros horns this month in California ( California Department of Fish and Wildlife )

Charges are set to be filed with the Fresno and Madera County district attorneys offices.

Nathan Smith, the Assistant Chief, Special Operations for Law Enforcement Division, California Fish and Wildlife, told Fox 26 that this is one of the largest cases of trafficking illegal animal products in recent years.

We have discovered cases like this, across the years, throughout the years, for the past 10 years. But this one, this definitely marks one of the larger cases for sure," Smith said.

The same day, officers in Madera County, just north of Fresno, also shut down an illegal rooster-fighting ring, where they found illegal derivatives of protected kestrel falcons, according to the report.

open image in gallery Authorities seized hundreds of illegal animal products, including elephant tusks, rhinoceros horns, walrus tusks, suspected bear gall bladders, saiga antelope and turtle shells ( California Department of Fish and Wildlife )

"Those were residences that we had in Madera County that were connected to the Fresno facility. So everything had a nexus back to the Fresno facility. Still, those were home residences of some of the employees, where we believed that they also possessed illegal wildlife parts," Smith said.

Allan Crawford, vice president of the World Wildlife Fund, told Fox that these illegal items are still sought after because they are considered high fashion by many.

open image in gallery Three people have been arrested on wildlife trafficking violations, but more arrests may come, according to a report ( California Department of Fish and Wildlife )

"For rhino horn, Asia has typically been the primary demand center, but there are other regions, and the US is no exception. And those can be used for traditional medicine. There's also, they're also used almost as a party drug in some countries, where they believe it helps you party all night. And also the mis-founded belief that it will cure cancer as well," Crawford said.

While only three arrests have been made, the CDFW told Fox 26 there are about seven suspects in total. More arrests may come as the investigation continues, according to the report.
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A 79-year-old woman imprisoned for killing her terminally ill husband as part of a botched murder-suicide pact in 2023 has said she wouldn't do anything differently and is accepting the consequences.

It was three years ago this month that Ellen Gilland of New Smyrna Beach, Florida smuggled her husband Jerry's gun into his hospital room in Daytona Beach and fired a single, fatal shot into his head.

An hours-long standoff ensued, forcing staff and patients to shelter in place until police officers finally threw a nonlethal explosive device into the room and took Gilland into custody.

A judge ultimately accepted Gilland's claim that her actions had been part of an agreement with her 77-year-old husband, but sentenced her to one year in prison and 12 years on probation due to the disruption and fear she had sown among bystanders.

Asked by Fox 35 Orlando whether she would change her actions now, Gilland insisted: "There wasn't anything else to do."

Gilland said it was a challenge to return to normal life after being released from prison, especially without her supportive, quiet, generous husband ( Daytona Beach Police Department )

According to reports, Gilland told investigators that three weeks beforehand, she and her husband Jerry  who was 77 years old  had agreed that she would kill him and then herself if his illness got worse.

"I knew what was coming. I knew how difficult it would be to be without him. Not just my best friend, but all of the things that we did for each other..., she told Fox 35.

"In the 76 years before this event happened, I had never been in trouble before in my life, and never planned to hurt anyone ever, she added.

Of her late husband, whom she had known since middle school, she said: "He was very supportive, very quiet, very generous. He was a lovely person."

Gilland said that she brought her husband's old gun to the hospital and sat with him talking for a while, before killing him. Afterwards, though, she found she could not go through with the suicide part of her plan.

When hospital staff entered the room, however, Gilland  apparently in a state of extreme distress  pointed the gun at them and told them to leave, beginning an armed standoff with police.

"Tell me what's going on! I don't want to hurt you!" one officer can be heard shouting on body cam footage.

"Things didn't progress the way I would have thought they would," Gilland admitted in her later interview.

In the aftermath, Gilland was initially charged with first degree murder, but her charges were reduced by a grant jury. She ultimately pled no contest to manslaughter with a firearm, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, and aggravated assault of a law enforcement officer with a firearm.

One nurse testified during her trial that he had been forced to quit his job after the killing because he "didn't feel safe anymore" at the hospital and regularly "got nightmares" due to the incident.

Gilland told Fox 35 that she had struggled in prison, suffering a heart attack just six weeks into her sentence due to the stress. She did the rest of her time in the infirmary, before being released in November 2025.

"Most of the guards were very  not really friendly, but accepting," she said. "There were a few of them that were very rude, and shouting, and name-calling."

Now released, Gilland is doing court-ordered community service, and will do so monthly as long as she is physically able. She has recently started working at a local animal shelter, according to Fox 35.

"Im accepting the consequences," she told the outlet. "I have to figure out how to survive after this."

She also told the outlet that she would try to live out the rest of her life without her husband, while advocating for some form of assisted suicide to be legalized.

"I don't want people feeling sorry for me. I did what I did," she said.

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 branchIf 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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A Minnesota man who decided his pregnant sister was no longer innocent has admitted to killing her, dismembering her body and leaving pieces of her remains in multiple locations, authorities said.

Jack Joseph Ball, 24, pleaded guilty last week to the murders of 30-year-old sister Bethany Ann Israel and her unborn baby, according to the Dakota County Attorney's Office.

Israel, who was married to Josh Israel, was killed on May 23, 2024. According to court documents, she had gone to her brothers Lakeville home around 6 p.m. to have dinner with him. Several hours later, family members grew concerned when they had not heard from her.

At about 11 p.m., their mother drove to the home to check on her daughter. When she arrived, she saw Ball tear out of the house, prosecutors said. When she went inside Balls home, she discovered a large amount of blood and called 911.

Officers from the Lakeville Police Department found a bloody saw, hatchet, and large, bloody knives and several dismembered body parts inside the home, according to the DAs office.

Jack Joseph Ball, 24, of Lakeville, Minnesota, pleaded guilty last week to murder in the deaths of his 30-year-old sister, Bethany Ann Israel, and her unborn baby ( Dakota County Sheriff's Office )

Shortly thereafter, police received a 911 call from a Rosemount resident reporting they observed a man on a home security camera place what appeared to be a body part on their front step.

After a brief search, Ball was found in the backyard of a neighboring home. He had a self-inflicted injury to his neck and was taken to a local hospital before being taken into custody.

Investigators later recovered several handwritten journals in which Ball wrote that he was angry at his sister because she was pregnant and no longer innocent, prosecutors said.

The Hennepin County Medical Examiners Office confirmed Israel was between 17 and 18 weeks pregnant, and determined her cause of death was complex homicidal violence.

The allegations in this case are deeply disturbing and horrific  words cant describe what our law enforcement partners encountered during the investigation, Dakota County Attorney Kathy Keena said in a statement. My office will work hard to ensure the victims receive justice and will provide the necessary support for the victims family.

A GoFundMe created by Israels family describes her as a cherished wife, daughter, sister, and an expectant mother who had a radiant spirit and unwavering kindness.

Her love for life, her family, and the friendships she nurtured are the legacies she leaves behind, the campaign continued. As a beacon of warmth and generosity, Bethanys absence leaves a void that cannot be filled.

In January 2025, Ball, who has claimed a defense of mental illness, was indicted on two counts of premeditated first-degree murder and two counts of intentional second-degree murder.

Last week, Ball pleaded guilty to counts one and three of the indictment  premeditated first-degree murder and premeditated first-degree murder of an unborn child. Prosecutors have recommended that Ball serve a life sentence as part of the plea deal.

Minnesota law allows defendants to claim they are not criminally responsible if mental illness prevented them from understanding what they were doing or knowing it was wrong at the time of the offense, Law & Crime reported.

Ball remains behind bars at the Dakota County Jail. He is set to return to court on May 21, where the State will litigate Ball's defense of mental illness, according to the Dakota County Attorney's Office.

If convicted, Ball faces a mandatory sentence of life in prison.
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Kristi Noems odds of being the first Trump cabinet member to get fired have surged among political bettors after her attempts to defend the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti in Minnesota.

On both Polymarket and Kalshi, two popular prediction market sites, the Homeland Security secretary now leads the pack for the question Who will be the first to leave the Trump Cabinet?

Having been tipped at only 12 percent probability on January 21, Noem had soared to 40 percent on Kalshi and 43 percent on Polymarket as of Monday afternoon.

That put her well ahead of Trumps embattled attorney general Pam Bondi, who has been criticized across the political spectrum for her handling of the Epstein files, and his labor secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer, who has reportedly been accused of taking staff to a strip club during an official work trip.

Kristi Noem has forfeited her right to lead, said New Yorks Democratic governor Kathy Hochul at a press conference Sunday.

Im calling on her to resign as Secretary of Homeland Security or Donald Trump to do the right thing and just fire her. And, if not, she must be removed or impeached, she said.

Alex Jeffrey Pretti, a 37-year-old intensive care nurse at a VA hospital, became the sixth person to die during Trumps massive nationwide immigration crackdown when he was shot dead Saturday morning by federal agents while protesting in Minneapolis.

open image in gallery Noem gave a pugnacious account of Prettis death during a press conference at FEMAs National Response Coordination Center in Washington, DC ( Getty )

An individual approached U.S. Border Patrol officers with a 9mm semi-automatic handgun. The officers attempted to disarm this individual, but the armed suspect reacted violently, Noem told reporters on Saturday.

Fearing for his life and for the lives of his fellow officers around him, an agent fired defensive shots.

She further accused Pretti of assaulting offices, wishing to inflict harm on them, and brandishing a firearm.

Videos from the scene contradict that account, showing Pretti with no visible weapon in his hand while federal agents tackled him to the ground. Agents appeared to remove a pistol from his person, before unloading several rounds into him as he was on the ground.

Trump has declined to expressly defend Noems words, telling The Wall Street Journal: Were looking, were reviewing everything and will come out with a determination.

open image in gallery Trump refused to defend Noems words in an interview with the Wall Street Journal. ( Reuters )

Meanwhile, DHS on Monday denied reports that Gregory Bovino  the Border Patrol officer who has led Trumps crackdowns in Chicago and Minneapolis, and whom a federal judge accused of outright lying about his agents use of force  had been removed from his role.

Trump has so far avoided the rapid turnover in Cabinet positions that held sway during his first term, keeping more or less the same top team in place since last January.

Reports of a coming shake-up in the new year have so far failed to materialize, but that might change if Noem continues to provoke the bipartisan criticism of the past seven days.

Vermonts Republican governor Phil Scott slammed Pretti's killing as potentially murder, while Louisiana congressman Bill Cassidy called it incredibly disturbing and said the credibility of ICE and DHS are at stake.

Polymarket and Kalshi are prediction market services that let users bet against each other on whether certain future events will come to pass. U.S. regulators consider them financial trading platforms rather than a gambling platform, which allows it to operate in states that ban online betting.
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The apocalypse is closer than it ever has been, according to the experts behind the Doomsday Clock.

The clock now stands at 85 seconds to midnight  down from 89 seconds last year. That was already the closest it had ever been, and it has been moved closer in three of the last four years.

Experts including world leading scientists pointed to the dangers of global war as well as climate change and artificial intelligence in explaining their decision.

The clock is managed by the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, which created the clock in 1947 to track the tensions of the Cold War. In 1953, it came as close as it did in that era, at two minutes to midnight.

In the time since, the clock has reflected optimism about peace, ticking as much as 17 minutes away from apocalypse in 1991. But it has been almost unstoppably falling towards midnight ever since  challenging the scientists behind it, who have been forced to use seconds rather than minutes to communicate the danger.

open image in gallery Doomsday Clock ( Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. )

"Of course, the Doomsday Clock is about global risks, and what we have seen is a global failure in leadership," nuclear policy expert Alexandra Bell, the Bulletin's president and CEO, told Reuters. "No matter the government, a shift towards neo-imperialism and an Orwellian approach to governance will only serve to push the clock toward midnight."

open image in gallery Doomsday Clock ( Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. )

Last year, experts had moved the clock from 90 seconds to 89 seconds. They said then that the move was intended to send a stark signal: Because the world is already perilously close to the precipice, a move of even a single second should be taken as an indication of extreme danger and an unmistakable warning that every second of delay in reversing course increases the probability of global disaster.

This time around it has moved by four seconds.

"In terms of nuclear risks, nothing in 2025 trended in the right direction," Bell said. "Longstanding diplomatic frameworks are under duress or collapsing, the threat of explosive nuclear testing has returned, proliferation concerns are growing, and there were three military operations taking place under the shadow of nuclear weapons and the associated escalatory threat.

The risk of nuclear use is unsustainably and unacceptably high."

Bell pointed to Russia's continued war in Ukraine, the U.S. and Israeli bombing of Iran and border clashes between India and Pakistan. Bell also cited continuing tensions in Asia including on the Korean Peninsula and China's threats toward Taiwan, as well as rising tensions in the Western Hemisphere since U.S. President Donald Trump returned to office 12 months ago.

open image in gallery ( AP )

The last remaining nuclear arms pact between the United States and Russia, the New START treaty, expires on February 5. Russian President Vladimir Putin proposed in September that the two countries agree to observe for another year the limits set under the pact, which caps each side's number of deployed nuclear warheads at 1,550. Trump has not formally responded. Western security analysts are divided about the wisdom of accepting Putin's offer.

Trump in October ordered the U.S. military to restart the process for testing nuclear weapons after a halt of more than three decades. No nuclear power, other than North Korea most recently in 2017, has conducted explosive nuclear testing in more than a quarter century.

No country would benefit more from a full-scale return to such testing than China, given its continued push to expand its nuclear arsenal, according to Bell, a former senior official at the US State Department's Bureau of Arms Control, Deterrence and Stability.

Trump has upended the world order. He sent U.S. forces to capture Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, threatened other Latin American countries, vowed to restore U.S. dominance in the Western Hemisphere, talked about annexing Greenland and imperiled transatlantic security cooperation.

Russia launched its large-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, and there is no end in sight. Among the weapons Russia has used is the nuclear-capable hypersonic Oreshnik missile. Russia released video in December of what it said was the deployment of the Oreshnik in Belarus, a move meant to boost the Russian ability to strike targets across Europe.

"Russia, China, the United States and other major countries have become increasingly aggressive and nationalistic," Bell said.

Their "winner-takes-all great power competition" undermines the international cooperation needed to reduce risks of nuclear war, climate change, misuse of biotechnology, potential AI-related hazards and other apocalyptic dangers, Bell said.

Bell also cited Trump's domestic actions against science, academia, the civil service and news organizations.

Maria Ressa, a 2021 Nobel Peace Prize recipient for her journalistic efforts exposing abuses of power in the Philippines including how social media platforms were used to spread disinformation, participated in the announcement.

"We are living through an information Armageddon - the crisis beneath all crises - driven by extractive and predatory technology that spreads lies faster than facts and profits from our division," Ressa said in a statement.

Additional reporting by Reuters
DAMASCUS, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- Recent escalation in northeastern Syria has forced tens of thousands of people from their homes, with the number of displaced in Hasakah province jumping from about 5,700 to more than 146,000 in just one week, the United Nations said on Tuesday.

The displacement followed reported ceasefire violations that have raised fears of renewed fighting between Syria's interim authority and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said.

Citing an International Organization for Migration (IOM) report, OCHA said families were fleeing mainly to Raqqa and Deir al-Zour, with most sheltering in overcrowded collective sites.

Conditions are dire, the agency said, with nearly all those displaced in need of urgent cash assistance and basic supplies. More than 60 percent require food, while almost half lack access to essential health care and medicines.

The IOM said a ceasefire in Aleppo province announced on Jan. 18 has largely held, allowing about 81 percent of people displaced by earlier fighting to return home. At the height of the clashes in early January, around 138,000 people had fled.

Many returnees still face serious risks, including unexploded ordnance and damaged infrastructure, and continue to need food and financial aid, the agency said. The IOM called for sustained humanitarian access, warning that limited basic services and shifting security conditions continue to endanger lives across the region.

In mid-January 2026, pro-Damascus forces launched a major offensive, seizing several neighbourhoods in Aleppo and advancing into Raqqa and Deir al-Zour. A Jan. 18 agreement called for the SDF to integrate into a unified national army, but ceasefire violations have been frequent, particularly in Hasakah province. 
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CultureBooksReview Can AI have a positive impact on creative industries? This author thinks so JP O'Malley January 21, 2026  12:00pm Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share A A A

Whats good, whats bad, and whats in between in literature? Here we review the latest titles. See all stories .

TECHNOLOGY

AI Ink: Writing, Publishing, and Misinformation at the Dawn of the AI Age

Jason Van Tatenhove

Skyhorse Publishing, $49.99 In the summer of 2022, a congressional committee in Washington sat to investigate the riot at the US Capitol on January 6, 2021. Jason Van Tatenhove testified voluntarily about the two years he worked as national media director for the far-right paramilitary group: the Oath Keepers. The American journalist-author elaborated on this topic in Perils of Extremism, which was published in 2023. That summer, Van Tatenhoves wife, Shilo, died from a long-term medical condition. Afterwards, Van Tatenhove fell into a depression. He lost the mother of his two daughters, the love of his life, and an editorial advisor. In desperation, he asked ChatGPT to edit an article. I gave myself permission to cheat, Van Tatenhove confesses in AI Ink, which is partially written by Artificial Intelligence (AI). The author claims AI tools like Grammarly, Jasper AI, and ChatGPT have made him a better writer. But he is transparent about AI sources, which are documented via a footnoting system hes invented called The Colorado-Asimov Ethical Citation Standard (CA-ECS).

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The title draws inspiration from I, Robot: a collection of short stories published by Russian American author, Isaac Asimov, in 1950, who imagined a society where robots worked alongside humans. The same decade that Asimovs collection of science fiction stories was published marked the birth of AI in the real world. Van Tatenhove starts with that history, which began with perceptrons. Journalist, author and AI aficiando Jason Van Tatenhove. Developed by the American psychologist Frank Rosenblatt, these primitive digital neurons mimicked how the human brain processes information. By the 1970s and 80s, AI systems still struggled with complexity. The arrival of the backpropagation algorithm gave neural networks the ability to learn from mistakes. During the 1990s and early 2000s, machine learning helped computers learn from data.

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Related Article University After three years with ChatGPT, whats the value of a university degree? A decade later, deep learning enabled AI to carry out image recognition, speech processing, and language translation. In 2017, scientists working at Google published Attention Is All You Need, a paper that introduced a new deep learning architecture known as the transformer. Based on attention mechanism, this became the foundation for the technology powering ChatGPT, BERT, and other AI systems that have transformed our digital landscape. But as AIs intelligence capabilities have grown, so too have ethical concerns. Van Tatenhove points to numerous examples. AI systems have been developed from millions of books, mostly without any copyrighting. ChatGPT might have democratised AI access, but its also opened the floodgates to online abuse: spam, scams, fake news, and deepfakes. Meanwhile, many AI specialists in Silicon Valley point to greater dangers. In May 2023, British-Canadian scientist Geoffrey Hinton walked away from Google, after warning that AI systems might soon surpass human intelligence. That March, the American computer scientist and researcher Eliezer Yudkowsky published an article in Time, titled Pausing AI Developments Isnt Enough. We Need to Shut it All Down.

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Van Tatenhove disagrees. This presumes that any intelligence greater than ours will be indifferent or hostile, he writes. This sets the tone for the rest of the book, where Van Tatenhove writes about the benefits AI is bringing to writers and journalists. Namely: automating mundane routine tasks, like transcription and data sorting. True. But outsourcing brainstorming, editing and writing to AI, as Van Tatenhove suggests? Its dangerous and irresponsible. When AI gets confused or doesnt know a fact, it typically hallucinates and tells lies instead. Elsewhere, Van Tatenhove claims AI can help combat climate change and improve human rights across the planet. Loading Other authors tell another story. In The Walls Have Eyes: Surviving Migration in the Age of Artificial Intelligence (2024), Petra Molnar chronicled how AI-driven technology is used to punish refugees, asylum seekers, and stateless people at some of the worlds most dangerous border crossings. Darren Bylers In the Camps (2021) documented how China, under Xi Jinping, has employed pernicious sophisticated AI-led technological systems to separate Xinjiangs Muslim minorities from the broader Han population.

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Related Article Literature Sixty books to look out for in the first half of 2026 As we sit on the edge of this AI revolution, lets not lose hope, Van Tatenhove writes. Lets take these tools and learn to wield them for good. We must hold the tech industry accountable for building AI systems that align with our values. Its not a convincing argument. It also assumes that AI systems are politically neutral. The harsher truth is that the future of AI will not be determined by a collective democratic process, but behind closed doors in a Silicon Valley boardroom, by some of the worlds wealthiest individuals. Believing that anything but profit will influence their decisions is naive and hopelessly idealistic. The future of AI isnt just about technology, Van Tatenhove concludes. Its about humanity.

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Indeed. But for a small portion of humanity. With AIs assistance, theyll own more resources, gross inequality will increase exponentially, as AI continues to promote the illusion of freedom. The Booklist is a weekly newsletter for book lovers from Jason Steger. Get it delivered every Friday.
COLOMBO, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lanka's Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption said Tuesday that 84 individuals were arrested in 2025 during a series of raids across the country.

The commission said the arrests were made during 130 islandwide raids last year.

According to the commission's latest data, police officers accounted for the largest share of those detained, with 30 members of the Sri Lanka Police taken into custody. Police personnel also represented the majority of arrests recorded in 2024, the data show.

In addition, 56 suspects were arrested following formal investigations based on public complaints. The anti-graft body said those detained through investigations include several high-ranking officials, such as former ministers, ministry secretaries and heads of government departments.

The commission said it would continue stepped-up enforcement actions as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen accountability and curb corruption in the public sector. 
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To hell with delulu. Boo-hoo slop! The fuss surrounding Word of the Year gets old fast, with Decembers dictionaries crowning stuff like skibidi and 67, whatever 67 means. So lets widen the lens. Time to explore what other nations anointed. Sure, we may be deep in January but lets meet jernmarker.

Literally iron fields, the term won the Danish gong as a label for the solar farms dominating that country. Meanwhile, Luxembourg plumped for Trounwiessel (throne change), their shorthand for that countrys duke swap. And Austria fell for a moose.

Yes, a footloose moose called Emil. Over summer the beast strayed onto autobahns, raided orchards, stopped locomotives in their tracks. Emil was a nod to Czech long-distance runner Emil Zatopek, a four-time Olympic champ who never boasted 30,000 fans on Instagram. Eventually a taskforce sedated the nomad, driving him back to Bohemia. Though Moose Emil remains lodged in Austrian hearts, and now its dictionary, as an emblem of adventure.

Moose Emil, who roamed Lower Austria in 2024. APA-PictureDesk via AFP

Next door in Germany the panel chose KI-Boom as its 2025 darling. Sounds exciting until you twig that our AI  or Artificial Intelligence  is their KI: Kunstliche Intelligenz. Quirkier nominees were Wehrdienst-Lotto (military service lottery), klimamude (climate-tired), Vertiktokung (TikTok-ification) and the English import of deal, from Friedensdeal (peace deal), Geiseldeal (hostage deal), and Zolldeal (tariff deal).
Sharon Prero, Conal Coad, Reg Livermore and Stuart Maunder in rehearsals for the 1992 Victoria State Opera production of The Pirates of Penzance.

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In Victorian Operas rehearsal space, the cast assemble to run through With Cat-Like Tread, a raucous number from near the end of The Pirates of Penzance. The number sees the pirate crew preparing to break into the Major-Generals house and murder him. The cast, including Ben Mingay as the Pirate King, Nicholas Jones as Frederic and Nina Korbe as Mabel, wave sticks of dowel, standing in for swords and batons. On stage at Palais Theatre, the pirate ship and sets will be large painted flats on wheels, like a live-action cartoon. The cast of Victorian Operas latest staging of The Pirates of Penzance in rehearsal. Wayne Taylor On January 31 Victorian Opera will present the umpteenth staging of The Pirates of Penzance. And for the umpteenth time, itll be a hit. W.S. Gilbert and Arthur Sullivan wrote 14 comic operas together between 1871 and 1896, including Pirates, HMS Pinafore, and The Mikado. Something about them still works. Music, of course, is timeless. But its not often that jokes hold up 150 years on. Pirates is funny. Our hero, Frederic, is apprenticed to pirates because his nursemaid misheard his fathers wishes for him to be an apprentice pilot. The hapless gang, all orphans, routinely free their captives if they too claim to be orphans. Needless to say, word gets around, and theyre easily fooled. When you say orphan, you mean a person whos lost his parents, or often  frequently? A century later, these jokes would have been called Pythonesque. At the time, they were Gilbertian. Theres a delight in wordplay and an enduring mischief.

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Victorian Opera artistic director Stuart Maunder is a lifelong Gilbert and Sullivan devotee. He says theyre built to last. So many musicals and operas from the 20th century just dont work today, but Gilbert and Sullivan still does  Theyre better constructed. Theyre character-driven rather than gag-driven. Stuart Maunder, artistic director of Victorian Opera, has directed the work of Gilbert and Sullivan everywhere from high schools to the Sydney Opera House. Wayne Taylor Maunder, who is directing this production, knows a thing or two about Gilbert and Sullivan. For five decades hes directed their work everywhere from high schools to the Sydney Opera House. In university, he had a turn as the Pirate King. I love the language and I love the music, he says. My first experience with classical music was through this stuff. Even now, I still hear people say that their parents or their grandparents took them to see these shows, and that started a lifelong obsession with theatre. Marina Prior, pictured in 1984, as Mabel. Jacqueline Haynes/Fairfax Media Maunder reels off the names of people who have taken influence from Gilbert and Sullivan. Freddie Mercury. Cole Porter. Noel Coward. Lin-Manuel Miranda. Gustav Holst. Ill add the Muppets and the Minions to that list. Upstairs in Maunders office the full extent of the passion becomes apparent. There are shelves full of reference books about Gilbert and Sullivan, a glass cabinet full of ceramic Toby Jugs of G&S characters, and folders of century-old programs and flyers for old G&S productions. I spot a cassette of some of his early work, a high school production of Trial By Jury. This is the tip of the iceberg  hes got more at home and more in storage. I politely describe it as an interest, and then a passion.

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Its an obsession, he corrects me. Ive been collecting pretty much since I was 16. Maunder first encountered Gilbert and Sullivan when he saw the Boggabri Amateur Dramatic Societys production of Pirates. I would have been seven or eight, he says. Our vicar, Reverend Taylor, played the Pirate King. I remember, to this day, the barrel down-stage with a skull and crossbones on it. The following year he was given a walk-on role as the Midshipmite in HMS Pinafore. His theatre career, and his lifelong Gilbert and Sullivan obsession, began in earnest. Stuart Maunder, second from right, as the Pirate King in a University of NSW production of The Pirates of Penzance, 1977. Gilbert and Sullivan operas have always been a hit here in Melbourne too. Maunder says that the popularity of Gilbert and Sullivan has always helped fund companies other, less crowd-pleasing performances. When the official production of HMS Pinafore arrived in town in 1879, there were already at least two bootleg versions running in theatres on Bourke Street  one starring renowned soprano Nellie Stewart, and one starring renowned drag queen Francis Leon. Melbourne never changes. Just when it looked like the duos popularity was fading, the 1981 Broadway production of Pirates, directed by Wilford Leach and starring Kevin Kline and Linda Ronstadt was a hit, a century after its premiere. That version was a hit in Australia too, starring Jon English and Marina Prior.

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Eating outJust open A new Middle Eastern wine bar in Martin Place is serving Egyptian steak frites Former Chef of the Year Paul Farag opens a sibling venue to his two-hatted Aalia, where Middle Eastern bar snacks and wine curiosities reign supreme. Erina Starkey January 27, 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

Steak frites may be a fixture on Sydney menus, but theres only one place serving it as a wood-seared rump cap finished with a fenugreek and harissa-spiced Cafe de Cairo butter. You can find it in Aalia Wine Room, a new casual extension of two-hatted Middle Eastern restaurant Aalia at Martin Place. The menu was created by former Good Food Guide Chef of the Year Paul Farag, who has taken the North African and Arabic flavours of Aalia and adapted them to a relaxed, wine-bar setting. Beautiful fishbowl: The two-level space was inspired by Harry Seidlers original MLC architecture. Jiwon Kim The more casual format has allowed Farag to loosen up the rule book a little bit and add wine-friendly dishes such as charcuterie and cheese to the menu.

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That was something people have always asked for in Aalia, but it never really stayed true to my vision of the restaurant because Middle Eastern cheeses arent really eaten at the end of the meal like you would in, say, French dining, Farag says. Restaurant reviews, news and the hottest openings served to your inbox. Sign up Both will be served mezze-style. The charcuterie currently features squid ink and truffle salami, beef pastrami and cured pork neck, while the cheese plate includes ashed goats cheese and Langres  a French washed rind. The charcuterie plate and kibbeh nayeh. Jiwon Kim The menu also includes familiar bistro staples reimagined through a Middle Eastern lens. Theres a gilda, skewered with bastourma, pickles and a quail egg, and anchovy toasts spread with muhammara  a smoky-sweet red capsicum and walnut dip. A fish shawarma is designed to be eaten by hand, wrapped up in flatbread with a Murray cod wing, pickles, lettuce and toum.

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Farag will also bring back a few fan-favourite dishes such as the hawashi, a pan-fried Egyptian street-food pastry stuffed with minced lamb, nuts and onions, and terrific with beer. The basturma, pickled chilli and quails egg gilda. Jiwon Kim It was something we had on the menu for a while at Aalia, and then, as most chefs do, I got sort of sick of cooking the same thing. But were putting it back on, and maybe the sujuk-stuffed artichoke will come back too. We want the menu to be fun and fluid and a lot more specials-orientated. The wine list, created by sommelier Sarah ODwyer, features 235 labels, with 31 available by the glass. Its designed to encourage exploration, and includes a section on curiosities, such as an Albino Pinot from L.A.S Vino in Margaret River, and an Austrian blend of zweigelt and blaufrankisch grapes. A dedicated discovery hour, running Tuesday to Saturday from 5pm to 6pm, invites guests to blind-select a wine special, which is revealed tableside.

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The wine list includes curiosities like forgotten varietals and unusual blends. Jiwon Kim The design of the venue follows Aalias lead. The two-level space is completely glass-fronted, featuring spotted gum timber accents and banquette seating, inspired by Harry Seidlers original MLC architecture, with seating for 42. Its a beautiful fishbowl. If you like people-watching, its the perfect spot, Farag says. Were going to roll the dice and see if we can get a licence for outside because we would love to have a little area where you can sit in the sun. One of my favourite things to do on a Saturday or Sunday afternoon is share a bottle of wine outdoors and watch people go by. Open Tue-Fri noon-late, Sat 5pm-late

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Here we go again, began Gippsland MP Darren Chester on Facebook, a few hours after one of his Nationals colleagues announced his intention to move for a leadership spill.

In one of todays top stories, Colin Boyce, an MP from Queensland, revealed on Sky News he would seek to replace David Littleproud as leader next week, following Littleprouds decision to take the Nationals out of the Coalition.

Nationals MP Darren Chester. Simon Schluter

Chester, a former cabinet minister, didnt mention anyone by name in his post, but said: At a time when Australian families are struggling with the increased cost of housing, energy bills and everyday expenses, I am embarrassed that my party has spent the past week talking about itself.

I entered politics to make a difference for the people of Gippsland, not to participate in self-indulgent Canberra games about leadership and issues which have no real impact on people in my community.

Thank you to all the journalists who have tried to call me following the member for Flynn [Boyce]s announcement that he will run for leadership of the party on Monday. You can quote from this statement.

Chester said he would not support the spill motion, nor enter as a leadership candidate.

Seriously, the sooner the Liberals and the Nationals can resolve any internal leadership debates and set up a plan to transition back to a functioning Coalition, the sooner we can hold this poor government to account, he said.

We owe it to the Australian people to do better.

Chester ended the post with a picture of some participants in the Cycling Without Age Gippsland trishaws.
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NationalDomestic violence Opinion Keeping women alive is everybodys business. Heres what we must do next Jenna Price Columnist January 27, 2026  7:30pm

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When are we going to understand that when a man hurts his partner, its not an accident. He means it. He really means it. Researchers tell us that there are eight steps on the way to murder. Eight signs. Eight opportunities to stop the violence. We are spending January searching for reasons, searching for murderers, five women all killed this month. But are our bail laws really the problem? Sophie Quinn, Nerida Quinn, Velvet Pesu, and two poor bloody women, one in Victoria, one in Queensland, whose names we dont even yet know. But this much we do know. Those women knew their accused murderers. Sophie Quinn was killed in the NSW town of Lake Cargelligo last week. As Silke Meyer, Griffith University criminology professor observes, the case of Sophie Quinn ticked so many boxes which predicted harm, but nobody intervened. Stalking, longstanding history of domestic, family and sexual violence across multiple relationships, abuse during pregnancy. Tick. Tick. Tick. Wheres the system to assess, to monitor, to manage risk and, finally, crucially, to intervene? Why is there not a nationwide system which goes ping when these predictors occur? Ping. Ping. PING PING PING. Sirens sounding before a murder. My car does a better job of warning me there is about to be a problem than our domestic violence system does.

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Instead, our institutions pretend to be neutral when they should be sharing information to prioritise safety at speed and across state borders. Friends and family often lack an understanding of how to support safety. And crisis responses are drastically underfunded  calls go unanswered. Sometimes we get told to mind our own business. But dead women are our business. We must learn to intervene  not just as friends and family but with every single institutional interaction. Says Meyer: If we dont have a co-ordinated community response that shares information and continues to monitor risk, victims will always have to rely on an individual response. Risk management and monitoring is a collective systems responsibility, not the responsibility of the last part of the system that had contact with the victim or perpetrator. Performance artist Velvet Pesu was found dead at a property south of Brisbane on Monday, January 12. Facebook/Velvet Pesu We keep focusingon the incidents instead of the patterns of behaviour, says Meyer. And we could talk about electronic monitoring all we like (and believe me, I have) but thats not going to put the pieces back together.

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Speaking of pieces ... my first response to the murder of Sophie Quinn was to blame our bail laws. Kate Fitz-Gibbons research in 2024 on intimate partner homicides revealed that in 8 per cent of cases, the offender was on bail at the time of the murder. Yes, its a key risk point for the perpetration of fatal violence against women. But when you look at whats happening in our prisons, you can see theres been a massive upswing of people incarcerated for domestic violence. Jackie Fitzgerald, executive director of the NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research, spent the long weekend helping me navigate the numbers. The number of people in custody for a domestic violence offence has soared by 60 per cent over seven years, from 2114 in September 2018 to 3410 in September 2025. Those offenders now account for over 25 per cent of the prison population up from 16 per cent in 2018. Thats at the same time as the total adult prison population declined. In Victoria, the Crime Statistics Agency shows a 13 per cent increase from 2021 to 2025 in incidents which have a family incident flag on the offence. Related Article Exclusive

Crime Accused triple murderer bailed on domestic violence charges weeks before death of gentle mother-to-be And the number of Aboriginal people in custody for a domestic violence offence increased far more rapidly than for nonAboriginal people. Djirra, an Aboriginal Family Violence Prevention and Legal Service, has just expanded services into rural areas in Victoria and as Antoinette Braybrook, chief executive of Djirra puts it, we need many more Aboriginal-controlled specialist services in family violence, experts who can understand, develop and manage what needs to be done. Braybrook also points out that many of the women who use Djirra are the partners of non-Indigenous men. Never mind who the perpetrator is, she says Indigenous women are always frightened, will always be frightened, of reporting because of the likelihood their kids will be taken.

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Ill tell you what else is taken  stolen  the lives of women, the lives of their children, when they exist with family violence. Sophie Quinn never got to meet her little baby  but there are thousands of families where lives, health, memories, were all destroyed because of family violence. In nearly one-third of cases in Fitz-Gibbons research into victims of femicide, judges said the perpetrator had experienced intergenerational violence. What goes around, comes around, and destroys a new generation. Related Article Domestic violence Sophie Quinns death shows justice system is running blind Sometimes they escape, get to start a new life in a new home  but even our refuges are under huge pressure because the system isnt working. No vast database of who needs a home, of who needs safety and security. Nicole Yade, the chief executive of the Womens & Girls Emergency Centre in NSW, says that after these murders: We are all upset for a few days and then something else happens, and we move on. Hell yes. Her organisation houses 200 women and children a night  and those are women who dont have a sister, mother, grandma to help them out. Women whose friends cant assist. Imagine all the women across the country hiding somewhere else. For every one person we house, one person gets turned away, she says. And promised government money comes in dribs and drabs and is never enough. Its never enough.

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Annabelle Daniel, chief executive of Womens Community Shelters, says for them, its 275 women a night. And the further out from metro city we go, the higher the demand there is. Rural and regional areas are desperately underserviced. We need whole-of-system reform and the funding to go with it, everywhere and in every city and region. Thats the message from every serious family violence researcher in the country. Thats the message from every single frontline service. I beg the Minister for Women Katy Gallagher to take charge today. Dont take no for an answer from states which believe politicians and public servants know better. Insist all the systems work together to save the lives of women and children. Youve had the rapid review into family violence prevention for nearly 18 months and still we are waiting for action. We need the sirens to start working today. You can fund them. Please. Jenna Price is a regular columnist.
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An Australian soldier accused of spying for Russia will seek to be released from custody as she awaits trial over an espionage related offence.

Kira Korolev, 41, who was in the Australian Army, was arrested alongside her labourer partner, Igor Korolev, in 2024 at their home in Everton Park on Brisbanes northside.

The Australia Federal Police allege the former information systems technician, who held an ADF security clearance, travelled to Russia undeclared while on long-term leave from the army in 2023.

Kira and Igor Korolev, the accused Russian spies arrested in Brisbane.

While she was away, it is alleged she told Igor how to log into her official work account from their Brisbane home to gain access to material on defence computer systems to send to Russia.
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NationalSchools Opinion School for my bright son has been heartbreaking. Too many teachers think kids need to try harder Clare Traub Contributor January 28, 2026  5:20am

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When I picked up my son from his final year 12 exam at the start of this summer, I was definitely happy it was over and proud of him for getting through such a tough few weeks, but the biggest feelings I had were immense frustration and sadness that we arent doing better for the kids who dont fit the mould. Our son is autistic with severe anxiety and his experience of school has been heartbreaking at times. Many people did not think hed get to the end of year 12, and there have been huge challenges along the way. As parents and teachers prepare for the new school year, its worth noting that it did not have to be this hard for my son, and there are many more kids like him that need better care. Photo: Andrew Dyson Over his 13 years at school we struggled through drawn-out battles to get funding and support  with teachers, principals, the Education Department and the NDIS. We won every time because his medical records are crystal-clear, but it was an exhausting, confusing fight every time. He has had illegal school exclusions, bullying, teachers who think of themselves as inclusive but have no training or real understanding, and many teachers who think its just a phase and that he should try harder. Peer understanding of autism is very poor. Other kids get irritated easily when he talks too much about a favourite topic and mistake his need to walk off stress and sensory overload for a lack of interest in them. There have been years when he was not invited to even one birthday party, and times when we have feared for his safety and mental health.

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School days are not good days for every child. Alamy We have been at two primary schools and two secondary schools. Early in year 11, when a senior teacher described the allowance of extra time in exams as special treatment (again, despite medical evidence from several specialists), we considered moving schools again, but where would we go? Would that teacher say this to a student with poor vision who needed extra time, the kid using a wheelchair who needs a ramp? Autism has been described as the invisible disability, and its often badly misunderstood by teachers, the people whose support students most need. Related Article Opinion

Teaching I taught for 40 years. Inspiring kids comes back to one three-letter word Dianne Kupsch Teacher During the exam season, while other parents were worrying about ATARs and whether their child will do well enough for this course or that, I was afraid he might not make it through the doors of school to even sit the exams, that he might come home, have a meltdown and be so full of anxiety and self-hate that he cant get back to school. Not because he isnt highly intelligent  every assessment says he is  but because he cant get the support he needs to do well. Were not the only ones  there are many students who have a tough time at school and often dont get the support they need: students with illness or poor mental health, students with family challenges. But these stories are not often told.

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Weve had some caring, insightful teachers who have made an immense difference (and I have made sure I thanked every one of them) but also many who dont understand, dont want to know, and have left both our son and us feeling isolated and rejected. Some teachers lack of understanding of autism and lack of willingness to be flexible have done actual harm, both to his success at school and his mental health. Related Article Opinion

Parenting My son didnt win school captain, and Im glad Kellie Floyd Contributor If I could make those teachers understand just a couple of things about autistic students it would be that these kids overwhelmingly want to be at school, they want to be with their peers and they want to do well. But they learn differently from others and they need your help with that. Remember, autistic kids in mainstream settings typically dont have barriers such as severe intellectual disability. They have the capacity to succeed, but we know they often dont. They are many times more likely to be excluded or suspended or to drop out. I want teachers to understand that most autistic kids are harder on themselves than you could ever be. As a medical specialist told us early on, anxiety is always in the driving seat. And anxiety and self-doubt dont always look like the quiet, withdrawn student who is no trouble in class; its often the student who makes jokes when they shouldnt. Its the student who doesnt ask questions, not because they dont care, but because theyre scared. Who doesnt hand work in because theyre worried its not quite right and doesnt ask you for help. Heres another myth: that they choose to be loners or dont want to join in. In those post-exam weeks, our son did not head off to schoolies or friends beach houses. He would have loved some kind of celebration with peers but wasnt invited. Autistic kids are far more likely to experience bullying and social isolation than their peers.

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Im proud and happy that my son has got to the end of the school journey. We are delighted that he has been accepted into the course he chose and will start this year, but it should never be this hard, and we can do so much better. We need far better training and understanding for teachers, better understanding in the community, and a wider variety of school models to suit the needs of different learners. In the current school system, we are wasting potential and causing unnecessary pain. Clare Traub is a Melbourne writer. The Opinion newsletter is a weekly wrap of views that will challenge, champion and inform your own. Sign up here.
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Embattled CFMEU official Joel Shackleton is pushing to subpoena a former police chief commissioner to give evidence in his criminal case but says he is facing resistance from the force in tracking down the ex-chief to serve him papers.

Defence lawyer Lee Ristivojevic told Melbourne Magistrates Court on Tuesday that Victoria Polices subpoena support department had refused to contact former chief commissioner Shane Patton, who was the states most senior police officer from June 2020 until February 2025.

CFMEU organiser Joel Shackleton is accused of threatening to kill. Eddie Jim

Ristivojevic said that at the time of her clients alleged offending  which includes an accusation of threatening to kill the owners of an Indigenous labour hire company  Patton was chief commissioner and actively involved in the case. Victoria Police, she said, had failed to disclose details of his involvement or any notes he may have held.

We intend to pursue Mr Patton as a witness for the defence. Were obviously not getting co-operation from the current chief commissioner [to enable this], Ristivojevic said.
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NationalVictoriaBushfires People just drop what theyre doing: The double-edged sword being felt by fire volunteers Angus Delaney January 27, 2026  4:02pm Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share A A A

For most of the year, the two ex-CFA tankers bought by Michael Blackburn for about $30,000 each arent used for fighting fires. Instead, the Woorndoo CFA captain uses them for duties such as transporting water for livestock and undertaking controlled fires when burning crop stubble at his farm of about 4000 hectares. But when fire devastated Streatham earlier this month, Blackburn said, his truck, along with utes and ex-CFA tankers owned by other locals, played a pivotal role in bringing the blaze under control. Michael Blackburn with one of his ex-CFA tankers. Private units were essential in stopping recent Victorian fires. Jason South We had [CFA] strike teams come in later  but if private units werent there that day, it would not have been stopped in the time it was, Blackburn said. Private vehicles were also essential earlier this month in Natimuk, near Horsham, where a grassfire destroyed 17 homes and about 8000 hectares.

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Horsham Mayor Brian Klowss said that in rural areas where it could take more than 30 minutes for fire crews to arrive, farmers operating private vehicles to fight dangerous fires were crucial. Thats where all these private units have come in because people have got them sitting at the back door, like an old Hilux or Land Cruiser or whatever, said Klowss, whose farm was severely affected by the fire. Even the blokes with a 1000-litre shuttle on the back of the ute and a firefighter [joined in]. Klowss estimated that between 200 and 300 private units, travelling as far as 100 kilometres to help, had fought the fire. Natimuk firefighters recalled seeing a homemade 10,000-litre tanker on the fire ground. Natimuk CFA captain David Sudholz said: People just drop what theyre doing, and they run to assist in any way they can, whether theyre in the CFA or not, all in their own private units  [They] will all use their own equipment free of charge and not even think about their own safety sometimes.

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Professor Jason Sharples, a University of NSW bushfire behaviour expert, previously said that although Australia had always experienced unstoppable bushfires, catastrophic fires  in which the danger posed cannot be accurately predicted  are becoming more common. In the fire services, there has been that acknowledgement for quite a while now that there are just some fires that you cant stop and your best option might be to just pick a house and try to defend it the best you can, rather than trying to stop the fire, he said. This increase in fire severity, coupled with more frequent warnings to evacuate, means more people are expanding their efforts privately. Blackburn said his trucks were useful year round and offered him additional fire protection. But he and others fear private fleets are becoming a double-edged sword, and are at risk of being relied upon rather than seen as as-needs additional support. Brad Marson, vice-president of the CFA Volunteers Group and Grassdale brigade captain, said: Its just easier for them to buy their own tanker, buy their own firefighting appliance, and just run out if something happens, and go and put it out themselves.

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Natimuk CFA captain David Sudholz said the response from private units was extraordinary. Justin McManus Before this weeks dangerous conditions, Marson said the reliance on private firefighting vehicles had left communities vulnerable as private units typically only cover their own property and neighbours. Some volunteers who brought the Streatham and Natimuk fires under control in private vehicles said they felt taken for granted. We feel like we have to pay to put out our own fires, said Blackwell. For many volunteer firefighters, the importance of private units is linked to a series of grievances with the state government. This includes cuts to CFA funding over a number of years before 2024-25, and the state governments proposed doubling of the Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund, which will impact large farming properties.

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Related Article Victoria bushfires A damn lot of luck: How three Victorian towns were spared by unstoppable fires A CFA spokesperson said private firefighting units played an important role in the prevention and suppression of fires in rural Victoria, especially on privately owned land. However, its important that firefighting is co-ordinated under a single command structure to ensure the safety of all personnel on the fire ground and to effectively manage the fire attack, the spokesperson said. The spokesperson did not divulge how many fire trucks sold at auction each year, but said tankers were replaced throughout the year as new trucks became available. Replaced vehicles are kept with brigades throughout the bushfire season to respond to increased fire risk, before being decommissioned and sold at auction  such as those acquired by Blackburn  at the end of summer.

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The CFAs latest annual report reveals the government gave $361.3 million to the CFA in 2024-25, an increase on the year before after several years of decreased funding. A Victorian government spokesperson said: As well as increased funding, weve announced a $40 million rolling truck replacement program for the CFA. That builds on almost 100 new vehicles currently on the production line and 95 vehicles recently delivered to brigades across the state. We will always back the CFA and its volunteers with more resources and better equipment so they can do what they do best  protect Victorians. Start the day with a summary of the days most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter.
BEIJING, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson on Tuesday said the United States should stop depriving the Cuban people of their rights to subsistence and development.

Spokesperson Guo Jiakun made the remarks in response to a media query that the Cuban government has denounced the U.S. side that was reportedly considering intensifying its illegal blockade against Cuba.

China is deeply concerned about and opposes the actions of the U.S. side, and urges it to stop disrupting regional peace and stability, cease violating international law, and immediately lift its blockade and sanctions on Cuba, Guo said.

"China will continue to do what it can to provide assistance and support to Cuba. We're confident that under the strong leadership of the Communist Party of Cuba and the government of Cuba, Cuban people will surely tide over the current difficulty," he said. 
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Exclusive NationalVictoriaEducation Teachers will fight to double the number of student-free days Noel Towell, Jackson Graham and Bridie Smith January 28, 2026  5:50am Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share A A A

Victorian public school teachers want twice as many student-free days, with the main workplace union pushing for 10 curriculum days during term time each year. The Australian Education Union (AEU) also wants teachers to be entitled each year to four professional practice days, which could be taken by one educator at a time or a schools entire teaching workforce. AEU Victorian branch president Justin Mullaly addresses teachers protesting outside Education Minister Ben Carrolls office in June. Eddie Jim The union says the extra days are vital for teachers to get on top of their workloads, but a leading parents group and the state opposition say more days off school will place an extra burden on parents, many of whom already struggle to cope on student-free days. Thousands of Victorian families with children in government schools must wait until Thursday to send them back to class, as many principals opt for a curriculum day on Wednesday, after schools took Tuesday to let teachers and support workers prepare for the new term.

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School leaders have had the option since 2023 of taking up to five days each year as student-free days, or curriculum days. Now the AEU, which is negotiating with the state government for a new workplace deal for Victorias 53,000 public school teachers, wants schools to have the option of up to 10 curriculum days each year and another four professional practice days, up from the present entitlement of one. The union says extra student-free days would help address unpaid overtime concerns. Getty Images/iStockphoto NSW raised the number of pupil-free days from six to eight last year. The Victorian branch of the union says its members are working more than 12 hours of unpaid overtime on average each week. On Tuesday, the union raised the prospect of school strikes this year in pursuit of its goals, saying it was applying to the Fair Work Commission for a protected ballot of its members on industrial action.

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The unions Victorian branch president, Justin Mullaly, said excessive workloads  along with low pay  were one of the biggest factors pushing teachers out of the profession and that the extra student-free days were vital to easing the burden. The work of teachers, principals and support staff is becoming increasingly complex as they respond to the growing number of challenging learning and wellbeing needs of students, Mullaly said. Addressing excessive unpaid work means more paid time is available to better plan for and support the learning and development of every student. Parents Victoria spokeswoman Gail McHardy said her group was not opposed to more student-free days, but they would have to come with improved support for parents. McHardy said even the present number of curriculum days placed considerable strain on parents working full-time and struggling with the rising cost of living.

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If the Victorian government supports increasing the number of student-free or curriculum days, then it must also fully fund public schools to implement them properly, she said. Related Article School funding State school teachers demand 35 per cent pay rise, smaller classes, reduced workload That means resourcing schools to allow students to attend on those days, with appropriately qualified staff available to supervise and support them, while teachers undertake the planning and professional work required of them. Opposition education spokesman Brad Rowswell said the unions call was a bad idea and showed a complete disregard for the impact on students learning and for the families who rely on schools every day. It will not reduce overtime, it will not grow the workforce, and it will not address the burnout already pushing educators to the brink, he said.



This proposal would place a significant burden on parents, many of whom do not have the flexibility to work from home and could face substantial costs in arranging alternative care.

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Belinda Hudak, president of the Victorian Association of State Secondary Principals, said it was important for teachers to have time to get on top of their work, but the timing of student-free days could be difficult. Its important teachers have the time to be able to have a look what their class lists are, get to know who their students are and have the required student support meetings so they are fully aware of and across the needs of the students coming into the class, Hudak said. Unfortunately, thats not always ready at the end of the year, so in having that time at the start of the year schools try to make really informed decisions that suit their school community. They are very mindful of the impact on parents and families, but they are making those choices based on student wellbeing and the best outcomes for the kids. A Victorian government spokesperson would not say whether the government supported the unions proposal.

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Negotiations with teacher and principal unions are being undertaken in good faith to ensure the right outcome is achieved for both students and our staff, the spokesperson said. Start the day with a summary of the days most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter.
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A man has died and another was taken to hospital after the pair were caught in a powerful rip at one of Perths most popular beaches.

The men, aged 33 and 40, were pulled from the water around 3pm on the Australia Day public holiday after being rescued at Mettams Pool in Perths northern suburbs.

The two men were pulled from the water on Australia Day. 9 News Perth

Two surf lifesavers responded, pulling them from the water and providing emergency first aid before the men were taken to Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital via ambulance.

However, the 40-year-old died in hospital a short time later.
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WorldEuropeFrance Former French senator guilty of drugging MP with MDMA Sylvie Corbet Updated January 28, 2026  10:28am ,first published 8:30am Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share A A A

Paris: A former French senator has been found guilty in a high-profile drug-facilitated sexual assault case, more than a year after France was shaken by a mass rape trial that made Gisele Pelicot a symbol of the fight against sexual violence. Joel Guerriau, 68, stood trial for putting the drug commonly known as ecstasy into a glass of champagne he served to MP Sandrine Josso in November 2023. Guerriau has acknowledged serving her a drink containing MDMA but says it was an accident. French MP Sandrine Josso arrives for the trial of former French senator Joel Guerriau in Paris on Monday. AFP A Paris court on Tuesday sentenced him to 18 months in prison, an additional suspended sentence and a ban on holding elected office. Josso, a centrist member of the National Assembly, told the court that the centre-right senator invited her to his Paris apartment for what she believed was a re-election celebration. The two had known each other for years and were on friendly terms.

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She said she quickly began feeling unwell after drinking champagne, suffering heart palpitations and uncontrollable shaking. Related Article Graphic content

Crime Gisele Pelicots daughter believes she was probably raped, too I really felt myself slipping away, Josso testified, saying she felt uneasy being alone with Guerriau, who appeared unusually agitated and repeatedly turned the lights on and off. Josso said Guerriau later took her glass into the kitchen to refill it. Thats when she noticed him holding a little bag, which made her realise she had likely been drugged. My legs were shaking, I was extremely thirsty, she recalled, her voice breaking.

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Josso said she tried to hide her symptoms, afraid to alert Guerriau. She eventually managed to leave and take a taxi. I think about my children, I call my colleague, I tell him that Im going to die, she told the court, crying. Josso left the apartment, took a taxi and went to a hospital, where blood tests revealed a substantial quantity of MDMA  far higher than levels typically associated with recreational use. I want the truth to come out. Its important to me, Josso told the court. She later took medical and psychological leave. When she returned to the National Assembly two months later, she publicly recounted the incident.

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I went to a friends house to celebrate his re-election. I came out terrified, she told lawmakers. I discovered an assailant. I then realised that I had been drugged without knowing it. Thats what we call drug-facilitated assault. Very serious mistake Guerriau told the court he made a very serious mistake that led him to serve Josso a drugged drink. I feel really sorry for Sandrine. Thats something I never wanted, he said. I hope one day shell forgive me. Former French senator Joel Guerriau arrives in court in Paris. AFP

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He said another senator had given him MDMA months earlier to help cope with depression and anxiety, though he refused to name the lawmaker. Guerriau said he had put the white powder into a glass intended for himself the night before but did not use it, then mistakenly served the same glass to Josso the next day. Things happened very, very quickly. I did not think about it, he said, acknowledging his ignorance about MDMA and what he called his stupidity. Guerriau remained in the Senate for nearly two years after being charged despite calls for his resignation. He stepped down in October, presenting the move as political and unrelated to the case. Investigators testified that Guerriau had searched online for information about drugs, including ecstasy, in connection with rape about a month before the incident. Guerriau said the research was part of his work as a senator.

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I never intended to commit an assault or harm Ms Josso. I am devastated, he told the court on Tuesday. Echoes of Pelicot trial Less than a year after the senators case broke out, France was rocked by Gisele Pelicots case, which put a worldwide spotlight on drug-facilitated sexual abuse. Pelicots ex-husband and 50 other men were convicted of sexually assaulting her while she was under chemical submission between 2011 and 2020. Gisele Pelicot in December 2024, after her husband and 50 other men were found guilty of rape. Getty Images

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The harrowing and unprecedented trial exposed how pornography, chat rooms and mens indifference to  or hazy understanding of  consent is fuelling rape culture. Related Article Updated

Crime Ex-husband found guilty in mass rape trial, sentenced to 20 years in prison However, even after the Pelicot trial, France is still just starting to reckon with such crimes. Drugging a person to commit rape or sexual assault is punishable by up to five years in prison, compared to a maximum sentence of 10 years for drug possession. Josso became a major figure in Frances fight against drug-related sexual assault, joining an association set up by Gisele Pelicots daughter, Caroline Darian.

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The lawmaker co-authored a parliamentary report about drug-facilitated sexual abuse that calls for taking action against the scourge that was ignored for too long. The report noted a lack of statistics and information on the phenomenon in the country and stressed authorities failure to provide victims with efficient means to do blood and other analysis especially overnight and in remote areas. In the wake of the Pelicot trial, France adopted a new law in October 2025 defining rape and other sexual assault as any non-consensual sexual act. Until then, rape was defined under French law as penetration or oral sex using violence, coercion, threat or surprise. Increased awareness worldwide In the United States, the Bill Cosby case that surfaced in 2014 raised public awareness about a pattern involving victims  mostly women  being offered pills or drinks, leading them to feel disoriented, semi-conscious or paralysed.

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WorldEuropeMilano Cortina 2026 ICE at the Winter Olympics: Agents to support US security, stirring anger in Italy Crispian Balmer and Alvise Armellini Updated January 28, 2026  7:56am ,first published 4:30am 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

Key points ICE agents to support US diplomatic security at 2026 Games

Embassy source says no immigration enforcement in Italy

Italian politicians critical, some demand ICE be barred

Rome: US Immigration and Customs Enforcement personnel will help protect US delegations at next months Winter Olympics in Italy, causing a political uproar in the country. ICE and Border Patrol agents have come under heavy criticism over their enforcement of President Donald Trumps immigration crackdown after they shot and killed two U.S. citizens in separate incidents this month in Minnesota. People walk past posters for the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics in Cortina dAmpezzo, Italy. Getty Images ICEs Homeland Security Investigations division will back up the US State Departments Diplomatic Security Service at the February 6 to 22 Milano Cortina Olympics, the Department of Homeland Security said in a post on X. The ICE agents role will be to vet and mitigate risks from transnational criminal organisations, the post added, noting all security operations remain under Italian authority.

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Obviously, ICE does not conduct immigration enforcement operations in foreign countries, said DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin. Related Article Analysis

US politics Trump could see this crisis turning rapidly. His response was inevitable ICE has been present at major sport events in both the US and abroad in the past, including previous Olympic Games, as part of international partnerships related to human trafficking and drug trafficking, one former official said. Despite assurances that there is nothing unusual about the HSI deployment, Italian politicians criticised the involvement of ICE in next months Games, highlighting how the image of the United States has been tarnished in recent months. It seems sheer idiocy to me, Maurizio Lupi, leader of a small centrist party in Prime Minister Giorgia Melonis governing coalition, told la Repubblica daily.

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Giuseppe Sala, the left-leaning mayor of Milan, one of the cities co-hosting the Olympics, called ICE a militia that kills. Speaking to RTL 102.5 radio, Sala said: Its clear that theyre not welcome in Milan, theres no doubt about it. The Rome government sought to defuse the protests. The interior ministry said in a statement that ICE personnel would only work in U.S. diplomatic offices such as the Milan consulate, and not on the ground enforcing order. Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi said he met with US Ambassador Tilman Fertitta. Piantedosi said he would address parliament on February 4. The US embassy in Italy declined to comment. Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani called for a measured response. Were not talking about the (ICE people) who were out on the streets of Minneapolis... Its not as if the (Nazi) SS are arriving, he told reporters at a Holocaust memorial event. A State Department spokesperson said that, as in past Olympics, multiple federal agencies would help with security, including ICE.

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But Italia Viva, a centrist Italian opposition party led by former Prime Minister Matteo Renzi, said agents affiliated with ICE did not represent Italian values and should be barred entry. The hard-left USB trade union said it would hold an ICE OUT rally in central Milan on February 6, to coincide with the Olympic opening ceremony. Reuters Get a note directly from our foreign correspondents on whats making headlines around the world. Sign up for our weekly What in the World newsletter.
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Millions of Americans have shivered through another night of below-freezing temperatures after a colossal winter storm heaped more snow on the north-east United States and kept parts of the South coated in ice. At least 30 deaths have been reported in the worst-hit areas. New York Governor Kathy Hochul said the state was in the grip of an Arctic siege, and leading Georgia meteorologist William Lanxton described it as perhaps the biggest ice storm we have expected in more than a decade. A pedestrian waits to cross the street near Times Square in New York. AP Deep snow  over 30 centimetres  extending in a 2100-kilometre swath from Arkansas to New England  has halted traffic, cancelled flights and triggered wide school closures. The National Weather Service said areas north of Pittsburgh received up to 50 centimetres of snow and faced wind chills as low as minus 31 degrees late on Monday into Tuesday. People walk the streets in near whiteout conditions in Louisville, Kentucky. Getty Images A rising death toll included two people run over by snowploughs in Massachusetts and Ohio, fatal sledging accidents in Arkansas and Texas, and a woman whose body was found covered in snow by police with bloodhounds after she was last seen leaving a Kansas bar.

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Loading In New York City, officials said eight people were found dead outdoors in the course of the frigid weekend. There were still more than 690,000 power outages across the country on Monday afternoon (Tuesday AEDT), according to poweroutage.com. Most were in the South, where weekend blasts of freezing rain snapped tree limbs and power lines, causing crippling outages in northern Mississippi and parts of Tennessee. Ice covers trees and power lines in Nashville, Tennessee. Bloomberg Areas of Mississippi were reeling in the aftermath of the states worst ice storm since 1994. Officials have scrambled to get cots, blankets, bottled water and generators to warming stations in hard-hit areas.

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A taxi crawls through the snow-covered streets of New York. Ying Xiang Tan / SMH The University of Mississippi, where most students hunkered down without power, cancelled classes for the entire week as its Oxford campus remained coated in treacherous ice. Oxford Mayor Robyn Tannehill said on social media that so many trees, limbs and power lines had fallen that it looks like a tornado went down every street. The Naked Cowboy performs under the snow in New Yorks Times Square. Getty Images A pair of falling tree branches damaged real estate agent Tim Phillips new garage, broke a window and cut off power to his home in Oxford. He said many ofhis neighbours had homes or vehicles damaged. People venture out on a freezing night in New York. Ying Xiang Tan Its just one of those things that you try to prepare for, Phillips said, but this one was just unreal.

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Ice-covered cows on a farm in Cynthiana, Kentucky. Bloomberg More than 8000 flights were delayed or cancelled on Monday, according to flightaware.com. On Sunday, 45 per cent of US flights were cancelled, the highest number since the COVID-19 pandemic, according to aviation analytics firm Cirium. More light to moderate snow was forecast in New England on Monday evening. Subway trains parked in Queens, New York. NYT New York City saw its snowiest day in years, with neighbourhoods recording 20 to 38 centimetres of snow. Though public schools shut down, roughly 500,000 students were told to log in for online lessons. School snow days melted away in New York, the nations largest public school system, after remote learning took off during the coronavirus pandemic. Bitter cold grips

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Meanwhile, bitter cold followed in the storms wake. Communities across the Midwest, South, and Northeast awoke Monday to sub-zero weather. The entire Lower 48 states were forecast to have their coldest average low temperature since January 2014, of minus 12 degrees. Ground crew work to clear snow and ice from an aircraft at Ronald Reagan National Airport in Washington. Thousands of flights have been delayed or cancelled due to the weather. AP In the Nashville, Tennessee, area, while electricity returned to thousands of homes and businesses on Monday, more than 170,000 others awoke to find their homes without power after freezing temperatures overnight. Residents dig out a parked car in Brooklyn, New York. NYT Many hotels were sold out to residents escaping dark and frigid houses. Alex Murray booked a Nashville hotel room for his family to ensure they had a working freezer to preserve pumped breast milk to feed their 6-month-old daughter. Anticipating a long wait for power to be restored at his home, Murray planned to extend their hotel stay until Wednesday.

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GOTHENBURG, Sweden, Jan. 27, 2026 -- For the second year in a row, Volvo Trucks is the market leader in Europe for heavy-duty trucks. In 2025, the company had an overall market share in Europe of 19.0%.

Volvo Trucks was the market leader in Europe for heavy trucks (16 tonnes and above) in 2025 with a market share of 19.0%  up from 17.9% 2024. The markets with the most registered Volvo trucks during the year were UK, France, Poland, Germany and Lithuania.

Volvo's long-distance FH Aero truck has won the hearts of many European haulers. Thanks to improved aerodynamics and new technologies such as Volvo's digital camera mirrors, the Volvo FH Aero can deliver up to 7% better fuel efficiency versus the regular Volvo FH it replaced. In total, nearly 33,000 FH Aero trucks were ordered in Europe in 2025.

"We are very proud to be market leader in Europe for the second consecutive year. Our goal is to be our customers' best business partner and being market leader is strong proof of the confidence our customers put in us. It makes us very proud, and I wish to extend a big thank you to our customers and our employees for this great achievement." says Roger Alm, President Volvo Trucks.

"We have a first-class product range with trucks that offer superior uptime, fuel efficiency and safety. The FH Aero is our shining star for longer distances. I hear from customers that they experience amazing performance and fuel savings with the Aero."

Top position in 30 countries

Globally, Volvo Trucks is market leader or the second largest brand in 30 countries in 2025.

Towards fossil-free transport

Volvo Trucks drives the transition towards fossil-free transport to reach its net-zero emissions target by 2040 using a three-path technology strategy. The three-path technology approach is built on battery electric, fuel cell electric and combustion engines that run on renewable fuels like green hydrogen, biogas, biodiesel or HVO (hydrotreated vegetable oil).

"We will continue to innovate and introduce new trucks that contribute not only to our customers' businesses, but also to the decarbonization of our industry. By investing in multiple technologies we can offer transport solutions suitable for different customer needs and markets," says Roger Alm.

"Europe" means the European Union plus UK, Norway and Switzerland (EU30).

Includes content supplied by S&P, spglobal.com

Volvo Trucks supplies complete transport solutions for discerning professional customers with its full range of medium- and heavy-duty trucks. Customer support is provided via a global network of dealers with 2,200 service points in about 130 countries. Volvo trucks are assembled in 12 countries across the globe. In 2024 approximately 134,000 Volvo trucks were delivered worldwide. Volvo Trucks is part of the Volvo Group, one of the world's leading manufacturers of trucks, buses, construction equipment and marine and industrial engines. The group also provides complete solutions for financing and service. Volvo Trucks' work is based on the core values of quality, safety and environmental care.
DETROIT, Jan. 27, 2026 -- General Motors today reported full-year 2025 net income attributable to stockholders of $2.7 billion and EBIT-adjusted of $12.7 billion. Fourth-quarter 2025 net income attributable to stockholders was a loss of $3.3 billion and EBIT-adjusted was $2.8 billion.

Fourth-quarter net income was reduced by more than $7.2 billion in special charges driven primarily by a realignment of electric vehicle capacity and investments to adjust to expected declines in consumer demand for EVs, and in response to U.S. Government policy changes including the termination of consumer incentives and the reduction in the stringency of emissions regulations.

The chart below summarizes GM's 2025 financial guidance and 2025 results, as well as the company's 2026 guidance, which is for a year of strong financial performance.



Final 2025 Guidance 2025 Results 2026 Guidance Net income attributable to stockholders $7.7 billion - $8.3 billion $2.7 billion $10.3 billion - $11.7 billion EBIT-adjusted $12.0 billion - $13.0 billion $12.7 billion $13.0 billion - $15.0 billion Automotive operating cash flow $19.2 billion - $21.2 billion $18.7 billion $19.0 billion - $23.0 billion Adjusted automotive free cash flow $10.0 billion - $11.0 billion $10.6 billion $9.0 billion - $11.0 billion EPS-diluted $8.30 - $9.05 $3.27 $11.00 - $13.00 EPS-diluted-adjusted $9.75 - $10.50 $10.60 $11.00 - $13.00









GM's 2026 financial guidance also includes anticipated capital spending of $10.0 billion - $12.0 billion, inclusive of the company's battery cell manufacturing joint ventures.

Higher quarterly dividend rate and share repurchase authorization

GM announced today that its Board of Directors has approved a $0.03 per share increase in the quarterly common stock dividend rate to $0.18 per share. GM declared a quarterly cash dividend on the company's outstanding common stock at the new rate of $0.18 per share, payable March 19, 2026 to holders of common stock at the close of trading on March 6, 2026.

The company also announced that its Board has approved a new $6.0 billion share repurchase authorization.

"For several years now, GM's strong brands and winning vehicles, as well as our technology-driven services and operating discipline, have delivered consistently strong cash generation. This has allowed us to execute all phases of our capital allocation strategy, from investing in the business and our people, to maintaining a strong balance sheet and returning capital to shareholders," said Mary Barra, Chair and CEO. "We believe that formula is sustainable, which is why we're increasing our dividend and planning future share repurchases."

The share repurchase program, which has no expiration date, will be executed in accordance with applicable securities laws and regulations and may be suspended or discontinued at any time at the company's discretion.

As of December 31, 2025, the company had 904 million shares outstanding, down from 995 million at the end of 2024, and 1.2 billion at the end of 2023.

An overview of quarterly and yearly results and financial highlights appears below. Visit the GM Investor Relations website to download the company's earnings deck and GM Chair and CEO Mary Barra's Letter to Shareholders .

Conference call for investors and analysts

Mary Barra and GM Chief Financial Officer Paul Jacobson will host a conference call for the investment community at 8:30 a.m. ET today to discuss these results.

Conference call details are as follows:

1-800-857-9821 (U.S.)

1-517-308-9481 (international/caller-paid)

Conference call passcode: General Motors

General Motors An audio replay will be available on the GM Investor Relations website in the Events section.

Results Overview



Three Months Ended



$M except per share amounts December 31,

2025 December 31,

2024 Change % Change Revenue $ 45,287 $ 47,702 $ (2,415) (5.1) % Net income (loss) attributable to stockholders $ (3,310) $ (2,961) $ (349) (11.8) % EBIT-adjusted $ 2,843 $ 2,509 $ 334 13.3 % Net income margin (7.3) % (6.2) % (1.1) ppts (17.7) % EBIT-adjusted margin 6.3 % 5.3 % 1.0 ppts 18.9 % Automotive operating cash flow $ 5,606 $ 4,765 $ 841 17.6 % Adjusted automotive free cash flow $ 2,755 $ 1,823 $ 933 51.2 % EPS-diluted(a) $ (3.60) $ (1.64) $ (1.96) n.m. EPS-diluted-adjusted $ 2.51 $ 1.92 $ 0.58 30.4 % GMNA EBIT-adjusted $ 2,244 $ 2,274 $ (30) (1.3) % GMNA EBIT-adjusted margin 6.1 % 5.8 % 0.3 ppts 5.2 % GMI EBIT-adjusted $ 278 $ 221 $ 56 25.4 % China equity income (loss) $ (513) $ (4,060) $ 3,547 87.4 % GM Financial EBT-adjusted $ 609 $ 719 $ (109) (15.2) %

__________ (a) n.m. = not meaningful



Years Ended



$M except per share amounts December 31,

2025 December 31,

2024 Change % Change Revenue $ 185,019 $ 187,442 $ (2,422) (1.3) % Net income attributable to stockholders $ 2,697 $ 6,008 $ (3,311) (55.1) % EBIT-adjusted $ 12,747 $ 14,934 $ (2,187) (14.6) % Net income margin 1.5 % 3.2 % (1.7) ppts (53.1) % EBIT-adjusted margin 6.9 % 8.0 % (1.1) ppts (13.8) % Automotive operating cash flow $ 18,733 $ 23,939 $ (5,206) (21.7) % Adjusted automotive free cash flow $ 10,595 $ 14,045 $ (3,450) (24.6) % EPS-diluted $ 3.27 $ 6.37 $ (3.10) (48.7) % EPS-diluted-adjusted $ 10.60 $ 10.60 $   % GMNA EBIT-adjusted $ 10,452 $ 14,528 $ (4,077) (28.1) % GMNA EBIT-adjusted margin 6.8 % 9.2 % (2.4) ppts (26.1) % GMI EBIT-adjusted(a) $ 737 $ 303 $ 434 n.m. China equity income (loss) $ (316) $ (4,407) $ 4,091 92.8 % GM Financial EBT-adjusted $ 2,802 $ 2,965 $ (163) (5.5) %

__________ (a) n.m. = not meaningful



General Motors is driving the future of transportation, leveraging advanced technology to build safer, smarter, and lower emission cars, trucks, and SUVs. GM's Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, and GMC brands offer a broad portfolio of innovative gasoline-powered vehicles and the industry's widest range of EVs, as we move to an all-electric future. Learn more at GM.com.

Cautionary Note on Forward-Looking Statements: This press release and related comments by management may include "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the U.S. federal securities laws. Forward-looking statements are any statements other than statements of historical fact and represent our current judgment about possible future events. In making these statements, we rely upon assumptions and analysis based on our experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions, and expected future developments, as well as other factors we consider appropriate under the circumstances. We believe these judgments are reasonable, but these statements are not guarantees of any future events or financial results, and our actual results may differ materially due to a variety of factors, many of which are described in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and our other filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. We caution readers not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and we undertake no obligation to update publicly or otherwise revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or other factors that affect the subject of these statements, except where we are expressly required to do so by law.

Final 2025 Guidance Reconciliations

The following table reconciles expected Net income attributable to stockholders to expected EBIT-adjusted (dollars in billions):



Year Ending

December 31, 2025 Net income attributable to stockholders $ 7.7-8.3 Income tax expense 1.8-2.2 Automotive interest income, net (0.1) Adjustments(a) 2.6 EBIT-adjusted $ 12.0-13.0

The following table reconciles expected automotive net cash provided by operating activities to expected adjusted automotive free cash flow (dollars in billions):



Year Ending

December 31, 2025 Net automotive cash provided by operating activities $ 19.2-21.2 Less: Capital expenditures 10.0-11.0 Adjustments(a) 0.8 Adjusted automotive free cash flow $ 10.0-11.0

The following table reconciles expected EPS-diluted to expected EPS-diluted-adjusted:



Year Ending

December 31, 2025 Diluted earnings per common share $ 8.30-9.05 Adjustments(a) 1.45 EPS-diluted-adjusted $ 9.75-10.50

__________ (a) Adjustments as of September 30, 2025. See our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2025 for full details. We do not consider the potential future impact of adjustments on our expected financial results.





2026 Guidance Reconciliations

The following table reconciles expected Net income attributable to stockholders to expected EBIT-adjusted (dollars in billions):



Year Ending December 31, 2026 Net income attributable to stockholders $ 10.3-11.7 Income tax expense 2.6-3.2 Automotive interest expense, net 0.1 EBIT-adjusted(a) $ 13.0-15.0

The following table reconciles expected automotive net cash provided by operating activities to expected adjusted automotive free cash flow (dollars in billions):



Year Ending

December 31, 2026 Net automotive cash provided by operating activities $ 19.0-23.0 Less: Capital expenditures 10.0-12.0 Adjusted automotive free cash flow(a) $ 9.0-11.0

__________ (a) We do not consider the potential future impact of adjustments on our expected financial results.

General Motors Company and Subsidiaries1 Combining Income Statement Information (In millions) (Unaudited)



Year Ended December 31, 2025

Year Ended December 31, 2024

Automotive

Cruise

GM

Financial

Reclassifications/

Eliminations

Combined

Automotive

Cruise

GM

Financial

Reclassifications/

Eliminations

Combined Net sales and revenue





































Automotive $ 167,970

$ 1

$ 

$ 

$ 167,971

$ 171,605

$ 257

$ 

$ (256)

$ 171,606 GM Financial 



17,060

(12)

17,048





15,875

(40)

15,836 Total net sales and revenue 167,970

1

17,060

(12)

185,019

171,605

257

15,875

(296)

187,442 Costs and expenses





































Automotive and other cost of

sales 158,968

163



(3)

159,128

148,501

2,566



(3)

151,065 GM Financial interest,

operating, and other

expenses 



14,296

(1)

14,295





12,974

(1)

12,972 Automotive and other selling,

general, and administrative

expense 8,580

111



(4)

8,687

9,898

727



(4)

10,621 Total costs and expenses 167,548

274

14,296

(8)

182,110

158,399

3,293

12,974

(8)

174,658 Operating income (loss) 422

(273)

2,764

(4)

2,909

13,206

(3,036)

2,902

(288)

12,784 Automotive interest expense 724

30



(27)

727

845

189



(189)

846 Interest income and other non-

operating income, net 1,557

2

(1)

(23)

1,535

1,124

35

(1)

99

1,257 Equity income (loss) (639)



39



(600)

(4,419)



(256)



(4,675) Income (loss) before income

taxes 617

(301)

2,802



3,117

9,065

(3,191)

2,645



8,519 Income tax expense (benefit)















338

















2,556 Net income (loss)















2,780

















5,963 Net loss (income) attributable to

noncontrolling interests















(83)

















45 Net income (loss) attributable

to stockholders















$ 2,697

















$ 6,008







































Net income (loss) attributable

to common stockholders















$ 3,180

















$ 7,189

__________

1 Certain columns and rows may not add due to rounding.

Basic and Diluted Earnings per Share (Unaudited)

The following table summarizes basic and diluted earnings per share (in millions, except per share amounts):



Three Months Ended

Years Ended

December 31,

2025

December 31,

2024

December 31,

2025

December 31,

2024 Basic earnings per share













Net income (loss) attributable to stockholders $ (3,310)

$ (2,961)

$ 2,697

$ 6,008 Adjustments(a) (20)

1,236

483

1,181 Net income (loss) attributable to common stockholders $ (3,330)

$ (1,725)

$ 3,180

$ 7,189















Weighted-average common shares outstanding 925

1,055

955

1,115















Basic earnings per common share $ (3.60)

$ (1.64)

$ 3.33

$ 6.45 Diluted earnings per share













Net income (loss) attributable to common stockholders 

diluted $ (3,330)

$ (1,725)

$ 3,180

$ 7,189















Weighted-average common shares outstanding  diluted 925

1,055

973

1,129















Diluted earnings per common share $ (3.60)

$ (1.64)

$ 3.27

$ 6.37 Potentially dilutive securities(b) 30

36





__________ (a) Includes returns from preferred shareholders related to the redemption of Cruise preferred shares from noncontrolling interest holders of $593 million in the year ended December 31, 2025 and $1.2 billion in the three months and year ended December 31, 2024. (b) Potentially dilutive securities attributable to outstanding stock options, restricted stock units, and performance stock units at December 31, 2025 and 2024 were excluded from the computation of diluted EPS because the securities would have had an antidilutive effect.

General Motors Company and Subsidiaries1 Combining Balance Sheet Information (In millions, except per share amounts) (Unaudited)



December 31, 2025

December 31, 2024

Automotive

Cruise

GM Financial

Reclassifications/

Eliminations

Combined

Automotive

Cruise

GM Financial

Reclassifications/

Eliminations

Combined ASSETS





































Current Assets





































Cash and cash equivalents $ 15,062

$ 56

$ 5,826

$ 

$ 20,945

$ 14,470

$ 308

$ 5,094

$ 

$ 19,872 Marketable debt securities 6,685



39



6,724

7,265







7,265 Accounts and notes receivable, net(a) 12,199

76

1,506

(727)

13,054

11,498

22

1,988

(681)

12,827 GM Financial receivables, net(d) 



45,661

(395)

45,266





46,760

(398)

46,362 Inventories 14,472





(5)

14,467

14,569





(5)

14,564 Other current assets 3,167

9

5,130

6

8,312

2,816

38

4,799

2

7,655 Total current assets 51,585

141

58,162

(1,120)

108,767

50,618

369

58,640

(1,082)

108,545 Non-current Assets





































GM Financial receivables, net(c) 



44,384



44,384





46,750

(276)

46,474 Equity in net assets of nonconsolidated

affiliates 4,564



1,117



5,681

5,896



1,206



7,102 Property, net 51,458

99

126



51,683

51,729

69

107



51,904 Goodwill and intangible assets, net 3,018



1,348



4,366

2,642

570

1,339



4,551 Equipment on operating leases, net 



33,686



33,686





31,586



31,586 Deferred income taxes 24,446



(1,486)



22,960

21,149

1,899

(1,795)



21,254 Other assets(b) 8,226

47

1,483



9,756

9,340

41

1,323

(2,359)

8,346 Total non-current assets 91,712

147

80,658



172,517

90,756

2,579

80,516

(2,635)

171,216 Total Assets $ 143,297

$ 288

$ 138,820

$ (1,120)

$ 281,284

$ 141,374

$ 2,948

$ 139,156

$ (3,717)

$ 279,761 LIABILITIES AND EQUITY





































Current Liabilities





































Accounts payable (principally trade)(a) $ 24,075

$ 1

$ 491

$ (649)

$ 23,919

$ 25,446

$ 200

$ 714

$ (681)

$ 25,680 Short-term debt and current portion of

long-term debt





































Automotive(a)(d) 1,120

7



(471)

656

2,413

7



(279)

2,141 GM Financial 



35,012



35,012





37,291



37,291 Cruise(d) 











119



(119)

 Accrued liabilities 28,956

54

4,744



33,754

24,949

548

5,661

(4)

31,154 Total current liabilities 54,151

63

40,248

(1,120)

93,342

52,808

874

43,666

(1,082)

96,265 Non-current Liabilities





































Long-term debt





































Automotive(b) 15,522

70





15,591

13,288

2,397



(2,359)

13,327 GM Financial 



79,018



79,018





76,973



76,973 Cruise(c) 











276



(276)

 Postretirement benefits other than

pensions 4,025







4,025

3,990







3,990 Pensions 4,977



11



4,988

5,772



7



5,779 Other liabilities 17,495

281

3,375



21,151

14,635

297

2,904



17,836 Total non-current liabilities 42,019

351

82,404



124,775

37,686

2,970

79,885

(2,635)

117,906 Total Liabilities 96,170

414

122,652

(1,120)

218,116

90,494

3,844

123,551

(3,717)

214,171 Equity





































Common stock, $0.01 par value 9







9

10







10 Additional paid-in capital(e) 18,086

1,842

1,077

(1,076)

19,928

19,632

1,187

1,196

(1,172)

20,843 Retained earnings 37,024

(1,968)

16,467

1

51,524

40,203

(2,647)

15,916

1

53,472 Accumulated other comprehensive loss (8,966)



(1,377)



(10,343)

(9,744)

(3)

(1,506)



(11,253) Total stockholders' equity 46,153

(126)

16,167

(1,075)

61,119

50,100

(1,464)

15,606

(1,170)

63,072 Noncontrolling interests(e) 974





1,075

2,049

780

568



1,170

2,518 Total Equity 47,127

(126)

16,167



63,168

50,880

(896)

15,606



65,590 Total Liabilities and Equity $ 143,297

$ 288

$ 138,820

$ (1,120)

$ 281,284

$ 141,374

$ 2,948

$ 139,156

$ (3,717)

$ 279,761

__________ (a) Eliminations primarily include GM Financial accounts and notes receivable of $0.5 billion due from Automotive; and Automotive accounts receivable of $0.1 billion primarily due from GM Financial at December 31, 2025; and GM Financial accounts and notes receivable of $0.5 billion due from Automotive and Automotive accounts receivable of $0.2 billion due from GM Financial and Cruise at December 31, 2024. (b) Eliminations primarily related to convertible note issued by Cruise to Automotive at December 31, 2024 and deferral agreement between Cruise and Automotive as regards to engineering, capital spending, restructuring, and other costs incurred by Automotive on behalf of Cruise resulting in a long-term payable for Cruise offset by a long-term receivable for Automotive. (c) Eliminations primarily related to intercompany loans due from Cruise to GM Financial. (d) Eliminations primarily related to GM Financial accounts receivables due from Automotive and Cruise. (e) Primarily reclassification of GM Financial Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series A, B and C. The preferred stock is classified as noncontrolling interests in our consolidated balance sheets.

General Motors Company and Subsidiaries1 Combining Cash Flow Information (In millions) (Unaudited)



Year Ended December 31, 2025

Year Ended December 31, 2024

Automotive

Cruise

GM

Financial

Reclassifications/

Eliminations

Combined

Automotive

Cruise

GM

Financial

Reclassifications/

Eliminations

Combined Cash flows from operating activities





































Net income (loss) $ 1,081

$ (302)

$ 2,000

$ 

$ 2,780

$ 6,637

$ (2,535)

$ 1,862

$ 

$ 5,963 Depreciation and impairment of Equipment on

operating leases, net 



4,942



4,942





4,844



4,844 Depreciation, amortization and impairment

charges on Property, net 9,584

29

34



9,646

6,549

958

38



7,545 Foreign currency remeasurement and

transaction (gains) losses 353



10



363

(314)



(7)



(321) Undistributed earnings and impairment of

nonconsolidated affiliates, net 1,662



123



1,785

3,708



411



4,118 Pension contributions and OPEB payments (537)



(1)



(539)

(1,517)







(1,518) Pension and OPEB (income) expense, net 27



2



29

88



2



89 Provision (benefit) for deferred taxes (1,715)



466



(1,249)

966

(656)

1,059



1,368 Change in other operating assets and

liabilities(a) 5,748

(557)

1,243

2,623

9,056

4,978

693

(896)

(6,304)

(1,529) Other operating activities(c) 2,532

(144)

(840)

(1,495)

54

2,846

(693)

(883)

(1,703)

(433) Net cash provided by (used in) operating

activities 18,733

(973)

7,979

1,128

26,867

23,939

(2,233)

6,429

(8,006)

20,129 Cash flows from investing activities





































Expenditures for property (9,241)

(10)

(51)



(9,303)

(10,711)

(7)

(24)

(88)

(10,830) Available-for-sale marketable securities,

acquisitions (2,303)



(37)



(2,339)

(3,986)







(3,986) Available-for-sale marketable securities,

liquidations 3,010



2



3,012

4,331







4,331 Purchases of finance receivables(a) 



(36,752)

7

(36,745)





(42,792)

6,444

(36,348) Principal collections and recoveries on finance

receivable(a)(b) 



38,004

(2,894)

35,109





31,783

1

31,784 Proceeds from sale of finance receivables 



2,005



2,005









 Purchases of leased vehicles 



(15,793)



(15,793)





(15,279)



(15,279) Proceeds from termination of leased vehicles 



10,095



10,095





10,892



10,892 Other investing activities(b) (3,229)





1,054

(2,175)

(2,448)



2

1,365

(1,081) Net cash provided by (used in) investing

activities (11,763)

(10)

(2,527)

(1,834)

(16,134)

(12,813)

(7)

(15,418)

7,721

(20,517) Cash flows from financing activities





































Net increase (decrease) in short-term debt (11)



(301)



(312)

16



112



128 Proceeds from issuance of debt (original

maturities greater than three months)(b) 2,078

723

41,135

(746)

43,191

83

1,118

53,398

(1,165)

53,435 Payments on debt (original maturities greater

than three months) (1,923)

(6)

(43,662)



(45,591)

(919)

(8)

(42,478)

6

(43,399) Payments to purchase common stock (6,012)







(6,012)

(7,064)







(7,064) Issuance (redemption) of subsidiary stock(b) 





(29)

(29)



255



(356)

(101) Dividends paid(c) (538)



(1,599)

1,480

(657)

(534)



(1,919)

1,800

(653) Other financing activities (42)



(138)



(180)

(82)

(161)

(164)



(407) Net cash provided by (used in) financing

activities (6,449)

717

(4,563)

705

(9,590)

(8,501)

1,204

8,950

285

1,938 Effect of exchange rate changes on cash, cash

equivalents, and restricted cash 103

1

73



177

(374)



(128)



(503) Net increase (decrease) in cash, cash

equivalents, and restricted cash 624

(266)

962



1,320

2,251

(1,037)

(167)



1,047 Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at

beginning of period 14,561

322

8,081



22,964

12,310

1,359

8,249



21,917 Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at

end of period $ 15,185

$ 56

$ 9,043

$ 

$ 24,284

$ 14,561

$ 322

$ 8,081

$ 

$ 22,964

__________ (a) Includes eliminations of $2.6 billion and $6.4 billion in the years ended December 31, 2025 and 2024 primarily driven by purchases/collections of wholesale finance receivables resulting from vehicles sold by GM to dealers that have arranged their inventory floor plan financing through GM Financial. (b) Eliminations include intercompany funding activity from Automotive and GM Financial to Cruise in the years ended December 31, 2025 and 2024. (c) Eliminations include dividends issued by GM Financial to Automotive in the years ended December 31, 2025 and 2024.

Note: Certain intercompany transactions that are eliminated in consolidation are presented on a net basis.

The following tables summarize key financial information (dollars in millions):



GMNA

GMI

Corporate

Eliminations

Total Automotive

Cruise

GM Financial

Reclassifications/

Eliminations

Total Three Months Ended December 31, 2025

































Net sales and revenue $ 36,893

$ 4,029

$ 65

$ (1)

$ 40,986

$ 

$ 4,304

$ (3)

$ 45,287 Expenditures for property $ 2,958

$ 183

$ 47

$ 

$ 3,188

$ 8

$ 25

$ 

$ 3,220 Depreciation and amortization $ 1,556

$ 119

$ 4

$ 

$ 1,679

$ 

$ 1,275

$ 

$ 2,954 Impairment charges $ 1,527

$ 20

$ 

$ 

$ 1,547

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 1,547 Equity income (loss)(a)(b) $ 89

$ (514)

$ (77)

$ 

$ (502)

$ 

$ 2

$ 

$ (500)





































GMNA

GMI

Corporate

Eliminations

Total Automotive

Cruise

GM Financial

Reclassifications/

Eliminations

Total Three Months Ended December 31, 2024

































Net sales and revenue $ 39,528

$ 3,994

$ 76

$ 

$ 43,598

$ 181

$ 4,114

$ (191)

$ 47,702 Expenditures for property $ 3,046

$ 157

$ 12

$ 

$ 3,215

$ 2

$ 8

$ 7

$ 3,233 Depreciation and amortization $ 1,548

$ 103

$ 27

$ 

$ 1,678

$ 7

$ 1,221

$ 

$ 2,905 Impairment charges $ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 328

$ 

$ 

$ 328 Equity income (loss)(a)(b) $ 190

$ (4,057)

$ 

$ 

$ (3,867)

$ 

$ (311)

$ 

$ (4,178)





































GMNA

GMI

Corporate

Eliminations

Total Automotive

Cruise

GM Financial

Reclassifications/

Eliminations

Total Year Ended December 31, 2025

































Net sales and revenue $ 154,317

$ 13,427

$ 227

$ (1)

$ 167,970

$ 1

$ 17,060

$ (12)

$ 185,019 Expenditures for property $ 8,687

$ 457

$ 97

$ 

$ 9,241

$ 10

$ 51

$ 

$ 9,303 Depreciation and amortization $ 6,489

$ 466

$ 43

$ 

$ 6,999

$ 5

$ 4,976

$ 

$ 11,980 Impairment charges $ 2,571

$ 38

$ 

$ 

$ 2,609

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 2,609 Equity income (loss)(a)(b) $ 558

$ (306)

$ (108)

$ 

$ 145

$ 

$ 39

$ 

$ 184





































GMNA

GMI

Corporate

Eliminations

Total Automotive

Cruise

GM Financial

Reclassifications/

Eliminations

Total Year Ended December 31, 2024

































Net sales and revenue $ 157,509

$ 13,890

$ 206

$ 

$ 171,605

$ 257

$ 15,875

$ (296)

$ 187,442 Expenditures for property $ 10,266

$ 415

$ 30

$ 

$ 10,711

$ 7

$ 24

$ 88

$ 10,830 Depreciation and amortization $ 5,963

$ 506

$ 80

$ 

$ 6,548

$ 25

$ 4,883

$ 

$ 11,456 Impairment charges $ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 933

$ 

$ 

$ 934 Equity income (loss)(a)(b) $ 955

$ (4,400)

$ 

$ 

$ (3,445)

$ 

$ (256)

$ 

$ (3,701)

__________ (a) Includes Automotive China joint ventures (Automotive China JVs) equity income (loss) of $(0.5) billion and $(0.3) billion in the three months and year ended December 31, 2025 and $(4.1) billion and $(4.4) billion in the three months and year ended December 31, 2024. (b) Equity income (loss) related to Ultium Cells Holdings LLC, an equally owned joint venture with LG Energy Solution, is presented in Automotive and other cost of sales as this entity is integral to the operations of our business by providing battery cells for our electric vehicles. Equity income (loss) related to Ultium Cells Holdings LLC was $319 million and $186 million in the three months ended December 31, 2025 and 2024 and $784 million and $975 million in the years ended December 31, 2025 and 2024.





General Motors Company and Subsidiaries

Supplemental Material1

(Unaudited)

General Motors Company (GM) uses both generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) and non-GAAP financial measures for operational and financial decision making, and to assess Company and segment business performance. Our non-GAAP measures include: earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT)-adjusted, presented net of noncontrolling interests; earnings before income taxes-adjusted (EBT-adjusted) for our General Motors Financial Company, Inc. (GM Financial) segment; earnings per share (EPS)-diluted-adjusted; effective tax rate-adjusted (ETR-adjusted); return on invested capital-adjusted (ROIC-adjusted) and adjusted automotive free cash flow. GM's calculation of these non-GAAP measures may not be comparable to similarly titled measures of other companies due to potential differences between companies in the method of calculation. As a result, the use of these non-GAAP measures has limitations and should not be considered superior to, in isolation from, or as a substitute for, related U.S. GAAP measures.

These non-GAAP measures allow management and investors to view operating trends, perform analytical comparisons, and benchmark performance between periods and among geographic regions to understand operating performance without regard to items we do not consider a component of our core operating performance. Furthermore, these non-GAAP measures allow investors the opportunity to measure and monitor our performance against our externally communicated targets and evaluate the investment decisions being made by management to improve ROIC-adjusted. Management uses these measures in its financial, investment, and operational decision-making processes, for internal reporting, and as part of its forecasting and budgeting processes. Further, our Board of Directors uses certain of these and other measures as key metrics to determine management performance under our performance-based compensation plans. For these reasons, we believe these non-GAAP measures are useful for our investors.

EBIT-adjusted (Most comparable GAAP measure: Net income attributable to stockholders) EBIT-adjusted is presented net of noncontrolling interests and is used by management and can be used by investors to review our consolidated operating results because it excludes automotive interest income, automotive interest expense, and income taxes as well as certain additional adjustments that are not considered part of our core operations. Examples of adjustments to EBIT include, but are not limited to, impairment charges on long-lived assets and other exit costs resulting from strategic shifts in our operations or discrete market and business conditions, and certain costs arising from legal matters. For EBIT-adjusted and our other non-GAAP measures, once we have made an adjustment in the current period for an item, we will also adjust the related non-GAAP measure in any future periods in which there is an impact from the item. Our corresponding measure for our GM Financial segment is EBT-adjusted because interest income and interest expense are an integral part of its financial performance.

EPS-diluted-adjusted (Most comparable GAAP measure: Diluted earnings per common share) EPS-diluted-adjusted is used by management and can be used by investors to review our consolidated diluted EPS results on a consistent basis. EPS-diluted-adjusted is calculated as net income attributable to common stockholders-diluted less adjustments noted above for EBIT-adjusted and certain income tax adjustments divided by weighted-average common shares outstanding-diluted. Examples of income tax adjustments include the establishment or release of significant deferred tax asset valuation allowances.

ETR-adjusted (Most comparable GAAP measure: Effective tax rate) ETR-adjusted is used by management and can be used by investors to review the consolidated effective tax rate for our core operations on a consistent basis. ETR-adjusted is calculated as Income tax expense less the income tax related to the adjustments noted above for EBIT-adjusted and the income tax adjustments noted above for EPS-diluted-adjusted divided by Income before income taxes less adjustments. When we provide an expected adjusted effective tax rate, we cannot provide an expected effective tax rate without unreasonable efforts because the U.S. GAAP measure may include significant adjustments that are difficult to predict.

ROIC-adjusted (Most comparable GAAP measure: Return on equity) ROIC-adjusted is used by management and can be used by investors to review our investment and capital allocation decisions. We define ROIC-adjusted as EBIT-adjusted for the trailing four quarters divided by ROIC-adjusted average net assets, which is the average equity balances adjusted for average automotive debt and interest liabilities, exclusive of finance leases; average automotive net pension and other postretirement benefits (OPEB) liabilities; and average automotive net income tax assets during the same period.

Adjusted automotive free cash flow (Most comparable GAAP measure: Net automotive cash provided by operating activities) Adjusted automotive free cash flow is used by management and can be used by investors to review the liquidity of our automotive operations and to measure and monitor our performance against our capital allocation program and evaluate our automotive liquidity against the substantial cash requirements of our automotive operations. We measure adjusted automotive free cash flow as automotive operating cash flow from operations less capital expenditures adjusted for management actions. Management actions can include voluntary events such as discretionary contributions to employee benefit plans or nonrecurring specific events such as a closure of a facility that are considered special for EBIT-adjusted purposes.

General Motors Company and Subsidiaries Supplemental Material1 (Unaudited)

The following table reconciles Net income (loss) attributable to stockholders to EBIT-adjusted and segment profit (loss) (dollars in millions):



Three Months Ended

Years Ended

December 31,

2025

December 31,

2024

December 31,

2025

December 31,

2024 Net income (loss) attributable to stockholders(a) $ (3,310)

$ (2,961)

$ 2,697

$ 6,008 Income tax expense (989)

318

338

2,556 Automotive interest expense 167

215

727

846 Automotive interest income (242)

(279)

(854)

(967) Adjustments













EV strategic realignment(b) 5,992



7,914

 China restructuring actions(c) 702

4,010

842

4,010 Legal matters(d) 357



657

 Cruise restructuring(e) 133

520

223

1,103 Separation costs(f) 

10

87

200 GMI exit costs(g) 28

4

61

150 Headquarters relocation(h) 5

30

55

64 Buick dealer strategy(i) 

643



964 Total adjustments 7,217

5,217

9,839

6,491 EBIT-adjusted 2,843

2,509

12,747

14,934 Operating segments













GM North America (GMNA) 2,244

2,274

10,452

14,528 GM International (GMI) 278

221

737

303 Cruise 

(418)

(273)

(1,701) GM Financial(j) 609

719

2,802

2,965 Total operating segments 3,131

2,796

13,718

16,095 Corporate and eliminations(k) (288)

(287)

(972)

(1,161) EBIT-adjusted $ 2,843

$ 2,509

$ 12,747

$ 14,934

__________ (a) Net of net loss (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests. (b) These adjustments were excluded because they relate to our strategic realignment of our EV capacity and manufacturing footprint. These adjustments include $0.3 billion that was recorded in the three months ended June 30, 2025 associated with Ultium's strategic realignment. (c) These adjustments were excluded because they relate to restructuring activities associated with our operations in China, including an other-than-temporary impairment and restructuring charges recorded in equity earnings associated with our Automotive China JVs. (d) These adjustments were excluded because they relate to investigations and litigation associated with our former OnStar Smart Driver product and an indemnification charge for a European-wide Takata Corporation related recall. (e) These adjustments were excluded because they relate to restructuring charges resulting from the plan to combine the Cruise and GM technical efforts to advance autonomous and assisted driving, the indefinite delay of the Cruise Origin, and the voluntary pausing in 2023 of Cruise's driverless, supervised, and manual AV operations in the U.S. The adjustments primarily consist of non-cash restructuring charges, supplier-related charges, and employee separation costs. (f) These adjustments were excluded because they relate to employee separation charges including the acceleration of attrition as part of the cost reduction program announced in January 2023, primarily in the U.S. (g) These adjustments were excluded because they primarily relate to the wind down of our manufacturing operations in Colombia and Ecuador and an asset sale resulting from our strategic decision in 2020 to exit India. (h) These adjustments were excluded because they relate to the GM headquarters relocation, primarily consisting of accelerated depreciation and other relocation expenditures. (i) These adjustments were excluded because they relate to strategic activities to transition certain Buick dealers out of our dealer network as part of Buick's EV strategy. (j) GM Financial amounts represent EBT-adjusted. (k) GM's automotive interest income and interest expense, corporate expenditures, legacy costs from the Opel/Vauxhall Business (primarily pension costs), and certain revenues and expenses that are not part of a reportable segment are recorded centrally in Corporate.





The following table reconciles diluted earnings per common share to EPS-diluted-adjusted (dollars in millions, except per share amounts):



Three Months Ended

Years Ended

December 31, 2025

December 31, 2024

December 31, 2025

December 31, 2024

Amount

Per Share

Amount

Per Share

Amount

Per Share

Amount

Per Share Diluted earnings (loss) per common share $ (3,330)

$ (3.60)

$ (1,725)

$ (1.64)

$ 3,180

$ 3.27

$ 7,189

$ 6.37 Impact of including dilutive securities(a)



0.09





0.03











 Adjustments(b) 7,217

7.60

5,217

4.85

9,839

10.12

6,491

5.75 Tax effect on adjustments(c) (1,509)

(1.59)

(187)

(0.17)

(2,115)

(2.17)

(477)

(0.42) Return from preferred shareholders(d) 



(1,239)

(1.15)

(593)

(0.61)

(1,239)

(1.10) EPS-diluted-adjusted $ 2,378

$ 2.51

$ 2,066

$ 1.92

$ 10,311

$ 10.60

$ 11,963

$ 10.60

__________ (a) Represents the dilutive effect of awards under stock incentive plans. Refer to the table below for the effect on weighted-average common shares outstanding  diluted-adjusted. (b) Refer to the reconciliation of Net income (loss) attributable to stockholders to EBIT-adjusted and segment profit (loss) for adjustment details. (c) The tax effect of each adjustment is determined based on the tax laws and valuation allowance status of the jurisdiction to which the adjustment relates. (d) This adjustment consists of a return from the preferred shareholders related to the redemption of Cruise preferred shares from noncontrolling interest holders in the year ended December 31, 2025 and the three months and year ended December 31, 2024.





The following table reconciles weighted-average common shares outstanding  diluted to weighted-average common shares outstanding  diluted-adjusted used in the calculation of EPS-diluted-adjusted (shares in millions):



Three Months Ended

Years Ended

December 31,

2025

December 31,

2024

December 31,

2025

December 31,

2024 Weighted-average common shares outstanding  diluted 925

1,055

973

1,129 Dilutive effect of awards under stock incentive plans 24

20



 Weighted-average common shares outstanding  diluted-adjusted 949

1,075

973

1,129



The following table reconciles our effective tax rate to ETR-adjusted (dollars in millions):



Years Ended December 31,

2025

2024

Income before

income taxes

Income tax

expense

Effective

tax rate

Income before

income taxes

Income tax

expense

Effective

tax rate Effective tax rate $ 3,117

$ 338

10.8 %

$ 8,519

$ 2,556

30.0 % Adjustments(a) 9,839

2,115





6,564

477



ETR-adjusted $ 12,956

$ 2,453

18.9 %

$ 15,083

$ 3,033

20.1 %

__________ (a) Refer to the reconciliation of Net income (loss) attributable to stockholders to EBIT-adjusted and segment profit (loss) for adjustment details. These adjustments include Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests where applicable. The tax effect of each adjustment is determined based on the tax laws and valuation allowance status of the jurisdiction to which the adjustment relates.





We define return on equity (ROE) as Net income (loss) attributable to stockholders for the trailing four quarters divided by average equity for the same period. Management uses average equity to provide comparable amounts in the calculation of ROE. The following table summarizes the calculation of ROE (dollars in billions):



Years Ended December 31,

2025

2024 Net income attributable to stockholders $ 2.7

$ 6.0 Average equity(a) $ 64.6

$ 68.9 ROE 4.2 %

8.7 %

__________ (a) Includes equity of noncontrolling interests where the corresponding earnings (loss) are included in Net income attributable to stockholders.





The following table summarizes the calculation of ROIC-adjusted (dollars in billions):



Years Ended December 31,

2025

2024 EBIT-adjusted(a) $ 12.7

$ 14.9 Average equity(b) $ 64.6

$ 68.9 Add: Average automotive debt and interest liabilities (excluding finance leases) 16.2

16.1 Add: Average automotive net pension and OPEB liability 8.5

9.4 Less: Average automotive net income tax asset (23.2)

(22.7) ROIC-adjusted average net assets $ 66.0

$ 71.8 ROIC-adjusted 19.3 %

20.8 %

__________ (a) Refer to the reconciliation of Net income (loss) attributable to stockholders to EBIT-adjusted and segment profit (loss) for adjustment details. (b) Includes equity of noncontrolling interests where the corresponding earnings (loss) are included in EBIT-adjusted.





The following table reconciles Net automotive cash provided by operating activities to adjusted automotive free cash flow (dollars in millions):



Three Months Ended

Years Ended

December 31,

2025

December 31,

2024

December 31,

2025

December 31,

2024 Net automotive cash provided by operating activities $ 5,606

$ 4,765

$ 18,733

$ 23,939 Less: Capital expenditures (3,188)

(3,215)

(9,241)

(10,711) Add: Buick dealer strategy 10

154

718

530 Add: EV strategic realignment 401



401

 Add: China restructuring actions 207



217

 Add: Separation costs 

89

139

221 Add: GMI exit costs 

30

12

65 Less: Ultium strategic realignment (281)



(384)

 Adjusted automotive free cash flow $ 2,755

$ 1,823

$ 10,595

$ 14,045

Vehicle Sales

GM presents both wholesale and total vehicle sales data to assist in the analysis of our revenue and market share. Wholesale vehicle sales data consists of sales to GM's dealers and distributors, as well as sales to the U.S. Government, and excludes vehicles sold by our joint ventures. Wholesale vehicle sales data correlates to GM's revenue recognized from the sale of vehicles, which is the largest component of Automotive net sales and revenue. In the year ended December 31, 2025, 27.5% of GM's wholesale vehicle sales volume was generated outside the U.S. The following table summarizes wholesale vehicle sales by our Automotive operations (vehicles in thousands):



Three Months Ended

Years Ended

December 31, 2025

December 31, 2024

December 31, 2025

December 31, 2024 GMNA 780

876

3,296

3,464 GMI 157

163

503

547 Total 937

1,039

3,799

4,010



Total vehicle sales data represents: (1) retail sales (i.e., sales to consumers who purchase new vehicles from dealers or distributors); (2) fleet sales (i.e., sales to large and small businesses, governments, and daily rental car companies); and (3) certain vehicles used by dealers in their business, including but not limited to courtesy transportation vehicles previously used by dealers that were sold to the end consumer. Total vehicle sales data includes all sales by joint ventures on a total vehicle basis, not based on GM's percentage ownership interest in the joint venture, including vehicle sales of non-GM trademarked vehicles, which are included in the total vehicle sales we report for China. While total vehicle sales data does not correlate directly to the revenue GM recognizes during a particular period, we believe it is indicative of the underlying demand for GM's vehicles. Total vehicle sales data represents management's good faith estimate based on sales reported by GM's dealers, distributors, and joint ventures; commercially available data sources, such as registration and insurance data; and internal estimates and forecasts when other data is not available.

The following table summarizes industry and GM total vehicle sales and GM's related competitive position by geographic region (vehicles in thousands):



Three Months Ended

Years Ended

December 31, 2025

December 31, 2024

December 31, 2025

December 31, 2024

Industry

GM

Market Share

Industry

GM

Market Share

Industry

GM

Market Share

Industry

GM

Market Share North America













































United States 4,097

703

17.2 %

4,329

755

17.4 %

16,631

2,853

17.2 %

16,356

2,705

16.5 % Other 1,020

124

12.2 %

1,020

134

13.2 %

4,027

507

12.6 %

3,904

510

13.1 % Total North America 5,117

827

16.2 %

5,349

889

16.6 %

20,658

3,361

16.3 %

20,260

3,215

15.9 % Asia/Pacific, Middle

East, and Africa













































China(a) 7,079

521

7.4 %

8,284

599

7.2 %

26,412

1,880

7.1 %

26,408

1,839

7.0 % Other 5,701

169

3.0 %

5,610

139

2.5 %

22,368

538

2.4 %

21,876

522

2.4 % Total Asia/Pacific,

Middle East, and

Africa 12,780

690

5.4 %

13,894

738

5.3 %

48,780

2,418

5.0 %

48,284

2,360

4.9 % South America













































Brazil 779

84

10.8 %

776

92

11.9 %

2,688

276

10.3 %

2,634

315

12.0 % Other 411

32

7.7 %

356

27

7.7 %

1,679

126

7.5 %

1,347

109

8.1 % Total South America 1,190

116

9.7 %

1,132

119

10.5 %

4,367

403

9.2 %

3,981

424

10.7 % Total in GM markets 19,087

1,633

8.6 %

20,375

1,747

8.6 %

73,805

6,182

8.4 %

72,524

6,000

8.3 % Total Europe 4,312



 %

4,224

1

 %

16,925

2

 %

16,765

2

 % Total Worldwide(b) 23,399

1,633

7.0 %

24,599

1,747

7.1 %

90,730

6,184

6.8 %

89,289

6,003

6.7 % United States













































Cars 637

13

2.1 %

739

37

5.0 %

2,719

57

2.1 %

2,946

178

6.0 % Trucks 1,178

402

34.1 %

1,199

396

33.1 %

4,592

1,517

33.0 %

4,336

1,383

31.9 % Crossovers 2,282

288

12.6 %

2,392

322

13.5 %

9,320

1,280

13.7 %

9,074

1,144

12.6 % Total United States 4,097

703

17.2 %

4,329

755

17.4 %

16,631

2,853

17.2 %

16,356

2,705

16.5 % China(a)













































SGMS



131









152









512









524



SGMW



390









447









1,368









1,315



Total 7,079

521

7.4 %

8,284

599

7.2 %

26,412

1,880

7.1 %

26,408

1,839

7.0 %

__________ (a) Includes sales by the Automotive China JVs: SAIC General Motors Sales Co., Ltd. (SGMS) and SAIC GM Wuling Automobile Co., Ltd. (SGMW). (b) Cuba, Iran, North Korea, and Sudan have been subject to broad economic sanctions. Accordingly, these countries are excluded from industry sales data and corresponding calculation of market share.





As discussed above, total vehicle sales and market share data provided in the table above includes fleet vehicles. Certain fleet transactions, particularly sales to daily rental car companies, are generally less profitable than retail sales to end customers. The following table summarizes estimated fleet sales and those sales as a percentage of total vehicle sales (vehicles in thousands):



Three Months Ended

Years Ended

December 31,

2025

December 31,

2024

December 31,

2025

December 31,

2024 GMNA 170

168

667

615 GMI 150

127

427

401 Total fleet sales 320

295

1,094

1,016















Fleet sales as a percentage of total vehicle sales 19.6 %

16.9 %

17.7 %

16.9 %















North America capacity two-shift utilization 104.7 %

103.5 %

113.7 %

105.7 %

SOURCE General Motors
Local residents ride motorcycle past a bank in Goma, eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Jan. 27, 2026. (Str/Xinhua)

GOMA, DR Congo, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- One year after Goma, a regional urban hub in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), fell to the March 23 Movement (M23) rebel group, the conflict continues to shape daily life in the region.

In the early hours of Jan. 27, 2025, M23 rebels took control of large parts of Goma, also the capital of North Kivu Province, with a population of two million, after intense fighting with government forces.

For many, the shock of that day remains vivid. Parfait Famba, a resident, recalled being awakened by the sound of heavy weapons across the city.

"Between 11:00 a.m. and noon, the situation worsened dramatically, and everyone was forced to remain locked inside their homes," he said.

"We found bodies almost everywhere. There was no way to pass. We were so afraid that we stayed indoors for almost the entire week," Famba said. "I thought we would all die."

Beyond immediate violence, the conflict shattered daily life. Prolonged closure of the airport and banks has deepened the city's economic isolation, pushing daily transactions and livelihoods to the brink of collapse.

"Business has almost come to a standstill," said Adeline Muhanzi, a downtown shopkeeper. "Without banks and regular flights, everything has become more expensive."

Traveling to the Congolese capital, Kinshasa, now requires transiting through Uganda or Rwanda on international flights -- an option financially out of reach for much of the population.

Sylvain Kasidika described the situation as a fragile calm overshadowed by deep economic hardship.

"We are suffering intensely because there is no circulation of money in the city. Almost all organizations and agencies that used to provide cash no longer function. The airport remains closed, and there are no banks," said Kasidika.

Buyana Batende, a mother of several children, said that the war immediately triggered an economic crisis in her household.

"We started lacking food at home," she said. With support from a local association, she obtained a small loan to start a petty trading business. "But there is still very little money in the city. I am just trying to find enough to feed my children."

According to Paul Kashanvu, a local wounded by the fighting, the secret of Goma's resilience is courage, intelligence, and reducing expenses.

"Where we used to spend 1,000 francs (0.44 U.S. dollars), we now spend 500 francs. Where we used to eat fish, we now eat vegetables," he said.

Over the year since Goma's fall, the M23, now part of the political-military Alliance Fleuve Congo, has claimed changes in its organizational structure, while reinforcing its presence in certain territories where parallel administrative arrangements have been put in place.

The group said that it has strengthened its chain of command and improved the training of its fighters.

On the ground, the rebel presence has become firmly established around Goma, particularly in the territories of Rutshuru, Masisi, and Nyiragongo in North Kivu.

In Goma, the M23 group controls the main border crossing with Rwanda, as well as the Bunagana post linking to Uganda, transit points estimated to generate hundreds of thousands of dollars in monthly revenue.

According to a report by the United Nations Group of Experts published in December 2025, the M23 has continued to expand its control over strategic mining areas in South Kivu Province, consolidating its access to mineral resources that finance its armed activities.

The DRC government has condemned the situation, describing it as "an illegal occupation and an attempt to legitimize an externally supported armed group," said Patrick Muyaya, government spokesperson.

For its part, the M23 has stressed that it "will not withdraw from any entity in the liberated territories," according to a statement released Monday.

Despite repeated ceasefire announcements and successive rounds of diplomatic mediation over the past year, hostilities have never fully ceased.

Sporadic clashes continue to be reported across several fronts in North Kivu, particularly in Masisi and Rutshuru.

"The situation remains volatile, with a constant risk of large-scale fighting resuming," said a Congolese army officer interviewed by Xinhua. "Politicians will continue talking, and the army will do its part."

On the political front, diplomatic efforts have multiplied without producing a lasting settlement. Mediation initiatives facilitated by the African Union and other African actors have failed to bring positions closer together.

The United States and other international partners, with regular calls for de-escalation and dialogue, have struggled to significantly alter the conflict's trajectory on the ground.

In direct talks under Qatari mediation, Kinshasa demanded M23's full withdrawal and the restoration of state authority, while the rebellion insisted on direct dialogue to address what it describes as the "root causes" of the conflict, particularly governance issues.

A new attempt led by Angola has been floated as a possible way to revive dialogue. Yet many observers remain skeptical.

"The M23 feels it holds the upper hand, and the government refuses any concession that could be seen as capitulation," said a North Kivu notable and former government official, speaking on condition of anonymity.

The conundrum made the situation on the ground more complicated, even though there was no credible alternative to a genuine political process, he said.

One year after Goma's fall, between entrenched rebel control, diplomatic deadlock, and the enduring suffering of civilians, eastern DRC continues to sink deeper into a conflict with no clearly defined exit. 

An armored vehicle of the United Nations is seen in Goma, eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Jan. 27, 2026. (Str/Xinhua)

Local vendors are pictured in Goma, eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Jan. 27, 2026. (Str/Xinhua)

Local workers are seen on a loaded truck in Goma, eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Jan. 27, 2026. (Str/Xinhua)

A member of the March 23 Movement (M23) rebel group is seen on patrol in Goma, eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Jan. 27, 2026. (Str/Xinhua)
23-yr-old Hindu man burnt alive while sleeping in Desh







DHAKA :

A HORRIFYING act of violence against a Hindu minority member has shocked Bangladesh, coming just weeks ahead of the national elections as a 23-year-old Hindu man, identified as Chanchal Chandra Bhowmik, was reportedly burned alive while sleeping in a garage in Narsingdi, around 50 km from Dhaka, raising renewed fears over the security of minority communities in the Muslim-majority nation. Bhowmik, son of Khokan Chandra Bhowmik and a resident of Lakshmipur village in Cumilla district, worked at a garage located in the Khanabari Mosque Market area near Narsingdi Police Lines. He had finished his work on Friday night and fell asleep inside the garage when unidentified attackers set the premises ablaze. With large quantities of petrol, engine oil, and other inflammable materials stored in the garage, the fire spread rapidly, leaving Bhowmik trapped.

He succumbed to severe burn injuries and suffocation. Eyewitnesses have described the incident as a planned murder. Authorities have seized CCTV footage that reportedly captured the attackers in action, but the culprits have not yet been identified. A police official said, The police are conducting a thorough investigation, considering the seriousness of the case. We have recovered the body and seized the CCTV footage. Several police teams are working to identify and arrest the culprits. Bangladeshs Hindu population is estimated at 13.13 million, accounting for nearly 8 per cent of the countrys total population, according to the 2022 census. In recent weeks, violence against Hindus has been rising, prompting India to express concerns over the safety of its minority community in the neighbouring country.

The attack on Bhowmik comes shortly after several other incidents targeting Hindus. Last week, a Hindu sweetshop owner in Gazipur district was beaten to death while defending an employee from an assault. In the same period, a Hindu household was set on fire in Sylhet district, and a Hindu autorickshaw driver was stabbed to death in Feni district. These incidents underscore the growing fears of minority communities in Bangladesh, particularly ahead of the upcoming elections, as the government faces scrutiny over its ability to protect vulnerable populations from extremist violence.
Eichhornia chokes Naag river while administration watches from the banks





By Shashwat Bhuskute :

The Naag river has spent decades begging for dignity, but the administration seems determined to keep it throttled under layers of sewage, debris and now, a fast-spreading mat of Eichhornia. From Ambazari lake to its confluence with the Pili Nadi, the river resembles a forgotten drain rather than a central artery of Nagpur. This is not a natural disaster. It is a policy-induced collapse, enabled by public indifference and bureaucratic inertia. The nightmare of September 23 2023, when half of Nagpur went under water, should have forced introspection. Instead, the civic body shrugged, offered another round of surveys, and abandoned Daga Layout to the same broken embankments that triggered devastation in the first place.

Despite repeated directives from the Prime Minister in 2022 to rejuvenate or at least clean the river, the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) has done little beyond paperwork. Twenty years of announcements about tendering and upcoming projects have produced no real action. Even today, the tender process exists only in future tense. Meanwhile, the Naag river continues to swallow sewage, leftover food, industrial effluents and construction debris, becoming an open-air catalogue of every civic failure imaginable.The Eichhornia explosion was inevitable. A river fed almost entirely by nutrient-rich sewage is an open invitation for water hyacinth to flourish. Environmental expert Kaustav Chatterjee had previously noted in The Hitavada article its alarming spread across Shankar Nagar, Yashwant Stadium, Ghat Road, Jagnade Square and Hiwri Nagar.

The weed blocks sunlight, depletes oxygen and suffocates aquatic life, but its unchecked advance mainly proves one point: no one is actually monitoring the river. Even the Municipal Commissioner previously had admitted to The Hitavada he did not know the weed had spread deep into East Nagpur. The administration has now scrambled to consult NEERI and other institutions, but with Ambazari lake already crippled by Eichhornia and the Wadi STP only 60% complete after a year, there is little comfort in these manoeuvres. The Naag River Pollution Abatement Project, backed by over Rs 1,100 crore from the Centre and lofty timelines of 88 months, remains trapped at the starting line. Without sewer networks completed, without enforcement on dumping, and without basic riverbank protection, the Naag continues to be treated as a giant bin with water in it. Nagpur asked for a clean river. What it received is a floating carpet of weeds, broken promises and a governance model in which crisis must drown the city before action even appears on the agenda.
India a messenger of peace in conflict-ridden world: Murmu





NEW DELHI :

AMIDST geopolitical tensions escalating across multiple continents, President Droupadi Murmu on Sunday said India is spreading the message of peace in the world which is crucial to secure the future of humanity. In her address to the nation on the eve of 77th Republic Day, she spoke about various issues including Operation Sindoor and women empowerment, and also touched upon the topics of Vande Mataram and growing economy of the country. President Murmu outlined Indias position as a messenger of peace while reinforcing ancient civilisational commitment to universal harmony. In our tradition, we have been offering prayers for peace to prevail in the entire universe. The future of humanity can remain secure only if there is peace in the whole world. In an atmosphere marked by conflicts in many parts of the world, India is spreading the message of peace, she said.

During her speech, the President also underscored a firm commitment to national security by highlighting the recent success of Operation Sindoor, a precision strike that dismantled terror infrastructure across the border. Last year, our country launched precision strikes against terror infrastructure...Terror centres were destroyed, and many terrorists met their end, she said, highlighting countrys self-reliance in the field of defence that powered the historic success of Operation Sindoor. Presidents address motivates every citizen to uphold constitutional ideals: PM Modi: PRIME Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said President Droupadi Murmus Republic Day eve address to the nation motivates every citizen to reaffirm their commitment to strengthening democracy. On the eve of Republic Day, Rashtrapati Ji gave a very inspiring address. She has correctly emphasised the uniqueness of our Constitution and appreciated the collective spirit that has taken our nation forward, Modi said in a post on X.
Two Vidarbha stalwartsNuwal and Bothehonoured with Padma Shri

Staff Reporter :



Two eminent personalities of Vidarbha region, one the city based industrialist Satyanarayan Nuwal, and the other, General Secretary, Akhil Bharatiya Gurudev Sewa Mandal, Gurukunj, Mozari, in Amravati District, Janardan Bothe, were awarded Padma Shri. Ministry of Home Affairs announced the names of personalities shortlisted for civilian awards on the eve of Republic Day. Satyanarayan Nuwal championing Satyanarayan Nuwal has carved out a name for himself by anchoring the Solar Group, one of the top manufacturers of advanced weaponry for the Indian Armed forces. Also well-known for philanthropic activities, Nuwal carved out a niche for the region through pioneering efforts that put forth Solar Explosive Limited and its subsidiaries at the forefront of Atmanirbhar Bharat push in weapons manufacturing in the country in Trade and Industry category. Headquartered in city, Solar Group today represents the true spirit of innovation and advancement into highly sophisticated weapon system, shaping countrys role in the precise harnessing of technology. And the award is recognition of Nuwals endeavour to cut down reliance on imports of weapons and also put India as one of the leading exporters in the field. His is the rags to riches story, but also that of grit and hard work, saw Nuwal overcome the early challenges to establish Solar Group as an anchor in advanced weapons programme.

Recently, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh visited Solars facility in Bazargaon and was visibly impressed by the standards of manufacturing. Nuwals foray in industry sector began with setting up of an ink manufacturing unit when he was just 18 years old in 1970. From that time onwards, there was no looking back, as the industrialist in making set his sight on the highly sophisticated weapon system, but before that carved out a niche in explosive sector. He diversification into manufacturing industrial explosives, and today the Solar Group accounts for lions share in the market. The Group now specialises in manufacture of ammunition, rockets, loitering munitions, anti-drone systems, UAVs and also the Nagastra drone. These weapons system came to aid of armed forces in the Operation Sindoor and demonstrated its effectiveness by destroying Pakistans positions. The company is now focussed on Bhargavastra, a hard-kill system using micro-missiles. Also, Solar Group is concentrating on manufacturing landmines, universal air-bombs, weaponised drones as force multipliers, warheads and also missiles. The Group is now foraying into aerospace, a highly advanced system, and for the same it has purchased 223 acres in MIHAN where it plans an investment of Rs 12,780 crore.

Bothe using Gram Geeta for rural upliftment :

The journey of Janardan Bothe showcases the deep influence of Rashtrasant Tukdoji Maharaj on his entire life and work. Now spearheading the affairs of Akhil Bharatiya Gurudev Sewa Mandal, Bothe started his association with Tukdoji Maharaj from childhood and later became the photographer. The award to Bothe is in recognition of Mandals work in respect of upliftment of lives of people in rural parts of the country, by preaching the teachings of Tukdoji Maharaj. As a close aide of Rashtrasant Tukdoji Maharaj, Bothe played a crucial role in spreading the message of Gramoddhar through de-addiction campaigns, village cleanliness drives, and mass prayers. Having dedicated nearly eight decades to this sacred mission, Bothe is known as Rashtrasant Tukdoji Maharajs trusted aide, official photographer and a pillar of strength of the Gurukunj Mozari Ashram. At a time when technology was still in its infancy, Maharaj himself entrusted Bothe with the responsibility of documenting his national and international activities. The photographs captured under Maharajs guidance have today become priceless historical assets preserved at Gurukunj Mozari. Bothe Guruji exemplified the true spirit of selfless service by remaining constantly by Rashtrasant Tukdoji Maharajs side like a shadow, setting a living example of sevadharma.

His contribution to transforming Gurukunj Mozari, Rashtrasant Tukdoji Maharajs Karmabhoomi into a socially engaged and vibrant centre is widely acknowledged. Bothe Guruji is a social reformer who has dedicated more than five decades of his life to translating the ideals of Rashtrasant Tukdoji Maharaj into meaningful action. Through education, rural development, de-addiction initiatives, and health care services, his work has left a lasting impact from the remote tribal regions of Melghat to major urban centres. Bothe Guruji came into close association with Rashtrasant Tukdoji Maharaj in 1954 under the Earn and Learn scheme. Between 1960 and 1964, he served as Rashtrasant Tukdoji Maharajs Personal Secretary, shouldering key responsibilities during a crucial period. Whether it was the historic Kisan Rail Yatra or the devotional teams sent to the NEFA border during the 1962 war to boost the morale of Indian soldiers, Bothe Guruji remained by Maharajs side like a shadow. Even after Rashtrasant Tukdoji Maharajs nirvan, Bothe Guruji played a vital role in modernising the Gurukunj Ashram while carefully preserving its spiritual essence, ensuring continuity of Maharajs values in a changing world. In 1972, he founded the Rashtrasant Tukdoji Maharaj Education Society, under which 11 residential schools and hostels were established in tribal and remote areas.

Through these institutions, thousands of underprivileged students were brought into the mainstream of education. His contribution extends well beyond education. He played a significant role in transforming 65 villages into Model Villages. More than 850 womens groups have been formed to promote self-reliance and social participation among women. Echoing his Gurus vision, Janardan Bothe firmly believes that Gram Geeta remains the most effective path toward Indias bright and sustainable future. He authored Gram Geeta as a blueprint for social transformation, emphasising that true national progress begins in villages through awareness and cleanliness.
KIEV, Jan. 26 (Xinhua) -- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Monday that the next trilateral meeting between delegations from Ukraine, the United States and Russia could take place on Feb. 1.

"Earlier we discussed that the teams would meet again on Sunday. It would be good if we could expedite this meeting," Zelensky said in his evening address.

Ukraine will be fully prepared on all issues that need to be discussed and agreed upon at the meeting, he said, underscoring the country's commitment to peace.

Representatives of Ukraine, the United States and Russia held their first trilateral meeting since the start of the Ukraine crisis on Jan. 23 and 24 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. 
by Chevige Gonzalez Marco, Tian Rui

CARACAS, Jan. 26 (Xinhua) -- "At any noise, we can't sleep. I have generalized sleep anxiety -- I only get sleepy around six in the morning, when the light comes," said Caracas resident Beverly Moreno, sharing her experiences after the U.S. military attack on Venezuela on Jan. 3.

Moreno lives with her two daughters and her elderly mother in the Carlos Raul Villanueva housing complex, just a few meters from Fort Tiuna, a major military installation in southwestern Caracas that was bombed in the attack.

"Scared, terrified -- we end up standing by the windows until one or two in the morning," she said, detailing how her neighbors react to unfamiliar sounds or lights.

"Panic and terror" sums up the experience, she said. As night falls, Moreno suffers from heart palpitations, trembling and cold hands. "When I do manage to sleep, I have nightmares," she added. Her daughters also experience anxiety after dark.

Moreno said the psychological toll has spread through the community. "Most neighbors are affected," she said, adding that 211 families have received psychological support, many for panic attacks. "Children who were developing normally have regressed ... they cry constantly."

Broken windows in her apartment testify to the blast waves from the explosions. Damage is visible throughout the complex, where Moreno has lived for 15 years in an apartment provided under the government's Great Housing Mission Venezuela housing program.

In Simon Bolivar, a neighboring residential area, musician Jose Alejandro Delgado said he turned the experiences into a song. "Where is your love," the lyric asks, "when they bomb a people for no reason, forcing them to suffer so much pain?"

"There are no words to explain what it means to have missiles, bombs and helicopters attacking less than a kilometer from your home," Delgado said. Artists, he added, are affected like everyone else. "But we also understand our role, even when we're hurting, is to create cohesion and beauty out of hardship."

Despite the trauma, Delgado said he and fellow musicians have continued composing. "Our culture is peace," he said. "We want to create spaces where people feel supported and calm, where they can reflect."

Venezuelan authorities say the Jan. 3 attack killed more than 100 people, including civilians and military personnel -- an event unprecedented in the country in more than a century.

Psychologist and university professor Jose Garces described the aftermath as a "psychosocial trauma," drawing on studies of war-related trauma in Central America.

"There's depression, stress, pain ... everything at once," Garces said. Symptoms include insomnia, frequent crying, high anxiety, rapid heartbeat and sweating.

Garces said such trauma is often "unspeakable, unnamable," and even "unthinkable," with patients becoming psychologically repressed. He urged survivors to express what they experienced.

Venezuela's last comparable foreign attack occurred in 1902-1903, when European powers, including Britain, Italy and Germany, blockaded and attacked the country's ports. 
Accenture PLC (NYSE:ACN  Get Free Report) General Counsel Joel Unruch sold 1,026 shares of the stock in a transaction on Friday, January 23rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $281.70, for a total value of $289,024.20. Following the sale, the general counsel directly owned 27,181 shares in the company, valued at approximately $7,656,887.70. This trade represents a 3.64% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through this link.

Joel Unruch also recently made the following trade(s):

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On Tuesday, January 6th, Joel Unruch sold 1,332 shares of Accenture stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $275.00, for a total value of $366,300.00.

Accenture Price Performance

Accenture stock traded down $0.06 during trading hours on Monday, reaching $281.01. 3,169,321 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 4,425,375. The company has a current ratio of 1.41, a quick ratio of 1.41 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.16. Accenture PLC has a twelve month low of $229.40 and a twelve month high of $398.35. The company has a market cap of $172.99 billion, a P/E ratio of 23.22, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.71 and a beta of 1.25. The stock has a 50 day moving average of $267.78 and a two-hundred day moving average of $258.09.

Accenture Announces Dividend

Accenture ( NYSE:ACN Get Free Report ) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, December 18th. The information technology services provider reported $3.94 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $3.73 by $0.21. The company had revenue of $18.74 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $18.51 billion. Accenture had a net margin of 10.76% and a return on equity of 26.65%. The firms quarterly revenue was up 5.7% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $3.59 EPS. Accenture has set its FY 2026 guidance at 13.520-13.900 EPS. Equities analysts expect that Accenture PLC will post 12.73 EPS for the current fiscal year.

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, February 13th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, January 13th will be paid a $1.63 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, January 13th. This represents a $6.52 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.3%. Accentures dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 53.88%.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Accenture

Several large investors have recently modified their holdings of the business. Vanguard Group Inc. grew its stake in shares of Accenture by 2.1% in the second quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 65,129,782 shares of the information technology services providers stock worth $19,466,641,000 after purchasing an additional 1,315,548 shares during the last quarter. State Street Corp lifted its holdings in Accenture by 0.4% during the 3rd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 28,135,065 shares of the information technology services providers stock worth $6,938,156,000 after buying an additional 118,460 shares during the period. Capital International Investors grew its position in shares of Accenture by 41.1% in the 3rd quarter. Capital International Investors now owns 17,128,134 shares of the information technology services providers stock valued at $4,223,839,000 after buying an additional 4,984,930 shares during the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC boosted its stake in shares of Accenture by 1.1% in the 2nd quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 14,042,843 shares of the information technology services providers stock valued at $4,182,331,000 after purchasing an additional 147,931 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA boosted its stake in shares of Accenture by 5.4% in the 4th quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA now owns 10,693,994 shares of the information technology services providers stock valued at $2,869,199,000 after purchasing an additional 546,198 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 75.14% of the companys stock.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several analysts recently weighed in on the company. BMO Capital Markets reaffirmed a market perform rating and issued a $300.00 price objective on shares of Accenture in a research note on Thursday, December 18th. Berenberg Bank assumed coverage on shares of Accenture in a report on Thursday. They issued a buy rating and a $313.00 target price for the company. Susquehanna lifted their price target on shares of Accenture from $270.00 to $277.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a report on Friday, December 19th. TD Cowen upped their price objective on shares of Accenture from $295.00 to $300.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Friday, December 19th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group restated a buy rating and issued a $330.00 target price on shares of Accenture in a research report on Thursday, December 18th. Sixteen analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, twelve have assigned a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $298.38.

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Accenture Company Profile

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Accenture is a global professional services company that provides a broad range of services and solutions in strategy, consulting, digital, technology and operations. The firm works with organizations across industries to design and implement business transformation programs, deploy and manage enterprise technology, optimize operations, and develop customer and digital experiences. Its offerings encompass management and technology consulting, systems integration, application and infrastructure services, cloud migration and managed services, as well as security and analytics capabilities.

The company delivers industry- and function-specific solutions, combining consulting expertise with proprietary tools, platforms and partnerships with major technology vendors.

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The Bank of East Asia Ltd. (OTCMKTS:BKEAY  Get Free Report) was up 9.3% during trading on Monday . The company traded as high as $1.8585 and last traded at $1.8585. Approximately 402 shares changed hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 94% from the average daily volume of 6,700 shares. The stock had previously closed at $1.70.

Bank of East Asia Stock Up 22.2%

The firms 50 day simple moving average is $1.74 and its 200-day simple moving average is $1.63.

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Bank of East Asia Company Profile

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Bank of East Asia, Limited is a Hong Kongbased commercial bank established in 1918. As one of the territorys largest independently owned banks, it provides a comprehensive range of financial services to retail, corporate and institutional clients. The institution operates through a network of branches and digital channels designed to support both individual consumers and businesses of varying sizes.

The banks core offerings include personal banking services such as deposit accounts, consumer and mortgage lending, credit cards and wealth management solutions.

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Regions Financial Corporation (NYSE:RF  Get Free Report) EVP William Ritter sold 36,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Thursday, January 22nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $28.78, for a total transaction of $1,036,080.00. Following the transaction, the executive vice president owned 17,569 shares in the company, valued at approximately $505,635.82. This trade represents a 67.20% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website.

Regions Financial Stock Performance

RF stock traded up $0.28 during trading on Monday, reaching $27.76. The company had a trading volume of 13,484,325 shares, compared to its average volume of 15,878,451. The company has a market cap of $24.34 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 12.12, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.98 and a beta of 1.03. Regions Financial Corporation has a twelve month low of $17.74 and a twelve month high of $29.25. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.23, a quick ratio of 0.80 and a current ratio of 0.80. The firm has a 50-day simple moving average of $26.99 and a 200-day simple moving average of $26.11.

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Regions Financial (NYSE:RF  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Friday, January 16th. The bank reported $0.57 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.61 by ($0.04). Regions Financial had a return on equity of 12.55% and a net margin of 22.44%.The company had revenue of $1.92 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $1.94 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the business posted $0.56 EPS. The companys quarterly revenue was up 5.8% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, sell-side analysts expect that Regions Financial Corporation will post 2.26 earnings per share for the current year.

Institutional Trading of Regions Financial

Regions Financial declared that its Board of Directors has initiated a share buyback program on Wednesday, December 10th that permits the company to repurchase $3.00 billion in shares. This repurchase authorization permits the bank to reacquire up to 12.9% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock repurchase programs are generally a sign that the companys board of directors believes its stock is undervalued.

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Empowered Funds LLC grew its position in shares of Regions Financial by 7.2% during the 1st quarter. Empowered Funds LLC now owns 19,152 shares of the banks stock valued at $416,000 after acquiring an additional 1,278 shares during the period. Woodline Partners LP grew its holdings in Regions Financial by 40.7% in the first quarter. Woodline Partners LP now owns 76,797 shares of the banks stock valued at $1,669,000 after purchasing an additional 22,216 shares during the period. Farther Finance Advisors LLC increased its position in shares of Regions Financial by 80.2% in the second quarter. Farther Finance Advisors LLC now owns 20,006 shares of the banks stock valued at $471,000 after buying an additional 8,901 shares in the last quarter. Ballentine Partners LLC increased its position in shares of Regions Financial by 12.3% in the second quarter. Ballentine Partners LLC now owns 18,372 shares of the banks stock valued at $432,000 after buying an additional 2,011 shares in the last quarter. Finally, American National Bank & Trust raised its stake in shares of Regions Financial by 2,433.3% during the 2nd quarter. American National Bank & Trust now owns 1,064 shares of the banks stock worth $25,000 after buying an additional 1,022 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 79.39% of the companys stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research analysts have recently weighed in on the company. Stephens reissued an equal weight rating and issued a $27.00 price objective (down from $30.00) on shares of Regions Financial in a report on Tuesday, October 14th. Wells Fargo & Company downgraded shares of Regions Financial from an equal weight rating to an underweight rating and set a $30.00 price target on the stock. in a report on Friday, January 16th. Morgan Stanley set a $31.00 price objective on shares of Regions Financial in a report on Monday, January 19th. Weiss Ratings reissued a buy (b) rating on shares of Regions Financial in a report on Monday, December 29th. Finally, Keefe, Bruyette & Woods restated a market perform rating and set a $31.00 target price on shares of Regions Financial in a research report on Tuesday, January 20th. Six investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, seven have issued a Hold rating and three have issued a Sell rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Regions Financial presently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $29.27.

Read Our Latest Stock Analysis on Regions Financial

Regions Financial Company Profile

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Regions Financial Corporation (NYSE: RF) is a U.S. bank holding company headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama, that provides a broad range of banking and financial services. Its primary banking subsidiary, Regions Bank, serves retail and commercial customers through a combination of branch and ATM networks, digital channels and relationship-based delivery. The company offers deposit accounts, consumer and commercial loans, mortgage origination and servicing, and payment and treasury services.

In addition to core banking, Regions offers wealth management, trust and brokerage services, insurance solutions, and capital markets capabilities to corporate and institutional clients.

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The Travelers Companies, Inc. (NYSE:TRV  Get Free Report) EVP Jeffrey Klenk sold 16,712 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, January 23rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $279.77, for a total value of $4,675,516.24. Following the transaction, the executive vice president owned 6,075 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,699,602.75. This represents a 73.34% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink.

Travelers Companies Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE TRV traded up $3.98 during midday trading on Monday, reaching $281.70. 1,433,824 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 1,797,626. The company has a market cap of $62.84 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 10.23, a PEG ratio of 2.63 and a beta of 0.52. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of $285.19 and a 200 day moving average price of $275.93. The Travelers Companies, Inc. has a 52 week low of $230.43 and a 52 week high of $296.85. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.28, a current ratio of 0.33 and a quick ratio of 0.35.

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Travelers Companies (NYSE:TRV  Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Wednesday, January 21st. The insurance provider reported $11.13 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $8.34 by $2.79. Travelers Companies had a return on equity of 20.70% and a net margin of 12.88%.The firm had revenue of $12.43 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $11.13 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted $9.15 earnings per share. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 3.5% compared to the same quarter last year. Sell-side analysts anticipate that The Travelers Companies, Inc. will post 17.02 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Travelers Companies Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, March 31st. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, March 10th will be issued a $1.10 dividend. This represents a $4.40 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.6%. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, March 10th. Travelers Companiess dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 15.98%.

Travelers Companies announced that its Board of Directors has approved a stock buyback plan on Wednesday, January 21st that permits the company to repurchase $5.00 billion in shares. This repurchase authorization permits the insurance provider to reacquire up to 8.3% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock repurchase plans are often an indication that the companys board believes its shares are undervalued.

Institutional Trading of Travelers Companies

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in TRV. Osterweis Capital Management Inc. raised its position in shares of Travelers Companies by 1,820.0% during the second quarter. Osterweis Capital Management Inc. now owns 96 shares of the insurance providers stock valued at $26,000 after buying an additional 91 shares during the last quarter. Delos Wealth Advisors LLC bought a new position in shares of Travelers Companies during the 2nd quarter worth about $27,000. Barnes Dennig Private Wealth Management LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Travelers Companies by 134.1% during the 3rd quarter. Barnes Dennig Private Wealth Management LLC now owns 96 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $27,000 after acquiring an additional 55 shares during the period. Quaker Wealth Management LLC boosted its position in shares of Travelers Companies by 200.0% during the 2nd quarter. Quaker Wealth Management LLC now owns 104 shares of the insurance providers stock valued at $28,000 after acquiring an additional 208 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Clayton Financial Group LLC bought a new stake in Travelers Companies in the third quarter valued at about $28,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 82.45% of the companys stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of equities research analysts have commented on TRV shares. Weiss Ratings upgraded Travelers Companies from a buy (b+) rating to a buy (a-) rating in a research report on Monday, January 12th. Barclays decreased their price target on shares of Travelers Companies from $315.00 to $312.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a report on Thursday, January 8th. Mizuho dropped their price objective on shares of Travelers Companies from $315.00 to $304.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday. Wall Street Zen downgraded shares of Travelers Companies from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Sunday, October 19th. Finally, UBS Group boosted their price target on shares of Travelers Companies from $284.00 to $287.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a report on Wednesday, October 8th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, five have given a Buy rating, twelve have given a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Travelers Companies has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $301.20.

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Travelers Companies Company Profile

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The Travelers Companies, Inc (NYSE: TRV) is a leading provider of property and casualty insurance products and services. The company underwrites a broad range of commercial and personal insurance lines, offering coverage designed to protect individuals, small and midsize businesses, and large corporate clients against property loss, liability, and other operational risks. Travelers is known for combining underwriting, claims management and risk control services to help clients prevent losses and recover when incidents occur.

On the commercial side, Travelers writes primary and specialty coverages including property, general liability, commercial auto, workers compensation, professional and management liability, surety and inland marine.

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Stonegate Investment Group LLC boosted its position in American Express Company (NYSE:AXP) by 41.6% in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 44,954 shares of the payment services companys stock after buying an additional 13,215 shares during the quarter. Stonegate Investment Group LLCs holdings in American Express were worth $14,932,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Vanguard Group Inc. increased its holdings in shares of American Express by 1.3% in the 2nd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 46,425,262 shares of the payment services companys stock valued at $14,808,730,000 after acquiring an additional 581,369 shares during the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC boosted its holdings in American Express by 11.1% in the second quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 13,487,316 shares of the payment services companys stock worth $4,282,984,000 after purchasing an additional 1,349,746 shares during the period. Norges Bank bought a new stake in American Express during the second quarter valued at $1,897,335,000. Artisan Partners Limited Partnership raised its holdings in shares of American Express by 3.0% during the second quarter. Artisan Partners Limited Partnership now owns 4,620,873 shares of the payment services companys stock worth $1,473,966,000 after purchasing an additional 133,439 shares during the period. Finally, DZ BANK AG Deutsche Zentral Genossenschafts Bank Frankfurt am Main raised its holdings in shares of American Express by 13.9% during the second quarter. DZ BANK AG Deutsche Zentral Genossenschafts Bank Frankfurt am Main now owns 4,342,556 shares of the payment services companys stock worth $1,385,188,000 after purchasing an additional 530,967 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 84.33% of the companys stock.

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Insider Buying and Selling

In other American Express news, CMO Elizabeth Rutledge sold 50,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Friday, October 31st. The shares were sold at an average price of $360.21, for a total transaction of $18,010,500.00. Following the transaction, the chief marketing officer owned 85,577 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $30,825,691.17. This trade represents a 36.88% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. Insiders own 0.20% of the companys stock.

American Express Stock Up 0.4%

AXP opened at $363.30 on Tuesday. The stocks 50 day moving average price is $368.48 and its 200 day moving average price is $342.91. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.78, a current ratio of 1.61 and a quick ratio of 1.59. The stock has a market cap of $250.26 billion, a P/E ratio of 24.38, a P/E/G ratio of 1.52 and a beta of 1.15. American Express Company has a 12 month low of $220.43 and a 12 month high of $387.49.

American Express (NYSE:AXP  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Friday, January 30th. The payment services company reported ($11.85) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $3.56 by ($15.41). American Express had a return on equity of 33.41% and a net margin of 14.97%.The business had revenue of ($17,139.00) million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $18.91 billion. As a group, research analysts predict that American Express Company will post 15.33 earnings per share for the current year.

American Express Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, February 10th. Investors of record on Friday, January 2nd will be given a $0.82 dividend. This represents a $3.28 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.9%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, January 2nd. American Expresss dividend payout ratio is currently 22.01%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

AXP has been the subject of a number of recent research reports. HSBC set a $295.00 price objective on shares of American Express and gave the company a hold rating in a research report on Friday, October 10th. Wells Fargo & Company upped their target price on American Express from $400.00 to $425.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Wednesday, December 17th. Barclays raised their price target on American Express from $355.00 to $367.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a report on Tuesday, January 6th. Morgan Stanley set a $395.00 price objective on American Express in a research note on Tuesday, January 20th. Finally, Keefe, Bruyette & Woods increased their target price on American Express from $371.00 to $394.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 1st. Nine analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, fifteen have given a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, American Express currently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $353.95.

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American Express Profile

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American Express is a global financial services company primarily known for its payment card products, travel services and merchant network. Founded in 1850 as an express mail business, the company evolved through the 20th century into a payments and travel-focused organization. Its core activities include issuing consumer and commercial charge and credit cards, operating a global card acceptance and processing network, and providing travel-related services and customer loyalty programs.

American Express issues a range of products for individuals, small businesses and large corporations, including personal cards, business and corporate cards, and cobrand partnerships with airlines, hotels and retailers.

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OFG Bancorp (NYSE: OFG) has recently received a number of price target changes and ratings updates:

1/26/2026  OFG Bancorp had its price target lowered by analysts at Truist Financial Corporation from $48.00 to $44.00. They now have a buy rating on the stock.

1/23/2026  OFG Bancorp had its market perform rating reaffirmed by analysts at Keefe, Bruyette & Woods. They now have a $43.00 price target on the stock, down previously from $50.00.

1/15/2026  OFG Bancorp is now covered by analysts at Piper Sandler. They set a neutral rating and a $45.00 price target on the stock.

1/14/2026  OFG Bancorp was upgraded by analysts at Zacks Research from a strong sell rating to a hold rating.

12/29/2025  OFG Bancorp had its buy (b-) rating reaffirmed by analysts at Weiss Ratings.

12/16/2025  OFG Bancorp was downgraded by analysts at Zacks Research from a hold rating to a strong sell rating.

12/15/2025  OFG Bancorp had its buy (b) rating reaffirmed by analysts at Weiss Ratings.

12/1/2025  OFG Bancorp had its buy (b-) rating reaffirmed by analysts at Weiss Ratings.

OFG Bancorp Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, January 15th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, December 31st were paid a $0.30 dividend. This represents a $1.20 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.2%. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, December 31st. OFG Bancorps payout ratio is presently 26.20%.

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Insider Activity

In related news, CEO Jose Rafael Fernandez sold 25,232 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Wednesday, November 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $40.95, for a total value of $1,033,250.40. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer directly owned 184,675 shares in the company, valued at approximately $7,562,441.25. This represents a 12.02% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, Director Jesus Nestor De sold 2,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, December 22nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $42.31, for a total transaction of $84,620.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director owned 22,690 shares of the companys stock, valued at $960,013.90. This trade represents a 8.10% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. Over the last 90 days, insiders have sold 62,500 shares of company stock valued at $2,564,302. 2.16% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

OFG Bancorp, through its principal subsidiary Oriental Bank, is a financial holding company headquartered in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The company provides a wide range of banking services, including commercial and consumer deposit accounts, small business loans, corporate lending, treasury management, and cash management solutions. Its consumer offerings encompass personal checking and savings accounts, credit cards, and electronic banking platforms designed to serve retail customers across its markets.

In addition to traditional banking products, OFG Bancorp offers mortgage origination and servicing, as well as wealth management and trust services for highnetworth individuals and institutional clients.

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WASHINGTON, Jan. 26 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Border Patrol chief Gregory Bovino and some of his agents are expected to leave the city of Minneapolis on Tuesday in the aftermath of the fatal shooting of U.S. citizen Alex Pretti, local media reported Monday. 
Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV (NYSE:BUD  Get Free Report)s stock had its buy rating restated by Berenberg Bank in a research report issued to clients and investors on Tuesday,MarketScreener reports.

Several other equities research analysts have also commented on BUD. Weiss Ratings reiterated a hold (c) rating on shares of Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV in a research note on Monday, December 29th. Royal Bank Of Canada reaffirmed a buy rating on shares of Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV in a report on Tuesday, December 9th. UBS Group restated a buy rating on shares of Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV in a research report on Friday, January 9th. Sanford C. Bernstein restated a buy rating on shares of Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV in a report on Wednesday, November 26th. Finally, DZ Bank reissued a buy rating on shares of Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV in a report on Friday, November 7th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twelve have given a Buy rating and three have assigned a Hold rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $77.67.

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Check Out Our Latest Stock Report on BUD

Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV Stock Up 0.9%

Shares of BUD stock traded up $0.60 on Tuesday, reaching $70.00. 151,526 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,819,190. The businesss 50 day moving average price is $64.28 and its 200 day moving average price is $62.77. The company has a market capitalization of $136.68 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 22.84, a PEG ratio of 1.47 and a beta of 0.57. Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV has a twelve month low of $47.89 and a twelve month high of $72.13. The company has a current ratio of 0.64, a quick ratio of 0.48 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.79.

Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV (NYSE:BUD  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, October 30th. The consumer goods maker reported $0.99 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.97 by $0.02. The company had revenue of $15.13 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $15.28 billion. Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV had a net margin of 10.40% and a return on equity of 16.20%. The firms revenue was up .6% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted $0.98 earnings per share. As a group, sell-side analysts expect that Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV will post 3.37 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV

A number of institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the company. AQR Capital Management LLC increased its position in Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV by 52.9% during the 1st quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC now owns 9,036 shares of the consumer goods makers stock worth $556,000 after purchasing an additional 3,127 shares in the last quarter. NewEdge Advisors LLC increased its position in shares of Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV by 7.8% in the first quarter. NewEdge Advisors LLC now owns 8,869 shares of the consumer goods makers stock worth $546,000 after acquiring an additional 642 shares in the last quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. increased its position in shares of Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV by 25.3% in the first quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. now owns 1,318,248 shares of the consumer goods makers stock worth $81,151,000 after acquiring an additional 265,783 shares in the last quarter. Farther Finance Advisors LLC raised its stake in shares of Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV by 34.4% in the 2nd quarter. Farther Finance Advisors LLC now owns 2,455 shares of the consumer goods makers stock valued at $169,000 after acquiring an additional 629 shares during the period. Finally, GAMMA Investing LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV by 75.9% during the 2nd quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 2,037 shares of the consumer goods makers stock valued at $140,000 after acquiring an additional 879 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 5.53% of the companys stock.

Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV Company Profile

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Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV (NYSE: BUD) is a multinational brewing company headquartered in Leuven, Belgium. It is one of the worlds largest brewers and is primarily engaged in the production, distribution and marketing of beer and related beverages. The companys operations span brewing, packaging, logistics and retail/customer sales support, serving a broad set of channels from on-premise hospitality to retail and e-commerce.

AB InBevs portfolio includes a mix of global, regional and local beer brands across mainstream, premium, craft and non-alcoholic categories.

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ASM International NV (OTCMKTS:ASMIY  Get Free Report)s stock price reached a new 52-week high during mid-day trading on Tuesday . The company traded as high as $864.4350 and last traded at $864.4350, with a volume of 733 shares. The stock had previously closed at $845.44.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

ASMIY has been the topic of several recent analyst reports. Citigroup reiterated a buy rating on shares of ASM International in a report on Tuesday, January 20th. Barclays restated an overweight rating on shares of ASM International in a research report on Monday. Jefferies Financial Group cut shares of ASM International from a hold rating to a moderate sell rating in a research report on Tuesday, January 13th. Morgan Stanley reiterated an overweight rating on shares of ASM International in a research note on Friday, January 16th. Finally, Rothschild Redb cut ASM International from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Friday, November 7th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, five have assigned a Buy rating and two have issued a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, ASM International currently has an average rating of Buy.

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ASM International Price Performance

The businesss fifty day moving average price is $649.73 and its 200 day moving average price is $593.17. The stock has a market cap of $42.71 billion, a P/E ratio of 48.15 and a beta of 1.87.

ASM International (OTCMKTS:ASMIY  Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Tuesday, October 28th. The company reported $4.90 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $4.74 by $0.16. ASM International had a net margin of 24.50% and a return on equity of 21.55%. The business had revenue of $932.68 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $814.93 million. On average, analysts predict that ASM International NV will post 14.46 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

ASM International Company Profile

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ASM International (OTCMKTS: ASMIY) is a Netherlands-based supplier of wafer processing equipment for the global semiconductor industry. The company develops and manufactures systems used in the deposition and formation of thin films on semiconductor wafers, with a strong reputation for atomic layer deposition (ALD) technology. Its equipment is used in the production of advanced logic, memory, power devices and related semiconductor components where precise control of film thickness and composition is critical.

ASMs product portfolio centers on deposition and epitaxy platforms that support a range of process chemistries and materials, including ALD and other chemical vapor deposition techniques.

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Bank of Hawaii Corporation (NYSE:BOH  Get Free Report)s share price hit a new 52-week high during trading on Tuesday following a stronger than expected earnings report. The stock traded as high as $78.25 and last traded at $75.7050, with a volume of 104306 shares changing hands. The stock had previously closed at $75.11.

The bank reported $1.39 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.25 by $0.14. The business had revenue of $189.65 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $184.83 million. Bank of Hawaii had a net margin of 17.41% and a return on equity of 13.33%. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $0.85 earnings per share.

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Bank of Hawaii Announces Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 13th. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 27th will be given a $0.70 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, February 27th. This represents a $2.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.7%. Bank of Hawaiis payout ratio is currently 68.63%.

Bank of Hawaii News Summary

Positive Sentiment: Q4 results and fullyear beat: BOH reported Q4 EPS of $1.39 vs. $1.25 consensus and revenue of $189.7M vs. $184.8M, while FY2025 diluted EPS rose to $4.63 (net income +37.3%). Management also showed improving ROE and margins  the print confirms accelerating profitability. Business Wire: FY2025 Results

Q4 results and fullyear beat: BOH reported Q4 EPS of $1.39 vs. $1.25 consensus and revenue of $189.7M vs. $184.8M, while FY2025 diluted EPS rose to $4.63 (net income +37.3%). Management also showed improving ROE and margins  the print confirms accelerating profitability. Positive Sentiment: Margin expansion outlook: Management highlighted a deposit remix and targets a potential net interest margin (NIM) near 2.90% by end2026, signaling further revenue leverage if funding mix shifts as planned. MSN: NIM Outlook

Margin expansion outlook: Management highlighted a deposit remix and targets a potential net interest margin (NIM) near 2.90% by end2026, signaling further revenue leverage if funding mix shifts as planned. Positive Sentiment: Analyst upgrade: Keefe, Bruyette & Woods raised BOH from market perform to outperform and lifted its price target to $91 (previous $75), implying notable upside versus the current level  this can attract buyside interest and improve sentiment. Benzinga: KBW Upgrade

Analyst upgrade: Keefe, Bruyette & Woods raised BOH from market perform to outperform and lifted its price target to $91 (previous $75), implying notable upside versus the current level  this can attract buyside interest and improve sentiment. Positive Sentiment: Dividend increase/confirmation: BOH declared a quarterly dividend of $0.70 per share (annualized yield ~3.7%), with record/exdividend timing set in late February  supports income investors and reduces downside from yieldseeking flows.

Dividend increase/confirmation: BOH declared a quarterly dividend of $0.70 per share (annualized yield ~3.7%), with record/exdividend timing set in late February  supports income investors and reduces downside from yieldseeking flows. Neutral Sentiment: Earnings call & analyst commentary available: Transcripts, call highlights and slide deck provide detail on credit trends, expense plans and capital deployment  useful for modeling but contain no new negative surprises so far. Yahoo: Q4 Transcript Seeking Alpha: Call Transcript

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Here are the key news stories impacting Bank of Hawaii this week:

BOH has been the topic of a number of research reports. Barclays raised their target price on shares of Bank of Hawaii from $66.00 to $68.00 and gave the company an underweight rating in a research note on Tuesday, October 28th. Stephens restated an overweight rating on shares of Bank of Hawaii in a research note on Tuesday. Wall Street Zen lowered Bank of Hawaii from a hold rating to a sell rating in a research note on Sunday, January 4th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods raised Bank of Hawaii from a market perform rating to an outperform rating and boosted their price target for the stock from $75.00 to $91.00 in a research report on Tuesday. Finally, DA Davidson reaffirmed a neutral rating and issued a $70.00 price objective on shares of Bank of Hawaii in a research report on Tuesday, October 28th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, three have issued a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Bank of Hawaii presently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $75.20.

Read Our Latest Stock Report on Bank of Hawaii

Insider Transactions at Bank of Hawaii

In other Bank of Hawaii news, CEO Peter S. Ho sold 15,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, January 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $67.87, for a total transaction of $1,018,050.00. Following the sale, the chief executive officer owned 156,774 shares in the company, valued at $10,640,251.38. This represents a 8.73% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. 2.07% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Bank of Hawaii

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of BOH. Farther Finance Advisors LLC raised its position in shares of Bank of Hawaii by 150.0% during the 3rd quarter. Farther Finance Advisors LLC now owns 450 shares of the banks stock worth $30,000 after purchasing an additional 270 shares during the period. Quarry LP grew its stake in Bank of Hawaii by 1,497.2% during the 3rd quarter. Quarry LP now owns 575 shares of the banks stock worth $38,000 after buying an additional 539 shares during the last quarter. Strs Ohio acquired a new stake in Bank of Hawaii in the first quarter worth $41,000. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC lifted its stake in Bank of Hawaii by 461.3% in the second quarter. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 623 shares of the banks stock valued at $42,000 after buying an additional 512 shares during the last quarter. Finally, State of Wyoming lifted its stake in Bank of Hawaii by 8,220.0% in the second quarter. State of Wyoming now owns 832 shares of the banks stock valued at $56,000 after buying an additional 822 shares during the last quarter. 82.18% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Bank of Hawaii Trading Up 0.8%

The firms fifty day moving average price is $68.94 and its 200-day moving average price is $66.70. The company has a market cap of $3.01 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 18.57, a P/E/G ratio of 0.62 and a beta of 0.75. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.39, a current ratio of 0.70 and a quick ratio of 0.70.

Bank of Hawaii Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Bank of Hawaii (NYSE: BOH) is a regional commercial bank headquartered in Honolulu, Hawaii, with roots tracing back to its founding in 1897 by Charles Montague Cooke and Peter Cushman Jones. As one of the oldest financial institutions in the U.S. West Coast region, the bank has built a reputation for stability and community focus. It operates as the principal subsidiary of Bank of Hawaii Corporation, a publicly traded company on the New York Stock Exchange.

The bank offers a comprehensive suite of personal and business banking products and services.

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Strs Ohio lifted its holdings in shares of Broadstone Net Lease, Inc. (NYSE:BNL  Free Report) by 7.3% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 410,400 shares of the companys stock after buying an additional 28,000 shares during the period. Strs Ohio owned approximately 0.22% of Broadstone Net Lease worth $7,334,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Franklin Resources Inc. grew its stake in shares of Broadstone Net Lease by 14.6% in the 2nd quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. now owns 649,748 shares of the companys stock valued at $10,428,000 after purchasing an additional 82,779 shares during the last quarter. Columbus Macro LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Broadstone Net Lease by 13.0% during the third quarter. Columbus Macro LLC now owns 614,998 shares of the companys stock worth $10,990,000 after purchasing an additional 70,823 shares during the period. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC grew its position in Broadstone Net Lease by 39.7% in the 3rd quarter. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC now owns 471,426 shares of the companys stock valued at $8,750,000 after buying an additional 134,004 shares during the last quarter. Boston Partners increased its stake in Broadstone Net Lease by 339.0% in the 2nd quarter. Boston Partners now owns 2,079,251 shares of the companys stock valued at $33,372,000 after buying an additional 1,605,603 shares during the period. Finally, Asset Management One Co. Ltd. raised its position in Broadstone Net Lease by 0.4% during the 2nd quarter. Asset Management One Co. Ltd. now owns 374,475 shares of the companys stock worth $6,010,000 after buying an additional 1,381 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 89.07% of the companys stock.

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Broadstone Net Lease Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE:BNL opened at $18.47 on Tuesday. The businesss fifty day moving average price is $17.84 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $17.76. The stock has a market cap of $3.49 billion, a PE ratio of 39.29 and a beta of 1.01. Broadstone Net Lease, Inc. has a one year low of $13.96 and a one year high of $18.87.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Broadstone Net Lease ( NYSE:BNL Get Free Report ) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, October 29th. The company reported $0.14 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.37 by ($0.23). Broadstone Net Lease had a net margin of 20.04% and a return on equity of 2.93%. The company had revenue of $114.17 million during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $111.89 million. Broadstone Net Lease has set its FY 2025 guidance at 1.490-1.500 EPS. As a group, equities research analysts predict that Broadstone Net Lease, Inc. will post 1.43 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Several analysts have recently weighed in on the stock. Wall Street Zen raised shares of Broadstone Net Lease from a sell rating to a hold rating in a report on Saturday, January 17th. Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a hold (c+) rating on shares of Broadstone Net Lease in a report on Wednesday, January 21st. JMP Securities reiterated a market outperform rating and set a $21.00 target price on shares of Broadstone Net Lease in a research report on Monday, September 29th. BMO Capital Markets reissued an outperform rating on shares of Broadstone Net Lease in a research note on Thursday, December 4th. Finally, Citizens Jmp restated a market outperform rating and issued a $21.00 price target on shares of Broadstone Net Lease in a research note on Tuesday, December 2nd. Nine analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and three have issued a Hold rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, Broadstone Net Lease currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $19.91.

View Our Latest Analysis on Broadstone Net Lease

Broadstone Net Lease Company Profile

(Free Report)

Broadstone Net Lease, Inc (NYSE: BNL) is a publicly traded real estate investment trust focused on owning and operating single-tenant commercial properties under long-term net leases. The company specializes in acquiring properties that are leased to creditworthy tenants, allowing it to generate predictable, stable rental income while transferring most operating expenses and responsibilities to its lessees.

Broadstone Net Leases portfolio spans a variety of property types, including industrial facilities, distribution centers, manufacturing plants, life science and office buildings, and essential retail locations.

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Shares of Pitney Bowes Inc. (NYSE:PBI  Get Free Report) have received an average rating of Moderate Buy from the seven ratings firms that are presently covering the company, Marketbeat.com reports. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold recommendation, two have issued a buy recommendation and one has assigned a strong buy recommendation to the company. The average twelve-month price objective among brokerages that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is $12.00.

Several research firms have commented on PBI. The Goldman Sachs Group initiated coverage on shares of Pitney Bowes in a research note on Monday, November 3rd. They set a neutral rating and a $11.00 price objective for the company. 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 target price for the company. Weiss Ratings reiterated a hold (c) rating on shares of Pitney Bowes in a report on Monday, December 29th. Truist Financial started coverage on shares of Pitney Bowes in a research report on Friday, December 12th. They issued a hold rating and a $11.00 price objective on the stock. Finally, Zacks Research raised shares of Pitney Bowes from a hold rating to a strong-buy rating in a research note on Monday, December 29th.

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Pitney Bowes Price Performance

Shares of PBI stock opened at $10.29 on Thursday. The company has a market cap of $1.66 billion, a PE ratio of 22.86, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.48 and a beta of 1.30. Pitney Bowes has a 1 year low of $7.39 and a 1 year high of $13.11. The stocks 50 day simple moving average is $10.20 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $10.92.

Pitney Bowes (NYSE:PBI  Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Wednesday, October 29th. The technology company reported $0.31 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.32 by ($0.01). Pitney Bowes had a negative return on equity of 38.38% and a net margin of 4.14%.The company had revenue of $459.68 million during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $467.45 million. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $0.21 EPS. Pitney Bowess revenue for the quarter was down 8.0% compared to the same quarter last year. Pitney Bowes has set its FY 2025 guidance at 1.300-1.300 EPS. Equities research analysts expect that Pitney Bowes will post 1.21 EPS for the current year.

Pitney Bowes Increases Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, December 8th. Investors of record on Monday, November 10th were paid a dividend of $0.09 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, November 10th. This represents a $0.36 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.5%. This is an increase from Pitney Bowess previous quarterly dividend of $0.08. Pitney Bowess dividend payout ratio is 80.00%.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Pitney Bowes

Several hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the business. State Street Corp lifted its position in shares of Pitney Bowes by 3.1% during the second quarter. State Street Corp now owns 6,366,188 shares of the technology companys stock worth $69,455,000 after purchasing an additional 188,886 shares during the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC grew its holdings in shares of Pitney Bowes by 6.4% in the second quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 4,012,086 shares of the technology companys stock worth $43,777,000 after purchasing an additional 240,544 shares during the last quarter. Cannell & Spears LLC increased its stake in Pitney Bowes by 89.5% in the 3rd quarter. Cannell & Spears LLC now owns 3,364,466 shares of the technology companys stock worth $38,389,000 after buying an additional 1,588,579 shares during the period. Permit Capital LLC lifted its holdings in Pitney Bowes by 18.8% during the 2nd quarter. Permit Capital LLC now owns 2,850,000 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $31,094,000 after buying an additional 450,000 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Invesco Ltd. lifted its holdings in Pitney Bowes by 29.5% during the 3rd quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 2,622,003 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $29,917,000 after buying an additional 597,938 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 67.88% of the companys stock.

About Pitney Bowes

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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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Shares of Valero Energy Corporation (NYSE:VLO  Get Free Report) have earned a consensus recommendation of Moderate Buy from the twenty ratings firms that are covering the firm, Marketbeat Ratings reports. Nine analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, nine have issued a buy rating and two have assigned a strong buy rating to the company. The average 1 year price objective among analysts that have updated their coverage on the stock in the last year is $183.00.

A number of research analysts recently issued reports on the company. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their price target on Valero Energy from $197.00 to $200.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Thursday, January 8th. Bank of America reissued a neutral rating and issued a $195.00 price objective (down from $198.00) on shares of Valero Energy in a report on Thursday, December 11th. Morgan Stanley cut shares of Valero Energy from an overweight rating to an equal weight rating and lifted their target price for the company from $160.00 to $175.00 in a report on Friday, October 3rd. Zacks Research cut shares of Valero Energy from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Tuesday, January 20th. Finally, Barclays raised their price objective on shares of Valero Energy from $169.00 to $184.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Monday, November 17th.

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Insider Buying and Selling

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

In other Valero Energy news, CFO Jason W. Fraser sold 9,933 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, November 21st. The stock was sold at an average price of $174.02, for a total transaction of $1,728,540.66. Following the completion of the sale, the chief financial officer directly owned 134,196 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $23,352,787.92. This trade represents a 6.89% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website . 0.37% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

A number of institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of VLO. Woodline Partners LP increased its stake in Valero Energy by 40.7% in the 1st quarter. Woodline Partners LP now owns 26,747 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $3,532,000 after buying an additional 7,735 shares during the period. Sivia Capital Partners LLC lifted its stake in shares of Valero Energy by 13.0% in the 2nd quarter. Sivia Capital Partners LLC now owns 1,929 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $259,000 after acquiring an additional 222 shares during the period. Public Employees Retirement System of Ohio boosted its holdings in shares of Valero Energy by 2.0% in the second quarter. Public Employees Retirement System of Ohio now owns 147,448 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $19,820,000 after acquiring an additional 2,946 shares in the last quarter. TD Private Client Wealth LLC increased its stake in shares of Valero Energy by 18.2% during the second quarter. TD Private Client Wealth LLC now owns 2,293 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $308,000 after acquiring an additional 353 shares during the period. Finally, Dakota Wealth Management raised its holdings in Valero Energy by 23.4% during the second quarter. Dakota Wealth Management now owns 12,686 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $1,705,000 after purchasing an additional 2,406 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 78.69% of the companys stock.

Valero Energy Stock Performance

Shares of VLO stock opened at $183.42 on Friday. The stocks 50-day moving average is $174.82 and its two-hundred day moving average is $162.90. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.36, a quick ratio of 1.09 and a current ratio of 1.60. Valero Energy has a 1 year low of $99.00 and a 1 year high of $194.35. The firm has a market cap of $55.94 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 38.29, a PEG ratio of 1.09 and a beta of 0.77.

Valero Energy Increases Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 9th. Investors of record on Thursday, February 5th will be issued a dividend of $1.20 per share. This is an increase from Valero Energys previous quarterly dividend of $1.13. This represents a $4.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.6%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, February 5th. Valero Energys dividend payout ratio is 94.36%.

About Valero Energy

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Valero Energy Corporation is a San Antonio, Texasbased integrated downstream energy company that manufactures and markets transportation fuels, petrochemical feedstocks and other industrial products. The companys operations focus on refining crude oil into finished fuels such as gasoline, diesel and jet fuel, as well as producing asphalt and other refined product streams for commercial and industrial customers.

In addition to refining, Valero has significant operations in renewable fuels, including the production of ethanol and other biofuels, and it manages an extensive logistics network of pipelines, terminals, rail and marine assets to move feedstocks and finished products.

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Brookfield Infrastructure Partners (NYSE:BIP  Get Free Report) (TSE:BIP.UN) will likely be posting its Q4 2025 results before the market opens on Thursday, January 29th. Analysts expect Brookfield Infrastructure Partners to post earnings of $0.2637 per share and revenue of $1.9794 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 Thursday, January 29, 2026 at 9:00 AM ET.

Brookfield Infrastructure Partners (NYSE:BIP  Get Free Report) (TSE:BIP.UN) last released its quarterly earnings results on Friday, November 7th. The utilities provider reported $0.44 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.86 by ($0.42). The business had revenue of $5.98 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.05 billion. Brookfield Infrastructure Partners had a return on equity of 2.74% and a net margin of 3.70%.The companys revenue for the quarter was up 13.4% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the business earned $0.76 EPS. On average, analysts expect Brookfield Infrastructure Partners to post $3 EPS for the current fiscal year and $4 EPS for the next fiscal year.

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Brookfield Infrastructure Partners Stock Performance

Shares of BIP stock opened at $35.14 on Tuesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.68, a quick ratio of 0.81 and a current ratio of 0.85. Brookfield Infrastructure Partners has a 52 week low of $25.72 and a 52 week high of $36.58. The companys 50 day moving average price is $34.93 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $33.33. The company has a market capitalization of $16.21 billion, a P/E ratio of 52.45 and a beta of 1.10.

Brookfield Infrastructure Partners Announces Dividend

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, December 31st. Investors of record on Friday, November 28th were issued a dividend of $0.43 per share. This represents a $1.72 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 4.9%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, November 28th. Brookfield Infrastructure Partnerss dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 256.72%.

A number of brokerages recently weighed in on BIP. National Bankshares upped their target price on shares of Brookfield Infrastructure Partners from $36.00 to $38.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research note on Wednesday, December 17th. Jefferies Financial Group set a $37.00 price target on Brookfield Infrastructure Partners and gave the company a hold rating in a report on Wednesday, October 29th. Wall Street Zen raised Brookfield Infrastructure Partners from a sell rating to a hold rating in a research report on Saturday, November 8th. Weiss Ratings reissued a hold (c+) rating on shares of Brookfield Infrastructure Partners in a research report on Monday, December 29th. Finally, Morgan Stanley set a $44.00 price target on Brookfield Infrastructure Partners in a research report on Tuesday, December 2nd. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, four have given a Buy rating and three have issued a Hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Brookfield Infrastructure Partners has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $41.63.

View Our Latest Report on BIP

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Brookfield Infrastructure Partners

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in BIP. Captrust Financial Advisors lifted its stake in shares of Brookfield Infrastructure Partners by 2.2% during the 3rd quarter. Captrust Financial Advisors now owns 70,593 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $2,322,000 after buying an additional 1,509 shares during the last quarter. Advisory Services Network LLC acquired a new stake in Brookfield Infrastructure Partners during the third quarter worth approximately $85,000. XTX Topco Ltd bought a new stake in shares of Brookfield Infrastructure Partners during the third quarter worth approximately $1,196,000. United Capital Financial Advisors LLC acquired a new position in shares of Brookfield Infrastructure Partners in the third quarter valued at approximately $396,000. Finally, Voleon Capital Management LP bought a new position in shares of Brookfield Infrastructure Partners during the third quarter worth approximately $3,639,000. 57.92% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Brookfield Infrastructure Partners Company Profile

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Brookfield Infrastructure Partners L.P. (NYSE: BIP) is a publicly traded limited partnership that owns and operates a diversified portfolio of infrastructure assets across four core sectors: utilities, transport, energy and data infrastructure. Through long-lived, regulated or contracted assets, Brookfield Infrastructure provides essential services such as electricity transmission and distribution, toll road and port operations, midstream energy logistics and fiber-based data networks.

The companys utilities division encompasses regulated electricity and gas distribution networks in North and South America, Europe and Australia, ensuring stable cash flows under current regulatory frameworks.

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CACI International, Inc. (NYSE:CACI  Get Free Report) has received an average rating of Moderate Buy from the fourteen analysts that are currently covering the company, MarketBeat Ratings reports. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eleven have given a buy rating to the company. The average 1 year price objective among brokers that have covered the stock in the last year is $654.0909.

CACI has been the topic of a number of recent analyst reports. Cantor Fitzgerald lifted their price objective on CACI International from $535.00 to $675.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 22nd. Citigroup boosted their price target on shares of CACI International from $683.00 to $721.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research report on Friday. Truist Financial set a $800.00 price objective on shares of CACI International in a research report on Thursday. TD Cowen reissued a buy rating on shares of CACI International in a research note on Friday, October 24th. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus upped their price target on shares of CACI International from $670.00 to $765.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Thursday.

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CACI International Stock Performance

Shares of CACI International stock opened at $642.71 on Thursday. The stock has a market cap of $14.20 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 27.51, a P/E/G ratio of 2.36 and a beta of 0.58. CACI International has a twelve month low of $318.60 and a twelve month high of $683.50. The companys fifty day moving average is $588.62 and its 200 day moving average is $536.67. The company has a quick ratio of 1.97, a current ratio of 1.97 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.71.

CACI International (NYSE:CACI  Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Wednesday, January 21st. The information technology services provider reported $6.81 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $6.41 by $0.40. The business had revenue of $2.22 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.28 billion. CACI International had a return on equity of 15.93% and a net margin of 5.77%.CACI Internationals revenue for the quarter was up 5.7% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the company earned $5.95 EPS. CACI International has set its FY 2026 guidance at 28.250-28.920 EPS. Sell-side analysts forecast that CACI International will post 23.94 EPS for the current year.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On CACI International

Large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. V Square Quantitative Management LLC acquired a new position in CACI International in the second quarter valued at approximately $25,000. Eagle Bay Advisors LLC acquired a new position in shares of CACI International during the 4th quarter valued at $35,000. First Horizon Advisors Inc. boosted its stake in CACI International by 110.5% during the second quarter. First Horizon Advisors Inc. now owns 80 shares of the information technology services providers stock worth $38,000 after acquiring an additional 42 shares in the last quarter. Root Financial Partners LLC acquired a new stake in CACI International in the third quarter worth $38,000. Finally, Trust Co. of Toledo NA OH acquired a new stake in CACI International in the second quarter worth $55,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 86.43% of the companys stock.

CACI International Company Profile

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CACI International Inc is a leading provider of information solutions and services to the U.S. federal government, with a primary focus on defense, intelligence, homeland security and federal civilian agencies. The company delivers advanced technology and domain expertise to support mission-critical operations, offering capabilities in areas such as data analytics, cyber security, network integration, enterprise IT modernization and logistics support. By integrating software, hardware and professional services, CACI helps clients enhance situational awareness, improve decision making and maintain critical infrastructure resilience.

Founded in 1962 and headquartered in Arlington, Virginia, CACI has evolved from a small consulting operation into a global enterprise.

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Chunghwa Telecom (NYSE:CHT  Get Free Report) is expected to release its results before the market opens on Tuesday, February 3rd. Analysts expect Chunghwa Telecom to post earnings of $0.3797 per share and revenue of $1.8398 billion for the quarter.

Chunghwa Telecom (NYSE:CHT  Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Monday, November 10th. The utilities provider reported $0.41 EPS for the quarter, hitting the consensus estimate of $0.41. Chunghwa Telecom had a return on equity of 9.80% and a net margin of 16.30%.The business had revenue of $1.90 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $1.93 billion.

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Chunghwa Telecom Price Performance

Shares of CHT opened at $42.71 on Tuesday. Chunghwa Telecom has a 52-week low of $37.03 and a 52-week high of $47.03. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.06, a quick ratio of 1.30 and a current ratio of 1.50. The businesss 50 day moving average price is $41.72 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $43.08. The firm has a market cap of $33.13 billion, a PE ratio of 27.03, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 5.80 and a beta of 0.30.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of equities research analysts have commented on the stock. Weiss Ratings restated a hold (c) rating on shares of Chunghwa Telecom in a report on Wednesday, January 21st. Zacks Research upgraded Chunghwa Telecom to a hold rating in a report on Monday, January 12th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Hold rating, Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Hold.

Check Out Our Latest Stock Analysis on CHT

Institutional Trading of Chunghwa Telecom

Institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP lifted its position in Chunghwa Telecom by 5.2% in the 3rd quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 476,602 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $20,790,000 after buying an additional 23,620 shares during the last quarter. Creative Planning raised its stake in shares of Chunghwa Telecom by 20.0% during the third quarter. Creative Planning now owns 380,892 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $16,615,000 after acquiring an additional 63,523 shares in the last quarter. Bank of America Corp DE lifted its holdings in shares of Chunghwa Telecom by 9.2% in the 3rd quarter. Bank of America Corp DE now owns 339,330 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $14,802,000 after acquiring an additional 28,625 shares during the last quarter. Public Employees Retirement System of Ohio boosted its stake in shares of Chunghwa Telecom by 0.6% in the 3rd quarter. Public Employees Retirement System of Ohio now owns 144,314 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $6,295,000 after purchasing an additional 889 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Quantinno Capital Management LP grew its holdings in shares of Chunghwa Telecom by 142.6% during the 2nd quarter. Quantinno Capital Management LP now owns 129,440 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $6,033,000 after purchasing an additional 76,087 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 2.11% of the companys stock.

About Chunghwa Telecom

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Chunghwa Telecom Co, Ltd. is the largest integrated telecommunications service provider in Taiwan, serving both consumer and enterprise customers across the island and through international telecommunications links. The company offers a full range of voice, data and multimedia services and operates as the incumbent fixed-line operator while also competing in mobile, broadband and enterprise markets. Its network footprint and traffic interchange capabilities support domestic communications and cross-border connectivity for carriers and multinational businesses.

Chunghwa Telecoms product and service portfolio includes fixed-line telephony, mobile services (including 4G and 5G wireless access), broadband internet (DSL and fiber-to-the-home), and IPTV.

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Live Oak Bancshares (NYSE:LOB  Get Free Report) is one of 20 public companies in the State Commercial Banks  Fed Reserve System industry, but how does it contrast to its peers? We will compare Live Oak Bancshares to related companies based on the strength of its risk, institutional ownership, dividends, analyst recommendations, earnings, valuation and profitability.

Profitability

This table compares Live Oak Bancshares and its peers net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

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Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Live Oak Bancshares 10.09% 9.91% 0.75% Live Oak Bancshares Competitors 7.90% 7.46% 0.84%

Valuation and Earnings

This table compares Live Oak Bancshares and its peers revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

Gross Revenue Net Income Price/Earnings Ratio Live Oak Bancshares $1.04 billion $105.87 million 17.68 Live Oak Bancshares Competitors $673.63 million $114.12 million 39.64

Insider and Institutional Ownership

Live Oak Bancshares has higher revenue, but lower earnings than its peers. Live Oak 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.

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, endowments and large money managers believe a company will outperform the market over the long term.

Risk & Volatility

Live Oak Bancshares has a beta of 2.02, meaning that its stock price is 102% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Live Oak Bancshares peers have a beta of 1.01, meaning that their average stock price is 1% more volatile than the S&P 500.

Dividends

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 5.4% 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 60.2% of their earnings in the form of a dividend.

Analyst Recommendations

This is a summary of current ratings for Live Oak Bancshares and its peers, as provided by MarketBeat.com.

Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Live Oak Bancshares 0 2 0 1 2.67 Live Oak Bancshares Competitors 32 178 224 26 2.53

As a group, State Commercial Banks  Fed Reserve System companies have a potential upside of 2.33%. Given Live Oak Bancshares peers higher possible upside, analysts clearly believe Live Oak Bancshares has less favorable growth aspects than its peers.

Summary

Live Oak Bancshares beats its peers on 8 of the 15 factors compared.

Live Oak Bancshares Company Profile

(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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UNITED NATIONS, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- Japan has become a disruptor of international order, said a Chinese envoy on Monday in response to the Japanese representative's statement to an open debate of the Security Council on the international rule of law.

Sun Lei, China's deputy permanent representative to the United Nations, said the Japanese representative was distorting facts and misleading, which China firmly opposes and categorically rejects.

Taiwan's return to China was a major outcome of the victory in World War II and constitutes an integral part of the post-war international order. The erroneous remarks by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, he said, seriously violate the obligations of a defeated nation as stipulated in the Cairo Declaration, the Potsdam Proclamation and the Japanese Instrument of Surrender.

He added that the remarks also represent a grave breach of the fundamental principles of international relations enshrined in the United Nations Charter, including respect for state sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as non-interference in internal affairs. In essence, such statements seek to deny the outcomes of World War II and undermine the post-war international order.

"Such behavior shows that Japan has become a disruptor of the international order," he said.

During World War II, Japan waged wars of aggression and inflicted untold atrocities on Asian peoples. The International Military Tribunal of the Far East systematically exposed the crimes of Japanese militarism. However, some Japanese politicians and forces have never truly repented or confessed guilt. Instead, they have attempted to deny those crimes and falsify history, he said.

Their so-called reflection on the war focuses ironically on why Japan was defeated rather than on its war crimes. Such a Japan is a perpetrator of wars of aggression, he stressed.

From the Japanese leader threatening the use of force against China, to a senior official in the prime minister's office publicly advocating Japan's nuclear armament and attempting changes to the three national security documents and signaling revisions to the three non-nuclear principles, all of this exposes the attempts of Japan's right-wing forces to promote re-militarization and return to the old path of military expansion. These actions pose new threats to regional and global peace. Such a Japan has become a resurrector of militarism, he said.

The international community must prevent Japan from embarking on the old and evil path of militarism again, he warned.

The Takaichi administration has grossly interfered in China's internal affairs, hinted at military intervention in the Taiwan question, and deployed offensive weapons in areas adjacent to Taiwan of China, deliberately creating regional tensions and provoking military confrontation, said Sun, stressing that Japan is a true instigator of regional tensions.

China strongly urges Japan to do serious self-reflection, genuinely acknowledge and repent for its wrongdoings, stop making provocations and crossing lines, and earn the trust of China and the international community through concrete actions, he said.

A Japanese representative made an additional statement. Sun asked for the floor again to reject his remarks.

Sun said the Japanese representative not only refused to acknowledge wrongdoing but continued groundless justifications, leaving the Chinese side no choice but to respond again.

If Japan truly abides by the UN Charter and is committed to upholding the international order, Sun asked, why do its leaders, from a country defeated in World War II, interfere in the internal affairs of a victorious nation and even threaten the use of force.

If Japan genuinely seeks to build a nuclear-weapon-free world as a so-called peace-loving country, why has its government floated revising the three non-nuclear principles and even talked of introducing nuclear weapons.

If Japan truly upholds the international rule of law, why has it failed to fulfill its obligations under international legal documents such as the Cairo Declaration, the Potsdam Proclamation and the Japanese Instrument of Surrender, which require complete disarmament and prohibit the maintenance of industries capable of rearmament.

And if Japan's position on the Taiwan question has indeed remained unchanged, he asked, why can it not fully and accurately reaffirm the stance set out in the 1972 Sino-Japanese Joint Statement.

Sun said China's demand has always been categorically clear. China urges Japan to face history squarely, reflect on its wrongdoings, retract erroneous remarks and stop shaping a new type of militarism. China hopes Japan can take concrete actions to come clean with the people of China and the world at large. 
Credit Agricole SA (OTCMKTS:CRARY  Get Free Report)s share price gapped up prior to trading on Tuesday . The stock had previously closed at $10.31, but opened at $10.83. Credit Agricole shares last traded at $10.84, with a volume of 18,572 shares traded.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of research firms recently issued reports on CRARY. Oddo Bhf upgraded Credit Agricole from a neutral rating to an outperform rating in a report on Tuesday. Zacks Research downgraded shares of Credit Agricole from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Thursday, November 13th. Royal Bank Of Canada reissued a sector perform rating on shares of Credit Agricole in a research report on Friday, December 19th. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reaffirmed a buy rating on shares of Credit Agricole in a research report on Wednesday, January 21st. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and two have assigned a Hold rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy.

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Credit Agricole Price Performance

The company has a market cap of $65.60 billion, a PE ratio of 8.34 and a beta of 0.67. The stocks 50-day moving average is $10.00 and its 200 day moving average is $9.66.

Credit Agricole (OTCMKTS:CRARY  Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, October 30th. The company reported $0.31 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.30 by $0.01. Credit Agricole had a return on equity of 37.56% and a net margin of 27.03%.

About Credit Agricole

(Get Free Report)

Credit Agricole (OTCMKTS:CRARY) is a major French banking group that provides a broad range of financial services to retail, corporate and institutional clients. Headquartered in France, the group combines a large domestic retail banking franchise with international wholesale banking, asset management, insurance and specialized financial services. Its operations are organized through a network of regional cooperative banks together with a centrally managed listed entity that coordinates group strategy and capital markets activities.

The companys core businesses include retail and commercial banking products such as current accounts, savings, mortgages, consumer loans and payment services delivered through its regional bank network and retail subsidiaries.

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Shares of Devon Energy Corporation (NYSE:DVN  Get Free Report) have been assigned an average recommendation of Moderate Buy from the thirty research firms that are currently covering the company, Marketbeat.com reports. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have issued a hold rating, twenty have given a buy rating and two have given a strong buy rating to the company. The average twelve-month price target among brokers that have updated their coverage on the stock in the last year is $44.5517.

Several analysts have commented on the company. Benchmark reissued a buy rating on shares of Devon Energy in a report on Friday, January 16th. Royal Bank Of Canada set a $42.00 price target on shares of Devon Energy and gave the stock a sector perform rating in a report on Friday, October 10th. Siebert Williams Shank increased their price objective on shares of Devon Energy from $46.00 to $50.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Monday. Jefferies Financial Group lifted their target price on shares of Devon Energy from $33.00 to $36.00 and gave the company a hold rating in a research report on Tuesday, January 20th. Finally, Barclays upped their price target on shares of Devon Energy from $40.00 to $42.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a research report on Wednesday, January 21st.

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Institutional Trading of Devon Energy

Devon Energy Trading Down 0.0%

A number of institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in DVN. PFS Partners LLC acquired a new position in shares of Devon Energy during the 3rd quarter valued at about $25,000. First Horizon Corp purchased a new position in Devon Energy during the third quarter worth about $26,000. Caldwell Trust Co acquired a new position in Devon Energy in the 2nd quarter valued at about $25,000. Ameriflex Group Inc. grew its stake in shares of Devon Energy by 702.0% in the 3rd quarter. Ameriflex Group Inc. now owns 802 shares of the energy companys stock valued at $28,000 after buying an additional 702 shares during the period. Finally, Accredited Wealth Management LLC grew its stake in shares of Devon Energy by 61.6% in the 3rd quarter. Accredited Wealth Management LLC now owns 808 shares of the energy companys stock valued at $28,000 after buying an additional 308 shares during the period. 69.72% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Shares of Devon Energy stock opened at $38.63 on Friday. The firm has a 50-day simple moving average of $36.64 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $34.84. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.48, a quick ratio of 0.87 and a current ratio of 0.96. Devon Energy has a fifty-two week low of $25.89 and a fifty-two week high of $39.38. The company has a market cap of $24.23 billion, a P/E ratio of 9.09, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.50 and a beta of 0.60.

Devon Energy (NYSE:DVN  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, November 5th. The energy company reported $1.04 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.93 by $0.11. The firm had revenue of $0.00 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $4.10 billion. Devon Energy had a return on equity of 18.14% and a net margin of 15.56%.During the same quarter in the previous year, the business earned $1.10 EPS. As a group, equities analysts predict that Devon Energy will post 4.85 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Devon Energy Dividend Announcement

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, December 30th. Shareholders of record on Monday, December 15th were issued a dividend of $0.24 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, December 15th. This represents a $0.96 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.5%. Devon Energys dividend payout ratio is presently 22.59%.

About Devon Energy

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Devon Energy Corporation (NYSE: DVN) is an independent oil and gas exploration and production company headquartered in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The company focuses on the exploration, development, production and marketing of hydrocarbons, including crude oil, natural gas liquids (NGLs) and natural gas. Devon operates as an upstream energy company that acquires, evaluates and develops onshore resource plays using a combination of drilling, completion and production optimization techniques.

Core business activities include identifying and developing energy reserves, operating well programs and managing reservoir performance to generate production and cash flow.

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Maj Invest Holding A S lowered its holdings in Elevance Health, Inc. (NYSE:ELV  Free Report) by 10.0% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 396,776 shares of the companys stock after selling 44,111 shares during the period. Elevance Health makes up 4.4% of Maj Invest Holding A Ss portfolio, making the stock its 12th biggest position. Maj Invest Holding A S owned about 0.18% of Elevance Health worth $128,207,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in the business. Stonegate Investment Group LLC increased its holdings in Elevance Health by 42.5% in the 3rd quarter. Stonegate Investment Group LLC now owns 748 shares of the companys stock valued at $242,000 after purchasing an additional 223 shares in the last quarter. Evergreen Wealth Management LLC boosted its position in shares of Elevance Health by 33.5% in the third quarter. Evergreen Wealth Management LLC now owns 17,283 shares of the companys stock worth $5,584,000 after buying an additional 4,336 shares during the period. Pilgrim Partners Asia Pte Ltd acquired a new stake in shares of Elevance Health in the third quarter valued at about $52,000. Generali Investments Towarzystwo Funduszy Inwestycyjnych raised its holdings in shares of Elevance Health by 28.6% during the 3rd quarter. Generali Investments Towarzystwo Funduszy Inwestycyjnych now owns 900 shares of the companys stock valued at $291,000 after buying an additional 200 shares during the period. Finally, National Wealth Management Group LLC acquired a new position in Elevance Health during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $459,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 89.24% of the companys stock.

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Elevance Health Price Performance

Shares of ELV opened at $377.52 on Tuesday. Elevance Health, Inc. has a 52 week low of $273.71 and a 52 week high of $458.75. The company has a current ratio of 1.56, a quick ratio of 1.56 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.71. The firm has a market cap of $83.90 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 15.43, a PEG ratio of 1.91 and a beta of 0.51. The stock has a 50 day moving average of $350.10 and a 200-day moving average of $328.90.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several brokerages have issued reports on ELV. Mizuho set a $413.00 price objective on shares of Elevance Health in a research report on Friday, January 9th. TD Cowen reaffirmed a buy rating on shares of Elevance Health in a report on Wednesday, November 26th. Sanford C. Bernstein reiterated an outperform rating and issued a $431.00 price objective on shares of Elevance Health in a report on Tuesday, January 6th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft restated a hold rating and set a $320.00 target price (down from $332.00) on shares of Elevance Health in a research note on Friday, December 19th. Finally, Bank of America boosted their price target on Elevance Health from $330.00 to $370.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research note on Friday, October 10th. Twelve research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and nine have issued a Hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Elevance Health currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $399.63.

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About Elevance Health

(Free Report)

Elevance Health, Inc (NYSE: ELV) is a large U.S.-based health benefits company that provides a broad range of health insurance products and related services. Headquartered in Indianapolis, the company rebranded from Anthem, Inc to Elevance Health in 2022 while continuing to operate consumer-facing health plans under established state and national brands. Gail Boudreaux serves as chief executive officer and president, leading the companys strategic focus on integrated health care and benefit delivery.

Elevances core activities include offering medical and specialty health plans for individuals, employers and government programs, including Medicare and Medicaid managed-care products.

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Equity Bancshares (NYSE:EQBK  Get Free Report) is one of 20 public companies in the State Commercial Banks  Fed Reserve System industry, but how does it weigh in compared to its competitors? We will compare Equity Bancshares to similar businesses based on the strength of its risk, dividends, profitability, analyst recommendations, earnings, valuation and institutional ownership.

Analyst Recommendations

This is a breakdown of current ratings and target prices for Equity Bancshares and its competitors, as provided by MarketBeat.com.

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Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Equity Bancshares 0 2 0 1 2.67 Equity Bancshares Competitors 31 178 224 26 2.53

As a group, State Commercial Banks  Fed Reserve System companies have a potential upside of 2.33%. Given Equity Bancshares competitors higher possible upside, analysts plainly believe Equity Bancshares has less favorable growth aspects than its competitors.

Profitability

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Equity Bancshares 6.17% 12.37% 1.41% Equity Bancshares Competitors 7.90% 7.46% 0.84%

Earnings and Valuation

This table compares Equity Bancshares and its competitors net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

This table compares Equity Bancshares and its competitors top-line revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

Gross Revenue Net Income Price/Earnings Ratio Equity Bancshares $367.98 million $22.73 million 34.70 Equity Bancshares Competitors $809.51 million $114.12 million 39.64

Equity Bancshares competitors have higher revenue and earnings than Equity Bancshares. Equity Bancshares is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than its competitors, indicating that it is currently more affordable than other companies in its industry.

Dividends

Equity Bancshares pays an annual dividend of $0.72 per share and has a dividend yield of 1.6%. Equity Bancshares pays out 55.0% 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 60.2% of their earnings in the form of a dividend.

Risk and Volatility

Equity Bancshares has a beta of 0.87, meaning that its stock price is 13% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Equity Bancshares competitors have a beta of 1.01, meaning that their average stock price is 1% more volatile than the S&P 500.

Insider & Institutional Ownership

71.8% of Equity Bancshares shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 72.2% of shares of all State Commercial Banks  Fed Reserve System companies are held by institutional investors. 6.6% of Equity Bancshares shares are held by insiders. Comparatively, 6.7% of shares of all State Commercial Banks  Fed Reserve System companies are held by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, hedge funds and endowments believe a company will outperform the market over the long term.

Summary

Equity Bancshares competitors beat Equity Bancshares on 10 of the 15 factors compared.

Equity Bancshares Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

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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Ethan Allen Interiors (NYSE:ETD  Get Free Report) is projected to announce its Q2 2026 results after the market closes on Wednesday, January 28th. Analysts expect the company to announce earnings of $0.38 per share and revenue of $152.25 million for the quarter. Parties can check the companys upcoming Q2 2026 earning summary page for the latest details on the call scheduled for Wednesday, January 28, 2026 at 5:00 PM ET.

Ethan Allen Interiors (NYSE:ETD  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, October 29th. The company reported $0.43 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.44 by ($0.01). The company had revenue of $146.98 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $149.15 million. Ethan Allen Interiors had a return on equity of 10.08% and a net margin of 7.79%.The businesss revenue for the quarter was down 4.8% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the company earned $0.58 EPS. On average, analysts expect Ethan Allen Interiors to post $2 EPS for the current fiscal year and $3 EPS for the next fiscal year.

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Ethan Allen Interiors Trading Up 1.8%

Ethan Allen Interiors stock opened at $24.65 on Tuesday. Ethan Allen Interiors has a 52 week low of $21.67 and a 52 week high of $32.61. The stock has a market cap of $627.37 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 13.32 and a beta of 1.16. The companys 50-day moving average price is $23.76 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $26.66.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

ETD has been the topic of a number of research analyst reports. Telsey Advisory Group reiterated a market perform rating and set a $28.00 price objective on shares of Ethan Allen Interiors in a research note on Thursday, January 22nd. Weiss Ratings lowered Ethan Allen Interiors from a hold (c-) rating to a sell (d+) rating in a research note on Monday, December 29th. Finally, Zacks Research upgraded Ethan Allen Interiors from a strong sell rating to a hold rating in a research report on Monday, December 29th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of Reduce and a consensus target price of $28.00.

Read Our Latest Report on Ethan Allen Interiors

Insider Buying and Selling

In other Ethan Allen Interiors news, CEO M Farooq Kathwari sold 2,168 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Thursday, January 22nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $25.01, for a total value of $54,221.68. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer directly owned 1,483,228 shares in the company, valued at $37,095,532.28. This trade represents a 0.15% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. Corporate insiders own 9.92% of the companys stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Ethan Allen Interiors

Hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Vanguard Group Inc. boosted its stake in Ethan Allen Interiors by 1.9% in the 3rd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 1,760,093 shares of the companys stock worth $51,852,000 after purchasing an additional 32,751 shares during the period. Jacobs Levy Equity Management Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Ethan Allen Interiors by 42.6% in the third quarter. Jacobs Levy Equity Management Inc. now owns 391,769 shares of the companys stock valued at $11,542,000 after purchasing an additional 117,047 shares in the last quarter. Jane Street Group LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Ethan Allen Interiors by 31.2% in the first quarter. Jane Street Group LLC now owns 371,979 shares of the companys stock valued at $10,304,000 after purchasing an additional 88,383 shares in the last quarter. Balyasny Asset Management L.P. acquired a new stake in shares of Ethan Allen Interiors in the second quarter worth $5,845,000. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. grew its holdings in shares of Ethan Allen Interiors by 260.1% during the third quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 191,688 shares of the companys stock valued at $5,647,000 after buying an additional 138,452 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 83.80% of the companys stock.

About Ethan Allen Interiors

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Ethan Allen Interiors Inc (NYSE: ETD) is a vertically integrated manufacturer and retailer of home furnishings, offering a broad range of furniture, upholstery, case goods and decorative accessories. The company designs and produces the majority of its products in its own North American manufacturing facilities, maintaining close control over quality, craftsmanship and production schedules. Through its network of company-operated and franchised Design Centers and galleries, Ethan Allen delivers a full-service offering that includes on-site interior design consultations and project management.

Founded in 1932 as a small Colonial-Revival furniture maker in northern Vermont, Ethan Allen has grown into a global brand known for its timeless styles and customization options.

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First BanCorp. (NYSE:FBP  Get Free Report) issued its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday. The bank reported $0.55 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.52 by $0.03, Zacks reports. The business had revenue of $257.17 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $256.18 million. First BanCorp. had a return on equity of 17.45% and a net margin of 26.73%.During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $0.46 earnings per share.

Here are the key takeaways from First BanCorp.s conference call:

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Management reported a standout 2025 with over $1 billion in revenues , a record $345 million net income (EPS $2.15) and a 1.9% return on assets, driven by revenue growth and operating leverage.

, a record (EPS $2.15) and a 1.9% return on assets, driven by revenue growth and operating leverage. The bank is aggressively returning capital  repurchasing $150 million of shares in 2025 , buying back $50 million in Q4, and raising the quarterly dividend 11% to $0.20, with a run-rate target of ~<$50 million> in buybacks per quarter in 2026.

, buying back $50 million in Q4, and raising the quarterly dividend 11% to $0.20, with a run-rate target of ~<$50 million> in buybacks per quarter in 2026. Asset quality improved or remained stable as NPAs fell to an alltime low of 60 basis points of assets, net charge-offs stayed roughly flat (63 bps), and the allowance for credit losses rose modestly to 1.9% of loans.

of assets, net charge-offs stayed roughly flat (63 bps), and the allowance for credit losses rose modestly to 1.9% of loans. Margin and funding dynamics are mixed  NIM was 4.68% (4.65% adjusted), benefited from lower deposit costs and reinvesting maturing securities, and management expects modest NIM expansion of ~23 bps per quarter in 2026 despite some downward pressure from repricing of floating commercial loans.

First BanCorp. Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:FBP opened at $21.93 on Wednesday. The firm has a market cap of $3.46 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 10.64, a P/E/G ratio of 1.16 and a beta of 0.88. First BanCorp. has a 1 year low of $16.40 and a 1 year high of $22.60. The company has a current ratio of 0.81, a quick ratio of 0.80 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.15. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $20.87 and a 200 day simple moving average of $21.10.

First BanCorp. Increases Dividend

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 13th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, February 26th will be paid a dividend of $0.20 per share. This is an increase from First BanCorp.s previous quarterly dividend of $0.18. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, February 26th. This represents a $0.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.6%. First BanCorp.s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 34.95%.

A number of analysts recently commented on FBP shares. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods reiterated a market perform rating and issued a $24.00 target price (down from $26.00) on shares of First BanCorp. in a report on Monday, October 27th. Piper Sandler began coverage on First BanCorp. in a report on Thursday, January 15th. They issued a neutral rating and a $23.00 price target on the stock. UBS Group set a $25.00 price objective on First BanCorp. in a research note on Thursday, October 9th. Weiss Ratings restated a buy (b) rating on shares of First BanCorp. in a report on Thursday, January 22nd. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company reduced their target price on First BanCorp. from $25.00 to $23.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a report on Monday, October 27th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and two have assigned a Hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, First BanCorp. has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $23.80.

View Our Latest Stock Report on First BanCorp.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of FBP. Corient Private Wealth LLC lifted its position in shares of First BanCorp. by 173.6% in the second quarter. Corient Private Wealth LLC now owns 31,106 shares of the banks stock worth $648,000 after buying an additional 19,735 shares during the last quarter. Two Sigma Securities LLC bought a new position in shares of First BanCorp. in the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $394,000. Tidal Investments LLC lifted its holdings in First BanCorp. by 6.5% in the 2nd quarter. Tidal Investments LLC now owns 28,342 shares of the banks stock worth $590,000 after purchasing an additional 1,722 shares during the last quarter. Quantinno Capital Management LP lifted its holdings in First BanCorp. by 22.4% in the 2nd quarter. Quantinno Capital Management LP now owns 18,923 shares of the banks stock worth $394,000 after purchasing an additional 3,462 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Quantbot Technologies LP bought a new stake in First BanCorp. during the second quarter worth approximately $309,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 97.91% of the companys stock.

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About First BanCorp.

(Get Free Report)

First BanCorp (NYSE: FBP) is a financial holding company headquartered in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Through its principal banking subsidiary, FirstBank Puerto Rico, the company offers a comprehensive range of banking services including commercial and consumer lending, deposit products, cash management solutions and treasury services. It also provides mortgage origination and servicing, equipment leasing, investment management, and insurance agency services.

In its commercial banking segment, First BanCorp serves small and midsize enterprises as well as large corporate clients, delivering tailored credit facilities, letters of credit, and foreign trade financing.

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Torex Gold Resources Inc. (TSE:TXG  Free Report)  Equities research analysts at Scotiabank cut their FY2025 earnings estimates for Torex Gold Resources in a note issued to investors on Friday, January 23rd. Scotiabank analyst E. Winmill now anticipates that the company will post earnings of $4.77 per share for the year, down from their prior forecast of $5.02. The consensus estimate for Torex Gold Resources current full-year earnings is $3.63 per share. Scotiabank also issued estimates for Torex Gold Resources FY2026 earnings at $6.51 EPS.

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A number of other analysts have also recently weighed in on the company. TD Securities raised their price target on Torex Gold Resources from C$78.00 to C$96.00 in a research note on Thursday, January 22nd. CIBC increased their price objective on Torex Gold Resources from C$66.00 to C$90.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a report on Thursday, October 23rd. Royal Bank Of Canada raised their target price on Torex Gold Resources from C$77.00 to C$94.00 in a research report on Wednesday, December 10th. National Bankshares lowered their price target on Torex Gold Resources from C$90.00 to C$85.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, December 9th. Finally, Canaccord Genuity Group increased their price target on shares of Torex Gold Resources from C$64.00 to C$77.00 in a research note on Thursday, October 2nd. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating and five have given a Buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of Buy and an average target price of C$77.10.

Torex Gold Resources Price Performance

Shares of TXG opened at C$80.18 on Monday. The firm has a market capitalization of C$7.71 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 23.58, a PEG ratio of 0.02 and a beta of 1.28. The firms fifty day simple moving average is C$67.14 and its 200-day simple moving average is C$57.23. Torex Gold Resources has a twelve month low of C$28.97 and a twelve month high of C$84.61. The company has a current ratio of 1.00, a quick ratio of 2.12 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 8.09.

Torex Gold Resources Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, December 4th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, December 4th were paid a $0.15 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, November 20th. This represents a $0.60 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.7%.

About Torex Gold Resources

(Get Free Report)

Torex Gold Resources Inc is an intermediate producer of gold and other precious metals, engaged in the exploration, development, and exploration of its wholly owned Morelos Gold Property. The property consists of 29,000 hectares in the Guerrero Gold Belt, located 180 kilometres southwest of Mexico City and approximately 50 kilometres southwest of Iguala. Within this property, the company has two assets: the El Limon-Guajes Mine, an open pit gold deposit located north of the Balsas river, and the Media Luna Project, which is at an advanced stage of exploration.

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General Motors (NYSE:GM  Get Free Report) (TSE:GMM.U) released its earnings results on Tuesday. The auto manufacturer reported $2.51 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.26 by $0.25, Zacks reports. General Motors had a net margin of 1.62% and a return on equity of 12.29%. The business had revenue of $45.29 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $45.81 billion. During the same period last year, the company earned $1.92 earnings per share. The companys quarterly revenue was down 5.1% on a year-over-year basis. General Motors updated its FY 2026 guidance to 9.750-10.500 EPS.

Here are the key takeaways from General Motors conference call:

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GM delivered strong 2025 cash and earnings  EBIT adjusted $12.7 billion , adjusted automotive FCF $10.6 billion and $21.7 billion of year-end cash  and set 2026 guidance of EBIT adjusted $13$15 billion while announcing a $6 billion repurchase authorization and a 20% dividend increase.

, adjusted automotive FCF $10.6 billion and $21.7 billion of year-end cash  and set 2026 guidance of while announcing a $6 billion repurchase authorization and a 20% dividend increase. Management took significant EV-related write-downs totaling $7.6 billion in Q3Q4 (about $4.6 billion expected to be cash-settled), including discontinuing BrightDrop and shifting Orion to ICE, which will pressure near-term cash flows into 2026.

in Q3Q4 (about $4.6 billion expected to be cash-settled), including discontinuing BrightDrop and shifting Orion to ICE, which will pressure near-term cash flows into 2026. GM materially managed tariff headwinds  gross tariffs were $3.1 billion in 2025 with >40% offset via go-to-market, footprint and cost actions, and management expects continued mitigation even as it models $3$4 billion gross tariffs for 2026.

Recurring software and services are scaling rapidly  OnStar reached 12 million subscribers (Super Cruise ~620k), deferred revenue is expected to grow to ~ $7.5 billion by end-2026, and Super Cruise expansion should boost highmargin, recurring revenue.

by end-2026, and Super Cruise expansion should boost highmargin, recurring revenue. China turnaround gaining traction  new energy vehicles are ~50% of GMs China sales and management says the portfolio is profitable across price points, supporting the expectation of profitable international results in 2026.

General Motors Stock Performance

Shares of General Motors stock opened at $86.39 on Wednesday. The companys 50 day moving average price is $79.17 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $66.37. The firm has a market capitalization of $80.59 billion, a P/E ratio of 17.38, a P/E/G ratio of 0.75 and a beta of 1.31. General Motors has a fifty-two week low of $41.60 and a fifty-two week high of $87.31. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.40, a current ratio of 1.23 and a quick ratio of 1.06.

General Motors Increases Dividend

Insider Transactions at General Motors

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, March 19th. Shareholders of record on Friday, March 6th will be paid a dividend of $0.18 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, March 6th. This is a positive change from General Motorss previous quarterly dividend of $0.15. This represents a $0.72 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.8%. General Motorss payout ratio is presently 12.07%.

In other news, CAO Christopher Hatto sold 7,724 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, November 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $72.00, for a total transaction of $556,128.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief accounting officer directly owned 12,007 shares in the company, valued at $864,504. This trade represents a 39.15% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. 0.54% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On General Motors

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of GM. Equitable Holdings Inc. boosted its position in General Motors by 1.8% in the third quarter. Equitable Holdings Inc. now owns 18,538 shares of the auto manufacturers stock worth $1,130,000 after purchasing an additional 324 shares during the last quarter. Larson Financial Group LLC raised its stake in shares of General Motors by 8.2% during the 3rd quarter. Larson Financial Group LLC now owns 4,783 shares of the auto manufacturers stock worth $292,000 after purchasing an additional 364 shares during the period. Coldstream Capital Management Inc. raised its stake in shares of General Motors by 2.0% during the 3rd quarter. Coldstream Capital Management Inc. now owns 20,790 shares of the auto manufacturers stock worth $1,268,000 after purchasing an additional 411 shares during the period. PFG Advisors boosted its holdings in shares of General Motors by 9.8% in the 3rd quarter. PFG Advisors now owns 4,778 shares of the auto manufacturers stock worth $291,000 after buying an additional 425 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Kelleher Financial Advisors bought a new position in General Motors during the third quarter valued at about $29,000. 92.67% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

General Motors declared that its Board of Directors has approved a stock buyback plan on Tuesday, January 27th that authorizes the company to repurchase $6.00 billion in shares. This repurchase authorization authorizes the auto manufacturer to buy up to 8.1% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares repurchase plans are generally an indication that the companys board of directors believes its shares are undervalued.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of brokerages have recently commented on GM. Argus set a $78.00 price objective on General Motors in a report on Thursday, October 23rd. Wells Fargo & Company lifted their price target on shares of General Motors from $46.00 to $48.00 and gave the company an underweight rating in a report on Tuesday, December 9th. Piper Sandler set a $98.00 target price on shares of General Motors and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Thursday, January 8th. Weiss Ratings reissued a hold (c) rating on shares of General Motors in a research note on Thursday, January 22nd. Finally, HSBC boosted their target price on General Motors from $48.00 to $75.00 and gave the company a hold rating in a research note on Tuesday, January 13th. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, fourteen have assigned a Buy rating, four have given a Hold rating and two have given a Sell rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $80.27.

Get Our Latest Stock Analysis on GM

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General Motors Company Profile

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General Motors Company (NYSE: GM) is a global automotive manufacturer headquartered in Detroit, Michigan, that designs, builds and sells cars, trucks, crossovers and electric vehicles, and provides related parts and services. Founded in 1908, GM has long been one of the worlds largest automakers and has evolved into a multi-brand company whose primary marques include Chevrolet, GMC, Cadillac and Buick. Beyond vehicle manufacturing, GMs operations encompass vehicle financing, connected services and advanced mobility initiatives.

GM develops and markets a broad portfolio of products and technologies, including internal-combustion and battery-electric vehicles, vehicle components and on-board connectivity services.

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Rolls-Royce Holdings plc (LON:RR  Get Free Report) insider Helen McCabe sold 1,880 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Monday, January 26th. The shares were sold at an average price of GBX 1,232, for a total transaction of 23,161.60.

Helen McCabe also recently made the following trade(s):

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On Wednesday, January 7th, Helen McCabe purchased 15 shares of Rolls-Royce Holdings plc stock. The shares were acquired at an average price of GBX 1,256 per share, with a total value of 188.40.

On Monday, December 22nd, Helen McCabe sold 1,927 shares of Rolls-Royce Holdings plc stock. The shares were sold at an average price of GBX 1,164, for a total value of 22,430.28.

Rolls-Royce Holdings plc Price Performance

Shares of LON:RR traded down GBX 17.50 during mid-day trading on Tuesday, hitting GBX 1,235.50. The company had a trading volume of 10,632,527 shares. Rolls-Royce Holdings plc has a one year low of GBX 196.45 and a one year high of GBX 537.20. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of GBX 1,153.14 and a 200 day moving average price of GBX 1,116.01. The company has a market capitalization of 105.96 billion, a PE ratio of 45.04, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.55 and a beta of 1.82.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Separately, Berenberg Bank upgraded Rolls-Royce Holdings plc to a hold rating and raised their target price for the company from GBX 240 to GBX 1,080 in a research note on Monday, October 20th. Three analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and three have assigned a Hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of GBX 1,161.50.

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About Rolls-Royce Holdings plc

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Rolls-Royce Holdings plc develops and delivers complex power and propulsion solutions for air, sea, and land in the United Kingdom and internationally. The company operates through four segments: Civil Aerospace, Defence, Power Systems, and New Markets. The Civil Aerospace segment develops, manufactures, markets, and sells aero engines for large commercial aircraft, regional jet, and business aviation markets, as well as provides aftermarket services. The Defence segment is involved in the development, manufacture, marketing, and sale of military aero engines, naval engines, and submarine nuclear power plants, as well as offers aftermarket services.

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Hennes & Mauritz (OTCMKTS:HNNMY  Get Free Report) is expected to announce its results before the market opens on Thursday, January 29th. Analysts expect the company to announce earnings of $0.05 per share and revenue of $6.3453 billion for the quarter.

Hennes & Mauritz Stock Performance

OTCMKTS:HNNMY opened at $3.89 on Tuesday. The firm has a market cap of $27.43 billion, a PE ratio of 27.79 and a beta of 1.20. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.16, a quick ratio of 0.46 and a current ratio of 1.00. The business has a 50 day moving average price of $3.82 and a 200-day moving average price of $3.45. Hennes & Mauritz has a fifty-two week low of $2.37 and a fifty-two week high of $4.17.

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Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of research analysts have issued reports on the company. Oddo Bhf upgraded shares of Hennes & Mauritz to a neutral rating in a research note on Thursday, December 18th. Citigroup raised shares of Hennes & Mauritz from a sell rating to a hold rating in a research report on Thursday, December 11th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating and six have assigned a Hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Hennes & Mauritz presently has a consensus rating of Hold.

Hennes & Mauritz Company Profile

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Hennes & Mauritz AB, commonly known as H&M, is a Swedish multinational fashion retailer that designs, sources and sells ready-to-wear clothing, accessories and home textiles. The company traces its roots to 1947, when Erling Persson opened a womens clothing store called Hennes (hers) in Vasteras, Sweden; the business expanded into menswear after the acquisition of a Stockholm-based retailer, Mauritz Widforss, in the late 1960s, which led to the Hennes & Mauritz name. Today the company is headquartered in Stockholm and operates a global retail business built around multiple branded concepts.

H&Ms core activities include product design, sourcing and retailing of fashion for women, men, teenagers and children, as well as home goods under its H&M Home line.

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VIENNA, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- China is willing to strengthen communication and cooperation with international organizations in Vienna and their member states, firmly uphold the existing international system, and enhance the authority and status of the United Nations (UN), a Chinese envoy said on Monday in Vienna.

Li Song, China's permanent representative to the UN and other international organizations in Vienna, made the remarks while addressing the reception for the Chinese lunar new year and Spring Festival held at UN Vienna.

More than 800 people attended the reception, including officials of UN and other international organizations in Vienna, permanent representatives and diplomats as well as international staff.

Li said the Global Governance Initiative offers a Chinese solution for building a more just and reasonable global governance system, helping revitalize the UN's core position and leading role. China will vigorously promote the return of development issues to the center of the global governance agenda, enhance the representation and voice of the Global South, and make greater contributions to the UN's cause of peace and development.

Gerd Mueller, director general of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization, said the UN system is currently under pressure, and China's role is very important as a stable partner for the UN system in the world, for stability, peace and freedom.

Representatives from other UN agencies also expressed their gratitude for China's strong support for multilateral cooperation in various fields.

The reception also featured traditional Chinese lion dances, violin performances, choral singing, and calligraphy exhibitions.

The upcoming Chinese Year of the Horse will begin on Feb. 17, 2026, according to the Chinese lunar calendar. 
iShares International High Yield Bond ETF (BATS:HYXU  Get Free Report)s share price were up 0.1% during mid-day trading on Monday . The company traded as high as $53.78 and last traded at $53.78. Approximately 133,321 shares were traded during mid-day trading, an increase of 2,025% from the average daily volume of 6,275 shares. The stock had previously closed at $53.72.

iShares International High Yield Bond ETF Stock Performance

The businesss 50-day moving average is $54.12 and its 200 day moving average is $54.71.

About iShares International High Yield Bond ETF

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The iShares International High Yield Bond ETF (HYXU) is an exchange-traded fund that mostly invests in high yield fixed income. The fund tracks a market-value-weighted index comprised of high yield bonds from developed markets ex-US Dollar. HYXU was launched on Apr 3, 2012 and is managed by BlackRock.

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Shares of iShares MSCI Hong Kong ETF (NYSEARCA:EWH  Get Free Report) hit a new 52-week high during trading on Tuesday . The company traded as high as $23.27 and last traded at $23.2350, with a volume of 488826 shares. The stock had previously closed at $22.83.

iShares MSCI Hong Kong ETF Trading Up 1.9%

The businesss 50-day simple moving average is $22.01 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $21.57. The company has a market capitalization of $713.84 million, a PE ratio of 14.69 and a beta of 0.46.

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Institutional Investors Weigh In On iShares MSCI Hong Kong ETF

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the business. SG Americas Securities LLC raised its position in shares of iShares MSCI Hong Kong ETF by 738.3% in the 2nd quarter. SG Americas Securities LLC now owns 1,195,271 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $23,738,000 after purchasing an additional 1,052,692 shares in the last quarter. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich acquired a new stake in iShares MSCI Hong Kong ETF in the second quarter valued at $19,128,000. Millburn Ridgefield LLC DE raised its holdings in iShares MSCI Hong Kong ETF by 4.5% in the third quarter. Millburn Ridgefield LLC DE now owns 675,976 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $14,567,000 after acquiring an additional 28,989 shares in the last quarter. UBS Group AG boosted its stake in iShares MSCI Hong Kong ETF by 11.4% during the 3rd quarter. UBS Group AG now owns 477,407 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $10,288,000 after acquiring an additional 48,740 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Vontobel Holding Ltd. grew its holdings in iShares MSCI Hong Kong ETF by 6.6% during the 3rd quarter. Vontobel Holding Ltd. now owns 355,900 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $7,670,000 after acquiring an additional 22,164 shares in the last quarter. 50.59% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

iShares MSCI Hong Kong ETF Company Profile

iShares MSCI Hong Kong Index Fund, formerly Shares MSCI Hong Kong ETF, (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 Hong Kong market, as measured by the MSCI Hong Kong Index (the Index). The Index consists of stocks traded primarily on the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited. 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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J. Safra Sarasin Holding AG grew its holdings in Boston Scientific Corporation (NYSE:BSX  Free Report) by 52.9% during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 306,758 shares of the medical equipment providers stock after purchasing an additional 106,109 shares during the period. J. Safra Sarasin Holding AGs holdings in Boston Scientific were worth $29,949,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of BSX. Riverwater Partners LLC increased its stake in Boston Scientific by 3.3% in the 2nd quarter. Riverwater Partners LLC now owns 3,104 shares of the medical equipment providers stock worth $333,000 after acquiring an additional 98 shares during the last quarter. Gerber Kawasaki Wealth & Investment Management grew its holdings in shares of Boston Scientific by 3.8% during the second quarter. Gerber Kawasaki Wealth & Investment Management now owns 2,711 shares of the medical equipment providers stock worth $291,000 after purchasing an additional 99 shares in the last quarter. Crown Wealth Group LLC raised its stake in Boston Scientific by 4.7% in the third quarter. Crown Wealth Group LLC now owns 2,238 shares of the medical equipment providers stock valued at $218,000 after purchasing an additional 100 shares in the last quarter. IVC Wealth Advisors LLC lifted its position in Boston Scientific by 4.9% during the second quarter. IVC Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 2,199 shares of the medical equipment providers stock valued at $236,000 after purchasing an additional 102 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Sound View Wealth Advisors Group LLC grew its stake in Boston Scientific by 3.9% in the 2nd quarter. Sound View Wealth Advisors Group LLC now owns 2,738 shares of the medical equipment providers stock worth $294,000 after buying an additional 103 shares in the last quarter. 89.07% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

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Boston Scientific Stock Up 1.2%

Shares of NYSE BSX opened at $93.66 on Tuesday. The firms fifty day moving average is $95.54 and its 200 day moving average is $99.76. Boston Scientific Corporation has a 52 week low of $85.98 and a 52 week high of $109.50. The company has a quick ratio of 0.96, a current ratio of 1.51 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.47. The company has a market cap of $138.85 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 50.09, a PEG ratio of 1.68 and a beta of 0.67.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research firms have recently issued reports on BSX. Leerink Partners lifted their price objective on shares of Boston Scientific from $127.00 to $128.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a report on Wednesday, October 1st. Canaccord Genuity Group dropped their price target on Boston Scientific from $132.00 to $131.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, December 17th. Needham & Company LLC reiterated a buy rating on shares of Boston Scientific in a research report on Thursday, January 15th. Truist Financial dropped their target price on Boston Scientific from $130.00 to $120.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, December 18th. Finally, Oppenheimer reduced their price target on shares of Boston Scientific from $125.00 to $100.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, January 16th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, nineteen have assigned a Buy rating and two have given a Hold rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $123.89.

Get Our Latest Stock Analysis on BSX

Insider Activity

In other news, Director Ellen M. Zane sold 12,891 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Thursday, November 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $98.28, for a total transaction of $1,266,927.48. Following the completion of the sale, the director directly owned 24,134 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,371,889.52. This represents a 34.82% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, EVP Arthur C. Butcher sold 17,313 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Monday, December 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $101.55, for a total value of $1,758,135.15. Following the transaction, the executive vice president owned 23,600 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,396,580. This represents a 42.32% decrease in their position. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. Over the last ninety days, insiders sold 80,204 shares of company stock valued at $7,998,563. Insiders own 0.50% of the companys stock.

About Boston Scientific

(Free Report)

Boston Scientific Corporation (NYSE: BSX) is a global medical device company that develops, manufactures and markets a broad portfolio of products used in less-invasive medical procedures. Founded in 1979 by John Abele and Peter Nicholas, the company is headquartered in Marlborough, Massachusetts, and focuses on technologies that enable physicians to treat a wide range of cardiovascular, digestive, urologic, pulmonary and chronic pain conditions without open surgery.

Boston Scientifics activities span product development, clinical research, regulatory affairs and commercial sales.

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Just Eat Takeaway.com N.V. Sponsored ADR (OTCMKTS:JTKWY  Get Free Report)s share price gapped down before the market opened on Tuesday . The stock had previously closed at $4.2550, but opened at $4.06. Just Eat Takeaway.com shares last traded at $4.20, with a volume of 8,385 shares changing hands.

Just Eat Takeaway.com Stock Down 1.3%

The stock has a 50-day moving average of $4.21 and a two-hundred day moving average of $4.48. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.11, a current ratio of 0.94 and a quick ratio of 0.94.

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Just Eat Takeaway.com Company Profile

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Just Eat Takeaway.com NV, trading under OTCMKTS:JTKWY, is a leading global online food delivery marketplace that connects consumers with local and international restaurants through its digital platforms. Formed in early 2020 from the merger of Just Eat and Takeaway.com, the company has established a presence across Europe, North America and other key regions. Headquartered in Amsterdam, with significant operational offices in London and Chicago, Just Eat Takeaway.com facilitates millions of daily orders through its suite of websites and mobile applications.

The companys core offerings comprise branded marketplaces including Just Eat in the United Kingdom, Grubhub in the United States, Takeaway.com in the Netherlands and Germany, plus localized platforms such as Menulog in Australia and SkipTheDishes in Canada.

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Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA  Free Report)  Analysts at KeyCorp increased their FY2025 earnings per share estimates for Mastercard in a report issued on Friday, January 23rd. KeyCorp analyst A. Schmidt now forecasts that the credit services provider will post earnings of $16.48 per share for the year, up from their previous estimate of $16.41. KeyCorp has a Strong-Buy rating on the stock. The consensus estimate for Mastercards current full-year earnings is $15.91 per share. KeyCorp also issued estimates for Mastercards Q4 2025 earnings at $4.24 EPS, Q1 2026 earnings at $4.31 EPS, Q2 2026 earnings at $4.86 EPS, Q3 2026 earnings at $5.13 EPS, Q4 2026 earnings at $4.95 EPS, FY2026 earnings at $19.25 EPS and FY2027 earnings at $22.33 EPS.

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Mastercard (NYSE:MA  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, October 30th. The credit services provider reported $4.38 earnings per share 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 return on equity of 202.03% and a net margin of 45.28%.The businesss revenue for the quarter was up 16.7% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $3.89 earnings per share.

Several other brokerages also recently issued reports on MA. UBS Group upped their price target on shares of Mastercard from $690.00 to $700.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Friday, October 31st. TD Cowen reaffirmed a buy rating on shares of Mastercard in a research note on Monday, January 12th. Weiss Ratings reiterated a buy (b) rating on shares of Mastercard in a report on Thursday. Compass Point raised Mastercard from a neutral rating to a buy rating and raised their price target for the stock from $620.00 to $735.00 in a research report on Tuesday, January 13th. Finally, Royal Bank Of Canada upped their price objective on Mastercard from $645.00 to $654.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Friday, October 31st. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twenty-two have issued a Buy rating and two have assigned a Hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Mastercard has an average rating of Buy and a consensus price target of $660.81.

Check Out Our Latest Analysis on Mastercard

Mastercard Price Performance

Shares of NYSE MA opened at $526.89 on Monday. The company has a current ratio of 1.12, a quick ratio of 1.12 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.40. The companys 50-day moving average price is $554.61 and its 200 day moving average price is $565.09. Mastercard has a 52 week low of $465.59 and a 52 week high of $601.77. The stock has a market cap of $473.15 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 33.69, a PEG ratio of 1.78 and a beta of 0.86.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several large investors have recently modified their holdings of MA. LGT Financial Advisors LLC acquired a new position in shares of Mastercard in the 2nd quarter valued at $25,000. Evolution Wealth Management Inc. purchased a new position in shares of Mastercard in the 2nd quarter worth $29,000. IMG Wealth Management Inc. acquired a new position in Mastercard in the second quarter valued at $31,000. Robbins Farley boosted its holdings in Mastercard by 50.0% in the third quarter. Robbins Farley now owns 54 shares of the credit services providers stock valued at $31,000 after acquiring an additional 18 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Tacita Capital Inc grew its position in Mastercard by 50.0% during the third quarter. Tacita Capital Inc now owns 57 shares of the credit services providers stock valued at $32,000 after acquiring an additional 19 shares during the period. 97.28% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Mastercard Increases Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, February 9th. Shareholders of record on Friday, January 9th will be issued a $0.87 dividend. This is a positive change from Mastercards previous quarterly dividend of $0.76. The ex-dividend date is Friday, January 9th. This represents a $3.48 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.7%. Mastercards dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 22.25%.

Trending Headlines about Mastercard

Here are the key news stories impacting Mastercard this week:

About Mastercard

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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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Kornitzer Capital Management Inc. KS trimmed its position in shares of MSCI Inc (NYSE:MSCI  Free Report) by 2.6% in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 50,639 shares of the technology companys stock after selling 1,377 shares during the period. Kornitzer Capital Management Inc. KSs holdings in MSCI were worth $28,733,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. AEGON ASSET MANAGEMENT UK Plc grew its stake in shares of MSCI by 35.3% during the third quarter. AEGON ASSET MANAGEMENT UK Plc now owns 920 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $522,000 after acquiring an additional 240 shares in the last quarter. Mutual of America Capital Management LLC boosted its holdings in MSCI by 1.5% in the third quarter. Mutual of America Capital Management LLC now owns 9,861 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $5,595,000 after purchasing an additional 143 shares during the last quarter. Whittier Trust Co. of Nevada Inc. grew its stake in MSCI by 4.5% during the 3rd quarter. Whittier Trust Co. of Nevada Inc. now owns 609 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $341,000 after purchasing an additional 26 shares in the last quarter. Sagespring Wealth Partners LLC increased its holdings in MSCI by 9.2% during the 3rd quarter. Sagespring Wealth Partners LLC now owns 608 shares of the technology companys stock worth $345,000 after purchasing an additional 51 shares during the last quarter. Finally, BAM Wealth Management LLC purchased a new stake in MSCI during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $767,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 89.97% of the companys stock.

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Insider Activity

In other news, CFO Andrew C. Wiechmann sold 450 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, December 11th. The stock was sold at an average price of $550.00, for a total transaction of $247,500.00. Following the sale, the chief financial officer directly owned 21,639 shares in the company, valued at approximately $11,901,450. This represents a 2.04% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, CEO Henry A. Fernandez purchased 10,210 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, December 5th. The stock was bought at an average cost of $536.13 per share, for a total transaction of $5,473,887.30. Following the acquisition, the chief executive officer owned 1,487,047 shares in the company, valued at approximately $797,250,508.11. The trade was a 0.69% increase in their position. Additional details regarding this purchase are available in the official SEC disclosure. Corporate insiders own 3.31% of the companys stock.

MSCI Stock Performance

MSCI stock opened at $594.58 on Tuesday. MSCI Inc has a 1 year low of $486.73 and a 1 year high of $634.99. The firms 50-day moving average is $569.75 and its 200-day moving average is $565.16. The company has a market cap of $44.68 billion, a P/E ratio of 37.68, a PEG ratio of 2.52 and a beta of 1.30.

MSCI (NYSE:MSCI  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, October 28th. The technology company reported $4.47 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $4.37 by $0.10. MSCI had a net margin of 40.03% and a negative return on equity of 110.94%. The firm had revenue of $793.43 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $794.87 million. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $3.86 earnings per share. MSCIs quarterly revenue was up 9.5% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, sell-side analysts predict that MSCI Inc will post 16.86 earnings per share for the current year.

MSCI declared that its board has initiated a share repurchase plan on Tuesday, October 28th that permits the company to buyback $3.00 billion in shares. This buyback authorization permits the technology company to purchase up to 7.1% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares buyback plans are generally a sign that the companys leadership believes its stock is undervalued.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

MSCI has been the subject of several research analyst reports. Weiss Ratings upgraded MSCI from a hold (c+) rating to a buy (b-) rating in a research note on Friday, January 16th. Wells Fargo & Company upped their price target on shares of MSCI from $570.00 to $590.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a report on Wednesday, January 14th. Raymond James Financial reissued an outperform rating and set a $690.00 price objective on shares of MSCI in a report on Monday, January 12th. Seaport Research Partners upgraded shares of MSCI to a strong-buy rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 1st. Finally, UBS Group lifted their price target on MSCI from $700.00 to $710.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 29th. Seven analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and three have assigned a Hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $650.13.

Get Our Latest Analysis on MSCI

MSCI Profile

(Free Report)

MSCI Inc is a global provider of investment decision support tools and services for the financial industry. The company is best known for its family of market indexes, which are widely used as benchmarks by asset managers and as the basis for exchange-traded funds and other passive products. In addition to index construction and licensing, MSCI offers portfolio analytics, risk models, factor and performance attribution tools, and a suite of data and technology solutions designed to support portfolio management and trading.

Beyond traditional indexing and risk analytics, MSCI has expanded into environmental, social and governance (ESG) research and ratings, offering data, scores and screening tools that help investors integrate sustainability considerations into investment processes.

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Kornitzer Capital Management Inc. KS decreased its position in shares of General Dynamics Corporation (NYSE:GD  Free Report) by 1.8% in the third quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The fund owned 109,541 shares of the aerospace companys stock after selling 1,972 shares during the quarter. General Dynamics makes up 0.8% of Kornitzer Capital Management Inc. KSs portfolio, making the stock its 29th largest position. Kornitzer Capital Management Inc. KSs holdings in General Dynamics were worth $37,353,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of the company. Halbert Hargrove Global Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in shares of General Dynamics during the 3rd quarter valued at $26,000. Louisbourg Investments Inc. acquired a new stake in General Dynamics in the third quarter worth about $27,000. Vermillion & White Wealth Management Group LLC grew its stake in shares of General Dynamics by 80.3% during the second quarter. Vermillion & White Wealth Management Group LLC now owns 110 shares of the aerospace companys stock worth $32,000 after acquiring an additional 49 shares during the last quarter. NewSquare Capital LLC raised its position in shares of General Dynamics by 64.7% in the 2nd quarter. NewSquare Capital LLC now owns 112 shares of the aerospace companys stock valued at $33,000 after purchasing an additional 44 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Financial Consulate Inc. purchased a new position in shares of General Dynamics in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $40,000. 86.14% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Insider Buying and Selling

In other news, VP David Paddock sold 20,360 shares of General Dynamics stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, December 17th. The shares were sold at an average price of $334.92, for a total value of $6,818,971.20. Following the sale, the vice president owned 36,644 shares in the company, valued at $12,272,808.48. This trade represents a 35.72% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. Insiders own 1.50% of the companys stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of research analysts have issued reports on the stock. TD Cowen raised their price target on shares of General Dynamics from $370.00 to $390.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Wednesday, January 14th. The Goldman Sachs Group boosted their price target on General Dynamics from $280.00 to $293.00 and gave the company a sell rating in a research note on Friday, October 10th. BNP Paribas Exane lifted their target price on General Dynamics from $410.00 to $420.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a report on Thursday, January 8th. Wolfe Research increased their price target on shares of General Dynamics from $400.00 to $415.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a report on Monday, January 12th. Finally, Bank of America lifted their price objective on shares of General Dynamics from $370.00 to $400.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Tuesday, October 28th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twelve have given a Buy rating, ten have assigned a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, General Dynamics has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $366.70.

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General Dynamics Stock Up 0.1%

Shares of GD stock opened at $363.61 on Tuesday. The company has a current ratio of 1.40, a quick ratio of 0.87 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.29. The stock has a 50 day moving average of $346.58 and a 200 day moving average of $333.71. General Dynamics Corporation has a twelve month low of $239.20 and a twelve month high of $369.70. The stock has a market cap of $98.22 billion, a P/E ratio of 23.56, a P/E/G ratio of 1.79 and a beta of 0.41.

General Dynamics (NYSE:GD  Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Friday, October 24th. The aerospace company reported $3.88 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $3.69 by $0.19. The firm had revenue of $12.91 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $12.49 billion. General Dynamics had a return on equity of 18.27% and a net margin of 8.18%.The companys quarterly revenue was up 10.6% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the firm earned $3.35 EPS. As a group, sell-side analysts expect that General Dynamics Corporation will post 14.83 EPS for the current year.

General Dynamics Dividend Announcement

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, February 6th. Investors of record on Friday, January 16th will be paid a $1.50 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, January 16th. This represents a $6.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.7%. General Dynamicss dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 38.89%.

About General Dynamics

(Free Report)

General Dynamics is a major American aerospace and defense contractor that designs, manufactures and supports a broad range of products and services for government and commercial customers worldwide. Headquartered in the United States (Reston, Virginia), the company supplies platforms and systems used by armed forces, civil authorities and private operators across multiple domains including air, land, sea and cyber.

Its principal activities span several operating businesses: a business aviation unit that develops and supports Gulfstream business jets; land systems that produce armored combat vehicles and related logistics and sustainment services; marine systems that design and construct submarines and surface ships for navies; and mission systems and information technology operations that provide command-and-control, communications, cybersecurity and systems-integration services.

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KPP Advisory Services LLC trimmed its stake in shares of iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF (BATS:QUAL  Free Report) by 43.0% in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 27,956 shares of the companys stock after selling 21,064 shares during the quarter. iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF makes up about 0.8% of KPP Advisory Services LLCs portfolio, making the stock its 26th largest holding. KPP Advisory Services LLCs holdings in iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF were worth $5,438,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Other hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Keener Financial Planning LLC acquired a new stake in shares of iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF during the 2nd quarter valued at $29,000. CoreFirst Bank & Trust bought a new stake in shares of iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF during the second quarter worth about $33,000. First Horizon Corp bought a new stake in iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $36,000. CX Institutional lifted its holdings in shares of iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF by 151.9% during the second quarter. CX Institutional now owns 204 shares of the companys stock worth $37,000 after purchasing an additional 123 shares during the period. Finally, Phillips Financial Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF in the 3rd quarter valued at about $39,000.

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iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF Stock Performance

iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF stock opened at $203.74 on Tuesday. The firm has a 50 day moving average price of $199.44 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $193.81. iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF has a 52-week low of $148.34 and a 52-week high of $187.26. The firm has a market cap of $59.08 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 25.59 and a beta of 1.05.

iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF Company 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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Vanguard Personalized Indexing Management LLC increased its holdings in shares of L3Harris Technologies Inc (NYSE:LHX  Free Report) by 8.4% in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 29,642 shares of the companys stock after purchasing an additional 2,307 shares during the period. Vanguard Personalized Indexing Management LLCs holdings in L3Harris Technologies were worth $9,063,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Bank of New York Mellon Corp raised its holdings in L3Harris Technologies by 52.3% during the second quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 4,117,030 shares of the companys stock worth $1,032,716,000 after purchasing an additional 1,413,833 shares in the last quarter. AGF Management Ltd. acquired a new stake in shares of L3Harris Technologies during the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $324,940,000. Boston Partners raised its holdings in L3Harris Technologies by 72.1% during the second quarter. Boston Partners now owns 2,002,211 shares of the companys stock worth $504,160,000 after purchasing an additional 838,546 shares during the last quarter. Balyasny Asset Management L.P. raised its stake in shares of L3Harris Technologies by 8,284.6% during the 2nd quarter. Balyasny Asset Management L.P. now owns 775,322 shares of the companys stock worth $194,482,000 after buying an additional 766,075 shares during the last quarter. Finally, MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. lifted its holdings in shares of L3Harris Technologies by 155.7% in the second quarter. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. now owns 618,350 shares of the companys stock valued at $155,107,000 after purchasing an additional 376,499 shares in the last quarter. 84.76% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several analysts have recently issued reports on LHX shares. BNP Paribas Exane upgraded L3Harris Technologies to a hold rating in a research report on Tuesday, November 18th. Citigroup upped their price objective on shares of L3Harris Technologies from $331.00 to $389.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Tuesday, January 13th. Royal Bank Of Canada lifted their target price on shares of L3Harris Technologies from $315.00 to $360.00 and gave the stock a sector perform rating in a research note on Wednesday, January 14th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reiterated a hold rating on shares of L3Harris Technologies in a research note on Wednesday, October 8th. Finally, Morgan Stanley raised their price target on L3Harris Technologies from $250.00 to $350.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 15th. Fourteen research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and five have assigned a Hold rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $315.73.

Insider Transactions at L3Harris Technologies

In other news, CEO Christopher E. Kubasik sold 14,171 shares of L3Harris Technologies stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, November 13th. The shares were sold at an average price of $301.05, for a total transaction of $4,266,179.55. Following the sale, the chief executive officer owned 144,426 shares in the company, valued at $43,479,447.30. This trade represents a 8.94% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. 0.72% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

L3Harris Technologies Trading Down 0.0%

NYSE LHX opened at $354.55 on Tuesday. L3Harris Technologies Inc has a one year low of $193.09 and a one year high of $361.59. The firm has a market capitalization of $66.32 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 38.08, a PEG ratio of 2.22 and a beta of 0.66. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.56, a quick ratio of 0.95 and a current ratio of 1.14. The companys 50 day moving average price is $302.39 and its 200 day moving average price is $289.14.

L3Harris Technologies (NYSE:LHX  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, October 30th. The company reported $2.70 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $2.60 by $0.10. L3Harris Technologies had a return on equity of 11.08% and a net margin of 8.09%.The company had revenue of $5.66 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $5.51 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $3.34 earnings per share. The firms quarterly revenue was up 6.9% on a year-over-year basis. L3Harris Technologies has set its FY 2025 guidance at 10.500-10.700 EPS. On average, sell-side analysts predict that L3Harris Technologies Inc will post 11.12 EPS for the current year.

L3Harris Technologies Increases Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 20th. Shareholders of record on Friday, March 6th will be given a $1.25 dividend. This represents a $5.00 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.4%. This is a positive change from L3Harris Technologiess previous quarterly dividend of $1.20. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, March 6th. L3Harris Technologiess dividend payout ratio is 51.56%.

About L3Harris Technologies

(Free Report)

L3Harris Technologies (NYSE: LHX) is an American aerospace and defense company formed in 2019 through the combination of L3 Technologies and Harris Corporation. Headquartered in Melbourne, Florida, the company designs, manufactures and supports a broad range of technology solutions for government and commercial customers, with a particular emphasis on defense, intelligence and public safety applications.

The companys offerings span communications systems, avionics, electronic warfare, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) sensors, space systems and mission integration.

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Laurentian Bank of Canada (OTCMKTS:LRCDF  Get Free Report) has received a consensus rating of Reduce from the six brokerages that are presently covering the stock, MarketBeat Ratings reports. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating and four have issued a hold rating on the company.

LRCDF has been the subject of several research analyst reports. Royal Bank Of Canada upgraded shares of Laurentian Bank of Canada to a sector perform rating in a report on Friday, December 5th. Raymond James Financial downgraded shares of Laurentian Bank of Canada from a market perform rating to an underperform rating in a research note on Friday, December 5th. BMO Capital Markets reaffirmed a market perform rating on shares of Laurentian Bank of Canada in a report on Monday, December 8th. Finally, Scotiabank reiterated a sector perform rating on shares of Laurentian Bank of Canada in a research report on Wednesday, December 3rd.

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Read Our Latest Analysis on LRCDF

Laurentian Bank of Canada Stock Down 0.0%

Laurentian Bank of Canada Company Profile

Shares of LRCDF opened at $28.88 on Friday. Laurentian Bank of Canada has a 52-week low of $18.00 and a 52-week high of $29.41. The stock has a 50 day moving average price of $27.91 and a 200 day moving average price of $24.74.

(Get Free Report)

The Laurentian Bank of Canada (OTCMKTS:LRCDF) is headquartered in Quebec City and is one of Canadas Schedule I banks. Established in 1846, the institution has grown from a regional savings bank into a diversified financial services provider. While its core footprint remains in Quebec, the bank also serves customers in other Canadian provinces through a network of branches, digital channels and broker partnerships.

Laurentian Banks personal banking division offers chequing and savings accounts, mortgages, lines of credit, credit cards and payment solutions.

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BEIJING, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun held a video talk with Russian Defense Minister Andrey Belousov on Tuesday.

Dong said China stands ready to work with Russia to earnestly implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state, strengthen strategic coordination, enrich the content of cooperation, improve communication mechanisms, and jointly enhance the ability to address various risks and challenges, so as to inject positive energy into global security and stability.

Belousov said Russia is willing to strengthen strategic consultations between militaries with China, deepen practical cooperation in areas such as joint operations and personnel training, and promote the bilateral strategic coordination to a higher level. 
Lbp Am Sa acquired a new stake in shares of Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. (NYSE:AJG  Free Report) in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor acquired 28,738 shares of the financial services providers stock, valued at approximately $8,901,000.

A number of other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the company. J.Safra Asset Management Corp lifted its position in Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. by 209.1% during the second quarter. J.Safra Asset Management Corp now owns 102 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $32,000 after buying an additional 69 shares in the last quarter. Rakuten Securities Inc. boosted its position in Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. by 650.0% during the 2nd quarter. Rakuten Securities Inc. now owns 105 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $34,000 after purchasing an additional 91 shares during the period. Central Pacific Bank Trust Division raised its position in Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. by 40.6% in the third quarter. Central Pacific Bank Trust Division now owns 135 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $42,000 after purchasing an additional 39 shares during the period. Salomon & Ludwin LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. in the second quarter worth about $45,000. Finally, Solstein Capital LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. in the second quarter valued at about $49,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 85.53% of the companys stock.

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Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several analysts have issued reports on AJG shares. Mizuho set a $277.00 price objective on shares of Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. in a research report on Wednesday, January 14th. Evercore ISI dropped their price target on shares of Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. from $353.00 to $334.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, December 17th. Piper Sandler cut shares of Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. from an overweight rating to a neutral rating and decreased their price objective for the company from $276.00 to $272.00 in a research report on Wednesday, January 7th. Wolfe Research set a $289.00 target price on Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Wednesday, December 17th. Finally, Needham & Company LLC set a $272.00 price objective on Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. in a research note on Thursday, December 18th. Seven equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, twelve have assigned a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $290.50.

Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. Stock Up 0.8%

AJG stock opened at $255.11 on Tuesday. The firm has a market cap of $65.51 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 38.13 and a beta of 0.67. Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. has a 1-year low of $236.34 and a 1-year high of $351.23. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $253.68 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $278.02. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.52, a current ratio of 1.06 and a quick ratio of 1.06.

Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. (NYSE:AJG  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, October 30th. The financial services provider reported $2.32 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $2.51 by ($0.19). Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. had a net margin of 13.58% and a return on equity of 11.98%. The business had revenue of $3.33 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $3.34 billion. During the same period last year, the firm posted $2.26 earnings per share. The companys quarterly revenue was up 20.2% on a year-over-year basis. Research analysts predict that Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. will post 11.54 EPS for the current year.

Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, December 19th. Investors of record on Friday, December 5th were paid a dividend of $0.65 per share. This represents a $2.60 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.0%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, December 5th. Arthur J. Gallagher & Co.s dividend payout ratio is presently 38.86%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. news, CFO Douglas K. Howell sold 5,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Monday, December 22nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $258.05, for a total value of $1,290,250.00. Following the sale, the chief financial officer directly owned 95,777 shares in the company, valued at approximately $24,715,254.85. This trade represents a 4.96% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Also, VP Michael Robert Pesch acquired 4,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, November 3rd. The stock was purchased at an average cost of $247.12 per share, for a total transaction of $988,480.00. Following the acquisition, the vice president owned 41,849 shares in the company, valued at approximately $10,341,724.88. This trade represents a 10.57% increase in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this purchase provides additional information. Insiders sold a total of 32,100 shares of company stock valued at $8,243,865 in the last three months. 1.30% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. Profile

(Free Report)

Arthur J. Gallagher & Co is a global insurance brokerage and risk management firm headquartered in Rolling Meadows, Illinois. Founded in 1927 by Arthur J. Gallagher, the company has grown from a regional broker into an international professional services organization that arranges insurance, provides consulting and designs risk-transfer solutions for commercial, industrial, public sector and individual clients.

The companys core activities include property and casualty insurance brokerage, employee benefits consulting and administration, and a range of risk management services.

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Levi Strauss & Co. (NYSE:LEVI  Get Free Report) will likely be issuing its Q4 2025 results after the market closes on Wednesday, January 28th. Analysts expect the company to announce earnings of $0.39 per share and revenue of $1.7118 billion for the quarter. Interested persons are encouraged to explore the companys upcoming Q4 2025 earning overview page for the latest details on the call scheduled for Wednesday, January 28, 2026 at 5:00 PM ET.

Levi Strauss & Co. Stock Performance

Shares of LEVI stock opened at $21.22 on Tuesday. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $21.45 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $21.51. Levi Strauss & Co. has a one year low of $12.17 and a one year high of $24.82. The stock has a market cap of $8.29 billion, a P/E ratio of 13.96, a P/E/G ratio of 1.43 and a beta of 1.33. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.48, a current ratio of 1.52 and a quick ratio of 0.87.

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Institutional Trading of Levi Strauss & Co.

Hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Balyasny Asset Management L.P. boosted its stake in Levi Strauss & Co. by 123,970.4% in the 2nd quarter. Balyasny Asset Management L.P. now owns 3,163,649 shares of the blue-jean makers stock valued at $58,496,000 after purchasing an additional 3,166,203 shares during the period. Oberweis Asset Management Inc. acquired a new position in Levi Strauss & Co. in the 3rd quarter valued at $21,052,000. Ameriprise Financial Inc. increased its position in Levi Strauss & Co. by 83.4% during the 2nd quarter. Ameriprise Financial Inc. now owns 1,958,271 shares of the blue-jean makers stock worth $36,208,000 after buying an additional 890,752 shares during the period. Two Sigma Investments LP lifted its holdings in shares of Levi Strauss & Co. by 712.5% during the third quarter. Two Sigma Investments LP now owns 638,830 shares of the blue-jean makers stock worth $14,885,000 after buying an additional 560,202 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Bank of America Corp DE lifted its holdings in shares of Levi Strauss & Co. by 37.8% during the second quarter. Bank of America Corp DE now owns 1,570,361 shares of the blue-jean makers stock worth $29,036,000 after buying an additional 431,168 shares in the last quarter. 69.14% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of equities analysts recently commented on LEVI shares. Telsey Advisory Group reiterated an outperform rating and set a $27.00 price target on shares of Levi Strauss & Co. in a report on Wednesday, January 21st. Stifel Nicolaus raised their price objective on Levi Strauss & Co. from $24.00 to $27.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Thursday, October 2nd. UBS Group lifted their target price on Levi Strauss & Co. from $32.00 to $33.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Monday, January 12th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their target price on Levi Strauss & Co. from $23.00 to $33.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a report on Friday, October 10th. Finally, BTIG Research began coverage on Levi Strauss & Co. in a report on Tuesday, October 14th. They set a buy rating and a $27.00 price target for the company. Eleven investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and four have assigned a Hold rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $26.46.

Check Out Our Latest Report on LEVI

About Levi Strauss & Co.

(Get Free Report)

Levi Strauss & Co is a global apparel company best known for its denim jeans and casual wear. Founded in 1853 in San Francisco by Bavarian immigrant Levi Strauss, the company pioneered the modern blue jean with the introduction of rivet-reinforced work pants. Over its more than 160-year history, Levi Strauss has evolved into a lifestyle brand, offering a broad portfolio that includes denim for men, women and children, as well as tops, outerwear, footwear and accessories.

The companys flagship label, Levis, is recognized worldwide for its iconic styles such as the 501 Original Fit Jeans, while additional brands, including Dockers, Target core metric, and Denizen by Levis, cater to diverse price points and consumer segments.

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London Security plc (LON:LSC  Get Free Report)s stock price reached a new 52-week low during mid-day trading on Monday . The stock traded as low as GBX 2,600 and last traded at GBX 2,600, with a volume of 1 shares traded. The stock had previously closed at GBX 3,100.

London Security Trading Down 16.1%

The businesss 50 day moving average price is GBX 2,833.12 and its 200-day moving average price is GBX 3,300.32. The company has a market cap of 318.76 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 15.38 and a beta of 0.33. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 4.75, a quick ratio of 2.08 and a current ratio of 2.55.

About London Security

(Get Free Report)

London Security plc, an investment holding company, manufactures, sells, and rents fire protection equipment in the United Kingdom, Belgium, the Netherlands, Austria, France, Germany, Denmark, and Luxembourg. It also provides intruder alarms products, as well as fire protection equipment maintenance services. The company offers its products under the Nu-Swift, Ansul, Total, Premier, and Master brands to companies, governments, and private individuals. The company was formerly known as London Securities plc and changed its name to London Security plc in 2003.

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Markel Group Inc. lowered its stake in shares of Archer Daniels Midland Company (NYSE:ADM  Free Report) by 4.3% during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 1,505,800 shares of the companys stock after selling 68,000 shares during the quarter. Markel Group Inc.s holdings in Archer Daniels Midland were worth $89,956,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in ADM. SOA Wealth Advisors LLC. purchased a new stake in Archer Daniels Midland during the second quarter valued at about $25,000. Trust Co. of Vermont increased its position in shares of Archer Daniels Midland by 367.0% during the 3rd quarter. Trust Co. of Vermont now owns 509 shares of the companys stock valued at $30,000 after purchasing an additional 400 shares during the last quarter. Trust Co. of Toledo NA OH purchased a new position in shares of Archer Daniels Midland during the 2nd quarter valued at about $32,000. Elevation Point Wealth Partners LLC bought a new stake in Archer Daniels Midland in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $36,000. Finally, Evelyn Partners Investment Management Services Ltd purchased a new stake in Archer Daniels Midland in the second quarter worth approximately $37,000. 78.28% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research firms recently commented on ADM. UBS Group reaffirmed a buy rating on shares of Archer Daniels Midland in a report on Monday, December 15th. Zacks Research upgraded shares of Archer Daniels Midland from a strong sell rating to a hold rating in a report on Friday. Morgan Stanley cut shares of Archer Daniels Midland from an equal weight rating to an underweight rating and decreased their price objective for the company from $57.00 to $50.00 in a research report on Tuesday, December 16th. Weiss Ratings restated a hold (c) rating on shares of Archer Daniels Midland in a report on Wednesday, January 21st. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their target price on Archer Daniels Midland from $59.00 to $60.00 and gave the company an underweight rating in a research note on Wednesday, January 21st. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Buy rating, five have assigned a Hold rating and three have given a Sell rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Archer Daniels Midland has a consensus rating of Reduce and an average price target of $54.50.

Archer Daniels Midland Stock Down 0.2%

NYSE:ADM opened at $67.35 on Tuesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.29, a current ratio of 1.37 and a quick ratio of 0.92. The firms 50-day moving average price is $60.51 and its 200-day moving average price is $59.91. The company has a market capitalization of $32.37 billion, a PE ratio of 27.49, a P/E/G ratio of 4.62 and a beta of 0.70. Archer Daniels Midland Company has a 1-year low of $40.98 and a 1-year high of $68.06.

Archer Daniels Midland (NYSE:ADM  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, November 4th. The company reported $0.92 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.89 by $0.03. Archer Daniels Midland had a net margin of 1.43% and a return on equity of 8.01%. The business had revenue of $20.37 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $20.96 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $1.09 earnings per share. Archer Daniels Midlands quarterly revenue was up 2.2% on a year-over-year basis. Archer Daniels Midland has set its FY 2025 guidance at 3.250-3.500 EPS. On average, equities analysts predict that Archer Daniels Midland Company will post 4.31 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Archer Daniels Midland Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, December 11th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, November 19th were paid a dividend of $0.51 per share. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, November 19th. This represents a $2.04 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.0%. Archer Daniels Midlands payout ratio is presently 83.27%.

Archer Daniels Midland Profile

(Free Report)

Archer Daniels Midland Company (ADM) is a global agricultural processor and food-ingredient provider that sources, transports and processes oilseeds, corn, wheat and other agricultural commodities. The company operates large-scale crushing, refining and processing facilities that produce vegetable oils, protein meals, corn sweeteners, starches, ethanol, animal feeds and a wide range of food and industrial ingredients. ADM also develops specialty ingredients and solutions for human and animal nutrition, food and beverage formulation, and industrial applications such as bio-based materials and renewable fuels.

ADMs business combines commodity origination and merchandising with downstream manufacturing and ingredient formulation.

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Medical Properties Trust, Inc. (NYSE:MPW  Get Free Report) was the recipient of unusually large options trading activity on Tuesday. Traders purchased 41,204 call options on the stock. This is an increase of approximately 58% compared to the typical volume of 26,039 call options.

Medical Properties Trust Price Performance

Shares of Medical Properties Trust stock traded up $0.06 during midday trading on Tuesday, reaching $5.12. The company had a trading volume of 2,728,809 shares, compared to its average volume of 6,515,198. The company has a current ratio of 2.68, a quick ratio of 2.68 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.06. The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of $5.25 and a 200 day simple moving average of $4.89. Medical Properties Trust has a 1-year low of $3.95 and a 1-year high of $6.34. The company has a market capitalization of $3.08 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -4.33 and a beta of 1.43.

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Medical Properties Trust (NYSE:MPW  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, October 30th. The real estate investment trust reported $0.13 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.16 by ($0.03). Medical Properties Trust had a negative net margin of 75.76% and a negative return on equity of 14.82%. The firm had revenue of $237.52 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $244.89 million. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business posted $0.16 earnings per share. The firms quarterly revenue was up 5.2% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, equities research analysts forecast that Medical Properties Trust will post 0.78 earnings per share for the current year.

Medical Properties Trust Increases Dividend

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Medical Properties Trust

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, January 8th. Investors of record on Thursday, December 11th were issued a $0.09 dividend. This is an increase from Medical Properties Trusts previous quarterly dividend of $0.08. This represents a $0.36 annualized dividend and a yield of 7.0%. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, December 11th. Medical Properties Trusts dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently -30.51%.

Several hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in MPW. Eastern Bank acquired a new position in Medical Properties Trust during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $28,000. GAMMA Investing LLC boosted its stake in shares of Medical Properties Trust by 499.0% during the 4th quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 6,236 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $31,000 after buying an additional 5,195 shares during the last quarter. Harbor Capital Advisors Inc. bought a new position in shares of Medical Properties Trust in the 4th quarter valued at about $32,000. Hantz Financial Services Inc. increased its position in shares of Medical Properties Trust by 346.5% in the third quarter. Hantz Financial Services Inc. now owns 7,274 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $37,000 after acquiring an additional 5,645 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Clearstead Advisors LLC acquired a new position in Medical Properties Trust during the third quarter valued at approximately $37,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 71.79% of the companys stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

MPW has been the subject of several recent analyst reports. Weiss Ratings reiterated a sell (d-) rating on shares of Medical Properties Trust in a research note on Thursday. Wells Fargo & Company lifted their price target on shares of Medical Properties Trust from $4.50 to $5.00 and gave the company an underweight rating in a report on Tuesday, November 25th. Finally, Wall Street Zen cut shares of Medical Properties Trust from a hold rating to a sell rating in a research note on Monday, January 12th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Buy rating, two have assigned a Hold rating and two have issued a Sell rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of Reduce and a consensus price target of $6.17.

Read Our Latest Stock Analysis on MPW

Medical Properties Trust Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Medical Properties Trust, Inc is a real estate investment trust (REIT) focused on acquiring, financing, and owning net-leased hospital facilities. Through sale-leaseback transactions, direct acquisitions and recapitalizations, the company provides capital to healthcare operators while maintaining long-term, triple-net lease agreements. Its portfolio encompasses general acute care hospitals, rehabilitation facilities and other healthcare-related real estate assets and is structured to deliver stable, long-duration rental income streams.

Founded in 2003 and based in Birmingham, Alabama, Medical Properties Trust completed its initial public offering in 2004.

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Metro (OTCMKTS:MTRAF  Get Free Report) posted its earnings results on Tuesday. The company reported $0.83 earnings per share for the quarter, Zacks reports. Metro had a net margin of 4.63% and a return on equity of 14.84%.

Metro Trading Down 0.2%

MTRAF opened at $71.10 on Tuesday. Metro has a 52 week low of $61.01 and a 52 week high of $78.73. The company has a quick ratio of 0.51, a current ratio of 1.30 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.61. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $71.44 and a 200-day simple moving average of $71.04. The firm has a market cap of $15.17 billion and a P/E ratio of 86.71.

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Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

MTRAF has been the topic of a number of recent analyst reports. BMO Capital Markets reiterated an outperform rating on shares of Metro in a report on Thursday, November 20th. Scotiabank restated an outperform rating on shares of Metro in a research report on Thursday, November 20th. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and one has given a Hold rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy.

About Metro

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Metro AG, trading in the United States as an American Depositary Receipt under the symbol MTRAF, is a leading international wholesale company focused on supplying the foodservice and hospitality sectors. Through its METRO Cash & Carry division, the company operates self-service wholesale outlets that offer a broad assortment of food products, fresh perishables, non-food items and hotel and restaurant equipment. Metros business model caters exclusively to professional customershotels, restaurants, caterers and independent retailersenabling them to purchase in bulk at competitive prices.

Founded in 1964 and headquartered in Dusseldorf, Germany, Metro has grown its footprint across Europe and Asia, serving customers in more than 30 countries.

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Clearwater Analytics (NYSE:CWAN  Get Free Report)s stock had its equal weight rating reiterated by equities researchers at Morgan Stanley in a research note issued to investors on Tuesday,Benzinga reports. They currently have a $24.55 price target on the stock, down from their prior price target of $27.00. Morgan Stanleys price objective would indicate a potential upside of 1.69% from the stocks previous close.

CWAN has been the subject of a number of other research reports. UBS Group cut shares of Clearwater Analytics from a buy rating to a neutral rating and cut their target price for the company from $30.00 to $24.55 in a research note on Monday. JPMorgan Chase & Co. dropped their price target on Clearwater Analytics from $28.00 to $26.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a report on Thursday, November 6th. Royal Bank Of Canada reissued an outperform rating and issued a $36.00 price objective on shares of Clearwater Analytics in a research note on Monday, December 22nd. Oppenheimer lowered Clearwater Analytics from an outperform rating to a market perform rating in a research note on Monday, December 22nd. Finally, William Blair reiterated a market perform rating on shares of Clearwater Analytics in a research report on Monday, December 22nd. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and ten have issued a Hold rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Clearwater Analytics has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $27.21.

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Clearwater Analytics Stock Down 0.2%

Shares of NYSE CWAN opened at $24.14 on Tuesday. Clearwater Analytics has a 52-week low of $15.73 and a 52-week high of $32.00. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.42, a quick ratio of 1.97 and a current ratio of 1.97. The business has a fifty day moving average of $22.90 and a two-hundred day moving average of $20.61. The stock has a market cap of $7.07 billion, a PE ratio of 15.78, a PEG ratio of 3.49 and a beta of 0.66.

Clearwater Analytics (NYSE:CWAN  Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, November 5th. The company reported $0.14 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.16 by ($0.02). Clearwater Analytics had a return on equity of 2.77% and a net margin of 61.28%.The firm had revenue of $205.11 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $203.66 million. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $0.14 EPS. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 77.1% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, equities research analysts expect that Clearwater Analytics will post 0.18 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Insider Activity at Clearwater Analytics

In related news, CFO James S. Cox sold 18,700 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, January 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $24.14, for a total value of $451,418.00. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer directly owned 395,697 shares in the company, valued at $9,552,125.58. This represents a 4.51% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. Also, CEO Sandeep Sahai sold 134,130 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, January 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $24.09, for a total transaction of $3,231,191.70. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer directly owned 1,092,923 shares in the company, valued at approximately $26,328,515.07. The trade was a 10.93% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Insiders have sold 447,164 shares of company stock worth $10,590,768 over the last 90 days. Insiders own 3.31% of the companys stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Clearwater Analytics

Hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Versant Capital Management Inc increased its stake in shares of Clearwater Analytics by 189.3% in the 3rd quarter. Versant Capital Management Inc now owns 1,565 shares of the companys stock valued at $28,000 after acquiring an additional 1,024 shares during the last quarter. First Horizon Advisors Inc. increased its stake in Clearwater Analytics by 278.9% in the second quarter. First Horizon Advisors Inc. now owns 1,523 shares of the companys stock valued at $33,000 after purchasing an additional 1,121 shares in the last quarter. Essex Investment Management Co. LLC raised its holdings in Clearwater Analytics by 54.9% in the third quarter. Essex Investment Management Co. LLC now owns 1,806 shares of the companys stock worth $33,000 after purchasing an additional 640 shares during the period. Bessemer Group Inc. raised its holdings in Clearwater Analytics by 84.6% in the second quarter. Bessemer Group Inc. now owns 1,545 shares of the companys stock worth $35,000 after purchasing an additional 708 shares during the period. Finally, Danske Bank A S bought a new position in shares of Clearwater Analytics during the third quarter worth $36,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 50.10% of the companys stock.

About Clearwater Analytics

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Clearwater Analytics LLC is a global provider of web-based investment portfolio accounting, reporting, and analytics solutions. The companys software-as-a-service platform automates complex processes involved in investment data aggregation, reconciliation, valuation, and regulatory reporting. Serving institutional investorsincluding insurers, asset managers, corporations, government entities, and asset ownersClearwater Analytics enables clients to optimize performance visibility, risk management, and operational efficiency.

Founded in 2004 and headquartered in Boise, Idaho, Clearwater Analytics has grown its global footprint with offices across North America, Europe, and the Asia-Pacific region.

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MSCI (NYSE:MSCI  Get Free Report) is expected to issue its Q4 2025 results before the market opens on Wednesday, January 28th. Analysts expect the company to announce earnings of $4.59 per share and revenue of $819.5060 million for the quarter. Investors may review the information on the companys upcoming Q4 2025 earning report for the latest details on the call scheduled for Wednesday, January 28, 2026 at 11:00 AM ET.

MSCI (NYSE:MSCI  Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Tuesday, October 28th. The technology company reported $4.47 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $4.37 by $0.10. MSCI had a net margin of 40.03% and a negative return on equity of 110.94%. The company had revenue of $793.43 million during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $794.87 million. During the same period in the previous year, the company earned $3.86 EPS. The businesss revenue for the quarter was up 9.5% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, analysts expect MSCI to post $17 EPS for the current fiscal year and $19 EPS for the next fiscal year.

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MSCI Trading Up 0.8%

Shares of MSCI stock opened at $594.58 on Tuesday. The company has a market cap of $44.68 billion, a PE ratio of 37.68, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.52 and a beta of 1.30. The company has a 50 day moving average of $569.75 and a 200-day moving average of $565.16. MSCI has a 1-year low of $486.73 and a 1-year high of $634.99.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

MSCI declared that its Board of Directors has initiated a stock buyback plan on Tuesday, October 28th that allows the company to repurchase $3.00 billion in outstanding shares. This repurchase authorization allows the technology company to buy up to 7.1% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock repurchase plans are often an indication that the companys board believes its stock is undervalued.

Several analysts recently weighed in on MSCI shares. Barclays raised their price objective on MSCI from $650.00 to $660.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 29th. Evercore ISI raised their price target on shares of MSCI from $588.00 to $611.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research note on Tuesday, October 14th. Seaport Research Partners upgraded shares of MSCI to a strong-buy rating in a report on Wednesday, October 1st. Wells Fargo & Company increased their price target on MSCI from $570.00 to $590.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a research note on Wednesday, January 14th. Finally, Weiss Ratings upgraded MSCI from a hold (c+) rating to a buy (b-) rating in a research report on Friday, January 16th. Seven equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and three have given a Hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $650.13.

Get Our Latest Analysis on MSCI

Insider Buying and Selling

In other MSCI news, General Counsel Robert J. Gutowski sold 624 shares of MSCI stock in a transaction dated Monday, November 24th. The stock was sold at an average price of $558.42, for a total transaction of $348,454.08. Following the transaction, the general counsel directly owned 15,945 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $8,904,006.90. The trade was a 3.77% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. Also, CEO Henry A. Fernandez purchased 10,210 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Friday, December 5th. The stock was bought at an average cost of $536.13 per share, with a total value of $5,473,887.30. Following the purchase, the chief executive officer owned 1,487,047 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $797,250,508.11. This trade represents a 0.69% increase in their position. Additional details regarding this purchase are available in the official SEC disclosure. 3.31% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in MSCI. JPL Wealth Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of MSCI in the 3rd quarter valued at $36,000. Strategic Wealth Investment Group LLC bought a new position in MSCI during the second quarter worth $36,000. Johnson Financial Group Inc. raised its stake in MSCI by 116.7% during the third quarter. Johnson Financial Group Inc. now owns 91 shares of the technology companys stock worth $52,000 after buying an additional 49 shares during the last quarter. Caitong International Asset Management Co. Ltd bought a new stake in MSCI during the third quarter valued at $59,000. Finally, State of Wyoming bought a new stake in MSCI during the second quarter valued at $65,000. Institutional investors own 89.97% of the companys stock.

About MSCI

(Get Free Report)

MSCI Inc is a global provider of investment decision support tools and services for the financial industry. The company is best known for its family of market indexes, which are widely used as benchmarks by asset managers and as the basis for exchange-traded funds and other passive products. In addition to index construction and licensing, MSCI offers portfolio analytics, risk models, factor and performance attribution tools, and a suite of data and technology solutions designed to support portfolio management and trading.

Beyond traditional indexing and risk analytics, MSCI has expanded into environmental, social and governance (ESG) research and ratings, offering data, scores and screening tools that help investors integrate sustainability considerations into investment processes.

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Mutual of America Capital Management LLC boosted its stake in shares of AMETEK, Inc. (NYSE:AME  Free Report) by 6.0% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 67,301 shares of the technology companys stock after buying an additional 3,788 shares during the quarter. Mutual of America Capital Management LLCs holdings in AMETEK were worth $12,653,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently modified their holdings of the business. First Citizens Bank & Trust Co. raised its position in shares of AMETEK by 12.3% in the third quarter. First Citizens Bank & Trust Co. now owns 3,996 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $751,000 after buying an additional 438 shares during the last quarter. CIBC Asset Management Inc raised its position in shares of AMETEK by 3.3% in the 3rd quarter. CIBC Asset Management Inc now owns 61,868 shares of the technology companys stock worth $11,631,000 after buying an additional 1,986 shares during the period. GHP Investment Advisors Inc. grew its position in AMETEK by 6.7% during the third quarter. GHP Investment Advisors Inc. now owns 79,344 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $14,917,000 after acquiring an additional 5,017 shares during the period. Mn Services Vermogensbeheer B.V. lifted its stake in shares of AMETEK by 1.2% in the 3rd quarter. Mn Services Vermogensbeheer B.V. now owns 87,300 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $16,412,000 after purchasing an additional 1,000 shares in the last quarter. Finally, UniSuper Management Pty Ltd increased its position in AMETEK by 17.1% during the 3rd quarter. UniSuper Management Pty Ltd now owns 22,735 shares of the technology companys stock worth $4,274,000 after purchasing an additional 3,327 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 87.43% of the companys stock.

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Insider Buying and Selling

In other AMETEK news, insider Thomas C. Marecic sold 14,310 shares of the stock in a transaction on Monday, December 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $202.11, for a total value of $2,892,194.10. Following the sale, the insider directly owned 42,589 shares of the companys stock, valued at $8,607,662.79. This trade represents a 25.15% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. Also, insider Ronald J. Oscher sold 26,290 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Friday, October 31st. The stock was sold at an average price of $200.05, for a total transaction of $5,259,314.50. Following the transaction, the insider owned 40,226 shares of the companys stock, valued at $8,047,211.30. This represents a 39.52% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. In the last ninety days, insiders have sold 163,378 shares of company stock valued at $32,471,654. 0.57% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of equities analysts have recently commented on the stock. Mizuho raised their target price on shares of AMETEK from $225.00 to $230.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research note on Monday, January 5th. Truist Financial upped their target price on AMETEK from $219.00 to $229.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 8th. Weiss Ratings restated a buy (b) rating on shares of AMETEK in a report on Wednesday, January 21st. Wall Street Zen raised shares of AMETEK from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research report on Saturday, November 1st. Finally, Royal Bank Of Canada boosted their price objective on shares of AMETEK from $212.00 to $229.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a report on Friday, October 31st. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eight have given a Buy rating and three have assigned a Hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $229.82.

View Our Latest Research Report on AME

AMETEK Price Performance

AME opened at $219.81 on Tuesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.14, a quick ratio of 0.72 and a current ratio of 1.16. AMETEK, Inc. has a 1-year low of $145.02 and a 1-year high of $224.37. The company has a 50-day moving average of $205.18 and a 200-day moving average of $192.86. The company has a market capitalization of $50.60 billion, a P/E ratio of 34.67, a PEG ratio of 3.00 and a beta of 1.04.

AMETEK (NYSE:AME  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, October 30th. The technology company reported $1.89 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.76 by $0.13. AMETEK had a return on equity of 16.66% and a net margin of 20.50%.The firm had revenue of $1.89 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $1.81 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $1.66 earnings per share. AMETEKs revenue for the quarter was up 10.8% compared to the same quarter last year. AMETEK has set its Q4 2025 guidance at 1.900-1.950 EPS and its FY 2025 guidance at 7.320-7.370 EPS. Equities analysts expect that AMETEK, Inc. will post 7.15 EPS for the current fiscal year.

AMETEK Announces Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, December 19th. Investors of record on Friday, December 5th were paid a dividend of $0.31 per share. The ex-dividend date was Friday, December 5th. This represents a $1.24 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.6%. AMETEKs dividend payout ratio is 19.56%.

About AMETEK

(Free Report)

AMETEK, Inc is a global manufacturer of electronic instruments and electromechanical devices that serves a broad range of industries. Headquartered in Berwyn, Pennsylvania, the company designs and produces precision instruments, electronic measurement devices, specialty sensors, and electric motors and motion control systems. Its product portfolio includes analytical and monitoring instruments, calibration equipment, power supplies, embedded electronics, and industrial motors and drives used for critical applications.

The company operates through two primary business platforms  an electronic instruments group focused on analytical, test and measurement and sensor products, and an electromechanical group that supplies motors, actuators, and related power and motion solutions.

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National Bank (NYSE:NBHC  Get Free Report) posted its earnings results on Tuesday. The financial services provider reported $0.60 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.87 by ($0.27), FiscalAI reports. The firm had revenue of $100.64 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $107.48 million. National Bank had a net margin of 20.50% and a return on equity of 9.56%.

National Bank Stock Down 1.0%

Shares of NYSE NBHC traded down $0.40 during mid-day trading on Tuesday, reaching $39.91. The company had a trading volume of 402,028 shares, compared to its average volume of 389,183. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $39.00 and a two-hundred day moving average of $38.39. National Bank has a 12-month low of $32.83 and a 12-month high of $44.11. The company has a market capitalization of $1.51 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 12.63 and a beta of 0.81. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.04, a quick ratio of 0.93 and a current ratio of 0.93.

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National Bank Increases Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, December 15th. Stockholders of record on Friday, November 28th were issued a $0.31 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Friday, November 28th. This represents a $1.24 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.1%. This is a positive change from National Banks previous quarterly dividend of ($0.30). National Banks dividend payout ratio is currently 39.24%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of research analysts have recently commented on NBHC shares. Zacks Research raised National Bank from a strong sell rating to a hold rating in a report on Monday, December 22nd. Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a hold (c) rating on shares of National Bank in a research note on Thursday. Finally, Stephens upgraded shares of National Bank from an equal weight rating to an overweight rating and set a $42.00 price target on the stock in a research report on Monday, November 10th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and three have given a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $44.50.

Check Out Our Latest Report on National Bank

Hedge Funds Weigh In On National Bank

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of NBHC. Jacobs Levy Equity Management Inc. increased its position in National Bank by 214.9% in the 3rd quarter. Jacobs Levy Equity Management Inc. now owns 44,126 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $1,705,000 after purchasing an additional 30,115 shares during the last quarter. CANADA LIFE ASSURANCE Co grew its stake in National Bank by 4.1% in the 3rd quarter. CANADA LIFE ASSURANCE Co now owns 34,551 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $1,352,000 after buying an additional 1,376 shares during the last quarter. Dark Forest Capital Management LP raised its holdings in National Bank by 98.8% in the 3rd quarter. Dark Forest Capital Management LP now owns 92,495 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $3,574,000 after acquiring an additional 45,971 shares during the period. PharVision Advisers LLC acquired a new position in National Bank during the 3rd quarter worth $423,000. Finally, Quarry LP lifted its position in National Bank by 50.8% during the 3rd quarter. Quarry LP now owns 1,819 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $70,000 after acquiring an additional 613 shares during the last quarter. 92.65% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

National Bank Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

National Bank Holdings Corporation (NYSE: NBHC) is a diversified financial services holding company headquartered in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. Through its network of community bank subsidiaries, the company provides deposit, lending and payment solutions to consumer, small business and commercial clients across multiple U.S. markets.

Since its founding in 1992, National Bank Holdings has pursued a growth strategy focused on acquiring and integrating locally branded community banks. Its footprint spans the Midwest and Southern United States, including Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, Colorado, Illinois and Tennessee.

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JERUSALEM, Jan. 26 (Xinhua) -- Israel's military said in a statement that it carried out another attack on southern Lebanon on Monday, targeting a Hezbollah member.

The strike, in the Nabatieh area, was a "response to Hezbollah's repeated violations of the ceasefire understandings," it claimed.

Earlier on Monday, Lebanon Debate, a local news website, said Israeli forces launched a strike on southern Lebanon's city of Tyre, killing Sheikh Ali Noureddine, a television presenter on Al-Manar TV, and injuring two others.

Meanwhile, the Israeli military confirmed the attack, saying the dead, Noureddine, was head of an artillery squad in Hezbollah. It said the attack was a "response" to Hezbollah's alleged violations of the ceasefire.

Despite a ceasefire that took effect on Nov. 27, 2024, Israeli forces have carried out frequent strikes in Lebanon, citing "threats" from Hezbollah, while maintaining positions at five key points along the Lebanese border. 
National Wealth Management Group LLC acquired a new position in shares of Elevance Health, Inc. (NYSE:ELV  Free Report) in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The fund acquired 1,420 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $459,000.

A number of other hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the stock. Vermillion & White Wealth Management Group LLC raised its stake in Elevance Health by 94.9% during the 2nd quarter. Vermillion & White Wealth Management Group LLC now owns 76 shares of the companys stock valued at $30,000 after acquiring an additional 37 shares during the last quarter. BOK Financial Private Wealth Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Elevance Health in the second quarter valued at approximately $32,000. Glass Jacobson Investment Advisors llc raised its stake in shares of Elevance Health by 400.0% during the second quarter. Glass Jacobson Investment Advisors llc now owns 100 shares of the companys stock worth $39,000 after purchasing an additional 80 shares during the last quarter. Motco lifted its holdings in shares of Elevance Health by 334.8% during the third quarter. Motco now owns 100 shares of the companys stock worth $32,000 after purchasing an additional 77 shares during the period. Finally, Trust Co. of Toledo NA OH acquired a new stake in shares of Elevance Health in the 2nd quarter worth $43,000. 89.24% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Elevance Health Stock Up 1.7%

ELV opened at $377.52 on Tuesday. Elevance Health, Inc. has a 12 month low of $273.71 and a 12 month high of $458.75. The business has a 50-day moving average of $350.10 and a two-hundred day moving average of $328.90. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.71, a current ratio of 1.56 and a quick ratio of 1.56. The stock has a market capitalization of $83.90 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 15.43, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.91 and a beta of 0.51.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several equities analysts have issued reports on the company. Sanford C. Bernstein reiterated an outperform rating and set a $431.00 target price on shares of Elevance Health in a research report on Tuesday, January 6th. Truist Financial set a $400.00 price objective on Elevance Health in a research note on Tuesday, October 14th. Zacks Research upgraded Elevance Health from a strong sell rating to a hold rating in a research report on Thursday, November 6th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft restated a hold rating and issued a $320.00 price target (down previously from $332.00) on shares of Elevance Health in a research report on Friday, December 19th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company boosted their price objective on shares of Elevance Health from $403.00 to $424.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Wednesday, January 7th. Twelve investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and nine have assigned a Hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $399.63.

Read Our Latest Research Report on Elevance Health

Elevance Health Company Profile

(Free Report)

Elevance Health, Inc (NYSE: ELV) is a large U.S.-based health benefits company that provides a broad range of health insurance products and related services. Headquartered in Indianapolis, the company rebranded from Anthem, Inc to Elevance Health in 2022 while continuing to operate consumer-facing health plans under established state and national brands. Gail Boudreaux serves as chief executive officer and president, leading the companys strategic focus on integrated health care and benefit delivery.

Elevances core activities include offering medical and specialty health plans for individuals, employers and government programs, including Medicare and Medicaid managed-care products.

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Wall Street Zen upgraded shares of North American Construction Group (NYSE:NOA  Free Report) (TSE:NOA) from a hold rating to a buy rating in a report issued on Saturday morning.

A number of other research analysts have also weighed in on the stock. Zacks Research raised shares of North American Construction Group from a strong sell rating to a hold rating in a report on Tuesday, October 14th. Loop Capital set a $24.00 price objective on shares of North American Construction Group in a research report on Friday, December 19th. ATB Capital restated a sector perform rating on shares of North American Construction Group in a report on Friday, December 19th. Finally, Weiss Ratings restated a hold (c) rating on shares of North American Construction Group in a research report on Wednesday, October 8th. Eight analysts have rated the stock with a Hold rating, According to data from MarketBeat, North American Construction Group presently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $24.00.

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North American Construction Group Trading Down 0.6%

Shares of North American Construction Group stock opened at $15.05 on Friday. North American Construction Group has a twelve month low of $12.12 and a twelve month high of $20.29. The company has a quick ratio of 0.73, a current ratio of 0.91 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.59. The business has a 50-day moving average price of $14.40 and a 200-day moving average price of $14.39. The firm has a market cap of $436.57 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 16.01 and a beta of 1.16.

North American Construction Group (NYSE:NOA  Get Free Report) (TSE:NOA) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, November 12th. The oil and gas company reported $0.49 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.50 by ($0.01). The firm had revenue of $280.90 million during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $231.58 million. North American Construction Group had a return on equity of 13.29% and a net margin of 3.02%. Equities research analysts anticipate that North American Construction Group will post 2.56 EPS for the current fiscal year.

North American Construction Group Increases Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, January 9th. Investors of record on Wednesday, November 26th were paid a dividend of $0.12 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, November 26th. This represents a $0.48 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.2%. This is a boost from North American Construction Groups previous quarterly dividend of $0.09. North American Construction Groups dividend payout ratio is presently 36.17%.

Institutional Trading of North American Construction Group

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Jane Street Group LLC bought a new stake in North American Construction Group in the first quarter worth about $476,000. Public Employees Retirement System of Ohio raised its holdings in shares of North American Construction Group by 16.7% in the second quarter. Public Employees Retirement System of Ohio now owns 10,307 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $165,000 after buying an additional 1,474 shares during the period. Vanguard Personalized Indexing Management LLC lifted its stake in shares of North American Construction Group by 35.4% during the 2nd quarter. Vanguard Personalized Indexing Management LLC now owns 16,795 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $268,000 after acquiring an additional 4,390 shares during the last quarter. TD Asset Management Inc lifted its stake in shares of North American Construction Group by 25.9% during the 2nd quarter. TD Asset Management Inc now owns 33,646 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $537,000 after acquiring an additional 6,919 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Bank of Montreal Can boosted its holdings in North American Construction Group by 4.6% during the 2nd quarter. Bank of Montreal Can now owns 2,244,637 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $35,941,000 after acquiring an additional 98,646 shares during the period. 74.99% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

North American Construction Group Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

North American Construction Group Ltd (NYSE: NOA) is a Canadian industrial company headquartered in Edmonton, Alberta, that specializes in providing integrated heavy construction equipment solutions. Through its two core segmentsSales and Rentalsthe company offers a comprehensive portfolio of new and used off-highway trucks, wheel loaders, hydraulic excavators, dozers and motor graders, along with aftermarket parts and maintenance services.

In its Sales division, North American Construction Group partners with leading global equipment manufacturers to distribute and support a broad range of heavy machinery across multiple industries.

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Osisko Metals Incorporated (CVE:OM  Get Free Report) shot up 5.1% during trading on Monday . The stock traded as high as C$0.43 and last traded at C$0.42. 396,648 shares changed hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 34% from the average session volume of 598,992 shares. The stock had previously closed at C$0.40.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Separately, National Bankshares set a C$1.25 target price on shares of Osisko Metals and gave the company an outperform rating in a report on Thursday, December 11th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, Based on data from MarketBeat, Osisko Metals has a consensus rating of Buy and an average price target of C$1.13.

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Osisko Metals Stock Performance

About Osisko Metals

The stocks fifty day simple moving average is C$0.41 and its 200-day simple moving average is C$0.42. The company has a market capitalization of C$116.17 million, a PE ratio of -14.97 and a beta of 0.97. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 37.43, a quick ratio of 0.70 and a current ratio of 0.08.

(Get Free Report)

Osisko Metals Incorporated, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the exploration and evaluation of based metal properties in Canada. The company holds interest in the Pine Point project located on the south shore of Great Slave Lake in the Northwest Territories; and 100% interest in the Gaspe Copper project that hosts the undeveloped copper resource located near Murdochville in the Gaspe peninsula of Quebec. It also holds interests in the Mount Copper expansion project hosts the undeveloped copper resource in Eastern North America.

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Shares of Ovintiv Inc. (TSE:OVV  Get Free Report) have earned an average recommendation of Buy from the eight analysts that are currently covering the company, MarketBeat.com reports. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, one has assigned a buy rating and four have issued a strong buy rating on the company.

OVV has been the subject of a number of recent research reports. Wells Fargo & Company upgraded Ovintiv to a hold rating in a research note on Friday, October 17th. Roth Mkm upgraded Ovintiv to a hold rating in a research report on Monday, October 13th. Royal Bank Of Canada raised Ovintiv from a hold rating to a moderate buy rating in a report on Wednesday, October 15th. William Blair upgraded Ovintiv to a strong-buy rating in a research report on Wednesday, November 26th. Finally, Scotiabank lowered shares of Ovintiv from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Tuesday, January 20th.

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Ovintiv Stock Up 0.9%

OVV stock opened at C$56.74 on Friday. The company has a market capitalization of C$14.37 billion, a P/E ratio of 61.01, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.05 and a beta of 0.82. Ovintiv has a 12 month low of C$42.35 and a 12 month high of C$65.73. The firms fifty day simple moving average is C$54.89 and its 200-day simple moving average is C$55.09. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 63.59, a current ratio of 0.52 and a quick ratio of 0.51.

Ovintiv (TSE:OVV  Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Tuesday, November 4th. The company reported C$0.57 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter. Ovintiv had a net margin of 20.34% and a return on equity of 19.62%. The company had revenue of C$2.88 billion during the quarter. As a group, equities research analysts forecast that Ovintiv will post 5.6577693 earnings per share for the current year.

Ovintiv Dividend Announcement

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, December 31st. Investors of record on Wednesday, December 31st were given a dividend of $0.30 per share. This represents a $1.20 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.1%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, December 15th. Ovintivs dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 129.03%.

About Ovintiv

(Get Free Report)

Ovintiv Inc is a leading North American exploration and production (E&P) company focused on developing its high-quality, multi-basin portfolio. Ovintiv works to safely produce crude oil and natural gas-products that make modern life possible for all. The Company is focused on creating long-term shareholder value while contributing to the strength and sustainability of the communities where it operates.

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Phoenix Financial Ltd. reduced its stake in shares of iShares MSCI Brazil ETF (NYSEARCA:EWZ  Free Report) by 51.0% in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 3,237,000 shares of the exchange traded funds stock after selling 3,372,000 shares during the quarter. iShares MSCI Brazil ETF accounts for 1.3% of Phoenix Financial Ltd.s holdings, making the stock its 21st largest position. Phoenix Financial Ltd. owned approximately 1.68% of iShares MSCI Brazil ETF worth $100,347,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

A number of other large investors also recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Belvedere Trading LLC acquired a new position in iShares MSCI Brazil ETF during the 3rd quarter worth $537,000. Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Group Inc. boosted its stake in shares of iShares MSCI Brazil ETF by 152.9% in the 2nd quarter. Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Group Inc. now owns 32,670 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $943,000 after buying an additional 19,750 shares during the period. Cypress Capital Group increased its stake in shares of iShares MSCI Brazil ETF by 152.9% during the second quarter. Cypress Capital Group now owns 101,625 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $2,932,000 after buying an additional 61,435 shares during the period. Osaic Holdings Inc. increased its stake in shares of iShares MSCI Brazil ETF by 298.7% during the second quarter. Osaic Holdings Inc. now owns 72,457 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $2,091,000 after buying an additional 54,284 shares during the period. Finally, Truist Financial Corp purchased a new position in iShares MSCI Brazil ETF in the second quarter worth approximately $498,000. 72.69% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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iShares MSCI Brazil ETF Trading Up 0.1%

Shares of NYSEARCA:EWZ opened at $36.61 on Tuesday. iShares MSCI Brazil ETF has a 52 week low of $23.05 and a 52 week high of $36.90. The companys 50 day moving average is $32.88 and its two-hundred day moving average is $30.67. The company has a market cap of $8.29 billion, a PE ratio of 9.58 and a beta of 0.87.

iShares MSCI Brazil ETF Profile

iShares MSCI Brazil Capped Index Fund (the Fund), formerly iShares MSCI Brazil Index 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 Brazilian market, as measured by the MSCI Brazil Index (the Index). The Index seeks to measure the performance of the Brazilian equity market. It is a capitalization-weighted index that aims to capture 85% of the (publicly available) total market capitalization.

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Phoenix Financial Ltd. cut its holdings in The Progressive Corporation (NYSE:PGR  Free Report) by 26.8% during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 31,504 shares of the insurance providers stock after selling 11,538 shares during the period. Phoenix Financial Ltd.s holdings in Progressive were worth $7,780,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Davis Capital Management purchased a new stake in Progressive during the third quarter valued at approximately $25,000. Atlantic Union Bankshares Corp bought a new position in shares of Progressive during the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $33,000. Howard Hughes Medical Institute purchased a new stake in Progressive during the 2nd quarter valued at $34,000. Westside Investment Management Inc. lifted its position in Progressive by 900.0% in the second quarter. Westside Investment Management Inc. now owns 130 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $34,000 after buying an additional 117 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Richardson Financial Services Inc. boosted its stake in Progressive by 1,885.7% during the second quarter. Richardson Financial Services Inc. now owns 139 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $37,000 after buying an additional 132 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 85.34% of the companys stock.

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Insider Buying and Selling at Progressive

In other news, insider Steven Broz sold 1,344 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, December 19th. The shares were sold at an average price of $224.80, for a total transaction of $302,131.20. Following the transaction, the insider directly owned 26,354 shares in the company, valued at approximately $5,924,379.20. This trade represents a 4.85% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. Also, CIO Jonathan S. Bauer sold 3,105 shares of Progressive stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, January 21st. The shares were sold at an average price of $204.35, for a total transaction of $634,506.75. Following the transaction, the executive directly owned 26,249 shares in the company, valued at approximately $5,363,983.15. The trade was a 10.58% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Insiders sold 13,788 shares of company stock valued at $3,018,961 in the last ninety days. 0.34% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several brokerages have recently weighed in on PGR. William Blair downgraded shares of Progressive from an outperform rating to a market perform rating in a research note on Thursday, December 18th. BMO Capital Markets reduced their price objective on shares of Progressive from $253.00 to $239.00 and set a market perform rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, January 15th. Jefferies Financial Group restated a hold rating on shares of Progressive in a research report on Wednesday, December 17th. Morgan Stanley reiterated an underweight rating on shares of Progressive in a report on Wednesday, December 17th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company decreased their price target on Progressive from $242.00 to $240.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, January 13th. Seven equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, thirteen have given a Hold rating and two have given a Sell rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $259.39.

View Our Latest Report on Progressive

Progressive Trading Up 0.7%

Shares of NYSE PGR opened at $207.51 on Tuesday. The Progressive Corporation has a twelve month low of $198.50 and a twelve month high of $292.99. The firm has a market cap of $121.68 billion, a PE ratio of 11.38, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.26 and a beta of 0.34. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $220.86 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $231.72. The company has a quick ratio of 0.29, a current ratio of 0.29 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.19.

Progressive Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, January 8th. Investors of record on Friday, January 2nd were issued a $0.10 dividend. This represents a $0.40 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.2%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, January 2nd. Progressives payout ratio is presently 2.19%.

Progressive Company Profile

(Free Report)

Progressive Corporation is a large U.S.-based property and casualty insurer that primarily underwrites personal auto insurance along with a broad suite of related products. Its offerings include coverage for private passenger automobiles, commercial auto fleets, motorcycles, boats and recreational vehicles, as well as homeowners, renters, umbrella and other specialty P&C products. Progressive also provides claims handling, risk management and related services to individual and commercial policyholders.

The company distributes its products through a mix of direct channelsonline and by phoneand an extensive independent agent network.

Further Reading

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Pier 88 Investment Partners LLC purchased a new stake in iShares Russell 2000 ETF (NYSEARCA:IWM  Free Report) in the third quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor purchased 1,900 shares of the exchange traded funds stock, valued at approximately $460,000.

Several other hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Holocene Advisors LP purchased a new stake in shares of iShares Russell 2000 ETF during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $1,230,003,000. Laurel Wealth Advisors LLC raised its stake in iShares Russell 2000 ETF by 22,037.5% during the 2nd quarter. Laurel Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 2,865,477 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $618,341,000 after acquiring an additional 2,852,533 shares in the last quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted its position in iShares Russell 2000 ETF by 35.3% in 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 acquiring an additional 2,134,779 shares during the last quarter. Symphony Financial Ltd. Co. lifted its holdings in shares of iShares Russell 2000 ETF by 2,789.9% in the 2nd quarter. Symphony Financial Ltd. Co. now owns 1,596,080 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $344,889,000 after purchasing an additional 1,540,850 shares during 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 valued at $560,335,000 after buying an additional 1,333,316 shares during the last quarter.

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iShares Russell 2000 ETF Price Performance

Shares of NYSEARCA:IWM opened at $263.98 on Tuesday. The stock has a market cap of $77.24 billion, a P/E ratio of 17.69 and a beta of 1.13. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $252.33 and a 200 day moving average price of $241.50. iShares Russell 2000 ETF has a 1-year low of $171.73 and a 1-year high of $271.60.

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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Pilgrim Partners Asia Pte Ltd purchased a new stake in iShares Gold Trust (NYSEARCA:IAU  Free Report) during the 3rd quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The firm purchased 19,830 shares of the exchange traded funds stock, valued at approximately $1,443,000. iShares Gold Trust accounts for about 0.6% of Pilgrim Partners Asia Pte Ltds holdings, making the stock its 28th largest position.

Other institutional investors have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Keener Financial Planning LLC acquired a new stake in iShares Gold Trust during the 2nd quarter valued at $25,000. MTM Investment Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of iShares Gold Trust in the second quarter valued at $25,000. Private Wealth Management Group LLC boosted its stake in shares of iShares Gold Trust by 290.9% during the second quarter. Private Wealth Management Group LLC now owns 430 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $27,000 after acquiring an additional 320 shares during the last quarter. Key Financial Inc purchased a new stake in iShares Gold Trust during the 2nd quarter worth about $28,000. Finally, Mountain Hill Investment Partners Corp. acquired a new position in shares of iShares Gold Trust in the third quarter valued at approximately $29,000. 59.67% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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iShares Gold Trust Trading Up 1.5%

iShares Gold Trust stock opened at $95.18 on Tuesday. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $82.69 and a 200 day moving average price of $74.18. iShares Gold Trust has a 52 week low of $51.52 and a 52 week high of $96.12. The firm has a market capitalization of $80.30 billion, a P/E ratio of 5.53 and a beta of 0.09.

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About iShares Gold Trust

Here are the key news stories impacting iShares Gold Trust this week:

(Free Report)

iShares Gold Trust (the Trust) is to own gold transferred to the Trust in exchange for shares issued by the Trust (Shares). Each Share represents a fractional undivided beneficial interest in the net assets of the Trust. The assets of the Trust consist of gold held by the Trusts custodian on behalf of the Trust. The sponsor of the Trust is iShares Delaware Trust Sponsor LLC (the Sponsor), which is an indirect subsidiary of BlackRock, Inc The trustee of the Trust is The Bank of New York Mellon (the Trustee) and the custodian of the Trust is JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A., London branch (the Custodian).

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Polaris (NYSE:PII  Get Free Report) released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday. The company reported $0.08 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.06 by $0.02, Zacks reports. The company had revenue of $1.92 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.82 billion. Polaris had a negative net margin of 2.17% and a positive return on equity of 3.89%. The businesss quarterly revenue was up 9.5% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $0.92 earnings per share. Polaris updated its FY 2026 guidance to 1.500-1.600 EPS and its Q1 2026 guidance to 0.450-0.450 EPS.

Here are the key takeaways from Polaris conference call:

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Tariffs remain a material headwind  Q1 tariffs are ~ $45M, management expects roughly $90M of incremental tariff pressure in 2026 and cited ~ $215M of tariff impact ex-Indian for the year, which weighed on gross margin and adjusted EBITDA.

remain a material headwind  Q1 tariffs are ~ $45M, management expects roughly $90M of incremental tariff pressure in 2026 and cited ~ $215M of tariff impact ex-Indian for the year, which weighed on gross margin and adjusted EBITDA. The planned separation of Indian Motorcycle is on track to close by the end of Q1 and is expected to be immediately accretive (~$0.75$0.80 to 2026 adjusted EPS, ~$1 annualized) with $30$35M of transition-service income aiding the year.

The planned separation of is on track to close by the end of Q1 and is expected to be immediately accretive (~$0.75$0.80 to 2026 adjusted EPS, ~$1 annualized) with $30$35M of transition-service income aiding the year. Operations and supply-chain actions drove meaningful progress  over $60M of manufacturing savings in 2025, ~$240M of structural plant cost reductions over two years, an expected >$30M absorption benefit in 2026, and a target to cut China-sourced material spend from ~18% to <5% of material COGS by end-2027.

Operations and supply-chain actions drove meaningful progress  over $60M of manufacturing savings in 2025, ~$240M of structural plant cost reductions over two years, an expected >$30M absorption benefit in 2026, and a target to cut China-sourced material spend from ~18% to <5% of material COGS by end-2027. Dealer inventories are healthier (under 100 days and a stronger current/non-current mix), Polaris reported share gains across key segments and strong demand for new products (e.g., Ranger 500, RZR Pro R), supporting retail and PG&A growth.

Dealer inventories are healthier (under 100 days and a stronger current/non-current mix), Polaris reported share gains across key segments and strong demand for new products (e.g., Ranger 500, RZR Pro R), supporting retail and PG&A growth. 2026 guidance: total company sales +13% (79% organic ex-Indian), adjusted EBITDA margin +80120bps, adjusted EPS $1.50$1.60, and management expects roughly $160M operating cash flow and ~$120M free cash flow for the year.

Polaris Stock Down 4.1%

PII stock opened at $66.25 on Wednesday. The company has a market capitalization of $3.73 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -25.00, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.26 and a beta of 1.14. The company has a current ratio of 1.02, a quick ratio of 0.36 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.13. Polaris has a 52 week low of $30.92 and a 52 week high of $75.25. The firms 50-day moving average is $67.53 and its two-hundred day moving average is $61.90.

Polaris Announces Dividend

Analysts Set New Price Targets

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, December 15th. Investors of record on Monday, December 1st were paid a dividend of $0.67 per share. This represents a $2.68 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 4.0%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, December 1st. Polariss payout ratio is currently -101.13%.

Several research firms have commented on PII. Morgan Stanley raised their price objective on Polaris from $72.00 to $81.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a research report on Friday, January 16th. Citigroup lifted their price objective on shares of Polaris from $60.00 to $71.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research note on Thursday, October 30th. Weiss Ratings upgraded shares of Polaris from a sell (d+) rating to a hold (c-) rating in a research note on Friday, January 16th. Royal Bank Of Canada reaffirmed a sector perform rating and set a $67.00 price target on shares of Polaris in a report on Tuesday. Finally, BMO Capital Markets reiterated a market perform rating and issued a $70.00 price objective on shares of Polaris in a report on Wednesday, October 29th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Buy rating and twelve have given a Hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $59.82.

Read Our Latest Stock Analysis on PII

Polaris News Roundup

Here are the key news stories impacting Polaris this week:

Positive Sentiment: Q1 2026 guidance materially beat consensus: Polaris gave Q1 EPS guidance of $0.45 (vs. a consensus estimate near -$0.47), signalling a stronger nearterm profit outlook than street models expected.

Q1 2026 guidance materially beat consensus: Polaris gave Q1 EPS guidance of $0.45 (vs. a consensus estimate near -$0.47), signalling a stronger nearterm profit outlook than street models expected. Positive Sentiment: Q4 results edged out estimates  reported EPS of $0.08 beat consensus (~$0.06$0.07) and management published an earnings release and slide deck. Polaris Inc (PII) Reports Q4 Earnings: What Key Metrics Have to Say

Q4 results edged out estimates  reported EPS of $0.08 beat consensus (~$0.06$0.07) and management published an earnings release and slide deck. Neutral Sentiment: Top-line momentum: Q4 revenue rose ~9.5% year-over-year, a positive operational signal but already reflected in company materials. Polaris Inc. Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2025 Financial Results Available on Companys Website

Top-line momentum: Q4 revenue rose ~9.5% year-over-year, a positive operational signal but already reflected in company materials. Negative Sentiment: FY 2026 EPS guidance disappointed: management set fullyear EPS at $1.50$1.60 vs. a consensus around $1.78, leaving investors concerned about downward profit trajectory for the year. Polaris Inc. Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2025 Financial Results Available on Companys Website

FY 2026 EPS guidance disappointed: management set fullyear EPS at $1.50$1.60 vs. a consensus around $1.78, leaving investors concerned about downward profit trajectory for the year. Negative Sentiment: Profitability metrics remain a concern: Polaris reported a negative net margin (~-2.2%) despite a small ROE, and the stock is seeing higher-than-normal trading volume during the pullback  signs that the market is focusing on margin recovery and FY outlook risks.

Insider Buying and Selling at Polaris

In other Polaris news, SVP James P. Williams sold 4,554 shares of Polaris stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, December 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $67.53, for a total value of $307,531.62. Following the transaction, the senior vice president owned 43,878 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,963,081.34. The trade was a 9.40% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Company insiders own 3.12% of the companys stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Polaris

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Canada Pension Plan Investment Board bought a new stake in Polaris in the second quarter valued at $73,000. NewEdge Advisors LLC raised its holdings in Polaris by 34.1% during the 2nd quarter. NewEdge Advisors LLC now owns 1,877 shares of the companys stock worth $76,000 after purchasing an additional 477 shares during the last quarter. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in Polaris by 582.8% in the second quarter. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 2,144 shares of the companys stock valued at $87,000 after buying an additional 1,830 shares during the period. Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Co. lifted its stake in shares of Polaris by 43.0% in the 2nd quarter. Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Co. now owns 3,449 shares of the companys stock valued at $140,000 after purchasing an additional 1,037 shares during the period. Finally, Mackenzie Financial Corp bought a new position in shares of Polaris in the 3rd quarter worth $211,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 88.06% of the companys stock.

Polaris Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Polaris Inc, founded in 1954 and headquartered in Medina, Minnesota, is a diversified manufacturer of powersports vehicles and related products. Initially gaining prominence with its snowmobiles, Polaris expanded its portfolio over the decades to include all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), side-by-side off-road vehicles, and motorcycles. The companys legacy in recreational and utility vehicle innovation stems from early engineering breakthroughs that established Polaris as a leading name in off-road mobility.

Today, Polaris offers a broad range of products under well-known brands such as Polaris RANGER and POLARIS SPORTSMAN for utility and recreation markets, Slingshot three-wheel roadsters for on-road enthusiasts, and the Indian Motorcycle brand for premium two-wheeled touring and cruiser segments.

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Renasant (NYSE:RNST  Get Free Report) is one of 20 public companies in the State Commercial Banks  Fed Reserve System industry, but how does it weigh in compared to its competitors? We will compare Renasant to related businesses based on the strength of its profitability, risk, earnings, dividends, analyst recommendations, institutional ownership and valuation.

Dividends

Renasant pays an annual dividend of $0.92 per share and has a dividend yield of 2.5%. Renasant pays out 46.2% 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 60.2% of their earnings in the form of a dividend. Renasant is clearly a better dividend stock than its competitors, given its higher yield and lower payout ratio.

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Valuation & Earnings

This table compares Renasant and its competitors gross revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

Gross Revenue Net Income Price/Earnings Ratio Renasant $874.43 million $195.46 million 18.70 Renasant Competitors $673.63 million $114.12 million 39.64

Insider and Institutional Ownership

Renasant has higher revenue and earnings than its competitors. Renasant is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than its competitors, indicating that it is currently more affordable than other companies in its industry.

77.3% of Renasant 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. 2.8% of Renasant 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, endowments and hedge funds believe a stock will outperform the market over the long term.

Profitability

This table compares Renasant and its competitors net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Renasant 11.26% 6.99% 1.01% Renasant Competitors 7.90% 7.46% 0.84%

Analyst Recommendations

This is a breakdown of recent ratings for Renasant and its competitors, as provided by MarketBeat.com.

Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Renasant 0 1 0 1 3.00 Renasant Competitors 31 178 224 26 2.53

As a group, State Commercial Banks  Fed Reserve System companies have a potential upside of 2.33%. Given Renasants competitors higher probable upside, analysts clearly believe Renasant has less favorable growth aspects than its competitors.

Volatility & Risk

Renasant has a beta of 0.97, indicating that its share price is 3% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Renasants competitors have a beta of 1.01, indicating that their average share price is 1% more volatile than the S&P 500.

Summary

Renasant beats its competitors on 9 of the 15 factors compared.

Renasant Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Renasant Corporation operates as a bank holding company for Renasant Bank that provides a range of financial, wealth management, fiduciary, and insurance services to retail and commercial customers. It operates through three segments: Community Banks, Insurance, and Wealth Management. The Community Banks segment offers checking and savings accounts, business and personal loans, asset-based lending, and equipment leasing services, as well as safe deposit and night depository facilities. It also provides commercial, financial, and agricultural loans; equipment financing and leasing; real estate1-4 family mortgage; real estatecommercial mortgage; real estateconstruction loans for the construction of single family residential properties, multi-family properties, and commercial projects; installment loans to individuals; and interim construction loans, as well as automated teller machine (ATM), online and mobile banking, call center, and treasury management services. The Insurance segment provides insurance agency services, such as commercial and personal insurance products through insurance carriers. The Wealth Management segment offers a range of wealth management and fiduciary services, including administration and management of trust accounts, such as personal and corporate benefit accounts, and custodial accounts, as well as accounting and money management for trust accounts; annuities, mutual funds, and other investment services through a third party broker-dealer; and qualified retirement plans, IRAs, employee benefit plans, personal trusts, and estates. As of December 31, 2021, the company operated a network of 189 banking, lending, and mortgage offices located in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee; 150 full-service branches and 11 limited-service branches; 173 ATMs; and 38 interactive teller machines. Renasant Corporation was founded in 1904 and is headquartered in Tupelo, Mississippi.

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SANAA, Jan. 26 (Xinhua) -- Yemen's Houthi group on Monday revealed details of an attack on a British vessel carried out two years earlier in the Gulf of Aden as a U.S. carrier strike group is deployed to the Middle East.

The Houthi group's media center released on its official website a video recording of the operation that targeted the British vessel Marlin Luanda on Jan. 26, 2024, in the Gulf of Aden, including details about the type of weapon used in the attack.

The approximately 9-minute video, released for the first time, showed footage of missiles being launched at the British vessel in the Gulf of Aden and the moment it caught fire.

The Houthis released the video as the U.S. Central Command announced on Monday that the USS Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group is currently deployed to the Middle East amid instability in the region.

Responding to U.S. military movements in West Asia and its ongoing joint drills with Gulf states, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said Monday that Iran will give a "comprehensive and regret-inducing" response to any aggression.

Also on Monday, the United Arab Emirates reaffirmed its commitment not to allow its airspace, territory, or waters to be used in any military actions against Iran. 
Several brokerages have updated their recommendations and price targets on shares of Sonic Automotive (NYSE: SAH) in the last few weeks:

1/21/2026  Sonic Automotive had its price target lowered by analysts at Barclays PLC from $71.00 to $69.00. They now have an equal weight rating on the stock.

1/16/2026  Sonic Automotive had its price target lowered by analysts at JPMorgan Chase & Co. from $70.00 to $67.00. They now have an underweight rating on the stock.

1/13/2026  Sonic Automotive was upgraded by analysts at Zacks Research from a strong sell rating to a hold rating.

1/11/2026  Sonic Automotive was downgraded by analysts at Wall Street Zen from a buy rating to a hold rating.

1/3/2026  Sonic Automotive was upgraded by analysts at Wall Street Zen from a hold rating to a buy rating.

12/29/2025  Sonic Automotive had its hold (c) rating reaffirmed by analysts at Weiss Ratings.

12/23/2025  Sonic Automotive had its hold (c) rating reaffirmed by analysts at Weiss Ratings.

12/15/2025  Sonic Automotive was downgraded by analysts at Zacks Research from a hold rating to a strong sell rating.

12/8/2025  Sonic Automotive was given a new $68.00 price target on by analysts at Morgan Stanley.

Sonic Automotive, Inc is a publicly traded automotive retailer that operates a network of franchised new-car dealerships and used-vehicle dealerships across the United States. Headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, the company offers a range of services that include vehicle sales, leasing, finance and insurance products, service and parts, and collision repair. Sonic Automotives dealerships represent numerous major automotive brands, and the company also markets a broad selection of pre-owned vehicles under its own banner.

In addition to its core dealership operations, Sonic Automotive has developed digital retail capabilities that allow customers to research, shop and complete transactions online.

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Saxon Interests Inc. boosted its position in shares of iShares MSCI Intl Value Factor ETF (NYSEARCA:IVLU  Free Report) by 29.7% in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 120,903 shares of the companys stock after acquiring an additional 27,657 shares during the period. iShares MSCI Intl Value Factor ETF accounts for 1.6% of Saxon Interests Inc.s investment portfolio, making the stock its 13th biggest holding. Saxon Interests Inc. owned approximately 0.16% of iShares MSCI Intl Value Factor ETF worth $4,218,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of IVLU. Brighton Jones LLC acquired a new position in shares of iShares MSCI Intl Value Factor ETF during the 4th quarter worth about $454,000. Royal Bank of Canada increased its position in iShares MSCI Intl Value Factor ETF by 45.1% in the 1st quarter. Royal Bank of Canada now owns 150,433 shares of the companys stock worth $4,560,000 after buying an additional 46,755 shares during the period. AQR Capital Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of iShares MSCI Intl Value Factor ETF during the first quarter worth approximately $473,000. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. boosted its position in shares of iShares MSCI Intl Value Factor ETF by 3.5% in the first quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. now owns 242,315 shares of the companys stock valued at $7,345,000 after acquiring an additional 8,276 shares during the period. Finally, Kelly Financial Services LLC boosted its position in shares of iShares MSCI Intl Value Factor ETF by 7.1% in the second quarter. Kelly Financial Services LLC now owns 23,825 shares of the companys stock valued at $784,000 after acquiring an additional 1,581 shares during the period.

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iShares MSCI Intl Value Factor ETF Trading Up 0.5%

Shares of iShares MSCI Intl Value Factor ETF stock opened at $40.07 on Tuesday. iShares MSCI Intl Value Factor ETF has a 1 year low of $26.41 and a 1 year high of $40.22. The companys fifty day simple moving average is $38.08 and its 200-day simple moving average is $36.11. The company has a market cap of $3.47 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 10.99 and a beta of 0.71.

iShares MSCI Intl Value Factor ETF Profile

The iShares Edge MSCI Intl Value Factor ETF (IVLU) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the MSCI World ex USA Enhanced Value index. The fund tracks an index of large- and mid-cap developed ex-US equities, selected using fundamental metrics, and weighted by these metrics and market-cap. IVLU was launched on Jun 16, 2015 and is managed by BlackRock.

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SentinelOne, Inc. (NYSE:S  Get Free Report)s stock price rose 2% on Monday . The company traded as high as $14.60 and last traded at $14.57. Approximately 5,813,337 shares were traded during mid-day trading, a decline of 18% from the average daily volume of 7,118,527 shares. The stock had previously closed at $14.29.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several equities research analysts have commented on S shares. Canaccord Genuity Group lowered their target price on shares of SentinelOne from $26.00 to $23.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research note on Friday, December 5th. DA Davidson decreased their price target on shares of SentinelOne from $19.00 to $16.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a report on Friday, December 5th. Berenberg Bank assumed coverage on SentinelOne in a research note on Tuesday, November 18th. They set a buy rating and a $25.00 price objective on the stock. Bank of America reduced their target price on SentinelOne from $19.00 to $18.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a report on Friday, December 5th. Finally, Citizens Jmp lowered their price target on SentinelOne from $29.00 to $23.00 and set a market outperform rating for the company in a report on Friday, December 5th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, seventeen have issued a Buy rating, eleven have given a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $21.90.

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SentinelOne Trading Up 2.0%

The company has a 50 day simple moving average of $15.09 and a 200 day simple moving average of $16.76. The stock has a market cap of $4.95 billion, a P/E ratio of -11.66 and a beta of 0.77.

SentinelOne (NYSE:S  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, December 4th. The company reported $0.07 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.05 by $0.02. The company had revenue of $258.91 million during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $256.19 million. SentinelOne had a negative net margin of 43.04% and a negative return on equity of 14.95%. The businesss quarterly revenue was up 22.9% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the business earned ($0.25) EPS. As a group, sell-side analysts expect that SentinelOne, Inc. will post -0.76 earnings per share for the current year.

Insider Activity at SentinelOne

In related news, CFO Barbara A. Larson sold 11,173 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, January 6th. The stock was sold at an average price of $14.82, for a total transaction of $165,583.86. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief financial officer directly owned 539,372 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $7,993,493.04. This represents a 2.03% 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, CAO Robin Tomasello sold 8,509 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, December 8th. The shares were sold at an average price of $14.58, for a total value of $124,061.22. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief accounting officer owned 285,551 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $4,163,333.58. This represents a 2.89% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Over the last 90 days, insiders sold 361,394 shares of company stock worth $5,558,207. Corporate insiders own 4.33% of the companys stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On SentinelOne

Institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Allworth Financial LP boosted its stake in shares of SentinelOne by 102.4% during the 3rd quarter. Allworth Financial LP now owns 1,435 shares of the companys stock worth $25,000 after acquiring an additional 726 shares during the period. Strategic Advocates LLC acquired a new stake in SentinelOne during the 3rd quarter valued at $26,000. Danske Bank A S acquired a new stake in SentinelOne during the 3rd quarter valued at $26,000. Atlantic Union Bankshares Corp bought a new position in SentinelOne during the second quarter worth $29,000. Finally, MAI Capital Management increased its holdings in shares of SentinelOne by 121.2% in the third quarter. MAI Capital Management now owns 1,825 shares of the companys stock valued at $32,000 after purchasing an additional 1,000 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 90.87% of the companys stock.

SentinelOne Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

SentinelOne, Inc is a cybersecurity company specializing in AI-driven, autonomous endpoint protection. Founded in 2013 and headquartered in Mountain View, California, the firm developed its Singularity Platform to unify prevention, detection, response, and hunting across endpoints, cloud workloads, containers and IoT devices. SentinelOnes solutions leverage machine learning and behavioral analytics to identify threats in real time, automate remediation workflows and deliver forensics to support rapid incident response.

The companys flagship product suite includes endpoint security agents, cloud workload protection, identity threat detection and extended detection and response (XDR) capabilities.

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Stablepoint Partners LLC grew its stake in Edison International (NYSE:EIX  Free Report) by 17.4% in the third quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 86,174 shares of the utilities providers stock after acquiring an additional 12,755 shares during the quarter. Stablepoint Partners LLCs holdings in Edison International were worth $4,764,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in EIX. Nordea Investment Management AB boosted its stake in shares of Edison International by 1.7% during the 3rd quarter. Nordea Investment Management AB now owns 1,695,550 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $92,984,000 after purchasing an additional 28,586 shares during the last quarter. Maryland State Retirement & Pension System boosted its stake in shares of Edison International by 5.3% in the second quarter. Maryland State Retirement & Pension System now owns 364,525 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $18,809,000 after purchasing an additional 18,412 shares during the period. Chicago Partners Investment Group LLC acquired a new stake in Edison International in the second quarter valued at $456,000. iA Global Asset Management Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Edison International by 86.8% in the 3rd quarter. iA Global Asset Management Inc. now owns 44,515 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $2,461,000 after acquiring an additional 20,691 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Los Angeles Capital Management LLC boosted its stake in Edison International by 237.2% in the second quarter. Los Angeles Capital Management LLC now owns 1,904,568 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $98,276,000 after acquiring an additional 1,339,806 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 88.95% of the companys stock.

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Edison International Stock Up 1.5%

Shares of NYSE EIX opened at $61.66 on Tuesday. The firms 50-day moving average is $59.47 and its 200-day moving average is $56.57. The company has a current ratio of 0.82, a quick ratio of 0.76 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.95. Edison International has a 1 year low of $47.73 and a 1 year high of $62.62. The firm has a market capitalization of $23.72 billion, a PE ratio of 8.06, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.89 and a beta of 0.83.

Edison International Increases Dividend

Edison International ( NYSE:EIX Get Free Report ) last posted its earnings results on Tuesday, October 28th. The utilities provider reported $2.34 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.16 by $0.18. The company had revenue of $5.75 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $5.31 billion. Edison International had a net margin of 17.24% and a return on equity of 13.62%. The businesss revenue for the quarter was up 10.6% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the business posted $1.51 earnings per share. Equities analysts expect that Edison International will post 4.95 EPS for the current year.

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Saturday, January 31st. Investors of record on Wednesday, January 7th will be issued a dividend of $0.8775 per share. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, January 7th. This is a boost from Edison Internationals previous quarterly dividend of $0.83. This represents a $3.51 annualized dividend and a yield of 5.7%. Edison Internationals dividend payout ratio is currently 45.88%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other Edison International news, Director Peter J. Taylor sold 1,800 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, October 30th. The stock was sold at an average price of $55.27, for a total value of $99,486.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director directly owned 35,212 shares in the company, valued at $1,946,167.24. This trade represents a 4.86% 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 1.20% of the companys stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

EIX has been the subject of several research analyst reports. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reduced their price objective on shares of Edison International from $67.00 to $65.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a report on Friday, December 12th. Zacks Research cut shares of Edison International from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Monday, December 15th. Weiss Ratings reiterated a hold (c) rating on shares of Edison International in a research note on Monday, December 29th. LADENBURG THALM/SH SH upped their price objective on shares of Edison International from $52.50 to $55.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a report on Thursday, October 30th. Finally, Morgan Stanley reissued an underweight rating on shares of Edison International in a report on Wednesday, January 21st. Five equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, seven have assigned a Hold rating and two have assigned a Sell rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $63.70.

Get Our Latest Stock Analysis on EIX

Edison International Company Profile

(Free Report)

Edison International is a publicly traded utility holding company based in Rosemead, California, whose principal subsidiary is Southern California Edison (SCE). As an electric utility holding company, Edison International oversees the delivery of electricity through SCEs integrated network of generation procurement, transmission and distribution infrastructure, serving millions of customers across central, coastal and southern California. The companys operations focus on reliable energy delivery, customer service, regulatory compliance and long-term infrastructure planning for a complex and high-demand service territory.

The companys activities include procuring and managing a diverse resource mix, maintaining and upgrading transmission and distribution systems, and implementing grid modernization projects.

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Stonegate Investment Group LLC cut its holdings in Chevron Corporation (NYSE:CVX  Free Report) by 0.5% in the third quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 792,965 shares of the oil and gas companys stock after selling 4,221 shares during the quarter. Chevron comprises approximately 2.9% of Stonegate Investment Group LLCs holdings, making the stock its 8th largest position. Stonegate Investment Group LLCs holdings in Chevron were worth $123,140,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other large investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in CVX. Quaker Wealth Management LLC increased 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 worth $31,000 after buying an additional 439 shares during the last quarter. Decker Retirement Planning Inc. bought a new stake in shares of Chevron during the 3rd quarter worth about $34,000. Vermillion & White Wealth Management Group LLC boosted its stake in shares of Chevron by 86.1% during the 2nd quarter. Vermillion & White Wealth Management Group LLC now owns 255 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $37,000 after acquiring an additional 118 shares in the last quarter. IMG Wealth Management Inc. increased its holdings 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 acquiring an additional 91 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Marquette Asset Management LLC bought a new position in shares of Chevron in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $41,000. 72.42% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

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Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of brokerages have issued reports on CVX. Scotiabank reaffirmed a sector perform rating and set a $168.00 target price on shares of Chevron in a research report on Friday, January 16th. Citigroup decreased their price objective on shares of Chevron from $185.00 to $179.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a report on Monday, January 5th. Zacks Research upgraded shares of Chevron from a strong sell rating to a hold rating in a research note on Tuesday, December 23rd. Wall Street Zen downgraded shares of Chevron from a hold rating to a sell rating in a report on Saturday, January 10th. Finally, Morgan Stanley decreased their price target on shares of Chevron from $180.00 to $174.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a report on Friday. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, fourteen have assigned a Buy rating, seven have issued a Hold rating and four have assigned a Sell rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $170.00.

Insider Transactions at Chevron

In other news, CFO Eimear P. Bonner sold 28,334 shares of Chevron stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, January 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $165.05, for a total transaction of $4,676,526.70. Following the sale, the chief financial officer owned 4,366 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $720,608.30. This trade represents a 86.65% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, Director John B. Hess sold 275,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Thursday, November 20th. The shares were sold at an average price of $150.75, for a total value of $41,456,250.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director owned 1,128,045 shares of the companys stock, valued at $170,052,783.75. The trade was a 19.60% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. Insiders have sold a total of 635,190 shares of company stock worth $100,254,408 over the last 90 days. Insiders own 0.20% of the companys stock.

Chevron Price Performance

Shares of Chevron stock opened at $167.36 on Tuesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.19, a current ratio of 1.15 and a quick ratio of 0.86. The company has a market cap of $336.99 billion, a PE ratio of 23.54, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 11.38 and a beta of 0.70. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $154.77 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $154.93. Chevron Corporation has a fifty-two week low of $132.04 and a fifty-two week high of $169.37.

Chevron (NYSE:CVX  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Friday, October 31st. The oil and gas company reported $1.85 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.71 by $0.14. Chevron had a net margin of 6.57% and a return on equity of 8.74%. The business had revenue of $48.17 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $46.99 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $2.48 earnings per share. The firms revenue for the quarter was down 1.9% on a year-over-year basis. Analysts expect that Chevron Corporation will post 10.79 EPS for the current year.

Chevron Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, December 10th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, November 18th were issued a $1.71 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, November 18th. This represents a $6.84 annualized dividend and a yield of 4.1%. Chevrons dividend payout ratio is 96.20%.

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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Shares of Ultrapar Participacoes S.A. (NYSE:UGP  Get Free Report) reached a new 52-week high on Tuesday . The company traded as high as $4.77 and last traded at $4.7750, with a volume of 225474 shares traded. The stock had previously closed at $4.62.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several research analysts recently commented on UGP shares. Weiss Ratings downgraded shares of Ultrapar Participacoes from a buy (b-) rating to a hold (c+) rating in a research note on Monday, January 12th. Zacks Research raised shares of Ultrapar Participacoes from a hold rating to a strong-buy rating in a research report on Monday, September 29th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, one has issued a Buy rating and one has given a Hold rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of Buy and an average target price of $4.50.

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Ultrapar Participacoes Price Performance

Ultrapar Participacoes Dividend Announcement

The firm has a market cap of $5.33 billion, a P/E ratio of 10.18, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.81 and a beta of 0.86. The stocks 50-day moving average is $3.99 and its 200-day moving average is $3.75. The company has a quick ratio of 1.40, a current ratio of 1.83 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.83.

The firm also recently declared a special dividend, which was paid on Friday, December 26th. Shareholders of record on Friday, December 12th were paid a dividend of $0.1876 per share. The ex-dividend date was Friday, December 12th. Ultrapar Participacoess payout ratio is currently 59.57%.

Institutional Trading of Ultrapar Participacoes

Several institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the business. AQR Capital Management LLC raised its position in Ultrapar Participacoes by 10.9% in the first quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC now owns 70,838 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $218,000 after purchasing an additional 6,947 shares in the last quarter. Signaturefd LLC grew its stake in shares of Ultrapar Participacoes by 53.6% in the 2nd quarter. Signaturefd LLC now owns 28,719 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $94,000 after purchasing an additional 10,023 shares during the period. Blue Trust Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Ultrapar Participacoes by 27.6% in the 2nd quarter. Blue Trust Inc. now owns 16,425 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $54,000 after buying an additional 3,554 shares in the last quarter. PDS Planning Inc lifted its position in shares of Ultrapar Participacoes by 23.0% during the 2nd quarter. PDS Planning Inc now owns 32,111 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $105,000 after buying an additional 6,002 shares during the period. Finally, Vanguard Personalized Indexing Management LLC boosted its stake in Ultrapar Participacoes by 115.6% in the 2nd quarter. Vanguard Personalized Indexing Management LLC now owns 77,467 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $254,000 after buying an additional 41,528 shares in the last quarter. 3.58% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Ultrapar Participacoes Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Ultrapar Participacoes SA is a Brazilian diversified holding company operating in the downstream energy and chemical sectors. Its Ipiranga unit runs one of Brazils largest networks of fuel stations, supplying gasoline, ethanol, diesel and convenience-store products to retail and wholesale customers. Through Ultragaz, the company is a leading distributor of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), offering cylinder and bulk gas solutions for residential, commercial and industrial use across urban and rural regions.

In the specialty chemicals arena, Ultrapar controls Oxiteno, which produces surfactants and specialty chemical formulations for industries such as personal care, oil and gas, agrochemicals and coatings.

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UniSuper Management Pty Ltd raised its position in shares of Constellation Brands Inc (NYSE:STZ  Free Report) by 23.3% in the third quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 20,340 shares of the companys stock after buying an additional 3,846 shares during the quarter. UniSuper Management Pty Ltds holdings in Constellation Brands were worth $2,739,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in STZ. Gibbs Wealth Management purchased a new stake in shares of Constellation Brands in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $814,000. Westfuller Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in Constellation Brands during the 3rd quarter valued at $259,000. Vanguard Capital Wealth Advisors purchased a new stake in shares of Constellation Brands in the third quarter valued at $419,000. Strs Ohio boosted its position in shares of Constellation Brands by 10.6% in the third quarter. Strs Ohio now owns 3,455 shares of the companys stock worth $465,000 after buying an additional 332 shares during the period. Finally, Hudson Edge Investment Partners Inc. grew its holdings in shares of Constellation Brands by 22.7% during the third quarter. Hudson Edge Investment Partners Inc. now owns 35,316 shares of the companys stock valued at $4,756,000 after buying an additional 6,542 shares in the last quarter. 77.34% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Constellation Brands Stock Performance

STZ stock opened at $161.55 on Tuesday. The firm has a 50 day moving average of $143.52 and a two-hundred day moving average of $147.51. Constellation Brands Inc has a 12 month low of $126.45 and a 12 month high of $196.91. The company has a market capitalization of $28.01 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 25.48, a P/E/G ratio of 0.47 and a beta of 0.45. The company has a quick ratio of 0.70, a current ratio of 1.34 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.29.

Constellation Brands Announces Dividend

Constellation Brands ( NYSE:STZ Get Free Report ) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, January 7th. The company reported $3.06 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.63 by $0.43. The business had revenue of $2.22 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.17 billion. Constellation Brands had a net margin of 11.08% and a return on equity of 29.15%. Constellation Brandss quarterly revenue was down 9.8% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business earned $3.25 EPS. Constellation Brands has set its FY 2026 guidance at 11.300-11.600 EPS. As a group, equities analysts anticipate that Constellation Brands Inc will post 13.5 EPS for the current fiscal year.

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, February 12th. Investors of record on Thursday, January 29th will be paid a $1.02 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, January 29th. This represents a $4.08 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.5%. Constellation Brandss dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 64.35%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

STZ has been the subject of several research analyst reports. JPMorgan Chase & Co. began coverage on Constellation Brands in a research note on Friday, November 7th. They issued a neutral rating and a $153.00 price objective for the company. Piper Sandler reduced their price target on shares of Constellation Brands from $155.00 to $135.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a research report on Friday, November 21st. The Goldman Sachs Group decreased their price target on shares of Constellation Brands from $196.00 to $168.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a report on Thursday, October 2nd. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reiterated a hold rating and issued a $160.00 price objective on shares of Constellation Brands in a research note on Monday, December 15th. Finally, BMO Capital Markets restated an outperform rating and set a $190.00 price target on shares of Constellation Brands in a report on Friday, January 9th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eleven have given a Buy rating, eight have given a Hold rating and three have issued a Sell rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Constellation Brands has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $176.91.

Read Our Latest Analysis on Constellation Brands

About Constellation Brands

(Free Report)

Constellation Brands, Inc is a leading producer and marketer of beer, wine and spirits, with operations spanning production, importation, marketing and distribution. The companys beverage portfolio includes a range of premium and mainstream wines and spirits alongside major imported beer brands; in the U.S. market Constellation is widely known for its role in bringing Mexican imports such as Corona and Modelo to American consumers. Constellation supplies retail, onpremise and foodservice channels and supports its brands with national sales and marketing platforms and supplychain capabilities.

The company traces its roots to the Canandaigua Wine Company, founded by Marvin Sands in 1945, and evolved through organic growth and acquisition into a diversified beverage company.

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AvalonBay Communities (NYSE:AVB  Get Free Report) was upgraded by Wall Street Zen from a sell rating to a hold rating in a research note issued on Sunday.

Several other research analysts have also commented on the company. Royal Bank Of Canada cut their price objective on AvalonBay Communities from $202.00 to $197.00 and set a sector perform rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, November 4th. Truist Financial dropped their target price on AvalonBay Communities from $205.00 to $203.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, January 20th. Morgan Stanley reduced their price target on AvalonBay Communities from $225.00 to $222.50 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, November 13th. Colliers Securities reaffirmed a neutral rating and issued a $195.00 price objective (down previously from $200.00) on shares of AvalonBay Communities in a research report on Thursday, December 4th. Finally, Mizuho dropped their price objective on shares of AvalonBay Communities from $199.00 to $191.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, November 24th. Six investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and twelve have issued a Hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, AvalonBay Communities currently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $203.50.

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AvalonBay Communities Stock Down 0.5%

AVB opened at $177.80 on Friday. AvalonBay Communities has a 1 year low of $166.73 and a 1 year high of $230.21. The firm has a 50 day moving average price of $180.05 and a 200 day moving average price of $186.38. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.72, a quick ratio of 0.67 and a current ratio of 0.67. The company has a market cap of $25.18 billion, a PE ratio of 21.71, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.06 and a beta of 0.75.

AvalonBay Communities (NYSE:AVB  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, October 30th. The real estate investment trust reported $2.75 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $2.81 by ($0.06). AvalonBay Communities had a net margin of 38.78% and a return on equity of 9.72%. The business had revenue of $766.80 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $766.22 million. During the same period last year, the firm earned $2.74 earnings per share. Sell-side analysts expect that AvalonBay Communities will post 11.48 earnings per share for the current year.

Institutional Trading of AvalonBay Communities

Institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Norges Bank acquired a new position in AvalonBay Communities during the 2nd quarter worth $1,394,225,000. Invesco Ltd. lifted its position in shares of AvalonBay Communities by 70.2% during the second quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 2,593,727 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $527,823,000 after purchasing an additional 1,069,793 shares during the last quarter. Bank of America Corp DE grew its stake in AvalonBay Communities by 76.0% in the third quarter. Bank of America Corp DE now owns 2,355,838 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $455,077,000 after purchasing an additional 1,017,286 shares in the last quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. increased its holdings in AvalonBay Communities by 23.2% in the second quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 2,816,163 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $573,091,000 after buying an additional 530,274 shares during the last quarter. Finally, PGGM Investments raised its stake in AvalonBay Communities by 7,782.9% during the second quarter. PGGM Investments now owns 478,966 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $97,470,000 after buying an additional 472,890 shares in the last quarter. 92.61% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

AvalonBay Communities Company Profile

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AvalonBay Communities, Inc (NYSE: AVB) is a publicly traded real estate investment trust (REIT) that owns, develops, redevelops and manages multifamily residential properties. The company focuses on professionally managed apartment communities, offering a range of rental housing options and related resident services. As a REIT, AvalonBays core activities center on the acquisition and development of apartment assets and the ongoing operations and leasing of those communities.

AvalonBays operating activities include ground-up development, strategic redevelopment of existing properties, property and asset management, and on-site leasing and resident services.

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A number of research firms have changed their ratings and price targets for Teck Resources (TSE: TECK.B):

1/26/2026  Teck Resources had its price target raised by analysts at Desjardins from C$65.00 to C$74.00. They now have a hold rating on the stock.

1/22/2026  Teck Resources was downgraded by analysts at TD Securities from a buy rating to a hold rating. They now have a C$76.00 price target on the stock, up previously from C$70.00.

1/12/2026  Teck Resources had its price target raised by analysts at Jefferies Financial Group Inc. from C$71.00 to C$80.00.

1/8/2026  Teck Resources had its price target raised by analysts at Scotiabank from C$60.00 to C$70.00. They now have a sector perform rating on the stock.

12/8/2025  Teck Resources had its price target lowered by analysts at Jefferies Financial Group Inc. from C$80.00 to C$71.00.

11/27/2025  Teck Resources had its price target raised by analysts at CIBC from C$57.00 to C$61.00. They now have a buy rating on the stock.

Teck is a diversified miner with coal, copper, zinc, and oil sands operations in Canada, the United States, Chile, and Peru. Metallurgical coal is Tecks primary commodity in terms of EBITDA contribution, closely followed by copper, with zinc and oil sands contributing smaller amounts to earnings. Teck ranks as the worlds second- largest exporter of seaborne metallurgical coal and is a top-three zinc miner. It is building a major new copper mine in Chile at the majority-owned Quebrada Blanca 2, in partnership with Sumitomo, which will increase Tecks attributable copper production by around 80%.

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Y Intercept Hong Kong Ltd lifted its position in Vornado Realty Trust (NYSE:VNO  Free Report) by 39.0% during the 3rd quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The firm owned 81,629 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock after acquiring an additional 22,918 shares during the quarter. Y Intercept Hong Kong Ltds holdings in Vornado Realty Trust were worth $3,308,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other large investors also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Royal Bank of Canada raised its stake in shares of Vornado Realty Trust by 18.3% in the first quarter. Royal Bank of Canada now owns 27,507 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $1,017,000 after acquiring an additional 4,251 shares during the period. AQR Capital Management LLC boosted its stake in shares of Vornado Realty Trust by 18.7% during the first quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC now owns 51,939 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $1,903,000 after purchasing an additional 8,189 shares in the last quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Vornado Realty Trust by 22.6% in the 1st quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. now owns 613,806 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $22,705,000 after acquiring an additional 112,956 shares during the period. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC lifted its position in shares of Vornado Realty Trust by 11.7% during the second quarter. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC now owns 13,293 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $502,000 after buying an additional 1,397 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Farther Finance Advisors LLC grew its holdings in Vornado Realty Trust by 215.7% in the second quarter. Farther Finance Advisors LLC now owns 7,559 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $289,000 after purchasing an additional 5,165 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 90.02% of the companys stock.

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Vornado Realty Trust Price Performance

Vornado Realty Trust stock opened at $31.80 on Tuesday. The company has a fifty day simple moving average of $34.21 and a 200-day simple moving average of $37.17. The firm has a market capitalization of $6.11 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 7.57, a PEG ratio of 5.56 and a beta of 1.49. The company has a quick ratio of 5.58, a current ratio of 5.58 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.42. Vornado Realty Trust has a 52-week low of $29.68 and a 52-week high of $45.37.

Vornado Realty Trust Announces Dividend

Vornado Realty Trust ( NYSE:VNO Get Free Report ) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Monday, November 3rd. The real estate investment trust reported $0.57 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.55 by $0.02. The firm had revenue of $453.70 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $435.19 million. Vornado Realty Trust had a net margin of 49.91% and a return on equity of 19.48%. Vornado Realty Trusts quarterly revenue was up 2.4% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the business posted $0.52 earnings per share. On average, equities analysts anticipate that Vornado Realty Trust will post 2.31 EPS for the current fiscal year.

The business also recently declared an annual dividend, which was paid on Monday, December 29th. Investors of record on Thursday, December 18th were issued a $0.74 dividend. This represents a dividend yield of 220.0%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, December 18th. Vornado Realty Trusts dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 17.62%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

VNO has been the subject of a number of recent analyst reports. Mizuho lowered their target price on shares of Vornado Realty Trust from $43.00 to $40.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a research note on Friday, December 12th. Weiss Ratings reissued a hold (c) rating on shares of Vornado Realty Trust in a research note on Monday, December 29th. Truist Financial dropped their target price on Vornado Realty Trust from $40.00 to $36.00 and set a hold rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, December 16th. Scotiabank reduced their price target on Vornado Realty Trust from $38.00 to $36.00 and set a sector perform rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, January 14th. Finally, Evercore ISI reduced their target price on Vornado Realty Trust from $43.00 to $42.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a research note on Monday, December 15th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, nine have given a Hold rating and two have given a Sell rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Vornado Realty Trust presently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $38.31.

View Our Latest Analysis on VNO

About Vornado Realty Trust

(Free Report)

Vornado Realty Trust is a selfadministered real estate investment trust focused on the ownership, management and redevelopment of office and retail properties. As a fully integrated REIT, the company oversees leasing, property management, building operations and strategic capital improvements designed to enhance asset value and tenant experience. Vornados business model emphasizes longterm cash flow generation through stable rental income and disciplined portfolio optimization.

The companys core portfolio is concentrated in New York City, where it holds a diverse mix of office towers and streetlevel retail assets in prominent submarkets such as Midtown and the Penn Plaza corridor.

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GUANGZHOU, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese commercial aerospace firm has successfully deployed a general-purpose AI model aboard its orbiting satellites, marking a major milestone for space-based computing.

The GuoXing Aerospace Technology announced at a seminar on Monday that it has uplinked the Alibaba's Qwen3 large language model to its inaugural space-based computing center, enabling end-to-end reasoning tasks entirely in orbit.

"This marks the world's first deployment of a general-purpose large-scale AI model from ground control to an operational satellite constellation in orbit," said Wang Yabo, executive vice president of the Chengdu-based startup.

Last May, China launched a new constellation of 12 space computing satellites into orbit, the first cluster of GuoXing Aerospace's space computing project.

In the trial, the Qwen3 model completed multiple experiments, with questions transmitted from Earth to the satellite, processed on-board, and results returned to ground stations -- all within the space of just two minutes.

As AI fuels an insatiable appetite for computing power, a new field is emerging in the technological race as intelligent computing capabilities are pushed into space. In November, SpaceX rocket orbited the Starcloud-1 satellite mounted with Nvidia GPUs.

Wang outlined the firm's ambitions to build a sprawling network of 2,800 specialized computing satellites by 2035.

The planned constellation includes 2,400 inference satellites and 400 training satellites, deployed across sun-synchronous, dawn-dusk and low-inclination orbits at 500 to 1,000 kilometers altitudes.

The constellation is designed to employ laser inter-satellite links to facilitate high-speed data transfer, aiming to deliver 100,000 petaflops of inference compute and 1 million petaflops of training compute worldwide.

Its second and third satellite clusters are expected to be deployed this year, with a 1,000-satellite network completed by 2030, according to Wang. 
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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BEIJING, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese military spokesperson on Tuesday criticized the Philippines for disrupting peace and stability in the South China Sea, accusing it of co-opting countries outside the region to organize so-called "joint patrols."

Air Force Senior Colonel Tian Junli, a spokesperson for the People's Liberation Army Southern Theater Command, said the navy of the theater command conducted a routine patrol in the South China Sea from Jan. 25 to 26.

The theater command forces will resolutely safeguard national territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests, and firmly uphold regional peace and stability, Tian said. 
SHENZHEN, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- A small district in the southern Chinese city of Shenzhen punched above its administrative weight as its gross domestic product (GDP) last year exceeded one trillion yuan (about 143 billion U.S. dollars).

Nanshan District, home to Chinese tech giants such as Tencent and DJI, saw its GDP grow from 652.7 billion yuan in 2020 to over 1 trillion yuan in 2025, Li Xiaoning, head of the district government, told the local people's congress on Tuesday.

The figure makes the Nanshan District the nation's first county-level economy to beat the mark and attain a remarkable economic scale. The district covers a land area roughly one-tenth that of Shenzhen, to which it is subordinate.

As a pioneer in China's reform and opening up, Nanshan District has now emerged as a leading hub for technological innovation and advanced manufacturing within the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA).

Official data show that the added value of strategic emerging industries accounts for around 60 percent of Nanshan's GDP. In addition to hosting tech giants, Nanshan has also increasingly attracted startups from Hong Kong and Macao special administrative regions, and further boosted the development of future-oriented sectors.

Guo Wanda, executive vice president of the China Development Institute, said Nanshan's development demonstrates how technological innovation can overcome resource bottlenecks to unleash the vitality of new quality productive forces, underscoring the vast prospects and great potential of China's economy.

This comes as the GBA pushes forward with integration. The region's combined economic output is expected to surpass 15 trillion yuan in 2025, according to the annual session of the Guangdong Provincial People's Congress. 
TOKYO, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- The last remaining two giant pandas in Japan on Tuesday left Tokyo's Ueno Zoo for their return to China.

It is the first time that there will be no panda in Japan in around half a century. 
A worker is seen at a factory at the Haigang economic zone in Tangshan, north China's Hebei Province, Jan. 27, 2026. (Photo by Liu Mancang/Xinhua)

BEIJING, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- Profits of China's major industrial firms returned to growth in 2025, snapping a three-year streak of declines, with emerging sectors such as equipment manufacturing and high-tech manufacturing serving as major growth drivers.

Data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) showed on Tuesday that profits for these firms increased 0.6 percent year on year to nearly 7.4 trillion yuan (about 1.06 trillion U.S. dollars) last year, accelerating from a 0.1-percent growth in the January-November period.

A substantial recovery was evident in December, with these firms posting a 5.3-percent year-on-year profit increase, a sharp turnaround from the 13.1-percent decline recorded in November.

Major industrial firms refer to those with an annual main business revenue of at least 20 million yuan.

"With the implementation of more proactive and effective macro policies last year, China sped up new industrialization and fostered steady improvement in industrial performance," said NBS statistician Yu Weining.

INNOVATION-DRIVEN, QUALITY-FOCUSED

As a global manufacturing leader for years, China is shifting its focus from scale-driven growth to innovation- and quality-oriented development. This pivot is aimed at boosting competitiveness and moving the country up the global value chain.

Tuesday's data indicated that this transition is taking hold.

In 2025, profits of the equipment manufacturing sector rose 7.7 percent year on year. This growth contributed 2.8 percentage points to the overall profit increase of major industrial enterprises, making it the largest contributor.

The sector's share of total industrial profits reached 39.8 percent, up 2.6 percentage points from the previous year, reflecting further optimization of the industrial profit structure.

High-tech manufacturing continued to show strong momentum, with profits rising 13.3 percent year on year and outpacing the growth rate of all major industrial firms by 12.7 percentage points. Intelligent electronics manufacturing continued to expand with profits in unmanned aerial vehicle manufacturing and intelligent in-vehicle equipment manufacturing surging by 102 percent and 88.8 percent, respectively.

Last year, profits at major small and medium-sized enterprises and overseas-invested firms rose 1.4 percent and 4.2 percent year on year, reversing their declines from 2024.

Looking ahead, efforts must be made to advance the deep integration of scientific and technological innovation with industrial innovation, accelerate the cultivation of new quality productive forces, and promote the sustained improvement of industrial enterprise performance, Yu noted.

REINING IN VICIOUS COMPETITION

The steady profit growth recorded last year was partly attributed to China's crackdown on "involution-style" competition -- a concept that has gained traction in recent years to describe cutthroat market dynamics, where companies aggressively slash prices to gain market share, often resulting in a self-defeating cycle of diminishing returns.

Analysts have warned that such unchecked, disorderly competition could create a race to the bottom, stifling innovation and hindering China's long-term economic development.

The issue garnered broad attention after a Chinese central leadership meeting in July 2024 urged stronger industry discipline and the prevention of "involution-style" competition.

Since then, China has rolled out a raft of targeted measures to address the issue, including capacity control in crowded sectors such as photovoltaic and cement, pricing monitoring for new energy vehicles, and the phase-out of obsolete industrial capacity.

The Central Economic Work Conference held in December last year listed the crackdown on "involution-style" competition as one of the key tasks for this year's economic work.

These policies have already started to yield results. The country's producer price index, a gauge of factory-gate prices, has registered month-on-month growth for three consecutive months since October 2025.

Producer prices in hard-hit sectors including photovoltaic equipment and component manufacturing, and lithium-ion battery manufacturing bottomed out and rebounded on a month-on-month basis starting in September.

China's anti-involution policies aim to tackle excessive market competition and restore corporate profitability, and their positive impacts will become increasingly evident throughout 2026, said Ding Shuang, chief economist of Greater China and North Asia with Standard Chartered. 

A worker works on a wire harness production line at an electronics technology company in Suixian County of Shangqiu City, central China's Henan Province, Jan. 27, 2026. Profits of China's major industrial firms returned to growth in 2025, snapping a three-year streak of declines, with emerging sectors such as equipment manufacturing and high-tech manufacturing serving as major growth drivers.

Data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) showed on Tuesday that profits for these firms increased 0.6 percent year on year to nearly 7.4 trillion yuan (about 1.06 trillion U.S. dollars) last year, accelerating from a 0.1-percent growth in the January-November period.

A substantial recovery was evident in December, with these firms posting a 5.3-percent year-on-year profit increase, a sharp turnaround from the 13.1-percent decline recorded in November.

Major industrial firms refer to those with an annual main business revenue of at least 20 million yuan. (Photo by Xu Zeyuan/Xinhua)

Intelligent equipment is pictured at a digital workshop of a cosmetics packing company in Huangjiabu Town of Yuyao City, east China's Zhejiang Province, Jan. 27, 2026. Profits of China's major industrial firms returned to growth in 2025, snapping a three-year streak of declines, with emerging sectors such as equipment manufacturing and high-tech manufacturing serving as major growth drivers.

Data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) showed on Tuesday that profits for these firms increased 0.6 percent year on year to nearly 7.4 trillion yuan (about 1.06 trillion U.S. dollars) last year, accelerating from a 0.1-percent growth in the January-November period.

A substantial recovery was evident in December, with these firms posting a 5.3-percent year-on-year profit increase, a sharp turnaround from the 13.1-percent decline recorded in November.

Major industrial firms refer to those with an annual main business revenue of at least 20 million yuan. (Photo by Zhang Hui/Xinhua)

A drone photo taken on Jan. 27, 2026 shows workers piling products at a factory in Simao District, Pu'er City, southwest China's Yunnan Province. Profits of China's major industrial firms returned to growth in 2025, snapping a three-year streak of declines, with emerging sectors such as equipment manufacturing and high-tech manufacturing serving as major growth drivers.

Data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) showed on Tuesday that profits for these firms increased 0.6 percent year on year to nearly 7.4 trillion yuan (about 1.06 trillion U.S. dollars) last year, accelerating from a 0.1-percent growth in the January-November period.

A substantial recovery was evident in December, with these firms posting a 5.3-percent year-on-year profit increase, a sharp turnaround from the 13.1-percent decline recorded in November.

Major industrial firms refer to those with an annual main business revenue of at least 20 million yuan. (Photo by Yang Tingrong/Xinhua)

A worker works on a production line at a motorcycle company in Tongren City, southwest China's Guizhou Province, Jan. 27, 2026. Profits of China's major industrial firms returned to growth in 2025, snapping a three-year streak of declines, with emerging sectors such as equipment manufacturing and high-tech manufacturing serving as major growth drivers.

Data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) showed on Tuesday that profits for these firms increased 0.6 percent year on year to nearly 7.4 trillion yuan (about 1.06 trillion U.S. dollars) last year, accelerating from a 0.1-percent growth in the January-November period.

A substantial recovery was evident in December, with these firms posting a 5.3-percent year-on-year profit increase, a sharp turnaround from the 13.1-percent decline recorded in November.

Major industrial firms refer to those with an annual main business revenue of at least 20 million yuan. (Photo by Shen Yikai/Xinhua)

An aerial drone photo taken on Nov. 13, 2025 shows workers building a vessel at a factory of China COSCO Shipping Heavy Industry Co., Ltd in Yangzhou, east China's Jiangsu Province. Profits of China's major industrial firms returned to growth in 2025, snapping a three-year streak of declines, with emerging sectors such as equipment manufacturing and high-tech manufacturing serving as major growth drivers.

Data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) showed on Tuesday that profits for these firms increased 0.6 percent year on year to nearly 7.4 trillion yuan (about 1.06 trillion U.S. dollars) last year, accelerating from a 0.1-percent growth in the January-November period.

A substantial recovery was evident in December, with these firms posting a 5.3-percent year-on-year profit increase, a sharp turnaround from the 13.1-percent decline recorded in November.

Major industrial firms refer to those with an annual main business revenue of at least 20 million yuan. (Photo by Ren Fei/Xinhua)

A worker is seen on an LED production line at an electronics company in Zigui County, central China's Hubei Province, Jan. 27, 2026. Profits of China's major industrial firms returned to growth in 2025, snapping a three-year streak of declines, with emerging sectors such as equipment manufacturing and high-tech manufacturing serving as major growth drivers.

Data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) showed on Tuesday that profits for these firms increased 0.6 percent year on year to nearly 7.4 trillion yuan (about 1.06 trillion U.S. dollars) last year, accelerating from a 0.1-percent growth in the January-November period.

A substantial recovery was evident in December, with these firms posting a 5.3-percent year-on-year profit increase, a sharp turnaround from the 13.1-percent decline recorded in November.

Major industrial firms refer to those with an annual main business revenue of at least 20 million yuan. (Photo by Wang Gang/Xinhua)

A drone photo taken on Jan. 27, 2026 shows workers working at a workshop of an auto company in Gui'an New Area, southwest China's Guizhou Province. Profits of China's major industrial firms returned to growth in 2025, snapping a three-year streak of declines, with emerging sectors such as equipment manufacturing and high-tech manufacturing serving as major growth drivers.

Data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) showed on Tuesday that profits for these firms increased 0.6 percent year on year to nearly 7.4 trillion yuan (about 1.06 trillion U.S. dollars) last year, accelerating from a 0.1-percent growth in the January-November period.

A substantial recovery was evident in December, with these firms posting a 5.3-percent year-on-year profit increase, a sharp turnaround from the 13.1-percent decline recorded in November.

Major industrial firms refer to those with an annual main business revenue of at least 20 million yuan. (Photo by Yuan Fuhong/Xinhua)

A full automation production line is pictured at a PV glass company in southwest China's Guizhou Province, Jan. 27, 2026. Profits of China's major industrial firms returned to growth in 2025, snapping a three-year streak of declines, with emerging sectors such as equipment manufacturing and high-tech manufacturing serving as major growth drivers.

Data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) showed on Tuesday that profits for these firms increased 0.6 percent year on year to nearly 7.4 trillion yuan (about 1.06 trillion U.S. dollars) last year, accelerating from a 0.1-percent growth in the January-November period.

A substantial recovery was evident in December, with these firms posting a 5.3-percent year-on-year profit increase, a sharp turnaround from the 13.1-percent decline recorded in November.

Major industrial firms refer to those with an annual main business revenue of at least 20 million yuan. (Photo by Yu Tianying/Xinhua)

An aerial drone photo taken on Jan. 27, 2026 shows workers building a vessel at a ship building factory in Nanjing, east China's Jiangsu Province. Profits of China's major industrial firms returned to growth in 2025, snapping a three-year streak of declines, with emerging sectors such as equipment manufacturing and high-tech manufacturing serving as major growth drivers.

Data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) showed on Tuesday that profits for these firms increased 0.6 percent year on year to nearly 7.4 trillion yuan (about 1.06 trillion U.S. dollars) last year, accelerating from a 0.1-percent growth in the January-November period.

A substantial recovery was evident in December, with these firms posting a 5.3-percent year-on-year profit increase, a sharp turnaround from the 13.1-percent decline recorded in November.

Major industrial firms refer to those with an annual main business revenue of at least 20 million yuan. (Photo by Shi Jun/Xinhua)

An aerial drone photo taken on Jan. 27, 2026 shows a vessel loading vehicles for export at Yantai Port in Yantai, east China's Shandong Province. Profits of China's major industrial firms returned to growth in 2025, snapping a three-year streak of declines, with emerging sectors such as equipment manufacturing and high-tech manufacturing serving as major growth drivers.

Data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) showed on Tuesday that profits for these firms increased 0.6 percent year on year to nearly 7.4 trillion yuan (about 1.06 trillion U.S. dollars) last year, accelerating from a 0.1-percent growth in the January-November period.

A substantial recovery was evident in December, with these firms posting a 5.3-percent year-on-year profit increase, a sharp turnaround from the 13.1-percent decline recorded in November.

Major industrial firms refer to those with an annual main business revenue of at least 20 million yuan. (Photo by Zhang Chao/Xinhua)

A worker makes netting gears at a factory in Haizhou industrial park in Lianyungang, east China's Jiangsu Province, Jan. 27, 2026. Profits of China's major industrial firms returned to growth in 2025, snapping a three-year streak of declines, with emerging sectors such as equipment manufacturing and high-tech manufacturing serving as major growth drivers.

Data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) showed on Tuesday that profits for these firms increased 0.6 percent year on year to nearly 7.4 trillion yuan (about 1.06 trillion U.S. dollars) last year, accelerating from a 0.1-percent growth in the January-November period.

A substantial recovery was evident in December, with these firms posting a 5.3-percent year-on-year profit increase, a sharp turnaround from the 13.1-percent decline recorded in November.

Major industrial firms refer to those with an annual main business revenue of at least 20 million yuan. (Photo by Geng Yuhe/Xinhua)

A worker is seen at a factory at the Haigang economic zone in Tangshan, north China's Hebei Province, Jan. 27, 2026. Profits of China's major industrial firms returned to growth in 2025, snapping a three-year streak of declines, with emerging sectors such as equipment manufacturing and high-tech manufacturing serving as major growth drivers.

Data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) showed on Tuesday that profits for these firms increased 0.6 percent year on year to nearly 7.4 trillion yuan (about 1.06 trillion U.S. dollars) last year, accelerating from a 0.1-percent growth in the January-November period.

A substantial recovery was evident in December, with these firms posting a 5.3-percent year-on-year profit increase, a sharp turnaround from the 13.1-percent decline recorded in November.

Major industrial firms refer to those with an annual main business revenue of at least 20 million yuan. (Photo by Liu Mancang/Xinhua)

A worker lifts a roll of aluminum at a new material company in Qingyang Town, Zouping City of east China's Shandong Province, Jan. 20, 2026. Profits of China's major industrial firms returned to growth in 2025, snapping a three-year streak of declines, with emerging sectors such as equipment manufacturing and high-tech manufacturing serving as major growth drivers.

Data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) showed on Tuesday that profits for these firms increased 0.6 percent year on year to nearly 7.4 trillion yuan (about 1.06 trillion U.S. dollars) last year, accelerating from a 0.1-percent growth in the January-November period.

A substantial recovery was evident in December, with these firms posting a 5.3-percent year-on-year profit increase, a sharp turnaround from the 13.1-percent decline recorded in November.

Major industrial firms refer to those with an annual main business revenue of at least 20 million yuan. (Photo by Dong Naide/Xinhua)

A drone photo taken on Jan. 27, 2026 shows vehicles to be loaded onto vessels at a dock in Lianyungang, east China's Jiangsu Province. Profits of China's major industrial firms returned to growth in 2025, snapping a three-year streak of declines, with emerging sectors such as equipment manufacturing and high-tech manufacturing serving as major growth drivers.

Data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) showed on Tuesday that profits for these firms increased 0.6 percent year on year to nearly 7.4 trillion yuan (about 1.06 trillion U.S. dollars) last year, accelerating from a 0.1-percent growth in the January-November period.

A substantial recovery was evident in December, with these firms posting a 5.3-percent year-on-year profit increase, a sharp turnaround from the 13.1-percent decline recorded in November.

Major industrial firms refer to those with an annual main business revenue of at least 20 million yuan. (Photo by Wang Chun/Xinhua)

A drone photo taken on Jan. 22, 2026 shows vessels under construction at a ship building base in Rongcheng City, east China's Shandong Province. Profits of China's major industrial firms returned to growth in 2025, snapping a three-year streak of declines, with emerging sectors such as equipment manufacturing and high-tech manufacturing serving as major growth drivers.

Data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) showed on Tuesday that profits for these firms increased 0.6 percent year on year to nearly 7.4 trillion yuan (about 1.06 trillion U.S. dollars) last year, accelerating from a 0.1-percent growth in the January-November period.

A substantial recovery was evident in December, with these firms posting a 5.3-percent year-on-year profit increase, a sharp turnaround from the 13.1-percent decline recorded in November.

Major industrial firms refer to those with an annual main business revenue of at least 20 million yuan. (Photo by Wang Fudong/Xinhua)

A drone photo taken on Jan. 27, 2026 shows a floating production storage and offloading (FPSO) vessel at a construction base of CIMC Raffles in Yantai, east China's Shandong Province. Profits of China's major industrial firms returned to growth in 2025, snapping a three-year streak of declines, with emerging sectors such as equipment manufacturing and high-tech manufacturing serving as major growth drivers.

Data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) showed on Tuesday that profits for these firms increased 0.6 percent year on year to nearly 7.4 trillion yuan (about 1.06 trillion U.S. dollars) last year, accelerating from a 0.1-percent growth in the January-November period.

A substantial recovery was evident in December, with these firms posting a 5.3-percent year-on-year profit increase, a sharp turnaround from the 13.1-percent decline recorded in November.

Major industrial firms refer to those with an annual main business revenue of at least 20 million yuan. (Photo by Tang Ke/Xinhua)


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UNITED NATIONS, Jan. 26 (Xinhua) -- UN humanitarians said on Monday a 24-truck convoy carrying life-saving assistance entered the blockaded Syrian city of Kobani, only hours before renewed fighting in the vicinity was reported.

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said the convoy on Sunday delivered food, nutrition, health supplies, hygiene materials, winterization support, kitchen kits, and supplies for children to the Kurdish-majority city in Aleppo governorate.

Also included were two fuel tankers to resupply the Karakoi water station and restore water supply to Kobani and the surrounding villages.

However, heavy fighting was reported early Monday in areas around Kobani, also known as Ain al-Arab. Accusations have arisen between the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and government-linked forces over violations of a ceasefire announced on Sunday that apparently allowed the convoy to reach Kobani.

The SDF said in a statement that forces affiliated with Damascus launched coordinated attacks from multiple directions starting around 2 a.m. local time (0000 GMT), targeting the towns of Kharab Ashk and al-Jalabiya, west and south of Kobani.

The SDF said the attacking forces brought in military reinforcements that included tanks and armored vehicles.

The OCHA said that the Syrian government announced on Monday another corridor near the town of Sarin, also in Aleppo governorate, to allow people to flee the area.

The office said five temporary shelter facilities were established, including in northeastern Aleppo, for people choosing to relocate to Syria's second-largest city.

The OCHA said the assistance provided by UN entities for Sunday's convoy was provided by the UN Population Fund, UNICEF, the UN Refugee Agency, the World Food Programme and their partners.

All roads into Kobani were closed until Sunday after government troops launched a mid-month offensive to retake control of some areas held by Kurdish forces, effectively isolating the city. Following Sunday's announcement of a 15-day ceasefire, the Syrian government opened two humanitarian corridors in Hasakah and Aleppo governorates. 
A free trade agreement (FTA) between India and the European Union (EU) is set to be formally announced at the 16th IndiaEU Summit on Tuesday, even as trade tensions between New Delhi and Washington remain elevated.

Describing the deal as balanced and forward-looking, Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal said it is expected to boost trade and investment between the two sides and is likely to come into force sometime next year.

While the United States has not officially responded to the IndiaEU agreement, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent was critical of the deal as he told ABC News that it could indirectly help finance Russia amid the nearly four-year-old RussiaUkraine war. However, experts believe the agreement could play a key role in nudging Washington back to the negotiating table.

As far as the budget is concerned, the EU trade deal is expected to happen tomorrow. I think this will be a significant step in bringing America to the negotiating table if India secures a very good deal with the EU, said Raymond Group Managing Director Gautam Singhania.

He pointed out that the FTAparticularly negotiations around zero-duty access for textilescould deliver a major boost to employment and industrial growth.

Textiles remain among the largest employers in the country, and duty-free access to the EU market would benefit not only the sector but the broader economy as well, Singhania added.

#WATCH | Mumbai: Raymond Group Managing Director Gautam Singhania says, "Chief Minister (Devendra Fadnavis) visited Davos, and he has done a phenomenal job in terms of the amount of MOUs that he has signed. I think that will be very good for the state and for the country. As far pic.twitter.com/nek9WPYVNY  ANI (@ANI) January 26, 2026

Indias textile sector was severely impacted after US President Donald Trump imposed a 50 per cent tariff on Indian goods last year, including a 20 per cent punitive duty linked to Indias continued purchase of subsidised Russian oil.

Foreign affairs expert Robinder Sachdev said the EU is facing growing challenges amid strained relations with the United States.

US-European relations were heading towards a drift. This past week, I think, has dealt a trauma to the Europeans and European leadership. Now, the EU-India free trade agreement is a big step forward, he told ANI.

He added that recent developments, including discussions at the Davos meetings and renewed tensions with Washington, have prompted EU leaders to view India with a fresh pair of eyes.

Deloitte India partner Gulzar Didwania said the agreement could significantly scale up bilateral trade volumes over the coming years, with substantial export gains for India. He also stressed the importance of timing, as Indias trade talks with the US remain unresolved.

India is already in discussions with the United States, but the tariff rates are yet to be finalised and negotiations are dragging on due to various reasons, he said.

India and the EU have concluded official-level negotiations on the proposed FTA, which is expected to strengthen economic ties and boost two-way commerce.

Official-level negotiations have been concluded, and both sides are set to announce the successful conclusion of FTA talks on January 27, Tuesday, Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal said on Monday.
Defence and security form a major part of the free trade agreement (FTA) between India and the European Union, announced on Tuesday. The two sides also inked a strategic defence partnership pact, which will help India and the EU to work more closely on counter-terrorism, maritime security, and cybersecurity.

"This will also strengthen our shared commitment to a rules-based international order. Our cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region will grow, and our defence companies will gain new opportunities to work together on co-development and co-production," a statement from Prime Minister Narendra Modi said.

For more defence news, views and updates, visit: Fortress India

Meanwhile, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh held a meeting with Vice President of the European Union (EU) Commission Kaja Kallas and discussed a range of bilateral security and defence issues.

Singh observed that India and the EU share the principles of democracy, pluralism, and the rule of law, which underpin the steadily deepening partnership, and added that these are the values that India seeks to translate into practical cooperation for global stability, sustainable growth, and inclusive prosperity.

Singh emphasised that Indian and EU defence industries must synergise their efforts for the larger global good and added that the partnership will become a force multiplier by integrating supply chains for building trusted defence ecosystems and future-ready capabilities.

ALSO READ: Rajnath Singh urges DRDO to take risks, move beyond sectors

The defence minister said Indias defence industry can play a pivotal role in the EU's ReArm initiative, especially when the EU is seeking to rapidly diversify suppliers and de-risk dependencies.

Kallas stated that India and the EU must work together in the Indian Ocean Region and learn from each others best practices through joint exercises.
As drones are increasingly being used for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) and for other illegal activities apart from precision strikes, the Indian Army has taken upon itself the responsibility to monitor flying objects within 35 kilometres from the borders and up to a height of three kilometres.

The move comes in the wake of the four-day military stand-off between India and Pakistan in May of 2025, during which the latter used unarmed reconnaissance drones, loitering munitions, and armed UAVs like Turkish Bayraktar TB2, Songar, Chinese CH-4, Wing Loong II, Burraq, and Shahpar for ISR, swarm attacks, radar mapping, and potential strikes on military sites.

For more defence news, views and updates, visit: Fortress India

China too extensively deploys drones along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) for surveillance, reconnaissance, and potential strike missions.

According to a report in Hindustan Times, the Indian Army is conducting 97 per cent of drone and anti-drone operations within the aforementioned space.

The Army is setting up command and control centres along its borders with both Pakistan and China to monitor any such activities involving drones and also neutralise drones.

According to the report, plans are on to acquire the capacity to operate as many as 10,000 drones along the western theatre and more than 20,000 drones along the line of Actual control.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, on Tuesday, said Operation Sindoor demonstrated that indigenous systems are strengthening India's operational readiness, even as he hailed the the crucial role DRDO is playing in achieving self-reliance in defence.

Addressing a gathering at a Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) event in New Delhi, the defence minister underlined that in today's times, when technology is changing rapidly, especially on the battlefield, "we must move forward keeping in mind the theory of 'survival of the fastest' and not just 'survival of the fittest'".

For more defence news, views and updates, visit: Fortress India

"The country that thinks, decides, and deploys technology quickly stays ahead," Singh asserted.

He further said there is a "need to reduce time" between research and arriving at a prototype, from prototype to testing and from testing to deployment, asserting that "timely induction in the armed forces should be the biggest parameter".

He stressed the need to focus on R&D, exhorting the DRDO scientists to think innovatively and quickly, while not being afraid of taking risks. Technology is changing rapidly. Any tech that is new today may become irrelevant in four-five years. Therefore, in todays times, especially on the battlefield, we must move forward keeping in mind the theory of survival of the fastest and not just survival of the fittest. The country that thinks, decides and deploys technology quickly stays ahead, he said.

ALSO READ: The Persian tightrope: Indias quest for strategic space in a fractured world

Singh asked DRDO to move beyond the sectors as the private sector has already developed its capabilities, suggesting the creation of a separate wing within the organisation that takes risks in sectors where the chances of success may seem low. However, if success is achieved, it will be historic, he added.

Calling upon the DRDO to collaborate extensively with public sector undertakings and the private sector, he highlighted the development of Light Combat Aircraft Tejas as a testament to the knowledge sharing between DRDO and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited. "Many more such achievements await us, but for that, it is essential that DRDO collaborates with academia and share knowledge with the public and private sectors. Governments support will only be meaningful when DRDO moves away from a monopolistic R&D model to a collaborative ecosystem, and cooperates with the public sector, private industries, MSMEs, start-ups, and academia," Singh said.
Nearly two months after its blockbuster theatrical release and run, Ranveer Singh's Dhurandhar is expected to begin streaming on Netflix from January 30. The high-octane espionage action drama, which has Ranveer playing a spy who gets involved between two warring underworld gangs in Pakistan, is directed by Aditya Dhar ("Uri: The Surgical Strike").

In its review of the film, THE WEEK wrote: "Even as the movie oscillates between peaks and troughs, it keeps us hooked as we try to decipher what is coming next. The romance, though an irritant, wasnt too unbearable. The love song and the dance number could have  and should have  been avoided. But despite the lags caused by all this fluff, it picks up momentum again. The segments pertaining to the 26/11 attacks are skillfully handled, despite the awareness of whats coming. When the film shows the Pakistanis celebratory moment, it hits hard  conveyed particularly through Ranveers reaction. Thisthe way the story is constructed to lead up to the aftermath of the attackswas exceedingly intelligent writing."

Also featuring Akshaye Khanna, Sanjay Dutt, R. Madhavan, Arjun Rampal, Sara Arjun, and Rakesh Bedi in pivotal roles, Dhurandhar (AKA Dhurandhar - Part 1), is the first chapter of a two-part saga, with the second chapter set to release in March 19, 2026. Part-1 has a total duration of 214 minutes.

The technical team comprises cinematographer Vikash Nowlakha, editor Shivkumar V. Panicker, and composer Shashwat Sachdev.

In its theatrical run so far, Dhurandhar has already grossed more than Rs 1300 crore worldwide.
Kannada actress Kavya Gowda and her husband have both been admitted to a hospital in Bengaluru after they were violently attacked by relatives in a family dispute. Her husband, Somasekhar, was reportedly stabbed during the incident, and the actress was threatened with rape.

The incident occurred on Monday evening at the actresss residence in Bengaluru.

As per the complaint filed by Bavya Gowda, her sister called her multiple times in the evening to inform her that she was threatened and physically assaulted.

She said that the accused restrained, abused, and assaulted the actress and her husband and even threatened to kill them.

Several family members, including Somasekhars brother Nandish, his wife Prema and other relatives, are said to have been involved in the incident.

Sources told local media that the relations were strained between Kavya Gowda and her sister-in-law, Prema, as the two brothers and their families lived together.

The dispute escalated on January 26 when both womens families visited the house. An argument broke out.

The altercation between the relatives began as a verbal confrontation but soon escalated into physical violence. During the violent confrontation, Somasekhar was allegedly attacked with a sharp weapon by Ravikumar, Premas father. He was rushed to the hospital. Doctors say that his condition is currently stable.

Ravikumar also allegedly threatened Kaya with rape and used obscene language to verbally abuse her.

The complaint filed mentioned that the assault may have also been triggered due to her popularity as a television actress.

Police have begun a probe into the incident after an FIR was filed. Preliminary investigation suggests that the conflict began due to long-standing family disagreements while living in a joint family setup.

The triggers were issues related to household matters and the care of Kavya Gowdas younger daughter.

Sources say that counter-complaints have also been filed from the other side. Authorities are examining CCTV footage from the house and recording statements from everyone involved.

Kavya Gowda is a Kannada television actress and rose to fame through her roles in serials like Radha Ramana and Gandhari.
Senior Maharashtra minister and BJP leader Girish Mahajan has clarified that omission of Dr Ambedkar's name during his R-Day speech at Nashik was an unintentional mistake and felt that people should not make a big issue out of it.

The controversy erupted on Monday after Madhavi Jadhav, a forest guard, raised objections about ministerial speech as Mahajan did not mention the name of Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar, a dalit icon and architect of the Indian Constitution. She filed a complaint against the minister under Prevention of Atrocities Act and asked Mahajan to apologise.

"I grew up in RSS tradition and respect Dr Ambedkar's work and thoughts. I never intended to insult him. His name was left out by mistake but there is no need to create such an issue," said Mahajan.

Mahajan said that he not only respects the ideology of Dr Ambedkar but he also practices it. He pointed out that he organises Ambedkar birth anniversary celebrations by holding social events and that he erected a large statue of Dr Ambedkar in his hometown, Jamner.

He said his mistake was being blown out of proportion. Apologising for his mistake, Mahajan said, "I raised the slogans of Vande Mataram, Shivaji Maharaj Ki Jay and Bharat Mata Ki Jay. I had no intention to hurt anyone. If anyone is hurt, I apologise.
Protests have been brewing among the BJP leaders and upper-caste students over the new UGC rules, which stipulate the setting up of special panels, helplines, and monitoring teams to handle complaints, especially from the SC, ST, and OBC students.

According to protestors, the new rules notified by the UGC on January 13 -- the Promotion of Equity in Higher Education Institutions Regulations, 2026 -- could lead to discrimination against them.

The BJP leaders in Uttar Pradesh were at the forefront of the protest, with 11 party officials resigning from the party in protest against the new UGC regulations. Many party workers have also quit, calling the new UGC rules black laws. They claim the rules were introduced in the name of bringing equality in higher education, but were against the upper-caste society.

BJP Kisan Morcha Mandal president Shyam Sundar Tripathi, who resigned from his post in protest against the UGC law, termed the law extremely harmful and divisive for society. In his resignation letter, Tripathi said the Indian government's support for such a bill was contrary to his self-respect and ideology.

VIDEO | Advocate & Social Activist Vineet Jindal speaking on the petition he filed in Supreme Court challenging the validity of UGCs caste discrimination framework, says, "We have certain objections with the new rules brought by the UGC. Sections 12 and 23 of the UGC Act state pic.twitter.com/hbMTL3KWNP  Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) January 27, 2026

Several BJP leaders in Rae Bareli have reportedly sent bangles to upper-caste MPs and MLAs to register their protest. Farmer leader Ramesh Bahadur Singh claimed that upper caste leaders are not opposing the UGC regulations due to their servitude to the BJP. The public voted for these leaders to become MLAs and ministers, but when the public began to protest the UGC regulations, they refused to speak out. Therefore, they are being sent bangles. Such leaders should focus on housekeeping and give women a chance to enter politics, Singh claimed.

In Agra, BJP leader Jagdish Pachauri wrote a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi in blood against the UGC rules.

Meanwhile, a senior BJP leader has claimed that the government is planning to revoke the norm issued by the UGC. Harish Srivastava, a leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party's Uttar Pradesh unit, told ABP News that the government could reconsider it. While people may have differences of opinion about a decision, the government's decisions are often based on reasons. When differing opinions are raised, the government reconsiders those decisions and, after due consideration of various perspectives, makes further decisions accordingly. I believe the government will continue to consider this," he added.

Students protest

Students from upper caste communities called for a protest outside the University Grants Commission headquarters in Delhi on Tuesday, saying that the new regulations issued by the commission could lead to chaos on campuses.

Alokit Tripathi, a PhD student from Delhi University, said that the new rules will create complete chaos in colleges as the burden of proof will now be completely shifted onto the accused, and there were no safeguards for wrongly accused students. "The new regulations are draconian in nature. The definition of victim is already predetermined. The victim can be anyone on the campus," Tripathi said.



"With the proposed Equity squads, it will be akin to living under constant surveillance inside the campus," he said, adding that students of various Delhi colleges are likely to join the protest.

Meanwhile, the Education Ministry is likely to clarify its position soon amid controversy over the UGCs new anti-discrimination regulations.
India hit out at Islamabad at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) for presenting a false and self-serving account of Operation Sindoor, which was launched by New Delhi in May last year targeting terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.

Ambassador Parvathaneni Harish, Indias Permanent Representative to the UN, defended Indias actions, describing them as measured, non-escalatory, and responsible, aimed at dismantling terrorist networks and neutralising terrorists.

The facts on this matter are clear, Harish said. Pakistan-sponsored terrorists killed 26 innocent civilians in a brutal attack in Pahalgam in April 2025. This august body itself called for holding the perpetrators, organisers, financiers and sponsors of this reprehensible act of terrorism accountable and brought to justice. That is exactly what we did.

Harish was referring to the UNSC statement issued in April last year, which condemned the Pahalgam attack and called for justice for the victims.

#WATCH | Permanent Representative of India to the United Nations, Parvathaneni Harish, says, "I now respond to the comments of the representative of Pakistan, an elected member of the Security Council, which has a single-point agenda to harm my country and my people. He has pic.twitter.com/I8pX4tt1zl  ANI (@ANI) January 27, 2026

"Until May 9, Pakistan was threatening more attacks on India. But on May 10, the Pakistani military directly contacted our forces and pleaded for a cessation of fighting, Harish revealed. He also pointed to public images of significant damage caused to multiple Pakistani airbases during the operation, including destroyed runways and burned-out hangars.

His remarks came in response to Pakistans Ambassador to the UN, Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, who told the UNSC that Pakistans reaction to Operation Sindoor made it clear that there can be no new normal based on coercion or impunity.

Harish countered, saying, We have heard Pakistans talk of a new normal. Let me be clear: terrorism can never be normalised, as Pakistan would like. It is not acceptable to tolerate Pakistans continued use of terrorism as a tool of state policy.
A major political and administrative row has erupted in Uttar Pradesh after Bareilly City Magistrate Alankar Agnihotri resigned from service in protest against government policies, particularly the new University Grants Commission (UGC) regulations.

The state government has now placed Agnihotri under suspension with immediate effect on charges of indiscipline. According to an official order, he has been attached to the office of the Shamli District Magistrate during the suspension period.

Agnihotri, a 2019-batch Provincial Civil Service (PCS) officer, submitted his resignation on Republic Day, citing deep disagreement with certain government policies. In his resignation letter, he argued that the new UGC rules could fuel caste-based discontent and adversely affect the academic environment.

#WATCH | Bareilly, UP | Alankar Agnihotri, who resigned from his post as the City Magistrate of Bareilly yesterday, says, "An anti-Brahmin campaign is going on in the Uttar Pradesh government for quite some time now. Brahmins are being singled out and tortured. Somewhere, a pic.twitter.com/IhJLRTHMii  ANI (@ANI) January 27, 2026

Officials said Agnihotri sent his resignation via email to Uttar Pradesh Governor Anandiben Patel and Bareilly District Magistrate Avinash Singh.

An order issued by Special Secretary Annapurna Garg stated that Agnihotri was found prima facie guilty of indiscipline and was therefore placed under suspension with immediate effect. Bareilly Divisional Commissioner B.S. Chaudhary has been appointed as the ex-officio inquiry officer to investigate the charges against Agnihotri.

Uttar Pradesh govt orders disciplinary action against Alankar Agnihotri, who resigned as Bareilly City Magistrate yesterday, and attaches him to Shamli District Magistrate. https://t.co/2Bqc3erBad pic.twitter.com/DxnoUUeEPB  ANI (@ANI) January 27, 2026

In his resignation letter, the officer described the new UGC regulations as a black law and alleged that the rules were damaging the academic atmosphere in colleges and universities.

What are the New UGC Regulations?

The new UGC regulations, notified on January 13, aim to address caste-based discrimination in colleges and universities. Under the new framework, institutions are required to establish special committees, helplines, and monitoring teams to handle complaints, particularly from students belonging to Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), and Other Backward Classes (OBC).

While the intention behind these regulations is to create a safer and more inclusive academic environment, they have faced widespread criticism, particularly from general category students. Critics argue that the framework could result in discrimination against them.

Agnihotri alleges that the new regulations could lead to discrimination against Brahmins and provoke social unrest and internal discontent within educational institutions.

"An anti-Brahmin campaign is going on in the Uttar Pradesh government for quite some time now. Brahmins are being singled out and tortured," he told reporters on Monday.
NEW DELHI, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- India and the European Union (EU) on Tuesday signed several agreements and Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) in New Delhi during the three-day visit by European Council President Antonio Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

The highlight was the joint announcement on the conclusion of the negotiations of the India-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA), described as "mother of all trade deals."

The signing of agreements and announcements was made in the presence of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who was quoted as saying that the trade deal was a "perfect example" of partnership between the two economies.

"India and Europe have taken a major step forward today. The India-EU FTA opens new pathways for growth, investment and strategic cooperation. This agreement will drive trade, investment and innovation while strengthening our strategic relationship. It reflects our shared resolve to shape a stable, prosperous and future-ready economic relationship," Modi posted on X.

According to India's Ministry of External Affairs, the signed agreements included the "Towards 2030: A Joint India-European Union Comprehensive Strategic Agenda" and the establishment of the "Green Hydrogen Task Force." 
The Budget session of Parliament will begin on Wednesday with the address of President Droupadi Murmu to a joint sitting of the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha. The session is expected to be a stormy one as the Opposition parties may raise issues related to the economy, foreign policy, federal issues and governance.

The session will be held in two parts. The first phase will run from January 28 to February 13 and will include the Motion of Thanks on the Presidents address and discussion on the Union Budget, to be presented on February 1. After a recess, Parliament will reconvene on March 9, with the session concluding on April 2.

The government enters the session with a high after signing the mother of all deals with the European Union. The issue is likely to feature in the session as the government may make a statement on the subject, while the Opposition is expected to demand more clarity. In fact, the emerging geopolitical situation is also set to be raised inside the House.

The main Opposition party, Congress, hit out at the government for not revealing its legislative agenda even a day before the Session. Congress MP Pramod Tiwari accused the government of weakening constitutional institutions. This government is completely eliminating constitutionally guaranteed rights. It is weakening constitutional institutions, he said, adding that the Opposition would also raise questions on foreign policy, the economy, pollution and public health.

Left parties said they would seek discussions on foreign policy and voter list revisions. CPI(M) MP John Brittas alleged mass disenfranchisement of voters, claiming that in Kerala 15 per cent voters have been deleted.

The MPs from different parties expressed their views at the all-party meeting called by the government. It was chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, with Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju among those present.

NDA ally and Telugu Desam Party MP Lavu Sri Krishna Devarayalu demanded a discussion in the Lok Sabha on Indias free trade agreement.

A non-aligned party, the Biju Janata Dal, said it would raise agrarian distress and law and order concerns in Odisha.

Among other things, the issue of UGC rules, which has sparked off protests in Uttar Pradesh, especially by the upper castes, may also feature in the House.

However, the big moment of this session would be the Budget presentation by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. All eyes will be on her to see how she balances the fiscal issues with the political as polls are to be held this year in five states. The BJP is hoping for a good show in these states.

Meanwhile, an assessment by PRS Legislative Research of last years Presidents address is expected to sharpen the debate during the Motion of Thanks.

On internal security, PRS noted that Left-wing Extremism-related incidents declined by 89 per cent between 2010 and 2025. On defence, the analysis pointed to rising defence exports, increased indigenous production, and a growing reliance on domestic sources to fund defence modernisation.

On employment, PRS reviewed the Prime Ministers Internship Scheme launched in 202425, which aims to provide one crore internships over five years. It found that only about 20 per cent of over 1.6 lakh offers made across two rounds were accepted, and that 52 per cent of candidates selected in the first round dropped out before completing their internships.

On pensions, PRS flagged a gap between claims and uptake. While the President said the Unified Pension Scheme had been widely welcomed, only 1.2 lakh of about 23 lakh central government employees, or 5.2 per cent, have opted for it so far. The scheme combines features of the Old Pension Scheme and the National Pension System, but increases the Centres contribution to pension payouts.

On the economy, PRS noted that while GST collections touched about 20 lakh crore in 202425, GST revenue as a proportion of GDP remains lower than in the pre-GST regime.
As the world marks the International Day of Commemoration in Memory of the Victims of the Holocaust on January 27, the act of remembering has evolved from a historical understanding into a contested idea in the modern world. Eighty-one years after the Russian Red Army liberated the Auschwitz-Birkenau camps(1945), the landscape of Holocaust remembrance has transformed into a paradox: while the institutional efforts in technology and education have reached their peak, the rise of global anti-Semitism, with the fading living memory of the survivors, has made the message of Never Again more precarious than ever.

Keeping all this in mind, it is essential to understand how the Holocaust has been remembered in the current times. According to the Ministry of Welfare and Social Security, as of January 2026, there are 111,000 Holocaust survivors currently living in Israel, with an average age of 87 years, and 417 of them are above 100.

Nirmalshankar M

The central theme of this years Holocaust Memorial Day is Bridging Generations, reflecting the biological reality. With only a few remaining survivors of this chaos, some of whom are centenarians, their physical presence at ceremonies is becoming rare. This shifts the focus from the actual survivors to their second or third generations, who became new custodians of the testimony. Although in recent years, people listen to or understand the bitter experience of the Holocaust through descendants, books, videos, and other forms of online sources, the originality has often been blurred with it as a mere history.

For latest news and analyses on Middle East, visit: Yello! Middle East

The remembrance of 2026 commences against a backdrop of alarming statistical trends. According to the Claims Conferences 2026 Index on Holocaust Knowledge and Awareness, a survey was conducted across eight countries, including the US, the UK, France, Austria, Germany, Poland, Hungary, and Romania. The studys key findings are concerning.

A majority of the adult population across all countries believes that something similar to the Holocaust will happen again. It is highest in the US (76%), followed by the UK (69%), France (63%), Austria (62%), Germany (61%), Poland (54%), Hungary (52%), and Romania (44%). The survey conducted among Romanian adults found that around 28 percent are not aware of the fact that six million Jews were murdered. The survey also found that 53 percent of Romanian adults aged 18 to 29 believed the numbers were greatly exaggerated. However, in the Middle East, the Holocaust has been viewed through the lens of the Israel-Palestine conflict, with some portraying Palestinians as the real victims of the chaos by equating Israeli policies with Nazi crimes.

Similarly, after the 7 October 7 terror attacks, the anti-Semitic incident spiked globally. By July 2025, these incidents had risen by over 21 percent compared to the previous year, with North America witnessing around 16,000 incidents in the precedingtwo years. These figures suggest that the Holocaust education, while mandatory in many nations, is failing to compete with the massive spread of disinformation online. A study published by UNESCO under the title History Under Attack: Holocaust Denial and Distortion on Social Media suggests that the spread of fake news and anti-Semitic news online, especially on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Telegram, TikTok, and X (formerly Twitter), jeopardizes the understanding of the most tragic episodes of humanity.

For the year 2026, the United Nations adopted the theme Holocaust Remembrance for Dignity and Human Rights, which frames the Shoah (Holocaust) as a universal lesson for all humanity. However, the critics argue that the overgeneralization of the event may dilute its specific roots in antisemitism. Meanwhile, the growing usage of terms like Climate Holocaust or Environmental Holocaust to convey the magnitude of ecological collapse could risk semantic dilution where the horror of genocide is subsumed into the category of day-to-day disaster.

The state of Holocaust remembrance in 2026 reflects a shift from memory to history, coinciding with a global environment marked by relative subjectivity in truth. The theme Bridging Generations not only suggests bridging a gap between generations by just carrying stories, but also carrying the weight of responsibility to act. Holocaust remembrance is not merely a passive annual ritual; instead, it remains a meaningful activity and a daily resistance against the growing anti-Semitism.

The author is a doctoral candidate at the Centre for West Asian Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi.
The US armada, led by aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group (CSG), entered the Middle Eastern waters on Monday, ramping up tensions in the region.

The carrier, along with three Arleigh Burke guided missile destroyers escorting it (and usually a fast-attack nuclear submarine), is currently located in the Indian Ocean, a U.S. Navy official confirmed to The War Zone. The elements of the Lincoln CSG were deployed to the region after protests erupted in Iran against the Islamic regime. The arrival of the armada has sparked speculation that a US attack may be imminent.

Meanwhile, Iran is also preparing for a war with the US. A report by Israeli media i24 cites Intelligence assessments from Persian Gulf states that indicate that Iran has reinforced its southern coastline with units from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). The deployments are concentrated along strategic areas of the Persian Gulf, including the Strait of Hormuz. This is seen as an attempt to counter any potential US ground operation.

Iran has reportedly positioned IRGC and Basij units along its more than 2,400-kilometer coastline, with extra force on key locations such as Qeshm Island and the port city of Bandar Abbas. Besides, it has also deployed advanced coastal defense systems, including anti-ship missiles and Ghadir-class submarines, aimed at detecting and deterring maritime threats in the Persian Gulf.

For latest news and analyses on Middle East, visit: Yello! Middle East

Iran has already warned that the United States would not be able to mount a surprise or decisive blow against the country. The Iranian state media quoted a senior unnamed official who claimed that the maritime environment surrounding Iran is indigenous and is being watched by its armed forces. The official said Irans armed forces track hostile activity before it reaches the operational stage. Any threat against Irans national security is being closely monitored, and appropriate decisions will be taken at the proper time, he said.

While the Iranian military isnt equipped enough to tackle the US armada, analysts believe the force buildup is also believed to be designed to enable Iran to close the Strait of Hormuz if necessary.

According to Cameron Chell, CEO of drone manufacturer Draganfly, Iran could use low-cost unmanned aerial systems that could pose a threat to the US armada, including the USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group. If hundreds are launched in a short period of time, some of them will almost certainly reach their targets, he said, adding that Irans strategy of pairing inexpensive drones with low-cost warheads creates an effective asymmetric threat.

Trumps plan

Unconfirmed reports hint that Trump has devised a new plan to tackle Iran, which includes exploring the possibility of imposing a naval blockade on Iran that would prevent it from exporting oil. The president has already taken such a step against the Maduro regime in Venezuela, and a few weeks later, Trump launched an operation to capture President Maduro and his wife. Among the options under review is a maritime cordon designed to stop Irans oil exports at sea, according to Israeli media i24.

The advantages of such an operation are that even if the protests have died down, massive economic pressure can encourage protests and once again shake the regime from within.

The US Air Force has begun a large-scale exercise in the Middle East, and the military deployment in the region is one of the largest since the 12-day war last June. American sources claim that operational readiness is very high, with preparations for an attack on Iran dependent only on President Trump's decision. However, the U.S. Air Force Central (AFCENT) claims that the war drill Agile Spartan is part of its regular exercise schedule and not in response to current tensions, but analysts argue that the timing of the drill is hard to ignore.
IBC Advanced Alloys Corp. (CVE:IB  Get Free Report)s stock price traded down 16.3% on Monday . The company traded as low as C$0.18 and last traded at C$0.18. 29,400 shares traded hands during trading, a decline of 15% from the average session volume of 34,445 shares. The stock had previously closed at C$0.22.

IBC Advanced Alloys Stock Performance

The company has a market capitalization of C$18.88 million, a P/E ratio of -5.50 and a beta of 2.37. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 343.32, a quick ratio of 0.18 and a current ratio of 0.81. The businesss fifty day simple moving average is C$0.20 and its 200-day simple moving average is C$0.14.

IBC Advanced Alloys Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

IBC Advanced Alloys Corp. develops, produces, and sells specialty alloy products in the United States and internationally. The company operates through Copper Alloys and Engineered Materials segments. It offers various copper alloys as castings and forgings, such as beryllium copper, chrome copper, oxygen-free high conductivity copper, and aluminum bronze in the form of plates, blocks, rounds, discs, bars, rings, tubes, rods, and other custom forgings, as well as specialty copper alloy forgings for plastic mold tooling and resistance welding applications.

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Shares of Taseko Mines Limited (LON:TKO  Get Free Report) reached a new 52-week high during trading on Monday . The stock traded as high as GBX 610 and last traded at GBX 605, with a volume of 25426 shares changing hands. The stock had previously closed at GBX 535.20.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Separately, Canaccord Genuity Group lifted their price objective on Taseko Mines from GBX 330 to GBX 390 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Friday, November 14th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Buy rating, According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of Buy and an average price target of GBX 390.

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Taseko Mines Stock Up 13.0%

About Taseko Mines

The firm has a market cap of 2.18 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -31.84 and a beta of 1.92. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of GBX 417.51 and a 200-day moving average price of GBX 326.09.

(Get Free Report)

Taseko Mines is a dynamic and growing mining company focused on the operation and development of copper mines in North America.

Headquartered in Vancouver, Taseko operates the state-of-the-art Gibraltar Mine (100% owned), the second largest copper mine in Canada, with a nearly 700-person workforce producing an average of 140 million pounds of copper and 2.5 million pounds of molybdenum per year.

In addition to the Yellowhead copper project and the Aley niobium project, Taseko is also advancing the Florence Copper project in Arizona  a near-term copper producer with an unparalleled energy, water and GHG profile per unit of production.

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Valeo S.A. (OTCMKTS:VLEEY  Get Free Report) shares reached a new 52-week high during trading on Monday . The company traded as high as $7.47 and last traded at $7.47, with a volume of 2820 shares trading hands. The stock had previously closed at $7.2460.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of equities analysts have recently issued reports on VLEEY shares. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reiterated a hold rating on shares of Valeo in a report on Thursday, January 15th. Morgan Stanley reaffirmed an overweight rating on shares of Valeo in a research note on Thursday, January 8th. Citigroup reiterated a neutral rating on shares of Valeo in a research report on Monday, October 6th. Sanford C. Bernstein lowered shares of Valeo from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Tuesday, November 25th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group reaffirmed a hold rating on shares of Valeo in a research note on Monday, October 27th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, one has issued a Buy rating and six have issued a Hold rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of Hold.

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Valeo Stock Down 1.2%

About Valeo

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 stocks fifty day moving average price is $6.71 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $6.34.

(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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A number of firms have modified their ratings and price targets on shares of Oshkosh (NYSE: OSK) recently:

1/23/2026  Oshkosh had its price target raised by analysts at Wells Fargo & Company from $144.00 to $168.00. They now have an overweight rating on the stock.

1/23/2026  Oshkosh had its price target raised by analysts at Morgan Stanley from $147.00 to $155.00. They now have an equal weight rating on the stock.

1/22/2026  Oshkosh had its buy (b-) rating reaffirmed by analysts at Weiss Ratings.

1/22/2026  Oshkosh was downgraded by analysts at Zacks Research from a hold rating to a strong sell rating.

1/18/2026  Oshkosh was upgraded by analysts at Wall Street Zen from a hold rating to a buy rating.

1/14/2026  Oshkosh had its price target raised by analysts at JPMorgan Chase & Co. from $132.00 to $145.00. They now have a neutral rating on the stock.

1/13/2026  Oshkosh had its price target raised by analysts at Citigroup Inc. from $150.00 to $175.00. They now have a buy rating on the stock.

1/10/2026  Oshkosh was downgraded by analysts at Wall Street Zen from a buy rating to a hold rating.

1/5/2026  Oshkosh had its price target lowered by analysts at UBS Group AG from $165.00 to $163.00. They now have a buy rating on the stock.

12/20/2025  Oshkosh was upgraded by analysts at Wall Street Zen from a hold rating to a buy rating.

12/19/2025  Oshkosh had its price target raised by analysts at Sanford C. Bernstein from $132.00 to $140.00. They now have a market perform rating on the stock.

12/18/2025  Oshkosh had its overweight rating reaffirmed by analysts at KeyCorp.

12/10/2025  Oshkosh had its price target raised by analysts at Morgan Stanley from $136.00 to $147.00. They now have an equal weight rating on the stock.

12/10/2025  Oshkosh had its price target lowered by analysts at Argus from $175.00 to $160.00. They now have a buy rating on the stock.

12/10/2025  Oshkosh had its price target raised by analysts at Morgan Stanley from $136.00 to $147.00. They now have an equal weight rating on the stock.

12/6/2025  Oshkosh was downgraded by analysts at Wall Street Zen from a buy rating to a hold rating.

11/28/2025  Oshkosh was upgraded by analysts at Wall Street Zen from a hold rating to a buy rating.

Oshkosh Dividend Announcement

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, December 1st. Investors of record on Monday, November 17th were issued a $0.51 dividend. This represents a $2.04 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.3%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, November 17th. Oshkoshs dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 19.90%.

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Oshkosh Corporation (NYSE: OSK) is a leading designer, manufacturer and marketer of specialty trucks, military vehicles and access equipment. The companys offerings span critical end markets, including defense, fire and emergency services, commercial construction and industrial sectors. By combining engineering expertise with advanced technologies, Oshkosh delivers solutions that enhance mobility, safety and productivity for its customers.

Founded in 1917 and headquartered in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, the company has evolved from producing heavy-duty dump trucks to a diversified portfolio of products and services.

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RAMALLAH, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- Palestinian security forces said Tuesday that the Palestinian Authority (PA) is prepared to take over operations at the Rafah crossing once it reopens, in line with a 2005 agreement and under the supervision of a European Union mission.

PA security forces' spokesperson Anwar Rajab told Xinhua that the crossing is still awaiting an Israeli decision on the opening date and the completion of necessary technical arrangements. He denied reports that the crossing would open on Tuesday.

"The Palestinian side, through the police and relevant authorities, is fully ready to operate the crossing under the 2005 agreement, with the EU mission present," Rajab said.

Meanwhile, Amjad al-Shawa, director of the NGO Network in Gaza, said arrangements are being made for the crossing's reopening and that lists of patients scheduled to travel are being prepared. He added that most of those expected to leave Gaza will be patients, while Israel will impose strict procedures on anyone seeking to return.

Israeli media reported that the crossing could partially reopen next Sunday for operational, coordination, and inspection purposes, without allowing entry or exit. Limited passage for residents may not begin until the following Thursday, primarily for around 150 patients and injured individuals transferring to Egypt for medical treatment.

About 84,000 Gazans are currently in Egypt and hope to return once the crossing reopens, according to reports.

Israel announced Sunday that it would allow a "limited" reopening of Rafah under full Israeli control. A statement from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office had conditioned the move on the return of the remains of Ran Gvili, the last Israeli hostage held in Gaza. On Monday, the Israeli military confirmed it had recovered Gvili's body during search operations in Gaza City.

Rafah, Gaza's main land crossing, links the Strip to Egypt and is the only route for Palestinians to travel abroad for medical care, education, or work. Israel has controlled the crossing since May 2024, following military operations in the city. It has remained closed to civilians despite repeated commitments to reopen it under ceasefire agreements. 
Shares of Novo Nordisk A/S (NYSE:NVO  Get Free Report) rose 2.7% during trading on Monday . The stock traded as high as $64.00 and last traded at $63.96. Approximately 19,981,823 shares were traded during trading, a decline of 18% from the average daily volume of 24,340,666 shares. The stock had previously closed at $62.26.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of research analysts recently weighed in on NVO shares. Weiss Ratings reiterated a sell (d+) rating on shares of Novo Nordisk A/S in a report on Monday, December 29th. HSBC reaffirmed a hold rating and set a $54.00 price target on shares of Novo Nordisk A/S in a research report on Wednesday, December 10th. CICC Research started coverage on shares of Novo Nordisk A/S in a research report on Friday, January 9th. They issued an outperform rating and a $73.50 price objective for the company. Morgan Stanley restated an underweight rating and set a $42.00 target price on shares of Novo Nordisk A/S in a report on Wednesday, December 3rd. Finally, Hsbc Global Res cut shares of Novo Nordisk A/S from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Monday, November 24th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, seven have given a Buy rating, eleven have given a Hold rating and three have assigned a Sell rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Novo Nordisk A/S presently has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $57.79.

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Novo Nordisk A/S Stock Up 2.7%

The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.52, a current ratio of 0.78 and a quick ratio of 0.57. The stocks fifty day simple moving average is $52.13 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $54.59. The company has a market capitalization of $285.58 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 18.59 and a beta of 0.66.

Novo Nordisk A/S (NYSE:NVO  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, November 5th. The company reported $1.02 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.77 by $0.25. Novo Nordisk A/S had a return on equity of 73.50% and a net margin of 32.76%.The business had revenue of $11.79 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $11.98 billion. On average, sell-side analysts predict that Novo Nordisk A/S will post 3.84 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Novo Nordisk A/S

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the business. Revolve Wealth Partners LLC boosted its position in Novo Nordisk A/S by 8.7% during the 4th quarter. Revolve Wealth Partners LLC now owns 2,490 shares of the companys stock worth $214,000 after acquiring an additional 200 shares during the period. AQR Capital Management LLC raised its position in Novo Nordisk A/S by 21.0% in the first quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC now owns 62,099 shares of the companys stock worth $4,312,000 after acquiring an additional 10,758 shares in the last quarter. Sivia Capital Partners LLC lifted its stake in Novo Nordisk A/S by 18.2% during the second quarter. Sivia Capital Partners LLC now owns 10,320 shares of the companys stock valued at $712,000 after purchasing an additional 1,587 shares during the last quarter. Old Port Advisors increased its holdings in shares of Novo Nordisk A/S by 12.6% in the second quarter. Old Port Advisors now owns 3,466 shares of the companys stock valued at $239,000 after buying an additional 388 shares in the last quarter. Finally, SeaBridge Investment Advisors LLC lifted its position in shares of Novo Nordisk A/S by 20.4% during the 2nd quarter. SeaBridge Investment Advisors LLC now owns 3,535 shares of the companys stock valued at $244,000 after acquiring an additional 600 shares during the last quarter. 11.54% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Novo Nordisk A/S Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Novo Nordisk A/S is a Danish multinational pharmaceutical company headquartered in Bagsvrd, Denmark, best known for its leadership in diabetes care and metabolic health. The company traces its roots to early Danish insulin production in the 1920s and was established in its current form through a 1989 merger of predecessor companies. Novo Nordisk develops, manufactures and markets pharmaceutical products and devices that address chronic and serious diseases, with a strong emphasis on long-term treatment and patient support.

The companys core product portfolio centers on diabetes therapies, including a range of insulins and modern incretin-based treatments.

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Glaukos Corporation (NYSE:GKOS  Get Free Report) Director Marc Stapley sold 15,000 shares of Glaukos stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, January 22nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $127.71, for a total transaction of $1,915,650.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director owned 37,449 shares of the companys stock, valued at $4,782,611.79. This represents a 28.60% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link.

Glaukos Stock Performance

GKOS traded up $4.31 during trading on Monday, hitting $124.29. The stock had a trading volume of 872,424 shares, compared to its average volume of 736,399. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.09, a quick ratio of 4.47 and a current ratio of 5.20. Glaukos Corporation has a twelve month low of $73.16 and a twelve month high of $161.78. The firm has a market capitalization of $7.14 billion, a P/E ratio of -80.71 and a beta of 0.67. The companys 50-day moving average price is $111.25 and its 200 day moving average price is $96.29.

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Glaukos (NYSE:GKOS  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, October 29th. The medical instruments supplier reported ($0.16) EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of ($0.27) by $0.11. Glaukos had a negative net margin of 18.65% and a negative return on equity of 7.52%. The business had revenue of $133.54 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $122.55 million. During the same period in the prior year, the business earned ($0.28) earnings per share. The companys quarterly revenue was up 38.1% on a year-over-year basis. On average, equities research analysts forecast that Glaukos Corporation will post -1.08 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Wellington Management Group LLP lifted its position in shares of Glaukos by 10.4% in the 3rd quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 3,580,670 shares of the medical instruments suppliers stock worth $292,004,000 after purchasing an additional 336,266 shares during the period. Primecap Management Co. CA boosted its stake in shares of Glaukos by 23.3% in the 3rd quarter. Primecap Management Co. CA now owns 2,253,788 shares of the medical instruments suppliers stock worth $183,796,000 after buying an additional 425,790 shares during the last quarter. State Street Corp increased its stake in shares of Glaukos by 5.3% during the 2nd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 2,090,365 shares of the medical instruments suppliers stock worth $215,914,000 after purchasing an additional 105,972 shares during the last quarter. Ameriprise Financial Inc. increased its stake in shares of Glaukos by 3.5% in the second quarter. Ameriprise Financial Inc. now owns 1,999,252 shares of the medical instruments suppliers stock worth $206,503,000 after purchasing an additional 68,497 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Alliancebernstein L.P. boosted its position in shares of Glaukos by 38.5% in the third quarter. Alliancebernstein L.P. now owns 1,733,474 shares of the medical instruments suppliers stock valued at $141,365,000 after acquiring an additional 481,620 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 99.04% of the companys stock.

A number of analysts recently weighed in on GKOS shares. BTIG Research restated a buy rating and set a $116.00 target price on shares of Glaukos in a report on Friday, January 2nd. Stephens upped their target price on shares of Glaukos from $115.00 to $145.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Friday, January 2nd. Piper Sandler restated an overweight rating and set a $165.00 price target on shares of Glaukos in a research note on Wednesday, January 14th. Wells Fargo & Company increased their target price on Glaukos from $120.00 to $122.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a report on Thursday, October 30th. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus boosted their price target on shares of Glaukos from $115.00 to $160.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Thursday. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twelve have issued a Buy rating, one has given a Hold rating and two have assigned a Sell rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $131.38.

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Glaukos Company Profile

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Glaukos Corporation is a medical technology company specializing in the development, manufacturing and commercialization of innovative therapies for patients with glaucoma and other chronic eye diseases. The companys core offerings focus on micro-invasive glaucoma surgery (MIGS), designed to reduce intraocular pressure and manage glaucoma more safely and effectively than traditional surgical approaches. Glaukoss flagship products include the iStent, iStent inject and iStent infinite trabecular micro-bypass stents, which are implanted during cataract surgery to improve aqueous outflow and help control eye pressure.

Beyond its MIGS portfolio, Glaukos has expanded into sustained drug-delivery solutions.

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DSV (OTCMKTS:DSDVY  Get Free Report) and Grupo Aeroportuario del Sureste (NYSE:ASR  Get Free Report) are both large-cap transportation companies, but which is the better investment? We will contrast the two companies based on the strength of their institutional ownership, valuation, analyst recommendations, profitability, earnings, dividends and risk.

Dividends

DSV pays an annual dividend of $0.30 per share and has a dividend yield of 0.2%. Grupo Aeroportuario del Sureste pays an annual dividend of $37.83 per share and has a dividend yield of 11.0%. DSV pays out 10.2% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Grupo Aeroportuario del Sureste pays out 200.6% of its earnings in the form of a dividend, suggesting it may not have sufficient earnings to cover its dividend payment in the future.

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Insider & Institutional Ownership

0.2% of DSV shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 10.6% of Grupo Aeroportuario del Sureste shares are owned by institutional investors. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, hedge funds and large money managers believe a stock is poised for long-term growth.

Analyst Recommendations

Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score DSV 0 2 3 1 2.83 Grupo Aeroportuario del Sureste 1 4 2 0 2.14

This is a summary of current ratings for DSV and Grupo Aeroportuario del Sureste, as reported by MarketBeat.

Grupo Aeroportuario del Sureste has a consensus price target of $305.00, suggesting a potential downside of 11.11%. Given Grupo Aeroportuario del Surestes higher probable upside, analysts clearly believe Grupo Aeroportuario del Sureste is more favorable than DSV.

Profitability

This table compares DSV and Grupo Aeroportuario del Surestes net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets DSV 4.23% 10.92% 4.63% Grupo Aeroportuario del Sureste 31.96% 20.67% 13.44%

Valuation & Earnings

This table compares DSV and Grupo Aeroportuario del Surestes top-line revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio DSV $24.24 billion 2.76 $1.47 billion $2.94 47.23 Grupo Aeroportuario del Sureste $1.72 billion 5.99 $743.97 million $18.86 18.19

DSV has higher revenue and earnings than Grupo Aeroportuario del Sureste. Grupo Aeroportuario del Sureste is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than DSV, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

Risk & Volatility

DSV has a beta of 1.32, suggesting that its share price is 32% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Grupo Aeroportuario del Sureste has a beta of 0.57, suggesting that its share price is 43% less volatile than the S&P 500.

About DSV

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DSV A/S offers transport and logistics services in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, North America, South America, Asia, Australia, and the Pacific. It operates through three segments: Air & Sea, Road, and Solutions. The company provides air freight, air freight compliance and carrier, and rail freight services; sea freight, and sea freight compliance and carrier services, as well as freight containers. It also offers road freight services, such as part and full loads, groupage, specialized transport, express, and online and document handling services; and workshops. In addition, the company provides logistics solutions for automotive, technology, healthcare, energy, industrial, retail/ fashion, and chemical sectors; and inventory management solutions. Further, it offers special project transport services, such as industrial projects, renewable energy, government logistics, ship charter, and air charter services; and courier and warehousing services. The company was formerly known as DSV Panalpina A/S and changed its name to DSV A/S in September 2021. DSV A/S was incorporated in 1976 and is based in Hedehusene, Denmark.

About Grupo Aeroportuario del Sureste

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Grupo Aeroportuario del Sureste, S. A. B. de C. V. holds concessions to operate, maintain, and develop airports in the southeast region of Mexico. The company operates airports that are located in the cities of Cancun, Cozumel, Merida, Huatulco, Oaxaca, Veracruz, Villahermosa, Tapachula, and Minatitlan. It provides aeronautical services, which include passenger, aircraft landing and parking, passenger walkway, and airport security services. The company also offers non-aeronautical services, such as leasing of space at its airports to retailers, restaurants, airlines, and other commercial tenants; catering, handling, and ground transportation services, as well as engages in the various commercial operations. In addition, it holds concessions to operate the Luis Munoz Marin International Airport in San Juan, Puerto Rico; and various airports in Colombia, including the Enrique Olaya Herrera Airport in Medellin, the Jose Maria Cordova International Airport in Rionegro, the Los Garzones Airport in Monteria, the Antonio Roldan Betancourt Airport in Carepa, the El Carano Airport in Quibdo, and the Las Brujas Airport in Corozal. Grupo Aeroportuario del Sureste, S. A. B. de C. V. was founded in 1996 and is headquartered in Mexico City, Mexico.

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Oxford Industries, Inc. (NYSE:OXM  Free Report)  Investment analysts at KeyCorp issued their FY2026 EPS estimates for shares of Oxford Industries in a research note issued to investors on Wednesday, January 21st. KeyCorp analyst A. Owens expects that the textile maker will earn $2.21 per share for the year. KeyCorp has a Sector Weight rating on the stock. The consensus estimate for Oxford Industries current full-year earnings is $6.62 per share. KeyCorp also issued estimates for Oxford Industries Q4 2026 earnings at $0.01 EPS and FY2027 earnings at $2.64 EPS.

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Oxford Industries (NYSE:OXM  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, December 10th. The textile maker reported ($0.92) earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of ($0.95) by $0.03. Oxford Industries had a negative net margin of 0.20% and a positive return on equity of 9.35%. The business had revenue of $307.34 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $304.42 million. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm earned ($0.11) earnings per share. The companys revenue for the quarter was down .2% on a year-over-year basis. Oxford Industries has set its FY 2025 guidance at -1.5401.320 EPS and its Q4 2025 guidance at 0.000-0.200 EPS.

Several other equities analysts have also recently weighed in on the company. Telsey Advisory Group raised their price target on Oxford Industries from $35.00 to $40.00 and gave the company a market perform rating in a report on Tuesday, January 13th. Truist Financial set a $38.00 target price on Oxford Industries in a research note on Wednesday, January 14th. Zacks Research lowered shares of Oxford Industries from a hold rating to a strong sell rating in a report on Friday, December 12th. UBS Group upped their target price on Oxford Industries from $35.00 to $36.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a report on Thursday, January 8th. Finally, Weiss Ratings reissued a sell (d) rating on shares of Oxford Industries in a report on Monday, December 29th. Five research analysts have rated the stock with a Hold rating and two have given a Sell rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of Reduce and a consensus target price of $45.40.

View Our Latest Analysis on Oxford Industries

Oxford Industries Stock Performance

OXM opened at $37.67 on Monday. The company has a fifty day moving average of $37.03 and a 200 day moving average of $39.73. Oxford Industries has a fifty-two week low of $30.57 and a fifty-two week high of $87.93. The stock has a market capitalization of $560.59 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of -114.16 and a beta of 1.08. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.27, a quick ratio of 0.62 and a current ratio of 1.33.

Oxford Industries Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, January 30th. Stockholders of record on Friday, January 16th will be given a dividend of $0.69 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, January 16th. This represents a $2.76 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 7.3%. Oxford Industriess payout ratio is currently -836.36%.

Insider Buying and Selling at Oxford Industries

In other news, CEO Thomas Caldecot Chubb III bought 5,000 shares of Oxford Industries stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, December 12th. The shares were purchased at an average price of $35.12 per share, with a total value of $175,600.00. Following the completion of the acquisition, the chief executive officer directly owned 22,709 shares in the company, valued at $797,540.08. The trade was a 28.23% increase in their ownership of the stock. The acquisition was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. Insiders own 6.00% of the companys stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Oxford Industries

Large investors have recently modified their holdings of the company. Hantz Financial Services Inc. lifted its position in shares of Oxford Industries by 245.9% during the 3rd quarter. Hantz Financial Services Inc. now owns 671 shares of the textile makers stock worth $27,000 after purchasing an additional 477 shares during the last quarter. CWM LLC raised its stake in Oxford Industries by 61.5% in the third quarter. CWM LLC now owns 801 shares of the textile makers stock valued at $32,000 after buying an additional 305 shares in the last quarter. Caitong International Asset Management Co. Ltd purchased a new stake in Oxford Industries during the 2nd quarter worth about $34,000. GAMMA Investing LLC boosted its position in shares of Oxford Industries by 46.6% during the 4th quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 925 shares of the textile makers stock worth $32,000 after acquiring an additional 294 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Quarry LP purchased a new position in shares of Oxford Industries in the 3rd quarter valued at about $38,000. 91.16% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Oxford Industries Company Profile

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Oxford Industries, Inc, incorporated in 1942 and headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, is a leading designer, marketer and distributor of high-quality mens and womens lifestyle apparel and accessories. The companys product portfolio features a mix of owned brands and licensed partnerships that span casual, resort and performance categories. Key owned brands include Tommy Bahama, renowned for its island-inspired menswear and womens sportswear, and Southern Tide, which offers coastal-focused clothing and footwear.

Further Reading

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TransAlta Co. (TSE:TA  Get Free Report) (NYSE:TAC) has earned a consensus rating of Moderate Buy from the ten analysts that are presently covering the company, Marketbeat Ratings reports. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a hold recommendation, six have given a buy recommendation and one has given a strong buy recommendation to the company. The average 12 month target price among brokerages that have covered the stock in the last year is C$24.50.

A number of research analysts recently commented on TA shares. CIBC raised their price objective on shares of TransAlta from C$25.00 to C$26.00 in a research note on Wednesday, December 17th. Natl Bk Canada lowered TransAlta from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Wednesday, December 3rd. Jefferies Financial Group lowered their price target on TransAlta from C$27.00 to C$22.00 in a research report on Wednesday, January 21st. Desjardins upped their price objective on TransAlta from C$16.50 to C$21.00 and gave the company a hold rating in a report on Wednesday, October 22nd. Finally, Royal Bank Of Canada raised their target price on TransAlta from C$20.00 to C$24.00 in a research note on Monday, November 10th.

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TransAlta Price Performance

Shares of TA opened at C$17.62 on Friday. TransAlta has a one year low of C$11.16 and a one year high of C$25.03. The stocks fifty day moving average is C$18.33 and its 200-day moving average is C$18.86. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 229.66, a quick ratio of 0.62 and a current ratio of 0.74. The firm has a market capitalization of C$5.23 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -27.53, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of -0.07 and a beta of 0.60.

TransAlta (TSE:TA  Get Free Report) (NYSE:TAC) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, November 6th. The company reported C($0.02) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter. TransAlta had a net margin of 7.49% and a return on equity of 12.03%. The company had revenue of C$674.00 million during the quarter.

About TransAlta

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TransAlta owns, operates and develops a diverse fleet of electrical power generation assets in Canada, the United States and Australia with a focus on long-term shareholder value. TransAlta provides municipalities, medium and large industries, businesses and utility customers with affordable, energy efficient and reliable power. Today, TransAlta is one of Canadas largest producers of wind power and Albertas largest producer of thermal generation and hydro-electric power. For over 114 years, TransAlta has been a responsible operator and a proud member of the communities where we operate and where our employees work and live.

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Weyerhaeuser (NYSE:WY  Get Free Report) is expected to post its Q4 2025 results after the market closes on Thursday, January 29th. Analysts expect Weyerhaeuser to post earnings of ($0.13) per share and revenue of $1.5828 billion for the quarter. Individuals can find conference call details on the companys upcoming Q4 2025 earning report page for the latest details on the call scheduled for Friday, January 30, 2026 at 10:00 AM ET.

Weyerhaeuser (NYSE:WY  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, October 30th. The real estate investment trust reported $0.06 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of ($0.07) by $0.13. The firm had revenue of $1.72 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.71 billion. Weyerhaeuser had a return on equity of 3.04% and a net margin of 4.68%.Weyerhaeusers quarterly revenue was up 12.1% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the company earned $0.05 EPS. On average, analysts expect Weyerhaeuser to post $1 EPS for the current fiscal year and $1 EPS for the next fiscal year.

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Weyerhaeuser Stock Performance

Shares of Weyerhaeuser stock opened at $26.59 on Tuesday. The company has a quick ratio of 0.78, a current ratio of 1.23 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.52. The stocks fifty day moving average is $23.77 and its two-hundred day moving average is $24.41. Weyerhaeuser has a 52 week low of $21.16 and a 52 week high of $31.66. The company has a market capitalization of $19.16 billion, a PE ratio of 59.08, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 99.05 and a beta of 1.04.

Weyerhaeuser Dividend Announcement

Insiders Place Their Bets

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, December 12th. Stockholders of record on Friday, November 28th were paid a dividend of $0.21 per share. This represents a $0.84 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.2%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, November 28th. Weyerhaeusers payout ratio is currently 186.67%.

In other Weyerhaeuser news, Director Sara Grootwassink Lewis purchased 4,500 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, December 17th. The stock was acquired at an average cost of $23.61 per share, for a total transaction of $106,245.00. Following the acquisition, the director owned 25,978 shares in the company, valued at $613,340.58. This trade represents a 20.95% increase in their position. The acquisition was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Also, CEO Devin W. Stockfish sold 90,162 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Monday, December 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $23.33, for a total transaction of $2,103,479.46. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer directly owned 1,024,861 shares in the company, valued at $23,910,007.13. The trade was a 8.09% decrease in their position. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. 0.27% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Institutional Trading of Weyerhaeuser

Several hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in WY. Danske Bank A S purchased a new position in shares of Weyerhaeuser in the third quarter valued at approximately $6,041,000. CANADA LIFE ASSURANCE Co lifted its holdings in Weyerhaeuser by 1.2% during the 3rd quarter. CANADA LIFE ASSURANCE Co now owns 870,855 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $21,635,000 after buying an additional 10,605 shares in the last quarter. Worth Venture Partners LLC acquired a new stake in Weyerhaeuser during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $233,000. XTX Topco Ltd purchased a new position in Weyerhaeuser in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $703,000. Finally, United Capital Financial Advisors LLC grew its stake in shares of Weyerhaeuser by 7.6% in the third quarter. United Capital Financial Advisors LLC now owns 16,631 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $412,000 after acquiring an additional 1,169 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 82.99% of the companys stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research firms recently commented on WY. CIBC reaffirmed an outperform rating on shares of Weyerhaeuser in a research note on Friday, December 12th. Weiss Ratings restated a sell (d+) rating on shares of Weyerhaeuser in a research note on Monday, December 29th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. decreased their price target on shares of Weyerhaeuser from $28.00 to $27.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research note on Friday, November 14th. Citigroup boosted their price target on Weyerhaeuser from $26.00 to $30.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Wednesday, January 14th. Finally, Zacks Research upgraded Weyerhaeuser from a strong sell rating to a hold rating in a report on Wednesday, November 12th. Six analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, three have given a Hold rating and two have assigned a Sell rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Weyerhaeuser has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $28.50.

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Weyerhaeuser Company Profile

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Weyerhaeuser Company (NYSE: WY) is a leading integrated forest products company whose core businesses are timberland ownership and forest products manufacturing. The company owns and manages large tracts of timberland and harvests, processes and sells wood and wood-derived products used primarily in residential and industrial construction. Its manufacturing operations produce a range of building materials, including lumber, engineered wood products and wood panels, alongside fiber-based products that serve multiple commercial applications.

Founded in 1900 by Frederick Weyerhaeuser and headquartered in Seattle, Washington, the company has a long history in the North American forest products industry.

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Altria Group (NYSE:MO  Get Free Report) is expected to issue its Q4 2025 results before the market opens on Thursday, January 29th. Analysts expect the company to announce earnings of $1.30 per share and revenue of $5.0236 billion for the quarter. Altria Group has set its FY 2025 guidance at 5.370-5.45 EPS. Individuals may review the information on the companys upcoming Q4 2025 earning report for the latest details on the call scheduled for Thursday, January 29, 2026 at 9:00 AM ET.

Altria Group (NYSE:MO  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, October 30th. The company reported $1.45 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.44 by $0.01. The company had revenue of $5.25 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $5.31 billion. Altria Group had a negative return on equity of 319.43% and a net margin of 37.89%.The firms revenue was down 3.0% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $1.38 earnings per share. On average, analysts expect Altria Group to post $5 EPS for the current fiscal year and $6 EPS for the next fiscal year.

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Altria Group Trading Up 1.9%

Shares of MO opened at $63.08 on Tuesday. The companys 50 day simple moving average is $58.79 and its 200-day simple moving average is $61.68. The firm has a market cap of $105.89 billion, a PE ratio of 12.04, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.43 and a beta of 0.47. Altria Group has a 12-month low of $50.08 and a 12-month high of $68.60.

Altria Group Announces Dividend

Altria Group declared that its board has approved a share repurchase plan on Thursday, October 30th that allows the company to repurchase $2.00 billion in outstanding shares. This repurchase authorization allows the company to repurchase up to 1.9% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock repurchase plans are usually an indication that the companys board believes its stock is undervalued.

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, January 9th. Shareholders of record on Friday, December 26th were given a dividend of $1.06 per share. This represents a $4.24 annualized dividend and a yield of 6.7%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, December 26th. Altria Groups dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 80.92%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Altria Group

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Darwin Wealth Management LLC purchased a new position in Altria Group in the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $27,000. WFA of San Diego LLC acquired a new position in shares of Altria Group during the 2nd quarter worth $39,000. Gould Capital LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Altria Group in the 3rd quarter worth about $39,000. Chapman Financial Group LLC acquired a new stake in Altria Group in the 2nd quarter valued at about $46,000. Finally, Headlands Technologies LLC purchased a new position in Altria Group during the 2nd quarter valued at about $82,000. 57.41% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several brokerages have recently weighed in on MO. Argus upgraded shares of Altria Group to a hold rating in a research note on Tuesday, January 13th. Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a buy (b) rating on shares of Altria Group in a research report on Wednesday, October 8th. The Goldman Sachs Group lifted their target price on Altria Group from $65.00 to $72.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 1st. Finally, UBS Group upped their price target on Altria Group from $63.00 to $67.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Monday. Five investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, five have issued a Hold rating and two have given a Sell rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $63.00.

Read Our Latest Stock Report on Altria Group

About Altria Group

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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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Omega Healthcare Investors (NYSE:OHI  Get Free Report) and Digital Realty Trust (NYSE:DLR  Get Free Report) are both large-cap finance companies, but which is the superior stock? We will compare the two companies based on the strength of their profitability, valuation, earnings, analyst recommendations, dividends, institutional ownership and risk.

Analyst Ratings

This is a summary of recent ratings for Omega Healthcare Investors and Digital Realty Trust, as reported by MarketBeat.com.

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Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Omega Healthcare Investors 0 7 7 0 2.50 Digital Realty Trust 0 8 15 2 2.76

Omega Healthcare Investors presently has a consensus price target of $47.09, suggesting a potential upside of 7.02%. Digital Realty Trust has a consensus price target of $193.22, suggesting a potential upside of 19.59%. Given Digital Realty Trusts stronger consensus rating and higher possible upside, analysts clearly believe Digital Realty Trust is more favorable than Omega Healthcare Investors.

Dividends

Valuation and Earnings

Omega Healthcare Investors pays an annual dividend of $2.68 per share and has a dividend yield of 6.1%. Digital Realty Trust pays an annual dividend of $4.88 per share and has a dividend yield of 3.0%. Omega Healthcare Investors pays out 149.7% of its earnings in the form of a dividend, suggesting it may not have sufficient earnings to cover its dividend payment in the future. Digital Realty Trust pays out 126.1% of its earnings in the form of a dividend, suggesting it may not have sufficient earnings to cover its dividend payment in the future.

This table compares Omega Healthcare Investors and Digital Realty Trusts revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Omega Healthcare Investors $1.05 billion 12.37 $406.33 million $1.79 24.58 Digital Realty Trust $5.55 billion 9.99 $615.19 million $3.87 41.75

Digital Realty Trust has higher revenue and earnings than Omega Healthcare Investors. Omega Healthcare Investors is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Digital Realty Trust, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

Profitability

This table compares Omega Healthcare Investors and Digital Realty Trusts net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Omega Healthcare Investors 46.83% 10.72% 5.29% Digital Realty Trust 23.67% 6.41% 2.98%

Volatility and Risk

Omega Healthcare Investors has a beta of 0.57, meaning that its stock price is 43% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Digital Realty Trust has a beta of 1.11, meaning that its stock price is 11% more volatile than the S&P 500.

Institutional and Insider Ownership

65.3% of Omega Healthcare Investors shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 99.7% of Digital Realty Trust shares are owned by institutional investors. 1.5% of Omega Healthcare Investors shares are owned by insiders. Comparatively, 0.2% of Digital Realty Trust shares are owned 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.

Summary

Digital Realty Trust beats Omega Healthcare Investors on 11 of the 17 factors compared between the two stocks.

About Omega Healthcare Investors

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Omega Healthcare Investors, Inc. engages in the provision of financing and capital to the long-term healthcare industry with a particular focus on skilled nursing facilities, assisted living facilities, independent living facilities, rehabilitation and acute care facilities, and medical office buildings. The company was founded on March 31, 1992 and is headquartered in Hunt Valley, MD.

About Digital Realty Trust

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Digital Realty Trust, Inc. operates as a real estate investment trust, which engages in the provision of data center, colocation and interconnection solutions. It serves the following industries: artificial intelligence (AI), networks, cloud, digital media, mobile, financial services, healthcare, and gaming. The company was founded on March 9, 2004, and is headquartered in Dallas, TX.

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Shares of BlackRock (NYSE:BLK  Get Free Report) have received a consensus recommendation of Moderate Buy from the nineteen research firms that are presently covering the firm, MarketBeat Ratings reports. Four analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and fifteen have issued a buy rating on the company. The average 12 month price target among analysts that have covered the stock in the last year is $1,314.7059.

BLK has been the subject of several research reports. UBS Group set a $1,280.00 price objective on shares of BlackRock in a research report on Friday, January 16th. BNP Paribas Exane boosted their price objective on BlackRock from $1,290.00 to $1,300.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a report on Thursday, January 15th. Morgan Stanley raised their target price on shares of BlackRock from $1,514.00 to $1,550.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Friday, January 16th. Citigroup lifted their price target on shares of BlackRock from $1,200.00 to $1,350.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Monday, September 29th. Finally, TD Cowen lowered shares of BlackRock from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Wednesday, January 14th.

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BlackRock News Summary

BlackRock Stock Performance

Here are the key news stories impacting BlackRock this week:

NYSE:BLK opened at $1,122.48 on Friday. The stock has a market capitalization of $174.15 billion, a P/E ratio of 31.69, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.42 and a beta of 1.47. The company has a current ratio of 3.33, a quick ratio of 3.33 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.34. BlackRock has a 1 year low of $773.74 and a 1 year high of $1,219.94. The firm has a 50 day moving average of $1,079.53 and a 200-day moving average of $1,107.37.

BlackRock (NYSE:BLK  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, January 15th. The asset manager reported $13.16 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $12.55 by $0.61. The firm had revenue of $6.33 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $6.80 billion. BlackRock had a return on equity of 15.14% and a net margin of 22.93%.The businesss revenue was up 23.4% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the firm posted $11.93 EPS. As a group, sell-side analysts anticipate that BlackRock will post 47.41 EPS for the current fiscal year.

BlackRock Increases Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, March 24th. Stockholders of record on Friday, March 6th will be paid a $5.73 dividend. This is an increase from BlackRocks previous quarterly dividend of $5.21. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, March 6th. This represents a $22.92 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.0%. BlackRocks dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 58.84%.

Insider Buying and Selling at BlackRock

In other news, CFO Martin Small sold 27,047 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Friday, January 16th. The stock was sold at an average price of $1,171.14, for a total value of $31,675,823.58. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer directly owned 10,557 shares in the company, valued at $12,363,724.98. This trade represents a 71.93% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. Also, Director J. Richard Kushel sold 20,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, January 21st. The shares were sold at an average price of $1,125.00, for a total value of $22,500,000.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director owned 61,894 shares of the companys stock, valued at $69,630,750. This represents a 24.42% decrease in their position. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Insiders sold a total of 48,305 shares of company stock worth $55,488,396 over the last 90 days. 1.98% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Institutional Trading of BlackRock

A number of hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the company. Norges Bank bought a new stake in BlackRock in the second quarter valued at approximately $2,644,007,000. Laurel Wealth Advisors LLC boosted its position in shares of BlackRock by 105,267.4% during the second quarter. Laurel Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 1,705,899 shares of the asset managers stock worth $1,789,915,000 after purchasing an additional 1,704,280 shares in the last quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. grew its holdings in shares of BlackRock by 72.5% in the 2nd quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. now owns 2,005,358 shares of the asset managers stock valued at $2,104,122,000 after buying an additional 842,901 shares during the period. DZ BANK AG Deutsche Zentral Genossenschafts Bank Frankfurt am Main increased its position in shares of BlackRock by 1,962.0% in the 2nd quarter. DZ BANK AG Deutsche Zentral Genossenschafts Bank Frankfurt am Main now owns 792,494 shares of the asset managers stock valued at $831,524,000 after buying an additional 754,060 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Viking Global Investors LP increased its position in shares of BlackRock by 217.5% in the 3rd quarter. Viking Global Investors LP now owns 619,492 shares of the asset managers stock valued at $722,247,000 after buying an additional 424,388 shares in the last quarter. 80.69% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

BlackRock Company Profile

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BlackRock, Inc is a global investment management firm that provides a broad range of products and services to institutional, intermediary and individual investors. Its core activities include portfolio management across active and index strategies, exchange-traded funds (ETFs) under the iShares brand, fixed income, equity and multi-asset solutions, as well as alternatives such as private equity, real estate and infrastructure. The firm also offers cash management and liquidity solutions and retirement-focused products designed for defined contribution and defined benefit investors.

In addition to traditional investment management, BlackRock is known for its technology and risk management capabilities, most prominently its Aladdin platform, which combines portfolio management, trading and risk analytics and is used both internally and licensed to external clients.

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Shares of National Bank of Canada (OTCMKTS:NTIOF  Get Free Report) have been given an average rating of Hold by the ten research firms that are covering the company, Marketbeat Ratings reports. Seven analysts have rated the stock with a hold recommendation and three have issued a buy recommendation on the company.

A number of brokerages have recently issued reports on NTIOF. CIBC reaffirmed a neutral rating on shares of National Bank of Canada in a research report on Thursday, December 4th. TD Securities restated a hold rating on shares of National Bank of Canada in a research note on Thursday, December 4th. Desjardins raised National Bank of Canada from a hold rating to a moderate buy rating in a research report on Tuesday, November 11th. National Bankshares upgraded National Bank of Canada from an underperform rating to a buy rating in a report on Tuesday, November 11th. Finally, Zacks Research raised National Bank of Canada from a strong sell rating to a hold rating in a research report on Thursday, November 13th.

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National Bank of Canada Stock Down 0.0%

Shares of OTCMKTS NTIOF opened at $120.87 on Thursday. National Bank of Canada has a 12-month low of $74.21 and a 12-month high of $129.11. The stocks fifty day simple moving average is $123.31 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $113.33. The stock has a market capitalization of $47.13 billion, a PE ratio of 16.72 and a beta of 0.90. The company has a current ratio of 0.74, a quick ratio of 0.74 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.11.

National Bank of Canada (OTCMKTS:NTIOF  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, December 3rd. The financial services provider reported $2.03 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.90 by $0.13. The company had revenue of $2.64 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $3.43 billion. National Bank of Canada had a return on equity of 15.74% and a net margin of 13.07%. As a group, analysts expect that National Bank of Canada will post 7.63 EPS for the current fiscal year.

National Bank of Canada Company Profile

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National Bank of Canada (OTCMKTS: NTIOF) is a full?service Canadian financial institution headquartered in Montreal, Quebec. The bank offers a broad range of products and services for personal, commercial and institutional clients, including deposit accounts, mortgages and consumer lending, small? and medium?sized business banking, corporate lending, and cash management solutions.

In addition to traditional banking, National Bank provides wealth management and brokerage services through its private banking and advisory channels, and operates an investment banking and capital markets platform that delivers underwriting, advisory, trading and research services.

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TEHRAN, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- Tehran's Foreign Ministry on Tuesday summoned Italy's ambassador to Tehran over "irresponsible" remarks by Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani about Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

Ambassador Paola Amadei was called in by Alireza Yousefi, director general for Western Europe at the ministry, a day after Tajani said on X that Italy would ask EU partners to designate the IRGC as a terrorist organization, accusing it of using violence during recent protests, according to Tehran.

Yousefi condemned Tajani's remarks, emphasizing the IRGC's legal status as part of Iran's armed forces and warning of the "destructive" consequences of such labeling. Amadei said she would relay Iran's protest to her government.

Protests over the sharp depreciation of the rial have swept Iranian cities since late December. Initially peaceful, the demonstrations escalated into clashes that caused casualties and damaged public property, including mosques, government buildings, and banks. Tehran has blamed the unrest on the United States and Israel. 
Shares of Sealed Air Corporation (NYSE:SEE  Get Free Report) have been assigned an average rating of Moderate Buy from the twelve brokerages that are presently covering the firm, MarketBeat Ratings reports. Five equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have issued a buy rating on the company. The average 1-year target price among analysts that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is $43.4167.

Several brokerages have recently issued reports on SEE. Truist Financial upped their price objective on Sealed Air from $45.00 to $49.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Tuesday, January 6th. Robert W. Baird reaffirmed a neutral rating and set a $42.00 price target (down previously from $45.00) on shares of Sealed Air in a research note on Thursday, December 18th. Wall Street Zen lowered shares of Sealed Air from a strong-buy rating to a buy rating in a research report on Sunday, November 16th. UBS Group lifted their price objective on shares of Sealed Air from $40.00 to $42.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Monday, October 6th. Finally, Raymond James Financial cut shares of Sealed Air from an outperform rating to a market perform rating in a research report on Monday, December 22nd.

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Sealed Air Stock Up 0.1%

Shares of SEE stock opened at $41.82 on Thursday. The companys fifty day simple moving average is $41.90 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $36.33. Sealed Air has a 52 week low of $22.78 and a 52 week high of $44.27. The stock has a market cap of $6.15 billion, a P/E ratio of 13.58 and a beta of 1.36. The company has a quick ratio of 0.75, a current ratio of 1.29 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.34.

Sealed Air (NYSE:SEE  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, November 4th. The industrial products company reported $0.87 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.68 by $0.19. The firm had revenue of $1.35 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.31 billion. Sealed Air had a return on equity of 54.90% and a net margin of 8.52%.Sealed Air has set its FY 2025 guidance at 3.250-3.350 EPS. Analysts predict that Sealed Air will post 3.05 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Sealed Air

Several large investors have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Johnson Financial Group Inc. bought a new stake in Sealed Air in the third quarter worth $27,000. Atlantic Union Bankshares Corp purchased a new stake in shares of Sealed Air in the second quarter valued at $25,000. Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Co. raised its stake in shares of Sealed Air by 383.8% in the second quarter. Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Co. now owns 837 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $26,000 after acquiring an additional 664 shares during the period. Parkside Financial Bank & Trust lifted its holdings in shares of Sealed Air by 334.4% in the 2nd quarter. Parkside Financial Bank & Trust now owns 960 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $30,000 after acquiring an additional 739 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Salomon & Ludwin LLC purchased a new position in shares of Sealed Air during the 3rd quarter worth about $45,000. Institutional investors own 94.40% of the companys stock.

Sealed Air Company Profile

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Sealed Air Corporation is a global packaging company that develops and manufactures a wide range of materials, equipment and services designed to protect, preserve and promote products. Best known for inventing Bubble Wrap protective packaging, the company serves customers across food and beverage, e-commerce, electronics, manufacturing and healthcare industries. Sealed Airs solutions help businesses reduce product damage, extend shelf life and improve operational efficiency.

The companys product portfolio is organized into three primary segments.

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Robert Half (NYSE:RHI  Get Free Report) is anticipated to announce its Q4 2025 results after the market closes on Thursday, January 29th. Analysts expect Robert Half to post earnings of $0.30 per share and revenue of $1.2907 billion for the quarter. Investors may visit the the companys upcoming Q4 2025 earning results page for the latest details on the call scheduled for Thursday, January 29, 2026 at 5:00 PM ET.

Robert Half Stock Performance

Robert Half stock opened at $28.36 on Tuesday. The company has a market capitalization of $2.87 billion, a PE ratio of 18.41 and a beta of 0.85. Robert Half has a fifty-two week low of $25.22 and a fifty-two week high of $71.25. The firm has a 50 day moving average price of $27.59 and a 200 day moving average price of $31.89.

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Robert Half Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, December 15th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, November 25th were paid a $0.59 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, November 25th. This represents a $2.36 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 8.3%. Robert Halfs payout ratio is presently 153.25%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

RHI has been the topic of several research reports. Truist Financial set a $35.00 target price on Robert Half in a research note on Friday, December 12th. BNP Paribas Exane lowered shares of Robert Half from a neutral rating to an underperform rating and set a $22.00 price target on the stock. in a research note on Friday, December 5th. The Goldman Sachs Group lowered their price objective on shares of Robert Half from $31.00 to $27.00 and set a sell rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, October 23rd. Robert W. Baird set a $22.00 price objective on shares of Robert Half in a report on Friday, December 5th. Finally, Barclays reduced their target price on shares of Robert Half from $45.00 to $36.00 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, October 23rd. One analyst has rated the stock with a Buy rating, three have issued a Hold rating and five have issued a Sell rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, Robert Half currently has an average rating of Reduce and an average target price of $30.63.

View Our Latest Analysis on RHI

Institutional Trading of Robert Half

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Sivia Capital Partners LLC grew its stake in shares of Robert Half by 94.6% in the 2nd quarter. Sivia Capital Partners LLC now owns 8,098 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $332,000 after purchasing an additional 3,937 shares during the last quarter. Empowered Funds LLC raised its position in Robert Half by 91.8% during the 1st quarter. Empowered Funds LLC now owns 55,719 shares of the business services providers stock worth $3,039,000 after buying an additional 26,672 shares during the last quarter. Bayesian Capital Management LP purchased a new position in Robert Half during the second quarter worth about $692,000. Canada Pension Plan Investment Board lifted its position in Robert Half by 8.2% in the second quarter. Canada Pension Plan Investment Board now owns 18,400 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $755,000 after purchasing an additional 1,400 shares during the period. Finally, Raymond James Financial Inc. lifted its position in Robert Half by 1.7% in the second quarter. Raymond James Financial Inc. now owns 188,549 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $7,740,000 after purchasing an additional 3,226 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 92.41% of the companys stock.

About Robert Half

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Robert Half International Inc, founded in 1948 by Robert Half, is a global professional staffing and consulting firm headquartered in Menlo Park, California. As a pioneer in specialized staffing, the company has built a reputation for matching skilled professionals with leading organizations across a range of industries. Robert Halfs shares trade on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker RHI, reflecting its position as one of the longest?standing and best?known firms in the staffing sector.

The company offers a comprehensive suite of services, including temporary staffing, permanent placement, and consulting solutions.

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Group 1 Automotive (NYSE:GPI  Get Free Report) is expected to be issuing its Q4 2025 results before the market opens on Thursday, January 29th. Analysts expect the company to announce earnings of $9.40 per share and revenue of $5.7112 billion for the quarter. Investors are encouraged to explore the companys upcoming Q4 2025 earning overview page for the latest details on the call scheduled for Thursday, January 29, 2026 at 10:00 AM ET.

Group 1 Automotive (NYSE:GPI  Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Tuesday, October 28th. The company reported $10.45 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $10.64 by ($0.19). Group 1 Automotive had a net margin of 1.67% and a return on equity of 18.08%. The business had revenue of $5.78 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $5.67 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $9.90 earnings per share. The businesss revenue for the quarter was up 10.7% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, analysts expect Group 1 Automotive to post $41 EPS for the current fiscal year and $45 EPS for the next fiscal year.

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Group 1 Automotive Stock Performance

NYSE GPI opened at $390.59 on Tuesday. The businesss 50-day moving average price is $402.01 and its 200 day moving average price is $423.47. The company has a current ratio of 1.06, a quick ratio of 0.25 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.06. Group 1 Automotive has a twelve month low of $355.91 and a twelve month high of $490.09. The company has a market capitalization of $4.93 billion, a PE ratio of 13.67 and a beta of 0.89.

Group 1 Automotive Dividend Announcement

Group 1 Automotive announced that its board has initiated a stock buyback program on Tuesday, November 11th that authorizes the company to repurchase $500.00 million in outstanding shares. This repurchase authorization authorizes the company to repurchase up to 10.4% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares repurchase programs are usually a sign that the companys board believes its shares are undervalued.

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, December 15th. Stockholders of record on Monday, December 1st were issued a dividend of $0.50 per share. This represents a $2.00 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.5%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, December 1st. Group 1 Automotives dividend payout ratio is presently 7.00%.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Group 1 Automotive

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of GPI. Johnson Financial Group Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of Group 1 Automotive during the third quarter valued at approximately $55,000. Sherbrooke Park Advisers LLC acquired a new stake in Group 1 Automotive during the 3rd quarter valued at $206,000. NewEdge Advisors LLC increased its stake in Group 1 Automotive by 6.1% during the 2nd quarter. NewEdge Advisors LLC now owns 471 shares of the companys stock worth $206,000 after buying an additional 27 shares during the period. Boothbay Fund Management LLC acquired a new position in Group 1 Automotive in the 3rd quarter worth $223,000. Finally, Dynamic Technology Lab Private Ltd purchased a new position in Group 1 Automotive in the 1st quarter valued at about $229,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 99.92% of the companys stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

GPI has been the subject of several research analyst reports. Morgan Stanley set a $460.00 price target on shares of Group 1 Automotive in a research report on Monday, December 8th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lowered their price objective on shares of Group 1 Automotive from $435.00 to $410.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, November 5th. Benchmark reaffirmed a hold rating on shares of Group 1 Automotive in a research report on Friday, January 9th. Barclays lowered their price target on Group 1 Automotive from $510.00 to $490.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, January 21st. Finally, Weiss Ratings lowered Group 1 Automotive from a buy (b-) rating to a hold (c+) rating in a research note on Monday, December 29th. Five investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and six have issued a Hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $473.25.

View Our Latest Stock Analysis on GPI

About Group 1 Automotive

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Group 1 Automotive, Inc (NYSE: GPI) is an international automotive retailer headquartered in Houston, Texas. The company operates an extensive network of franchised dealerships, offering new and pre-owned vehicles from leading domestic and import manufacturers. In addition to vehicle sales, Group 1 Automotive provides a full complement of aftersales services, including finance and insurance products, parts distribution, collision repair centers and vehicle maintenance.

Founded in 1997, Group 1 Automotive has grown through both organic expansion and strategic acquisitions to establish a presence across the United States, the United Kingdom and Brazil.

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Strs Ohio decreased its position in Applied Industrial Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:AIT  Free Report) by 25.1% in the third quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The firm owned 29,011 shares of the industrial products companys stock after selling 9,727 shares during the period. Strs Ohios holdings in Applied Industrial Technologies were worth $7,573,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of the company. 111 Capital bought a new stake in shares of Applied Industrial Technologies in the second quarter valued at about $980,000. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Applied Industrial Technologies by 38.6% in the 2nd quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. now owns 73,784 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $17,151,000 after purchasing an additional 20,535 shares in the last quarter. Wolverine Asset Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Applied Industrial Technologies in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $1,044,000. TimesSquare Capital Management LLC boosted its stake in shares of Applied Industrial Technologies by 10.5% during the second quarter. TimesSquare Capital Management LLC now owns 86,434 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $20,092,000 after purchasing an additional 8,219 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Regents Gate Capital LLP purchased a new position in Applied Industrial Technologies during the second quarter valued at approximately $11,387,000. 93.52% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of analysts have weighed in on AIT shares. Weiss Ratings restated a buy (b) rating on shares of Applied Industrial Technologies in a report on Monday, December 29th. Mizuho set a $305.00 price objective on Applied Industrial Technologies in a research note on Wednesday, October 29th. Six investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and one has issued a Hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $287.50.

Applied Industrial Technologies Stock Performance

Shares of AIT opened at $281.40 on Tuesday. The company has a current ratio of 3.55, a quick ratio of 2.50 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.30. The firm has a market cap of $10.61 billion, a PE ratio of 27.08, a P/E/G ratio of 2.86 and a beta of 0.87. Applied Industrial Technologies, Inc. has a 12 month low of $199.96 and a 12 month high of $286.66. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $263.42 and a 200-day moving average price of $261.55.

Applied Industrial Technologies (NYSE:AIT  Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Tuesday, October 28th. The industrial products company reported $2.63 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.47 by $0.16. Applied Industrial Technologies had a return on equity of 21.86% and a net margin of 8.61%.The company had revenue of $1.20 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.19 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the company posted $2.36 EPS. The firms quarterly revenue was up 9.2% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities research analysts predict that Applied Industrial Technologies, Inc. will post 9.9 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Applied Industrial Technologies Company Profile

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Applied Industrial Technologies, listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol AIT, is a leading distributor of industrial products and services. The company offers a comprehensive range of bearings, power transmission components, fluid power products, industrial rubber products, and automation solutions. Through its network of distribution centers and branch locations, Applied Industrial Technologies serves diverse end markets including manufacturing, oil and gas, mining, food and beverage, and wastewater treatment.

Founded in 1923 and headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, Applied Industrial Technologies has grown through a combination of organic expansion and strategic acquisitions.

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Want to see what other hedge funds are holding AIT? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Applied Industrial Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:AIT  Free Report).

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Shares of TreeHouse Foods, Inc. (NYSE:THS  Get Free Report) have earned an average rating of Reduce from the nine ratings firms that are currently covering the stock, MarketBeat reports. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell recommendation and eight have issued a hold recommendation on the company. The average 1 year target price among brokerages that have covered the stock in the last year is $24.6667.

A number of equities research analysts recently commented on THS shares. Barclays upped their price objective on TreeHouse Foods from $21.00 to $23.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a report on Tuesday, November 11th. Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a sell (e+) rating on shares of TreeHouse Foods in a research note on Monday, December 29th. Zacks Research upgraded shares of TreeHouse Foods from a strong sell rating to a hold rating in a research report on Thursday, January 1st. William Blair lowered shares of TreeHouse Foods from an outperform rating to a hold rating in a research note on Tuesday, November 11th. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus boosted their price objective on shares of TreeHouse Foods from $19.00 to $22.50 and gave the company a hold rating in a report on Tuesday, November 11th.

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Insider Activity

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

In other news, SVP Stephen Alan Landry sold 6,097 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Tuesday, December 16th. The shares were sold at an average price of $23.79, for a total value of $145,047.63. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website . 11.10% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC increased its holdings in shares of TreeHouse Foods by 320.8% in the second quarter. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 1,355 shares of the companys stock worth $26,000 after acquiring an additional 1,033 shares in the last quarter. Hantz Financial Services Inc. grew its position in shares of TreeHouse Foods by 430.9% in the 3rd quarter. Hantz Financial Services Inc. now owns 1,460 shares of the companys stock valued at $30,000 after purchasing an additional 1,185 shares during the period. Aster Capital Management DIFC Ltd bought a new stake in TreeHouse Foods during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $46,000. Blue Trust Inc. raised its holdings in TreeHouse Foods by 50.7% during the 2nd quarter. Blue Trust Inc. now owns 2,878 shares of the companys stock worth $56,000 after buying an additional 968 shares during the period. Finally, GAMMA Investing LLC lifted its stake in TreeHouse Foods by 719.7% in the second quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 2,918 shares of the companys stock valued at $57,000 after buying an additional 2,562 shares in the last quarter. 99.81% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

TreeHouse Foods Trading Up 0.0%

Shares of NYSE THS opened at $24.56 on Tuesday. TreeHouse Foods has a fifty-two week low of $15.85 and a fifty-two week high of $40.77. The firm has a market capitalization of $1.24 billion, a P/E ratio of -5.12 and a beta of 0.17. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.18, a current ratio of 1.29 and a quick ratio of 0.40. The companys 50 day simple moving average is $23.81 and its 200 day simple moving average is $20.86.

TreeHouse Foods (NYSE:THS  Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Monday, November 10th. The company reported $0.43 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.53 by ($0.10). The business had revenue of $841.90 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $853.53 million. TreeHouse Foods had a positive return on equity of 5.52% and a negative net margin of 7.25%.TreeHouse Foodss revenue was up .1% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted ($0.07) EPS. On average, analysts predict that TreeHouse Foods will post 1.94 EPS for the current year.

About TreeHouse Foods

(Get Free Report)

TreeHouse Foods, Inc (NYSE: THS) is a leading manufacturer and supplier of private-label packaged food and beverage products. Headquartered in Oak Brook, Illinois, the company partners with major grocery chains, club retailers and foodservice outlets to develop, produce and distribute a diverse portfolio of items under store brands and, in select categories, under its own labels.

Since its founding in 2005 through the consolidation of several specialty food businesses, TreeHouse Foods has grown primarily through strategic acquisitions and operational integration.

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Retirement Systems of Alabama lowered its stake in shares of Synovus Financial Corp. (NYSE:SNV  Free Report) by 17.3% in the third quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 429,952 shares of the banks stock after selling 90,154 shares during the period. Retirement Systems of Alabamas holdings in Synovus Financial were worth $21,102,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other large investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. First Citizens Bank & Trust Co. boosted its position in shares of Synovus Financial by 5.2% during the third quarter. First Citizens Bank & Trust Co. now owns 39,777 shares of the banks stock worth $1,952,000 after buying an additional 1,949 shares during the period. Y Intercept Hong Kong Ltd purchased a new position in Synovus Financial during the 3rd quarter valued at about $2,131,000. Mitsubishi UFJ Trust & Banking Corp grew its position in Synovus Financial by 57.0% in the 3rd quarter. Mitsubishi UFJ Trust & Banking Corp now owns 76,334 shares of the banks stock valued at $3,746,000 after acquiring an additional 27,715 shares in the last quarter. Olympiad Research LP increased its stake in Synovus Financial by 10.5% during the third quarter. Olympiad Research LP now owns 5,790 shares of the banks stock worth $284,000 after purchasing an additional 550 shares during the period. Finally, BIP Wealth LLC lifted its position in shares of Synovus Financial by 8.5% during the third quarter. BIP Wealth LLC now owns 23,604 shares of the banks stock worth $1,158,000 after purchasing an additional 1,848 shares in the last quarter. 83.85% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

SNV has been the subject of a number of research reports. Truist Financial dropped their price objective on shares of Synovus Financial from $56.00 to $55.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a report on Friday, October 17th. DA Davidson restated a buy rating and issued a $63.00 price target on shares of Synovus Financial in a research note on Thursday, October 16th. Stephens reduced their price objective on Synovus Financial from $54.00 to $51.00 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, October 17th. Weiss Ratings cut Synovus Financial from a buy (b-) rating to a hold (c+) rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 8th. Finally, UBS Group cut their price target on Synovus Financial from $53.00 to $49.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, November 5th. Five analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and eight have issued a Hold rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Synovus Financial currently has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $58.08.

Synovus Financial Stock Performance

Shares of SNV stock opened at $50.51 on Tuesday. Synovus Financial Corp. has a 12 month low of $35.94 and a 12 month high of $61.06. The company has a current ratio of 0.91, a quick ratio of 0.91 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.57. The company has a market cap of $7.01 billion, a P/E ratio of 9.42, a PEG ratio of 0.88 and a beta of 1.21. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $50.46 and a 200 day moving average price of $49.55.

Synovus Financial Announces Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, December 24th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, December 18th were issued a $0.39 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, December 18th. This represents a $1.56 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.1%. Synovus Financials dividend payout ratio is presently 29.10%.

Synovus Financial Company Profile

(Free Report)

Synovus Financial Corp (NYSE: SNV) is a regional financial services company headquartered in Columbus, Georgia. The company offers a comprehensive range of banking and financial products to individual consumers, small businesses, and large corporations. Synovus operates through various business segments, including commercial and retail banking, mortgage lending, treasury and payment solutions, and wealth management services.

In its commercial banking division, Synovus provides loans, lines of credit, and treasury management services tailored to the needs of businesses across multiple industries.

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Retirement Systems of Alabama lifted its stake in shares of Ormat Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:ORA  Free Report) by 169.7% in the 3rd quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The firm owned 189,988 shares of the energy companys stock after buying an additional 119,552 shares during the quarter. Retirement Systems of Alabamas holdings in Ormat Technologies were worth $18,286,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

Other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of the company. Curio Wealth LLC grew its holdings in Ormat Technologies by 29,200.0% during the second quarter. Curio Wealth LLC now owns 293 shares of the energy companys stock valued at $25,000 after purchasing an additional 292 shares during the period. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC lifted its position in shares of Ormat Technologies by 251.0% during the 2nd quarter. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 523 shares of the energy companys stock valued at $44,000 after buying an additional 374 shares during the last quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC grew its stake in shares of Ormat Technologies by 57.4% during the 2nd quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 886 shares of the energy companys stock worth $74,000 after acquiring an additional 323 shares during the period. CWM LLC increased its holdings in Ormat Technologies by 17.1% in the 3rd quarter. CWM LLC now owns 1,098 shares of the energy companys stock worth $106,000 after acquiring an additional 160 shares during the last quarter. Finally, PNC Financial Services Group Inc. increased its holdings in Ormat Technologies by 9.8% in the 2nd quarter. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. now owns 1,609 shares of the energy companys stock worth $135,000 after acquiring an additional 144 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 95.49% of the companys stock.

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Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several equities research analysts have commented on ORA shares. Oppenheimer reaffirmed an outperform rating and set a $125.00 price objective on shares of Ormat Technologies in a report on Wednesday, November 5th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their price target on shares of Ormat Technologies from $99.00 to $111.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research note on Wednesday, November 5th. UBS Group lifted their price objective on shares of Ormat Technologies from $105.00 to $135.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Friday, November 7th. Robert W. Baird set a $143.00 target price on Ormat Technologies in a research report on Wednesday, January 14th. Finally, Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a hold (c) rating on shares of Ormat Technologies in a report on Thursday. Eight equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and two have given a Hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $125.22.

Ormat Technologies Trading Up 0.2%

Ormat Technologies stock opened at $123.64 on Tuesday. The stock has a market cap of $7.51 billion, a P/E ratio of 56.72, a PEG ratio of 4.90 and a beta of 0.71. Ormat Technologies, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $61.58 and a fifty-two week high of $125.35. The firms fifty day moving average price is $113.90 and its 200-day moving average price is $102.86. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.79, a quick ratio of 0.70 and a current ratio of 0.77.

Ormat Technologies (NYSE:ORA  Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Monday, November 3rd. The energy company reported $0.41 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.37 by $0.04. Ormat Technologies had a return on equity of 5.35% and a net margin of 14.12%.The business had revenue of $249.73 million during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $235.03 million. During the same period in the previous year, the business earned $0.36 earnings per share. The firms revenue was up 17.9% on a year-over-year basis. Equities research analysts forecast that Ormat Technologies, Inc. will post 1.94 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Ormat Technologies Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, December 1st. Investors of record on Monday, November 17th were given a $0.12 dividend. This represents a $0.48 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.4%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, November 17th. Ormat Technologiess dividend payout ratio is 22.02%.

Insider Activity at Ormat Technologies

In related news, CFO Assi Ginzburg sold 20,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Friday, November 7th. The shares were sold at an average price of $112.72, for a total value of $2,254,400.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief financial officer directly owned 4,482 shares in the company, valued at approximately $505,211.04. The trade was a 81.69% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, Director Isaac Angel sold 18,018 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Friday, November 7th. The shares were sold at an average price of $112.42, for a total value of $2,025,583.56. Following the sale, the director owned 29,650 shares in the company, valued at $3,333,253. The trade was a 37.80% decrease in their position. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. Insiders sold 40,860 shares of company stock worth $4,601,530 in the last 90 days. 0.56% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Ormat Technologies Company Profile

(Free Report)

Ormat Technologies, Inc is a leading renewable energy company specializing in geothermal and recovered energy power plants. Through its vertically integrated business model, Ormat designs, develops, engineers, constructs, owns and operates clean energy projects worldwide. The companys core technology centers on the Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC), which converts heat from geothermal sources or industrial waste streams into sustainable electricity without combustion.

Ormats offering includes turnkey power plant solutions, proprietary ORC equipment and ongoing operations and maintenance services.

Further Reading

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Mutual of America Capital Management LLC boosted its position in shares of Graco Inc. (NYSE:GGG  Free Report) by 15.8% in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 108,502 shares of the industrial products companys stock after acquiring an additional 14,808 shares during the period. Mutual of America Capital Management LLCs holdings in Graco were worth $9,218,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently made changes to their positions in the business. Root Financial Partners LLC bought a new stake in Graco during the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $29,000. NewSquare Capital LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Graco by 320.7% during the second quarter. NewSquare Capital LLC now owns 345 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $30,000 after buying an additional 263 shares during the last quarter. CX Institutional boosted its position in shares of Graco by 316.7% in the third quarter. CX Institutional now owns 475 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $40,000 after acquiring an additional 361 shares during the period. Geneos Wealth Management Inc. grew its stake in shares of Graco by 982.6% in the first quarter. Geneos Wealth Management Inc. now owns 498 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $42,000 after acquiring an additional 452 shares during the last quarter. Finally, TD Private Client Wealth LLC increased its position in Graco by 116.9% during the third quarter. TD Private Client Wealth LLC now owns 514 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $44,000 after acquiring an additional 277 shares during the period. 93.88% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several analysts have issued reports on the stock. Royal Bank Of Canada restated an outperform rating on shares of Graco in a research report on Thursday, January 15th. Weiss Ratings reissued a hold (c+) rating on shares of Graco in a research report on Thursday. Robert W. Baird set a $89.00 price target on Graco in a report on Friday, October 24th. Finally, KeyCorp reiterated a sector weight rating on shares of Graco in a research report on Thursday, October 23rd. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and three have assigned a Hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Graco currently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $87.00.

Key Graco News

Here are the key news stories impacting Graco this week:

Graco Stock Up 0.3%

NYSE:GGG opened at $86.79 on Tuesday. The firm has a market capitalization of $14.39 billion, a PE ratio of 29.62, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.73 and a beta of 1.09. Graco Inc. has a 12-month low of $72.06 and a 12-month high of $89.67. The firm has a 50-day moving average price of $83.66 and a 200 day moving average price of $83.92.

Graco (NYSE:GGG  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Monday, January 26th. The industrial products company reported $0.77 earnings per share for the quarter, meeting the consensus estimate of $0.77. The company had revenue of $593.16 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $591.99 million. Graco had a return on equity of 18.89% and a net margin of 22.72%.The companys revenue was up 8.1% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the company posted $0.64 EPS. On average, research analysts expect that Graco Inc. will post 3.06 EPS for the current year.

Graco declared that its Board of Directors has initiated a stock repurchase plan on Friday, December 5th that permits the company to buyback 15,000,000 shares. This buyback authorization permits the industrial products company to purchase shares of its stock through open market purchases. Shares buyback plans are often a sign that the companys leadership believes its stock is undervalued.

Graco Increases Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, February 4th. Shareholders of record on Monday, January 19th will be paid a dividend of $0.295 per share. This is an increase from Gracos previous quarterly dividend of $0.28. This represents a $1.18 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.4%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, January 16th. Gracos dividend payout ratio is currently 40.27%.

Graco Profile

(Free Report)

Graco Inc is a leading manufacturer of fluid handling systems and components, headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Founded in 1926, the company has built a reputation for innovation in spray finishing, lubrication, and fluid management technologies. Gracos solutions are designed to address the needs of paint and coatings applicators, general industry, and process fluids in a variety of end markets.

The companys product portfolio includes airless and air-assisted spray equipment, pumps for oil and gas applications, industrial lubrication systems, and automated dispensing equipment.

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Nicola Wealth Management LTD. lowered its holdings in The TJX Companies, Inc. (NYSE:TJX  Free Report) by 28.1% during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 69,000 shares of the apparel and home fashions retailers stock after selling 27,000 shares during the period. Nicola Wealth Management LTD.s holdings in TJX Companies were worth $9,973,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other large investors have also recently made changes to their positions in TJX. Lavaca Capital LLC bought a new position in TJX Companies during the second quarter valued at about $25,000. Princeton Global Asset Management LLC purchased a new position in TJX Companies in the second quarter valued at about $28,000. Howard Hughes Medical Institute bought a new position in shares of TJX Companies during the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $30,000. Legacy Investment Solutions LLC purchased a new stake in shares of TJX Companies during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $32,000. Finally, Capital A Wealth Management LLC raised its holdings in shares of TJX Companies by 776.7% in the 2nd quarter. Capital A Wealth Management LLC now owns 263 shares of the apparel and home fashions retailers stock worth $32,000 after purchasing an additional 233 shares during the period. 91.09% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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TJX Companies Stock Performance

NYSE TJX opened at $150.01 on Tuesday. The companys 50 day simple moving average is $154.00 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $143.17. 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 TJX Companies, Inc. has a 1 year low of $112.10 and a 1 year high of $159.48. The stock has a market capitalization of $166.58 billion, a PE ratio of 33.11, a P/E/G ratio of 3.21 and a beta of 0.75.

TJX Companies Dividend Announcement

TJX Companies ( NYSE:TJX Get Free Report ) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, November 19th. The apparel and home fashions retailer reported $1.28 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.22 by $0.06. The company had revenue of $15.12 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $14.80 billion. TJX Companies had a return on equity of 58.30% and a net margin of 8.68%.The firms revenue was up 7.5% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $1.14 earnings per share. 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. Analysts predict that The TJX Companies, Inc. will post 4.18 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, March 5th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, February 12th will be paid a dividend of $0.425 per share. This represents a $1.70 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.1%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, February 12th. TJX Companiess dividend payout ratio is 37.53%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several brokerages have issued reports on TJX. UBS Group restated a buy rating and issued a $193.00 target price (up from $181.00) on shares of TJX Companies in a research note on Thursday, January 8th. Telsey Advisory Group restated an outperform rating and issued a $170.00 price objective on shares of TJX Companies in a research note on Thursday, December 4th. Sanford C. Bernstein reaffirmed an outperform rating and set a $170.00 price objective on shares of TJX Companies in a report on Tuesday, January 6th. BTIG Research reiterated a buy rating and issued a $165.00 target price on shares of TJX Companies in a research note on Thursday, November 20th. Finally, Barclays set a $172.00 price target on shares of TJX Companies and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Thursday, December 4th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating and twenty-two have assigned a Buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of Buy and a consensus price target of $163.86.

Read Our Latest Report on TJX Companies

Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, CEO Ernie Herrman sold 24,363 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on 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 sale, the chief executive officer owned 510,780 shares in the company, valued at $77,286,121.80. This represents a 4.55% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, Director Amy B. Lane sold 500 shares of the stock in a transaction on Friday, November 21st. The shares were sold at an average price of $151.40, for a total value of $75,700.00. Following the sale, the director owned 22,212 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,362,896.80. This represents a 2.20% decrease in their ownership of the stock. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. Insiders sold 54,863 shares of company stock valued at $8,226,366 in the last ninety days. 0.13% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

TJX Companies Company 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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Kornitzer Capital Management Inc. KS lessened its holdings in Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. (NYSE:WMS  Free Report) by 29.9% during the third quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 94,480 shares of the construction companys stock after selling 40,385 shares during the period. Kornitzer Capital Management Inc. KS owned about 0.12% of Advanced Drainage Systems worth $13,104,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in WMS. Valeo Financial Advisors LLC lifted its position in shares of Advanced Drainage Systems by 134.8% during the second quarter. Valeo Financial Advisors LLC now owns 5,275 shares of the construction companys stock valued at $606,000 after purchasing an additional 3,028 shares in the last quarter. Pacer Advisors Inc. bought a new position in shares of Advanced Drainage Systems during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $1,321,000. Asset Management One Co. Ltd. lifted its position in shares of Advanced Drainage Systems by 29.7% during the 3rd quarter. Asset Management One Co. Ltd. now owns 19,982 shares of the construction companys stock worth $2,772,000 after buying an additional 4,574 shares in the last quarter. Fisher Asset Management LLC boosted its stake in shares of Advanced Drainage Systems by 47.5% in the 2nd quarter. Fisher Asset Management LLC now owns 40,651 shares of the construction companys stock worth $4,669,000 after buying an additional 13,097 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Truist Financial Corp bought a new position in shares of Advanced Drainage Systems in the second quarter valued at approximately $211,000. 89.83% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

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Advanced Drainage Systems Stock Up 0.2%

WMS stock opened at $153.42 on Tuesday. Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. has a twelve month low of $93.92 and a twelve month high of $160.85. The business has a 50 day moving average of $150.70 and a 200 day moving average of $141.33. The company has a quick ratio of 2.60, a current ratio of 3.48 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.75. The firm has a market cap of $11.93 billion, a PE ratio of 26.18, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.99 and a beta of 1.33.

Advanced Drainage Systems Dividend Announcement

Advanced Drainage Systems ( NYSE:WMS Get Free Report ) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, November 6th. The construction company reported $1.97 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.70 by $0.27. The firm had revenue of $850.38 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $802.49 million. Advanced Drainage Systems had a return on equity of 28.85% and a net margin of 15.35%.The companys quarterly revenue was up 8.7% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $1.70 EPS. On average, research analysts forecast that Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. will post 6.1 EPS for the current fiscal year.

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, December 15th. Shareholders of record on Monday, December 1st were given a $0.18 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, December 1st. This represents a $0.72 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.5%. Advanced Drainage Systemss payout ratio is presently 12.29%.

Insider Activity

In related news, EVP Thomas J. Sr. Waun sold 1,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, November 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $150.00, for a total value of $150,000.00. Following the sale, the executive vice president owned 14,970 shares of the companys stock, valued at $2,245,500. This trade represents a 6.26% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, Director Robert M. Eversole sold 10,569 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Wednesday, December 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $152.82, for a total transaction of $1,615,154.58. Following the completion of the transaction, the director owned 50,076 shares in the company, valued at $7,652,614.32. The trade was a 17.43% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. In the last 90 days, insiders sold 97,772 shares of company stock valued at $14,605,539. 1.63% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

WMS has been the topic of a number of recent analyst reports. Weiss Ratings reiterated a hold (c) rating on shares of Advanced Drainage Systems in a report on Wednesday, January 21st. KeyCorp raised their price objective on shares of Advanced Drainage Systems from $170.00 to $180.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a report on Monday. Royal Bank Of Canada restated an outperform rating and issued a $176.00 target price on shares of Advanced Drainage Systems in a research note on Thursday, January 15th. UBS Group boosted their price objective on Advanced Drainage Systems from $183.00 to $197.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Tuesday, January 6th. Finally, Barclays lifted their target price on shares of Advanced Drainage Systems from $181.00 to $187.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Thursday, January 15th. Eight investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and two have given a Hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $165.33.

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About Advanced Drainage Systems

(Free Report)

Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc (NYSE: WMS) is a leading manufacturer and supplier of water management solutions in North America. Headquartered in Hilliard, Ohio, the company specializes in the design, production and distribution of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) drainage pipe and related products. Its core business addresses stormwater management, on-site septic systems and erosion control for residential, commercial and infrastructure projects.

The companys product portfolio includes corrugated plastic pipe, tubing, fittings, geocells, geogrids and stormwater structures such as inlets, manholes and detention/retention systems.

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CAPE TOWN, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- South Africa's Minister of Tourism Patricia de Lille announced Tuesday that the country received a record high number of international arrivals in 2025, hailing tourism as a key driver of economic growth, investment, and job creation.

In a statement, the minister said the country welcomed 10.48 million international arrivals for the year 2025, a 17.6 percent increase compared to 2024.

De Lille highlighted that South Africa's global competitiveness was further recognized last year, with the country being named "Best Destination: Africa 2025" by the Travel Weekly Readers' Choice Awards.

She added that the Cabinet had endorsed the Tourism Growth Partnership Plan, led by the Tourism Business Council of South Africa.

"The first priority is ease of access," said De Lille. "The Department of Home Affairs is implementing an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) system, starting with key markets including India, China, Mexico, and Indonesia, following a successful pilot during the G20 Summit."

According to her, the full rollout of the ETA system is projected to create between 80,000 and 100,000 jobs.

De Lille also stressed that tourist safety remains a critical focus, with 1,500 tourism monitors deployed nationally during the festive season, including over 400 supporting the Border Management Authority.

"Tourism currently sustains 1.8 million direct and indirect jobs, with one job created for approximately every 13 international arrivals," she said.

Last year, South Africa held the inaugural Tourism Infrastructure Investment Summit, introduced the G20 Tourism Hackathon, and launched an artificial intelligence-powered travel assistant for North American travelers.

De Lille further noted the importance of meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions (MICE) tourism, emphasizing the country's strength as a business events destination.

"In the current financial year, 51 MICE bids were secured, generating an economic impact of 894.5 million rand (about 56 million U.S. dollars). Meetings Africa 2025 generated 690 million rand and supported 1,200 jobs, while Africa's Travel Indaba contributed over 610 million rand and supported more than 1,000 jobs," the minister said.

Following the successful hosting of the G20 Tourism Ministers' Meeting, she pointed out that the World Economic Forum will host a Special Davos Meeting in South Africa next year.

"Tourism is working. Tourism is delivering. And tourism will remain a cornerstone of inclusive growth, investment, and job creation in South Africa," De Lille concluded. 
Kornitzer Capital Management Inc. KS lowered its position in Truist Financial Corporation (NYSE:TFC  Free Report) by 3.1% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 722,761 shares of the insurance providers stock after selling 23,400 shares during the quarter. Kornitzer Capital Management Inc. KS owned 0.06% of Truist Financial worth $33,045,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Several other hedge funds have also added to or reduced their stakes in TFC. Aspect Partners LLC raised its stake in shares of Truist Financial by 71.5% during the second quarter. Aspect Partners LLC now owns 643 shares of the insurance providers stock valued at $28,000 after acquiring an additional 268 shares during the last quarter. Princeton Global Asset Management LLC acquired a new stake in Truist Financial in the second quarter valued at $30,000. Capital A Wealth Management LLC raised its position in Truist Financial by 1,189.5% during the 2nd quarter. Capital A Wealth Management LLC now owns 735 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $32,000 after purchasing an additional 678 shares during the last quarter. Darwin Wealth Management LLC raised its position in Truist Financial by 631.6% during the 3rd quarter. Darwin Wealth Management LLC now owns 695 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $32,000 after purchasing an additional 600 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Ramirez Asset Management Inc. lifted its holdings in Truist Financial by 60.0% during the 2nd quarter. Ramirez Asset Management Inc. now owns 800 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $34,000 after buying an additional 300 shares during the period. 71.28% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Truist Financial Stock Up 1.2%

TFC stock opened at $50.17 on Tuesday. The stocks 50 day simple moving average is $48.87 and its 200 day simple moving average is $46.22. The company has a market cap of $64.18 billion, a P/E ratio of 13.17, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.84 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 0.87. Truist Financial Corporation has a fifty-two week low of $33.56 and a fifty-two week high of $51.51.

Truist Financial ( NYSE:TFC Get Free Report ) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, January 21st. The insurance provider reported $1.00 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.09 by ($0.09). Truist Financial had a net margin of 17.09% and a return on equity of 9.03%. The firm had revenue of $5.25 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $5.32 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $0.91 EPS. The companys revenue was up 3.6% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, research analysts expect that Truist Financial Corporation will post 4 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Truist Financial announced that its Board of Directors has approved a share repurchase program on Tuesday, December 16th that authorizes the company to buyback $10.00 billion in shares. This buyback authorization authorizes the insurance provider to purchase up to 15.7% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares buyback programs are often a sign that the companys board believes its stock is undervalued.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several equities research analysts have recently weighed in on the company. Morgan Stanley increased their price target on Truist Financial from $55.00 to $56.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a research note on Wednesday, December 17th. UBS Group set a $55.00 target price on shares of Truist Financial in a research report on Tuesday, October 21st. Barclays downgraded shares of Truist Financial from an equal weight rating to an underweight rating and boosted their price target for the stock from $47.00 to $56.00 in a research report on Monday, January 5th. Evercore ISI upgraded shares of Truist Financial from a hold rating to an outperform rating and increased their price objective for the stock from $49.00 to $58.00 in a research report on Tuesday, January 6th. Finally, Citigroup boosted their target price on shares of Truist Financial from $60.00 to $63.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Wednesday, December 31st. Seven research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, seven have issued a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $54.20.

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Insider Buying and Selling at Truist Financial

In other news, Director K. David Jr. Boyer sold 5,160 shares of Truist Financial stock in a transaction dated 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 transaction, the director directly owned 10,153 shares in the company, valued at $471,606.85. This trade represents a 33.70% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Company insiders own 0.14% of the companys stock.

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.

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Vanguard Personalized Indexing Management LLC trimmed its holdings in shares of Bristol Myers Squibb Company (NYSE:BMY  Free Report) by 16.9% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 195,127 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock after selling 39,579 shares during the period. Vanguard Personalized Indexing Management LLCs holdings in Bristol Myers Squibb were worth $8,805,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of the business. Vanguard Group Inc. grew its stake in Bristol Myers Squibb by 1.8% in the second quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 194,925,206 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $9,023,088,000 after purchasing an additional 3,522,202 shares in the last quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. raised its position in shares of Bristol Myers Squibb by 16.8% during the second quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 70,802,680 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $3,277,456,000 after buying an additional 10,195,775 shares during the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC raised its holdings in Bristol Myers Squibb by 1.6% in the 2nd quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 46,176,690 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $2,132,976,000 after acquiring an additional 723,459 shares in the last quarter. Norges Bank acquired a new stake in shares of Bristol Myers Squibb during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $1,554,154,000. Finally, Ameriprise Financial Inc. raised its stake in shares of Bristol Myers Squibb by 1.3% in the second quarter. Ameriprise Financial Inc. now owns 32,579,618 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $1,508,099,000 after purchasing an additional 432,158 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 76.41% of the companys stock.

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Bristol Myers Squibb Trading Up 0.0%

Shares of NYSE:BMY opened at $54.67 on Tuesday. The firm has a market cap of $111.29 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 18.47, a PEG ratio of 0.17 and a beta of 0.29. The company has a quick ratio of 1.17, a current ratio of 1.27 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.39. Bristol Myers Squibb Company has a 12 month low of $42.52 and a 12 month high of $63.33. The companys fifty day simple moving average is $52.72 and its 200 day simple moving average is $48.45.

Bristol Myers Squibb Increases Dividend

Bristol Myers Squibb ( NYSE:BMY Get Free Report ) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, October 30th. The biopharmaceutical company reported $1.63 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.52 by $0.11. The company had revenue of $12.22 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $11.75 billion. Bristol Myers Squibb had a net margin of 12.57% and a return on equity of 76.53%. The businesss quarterly revenue was up 2.8% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the business earned $1.80 EPS. Bristol Myers Squibb has set its FY 2025 guidance at 6.400-6.600 EPS. As a group, research analysts forecast that Bristol Myers Squibb Company will post 6.74 EPS for the current fiscal year.

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, February 2nd. Stockholders of record on Friday, January 2nd will be issued a dividend of $0.63 per share. This is an increase from Bristol Myers Squibbs previous quarterly dividend of $0.62. This represents a $2.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 4.6%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, January 2nd. Bristol Myers Squibbs payout ratio is 85.14%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of research firms have weighed in on BMY. Citigroup reiterated a neutral rating on shares of Bristol Myers Squibb in a research note on Tuesday. UBS Group raised shares of Bristol Myers Squibb from a neutral rating to a buy rating and increased their price target for the stock from $46.00 to $65.00 in a research report on Wednesday, January 7th. Wells Fargo & Company raised their price target on shares of Bristol Myers Squibb from $53.00 to $55.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a research note on Wednesday, December 10th. Truist Financial set a $65.00 price objective on Bristol Myers Squibb in a research note on Wednesday, December 3rd. Finally, Morgan Stanley reiterated an underweight rating and issued a $37.00 price target (up from $36.00) on shares of Bristol Myers Squibb in a research report on Friday, December 12th. Seven equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, twelve have issued a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $56.86.

View Our Latest Research Report on BMY

Bristol Myers Squibb Company Profile

(Free Report)

Bristol Myers Squibb is a global biopharmaceutical company headquartered in Princeton, New Jersey, focused on discovering, developing and delivering medicines for serious diseases. The companys core activities include research and development, clinical development, manufacturing and commercialization of prescription pharmaceuticals across multiple therapeutic areas. BMS concentrates on advancing therapies in oncology, hematology, immunology, cardiovascular disease and specialty areas through both small molecules and biologics.

BMSs marketed portfolio and late?stage pipeline reflect a strong emphasis on cancer and immune?mediated conditions.

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Mutual of America Capital Management LLC cut its position in shares of Lockheed Martin Corporation (NYSE:LMT  Free Report) by 6.9% during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The firm owned 22,232 shares of the aerospace companys stock after selling 1,646 shares during the quarter. Mutual of America Capital Management LLCs holdings in Lockheed Martin were worth $11,098,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Several other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the company. Keynote Financial Services LLC grew its holdings in Lockheed Martin by 36.3% during the third quarter. Keynote Financial Services LLC now owns 2,994 shares of the aerospace companys stock worth $1,495,000 after acquiring an additional 798 shares during the period. MBM Wealth Consultants LLC lifted its holdings in Lockheed Martin by 11.9% in the 3rd quarter. MBM Wealth Consultants LLC now owns 3,463 shares of the aerospace companys stock valued at $1,729,000 after acquiring an additional 367 shares during the last quarter. Patten & Patten Inc. TN boosted its position in shares of Lockheed Martin by 29.6% during the 3rd quarter. Patten & Patten Inc. TN now owns 2,882 shares of the aerospace companys stock valued at $1,439,000 after purchasing an additional 658 shares in the last quarter. Mendel Capital Management LLC grew its stake in shares of Lockheed Martin by 3.4% in the 3rd quarter. Mendel Capital Management LLC now owns 2,652 shares of the aerospace companys stock worth $1,324,000 after purchasing an additional 86 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Biltmore Family Office LLC raised its holdings in shares of Lockheed Martin by 9.3% in the 3rd quarter. Biltmore Family Office LLC now owns 1,113 shares of the aerospace companys stock worth $556,000 after purchasing an additional 95 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 74.19% of the companys stock.

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Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

LMT has been the topic of several recent research reports. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft decreased their price target on shares of Lockheed Martin from $517.00 to $492.00 and set a hold rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, December 10th. Sanford C. Bernstein reaffirmed a market perform rating and set a $586.00 target price on shares of Lockheed Martin in a research report on Monday, January 12th. The Goldman Sachs Group upped their target price on Lockheed Martin from $398.00 to $425.00 and gave the company a sell rating in a report on Friday, October 10th. Weiss Ratings reissued a hold (c) rating on shares of Lockheed Martin in a research note on Wednesday, October 8th. Finally, UBS Group upped their price objective on shares of Lockheed Martin from $513.00 to $580.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research note on Thursday, January 15th. Five analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, fourteen have assigned a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $543.82.

Lockheed Martin Stock Down 1.6%

Shares of Lockheed Martin stock opened at $581.62 on Tuesday. Lockheed Martin Corporation has a 1 year low of $410.11 and a 1 year high of $596.22. The company has a market cap of $134.59 billion, a P/E ratio of 32.47, a P/E/G ratio of 1.69 and a beta of 0.24. The company has a current ratio of 1.13, a quick ratio of 0.97 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.32. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of $498.14 and a 200 day moving average price of $476.96.

About Lockheed Martin

(Free Report)

Lockheed Martin Corporation (NYSE: LMT) is a global aerospace and defense company that designs, develops and manufactures advanced technology systems for government and commercial customers. Formed through the 1995 merger of Lockheed Corporation and Martin Marietta, the company is headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, and focuses on providing integrated solutions across air, space, land and sea domains. Its primary customers include the U.S. Department of Defense, NASA and allied governments around the world.

Lockheed Martins product and service portfolio spans military aircraft, missile and fire-control systems, missile defense, space systems and satellite technologies, sensors and precision weapons.

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Kornitzer Capital Management Inc. KS cut its position in shares of Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE:XOM  Free Report) by 1.7% during the third quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 682,358 shares of the oil and gas companys stock after selling 11,773 shares during the period. Exxon Mobil makes up 1.5% of Kornitzer Capital Management Inc. KSs holdings, making the stock its 7th biggest holding. Kornitzer Capital Management Inc. KSs holdings in Exxon Mobil were worth $76,936,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in the company. Nexus Investment Management ULC grew its position in Exxon Mobil by 1.6% in the third quarter. Nexus Investment Management ULC now owns 5,794 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $653,000 after acquiring an additional 89 shares during the period. Sagace Wealth Management LLC raised its position in Exxon Mobil by 2.7% in the third quarter. Sagace Wealth Management LLC now owns 3,445 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $388,000 after purchasing an additional 90 shares during the period. Willow Creek Wealth Management Inc. lifted its stake in shares of Exxon Mobil by 3.6% in the 2nd quarter. Willow Creek Wealth Management Inc. now owns 2,640 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $285,000 after purchasing an additional 91 shares during the last quarter. Creative Capital Management Investments LLC grew its holdings in shares of Exxon Mobil by 2.5% during the 3rd quarter. Creative Capital Management Investments LLC now owns 3,701 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $417,000 after purchasing an additional 91 shares during the period. Finally, Capstone Wealth Management LLC increased its position in shares of Exxon Mobil by 3.8% during the 3rd quarter. Capstone Wealth Management LLC now owns 2,527 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $285,000 after purchasing an additional 92 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 61.80% of the companys stock.

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Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research analysts have commented on XOM shares. BNP Paribas Exane raised shares of Exxon Mobil from an underperform rating to a neutral rating and set a $114.00 target price on the stock in a research report on Monday, December 8th. Scotiabank restated an outperform rating on shares of Exxon Mobil in a report on Friday, January 16th. Wells Fargo & Company increased their target price on Exxon Mobil from $156.00 to $158.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Thursday, December 11th. Zacks Research downgraded Exxon Mobil from a hold rating to a strong sell rating in a research report on Thursday, January 1st. Finally, Bank of America reduced their price target on shares of Exxon Mobil from $119.00 to $118.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, December 11th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, ten have given a Buy rating, ten have given a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $131.84.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Exxon Mobil news, VP Darrin L. Talley sold 3,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Wednesday, December 17th. The shares were sold at an average price of $117.19, for a total value of $351,570.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the vice president owned 28,584 shares in the company, valued at $3,349,758.96. This represents a 9.50% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. 0.03% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Key Headlines Impacting Exxon Mobil

Here are the key news stories impacting Exxon Mobil this week:

Exxon Mobil Price Performance

Shares of NYSE XOM opened at $134.78 on Tuesday. The stocks 50-day simple moving average is $121.08 and its 200-day simple moving average is $115.43. The firm has a market capitalization of $568.39 billion, a PE ratio of 19.59, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 8.62 and a beta of 0.37. Exxon Mobil Corporation has a fifty-two week low of $97.80 and a fifty-two week high of $136.94. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.12, a quick ratio of 0.79 and a current ratio of 1.14.

Exxon Mobil (NYSE:XOM  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Friday, October 31st. The oil and gas company reported $1.88 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.72 by $0.16. Exxon Mobil had a return on equity of 11.22% and a net margin of 8.99%.The firm had revenue of $83.33 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $83.09 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the company posted $1.92 earnings per share. The firms quarterly revenue was down 5.2% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, equities research analysts forecast that Exxon Mobil Corporation will post 7.43 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Exxon Mobil Increases Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, December 10th. Investors of record on Friday, November 14th were paid a dividend of $1.03 per share. The ex-dividend date was Friday, November 14th. This represents a $4.12 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.1%. This is an increase from Exxon Mobils previous quarterly dividend of $0.99. Exxon Mobils dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 59.88%.

Exxon Mobil Company Profile

(Free Report)

Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE: XOM) is an integrated oil and gas company engaged in the exploration, production, refining, distribution and marketing of petroleum products and the manufacture and sale of petrochemicals. Its operations span the full energy value chain, including upstream exploration and development of crude oil and natural gas; midstream transportation and storage; and downstream refining, product distribution and retail. The company also produces a broad range of chemical products for industrial and consumer applications.

ExxonMobil markets fuels and lubricants under well-known brands such as Exxon, Mobil and Esso, and its Mobil 1 motor oil is a prominent consumer product.

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Markel Group Inc. grew its position in Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP  Free Report) by 30.3% in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 126,778 shares of the railroad operators stock after buying an additional 29,500 shares during the quarter. Markel Group Inc.s holdings in Union Pacific were worth $29,967,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other institutional investors have also recently modified their holdings of the stock. Norges Bank acquired a new position in shares of Union Pacific in the second quarter valued at approximately $1,856,340,000. Fisher Asset Management LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Union Pacific by 0.7% during the 2nd quarter. Fisher Asset Management LLC now owns 6,398,715 shares of the railroad operators stock worth $1,472,217,000 after acquiring an additional 46,436 shares during the period. Amundi boosted its position in shares of Union Pacific by 35.6% in the second quarter. Amundi now owns 4,782,577 shares of the railroad operators stock worth $1,134,236,000 after acquiring an additional 1,255,231 shares during the last quarter. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership grew its holdings in Union Pacific by 32.8% in the second quarter. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership now owns 3,152,042 shares of the railroad operators stock valued at $725,222,000 after purchasing an additional 778,411 shares during the period. Finally, Laurel Wealth Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Union Pacific by 22,618.2% in the 2nd quarter. Laurel Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 2,624,636 shares of the railroad operators stock valued at $603,876,000 after purchasing an additional 2,613,083 shares during the last quarter. 80.38% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

UNP has been the subject of a number of research reports. Citigroup set a $264.00 price target on Union Pacific and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Thursday, January 8th. BMO Capital Markets set a $255.00 price objective on shares of Union Pacific in a research note on Wednesday, January 7th. Susquehanna reissued a buy rating on shares of Union Pacific in a research note on Monday, January 19th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their target price on shares of Union Pacific from $267.00 to $270.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a report on Monday, January 12th. Finally, UBS Group set a $253.00 price target on Union Pacific and gave the company a neutral rating in a report on Friday, October 3rd. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twelve have given a Buy rating and eleven have assigned a Hold rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $258.18.

Union Pacific Stock Up 0.6%

Shares of Union Pacific stock opened at $231.12 on Tuesday. Union Pacific Corporation has a 1-year low of $204.66 and a 1-year high of $256.84. The company has a market capitalization of $137.09 billion, a PE ratio of 19.64, a P/E/G ratio of 2.65 and a beta of 0.99. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.75, a current ratio of 0.75 and a quick ratio of 0.60. The business has a 50-day moving average of $231.42 and a 200-day moving average of $226.76.

Union Pacific Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, December 30th. Stockholders of record on Friday, December 5th were paid a dividend of $1.38 per share. This represents a $5.52 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.4%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, December 5th. Union Pacifics dividend payout ratio is 46.90%.

About Union Pacific

(Free Report)

Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE: UNP) is one of the largest freight railroad companies in the United States. Its principal operating subsidiary, Union Pacific Railroad, has roots that trace back to the Pacific Railway Act of 1862 and the construction of the first transcontinental rail link completed in 1869. The company is headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska, and operates as a holding company for rail transportation and related services.

Union Pacifics core business is the movement of freight by rail across an extensive rail network serving the western two?thirds of the United States.

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Kornitzer Capital Management Inc. KS trimmed its holdings in shares of Newmont Corporation (NYSE:NEM  Free Report) by 2.8% during the third quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 279,420 shares of the basic materials companys stock after selling 8,005 shares during the quarter. Kornitzer Capital Management Inc. KSs holdings in Newmont were worth $23,558,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other hedge funds also recently modified their holdings of the company. Norges Bank acquired a new stake in Newmont in the second quarter valued at $919,170,000. Invesco Ltd. increased its stake in shares of Newmont by 45.0% in the second quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 15,587,917 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $908,152,000 after buying an additional 4,839,447 shares during the period. Legal & General Group Plc raised its position in shares of Newmont by 6.3% during the second quarter. Legal & General Group Plc now owns 7,444,729 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $433,236,000 after acquiring an additional 438,748 shares during the last quarter. Boston Partners lifted its stake in shares of Newmont by 4,090.7% in the second quarter. Boston Partners now owns 4,643,057 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $272,558,000 after acquiring an additional 4,532,263 shares during the period. Finally, Nordea Investment Management AB increased its position in Newmont by 34.7% during the 3rd quarter. Nordea Investment Management AB now owns 4,336,873 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $366,553,000 after purchasing an additional 1,116,811 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 68.85% of the companys stock.

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Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of research analysts have recently issued reports on NEM shares. Citigroup restated a buy rating on shares of Newmont in a research report on Monday, January 12th. Bank of America upped their price target on shares of Newmont from $105.00 to $115.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Thursday, October 16th. The Goldman Sachs Group lifted their price objective on Newmont from $99.90 to $123.90 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Monday, January 12th. Raymond James Financial upped their target price on Newmont from $111.00 to $130.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research report on Thursday, January 15th. Finally, DZ Bank raised Newmont to a strong-buy rating in a research note on Monday, January 19th. Six analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, thirteen have given a Buy rating and four have assigned a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of Buy and a consensus price target of $105.88.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, Director Bruce R. Brook sold 2,080 shares of the stock in a transaction on Monday, December 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $92.36, for a total value of $192,108.80. Following the transaction, the director directly owned 32,709 shares in the company, valued at $3,021,003.24. This trade represents a 5.98% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. Also, CEO Thomas Ronald Palmer sold 5,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Monday, November 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $81.34, for a total transaction of $406,700.00. Following the sale, the chief executive officer owned 279,923 shares of the companys stock, valued at $22,768,936.82. This trade represents a 1.75% decrease in their position. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Insiders have sold 9,160 shares of company stock worth $767,206 over the last ninety days. 0.05% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Newmont Stock Performance

Shares of Newmont stock opened at $125.97 on Tuesday. The business has a 50-day simple moving average of $101.35 and a 200 day simple moving average of $85.43. Newmont Corporation has a one year low of $40.85 and a one year high of $129.25. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.17, a current ratio of 2.04 and a quick ratio of 1.74. The firm has a market capitalization of $137.46 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 19.56, a PEG ratio of 0.95 and a beta of 0.41.

About Newmont

(Free Report)

Newmont Corporation (NYSE: NEM) is a leading global gold mining company engaged in the exploration, development, processing and reclamation of gold properties. The companys core business centers on the production of gold, with additional byproduct metals produced from its operations. Newmont operates a portfolio of long?lived mines and development projects, and its activities span the full mine life cycle from early-stage exploration through to mining, milling and closure.

Founded in 1921 and headquartered in Greenwood Village, Colorado, Newmont has grown through organic development and strategic acquisitions.

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KPP Advisory Services LLC acquired a new stake in Capital Group Growth ETF (NYSEARCA:CGGR  Free Report) during the 3rd quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The institutional investor acquired 152,461 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $6,696,000. Capital Group Growth ETF accounts for approximately 1.0% of KPP Advisory Services LLCs portfolio, making the stock its 22nd biggest holding.

A number of other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in CGGR. Banco de Sabadell S.A acquired a new position in Capital Group Growth ETF during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $47,000. Trust Co. of Vermont acquired a new stake in shares of Capital Group Growth ETF in the 2nd quarter valued at about $51,000. Armstrong Advisory Group Inc. acquired a new stake in Capital Group Growth ETF during the third quarter valued at approximately $52,000. Beacon Capital Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Capital Group Growth ETF during the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $77,000. Finally, WFA of San Diego LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Capital Group Growth ETF during the second quarter worth $81,000.

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Capital Group Growth ETF Stock Up 0.2%

Shares of NYSEARCA CGGR opened at $44.93 on Tuesday. The stock has a market capitalization of $19.75 billion, a P/E ratio of 30.88 and a beta of 1.17. Capital Group Growth ETF has a 52-week low of $29.23 and a 52-week high of $45.83. The firms 50-day moving average price is $44.40 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $43.55.

Capital Group Growth ETF Announces Dividend

Capital Group Growth ETF Profile

The company also recently disclosed a dividend, which was paid on Monday, December 29th. Investors of record on Friday, December 26th were issued a $0.0424 dividend. This represents a dividend yield of 19.0%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, December 26th.

(Free Report)

The Capital Group Growth ETF (CGGR) is an exchange-traded fund that mostly invests in total market equity. The fund is an actively managed fund that invests predominantly in US companies of any market capitalization. The fund seeks to provide capital growth. CGGR was launched on Feb 22, 2022 and is managed by Capital Group.

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One Wealth Advisors LLC reduced its position in iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF (BATS:EFV  Free Report) by 15.9% during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 296,807 shares of the companys stock after selling 56,196 shares during the period. iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF comprises about 2.5% of One Wealth Advisors LLCs holdings, making the stock its 9th largest position. One Wealth Advisors LLCs holdings in iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF were worth $20,132,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in EFV. Belpointe Asset Management LLC raised its position in iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF by 32.6% during the third quarter. Belpointe Asset Management LLC now owns 40,205 shares of the companys stock valued at $2,727,000 after acquiring an additional 9,890 shares in the last quarter. Fortis Capital Advisors LLC increased its stake in shares of iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF by 32.6% during the 3rd quarter. Fortis Capital Advisors LLC now owns 40,205 shares of the companys stock worth $2,727,000 after purchasing an additional 9,890 shares during the last quarter. Liberty Wealth Management LLC raised its holdings in shares of iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF by 15.9% during the 3rd quarter. Liberty Wealth Management LLC now owns 125,784 shares of the companys stock valued at $8,532,000 after purchasing an additional 17,254 shares in the last quarter. Whittier Trust Co. lifted its stake in shares of iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF by 0.9% in the 3rd quarter. Whittier Trust Co. now owns 48,658 shares of the companys stock valued at $3,342,000 after purchasing an additional 450 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Sagespring Wealth Partners LLC boosted its holdings in iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF by 28.7% in the third quarter. Sagespring Wealth Partners LLC now owns 1,371,472 shares of the companys stock worth $93,027,000 after purchasing an additional 305,522 shares in the last quarter.

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iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF Stock Performance

Shares of BATS EFV opened at $74.30 on Tuesday. The businesss 50-day simple moving average is $71.36 and its 200-day simple moving average is $68.57. iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF has a 52 week low of $51.05 and a 52 week high of $66.83. The firm has a market cap of $30.46 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 12.17 and a beta of 0.73.

About iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF

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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Stonegate Investment Group LLC lowered its holdings in UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH  Free Report) by 30.5% in the third quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The fund owned 6,291 shares of the healthcare conglomerates stock after selling 2,762 shares during the period. Stonegate Investment Group LLCs holdings in UnitedHealth Group were worth $2,172,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the business. Murphy Pohlad Asset Management LLC raised its stake in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 21.8% in the 2nd quarter. Murphy Pohlad Asset Management LLC now owns 4,425 shares of the healthcare conglomerates stock valued at $1,380,000 after purchasing an additional 791 shares in the last quarter. Carnegie Investment Counsel raised its stake in UnitedHealth Group by 2.2% during the third quarter. Carnegie Investment Counsel now owns 105,621 shares of the healthcare conglomerates stock valued at $36,471,000 after buying an additional 2,316 shares in the last quarter. Berkshire Hathaway Inc acquired a new position in shares of UnitedHealth Group in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $1,572,193,000. IFP Advisors Inc lifted its stake in UnitedHealth Group by 20.7% during the second quarter. IFP Advisors Inc now owns 20,683 shares of the healthcare conglomerates stock worth $6,462,000 after purchasing an additional 3,545 shares during the last quarter. Finally, EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in UnitedHealth Group by 48.9% in the second quarter. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 5,790 shares of the healthcare conglomerates stock worth $1,806,000 after purchasing an additional 1,901 shares during the period. 87.86% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Analyst Ratings Changes

Several research analysts have recently commented on UNH shares. Zacks Research raised shares of UnitedHealth Group from a strong sell rating to a hold rating in a report on Monday, October 6th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their target price on UnitedHealth Group from $310.00 to $425.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Thursday, October 9th. UBS Group boosted their price objective on UnitedHealth Group from $378.00 to $430.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 29th. The Goldman Sachs Group started coverage on UnitedHealth Group in a research report on Tuesday, October 14th. They issued a buy rating and a $406.00 target price on the stock. Finally, Sanford C. Bernstein upped their price target on shares of UnitedHealth Group from $433.00 to $440.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Thursday, October 30th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, seventeen have assigned a Buy rating, nine have given a Hold rating and two have issued a Sell rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $386.33.

UnitedHealth Group News Summary

Here are the key news stories impacting UnitedHealth Group this week:

Positive Sentiment: UnitedHealth forecast 2026 adjusted profit slightly above analysts estimates, signaling that initial cost-control measures may be working. Read More.

UnitedHealth forecast 2026 adjusted profit slightly above analysts estimates, signaling that initial cost-control measures may be working. Read More. Positive Sentiment: Analysts note UnitedHealths decision to rebate ACA profits and other moves as strategically positive for reputation and competitive positioning. Read More.

Analysts note UnitedHealths decision to rebate ACA profits and other moves as strategically positive for reputation and competitive positioning. Read More. Neutral Sentiment: UnitedHealth posted a modest Q4 earnings beat and 12% consolidated revenue growth for 2025, showing operational resilience even as margins are pressured. Read More.

UnitedHealth posted a modest Q4 earnings beat and 12% consolidated revenue growth for 2025, showing operational resilience even as margins are pressured. Read More. Neutral Sentiment: The company reiterated its turnaround progress in its press release while providing updated full-year outlook metrics. Read More.

The company reiterated its turnaround progress in its press release while providing updated full-year outlook metrics. Read More. Negative Sentiment: UnitedHealth took a $1.6 billion restructuring charge that pushed Q4 profit down to about $10 million  a large one-time hit that clouds near-term earnings. Read More.

UnitedHealth took a $1.6 billion restructuring charge that pushed Q4 profit down to about $10 million  a large one-time hit that clouds near-term earnings. Read More. Negative Sentiment: The company issued weaker 2026 revenue guidance (around $439B vs. street ~$456.6B), signaling expected revenue decline and slower top-line growth next year  the main driver of todays negative reaction. Read More.

The company issued weaker 2026 revenue guidance (around $439B vs. street ~$456.6B), signaling expected revenue decline and slower top-line growth next year  the main driver of todays negative reaction. Read More. Negative Sentiment: Regulatory/policy headwinds: the Trump administration proposed nearly flat Medicare Advantage rates for 2026, removing a key tailwind for UnitedHealthcare and prompting sector-wide selling. Read More.

Regulatory/policy headwinds: the Trump administration proposed nearly flat Medicare Advantage rates for 2026, removing a key tailwind for UnitedHealthcare and prompting sector-wide selling. Read More. Negative Sentiment: Market reaction and trading scrutiny: shares plunged on the news and a recent trade filing by a congressman has drawn attention, adding short-term negative sentiment and volatility risk. Read More.

UnitedHealth Group Price Performance

NYSE UNH opened at $352.32 on Tuesday. The firm has a market capitalization of $319.15 billion, a PE ratio of 18.39, a P/E/G ratio of 2.15 and a beta of 0.42. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.71, a current ratio of 0.82 and a quick ratio of 0.82. UnitedHealth Group Incorporated has a 12 month low of $234.60 and a 12 month high of $606.36. The companys 50 day simple moving average is $332.71 and its 200 day simple moving average is $323.96.

UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, October 28th. The healthcare conglomerate reported $2.92 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.87 by $0.05. UnitedHealth Group had a return on equity of 19.23% and a net margin of 4.04%.The company had revenue of $113.16 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $113.19 billion. During the same period last year, the firm earned $7.15 EPS. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 12.2% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, equities research analysts forecast that UnitedHealth Group Incorporated will post 29.54 EPS for the current fiscal year.

UnitedHealth Group Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, December 16th. Stockholders of record on Monday, December 8th were given a dividend of $2.21 per share. The ex-dividend date was Monday, December 8th. This represents a $8.84 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.5%. UnitedHealth Groups dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 46.14%.

UnitedHealth Group 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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Atlas Copco (OTCMKTS:ATLKY  Get Free Report) posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday. The industrial products company reported $0.14 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.15 by ($0.01), Zacks reports. Atlas Copco had a net margin of 16.08% and a return on equity of 25.42%.

Atlas Copco Price Performance

Shares of ATLKY opened at $21.33 on Tuesday. The company has a current ratio of 1.52, a quick ratio of 1.09 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.27. The stocks 50 day moving average is $18.31 and its two-hundred day moving average is $17.18. Atlas Copco has a twelve month low of $13.41 and a twelve month high of $21.46. The firm has a market capitalization of $103.99 billion, a PE ratio of 38.09, a P/E/G ratio of 10.05 and a beta of 1.40.

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Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of analysts recently weighed in on ATLKY shares. Citigroup reiterated a buy rating on shares of Atlas Copco in a research note on Thursday. UBS Group cut shares of Atlas Copco to a sell rating in a report on Tuesday, October 28th. Barclays raised Atlas Copco from a hold rating to an overweight rating in a report on Wednesday, December 3rd. Sanford C. Bernstein raised Atlas Copco from a hold rating to an outperform rating in a research note on Wednesday, January 7th. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reiterated a hold rating on shares of Atlas Copco in a research note on Friday, January 16th. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, two have assigned a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Atlas Copco has a consensus rating of Hold.

About Atlas Copco

(Get Free Report)

Atlas Copco is a Sweden-based industrial group that develops, manufactures and services equipment and solutions for professional customers in a broad range of industries. The companys core activities center on compressed air and gas systems, vacuum solutions, construction and mining equipment, industrial tools and assembly systems, and power and flow equipment. Products and services span new-equipment sales, aftermarket parts, maintenance and technical support aimed at improving productivity, energy efficiency and safety for industrial operations.

Key product categories include stationary and portable air compressors, air treatment and gas generation systems, industrial vacuum pumps, generators and light towers, drilling rigs and rock excavation equipment for mining and construction, as well as electric and pneumatic tools and automated assembly systems for manufacturing.

Further Reading

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WASHINGTON, Jan. 26 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump said Monday that he is sending White House border czar Tom Homan to Minnesota, two days after a second fatal shooting by federal law enforcement in the northern U.S. state this month.

"I am sending Tom Homan to Minnesota tonight," Trump announced on Truth Social.

Trump added that an investigation is going on with respect to a "massive" welfare fraud in Minnesota, claiming that the alleged fraud is "at least partially responsible for the violent organized protests going on in the streets."

Trump's remarks came a day after former U.S. presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton -- both Democrats -- on Sunday sharply criticized the federal government's actions after the fatal shootings of two U.S. citizens in the city of Minneapolis.

On Jan. 7, an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer shot and killed 37-year-old U.S. citizen Renee Good during a raid targeting illegal immigrants, sparking local tensions and prompting protests across the country against violent law enforcement.

On Saturday, another immigration enforcement shooting occurred in which a U.S. Border Patrol officer fatally shot 37-year-old U.S. citizen Alex Pretti.

The two parties have offered differing characterizations of the incidents. Minnesota Governor Tim Walz strongly criticized federal law enforcement, saying their actions had caused chaos in the area and calling on Trump to immediately end the operations targeting illegal immigrants in the state.

Meanwhile, Trump said Sunday on Truth Social that Democrat-run "sanctuary cities and states" were refusing to cooperate with ICE, arguing that the deaths of the two U.S. citizens were the result of "Democrat ensued chaos."

In another post on Monday, Trump seemed to be cooling down his rhetoric, saying that he had a "very good call" with the Minnesota governor. "Governor Tim Walz called me with the request to work together with respect to Minnesota ... and we, actually, seemed to be on a similar wavelength." 
Sandvik (OTCMKTS:SDVKY  Get Free Report) released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday. The industrial products company reported $0.36 earnings per share for the quarter, hitting the consensus estimate of $0.36, Zacks reports. Sandvik had a net margin of 12.24% and a return on equity of 16.30%.

Sandvik Stock Performance

Shares of OTCMKTS SDVKY opened at $37.91 on Tuesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.40, a quick ratio of 0.90 and a current ratio of 1.78. The stock has a 50 day moving average price of $32.49 and a 200 day moving average price of $29.00. The stock has a market capitalization of $47.55 billion, a PE ratio of 32.40, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.31 and a beta of 1.50. Sandvik has a 52 week low of $16.94 and a 52 week high of $38.13.

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Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of brokerages have recently weighed in on SDVKY. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reissued a buy rating on shares of Sandvik in a research report on Monday, December 8th. Citigroup reiterated a buy rating on shares of Sandvik in a report on Monday, January 12th. Jefferies Financial Group cut Sandvik from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Sunday. Zacks Research raised Sandvik from a hold rating to a strong-buy rating in a research report on Monday, December 22nd. Finally, Royal Bank Of Canada reiterated an outperform rating on shares of Sandvik in a research report on Wednesday, October 22nd. Two analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, four have given a Buy rating and two have assigned a Hold rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Sandvik presently has a consensus rating of Buy.

About Sandvik

(Get Free Report)

Sandvik (OTCMKTS: SDVKY) is a global engineering group headquartered in Sandviken, Sweden, with roots dating back to 1862 when it was founded by Goran Fredrik Goransson. The company designs, manufactures and services advanced products and solutions for the mining and construction industries, metalworking and material technology markets. Sandvik serves customers worldwide with a broad portfolio of industrial products, equipment and aftermarket services.

Sandviks core activities span three broad areas: metal-cutting and machining solutions, mining and rock excavation equipment, and specialty materials and components.

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RTX (NYSE:RTX  Get Free Report) posted its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday. The company reported $1.55 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.47 by $0.08, Zacks reports. RTX had a return on equity of 13.28% and a net margin of 7.67%.The business had revenue of $24.24 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $22.65 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm earned $1.54 earnings per share. RTXs revenue for the quarter was up 12.1% compared to the same quarter last year. RTX updated its FY 2026 guidance to 6.600-6.800 EPS.

Here are the key takeaways from RTXs conference call:

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Strong financials and 2026 guide: Full-year adjusted sales of $88.6B , adjusted EPS of $6.29 , and free cash flow of $7.9B ; management guides 2026 adjusted sales of $9293B , adjusted EPS of $6.606.80 , and free cash flow of $8.258.75B .

Full-year adjusted sales of , adjusted EPS of , and free cash flow of ; management guides 2026 adjusted sales of , adjusted EPS of , and free cash flow of . Record backlog and strong orders: Year-end backlog reached $268B (book-to-bill 1.56) with roughly $161B commercial and $107B defense, driven by large engine awards and significant defense wins (e.g., Patriot, Tamir).

Year-end backlog reached (book-to-bill 1.56) with roughly commercial and defense, driven by large engine awards and significant defense wins (e.g., Patriot, Tamir). GTF fleet plan is progressing but carries cash obligations: AOGs are down >20% from the 2025 peak and MRO output rose 26% for the year (39% in Q4), while customer compensation cash outflows remain material (exited 2025 with ~$1B; ~ $700M expected in 2026; cumulative ~ $2.8B by end-2026).

AOGs are down >20% from the 2025 peak and MRO output rose 26% for the year (39% in Q4), while customer compensation cash outflows remain material (exited 2025 with ~$1B; ~ $700M expected in 2026; cumulative ~ $2.8B by end-2026). Productivity and capacity investments underway: Digital factory/connectivity now covers >50% of manufacturing hours, Raytheon increased munitions output ~20% on key programs, and RTX plans ~ $10.5B of total 2026 investments (including ~ $3.1B CapEx and ~ $3B R&D) to expand production and automation.

Digital factory/connectivity now covers >50% of manufacturing hours, Raytheon increased munitions output ~20% on key programs, and RTX plans ~ of total 2026 investments (including ~ CapEx and ~ R&D) to expand production and automation. Near-term cost and cash headwinds: Q4 included ~$1B powder?metal compensation and ~$600M tariff impacts, Collins faced tariff drag (~90 bps), and ~$3.4B of debt maturities are due in 2026, which could pressure near-term cash flow and margins.

RTX Trading Up 1.2%

Shares of NYSE RTX traded up $2.37 during midday trading on Tuesday, hitting $196.50. The companys stock had a trading volume of 3,877,970 shares, compared to its average volume of 5,513,958. RTX has a 12-month low of $112.27 and a 12-month high of $203.03. The firm has a market cap of $263.46 billion, a P/E ratio of 40.53, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.87 and a beta of 0.44. The businesss 50 day moving average is $182.82 and its two-hundred day moving average is $169.26. The company has a current ratio of 1.07, a quick ratio of 0.81 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.58.

RTX Dividend Announcement

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, December 11th. Investors of record on Friday, November 21st were given a $0.68 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Friday, November 21st. This represents a $2.72 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.4%. RTXs dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 55.85%.

A number of equities analysts have recently issued reports on the company. Susquehanna restated a positive rating and set a $230.00 price objective on shares of RTX in a research report on Thursday, January 15th. Bank of America increased their price target on shares of RTX from $175.00 to $215.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Monday, October 27th. Robert W. Baird set a $203.00 price target on shares of RTX in a report on Wednesday, October 22nd. BNP Paribas Exane began coverage on shares of RTX in a report on Tuesday, November 18th. They set an outperform rating and a $210.00 target price on the stock. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group reissued a hold rating and issued a $190.00 target price on shares of RTX in a research note on Tuesday, November 25th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, thirteen have assigned a Buy rating and six have issued 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 $186.88.

Get Our Latest Research Report on RTX

Institutional Trading of RTX

Hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Wexford Capital LP acquired a new position in shares of RTX during the 3rd quarter worth about $33,000. Imprint Wealth LLC acquired a new position in shares of RTX during the third quarter valued at approximately $35,000. Quarry LP boosted its stake in shares of RTX by 9.0% in the third quarter. Quarry LP now owns 787 shares of the companys stock worth $132,000 after acquiring an additional 65 shares during the last quarter. Westshore Wealth LLC purchased a new stake in shares of RTX during the third quarter worth approximately $225,000. Finally, Abel Hall LLC purchased a new stake in shares of RTX during the third quarter worth approximately $226,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 86.50% of the companys stock.

Key Stories Impacting RTX

Here are the key news stories impacting RTX this week:

Positive Sentiment: Q4 results beat revenue and (adjusted) EPS expectations  total revenue was $24.2B, up 12.1% year/year, and the company reported EPS that topped consensus (reported as $1.55 by some outlets). This directly supports the stock move. RTX (RTX) Beats Q4 Earnings and Revenue Estimates

Q4 results beat revenue and (adjusted) EPS expectations  total revenue was $24.2B, up 12.1% year/year, and the company reported EPS that topped consensus (reported as $1.55 by some outlets). This directly supports the stock move. Positive Sentiment: Strong cash flow and balance?sheet metrics  operating cash rose sharply (cited as ~$4.2B) and cash balances improved, supporting capital allocation and dividend/ buyback capacity. Q4 liquidity and cash flow details

Strong cash flow and balance?sheet metrics  operating cash rose sharply (cited as ~$4.2B) and cash balances improved, supporting capital allocation and dividend/ buyback capacity. Neutral Sentiment: FY?2026 guidance essentially in line with consensus  EPS guidance of $6.606.80 and revenue guidance of $92.0B$93.0B track Street estimates (consensus ~6.70 EPS and $92.5B revenue), so guidance is not a surprise but supports the companys growth story. RTX Reports 2025 Results and Announces 2026 Outlook

FY?2026 guidance essentially in line with consensus  EPS guidance of $6.606.80 and revenue guidance of $92.0B$93.0B track Street estimates (consensus ~6.70 EPS and $92.5B revenue), so guidance is not a surprise but supports the companys growth story. Neutral Sentiment: Analyst sentiment and targets skew positive  multiple buy/overweight ratings and a median price target around $200 provide support, but targets vary widely (range cited in recent notes). Analyst ratings and price targets

Analyst sentiment and targets skew positive  multiple buy/overweight ratings and a median price target around $200 provide support, but targets vary widely (range cited in recent notes). Negative Sentiment: Conflicting EPS presentations and some data showing an EPS miss on a GAAP/different metric create noise  one third?party summary cited a lower GAAP diluted EPS (different from the adjusted number), which can confuse investors evaluating underlying performance. EPS metric differences reported

Conflicting EPS presentations and some data showing an EPS miss on a GAAP/different metric create noise  one third?party summary cited a lower GAAP diluted EPS (different from the adjusted number), which can confuse investors evaluating underlying performance. Negative Sentiment: Notable insider selling reported across several senior executives in recent months  could be perceived negatively by some investors. Insider trading activity details

RTX Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

RTX (NYSE: RTX) is a U.S.-based aerospace and defense company that designs, manufactures and services advanced systems for commercial, military and governmental customers worldwide. The company was created through the 2020 combination of Raytheon Company and United Technologies Corporation and later adopted the RTX name, positioning itself as a diversified provider across the aerospace and defense value chain.

RTXs operations span a broad set of capabilities. Its commercial aerospace businesses include Pratt & Whitney aircraft engines and Collins Aerospace systems, which supply propulsion, avionics, aerostructures, interiors and integrated aircraft systems.

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ONEOK (NYSE:OKE  Get Free Report) was downgraded by stock analysts at JPMorgan Chase & Co. from an overweight rating to a neutral rating in a research note issued to investors on Tuesday, MarketBeat reports. They presently have a $83.00 price target on the utilities providers stock. JPMorgan Chase & Co.s price objective suggests a potential upside of 7.04% from the companys current price.

Several other equities analysts also recently issued reports on the stock. Scotiabank reissued an outperform rating and set a $91.00 price target on shares of ONEOK in a report on Friday, January 16th. Jefferies Financial Group began coverage on shares of ONEOK in a research note on Tuesday, January 20th. They set a hold rating and a $80.00 target price for the company. UBS Group dropped their price target on shares of ONEOK from $114.00 to $103.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday. Stifel Nicolaus set a $94.00 price objective on ONEOK in a research report on Thursday, October 30th. Finally, Argus raised ONEOK from a hold rating to a buy rating and set a $79.00 price objective for the company in a report on Thursday, November 6th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eight have given a Buy rating and nine have given a Hold rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $87.69.

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ONEOK Stock Down 0.6%

NYSE:OKE opened at $77.54 on Tuesday. The company has a current ratio of 0.90, a quick ratio of 0.75 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.44. The stock has a 50 day moving average of $73.29 and a 200-day moving average of $73.42. The firm has a market capitalization of $48.79 billion, a PE ratio of 14.25, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 4.42 and a beta of 0.94. ONEOK has a 52 week low of $64.02 and a 52 week high of $103.64.

ONEOK (NYSE:OKE  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, October 28th. The utilities provider reported $1.49 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.48 by $0.01. ONEOK had a return on equity of 15.12% and a net margin of 10.58%.The business had revenue of $8.63 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $8.23 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $1.18 EPS. Analysts predict that ONEOK will post 5.07 EPS for the current year.

Insider Transactions at ONEOK

In related news, Director Brian L. Derksen purchased 2,500 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Monday, November 3rd. The shares were bought at an average price of $66.00 per share, with a total value of $165,000.00. Following the completion of the acquisition, the director owned 21,200 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,399,200. This represents a 13.37% 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. Company insiders own 0.20% of the companys stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On ONEOK

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of OKE. Norges Bank acquired a new position in shares of ONEOK in the 2nd quarter valued at $562,832,000. First Eagle Investment Management LLC grew its stake in ONEOK by 130.8% in the second quarter. First Eagle Investment Management LLC now owns 6,256,173 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $510,691,000 after purchasing an additional 3,545,256 shares in the last quarter. Boston Partners increased its position in ONEOK by 53.7% in the 2nd quarter. Boston Partners now owns 5,509,100 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $448,476,000 after purchasing an additional 1,924,864 shares during the last quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. raised its stake in shares of ONEOK by 1.7% during the 2nd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 76,510,971 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $6,245,591,000 after purchasing an additional 1,314,002 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Man Group plc lifted its holdings in shares of ONEOK by 292.1% during the 2nd quarter. Man Group plc now owns 1,558,993 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $127,261,000 after buying an additional 1,161,352 shares during the last quarter. 69.13% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

About ONEOK

(Get Free Report)

ONEOK, Inc (NYSE: OKE) is a publicly traded midstream energy company headquartered in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The company owns and operates a portfolio of natural gas and natural gas liquids (NGL) pipelines, processing facilities, fractionators and storage and terminal assets. Its operations are focused on gathering, processing, transporting, fractionating and marketing NGLs and interstate natural gas, providing critical infrastructure that connects hydrocarbon production to refineries, petrochemical plants and other end markets.

ONEOKs asset base includes pipeline systems and processing plants that move and condition natural gas, along with infrastructure for the transportation, storage and fractionation of NGLs such as ethane, propane and butane.

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Stablepoint Partners LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Procter & Gamble Company (The) (NYSE:PG  Free Report) by 8.2% during the 3rd quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The institutional investor owned 45,842 shares of the companys stock after acquiring an additional 3,457 shares during the period. Procter & Gamble comprises approximately 1.1% of Stablepoint Partners LLCs holdings, making the stock its 20th largest position. Stablepoint Partners LLCs holdings in Procter & Gamble were worth $7,044,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of PG. Vanguard Group Inc. raised its position in Procter & Gamble by 1.4% in the second quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 233,211,283 shares of the companys stock worth $37,155,222,000 after acquiring an additional 3,189,111 shares during the period. Geode Capital Management LLC grew its stake in Procter & Gamble by 1.8% in the 2nd quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 59,415,933 shares of the companys stock worth $9,439,341,000 after buying an additional 1,060,713 shares in the last quarter. Norges Bank purchased a new position in shares of Procter & Gamble during the 2nd quarter valued at about $5,099,644,000. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. boosted its position 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 valued at $2,770,035,000 after buying an additional 294,673 shares during the period. Finally, Invesco Ltd. grew its position in Procter & Gamble by 21.4% during the 2nd quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 16,374,499 shares of the companys stock worth $2,608,785,000 after acquiring an additional 2,880,895 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 65.77% of the companys stock.

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Insider Activity

In other news, CAO Matthew W. Janzaruk sold 725 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Thursday, October 30th. The shares were sold at an average price of $149.57, for a total transaction of $108,438.25. Following the sale, the chief accounting officer owned 979 shares of the companys stock, valued at $146,429.03. This trade represents a 42.55% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. Also, insider Marc S. Pritchard sold 95,903 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, January 23rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $151.15, for a total value of $14,495,738.45. Following the transaction, the insider owned 182,607 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $27,601,048.05. This trade represents a 34.43% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Insiders have sold a total of 96,629 shares of company stock valued at $14,604,323 over the last 90 days. 0.20% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Procter & Gamble Price Performance

Shares of PG stock opened at $149.64 on Tuesday. The firm has a market cap of $349.67 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 22.17, a PEG ratio of 5.08 and a beta of 0.39. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of $144.80 and a 200 day moving average price of $150.43. The company has a quick ratio of 0.51, a current ratio of 0.72 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.48. Procter & Gamble Company has a 12 month low of $137.62 and a 12 month high of $179.99.

Procter & Gamble (NYSE:PG  Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, January 22nd. The company reported $1.88 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.86 by $0.02. Procter & Gamble had a net margin of 19.30% and a return on equity of 32.10%. The business had revenue of $22.21 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $22.36 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $1.88 EPS. Procter & Gambles revenue was up 1.5% compared to the same quarter last year. Procter & Gamble has set its FY 2026 guidance at 6.830-7.090 EPS. Research analysts expect that Procter & Gamble Company will post 6.91 EPS for the current year.

Procter & Gamble Dividend Announcement

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, February 17th. Stockholders of record on Friday, January 23rd will be issued a $1.0568 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, January 23rd. This represents a $4.23 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.8%. Procter & Gambles dividend payout ratio is presently 62.67%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

PG has been the subject of several research analyst reports. Piper Sandler initiated coverage on Procter & Gamble in a report on Wednesday, January 7th. They issued a neutral rating and a $150.00 price objective for the company. Wells Fargo & Company raised their price target on Procter & Gamble from $158.00 to $165.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Friday. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised Procter & Gamble from a neutral rating to an overweight rating and raised their price objective for the stock from $157.00 to $165.00 in a research note on Friday. Raymond James Financial dropped their price target on Procter & Gamble from $185.00 to $175.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a research note on Monday, October 20th. Finally, UBS Group boosted their target price on shares of Procter & Gamble from $161.00 to $170.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Friday. Thirteen equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and nine have given a Hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Procter & Gamble presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $167.00.

Read Our Latest Research Report on Procter & Gamble

Procter & Gamble Profile

(Free Report)

Procter & Gamble (NYSE: PG) is a multinational consumer goods company headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio. Founded in 1837 by William Procter and James Gamble, P&G has grown into one of the worlds largest producers of branded consumer packaged goods. The company focuses on developing, manufacturing and marketing a broad portfolio of household and personal care products sold to consumers and retailers worldwide.

P&Gs product offering spans several core business categories, including Beauty, Grooming, Health Care, Fabric & Home Care, and Baby, Feminine & Family Care.

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Phoenix Financial Ltd. trimmed its stake in The TJX Companies, Inc. (NYSE:TJX  Free Report) by 36.4% during the 3rd quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The firm owned 45,810 shares of the apparel and home fashions retailers stock after selling 26,223 shares during the quarter. Phoenix Financial Ltd.s holdings in TJX Companies were worth $6,673,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of TJX. Lavaca Capital LLC bought a new position in shares of TJX Companies in the 2nd quarter worth $25,000. Princeton Global Asset Management LLC purchased a new position in TJX Companies in the second quarter worth $28,000. Howard Hughes Medical Institute purchased a new position in TJX Companies in the second quarter worth $30,000. Legacy Investment Solutions LLC bought a new position in TJX Companies in the second quarter valued at $32,000. Finally, Capital A Wealth Management LLC raised its position in TJX Companies by 776.7% during the second quarter. Capital A Wealth Management LLC now owns 263 shares of the apparel and home fashions retailers stock valued at $32,000 after purchasing an additional 233 shares in the last quarter. 91.09% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

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TJX Companies Stock Performance

NYSE:TJX opened at $150.01 on Tuesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.20, a quick ratio of 0.43 and a current ratio of 1.09. The TJX Companies, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $112.10 and a fifty-two week high of $159.48. The firm has a market cap of $166.58 billion, a PE ratio of 33.11, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.21 and a beta of 0.75. The business has a 50 day moving average price of $154.00 and a 200-day moving average price of $143.17.

TJX Companies Announces Dividend

TJX Companies ( NYSE:TJX Get Free Report ) last issued its earnings results on Wednesday, November 19th. The apparel and home fashions retailer reported $1.28 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.22 by $0.06. The company had revenue of $15.12 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $14.80 billion. TJX Companies had a net margin of 8.68% and a return on equity of 58.30%. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 7.5% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned $1.14 earnings per share. 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 year.

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, March 5th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, February 12th will be issued a dividend of $0.425 per share. This represents a $1.70 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.1%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, February 12th. TJX Companiess dividend payout ratio is currently 37.53%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of equities analysts have recently issued reports on the company. UBS Group reiterated a buy rating and issued a $193.00 price objective (up from $181.00) on shares of TJX Companies in a report on Thursday, January 8th. Wall Street Zen raised TJX Companies from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research note on Sunday, January 11th. Evercore ISI lifted their price target on shares of TJX Companies from $162.00 to $165.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research note on Thursday, November 20th. Telsey Advisory Group restated an outperform rating and issued a $170.00 price objective on shares of TJX Companies in a report on Thursday, December 4th. Finally, BTIG Research reaffirmed a buy rating and set a $165.00 target price on shares of TJX Companies in a report on Thursday, November 20th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating and twenty-two have issued a Buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, TJX Companies has an average rating of Buy and an average price target of $163.86.

Read Our Latest Stock Report on TJX

Insider Transactions at TJX Companies

In other news, Director Amy B. Lane sold 500 shares of TJX Companies stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, November 21st. The stock was sold at an average price of $151.40, for a total value of $75,700.00. Following the sale, the director directly owned 22,212 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,362,896.80. This trade represents a 2.20% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, CEO Ernie Herrman sold 24,363 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, November 21st. The shares were sold at an average price of $151.31, for a total value of $3,686,365.53. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer directly owned 510,780 shares in the company, valued at $77,286,121.80. This trade represents a 4.55% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. Over the last quarter, insiders have sold 54,863 shares of company stock valued at $8,226,366. 0.13% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

TJX Companies Company 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.

Further Reading

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Y Intercept Hong Kong Ltd bought a new position in PPG Industries, Inc. (NYSE:PPG  Free Report) in the third quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The fund bought 27,913 shares of the specialty chemicals companys stock, valued at approximately $2,934,000.

Other hedge funds have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Walnut Level Capital LLC lifted its stake in shares of PPG Industries by 46.8% during the 2nd quarter. Walnut Level Capital LLC now owns 62,754 shares of the specialty chemicals companys stock valued at $7,138,000 after buying an additional 20,000 shares in the last quarter. Avior Wealth Management LLC raised its holdings in PPG Industries by 8,828.7% during the second quarter. Avior Wealth Management LLC now owns 8,393 shares of the specialty chemicals companys stock valued at $955,000 after acquiring an additional 8,299 shares during the period. GAM Holding AG lifted its position in shares of PPG Industries by 97.5% in the third quarter. GAM Holding AG now owns 21,281 shares of the specialty chemicals companys stock valued at $2,237,000 after acquiring an additional 10,508 shares in the last quarter. Vest Financial LLC boosted its stake in shares of PPG Industries by 17.4% in the second quarter. Vest Financial LLC now owns 526,269 shares of the specialty chemicals companys stock worth $59,863,000 after acquiring an additional 78,022 shares during the period. Finally, Columbia Advisory Partners LLC purchased a new stake in shares of PPG Industries during the second quarter worth about $318,000. 81.86% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Insider Activity

In other news, CFO Vincent J. Morales sold 5,200 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, January 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $110.00, for a total value of $572,000.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief financial officer directly owned 28,439 shares of the companys stock, valued at $3,128,290. This trade represents a 15.46% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. 0.33% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

PPG has been the topic of a number of research analyst reports. Zacks Research raised PPG Industries from a strong sell rating to a hold rating in a report on Friday. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their target price on shares of PPG Industries from $112.00 to $117.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a report on Friday, November 21st. BNP Paribas Exane dropped their target price on shares of PPG Industries from $113.00 to $112.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, January 14th. Mizuho cut their target price on shares of PPG Industries from $135.00 to $125.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a research note on Friday, October 3rd. Finally, Weiss Ratings reiterated a hold (c-) rating on shares of PPG Industries in a research note on Friday, October 31st. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, seven have assigned a Buy rating and ten have issued a Hold rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, PPG Industries presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $120.86.

View Our Latest Stock Analysis on PPG Industries

PPG Industries Price Performance

PPG Industries stock opened at $112.18 on Tuesday. PPG Industries, Inc. has a 52-week low of $90.24 and a 52-week high of $124.66. The company has a quick ratio of 1.08, a current ratio of 1.47 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.74. The firms fifty day moving average is $103.68 and its 200 day moving average is $105.50. The company has a market cap of $25.17 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 25.62, a PEG ratio of 3.32 and a beta of 1.17.

PPG Industries (NYSE:PPG  Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Tuesday, October 28th. The specialty chemicals company reported $2.13 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $2.09 by $0.04. PPG Industries had a net margin of 6.35% and a return on equity of 23.61%. The firm had revenue of $4.08 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $4.06 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $2.13 EPS. The businesss quarterly revenue was up 1.2% on a year-over-year basis. Sell-side analysts forecast that PPG Industries, Inc. will post 7.95 EPS for the current fiscal year.

PPG Industries Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, March 12th. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 20th will be given a dividend of $0.71 per share. The ex-dividend date is Friday, February 20th. This represents a $2.84 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.5%. PPG Industriess dividend payout ratio is 64.40%.

PPG Industries Company Profile

(Free Report)

PPG Industries is a global supplier of paints, coatings and specialty materials that serves industrial, transportation, consumer and construction markets. Founded in 1883 as the Pittsburgh Plate Glass Company, PPG has evolved from its origins in glass manufacturing into a diversified coatings and materials company headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The company develops and manufactures a broad array of products used to protect and enhance surfaces, from consumer paints to highly engineered coatings for demanding industrial applications.

PPGs product portfolio includes architectural and decorative paints, automotive original equipment and refinish coatings, industrial coatings for machinery and equipment, protective and marine coatings, aerospace and defense coatings, and packaging coatings and materials.

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RTX (NYSE:RTX  Get Free Report) updated its FY 2026 earnings guidance on Tuesday. The company provided earnings per share (EPS) guidance of 6.600-6.800 for the period, compared to the consensus estimate of 6.700. The company issued revenue guidance of $92.0 billion-$93.0 billion, compared to the consensus revenue estimate of $92.5 billion.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research firms recently commented on RTX. Bank of America lifted their target price on RTX from $175.00 to $215.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Monday, October 27th. Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a buy (b-) rating on shares of RTX in a research note on Monday, December 29th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft restated a buy rating and set a $195.00 target price on shares of RTX in a report on Wednesday, October 8th. Susquehanna reiterated a positive rating and set a $230.00 price objective on shares of RTX in a research report on Thursday, January 15th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group reaffirmed a hold rating and issued a $190.00 price objective on shares of RTX in a research note on Tuesday, November 25th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, thirteen have assigned a Buy rating and six have assigned a Hold rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $186.88.

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Read Our Latest Report on RTX

RTX Stock Up 2.5%

RTX stock opened at $198.91 on Tuesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.58, a quick ratio of 0.81 and a current ratio of 1.07. RTX has a fifty-two week low of $112.27 and a fifty-two week high of $203.03. The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $182.82 and a 200-day simple moving average of $169.26. The company has a market capitalization of $266.69 billion, a P/E ratio of 40.63, a PEG ratio of 2.87 and a beta of 0.44.

RTX (NYSE:RTX  Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Tuesday, January 27th. The company reported $1.55 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.45 by $0.10. RTX had a return on equity of 13.28% and a net margin of 7.67%.The businesss quarterly revenue was up 12.1% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the company earned $1.54 EPS. RTX has set its FY 2026 guidance at 6.600-6.800 EPS. Equities research analysts expect that RTX will post 6.11 earnings per share for the current year.

RTX Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, December 11th. Shareholders of record on Friday, November 21st were given a dividend of $0.68 per share. This represents a $2.72 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.4%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, November 21st. RTXs payout ratio is 55.85%.

Key Stories Impacting RTX

Here are the key news stories impacting RTX this week:

Positive Sentiment: Q4 results beat revenue and (adjusted) EPS expectations  total revenue was $24.2B, up 12.1% year/year, and the company reported EPS that topped consensus (reported as $1.55 by some outlets). This directly supports the stock move. RTX (RTX) Beats Q4 Earnings and Revenue Estimates

Q4 results beat revenue and (adjusted) EPS expectations  total revenue was $24.2B, up 12.1% year/year, and the company reported EPS that topped consensus (reported as $1.55 by some outlets). This directly supports the stock move. Positive Sentiment: Strong cash flow and balance?sheet metrics  operating cash rose sharply (cited as ~$4.2B) and cash balances improved, supporting capital allocation and dividend/ buyback capacity. Q4 liquidity and cash flow details

Strong cash flow and balance?sheet metrics  operating cash rose sharply (cited as ~$4.2B) and cash balances improved, supporting capital allocation and dividend/ buyback capacity. Neutral Sentiment: FY?2026 guidance essentially in line with consensus  EPS guidance of $6.606.80 and revenue guidance of $92.0B$93.0B track Street estimates (consensus ~6.70 EPS and $92.5B revenue), so guidance is not a surprise but supports the companys growth story. RTX Reports 2025 Results and Announces 2026 Outlook

FY?2026 guidance essentially in line with consensus  EPS guidance of $6.606.80 and revenue guidance of $92.0B$93.0B track Street estimates (consensus ~6.70 EPS and $92.5B revenue), so guidance is not a surprise but supports the companys growth story. Neutral Sentiment: Analyst sentiment and targets skew positive  multiple buy/overweight ratings and a median price target around $200 provide support, but targets vary widely (range cited in recent notes). Analyst ratings and price targets

Analyst sentiment and targets skew positive  multiple buy/overweight ratings and a median price target around $200 provide support, but targets vary widely (range cited in recent notes). Negative Sentiment: Conflicting EPS presentations and some data showing an EPS miss on a GAAP/different metric create noise  one third?party summary cited a lower GAAP diluted EPS (different from the adjusted number), which can confuse investors evaluating underlying performance. EPS metric differences reported

Conflicting EPS presentations and some data showing an EPS miss on a GAAP/different metric create noise  one third?party summary cited a lower GAAP diluted EPS (different from the adjusted number), which can confuse investors evaluating underlying performance. Negative Sentiment: Notable insider selling reported across several senior executives in recent months  could be perceived negatively by some investors. Insider trading activity details

Institutional Investors Weigh In On RTX

A number of institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of RTX. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership increased its position in RTX by 710.5% in the third quarter. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership now owns 286,276 shares of the companys stock worth $47,903,000 after buying an additional 250,957 shares during the period. Vident Advisory LLC raised its stake in shares of RTX by 42.4% during the second quarter. Vident Advisory LLC now owns 818,027 shares of the companys stock valued at $119,448,000 after purchasing an additional 243,476 shares in the last quarter. Caisse de depot et placement du Quebec lifted its holdings in RTX by 181.6% in the third quarter. Caisse de depot et placement du Quebec now owns 286,890 shares of the companys stock worth $48,005,000 after purchasing an additional 185,011 shares during the period. CANADA LIFE ASSURANCE Co increased its stake in RTX by 37.0% during the 2nd quarter. CANADA LIFE ASSURANCE Co now owns 551,953 shares of the companys stock valued at $80,687,000 after buying an additional 149,031 shares during the period. Finally, Moore Capital Management LP raised its holdings in RTX by 149.1% during the second quarter. Moore Capital Management LP now owns 169,756 shares of the companys stock worth $24,788,000 after purchasing an additional 101,606 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 86.50% of the companys stock.

About RTX

(Get Free Report)

RTX (NYSE: RTX) is a U.S.-based aerospace and defense company that designs, manufactures and services advanced systems for commercial, military and governmental customers worldwide. The company was created through the 2020 combination of Raytheon Company and United Technologies Corporation and later adopted the RTX name, positioning itself as a diversified provider across the aerospace and defense value chain.

RTXs operations span a broad set of capabilities. Its commercial aerospace businesses include Pratt & Whitney aircraft engines and Collins Aerospace systems, which supply propulsion, avionics, aerostructures, interiors and integrated aircraft systems.

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HCA Healthcare (NYSE:HCA  Get Free Report) announced its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday. The company reported $8.01 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $7.37 by $0.64, Zacks reports. HCA Healthcare had a net margin of 8.53% and a negative return on equity of 792.25%. During the same period in the previous year, the business earned $6.22 earnings per share. HCA Healthcares revenue for the quarter was up 6.7% compared to the same quarter last year.

HCA Healthcare Price Performance

NYSE:HCA opened at $473.08 on Tuesday. HCA Healthcare has a 1-year low of $295.00 and a 1-year high of $520.00. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $480.29 and a 200-day simple moving average of $434.98. The firm has a market cap of $107.95 billion, a PE ratio of 18.29, a P/E/G ratio of 1.30 and a beta of 1.36.

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Insider Buying and Selling at HCA Healthcare

In other news, EVP Michael R. Mcalevey sold 3,892 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Wednesday, November 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $473.79, for a total transaction of $1,843,990.68. Following the sale, the executive vice president owned 3,487 shares in the company, valued at $1,652,105.73. This trade represents a 52.74% 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. 1.30% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the stock. One Capital Management LLC boosted its position in shares of HCA Healthcare by 1.1% in the third quarter. One Capital Management LLC now owns 2,250 shares of the companys stock worth $959,000 after acquiring an additional 24 shares during the last quarter. Sivia Capital Partners LLC boosted its holdings in shares of HCA Healthcare by 5.5% in the 2nd quarter. Sivia Capital Partners LLC now owns 630 shares of the companys stock valued at $241,000 after purchasing an additional 33 shares during the last quarter. GeoWealth Management LLC raised its position in shares of HCA Healthcare by 5.7% in the 3rd quarter. GeoWealth Management LLC now owns 627 shares of the companys stock worth $267,000 after buying an additional 34 shares during the period. Palisade Asset Management LLC purchased a new stake in HCA Healthcare during the third quarter valued at about $26,000. Finally, Pathstone Holdings LLC raised its holdings in shares of HCA Healthcare by 0.3% in the 3rd quarter. Pathstone Holdings LLC now owns 20,657 shares of the companys stock worth $8,804,000 after purchasing an additional 64 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 62.73% of the companys stock.

Several equities research analysts have recently commented on the company. Oppenheimer boosted their price target on HCA Healthcare from $400.00 to $500.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research note on Monday, October 27th. Morgan Stanley lowered HCA Healthcare from an equal weight rating to an underweight rating and set a $425.00 target price on the stock. in a report on Monday, December 15th. TD Cowen reiterated a buy rating on shares of HCA Healthcare in a research report on Monday, October 27th. Raymond James Financial set a $525.00 target price on shares of HCA Healthcare in a research report on Monday, October 27th. Finally, Mizuho raised their price objective on shares of HCA Healthcare from $505.00 to $520.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research note on Thursday, December 18th. Fourteen investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, eight have given a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $488.75.

View Our Latest Research Report on HCA

HCA Healthcare Company Profile

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HCA Healthcare is a for?profit operator of healthcare facilities headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee. Founded in 1968, the company owns and operates a network of hospitals and related healthcare facilities and has grown through organic expansion and acquisitions to become a large provider of inpatient and outpatient services.

The companys core activities include the operation of acute care hospitals, freestanding surgical and emergency centers, and outpatient clinics. HCAs services encompass inpatient care, surgical services, emergency medicine, diagnostic imaging and laboratory testing, and various outpatient and ambulatory care offerings.

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Novagold Resources (NYSEAMERICAN:NG  Get Free Report) (TSE:NG) had its price target boosted by stock analysts at B. Riley from $11.00 to $13.00 in a research note issued to investors on Tuesday,Benzinga reports. The firm presently has a buy rating on the mining companys stock. B. Rileys target price would indicate a potential upside of 24.15% from the companys current price.

NG has been the subject of several other research reports. Citigroup lifted their price target on Novagold Resources from $7.00 to $12.50 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 15th. BMO Capital Markets initiated coverage on Novagold Resources in a research note on Tuesday, November 4th. They set an outperform rating on the stock. National Bank Financial upgraded shares of Novagold Resources from a sector perform rating to an outperform rating in a report on Wednesday, October 29th. Finally, Zacks Research downgraded shares of Novagold Resources from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Wednesday, November 19th. Five equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and one has assigned 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 $10.83.

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Read Our Latest Research Report on Novagold Resources

Novagold Resources Price Performance

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Novagold Resources

NG traded up $0.04 on Tuesday, reaching $10.47. The stock had a trading volume of 918,943 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,880,157. Novagold Resources has a fifty-two week low of $2.26 and a fifty-two week high of $11.28. The company has a current ratio of 23.79, a quick ratio of 23.79 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.02. The company has a market capitalization of $4.26 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -42.05 and a beta of 0.83. The firm has a 50-day moving average of $9.74 and a 200-day moving average of $8.17.

Hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Lingotto Investment Management LLP grew its stake in Novagold Resources by 60.7% in the 2nd quarter. Lingotto Investment Management LLP now owns 34,902,954 shares of the mining companys stock valued at $142,753,000 after buying an additional 13,180,065 shares during the last quarter. Teacher Retirement System of Texas grew its holdings in Novagold Resources by 518.9% in the 2nd quarter. Teacher Retirement System of Texas now owns 4,770,816 shares of the mining companys stock valued at $19,513,000 after buying an additional 4,000,000 shares during the last quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Novagold Resources by 23.9% during the third quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 14,587,516 shares of the mining companys stock worth $128,840,000 after buying an additional 2,815,780 shares during the last quarter. UBS Group AG boosted its position in shares of Novagold Resources by 21.9% in the third quarter. UBS Group AG now owns 13,617,880 shares of the mining companys stock valued at $119,837,000 after acquiring an additional 2,443,511 shares during the period. Finally, Bank of America Corp DE raised its stake in Novagold Resources by 520.9% during the 2nd quarter. Bank of America Corp DE now owns 2,906,123 shares of the mining companys stock valued at $11,886,000 after purchasing an additional 2,438,052 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 57.56% of the companys stock.

Novagold Resources Company Profile

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Novagold Resources Inc is a mineral exploration and development company headquartered in Vancouver, British Columbia. The firm is focused on advancing large-scale precious metals projects through disciplined project management, environmental stewardship and community engagement. Novagold maintains a lean corporate structure while leveraging partnerships and industry expertise to advance its projects toward production.

The companys flagship asset is the Donlin Gold project in Alaska, a 50/50 joint venture with Barrick Gold Corporation.

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Equities researchers at Scotiabank assumed coverage on shares of CGI Group (NYSE:GIB  Get Free Report) (TSE:GIB.A) in a research report issued to clients and investors on Tuesday. The brokerage set a sector perform rating on the technology companys stock.

Several other research firms have also recently issued reports on GIB. Weiss Ratings reissued a hold (c-) rating on shares of CGI Group in a report on Monday, December 29th. Cibc Captl Mkts cut CGI Group from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Sunday, December 14th. Jefferies Financial Group restated a hold rating and issued a $81.00 price target (down from $105.00) on shares of CGI Group in a research note on Monday, November 10th. TD Securities upgraded CGI Group to a strong-buy rating in a research report on Friday, October 3rd. Finally, Royal Bank Of Canada reissued an outperform rating on shares of CGI Group in a report on Monday, January 5th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, one has given a Buy rating and five have issued a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, CGI Group presently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $117.00.

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CGI Group Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE:GIB traded down $0.07 during trading on Tuesday, reaching $89.12. The company had a trading volume of 91,347 shares, compared to its average volume of 276,447. CGI Group has a fifty-two week low of $84.00 and a fifty-two week high of $122.79. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.27, a current ratio of 0.99 and a quick ratio of 0.72. The stocks fifty day moving average price is $90.97 and its 200 day moving average price is $92.24. The firm has a market capitalization of $19.53 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 16.96 and a beta of 0.59.

CGI Group (NYSE:GIB  Get Free Report) (TSE:GIB.A) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, November 5th. The technology company reported $1.55 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.53 by $0.02. The firm had revenue of $2.88 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $4 billion. CGI Group had a net margin of 10.41% and a return on equity of 18.55%. CGI Groups quarterly revenue was up 9.7% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the firm posted $1.92 EPS. As a group, equities research analysts predict that CGI Group will post 5.79 EPS for the current year.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On CGI Group

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in GIB. Beutel Goodman & Co Ltd. lifted its position in CGI Group by 13.0% during the second quarter. Beutel Goodman & Co Ltd. now owns 3,452,820 shares of the technology companys stock worth $361,881,000 after buying an additional 397,005 shares during the period. Millennium Management LLC grew its holdings in CGI Group by 786.2% in the 1st quarter. Millennium Management LLC now owns 81,470 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $8,141,000 after buying an additional 72,277 shares during the period. Kepler Cheuvreux Suisse SA acquired a new position in shares of CGI Group during the 3rd quarter valued at about $6,498,000. Mediolanum International Funds Ltd lifted its holdings in shares of CGI Group by 35.1% during the 3rd quarter. Mediolanum International Funds Ltd now owns 67,190 shares of the technology companys stock worth $5,972,000 after acquiring an additional 17,448 shares during the period. Finally, Davis Rea LTD. boosted its position in shares of CGI Group by 5.6% in the second quarter. Davis Rea LTD. now owns 34,141 shares of the technology companys stock worth $3,572,000 after acquiring an additional 1,800 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 66.68% of the companys stock.

CGI Group Company Profile

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CGI Group Inc is a global information technology and business consulting firm that delivers a broad range of services including IT consulting, systems integration, application development and maintenance, infrastructure and network services, managed IT and business process outsourcing. The company works with clients to design, build and operate IT systems and business solutions, with capabilities spanning cloud and hybrid IT environments, cybersecurity, data analytics and artificial intelligence, digital transformation and enterprise resource planning implementations.

Founded in 1976 in Quebec by Serge Godin and Andre Imbeau, CGI has grown from a regional systems integrator into a multinational professional services organization.

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BEIJING, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- China's social security funds covering basic pensions, unemployment and work-related injury insurance recorded a total balance of 10.2 trillion yuan (about 1.46 trillion U.S. dollars) by the end of 2025, official data showed Tuesday.

The Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security said on Tuesday that the scale of basic pension funds entrusted for investment had exceeded 2.98 trillion yuan by the end of last year. 
HCA Healthcare, Inc. (NYSE:HCA  Get Free Report)s share price gapped up prior to trading on Tuesday after the company announced better than expected quarterly earnings. The stock had previously closed at $472.38, but opened at $505.00. HCA Healthcare shares last traded at $517.5850, with a volume of 746,310 shares.

The company reported $8.01 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $7.37 by $0.64. HCA Healthcare had a negative return on equity of 792.25% and a net margin of 8.53%.During the same quarter last year, the company posted $6.22 EPS. The businesss quarterly revenue was up 6.7% on a year-over-year basis. HCA Healthcare has set its FY 2026 guidance at 29.100-31.500 EPS.

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Trending Headlines about HCA Healthcare

Here are the key news stories impacting HCA Healthcare this week:

Positive Sentiment: Q4 earnings beat  HCA reported $8.01 EPS vs. consensus ~ $7.36, up from $6.22 a year ago, showing solid operating leverage and margin improvement that investors reward. HCA Healthcare (HCA) Beats Q4 Earnings Estimates

Q4 earnings beat  HCA reported $8.01 EPS vs. consensus ~ $7.36, up from $6.22 a year ago, showing solid operating leverage and margin improvement that investors reward. Positive Sentiment: Management says 2026 profit should come in above Wall Street estimates, citing robust demand for medical services and expectations for lower costs  a forward-looking comment that supports multiple expansion and confidence in cash flow. HCA Healthcare forecasts 2026 profit above estimates

Management says 2026 profit should come in above Wall Street estimates, citing robust demand for medical services and expectations for lower costs  a forward-looking comment that supports multiple expansion and confidence in cash flow. Positive Sentiment: FY?2026 EPS guidance of $29.10$31.50 (consensus ~ $29.54) implies meaningful upside at the top of the range and supports the streets forward estimates  guidance detail is in the company release. View Press Release

FY?2026 EPS guidance of $29.10$31.50 (consensus ~ $29.54) implies meaningful upside at the top of the range and supports the streets forward estimates  guidance detail is in the company release. Neutral Sentiment: Revenue guidance range of $76.5B$80.0B vs. consensus ~$79.2B  the midpoint is close to expectations, but the wide band creates some uncertainty around growth cadence for the year. View Press Release

Revenue guidance range of $76.5B$80.0B vs. consensus ~$79.2B  the midpoint is close to expectations, but the wide band creates some uncertainty around growth cadence for the year. Neutral Sentiment: Q4 revenue rose about 6.7% year-over-year  healthy top-line growth but less attention-grabbing than the EPS beat and margin commentary. View Press Release

Q4 revenue rose about 6.7% year-over-year  healthy top-line growth but less attention-grabbing than the EPS beat and margin commentary. Negative Sentiment: Reported a highly unusual negative return on equity figure (?792.25%), a red flag for some investors who will dig into one?time items, capital-structure effects or accounting drivers behind that metric. This could prompt volatility until investors get clarity. View Press Release

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several equities research analysts have weighed in on HCA shares. Mizuho increased their target price on HCA Healthcare from $505.00 to $520.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Thursday, December 18th. KeyCorp restated an overweight rating and issued a $500.00 target price on shares of HCA Healthcare in a research report on Thursday. Raymond James Financial set a $525.00 price objective on HCA Healthcare in a report on Monday, October 27th. Weiss Ratings restated a buy (b) rating on shares of HCA Healthcare in a research note on Monday, December 29th. Finally, Bank of America raised their target price on shares of HCA Healthcare from $430.00 to $470.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research note on Monday, October 27th. Fourteen equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, eight have assigned a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, HCA Healthcare currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $488.75.

Read Our Latest Research Report on HCA

Insider Transactions at HCA Healthcare

In other HCA Healthcare news, EVP Michael R. Mcalevey sold 3,892 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Wednesday, November 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $473.79, for a total value of $1,843,990.68. Following the transaction, the executive vice president owned 3,487 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,652,105.73. This represents a 52.74% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Company insiders own 1.30% of the companys stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On HCA Healthcare

A number of institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of HCA. Palisade Asset Management LLC purchased a new stake in HCA Healthcare during the third quarter valued at about $26,000. Ameriflex Group Inc. acquired a new position in HCA Healthcare in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $27,000. Chung Wu Investment Group LLC acquired a new stake in HCA Healthcare during the 2nd quarter valued at $27,000. Clearstead Trust LLC boosted its position in shares of HCA Healthcare by 311.8% in the second quarter. Clearstead Trust LLC now owns 70 shares of the companys stock worth $27,000 after buying an additional 53 shares during the period. Finally, Holos Integrated Wealth LLC purchased a new stake in HCA Healthcare in the 4th quarter worth about $29,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 62.73% of the companys stock.

HCA Healthcare Stock Performance

The company has a market cap of $119.92 billion, a PE ratio of 20.31, a PEG ratio of 1.30 and a beta of 1.36. The company has a 50 day simple moving average of $480.29 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $434.98.

HCA Healthcare Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

HCA Healthcare is a for?profit operator of healthcare facilities headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee. Founded in 1968, the company owns and operates a network of hospitals and related healthcare facilities and has grown through organic expansion and acquisitions to become a large provider of inpatient and outpatient services.

The companys core activities include the operation of acute care hospitals, freestanding surgical and emergency centers, and outpatient clinics. HCAs services encompass inpatient care, surgical services, emergency medicine, diagnostic imaging and laboratory testing, and various outpatient and ambulatory care offerings.

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Gerdau S.A. (NYSE:GGB  Get Free Report)s stock price hit a new 52-week high during mid-day trading on Tuesday . The stock traded as high as $4.53 and last traded at $4.5250, with a volume of 4312469 shares changing hands. The stock had previously closed at $4.33.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several analysts have recently commented on the company. Zacks Research raised Gerdau from a strong sell rating to a hold rating in a research report on Tuesday, November 18th. UBS Group reissued a buy rating and issued a $4.60 price objective (up from $4.00) on shares of Gerdau in a research note on Monday, December 15th. Finally, Weiss Ratings restated a hold (c) rating on shares of Gerdau in a research report on Monday, December 29th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Buy rating and three have issued a Hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Gerdau currently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $4.60.

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Gerdau Trading Up 5.4%

The business has a 50-day moving average of $3.78 and a 200-day moving average of $3.38. The company has a quick ratio of 1.47, a current ratio of 2.70 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.30. The stock has a market cap of $9.12 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 16.97, a PEG ratio of 1.53 and a beta of 1.47.

Gerdau (NYSE:GGB  Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, October 30th. The basic materials company reported $0.10 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.11 by ($0.01). The firm had revenue of $3.38 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $17.81 billion. Gerdau had a return on equity of 5.92% and a net margin of 4.38%. As a group, research analysts forecast that Gerdau S.A. will post 0.46 earnings per share for the current year.

Gerdau Increases Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, December 18th. Investors of record on Wednesday, November 12th were given a dividend of $0.0521 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, November 12th. This is a boost from Gerdaus previous quarterly dividend of $0.02. This represents a $0.21 annualized dividend and a yield of 4.6%. Gerdaus payout ratio is 74.07%.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the business. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. raised its holdings in shares of Gerdau by 68.9% during the 2nd quarter. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. now owns 9,634 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $28,000 after purchasing an additional 3,931 shares in the last quarter. Park Avenue Securities LLC acquired a new position in Gerdau during the second quarter worth $29,000. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC raised its holdings in Gerdau by 95.3% during the second quarter. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 10,687 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $31,000 after buying an additional 5,216 shares in the last quarter. Wealthstream Advisors Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Gerdau in the third quarter worth about $32,000. Finally, Aster Capital Management DIFC Ltd acquired a new stake in shares of Gerdau in the third quarter worth about $34,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 1.49% of the companys stock.

Gerdau Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Gerdau SA is a Brazilian-based steel producer engaged in the manufacture and distribution of long steel products for the construction, industrial and agricultural sectors. Established in 1901, the company operates an integrated network of electric-arc furnaces and rolling mills, producing reinforcement bars, wire rod, merchant bars and structural shapes. Gerdaus product portfolio also includes specialty long steel, high-yield reinforcement, rail, beams and steel coils, as well as value-added processing services such as cutting, bending and coating.

The company has expanded its footprint beyond Brazil, with significant operations in North America, South America and a presence in select European markets.

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iShares MSCI South Korea ETF (NYSEARCA:EWY  Get Free Report)s share price hit a new 52-week high on Tuesday . The stock traded as high as $121.84 and last traded at $121.5150, with a volume of 1741077 shares trading hands. The stock had previously closed at $117.32.

iShares MSCI South Korea ETF Stock Up 3.8%

The firms 50 day moving average is $98.82 and its two-hundred day moving average is $86.93. The stock has a market cap of $11.46 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 10.35 and a beta of 1.22.

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Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of EWY. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. grew its holdings in shares of iShares MSCI South Korea ETF by 27.8% during the first quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. now owns 239,956 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $12,967,000 after buying an additional 52,259 shares in the last quarter. Park Avenue Securities LLC purchased a new position in iShares MSCI South Korea ETF during the 2nd quarter valued at about $203,000. Union Bancaire Privee UBP SA grew its stake in iShares MSCI South Korea ETF by 58.1% during the 2nd quarter. Union Bancaire Privee UBP SA now owns 30,476 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $2,110,000 after acquiring an additional 11,202 shares in the last quarter. BOCHK Asset Management Ltd acquired a new position in shares of iShares MSCI South Korea ETF in the 2nd quarter valued at about $574,000. Finally, Ameritas Advisory Services LLC purchased a new stake in shares of iShares MSCI South Korea ETF in the second quarter worth approximately $76,000. Institutional investors own 49.22% of the companys stock.

iShares MSCI South Korea ETF Company Profile

iShares MSCI South Korea Capped ETF (the Fund) is an exchange-traded fund (ETF). The Fund seeks investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance, before fees and expenses, of the MSCI Korea 25/50 Index (the Index). The Index consists of stocks traded primarily on the Stock Market Division of the Korean Exchange. The Index is a free-float adjusted market capitalization weighted index with a capping methodology applied to issuer weights so that no issuer of a component exceeds 25% of the Index weight and all issuers with weight above 5% do not exceed 50% of the Index weight.

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China Yuchai International Limited (NYSE:CYD  Get Free Report) reached a new 52-week high on Tuesday . The stock traded as high as $47.85 and last traded at $46.6250, with a volume of 58597 shares changing hands. The stock had previously closed at $44.13.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of equities analysts have commented on the stock. Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a hold (c+) rating on shares of China Yuchai International in a research note on Monday, December 22nd. UBS Group started coverage on China Yuchai International in a research report on Tuesday, January 6th. They set a buy rating and a $60.00 price objective for the company. Zacks Research cut China Yuchai International from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Monday, October 13th. Finally, Wall Street Zen raised shares of China Yuchai International from a buy rating to a strong-buy rating in a research report on Sunday, November 16th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating and three have given a Hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $60.00.

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China Yuchai International Stock Up 9.7%

Institutional Investors Weigh In On China Yuchai International

The business has a fifty day moving average price of $37.68 and a 200 day moving average price of $34.89.

Several large investors have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Robeco Institutional Asset Management B.V. bought a new position in China Yuchai International in the 3rd quarter valued at $724,000. Matthews International Capital Management LLC bought a new stake in China Yuchai International in the third quarter valued at about $2,270,000. Connor Clark & Lunn Investment Management Ltd. boosted its stake in China Yuchai International by 70.3% during the 2nd quarter. Connor Clark & Lunn Investment Management Ltd. now owns 135,881 shares of the companys stock worth $3,249,000 after acquiring an additional 56,085 shares during the last quarter. Public Employees Retirement System of Ohio boosted its position in shares of China Yuchai International by 136.0% during the second quarter. Public Employees Retirement System of Ohio now owns 16,609 shares of the companys stock worth $397,000 after purchasing an additional 9,572 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Pinpoint Asset Management Singapore Pte. Ltd. bought a new stake in shares of China Yuchai International in the second quarter worth about $4,759,000.

China Yuchai International Company Profile

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China Yuchai International Ltd. (NYSE: CYD) is a Cayman Islandsincorporated holding company with principal executive offices in Singapore. Through its subsidiaries, the company is a leading manufacturer and distributor of diesel engines in the Peoples Republic of China. Its principal operating subsidiary, Guangxi Yuchai Machinery Company Limited (GYMCL), has been producing diesel engines since 1951 and ranks among the countrys largest heavy-duty engine makers.

The companys core product portfolio includes high-speed and medium-speed diesel engines for on-highway trucks and buses, off-road vehicles such as construction and agricultural machinery, marine propulsion systems, and power generator sets.

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Shares of Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft (NYSE:DB  Get Free Report) reached a new 52-week high during mid-day trading on Tuesday . The company traded as high as $40.08 and last traded at $39.6580, with a volume of 824389 shares traded. The stock had previously closed at $39.40.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of analysts have weighed in on the stock. Barclays raised shares of Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft to a strong-buy rating in a research note on Friday, October 10th. Citigroup restated a sell rating on shares of Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft in a research report on Thursday. Zacks Research downgraded Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Tuesday, December 30th. Wall Street Zen raised Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research note on Saturday, December 20th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group initiated coverage on Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft in a research note on Monday, October 20th. They issued a hold rating for the company. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, four have issued 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 company presently has an average rating of Hold.

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Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft Stock Performance

The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.40, a quick ratio of 0.78 and a current ratio of 0.78. The stocks 50 day moving average price is $37.62 and its 200 day moving average price is $35.89. The company has a market capitalization of $77.85 billion, a P/E ratio of 14.81, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.36 and a beta of 0.96.

Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft (NYSE:DB  Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Wednesday, October 29th. The bank reported $0.97 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.81 by $0.16. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft had a net margin of 7.99% and a return on equity of 5.97%. The business had revenue of $9.44 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $7.75 billion. As a group, equities analysts expect that Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft will post 2.93 EPS for the current year.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft

Several large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Root Financial Partners LLC acquired a new position in Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft in the third quarter valued at approximately $27,000. Salomon & Ludwin LLC increased its stake in shares of Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft by 2,807.4% in the 3rd quarter. Salomon & Ludwin LLC now owns 785 shares of the banks stock valued at $28,000 after acquiring an additional 758 shares in the last quarter. Triumph Capital Management acquired a new position in shares of Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft during the 3rd quarter valued at $32,000. Cary Street Partners Investment Advisory LLC boosted its stake in Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft by 61.8% during the third quarter. Cary Street Partners Investment Advisory LLC now owns 1,081 shares of the banks stock worth $38,000 after acquiring an additional 413 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Geneos Wealth Management Inc. grew its holdings in Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft by 178.0% in the second quarter. Geneos Wealth Management Inc. now owns 1,376 shares of the banks stock worth $40,000 after purchasing an additional 881 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 27.90% of the companys stock.

About Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft

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Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft is a global banking and financial services company headquartered in Frankfurt, Germany. Founded in 1870 to support German foreign trade, the firm has grown into a full-service bank offering a wide range of banking, advisory and transaction services to corporate, institutional, and private clients. Over its history the bank has expanded internationally and developed capabilities across capital markets, investment banking, retail and commercial banking, and wealth management.

The banks core business activities include corporate and investment bankingcovering financing, advisory, sales and trading, and capital markets servicesalong with private & commercial banking for individual and small-to-medium enterprise clients.

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DPM Metals Inc. (OTCMKTS:DPMLF  Get Free Report) shares hit a new 52-week high during mid-day trading on Tuesday . The stock traded as high as $40.00 and last traded at $37.43, with a volume of 2908 shares changing hands. The stock had previously closed at $36.65.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research firms have issued reports on DPMLF. Scotiabank restated an outperform rating on shares of DPM Metals in a research note on Monday. Zacks Research upgraded DPM Metals from a hold rating to a strong-buy rating in a research report on Friday, November 28th. National Bankshares reissued an outperform rating on shares of DPM Metals in a research note on Friday, December 5th. Finally, CIBC reiterated a neutral rating on shares of DPM Metals in a report on Friday, December 5th. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, three have assigned a Buy rating and one has issued a Hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of Buy.

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DPM Metals Stock Down 2.1%

The company has a market capitalization of $8.18 billion and a price-to-earnings ratio of 21.20. The stock has a 50 day simple moving average of $30.51 and a 200 day simple moving average of $23.86.

DPM Metals (OTCMKTS:DPMLF  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, November 13th. The company reported $0.73 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.58 by $0.15. DPM Metals had a return on equity of 22.84% and a net margin of 39.03%.The firm had revenue of $267.41 million during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $227.95 million. As a group, analysts forecast that DPM Metals Inc. will post 1.52 EPS for the current year.

About DPM Metals

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Dundee Precious Metals Inc (OTCMKTS:DPMLF) is a Canada?based precious metals producer with a focus on gold and copper mining. The companys primary operations are located in southeastern Europe, where it owns and operates the Chelopech mine, a high?grade gold?copper?silver underground mine in Bulgaria. In addition to gold?copper production at Chelopech, Dundee Precious Metals is advancing the Krumovgrad gold project, also in Bulgaria, which is expected to further diversify its output and extend the companys production profile.

At Chelopech, Dundee Precious Metals employs a conventional flotation process to recover gold, copper and silver from sulphide ores.

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DNB Bank ASA (OTCMKTS:DNBBY  Get Free Report) shares reached a new 52-week high on Tuesday . The company traded as high as $29.42 and last traded at $29.38, with a volume of 6997 shares. The stock had previously closed at $28.76.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

DNBBY has been the topic of several recent research reports. Citigroup reissued a neutral rating on shares of DNB Bank ASA in a report on Tuesday, October 14th. Morgan Stanley restated an underweight rating on shares of DNB Bank ASA in a research report on Friday, January 9th. The Goldman Sachs Group downgraded shares of DNB Bank ASA from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Thursday, December 4th. Finally, Zacks Research upgraded shares of DNB Bank ASA from a hold rating to a strong-buy rating in a research note on Thursday, October 23rd. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, four have assigned a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of Hold.

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DNB Bank ASA Stock Up 2.4%

DNB Bank ASA Company Profile

The stocks 50-day simple moving average is $27.34 and its 200-day simple moving average is $26.66. The firm has a market capitalization of $43.51 billion, a P/E ratio of 10.79 and a beta of 0.73. The company has a current ratio of 1.45, a quick ratio of 1.45 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.42.

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DNB Bank ASA (OTCMKTS: DNBBY) is Norways largest financial services group, offering a broad range of banking, insurance and capital markets services to retail, corporate and institutional clients. The banks core activities encompass retail and commercial banking, corporate and investment banking, asset management, life insurance and pension products, as well as payment and card services. DNB provides traditional deposit and lending products, mortgages, savings and wealth management solutions, securities trading, corporate finance and treasury services.

The group operates through several specialized business lines, including DNB Markets for investment banking and capital markets activities and DNB Asset Management for portfolio management and investment funds.

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BigBear.ai, SentinelOne, Tempus AI, Hut 8, SoundHound AI, Fluence Energy, and Pagaya Technologies are the seven Artificial Intelligence stocks to watch today, according to MarketBeats stock screener tool. Artificial intelligence stocks are shares of companies whose principal business involves developing, supplying, or materially deploying AI technologiessuch as AI software and models, specialized chips, cloud AI services, or data and services that enable machine learning. For investors, these stocks offer exposure to potential high-growth, disruption-driven returns but also come with elevated valuation, execution, and regulatory risks that should be evaluated by examining AI-related revenue, competitive advantages, and adoption trends. These companies had the highest dollar trading volume of any Artificial Intelligence stocks within the last several days.

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BigBear.ai (BBAI)

BigBear.ai Holdings, Inc. provides artificial intelligence-powered decision intelligence solutions. It offers national security, supply chain management, and digital identity and biometrics solutions. The company also provides data ingestion, data enrichment, data processing, artificial intelligence, machine learning, predictive analytics, and predictive visualization solutions and services.

SentinelOne (S)

SentinelOne, Inc. operates as a cybersecurity provider in the United States and internationally. Its Singularity Platform delivers an artificial intelligence-powered autonomous threat prevention, detection, and response capabilities across an organization's endpoints, cloud workloads, and identify credentials, which enables seamless and autonomous protection against a spectrum of cyber threats.

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Tempus AI (TEM)

Tempus AI Inc. is a technology company advancing precision medicine through the practical application of artificial intelligence principally in healthcare. The company provides AI-enabled precision medicine solutions to physicians to deliver personalized patient care and in parallel facilitates discovery, development and delivery of optimal therapeutics.

Read Our Latest Research Report on TEM

Hut 8 (HUT)

Hut 8 Corp., together with its subsidiaries, acquires, builds, manages, and operates data centers for digital assets mining, computing, and artificial intelligence in the United States. It operates in four segments: Digital Assets Mining, Managed Services, High Performance Computing Colocation and Cloud, and Other.

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SoundHound AI (SOUN)

SoundHound AI, Inc. develops independent voice artificial intelligence (AI) solutions that enables businesses across automotive, TV, and IoT, and to customer service industries to deliver high-quality conversational experiences to their customers. Its products include Houndify platform that offers a suite of Houndify tools to help brands build conversational voice assistants, such as Application Programming Interfaces (API) for text and voice queries, support for custom commands, extensive library of content domains, inclusive software development kit platforms, collaboration capabilities, diagnostic tools, and built-in analytics; SoundHound Chat AI that integrates with knowledge domains, pulling real-time data like weather, sports, stocks, flight status, and restaurants; and SoundHound Smart Answering is built to offer customer establishments custom AI-powered voice assistant.

Read Our Latest Research Report on SOUN

Fluence Energy (FLNC)

Fluence Energy, Inc., through its subsidiaries, offers energy storage products and solution, services, and artificial intelligence enabled software-as-a-service products for renewables and storage applications in the Americas, the Asia Pacific, Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. The company sells energy storage products with integrated hardware, software, and digital intelligence.

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Pagaya Technologies (PGY)

Pagaya Technologies Ltd., a product-focused technology company, deploys data science and proprietary artificial intelligence-powered technology for financial institutions and investors in the United States, Israel, the Cayman Islands, and internationally. The company develops and implements proprietary artificial intelligence technology and related software solutions to assist partners to originate loans and other assets.

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DigitalOcean (NYSE:DOCN  Get Free Report) had its price target raised by Bank of America from $60.00 to $72.00 in a research report issued to clients and investors on Tuesday,Benzinga reports. The firm currently has a buy rating on the stock. Bank of Americas price objective would suggest a potential upside of 18.11% from the stocks current price.

Several other brokerages have also recently weighed in on DOCN. Canaccord Genuity Group raised their target price on shares of DigitalOcean from $55.00 to $60.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Thursday, November 6th. Barclays raised their price objective on shares of DigitalOcean from $49.00 to $63.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research report on Monday, January 12th. Oppenheimer started coverage on DigitalOcean in a research report on Monday, November 10th. They set an outperform rating and a $60.00 target price on the stock. Wall Street Zen downgraded shares of DigitalOcean from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Sunday, January 4th. Finally, Cantor Fitzgerald set a $47.00 target price on shares of DigitalOcean and gave the company a neutral rating in a report on Thursday, November 6th. Seven investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and seven 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 target price of $50.50.

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DigitalOcean Stock Up 3.4%

Shares of DOCN stock traded up $2.02 during trading hours on Tuesday, hitting $60.96. 2,919,624 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 2,439,715. DigitalOcean has a fifty-two week low of $25.45 and a fifty-two week high of $64.09. The firm has a 50 day moving average of $48.92 and a two-hundred day moving average of $40.29. The firm has a market cap of $5.58 billion, a P/E ratio of 24.60, a P/E/G ratio of 7.70 and a beta of 1.76.

DigitalOcean (NYSE:DOCN  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, November 5th. The company reported $0.54 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.31 by $0.23. DigitalOcean had a negative return on equity of 92.51% and a net margin of 29.15%.The firm had revenue of $229.63 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $226.55 million. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $0.52 earnings per share. The businesss revenue was up 15.9% on a year-over-year basis. DigitalOcean has set its Q4 2025 guidance at 0.350-0.400 EPS and its FY 2025 guidance at 2.000-2.050 EPS. On average, equities analysts forecast that DigitalOcean will post 1.01 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On DigitalOcean

A number of institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of DOCN. UBS AM A Distinct Business Unit of UBS Asset Management Americas LLC boosted its position in shares of DigitalOcean by 5.0% during the first quarter. UBS AM A Distinct Business Unit of UBS Asset Management Americas LLC now owns 339,670 shares of the companys stock worth $11,342,000 after purchasing an additional 16,162 shares in the last quarter. Intech Investment Management LLC boosted its holdings in shares of DigitalOcean by 59.2% during the 1st quarter. Intech Investment Management LLC now owns 39,429 shares of the companys stock worth $1,317,000 after buying an additional 14,655 shares during the period. Farther Finance Advisors LLC grew its holdings in DigitalOcean by 42.3% in the 2nd quarter. Farther Finance Advisors LLC now owns 1,924 shares of the companys stock valued at $55,000 after buying an additional 572 shares in the last quarter. CX Institutional raised its position in shares of DigitalOcean by 780.5% in the second quarter. CX Institutional now owns 1,039 shares of the companys stock valued at $30,000 after buying an additional 921 shares in the last quarter. Finally, State of Alaska Department of Revenue lifted its position in DigitalOcean by 5.9% during the second quarter. State of Alaska Department of Revenue now owns 37,368 shares of the companys stock worth $1,067,000 after purchasing an additional 2,086 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 49.77% of the companys stock.

DigitalOcean Company Profile

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DigitalOcean Holdings, Inc is a cloud infrastructure provider that focuses on simplicity, performance and developer experience. The company offers a range of cloud services designed to help software developers, startups and small- to medium-sized businesses deploy, manage and scale applications. Its flagship offering, Droplets, provides virtual private servers that can be configured with various CPU, memory and storage options. In addition to compute instances, DigitalOceans platform includes managed Kubernetes, scalable object and block storage, managed databases, load balancers and networking capabilities such as Virtual Private Cloud (VPC) and Floating IPs.

Founded in 2011 and headquartered in New York City, DigitalOcean was created with the goal of making cloud computing more accessible to individual developers and smaller teams.

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Shares of Cadeler A/S Sponsored ADR (NYSE:CDLR  Get Free Report) gapped up prior to trading on Tuesday . The stock had previously closed at $22.42, but opened at $23.75. Cadeler A/S shares last traded at $24.22, with a volume of 111,018 shares trading hands.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several research firms recently commented on CDLR. Pareto Securities upgraded shares of Cadeler A/S to a hold rating in a research report on Tuesday, November 18th. Weiss Ratings reissued a hold (c) rating on shares of Cadeler A/S in a research note on Wednesday, January 21st. Finally, Wall Street Zen cut Cadeler A/S from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Friday, October 3rd. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a Hold rating, Based on data from MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of Hold.

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Cadeler A/S Stock Up 8.4%

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.82, a current ratio of 1.07 and a quick ratio of 1.06. The company has a market capitalization of $2.13 billion, a PE ratio of 7.10 and a beta of 0.22. The businesss 50 day simple moving average is $18.95 and its 200 day simple moving average is $19.88.

A number of institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in CDLR. Bank of America Corp DE increased its position in Cadeler A/S by 17.7% during the third quarter. Bank of America Corp DE now owns 3,963 shares of the companys stock worth $82,000 after buying an additional 597 shares during the period. Rhumbline Advisers grew its position in shares of Cadeler A/S by 45.2% during the first quarter. Rhumbline Advisers now owns 2,167 shares of the companys stock worth $43,000 after acquiring an additional 675 shares during the last quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased its holdings in shares of Cadeler A/S by 1.4% in the 3rd quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 72,547 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,498,000 after acquiring an additional 985 shares during the period. Steinberganna Wealth Management raised its position in Cadeler A/S by 10.1% in the 4th quarter. Steinberganna Wealth Management now owns 11,431 shares of the companys stock valued at $213,000 after purchasing an additional 1,047 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Raymond James Financial Inc. acquired a new stake in Cadeler A/S during the 2nd quarter worth $34,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 53.03% of the companys stock.

Cadeler A/S Company Profile

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Cadeler A/S is a Denmark-based specialist in offshore wind turbine installation and related services. The company operates a fleet of dynamically positioned (DP3) self-propelled jack-up vessels designed for the transportation, installation and commissioning of foundation structures, turbine towers, nacelles and blades. Cadelers capabilities encompass project planning, logistics coordination and offshore operations, enabling wind farm developers to deploy large-scale turbines in challenging marine environments.

The companys two flagship vessels, Wind Orca and Wind Osprey, are equipped to work in water depths of up to 70 meters and to handle the installation of next-generation turbines.

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LONDON, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- Action-thriller "One Battle After Another" led the shortlist Tuesday of films competing at the British Academy Film Awards, or BAFTAs, which will be handed out next month as the awards season builds toward the Oscars in March.

The film, in which Hollywood star Leonardo DiCaprio plays a washed-up revolutionary, led the nominations with 14 nods. These included best film, the best director and acting mentions for DiCaprio and other actors.

"Sinners," set in the segregated U.S. South and rooted in blues culture, followed close behind with 13 nominations, including a best film slot.

Other titles in contention for the best film prize are "Hamnet," "Marty Supreme," and "Sentimental Value," setting up a competitive field alongside the leading nominee.

British comedy "I Swear," which follows a man living with Tourette syndrome, emerged as an unexpected awards-season player, picking up five BAFTA nominations. The haul included a best actor nomination for Robert Aramayo, along with several mentions in craft categories, giving the low-key release a standout showing in this year's field.

The winners will be announced at an awards ceremony at London's Royal Festival Hall on February 22. 
Community Bancorp. (OTCMKTS:CMTV  Get Free Report) posted its earnings results on Tuesday. The financial services provider reported $0.83 earnings per share for the quarter, Zacks reports. Community Bancorp. had a net margin of 24.43% and a return on equity of 15.91%.

Community Bancorp. Stock Performance

Shares of OTCMKTS CMTV remained flat at $28.00 during mid-day trading on Tuesday. The stock had a trading volume of 2,538 shares, compared to its average volume of 10,933. The company has a quick ratio of 0.92, a current ratio of 0.92 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.12. The company has a 50 day moving average price of $25.24 and a 200-day moving average price of $23.40. The company has a market cap of $155.68 million, a P/E ratio of 9.62 and a beta of 0.30. Community Bancorp. has a 12 month low of $16.99 and a 12 month high of $28.97.

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Community Bancorp. Company Profile

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Community Bancorp. operates as the bank holding company for Community National Bank that provides financial services to individuals, businesses, nonprofit organizations, and municipalities in northern and central Vermont. It offers financing for commercial business properties, equipment, inventories, and accounts receivable, as well as standby letters of credit; and business checking and other deposit accounts, cash management services, repurchase agreements, ACH and wire transfer services, card processing, and remote deposit capture.

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Ford Motor Company (NYSE:F  Get Free Report) was the recipient of unusually large options trading on Tuesday. Stock traders purchased 123,232 put options on the stock. This represents an increase of approximately 17% compared to the typical volume of 105,559 put options.

Ford Motor Price Performance

Ford Motor stock traded up $0.43 during mid-day trading on Tuesday, hitting $13.87. 61,613,080 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 62,206,242. The company has a market capitalization of $55.25 billion, a PE ratio of 11.94, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 5.68 and a beta of 1.62. Ford Motor has a 1-year low of $8.44 and a 1-year high of $14.50. The business has a fifty day moving average of $13.39 and a 200 day moving average of $12.43. The company has a quick ratio of 0.98, a current ratio of 1.12 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.20.

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Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several research analysts have recently commented on F shares. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their price target on shares of Ford Motor from $14.00 to $15.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Wednesday, January 21st. The Goldman Sachs Group raised their price target on Ford Motor from $11.00 to $12.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a report on Monday, September 29th. Weiss Ratings restated a buy (b-) rating on shares of Ford Motor in a research note on Monday, December 22nd. Wells Fargo & Company upped their target price on Ford Motor from $10.00 to $11.00 and gave the stock an underweight rating in a research report on Friday, October 24th. Finally, Barclays lifted their price target on Ford Motor from $12.00 to $13.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a research report on Friday. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, four have given a Buy rating, twelve have assigned a Hold rating and two have issued a Sell rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $13.19.

Institutional Trading of Ford Motor

A number of hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of F. Vanguard Group Inc. lifted its position in shares of Ford Motor by 1.2% during the 3rd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 467,617,755 shares of the auto manufacturers stock worth $5,592,708,000 after buying an additional 5,371,758 shares in the last quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. grew its stake in Ford Motor by 3.7% during the second quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 145,172,134 shares of the auto manufacturers stock valued at $1,575,118,000 after acquiring an additional 5,118,228 shares in the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC raised its holdings in shares of Ford Motor by 17.9% in the 2nd quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 103,784,031 shares of the auto manufacturers stock valued at $1,122,434,000 after acquiring an additional 15,748,694 shares in the last quarter. Norges Bank purchased a new stake in shares of Ford Motor during the 2nd quarter valued at $405,328,000. Finally, Marshall Wace LLP raised its holdings in shares of Ford Motor by 81.1% during the 3rd quarter. Marshall Wace LLP now owns 35,438,722 shares of the auto manufacturers stock valued at $423,847,000 after buying an additional 15,866,285 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 58.74% of the companys stock.

Ford Motor Company Profile

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Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F) is an American multinational automaker headquartered in Dearborn, Michigan. Founded by Henry Ford in 1903, the company became an early pioneer of mass-production techniques with the Model T and the adoption of the moving assembly line. Today, Ford designs, manufactures, markets and services a broad range of vehicles and mobility solutions under the Ford and Lincoln brands, spanning passenger cars, SUVs, pickup trucks and commercial vehicles.

Fords business activities extend beyond vehicle production to include parts and aftermarket services, fleet and commercial sales, and automotive financing through Ford Motor Credit Company.

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A.P. Moller-Maersk (OTCMKTS:AMKBY  Get Free Report) gapped up before the market opened on Tuesday . The stock had previously closed at $11.37, but opened at $11.96. A.P. Moller-Maersk shares last traded at $12.08, with a volume of 4,770 shares trading hands.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of research firms have commented on AMKBY. Citigroup reaffirmed a neutral rating on shares of A.P. Moller-Maersk in a research report on Thursday, November 13th. Hsbc Global Res raised shares of A.P. Moller-Maersk to a strong-buy rating in a research report on Monday, September 29th. The Goldman Sachs Group downgraded A.P. Moller-Maersk from a hold rating to a sell rating in a research report on Wednesday, January 14th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft restated a hold rating on shares of A.P. Moller-Maersk in a research report on Wednesday, December 17th. Finally, Wolfe Research restated an underperform rating on shares of A.P. Moller-Maersk in a report on Thursday, January 8th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, two have given a Hold rating and six have given a Sell rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Reduce.

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A.P. Moller-Maersk Trading Up 2.8%

The firms 50-day moving average price is $11.06 and its 200 day moving average price is $10.53. The company has a market cap of $38.18 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 7.68 and a beta of 0.88. The company has a current ratio of 2.16, a quick ratio of 2.05 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.08.

A.P. Moller-Maersk (OTCMKTS:AMKBY  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, November 6th. The transportation company reported $0.31 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.51 by ($0.20). A.P. Moller-Maersk had a return on equity of 8.51% and a net margin of 8.83%.The company had revenue of $14.21 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $13.44 billion. As a group, equities analysts expect that A.P. Moller-Maersk will post 0.41 EPS for the current year.

About A.P. Moller-Maersk

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A.P. Moller-Maersk A/S is a Danish integrated transport and logistics company headquartered in Copenhagen. Operating under the Maersk brand worldwide, the group provides container shipping and end-to-end logistics services, combining ocean freight with land-based transportation, contract logistics, warehousing, and supply chain management for global shippers and manufacturers.

The companys core activities include container shipping operations, terminal services through APM Terminals, and a growing logistics and services business that offers freight forwarding, customs brokerage, inland transportation and warehousing.

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Valero Energy (NYSE:VLO  Get Free Report) had its price target upped by investment analysts at Morgan Stanley from $175.00 to $180.00 in a research report issued on Tuesday,Benzinga reports. The brokerage currently has an equal weight rating on the oil and gas companys stock. Morgan Stanleys price target would suggest a potential downside of 1.46% from the companys previous close.

A number of other research firms have also commented on VLO. Zacks Research lowered shares of Valero Energy from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Tuesday, January 20th. UBS Group reiterated a buy rating on shares of Valero Energy in a report on Tuesday, January 6th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their price objective on Valero Energy from $197.00 to $200.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a report on Thursday, January 8th. Jefferies Financial Group increased their price target on shares of Valero Energy from $181.00 to $194.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Friday, October 10th. Finally, Piper Sandler reduced their target price on Valero Energy from $223.00 to $217.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a report on Thursday, January 8th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, nine have assigned a Buy rating and nine have issued a Hold rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $183.33.

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Valero Energy Trading Down 0.3%

Insider Buying and Selling

VLO traded down $0.61 during trading on Tuesday, reaching $182.68. The company had a trading volume of 1,259,162 shares, compared to its average volume of 3,911,608. The firms 50-day simple moving average is $174.82 and its 200 day simple moving average is $162.90. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.36, a quick ratio of 1.09 and a current ratio of 1.60. The company has a market cap of $55.72 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 38.13, a PEG ratio of 1.09 and a beta of 0.77. Valero Energy has a 12-month low of $99.00 and a 12-month high of $194.35.

In other Valero Energy news, CFO Jason W. Fraser sold 9,933 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Friday, November 21st. The stock was sold at an average price of $174.02, for a total value of $1,728,540.66. Following the sale, the chief financial officer directly owned 134,196 shares in the company, valued at $23,352,787.92. This represents a 6.89% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. 0.37% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Institutional Trading of Valero Energy

Several hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of VLO. JPL Wealth Management LLC acquired a new position in Valero Energy during the 3rd quarter worth about $27,000. Highline Wealth Partners LLC grew its stake in shares of Valero Energy by 70.2% during the third quarter. Highline Wealth Partners LLC now owns 160 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $27,000 after purchasing an additional 66 shares during the period. Global Wealth Strategies & Associates acquired a new position in shares of Valero Energy during the 3rd quarter worth about $34,000. Cypress Capital Management LLC WY acquired a new position in Valero Energy during the third quarter valued at approximately $34,000. Finally, Triumph Capital Management bought a new stake in shares of Valero Energy in the 3rd quarter valued at $35,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 78.69% of the companys stock.

About Valero Energy

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Valero Energy Corporation is a San Antonio, Texasbased integrated downstream energy company that manufactures and markets transportation fuels, petrochemical feedstocks and other industrial products. The companys operations focus on refining crude oil into finished fuels such as gasoline, diesel and jet fuel, as well as producing asphalt and other refined product streams for commercial and industrial customers.

In addition to refining, Valero has significant operations in renewable fuels, including the production of ethanol and other biofuels, and it manages an extensive logistics network of pipelines, terminals, rail and marine assets to move feedstocks and finished products.

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IREN, USA Rare Earth, Hecla Mining, Newmont, Freeport-McMoRan, First Majestic Silver, and Caterpillar are the seven Mining stocks to watch today, according to MarketBeats stock screener tool. Mining stocks are shares of publicly traded companies that explore for, extract, and process mineral resources (such as gold, silver, copper, coal, and battery metals) or provide services and equipment to those operations. They are typically cyclical and more volatile than broader-market stocks because their profits and valuations closely track commodity prices, geopolitical and regulatory developments, and operational or geological risks. These companies had the highest dollar trading volume of any Mining stocks within the last several days.

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IREN (IREN)

IREN Limited, formerly known as Iris Energy Limited, owns and operates bitcoin mining data centers. The company was incorporated in 2018 and is headquartered in Sydney, Australia.

USA Rare Earth (USAR)

USA Rare Earth, Inc. is domestic supplier of rare earth magnets and heavy rare earth elements. It is developing a vertically integrated, domestic supply chain for rare earth element magnet production, with a facility in Stillwater, Oklahoma, and mining rights to the Round Top heavy rare earth and critical minerals deposit in West Texas.

Read Our Latest Research Report on USAR

Hecla Mining (HL)

Hecla Mining Company, together with its subsidiaries, provides precious and base metal properties in the United States, Canada, Japan, Korea, and China. The company mines for silver, gold, lead, and zinc concentrates, as well as carbon material containing silver and gold for custom smelters, metal traders, and third-party processors; and dore containing silver and gold.

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Newmont (NEM)

Newmont Corporation engages in the production and exploration of gold. It also explores for copper, silver, zinc, and lead. The company has operations and/or assets in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Dominican Republic, Peru, Suriname, Argentina, Chile, Australia, Papua New Guinea, Ecuador, Fiji, and Ghana.

Read Our Latest Research Report on NEM

Freeport-McMoRan (FCX)

Freeport-McMoRan Inc. engages in the mining of mineral properties in North America, South America, and Indonesia. It primarily explores for copper, gold, molybdenum, silver, and other metals. The company's assets include the Grasberg minerals district in Indonesia; Morenci, Bagdad, Safford, Sierrita, and Miami in Arizona; Chino and Tyrone in New Mexico; and Henderson and Climax in Colorado, North America, as well as Cerro Verde in Peru and El Abra in Chile.

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First Majestic Silver (AG)

First Majestic Silver Corp. engages in the acquisition, exploration, development, and production of mineral properties with a focus on silver and gold production in North America. Its projects include the San Dimas mine covering an area of approximately 71,867 hectares located in Durango State, Mexico; the Santa Elena that covers an area of approximately 102,244 hectares located in Sonora State, Mexico; and the La Encantada covering an area of approximately 4,076 hectares located in Coahuila State, Mexico.

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Caterpillar (CAT)

Caterpillar Inc. manufactures and sells construction and mining equipment, off-highway diesel and natural gas engines, industrial gas turbines, and diesel-electric locomotives in worldwide. Its Construction Industries segment offers asphalt pavers, compactors, road reclaimers, forestry machines, cold planers, material handlers, track-type tractors, excavators, telehandlers, motor graders, and pipelayers; compact track, wheel, track-type, backhoe, and skid steer loaders; and related parts and tools.

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SThree (LON:STEM) used its full-year results briefing to emphasize resilience in a difficult staffing environment, progress on a multi-year technology transformation, and continued focus on contract-led STEM recruitment. Chief Executive Officer Timo Lehne and Chief Financial Officer Andy Beach said the group met the expectations it set at the start of the year, while acknowledging that a broader market recoveryparticularly in Europehas yet to fully materialize.

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Management highlights: contract focus and TIP milestone

Lehne said the business is more than a transactional staffing business, positioning SThree as a global STEM workforce consultancy supporting around 9,000 contractors across 11 countries. Contract remained central to the model, representing 84% of the group, which management described as providing greater resilience, profitability, and visibility than a permanent-heavy mix.

A major theme of the call was the completion of the companys Technology Improvement Program (TIP) rollout across all 11 countries. Lehne described the completion as a pivotal milestone, noting it was delivered on time, within budget, and to an enhanced scope. He said TIP provides an integrated end-to-end digital backbone intended to improve the experience for clients and candidates and increase adaptability.

Lehne also said the company has been rebalancing toward a more focused geographic footprint since early 2023, using its Market Investment Model to deploy resources in markets with the best alignment of opportunity and capability. He highlighted increased emphasis on the U.S. and Japan, and noted early positive results from greater focus on large enterprise accounts and refined account management.

Full-year financial performance

Beach reported that net fees fell 12% year-on-year on a constant currency basis, with the rate of decline improving sequentially quarter-on-quarter through the year. Contract net fees declined 12%, with weakness in new business activity earlier in the year outweighing more recent improvement and consistently resilient contract extensions. Permanent net fees declined 9%, which Beach said was an improvement versus the prior years decline, supported by growth in the U.S. and Japan.

Operating profit was GBP 26.1 million, down 60% on a constant currency basis. Beach attributed the decline primarily to operational gearing on lower net fees, partially offset by cost discipline and operational efficiencies. The conversion ratio (operating profit to net fees) was 8.1%.

Profit before tax was GBP 25.5 million, down 62%, reflecting lower operating profit and higher net finance costs due to reduced interest income on deposits. Earnings per share decreased 63% to GBP 13.70, with profit after tax down 64% on a constant currency basis. Beach said the share buyback reduced the number of shares, partially offsetting the profit decline in the EPS calculation.

Regional and skill mix: U.S. growth offsets European softness

Beach said the company remains diversified by region and skill vertical. DACH remained the largest region at 33% of net fees, while net fees were lower in three of the companys five regions, partly offset by growth in the U.S. and in the Middle East and Asia.

Technology remained the largest skill vertical at 45% of net fees. Engineering, the second-largest vertical, declined 6% year-on-year against a strong prior-year performance. Within engineering, the energy business grew 5% year-on-year and accounted for 19% of group net fees. The other segment grew 7% year-on-year, reflecting increased demand for banking and finance roles, particularly in the U.S. and Belgium. Beach said these gains were offset by softer demand in technology and life sciences during the challenging trading environment.

Contract visibility, margins, and operating metrics

The company highlighted the resilience of its contract-led model. The contract order book was down 2% year-on-year, which Beach said reflected improved new placement activity alongside strong extensions. Despite the decline, management said the order book continues to provide sector-leading forward visibility, equating to around five months of future net fees already booked.

Beach said average contract lengths increased 10% year-on-year to 60 weeks, supported by extension rates. Contract margins were maintained at 21.7% through tight pricing control, particularly on extensions. The average salary of contract roles placed increased 2% year-on-year to GBP 107,000.

He also pointed to a multi-year shift toward the Employed Contractor Model (ECM). ECM increased to 41% of net fees in FY2025 from 23% in FY2019. Beach said ECM margins are typically 30% to 40% higher than those from independent contractors because clients pay for the risk and complexity SThree assumes. Management also said the new digital infrastructure should reduce manual touchpoints, supporting more efficient scaling and higher margins over time.

TIP benefits, costs, and capital returns

Chief Operating Officer Nick Folkes said TIP replaced fragmented legacy systems with a unified global platform, creating a single source of truth across clients, candidates, assignments, fees, automation, and insight, with standardized end-to-end workflows and compliance built in by design. He said early outcomes include improvements in consultant productivity, pipeline quality, operational velocity, and recurring efficiencies.

Folkes said TIP has delivered GBP 6.5 million of annualized cost efficiencies to date, with more expected in FY26.

He reported a 38% increase in A and B grade jobs per consultant since FY2023, which he linked to cleaner CRM data and improved pipeline discipline.

Time to placement improved 9% since FY2023, including a 22% improvement in the U.S. contract business where TIP has been embedded longer.

In the U.S. contract business, placements per head for contract consultants rose 18% when comparing FY23 (pre-TIP) to FY25 (post-TIP), after FY24 served as a stabilization period.

Folkes also described a comparison in Germany where he said the timing of TIP deployment helped explain a divergence in performance between two contract divisions, citing IC new placement weekly net fees outperforming ECM by 10 percentage points in a like-for-like period before ECM went live.

Beach said the TIP rollout was completed below the middle of the expected spend range, with total spending of GBP 32 million by the end of FY25. He broke this down as GBP 13 million in total OPEX and GBP 19 million in total CAPEX, with FY25 TIP OPEX of around GBP 3 million and TIP CAPEX of around GBP 6 million.

On capital returns, Beach said the company will pay a final dividend of GBP 9.20 per share, keeping the full-year dividend flat year-on-year at GBP 14.30 per share. He also announced a further share buyback program of up to GBP 20 million, following the purchase of nearly GBP 8 million shares under the prior program. Management said the decision reflected the groups trading performance, outlook, and cash generation, as well as a commitment to returning surplus capital where appropriate.

Looking ahead, Beach said profitability phasing in the current year will differ from historical patterns due to first-half-weighted costs associated with the FY26 efficiency program, but he added that management remains confident in delivering full-year expectations. Lehne said new business momentum improved toward year-end in key markets such as the U.S., while the broader recoveryespecially in Europeremains in progress.

About SThree (LON:STEM)

SThree plc brings skilled people together to build the future. We are the global STEM workforce consultancy, placing highly skilled, STEM specialist workers in the industries where they are needed most. We advise businesses, build expert teams, and deliver project solutions for our clients. With more than 38 years of experience in pure-play STEM and a global team with local expertise across 11 countries, we cover high-demand skills across Engineering, Life Sciences and Technology roles.

We provide permanent and flexible contract talent to a diverse base of around 6,000 clients.

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Magna International (NYSE:MGA  Get Free Report) (TSE:MG) had its target price upped by Scotiabank from $52.00 to $57.00 in a report issued on Tuesday,BayStreet.CA reports. The brokerage currently has a sector perform rating on the stock. Scotiabanks target price suggests a potential upside of 6.08% from the stocks previous close.

A number of other analysts have also issued reports on MGA. TD Securities boosted their target price on shares of Magna International from $57.00 to $58.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Monday, November 3rd. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their target price on shares of Magna International from $53.00 to $57.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Monday, November 3rd. Evercore ISI boosted their price target on Magna International from $47.00 to $52.00 and gave the company an in-line rating in a report on Monday, November 24th. Barclays increased their price objective on Magna International from $52.00 to $58.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a research note on Friday. Finally, Morgan Stanley upped their target price on Magna International from $38.00 to $54.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a report on Monday, December 8th. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, fourteen have issued a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $52.80.

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Magna International Trading Up 1.0%

NYSE MGA traded up $0.53 during trading on Tuesday, hitting $53.74. The stock had a trading volume of 559,977 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,473,708. Magna International has a one year low of $30.39 and a one year high of $57.55. The stock has a 50 day simple moving average of $52.46 and a 200 day simple moving average of $47.87. The stock has a market capitalization of $15.06 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 14.69 and a beta of 1.50. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.38, a quick ratio of 0.83 and a current ratio of 1.18.

Magna International (NYSE:MGA  Get Free Report) (TSE:MG) last released its earnings results on Friday, October 31st. The company reported $1.33 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.24 by $0.09. Magna International had a return on equity of 11.88% and a net margin of 2.50%.The firm had revenue of $10.50 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $10.03 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $1.28 earnings per share. The companys quarterly revenue was up 1.8% on a year-over-year basis. Sell-side analysts predict that Magna International will post 5.87 earnings per share for the current year.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Magna International

Large investors have recently made changes to their positions in the business. ARGA Investment Management LP boosted its position in Magna International by 33.2% in the third quarter. ARGA Investment Management LP now owns 4,148,133 shares of the companys stock valued at $196,557,000 after buying an additional 1,033,747 shares during the last quarter. Hillsdale Investment Management Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of Magna International in the 3rd quarter valued at $33,593,000. Geode Capital Management LLC increased its stake in shares of Magna International by 20.2% in the second quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 2,015,407 shares of the companys stock worth $77,332,000 after acquiring an additional 338,470 shares during the period. AGF Management Ltd. purchased a new position in shares of Magna International during the third quarter worth $14,191,000. Finally, Achmea Investment Management B.V. acquired a new position in Magna International during the third quarter valued at $8,606,000. 67.49% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

About Magna International

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Magna International Inc is a leading global automotive supplier specializing in the design, engineering, and manufacturing of vehicle systems, assemblies, modules, and components. Headquartered in Aurora, Ontario, the company partners with major original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) to develop technologies and solutions that enhance vehicle performance, safety, comfort, and fuel efficiency. Magnas broad portfolio encompasses body exteriors and structures, powertrain systems, seating and interiors, roof systems, mirror systems, and advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS).

The company operates more than 350 manufacturing and assembly facilities and over 100 innovation centers across 27 countries, serving customers in North America, Europe, Asia, South America, and Africa.

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Shares of Bridgestone Corp. (OTCMKTS:BRDCY  Get Free Report) saw strong trading volume on Tuesday . 302,970 shares changed hands during mid-day trading, an increase of 40% from the previous sessions volume of 217,107 shares.The stock last traded at $11.3150 and had previously closed at $11.21.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of brokerages have recently weighed in on BRDCY. CLSA upgraded Bridgestone to a strong-buy rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 1st. Zacks Research lowered Bridgestone from a hold rating to a strong sell rating in a research note on Tuesday, December 2nd. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Bridgestone currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy.

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Bridgestone Stock Performance

Bridgestone Company Profile

The firm has a market capitalization of $32.37 billion, a PE ratio of 16.68, a P/E/G ratio of 1.05 and a beta of 0.51. The business has a 50-day simple moving average of $19.89 and a 200-day simple moving average of $21.47. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.17, a current ratio of 2.48 and a quick ratio of 1.66.

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Bridgestone Corporation is a Japanese multinational company principally engaged in the design, manufacture and sale of tires and rubber products. Founded in 1931 by Shojiro Ishibashi and headquartered in Tokyo, the company has grown into one of the worlds largest tire manufacturers, offering products for a broad range of vehicles and applications.

The companys core offerings include tires for passenger cars, motorcycles, commercial trucks and buses, agricultural and off?the?road equipment, and aircraft.

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HUYA Inc. Sponsored ADR (NYSE:HUYA  Get Free Report) saw an uptick in trading volume on Tuesday . 4,708,555 shares traded hands during trading, an increase of 88% from the previous sessions volume of 2,510,586 shares.The stock last traded at $4.2720 and had previously closed at $3.57.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several equities analysts have weighed in on HUYA shares. HSBC upgraded HUYA from a hold rating to a buy rating and set a $3.50 price objective on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, November 5th. Weiss Ratings reiterated a sell (d-) rating on shares of HUYA in a research note on Monday, December 29th. Finally, Hsbc Global Res upgraded HUYA from a hold rating to a strong-buy rating in a research note on Wednesday, November 5th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, one has issued 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, the stock currently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $3.50.

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HUYA Trading Up 22.0%

The firm has a fifty day moving average of $3.11 and a two-hundred day moving average of $3.18. The company has a market cap of $972.95 million, a PE ratio of -48.94 and a beta of 0.80.

HUYA (NYSE:HUYA  Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, November 12th. The company reported $0.02 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.01 by $0.01. The firm had revenue of $215.93 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.69 billion. HUYA had a negative net margin of 2.63% and a positive return on equity of 0.73%. The companys revenue was up 9.8% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $0.34 earnings per share. Sell-side analysts expect that HUYA Inc. Sponsored ADR will post 0.16 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Institutional Trading of HUYA

A number of institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Public Employees Retirement System of Ohio increased its stake in shares of HUYA by 8.6% during the third quarter. Public Employees Retirement System of Ohio now owns 245,295 shares of the companys stock valued at $817,000 after buying an additional 19,353 shares during the period. SG Americas Securities LLC boosted its stake in shares of HUYA by 92.1% during the 3rd quarter. SG Americas Securities LLC now owns 85,796 shares of the companys stock valued at $286,000 after purchasing an additional 41,138 shares in the last quarter. Loomis Sayles & Co. L P raised its stake in HUYA by 327.0% in the second quarter. Loomis Sayles & Co. L P now owns 10,273 shares of the companys stock worth $36,000 after buying an additional 7,867 shares in the last quarter. Finally, MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. lifted its position in HUYA by 10.3% during the 1st quarter. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. now owns 154,694 shares of the companys stock valued at $497,000 after acquiring an additional 14,456 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 23.20% of the companys stock.

HUYA Company Profile

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HUYA Inc is a leading interactive live streaming platform based in Guangzhou, China, primarily focused on video game and esports content. The company operates a proprietary technology platform that enables users to broadcast and view live gameplay, participate in real-time chat, and engage with hosts through virtual gifting. Its services are accessible via web browsers, desktop applications and mobile apps for both iOS and Android.

At the core of HUYAs business are user-generated live streams hosted by professional gamers, influencers and esports organizations.

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Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. (NYSE:AJG  Get Free Report) shares were down 6.9% on Tuesday . The company traded as low as $241.97 and last traded at $237.8710. Approximately 384,961 shares changed hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 79% from the average daily volume of 1,837,751 shares. The stock had previously closed at $255.41.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several analysts have recently weighed in on AJG shares. Needham & Company LLC set a $272.00 price objective on shares of Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. in a research report on Thursday, December 18th. Barclays dropped their price target on Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. from $250.00 to $247.00 and set an underweight rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, January 8th. Mizuho set a $277.00 price objective on Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. in a report on Wednesday, January 14th. Piper Sandler lowered Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. from an overweight rating to a neutral rating and cut their target price for the stock from $276.00 to $272.00 in a research note on Wednesday, January 7th. Finally, Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a hold (c+) rating on shares of Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. in a research note on Monday, December 29th. Seven research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, twelve have given a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. presently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $290.50.

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Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. Price Performance

The company has a quick ratio of 1.06, a current ratio of 1.06 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.52. The businesss 50-day simple moving average is $253.68 and its 200-day simple moving average is $278.02. The stock has a market cap of $61.77 billion, a PE ratio of 35.96 and a beta of 0.67.

Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. (NYSE:AJG  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, October 30th. The financial services provider reported $2.32 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $2.51 by ($0.19). The business had revenue of $3.33 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $3.34 billion. Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. had a net margin of 13.58% and a return on equity of 11.98%. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 20.2% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $2.26 EPS. On average, research analysts expect that Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. will post 11.54 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. Dividend Announcement

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, December 19th. Shareholders of record on Friday, December 5th were issued a dividend of $0.65 per share. The ex-dividend date was Friday, December 5th. This represents a $2.60 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.1%. Arthur J. Gallagher & Co.s dividend payout ratio is 38.86%.

Insider Activity at Arthur J. Gallagher & Co.

In related news, VP Christopher E. Mead sold 4,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, December 23rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $258.11, for a total value of $1,032,440.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the vice president directly owned 17,327 shares in the company, valued at $4,472,271.97. This trade represents a 18.76% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, CFO Douglas K. Howell sold 5,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Monday, December 22nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $258.05, for a total transaction of $1,290,250.00. Following the sale, the chief financial officer directly owned 95,777 shares in the company, valued at $24,715,254.85. The trade was a 4.96% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. Insiders sold a total of 32,100 shares of company stock valued at $8,243,865 over the last ninety days. Insiders own 1.30% of the companys stock.

Institutional Trading of Arthur J. Gallagher & Co.

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Physician Wealth Advisors Inc. boosted its holdings in Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. by 870.0% in the third quarter. Physician Wealth Advisors Inc. now owns 97 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $30,000 after acquiring an additional 87 shares in the last quarter. J.Safra Asset Management Corp boosted its stake in Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. by 209.1% in the 2nd quarter. J.Safra Asset Management Corp now owns 102 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $32,000 after purchasing an additional 69 shares in the last quarter. Rakuten Securities Inc. grew its position in Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. by 650.0% during the 2nd quarter. Rakuten Securities Inc. now owns 105 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $34,000 after purchasing an additional 91 shares during the last quarter. Financial Life Planners purchased a new position in Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. in the third quarter worth about $39,000. Finally, Central Pacific Bank Trust Division lifted its stake in shares of Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. by 40.6% in the third quarter. Central Pacific Bank Trust Division now owns 135 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $42,000 after buying an additional 39 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 85.53% of the companys stock.

Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. Company Profile

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Arthur J. Gallagher & Co is a global insurance brokerage and risk management firm headquartered in Rolling Meadows, Illinois. Founded in 1927 by Arthur J. Gallagher, the company has grown from a regional broker into an international professional services organization that arranges insurance, provides consulting and designs risk-transfer solutions for commercial, industrial, public sector and individual clients.

The companys core activities include property and casualty insurance brokerage, employee benefits consulting and administration, and a range of risk management services.

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BRASILIA, Jan. 26 (Xinhua) -- Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva held a phone call with U.S. President Donald Trump and agreed to pay an official visit to Washington, Brazil's presidency said Monday.

During the 50-minute conversation, Lula proposed that the Council of Peace initiative put forward by the United States focus specifically on the Gaza conflict and include a seat for Palestine, according to an official statement.

Lula also reiterated the importance of a comprehensive reform of the United Nations.

The two leaders discussed bilateral relations and global issues, including economic cooperation, the fight against organized crime and the political situation in Venezuela. Lula underscored the importance of preserving peace and stability in the region and working for the well-being of the Venezuelan people.

They agreed to Lula's visit to Washington after his scheduled trips to India and South Korea in February, with the exact date to be determined.

The presidents also exchanged views on economic indicators in both countries, noting positive growth prospects. Trump said that economic growth in the United States and Brazil is beneficial for the region as a whole. 
Tele2 (OTCMKTS:TLTZY  Get Free Report) has been given a consensus recommendation of Buy by the six brokerages that are currently covering the firm, MarketBeat Ratings reports. One analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating, three have issued a buy rating and two have issued a strong buy rating on the company.

Several brokerages recently commented on TLTZY. BNP Paribas Exane upgraded shares of Tele2 from a hold rating to an outperform rating in a research note on Thursday, October 2nd. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft restated a hold rating on shares of Tele2 in a research note on Tuesday. Finally, New Street Research upgraded shares of Tele2 to a buy rating in a report on Wednesday, December 17th.

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Tele2 Stock Up 1.5%

Tele2 Company Profile

Shares of TLTZY traded up $0.14 during trading hours on Tuesday, hitting $9.11. The stock had a trading volume of 645 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,339. The firm has a market capitalization of $12.47 billion, a P/E ratio of 29.38 and a beta of 0.44. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.07, a current ratio of 0.68 and a quick ratio of 0.63. Tele2 has a 1-year low of $5.24 and a 1-year high of $9.34. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $8.12 and a 200-day simple moving average of $8.19.

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Tele2 AB is a European telecommunications company headquartered in Kista, Sweden. Since its founding in 1993, the firm has developed into a full-service provider of voice, data and multimedia solutions for both consumer and business markets. Its core offerings include mobile telephony, fixed and mobile broadband, voice over IP, digital television services and data network solutions, alongside emerging Internet of Things (IoT) and machine-to-machine connectivity products.

Tele2 operates primarily across the Nordic and Baltic regions, with key markets in Sweden, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.

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Tyler Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:TYL  Get Free Report)s share price hit a new 52-week low during mid-day trading on Tuesday . The company traded as low as $423.96 and last traded at $421.9740, with a volume of 60478 shares changing hands. The stock had previously closed at $439.82.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

TYL has been the subject of several research analyst reports. Piper Sandler lowered their price objective on shares of Tyler Technologies from $708.00 to $671.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, January 13th. Needham & Company LLC restated a buy rating on shares of Tyler Technologies in a research report on Wednesday, January 7th. DA Davidson decreased their price objective on Tyler Technologies from $540.00 to $510.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, December 9th. BTIG Research began coverage on shares of Tyler Technologies in a report on Tuesday, December 16th. They set a buy rating and a $560.00 target price on the stock. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group assumed coverage on shares of Tyler Technologies in a research note on Tuesday, January 13th. They issued a buy rating and a $560.00 price target for the company. Twelve research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and four have assigned a Hold rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, Tyler Technologies has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $611.14.

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Tyler Technologies Stock Down 3.4%

The stock has a market cap of $18.29 billion, a PE ratio of 59.13, a PEG ratio of 2.94 and a beta of 0.91. The stocks fifty day moving average price is $454.26 and its 200 day moving average price is $505.64.

Tyler Technologies (NYSE:TYL  Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Wednesday, October 29th. The technology company reported $2.97 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.88 by $0.09. Tyler Technologies had a return on equity of 10.57% and a net margin of 13.72%.The business had revenue of $595.88 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $594.34 million. During the same period last year, the business posted $2.52 EPS. The companys revenue was up 10.2% compared to the same quarter last year. Tyler Technologies has set its FY 2025 guidance at 11.300-11.500 EPS. On average, equities research analysts expect that Tyler Technologies, Inc. will post 8.52 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Insider Activity

In other news, Director Glenn A. Carter sold 500 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Friday, December 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $458.73, for a total transaction of $229,365.00. Following the sale, the director owned 3,172 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,455,091.56. This trade represents a 13.62% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. Also, CFO Brian K. Miller sold 1,000 shares of Tyler Technologies stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, November 25th. The stock was sold at an average price of $469.08, for a total transaction of $469,080.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief financial officer owned 12,781 shares of the companys stock, valued at $5,995,311.48. This represents a 7.26% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Insiders have sold a total of 3,500 shares of company stock worth $1,605,605 in the last 90 days. Company insiders own 1.10% of the companys stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Tyler Technologies

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the company. Root Financial Partners LLC bought a new stake in shares of Tyler Technologies in the third quarter worth $28,000. Generali Asset Management SPA SGR purchased a new position in Tyler Technologies in the second quarter worth about $30,000. Twin Peaks Wealth Advisors LLC bought a new stake in shares of Tyler Technologies during the 2nd quarter valued at about $32,000. Advisors Asset Management Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of Tyler Technologies during the 1st quarter valued at about $38,000. Finally, Geneos Wealth Management Inc. lifted its stake in shares of Tyler Technologies by 137.9% in the 1st quarter. Geneos Wealth Management Inc. now owns 69 shares of the technology companys stock worth $40,000 after purchasing an additional 40 shares during the period. 93.30% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Tyler Technologies Company Profile

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Tyler Technologies, Inc is a provider of software and technology services for the public sector, delivering integrated systems that help government and public agencies manage operations, finances and citizen services. Headquartered in Plano, Texas, the company focuses on developing and implementing solutions for local and state governments, school districts, courts and public safety organizations. Its offerings are aimed at modernizing administrative workflows, improving transparency and enabling digital interactions between governments and the communities they serve.

Tylers product portfolio spans enterprise resource planning and financial management, tax and billing systems, court case and records management, public safety solutions (including computer-aided dispatch and records management), land and property management, permitting and licensing, and enterprise asset management.

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Tenaz Energy Corp. (TSE:TNZ  Get Free Report)s share price reached a new 52-week high on Tuesday . The stock traded as high as C$36.77 and last traded at C$36.51, with a volume of 53247 shares changing hands. The stock had previously closed at C$35.34.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Separately, National Bankshares raised their price target on Tenaz Energy from C$34.00 to C$52.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Friday, January 9th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating and one has given a Buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of Strong Buy and a consensus target price of C$52.00.

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Tenaz Energy Stock Up 5.3%

The business has a 50-day simple moving average of C$26.41 and a 200-day simple moving average of C$23.81. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 10.56, a quick ratio of 2.77 and a current ratio of 1.43. The company has a market cap of C$1.19 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 6.06 and a beta of 1.25.

Tenaz Energy (TSE:TNZ  Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Thursday, November 6th. The company reported C$0.75 earnings per share for the quarter. The firm had revenue of C$93.78 million for the quarter. Tenaz Energy had a net margin of 2.83% and a return on equity of 1.90%. On average, equities analysts anticipate that Tenaz Energy Corp. will post 0.3896418 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Tenaz Energy Company Profile

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Tenaz Energy Corp. (TSX:TNZ) is a public energy company focused on the acquisition and sustainable development of international oil and gas assets capable of returning free cash flow to shareholders.Tenaz has domestic operations in Canada along with offshore gas assets in the Netherlands. The domestic operations consist of a semi-conventional oil project in the Rex member of the Upper Mannville group at Leduc-Woodbend in central Alberta. The Netherlands gas assets are located in the Dutch sector of the North Sea.

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Shares of Companhia de saneamento Basico Do Estado De Sao Paulo  Sabesp (NYSE:SBS  Get Free Report) hit a new 52-week high on Tuesday . The stock traded as high as $27.44 and last traded at $27.3020, with a volume of 562323 shares trading hands. The stock had previously closed at $26.41.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

SBS has been the topic of a number of research analyst reports. Weiss Ratings reiterated a buy (b) rating on shares of Companhia de saneamento Basico Do Estado De Sao Paulo  Sabesp in a report on Wednesday, January 21st. Zacks Research lowered shares of Companhia de saneamento Basico Do Estado De Sao Paulo  Sabesp from a hold rating to a strong sell rating in a report on Friday, January 2nd. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Buy rating and one has given a Sell rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of Hold.

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Companhia de saneamento Basico Do Estado De Sao Paulo  Sabesp Price Performance

The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.68, a quick ratio of 1.17 and a current ratio of 1.17. The stock has a market capitalization of $19.11 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 15.03, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 4.03 and a beta of 0.81. The businesss 50 day simple moving average is $24.91 and its 200-day simple moving average is $23.53.

Companhia de saneamento Basico Do Estado De Sao Paulo  Sabesp (NYSE:SBS  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, November 12th. The utilities provider reported $0.34 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.07 by $0.27. Companhia de saneamento Basico Do Estado De Sao Paulo  Sabesp had a return on equity of 16.08% and a net margin of 22.32%.The business had revenue of $4.69 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.07 billion. Research analysts anticipate that Companhia de saneamento Basico Do Estado De Sao Paulo  Sabesp will post 2.17 earnings per share for the current year.

Companhia de saneamento Basico Do Estado De Sao Paulo  Sabesp Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced a special dividend, which will be paid on Monday, May 11th. Shareholders of record on Monday, December 29th will be paid a dividend of $0.4772 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, December 29th. Companhia de saneamento Basico Do Estado De Sao Paulo  Sabesps dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 40.33%.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Companhia de saneamento Basico Do Estado De Sao Paulo  Sabesp

Several hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of SBS. GAMMA Investing LLC boosted its stake in Companhia de saneamento Basico Do Estado De Sao Paulo  Sabesp by 42.7% during the second quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 1,846 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $41,000 after buying an additional 552 shares in the last quarter. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC lifted its stake in Companhia de saneamento Basico Do Estado De Sao Paulo  Sabesp by 246.4% during the second quarter. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 2,342 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $51,000 after purchasing an additional 1,666 shares during the last quarter. Creative Financial Designs Inc. ADV boosted its holdings in Companhia de saneamento Basico Do Estado De Sao Paulo  Sabesp by 373.6% during the second quarter. Creative Financial Designs Inc. ADV now owns 3,159 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $69,000 after buying an additional 2,492 shares in the last quarter. CWM LLC grew its position in Companhia de saneamento Basico Do Estado De Sao Paulo  Sabesp by 82.9% in the third quarter. CWM LLC now owns 4,180 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $104,000 after buying an additional 1,895 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Hantz Financial Services Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Companhia de saneamento Basico Do Estado De Sao Paulo  Sabesp by 856.5% in the second quarter. Hantz Financial Services Inc. now owns 5,041 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $111,000 after buying an additional 4,514 shares in the last quarter. 10.62% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

About Companhia de saneamento Basico Do Estado De Sao Paulo  Sabesp

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Companhia de Saneamento Basico do Estado de Sao Paulo (SABESP) is a Brazilian utility that provides water supply and wastewater collection and treatment services. As the principal sanitation company serving the state of Sao Paulo, SABESP operates a wide range of infrastructure spanning water capture, treatment plants, distribution networks and sewage systems. The companys activities support residential, commercial and industrial customers and are focused on delivering potable water, ensuring water quality and expanding access to sanitation services.

SABESPs service offering includes the operation and maintenance of water treatment and sewage treatment facilities, network expansion and rehabilitation, meter reading and billing, customer service and environmental programs aimed at improving sewage treatment rates and protecting water resources.

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Shiseido Co. (OTCMKTS:SSDOY  Get Free Report) saw an uptick in trading volume on Tuesday . 60,590 shares were traded during trading, an increase of 57% from the previous sessions volume of 38,482 shares.The stock last traded at $17.00 and had previously closed at $17.34.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Separately, The Goldman Sachs Group raised shares of Shiseido from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research note on Wednesday, December 10th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Buy rating and one has issued a Hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Shiseido has an average rating of Moderate Buy.

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Shiseido Trading Down 1.1%

The company has a quick ratio of 0.89, a current ratio of 1.35 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.43. The businesss fifty day moving average is $15.25 and its 200-day moving average is $16.32. The stock has a market capitalization of $6.85 billion, a PE ratio of -18.24 and a beta of 0.36.

Shiseido (OTCMKTS:SSDOY  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Monday, November 10th. The company reported ($0.12) earnings per share for the quarter. The company had revenue of $1.45 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.52 billion. Shiseido had a negative net margin of 5.80% and a negative return on equity of 1.36%. As a group, analysts anticipate that Shiseido Co. will post 0.29 EPS for the current fiscal year.

About Shiseido

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Shiseido Company, Limited is a leading Japanese multinational specializing in cosmetics, skincare, makeup and fragrance products. Founded in 1872 and headquartered in Tokyo, the company operates through a portfolio of brands that span premium, prestige and mass-market segments. Its core business activities include the development, manufacturing and sale of skincare treatments, decorative cosmetics, hair care and sun protection products.

Shiseidos brand portfolio encompasses flagship lines such as Shiseido, Cle de Peau Beaute, NARS and bareMinerals, alongside regional and heritage labels tailored to diverse consumer preferences.

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GoDaddy Inc. (NYSE:GDDY  Get Free Report) reached a new 52-week low on Tuesday . The stock traded as low as $102.14 and last traded at $102.4690, with a volume of 191473 shares changing hands. The stock had previously closed at $106.02.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

GDDY has been the topic of several analyst reports. Royal Bank Of Canada set a $70.00 target price on shares of GoDaddy in a research note on Wednesday, January 7th. Raymond James Financial restated a strong-buy rating on shares of GoDaddy in a report on Friday, October 31st. Weiss Ratings reiterated a hold (c) rating on shares of GoDaddy in a research note on Friday, October 31st. UBS Group cut their target price on GoDaddy from $160.00 to $145.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, October 31st. Finally, Benchmark reiterated a buy rating on shares of GoDaddy in a research note on Thursday, December 4th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, seven have given a Buy rating and seven have issued a Hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $166.21.

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GoDaddy Trading Down 2.1%

The company has a fifty day moving average of $120.95 and a two-hundred day moving average of $135.90. The company has a quick ratio of 0.57, a current ratio of 0.57 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 41.06. The stock has a market capitalization of $14.03 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 17.93, a P/E/G ratio of 0.94 and a beta of 0.95.

GoDaddy (NYSE:GDDY  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, October 30th. The technology company reported $1.51 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.50 by $0.01. GoDaddy had a net margin of 17.01% and a return on equity of 231.34%. The company had revenue of $1.27 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.23 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $1.32 EPS. GoDaddys quarterly revenue was up 10.3% on a year-over-year basis. On average, research analysts expect that GoDaddy Inc. will post 6.63 EPS for the current year.

Insider Transactions at GoDaddy

In other GoDaddy news, CFO Mark Mccaffrey sold 3,317 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, December 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $127.94, for a total transaction of $424,376.98. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief financial officer directly owned 66,816 shares in the company, valued at approximately $8,548,439.04. This trade represents a 4.73% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Also, Director Brian Sharples sold 500 shares of GoDaddy stock in a transaction dated Monday, November 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $133.11, for a total value of $66,555.00. Following the sale, the director owned 19,957 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $2,656,476.27. This represents a 2.44% decrease in their position. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Over the last quarter, insiders sold 14,115 shares of company stock worth $1,809,657. Corporate insiders own 0.70% of the companys stock.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the company. CX Institutional boosted its holdings in shares of GoDaddy by 13.1% during the second quarter. CX Institutional now owns 577 shares of the technology companys stock worth $104,000 after purchasing an additional 67 shares during the period. Hemington Wealth Management grew its stake in GoDaddy by 85.9% in the third quarter. Hemington Wealth Management now owns 184 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $25,000 after purchasing an additional 85 shares in the last quarter. Coldstream Capital Management Inc. increased its position in GoDaddy by 4.8% in the 3rd quarter. Coldstream Capital Management Inc. now owns 1,887 shares of the technology companys stock worth $258,000 after purchasing an additional 86 shares during the last quarter. Penserra Capital Management LLC raised its stake in shares of GoDaddy by 14.0% during the 2nd quarter. Penserra Capital Management LLC now owns 748 shares of the technology companys stock worth $134,000 after purchasing an additional 92 shares in the last quarter. Finally, NewSquare Capital LLC increased its holdings in GoDaddy by 170.9% in the second quarter. NewSquare Capital LLC now owns 149 shares of the technology companys stock worth $27,000 after buying an additional 94 shares during the last quarter. 90.28% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

About GoDaddy

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GoDaddy is a technology company that provides a suite of online services aimed primarily at small businesses, entrepreneurs and individuals looking to establish and grow an online presence. The companys core activities include domain name registration and aftermarket services, a range of website hosting options, and tools for building, managing and promoting websites. Its product mix is designed to simplify the technical aspects of running a website so customers can focus on their businesses.

Product and service offerings span website builders and managed WordPress hosting, shared and dedicated hosting, e-commerce capabilities, email and productivity solutions, SSL certificates and site security tools, and online marketing and search engine optimization services.

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John Hancock Investors Trust (NYSE:JHI  Get Free Report) Director Kenneth Phelan purchased 730 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, January 27th. The stock was bought at an average cost of $13.75 per share, for a total transaction of $10,037.50. Following the purchase, the director directly owned 730 shares in the company, valued at $10,037.50. This trade represents a ? increase in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website.

John Hancock Investors Trust Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE JHI traded up $0.02 during midday trading on Tuesday, hitting $13.74. The stock had a trading volume of 21,121 shares, compared to its average volume of 28,784. The stock has a 50 day simple moving average of $13.74 and a 200-day simple moving average of $13.90. John Hancock Investors Trust has a 1 year low of $11.61 and a 1 year high of $14.51.

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John Hancock Investors Trust Increases Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, December 31st. Stockholders of record on Thursday, December 11th were issued a dividend of $0.3649 per share. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, December 11th. This represents a $1.46 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 10.6%. This is an increase from John Hancock Investors Trusts previous quarterly dividend of $0.32.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

About John Hancock Investors Trust

A number of large investors have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Raymond James Financial Inc. acquired a new position in shares of John Hancock Investors Trust in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $69,000. Ameriprise Financial Inc. boosted its holdings in John Hancock Investors Trust by 63.3% during the 2nd quarter. Ameriprise Financial Inc. now owns 21,231 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $294,000 after acquiring an additional 8,228 shares during the period. Aviance Capital Partners LLC increased its stake in John Hancock Investors Trust by 18.2% during the second quarter. Aviance Capital Partners LLC now owns 32,485 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $450,000 after purchasing an additional 5,011 shares during the period. Riverbridge Partners LLC boosted its stake in shares of John Hancock Investors Trust by 2.4% in the third quarter. Riverbridge Partners LLC now owns 33,638 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $471,000 after purchasing an additional 784 shares during the period. Finally, Stratos Wealth Partners LTD. lifted its holdings in John Hancock Investors Trust by 4.3% during the 3rd quarter. Stratos Wealth Partners LTD. now owns 40,157 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $562,000 after buying an additional 1,644 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 27.01% of the companys stock.

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John Hancock Investors Trust (NYSE: JHI) is a closed-end management investment company that offers investors access to a diversified portfolio of global securities. Established in 1929, the trust seeks to combine long-term capital growth with income generation through active portfolio management. Shares of the fund trade on the New York Stock Exchange, providing investors with the liquidity of an exchange-traded security alongside the diversification benefits of a professionally managed fund structure.

The funds investment strategy emphasizes a multi-asset approach, allocating capital across global equities, fixed-income instruments and convertible securities.

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Marshalls plc (LON:MSLH  Get Free Report)s stock price reached a new 52-week low during mid-day trading on Tuesday . The stock traded as low as GBX 158.20 and last traded at GBX 159, with a volume of 997340 shares. The stock had previously closed at GBX 160.80.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Separately, Royal Bank Of Canada cut their price target on shares of Marshalls from GBX 240 to GBX 195 and set a sector perform rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, January 20th. Three analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and one has assigned a Hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of GBX 316.25.

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Marshalls Stock Performance

Insider Buying and Selling

The stocks 50-day moving average is GBX 175.36 and its 200-day moving average is GBX 183.99. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 33.19, a current ratio of 1.86 and a quick ratio of 1.34. The stock has a market cap of 402.03 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 16.91, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.17 and a beta of 1.26.

In related news, insider Simon Bourne acquired 40,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Monday, December 8th. The stock was bought at an average price of GBX 172 per share, with a total value of 68,800. 1.05% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

About Marshalls

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Established in the late 1880s, Marshalls plc is a leading UK manufacturer of sustainable solutions for the built environment. It operates through three trading divisions: Landscape Products; Roofing Products; and Building Products. At a Group, divisional and brand level, Marshalls strategy centres around its customers who value its unique set of capabilities, namely leading brands, best in class technical and design support and carbon leadership. This is underpinned by business wide enterprise excellence, leadership in ESG governance and standards and its people, organisation, and culture.

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XI'AN, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- Archaeologists in Xi'an, capital of northwest China's Shaanxi Province, have unveiled a well-organized Western Han Dynasty (202 BC-25 AD) settlement during the excavation of the Sanjiu relic site, according to an announcement by the Shaanxi provincial institute of archaeology.

Located 0.6 kilometers to the eastern wall of the ancient Chang'an City, the Sanjiu relic site sits in Xi'an's Weiyang District. The excavation in 2025 also uncovered a Northern Wei cemetery, Song Dynasty graves, and Qing Dynasty pottery kilns.

The Western Han settlement, spanning from the mid-Western Han to the Xin Dynasty, was bisected by a north-south ditch. East of the ditch, eight large courtyard-style houses stood along a cross-shaped road network, collectively forming a central hub for food processing.

West of the ditch included bone-processing and smelting workshops alongside dwellings, yielding 78 kilograms of bone and shell materials, iron tools, and ornaments such as bone earrings and shell beads, evidence of a possible jewelry workshop.

"The settlement reveals previously unknown aspects of suburban organization near Chang'an City," said Zhang Yanglizheng, head of the project, emphasizing its value for studying Western Han social structures. 
Irish chef Eunice Power has opened up on the devastating loss of her son last year saying the feeling is "indescribable".

Speaking on the Are We There Yet? podcast hosted by Kathryn Thomas, the Today Show chef spoke about the death of her son Jerome, who passed away in their home in May 2025 at just 24 years of age.

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"It's been incredibly difficult for us," Eunice told Kathryn, " I don't think I'll ever get over it.

"In fact, I think I've gone through the last six months in absolute shock and it's now that it's only landing with me and I just can't get him out of my head."

Waterford native and owner of acclaimed restaurant in Dungarvan And Chips, Eunice, described her son as "wild, adventurous, and absolutely hilarious", and that his death "completely took me by surprise".

The TV cook also said that her and husband Edmund recently divorced after "growing apart" but that they are "parents number one".

When asked how she was doing now, Eunice told Kathryn, "I don't know how I'm doing. I'm actually, I'm not really sure. I think probably...I'm busy, I've amazing friends.

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"Am I escaping into work? I don't know how to behave," she added, "I don't know what is the right thing to do.

"For me, the idea of lying down in bed and curling up just isn't an option - so I just keep going."

Eunice, who is also mum to Michael and Kieran, say her sons miss their brother deeply and are "just trying to work with the new norm.

"It's indescribable and you don't know," she continued, "I mean I think it'll probably take years for this to kind of pan out for us. But we only have this one life, this is all we have and it's so easily whipped away from you.

"I try to encourage the boys to take life in both hands -you just have to kind of roll with it."

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The celebrity chef dedicated her cookbook My Irish Kitchen Table to her son Jerome, who she says was very proud of it and the photos in the book captured his final days.

Eunice dedicated her cookbook, My Irish Kitchen Table, to him, noting that he was very proud of it and that the photos in the book captured his final day.
Corporation taxes should not be used to fund infrastructure spending, Irelands budgetary watchdog has said.

It said the gaps in infrastructure across Ireland should be funded through revenue raising measures elsewhere in the economy and said that more and more of volatile corporation tax windfalls was being spent on current expenditure.

The committee heard that the proportion of corporation tax receipts spent by the Government had risen from 60% to almost 90%.

The Government has said that its plan to invest 275.4 billion euro in infrastructure over the next 10 years will be funded by the Apple tax windfall of 14 billion euro, proceeds from the selling of state shares in AIB, and the Infrastructure, Climate and Nature Fund.

This aims to fix a deficit in public infrastructure, particularly in the energy and water sectors, which is hampering housing delivery amid a housing and homelessness crisis in Ireland.

The Irish Fiscal Advisory Council (IFAC) has previously warned that the Irish Government is budgeting like theres no tomorrow and repeatedly said plans need to be put in place for an ageing population and climate change adaptations.

Chairperson of IFAC Seamus Coffey said spending last year was 3.9 billion above what was budgeted for and said it was unlikely that the European Commission would take action if Ireland breached its spending limits.

He was speaking before the Oireachtas finance committee with colleagues Professor Karina Doorley, a member of IFAC and an associate research professor, and Niall Conroy, acting chief economist and head of secretariat of IFAC.

Mr Coffey said it was not the case that just because Ireland has a fast growing population and economy that Ireland should have the highest expenditure level in the EU.

Typically, we might hope that fiscal policy will be counter-cyclical, that when your economy is performing well and doesnt necessarily need additional fiscal support, that some resources will be kept aside for use when they are required if the economy was to be performing poorer.

Mr Coffey said the over-runs in health were pretty modest but there was poor budgeting in the Department of Education, which overran its budget by 500-600 million euro last year.

He said that while the Irish economy could sustain a growth rate of 5%, if it were to go above that it could not sustain it over a long period of time.

Social Democrat TD Cian OCallaghan asked how the Government could run high-cost public services, stick to the 5% spending limit as suggested, and also address the countrys infrastructure deficit.

We would agree that, obviously there is this infrastructure deficit that has to be addressed, and thats going to take some spending, Prof Doorley said.

But I suppose the point is, if Government identifies that we need to increase spending in a particular area, lets say its infrastructure, then revenue has to be raised elsewhere.

So you mentioned the public sector, that costs a lot of money to run, if revenue has to be raised elsewhere, there are options out there.

So the Commission on Taxation and Welfare had recommended broadening the tax base, a number of revenue raising measures that are actually referenced in the medium-term plan.

Mr OCallaghan suggested that this meant infrastructure spending should not be fuelled by non-funded spending over a prolonged period of time, to which Prof Doorley said: Exactly.

She added: If you want to inject a lot of money into the economy and do so sustainably, you have to take money out elsewhere, basically.

Mr Coffey said that when the Government collects corporation tax and then spends it, its like an injection, a boost into the economy.

Were not in a position where the economy needs that type of fiscal support.

He added: We do feel that at present, even we with these bumper corporation tax receipts coming in, we are seeing declining surpluses.

So for 2025, were likely to see a surplus of around 10 billion. For 2026, the plan is to run a surplus of five billion. So more and more of these corporation tax receipts are being spent.

Weve gone from a number of years ago spending in the region of 60% of it, were now heading for close to 90% of those receipts being spent and baked into ongoing spending commitments.

Earlier, Tanaiste and Finance Minister Simon Harris said that IFACs advice to rein in spending was welcome.

In fairness, you wouldnt get that perspective in Dail Eireann and every time you go into Dail Eireann, spend more, spend more, spend more is the cries from the opposition benches, so its good to have external expertise.

He said that Mr Coffey had advised him that the most important thing the Government needed to do in terms of its medium term fiscal framework was pick a figure and stick to it.

He said he and Public Expenditure Minister Jack Chambers had worked to identify a figure of spending that we believe is realistic, and thats exactly what we now intend to deliver.
A State apology is to be given by the Taoiseach to people who suffered abuse in industrial and reformatory schools.

The Government has agreed a package of additional supports for survivors of abuse at institutional schools, including health, education, housing and funeral cost supports.

In November, Taoiseach Micheal Martin and then-education minister Helen McEntee met with survivors who were on hunger strike outside Leinster House over a lack of support from the Government.

A commitment was given to the group and a mediator has been working through their concerns.

On Tuesday, the Taoiseach indicated he would give a formal apology to survivors in the Dail on behalf of the Government and in consultation with the Attorney General, Rossa Fanning.

A scoping inquiry published in 2024 found almost 2,400 allegations of historical sexual abuse were recorded by 308 schools run by religious orders across Ireland.

The allegations were made against 884 alleged abusers in day and boarding schools run by 42 religious orders.

The report said 17 were special schools, which recorded 590 allegations involving 190 alleged abusers.

The inquiry came after an RTE documentary prompted the Spiritan Congregation to apologise to victims of abuse and said an independent group would engage with survivors at its schools and institutions, including Blackrock College in Dublin.

The abuse allegations dated back as far as the 1970s.
VIENTIANE, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- The Lao Ministry of Health convened a meeting to discuss plans and guidelines aimed at preventing and reducing anemia among women and children in Laos.

The meeting, held in Lao capital Vientiane on Monday, brought together health officials and relevant stakeholders, the local Pasaxon newspaper reported on Tuesday.

Speaking at the meeting, Deputy Director General of the Department of Hygiene and Health Promotion under the Lao Ministry of Health Ketkesone Phrasisombath, noted that anemia remains a major global public health problem, particularly among children, adolescent girls, women of reproductive age, pregnant women, and postpartum mothers.

In Laos, pregnant women and children are the most vulnerable to anemia, particularly those living in rural areas with limited access to healthcare. Iron deficiency, malnutrition, and related health conditions are the main contributing factors.

To address these challenges, the Lao government aims to reduce anemia and lower maternal and child mortality through prevention and early detection. The Ministry of Health emphasized the importance of screening to identify and treat anemia in a timely manner.

The meeting highlighted the need for coordinated, multi-sectoral collaboration to make anemia prevention a national priority and to strengthen efforts to protect the health of mothers and children across the country. 
This morning biz lady, model and Insta hottie Lindsey enlivens our day as we check pop culture, community reporting and top headlines.

Check TKC news gathering . . .

Home Team Fatigue Again

Kansas City Royals News: Stadium timeline wearily continues Jackson County continues to make its case for the Royals. Vinnie went on a great podcast.

Courthouse Life Or Death Cont'd

Trial ends in abortion rights case; final ruling not expected for months A trial over abortion access in Missouri ended Monday, but the judge will not issue a ruling until the spring.

Old School Endures

How Kansans are coping with Parkinson's disease rates near the highest in the nation According to recent data from medical records, Nebraska and Kansas have the highest rates of Parkinson's disease diagnoses. Groups in Kansas are helping people with Parkinson's slow the progression of the disease through activities including exercise and art classes.

About Creeper Lessons

A course on sexual assault is helping catch predators across the country, but Kansas doesn't require schools to teach it Erin's Law is a program that teaches students of all ages about sexual assault and unwanted touching from adults.

Double Heroics Overnight

KCFD battles 2 overnight fires: First, flames in an elevator shaft of a 6-story building; then a 2-story house Kansas City extinguished a fire in a six-story commercial building early Tuesday morning before heading to a two-story house on Indiana Avenue.

Game Recognizes Game

Lindsey Pelas Reveals Her Thoughts On Melania Trump - Exclusive - Nicki Swift Nicki Swift chats exclusively with Lindsey Pelas about how she really feels about Melania Trump.

MAGA Restarts Campaigning

Trump to hold de facto midterm kickoff in Iowa focused on the economy, energy prices President Trump's rally in Iowa on Tuesday brings his message to a state disproportionately affected by his economic policies and whose voters could help determine control of Congress.

Talking Point Double Take

Top Gun Expert: Kyle Rittenhouse's Situation 'Completely Different Animal' Than Alex Pretti Shooting "It's not a good place to walk in carrying a gun, particularly if you're going to walk right at police officers or federal law enforcement officers." | Clips

TACO MAGA Tuesday?!?

"It was a mess": Inside Trump's pivot on Minnesota "It's f**ked, and POTUS knew he needed to unf**k it," an administration adviser told Axios.

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Old School Nemesis Resurfaces

Alex Vindman, key Trump impeachment witness, launches Florida Senate run Army veteran Alex Vindman, a key witness during President Donald Trump's first impeachment trial in 2019, is running for the Senate in Florida as a Democrat

Swing Vote Scorns Lady

Fetterman demands Trump fire Noem after deadly Minnesota shootings Democratic Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania called on President Donald Trump to fire Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.

Vlad Desperate For Troops

Russia offers cash bonuses, frees prisoners and lures foreigners to replenish its troops in Ukraine Russian authorities use various strategies to recruit new troops to replenish its supply of soldiers for its nearly 4-year-old full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Old Friends Reunite

Trade deal: India and EU to announce FTA amid Trump tariff tensions The long-awaited deal comes as both Delhi and Brussels contend with economic and geopolitical pressure from the US.

Yeezy Recants Again

Exclusive: Ye, Formerly Kanye West, Tells VF About His WSJ Apology Advertisement The recording artist, whose antisemitic rants have caused audiences to recoil, says he feels remorse "weighing on my spirit." VF also spoke with Dr. Bennet Omalu, who discussed Ye's claim that an accident led to his bipolar diagnosis, and with the director of the Center for the Study of Antisemitism.

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MYTHOS MOZART attraction marks composer's 270th birthday Vienna's MYTHOS MOZART is highlighting the life of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart through its immersive multimedia attraction. The attraction in Austria's

World According To Progressives

KCPBS' Nick Haines Previews Week Ahead The Kansas City Council debates reopening an urban grocery store, the city names a new fire chief, ICE looks at area site for detention center, and more ...

Fight For Life For Realz

The Kansas City nurse helping unhoused people access care For much of Kansas City's homeless population, seeking medical treatment is not only hard, it can also be demeaning. One nurse practitioner made it her mission to change that.

Dead-Tree Plays Stagehand

'A special trip': Homegrown actress returns to Kansas City with 'Hamilton' tour She's just 23 years old, but the Lee's Summit native has already made her Broadway debut and been touring with the show for a year and a half.

Shelter Life Redux

KC shelters fill as temps plunge Bitter cold weather sent more people to warming centers across the metro this weekend.

Today's Katie Forecast

Temperatures warmer today, but it will be frigid Another blast of arctic air is aiming for Kansas City

Sexy to Someone - Clairo is the song of the day and this is the OPEN THREAD for right now.
An overview of today's crime news and more deets by way of courtroom transcription, police action reporting and, of course, community outreach.

Check TKC news gathering . . .

Teen sentenced 20 years in prison for murder of 11-year-old Kourtney Freeman Court documents say Roath, born in 2007, shot and killed Freeman through the front door of her residence near 33rd Street and Flora Avenue on April 10, 2024.

Man and woman arrested after reported stabbing in Shawnee Authorities said a man stabbed during an armed disturbance at a Shawnee townhome is in stable condition. Both the man and a woman are now in custody.

Man gets 8 years after accomplice killed in attempted robbery at KC liquor store A Kansas City man was sentenced to eight years in prison last week after he was involved in an attempted robbery that led to the deadly shooting of a teen at a Kansas City liquor store in April 202...

Man charged in deadly fentanyl overdose in March 2025 in Olathe A 36-year-old man is charged with one count of distribution of a controlled substance causing death in the March 2025 fentanyl overdose death of an Olathe man.

What happened on the night of the deadly Lawrence bar shooting? Investigation details revealed Weeks after an 18-year-old was shot and killed and a 16-year-old was critically injured outside of a popular college bar in Lawrence, Kansas, court documents reveal the timeline and events surround...

Man charged with child kidnapping, domestic assault after Amber Alert incident last week in KCMO A man who allegedly beat his girlfriend and drove off with her two children in her car is charged in Clay County Court with child kidnapping and other crimes.

Independence police officer sues over discrimination, says she faced retaliation An Independence female officer alleges in lawsuit she faced retaliation following her discrimination complaint and internal reports of misconduct.

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Jury hears lawsuit accusing KCFD of discrimination and retaliation this week The trial is taking place as KCFD employees await an announcement of who will become the next fire chief.

Woman's sentencing postponed in deaths of Kansas moms Cole Twombly will now face a jury in February 2027. Tad Cullum's trial is set for October.

Kansas City Crime Stoppers went unpaid -- $125K KC contract went unpaid for 2 years: 'We thought we put it in the budget' Confusion over whether the city or police budget should pay left Crime Stoppers program dipping into reserves.

As identity theft surges, Missouri's top attorney offers tips to guard against fraud What you need to know about identity theft this week, according to Missouri's top prosecutor.

'It's inexcusable': Former council member pushes for limits on Independence police chases Former City Council member Jason White calls for reform after a New Year's Eve chase left one man dead and others critically injured

Why Missouri's hands-free driving law isn't stopping drivers from using phones Troopers face a big challenge; even when they see someone on their phone, they can't just pull them over.

Developing . . .
BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 27. As many as 20 more families in Mammadbayli village of Azerbaijan's Zangilan district have been presented with keys to their houses, Trend reports.

After welcoming the families who returned to the village, Azerbaijan National Agency for Mine Action (ANAMA) employees informed them in details about the dangers posed by mines and unexploded ordnance. The families were advised to stay away from unknown objects and objects, and if they encounter such situations, to inform the relevant agencies.

The ceremony of presenting the keys was attended by employees of the Special Representation of the President of Azerbaijan in Jabrayil, Gubadli and Zangilan districts, the State Committee for Affairs of Refugees and Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), and other officials.

Former IDPs who returned to their homeland expressed great satisfaction with the state care shown to them and their deep gratitude to the country's leadership for creating the modern living conditions. The residents respectfully commemorated the dear memory of heroic martyrs who achieved this historic Victory and liberated lands from occupation at the cost of their lives, and prayed to God for their mercy. At the same time, residents, wishing long life and good health to veterans who showed courage in the battles, emphasized that the revival in the liberated territories was possible precisely thanks to this sacrifice.

At this stage, 103 people, including 20 families, have returned to Mammadbayli. Previously, the families had temporarily settled in hostels, sanatoriums, camps, unfinished buildings and administrative buildings in various areas of the country.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 27. A number of foreign online news channels and social media segments are spreading disinformation, aiming to undermine the strategic alliance between Azerbaijan and Turkiye, raising doubts about its source, and not reflecting reality, the Media Development Agency (MEDIA) told Trend.

According to the agency, preliminary investigations revealed that this disinformation campaign originates from the Tsargrad.tv resource in the Russian-language segment of the internet.

"We strongly condemn and emphasize that such disinformation acts, which are directed against our country, attempt to confuse public opinion with false and manipulative content and serve to target the brotherly and allied relations existing between Azerbaijan and Turkiye, are unacceptable.

We call on Azerbaijani and Turkish journalists, as well as media entities, to demonstrate a principled position against such disinformation attempts, to refrain from spreading unverified information, and to act responsibly in protecting the information environment.

We invite the public of both countries not to believe false information and to rely only on statements made by official bodies," the agency said.

MEDIA noted that it will continue its effective cooperation with the Public Relations Department of the Turkish Presidential Administration in order to prevent such cases and form a unified position.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 27. The Azerbaijani Parliament Speaker Sahiba Gafarova has arrived on a working visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to participate in the 2nd Session of the Women's Parliamentary Forum of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean (PAM), a source in the parliament told Trend.

The parliamentary delegation led by the Azerbaijani Parliament Speaker was welcomed at the international airport of Abu Dhabi by the Speaker of the UAE Federal National Council (FNC), Saqr Ghobash; Deputy Chairperson of the FNC and Chairperson of the PAM Women's Parliamentary Forum, Maryam Bin Theneya, Azerbaijani Ambassador to the UAE, Elchin Baghirov and other officials.

The visit schedules the speech and a number of meetings by Gafarova at the PAM Women's Parliamentary Forum session.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 27. On January 27, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev participated in the opening ceremony of the mirror sheet production plant of Azermirror LLC in the Sumgayit Industrial Park, Trend reports.

Minister of Economy Mikayil Jabbarov first briefed the head of state on the industrial zones established across the country and the activities of the Sumgayit Industrial Park.

It was reported that currently, 104 enterprises operating in industrial zones nationwide have commenced production activities. To date, more than 7 billion manats have been invested in industrial zones, resulting in the creation of over 11,000 permanent jobs. In the next phase, investments totaling nearly 1.74 billion manats are planned under ongoing projects. Thus far, industrial zones have produced goods worth a total of 19.4 billion manats, of which 6.1 billion manats worth has been exported. Products manufactured in these zones are currently exported to 70 countries worldwide.

The establishment of industrial parks and districts across the country, along with the creation of a favorable environment for entrepreneurial activity, reflects the successful industrialization policy aimed at diversifying the economy and accelerating the development of the non-oil sector. Industrial zones play a key role in increasing innovation and production efficiency, promoting high-tech manufacturing, expanding export potential, and boosting employment. Currently, eight industrial parks operate in Azerbaijan, including Sumgayit, Garadagh, Pirallahi, Mingachevir, Balakhani, Hajigabul, Aghdam, and the Araz Valley Economic Zone in Jabrayil district. Efforts are underway to establish the Nakhchivan Industrial Park and the new Western Industrial Park covering the territories of Ganja city and Shamkir district. In addition, industrial districts in Masalli, Neftchala, Sabirabad, and Sharur contribute to the development of production and entrepreneurial activity.

The Sumgayit Industrial Park covers a total area of 640 hectares and currently hosts 40 resident enterprises. The total value of the projects amounts to 6.7 billion manats, with actual investments reaching 5.5 billion manats. These projects are expected to create nearly 8,800 jobs, of which 6,135 have already been filled. The total sales volume of resident enterprises has reached 15.4 billion manats, including 5.7 billion manats in exports.

Rustam Abbasov, founder of Azermirror LLC, informed the President about the enterprise. It was noted that the company was granted resident status in the Sumgayit Industrial Park in 2023. Built on a one-hectare plot, the mirror sheet production plant provides permanent employment for 30 people and has an annual production capacity of 900,000 square meters of mirror sheets. In addition to meeting domestic demand, the products are planned for export. The project, based on Chinese technology, has an investment value of 6.13 million manats. The Azerbaijan Business Development Fund under the Ministry of Economy allocated a preferential loan of 1.5 million manats for the project. In line with incentives available to industrial park residents, Azermirror LLC has also benefited from tax and customs exemptions amounting to 600,000 manats.

The development of the non-oil industry remains a key priority of Azerbaijans state policy under the leadership of President Ilham Aliyev. Ongoing measures focus on the effective use of resources, the application of innovative approaches and advanced technologies, the formation of new industrial sectors, and the expansion of competitive production.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 27. A video with fake content, created using deepfake technology, has been spread through a number of accounts operating on social media platforms on behalf of Hikmat Hajiyev, Assistant to the President of Azerbaijan and Head of the Foreign Policy Department of the Presidential Administration of Azerbaijan, the statement of the Media Development Agency of Azerbaijan (MEDIA) says, Trend reports.

According to the statement, this example of disinformation, prepared with the help of artificial intelligence and aimed at confusing public opinion, serves to damage the relations between Azerbaijan and Turkiye, undermine the strategic alliance between the two brotherly countries, and undermine mutual trust.

"We call on society to believe only in information provided by official sources, journalists, and public activists; to always demonstrate principality against such cases; and to be vigilant in an environment where fake and false information-based campaigns and the trend of creating content using deepfake technologies are gaining momentum.

At the same time, we invite the owners of social network platforms and relevant institutions to take measures to promptly remove harmful and fake content and implement effective mechanisms to prevent such cases," the statement reads.

The Media Development Agency of Azerbaijan (MEDIA), established on January 12, 2021, by President Ilham Aliyev's decree, aims to reform the media sector. It was formed as a public legal entity succeeding the State Support Fund for Mass Media Development, with objectives to enhance media professionalism and incorporate new technologies.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 27. Relations between Azerbaijan and Israel are considered one of the rare and unique examples of strategic partnership in the post-Soviet space, political analyst Azer Garayev told Trend.

"Despite being geographically distant and culturally different, the two countries are united by pragmatic interests, mutual trust, and a long-term cooperation strategy. In recent years, the deepening of ties in political, economic, and military-technical areas demonstrates that these relations are built at a strategic rather than tactical level.

President Ilham Aliyevs reception of Israels Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar on January 26, 2026, reflects the continuation of this strategic line. During the meeting, the recent encounter between the presidents of Azerbaijan and Israel in Davos was positively recalled, and discussions covered a wide spectrum of bilateral issues, sending an important diplomatic signal that relations are being strengthened institutionally. One of the cornerstones of Azerbaijani-Israeli relations is the mutual trust established in the political sphere. Israel was among the first countries to recognize Azerbaijans sovereignty after independence, and official diplomatic relations, established in 1992, have steadily strengthened since then," he said.

According to Garayev, Israel remains a vocal supporter of Azerbaijans territorial integrity, with its stance during the 44-day Patriotic War and consistent political support in previous years highly valued in Baku. Simultaneously, Azerbaijan has maintained a balanced, pragmatic, and principled approach to Middle East affairs, preserving its ties with Israel amid regional geopolitical risks. The recent meetings of leaders from both countries underscore the sustainable and long-term nature of this political dialogue.

The analyst emphasized that the economic sector is one of the most practical areas of Azerbaijan-Israel cooperation.

''Israel has long been one of Azerbaijan's key trade partners, with the energy sector forming the backbone of their cooperation. A substantial portion of Israels oil needs is met by Azerbaijani supplies, making this partnership vital not only economically but also for strategic energy security. Beyond energy, Israel brings advanced technologies, agricultural innovations, and expertise in water management, solutions especially relevant for Azerbaijan, given its water scarcity. Drip irrigation, smart agricultural models, and digital management systems are promising areas of collaboration. Gideon Sa'ars visit to Baku, accompanied by business leaders, and the Azerbaijani-Israeli business forum signal that economic relations are now deepening beyond state-level ties, extending into private sector engagement.

Politically, one of the most strategic aspects of Azerbaijani-Israeli relations is military-technical cooperation. Israel has been a key supplier of weapons and high-tech military systems, including UAVs, reconnaissance tools, and electronic warfare equipment, which played a crucial role in modernizing Azerbaijans armed forces and proved decisive during the 2020 Patriotic War. This demonstrates that bilateral relations are anchored not only in diplomacy and trade but also in tangible security collaboration.

Azerbaijani-Israeli ties are further strengthened by a shared humanitarian and social foundation. The Jewish community in Azerbaijan has historically been protected by the state, with full support for their religious, cultural, and social life. Communities in Guba, Baku, and elsewhere exemplify Azerbaijans multicultural model. Saars acknowledgment of these efforts underscores the moral and political value of this partnership. By showcasing real achievements in multiculturalism, religious tolerance, and ethnic diversity, Azerbaijan has turned these strengths into political capital, enhancing its international image and reinforcing the strategic depth of its relationship with Israel.

It is no coincidence that Gideon Sa'ar expressed his gratitude to President Ilham Aliyev on this issue. For Israel, the security and well-being of Jewish communities worldwide are a highly sensitive matter. Showcasing Azerbaijan as an exemplary country in this regard adds significant moral and political weight to bilateral relations, Garayev said.

He noted that this also enhances Azerbaijans international image. By demonstrating real achievements in multiculturalism, religious tolerance, and ethnic diversity, Azerbaijan has turned these values into political capital in its relations with a country like Israel.

In recent years, artificial intelligence and digital technologies have emerged as a new focus in Azerbaijani-Israeli cooperation. Israel is recognized as a global leader in these fields, with its startup ecosystem, integration of military and civilian technologies, and digital innovations forming the backbone of its economy. Azerbaijan, for its part, has made digital transformation, along with the 'smart city' and 'smart village' concepts, a priority of state policy. Projects in Karabakh and East Zangezur could serve as practical platforms for this collaboration. Implementing Israeli technologies in these regions adds a new strategic dimension to bilateral cooperation, he said.

Garayev emphasized that Azerbaijani-Israeli relations are guided by pragmatic interests, mutual benefit, and long-term strategic thinking rather than ideological alignment.

These relations focus on tangible results and concrete projects rather than emotional rhetoric, which is why they remain resilient in the face of regional crises and geopolitical shifts, he added.

He concluded that the meeting between President Ilham Aliyev and Gideon Sa'ar reaffirmed the systematic and planned nature of the partnership.

The fusion of political dialogue, economic cooperation, military partnership, and humanitarian ties makes Azerbaijani-Israeli relations a unique strategic model in the South Caucasus and the Middle East. Its strength lies in balancing mutual interests rather than ideological blocs, making this partnership not only bilateral but also a key factor for regional stability and security, the analyst said.
PARIS, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- France's National Assembly on Monday approved legislation that bans children and teenagers under 15 from using social media, citing concerns over mental health. 
BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 27. Another batch of humanitarian aid consisting of electrical equipment has been sent to Ukraine, Trend reports.

Another tranche of electrical equipment intended for humanitarian aid to Ukraine has been sent by the Republic of Azerbaijan from the Sumgait Technology Park.

The aid was delivered by the Ministry of Energy in accordance with the instructions of President Ilham Aliyev.

Meanwhile, Azerbaijan has previously sent humanitarian aid related to electricity supply to Ukraine.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 27. Azerbaijans Parliament Speaker Sahiba Gafarova participated in the 2nd session of the Women Parliamentary Forum (WPF) of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean (PAM) in Abu Dhabi during her working visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Trend reports.

In her opening remarks, Gafarova described the Assembly as a platform for dialogue, solidarity, and mutual understanding. She emphasized that the Assemblys focus on gender equality and womens empowerment reflects its ongoing commitment to collective action and achieving shared goals.

Gafarova highlighted Azerbaijans official application for observer status in the PAM, expressing confidence that support for the request would open new opportunities for closer cooperation and more effective joint initiatives. She also underlined Azerbaijans interest in strengthening ties between the Non-Aligned Movement Parliamentary Network, currently chaired by the Azerbaijani Parliament, and the PAM.

Furthermore, Gafarova noted that the Assemblys representative participated in the 4th conference of the Parliamentary Network in Tashkent last April, underscoring Azerbaijans interest in strengthening institutional ties. She said that granting mutual observer status and signing a cooperation agreement between the two bodies would significantly advance the shared goals of parliamentary diplomacy.

Stressing the importance of the forums theme, the Speaker noted that gender equality and womens empowerment are recognized as essential for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. She emphasized that meaningful progress requires international cooperation alongside national efforts, as challenges in this area are global in nature.

She emphasized that these challenges are global, requiring coordinated international action alongside national efforts. Real progress, she added, depends on changing societal mindsets to embrace the inherent equality of women and men, as the full participation of women is essential to building strong, sustainable societies.

Speaking to participants about the state of gender equality in Azerbaijan, Gafarova highlighted the central role of women in Azerbaijani society. Rooted in strong family and cultural traditions, women have long shaped the family, the smallest unit of society, and passed values to future generations. Women have consistently been recognized as equal partners and have played a decisive role in national development. Gafarova recalled that the first secular school for girls in the Muslim world opened in Baku in 1901, and women gained the right to vote in 1918, underscoring Azerbaijans historic commitment to gender equality. Today, women are active across politics, economics, science, education, healthcare, and diplomacy, holding leadership positions in legislative and executive bodies, the judiciary, and international representation. The adoption of the National Action Plan for Gender Equality for 2026-2028 continues these sustained efforts.

The Speaker emphasized the proactive role of the Azerbaijani Parliament in advancing gender equality through legislation, citing that 53 draft laws on gender equality and family policy were discussed in the last convocation, accompanied by 17 public hearings. Female deputies serve in the majority of parliamentary committees, ensuring their voices shape policy outcomes. She also highlighted Azerbaijans strong commitment to international cooperation in promoting womens empowerment and expressed hope that the forums discussions will translate into tangible progress, reinforcing social solidarity, stability, and sustainable development in the region.

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Gafarova recalled that Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev had been honored with the prestigious Zayed Award for Human Fraternity, emphasizing that the recognition of the Azerbaijani leader with such a distinguished award, named after the UAEs founding father, the late Sheikh Zayed, holds great significance for the people of Azerbaijan.

The discussion also delved into the current state and prospects of interparliamentary cooperation. Gafarova noted the active engagement between the two countries through parliamentary platforms, referencing her recent official visits to the UAE and Ghobashs visit to Azerbaijan. She underscored that these visits, coupled with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding on parliamentary cooperation, have substantially strengthened bilateral relations.

In response, Ghobash spoke highly of his visit to Azerbaijan, emphasizing how the discussions held during his trip had effectively bolstered the ties between the two nations.

Gafarova further highlighted the successful organization of the second edition of the forum, underscoring the vital role of such international platforms in addressing global challenges.

The meeting concluded with fruitful exchanges on a range of other topics of mutual interest.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 27. A meeting dedicated to the environmental condition of the Caspian Sea and Baku Bay was held at the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Azerbaijan under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Ali Asadov on January 27, 2026, Trend reports via the cabinet.

According to information, the meeting focused on the implementation of the Comprehensive Action Plan for 20252030, which covers the rehabilitation of the Caspian Sea. The plan includes the removal and isolation of damaged and decommissioned offshore infrastructure, including abandoned and decommissioned wells, piers, platforms, as well as sunken and partially sunken vessels, alongside broader efforts to improve the ecological situation in Baku Bay.

In his remarks, Prime Minister Asadov stated that aging and corroded hydrotechnical structures inherited from the Soviet era in Azerbaijans sector of the Caspian Sea, along with decommissioned or conserved oil wells and the impact of hydrometeorological factors, have created serious environmental risks. He also noted that prolonged anthropogenic pressure over many years has led to deeper pollution in Baku Bay, including the Seaside Boulevard area, making urgent environmental improvement measures necessary.

Presentations on the Comprehensive Action Plan were delivered by Elshan Hajizadeh, head of the Industry and Energy Department of the Cabinet of Ministers. Reports were also heard from Emergency Situations Minister Kamaladdin Heydarov, First Deputy Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources Rashad Ismayilov, President of the Azerbaijan State Oil Company (SOCAR) Rovshan Najaf, and Chairman of the Board of Azerbaijan Caspian Shipping Closed Joint-Stock Company (ASCO) Afgan Jalilov.

Issues related to improving the ecological condition of Baku Bay were additionally addressed in reports by Khanlar Aghalarov, chairman of the Seaside Boulevard Administration, and Zaur Mikayilov, chairman of the Azerbaijan State Water Resources Agency, along with other speakers.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 27. As many as 20 more families in Mammadbayli village of Azerbaijan's Zangilan district have been presented with keys to their houses, Trend reports.

After welcoming the families who returned to the village, Azerbaijan National Agency for Mine Action (ANAMA) employees informed them in detail about the dangers posed by mines and unexploded ordnance. The families were advised to stay away from unknown objects, and if they encounter such situations, to inform the relevant agencies.

The ceremony of presenting the keys was attended by employees of the Special Representation of the President of Azerbaijan in Jabrayil, Gubadli, and Zangilan districts; the State Committee for Affairs of Refugees and Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs); and other officials.

Former IDPs who returned to their homeland expressed great satisfaction with the state care shown to them and their deep gratitude to the country's leadership for creating the modern living conditions. The residents respectfully commemorated the dear memory of heroic martyrs who achieved this historic victory and liberated lands from occupation at the cost of their lives and prayed to God for their mercy. At the same time, residents, wishing long life and good health to veterans who showed courage in the battles, emphasized that the revival in the liberated territories was possible precisely thanks to this sacrifice.

At this stage, 103 people, including 20 families, have returned to Mammadbayli. Previously, the families had temporarily settled in hostels, sanatoriums, camps, unfinished buildings, and administrative buildings in various areas of the country.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 27. Persons preparing to commit a terrorist attack against the embassy of the foreign country in Azerbaijan have been arrested, Trend reports, citing the press service of the State Security Service (SSS).

During the operational-investigative measures carried out by the State Security Service (SSS), reasonable suspicions arose that citizens of the Republic of Azerbaijan - Guliyev Ilgar Ilham oglu, born in 2000, nicknamed Abu Zar al-Muhajir, Piriyev Amin Elshad oglu, born in 2005, nicknamed Abdurashid, and Alizade Elvin Sanan oglu, born in 2005, nicknamed Abdurrahman al-Azeri, were preparing to commit a terrorist attack to the embassy of the foreign country in Baku on the grounds of religious hostility.

The aforementioned individuals entered into criminal relations with members of the ISIS terrorist organization's Vilayati-Khorasan armed group, and as a group of conspiring individuals, obtained items used as weapons to carry out a terrorist attack on the embassy of a foreign state in the Republic of Azerbaijan and were detained by the employees of the SSS while approaching the area where the embassy was located.

In connection with the fact, Ilgar Guliyev, Amin Piriyev and Elvin Alizadeh were brought to criminal responsibility under Articles 28, 214.2.1, 28, 214.2.3 and 28, 214.2.6 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Azerbaijan (preparation for terrorism on the basis of religious hostility by a conspiring group of individuals, using objects used as weapons), and a preventive measure of arrest was chosen for them by a court decision.

Currently, investigative and operational measures on the criminal case are continuing.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 27. The Azerbaijan Hospitality Connectivity Summit was held in cooperation with the Information and Communication Technologies Agency (ICTA), Ookla, Azerbaijan Hotel Association and Azerbaijan Tourism Board, Trend reports.

The summit featured speeches of Deputy Minister of Digital Development and Transport Samaddin Asadov, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Azerbaijan Tourism Bureau Florian Sengstschmid, President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Ookla Stephen Bye and a number of officials.

Speaking at the event Samaddin Asadov said that fiber broadband internet access in Azerbaijan has grown from just 9% to nearly 100% for households and businesses.

According to him, over the past five years, Azerbaijan has achieved a remarkable digital transformation through the Online Azerbaijan project.

He noted that the aim of this initiative, which was launched in 2021 as part of the strategic roadmap for the development of the internet infrastructure in the country, was to provide access to high-speed broadband internet for all its citizens, especially in underserved and remote regions.

"By the end of 2025, this project achieved full coverage across the country. This achievement has fundamentally reshaped the fixed broadband internet market in Azerbaijan. The impact of this transformation is clearly reflected in the performance indicators. According to Ookla Speedtest Intelligence, the median speed of fixed broadband internet across the country has increased from approximately 10 Mbps in 2020 to approximately 90 Mbps by the end of last year," Asadov explained.

Ookla President and CEO Stephen Bye outlined that artificial intelligence (AI) will affect all areas of life.

According to him, Ookla's mission is to improve connectivity for everyone and everywhere. As people travel the world, the main goal is to improve the quality of that connection.

The CEO noted that whether people are connected via 4G, 5G, Wi-Fi, or even fiber to the property, the last 5-10 meters really impact how a customer perceives that performance.

"So when looking at the guest experience, what AI brings, and what the future holds, having reliable, consistent connectivity everywhere and every time is essential. That's the exciting part of the future. It will affect everything we do, all the content we interact with. It will affect how we learn, how we communicate, and how we socialize. The interesting thing about AI is that to realize the promise of these capabilities, you need reliable and consistent connectivity. So as important as it is today, connectivity will become even more important in the future," he explained.

CEO of the Azerbaijan Tourism Board (ATB) Florian Sengstschmid mentioned that Azerbaijan has aligned its hotel classification system with European standards.

According to him, tourism in Azerbaijan is no longer limited to places and attractions. Today, the visitor experience is shaped by digital connectivity as much as culture, nature, and hospitality.

He noted that the availability and quality of connectivity directly affect people's planned trips, decisions, movement between places, and real-time interaction with services.

"This context is extremely relevant for Azerbaijan. In recent years, the country has made significant progress in the field of digital infrastructure, achieving almost universal broadband internet coverage and advancing national digital development initiatives. This creates a solid foundation not only for the development of tourism but also for positioning Azerbaijan as a reliable and competitive host for international business events, conferences, and large global gatherings, where stable and high-capacity connectivity is essential," the CEO explained.

Sengstschmid emphasized that hotels and event venues across the country are implementing digital guest services and 'smart' solutions, including to support international event organizers.

"At the same time, Azerbaijan, in cooperation with HOTREC and the Hotel Stars Union, has aligned its hotel classification system with European standards. Thus, digital readiness and reliable connectivity, including Wi-Fi, across all star categories are not considered an additional advantage but a core quality standard.

Connectivity also plays a key role in attracting digital nomads and long-term guests, including visitors who combine business with leisure. These segments increasingly value destinations where work, travel, and everyday life seamlessly blend," the CEO mentioned.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 27. We held a warm meeting with the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Mongolia, Gombosuren Munkhbayar, Chairman of the State Committee for Urban Planning and Architecture and national coordinator of the WUF13, Anar Guliyev, wrote on his X page, Trend reports.

"During the meeting, we discussed Mongolia's participation in WUF13, addressed current issues of sustainable urban development, and exchanged views and approaches to urban planning policies implemented by our countries.

On the occasion of the completion of the Ambassadors diplomatic mission in Azerbaijan, we expressed our sincere gratitude for his contribution to the development of bilateral relations and wished him success in his future professional endeavors," the post reads.

During the third session of the Executive Board of the UN-Habitat Program in Kenya, it was announced that the 13th World Urban Forum (WUF13) will take place in Baku in 2026.

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Azerbaijans national air carrier, AZAL, once again reminds passengers planning to travel to Georgia about the entry requirements currently in force.

As of January 1, 2026, all foreign nationals entering Georgia are required to hold valid medical insurance covering the entire duration of their stay in the country. The requirement applies to all foreign visitors entering Georgia for tourism, business, or transit purposes.

Under the established regulations, foreign nationals must have medical and accident insurance policy valid for the entire period of stay in Georgia, from the date of entry until the date of departure. The minimum insurance coverage must be GEL 30,000.

Insurance may be issued by Georgian or foreign insurance companies. The policy may be presented in electronic or paper form and must be issued in Georgian or English.

To avoid potential fines, delays, or additional procedures, AZAL strongly recommends that passengers arrange the required medical insurance prior to departure.

AZAL also notes that any verification of insurance policies during check-in is conducted solely to inform passengers in advance about the countrys entry requirements.

The new requirement is implemented based on Georgias Law on Tourism and the decision of the Government of Georgia on the approval of the rules and conditions for mandatory health and accident insurance for tourists entering the country.
BEIJING, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- China plans to sign trade and investment cooperation agreements with Britain during Prime Minister Keir Starmer's upcoming visit to the country, the Ministry of Commerce said Tuesday.

These outcome documents will help create new growth drivers for bilateral economic and trade cooperation, the ministry said in a statement.

"China attaches great importance to economic and trade cooperation with Britain and is actively working with Britain to prepare for the economic and trade cooperation outcomes from the visit, as well as a meeting of Chinese and British entrepreneurs," the statement said.

Chinese and British companies have shown keen interests in the meeting, and more than 100 of them have registered to attend, the ministry added.

At the invitation of Chinese Premier Li Qiang, the British prime minister will pay an official visit to China from Jan. 28 to 31, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson announced earlier Tuesday. 
BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 27. The term of arrest of Russian citizens detained in Baku has been extended to another three months, Trend reports via a source in law enforcement agencies.

The relevant decision was taken by the Khatai district court of Baku.

As part of the operation of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the accused were detained in connection with the transit and illegal circulation of narcotics from Iran, as well as cyber fraud.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 27. Azerbaijani Parliament Speaker briefed on the importance of the 2nd session of the Women's Parliamentary Forum of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean (PAM) and noted that Azerbaijan is interested in expanding cooperation with this organization, a source in the parliament told Trend.

This issue was discussed during the meeting of Gafarova with PAM President Giulio Centemero during the Speaker's working visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

At the PAM Bureau meeting, the speaker highly appreciated the recent approval of the application for granting observer status to the Azerbaijani parliament and expressed her belief that this status, once the final decision is made, will create new opportunities for the development of mutual inter-parliamentary relations.

During the conversation, Centemero emphasized that the PAM is also interested in cooperation with Azerbaijan. He pointed out that although Azerbaijan is not in the Mediterranean region, it is a country located in an important region, which also creates good opportunities for parliamentary dialogue.

The meeting also touched upon the issues of cooperation between the Non-Aligned Movement Parliamentary Network (NAMPN) and the PAM. Gafarova noted that the Azerbaijani parliament is interested in the development of international relations.

The conversation also discussed cooperation between the NAMPN and PAM, granting mutual observer status. It was noted that discussing similar issues in both organizations creates good opportunities for cooperation.

In the course of the meeting, the PAM president informed about the issues this organization deals with and its activities.

The meeting also exchanged views on other topics of mutual interest.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 27. A Memorandum of Understanding has been signed between Azerbaijan Railways CJSC (ADY), a member company of AZCON Holding, and Turkish State Railways (TCDD), aiming to strengthen cooperation in the railway sector, the ADY statement says, Trend reports.

The memorandum was signed by ADY Chairman Rovshan Rustamov and Director General, Chair of the Board of TCDD Veysi Kurt.

The cooperation will cover infrastructure development, traffic management, innovative joint solutions, staff training, and information exchange.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 27. In February 2026, President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev will pay a visit to Pakistan, and the Uzbek-Pakistani Business Forum will take place in Islamabad on February 56. These events signal a fresh chapter in the partnership between the two countries.

The intensification of interaction is driven by two key factors. On the one hand, there is significant yet still underutilized potential for trade and economic growth. On the other hand, progress is being made on a major transport project capable of giving bilateral relations additional momentum and creating a sustainable foundation for expanded cooperation.

For Uzbekistan, a landlocked country, access to external markets directly depends on the efficiency of transport corridors. High tariffs, lengthy delivery times, and dependence on transit routes remain key constraints on exports and investment activity. Under these conditions, the development of shorter and more cost-effective routes is of strategic importance.

In this scenario, the goals of Uzbekistan and Pakistan are largely on the same page. Pakistan has access to the Arabian Sea and a developed port infrastructure, making it one of the most promising routes for Uzbek goods to reach global markets. For Pakistan, expanding ties with Uzbekistan means increased transit flows, greater port utilization, and a strengthened role as a regional logistics hub between Central and South Asia.

The key project within this framework is the Trans-Afghan railway. It is intended to connect Uzbekistan with Pakistani ports through Afghanistan and establish a direct overland corridor between Central and South Asia.

On July 17, 2025, Uzbekistan, Pakistan, and Afghanistan signed a framework agreement to develop a feasibility study for the project. The railway, approximately 647 kilometers long, is planned to run along the TermezNaibabadMaidanshahrLogarKharlachi route and connect with Pakistans railway network leading to the ports of Karachi and other maritime terminals. The preliminary cost of the project is estimated at $4.6 billion.

The Trans-Afghan railway linking Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, and Pakistan is of strategic importance for the entire Eurasian region. This corridor will improve trade, support Afghanistans economic recovery, and open new routes to global markets through southern ports, Uzbekistans Minister of Foreign Affairs Bakhtiyor Saidov said following the signing of the agreement.

The implementation of the Trans-Afghan railway is set to cut cargo delivery times from the current 35-40 days down to just 3-5 days, while also slashing transport costs significantly. Uzbekistans Ministry of Transport forecasts that by 2035-2040, freight volumes along the route could reach 15-20 million tons per year. This would create favorable conditions for trade growth, the development of logistics infrastructure, and increased investment in related sectors.

At the same time, the project is associated with a number of risks. The key factor remains the security situation in Afghanistan, through which the main section of the route will pass. Ensuring stability, infrastructure protection, and uninterrupted transit will directly affect construction timelines and the future operation of the railway.

Additional challenges relate to project financing and the allocation of risks among participants. The overall cost of construction requires the attraction of external capital, including from international financial institutions, as well as political and commercial risk insurance mechanisms. Experts also point to the need to harmonize technical standards, tariff policies, and customs procedures among the three countries, without which the benefits of reduced delivery times could be partially offset.

Against the backdrop of the transport agenda, trade and economic cooperation continue to develop. In recent years, bilateral trade between Uzbekistan and Pakistan has shown steady growth. In 2024, trade turnover reached approximately $407 million, increasing to $445 million in 2025. Uzbekistan has become Pakistans largest trading partner in Central Asia. At the same time, both sides are on the same page, recognizing that the current numbers don't tell the whole story of their economies' potential.

One of the key topics of the upcoming visit and business forum will be increasing bilateral trade to $2 billion. To achieve this goal, the parties plan to expand the list of goods eligible for preferential customs treatment, as well as simplify and harmonize customs and inspection procedures. These measures are expected to reduce delivery times and business costs, particularly in agriculture, textiles, and light industry.

Industrial cooperation also occupies an important place on the bilateral agenda. Projects are being discussed in pharmaceuticals, agriculture, mining, electrical engineering, textiles, and leather production. For Uzbekistan, this represents a shift from simple trade toward joint production and localization. For Pakistan, it offers an opportunity to expand its presence in Central Asia and use Uzbekistan as a production and export platform.

Special attention is being paid to the pharmaceutical sector. Uzbekistans annual imports of pharmaceutical products exceed $3 billion, making localization a key priority. Pakistani companies have expressed interest in establishing production facilities in Uzbekistan, including within specialized pharmaceutical clusters.

The mining sector also remains a promising area of cooperation. A Pakistani delegation visited the Almalyk Mining and Metallurgical Complex to assess opportunities for technological partnership in copper mining. In addition, projects in agricultural machinery and electrical equipment manufacturing are under discussion, targeting both domestic markets and exports.

Expectations surrounding the upcoming visit of Uzbekistans president and the business forum in Islamabad are primarily linked to advancing the transport agenda and moving toward concrete decisions. For markets, this will serve as an indication that cooperation between Uzbekistan and Pakistan is entering a more mature and practical phase.

Overall, bilateral relations are increasingly structured around the nexus of transport, trade, and industrial cooperation. The successful implementation of major infrastructure projects, particularly the Trans-Afghan railway, could give this partnership a long-term character and significantly strengthen the positions of both Uzbekistan and Pakistan in the regional economy.

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DUSHANBE, Tajikistan, January 26. As a result of measures taken by the Government of Tajikistan, electricity production increased by 7 percent in 2025 compared to 2024, Trend reports via the press service of the President of Tajikistan.

The statement was made by Tajik Prime Minister Kohir Rasulzoda at an expanded meeting of the countrys government held under the chairmanship of President Emomali Rahmon.

According to the prime minister, electricity output reached 24 billion kWh during the reporting period.

The prime minister emphasized that, to ensure sustainable development of the energy sector and achieve set objectives, 13 state-funded investment projects were implemented in 2025, totaling 14.9 billion somoni ($1.6 billion).

He also noted that despite complex global challenges and their negative impact on the national economy, 2025 proved to be a successful year for Tajikistan, with significant achievements recorded in the countrys political and socio-economic development.

President Rahmon emphasized that the results achieved provide a solid foundation for further socio-economic development and the implementation of the countrys strategic objectives.

Tajikistan's electricity generation is predominantly reliant on hydropower, accounting for approximately 95% to 98% of total production. Key plants include the Nurek HPP, which supplies over 70% of the country's energy and is among the world's highest dams. The Rogun HPP, currently under construction, aims to be the largest in the region. Other significant facilities on the Vakhsh River include Sangtuda-1, Sangtuda-2, and Baipaza HPP.

The Kayrakkum HPP on the Syr Darya River supports northern regions. To address winter shortages, combined heat and power plants and small hydropower stations are also utilized. Moreover, solar energy projects are expanding, with a goal of achieving 10% of energy mix diversification by 2030, alongside the CASA-1000 project for energy export to Pakistan and Afghanistan.

The GDP growth rate in the nation is anticipated to be 5.5%, with a nominal GDP per capita of around $1.8 thousand USD and a GDP per capita PPP of about $6.43 thousand international dollars. The economy is primarily driven by industrialization, infrastructure development, mining, and remittances, with agriculture contributing around 20% of GDP and aluminum and cotton as the main export commodities.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 27. Azerbaijan's Minister of Energy Parviz Shahbazov, Regional Director for Infrastructure for Europe and Central Asia at the World Bank (WB) Charles Cormier, and WB Regional Director for the South Caucasus Rolande Pryce discussed cooperation prospects on the modernization of the power grid, Trend reports via the Ministry of Energy.

The meeting held an exchange of views on the current projects in Azerbaijan's energy sector and new opportunities for cooperation, including in the areas of renewable energy, energy efficiency, grid modernization, energy storage systems, rooftop solar energy, and regional energy projects.

"The progress of the joint AZURE project with the WB was discussed, emphasizing its importance for the sustainable integration of renewable energy capacity into the power grid. The need for modernization, digitalization, and increased reliability of electricity transmission and distribution networks was emphasized amid growing demand from data centers and artificial intelligence technologies, as well as the increasing number of electric vehicles," the ministry said.

According to the ministry, opportunities for cooperation with the WB on the Caspian-Black Sea-Europe: Green Energy Corridor project were also explored.

"The project's relationship with the Georgia-Romania Black Sea Submarine Cable initiative was discussed, as were their contributions to European energy security and their role in regional integration. Prospects for expanding Azerbaijan's role as a regional energy supplier, not only through electricity but also gas exports, were touched upon.

Furthermore, ongoing work in energy efficiency and further steps in this direction were discussed. The existing potential for reducing energy consumption in public buildings, the activities of the Energy Efficiency Fund, and opportunities for implementing international experience were considered. Continuing technical assistance and knowledge sharing in this area was deemed appropriate," the ministry added.

Azerbaijan's Scaling-Up Renewable Energy (AZURE) project, supported by a $173.5 million World Bank loan, aims to modernize the country's electricity transmission infrastructure to integrate up to 1 GW of renewable energy. It focuses on connecting large-scale wind and solar projects to the national grid, enhancing energy security, and promoting private sector investment in green energy.

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Photo: The Ministry of Investments, Industry, and Trade of Uzbekistan

TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, January 27. Uzbekistan and U.S.-based Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP) discussed the implementation of large-scale projects in industry, energy, and infrastructure, Trend reports via Uzbekistans Ministry of Investment, Industry, and Trade.

The issue was discussed during the meeting between Minister of Investment, Industry, and Trade Laziz Kudratov and Eric Varvel, Partner, Global Head of Capital Formation, and Executive Committee member of GIP, part of the BlackRock Group.

The sides also addressed priority areas for deepening investment cooperation, including support for industrial modernization, the introduction of advanced technologies, and the expansion of project finance mechanisms. Discussions also focused on strengthening engagement with global institutional investors and promoting a stable, transparent, and predictable investment climate.

Global Infrastructure Partners was founded in 2006 in the United States. The company currently manages assets worth approximately $170 billion and operates offices in New York, London, Singapore, Sydney, and other global financial centers. A renewable energy company under Global Infrastructure Partners control is among the leading firms in this sector in the United States.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 27. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has ordered the removal of obstacles to the expansion of the powers of the governors of border provinces, Trend reports via the information portal of the Iranian president.

A meeting was held at the Central Bank of Iran (CBI) with the participation of the Iranian president, a number of ministers, and governors of border provinces on January 26.

The meeting examined the removal of obstacles and restrictions on the import of essential products into the country and trade exchange with border provinces.

At the meeting, Pezeshkian said that the establishment of a working group on improving the country's food security and the living conditions of citizens has led to positive results.

The president noted that with the implementation of the program on food security and improving the living conditions of citizens, a large part of the economic pressure on citizens as a result of the sanctions imposed against the country will be reduced.

He stated that in the current circumstances, the elimination of bureaucratic obstacles and solving the problems facing the import of essential products should be kept in the spotlight.

At the meeting, the CBI Governor Abdul Nasser Hemmati noted that according to current statistics, 77 million people in the country have so far used the funds allocated under the program for improving food security and the living conditions of citizens. The implementation of this program has created a positive direction in the foreign exchange market, and more than $2.25 billion has been exchanged in the country's trade market.

Hemmati said that 746 trillion rials (about $703 million) worth of funds have also been paid out under this program.

According to the Iranian government, foreign currency has been allocated to the country at low prices as a subsidy for the import of a number of essential goods and medical supplies. This has led to an increase in rent-seeking and corruption in the country, as a result of which citizens have been unable to take advantage of this subsidy. On this basis, each citizen receives funds from the government for the monthly purchase of essential goods for 10 million rials (about $9.42). The program, implemented by the government to support the living conditions of citizens, actually creates competition in the market.

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TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, January 27. Uzbekneftegaz and Chinas XIBU discussed the deployment of modern drilling capacities for Uzbekneftegaz's projects, Trend reports via the Uzbek company.

The discussions took place during a meeting between Chairman of the Management Board of Uzbekneftegaz Abdugani Sanginov and XIBU Deputy General Director Li Xicheng.

Particular attention was paid to optimizing timelines and reducing the cost of drilling operations within the framework of a long-term partnership. The sides also reviewed commercial proposals related to well drilling.

Following the meeting, the parties expressed interest in further developing cooperation aimed at expanding the drilling fleet, improving technological efficiency, training qualified personnel, and implementing mutually beneficial projects in the oil and gas sector.

Meanwhile, it was earlier announced that the introduction of a centralized organizational and digital management system in Uzbekistan could reduce well-drilling timelines by up to 45% and cut construction costs by as much as 35%, underscoring the strategic importance of modern technologies in improving operational efficiency.

Uzbekneftegaz aims to reverse declining gas production through substantial investments in exploration, development, and modernization projects. Key initiatives include a $2 billion Ustyurt exploration collaboration with SOCAR, a $1.8 billion expansion of the Shurtan Gas Chemical Complex, and a $3.6 billion Oltin Yo'l GTL plant project designed to produce over 1.5 million tonnes of high-quality fuels.

The Ustyurt Plateau project targets new reserves, while field development in Sechankul, Akjar, and Chimbay focuses on increasing natural gas output. Additionally, partnerships for advanced technologies and the development of a Trans-Caspian energy corridor are emphasized to enhance green energy and digitalization efforts. These projects are set to improve output and ensure long-term energy security amid international collaborations.

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Iran increases exports of non-oil products to Tajikistan

Iran's non-oil exports to Tajikistan surged by 45.4% in value and 41% in weight in 2025, driven by strong demand for petrochemical, steel, and agricultural products, contributing to a significant increase in bilateral trade.

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BEIJING, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- China is inviting journalists from home and abroad to cover the annual sessions of its national legislature and national political advisory body, both of which will be held in March, according to an official statement released Tuesday.

News coverage of the two sessions can be carried out through various means, but mainly through on-site reporting, said the statement jointly issued by the general offices of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee and the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) National Committee.

A media center for the two sessions will be open from Feb. 27, according to the statement.

The fourth session of the 14th NPC is scheduled to open on March 5, while the fourth session of the 14th CPPCC National Committee is set to begin on March 4. 
ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan, January 27. The Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) gas pipeline in Herat, Afghanistan, has reached a new milestone, with 91 kilometers of its route prepared for pipe-laying, Trend reports via the social media of the press service of the Government of Herat.

The following information was given by the Consul General of Turkmenistan and manager of the TAPI project in Afghanistan, Batyr Yolov, during his meeting with the Governor of Herat, Maulana Islamjar. The governor expressed satisfaction with the ongoing work and praised the efforts made so far.

The project manager reported that, in addition to preparing 91 kilometers of the pipeline route for installation, several work camps have been established along the corridor. The Consul General of Turkmenistan noted that, according to the current plan, the TAPI project in Herat province is expected to be completed by the end of this year.

Meanwhile, Turkmenistan has identified the successful construction of the Serhetabat-Herat section of the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) gas pipeline as a key priority for its oil and gas sector in 2026.

Construction of the TAPI (Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India) natural gas pipeline began on December 13, 2015, with a groundbreaking ceremony in Turkmenistan. Although initially conceived in the 1990s, active work commenced in 2015, and by 2018, the Afghan segment was inaugurated, although it faced significant delays due to insecurity. As of 2024-2025, the Taliban government renewed efforts to advance the project.

The pipeline will span approximately 1,814 km and transport 33 billion m of natural gas annually from the Galkynysh field in Turkmenistan. Despite the 2015 start, the project has faced significant delays, with the pipeline not yet fully functional.

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Azerbaijan's strategic foreign exchange reserves surpass $85B by 2026

As of January 1, 2026, Azerbaijan's strategic foreign exchange reserves surpassed a significant amount. The assets of the State Oil Fund of Azerbaijan (SOFAZ) contributed substantially to this total. Over the past year, the country's reserves saw a notable increase, with a portion held by the Central Bank of Azerbaijan (CBA).

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ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan, January 27. A Turkmen business delegation visited the Kingdom of Eswatini to discuss prospects for cooperation in trade, investment, and development, Trend reports via the press service of the Government of Eswatini.

The Turkmen representatives were received by Eswatinis Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Pholile Shakantu and Home Affairs Minister Princess Lindiwe. Both sides reaffirmed their interest in strengthening investment dialogue and cooperation on international platforms on peacebuilding and sustainable development.

Turkmenistan and the Kingdom of Eswatini established diplomatic relations on August 5, 2025, during the visit of King Mswati III of Eswatini to Turkmenistan to participate in the Third UN Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries, held in Turkmen Avaza.

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TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, January 27. Uzbekistans Fergana region has reached an agreement with Chinese investors to advance the development of renewable energy projects, including the establishment of wind power plants, Trend reports via the Fergana Regional Administration.

The agreement was reached during a meeting between Khayrullo Bozorov, the Governor of Fergana Region, and a delegation of seasoned Chinese investors specializing in construction and energy sectors.

During the discussions, the parties explored the initiation of promising foreign-investment projects in the Fergana region, while also identifying further avenues for expanding bilateral cooperation.

The Chinese delegation presented a series of large-scale initiatives aimed at bolstering the regions economic development. These included proposals to establish the production of high-quality cable products, manufacture durable cement and concrete materials for the construction industry, contribute to the development of infrastructure within the "New Uzbekistan" residential area in Margilan, modernize urban street lighting systems, and implement advanced energy-efficient lighting solutions.

Governor Bozorov underscored that all proposed initiatives would receive full backing from regional authorities, with the administration offering comprehensive support throughout their implementation.

Following the meeting, the parties agreed to begin practical implementation of the approved projects in the near future and to accelerate the pace of work.

Meanwhile, Uzbekistans trade turnover with China reached $17.2 billion in 2025, reflecting a 35.4% year-on-year increase, which firmly consolidates Chinas position as Uzbekistans largest trading partner.
ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan, January 27. Turkmenistan and Iran discussed the creation of specialized trade zones at the Serakhs-Serakhs and Altyn Asyr-Incheh Borun border checkpoints, Trend reports via the press service of the Turkmen Government.

The issue was raised between ambassadors of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) and the leadership of Irans Supreme Council for Free Trade, Industrial and Special Economic Zones in Tehran. The discussions centered on actionable measures to enhance multilateral cooperation and broaden business relations within the region.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 27. A delegation from the Turkmenbashi International Seaport, led by Director Parakhat Jumayev, met with the management of the Baku International Seaport to discuss cooperation on developing the Caspian Sea-Black Sea transport corridor, Trend reports, citing the Turkmen Foreign Ministry.

The meeting with Director of Baku International Sea Port LLC Eldar Salahov was also attended by the Ambassador of Turkmenistan to Azerbaijan, Gurbanmammet Elyasov.

During the talks, the sides highlighted the strategic role of the TurkmenbashiBaku route in boosting cargo flows across the Caspian Sea, strengthening eastwest connectivity, and advancing the Middle Corridor amid growing bilateral trade.

The parties reviewed progress in increasing freight volumes and simplifying transit procedures. Reductions in maritime and rail tariffs were noted as key factors supporting the expansion of multimodal transportation and transit container handling.

Special attention was paid to the development of the Caspian SeaBlack Sea international transport corridor, linking the ports of Turkmenbashi, Baku, Poti, Batumi, and Constanta, as well as prospects for enhancing cooperation with interested partners, including the European Union.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 27. A delegation from the Cybersecurity Center of the Central Bank of Uzbekistan (CBU) visited the Central Bank of Azerbaijan (CBA), Trend reports, citing the CBA.

During the visit, the delegation met with Akif Baghirov, Advisor to the Chairman of the CBA, and Elnur Eyvazli, Director of the Department of Information and Cybersecurity.

The discussions focused on improving the legal and regulatory framework for cybersecurity, sharing experiences in working with FinCERT (Financial Computer Emergency Response Team), and exchanging insights on scenarios for managing cyber threats.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 26. Kazakhstan Utility Systems (KKS) and Japanese company Komaihaltec Inc. are planning to build a hybrid mini-power plant in the Turkistan region of Kazakhstan, the press service of KKS told Trend.

"At the first stage, KKS and Komaihaltec Inc. will conduct research, prepare a preliminary feasibility study, and develop a roadmap. A joint working group will be created for coordination," the company stated.

It was noted that renewable energy sources will be integrated with the existing energy supply infrastructure within the framework of the project.

"This approach will allow for the development of practical models for the application of renewable energy sources (RES) in regional conditions," the company emphasized.

KKS clarified that the hybrid system will include a wind power plant (about 5 MW), a solar power plant (about 1 MW), and an energy storage system (about 500 kWh).

According to company representatives, this combination will help stabilize the load, ensure an uninterrupted power supply, and reduce the region's dependence on energy from other areas of Kazakhstan. Special attention will be given to reducing CO emissions, developing autonomous and distributed energy sources, and enhancing the resilience of the energy system.

"At the current stage, the memorandum provides for the launch of the research and pilot phase of the project. Further decisions on construction and possible scaling will be made after the completion of the feasibility study and coordination with the relevant authorities," the company emphasized.

KKS added that an important condition for the Japanese side is the possibility of carbon offsetting for the project in accordance with established procedures.

"This mechanism aligns with Kazakhstans goals for developing low-carbon projects and the international climate agenda. The pilot project based on a hybrid wind-solar power plant with an energy storage system will allow testing modern renewable energy solutions in the region's real conditions and improving the resilience of local grids, while simultaneously reducing the carbon footprint," the press service reported.

The company further added that the pilot project is being implemented in the Turkistan region due to its favorable wind and solar potential, land availability, and convenient connection points to the grid.

Within the framework of the cooperation, KKS will handle the administrative support of the project (land plots, connection points, infrastructure, design, and construction works), while the Japanese side will provide the necessary equipment for manufacturing and delivery.

"Electricity generation will be supplied to the local regional electricity networks (LLP 'OZT'), which will allow the integration of the project into the existing system," the press service delineated.

The company noted that the pilot project is being implemented in the Turkistan region because of its high potential for wind and solar energy, land availability, and convenient connection points to the grids.

Within the cooperation framework, KKS will handle the administrative support of the project (land plots, connection points, infrastructure, design, and construction works), while the Japanese side will be responsible for manufacturing and supplying the necessary equipment.

During the official visit of Kazakhstans President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev to Japan and the "Central Asia-Japan" summit in December 2025, a memorandum of understanding was signed between KKS and Komaihaltec Inc. The document confirmed the parties' intention to jointly implement the renewable energy project.

KKS is one of the largest players in Kazakhstan's energy market. The KKS Group of companies forms a production chainfrom electricity and heat generation to their supply to the end consumer.
Photo: Minister of Labour and Social Protection of the Population of Kazakhstan

ASTANA, Kazakhstan, January 27. Askarbek Yertaev has been appointed the new Minister of Labour and Social Protection of the Population of Kazakhstan, Trend reports via the press service of the Kazakh president.

The corresponding decree was signed by Kazakhstans President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev

Earlier, Svetlana Zhakupova, who had previously held the position, was dismissed from office by a decree issued by President Tokayev.

She served as the Vice Minister of Labor and Social Protection of the Population from 2024 to 2025. On June 9, 2025, she was appointed First Vice Minister of Labor and Social Protection of the Population of Kazakhstan.
ASTANA, Kazakhstan, January 27. President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar discussed ways to intensify trade and economic cooperation between the two countries, Trend reports, citing the press service of the Kazakh president.

President Tokayev highlighted that the visit of Gideon Sa'ar underscores Israels firm commitment to enhancing comprehensive cooperation with Kazakhstan.

The sides engaged in discussions on the potential for expanding trade, economic, and scientific collaboration, with particular focus on joint projects in artificial intelligence, agriculture, and water resource management.

Tokayev expressed his approval of the Kazakh-Israeli business forum held in Astana as part of the visit, emphasizing that its outcomes are expected to significantly advance bilateral investment cooperation.

In response, Gideon Sa'ar underscored Israels keen interest in revitalizing trade and economic ties with Kazakhstan and elevating bilateral cooperation to a qualitatively higher level.

The Israeli foreign minister also expressed appreciation for Kazakhstans decision to join the Abraham Accords, noting their role in promoting stability, peace, and international dialogue. The sides additionally exchanged views on current international issues.

Meanwhile, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar embarked on an official visit to Kazakhstan on January 27, following visit to Azerbaijan on January 26
TEHRAN, Jan. 26 (Xinhua) -- Iran's Minister of Information and Communications Technology Seyed Sattar Hashemi said here Monday the weeks-long Internet blackout has inflicted a financial loss of close to 36 million U.S. dollars per day on the country's macroeconomy.

He made the remarks at a meeting with Iran's Vice President for Science, Technology and Knowledge-Based Economy Hossein Afshin that focused on supporting online businesses that have sustained financial losses as a result of the Internet blackout in the country, which started on Jan. 8 due to the unrest, according to the official news agency IRNA.

Also on Monday, Iran's First Vice President Mohammad-Reza Aref said that the country has prepared a written economic plan to deal with a potential war, while addressing a national conference in Tehran, according to IRNA.

Protests erupted late December in several Iranian cities over the sharp depreciation of the rial and sweeping reforms to government subsidies. Initially held peacefully, the protests gradually became violent, leading to casualties and damage to public properties, for which Tehran has blamed the United States and Israel. 
The document was signed in Astana during the official visit of Gideon Saar to Kazakhstan. In addition to the visa memorandum, agreements were concluded on cooperation in diplomatic training and public diplomacy.

During the visit, the 12th round of political consultations took place between the foreign ministries of the two countries. The discussions encompassed a broad spectrum of international and regional issues, including initiatives aimed at fostering peaceful resolutions and building trust in the Middle East. Notably, the talks included an exchange of perspectives on Kazakhstans involvement in the activities of the Board of Peace and cooperation under the Abraham Accords.

Kosherbaev emphasized the significant potential for expanding trade, investment, and technological cooperation, with particular focus on sectors such as agritech and the food industry, healthcare, pharmaceuticals, medical technologies, infrastructure and logistics, as well as energy efficiency and renewable energy.

The Kazakh Foreign Minister also highlighted Kazakhstans leadership in digital technology, as evidenced by its ranking in the UN online services index and the World Banks GovTech maturity indicators. He extended an invitation to Israeli companies to engage in collaborative efforts on joint projects.

In response, Saar confirmed his country's readiness to expand cooperation across a wide range of areas of mutual interest, emphasizing the importance of strengthening bilateral economic and cultural ties.

As part of the visit, a business forum alos was held with the participation of business circles from both countries, where B2B and B2G meetings took place. The participants discussed the prospects for implementing joint projects in priority sectors such as high-tech agriculture, water management, and digital technologies.

Trade turnover between Kazakhstan and Israel for the period from January through November 2025 reached $162.4 million (with exports amounting to $92.1 million and imports to $70.3 million).

This marks the first official visit by an Israeli Foreign Minister to Kazakhstan in the past 16 years.
ASTANA, Kazakhstan, January 27. The Kazakh side has proposed considering the construction of Alatau City as a potential platform for implementing investment and infrastructure projects on energy transition with the participation of Korean business, Trend reports via the Kazakh Ministry of Energy.

The proposal was voiced during a meeting between representatives of Kazakhstans Ministry of Energy and the Export-Import Bank of Korea (Korea Eximbank), where the parties discussed prospects for cooperation in the field of energy transition.

During the meeting in Astana, the Korean side presented the Economic Innovation Partnership Program (EIPP), outlining its objectives, implementation mechanisms, and stages, as well as the role of Korea Eximbank as the program coordinator and a potential financial partner for projects developed under EIPP.

It was noted that EIPP is a grant-based program of the Government of the Republic of Korea aimed at developing public policy frameworks, master plans, and feasibility studies, with a subsequent transition to financing infrastructure projects.

For Kazakhstan, the key priorities are sustainable development of the energy sector, improving energy supply reliability, and attracting international financing. The EIPP program is of practical interest in terms of preparing high-quality innovative project solutions and further implementing infrastructure initiatives, Vice Minister of Energy Ilyas Bakytzhan said.

As part of discussions on the practical implementation of energy transition investment projects, the Kazakh side proposed Alatau City as a potential site for the realization of investment and infrastructure initiatives involving Korean companies.

At the same time, interest was expressed in expanding cooperation with the Korean side in the development of a Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP) investment platform. The platform is expected to focus on structuring, supporting, and financing projects aimed at developing and modernizing energy infrastructure, as well as introducing advanced technological and digital solutions.

The Korean side expressed readiness to consider the proposal within the framework of further joint elaboration of project initiatives under the EIPP program.

Zhetygen village officially transitioned into Alatau city in January 2024. The city is envisioned as a cutting-edge digital hub, with a projected population of up to 2 million by 2050.

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Photo: Press service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kyrgyzstan

BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan, January 27. Kyrgyzstan and Georgia discussedcurrent issues of comprehensive cooperation in political, trade-economic, cultural-humanitarian, and other spheres, Trend reports via the press service of the Kyrgyz MFA.

The issue was discussed at the 4th Kyrgyz-Georgian political consultations between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kyrgyzstan and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia held in Bishkek on January 26.

The Kyrgyz delegation was led by Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kyrgyzstan Meder Abakirov, while the Georgian delegation was headed by Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Georgia Alexander Khvtisiashvili.

Deputy Minister Meder Abakirov emphasized the importance of further strengthening political dialogue based on traditional friendship, trust, and mutual respect. It was noted that organizing high-level and top-level visits and enhancing diplomatic interaction create additional opportunities for the development of bilateral relations.

The Georgian side highlighted the positive dynamics in the development of bilateral relations with Kyrgyzstan, underlining its firm commitment to strengthening political, economic, and cultural-humanitarian cooperation.

Furthermore, the parties confirmed their readiness to continue deepening their partnership, implement joint projects, and support exchanges of experience between the countries, which will help elevate Kyrgyz-Georgian relations to a new qualitative level.

Concluding the meeting, Meder Abakirov expressed gratitude to the Georgian side for participating in the consultations, stressing that the agreements reached will lay a solid foundation for the further development of friendly and partnership relations between Kyrgyzstan and Georgia.

Meanwhile, the parties confirmed their intention to maintain regular dialogue, coordinate joint initiatives, and implement projects aimed at strengthening mutually beneficial cooperation in political, economic, and humanitarian spheres.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 27. The Italian ambassador to Iran, Paola Amadei, was summoned to the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) today, where Tehran formally lodged its protest, Trend reports, citing the ministry.

Alireza Yousefi, the ministry's Director General for Western European Affairs, conveyed Irans objection to Italy. He stressed that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) is an official branch of Irans armed forces, warned of negative consequences for any accusations against it, and criticized recent remarks by the Italian foreign minister as unacceptable.

Ambassador Amadei assured that she would promptly relay Irans protest to her government.

The incident follows statements by Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, who recently suggested adding the IRGC to Italys list of terrorist organizations.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 27. The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has extended a senior multi-currency loan of up to 20 million equivalent to NBFC Microinvest LLC, Moldovas largest non-bank lending institution, Trend reports via the Bank.

The funding will be used to support local micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), bolstering private sector development and driving economic growth.

The investment is part of the EBRDs Financial Intermediaries Framework (FIF), designed to help financial institutions diversify funding, extend liability maturities, and expand MSME financing at a multiple of the Banks contribution. The project will also enhance regional outreach and attract new clients, addressing key transition gaps in Moldovas financial sector.

Microinvest, recently acquired by Victoriabank, Moldovas third-largest commercial bank, will use the financing to strengthen competitiveness and resilience. With over 22 years of experience, Microinvest is a leading player in Moldovas financial market, providing tailored financial solutions to businesses, farmers, and individuals. The company holds 40% of the non-bank financial institution market and ranks fifth overall by loan book size, with total assets of 392 million as of Q3 2025.

This financing will help Microinvest expand its MSME lending while maintaining portfolio quality, supporting a more robust and inclusive financial system in Moldova, the EBRD said.

The project underscores the Banks commitment to private sector development and sustainable growth, particularly amid regional challenges. Since the start of Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the EBRD has provided 1.7 billion to Moldova to help mitigate economic impacts, bringing its total investment in the country to nearly 2.9 billion across 188 projects, with 40% of its portfolio in sustainable infrastructure.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 28. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan held a telephone conversation with his American counterpart Donald Trump, the Turkish Presidential Administrations Public Relations Department reported, Trend writes.

The leaders discussed regional and global issues, including the latest developments in Syria, the Gaza Peace Council process, and matters related to the defense industry.

According to the statement, Erdogan highlighted his readiness to take further steps to strengthen cooperation between Turkey and the United States, stressing that raising the level of relations in all areas serves the common interests of both countries.

The Turkish president also underlined the importance of fully implementing the ceasefire and integration agreement in Syria, noting that the process is being monitored jointly with US and Syrian officials.

Erdogan expressed confidence that the Gaza Peace Council will help resolve the humanitarian crisis and that the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip will contribute to lasting peace in the region.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump said Tuesday that Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem will not step down, even as Democrats threatened to begin impeachment proceedings against her.

When asked if Noem will leave the post, Trump told reporters at the White House: "No."

Noem has been facing mounting pressure in recent days following the fatal shootings of two U.S. citizens by law enforcement officers in Minneapolis. The backlash has focused on her comments describing the victims as having committed "an act of domestic terrorism," a claim not supported by video evidence.

On Jan. 7, an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer shot and killed 37-year-old U.S. citizen Renee Good in Minneapolis during an operation. On Saturday, Border Patrol officers fatally shot 37-year-old U.S. citizen Alex Pretti in the city.

The shootings have drawn sharp criticism from lawmakers on both sides of the aisle, with Democrats calling for Noem to be fired or impeached and some Republican lawmakers urging congressional hearings into federal immigration enforcement practices.

Republican Senator Rand Paul said Tuesday on X that he is calling on the leadership at ICE, Customs and Border Protection, and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services to appear before the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, which he chairs. 
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Al-Nassr bests Al-Taawoun to move up in SPL Table

Cristiano Ronaldo led Al-Nassr Monday January 26, 2026 defeated Al-Taawoun 1-0 in a tight and thrilling match played at Al Awwal Park Stadium to surge ahead in the Saudi Pro League (2025/26) Table

Riyadh: Cristiano Ronaldo led Al-Nassr Monday January 26, 2026 defeated Al-Taawoun 1-0 in a tight and thrilling match played at Al Awwal Park Stadium to surge ahead in the Saudi Pro League (2025/26) Table.

Al-Nassr was trailing at 3rd position with 27 points in the Saudi Pro League Table when The Big Yellows hit the ground Monday, below Al Ahli Saudi and Al-Qadisiyah.

A defeat against Al Taawoun would have further pushed it down the SPL 25/26 table. However, Ronaldo led Saudi FC did not disappoint the fans.

Al-Nassr won the match thanks to Mohammed Al Dossaris 45th minute own goal to get the much needed 3 points.

Al-Nassr Vs Al-Taawoun Highlights

The hosts largely controlled proceedings, creating multiple chances and keeping pressure on the visitors defence, though they struggled to convert domination into goals in open play.

Cristiano Ronaldo and Joao Felix were lively throughout, with Ronaldo even striking the post, but it was the defensive lapse that ultimately made the difference. Cristiano Ronaldo had a goal disallowed (ruled offside via VAR after a free-kick assist to Mohamed Simakan), and he didn't score despite chances.

Al-Taawoun remained resilient and organised, limiting clear openings and making life difficult for Al-Nassr. But the own goal by Mohammed Al Dossari changed the course for the vistors.

The only goal in the Al-Nassr vs Al-Taawoun Saudi Pro League match Monday was the self-goal by Al-Taawoun's Al Dossary Mohammed, and the man behind this was Sadio Mane who was back in Al Nassr team fresh from leading Senegal to lift Africa Cup 2026 .

With the victory over Al-Taawoun, Al-Nassr is now placed second in the SPL Table with 40 points while Al Hilal continues to lead the chart with 45 points.

Al Nassr - who faces Al Kholood on January 30 and Al Riyadh on February 02, 2026, is required to win both the matches if it wants to outplace Al Hilal.

In another matches of SPL Round 18, Al Riyadh vs Al Hilal Sunday January 25, 2026 ended in a draw whereas Al Fayha secured a solid home win against Al Fateh, and Al Qadsiah defeated Al Najma 3-1 on the same day.

Meanwhile, Ronaldo remains the top goal scorer in the Saudi Pro League 2025-26, as per the statistics released by the Roshn Saudi League after MW17 ended.

[Zohair M Safwan Faizee is Staff Writer at ummid.com]

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UNITED NATIONS, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- Despite continuing aid deliveries and efforts to expand services, UN humanitarians said Tuesday the situation in Gaza remains dire for hundreds of thousands of families in need.

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said the United Nations and its partners are providing bread to at least 43 percent of the population across the Gaza Strip every day, which is free or sold at a subsidized price of less than 1 U.S. dollar per 2 kg bundle.

OCHA said the bread plan is in addition to the monthly household-level distribution of wheat flour. So far this month, partners have reached 1.2 million people with flour as part of the standard monthly food assistance package.

The office and its humanitarian partners reached more than 7,500 families with tents, tarpaulins, sealing-off kits, mattresses and blankets, and child protection partners delivered winter clothes to some 1,400 children across the strip, OCHA said.

OCHA said that over the weekend, another child died from hypothermia, bringing the total number of child deaths related to the cold weather to 10.

Sustainable solutions are urgently needed to meet the needs of the more than 1 million people requiring shelter support, including toolkits to repair people's homes, materials to create communal heating spaces and equipment to remove debris and rubble to clear land for housing, OCHA said.

"Since Wednesday, humanitarian partners leading on protection have reached over 2,300 families with cash vouchers and in-kind winterization support," the office said. "They have also provided mental health and psychosocial support and case management assistance to hundreds of people."

OCHA said global protection partners warned in a report issued on Friday that excessive use of force by Israeli troops has led to exceptionally high rates of death and injury among Palestinian men and boys in the West Bank. The report highlighted the urgent need for a strong, protection-focused response and called for the release of arbitrarily detained Palestinians. 
The News in Brief Tuesday, January 27, 2026

Writing from Rustavi women's prison, Elene Khoshtaria, one of the leaders of the Coalition for Change, said the opposition will only engage in debates with Georgian Dream on the issue of holding new elections, rejecting Irakli Kobakhidze's call to restore public political debates.In a statement published on her Facebook page, Khoshtaria said participating in debates on any other topic would mean recognizing Georgian Dream as a legitimate political party, which she described as unacceptable."The only issue that can be debated with Dream in any format is the scheduling of new elections," she wrote. "In all other cases, even under the most noble pretexts, this would amount to recognizing them as a normal political party."She said the opposition, not the ruling party, should define the "line of non-recognition," accusing Georgian Dream of using the debate initiative for propaganda.Khoshtaria also questioned the logic of engaging in debates while maintaining a boycott of parliament, arguing that such participation would undermine the opposition's position."If debates bring even minimal results, then it is unclear why we refused to enter parliament," she wrote.Opposition politician Giorgi Vashadze said the criminal case brought against him contains no evidence and amounts to "a blank sheet" with only his name and a potential sentence written in it."There is nothing in the case materials," Vashadze told journalists ahead of a hearing at Tbilisi City Court. "My name and surname are there, and a 15-year sentence is written. That's all."Commenting on the so-called sabotage case, Vashadze stated that prosecutors are seeking bail, and he intends to comply. "I know they are asking for 30,000 GEL as bail. Of course, I will pay it. I paid bail in the previous case as well," he said.Vashadze said he was surprised by the lack of substance in the file, noting that it contains no factual allegations, evidence, or even fabricated materials. "There is no evidence in the case. Nothing links me to these charges," he said.He described the prosecution as politically motivated, arguing that it is aimed at suppressing opposition activity. "This serves to stop our striving for freedom and the normal development of Georgia," Vashadze said, adding that justice can exist only when legal proceedings inspire public trust.Criminal proceedings were initiated on November 6, 2025, against several opposition figures, including Giorgi Vashadze. He is charged with sabotage and assisting hostile activities of a foreign state, offenses that carry a possible sentence of up to 15 years in prison.
JERUSALEM/GAZA, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Tuesday that Israel would not allow the rehabilitation of Gaza before it was demilitarized, nor the establishment of a Palestinian state there, while Hamas urged the swift empowerment of the technocratic committee tasked with administering the strip.

Netanyahu made the remarks at a hawkish press conference a day after Israeli forces recovered the remains of the last hostage held in Gaza. The release of about 250 people abducted during the Hamas-led attack on Oct. 7, 2023, was among the conditions to be met in the first phase of the ceasefire, which took effect on Oct. 10, 2025.

Monday's return of the body of Ran Gvili, a police officer killed during the Hamas attack, has been seen as potentially clearing the way for progress to the next phase of the truce, which includes the rehabilitation of the enclave.

Signaling reluctance to move swiftly to the next phase of the ceasefire, Netanyahu reiterated that he was pursuing an "absolute victory," with three key elements: the return of all hostages, the disarmament of Hamas, and the demilitarization of Gaza.

"Only in this way can we ensure that Gaza will no longer pose a threat to the State of Israel," he said.

Netanyahu noted Israel would now focus on "completing the two remaining missions: disarming Hamas and demilitarizing Gaza of weapons and tunnels."

"There are only two options: this will be done the easy way or the hard way, but in any case it will be done," he added.

The two demands are expected to complicate progress to the next phase of the ceasefire. Netanyahu is under pressure from Washington to move ahead with the next stage, while far-right, pro-settler partners in his coalition oppose ending the war and have called for the re-establishment of Israeli settlements in Gaza.

Netanyahu also reiterated that Israel would maintain security control over "the entire area from the Jordan River to the Mediterranean Sea, including the Gaza Strip."

Regarding recent tensions with Iran, he further warned Iran and its allies, saying that Israel would respond with "unprecedented force" if Iran were to attack.

Earlier in the day, Hamas issued a statement urging the swift empowerment of the technocratic committee tasked with administering the Gaza Strip, the opening of the Rafah crossing in both directions, and the launch of reconstruction efforts in the enclave.

The movement said Israeli authorities "continue to hold hundreds of Palestinian bodies, whether from the Gaza Strip during the war or those kept for decades in numbered graves, and refuse to hand them over to their families or provide information about some of them, constituting a brutal crime."

It called for "an immediate review and a serious international effort" to pressure Israel to release the bodies it is holding, open the Rafah crossing, and allow the entry of heavy equipment necessary to recover the victims' bodies from under the rubble.

Meanwhile, the Palestinian government on Tuesday stressed the need to move to the second phase of the ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.

In a press statement issued after its weekly meeting in Ramallah, the government emphasized the necessity of a full Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza Strip and the start of recovery and reconstruction efforts after the handover of the remaining Israeli bodies.

During more than two years of fighting, Israeli bombardment has left Gaza largely in ruins, destroying water and power infrastructure, razing buildings and vast areas, and killing more than 71,500 people, according to Gaza health authorities. 
Texas Governor Greg Abbott is demanding comprehensive data from public universities and K-12 schools about employees working under H-1B visas, signaling a potential crackdown on foreign worker employment in the state's education system. The move has sparked immediate concerns from higher education advocates who warn that restricting international talent could damage Texas' research capabilities and economic competitiveness.

In an interview Monday with conservative radio host Mark Davis, Abbott announced his administration is examining whether Texas taxpayer dollars support H-1B visa holders at public educational institutions. He indicated the state would announce an "action plan" later this week based on findings from the inquiry.

"I don't see any reason why we need any H-1B visa employees in our public schools in the state of Texas," Abbott stated. "But we're going to find out if there's some unique skill set or whatever the case may be."

Urgent Data Request to University Systems

Internal emails obtained by Quorum Report reveal the governor's office contacted Texas A&M University System leaders Friday, requesting detailed information about all H-1B visa employees by close of business Monday. The data request specifically sought employees' roles, responsibilities, and countries of origin.

The tight deadline came as many Texas universities, including Texas A&M and the University of Texas at Austin, were closed Monday due to severe winter weather that impacted much of the state. The Texas Tribune reached out to multiple university systems for comment but received no immediate responses due to the closures.

The request marks an escalation in scrutiny of foreign worker programs at educational institutions, following recent reporting by conservative news outlet The Dallas Express. That publication disclosed it had sought public records about Texas A&M University's H-1B visa usage for months and filed a complaint with the Texas attorney general before obtaining the information.

Understanding H-1B Visas in Education

H-1B visas allow employers to hire foreign workers for specialized positions typically requiring at least a bachelor's degree. The program has become essential infrastructure for America's research universities and academic medical centers, which rely on these visas to recruit professors, researchers, physicians, and other highly trained professionals from around the world.

Federal immigration data demonstrate that some of Texas' largest education-sector employers of H-1B visa holders include major school districts like Dallas ISD, as well as prestigious academic medical centers such as UT Southwestern Medical Center and UT MD Anderson Cancer Center. These institutions compete globally for top talent in specialized fields where qualified American workers may be scarce.

Universities particularly depend on H-1B visas to staff cutting-edge research programs in fields like artificial intelligence, biotechnology, engineering, and medicine. Many of these positions require extremely specialized expertise that takes years to develop and may not be readily available among domestic applicants.

Broader Political Context

Abbott's comments suggested alignment with the Trump administration's immigration enforcement priorities. He indicated that some visa holders may have been admitted during the Biden administration and could have overstayed their authorized periods.

"Those, again, are the type of people that the Trump administration is trying to remove," Abbott said, linking his inquiry to federal immigration enforcement efforts.

The governor's investigation comes amid heightened national debate over H-1B visas and skilled immigration policy. While the Trump administration has generally taken restrictive stances on immigration, the H-1B program has created tensions within the Republican coalition. Tech industry leaders and business groupsincluding those close to Trumphave advocated for maintaining or expanding access to high-skilled foreign workers, while immigration restrictionists argue the program displaces American workers and suppresses wages.

Recent federal policy changes have already created new challenges for universities seeking to hire international talent. A $100,000 fee imposed on some new H-1B hires from abroad has drawn criticism from academic leaders who say it makes American institutions less competitive globally.

Higher Education Leaders Sound Alarm

Higher education advocates quickly raised concerns about the potential economic and academic consequences of restricting universities' access to international faculty and researchers.

"What has made U.S. higher education the best in the world is that we have been able to attract the best people for these positions," said Miriam Feldblum, co-founder and CEO of the Presidents' Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration. Her organization represents a national coalition of college and university leaders focused on immigration policy issues.

Feldblum emphasized that recent federal policies already threaten the competitiveness of American universities in recruiting global talent. Additional state-level restrictions could compound these challenges, potentially driving top researchers and scholars to institutions in other countries or states with more welcoming policies.

The concern extends beyond individual career decisions. Research universities generate substantial economic activity through sponsored research, technology transfer, startup companies, and highly paid jobs. International faculty and researchers contribute significantly to this ecosystem, bringing diverse perspectives and global research networks that enhance American innovation capacity.

Questions About Implementation

Abbott's broad statement questioning the need for H-1B visa holders in public schools raised immediate questions about how such a policy might work in practice. While K-12 schools employ relatively few H-1B workers compared to universities, those positions often fill critical gaps in specialized areas like bilingual education, special education, and STEM instruction in rural or underserved districts.

At the university level, the implications could be far more dramatic. Major research universities employ hundreds or thousands of H-1B visa holders in roles spanning from laboratory scientists and medical specialists to assistant professors in engineering and computer science departments. Many of these employees are on paths to permanent residency and have been recruited through extensive national or international searches.

The governor's office and affected university systems had not immediately clarified several key questions: Would the proposed action plan apply retroactively to current employees? Would it affect only new hires? How would it distinguish between different types of positions and specializations? What process would determine whether a "unique skill set" justifies an exception?

Potential Consequences for Texas

Texas has positioned itself as a leader in higher education and research, with institutions like the University of Texas at Austin, Texas A&M University, Rice University, and others consistently ranking among the nation's top research institutions. This status depends significantly on the ability to compete globally for talent.

The state's major academic medical centersincluding UT Southwestern, UT MD Anderson, Baylor College of Medicine, and othersconduct groundbreaking research and provide specialized clinical care that often requires recruiting physicians and scientists trained in specific techniques or fields available only at a handful of institutions worldwide.

Technology companies and startups frequently cite access to university research and talent pipelines as factors in location decisions. Restrictions on international hiring could potentially influence where companies choose to establish operations, affecting Texas' broader economic development strategy.

Abbott's inquiry also comes as Texas institutions compete for major research initiatives. Binghamton University in New York just announced a record $55 million investment to establish the nation's first independent AI research center at a public university. Such initiatives require access to global talent pools to succeed.

Timeline and Next Steps

The governor indicated Texas would announce its action plan later this week, presumably after reviewing the data collected from universities and school districts. The specific contents and implementation timeline of this plan remain unclear.

University leaders, faculty groups, and higher education associations will likely mobilize quickly if the proposed policies threaten existing employees or future hiring flexibility. Previous attempts to restrict international student or scholar programs have prompted legal challenges and coordinated advocacy efforts.

The controversy also unfolds against the backdrop of Texas' 2026 legislative session, where education policy remains contentious. Lawmakers continue debating school vouchers, funding formulas, and the role of universities in state economic developmentissues that could intersect with questions about international hiring.

National Implications

While Abbott's inquiry focuses on Texas institutions, other Republican-led states may watch the outcome closely. State-level restrictions on H-1B employment would represent a new front in immigration policy, which has traditionally been primarily a federal domain.

The tension between state and federal authority over employment-based immigration could raise legal questions. H-1B visas are issued by federal authorities under federal law, though states maintain significant control over public employment and educational institutions.

Texas' actions could also influence the broader national debate over skilled immigration policy. If implemented, restrictions in one of America's largest and most economically dynamic states could provide data points for both supporters and opponents of current H-1B program structures.

Looking Ahead

As Texas universities and schools compile the requested data under tight deadlines, the education community awaits details of the governor's planned action. The outcome will likely shape not only employment practices at Texas institutions but potentially influence the national conversation about skilled immigration, university autonomy, and America's competitiveness in research and innovation.

For now, uncertainty prevails. International faculty and researchers at Texas institutions face questions about their future, while university leaders must balance compliance with state directives against their institutional missions and competitive imperatives.

The coming weeks will reveal whether Abbott's investigation leads to significant policy changes or represents primarily a political statement aligned with broader immigration enforcement themes. Either way, the episode highlights the growing intersection of immigration politics with higher education policya trend that shows no signs of abating.
Yale University announced Monday a transformative expansion of its undergraduate financial aid program that will eliminate tuition costs for families earning below $200,000 annually and cover all attendance expenses for those making under $100,000. The changes, set to take effect for incoming students in fall 2026, represent one of the most generous financial aid policies among America's elite universities.

The announcement positions Yale at the forefront of efforts by wealthy institutions to address college affordability concerns and expand access to low- and middle-income students. Under the new policy, more than 80% of American households with college-aged children would qualify for Yale scholarships covering at least the full cost of tuition.

Sweeping Changes to Financial Aid Thresholds

The enhanced program features two major components that significantly expand Yale's existing financial aid commitments. Families with typical assets and annual incomes below $100,000 will receive "zero parent share" awards covering the complete cost of attendanceincluding tuition, housing, meal plans, estimated travel costs, hospitalization insurance, and a $2,000 start-up grant.

For families earning between $100,000 and $200,000 annually, Yale will provide need-based scholarships meeting or exceeding the cost of tuition, which currently stands at approximately $67,250 for the 2025-2026 academic year. The total cost of attendance, including room, board, and fees, exceeds $90,000 annually.

"I am thrilled that Yale is making this important investment in affordability," said Jeremiah Quinlan, Dean of Undergraduate Admissions and Financial Aid. "With this announcement, we reiterate and reinforce Yale's commitment to ensuring that cost will never be a barrier between promising students and a Yale College education."

Expanding an Already Generous Program

Yale has operated need-blind admissions with full need-based aid for over 60 years, evaluating applicants without considering their ability to pay and providing scholarship support to meet demonstrated financial need. The university's commitment to affordability has deepened progressively over recent decades.

In 2010, Yale introduced zero parent share awards for families earning below $60,000. The threshold increased to $65,000, then jumped to $75,000 in 2020. That adjustment made over 15 million American families with school-aged children eligible for comprehensive financial support.

The new $100,000 threshold brings nearly half of all American households with children ages 6-17 into eligibility for awards requiring no parental financial contribution. This represents a dramatic expansion of access to one of the world's most prestigious educational institutions.

Currently, more than 1,000 Yale College students receive zero parent share awards, and 56% of all undergraduates qualify for need-based aid from Yale. The average grant for students receiving aid in the current academic year already exceeds the annual cost of tuition, according to Kari DiFonzo, director of undergraduate financial aid.

Addressing Middle-Class Affordability

While elite universities have long provided generous aid to low-income students, the $200,000 tuition threshold specifically addresses concerns from middle- and upper-middle-class families who often feel squeezed by college costs. These families typically earn too much to qualify for substantial aid under traditional formulas but struggle to afford six-figure education expenses, especially with multiple children.

"Yale makes a special effort to support students with the greatest financial need," DiFonzo explained. "Beyond generous financial aid offers, Yale provides extra grants for students to purchase winter clothing, to pursue summer experiences abroad, and to respond to unexpected financial hardships."

The new policies acknowledge that families with incomes approaching $200,000while comfortable by many measuresmay still find elite university costs prohibitive, particularly in high-cost regions or when balancing other financial obligations like retirement savings or caring for aging parents.

Simplifying a Complex Process

Yale officials emphasized that the enhanced financial aid program aims not only to reduce costs but also to provide clarity during what can be an overwhelming process for families, especially first-generation college students.

"From my personal experience as a first-generation, low-income college student, I know that navigating financial aid can feel overwhelming," said DiFonzo. "Determining a family's specific ability to contribute towards a college education can be complicated, but these new policies will make it easier for more families to quickly understand their cost."

The university has invested heavily in transparency tools to complement the policy changes. In October 2025, Yale launched an "Instant Net Price Estimator" allowing prospective students to receive cost estimates in seconds. This builds on the MyinTuition Quick Cost Estimator introduced in 2018, which has generated hundreds of thousands of personalized estimates and can produce results in under three minutes.

These tools help demystify financial aid before families commit significant time and emotional energy to the application process. Clear threshold-based policiesfree tuition under $200,000, zero parent contribution under $100,000make Yale's affordability message straightforward rather than requiring complex calculations.

Competitive Landscape Among Elite Universities

Yale's announcement comes amid intensifying competition among wealthy universities to attract talented students from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds. Several peer institutions have implemented or expanded similar programs in recent years.

The enhanced financial aid policies position Yale competitively against other Ivy League schools and elite private universities. However, implementation details vary significantly across institutions. Some schools define "typical assets" differently, affecting eligibility. Others include loans in financial aid packages, while Yale provides only grants and work-study opportunities.

Yale's new thresholds are particularly notable for their comprehensiveness and clear communication. By setting firm income levels rather than vague guidelines, the university provides certainty that helps families make informed decisions about college applications.

Impact on Diversity and Access

Pericles Lewis, Dean of Yale College, emphasized the role of need-blind admissions and comprehensive financial aid in shaping Yale's student body. "For more than 60 years, Yale has considered applicants without regard to their ability to pay and has provided scholarship support to meet families' full financial need," Lewis said. "This approach has been instrumental in attracting the most talented, ambitious, and dynamic undergraduates to Yale."

The expanded aid program should enable Yale to compete more effectively for high-achieving students from diverse backgrounds who might otherwise choose public universities offering lower sticker prices or merit scholarships at private institutions.

First-generation college students and those from underrepresented communities often face additional psychological barriers beyond pure economicsconcerns about belonging, cultural fit, and accumulated debt. Clear, generous financial aid policies can help overcome these barriers by signaling institutional commitment to student success regardless of background.

Financial Sustainability Questions

Yale's ability to expand financial aid reflects its substantial endowment, which exceeded $41 billion as of 2024. The university can fund enhanced scholarships from endowment returns without significantly impacting its financial position.

However, the announcement raises broader questions about higher education sustainability and equity. Only a small number of exceptionally wealthy institutions can afford to eliminate tuition for families earning $200,000 annually. Most colleges and universitiesincluding many excellent schoolslack the resources for such generous aid.

This creates a two-tiered system where students admitted to elite schools with massive endowments may attend at little or no cost, while peers with similar qualifications at less wealthy institutions graduate with substantial debt. The gap between resource-rich and resource-poor higher education institutions continues widening.

Implementation Details and Timeline

The new financial aid policies take effect for students entering Yale College in the 2026-2027 academic year. Current students will continue under existing financial aid formulas, though Yale regularly reassesses all students' aid eligibility based on updated family financial information.

Families must still complete comprehensive financial aid applications including the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and Yale's institutional forms. The "typical assets" qualifier in Yale's announcement means that families with unusually high assets relative to income may receive adjusted aid packages.

Yale determines expected family contributions through a holistic review of financial circumstances, not just income. Factors can include home equity, investments, small business ownership, and other assets. The university aims to assess genuine ability to pay rather than relying solely on single metrics.

Broader Higher Education Implications

Yale's announcement may pressure peer institutions to enhance their own financial aid offerings to remain competitive for top students. Harvard, Princeton, Stanford, and other wealthy universities constantly monitor competitors' aid policies and adjust accordingly.

However, the competitive dynamics primarily affect a small slice of American higher educationthe elite institutions that reject far more qualified applicants than they accept. For the vast majority of colleges and universities, Yale's policies are aspirational rather than achievable.

The announcement also occurs amid broader debates about college affordability, student debt, and the value of higher education. While Yale's enhanced aid addresses cost barriers for admitted students, it doesn't change the fundamental selectivity that makes Yale admission extremely difficult. Acceptance rates hover around 4-5%, meaning 95% of applicantsincluding many highly qualified studentsreceive rejection letters.

Student and Family Reactions

Prospective students and families will likely welcome the announcement enthusiastically. For many households earning between $100,000 and $200,000, Yale just became dramatically more affordablepotentially saving families $270,000 or more over four years in tuition alone.

The clarity of the new thresholds should encourage applications from students who previously self-selected out of the Ivy League applicant pool based on cost concerns. High school counselors can now provide more definitive guidance about Yale's affordability for middle-income families.

Current Yale students from families earning near the new thresholds may feel disappointed that the enhanced aid doesn't apply retroactively. However, Yale regularly reassesses financial aid, and students experiencing changed family circumstances can request aid adjustments at any time.
The University of Wyoming is accepting student applications and nominations for the UW Leadership Academys class of 2026, an experiential leadership development program designed to strengthen students economic and civic leadership capabilities through real-world engagement across Wyoming.





The Leadership Academy provides students with an immersive opportunity to explore major industries; meet leaders across the state; and develop practical leadership skills through a cohort-based learning experience. The 2026 program will include visits to communities across Wyoming, including Buffalo, Casper, Cheyenne, Jackson, Lander and Sheridan.





New this year, the Leadership Academy will expand its industry focus to include agriculture and health care, reflecting two sectors that are vital to Wyomings future workforce, community well-being and long-term economic resilience. Key industries such as education, tourism, manufacturing and energy also will be explored throughout the semester.





Meeting dates and locations for the class of 2026 are:





Friday, May 1 -- Orientation in Laramie.





Thursday-Friday, Aug. 27-28 -- Education and health care focus, Cheyenne and Laramie.





Wednesday-Friday, Sept. 16-18 -- Tourism focus, Jackson and Lander.





Wednesday-Friday, Oct. 7-9 -- Agriculture and manufacturing focus, Buffalo and Sheridan.





Thursday-Friday, Oct. 29-30 -- Energy focus, Casper.





Friday, Nov. 20 -- Mock presentations, Laramie.





Friday, Dec. 4 -- Final presentations, Laramie.





The Leadership Academy equips students to navigate Wyomings most pressing economic and civic challenges while refining their personal leadership abilities, says Chris Haller, director of UWs Center for Principle-Based Leadership and Ethics. As Wyoming looks ahead, its more important than ever to develop leaders who can think systemically, collaborate across differences and act with integrity.





The Leadership Academy is a collaboration between the Center for Principle-Based Leadership and Ethics and Leadership Wyoming, an organization with more than two decades of expertise in leadership development across the state. This partnership ensures that students benefit from high-quality leadership training and unique networking opportunities with leaders from across Wyoming.





Participants will travel to multiple Wyoming communities, engage with local businesses and organizations, and learn directly from leaders working in the industries that drive the states economy. The Leadership Academy is a three-credit, upper-division course and is open to all undergraduate students enrolled at UWs Laramie campus during the fall 2026 semester.





Students interested in participating can apply here. Faculty, staff and community members also may nominate outstanding student leaders for the program here. The application deadline is Wednesday, April 1.





For more information about the Leadership Academy, prospective applicants can visit the website, call Haller at (307) 766-6271 or email chris.haller@uwyo.edu.





About UWs Center for Principle-Based Leadership and Ethics





The Center for Principle-Based Leadership and Ethics is committed to developing the next generation of ethical leaders and organizations in Wyoming and beyond. The centers higher purpose is to build principled leaders for a better tomorrow.





About Leadership Wyoming





Leadership Wyoming is a nine-month program for leaders across the state to learn about the industries, communities, challenges and opportunities facing Wyoming. Graduates of the program become part of an alumni network of about 1,000 leaders in the state, with continued leadership and networking opportunities.
TEHRAN, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Tuesday voiced Iran's readiness to welcome any process leading to peace and conflict prevention "within the international law framework while fully safeguarding the rights of the country and its people."

He made the remarks in a phone call with Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud, during which both sides underscored the necessity of ensuring peace and security in West Asia, read a statement from the Iranian president's office.

Pezeshkian said U.S. threats and actions against Iran are aimed at compromising regional security. He accused Washington of disrupting Iran's past diplomatic engagements with Europe, and characterized the U.S. approach to dialogue as "we say and you do."

He urged collective cooperation among Muslim countries to secure security, stability and development in the region.

For his part, the crown prince affirmed that Saudi Arabia rejects as "unacceptable" any aggression, threat, or escalation of tension against Iran, read the statement.

He expressed his country's readiness for cooperation with Iran and other regional states to ensure lasting peace and security.

Separately, Deputy Commander of the Navy of Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps Mohammad Akbarzadeh said Tuesday that warnings have been issued to Iran's neighbors against letting their airspace, territories or territorial waters be used for any attack on Iran.

According to a report by the semi-official Fars news agency, Akbarzadeh said that Iran is constantly receiving data from the Strait of Hormoz through sky and the sea's surface and subsurface, and that Iran decides "which vessel and warship under which flag is allowed to pass."

The developments came as the USS Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group has reportedly arrived in the Middle East amid tensions in the region, and as Iran has warned of a "comprehensive and regret-inducing" response to any aggression. 
Vietnam Briefing has developed into a premium source for insight on doing business in Vietnam. It publishes business news concerning foreign direct investment into Vietnam, including the most important tax, legal and accounting issues. The Vietnam Briefing Magazine was first published in 2009, and is contributed to by investment professionals based in Vietnam.
BEIRUT, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- Lake Qaraoun, Lebanon's largest artificial lake is experiencing a significant recovery following heavy winter precipitation, offering relief after three consecutive years of severe drought.

According to data from local authorities, the lake's water level has risen to 840.12 meters above sea level on Jan. 26, with stored water increasing to around 65 million cubic meters.

Litani River, Lebanon's longest, has also seen a surge in water flow into the lake, recently reaching over 5 million cubic meters in 24 hours -- a flow rate not seen in several seasons, the data showed.

The resurgence brings cautious optimism to the drought-stricken agricultural region. Farmer Hassan Kamouni noted cultivated land had previously shrunk by more than 70 percent, saying the improved supply may allow the return of water-intensive crops like wheat, vegetables and potatoes.

The lake is also critical for hydropower. A source from Electricity of Lebanon indicated that the higher water levels is expected to increase electricity generation, which had sharply declined during the drought and exacerbated nationwide power shortages.

While fishermen and tourism operators are hopeful, authorities warn the recovery remains fragile, citing ongoing pollution challenges.

Built in 1959 on the Litani River in the western Bekaa, Lake Qaraoun spans about 12 square km and has a maximum capacity of roughly 220 million cubic meters. It plays a central role in Lebanon's hydropower generation, irrigates thousands of hectares of farmland, and remains a key tourism destination. 
Rome mayor raises concerns about Morbo K series on eve of Holocaust Remembrance Day.

A debate has erupted in Italy over a new TV series by state broadcaster RAI that allegedly erases the role of Italian fascist collaborators in the infamous Nazi raid on Rome's Jewish Ghetto.

The raid, which occurred on 16 October 1943, resulted in the deportation of more than 1,000 of the citys Jews, including 200 children, to the Nazi extermination camp at Auschwitz. Only 16 made it back to Rome alive - one woman and 15 men - the last of whom died in 2019.

Critics of the new miniseries, scheduled to debut on Tuesday for International Holocaust Remembrance Day, allege that it sanitises history by omitting the role of Italian collaborators, portraying the raid on the Jewish Ghetto as an exclusively German operation.

Titled Morbo K, the series centres on how heroic doctors at Rome's Fatebenefratelli Hospital saved dozens of Jewish citizens by inventing a fake, highly contagious disease to deter Nazi officers from searching the wards.

However the flagship production has become mired in controversy over allegations of historical revisionism, first highlighted in an article by La Stampa newspaper last week.

Rome mayor Roberto Gualtieri added his voice to the debate on Monday during a public meeting for high school students with Holocaust survivor Sami Modiano, 95, at the Teatro Vascello.

"I have read, and I hope it's not true, that there's a TV series where the fascists aren't even visible, they're not there" - Gualtieri said - "only the Nazis are there."

The mayor, a historian and former history professor at Rome's La Sapienza University, said: "As witnesses know, the fascists actively collaborated in Hitler's criminal decision to exterminate all the Jews".

"They expelled them from schools, compiled lists, helped capture them and take them to the camps, where humanity's barbarity later revealed itself in its most ruthless and incredible form", Gualtieri said, stressing that "evil emerged from apparently normal people, and this means that the danger of it returning is without end."

There were 300 students present at the talk with Modiano while a further 400,000 students from across Italy participated in the initiative, which was built around the direct testimony of one of the last Holocaust survivors.

Born on the island of Rhodes, when it was under Italian occupation, Modiano was deported to Auschwitz in 1944 with his father Giacobbe and his sister Lucia, neither of whom survived the horrors of the Nazi death camp.
RIYADH, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud on Tuesday assured Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian that the kingdom will not allow its territory or airspace to be used for attacks on Iran, according to Saudi Press Agency.

The crown prince said during a phone call that the kingdom will not allow its airspace or territory to be used for any military actions or attacks against Iran by any party, regardless of the direction.

He reiterated Saudi Arabia's position of respecting Iran's sovereignty, stressing the kingdom's support for resolving differences through dialogue to enhance security and stability in the region.

For his part, Pezeshkian expressed appreciation for Saudi Arabia's stance and praised the crown prince's role in promoting regional security and stability. 
Premier reaffirms commitment to combating antisemitism.

Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni marked International Holocaust Remembrance Day on Tuesday with a statement condemning a "dark page" in Italian history during world war two.

Meloni, leader of the right-wing Fratelli d'Italia party, condemned the "complicity" of Italy's wartime fascist regime in the persecution and deportation of Jewish citizens, deploring "the ignominy of the racial laws of 1938".

"On Holocaust Remembrance Day, we remember the names and surnames of the victims and renew the memory of what happened, also through the precious testimony of survivors and their descendants", Meloni said in a statement

The prime minister also condemned a recent rise in antisemitism, describing it as "a disease that has returned to spread, in new and virulent forms" and reaffirming a commitment to "prevent and combat every aspect of this scourge".

The statement from Meloni comes amid a controversy over a new miniseries which allegedly erases the role of Italian fascist collaborators in the Nazi raid on Rome's Jewish Ghetto in 1943.

Photo credit: Marco Iacobucci Epp / Shutterstock.com.
Italy protests after two Carabinieri threatened and made to kneel by armed settler

Carabinieri

Israeli settler

the West Bank

Italy has formally protested after twoofficers were threatened, forced to kneel and briefly held at gunpoint by a man believed to be anwhile on duty in. The episode has prompted the Italian government to summon Israels ambassador in Rome and lodge a diplomatic protest.

According to Italian foreign ministry sources, the two military policemen were on a site inspection near Ramallah on Sunday, preparing for a mission by European Union ambassadors to a village in territory administered by the Palestinian Authority. During the visit, a man in civilian clothes, presumed to be a settler, allegedly pointed a rifle at them, made them kneel and subjected them to a brief improvised interrogation.

diplomatic plates

Consulate General of Italy in Jerusalem

The Carabinieri were in an official vehicle withand were carrying diplomatic passports. Following rules of engagement, they did not respond to the threats with force, and after the encounter they returned safely to theand reported the incident to their chain of command. Italian officials also verified that the location was not a recognised military area.

Italys Antonio Tajani summoned Israels ambassador, Jonathan Peled, to the Farnesina on Monday, conveying Romes strong protest and seeking clarification on the serious episode. The Italian embassy in Tel Aviv also sent a formal note of protest to the Israeli government, contacting senior officials across the foreign ministry, the Israel Defense Forces, the national police and the Shin Bet security service.

The ambassador expressed regret for the incident and indicated that his government would conduct appropriate investigations, the ministry said.

Ph: Il Fatto Quotidiano
By Claudia Savage, Press Association

The injunction taken against Michael Flatley is an attempt to control and demand and dictate what happens in relation to Lord Of The Dance, a court has heard.

Lawyers representing the dancer said the company blocking him from creative involvement with his stage show is nothing more than a management agent entitled to a fee.

The Irish traditional dancer and choreographer rose to international prominence performing Riverdance at Eurovision in 1994, before going on to create the stage show The Lord Of The Dance.

The productions 30th anniversary tour is due to play in Dublins 3Arena on February 5th, continuing in 2026 in a number of countries including the UK, Germany, Croatia, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic.

Switzer Consulting is taking legal action in a civil case against the choreographer and dancer for alleged breach of contract, relating to an agreement the firm says was reached to allow it to run the dance shows.

Michael Flatley, left, leaving the Royal Courts of Justice in Belfast on Tuesday (Claudia Savage/PA)

Switzer has already secured a temporary injunction to stop Flatley from interfering with the shows, with the dancers lawyers have argued previously the performance was in danger of falling apart without his involvement.

At The Chancery Court in the Royal Courts of Justice in Belfast on Tuesday, Gary McHugh KC, for Switzer, said it would need extra time before the case was fully heard after a second affidavit from Flatley was provided at 3:55pm on Monday.

He said the second affidavit raised new issues, but issues that are very relevant because they will speak to the credibility and reliability to do with how Flatley manages his finances.

David Dunlop KC, representing Flatley, outlined that under a terms of service agreement, Flatley transferred intellectual property rights for Lord Of The Dance to Switzer and it was then required to provide business management services to Flatley such as accounts and payroll.

He told the court: Mr Flatley agreed by this agreement to licence to Switzer certain intellectual property rights of Lord Of The Dance.

Switzer then agreed in respect of the fee that was to be paid, that they would provide management services in respect of the Lord Of The Dance show.

He outlined the fees charged would be 35,000 a month for the first 24 months, increasing to 40,000 a month.

He added: What we therefore have is Switzer, the servicing agent, reading an application, saying, in essence, it by virtue on licence, has proprietary interest to hold, to control and demand and dictate what happens in relation to Lord Of The Dance.

But in fact what Switzer has, its height, is a right to be paid for services.

He later added: Switzer is saying, we require an injunction to stop Mr Flatley exercising any control in circumstances where Switzer is nothing more than a management agent entitled to a fee.

The court heard the injunction against Michael Flatley is an attempt to control and demand and dictate what happens in relation to Lord Of The Dance (Claudia Savage/PA)

Mr Dunlop further claimed Switzer filed new accounts on Saturday, increasing its value based on Lord Of The Dance intellectual property.

He said at the beginning of 2024, Switzers net asset position was negative to the tune of just under 30,000 with creditors falling due of more than 230,000 and current assets of 221,000.

But at the weekend Switzer filed fresh accounts that showed net assets of 2.1 million or thereabouts and the capital asset is their licence agreement with Flatley.

He said: In essence, Switzer is now restating its accounts and attaching a value of more than 2 million to the intellectual property rights on the licence agreement with Flatley.

The case will be heard in full on Wednesday at which point the judge said he will indicate his views on the injunctions continuation so Flatley will know if he can resume engagement with Lord Of The Dance before the upcoming Dublin performance.

Mr Dunlop also said Flatleys legal team had applied to the court last week to have a Declaration of Trust provided, in circumstances where Mr Flatley considered that he was his sole beneficial shareholder, and the benefit therefore, all of the interest which attaches to Switzer.

He said the trust makes clear Mr Flatleys suspicions were entirely accurate, and he does, even on the plaintiffs case, hold the entire beneficial interest of the plaintiff company, and is held on trust by his formal financial advisers.

He added that Flatley was bizarrely being denied access to the very document, which granted him the entitlement to hold the beneficial interest in the plaintiff of all trust.
Plans to extend the Waterford home owned by former Irelands Fittest Family host Mairead Ronan and her husband Louis have been put on hold following a spate of objections made to An Comisiun Pleanala.

The plans for the extension were designed by celebrity architect Dermot Bannons firm.

Dermot Bannon Architects sought a partial demolition and a proposed two-storey extension to 1 Curraghmore Terrace in the seaside town of Dunmore East. The extension would triple the floor space of the current property.

Planning permission for the extension was granted by Waterford City and County Council in January, despite objections from the Councils Executive Conservation Officer.

Four different appeals have now been lodged to An Comisiun Pleanala, with a decision ultimately due to be made by May 20.

Trevor and Valerie Walsh, who live on Curraghmore Terrace, wrote that the new development would be visually intrusive and totally out of keeping with the architectural heritage of the Lower Village.

Breda and John Battles of the Beach Guest House (located across from the proposed development) wrote: The featured large glazed areas with platform rendering will be totally out of character with the streetscape, entire historic setting and in no way compliment the original terrace.

Tom ORegan, another resident of Curraghmore Terrace, argued that the significant floor space expansion was in breach of Waterford Councils Development Plan.

Appelants pointed out that while the development is classified as an extension, it effectively functions as an entirely new house.

A streetview of 1 Curraghmore Terrace

Five-year saga

Planning application for the site was first lodged in August 2021 and derailed two years later following a string of successful appeals.

The new application reduces the floor space extension from the originally proposed 280 square metres to 211. The property as it stands, has just over 60 square metres.

The new property proposal features four bedrooms compared to the original six.

David Mulcahy Consultants Ltd have been brought onboard by the Ronan family in hopes of clearing the bar for planning permission.

The consultants said the previous application failed due to the scale of the project, which is located within an Architectural Conservation Area.

The current application seeks to overcome this reason for refusal by proposing a new extension design involving a reduced scale, massing and bulk, said the consultants.

The present design also seeks to mirror the existing gable end and present a more coordinated and appropriate facade to the public realm.

The design is notably less contemporary to the previous application from a visual perspective and therefore integrates better with its more traditional context.

The consultants said it is it is essential for the applicant to expand in order to facilitate a modern family home.

Notably, the Councils Executive Conservation Officer, Rosemary Ryall, recommended that the council reject the latest proposed development, arguing it hadnt met the threshold from a conservation angle.

It is still considered that the proposed extension could almost be considered a house in its own right that the main house subsidiary to the extension [sic], wrote Ms Ryall.

Funded by the Local Democracy Scheme
A man caught driving while disqualified has had a community service order extended at Waterford District Court.

Mark ODriscoll (37) of Bay 11, Kilbarry Halting Site, Kilbarry, Waterford pleaded guilty to driving without insurance at Cluain A Laoi, Cork Road, Waterford, on June 6, 2025, at a sitting of the court, before Judge John Cheatle.

The court heard that on the day of the incident, gardai were on patrol when they stopped the defendants vehicle and found that he was disqualified from driving.

The defendant also did not have an insurance certificate, and the vehicle was seized.

The court was told that the defendant had 50 previous convictions, including nine under the Road Traffic Act.

Acting for the defendant, solicitor Ken Cunningham said his client eeks out an existence rather than living.

He said his client has three children, one of whom is very sick, and not being able to drive creates logistical problems that come against the family.

The solicitor said his client was simply asking the court for mercy.

Mr Cunningham said the defendant is currently carrying out community service cutting grass in graveyards and picking up papers and leaves.

He pointed out that another defendant earlier in the day had avoided a custodial sentence for a similar offence but acknowledged that his client's record isnt leaving many options.

Judge Cheatle extended the defendants community service order by another 100 hours in lieu of four months in prison.

He took the driving without a license into consideration.

Funded under the Court Reporting Scheme.
Serious concern has been expressed in County Waterford over funding provision for families facing eviction.

Sinn Fein TD for Waterford, Deputy David Cullinane said the Governments failure to tackle the housing and homelessness crisis is being acutely felt by families in Waterford who are being served with notices to quit and left with nowhere to turn.

Commenting on the matter to Waterford News & Star, Deputy Cullinane said: One of the most effective homelessness prevention measures available to local authorities, the tenant-in-situ scheme, has been undermined by a disastrous decision to massively cut funding."

I have been speaking directly with senior management in Waterford City and County Council and they have confirmed the scale of the pull-back locally," he said, before going on to comment: "In 2023, the Council acquired 29 homes under the tenant-in-situ scheme. In 2024, that increased to 39 homes. In 2025, it collapsed to just four tenancy sustainment acquisitions. That is an extraordinary reduction at a time when notices to quit are rising and renters are being pushed to the brink."

"The tenant-in-situ scheme was working," he said.

"It prevented families from being made homeless by allowing the local authority to purchase a home where a tenant faced eviction, keeping people in their communities and keeping children in their schools," he added.

Cutting this support has real-world consequences. It means families served with a notice to quit are being left high and dry in an overheated rental market with record rents and too few homes available."

Deputy Cullinane said frustration is growing locally that the 2026 allocation has still not been announced.

"Waterford City and County Council cannot plan or act at speed without clarity from Government," he said.

"Delays and uncertainty cost time, and time is exactly what families facing eviction do not have," he added.

He said he's working with his party colleague, Cllr Joanne Bailey - who has raised the issue at Council level - and said the two of them are calling on the Government to restore and significantly increase tenant-in-situ funding so that Waterford Council can intervene before more households fall into homelessness.

I will be raising this directly with the Taoiseach today in the Dail," Deputy Cullinane said on Tuesday.

"The Government must reverse these cuts, confirm the 2026 allocation without delay and ensure Waterford has the resources it needs to keep families in their homes," he added.
At a recent meeting Councillor Donal Barry raised the notion of highlighting Tramore as a potential site for an annual air show.

The Independent Councillor pointed to the strategic location of Tramore and the developing Waterford Airport as being key contributary factors for the event.

He said: I respectfully request that the Council engage with Failte Ireland to initiate a feasibility study into the potential for hosting an annual air display over Tramore Bay and Air Show at Waterford Airport.

Cllr Barry referenced the progressing works at newly-invested Waterford Airport. He said: "The imminent extension of the runway at Waterford Airport will significantly enhance the regions aviation capability, enabling the operation of jet aircraft and a wider range of aviation activity. This development presents a timely and strategic opportunity to consider a high-profile, nationally significant event that could materially strengthen the tourism offering of Tramore and the wider South-East.

He continued: Each year, large numbers of residents from this region travel to Bray to attend the annual air display. Tramore Bay offers a comparableand arguably superiornatural amphitheatre, with excellent viewing opportunities along the Promenade, Doneraile, and extending as far as the Guillamene. This distinctive coastal setting has the potential to accommodate a safe, visually compelling, and economically impactful event.

Senior Executive officer Claire Hartley replied: Its a new idea, it hasnt been proposed before, it hasnt been proposed by any festivals or event organisers. She added: it is certainly is something that I would take to the table with Failte Ireland.
A jury has been dismissed after failing to come to a verdict during a three-day trial in Waterford.

A man was on trial at Waterford Circuit Court after being accused of assaulting a woman with a kitchen knife at his flat.

Getachew Tela (40), of 12 Broad Street, Waterford, was charged with assault contrary to Section 3 of the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act and production of a kitchen knife contrary to Section 11 of the Firearms and Offensive Weapons Act.

A jury of seven men and five women heard evidence from the complainant and two members of An Garda Siochana.

On the evening of February 5, 2023, Gardai were called to Telas residence at an apartment on Broad Street at around 8pm. Garda Jason Cullen was met with the complainant who was in a distressed state. She alleged that Tela had held a knife up to her neck and cut into her skin.

Tela was arrested and conveyed to Tramore Garda Station. In Garda interviews he claimed that the woman had thrown a drink on him as he lay in bed and threatened him with the kitchen knife. He said: She put the knife on her own neck. Shes a psychopath.

Opening

The woman was called as the first witness for the trial. She told the Court that earlier in the day she had been drinking on The Quay with friends. She claimed that she had "5 or 6 beers" and some vodka. Defence counsel Gareth Hayden BL asked: Would it be fair to say that vodka doesnt agree with you? She replied: No, I can handle my vodka. She said she had "maybe a naggin" on the day. The woman returned to the flat on Broad Street with her friends who she said left "before anything started".

Mr Hayden suggested to the woman that the accused went to lie down in the bedroom when she threw a drink at him and threatened him with a kitchen knife.

She said: I surely did not. I got sliced. Mr Hayden asked her if she had ever harmed herself in the past, to which she agreed but said she self-harmed with a razor, not a knife.

She said she cut herself with a blade a few months ago.

Mr Hayden said: I am genuinely sorry to hear that. The woman said that she was "sobering up" when the Gardai arrived to the apartment.

Closing speeches

During closing speeches, both the prosecution and defence made their final case to the jury.

State Prosecutor Dylan Redmond BL told the jury that the right and proper verdicts are guilty ones.

He acknowledged, however, the witnesss unusual demeanour during examination.

He said that she has vulnerabilities and asserted that any hesitance she showed during examination was because she was a victim of domestic violence.

He asked the jury to consider if the woman would be capable of long-term, cold and calculated falsehoods. It couldnt be the case, he said.

Mr. Redmond concluded: There was a time when people in Ireland believed that when women showed up to a Garda station with black eyes that they had walked into doors. These times are finished. Defence counsel for Mr. Tela, Gareth Hayden BL, warned the jury about handing down a guilty verdict and questioned the honesty of the witness.

He said to the jury: Just because someone takes an oath it doesnt mean you have to believe everything that comes out of their mouth. He added that elements of the witnesss evidence were self-serving.

In relation to the witness leaving the courtroom during examination, Mr. Hayden said that she didnt want to answer difficult questions and so she stormed out of court".

Mr. Hayden outlined to the jury that there was no evidence of restraint or defensive wounds from the alleged attack, nor was there any evidence of the witnesss arms, wrists or hair being held.

This is a hugely significant aspect of the case, he said Mr. Hayden described the witness as not credible or believable and not capable of being believed or relied upon.

Deliberation

Following the closing speeches, the jury left to determine a verdict.

They returned approximately two hours later requesting to listen back to the audio recording of the injured partys evidence.

Judge Eugene OKelly permitted the request and asked that a majority decision be made instead of a unanimous one.

After approximately four hours of deliberation, the jury informed Judge OKelly that they were in disagreement over a verdict.

The jury were dismissed.

The matter will now go into next week, and the DPP will decide whether a retrial will take place with a new jury.
Waterford recorded a 5.1% net job growth in Enterprise Ireland-supported jobs in 2025. The results meant Waterford ranked third in Ireland for the rate of net growth.

261 new jobs were created by Enterprise Ireland in Waterford. The South East region as a whole grew by 2.3% to 22,254 jobs.

Enterprise Ireland is a state-funded body that supports Irish businesses of various sizes in scaling.

Enterprise Ireland supported companies are continuing to create high quality, future focused jobs in communities across Ireland  the result of which we can see here in Waterford, said Waterford Fine Gael TD and Minister of State for Local Government and Planning John Cummins.

This strong regional performance is particularly encouraging and reflects strategic investment in skills, innovation and local enterprise growth."

Job positions in Enterprise Ireland companies rose to 232,425  a net increase of 2,938 jobs over the year. 69% of all new jobs were created outside of Dublin.
KAMPALA, Jan. 26 (Xinhua) -- Uganda on Monday marked the 40th anniversary of Liberation Day, commemorating the victory in 1986 when the ruling National Resistance Movement, led by President Yoweri Museveni, seized power after a five-year guerrilla war.

Museveni presided over national celebrations and a military parade at the Kololo Independence Ceremonial Grounds in Kampala, the country's capital.

The event, broadcast live nationwide, celebrated Uganda's journey toward stability and self-determination and was held under the theme, "A Tribute to the Patriots Who Ushered in the Fundamental Change."

Museveni, who secured a seventh five-year presidential term in the Jan. 15 general elections, said his government would prioritize inclusive wealth creation, free education, and industrialization, among other goals.

"We are going to do much more. We are celebrating a very big victory in politics. In the new term, our priorities are clear: safeguard peace and security, eradicate household poverty, strengthen unity, enforce discipline in governance, and support wealth creators to grow our economy," Museveni said.

"Uganda will remain peaceful, stable, and focused on progress. I thank you all and wish you a happy Liberation Day," he added.

During the ceremony, a total of 33 Ugandan personalities were awarded medals in recognition of their distinguished service and contributions to the country's liberation struggle.

According to the national organizing committee, thousands of ruling party members, supporters, and dignitaries, including foreign diplomats, attended the celebrations. 
Eva Osborne

Status yellow wind warning for all of Ireland in place until 11pm

Status yellow rain warning for Carlow, Kilkenny, Louth, Wexford, Wicklow, and Waterford until 11pm

Motorists have been stuck and rescued from flooding, as have householders

Around 5,500 homes, farms and businesses are currently without power

Hundreds of schools were shut across the country and around 20 flights have been cancelled at Dublin Airport

Emergency payment announced for people in Co Wexford and Co Wicklow

6pm

An emergency payment is being made available to people living in Co Wexford and Co Wicklow who are experiencing the worst impacts of the storm.

Levels of payment under the Emergency Response Payment scheme depend on the relative severity of damage experienced and the households ability to meet these costs from their own resources.

Stage 1 of the scheme is available from Tuesday until next Wednesday.

Deputy Brian Brennan said: Many of the home affected in Wicklow and Wexford are facing serious damage, which includes ruined flooring and essential appliances destroyed.

For families already stretched by the cost of living, these unexpected expenses are simply impossible to absorb. This scheme is an essential lifeline.

5pm

Housing Minister James Browne, whose constituency is Enniscorthy, said learnings will be taken from today's weather.

"I know Wexford local authorities and other local authoirities have been out, and I want to acknowledge the staff of the local authorities who risk their lives, who go out in these storms, in the dark, to help to minimise the damage that can happen from these types of events," he said.

Environment Minister Darragh O'Brien has said that work has been underway behind the scenes for a river flood warning system.

"It's something that has already been looked into and I said this in my previous department when I was in Housing, Planning, and Local Government that Met Eireann worked directly with me," he said.

"A lot of work has been done on river flood forecasting in particuolar and I'd like to see that work accelerated..."

4pm

Dublin Airport said strong winds are still affecting flight operations on Tuesday.

Around 20 flights have been cancelled by airlines.

The DAA said it is experiencing strong gusts, as are other airports in the UK and in Europe.

It is advising people who are due to fly on Tuesday to keep in contact with their airline for information.

3:30pm

Irish Rail is monitoring conditions this afternoon and said teams are ready to respond to any disruption.

The line between Enniscorthy and Wexford is closed with bus transfers in place. There are minor delays elsewhere,

Louth County Council has said that weather warnings for the storm should have been upgraded in certain areas.

It is reporting severe localised flooding across the county, while the M1 northbound was closed this morning.

Cathaoirleach of the Council Sean Kelly, thinks a yellow level alert was not enough.

"I think that's why we're seeing a serious issue here. We were remained at a yellow weather warning and maybe they should have considered it to be increased to orange for ourselves given the pure level rainfall we've experienced in the last 24 hours and will expect over the next couple of hours as well," he said.

"And don't forget we've got a high tide this evening again at 5:30pm."

2:30pm

Heavy rain caused by Storm Chandra has led to road closures around the country.

In Wexford, Enniscorthy has been badly affected, while a number of roads in Louth are impassable.

In Dublin, the M50 northbound has reopened after a lengthy closure due to heavy rainfall this morning.

Speaking to Newstalk, Bronagh Gately in Enniscorthy in Wexford said there are people trapped in their homes.

Members of Slaney Search and Rescue working in floodwater in Enniscorthy, Co Wexford. Photo: PA

"We are surrounded by water. I'm on Templeshannonn quay at the moment and I'm watching them evacuate people from their homes," she said.

"There are people trapped in apartments. There are people that have no way out. There's no electricity.

"It really is quite bad. A lot of locals are saying it's the worst that they've seen it in a number of years."

Around 5,500 homes, farms, and businesses are without power, mainly in the east.

1pm

Wexford County Council have arrived on Enniscorthy Quay Front and have moved the flood markers as high tide approaches midday. The Riverside Park Hotel and Leisure Club has suffered serious flooding so far with its spa area in several feet of water.

Members of the public are being evacuated from their homes and businesses along the quay area of the town by emergency services.

The River Slaney burst its banks in Enniscorthy, Co Wexford. Photo: PA

In Dublin, the M50 northbound is closed between Junction 16 Cherrywood and Junction 12 Firhouse due to bad flooding, while bus and DART services are also running with delays.

Meteorologist with Met Eireann, Aoife Kealy, said Tuesday's rainfall had a more significant impact due to wet weather in the past few days.

"The big thing is, of course, the accumulations," she said.

"While they may just have been within that yellow level threshold within our standards for warnings, as I said, it's the proceeding conditions that have had such a large impact on conditions, particularly across the east and south east of the country."

Communities in South Dublin have said they are in shock at the level of damage caused by Storm Chandra.

It is leading to renewed calls for more targeted weather warnings and for drainage systems to be improved.

11:45am

Motorists have been taken to safety after becoming trapped in floods in multiple areas in Dublin.

A car engulfed in floodwater in Enniscorthy, Co Wexford. Photo: PA

Dublin Fire Brigade has helped people in Hunters Wood, Knocklyon, Dodder Park Road, and Rathfarnham.

There are also reports of floods on roads across South Dublin.

A spokesperson for Dublin Fire Brigade said they are currently prioritising calls where a person's life is at risk.

The ESB said around 20,000 homes, farms and businesses are currently without power.

Iarnrod Eireann said there are disruptions to Dart services and a number of ferry sailings have been cancelled between Dublin and Holyhead.

Dublin Airport said flight cancellations are possible.

Dublin City Council said rainfall in parts of the city exceeded 33mm since midnight, which is substantially higher than forecast.

Flood Response staff have been active across since around 3am this morning, in response to the significant rainfall.

The council is urging motorists to drive with extreme care as a large number of roads are experiencing surface flooding.

The Riverside Park Hotel and Leisure Club in Enniscorthy has been completely shut down due to flooding.

In a statement hotel management said that they need to close the hotel today and Wednesday.

Parts of Aughrim village in Co Wicklow have been hit badly with householders trapped in their homes.

The river Aughrim has burst its banks and householders who live beside that area are finding it difficult to get to safety.

Earlier

Parts of Wexford and Waterford have been hit badly by flooding as Strom Chandra hits Ireland.

In Enniscorthy, the River Slaney has burst its banks in Enniscorthy with the Promenade, Island Road and Shannon Quay closed to traffic.

Sandbags are being deployed across the town.

It is feared that there is worse to come as high tide is expected around 11.30am.

Senator Cathal Byrne is urging the public to follow all advice from gardai, Wexford County Council and emergency services to avoid the area.

Senator Byrne criticised the lack of a flood relief scheme for the town as it once again hit with flooding.

It is beyond scandalous that yet again our Town is under flooding.

"I again call for the Enniscorthy Flood Defense Scheme to be delivered for the town without delay, he said.

The council has said that routes currently closed due to flooding include the N80 Bunclody, Clohamon, Enniscorthy Quays and is urging motorists to use alternative routes which are signposted.

As of 8am, gardai in Wexford are warning that due to heavy rain and high tides, there are numerous issues of flooding and surface water on roads throughout the county.

Flooding at Enniscorthy Quay.

Waterford City and County Council said that with persistent rainfall and strong winds flood defence barriers have been activated in Waterford city.

The situation in Passage East and Tramore Promenade is being monitored and flood defence barriers will be activated if required.

The following car parks in Dungarvan, Co Waterford are also at risk of flooding and are closed since 7am; Davitts Quay, The Pond, The Lookout and Castle Street Carpark.

M50 problems

Sean ONeill, director of corporate communications at Transport Infrastructure Ireland is urging people to consider working from home today as Storm Chandra has caused significant problems on main routes such as the M50 in Dublin.

At present there is only one lane open on the M50 between the Firhouse and Dundrum junctions following a collision.

We ask everyone who needs to use that section of the M50 to please, if they can, delay their journey, take some time at home, talk to your employer. It's just not going to be productive time spent. We have crews on site, we're dealing with the incident, but I do not have a time yet on when the issue will be resolved, he told RTE radios Morning Ireland.

Additionally, in the village of Kilmacanogue, there's significant flooding into and around Junction 8 on the N11, so again we ask people to please delay their journey this morning if they can, because there is significant traffic disruption right now.

Mr ONeill said it would take time to resolve these significant events. So we do ask people to please think about their commute this morning and maybe delaying it if they can because you're not going to be going anywhere fast.

Additional reporting PA, Sarah Slater, James Cox, Vivienne Clarke.
James Cox

Government approving plans to scrap the triple lock, and the ongoing unrest in Minnesota are among the stories that feature on Tuesday's front pages.

Cabinet will approve plans to scrap the triple lock, The Irish Times reports. Tensions in Minnesota amid the second fatal shooting by immigration agents also features on the front page.

There were joyous scenes at Limerick Circuit Criminal Court on Monday as one of the citys most distinguished retired crime fighters, retired Superintendent Eamon ONeill, and four serving Garda colleagues, were found not guilty on all charges of attempting to pervert the course of justice. The Irish Examiner leads with this story.

Ireland's public spending has grown at the fastest rate in the EU, the Irish Independent reports. A vigil for Grace Lynch, who died following an incident involving a scrambler in Dublin, also makes the front page.

The Echo reports a spend of 75 million on the BusConnects programme in Cork.

The Irish Daily Mail leads with a poll that found nearly half of respondents (47 per cent) do not believe Taoiseach Micheal Martin should meet Donald Trump on St Patrick's Day.

The Irish Daily Star, Irish Daily Mirror, Irish Sun and The Herald all lead with the death of Grace Lynch.

In the North, the Belfast Telegraph leads with a story on the 'bloated' and 'inefficient' civil service.

The Irish News also leads with the civil service report.

The main stories in the UK papers are Suella Braverman defecting to Reform UK from the Conservative Party, anger within Labour over Andy Burnham's blocked byelection bid, and the Beckham family fallout.

Tuesday's FINANCIAL TIMES: Dollar slumps to four-month low and yen rises as gold breaks $5,100 barrier#TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/Kb4WtwmN0U  Jack Surfleet (@jacksurfleet) January 26, 2026

Tuesday's i: Tories weaponise 'mental health' claim on defector Braverman - as exodus grows#TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/Qs77mfpxHn  Jack Surfleet (@jacksurfleet) January 26, 2026

Tuesday's DAILY TELEGRAPH: China hacked phones in No10#TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/JzlW1cmXZ2  Jack Surfleet (@jacksurfleet) January 26, 2026

Tuesday's GUARDIAN: Tories face backlash after 'mental health' jibe over Braverman's exit#TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/8SM5bAaIvU  Jack Surfleet (@jacksurfleet) January 26, 2026

Tuesday's TIMES: Labour fears stumbling to third in by-election#TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/9SsoGfdVqR  Jack Surfleet (@jacksurfleet) January 26, 2026

The New York Times and The Washington Post lead with stories on US president Donald Trump's attempts to de-escalate the situation in Minnesota.
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LifestyleHealth & wellnessWeightlifting Lift however you like to lift: You can get stronger with gentle weight training Gretchen Reynolds January 27, 2026  2:00am Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share A A A

If youre intimidated by weight training, a new study is full of reassurance. Weight workouts dont have to be complicated or gruelling to be effective, the study found. Almost any kind of lifting led to increased muscle and strength in the study. Whether people lifted heavy weights or light, through many repetitions or few, the results were broadly comparable. Weight workouts dont have to be complicated or gruelling to be effective. Getty Images Lift however you like to lift. Thats the lesson, said Stuart Phillips, a professor of kinesiology at McMaster University in Ontario, Canada, and an expert in resistance exercise. Phillips is the senior author of the study, which was published last month in the Journal of Physiology. The study also provided other lessons, some unexpected, including about the importance of genetics in our bodies response to weight training and how some of us may get stronger without getting much bigger, or vice versa, when we begin to train.

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Do you have to lift heavy weights? Related Article Fitness The goal posts for a longer, healthier life are closer than you think Gym culture is full of widely held beliefs about the best ways to lift, Phillips said, many backed by scant evidence. Youll see guys whove been lifting for decades and swear you have to lift heavy to gain substantial muscle mass and strength, he said. For them, weights must be hefty enough that you can barely grunt through eight or nine taxing reps before your arms or legs give out. But mounting evidence suggests that heavy weights are overrated. A comprehensive 2023 review of hundreds of past experiments concluded that, compared with no exercise, any lifting, not just with heavy weights, promoted strength and hypertrophy or larger muscles.

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But questions remain about the most effective weight workouts. If you use lighter weights, how many times should you repeat each lift? What drives muscle growth if its not heavy loads? And will everyone make the same gains from the same workouts? For answers, Phillips and his colleagues recruited 20 healthy, young men who didnt normally weight train and checked the size and strength of their muscles. (They have a similar study under way with women.) The mens limbs were then randomised to heavy or light lifting; that is, their right or left arm was randomly assigned to complete biceps curls using a heavy weight, while the other arm did the same exercise with a much lighter weight. Similarly, one leg did knee extensions against a heavy weight; the other leg completed the same exercise with a much lighter load. The heavy weights were challenging enough that lifters could manage no more than 12 repetitions before reaching muscular failure, meaning they felt they couldnt lift again. With the lighter weights, the participants lifted through as many as 25 repetitions before deciding they couldnt do another. Light weights work fine The men worked out three times a week under the researchers supervision, increasing their weights once they could easily complete more than 12 heavy or 25 light repetitions. At the end of 10 weeks, the researchers retested everyone.

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By then, the mens muscles were almost all stronger and larger, with little difference between limbs. The arm that lifted light weights was just as buff as the one that lifted heavy and ditto for legs. Both approaches were equally effective. Related Article Weightlifting How I learnt to love weight lifting at 62 This finding reinforces the idea that load isnt an important determinant of muscular response, Phillips said. Effort is. If people lifted until their muscles tired, they got results. The practical takeaway is that you can pick what works for you, Phillips said. Have sore joints or little taste for big weights? Use smaller ones. Have limited time? Youll finish faster with heavier loads. But dont expect your results to exactly mirror mine. There were substantial differences from one volunteer to the next. Some nearly doubled their strength or mass; others added less. And there was little relationship between bulk and strength. Some men got far stronger without growing much bigger, and some achieved almost the opposite.

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These differences underscore the role of genetics. To some extent, our muscular responses are baked in, Phillips said. After 10 weeks of the same lifting routine, I wont look precisely like you. But well both be stronger and better muscled. What about body weight exercises? This study was very well designed, said Brad Schoenfeld, an exercise scientist at CUNY Lehman College in the Bronx, who researches resistance training but was not involved with the new work. The findings suggest that within broad limits, you can build similar amounts of muscle mass with light or heavy loads. The study has limitations, though. It involved only young men new to lifting. Phillips said he believes the results would be similar for women, older people and anyone whos been weight training for years. But studies are needed with those groups to be sure. The training also involved gym machines. Would the results be the same with body weight exercises? I think so, Phillips said, adding, Im counting on it.

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Much of his own training nowadays, at age 60, takes place at home, he said, and involves body weight work. Ive got enough space in my basement to do squats, do deadlifts, he said. He repeats each exercise until he can barely finish another rep, he said. I do what I preach. But the key point is that he does something, Phillips said, and regularly. Based on self-report and participation data, about 80 per cent of people do not lift weights at all. He hopes his groups study and other research will encourage more people to try some kind of resistance training routine, he said. Lets make 2026 the year of strength. The Washington Post In need of some good news? Sign up for our Greater Good newsletter for stories to brighten your outlook, delivered every Wednesday.

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NationalAustralian economy Opinion Are we going to be a country that still makes things? Cherelle Murphy Economist January 27, 2026  4:49am

January 27, 2026  4:49am 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 CEO of a major Australian industrial company recently quipped to one of my EY colleagues: Soon well all be on our knees asking for help in Canberra. Illustration by Simon Letch The we is Australias heavy industries, the companies with sprawling plants around Australias ports and urban fringes. They employ people like my boilermaker brother and my dad, who spent decades as a fitter before retiring. These firms are the backbone of the economy, producing the concrete and steel that hold up our bridges, the aluminium that frames our windows, the fuel that powers our cars, and the fertiliser that feeds our crops. Could we survive without them? Technically, yes. Imports could fill the gap  and increasingly, they have. Imports of steel rose from 1.4 million tonnes in 2000 to 6.6 million tonnes in 2024, while our domestic production fell from 8.9 million tonnes to 5.3 million tonnes. Our automotive fuel imports have increased from 10 billion litres to 41 billion litres while our production has halved. Our imports of fertilisers are nearly three times higher than in 2000, while our domestic production is virtually unchanged. But a future without heavy industry is uncomfortable for many, especially its workers. Its also awkward for the government, which has staked billions on its Future Made in Australia policy. And its risky in a world where geopolitical tensions or pandemics could choke supply chains threatening our ability to look after ourselves in times of conflict or shortage.

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BlueScope CEO Mark Vassella noted at the National Press Club last year: As COVID showed us, there are some industries where we need to maintain a sovereign capability. Put another way, there are some industries where their value is far greater than just output. So why are these once-profitable giants struggling? The economy isnt in recession. Demand hasnt collapsed. Start with costs. The producer price index for manufacturing industries has increased 35 per cent from early 2020 to now. For construction, it has been similar at 36 per cent. That compares to a 23 per cent increase in the consumer price index over the same period, which has led households to bemoan the cost of living. Energy, labour, maintenance and capital costs have all risen sharply for Australian businesses. Gas is a case in point. In 2024-25, Australian industry paid an average wholesale price of $12.90/GJ for gas on the east coast, more than double what it was just four years ago. That is despite booming Australian gas production over the last decade. New costs due to everything from construction codes to industrial relations laws to energy transition challenges add further expenses. Although policies in these areas are often well-intentioned, cost escalation hurts Australian firms that are price-takers in global markets. They cannot use the price lever to recover higher energy and labour costs, particularly when wages and on-costs rise faster than productivity.

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Trade barriers havent helped. From Trump-era tariffs to a tangle of sanctions, export controls and compliance rules, other nations are shielding their own industries and squeezing ours out. For some Australian firms, losing overseas sales makes domestic supply less viable. Related Article Energy What is the key to unlocking WAs economic potential by 2040? If our heavy industries retire output, we lose them forever. Theres no quick way to switch the lights back on in times of emergency or renewed need. And we dont just lose plants and equipment; we lose the engineers, physicists, scientists, and the skilled tradespeople who design, build, operate and maintain complex systems. Without an industrial base, we risk producing more professionals for a service economy while ending up with fewer STEM and trade skills. International conditions are largely beyond our control. But domestic policy settings arent, and thats where the real debate lies. Governments can help, but the motivation matters. Policies should be aimed at removing structural problems and promoting long-term growth opportunities that build on our natural advantages, not scoring political points. Take the east-coast Domestic Gas Reservation Scheme introduced in December. Its reasonable policy and levels the playing field for domestic gas users. From 2027, LNG exporters must reserve 15-25 per cent of production for local use. That somewhat corrects a market distortion that left domestic businesses paying global prices.

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Contrast that with recent government subsidies to three steelworks and smelters which have totalled over $2.6 billion. This support has solved some micro problems, helped workers and communities through difficult times, and in some cases allowed a shift to cleaner production. But governments must ask: are subsidies the best use of borrowed taxpayer dollars? Does it create moral hazard, signalling bailouts for any struggling operator with a community footprint? And could those billions instead be used to cut taxes or duties for thousands of firms that might help deliver efficiencies and therefore higher wages in cleaner, future-facing jobs? Related Article Trade wars Trump made a barrage of tariff threats in 2025. Some never materialised Heavy industry should only receive support that boosts productivity, not props that perpetuate inefficiency. Federal and state governments can help them reduce costs, innovate, and compete. This means meaningful tax reform, investment incentives, digital transformation, and sustainability incentives. As EY argued in our submission to the Productivity Commissions inquiries, reviewing our tax system is critical. The current 30 per cent corporate tax rate is well above the OECD average of 21 per cent and R&D tax incentives are out of date and not incentivising investment as they could be. To compete, Australia needs permanent incentives that send a clear signal to local and global investors that we stand for growth built on economic strength and political stability and maturity. Australias businesses and policymakers face a choice: de-industrialise and rely on imports to build the economy around us, or collaborate to determine the policies and partnerships that will secure competitiveness among Australias remaining heavy industries. The choice will shape not just our factories, jobs and landscapes, but also our future prosperity.

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Cherelle Murphy is EYs regional chief economist for Oceania. Get a weekly wrap of views that will challenge, champion and inform your own. Sign up for our Opinion newsletter.
Australias property market is a major site for money laundering, and soon real estate agents and others working in the property sector will be key to helping uncover criminal activity in the $12 trillion market.

Property sector players, including real estate agents, conveyancers, buyers agents and lawyers nationwide will have to collect information from buyers and sellers during the course of a sale, as part of reforms, due to start on July 1, designed to combat financial crime.

Real estate agents and others working in property will soon be key to helping uncover criminal activity in the sector. Credit: Google Earth

Property buyers and sellers can expect to be asked to provide information such as their full name, address and date of birth, and identity documents like a drivers licence or a passport.

For sales, where there is a suspicion of wrongdoing, agents may need to make reports to the financial crimes watchdog.
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WorldAsiaChina relations Opinion What Chinas kill line obsession exposes about its own anxieties Lisa Visentin North Asia Correspondent January 27, 2026  2:00am

January 27, 2026  2:00am Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share A A A

For weeks, Chinas online media ecosystem has been obsessed with tales of misery from Americas broken healthcare system. Video-sharing platforms and online message boards have been swamped with discussions about Americas kill line  a concept taken from Chinese gaming culture to describe the point at which a player needs just one more blow to wipe them out. Illustration by Dionne Gain It went viral after the term was repackaged by a Chinese international student living in Seattle to riff on the precariousness of life in America where a single medical crisis can financially cripple even a middle-class person. In long rambling videos uploaded to Chinese video platform Bilibili, he recounted unverified anecdotes about Americans who were hit with crushing medical debt, driving them into poverty and homelessness. There are doubts about the veracity of some aspects of his tales, but whether they are true or not is almost beside the point.

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The callousness at the heart of Americas medical debt crisis hardly needs exaggeration, especially for those of us buttressed by taxpayer-funded safety nets. Whats interesting is how the topic became a proxy for the perceived virtues of Chinas socialist model and the moral bankruptcy of Americas capitalist system. In holding up a mirror to Chinese society, the online debate showcased a shifting perception in how many Chinese citizens see themselves compared with the country against which they have long benchmarked their quality of life. Rough sleepers pitch their tents near an overpass on the streets of Los Angeles, California. Bloomberg For the first time, this made me, a middle-aged person, feel fear of this world. Their people are really so pitiful. Then I realised how wonderful it is to live in a socialist country, a Chinese user posted in response to one video. If youre a capitalist, America is good. If youre an ordinary person, China is good, said another.

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These sentiments, expressed across tens of thousands of comments, are grounded in a justified pride at Chinas rapid economic transformation over three decades, which has been genuinely remarkable. Almost 800 million people have been lifted out of poverty, Chinas educated and prosperous middle class has burgeoned, and the country is on par with, or poised to eclipse, the US in a range of high-tech industries. But not everyone bought this version. As some commentators argued, before the government censors kicked in, this fixation with American inequality was a false panacea, one that appealed to schadenfreude and nationalistic chest-beating, and obscured honest introspection about Chinas own challenges. You gain not the truth, but a cheap, illusory sense of superiority, wrote Li Yuchen, a legal blogger, in an essay that has now been scrubbed from the Chinese internet. You think youve won, won big.

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He argued that systemic inequality had also been built into Chinas hukou (household registration) system, which classifies each citizen as either an urban or rural resident and limits the state and welfare services they can access to their designated region, thereby constraining their freedom of movement and their social mobility. At the moment of your birth, [it] determines what kind of education, medical care and social security resources you can enjoy in the next few decades. This line cuts off the possibility of being born equal, Li wrote. These are our kill lines. Chinese migrant workers wait by the roadside in eastern Beijing each day hoping to pick up work. Sanghee Liu Among the most affected by the hukou system are the hundreds of millions of Chinese migrant workers  the rural poor  who move to cities in search of low-paid labouring or factory jobs, grinding out an existence on the fringes with almost no safety net.

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In my travels through China over the past 18 months, people have been surprisingly frank about the tough economic times they are enduring. The fallout from Chinas devastating real estate market collapse has rippled across society. Property prices are in multi-year decline, hammering middle-class wealth. For migrant workers, jobs have become more scarce as construction activity has halted, while state employees have seen wages stagnate for years as local governments drown in debt. With people spending less, those working in the consumer economy, from roadside hawkers to restaurants workers and shop owners, have seen their incomes backslide. Nonetheless, what began as organic online discussion among everyday Chinese citizens has proved irresistible fodder for the state propaganda machine, which rarely misses an opportunity to mine the fault lines in American society while foregoing an examination of its own. In the kill line trend, Beijing has found a politically useful tool to leverage at a time when its own economy is facing slowing growth and people are increasingly anxious about their livelihoods, says Lizzi C Lee, a fellow on Chinese Economy at the Asia Society Policy Institute. A snack food vendor grills sausages in Beijings central business district. With Chinas economy still reeling from its property market collapse, consumers are spending less and many people have seen their wages stagnate or decline. Sanghee Liu

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This narrative also helps divert dissatisfaction away from Chinas own problems outward, along the lines of things are even worse elsewhere, especially in the US. Related Article Opinion

China relations How do we compete with Beijing when so few of us can speak Chinese? Lisa Visentin North Asia Correspondent As one headline in state-run newspaper China Daily framed it: US kill line in stark contrast to Chinas supportive policies, which topped an article that championed the Chinese Communist Partys pledges to expand its own underdeveloped social safety net. Xinhua, another outlet, opined about the death of the American Dream at the hands of wealth inequality. Even the partys top theoretical magazine, Qiushi, which publishes the official philosophy of the Chinese president, Xi Jinping Thought, weighed in this month. The kill line, it said, exposed the cold logic of the capitalist system which prioritised profit before workers survival, security and dignity. Propaganda worth its salt contains at least a kernel of truth, with its agenda revealed in the facts it chooses to ignore as much as those it promotes.

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The economic data shows the US remains significantly wealthier on a per capita basis, with higher average incomes and greater social security coverage than in China, says Lee, while China has low wages but better basic healthcare coverage and family-based safety nets. In cherry-picking comparison points, perhaps there are other kill lines worth contemplating. For example, the moment a mother or an ICU nurse encounters federal immigration agents on the streets of Minneapolis. Or when a critic in China dares to question the party machine. Only in one system will you find open public debate about these things. As Li, the blogger, challenged his comrades: Dont they really know that every word they scold the United States with is like a boomerang, which can accurately hit back their own people? Lisa Visentin is the North Asia correspondent for The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald 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.
Doctors from the 35th Chinese medical team in Zanzibar conduct a free clinic for local orphans in Zanzibar, Tanzania, Jan. 25, 2026. (The 35th Chinese medical team in Zanzibar/Handout via Xinhua)

DAR ES SALAAM, Jan. 26 (Xinhua) -- The 35th Chinese medical team in Tanzania's Zanzibar has conducted a free clinic at a local orphanage as part of the "100 Medical Teams in 1,000 Villages" free medical services program.

The clinic held on Sunday provided medical services to about 70 children across eight specialties, including internal medicine, surgery, and traditional Chinese medicine.

To address the orphans' health needs, the team also organized a health education session. Using Swahili-language leaflets, team members taught the children about disease prevention, and hands-on demonstrations taught children proper hygiene, handwashing, and dental care.

After the clinic, the team donated essential supplies, including medicine, stationery, and food.

Bao Zengtao, leader of the medical team, said that children are the future of China-Africa friendship, and the team aims to promote in-depth exchanges and cooperation by responding to the call of the 2026 China-Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges.

Khalid Msabah Rashid, head of the logistics department at Zanzibar's Ministry of Health, expressed gratitude for the tangible help provided by the Chinese doctors, noting that the initiative not only addressed immediate health issues but also improved the orphanage's management through knowledge sharing. 
Annual operation prevents illicit waste, potent greenhouse gases, and other hazardous chemicals from further contaminating the environment.

Plastic waste, E-waste, and textile waste are growing areas for criminal activity.

Increased international and inter-agency cooperation and intelligence sharing supports strengthened supply chain integrity and the fight against illicit trade.

Operation DEMETER XI, the World Customs Organizations (WCO) flagship enforcement operation targeting the illicit trade in waste and substances controlled under the Montreal Protocol, has delivered record-breaking results, underscoring Customs critical role in protecting society and safeguarding the global supply chain. The operation brought together a record 120 Customs administrations worldwide, resulting in 409 seizures and a substantial increase in the overall volume of intercepted illicit goods.

Executed over five weeks with two operational phases, Operation DEMETER XI enabled Customs administrations to intensify information and intelligence exchange, follow up on high-risk consignments, verify suspicious shipments, and dynamically adapt risk profiles in real time. The operation was sponsored by the Customs Cooperation Fund  China and supported by the WCOs global Regional Intelligence Liaison Office (RILO) network and eight international partner organizations[1]. Key operational results include:

15,509 tonnes of waste (a significant 57.6% increase compared to Operation DEMETER X) and 220,716 pieces of unweighed waste

168 tonnes of ozone-depleting substances (ODS) and hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs)

13 tonnes and 5,707 pieces of equipment containing or relying on substances controlled under the Montreal Protocol (excluding unsorted equipment classified as mixed waste)

8 tonnes and 30,009 pieces of other hazardous chemicals, including pesticides, mercury and mercury compounds, etc.

WCO Secretary General Ian Saunders, said: The positive outcomes of Operation DEMETER XI reaffirm the vital role of Customs in protecting society and the environment. Through these enforcement activities we see first-hand the Customs communitys ability to support the implementation of Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs) and meet the complex challenges of a circular economy. The WCO is committed to driving cooperation, coordinated action, and advanced tools to combat environmental crime and address rapidly evolving trends.

Operational observations across waste streams

Plastic waste, e-waste, and metal waste ranked highest in terms of the number of seizures. The Basel Convention E-waste Amendments, which entered into force on 1 January 2025, were reflected prominently in the results. This operation highlighted the need for stronger policy coordination between exporting and importing countries, particularly regarding consistent waste identification criteria. Notably, 63% of e-waste seizures were reported by exporting countries.

For example, Indonesia Customs successfully returned multiple large e-waste shipments intercepted in free trade areas, working closely with the national environmental authority and free zone management agencies. Seizures of these goods were intelligence-led and have been instrumental in the development of relevant risk profiles.

New focus on textile waste

For the first time, textile waste was prioritized under Operation DEMETER XI, reflecting emerging global concerns linked to fast fashion and circularity challenges. As a result, 1,176 tonnes of textile waste were stopped or returned across 25 seizures.

Many participating Customs administrations reported significant regulatory gaps, particularly the absence of clear national criteria distinguishing used textiles from textile waste. This challenge is especially pronounced in developing and least developed countries where demand for second-hand clothing remains high and imported bales of textiles may vary widely in quality and usability.

Strong partnerships underpin success

The success of Operation DEMETER XI was made possible through close inter-agency cooperation at both national and international levels, involving environmental authorities, police, armed forces, and other enforcement bodies. Notable examples include:

The Gambia Revenue Authority expanded enforcement to border marketplaces through multi-agency cooperation and recorded the highest number of seizures during the operation.

At the regional level, members of the EU Network for the Implementation and Enforcement of Environmental Law (IMPEL) played a key role by providing specialist environmental expertise and operational support to Customs authorities, strengthening the detection of illegal waste shipments and supporting follow-up actions, including investigations and the return of illegally shipped waste, where applicable.

Tailored joint capacity-building activities, supported by the Basel Convention Secretariat, UNEP OzonAction and Green Customs Initiative Secretariat, enhanced Customs officers technical knowledge of MEAs and reinforced national enforcement networks.

Protecting supply chain integrity

A defining feature of Operation DEMETER XI was the enhanced exchange of information and intelligence.

Analysis confirmed that port-hopping remains a prevalent smuggling tactic, particularly for maritime waste shipments. For Montreal Protocol-controlled substances, seizures revealed increasingly sophisticated trafficking routes, often involving multiple and unconventional transit points.

These findings underscore the importance of timely, cross-border logistical information exchange to safeguard supply chain integrity, particularly in cases involving unplanned changes in transport mode, abandonment of goods, or potential insider facilitation.

Next steps

Building on the success of Operation DEMETER XI, the WCO will continue to strengthen engagement with MEAs Secretariats to enhance policy coordination and develop targeted operational tools for Members. The WCO will also continue to support Members in advanced investigations to dismantle organized transnational criminal networks and address money laundering linked to environmental crime, in close cooperation with INTERPOL, Europol, OLAF, and other partners.

[1] the Secretariat of the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions (BRS Secretariat);

the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) OzonAction;

the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF);

the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) Passenger and Cargo Control Programme;

the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL);

the European Union Network for Implementation and Enforcement of Environmental Law (IMPEL);

the Green Customs Initiative (GCI);

the European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation (Europol).
GABORONE, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- Medical experts from China and Botswana on Tuesday held an online case discussion meeting.

Members of the 17th batch of the Chinese medical team to Botswana and their local counterparts specializing in urogenital medicine at hospitals in the southern African country shared experiences during the online meeting with colleagues from the Fuzhou University Affiliated Provincial Hospital in China's southeastern Fujian Province.

They discussed three medical cases to seek second opinions on the treatment of complicated patients.

Ivan Kgetse, superintendent of Nyangabgwe Referral Hospital, praised the initiative, saying the online case discussion would go a long way toward improving the delivery of medical care and advancing Botswana's healthcare system.

"We have a better chance to compare how other teams treat their patients and then come up with better ways to assist those seeking medical attention with the resources we have," Kgetse said.

For his part, Chen Gang, president of the Fuzhou University Affiliated Provincial Hospital, said the online case discussion would help strengthen ties between the hospitals.

"We hope we can help many patients through such meetings in the future," Chen said via video link, adding that he expects Botswanan medical staff to visit the Fuzhou University Affiliated Provincial Hospital for further in-person exchanges.

Since 1981, 17 groups of Chinese doctors and nurses have been sent to work in hospitals in Gaborone and Francistown, totaling more than 500 medical professionals. 
ATBARA, Sudan, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- Atbara, a relatively stable city in northern Sudan's River Nile State, is hosting the "Made in River Nile" exhibition, which highlights Sudanese industry's resolve to aid economic recovery and revive national production, even amid the country's ongoing internal conflicts.

From the opening hours of the first day, the exhibition halls were bustling with visitors, exhibitors, and technicians. Over the course of five days, the event brought together around 320 factories and national companies, showcasing more than 2,000 locally made industrial products.

Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Mohamed Al-Badawi Abdel-Majid, River Nile State governor, said the state had introduced measures to encourage investors to relocate their factories away from conflict-hit areas.

He noted that factory operating fees in the state had been reduced by 30 percent to support the industrial sector and stimulate investment, affirming that the state would provide a stable, investor-friendly environment.

Inside the exhibition halls, products ranged from locally produced cotton and linen textiles with distinctly Sudanese designs to leather goods, metal tools, food products, cooking oils -- most notably sesame oil -- and processed grains, as exhibitors explained production processes to visitors.

At the pavilion of GIAD Industrial Group, one of Sudan's largest industrial conglomerates, Ibrahim Abbakar Ibrahim, director of GIAD Trucks and Buses Company, told Xinhua that the exhibition represents "a collective display of Sudanese industry's ability to survive."

He said the industrial sector had faced compounded challenges, including conflicts and sanctions that limited access to spare parts and modern technologies, as well as widespread destruction of production facilities.

Despite these challenges, he noted, local manufacturers have managed to make some domestic products competitive with imports and even expand into regional markets.

At the pavilion of the General Geological Research Authority of Sudan, around 45 samples of minerals, gemstones, and rocks highlighted the state's untapped resources.

Mohamed Al-Tahir, director of the authority's River Nile office, said the exhibition aims to showcase mineral wealth that could form the foundation for future processing industries during post-war recovery.

Among the visitors, Ibtisam Al-Awad, an employee at a national company in Atbara, expressed surprise at the quality of locally made textiles.

"I didn't expect local factories to be able to produce goods of such high quality," she said, adding, "Given the current economic conditions and rising prices, local products are no longer just an option -- they are a necessity."

Officials say the exhibition is part of a broader roadmap to rebuild Sudan's industrial sector and improve the business environment.

Before the conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, industry accounted for about 12 percent of Sudan's economy and employed nearly 20 percent of the workforce. The conflict, however, has devastated the sector. Unofficial estimates put losses at around 50 billion U.S. dollars since the conflict began in mid-April 2023.

The Sudanese Federation of Chambers of Industry previously said that around 550 factories in the capital Khartoum had been destroyed. Earlier reports by the Ministry of Industry showed that 3,493 large and medium industrial facilities were damaged in Khartoum, along with 125 large industrial facilities in Gezira State in central Sudan. 
Opel Ireland sold 2,257 passenger cars in 2025, with its Mokka SUV the most popular, followed by the Corsa and the new Grandland, which was launched in February of last year, and has already sold 537 units, compared to the 287 registered in 2024 for the previous model, proving this latest version has made a big difference for sales.

Grandland is designed, engineered, and built in Europe and is offered with all-electric (BEV), mild-hybrid (MHEV), and plug-in hybrid powertrains.

This second-generation is longer, wider and taller than before, styled with clean lines, a flat bonnet, the brands Blitz logo permanently lit in centre front, and the Opel name also lit across the rear. Nice touches. Its a high vehicle which helps with getting in and out. My review car had grained wheel arch and lower door cladding, available only on the hybrid version, and had 19-inch alloy wheels. The vehicle will appeal to many families for its looks and practicality. Three trims are SC, Elegance, and GS.

The Grandland feels premium, is very spacious for five occupants, and offers high levels of comfort for long-distance travel. Ergonomic front seats in my review car were upholstered in a two-tone cloth; the drivers had six-way manual adjustments and lumbar support, as well as power cushion tilt (in GS trim).

The central console is angled towards the driver, with a wide screen and large touch controls, which proved user-friendly. These include heating controls for the front seats and steering wheel, along with applications and media management. It also incorporates a digital version of a traditional analogue clock.

The Grandland feels premium, is very spacious for five occupants, and offers high levels of comfort for long-distance travel.

The drivers information display shows a lot of information, all easy to see at a glance, with the current speed shown prominently. The Pure option mode reduces the amount of content on this cluster to reduce distractions. Thankfully, Opel has kept physical controls for frequently used settings, such as air conditioning, climate control, volume, and screen demisters. All are easy to get to while on the move.

Stellantis-type automatic transmission selection is easy to use and includes a manual (M) option.

Drive modes are Eco, Normal and Sport.

Good storage areas are essential in a family car, and the cubbies include a large, cooled space below the front armrest, good-sized door bins, and a cooled glove box. A wireless charging pad is only offered with the top trim.

Rear passengers enjoy decent head and leg room, and theres almost a flat floor for the middle passenger, thanks to a low tunnel. The middle seat back comes down as an armrest with two cupholders. There are clothes hooks on the B pillars in all grades.

Boot capacity is 550 litres with the rear seats up, consistent across electric, petrol, and plug-in hybrid models, and up to 1,645 litres with the rear seats folded down. The car has a wide tailgate, a high boot floor with a bespoke reversible rubber/carpet mat, and a sealant kit. The tailgate was manually operated.

The long list of features included an excellent reversing camera, front and rear parking sensors, power-folding mirrors, eight airbags, auto high-beam LED lights, automatic emergency braking, and extended traffic sign recognition. As with many new cars, I found the safety alerts annoying at times and managed to turn most of them off, except for some persistent alerts, which I will discuss with the product people in Opel.

A 136hp 1.2-litre 3-cylinder petrol engine with 48-volt mild-hybrid technology powered my car. The battery is mainly charged by engine braking and can allow the car to operate in EV mode in urban areas for up to 50 per cent of the time. The engine is paired with a six-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. Fuel consumption is circa 5.5 L/100kms, and annual road tax is 200. Theres a maximum braked towing capacity of 1,100kg.

The 2025 Grandland received a four-star safety rating in Euro NCAP tests.

PRICES: from 40,995 for the hybrid version.

Your local Opel dealer is Rochford Motors in Ballyhaunis.
Local councillors have called for the installation of a fully functioning CCTV system in Ballina to cover all areas of the town.

Cllr Annie May Reape raised the issue as a notice of motion at last weeks meeting of the Ballina Municipal District after receiving a number of complaints about the part CCTV currently covering the town.

It was recently highlighted on RTE that CCTV, when it works well, is as good as two Gardai on the street and can identify people, she said, noting that a CCTV system recently installed in Killala by a Tourmakeady company has been a success.

Cllr Jarlath Munnelly agreed that the system has been well-received in Killala, adding: It is a shared CCTV system bringing together businesses and the Gardai with the firm who install and run the system.

Any request from the Gardai goes to the firm and it takes the responsibility of data retention, which is often quite difficult, off local people.

Cllr John OHara said CCTV was very important and funding should be made available for smaller villages who would require CCTV but may not have the number of businesses needed to fund the cost of installing the system.

Cllr Michael Loftus said CCTV was a good thing but was not an adequate replacement for Gardai on the ground.

This system ticks all the boxes and is a positive investment, but it doesnt mean we should have less Gardai on the ground, we should have more, he said. I have been speaking to Gardai based in Dublin who want to move back here but for whatever reason, Mayo is the hardest division to get back into.

Head of the Municipal District Declan Turnbull said any extra CCTV would be welcome in Ballina, in addition to the fully-functioning system currently in place.

We have 40 functioning CCTV cameras in Ballina regularly used by the Gardai. We have a good, solid CCTV system in the town already, it is important that message gets out there, he said.

Cllr Reape added that the installation of this system in Ballina should be done in conjunction with the towns new Garda Superintendent Ursula Hussey, whose appointment was welcomed by councillors earlier in the meeting.

Tributes were also paid to her predecessor Supt Peter Conlon, who has been reassigned to a post in his native Co Galway.
A man became aggressive when searched by Gardai, a court has heard.

Patryk Zdunek, aged 33, of Rathbawn Road, Castlebar, pleaded guilty at the local district court to two breaches of the Public Order Act.

Gda Sgt John OReilly informed the court that a colleague had been on patrol at the Rathbawn Road at about 4pm on November 14, 2025, when he stopped and searched Zdunek, who became aggressive and was arrested.

Judge Sandra Murphy sought clarification on the nature of the offence and was told it consisted mainly of verbal abuse and profanities. While the abuse was not severe, the situation escalated to the point where handcuffs had to be used.

Solicitor Gary Mulchrone said his client is originally from Poland and has been living in Ireland for 16 years. He engages in "hard and demanding labour" in the sea fishing industry, with employment dependent on weather conditions.

Mr Mulchrone said that while Zdunek has previous convictions, including one for assault causing harm, the suspended jail term imposed in that matter had expired approximately seven months before this latest incident.

He is a hard-working man, Mr Mulchrone said, adding that when onshore, his client can overindulge in alcohol consumption. The solicitor acknowledged that there had been previous interactions with gardai but said his client would be willing to engage with the Probation Service.

Judge Murphy said intoxication was a serious concern and warned the accused of the gravity of the situation.

This has brought you into serious criminality, she said, adding that being at sea would not be accepted as an excuse if engagement with Probation Service was required. She also warned that the matter could result in a custodial sentence if not addressed. The case was adjourned to April 1 for a probation report.
YANGON, Jan. 26 (Xinhua) -- More than 13.14 million people voted in Myanmar's multi-party democratic general election, representing a voter turnout of over 54 percent, Zaw Min Tun, leader of the Information Team of Myanmar's National Defense and Security Council, said late Monday.

Myanmar held the election in three phases: the first phase took place on Dec. 28 last year, the second on Jan. 11 this year, and the third on Jan. 25.

The election was conducted in 263 of the country's 330 townships. More than 24.2 million people were eligible to vote in the general election, Zaw Min Tun said.

The election covered 263 constituencies for the lower house; 73 constituencies under the first-past-the-post (FPTP) system and 26 constituencies under the proportional representation (PR) system for the upper house; 255 constituencies under the FPTP system and 42 constituencies under the PR system for the region and state parliaments; as well as 29 ethnic constituencies for the region and state parliaments, he said.

During the election period, more than 30 townships across various regions and states experienced attacks involving mines, explosives, and vehicle obstructions, he noted. As a result, two civil servants were killed and nine others, including civilians, were injured, he said. Despite these challenges, security forces, election officials, and voters were able to conduct the polls successfully, he added.

The government expressed its gratitude to all organizations and personnel involved in organizing and supporting the election, he added. 
An emotive drama penned by a Ballina playwright returns to the stage this week.

A Song for Palestine was a huge success and raised much needed funds for the people of Gaza when it was staged at Ballina Arts Centre last year.

Written by renowned local playwright Tommy Cooke, the drama looks at how our Irish history, with landlordism and famine, in some ways is mirrored by the genocide in Palestine today. It looks at the devastation and futility of war - all war - and asks if war and genocide as a method of solving problems is sustainable for the future of mankind.

Tommy was inspired to write A Song for Palestine by the story of the Choctaw Indians who, despite being of limited means, made a significant donation to help the Irish people in 1847.

The Choctaw Indians put in an enormous effort to help the Irish and donated $147, which was a huge sum of money in 1847, to help the poor and famished people of this country, he said.

There are parallels between Irish history with Gaza and Palestine today and that is the reason why there is great empathy in this country.

Any normal person would feel guilty this is happening and I began to wonder what someone so far away could do to help, if we could do something without being too obnoxious and pointing fingers, Tommy added.

The play gained standing ovations and raised almost 7,000 for the Water for Gaza charity.

Its a very emotive subject and I think people were touched, said Tommy.

Tommy was recently sent a video showing what a difference the contribution has made in Gaza.

The video motivated him to do more to lend a hand and the play will grace the stage at Ballina Arts Centre on Friday next, January 30.

We will have about 20 people on stage on the night, said Tommy.

Whats happening in Gaza is such a terrible thing to be occurring on our watch, he added.
NEW DELHI, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- Canada's Energy Minister Tim Hodgson on Tuesday said his country is looking forward to boosting energy exports to India in a bid to diversify its customer base and cut dependence on supply to the United States.

The minister made the comments at the India Energy Week currently underway in the western state of Goa.

"We need to diversify our supply. Canada used to provide 98 percent of its energy to one customer. We are committed to diversifying our supply. We see the opportunity to work with India as the fastest growing demand for energy in the world will be in India," Hodgson said.

This is Canada's first federal ministerial presence at India Energy Week and the first Canada-India energy dialogue in eight years.

India Energy Week 2026 commenced on Tuesday. The four-day event will conclude on Friday. Officials said representatives from nearly 125 countries and regions have gathered in Goa. 
The News in Brief Wednesday, January 28, 2026

Ilia Ghudushauri, former deputy health minister of Georgia, was arrested on January 27 over allegations of abusing his official authority in connection with a 2022 state procurement tender, the Investigative Service of the Ministry of Finance reported.According to Guga Tavberidze, deputy head of the Investigative Service, the case concerns a tender announced on September 27, 2022, for the purchase of ambulance vehicles for the Emergency Situations Coordination and Urgent Assistance Center. Three companies submitted bids, with the lowest at GEL 8,523,876.Tavberidze said Ghudushauri, who chaired the ministry's Procurement Tender Commission, instructed the cancellation of the original tender to favor another company. "On May 10, 2023, at his instruction, a new tender was announced, the terms of which were tailored to one specific bidder, as a result of which other companies were unable to participate," Tavberidze said. The decision led to an unjustified payment of GEL 2,138,196 to the pre-selected company, causing "significant damage to the lawful interests of the state."The investigation is being conducted under Article 332 of the Criminal Code, which covers abuse of official authority.De facto security services in Russian-occupied Abkhazia announced that they detained and expelled a UK citizen, Kuldip Singh, accusing him of "involvement in the activities of a foreign intelligence service."According to the de facto authorities, Singh was allegedly using his connections in the occupied territory to develop a project aimed at obtaining information on populated areas, military facilities, and other infrastructure.The agency released a video of Singh's interrogation in which he identifies himself in Russian as a 42-year-old UK citizen. He reportedly told authorities that he worked for 13.5 years in the "intelligence unit of the London police" before resigning over corruption. He said he lived in Russia for 10 months, then moved to Georgia, and later entered Abkhazia after learning about the territory online.In the video, Singh states that he had been teaching English at an "English school" in the occupied region and running a billiards business. He also said his British passport had expired and that he had been unable to obtain documents or a visa to remain there.De facto authorities said Singh was expelled via the Enguri checkpoint into territory controlled by the Georgian government.
BANGKOK, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- Thailand launched a commemorative landmark on Tuesday to officially announce the country's readiness to host the 2026 International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank Group Annual Meetings.

The announcement, made at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Center, aims to bolster global confidence in Thailand's role and potential as an international hub for economic and financial cooperation.

Thai Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Ekniti Nitithanprapas said at the event that the meetings serve as a crucial international platform for shaping cooperation frameworks and strengthening confidence in the global economic system.

More than 15,000 participants, including finance ministers, central bank governors, financial institution executives, and civil society representatives from 191 member countries, are expected to attend the annual meetings, Ekniti said.

Discussions will cover issues such as economic growth, financial and fiscal stability, poverty reduction, and sustainable development, he added.

As the host country, Thailand has officially introduced its main theme for the meetings as "Thailand's New Horizons: Empowering People, Building Resilience." 
ALMATY, Jan. 26 (Xinhua) -- Kazakhstan-based oil producer Tengizchevroil (TCO) on Monday announced a phased resumption of crude oil production at its fields in the Atyrau region in western Kazakhstan following a fire at the Tengiz oil field on Jan. 18, the Kazinform news agency reported.

According to TCO, the production ramp-up will proceed gradually, subject to operating conditions and technical readiness.

Kazakhstan's Energy Ministry said operations have resumed at the Korolev oil field and at the Second Generation Plant (SGP), a TCO facility that stabilizes and sweetens crude oil.

Current crude flows from Korolev to the SGP stand at about 2,500 tonnes per day, with volumes being steadily increased to reach design capacity. Oil production at the Tengiz field is expected to resume in the near future, the ministry said.

On Jan. 18, a fire involving two transformers broke out at the Tengiz oil field. No casualties were reported, but parts of the power distribution system were affected, leading to a suspension of oil output at the Tengiz and Korolev fields. 
Last Thursday, more than 100,000 of Israels Palestinian citizens took to the streets of Sakhnin and Umm Al-Fahm, in the north of Israel, and other predominantly Arab towns and villages across the country, closing businesses and disrupting daily life. They protested the epidemic of organised crime, killings and violence in Palestinian communities in Israel that has gone unchecked by the Israeli authorities.

Demonstrators waved black flags and accused the openly racist National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir of treating Arab lives as expendable. Some chanted slogans that drew clear links between the blind eye turnedeven support offeredto criminal organizations and the genocidal war in Gaza and ethnic cleansing and oppression in the West Bank.

The near daily homicides, rampant extortion, protection rackets and violence in Palestinian towns and cities inside Israel is de facto Israeli government policy. At times tacitly encouraged lawlessness is seen as a means of pushing Palestinians to leave.

The protests came in solidarity with a three-day strike in Sakhnin that began after several shop owners were targeted in a harrowing wave of extortion-related shootings. Videos were posted by the perpetrators to terrorise the town. Doctors, lawyers, teachers and other professionals joined in, as well as Israels Bedouin citizens in the south of the country who also held a parallel demonstration in Rahat, Israels largest Bedouin city.

Such was the strength of feeling that the High Follow-Up Committee for Arab Citizensmade up of Arab mayors, Knesset members and other community representatives, felt compelled to call a one-day general strike, observed in almost all the Arab towns and cities. It also called a mass demonstration in Sakhnin, where more than 50,000 people gathered.

The strikes and protests highlighted the widespread distress felt throughout the Arab community not just over the violence of criminal gangsinvolved in protection, loan-sharking, drug trafficking and money launderingbut also deteriorating social and economic conditions. No one goes out on the streets after dark. Businesses are closing out of fear. Young people are leaving the towns.

In 2025, by far the deadliest year, 255 Palestinians were killed by gangs. Already this year, not yet a month old, 19 people have been killed in incidents linked to criminal networks. Just 10-15 percent of the murder cases are solved by the police, widely seen as reflective of deliberate state policy.

Israels Palestinian communities, which constitute 21 percent of Israels 10.2 million population, have long suffered neglect at the hands of the Israeli authorities. This includes planning restrictions, land expropriations and far lower funding of public housing and services than Jewish communities.

Israel has enacted more than 60 laws entrenching the second-class status of its Palestinian citizensthose and their descendants who survived the ethnic cleansing of the Nakba in 1948, when more than 75 percent of the Palestinian population was expelled from their homes to make way for the Zionist state. In 2018, this second-class status was written into Israels Basic Law in its infamous Jewish Nationality Act.

Discrimination against Palestinian citizens has starved the municipal budgets of funds and pushed almost half of all families into poverty, while the unemployment rate has risen to 25 percent. These are the material causes driving young people into informal protection and extortion rackets, whose violence has been fuelled by the 240,000 rifles that Ben-Gvir has made available to Israelis since the start of the October 7 genocidemany of which have almost certainly ended up in the hands of criminal gangs.

Last month, the government cut $68 million that had been allocated to social and educational programmes for Palestinian citizens of Israel under its Five-Year Plan and transferred the funds to the Shin Bet, Israels internal security agency, and the police for the purpose of combating crime in Arab society.

In reality, these cuts will further exacerbate the inequality and economic conditions that fuel crime. As the Adalah Legal Center for Arab Minority Rights in Israel said, Diverting these funds to the Shin Bet and the police is part of a broader policy of militarizing and over-policing Palestinian communities, using high crime rates as a pretext rather than addressing the root causes of structural inequality.

The authors of this move are the far-right National Security Minister Ben-Gvir and Social Equality Minister May Golan. Ben-Gvir, who has presided over the doubling of the homicide rate, has blamed Arab culture for the violence and accused local politicians of turning a blind eye to criminal activity.

The secular Arab coalition party Hadash-Taalthe former including the Stalinist Communist Party and other left groupsjoined the protest but directed the movement to appeal to the government. Lawmaker Ahmad Tibi, the co-leader of Hadash-Taal said that the strike was a civil cry for help. He added that it was not a demand for preferential treatment but something much more basic: that the state fulfil its duty toward its citizens.

While the strike drew support from the Jewish-Arab NGO Standing Together, as well as the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, the participants in the strike and the mass rallies were overwhelmingly Palestinian.

Israels opposition party leadersopposed to Netanyahu as an individual, and on a pro-Zionist basisexpressed sympathy for the demonstration. They criticised the government for failing to protect Israels Arab citizens from the protection racketeers. But they did nothing to rally their support base behind the protests.

It must be stated plainly: appeals to Netanyahu and the Zionist state for increased public security would, if heeded, result in the exact opposite of security and justice. What would follow is the expansion of police powers and the suppression of dissent, with the underlying social causes of gang violence left unaddressed.

Palestinian workers can only resolve the social, economic and political issues they confront by asserting their political independence from all the national bourgeois parties, whether Arab or Zionist, including those who promise tougher public security.

They must demand social, not merely punitive, solutions: mass jobs programmes; housing; education, health and youth services; community policing democratically controlled by neighbourhood committees; and the redirection of Israels military budgeta massive 17 percent of the 2026 budget, one of the highest percentages in the worldto social needs.

They must turn to Jewish Israelis whose social position is fast deteriorating21 percent now live in povertyamid Netanyahus genocidal war against Palestinians in Gaza, the push to drive the Palestinians out of the West Bank, almost daily strikes on Lebanon and Syria, and threats of a renewed offensive against Iran.

What is needed is the construction of democratic, rank-and-file committees in workplaces and working-class neighbourhoods that cut across religious and ethnic divisions. These can organise to defend community safety, provide aid, conduct inquiries into murders and rackets, and prosecute corrupt individuals who profit from gang activity. They can organise coordinated strikes to combat the arms industry and secure resources for public services.

As well as raising concrete demands for jobs, housing and services, this struggle must be linked to the broader international issues: militarism, war and the interventions and malign influence of imperialist and regional powers.

Jewish and Arab workers must forge their unity in a struggle to overthrow and replace the Zionist state and the various Arab bourgeois regimes and forge the United Socialist States of the Middle East. The decisive political task is to build sections of the International Committee of the Fourth International in Israel/Palestine and across the region to lead the working class in this struggle.
On Saturday night, the Metropolitan Police violently arrested at least 86 protesters outside Wormwood Scrubs prison in west London. They had gathered peacefully in solidarity with Umer Khalid, a pro-Palestinian activist on a hunger and thirst strike whose life now hangs in the balance.

The demonstrators were demanding that prison governor Amy Frost put into writing and act on promises she had made regarding Umers treatment. He has suffered solitary confinement, censorship, denial of access to his prayer mat and the Quran.

Umer Khalid [Photo: Prisoners For Palestine]

According to the Prisoners for Palestine organisation, Frost assured Umer that his health is their priority and that he will be hospitalised should his health deteriorate, and that he would have daily meetings to discuss negotiations.

Umer suffers from limb-girdle muscular dystrophy, a genetic disorder that causes progressive muscle weakness and wasting. His mother, Shabana Khalid, said his health was rapidly deteriorating and that he was increasingly fatigued and weak.

Doctors have warned that he may die within days. In a statement to Prisoners for Palestine, Dr Rupa Marya warned: With no fluid intake, typically people die of acute kidney failure and other derangements within three to four days. With Khalids underlying health condition, he is at increased risk of death even sooner.

Dr Marya herself, a longtime professor, was suspended from the University of California, San Francisco, for speaking out against the ongoing genocide in Gaza.

The Met detained demonstrators on suspicion of aggravated trespass, justifying the crackdown with claims that protesters had breached prison grounds and obstructed staff. The Ministry of Justice threatened, where individuals actions cause risk or actual harm to hardworking staff, this will not be taken lightly and those responsible can expect to face consequences.

There is no evidence that any staff were harmed by the few people who managed to gain access to a staff lobby area of the prison, having previously been on publicly accessible areas of the prison grounds while exercising their right to protest.

Videos from the scene show officers violently dispersing the crowd, including pensioners who were punched, kicked and restrained face down on the floor by police. Officers are seen shoving demonstrators to the ground, handcuffing them and forcibly removing people whose only crime was expressing solidarity with a political prisoner facing death.

Part of the police operation involved the kettling of protesters at around 10pm on Saturday, preventing them from leaving the area. Among those arrested was Canary website videographer Ibrahim Abul-Essad, who was at the protest working as a journalist.

The Canary reported that its sources on the ground say police then started picking off protesters one by one. Cops were heard saying arrest now, find evidence later.

The operation lasted until after 3am on Sunday, by which point the majority of those trapped in the kettle had been arrested. This included countless people who did not enter the grounds of Wormwood Scrubs and were on the pavement outside, or who did enter but left when ordered to do so by police.

The Canary said the Metropolitan Police took detainees to over a dozen sites across London while refusing to disclose where individuals were being held. The Canary has even had parents of people arrested reaching out to us, desperate for information, it reported.

The mass arrests demonstrate once again the Labour governments commitment to suppressing protests against Israels ongoing assault on the Palestinians.

Umer has not been convicted of any crime. He has been held on remand since June 2025 and, as it stands, will face more than a year and a half in prison before coming to trial.

Five activists, including Umer, are accused of entering Britains largest Royal Air Force base, Brize Norton, in Oxfordshire and spray-painting military aircraft and infrastructure with red paint, symbolising the genocide carried out against the Palestinians by Israel. The activists deny the charges against them, which include alleged break-ins and criminal damage.

Umer resumed his hunger strike two weeks ago and stopped drinking water a day before Saturdays protest. In a statement, Prisoners for Palestine said: The decision to escalate to a thirst strike occurred as the government continues to refuseor even acknowledgethe prospect of a meeting.

On January 22, Al Jazeera reported that Umer was receiving fluids with electrolytes, sugars and salts but intended to stop drinking altogether from Saturday.

Speaking via an intermediary, he said: The only thing that seems to have any impact, whether that is positive or negative, is drastic action. The strike reflects the severity of this imprisonment. Being in this prison is not living life. Our lives have been paused. The world spins, and we sit in a concrete room. This strike reflects the severity of my demands.

Umer is demanding immediate bail; an end to censorship in prison, including the withholding of mail, calls and books and the denial of visitation rights; an inquiry into British involvement in Israeli military operations in Gaza; and the release of surveillance footage from Royal Air Force spy flights over Gaza on April 1, 2024, when British aid workers were killed in an Israeli attack.

Having refused water 24 hours prior, Umer was taken to hospital from Wormwood Scrubs on Sunday before being returned later that day. His mother has not heard from him directly since Saturday. Prison authorities have placed a guard outside his cell and are monitoring him hourlyan implicit acknowledgment that the state is presiding over a potentially fatal situation.

Umer is the last remaining participant in a rolling hunger strike launched in November by activists linked to Palestine Action. He and seven others stopped eating in protest against their denial of bail, censorship in prison and the governments decision to proscribe Palestine Action under anti-terrorism legislation.

The last three participantsHeba Muraisi, Kamran Ahmed and Lewie Chiaramelloended their strikes on January 14 after going without food for 73 days and 6566 days, and in Lewies case 46 days of intermittent fasting.

They ended their strike stating that it had played a part in the Ministry of Defences decision not to award a 2 billion contract to Elbit Systems UK, a subsidiary of Israels largest weapons manufacturer.

Four of the original hunger strikersQesser Zuhrah, Heba Muraisi, Teuta Hoxha and Kamran Ahmedare facing trial as part of the Filton 24 case for involvement in an August 2024 action against Elbit in Filton, near Bristol. Before its proscription, Palestine Action demanded the closure of Elbits facilities in Britain.

The latest brutal mass arrests reflect the authoritarian character of the Starmer government, which has made solidarity with the Palestinian people a quasi-criminal activity.

So draconian was the July 5, 2025 proscription of Palestine Actionthe first time a peaceful direct action group had ever been bannedthat it was condemned by the United Nations.

The proscription is being legally challenged in court, but it has served as the legal basis for a sweeping campaign of arrests, prosecutions and surveillance. So far, 2,717 arrests have been made for expressing support for the group, according to the Defend Our Juries campaign group. This equates to a staggering 13 arrests a day nationally.

If Umer Khalid dies in prison, it will not only be a tragedy but a political crime, exposing the brutality of a system that defends imperialist interests at the expense of human life. Workers, students and youth must demand his release and an end to the prosecution of pro-Palestine activists. This struggle must be linked to opposition to Britains support for Israel and to the broader fight against imperialist war and the onslaught on democratic rights.
Writer and activist Yves Engler speaking about his book exposing Canadian imperialism in Africa, "Canada in Africa: 300 years of aid and exploitation" [Photo: Yves Engler/Facebook]

In a flagrantly anti-democratic decision, a Quebec court has found the radical journalist and anti-genocide activist Yves Engler guilty of harassment of a police officer and obstruction of justice after he sought to defend himself from a right-wing witch hunt, spearheaded by far-right Zionists and supported by the state and corporate media.

Engler was targeted for prosecution due to his vocal opposition to Israels imperialist-backed genocide of the Gaza Palestinians and the complicity of Canadas Liberal government and political establishment.

Justice Karine Giguere found Engler guilty last Friday of obstructing a peace officer, obstruction of justice and harassment under the Criminal Code for having encouraged his supporters to send emails protesting his impending February 2025 arrest on hate crime charges by the Montreal Police.

The original hate charge was levelled against Engler in response to a criminal complaint made by the far-right Zionist provocateur Dahlia Kurtz, with the assistance of the Spiegel Sohmer law firm and one of its principals, the prominent Conservative Neil Oberman. In social media posts, Engler had challenged Kurtz over her enthusiastic endorsement of the genocide and anti-Palestinian racism.

So lacking was Kurtzs complaint of any legal foundation, the Crown was compelled last July to drop the harassment charge that it had filed against Engler based on it.

However, in what is clearly a malicious, politically-motivated prosecution, the authorities decided to double down on the charges they had brought against Engler for having urged his supporters to call on the police to drop the discredited harassment/hate crime charge.

When Engler was first arrested in February 2025, the police demanded, as a bail condition, that he be prohibited from discussing the charges against him on social media. To have this restrictive conditiondesigned to prevent him from defending himself from Kurtzs bogus allegationsdropped, the anti-genocide and anti-war activist went to prison for five days.

The court has yet to sentence Engler, but the penalties he faces are potentially severe and grossly punitive. Under the Criminal Code those convicted of either obstruction of justice or harassment can be jailed for up to 10 years.

Engler and his lawyer, John Philpot, have said that they will appeal Fridays verdict. The Crown has yet to indicate what sentence it will ask for when Justice Giguere holds a sentencing hearing March 4. Philpot, for his part, has said that he will argue for Engler to be sentenced to time served.

The World Socialist Web Site unequivocally condemns the kangaroo court conviction of Engler and calls on workers, students and all those who defend democratic rights to come to his defence and demand the immediate vacating of his criminal convictions. Engler is the target of a state-led campaign of harassment and intimidation, because of his vocal opposition to Israels genocide and exposure of the crimes of Canadian imperialism.

Englers persecution began on February 18, 2025, when Montreal Police Hate Crimes Unit Detective Francesca Anna Crivello called Engler to inform him that he would be arrested the following day for alleged online harassment of Kurtz. Such harassment consisted of political opposition to Israels genocide of the Palestinians, expressed by Engler in comments on Kurtzs many hateful, racist anti-Palestinian X posts.

[Photo: Dahlia Kurtz/X]

In the image at the top, Kurtz responds in support of a masked neo-Nazi demonstration at White Oaks Mall in London, Ontario calling for the mass deportations of immigrants and Arabs. With the second tweet, Kurtz led far-right Zionists in hailing Trumps call to "wipe out" Gaza. [Photo: Dahlia Kurtz/X]

Englers email campaign, launched on actionnetwork.org in response to Detective Crivellos notification of his impending arrest, encouraged supporters to send an email to Crivello headlined, Drop charges against author Yves Engler, with the explanatory note stating, Im being charged for responding to anti-Palestinian hate on X. The body of the email message contained the statement The arrest of author Yves Engler for social media posts opposing Israels genocide is an abuse of state power. The charges against the father of two young children should be immediately withdrawn. The letter addressed the detective as Dear. The notion that there was anything threatening in its content is patently absurd.

The campaign, to which more than 4,360 people eventually responded, produced more than 1,600 emails in Detective Crivellos inbox within its first few hours. Englers social media campaign in support produced more than 263,000 views within 15 hours. Both of these facts are clear indications of mass support for the defence of democratic rights within the working class.

It was the mass character of this support which clearly horrified Justice Giguere. In her judgment, she admonished Engler for having obstructed Detective Crivello. The accused knew or should have anticipated, asserted Justice Giguere, that the response to his request to write would be very large.

The court accepted the claim, entirely concocted by the police, that Detective Crivello was intimidated and felt targeted, because her name was associated with the campaign. It also accepted the no less absurd clam that she was prevented from doing her job because her email inbox was full. A minor clerical inconvenience for a state official in an organization with an annual budget of $824 million was inflated into criminal obstruction.

On the preposterous charge that Englers email campaign constituted harassment, Giguere ruled that Even if they believe they are in the right, an accused cannot take justice into their own hands by making harassing communications to make their point.

The courts assertion that a police officer, an armed agent of the capitalist state, could be intimidated by a full email inbox or that an email defense campaign directly attacks the power of police to lay charges is a risible fraud. The police are empowered in bourgeois law to use lethal violence to defend the capitalist state, which wages imperialist wars and attacks the living conditions and rights of the working class, public opinion or opposition be damned.

The conflation of an email protest campaign directed at state officials with acts of vigilantismtaking justice into their own hands in the words of the court sends an ominous signal.

Engler rightly noted, in comments with the leader of the Quebec Green Party Alex Tyrell, Fridays ruling is a blow for everyone who might disagree with a decision by the government or its representatives. The email campaign was not unlike petitions sent to all levels of government, reporters or corporate officials, which are generally lawful.

Further, Engler explained, The verdict also drew a distinction between email campaigns directed at police and those aimed at other public figures. It effectively creates a special category of protection for police officers, insulating them from coordinated public pressure. The ruling grants police broad discretion to define criticism of their actions as criminal interference and to define communication/pressure as obstructing justice.

As the World Socialist Web Site noted in 2024, there are deep concerns within Canadas national-security apparatus that unprecedented social inequality and growing economic insecurity combined with climate and technological change will fuel political and social upheavals that threaten bourgeois rule.

These upheavals, and the states repressive response, are well underway. Canadas ruling class united around a campaign of repression and slander against the hundreds of thousands across the country who participated in protests against the Gaza genocide. The spurious charge of antisemitism was used by state authorities, from the federal Liberal government on down, to justify police violence against protesters, mass arrests, and the censoring of meetings and artistic and cultural events.

These efforts enjoy the support of the entire Canadian ruling class and its political representatives, including the trade union-sponsored NDP. It was the NDP that threw Ontario MPP Sarah Jama out of its caucus because she described Israel as an apartheid state and opposed the genocide. And it was the NDP that blocked Englers bid to run for party leader, undoubtedly because the party leadership saw him as an anti-genocide and anti-Ukraine war candidate who could mobilize popular support.

The defence of Englers democratic rights is a class question. The Canadian ruling class looks upon the quickening pace of the class struggle with horror, and is arming itself with the same repressive measures that are being adopted in the United States, Britain, France, Germany, Australia and elsewhere. The working class must respond with a powerful political mobilization in defence of democratic rights, including the right to strike and the right to speak out without fear of reprisals against the many crimes of Canadian imperialism, including its complicity in the Gaza genocide.
Thirty-one thousand registered nurses and other specialty healthcare professionals at Kaiser Permanente continued their strike across more than 200 hospitals and clinics in California and Hawaii.

Kaiser healthcare workers on strike in California hold signs denouncing the non-profit Kaiser, noting the company has no money for workers but plenty for immigrant detention centers and executive pay.

The strike overlaps another strike by 15,000 nurses at four private nonprofit hospitals in New York which entered its third week. Together, the 46,000 healthcare workers on both coasts are fighting against unsafe conditions for staff and patients alike, with chronic understaffing causing exhaustion, injury and widespread burnout.

The Kaiser strike began only two days after the ICE murder of 37-year-old intensive care unit nurse Alex Pretti in Minneapolis. Pretti was murdered while attempting to help a woman being assaulted by agents. The murder has sparked nationwide outrage, with workers across the country supporting a general strike against the Trump administrations rampage against democratic rights.

It was murder. It definitely was a murder. He was just trying to protect those ladies from being pepper sprayed. He was just protecting them, said one veteran Kaiser nurse in Downey, California.

It was really sad because he was an intensive care nurse working in the VA [Veterans Administration] hospital. He was a VA nurse, an ICU nurse, which is the most noble profession, in my opinion, aside from being a nurse. He served the veterans who served this country.

The Trump administration called him as a domestic terrorist, which is not the case, not the case at all. He was a US citizen. He didnt have any crimes before that. He was licensed to carry a gun, and he has never been criminally charged for anything.

This is not the United States that I knew before. I dont recognize this country anymore.

When asked about the nurses strike in New York, she responded, Yes, I heard that the New York City nurses have been on strike. Theyre going into their third week. Wow! Id say, Stay strong. Were here with you. We are secure with you side by side. Stay strong. The issues are almost the same.

The general strike in Minnesota last Friday was all on social media. I wouldve liked to have been there. And when asked about a general strike across the country, she said, I am there for you, too. I will be there. See you on the general strike.

Another nurse from Southern California commented, Theyre trying to do pay cuts for some of our members. The CEO is making millions, and were the problem.

We sacrifice ourselves for our patients, and we gladly do it every day because thats what we signed up for. But not under these conditions. Ive been a Kaiser nurse for nine years in the oncology unit, and it is a shame that the hospital leadership is not coming to the table and giving us what we deserve.

I also think what happened to Alex Pretti, who was there trying to help a woman stand up and he was assassinated, is horrible. He did what nurses do, which is take care of each other, take care of others and thats what he was trying to do. He was trying to help somebody, and he did not deserve that. It was uncalled for and not necessary at all.

When asked about the response of the Trump administration to Prettis murder, the nurse responded, They say they are doing an investigation, but they shouldnt be opening their mouths and talking about things that they dont know anything about.

The worker also supported the call for a broader general strike. If thats what it will take to be heard, then thats what it will take. And its our right to protest peacefully. So a strike is also our right. And if we do it peacefully and thats how we can show that we need change, then I support it.

A Kaiser healthcare worker on strike in Downey, California holds a sign that reads: "Kaiser Profits $12.9 billion (2024). Investments: Private Prisons, ICE Detention Centers, Fossil fuel & fracking. Not safe staffing."

Workers on the picket line reported they are not receiving strike pay, despite UNAC sitting on $28 million in assets. Over 50 bureaucrats are still drawing salaries of more than $200,000 a year.

Other expenses from public reporting sources include $186,540 spent on airlines, $1,031,569 on hotels, $135,743 on restaurants and bakeries, and $42,775 on one grocery storeall in 2024.

A worker in San Diego stated, I support a general strike 100 percent, because both our strike and a general strike are about equality: equality socially and equality in health. We take care of everyone equally, and Alex Pretti took care of people in more ways than one. I also support connecting our strike with the nurses in New York.

At the Kaiser Oakland picket line, workers were indignant about the murder of Pretti, and many expressed support for a general strike. The picket line included occupational therapists, nurse midwives, nurse anesthesiologists, physical therapists, and other professions present.

On the question of a general strike, one physical therapist responded Say when and where, Ill be there! On the murder of Alex Pretti, he continued, Not OK! Not OK! There are the our healthcare brothers, sisters, folks. These are the people who care for others. That is our job. Thats what they were doing when they were killed, caring for others. I will do that till the day I die.

In support of 15,000 striking Mt. Sinai nurses in New York, he continued, Stand strong. Youre on the right side of history. Were with you.

Another group of nurses told WSWS reporters: So as RNs here at Kaiser, we stand in solidarity with all the RNs and all the nurses over at New York City who are on strike. We stand in solidarity. Stay strong. We can do this! we all have to stand together and fight for, you know, what we deserve, what our patients deserve. So, yes, I agree with a general strike.

California nurses express support for striking New York City nurses in Downey, California, January 26, 2026.

Many strikers held handmade signs highlighting determination to fight for their patients and themselves, including Midwives bend over backward for our patients, but we are not spineless!

Kaiser picket in Downy, California January 26, 2026

Responding to the right-wing slander campaign against Pretti, an occupational therapist explained, Were seeing with our eyes. Were not listening with our ears. I feel horrible for his family, what theyre going through. And the rhetoric the government is spewing about this poor man at this time.

Many strikers agreed that the union bureaucracy would not support a general strike and agreed that rank-and-file organizing was necessary to accomplish it. One worker noted that the UNAC/UHCP did not even call out its own members in support of other UNAC/UHCP members on a separate contract.

The UNAC/UHCP bureaucracy wasted no time attempting to use the strike to support the Democratic Party. At the unions invitation, Democratic California Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond was given the floor at the Oakland picket line first thing Monday morning to stump for his gubernatorial campaign.

Thurmond has been superintendent since 2019. He has overseen numerous attacks on public education in California while serving under Governor Gavin Newsom. One of his earliest acts was to help shut down the 2019 teachers strikes in Los Angeles and Oakland. He also worked to negotiate a sellout contract for Sacramento teachers in 2022. He has also overseen a massive expansion of charter schools and the privatization of education across the state.

The intervention of the Democratic Party is aimed at containing the Kaiser struggle and isolating it from their class brothers and sisters in New York City and shutting down the strike as soon as possible.

The rank and file must not allow this to happen. The strike has intersected with broader struggles of the working class and the class nature of the state. The question of who determines staffing, wages and conditions is intrinsically bound up with the fight to defend democratic rights and against the efforts by Trump to set up dictatorship in the US.

Workers in California and Hawaii must hold mass meetings, elect rank-and-file committees composed of trusted healthcare workers rather than bureaucrats and establish lines of contact with their class brothers and sisters in New York, Minneapolis and across the country and internationally.
Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni, right, and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, left, attend a press conference at the end of an intergovernmental summit at Villa Doria Pamphilj in Rome, Friday, Jan. 23, 2026, to discuss political and economic cooperation [AP Photo/AP]

Shortly after German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Italys far-right Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni smiled demonstratively for the cameras last Friday at the German-Italian government consultations, another resident of Minneapolis was killed in the United States by agents of the immigration enforcement agency ICE. The nurse Alex Pretti was effectively executed during a raidanother killing in the course of the escalating fascistic offensive of the Trump administration.

Neither the German government nor any other European government condemned this crime. This despite the fact that transatlantic tensions have recently escalated sharply, particularly in connection with the imperialist conflicts over Greenland and the Arctic. This silence is no diplomatic oversight. It is the expression of a profound political convergence.

On the one hand, the European powers are deliberately holding back criticism of Washington. They want to preserve the alliance with US imperialism for as long as possible, until they themselves are fully rearmed and able to play an independent role in the imperialist redivision of the world. On the other handand this is the more fundamental pointthey share the core of Trumps policy: militarism abroad, authoritarian rule at home and brutal repression against refugees.

This convergence was openly on display at the German-Italian government consultations.

Merz articulated particularly clearly the claim of Germany and Italy to act as leading powers of a militarized Europe. At the joint press conference, he declared:

At this moment in history, Italy and Germany have a very special responsibility to bear, in terms of their weight, their leadership role, and so on. We are two important nations in Europe. We are among the founding states of the European Union. We are part of international dynamics. We have production-based and industrial systems that are very closely interconnected.

He continued:

This is also about a shared vision with regard to some of the strategically important tasks. We have the same goal in mind: to build a conscious Europe, a Europe that is capable of fulfilling its own role in the world, that is strategically autonomous in the global scenario, a Europe in which common sense plays an important role.

These statements leave no doubt as to what is meant. When Merz speaks of a leadership role, strategic autonomy, and the ability to fulfill its own role in the world, he is referring to nothing less than the claim of the European great powers to act militarily, economically and geopolitically independently ofand, if necessary, even againstthe United States.

The common sense invoked by Merz is a euphemism. It does not stand for reason or peace, but for the imperialist interests of the ruling class. What is meant is the readiness to massively militarize Europe, to drive forward rearmament and preparations for war, and to impose this policy against the resistance of the population.

The emphasis on closely interconnected and complementary industrial systems points directly to the economic foundation of this strategy: the tight integration of German and Italian arms, energy and industrial corporations, which profit from war and are pushing for new markets, resources and spheres of influence.

This leadership claim is inseparably linked to the escalation of the NATO war against Russia. Merz and Meloni unequivocally committed themselves to further military support for Ukraine. In these particularly bitter days of a winter war, we are strengthening our assistance for Kyiv and for Ukraine, Merz declared. Both heads of government emphasized their close coordination within NATO and rising military expenditures.

Particularly explosive were the joint statements on the Arctic. Merz stressed that the region is increasingly coming into the focus of geopolitical interests and that Europe must be capable of acting there. Behind this language lies the aggressive advance of European imperialism into a strategically central region rich in resources, directly claimed by Trump and at the center of the military confrontation with Russia and China.

The Arctic offensive follows the same logic as the rearmament in Eastern Europe: Europe is to assert itself as an independent world power, with military presence, access to raw materials, and strategic control over trade and transport routes.

Alongside the war policy, Merz and Meloni announced a deepening of cooperation between their security apparatuses. Specifically, they spoke of a bilateral police agreement and an intelligence-cooperation pact. Italy will thus become the first non-adjacent country with which Germany concludes such a special police agreement, as Merz emphasized. According to the German Interior Ministry, this is part of a broader action plan intended to more closely integrate security, defense and resilience issues between the two states.

No contract texts for either the police agreement or the intelligence cooperation have yet been published, but it is clear that this concerns the creation of a European police-military state. In this context, Merz spoke of a comprehensive concept of security that links defense policy, police cooperation and intelligence services into a unified security framework between Germany and Italy.

These measures are integral to the policy of war and rearmament and are directed against the population itself. They serve to prepare for social unrest, strikes and protests against war, rearmament, mass layoffs and impoverishment. As in the United States, the expansion of police and intelligence powers is first deployed against migrants, before being turned against the entire working class.

The political convergence between Merz and Meloni was also particularly explicit in migration policy. Meloni declared:

There is an absolute harmony between the convictions of the Federal Chancellor and myself. It is about combating human trafficking and illegal mass migration. The entire system of returns should be strengthened, and stronger cooperation with countries of origin should be established.

Italy was trying, she continued, to launch a new model of cooperation with the African continent in this sense and wanted to strengthen this new approach together. Thanks to our governments, this approach is asserting itself throughout Europe.

Behind these words lies a murderous reality. Returns mean mass deportations. Cooperation with countries of origin means collaboration with authoritarian regimes and dictatorships in Africa that, on behalf of the EU, intern refugees, abuse them, or abandon them in the desert to starve. The so-called fight against irregular migration means the further expansion of Fortress Europe, which has already claimed the lives of tens of thousands of people in the Mediterranean.

That this policy is being pursued in close cooperation with the Meloni government is no coincidence. With roots in the Movimento Sociale Italiano (MSI), Meloni comes from a party that emerged directly from the tradition of Italian fascism. She herself has praised Mussolini and continues to surround herself with open admirers of the Duce. The Fratelli dItalia founded by her maintains close ties to neo-Nazi organizations such as CasaPound, violent hooligan groups, fascist networks within the state apparatus, and international far-right parties.

The new German-Italian axis is also a warning from a historical standpoint. On the eve of and during the Second World War, Nazi Germany and fascist Italy formed a close alliance. On November 1, 1936, Mussolini first spoke of the BerlinRome Axis. With the so-called Pact of Steel of May 22, 1939, both fascist regimes sealed their military cooperation and explicitly committed themselves to mutual support in wars of aggression. Subsequently, Italian fascism was a central ally in the Nazis war of annihilation against the Soviet Union and in the persecution and murder of Europes Jews.

For all the differences, todays alliance between Berlin and Rome stands in this continuity. Once again, it is about militarization, about imperial expansion through genocidal methodsas in the genocide against the Palestinians in Gaza actively supported by Berlin and Romeand about the construction of authoritarian forms of rule to impose this policy on the population.

The sought-after strategic autonomy of Europe is directed not only outward, but inward as well. Rearmament on a scale of trillions ultimately means the destruction of all remaining social and democratic rights. Harsher police and intelligence laws, brutal repression against migrants, and the militarization of public life are components of the war policy.

By courting the Meloni government, Merz and his coalition of the CDU/CSU and the Social Democrats are not only legitimizing fascism in Italy but also strengthening the far right in Germany. Central demands of the AfD are already being implemented by the government, and the possible inclusion of the fascists in government is being prepared more or less openly.

The demonstrative embrace between Merz and Meloni is a serious warning. In order to push through their war and rearmament offensive against growing resistance from below, the ruling classes in Europejust as in the United Statesare accelerating the construction of authoritarian and fascist forms of rule. But resistance is growing on both sides of the Atlantic, and this dangerous course can and must be stopped: through the independent mobilization of the working class, in Germany, Italy, throughout Europe and internationally, on the basis of a socialist program.
BEIJING, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said on Tuesday that Japan has no right whatsoever to comment on China's Taiwan, from either a historical or a legal perspective, and urged Japan to cease causing trouble on the Taiwan question.

Spokesperson Guo Jiakun made the comments at a regular press conference in response to recent remarks by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi regarding Taiwan.

Takaichi on Monday said that in the event of a contingency in the Taiwan Strait, the United States and Japan might take coordinated action to evacuate their citizens, adding that Japan would not abandon its allies under such circumstances.

The recent remarks from the Japanese side have once again exposed the intention of right-wing forces in Japan to stir up confrontation, create disturbances, use the pretext to advance remilitarization, and challenge the post-war international order, Guo said, adding that such moves have severely undermined regional peace and stability, as well as the political foundation of China-Japan relations.

The international community must remain highly vigilant and firmly oppose such actions, the spokesperson noted.

He said that Japan once colonized Taiwan for half a century, committed countless crimes, and bears serious historical responsibility to the Chinese people. "Japan has no right whatsoever to comment on China's Taiwan, either from a historical or legal perspective," Guo noted.

"We once again urge Japan to abide by the spirit of the four political documents between China and Japan and Japan's own commitments, reflect upon and correct its mistakes, and cease manipulation and provocations on the Taiwan question," the spokesperson said. 
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A family member reacts after a federal immigration officer used a battering ram to break down a door before making an arrest Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026, in Minneapolis. [AP Photo/John Locher]

Over the past 24 hours, the Trump administration has been forced into a tactical retreat following the state execution of ICU nurse Alex Jeffrey Pretti by federal immigration agents in Minneapolis. The retraction, however, is not an abandonment of its authoritarian courseIt is a recalibration. The threat of dictatorship remains as present and grave as ever.

Facing a wave of public outrage and protest, the White House has sought to walk back the most inflammatory lies and attacks issued by Trumps top officials in the immediate aftermath of Prettis killing. On Monday, Karoline Leavitt, the White House press secretary, pointedly did not defend statements by Stephen Miller and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, who labeled Pretti a domestic terrorist who tried to assassinate law enforcement. Leavitt instead insisted that we will let the facts lead and claimed, in an obvious lie, that nobody in the White House, including President Trump, wants to see people getting hurt or killed.

At the same time, the administration removed senior Border Patrol official Gregory Bovino from Minneapolis, whose false claims about Pretti were among the first to circulate. Several agents are reportedly being withdrawn, and Trumps tone has shiftedfrom blaming Minnesota Governor Tim Walz for inciting violence to hailing a phone call with him as showing they were on the same wavelength.

This shift is not the result of moral reconsideration or pressure from Democratic politicians. It is the outcome of mass protests, mounting popular anger and a growing movement throughout the country about the need for a general strike. The White House understands that the murder of Alex Pretticoming just two weeks after the execution of Renee Nicole Good in the same cityhas provoked the most serious political crisis of Trumps second presidency.

This limited pullback only underscores how Trumps rampage has been facilitated by the Democratic Party. For the past year, the Democrats and media presented Trump as an unstoppable force, claiming that nothing can be done but wait for the next elections. In fact, Trumps ability to carry out a rampage against the Constitution has depended entirely on the complicity, silence and cowardice of Democratic officials at every level.

To interpret this partial withdrawal as evidence that the threat has passed would be a fatal mistake. The administration is not abandoning its plans for a presidential dictatorship. The invocation of the Insurrection Act remains on the table. Trump has repeatedly said he will be a dictator on day one, and he is making good on that threat. This is not the first time a despot has thrown a number of underlings to the wolves, if only temporarily, to regroup, and anything Trump does one day can be immediately reversed the next.

It is striking that amid all the initial cheering from the Democratic Party-aligned media about the supposed triumph of democracy, not one word has been said about the fact that Donald Trump, the orchestrator of this reign of terror, remains in office. No one has been held accountable. Alex Prettis killers remain unnamed and at large. The instigators of the crimeabove all, Trump himself, along with White House adviser Stephen Miller, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, ICE Acting Director Todd Lyons, and FBI Director Kash Patelremain in power.

Leading Democrats are moving rapidly to spread complacency, defuse popular anger and portray the situation as under control. On Monday, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz described his phone call with Trump as productive. This is the same Donald Trump whom Walz had accurately described just 12 days earlier as carrying out a campaign of organized brutality against the people of Minnesota. What changed?

According to Trump, Walz called him and said they should work together. In response, Trump pledged to send border czar Tom Homan to Minnesota and to ensure cooperation in transferring any and all criminals in state custody to ICE. Trump declared the call very good and claimed that he and Walz were on a similar wavelength. Trumps spokesperson made clear that the administrations goal remains the forced handover of all undocumented immigrants, with the full cooperation from state and local police.

Walzs office, for its part, echoed the warm tone. It stated that Trump had agreed to work in a more coordinated fashion on immigration enforcement regarding violent criminals and to consider reducing the number of federal agents in Minnesota. The governors office even claimed that Trump would help ensure independent investigations into the killings of Alex Pretti and Renee Nicole Good.

This statement is an insult to the intelligence of the public. It implies that the chief instigator of the repression will now ensure a proper investigation of the crimes his administration ordered and defended.

The consensus within the US ruling class on the need to try to shut down the protests in Minnesota was expressed in the decision of the Wall Street Journal to publish an op-ed column by Minnesota Governor Walz. The ultra-right newspaper, owned by billionaire Rupert Murdoch, has criticized Trumps handling of immigration as unnecessarily provocative, editorializing that the killing of Alex Pretti calls for rethinking how ICE conducts itself, especially in Minneapolis as tensions build.

In his column, while reiterating certain criticisms of Trumps methods, Walz maintained that Minnesota is in fact cooperating with ICE by handing over immigrant prisoners for deportation, and declared, Everyone wants to see our immigration laws enforced.

The greatest fear of the Democratic Party is not dictatorship, but the independent intervention of the working class. Their central political objective is to block, disorient and suppress the development of a mass movement from below. They also want to create better political conditions to pass all funding bills to prevent a government shutdownto keep financing the Trump administration and, in particular, the massive apparatus of imperialist aggression with no disruption.

The protests of January 23, which brought over 100,000 people into the streets of Minnesota, were not organized by the political establishment. They arose from the working class and from the youth. The demand for a general strike is gaining momentum. In schools, hospitals, factories and warehouses, workers are discussing how to fight back.

This is the most significant development in American political life. What frightens the ruling class is not just the exposure of a crime. It is the emergence of a mass, working class movement that threatens the dictatorship not only in form but in substancethat is, the dictatorship of capital.

The movement that has been set into motion must not stop. The demonstrations, strikes and mobilizations must continue and deepen. Preparations must advance for mass action, including a nationwide general strike. All the conditions that drove tens of thousands into the streets remain: ICE murders and raids, mass detention and deportation, the escalation of global war, the growth of fascism, and above all, the domination of society by a financial oligarchy that is incompatible with democracy.

This regime is not pulling back. It is regrouping. Its agenda remains: a police state at home, conquest abroad and the defense of obscene wealth and power through repression and violence. The working class must respond with even greater determination and clarity of purposethrough organization, unity and the building of a revolutionary socialist leadership.
Under pressure from their members, Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) trade union leaders threatened last week to call a strike if their demands are not granted before the scheduled break-up of the state-owned enterprise, which employs over 20,000 workers, into six new state-owned companies.

The same union officials shut down all workers actions four months ago, clearing the way for the government to finalise the CEBs liquidation. They have now been forced to call for strike action as unrest has grown among employees over the uncertainty of their jobs and working conditions in the new companies.

The Power and Energy Ministry and the CEB had planned to complete the restructuring of this state-owned institution by the end of January and to begin operations of the six new companies on February 1. The restructuring is part of the International Monetary Funds (IMF) austerity program, which targets more than 400 SOEs for privatisation or commercialisation.

On January 20, leaders of the Joint Alliance of CEB Trade Unions (JACEBTU) held a media conference, warning that if Energy Minister Kumara Jayakody failed to meet and discuss their demands, all employees of the Electricity Board will go on strike.

The unions also called for the gazette abolishing the CEB, due to be issued at the end of this month, to be delayed. But they have yet to announce any date for possible strike action.

The JACEBTU consists of about 20 unions, including the CEB Freedom Employees Union (CEBFEU), Sri Lanka Electricity Technicians Association, CEB Engineers Union, Technological Engineers and Superintendents Union (TESU), Jathika Sevaka Sangamaya, Joint Electricity Workers Union and Samagi Sewaka Sangamaya.

CEB workers protesting in front of head office in Colombo on September 17, 2025.

The unions demands were first raised in September and included full payment of workers outstanding entitlements prior to the abolition of the CEB, with guarantees of existing rightssalaries, promotions, loans, pensions, leave, and the resolution of industrial disputesin the new companies. These conditions were to be formalised in a collective agreement with the government.

On September 1718, CEB employees participated in a union sick-note action and a work-to-rule campaign in their first major protest action against the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna/National Peoples Power (JVP/NPP) government. The union leadership, however, abruptly suspended the campaign, claiming that Minister Jayakody had agreed to their 24 demands at talks on October 13.

While the government addressed some issues related to the activities of the CEB, including outstanding payments, it ignored demands related to the new companies and continued its preparations to transfer CEB assets to the new bodies. This means the government will allow the new companies to abandon previous CEB working conditions and determine employment according to their own requirements.

While over 2,000 employees have applied for retirement under the CEBs Voluntary Retirement Schemes (VRS), the Energy Ministry has not made the promised retirement payments. These delays and other broken promises have increased concerns and anger among workers, compelling the JACEBTU leadership to threaten strike action unless the planned breakup of the CEB is postponed, talks held and a collective agreement signed.

The Socialist Equality Party (SEP) warns workers not to be deceived by the JACEBTUs empty rhetoric. As past experiences show, any action called by the union bureaucracy is designed to let off steam and allow it to negotiate a new trap. Even if a collective agreement is signed, it can be easily torn up.

Addressing the media on January 20, JACEBTU leaders reaffirmed their support for the CEB restructuringtheir differences are only over how it will be implementedand openly backed the IMFs austerity program.

As CEBFEU leader Priyantha Prabath told a press conference last September: We are still a poor country, [but] we are moving forward with assistance from the IMF. Large power projects require foreign investment. Prabaths comments express the position of the entire trade union bureaucracy in Sri Lanka.

Many of the JACEBTU unions are affiliated with the ruling JVP/NPP or the parliamentary opposition partiesthe Samagi Jana Balawegaya, United National Party and Sri Lanka Freedom Partyall of which support the IMF program and previously enforced its austerity measures.

CEB workers must draw political lessons from past struggles. While previous attempts to privatise the institution were temporarily halted, the drive for privatisation and job destruction remained. Sri Lankas ruling elite depends on the union bureaucracies to divert and diffuse working-class resistance.

Sri Lankas 2022 financial collapse, amid a deepening global economic crisis, and its default on foreign debts meant the privatisation of the countrys state-owned sector could no longer be delayed. Bailout loans from the IMF required the implementation of what its own officials described as a brutal experiment, with the Wickremesinghe government passing legislation to restructure and privatise the CEB.

Under pressure from its members, the CEB union alliancethen led by a JVP-affiliated union and headed by Ranjan Jayalal, one of its party leaderscalled limited protests in January 2024. The government responded by invoking draconian Essential Services laws and suspending 62 workers.

In June 2024, the JVP trade union wing ordered all its unions to halt industrial action, declaring that this would damage the presidential election campaign of JVP/NPP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake, who falsely promised to re-negotiate the IMF program. The JVP-led CEB union obeyed the directive, with others following.

Once in power, Dissanayake dumped the promise to renegotiate the IMF program and swiftly moved to implement its dictates, including the restructuring of the CEB. A new Electricity Amendment Act was passed with cosmetic changes to the Wickremesinghe governments Act. When CEB workers protested last September against the amendment, the JVP-led union openly opposed any action.

Dissanayake branded workers opposition as reactionary, hailed IMF austerity as a progressive transformation, and reimposed the Essential Services Act on the CEB, banning industrial action. Under these threats, the rest of the CEB union bureaucracy capitulated, entered talks with Minister Jayakody, and shut down all action in October.

The fake-left Frontline Socialist Party (FSP) has made rhetorical criticisms of the government, but its trade union arm, the so-called Workers Struggle Centre, has collaborated closely with the CEB union leaderships betrayals throughout.

In July last year, the FSP formed the Joint Electricity Workers Union (JEWU), but rather than challenge the JACEBTU leadership, it has worked to whitewash it. Operating within the alliance, it repeats the same duplicitous rhetoric, serving as another mechanism to keep workers tied to the pro-capitalist union apparatus.

JEWU president Charitha Sri Chinthaka claimed on January 6 that a collective agreement proposed by the JACEBTU would safeguard workers rights in a systematic and orderly manner. In other words, IMF restructuring of the CEB is acceptable if it is carried out systematically through agreements with union leaders.

Like the rest of the trade union bureaucracy, the FSP opposes the independent mobilisation of the working class against the IMF program and the JVP/NPP government enforcing it.

The FSP insists that President Dissanayake and his government represent peoples expectations. These claims are a desperate attempt to hide the reality that the JVP-led government is fully implementing the demands of Sri Lankas ruling elite and international finance capital.

In opposition to the desperate political manoeuvres of these trade union bureaucracies, the SEP and the Collective of Workers Action Committees (CWAC) call for the independent mobilisation of workers against IMF austerity and the JVP-led government.

From the outset, the SEP and CWAC have urged workers to form their own action committees, independent of the trade union bureaucracies and all capitalist parties. Such committees would allow workers to democratically decide their course of action and unite with workers nationally and internationally. Such organisations provide the only way forward for CEB workers fighting to defend their jobs, wages and hard-won conditions.

This struggle is bound up with the mobilisation of the working class against privatisation and for a socialist program and a workers and peasants government, in which all SOEs are placed under workers democratic control, all major companies, industries and banks are nationalised, and all foreign debts repudiated.

The SEP urges CEB employeesand all workersto contact us and discuss this program.
The Trump administration released its 2026 National Defense Strategy on Friday, a 34-page document that openly proclaims American military domination of North and South America as a platform for global war. The strategy, issued by the newly renamed Department of War, is a blueprint for imperialist conquest.

President Donald Trump walks onto the field with Lt. Gen. Steven Gilland, superintendent of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, left, and Lt. Gen. Michael Borgschulte, superintendent of the U.S. Naval Academy, right, before the start of the 126th Army-Navy NCAA college football game at M&T Bank Stadium, Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025, in Baltimore. [AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson]

The National Defense Strategy introduces the concept of Homeland and Hemisphere, effectively expanding the definition of the American homeland to include all of North and South America.

Building on the National Security Strategy released in December, which declared a Trump Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine, the document asserts that defending American territory requires military control of the entire Western Hemisphere. It declares: We will actively and fearlessly defend Americas interests throughout the Western Hemisphere. We will guarantee U.S. military and commercial access to key terrain, especially the Panama Canal, Gulf of America, and Greenland.

The document explicitly invokes 19th-century imperialism, noting that our predecessors recognized that the United States must take a more powerful, leading role in hemispheric affairs and that it was this insight that gave rise to the Monroe Doctrine and subsequent Roosevelt Corollary. Under the Roosevelt Corollary (named after Theodore Roosevelt, president from 1901 to 1909), US Marines invaded Nicaragua, Haiti, the Dominican Republic and Cuba. The Trump administration declares these crimes the model for 21st-century foreign policy: This is the Trump Corollary to the Monroe Doctrinea commonsense and potent restoration of American power and prerogatives in this hemisphere.

The Pentagon is committed to provide the President with credible options to guarantee U.S. military and commercial access to key terrain from the Arctic to South America.

Homeland and Hemisphere recalls the Nazi slogan Heim ins ReichHome into the Reichused to justify Germanys annexation of Austria and the Sudetenland in 1938. Just as Hitler declared that German-speaking territories belonged to Greater Germany, the Trump administration asserts that Greenland, Panama, and the Gulf of Mexico are American possessions to be secured by force.

While proclaiming hemispheric domination, the National Defense Strategy claims the military will no longer be distracted by interventionism, endless wars, regime change, and nation building. The documents claim to oppose regime change is rendered absurd by the fact that it was released days after the administration carried out one of the most flagrant acts of regime change in American historythe kidnapping of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.

The claim was published as US warships steam toward Iran. On Monday, the USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group approached the Middle East. On Friday, Trump told reporters: We have a big flotilla going in that direction, and well see what happens. We have a big force going toward Iran. This follows his bombing of Iranian nuclear facilities last year.

The National Defense Strategy makes clear that US domination of the hemisphere is not a retreat from global domination, but what the Trump administration sees as a prerequisite. It insists that ours is not a strategy of isolation but rather one of focused engagement abroad.

While claiming that President Trump seeks a stable peace, fair trade, and respectful relations with China, the National Defense Strategy frames hemispheric domination as preparation for great-power war. It acknowledges that China is already the second most powerful country in the worldbehind only the United Statesand the most powerful state relative to us since the 19th century, adding that despite internal challenges, the fact is that its power is growing.

To prepare for this conflict, Trump has called for a 50 percent increase in military spending, demanding a $1.5 trillion military budget for 2027. The National Defense Strategy demands that all US allies follow suit: President Trump has set a new global standard for defense spending at NATOs Hague Summit3.5% of GDP on core military spending and an additional 1.5% on security-related spending, for a total of 5% of GDP.

Five percent of GDP would represent the largest peacetime military buildup in modern historyexceeding $1.3 trillion annually for the United States alone, and tripling German military expenditure. The resources demanded for this military expansion will be extracted from the working class through austerity, the gutting of social programs, and the further impoverishment of billions of people worldwide.

On nuclear weapons, the document demands the modernization of US nuclear forces with focused attention on deterrence and escalation management amidst the changing global nuclear landscape. It declares that the United States should neverwill neverbe left vulnerable to nuclear blackmail. The reference to escalation management is military jargon for preparing to fight and win a nuclear war.

The document concludes: We will restore the warrior ethos. We will refocus the American military on its core, irreplaceable goal of winning the nations wars decisively.

The Democratic Party supports this military buildup. On Thursday, the House passed combined defense and consolidated spending bills by a vote of 341-88, with 149 Democrats voting yes and only 64 voting no. The $839 billion military budget$8.4 billion above what Trump requestedfunds the weapons systems, carrier strike groups and military infrastructure required for the wars outlined in the National Defense Strategy. Both parties represent the same ruling class, and there is bipartisan consensus for militarism and global domination.
An investigation announced on Saturday into Chinas top general Zhang Youxia, the senior vice chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC), second in rank only to its chairman President Xi Jinping, again highlights sharp tensions within Chinas militarythe Peoples Liberation Army (PLA)and the top echelons of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) regime.

Gen. Zhang Youxia, vice chairman of China's Central Military Commission attends the opening of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, Tuesday, March 4, 2025. [AP Photo/Ng Han Guan]

Also under investigation is another CMC member, General Liu Zhenli, the PLAs chief of staff. While the two generals remain on the commission, their purge from military and party posts is all but a foregone conclusion. The latest disciplinary actions follow the expulsion of nine generals from the party last October including another trusted Xi ally, junior CMC vice chairman He Weidong, and the removal of another CMC member Admiral Miao Hua last June.

The CMC, which has overall command of the entire PLA, now consists of only two active membersPresident Xi himself and General Zhang Shengmin, who has overseen Mr. Xis military purges as secretary of the CMC Commission for Discipline Inspection. His career has been as a political commissar rather than a military commander. He was appointed as CMC vice chairman last October.

The purging of General Zhang Youxia will send shockwaves through the PLA and Communist Party itself. He has been widely regarded as a staunch Xi loyalist, with family connections to the president, who like Xi is one of the princelingsthe sons of veteran CCP members. His father was a founding member of the Red Army, who like Xis father was purged during Maos so-called Cultural Revolution in the 1960s and 1970s, and, on his rehabilitation, became a prominent PLA general.

In announcing the investigation, the Ministry of National Defense stated that Zhang Youxia was accused of grave violations of discipline and the law, but provided no details. Liu Pengyu, a Chinese Embassy spokesman in Washington, blandly told the Wall Street Journal that the investigation into Zhang underscored party leaderships full-coverage, zero-tolerance approach to combating corruption.

A Wall Street Journal article last weekend reported that among the accusations against Zhang was the astonishing claim that he had leaked core technical data on Chinas nuclear weapons to the United Statesan offense tantamount to treason and subject to execution. The article was based on details of a briefing given to top Chinese military figures just prior to the announcement of Zhangs investigation provided by unnamed sources.

Some evidence against Zhang came from Gu Jun, the former general manager of the China National Nuclear Corp., a state-owned company that oversees all aspects of Chinas civilian and military nuclear programs, the article stated. No details of the alleged leak were provided. An investigation into Gu himself for suspected violations of party discipline and state laws was announced on January 19.

If it is the case that Chinas top general and close presidential confidante passed vital military secrets to the US, it could not simply be a matter of one corrupt individual. It would indicate fundamental disagreements within the CCP and the PLA over Chinas military and foreign policy under President Xi.

While not ruling out that possibility, the more likely explanation is that Xi had come to regard Zhang as a political threat that had to be removed. Zhang, along with Liu Zhenli, was one of the few PLA generals with actual combat experience. As a young officer, he had fought in Chinas only relatively recent military conflict against Vietnam in 1979, and again in a border clash with Vietnam that erupted in 1984.

As a result, Zhang had considerable standing within the PLA that was only enhanced by his rapid promotion up the ranks of the military and the party under Xi. In 2017, Xi elevated Zhang to the Politburothe second highest decision-making party body and installed him as CMC junior vice chairman. At the 20th Party Congress in 2022, Zhang was promoted to CMC senior vice chairman despite being 72well past the normal retirement age.

According to the Wall Street Journal, Saturdays briefing was told that the accusations against Zhang included taking huge bribes in exchange for facilitating promotions within the military. Such allegations have commonly been used in Xis anti-corruption drive. But to blacken the name of Zhang within the military, Xi needed the far more serious accusation of treason to move against a potential rival.

Xi is presented in the Chinese and international press as a leader wielding absolute power. He is routinely referred to in CCP meetings and events as the core of the party, the font of all wisdom. He pushed through changes to the constitution removing a two-term limit on the presidency and in 2023 was re-elected unopposed for a third term.

In reality, Xi is a Bonapartist figure precariously balancing between competing factions within the party, government and the military, between social classes amid acute social tensions, and on the international stage as the lawless aggression of the Trump administration has generated huge geopolitical uncertainty in every country. Xi cannot tolerate any potential threat or challenge to his position.

The most revealing accusation against Zhang was made in the militarys official newspaper, the PLA Daily, in an editorial published on Sunday. It declared both Zhang and Liu Pengyu had seriously abetted political and corruption problems that affect the partys absolute leadership over the military and endanger the foundation of the partys rule.

The reference to the partys absolute leadership over the military has only one meaningPresident Xi and his chairmanship of the CMC. The Communist Party does indeed rest on the militarywhich was its means for seizing power in the 1949 Chinese Revolution and suppressing domestic opposition, as it did during the Cultural Revolution and again to put down country-wide protests in mid-1989.

Given the opaque character of the Chinese regime, there are only hints of disagreements between Zhang and Xi. An article in March last year in the US-based think tank, the Jamestown Foundation, noted that articles in the PLA Daily in late 2024 written by people aligned with Zhang advocated for collective leadership and more internal democratic decision-making in what was a thinly disguised rebuke to Xis highly centralized leadership. Nevertheless, Zhang survived last Octobers purge.

Whatever the actual wrongdoings of Zhang and Xis motives for his removal, the ongoing purge of the Chinese military only underscores the fragility of the CCP regime, which has been intensified by the Trump administration. As Beijing understands very well, Trumps ultimate target is China, the worlds second largest economy, which Washington regards as the chief threat to the global hegemony of US imperialism.

Trump reached a temporary truce last year in his economic war of tariffs and hi-tech export bans against China after Beijing imposed restrictions on the export of rare earths that had the potential to cripple key industries, including military production, in the US. He is due to meet with Xi in China in April. But Trumps criminal actions against Venezuela and military threats against Iran menace two of Chinas key suppliers of oilin effect a continuation of the US economic war through other means.

In the face of steep US tariffs, China has found other markets for its exports but its economy is still plagued by high levels of debt and a crisis-ridden property market. Economic growth last year was officially 5 percent, but that figure is well below the benchmark 8 percent previously regarded as necessary for low unemployment and social stability. The huge social gulf between the tiny oligarchy of multi-billionaires that the CCP above all represents and the vast majority of the population is a continuing source of resentment, hostility and outright opposition.

The fact that Xi concludes that it is necessary to move against his closest ally in the military is not a sign of political strength, but rather presages political instability in his regime.
SEOUL, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- Trial will begin on Tuesday afternoon over the charges of political funds act violation against the impeached former South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol.

The first pretrial preparation hearing will be held at 2:00 p.m. local time (0500 GMT) for the case involving Yoon.

Yoon was accused of conspiring with his wife, Kim Keon-hee, to receive illegal public opinion polls free of charge from a political broker on multiple occasions from 2021 to 2022 ahead of the presidential election.

The preparation hearings are held to hear the opinions of the prosecution and the defendant before the beginning of formal hearings. The defendant is not obligated to attend the preparation hearings.

Yoon's wife, who was arrested and indicted on the same charges, was scheduled to face her first-instance sentencing on Wednesday. 
PHNOM PENH, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- The number of Chinese tourists to Cambodia increased significantly in 2025 despite an overall drop in international tourist arrivals to the kingdom, said a Cambodian Ministry of Tourism report released on Tuesday.

A total of 1.2 million Chinese visitors traveled to Cambodia in 2025, a year-on-year rise of 41.5 percent, while the total international tourist arrivals to the kingdom dropped by 16.9 percent to 5.57 million last year, the report said.

China was the second-biggest source of foreign holidaymakers to the Southeast Asian country after Vietnam, the report added.

Thourn Sinan, chairman of the Pacific Asia Travel Association Cambodia chapter, said the growth in Chinese tourist numbers reflected a strong and growing interest of Chinese tourists in Cambodia's tourist attractions.

"The rising middle class in China, coupled with targeted marketing and expanded flight routes, should further boost Chinese arrivals," he told Xinhua.

Thong Mengdavid, deputy director at the China-ASEAN Studies Center of the Cambodia University of Technology and Science, said the Cambodia-China Tourism Year 2025 had boosted this growth.

"I believe that the growth of Chinese tourists to Cambodia will continue to soar this year thanks to Cambodia's pilot visa-free policy for Chinese nationals, which is set to begin from June 15 to October 15, 2026," he told Xinhua.

Tourism is one of the four pillars supporting Cambodia's economy, in addition to garment, footwear and travel goods export, agriculture, and construction and real estate. 
WARSAW, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- Poland will receive nearly 44 billion euros (about 52 billion U.S. dollars) from the European Union (EU)'s Security Action for Europe (SAFE) program for defense investments, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said on Tuesday.

Tusk said the European Commission approved Poland's application for funds from the SAFE instrument on Monday afternoon.

Poland was among the initiators of the SAFE project and will be its largest beneficiary, Tusk said, adding that the amount earmarked for Poland exceeds the annual defense budgets of some EU member states, including Spain and Italy.

The SAFE instrument, approved in May 2025, is part of the EU's broader effort to enhance its collective defense capabilities. Valued at 150 billion euros, the program aims to boost joint production and procurement of defense equipment. (1 euro = 1.19 U.S. dollars) 
Tylor Chase's living condition seems to have plummeted astronomically since he made headlines last year.

The former Nickelodeon star has reportedly been sleeping on his mom's porch with a short plywood installed to cover him from public glare. Authorities previously shared that Chase has been declining medical help and housing, and it was pretty much the same case when he went back to the streets after a former colleague tried to help.

Tylor Chase's dad previously opened up about his battle with addiction and mental health issues, but explained that he has refused to get help.

Tylor Chase Seen Smoking Pipe And Sleeping On His Mother's Porch

TikTok | Ricecrackerspov

New photos shared by the New York Post show Tylor Chase looking dishevelled while smoking a pipe on his mom's porch in California amid his ongoing battle with substance abuse.

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According to the news outlet, the former actor has been seeking shelter behind a makeshift wooden plank on his mother's porch, although it's not known if he's welcome inside the house or is just being allowed to sleep outside.

His mom, Paula Moisio, described the home as a "safe space" for him as he continues to battle homelessness.

The former child star made headlines last year when he was seen sorting through a dumpster looking for food close to a 7-Eleven.

Neighbors who live close to his mom's house say he has become quite an unfortunate fixture in the neighborhood, but it remains unclear if any sort of complaints have been tendered.

The Actor's Dad Reveals He Has Mental Health Issues

Tylor Chase (X | Collin Rugg)

Chase rose to fame after he played the role of Martin Qwerly in Nickelodeon's "Ned's Declassified School Survival Guide."

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After he recently went viral in a video shared on social media, his sorry state left fans concerned, with many offering to help via a GoFundMe that generated more than $1200.

However, his mom shut it down, saying he would use it to get drugs, and what he needs is medical attention, not money.

His father revealed last year that the family has been dealing with the situation for well over a decade now, explaining that Chase is a "wonderful person" when he's himself, but his drug addiction problems have taken the better of him.

"For over a decade, the family has sought treatment options for Tylor, including support for substance use as well as mental health care," he said, per the Daily Mail. "In addition to addiction, Tylor has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder and schizophrenia, which require consistent medical treatment."

Tyler Chase's Family Has Done All They Can To Help

Former Nickelodeon child stars are having a rough one pic.twitter.com/qN95SrxOmJ   (@FalconryFinance) December 21, 2025

Chase doesn't appear to be physically close to his dad, who stays far away in Georgia. However, He's understood to be in close contact with his mom, whose house he has now turned into a place of refuge.

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His dad also shared that his family had done all they could to get him help, but had not been able to record much success, partly due to his unwillingness to cooperate. In fact, he noted that they signed him up for rehab sometime around 2021, but he always managed to relapse.

"Approximately four years ago, he received treatment in Georgia, and while there was progress for a time, he later chose to discontinue medication and resumed substance use," he said at the time.

He continued, "More recently, Tylor returned to California to be with his mother in hopes of stabilizing his situation; however, despite continued support, he has refused ongoing treatment and assistance."

The Former Child Star Confirmed He Was Taking Multiple Drugs

Tylor Chase (X | Collin Rugg)

Chase confirmed his substance abuse issues when he told the Daily Mail that he "likes to vape" and takes "Prozac, Adderall, Sudafed, Wellbutrin, or also Zoloft."

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The actor also claimed during his chat with the news outlet that he received the drugs from a psychiatrist despite not having any serious mental health conditions.

"I'm not really active homeless at this time, I'm thinking that I would like to go see my dad, relatively shortly, in the state of Georgia," he said. "I have the whole setup to stay out there, a room out there hopefully [...] Probably a housing assistance program in Georgia most likely."

Tylor Chase Isn't Wanted For Any Crimes

Tylor Chase and his former co-star, Daniel Curtis Lee (Instagram | Daniel Curtis Lee)

Meanwhile, law enforcement explained that Chase isn't wanted for any crime and they're aware of his situation. However, court records show he has been held for 12 misdemeanor arrests in Riverside County since 2023, mostly for shoplifting from small businesses.

The Public Information Officer for the Riverside Police Department, Ryan Railsback, shared that they always encountered Chase and would interact with him at least once a week.

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This is because the department has a special program wherein they regularly engage with homeless individuals, offering them mental health and alcohol treatment.

However, according to reports, Chase has consistently turned down the offer but was always cordial and cooperative.
Jessie James Decker had plenty of fans saying the same thing about her "scary" post-storm footage, highlighting the damage done as Winter Storm Fern swept through Nashville.

According to the Tennessean, three people died in the state of Tennessee as a direct result of the blizzard, which left over 200,000 residents without power after the temperature plummeted, bringing freezing rain. The country sweetheart, who has lived in the area for nearly two decades, says she's "never seen anything like this" before.

"This is what one night of an ice storm did in Nashville, TN," she explained over a collection of footage uploaded to Instagram late on Monday, Jan. 26, showcasing what, at a quick glance, looked like a gentle winter wonderland that quickly turned into a nightmare.

Her Own Backyard Turned Into a Mine Field

The couple's property was covered in a sheet of ice, and throughout countless different clips, branches suddenly snapped off the surrounding trees, with the startling sounds of them splitting quickly followed by the sounds of the snow and ice collapsing after it.

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The limbs fell on their neighbors' cars, compressed power lines, and, in some cases, practically split the entire tree in half, all while the clouds continued to roll across the sky ominously.

"I've never seen anything like this. Trees just falling everywhere, you can just hear it, it's just 'Crack! Crack! Crack!'" she described.

Despite the extent of the damage at her own home, she recognized that "its even worse out there" in other parts of the city, state, and country, before sending gratitude to those working to repair powerlines and respond to emergency calls in the poor weather. "We cant even imagine what youre going through or how tirelessly youre working to help our community."

The 'Should Have Known Better' Songstress Had Her Followers All Saying the Same Thing

Fans were horror-struck by the terrifying footage, in complete agreement that even the aftermath of the winter storm was "so scary!"

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"That is absolutely nuts!!  Ive never seen anything like it," one wrote, while another shared their own experience with similar damage, writing, "Its absolutely insane here! When the trees fall it sounds like a bomb is going off."

"Its so scary!" another emphasized. "The sound is indescribable!"

"It's both so scary and so beautiful," someone else admitted with wonder.

"Girl, you may want to go inside," others warned, worried she or her husband, Eric Decker, might be struck by an unexpected collapse.

Much of the country was slammed over the weekend as the massive stormfront moved from south to north, but, naturally, southern states were less equipped to handle extensive amounts of snow and ice.

She's Not the Only Country Star Shedding Light on the Destruction of Her Beloved Town

Tim McGraw, who also lives near Music City, shared an unsettling photo of a vehicle navigating a road littered with broken branches, too. Woke up to the damage across Nashville this morning and my heart sank, he said, going on to encourage fans, If you need help, ask. If you can help, go.

This story was originally published by Parade on Jan 27, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
John Stamos is known for keeping his public platform focused on family, gratitude, and career milestones. But on Monday, January 26, the actor made it clear that staying silent no longer felt possible.

In a handwritten message shared to his Instagram Stories, Stamos addressed what he described as deeply troubling actions by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, framing his post not as a political declaration, but as a response rooted in basic humanity.

I usually stay out of politics. This doesn't feel like that, the note begins. What I'm seeing from ICE feels cruel. I don't need it explained away or reframed. I trust my own eyes!

RELATED: John Stamos & More Stars Rally Around SNL Writer Pleading for Help Finding Missing Sister

Stamos went on to explain why he believes the familiar criticism aimed at outspoken celebrities no longer applies in moments like this.

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When people are treated like threats instead of human beings, when fear is the tactic, something is broken, he wrote. Stay in your lane, actor doesn't apply when basic humanity is IS the lane. This is ALL OF OUR LANE!

The statement arrives amid heightened national attention on immigration enforcement following the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old ICU nurse and U.S. citizen who was killed by a U.S. Border Patrol officer in Minneapolis. Federal officials have said Pretti approached officers with a firearm, while bystander video appears to show him holding a phone. Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz has said he has been in contact with the White House regarding the incident, which remains under investigation. This is the second ICE killing a civilian in Minneapolis in two weeks.

RELATED: Food Network Stars Sharp Comment After Supreme Courts Kim Davis Decision Goes Viral

Without referencing the shooting directly, Stamos message focused on what he sees as a broader erosion of accountability and empathy.

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I'm tired of the hypocrisy, too. The speed of the cycle has erased shame, he wrote. Harm happens, outrage flashes, then we move on like nothing stuck. But it sticks. This doesn't feel right, and staying quiet feels worse.

The actor ended his message on a somber, cautionary note that quickly resonated across social media.

RELATED: Dukes of Hazzards John Schneider Blasts NYC After Election: You Made Your Lie Now Bed in It

Lately it feels like the bad guys are winning, Stamos wrote. Maybe the least we can do is not look away. - J.S.

Stamos does not often comment on political issues. This time, his message focused less on ideology and more on personal discomfort, framing the moment as a question of basic humanity rather than partisanship.

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As he made clear in his closing lines, for him, silence now feels like the greater risk.

 SIGN UP for Parades Daily newsletter to get the latest pop culture news & celebrity interviews delivered right to your inbox 

This story was originally published by Parade on Jan 26, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
NEED TO KNOW

Kanye West gave an an email interview with Vanity Fair on Tuesday, Jan. 27 after publishing a full-page advertisement apology letter in The Wall Street Journal earlier this week

He spoke to Vanity Fair about how his deeply offensive antisemitic comments affected his personal relationships

"All of the family bonds, deep relationships, and lifelong friendships that I worked so hard to build over so many years were all tarnished by all of the horrible statements that I made so impulsively," said West

Kanye West is speaking about how his deeply offensive antisemitic comments affected his personal relationships.

In an email interview with Vanity Fair on Tuesday, Jan. 27, the disgraced rapper and businessman further reflected on his erratic behavior, turn to antisemitism and bipolar disorder diagnosis following his full-page advertisement apology letter in The Wall Street Journal earlier this week.

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West told Vanity Fair that he didn't truly understand "what I did while I was disconnected from my true self" until spending time in a Switzerland treatment center following a manic episode in 2025.

"Every day that I wake up, its a checklist of everything that I said  at least what I can recall  while in a bipolar episode," said West. "All of the family bonds, deep relationships, and lifelong friendships that I worked so hard to build over so many years were all tarnished by all of the horrible statements that I made so impulsively."

Kanye West in March 2024 Scott Dudelson/Getty

West  who shares four kids (daughters North, 12, and Chicago, 7, as well as sons Saint, 9, and Psalm, 6) with ex-wife Kim Kardashian  added of his experience, "When youre manic, you really dont think that youre sick. You think that everyone else is deeply overreacting. You feel like youre seeing the world so much more clearly on things, when in reality youre losing your grip entirely. Thats what it felt like at that time."

West has made many antisemitic remarks attacking the Jewish population in recent years. Adidas ended its partnership with Yeezy in 2022 after West threatened to go "death con 3 On JEWISH PEOPLE."

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He was sued in 2025 by a former employee of his Yeezy brand, who alleged in a complaint that he compared himself to Hitler, threatened her because she was Jewish and fired her one day after she reported his alleged conduct to her supervisor. West was court-ordered to pay over $76,000 of the unnamed employee's legal fees in September, though the case otherwise remains on hold.



In 2025, West also defended Sean "Diddy" Combs (who's currently imprisoned after being convicted on two prostitution-related charges in July) and shared antisemitic comments in a slur-ridden rant praising Adolf Hitler on X. He was subsequently dropped by his talent agent, Daniel McCartney of 33&West.

Kardashian has spoken extensively about her struggles with the "Through the Wire" artist's behavior.

"I was pretty tested, I will say. Very tested," said Kardashian on Hulu's The Kardashians last year. "I mean, I have psoriasis again. I felt it. I mean, I felt more stressed, probably just because I had to super, super protect what I had to protect. My kids are involved now."

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Witnessing West's problematic actions led Kardashian to think about "my poor kids," she said on the show. "Everyone around can handle it, but likeprotect my babies."

"Theyre gonna know things. Theyre gonna grow up. Theyre gonna see," the Skims founder added. "So my job as a mom is to just make sure that at a time when that behavior is happening, is just to make sure that they are protected."

Kardashian also revealed on The Kardashians that she was diagnosed with a brain aneurysm and doctors said "stress" may have been the cause.

In a clip from the show, a tearful Kardashian discussed her divorce from West. Im happy its over, she said. My ex will be in my life no matter what. We have four kids together.



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John Legend, who was previously signed to West's GOOD Music record label, told The Times in May 2025 that he "didnt see a hint of what were seeing now, his obsessions with antisemitism, anti-blackness" during their time as close collaborators. "And it is sad to see his devolution," he said at the time.

Kanye West in February 2025 Frazer Harrison/Getty

West published an apologetic open letter titled "To Those I've Hurt" as a full-page advertisement (paid for by his Yeezy brand) in the Monday, Jan. 26 edition of The Wall Street Journal.

He began the letter by recalling the 2002 car accident that broke my jaw and caused injury to the right frontal lobe of my brain." He said the interior neurological damage went unnoticed until 2023.

That medical oversight caused serious damage to my mental health and led to my bipolar type-1 diagnosis, West wrote.

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Elsewhere in the letter, he said, "I regret and am deeply mortified by my actions in that state, and am committed to accountability, treatment, and meaningful change. It does not excuse what I did, though. I am not a Nazi or an antisemite. I love Jewish people.



Read the original article on People
Kate Middleton highlighted a string of British brands from Holland Cooper to Jigsaw during her visit to Family Actions Childrens Trauma Therapy Service on Tuesday in Bradford, England.

The Princess of Wales kept her attire mostly monochrome, wearing a coordinated power suiting moment in shades of brown. Middletons look consisted of a double-breasted blazer in large scale brown herringbone by Holland Cooper, a British luxury brand founded in 2011.

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BRADFORD, ENGLAND - JANUARY 27: Catherine, Princess of Wales during her visit to Family Action's Children's Trauma Therapy Service on January 27, 2026 in Bradford, England. The Princess of Wales visited the north of England to highlight how community, nature and creativity can help those struggling with trauma, isolation and mental health challenges. (Photo by Chris Jackson/Getty Images)

The piece was crafted from a classic and contemporary pinstripe fabric and fully lined with a luxury stretch lining for extra comfort. The blazer included further details like sharp, statement lapels and subtle hip pockets.

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Holland Cooper is a British label that Middletons touted before. In April 2025, Middleton wore the double-breasted blazer in brown by Holland Cooper during a trip to Scotland alongside Prince William.

BRADFORD, ENGLAND - JANUARY 27: Catherine, Princess of Wales during her visit to Family Action's Children's Trauma Therapy Service on January 27, 2026 in Bradford, England. The Princess of Wales visited the north of England to highlight how community, nature and creativity can help those struggling with trauma, isolation and mental health challenges. (Photo by Chris Jackson/Getty Images)

The Princess of Wales coordinated her blazer with a pair of modern crepe wide leg trousers in a shade of brown courtesy of Jigsaw, another British brand founded in 1970 by John Robinson. Middletons chocolatey brown turtleneck tied her sartorial statement together.

As for accessories, Middleton wore a pair of trinity earrings in yellow, white and rose gold by Cartier. The Princess of Wales penchant for monochrome suiting is a cornerstone of the British royal family members wardrobe. Middletons been on a streak of monochrome power suiting moments as of late.

BRADFORD, ENGLAND - JANUARY 27: Catherine, Princess of Wales during her visit to Family Action's Children's Trauma Therapy Service on January 27, 2026 in Bradford, England. The Princess of Wales visited the north of England to highlight how community, nature and creativity can help those struggling with trauma, isolation and mental health challenges. (Photo by Chris Jackson/Getty Images)

On Jan. 8, Middleton was joined by husband Prince William for an outing to Charing Cross Hospital in London, for which she wore a maroon Roland Mouret suit, along with other monochrome elements, including a Me + Em blouse.

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Fresh into 2026 with joint and solo royal outings, the Princess of Wales visited communities and organizations in the north of England to highlight how community, nature and creativity can help those struggling with trauma, isolation and mental health challenges.

WINDSOR, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 03: William, Prince of Wales and Catherine, Princess of Wales arrive ahead the state banquet for the German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and his wife Elke Budenbender, on day one of their state visit to the UK, at Windsor Castle on December 3, 2025 in Windsor, England. The President of the Federal Republic of Germany, accompanied by Ms. Elke Budenbender, are paying a State Visit to the United Kingdom as the guests of Their Majesties The King and Queen. The visit is the first from Germany in 27 years and will be marked with ceremonial visits, an address to the UK parliament and a banquet. (Photo by Aaron Chown - Pool/Getty Images)

WINDSOR, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 17: Catherine, Princess of Wales and Prince William, Prince of Wales arrive for the State Banquet hosted by King Charles III and members of the Royal Family at Windsor Castle during the state visit by the President of the United States of America on September 17, 2025 in Windsor, England. President Trump is in England from Sept. 16-18 on his second UK state visit, with the previous one taking place in 2019 during his first presidential term. (Photo by Aaron Chown-WPA Pool/Getty Images)

WINDSOR, ENGLAND - JULY 08: Prince William, Prince of Wales and Catherine, Princess of Wales attend the State Banquet at Windsor Castle on July 08, 2025 in Windsor, England. President Emmanuel Macron and Mrs Brigitte Macron visit the UK in the first visit State Visit made by France in 17 years. They are staying at Windsor Castle, hosted by King Charles III and Queen Camilla, and a banquet will be held there in their honour. The Macrons will visit Imperial College, and the President will address Parliament during his stay. (Photo by Chris Jackson/Getty Images)

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"Twilight" actress Kristen Stewart has revealed plans to relocate out of the United States, claiming that her career in her home nation is being impeded by President Donald Trump, who she says has made it "impossible" to "freely" make movies stateside.

Los Angeles native Stewart, 35, who shot to fame at the age of 12 while starring alongside Jodie Foster in the hit thriller "Panic Room," opened up about her desire to relocate to Europe during a candid interview with British outlet The Times.

The actress explained that she hopes to grow her directorial career, having taken her first major step behind the camera while directing and producing the 2025 movie "The Chronology of Water," which was filmed in Latvia.

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Stewart pointed to Trump as the reason for the film's location, claiming that the project, which stars Imogen Poots and Thora Birch, "would have been impossible to do in the United States."

The actress then took aim at Trump's proposed tariffs on films made outside of the U.S., describing them as "terrifying" for the film industry as a whole.

"Twilight" actress Kristen Stewart has revealed plans to leave the United States, claiming that her career would be better off if President Donald Trump were no longer in the White House. (Michael Buckner/Variety via Getty Images)

"Reality is breaking completely under Trump, but we should take a page out of his book and create the reality we want to live in," she said.

Stewart, who splits her time between Los Angeles and New York, confessed she's "probably not" going to stay in America.

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"I cant work freely there, but I dont want to give up completely. Id like to make movies in Europe and then shove them down the throat of the American people," she added.

Trump proposed a 100% tariff on movies made outside of the states in September.

"Our movie-making business has been stolen from the United States of America, by other Countries, just like stealing candy from a baby," Trump wrote on Truth Social at the time. "California, with its weak and incompetent Governor, has been particularly hard hit!

"Therefore, in order to solve this long time, never-ending problem, I will be imposing a 100% Tariff on any and all movies that are made outside of the United States.

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"Thank you for your attention to this matter. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!"

California Gov. Gavin Newsom's press office replied with a statement shared to X : "The Governor tried to explain this to Trump months agowhen this was initially proposedthat his actions will cause irreparable damage to the U.S. film industry. Todays move is 100% stupid."

Should she choose to move abroad, Stewart would join a growing list of celebrities who have quit the U.S. since Trump was reelected in November 2024.

Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi, Eva Longoria, Rosie O'Donnell, and Richard Gere are all among the many stars who have left America in favor of relocating overseas in the wake of Trump's win over Democratic candidate Kamala Harris.

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In 2024, Stewart told Porter Magazine that she was going to shoot her film in Latvia after facing many obstacles getting it made in the U.S.

"Its a fledgling film culture there. Look, Im all about the way we make movies here [in the U.S.], but I needed a sort of radical detachment. I am not a director yet. I need to make a student film. I cant do that here," she said.

While speaking to The Times, she confessed that she wants to make the jump to Europe because she "can't work freely" in the States. (Photo by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)

Stewart and Trump have a long history of drama, dating back over a decade when the actress was dating her "Twilight" co-star Robert Pattinson. (Franco S. Origlia/Getty Images))

Stewart and Trump have a long history of drama, dating back more than a decade when the actress was dating her "Twilight" co-star Robert Pattinson.

At the time, she was involved in a cheating scandal with her "Snow White and the Huntsman" director, Rupert Sanders, who was married at the time.



Trump weighed in on the drama via social media, writing, "Robert Pattinson should not take back Kristen Stewart. She cheated on him like a dog & will do it again  just watch. He can do much better!

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"Everyone knows I am right that Robert Pattinson should dump Kristen Stewart. In a couple of years, he will thank me. Be smart, Robert."

The news of Stewart's possible move abroad comes months after she tied the knot with longtime partner Dylan Meyer in an intimate ceremony held at a Mexican restaurant near the actress' Los Angeles mansion.

Stewart and Meyer, 38, exchanged vows at Casita Del Campo, an eatery in Silver Lake that is a 10-minute drive from the actress' $3.7 million home, which has served as her primary residence since she snapped it up in 2012.

According to TMZ, the happy couple made their way to the restaurant for the April 20 wedding after stopping by the courthouse to obtain their marriage licensealthough initial reports suggested that they had actually tied the knot at Stewart's home.

The news of Stewart's possible move abroad comes months after she tied the knot with longtime partner Dylan Meyer in an intimate ceremony held at a Mexican restaurant just minutes from the actress' Los Angeles mansion. (Michael Kovac/Getty Images for Champagne Collet & OBC Wines)

Stewart and Meyer, 38, exchanged vows at Casita Del Campo, an eatery in Silver Lake that is a 10-minute drive from the actress' $3.7 million home, which has served as her primary residence since she snapped it up in 2012. (Google Maps)

The actress paid $2.2 million for the home in 2012, according to recordsfour years after she shot to global fame while starring as Bella Swan in the movie adaptation of Stephenie Meyer's book "Twilight." (spillzdylz/Instagram)

According to the outlet, the lovebirdswho began dating in 2019 and got engaged in 2021said "I do" in front of a group of close family and friends, including "Pretty Little Liars" star Ashley Benson and her husband, Brandon Davis.

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Photos obtained by TMZ revealed the couple kept it casual for their nuptials, with Stewart donning a gray skirt and top, while Meyer sported a white top and satin ivory skirt.

The actress paid $2.2 million for the home in 2012, according to recordsfour years after she shot to global fame while starring as Bella Swan in the movie adaptation of Stephenie Meyer's book "Twilight." The home, which Realtor.com estimates is worth about $3.7 million, is registered to a trust.

The 3,361-square-foot mansion has four bedrooms and five bathrooms. It also features a resort-style pool.

Previously, Stewart owned a home in Malibu, CA, which she sold for $8.3 million in 2022. She still holds the keys to a penthouse in New York City.

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While on SiriusXM's "The Howard Stern Show" after getting engaged in 2021, Stewart revealed that she had plans to get down on one knee. However, Meyer beat her to it and proposed first.

"It's not a given that I would be the one, you know what I mean? Like, with two girls, you never know. Like, who's going to fulfill what weird f------ gender role thing, and we don't do that or think about it in those terms," the actress told host Howard Stern.
Melissa Gilbert has finally spoken out about husband Timothy Busfields child sex abuse charges.

The Little House on the Prairie actress, 61, released a statement Monday on her company Modern Prairies Instagram account and addressed the scandal publicly for the first time.

Im sending you all my love and gratitude during this extraordinarily difficult time, she began her message. Not only for Tim, me and our family, but in the collective heaviness so many of us seem to be carrying right now. Add an unexpected storm to the mix, and it can all feel like a bit too much.

Melissa Gilbert broke her silence on her husband Timothy Busfields child sex abuse charges in a new statement. Instagram/officialmodernprairie

Timothy Busfield appears in court in New Mexico on Jan. 20. BACKGRID

Melissa Gilbert supporting Timothy Busfield in court in New Mexico on Jan. 20. AP

This season has reminded me, very clearly, how important it is to slow down, prioritize what truly matters, and allow ourselves moments of rest, Gilbert continued. Stepping back from the noise, the news, and even our daily responsibilities from time to time gives us space to recharge, reflect, and find our center again.

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The Miracle Worker star thanked her followers for the love, patience, and support that theyve showed her and Busfield, 68, following the shocking charges.

Thank you for helping me to feel safer, more grounded, and deeply held by this extraordinary community of women here at Modern Prairie, Gilbert added. Ill be easing back into things thoughtfully and with care  moving forward one step at a time. More to come, and so much gratitude always.

The post featured a photo of Gilbert staring out the window while holding a cup of coffee.

She thanked her followers for the love, patience, and support that theyve showed her and Busfield. melissagilbert/Instagram

Busfield and Gilbert attend the opening night party for Medea in NYC on Jan. 30, 2020. Getty Images for BAM

Busfield has been charged with two counts of criminal sexual contact of a minor and one count of child abuse for allegedly inappropriately touching two child actors on the Fox series The Cleaning Lady. He has denied the allegations.

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The abuse allegedly began in 2022 when the two young actors, both boys, were just 7 years old, according to court documents.

An investigation began in November 2024 after a physician notified cops that they suspected sexual abuse and grooming after examining one of the children at the University of New Mexico Hospital, the criminal complaint said.

Timothy Busfield after he was released on bail in New Mexico on Jan. 21. BACKGRID

Melissa Gilbert moments after a judge released her husband, Timothy Busfield, from jail. BACKGRID

Busfield has also been accused by prosecutors in Bernalillo County, New Mexico, of sexually abusing a 16-year-old girl several years ago in Sacramento, California, in a motion filed Jan. 14.

The West Wing alum had a two-hour pretrial detention hearing in New Mexico on Jan. 20. Gilbert was there and cried when the judge decided Busfield could be released with conditions ahead of his trial.

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Gilbert is also one of 75 people who wrote letters of support for her husband to the judge.

Timothy Busfield appears at Bernalillo County Courthouse in New Mexico for a detention hearing on Jan. 20. BACKGRID

Melissa Gilbert, wearing glasses, sitting in a courtroom AP

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, Gilbert wrote.

She also said Busfield has the strongest moral compass of any human I have ever known and has dedicated his spiritual self to always being of service to others.

Gilbert and Busfield have been married since 2013. They share five children from their respective previous relationships.




The Texas connections stand out in this year's BAFTAs list of nominations announced Tuesday.

Among the actors nominated, two hail from Texas while a best-picture nominee from Paul Thomas Anderson was partially filmed in the Lone Star State.

The BAFTAs will take place on Feb. 22.

Here are a few of the Texas ties in this year's nominees for the British equivalent of the Academy Awards.

Lead Actors

Ethan Hawke

Nominated in the Best Actor category for Texas filmmaker Richard Linklater's "Blue Moon," Hawke, who has been profiled in Texas Monthly, was born in Austin while his parents attended the University of Texas and has family roots in Fort Worth. Hawke's grandfather was a member of the Texas House and a Tarrant County judge.

Jesse Plemons

While snubbed by Oscar, Jesse Plemons was nominated in the lead actor category for his role in "Yorgo Lanthimos Bugonia." Born in Mart, Texas, according to this Texas Monthly profile, the former child actor is also an alumnus of Texas Tech University. Plemons also wears his Texas roots on his sleeve in a 2024 Shiner Bock Beer commercial, where he is seen in a bar and intones the tagline, "It's a Texas thing."

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Plemons and his wife, actress Kirsten Dunst, have spent time in Texas savoring its barbecue culture.

https://youtube.com/shorts/mzrWd6heDMs?si=cTK_Tg8BJveU7etB

More Texas connections

Best Film

Paul Thomas Anderson's "One Battle After Another," which snags 16 nods from BAFTA voters, was filmed partially in El Paso, Texas, as detailed on the Motion Picture Association website.

"Train Dreams" was nominated in the Adapted Screenplay, Original Song and Cinematography categories. The film was co-written by Greg Kwedar, an Austin-based director. Kwedar also attended Texas A&M University and his ties to the school have been profiled in its newspaper.

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Kwedar was introduced by Linklater during a panel discussion on the Texas film industry at 2025 Texas Film Awards in Austin.

This article originally published at Ethan Hawke, Jesse Plemons and more: These are the Texas ties in 2026 BAFTA nominations.
George Feldenkreiss constant smile keeps your eyes on the screen in the documentary From Cuba to America, which had its world premiere at the Miami Jewish Film Festival on Jan. 24, with two additional screenings on Monday and Wednesday.

Feldenkreis (La Habana, 1935Miami, 2025) speaks with a smile in his voice and his eyes. For those who think they know the story of the Cuban Jewish immigrant  the businessman and philanthropist who arrived in Miami in 1961 with $70 and built a multimillion-dollar fashion empire  Perry Ellis International  the curiosity of discovering so many lives lived with such optimism is what captivates the viewer.

His sense of humor was unmistakably Jewish, says Jerry Levine, director of From Cuba to America.

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The funniest things he said were often punctuated with Yiddish: that cadence, that irony, that warmth its a very old and beautiful tradition.

Many lives in one: from guayabera salesman to textile magnate

Feldenkreis has been many things in his 89 years: a guayabera salesman, an architect of modern Miami, one of the fortunate few who ring the opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange, a tireless worker who one day found himself holding a $12 million check, earned when his company went public  a check he kept to never forget what it took to get there.

He was also the businessman who rescued his company and took it private again when he saw his legacy threatened.

But above all, he was a Cuban boy, the son of Ukrainian Jews, who grew up in a small Havana apartment, sharing a room with his grandfather and sister.

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We lived in poverty all the time; I wouldnt call it a happy childhood, rather a mediocre one, Feldenkreis admits in the documentary.

George Feldenkreis with his first wife Dorita and their children, Fanny and Oscar. (Cortesia Miami Jewish Film Festival)

He also learned early about the suffering of the Jewish people, reflected in his mothers tears after she lost relatives in extermination camps in Europe.

I saw my mother cry, and that was the first time I understood the evil done to the Jews, Feldenkreis says.

The trade learned at home: fabrics, commerce and the start in Miami

His father sold fabrics, and from him, Feldenkreis learned to be a merchant  an experience that gave him the confidence to sell door-to-door in Hialeah, he recalls in the film.

He developed his leadership early as a member of the Jewish Youth in Cuba, a time when he would visit Jewish households across Havana and came to know almost every member of the community.

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What surprised me most about Cuba, in the context of this film, was the depth of Havanas Jewish community, Levine says. That religious and cultural foundation shaped George profoundly. As a teenager, he met Menachem Begin in Havana and spent an entire day as his escort  an unforgettable experience that helped set the trajectory of his life as a global leader.

George Feldenkreis, when he was a law student at the University of Havana. (Cortesia)

The documentary also shows Feldenkreis as a law student at the University of Havana, a degree he paid for himself. Later, as a lawyer after the 1959 revolution, he had an early encounter with Fidel Castro, who assigned him a mission  which I wont reveal so you can see it in the theater  involving a Malecon building that housed students.

The return to Cuba in 2011, closing a circle

One of the most moving aspects of the documentary for Cuban exiles, especially those who never returned, is Feldenkreiss trip back to the island in 2011. Now a successful man and accompanied by part of his family, he humbly knocks on the door of the Havana apartment where he grew up.

They let him in and, suddenly, two worlds meet, with the nostalgia that comes from overlapping times in the same space. What follows is joyful: Feldenkreis reunites with some law school classmates, and there is dancing and camaraderie.

Filmmaker Jerry Levine interviewing George Feldenkreis for the documentary From Cuba to America. (Courtesy)

George handed me a DVD and said, Jerry, you need to watch this raw footage, Levine recalls. As soon as I saw it, I knew they belonged in the closing of the film. It was epic  George returning to Havana and to the home of his childhood at the sunset of his life. A true circle-of-life moment.

Voices and testimonies: who appears in the documentary

Interviewed in the film are Feldenkreiss children, Fanny Hanono and Oscar Feldenkreiss, who currently leads Perry Ellis; Jacob Solomon, former president of the Greater Miami Jewish Federation; designer Tommy Hilfiger; and musician and producer Emilio Estefan, who contributed part of the documentarys soundtrack.

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The Miami Jewish Film Festival runs through January 29, with a lineup that is a true celebration for the communitys film lovers, film critic Alejandro Rios said.

Festival director Igor Shteyrenberg emphasized that the event has the responsibility to support filmmakers and artists, especially when Jewish and Israeli stories are marginalized elsewhere.

A great film has the power to open hearts and minds like nothing else: it can move you deeply, make you believe in the goodness and kindness of people, and offer hope where there is none, Shteyrenberg concluded.

From Cuba to America, January 26, 7:30 p.m., Temple Menorah, 620 75th St., Miami Beach; and January 28, 7:30 p.m., Michael-Ann Russell JCC, 18900 NE 25 Ave. For the full festival program, https://miamijewishfilmfestival.org/ Tickets: 305-503-5182.
One night in 2015, filmmakers Itab Azzam and Jack MacInnes met a young girl selling cigarettes on a street corner in Turkey. Her name was Israa, she was 11 years old, and like so many of the other refugees in the neighborhood her family had recently fled to the port city of Izmir in order to escape the devastation of the Syrian civil war. Smart, smiley, and bursting with undimmed enthusiasm despite such difficult circumstances, Israa was such an irresistible documentary subject that Azzam and MacInnes  who had fled Syria themselves in 2011  decided to follow the girls family as they continued along their perilous trek to Germany, Europes most popular destination for asylum-seekers.

Upon reaching Cologne, however, it quickly became apparent to the directors that the most fraught and complicated portion of Israas exodus was just beginning. The journey from Aleppo had almost been as dangerous as it would have been for her family to stay there, but neither artillery shells, overcrowded boats, nor the constant threat of being sent back were as difficult for the girl to survive as the twin pains of exile and assimilation. Azzam and MacInnes would continue to film Israa for another 10 years, only stopping  as we see in the recently shot bookends of the sweeping, humane, and deeply heartsick documentary theyve cut together from that decade of footage  when she was able to safely visit Syria again in 2025. War is not the hardest thing a person can go through, Israas voiceover intones as she looks at the bombed out ruins of the neighborhood where she was raised. Its not as hard as what comes after.

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Despite an occasional tendency to speed through its most compelling passages and flatten their mottled texture under the weight of Simon Russells emotionally instructive score, One in a Million is still a raw and absorbing epic about what comes after  one that naturally unfolds with all the joy, anguish, and unresolvable inner conflict of life itself.

Before Israas family reaches Cologne, however, the film is much simpler than that. Theres only so much room for nuance in the sight of an 11-year-old girl wearing a Mickey Mouse sweatsuit as shes smuggled across the stormy waters of the Aegean Sea in a vomit-soaked dinghy, and even less in the thought of her little sister holding on for dear life next to her. (Jana has special needs, but Azzam and MacInnes neglect to specify what that entails, or how it complicates the relocation process.) Before Israas family reaches Cologne, her mother Nisreen  only 32 when she leaves Aleppo  is silent in her complete subservience, and her much older father Tarek is a gruff but loving confidant whose first priority is keeping everyone safe.

Things change when the family begins to adjust to their new lives in Germany, though certain members do a lot more adjusting than others. Israa is young and pliable. She wants to forget about Syria, a place she only associates with blood in the streets, and resents the fact that her mom asks her to speak in Arabic when they sit for their semi-regular interviews with Azzam and MacInnes. She meets a devoted boyfriend on the internet (Mohammed, very much a man of his word), grows obsessed with Despacito, and learns to wear a different face at school than she does at home.

Such code-switching assumes an uncomfortably literal bent given her fathers intense distaste for makeup, and for any of the other Western mores that conflict with the traditional culture hes determined to preserve for his wife and children. Older, harder, and naturally less capable of living outside of the patriarchal system in which he was raised, Tarek is the most Syrian member of Israas family, and yet also the person most responsible for their decision to leave Aleppo behind.

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Needless to say, he struggles with life as a foreigner. Once the proud and open-hearted owner of a falafel shop, he soon becomes paranoid and distrusting of a country where people regularly display their hatred for his kind in the streets. Instead of finding work, he holes up inside and watches TV news all day. Instead of helping his eldest child to make the most of their new home, he beats her for daring to enjoy its liberties. Azzam and MacInnes too seldom acknowledge their own presence in Israas life, and in the film theyve made about it, but we do hear them press Tarek and his Israa about the abuse; he denies it, and she tearfully tries to wish it away.

We dont know the extent to which the filmmakers did or didnt intervene, but One in a Million effectively answers our concerns by pivoting  for a moment  to Nisreen, who was forced to marry Tarek when she was a teenager, and now finds herself forced to negotiate the disconnect between Tarek and the teenager they had together. More formed than Israa, but also far more galvanized by the possibility that a womans life might not be limited to housework and having kids, Nisreen seizes on the chance to emancipate herself, and to show her children that they dont have to suffer their father in silence.

Its Nisreens agency  and not Tareks violence  that ultimately inspires Israa to embrace Syrianness and Islam on her own terms, as she comes to discover personal freedom in wearing a hijab, and the strength to start a new family in the gift of Mohammeds faith. The more independent that Israa becomes the more that she longs for her homeland, a dilemma that adds an inordinate weight to the question shes posed when she returns to Aleppo in the films opening scene: Is she visiting, or is she staying?

The weight that question is able to assume speaks to the full power of a documentary thats most effective when it collapses time and history onto itself, flattening a diaspora into a family, a family into a decade and a decade into 100 minutes. Like Boyhood or the Up series, One in a Million derives an uncanny vertigo from its fourth dimensionality, as it invites us to see human lives unfold in a kind of time-lapse. A story that might otherwise have been subsumed into the stuff of liberal empathy porn is sped up to the point where only its most fundamental truths are still visible to the naked eye, and the empathy we feel becomes more elastic  in that a portion of it extends to Tarek in the context of all that hes endured  until it becomes transparent enough to peer into the deeper realities it tends to obscure. The psychic fallout of war. The need for a place to call home. And, perhaps most of all, the way that our personal and collective histories are shaped by the friction between survival and belonging.

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Jumping from 2025 back to 2015 in a single cut, or watching Tareks face as he views old footage from the start of his familys journey, I couldnt help but wish that One in a Million had been more aggressively self-reflexive and/or eager to disturb the linearity of its telling  that Azzam and MacInnes didnt focus on the sweep of time at the expense of better articulating how it can seem to skip forward and circle back on itself in the same moment. As it stands, this often feels like a radical documentary that has been squeezed into the most conventional form that its subject can allow. Then again, that slightly generic quality never impinges on the films characterizations, and allows viewers to extrapolate the finer points of this story to the plights of so many other refugees, from Syria and elsewhere.

Like the loss of a parent or the loss of a child, the loss of a home is an exceedingly difficult thing for people to appreciate secondhand. Perhaps even impossible. The space between simple awareness and true understanding is narrow but chasmic  small enough to walk around but deep enough to contain so much of the worst barbarism this world has ever produced. One in a Million is a film that plunges into that gap with both eyes wide open, suspends itself in the air for as long as it can, and, in the darkness, shows us more about the psychic complexities of forced migration than most people are willing to see for themselves in broad daylight.

Grade: B+

One in a Million premiered at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival. PBS Distribution will release it in the United States.

Want to stay up to date on IndieWires film reviews and critical thoughts? Subscribe here to our newly launched newsletter, In Review by David Ehrlich, in which our Chief Film Critic and Head Reviews Editor rounds up the best new reviews and streaming picks along with some exclusive musings  all only available to subscribers.

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SARAJEVO, Jan. 26 (Xinhua) -- Hundreds of Bosnian freight truck drivers on Monday blocked cargo traffic at all freight-designated border crossings between Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) and neighboring Croatia, a European Union (EU) member, in protest against EU travel rules.

The blockade began at noon at all eight freight crossings and targets the Schengen rule limiting non-EU citizens to 90 days of stay within 180 days, which trucking companies say treats professional drivers as tourists and disrupts freight transport, Mirko Ivanovic, owner of a trucking company in northern BiH and coordinator of the protest, told Xinhua.

Truckers warned the EU rule could paralyze the transport sector across the Western Balkans and said protests would continue unless professional drivers are exempted from visa limitations. They also voiced concern that the EU's upcoming rollout of the electronic Entry/Exit System could worsen border delays.

Access to blocked terminals is limited to vehicles carrying medicines, livestock and military supplies, while passenger traffic remains largely unaffected.

Trucking firms warned that continued EU rigidity could drive drivers out of the sector and harm the economy. Around 7 million tons of goods were transported between BiH and the EU by road annually. 
Sara Dosa has done it again. After Fire of Love, about a love triangle between a French scientist couple and volcanoes, wowed Sundance 2022 and was scooped up by NatGeo, which took it to an Oscar nomination, Dosa went back to another project that had been back-burnered during the pandemic. She had consulted with writer/poet/eco-activist Andri Snr Magnason on the Icelandic film The Seer and the Unseen (2019), and now for her latest film Time and Water (NatGeo), premiering at Sundance 2026, she reconnected with him after the world opened up again.

Magnason was part of a protest movement to protect a lava field that was threatened by a needless, absurd road construction project, said Dosa on Zoom. Everybody told me, you have to meet Andri. Hes one of the big leaders of environmentalism in Iceland. He writes poetry and science fiction as well as environmental journalism. He also ran for president in Iceland.

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Time and Water focuses more on Magnasons intimate relationships in a family obsessed not with volcanoes, but glaciers. His perspective is cosmic, said Dosa. Hes able to draw all these connections between things and somehow make them feel emotional and human all at once.

It was when he wrote about the funeral for Icelands first dead glacier that Dosa renewed their connection. The article was entitled, How do you say goodbye to a glacier?' said Dosa. That hit me as such a profound concept and a new language for our new times. How do we say goodbye to these things all around us that so many of us are grappling with, the climate crisis, or COVID? Theres so many examples of unparalleled loss that people are experiencing, and we dont have languages or rituals to do that. I thought, How important and meaningful and also human it could be to try to put in kinship a story of a glacier and a story of a family through a cinematic lens.'

Sara Dosa, director of Time and Water, an official selection of the 2026 Sundance Film Festival. Courtesy of Sundance Institute. | photo by Leon Bennett Leon Bennett

After Magnason saw Fire of Love, he told Dosa about the archive of his grandparents, who photographed Icelands glaciers. Andres grandparents had gorgeous imagery of the glaciers that also captured this time, when it was before people knew glaciers were disappearing. Theres something with the gaze of their camera where you feel this boundlessness, this endless expanse.

In summer 2023, Dosa and her producers Shane Boris and Elijah Stevens flew to Iceland to meet with Snr Magnason and look through his archives. As soon as they saw the footage, they were in, and they managed to show NatGeo some footage to persuade the distributor to back the project.

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The rich family video archive was not just about glaciers, but also about humans, said Dosa. Theres such a clear through line there to talk about human memory, as well as planetary memory, encased in glaciers in a way that felt exciting to us as filmmakers. And the through line is love.

Similar to Fire of Love, the subjects of Time and Water are in love with the extremes of nature. And narrator Magnason carries the story of the film, as did Miranda July for Fire of Love. He shares a writing credit with Dosa and her editors Erin Casper and Jocelyn Chaput as they figured out constantly changing iterations of the jigsaw puzzle of footage and narration.

Time and Water

They used Magnasons 2019 book On Time and Water as a guide. But the film is not an adaptation of the book, said Dosa. Its a companion to the book. But we did have language that we could pull from here and there. We would send him cuts quite frequently, and so he would give notes on cuts. And we would send him scripts to record the narration all the time. And so we always had cycles of new stuff going to him, and then he would email it back to us, and then we would try to incorporate his voice into the cut.

Shooting on glaciers is a risky business, but Dosa and her team had glacial guides who knew when to pull them out for weather. Theyre fluent in Glacier, she said. So we all felt very safe with them. We had an extraordinary Director of Photography named Pablo Alvarez Mesa, who is skilled at photographing systems of water, fog, waterfalls, streams, and ice on both digital formats as well as on 16mm. And so we were shooting on a Bolex and we were shooting on an Ari to capture both the grandiosity, the magic of the ice, as well as on the Bolex that was meant to dialog with the archival material and be a bridge between times. Pablo was able to do that in these precarious landscapes where we were just being battered by the wind and the snow.

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At the beginning of the film we see mysterious blue objects that we cant identify, as Magnasons voice addresses a person in the future, perhaps a descendant. Hes welcoming the future recipients of our film to this time capsule that hes created, said Dosa. And our hope is that youll be intrigued by this mysterious landscape that you might perceive is ice, but youll be connecting to this idea that hes saying, Well never meet because we live in different times. I cannot send you a glacier, but at least I can send you this.'

By the films end, Magnason says, I wonder what would happen in 200 years to my country, knowing there possibly wont be glaciers? Would saying the name Iceland be summoning a ghost?

Its up to us; what we do now makes a difference if there will be ice in Iceland, said Dosa, choking back tears, grappling with the distance between now and the speculative future.

Dosa knows that we are all faced with the ravages of the climate crisis, unevenly, depending on our circumstances, she said, but theres profound loss all around us, and its been challenging to work on a film about grief when were all experiencing grief.

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Next up: Dosa has a few shorts shes producing, as well as Daughters of the Forest, from Mexican director Otilia Portillo Padua, set to premiere at South by Southwest. Theyre also in the early stages of development on a project about cyclical earthquakes in Mexico City. On September 19, three different years, there have been major earthquakes, which is baffling, said Dosa. Again, it deals with themes of geologic time and memory. This one will explore the legacies of colonial violence in Mexico as well, but also contemporary life and what it means to live in a place where the earth could split open, and what comes forth from those ruptures.

Time and Water world premieres at Sundance on January 27 at 11:30 MT at the Library Center Theatre.

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A music legend who worked with a wide variety of artists is dead at 73.

Lowell Sly Dunbar, the drummer best known as one-half of the Jamaican duo Sly & Robbie, died Monday morning. The BBC reports his wife found him unresponsive in bed and called a doctor.

I went to wake him up and he wasnt responding, I called the doctor and that was the news, she told Jamaicas Gleaner newspaper. I knew he was sick... but I didnt know that he was this sick.

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An exact cause of death was not given, though Dunbar had reportedly been ill for some time.

As Sly & Robbie, Dunbar and bassist Robbie Shakespeare were a famous duo that produced and performed as session musicians for big names in reggae, rock and other genres. Shakespeare died in 2021.

Dunbar drummed on famous songs like Bob Marleys Punky Reggae Party, Chaka Demus & Pliers Murder She Wrote, Dennis Browns Revolution and former Syracuse resident Grace Jones Slave to the Rhythm and My Jamaican Guy. Dunbar also co-wrote Jones Nipple to the Bottle and worked with her on three albums in the 1980s, plus her 2008 release Hurricane.

Sly & Robbies long list of credits include collaborations with Bob Dylan, Madonna, The Rolling Stones, Jimmy Cliff, No Doubt, Britney Spears, Peter Tosh, Carly Simon, Joe Cocker, Matisyahu, Maxi Priest, Shabba Ranks, Fugees, Sinead OConnor, Lee Perry, and Syracuse University alumnus Garland Jeffreys. Sly & Robbie won two Grammy Awards for Best Reggae Recording for their work on 1985s Black Uhuru album Anthem and for Best Reggae Album for the duos own 1999 release Friends.

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So when you buy a reggae record, theres a 90 percent chance the drummer is Sly Dunbar, producer Brian Eno once said. You get the impression that Sly Dunbar is chained to a studio seat somewhere in Jamaica, but in fact what happens is that his drum tracks are so interesting, they get used again and again.

Dunbar and Shakespeare also formed Taxi Records in 1980. The record label featured internationally successful artists like Chaka Demus and Pliers, Ini Kamoze (Here Comes the Hotstepper) and rapper Beenie Man.

Farewell, Sly Dunbar! Rest in peace! Keith Richards wrote on X.

Rest in power, Sly Dunbar, Toshs estate said in a statement. From the very first sessions with Peter Tosh in 1976, Sly helped shape a sound that changed reggae forever. As one half of the Riddim Twins, his drumming carried the spirit, power, and freedom of Peters music, from Equal Rights to the global stage.His rhythm traveled far beyond Jamaica, influencing generations and helping bring reggae to the world while staying rooted in truth and groove. Fearless, inventive, and unmistakably his own, his playing left a permanent mark on music. Thank you, Sly, for the heartbeat you gave to the music and the legacy you leave behind. Your rhythm lives on."

Read the original article on syracuse.com.
UPDATED: CBS News editor-in-chief Bari Weiss unveiled her strategy for the networks news division, putting a heavy emphasis on restoring trust in the news media, while urging a shift to streaming and building brands around talent.

Our strategy until now has been to cling to the audience that remains on broadcast television. If we stick to that strategy, were toast, she told staffers in the town hall on Tuesday, according to her prepared remarks.

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We have to start by looking honestly at ourselves. We are not producing a product that enough people want, she said.

Among other things, Weiss announced a new slate of contributors, a new masthead of newsroom leaders, and shifting to a streaming mentality, with CBS News 24/7 being a lab for new formats and shows.

She also said that the network would invest in brands like 60 Minutes, 48 Hours and Sunday Morning with podcasts, newsletters and live journalism, a term for live events like town halls and forums. Not mentioned was Face the Nation, its flagship Sunday show.

She also talked about building brands around talent, what she called Sorkin-ing, a reference to Andrew Ross Sorkin, who is a New York Times print reporter, CNBC host and live event producer, among other things.

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Starting now, we all must focus on what were building, not on what were maintaining, on how were going to reach an audience exponentially bigger than the one we have now by marrying the journalistic principles that will never change  seeking the truth, serving the public, and ferociously guarding our independence, with the tools that constantly are, Weiss said.

She added that if we are able to create a shared source of trust for the majority of people in America, I dont think its too grandiose to say that well be doing our part to fix this country we all love.

Weiss also addressed ideological direction of the network, telling staffers that our job is to present people with the fullest picture  and the strongest voices on all sides of an issue  and then trust them to make up their own minds.

Weiss said that with the low trust in mainstream news organizations, many people have retreated to news sources that protect them from conflicting narratives.

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She said that independents  a number large and growing  would be those who have a home at CBS News.

Thats already our core audience, she said, adding that the network is for the mixed multitudes.

She said that to cover America as it actually is, we in this building need to reflect more of the political friction that animates our national conversation. That means recruiting and hiring editors, reporters, producers and correspondents about whom our viewers will say, They understand me. They will give me a fair shake. They respect me.'

We need to commission and greenlight stories that will surprise and provoke  including inside our own newsroom.

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Weiss was hired last fall, a surprise to many news veterans as she had no television management experience. She was a former New York Times opinion writer until a high profile departure led her to launch The Free Press, the opinion site. Paramounts new ownership, led by CEO David Ellison, also purchased the site.

Her tenure so far has been notable for scrutiny and upheaval. Shes already been the subject of profiles in The New Yorker and other publications, while the biggest controversy has been her decision to pull a 60 Minutes segment on Trump deportations, even though it had already been promoted. That led to Sharyn Alfonsi, the correspondent on the segment, to protest the move in a staff email, calling it political. Paramount is seeking to buy Warner Bros. Discovery, something that will need the approval of the Trump administration.

In her staff meeting, Weiss referred to the noise around me taking this job.

She told staffers, I get it. I also get why, in the face of all this tumult, you might feel uncertain or skeptical about me or what Im aiming to do here. Im not going to stand up here today and ask you for your trust. Im going to earn it, just like we have to do with our viewers.

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She also took questions submitted by staffers, with Vladimir Duthiers asking the questions. Among other things, according to Business Insider, who obtained an audio recording, Weiss denied that she was pressured to hold the 60 Minutes segment by Ellison. But she promised not to wait to make the decision to pull material after the show has already been promoted.

The news division also went through a round of layoffs in October, with more expected at the time. Weiss did not address job cuts in her prepared remarks, but, during the Q&A portion, she declined to say that further cuts would not happen.

According to a source, among those who commented during the presentation was Gayle King, the CBS Mornings co-host, who noted the hard work that staffers do at the network and the criticism she has faced from people who come up to her, upset about the changes that have already been made.

Accompanying her presentation was a slide deck, including charts showing ever declining trust in mass media, declining ratings for nightly news shows, and a rising number of voters who define themselves as independents. She also showed a cartoon by Tim Urban, showing a stick figure on a chart measuring human progress. The figure, though, stands on the cusp of a line showing an exponential increase in progress.

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That little stick figure? Thats us. If youre the person on the graph things can [seem] normalish because you can only see the past, not the future.

All linear networks are grappling with the shift in viewer habits to streaming and social media, but newsrooms have been set up around linear television, where many outlets still get a majority of advertising revenue. CNN, led by Mark Thompson, has been embarking on an effort to integrate the newsroom, with a heavier emphasis on digital and the recent launch of a new subscription streaming offering.

Our competitors are not just the other broadcast networks. We are competing for the attention of anyone in front of a screen, Weiss said.

She called for building one newsroom with one mission, saying it doesnt work anymore to operate as fiefdoms. That integration, though, has long proven to be a challenge in the TV news business, where shows are set up with a degree of automony.

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The masthead, a feature of newspapers and magazines, also is new for the broadcast business, but it reflects her inner circle, including former colleagues from The Free Press. She named Tom Cibrowski, president and executive editor of CBS News; Wendy Fisher, senior vice president of editorial; Charles Forelle, hired last year as managing editor; Adam Rubenstein, deputy managing editor and a colleague of Weiss from The New York Times and The Free Press; and Terri Stewart, senior vice president of newsgathering.

In the staff meeting, she said that Cibrowski will also help lead the networks business team, with Sam Siegel as chief operating officer. Others recently recruited come from outside the network ranks. Weiss also noted that Sophia Efthimiatou, former head of writer relations at Substack, is leading a new talent and brand team, with Angela Hunter as vice president of talent strategy and development, and Tori Asness, previously the head of talent at Vice. Kyra Noonan, former head of development at Free Press, is joining as vice president of development.

Weiss told staffers to view the news division as the best capitalized startup in the world, and that if we all do our jobs right, in a years time CBS News will look very different. She also cautioned that if her plans are not your bag there are so many exciting things to spend your career doing.

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Claire Danes has reflected on the staying power of My So-Called Life, the cult classic teen drama that launched her career, in a new interview.

The Emmy-winning actor, 46, opened up on Tuesdays episode of Good Hang with Amy Poehler about her profound experience starring as Angela Chase on the short-lived ABC series, which was canceled after just one season.

Its still radical! Danes exclaimed in response to Poehler asking what still resonates with audiences today about her angsty teenaged character. It remains ahead of this time.

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The Beast In Me star continued: It shouldnt have been made. It almost wasnt made many times, and it just wills itself into experience. Its not very often that we spend that much time, intimate time, with a teenage girl.

My So-Called Life, created by Wicked playwright Winnie Holzman, followed Angela and her friends through her sophomore year of high school. The series was narrated by Angela, who laid bare her adolescent feelings and struggles with social issues.

Claire Danes has reflected on her part in ABC teen drama My So-Called Life as Angela Chase, who had a crush on Jared Letos character Jordan Catalano (Abc Prods/Kobal/Shutterstock)

I remember reading the pilot before the audition and just having a very profound experience. It was really powerful to have some woman, some writer person, so perfectly articulate my internal life, Danes recalled to Poehler, who praised the show as zeitgeisty.

The series, which aired from August 1994 to January 1995, also famously starred Jared Leto as Danes love interest, Jordan Catalano. The main cast, who gathered for a reunion on Zoom in 2020, also included actors Bess Armstrong, Wilson Cruz, Devon Odessa, and Tom Irwin.

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Although the show was canceled due to low ratings against its competition from sitcoms like Friends and Home Improvement, its 19 episodes were critically acclaimed for its realistic portrayal of turbulent teenage years. The show went on to be remembered as one of the best teen dramas of all time, and one of the first to recognize issues like homophobia, alcoholism, and homelessness.

Were seeing the world from inside of her and really through her vantage point, Danes told Poehler. And shes so earnestly wrestling with big stuff. Its just so well-balanced and its so of her.

Theres some zingers, there are some really well-crafted lines, she said, praising the shows writing. I feel wildly fortunate that that was my entry point.

Danes, who was 13 when she filmed the pilot, won the Golden Globe for Best Actress in a TV drama in 1995 for her performance in the show, which also earned her an Emmy nomination. She went on to win her first Emmy Award for Temple Grandin in 2010, and two Emmys for Homeland in 2012 and 2013.
Everyone loves a little spice now and then, whether it's devouring a plate of the blisteringly spicy hot wings or satiating your sweet tooth with candied jalapenos. Afterwards, perhaps you've found yourself with a glass of milk in hand pondering how hot can these gastronomic grenades can actually get. The answer? Extremely hot.

Whether you call them peppers or chiles, both are measured by the Scoville Heat Scale, a rating system devised back in 1912 by Wilbur Scoville to measure the heat of these fleshy fruits. While Scoville administered his tests by placing his samples directly on taste testers' tongues, modern day testing uses High-Performance Liquid Chromatography to determine results.

As anyone who has watched an episode of "Hot Ones" knows, the higher the Scoville Heat Unit (SHU) number, the hotter the pepper. While a standard bell pepper or sweet banana pepper ranks between 0 to 100 SHU, your average jalapeno pepper can often score anywhere between 2,500 SHU and 8,000 SHU. The following chiles, however, make these paltry peppers seem like no more than footnotes in the book of spicy. From the first "superhot" to a pepper about 27 times as hot as a habanero, get ready to meet the hottest peppers known to man.

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Read more: 30 Essential Cured Meats To Know

9. Ghost pepper

Raw ghost peppers with red, wrinkly skin - Bhofack2/Getty Images

The ghost pepper, also unknown as the bhut jolokia, held the title of hottest pepper in the world from 2007 until 2011, measuring 1 million Scoville Heat Units or more. The ghost pepper became the first to break the 1 million mark on the Scoville scale, becoming among the first to fall in the category of "superhots." The previous record holder, the Red Savina, held a modest 577,000 SHU in comparison.

However, you may be surprised to learn that 1 million SHU is just the average, as this smoldering chile can range from 855,000 to 1.46 million SHU. A chile originally from India, this pepper is so hot it's been used to deter elephants and deployed in pepper spray.

What makes the ghost pepper different from other peppers? Unlike many other chiles, these brutal fruits hold half their capsaicin content in their flesh, rather than mostly in the pith like jalapenos, allowing them to imbue your cooking with plenty of heat. Different varieties of ghost pepper possess different flavor nuances. Some are described as smoky; others, like the chocolate ghost pepper, are detailed as having a sweet and floral flavor.

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One never wants to eat a ghost pepper straight. Although some describe the initial flavor as sweet, less than a minute after one tastes this superhot pepper, the burning sensation starts and continues to intensify. Just a teeny nibble can cause your eyes to water and your entire mouth to ignite. Still, gloves and goggles will be necessary to cut these blazing fruits, lest you feel their flame-like sting without even eating them.

8. Infinity Chili

A red Infinity Chili sliced on a plate - trkalhugo/Instagram

The Infinity Chili's time in the sun may have been short-lived, but it was indeed spicy. Invented by Nick Woods in England, tests at the University of Warwick's Crop Centre showed this pepper to hold 1.17 million Scoville Heat Units, beating out the Ghost Pepper in hotness and holding the Guinness World Records title for world's hottest pepper for two whole weeks. Others estimate the peppers can range from a little over 1 million SHU to 1.25 million SHU, averaging out at something closer to 1.16 million SHU.

Woods started creating hot sauces as a hobby before forming his business Fire Foods and crossbreeding peppers to make the Infinity Chili. But this Brit's aim wasn't to create the world's hottest pepper. An invention of accident, Woods unexpectedly made the Infinity Chili. But even the creator of this scorching pepper is not immune to its incendiary effects.

Woods attempted to eat one of his Infinity Chilis which had been frozen, thinking the storage process might have dampened some of the pepper's strength. The result? Woods experienced burning on his tongue which lasted 30 minutes, and other painful effects strong enough that he considered calling the hospital. Luckily, medical services weren't necessary.

7. Naga Viper

Two red Naga Viper peppers on a black background - BDKKEC072/Shutterstock

You can thank U.K. resident Gerald Fowler for the existence of the Naga Viper pepper, which measures at about 1.35 million Scoville Heat Units. Claimed by Fowler to be created from three pepper varieties that he cross pollinated (the ghost pepper, Naga Morich, and Trinidad Scorpion), this pepper stole the Guinness World Records title for the hottest pepper, replacing the Infinity Chili, which, as we mentioned, only held the title for a fortnight.

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At the time, Fowler had been a full-time chile farmer for five years, and growing peppers for a full decade in Britain. The Naga Viper was created in his heated greenhouse, measuring a modest 16-by-8 feet. Owner of the Chilli Pepper Company, he transformed his creation into a scalding sauce for use in curries, well aware of how hot the paper could be in its raw form.

Per the Daily Mail, Fowler has described the Naga Viper as being "hot enough to strip paint." He claims the pepper's blistering heat to last an hour, numbing the tongue and searing its way through your body  although apparently it comes with a remarkable rush of endorphins as well. With the Naga Viper falling anywhere between 900,000 and a maximum of 1.38 million SHU on the Scoville scale, we'll take his word for it on that.

6. Komodo Dragon Pepper

A bowl filled with bright red Komodo Dragon Peppers - stormerphoto

The Komodo Dragon Pepper ranges around 1.4 million Scoville Heat Units (although some sources say it can reach as high as 2.2 million SHU) making it one of the hottest peppers in the world to date. Originating in the United Kingdom, the Komodo Dragon Pepper is a fruit-flavored pepper grown in Bedfordshire by Salvatore Genovese, the man behind the United Kingdom's biggest chile production.

Salvatore began growing chile peppers after assuming his family's cucumber business 15 years before creating his ferocious invention. The Komodo Dragon came out of his seven acre farm in Blunham, Bedfordshire, before making its way into Tesco supermarkets in 2015. Recognizing the popularity of spicy peppers and their increased demand in the U.K., Genovese was always trying to up the heat level on his peppers, aiming to create hotter ones each year. With the Komodo Dragon, he certainly succeeded.

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Like many of the world's hottest peppers, the deadliness of the Komodo Dragon comes from its delayed onset. Consumers might think the heat is less than expected at first bite, enjoying the fruity yet fiery taste. But as the seconds tick by the heat builds, leading to a furnace-like spice level. When the Komodo Dragon hit stores, it became the hottest commercially grown chile pepper consumers had ever seen. Consequently, Salvatore warned anyone who wished to try this blistering beast of a pepper to be sure they had some milk or yogurt on hand  just in case.

5. Trinidad Scorpion Butch T

Closeup of Trinidad Scorpion Butch T growing on plant - Md. Noor Mahbub Alam/Shutterstock

What's in a name? American Butch Taylor is widely accepted as the propagator of this blazing fruit (hence its moniker), though it's officially credited to The Chilli Factory in New South Wales, Australia in 2011.

Regardless of who deserves the credit (or blame) for these little scorchers, they certainly did a job  the Butch T ranges from 800,000 to 1.43 million SHU and boasting an average heat around 1.13 million SHU. The team at The Chilli Factory actually need to equip themselves with gloves, chemical masks, and suits just to cook these peppers. Due to their scalding nature  they can cause a burning sensation that lasts for days on the hands if one forgets to wear gloves  these fearsome fruits are wielded in the form of a hot sauce known as the Scorpion Strike line.

After clocking in slightly above 1.4 million SHU, the Butch T held its position as the world's hottest pepper from 2011 to 2013. Despite being named for an American and being grown in Australia, its roots come from Trinidad as the name implies, where a lengthy tradition of hot peppers continues to thrive. A variety of scorpion pepper (so-named as its pointed bottom mirrors that of a scorpion's stinger), it's just one of many in a group of superhots.

4. 7 Pot Primo and other 7 Pot Peppers

Hand holding a few dark red 7 Pot Peppers - Andrian_S/Shutterstock

The 7 Pot Primo and other 7 Pot Peppers like the 7 Pot Douglah have been among the hottest peppers in the world, clocking in at around 1.47 million Scoville Heat Units and higher. You'll find different Scoville ratings for the 7 Pot Primo depending where you look. Some sources list the SHU as high as 1.5 million , while more modest calculations place this pepper within a range of 800,000 to 1.27 million SHU. Despite the differing calculations, the 7 Pot Primo is still undoubtedly one of the world's most blistering peppers.

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Pioneered by Troy Primeaux of Primos Peppers, the 7 Pot Primo came into being after Primeaux crossbred pepper varieties from Bangladesh and Trinidad. A former musician who turned to horticulture later in life, he now heads Primos Peppers, a Lafayette-based company offering a variety of hot sauces, pepper powders, and hot pepper jelly to the world in addition to 7 Pot Primo seeds.

Allegedly named 7 Pot Peppers because they hold enough heat to flavor seven pots of stew, these fiery fruits all stem from a few strains of peppers hailing from Trinidad and Tobago. The 7 Pot Douglah, also sometimes referred to as a Chocolate 7 Pot, rates even hire on the heat scale, although accounts vary as to its exact SHU. Some give this burgundy-colored fireball a sweeping range of 923,889 to 185 million SHU, while more modest estimates place it at between 1 million and 1.5 million SHU.

3. Trinidad Moruga Scorpion

Lots of Trinidad Moruga Scorpion peppers on a cloth - muroPhotographer/Shutterstock

Clocking in at about 2 million Scoville Heat Units, the Trinidad Moruga Scorpion is face-meltingly hot. While some estimates place the average heat level closer to 1.6 million SHU, these peppers can range between a blistering 1.2 million to 2 million. When the New Mexico State University's Chile Pepper Institute tested this chile in 2012, they named it the hottest pepper in the world. (The Trinidad Scorpion Butch T, Chocolate 7 Pot, and ghost pepper were also among the peppers they tested.)

A variety of scorpion pepper believed to have been developed by Wahid Ogeer in the Moruga district of Trinidad and Tobago, it seems this pepper wasn't certified by Guinness World Records despite being the first to break 2 million SHU. (Its cousin, the Trinidad Scorpion Butch T, continued to hold the title until our No. 2 ranked pepper nabbed it, but more on that in a moment.) Perhaps the Trindad Moruga Scorpion's omission is tied to its debated origin story, which remains contested as to who the actual creator might be, with other individuals having since claimed the pepper to be theirs.

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A pepper that relishes hot and arid weather, the Trinidad Moruga Scorpion's spice level is directly related to its growing conditions, increasing when the plant experiences dry spells and higher temps. This is why heat temperatures may fluctuate widely between individual peppers. But this extremely spicy grenade is not without its uses. A pair of peppers can be enough to enliven a week's worth of food, with small amounts of these peppers making a more approachable hot sauce.

2. Carolina Reaper

Dozens of bright red Carolina Reapers in a pile - Nani Rossetti/Getty Images

In 2013, a new pepper emerged as the world's hottest, coming in at 2.2 million Scoville Heat Units and taking the Guinness World Records title. A pepper so hot those who cultivate it need to wear two pairs of gloves, this demonic fruit contains oils powerful enough to burn through latex.

While the grimly-named Carolina Reaper can rate as high as 2.2 million on the Scoville heat scale, your average Caroline Reaper actually falls closer to 1.64 million SHU on average. Still, this powerful pepper packs one of the meanest punches, having held the record for the world's hottest pepper for a full decade. It was developed by Ed Currie of PuckerButt Pepper Company, who apparently never intended for the chile to be the world's hottest but found himself at the top of the pepper pyramid, at least initially, by chance.

Currie began growing peppers in his yard after moving to South Carolina in 2001, eventually crossbreeding chiles. However, crossbreeding a stable pepper is a complicated process that can take up to a decade. It seems the Carolina Reaper was well worth the effort, though, with this firebomb still ranking as the second hottest in the world.

1. Pepper X

Pepper X in glass display case - puckerbutt_pepper_company

Currently, Pepper X reigns as the hottest pepper in the world, officially ejecting the Carolina Reaper from its decade-long reign as the Guinness World Records holder in October 2023. Also created by previous record holder Ed Currie in South Carolina, it carries 2.69 million Scoville Heat Units to scorch your palate if you dare try this brimstone-like fruit. While lab tests at Winthrop University showed the Carolina Reaper to average an SHU of 1.64 million, Pepper X showed a stupefying 2.69 million SHU.

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Just why is this enigmatically named pepper so hot? Pepper X is a chile with lots of ridges and contours, giving the pepper's placenta more space to grow within. Because a chile's heat is held in the placenta or pith (not the seeds), this gives Pepper X all its lava-like potential. A few sources even claim the pepper to reach a broiling 3.18 million SHU.

Still, this volcanic pepper is hard to come by  the seeds have never been released, so you can only sample its molten fire by purchasing official hot sauces. It seems the success of Currie's previous inferno, the Carolina Reaper, made him realize the value of his contribution to the pepper world. Over the years, some 10,000 products have sported the Carolina Reaper name without Currie's permission. For this reason, Currie has kept his latest pepper property heavily protected.

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Read the original article on Food Republic.
ASHLAND  Edison Elementary School teacher Shanna Lawrence has been nominated for National Life Groups 2025-26 LifeChanger of the Year award.

National Life Groups LifeChanger of the Year recognizes and rewards the very best K-12 educators and school district employees across the United States who are making a difference in the lives of students by exemplifying excellence, positive influence, and leadership.

Shanna Lawrence

Lawrence was nominated anonymously for creating a safe, nurturing, and empowering classroom environment where students feel truly at home.

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According to her nomination, Lawrence has more than 18 years of teaching experience. Lawrence builds her classroom around kindness, consistency, and respect. She designs a calm and welcoming space, filled with soft lighting, warm colors, and positive affirmations, where students feel emotionally safe and ready to learn.

Understanding that many of her students face challenges outside of school, she commits to being a steady and supportive presence. Her promise to never raise her voice is a hallmark of her teaching philosophy, and one that students have named among the most meaningful parts of their experience in her class.

If she wins the grand prize, she would earn $20,000 to share with the school/district.

Through clear expectations, well-organized materials, and intentional routines, Lawrence helps students develop independence, confidence, and a love for learning. Her motto, Work Hard and Be Kind, guides everything she does, and it leaves a lasting impact on every child who enters her classroom.

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Since 2011, LifeChanger of the Year has recognized and rewarded more than 8,600 K-12 teachers, administrators, and school employees in 2,300+ school districts. The program has awarded over $850,000 in cash prizes to winners and their schools for making a significant difference in the lives of students by exemplifying excellence, positive influence, and leadership.

Winners are chosen by a selection committee comprised of former winners and education professionals and will be announced in early 2026. Nominees must be K-12 teachers or school district employees. To be considered for an award, nominees must

Visit here to read Lawrences nominee profile. If you're interested in nominating someone from your school community, visit www.LifeChangeroftheYear.com.

This article originally appeared on Ashland Times Gazette: Lawrence up for National LifeChanger of the Year
All products featured on Conde Nast Traveler are independently selected by Conde Nast Traveler editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, Conde Nast may earn an affiliate commission.

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Bolivias Salar de Uyuni salt flat and Uzbekistans Silk Road may not have much in common. But in 2026, the home countries of these two trending travel destinations now share a significant distinction: visa-free entry for Americans.

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On December 1, 2025, Bolivia began allowing United States citizens to visit the South American country without a visa for up to 90 days for tourism and business purposes, streamlining travel logistics for stateside visitors. In addition to the US, Bolivia also lifted visa requirements from seven other countries: South Korea, South Africa, Bulgaria, Malta, Romania, the United Arab Emirates, and Israel.

Exactly one month later, at the turn of the New Year, Uzbekistan enacted a similar 30-day visa-free visitation program for Americans.

Unsurprisingly, both countries expect their new travel policies to stimulate the local economy and boost tourism from Americaa trend thats already in full swing.

Uzbekistans announcement comes at a time when the Central Asian country, best known for its ancient Islamic architecture and cornerstone role in the Silk Road, is seeing a boom in US travelers. Intrepid Travel, a global tour operator, saw an almost 60% spike in US bookings to Uzbekistan from 2023 to 2025, Leigh Barnes, president of Intrepid Travels Americas division, tells Conde Nast Traveler. In January alone, 40% of Intrepids bookings were for its premium trips to Uzbekistan.

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Its a sentiment echoed by other tour operators, such as Canada-based G Adventures. Yves Marceau, the companys vice president of product, tells CNT that US bookings to Uzbekistan grew 96% from January 2025 to the same time in 2026.

"Were seeing strong and growing interest in destinations that offer deep cultural immersion and a real sense of discovery, and Uzbekistan is a standout example of that trend, Marceau says. The Stans as a region have been gaining momentum across all our travel styles and traveler demographics.

G Adventures has seen a similar 65% jump in US travel to Bolivia. However, the South American country has yet to take a larger slice of Intrepids travel pie: Bolivian itineraries account for only about 0.5% of its bookings.

Consider it up-and-coming: CNT recently ranked Bolivia (specifically Potosi, its highland city home to Salar de Uyuni) as one of the best places to go in Central and South America for 2026, thanks in part to a local hospitality revitalization by way of new hotels and improved infrastructure.

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The Bolivian government estimates that eliminating visa requirements for the eight countries will generate $80 million Bolivian boliviano (about $11.6 million) over the next four years.

Trading Cities on the Ancient Silk Road in Uzbekistan Getty

Getting to Uzbekistan

The countrys national carrier, Uzbekistan Airways, currently operates direct flights from John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) to Tashkent International Airport (TAS). The airline says it also flies to Los Angeles, Chicago, Miami, and Philadelphia, although there will be layovers in either Istanbul or Frankfurt.

Carriers such as Turkish Airlines and LOT Polish Airlines also have routes to TAS from US airports such as Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD), Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), and Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL), although not without a layoveroften at Istanbul Airport (IST) and Warsaw Frederic Chopin (WAW).

Another direct flight option may soon be available: Uzbek airline Qanot Sharq is now seeking approval to begin twice-weekly services between TAS and JFK, Aviation Week reported.

Getting to Bolivia

Bolivias national carrier, Boliviana de Aviacion, currently offers flights between Miami International Airport (MIA) and Viru Viru International Airport (VVI) from Thursday through Monday. Otherwise, direct flights from the US are difficult to come by.

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United also offers routes between Bolivia and major US airports, including Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR), George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH), and Dulles International Airport (IAD). However, they all include a layover, often at Tocumen International Airport (PTY), El Dorado International Airport (BOG), or Jorge Chavez International Airport (LIM).

Boliviana de Aviacion is scheduled to begin flights from IAD to Bolivia this summer, although with a layover in PTY.

Originally Appeared on Conde Nast Traveler
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I noticed the swelling of the double bass first, quickly followed by the fluttering of brushed cymbals. A saxophone pushing against the edges of a melody swiftly married the notes together, chords drifting haphazardly before reaching a slow, pulsing groove. The jazz quartet performed in front of a liquor cabinet lined with whisky bottles; low-hanging lights teetered overhead, throwing shapes on the monochromatic marble-tiled floor. Outside, a leafy veranda was filled with diners, the music drifting through flung-open doors and windows. Salon Beyrouth was one of the first late-night spots I visited after moving to Beirut in 2021. Four years later, I find myself regularly returning to its jazz nights.

This is far from the first jazz performance that Lebanon has seen. Jazz first arrived in the country in the 1940s, carried through Western radio broadcasts and American films. By the 1950s, records had circulated widely, and Beiruts seaside districts and grand hotels began hosting live performances. In Zaytouna Bay, a popular touristic and nightlife district in Beirut, jazz became a fixture. A loose collective of enthusiasts formed the Beirut Jazz Club, Youssef Naiim, Founder of Beirut Jazz Society, recalls. They had no permanent venue, but the club functioned as a community, organizing gatherings, listening sessions, even visits from international musicians.

The Ambassador of Jazz Getty

Those efforts reached a peak during Lebanons so-called Golden Era in the mid-20th century, a period marked by rapid economic growth and international cultural exchange. In April 1959, Louis Armstrong & His All-Stars were invited to perform a series of sold-out shows over a four-day period. Newspapers tracked Armstrongs impending arrival for weeks. When he landed, the airport reception was so overwhelming that he reportedly told Cecile Geammal, then vice president of the Jazz Club of Beirut, Nobody has received us like you did. Ella Fitzgerald followed in 1972, performing at the Baalbeck International Festival, while Duke Ellington played the Casino du Liban in 1963, later naming his composition Mount Harissa after the Lebanese hilltop that inspired him.

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With the outbreak of the Lebanese Civil War in 1975, the momentum began to slow down. It was a conflict that would devastate the country and its creative landscape for 15 long years. Due to safety concerns, nightlife venues reduced their programs or shut their doors altogether, with international visits coming to a halt too. The UNESCO Palace Theatre, where Armstrong had played during his 1959 visit, experienced significant destruction. Spots like Caravanserail, a jazz venue founded in 1969 in a former air-raid shelter, closed as their owners sought refuge abroad.

Even so, jazz didnt entirely disappear. During the war years, it survived mostly in private spaces: playing via radios, record collections, and through television broadcasts. By the late 1980s, as the war edged toward its end, small signs of renewal appeared. The Blue Note Cafe opened in 1987, going on to host international figures such as Andrew Hill, Sonny Fortune and Chico Freeman, while also nurturing a more homegrown scene.

For those coming of age after the war, they remember jazz slowly cropping up. My first memory of jazz was from my favorite childhood show on LBC,  . They would always play a small clip right after the commercials ended, Charbel Sawma, a Lebanese jazz musician known for his fusion styles, recalls from his childhood during the 1990s. Some years later, my family attended a jazz concert put on by the French Embassy.

Salon Beyrouth

Sawma became increasingly drawn to the swinging basslines of the musical style. With jazz, you are not being told how to feel by lyrics, Sawma explains. Instead, you are able to place your own emotions and experience onto the music. I think thats part of the reason jazz became so popular in Lebanonit has the versatility to relate to all of our experiences.

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Learning jazz after the Civil War proved difficult, however. I mainly relied on studying music theory from textbooks or replicating styles I heard on the radio, musician Makram Aboul Hosn, a now prominent Lebanese jazz musician, tells me. Teachers were in short supply and university courses were non-existent." Eventually, Hosn traveled to Holland in order to study jazz composition before returning to Beirut in 2016.

That same year, Salon Beyrouth opened its doors, positioning itself as an Art Deco-style, 1920s-inspired whiskey and jazz bar. I started getting weekly opportunities to perform in places like Salon Beyrouth, and with some great living American Jazz legends at MOJO, Hosn recalls excitedly.

With jazz, you are not being told how to feel you are able to place your own emotions and experience onto the music. I think thats part of the reason jazz became so popular in Lebanonit has the versatility to relate to all of our experiences. Charbel Sawma, jazz musician

Other spaces joined the revival. The Music Hall in Downtown Beirut featured jazz compositions in its eclectic cabaret-style program, and Metro Al Madina, a historic underground theatre in the neighborhood of Hamra that reopened in 2012, began programming jazz on its large stage. Elsewhere, in the historic city of Byblos, Ashtar Jazz Bar started hosting live gigs.

Last year, Hosn brought together 10 of the country's greatest jazz musicians to form a band. We are called The Octopus Band, Hosn says proudly, explaining that the group were invited to perform at Metro Al Madina. It was intimidating at first, because we were used to playing in small clubs and bars, and not on large stages. Despite their concerns, the event was an astounding success. The band now swings through the theatre on a monthly basis.

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The Beirut Jazz Society is also at the forefront of the revival. Founded by Naiim, the group launched Beirut International Jazz Week in 2022. Stretching across Beirut, Byblos, Jounieh, Tripoli and beyond, the annual event pairs concerts with free workshops and lectures. Throughout the year, the society also organizes workshops for guests to attend; in the past year, classes have been led by influential jazz musicians such as Adel Minkara and Arthur Satyan.

LEBANON-MUSIC-ZIAD RAHBANI Getty

It is not just the flurry of new events and venues that is driving jazz forward in Lebanon, it is also a shift in the approach to the musical style. After the Civil War, there was a rigidity in the scene, a sense that you had to mimic American standards to be good, Hosn says. Today, musicians are far more innovative, often incorporating local sounds and instruments. One of the first to do this was the iconic Ziad Rahbani, a Lebanese musician who began mixing elements of jazz into his pieces in the early 1970s; his 1973 play Sahriyyeh (An Evening Party) is often cited as one of the first major works in which Western jazz harmonies were merged with Arabic melodies.

Today, musicians are drawing on Rahbanis legacy. Through experimentation with fusion styles I found I could alleviate the dissonance of the quarter tone in oriental music [as the maqam-based musical traditions of the Arab world and eastern Mediterranean is referred to] by using the jazz harmonic motion, musician Lucas Sakr explains. It makes the oriental music far more digestible for wider audiences. Sakr also incorporates a range of traditional instruments, including the oud, buzuq, qanun, nay, and violin. In these pieces, maqam-based melodies (part of traditional Middle Eastern music) float above extended jazz chords and modern grooves, the rhythm section adjusting carefully when quarter tones appear. Sakrs work has earned international recognition, even leading to a highly competitive scholarship to study jazz at HEMU Lausanne.

Sawma also experiments with various styles with his fusion trio band, Bonne Chose. Our band blends jazz, psychedelic rock, dream pop, and synth wave, he tells me. Sawma is also part of a Fuzz Jazz trio that performs each Wednesday at Centerstage, a Beiruti house in Achrafieh that functions as an experimental music room and bar. Each week we invite one additional musicianoften from outside of the jazz worldto improvise with us, Sawma says.

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These initiatives have continued despite a series of recent upheavals, including the pandemic, ongoing economic turmoil and, most recently, Israels strikes accompanying a new period of regional conflict. We have faced many challenges, Naiim explains, especially when it comes to finding grants to run Jazz Week. Most NGOs and grant providers have different priorities because of all the issues facing Lebanon.

Last year, the society received no funding at all for Jazz Week, according to Naiim. The community still found a way to put on the events, however. Some venues kindly provided free entry by securing external funds or using their own resources, while others offered reasonable prices for our guests. In the end, the 2025 iteration of Beirut International Jazz Week managed to host a record-breaking 30 performances.

For Naiim and others, this persistence reflects a broader determination to ensure the longevity of Lebanons relationship with jazz. Jazz is all about finding ways for wrong notes to sound good, Hosn says. The new styles in Lebanon honor that tradition, reminding us that from every dissonance, something beautiful can emerge.

Wassim Nouwar

The best jazz listening clubs in Beirutand beyond

Yard Bird

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About 30 minutes north of Beirut in Jounieh, Yard Bird is a cocktail bar earning a reputation for nurturing fresh talent. Emerging artists are invited to experiment and perform, with Octopus Band often in attendance alongside other fiery improvisations. Follow their Instagram to catch event announcements and make reservationsshows here fill up fast.

Quadrangle

Located in Baabda in western Lebanon, Quadrangle has been hosting jazz, blues, and rock since 1990. The spot has an eclectic, easygoing energy; creative cocktails flow from a wooden bar lined with leather stools, while local musicians keep the crimson stage alive with wandering melodies.

Beirut Jazz Society

JazzWeek

In 2022, Youssef Naiim decided to form the Beirut Jazz Society, bringing together local musicians to promote the local jazz scene. The society initiated a Jazz Week Festival; the 2025 edition was held in August, stretching over 30 performances and welcoming 70 musicians across 23 venues.

Smoky Note:

Opened in December 2025 in Beiruts upmarket Gemmayzeh neighborhood, Smoky Note is an intimate speakeasy-style venue with low lighting, retro furnishings, and cozy booths. Jazz anchors the program, though their regular Sax Nights are my personal favorite.

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Originally Appeared on Conde Nast Traveler

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Have you ever wondered where the state of Massachusetts got its name?

Massachusetts is the home of many firsts in the country, including first college, first public library and first lighthouse. It's also the first state to use a Native American name, according to the U.S. Department of the Interior. It's one of many to do so; take Connecticut, Tennessee and the Dakotas, to name a few.

Wondering exactly how that name came to be? Here's the history and significance of the name Massachusetts.

How did Massachusetts get its name?

Massachusetts (U.S. state) flag waving against clear blue sky.

According to the website for the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, the name Massachusetts comes from the Massachusett tribe of indigenous people. The Algonquian word roughly translates to "near the great hill" or "great hill small place," likely referencing the Great Blue Hill region south of Boston where the Massachusett tribe lived.

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The name Massachusetts was first recorded in 1616 in Captain John Smith's book "A Description of New England," in which he describes a visit to New England, says the History of Massachusetts Blog. The Massachusetts Studies Project of the University of Massachusetts Boston explains that the name Massachusetts was first applied to the Charles River region around the same time, extending to include Boston Harbor in 1621.

The name became official around 1630, when the Puritans founded The Massachusetts Bay Colony, which joined with Plymouth Colony to become the Province of Massachusetts Bay in 1691.

When did Massachusetts join the United States?

Massachusetts became the sixth state to ratify the U.S. Constitution on February 6, 1788, according to the Census Bureau.

Maine was recognized as a part of the state of Massachusetts until Maine was admitted to the Union as a separate state in 1820.

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To this day, Massachusetts is one of four states legally described as a commonwealth, a term originally used by John Adams in the state's own constitution from 1780.

This article originally appeared on The Patriot Ledger: State history: Where does the name 'Massachusetts' come from?
BAY COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB)  A new wellness center is now open in downtown Panama City.

ESTR, or Eat, Sleep, Train, Recover, located on 542 Harrison Avenue, opened its doors on Monday.

It is more than just a gym; its a social wellness club that incorporates wellness into fitness.

They have a traditional gym in the front, with bodybuilding and fitness equipment. And a recovery studio in the back, with cold plunges, red light therapy, compression therapy, and a sauna.

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They will also have a physical therapist working from the center next month.

ESTR Owner Jake Sostheim says their focus is on recovery after a workout.

If youre going to be all well-rounded with wellness and fitness, you need to eat it, you need to sleep it, you need to train it, and you need to recover. So in here, we are really honing in on the training and recovery aspect, and we want to help you guys with everything else included, ESTR Social Wellness Club Owner Jake Sostheim said.

ESTRs grand opening will be next month.

Memberships range from $80 to $130 a month. Their hours will be from 4 a.m. to 10 p.m., Monday through Sunday.

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BEIJING, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- At the invitation of Chinese Premier Li Qiang, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer will pay an official visit to China from Jan. 28 to 31, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson announced Tuesday.

Spokesperson Guo Jiakun said at a regular news briefing that in August 2024, Chinese President Xi Jinping had a phone call with Starmer at the latter's request, and in November that year, during his attendance at the G20 Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Xi met with Starmer, leading China-Britain relations onto a track of improvement and development.

Maintaining communication and strengthening cooperation between China and Britain, both permanent members of the UN Security Council, serves the common interests of both peoples and contributes to global peace, stability and development, Guo said.

During Starmer's visit, the first by a British prime minister in eight years, President Xi will meet with Starmer, Premier Li will hold talks with him and China's top legislator Zhao Leji will also meet Starmer, Guo said, adding the two sides will have in-depth exchanges on bilateral relations and issues of common interest.

In addition to Beijing, Starmer will also visit Shanghai during this trip.

Guo said that since taking office, the British Labor Party government has clearly expressed its willingness to develop a consistent, enduring and strategic relationship with China and actively promote dialogue and cooperation between the two countries.

China wishes to use this visit as an opportunity to enhance political mutual trust with Britain, deepen practical cooperation, jointly open a new chapter of healthy and stable development in bilateral relations, and work together for global peace, security and stability, Guo said. 
Registration is open for the 2026 Ohio Small Farm Conference.

The event, titled Sowing Seeds for Success, will be held from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on March 14 at the Arden Shisler Center in Wooster, according to a community announcement. The conference is presented by the Ohio State University Extension and aims to provide a platform for new and beginning small producers to learn, share and network.

Early bird registration is $95 for those who register before Jan. 31. After that date, the fee increases to $125. The registration deadline is March 4. Interested participants can register at go.osu.edu/smallfarmconference2026. For more information, call 740-397-0401 (OSU Knox County) or 419-947-1070 (Morrow County).

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The conference will feature a variety of breakout sessions, including topics such as bee keeping equipment, attracting beneficial insects, toxic plant identification, using perennials on a cut flower farm, boosting small farm sales through the internet, and navigating insurance on small farms.

Michael Kilpatrick, owner of The Farm on Central and founder of Growing Farmers, will be the keynote speaker. Kilpatrick trains and provides resources to help small farmers minimize stress, optimize time and productivity, and put systems in place to run a thriving, profitable farm. His presentation is titled "Get Your Life Back." After his presentation, Kilpatrick will be available in the networking area to help producers with small farm questions.

Agenda highlights

The conference will kick off with a panel discussion at 9 a.m. titled "Reality Check: It's Not What You See on the Internet!" This session will address the challenges and misconceptions that new and beginning farmers often face.

Breakout sessions will be held throughout the day, covering a range of topics relevant to small farm operations. These sessions are designed to provide practical information and resources that attendees can apply to their own farms.

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In addition to educational sessions, the conference will feature a vendor area where attendees can connect with regional suppliers and organizations. Some of the vendors expected to attend include Cushmen Creek Supply, Johnny's Selected Seeds, Lowe & Young Inc., Rupp Seeds Inc., Farm to School Program, Herd Pro, Tilmore and the Veteran Farmers Coalition.

The conference is supported by several sponsors, including Brandt Consolidated, Cushman Creek Supply, Lowe & Young Inc., United Fencing, and SARE.

In the event of an unforeseen emergency, the conference will be canceled by 11:59 p.m. on March 13. Attendees will be notified by email, but the event will not be rescheduled. Registration fees will not be refunded due to fixed costs, according to the announcement.

This story was created by Jane Imbody, jimbody@usatodayco.com, with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Journalists were involved in every step of the information gathering, review, editing and publishing process. Learn more at cm.usatoday.com/ethical-conduct/.

This article originally appeared on Mansfield News Journal: 2026 Ohio Small Farm Conference set for March 14
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Plenty of tourists may drive through or fly over the mountainous Republic of North Macedonia on their way to more well-known countries like neighboring Greece. However, North Macedonia is a stunning destination all on its own. Formerly known as simply Macedonia, about 1.8 million people live in the country, and for those who enjoy natural wonders and historic landmarks, there's plenty to enjoy. Although North Macedonia isn't quite the secret it was a few years ago, it's still a much lesser-known locale than other European destinations. Per the State Statistical Office of North Macedonia, the number of foreign tourists entering the country increased 10.3% from January to November 2025 when compared to the year prior, with 77,570 tourists just in November 2025 alone. In comparison, per Road Genius, Paris received 24.3 million visitors just in the first six months of 2025.

Even better, according to Budget Your Trip, costs per visitor range from $55 to $233 in North Macedonia  with the average cost coming in at around $125 per day. Compared to nearby Greece, that's about half the price. Looking at other traditional European tourist hotspots, the United Kingdom comes in at $240 while France is around $305 daily, making North Macedonia a significant deal. In fact, world traveler and blogger, Adventurous Kate, even dubbed North Macedonia the cheapest European city she had ever visited. Plus, with a little research into how to book cheap flights in Europe, you can save even more money.

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Read more: The 15 Best Countries To Retire Outside The United States

Saving money while enjoying underrated North Macedonia

A young woman on a Lake Ohrid beach - Margouillatphotos/Getty Images

As for affordable things to do, people often flock to Lake Ohrid, one of Europe's oldest and deepest lakes, to swim in the refreshing and clear waters, sun themselves on beaches, and even stroll boardwalks. While at the lake, those looking for more history can visit the Bay of Bones Museum, which is a reconstructed prehistoric dwellings from 3,000 years ago. North Macedonia is also home to many monasteries, like the St. Panteleimon Monastery, with original buildings from the 11th century (updated in the 18th and 19th centuries) that also contain Byzantine art and holy relics.

Plus, another way to save money on accommodations in Europe is to look into staying at one of the 150 or more preserved monasteries throughout North Macedonia. As of January 2026, Booking.com showed Hotel Manastir Sv. Joakim Osogovski  located on the grounds of an historic monastery  with economy rooms (two twin beds and a private bath) with a mountain view going for just $37. Tourists don't need to prepay, and an "excellent" breakfast is also available for $8. Similarly, if wanting to save even more, consider booking a trip during a shoulder season in either May or September and October for even fewer tourists and cheaper prices.

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Read the original article on Money Digest.
Brrrr. With the temps dipping down into the teens and single digits, it's definitely soup weather.

If you don't want to make your own, consider the Food Bank of Delaware's seasonal soup sale. You can buy two quarts of homemade soup for $15 (or 1 for $10) and help aspiring Food Bank culinary students.

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Orders can be picked up on Thursdays from 1 to 4 p.m. or Fridays from 8 to 11 a.m. at the Food Bank Cafe in Glasgow (222 Lake Drive) or Milford (102 Delaware Veterans Blvd.).

Adrienne Hall, an instructor at the culinary school at the Food Bank of Delaware (right), works with students as they prepare pie crusts on August 5, 2025.

The varieties of soup change each week. So far, the Food Bank kitchen has offered New England clam chowder and stuffed pepper soup.

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Week of Jan. 26 : Vegetarian potato leek

Week of Feb . 2 : Seafood chowder

Week of Feb. 16: Tomato basil

Week of Feb. 23: Chili

A variety of hearty soups are being offered by Food Bank of Delaware, in support of its culinary education programs.

Visit the Food Bank of Delaware's website fbd.org/soupsale/ for more information and to place an order.

More about Food Bank: Famous TV chef's foundation gives $10,000 to Delaware Food Bank

There will be no soup the week of Feb. 9, so the Food Bank can focus on a Valentine's Day promotion, which also supports scholarships for students in culinary training programs.

Chocolate-covered strawberries (available in strawberry crunch, Oreo or chocolate-covered will be sold for $40 per dozen, or $30 per half dozen. Order by Feb. 5, with pickup Feb. 13 from 1 to 4 p.m. or Feb. 14 from 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. at Newark or Milford Food Bank Cafe.

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Visit fbd.org/cupid/ to order or for more information.

Tammy Paolino contributed to this story

This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Winter soups, Valentine's treats sale in support Food Bank of Delaware
store-front view of Randy's Donuts in Los Angeles - Anouchka/Getty Images

In Southern California, mom and pop donut shops are omnipresent, and donuts are as engrained in California food culture as fish tacos and date shakes. Growing up in San Diego, a pink box filled with glazed treats always made an appearance at elementary school birthdays, softball games, and park picnics. While Krispy Kreme and Winchell's chains have long been options, Southern Californians tend to prefer their local neighborhood spots  most of which are family owned and operated staples in the community. It may surprise you to learn that the adored donut shops found on every corner are mostly run by Cambodian immigrants, and about 80% of Southern Californian donut shops are Cambodian-owned.

In the late 1970s, many Cambodians fled their country to escape a genocide that killed an estimated 2 million people over a four-year period, committed by the Khmer Rouge regime that came to power in 1975. From the mid '70s to the mid '90s, approximately 150,000 Cambodian refugees escaped to the United States, where they were met with American donuts not too dissimilar to a Cambodian pastry called nom kong. Today, the largest populations of Cambodians are concentrated in California, with an estimated 40,000 living in the Los Angeles area alone. In the time since, Cambodian-Americans have increased their levels of employment through different roles  many becoming entrepreneurs building the businesses that both support and fuel SoCal's lust for donuts.

Read more: The Most Iconic Sandwich In Every State

SoCal's donut shops and their Cambodian-American origins

an assortment of donuts inside box - Photography By Tonelson/Getty Images

While there are many Cambodian-American run donuts shops in SoCal today, most can be tied back to the influence of one Cambodian-American in particular: Ted Ngoy. The subject of the PBS documentary, "The Donut King," Ngoy worked his way up to a manager position at a Winchell's in Newport Beach, then later purchased an existing donut shop in La Habra, Orange County named Christy's in 1979, where his wife and kids helped run the shop. Ngoy expanded the Christy's empire and was able to sponsor visas for others fleeing Cambodia, employ them, and lease out his shops  kicking off an industry that became popular long before the arrival of Krispy Kreme in 1999.

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Ngoy's roadmap of success became an example for other Cambodian immigrants, as a donut shop was a relatively easy business to run, and the language barrier wasn't a large issue, with only a few pieces of English vocabulary to learn relating to donut flavors and coffee orders. California culture was welcoming to this community and type of quick and delicious food, paving the way for expansion and prosperity for the donut industry. Even Southern California's iconic pink boxes have a history tied specifically to Cambodian donut shop owners, who eschewed expensive, glossy white boxes for cheaper matte pink boxes, which are ubiquitous in the region to this day.

While both Ngoy's and SoCal's donut story at large originated in Orange County, Los Angeles is a donut town. Most Angelenos have a favorite local donut shop (I personally prefer SK's and California Donuts), and everyone takes great pride in supporting the local shops as opposed to larger chains. If you're craving donuts but can't make it to Southern California, seek out the best donut shop in your state.

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Read the original article on Tasting Table.
NEED TO KNOW

A woman from Ohio won a big lottery prize thanks to a birthday present from her best friend

Wendy's pal Carrie gave her a bouquet of 60 Ohio Lottery scratch-offs as a gift, and she won the big prize on the last lottery ticket she scratched off

The winnings will now be used to help Wendy pay off her credit card debt, as well as fund a girls trip for the two friends

A woman's birthday was made thanks to a lottery-themed present she received from her best friend.

Wendy from Canton, Ohio, recently celebrated her special day with friends and family, who threw her a surprise party, the Ohio Lottery said in a news release.

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During the event, Wendy's best friend, Carrie, gave her a bouquet of 60 Ohio Lottery scratch-offs as a gift. Wendy scratched off a few at the party, the Ohio Lottery said, but left the rest for later.

Wendy eventually began scratching off the rest of the tickets after she got home, and when she got to the final one  a $2 Cash Explosion Cashword ticket  she discovered she was a winner.

"Wendy said that it was already the best birthday ever thanks to the party. But the dramatic win on her last scratch-off made it even better," the Ohio Lottery said.

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.

Ohio Lottery The $2 Cash Explosion Cashword ticket. The $2 Cash Explosion Cashword ticket.

Wendy's $2 Cash Explosion Cashword ticket was a $20,000 winner. After federal and state taxes of 26.75% are taken out, she will go home with $14,650.

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The Ohio Lottery said Wendy "immediately called her friend to tell her the news and to see if what she was seeing could possibly be true," but "she didnt really believe it until she brought the ticket to the Ohio Lotterys regional office, and they confirmed her win."

Wendy now plans to use the cash reward in two ways: taking Carrie on a girls trip to Punta Cana and paying off her credit card debt, the Ohio Lottery said.

The PEOPLE Puzzler crossword is here! How quickly can you solve it? Play now!

The winning Cash Explosion Cashword ticket was purchased at a Circle K convenience store in Norton, per the Ohio Lottery.

The overall odds of winning that game are 1 in 4.22, and top prizes still remain to be won, according to lottery officials.



Read the original article on People
Shasta County authorities started out investigating a suspected illegal marijuana farm but ended up making a far more unsettling discovery: a massive stash of illegal firearms and a secret underground bunker at the base of a 100-foot tunnel on a MAGA activist's property.

Michael Jay Kamfolt, 40, was arrested Jan. 20 after members of the California Highway Patrol discovered the bunker and confiscated an array of illegally possessed weapons  including three AR-15-style assault rifles, a sawed-off shotgun and more than 10,000 rounds of ammunition  while serving a search warrant at his Anderson home. He was released the following day after posting $50,000 bail, according to the Shasta County Sheriff's Office.

Among the weapons seized in Anderson, Calif., were a sawed-off shotgun, three AR-15-style assault rifles, one with an obliterated serial number, and two firearms that were reported stolen, one in 2016 and the other in 1978. (California Highway Patrol)

This operation went far beyond an illegal grow," CHP Northern Division Chief John Pinoli said in a statement. "The combination of a hidden bunker and an alarming cache of illegal firearms and ammunition highlights the threat posed to public safety."

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The CHP's investigation is ongoing, and so far a case has not been presented to the Shasta County district attorney's office for filing consideration, according to a department spokesperson.

Kamfolt is a well-known conservative activist who has shown up at protests and county Board of Supervisors meetings and repeatedly raised concerns about voting fraud, according to reports from the Shasta Scout. Shasta County has become a hotbed for hard-right governance and election denialism in the Trump era of American politics, and a staunchly conservative majority took control of the county board in 2022.

Read more: This red California county roiled by a far-right insurgency braces for more trouble as election nears

Kamfolt is a strong advocate of Kevin Crye, a county supervisor and supporter of President Trump's "Make America Great Again," or MAGA, movement. Kamfolt described himself as a good friend of Crye who would do anything to help him out," while confronting protesters outside Crye's business in May 2025, according to the Shasta Scout.

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Crye is a pro-Trump election denier and survived a recall effort by just 50 votes in March 2024. The effort was launched after he led a successful effort to have the county ditch Dominion voting machines in favor of hand-counting ballots.

In a Facebook video posted the day after Kamfolt's arrest, Crye said, "It came to my attention today that a supporter and I'll even say a friend of mine was arrested last night, and my heart is truly broken."

Crye said he was caught off guard by the news but urged people "not to rush to judgment." "Remember we are innocent until proven guilty," he said.

The CHP initially received a tip in December about a suspected illegal marijuana grow on Kamfolt's property in Anderson, a small city about 10 miles south of Redding.

During a search of a Northern California property, officers discovered an underground bunker accessible through a 100-foot-long culvert. (California Highway Patrol)

Officers then secured a search warrant and conducted a flight over the area. They continued to investigate for a month before searching Kamfolt's property on Jan. 20, when they discovered the bunker equipped with all the supplies necessary to cultivate marijuana including power, ventilation and a concrete floor with built-in drainage.

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Located at the base of a 100-foot water drainage pipe, the sprawling secret cavern also contained a home gym, armchair and television. The wall decor included a Bennington flag, which was among the various historical American flags carried by Trump supporters during the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol.

While on the property, officers seized 13 firearms, four soft-body armor vests and 30 high-capacity magazines. Two of the guns were reported stolen, one in 2016 and the other in 1978, according to the CHP.

Kamfolt was arrested on suspicion of an array of misdemeanor and felony weapons-related violations. They include converting a firearm into a machine gun, manufacturing a ghost gun, possession of a stolen firearm and possession of armor penetrating ammunition, authorities said.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
LANSING, Mich. (WLNS)  The Youth Peace and Justice Foundation, a youth safety nonprofit, will honor 16-year-old Isaiah Ramos-Bostwick, who was shot and killed in Jackson last week, by planting a tree in its Trees for Peace Youth Gun Violence Memorial.

To students lost to gun violence, the foundation plants memorial trees in Green Mountain National Forest in Vermont.

We join the Jackson community in grieving the loss of Isaiah, said Daniel Chapin, Founder and National Director of The Uvalde Foundation For Kids, in a statement shared with 6 News.

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By placing this living memorial in the Green Mountain National Forest, we affirm that Isaiahs story will not be forgotten. This violence must end; our children deserve to grow up.

According to Jackson Police Chief Christopher Simpson, officers responded to the 500 block of Harris Street at around 1:00 a.m. on January 22 after receiving reports of a shooting.

Jackson Police Department investigates shooting on Harris St./ WLNS

Officers found Ramos-Bostwick inside a home with an apparent gunshot wound to the face. He was taken to Henry Ford Jackson Hospital, where he died.

Following a K9 track, police arrested the 13-year-old suspect, who has been charged with first-degree murder, felony murder, armed robbery, stealing a firearm, and felony firearm.

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13-year-old suspect in deadly shooting wont be charged as adult

According to Jackson County Prosecutor Kelsey Guernsey, the suspect will not be charged as an adult due to his age, and the case will continue in family court.

Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WLNS 6 News.
The 27 towns challenging New Jerseys affordable housing plan are pressing ahead, even after both state and federal judges dismissed their lawsuit.

At the center of the legal fight is Local Leaders for Responsible Planning, a coalition of 27 suburban municipalities that say New Jerseys 2024 overhaul of affordable housing rules forces disproportionate development onto their towns and strips them of local control.

The group is now taking their challenge to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, and asking the court to put the law on hold as they challenge affordable housing requirements.

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Most of the towns involved are affluent suburban communities in North and Central Jersey, including Montvale, Holmdel, Millburn and Franklin Lakes  places that have long resisted highdensity development and previously fought affordable housing mandates in court.

A federal judge in New Jersey, Zahid N. Quraishi, denied their request for an injunction twice last week.

First, he sided with the state and dismissed the towns lawsuit. The state defendants included the New Jersey attorney general, the administrative director of the courts and members of the Affordable Housing Dispute Resolution Program.

Following that ruling, the towns asked Quraishi to reconsider an injunction in light of their appeal, but he again denied the request.

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The towns are appealing Judge Quraishis ruling to the Third Circuit and are asking the appeals court for a stay to halt the law while that appeal is decided.

A stay is a court order that temporarily pauses a law, ruling or legal requirement from taking effect while a case or appeal is still being decided.

They argued that without a stay, any later appeal win wouldnt matter because construction would already have started and couldnt be rolled back.

The more than two dozen municipalities initially filed a lawsuit in state court challenging the Affordable Housing Reform Law enacted by Gov. Phil Murphy in 2024.

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The municipalities first filed suit in state court, challenging the Affordable Housing Reform Law signed by Gov. Phil Murphy in 2024.

The law eliminated the Council on Affordable Housing and created a new courtmanaged system for calculating municipal housing obligations and resolving disputes.

The towns argued the law violated the Mount Laurel doctrine and raised several legal issues, including unfunded mandates, specialinterest legislation, separationofpowers concerns and an improper transfer of authority to the Administrative Director of the Courts.

The Mount Laurel doctrine, established through New Jersey Supreme Court decisions, requires every municipality to use zoning to ensure it provides its fair share of affordable housing.

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In October, Mercer County Superior Court Judge Robert Lougy dismissed the state lawsuit, ruling that the Legislature has the authority to enforce the Mount Laurel doctrine and that the towns challenge lacked legal grounds.

The towns then turned to federal court, where the case was dismissed on Jan. 20.

Quraishi ruled that municipalities cannot bring this type of constitutional challenge in federal court and noted that even if the 2024 law were struck down, the towns would still face the same affordable housing obligations under decades of Mount Laurel rulings.

My clients are appealing to the Third Circuit seeking to pause the imminent re-zoning of properties in their communities that they do not believe are suitable for high-density housing until their equal protection claims may be decided, said Michael Collins, of King Moench & Collins, an attorney for the towns.

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The towns face a deadline of March 15 to file revised housing plans.

Affordable housing supports workers, small businesses, and local economies  the vast majority of New Jersey municipalities recognize that and are already moving forward with thoughtful housing plans," said Joshua Bauers, director of exclusionary zoning litigation at Fair Share Housing Center.

Using taxpayer dollars to prolong this litigation only hurts the towns pursuing it, he added.

More N.J. real estate news

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Three people were arrested and booked into the Fresno County jail this month as part of a state-wide investigation into the trafficking of wildlife parts.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service says it intercepted a falsely labeled shipment from Thailand destined for Fresno.

Inside the package, they found elephant tusks, rhinoceros horns and other animal parts from protected species.

State wildlife experts also uncovered several other major wildlife poaching operations.

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Search warrants in Fresno County this month resulted in the seizure of hundreds more illegal animal parts, including walrus tusks, suspected bear gall bladders and turtle shells.

In Madera County, state authorities shut down an illegal rooster-fighting ring.

Charges will be filed with the Fresno and Madera county district attorneys' offices.
NEED TO KNOW

Four men were stuck on a mountain in western Canada for four days after a storm blew in on Jan. 10

The hikers stayed in an emergency shelter for three nights until the weather cleared enough for search and rescue teams to reach them

The group was tired and hungry, but otherwise in good shape, the Ridge Meadows Search and Rescue said

Four hikers sheltered on a mountain in Canada for three nights after a snowstorm left them stranded earlier this month. Following the harrowing rescue, authorities warned that the story could have ended differently.

On Saturday, Jan. 10, four men from Coquitlam, British Columbia, reached the summit of Golden Ears, according to Ridge Meadows Search and Rescue (RMSR) and the Vancouver Sun. After ascending the 5,630-foot mountain with two peaks, the group was surprised by a storm that limited visibility because of the whiteout conditions, RMSR said. Fortunately, the men were prepared to stay overnight and worked their way to an emergency shelter on Panorama Ridge. Within the shelter, the hikers sent out an SOS call.

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The search and rescue team was activated that same evening, but the rescue operation was quickly stalled because of the bad weather. A helicopter couldnt reach them safely, and the possibility of an avalanche prevented crew members from heading out on foot, the agency said.

On Sunday morning, a helicopter was able to get within about 1,000 feet of the encampment, but couldnt safely access the four men. A similar attempt on Monday also failed because of inclement weather, RMSR said.

That evening, the rescue effort became even more urgent when the rescue leaders learned the hikers no longer had essential supplies.

They said by Monday night they had run out of food and other supplies, Brent Boulet, president of Ridge Meadows Search and Rescue, told the Vancouver Sun. Now we are starting to feel the pressure of getting them out as soon as possible.

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By the afternoon of Tuesday, Jan. 13, the search and rescue team worked quickly when there was a break in the weather. Helicopters were able to land next to the shelter, according to RMSR.

The four hikers were rescued after four days on the mountain. Ridge Meadows Search and Rescue

The group was tired and hungry, but otherwise in good shape, the organization said. The men were then flown to a nearby airport, where they were able to reunite with their families.

Search and rescue officials issued a reminder following the multi-agency rescue. Hikers should expect the weather to change quickly in the mountains, and always bring supplies to stay overnight. RMSR also advised that people look up avalanche conditions before going into such terrain, and always have equipment and knowledge to avoid or navigate avalanche-prone areas.

First responders arrived in a helicopter. Ridge Meadows Search and Rescue

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Boulet had similar recommendations for hikers attempting to summit the high peaks in the region.

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This time of year, its not just a hike  its a mountaineering objective, he told the paper. Its not a casual hike. Anyone going up in the Alpine of Golden Ears needs to have that experience.



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BUDAPEST, Jan. 26 (Xinhua) -- Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said on Monday that Hungary would take diplomatic steps after what he called offensive and threatening remarks by Ukrainian political leaders toward Hungary and its government.

In a video posted on social media, Orban said Hungary's national security services had concluded that recent statements by Ukrainian officials were part of an attempt to interfere in Hungary's parliamentary elections in April. He said he had instructed Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto to summon Ukraine's ambassador.

Relations between Hungary and Ukraine, already tense, deteriorated after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy made comments at the World Economic Forum in Davos last week that were seen as referring to Orban.

Zelenskyy said that "every victor who lives off European money while trying to sell out European interests deserves a smack upside the head," adding that "if he feels comfortable in Moscow, it doesn't mean we should let European capitals become little Moscows." Ukraine has rejected the accusation. 
Harol Alvarado Rodriguez was on his way to work at a Whippany car dealership in early December when the vehicle he was in, his friends Toyota truck, was suddenly ambushed by federal immigration agents.

The [Immigrations and Customs Enforcement] agents came up to our windows, angry, shouting, with guns pointed right at us, he says in Spanish. It was so scary, it was unreal, kind of like a Hollywood action movie.

By now, the frightening scene hes describing is one thats become disturbingly common.

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Masked men shouting at and violently dragging people  most of them, full-fledged U.S. citizens  out of their cars. Agents pepper-spraying protestors while theyre pinned down to the ground. And federal officers shooting and killing the brave ones who chose not to stay silent.

Harol, a graduate of Morristown High School, has a pending asylum case. And he had an immigration court date scheduled for this month. Not that any it mattered to the agents, of course.

He says he and the other two men in the car  all from Honduras  were arrested and taken to Delaney Hall, the embattled and controversial Newark immigration detention center where Mayor Ras Baraka was arrested last year. (Just last month, a detainee suffered a medical emergency and died a day after being locked up there.)

Horrifying, right? Youve heard nothing yet, Harol tells me.

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The real nightmare, he says, began in the days and weeks that followed his Dec. 8 arrest. Since ICE took him, Harols been ping-ponged to four immigration detention centers, each one in a different state.

I was first transferred to Texas, then to Arizona, then we made a brief stop in Colorado, and finally, I was brought here, to California, where I am now, he says.

I spoke to Harol through GettingOut, an app thats used to call, message, or video chat people at county jails, state prisons, or immigration detention centers.

Each time I was moved, it was abrupt, sometimes very late at night or really early in the morning, Harol says.

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I never knew where I was being taken, I didnt know anything, where I was going, who made the call, or why it had been decided. And of course, my family, my friends, they werent notified either.

You know who else wasnt notified about Harols sudden, and seemingly nonsensical, transfers? His attorney. And Im willing to bet that was entirely by design.

Eduardo J. Jimenez, a Morristown immigration lawyer whos representing Harol, told me he only learned his client had been moved out of Delaney Hall about a week ago  just two days before Harol was scheduled to appear at an immigration hearing in Newark.

Jimenez says he was informed via a letter that his client had been transferred. However, he says the letter failed to state where his client had been moved or when.

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By the time Jimenez received that letter, Harol had already been thrown on at least four planes while being transported to facilities in other states. Each time, too, he was handcuffed, shackled at the waist, and chained at the legs. All of that, it really takes a toll, Harol says.

And yet, it couldve been much worse. A September 2025 L.A. Times article details the story of a Honduran man who in the span of two months was moved 15 times  yes, 15!  between facilities in Arizona, California, Florida, Hawaii, and Louisiana before finally being deported.

To try to find Harol, Jimenez used ICEs online detainee locator system but said searches on the site routinely yielded no results. Days ago, I used the locator myself. Harol, who is now at a detention center in California City, still does not appear in the system.

They shouldve notified me immediately about any moves, Jimenez says. Im his attorney, I should always know where hes being held.

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Hes 100% right. Just think about it: How can lawyers represent their clients to the best of their ability if theyre deliberately and systematically blocked from conferring with them? And dont even know where they are?

Attorneys, immigrants rights groups, and even the relatives of detainees, have for years decried ICEs online locator as inaccurate and slow to update, often failing to list detainees for days  and sometimes even weeks  after an arrest or transfer.

During that time, detainees are disappeared. Their attorneys dont know where they are and their relatives dont either. Some families report that by the time they finally learned where their loved ones were, theyd already been deported.

Late last year, The American Friends Service Committee, a nonprofit that provides legal services and advocacy for immigrants, reported a spike in requests for help locating and tracking people detained by federal immigration agents.

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After an in-depth monitoring of six individual cases over a two-month period, the group found that ICE agents often misreported, denied, or withheld basic information about a persons whereabouts. Hmm, I wonder why.

'We're his family in this country'

For Harols best friend, Valeria Alvarez, it was beyond nerve wracking not knowing where he was. She tells me she and Harol formed a tight-knit friendship years ago when they attended Morristown High School.

As teens, they went to prom with friends and celebrated their high school graduation together, too. Were practically family, at this point, she says tearfully. He doesnt have many close relatives in this country so my family has become his family here.

At Valerias home in Randolph, her boyfriend, Daniel, whos also close friends with Harol, and Valerias mom, Luisa, both spoke highly of him.

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Heres a good young man, whos hard working, who has no vices, who came here to this country, on his own, escaping gang violence in Honduras, Luisa said, with tears streaming down her face.

Hes already had such a hard life so for this to be happening to him right now, it just really, really breaks my heart.

Aside from his job at the car dealership, Harol also worked as a waiter at a restaurant in Montville.

Jimenez told me his client, who has a pending asylum case, is the opposite of a criminal. Hes someone whos contributed greatly to his community, he said, adding that several of Harols former teachers, employers, and friends have submitted glowing immigration support letters on his behalf.

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Kathryn Tepedino, one of Harols former teachers at Morristown High, in an email said shed recently come across one of his writing assignments.

Harol wrote about why he loves the United States, he said its because it is secure free from the violence that plagues his homeland Honduras, The irony is heartbreaking," she said. Hes an exemplary student and a kind, law-abiding young man.

Still, Jimenez says the unexpected transfers have hurt Harols legal case. And Im sure thats the point.

While immigration laws are federal, Jimenez notes theres state-by-state differences in implementation.

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When a detainee is suddenly moved from one jurisdiction to another, Jimenez says, it can change things, negatively, for that person because some of the favorable state laws [in the state of origin] may no longer apply.

This constant shuffling of detainees is nothing more than a cruel game of cups  the government, once again, wantonly and inhumanely playing with peoples lives.

Harol agrees. He tells me he knows the transfers are meant to break us down. To hurt us, one way or the other, to make us miss our court dates, to make us tired, or depressed, to make us want to self-deport, he says.

But all I still want is to get out of here, reunite with those who love me, and keep working hard to make my dreams in this country come true.

Harols friends launched a GoFundMe to raise money for his costly legal defense.

Harol Alvarado Rodriguez

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U.S. President Donald Trump's unveiling of his new "Board of Peace" drew a divided response from the international community.

Most of Europe  including Ukraine  was absent from the signing ceremony in Davos, which featured mainly Middle Eastern leaders and Trump's ideological allies, such as Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban or Argentinian President Javier Milei.

Despite seeking Trump's favor in peace talks with Russia, Kyiv remains reluctant to join as long as the war lasts.

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The reason, President Volodymyr Zelensky said, is that Ukraine cannot sit at the Trump-chaired board beside Russia and Belarus, which were also invited.

Experts and Ukrainian lawmakers who spoke with the Kyiv Independent expressed skepticism about the project, some saying Ukraine should stick with its European allies rather than join the "motley crew" of mostly illiberal leaders.

"The board is a 'pay-to-play' scam that is simply another vehicle for Donald Trump's ego."

Others underscored the paradox of Russia, which is ramping up attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure amid freezing temperatures, sitting at any peace-building body.

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"The very idea of inviting to this Board of 'Peace' the biggest violator of peace and international law, Russia, and Belarus, complicit in the crime of aggression, is absurd," says Oleksandr Merezhko, head of the parliaments foreign affairs committee.

Trump's personal 'UN'

Initially conceived as a U.N.-approved initiative for overseeing the 20-point ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, the newly minted board aims for a broader mandate.

Trump's central role as its inaugural  and potentially permanent  chairman, and a $1 billion fee for a permanent seat, have led some observers to view this board as the president's personal version of the U.N., an organization he has often lambasted.

"The board is a 'pay-to-play' scam that is simply another vehicle for Donald Trump's ego," says Dan Hamilton, a non-resident senior fellow at the Brookings Institution.

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"Countries like Hungary or Argentina are unlikely to have the most impact on Gaza, so the board is simply a cover for Trump to ram through his preferred solutions to the ongoing conflict."

U.S. President Donald Trump holds a signed founding charter as world leaders applaud during a Board of Peace meeting at the World Economic Forum annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland, on Jan. 22, 2026. (Mandel Ngan / AFP via Getty Images)

U.S. officials said that about 35 out of the 50 invited countries from across the Middle East, Europe, Asia, and Latin America have confirmed interest in joining.

States represented at the opening ceremony included Turkey, Hungary, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Argentina, Pakistan, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, and Saudi Arabia. Belarus, Israel, and Vietnam have also said they would join the board.

In turn, many Western democratic countries  who were in the doghouse with Trump recently over his bid for Greenland  have rejected it, including France, Germany, Sweden, and Norway.

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An invitation to Canada was rescinded after a feud between Trump and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney over the latter's speech at the Davos forum, underscoring the U.S. president's personalistic approach to the project.

From Gaza to Ukraine

A U.S. official who spoke to the Kyiv Independent said that the board could, subject to the chairman's discretion and the consent of the relevant states, address other conflicts around the world, including the Russia-Ukraine war.

But neither Kyiv nor Moscow has publicly confirmed interest in joining  even though Trump claimed the latter had.

So far, Russian President Vladimir Putin has only floated using $1 billion in Russian assets frozen by the U.S. as a payment for the permanent seat.

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"With Russians, we are enemies. Belarus  (they are) allies of the Russians. We can't be with them."

Zelensky, in turn, said that Ukraine could join any such efforts only after Russia's invasion ends.

President Volodymyr Zelensky arrives ahead of a planned meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, on Jan. 22, 2026. (Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images)

"With Russians, we are enemies. Belarus  (they are) allies of the Russians. We can't be with them," the Ukrainian leader said in Davos.

Other observers doubt that the board will be effective at all.

Volodymyr Dubovyk, head of Odesa National University's Center for International Studies, expressed reservations that the board will play "any significant and active role in solving any conflicts," adding that Ukraine has priorities elsewhere.

Caught between Trump and Europe

There may be at least one reason why Kyiv is not completely closing the door on the project.

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Zelensky and his team have worked hard for over a year to earn the favor of Trump, a leader whose mercurial nature determines many life-or-death decisions on Ukraine, from air defense to post-war security guarantees.

Yaroslav Yurchyshyn, a lawmaker from the opposition Holos (Voice) party, says Ukraine cannot flat out reject the invitation "so as not to further strain our already complicated relationship with Trump."

But others argue that flattery of the U.S. leader is a worn-out, ineffective tactic.

"Ukraine has tried many things only to find, again and again, this approach is not working," Dubovyk noted.

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Despite Ukraine's best efforts, periods when Trump seemed to lean toward ramping up support for Kyiv, for example, by Tomahawk missile deliveries, proved short-lived.

A Tactical Tomahawk Block IV cruise missile is escorted by a U.S. Navy F-14 Tomcat during a test over southern California, U.S. on Nov. 10, 2002. (U.S. Navy / AFP via Getty Images)

Merezhko added that he would rather "give Trump $1 billion for his support for Ukraine to join NATO instead of all other 'boards'."

As Trump's foreign policy also sours on Europe, Ukraine is walking a fine line between not upsetting Washington while maintaining its increasingly vital ties with European partners.

Europe foots the bill for military aid to Ukraine, and the prospect of EU membership is crucial to the country's post-war recovery and long-term development.

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"Considering that basically all European countries are not joining (the board), Ukraine should not either, especially in the middle of an important stage of the process of Ukraine's integration into the EU," Dubovyk commented.

As Yurchyshyn added, Ukraine must align its steps with Europe in order to "become the foundation for a new European system of collective defense, which is currently taking shape."

Note from the author:

Hi, this is Martin Fornusek.

I hope you enjoyed this article. In our team, we believe that fact-based, truthful reporting should be available to all  that's why we don't use a paywall.

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If you'd like to help us provide you with more in-depth coverage of Ukraine's struggle against Russian aggression, international politics, and more, please consider joining the Kyiv Independent community.

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
A Herron Island man who was hospitalized from self-inflicted wounds following his arrest for a double homicide appeared in court for arraignment Monday.

James Edward Carnagey Jr., 63, was charged with three counts of first-degree aggravated murder in the Dec. 11, 2025 killings of his estranged wife, Wendy Teresa Walker-Carnagey, 64, and Chad Thomas Malloy, 39. They both died from stabbings.

Carnagey was arrested after detectives found him at a Kent hotel the next day. When they tried to contact him, they got no response. After breaking in, SWAT officers found Carnagey on the hotel bed with blood around him from suspected self-inflicted stab wounds. He was taken to a hospital where he underwent life-saving surgery, according to charging documents.

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A plea of not guilty was entered on Carnageys behalf during his arraignment Monday afternoon. Pierce County Superior Court Commissioner Barbara McInvaille ordered him to held at the jail on a no-bail hold upon the request of prosecutors, according to court records. Prosecutors argued Carnagey showed a propensity for violence and was likely a danger to the community.

James Edward Carnagey Jr., 63, is arraigned on Monday, Jan. 26, 2026, at Pierce County Superior Court in Tacoma, Wash. Carnagey was charged with three counts of aggravated first-degree murder in the Dec. 11, 2025 stabbings of Wendy Teresa Walker-Carnagey, 64, and Chad Thomas Malloy, 39. (Liesbeth Powers/lpowers@thenewstribune.com)

The defense reserved bail arguments for a hearing on Feb. 2, court records show.

Court documents show Pierce County detectives were dispatched to a house on East Herron Boulevard Northwest where Walker-Carnagey and Malloy were found dead in a bedroom. Walker-Carnagey shared the home with Carnagey and Malloy would occasionally visit her.

During their investigation, detectives learned of alleged texts to Carnageys daughter where he told her to look up Herron Island news for an article and told her to let him know of anything new, documents show. There was a history of domestic violence between the estranged couple.

Documents show Carnagey told detectives in an interview that he found their bodies on Dec. 5 and did not notify police because he thought he would be a suspect. He said he left the house after discovering their bodies and did not return. He also alleged Malloy was responsible for the deaths, saying that someone might have gone to the home to collect money the victim owed.
A Colorado advocacy group said it found racist ace of spades playing cards listing the address of a local Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility inside the cars of people detained by the agency.

Alex Sanchez, CEO and president of the immigrant rights group Voces Unidas, told local outlet 9NEWS that at least two of these cards were found by the families of people detained by ICE agents last week.

The ace of spades cards list the name, address and phone number of the ICE Denver field office, according to photos shared by the organization. The group claims ICE agents left these cards behind.

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The advocacy group compared them to the death cards used by U.S. soldiers during the Vietnam War.

The ace of spades has a long history as a tool of intimidation, from psychological warfare during the Vietnam War to its adoption by white supremacist groups to demean people of color, the organization said in a statement.

An immigrant rights advocacy group said it found ace of spades playing cards listing the address and phone number of the ICE Denver field office (Voces Unidas)

ICEs decision to leave this card behind after targeting Latino workers through fake traffic stops was not incidental. It was deliberate psychological harassment. This is not about public safety. It is about fear and control, the statement continues.

Sanchez said hes disgusted by the incident.

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Leaving a racist death card behind after targeting Latino workers is deliberate intimidation rooted in a long history of racial violence. This is an abuse of power, and it has no place in any society that claims to value human dignity, he said in a statement.

A Department of Homeland Security spokesperson said the situation is under investigation, and that ICE unequivocally condemns this type of action and/or officer conduct.

Once notified, ICE supervisors acted swiftly to address the issue. The ICE Office of Professional Responsibility will conduct a thorough investigation and will take appropriate and swift action, the spokesperson told The Independent.

The Independent has contacted Voces Unidas for comment.

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This comes as the immigration agency faces ongoing scrutiny over its tactics, particularly in Minneapolis, where two U.S. citizens have been shot and killed by federal immigration agents this month.

President Donald Trump sent border czar Tom Homan to oversee ICE operations in Minnesota on Monday, though the White House maintains the president still has confidence in Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.
ASHLAND Courageous responses to fires, rigorous workshops, investing funds into department enhancements and implementing prevention tactics summarized 2025 for the Ashland Fire Department.

AFD recently released a year-in-review report to The Daily Independent.

February 2025 was a hallmark month for the department.

The Boyd County Fiscal Court recognized the bravery of area firefighters who responded to a structure fire off Green Valley Drive, where AFD managed to pull two victims from inside a home within 10 minutes to increase their chances of survival. While they did not make it, firefighters Luke Alley (Cannonsburg), Michael Womack (Ashland), Kyle Webster (Westwood), Sam Horn (Summit-Ironville), Tyler Cantrell (Ashland), Chad Stevens (Cannonsburg) and Mick Brown (Ashland) were honored for their remarkable efforts. Cantrell was off duty that day.

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Just a few days later, Kentucky First Lady Britainy Beshear recognized AFD members who responded to flooding in eastern Kentucky  including Cantrell, Fields Davis, Todd Selvage, Brad Kitts and Richard Carr. The central station served as a drop-off location for a flood relief supply drive.

In July, AFD, State Fire Rescue Training District 9 and McGuires Towing and Recovery hosted a structural collapse workshop at 14th Street and Carter Avenue. The hands-on training drew more than 75 firefighters and instructors from across the commonwealth, representing 19 different fire departments.

Later that month, AFD conducted a controlled live burn at a house on the 300 block of 14th Street, through a partnership with SFRT District 9. Firefighters represented 15 various departments.

Ashlands fire department hosted a 40-hour trench rescue technician course in partnership with SFRT in November, training more than 30 students, including nine AFD members.

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The Kentucky Public Service Commission had a pipeline strike response training event at the Port of Ashland in May.

All 55 of AFDs firefighters are certified Emergency Medical Service Technicians. In all, they completed 966 training classes for 23,000-plus hours on various subjects.

Stemming from the approval of Ashland city commissioners, AFD invested opioid abatement funds into a 2025 Silverado 2500H 4WD Crew Cab, a 2025 Honda Hard Roof ATV with skid and automatic external defibrillators.

The Ashland Fire Department hosted Fire Friday during a First Friday in Ashland on Oct. 3, 2025, which brought more than 2,000 participants to the downtown area.

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A fire prevention week and smoke detector blitz highlighted prevention efforts. Engine companies installed 321 smoke detectors in 116 homes in 2025. AFD conducted 419 inspections, 24 plan reviews and 156 consultations. AFD also flushed and tested 1,033 hydrants.

The year started with the unveiling and blessing of a new Safe Haven Baby Box at Central Station on Jan. 3. The Thomas J. Burch Safe Infants Act allows parents of newborn infants to anonymously surrender an infant at a safe place without fear of prosecution in Kentucky.

AFD was the recipient of a few grants in 2025, including $11,000 (overhead hallway burn prop), $3,000 (bunker gear) and $30,000 (Conex boxes for training) from the Kentucky Fire Commission. Since 2015, AFD has been awarded $1.83 million in grants.

The Ashland Fire Department released a rundown of operations and incidents for 2025:

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 2,530 calls

 1,381 fire-related call responses

 9.921 operational tasks

 39 working structure fires

 108 small fires within structures

 12 vehicle fires

 57 brush fires/rubbish fires

 835 EMS calls

 143 vehicle accidents

 81 elevator rescue incidents

 10 vehicle accidents requiring extrication

 20 missing person calls

 208 hazardous material-related calls

 64 building collapse, trench rescue, confined space, water rescue, rope rescue and machinery

 231 service calls (public service, fire prevention, smoke detector installation)

 55 incidents resulting in AFD providing mutual aid to neighboring departments

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 Seven incidents requiring AFD to request mutual aid for assistance

AFD released the following regarding personnel/recognition: four retirements, two promotions to battalion chief, two promotions to captain, four promotions to engineer and six firefighters hired.
HONOLULU (KHON2)  Aloha, ohana and kuleana. Gov. Josh Green said these are Hawaiis core values as he looks to continue reflecting them through the remainder of his first term.

Hawaii Gov. Josh Green delivered his final State of the State Address on Jan. 26, reviewing three years of progress and a look at whats to come in 2026.

A look at Gov. Greens $10.58B proposed budget for 2027

The address focused on key initiatives and accomplishments from his administration, from cost of living reducing homelessness, strengthening healthcare and more.

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Gov. Green emphasized his vision for Hawaii residents, which hit key components: where working families can afford to stay, where kupuna can live with dignity, where no child goes hungry and where the islands are protected for generations to come.

Three years ago, Hawaii families told us what mattered most  the cost of living, housing, healthcare and the future of our keiki  and we got to work. Today, were seeing real progress, from record housing production and tax relief to better healthcare access and a historic investment in climate resilience. And were not done. Governor Josh Green, M.D.

Cost of living

Gov. Green pointed out his efforts in providing tax relief, increasing support for food security and strengthening child care support.

He noted his accomplishment in doubling the Earned Tax Credit and Food Tax Credit, helping families save $88 million per year in taxes, alongside a strategic pause enacted on future cuts to restore $1.8B for essential services such as food security and child care needs.

Gov. Green added his efforts in launching the Sun Bucks program for eligible Hawaii children, ensuring they do not go hungry at school.

Housing and Homelessness

During his three years in office, Gov. Green noted that under his administration, the state has seen record housing production with thousands of affordable homes completed and many more underway, providing the following numbers:

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Entitled 5,500 affordable units and more than 6,500 affordable units since entering office

Over 62,000 housing units in the statewide pipeline, including 46,000 affordable units

More than 20,000 units planned on state lands; expanding workforce housing statewide

And when it comes to Hawaiian Home Lands, Gov. Green said the state created over 2,500 leases in 2025, which is the most awarded in a single year throughout DHHLs history.

In terms of homelessness, the state can expect to see 30 kauhale tiny home villages by the end of 2026.

The administrations homeless strategy has allotted a $50M per year investment in these kauhale, outreach and legal services, including mental health care and addiction treatment to break the cycle.

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Gov. Greens overall goal  to cut chronic homelessness in half by 2026 and again over the next four years.

Hawaiis economy and healthcare

In terms of the economy, Gov. Green highlighted the states position in having one of the nations lowest unemployment rates.

He added that the state has seen strong increases in GDP, personal income and visitor spending, including a GDP forecast to be 5% higher in 2025 than in 2019.

One of his key focuses is expanding tax credits for film and TV to encourage local hiring and keep creative industries in Hawaii alive.

And in the healthcare sector, Gov. Green credited efforts to extend Medicaid resources and the launch of HELP, the state-funded initiative for educational loan repayment for more than 900 providers.

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He also noted his accomplishment in securing nearly $190M in federal funding for the Rural Health Transformation Program, which modernizes rural access to care, grows the economy and creates thousands of good jobs across the state.

Environment

Since the Red Hill fuel spill incident in 2021, the state has removed more than 100 million gallons of fuel ahead of schedule.

Following a string of emergency incidents, Gov. Green emphasized the completion of a much-needed upgrade to emergency alert systems, including the deployment of wildfire and extreme weather sensors statewide.

And of course, Gov. Green highlighted the reestablished State Fire Marshal position, the first time Hawaii has had one since 1979.

Maui recovery

As we enter the third year of recovery since the deadly Maui wildfires, Gov. Green emphasized his move to secure FEMA housing for wildfire survivors through February 2027.

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During his term, the state has secured more than $2 billion in federal disaster funding to support the construction of more than 1,200 interim housing units and more than 2,200 planned permanent units.

Gov. Green added that he looks to continue providing support for those in traditional housing through 2027 so they can rebuild their lives.

This is the Hawaii we are building together  a place thats more affordable, more resilient and more hopeful for every family.

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 KHON2.
A day after Ugandans went to the polls in mid-January, social media users circulated pictures and footage purportedly showing a surveillance helicopter hovering over opposition leader Bobi Wines home, amid claims that he had been abducted. However, this is misleading; although Wine said he escaped a raid on his home the same night, the images and clips of a helicopter hovering over his house are digitally manipulated versions of a 2021 photograph.

THIS IS THE SITUATION AT THE HOUSE OF PRESIDENT KYAGULANYI SENTAMU AKA BOBI WINE AFTER THE ARMY ARRESTED HIM, reads the caption of a Facebook post published on January 16, 2026.

Written in the Luganda language, the post features two images of a house at night, illuminated by what appears to be a helicopter searchlight. A third image shows a dimly lit scene with officers atop a vehicle resembling a Ugandan police truck.

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A similar claim was shared on X on the same day, this time with a clip purportedly showing the scene.

Bobi Wine attacked and taken to an unknown place, reads the caption.

Screenshots of the altered posts shared on X and Facebook, published on January 16, 2026

Similar posts were shared on X, Instagram and YouTube, amid claims that Wine had been abducted.

Uganda 2026 vote

Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni won 72 percent of the January 15, 2026, election, extending his 40-year rule by another five years (archived here).

The vote was marred by reports of violence, an internet blackout, and long delays caused by technical failures of biometric voter verification kits.

After polls closed, Wines party claimed that he was under house arrest (archived here).

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On January 17, 2026, the opposition leader said he had escaped a raid on his home in Magere the previous night (archived here).

The military and police raided us, Wine wrote on X. They switched off power and cut off some of our CCTV cameras. There were helicopters hovering over.

STATEMENT



Last night was very difficult at our home in Magere. The military and police raided us. They switched off power and cut off some of our CCTV cameras. There were helicopters hovering over.



I want to confirm that I managed to escape from them. Currently, I am not at pic.twitter.com/P1sKic3kCL  BOBI WINE (@HEBobiwine) January 17, 2026

However, none of the photos Wine shared match the images circulating online, which AFP Fact Check found were created using old pictures.

Edited photo

A keyword search for helicopter at Bobi Wines house, filtered by date, led to a similar image published on X by the opposition leader on January 26, 2021 (archived here).

Aside from the military and police surrounding us, military and police helicopters have been consistently hovering over our residence in breach of our privacy rights, reads the post.

This has been the situation at my house these past days. Aside from the military and police surrounding us, military and police helicopters have been consistently hovering over our residence in breach of our privacy rights. Cowards! #WeAreRemovingADictatorpic.twitter.com/8nr6nDCfeJ  BOBI WINE (@HEBobiwine) January 26, 2021

A comparison of the circulating image and the 2021 photo shows that the older one was darkened to fit the recent context.

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Despite the alteration, some similarities remain visible, including the identical clouds, the helicopter positioned directly above the apex of the roof, the silhouette of the tree trunk in the foreground, and the same plant in front of the house.

Comparison of the altered image (left) with the original photograph taken in 2021

Reverse image searches of the original image traced it to Ugandan photographer Nicholas Bamulanzeki, who posted it on X in 2021.

 @PoliceUg chopper hovering @HEBobiwine home as he addresses the media this morning #UgandaDecide2021 @observerug, he wrote at the time.

Contacted by AFP Fact Check, Bamulanzeki confirmed that he took the original photo on January 26, 2021, at Wines home in Magere.

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I have seen the manipulated visuals, he said. They were created using my photo, adding that it causes harm to the truth.

This photo was likely used as the base image and then animated using artificial intelligence tools to produce the clip shared in the claim.

Similar searches for the picture of Ugandan policemen sitting at the back of an official truck established that it is at least seven years old.

It was originally published (archived here) by the Uganda Police Force on May 14, 2018, in an X post reading: Night patrol to #ProtectAndServe the Pearl of Africa and ensure her citizens will sleep safe tonight. Have a goodnight tweeps.

Night patrol to #ProtectAndServe the Pearl of Africa and ensure her citizens will sleep safe tonight. Have a goodnight tweeps. #PoliceWorks (Pic by @mugasha_ ) pic.twitter.com/lhqOjTdWsC  Uganda Police Force (@PoliceUg) May 14, 2018

The police image shared in the recent claim is also a darkened version of the 2018 photo.

Comparison of the altered photo (left) with the image published in 2018

A faint purple watermark is visible on all the edited visuals. We traced it to a purple logo reading Barruti Most IMusic UG, which appears on TikTok and Facebook accounts associated with a self-described Ugandan-based super tabloid blogger.

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The circulating images appear on the Facebook account, while the TikTok account features AI-generated clips.

Screenshot of a TikTok account with the purple logo, taken on January 22, 2026

Additionally, the images circulating in 2026 were not published by any credible media outlets.

Ugandas police spokesman, Rusoke Kituuma, denied claims of Wines alleged abduction (archived here).

These are deceitful and insightful allegations, intended to depict the security agencies of Uganda as brutal, and violators of rights of a political candidate, he said. They are untrue and unfounded.

He also insisted that Wine was at his Magere home, adding that any such arrest would be publicly announced.

Post-election threats

On January 20, 2026, Muhoozi Kainerugaba, Uganda's army chief and the son of newly re-elected Museveni, threatened to hunt down and kill the opposition leader in a series of now-deleted X posts (archived here).

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"We have killed 22 NUP terrorists since last week," he claimed in one of the posts, referring to Wines National Unity Platform party.

"I'm praying the 23rd is Kabobi," he added, using a nickname for the opposition leader, who remains in hiding following the election loss.
LIMA, Jan 27 (Reuters) - A scandal surrounding undisclosed meetings with a Chinese businessman by Peru's acting president has shone an unflattering spotlight on the key copper exporter's ties to China at a moment of heightened U.S. scrutiny of Beijing's footprint in the region.

Jose Jeri, who took office in October after the removal of former President Dina Boluarte, has denied any wrongdoing in the three meetings he acknowledged holding between December and January with businessman Zhihua Yang.

The businessman owns Chinese import shops and holds a concession for an energy project. He has also previously been named in congressional investigations as allegedly providing logistical support to Chinese firms suspected of corruption.

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The controversy has coincided with a stepped-up U.S. influence campaign in the region aimed at curtailing China's deep ties in Latin America.

"It wouldn't be surprising to see the Trump administration questioning China's investment in Peru. It did so in Mexico and Panama, and potentially using pressure tools to nudge Peru away from China," said Martin Cassinelli, a trade and investment analyst at the Atlantic Council think tank.

The case, dubbed "Chifagate" by the local media, has prompted opposition lawmakers to file impeachment motions seeking to oust Jeri, who is tasked with completing the current government's term through July. The public prosecutor's office has opened a preliminary investigation into Jeri for alleged influence peddling, which he has denied.

Peruvians will head to the polls to elect a new president on April 12. Peru, which has seen seven presidents since 2018, has nonetheless enjoyed one of the strongest growth rates in Latin America thanks in part to steady mining income.

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Washington's recent capture of Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro, an ally of China and Russia, sent a message that it aims to exclude extra-regional powers from the Western Hemisphere, analysts said, a stance that places additional pressure on governments like Peru's as they navigate internal crises.

"Criticism of a Chinese businessman is also, practically, criticism of China," said Jhon Valdiglesias of the Center for Asian Studies at Peru's National University of San Marcos.

"I think it definitely casts a shadow over all relations with China," he added.

Still, disrupting Peru's deep China commercial ties won't be easy. A free trade pact, signed in 2009, propelled China to outpace the U.S. as Peru's top trading partner starting in 2015.

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According to government data through November of last year, China accounts for 33% of Peru's trade, compared with 14% with the U.S.

China also controls one of Peru's largest copper mines and buys about 70% of the country's output of the metal. Chinese firms own Peru's largest power generators, and in late 2024 began operating the Chancay megaport, creating a new direct South AmericaAsia trade route.

Former Peruvian ambassador to China, Juan Carlos Capunay, said the South American country's economic relations with Beijing are "perhaps among the best structured administratively and politically" in recent years.

"We have several key instruments that sustain them, including a free trade agreement in force with China," he said, adding that would make it a challenge for the U.S. to dismantle or even weaken in the long term.

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Even so, the Chifagate scandal has put a spotlight on some of the seamier aspects of the relationship.

"If Peruvians, who up until now looked favorably upon Chinese investment projects, are to question the credibility of that investment, new Chinese investments and government contracts will be less welcome by a society sensitive to allegations of corruption and undue favoritism for foreign companies," Cassinelli said.

Representatives of China's embassy in Peru did not respond to a request for comment.

Support appears to be eroding for Jeri, whose approval rating has dropped from 51% to 41% since the scandal broke, according to polling firm Datum Internacional.

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As many as 78% of Peruvians responded to an Ipsos poll over the weekend that they perceive signs of corruption in Jeri's meetings with the businessman.

(Reporting by Marco Aquino, additional reporting by Cassandra Garrison; Editing by Christian Plumb and Alistair Bell)
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From space, the Saudi Arabian town of Jubbah looks like a long tail of crop circles trailing behind a hefty mountain in the middle of the harsh Nafud desert. | Credit: NASA/ISS program

QUICK FACTS

Where is it? Jubbah, in the Nafud desert of Saudi Arabia [28.01186939, 40.95907106]

What's in the photo? An oasis town full of crop circles, alongside a mountain in the desert

Who took the photo? An unidentified astronaut on board the International Space Station (ISS)

When was it taken? Nov. 26, 2020

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This intriguing astronaut photo shows an oasis town and crop circles lurking within the shadowy tail of a "camel-hump" mountain in the harsh Saudi Arabian desert. The unlikely settlement lies within an ancient lake bed and is home to rock art dating back thousands of years.

The town, known as Jubbah , is located around 415 miles (670 kilometers) northwest of Riyadh and is home to around 5,000 people. It lies at the heart of the hyperarid Nafud (also spelled Nefud) desert, but it has remained an agricultural hot spot for generations thanks to its plentiful supply of underground water. Today, most farming is focused around center-pivot irrigation, which creates circular fields of vegetation.

Jubbah sits within a bowl-like depression left over from an ancient lake, or paleolake, that measures around 12.5 miles (20 km) long and 2.5 miles (4 km) wide. As a result, parts of the town lie "hundreds of feet" below the surrounding sea of dunes, according to NASA's Earth Observatory .

At the western end of the paleolake stands a 4,144-foot-tall (1,264 meters) mountain, dubbed Jabal Umm Sinman (meaning "two camel-hump mountain"), due to "its resemblance to a camel with two humps resting on the ground" when viewed from ground level, according to Visit Saudi .

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The prevailing winds in the area blow from west to east (left to right in the image), meaning Jabal Umm Sinman generates a "wind shadow" that largely shields Jubbah from sand being blown across the desert, according to the Earth Observatory.

Jabal Umm Sinman is named due to its resemblance to a resting camel. From ground level, Jubbah isnot visible due to its position within the paleolake. | Credit: Matti&Keti/Wikimedia

Before the desertification of the Arabian Peninsula, Jubbah Lake was one of several freshwater sources in the region. Most of these sites had dried up by around 5,000 years ago. However, Jubbah Lake likely persisted longer thanks to its subsurface aquifer, which continues to supply the town's water.

This likely made the lake a popular landmark for prehistoric humans wandering through the desert, long before the town was established. If you look closely at the image, you can see a faint road (above Jubbah), which likely matches the path used by these early travelers, according to the Earth Observatory.

These people also left their mark in the foothills surrounding Jabal Umm Sinman by carving symbols and pictures in the rocks. In total, there are around 5,500 inscriptions and 2,000 animal depictions, including portrayals of ibex, leopards, ostriches, dogs on leashes , and more than 1,000 camels .

The rock art surrounding Jubbah contains thousands of depictions of animals, including ibex and camels. | Credit: Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities/UNESCO

This extensive rock art dates back at least 10,000 years and is part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site , along with two other nearby sites near Shuwaymis.

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Saudi Arabia is an archaeological hot spot for rock art and other Paleolithic structures. For example, Jubbah is around 155 miles (250 km) northeast of the famous Al Naslaa rock  a hefty sandstone slab covered in prehistoric carvings and mysteriously split into two perfect halves.

Recent research into 8,000-year-old giant "kite" structures in the region hints that the carvings may be the world's oldest megastructure blueprints .

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The post The Asian Unicorn Hasnt Been Seen Since 2013: Is the Saola Hiding or Gone Forever? appeared first on A-Z Animals.

Quick Take

Securing the survival of the Saola requires overcoming a 13-year absence of confirmed visual evidence, with the last widely accepted camera trap photo taken in 2013 .

Existing survey coverage accounts for about 30% of the saolas potential Annamite Mountains habitat , and only a small fraction of that has been intensively surveyed specifically for saola.

This large bovid can remain invisible despite intensive modern search efforts , making it all the more difficult to protect it.

Analyzing insects, water, and other small-scale habitat factors is now necessary to verify this species presence without a direct sighting.

The saola is a real and documented animal, but it remains a mystery to most experts and researchers. A forest-dwelling bovid that only inhabits the Annamite Mountains along the VietnamLaos border, this creature was first observed and recorded in 1992. For conservationists trying to locate the saola and determine how many remain in the wild, the challenge is greater than ever.

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This is because the last widely cited, conclusive evidence of a wild saola comes from a 2013 camera-trap photo. As of January 2026, no comparable evidence has surfaced, proving just how elusive this animal is. But how many saolas are left in the wild, and are there ways conservationists can ensure their survival as a species when these animals are so difficult to find?

This article explores what makes the saola special, why it is so difficult to find, and why conservationists are concerned about its future.

What Is a Saola?

The saola, classified as Pseudoryx nghetinhensis, is often nicknamed the Asian unicorn, given that confirmed encounters with it are so rare. Conservation groups operate on the assumption that this animal likely persists, if it persists at all, in very low numbers scattered across a few pockets of remaining habitat. The goal? Find surviving populations before the opportunity closes, and the species is lost forever.

There arent many images available of the saola, given just how rare and difficult it is to capture on camera. Global Wildlife Conservation / Flickr  Original (Global Wildlife Conservation / Flickr)

Despite their best efforts, conservationists cant readily find saolas in their natural habitat, and for good reason: it isnt exactly convenient to traverse.

Why the Saola is So Difficult to Detect

The saolas prime habitat is both hard on people and hard on equipment. The forests it calls home are steeply graded, wet, thick, and have limited road access. Huge areas of the saolas preferred home are accessible using only a few narrow trails.

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Even camera traps, which are among the best tools for detecting elusive mammals, only capture what passes directly in front of them at the right angle, making them unreliable in certain environments and with secretive species like the saola.

The saolas habitat is largely unexplored, given its remoteness and difficult terrain. Ghing/Shutterstock.com (Ghing/Shutterstock.com)

Additionally, the IUCN SSC notes that about 30% of the potential saola habitat has had any form of wildlife survey, and only about 2-5% has been intensively searched with the saola specifically in mind. This region is so remote and difficult to access that large-scale searches for the saola have not been possible, even today.

How Scientists Can Infer the Saolas Existence

For many rare species like the saola, conservationists cant always rely on seeing the animal in order to know its there. There are many ways experts glean partial or suspected evidence of an animal, which is primarily how the saola is confirmed to still be living today.

Local Knowledge

A lot of whats known about saola distribution naturally comes from people who live and travel in saola country. Researchers use structured interviews to build sighting histories, which allow them to identify likely areas where the saola chooses to live and thrive. While local accounts cant replace hard evidence, they help narrow the map to places where hard evidence is most likely to be found when the time is right.

While wildlife cameras have captured the saola in the past, updated technology appears necessary to find this elusive creature today. AlvaroGO/Shutterstock.com (AlvaroGO/Shutterstock.com)

Camera Traps

Camera traps last caught sight of the saola in 2013, which is why they remain central to efforts to find it again. These unique advancements are invaluable, but they can also produce years of data without a single saola image if population densities are extremely low or if these traps arent positioned along the animals preferred micro-routes.

DNA-Based Detection

Teams are currently trying to detect the saola without ever actually seeing it by sampling the environment it lives in. Conservationists and scientists are using dung sampling and other innovative methods, such as analyzing blood meals from leeches and environmental samples, to confirm the saolas existence, since it is so camera-shy.

Is the Saola Extinct If It Hasnt Been Detected Since 2013?

As of January 2026, no publicly confirmed, widely accepted evidence of the saola has been uncovered since the 2013 camera-trap image, but scientists cannot prove that the saola is gone for good. They maintain hope, as a lack of detection doesnt necessarily mean an extinct species.

The saola could have more numbers than we realize, but detection has proven difficult. Bruyu/Shutterstock.com (Bruyu/Shutterstock.com)

For ultra-rare species like the saola, a lack of detection can have several possible explanations, including:

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The species is present, but at such a low density that even intensive surveys miss it.

The species occupies a few small pockets of habitat that havent been surveyed effectively yet.

The species has declined so far that detections have become statistically unlikely.

Experts still describe the saola as likely persisting in its unexplored habitat, but they pair that hope with urgency, as local threats are escalating. Hunting (especially widespread snaring), habitat loss from agriculture and infrastructure development, and increased human access are the primary threats to the saolas survival. Climate change and tourism may also pose risks, but are not considered the main threats at this time. In other words, while not sighting a saola for over a decade may mean its still out there, it doesnt mean the animal is safe.

Threats to the Saola Population

In addition to habitat shifts and climate change, another major threat faces the saola population. The saola does not need to be specifically targeted to be killed, which makes its existence even more precarious than many people realize. For example, wire snares set for other wildlife can take any medium-to-large mammal that moves through the understory, making low-density animals uniquely vulnerable.

Snares in the saolas habitat may easily capture it instead of its intended prey. Ewa Rogoyska/Shutterstock.com (Ewa Rogoyska/Shutterstock.com)

The IUCN SSC calls for ramping up saola detection because of threats like this, as well as more abstract threats, such as climate change, because finding an animal only matters if its preferred habitat is survivable and safe afterward.

What IUCN SSC Says Needs to Happen to Save the Saola

The IUCN Species Survival Commission has clear guidelines that theyre attempting to implement in order to identify and save the saola. Key elements of this process must include:

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More targeted searching in the most plausible remaining habitat of the saola, with better coordination across borders.

More innovation in detection to better prove the species still exists, likely involving improved technologies.

A readiness plan so that, when a credible lead emerges, immediate protections are implemented.

The Saola is one of Earths most threatened species, largely due to the fact that we have no idea how many remain. Takaip/Shutterstock.com (Takaip/Shutterstock.com)

IUCN SSC leaders also stress that finding a saola as soon as possible is the first step toward enabling governments to implement effective measures against major threats. Conservationists need to know it still exists, somewhere out there, before protections can be put into place.

Saving the Saola: What the Future Looks Like

Rediscovering the saola can take many forms, but finding it must happen in order to protect it. Conservationists do not need much; in fact, any of the following would help protect the saola:

a verified DNA sample tied to a specific watershed or insect

a credible cluster of recent local reports that prove the saola exists here and now

a single camera-trap photo in the right place at the right time

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If a saola is confirmed in the near future, the window to protect it could be short, which is why the IUCN SSC continues pushing for coordinated detection and rapid action. Speed and collaboration are necessary and should be considered the difference between a recorded species and a rescued one.

The forests of Vietnam/Laos hide the saola, and scientists are eager to find it. MinhHue/Shutterstock.com (MinhHue/Shutterstock.com)

The saolas mystery continues to fascinate conservationists and animal lovers alike. The saola is absolutely a real speciesnot a mythical unicorneven though it remains largely absent from human awareness. However, the only way to change the saolas fate is to find it and confirm it is still living, so that protections can be implemented to strengthen its population, no matter how elusive it may be.

The post The Asian Unicorn Hasnt Been Seen Since 2013: Is the Saola Hiding or Gone Forever? appeared first on A-Z Animals.
SOFIA, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- The 23rd edition of the international exhibition SIHRE kicked off in the Inter Expo Center here on Tuesday offering products and services for restaurants, hotels, and the catering industry.

Covering some 7,500 square meters, the four-day event features over 100 exhibitors, which represent more than 260 brands from Bulgaria and abroad, ranging from cook and chill systems to pool robot cleaners and door locks.

One of the exhibitors, Ivaylo Kanchev, B2B channel manager at TP-Link Bulgaria, told Xinhua that it was participating in the event to promote its business solutions for networks and video surveillance.

"We have completed projects in some of the top hotels in Bulgaria," Kanchev said.

Slaveyko Milanov, a visitor, said he came to explore new industry trends and found the well-organized exhibition with its attractive stands to be a pleasant experience.

Milanov, an importer of restaurant and kitchen equipment, said the demand for hotel equipment was driven by renovation needs, the pursuit of new appliances, and emerging technologies.

Adrian Panteleev, a pizzaiolo and baker for over 20 years, prepared pizzas and baked goods on site for the demonstration. At the exhibition, he demonstrated Italian equipment such as ovens, along with ingredients like dough and flour.

Panteleev said he was happy and satisfied with his profession. "You have to do it with your heart," he said.

A group of 25 students from Sofia Vocational High School of Tourism, led by teacher Yulia Pandzherova, attended the expo. Pandzherova said she brought them to inspire enthusiasm for the profession, demonstrate its possibilities, and connect them with a successful alumnus. 
Ann Arbor, Michigan | Photo by Jon King/Michigan Advance

An organization made up of Ann Arbor residents pushing for a publicly owned, 100% renewable energy utility on Friday announced the launch of a ballot effort that, if approved, would put the city on track to developing its own energy service.

In a press release, Ann Arbor Public Power said it would kick off its petition drive on Jan. 31 for an initiative that would require the city to establish a governance structure for a municipal utility  if approved by voters.

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The group aims to collect 6,500 signatures to place the matter on the November ballot. Under the proposed charter amendment, elections for the public utility governing board would be held in 2028.

Ann Arbor currently receives electrical service from DTE Energy, one of the states largest energy companies.

We believe that Ann Arbor is ready to begin the process of replacing DTE, Ann Arbor Public Power President Sean Higgins said in a statement. A not-for-profit, democratically governed city utility can reinvest profits into upgrading the local grid instead of enriching shareholders, while keeping rates affordable and developing local renewable energy.

Higgins criticized DTE for its plans to continue the buildout of fossil fuel plants despite the states laws requiring companies to provide energy from 100% clean sources by 2040.

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The company has also been subject to frequent criticism due to high energy rates and poor reliability.

Electric meters in Ann Arbor | Laina G. Stebbins

In an email, DTE Spokesperson Ryan Lowry argued that the proposal would carry a risk of high-costs, pointing to an analysis it commissioned from Charles River Associates which determined that Ann Arbor residents could see a 30-40% increase in retail energy rates if the city proceeds with the plan, while a takeover of DTEs assets could cost $1 billion upfront and an additional $1 billion over the next 20 years.

A previous study commissioned by the city found a takeover of DTEs electrical distribution infrastructure could cost anywhere from $281 million to $1.15 billion, MLive reported.

However, Ann Arbor for Public Power emphasized that the approval of this charter amendment would not authorize the city to take ownership of DTEs assets in the area, which would require a separate vote. The proposal at hand would only create a governing structure, the group said in a press release, arguing it would cost taxpayers almost nothing.

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Lowry said DTE remains focused on continuing to improve reliability, supporting Ann Arbors clean energy goals, and keeping bills as low as possible, telling Michigan Advance that DTE customers in Ann Arbor experienced a nearly 90% improvement in time spent without power between 2023 and 2024, and continued to see significant improvements based on preliminary data from 2025.

Ann Arbor for Public Power will host its kickoff celebration Saturday, January 31 from 3-5 p.m. at Clonlara School, where it will offer free food and signature collection training alongside hosting speakers and a Q&A session.
The Brief

A woman in Sells has been sentenced to 15 years in prison and three years of supervised release for her role in the death of a minor in 2022.

The woman was identified as 47-year-old Stacie Marie Narcho by officials with the U.S. Department of Justice.

Investigators say Narcho "knowingly and intentionally provided a minor with methamphetamine and fentanyl."

PHOENIX - Officials with the United States Attorney's Office say a woman in Arizona has been given a lengthy prison sentence for her role in a child's death three years ago.

What we know

In a statement released omn Jan. 26, officials with USAO said 47-year-old Stacie Marie Narcho of Sells was sentenced on Jan. 22 to 15 years in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, after she pleaded guilty to child abuse.

The backstory

Justice Department officials say according to court records, Nacho gave a young person meth and fentanyl in November 2022.

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"As a direct result of Narchos actions, the victim overdosed and later died," read a portion of the statement.

What we don't know

Investigators did not elaborate on the relationship Narcho had with the victim.

What they're saying

"This case is a stark reminder of the irreversible harm caused when adults expose children to dangerous drugs," said U.S. Attorney Timothy Courchaine, in the statement.

"People who provide highly addictive and deadly drugs, such as methamphetamine and fentanyl, to our youth will face the harshest extent of the law for their actions," said FBI Phoenix Acting Special Agent in Charge Joe Hooper, in the statement.

The Source

Information for this article was gathered from a statement released by the United States Attorney's Office.
EL PASO, Texas (KTSM)  A 30-year-old man was arrested after a SWAT standoff in connection with a homicide on Sunday, Jan. 25, in Socorro, according to the El Paso County Sheriffs Office.

Sheriffs Office investigates homicide in Socorro

At around 2:45 p.m. on Sunday, Socorro Police Department officers were dispatched to the 10500 block of Monte Alto about a possible aggravated assault.

Upon arrival, officers entered the home and located the victim, 35-year-old Eduardo Contreras, dead inside the home. EPCSOs Major Crimes Unit, with assistance from the Texas Rangers, responded to the scene and took over the investigation.

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During the investigation, information obtained led to the response of the El Paso Police Department SWAT and Crisis Management Team (CMT) units to the 3100 block of N. Piedras.

CMT officers successfully negotiated with the offender, 30-year-old Gabriel Ontiveros, who surrendered without incident and was taken into custody, according to EPCSO.

Gabriel Ontiveros

A search warrant was subsequently executed at 3101 N. Piedras, and based on evidence obtained during the investigation, a warrant for murder was obtained for Ontiveros.

Ontiveros was rebooked into the El Paso County Detention Facility on the murder charge with no bond, in addition to five outstanding criminal warrants, according to EPCSO.

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This case reflects the strong collaboration between our partner agencies and their shared commitment to holding offenders accountable, said Sheriff Ugarte. We appreciate the efforts of all personnel involved in bringing this investigation to a safe and successful resolution.

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.
Several Asian countries have tightened their border health security measures for arrivals from India over an outbreak of Nipah virus.

Two nurses contracted Nipah, a rare, bat-borne pathogen, in a hospital in eastern India earlier this month, prompting a nationwide alert as well as local quarantine and surveillance measures.

The cases of the disease, which kills up to 75 per cent of those it infects and inspired the film Contagion, sparked fears that the virus could be spreading undetected.

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Nepal on Tuesday introduced health screening at Kathmandus Tribhuvan International Airport and is also intensifying surveillance at major land border crossings with India.

We take samples from travellers who have flu-like symptoms or have travel history from high risk areas like West Bengal, said Prakash Budhakoti, a spokesman for Nepals Ministry of Health and Population.

If any traveller has symptoms, we have ordered they should be quarantined and undergo RT-PCR testing. We havent found any Nipah cases so far, he told The Telegraph.

We have specifically intensified surveillance at border points in Koshi Province, which is the busiest border point sharing border with the Indian state of Bihar. Health checks have also been ordered for people entering Nepal through other border crossings, he said.

India has faced sporadic outbreaks of Nipah in recent years, including one in Kerala two years ago - CK THANSEER/REUTERS

In Thailand, the countrys civil aviation authority has instructed airlines to carry out health checks before departure, urging them to deny boarding to symptomatic passengers without medical clearance.

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On arrival, travellers must have their temperature taken and fill out health declaration forms before moving out of the airports.

The flight screening measures for travellers arriving from areas at risk of Nipah virus are to ensure confidence in air travel, an official at the Thai aviation authority said.

The screening measures will be adjusted dynamically based on the evolving situation, he said.

Thailands Ministry of Public Health has also launched a public awareness campaign, handing out information cards to passengers arriving from India.

The advisory urges passengers to seek immediate medical attention if they develop symptoms such as fever, headache, sore throat, cough, particularly if they have had contact with bats within 21 days of arrival. Screening is underway at Suvarnanbhumi and Don Mueang airports in India.

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In response to the outbreak in India, Taiwans Centres for Disease Control (CDC) is preparing to classify Nipah as a Category 5 notifiable disease  its highest alert level for emerging infections.

The move would require immediate reporting and strict containment measures.

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\xe2\x80\x98We survived the terrifying disease that inspired Contagion \xe2\x80\x93 our blood may help to treat it\xe2\x80\x99

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Sri Lankan health officials said they were monitoring the regional situation carefully following the detection of the Nipah cases in India.

In Britain, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) is responsible for managing infectious disease risks at ports of entry into the country and is understood to be monitoring the outbreak.

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Like Thailand, the UK is a top destination for travellers from India, with the Delhi to Heathrow route alone accounting for approximately 164,000 seats per month, according to data from the Official Airline Guide.

While the UK has not suffered an outbreak of Nipah before, it could theoretically be brought in and then spread from person to person.

Health officials in India are continuing to investigate the outbreak, which is centred on the private Narayana Multispeciality Hospital in Barasat, West Bengal, 16 miles from the capital city Kolkata.

Both nurses caught the virus while treating a patient with severe respiratory symptoms who later died before testing could be carried out, said a senior health official involved in West Bengals Nipah surveillance efforts.

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That patient has been established as the index case and we will make our investigation report public soon, he told The Telegraph.

India has faced regular outbreaks of Nipah in recent years. There are no vaccines or treatments that have been approved for use so far.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has included Nipah on its list of the top ten priority pathogens because of the possibility it could trigger an epidemic.

The virus lives in bats and can be passed to humans through contaminated food or by contact with the bodily fluids of infected animals. It passes from person to person through droplets and saliva, and can also jump from bats to pigs and then on to people.

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The virus causes a range of symptoms, beginning with a fever, vomiting and fatigue before developing into respiratory issues and swelling of the brain. Neurological issues like encephalitis can appear months or years after an initial infection.

In response to the Nipah outbreak, the Indian health authorities are testing bats in West Bengal.

So far one bat has tested positive for antibodies, suggesting prior infection but no current risk of transmission, he said.

Protect yourself and your family by learning more about Global Health Security

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SYDNEY, Jan 27 (Reuters) - Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will flag Australia's desire for deeper security and energy ties when he addresses East Timor's parliament on Wednesday, in his first visit to the northern neighbour as leader.

The visit comes as the tiny Catholic nation, also courted by China, continues to push to build a liquefied natural gas plant on its south coast, instead of the Australian city of Darwin.

Albanese will address East Timor's parliament and meet its President Jose Ramos-Horta and Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao.

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According to excerpts of his speech shared in advance, Albanese will recall cooperation between Timorese and Australian soldiers during the World War Two as an example of the history and values that make the two nations friends.

"We look towards a shared future. A new deeper partnership in security, in energy and economic resilience," he is expected to tell the parliament.

Ramos-Horta said last month he was confident a major gas project would be developed with Australia after decades of delays.

Australia's Woodside Energy and East Timor agreed in December to study a 5 million metric ton project at the Greater Sunrise fields, an area containing an estimated 5.1 trillion cubic feet of gas that Australia has been discussing, initially with Indonesia, since the 1980s.

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The national oil company Timor Gap holds more than 56% of the field located about 140 km (87 miles) south of East Timor and more than 400 km from Darwin.

With a population of 1.4 million people, East Timor became a member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in October and is seeking to build its fragile economy.

East Timor signed a strategic agreement with China in 2023 for infrastructure and development, which Ramos-Horta has previously said did not cover military cooperation.

Australia has been East Timor's largest aid and security partner since its independence from Indonesia in 2002, supported by Australian peacekeepers.

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China's assertiveness in efforts to form security ties with developing countries in close proximity to Australia have raised alarm bells in Canberra, and a shake-up of Australia's defence has refocused on protecting its northern approaches.

East Timor is around 700 km (450 miles) north-west of Australia.

(Reporting by Kirsty Needham in Sydney; additional reporting by Helen Clark in Perth)
Associate Justice of the Superior Court Daniel Will, whom Gov. Kelly Ayotte nominated to the state Supreme Court, Jan. 27, 2026. (Photo courtesy of governor's office)

This story and headline were updated on Jan. 27 at 5:45 p.m. to reflect new information.

Gov. Kelly Ayotte nominated Associate Justice of the Superior Court Daniel Will to serve on the state Supreme Court Tuesday, her second nomination to the high court since taking office last year.

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But the nomination could face challenges: Councilor David Wheeler, a Milford Republican, told the Bulletin Tuesday he has serious concerns about Wills past as the states solicitor general and is likely to vote no.

Will has served on the superior court since 2021, and as the associate justice of that court has presided over superior court cases across the state.

Before that, he worked as a business and commercial litigator at Devine Millimet in Manchester. In 2018, then-Gov. Chris Sununu appointed Will as solicitor general, the first person to hold that role.

He has the qualifications, integrity, and commitment to public service Granite Staters expect in a Supreme Court Justice, and I am confident he will uphold the rule of law and our Constitution, Ayotte said in a statement.

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But Wheeler says two cases Will worked on as solicitor general in the Attorney Generals office pose problems for him: Wills role defending Sununus COVID-19 emergency order, and his role arguing against the release of the Laurie List database of police officers with perceived trust issues.

If youre asked to suspend the constitution, why would you want to stay in that job? Wheeler said. How could your conscience allow you to do that?

Wheeler argued Will should have objected to those cases and resigned rather than work on them.

Can that be justified? becomes the issue, Wheeler said. And I say, No, it cant. It cant be justified in any way, shape or form.

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Wheeler previously voted against Wills nomination to the superior court in 2021, citing the same objections.

In a press release Tuesday evening, the conservative advocacy organization Cornerstone also voiced opposition to Will, arguing his work defending the COVID emergency order could affect his decisions on the court.

The warning signs are clear. Judge Wills tenure would be characterized by a total disinterest in originalism, an automatic deference to government officials, and the cynical dismissal of litigants constitutional claims, the group wrote.

The governors office did not immediately respond to questions about Wheelers concerns. Wills nomination came from a recommendation by the governors Judicial Selection Commission; Cornerstone said Ayotte had ignored a list of more conservative judges and attorneys that they had provided.

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Republicans control the Executive Council, 4-1, but if the lone Democrat on the council, Karen Liot Hill of Lebanon, joins Wheeler in opposing Will, the governor would need all three remaining Republicans to support him. Reached Tuesday, other executive councilors did not raise the same immediate issues as Wheeler, though all said they would evaluate Will closely before making their decisions.

I have a lot of respect for Councilor Wheeler. Hes a colleague of mine. But yet, I am going to do my own independent review and due diligence, including looking at some of his opinions as well, said Councilor John Stephen, a Manchester Republican.

Councilor Joseph Kenney, a Wakefield Republican, also served on the council during Wills 2021 Superior Court nomination but voted in favor of Will at the time. He said he disagrees that Wills actions as solicitor general should be counted against him.

The function he was carrying out at that time was defending the states position, which he was hired to do, he said of Will.

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This time around, Kenney said he would ask about Wills time on the superior court and evaluate how Will treated parties and issues as a judge.

I literally make my decision the night before the actual confirmation vote, he said Tuesday. Because I truly never know what information is going to come at me that I didnt have at my disposal throughout the process.

Liot Hill said she would also reserve judgment until she can examine Wills background and ask questions about his commitment to following the state Supreme Courts 1993 and 1997 Claremont rulings around school funding. I have my homework to do, she said.

Councilor Janet Stevens, a Rye Republican, could not be immediately reached Tuesday.

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As solicitor general, Will worked within the Attorney Generals Office and had a lot of interaction with the state Supreme Court. That included: representing the state in all criminal appeals in the state Supreme Court and federal court; reviewing cases decided against the state and deciding whether to appeal; representing the executive branch before the Supreme Court; and filing amicus curiae briefs on behalf of the state.

Rep. Robert Lynn, a Windham Republican and a former chief justice of the Supreme Court, praised Will in a statement and said he is committed to fairness and the rule of law, and he has a clear understanding of the constitutional limits of judicial authority.

I think he will just be a fantastic justice: Hes very smart, hard working, fair-minded, and I think a principled conservative, Lynn said in an interview Tuesday.

As solicitor general, Will led the states arguments against releasing the Laurie List  the states exculpatory evidence schedule that lists state and local police officers with incidents in their past that could impugn their credibility on the witness stand; in 2020, the Supreme Court ruled that the list is not confidential and is subject to the right-to-know law. But litigation over whether officers should be included or excluded from that last has continued; in November, the court ruled against a former Concord police officer who argued she should be excluded because she no longer works in law enforcement and her alleged conduct happened too far in the past.

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And he represented Sununu against a lawsuit challenging the governors state of emergency called at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. That declaration allowed the executive branch to issue orders shutting down certain businesses and to determine the use of federal emergency relief funds without the Legislature.

If confirmed to the Supreme Court by the Executive Council, Wills time as solicitor general could raise questions about recusal in some future cases.

For instance, before becoming a judge in August 2021, Will represented the state at the Supreme Court in arguing against a major school funding lawsuit, Contoocook Valley School District v. State of New Hampshire. While the Supreme Court issued a final opinion in that case in July 2025, ruling that the state was not fulfilling its obligation to fund an adequate education, a similar lawsuit, Rand v. State of New Hampshire, is likely to come before the Supreme Court in the next year.

Though the two lawsuits deal with similar legal issues, the Rand lawsuit was filed in June 2022, nearly a year after Will left as solicitor general. And there is precedent in favor of Will not recusing himself in that case: Supreme Court Chief Justice Gordon MacDonald  the former attorney general  recused himself in the July 2025 ConVal decision because of his past role defending the state from that lawsuit, but did not recuse himself from a June 2025 decision in the Rand case because it was filed after he left the Attorney Generals Office.

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Under Supreme Court rules, justices make their own determinations over whether to recuse themselves from hearing or ruling on cases.

The Executive Council will hold a public hearing for Will in the coming weeks; a date has not yet been determined. Councilors will also have the opportunity to interview Will privately ahead of the confirmation vote.

If approved, Will would fill an upcoming vacancy left by Associate Justice Anna Barbara Hantz Marconi, who is retiring in February.

Hantz Marconi was put on administrative leave from the court from July 2024 to October 2025, after she was charged with two Class B felonies after allegedly attempting to interfere with the states criminal investigation into her husband, former New Hampshire Port Authority Director Geno Marconi.

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Hantz Marconi was allowed to return to the court in October after pleading guilty to a single charge of criminal solicitation and paying a $1,200 fine; the states Attorney Generals Office dropped the other charges as part of the plea deal. But the associate justice turns 70 in February  the mandatory retirement age for New Hampshire judges.

In September, the Executive Council approved Ayottes first nominee to the Supreme Court, Bryan Gould, 4-1, replacing Justice James Bassett, who retired ahead of turning 70. At the time, Republican councilors praised Gould, a former attorney with Cleveland, Waters and Bass in Concord for his pledges of neutrality if confirmed, while Democratic Councilor Karen Liot Hill raised concerns about whether his conservative background meant he might rule against school funding precedents, and voted no.

In a statement accompanying Ayottes announcement Tuesday, Will made a similar promise to take a non-ideological approach to the court.

Granite Staters expect fair, impartial decisions from their Supreme Court, he said. If confirmed, I will strive each day to meet that expectation, uphold the rule of law, and help resolve disputes fairly and expeditiously.
Authorities in Azerbaijan say security forces have arrested three people planning an attack on an embassy in the capital, Baku.

The State Security Service said in a statement on Tuesday that the suspects had conspired with members of the ISIL (ISIS) affiliate in Khorasan province (ISKP), an Afghan offshoot of the armed group.

The three men  one of whom was born in 2000 and the two others in 2005  obtained weapons and planned to attack an embassy before being apprehended, it said.

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The statement added that the suspects were arrested on charges of preparation for terrorism on the basis of religious hostility and an investigation was ongoing.

It did not name the embassy that was the focus of the plot, but Israels Channel 12 reported that the alleged target was the Israeli embassy. Al Jazeera could not independently verify the report.

On Monday, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev held a meeting with Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar in Baku, during which they discussed preparations for an Azerbaijani-Israeli business forum.

ISKP has claimed responsibility for a number of attacks in Afghanistan as well as a 2024 attack on a concert venue in Moscow that killed nearly 150 people.
A labour recruiter persuaded Maksudur Rahman to leave the tropical warmth of his hometown in Bangladesh and travel thousands of miles to frigid Russia for a job as a janitor.

Within weeks, he found himself on the front lines of Russias war in Ukraine.

An investigation by The Associated Press news agency published on Tuesday found that Bangladeshi workers were lured to Russia under the false promise of civilian work, only to be thrust into the nearly four-year war. Many were threatened with violence, imprisonment or death.

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AP spoke with three Bangladeshi men who escaped from the Russian military, including Rahman, who said that after arriving in Moscow, he and a group of fellow Bangladeshi workers were told to sign Russian documents that turned out to be military contracts.

They were taken to an army camp for training in drone warfare techniques, medical evacuation procedures and basic combat skills using heavy weapons.

Rahman protested, complaining that this was not the work he agreed to do. A Russian commander offered a stark reply through a translation app: Your agent sent you here. We bought you.

Rahman said the workers in his group were threatened with 10-year jail terms and beaten. Theyd say, Why dont you work? Why are you crying? and kick us, said Rahman, who escaped and returned home after seven months.

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The families of three other Bangladeshi men who are missing said their loved ones shared similar accounts with relatives.

AP said the workers narratives were corroborated by documents, including travel papers, Russian military contracts, medical and police reports, and photos. The documents show the visas granted to Bangladeshi workers, their injuries sustained during battles and evidence of their participation in the war.

The three Bangladeshi men told AP they were coerced into front-line tasks against their will, including advancing ahead of Russian forces, transporting supplies, evacuating wounded soldiers and recovering the dead.

Men from other South Asian countries, including India, Nepal and Sri Lanka, have also complained of being duped into signing up to fight by Russian recruiters promising jobs. Officials in Kenya, South Africa, Jordan and Iraq said the same has happened to citizens from their countries.





Some Bangladeshi workers were lured into the army with promises of positions far from the front line.

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Mohan Miajee enlisted in the Russian army after the job that initially brought him to Russia  serving as an electrician for a gas-processing plant in the remote Far East  was plagued by harsh working conditions and relentless cold.

While searching for employment online, Miajee was contacted by a Russian army recruiter. When he expressed his reluctance to kill, the recruiter said his skills as an electrician made him an ideal candidate for an electronic warfare or drone unit and not combat.

Miajee was taken in January 2025 to a military camp in the captured city of Avdiivka in eastern Ukraine. He showed the camp commander documents describing his experience and explained that his recruiter had instructed him to ask for electrical work.

The commander told me, You have been made to sign a contract to join the battalion. You cannot do any other work here. You have been deceived,' he said after returning to his village of Munshiganj.

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Miajee said he was beaten with shovels, handcuffed and tortured in a cramped basement cell and held there every time he refused to carry out an order or made a mistake. Because of language barriers, for example, if they told us to go to the right and we went to the left, they would beat us severely, he said.

Mohammed Siraj holds a photograph of his 20-year-old son, Sajjad, who was killed after being taken to fight in Russia, at his home in Lakshmipur, Bangladesh [Rajib Dhar/AP]

Neither the Russian Ministries of Defence and Foreign Affairs nor the Bangladeshi government responded to a list of questions, the AP report said.

The families of some of these men filed a complaint with police in Bangladesh and travelled on three occasions to the capital, Dhaka, to pressure the government to investigate.

Salma Akdar has not heard from her husband since March 26. In their last conversation, Ajgar Hussein, 40, told her he had been sold to the Russian army.

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Hussein left in December 2024, believing he was being offered a job as a laundry attendant in Russia, his wife said. For two weeks, he was in regular touch.

Then he told his wife he was being taken to an army camp where they were trained to use weapons and carry heavy loads up to 80kg (176lb). Seeing all this, he cried a lot and told them, We cannot do these things. We have never done this before,' his wife said.

For two months after that, he was offline. He reappeared briefly to explain they were being forced to fight in the war. Russian commanders told him that if he did not go, they would detain him, shoot him, stop providing food, she said.

Families in the village confronted the recruiting agent, demanding to know why their loved ones were being trained for war. The agent replied dismissively, saying it was standard procedure in Russia, insisting that even launderers had to undergo similar training.

Hussein left a final audio note for his wife: Please pray for me.
FIRST ON FOX: A battleground district House Republican is wading into the redistricting war that has seized the U.S. with his own new proposal to crack down on "partisan gamesmanship."

Rep. Mike Lawler, R-N.Y., has introduced a bill called the Fair Apportionment and Independent Redistricting for Maps that Avoid Partisanship (FAIR MAP) Act, which would impose new guardrails on the process of changing congressional districts across all 50 states.

The bill would bar states from drawing districts for or against a specific political party or candidate and ban the creation of new congressional maps more than once a decade following the U.S. census.

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It comes as election watchers eye Virginia and Maryland as the latest states whose Democrat-led legislatures could move to redraw their congressional boundaries ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.

Redistricting Battles Brewing Across The Country As Parties Compete For Power Ahead Of 2026 Midterms

Rep. Mike Lawler, R-N.Y., leaves a meeting of the House Republican Conference at the Capitol Hill Club in Washington, July 15, 2025. (Getty Images)

Earlier this month, a state Supreme Court judge in Lawler's own home turf of New York ruled that New York City's lone Republican-held district is unconstitutional and must be redrawn  handing potentially a consequential win to Democrats.

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Lawler said of Democrats' push in his state, "[Gov. Kathy Hochul] and [House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries] scheme to redraw New Yorks congressional districts months before an election is a blatant power grab and misuse of public office."

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The growing redistricting war was kicked off last year when Texas' GOP-led legislature approved a new congressional map that could give Republicans as many as five new seats in the House of Representatives come the November elections.

Redistricting normally occurs every 10 years after the U.S. census is taken to ensure that seats in the House are reflective of each state's population. And while there's a patchwork of state laws aimed at blocking those districts from being redrawn along partisan lines, there is no current federal standard.

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul speaks at a press conference, July 31, 2024, in the Bronx borough of New York.

In addition to banning mid-decade redistricting in most cases and creating a federal gerrymandering standard, Lawler's bill would also create a host of new provisions dictating how those populations are ultimately counted and how disputes can be resolved.

The bill would block state and local courts from legal redistricting fights, for example, leaving it to federal judges to weigh in on those fights.

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Doj Urges Supreme Court To Block California Map, Calls Newsom-backed Plan A Racial Gerrymander

It would also mandate that just U.S. citizens are counted toward state populations when creating new maps  something that could take a significant amount of power away from sanctuary jurisdictions that can currently factor numbers of illegal immigrants who cannot vote when apportioning districts.

The legislation also includes new electoral provisions like barring ranked-choice voting in federal elections, requiring photo ID for voting in those elections, and banning same-day registration in federal elections.

Lawler was among the House Republicans who forcefully came out against the growing redistricting war last summer, when leaders in Texas and California were going toe-to-toe with threats to redraw their maps.

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But it does not appear likely as of now that his bill will get taken up for a House-wide vote, given House GOP leaders' prior insistence that redistricting is a states' issue.

"Voting rights and equal representation only work if the system itself is fair, transparent, and trusted. My FAIR MAP Act puts clear guardrails around congressional redistricting, ends mid-decade political map rigging, and ensures that federal elections reflect the voices of lawful voters, not partisan gamesmanship," Lawler told Fox News Digital. "Every voter deserves confidence that the system is fair and that their vote counts the same as anyone elses."





Original article source: Battleground GOP lawmaker moves to block what he calls Democratic redistricting 'power grab'
He has become one of the aggrieved faces in an increasingly besieged city.

Minneapolis Police Chief Brian OHara has been among the city officials who have spoken out amid the Trump administrations aggressive immigration crackdown in Minnesota that has so far led to the fatal shootings of two people by government officers.

Over the weekend, he was on Face the Nation on CBS to talk about the community outrage. He has been on CNN and interviewed on MS NOW.

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But before he found himself in the middle of a now deadly flashpoint between the federal government and an outraged city, OHara was a cop in Newark.

He rose through the ranks during his 20 years on the police force. Joining the department in 2001, he ultimately became acting public safety director and then a deputy mayor, before leaving in 2022 for Minneapolis as police chief amid an ongoing federal investigation in the wake of the killing of George Floyd.

While in Newark, OHara was in charge of community engagement as part of the police divisions consent decree reforms after the U.S. Department of Justice found that the Newark Police Department had engaged in a pattern and practice of unconstitutional policing.

In that role, he worked as a liaison between the department and federal authorities to ensure that the 2016 consent decree was implemented and that the Newark department was in compliance with the Justice Departments efforts designed to change the agencys culture, later becoming deputy chief of Newarks Accountability, Engagement and Oversight Bureau, promoting accountability within the department.

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In 2021, Mayor Ras Baraka announced OHaras appointment as public safety director. But a year later, he moved him out of the job without public explanation and installed him as Deputy Mayor for Strategic Initiatives for Police Services/Public Safety.

A few months later, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey nominated OHara as the citys next police chief.

What we heard loud and clear is that people wanted a changemaker, Frey said in making the announcement. They wanted a reform-minded candidate that would both be accountable to the city of Minneapolis and our residents and also able to drive down crime in a serious way.

Minneapolis had been asking for change, the mayor said, and OHara was answering that call.

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But the city, which was then still trying to come to terms with the May 2020 killing of Floyd  whose death led to nationwide demands for racial justice and an end to police brutality  is now in crisis, with the fatal shootings of two people protesting the presence of masked and heavily armed Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents and other federal officers in their city.

Brian O'Hara

Jeffery Weber, the head of the Newark Fraternal Order of Police, went through the police academy with OHara and still counts him as a friend. He called OHara a good man; an intelligent man, who knew what he was getting into when he accepted the job in Minneapolis.

But he said OHara is now in a situation where there is a level of politics being played.

From the outside looking in it looks like hes being handcuffed, Weber observed.

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Former Newark Public Safety Director Anthony Ambrose, who was succeeded by OHara, said that he trained in the right place to be a leader.

Hes got his hands full, remarked Ambrose.

On Face the Nation on Sunday, meanwhile, OHara said that people of Minneapolis have had enough.

This is the third shooting now in less than three weeks, he said. The Minneapolis Police Department went the entire year last year recovering about 900 guns from the street, arresting hundreds and hundreds of violent offenders, and we didnt shoot anyone. And now this is the second American citizen that has been killed.

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He noted on the broadcast that the shooting of Alex Pretti, 37, an ICU nurse at a VA hospital, was the third shooting in Minneapolis within three weeks. Renee Good was shot in the face in her car two weeks ago after a deadly confrontation with ICE on the street following a street protest. And a third man, said to be Venezuelan here illegally, was wounded by ICE agents after he attempted to flee.

People have been speaking out, saying that this was going to happen again, OHara said. And I think everyone is kind of waiting for folks on both sides to come together and just figure this thing out.

But he added that what was happening in Minneapolis was not sustainable.

This police department has only 600 police officers. We are stretched incredibly thin. This is taking an enormous toll trying to manage all of this chaos, on top of having to be the police department for a major city, the police chief said. Its too much.

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PARIS, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- France's National Assembly approved on Monday legislation that bans children and teenagers under 15 from using social media, citing concerns over its impact on mental health.

The bill will go to the Senate ahead of becoming law.

The move is part of a global trend to restrict social media access for children, driven by increasing evidence of its harmful effects on mental health. A similar law was passed in Australia late last year.

French President Emmanuel Macron hailed it as a "major step" to protect the country's children and teenagers. 
Bethel Church leaders in Redding expressed regrets for the part they said they played in protecting minister and Christian Broadcasting Network television personality Shawn Bolz from unconfirmed allegations of sexual misconduct and prophesying based on internet research.

The Southern California minister worked with Bethel leaders and preached at the Redding church off and on until 2019, when the church cut ties with him.

In the five-page statement issued Jan. 25 titled An Important Letter from Bill (Johnson), Kris (Vallotton) and Dann (Farrelly) on Behalf of Bethel Leadership. Bethel leaders in Redding said they knew about allegations of sexual misconduct made 7 years ago by people who worked with Bolz, but said they didnt respond as they should have.

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we have hurt and scared people because we did not tell the truth enough, early enough, long enough, or loud enough, and this is a just criticism. Our hearts are grieved, and embarrassed, the statement said. We take responsibility for the fact that we did not properly and fully bring discipline, closure, or clear and timely communication regarding the gravity of our concerns...," Bethel leadership said in the statement.

Redding Police said Monday they had changed computer systems twice since 2019, the year Bethel cut ties with Bolz, and had no way to see if anyone lodged a complaint against him. Police records office staff said they hadn't heard of any complaints against the preacher, and no court records came up with his name in a search on Shasta County Superior Court's online database.

Based in Los Angeles and Florida, Bolz Ministries was on sabbatical on Monday, Jan. 26, according to the organization's website. The organization didn't respond to an email asking for comment as of Monday afternoon. Bethels statement says Bolz denied the allegations when confronted by its leaders.

A Bethel inscription at the church's College View Drive campus in Redding.

Note to readers: If you appreciate the work we do here at the Redding Record Searchlight, please consider subscribing yourself or giving the gift of a subscription to someone you know.

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Bethels statement makes clear the Redding-based megachurch's leadership had an ongoing working relationship and personal friendships with Bolz. This was someone we platformed to preach and prophesy in our house and with our teams on many occasions up until 2019," the statement said.

In Bethel's statement, Senior Associate Leader Kris Vallotton apologized personally for his inaction when a person he called "one of the victims of Shawns sexual allegations reached out to me for help in this crisis.." He said, "...after several conversations and phone calls, I made a decision to remove his access to me without compassion due to my personal overwhelm. I am grieved by my actions.

Bethels apology came a week after Christian social media influencer and apologist Mike Winger posted a 5-hour, 50-minute YouTube video about the allegations. Vallotton said in the statement he felt grief that it took Wingers video to make Bethel leaders take action, saying it was an indictment against his role as leader.

"I did not realize until just a few days ago that my approach was merely that of helping a friend, because he was not on our staff or our teams, and we had confronted his board with our findings on several occasions. We did not feel taking things further was our responsibility, and felt that we had done what we could. However, this was a major mistake. We should have told our church and wider community in 2020. We did not. That was wrong," Vallotton said in the statement.

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Christian media outlets, including the Christian Broadcasting Network, published parts of the statement on Monday.

To read the full statement from Bethel leaders go to bethel.com/news/an-important-letter-from-bill-kris-and-dann-on-behalf-of-bethel-leadership.

Jessica Skropanic is a features reporter for the Record Searchlight/USA Today Network. She covers science, arts, social issues and news stories. Follow her on Twitter @RS_JSkropanic and on Facebook. Join Jessica on Record Searchlight Facebook groups Get Out! Nor Cal , Today in Shasta County and Shaping Reddings Future. To support and sustain this work, please subscribe today. Thank you.

This article originally appeared on Redding Record Searchlight: Bethel Church apologizes it hid sexual misconduct allegations
SANTA FE, N.M. (KRQE)  A new bill aims to make it easier for judges to require treatment for someone struggling with mental health.

Story continues below

Created in the 1970s, the Assisted Outpatient Treatment Act is showing its age, and state legislators want to modernize it. We wanna be able to assist our family members and community members that are struggling with mental illness, said Sen. Antonio Moe Maestas (D-Albuquerque).

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In many cases, Rep. Maestas believes it may be too late before the courts can legally intervene in matters of mental health since action is often delayed until the person is in immediate danger or has already taken a major turn down the wrong path.

The new bipartisan bill looks to change that by updating the definitions of harm to self and harm to others.

Its crystal clear if somebody has had an episode where they harm to self or harm to others, maybe theyve attempted suicide, then we can get them into assisted outpatient treatment, said Rep. Maestas.

The bill has faced its fair share of backlash. The counter argument is how dare you make someone do something they dont want to do, but are they in the right mind to make that decision? said Rep. Maestas.

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The hope is that courts, family members, and law enforcement will be able to step in before met with a crisis. A heartbreak, he knows all too well. My niece was struggling with this same issue last year; we had difficulty getting her the treatment she deserved, and since last session, she took her own life, said Rep. Maestas.

He knows hes not alone. A lot of New Mexico families, its a struggle, so we just need to create a modern mechanism to get folks into assisted outpatient treatment, said Rep. Maestas.

The Senate advanced the bill last week by a 37-3 vote. It is now up for consideration in the House. A similar bill stalled in the Roundhouse last year.

Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRQE NEWS 13 - Breaking News, Albuquerque News, New Mexico News, Weather, and Videos.
Perilously cold temperatures threatened millions of Americans Monday in the wake of a sprawling winter storm that left at least 23 people dead as it knocked out power and paralyzed transportation.

A frigid, life-threatening Arctic air mass could delay recovery as municipalities from New Mexico to Maine tried to dig out following the storm, which dropped a vicious cocktail of heavy snow and wind, along with freezing rain and sleet.

Forecasters warned that much of the northern half of the country will see temperatures that are "continuously below freezing through February 1," and "record low temperatures tonight across the South are particularly dangerous in the wake of the weekend winter storm with many still without power," the National Weather Service said in an X post.

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While skies began clearing in parts the country, relentless snowfall in the northeast meant parts of Connecticut saw over 22 inches (56 cm) of snow, with more than 16 inches (40.6 cm) recorded in Boston, Massachusetts.

The storm was linked to at least 23 deaths, according to a compilation of state government and local media reports, with causes including hypothermia as well as accidents related to traffic, sledding, ATVs and snowplows.

One man was found in the snow unresponsive with a shovel in his hand.

In New York City, eight more people were found dead amid plummeting temperatures, and an investigation to determine the causes was underway. It was not known if all of these fatalities were storm-related.

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Electricity began blinking back on across the south but as of Monday evening well over 550,000 customers remained without it, according to the tracking site Poweroutage.com.

Tennessee, Texas, Mississippi and Louisiana -- southern states unaccustomed to intense winter weather -- were especially impacted.

Approximately 190 million people in the United States were under some form of extreme cold alert, the National Weather Service (NWS) told AFP.

The Great Lakes region's residents woke up to extreme temperatures that could cause frostbite on exposed skin within minutes. In parts of Minnesota and Wisconsin, the NWS reported early Monday morning temperatures as low as -23F (-30.6C), with windchills exacerbating the bite.

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Over the weekend nearly half of the states in the contiguous US received at least a foot of snow (30.5 cm), and in many cases far more. The NWS said New Mexico's Bonito Lake accumulated the highest US total over the weekend with 31 inches (78.7 cm).

Nashville Mayor Freddie O'Connell told journalists that trees were continuing to fall under the weight of encrusted ice across the Tennessee capital city -- sometimes knocking out power that had already been restored.

Nashville and other municipalities across the country were establishing emergency warming shelters.

NWS meteorologist Allison Santorelli told AFP this storm recovery was particularly arduous because so many states were impacted -- meaning northern states with more winter supplies were unable to share their resources with less-prepared southern regions.

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"A lot of those locations don't have the means or the resources to clean up after these events," she said. "We're particularly concerned about the folks in those areas that are without power right now."

- Polar vortex -

At least 20 states and the capital Washington were under states of emergency in order to deploy emergency personnel and resources.

The snowfall and biting icy pellets that pummeled cities left impassable roads along with canceled buses, trains and flights -- thousands of departures and arrivals were scrapped over the weekend.

The storm system was the result of a stretched polar vortex, an Arctic region of cold, low-pressure air that normally forms a relatively compact, circular system but sometimes morphs into a more oval shape, sending cold air pouring across North America.

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Scientists say the increasing frequency of such disruptions may be linked to climate change, though the debate is not settled and natural variability plays a role.

Dave Radell, a NWS meteorologist based in New York, told AFP that the character of this storm's snow was "very dry" and "fluffy," meaning the wind could lash it around with ease, impeding roadway-clearing efforts and visibility.

"That makes it even more challenging," he said.

bur-mdo/dw/sla/jgc
A judge denied bond for a second time for a Carroll County teen accused of killing her mother and stepfather.

Sarah Grace Patrick appeared in court on Tuesday for the first time since her trial was delayed earlier this month. The teen faces murder and aggravated assault charges in the deaths of her mother, Kristin Brock, and her stepfather, James Brock.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

The couple was shot and killed inside their Carrollton home in February 2025. Patrick turned herself over to authorities in July 2025.

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On Tuesday, Patrick and her lawyers requested for a judge to grant her bond. The judge cited concerns that Patrick would pose a flight risk. Her attorney argued that the teen has no previous criminal history and has no drivers license or passport.

Patricks grandparents also testified that they believe she has no reason to run away. The prosecutor argued that Patricks grandparents made a deal with a media production company for post-trial content and that it adds to the flight risk concerns.

The judge ruled in favor of the prosecution and denied Patricks request for fond. Her trial will begin sometime in August.

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A U.S. Border Patrol agent shot and critically injured a man who first shot at a helicopter and then at agents while trying to flee from a traffic stop 35 miles south of Tucson on Jan. 27, authorities said.

Patrick Gary Schlegel, 34, of Sahuarita, who authorities said was involved with human trafficking, was taken to a Tucson hospital and remained in serious condition.

Schlegel has an extensive criminal record and had an outstanding 2025 warrant for escape related to a previous human trafficking conviction, authorities said.

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Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos and Phoenix FBI Special Agent in Charge Heith Janke said border agents recognized Schlegel's vehicle from an earlier incident, and he drove away when they attempted to stop him.

After a chase, Schlegel, who was alone in the vehicle, jumped out and fled into the desert, they said. The suspect fired at an Air and Marine Operations helicopter, authorities said, and at Border Patrol agents, who returned fire, striking the suspect.

Schlegel is expected to be charged with assault on a federal officer, alien smuggling and felon in possession of a firearm, Janke said.

Nanos and Janke shared few details about the shooting or Schlegel's criminal past during an afternoon news conference at the Sheriff's Department in Tucson. They described the case as "an assault upon a federal officer."

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"While reacting to an active alien smuggling matter, CBP agents came into contact with the subject," Janke said. "During the attempt to apprehend him, the subject used a firearm to shoot at a manned CBP helicopter. The subject continued to flee on foot while being pursued by CBP agents who returned fire."

Nanos said his department was assisting the FBI in the investigation as part of a coordinated effort with federal agencies on "critical incidents." The Customs and Border Protection's Office of Professional Responsibility was also investigating.

"The request for assistance was made by the Federal Bureau of Investigation earlier today," the Sheriff's Department said in a Jan. 27 news release. "PCSD is conducting a parallel investigation and has been asked to lead the use-of-force-investigation involving the agent."

The shooting occurred about 7:30 a.m. about 10 miles from the U.S.-Mexico border on West Arivaca Road.

Protesters, humanitarian groups react to shooting

After news of the shooting broke, Tucsonans hit the streets to protest against border patrol and ICE violence. The Party for Socialism and Liberation organized a protest at Banner University Medical Center, where the victim was airlifted.

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Around 3 p.m., before the news conference had added new details about the shooting, about a dozen people were protesting with signs in front of the hospital. By 6:30 p.m., the group, at the corner of East Elm Street and North Campbell Avenue, had grown to almost 80 protesters.

They held signs saying, Stop ICE Terror and ICE out of Tucson, chanting with a megaphone, decrying ICE violence.

Brick by brick, wall by wall, this racist system has to fall, people chanted to the cacophony of honking horns.

Two people who spoke to The Arizona Republic said they had heard of a person being shot by Border Patrol agents, but did not know what was said in the news conference.

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Were here because Border Patrol and ICE are murdering people and they are trying to divide people through racism, said Firoz Aziz, a member of the Party for Socialism and Liberation. They are attacking regular, everyday people. They killed Renee Nicole Good. They murdered Alex Pretti. We are here to say that needs to stop and ICE needs to leave everywhere.

Humanitarian organizations also commented on the shooting before the news conference.

The trauma now being inflicted by Border Patrol and ICE agents in U.S. cities is, sadly, an extension of what weve seen for decades in communities near the Southern border, said Laurie Cantillo, a member of the organization Humane Borders.

The organization maintains water stations throughout southern Arizona for people crossing the desert. Cantillo pointed to the staggering number of migrants, including men, women and children, who have died in Arizonas Sonoran Desert as a result of inhumane immigration policies.

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Almost 4,500 men, women, and children have died in our state alone while seeking safety and a better life. These are just the deaths we know about, she said.

Where is Arivaca?

Arivaca is a popular border crossing, and the unincorporated ranching community has become a flashpoint for controversy during the Trump administration's crackdown on immigration.

A humanitarian group that provides water and medical aid for immigrants accused border agents in December of entering a camp without a warrant and taking three immigrants into custody.

U.S. Rep Adelita Grijalva condemned the action, saying the camp has "existed for decades to keep people from dying in the desert."

'They are out of control,' rancher says of agents

Longtime Arivaca resident Ken Buchanan, who is often referred to as the town's "unofficial mayor," said the shooting occurred in a very remote area about a half-mile away from the nearest house. He said based on where crime scene tape was put up, the shooting was closer to Amado than Arivaca.

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Amado sits at the junction of Arivaca Road and Interstate 19. A Border Patrol checkpoint is located about 2 miles west of the interstate, which was closed due to the shooting. Buchanan said when the road is blocked, residents must detour more than 100 miles round-trip to get in and out of Tucson.

"We don't know nothing about what happened, and we're not going to know," Buchanan told The Republic before the news conference. He said the Border Patrol rarely offers information about incidents involving its agents.

"They are out of control," the 73-year-old resident said. "And it has been getting worse."

The shooting comes after federal immigration agents shot and killed two U.S. citizens during raids and protests in Minnesota. Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old ICU nurse, was shot multiple times in the street on Jan. 24 as he attempted to film agents. Renee Good, 37, was shot multiple times in her car on Jan. 7.

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Federal authorities said Pretti and Good posed threats to agents, although cell phone videos of both incidents appeared to contradict those claims.

(This story was updated to add new information, a new photo and a new gallery.)

What we know: Lawmakers say they were pepper sprayed at Homeland Security Zipps raid

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Border Patrol shooting in Arizona leaves man injured
Border Patrol Commander Gregory Bovino and some of his green-uniformed agents are expected to soon leave the Minneapolis area, three sources familiar with the move tell CBS News.

One of the sources said Bovino was relieved of his command in Minneapolis and is expected to return to California's El Centro sector, where he served as the chief agent before the Trump administration deployed him to major American cities, including Los Angeles and Chicago.

The development, which effectively amounts to a demotion, follows intense backlash over how top federal officials, including Bovino, responded to the fatal shooting of ICU nurse Alex Pretti. Bovino, citing no evidence, suggested over the weekend Pretti intended to "massacre" federal agents. Some of the claims by Bovino and other officials were contradicted by witnesses and video from the scene.

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News of Bovino's impending departure came hours after President Trump said Tom Homan, the White House border czar, would be heading to Minnesota.

Mr. Trump spoke with Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey earlier Monday. Frey said the president "agreed that the present situation cannot continue."

In recent months, Bovino has been one of the leading public faces of the Trump administration's crackdown on illegal immigration, gaining notoriety due to his aggressive and outspoken approach for the job and for appearing in the field in tactical gear alongside rank-and-file Border Patrol personnel.

Before arriving in Minneapolis earlier this month, he was dispatched to Los Angeles, Chicago, Charlotte and New Orleans last year.

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His presence in those cities was part of a significant change in tactics by the Trump administration, which has used Border Patrol agents to carry out immigration arrests hundreds of miles away from the U.S.-Mexico border. At one point during a Chicago enforcement operation, known as Midway Blitz, Border Patrol had made more arrests than Immigration and Customs Enforcement, which is normally responsible for enforcing immigration laws in the interior of the country.

Over that time, Bovino has drawn criticism from those who view the administration's immigration tactics as overly harsh and its response to protests heavy-handed  and plaudits from many supporters of the president who view him as a no-nonsense enforcer of his deportation campaign.

He left Chicago in November, a week after a federal judge issued a preliminary injunction against federal immigration agents over their use of force during Operation Midway Blitz, saying it "shocks the conscience."

Soon after Bovino took the helm, agents were seen deploying tear gas on residential neighborhood streets, near schools and against civilians.

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U.S. District Judge Sarah Ellis noted that Bovino has personally been involved in using tear gas at protests. And the judge said Bovino "admitted that he lied" about the circumstances that led up to one use of tear gas. At one point, Ellis ordered Bovino to appear in court every evening at 6 p.m. to brief her about Border Patrol agents' actions.

Border Patrol's actions have caused tensions inside DHS, where some ICE leaders feel their counterparts' operations have become too aggressive and controversial, undermining public support, CBS News has previously reported.

Though anyone found to be in the U.S. illegally is eligible to be arrested under the Trump administration, ICE officials have privately argued the focus should be on arresting those with criminal records, not undertaking more indiscriminate and visible sweeps in locations like Home Depot parking lots, sources told CBS News.

Bovino has long defended the tactics used by Border Patrol agents, calling them necessary to quell riots that threatened federal law enforcement personnel.

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"The use of force that I've seen has been exemplary  the least amount of force necessary to accomplish the mission," Bovino told CBS News in October.

The White House has also publicly defended Bovino.

"Mr. Bovino is a wonderful man, and he is a great professional," White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said earlier Monday, before his departure from Minneapolis was reported. "He is going to very much continue to lead [Customs and Border Protection] throughout and across the country."

Video breakdown of fatal shooting by federal agents in Minneapolis

Sneak peek: The Firefighter's Secret

Visual investigation into Border Patrol killing of Alex Pretti in Minneapolis
A voter sits behind a privacy screen in Cascade County on June 6, 2023. (Photo by Nicole Girten/Daily Montanan)

A Bozeman Republican has joined the 2026 Senate race in Montana, seeking to primary incumbent Sen. Steve Daines.

Trey Gregory, a political neophyte, is originally from Atlanta, Georgia and attended Texas Christian University. He has worked with hedge funds, in medical sales, and as a entrepreneur and consultant according to his campaign website.

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He is running not as a career politician, but as an outsider ready to be the authentic voice for all Montanans, according to his campaign.

Republican Trey Gregory is campaigning to unseat incumbent Sen. Steve Daines.

In an email to the Daily Montanan, Gregory said hes challenging Daines because he believes the incumbent has fallen short in delivering tangible outcomes for everyday Montanans.

Healthcare is still a disaster  especially for seniors living on fixed incomes and for younger Montanans who dont have the luxury of staying on a parents health plan, Gregory wrote. We talk about reform every election cycle, but people are still struggling to afford care, prescriptions, and coverage. Thats unacceptable.

He also said that Montanas land and natural resources are not being utilized to the fullest extent, saying that he believes there is work that can be done to forge mutually beneficial partnerships with the states Tribal Nations to responsibly increase resource development.

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A pillar of Gregorys campaign is a plan to entirely fund his efforts to unseat a sitting senator, which he says he has received criticism for, but he believes its what Montanans want to see.

Find me one person who dislikes the fact that they dont have to cough up funds to support the right person for the job, Gregory wrote. I am not fundraising for this campaign. I dont believe Montanans should have to pay for representation or open their wallets just to support someone running for office.

Im not taking anyones money, therefore Im not beholden to anyone. That independence is intentional, he said, adding that Daines has previously had campaign finance controversies.

Montanas primary election will be held on June 2.

A third Republican candidate who has filed paperwork for the primary is perennial candidate Charles Walkingchild.
Angelina Katsanis/AP photo

Border Patrol Commander-at-Large Greg Bovino, arguably the most public face of the Trump administrations immigration raids, is expected to retire, The Atlantic reported on Monday night.

Citing a Homeland Security official and two other people familiar with the matter, Nick Miroff reported that Bovino has been removed from his commander post and will return to his former job as a border official in El Centro, California, where he is expected to retire soon.

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Homeland Security spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin appeared to dispute the report, stating, Chief Gregory Bovino has NOT been relieved of his duties. However, she did not say that Bovino remains commander-at-large.

On Saturday, Border Patrol agents shot and killed 37-year-old Alex Pretti in Minneapolis. Pretti had been filming agents, one of whom shoved a woman to the ground. Video shows Pretti attempting to help the woman before being swarmed by agents, who took his holstered firearm, for which Pretti had a permit. After disarming him, agents shot him 10 times, killing him.

Prettis killing comes two weeks after an Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent shot and killed 37-year-old Renee Good as she attempted to drive away from agents.

The Atlantic also reported that Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and her adviser Corey Lewandowski are at risk of losing their positions.

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Earlier on Monday, DHS withdrew Bovino and some of his agents from Minneapolis. At a press conference on Saturday, Bovino baselessly accused Pretti of wanting to massacre Border Patrol agents. In the aftermath of the shooting, Bovino feuded with several prominent politicians on social media, including Republican lawmakers.

After The Atlantic published its report, CNN reported that Bovinos access to his DHS social media accounts has been revoked.

Bovino had accompanied Border Patrol agents to several cities across the country, including Chicago, Charlotte, and New Orleans.

Multiple reports indicated that President Donald Trump has grown increasingly concerned about the optics of his immigration crackdown. On Monday, Trump said he had productive phone conversations with Minnesota Governor Tim Walz (D) and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey (D), who have asked the administration to withdraw federal immigration agents.

The post Border Patrol Commander Greg Bovino Reportedly Ousted first appeared on Mediaite.
The news that Scotland is toying with a universal basic income for artists has been greeted with scepticism about money-wasting from the usual quarters.

The Basic Income Network, which is affiliated to the Basic Income Conversation is arguing that they should follow the lead of Ireland, which implemented a Basic Income for the Arts policy last October, after a successful trial in 2022, and which will be rolled out this year.

When it is, everyone from musicians and poets to comedians and painters will receive a monthly stipend of 1,300 per month, making their lives considerably easier in the process.

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The initiative is designed to give artists of proven quality or potential the financial security of being able to pay rent and bills without worrying about having to debase themselves in a meaningless job that will divert their attention from their creative endeavours.

Ireland has always had a reputation for supporting the arts  anyone who lives there who makes their living from art, writing or composing pays no income tax under 50,000  and many would argue that the legacy of the countrys extraordinary writers, musicians and artists, from Samuel Beckett and Francis Bacon to the great Paul Murray and, if you must, U2, is one that is not just aesthetically impeccable but artistically worthwhile, too.

The Irish governments assessment of the Basic Incomes pilot scheme suggested that for every euro invested in the arts, the scheme generated 1.39 for the wider economy, meaning that there is as much an economic case for its existence as an artistic one.

Many would argue that the legacy of Irelands extraordinary writers, such as Samuel Beckett, makes the scheme artistically worthwhile - Louis Monier/Getty Images

It is more likely than not that a similar version of the initiative will eventually be rolled out in Scotland, given that the Scottish culture secretary Angus Robertson has already stated that he is looking into it. Quite what that will produce remains unclear  I have visions of an awful lot of Sassenach grit and grimness, with nary a kilt or bagpipes in sight  but at a time when it is harder than ever for artists to make any kind of living, any kind of helping hand from the state should be welcomed, rather than scorned.

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The question is whether such a thing should be common practice in England, too, or whether our countrys artists are somehow above such things.

Speaking for my own profession of writing, it is increasingly difficult to make a living as an author. The Authors Licensing and Collecting Society estimated that the median income that an author was earning in 2022 was a pitiful 7,000, down from a still far from impressive 12,330 in 2006. And that, of course, is a figure skewed upwards by the mega-earnings of the Rowlings and Osmans of this world.

The average author earns a tiny, or non-existent, advance for a book, which then barely sells because their publisher has neither budget nor inclination to market it in any meaningful way. Countless talented writers have therefore either given up after a book or two, or never been able to spare the time to write one in the first place. We live in an era of mute inglorious Miltons, and that is a tragedy for the written word.

Therefore, from both an artistic perspective and a hard-nosed commercial one, I would be in favour of seeing a universal basic income for artists rolled out all over the United Kingdom if Scotland presses ahead with it. However, there must be one proviso.

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Any government, whether of the Right or Left, that only hands out money on the understanding that it must be used for socially relevant projects  i.e. propaganda  is immediately dooming the initiative by turning it into another example of Big State funding.

We see the depressing legacy of this all the time presently, with Arts Council money being rationed for projects that openly, and shamefully, prize so-called relevance over straightforward quality. This should change.

Let us give artists money to live on, and let them produce work of lasting quality, without fear or favour. But lets not, for heavens sake, offer it with strings attached, save that it must be worth the cash theyre being given in the first place. Do that, and the arts will be richer  and dare I say it, all the more diverse, in the classic sense of the word  for it.

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RICHMOND, Va.  A state budget amendment has been introduced in the Virginia General Assembly that seeks to provide funding and a connection point for the Coalfields Expressway project with neighboring West Virginia.

The new four-lane corridor will extend through both Virginia and West Virginia with construction on the project currently underway near Grundy in Buchanan County and Welch in McDowell County.

The $8 million budget amendment was introduced in Virginia by Senator Travis Hackworth, R-Tazewell and Delegate Will Morefield, R-Tazewell.

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That budget amendment also includes a second component, which is called the Rock House Road Connector, Jonathan Belcher, executive director of the Southwest Virginia-based Coalfields Expressway Authority, said. That will connect with West Virginias part of the Coalfields Expressway once it reaches that point.

While there is no guarantee that the Democrat-controlled Virginia General Assembly will advance the budget amendment, Belcher said the process is a starting point for eventually linking the Virginia portion of the Coalfields Expressway with the West Virginia section of the four-lane.

Belcher said the initial connection point between Virginia and West Virginia is envisioned for Buchanan County and western McDowell County.

Thats also a part of the $8 million state budget request, Belcher said. Because Virginia wants to be ready when West Virginia gets to that part.

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The budget amendment was originally submitted last year, and was resubmitted earlier this month.

Thats not even on the public General Assembly website yet, Belcher said. Its just been filed.

While there is an active Coalfields Expressway Authority in Southwest Virginia, there is no longer such a governing body in West Virginia.

Funding for the Coalfields Expressway Authority in Southern West Virginia was eliminated by the West Virginia Legislature a number of years ago, which led to the closure of the authority office and the loss of its former director, the late Delegate Richard Browning. Funding for the Coalfields Expressway Authority was never restored by the West Virginia Legislature.

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Belcher said negotiations between the two states on the project will have to occur on the state level.

If that part is funded, the next step is Virginia would have to collaborate with West Virginia on where the connection point is, Belcher said.

Belcher said the Virginia Department of Transportation and the West Virginia Department of Highways would work to facilitate those discussions.

Eventually it is supposed to connect Welch to Virginia and it is supposed to keep going west, he said.

The Coalfields Expressway will extend through McDowell, Wyoming and Raleigh counties in West Virginia and Buchanan, Dickenson and Wise counties in Virginia.

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In West Virginia, construction is currently continuing on a five-mile stretch of the new four-lane corridor near Welch. That project is expected to be finished in late 2017. A section of the Coalfields Expressway in Raleigh County is already open to traffic.

Contact Charles Owens at cowens@bdtonline.com
LISBON, Jan. 26 (Xinhua) -- The Portuguese government launched a Digital Business Wallet on Monday, aimed at simplifying administrative procedures for companies, promoting entrepreneurship, and freeing up resources.

Minister for the Cabinet and State Reform Goncalo Matias said the first version of the Digital Business Wallet will be free of charge, allowing companies to store essential documents, integrate easily into administrative processes, interact with banks, and participate in public tenders.

Describing the new tool as a "new citizen card for companies," Portuguese Prime Minister Luis Montenegro said the initiative represents a key step in the government's simplification agenda.

"This is an essential step in our program to combat excessive bureaucracy and the time that citizens and companies often lose on administrative tasks," he said.

Montenegro stressed that the government aims to "interfere as little as possible" in business activity, allowing companies to focus on wealth creation and higher wages. 
A homeowner opened fire on burglary suspects Tuesday morning in Studio City, prompting the alleged intruders to flee, authorities said.

The confrontation occurred at 4:40 a.m. at a multi-level house in the 11600 block of Laurelcrest Drive, a spokesperson for the Los Angeles Police Department said. The home is in a hilltop neighborhood between Ventura and Laurel Canyon boulevards.

Whether any of the alleged intruders were struck by gunfire was unclear. Described only as two males in gray hoodies, they fled the scene in a black Chevy Traverse SUV, according to LAPD.

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Police said the homeowner was not injured, but they couldn't confirm if anything was actually stolen. The search continues for the black Chevy Traverse SUV and the two suspects.

Neighbors alarmed

Woken by the sound of a rumbling engine around 4 a.m., Diana, who lives across the street, decided to investigate. From her balcony, she watched a Black Chevy.

Diana said the car's lights kept turning on and off. She flashed a light at the vehicle and took a photo before waking up her husband to go check around the house.

"He came back out, got very close to them, took a picture of their plate, the back end of the car, and still, that didn't seem to change anything," she said.

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When her husband came back, shots rang out.

"And within minutes, we heard a gun go off, and there was clearly people running in the shrubs, we could hear. It was like they were running into the vegetation. Got into the car, car door slam, the alarm went off on the house at that point, and the car just sped off," Diana said.

Diana said she called 911 and was able to identify the vehicle involved, but could not describe the suspects.

She said even after she and her husband made their presence known, the suspects didn't leave. Diana said she was surprised by how bold the burglars were.

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"My husband is not a small guy. He's a big guy. The fact that we kind of hazed them a little bit, in a way, that that did not deter them. That they didn't leave the scene, or at least there was a driver in the car," she said.

Some residents said the incident underscores growing concerns about neighborhood crime.

"This city has gotten so dangerous, as you know, if you live here. Crime is out of control," neighbor Dave White said.

Others said they were surprised by the boldness of the suspects, especially with people awake in nearby homes.

Neighbor Jaimie Joseph said that the situation highlights the need for more community involvement.

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"It could happen wherever you move, so it really just makes me think of, like, you know, what's happening? Maybe there needs to be more that we do like in the neighborhood watch," she said.

Despite living in what she described as a peaceful area, Diana said the incident highlights a vulnerability.

"Quiet neighborhood, but sometimes that is not a good thing," she said.
A California man was charged Monday with not cooperating in the ongoing investigation into a double killing at a Salt Lake church parking lot while a funeral was happening inside.

Ezekiel Isaiah Tai, 22, is charged in 3rd District Court with obstruction of justice, a second-degree felony. Prosecutors say Tai is from Newark, California, but frequently stays in Utah.

On Jan. 7, police responded to a report of a shooting with multiple victims in the parking lot of a meetinghouse of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at 660 N. Redwood Road just after 7:30 p.m. Sione Vatuvei, 38, of Glendale, and Vaea Tulikihihifo, 46, were killed. Six other men were taken to local hospitals.

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Multiple expended cartridge casings and a handgun were recovered from the scene, according to charging documents.

As of Monday, no one has been arrested and directly accused of being a gunman in the shooting. Salt Lake police say witnesses have not been cooperating with detectives.

After the shooting, witnesses said a black SUV left the parking lot. A short time later, a GMC Yukon XL arrived at University of Utah Hospital, and two of the shooting victims were dropped off.

Video surveillance at the hospital captured two additional males who stepped out of the Yukon to assist the two wounded males. The Yukon then drove away, the charges state. Through subsequent investigation, the GMC Yukon was identified and traced to an address in West Jordan.

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On Wednesday, police served a search warrant at the residence and seized the SUV. Evidence obtained from the Yukon confirmed that it was involved in the shooting, the charges state.

Tai, who police say is the younger brother of the two gunshot victims who were dropped off at the hospital, was also at the residence. All three men have ties to a gang with a long history in Salt Lake City, prosecutors say.

Witnesses told investigators that following the shootings, Tai was seen in the garage of the West Jordan residence cleaning the SUV.

The license plates had also been removed from the Yukon, as was the OnStar GPS locator device on the rearview mirror. The license plate and OnStar device were located inside the garage, where Tai was observed cleaning the Yukon. A search of the Yukon revealed reddish-brown stains believed to be blood and obvious cleaning swipe residue, the charges allege.

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The shoes that police believe Tai was wearing that night were also recovered and had reddish-brown stains on them consistent with blood, according to the charges.

The week before Tais arrest, Ryan Daniel Toutai, 32, was also arrested and later charged with obstruction of justice, a second-degree felony, for allegedly hindering the police investigation into the shooting.
California marked a milestone this month with the return of an uninterrupted Highway 1 through the perilous, yet spectacular cliffs of Big Sur.

The famed coastal road was closed for more than three years after two major landslides buried the two-lane highway, and it took unprecedented engineering might and precarious debris removal to once again connect northern Big Sur with its southern neighbors.

But no one expects this will be the end of Highway 1's battle with the forces of nature, especially in a world facing the intensifying effects of human-caused climate change.

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We, in Big Sur, know to plan with a grain of salt," said Matt Glazer, executive director of Deetjens Big Sur Inn, located near the northern end of the closure. "This is a snapshot in time, and the ever-changing coast of Big Sur is something that makes it beautiful."

A turbulent climate always has been the nemesis of Highway 1's splendor. The seaside road routinely has closed because of rockslides, mudflows, flooding, wildfires and coastal erosion, most notably in Big Sur but also in several sections from Malibu up through the North Coast.

But this latest closure  what appears to be the longest in Highway 1's 90-year history  raises new questions about how the highway can survive amid increasingly strong and unpredictable storms, seas and fires.

"If our storm and other conditions were normal, we would expect closures and losses at some points," said Michael Beck, director of UC Santa Cruz's Center for Coastal Climate Resilience. The challenge is that were now clear that the events that are going to cause impacts  these particularly extreme events  are getting more common. ... Climate change is here and now, its no longer a problem of the future."

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Read more: After 3 years of repairs, Highway 1 through Big Sur fully reopens

And those intensifying climate conditions  higher, stronger waves that accelerate erosion; wetter, more volatile atmospheric river storms that trigger landslides; and hotter, more destructive fires that create conditions ripe for mudflows  affect much of the 650-mile coastal highway running from south Orange County to Mendocino County.

But the confluence of these climatological issues is particularly apparent in Big Sur, where waves, storms and wildfire regularly affect its uniquely steep and fragile landscape, made up of a "melange" of rock types especially susceptible to change, said Jonathan Warrick, a U.S. Geological Survey research geologist at the Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center in Santa Cruz.

We have waves undercutting [the cliffs] ... and then we get big rains that kind of provide a lubrication for these things to crumble and fail," Warrick said. "And then we have wildfires, and when that happens, often we can have debris flows coming down these mountainsides."

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Glazer said he can't remember a so-called normal year in Big Sur  one without major road closures, dangerous wildfire or damaging flooding  since before 2015.

The last decade has been marked by turmoil in the region from major wildfires that forced evacuations and destroyed homes, causing burn scars that fostered dangerous debris flows. Most notably in 2017, heavy rains caused back-to-back emergencies: first the failure of the Pfeiffer Canyon Bridge and then a major landslide near Mud Creek that left residents cut off for months as the California Department of Transportation worked on repairs through 2019. Then, storms in the winter of 2022-23 triggered the first of two major landslides that kicked off the roadway's subsequent three-year closure.

"That's 11 years of something happening," Glazer said. Its unquestionable that climate change and environmental impacts are impacting the speed and severity of which things change. ... Climate resilience has to be part of the conversation."

And while California has continued to lead many of the nation's discussions and efforts related to climate change mitigation, specifics about how it is preparing for and responding to issues across Big Sur and Highway 1 remain relatively elusive.

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Caltrans, the agency tasked with Highway 1's upkeep, has spent millions each year on such efforts, specifically an estimated $162 million on four major repairs and stabilization projects since January 2023, according to agency spokesperson Kevin Drabinski. But he did not respond to questions from The Times about the agency's large-scale climate resiliency planning for Big Sur and the entirety of Highway 1.

Read more: The time is now for a Highway 1 road trip: 'It's so rare to experience Big Sur like this'

Storms, mudslides and erosion also routinely have caused short-term closures in the Malibu area, where the road is typically known as the Pacific Coast Highway, adding to a long list of the highway's costly and inconvenient repairs.

"It requires a lot of maintenance and its going to continue to require a lot of maintenance, Warrick said. Highway 1's future "is an engineering and political and financial will question more than anything."

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Like clockwork, road failures and landslides tend to bring up questions about when, or if, it might make sense to abandon or reconfigure parts of Highway 1. When does it become too costly to maintain? Or is there a way to transform it, perhaps as a toll road that might limit its exposure and help pay for its increasing costs?

In a few, rare cases, officials settled on major modifications to the highway, including a tunnel that in 2013 replaced a treacherous stretch of the road known as Devil's Slide south of Pacifica. And farther north along Gleason Beach in Sonoma County, rapid erosion finally forced officials in 2020 to move a section of the road inland, to further avoid the ocean's wrath.

But, for the most part, the focus in California has been on repairing existing infrastructure, Beck said.

We're going to need to get more innovative overall in the solutions, including how we pay for them, Beck said. We can't just simply hold on to the past."

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"We've got to do a lot more to accommodate, even advance, in the new futures that are coming," he added.

While parts of California's geography, geology and meteorology make circumstances unique along Highway 1, Beck said, precarious  and even crumbling  coastal highways are a relatively common problem across the globe. While there likely will be no single solution, he sees possibilities for improvements along a continuum  from resistance to realignment  including market-based solutions, such as improving how risk is priced, and nature-based solutions, such as fortifying dunes and wetlands, which can help ease erosion.

But for locals, keeping the road open and in place remains the priority, even in the foreboding face of climate change.

"Theres knowledge that things may become more challenging in the next 10, 20 years," said Ryne Leuzinger, chair of the board of directors for the Big Sur Community Assn., which is working to increase fundraising to better prepare for the next disaster. If conditions are somehow more difficult ... the community will be there to help one another."

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What's important, he said, is the "unanimity about the importance of Highway 1, something he's continued to hear from California leaders, who look at Highway 1 as a worldwide tourist attraction and driver for local and statewide business.

Although Glazer would like to see more focus from officials on preventative and proactive work to stabilize the area, instead of reactive repairs, he said there's no doubt in his mind that it's a road worth maintaining.

Come drive the road and it will answer your own question," Glazer said. "It is ever-changing and elements will evolve and engineering will evolve, but its a National Scenic [Byway] for a reason."

Gregory Hawthorne, owner of Hawthorne Gallery in Big Sur, doesn't want to go back to "island" life as they experienced in 2017, or the cul-de-sac of the last three years, but he also knows that's sometimes the price you pay for living in this stunning region.

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Sometimes when you live on the edge, the edge falls off," Hawthorne, 74, said. The benefits outweigh the tragedies or the different things that happen. ... You got to be tough to live in Big Sur."

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
LONDON, Jan 27 (Reuters) - The captain of a Venezuela-linked crude oil tanker seized by the U.S. this month has been taken from British territorial waters and is now aboard a U.S. Coast Guard vessel, a lawyer for the captain's wife said on Tuesday.

The U.S. Coast Guard and U.S. military special forces, bearing a judicial seizure warrant, apprehended the Russian-flagged Marinera in the Atlantic near Iceland on January 7 after pursuing it for more than two weeks as part of Washington's efforts to block Venezuelan oil exports.

After its capture, the tanker was moved to a location off the coast of Scotland.

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Despite legal attempts to stop their removal, Captain Avtandil Kalandadze, a Georgian, and the boat's first officer were taken from Scottish jurisdiction to the U.S. Coast Guard vessel Munro, Aamer Anwar, the lawyer for Kalandadze's wife, Natia Dzadzama, said.

COURT ORDER REVOKED

On Monday, a Scottish court issued an interim order preventing the captain's removal pending a judicial review of his detention, but the order was revoked early Tuesday after the court heard Kalandadze was already outside British territorial waters, Anwar said.

"Our client's judicial review can no longer be enforced now her husband has, in essence, been abducted by the U.S. government on Scottish and British territory," he said in a statement.

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A British government spokesperson said at the request of U.S. authorities, crew members had been allowed to disembark for onward travel and would be processed in line with appropriate immigration and legal requirements.

"Deterring, disrupting and degrading the Russian shadow fleet is a priority for this government. Alongside our allies, we are stepping up our response to shadow vessels  and we will continue to do so," the spokesperson added, referring to ships that transport oil under sanctions.

There was no immediate comment from the U.S. Coast Guard or the Scottish government.

Anwar said the other 26 crew of the Marinera, formerly known as the Bella-1, had been processed at a British army centre in Inverness. Five had chosen to travel to the United States, while the others chose alternative travel arrangements to their home countries, Anwar said.

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Last week, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Moscow had expected the U.S. to free the crew members, which he said included two Russians, as well as Ukrainians, Georgians and Indians.

(Reporting by Michael Holden; Editing by Alex Richardson, Rod Nickel)
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has told reporters he stands behind his speech in Davos calling out unconstrained super powers, after a Trump official said he had "aggressively" walked it back in a call with US President Donald Trump.

"To be absolutely clear, and I said this to the president, I meant what I said in Davos," Carney said on Tuesday, confirming he and Trump had spoken by phone.

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent had told Fox News on Monday that Carney was "very aggressively walking back" some of the remarks to Trump.

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Carney made global headlines for his Davos speech, in which he indirectly called out the US president for a "rupture" in the postwar world order.

Trump responded in his own Davos speech the following day by saying that "Canada lives because of the United States".

Speaking to reporters in Ottawa on Tuesday, Carney denied Bessent's recollection of the phone call.

He added that it was the US president who had called him on Monday, and that the two had a "very good conversation on a wide range of subjects", including Ukraine, Venezuela, Arctic security and Canada's recent trade agreement with China.

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Carney said they also discussed the USMCA, a free-trade pact between Canada, the US and Mexico, which is up for a mandatory review later this year.

Carney said his speech in Davos clearly outlined how "Canada was the first country to understand the change in US trade policy that (Trump) had initiated, and we're responding to that".

He added that the president understood Canada's position.

Later, speaking in the House of Commons about the future of the trade talks, Carney said the USMCA review would begin in a few weeks.

He added, in French: "The world has changed. Washington has changed. There's almost nothing normal in the United States. That's the truth".

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In the Fox News interview on Monday, Bessent criticised Canada's decision to negotiate a trade deal with China. He added that he was "not sure what the Prime Minister was thinking" when he made his speech in Davos.

"Canada depends on the US," Bessent said. "There's much more north-south trade then there could ever be east-west trade."

"The prime minister should do what's best for the Canadian people rather than try to push his globalist agenda," the treasury secretary added.

His remarks came after Trump threatened Canada with 100% tariffs on its goods if it allows Chinese goods to flow freely to the US, skirting levies.

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The deal between Ottawa and Beijing would lower levies on Canadian canola oil from 85% to 15% by March, while Canada will tax a limited number of Chinese electric vehicles, or EVs, at the most-favoured-nation rate, 6.1%  down from 100%.

Carney said that Canada is not pursuing a free-trade deal with China and has "never" considered it.

Speaking to reporters on Monday, Carney added that he believed Trump's latest tariff threat is a negotiation tactic ahead of talks on USMCA.

"The president is a strong negotiator, and I think some of these comments and positioning should be viewed in the broader context of that," he said.
TORONTO (AP)  Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said Tuesday he told U.S. President Donald Trump that he meant what he said in his speech at Davos, and told him Canada plans to diversify away from the United States with a dozen new trade deals.

Carney rolled his eyes and rejected U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessents contention to Fox News that he aggressively walked back his comments at the World Economic Forum during a phone call with Trump on Monday.

To be absolutely clear, and I said this to the president, I meant what I said in Davos, Carney said to reporters as he arrived for a Cabinet meeting in the capital, Ottawa.

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Canada was the first country to understand the change in U.S. trade policy that he initiated, and were responding to that. 

In Davos at the World Economic Forum last week, Carney condemned economic coercion by great powers on smaller countries without mentioning Trumps name. The prime minister received widespread praise and attention for his remarks, upstaging Trump at the gathering.

The world has changed, Washington has changed. There is almost nothing normal in the U.S. now and thats the truth, Carney said in French in Parliament on Tuesday.

Tariffs and trade deals

Trump threatened this past weekend to impose a 100% tariff on goods imported from Canada if Americas northern neighbor went ahead with a trade deal with Beijing, though Carney has said Canada has no interest in negotiating a comprehensive trade deal with Beijing.

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Carney said Trump called him and that they spoke for a half hour.

I explained to him our arrangement with China. I explained to him what were doing  12 new deals, four continents, in six months, Carney said. He was impressed.

Trumps threat came amid an escalating war of words with Carney. The Republican presidents push to acquire Greenland strained the NATO alliance, alarming Canada, which shares a 3,000-kilometer (1,864 mile) maritime border with Greenland in the Arctic. Trump has also previously talked about making Canada the 51st state.

Carney has said his recent agreement with China merely cuts tariffs that were recently imposed on a few sectors. The prime minister plans to travel to India, Australia and other countries in an effort to diversify trade away from dependence on the U.S., which takes more than 75% of Canada's exports.

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The United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement is up for renewal this year. Carney has set a goal for Canada to double its non-U.S. exports in the next decade.

At the table or on the menu

Carney has emerged as a spokesman for a movement to link up countries and counter the U.S. under Trump. Speaking in Davos before Trump, Carney said, Middle powers must act together because if you are not at the table, you are on the menu.

Carney said he also spoke to Trump about Ukraine, Venezuela and Arctic security in his phone call.

Bessent said Carney spoke to Trump on Monday. The Treasury secretary told Fox News that Carney was very aggressively walking back some of the unfortunate remarks he made at Davos.

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Of course, Canada depends on the U.S., Bessent said. Theres much more north-south trade than there could ever be east-west trade.

Bessent said Canada is linked to the U.S. and that Carney should stop trying to push his own globalist agenda.

Dominic LeBlanc, Canadas minister responsible for Canada-U.S. trade, has compared Canada's recent trade deal with China to an agreement Trump made with Chinese leader Xi Jinping in South Korea last summer in which the U.S. cut some tariffs on China while Beijing moved to allow rare earth exports and lift a pause on purchasing U.S. soy.

Trumps push to acquire Greenland has come after he has repeatedly needled Canada over its sovereignty and suggested it also be absorbed into the United States. He posted an altered image on social media last week showing a map of the United States that included Canada, Venezuela, Greenland and Cuba as part of its territory.
In the early hours of Tuesday morning I was at the receiving end of one of the deadly Russian mass drone attacks that regularly terrorise Ukrainian cities.

Much of my hotel near the centre of the Black Sea port city of Odesa was wrecked when Shahed drones hit close by, setting buildings opposite ablaze and blowing out walls, shattering windows and collapsing ceilings where I was staying.

I had slept through the sirens warning of an approaching attack and was wrenched out of my slumber by the first enormous explosion, which blew out windows in my room in the Hotel Alarus at around 2.20am.

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As I hurriedly pulled on clothes and boots, drones came diving in on their final approach, emitting a shrill, otherworldly scream like that of German Stuka dive bombers in movies about the Second World War.

Twice I hit the floor in the space between my bed and the bathroom wall  the furthest point in my room from the outside.

During these seconds that seemed like an age, I felt utterly helpless and mouthed: F***, f***, f***! Just get it over with.

Scores of drones hit Odesa overnight, leaving emergency workers searching for bodies in the rubble (AP)

As more drones kept coming, I got to the basement shelter and joined 11 staff and guests there in the dark.

People, some in nighties, some barefoot, mostly sat silently with a few faces dimly lit by screens as they scanned smartphones for any news.

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Locals had an app showing the approach of missiles or drones around Odesa. Some cried while others covered their ears or pulled friends close as tension mounted, waiting for an explosion.

Some of the explosions blew out the hotels glass front doors and seemed to search us out, sending showers of broken glass down the basement stairs.

Nobody at the hotel was injured but early reports said at least 23 people, including some kids and a pregnant woman, were hurt in the raid. At least one victim is very badly injured, and rescue workers are searching for bodies under rubble.

The view from Askolds window after the attack (The Independent)

This is the reality in Ukraine, as peace talks grind on interminably, with little sense of progress.

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In everyday life in Odesa, dilapidated generators thrum outside shops, restaurants, residential and office buildings as they fight a losing battle against power cuts and freezing temperatures on the snow- and ice-covered streets.

Some sounds have disappeared completely from Odesas urban soundtrack  the building-shaking trundle of trams along the tracks that lace the citys boulevards, and the trolleybuses, whose power-transmitting poles once caused magnificent showers of sparks where they connect to icy electric cables high above the streets, providing delight for kids.

Intensified Russian aerial strikes over recent months have knocked out much of the regions energy-generating infrastructure, forcing these electricity-sucking trams and trolleybuses to a halt.

Many Odesa residents have moved away from the city as it has become a priority target for Moscow. The population, at around a million, remains at pre-war levels because those moving out have been replaced by refugees fleeing the fighting further east.

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Vera, 23, a student, lives in an apartment block in the northeastern suburb of the city; these highrise buildings suffer some of the harshest treatment because of aerial attacks and power cuts.

She said these cuts, sometimes lasting five days, mean many people, especially the elderly, handicapped and people with young children, face catastrophic conditions.

Imagine having to descend or ascend to the 14th floor of an apartment block  28 flights of stairs  if youre frail or handicapped. Imagine a mother carrying her child and a baby buggy. What if she has two children? If youre in a wheelchair, youre trapped.

Rescue workers work to clear debris from a residential building, damaged after a Russian strike in Odesa on Tuesday (AP)

On this New Years Eve, six people, including three children, were injured when drones hit apartment blocks close to us. On New Years Eve 2024, drones killed a friend of mine who was on a balcony in our building having a cigarette. Perhaps the Russians are starting a tradition.

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The huge power outages caused by the savage uptick in Russian aerial attacks have coincided with Ukraines coldest winter in years, as the country suffers through sub-zero temperatures.

Many of Ukraines Soviet-era residential highrises rely on an archaic and inefficient form of central heating where hot water is piped in from a plant miles away. When one of the water plants is destroyed, thousands of homes quickly freeze. With electricity knocked out for days at a time, electric heaters become useless.

The Russians have been targeting Ukrainian energy infrastructure since the start of the full-blown war, and options for replacement equipment have been severely limited. Many electrical engineers repairing damage have been killed in targeted drone attacks.

The front lines start about 60 miles to the east of Odesa, but, according to military spokesperson Major Dmytro Pletenchuk, the Russians can launch missiles and drones from submarines in the Black Sea off Odesa or Crimea, the Ukrainian peninsula which their forces occupy some 100 miles from the city.

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They use ballistic missiles which travel so fast they arrive before people can react to the sirens and find shelter, he said.

Burnt-out cars litter the location of a brutal attack on Odesa last year (AFP/Getty)

He said the one principal aim was to cripple the three ports  in the city centre and two, Chornomorsk and Pivdennyi, nearby along the coast  which collectively form Ukraines most important remaining opening for sea trade.

These ports are the main outlet for Ukraines agricultural exports, including grains and sunflower oil, which are critical foodstuffs for many third-world countries. The drones target storage containers and convoys of trucks bringing cargo to the ports from producers all over Ukraine, said Maj Pletenchuk. Recently they hit a container with tens of thousands of litres of sunflower oil, which drained into the sea and can cause as much ecological damage as if it was fuel oil.

The ports are one of the citys main employers. It is also an important industrial, business, IT and academic centre, including scientific research, chemical manufacturing, and machine-building.

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Maj Pletenchuk said another intention is to demoralise and sow terror among the civilian population by striking energy infrastructure and targeting residential buildings, leaving people frozen in the dark.

A doctor, whose first name is Svyatoslav but who preferred not to have his surname published, is a senior member of the World Health Organisation team in southern Ukraine.

He called the Russian attacks that keep millions of Ukrainians freezing pure terrorism. They are not hitting the military but are striking at targets to make normal life impossible for ordinary people.

A view of an energy facility damaged during a Russian drone strike in mid-January (DTEK Energy Company/Telegram)

This terror is meant to bring people to their knees. They think Ukrainians will plead with their government to end the war at any price; for us to surrender. Before 2022, I knew a lot of people in Odesa who didnt think of Russia as their enemy. Now I think very few like that remain. We have no choice but to fight on.

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The Ukrainian peoples willingness to help each other is an essential component of the countrys drive to keep going.

Odesa, similarly to other large cities, has a network of dozens of Punkt Nezlamonist  Points of Unbroken Resilience  providing a place to warm up, have a warm drink and a meal, recharge cellphones, computers and gadgets, and find a place to talk to someone.

Some facilities provide help for just some needs  many supermarkets have gadget charging points, places to warm up or air raid shelters.

A year ago, many people interviewed in the eastern Ukrainian frontline town of Kupyansk believed that the newly inaugurated US president Donald Trump might be able to deliver on his promise to quickly end the war.

Emergency service workers search among the rubble of a heavily damaged residential building following an air attack in Odesa (Ukrainian Emergency Service)

But nobody The Independent spoke to had any faith that the Trump-brokered peace talks, which last week brought Ukrainian, US and Russian delegations to the UAE, would yield a fair peace or any peace at all. After the first day of talks last Friday, Russia launched a massive aerial attack against cities across Ukraine.

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A volunteer named Roman asked: What kind of a peace agreement can you expect from Russia when, on the night of the first days talks, they send 400 drones and missiles to kill us?

Vera, the student, said: Trump doesnt feel human emotions, he doesnt care about Ukrainians  its all about greed and business to him.
(Kyle Martin/For the North Dakota Monitor)

North Dakota outpaced the national average in population growth in 2025, new U.S. Census Bureau data shows.

North Dakotas population grew for the fourth consecutive year to a record high of 799,358 people as of July 1, 2025, according to the census estimate released Tuesday.

North Dakota ranked 14th among the states for per capita population growth, growing about 50% faster than the national average, a release from the North Dakota Governors Office said. The state has grown nearly 19% since 2010. Forty-six states experienced positive growth in 2025.

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State Demographer Nigel Haarstad said North Dakota likely since surpassed the 800,000 mark in August, based on growth rates, according to the news release.

After a brief COVID-era population dip in 2021, North Dakota has grown every year, the news release said. Births continue to exceed deaths in the latest estimate, and total net migration was positive, both domestic and international.

The states working-age population also has grown for three straight years to 473,249, the highest since 2020, Haarstad noted.

North Dakota ranks 47th in population among the 50 states and District of Columbia.

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A US Airman attaches a GBU-31 munitions system to an F-15E Strike Eagle in the US Central Command area of responsibility, December 19, 2025, in support of Operation Hawkeye Strike as the US military launched large-scale strikes against dozens of Islamic State targets in Syria. (photo credit: U.S. Air Force Photo/Handout via REUTERS)

Although CENTCOM said that the "exercise is designed to enhance asset and personnel dispersal capability," military parties have used such drills in the past as cover for launching a surprise attack.

In the shadow of a potential major attack on Iran's regime, CENTCOM on Tuesday announced that its aerial forces will be conducting a multi-day readiness exercise "to demonstrate the ability to deploy, disperse, and sustain combat airpower across the US Central Command area of responsibility."

Although CENTCOM said that the "exercise is designed to enhance asset and personnel dispersal capability, strengthen regional partnerships and prepare for flexible response execution throughout CENTCOM," military parties have used such drills in the past as cover for launching a surprise attack on an adversary.

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The Trump administration has been weighing striking Iran's regime since protests started there on December 28, with it moving an array of forces to the region when the ayatollahs started killing large numbers of protesters. The US Aircraft Carrier Lincoln reached the region on Monday.

Further, while CENTCOM stated the drill would "serve as a way for AFCENT [air forces of CENTCOM] to validate procedures for rapid movement of personnel and aircraft; dispersed operations at contingency locations; logistics sustainment with a minimal footprint; and integrated, multi-national command and control over a large area of operations," the operation also might be designed to publicly pressure the Iranian regime into some kind of deal or concessions desired by the Trump administration.

Our airmen are proving they can disperse, operate, and generate combat sorties under demanding conditions -safely, precisely and alongside our partners, said Lt. Gen. Derek France, AFCENT commander and Combined Forces Air Component commander for CENTCOM, with the drill also boosting the ability of the US to work with Israel and America's Sunni Arab partners on defense should Washington attack Tehran and should the ayatollahs then counter-attack American allies and bases in the region.

Lt. Gen. France said, This is about upholding our commitment to maintaining combat-ready Airmen and the disciplined execution required to keep airpower available when and where its needed.

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During the training event, CENTCOM said that US forces "will deploy teams to multiple contingency locations and validate rapid set-up, launch and recovery procedures with small, efficient support packages. AFCENT will conduct all activities with host-nation approval and in close coordination with civil and military aviation authorities, emphasizing safety, precision and respect for sovereignty."

CENTCOM conducts joint drill with Bahrain

CENTCOM also posted a joint drill with Bahrain, shooting down drone threats, a threat that Iran might pose to Bahrain.

"By continually practicing tactics, techniques and procedures in a rapidly evolving air domain, the U.S. Air Force underscores its commitment to regional defense and security alongside partner nations. This exercise reinforces peace through strength by fielding a credible, combat-ready, and responsible presence designed to deter aggression, reduce the risk of miscalculation and assure partners," said CENTCOM.
After heavy snow from Winter Storm Fern, many central Ohio schools are closing for a third day in a row on Jan. 28.

While the heavy snow has come and gone, road conditions for many still remain perilous and there is a new threat of extreme cold coming through central Ohio, which means the snow is here to stay for the time being.

An extended Arctic outbreak is expected to grip Ohio through at least Jan. 31, with temperatures well below normal and multiple nights dropping below zero. Wind chills as low as minus 25 degrees are possible, prompting extreme cold warnings and cold weather advisories across much of the state.

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Friday and Saturday mornings are expected to be the coldest days of the week with new record lows possible, according to NBC4 Chief Meteorologist Dave Mazza.

Many central Ohio schools cancelled classes on Jan. 26 and 27, meaning some schools will be entering their third day of no school.

Here's what schools are closed Jan. 28:

Columbus City Schools announces closure Jan. 28

Columbus City Schools classes and extracurriculars cancelled for Wednesday. A planned winter graduation ceremony originally scheduled for Jan. 29 will be moved to a later date.

Central Ohio school closings on Jan. 28:

A+ Children's Academy

Amanda-Clearcreek Local Schools

Arts College Prep Academy

Berne Union Local Schools

Bexley City Schools

Big Walnut Local Schools

Blessed Sacrament School

Bloom-Carroll Local Schools

Brice Christian Academy

Buckeye Central Local Schools

Buckeye Valley Local Schools

Canal Winchester Local Schools

Capital Collegiate Preparatory Academy

Career And Technology Education Centers of Licking County

Centerburg Local Schools

Circleville City Schools

Clintonville Academy

Columbus Bilingual Academy North

Columbus Bilingual West

Columbus Catholic Schools

Columbus City Schools

Columbus Jewish Day School

Columbus Performance Academy

Columbus Prep & Fitness Academy

Columbus Preparatory Academy

Cornerstone Academy

Cypress Christian School and Preschool

Delaware Area Career Center

Delaware City Schools

Dublin City Schools

East Bridge Academy of Excellence

Eastland Performance Academy

Eastland Preparatory Academy

Eastland-Fairfield Career & Technical Schools

Fairbanks Local Schools

Fairfield Christian Academy

Fairfield Union Local Schools

Forest Rose School

Gahanna-Jefferson Local Schools

Genoa Christian Academy

Grace Christian School Blacklick

Graham Elementary & Middle

Grandview Heights City School District

Granville Christian Academy

Granville Exempted Village Schools

Great Western Academy

Grove City Christian School

Groveport Madison Local Schools

Hamilton Local Schools

Harambee Christian School

Heart of Ohio Classical Academy

Heath City Schools

Hilliard City Schools

Horizon Science Academy

Imagine Academy at Sullivant

Imagine Groveport Community School

International Academy

Jefferson Local Schools

Johnstown-Monroe Local Schools

Jonathan Alder Local Schools

KIPP Columbus

Kids Care Elementary School

Lakewood Local Schools

Lancaster City Schools

Liberty Christian Academy

Liberty Christian Early Education Center  Pataskala

Liberty Christian Early Education Center  Pickerington

Liberty Union-Thurston Local Schools

Licking Heights Local Schools

Licking Valley Local Schools

Logan Elm Local Schools

Madison-Plains Local Schools

Marburn Academy

Marysville Exempted Village Schools

Messiah Christian School

Millennium Community School

New-Albany Plain Local Schools

New Story Schools Ohio  Columbus

Newark Catholic High School

Newark City Schools

North Fork Local Schools

Northridge Local Schools

North Union Local Schools

North Woods Career Prep HS

Northland Prep & Fitness Academy

Northridge Local Schools

Oakstone Academy

Oakstone Community School

Olentangy Local Schools

Our Lady of Bethlehem School & Childcare

Par Excellence STEM Academy

Patriot Preparatory Academy

Pickerington Local School District

Reynoldsburg City Schools

Shepherd Christian School

Sonshine Christian Academy

South Columbus Preparatory Academy

South Columbus Preparatory Academy at German Village

South Scioto Performance Academy

South Western City Schools

Southwest Licking Local Schools

St. Brigid of Kildare School

St. Francis de Sales Elementary (Newark)

St. Matthew Catholic School

Summit Academy  Columbus Schools

Teays Valley Local Schools

The Charles School at ODU

The Graham School on Indianola

The Juniper School

Tolles Career & Technical Center

Tri-Village Christian Academy

Upper Arlington Schools

Walnut Township Local Schools

Westfall Local Schools

Westerville City Schools

West Jefferson Local Schools

Whitehall City Schools

Whitehall Prep & Fitness Academy

Worthington Christian Schools

Worthington City Schools

This article will be updated.

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Central Ohio schools cancel classes for Jan. 28. See the list
KIEV, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Tuesday that Kiev expects its partners to support Ukraine's accession to the European Union (EU) next year.

"We are speaking about a concrete date -- 2027, and we count on partners' support for our position," Zelensky said on Telegram after a conversation with Austrian Chancellor Christian Stocker.

Zelensky suggested that Ukraine's potential EU membership could serve as one of its security guarantees.

Ukraine was accepted as a candidate for EU membership in June 2022. 
Western North Carolinas top federal defender has decried threats to the rule of law following the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti by immigration officials in Minnesota.

What we are witnessing on the streets of Minneapolis, and in other cities across the country, shocks the conscience, John Baker, the federal public defender for the Western District of North Carolina, said in a Monday statement following Prettis death on Saturday in Minneapolis.

Before moving to Charlotte (where federal Border Patrol agents conducted operations in November), Baker worked as the chief defense counsel of the Marine Corps and represented Guantanamo Bay detainees  including those charged in the 9/11 attacks.

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Resharing a statement released on behalf of all federal defenders across the country, Baker called for all federal immigration officials to immediately de-escalate tensions, fully cooperate with independent and transparent investigations, and recommit to the rule of law.

Pretti was the second citizen killed by federal agents who were carrying out the Trump administrations immigration enforcement in Minnesota this month.

Renee Good, also 37, died earlier this month when an agent shot her as she drove an SUV away from officers asking her to get out of the car. The agent who shot her, Jonathan Ross, was in fear for his life, the Department of Homeland Security said.

The Trump administration has said it will not investigate Goods death, and it has blocked any local investigations into Prettis killing. Their deaths were just two of the at least 12 times immigration agents have shot at people since September, NBC News reported.

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In Prettis and Goods cases, videos contradict the DHS narrative. The same can be said for cases that unfolded in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of North Carolina when federal immigration agents came to Charlotte in November.

Defense attorneys working in Bakers office questioned officials testimony while representing citizens charged with assaulting officers in Charlottes federal court. In three cases, charges were dropped or reduced.

DHS also published inaccurate information about the people its agents were arresting in Charlotte, at one point falsely asserting that a Honduran man charged with murder was released.

In a statement, U.S. Attorney Russ Ferguson said Monday that while his office does not expect an incident like Prettis death to occur here, he takes every incident involving use of force by law enforcement very seriously and will always conduct a full and fair investigation in such cases.

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We have a good and long-standing relationship with CMPD, his spokesperson said, and do not expect that to change.

The statement shared by Baker, who has led the federal public defenders office in North Carolinas western district for more than three years, said: We stand in solidarity with those who are lawfully asserting their Fourth Amendment constitutional rights to be free from unlawful seizures and racial profiling, and their First Amendment rights to free speech and peaceful assembly.

NC Gov. Stein calls agents killing of ICU nurse in Minneapolis a travesty
WEST LAFAYETTE, IN  Purdue University is open to replacing Early Learning Indiana as an operator of one of its near-campus day-care facilities, after the company announced earlier this month it will shutter the center, President Mung Chiang said Monday.

A new operator could, in theory, keep the soon-to-close Purdue Early Care and Education Center open, from which ELI announced it will pull out by April.

There are indeed other operators, Chiang told faculty at Mondays university senate meeting. ELI will remain an operator, but there are other operators in our state, and we are looking forward to them coming to have a conversation.

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Until April, the Indianapolis-based company through a subsidiary operated two of Purdues three near-campus day centers, including the Purdue ECEC and the Patty Jischke Early Care and Education Center about a mile north of campus.

The Purdue ECEC has a capacity for 120 children, with about 100 of those spots filled. But in a Jan. 15 letter, ELI CEO Erin Kissling cited a challenging funding environment and difficulty filling the centers spots as reasons for the closure.

The children, she told parents, would be moved instead to ELIs other center about a mile north of campus.

Early education providers across Indiana are facing a very challenging funding environment, and Early Learning Indiana, which operated Purdue ECEC, has not been immune to these challenges, Kissling said.

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At Mondays senate meeting, Chiang attempted to assuage faculty concerns that the closure could seriously hurt child-care options in West Lafayette.

The university has no plans to repurpose the building or land currently being operated by ELI, Chiang said, and administrators are open to looking for ways to keep it open as a day-care center without ELIs involvement.

He didnt give specifics on which companies, if any, could take over the center or how soon that may happen.

The scheduled closure comes in the midst of a worsening child-care shortage in West Lafayette, which city officials have worked in recent years to address.

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A 2024 study commissioned by the city found that the area surrounding campus has an unmet need for day-care options and could face a shortage of 75 to 125 available spots  a conservative estimate.

There are clear gaps in meeting the need for child care, and these challenges will only heighten as the regional economy is set to grow, the report said.

The three facilities near Purdue can hold a total of 378 children, according to a university report from the same year. Purdue ECECs closure, though, could cut that down to 258 and nearly double West Lafayettes shortage.

Its unclear how ECI plans to move all of the centers children to the Jischke site, which has about 150 spots.

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Purdues Ben and Maxine Miller Child Development Laboratory School is already at capacity with 100 children, family science professor Kimberly Updegraff said. Her department runs the center, which she estimates has a waitlist of more than 60 families.

She said without more available child-care options, she worries Purdue will struggle to hire faculty and staff with families.

How can we assure them that they can come to a place like Purdue and get high-quality care for their children? she said. How can Purdue be part of this solution, rather than exacerbating the incredible child-care shortage in the area?

Jessica Robertson, Purdues vice president of auxiliary services, said the closure was out of the university's hands, with decreasing enrollment being the prime motivator.

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ECI saw a 40% reduction in recent years in parents interested in enrolling their children at the center, she said.

A 2024 university initiative relieved ECI of $80,000 of its annual operating costs and helped the company hire new part-time staff, but efforts from Purdue still werent enough to keep up with changing market dynamics.

If those dynamics were to shift, and there was demand  this could be a different outcome, she said. Purdue will continue to look for the momentum shift.

Kyle Haynes, a political science professor who enrolls his children at Purdue ECEC, said he believes the center was too understaffed to support any growth in enrollment, and that staff turnover at the site had only exacerbated the problem.

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Demand is going elsewhere, because Early Learning Indiana has, frankly, not been doing a good job, he said.

But Robertson disagreed, arguing that parents on the waitlist at the center were turning down enrollment offers for the children.

Its not necessarily that our rooms are understaffed or closed, she said. Theres just not been that demand or the right timing for families to take open spots at the center.

This article originally appeared on Lafayette Journal & Courier: Chiang: Purdue open to replacing operator at closed day-care center
CHRISTCHURCH, New Zealand  Satellite imagery appears to show China is set to reclaim land on another reef in the South China Sea for yet another military base.

Simultaneously, China demonstrated the use of hundreds of fishing boats to support future combat operations against Taiwan.

The coral reef in question is Antelope Reef, located at 162745N, 1113520E in the Paracel Islands. It is 250 miles east of Hue in Vietnam, and about 175 miles southeast of Sanya Naval Base on Chinas Hainan Island.

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According to the Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative  AMTI for short  China has military outposts, including sophisticated military bases such as Woody Island, on 20 islands in the Paracels. Beijing seized the Paracel chain from Vietnam in 1974.

Dredging of the eastern and southern edges of the lagoon started after mid-October 2025, and satellite images taken in January 2026 showed substantial changes such as new infrastructure and an access way for roll-on/roll-off berths, Newsweek reported this month. Such works allow the arrival of heavy equipment for dredging and land reclamation.

AMTI describes Antelope Island as little more than a sandbar, and previously it had just a couple of buildings on it. If China turns it into a military base, it could act as a helipad, radar station and anchorage for Chinese warships and coast guard vessels.

China also has seven military outposts in the Spratly Island chain due south of the Paracels, according to analysts. China has created 3,200 acres of new land there. Additionally, China controls Scarborough Shoal, which it seized from the Philippines in 2012.

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Meanwhile, Vietnam is also strengthening its infrastructure in the Spratly Islands.

Besides nursing a growing network of lily-pad installations, China rehearsed a new tactic late last year by mobilizing hundreds of fishing boats to create two massive L-shaped floating barriers 290 miles long.

The geospatial firm ingeniSPACE first noticed the phenomenon, as 2,000 Chinese vessels created this formation from Dec. 25-27 in waters northeast of Taiwan.

This coordinated activity occurred just three days before China announced a major exercise circumscribing Taiwan. Dubbed Justice Mission-2025, the PLA exercise was designed to browbeat Taiwan and rehearse the implementation of a naval blockade.

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Something similar took place from Jan. 9-12, when some 1,400 Chinese fishing boats formed a 200-mile-long barrier for more than 30 hours, according to automatic identification system data.

Such floating walls of fishing boats demonstrate a new level of coordination that offers Beijing more ways to impose control in contested seas. These maneuvers are complex and massive, as these vessels halted normal activities and assembled into a dense formation.

These events illustrate how the Chinese military controls fishing fleets via the Peoples Armed Forces Maritime Militia (PAFMM).

A U.S. Congressional Research Service report published in May 2025 acknowledged that the PAFMMs role is to defend Chinese maritime claims.

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It said, In the view of some observers, the PAFMM  even more than Chinas navy or coast guard  is the leading component of Chinas maritime forces for asserting its maritime claims, particularly in the South China Sea.

The reports authors remarked that in peacetime the PAFMM advances Beijings maritime territorial claims, and that in war it would support combat operations by conducting reconnaissance or creating obstacles and providing logistical support to other PLA forces.

During a Taiwan contingency, for example, such floating barriers could overwhelm shipping lanes, block ports, disrupt naval and legitimate commercial traffic, act as decoys and overwhelm an adversary with too many targets.
SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4)  The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has announced the location of the Puerto Montt Chile Temple.

The new temple was announced in October 2024 by President Russell M. Nelson and will be built near Avenida Chamiza Lote 2 2015, Pelluco, Comuna de Puerto Montt in Chile. According to the Church, it will be built on a 5.8-acre site, and the temple will be nearly 18,500 square feet.

It will reportedly be the first temple in this region of the country, and the fourth operating temple for the Church in Chile.

Puerto Montt Chile Temple location. Courtesy: Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

The three other temples are the Antofagasta Chile Temple, Concepcion Chile Temple and the Santiago Chile Temple. Additionally, besides the Puerto Montt Chile Temple, one other temple has been announced.

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How to make ABC4 your preferred news source on Google

According to the Church, approximately 613,000 members live in Chile, and they meet in around 575 different congregations each week. Notably, congregation meetinghouses are different than temples in the Church.

Latter-day Saints consider each temple a house of the Lord and the most sacred place of worship on earth. Temples differ from the Churchs meetinghouses (chapels). All are welcome to attend Sunday worship services and other weekday activities at local meetinghouses, The Church says.

Additionally, the Church says, The primary purpose of temples is for faithful members of the Church of Jesus Christ to participate in sacred ceremonies such as marriages, which unite families forever, and proxy baptisms on behalf of deceased ancestors who did not have the opportunity to be baptized while living.

Latest headlines:

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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 ABC4 Utah.
Just when you thought it couldn't get any worse.

The National Weather Service says a fresh shot of Arctic air is headed toward Greater Akron and some weather records could be broken.

A Cold Weather Advisory is in effect for Northeast Ohio from 7 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 27 until 11 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 28.

Overnight lows below zero are expected into Wednesday morning with wind chills of 20 degrees below zero.

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Forecasters warn this dangerous extreme could cause frostbite on exposed skin in as little as 30 minutes.

If you must venture out, residents are encouraged to dress in layers and cover any exposed skin.

When will the cold snap end in Greater Akron?

The extreme cold temperatures in Greater Akron are expected through the weekend.

The weather service says it will remain unseasonably cold through the weekend.

Temperatures are expected to dip below zero with wind chills anywhere from minus 10 to 20 degrees possible.

The coldest temperatures and extreme wind chills are expected to settle in Thursday night into Friday morning and again Friday night into Saturday morning.

The weather service said it is possible some cities in Ohio could break record lows.

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This is the longest stretch of bone-chilling temperatures to impact Greater Akron since 2018.

The typical daily high in Akron for this time of year is 36 degrees.

The coldest January day ever in the city was set back in 1994 when the temperature fell to 25 degrees below zero on Jan. 19.

More snow coming to Greater Akron

Another round of general snow is expected in Greater Akron on Tuesday, Jan. 27.

The weather service says the snow will come in waves with light snow expected Tuesday morning.

A second wave of snow is expected to arrive Tuesday afternoon with some squalls possible east of Interstate 77.

Anywhere from 1 to 2 inches is expected with higher amounts 3 to 4 inches where snow squalls persist.

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The weather service says there is the potential for some blowing and drifting of snow.

"Even though snow will be light, roads should become snow-covered," according to forecasters.

The very cold temperatures and a frozen Lake Erie, the weather service says, should reduce the chances of any significant snowfall after Tuesday.

Akron weather radar

Akron weather forecast

Tuesday: Snow showers likely, mainly before 11 a.m. Cloudy, with a high near 18. Wind chill values as low as -10. Southwest wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 33 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. Total daytime snow accumulation of around an inch possible.

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Tuesday night: Snow showers likely, mainly before 9 p.m. Cloudy, then gradually becoming partly cloudy, with a low around -3. Wind chill values as low as -13. West wind 6 to 11 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.

Wednesday: Partly sunny, with a high near 13. Wind chill values as low as -14. Southwest wind 6 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.

Wednesday night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 1. Wind chill values as low as -9. West wind around 7 mph.

Thursday: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 14. West wind 6 to 8 mph.

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Thursday night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around -8.

Friday: Partly sunny and cold, with a high near 10.

Friday night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around -7.

Saturday: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 14.

Saturday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 0.

Sunday: Partly sunny, with a high near 18.

Sunday night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 3.

Monday: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 23.

Greater Akron warming centers

Akron is extending the hours at Summit Lake Community Center, 380 W. Crosier St., through Sunday, Feb. 1.

The Summit Lake Community Center will be open from 8 a.m. and 7 p.m. through Sunday.

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The city's other community centers will maintain regular hours through the week.

The Emergency Overnight Warming Center at 111 East Voris St. will be open from 7 p.m. to 8 a.m. through Friday, Jan. 30.

City officials say they plan to watch the weather closely and may modify the hours if needed.

Here are four other warming centers throughout the region:

Lake Anna YMCA, 500 West Hopocan Ave. in Barberton. Open noon to 5 p.m. Sunday and 5:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday.

Active Adult Center, 500 West Hopocan Ave. in Barberton. Hours are 12:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Friday and 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday.

Norton Fire Department Central Station, 3380 Greenwich Road. Hours are 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. but call the Norton Fire Department first at 330-825-3086.

Tallmadge Recreation Center, 46 North Munroe Road. Hours are 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 5 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday and 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

Akron weather hourly

Need to know weather conditions by the hour? Make sure to check out our weather page here.

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: 'Dangerous' wind chills expected in Greater Akron through the weekend
Residents in a seaside village, still dealing with the "devastation" caused by a storm, are bracing for another to hit.

Homes and businesses in Devon's Torcross, in the South Hams, were battered by downpours over the weekend, but people now face a second storm.

Councillor Julian Brazil, leader of Devon County Council, said: "It's a worrying time with the frequency of the storms so we'll be going to government, we will be asking them for support, our communities need it."

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The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) said having inherited flood defences in the worst condition on record, it had reprioritised more than 100m into urgent maintenance works across the UK.

The Met Office has issued an amber weather warning for the village from 17:00 GMT on Monday until 09:00 on Tuesday as Storm Chandra hits.

The forecaster warned periods of heavy rain would bring more disruption, including flooding.

Brazil wants the government to treat the village "fairly" [BBC]

"We need to have that kind of resilience, otherwise we feel a bit let down," Brazil added.

He said residents had been clearing up and trying to get "back to normal" after the first storm.

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"It's a big thing when these storms suddenly come in and wreck your lives. It's worrying times and we've got to do everything we can to help them," he said.

A Defra spokesperson said: "We're committed to supporting coastal communities, including in the South West, through our record investment of 10.5bn in protecting against flooding and coastal erosion by 2036, benefitting nearly 900,000 properties."

Emma Wilson, a resident in the village, said Storm Ingrid caused devastation all the way through the village.

Emma Wilson said it was sad to see homes along the seafront damaged [BBC]

She said: "It's so sad to see everyone's houses be demolished.

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"It's dreadful and very upsetting."

Wilson said if the road fully closed due to the damage, it would be "horrendous", adding emergency services would never get through.

The Environment Agency's coastal advisor for Devon, Martin Davies, said government funding was for larger areas where there was "more property and infrastructure".

Davies said: "We do recognise the communities in our part of the world are particularly vulnerable because the problems are large, but the available funding isn't.

"That's something we recognise, we need to communicate but we do need to work with communities to do what we can to manage the risk where possible so making sure communities respond to looking after themselves when we issue flood warnings.

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"There's a role for everybody, government, operating authorities and communities, to manage this risk going forward because it will get bigger and greater with climate change."

A spokesperson for Natural England said it appreciated the disruption local residents had faced as a result of Storm Ingrid, including the temporary closure of the A379.

They said: "We will continue working with the local authority as part of the Slapton Line Partnership to find a long-term solution to the impact of coastal erosion to the road."

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Follow BBC Devon on X, Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to spotlight@bbc.co.uk.

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NEW HAVEN, Conn. (WTNH)  Connecticut State Police responded to over 300 calls for service Sunday while the state was getting hit with up to 18 inches of snow in some areas, according to data released by the department.

Gov. Ned Lamont lifts ban on commercial vehicles on Connecticut highways

State police said they responded to 329 calls for service and 71 crashes. Only two of the crashes had injuries involved, according to CSP.

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Snow began at around 5 a.m. in the western part of the state and continued to fall throughout the night. Areas such as Simsbury and Glastonbury had 18 inches of snow total, while areas like Ledyard only saw 3.2 inches.

Crews with the Connecticut Department of Transportation (CT DOT) have been working around the clock to clear roads. Gov. Ned Lamont (D-Conn.) lifted a statewide commercial vehicle travel ban at 6:30 a.m. Monday.

Download the News 8 app to get breaking news and weather alerts.

Watch News 8 on WTNH.com or the free WTNH News 8 streaming app on Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV and select Samsung Smart TVs.

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A favorite tourist destination for its stunning beaches and rich natural beauty, Costa Rica has recently seen its tranquility shattered by the impacts of drug trafficking.

Here are five things to know about the small Central American country of 5.2 million inhabitants, which goes to the polls Sunday to elect a new president and lawmakers.

- No military -

Despite is location at the heart of a violent and conflict-ridden region, Costa Rica has long clung on to a stable democracy since its only civil war, which lasted 44 days in 1948.

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That year, it abolished its military -- a rarity in Latin America.

In the 1980s, when several other Central American countries were mired in civil wars, neutral Costa Rica acted as peace broker, earning then-president Oscar Arias Sanchez the Nobel Peace Prize in 1987.

In recent years, the country has seen an increase in organized crime. Drug trafficking has infiltrated even into spheres of the state, tarnishing Costa Rica's image with high-profile corruption cases.

Long considered one of the safest countries in Latin America, Costa Rica ended 2025 with a rate of 17 homicides per 100,000 inhabitants -- nearly triple the global average.

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The country has a long tradition of welcoming asylum seekers and hosts hundreds of thousands of Nicaraguans who have fled repression across the border.

- Green paradise -

With its striking Pacific and Caribbean beaches, lush rainforests and imposing volcanoes, Costa Rica is considered a global leader for its environmental policies.

Nature reserves cover a quarter of Costa Rica's 51,000 square kilometers (19,700 square miles) -- territory that hosts six percent of the world's biodiversity, according to official figures.

Ninety-nine percent of its electricity generation comes from renewable sources, primarily water, geothermal, and wind.

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- Happy people -

Costa Rica ranks in sixth place on the World Happiness Report, and its people are rated the happiest in Latin America.

The local expression "Pura vida!" (Pure life) has become a national motto -- an expression of optimism that is also used to greet people or give thanks.

The country's northern Nicoya Peninsula hosts one of the world's so-called "Blue Zones" -- places where people live exceptionally long, healthy lives.

- Rich but unequal -

Ecotourism is a key economic engine, with some 2.9 million people visiting Costa Rica in 2025, mainly from the United States, according to the tourism institute.

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It is a member of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) group of high-income countries, with GDP growth of 3.6 percent forecast for 2026.

While poverty fell from 18 percent of the population in 2024 to 15.2 percent in 2025, Costa Rica is among the six most unequal Latin American countries on the Gini Index, and is the second most expensive after Uruguay.

- Human rights backsliding -

Roman Catholicism is Costa Rica's state religion, but the country has shown itself to be progressive on social and civil rights.

It was the first country in Central America to legalize same-sex marriage, in 2020.

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Activists point to backsliding over the past four years of conservative government, during which Costa Rica restricted abortion to cases in which a woman's life is at risk. Previously it could also be performed if a pregnancy put a woman's health in peril.

The government has also eliminated sex education programs in schools.

Last year, Costa Rica agreed to receive 200 migrants deported by the United States under conditions decried by human rights groups.

bur/mis/axm/mlr/dw
The Wisconsin Court of Appeals has issued an order denying Darrell Brooks' effort to extend the time for the appeal of his 2022 conviction in the 2021 Waukesha Christmas Parade tragedy homicides.

However, it's not immediately clear whether Brooks' opportunity to appeal his 76-count felony case is officially at an end, though the court order, issued Jan. 27, listed no further avenues for appeal. Regardless, the court bluntly cast doubt on Brooks' assertions that conditions forced him to request repeated extensions of his appeal rights.

Brooks is serving six consecutive life sentences plus 762 years for the death and injuries parade participants suffered in November 2021. The court previously granted him an 11th extension of time to appeal, setting a Jan. 7 deadline. Instead, Brooks filed a motion, recorded on Jan. 6, challenging responses from key officials on his claims.

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"Brooks's present motion fails to establish good cause for the relief requested," appellate court Judge Lisa Neubauer wrote in her four-page order. "Accordingly, we deny Brooks's request for an extension of the time to file a notice of appeal or postconviction motion and for an evidentiary hearing."

In her ruling, Neubauer favored statements by the state Department of Justice and Brooks' most recent attorney, Michael Covey, which refuted the former Milwaukee man's previous claims that a lockdown at the South Dakota state prison where he is incarcerated since late 2024 and his lack of access to legal materials prevented him from filing an appeal in a timely manner.

Instead, Neubauer said, Brooks' latest motion included only vague or opaque statements on both factors  and, in one instance, seemed to contradict his earlier claims.

She noted Brooks, in that motion, had modified his previous statement that the South Dakota State Penitentiary in Sioux Falls had been in lockdown status for months, with no end in sight heading into 2026. He instead used the term "modified movement status" to describe the condition inmates were facing, but failed to explain how that designation affected his ability to prepare his appeal.

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After Covey certified that he had sent Brooks a flash drive containing his full case file dating back to 2021, Neubauer also noted that Brooks now "opaquely suggests he does not know where his case file is." Quoting his Jan. 6 motion, she said Brooks used phrases that suggested only that the flash drive "still has yet to be located" and that there were "flash drive location issues." Brooks had previously stated he had never received or had access to the flash drive.

Finally, Brooks' statement in his Jan. 6 motion that he had "never been notified of the flash drive being received" was impossible to accept, Neubauer said. "The statement is categorically false. At minimum, this court's November 25, 2025 order provided Brooks with notice that the facility had acknowledged receiving a hard drive with his legal file," she wrote.

"Brooks's present motion offers little in the way of explanation in the continued delay," she wrote.

Covey, who is no longer on the Court of Appeals list for notifications since he stepped away from Brooks' case in April 2025, at Brooks' request to again represent himself as he did at his trial, said the court's order likely spells an end to Brooks' chances of appealing his case.

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"Unless Mr. Brooks can convince the Court of Appeals to reconsider, he has essentially forfeited his right to file any post conviction motions or a Notice of Appeal," Covey said in an email to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. "Many defendants will file these types of motions in various state and federal courts anyway. However, as a practical matter, Mr. Brook's appellate journey is over."

The Waukesha County District Attorney's Office and the state Department of Justice did not immediately reply to requests for a statement on the court's decision or their perception of his appeal opportunity going forward.

Contact reporter Jim Riccioli at james.riccioli@jrn.com.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Court closes door on Brooks appeal in Waukesha parade conviction
Patrick Schiltz, Minnesotas chief federal judge, on Monday ordered Todd Lyons, the acting director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, to appear personally before the court Friday, acknowledging that the order marked an extraordinary step.

The order stems from the case of a man who has been in immigration detention since he was arrested earlier this month. Schiltz noted that on Jan. 14 the court told the Trump administration to provide the man with a bond hearing within seven days, noting that if they didnt meet that deadline, the man would have to be immediately released. The judge said the administration did neither of those things and the man remains in custody as of Monday evening.

News: Trump Administration Takes A Step Toward Defying Supreme Court Order

This is one of dozens of court orders with which respondents have failed to

comply in recent weeks, Schiltz wrote in his brief order.

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The judge noted that the court has been extremely patient with the administration, even though it launched its immigration enforcement operation in the state without making any provisions for the hundreds of lawsuits that would inevitably arise as a result.

Schiltz, an appointee of former Republican President George W. Bush, went on to condemn the administration for failing to follow through on its pledges to obey judicial orders and take the steps required to do so.

The Courts patience is at an end, he warned. Accordingly, the Court will order Todd Lyons, the Acting Director of ICE, to appear personally before the Court and show cause why he should not be held in contempt of Court.

Politics: Here We Go Again: Trump Attacks Female Reporter Instead Of Answering The Question

The Court acknowledges that ordering the head of a federal agency to personally appear is an extraordinary step, but the extent of ICEs violation of court orders is likewise extraordinary, and lesser measures have been tried and failed, he added.

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Todd Lyons, acting director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, participates in a television interview outside the White House in November. Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images

However, Schiltz made clear that if the court gets notified that the man has been released from custody, Lyons will no longer be required to appear in court and the Friday hearing will be canceled.

This is not the first time Schiltz has chastised the administration. Last week, Schiltz ripped the Justice Department over the approach it took to bring charges against former CNN anchor Don Lemon and four others in connection with an anti-ICE protest in St. Paul.

Schiltz declined to reverse a lower courts ruling rejecting DOJs demand, but the department chose to further escalate the matter, urging the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals to order Schiltz to act. The court declined to do so.

Political Updates

Read the original on HuffPost
BERLIN, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Monday called the "level of violence" in the United States "worrying" following recent fatal shootings by federal agents in the U.S. state of Minnesota.

Speaking at a press conference in the northern German city of Hamburg, Merz was asked for his views on the incidents in which two American citizens were killed during U.S. federal enforcement operations.

"I assume that the American authorities will now thoroughly investigate whether it was necessary to shoot in these cases and whether there really was a threat to the officers involved," Merz said.

The chancellor's remarks followed two deadly encounters this month in Minneapolis, the largest city in Minnesota. On Saturday morning, Alex Pretti was shot and killed by federal agents, following a similar incident on Jan. 7, when Renee Nicole Good was fatally shot by a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer. 
NEED TO KNOW

In November, a 41-year-old dad of two broke his neck in the same lightning strike that killed his friend in southern Peru

Two months later, the middle school science teacher is off a ventilator and hoping to regain mobility in his upper body

"No one wants this for a loved one," says the man's friend

A 41-year-old father is back in the U.S. after he survived a lightning strike that killed his friend, but he still faces a long road to recovery.

In late November, the two men were on vacation in Peru with their wives and babies when lightning struck as they were while biking down a mountain on Nov. 26.

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A lot of people shed a lot of tears in that two-week span, Bryan Lieberman says of the chaotic and painful days after his best friend, James Fernandez, broke his neck and injured his spinal cord.

Fernandezs friend, Yuri Botehlo, 36, died in the same lightning strike.

We were grieving for Yuri, and we were terrified for my friend who's critically injured, continues Lieberman, 41, who was not on the trip, but quickly stepped up to do anything he could for Fernandez and his family.

As his body heals, Fernandez is mourning his friend and the future he had planned.

He's really sad, says Lieberman. His wife is trying to stay strong for him, but this is obviously difficult for her, too. No one wants this for a loved one.

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Fernandezs wife Alexis is also close with Botehlos wife, Kelsey Skoog  and Lieberman tells PEOPLE the couples quickly became friends, fueled in part by their love of adventure.

They all really adore each other, says Lieberman.

The trip to Peru during Thanksgiving break  where Fernandez, a middle school science teacher, had previously worked as a guide for a tour bike company  was a chance to go see a beautiful place, Lieberman says.

The day before the holiday, on Nov. 26, Fernandez, Botehlo and a Peruvian tour guide, 35-year-old Dani Peralta, were almost 14,000 feet above sea level, in the OccoruroYaurisque area, near the border of the Paruro and Cusco provinces, when a lightning storm hit and Botehlo was fatally struck, the Associated Press, CBS News, and Andina previously reported.

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Peralta was unharmed, while Fernandez was seriously injured.

James Fernandez. Courtesy of the Fernandez Family

From his hospital bed, Fernandez told loved ones that he remembered seeing a flash that came out of nowhere before he went unconscious.

When he came to, Fernandez realized he shouldnt be moved and asked Peralta to go get help, which arrived a couple of hours later. However, it would be another day or two before Botehlos body was retrieved.

Around the same time of the freak accident, Lieberman was in South Florida visiting his parents and was puzzled when Fernandez didn't respond to his text. The next day, he received a message from Fernandez's mother: Please call me.

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All that they knew was Yuri didn't make it, he recalls of that initial conversation, and that James was in a hospital and fighting for his life.

The Inca Trail near Cusco, Peru. Getty

Following the call, Lieberman rushed to his friend's childhood home, which became a command center of sorts as they attempted to fill a big information gap.

His dad was on the phone trying to organize Medevac for James and trying to communicate with the director of the hospital in Cusco, where he was originally, says Leiberman of attempts to learn more about Fernandez's status.

The families were also fearful for the two women, now left alone to navigate a foreign health care system as they cared for their infants. (Fernandez, who also has an 8-year-old son from a previous relationship, welcomed a son with his wife in June, while the Botehlos became parents in 2024.)

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We were terrified, says Lieberman.

As soon as they learned what had happened, loved ones immediately rallied to support the two moms. Kelsey's life and her baby's life are never going to be the same without Yuri, says Lieberman, adding that Alexis and James also have a very long journey in front of them.

Alexis and James Fernandez with their baby son. Courtesy of the Fernandez Family

Lieberman organized a GoFundMe for his best friend to help with the exorbitant cost of medical care and medical transportation from Peru to the U.S., as well as long-term care and support for his family.

Just over a week after the devastating accident, Fernandez made it back home to Florida, where he remained in intensive care until Dec. 22, when he was transferred to a rehabilitation center in Atlanta. Following the transfer, his wife, their kids and his parents all came too, determined to stay by his wife until he was ready to come back home.

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Since then, hes been making amazing strides and is now eating regular food and fully off his ventilator.

From what his doctor said, that there's not a lot of people with his type of injury that even ever get off of the ventilator, Lieberman says.

Although that dad of two will most likely need a wheelchair, he and his family are hopeful that hell regain movement in his upper arms above his elbows.

Separately, a GoFundMe to support Botehlos young family has garnered more than $100,000.

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As Fernandez recovers, his family and community continue to shower him with love and support.

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A lot of people are really anxious to see James and to wish him well, says Lieberman. He's excited to see all the people that care so much about him  and that time is coming soon.



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Protesters rally in support of Proposition 4 in the rotunda of the Utah State Capitol in Salt Lake City on Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2025. (Photo by Spenser Heaps for Utah News Dispatch)

With less than three weeks to go until their deadline, conservative groups collecting signatures as part of an effort to repeal Utahs voter-approved independent redistricting law known as Proposition 4 still have a long way to go in order to qualify their effort for the 2026 ballot.

According to the latest tallies recorded to the lieutenant governors website Monday morning, county clerks had verified 57,437 signatures submitted by the political issues committee Utahns for Representative Government, which was founded by Utah Republican Party Chairman Rob Axson.

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In order to pose the repeal question to voters on the November ballot, the GOP must collect at least 140,748 valid signatures from registered voters across Utah while meeting specific thresholds in at least 26 of Utahs 29 Senate districts.

That means the group needs to obtain and submit at least 83,311 more valid signatures by Feb. 15 at 5 p.m.

Its likely, however, the group has collected more signatures than what is currently reflected on the lieutenant governors website because totals are posted after county clerks verify signature packets.

In response to a request for an interview Monday about the efforts progress, Axson told Utah News Dispatch in a text message that the 57,437 signatures tallied on the lieutenant governors website as of Monday morning is many weeks old, adding there is a substantial lag from when signatures are gathered to when they are verified by clerks and posted online.

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County clerks have 21 days from when they receive each signature gathering packet to verify signatures. The final day for clerks to verify signatures is March 7.

Trump looks to give repeal effort a boost

As the deadline looms, President Donald Trump looked to give the signature gathering effort a boost Friday, when he posted a call to action to Utahns on Truth Social, calling the Proposition 4 repeal effort very important to KEEP UTAH RED.

The president echoed complaints from the Utah Republican Party and GOP lawmakers about the states new congressional boundaries recently ordered by a judge to be used for the 2026 elections. The courts determined the 2021 Utah Legislature violated Utahns constitutional rights when it repealed and replaced Proposition 4 and adopted a congressional map that year that wasnt drawn using the measures independent commission or neutral map-drawing standards.

After determining the Utah Legislatures proposed remedial map again didnt adhere to Proposition 4s neutral standards meant to guard against gerrymandering, 3rd District Judge Dianna Gibson chose an alternative map drawn by plaintiffs in the redistricting lawsuit that she concluded did adhere to map-drawing standards outlined by Proposition 4, which she restored as law.

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Utahs court-ordered map created a Democratic-majority congressional district concentrated around northern Salt Lake County and three Republican districts  to the dismay of the states Republican leaders. The Legislature has pledged to appeal that decision to the Utah Supreme Court.

Utahns deserve Maps drawn by those they elect, not Rogue Judges or Leftwing Activists who never faced the Voters, and, therefore, I encourage all Patriotic Utahns, Republicans, and MAGA Supporters who love their Great State and Country to sign this initiative, ASAP, Trump posted, while urging Utahns to attend signature gathering events held over the weekend across the state.

Axson, chairman of the Utah Republican Party, applauded Trumps post in a statement shared to social media, saying, it is evident from the Presidents message that he deeply cares about Utah, its people, and our future.

We greatly appreciate his help to share the message of representative government and constitutional order so that Utah remains true to conservative principles, Axson said.

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Its not yet clear how much of a bump Trumps post may have given the Proposition 4 repeal effort.

But as theyve watched, critics of the repeal effort say its lagging far behind what it needs to qualify the question for the ballot.

Desperation

Utah Democratic Party Chairman Brian King called Trumps Friday statement desperation  the same strong-arm playbook, trying to intimidate voters instead of facing the truth.

Donald Trump and his Utah Republican backers are desperate because theyre finally starting to come to terms with how unpopular their gerrymandering scam actually is, King said. Utahns already voted on Prop 4 and made it crystal clear that they demand fair maps, fair elections, and fair representation.

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The Utah GOP has enlisted the help of conservative influencer Scott Presler, who over the weekend posted multiple times on X that he was working hard to gather signatures.

A dark money group that helped finance Trumps presidential campaign in 2024 is also bankrolling the Proposition 4 repeal effort. The nonprofit Securing American Greatness has contributed more than $4.3 million to Utahns for Representative Government, all of which was spent on its contracted signature gathering company, Patriot Grassroots, according to the groups financial disclosure reports.

King said despite throwing millions at the effort, theres a reason why Republicans are struggling to get the signatures they need and are parachuting Trump in from the sidelines: Utahns dont want them to manipulate our elections.

If Republicans want to earn voters trust, they should stop cheating and start actually listening to what Utahns want, he said.

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The anti-gerrymandering group Better Boundaries that successfully sought Proposition 4 back in 2018 and other groups are urging Utahns to decline to sign the repeal effort. Theyre also encouraging anyone who did sign to go through a process to remove their signatures.

Elizabeth Rasmussen, executive director of Better Boundaries, reacted to Trumps statement in a video posted to social media with disbelief that the president said the quiet part out loud  that the purpose of the repeal is to keep Utah red.

Utahs maps are governed by Utah law, not national politics, Rasmussen said in a statement issued in response to Trumps post.

She went on to say the Utah GOPs efforts to gather enough signatures was falling flat because its not popular with Utahns.

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After burning through millions of dollars, outside actors still cant get enough Utahns to sign on to repealing the reform voters already passed, she said. That tells you everything. If this repeal were popular with Utah voters, it wouldnt need national megaphones and millions of dollars to survive. Prop 4 was about keeping politicians from picking their voters. Utahns meant it then, and they continue to mean it now.

What do Utahns think about gerrymandering in Utah?

On Monday, Better Boundaries released a poll it commissioned, conducted by the firm Embold Research, that showed 71% of Utah voters believe there should be neutral, independent standards for redistricting in Utah. The poll also found:

64% of Utah voters support Proposition 4, including 46% who strongly support and 18% who somewhat support.

57% of Utah voters disapprove of the Legislature repealing Proposition 4, including 87% of registered Democrats and 68% of unaffiliated voters. About 47% of registered Republicans also disapprove, according to the poll, but a higher share (25%) said they were unsure.

The poll of 1,731 registered Utah voters was conducted Jan. 12-15 and has a margin of error of plus or minus 2.5 percentage points, according to a summary of its findings issued by Embold Research.

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We dont need to spin or hype these numbers, Rasmussen said in a prepared statement issued with the poll. It is clear that Utahns want to choose their politicians, and they dont believe that politicians should have the power to choose their voters.

Utah GOP lawmakers confident repeal will qualify for ballot

In a media availability with reporters Monday, some Republican legislators said the repeal signature gathering effort is likely going better than people think  and they argued its something that should be put to a vote to let Utahns decide Proposition 4s ultimate fate.

I think its going really well, said Senate Majority Assistant Whip Mike McKell, who lives in the conservative city of Spanish Fork.

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McKell said his personal business was used as a venue for a signature gathering event for the repeal effort, and there were a lot of folks in south Utah county that were excited to come in and sign.  There was a lot of interest in my community.

Asked about the lagging number of verified signatures posted to the lieutenant governors website, McKell said hes confident theyll get the signatures to qualify the question for the ballot.

House Speaker Mike Schultz, R-Hooper, said he hasnt been directly involved in the effort, but you really dont understand how its going  until the last week or two until all the signatures really start to get turned in.

Theres a strategy there to be a little late, Schultz said, though he added, I dont know whats happening and whats not happening. But Im confident that it will likely end up on the ballot.

Sen. Scott Sandall, R-Tremonton, noted that Proposition 4 passed by a narrow margin  with 50.34% of the vote  and he argued Utah voters should be given another chance to weigh in on the issue.

Now theres a group that says, We want to try it again and see if enough people will turn it around, Sandall said, questioning why thats controversial.

Asked about Better Boundaries poll, Sandall said he thinks a vote on repealing Proposition 4 will be a lot closer than the numbers reflected in that poll, based on when I talk to people, at least, in my area.

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Several people have died in a winter storm that hit a wide swathe of the US, causing thousands of flights to be cancelled or delayed due to severe conditions.

The storm, which caused chaos from Texas to the tip of Maine over the weekend, snarled roadways, knocked out power, and buried major cities under a thick blanket of snow.

Some areas in the north-east saw more than 20in (50.8cm) of snow during a 24-hour period, according to the National Weather Service (NWS).

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Canadian officials also said the storm had seriously disrupted southern Ontario.

In eastern Canada, snow is expected to continue in the Maritimes region on Tuesday, according to BBC Weather.

Despite the storm easing away from the US, lake-effect snow showers are due to persist around the Great Lakes for the rest of the week.

The coming days will remain very cold in central and eastern region of North America, and the situation is expected to intensify ahead of the weekend, when another significant winter storm could hit the eastern US.

City crews pile snow outside New York City Hall [Getty Images]

On Monday, more than 6,000 flights into, within or out of the US were cancelled, more than 7,000 were delayed, according to tracking website FlightAware.

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The severe weather also had a range of on-the-ground impacts, including in a number of southern US states.

More than half a million users were without power in the early hours of Tuesday, according to PowerOutage.com. The worst-affected state is Tennessee, where the city of Nashville has experienced a deep freeze that plunged residents into cold and darkness.

"There are many trees down and power lines blocking the roads," Joy Flores, vice president of the Nashville Rescue Mission homeless shelter, told the BBC. Her centre was taking calls from residents who had lost power.

The roads were icy and impossible to navigate, Flores said, and her home had "no heating, no internet, and no coffee".

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In Texas, a teenage girl died and another was in critical condition due to a sledding accident, the Frisco Police Department announced.

In North Carolina, a man was found dead on the side of a highway in Buncombe County and authorities are investigating whether his death was weather-related.

Louisiana's department of health said that two people had died due to hypothermia.

Further north, a total of eight people died in New York City between Friday and Monday morning as temperatures plummeted, according to city officials, .

The city's Central Park had registered 11.4in of snow as of Monday morning.

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Other deaths have been reported in Massachusetts, Kansas, Pennsylvania.

As of Monday evening, at least 20 deaths had been linked to the cold temperatures and heavy snowfall, although in some cases officials said it was too early to determine the exact cause.

In Canada, Ottawa and Quebec saw the heaviest impacts from the storm, leading to transport issues and multiple school closures.

Toronto Pearson Airport received 18in of snowfall on Sunday, a new record for the site, according to the CBC.

Relief may not come soon. According to the NWS, the "potential is increasing" for another winter storm beginning on Friday. Such an event could bring very cold temperatures across the eastern US, and "widespread heavy precipitation".

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The US weather agency cautioned that forecasters did not yet know the potential path of the storm or where it would have the most impact.

Additional reporting by Gabriela Pomeroy.

A resident walks through deep snow piles in Toronto, Canada [Anadolu via Getty Images]

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EL PASO, TX  A federal judge is set to hear arguments over whether the Trump administration can deport detainees reportedly present when a Cuban migrant died inside a Texas detention facility earlier this month.

The family of Geraldo Lunas Campos, a 55-year-old Cuban migrant, has filed a "petition to perpetuate testimony" requesting that Santos Jesus Flores, Antonio Ascon Frometa, and several other migrants remain in the United States as the family plans to file a wrongful death lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

The migrants would be called to testify in a wrongful death lawsuit filed by the Lunas Campos' family. Senior U.S. District Judge David Briones will preside over the hearing at 1:30 p.m. local time on Jan. 27, at the Albert Armendariz Sr. U.S. Courthouse in downtown El Paso.

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Lunas Campos died in custody on Jan. 3 at the Camp East Montana detention center, the largest U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention center in the country. The facility is located on Fort Bliss property in East El Paso near the U.S.-Mexico border.

On Jan. 21, the El Paso County Medical Examiner ruled Lunas Campos Jan. 3 death a homicide, the El Paso Times, part of the USA TODAY Network, reported. The autopsy report showed his cause of death as "asphyxia due to neck and torso compression."

The same day as the autopsy report's release, Briones temporarily blocked federal immigration officials from removing two detainees who said they saw guards choking Lunas Campos.

"There is very strong evidence that the guards at this detention center killed Mr. Lunas Campos," Max Schoening, a lawyer for Lunas Campos' family, said in an interview with USA TODAY.

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A city under siege: Why Minneapolis is at the center of so much chaos

Who is who in the case?

Lunas Campos' three children  Jasmarie Lunas Pagan, Jeraldo Lunas Pagan, and Kary Lunas  filed the petition on Jan. 20. The petition states the family "anticipate bringing, at a minimum, wrongful death and survival actions for negligence, battery, and assault."

Lawyers Max Schoening, Christopher Benoit, and Will Horowitz are representing Lunas Campos' family.

The other "interested party" in the case is the Department of Homeland Security, Akima Global Services, LLC, and Acquisition Logistics, LLC, Briones' calendar filed in the Western District of Texas in El Paso states.

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Akima Global Services is a federal contractor that "provides the people, equipment, and processes that safeguard federal buildings, military bases, and detention centers," according to the company's website. They are providing services at the Camp East Montana detention center.

Acquisition Logistics, LLC, was awarded a $1.26 billion contract to construct and operate the El Paso detention facility for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

No attorneys are listed for the three "interested party." The Acquisition Logistics contract has not been made public.

Exclusive: She survived ICE custody; her husband died during detention

Lunas Campos dies at Camp East Montana

At the time of Lunas Campos' death, he had been held at Camp East Montana for nearly four months. In a Jan. 9 news release, ICE said Lunas Campos was pronounced dead after "experiencing medical distress."

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Lunas Campos allegedly became "disruptive" while in line for medication, according to ICE. He was placed in segregation, where "staff observed him in distress and contacted on-site medical personnel for assistance," the agency said.

Medical staff responded, but Lunas Campos was pronounced dead at the facility, ICE said. The agency said an investigation into the death is being conducted, and ICE officials later alleged that Lunas Campos attempted suicide and security staff tried to save him.

But according to the autopsy report released by the county medical examiners office, Lunas Campos became "unresponsive while being physically restrained by law enforcement." He had "scattered superficial abrasions" all over his body, the report added.

The homicide finding by the medical examiner's office is not a legal finding and does not mean criminal charges will be filed against those involved in the incident. Federal Bureau of Investigation officials have declined to comment on whether they are conducting an investigation.

Geraldo Lunas Campos

Family, witnesses claim ICE officers killed Lunas Campos

Lunas Campos' family claimed in the petition that witness accounts show that he was being choked by detention officers and begging for help.

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Flores told the Washington Post that he witnessed guards choking Lunas Campos as he repeatedly said in Spanish, "no puedo respirar," meaning "I cannot breathe" in English, the petition states. Flores added that after hearing Lunas Campos say he could not breathe, he could no longer hear his voice.

Frometa said he saw Lunas Campos ask guards for his medication, but they refused to give it to him, according to the petition. The guard allegedly threatened Lunas Campos that they would take him to solitary confinement, Frometa said.

Flores and Frometa were allegedly targeted for deportation after speaking with the Post, the petition states. Briones granted a temporary restraining order on Jan. 21, blocking the Trump administration from deporting Flores and Frometa.

An amended petition filed by the family's attorneys on Jan. 26 identified several other migrants  Henry Negrin Bolano, Jenrry Melendez, Mayron Pazpuerto, and Cobi Ardenis Nazareth  who witnessed the moments leading up to Lunas Campos' death.

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The migrants are expected to testify about hearing Lunas Campos begging for his medication, being threatened by guards, telling guards they were choking him, and what appeared to be a struggle between Lunas Campos and the guards, including one migrant saying he heard "what sounded like the slamming of a persons body against the floor or a wall," the petition states.

The petition is asking for all the migrants not to be deported and to allow them to give oral depositions about what they witnessed to the family's attorneys.

The Jan. 27 hearing will focus on arguments on why Briones should extend the temporary restraining order into a preliminary injunction as the case plays out. Eventually, the attorneys will seek a permanent injunction preventing the migrants from being deported until the wrongful death lawsuit is concluded.

A sign marks the entrance to the Camp East Montana ICE immigration detention facility in El Paso, Texas on Aug. 18, 2025.

Deaths at migrant ICE detention center in Texas

At least 30 people died in ICE custody last year, the highest level in two decades, agency figures show. In the first 10 days of 2026, four immigrants, including Lunas Campos, died while in federal immigration custody.

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Lunas Campos was the second migrant to die at Camp East Montana. There have been at least three deaths at the center since it opened in August 2025.

There have been three migrant deaths at the El Paso detention center since it opened in August. The site continues to generate reports of inhumane conditions and human rights violations, with calls from U.S. Congress members for it to be shut down.

The most recent death was 36-year-old Victor Manuel Diaz, a Nicaraguan immigrant, on Jan. 14. Diaz "died of a presumed suicide," ICE said in a Jan. 18 news release.

The first death at the detention center was Francisco Gaspar Cristobal Andres, 48, a Guatemalan immigrant. He was taken to the hospital on Nov. 16 and died of liver and kidney failure on Dec. 3, according to ICE.

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The detention center has drawn repeated allegations from lawmakers and human rights organizations of inhumane conditions and inadequate oversight. Last month, the American Civil Liberties Union and other human rights groups sent a letter to ICE demanding the closure of Camp East Montana.

Contributing: Eduardo Cuevas, USA TODAY; Aaron A. Bedoya, El Paso Times; Reuters

This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: Geraldo Lunas Campos case: Death at Texas ICE facility heads to court
Trucks were at a standstill Tuesday morning on Interstate 20 eastbound in Webster Parish. (Photo courtesy LA DOTD)

Extreme cold has led to the deaths of five more people in Louisiana, bringing the total number of fatalities state officials are attributing to this weeks winter weather to eight.

The Louisiana Department of Health reported two weather-related deaths each in DeSoto and Sabine parishes, and a single incident in Franklin Parish.

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In DeSoto Parish, the coroner confirmed a 79-year-old woman died of hypoxia after her electric-powered oxygen concentrator failed during a power outage. A 46-year-old man died in a automobile accident while driving on an icy road.

The Sabine Parish coroner has confirmed the deaths of a 62-year-old man and a 59-year-old women who both died in their homes of suspected hypothermia after a power outage.

Hypothermia is also being blamed for the death of a 78-year-old woman in Franklin Parish.

Power restoration was still in progress early Tuesday afternoon for some 90,000 utility customers in Louisiana, according to FindEnergy.com. The outages are largely concentrated in Northeast Louisiana but span across the state to the Toledo Bend-Sabine River area.

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The problem is particularly acute in East Carroll Parish where 95% of its nearly 3,400 Entergy Louisiana customers were still without service as of 1:30 p.m. Tuesday. Temperatures are expected to remain at or near the freezing mark for next two days before the next Arctic front arrives before the weekend and brings another blast of cold weather.

Together Louisiana, a coalition of civic and religious organizations, describes the situation in East Carroll, the states poorest parish with a per capital median income of less than $17,000, as a potential humanitarian emergency.

Residents report widespread loss of water service and blocked roads, leaving some households unable to evacuate or reach medical care, Together Louisiana said in a news release. For families who rely on electricity to power ventilators, oxygen, feeding tubes, and other medical devices, the situation is life-threatening.

The group has worked with Delta Interfaith to assess the emergency needs of approximately 3,000 households in East Carroll Parish and coordinating response efforts with other organizations. They have deployed mobile solar-powered and battery- powered trailers to support warming centers and critical facilities. Delta Interfaith also plans to deliver portable battery systems to households with medical devices that need power.

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More information is available on the East Carroll efforts at deltainterfaith.org.

The highest number of outages is in Ouachita Parish, where more than 45,000 customers lacked electricity Tuesday afternoon. Local officials said snapped utility poles, downed lines and fallen trees is slowing the progress of utility restoration crews in some areas, KNOE-TV reported.

Gov. Jeff Landry traveled to Ouachita to inspect the damage and told reporters utility companies have said they anticipate repowering roughly 90% of their customers by Thursday.

Entergy Louisiana still had the most outages in its delivery footprint with just under 75,000 customers powerless as of 2 p.m., followed by Southwestern Electric Power Co. at nearly 10,500, CLECO Power with 2,000 and Concordia Power with 1,060. No other power provider reported more than 70 outages in their respective service areas.

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Icy roads also continue to limit travel across northern Louisiana. Hundreds of truckers were stopped along sections of Interstate 20, though the governor said traffic was once again moving.

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New questions are emerging about the Jacksonville Sheriffs Office criminal investigation that led to the arrest of four Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department firefighters.

Action News Jax first reported the criminal mischief arrests Friday of four JFRD firefighters, accused of firing paintball guns at property, passing vehicles, and even a marked JSO patrol cruiser.

But Action News Jaxs Ben Becker is digging deeper into conflicting statements from the Sheriffs Office about whether the case was ever closed -- and if so, why it was later described as being reopened.

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Becker found discrepancies between what JSOs communications team stated in writing and what the sheriff later said to him during an interview on Thursday about the status of the investigation.

I was told it was reopened, Becker asked Waters in an interview.

Nothing was closed, Waters responded. When Becker noted he had been told in an email the case was reopened, Waters replied, Thats a bad word.

Those emails tell a different story.

RELATED: Four Jacksonville firefighters arrested after paintball prank war, police say

Becker first learned about the incident in early January and emailed the sheriffs office. On Thursday, January 15, JSOs media relations manager emailed Becker back stating the investigation had been closed following the initial response and follow-up by detectives.

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Full Email

In researching the given information, the applicable Information Report has been closed following the initial response and follow-up by detectives. According to the additional information, a subject in the reported action was unable to be identified as a result of the investigation. Furthermore, there was no reported damage to either vehicle and neither complainant (potential victim) wished to seek any further law enforcement action. As a result, the Information Report was closed and due to the nature of the complaint and the potential of it involving one of their employees, JFRD was made aware of the investigation and our findings.

After Becker requested an interview with Sheriff Waters, another email was sent Tuesday, January 20, stating: The case you reference below has been re-opened and is an active criminal investigation.

When Becker asked why it was reopened, JSO responded that the Integrity Unit has re-opened the criminal investigation at the request of their chain of command.

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RELATED: Another JFRD firefighter placed on leave amid JSO paintball prank investigation

To better understand the potential implications, Action News Jax spoke with Jacksonville criminal defense attorney Mitch Stone, who is not connected to the case.

As a defense lawyer, I would certainly capitalize on that, Stone said.

While police are legally allowed to reopen investigations, even without new evidence, Stone said conflicting explanations about a cases status could raise credibility concerns. Those issues, he said, could come to light during the discovery process through internal emails, phone calls, and other communications.

[DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks]

If they had indiscriminately put the file down and closed it without doing a full investigation, then I would think that would be a bad look for the sheriff, Stone said. They would want to reopen it and do their job.

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According to the unredacted investigative report, one firefighter told the JSO Integrity Unit that they threw paintballs at a police cruiser after someone yelled cop car, prompting everyone to get two or three and just launch them. The firefighter said they thought it was funny and that they were messing with a JSO officer, but said there was no malicious intent and no intent to cause damage, according to booking documents.

In addition, the report said firefighters claimed to have started throwing paintballs at each other after the pressurized CO2 cannister of the paintball gun lost pressure. Eventually they were directed to stop by a captain who was also taking part in the activity. The paintball gun was acquired as part of a White Elephant gift exchange for Christmas.

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Becker asked Waters how that conduct would be received if the roles were reversed with JSO officers shooting paintball guns at JFRD firemen. It wont go over, Waters said. It wont fly.

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The four firefighters who were arrested are scheduled to appear in court on February 23.

A fifth firefighter is on administrative leave, but JSO said that there are no additional arrests pending in the investigation.

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A 33-year-old Elsmere-area woman has pleaded guilty to starving her preschool son to death in 2023.

Unwilling to contact social services after losing her income, court documents say, Mercedes Ferguson told New Castle County police she and her son were in her Elsmere-area apartment starving.

This went on for weeks, until the 4-year-old boy began spitting up a brown-like substance in the early hours of Aug. 18, 2023, according to court documents obtained by Delaware Online/The News Journal. The child died later that morning inside her Greenview at Chestnut Run apartment.

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More coverage: Woman whose 4-year-old son starved to death 'genuinely believed' things would improve

An investigator searched Ferguson's apartment and said in court records there was no food in the refrigerator or cabinets: "In fact, no food was observed in any area of the apartment."

The apartment building where Mercedes Ferguson and her 4-year-old son had lived up until he died of starvation on Aug. 18, 2023. Police have charged Ferguson with killing her son.

On Dec. 7, 2023, three months and 19 days after the boy's death, the Delaware Division of Forensic Science ruled the child's death to be a homicide with the cause being starvation. After consulting with the Delaware Attorney General's Office, detectives obtained an arrest warrant for Ferguson on March 8, 2024.

She was charged with first-degree murder by abuse or neglect  a felony charge that carries a sentence of life in prison. But, according to her court docket in Superior Court, Ferguson pleaded guilty on Jan. 23 to manslaughter, which carries a prison sentence of two to 25 years.

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Ferguson is scheduled to be sentenced in April.

Send tips or story ideas to Esteban Parra at (302) 324-2299 or eparra@delawareonline.com.

This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Delaware mother pleads guilty to manslaughter in preschoolers death
Top House Democrats on Tuesday told Donald Trump to fire Kristi Noem or they would launch impeachment proceedings against the homeland security secretary, in response to the weekend killing of Alex Pretti in Minneapolis, as two Republican senators join calls for her to resign.

The ultimatum from Democrats came after a majority of the House caucus signed on to articles of impeachment introduced earlier in the month in response to the shooting death of Renee Good, who, like Pretti, was a US citizen killed by federal agents during the increasingly violent immigration enforcement operation in Minnesotas largest city.

The violence unleashed on the American people by the Department of Homeland Security must end forthwith. Kristi Noem should be fired immediately, or we will commence impeachment proceedings in the House of Representatives, said Hakeem Jeffries, the House minority leader, and his two deputies, Katherine Clark and Pete Aguilar, in a joint statement.

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We can do this the easy way or the hard way.

Trump appeared to back Noem earlier in the day, telling reporters at the White House: I think shes doing a very good job. The border is totally secure.

But in a sign of mounting frustration with the DHS secretary, two Republican senators also called on Noem to resign. The retiring North Carolina senator Thom Tillis told reporters that Noems conduct should be disqualifying, while Alaska senator Lisa Murkowski said the secretary needs to be accountable to the chaos and some of the tragedy that we have seen.

Other Republicans, however, have said they would favor new guidelines or policy changes at the homeland security department and a review of Prettis killing.

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The Democratic congresswoman Robin Kelly introduced the articles of impeachment, and 162 of the 213 House Democrats had signed on as co-sponsors as of Tuesday, according to her office.

The group includes Democrats occupying safe seats and those vulnerable to losing re-election, among them Pat Ryan and Laura Gillen of New York, Greg Landsman of Ohio, and Dave Min of California.

In the Senate, Democrats have vowed to block a measure funding the homeland security department because it includes money for ICE. Republicans have refused to separate that bill from five other measures to fund government operations, raising the possibility of a partial shutdown after Friday, when the current spending authorizations expire.

An increasing number of Democratic senators from across the spectrum have also joined in the calls for Noems ouster.

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Earlier, John Fetterman, a moderate Democratic senator representing Pennsylvania, who has signaled skepticism with the partys strategy on homeland security funding, wrote to Trump on X with a direct appeal to immediately fire Noem.

Americans have died. She is betraying DHSs core mission and trashing your border security legacy, Fetterman said.

DO NOT make the mistake President Biden made for not firing a grossly incompetent DHS secretary, he added, in reference to Alejandro Mayorkas, whom Republicans blame for the large number of border crossings during the Democrats presidency.

Fetterman was joined by Massachusetts senator Elizabeth Warren, who wrote on X: Alex Pretti wasnt a terrorist. He was a VA nurse. When agents pushed a woman to the ground, he tried to help her up. His last words were Are you okay? Enough. Kristi Noem should resign.

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Jacky Rosen, a moderate Nevada senator who narrowly won re-election in 2024 even as Trump clinched her states electoral votes, called Noem an abject failure and said in a statement: Shes either too incompetent to rein in the agency under her purview, or she endorses the blatant constitutional violations being committed.

She must be impeached and removed from office immediately.

The Republican-led Senate judiciary committee on Monday announced that Noem will testify on 3 March, prompting its Democratic ranking member, Dick Durbin, to say: Secretary Noem refused to appear before the Senate judiciary committee last year and now tells us that she will be available in five weeks  should she still be DHS secretary at that time.

Speculation about Noems standing with the president heightened on Monday after Trump announced that his border czar, Tom Homan, would take over the operation in Minneapolis from Greg Bovino, a US border patrol official who reports to the homeland security secretary.

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The impeachment of cabinet secretaries is rare. Before the GOP-led House impeached Mayorkas in 2024, the only other cabinet member impeached was the war secretary William Belknap in 1876. Neither was convicted by the Senate.

Republicans have been comparatively guarded in their views on Noem, who said the federal agents who killed Pretti fired defensive shots. She also accused him of arriving at the scene to inflict maximum damage on individuals and to kill law enforcement.

Among the few to speak out was Utah senator John Curtis, who on Monday said on X: I disagree with Secretary Noems premature DHS response, which came before all the facts were known and weakened confidence.

Maines Susan Collins, who is viewed as the Republican senator most in danger of losing re-election in the November midterms, told local broadcaster Maine Public she had asked Noem to pause immigration enforcement operations in Minnesota and her home state so that they could be reviewed and far more targeted in their scope.
Like this article? Keep independent journalism alive. Support HuffPost.

WASHINGTON  Democrats in the House of Representatives are escalating their push to impeach Kristi Noem, the head of the Department of Homeland Security, over the agencys deadly crackdown in Minnesota.

Since Democrats dont control the House, they cant control impeachment proceedings, but House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) said Tuesday they would begin to lay the groundwork for impeaching Noem if President Donald Trump doesnt fire her.

Politics: Trump's 'Completely Deranged' New Spin On A Tearful Tale Leaves Critics Agape

We have to build the case so that we can convince a handful of Republicans, as we have done on other issues, that the time is now to hold the Department of Homeland Security accountable for their behavior, Jeffries said on MS NOW.

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Under Noems leadership, immigration enforcement agents swarmed Minneapolis this month, provoking angry protests and killing two American citizens in separate incidents captured on camera from multiple angles.

Even before a Border Patrol agent killed Alex Pretti on Saturday, a Democratic impeachment resolution against Noem had more than 100 cosponsors. Noem falsely claimed that Pretti brandished a weapon at federal agents and attacked them. Videos showed Pretti holding up his phone camera before agents tackled him to the ground and shot him repeatedly.

Several Republicans have openly questioned the Trump administrations heavy-handed tactics in Minnesota, but none have said theyd support impeaching Noem. Still, Democrats comments on Tuesday suggest they sense Noem is in trouble.

Politics: 2 GOP Senators Call For Trump DHS Secretary To Be Fired

Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.), the top Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee, which is the most common venue for impeachment proceedings, said Tuesday that if committee chair Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) didnt support an impeachment inquiry, then Raskin would work across committees with other top Democrats to develop the case against Noem.

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A spokesperson for Jordan declined to comment.

The comments from Jeffries and Raskin, who are not cosponsors of the existing impeachment resolution, indicate they favored a thorough investigation rather than a snap impeachment vote against Noem, which any member of the House can trigger.

We must build on this resolution, through fact-finding, public hearings, and committee reports detailing all of Secretary Noems potential high crimes and misdemeanors and take our case to the American people, Raskin said. This process  which the House has followed in every successful impeachment  will afford us the best opportunity to build the most fitting and powerful case for impeachment and removal for office. 

In February 2024, the House adopted an impeachment resolution against then-DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas for having supposedly allowed millions of illegal immigrants into the country through his own unlawful conduct. The Senate later dispensed with the resolution, which would likely be the outcome if the House impeached Noem. It takes 67 votes for the Senate to convict and remove from office someone whos been impeached by the House.

Politics: Trump Suggests Gun Control Is Necessary, Sparking Online Backlash

President Trump said Tuesday he has no plans to get rid of Noem, but the administration has nevertheless shifted its approach in Minnesota by relieving a prominent Border Patrol commander from duty there and sending in Tom Homan, the White House border czar. The administration has flooded Minnesota with federal agents supposedly in response to welfare fraud by people of Somali descent.

Political Updates

Read the original on HuffPost
By Stine Jacobsen

COPENHAGEN, Jan 27 (Reuters) - The prime ministers of Denmark and Greenland met German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in Berlin on Tuesday, and will travel to Paris on Wednesday to shore up support over U.S. President Donald Trump's push to take over the Arctic island that has been Danish territory for centuries.

The U.S. demand for control of Greenland has shaken transatlantic relations and accelerated European efforts to reduce dependence on the United States, even as Trump last week withdrew tariff threats and ruled out taking Greenland by force.

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"I have a deep gratitude towards the Americans. But there is now so much disruption that the most important thing to me is that we Europeans now do the right thing to be able to protect our people, country, freedom and security," Denmark's Mette Frederiksen told German public broadcaster ARD.

A German government spokesperson said Merz reaffirmed Berlin's solidarity with Denmark and Greenland.

"He repeatedly made it clear that Germany, as a European NATO ally, would also do more for security in the High North within the framework of NATO. This is a common transatlantic interest," the spokesperson said.

FRANCE PLEDGES EUROPEAN SOLIDARITY

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Frederiksen and Greenland's Jens-Frederik Nielsen will meet French President Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday, an official schedule showed.

Frederiksen and Nielsen would discuss "the current foreign policy situation and the need for a strengthened Europe" in their meetings, the Danish prime minister's office said earlier on Tuesday.

The diplomatic rift between Denmark and the United States, both founding members of NATO, had seemed in recent weeks to threaten the future of the military alliance, although the conflict has since been moved to a diplomatic track.

"I'm very, very happy for the massive European support," Frederiksen told ARD. "When Europe stands together, and when Europe stands up for itself, it works."

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Macron planned to reaffirm European solidarity and France's support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Denmark and Greenland, his office said in a statement.

"The three leaders will discuss security challenges in the Arctic and the economic and social development of Greenland, which France and the European Union are ready to support," it said.

Trump said last week he had secured total and permanent U.S. access to Greenland in a deal with NATO, whose head said allies would have to step up their commitment to Arctic security to ward off threats from Russia and China.

Denmark and Greenland have said they can discuss a wide range of topics with the United States but are demanding respect for their "red lines" on sovereignty and territorial integrity.

(Reporting by Stine Jacobsen and Anna Ringstrom, additional reporting by Alexander Ratz in Berlin, editing by Terje Solsvik and Alex Richardson)
BUCHAREST, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- Six people were killed and three others injured in a serious road accident on Romania's National Road DN 6, police said on Tuesday.

According to the Timis County Police Inspectorate, the crash involved a minibus traveling from Greece to France. The vehicle was traveling from the town of Caransebes toward Lugoj when the driver attempted to overtake another vehicle.

Police said that while trying to return to the correct lane, the minibus collided with a tanker truck and then struck a second truck traveling in the opposite direction.

The driver of the minibus and five passengers died in the crash. Three other passengers sustained injuries and were taken to hospital for medical treatment.

Authorities are investigating the circumstances of the accident. 
The Trump administration dramatically increased deportations by arresting migrants on American streets, often without criminal records, according to a new report.

The Deportation Data Project's report, released on Jan. 27, shows the sweeping effects of U.S. Immigration and Enforcement tactics within U.S. borders. Deportations stemming from ICE arrests quadrupled, while street arrests alone increased 11 times.

"The crackdown is bigger than what it would seem," David Hausman, a University of California, Berkeley, assistant professor of law and codirector of the Deportation Data Project, a repository of federal immigration enforcement data, told USA TODAY. He pointed to large increases in arrests within the United States, which often get conflated with arrests at the border that have dwindled dramatically under Trump.

US Customs and Border Protection agents arrest a man after not providing documents proving he's a citizen of the United States while patrolling a neighborhood during immigration enforcement activity in Minneapolis in Minneapolis, Minn. on Jan. 11, 2026. A US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent shot and killed 37-year-old Renee Nicole Good on the streets of Minneapolis on Jan. 7, leading to huge protests and outrage from local leaders who rejected White House claims she was a domestic terrorist. U.S. Border Patrol agents smash a man's car window before dragging him out and taking him into custody when he failed to present citizenship documentation at a gas station on Jan. 11, 2026 in St. Paul, Minn. The Trump administration has sent an estimated 2,000 federal agents into the area as they make a push to arrest undocumented immigrants. Border Patrol agents deploy tear gas as they clash with residents in a residential neighborhood after a minor traffic accident Jan. 12, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minn. The Trump administration has sent an estimated 2,000 federal agents into the area in a push to arrest undocumented immigrants. Federal law enforcement agents clash with residents in a neighborhood following a minor traffic accident Jan. 12, 2026 in Minneapolis. The Trump administration has sent an estimated 2,000 federal agents into the area in a push to arrest undocumented immigrants. Federal law enforcement agents deploy tear gas as they clash with residents in a residential neighborhood after a minor traffic accident Jan. 12, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minn. The Trump administration has sent an estimated 2,000 federal agents into the area in a push to arrest undocumented immigrants. Federal law enforcement agents ask a women to produce citizenship documentation as she was walking down the street Jan. 12, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minn. The Trump administration has sent an estimated 2,000 federal agents into the area in a push to arrest undocumented immigrants. Federal law enforcement agents take a person who was standing in a residential neighborhood into custody when he was unable to produce citizenship documentation Jan. 12, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minn. The Trump administration has sent an estimated 2,000 federal agents into the area in a push to arrest undocumented immigrants. ICE agents in St. Cloud on Jan. 12. State Sen. Aric Putnam, DFL-St. Cloud, speaks with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents at around 12:30 p.m. Jan. 12 in front of a few businesses on Third Street North. Crowds gathered at the intersection of Third Street N and 33rd Avenue N in St. Cloud as ICE agents came through the area Jan. 12. Federal agents continue surge of immigration enforcement in Minnesota 1 of 10 US Customs and Border Protection agents arrest a man after not providing documents proving he's a citizen of the United States while patrolling a neighborhood during immigration enforcement activity in Minneapolis in Minneapolis, Minn. on Jan. 11, 2026. A US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent shot and killed 37-year-old Renee Nicole Good on the streets of Minneapolis on Jan. 7, leading to huge protests and outrage from local leaders who rejected White House claims she was a domestic terrorist.

Rather than prior targeted tactics arresting specific people or those convicted of crimes, ICE appeared to arrest any undocumented person they could in American communities, according to the report's authors.

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When we traced the sources of the ramp-up, we realized that it all started with ICE targeting its arrests less, Graeme Blair, a University of California, Los Angeles, political science professor and codirector of the Deportation Data Project, said in a statement.

Now ICE is doing something new, he said. It seems to be arresting anyone it can.

USA TODAY has reached out to ICE and the Department of Homeland Security for comment.

The Trump administration has repeatedly touted its deportation figures. Officials have repeatedly encouraged people to self-deport rather than go through the detention system. Stephen Miller, White House deputy chief of staff, previously said that ICE had a minimum goal of 3,000 arrests per day.

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The new report, based on the latest available data from when Trump took office through Oct. 15, appears to show sweeping effects of immigration enforcement tactics that some critics have called indiscriminate. The Trump administration has surged federal agents into several American cities as part of its promise to deport millions of migrants.

US Customs and Border Protection agents arrest a man after not providing documents proving he's a citizen of the United States while patrolling a neighborhood during immigration enforcement activity in Minneapolis in Minneapolis, Minn. on Jan. 11, 2026. A US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent shot and killed 37-year-old Renee Nicole Good on the streets of Minneapolis on Jan. 7, leading to huge protests and outrage from local leaders who rejected White House claims she was a domestic terrorist.

The report showed overall arrests in streets were up 11 times compared to the monthly average in the six months before Trump's second inauguration, while transfers to ICE custody from prisons and jails roughly doubled. People arrested without any criminal convictions were up seven times.

"It's fair to suggest a new kind of randomness in ICE arrests," Hausman said.

Federal officials tripled the number of detention beds used for arrests of migrants within the country, the report said. The increased capacity was a product of new funding approved by Congress that was injected into immigration enforcement, while arrests at the border have dropped substantially.

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Few of those arrested were released, building on already low figures before Trumps second administration. During the last few months of Joe Bidens presidency, releases from deportation within two months were around 16% in 2024. But in Trumps first nine months in 2025, that went down to 3%.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt and White House Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy and Homeland Security Advisor Stephen Miller watch US President Donald Trump speak to journalists as he makes his way to board Marine One before departing from the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, DC on June 15, 2025. Trump is headed to Canada to attend the G7 summit.

Data indicate that more people are giving up and accepting deportation, according to the researchers. The lower release rate may contribute to voluntary departures increasing by 21 times.

The Deportation Data Project obtained ICE datasets through a Freedom of Immigration Act lawsuit. Hausman said researchers are working to get updated data.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Deportations from ICE street arrests jump, study says. Here's why.
Gov. Ron DeSantis administration has dispatched state election crimes investigators, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the state Attorney Generals Office to investigate marijuana-referendum petitions processed by the Broward Supervisor of Elections Office.

The team arrived at the elections headquarters in Fort Lauderdale on Monday and was still present on Tuesday, county Supervisor of Elections Joe Scott said. He declined to discuss the number of investigators present or what they were doing. I cannot talk about an ongoing criminal investigation.

Letters to Scott from Secretary of State Cord Byrd, dated Saturday, and from the attorney generals statewide prosecutor, dated Sunday, identified concerns about the verification of signatures on petitions seeking to get a statewide marijuana legalization referendum on the ballot this year.

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Byrds letter said that his director of the Office of Election Crimes and Security reported to him that after a visit to the Broward elections headquarters on Friday to audit the petition verification process, there were several matters of great concern that warrant further investigation and likely referral for criminal prosecution.

Citing the Feb. 1 deadline for verifying the referendum petitions, Byrd wrote that it was imperative that the concerns raised during the audit be addressed now and told Scott that he was sending Office of Election Crimes staff back to Fort Lauderdale. At my request, the Attorney General and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement will also be present to investigate and take any necessary action.

The Byrd letter didnt say who could be referred for prosecution.

The second letter, from statewide prosecutor Bradley R. McVay, was more specific, and outlined a focus on Smart & Safe Florida, which is leading the drive to get the marijuana issue on the ballot, and petition circulators who work with or are employed by the organization.

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We have reason to believe that a number of these petitions contain forged signatures or are otherwise fraudulent in nature, likely containing stolen voter personal identifiable information. Given the volume  potentially hundreds of Florida victims  my office intends to act fast, McVay wrote.

He said he ordered two prosecutors to the supervisors office to work alongside two FDLE agents and the staff from the Office of Election Crimes.

Taking the two letters together, Scott said Smart & Safe Florida and its petition circulators are the focus of the state action  not him or his office. A spokesperson for Smart & Safe Florida declined to comment.

The letter (from Byrd) is vague about exactly what they are investigating, Scott said. The second letter, from the statewide prosecutor, provided a lot of clarity.

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Scott said multiple elements in Byrds letter that describe the operations of his office are false, misleading or grossly out of context.

It is just incredibly frivolous and petty. And thats how it starts and goes on from there, Scott said. When you get to his paragraph saying we were generally disorganized, some of it is inaccurate, some of it is unfair.  We dont understand where hes coming from. Its just totally unfair criticisms.

Scott said he has seen no indication that this office or anyone who works for this office is under investigation.

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He also said he did not view the presence of investigators or statements in the secretary of states letter as setting the stage for the Republican governor to suspend him from office. No, I dont have any reason to believe that, he said.

Scott, a Democrat, was elected to his position by Broward voters in 2020 and reelected in 2024. After his first election, Scott worked closely through the transition with Peter Antonacci, who had been the countys appointed supervisor of elections and was later DeSantis first appointee to lead the election crimes offices. Antonacci died in 2022.

A majority of the states counties have had audit visits from the Office of Election Crimes and Security to see how petition verifications are being handled, said Palm Beach County Supervisor of Elections Wendy Sartory Link, who is also president of Florida Supervisors of Elections, the professional association of the states 67 elected county supervisors.

They are typically routine, spot checks; the audit visit in Palm Beach County last week lasted about an hour, Link said, not the intense examination thats taking place in Broward. I have not heard of any other county other than Broward thats had this.

DeSantis opposition

The proposed referendum would amend the Florida Constitution to legalize recreational use of marijuana by people over 21.

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DeSantis is a vociferous opponent of the idea, and was the most prominent opponent of a similar 2024 referendum effort. It received a majority of the vote  55.9% yes; 44.1% no  but failed because it didnt reach the 60% threshold required for passage. The most prominent Florida voter, President Donald Trump, said at the time he would vote yes.

In 2025 and this year, the Secretary of States Office  Byrd is a DeSantis appointee  has issued multiple rulings that collectively have the effect of reducing the number of verified petition signatures and have slowed the process. The sponsors have to have 880,062 verified petitions by the Feb. 1 deadline. As of Tuesday, the Division of Elections reported there were 760,002.

Attorney General James Uthmeier  whose statewide prosecutor is involved in the effort  was appointed to the job by DeSantis last year after serving as the governors chief of staff and campaign manager for DeSantis unsuccessful candidacy for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination.

While he was DeSantis top aide, he was a central player in the effort that ended up in defeat of the 2024 marijuana referendum. In his current official role as attorney general, Uthmeier has urged the Florida Supreme Court to not allow the 2026 marijuana referendum on the ballot.

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The Supreme Court is involved because it is responsible for approving the proposed ballot measure, reviewing issues whether proposed constitutional amendments are limited to single subjects and whether the proposed ballot language is clear.

Scott said that as an election administrator he has no position on the marijuana referendum issue, but said the state is obviously opposed.

When you look at everything that has happened over the last few months, I think that they have made it clear where they stand on this petition, and they are working very, very hard to discredit the process and the people who are doing this, he said, adding hes not judging if their objections are justified or not. Im just saying it is clear that is what they are doing, that they are opposed, Scott said.

Byrds spokesperson didnt immediately reply to questions on Tuesday.

Specifics

Byrd raised, and Scott refuted, several issues.

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For example, Byrd said his first concern was that petitions verified by Scotts office were missing required information. For example, he wrote, at least one petition verified valid was missing the signature of the petition circulator who collected the form.

Scotts office has reviewed about 115,000 petitions, 70,000 of which his office has verified and 45,000 which are invalid, largely because of state regulations. He said there were four instances in which the space for the petition circulators name was blank  the first issue cited in Byrds letter  an error rate Scott described as miniscule.

To think that there wont be any human error in this process is just totally unreasonable, Scott said.

Byrd also suggested Scotts office was derelict in sending notices to voters whose signatures on marijuana petitions were verified.

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A state law that went into effect Oct. 1 requires supervisors of elections to send a letter to each person whose signature on a referendum petition is verified.

It notifies the voter that their signature has been verified. The mailing must also include a pre-addressed, postage-paid form that a voter can use to alert the DeSantis-controlled Office of Election Crimes and Security in Tallahassee if they believe their signature was obtained fraudulently.

Byrds letter states that Scotts office didnt send out the bulk of notices until January, based on what your staff indicated. Scott said his office sent out the first batch of required notices in December, weeks before Byrds letter suggested  we have receipts to prove it  and the Broward mailings went out before some other counties issued theirs.

He said state auditors were given that information on Friday, the day before Byrd sent his letter. Theyre taking a comment from a staffer who he doesnt even identify, and hes using it to draw conclusions that are false, Scott said.

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Byrd also said the Office of Election Crimes identified a general lack of organization in the Broward office, discovered verified petitions with signatures that looked nothing like any of the voters signatures in your voter registration records. For example, the signatures in the voters registration record were shapes or lines and the signature on the petition was a full name in cursive, and several instances of the same handwriting occurring over multiple petitions from purportedly different voters.

Scott said his office has done a very good job in processing these petitions in what was actually an exceptionally difficult year, citing sweeping changes to state law that went into effect last year and implementation of a new voter registration system in September. I think the criticism that we were disorganized was from the fact that we were trying to figure out how to do things for the first time, he said.

The two-page letter from McVay, the statewide prosecutor, was focused entirely on organizers of the petition effort, including whether Smart & Safe Florida violated any criminal laws by knowingly submitting fraudulent petitions to election officials.

He wrote that we believe 27 of the Smart & Safe Florida circulators who were terminated for petition fraud  and who are currently subjects of active criminal investigations  had petitions submitted to Scotts office, which invalidated about 535 and validated about 302.

McVay also asked for any records about petitions that were submitted by Smart & Safe Florida for which the signature on the petition is associated with a voter who was deceased at the date of the purported signature. McVays letter didnt say if his office suspected petitions signed by supposedly dead voters had been verified or were rejected.

Political writer Anthony Man can be reached at aman@sunsentinel.com and can be found @browardpolitics on Bluesky, Threads, Facebook and Mastodon.
The family of a Peekskill man killed when an off-duty NYPD sergeant driving the wrong way on the Taconic State Parkway crashed into him is trying to raise money to help his wife and sons with funeral and other expenses.

Manuel Boitel, 61, was headed home from his doorman job on the Upper East Side of Manhattan late on Jan. 22 when his 2024 Toyota was struck head on in the northbound lanes by Tiffany Howell's southbound 2021 Infiniti in Mount Pleasant, state police said.

Both were taken to nearby Westchester Medical Center, where Boitel was pronounced dead early on Jan. 23. Howell suffered non-life threatening injuries and has since been released from the hospital.

Why AG's Office is investigating Westchester death involving off-duty NYPD officer

Because a member of law enforcement was involved, the state Attorney General's Office of Special Investigation was notified and after a preliminary assessment formally opened an investigation on Monday, Jan. 26. No charges have been filed in the case.

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Boitel's niece set up a GoFundMe page to help her aunt and cousins with funeral expenses and other household bills, according to the fundraising website.

"He was always the first to help others, often putting the needs of those around him before his own," the niece, Ismenia Mejia Cabrera, wrote. "The irony is that he regularly donated to funds supporting police officers, as he always dreamed of becoming one himself.

As of Tuesday afternoon, the page had raised more than $45,000 of its $55,000 goal.

What to know about the fatal Taconic crash

In an Instagram post Cabrera said that a "drunk NYPD" officer was responsible and that money raised from the GoFundMe page would also be used to obtain "legal counsel in making sure that justice is not overlooked for my uncle because she was NYPD."

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Authorities have not said whether Howell was suspected of being intoxicated.

Howell, 47, lived in Warwick in Orange County. She was also connected to an open-bar, $150-a-head 'Holy Smoke' fundraiser held at Mom's Cigar Warehouse on Central Park Avenue in Greenburgh on the date of the fatal crash. The event was for the Manhattan-Bronx-Staten Island branch of the NYPD Holy Name Society. She is the local treasurer of the religious fraternal organization.

The branch president, Lt. Steven Jerome, declined to comment. He and Howell were among six organizers of the event listed on a flier promoting the fundraiser.

A lawyer representing Howell, Anthony DiFiore, declined to discuss specifics of the case.

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"As with any incident where a police officer may have caused the death of a person, either on or off duty, it is my understanding that this incident is being investigated by OSI in accordance with New York State Executive Law Section 70-b," said DiFiore, a member of the Quinn Law Firm that is general counsel of the Sergeants Benevolent Association of the NYPD.

Boitel was a member of Local 32BJ of the Service Employees International Union and its president Manny Pastreich said in a post on X that the union was "deeply saddened" by Boitel's death.

"We honor his life and mourn his loss," Pastreich wrote. "Manuel put more than 30 years of service into making the condo building where he worked home for its residents, and he was taken just shy of enjoying the retirement he deserved. Our thoughts are with his family and his loved ones."

This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: New details in deadly Taconic crash involving off-duty NYPD sergeant
Detroit Mayor Mary Sheffield is directing the city's building and safety department to ramp up efforts  in 65 apartment complexes  to ensure seniors and people with disabilities are living in safe housing.

Sheffield announced the initiative, which includes fines and legal action, on Monday, Jan. 26, as part of a 4-point plan to address concerns raised by seniors about the often "deplorable conditions" they have been living in. The goal, she said, is to bolster accountability, communication between building management and the city of Detroit and enforcement in all senior buildings.

"We do want to set the tone that this administration is not going to take disrespecting our seniors, not responding to complaints that they put in regarding the quality of their living conditions, that it is a new day," Sheffield said at a news conference at the Village Center apartment complex in New Center. The apartment complex, which Sheffield called a "model building," has a certificate of compliance, a requirement to ensure that a property has been inspected.

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Detroit seniors have long raised concerns about poor rental housing conditions from mold infestation and vermin to lack of heat and inadequate security measures.

"Over the past several months, we've heard far too many reports of elevator outages," said David Bell, director of the city of Detroit's Building Safety Engineering and Environmental Department (BSEED), at the news conference.

Sheffield is also launching a senior advocate program for all senior buildings throughout Detroit. The advocates, she said, will be working to form tenant councils and are meant to be a "safe space" for residents to report concerns. The mayor's office will fund the advocates.

NEW MAYOR'S FIRST MONTH IN OFFICE: Sheffield taps new leaders to helm Detroit's fight against poverty

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"We know that every building owner is not necessarily negligent or a bad actor and we want to ensure that we lift up those who are doing right, but also those who may want to do right but just need a little bit of help," Sheffield said.

Here's what the plan includes:

Enhancing inspection protocols: The city plans to assign two property inspectors to conduct monthly senior housing inspections and five elevator inspectors to examine senior buildings four times each year.

Ramping up inspection and enforcement actions: The city intends to increase the inspection schedule for all senior buildings and add "stronger enforcement," Bell said, in the form of fines up to $2,000 for noncompliance.

Increasing consent agreements and legal tactics: BSEED and the law department plan to take legal action against property owners of three buildings by entering into "consent agreements with corrective action plans." The addresses for those properties are: 430 E. Warren Ave., 99 E. Forest Ave. and 1601 Robert Bradby Drive. The properties are missing reports meant to gauge how structurally sound the outside of a building is, Bell said. The addresses will be forwarded to the law department for further action, he said. The three properties do not have a certificate of compliance, according to the city of Detroit's rental compliance map. The Free Press called phone numbers for the three properties associated with the addresses. Ashley Sinclair, a representative with Village Green Management, which manages the Williams Pavilion apartments located at 99 E. Forest Ave., said in an emailed statement that the report Bell is referring to was completed in 2022 and submitted to the city of Detroit but that an inspector later said it wasn't in the correct format. Village Green Management is in contact with that inspector to fix the issue, she said. The building's certificate of compliance expired in late December and will be renewed after that report is completed, she added. Kris Landry, a representative of Preservation Management Inc., which manages the Warren Plaza apartments at 430 E. Warren, said the company's records show a written confirmation from a city of Detroit building inspector in October that they received the report.

Directly engaging with property management companies: The city plans to have quarterly meetings between city officials and property management representatives starting in February.

Residents with concerns about building compliance can call BSEED at 313-628-2451, city officials said.

Reach reporter Nushrat Rahman at nrahman@freepress.com.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Mayor Sheffield plans to crack down on senior housing conditions
White House allies are increasingly blaming one person for the chaotic fallout of the Trump administrations crackdown in Minneapolis: Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.

The thrusts of the criticism are familiar, that Noem rushed to the cameras too quickly and sabotaged any independent probe into Saturdays fatal shooting of 37-year-old Alex Pretti by Border Patrol agents. But this time, theyre occurring more publicly, as the White House takes steps to revisit its strategy in Minneapolis.

In one of the most high-profile public rebukes of the DHS chief, Sen. John Curtis (R-Utah) wrote on social media that Noems actions around the shooting undermine public trust and the law-enforcement mission.

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I disagree with Secretary Noems premature DHS response, which came before all the facts were known and weakened confidence, Curtis wrote.

Noem is also now expected to appear before the Senate Judiciary Committee after maneuvering from the panels chair, Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa).

Conservative radio host Erick Erickson, an influential voice with evangelical voters central to the MAGA base, has jabbed Noem in social media posts since Saturdays shooting, accusing her of driving tensions in the name of great coverage.

Frustrations with Noem are palpable among immigration hawks as well. Mark Krikorian, who leads the Center for Immigration Studies, which favors restrictions on legal immigration and crackdowns on unauthorized migration, said when asked about Noems standing in the administration that Noem has made herself a lightning rod for criticism.

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Publicly, the White House is standing by Noem. White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt said Monday that she enjoys the utmost confidence and trust of the president of the United States.

But the White Houses decision Monday to dispatch border czar Tom Homan to oversee ICE operations in Minneapolis suggests that Trump wants changes from the approach Noem has championed to date.

A White House official told POLITICO on Monday that Homan going is not a vote of confidence for Noem.

Noem has butted heads previously with Homan on how to approach enforcement. Homan, who spent most of his career working as an immigration officer, has pushed to protect ICE as an institution and focus efforts on deporting unauthorized immigrants with criminal records. Noem, meanwhile, has focused on using social media to project an image of exceedingly aggressive immigration enforcement.

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Noem also elevated Border Patrol commander Gregory Bovino to serve as the essential head of operations in Minneapolis. Leavitt told reporters Monday that Homan, not Bovino, would be the main point of contact going forward in Minneapolis. Bovino is also being moved out of Minneapolis, an administration official told POLITICO.

DHS did not respond to a request for comment. Noem has said little since Trump distanced himself from the shooting on Sunday night, but she praised Trumps decision to send Homan to Minneapolis in a social media post on Monday.

A senior DHS official, granted anonymity to speak about internal thinking, insisted Noem did her best to inform the public about the shooting and swatted away suggestions that discord exists among the president's team.

"There is only one page: the president's page. Everyone's on the same page," the official said.

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Some in the administration were already frustrated with Noems reaction to the shooting of 37-year-old Nicole Good on Jan. 7, also in Minneapolis. The DHS chief seemingly rushed to respond to that incident before all the facts were known. In the days after that shooting, ICE Deputy Director Madison Sheahan, a Noem ally who ran South Dakotas Republican Party when Noem was the states governor, left her post in January to run for Congress in Ohio.

Voters have soured on the Trump administrations immigration crackdown in recent months. Republican polling firm Echelon Insights found in a survey of registered voters published Monday that more people now say ICE operations in public areas make them feel unsafe, a drop from their findings a few months ago when attitudes were more evenly split.

Meanwhile, on Capitol Hill, Democrats have ramped up calls for Noem to resign or face impeachment proceedings over the way ICE and Border Patrol have conducted immigration enforcement operations and for allegedly mismanaging a major infusion of federal funds into the department allocated via the One Big Beautiful Bill.

Other Republican lawmakers, while not naming Noem, have called on the agency leaders that report to her to testify. Some, such as House Homeland Security Chair Andrew Garbarino (R-N.Y.), represent states or congressional districts where Trump only narrowly defeated former Vice President Kamala Harris in the 2024 elections.

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Despite the growing pressure on Noem, Krikorian argued shes unlikely to be ousted.

It would be a win for the anti-border radicals and embolden efforts to resist ICE operations elsewhere, Krikorian said.

Dasha Burns and Myah Ward contributed to this report.
Editors note: This story was originally published on Jan. 28, 2025.

In the spring of 2022, I defended my dissertation. When I was done, I headed straight to the airport to head to Poland and Ukraine to volunteer with Ukrainian refugees fleeing the new-ish war. One of my stops in Poland was at Auschwitz-Birkenau, a place of horrors and banal evil. I went without my travel companions, whom I love dearly, but I was grateful for the opportunity to be alone with my thoughts and reflections as I walked through the sites where Never Again has such deep meaning.

This week marks the 80th anniversary of the liberation of those camps, semi-hidden deep in the Polish forest. On Jan. 27, 1945, the Red Army, on their march across Poland, came upon the compound of 40-plus concentration and extermination camps that composed the Auschwitz complex. Of the 1.3 million people sent to Auschwitz, 1.1 million died. 1.1 million in less than five years.

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General Vasily Petrenko, commander of the 107th Infantry Division, remarked, I who saw people dying every day was shocked by the Nazis indescribable hatred toward the inmates who had turned into living skeletons. I read about the Nazis treatment of Jews in various leaflets, but there was nothing about the Nazis treatment of women, children, and old men. It was in Auschwitz that I found out about the fate of the Jews.

Auschwitz-Birkenau

Many of the children brought to Auschwitz-Birkenau were murdered upon arrival by being sent to the gas chambers. Some starved to death, died from exposure, or were used as fodder for medical experiments by Dr. Josef Mengele and others. Slightly more than 700 children (of all nationalities) survived until liberation, out of the more than 23,500 children who were registered in the camp. According to the Auschwitz-Birkenau Museum, in the early period of the existence of the womens camp, children born there were put to death, regardless of their ethnicity, without being entered in the camp records. Later, some non-Jewish babies were allowed to live.

As I walked through the former death camps, I was struck by how easily some people could normalize killing. SS guards experimented with the most efficient ways to kill people. When they decided that they didnt like the extra work caused by blood getting on clothing after being shot, they made their prisoners strip before shooting them or sending them to the gas chambers. When the first gas chambers didnt kill quickly enough, they experimented until they found a poisonous combination that killed them more quickly, thousands at a time.

One has to wonder how non-soldiers also normalized the rounding up and killing of so many people. The guide giving my tour said that local farmers would buy the ashes left by the crematoriums to fertilize their fields. He also pointed out that one of the camp commanders, who seemed to treat shooting people in the head as a boring day job, went home to his family with young children and would take them on picnics like a normal dad. I wonder if his wife ever asked him how his day at work had been.

The banality of genocide

More than 15 years after the liberation of the camps, and during the 1961 trial for Nazi war criminal Adolf Eichmann, writer and philosopher Hannah Arendt coined the phrase the banality of evil to try to put words on the efficient, unemotional, routinized way the Nazi regime killed people.

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During the Holocaust, the word genocide did not exist. However, Polish lawyer Raphael Lemkin was outraged, first at the Ottoman destruction of the Armenians during World War I (now known as the Armenian Genocide) and then at the utter depravity of the Holocaust. He coined the term in 1944 in his book Axis Rule in Occupied Europe. It consists of the Greek prefix genos, meaning race or tribe, and the Latin suffix cide, meaning killing.

It is intended rather to signify a coordinated plan of different actions aiming at the destruction of essential foundations of the life of national groups, with the aim of annihilating the groups themselves, he wrote. Genocide is directed against the national group as an entity, and the actions involved are directed against individuals, not in their individual capacity, but as members of the national group. Genocide was first recognized under international law in 1946. In 1948, it was codified by the United Nations and has since been ratified by 153 countries.

Article II of the Genocide Convention defines genocide as having two main elements: a mental one and a physical. The mental element is the intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial or religious group, as such. The physical one includes: killing members of the group, causing serious harm to members of the group, deliberately creating conditions to physically destroy the group, preventing births within the group and forcibly transferring children of the group to another group.

Never forget

The Holocaust was not the only genocide in the 20th and 21st centuries. In addition to the Armenian genocide in WWI and the Holocaust in WWII are the killing fields in Cambodia in the mid-to-late 1970s, the genocide in Bosnia-Herzegovina in the early 1990s, the Rwandan genocide in 1994 and an ongoing genocide in Sudan, among others. Today, we see genocide or genocidal actions in Ukraine by Russia and in Sudan, and some accuse Israel of committing genocide in Palestine.

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In the spring of 1945, Eisenhowers tour of the Ohrdruf concentration camp in Germany included encounters with corpses piled like wood and living skeletons struggling to survive. Immediately, Eisenhower foresaw a day when people would deny these horrors took place.

Get it all on record now, Eisenhower allegedly said. Get the films, get the witnesses, because somewhere down the road of history some (expletive) will get up and say this never happened.

Genocide does not start with killing. It begins with the otherizing of groups, in ways that distinguish us from them, and then dehumanizing those groups that are not us.

I did not need to visit the Auschwitz-Birkenau death camps to know they were unspeakably evil. However, my somber visit embedded in my soul my deep conviction to speak up at injustices and cruelty being perpetuated. All humans have dignity, all humans have basic human rights endowed by their Creator and all deserve to have those rights respected.

Ill end with a quote from Elie Wiesel, who survived Auschwitz. We must take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented.
NEED TO KNOW

A doctor who fought to treat Alex Pretti after he was fatally shot by federal officers in Minneapolis has claimed in a court statement that ICE agents appeared to be focused on counting the victim's bullet wounds instead of performing CPR

The physician added that their view "was partially obstructed," but that they'd seen ICE agents shoot the 37-year-old ICU nurse multiple times

In the court documents, the doctor also alleged that federal agents initially wouldn't let them through to provide medical care to Pretti and had "repeatedly asked" for a physician's license



A doctor who fought to treat Alex Pretti after he was fatally shot by federal officers in Minneapolis has claimed that ICE agents appeared to be focused on counting the victim's bullet wounds instead of performing CPR.

The unnamed 29-year-old  who is a licensed paediatrician and has lived in Minneapolis since 2024  recalled being woken by "cars honking and whistles blowing" at approximately 9 a.m. local time on Saturday, Jan. 24, per a witness statement included in federal district court documents obtained by PEOPLE.

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The physician said their view "was partially obstructed," but that they'd seen ICE agents shoot the 37-year-old ICU nurse multiple times.

"The scene was chaotic. Many civilians were screaming and honking. Over the noise, I informed the ICE agents that I am a physician, and I asked to assess the victim," the witness said.

The doctor also alleged the agents wouldn't let them through at first and had "repeatedly asked" for a physician's license.

va.gov Alex Pretti Alex Pretti

None of the ICE agents who were near the victim were performing CPR, and I could tell that the victim was in critical condition," the physician added in the court papers.

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"I insisted that the agents let me assess him. Normally, I would not have been so persistent, but as a physician, I felt a professional and moral obligation to help this man, especially since none of the agents were helping him.

One agent eventually let the doctor "assess the victim" after they "patted" them down to make sure they "didn't have a weapon," the document stated.

"As I approached, I saw that the victim was lying on his side and was surrounded by several ICE agents. I was confused as to why the victim was on his side, because that is not standard practice when a victim has been shot," the physician added.

Ben Hovland/Minnesota Public Radio via AP A photo of the scene after Alex Pretti was fatally shot in Minneapolis on Jan. 24, 2026 A photo of the scene after Alex Pretti was fatally shot in Minneapolis on Jan. 24, 2026

Checking for a pulse and administering CPR is standard practice," they continued. "Instead of doing either of those things, the ICE agents appeared to be counting his bullet wounds. I asked the ICE agents if the victim had a pulse, and they said they did not know.

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The physician said the victim had at least three bullet wounds in his back. They then asked officers "to turn the victim from his side to his back," before the doctor noticed "an additional gunshot wound on the victim's upper left chest and another possible gunshot wound on his neck."

I checked for a pulse, but I did not feel one. I immediately began CPR. Shortly after I started compressions, EMS personnel arrived and took over, the witness said.

The physician said they remained at the scene for around five more minutes after performing CPR on Pretti, before they returned home as "the situation seemed to be escalating."

They said they were "extremely distraught" and were "sobbing and shaking uncontrollably" after returning to their apartment. After tear gas began seeping into their home, they left to see a nearby friend, before driving 30 minutes to their sister's house, per the document.

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The doctor said they were "devastated by the killing of a Minnesotan by multiple federal immigration agents."

"From what I could tell, the victim was not actively threatening ICE agents or the public  he was just yelling at the agents because he objected to ICE's presence in our city," they added. "A person should not be shot and killed for lawfully expressing their opinions."

The physician added that they do not know when they will return to their apartment, saying, "I do not feel safe in my city."

An ICE spokesperson didn't immediately respond when contacted by PEOPLE for comment.

Holden Smith/ZUMA Press Wire/Shutterstock Officers clash with protesters following the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti Officers clash with protesters following the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti

Pretti's death came after 37-year-old mother of three, Renee Nicole Good, was shot and killed by ICE agent, Jonathan Ross, in Minneapolis on the morning of Jan. 7.

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Good, who had been driving a maroon Honda Pilot at the time of her death, had just dropped her 6-year-old son off at school, before her wife Becca, 40, suggested they take a detour, as ICE agents had flooded the city and protesters were already gathering. She never made it home.

Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up for PEOPLE's free True Crime newsletter for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) issued a statement on X following Pretti's death on Jan. 24, which claimed that an individual had approached U.S. Border Patrol officers with a 9mm semi-automatic handgun and violently resisted an attempt to disarm him. An agent then fired defensive shots at Pretti, per the statement.

However, footage verified by The New York Times appeared to contradict the DHS's account of the situation. This shows Pretti standing among a group of protesters with both hands visible, while holding his phone in one hand as an agent squirted pepper spray at the group.

Several agents then approached Pretti, who didn't seem to be holding or pulling a weapon as he was pinned on the sidewalk.

Read the original article on People
A prominent physician said President Donald Trump may have inadvertently revealed to the public that he suffered a stroke.

Dr. Bruce Davidson told the Daily Beast Podcast that he believes an overlooked detail from President Trumps January Wall Street Journal interview about his health proves hes hiding a previous stroke.

I read the report that he was taking 325mg of aspirin, and that is only recommended for people whove had a stroke to prevent a second stroke from a partially blocked artery, Davidson told host Joanna Coles on The Daily Beast Podcast.

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When I read that, I said, well, hes had a stroke, and hes taking the right medication, he added.

Trump sported a new bruise on his left hand in Davos. / Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images

Trump revealed his daily aspirin intake as a way to explain the persistent bruising on his hands, which have baffled viewers for months. The Daily Beast has led the charge in questioning Trumps medical issues, reporting consistently on his hands, swollen ankles, and apparent cognitive issues.

Trump said he was taking aspirin as a blood thinner for his cardiac health, and the aspirin caused his hands to bruise easily.

They say aspirin is good for thinning out the blood, and I dont want thick blood pouring through my heart. Does that make sense? Trump told the Journal.

The president's droopy face on September 11 raised alarms about the leader's health condition. / Andrew Harnik / Andrew Harnik/Getty Images

Low-dose aspirin prescriptions to prevent heart attacks and strokes usually come in 75-100 mg doses, with the Mayo Clinic recommending 81 mg. When it came out that Trump was taking quadruple the recommended dose, doctors said his daily 325 mg intake was far too high if he was taking it as a blood thinner.

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But Davidson, a professor at Washington State Universitys Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine, said 325 mg would be the recommended dose if Trump previously had a stroke.

He first made the claim on a Jan. 14 episode of The Court of History podcast, then wrote about his theory for The Daily Beast on Friday.

The American Heart Associations 2021 stroke guidelines recommend a full 325 mg aspirin pill to prevent recurrent stroke, after a stroke, wrote Davidson. It is not recommended for primary stroke prevention, heart disease, peripheral arterial disease, venous insufficiency, or other venous diseaseonly for large intracranial vessel partial occlusion, after a stroke."

The presidents high aspirin dosage wasnt the only thing that convinced Dr. Davidson that Trump is hiding a previous stroke.

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For President Trump, earlier in the year, there was a video of him shuffling, and I thought that was weird, he told Coles. Then I saw him cradling his right hand in his left, which is a common, involuntary thing that people with strokes have done when they have weakness.

Davidson went on, On one side, he garbled words, much more so a couple months ago than hes doing now. That implies he broke his speech area, which is in the frontal left portion of the brain.

And then recently, there was video of him walking down the stairs from Air Force One, holding the banister with his left hand, yet hes right-handed. And the speech became much better. And that suggested to me, along with the 325 milligrams of aspirinwhich you only take for one thing, right?Hes had a prior stroke. Hes recovered from the stroke, Davidson concluded.

Karoline Leavitt spent months telling the press that Trump's hand was bruised from shaking hands all day, before Trump gave a completely different explanation. / Celal Gunes/Anadolu via Getty Images

The White House dismissed Davidsons theory that Trump had a stroke.

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Any so-called medical professionals engaging in armchair diagnosis or false speculation for political purposes are clearly breaking the Hippocratic Oath theyve sworn to, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told The Daily Beast. These are false and slanderous allegations from a left-wing nut job. This fake news story should be retracted immediately.

Leavitt, a 28-year-old failed Republican candidate for a New Hampshire congressional seat, previously stated that Trumps hands were bruised because he was shaking hands all day. It wasnt until Trump said that the bruising was a result of his high aspirin intake that the White Houses official explanation for the bruising changed.

The White House called the Daily Beast mentally ill for asking questions regarding Trumps health on Thursday. The quote was not attributed to any White House spokesperson.

Email exchange between The Daily Beast and the White House Press Office / The Daily Beast

Davidson insisted that the stroke alone shouldnt disqualify Trump from being president, but urged that he get proper medical care.

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When I see the president appearing like a patient having trouble, I want his physicians to engage, said Davidson. And this illustrates, I regret to say, a terrible, increasing weakness in American medical leadership that were suffering from.

New episodes of The Daily Beast Podcast are released every Monday, Wednesday and Sunday on YouTube. Follow our new feed on your favorite podcast platform at beast.pub/dailybeastpod and subscribe on YouTube to watch full episodes.
A federal jury has charged 31 suspects in a conspiracy to use malware and steal millions of dollars across the nation  a tactic known as ATM jackpotting. The scheme was tied to the brutal Venezuelan cartel Tren de Aragua.

A large ring of criminal aliens allegedly engaged in a nationwide conspiracy to enrich themselves and the TdA terrorist organization by ripping off American citizens, said Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche in a press release. After committing bank robbery, fraud, and other serious crimes, they will be vigorously prosecuted and held accountable for their crimes.

The suspects are facing 32 counts of bank fraud, conspiracy to commit bank fraud, bank burglary, conspiracy to commit bank burglary, computer fraud, and damage to computers, the Department of Justice announced January 26.

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A federal jury in the District of Nebraska returned the indictment. If convicted, the suspects could face maximums ranging from 20 to 335 years in prison.

Officials have already charged 56 other suspects for their roles in the scheme. Many are Venezuelan and Colombian nationals, including illegal aliens who are allegedly members of Tren de Aragua.

Charges against a total of 87 defendants underscores both the massive scale of these alleged conspiracies and the strength and skill of our investigators and prosecutors who dismantle them, DOJ Criminal Division Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva in the release. As cartels level up their criminal game, so will we.

The Scheme

The suspects allegedly developed and used malware known as Ploutus to hack into ATMs and force them to dispense cash, according to the release. The conspiracy relied on a network of suspects to deploy the software across America.

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They, along with members of Tren de Aragua, would reportedly travel in groups with multiple vehicles to banks and credit unions. There, they would perform initial recon and note security features of ATMs.

Following this reconnaissance, the groups would open the hood or door of ATMs and then wait nearby to see whether they had triggered an alarm or a law enforcement response, the release reads.

They would allegedly install the malware  either by removing the hard drive and installing the Ploutus malware directly, by replacing the hard drive with one already infected, or by connecting an external device, such as a thumb drive, to upload the malware.

The malware would make the ATMs dispense cash and erase all evidence that it had ever been there. The suspects then allegedly split the proceeds, as they had previously agreed.

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The wide variety of sophisticated criminal tactics employed by TdA poses a direct threat to communities across our country, said FBI-Omaha Special Agent in Charge Eugene Kowel in the release. This case highlights TdAs plot to deploy malware to steal vast funds from financial institutions across the United States. We will never stop following the money and surging resources to arrest and apprehend TdA members and leadership.

A Deeper Issue

A jury had also charged 22 suspects in the conspiracy on December 9, 2025. Among these defendants, 13 were charged with conspiracy to support terrorists, 10 were charged with conspiracy to commit bank fraud, 10 were charged with conspiracy to commit bank burglary and computer fraud, and all 22 were charged with conspiracy to commit money laundering.

Earlier, on October 21, another indictment charged 32 suspects with their roles. It listed 56 charges, including 18 counts of bank fraud, 1 count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud, 18 counts of bank burglary, 1 count of conspiracy to commit bank burglary and computer fraud, and 18 counts of computer damage.

Tren de Aragua uses ATM jackpotting crimes committed all across America to fund its terrorist organization which is responsible for horrific crimes such as human trafficking (to include sex trafficking of children in Nebraska), kidnapping, murder and other unspeakably evil and violent acts, said U.S. Attorney for the District of Nebraska Lesley Woods in the release.

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Tren de Aragua began as a Venezuelan prison gang in the mid-2000s, according to the release. As The Dallas Express reported, it has since expanded across the West  building a presence in the United States, with the State Department offering a $5 million reward for its leader.

The cartel gained national attention in June 2024, when leaders of Aurora, Colorado, called for help cracking down on Tren de Aragua members who had taken over apartment complexes, as The New York Post reported at the time.

That September, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott labeled Tren de Aragua a foreign terrorist organization  around the same time reports exposed the cartel had gained a foothold in a North Dallas apartment complex. Abbotts terror designation helped lay the groundwork for President Donald Trumps later executive order.

Tren de Aragua is a complex terrorist organization that commits serious financial crimes in addition to horrific rapes, murders, and drug trafficking, said Attorney General Pamela Bondi in the release. This Department of Justice has already prosecuted more than 290 members of Tren de Aragua and will continue working tirelessly to put these vicious terrorists behind bars after the prior administration let them infiltrate our country.

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This case was part of Joint Task Force Vulcan, formed in 2019 to target MS-13  now expanded to target TdA. The group comprises U.S. Attorneys Offices nationwide.

FBI-Omaha and ICE HSI-Omaha are investigating the case. FBI offices in Denver, Houston, Miami, Oklahoma, Sacramento, Seattle, and Springfield are helping, along with the Border Patrol, Customs and Border Protection, FDIC, Federal Housing Finance Agency Office of Inspector General, and FDIC. Local agencies are also helping, including the Austin Police Department.

The DOJ Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section, the U.S. Attorney for the District of Nebraska, and Joint Task Force Vulcan are prosecuting this case.

TdA grew from a prison gang to a transnational criminal organization to a foreign terrorist organization, said JTFV Co-Director Chris Eason in the release. Using sophisticated malware to empty ATMs and damage U.S. financial institutions that also fund TdAs terrorist activity will not be tolerated.
Steven Bulmer made his partner's life a misery, a judge has said [Northumbria Police]

A drug-dealing domestic abuser who made his partner's life a "misery" has been jailed for three years and eight months.

Concerned friends and family of Martin Bulmer's partner noticed she regularly had injuries, lost a lot of weight and was constantly "on edge" during the relationship, Newcastle Crown Court heard.

Bulmer, 37, admitted multiple offences including coercive and controlling behaviour, intentional strangulation and several attacks, one of which occurred on a holiday to Tenerife.

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He was also part of a drug importing gang which was busted after a 7,500 package of cannabis was intercepted at Stansted Airport, with two co-defendants getting community order.

Bulmer, of Park Avenue in Sunderland, began a relationship with the woman in 2023, prosecutor Ian Cook said.

Over the following months, the woman's friend and mother noticed she lost up to four stone (25kg), had multiple bruises and injuries and her personality had changed, the court heard.

'No respecter of women'

The friend said she noticed the woman "running around like a skivvy" for Bulmer, who would frequently verbally abuse his partner, and said the woman seemed constantly "on edge".

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Bulmer's victim revealed to her friend she "lived in fear" and had a "safety plan", which included not going into the kitchen when he was "in a mood" in case he tried to hurt her with any of the room's implements, the court heard.

One of the attacks occurred on a holiday in Tenerife in September or October 2024, when Bulmer swung her by her hair and headbutted her in the face in their hotel room, the prosecutor said.

Concerned hotel staff twice went to the room and police were eventually called, but no further action was taken as the victim did not wish to make a statement, the court heard.

She was left with two black eyes, bald patches where her hair had been ripped out and swelling to her cheek and lip, the court heard.

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On 24 March 2025, after they broke up, Bulmer attacked her again when he went to her home to collect his belongings, pulling her nightie tight around her neck and using his hand to strangle her, Cook said.

Judge Graham Robinson said Bulmer's behaviour made a "misery" of his victim's life, adding he was "no respecter of the rights of women" and his ex-partner had been left with "significant psychological harm".

A restraining order banning Bulmer from contacting the woman was made to last indefinitely.

'Integral part of chain'

Bulmer was also jailed for his involvement in importing drugs, which came to light when a UK Border Force officer examined a parcel at Stansted Airport on 7 January 2023, Mr Cook said.

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It had been sent on 12 December 2022 from California and was addressed to Terrance Sarsfield's home on Mill Lane, Whitburn, with a label suggesting it contained a wedding gift and $100 worth of clothes, the court heard.

The package was actually found to contain four bags of cannabis totalling 1.4kg (3lb) with an estimated value of up to 7,500, the court heard.

Police raided Sarsfield's home and seized his mobile phone which led them to Martin Glasper, 51, of Byron Terrace in Houghton-le-Spring.

At Glasper's home, they found a small cannabis farm of six plants, four seedlings and growing equipment, and his mobile phone which in turn led them to Bulmer.

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The judge said all three played an "integral part of a chain of couriers" importing drugs.

Glasper and Sarsfield, 50, both admitted conspiracy to supply class B drugs and were each given an 18 month community order with 200 hours unpaid work.

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THE HAGUE, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- Dutch political parties Democrats 66 (D66), the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD) and the Christian Democratic Appeal (CDA) have reached a general coalition agreement on a minority government, Dutch media reported on Tuesday evening.

According to Dutch public broadcaster NOS, the details of the agreement have not yet been made public. Parliamentary groups still need to approve the deal, and an outline of the agreement is expected to be presented on Friday.

The prospective minority cabinet would fall well short of a majority in both chambers of parliament. The three parties together hold 66 seats in the House of Representatives, leaving them 10 seats short of a majority, while in the Senate they are 16 seats short.

A total of 27 parties contested the Dutch parliamentary election last October, with 15 securing seats in the House. D66 and the Party for Freedom (PVV) each won 26 seats, followed by the VVD with 22 seats and the Green Left-Labor alliance (GroenLinks-PvdA) with 20. The CDA and JA21 secured 18 and nine seats, respectively. 
SOUTHERN UTAH (ABC4)  The family of Courtney Townsend, a Utah woman who went missing in 2023 and whose remains were later found in two places in Kane County, is asking the Southern Utah community for any information related to her disappearance.

Townsend was reported missing in 2023 when a vehicle was found in the forest south of Duck Creek and traced back to her mother. Human remains, later identified as Townsends, were found in two places in Kane County, once in 2024, and then again in 2025. According to the family, the case has gone cold since the remains were discovered, but they still have unanswered questions.

The police are at a standstill with the case, said Dallas, Courtneys older sister. As far as I can tell, they dont have anywhere to go with it, and theyre not getting any answers that are satisfying them and were not getting any answers that are satisfying us.

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The family is looking for answers and is trying to put the pieces of Townsends disappearance together.

We just want to know what she was doing, what made her go from telling our mom that she was on her way home 15 minutes away to disappearing for hours and then getting pulled over in Hurricane, Dallas said.

According to Dallas, this pursuit of information has nothing to do with the police department, but it is in the interest of putting the puzzle together and getting closure for her family.

Remains of Utah woman found a mile away from where her original remains were discovered last year

I saw her kids just this weekend and it was so hard because theyre spitting images of Courtney, and she doesnt get to see them grow up, and it breaks my heart, Dallas said. The least that I can do is give them answers on what happened to their mother.

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Dallas told ABC4 that the family is putting flyers along the route to Kane County and in Kanab. The family has also posted information about flyer distribution on a social media page titled Justice for Courtney.

The family is asking anyone who had contact with Courtney leading up to Nov. 19, 2023, or any information that might be relevant to her disappearance, to contact them. Anyone with information or that wants to help the family is asked to reach out to the Facebook page or to call or text 435-619-1250.

Were trying not to let her be forgotten. I dont want time to take her, you know, I dont feel like thats fair to her, she said.

ABC4 has reached out to the Kane County Sherrifs office for comment on the status of Townsends case but has not received a response at this time.

Background

Courtney Townsend was first reported missing in December 2023.

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Human remains found in Kane County believed to be missing woman

Townsends mother reported that her car was stolen on Nov. 16, 2023. Three days later, a vehicle was found in the forest south of Duck Creek, and appeared to be stuck on some rocks. That vehicle was traced back to Townsends mother.

Officials said winter weather in the area hampered the search efforts, and that a ground search couldnt be performed until the snow sufficiently melted.

On May 27, 2024, a person riding an ATV in the Duck Creek Ridge Area noticed some clothing alongside the road and reported it to officials. On June 12, 2024, the Kane County Sheriffs Office confirmed that the remains belonged to Townsend.

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In 2023, officials said evidence found at the scene helped confirm Townsends identity.

On May 8, 2025, possible human remains were reported by a hunter on Cedar Mountain, approximately a mile away from where the original remains of Courtney Townsend were found in 2024. The Cedar Mountain remains were later positively identified as Townsends remains.

Trevor Myers, and Aubree B. Jennings contributed to this reporting.

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Political battles in Washington are now being waged not over millions, but over pocket change.

The Treasury Department is preparing to print President Donald Trump's face on a $1 coin commemorating the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. Quarters honoring national heroes from the abolitionist, suffragette and civil rights eras have been scrapped and will be replaced by the nation's early White pioneers and revolutionaries.

Congressional Democrats are criticizing the move, which they say shouldn't valorize a living president and should reflect the full scope of American history.

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Like many policies under the Trump administration, the United States Mints decision last year to feature the presidents face on currency broke the long-standing tradition set by President George Washington of not displaying a living president on currency.

Now, some lawmakers are questioning the legality of the Trump coin and broader moves by the mint, including its decision last year to scrap commemorative quarters honoring abolitionists, civil rights figures and suffragettes.

In a Jan. 26 letter obtained by USA TODAY, five Democratic senators and independent Maine Sen. Angus King urged Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to cease creation of the Trump design and reinstate the previously axed quarters. Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto, D-New Mexico, who earlier this year introduced a bill to prevent any living or sitting president from appearing on currency, was the lead writer of the letter.

More: What's in a name? Plenty, when that name is 'Trump.'

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Placing the bust of a living president on a coin celebrating the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence would send a message to America and the world that contradicts who we are as a nation, they wrote in the letter.

But a representative for the mint said the Treasury found the Trump coin did not violate any laws at a Jan. 22 meeting of the Commission of Fine Arts, the federal agency that reviews designs for monuments, memorials, coins and buildings in the nations capital.

Is a Trump coin in the nations future?

Members of the Commission of Fine Arts, all of whom were recently appointed by Trump, weighed three classical designs featuring the presidents face at their Jan. 22 meeting, despite legal questions over the coinage.

They voted to recommend a side profile of Trump, so long as the president approves. One of the commissioners noted it had a statesman-like quality to the quaff of the hair.

The Commission of Fine Arts Voted to approve this side-profile of President Donald Trump for a $1 coin in honor of the country's 250th anniversary.

More: A yearlong birthday party. Inside Americas 250th anniversary plans

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But as of now, its unclear whether the design will move forward.

In their letter, Democratic members of Congress argue the Trump $1 coin violates an 1886 law requiring only the portrait of a deceased individual appear on currency and securities.

While the bust of living monarchs and dictators have appeared on circulating world coins, a living President has never appeared on a circulating United States Coin, they wrote, referring to Washingtons precedent.

The first president refused to have his image printed on currency during his lifetime, believing it was monarchical and ran counter to the countrys fight for independence from Great Britain.

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But according to the American Numismatic Association, which deals with artifacts related to money, one other living president did appear on a coin: Calvin Coolidge. In 1926, a half-dollar for the Sesquicentennial, or 150th anniversary, featured Coolidge and Washington.

If the coin is minted, it will follow other efforts by Trump to name national symbols after himself, such as the Kennedy Center and the Institute of Peace.

The mint did not immediately respond to a request for comment about the legality of the Trump coin. During the Commission of Fine Arts meeting, Megan Sullivan, acting chief of the agencys Office of Design Management, said Treasury lawyers found the Trump coin was legal under the Circulating Collectible Coin Redesign Act.

A controversy over quarters?

The 2020 act authorized the mint to create up to five quarter-dollar designs in honor of the 250th anniversary and required at least one of those designs be emblematic of a womans or womens contribution to the country. It also allowed the mint to create a new $1 coin emblematic of the United States semiquincentennial."

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A long design process has ensued in the years since, including focus groups, public input, review of the coin designs by the Commission of Fine Arts and the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee, a body created by Congress to advise the Treasury on coin design.

One of the Semiquincentennial new Quarter designs named the Mayflower Compact. First to be circulated among the new coins in 2026.

Ultimately, in October 2024, the committees recommended five coins to the Treasury Department, then under the Biden administration. One featured Frederick Douglass in honor of abolition; one showcased the 19th Amendment, which established women's right to vote; one civil rights coin featuring Ruby Bridges, who helped desegregate her Louisiana school at age 6; and one that celebrated the Declaration of Independence and U.S. Constitution.

But those were not the coins released in late 2025. Bessent, who is allowed by law to make the final decision on coin designs, opted to replace the abolition, suffrage and Civil Rights Movement coins with ones depicting the Mayflower Compact, the American Revolution and the Gettysburg Address.

The change in coin designs came after Trump signed an executive order focused on how history is presented, urging institutions to tell an uplifting story of American history  a move that was criticized by historians as an attempt to whitewash the nations past.

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In their letter Jan. 26, the Democratic lawmakers urged Bessent to restore the abolition, suffrage and civil rights coins. They, and some members of the coin advisory committee, say the new designs did not go through the proper review required by law.

In celebration of America's 250th anniversary, the U.S. Mint will release in 2026, five special quarters. This is the U.S. Constitution Quarter.

Without proof that the legal processes were followed, you must reject the U.S. Mints announcement and choose from the original, appropriately approved designs, the group of senators wrote.

Rather than showcasing the countrys 250-year history, they said, the designs only cover the first 87 years of the USA as a nation.

Donald Scarinci, a member of the coinage advisory committee, acknowledged to USA TODAY that the dispute seemed like a mere disagreement over coin designs. But Scarinci said via e-mail that he viewed the changes more broadly: It is about the rule of law.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: A $1 Trump coin? Inside the currency controversy
When specialized Haitian police units and a drone task force broke through barricades and entered the home of one of Haitis most notorious gang warlords earlier this month, their mission was simple, but highly symbolic.

They would occupy the house for several hours  then destroy it.

The target was a residence linked to gang leader and spokesman of the powerful Viv Ansanm gang coalition, Jimmy Barbecue Cherizier, in the Delmas 6 neighborhood of Port-au-Prince.

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The two hours security forces spent inside his house and an adjoining property before blowing them up came to underscore a shift now quietly being acknowledged even by Haitis deeply divided political class: despite ongoing political turmoil and the absence of any major gang leader being killed or captured, security forces, using drones, are beginning to make tangible gains against the armed groups that dominate much of the capital.

It was definitely done as a sign to the rest of the gangs that the task force can go where it wants, when it wants, a source close to the operation told the Miami Herald.

After months of struggling to establish itself in gang-controlled Port-au-Prince, the specialized drone task force supporting the Haiti National Police is changing the battlefield.

Operation des forces de lordre a Bas-Delmas, fief du chef de gang Babekyou, avec utilisation de drones kamikazes. pic.twitter.com/1JvBrmbxQg  Infos Partage (@infospartagesos) January 14, 2026

Earlier this month, one of Haitis most well-known thoroughfares, Rue Jean-Jacques Dessalines, briefly became something almost unrecognizable in recent years: a functioning road through the capital.

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A video clip shared with the Miami Herald show an armored bulldozer pushing aside burned-out vehicles and debris that had long served as gang barricades, trapping residents inside downtown neighborhoods and keeping police out. Behind it, a line of 20 civilian cars waited patiently for the last obstacle to be cleared before driving through.

For more than a year, merchants and motorists had avoided the area amid gang gunfire and kidnappings. The return of traffic, even if not what it once was, was a small but a meaningful victory.

Were far from being done with this operation, said the task force operative who spoke to the Herald. But I would say were at least at the end of the beginning. And what weve seen of [the Haitian national police] is now the ability to go and clear these neighborhoods, overmatch the gangs that tend to not want to fight as much because the gangs lose those fights.

Hired by Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aime with the approval of Washington, the task force operates under the supervision of U.S.-based private security firm Vectus Global. The firm was founded by Erik Prince, the former CEO of private military contractor Blackwater whose entry into Haiti has met with mixed reactions.

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After an initial slow start with its explosive drone operations in March of last year, Vectus Global began stepping up, achieving success with a police raid to take back a key telecommunications tower in September from gangs in the hills above Port-au-Prince. But its missed drone strikes triggered anger in the population after several children were killed when a drone missed its intended target at a gang leaders birthday party, and weeks later when it barely missed individuals waiting at a bus stop in front of a hospital as it targeted a moving vehicle.

During the raid at Cheriziers home, none of his team came to fight that day, said the security operative. The panicked gang leader later took to social media to appeal to cops from a new hiding place.

With gang members now panicked and a stash of at least 100 retrieved weapons recovered by police, the source said task force believes the team is now showing great and measurable success in the model that we predicted would work.

Reporting is indicating probably half the gangs are just abandoning their positions completely, the source said, adding that the model will now be accelerated.

Drone task force security model

Haiti National Police Director Andre Jonas Vladimir Paraison said gang leaders are running and hiding while deploying their foot soldiers to the front lines. Ive yet to encounter a general on the battlefield, he told journalists last week as he held a two-hour press conference to discuss the recent successes and the challenges the Haiti National Police forces continue to face.

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Even without any top gang leaders in custody, the shift in security operations is fueling confidence and hope in Haiti, where the gang violence has shuttered schools and hospitals, forced more than 1.4 million people to flee their homes and placed much of the country at the mercy of armed groups.

Currently, there are 129 personnel deployed as part of the task forces one-year deal to tackle gang violence. Working alongside the Haiti National Police, the Armed Forces of Haiti and the Kenya-led international police mission  now operating as the newly authorized Gang Suppression Forc  they are relying on both weaponized and surveillance drones. The coordination is also being done with the help of .50-cal machine guns mounted on armored vehicles.

The tools and the tactics that have been gathered to this mission are working. [Gangs] really dont like to fight against drones. They dont like to fight against the .50-caliber on top of the vehicles, because the .50-caliber will eat through those buildings, the task force operative said of the higher caliber weapons Haiti has finally been authorized to use under U.S. arms rules.

In the months before the surge in operations, police lost 25 armored vehicles to ambushes involving barricades, trenches and Molotov cocktail attacks, authorities said. Since the new tactics were introduced, officials say police vehicle losses have dropped to zero.

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Still, the gains remain fragile.

We just need the Gang Suppression Force and other elements of the [Haitian National Police] to step up and to just occupy these newly cleared areas, the source said.

The Gang Suppression Force was conceived by the United States and authorized by the United Nations in late September. Its first troops arent expected to arrive before April. Leaning more towards military than policing, the new force is expected to be five times the size of the Kenya-led operation currently in Haiti, and more heavily armed.

Gang expansion continues

In a report to the Security Council this month, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres acknowledged that the intensified anti-gang operations in Port-au-Prince and parts of the neighboring Artibonite region have resulted in the reopening of several key roads. But he also noted that gangs expansion beyond metropolitan Port-au-Prince continue to undermine government authority, disrupting humanitarian and commercial routes in the region.

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The U.N. also noted that the controversial drone strikes resulted in at least 973 people killed between March and December. This includes 934 alleged gang members and 39 residents, among them 16 children. Another 674 people were injured, including 41 residents and 18 children.

The civilian casualties have drawn sharp criticism from human-rights groups, which argue not enough care is being taken to prevent the deaths. The task force says warnings are issued ahead of strikes and extensive surveillance precedes operations.

They are extremely judicious, the source said. I would encourage civilians to not be in those prepared gang defensive positions if they dont want to get killed. Other than that, I think the collateral damage has been extremely, extremely minimal.

The operations, Paraison said, reflect coordinated efforts, and the task force is an extension of the current security framework.

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During the press conference, he acknowledged the heavy casualties on the side of gang members. But he also described the challenge of fighting armed men who are sometimes paid as little as $1.15 a day to carry out attacks.

If 20 die today, we know that 100 will be ready tomorrow, said Paraison, who previously oversaw the task force before he was tapped in August to head the national police. A lot of people are asking, where did they come from?

The Haiti National Police, he said, are determined to respond. We are not pretending we can do everything, Paraison added. But if we can limit it, we will limit it, what we can do we will do.

Expanding role of private security

The expanding role of private security firms in Haiti has fueled controversy, particularly after it was revealed last summer that in addition to the $50 million the government was paying for the drone operations, they were seeking private companies to collect taxes at the land border with the Dominican Republic.

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After months on hold, a 10-year deal was signed this month, according to the daily Le Nouvelliste. Under the deal, the companies Evergreen, Alex Stewart International, Ense Group and SecuriPort would help fortify land borders, seaports and airports in exchange for a share of the increased revenue from the improved security. Paraison did not address the contract, which is currently under review by Haitis Superior Court of Auditors.

Haiti National Police Director Andre Jonas Vladimir Paraison, right, greets the high command of the police on Friday, January 23, 2026 before welcoming 877 new graduates of the academy. The rookie cops are the first class in an accelerated, U.S.-supported training program aimed at adding 4,000 officers within 12 months to the beleaguered force trying to take on gangs. (Haiti National Police)

But he told reporters that control of the border is among the polices most pressing challenges. Haiti, he said, only controls four of its 110 border crossings along its 242-mile frontier with the Dominican Republic.

Everything else has been tried in Haiti: The all-government all-the-time approached has not worked, the source close to the task force said, pushing back against criticism the government is privatizing core state functions. Give the private sector a chance to show whats been done.

New Haiti police recruits

Haiti has fewer than one police officer per 1,000 residents, Paraison said, and the force face severe personnel shortage.

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Last week, 877 new recruits graduated from an accelerated, U.S.-supported program aimed at adding 4,000 officers within 12 months.

The Haitian National Police has been in combat mode, Paraison said at the ceremony. Battles have been fought in key strategic locations, particularly in the citys center and its surrounding areas. We are on all fronts simultaneously until the terrorist gangs have been neutralized and the well-being of our fellow citizens has been ensured.

Henry Wooster, the charge daffaires at the U.S. Embassy, said Haitis stability and security were top priorities for Washington and required monitoring and accountability.

Haitians have suffered enough from gang violence, he said during the police graduation ceremony. Wooster also used his time at the podium to address the countrys politicians and a looming political crisis in which a majority of the countrys Transitional Presidential Council members voted to oust the prime minister ahead of the end of its mandate on Feb. 7.

Maintaining Alix Didier Fils-Aime at the head of the Haitian government remains essential to advancing efforts to combat terrorist gangs and stabilize the country, Wooster said, before issuing a warning to political figures whom he accused of being corrupt and banking their political survival on the support of violent gangs.

The United States is watching closely. We will ensure that anyone who supports the terrorism responsible for the chaos in Haiti and the insecurity in the region faces severe consequences. The era of impunity is over, he said.

For now, success remains modest  and uncertain.

I think theres an initial glimpse of hope, said the task-force source. Its my goal that by late summer we can drive from Cap-Haitien unbothered by gangs, or from Port-au-Prince out to the DR border unbothered. Thats the measure of success for what the task force is doing: Can you move around the country without anybody robbing, raping or assaulting you?
A Dutch court convicted an Eritrean man of people smuggling and extortion on Tuesday and sentenced him to the maximum 20 years imprisonment, saying that he and his accomplices subjected migrants to "cruel, violent, and degrading treatment."

Tewelde Goitom, also known as Amanuel Walid, was found guilty by the Overijssel District Court of leading a criminal organisation that mistreated migrants seeking to cross the Mediterranean to reach Europe and extorted money from their families in the Netherlands to pay for the risky voyages.

The courtrejected his defence that he was not the person identified by witnesses as a leader of a notorious smuggling network that shipped people from Libya to Europe and often onward to the Netherlands, where they applied for asylum.

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Presiding Judge Rene Melaard called the case "exceptionally serious" because of both the nature and scope of the crimes.

"On the one hand, because of the gross undermining of Dutch and European immigration policy, but on the other, and especially, because of the particularly cruel, violent and degrading treatment to which you and your accomplices subjected the migrants," Melaard said.

Migrants from Eritrea, Libya and Sudan sail in a wooden boat before being assisted by aid workers of the Spanish NGO Open Arms in the Mediterranean Sea, 17 June, 2023 - AP Photo

"You, along with your accomplices, were merciless, unscrupulous, and devoid of regard for human dignity in your treatment" of the migrants "apparently solely to extort as much money as possible from vulnerable and helpless people seeking a better future," Melaard added.

Goitom, 42, was also ordered to pay more than 30,000 in damages to victims. He has two weeks to appeal his conviction.

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Migrants seeking to get to Europe were held by Goitom's network in camps in Libya, where they were "mistreated while being forced to call family members, who were pressured to transfer money for their relatives' passage," the court said in a statement.

"Only when their passage to Europe had been paid for was a migrant eligible to leave the camp and continue their journey."

In a message on X, the prosecutor's office at the International Criminal Court welcomed the verdicts, saying that it had shared evidence in the case as part of a joint team investigating crimes against migrants in Libya. The ICC has an ongoing investigation in Libya.

At the opening of the trial in November, Goitom told judges that he was a victim of mistaken identity. He was extradited to the Netherlands in 2022 from Ethiopia, where he was convicted of similar crimes.

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Goitom's case was delayed by the lengthy extradition process of another man, Kidane Zekarias Habtemariam, who escaped during trial in Ethiopia in 2020.

Described as one of "the world's most wanted" human traffickers, Habtemariam was extradited from the United Arab Emirates to the Netherlands in late December and is expected to stand trial in a Dutch court at a later date.

Habtemariam was convicted in absentia and sentenced to life imprisonment after escaping from custody in Ethiopia while on trial on people smuggling charges.

Both men are facing justice in the Netherlands because Dutch prosecutors say some of their alleged crimes happened in the Netherlands.

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Related

They say that Dutch-based relatives of migrants seeking to make the perilous journey from East Africa through Libya and across the Mediterranean to Europe were extorted by people smugglers.

Goitom's defence lawyers disagree. "There is no clear connection to the Netherlands," Simcha Plas argued, saying that the payments were made in Eritrea or via the UAE and that the Netherlands lacked jurisdiction to hear the case.

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The court rejected that argument as they convicted Goitom of multiple charges of complicity in people smuggling and extortion.

He was acquitted in the cases of two migrants because judges said there was insufficient evidence.
Sen. Steve Kolbeck, R-Brandon, testifies on Jan. 27, 2026, to the Senate Commerce and Energy Committee at the South Dakota Capitol in Pierre. (Photo by Joshua Haiar/South Dakota Searchlight)

PIERRE  South Dakota lawmakers advanced a bill Tuesday at the Capitol that would give utilities legal protections if a wildfire is blamed on them, in exchange for filing a wildfire mitigation plan.

The Senate Commerce and Energy Committee voted 6-3 to send the bill to the full Senate.

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Under the bill, private utilities could submit mitigation plans to the Public Utilities Commission, while electric cooperatives and municipal utilities could submit plans to their boards or city councils. The utilities that do so would have to file annual compliance reports.

The bill includes required elements for plans, such as identifying higher-risk areas, inspection and operating standards, vegetation management strategies, and coordination with the appropriate wildfire agencies.

Liability changes

The bills most debated section would change the legal playing field after a wildfire. It would bar courts from applying strict liability to qualified utilities in wildfire-damage lawsuits. That is a legal standard that makes entities responsible for harm they cause, regardless of whether they were negligent or intended to cause it.

The bill would make the new law a plaintiffs sole remedy against a qualified utility for wildfire losses.

The bill is sponsored by Sen. Steve Kolbeck, R-Brandon, who works as a director of business affairs at Xcel Energy, an investor-owned utility with over 100,000 customers in the state.

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We want to make people whole. We just dont want to make them rich, Kolbeck told fellow members of the committee.

The bill says plaintiffs would be able to recover losses only by proving that the utility failed to substantially comply with an essential element of the plan, and that failure was the actual and proximate cause of the damages to the plaintiff.

Plaintiffs would have three years to file a lawsuit from the date of ignition.



The bill would also limit noneconomic damages awarded in lawsuits to cases involving death or visible bodily injury in the form of a burn, and restrict punitive damages to situations proven by clear and convincing evidence of malice or criminal intent.



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Property damages would be capped at the lesser of restoration cost or the change in fair market value before and after the wildfire.



Supporters and opponents

Some utility groups, firefighters, business groups and the state Public Utilities Commission argued the bill would reduce both wildfire risk and utilities financial exposure before a catastrophic event, especially in high-risk areas like the Black Hills.

Supporters also said wildfire-related insurance is becoming harder to obtain and more expensive for utilities, and the threat of massive wildfire liability can drive up costs that ultimately land on customers.

In opposition, insurance industry representatives and trial lawyers argued the bill would give utilities special legal protections not available to other businesses or individuals and shift the cost of wildfire losses from utilities onto property owners and their insurers.

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We want to make people whole. We just dont want to make them rich.

 Sen. Steve Kolbeck, R-Brandon, the sponsor of a bill that would limit electrical providers' wildfire liability

Opponents said the bill effectively replaces a stricter liability standard with a negligence-based framework with additional protections for utilities, and that victims could be left undercompensated due to limits on noneconomic damages, restrictions on punitive damages, and the cap on property recovery. They also raised concerns that the mitigation plan standards are too general and enforcement is too weak.

Fire victims may not recover non-economic damages unless the plaintiff suffers death or visible body injury in the form of a burn, said Steve Siegel, representing the South Dakota Trial Lawyers Association. No smoke inhalation, burned lungs. Id like to know, what is the definition of visible bodily injury? Is that with the naked eye? Does that include an MRI scan or a CT scan?

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Siegel said the threat of having to pay damages in lawsuits helps incentivize utilities to mitigate the risk of a fire.

Power line-related incidents are sources of ignition in the Black Hills. In 2017, the Legion Lake Fire, a wind-driven wildfire that started in Custer State Park, grew rapidly and burned a mix of over 50,000 public and private acres, prompting evacuations and park closures. Investigators concluded the fire was sparked when a tree fell and broke a power line.

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The European Union gave the middle finger to the Trump administration on Monday when its leaders announced a formal investigation into Elon Musks social media platform X over the spread of illicit content generated by artificial intelligence.

The EU alleges that Xs AI chatbot, Grok  which has generated numerous controversies in the past several months involving sexually explicit images, including ones depicting children  has violated the EUs Digital Services Act, which is designed to curb the spread of abusive and manipulative content online. Just last month, the EU fined X $140 million for what it called the deceptive design of Musks verified user feature and a failure to comply with the DSAs transparency rules.

We believe that X may have breached the DSA, a spokesperson said in a video announcement posted Monday. We have seen over the last weeks and months antisemitic content. We have seen nonconsensual deepfakes of women. And we have seen child sexual abuse material.

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Ive previously written about the widely publicized incidents in which Grok was found spreading antisemitism and other forms of hate speech, as well as the more recent incidents involving people using the chatbot to generate deepfake pornography  including child porn.

The EU has insisted that it will maintain complete independence as it weighs its rules regarding Big Tech. But the Trump administration has essentially done everything in its power to impose its will on behalf of the Big Tech oligarchs  including Musk, the multibillionaire whom Trump tapped to lead his so-called Department of Government Efficiency to fire thousands of federal civil servants  who are presently major GOP donors.

In December, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick openly declared that EU countries would need to weaken their tech regulations for relief from Trumps steel tariffs. More recently, a top State Department official issued a threat that nothing is off the table when it comes to free speech, suggesting the department views efforts to rein in abusive pornographic material as an infringement on free speech rights.

Nonetheless, for now it appears the EUs Grok probe is pushing along undeterred.

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X did not respond to my request for comment on whether it views anti-sex abuse measures as an unlawful infringement on speech rights. In response to my request for comment on the EUs probe, a company spokesperson shared a link to a company webpage on safety that says the platform has a zero tolerance policy for any forms of child sexual exploitation, non-consensual nudity, and unwanted sexual content.

In a news release announcing the investigation, Henna Virkkunen, the EUs vice president for tech sovereignty, security and democracy, said:

Sexual deepfakes of women and children are a violent, unacceptable form of degradation. With this investigation, we will determine whether X has met its legal obligations under the DSA, or whether it treated rights of European citizens  including those of women and children  as collateral damage of its service.

The post EU snubs Trump administration and Musk with Grok AI deepfake porn probe appeared first on MS NOW.

This article was originally published on ms.now
By Richard Cowan

WASHINGTON, Jan 27 (Reuters) - Funding for the Department of Homeland Security and several other U.S. government agencies could expire this week if Republicans and Democrats in the U.S. Congress do not resolve a dispute over immigration agents' aggressive enforcement efforts.

WHY IS ICE SO CONTROVERSIAL?

President Donald Trump is waging a massive campaign to deport immigrants who are in the country illegally, which also has snared some immigrants with legal status and U.S. citizens.

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Trump's administration has surged agents to several Democratic-led cities including Los Angeles, Chicago, Charlotte, and most recently Minneapolis and St. Paul.

In Minneapolis, residents have been angered by several incidents, including the killing of two U.S. citizens, the detention of a U.S. citizen who was taken from his home in his shorts, and the detention of school children, including a 5-year-old boy.

Meanwhile, six deaths in Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention centers are known to have occurred just this month.

WHAT DO DEMOCRATS WANT?

Democrats have long been calling for tougher controls over immigration agent operations and practices. In the wake of Saturday's shooting of U.S. citizen Alex Pretti, they are demanding that such reforms be attached to legislation that funds the Department of Homeland Security through September.

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That bill was approved last week in the House of Representatives over the objection of most Democrats. The DHS funding was attached to broader legislation that also funds agencies ranging from the Defense Department to those operating medical research, housing and education programs.

Democrats are seeking: a prohibition on ICE detentions or deportations of American citizens; a ban on masks worn by ICE agents; a requirement to wear body cameras; explicit prohibitions on excessive use of force; prohibitions on raids of churches, mosques, synagogues and other places of worship, as well as hospitals and schools; and no absolute immunity from prosecution of agents violating codes of conduct.

Other Democrats have also urged improved training for agents and requiring court-issued warrants for immigration searches and detentions.

Democrats are also seeking to separate DHS spending from the larger package, to avoid disruption to other agencies. They have offered to agree to a temporary funding measure to provide more time for the two parties to find a compromise on additional ICE restrictions.

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WHAT DO REPUBLICANS WANT?

Republicans do not want to change the funding bill and are pushing to pass it in the Senate by the January 30 deadline.

Republican Senator Susan Collins of Maine, who chairs the Senate Appropriations Committee, said on Monday that the sprawling package already contains guardrails on ICE behavior.

For example, it provides $20 million for body-worn cameras, lays out protections for pregnant women in DHS custody, and prohibits the destruction of evidence involving the deaths of people in custody.

WHAT HAPPENS IF A DEAL IS NOT REACHED?

Immigration enforcement would likely be unaffected. During the last shutdown in October, DHS deemed 258,000 of its 272,000 employees "essential," which meant they stayed on the job after funding expired. While essential employees typically do not get paid during a shutdown, Trump's administration kept pay flowing for immigration agents and other federal law enforcement.

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DHS has another stream of funding as well. Last year's "One Big Beautiful Bill," which was opposed by most Democrats, includes $75 billion in additional funding for ICE that allows it to significantly increase the size of its workforce and expand detention facilities, as DHS aims to meet Trump's goal of deporting 1 million people annually.

That money would be available even if Congress does not pass the DHS funding bill.

WHAT'S NEXT?

A large, widespread winter storm has hindered the ability of lawmakers to return to Washington to work on the spending legislation. Senators are expected back in town late on Tuesday, and Republicans and Democrats on Wednesday are scheduled to hold their separate policy lunches. That will be the next opportunity for the 53 Republican senators and 47 members of the Democratic caucus to try to chart their strategies in this battle.

(Reporting by Richard Cowan; Editing by Andy Sullivan and Alistair Bell)
By Andy Sullivan

WASHINGTON, Jan 27 (Reuters) - Large portions of the U.S. government could be forced to shut down as soon as Saturday if Congress does not resolve a dispute over immigration enforcement.

WHY WOULD THE GOVERNMENT SHUT DOWN?

Congress is supposed to allocate funding to 438 government agencies each year. If they fail to do so, agencies must stop all work not deemed "essential."

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Lawmakers have already passed legislation to fund dozens of agencies for the current fiscal year, which runs through September 30.

But Democrats in the Senate, angered by President Donald Trump's aggressive immigration enforcement policies, say they will not back funding for the Department of Homeland Security without additional oversight provisions. The bill cannot pass without their support, as it needs 60 votes to advance in the Senate and Republicans only hold 53 seats.

Republicans so far have shown no interest in changing the bill, which passed the House of Representatives last week.

Without compromise, a shutdown is likely when current funding expires at 12:01 a.m. Eastern Time on Saturday, January 31.

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WHAT AGENCIES WOULD BE AFFECTED BY THIS GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN?

Aside from the Department of Homeland Security, other agencies could see their funding expire because they are included in the same spending bill.

Those include: the Defense Department, the Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of Labor, the Department of Education, the Department of Transportation, the Department of Housing and Urban Development, the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Treasury Department, the federal court system and the State Department.

DHS includes several agencies responsible for immigration, including Customs and Border Protection and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). It also includes the Coast Guard, the Secret Service, and agencies responsible for cybersecurity, airport security, disaster response, and counterterrorism.

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Democrats are pressing Republicans to break up the spending bill so these agencies would not be disrupted by the fight over DHS. Republicans so far have said they will not break up the spending bill.

Any changes made by the Senate would also have to be approved by the Republican-controlled House, which is out of session and due to return to Washington on February 2.

WHAT SERVICES WOULD BE IMPACTED?

The federal court system says it will not have money to sustain full operations after February 4, which could disrupt hearings and other activities.

Tax processing, including refunds, could be disrupted if funding for the Internal Revenue Service lapses.

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Data provided by the Bureau of Labor Statistics could be disrupted or delayed, as it was during the previous shutdown, leaving investors in the dark about the health of the U.S. economy.

Research activities at the National Institutes of Health could also be disrupted.

WHAT WOULD NOT BE AFFECTED?

Trump has already signed legislation that funds dozens of agencies for the current fiscal year.

Those include: the Department of Justice, the FBI, the Department of Commerce, NASA, the Department of Energy, the Army Corps of Engineers, the Interior Department, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Agriculture Department, the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Smithsonian Institution and the National Science Foundation.

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That means popular tourist destinations like the Grand Canyon and the National Zoo would be unaffected if the government shuts down. The SNAP food aid program likewise would continue.

Even in the agencies that run out of funding, hundreds of thousands of employees would be deemed "essential" and would continue to do their jobs. Those include military troops, air traffic controllers, and nearly all DHS employees: customs agents, airport security personnel, Border Patrol, and ICE.

Essential workers are typically not paid until Congress restores funding. But during the October-November 2025 shutdown, Trump kept pay flowing for troops and federal law enforcement, including Border Patrol and ICE.

WHAT IS THE IMPACT OF A GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN?

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There have been 16 shutdowns since 1981, many lasting only a day or two.

The most recent one was also the longest, lasting 43 days from October 1 to November 12, 2025, prompted by an unsuccessful attempt by Democrats to extend healthcare subsidies that were due to expire at the end of the year.

Hundreds of thousands of federal workers were furloughed without pay and a wide range of services were disrupted, including air travel, food assistance and economic data. The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office estimated that it would cost the U.S. economy about $11 billion.

(Reporting by Andy Sullivan; Editing by Alistair Bell)
Demonstrators rally for funding for disability programs at the Utah State Capitol in Salt Lake City on Monday, Jan. 26, 2026. (Will Ruzanski/Utah News Dispatch)

Hundreds of Utahns gathered at the Capitol steps Monday afternoon  many holding signs, maneuvering wheelchairs, or pushing strollers  to celebrate Disability Advocacy Day, an annual event organized by the Utah Parent Center. After marching through the Capitol plaza, Utahns with disabilities and advocates alike rallied, urging lawmakers to reconsider potential cuts to vital disability support programs.

The demonstration comes as Utahs Legislature looks to make budget cuts amid federal funding uncertainty and Medicaid reductions from President Donald Trumps One Big Beautiful Bill Act. Advocates warn that Utahs proposed 5-10% funding reductions would disrupt important disability services, negatively affecting thousands of people across the state.

Some of the cuts on the table include a proposed 10% cut to DSPD waivers, which are Medicaid programs that essentially allow people to live in the community, in their homes, said Nate Crippes, the public affairs supervising attorney with the Disability Law Center.

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A 10% cut would really be a devastating thing to the system, where youd see providers struggle to make it, youd see people lose access to services that help them stay in their homes, live with their families, in the community, in their own apartment, things of that nature, he said. That would be pretty devastating to people with intellectual developmental disabilities and people who are aging.

Joey Hanna, executive director of the Utah Parent Center, said the disability service system is already really stretched, emphasizing that funding cuts could increase backlogs and lead to closures.

This is a system where its already really hard to get and keep quality employees for our most vulnerable population, she said. A 10% cut on top of that would see some really reliable, excellent providers close their doors and go out of business.

The rally

Discussing the events turnout, Hanna pressed the importance for advocates, especially younger Utahns, to have their voices heard and exercise their civil duties.

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This is a community that already deals with having to jump through so many hoops, having to be bottom-of-the-barrel feeders when it comes to a lot of different services and different things, she said. I think when you threaten to take away even more or make additional barriers, it really gets people riled up.

Demonstrators rally for funding for disability programs at the Utah State Capitol in Salt Lake City on Monday, Jan. 26, 2026. (Will Ruzanski/Utah News Dispatch)

Rep. John Arthur, D-Holladay, was among the legislators who attended the rally. While speaking with Utah News Dispatch, he said if anything, this is a program that needs more funding, not less.

Outside of the Legislature, Arthur is a sixth grade teacher. He cited his experience with disabled students in the Salt Lake City School District.

These are the kids who need the most help and funding for their education, Arthur said. Its more expensive, and unfortunately, its also more necessary. Without it, they cant have access to an education, and Ive watched kids try to make do with less over the years.  These folks are making it clear that if you do (reduce funding), their lives are going to be horribly affected.

Response from legislators

Demonstrators rally for funding for disability programs at the Utah State Capitol in Salt Lake City on Monday, Jan. 26, 2026. (Will Ruzanski/Utah News Dispatch)

Several legislators spoke with Utah News Dispatch about the proposed budget reductions, emphasizing uncertainty for what the final cuts will look like.

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Every budget committee in the legislature was asked to look at at least 5% cuts, said Sen. Todd Weiler, R-Woods Cross. He emphasized that no decisions have been made and budget requirements are still in the air.

We may get to a point where they say, we asked you for 5% (reduction but) we actually only need to do 2 or 3%, he said. They might say, we asked you for 5%, we need 10%. So, I mean, Ill know a lot more in a month than I know now.

Rep. Jen Dailey-Provost, D-Salt Lake City, echoed Weilers uncertainty.

I dont want people to think that coming up with this list of a 5% cut necessarily means that were going to cut all these things, she said. Im hoping when the time comes, well find that our financial situation is better than we hoped, and that the cuts that may or may not be recommended would be less necessary.

Demonstrators rally for funding for disability programs at the Utah State Capitol in Salt Lake City on Monday, Jan. 26, 2026. (Will Ruzanski/Utah News Dispatch)

Utahs Legislature is making widespread budget cuts after congressional Republicans Big Beautiful Bill reduced federal funding for programs like Medicaid, placing financial burden on the states.

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In the Big Beautiful Bill, they decided in order to fund some of their tax cuts, they were going to put money that they normally spent and funded, that we didnt, onto the states, said Rep. Christine Watkins, R-Price.

Its going to take us time to make those adjustments, because its not going to change, she added. Its going to happen next year too, we will not get that federal funding so we have to make those adjustments.

Weiler agreed that the federal legislation forces Utah to reduce its budget, saying the state will collect $300 million less in income tax this year than we would have.

I do think its a wise principle for a state government to constantly be asking if there is some fat that we could cut, he said. I dont agree that the fat that should be cut relates to people with disabilities, because they need services.

The Legislative Coalition for People with Disabilities hosts a reception after the rally in the Utah State Capitol rotunda on Monday, Jan. 26, 2026. (Will Ruzanski/Utah News Dispatch

Both Republican legislators emphasized the importance of a careful review process before making cuts.

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Were just getting started in that process, and were going to be asking a lot of questions and looking out for people who need that extra help, Watkins said.

Weiler echoed Watkins sentiment, encouraging constituents to make your voices heard.

Dont give up, not all is lost, Weiler said. Well probably land in a good place, but stay tuned because theres a lot of moving parts.

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JAMESTOWN, R.I. (WPRI)  The batteries inside thousands of E-ZPass transponders have reached the end of their life, causing a number of Rhode Islanders to receive unexpected toll bills in the mail.

Susan Hammond said that, despite having a transponder connected to her car, she received several bills from multiple states after going on a road trip last year. Those bills included hefty fines.

Somewhere in the ballpark of $500 to $570  it was a lot of money, she said.

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12 RESPONDS: What to do if you suspect your E-ZPass transponder has died

Jim Yeaman also faced tolling trouble when he received a bill because his transponder had died.

My transponder expired, and I ended up with about $300 worth of charges, Yeaman said.

The Rhode Island Turnpike and Bridge Authority (RITBA) told Target 12 about 6,500 transponders failed in 2025 because of their lithium-ion batteries.

The ones especially that were issued in 2008, 2009 and 2010 have done their duty, RITBA Director Lori Caron Silveira said.

The E-ZPass Group said the batteries have about a 10-year life under normal usage conditions. However, the transponders provided by the RITBA are warrantied for only five years.

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Silveira acknowledged that customers have been frustrated by the bills, which is why RITBA now has a way to communicate with customers who are receiving excessive license plate transactions.

We now reach out to those customers and say, somethings wrong here,' she said. When youre receiving these invoices in the mail when your tolls should be posting to your account, reach out to us.

RELATED: RI DMV issues warning about toll scams

Silveira said RITBA also hopes to eventually do away with transponders by using radio-frequency sticker tags instead.

The future of detecting tolls at tolling points is sticker tags, she said. There will be no lithium battery, which is wonderful.

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Silveira explained that the only drawback to sticker tags is that drivers will not be able to remove the sticker and use it on another vehicle.

You cant peel the sticker off one car and use it in another, she said.

Silveira expects the stickers to roll out later this year.

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Daily Roundup

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 WPRI.com.
THE HAGUE, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- A shipment of nearly 5,000 kilograms of cocaine was recently intercepted by Dutch customs, the Dutch Public Prosecution Service (OM) confirmed on Tuesday, describing it as one of the largest drug seizures ever involving the Netherlands as the intended final destination.

According to an OM press release, the shipment was delivered to a company in the municipality of Moerdijk, in the southern province of North Brabant.

The cocaine was discovered on Jan. 8 and 9 in two containers transporting electric magnets. Further investigation revealed that a total of 4,882 packages were concealed within the magnets, with a combined weight of nearly 5,000 kilograms of cocaine.

A suspect from the Netherlands was arrested in connection with the case and appeared before an examining magistrate on Tuesday.

The seized drugs have since been destroyed. 
A Minnesota womans family is speaking out after she died while asleep on her mothers shoulder during an international flight from the U.S. to the U.K.

Rachel Green, a 44-year-old attorney and writer, died on a Delta Air Lines flight from Minneapolis to London on April 30, 2025, according to a GoFundMe started by her family.

Now, investigators in the U.K. have revealed what likely caused her death.

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The West London Coroners Court recently heard that Greens death was likely the result of an undiagnosed heart condition in combination with prescription medications, according to The Irish Sun.

Dr. Alan Bates, a pathologist, said he found multiple substances in her blood, including melatonin, antidepressants and a small amount of alcohol, the outlet reports.

Rachel Green, a 44-year-old from Minnesota, died while flying from Minneapolis to London earlier this year (GoFundMe)

Bates also said he found evidence of myocardial tunneling, a condition in which an artery travels through the heart muscle, rather than on its surface, according to The Irish Sun.

Senior Coroner Lydia Brown reportedly said Green had taken a range of complex medications, but there was no evidence she was taking any in excess.

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She also had a congenital heart condition. This contributed to her death, along with the medications, Brown said.

Greens sister, Roxanne Carney, said she had an abnormal heart test that wasnt investigated further, according to The Irish Sun. Now, shes questioning why her sister was never referred to a cardiologist before being prescribed this combination.

Why was she on this regimen? Why are they prescribing this combination of medications? Carney reportedly said.

She added: If you can see all the records, ethically, how can you do this?

Senior Coroner Lydia Brown said in court that it is typically reviewed in the U.K., but that the entirety of your population doesnt seem to have that.

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[It is] unusual to find so many different [drugs]. Matters are done very differently in the U.S., Brown reportedly said.

Green was traveling to London to complete research for an upcoming historical fiction work on Eleanor of Aquitaine, an influential medieval queen, her family said on the GoFundMe page. She was described as a brilliant writer who had a keen love of theatre.

Rachel was beyond selfless, always taking care of everyone around her and trying to guide people to the goodness in life, be it traveling, enjoying a play, or a gathering, her family wrote.

Green had also just recovered from an unexpected illness that forced her to relocate to her hometown in Minnesota and relearn how to walk.

She exuded unyielding strength and courage at even the most difficult times, the GoFundMe page reads.

The Independent has contacted Carney and Delta Air Lines for comment.
PEN YANN, N.Y. (WROC)  A Farmington man has been charged after an investigation into the sexual assault of a teenager.

34-year-old Daniel R. Sims is accused of providing alcohol and drugs to the 15-year-old victim before having sexual contact with them while they were under the influence and incapacitated by the drugs and alcohol.

According to the Penn Yan Police Department, Sims is currently on parole for a previous conviction. During the investigation into the assault, he was arrested by the New York State Parole Officers before being placed in the custody of Penn Yan Police.

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He has since been charged with rape in the first degree, rape in the third degree, and facilitating a sexual performance of a child with drugs or alcohol. Sims is currently being held in the Yates County Jail awaiting arraignment in Yates County CAP Court.

Police were assisted by the Child Advocacy Center of the Finger Lakes, the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision, and the Yates County District Attorneys Office.

Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to RochesterFirst.
ISHIGAKI, Japan, Jan 27 (Reuters) - Hitoshi Nakama, 76, sees himself as a frontline defender of Japan's claims to disputed islands in the East China Sea, where he regularly evades Chinese coast guard ships to harvest the bountiful waters.

But since late last year, some Japanese officials have been discreetly urging Nakama and his peers to steer clear of the remote outcrops - known as Senkaku in Japan and Diaoyu in China - to avoid escalating a diplomatic clash with Beijing, according to Nakama and three other people with knowledge of the requests.

The requests, reported for the first time by Reuters, signal an abrupt shift after years in which Tokyo tacitly accepted such trips, used by some fishermen as a way to assert Japan's control of the uninhabited islets and surrounding seas.

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The islands, administered by Japan but also claimed by China, have long been a flashpoint in relations between the two Asian powers. Ties have deteriorated since Japanese leader Sanae Takaichi angered China in November by commenting on how Tokyo might respond to a Chinese attack on Taiwan.

U.S. President Donald Trump later that month asked Takaichi, a staunch nationalist who became prime minister in October, not to further inflame the tensions. Reuters couldn't determine whether the pleas to the fishermen were ordered by Takaichi or linked to the appeal from the United States, Japan's security backer.

Takaichi's office and Japan's foreign ministry declined to address questions about the requests to fishermen. The foreign ministry said in a statement that the islands were an inherent part of Japan's territory and that it had repeatedly lodged diplomatic protests over Chinese incursions.

The warnings issued to fishermen illustrate a catch-22 for Tokyo: Fishing underlines Japan's control of the islands but risks triggering a more serious confrontation with Chinese coast guard vessels that could escalate rapidly, according to more than a dozen people interviewed by Reuters, including fishermen, Japanese officials and security analysts. Yet a pullback may lead China to more assertively press its claims, some of these people said.

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China's foreign ministry told Reuters some right-wing Japanese had repeatedly entered the waters of the islands "in the name of 'fishing' to provoke and cause trouble", adding that maritime issues should be addressed through dialogue and consultation.

A Trump administration official declined to address questions about the president's November call with Takaichi but said the U.S. opposed unilateral attempts to change the status quo in the East China Sea.

SMALL INCIDENTS CAN 'LEAD TO WAR'

As tensions with China flared in November, the pleas to fishermen began.

Hiroaki Hayashi, a businessman who chairs a nationalist group that helps fund Nakama's fishing trips, told Reuters he received a request from a Japanese coast guard official to stop Nakama from going on a planned voyage at the end of that month. Nakama reluctantly opted to steer clear, Hayashi said.

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Another fisherman, Kazushi Kinjo, 53, said he had been planning to fish around the islands during a week-long voyage that started on November 26. But just before he set sail, and while at sea, he received calls from multiple officials urging him to avoid the Senkaku islands.

"They've never said anything like that to me before," he said, declining to identify the officials. Kinjo said he briefly transited the waters around the islands on the way back to his home port but didn't stop to fish.

A few weeks later, Finance Minister Satsuki Katayama - previously an adviser to the Senkaku Islands Defence Association, the nationalist group that supports Nakama - hosted the fisherman in Tokyo on December 19.

During their 20-minute meeting, she asked about his previous visits to the islands and remarked that "small incidents can grow bigger and lead to war", Nakama said. He interpreted the message as a request to stay away, though she didn't say so directly, he said.

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"What she was really saying was that she didn't want me to go," Nakama told Reuters as small waves rocked his boat in his home port of Ishigaki, where he serves as a local councillor.

Katayama's office declined to comment on the meeting. The Japan Coast Guard said it informs relevant parties about the security situation in waters surrounding the islands as necessary, but declined to discuss specifics.

Ishigaki Mayor Yoshitaka Nakayama said Japanese officials appeared concerned about the risk that fishermen could be detained or subjected to inspections by Chinese authorities during a period of heightened tensions with Beijing.

"If someone should actually be detained it would escalate into a much bigger international issue, so I think that is what the government wants to avoid," he told Reuters at his office.

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China in recent years has stepped up efforts to enforce its sweeping maritime claims, notably in repeated confrontations with Philippine vessels in which Chinese coast guard ships used water cannons.

The last major maritime dispute between China and Japan erupted in 2010, after Japan's coast guard detained the captain of a Chinese fishing boat that collided with Japanese vessels near the Senkaku/Diaoyu islands. Relations soured further in 2012 when Japan nationalised several of the then-privately owned islands.

Washington has committed to defending the islands under its security treaty with Japan, meaning any clash there risks drawing in the United States.

"It's kind of the touch paper for further deterioration between Japan and China, because China is really pushing its claims on the islands. It is phenomenally tense around there at the moment," said Robert Ward, Japan chair at the London-based International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS).

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Chinese coast guard ships were spotted near the islands on a record 357 days last year, according to Japan's coast guard. The islands lie more than 300 kilometres from mainland China, about 150 kilometres from Japan's nearest inhabited territory, and about 170 kilometres from Taiwan, which also claims them.

GOOD FISHING

Fishing has long been associated with the islands.

After Japan first claimed them in the late 19th century, a skipjack tuna processing plant was established on the main Uotsuri Island until it was abandoned in the 1930s.

In 1977, before Beijing began more assertively pressing its claims and scaring off fishermen, there were at least 164 Japanese fishing trips to the islands, according to a Japanese government-commissioned research report.

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Last year, there were only eight documented visits by Japanese fishing vessels, down from 18 in 2024, according to the Japan Coast Guard.

Nakama and his nationalist backers say they are determined to reverse the decline in fishing around the islands, arguing that such activity helps demonstrate Japan's control.

Paul Midford, a professor of international studies at Meiji Gakuin University in Yokohama, said while that argument has merit, it can lead to escalation as both sides try to outdo each other to demonstrate control.

Yet a complete lack of Japanese economic activity could invite China to flood the area with its own ships, said IISS's Ward. "The need for Japan to keep showing it has a pulse in the Senkaku Islands is really important," he said.

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Kinjo said his motivation is money, not politics.

"I earn my income there... a substantial income," he said, describing the seas as a treasure trove of red snapper, a local delicacy.

While rough winter seas may help keep fishermen away for now, Kinjo and Nakama said they were determined to return soon, despite the risks.

"I'll go there for as long as I have this boat. I'll keep on going," Nakama said, as he sat on an ice box on the deck of his ship.

(Reporting by Mariko Katsumura in Ishigaki and Nobuhiro Kubo, Tim Kelly and John Geddie in Tokyo; additional reporting by Laurie Chen in Beijing and Trevor Hunnicutt in Washington; editing by David Crawshaw.)
Jan. 26 (UPI) -- Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey said Monday that some federal immigration agents will begin withdrawing from the city on Tuesday, an effort aimed at lowering sky-high tensions after federal agents fatally shot two U.S. citizens in recent weeks amid the Trump administration's aggressive immigration operation.

Frey said he spoke with President Donald Trump on Monday afternoon to express the need for Operation Metro Surge to end.

"The president agreed that the present situation cannot continue," Frey said in a social media statement.

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"Some federal agents will begin leaving the area tomorrow, and I will continue pushing for the rest involved in this operation to go."

It was not clear how many of the roughly 3,000 federal immigration agents deployed to Minneapolis under Operation Metro Surge would be withdrawing.

The Trump administration launched Operation Metro Surge in December, which was bolstered by additional agents early this month.

Thousands of immigrants have been arrested, but Democrats and civil and immigration rights groups have accused the federal agents of due process violations, detaining U.S. citizens, racial profiling and using excessive force.

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In response, protests have erupted in the city, which have been met with violence.

Renee Nicole Good, a U.S. citizen and a 37-year-old mother of three, was fatally shot Jan. 7 by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent in her vehicle as she appeared to try to be driving away from the scene of an altercation.

Then on Saturday, a Border Patrol officer fatally shot U.S. citizen Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old intensive care unit nurse, who agents had swarmed and tackled to the ground.

Both were shot multiple times.

The shootings have raised worries about escalating violence in the city where officials have been calling for the federal agents to leave for weeks, saying they are fomenting chaos, threatening the safety of residents and are not needed.

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Frey, a Democrat, on Monday said Minneapolis will continue cooperating with state and federal law enforcement on "real criminal investigations -- but we will not participate in unconstitutional arrests of our neighbors or enforce federal immigration law."

"Violent criminals should be held accountable based on the crimes they commit, not based on where they are from," he said.

Frey added that he will meet with Tom Homan, Trump's so-called border czar, on Tuesday "to further discuss next steps."

Trump tapped Homan on Monday to lead ICE's operations in Minneapolis.

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In a statement posted on his Truth Social media platform, the president confirmed he spoke with Frey, calling it "a very good conversation."

"Lots of progress is being made!" he said, adding that Homan will be continuing the talks with Frey on Tuesday.
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP)  A federal judge in Oregon dismissed a Justice Department lawsuit seeking Oregon's unredacted voter rolls on Monday in another setback to wide-ranging efforts by President Donald Trump's administration to get detailed voter data from states.

In a hearing, U.S. District Judge Mustafa Kasubhai said he would dismiss the suit and issue a final written opinion in the coming days. The updated docket for the case showed that Oregon's move to dismiss the case was granted.

Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield welcomed the move.

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The court dismissed this case because the federal government never met the legal standard to get these records in the first place, he said in an emailed statement. "Oregonians deserve to know that voting laws cant be used as a backdoor to grab their personal information.

The Justice Department declined to comment.

Kasubhai scheduled the hearing after U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi sent a letter to Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz dated Saturday, the same day federal immigration agents fatally shot 37-year-old ICU nurse Alex Pretti in Minneapolis, which has seen widespread protests over increased immigration enforcement and the previous killing of Renee Good by an immigration officer.

In her letter, Bondi asked the Democratic governor to support immigration officers and shared three simple steps to help bring back law and order"  including by giving the Justice Department the ability to access voter rolls to confirm that Minnesota's voter registration practices comply with federal law.

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Bondi also asked for the state's records of its Medicaid and food assistance programs, and for the repeal of sanctuary policies that limit local officials from cooperating with federal immigration authorities.

The Justice Department has been seeking detailed voter data that includes names, dates of birth, residential addresses, drivers license numbers and partial Social Security numbers. Officials in many states have said turning over such information would violate both state and federal privacy laws.

The Justice Department has filed lawsuits against at least 23 states and the District of Columbia as part of its effort to collect such data. Last week a federal judge in Georgia dismissed such a suit after ruling the federal government had sued in the wrong city, and earlier this month a federal judge in California dismissed a suit there after finding the governments request was unprecedented and illegal.

The department has said it needs to access detailed voter data to ensure election officials are following federal election laws. Election officials have disputed that and raised concerns that federal officials are trying to use the sensitive data for other purposes, such as searching for potential noncitizens on the rolls.

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In a July letter, the department asked Oregon for an electronic copy of its statewide registration list and details on the steps it has taken to remove ineligible voters, court filings show. It sent another letter in August saying it needed the voter list to assess compliance with federal law, and that the list must include information such as full names, birth dates, drivers license numbers or partial Social Security numbers.

Oregon officials responded in August that the department lacked the authority to request the list and offered to provide the publicly available list, court filings show. The department argued it has the authority to request the data under multiple federal laws and is complying with privacy laws.

Kasubhai called for the Monday hearing in Oregon's lawsuit so that attorneys on both sides could provide additional arguments on how Bondi's letter was relevant in interpreting the basis and purpose of the department's request for voter data.

The department argued it had authority under the Civil Rights Act of 1960 to request voter records, as the law says such records are to be made available to the U.S. Attorney General upon a demand in writing that states the basis and purpose of the request. Yet Kasubhai said the department's August letter did not satisfy the law's requirement for stating a basis and purpose when requesting voter records. He added that he read the congressional record of the time when the law was passed, and found it was unequivocal on the release of records being associated with investigations involving discrimination in elections.

The Justice Departments outreach has raised alarm among some election officials because the agency doesnt have the constitutional authority to run elections. That power is granted to states and Congress. Federal law also protects the sharing of individual data with the federal government.
Firefighters in the Australian state of Victoria are battling at least six major fires as a record-breaking heatwave hits the country's south-east.

Two fires are currently burning at "emergency level" according to local broadcaster ABC News. Several communities have been issued emergency warnings to either evacuate, watch and wait, or shelter in place.

Fire officials warn that the situation is changing rapidly and have asked locals to stay up to date with the latest warnings.

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The Bureau of Meteorology says that parts of the state have seen all-time temperature highs - with one area hitting a high of 48.9C. Melbourne has recorded a temperature of 41C.

Chris Hardman, the chief fire officer at Forest Fire Management Victoria, had told reporters that the state's heat conditions were making conditions "incredibly difficult" for firefighters.

Two fires - in Camperdown and Otways - are burning at emergency level. A new fire in the Larralea area is also causing "significant concern".

Country Fire Authority (CFA) chief officer Jason Heffernan told ABC Radio that there was a danger that the Otways fire could produce ember showers "which can create more fires in front of the main fire".

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It is unclear what damage has been caused by the fires, but Australia's Deputy Incident Controller Alistair Drayton, said he had "anecdotal evidence" that some homes had been lost.

He also praised the "spectacular" work done by firefighters so far.

Apart from Victoria, where there is a total fire ban, South Australia has also been placed under alert for "extreme" fire risk.

Meanhwile health officials have warned that the prolonged heat carries significant health risks.

The elderly, children and people with underlying health conditions are most at risk, Victoria chief health officer Caroline McElnay told reporters.

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"It can cause potentially fatal health problems such as heat exhaustion and heat stroke but it can also trigger events like heart attacks or stroke."

Scientists are clear that human-caused climate change is making heatwaves much more likely and more intense globally.

And Australasia has seen an increasing frequency and severity of heat extremes in recent decades, according to the UN's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).

South-east Australia also experienced extreme heat in early January, with temperatures surpassing 40C.

A rapid study by scientists at the World Weather Attribution group estimated that the high temperatures across a three-day period were now at least five times more likely as a result of climate change.

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While fires occur naturally in Australia, these hot, dry conditions can make it much easier for fires to spread, potentially fuelling larger blazes.

And as the world continues to warm, Australia is expected to see further increases in these "fire weather" conditions, according to the IPCC.

Additional reporting by Mark Poynting
NEED TO KNOW

The first victims of the fatal plane crash at Bangor International Airport have been identified as pilot Jacob Hosmer, attorney Tara Arnold and event planner Shawna Collins

"I would describe him as a great pilot, a loving husband, and a phenomenal father," a friend of Hosmer said

The Bombardier Challenger 650 crashed during takeoff on Sunday, Jan. 25, the Federal Aviation Administration previously confirmed



The first victims of the fatal Maine plane crash have been identified.

A Bombardier Challenger 650 crashed during takeoff at about 7:45 p.m. local time on Sunday, Jan. 25, at Bangor International Airport, according to a statement from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) obtained by PEOPLE.

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According to an updated accident notice from the FAA, six people died in the incident. Four of the deceased were passengers, while the other two on board were flight crew. There were no survivors. (The FAA said in an initial notice that seven had died, with one survivor, who was seriously injured.)

Shawna Collins/Instagram; Jacob Hosmer/Facebook; Arnold & Itkin LLP

A news release shared by the airport on Monday, Jan. 26, read, "According to the flight manifest there were six people on the flight. No one from the incident was transported to the hospital, and all on the flight are presumed to be deceased. The identities of the people on the flight are not being released publicly at this time, pending positive identification."

Jacob Hosmer was the captain of the flight, NBC affiliate KPRC reported. The Houston-area pilot, 47, was confirmed to have been among the victims of the crash by his father, Gary.

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Hes in Heaven now with Jesus, Gary told the outlet.

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A friend, who knew Hosmer for 15 years as an aviation specialist, said, "I would describe him as a great pilot, a loving husband, and a phenomenal father, adding, He was always kind. He was always laughing."

The plane involved in the crash had arrived from Texas, according to Reuters. It is registered to a company with a Houston address shared with the personal injury law firm Arnold & Itkin.

Hosmer had Houston-based injury law firm Arnold & Itkin LLP listed as his employer on LinkedIn since May 2025.

The firm's founders, Kurt Arnold and Jason Itkin, were not on the aircraft, multiple sources told ABC affiliate KTRK.

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However, Kurt's wife, attorney Tara Arnold, was reportedly killed in the crash, sources told the outlet.

Harris County Commissioner Lesley Briones, a close friend of the family, told the outlet, "I'm close friends with Kurt and Tara Arnold, and we're still waiting for additional information. Unfortunately, the plane went down (Sunday) evening in Maine, and my heart hurts for them, for their children, and for their families."

Arnold & Itkin have not shared an official statement about the crash as of Tuesday, Jan. 27.

"She was a phenomenal person, a bold leader, and someone with a heart of service," Briones continued of Tara, according to KTRK. "She was very involved in Precinct 4 and our nonprofit, Precinct 4 Forward. My heart is with Kurt, their children, and everyone affected."

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Event planner Shawna Collins was also on board the aircraft, according to her daughter, the outlet reported. Collins reportedly spoke to her daughter about the business trip just before the flight, which was heading to Europe.

The Bangor Police Department did not immediately respond to PEOPLE's request for confirmation of the victims' IDs on Tuesday, Jan. 27.

In an audio recording of air traffic controllers conversation following the crash, one person said, Aircraft upside down. We have a passenger aircraft upside down.

First responders arrived at the scene less than a minute after the conversation about the upside-down aircraft, airport director Jose Saavedra said, according to the Associated Press.



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The plane caught fire after the crash, according to the FAA. The exact circumstances surrounding the crash remain unclear.

The airport was being impacted by Winter Storm Fern, with snow falling at the time of the crash, CBS affiliate KHOU and Reuters reported.

Read the original article on People
Jan. 27Advocates urged Flathead County commissioners on Monday to cut ties with immigration enforcement agencies after federal agents shot dead a second Minneapolis resident over the weekend. Flathead Democracy, a local advocacy group, organized the turnout as part of its "ICE Out" campaign, which launched after the fatal shooting of Minneapolis resident Renee Good on Jan. 7. Over the last week, advocates have asked city councilors and local law enforcement agencies to refuse to cooperate with United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Department of Homeland Security and Customs and Border Protection. "Our overarching hope is that all of the city councils and the commission ... will make a statement saying that they will not give any of our resources, any of our tax dollars, any of our information to ICE and DHS," said Danielle Tuhy, community organizer for Flathead Democracy. Nearly 50 people filled the chairs in the commissioners' meeting room on Monday morning, with some people standing along the backwall and a few holding protest signs. "Somewhere in America a little girl is hiding in an attic writing about ICE," read one sign. "Keep ICE out of Montana," read another. "I'm asking each of you, regardless of your political affiliation, to stand up as a citizen, as a commissioner, against being governed by oppression and intimidation," said Martin City resident Loretta Byrd. "This is a critical moment in history. It is not time for us to remain divided because of political ideologies." GOOD'S DEATH sparked the campaign, but a second shooting in Minneapolis over the weekend galvanized the effort, advocates said. Immigration officers shot and killed Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old nurse, during a Saturday morning scrum in South Minneapolis caught on multiple cameras. Those attending the commissioners' meeting in Kalispell on Monday said the incidents show that no one is safe from the escalation in immigration crackdowns seen in Minneapolis and in other cities across the country. Kalispell resident Christine Frisbee told commissioners she has eight adopted children, and five of them are not white. "They have to carry their passports to prove that they are American citizens, and even then, they are afraid going to school and going to work," Frisbee said. "... Please. Please help me take care of my children by making sure that ICE doesn't walk in the door and see their faces and arrest them just because they're not white." Several speakers demanded commissioners end the 287(g) agreement between the Flathead County Sheriff's Office and the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, signed in 2020. The agreement allows the Sheriff's Office to hold a person for an additional 48 hours in jail if they are in the country unlawfully. Federal immigration officers have that time to transfer the person to a detention center  otherwise they are released from custody. Commissioner Brad Abell told the Inter Lake the county had little influence over the Sheriff's Office and local law enforcement, adding that he didn't know what the 287(g) agreement was. While he agreed that he doesn't want to see a big federal presence in the county, Abell maintained that local officials are governed by state and federal laws. "We are not a sanctuary city or county or even a state," Abell said. "We need to follow the laws that are in place." Sheriff Brian Heino did not immediately respond to requests for comment by press time. Reporter Hannah Shields can be reached at 758-4439 or [email protected].
Editors Note: This story previously named Fontainebleau as the first Vegas Loop station on the Strip. It is instead the only one to offer free service on the Strip.

LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  Fontainebleau Las Vegas announced Monday it is now home to the newest Vegas Loop station terminal, making it the only resort offering free Loop access.

Fontainebleau Las Vegas is now home to the Boring Companys newest Vegas Loop station terminal, making it the only Las Vegas resort to offer complimentary Loop transportation for guests, a release from the resort said.

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>>Download the 8 News Now Vegas streaming app

The new station for the Boring Companys Vegas Loop will provide free, seamless travel to all Las Vegas Convention Center station terminals and select resort corridor destinations available at this stage.

The new Loop station is located on level V-1 at Fontainebleau Las Vegas South Valet. From the resort, Loop vehicles will connect guests into the underground tunnel system by the Riviera Loop station at the LVCC West Hall. This will help reduce travel times for convention attendees, the release said.

The LVCC Loop system has four stations, Riviera Station, West Station, Central Underground Station, and South Station, that help provide convenient access throughout the convention campus.

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All Vegas Loop rides to and from Fontainebleau Las Vegas will be introduced as complimentary for guests, the release added.

Fontainebleau also extended free parking for locals and Fontainebleau Rewards members through May 31, the resort said.

Additional information about Vegas Loop stations can be found on the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority website.

Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS.
By Juliette Jabkhiro

PARIS, Jan 26 (Reuters) - A former French senator went on trial on Monday accused of spiking a lawmaker's drink with ecstasy with the intention of sexually assaulting her.

Joel Guerriau, 68, who resigned as a senator over the case in October 2025, allegedly administered lawmaker Sandrine Josso with "a substance liable to alter her discernment or control over her actions, in order to commit rape or sexual aggression", a court document showed.

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The centre-right politician also faces charges related to the possession and use of ecstasy, the document read. Guerriau has denied the charges against him.

The case has resonated in France following the 2024 conviction of Dominique Pelicot, who was found guilty of repeatedly drugging and raping his wife, Gisele, and inviting dozens of strangers to assault her while she was unconscious.

The Pelicot trial attracted headlines worldwide and raised awareness about drug-facilitated assaults.

Josso told investigators she felt unwell after drinking a few sips from a glass of champagne offered to her by Guerriau at his apartment to celebrate an electoral win.

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She told them the champagne did not taste normal and that if she had not managed to leave the flat she was certain Guerriau would have assaulted her, convinced he wanted to "satisfy an urge", according to the court document.

A toxicology test later revealed traces of ecstasy in her blood, and ecstasy was also found in Guerriau's apartment, the document stated.

If found guilty, he could face a jail sentence of up to five years and a fine of 75,000 euros ($88,950). His lawyer was not immediately available for comment.

The former senator's Horizons party, which is part of French President Emmanuel Macron's governing alliance, told French media following the accusations in November 2023 that Guerriau had been suspended with immediate effect.

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The trial runs until Tuesday.

Parliament last year approved changes to France's rape law to include consent, bringing the legislation more into line with more than a dozen other European countries in a move that was given new impetus by the Pelicot mass rape trial.

($1 = 0.8432 euros)

(Reporting by Juliette Jabkhiro; Editing by Richard Lough and Alison Williams)
MOSCOW, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) said Tuesday that it has detained three people suspected of planning a terrorist attack on a transport infrastructure facility in the Sverdlovsk region.

The suspects, all Russian citizens, were attempting to set fire to a railway, the FSB said in a statement.

Searches conducted at their residences led to the seizure of communication devices containing correspondence with their handler, as well as instructions and components for making improvised incendiary devices, the statement said.

Criminal proceedings have been initiated on charges of preparing a terrorist act, according to the FSB. 
Speaking at Cybertech in Tel Aviv, Kogan Ehrlich debated with other former Unit 8200 officials about what people should focus on learning, such as "knowing a lot or knowing how to learn fast."

The key to dealing with cyber-artificial intelligence race still concerns the people behind the algorithm, former IDF 8200 Unit intelligence officer Maj. (res.) Julia Kogan Ehrlich said on Tuesday.

Speaking at the Cybertech Global conference in Tel Aviv, Kogan Ehrlich, now a start-up advisory and angel investor, conducted a debate with other former Unit 8200 officials about what people should focus on learning, such as knowing a lot or knowing how to learn fast.

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The consensus among former Unit 8200 officials was that quickly adaptability, resilience, and mental flexibility were crucial to handling the AI race.

Kogan Ehrlich also said that AI might enable humans to build more creative kinds of companies, with a leap forward in these new companies capabilities.

Earlier at the conference, Ashdod Port Board of Directors chairman Shaul Schneider said that 80% of Israeli exports enter through seaports, with 40% of these cargoes arriving in Ashdod.

cyber Illustrative. (credit: TPS-IL)

With this in mind, he said, 100,000 cyberattacks target the port on a monthly basis.

Cyprus, Greece, Israel collaborating in cyber arena

On the same panel at the conference, Cyprus Commissioner of Communications George Michaelides and Israel National Cyber Directorate maritime official Gadi Benmoshe said that the new three-country deal between Cyprus, Greece, and Israel, which was recently publicized, is already operating in the cyber arena.

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Michaelides said that the countries are collaborating or will collaborate on four pillars.

These include: 1) Building and sharing threat intelligence, and eventually sharing incidents and incident management; 2) Joint training and computability, given that many maritime officials do not have sufficient cyber skills or awareness; 3) Passing joint legislation and regulations and investing in think tanks to manage future investment in the smartest ways for future stages; and 4) Joint research and innovation that bring together start-up and academic experts for national purposes.

During a separate panel on threats hackers pose to railway systems, Frances Alstom VP of cybersecurity, Eddy Thesee, said they are trying to strike a balance when dealing with China in the cyber and infrastructure spheres.

On one hand, Thesee said, China is a huge and unavoidable country. He noted Beijing has built many Israeli light rail lines.

Contrariwise, he said, France and many democratic countries are careful about what access and information they share with China, with implications for its record as a nondemocratic country that might also use such items for problematic purposes.
Days before his term ended, Virginia Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin pardoned a former Fairfax County police officer who was convicted in a fatal shooting of an unarmed man accused of stealing sunglasses at a mall.

According to a newly released report, former Sgt. Wesley Shifflett received an absolute pardon on Jan. 15 from Youngkin. The pardon comes amid a nationwide debate over legal protections for law enforcement personnel, and when use of force, including deadly force, is justified.

Less than a year ago, Youngkin granted Shifflett clemency in the case, throwing out his three-year prison sentence.

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The deadly force used by Sgt. Wesley Gonzalez Shifflett on February 22, 2023, was both lawful and consistent with the departments policy and training, Youngkin wrote in his pardon.

Shifflett was convicted in 2024 of reckless firearm use in the killing of Timothy McCree Johnson in Northern Virginia, though he was acquitted of a manslaughter charge. The former sergeant chased Johnson out of the mall's parking deck and into a densely wooded area.

The body camera video played during his trial showed Shifflett yelling Get on the ground, and then firing two shots at Johnson two seconds later. After the shots were fired, Shifflett immediately shouted, Stop reaching, and told other officers that he saw Johnson putting his hand in his waistband. During the trial, Shifflett testified that his motor functions were operating more quickly than I could verbalize.

Soon after, Johnson can be heard saying in body camera videos, Im not reaching for nothing. I dont have nothing.

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Youngkin based his pardon on a report released by the department in April, concluding that Shifflett's actions were objectively reasonable because he thought Johnson had posed a significant threat of death or serious injury to him when he used deadly force.

Johnson's mother, Melissa, rebuffed Youngkin's involvement in the case last year, when he first curtailed Shifflett's sentence.

Why now do we find it necessary to vacate or not consider the jurys verdict, and to think that this honorable and fair judge did not sentence within the guidelines that he was afforded to? she asked at the time.

___

Olivia Diaz is a corps member for The Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission.

Credit: Deng Xiang/Unsplash

Four suspects were arrested by Zeeland police in the Netherlands after the authorities received a tip that they were involved in the theft of 169 NFTs. According to Dutch newspaper Politie [machine translated], the three individuals from Axel and one from the neighboring Terneuzen have been interrogated by detectives but have since been released. Nevertheless, the police action also included the seizure of various data carriers and money, as well as three vehicles and the house itself where the raid was conducted.

The stolen NFTs were estimated to be worth 1.4 million Euros (around $1.65 million), which is indeed a massive amount. However, this is a tiny drop in the Ocean of stolen Bitcoin and other crypto, estimated to be worth $17 billion in 2025 alone. We should note that NFTs are not exactly the same as cryptocurrencies, but they both run on blockchain technology and can even be stored on the same wallets that keep Bitcoin, Ethereum, and the like.

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The relative novelty of cryptocurrencies and NFTs means that many people get scammed when using these technologies, especially older people who are often tricked into depositing large amounts of cash into Bitcoin ATMs. But even those who are used to the system can fall victim, either through phishing, social engineering, malware, or seed phrase theft, among others.

The large values tied to NFTs and Bitcoin make them lucrative targets for hackers, with just one well-targeted heist able to net millions of dollars in profit. There was even a true-crime story about a group of hackers who stole 4,100 Bitcoins and lived a high-roller lifestyle for a short time, before everything devolved into assault and kidnapping, eventually attracting the attention of federal agencies.

Since NFTs are tokens and are stored in wallets, the suspected thieves didnt perform a bank vault heist with guns blazing. Instead, it was done behind monitors and keyboards, where they likely targeted individuals using phishing websites, fake wallet apps, or even with compromised browser extensions. It also seems that the Zeeland authorities do not have enough evidence against the four individuals, as they were eventually released after their interrogation. Still, the seized items should hopefully assist the police in their investigation and eventually lead to the arrest and conviction of the real perps.

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France's National Assembly has backed a bill that would ban social media access for under-15s, a proposal supported by President Emmanuel Macron.

Lawmakers in the lower house on Monday agreed key elements of the bill, before voting 116-23 in its favour. Next, the bill will go to the upper house, the Senate, for approval.

If it is passed, young teenagers would not be able to use networks such as Snapchat, Instagram and TikTok.

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The French move is part of a growing trend of restricting social networks for children, triggered by increasing evidence of the damage they can cause to mental health. A similar law was passed in Australia late last year.

After the National Assembly passed the bill in an overnight session from Monday to Tuesday, Macron called it a "major step".

Writing on social media, he called for the government to accelerate the next steps, "so that this ban takes effect as early as next school year". The new school year begins on 1 September in France.

"Our children's brains are not for sale," he wrote.

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Laure Miller, an MP behind the bill, told Le Monde: "With this law we will set down a clear limit in society."

"We are saying something very simple: social networks are not harmless," she added.

"These networks promised to bring people together. They pulled them apart. They promised to inform. They saturated us with information. They promised to entertain. They shut people away."

Last month, Macron said: "We cannot leave the mental and emotional health of our children in the hands of people whose sole purpose is to make money out of them."

Under the new text, the state media regulator would draw up a list of social media networks that are deemed harmful. These would be simply banned for under 15-year-olds.

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A separate list of supposedly less harmful sites would be accessible, but only with explicit parental approval.

Another clause would ban the use of mobile telephones in senior schools (lycees). The ban is already in effect in junior and middle schools.

If the law is passed, France will need to agree on the mechanism for age-verification. A system is already in place that requires over 18 year-olds to prove their age when accessing online pornography.

In Europe, Denmark, Greece, Spain and Ireland are also considering following the Australian example. Earlier this month, the UK government launched a consultation on banning social media for under 16s.

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The basis of the proposed French law is a text drawn up late last year by Miller, who chaired a parliamentary committee enquiry into the psychological effects of TikTok and other networks.

Separately, the government was told to draw up its own legislation, after Macron decided to make the issue a centrepiece of his last year in office.

The president has been sidelined from domestic politics since the Assembly elections which he called in 2024 resulted in a hung parliament.

The social media ban has been a rare chance to court public favour.

For a time the cause risked falling victim to bickering between Macron and his one-time prime minister Gabriel Attal (Miller is an MP from Attal's party). But in the end the government appears to have rallied behind the Miller bill.

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The bill is expected to pass before the upper house, the Senate, in the next month. Macron said he had asked the government of Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu to use a fast-track procedure to get the legislation on the books by September.

Without resort to the fast-track (which permits a single reading as opposed to two in each of the two houses), the law would have little chance of getting past the legislative backlog created by Lecornu's difficulties in passing a budget.

The bill has already had to be redrafted to take account of questions raised by the Council of State, the body which previews draft legislation to ensure it conforms with French and European law.

A 2023 law which proposed a similar ban on social media for young teenagers proved inoperable after courts decided it broke European law.

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Two British nationals suspected of coming to France to take part in a banned far-right protest against migrants were arrested and taken into custody, French authorities said on Monday.

The two men, who were broadcasting live videos from the French coast, were arrested near the northern town of Calais on Sunday evening, Pas-de-Calais prefect Francois-Xavier Lauch told the AFP news agency.

Immigration has become a central political issue in France and the United Kingdom, where the government seeks to stop undocumented migrants arriving on British shores after paying smugglers to cross the Channel.

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The two men were detained for inciting hatred and participating in a group with the aim of preparing acts of violence based on comments made on social media, said Boulogne-sur-Mer prosecutor Cecile Gressier.

People thought to be migrants who undertook the crossing from France in small boats and were picked up in the Channel arrive in Dover, 17 June, 2022 - AP Photo

These are the first arrests of British far-right activists in France on such grounds, she said, adding that they are not accused of physical violence.

They were not among the 10 far-right activists banned from French territory since mid-January by the interior ministry on charges of "violent actions" against migrants in northern France.

The two may be sent to an administrative detention centre before being deported where they will be held with other migrants ordered to leave France.

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Aged 35 and 53, the men had broadcast content likely to incite hatred live on a YouTube channel, according to police sources.

Related

The arrival of Syrian, Iraqi and Sudanese migrants has fuelled public concerns and rising anger on the British far right and since last year videos have circulated of anti-migrant vigilantes visiting France to take matters into their own hands.

French officials have announced a ban on an anti-migrant rally called "Operation Overlord" launched by British far-right activist Daniel Thomas.

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The name refers to World War II-era Operation Overlord when tens of thousands of Allied troops stormed the beaches of Normandy in northern France on 6 June 1944, paving the way for liberation and the end of the war against Nazi Germany.

A boat thought to carry migrants is escorted by a vessel from the French Gendarmerie Nationale in the English Channel, 4 September, 2024 - AP Photo

Call for protests

In several videos broadcast live on a YouTube channel on Sunday, two British men, presumably those who were later arrested, can be seen walking along a beach near Calais.

"I'll guard the beaches tonight, if no one else wants to," one of them said. He called on other British people to join him in limiting illegal arrivals, without violence.

"It's not until you get here that you realise the scale of what is going on and how protected they are as well," the man added. "There is only a certain amount that you can take, enough is enough."

An unexploded tear gas grenade lays on the beach next to an inflatable boat punctured by French police and used by migrants to cross the Channel, 22 December, 2025 - AP Photo

Thomas had called on social media for rallies at the weekend in the port of Dover in southeastern England and on the northern coast of France, which he said were necessary, claiming French authorities are unable to prevent illegal crossings.

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Thomas posted images of himself waving a flag on Saturday and Sunday, which he says were taken over the weekend in France.

Around a hundred people also gathered on Saturday in Dover, where most migrants land once they have been intercepted by the British authorities.

Thomas, who claims to be subject to a French travel ban himself, has not been arrested, according to the prefecture.

According to the French authorities, Thomas leads a "very radical" branch of the "Raise the Colours" movement, which was formed following a split after the French entry ban.

Anti-racism campaigners say far-right activists are behind the "Raise the Colours" movement.

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The main "Raise the Colours" account said in a post on X on Saturday it had nothing to do with the operation led by Thomas.

In October, the French judiciary opened a preliminary investigation into "aggravated violence" committed against migrants and reported by a rights association, which suspects British far-right activists, though it does not have "formal proof."

Last year saw the second-highest number of undocumented migrants arrive on British shores since such crossings began in 2018.
French President Emmanuel Macron has invited his Chadian counterpart to Paris, as both countries seek to renew and improve future relations.

The verbal invitation was delivered to President Mahamat Deby by France's Ambassador to Chad, Eric Gerard, during a meeting at the presidential palace in the capital, N'Djamena, on Monday.

In a statement, Chad's Presidency said Deby accepted the invitation, although it made no mention of when the visit will take place.

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It follows a sharp downturn in Franco-Chadian military relations, after Chad abruptly ended its defence agreement with France in November 2024.

This triggered the withdrawal of French forces from military bases across the central African nation, which continues to grapple with serious security challenges.

At the time, Chadian authorities said the historical accord with the former colonial power was "obsolete," and offered no added value to the country's modern security needs.

France had maintained about 1,000 troops in Chad providing intelligence and logistical assistance to the military from their bases, including in N'Djamena.

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Chad said the move was about asserting its sovereignty and taking back full control of its defence after more than 60 years of independence.

But by late 2024, France's influence in the region had been rapidly eroding after forced withdrawals from Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso following successive coups.

Months before ending its defence pact with France, Chad also ordered US troops to leave, fuelling speculation that N'Djamena was drifting from its Western partners toward closer ties with Russia.

But Deby insisted his country had no intention of welcoming another foreign power to replace France, saying is preferred to forge new alliances anchored on mutual respect.

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Last week, Chad signed a memorandum of understanding with Belarus - close Russian ally - to strengthen military cooperation.

Monday's meeting between the Chadian president and France's ambassador focused on the "renewal of bilateral cooperation" characterised by "dialogue and openness in a spirit of consultation and consideration of the interests of each party", the Chadian presidency said.

"This meeting primarily provided an opportunity for the two officials to thoroughly review Franco-Chadian cooperation. This close cooperation now needs to be renewed, revitalised and adapted to the new balance of power. This must be done in a spirit of consultation and consideration of the interests of each party," Deby's office said.

More about Chad from the BBC:

[Getty Images/BBC]

Go to BBCAfrica.com for more news from the African continent.

Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica

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By Elizabeth Pineau

PARIS, Jan 26 (Reuters) - France's National Assembly on Monday backed legislation to ban children under 15 years old from social media on Monday, amid growing concerns about online bullying and mental health risks.

The bill proposes banning under-15s from social networks and "social networking functionalities" embedded within broader platforms, and reflects rising public angst over the impact of social media on minors.

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Lawmakers voted 116 to 23 in favour of the bill. It now passes to the Senate before a final vote in the lower house.

President Emmanuel Macron has pointed to social media as one factor to blame for violence among young people. He is urging France to follow Australia, whose world-first ban for under-16s on social media platforms including Facebook, Snapchat, TikTok and YouTube came into force in December.

FRENCH BAN WOULD FOLLOW IN AUSTRALIA'S FOOTSTEPS

Macron wants the ban in place in time for the start of the next academic year in September.

"With this law, we are setting a clear boundary in society and saying social media is not harmless," centrist lawmaker Laure Miller told the chamber as she presented the bill.

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"Our children are reading less, sleeping less, and comparing themselves to one another more," she continued. "This is a battle for free minds."

Australia's social media ban is being studied in countries including Britain, Denmark, Spain and Greece.

The European Parliament has called for the European Union to set minimum ages for children to access social media, although it is up to member states to impose age limits.

There is broad political and public support in France for curbing minors' access to social media.

Far-right lawmaker Thierry Perez said the bill responded to a "health emergency".

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"Social media has allowed everyone to express themselves, but at what cost to our children? Perez said.

PUBLIC SUPPORT

The French ban would require platforms to block access to young teenagers through ageverification mechanisms compliant with European Union law.

Enforcing such bans can be difficult. Australia's government acknowledged the rollout of its ban would be bumpy after children claiming to be under 16 flooded the country's social media feeds with messages gloating about their continued ability to access networks.

The French legislation also extends an existing ban on smartphones in junior and middle schools to cover high schools.

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A Harris Interactive survey in 2024 showed 73% of the public supported a ban on social media access for under-15s.

Teenagers on the streets of Paris were split in their views. Some said they acknowledged the dangers associated with social media. Others felt a ban was excessive.

(Reporting by Leigh Thomas and Elizabeth Pineau; Editing by Richard Lough, Alex Richardson and Diane Craft)
The flagship of the French Navy, the Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier, on Tuesday set course for the Atlantic, the defence ministry said, after the United States and Europe butted heads over Greenland.

On Wednesday, French President Emmanuel Macron is to meet the leaders of Denmark and Greenland in Paris, his office said.

European powers rallied together when US President Donald Trump this month undermined the transatlantic alliance by threatening to seize the autonomous Danish territory.

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Greenland is strategically located between the Arctic Ocean and the North Atlantic Ocean.

The French defence ministry did not specify where the Charles de Gaulle was being deployed. But sources familiar with the matter told AFP that the aircraft carrier was heading to the North Atlantic, which has been at the heart of the geopolitical tensions.

"The naval air group has set sail from the Toulon naval base to take part in Orion 26, a large-scale joint and allied exercise," the French defence ministry said.

"Conducted over the coming weeks in the Atlantic zone -- a strategic area for the defence of European interests -- this exercise will bring together French forces alongside their regional allies and partners."

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The carrier strike group includes the aircraft carrier and its aircraft, as well as various escort and support vessels, such as an air-defence frigate, a supply ship and an attack submarine.

None of the sources questioned by AFP said how far north in the North Atlantic the carrier strike group would go.

Russian submarines from the Northern Fleet or the Baltic Fleet regularly go through the North Atlantic Ocean.

Trump had this month threatened to seize Greenland and impose tariffs on any European countries -- including France, Germany and Britain -- that opposed him.

After European pushback, he later backed down on the threat to take the territory by military force.

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NATO chief Mark Rutte warned on Monday that Europe cannot defend itself without the United States. But France's Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot hit back, posting on X that "Europeans can and must take responsibility for their own security".

fz-mra-as/giv/rmb
The city of Gastonia has been awarded $2.1 million from the Helene Local Government Capital Grant Program to assist with capital improvements that FEMA doesnt cover.

ALSO READ: Small Rental Rehabilitation Program launched to repair hurricane-damaged properties

The funds can be used to repair, renovate or replace infrastructure damaged by Hurricane Helene.

According to the Gaston Gazette, the program is a state-funded initiative to assist local governments and federally recognized tribes in western North Carolina with capital improvements.

Click here to read more.

WATCH: NAACP demands transparency in Gastonia officer-involved shooting
California Gov. Gavin Newsoms office has slammed Donald Trumps former TV host goon after claiming credit for investigating medical fraud in Los Angeles which his office has already tackled.

Former TV presenter Dr. Mehmet Oz was appointed by Trump as the administrator for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and works closely with vaccine skeptic Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the Health and Human Services secretary.

On Monday, Oz posted a video where he claimed Los Angeles has become one of the epicenters for fraud, waste and abuse in America.

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Administrator Mehmet Oz speaks during an announcement at the Department of Health and Human Services on December 18, 2025 in Washington, DC. / Alex Wong / Getty Images

Oz claimed foreign gangsters are defrauding the medical system by enrolling ineligible patients into expensive hospice care and billing for services that have not been rendered.

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The 65-year-old cited a figure of $3.5 billion in fraud in hospice and healthcare in Los Angeles County and said Russian and Armenian gangs, mafia are working with doctors who are willing to lie.

He said, Theyve corrupted doctors, theyve normalized fraud, so that everyone sort of expects it, saying it was a focus area for CMS. President Trump is not going to tolerate taxpayer dollars being stolen because people arent paying attention anymore.

Gavin Newsom gestures as he speaks during the World Economic Forum (WEF) annual meeting in Davos on January 22, 2026. / FABRICE COFFRINI / AFP via Getty Images

Newsoms Press Office X account attempted to add some context to Ozs video, calling it UNBELIEVABLE.

Dr. Oz is taking a victory lap for anti-fraud work that was already underway BEFORE Trump even took office.

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Whats Trump doing? Making it easier for scammers to steal taxpayer dollars!

Newsoms office noted that he signed legislation in October 2021 to curb medical fraud and abuse, particularly in the hospice industry.

The legislation prohibited hospice providers or their agents from paying recruiters for patient referrals in response to the rise of crooked doctors and recruiters targeting prospective patients at retirement homes. Some were unknowingly signing away their rights to lifesaving emergency medical treatment, according to a Los Angeles Times investigation.

UNBELIEVABLE.



Dr. Oz is taking a victory lap for anti-fraud work that was already underway BEFORE Trump even took office.



California cracked down years ago  Governor Gavin Newsom signed a law BANNING all new hospice licenses in 2021 to curb fraud.



Whats Trump doing? Making https://t.co/0ARZ5meWNi  Governor Newsom Press Office (@GovPressOffice) January 26, 2026

The Daily Beast has contacted the White House and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services for comment.

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Newsom was forced to debunk similar claims of fraud made by Oz and President Trump earlier this month.

Trump posted on Truth Social that California, under Governor Gavin Newscum, is more corrupt than Minnesota, if thats possible??? The Fraud Investigation of California has begun. However, he did not clarify which type of fraud he was discussing.

Newsoms Press Office clapped back, saying, Donald Trump is a deranged, habitual liar whose relationship with reality ended years ago. They added Gavin Newsom runs a state. Donald Trump runs his mouth and little fingers.

Also, in a press conference, Oz said he believed that the fraudsters in California were working with about 100 bad doctors, and that around 100,000 people had handed over their Medicare numbers.

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There is not seven times more deaths in L.A. County than there were five years ago. These are fraudsters, and these do tend to be foreign influences, either Russian and Armenian gangs, mafia, that are leading a lot of these efforts, he said.

U.S. President Donald Trump speaks as U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Administrator for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Mehmet Oz react during a

Newsoms Press Office pushed back on Ozs claims of widespread fraud at the time, writing that the governor had blocked over $125 BILLION in fraud, arrested criminal parasites leaching off of taxpayers, and protected taxpayers from the exact kind of scam artist Trump celebrates, excuses, and pardons.

Aside from cracking down on welfare fraud, Oz has also been pushing RFK Jr.s Make America Healthy Again agenda, with a war on seed oils and processed food.

In November, Oz called out Fox News host Peter Doocy for the array of non-MAHA snacks available to MAGA talent in the green room at the TV studio.

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He even threatened to call Secretary [Robert F.] Kennedy on Sunday Briefing host Doocy after discovering the Fox green room offered only processed bags of chips.

By the way, your green roomthis is non-MAHA," he said. All these snacks. This is all they have back there, this and water.
Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-Calif.) is urging Californians to remain peaceful while reporting alleged misconduct by federal law enforcement agents, as state officials stress that constitutional protections apply to everyone.

Newsom Invokes Constitution Amid Federal Enforcement Concerns

On Sunday, Newsom posted the message on X while sharing guidance from the California Department of Justice, writing, "No President and no administration is above our country's Constitution, and no one in this country is without rights."

He called on residents to "support your community by staying peaceful and prepared."

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Newsom's post comes amid ongoing debate over federal immigration enforcement in California.

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California DOJ Outlines How To Report Federal Agent Misconduct

California Attorney General Rob Bonta's office said the public may file complaints, including video or photographic evidence, alleging potentially unlawful activity by federal agents or personnel operating in California.

Examples include excessive force, unlawful searches or arrests, wrongful detention, interference with voting, or other civil-rights violations.

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The Department of Justice noted that federal agents have broad authority to enforce federal law, including immigration law, but said that authority must be exercised lawfully.

The office also cautioned that submitting a complaint does not guarantee action and emphasized that it cannot provide legal advice or represent private individuals.

No President and no administration is above our country's Constitution, and no one in this country is without rights.



Support your community by staying peaceful and prepared. Report federal agent misconduct to: https://t.co/uHbU8fjxdA  Governor Gavin Newsom (@CAgovernor) January 25, 2026

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Minnesota Protests Grow After Federal Agent Shooting

On Saturday, Federal immigration agents fatally shot a U.S. citizen, Alex Pretti, during protests in Minneapolis, marking the second such killing this month, according to Reuters.

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The President Donald Trump administration says officers acted in self-defense, but bystander videos show Pretti holding a cellphone before he was shot, contradicting that claim.

Gov. Tim Walz has demanded that the agents leave Minnesota and sought court action to limit federal operations.

The incident has sparked large protests and intensified scrutiny of federal immigration enforcement in the state.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) said Democrats would block DHS funding because the bill did not sufficiently address alleged misconduct by immigration agents.

He warned they would not vote to advance the appropriations measure if it included DHS funding, a stance he took after a fatal Border Patrol shooting in Minneapolis.

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This article Gavin Newsom Wants Californians To Peacefully Report 'Misconduct' Of Federal Agents: 'No One In This Country Is Without Rights' originally appeared on Benzinga.com
To retrieve one body, the Israeli military mobilised a fleet of tanks, drones, and what locals described as explosive robots.

They turned a neighbourhood into a kill zone, dug up approximately 200 Palestinian graves, and left four civilians dead in their wake.

The focus of this overwhelming force was Ran Gvili, an Israeli policeman killed more than two years ago, the last Israeli captive in Gaza after more than two years of Israels genocidal war on the besieged enclave.

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His successful recovery on Monday was hailed by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as a triumph of commitment. But just metres (yards) away from where Gvilis remains were carefully extracted, a very different, gruesome reality persists.

According to the National Committee for Missing Persons, more than 10,000 Palestinians remain entombed under the rubble of Gaza, decomposing in silence, lost and without identity.

Families grieve without closure for their missing, presumed dead loved ones.

There are no explosive robots clearing the way for them, no forensic teams flying in to identify them, and no global outcry demanding their recovery.

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International media do not rush to break news about them.

The digging up of the al-Batsh cemetery in Gaza Citys Tuffah neighbourhood has become a visceral symbol of a deadly double standard: A world where one Israeli corpse commands the attention of an army, while thousands of Palestinian bodies are treated as part of the decimated, apocalyptic landscape.

(Al Jazeera)

A kill zone around the graves

Khamis al-Rifi, a journalist in Gaza who reported from the vicinity of the incursion, detailed the sheer scale of force used to isolate the area.

It started with exploding robots and air strikes  clearing the path for the tanks, al-Rifi told Al Jazeera. He explained that approaching the cemetery was impossible, as tanks enforced a deadly perimeter, firing at anything that moved.

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From his position near the Yellow Line, Israels self-proclaimed buffer zone inside Gaza, al-Rifi described a wall of fire created by artillery and helicopters to protect the engineering units. Inside this sealed zone, witnesses and video footage obtained later revealed that the forces spent two days churning up the earth.

They dug up about 200 graves, al-Rifi said. They pulled the martyrs out, tested them one by one until they found the [Israeli] body.

The disparity was most evident in the aftermath. Gvilis remains were airlifted for dignified burial in Israel. The Palestinian bodies, however, were left to the mercy of bulldozers.

When citizens went to the area [after the withdrawal], they found the martyrs put back randomly  covered with sand by the bulldozers, al-Rifi said. Some bodies were still visible on the surface.





The worlds largest graveyard

While Israel used satellite technology and DNA labs to close the chapter on its missing policeman, Palestinian families are denied even the basic machinery to dig.

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Alaa al-Din al-Aklouk, spokesperson for the National Committee for Missing Persons, stated last November that Gaza has become the worlds largest graveyard.

These martyrs are buried under the rubble of their homes  without their last dignity being preserved, al-Aklouk said. He highlighted the fatal injustice of an international community that mobilised resources for Israeli captives while blocking the entry of heavy civil defence equipment needed to recover Palestinian victims.

Mustafa Barghouti, secretary-general of the Palestinian National Initiative, told Al Jazeera on Monday that while he respects the right of any family to bury their dead, the contrast is inescapable. The lack of equal treatment, the lack of respect to Palestinians as equal human beings, is really astonishing, he noted.

A cost paid in blood

The dark irony of this Israeli mission is that it created new victims. On Tuesday morning, as residents approached the desecrated cemetery to check on the graves of their loved ones, Israeli fire struck again.

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Four martyrs fell in the area this morning, al-Rifi said, noting that one of them, his relative Youssef al-Rifi, had simply gone to inspect the destruction left behind.

In its quest to close a raw chapter that has shaken its national psyche since October 2023, Israel opened new graves in 2026. The operation serves as a grim microcosm of the entire war: The sanctity of one sides life and death is upheld at the absolute expense of the others.




Like most official newspapers in dictatorships, the Peoples Liberation Army Daily is not known as a riveting read. Set up by Chairman Mao to showcase the might of the worlds largest military force, its typical stories are about joint maritime exercises, new frigate fleets and promoting good bilateral relations with allies.

Last Sunday, though, the paper had something rather spicier: a report that General Zhang Youxia, Chinas top commander and President Xi Jinpings most-trusted military ally, was under investigation for corruption and disloyalty.

A member of Beijings top armed forces body, the Central Military Commission (CMC), Zhang and fellow CMC member General Liu Zhenli were accused of receiving huge backhanders to wave through promotions.

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As the PLA Daily put it, they had severely trampled on Xis authority and caused immense damage. In Zhangs case, though, it wasnt just about what he was allegedly taking, but what he was accused of giving away  comrades were later told that he had also leaked Chinese nuclear weapons secrets to the US.

General Zhang Youxia (second from right) was long considered Xis (centre) right-hand man in uniform, a figure beyond reproach - Xinhua / Alamy Stock Photo

The probe into Zhang is arguably the biggest political scandal in Xis 13-year rule, and follows a mass purge of other old-guard officers for corruption in recent years. Dressed up as part of Xis drive to turn the Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) into a superpower force, it has also been a ruthless exercise in bloodletting, creating a Praetorian Guard of military loyalists.

That, though, is where the mystery really starts. For Zhang, 75, was long considered Xis right-hand man in uniform, a figure beyond reproach. In the eyes of many Politburo watchers, he was the man most likely to be masterminding the purges, not falling victim to them.

This is an absolute shock, said Dr Alessandro Arduino, a China expert at the Royal United Services Institute. There has been a lot of purging in the military, which didnt surprise me, but I could never imagine someone of his age, experience and closeness to Xi being sacked.

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So why, then, has he been ousted? Has he really been passing Chinese secrets on to the US, as Politburo officials claim? Or is his sacking just a ruse by Xi to consolidate absolute power and to show that even close allies must watch their step? And might it all be part of Xis much-vaunted goal to reconquer Taiwan  or could the loss of Zhangs experience force that plan to be put on hold?

General Zhang Youxia with members of the US Navy at the Western Pacific Naval Symposium in 2024 - Kevin Frayer/Getty Images

Certainly, if the spying accusations against Zhang were true, it would be a huge embarrassment to China and one of the biggest triumphs in the history of modern Western spying. No other senior Chinese military official has ever been known to be recruited by Washington as a military asset. As intelligence coups go, it would rank alongside the case of Oleg Penkovsky, the top Soviet intelligence officer who tipped off the US that Moscow was installing nuclear missiles in Cuba in 1962.

For that reason, Sir Richard Dearlove, the former head of MI6, isnt buying it. Its not impossible, but I think its pretty unlikely, he says. While someone that senior in the PLA may well have access to all the classified information, it would be almost impossible to run him as a source, as hes constantly accompanied by people  so unless he has a collaborator acting as an intermediary, it would be hard for him to pass anything on.

I think this may actually be something more profound than we know as of yet. Xi has got rid of a lot of generals, but if his position was really that solid, he wouldnt need to remove people like Zhang. We think of China as a power bloc led by an autocrat, but within that there are still power struggles.

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Certainly, 72-year-old Xi has shown little hesitation in clearing out the PLAs top brass, many of whom he regards as Soviet-era throwbacks. Since he came to power in 2012, at least 17 generals have been dismissed, amid a broader anti-graft drive that has removed more than 200,000 senior officials from office.

According to US intelligence, the purge is part of Xis drive to modernise the PLA, to get it ready for a possible invasion of Taiwan by 2027. And while most think he may not green-light that until 2035  if at all  his patience is waning for those not stepping up to the mark. Nine generals were fired just last October  again for alleged corruption. And in the all-powerful CMC, just two members now remain out of an original seven  Xi himself, who is chairman, and another general who doubles as the PLAs disciplinary chief.

Zhang, however, was long deemed indispensable, thanks to both his perceived competence and his impeccable political heritage. Like Xi, he is a scion of Politburo aristocracy: the two mens fathers served alongside each other during the Chinese Civil War before the 1949 Communist takeover, and both later became senior party officials.

In an army that has seen little combat in modern times, Zhang also has the rare distinction of being a war veteran, having fought in Beijings brief 1979 war against Vietnam. As such, he has been tasked with leading the modernisation of the PLA, preparing them for a strike on Taiwan.

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This, by all accounts, was partly due to another rare quality  his willingness to speak truth to power, and to let Xi know that storming a heavily-defended island like Taiwan would be no pushover.

Hed be the one that would say: dont listen to the tropes, Chinas not so big and Taiwan has asymmetric capabilities that are quite capable and advanced, said Drew Thompson, a senior fellow at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies in Singapore and former US defence official.

Zhang, he added, was exceptionally intelligent and one of the few PLA officers who had actually experienced combat and knows the consequences of war, both military, social and personal.

Xis drive to turn the PLA into a superpower force has been a ruthless exercise in bloodletting - TINGSHU WANG/POOL/AFP via Getty Images

Some of that blunt advice, however, may not have gone down well. As well as spelling out the potentially heavy casualties  especially were America to come to Taiwans aid  Zhang is thought to have recommended taking longer to prepare for invasion than Xi had in mind.

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Although hes an old guard, he is quite realistic in terms of the real combat situation, said K Tristan Tang, non-resident Vasey fellow at the Pacific Forum think-tank. He wants to make sure that the PLA really has the capability step by step to invade Taiwan and fight US forces, but this led to his purge.

His age may also have let him down. Zhang apparently favoured old-school infantry beach landings on Taiwan, which many believe could be catastrophic in the era of drone warfare.

Xi may be looking to get younger, more pliable people who are more technologically savvy and more willing to use electronic, space and cyber warfare, who might have a different approach than an over the beach landing, said Dennis Blasko, a former US military intelligence officer specialising in China.

So what will happen now? Ironically, getting rid of his former confidante may actually force Xi to postpone any invasion of Taiwan while he recruits reliable replacements  who will themselves need a few years of tenure to prove their dependability. Long-term, though, it may mean Xi becomes more hawkish than ever, with his Taiwan war machine taken over by a younger generation of hand-picked Xi ideologues.

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Meanwhile, for millions of Chinese  including those who might have very real worries about an invasion  it may mean the very last of the people willing to say no to Xi have gone.

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As state lawmakers on both sides address affordability issues, one is trying to eliminate state income tax on tips.

The bill is modeled after President Donald Trumps Big Beautiful Bill and the exemption, up to a point, on taxing tips

On a frigidly cold day at the corner of Forsyth Street and MLK Boulevard, Safi Jamil and his mother, Jasmine, were busy making sandwiches at their sub and salad shop.

Theyve been preparing sandwiches for downtown Atlanta workers for years, and for some reporters, too.

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Right now, its colder, so the business is a little bit lower. We just got done with Christmas and New Years, so once it picks up, it gets better, Safi Jamil told Channel 2s Richard Elliot.

Jamil didnt know that just five blocks away at the State Capitol, lawmakers were considering a bill that would exempt all the tips he gets from state income tax.

He thinks thats a pretty good idea.

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I think its a great idea, honestly. Truthfully, theres a lot of people who work in that sector, and they dont get paid a lot. Two dollars, three dollars an hour. And then the tax is what they live off of. So, I feel like they shouldnt be taxed on that, Safi Jamil said.

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Republican State Sen. Greg Dolezal wrote the bill. He said theyre working to eliminate all state income tax. But until then, he said, this will do.

We saw millions of Georgians rally behind the idea of lowering taxes for some of the hard-working Georgians that work in the service industry, and were looking to get that across the finish line, Dolezal said.

Democratic State Sen. Harold Jones worries that the push to cut all taxes could go too far and affect essential services.

Still, he said, its an idea that has some merit.

I worked in the restaurant industry. I was a dishwasher, and so I understand about what waitresses go through, and those sorts go through. So, its probably a decent idea, but weve got to look at the details, too, Jones said.
Germany remains committed to purchasing green hydrogen from Saudi Arabia, Environment Minister Carsten Schneider said on Tuesday as he visited Riyadh.

"They want to know whether there is still a prospect of Germany becoming a buyer of climate-friendly hydrogen," Schneider told dpa. "We need this cooperation to make our industry in Germany climate-neutral."

Hydrogen can be used as a clean source of energy if it is produced in a climate-neutral way, such as by using solar power. Saudi Arabia has been investing in production of the gas, while Berlin has in recent years begun expanding its infrastructure for hydrogen.

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The gas could be used to generate electricity in new gas-fired power stations when insufficient wind or solar power is available. It can also be used instead of coke in blast furnaces for steel production, thereby avoiding huge amounts of carbon dioxide emissions.

An agreement was signed last year between Saudi firm ACWA Power and Germany's state-owned Securing Energy for Europe (SEFE) for the provision of up to 200,000 tons of green hydrogen by 2030.

However, the new German energy minister, Katherina Reiche, has warned that hydrogen is not available in sufficient quantities and remains too expensive.

Schneider is also pinning his hopes on Saudi Arabia in the effort to reach a global agreement on plastics.

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Crude oil is an important component of plastics, which pollute the environment worldwide.

"We must work together to find global solutions to the flood of plastic," said Schneider. "We won't find perfect solutions right away, but the important thing is that we start somewhere."
German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul has called for stronger action against Russia's shadow fleet.

Source: German TV news service Tagesschau, as reported by European Pravda

Details: During his visit to Latvia, Wadephul spoke about the threat posed by Russia's shadow fleet and the need to tighten sanctions against it.

Wadephul said that hardly any other EU region was so heavily affected by hybrid actions organised by the Kremlin and that there was no time to hesitate  either in protecting critical infrastructure or in imposing sanctions on Russia's shadow fleet  adding that Germany stood firmly with Latvia and the Baltic states.

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The German foreign minister noted that EU sanctions against vessels belonging to Russia's shadow fleet and those behind them are already in place.

However, he stressed that much greater effectiveness is needed, as well as far more intensive cooperation between countries around the Baltic Sea.

He also said there must be scope to take action against vessels with unclear flag status when it is not clear in which country tankers are registered.

"We must now use all the options provided by maritime law to stop such vessels," he added.

Background:

Last autumn, German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius said that Russia was intensifying hybrid attacks against European states to test their resilience, including in the Baltic Sea.

It was also reported earlier that Finland's Border Guard, together with other Baltic Sea states and the European Commission, is establishing a maritime surveillance centre to protect critical undersea infrastructure in the Gulf of Finland.

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German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul on Monday called for tougher measures against the Russian shadow fleet, a network of tankers used by Moscow to circumvent sanctions on oil sales.

During talks with Latvian Foreign Minister Baiba Braze in Riga, Wadephul insisted that international maritime law needs to be urgently reformed to enable authorities to take action against the vessels and those operating them.

Despite EU sanctions imposed on the shadow fleet, cooperation between nations bordering the Baltic Sea needs to be expanded, while authorities need to be able to act against vessels even if it's unclear where they are registered, said Wadephul.

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"We must now use all the possibilities offered by maritime law to stop such ships," Germany's top diplomat said.

Braze called for action against financial service providers and ports that handle cargo from the shadow fleet.

"All loopholes that are being exploited by Russia to carry out these operations must be closed," she demanded. Greater international coordination and improved communication are needed, she said.

Wadephul was visiting Latvia and Sweden on Monday to discuss security in the Baltic region, including hybrid attacks by Russia and the shadow fleet.

Since the Russian full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, repeated cyberattacks in the region and damage to undersea communications cables have been attributed to Russia.

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Latvia's state security service on Monday warned that the security risks emanating from Russia are increasing significantly in Europe, according to the agency's annual report for 2025.

While the report concludes that Russia currently poses no direct military threat to the Baltic EU and NATO country, it says Russian narratives and propaganda about Latvia point to "potential long-term plans."

"All kinds of attempts are being made to influence our Western countries. These will continue and become even more intense," Braze said.

She accused Russia of increasingly using unconventional means to achieve its goals by unconventional means. "That is the new normal."

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"Of course, Russia will continue to try to destabilize us," Wadephul agreed. "And of course, this will not stop, even with a possible peace agreement in Ukraine."

Ahead of the two-country visit, the German minister called on Europeans to stand united in light of the Russian hybrid attacks and the erratic policies of US President Donald Trump, who recently caused an outcry in Europe with his quest to acquire Greenland.

"In this phase of geopolitical upheaval, we Europeans must present a united front and act with confidence," Wadephul said.

Following talks in Riga, Germany's top diplomat was scheduled to travel on to Stockholm for talks with Swedish Foreign Minister Maria Stenergard.

Latvia joined NATO in 2004, while Sweden joined in 2024, ending over 200 years of neutrality. The country began seeking membership immediately after the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Germany's Greens are backing the European Union's landmark trade deal with India, days after the party's lawmakers in the European Parliament played a key role in challenging the bloc's agreement with the South American Mercosur countries.

Andreas Audretsch, the party's deputy group leader in the German parliament, said the deal with India - which was announced earlier on Tuesday - was good for businesses and workers in Germany.

In view of the "destructive rage" of US President Donald Trump, Europe must build new alliances for trade and cooperation, Audretsch argued.

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The deal was finalized during an EU-India summit in New Delhi, with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi proclaiming the agreement on Tuesday.

"The EU and India make history today, deepening the partnership between the world's biggest democracies," von der Leyen said.

The latest agreement will not be as comprehensive as the one recently concluded between the EU and Mercosur countries Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay.

Last week, several Green lawmakers in Brussels voted in favour of referring the bloc's deal with Mercosur to the European Court of Justice (ECJ), which could result in a substantial delay to ratification.

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Their votes were decisive in passing the motion, prompting severe criticism for the party in Germany, whose export-led economy stands to benefit from the boost to trade.

In a paper, the Green leadership has said that Germany needs "new economic partnerships" to diversify foreign trade.

"That is why it is important to provisionally apply the agreement with the Mercosur countries and then ratify it," the paper continued.
The entrance to the South Dakota Supreme Court at the state Capitol in Pierre. (Photo by Joshua Haiar/South Dakota Searchlight)

PIERRE  Republican Gov. Larry Rhoden on Monday asked the South Dakota Supreme Court for an advisory opinion on whether the lieutenant governor, while presiding as president of the state Senate, may cast a tiebreaking vote.

This is a matter of great public importance, and of significant impact on state government. Judicial interpretation would bring clarity and certainty to this matter going forward, Rhoden wrote.

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Rhodens request follows a dispute last week after the Senate deadlocked 17-17 on passage of a bill updating permitting provisions for energy and transmission facilities. Lt. Gov. Tony Venhuizen, presiding as president of the Senate, broke the tie with a yes vote, but Senate President Pro Tempore Chris Karr, R-Sioux Falls, challenged the action. The Senate voted to uphold the challenge, voiding the tiebreaker.

The potential for a tie exists because Sen. Arch Beal, R-Sioux Falls, is on an extended absence due to illness. The absence leaves an even number of senators, at 34, when the chamber typically has 35.

After the earlier tiebreaker was deemed invalid, the Senate reconsidered the affected bill on Monday, adopted an amendment, and passed the legislation. But while the bills fate was decided, uncertainty remains about future tie votes.

If a tiebreaking vote cannot be cast for final passage, it will be impossible for any such piece of legislation to pass the Legislature and be presented to the governor for signature or veto, Rhoden wrote. An advisory opinion from the court is the only realistic way to resolve this question.

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The killing of Alex Pretti by federal immigration agents in Minnesota has led to a rare rebuke of top Trump administration officials by leading Second Amendment advocates.

Multiple national gun-rights organizations, as well as a prominent Minnesota gun rights group, have expressed horror at top Trump administration officials criticism of Pretti for being armed with a handgun that he had a legal permit to carry.

The FBI director needs to brush off that thing called the Constitution, because he clearly hasn't read it, National Association for Gun Rights President Dudley Brown told POLITICO. I know of no more crucial place to carry a firearm for self defense than a protest.

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FBI Director Kash Patel said Sunday on Fox News that You cannot bring a firearm, loaded, with multiple magazines to any sort of protest that you want. It's that simple. You don't have a right to break the law." DHS Secretary Kristi Noem said Saturday that she didnt know of any peaceful protester that shows up with a gun and ammunition rather than a sign. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Monday that any gun owner knows that carrying a gun raises the assumption of risk and the risk of force being used against you, during interactions with law enforcement.

Gun-rights groups rushed to push back on an administration that was breaking with conservative orthodoxy on the right to bear arms in public places.

Several were particularly outraged by Bill Essayli, the acting U.S. attorney for the Central District of California, who posted on X: If you approach law enforcement with a gun, there is a high likelihood they will be legally justified in shooting you.

The National Rifle Association, a longtime ally of President Donald Trump, posted that Essaylis remarks were dangerous and wrong, and called for a full investigation rather than making generalizations and demonizing law-abiding citizens.

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Aidan Johnston, the director of federal affairs for Gun Owners of America, called Essaylis remarks absolutely unacceptable.

Federal prosecutors should know better than to comment on a situation when he didn't know all the facts, to make a judgment in a case like this, and then also, just to make a blanket statement, threatening gun owners in that way, Johnston said Monday.

Its not the first time Trump and the gun lobby have tangled since he returned to office. In September, gun rights advocates were shocked by reports that the administration was looking into a gun ban for transgender Americans. During Trumps first term, his administration issued a regulation to ban bump stocks, but the Supreme Court ultimately blocked the rule in 2024.

There are still conflicting accounts surrounding Saturdays shooting  including whether Prettis hand at any point during the incident was near his gun. Video verified and analyzed by several media outlets, including the New York Times, show the item Pretti appeared to be holding was a phone he was using to film the scene before he attempted to help a woman who had been pushed to the ground by Border Patrol agents. According to a Washington Post analysis of video footage, federal agents appear to have secured Prettis gun moments before an agent shot the 37-year-old ICU nurse, who was also a U.S. citizen.

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We can all see what is on video, said Minnesota Gun Owners Caucus chair Bryan Strawser, arguing statements from Trumps officials have not lined up with footage of the event.

Strawser hoped the incident would help Democrats understand the importance of gun ownership.

If it has helped move the needle and helped individual folks realize that they should be protecting this right, I think that's a good thing, he said. I think the more political-minded part of my brain would say, are they just using this for their own political purposes and this isn't going to change their position at all? I think time will tell as to where that goes.

California Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom  who became a gun owner last year  respondedon X to Noems remarks:The Trump administration does not believe in the 2nd Amendment. Good to know.

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Rep. Dave Min (D-Calif.) and former Rep. Mary Peltola (D-Alaska) also used the moment to highlight the right to carry.

Joining the gun lobby to condemn Bill Essayli was not on my bingo card but here we are, Min said on X. Lawfully carrying a firearm is not grounds for being killed.

Brown argued it was Newsom and Democrats who were being hypocritical, pointing to Newsoms longtime support for more gun control.

The irony is thick, he said.

Jacob Wendler contributed to this report.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- The Trump administration is planning to establish a permanent CIA presence inside Venezuela following the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, CNN reported on Tuesday.

While the State Department will serve as the primary diplomatic presence in the country, the Trump administration will likely lean heavily on the CIA to initiate the re-entry process due to the political and security situation in Venezuela, said the report, quoting sources familiar with the process.

"State plants the flag but CIA is really the influence," one source was quoted as saying.

In the short term, U.S. officials may operate out of a CIA annex, prior to the opening of an official embassy, allowing them to start making informal contact with members of different factions in the oil-rich nation and target third parties who may be threats, the source said.

CIA Director John Ratcliffe, the first senior U.S. official to visit Venezuela after Maduro's capture, met with interim President Delcy Rodriguez and military leaders earlier this month. During the visit, Ratcliffe reportedly warned that Venezuela could no longer serve as a "safe haven" for U.S. adversaries.

It's widely reported that CIA agents were deeply involved in the raid targeting Maduro, with agency personnel deployed inside Venezuela months in advance to track his movements. The CIA's intelligence assessments also helped shape U.S. policy decisions regarding Venezuela's post-Maduro leadership.

Despite the expanding intelligence role, sources told CNN that U.S. officials are still awaiting clearer guidance from the White House on how they would "run" Venezuela following Maduro's capture. 
The U.S. on Monday suggested it could take military action to force Hamas to disarm or allow Israel to do so before it moves forward with rebuilding the Gaza Strip.

Following the release of the remains of the last hostage in Gaza, Ran Gvili, the Trump administration is beginning conversations with Israel, Egypt, Qatar, Turkey and others to initiate disarming Hamas  though details are scarce on how that would occur. U.S. officials, granted anonymity to discuss sensitive conversations, said the executive board of President Donald Trumps Board of Peace, which includes participants from these countries and may ultimately include Saudi Arabia, would help facilitate it.

Hamas signed an agreement  they don't have a choice, and so that's what we are going to work on to make happen. And if they decide to play games, then obviously President Trump will take other actions, a U.S. official told reporters, who like others in this story was granted anonymity to share sensitive details about the discussions.

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A second U.S. official said they expect Hamas to disarm and that the administration is in touch with Hamas leaders on its very good program to achieve it. Now, the first U.S. official said, the U.S. is building a local Palestinian police force that can start policing themselves.

The U.S. is also in the process of standing up an International Stabilization Force to help secure the Strip as it transitions away from Hamas.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, speaking to Israels parliament the Knesset on Monday, indicated his country would use force if Hamas doesnt comply with the agreement and give up its weapons.

It will happen the easy way, or the hard way, Netanyahu said. But it will happen.

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The latest remarks from U.S. officials double down on past threats. Trump wrote earlier this month on Truth Social, As I have said before, they can do this the easy way, or the hard way.

While the second phase of the Israel-Hamas agreement is in limbo, Gvilis return is a significant achievement for the White House  for the first time since 2014, there are no hostages or their remains in the Gaza Strip. Returning all of the hostages, living and dead, was the last remaining condition before the ceasefire agreement calls for moving to the second phase to facilitate reconstruction.

Just recovered the last Hostage body in GAZA. Thus, got back ALL 20 of the living Hostages, and ALL of the Dead! Trump posted on Truth Social. AMAZING JOB! Most thought of it as an impossible thing to do. Congratulations to my great team of Champions!!!

Still, the toughest days lie ahead for the Trump administration and its ultimate quest to bring stability to the enclave.

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The Trump administration has been optimistic about solving one of the thorniest challenges in years of wars between Israel and Hamas  getting the militant group, which sees its arms as key to its legitimacy as a resistance force, to give them up.

Netanyahu has said there will be no reconstruction in Gaza until Hamas gives up its weapons, which the U.S. agrees with.

Nobody in the American administration or Israel, or quite frankly, in the Arab world, is interested in seeing rebuilding happen until we know that there's a good chance that there won't be a conflict again, the first U.S. official said.

Israel controls about half of the Gaza Strip while most of Gazas Palestinian population lives on the Hamas-controlled west side of the so-called yellow line, established as part of the ceasefire agreement. The U.S. has named a new government, the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza, but its unclear how the body will actually take control of Gaza.

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In another development necessary to begin work toward reconstruction, the Rafah border crossing connecting Egypt to the Gaza Strip will open later this week to pedestrian crossings and the U.S. is discussing getting aid and other goods through it, the first official said.

When asked how the team will navigate the myriad obstacles, officials often say such queries are cynical.

We have a good track record now on achieving impossible things, the first U.S. official said.
The crossing will be run by Palestinian personnel who are not affiliated with the Palestinian Authority and do not wear PA uniforms, alongside European Union observers from the EUBAM mission.

Discussions over disarming Hamas are expected to begin only after the reopening of the Rafah Crossing, two sources familiar with the matter told The Jerusalem Post.

According to the sources, a Palestinian technocratic administration in Gaza is slated to lead negotiations with Hamas regarding disarmament. The idea is that Palestinians will negotiate with Palestinians, one of the sources said.

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In the meantime, preparations to reopen the Rafah Crossing continue. This follows the recovery and repatriation of the body of the last abducted Israeli hostage, Ran Gvili.

The crossing will be run by Palestinian personnel who are not affiliated with the Palestinian Authority and do not wear PA uniforms, alongside European Union observers from the EUBAM mission.

View of the Rafah Border Crossing in Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip, on July 15, 2024. (credit: Oren Cohen/Flash90)

Hamas refuses disarmament talks until Rafah Crossing opens

Although earlier reports anticipated the crossing would open as early as Wednesday, both an Israeli official and a Western diplomat told the Post that Thursday is now the earliest likely date.

There is a chance it might not happen until early next week, the pair added.

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Once operational, the Rafah Crossing will be restricted to civilian entry and exit. On the Gaza exit side, Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) will implement screening procedures to verify the identities of those leaving.

On the entry side, Israel will maintain an additional inspection point a few meters from the crossing to conduct security checks, aimed at preventing the smuggling of weapons or materials that could bolster Hamass operational capabilities.

Senior US officials said Tuesday that Gazas reconstruction would move forward only if Hamas agrees to disarm.

The ball is in Hamass court  they are the ones preventing Gazas rehabilitation and a better future for its people, the officials told reporters.
(The Center Square)  The New Hampshire Republican Party is still wrangling over a new chairman after the national party challenged its election of Rochester Mayor Paul Callaghan to take over the helm.

Last week, the GOP's Executive Committee announced that it elected Callaghan to serve as chairman of the New Hampshire Republican State Committee. He replaced Jim MacEachern, who stepped down after less than a year as the party's chairman.

But former state GOP head Chris Ager fired off a letter to party officials this week challenging Callaghans election by the Executive Committee and saying he would throw his hat in the ring for the chairmanship during Saturdays GOP state committee meeting.

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"I'm writing to let you know that IF there is an election for chairman, I am willing to once again take on the role and would appreciate your vote," Ager wrote to party leaders. "This will be a difficult election cycle and my past experience as chairman from 2023-2025 would help maintain stability."

But the National Republican Committee has added more confusion to the wrangling over a new chairman. The RNC's Committee on Membership Disputes issued a report Wednesday claiming NHGOP officials didn't follow rules when they passed the baton to Callaghan because the party's deputy chairman Scott Maltzie should have formally resigned beforehand.

The RNC's report cited Robert's Rules of Order, the "binding parliamentary authority" of the New Hampshire Republican Party, which states: "if the president resigns, dies, or is removed, the vice president immediately becomes the president for the remainder of the term unless bylaws provide otherwise."

NHGOP officials say Maltzie decided not to seek the chairmanship after MacEachern's resignation, but the RNC's committee said a vice-president "cannot decline to take the higher office once he is automatically promoted. The report said the only recourse for the deputy chairman is to submit his resignation and no longer hold either office.

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The committee recommended that the party confirm Maltzie as the rightful chairman, unless he formally resigns.

MacEachern submitted his letter of resignation Monday ahead of a meeting of the party's Executive Committee to discuss replacing him over a confrontation with a GOP congressional candidate, who later dropped out of a primary race in the First Congressional District race. GOP officials didn't mention the controversy that led to his resignation.

New Hampshire is expected to be a battleground in the fight over control of Congress in the upcoming midterm elections. Republicans are hoping to retake a U.S. Senate seat currently held by retiring Democratic Sen. Jeanne Shaheen and several GOP candidates, including former Sen. John E. Sununu, are seeking the party's nomination to run for the open seat.

Meanwhile, Republicans are also hoping to flip a U.S. House seat currently held by Democratic Rep. Chris Pappas, who is running for Shaheen's Senate seat.
Washington  The leaders of the three major immigration enforcement agencies are set to testify before a pair of House and Senate committees in February following a pair of deadly shootings by federal agents in Minneapolis.

Todd Lyons, the acting head of Immigration and Customs Enforcement; Rodney Scott, the commissioner of Customs and Border Protection; and Joseph Edlow, the director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, will testify before the House Homeland Security Committee on Feb. 10, Chairman Andrew Garbarino said.

"Transparency and communication are needed to turn the temperature down," Garbarino said in a statement. "Thank you to Secretary Noem and the Department of Homeland Security for making these witnesses available, and I look forward to receiving their testimony."

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The three will testify before the Senate Homeland Security Committee two days later on Feb. 12, according to GOP Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky, the panel's chairman. Paul called on the group to appear on Monday.

ICE, CBP and USCIS are all part of the Department of Homeland Security. CBP oversees Border Patrol, whose agents have been at the center of some of the highest-profile immigration operations and confrontations with protesters in recent months.

Chairman of the House Committee on Homeland Security Andrew Garbarino oversees a DHS oversight hearing on Jan. 21, 2026 in Washington, D.C. / Credit: Heather Diehl / Getty Images

Garbarino's staff sought the officials' testimony before the deadly shooting of 37-year-old Alex Pretti over the weekend. On Saturday, the chairman formalized the request, emphasizing that his "top priority remains keeping Americans safe and ensuring the Department of Homeland Security can accomplish its core mission."

The Trump administration has faced intense scrutiny in recent days over its immigration operation in Minneapolis. DHS Secretary Kristi Noem has been among those at the center of the criticism, but she is expected to keep her job, CBS News reported earlier Tuesday. Her focus is expected to shift from immigration enforcement operations in the country's interior to securing the southern border and other priorities.

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Noem is expected to testify before the Senate Judiciary Committee in March.

Video breakdown of fatal shooting by federal agents in Minneapolis

Sneak peek: The Firefighter's Secret

Visual investigation into Border Patrol killing of Alex Pretti in Minneapolis
As temperatures in North Texas rise above freezing this week, homeowners should be aware of a delayed but significant risk: water lines that froze and cracked during the cold snap may lead to extensive water damage as the pipes thaw.

Texas homes are particularly vulnerable to frozen and burst pipes because they are not typically built for prolonged or severe winter weather.

In colder regions of the country, water service lines are installed much deeper underground to prevent freezing. Chicago, for example, requires water lines to be buried at least five feet deep. In Arlington, the minimum required depth is just one foot, increasing exposure during extreme cold.

Pipe placement inside homes also contributes to the risk.

In northern states where harsh winters are common, pipes are more often located within interior, insulated walls. In Texas and other southern states, pipes often run through exterior walls, which can become much colder when temperatures drop. Even pipes inside walls can freeze during extreme cold, and freezing can cause pipes to crack.

The consequences of cracked pipes can be severe.

During Winter Storm Uri in 2021, frozen pipes led to widespread damage across Texas. State Farm, the states largest home insurer, paid $343 million in frozen pipe claims in Texas that yearmore than it paid for frozen pipe losses in all other top loss states combined.

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While Uri was an extraordinary event, frozen pipe damage remains a costly issue even in more typical winters. State Farm reported that during the previous winter, Texas recorded $48 million in frozen pipe and water loss claims, the fourth-highest total nationwide. That amount exceeded the combined losses from colder states such as New York and Michigan.

State Farm says the average frozen pipe claim last year exceeded $30,000, underscoring the importance of prevention and early action, WFAA reported. Homeowners are advised to insulate exterior faucets and allow interior faucets to drip during freezing conditions.

A faucet that runs dry or produces very little water can signal a frozen pipe.

If a frozen or cracked pipe is suspected, safety is critical.

State Farm advises keeping faucets open, calling a plumber if water stops flowing, avoiding using electrical appliances near standing water, and never using an open flame to thaw pipes.

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A hair dryer may be used cautiously, starting near the faucet and working toward the frozen section. If a pipe bursts, homeowners should shut off the main water valve and leave faucets open.

Turning off the water supply is especially important as temperatures rise.

A pipe that cracked while frozen may not leak until it thaws. State Farm notes that even a small 1/8-inch crack can leak more than 250 gallons of water per day, causing flooding, structural damage, and mold growth, WFAA reported.

The main water shutoff valve is typically located at the water meter and may require a special key or tool to access.

Homeowners are encouraged to locate the valve and practice turning it off before an emergency, rather than trying to do so for the first time as pipes thaw and damage begins.
SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4)  The Utah Geological Survey (UGS) has completed a project forming new high-resolution maps of active faults throughout central Utah, a geologically critical area, which geologists said give a clearer view of earthquake risk in the state.

Previous fault mapping focused mostly on the Wasatch Front, according to the UGS. The new project looked at central Utah, an area UGS described as a geologically-critical transition zone between the actively extending Basin and Range Province and the stable Colorado Plateau.

The study covered parts of Garfield, Juab, Millard, Piute, Sanpete, and Sevier counties. Additionally, experts said the region is transforming amid population growth and infrastructure development.

This map shows the study area in central Utah, with red lines denoting new fault mapping from this study. (Courtesy: Utah Geological Survey)

This region is home to growing communities, vital infrastructure, and major transportation routes, UGS said in a press release. The area has a history of powerful seismic events, including two of Utahs largest historical earthquakes: the 1901 M6.6 Tushar Mountains and 1921 M6.0 Elsinore earthquakes, both of which caused widespread damage in the Sevier Valley.

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Utahs next earthquake could hit harder, U of U research suggests

In its new project, the UGS reportedly used federal funding from the U.S. Geological Surveys Earthquake Hazards Program to remap active faults. They looked at faults that have ruptured the Earths surface in the past 2.6 million years and are capable of producing strong earthquakes.

Older mapping of these faults relied mainly on aerial photographs and fieldwork, the UGS said, missing subtle or eroded fault scarps, a step-like feature formed on the landscape by large earthquakes. Previous mapping was made even harder when these features were hidden by dense vegetation.

In their effort to produce better mapping of the region, geologists used Lidar  light detection and ranging  data to significantly update the mapping and understanding of these faults, the UGS said. Lidar reportedly allows geologists to digitally see through vegetation, exposing the earth underneath and revealing small or complex fault scarps previously hard to find.

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Lidar data is a game-changer in the world of geomorphology and fault mapping due to our ability to map features on the surface of the earth, such as active faults, in much greater detail than ever before, said Adam Hiscock, UGS Project Geologist.

Seismologist breaks down 4.7 magnitude earthquake in Uinta Mountains, 6 aftershocks detected

Using the new mapping, geologists were able to point out zones where a detailed, site-specific investigation should be done prior to any new development in the area.

Courtesy: Utah Geologic Hazards Portal

The UGS creates these maps to provide critical guidance for safe and smart community growth, the release states. UGS is tasked with helping our local governments, cities, towns, and planning commissions understand the risks below their feet when they imagine future development. Local authorities play the essential role of incorporating scientific data from the UGS into public safety and planning policy.

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The UGS outlined the following uses for the new mapping:

Informed planning: Planning commissions can use the special-study zones to direct new development away from high-risk areas, thereby protecting new homes, schools, hospitals, and infrastructure like water lines and highways.

Risk mitigation: By making development decisions based on the most accurate data available, cities and counties reduce future risks to life and property, ensuring a safer future for all Utahns.

Guidance for local officials: Special-study zones are advisory areas where the UGS recommends that a detailed, site-specific investigation by a qualified geologist takes place prior to any new development.

Ordinance enforcement: Local officials can use these maps to create and enforce geologic-hazard ordinances, ensuring that structures are not built directly on top of or too close to a known active fault trace.

You can access all the data from this UGS project here. These resources can help homeowners, developers, and local officials make informed decisions using the most up-to-date information.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah.
Funding for the Department of Homeland Security was already a question for some Democrats before the killing of Alex Pretti.

But Saturdays killing by federal agents gave Democrats who were on the fence about supporting the upcoming government funding plan a reason to solidify their opposition. And the killing only hardened those who were opposed to funding DHS before.

From a political standpoint, Democrats are compelled to fight this. Otherwise, their base will balk. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., endured brickbats from the liberal base last March when he and a group of other Democratic senators helped Republicans clear a filibuster to avoid a shutdown.

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Progressives raged at Schumer. And the Senates top Democrat suddenly found himself crossways with House Democratic leaders who expected him to mount more of a fight over government funding.

Congress Unveils $1.2T Spending Bill As Progressive Revolt Brews Over Ice Funding

Lawmakers are teetering on the edge of a partial government shutdown with Homeland Security funding at the forefront of a heated debate. (Getty Images)

The liberal base certainly got that this fall as Democrats withheld their votes to fund the government and fought over expiring Obamacare subsidies. The government shuttered for 43 days. But Democrats never earned a restoration of Obamacare subsidies. The Senate took a vote related to restoring the subsidies. Nothing happened. The House actually passed a bill re-upping the subsidies for three years. But the issue remains at an impasse.

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Despite the fall brawl, Democratic congressional leaders faced a narrow path to walk for this funding round. They still felt pressure from the left to oppose money for DHS, long before the killing of Renee Good and Pretti. But Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., did not go to the mat to oppose funding this time. They wanted to finesse this, believing that a shutdown was bad politics for them after the fall experience. After all, Democrats never scored precisely what they wanted. By the same token, Schumer and Jeffries didnt wade deeply into the funding fight, perhaps afraid of breaking a fragile truce on spending bills.

That all changed Saturday. Democrat after Democrat published statements that they wouldnt vote to fund DHS. Sen. Angus King, I-Maine, caucuses with the Democrats. He was one senator instrumental to helping re-open the government last fall. King said he couldnt support funding this time around.

More Than Half Of House Democrats Back Impeachment Push Against Dhs Chief Kristi Noem

So unless something changes by 11:59:59 p.m. ET on Friday, Jan. 30, 78% of the federal government will lack money to operate. The six-bill, $1.2 trillion spending package doesnt only fund the Department of Homeland Security, but it also provides money for the Pentagon, Health and Human Services, Labor & Housing programs, Transportation and Education.

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The DHS bill was radioactive in the House. So the House broke that bill off from the rest of the package. The House approved the DHS funding measure 220-207 with seven Democratic yeas. The House approved the remaining bills 341-88.

The House then married the six bills together in one package, sent it to the Senate and left town.

There was some grumbling from senators that this was a "take it or leave it" package.

Sen. Angus King, I-Maine, announced he won't support the DHS funding bill following the fatal shooting in Minneapolis and as federal agents enter his home state.

And after the shooting, all bets were off. On Saturday, Schumer declared that "Senate Democrats will not provide the votes to proceed to the appropriations bill if the DHS funding bill is included."

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Democrats implored Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., to break off the DHS funding bill from the rest of the spending package and handle that separately. Otherwise, they would oppose the entire plan.

On Monday, Schumer signaled that "Senate Democrats have made clear we are ready to quickly advance the five appropriations bills separately from the DHS funding bill before the January 30th deadline." He also said that "Republicans will again be responsible for another government shutdown."

$174B Spending Package To Avert Shutdown Clears Key Hurdle In Senate

Well, this is an amalgamated appropriations bill sent over from the House. Not a Kit-Kat bar. You just cant break off one piece of it.

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In short, what Schumer is proposing would spark a government shutdown. Its not clear that there are the votes to do what Schumer is suggesting. And doubtful that the Senate would have the time. Thats to say nothing of getting the House on the same page before the deadline. Moreover, the House would just have to magically accept the new Senate position. Thats probably not going to happen considering what the House went through just to pass that minibus spending bill.

And we have not even mentioned that most of the money that Democrats are crowing about for DHS is already out the door. In the One Big Beautiful Bill, Republicans approved $75 billion for border security and ICE through 2029. In that measure, Republicans converted "discretionary spending" (which Congress controls) into a "mandatory appropriation" through 2029. Yes, this tactic agitates Members of the Appropriations Committee. But this has been done before, notably by Democrats when approving Obamacare.

What Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., is proposing would, in essence, trigger a shutdown.

So going after DHS right now would have little impact on the funding for ICE. However, Democrats could demand certain "guardrails" and changes in policy for ICE.

From a parliamentary standpoint, ripping the six-bill package apart is a mess. First of all, the Senate must agree on a "motion to strike" the DHS section from the six-bill combo package. The Senate would have to vote on this. Or, in the interest of time, do this via unanimous consent. But because the "motion to strike" by itself is debatable, the issue could set up a possible filibuster. Sixty votes are needed to cut off debate on just that question alone  stripping the DHS provision from the rest of the overall bill.

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Its important that a motion to strike the DHS money from the rest of the bill does not mean that the remaining five bills are ready to go. The Senate would have to agree that this is the new bill. Senators would then have to overcome a filibuster once and then vote to pass the bill. Those floor mechanics get you well past the early Saturday morning deadline.

Reporter's Notebook: Gop Rebels Defy Trump As Congressional Grip Continues To Weaken Across Multiple Votes

Then the Senate must tangle with passing the standalone DHS funding bill by itself. That certainly isnt going to be done by Saturday morning.

Moreover, none of these scenarios even addresses the House. If the Senate did approve the revamped five-bill spending package and the solitary DHS bill, the measures must return to the House. The House would have to vote on a "motion to concur" on the five-bill minibus. And then separately, on the solo DHS measure. Thats probably untenable in the House. Anything under this plan wouldnt meet the early Saturday morning deadline. In addition, the House could glue the bills together another way and send it back to the Senate. Or, the House could even move to go to a conference committee and try to blend the bills into one.

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There is no easy way out of this at such a late date. And thats why you likely have a partial government shutdown at 12:00:01 a.m. ET on Saturday.

Despite ICE being funded by One Big Beautiful Bill, disruptions to other services loom ahead.

Even though ICE is funded thanks to the One Big Beautiful Bill, theres a big penalty and disruption and other services. TSA agents are unpaid again. Thats a major problem considering what they went through this fall  and coming on the heels of the monster winter storm which swept across the country in the past few days. Air traffic controllers would again face the lack of a paycheck as part of the transportation spending bill.

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Then, there are the politics. Who gets blamed? Republicans are concerned about losing support from voters based on the tactics of ICE. Thats why some Republicans are searching for some changes  but not ready to nuke the spending bill. Meantime, if the government shuts down thanks to Democrats withholding their votes, that may resonate with progressives. But it may hurt the party if Democrats are viewed as the party responsible for another shutdown.

This is a tough situation all around. And theres not an obvious off-ramp.





Original article source: The Hitchhikers Guide to why there may be a partial government shutdown Saturday
WEST JORDAN, Utah (ABC4)  A West Jordan woman who allegedly abducted her four kids was located and arrested in Croatia. Family members are speaking about the process to get the children back to the United States and how this has impacted them.

In December 2025, an endangered and missing advisory was issued for four Utah children after law enforcement determined 35-year-old Elleshia Anne Seymour, their mother, had unlawfully taken the kids on an international flight and did not intend to return to the United States.

Utah children found in Croatia, mother arrested, after alleged abduction in December

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It was also determined that she did so because she believed the end times are coming, based on statements made to others, evidence found in her home, and social media posts describing an imminent apocalypse in the United States.

Elleshia Anne Seymour. Courtesy: DPS

This week, family members announced that Elleshia Anne Seymour was arrested in Croatia and the kids were located safe in a Croatian orphanage. Unfortunately, while the kids have been found, getting them back to the United States is another issue entirely.

They learned that Elleshia Anne Seymour and the kids had been staying with a woman and her 13-year-old child. The 13-year-old, upon discovering there was an endangered and missing advisory for the children, told his mom.

Ultimately, the woman convinced Elleshia to go to the police department, where they were both taken into custody. The four Seymour kids and 13-year-old were placed into a local orphanage.

Legal Process

Kendall Seymour, the grandfather of three of the children, says they are now dealing with an entire legal process to get the kids back.

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From what we found out today, there needs to be a judge in Croatia thats going to sign a form of some kind that allows them to be released to their father, which is so frustrating, Kendall said. Kenny has their birth certificates with him, and hes got court documentation saying that hes the father and he has custody of them, but its not good enough.

The process to get the kids home is reportedly also more complicated than the process to take the kids to Croatia.

Different missing alerts in Utah and what they mean

The frustrating part is she got them there with no problem, but its been horrible trying to get them out of Croatia back home, Kendall added. Part of the problem is nobody in Croatia, at least in the government, has had this happen before to them, so they dont know what to do. Nobody in the orphanage knows what to do as far as releasing the kids.

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He added that it was frustrating that passports were even issued for the children and said divorced or separated parents should try to contact their local passport offices and ask them not issue a passport.

According to the Department of State, you can enroll in a Childrens Passport Issuance Alert Program (CPIAP). This does not prevent the state from issuing a passport to a child, but it will alert you if your child is issued a U.S. passport.

Contact with the children

Currently, the father of three of the children is in Croatia, dealing with the legal issues alongside his fiance and his sister. ABC4s Mckenzie Diaz spoke with the sister, Jill Seymour, about how it is going.

We are so happy to know where the kids are, to be able to see them each day. Were allowed to be with them for two hours each day, which is wonderful based off of not knowing where they were before, but not what were going for, Jill said. So, its so close to reunification, but having to say goodbye every single day after only such a short amount of time is really difficult.

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According to Jill, they arrived in Croatia last week, and this is their ninth day there. As soon as they landed, they were able to see the four children.

PREVIOSU COVERAGE: Court docs say mom who allegedly abducted kids, fled to Europe, believes end times are coming

The kids were just so happy to see us, so happy to see familiar faces, to know that were here and they not have the opportunity to go home, she said. Just 24 hours before that, they didnt think that they were ever going to go back home and see their dad or go back to the States. They had been told that America was going to be destroyed.

Fortunately, Jill says the children are handling everything very well, but the orphanage or childrens center they are in has been wildly different from what they are used to. However, she is confident that they will be home as soon as possible.

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We feel confident that were going to get the kids back. We feel confident in the law enforcement that is here, that they are doing their best to do their job. And all in all, theyre protecting the kids to make sure that theyre safe. We just wish they would do it a little bit faster, but we know that theyre doing everything that they can, Jill said.

Impact on family members

While Elleshia Anne Seymour has been detained, and the four children seem to be doing okay considering the circumstances, the abduction has still greatly impacted family members.

It was devastating. It was horrific because we didnt know if they were alive or dead. We had no idea what living condition they were in. We had no clue, Kendall said. Couldnt tell you how many hours of sleep I lost worrying about them.

Ultimately, Kendall added that this has forever changed how he views the mother of his grandchildren. He says she became a religious zealot and has been posting on TikTok that she believes America will be destroyed in an imminent apocalypse, which is why she took the kids.

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Regardless of any of her reasons, Kendall said, I dont care if I ever see her again, ever in my life I dont even consider her the mother of the kids anymore. I just consider her a criminal.

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The Seymour family started a GoFundMe when the abductions occurred, with funds going to ensure that the childrens family could travel and stay in Europe during the search. Now, the family says any additional funds will go to the seven plane tickets back to the United States, legal fees, and therapy for the kids.

Additionally, Jill says they hope to support the 13-year-old who alerted his mom to the abduction, allowing authorities to arrest Elleshia Anne Seymour.

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Jill said, Hes so instrumental in us finding the kids. Hes the whole reason that were here, so we really want to take care of him and use some of those funds to provide as much success as we can for him in his life.

ABC4.com does not take any responsibility for any online donations chosen to be made by readers and advises anyone interested to do so at their own risk.

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CUBA, Mo.  Local firefighters braved freezing temperatures Monday morning to rescue two horses that became trapped after falling through a snow-covered pond.

The Cuba Fire Protection District responded to the call after the horses wandered onto the ice, which was hidden by recent snowfall.

The animals broke through the surface and were unable to climb out of the frigid water on their own.

Upon arrival, fire personnel used equipment to break a path through the ice, creating a clear route to the shore.

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Rescuers then successfully led both horses out of the pond and onto solid ground.

Dr. KC Swope, a local veterinarian, arrived on the scene to evaluate the animals. Despite the prolonged exposure to the cold, Swope found both horses to be in good condition.

Great job by fire personnel in cold conditions, the department said the post on Facebook.

The Fire District says the horses were since been moved to a dry and are doing well.

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State Rep. Peggy McGaugh, a Carrollton Republican, wants to reinstate Missouri's presidential primary (Tim Bommell/Missouri House Communications).

The push to reinstate Missouris presidential primary suffered a defeat Tuesday when the House Elections Committee voted to remove it from a wide-ranging elections bill.

On a voice vote, the committee removed the provision from the bill. The measure also extends the period for no-excuse absentee voting from two to four weeks.

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The committee then voted 13-1, with two abstentions, to send the bill to the full House for debate.

The primary is unpopular with well-organized groups who prefer the caucus system traditionally used to select Missouris delegates to presidential nominating conventions, said the bills sponsor, state Rep. Peggy McGaugh, a Republican from Carrollton.

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A caucus is easier to control than the primary, she said. Even though Missouris primary is just a popularity contest  no delegates are pledged based on the result  opponents dont want evidence they are not the majority of their partys voters, she said.

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You can see from the people who either voted no or present that theres a super right wing

faction that would prefer to continue doing it the caucus way, McGaugh said in an interview after the vote.

McGaugh said she will try to restore the primary through an amendment to the bill when it reaches the House floor.

The House approved a bill re-establishing the primary last year but it died in the state Senate.

Missouri conducted its first presidential primary in 1988 but did not have a regular primary until 2000. The law authorizing the primary was repealed in 2022.

In 2024, Republicans met in caucuses to select the delegates that renominated Donald Trump, while the Democratic Party held a private primary on a Saturday morning to start the process that nominated Kamala Harris.

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Under the caucus system, adherents to a party must attend a meeting where voters are grouped based on the candidate they prefer. In the Republican Party, a majority of the meeting can choose all the delegates; at Democratic Party caucuses, every candidate with 15% or more of the voters gets a share of the delegates elected at that level.

While Missouris primary has, at times, determined the delegate pledges, by 2012, when former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum won, it was only a popularity contest.

State Rep. John Voss, a Republican from Cape Girardeau, sponsored the amendment that stripped the primary from the bill. He said the reinstatement may be lost in the bill that makes several other changes to election procedure at the request of local election authorities.

It should be something as a standalone piece of legislation, Voss said. Im also concerned with the $9 million fiscal notes thats attached to that, given our current financial situation.

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State Rep. David Tyson Smith, a Columbia Democrat, accused unnamed opponents of browbeating individuals on the committee to remove the primary.

The primary was repealed in a big elections bill in 2022, Smith said, and many legislators didnt even know it was in the bill.

I didnt like how that was handled then and I was glad to see that we were putting it back in, Smith said. And Im again, disappointed that its being kind of muscled out of here.

While he voted against Voss amendment, Smith voted for the final version of the bill.

The committee also removed another provision in the bill which would have moved the line protecting voters from solicitations like last-minute candidate appeals or petition signature gathering from 25 feet to 50 feet from the entrance to polling stations.

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The bill would also change where a small number of voters, eligible under federal law to register on election day, must report to cast a ballot. Instead of a local polling station, the bill would change the location to offices of the election authority.

Boone County residents line up in October 2024 for no-excuse absentee voting at the Boone County Government Center in Columbia (Rudi Keller/Missouri Independent).

The clerks wanted that change for better election management and they wanted to extend the no-excuse absentee, or early, voting period, McGaugh said.

The ability to cast a ballot anytime in the weeks prior to Election Day gives clerks the chance to help voters with issues in their registration or other problems that could prevent voting, said McGaugh, who is a former clerk.

The early voting period was included in the 2022 bill that ended the presidential primary. That law also required voters to show a government-issued ID card, with photo, date of birth and an expiration date, prior to voting.

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Republicans at the time opposed early voting and wrote the bill to end it if a court struck down the identification requirement. It was upheld by a Cole County judge in November 2024 but the decision was appealed and a ruling is pending from the Missouri Supreme Court.

McGaughs bill would not remove the link between the provisions of law.

The early voting period has proven immensely popular, with thousands of voters daily taking advantage of the convenience.

The presidential primary occurs just weeks before April municipal elections. Clerks were willing to support it if it was on a convenient date and lawmakers extended the no-excuse absentee period to four weeks, McGaugh said.

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They asked me to put it as part of the bill in exchange for the additional weeks of no excuse, which has been an absolute win, McGaugh said. It stretches out the days for people, the voters loved it, and so I was happy to have the bill for them.

This article was updated at 5:30 p.m. Jan. 27 to clarify that the extended early voting period remained in the bill.
There has never been any doubt that Azerbaijan is the leader in the region. Some people wanted to see the situation in a different light, but this did not affect the real picture in any way. Azerbaijan has been and remains the leader of the South Caucasus. He dictated the agenda even during the years of the Armenian occupation, when he seemed to be in a weak position. It was just an appearance. But in fact, our country was the force that drove all the processes that took place in this part of the world. This is well known in the capitals of the world. And we always knew. And in Davos, the United States once again confirmed Baku's leading role and once again demonstrated Washington's recognition of this fact.

After Donald Trump's arrival in Davos, all the attention was shifted to him. What he's going to do, what he's going to say, who he's going to date. They watched his facial expressions and gestures. And it came as a bit of a shock to many that the American leader held only two bilateral meetings in Davos, with the presidents of Azerbaijan and Ukraine. If the meeting with Vladimir Zelensky was taken for granted in the context of Washington's current efforts to resolve the Russian-Ukrainian conflict, Trump's bilateral dialogue with President Ilham Aliyev caused some to be shocked.

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Everything is mixed up with our Armenian neighbors. At first, the expert community and the opposition froze with a mute question on their lips: "Why?" And then it broke. Why did Donald Trump meet with the President of Azerbaijan, but did not receive the Prime Minister of Armenia, although he is inclined to respect parity? And I didn't just meet with President Ilham Aliyev, but also discussed TRIPP with him! What should Armenia expect now? And the like.

The American scholar Suren Sargsyan pointed out in his Facebook post that "it is still unclear to him why Trump did not have a one-on-one meeting with the Prime Minister of Armenia, while such a meeting took place with the President of Azerbaijan. Usually, the United States always tries to maintain parity. Moreover, Trump and Aliev discussed the TRIPP initiative."

The Armenian Americanist apparently does not allow the idea that Washington and Baku may have their own affairs unrelated to the affairs of the South Caucasus. Azerbaijan is a country of average strength, and its relations with the powerful are at a qualitatively different level. The Azerbaijani leader is a world-class leader, an authoritative politician who is able to influence the situation in his region and in a wider space. Azerbaijan is the undisputed leader of the South Caucasus, it has always shaped the agenda here, and even more so, everything is tied to its interests now, after a grandiose military victory. Everyone probably remembers Donald Trump's reaction to the 2020 war. More precisely, in her absence. The Diaspora and the lobby tore their vests, and the US President was in no hurry to condemn Baku. He was just watching, and probably already then outlined who in the region could become a real partner of the United States. The United States and Azerbaijan have a broad bilateral agenda. The Charter on Strategic Partnership between the two countries is currently being discussed, it is a very serious document that will be signed by Baku and Washington for the first time. The bilateral agenda is broad. For the first time, the United States has interests in the South Caucasus, and they can only be realized through partnership with Baku.

And yet, Armenia does not want to make it clear that TRIPP is the same as the Zangezur corridor, it is a road to which Azerbaijan has the most direct relationship, and therefore it has the right to discuss the project with whomever it deems necessary.

All these are such simple truths that the misunderstanding is simply amazing. And sometimes it makes you laugh. The Armenian opposition knows how to make fun.

Eduard Sharmazanov, a member of the executive body of the Republican Party of Armenia, burst into tears on social networks, saying that, but under Serzh Sargsyan, the world powers considered Armenia. And in general, Armenia, under the leadership of Serjik, dictated the agenda in the region.

This should be understood as follows: if it were not Nikol Pashinyan but Serzh Sargsyan who was in Davos, then Trump would have met with Serge, not with Ilham Aliyev.

Sharmazanov seems to have overslept everything. Azerbaijan has always dictated the agenda in the region. Armenia and its leaders, both past and present, are particularly well aware of this. Armenia has never been in control of the situation. It has never had the sovereignty necessary to shape the regional agenda. Being a country under external control, it is impossible to dictate the rules. And it is especially difficult when such a grave crime as the occupation of a neighbor's territories is hanging around your neck. Although no one openly condemned Armenia, everyone knew that it was a criminal and that its leaders had blood on their hands.

How can you not laugh when you hear that the world powers considered Serzh Sargsyan?

Neither Kocharyan nor Sargsyan were handshaking politicians. They were, one might even say, disdained. They were perceived on international platforms as a piece of furniture or guests whose presence had to be tolerated. Not because someone really disliked the extremely unsympathetic face of the same Sargsyan, but because the bloody trail trailing behind the Karabakh clan was too noticeable. Kissing Sargsyan could have damaged his reputation. Having seized power in Armenia, Kocharyan and Sargsyan did not cease to be war criminals, and they tried to keep them at a distance and shook hands with them only when required by diplomatic protocol. Neither the rich diaspora, nor powerful guardians, nor an influential lobby saved the situation. Even Nikol Pashinyan, who does not have such a dirty background as Sargsyan, remained invisible to world politics and diplomacy until the end of the conflict. It is no coincidence that the Armenian Prime Minister is talking today about the real Armenia, about the Armenia that will become visible.

If Kocharyan tried to stay in Armenia more and not show himself to anyone, Serzh Sargsyan was very fond of making foreign visits, including to places where they were not expected and where they were not invited. That's why he had to rub his nose in the mud more often than Kocharyan. There have been quite unpleasant and humiliating situations in the history of the Sargsyan presidency.

In 2014, Sargsyan went on a visit to Argentina, a country with a large Armenian diaspora and a well-fed lobby. It would seem that everything should have been captured there. But the unexpected happened - the Argentine colleague did not accept him, citing his health condition. Have you imagined the situation? The president of a country comes on an official visit, but the head of that state refuses to meet with him. This characterizes the guest in a certain way, not the receiving party. In this case, it showed the level of international authority of the Armenian President.

In 2016, Serzh Sargsyan went to the nuclear security summit in the United States three days earlier to seek a meeting with Barack Obama. The White House has marinated Sargsyan in vain hopes, but Obama has not accepted him. The then Vice President Joe Biden was sent to the President of Armenia as a lollipop. Thus, Sargsyan had to spend three days, for which big plans were being made, contemplating only "native" faces, that is, at meetings with the diaspora and the lobby.

Serge had to go through similar troubles many times. The world powers "considered" Armenia and its leadership to the highest standards not only overseas. The Armenian media previously wrote about similar problems experienced by Sargsyan during his visit to Spain in October 2015, and later in Italy.

Nikol Pashinyan found himself in the same awkward situations. But the current leader of Armenia, unlike Sargsyan and his team, does not talk about Armenia's ephemeral international image, about the fact that the world powers almost consulted with Yerevan before making a decision, and about other nonsense. Pashinyan wants to build a completely different Armenia. And he will build it if the various Sargsians, Sharmazanovs, Manukyans and others do not get in the way.

Eduard Sharmazanov does not understand that propaganda can have the opposite effect. In the case of Sargsyan and Co., this is exactly the case. Eddie wanted the best, but it turned out the same as always. He himself recalled the shameful failures of his boss, although he probably expected fireworks and applause.

Everything is happening the way it should be. The recognition of Azerbaijan's leading role in the South Caucasus by the United States is not an action designed simply to annoy Yerevan or anyone else. This is a natural reaction of a world power to the real balance of power in Eurasia and the South Caucasus in particular.

In Davos, it finally became clear who was dictating the agenda in the region. And who the powers see as his leader.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt speaks during a press briefing at the White House in Washington, D.C., the United States, on Jan. 26, 2026. (Photo by Li Yuanqing/Xinhua)

WASHINGTON, Jan. 26 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Border Patrol chief Gregory Bovino and some of his agents are expected to leave the city of Minneapolis on Tuesday in the aftermath of the fatal shooting of U.S. citizen Alex Pretti, local media reported Monday.

Administration officials were left deeply frustrated over the weekend by the way Bovino and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem handled the fallout over the fatal shooting of Pretti in Minneapolis, CNN quoted sources as saying.

Some say that Bovino, who became the face of President Donald Trump's immigration enforcement operation in the U.S. state of Minnesota, made matters worse by claiming Pretti intended to "massacre" federal agents, the report said.

U.S. officials were also irked after Noem labeled Pretti a "domestic terrorist" and accused him of brandishing his legally owned firearm, a claim that was not backed up by video evidence, the report added.

Bovino and an unspecified number of Border Patrol agents will be leaving the state as soon as Tuesday, Fox News cited multiple federal sources as saying.

The expected departure of Bovino comes as Trump announced Monday that he is sending White House border czar Tom Homan to Minnesota to take charge of Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said Monday that Bovino "is going to very much continue to lead Customs and Border Patrol, throughout and across the country," and Homan "will be the main point of contact on the ground in Minneapolis to follow up." 
Construction on the Gateway project to build new trans-Hudson River rail tunnels will stop next week after the Trump administration froze congressionally approved funding. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

A project to build new trans-Hudson River tunnels will run out of money in 10 days amid a funding freeze launched during last years government shutdown, forcing a costly work stoppage for one of the nations most critical infrastructure projects, officials said Tuesday.

Work on the Hudson tunnel project, overseen by the Gateway Development Commission, will stop on Feb. 6, months after Russell Vought, director of the federal budget and management office, said billions in funding to that project and others in New York would be frozen to ensure money did not flow to unconstitutional DEI principles.

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This project will shut down. We dont know how long it will be delayed. We dont know if its permanent, if itll be temporary, how many months itll be set back  but this is what we do know: shutting it down will cost at least a billion dollars in taxpayer money, Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-05) said at a commission meeting Tuesday. What a complete waste.

The tunnel project is critical to regional mass transit and the northeasts economy. NJ Transits northeast corridor line, the busiest commuter rail line in the nation, runs through those tunnels, as do Amtrak and Long Island Railroad trains.

Once funding runs out, work will stop at four of five project sites. A concrete casing project at Hudson Yards would continue because its federal funding flows through a separate grant that was not frozen, Gateway Development Commission CEO Tom Prendergast said.

On Tuesday, state officials warned the stoppage would immediately cost more than 1,000 jobs and risk $1 billion in funding that has already been spent on the project, plus imperil the 95,000 jobs and billions more in economic activity the project is expected to create over its life.

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The stoppage will also make the region more vulnerable to disruptions in the existing 116-year-old trans-Hudson tunnels. A closure in the dilapidated tunnels that still bear damage from Hurricane Sandy could cost the region $100 million in economic activity each day, Gottheimer said.

The presidents refusal to fund the Gateway Tunnel project is not only an illegal attack on New Jersey but also shows a reckless disregard for our economy and the livelihoods of working families, Gov. Mikie Sherrill (D) said in a statement, adding, New Jersey will fight tooth and nail for our hard-earned tax dollars and this essential project.

Gateway Development Commission officials said they had acceded to the administrations requests in hopes of lifting the funding freeze, but their efforts have yielded no relief.

In the meantime, lines of credit the project had tapped to stay operational amid the funding freeze have run dry, said Prendergast.

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Despite responding to all the requests from U.S. DOT in a timely, transparent, responsible way, it means nothing  none of that means anything  when faced with the harsh reality that President Trump himself made the decision to cut off federal funding, said Alicia Glen, the commissions New York co-chair.

Politico was first to report the impending stoppage.

Rep. Josh Gottheimer urged the president on Tuesday to release federal funding that has been approved for the Gateway project. (Photo by Danielle Richards/New Jersey Monitor)

Federal officials paused funding for the project in October in an apparent bid to pressure Democratic congressional leaders into ending what would become the longest federal government shutdown in American history, eclipsing the ignominious record set during Trumps first term.

In an unsigned statement released the day the freeze was announced, the U.S. Department of Transportation attacked Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY), charging the shutdown would extend the departments review.

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Days later, President Donald Trump said funding for the project  which Congress approved as part of President Joe Bidens bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act  was terminated along with other projects in Democrat-led states.

The White House indicated Tuesday that its opposition to Gateway funding stems from a recent feud with Senate Democrats over funding for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, a fight that could lead to a new federal government shutdown later this week.

Its Chuck Schumer and Democrats who are standing in the way of a deal for the Gateway Tunnel Project by refusing to negotiate with the Trump administration. There is nothing stopping Democrats from prioritizing the interests of Americans over illegal aliens and getting this project back on track, White House spokesman Kush Desai said.

There is only one person who can get it back on track, and that is President Trump, make no mistake about it, Schumer said Tuesday. He has tried to escape responsibility, but listen to his own words.

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Union officials slammed the funding freeze and the impending work stoppage it will create, warning blue-collar workers who made up a significant portion of Trumps base would be among the first to suffer.

President Trump needs to stop the war against unions and American working families, middle-class families in particular, said Robert Brunotte, a field representative with the Laborers International Union Local 79. He needs to fund this project immediately without hesitation, and he needs to keep us in the tristate area working.

Others warned that a delay could worsen congestion in the region as tunnel issues make trains increasingly unreliable.

Even if the funding is eventually restored and the work stoppage is lifted, theres no guarantee the commission would keep its best-performing contractors.

Money talks, said John Mooney, a member of Ironworkers Local 580s examining board. Bullsh*t walks

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Professional boxer Anthony Joshua was injured in a car crash during a trip to his hometown in southwest Nigeria in late December 2025. Two of his close friends died. Soon after, images claiming to show Nigerias President Bola Tinubu visiting Joshua in the hospital circulated on social media. However, the claim is false; the images were digitally created using artificial intelligence (AI) tools. Tinubu was not in the country at the time.

Breaking News Nigerias President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, paid a quiet visit to boxer Anthony Joshua at the hospital following his @ccident (sic), reads part of a Facebook post published on December 30, 2025.

The post, which was shared more than 60 times, contains three photos of Tinubu, who appears to be sitting by Joshuas hospital bed.

Screenshot of the false Facebook post, taken on January 19, 2026

Similar posts were shared elsewhere on Facebook and Instagram in both English and Yoruba.

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Some of the posts also included videos of the purported visit.

AFP Fact Check debunked a similar claim in French.

Joshua was involved in a fatal accident on a highway linking Lagos and Ibadan in southwest Nigeria on December 29, 2025, resulting in the death of his friends, Latif Ayodele and Sina Ghami (archived here).

Joshua and his driver suffered minor injuries. The boxer was taken to a hospital in Lagos, where he stayed for two days before being discharged on December 31, 2025 (archived here).

The driver, identified as Adeniyi Mobolaji Kayode, faces multiple reckless driving charges and driving without a licence (archived here).

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Joshua later returned to the UK, but he did not receive a visit from Tinubu at the hospital.

Tinubu abroad

Following the crash, public figures, including Tinubu, expressed sympathy for Joshua (archived here).

AJ,



I extend my deep sympathies to you following the tragic accident on the LagosIbadan Expressway, which claimed two precious lives and caused you injuries.



This immense tragedy casts a deep shadow on this season.



I sympathise with you and your family as you bear the pic.twitter.com/GbqrPh7BiX  Bola Ahmed Tinubu (@officialABAT) December 29, 2025

In a statement posted on X and also received by AFP, Tinubu said the boxer assured me he is receiving the best possible care (archived here).

I spoke with AJ on the phone to personally offer my condolences following the death of his two colleagues. I wished him good luck and prayed for him, reads the statement released on December 29, 2025.

I have spoken with AJ to personally convey my condolences over the passing of his two close associates, Kevin Latif Ayodele and Sina Ghami in the recent accident. I wished him a full and speedy recovery, and prayed with him. AJ assured me he is receiving the best possible care. https://t.co/mlpYQX2by7  Bola Ahmed Tinubu (@officialABAT) December 29, 2025

The statement, signed by Tinubus spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, clarified that Tinubu was abroad at the time of the accident (archived here).

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Tinubu left Nigeria on December 28, 2025, for Europe, and then attended the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week in the United Arab Emirates (archived here).

AI-generated images

A reverse image search found no evidence that the images were published on any official government social media accounts or by credible media outlets, an unlikely situation for what would have been a high-profile visit.

Further scrutiny of the images revealed several visual inconsistencies, typical of AI-generated content.

In the first image, the president appears to have four fingers, with a deformed thumb. In the second one, his hands are unnaturally intertwined, while the third shows Joshua with half fingers on one hand.

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In all three photos, the medical machines seen in the background have no clear details on their screens.

Screenshot showing the inconsistencies including the four fingers on Tinubus hand (circled red), and the machines with no clear details (circled yellow)

These anomalies are even more pronounced in the video, where Joshua appears to have three hands as he moves to hug Tinubu.

Screenshot of the video showing Joshua with three hands (circled red) while hugging Tinubu, taken on January 20, 2025

Analysis of the images using Hive Moderation, an AI detection tool, found a probability of 82-92 percent that they were artificially created.

Screenshot of the image analysis result by Hive Moderation taken on January 13, 2025

Temitope Ajayi, Tinubus assistant for public relations, confirmed to AFP Fact Check that the images arefake.

These AI-generated images illustrate once again the sinister uses that can be made of any technology, Ajayi said.

He also warned that as Nigeria approaches the next election year, the public must be prepared to distinguish between what is real and what is fake, adding that he expects to see numerous AI-manipulated images or voices of the president and other political figures surface in 2026.

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Meanwhile, Joshua has resumed training, although his promoter, Eddie Hearn, said it will take some time before he returns to the ring (archived here).

Initial findings into the incident suggest that their vehicle was speeding and suffered a burst tyre before the crash. The drivers next court hearing is scheduled for February 25, 2026 (archived here).

AFP Fact Check debunked another claim related to the crash.
"The risk is no longer theoretical; Trump administration policies are now compounding decades of immigration system dysfunction and placing the United States at risk of violating its treaty obligations," the author writes. President Donald Trump is seen here touring the Ford River Rouge Complex on Jan. 13, 2026 in Dearborn, Michigan. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

Welcome to Minnesota! It might be cold, but our hearts are warm.

That was the sign I held at the Minneapolis-St.Paul airport years ago as a refugee family emerged at baggage claim. They walked toward us tired and smiling, strangers waving American flags and holding handmade signs, welcoming them to their new home in the United States. They arrived with children in arms, several suitcases, and jackets that would soon prove no match for a Minnesota winter.

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Two weeks earlier, the resettlement agency had called on short notice and asked if our group could assist with this familys resettlement. We cleaned a rundown apartment, gathered donated furniture, found car seats and coats, bought phones, and stocked the fridge. All in the hope that when they arrived, they would feel comfortable.

That is what safety looks like in real life.

And now it is at risk.

In 1968, the United States ratified the 1967 Protocol Relating to the Status of Refugees, committing the United States to a core legal protection known as non-refoulement. In plain terms, it prohibits returning refugees to persecution or torture. The United States later reinforced that obligation by ratifying the Convention Against Torture in 1994, which separately bars returning anyone to torture, regardless of immigration status.

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That promise is not symbolic; it is codified in U.S. law. If a person has a well-founded fear of persecution or torture, the government is legally barred from returning them. The exceptions are narrow and require due process.

The treaty imposes additional obligations. People may not be punished solely for seeking safety, and detention is permitted only when necessary and subject to judicial review.

A treaty is only as strong as the system that enforces it. U.S. law and international human rights law agree on a basic point: The promise not to return someone to persecution or torture has meaning only if people are given a genuine opportunity to seek protection. That requires access to asylum screening, individualized hearings and a functional legal process.

Non-refoulement is therefore not merely a rule about outcomes. It is whats known as a process-dependent obligation. When the immigration system is pushed so far beyond capacity that individuals cannot meaningfully present their claims for protection, the United States risks violating its legal commitments. That risk exists even without intent, and even before anyone is actually removed, when access to asylum or fair process is undermined.

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Immigration enforcement is an executive function, but it is defined and limited by Congress. Congress defines the system, sets limits, and implements treaty obligations. For non-self-executing treaties like the Refugee Protocol, it is Congress, not the president that must give them legal effect. Without clear laws and oversight, treaty commitments risk being undermined by unilateral executive action.

The risk is no longer theoretical; three executive actions are now compounding decades of immigration system dysfunction and placing the United States at risk of violating its treaty obligations.

First, the federal government is rapidly expanding large-scale immigration enforcement.

In Minnesota, the Department of Homeland Security has deployed at least 3,000 federal immigration agents in what state and city officials describe in court filings as a sweeping operation. Minnesota and the cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul have sued DHS alleging constitutional violations, including excessive force, warrantless arrests, and racial profiling.

The surge has coincided with the fatal shooting of Renee Good and Alex Pretti by federal agents, an autopsy-ruled homicide of a Cuban immigrant held by ICE in Texas, and documented abuse in overcrowded detention facilities. While these incidents differ in cause and context, they illustrate systemic stresses created by this administrations immigration enforcement approach and raise questions regarding compliance with constitutional laws.

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This is not an argument against immigration enforcement, but an argument against enforcement approaches that outpace due process and strain the very systems responsible for ensuring lawful removals. When enforcement overwhelms courts, attorneys, and detention capacity, the risk of refoulement rises sharply. That procedural failure is illustrated by the deportation of Kilmar Abrego Garcia to El Salvador despite a standing court order barring his removal. It is also illustrated by the detention of 5-year-old Liam Conejo Ramos and his father, asylum seekers with active pending cases who are protected under both international and federal law.

Second, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services has begun reopening settled refugee cases at scale.

In November, USCIS announced a review of refugees admitted between 2021 and 2025. On Jan. 9, it launched an operation targeting already-vetted and resettled refugees for what it terms intensive verification.

The initial focus is on 5,600 people in Minnesota who remain in refugee status while awaiting green cards. Resettlement agencies report that refugee families, including children, have been detained, separated and transferred out of state without access to counsel.

At the same time, a new USCIS policy is effectively preventing refugees from adjusting to lawful permanent resident status, undermining the requirements of the 1967 Protocol.

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Under federal law, refugee determinations are made on a case-by-case basis and are considered settled unless the government proves fraud, material misrepresentation or a national security risk. The government must submit evidence and follow established legal procedures. To date, the administration has not pointed to any systemic failure in the refugee screening process, demonstrated patterns of fraud or any national security lapse that would justify reopening cases at this scale.

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Courts have repeatedly held under administrative law that agencies must respect reliance interests and cannot reverse settled determinations without reasoned explanation, evidence and procedural safeguards. Large-scale reopenings of settled refugee cases are therefore legally vulnerable to challenge.

Third, the administration is moving to normalize denaturalization, the stripping of American citizenship.

On June 11, 2025, the Department of Justice instructed its attorneys to prioritize and maximally pursue denaturalization proceedings, authorizing pursuit of any case officials deem sufficiently important and, according to internal guidance, setting targets of up to 100-200 denaturalization cases per month, a scale without modern precedent.

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Denaturalization is an extraordinary remedy. It can occur only through federal court and only after the government meets a very high evidentiary standard, a process that typically takes years. Treating it as routine fraud enforcement transforms the nature of citizenship itself.

For refugees and asylees who later naturalize, citizenship is intended to be the final safeguard against return to persecution. Once revoked, a person becomes deportable and subject to the United States non-refoulement obligations. Even where citizenship is revoked for fraud, that determination does not resolve the separate legal question of whether removal would expose a person to persecution or torture, which requires its own evidentiary showing and individualized assessment under U.S. law. By expanding the pool of people subject to removal without clarifying evidentiary standards or selection criteria, the administration is placing new pressure on the courts and potentially re-exposing individuals to the very harms citizenship is meant to prevent.

The constitutional concern is not the existence of denaturalization authority, but its transformation from a rare remedy into a volume-driven enforcement tool.

Taken together, these actions reflect an executive branch pushing against judicial limits and setting the stage for a surge of constitutional challenges and denaturalization proceedings in federal court. At the same time, current executive enforcement approaches are overextending a federal immigration system carrying roughly 3.4 million immigration cases, a volume that strains due process and protective treaty compliance. When courts cannot hear claims in time, or access to counsel collapses under volume, non-refoulement is at serious risk of being violated in practice even if it remains intact on paper, a risk heightened as enforcement mechanisms grow more complex and removal pathways more indirect.

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Congress exists to restrain executive power. Instead, it has underfunded immigration and federal courts through appropriations and largely abandoned its oversight role, leaving the judiciary to absorb the fallout of executive action under mounting capacity constraints.

When the system falters, the consequences do not remain in Washington. Raids happen in neighborhoods. Detentions overwhelm county jails. Arrests unfold on city streets. Requiring governors, mayors, police chiefs, judges, and local leaders to manage the fallout from federal decisions they did not make and congressional inaction they did not choose.

Some of these actions have already resulted in documented violations of court orders, statutory protections, and constitutional limits. Others are placing the system under conditions where further violations are not speculative but structurally inevitable.

The question now facing the country is simple: Will executive power remain bound by the Constitution, and will the United States honor its legal commitments at home and abroad?

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This question cannot be answered by the courts alone. It requires a Congress willing to reclaim its constitutional authority before executive power hardens into unchecked rule. The Constitution is not a backdrop. Its an active constraint that requires maintenance. As James Madison warned, the accumulation of power in a single branch of government is the definition of tyranny.

For constituents, this isnt abstract. Members of Congress decide how many immigration judges are hired; whether DHS is meaningfully overseen; and whether agencies can reopen settled refugee cases without clear statutory limits. When those guardrails fail, treaty protections fail with them. Voters should press their representatives to explain how a system Congress designed became incapable of carrying out the law Congress enacted.

That means demanding oversight hearings on Homeland Security enforcement practices, statutory limits on post-admission refugee case reopenings, clear protections against routine denaturalization, and appropriations sufficient to restore due process in the immigration system.

Minnesota once met refugees at the airport with flags and handmade signs. We met them with coats, stocked fridges, and open doors. We told them that even in the coldest winters, they would not be alone.

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That is the Minnesota they came to, and the Minnesota I remember.

That same Minnesota stands in the cold today, patrolling school drop-off points to protect children, delivering food to neighbors, and standing between fear and families as federal agents sweep through residential streets.

Minnesota kept its word.

Now the federal government must honor its law.
U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem paints a section of the border barrier in New Mexico in August to prevent rust and make it hotter to prevent climbing. Declines in immigration contributed to a low population gain in the United States last year. (Photo by Danielle Prokop/Source NM)

A drop in immigration amid President Donald Trumps enforcement crackdown led to historically slow population growth in the United States last year.

Activity at the southern border is at a historic low. The population change reflects the last months of the Biden administration, when immigration controls began to tighten, and the first months of the Trump administrations massive anti-immigration and deportation agenda.

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Five states lost population, according to the new Census Bureau estimates released Jan. 27 covering changes between mid-2024 and mid-2025. The changes suggest Texas and Florida could gain congressional seats at the expense of California, Illinois and New York.

States that did gain population were concentrated in the South, where numbers appear to give Republican states in the region a political edge halfway through the decade.

An analysis by Jonathan Cervas at Carnegie Mellon University predicted four more seats in Congress after the 2030 census for Texas and Florida, with losses of four seats in California and two each in New York and Illinois. Cervas is an assistant teaching professor who researches representation and redistricting.

We are still a long way off from 2030, so there is a lot of uncertainty in these projections, Cervas said, adding that Californias loss in the next decade could be only two or three seats.

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Another expert, redistricting consultant Kimball Brace of Virginia, said he was suspicious of the sudden drop in Californias population. Earlier projections had the state losing only one seat after 2030, he said.

This acceleration in Californias population loss is not something that was in the projections at all, Brace said. Ive got to be a little bit skeptical in terms of the numbers. It shows a significant difference in what weve seen in the early part of the decade.

Brace was still working on his own analysis. William Frey, a demographer at The Brookings Institution, said net immigration was about 1.3 million nationally for the year, down by more than half from the year before.

As a result most states showed slower growth or greater declines, Frey said. California had about 200,000 fewer immigrants than the previous year, similar to Texas and New York, though those two states eked out populations gains anyway because of people moving in and births

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Texas and North Carolina gained the most people between mid-2024 and mid-2025, while California and Hawaii lost the most.

Nationally, the population increased only about 1.7 million, or half a percentage point, to about 341.8 million. It was the lowest increase of the decade and the smallest gain since the pandemic sharply cut growth in 2020 and 2021. Growth was just 1.4 million between mid-2019 and mid-2020, and only about 500,000 between mid-2020 and mid-2021. Before that, national population growth was below 2 million only twice since 1975.

Among the states, Texas gained about 391,000 in population, up 1.2%, followed in the top 5 by Florida (197,000, or .8%, North Carolina (146,000, or 1.3%), Georgia (99,000, or .9%) and South Carolina (80,000, or 1.5%).

California went from one of the largest increases the previous year to the greatest population loss, about 9,500, less than .1%, followed by Hawaii (down 2,000, or .1%), Vermont (down 1,900 or 0.3%), New Mexico (down 1,300, or 0.1%) and West Virginia (down 1,300 or .1%).

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Vermont had the largest percentage decrease and South Carolina had the largest increase.

Stateline reporter Tim Henderson can be reached at thenderson@stateline.org.

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The European Union and India have announced a landmark trade deal after nearly two decades of on-off talks, as both sides aim to deepen ties amid tensions with the US.

"We did it, we delivered the mother of all deals," European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said at a media briefing in Delhi. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi called the pact "historic".

It will allow free trade of goods between the bloc of 27 European states and the world's most populous country, which together make up nearly 25% of global gross domestic product and a market of two billion people.

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The deal will see a number of huge tariff cuts across a range of goods and services, and a joint security partnership.

Von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa are in Delhi, where they met Modi at a bilateral summit.

The European Commission said would eliminate tariffs on most exports of chemicals, machinery and electrical equipment, as well as aircraft and spacecraft, following phased reductions. Significantly, duties on motor vehicles, currently as high as 110%, would be cut to 10% under a quota of 250,000 vehicles. That is six times larger than the 37,000-unit quota India granted to the UK in a deal signed last July.

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India will also cut tariffs on wine, beer and olive oil from the EU. Brussels said the agreement would support investment flows, improve access to European markets and deepen supply-chain integration.

Delhi said almost all of its exports would get "preferential access" into the EU, with textiles, leather, marine products, handicrafts, gems and jewellery set to see a reduction or elimination of tariffs.

While commodities such as tea, coffee, spices and processed foods will benefit from the agreement, Delhi "has prudently safeguarded sensitive sectors, including dairy, cereals, poultry, soy meal, certain fruits and vegetables, balancing export growth with domestic priorities", it said.

Delhi and Brussels have also agreed on a mobility framework that eases restrictions for professionals to travel between India and the EU in the short term.

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"This is India's biggest free trade agreement," Modi said. "It will make access to European markets easier for India's farmers and small business. It will also boost manufacturing and services sectors. It will boost innovative partnerships."

The trade deal comes as both India and the EU contend with economic and geopolitical pressure from the US.

Delhi is grappling with 50% tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump last year amid talks aimed at securing a trade deal between India and the US that are still dragging on.

Last week, Trump threatened to escalate his trade war with European allies for opposing a US takeover of Greenland, before backing off.

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That larger geopolitical context was evident in statements made by leaders.

On Tuesday, von der Leyen said: "This is the tale of two giants - the world's second and fourth largest economies. Two giants which chose partnership in a true win-win fashion. A strong message that co-operation is the best answer to global challenges."

A day before that Costa had said, without naming the US, that the trade deal would send an "important political message to the world that India and the EU believe more in trade agreements than in tariffs".

Von der Leyen (first from left) and Costa (third from left) were the chief guests at India's Republic Day celebrations on Monday [Narendra Modi/X]

The deal with the European Union may help labour-intensive sectors in India such as shrimp farming, textiles, gems and jewellery, which were hit hard by the US tariffs, experts say.

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But some analysts also predict challenges - especially when it comes to compliance with EU regulations and standards. "The EU has very strict regulations, for instance, on environment. It is one of the leaders when it comes to carbon offsetting mechanisms," says economist Mitali Nikore.

She says India's manufacturing sector "might not be fully prepared" for this and that it is critical that it takes steps to fix this.

"It is an opportunity more than a challenge," she says.

For the EU, the deal is aimed at providing some certainty, even security, in a time of economic coercion and global turbulence.

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Germany and France are projected to be among the biggest beneficiaries even if this isn't the "super maximally ambitious" version of a trade deal once envisioned, says Andrew Small, Asia director at the European Council on Foreign Relations.

However, he says, the agreement is seen as a building block rather than a final destination as the EU looks to tap into a massive, fast-growing economy.

"It really is understood as a floor for what is possible for the bilateral relationship."

The formal signing is likely to take place only later this year, after the agreement is approved by the European Parliament and member states.

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There may be some concerns around this after another major trade deal the EU struck with the Mercosur bloc of South American countries was recently derailed in the European Parliament.

However, the India agreement is regarded as less contentious as it "cuts around sensitives on both sides," says Small.

Alongside the trade agreement, India and the European Union are also advancing separate talks on security and defence co-operation, and climate action.

On Tuesday, India's Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said he had discussed a range of bilateral security and defence issues with the European Commission's vice-president Kaja Kallas, including opportunities to integrate supply chains to build trusted defence ecosystems and develop future-ready capabilities.

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The two sides are working on a draft security and defence partnership covering areas such as maritime security, cyber threats and defence dialogue, Reuters news agency reported.

The EU is India's largest trading partner in goods, with bilateral merchandise trade reaching $136bn (99.4bn) in 2024-25, nearly doubling over a decade.

Talks for a deal started in 2007 but stalled in 2013 over roadblocks in market access and regulatory demands. Discussions were formally restarted in July 2022.

Trump's tariffs proved to be a "useful tailwind in the homestretch" to get the deal over the line, one EU diplomat told the BBC.

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In the past seven months, India has signed major trade agreements with the UK, Oman and New Zealand, and a 2024 pact signed with the four-nation European Free Trade Association bloc of Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein came into effect last year. It signed a trade pact with Australia in 2022.

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Last year, a picture shared on social media showed a man entangled in concertina wire on the top of a fence after attempting to break out of a military prison at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.

Now, he has been sentenced to an extra nine months behind bars, according to the Army.

Zachary Harader received the extra time per a plea agreement after being convicted on Jan. 12 of one specification of attempted escape under Article 130 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice, or UCMJ, Army spokeswoman Heather J. Hagan said on Tuesday. Stars and Stripes first reported on Haraders sentence.

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On April 29, Harder and fellow inmate Mason Wollersheim tried to escape from the Midwest Joint Regional Correctional Facility, but both men were recaptured, Hagan said.

A picture shared on social media afterward showed Harader stuck in concertina wire as two soldiers worked to free him, Army officials confirmed on Tuesday.

Harader became entangled in the wire at the top of a perimeter fence during the escape, and Wollersheim was injured by the fences concertina wire, Hagan said.

Harader was a specialist assigned to Vilseck, Germany, when he was court-martialed in April 2024 and convicted of two specifications of domestic violence under Article 128b of the UCMJ, Army court records show.

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He was sentenced to spend 33 months in prison and receive a bad conduct discharge per a plea agreement. Army court records from January indicate that Harader is currently a PV1, or private.

Wollersheim, a former staff sergeant who served with 10th Special Forces Group, was convicted in January 2025 of one specification of broadcasting an indecent recording, three specifications of attempted larceny, one specification of wire fraud, and one specification of larceny under Articles 80, 121, 134, and 120c, of the Uniform Code of Military Justice, according to Army court records.

He was also found not guilty of one specification each of indecent recording, extortion, assault consummated by battery, and false official statement under UCMJ Articles 120c, 127, 128, and 107, according to Army court records.

Wollersheim was sentenced to be reduced in rank to specialist (or the E-4 paygrade), spend 28 months in prison, and receive a bad-conduct discharge, the court records show.

Charges against Wollersheim in connection with the April 2025 escape attempt have not yet been referred to a general court-martial, Hagan said.
The man charged with criminal homicide in the deaths of his parents and sister inside a Bucks County home allegedly admitted his role in the killings.

The suspect, 55-year-old Kevin Castiglia, is currently behind bars and is being held without bail.

Kevin Castiglia

The victims have been identified as 84-year-old Judith Castiglia and her 90-year-old husband, Fred, along with 53-year-old Deborah Castiglia.

The investigation began after Deborah Castiglia's boyfriend visited her parents' home on Heather Road in the Churchville section of Northampton Township at about 2:15 p.m. Monday.

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The boyfriend said he saw Deborah's car there, but saw no footprints in the snow that had fallen on Sunday.

The Bucks County District Attorneys' office held a news conference on the Churchville homicides on Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2026.

He went to the house because, according to police, he had been trying to contact Deborah for several days but had been unable to reach her at her home.

According to court documents, Kevin Castiglia answered the door and at first said Deborah "probably went on vacation."

Kevin Castiglia then opened the door with a knife in his hand and allegedly said, "Don't ever come here again, or I will kill you," the affidavit shows.

IMAGE: GoFundMe fundraiser photo shows slain victims Deborah Castiglia, Judith Castiglia and her husband, Fred.

The boyfriend fled and called 911.

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When officers arrived, police say Kevin Castiglia came to the door armed with two knives, and police believed at least one of them had blood on it.

He began "talking incoherently," police said, and when asked about his family he allegedly pointed the knives at the officers.

Pictured: Police on the scene after three bodies were found inside a home in Northampton Twp., Bucks County on Jan. 26, 2026.

Police say the officers used their tasers, but Kevin Castiglia pulled the taser probes out of his body, then closed and locked the door.

The South Central Emergency Response Team was called in, and they made entry into the home.

Once inside, they found a woman, believed to be Deborah, dead in the kitchen. Shortly thereafter, they found the other victims dead in a rear bedroom of the home.

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Kevin Castiglia then barricaded himself inside a second floor bedroom. After a five-hour standoff, he was arrested and taken to the hospital.

Chopper 6 captured some of the activity through a window in the back of the home, showing a member of the emergency response team banging on what appeared to be a door inside a back room.

Chopper 6 video shows police activity inside a home in Northampton Twp., Bucks County on Monday where three people were found dead and one person was taken into custody.

Once at the hospital, Kevin Castiglia allegedly told the doctor, "I hurt someone."

Then, about two hours later, he told hospital staffers "I killed my parents in their sleep" and "I killed my sister when she found them," according to the affidavit.

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Once he was released from the hospital and taken back to police headquarters, investigators say Kevin Castiglia again confessed to stabbing Fred, Judith and Deborah Castiglia to death.

He was charged with criminal homicide, abuse of a corpse and multiple other offenses.

Investigators say they are not able to comment on a possible motive for the killings.

The D.A.'s office tells Action News that an attorney has not yet been appointed for Kevin Castiglia.

Bucks County District Attorney Joe Khan praised the "admirable efforts" and "heroic restraint" shown by Northampton Township police and the South Central Emergency Response Team.

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Bucks County DA Joe Khan provided some new details about the deaths of three people found in a Nothampton Twp. home.

"Despite being confronted by an armed individual, under excruciatingly difficult circumstances for roughly five hours in the bitter cold, officers utilized every tactical resource available to take the suspect into custody alive, preventing further tragedy," Khan said.

He went on to say that this appears to be an isolated incident and there is no ongoing danger to the community.

Action News has learned Deborah taught in the Centennial School District for 26 years.

The district says crisis teams will be at Tennent High School and Klinger Middle School, where Deborah taught during her career.

The Bucks County DA's Office has scheduled a news conference for 1 p.m. Wednesday.


An investigation is underway after a man died in a house fire on the North Shore of Massachusetts on Tuesday afternoon.

The fire broke out at 36 MacArthur Boulevard in Danvers just after noon, according to Danvers Fire Chief Brian Barry.

When firefighters arrived at the scene, a neighbor told them that a resident of the home was unaccounted for, Barry said.

Fire crews were met by heavy smoke conditions. They made an aggressive interior attack and conducted a primary search, Barry explained. Unfortunately, the one resident who was home succumbed to his injuries.

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Barry didnt identify the man, only estimating that he was about 60 years of age.

The cause of the fire wasnt immediately clear.

The State Fire Marshals Office is assisting Danvers fire officials with the investigation.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

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The USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier accompanied by destroyers has arrived in the Middle East, and was located Monday in range of Iran.

U.S. Central Command said the strike group was deployed to promote regional security and stability.

The move comes several weeks after Irans deadly response to citizen protests that flared up at the end of December. Protests originally erupted as a response to the countrys failing economy, but quickly grew to encompass grievances against the ruling Islamic theocracy.

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While its been difficult to accurately gauge the death toll in Iran over the past month, estimates range from around 5,500 to much higher. Mid-January, CBS reported it likely exceeded 12,000, and a U.S.-based nonprofit suspects it tops 30,000.

Reports from doctors and other Iranians who have since fled the country show the brutality increasing significantly after the regime cut the countrys internet access. Law enforcement response became shoot-to-kill, the Deseret News previously reported.

Sailors aboard USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) perform routine maintenance as the aircraft carrier sails in the Indian Ocean, Jan. 26. The Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group is currently deployed to the Middle East to promote regional security and stability. pic.twitter.com/dkuN946hce  U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) January 26, 2026

On Friday, President Donald Trump told reporters the strike group was en route to the Middle East. We have a big flotilla going in that direction, and well see what happens, he said. We have a big force going toward Iran. Id rather not see anything happen, but were watching them very closely.

Trump has been vocally supportive of the protests in Iran since they began, urging Iranians to keep protesting and to take over your institutions.

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On Jan. 13, he promised, Help is on its way. But the next day, he told reporters in the Oval Office that the killing in Iran had stopped, and Irans protester-execution plans had been scrapped. Until the USS Abraham Lincoln sailed into the Indian Ocean late last week, things had been relatively quiet.

This photo provided by the U.S. Navy shows Aviation Ordnanceman 3rd Class Dianna Hernandez directs an MH-60R Sea Hawk helicopter on the flight deck of the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln in the Indian Ocean on Jan. 21, 2026. | Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Daniel Kimmelman, U.S. Navy via the Associated Press

The USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier, accompanied by destroyers, has reached the Middle East and is now within range of Iran.



pic.twitter.com/Yedl8nFmPu  Breaking911 (@Breaking911) January 26, 2026

Iran government responds to U.S. military presence

Vehicles drive past a billboard depicting a damaged U.S. aircraft carrier with disabled fighter jets on its deck and a sign reading in Farsi and English, "If you sow the wind, you'll reap the whirlwind," at Enqelab-e-Eslami (Islamic Revolution) Square in Tehran, Iran, Sunday, Jan. 25, 2026. | Vahid Salemi, Associated Press

Officials from the Islamic Republic of Iran have ramped up talks against any potential U.S. military intervention.

Our response will be more decisive and more painful than before if we become the target of a U.S.Zionist attack, a defense ministry spokesman, Reza Talaei-Nik, said on Monday.

Esmail Baghaei, a foreign ministry spokesman, separately warned Irans neighboring countries that any security breach in the region will not affect Iran only. Baghaei added, The lack of security is contagious.

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And over the weekend, Iranian officials put up a new, violent banner in central Tehran depicting an American aircraft carrier under attack. Explosions in the shape of stars dot the blue ship, and red lines trail off to the right. It includes the warning in both Arabic and English, If you sow the wind, you will reap the whirlwind.

Tehrans Message Through the Enghelab Square Mural



The latest mural at Tehrans Enghelab Square, titled If you sow the wind, you will reap the whirlwind, has been officially unveiled. pic.twitter.com/k4RzgyoUyP  Iran in India (@Iran_in_India) January 26, 2026
The court allowed the limited disclosure following a closed-door hearing, though details identifying suspects remain under strict restriction until February 10.

Israeli Police confirmed an ongoing investigation into a large-scale smuggling network responsible for moving goods from Israel into Gaza, after the Ashkelon Magistrates Court partially lifted a gag order on Tuesday.

The court allowed the limited disclosure following a closed-door hearing, though details identifying suspects remain under strict restriction until February 10. At the present time, an affair involving many individuals is being investigated regarding the smuggling of goods from Israel into Gaza, police said.

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The probe, led jointly by the Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet) and police investigators, reportedly involves figures within Israels security establishment, according to Israeli reports.

In a highly unusual move, Yosef Zini, father of Shin Bet chief David Zini, issued a public statement Monday, asserting that the affair is a plot designed to harm him and his family.

HUNDREDS OF packets of cigarettes being smuggled. (credit: POLICE SPOKESPERSON'S UNIT)

Authorities acknowledged thousands of smuggled items over past year

While the specifics remain sealed, authorities have previously acknowledged that over the past year, thousands of items, such as tobacco, batteries, and other goods, have been smuggled into Gaza.

Many of these shipments are suspected of reaching Hamas. Luxury goods like tobacco are sold at high prices in Gaza, generating revenue for the organization, while batteries can be used to power electricity networks or supply tunnels and bases, particularly as Hamas rebuilds its terror infrastructure.

Around 1,200 people were killed, and 252 Israelis and foreigners were taken captive by Hamas during the October 7, 2023, attack on southern Israel. The remains of the last hostage, Police Master Sgt. Ran Gvili was returned to Israel on Monday.
NEW YORK, Jan. 26 (Xinhua) -- At least 28 weather-related deaths were reported Monday as a massive winter storm dumped snow across dozens of U.S. states over the weekend, causing widespread power outages, flight cancellations and school closures.

The death toll included two people run over by snowplows in Massachusetts and Ohio, and fatal sledding accidents in Arkansas and Texas. In New York City, officials said eight people were found dead outdoors as temperatures plunged at night.

From Massachusetts in the northeast to Texas in the south, roads were frozen slick with ice and buried under often more than 30 cm of snow. In some southern states, residents faced winter conditions unseen for decades.

Nearly 700,000 customers from the mid-Atlantic to the South were without power as of 4 p.m. Eastern Time on Monday, according to poweroutage.com. Most of them were in the South, with Mississippi, Tennessee and Louisiana hit hardest, where freezing rain caused tree limbs and power lines to snap, inflicting crippling outages.

The storm snarled air traffic, with more than 12,500 U.S. flights canceled on Sunday, the most of any day since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.

As of Monday afternoon, more than 5,200 flights traveling into, from and within the United States were cancelled and over 6,600 were delayed, according to flight-tracking service FlightAware.

Ground delays were reported at major U.S. airports due to snow or ice, including Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Dallas Fort Worth International Airport and John F. Kennedy International Airport, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.

U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said he hopes airports will be "back to normal" by Wednesday.

In New York City, all public schools were closed on Monday, and students learned from home.

While the storm system was expected to drift away from the East Coast into the Atlantic on Monday, a blast of Arctic air was rushing in behind it, prolonging sub-freezing temperatures for several more days, the National Weather Service said.

Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont announced that he is extending the state's severe cold weather protocol to Feb. 5 as the forecast predicted overnight single-digit temperatures over the next 10 days. Lamont said this was the longest such protocol in the state in over a decade. 
If and when the skies close, we have the means, and all the managers know what to do in that moment, Director-General of the Tourism Ministry, Michael Izhakov, said.

Israels plan to evacuate approximately 42,000 tourists amid the possibility of an Iranian attack is ready, Director-General of the Tourism Ministry, Michael Izhakov, announced on Monday.

Itzhakov explained that Israel has been preparing for an evacuation scenario for about a month now, after he discussed with Tourism Minister Haim Katz that the country needs to learn its lesson from previous scenarios, alluding to the 12-day war with Iran in June of last year.

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He noted that the Tourism Ministry has developed internal procedures designed to provide certainty and reassurance to tourists in the event of an airspace closure.

Although data from the Population and Immigration Authority estimated that there are around 42,000 tourists in Israel, the data is incomplete regarding Israelis with dual citizenship who may be tourists but are not counted as such upon entering the country, he explained.

Izhakov's remarks come amid rising tensions with Iran and the possibility of a security escalation as Trump weighs US strikes on the regime.

Volunteers clean and evacuate apartments that were hit by the Iranian missiles during the war between Iran and Israel, in Bat Yam. July 03, 2025. (credit: Dor Pazuelo/Flash90)

We want to be ready

This is general preparedness. We are not predicting trouble, but we want to be ready. The Tourism Ministry has created an internal procedure, and we want to provide certainty for tourists, he said.

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Izhakov also emphasized that the ministry is prepared on both communication and logistical levels to maintain continuous contact with tourists in the event of airspace closure, including the preparation of messages in several languages and a human operations center that will be in direct contact with those visiting the country.

The State of Israel has the phone number of those who enter the country; its not overly complicated. There are privacy and legal considerations, but most tourists are required to fill out a form upon entry, he explained.

He also noted that the ministry is mapping tourists locations, particularly in hotels, to enable a rapid response if needed.

We are prepared for scenarios we encountered in June, and there will not be a situation in which tourists are left wandering without direction, said Izhakov. The Tourism Ministry has already experienced war, and we want to be prepared, to have a contingency plan, even if we never end up using it.
Israel's ambassador to Germany, Ron Prosor, has called for tougher action against anti-Semitism in Germany on International Holocaust Remembrance Day, saying existing laws do not go far enough.

"On January 27 of this year, it must be clear that words must be followed by deeds," he said in an interview with the Jewish newspaper Judische Allgemeine published on Tuesday.

"Appropriate legislation must be enacted, and perpetrators must be punished. Demonstrations that openly incite violence against Jews or against Israel's existence cannot simply be tolerated."

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Prosor said that "the line between freedom of expression and incitement" was too often crossed during protests in Germany over the Gaza war.

International Holocaust Remembrance Day marks the murder of 6 million Jews by Nazi Germany. The date was chosen to commemorate the liberation of the Auschwitz extermination camp by Soviet forces on January 27, 1945.

Prosor said it was alarming how the climate in Germany had changed in recent years. He said his concern was not limited to the rise of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party.

"We must also look at anti-Semitism on the left and Muslim anti-Semitism," Prosor said. "This is a real threat to Jewish life."
JERUSALEM (AP)  Israel has pledged an investigation after two Italian security officers were held up by an Israeli soldier with an automatic weapon in the occupied West Bank.

The Israeli ambassador to Italy, Jonathan Peled, made the pledge Monday in Rome after he was summoned by Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani over the incident, the Italian Foreign Ministry said.

The ministry said it conveyed strong disappointment and strong protest and Peled expressed regret for the incident in addition to saying Israel would conduct appropriate investigations.

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Italy claims the two officers were stopped on Sunday near the city of Ramallah by an Israeli linked to settler circles.

Israels military says a soldier detained the officers in accordance with proper army procedure for handling suspicious vehicles. It said the officers car wasn't marked as a diplomatic vehicle and once the officers identified themselves the soldier let them go.

The military said the car raised suspicion because it was driving down a road that was closed to civilian traffic. It acknowledged that the soldier had raised his weapon, and said it had summoned the soldier for a debrief and would clarify proper procedure to all West Bank troops.

Italian media, citing an Italian Foreign Ministry official, said the Israeli made the officers kneel down and answer questions before letting them go. Italian media also reported that the officials were in an armored car with diplomatic plates and carried diplomatic passports.

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The Italians briefly detained were officers in the Carabinieri, said the ministry  Italys police force that occasionally takes part in peacekeeping missions abroad. The ministry said the officers had been engaged in institutional activities in Palestinian territory when they were stopped.

Italy has previously condemned rising settler violence in the West Bank. The ministry said it reiterated its concerns during the meeting with Peled.

Some 500,000 Israelis have settled in the West Bank since Israel captured the territory, along with east Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip, in the 1967 Mideast war. Their presence is viewed by most of the international community as illegal and a major obstacle to peace. The Palestinians seek all three areas for a future state.
In a rare radio interview with KAN Reshet Bet marking International Holocaust Remembrance Day, Amit addressed the deepening constitutional crisis surrounding the governments judicial reform agenda.

Supreme Court President Isaac Amit warned on Tuesday that the wave of legislation advanced by the government to reshape Israels judicial system is likely to reach the High Court of Justice sooner or later, as the institutional standoff between the judiciary and the political branches continues to intensify.

In a rare radio interview with KAN Reshet Bet marking International Holocaust Remembrance Day, Amit addressed the deepening constitutional crisis surrounding the governments judicial reform agenda, the justice ministers refusal to recognize his appointment, and the mounting pressure on the courts amid sustained political attacks on their legitimacy.

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With the storm of legislation being advanced across various areas, it stands to reason that it will arrive at our door at some point, and we will have to address it, Amit said, declining to comment on specific bills but signaling that the court cannot remain insulated as the reform progresses.

The remarks come amid an unprecedented situation in whichJustice Minister Yariv Levin has declined to recognize Amit as president of the Supreme Court following his selection by the Judicial Selection Committee, and has effectively frozen routine coordination between the political leadership and the judiciary.

The impasse has become one of the central pressure points in the broader struggle over the balance of power between Israels branches of government.

High Court Justice Daphne Barak-Erez arrives for a hearing on petitions calling to halt or substantially limit State Comptroller Matanyahu Englmans investigations into the failures surrounding the Hamas's October 7 massacre, December 29, 2025; illustrative. (credit: CHAIM GOLDBERG/FLASH90)

Amit says Court will keep operating as usual

Asked how the judiciary can function under such conditions, Amit said the court would continue operating as it always has, stressing its obligation to the public rather than to political actors.

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I view the justice system the same way I view the health system, he said. Just as the health system provides essential medical services, the justice system provides a critical service to citizens. That is the only thing before my eyes.

Amit said he has consistently sought cooperation with the justice minister on matters necessary for the efficient functioning of the courts. My hand is always extended, he said. But the ball is not in my court.

The interview aired against the backdrop of a dense legal agenda expected to confront the judiciary in the coming months, as the coalition advances legislation affecting judicial review, appointments, and the authority of legal institutions.

Several of those initiatives are widely expected to face petitions to the High Court, further entrenching the judiciary at the center of Israels political conflict.

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Tensions have also escalated in recent weeks around the attorney-generals office.Attorney-General Gali Baharav-Miara recently blocked an attempt by Levin to initiate disciplinary proceedings against Amit, ruling that the move departed from established administrative practices and lacked a sufficient factual basis.

Levin responded with a blistering attack on the attorney-general, accusing her of abusing her authority.

Following Amits interview, Constitution, Law and Justice Committee chairman MK Simcha Rothman (Religious ZIonist Party) issued a sharp rebuke, accusing the Supreme Court president of exceeding his role and interfering in matters reserved for elected officials.

Rothman said Amit should refrain from involvement in policy issues and focus exclusively on adjudicating cases in accordance with laws passed by the Knesset.

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Although Amit made clear that he does not give interviews as a rule, he said he agreed to speak because of the significance of International Holocaust Remembrance Day.

The opening portion of the interview focused on his personal background as the son of Holocaust survivors and the experience of growing up in a household where the trauma of the Shoah was omnipresent yet rarely spoken about.

The Holocaust was always there, he said. It was present, but not discussed.

Amit recounted his fathers survival through multiple labor and concentration camps, including Buchenwald and Paszow, and his mothers survival as a hidden child who did not know she was Jewish until she was located after the war by Yeshayahu Drucker, who had tracked and located approximately 600-700 Jewish orphans who had gone into hiding with Christian families.

Asked about contemporary antisemitism, Amit warned that it has taken on new forms. Today it is often disguised as anti-Zionism or the denial of the Jewish peoples right to a national home, he said, adding that such sentiments are again on the rise.
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO)  South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley will head to New York to appear in person for the first hearing on Maydays counter lawsuit about abortion ads in the state.

In a news release, Jackley said he will argue the lawsuit should be settled in South Dakota state court rather than New York federal court.

House committee backs free lunch bill for SD students

It has long been the rule of law that federal courts must refrain from interfering with ongoing state court proceedings and to respect state sovereignty when there exists important state interests, Jackley said in the news release. I respected state interests and state courts when I served as our United States Attorney, and as our Attorney General I will fight for our right to determine our own laws and to enforce them.

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The motion hearing is set for Thursday, Jan. 29 at 4 p.m. at the Thurgood Marshall United States Courthouse in New York City.

In December, Jackley filed a lawsuit against New York-based organization Mayday Health for advertising abortion pills at South Dakota gas stations. Jackleys lawsuit is filed under state court in Hughes County. He argues the advertisements fall under deceptive advertising and are harmful to women.

In January, Mayday Health filed a counter lawsuit in federal court for infringing on its the First Amendment right to free speech.

Under current South Dakota law, abortion is banned and considered a Class 6 felony punishable by up to two years in prison and up to a $4,000 fine. The only exception to the law is if there is appropriate and reasonable medical judgment that an abortion would save the mothers life. There is no exception for rape or incest.

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Women who receive an abortion would not be held liable, but rather the doctor who performed or prescribed it.

The next hearing for Jackleys lawsuit in South Dakota is set for February 20 at 1 p.m.

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 KELOLAND.com.
A Jacksonville doctor was arrested Friday in connection with the theft of more than $2,700 in merchandise from a Target store.

The Jacksonville Sheriffs Office said Lindsey Jae Minshew, 40, was taken into custody after officers identified her as the suspect in the January 16 theft.

Minshew has been a licensed doctor in Florida since 2012, according to the Florida Department of Health.

Police say Minshew is accused of stealing $2,716.61 in items from the Target on River City Drive.

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>>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<<

Officers tracked her black Porsche that was reported stolen days after the theft, using license plate records, which placed the car near the store around the time of the incident.

Investigators say Minshew was seen arriving in her car about 30 minutes before entering the store on the day of the theft.

Minshew was booked into the Jacksonville jail Friday evening and faces a felony grand theft charge.

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A Tokyo court has asked Pyongyang to pay 88 million Japanese yen ($570,000; 416,000) to four people who were lured to North Korea decades ago by a propaganda scheme.

The plaintiffs said the North was marketed to them as "paradise on Earth", but they instead found themselves subject to harsh conditions, including forced labour. They later escaped.

Monday's ruling is largely symbolic with no real way to enforce it: North Korea has for years ignored the lawsuit, and its leader Kim Jong Un has not responded to Japanese court summons.

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But the ruling, which comes after a years-long legal battle in Japanese courts, has been hailed by the plaintiffs' lawyer as "historic".

This was the first time "a Japanese court exercised its sovereignty against North Korea to recognise its malpractice", said Atsushi Shiraki, a lawyer representing the plaintiffs, AFP reported.

More than 90,000 Zainichi Koreans - ethnic Koreans who live in Japan - moved to North Korea between 1959 and 1984, under a resettlement scheme which promised an idyllic life of free healthcare, education and jobs.

But instead survivors say they found themselves forced to work on farms and factories, subject to restrictions and could not leave.

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One of the plaintiffs, Eiko Kawasaki, went to North Korea in 1960, when she was 17. She escaped in 2003 and is now 83 years old.

She was among a group of five plaintiffs who filed a lawsuit in 2018 demanding compensation. Two of the original plaintiffs have since died, but one of them continued to be represented in the lawsuit by their family.

In 2022, a Tokyo district court rejected their compensation claims, saying that it fell outside Japanese jurisdiction and the statute of limitations had expired.

But in 2023, the Tokyo High Court ruled that the case was in fact under Japanese jurisdiction and found that North Korea had violated the plaintiffs' rights.

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"It's not an overstatement to say most of their lives were ruined by North Korea," judge Taiichi Kamino said at a ruling at the Tokyo District Court on Monday, according to an Associated Press report.

Kenji Fukuda, another lawyer for the plaintiffs acknowledged the significance of the ruling but said it would be a "challenge" actually getting any money from North Korea.
Washington  House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said Tuesday that Democrats will move to impeach Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem if she is not fired, marking a shift in how party leadership is handling the effort to confront the Trump administration's immigration crackdown.

"Kristi Noem should be fired immediately, or we will commence impeachment proceedings in the House of Representatives," the New York Democrat said in a statement. "We can do this the easy way or the hard way."

The statement was released with Democratic Whip Katherine Clark of Massachusetts and Democratic Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar of California.

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Democratic Rep. Robin Kelly of Illinois introduced an impeachment resolution on Jan. 14, a week after Renee Good was shot and killed by an ICE officer in Minneapolis. The impeachment effort has picked up steam since Border Patrol agents fatally shot Alex Pretti in Minneapolis on Saturday.

As of Tuesday afternoon, more than 160 of the 213 House Democrats had signed on to the resolution to impeach Noem, according to Kelly's office.

A simple majority is needed for impeachment, meaning at least three House Republicans would need to vote with all Democrats to approve any articles of impeachment, which is highly unlikely. Even if the effort made it out of the House, it would face steep odds in the Senate, where a two-thirds majority is needed to convict and remove an official from office.

Rep. Jamie Raskin of Maryland, the top Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee, on Tuesday called on the panel's Republican chairman to "immediately commence" impeachment proceedings to remove Noem from her position.

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If GOP Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio refuses to do so, Raskin said he would work with the top Democrats on the House Oversight Committee and House Homeland Security Committee "to immediately launch a complete oversight and impeachment inquiry into all potential constitutional crimes committed by Secretary Noem related to these homicides as well as to other episodes of bureaucratic lawlessness and corruption that may involve treason, bribery or other high crimes and misdemeanors."

The threat of impeachment comes as the Department of Homeland Security faces bipartisan backlash over its handling of and response to Pretti's killing.

In their joint statement, Democratic leaders said "dramatic changes" to the department are needed.

"Federal agents who have broken the law must be criminally prosecuted. The paramilitary tactics must cease and desist. Taxpayer dollars should be used to make life more affordable for everyday Americans, not kill them in cold blood," they said.

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Senate Democrats, meanwhile, have vowed to block a funding package, which includes Homeland Security funding, ahead of Friday's shutdown deadline.

President Trump told reporters Tuesday that Noem is "doing a very good job" and is not stepping down. CBS News reported earlier that Noem is facing internal scrutiny within the administration but is expected to keep her job, according to multiple sources familiar with the matter.

Noem was at the White House on Monday and faced questions about how DHS handled the Pretti shooting and its response, sources said. Her focus is expected to shift from immigration enforcement operations in the interior of the country to securing the southern border and other priorities.

Video breakdown of fatal shooting by federal agents in Minneapolis

Sneak peek: The Firefighter's Secret

Noem faces internal backlash after Alex Pretti shooting in Minneapolis, sources say
Houstonians in Congressional District 18 will now be getting two extra days to vote early in this Saturday's special election runoff.

A judge ruled on Monday afternoon on a new voting schedule because polls were closed for the past two days due to the weekend winter storm.

Both candidates say the closures have been frustrating. Former City Councilwoman Amanda Edwards and former County Attorney Christian Menefee are on the ballot.

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"You lost people on Sunday who might have been doing after church voting," Edwards said.

"There's only seven days of early voting, so when you cut that seven down to five because of a storm which was out of everybody's control, I think people in this district deserve the opportunity to get to the polls," Menefee said.

A judge has now signed an order, giving voters two make-up days. The Harris County attorney did not oppose the change.

This is the new schedule for early voting:

Tuesday, Jan. 27: 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Wednesday, Jan. 28: 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Thursday, Jan. 29: 12 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Election Day:

Saturday, Jan. 31: 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

"Accessibility, that is what early voting really gets to," Karla Maradiaga, an attorney for the Texas Civil Rights Project, explained. "Especially in Congressional District 18, there has been a delay in getting Sylvester Turner's seat filled, so we think that it's crucial that we have this full opportunity."

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Texas' 18th Congressional District has had three different representatives in the past and a half and has been without any representation for nearly a year. U.S. Representative Sheila Jackson Lee died in 2024. Her daughter, Erica Lee Carter, finished her term before former Houston Mayor Sylester Turner was elected and took office in January 2025. He then died two months later.

Texas Governor Greg Abbott scheduled a special election to replace Turner for November. Sixteen people ran, and Menefee and Edwards made it to a runoff. The winner will finish Turner's term, which goes until the end of 2026.

Due to redistricting, the district boundaries will change for the upcoming primary this March, for a term that would begin in 2027.

For voters like Jocelyn Matson, all the changes are even more reason to go to the polls.

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"My mother voted every time the polls opened," she said. "When I think about the people that gave what they gave for voting, the right to early vote is just something I really hold dear in my heart."

According to the Harris County Clerk's office, about 11,000 people have voted early so far in this race, which is only 3.4% of eligible voters.

For more on this story, follow Pooja Lodhia on Facebook,X and Instagram.
The three major Democratic candidates vying to succeed retiring U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin clashed Monday night over who would be the strongest opponent to President Donald Trump and his aggressive deportation enforcement operations, each vowing to varying degrees to end the current tactics of his federal immigration agents.

The hourlong debate, held with 50 days remaining until the March 17 primary, found Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton to be the clear aggressor among the three, seeking to stake out the most progressive lane by attacking rival congressional members Raja Krishnamoorthi of Schaumburg and Robin Kelly of Lynwood for being status quo Washington Democrats.

At one point, Krishnamoorthi, responding to Strattons attacks, jokingly told the audience at the University of Chicagos International House, I should have brought some body armor here.

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Stratton was the lone contender to call for the abolishment of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency in the wake of the fatal shootings of two U.S. citizens in Minnesota by immigration enforcement agents there. Krishnamoorthi called for an end to Trumps ICE, no additional funding for immigration enforcement operations and an inspector general to investigate the agency. In Congress, Kelly has filed articles of impeachment against Kristi Noem, secretary of Homeland Security, which is over ICE and Border Patrol.

I want to abolish ICE because this agency cannot be reformed, said Stratton, the two-term running mate of Gov. JB Pritzker. We are looking at whats happening and it doesnt matter whose ICE it is. ICE needs to be abolished and we need to move this country forward and make sure our communities are safe.

The issue of whether to abolish ICE has become a new dividing line between Democratic progressives and moderates. Moderates fear that calls for the outright abolition are akin to past progressive calls to defund the police, which cost the party support at the ballot box in previous elections.

Krishnamoorthi said that, unlike his primary rivals, he had already done the hard work of trying to hold ICE accountable by getting rejected on one visit to Homeland Securitys Broadview detention facility, later being allowed to make an inspection of it, and saying he learned there that they not only target people with (criminal) convictions, they go after people who are merely charged and who are collaterally present. That means innocent citizens.

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Kelly said she wants to see ICE dismantled. That, along with her attempt to impeach Noem, an unlikely prospect in the GOP-controlled House, would build an agency that people can trust.

The Department of Homeland Security is too big, too unwieldy and not accountable and we need to do all this in the guise of immigration reform, Kelly said. Theyre not going after the murderers and rapists that they said that they were (going after). Its a total embarrassment. And we do have to stop Kristi Noems reign of terror through all of our cities.

After the debate, Krishnamoorthi told reporters that his call to abolish Trumps ICE aligns with the stance of Pritzker, who has endorsed Stratton.

Krishnamoorthi said ICE does have important functions apart from the current high-profile immigration crackdown, including combating human trafficking and drug smuggling. And, he said, some of the most aggressive immigration enforcement tactics, including Saturdays fatal shooting in Minneapolis, have come from Border Patrol agents rather than ICE personnel.

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Stratton, however, pointed to Border Patrol in response to a post-debate question about who would take on immigration enforcement responsibilities if ICE were eliminated.

There is Border Patrol and  we, of course, need secure borders, Stratton said. But look at what ICE is doing right now. I mean, we have people who have now been murdered by ICE, and it is dangerous, and all of us are at risk.

Stratton during the debate also questioned Krishnamoorthis credibility on the issue of reforming immigration enforcement, citing his acceptance of campaign funding from a Homeland Security contractor, a demonstration that fundraising was a higher personal priority. Krishnamoorthi said that after learning he had received the funds, he contributed them to immigration relief organizations.

But as Stratton touted that her campaign was the only major contender not to accept corporate political action committee donations, both Krishanmoorthi and Kelly pushed back.

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I take corporate PAC money, but check the record. Check how I vote. I vote like the people who put me in office want me to vote, Kelly said, noting that a current TV ad backing Stratton is being paid for by a dark money PAC and we dont know whos behind those commercials.

Krishnamoorthi accused Stratton of hypocrisy on the PAC contribution issue. When Stratton also accused him of voting for a House resolution that offered thanks to ICE, he said 99% of that resolution was about condemning antisemitism following an attack on 14 Jews in Boulder, Colorado.

Im going to condemn antisemitism eight days out of the week, he said, and that was one that the Jewish community especially wanted me to vote for.

Krishnamoorthi said he could support lengthening the current two-year term for House members and possibly adding term limits and age limits to members of both chambers. But Stratton said serving is about whether you get things done for people, not an actual numerical, not a number. She then went on to contend that Krishnamoorthi had passed only four bills into law during his five terms in the House, each to rename a post office.

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But Krishnamoorthi said he also had sponsored provisions for such items as increased mental health funding and a modernization of skills-based education among 76 other bills signed into law.

I think what people need is the truth, lieutenant governor, Krishnamoorthi said.

The debate was held at the University of Chicagos International House and hosted by the schools Institute of Politics along with the Chicago Sun-Times and WBEZ-FM 91.5. Another debate among the three, the first on broadcast TV, will take place Thursday at 7 p.m., hosted by ABC-7, Univision and the League of Women Voters of Illinois.

Ahead of Mondays event, the PAC aligned with Stratton began running a half-minute digital ad on social media sites to drive her message of opposing ICE.

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Stratton has made clear ICE must be abolished, not reformed, not retrained, abolished, a narrator says in the Illinois Future PAC ad. Every candidate on the debate stage knows what ICE is doing to our state and our country. Juliana Stratton will do what it takes to stop it. And thats the difference.

Krishnamoorthi, whose vast fundraising lead over his rivals has helped him secure almost unchallenged access to the TV airwaves, also unveiled a new broadcast ad featuring ICE just prior to the debate.

Donald Trump has weaponized ICE against our cities and our people. Torn apart families terrorized neighborhoods. We should abolish Trumps ICE, Krishnamoorthi says in the ad. We cant have a government or ICE running out of control. Its morally wrong, and its unlawful.

Earlier in the day, Stratton also moved to demonstrate support from the Latino community, announcing the endorsement of retiring U.S. Rep. Jesus Chuy Garcia and several state lawmakers. Also endorsing Stratton was Patty Garcia, whom Jesus Garcia controversially maneuvered to succeed him in the Democratic primary for the 4th Congressional District.

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UNITED NATIONS, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese envoy on Monday rejected a U.S. accusation over the issue of the South China Sea.

China firmly rejects the U.S. representative's erroneous remarks of "China's expansive and unlawful maritime claims" in the South China Sea, said Fu Cong, China's permanent representative to the United Nations.

"I wish to emphasize that China has indisputable sovereignty over Nanhai Zhudao and the adjacent waters. It has sovereign rights and jurisdiction over relevant waters. China's territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests in the South China Sea are grounded on solid historical and legal basis," he told an open debate of the Security Council on international rule of law.

"I also wish to remind the U.S. representative that the United States is not a party to the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), and it has no right to presume itself as a judge of UNCLOS and point fingers at other countries," said Fu.

The United States, in total disregard of the historical context and objective facts regarding the South China Sea, has been stirring up trouble and sowing discord everywhere. It has even deployed offensive weapons, including land-based intermediate-range missiles, in the South China Sea. And under the pretext of "freedom of navigation," it has frequently dispatched advanced ships and aircraft for military reconnaissance and drills in the South China Sea and intruded into China's territorial waters and space, as well as waters and airspace surrounding China's islands and reefs, he noted.

"Who is engaging in coercive and bullying practices in the South China Sea? Who is disrupting regional stability and threatening navigational freedom and security? Who is undermining international rule of law? The facts are self-evident," said Fu. 
Video sharing app TikTok has made an eleventh-hour deal to avoid a landmark US trial accusing it, along with Meta and YouTube, of addicting young people to social media, lawyers said on Tuesday.

The deal was made as jury selection was to begin in a Los Angeles court that could establish a legal precedent on whether social media companies deliberately designed their platforms to addict children.

The case being heard in the California state court is being called a "bellwether" proceeding because its outcome could set the tone for a tidal wave of similar litigation across the United States.

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The remaining defendants in the suit are Alphabet and Meta, the tech titans behind YouTube and Instagram.

Meta co-founder and Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg is slated to be called as a witness during the trial.

"The parties are pleased to have reached an amicable resolution of this dispute," the Social Media Victims Law Center said, noting that the terms of the settlement with TikTok are confidential.

The case focuses on allegations that a 19-year-old woman identified by the initials K.G.M. suffered severe mental harm because she was addicted to social media.

After joining YouTube at age six, Instagram at 11, Snapchat at 13, and TikTok at 14, the Californian claims to have developed an addiction to the sites that contributed to her depression, anxiety, body image issues and that stoked suicidal thoughts.

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Social media firms are accused in hundreds of lawsuits of addicting young users to content that has led to depression, eating disorders, psychiatric hospitalization and even suicide.

Lawyers for the plaintiffs are explicitly borrowing strategies used in the 1990s and 2000s against the tobacco industry, which faced a similar onslaught of lawsuits arguing that companies sold a harmful product.

The trial before Judge Carolyn Kuhl is expected to start next week after a jury is selected.

- 'Significant victory' -

"This is the first time that a social media company has ever had to face a jury for harming kids," Social Media Victims Law Center founder Matthew Bergman, whose team is involved in more than 1,000 such cases, told AFP.

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The center is a legal organization dedicated to holding social media companies accountable for harms allegedly caused to young people online.

"The fact that now K.G.M. and her family get to stand in a courtroom equal to the largest, most powerful and wealthy companies in the world is, in and of itself, a very significant victory," Bergman said.

Internet titans have argued that they are shielded by Section 230 of the US Communications Decency Act, which frees them of responsibility for what social media users post.

However, this case argues those firms are culpable for business models designed to hold people's attention and to promote content that winds up harming their mental health.

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"The allegations in these complaints are simply not true," said Jose Castaneda, a YouTube spokesperson.

"Providing young people with a safer, healthier experience has always been core to our work," he added.

Meta has also rejected the allegations.

TikTok's settlement joins Snapchat, which last week confirmed that it made a deal to avoid the trial brought by K.G.M. The terms were not disclosed.

The companies face two other similar trials in the same court scheduled for later this year.

Lawsuits, including some brought by school districts, accusing social media platforms of practices endangering young users are also making their way through federal court in Northern California and state courts across the country.

gc-arp/msp
Jan. 26More than 80 letters of support from family, friends, fellow farmers and other community members plead for leniency for an 83-year-old Clark County man convicted of murder in the March 2024 death of an Uber driver.

William J. Brock was found guilty Jan. 14 by a Clark County Common Pleas Court jury of three counts of murder and single counts of felonious assault and kidnapping in the death of 61-year-old Lo-Letha "Letha" Toland-Hall of Dublin in suburban Columbus. She was shot six times around 11:20 a.m. March 25, 2024, in the driveway of Brock's house in the 7000 block of South Charleston-Clifton Road in Madison Twp. and later died in surgery at a Kettering hospital.

Sentencing was continued pending a ruling by Judge Douglas Rastatter on a defense motion filed seeking acquittal or a new trial, which is opposed by the county prosecutor's office.

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Brock, an Army veteran and lifelong farmer, is known in the tight-knit South Charleston community as a kind, friendly and upstanding man who is always eager to help others. He remains active in his church. He still works his farm in his 80s, though never on Sunday, even during harvest or planting season, according to the letters.

Brock, 81 at the time, was getting ready for a day tending his fields by spreading fertilizer when he received the first of several calls with scammers in which his life and the lives of family members were threatened.

"That call triggered everything that occurred on that morning. He was terrified for his life and the lives of his family," said one letter-writer who described herself as a close friend who has known Brock for more than six decades.

Brock claimed self-defense in Hall's death after she unknowingly played a part in the sophisticated scam, which demanded he pay $12,000 in cash, when she arrived at his house as part of her Uber job, saying she was there to collect a package. The scammers reportedly told him that he and his family would die if Hall did not call to say she had the money.

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An FBI investigation into the scammers is ongoing.

A dashcam video from Hall's black Acura shows her walking backwards, yelling for help as Brock said he would shoot her leg if she did not give him her cellphone. He then shot her leg and reportedly tried to prevent her from leaving. At one point during a scuffle Hall closed the car door on Brock's head, which led him to suffer lacerations requiring stitches to his head and ear, before he shot her further times.

Brock called 911 after shooting Hall multiple times.

Brock is in the Clark County Jail after Rastatter revoked his bond following the jury's guilty verdict.

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Friends and family described him as a product of his generation, living simply in a rural community. He is generally not good with technology, does not use a computer and his house has no internet or cable service. He has numbers programmed into his cellphone and had not even heard of Uber before the altercation, according to the letters.

He did not initially call 911, one letter-writer said, "because he believed  incorrectly, but sincerely  that 911 was only for fire and ambulance emergencies."

Friends and family also raised concerns about Brock's advanced age and declining health.

"Justice is not diminished by compassion. Mercy does not negate accountability," one letter states. "I ask the Court to weigh the totality of circumstances, including Bill Brock's age, health, history and the extraordinary fear and manipulation that led to this tragedy when imposing sentence."

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"At his age, incarceration will carry consequences far beyond punishment alone," a letter from a community member states. "I respectfully ask you to consider leniency where possible under the law."

Several letters expressed a belief that the verdict was unjust given the circumstances surrounding Hall's death.

"This case raises troubling questions about how we protect our elderly population, who are especially vulnerable to scams, intimidation and exploitation," one community member wrote. "What message does this outcome send to those who prey on the elderly? That they can terrorize them and remain unidentified while the victim bears the consequences?"
An autopsy showed that the 51-year-old man allegedly kicked and beaten by 11- and 12-year-old youths in Providence died of blunt force trauma, spurring the police to upgrade the charges some of the juveniles are facing to murder, according to a spokeswoman for the Providence Police Department.

The Providence police announced last week that Rony Alonso died Jan. 22, after an incident days earlier near 249 Manton Ave.

The juveniles were initially charged with felony assault and conspiracy, and three have been charged with malicious damage. Two juveniles, age 12, are now charged with murder and conspiracy to commit felony assault. Two additional juveniles involved in the attack are expected to be arraigned later this week on murder charges as well.

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On Jan. 27, the charges were upgraded to murder and conspiracy to commit felony assault after the medical examiner's findings were released.

What happened?

Witnesses told police on Jan. 19 that they had seen several people assault a man, identified as Alonso, by knocking him to the ground and repeatedly kicking and punching him before fleeing, spokeswoman Kristy dosReis said.

Alonso was taken to Rhode Island Hospital, where his condition "significantly deteriorated" the following day, dosReis said.

Police officers took three juveniles into custody in the Manton Avenue area Jan. 20 following an unrelated disturbance in which rocks were being thrown at cars, according to dosReis.

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With guardians present, detectives discussed the earlier assault and took the three juveniles into custody. A fourth juvenile was later identified and apprehended after police secured a warrant.

Timothy Rondeau, spokesman for Attorney General Peter F. Neronhas office, would not say how the state planned to proceed with prosecuting the alleged assailants.

At this time, I can only confirm that we are involved in the investigation, as it is ongoing, Rondeau said in an email.

Can they be charged as adults?

Rhode Island is among 23 states that has no minimum age for juveniles to be tried in adult court, according to the National Council on Crime and Delinquency. Its exceedingly rare for youths as young as 11 and 12 to be facing such serious felony charges, though an 11-year-old in Pennsylvania was accused of killing his father earlier in January after he took his Nintendo Switch away.

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In Rhode Island, the state attorney generals office would have to seek to waive the alleged offenders out of Family Court within 30 days of their arraignment, under state law. A Family Court judge may waive jurisdiction so the individual can be tried in adult court, in this case Superior Court.

If any child is charged with an offense that could be punishable by life imprisonment if it were committed by an adult, that child, upon motion of the attorney general, shall be brought before the court and the court shall conduct a waiver hearing, according to Kara Hoopis Manosh, president of the Rhode Island Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers.

Rhode Island law generally treats anyone under 18 as a juvenile, and cases involving young people are handled in Family Court with a focus on rehabilitation and age-appropriate services, Hoopis Manosh said in an email. However, for the most serious offenses, including murder, the law allows a judge, after a hearing, to certify a case to adult court if its shown that the juvenile should be prosecuted and sentenced as an adult.

For murder, there is no minimum age for certification, meaning the court will carefully consider the childs age, maturity, understanding of right and wrong, and the circumstances of the offense before making that decision. Whether a case like this moves into adult court is a serious process, Hoopis Manosh continued.

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Hoopis Manosh emphasized that there is no "automatic" path for a case like the juveniles are facing in Alonsos death.

The unique history and characteristics of the child, as well as the nature and severity of the allegations, are all going to be considered by a Family Court judge after a hearing, she said.

The certification process allows a Family Court judge to craft a sentence that could include a young person being held at the Rhode Island Training School  which centers on rehabilitation through a continuum of flexible, innovative, and effective programs  until age 19.

The state Department of Children, Youth and Families Department of Youth Development is focused on rehabilitation and personal accountability at the Training School, Barbara Francella, DCYF spokeswoman, said.

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Youths placed there receive comprehensive supports, including accredited educational programming, behavioral health and clinical services, medical care, case management and skills-building instruction, she said. In addition, services and supports are designed to address behavioral needs, promote positive decision-making and reduce recidivism.

The judge would also have the flexibility to impose a sentence upon the child for a period in excess of the childs 19th birthday to the Adult Correctional Institutions, with the years under 19 spent at the Training School, according to state law.

The law specifies that a child who is certified shall not be eligible for release from the Training School unless, after a hearing, the certifying judge determines by clear and convincing evidence that the child will not pose a threat to the public during the term of the release.

Legislation to set minimum age for incarceration

Legislation was submitted at the Rhode Island State House in 2024 to bar Family Court from holding juveniles younger than age 14 at the Training School, except those facing charges of murder or first-degree sexual assault or accused of attempting to commit those offenses. It was opposed by Family Court Chief Judge Michael B. Forte and held for further study.

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Rep. Jennifer Stewart, D-Pawtucket, the lead sponsor, noted that Rhode Island had made strides in reducing the number of young people being detained at the Training School.

We need to do more to ensure that even fewer children are incarcerated at the Training School, Stewart said at an April 2024 House Committee on the Judiciary hearing.

She cited findings by the Sentencing Project that incarcerating young people is not effective.

Rather, incarceration most often increases young peoples likelihood of returning to the justice system. Incarceration also damages young peoples future success in education and employment. Further, it exposes young people, many of whom are already traumatized, to abuse, the 2023 report read.

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But Forte cautioned in a letter to the committee that the measure would handcuff the court, which sometimes must act to prevent a young person from hurting themselves or others.

While the Court respects the underlying intent of this bill, the presently existing system of care in child welfare and juvenile justice will not support these limitations on the Court's authority. This is not the system the Court would wish for. But, it is the system available to us today  a system devastated by a willful lack of investment in appropriate placements for adolescents with serious mental health issues and/or in need of juvenile rehabilitation in the community, Forte said.

GoFundMe in Alonso's honor

Alonso's family created a GoFundMe in his honor.

"This heartbreaking and senseless act has left our family in deep pain and mourning," the family wrote. "This fundraiser was created to help cover funeral and memorial expenses and to support our family during this extremely difficult time. Any donation, share, or prayer is deeply appreciated as we honor Rony's life and memory."

This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Providence, RI youths will be charged with murder in brutal attack
The death 17-year-old Cedric C.J. Lofton in custody went without charges because of Kansas' Stand Your Ground Law. (Photo by Andy Sacks/Getty Images)

Five Sedgwick County Juvenile Intake and Assessment Center officers held a 135-pound, 17-year-old Cedric C.J. Lofton face down, pressure on his back, until he died in 2021.

Can anyone reasonably believe these five officers considered themselves at great risk of bodily harm, part of the stand your ground standard Sedgwick County District Attorney Marc Bennett used in declining to prosecute them?

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As Loftons civil case returns to Sedgwick County District Court, stand your ground likely wont occupy the plaintiffs arguments, but for those who watched helplessly as the district attorney refused to charge officers citing this law, the wound has not healed.

Stand-your-ground laws feel like an extension of qualified immunity  which protects law enforcement from virtually all deadly force claims  to the gun-carrying public, expanding legal protections to people choosing deadly force and then claiming self-defense. They rose to prominence following the killing of Florida teenager Trayvon Martin at the hands of George Zimmerman, whod been ordered by a police dispatcher not to engage the teen.

Zimmerman ignored those commands, and overwhelmed by the youth, shot and killed him.

A jury freed Zimmerman on the states stand-your-ground law, essentially deciding that he had the right to create a deadly confrontation, shoot the youth he accosted and then claimed self-defense.

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Since then, states across the county  including Kansas  have written similar laws into their books, arguing a right to escalate potentially dangerous situations and yet claim as aggressors they were at great risk of bodily harm. This shoot first, or choose violence, law benefits men who measure their virility by firearm gauge or caliber rather than by character.

According to a post by the ACLU of Kansas, these laws can even shield police from accountability in deadly force incidents against people in custody, as in the case of C.J. Lofton.

People and groups who have studied the laws ill effects continue to lobby for repeal.

Journalist and author Radley Balko, a former Washington Post columnist, has said white defendants using deadly force against Black victims are more likely to have their actions deemed justified than Black defendants in similar situations. Balko also has said the laws encourage vigilantism and reveal a startling alignment between the warrior cop philosophy of aggressive policing.

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Brady United Against Gun Violence, the organization that backed the landmark Brady Bill following the assassination attempt on President Ronald Regan, has offered more concerning statistics.

It argues that these laws increase homicides by up to 11%; that in any given month, approximately 30 to 50 people nationwide die because of them; and that deterrence, burglary, robbery and aggravated assault arent affected by stand-your-ground laws.

Brady United also observed racial disparities.

According to its website, the odds of a white person killing a Black person and it being ruled justified is 281% greater than a white person killing a white person. No matter the perpetrators race, they were twice as likely to be convicted if the case involved white victims.

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Its worth mentioning again that Donald Blacks The Behavior of Law, written in 1976, said the offender-victim combination typically drives such decisions. Black argued legal system behavior was quantifiable, predictable, and follows deducible general rules.

The most prosecuted cases? In descending order: Black-on-white crime, white-on-white crime, white-on-Black crime and Black-on-Black crime.

Lofton can be counted among the systems valueless Black victims.

Detention officers Jason Stepien, Brenton Newby, Karen Conklin, William Buckner and Benito reportedly restrained Lofton for nearly 45 minutes, roughly 10 minutes longer than Bennetts report noted. One employee restraining Lofton told police hed applied weight to the teens back.

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Wheres the threat of great bodily harm? A slight 17-year-old boy held on his stomach for 45 minutes? This doesnt qualify even under the unjust laws own standard.

Court of Appeals Judge Carolyn McHugh, writing for Judges Richard Frederico and Allison Eid of the 10th Circuit last year, put it this way: Defendants had sufficient control over (Lofton). At that point, a reasonable officer would have perceived the threat had passed, and that the use of deadly force was no longer reasonable. Instead, five officers continued to subject Mr. Lofton to a prone restraint while his legs were restrained, and he appeared not to move for prolonged periods.

Bennett used stand your ground in defense of the detention officers.

But this system, the community and this state, must stand up for Lofton while stamping out this heinous law.

Mark McCormick is the former executive director of the Kansas African American Museum, a member of the Kansas African American Affairs Commission and former deputy executive director at the ACLU of Kansas. Through its opinion section, Kansas Reflector works to amplify the voices of people who are affected by public policies or excluded from public debate. Find information, including how to submit your own commentary, here.
Congress is ratcheting up its scrutiny of the killing of Alex Pretti by Border Patrol in Minneapolis on Saturday.

Top Democrats on the House Judiciary Committee on Monday asked Justice Department officials to hand over records about the probe of Pretti's killing to the panel by Monday, Feb. 2, in a letter to Attorney General Pam Bondi obtained by CBS News.

Democrats on the panel, including ranking member Rep. Jamie Raskin of Maryland, are also seeking documents about the department's decision to forgo a civil rights investigation into the immigration agent who shot and killed Renee Nicole Good in Minneapolis on Jan. 7.

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The letter accused the Trump administration of blocking local authorities from probing the two killings and failing to adequately investigate the Good shooting, pointing to reports that some federal prosecutors were told to look into Good's widow.

"Someone affirmatively ordered federal law enforcement to instead investigate Ms. Good's widow. Someone affirmatively ordered line agents to block state prosecutors from accessing key evidence. Someone is now taking the same actions with regard to the killing of another American citizen," the letter said.

The Trump administration's handling of the two shootings  which took place during a surge of immigration agents in Minneapolis  has drawn intense scrutiny.

Prosecutors in the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division were told they would not investigate Good's death, an unusual move for a fatal shooting by an officer. And several federal prosecutors in Minnesota resigned amid pressure to look into Good's widow and treat the case as an assault on a federal officer, CBS News has reported. The department has accused Good of trying to run over an ICE agent with her car.

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Pretti's death is being investigated by ICE's Homeland Security Investigations unit, FBI Director Kash Patel said. Current and former law enforcement officials told CBS News that move is unusual because HSI typically doesn't investigate shootings by officers.

Meanwhile, the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension withdrew from the Good case earlier this month, saying the Justice Department had prevented state investigators from accessing evidence. And state authorities sued the federal government for allegedly blocking the BCA from accessing the scene of Pretti's death, leading a judge to bar the Department of Homeland Security from "destroying or altering evidence."

The House Democrats' inquiry argued there is a basis for the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division to investigate the shootings. The letter alleged the Trump administration could be making "efforts to avoid accountability for several federal officers' deprivation of rights under color of law," referring to one criminal offense that's often investigated by the division.

When asked for comment, a Justice Department spokesperson referred CBS News to a statement earlier this month by Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, which said, "There is currently no basis for a criminal civil rights investigation."

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In a statement to CBS News last week, an FBI spokesman said: "The facts on the ground do not support a civil rights investigation. FBI continues to investigate the incident as well as the violent criminal actors and those perpetrating illegal activity."

Other congressional panels have launched their own investigations. As CBS News reported Monday, Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee have asked Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Harmeet Dhillon to open a civil rights investigation into Good's death.

Sen. Tammy Duckworth, an Illinois Democrat, has proposed a new legislative amendment that would require an independent Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General to "deploy investigators to conduct investigations into all use of force incidents that have occurred" under the Trump administration's civil immigration and interior enforcement operations.

Sen. Rand Paul, a Kentucky Republican who chairs the Senate Homeland Security Committee, has also requested testimony from the heads of ICE, Customs and Border Protection and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Paul's request was endorsed Monday by fellow Republican Sen. John Curtis, a first-term senator from Utah.

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Republican Rep. Andrew Garbarino, chair of the House Homeland Security Committee, also requested testimony from the leaders of the same three agencies.

Paul and Garbarino's letters did not mention Pretti or Good. But the requests for testimony came as a growing number of Republicans criticized or questioned the Trump administration's response to Pretti's death, or pressed for a full investigation.

Video breakdown of fatal shooting by federal agents in Minneapolis

Visual investigation into Border Patrol killing of Alex Pretti in Minneapolis

Minnesota law professor says probe of Pretti killing won't have "same kind of rigor" without state
Minnesota is set to hold some of the states first elections of this year as two separate shootings tied to the Trump administrations immigration crackdown have rocked the state in recent weeks.

Voters in parts of St. Paul and portions of the citys eastern suburbs will be heading to the polls on Tuesday to weigh in on two special elections for House Districts 64A and 47A.

The timing of the races is notable, as they come just days after 37-year-old Alex Pretti was shot and killed by a Border Patrol agent over the weekend. Its the second shooting to draw headlines in the city, after 37-year-old Renee Good was shot and killed by an ICE officer earlier this month.

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Here are the key things to watch as Minnesota holds its special elections amid growing backlash to the shootings:

Will determine partisan control of the state House

The two special state House elections are important because theyll determine whether Minnesotas lower chamber remains tied or whether Republicans enjoy an edge.

The Minnesota House was tied 67-67 before former state Rep. Kaohly Her and former state Rep. Amanda Hemmingsen-Jaeger resigned from their seats for new roles, with the resignations soon giving the Minnesota Republicans a 67-65 edge over the Democratic-Farmer-Labor (DFL) Party, which is affiliated with the Democrats.

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In Minnesota state House District 64A, which is entirely within St. Paul in Ramsey County, Democrat Meg Luger-Nikolai and Republican Dan Walsh are vying for the seat. In Minnesota state House District 47A, which includes portions of Maplewood and Woodbury  both located east of St. Paul, Democrat Shelley Buck is running uncontested.

The two parties previously brokered a power-sharing agreement where Rep. Lisa Demuth (R) was named House Speaker until the end of 2026, while most House committees are co-chaired by both parties.

That agreement would stay in place if the DFL wins both elections on Tuesday. On the other hand, the agreement would be upended and give the GOP a new advantage if the Republican candidates win.

Meanwhile, the Minnesota Senate has a 34-33 DFL edge.

Comes amid growing furor over shootings

The special elections are coming at a particularly volatile time in the state, which is reeling from the separate shooting deaths of Good and Pretti.

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Both incidents have sparked backlash, though the killing of Pretti has prompted even Republicans to call for an investigation into the Trump administrations crackdown.

Meanwhile, some Democrats are raising concerns about the impact the chaos could have on the upcoming midterms. During an interview on CNNs State of the Union, Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) went so far as to suggest that the Trump administration was trying to interfere in the upcoming midterms.

Donald Trump has made it clear that he intends to try to interfere in the upcoming 2026 election, Murphy said. He says that his one regret from 2020 was that he didnt take the voting machines. And it is really alarming that, in this letter, [Attorney General Pam] Bondi says, well, we will get the ICE officers out of Minneapolis if you give us control of your voter lists.

Some Democrats have also expressed concern that the heavy ICE presence in the state could be disruptive during the Minnesota DFL precinct caucuses.

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Our precinct caucuses on Feb. 3 are supposed to be an in-person neighborhood gathering where we begin to elect delegates who will ultimately endorse our [candidates], and the way that ICE is acting here in the state, its making people fearful of even leaving their house, Minnesota DFL Chair Richard Carlbom told The Hill before the second shooting.

I am, quite literally this afternoon, delivering more groceries to a friend who is a U.S. citizen who doesnt feel comfortable leaving their house, he said on Friday.

Likely to stay in Dem hands

Democrats are cautioning against reading too much into the election results of Tuesdays races, given both are DFL-favored, including one thats uncontested. Special elections only offer a small window into the views of a voting electorate.

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Adding to the elections unusual nature, the weather in the two districts is expected to have a possible low of zero degrees, meaning the two races could see even lower turnout than expected.

On the other hand, some have suggested there could be increased turnout in response to the recent events. Observers will be looking for tea leaves from results in early Minnesota elections, as the state is holding competitive races for both governor and Senate in November.

District 67A in St. Paul could be particularly interesting given its large immigrant population. Data released from the city in 2021 found that more than 60,000 immigrants lived in St. Paul alone in 2019.

Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
A Woodstock teenager has been killed in the apartment he shared with his mother.

Police say theres nearly no crime in the area and very little violent crime in all of Woodstock.

Investigators said they received reports of gunshots from a neighbor around 5:30 p.m. on Monday coming from the second floor of Building 5 at the Riverstock Apartment complex on Arnold Mill Road.

Thats when Woodstock police said investigators found Matthew Milner, 18, shot, but still alive.

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Police say officers and Woodstock firefighters kept the teen breathing while paramedics transported him to a nearby hospital. The teen died a short time later.

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Channel 2s Tyisha Fernandes spoke to at least three neighbors who said the teen lived with his mother, and they saw him in passing, but didnt know much more about him/

Another neighbor told Fernandes that the heavy police presence scared him.

I just saw a lot of police cars, and recently, it just got bad around here, the neighbor said.

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As police investigate what happened, they said neighbors dont have anything to worry about. But some neighbors are still feeling nervous.

Does it make you concerned about your own safety? Fernandes asked a neighbor.

Yes, it makes me concerned about my own safety, because you live here, so Im thinking about moving, the neighbor said.

Even though police said they dont believe theres a continuing threat at the apartment complex, they are stepping up patrols.

Woodstock police also brought in the Georgia Bureau of Investigation to help.
WASHINGTON  After Alex Pretti's killing at the hands of Border Patrol agents, a growing chorus of Democrats is calling for the impeachment of Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.

While the odds of her removal remain long in the GOP-controlled Congress, the shift underscores the serious nature of an ongoing political crisis since the fatal shooting in Minnesota has prompted both a groundswell of activism from Democrats and rare Republican criticism of the White House.

More than two-thirds of Democrats in the House now support impeaching Noem, a former Republican governor of South Dakota and an unwavering ally of President Donald Trump. An impeachment resolution against Noem has picked up steam in the days since federal agents shot and killed Pretti, a VA intensive care unit nurse. The measure now has nearly 150 cosponsors.

Mourners kneel at a makeshift memorial in the area where Alex Pretti was shot dead a day earlier by federal immigration agents in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on Jan. 25, 2026. On January 24, federal agents shot dead US citizen Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old ICU nurse, while scuffling with him on an icy roadway, less than three weeks after an immigration officer shot and killed Renee Good, also 37, in her car. A mourner visits a makeshift memorial in the area where Alex Pretti was shot dead a day earlier by federal immigration agents in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on Jan. 25, 2026. On January 24, federal agents shot dead US citizen Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old ICU nurse, while scuffling with him on an icy roadway, less than three weeks after an immigration officer shot and killed Renee Good, also 37, in her car. His killing sparked new protests and impassioned demands by local leaders for the Trump administration to end its operation in the city. A picture of Alex Pretti is left at a makeshift memorial in the area where Pretti was shot dead a day earlier by federal immigration agents in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on Jan. 25, 2026. On January 24, federal agents shot dead US citizen Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old ICU nurse, while scuffling with him on an icy roadway, less than three weeks after an immigration officer shot and killed Renee Good, also 37, in her car. His killing sparked new protests and impassioned demands by local leaders for the Trump administration to end its operation in the city. Mourners gather at a makeshift memorial in the area where Alex Pretti was shot dead a day earlier by federal immigration agents in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on Jan.25, 2026. On January 24, federal agents shot dead US citizen Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old ICU nurse, while scuffling with him on an icy roadway, less than three weeks after an immigration officer shot and killed Renee Good, also 37, in her car. His killing sparked new protests and impassioned demands by local leaders for the Trump administration to end its operation in the city. A woman cries at a makeshift memorial in the area where 37-year-old Alex Pretti was shot dead by federal immigration agents earlier in the day in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on Jan. 24, 2026. Federal immigration agents shot dead a man in Minneapolis on Saturday, in the second fatal shooting of a civilian during the Trump administration's unprecedented operation in the city, sparking fresh protests and outrage from state officials. The death came less than three weeks after US citizen Renee Good was shot and killed by an ICE officer. People mourn at a makeshift memorial in the area where 37-year-old Alex Pretti was shot dead by federal immigration agents earlier in the day in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on Jan. 24, 2026. Federal immigration agents shot dead a man in Minneapolis on Saturday, in the second fatal shooting of a civilian during the Trump administration's unprecedented operation in the city, sparking fresh protests and outrage from state officials. The death came less than three weeks after US citizen Renee Good was shot and killed by an ICE officer. A woman prays at a makeshift memorial in the area where 37-year-old Alex Pretti was shot dead by federal immigration agents earlier in the day in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on Jan. 24, 2026. Federal immigration agents shot dead a man in Minneapolis on Saturday, in the second fatal shooting of a civilian during the Trump administration's unprecedented operation in the city, sparking fresh protests and outrage from state officials. The death came less than three weeks after US citizen Renee Good was shot and killed by an ICE officer. People gather together during a candlelight vigil for Alex Pretti after he was shot and killed earlier in the day on Jan. 24, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Federal agents shot and killed Pretti amid a scuffle to arrest him. The Trump administration has sent a reported 3,000 federal agents into the area, with more on the way, as they make a push to arrest undocumented immigrants in the region. People gather together during a candlelight vigil for Alex Pretti after he was shot and killed earlier in the day on Jan. 24, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Federal agents shot and killed Pretti amid a scuffle to arrest him. The Trump administration has sent a reported 3,000 federal agents into the area, with more on the way, as they make a push to arrest undocumented immigrants in the region. People pay their respects during a candlelight vigil for Alex Pretti after he was shot and killed earlier in the day on Jan. 24, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Federal agents shot and killed Pretti amid a scuffle to arrest him. The Trump administration has sent a reported 3,000 federal agents into the area, with more on the way, as they make a push to arrest undocumented immigrants in the region. Vigils held for Alex Pretti, killed in Border Patrol related shooting 1 of 10 Mourners kneel at a makeshift memorial in the area where Alex Pretti was shot dead a day earlier by federal immigration agents in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on Jan. 25, 2026. On January 24, federal agents shot dead US citizen Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old ICU nurse, while scuffling with him on an icy roadway, less than three weeks after an immigration officer shot and killed Renee Good, also 37, in her car.

Read more  'Your eyes don't lie.' Trump, ICE, a death and a turning point

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"Secretary Noem has blood on her hands," said Rep. Robin Kelly, D-Illinois, who introduced the impeachment articles, in a statement. "Under her leadership, Alex Pretti and Renee Nicole Good were murdered."

On Jan. 27, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries solidified the threat, saying if Trump doesn't fire Noem "immediately," House Democrats will initiate impeachment proceedings.

"We can do this the easy way or the hard way," he said in a statement.

At the same time, even more centrist Senate Democrats who voted to confirm Noem last year have been changing their tune and expressing regret. Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pennsylvania, who supported Noem's confirmation, is now urging President Trump to fire her, though he didn't specifically use the word impeachment.

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"She is betraying DHSs core mission and trashing your border security legacy," he wrote, addressing the president, in a Jan. 27 social media post.

Nevada Democratic Sen. Jacky Rosen, who cast a critical vote in November to end the longest-ever government shutdown, wants Noem gone, too. In her view, impeachment is the way to do it.

"Kristi Noem has been an abject failure leading the Department of Homeland Security for the last year  and the abuses of power were seeing from ICE are the latest proof that she has lost control over her own department and staff," she said in a statement.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem holds a news conference in Washington, DC, on Jan. 24, 2026.

Along with most other Senate Democrats, she's also withholding her support for a government spending package this week over DHS funding, dramatically raising the likelihood of a partial shutdown after Jan. 30.

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Read more: Will another deadly shooting bring another government shutdown?

In a statement to USA TODAY, Assistant DHS Secretary Tricia McLaughlin denounced politicians she said are defending criminals while criticizing law enforcement officers who've been facing more dangers on the job.

"DHS enforces the laws Congress passes, period. If certain members dont like those laws, changing them is literally their job," McLaughlin said. "Its time they focus on protecting the American people, the work this Department is doing every day under Secretary Noems leadership."

Noem has defended DHS' response to Pretti's killing, although notable portions of her initial statements following the incident  namely that Pretti violently resisted being disarmed  have been contradicted by video evidence. He was killed only after agents took away his gun, which he was not brandishing and had a license to carry.

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Watch: Minneapolis shooting video analysis details killing of Alex Pretti

In the days following the fatal shooting, Trump chose not to send Noem to Minneapolis to handle the fallout. Instead, he sent border czar Tom Homan  a decision the Homeland Security secretary praised.

"This is good news for peace, safety, and accountability in Minneapolis," Noem said after Homan was dispatched.

The president on Jan. 27 directly said Noem won't be stepping down. He told reporters his administration was undertaking a "big investigation" of the situation. He pledged the review would be "honorable and honest."

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She's done a very good job, Trump said.

Noem is scheduled to face lawmakers at a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing March 3.

Contributing: Joey Garrison

Zachary Schermele is a congressional reporter for USA TODAY. You can reach him by email at zschermele@usatoday.com. Follow him on X at @ZachSchermele and Bluesky at @zachschermele.bsky.social.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Democrats step up calls for Kristi Noem's impeachment over Pretti
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Sunday highlighted progress made by Russian, Ukrainian and American negotiators in the United Arab Emirates capital of Abu Dhabi, even as the path to achieving peace remains unclear.

A lot was discussed, and it is important that the conversations were constructive, Zelensky wrote on social media, adding, The central focus of the discussions was the possible parameters for ending the war.

In a separate post Monday, Zelensky said negotiators discussed a range of important issues  primarily military, essential to bringing the war to an end, as well as complex political matters that remain unresolved.

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The trilateral talks held on Friday and Saturday were the first time that officials from all three countries sat down together since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022. One US official said the meeting marked a significant step forward after months of quiet diplomacy, stressing that while a final deal is not guaranteed, progress would not have been possible without face-to-face talks.

The diplomatic effort came as Russia launched its largest overnight aerial attack on Ukraine so far this year.

Though the two-day session did not yield a breakthrough, the parties signaled hope for a future deal. Zelensky said Monday that preparations are underway for new trilateral meetings this week.

US President Donald Trumps special envoy Steve Witkoff similarly characterized the talks as very constructive and noted that plans were made to continue conversations next week in Abu Dhabi.

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President Trump and his entire team are dedicated to bringing peace to this war, Witkoff said.

The next round of talks will begin in Abu Dhabi on February 1, US officials said.

Representatives from the US, Russia, and Ukraine meet for trilateral talks at Al Shati Palace in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, January 24, 2026. - UAE Government/Handout/Reuters

On Sunday, Zelensky said that a document outlining security guarantees sought by Ukraine  a key issue for the countrys Ukraines postwar stability  is 100% ready.

Kyiv is now hoping to set a time and place to sign the deal, he said.

For us, security guarantees are primarily bilateral security guarantees with the US. The document is 100% ready. We expect our partners to be ready with the date and place when we will sign it, Zelensky said at a news conference in Lithuania.

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He added that the document will then need to be ratified by the US Congress and the Ukrainian parliament.

The US has led bilateral negotiations with Ukraine and Russia for months, working to resolve the outstanding issues as the fighting rages on.

In Abu Dhabi, the negotiators discussed a revised 20-point plan that addresses issues of territory, economy, security and other areas.

Territory remains key sticking point

Despite the progress touted by the US and Ukrainian sides, the divisive issue of territory continued to be a point of contention, with no clear resolution met.

Control of the eastern Ukrainian region known as the Donbas, made up of the coal-rich regions of Donetsk and Luhansk, has been a core demand of Russia.

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After the talks, Russian deputy foreign minister, Sergei Ryabkov, told state news agency TASS that Moscow wants to develop a plan that fully corresponds to the fundamental understandings reached by Russian President Vladimir Putin and Trump during their summit in Alaska last year.

Meanwhile, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told reporters Monday that the issue of territories remains key for Moscow in the Ukraine peace negotiations.

Its no secret. Its our consistent position, the position of our president, that the territorial issue, which is part of the Anchorage formula, is of course of fundamental importance for the Russian side, Peskov said.

That agreement provided that Ukraine would cede the remainder of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions in exchange for a ceasefire.

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Ahead of the Abu Dhabi talks, Peskov said Ukrainian armed forces must leave Donbas, must withdraw from there; this is a very important condition.

Ukraine has consistently rejected the notion of making territorial concessions for a peace deal.

Cars drive along a road during a power outage in Kyiv on January 20, 2026, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine. - Sergei Gapon/AFP/Getty Images

In between the rounds of talks in Abu Dhabi, Russia maintained its strikes on Ukraine, unleashing a barrage of missile and drone attacks targeting the capital city of Kyiv and Ukraines second-largest city, Kharkiv.

In Kyiv, at least one person died and four others were wounded, the citys mayor, Vitali Klitschko, said.

Falling debris caused fires and damaged buildings, Klitschko said, with nearly 6,000 apartment blocks in Kyiv losing heat in the middle of a bitterly cold winter.

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Minister of foreign affairs, Andrii Sybiha, accused Putin of cynically ordering the barbaric attack as the diplomatic process was unfolding in Abu Dhabi.

Every such Russian strike on our energy infrastructure proves that there must be no delays in supplying air defenses. No blind eye can be turned to these strikes; they must be met with a strong response, Zelensky said on Facebook.

Ukraine said it had struck several Russian targets overnight into Monday, including an oil refinery in the Krasnodar region, which the Ukrainian General Staff said was involved in supplying the aggressors armed forces.

Russias Ministry of Defense said 34 drones were intercepted overnight in Krasnodar region, while the regions operational headquarters said fires broke out at two enterprises due to falling drone fragments.

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On Sunday, Zelensky said that Russia had used the peace process to do everything possible to gain full control of eastern Ukraine, something he said they have not yet been able to do on the battlefield.

He stressed that Ukraines territorial integrity must be respected.

We are fighting for our country  for what is ours. We are not fighting on foreign territory. What questions could there be for us? the Ukrainian president said.

The US has pushed for Ukraine to make territorial concessions, which Trump has positioned as a necessary trade-off to reach a peace deal with Russia.

Zelensky acknowledged that finding common ground between two fundamentally different positions would require a compromise.

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These are the first steps towards finding that very compromise, he added. But for a compromise, all sides must be ready to compromise. Incidentally, this includes the American side as well.

CNNs Christian Edwards, Ivana Kottasova, Kit Maher, Anna Chernova, Daria Tarasova-Markina and Billy Stockwell contributed to this report.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
The Montana State Capitol in Helena on Wednesday, April 26, 2023. (Photo by Mike Clark for the Daily Montanan)

In the midst of fatal shootings by federal agents of two U.S. citizens in Minneapolis, a Democratic state senator from Missoula is proposing legislation to limit the way law enforcement officers operate in Montana.

Republican lawmakers are skeptical such legislation will gain traction.

Sen. Ellie Boldman, D-Missoula, said a trio of bills she plans to present would require law enforcement, including federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers, to clearly display identification while on the job; limit mask wearing during operations; and protect privileged places, such as churches, hospitals, schools and daycares.

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Boldman said the bills are aimed at restoring transparency, accountability and constitutional protections in federal enforcement actions. She said they are not about immigration nor are they radical.

They are about whether armed federal agents should be allowed to operate in secret, without accountability, and in the same neighborhoods where Montanans live, worship, learn and seek medical care, Boldman said in a statement.Many of our state and local law enforcement officers already follow these guidelines as common-sense rules that promote public trust. Its time that those who dont are held to the same standard.

Montanas next legislative session doesnt start until January 2027, and in an interview, Boldman said she plans to use the months ahead to talk with Montanans about the idea.

She believes it will gain support from faith based groups, Montana law enforcement officers, and more libertarian leaning legislators.

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State Sen. Susan Webber, a fellow Democrat and member of the American Indian Caucus, said Native American constituents in particular are concerned about the potential presence of federal agents in Montana this spring as powwow season starts.

Native Americans have been harassed, questioned and detained by federal agents in Minneapolis, New Mexico, Arizona, and elsewhere, according to Source NM and the AZ Mirror, also States Newsroom outlets, and The Red Nation Podcast.

Its getting closer to us, Webber said.

However, other Republican legislators, including Sen. Barry Usher, a former law enforcement officer who has served as chairperson of the Senate Judiciary Committee, said hes skeptical the state could enforce such legislation on federal authorities.

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Usher also said Montanans are largely supportive of law enforcement officers, and the restrictions are unnecessary.

I think its premature, and shes trying to put out a political statement, which is not needed in the state of Montana, Usher said of Boldman.

Republican President Donald Trump has focused on mass deportation of illegal immigrants in his second term.

However, federal officers have detained U.S. citizens and other people who are legally in the country as part of their sweeps, and in Minneapolis, immigration officers fatally shot two U.S. citizens this month, including nurse Alex Pretti on Saturday.

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The deaths have led to national outcry.

A recent poll from Politico shows most Trump voters, 55%, support the deployment of ICE agents around the country, but a growing number of people are dissatisfied with how Trump is implementing his deportation agenda.

Boldman said the Jan. 7 shooting death of mother and poet Renee Good at the hands of a federal officer in Minneapolis prompted her to propose restrictions on federal law enforcement action in Montana.

Boldman said her interest is not in immigration.

Rather, as a lawyer, Boldman said she is concerned with protecting peoples civil liberties and ensuring law enforcement operates with accountability and not under anonymity.

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She said she also recalls times when people on the more conservative end of the political spectrum introduced bills to get the feds out of our communities, such as in the aftermath of the Ruby Ridge standoff in 1992.

In that northern Idaho incident, the firefight and standoff between federal agents and family members of a man charged with selling a couple of illegal sawed-off shotguns to an undercover agent left two unarmed people dead, along with a U.S. marshal and a dog. It resulted in criticism of federal law enforcement.

Boldman said the proposed legislation isnt meant to stop lawful enforcement activity in Montana. However, she said federal authorities dont have unchecked authority in Montana, and the state can place guardrails around their activity.

Ive heard from a helluva lot of police officers from our communities that serve and work and live in our communities that do not support what is happening in Minneapolis, Boldman said.

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While Boldman said she anticipates some Republican co-sponsors, Usher wont be among them.

He said he believes Montana doesnt have the problems Boldman is attempting to address, and ICE is operating without issues in states besides Minnesota.

He said people understand the work of ICE agents gets a bad guy out of our hair, and it means Montanans dont foot the bill for their detention here.

We dont need them raping and killing our people, Usher said.

Citing multiple national studies, the Migration Policy Institute said immigrants of all legal statuses commit crimes at lower rates than people born in the United States. The institute describes itself as a nonpartisan think tank focused on immigration.

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Rep. Neil Duram, also a Republican in law enforcement, said he would resist such legislation, although he said sometimes, people present bills that arent intended to become law anyway.

Sometimes, people bring legislation not to pass, but to further the argument, said Duram, of Eureka.

He also said if people are wrongly grabbed by ICE, such as if they are citizens who have a right to be in the U.S., they can make their case in court.

Webber, of Browning, said Native Americans in Montana are preparing to encounter ICE agents who assume a person who has dark skin is illegal. She said Native Americans make up just 6% of the population in the state and stand out in Montana.

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Thats always been an issue with us is the racial profiling, Webber said.

Based on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation, Webber also said people who didnt worry about traveling to cities such as Missoula in the past have started to think twice about doing so.

Webber said there is fear of encountering ICE, but also there are the facts of the matter.

You cant send us anywhere, Webber said. This is our land. This is our homeland. We are the first Americans. So we are really having concerns about that.

Montana legislators to participate in Day of Solidarity in Minnesota

As part of an initiative organized by Sen. Cora Neumann, D-Bozeman, more than 100 legislators from 23 states and the District of Columbia will gather in person and virtually in Minnesota on Thursday to stand with their colleagues in the Minnesota Legislature, according to a news release.

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The state legislators will show solidarity in confronting increasing federal overreach, the expanding presence of federal agents in American communities, and the escalation of violence in the wake of the killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti, said the news release from Neumann and Montana Senate Democrats.

In addition to Montana, the 108 state lawmakers from the following states will participate in the Day of Solidarity, either in person or virtually: Colorado, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Utah, Washington State, and Wisconsin; as well as the District of Columbia.

This trip follows Sen. Ellie Boldman filing bill requests for legislation that would improve transparency and accountability for federal immigration and law enforcement agencies operating in Montana.

In addition to Neumann and Boldman, other Democratic legislators who will be attending Day of Action in person are the following:

Senate Minority Leader Pat Flowers (Bozeman)

Senate Democratic Whip Shane Morigeau (Missoula)

Sen. Chris Pope (Bozeman)

Rep. Josh Seckinger (Bozeman)

Rep. Shelly Fyant (Arlee)

Other Montana Legislators will be attending virtually.

The Day of Solidarity events are planned in partnership with State Futures, a national nonprofit that organizes legislators and other state policymakers.

Editors note: This story has been corrected to note the 55% support for ICE deployment in a Politico poll reflects Trump voters.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- Family members of two Trinidadian men killed in a U.S. strike on a boat allegedly carrying drugs filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration on Tuesday, accusing it of wrongful death and extrajudicial killings.

The lawsuit is the first of its kind filed against the Trump administration in federal court over the Pentagon's strikes that have sunk over 30 suspected drug-smuggling boats in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific since September, resulting in more than 110 deaths.

Chad Joseph, 26, and Rishi Samaroo, 41, were killed in the U.S. boat strike on Oct. 14 when they were returning from Venezuela to their homes in Las Cuevas, Trinidad and Tobago.

Their family members said in the lawsuit that the men "had been fishing in waters off the Venezuelan coast and working on farms in Venezuela."

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Oct. 14 that the strike killed all six men aboard, calling them "six male narcoterrorists" on a vessel "affiliated with a Designated Terrorist Organization" and engaged in drug trafficking.

The lawsuit was brought by Joseph's mother and Samaroo's sister on behalf of other surviving family members. It was filed by attorneys from the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), the Center for Constitutional Rights, the ACLU of Massachusetts, and Professor Jonathan Hafetz of Seton Hall Law School. 
Gov. Larry Rhoden listens to a question at his first press conference of the 2026 legislative session on Jan. 15, 2026, at the South Dakota Capitol in Pierre. (Photo by Meghan O'Brien/South Dakota Searchlight)

PIERRE  The South Dakota governor should retain exclusive control over a pot of economic development money known as the Future Fund, a committee of lawmakers decided Monday at the Capitol.

The Senate State Affairs Committee rejected a bill that would have subjected the fund to greater oversight, after an earlier tie vote left the measure in limbo.

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The committee voted 4-4 earlier this month on a motion to send the bill to the full Senate, with Sen. Arch Beal, R-Sioux Falls, excused due to illness. On Monday, with Sen. Curt Voight, R-Rapid City, replacing Beal on the committee, the proposal was defeated 5-4. Voight voted against defeating the bill, while Sen. Carl Perry, R-Aberdeen, who had previously voted in favor of approving the legislation, switched his vote to reject it.

The bill would have required Future Fund awards to be approved by a majority vote of the governor-appointed Board of Economic Development, instead of the governor alone. It also would have directed the Governors Office of Economic Development to write rules establishing an application process, methods of assessing economic impact, selection criteria, qualification requirements and procedures for disbursing awards.

The Future Fund receives money from a fee paid by employers. It has drawn scrutiny in recent years over uses by former Gov. Kristi Noem, including millions in spending for a shooting range that lawmakers declined to fund, a rodeo and an advertising campaign starring Noem.

Some of the bills opponents said a few examples do not undermine the value of a governor-controlled fund, which is intended to give the governor flexibility to quickly respond to economic opportunities.

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This is funded by the employers. Not every taxpayer in the state funds this, said Sen. Randy Deibert, R-Spearfish. And those groups that represent employers are soundly opposed to this.

Groups opposing the bill included the South Dakota Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and the South Dakota Retailers Association.

Earlier this month, Gov. Larry Rhoden attempted to get ahead of the issue with an executive order laying out procedures for how Future Fund awards are handled. It self-imposes requirements for public posting of awards and agreements, while still preserving the governors sole authority over the fund. The order is not binding on future governors if they choose to operate the fund differently.

Meanwhile, another bill would increase the Governors Office of Economic Developments reporting requirements for the Future Fund. That bill, from Rep. Erik Muckey, D-Sioux Falls, has not yet had a hearing.

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The economic development office is already required to report minimal information about the Future Fund twice per year to the Legislatures budget committee. Muckeys bill would require additional information to be included in the reports, such as all awards made in the prior 20 years, the fund balance at the time of the report, and the status of the research or economic development purpose of the awards. The report would also add a list of other legislative committees required to receive the reports once per year.

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Two of the three new school districts being formed in Utah County have taken a major step in building their foundations.

During a special meeting held on Monday, the newly elected Aspen Peaks Board of Education voted unanimously in favor of appointing Joel Perkins as the inaugural superintendent.

Perkins is currently an associate superintendent in Alpine School District, a position he will continue in until June 30.

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This is my community. I have lived and worked here for the last 27 years. My family and I have invested our hearts and souls into the schools in this area. I love the students, families, and employees here. It is the honor of a lifetime to partner with this community to build the new Aspen Peaks School District, said Perkins in a statement.

Perkins was the first principal of Skyridge High School, which opened in the fall of 2016. He also previously served as an assistant principal at Orem High School and as a principal at Lehi Jr. High School.

Diane Knight, president of Aspen Peaks Board of Education, called Perkins the perfect person to lead the new district into the future.

Dr. Perkins is someone who meets people where they are, listens first and leads with his heart, she told a packed room of attendees at the meeting.

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The Aspen Peaks School District represents Alpine, American Fork, Cedar Hills, Highland, Lehi and a portion of Draper.

The superintendent naming is just one of a myriad of tasks to be completed in building a trio of new school districts, as a result of the 2024 general election, where residents across northern Utah County voted in favor of splitting the current Alpine School District into three new ones.

Like Knight, fellow board members expressed their confidence in Perkins leadership for the new districts success.

Im so impressed with his ability to look at challenges within education that seem impossible to solve, and during the interviews that we had with him, his knowledge goes 12 layers deep. And hes thinking about all of the implications and all of the obstacles, and hes thinking about how we can overcome them, and thats exactly what we were looking for, said board member Nicki Brammer.

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According to a press release from the district, Perkins priorities include establishing a clear district identity founded on gratitude, pursuing excellence through continuous improvement, and ensuring high levels of learning for all students.

Upon taking the oath of office, Perkins gave brief remarks on the importance of gratitude and recognizing the foundation laid by the Alpine School District in its present form.

We are now entering a phase in which we are laying the foundation for a new school district that truly is on the shoulders of giants, he said. The Alpine School District and all those that have served in this incredible area for many, many years, have laid a foundation of excellence that we will honor.

The Aspen Peaks board said it had initially planned more time for selecting a superintendent, as dozens applied for the role and were interviewed  but they didnt want to prolong the process after they concluded that Perkins was the clear choice.

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Between now and July 1, 2027, Perkins and the board will have to hire district staff, determine funding for learning programs, and consider school boundaries.

As we build the Aspen Peaks School District, the single most important thing we can do as a board is to choose the right leader. Nothing matters more than getting this right for our students, for our employees, for our families and for our community, Knight said.

Parents and community members are invited to an open house to meet Perkins on Wednesday, Jan. 28, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Alpine School District Office, located at 575 N. 100 East in American Fork.

Leaders also named in the West

Earlier on Monday, the board of education for the Lake Mountain School District named its inaugural leadership teams  Vicki Carter was selected as superintendent and Amanda Bollinger as deputy superintendent, according to a press release on its website.

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The Lake Mountain board said it conducted a rigorous search that found more than 20 qualified applicants. They also commissioned a committee of 30 community members to assist in the selection process.

Carter, a veteran educator, according to the email, comes with more than three decades of experience and is dedicated to building a culture of trust, respect, and academic excellence. Bollinger brings 25 years in Utah education to her new role, with special expertise in curriculum and special education, the release states.

We are proud to launch our district with such a distinguished team, said Board President Julie King in a statement. They are seamlessly aligned with our vision for innovation.

The Lake Mountain School District encompasses schools in the cities west of Utah Lake, such as Cedar Fort, Eagle Mountain, Fairfield and Saratoga Springs.

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As for the Timpanogos School District  covering the cities of Lindon, Pleasant Grove, Orem and Vineyard  School Board President Jen Lyman said in a video posted to Facebook on Friday, the board hopes to vote on a superintendent at its next meeting on Wednesday.

Though the new districts wont officially open their doors until July 2027, officials say their work is already underway to establish policies and ensure dedicated staff members are in place, among other tasks, in anticipation of a new era of education in Utah County.
Several leading Jewish and pro-Israel advocacy groups are expressing concerns about the impact of the recent rise in antisemitic and Islamist messaging out of Saudi Arabia, as the Gulf kingdoms rhetoric is increasingly raising questions about its standing as a reliable U.S. ally in the region.



In recent weeks, Saudi Arabia has ratcheted up its anti-Israel rhetoric through state-sanctioned media and other regime mouthpieces, amid a widening rift with the United Arab Emirates and closer alignment with Islamist-oriented forces that are hostile toward Israel, such as Turkey and Qatar.



The new posturing, part of a broader pivot from what national security experts had seen as Saudi Arabias moderating influence in the region, has fueled surprise and frustration among Jewish American advocacy organizations that have pushed for the kingdom to normalize relations with Israel, an objective now regarded in some circles as unlikely for the foreseeable future.



Last week, the Anti-Defamation League said in a sharply worded social media statement that it was alarmed by the increasing frequency and volume of prominent Saudi voices  analysts, journalists and preachers  using openly antisemitic dog whistles and aggressively pushing anti-Abraham Accords rhetoric, often while peddling conspiracy theories about Zionist plots.



This is harmful on many levels, diminishing the prospect of peaceful coexistence in the region and weakening regional initiatives promoting tolerance, understanding and prosperity, the ADL added.



The pro-Israel lobbying group AIPAC, for its part, amplified a recent X post by Barak Ravid, a global affairs correspondent for Axios, who flagged what he called Saudi Arabias information war against the UAE and said the Saudi press is full of articles that include anti-Israeli conspiracies, anti-Abraham Accords rhetoric and even antisemitic language.



In a statement to Jewish Insider on Monday, Deryn Sousa, a spokesperson for AIPAC, emphasized that America would be stronger and our interests would be better served if more nations, including Saudi Arabia, joined the Abraham Accords and worked together with our democratic ally Israel to promote regional peace, security and prosperity.



Brian Romick, the president and CEO of Democratic Majority for Israel, echoed that sentiment, calling the Abraham Accords a landmark diplomatic achievement whose expansion, especially through Saudi-Israeli normalization, should be a bipartisan pillar of U.S. policy.



A breakthrough between Israel and Saudi Arabia would be the most consequential step the region can take toward lasting peace, security, and prosperity, and the Trump administration should pursue it relentlessly while linking any upgrade in the relationship to measurable progress toward Saudi-Israeli normalization, Romick said in a statement to JI. Despite recent political frictions and unhelpful rhetoric, deep mutual interests in security, economic integration and technology make normalization an enduring strategic imperative.



The American Jewish Committee, which has also promoted Saudi participation in the Accords, said it is keeping a close eye on any developments tied to the kingdoms shift, but declined further comment.



While experts have linked Saudi Arabias recent animus toward Israel to such issues as the war in Gaza, Israeli recognition of Somaliland and unrest in Iran, Michael Makovsky, the president and CEO of the Jewish Institute for National Security of America, suggested that one unexplored motivating factor may be the Trump administrations friendly relations with Islamist leaders in Turkey, Qatar and Syria.



It sends a signal to the Saudis that you could take more Islamist positions, and it wont hurt you with the United States, Makovsky said in an interview with JI on Monday, arguing the administration will need to reorient its engagement in the region if it wants to help shape Saudi policies to align more closely with American interests.



But Makovsky said he has not seen interest among Trump officials in pursuing that path  even as the administration has long encouraged Saudi Arabia to join the Abraham Accords.



I think the administration needs to step back and reflect on the fact that, if the Saudis are acting like this now, and theyve been more of a moderating influence, he said, it should lead to a rethink of how theyre approaching all these other countries.




Lebanon city officials gave an update on cleanup efforts and plowing schedules after the weekend snow storm.

Crews will be hauling snow from the following streets from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 27 and Wednesday, Jan. 28:

Cumberland St. from 5th Ave. to 12th St.

Walnut St. from 12th St to Lincoln Ave.

9th St. from Poplar St. to Maple St.

10th St. from Maple St. to Poplar St.

8th St. from Orange St. to Maple St.

Lehman St. from Lincoln Ave. to 14th St.

3rd. St. from Cumberland St. to Locust St.

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Officials said that motor vehicles are not permitted to be parked on the posted streets until snow hauling and salting operations are completed on both sides of the streets.

"Snow hauling operations will include clean up and salting of the parking lane," Mayor Sherry Capello said in a release. "Residents and property owners are encouraged to shovel or blow the snow from the sidewalks into the parking lane in the referenced snow removal areas."

Motorists are reminded to use caution when traveling in areas where snow hauling operations are taking place and snow will be blowing. Officials recommend residents use alternate routes when possible.

Enforcement of parking meters and the two-hour free lots at 7th and Willow and 9th and Cumberland streets have temporarily been suspended through Friday, Jan. 30. Enforcement will resume Sat. Jan. 31.

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"Residents are reminded that a path three feet in width, running the entire length of the sidewalk, must be cleared from the sidewalk 24 hours after cessation of the storm," Capello said. "Residents are encouraged to clear an opening and the curb cut to allow access to the street."

While officials asked residents to comply with the requirement, Capello extended the deadline to Thursday, Jan. 29 at 4 p.m. because of the significant amount of snow.

"Additionally, residents and property owners are reminded that snow shall now be shoveled or blown into the travel lane of any street at any time," Capello said. "There will be zero tolerance for this type of activity."

Residents using snow plows and other snow removal equipment shall plow or deposit snow onto private property. Residents are also reminded that "reserving" parking spaces is prohibited.

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City officials will notify the public when parking is permitted through traditional and social media.

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 PA officials give update on plowing efforts
Lebanon Area Fair Queen Olivia Morrissey was crowned the 2026 Pennsylvania Fair Queen on Saturday, Jan. 24 at the 113th annual convention of the Pennsylvania State Association of County Fairs and Pennsylvania State Showmens Association.

Morrissey was one of 65 contestants across the commonwealth who were evaluated by a panel of three judges on their written and speaking skills, knowledge of the fair and agricultural industries. She is a 2025 graduate of Annville-Cleona High School and is currently a freshman studying Fashion Design.

When asked during the final question, "If you knew your next social media post would go viral, what would you post and why, Morrissey answered that she would share about agricultural education.

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Unfortunately, agricultural education is at a challenging point in a lot of other states, said Morrissey. If I were able to go viral across the country, I would like to inform others about the importance of our agriculture and our farmers, and how what they do affects our everyday lives and everything that we do.

Lebanon Fair Queen Olivia Morrissey was crowned the 2026 Pennsylvania Fair Queen on Jan. 24 at the 113th annual convention of Pennsylvania State Association of County Fairs and Pennsylvania State Showmens Association. Franklin Co. Rory Jones was selected as alternate.

Morrissey will receive scholarships from the Pennsylvania State Association of County Fairs at the end of her reign in January 2027. She was crowned by outgoing Alternate Brooke Beamesderfer from the Lebanon Area Fair.

Speaking to the Lebanon Daily News in 2025, Morrissey said her love of sewing prompted her to join the Savannah College of Art and Design as a fashion design major in the fall. One of her favorite designers is Coco Chanel, and she even designed a jacket and skirt inspired by the French fashion designer and businesswoman.

"I've just loved creating clothing, loved buying clothing and I just love the industry that is a part of it," she said in 2025. "I'm actually minoring in fibers, too, because it brings in that agriculture side where I'm going to learn about wool and cotton fabrics, which is all a part of our ag industry that a lot of people don't think of when they think of agriculture."

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2025 Lebanon Area Fair Queen: Olivia Morrissey named 2025 Lebanon Area Fair Queen

The 2025 pageant was Morrissey's first year entering the Lebanon Area Fair Queen Contest. The Lebanon Area Fair organizers said in a Facebook post Jan. 24, 2026 that they were "so proud of Olivia for achieving the title of 2026 PA State Fair Queen!!!"

"We have been so blessed to have such wonderful young women representing our fair over the years!" organizers said in their post.

2026 Pennsylvania Fair Queen Olivia Morrissey and Pennsylvania Secretary of Agriculture Russell Redding

Officials said that Morrissey will now travel across the commonwealth to "advocate for fairs and to share the story of the impact fairs have on Pennsylvania." Morrissey will also serve as an honorary member of the Pennsylvania Farm Show Junior Committee during her time as the 2026 PA Fair Queen and will be a contributor to the Friends of the Pennsylvania Farm Show Foundation's and the PA State Association of County Fair's newsletters.

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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: Olivia Morrissey crowned 2026 Pennsylvania Fair Queen
LGBTQ+ elected officials are condemning the killing of a Minneapolis man by a federal agent Saturday morning and calling for the defunding of the Department of Homeland Security or some of its component agencies.

Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old U.S. citizen, was shot to death by a Customs and Border Patrol officer when apparently trying to protect a fellow protester. DHS, which includes CBP and Immigration and Customs Enforcement, has claimed Pretti was threatening agents with a gun, but video shows only a phone in one of his hands and nothing in the other one, although he was in possession of a gun (with a valid permit). Pretti was a nurse in the intensive care unit of a Veterans Administration hospital.

There have been massive protests in Minneapolis since the killing of Renee Nicole Good by an ICE officer January 7. DHS also claimed the man who killed her acted in self-defense, saying Good was ramming him with her car, but video shows her driving away from the agent.

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Related: We've all seen the video. Do Kristi Noem and mainstream media think we're stupid?

There has been a large presence of ICE and CBP agents in Minneapolis and throughout Minnesota in recent weeks, ostensibly to root out undocumented immigrants. Many of those commenting on Saturdays situation mention ICE, which has been criticized as brutal, although it was apparently a CBP agent who shot Pretti.

A sampling of reactions from out political leaders follows. All are Democrats.

U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin on X: ICE and DHS are out of control and making our communities less safe. I will not support funding for DHS without clear accountability and stronger controls over the agency. It is time for the Senate to do its job and rein in this lawlessness.

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The Senate is scheduled to vote soon on DHS funding, which has already been approved by the House with mostly Republican support. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said Saturday that Democrats will not provide the votes necessary to move the funding bill ahead. It needs 60 votes before proceeding to a final vote, when only a simple majority is needed.

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From the U.S. House of Representatives:

Sarah McBride of Delaware on X: Once again, the administration is telling us not to believe the videos. DHS agents went after an observer, they beat him, and then shot him over and over again. I voted against DHS funding last week precisely because this shit is shocking, but, tragically, not surprising."

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McBride followed up with this statement Sunday: DHS agents are out of control. This is not law enforcement, this is lawlessness. ICE and CBP are undermining public safety and engaging in deadly para-military intimidation tactics. They are violating Constitutional rights before our very eyes and shooting Americans in the street. And then their leadership lies to the public to cover up for their violence. DHS must halt their operations, these agents must be held accountable, and I will continue to vote against funding for DHS.

Becca Balint of Vermont on X: Heartbreak doesnt convey the devastation of what happened to Alex Jeffrey Pretti today. His own government killed him in cold blood. The Senate cannot pass the DHS funding bill to allow these disgusting actions to continue.

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Angie Craig of Minnesota on Facebook: The Senate is set to vote on DHS funding next week and Republicans cant pass it without Democratic support. This is the time for Senate Dems to hold the line and withhold funding from this lawless agency. Enough.

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Emily Randall of Washington State on Facebook: Lawless DHS agents are out of control. Murdering people in the streets, detaining children on their way home from school, and terrorizing our communities. That's why I voted FUCK NO on the DHS funding package. Secretary Noem must be impeached. We have to stop this fascist takeover.

Julie Johnson of Texas on X: This is cold-blooded murder. The ICE officers involved need to be taken off the streets and prosecuted. And to Senate Democrats, the Department of Homeland Security shouldn't receive a penny in funding. ICE needs to STOP terrorizing and killing American citizens.

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Mark Takano of California on X: Yet another American citizen gunned down in broad daylight in Minnesota. This madness has to end. The Senate must reject the current DHS funding package and DEMAND accountability from these lawless, feckless thugs masquerading as law enforcement agents.

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Robert Garcia of California on X: Kristi Noem must be impeached. ICE must be abolished. Democrats in the Senate cannot fund DHS. Trump has created a militarized police force accountable only to him. These agents need to leave our cities NOW.

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Mark Pocan of Wisconsin on X: ICE just murdered another person in Minnesota this morning. This wannabe-Gestapo has no purpose and must suspend immediately!





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Eric Sorensen of Illinois on X: What happened this morning was murder. And I demand that it be called that.

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Chris Pappas of New Hampshire on Facebook: Another senseless tragedy is unfolding today in Minneapolis. As we wait for more information, its clear that the federal government cannot continue to impede local law enforcement, erode trust, and put communities at risk. ICE is out of control and we need accountability now.

Gov. Jared Polis of Colorado released this statement on X:

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Gov. Maura Healey of Massachusetts on Facebook: Just stop. Enough is enough. President Trump and Kristi Noem need to call ICE agents back. We stand with the people of Minnesota. President Trump needs to listen to Governor Walz and end this operation now.

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Gov. Tina Kotek of Oregon in a press conference: Were going to continue to see violent interactions, regardless of the details, because of the escalation of the federal government. And they need to pull back on the agents who are there, work with local government, and resolve and de-escalate the situation. Portland, the largest city in Oregon, has seen a huge presence of federal agents as well.

Related: Federal immigration agents shoot two more people, this time in Oregon

This article originally appeared on Advocate: Queer lawmakers call for ICE to be reined in after killing of Alex Pretti in Minneapolis

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A vulnerable young man with no terminal illnesses has died by euthanasia in Canada.

Kiano Vafaeian, 26, had type 1 diabetes, partial blindness and depression, but was approved for the government euthanasia scheme despite his mother Margaret Marsillas protests.

She said his death on Dec 30 was disgusting on every level, having previously prevented him from dying under Canadas Medical Assistance in Dying (MAid) programme in 2022.

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Ms Marsilla only learned of her sons appointment from a text he sent the family the day before his death, during an apparent improvement in his mental health.

Although people with a chronic illness or disability qualify for assisted dying in Canada, Ms Marsilla believes doctors took advantage of his depression.

She wrote in a social media post earlier this month: This is not healthcare. This is a failure of ethics, accountability, and humanity.

No parent should ever have to bury their child because a system  and a doctor  chose death over care, help or love.

I promise I will fight tooth and nail for my son, and other parents who too have children that suffer from mental illness.

Kiano Vafaeian had type 1 diabetes, partial blindness and depression - Margaret Marsilla

Euthanasia was introduced in Canada in 2016, initially for terminally ill adults with serious and incurable physical illness that causes intolerable suffering.

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In 2021, the requirement to be terminally ill was removed to include people with a chronic illness or disability.

The widening of eligibility has led to a surge in deaths, experts say, triggering fears of a similar increase in the UK, where a bill on assisted dying is being debated in the House of Lords.

Canada now has one of the highest rates of assisted dying in the world, accounting for one in 20 of all deaths in the country in 2024, government figures show.

In 2027, the government plans to extend the programme to those with mental illnesses, who have no physical ailment.

Kiano Vafaeian was approved for Canadas euthanasia scheme despite his mothers protests

In September 2022, Ms Marsilla had discovered that her son had been scheduled for physician-assisted dying. The then 23-year-old had recently lost vision in one eye, had no job, and no plan for the future.

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After she raised awareness about the planned procedure online, the doctor received backlash and refused to carry out the procedure. Vafaeian said his mother had violated his right to choose how and when he wanted to die.

He was alive because people stepped in when he was vulnerable  not capable of making a final, irreversible decision, Ms Marsilla said of the incident.

She also claims Vafaeians mental health was improving before his death. She said he had agreed to accept financial support from her, was saving money for them to travel together, and had done personal training sessions.

He was so happy that he was working out and getting healthy, she said.

Kiano Vafaeians mother posted on social media following his death. She claimed his mental health was improving and that they had planned to go travelling

On Dec 15, Vafaeian flew to a luxury resort in Mexico, before checking out two nights later and flying to Vancouver. On Dec 29, he texted his family saying he was scheduled to die the next day.

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Ms Marsilla said that she planned to pursue accountability from her sons MAiD doctor, who she claimed had managed to find a loophole in the system and had approved his death based on mental illness, despite it not yet being legal.

Vafaeians death certificate listed the antecedent causes as blindness, severe peripheral neuropathy (damage to nerves that causes pain and numbness), and diabetes.

Despite a host of Western countries legalising assisted dying, including Australia, Belgium, Spain and Switzerland, the issue remains deeply divisive on ethical, religious and legal grounds.

The key debate centres around how to balance personal autonomy with the protection of vulnerable people.

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British medical bodies have raised significant concerns about the definition of terminal illness and safeguards to prevent coercion in the current bill. In November, a poll found more medical professionals oppose than support the draft legislation.

The fastest growing category of Canadas assisted dying is not those with a terminal illness, but those labelled other.

Sonu Gaind, a University of Toronto psychiatry professor, told the Free Press that MAiD deaths registered in the other category in Canada nearly doubled between 2022 and 2023 to 4,255.

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.
KANSAS CITY, Mo.  A man has been arrested and charged after a Parkville Special Road District snowplow driver was shot at during a road rage incident.

Snow plow driver shot at during road rage incident in Parkville

Thomas Christopher Williams II, 32, has been charged with the following crimes:

First-degree assault

Three counts of armed criminal action

Two counts of discharge or shooting a firearm at/from a motor vehicle, at a person, or at a building

Unlawful possession of a firearm

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According to the city of Parkville, around 9 a.m. Monday, a Parkville Special Road District snowplow was shot at during a road rage incident in the Thousand Oaks subdivision.

The person suspected of firing the shots left the scene before later being found in Kansas City, according to police.

Bullet hits home with child, woman inside

According to the probable cause statement, the snowplow driver told police that the suspect fired about five rounds at him and his truck. Eight shell casings were found at the scene.

This happened Monday morning after the suspect tried to drive past the snowplow truck. After getting into an argument, the probable cause statement says the suspect punched the drivers side mirror of the snowplow truck, breaking it.

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The suspect got back in his car and began to drive away  then turned around and hit the drivers side of the snowplow truck while driving past it.

I saw a red plow truck reversing back up the road Im like you dont see that everyday, about that time a black SUV passed him on the wrong side just speeding by him, neighbor Kerrie Adams said.

The suspect then stopped his car in the middle of the roundabout and got out of the car, according to the probable cause statement.

As the snowplow driver was driving through the roundabout to get away from the suspect, he said he began hearing gunshots behind him.

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What happened on the night of the deadly Lawrence bar shooting? Investigation details revealed

According to the probable cause, two bullets hit the snowplow truck. Another bullet hit someones home and was found inside a room being used as an office.

A small child and a woman were inside the home at the time of the shooting, but they were not hurt.

Neighbors provided police with video of the wild scene.

It doesnt have the whole picture of while they are driving down the road etc. but I think we have enough compelling evidence to show the attitude and tempo of the scene yesterday morning, Parkville Police Chief Kevin L. Chrisman said.

Suspect arrested after high-speed chase

The suspect drove away in a car with South Carolina license plates, the probable cause statement says. When deputies located the car driving east on Northwest River Road, the suspect tried to get away, and a high-speed chase ensued.

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After driving onto the eastbound MO 9 Highway, the suspect eventually got away from deputies in the Riverside area.

At about 10:24 a.m., the Kansas City Police Department (KCPD) was able to locate the suspects car near Interstate 435 and Independence Avenue.

According to the probable cause, a short time later, KCPDs gang unit found the car parked outside a home on Spruce Avenue. The suspect was taken into custody and interviewed by detectives.

After speaking with him for some time, he finally admitted that he was the driver involved in the incident with the victim, the probable cause statement says. The suspect would never actually state that he shot the gun.

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It should never come to that. Road rage is real pull over and take a breath its ridiculous and I just dont think anyone ever expects that to be right at their front door, Adams said.

Williams is currently being held at the Platte County Jail without bond. A court hearing has not yet been scheduled.

Stay with FOX4 News for the latest updates on this and other breaking news.

Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports.
EL PASO, Texas (KTSM)  A 35-year-old man was arrested after stealing and selling multiple vehicles last week in far East El Paso, according to the El Paso County Sheriffs Office (EPCSO).

Javier Navarro, 35, was charged with theft of a vehicle and theft by fraud, with bonds set at $5,000 for each charge.

Javier Navarro

On Friday, Jan. 23, deputies responded to the 3600 block of Augusta regarding a report of stolen vehicles.

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According to the investigation, a suspect, later identified as Navarro, unlawfully entered a gated property, falsely claimed ownership of multiple vehicles, and sold them without authorization, according to EPCSO.

Two victims were identified, including the rightful owner of 10 vehicles valued at approximately $26,000 and a second victim who was scammed out of about $1,600.

During the investigation, Navarro contacted the second victim, requesting additional payment. Investigators arranged a meeting near Zaragoza Road and North Loop Drive, where Navarro was taken into custody.

In addition, six vehicles were recovered and returned to the rightful owner.

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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 KTSM 9 News.
A Burlington County judge sentenced a Maple Shade man to six years in prison for possessing child sexual abuse material and cruelty to animals.

Hunter Roy, 27, pleaded guilty to the crimes in September.

RELATED: Maple Shade man accused distributing child porn, performing sexual acts with dogs

The investigation revealed Roy distributed more than 9,000 files of child pornography.

He was also communicating with an underage boy and made recordings of himself engaging in sexual acts with two dogs.
Key Points

Novo Nordisk could see stronger financial results this year thanks to new launches and label expansions.

Merck's clinical progress this year could show that it will expertly overcome a major upcoming patent cliff.

10 stocks we like better than Novo Nordisk 

The healthcare sector lagged broader equities last year. Novo Nordisk (NYSE: NVO) and Merck (NYSE: MRK), two pharmaceutical leaders, were among the underperformers. But here's the good news: There are solid reasons to think the two leading drugmakers will do much better this year. Here is why Novo Nordisk and Merck could rebound in 2026.

1. Novo Nordisk

Last year, Novo Nordisk lost market share to its biggest competitor in the all-important weight management drug market. The company also experienced some clinical setbacks. However, the Denmark-based drugmaker could perform much better in 2026. First, Novo Nordisk has earned important label expansions for some of its products. Wegovy is now approved for patients with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis.

Image source: Getty Images.

An oral version of Wegovy became the first of its kind to receive approval for weight management. This product could help Novo Nordisk gain back some momentum in its main therapeutic area.

Second, the healthcare leader could see some brand-new approvals hit the market. Novo Nordisk is awaiting regulatory approval for CagriSema, its next-gen anti-obesity drug that performed even better than semaglutide (the active ingredient in Wegovy) in late-stage clinical trials. Third, Novo Nordisk could also experience important clinical progress. For instance, the company's Amycretin is undergoing phase 3 studies in obesity.

It has both oral and subcutaneous formulations in late-stage trials. Amid all that, Novo Nordisk should report stronger financial results. That's why the company's outlook looks much better this year, and the stock could rebound.

2. Merck

Merck's rebound has already started. The pharmaceutical giant performed well toward the end of 2025. But there could be even more upside left this year. One important factor to monitor for Merck will be clinical progress with several programs. For instance, the company's Winrevair, already approved for pulmonary arterial hypertension, is targeting a narrow indication with currently limited treatment options. A recent phase 2 win put Merck on the right path here.

Then there is CD388, a potentially transformative long-acting antiviral drug for influenza. Current flu vaccines are not very effective and often fail to provide protection, especially for some of the most at-risk populations. CD388 could address these challenges.
BALTIMORE  The Maryland House Rules and Executive Nominations Committee heard testimonies Tuesday afternoon on a proposal to redraw the states congressional district lines mid-decade. The move could significantly alter Marylands political map and deepen an open rift between Democratic leaders in Annapolis.

The committee considered legislation, sponsored by Charles County Del. C.T. Wilson, to implement new congressional boundaries recommended by Gov. Wes Moores Redistricting Advisory Committee last week. The proposed map would substantially reshape the 1st and 3rd congressional districts and could make reelection more difficult for Rep. Andy Harris, the only Republican in Marylands congressional delegation. The committee will also discuss a Republican-led bill to alter the requirements of state and congressional redistricting, called the Fair Districts for Maryland Act.

We have to choose between districts that look good versus districts that do good, Wilson, a Democrat, said in his opening remarks during the hearing, pointing to the Trump administrations policies that he said have increased the cost of living and abridged individuals First Amendment rights  arguments Democrats across the country have made in favor of tipping election odds in their favor by redrawing maps.

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Testifying before the committee, a defiant Moore said that from day one, he was clear that Maryland would be a part of [the] conversation regarding drawing fair maps. The Commissions recommendation was shaped by public services. It was shaped by public hearings. It was shaped by public feedback, and that is how our democracy is supposed to work, Moore said.

The governor cast redistricting as a critical pushback to Trumps own redistricting effort and to the presidents policies, adding that the president aims to quiet minority voices.

Make no mistake, what the president of the United States is doing right now is political redlining, and its not lost to me that Im the only Black governor in this country, only the third elected Black governor in the history of this nation, Moore said. So now I will not sit quiet, and the audacity of those who are telling me to do so shows that they have no understanding of the journey of so many who came before us,

Republicans in both chambers have criticized the proposal, arguing that while they consider Marylands current congressional map unfair, they believe the new plan was designed to weaken Harris and reduce Republican representation at the national level.

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Following Wilson and Moores testimonies, House Minority Leader Jason Buckel told both legislators that the redrawn maps were clearly drawn with purely partisan purposes. Highlighting a timeline of redistricting changes in Maryland, House Minority Whip Jesse Pippy and Republican Del. Teresa Reilly questioned whether the goal of this bill is to make it 8 Democrats to 0 Republicans  a question they said Wilson repeatedly evaded. Reilly represents Cecil and Harford counties.

The committee could vote on the measures immediately after the hearing, potentially sending it to the House floor and setting up a clash with Senate President Bill Ferguson, who has repeatedly said he will not budge on his opposition to midcycle redistricting.

I dont think much has changed since our initial analysis, Ferguson, a Baltimore City Democrat, told reporters Tuesday ahead of the hearing. Were well past the window of opportunity of doing anything even were that the case.

Ferguson cited looming election deadlines and warned that any legal challenge to a new map would likely extend beyond the point at which district boundaries must be finalized. The attorney general says its going to take at least three to four months to litigate any case, he said. Were at the end of January.

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Under the bill, voters would be asked in 2026 to approve the new congressional boundaries through a statewide referendum. If voters reject the plan, the state would continue using the congressional map adopted in 2022 until the next Census. Ferguson said even that approach could create legal uncertainty and disrupt election administration.

This wouldnt even be in effect for 2026, he said, noting that a petition drive would delay implementation and could force a special election in early 2027. There are so many legal challenges and issues here.

Roughly 500 people plan to testify in response to the governors redistricting commission, according to a speaker sign-up sheet provided to The Baltimore Sun by Fergusons office ahead of the hearing. 396 people  more than 76% of signees  are against the proposal, compared with about 120 people, or roughly 23%, who signed up in support.

The hearing also comes amid mounting pressure from national Democrats, who have urged blue states to redraw congressional lines in response to Republican-led efforts in states like Texas, Ohio and North Carolina.

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Ferguson, however, dismissed the suggestion that the Senates position is being driven by outside pressure, telling The Sun he has not had recent conversations with national Democratic leaders. They sort of know where I stand and where I think the Maryland Senate stands, he said.

Moore has echoed that message, saying he does not take instructions from national Democrats and dismissing suggestions that he could be swayed by outside pressure. Still, he privately met last week in Washington with U.S. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, the highest-ranking Democrat in Congress. Details of their discussion remain unclear.

Harris, whose Eastern Shore-based district would be redrawn to include Democratic-leaning suburbs in Anne Arundel and Howard counties, said he will not attend Tuesdays hearing.

This is a sham hearing with a pre-determined outcome, Harris told The Sun in an email on Tuesday.

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Even if the House advances the bill, its fate in the Senate is uncertain. Despite echoing a message of unity, Ferguson declined to say whether the measure would receive a vote if it clears the lower chamber. Well see what happens in the House, he said. We have a lot of important issues to take up first.

----------

Jeff Barker contributed to this report.

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It could be assumed many would run  quickly  in the other direction if told a 10- to 15-foot snake was at a residential home.

But Indian River County Sheriffs Cpl. Trevor Kramer said the Jan. 25 morning call to dispatchers piqued his interest.

A woman in the 800 block of Fourth Lane called 911 after she went outside and the massive snake, which turned out to be a red-tailed boa constrictor, startled her, according to sheriffs Lt. Kevin Jaworski.

Indian River County Sheriffs Cpl. Trevor Kramer came to the rescue of a woman who called 911 about a big snake in her yard on Fourth Lane Jan. 25, 2026. He snagged this 9-foot red-tailed boa constrictor.

Kramer said he and his wife have had snakes in the past. He grew up in the woods and wildlife always intrigued him.

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I assumed it was an exaggeration, Kramer said of the 10- to 15-foot size estimate. I get there, she's still panic-stricken, she's like, It's huge.

Kramer said the woman indicated her husband was standing watch by the creature on the side of her home.

In all, it turned out to be 9 feet.

I go around the corner and this thing is laid out straight along this extension ladder, and it was much longer than the extension ladder, Kramer recalled. I was like, holy cow, this snake is huge.

Red-tailed boa constrictors are native to South and Central America and have a distinctive reddish tail and a strong constricting ability.

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Boa constrictors are not to be confused with pythons, which also are large and muscular. Pythons tend to be longer than boa constrictors, which are usually about 10 feet.

Kramer, who said hes been with the Sheriffs Office nearly two years, said he had nothing big enough to hold the snake.

He asked the woman whether she had a pillowcase to put it in, and she brought him one. He has a homemade catch pole he uses to catch wildlife.

I snared him with it, and grabbed him, and he had to weigh, 35, 40 pounds, Kramer said. He was a hefty snake.

Kramer said animal control officials arrived, before the snake was taken to the humane society.

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That type of snake, he said, is a fairly common pet kept by snake enthusiasts.

Indian River County Animal Control Officer Faith Bohannon said when she arrived the snake was in a pillowcase.

We kind of took it out just so that we could see that it was in good health and what kind of snake it was, Bohannon said.

Indian River County Sheriffs Cpl. Trevor Kramer came to the rescue of a woman who called 911 about a big snake in her yard on Fourth Lane Jan. 25, 2026. He snagged this 9-foot red-tailed boa constrictor.

She said she made some calls because its not something the shelter has facilities for.

We had to kind of scrounge around and go through all of their available tanks  to find one that was big enough for the snake, she said.

A message left Jan. 26 with the Humane Society of Vero Beach & Indian River County was not immediately returned. That's where Bohannon said the snake was taken.

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Get ready to bundle up!: Cold temperatures coming to the Treasure Coast

Gunfire: St. Lucie County man faces charges after allegations he shot another man in leg

Bohannon said shes been at her job for about 18 months and had not encountered such a large snake before.

Typically, the snakes that I get are just tiny snakes that are stuck under people's fridges, she said.

Kramer suspected this may be a pet that got loose or was let go.

Will Greenlee is a breaking news reporter for TCPalm. Follow Will on X @OffTheBeatTweet or reach him by phone at 772-267-7926. E-mail him at will.greenlee@tcpalm.com.

This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Massive snake snared by deputy in Florida
Former WINK News Chief Meteorologist Matt Devitt's Facebook page is gone.

Devitt posted on X, formerly Twitter, Monday, Jan. 26, that his Facebook page, which had more than 1.2 million followers, was deleted overnight, cutting off a major platform he had used for weather updates in Southwest Florida for more than a decade.

Devitt said he no longer has access to the page and has been unable to get answers from Meta.

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"I woke up this morning to my Facebook Page deleted. 1.2 million followers over the course of 14 years gone. This is not even including me trying to just change my name. I cant even log into the page. Meta Support did nothing and cant even tell me why it happened. Does anyone have connections within Meta that can help me recover this page? Feel free to send me a message. All your help is appreciated. Thanks."

I woke up this morning to my Facebook Page deleted. 1.2 million followers over the course of 14 years gone. This is not even including me trying to just change my name. I cant even log into the page. Meta Support did nothing and cant even tell me why it happened. Does anyone  Matt Devitt (@MattDevittWX) January 26, 2026

The News-Press and Naples Daily News confirmed the page was still active as of Friday, Jan. 23. As of Tuesday, it was no longer publicly accessible.

The removal comes amid ongoing public fallout following Devitts firing from WINK News earlier this month.

Vote! Poll: Who should replace Matt Devitt as WINK News weather expert?

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Since his departure from WINK News Jan. 8, Devitt had described difficulties separating his personal brand from the station on Meta platforms. He previously said restrictions tied to his verified account prevented him from changing the page name to remove WINK branding.

At the time, Devitt said he planned to relaunch under the name "Matt Devitt Weather" once Meta allowed the change. Instead, he now says the page is gone entirely.

Devitt remains active on X, where he has continued posting updates and responding to supporters.

Did WINK News dispute Devitts account of his firing?

WINK News management has challenged Devitts claim that his firing came as a "complete shock."

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In an internal memo sent to newsroom staff Friday, Jan. 23, WINK News General Manager Jamie Ricks said the station felt compelled to address what he described as confusion and harassment directed at employees following Devitts public comments.

"Mr. Devitt publicly stated that his termination was a 'complete shock.' That characterization is inaccurate. Over the past year, WINK News and Human Resources met with Mr. Devitt on multiple occasions regarding off-air conduct. He received written warnings, was recently suspended, and acknowledged in writing that he understood continued violations could result in termination."

Devitt has previously said he was not given a reason for his dismissal. He has not responded to The News-Press' request for comment. WINK News has not issued additional public statements beyond the memo.

Did Devitt violate his WINK employment agreement?

The memo also alleges Devitt violated his employment agreement by developing a separate weather-related business while employed at WINK.

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"WINK News also learned that Mr. Devitt spent considerable time developing a new weather business in violation of his employment agreement, using company property, and attempting to recruit WINK employees," the memo states.

Public records show a Florida for-profit corporation, Matt The Weatherman Inc., was filed April 9, 2024, listing Devitt as president. Federal trademark records also show an application filed under that entity for the name "WEATHERVIEW," covering services related to meteorological forecasting, weather news and broadcast production across digital, television, radio and podcast platforms.

The filings do not indicate when the business began operating or whether it generated revenue while Devitt was employed at WINK.

How has Devitt's firing spilled into local politics?

Devitts firing has drawn political attention in the race for Floridas 19th Congressional District, where media executive Jim Schwartzel is seeking office.

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Schwartzels opponent, Republican candidate Catalina Lauf, accused him of influencing Devitts firing because of Schwartzels family history in broadcasting. Schwartzel has denied ownership or control of WINK News.

I have the answer, sir! @newtgingrich My primary opponent, Jim owns WINK. Its clear in SWFL that he is a RINO hack, possibly a closet DEM. His liberal leadership fired the beloved @MattDevittWX who brought so much hope to SWFL during Hurricane Ian.  Catalina Lauf (@CatalinaLauf) January 11, 2026

Schwartzel responded to the claims on Twitter. "For political reasons, some are circulating false claims that I own or control WINK News," Schwartzel said in a statement. "I want to be clear: I do not own WINK TV or WINK News. I am not employed by WINK and I have no role in its parent company, Fort Myers Broadcasting Co."

WINK has not commented beyond the memo.

For political reasons, some are circulating false claims that I own or control WINK News.



I want to be clear: I do not own WINK TV or WINK News. I am not employed by WINK and I have no role in its parent company, Fort Myers Broadcasting Co.



I own Sun Broadcasting, Inc., which  Jim Schwartzel for Congress (@JimSchwartzel) January 13, 2026

More: Jack Frost takes a swing at Fort Myers. Did it freeze in rural Lee?

What happens next?

WINK News has not announced a permanent replacement for the chief meteorologist role. Meteorologist Josh Green has handled evening weather shifts since Devitts departure as the station transitions to its new headquarters in Gateway.

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Devitt has not announced his next professional steps but continues to post updates on X as he tries to recover his Facebook page.

Mickenzie Hannon is a watchdog reporter for The News-Press and Naples Daily News, covering Collier and Lee counties. Contact her at 239-435-3423 or mhannon@gannett.com.

Please support local community journalism and stay informed about Southwest Florida news by subscribing to The News-Press and Naples Daily News; download the free News-Press or Naples Daily News app, and sign up for daily briefing email newsletter, food & dining and growth & development newsletters here and here.

This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Matt Devitt Facebook page deleted after WINK News firing in SW Florida
Ozempic is the most well-known of drug class known as GLP-1 receptor agonists, which are prescribed for treating Type 2 diabetes and obesity. Ozempic is indicated for diabetes but was widely prescribed off-label for weight loss before the emergence of alternative drugs. (Product image courtesy of Novo Nordisk; Photo illustration by Alexander Castro/Rhode Island Current)

Are GLP-1 drugs prescribed for weight loss becoming too outsized a line item for continued coverage through the state Medicaid program? Thats what Gov. Dan McKees fiscal year 2027 budget suggests.

Medicaid costs roughly quadrupled between the start of fiscal year 2024 and the end of fiscal year 2025 in per-member monthly payments to Medicaid managed care plans, according to the states Executive Office of Health and Human Services, which administers Rhode Islands Medicaid program.

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The agencys September budget request to the governors office attributed the increased use of expensive weight-loss meds with brand names like Wegovy, Zepbound and Saxenda to an explosive rise in demand.

Removing GLP-1s from Rhode Islands Medicaid formulary for weight loss would save $6.3 million in general revenue, according to McKees proposed budget introduced on Jan. 15. Coverage of the drugs for weight loss would end on Oct. 1 under McKees plan. Medicaid recipients prescribed GLP-1s for diabetes would not be affected by the proposal.

The drugs have shown remarkable efficacy in treating obesity in addition to their utility in controlling Type 2 diabetes. Patients in large clinical trials for GLP-1s lost an average of 15% to 20% of their body weight, depending on the drug they were given.

But the drugs are considered optional in Medicaid programs; the feds do not demand that states ensure coverage.

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While quite efficacious, these medications are quite expensive, with list prices ranging from $12,000 annually to roughly $16,000 annually as of March 2025, according to the September budget request from the states health and human services office.

According to a KFF analysis, as of November 2025, Rhode Island was one of only 13 states to cover GLP-1s for obesity through Medicaid. States which previously had coverage  such as California, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania and South Carolina  have also eliminated GLP-1 coverage for weight loss in recent months.

Kerri White, a spokesperson for the Executive Office of Health and Human Services, said that McKees initiative is the same policy suggestion the agency offered in its requested budget last fall. But the ultimate savings could change depending on new enrollment data and pricing when state budget crunchers meet in May.

This is mostly an administrative change to contracts and rates, White wrote in an email, noting the drugs would be struck from the preferred drug list. There would be no grandfathering or exemptions for existing patients, she added.

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In state fiscal year 2025, there were 24,971 prescriptions for GLP-1s for obesity for Rhode Island Medicaid beneficiaries, although duplicates may lurk in those numbers as patients can switch medications or change doses, White noted.

Biggest breakthrough since statins

GLP-1s are classed as receptor agonists, or drugs that activate at specific receptors in the body. They help raise insulin and suppress the hormone glucagon, which plays a role in both appetite and Type 2 diabetes. Additionally, they slow gastric emptying, which means people feel full longer and ultimately eat less.

The GLP-1s mimic the bodys hormonal pathways, amplifying signals the body already uses to communicate things like hunger and fullness. And the GLP-1s tend to follow a more sophisticated script compared to older weight-loss drugs like anorectics, most of which are essentially stimulants or amphetamine derivatives. Anorectics came with much larger menus of side-effects, such as the notorious Fen-Phen, yanked from the market in 1997 after worries about heart valve damage.

The GLP-1s are indeed special, says Dr. Amy Nunn, executive director of the Rhode Island Public Health Institute and a professor at Brown Universitys School of Public Health.

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There hasnt been a medical innovation thats been this impactful, really, since the advent of statins, Nunn said in a phone interview, referring to the cholesterol-lowering drugs that premiered in 1987 and were prescribed to an estimated 92 million Americans in 2018 and 2019.

Nunn, also the CEO of Providences LGBTQ-friendly community clinic Open Door Health and a State House regular for her testimony on bills promoting healthy eating and lifestyle changes, is displeased with McKees bid to axe the drugs from the Medicaid lineup, calling it an all or nothing proposal.

Thats not the way to address a big public health problem, Nunn said. The big elephant in the room is the medications are too expensive.

The GLP-1 market has ballooned in recent years, as drugmakers race to find new variants and thereby seize a piece of a lucrative industry. The GLP-1 that is often used as shorthand for the entire drug family  Ozempic  is officially indicated only for Type 2 diabetes, though it remains prescribed off-label even after its now-numerous sibling drugs entered the market.

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The drugs have proven to be remarkable cash cows for their manufacturers. Novo Nordisk, the Danish pharma giant responsible for both Ozempic and Wegovy, had a market cap of $570 billion in 2023, larger than the economy of its home country Denmark. The same year, the company paid a $2.12 billion tax bill, more than any other Danish taxpayer. (The company endured new woes, and cut 9,000 jobs in 2025, however, partly due to increasing competition.)

A manufacturing video from pharmaceutical manufacturer Lilly shows Zepbound pens being made. (Screenshot from video courtesy of Lilly)

Why not team up with other states for better pricing?

Strange bedfellows tend to congregate in the shadows of drugmakers towering profits. Nunn  who fought last year against President Donald Trumps administration in federal court over research funding cuts  said the Oval Office made the right choice in its recent challenge to drugmaker profits.

I think what President Trump has done is commendable, because so many people need those medications, and hes right that they are making too much money, and people cant get the medications that they need, Nunn said.

Nunn added that Trumps strong-arming pharma giants may have been for political reasons, because older Americans are more likely to vote. But I think it was a bold and much needed policy move, she said.

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Thats not the way to address a big public health problem. The big elephant in the room is the medications are too expensive.

 Dr. Amy Nunn, executive director of the Rhode Island Public Health Institute and a professor at Brown Universitys School of Public Health

Nunn said that patients tend to gain weight back if they go off the medications, and that McKees plan leaves patients without a transition plan in place.

Nunn said Rhode Island should form purchasing partnerships with bigger states like Massachusetts or California to get better prices from the pharmaceutical industry.

This is what they did for hepatitis medications, and they did for other medications, Nunn said. This is what the VA does. So thats what needs to happen.

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She continued:  We dont have to accept those prices. We can challenge pharmaceutical companies about their prices rather than cutting off patients.

Health disparities and long-term impact

Higher rates of obesity are observed among low-income Rhode Islanders and communities of color. The adult obesity rate is about 31% statewide, but almost 36.8% among non-Hispanic Black and 36.1% among Hispanic Rhode Islanders. Non-Hispanic white adults have an obesity rate of 30.3%, according to CDC data.

Additionally, 2022 state data showed Rhode Islanders in households earning under $25,000 have an obesity rate of almost 36%, while those earning more above $50,000 sit at 28.3%.

Ending obesity coverage for GLP-1 obesity drugs could improve the states finances but might also result in health inequities and less comprehensive coverage, the states health and human services agency acknowledged in its September budget request.

An April 2025 chart from the Rhode Island Office of the Health Insurance Commissioner shows in-state commercial insurers spend much more on GLP-1s compared to other drugs in their respective categories. (Graphic by Office of the Health Insurance Commissioner)

The economics of GLP-1s have undergone several heavy-duty studies and overviews, including one in October 2024 by the U.S. Congressional Budget Office, which suggested the cost of the drugs could still exceed the savings from treating obesity and its attendant health conditions. Additionally, the drugs could increase the governments net spending on Medicare, through at least 2044.

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The budget office estimated about $35 billion in increased net costs from 2026 to 2034, noting healthier Medicare members would not offset the overall costs.

Relative to the direct costs of the medications, total savings from beneficiaries improved health would be small  less than $50 million in 2026 and rising to $1.0 billion in 2034, the report noted.

Another 2025 survey published in JAMA Health Forum noted that, should Medicare pay for the drugs, it could avoid spending a hypothetical $18.2 billion on obesity-related health expenditures over 10 years  while dishing out $65.9 billion annually on the GLP-1s by year 10, thereby negating any savings.

The Institute for Clinical and Economic Review deemed GLP-1s lacking in cost effectiveness for obesity management in 2022. The market had changed enough by the time the institute revisited the topic in 2025 and found some drugs cost-effective at certain prices and formulations.

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The institute recommended that existing GLP-1 makers, and those with products in the pipeline, should consider steep discounts to prices in exchange for higher volume.

What has to happen is we have to move from a low-volume, high-price business model, to a high-volume, low-price business model, Nunn said. The marginal cost of producing a little more of medications is very small.

The pharmaceutical industry, they hem and haw about how they wont make money, and they have made, like, a trillion dollars on these products, Nunn continued. And so thats just silly.

McKees proposal will undergo months of legislative questioning, editing and restructuring before the General Assemblys final version emerges sometime in June. The new fiscal year begins July 1.

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Marion County Prosecutor Ryan Mears will run to keep his seat as the county's top lawyer this year, but he hasn't ruled out the possibility of stepping down to run for Indianapolis mayor in 2027.

Mears, a Democrat who has held the office since 2019, filed on Jan. 27 to retain his seat in the May 2026 primary election. He's the only candidate from either party currently running for the position, about nine months out from the November general election. The deadline to file is Feb. 6.

Mears has also been mentioned as a possible mayoral candidate in 2027. As the race heats up this month with Indianapolis City-County Councilor Vop Osili announcing his bid and Indiana Sen. Andrea Hunley hinting at a run, Mears said he's still deliberating.

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But he did hint at some appetite for a higher office, saying he's frustrated with how the criminal justice system often seems downstream of issues over which it has little influence like housing, education and poverty.

Asked whether that means he could run for mayor, Mears said, "I think it's like any conversation: Yes, no, maybe."

Mears' focus as prosecutor if he wins

In his role as prosecutor, Mears said his focus will remain on aggressively prosecuting murder and sexual assault cases. He also said the prosecutor's office will keep looking for ways to invest in root causes of crime like addiction, unstable housing and mental health issues.

Mears roundly rejects some Republicans' claims that he's too lenient on crime. He said 2025 was the third straight year in which Marion County has secured guilty verdicts in at least 90% of murder trials. County prosecutors filed murder charges in 86 cases last year.

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Mears served as a deputy prosecutor in the Marion County prosecutor's office for more than a decade before taking the top job. He said conversations with constituents have shaped his approach to the work.

"When I'm out in the community ... what I hear is people want to make sure that [we're] on point with murder cases," Mears said. "They want to make sure that [we're] on point with cases involving children. And I think the third thing is we have to be very involved in issues as it relates to public corruption."

On that last point, a Marion County grand jury is investigating city development deals involving Mayor Joe Hogsett's former chief of staff Thomas Cook, as well as allegations of ghost employment and other wrongdoing in Lt. Gov. Micah Beckwith's office.

While Mears would not comment on either case specifically, he said that "as we move into 2026, you're going to see some filings related to some of these investigations that we've been involved in over the course of the past 18 months."

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Email Indianapolis City Hall Reporter Jordan Smith at JTSmith@usatodayco.com. Follow him on X @jordantsmith09 and Bluesky @jordanaccidentally.bsky.social.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Democrat Ryan Mears running for reelection as Marion County prosecutor
For close to a century, geoscientists have pondered a mystery: Where did Earths lighter elements go? Compared to amounts in the Sun and in some meteorites, Earth has less hydrogen, carbon, nitrogen and sulfur, as well as noble gases like helium  in some cases, more than 99 percent less.

Some of the disparity is explained by losses to the solar system as our planet formed. But researchers have long suspected that something else was going on too.

Recently, a team of scientists reported a possible explanation  that the elements are hiding deep in the solid inner core of Earth. At its super-high pressure  360 gigapascals, 3.6 million times atmospheric pressure  the iron there behaves strangely, becoming an electride: a little-known form of the metal that can suck up lighter elements.

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Study coauthor Duck Young Kim, a solid-state physicist at the Center for High Pressure Science & Technology Advanced Research in Shanghai, says the absorption of these light elements may have happened gradually over a couple of billion years  and may still be going on today. It would explain why the movement of seismic waves traveling through Earth suggests an inner core density that is 5 percent to 8 percent lower than expected were it metal alone.

Electrides, in more ways than one, are having their moment. Not only might they help solve a planetary mystery, they can now be made at room temperature and pressure from an array of elements. And since all electrides contain a source of reactive electrons that are easily donated to other molecules, they make ideal catalysts and other sorts of agents that help to propel challenging reactions.

One electride is already in use to catalyze the production of ammonia, a key component of fertilizer; its Japanese developers claim the process uses 20 percent less energy than traditional ammonia manufacture. Chemists, meanwhile, are discovering new electrides that could lead to cheaper and greener methods of producing pharmaceuticals.

Todays challenge is to find more of these intriguing materials and to understand the chemical rules that govern when they form.

Electrides at high pressure

Most solids are made from ordered lattices of atoms, but electrides are different. Their lattices have little pockets where electrons sit on their own.

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Normal metals have electrons that are not stuck to one atom. These are the outer, or valence, electrons that are free to move between atoms, forming what is often referred to as a delocalized sea of electrons. It explains why metals conduct electricity.

The outer electrons of electrides no longer orbit a particular atom either, but they cant freely move. Instead, they become trapped at sites between atoms that are called non-nuclear attractors. This gives the materials unique properties. In the case of the iron in Earths core, the negative electron charges stabilize lighter elements at non-nuclear attractors that were formed at those super-high pressures, 3,000 times that at the bottom of the deepest ocean. The elements would diffuse into the metal, explaining where they disappeared to.

The first metal found to form an electride at high pressure was sodium, reported in 2009. At a pressure of 200 gigapascals (2 million times greater than atmospheric pressure) it transforms from a shiny, reflective, conducting metal into a transparent glassy, insulating material. This finding was very weird, says Stefano Racioppi, a computational and theoretical chemist at the University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom, who worked on sodium electrides while in the lab of Eva Zurek at the University at Buffalo in New York state. Early theories, he says, had predicted that at high pressure, sodiums outer electrons would move even more freely between atoms.

The first sign that things were different came from predictions in the late 1990s, when scientists were using computational simulations to model solids, based on the rules of quantum theory. These rules define the energy levels that electrons can have, and hence the probable range of positions in which they are found in atoms (their atomic orbitals).

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Simulating solid sodium showed that at high pressures, as the sodium atoms get squeezed closer together, so do the electrons orbiting each atom. That causes them to experience increasing repulsive forces with one another. This changes the relative energies of every electron orbiting the nucleus of each atom, Racioppi explains  leading to a reorganization of electron positions.

The result? Rather than occupying orbitals that allow them to be delocalized and move between atoms, the orbitals take on a new shape that forces electrons into the non-nuclear attractor sites. Since the electrons are stuck at these sites, the solid loses its metallic properties.

Adding to this theoretical work, Racioppi and Zurek collaborated with researchers at the University of Edinburgh to find experimental evidence for a sodium electride at extreme pressures. Squeezing crystals of sodium between two diamonds, they used X-ray diffraction to map electron density in the metal structure. This, they reported in September 2025, confirmed that electrons really were located in the predicted non-nuclear attractor sites between sodium atoms.

Just the thing for catalysts

Electrides are ideal candidates for catalysts  substances that can speed up and lower the energy needed for chemical reactions. Thats because the isolated electrons at the non-nuclear attractor sites can be donated to make and break bonds. But to be useful, they would need to function at ambient conditions.

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Several such stable electrides have been discovered over the last 10 years, made from inorganic compounds or organic molecules containing metal atoms. One of the most significant, mayenite, was found by surprise in 2003 when material scientist Hideo Hosono at the Institute of Science Tokyo was investigating a type of cement.

Mayenite is a calcium aluminate oxide that forms crystals with very small pores  a few nanometers across  called cages, that contain oxygen ions. If a metal vapor of calcium or titanium is passed over it at high temperature, it removes the oxygen, leaving behind just electrons trapped at these sites  an electride.

Unlike the high-pressure metal electrides that switch from conductors to insulators, mayenite starts as an insulator. But now its trapped electrons can jump between cage sites (via a process called quantum tunnelling)  making it a conductor, albeit 100 to 1,000 times less conductive than a metal like aluminum or silver. It also becomes an excellent catalyst, able to surrender electrons to help make and break bonds in reactions.

By 2011, Hosono had begun to develop mayenite as a greener and more efficient catalyst for synthesizing ammonia. Over 170 million metric tons of ammonia, mostly for fertilizers, is produced annually via the Haber-Bosch process, in which metal oxides facilitate hydrogen and nitrogen gases reacting together at high pressure and temperature. It is an energy-intensive, expensive process  Haber-Bosch plants account for some 2 percent of the worlds energy use.

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In Haber-Bosch, the catalysts bind the two gases to their surfaces and donate electrons to help break the strong triple bond that holds the two nitrogen atoms together in nitrogen gas, as well as the bonds in hydrogen gas. Because mayenite has a strong electron-donating nature, Hosono thought mayenite would be able to do it better.

In Hosonos reaction, mayenite itself does not bind the gases but acts as a support bed for nanoparticles of a metal called ruthenium. First, the nanoparticles absorb the nitrogen and hydrogen gases. Then the mayenite donates electrons to the ruthenium. These electrons flow into the nitrogen and hydrogen molecules, making it easier to break their bonds. Ammonia thus forms at a lower temperature  300 to 400 C  and lower pressure  50 to 80 atmospheres than with Haber-Bosch, which takes place at 400 to 500 C and 100 to 400 atmospheres.

In 2017, the company Tsubame BHB was formed to commercialize Hosonos catalyst, with the first pilot plant opening in 2019, producing 20 metric tons of ammonia per year. The company has since opened a larger facility in Japan and is setting up a 20,000-ton-per year green ammonia plant in Brazil to replace some of the nations fossil-fuel-based fertilizer production. The company estimates that this will avoid 11,000 tons of CO 2 emissions annually  about equal to the annual emissions of 2,400 cars.

There are other applications for a mayenite catalyst, says Hosono, including a lower-energy conversion of CO 2 into useful chemicals like methane, methanol or longer-chain hydrocarbons. Other scientists have suggested that mayenites cage structure also makes it suitable for immobilizing radioactive isotope waste in nuclear power stations: The electrons could capture negative ions like iodine and bromide and trap them in the cages.

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Mayenite has even been studied as a low-temperature propulsion system for satellites in space. When it is heated to 600 C in a vacuum, its trapped electrons blast from the cages, causing propulsion.

Organic electrides

The list of materials known to form electrides keeps growing. In 2024, a team led by chemist Fabrizio Ortu at the University of Leicester in the UK accidentally discovered another room-temperature-stable electride made from calcium ions surrounded by large organic molecules, together known as a coordination complex.

He was using a method known as mechanical chemistry  You put something in a milling jar, you shake it really hard, and that provides the energy for the reaction, he says. But to his surprise, electrons from the potassium he had added to his calcium complex were not donated to the calcium ion. Instead, what formed had these electrons that were floating in the system, he says, trapped in sites between the two metals.

Unlike mayenite, this electride is not a conductor  its trapped electrons do not jump. But they allow it to facilitate reactions that are otherwise hard to get started, by activating unreactive bonds, doing a job much like a catalyst. These are reactions that currently rely on expensive palladium catalysts.

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The scientists successfully used the electride on a reaction that joins two pyridine rings  carbon rings containing a nitrogen atom. They are now examining whether the electride could assist in other common organic reactions, such as substituting a hydrogen atom on a benzene ring. These substitutions are difficult because the bond between the benzene ring carbon and its attached hydrogen is very stable.

There are still problems to sort out: Ortus calcium electride is too air- and water-sensitive for use in industry. He is now looking for a more stable alternative, which could prove particularly useful in the pharmaceutical industry to synthesize drug molecules, where the sorts of reactions Ortu has demonstrated are common.

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Still questions at the core

There remain many unresolved mysteries about electrides, including whether Earths inner core definitely contains one. Kim and his collaborators used simulations of the iron lattice to find evidence for non-nuclear attractor sites, but their interpretation of the results remains a little bit controversial, Racioppi says.

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Sodium and other metals in Group 1 and Group 2 of the periodic table of elements  such as lithium, calcium and magnesium  have loosely bound outer electrons. This helps make it easy for electrons to shift to non-nuclear attractor sites, forming electrides. But iron exerts more pulling power on its outer electrons, which sit in differently shaped orbitals. This makes the increase in electron repulsion under pressure less significant and thus the shift to electride formation difficult, Racioppi says.

Electrides are still little known and little studied, says computational materials scientist Lee Burton of Tel Aviv University. There is still no theory or model to predict when a material will become one. Because electrides are not typical chemically, you cant bring your chemical intuition to it, he says.

Burton has been searching for rules that might help with predictions and has had some success finding electrides from a screen of 40,000 known materials. He is now using artificial intelligence to find more. Its a complex interplay between different properties that sometimes can all depend on each other, he says. This is where machine learning can really help.

The key is having reliable data to train any model. Burtons team only has actual data from the handful of electride structures experimentally confirmed so far, but they also are using the kind of modeling based on quantum theory that was carried out by Racioppi to create high-resolution simulations of electron density within materials. They are doing this for as many materials as they can; those that are confirmed by real-world experiments will be used to train an AI model to identify more materials that are likely to be electrides  ones with the discrete pockets of high electron density characteristic of trapped electron sites. The potential, says Burton, is enormous.

This article originally appeared in Knowable Magazine, an independent journalistic endeavor from Annual Reviews. Sign up for the newsletter.
Menstrual symptoms can severely affect a persons working life. To combat this, the idea of menstrual leave has emerged. This legal measure allows workers to take time off when their period symptoms are too difficult to manage at work.

It falls under the umbrella of menstrual health, a relatively new and broad concept that looks at menstruation not just as a biological process, but also as an issue that affects peoples daily lives, wellbeing, and fundamental rights.

Several countries have menstrual leave policies, but they approach it in different ways. In the European Union, most countries have done very little in this regard  as of 2026, Spain is the only EU Member State with a specific regulation on menstrual leave, which was introduced in 2023.

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Japan was the first country to introduce menstrual leave, in 1947. After World War II many women faced harsh working conditions. Inadequate toilets and a lack of sanitary products made it impossible to work during menstruation, and the solution was the right to seirikyuuka or physiological leave, which recognises menstruation as a natural condition that employers must consider.

However, Japans legislation, like its more modern counterparts, is flawed. It does not specify how many days can be taken, pay is not guaranteed, and employers decide whether leave counts as paid or unpaid  as of 2020, only about 30% of companies offered full or partial salary. In practice, fewer than 1% of women use it, and those who do often face discrimination or harassment.

These difficulties are a recurring theme in implementing similar policies around the world.

Leer mas: Menstrual health literacy is alarmingly low  what you dont know can harm you

Menstrual leave around the world

More recently, several other countries and regions have introduced menstrual leave policies: Indonesia, South Korea, Zambia, Mexico, Taiwan, three Chinese provinces (Hubei, Shanxi, and Ningxia), one Argentinian province (Federacion) and two Indian provinces (Karnataka and Bihar) .

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Taiwans 2002 Gender Equity at Work Act established one day off per month for women, but only up to a maximum of three days per year. These days are not deducted from sick leave, but only if they remain within that limit. Women receive only 50% of their wage during menstrual leave, mirroring the rules for sick leave.

Indonesia introduced menstrual leave in 2003, allowing up to two days of paid rest each month. The law requires employees to notify their employer in advance, and the specific arrangements (part time leave, consecutive or discontinuous days) are left to be discussed between the parties involved.

South Korea followed with its own regulation in 2007, granting women one day of unpaid leave per month. Employers are legally obligated to respect this right, failure to do so can result in high fines.

Both Taiwan and South Korea face similar challenges, as many employers fail to implement the regulations properly, refusing to provide the promised leave or demanding intrusive proof from employees, undermining their dignity in the process.

Leer mas: Period pain and heavy bleeding cost the Australian economy billions every year in lost productivity: study

In 2014, the municipality of Federacion, in Argentina, introduced a policy granting its female public employees one paid day off each month if they were unable to work due to their period. Locally, this initiative became known as the dia femenino, or feminine day.

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In Zambia, menstrual leave was established in 2015, and women are entitled to one day off per month, without needing to provide a medical certificate or even prior notice to their employer. This policy is known as Mothers Day, which reflects a cultural emphasis on womens perceived role in society.

In the State of Mexico, public employees have been granted leave for dysmenorrhea (period pain) as a policy framed as upholding labour rights. Interestingly, Mexicos policy is not limited to menstruation alone. It identifies three main groups of beneficiaries: women experiencing severe dysmenorrhea, women in mid-adulthood dealing with symptoms of menopause or the climacteric phase, and men in mid-adulthood facing discomfort linked to andropause.

Mexicos regulation is better described as physiological leave rather than strictly menstrual leave, as it extends support to workers across different stages of life that have health implications.

Menstrual leave in Spain

Spains menstrual leave regulation came into force on June 1, 2023, following a bill introduced by the coalition government of the Socialist Party and Podemos, its left wing partner. The measure was far from unanimously accepted: it passed with 185 votes in favour, 154 against, and 3 abstentions.

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From the outset, the proposal sparked heated debate. Its innovative and ambitious nature drew strong criticism from several political parties, particularly the conservative Peoples Party (PP), who warned that the law could lead to marginalisation, stigmatisation, and even negative consequences in the labour market for women.

However, the laws approval was hailed by feminist groups and labour rights organisations as a historic milestone. For them, menstrual leave represents a long-awaited recognition of womens needs and a step toward greater equality in employment.

The law introduces new rights for women within Spains Social Security framework, reflecting what some scholars have described as the right to work without pain. It creates a new situation of temporary incapacity linked to disabling menstrual conditions. This includes secondary dysmenorrhea and related conditions such as endometriosis, fibroids, pelvic inflammatory disease, adenomyosis, endometrial polyps, polycystic ovary syndrome, or any difficulty in menstrual blood flow.

In these cases, Social Security covers the subsidy from the very first day of leave. This is different to general sick leave, where payments begin only on the fourth day. Additionally, women dont need to have made previous payments into the Social Security system to access this protection.

Leer mas: Traumatic experiences and genetics may increase endometriosis risk, a new study finds

An underused system

The Spanish Ministry of Equalitys original draft bill estimated that around 1% of the six million women aged 1650 in Spain, roughly 60,000 workers, might suffer from incapacitating menstrual symptoms.

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According to the Ministrys own figures, between June 1 2023 and February 3 2025 only 2,668 women made use of the allowance, with each leave lasting an average of three days. This number is much lower than the original estimate, meaning it is not being used as much as it should be.

Given its recent introduction and the small number of beneficiaries, there is still no evidence as to whether menstrual leave has had any negative impact on womens employment in Spain.

The problem with menstrual leave

Menstruation is often treated as something shameful or inconvenient. Period stigma makes it hard for women to express their needs at work, which means managing menstruation becomes a private struggle, unrecognised in the workplace.

Menstrual leave is just one possible solution to this problem. Other policies  flexible working hours, well-equipped rest areas, and so on  could also be extremely beneficial.

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The key question is whether menstrual leave truly improves the wellbeing of those who need it, or whether it unintentionally reinforces discrimination, negative stereotypes and resentment toward employees who make use of it. The debate remains open, and it underscores the importance of designing labour laws that acknowledge workers biological circumstances.

But one thing is clear: addressing menstrual health at work is vitally important. The starting point is to recognise that every month, around 2 billion people worldwide experience menstruation. They need fair and supportive workplace practices.

A weekly e-mail in English featuring expertise from scholars and researchers. It provides an introduction to the diversity of research coming out of the continent and considers some of the key issues facing European countries. Get the newsletter!

Este articulo fue publicado originalmente en The Conversation, un sitio de noticias sin fines de lucro dedicado a compartir ideas de expertos academicos.

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Lee mas:



Lidia de la Iglesia Aza no recibe salario, ni ejerce labores de consultoria, ni posee acciones, ni recibe financiacion de ninguna compania u organizacion que pueda obtener beneficio de este articulo, y ha declarado carecer de vinculos relevantes mas alla del cargo academico citado.
New Mexico State University College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences Dean Rolando Flores inspects broccoli crops in 2022. Lawmakers are seeking $2 million dollars for the New Mexico Agricultural Department to continue a now defunct federal program that purchased food from local farmers for New Mexico foodbanks. (Josh Bachman/NMSU)

Legislation that would restore a federal farm-to-foodbank program advanced Tuesday morning through the New Mexico Legislatures House Agriculture, Acequia and Water Resources Committee, along with a bill to hike fines for stealing water and funding for statewide water projects.

The committee unanimously passed House Bill 101, sponsored by Rep. Joanne Ferrary (D-Las Cruces), which would provide $2 million for the New Mexico Department of Agriculture to resurrect a now-defunct federal program that purchased food from local farmers and ranchers to provide to food banks that feed hungry New Mexicans. The bill would go into effect immediately upon signing because of its emergency clause, so funding would be available for purchasing in the summer and fall, said Ferrary. 

The bill originally requested $200 million, but that was a typo, Ferray told the committee.

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It strengthens New Mexicos local and regional food systems by focusing on in-state producers, with a focus on small to mid-sized farmers, Ferrary said. All purchases will be made within New Mexico, ensuring that investments will remain local while expanding food access for underserved communities.

Over three years, the federal program accounted for $4.5 million in purchases to local farmers and food was distributed in all 33 counties, said Bonnie Murphy, the manager for the regional Farm to Foodbank program.

The bill would require a line-item in the budget in order to go into effect. While the executive budget requested the $2 million for a farm-to-foodbank program, the Legislative Finance Committee did not include it in its proposed budget.

Rep. Susan Herrera (D-Embudo), who sits on the House Appropriations and Finance Committee as well, said that the program was flagged in the committees recommendation and would likely be put into the budget over the weekend.

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The committee also passed in an 8-1 vote House Bill 111, which gives state water authorities the power to hand out stiffer fines for violations of the states water laws.

Sponsored by Rep. Kristina Ortez (D-Taos) and backed by the New Mexico Office of the State Engineer, HB111 would be the first to increase fines for using water without a water right since the law was passed in 1907. The bill reflects the real cost of water, she said, increasing the daily penalty from $100 to $3,400 per day.

Illegal water use and unauthorized well-drilling are increasing across New Mexico, which drains aquifers, undermines lawful water rights and shifts the cost of enforcement and scarcity onto everyone else who follows the law, Ortez said. At the end of the day, water laws only work if they can be enforced and HB111 makes sure that breaking the law is no longer cheaper than following it.

Ortez said the bill does not change the process for simple mistakes made by water rights owners who exceed the amount of water they can use. Instead, it targets egregious cases of stealing water, and would require a determination through an administrative process, she said.

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Nat Chakeres, the general counsel for the New Mexico Office of the State Engineer, told lawmakers the state has had about 20 to 25 cases in recent years that could have merited a fine.

The bill will next be heard in the House Judiciary Committee.

The committee also unanimously approved the annual request for water projects across the state. House Bill 63 includes requests for 113 projects by 75 water entities across the state for fixing water and sewage infrastructure. The $522 million request for all the projects outstrips available funds by about $187 million, according to the fiscal analysis.

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A 33-year-old mother told a judge last week she "does everything for her children" just before he sentenced her to 15 years in prison for letting her disabled daughter slowly starve to death.

Through a translator, and with tears streaming from her eyes, Doraelia Espinoza told Judge Bruce Fox she "never wanted" her 16-year-old daughter Maria to die and declared "I love my children with my whole heart, from the oldest to the youngest," KRQE reported.

Maria's rash-covered body weighed 40 pounds when it was brought to an Albuquerque hospital several days after she died. According to reports, the girl's body had maggots "crawling" out of her. Maria, who was blind and suffered from seizures, was determined by doctors to be "extremely malnourished with no fat tissue or muscle."

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"I'm not a bad person," added Espinoza, who has five living children. "I'm just a hard-working mother who does everything for her children."

One of Espinoza's other daughters also beseeched the court, asking for the lightest sentence possible. "I respectfully ask that you consider her lifelong history as a hard-working, kind and devoted mother when deciding the sentencing," the defense attorney read from the daughter's written statement.

Nevada Mother Andrea Loving Accused of Murdering Her Daughter Months After the 5-Year-Old s Death

Maria was slowly starved to death, according to prosecutors, who have recommended the mom receive an 18-year sentence.

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Bernalillo County Deputy District Attorney Savannah Brandenburg-Koch said that Maria's death was not like most of the abuse cases her office handles, where a parent may have lost their temper in a moment of weakness. "This case is not a tragic accident, a lapse in judgment, a parent that is frustrated. This case is about prolonged abuse," she told local KRQE.

As they were investigating Maria's death, detectives discovered that the girl's room was filled with flies, feces, and blood. "Nobody should have to suffer like that," Brandenburg-Koch added.

"This case stands out as one of the most heartbreaking. Not just myself but for my unit that we've encountered. And not just because of the harm done but who inflicted it," Detective Roger Garcia, a member of the Bernalillo County Sheriff's Office, told the court at the sentencing on Friday, January 2.

Espinoza pleaded no contest to reckless abuse of a child resulting in death and child abuse, according to the Bernalillo County District Attorney's Office. Espinoza's attorney had asked the judge to sentence her to 12 years behind bars.

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18-Month-Old Girl Dies After Mother Poured Sleeping Medication Into Her Bottle in Murder Suicide Attempt

Before Fox handed down the 15-year sentence, he noted the "physical injury and suffering of this child ... didn't happen in a moment or a reckless quick decision. This happened at a minimum of five or six days."

Fox said he did consider Espinoza's struggles with her mental health in deciding the sentence but noted the crime was too horrific.

Espinoza has been ordered to have no unwanted contact with her children while she is in custody.

If you suspect child abuse, please call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child or 1-800-422-4453, or visit ChildHelp.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential, and the hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.
Jan. 27 (UPI) -- Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said Tuesday that oil shipments to Cuba have been suspended, reflecting a decision made by Petroleos Mexicanos within the framework of its contractual relationship with the island.

During her morning news conference at the National Palace, Sheinbaum was asked about press reports indicating that Pemex had canceled a crude shipment bound for Cuba scheduled for January.

The president did not deny the suspension, but stressed that it is up to the state-owned company to decide when and how shipments are carried out.

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"It is a sovereign decision, and it is made at the time deemed necessary," she said when questioned about the published information.

Sheinbaum said decisions related to energy supplies to Cuba are part of Pemex's operational and contractual assessments. She emphasized that Mexico's policy toward the island is neither new nor exclusive to her administration.

She noted that previous governments maintained different types of energy ties with Cuba, even amid political disagreements.

"From the first blockade of Cuba, Mexico was the only country that voted against it, and since then it has maintained communication and different types of relations with the island," she said.

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The president also framed the bilateral relationship within a historical tradition of Mexican foreign policy, which has maintained ties with Cuba since the early years of the economic embargo imposed by the United States.

"Beyond positions toward whichever Cuban government is in power, the relationship is with the peoples, and that is a fundamental principle of Mexican foreign policy," Sheinbaum said.

In that context, Sheinbaum said the economic blockade has generated supply problems on the island and that Mexico has maintained a policy of solidarity with the Cuban people over time.

She added that any future decision on resuming shipments will be communicated in a timely manner by the relevant authorities.

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Asked whether Mexico could play an intermediary role between Cuba and the United States in the event of bilateral tensions, the president said such initiatives can only move forward if both parties request them, and reiterated that Mexico will continue to promote dialogue and the peaceful resolution of international differences.

Mexico consolidated its position in 2025 as Cuba's main oil supplier, covering approximately 44% of the island's crude imports and displacing Venezuela, with an average of more than 12,000 barrels per day.

With Venezuela's exit as a key supplier following the capture of President Nicolas Maduro on Jan. 3 by U.S. military forces, Mexico assumed a central role in supplying the island's energy needs.

As a result, in Cuba the decision by Mexico could have a significant impact on its already fragile energy situation, by reducing one of the external sources that had helped ease the island's fuel deficit.

The measure could translate into increased blackouts, transportation restrictions and disruptions to key sectors such as industry and services, in a context marked by a shortage of foreign currency and difficulties accessing alternative suppliers on the international market due to the blockade that has affected the island for decades.
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, Jan. 28, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources has announced the successful conclusion of the fifth edition of the Future Minerals Forum (FMF), with a record attendance of 21,500 participants, including investment leaders, heads of major mining companies, experts, and technical specialists from around the world.

Ministers from more than 100 governments and 59 international organizations gather for the 5th Ministerial Roundtable in Riyadh, advancing global cooperation on responsible mineral supply chains. January 13, 2026.

The Forum, held at the King Abdulaziz International Conference Center in Riyadh from January 13 to 15, 2026, witnessed the signing of 132 agreements and Memoranda of Understanding totaling USD 26.6 billion. These covered critical areas including exploration and mining, financing, research and development, innovation, sustainability, value-added supply chains, and mining industries.

In his closing remarks, His Excellency the Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources, Bandar Alkhorayef, noted that the unprecedented momentum witnessed reflects progress across the broader global mining ecosystem. He emphasized that within five years, the Forum has advanced at a remarkable pace, becoming a shared cause for all stakeholders and laying the foundation for year-round collaboration.

Alkhorayef highlighted that real progress is linked to accelerating the adoption of mining technologies as a key driver of growth. He noted the Kingdom's efforts to reform its regulatory framework and improve the investment environment by reviewing procedures, updating regulations, streamlining licensing processes, providing accessible geological data, and launching incentive programs to support exploration and attract partners across the entire value chain.

Over three days, more than 450 speakers - including ministers, government representatives, and industry experts - explored investment partnerships, community development, new mining projects, AI-enabled decision-making, and integrating local economies into the mining value chain.

The international exhibition featured 274 exhibitors and 13 official country pavilions from Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Sweden, Austria, Brazil, Egypt, Morocco, Pakistan, Sudan, and Mauritania. The exhibition was organized across four zones: heavy machinery and equipment, cutting-edge technology innovations, major global companies, and junior exploration companies.

About the Future Minerals Forum

The Future Minerals Forum (FMF), launched in 2022, is the world's premier platform for the minerals industry. FMF brings together governments, international organizations, and stakeholders to shape the future of the minerals industry. Through the Ministerial Roundtable, conference, and exhibition, the global conversation on minerals takes center stage, driving innovation and collaboration toward a sustainable future.
Middle Tennessee first responders battling effects of winter storm

CHEATHAM COUNTY, Tenn. (WKRN)  First responders on the front lines have been dealing with the same slick road conditions as the rest of us.

Its made for some dangerous situations.

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On the way back from a canceled emergency call, Cheatham County paramedics needed help of their own.

Their ambulance was towed away from Ashland City.

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It was very hectic, very trying, and the roadways were impassable, Cheatham County Chief of EMS BJ Hudspeth said. They slid about halfway down and managed to stop.

A second ambulance of theirs is still stuck in Kingston Springs. Tow truck drivers said roads are too dangerous to move it now, but theyre hopeful that on Tuesday it will be back in service.

First responders here said theyre working together to transport people without power to hotels or shelters.

If they do come into the shelter, they need to bring pillows and blankets, Cheatham County Assistant EMA Director Tiffany Holder said. We have meals and cots. They can bring their pet, but it has to be in a crate.

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Emergency management officials also said theyre making essential deliveries.

Myself and Sgt. Demonbreun, we were out, and we saw a Facebook post about someone needing medicine, Cheatham County Sheriffs Lt. Gene Lee McCollum said. We rather other people not be out, so we got her prescription and drove it to her.

 Read todays top stories on wkrn.com

The shelter in Ashland City is at the Ashland City Senior Citizens Center on Ruth Drive.

The shelter in Pegram is at the Pegram Church of Christ at 5019 Walkup Drive. Cheatham County residents can call either of these numbers for help or access to a shelter: 615-792-8964 or 615-792-2098.

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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 WKRN News 2.
A Milwaukee tax preparer is facing up to three years in prison after admitting to federal investigators he helped pad hundreds of tax returns for clients that cost the Internal Revenue Service more than $1 million.

Cameron Summers, 35, pleaded guilty Jan. 6 in federal court in Milwaukee to two counts of aiding and assisting in the preparation of false tax returns. The crimes also carry a penalty of up to $250,000 in fines on each count.

Prosecutors estimate Summers' crimes cost the IRS more than $1.1 million over the course of about two years.

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Details of the plea deal were announced in a Jan. 20 statement from Brad Schimel, the acting U.S. attorney for Wisconsin's Eastern District.

Summers began working at Sapphire Global Services, a tax preparation business in Milwaukee, in 2018.

Court records show that from 2020 through 2022, Summers filed with the IRS more than 400 individual income tax returns for clients, using his name, preparer tax identification number and business name.

More: Brookfield golf club to pay $1.2M for 'improperly obtained' PPP loan

Summers repeatedly used false items on clients tax returns to inflate refund amounts, including false business expenses, sick and family leave credits, fuel credits, and educational tax credits, according to a copy of Summers' Dec. 1 plea agreement with prosecutors.

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The clients filed their taxes using 1040 Forms.

Schimel said Summers made notations stating that he had boosted the refund amount on some returns.

According to court documents, Summers told investigators in an interview that he did "everything he could" to get a big refund. That included using whatever numbers were available and maximizing credits on the returns, the plea agreement states.

More: Madison native reached plea deal on charges of funneling $400K in illegal donations

Summers will be sentenced May 5 by U.S. District Judge Brett Ludwig.

Chris Ramirez covers courts for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. He can be reached at caramirez@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Milwaukee man found guilty in $1.1M scheme to falsify tax returns
Nearly two centuries ago, Sir Robert Peel articulated nine principles of policing that remain as relevant today as ever. The legitimacy of policing depends not on force, but on public consent. Police authority, he argued, flows from trust, and is earned through restraint, fairness and professionalism. When public consent erodes, no amount of enforcement can restore order.

We are a nation governed by laws, and those laws must be respected. But the rule of law does not sustain itself through authority alone. It depends on respect for civil rights, professional standards and leadership committed to ensuring that enforcement practices themselves do not cause harm.

In recent weeks, three people have been shot in Minneapolis during immigration enforcement operations, including the fatal shootings of two American citizens, Renee Good and Alex Pretti. Communities have been shaken by aggressive immigration enforcement actions that are profoundly damaging in practice.

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When enforcement drifts from professionalism  when standards are lowered, training is insufficient and accountability is absent  the result is not public order. It is public fear. And when fear eclipses trust, public safety suffers.

Has Alex Pretti's killing changed your mind about ICE? Tell us. | Opinion

Minneapolis police are still working to rebuild trust. ICE isn't helping.

Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O'Hara, center, arrives at the scene of a fatal shooting by a federal immigrant agent on Jan. 7, 2026.

I became the Minneapolis police chief after the murder of George Floyd with a mandate to reduce serious crime while rebuilding public trust. Police staffing was decimated as crime soared. The resilient cops who remained endured intense scrutiny and worked under challenging conditions.

The work to reform and rebuild the Minneapolis Police Department into an agency we can all be proud of has been difficult, deliberate and ongoing, but it is producing real results. We are proving something important: Professional, accountable policing does not weaken crime fighting; it strengthens it.

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Since then, I have been deeply impressed by the relentless dedication and commitment of members of the MPD, as they continuously strive to be the best in the profession. Their efforts have resulted in meaningful progress against violent crime and rebuilding the ranks while maintaining a disciplined commitment to professional standards.

That progress did not come from shortcuts, lowered expectations or performative enforcement. It came from clear direction, rigorous training, supervision that enforces accountability, and officers who understand that legitimacy and effectiveness are inseparable. Crime reduction achieved at the expense of legitimacy is temporary; crime reduction rooted in trust is enduring.

That is why the current national moment is so concerning.

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I helped run ICE and worked for CBP. Our current system makes everyone less safe. | Opinion

We can enforce immigration law while respecting civil liberties

Minneapolis Police Department Chief Brian O'Hara walks at the scene where a driver was shot by a U.S. immigration agent on Jan. 7, 2026.

Across the country, immigration enforcement activity has expanded rapidly. Speed and scale may be politically appealing, but when they come at the expense of professionalism, sufficient training and perceptions of legitimacy, public trust plummets. Make no mistake: What were seeing today risks creating a culture inside immigration enforcement that will take years to undo, and one that undermines the very goals that enforcement is meant to achieve.

We have seen the consequences. In Minnesota, a naturalized U.S. citizen and a grandfather was taken from his home in the middle of winter and removed outdoors in freezing temperatures wearing only his underwear and a blanket. This man was stripped of his dignity in front of his family and in full view of the public. Whatever legal justification may be asserted, that treatment is dehumanizing and inexcusable. It is not how police in the United States are trained to treat people. It is not consistent with constitutional policing. And it is certainly not how trust is earned.

ICE arrested me without cause. What I saw will haunt me forever. | Opinion

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Moments like this matter because they are not isolated. They signal a broader erosion of professional norms. Rapid hiring, lowered standards, inadequate preparation and insufficient accountability may serve short-term, performative goals, but they produce long-term harm  both to the communities affected and to the legitimacy of our law enforcement profession.

Police leaders understand that authority without legitimacy is insufficient to effectively fight crime. When people believe enforcement is arbitrary or indifferent to human dignity, they disengage. They hesitate to call for help, share information with police or cooperate with investigations. They fear the very institutions meant to protect them.

Local police departments are then left to manage the downstream consequences: traumatized communities, volatile protests and officers placed in the impossible position of mediating conflicts they did not create.

Protesters gather in downtown Minneapolis demanding Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) leave Minnesota following the fatal shooting of 37-year-old ICU nurse Alex Pretti by ICE agents during a federal immigration enforcement operation, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on Jan. 25, 2026. On January 24, federal agents shot dead US citizen Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old ICU nurse, while scuffling with him on an icy roadway, less than three weeks after an immigration officer shot and killed Renee Good, also 37, in her car. His killing sparked new protests and impassioned demands by local leaders for the Trump administration to end its operation in the city. A crowd of protesters against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) march through the streets of downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota, on Jan. 25, 2026. On January 24, federal agents shot dead US citizen Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old ICU nurse, while scuffling with him on an icy roadway, less than three weeks after an immigration officer shot and killed Renee Good, also 37, in her car. His killing sparked new protests and impassioned demands by local leaders for the Trump administration to end its operation in the city. People take part in a demonstration a day after a man identified as Alex Pretti was fatally shot by federal immigration agents trying to detain him, in Minneapolis, Minn. on Jan. 25, 2026. Restaurant patrons look through the window of a restaurant at hundreds of protesters marching through the streets of downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota, on Jan. 25, 2026. On January 24, federal agents shot dead US citizen Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old ICU nurse, while scuffling with him on an icy roadway, less than three weeks after an immigration officer shot and killed Renee Good, also 37, in her car. Coleen Fitzgerald, a 73-yr-old retired construction worker who protested against the Vietnam war decades ago, pulls a wagon with puppets representing members of the current administration as she joins other protesters during a march through the streets of downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota, on Jan. 25, 2026. On January 24, federal agents shot dead US citizen Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old ICU nurse, while scuffling with him on an icy roadway, less than three weeks after an immigration officer shot and killed Renee Good, also 37, in her car. Protesters gather in downtown Minneapolis demanding Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) leave Minnesota following the fatal shooting of 37-year-old ICU nurse Alex Pretti by ICE agents during a federal immigration enforcement operation, in Minneapolis, Minn., on Jan. 25, 2026. On January 24, federal agents shot dead US citizen Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old ICU nurse, while scuffling with him on an icy roadway, less than three weeks after an immigration officer shot and killed Renee Good, also 37, in her car. His killing sparked new protests and impassioned demands by local leaders for the Trump administration to end its operation in the city. People take part in a demonstration a day after a man identified as Alex Pretti was fatally shot by federal immigration agents trying to detain him, in Minneapolis, Minn. on Jan. 25, 2026. A crowd of protesters against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) march through the streets of downtown Minneapolis, Minn., on Jan. 25, 2026. On January 24, federal agents shot dead US citizen Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old ICU nurse, while scuffling with him on an icy roadway, less than three weeks after an immigration officer shot and killed Renee Good, also 37, in her car. A protester carries an upside down US flag during a march through the streets of downtown Minneapolis, Minn. on Jan. 25, 2026. On January 24, federal agents shot dead US citizen Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old ICU nurse, while scuffling with him on an icy roadway, less than three weeks after an immigration officer shot and killed Renee Good, also 37, in her car. His killing sparked new protests and impassioned demands by local leaders for the Trump administration to end its operation in the city. Demonstrators protests ICE operations and the deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti on Jan. 25, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minn. Pretti, an ICU nurse at a VA medical center, died yesterday after being shot multiple times during a brief altercation with border patrol agents in the Eat Street district of Minneapolis. Good was killed by an ICE agent on January 7. Protests, anger in Minneapolis after 2nd person fatally shot 1 of 10 Protesters gather in downtown Minneapolis demanding Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) leave Minnesota following the fatal shooting of 37-year-old ICU nurse Alex Pretti by ICE agents during a federal immigration enforcement operation, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on Jan. 25, 2026. On January 24, federal agents shot dead US citizen Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old ICU nurse, while scuffling with him on an icy roadway, less than three weeks after an immigration officer shot and killed Renee Good, also 37, in her car. His killing sparked new protests and impassioned demands by local leaders for the Trump administration to end its operation in the city.

The public is inundated with countless stories and videos from these incidents. This causes many to lose faith in the system and to no longer view what is happening as legitimate law enforcement.

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This is not sustainable, and it is not effective crime control.

Sir Robert Peel understood that the true power of policing lies not in force, but in public consent  earned through restraint, fairness and professionalism. That principle is not outdated. It is urgent.

The choice is not between enforcing immigration law and respecting civil liberties. The choice is whether we are all willing to demand that those who lead in law enforcement do so with the discipline, humanity and integrity that effective policing in a democratic society demands.

Brian A. OHara assumed one of the toughest jobs in policing  the first Minneapolis police chief appointed after George Floyds death. A former Newark public safety director and deputy mayor, he is a nationally recognized leader for driving reform efforts under consent decrees while reducing crime, rebuilding trust and shaping policings future.

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You can read diverse opinions from our USA TODAY columnists and other writers on the Opinion front page, on X, formerly Twitter, @usatodayopinion and in our Opinion newsletter.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Minneapolis police chief: ICE shootings set policing back | Opinion
Jan. 27 (UPI) -- Minnesota's chief federal judge has summoned the acting director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to appear in a Minneapolis court on Friday or be held in contempt.

U.S. District Judge Patrick Schiltz said in an order on Monday that the court has run out of patience with ICE head Todd Lyons after ICE has defied the court's orders for weeks.

"The Court acknowledges that ordering the head of a federal agency to personally appear is an extraordinary step but the extent of ICE's violation of court orders is likewise extraordinary and lesser measures have been tried and failed," Schiltz wrote.

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Schiltz's order is in response to the case of a man who challenged his detention by ICE in Minnesota earlier this month. The federal court ordered that the man be given a bond hearing on Jan. 14 or be released within a week of that date.

As of Jan. 23, the man had not received his hearing and was still in detention. Schiltz said in his order that this is one of dozens of orders that ICE has defied.

"The practical consequence of respondents' failure to comply has almost always been significant hardship to aliens (many of whom have lawfully lived and worked in the United States for years and done absolutely nothing wrong)," Schiltz wrote.

"The Court has been extremely patient with respondents, even though respondents decided to send thousands of agents to Minnesota to detain aliens without making any provision for dealing with the hundreds of habeas petitions and other lawsuits that were sure to result."

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Schiltz was appointed to the bench by President George W. Bush. U.S. District Judge Michael Davis, an appointee of President Bill Clinton, has also accused the Trump administration of defying court orders, "or at least to stretch the legal process to the breaking point in an attempt to deny noncitizens their due process rights."

Last week, the Trump administration pushed for Schiltz to assist in the arrest of former CNN anchor-turned independent journalist Don Lemon. This was after Lemon visited a Minneapolis-area church to cover a demonstration by anti-ICE protesters.

Schiltz refused the Trump administration's bid to arrest Lemon.
Minnesotas chief federal judge has ordered the head of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Todd Lyons, to appear in his courtroom Friday and threatened to hold him in contempt for what he says has been repeated defiance of judges orders in the state.

The courts patience is at an end, U.S. District Judge Patrick Schiltz said in a three-page order issued Monday night, demanding the acting director explain himself personally.

Schiltzs frustration has been boiling for weeks amid Operation Metro Surge, the Trump administrations massive immigration enforcement action in the Twin Cities. The operation has flooded the courts with emergency lawsuits brought by immigrants who say they have been illegally arrested or detained. The judges in the district have agreed nearly every time, ordering their immediate release from custody and warning, in increasingly alarming terms, about rampant violations of the law.

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Schiltz, a George W. Bush appointee, said the administration has been slow-walking or outright defying the directives of many Minnesota judges, including at least one of his own: The order for Lyons to appear came in the case of a man Schiltz ordered released on Jan. 15 but who remained detained as of Monday night.

The practical consequence of respondents failure to comply has almost always been significant hardship to aliens (many of whom have lawfully lived and worked in the United States for years and done absolutely nothing wrong), Schiltz wrote. The detention of an alien is extended, or an alien who should remain in Minnesota is flown to Texas, or an alien who has been flown to Texas is released there and told to figure out a way to get home.

The Department of Homeland Security and ICE did not respond immediately to requests for comment.

Other judges in Minnesota have been raising alarms for weeks. U.S. District Judge Michael Davis, a Bill Clinton appointee, similarly accused the administration of an undeniable move  to defy court orders or at least to stretch the legal process to the breaking point in an attempt to deny noncitizens their due process rights.

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Several of Schiltzs colleagues are weighing broader lawsuits that would sharply curtail federal immigration enforcement operations in Minnesota or end Operation Metro Surge altogether. Those lawsuits gained new urgency last week after the shooting death of Alex Pretti by federal officers.

Schiltz tangled with the Trump administration last week as well, after federal prosecutors pressed him to help facilitate the arrest of former CNN anchor Don Lemon and others linked to an anti-ICE protest in a church earlier this month. After Schiltz declined to immediately reverse a magistrate judges decision to deny several arrest warrants, the Justice Department raced to the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals and ordered them to compel Schiltz to act.

The circuit rejected the unusual bid, but not before Schiltz wrote a pair of letters sharply scolding the Justice Department for its tactics and referencing the deluge of illegal detention cases that have overwhelmed the courts docket in Minnesota.
A federal judge heard arguments on Jan. 26, 2026, as the state of Minnesota sought a temporary restraining order to stop the Trump administrations immigration enforcement operation in the state. The administration has sent some 3,000 immigration agents to Minnesota, and attorneys for the state have argued, in part, that it amounts to an unconstitutional occupation, on 10th Amendment grounds. Alfonso Serrano, a politics editor at The Conversation U.S., spoke with Andrea Katz, a law scholar at Washington University in St. Louis, about the Minnesota lawsuit and its possible legal implications.

Whats the legal issue at stake in this court case?

Katz: In Minnesota v. Noem, attorneys for the state are arguing that the federal government is acting illegally by intruding on a sphere of state power (the police power). Theyre claiming violations of the 10th Amendment, which is this idea that under the U.S. Constitution, states are reserved powers that existed before the Constitution was drafted, powers that are not delegated to the federal government.

Theyre also making this rather new claim under whats called the equal sovereignty principle, which is that states all have to be treated equally by the federal government. Theres also a First Amendment claim, and an Administrative Procedure Act claim, which is that the government is acting illegally in an arbitrary and capricious way. I think the 10th Amendment arguments are ones that I would say are kind of unprecedented, rather untested waters.

On that note, when does a federal law enforcement response cross the line and violate the 10th Amendment? Is there precedent for this?

The question you just posed is one that the district judge, Kate M. Menendez, seems to be nervous about having to hear. This is essentially asking a federal judge to sift into different buckets: that which is federal power, and that which is state power. And I can say theres not a lot of case law on this issue.

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The most filled-out doctrine under the 10th Amendment is the anti-commandeering doctrine. It holds that the federal government cannot use the state government as a sort of puppet. The federal government cant use state officers forcibly against the states will to enforce the law. Now, that is not, strictly speaking, whats going on here, because Minnesota is complaining about the presence of federal agents enforcing the laws in ways that it thinks are illegal.



It seems to me that the 10th Amendment has been most developed in this area that Minnesota is not touching on, and so for that reason, I think their invocation of it is pretty unusual. Theyre essentially claiming that the 10th Amendment protects their police powers and that the federal government is intruding on that. I think thats a novel argument in court, and my suspicion is that it is not likely to be a winning argument in court.

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The Trump administration has dismissed the states legal theory, saying the president is acting within his authority, correct?

Yeah, I think thats correct. Again, I want to make clear that Minnesota has made many arguments against the Trump administration, and Im just focusing on the merits of this 10th Amendment argument.

There was a sort of undeveloped strand of cases in the mid-20th century where the Supreme Court tried to develop this idea of core state powers. And so it said the federal government couldnt act in a way that violated a states core powers, like where to put your state capital, or control over natural resources, or defining salaries for state government employees. The court said these are core state powers.

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But then in a famous case called Garcia v. San Antonio Metropolitan Transit Authority, in 1985, the court overruled itself and said  and this is still where we are  federal courts cannot be in the business of defining what constitutes a core state power. Its too open-ended, undefined. Its a political inquiry. Its not something thats appropriate for a judge.

And so I think on this 10th Amendment argument, Minnesota is essentially asking the courts to revive this core state powers doctrine, which I think the court is unlikely to do.

What repercussions could the judges ruling have?

Minnesota has already filed, in a case called Tincher v. Noem, a more conventional set of claims, which is that ICE agents broke the law, are violating rights, acting in excess of their authority. They have already gotten preliminary relief on this first set of claims, although Judge Menendezs order is now on hold, pending appeal before the 8th Circuit court.

That is different from this 10th Amendment claim. In the 10th Amendment argument, one of the arguments that Minnesota has made is the equal sovereignty principle. The equal sovereignty principle was articulated in the 2013 case, Shelby County v. Holder. This is the famous case where the Supreme Court struck down an important part of the Voting Rights Act that prevented Southern states from restricting the vote, apparently on the basis of race. In Shelby County, the court said that the Voting Rights Act, which subjected certain states with a pattern of racial discrimination on the vote to a preclearance process where the federal government had to approve their laws before they passed them, treated different states differently.

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Of course, in that case, the federal government said those are states that have a history of discrimination, so the federal government was justified in treating them differently.

But Chief Justice John Roberts, who wrote the Shelby County opinion, said the 10th Amendment means that the government cant treat different states differently.

Now its not a well-regarded doctrine, so its kind of shocking that Minnesota is invoking it here. For one reason, the equal sovereignty principle has not been well developed since Shelby County. The second reason it would be a big deal  quite shocking to me, if the judge enforced it  is that Shelby County was talking about legislation that treated different states differently.

Any final thoughts?

The first Trump administration was highly disorganized and didnt take concerted action for a while. The second Trump administration was the precise opposite of that. They acted quickly and in a very organized fashion, pushing power as far as it can go in a number of agencies.

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I think the question this gets back to is how the federal courts have reacted to this barrage of executive orders, of new applications of old laws, of new forms of government power exercised in a way that threatens federalism.

The federal courts usually grant deference to the president when the government issues statements in the context of litigation. Court doctrine is to defer to those statements as being entitled. Its a presumption of regularity, of accuracy. And I think were already seeing in the district courts some suspicion by the judges of the governments version of things.

To me, this is sort of a brave new world, whether were going to see courts relax their deference toward the executive branch. And I mean, we are in kind of a brave new world. We have videos all over the internet showing the facts of the Alex Pretti shooting. But I just want to note that, from a separation of powers point of view, its very interesting to see federal judges seeming to distrust official accounts of events from the executive branch. I think this is an area in which the doctrine seems to be moving, and were watching it in real time.

If we pass a rule where the executive branch cant treat different states differently, youre essentially denying the existence of discretion in enforcement, which is very quintessentially an executive power, right?

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It could, for example, lead to states saying that federal agents cant come in to help people in a natural disaster. So again, I think this argument, like the rest of the 10th Amendment arguments, suffers from being undeveloped in the case law and potentially carrying a risk of kneecapping the federal governments ability to enforce the law, which sometimes does, for totally good-faith reasons, require treating different states differently.

Andrea Katz is an associate professor of law at Washington University in St. Louis.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.





The post Minnesota Raises Unprecedented Constitutional Issues in Lawsuit Against Trump's Anti-Immigrant Deployment appeared first on Katie Couric Media.
A Minneapolis lawyer who represented the immigration agent who fatally shot Renee Good is ending his Republican bid for Minnesota governor after a second protester was killed by federal authorities.

"I cannot support the national Republicans stated retribution on the citizens of our state," Chris Madel said in a message posted on social media Monday, as he announced he was dropping his outsider bid for the GOP gubernatorial nomination. "Nor can I count myself a member of a party that would do so."

Madel's move comes two days after a U.S. Border Patrol agent shot and killed Alex Pretti, an intensive care nurse at the Minneapolis VA Medical Center who was filming an immigration operation.

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Trump Deploys Border Czar To Minnesota In Wake Of Second Fatal Shooting

Minneapolis attorney Chris Madel, seen speaking in Minneapolis on Dec. 1, 2025, on Monday ended his 2026 Republican bid for Minnesota governor. (AP Newsroom)

Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officials initially said Pretti, who was legally armed with a handgun, was threatening agents, who they say fired in self-defense. DHS Secretary Kristi Noem labeled the actions of Pretti as "domestic terrorism" and White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller called him a "would-be assassin."

But videos of the shooting seem to indicate Pretti was brandishing a cell phone rather than his handgun, with federal agents appearing to secure Pretti's weapon moments before he was shot multiple times.

Read On The Fox News App

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Judge Blocks Trump Admin From 'Destroying Or Altering' Evidence In Deadly Minneapolis Shooting

The fatal shooting has further inflamed political tensions in Minnesota and across the country over aggressive efforts by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the Border Patrol and other federal agencies to enforce President Donald Trump's crackdown on illegal immigration.

A screengrab from a video shows a law enforcement officer spraying irritants at Alex Pretti before he was fatally shot by federal agents in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on Jan. 24, 2026.

"I support the originally stated goals of Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Operation Metro Surge in locating and deporting the worst of the worst from our state," Madel said.

But he argued, "Operation Metro Surge has expanded far beyond its stated focus on true public safety threats. United States citizens, particularly those of color, live in fear. United States citizens are carrying papers to prove their citizenship. Thats wrong."

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While he praised a number of Trump's achievements so far in the president's second term in the White House, Madel claimed that the massive deployment of a couple of thousand federal immigration agents to Minnesota "has been an unmitigated disaster."

"At the end of the day, I have to look my daughters in the eye and tell them I believe I did what was right. And I am doing that today," he added.

No Republican has won an election for governor in blue-leaning Minnesota in 20 years, and Madel claimed, "The reality is that the national Republicans have made it nearly impossible for a Republican to win a statewide election in Minnesota. It is a simple fact."

Madel grabbed national attention earlier this month when he legally represented Jonathan Ross, the ICE agent who fatally shot Good, a 37-year-old mother of three who was protesting an anti-immigration operation in Minneapolis.

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Good's death, which instantly escalated already simmering tensions, came a couple of days after Democratic Gov. Tim Walz ended his re-election bid for a third term as governor amid a deepening federal investigation into the sweeping fraud scandal in Minnesota's social services programs.

Inside The Rise And Fall Of Tim Walz

More than 90 people  most from Minnesota's large Somali community  have been charged since 2022 in what has been described as the nation's largest COVID-era scheme. How much money has been stolen through alleged money laundering operations involving fraudulent meal and housing programs, daycare centers and Medicaid services is still being tabulated. But the U.S. attorney in Minnesota said the scope of the fraud could exceed $1 billion and rise to as high as $9 billion.

Prosecutors said some of the dozens that have already pleaded guilty in the case used the money to buy luxury cars, real estate, jewelry and international vacations, with some of the funds also sent overseas and potentially into the hands of Islamic terrorists.

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, at a news conference at the Minnesota State Capitol on Monday, Jan. 5, 2026, in St. Paul, Minnesota, announces he's dropping his 2026 re-election bid.

Madel, a veteran trial lawyer, spotlighted his high-profile fraud cases as he campaigned for governor.

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He was one of nearly a dozen candidates vying for the GOP gubernatorial nomination, in a field that also includes Minnesota House Speaker Lisa Demuth and state Rep. Kristin Robbins, chair of the Minnesota Houses Fraud Prevention and Oversight Committee.

And in his announcement that he was dropping his bid, he took aim at some of his primary rivals, charging that "our government has failed us. Republicans and Democrats."

Klobuchar Takes First Formal Steps Towards Launching Minnesota Gubernatorial Campaign

A longshot when he entered the race late last year, Madel seemed to be picking up support.

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"Since I announced my candidacy on Dec. 1, I am extremely proud of what we've accomplished. I started as a relative unknown candidate and emerged as a leading Republican contender in less than two months," he touted in his Monday announcement.

But while Madel had in recent years represented Alpha News, a conservative Minnesota news outlet, and had written opinion pieces for them, he faced a challenge in winning over MAGA supporters and some conservatives in the state, due in part to his past political contributions to Democrats, including to Walz.

Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., has taken the first steps towards launching a 2026 gubernatorial campaign in Minnesota.

Last week, longtime Democratic Sen. Amy Klobuchar made her first move ahead of likely launching a 2026 race for governor in her home state, as she filed preliminary paperwork with the Minnesota Campaign Finance Board.

Click Here To Download The Fox News App

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But Madel said Klobuchar's move was not a factor in his decision to end his bid for governor.

"I'm not withdrawing my candidacy because of any existing or new entrant in the race, and that includes Sen. Klobuchar," he emphasized.





Original article source: Minnesota Republican drops governor bid, blasts party over federal retribution after Pretti killing
A federal immigration agent shot and killed a man in Minneapolis on Jan. 24, again raising questions about what rights the public has when observing and confronted by federal law enforcement.

The victim was identified as 37-year-old Alex Jeffrey Pretti. Pretti was shot several times by a Border Patrol agent after being wrestled to the ground by multiple officers. Pretti's death comes just weeks after 37-year-old Renee Nicole Good of Minneapolis was shot and killed by an Immigrations and Customs Enforcement agent.

The shootings have renewed outrage over President Donald Trump's nationwide immigration crackdown. In Wisconsin, ICE arrests doubled in the first six months of the Trump presidency, with the sharpest jump among immigrants without criminal convictions, according to July 2025 Milwaukee Journal Sentinel analysis.

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More: ICE and Border Patrol. What makes the immigration agencies different?

Here are what to know about your rights if you are approached by federal immigration agents:

Can ICE stop me out in public?

Yes, ICE agents can stop you out in public.

However, everyone in the United States has constitutional rights regardless of their immigration status, including the right to remain silent and right to refuse a search, according to the American Immigration Lawyers Association. You can find a guide online at www.aila.org/library/know-your-rights-if-ice-stops-you-in-public-1.

More: Could a major ICE crackdown come to Wisconsin? Here are the factors at play

Can ICE arrest me without a warrant?

ICE agents can arrest you without a warrant in a public place if they believe you are in the country illegally.

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Under the Immigration and Nationality Act, federal officers do not need a warrant to arrest someone if they have reason to believe the person is violating U.S. immigration law and is likely to escape before a warrant can be obtained."

However, immigration officers do still need a warrant signed by a judge to enter and arrest someone inside a private business or home.

Do I have to open the door for ICE?

You do not have to let immigrant agents into your home unless they have a judicial or arrest warrant for someone inside the home.

You can ask the agent to slide the warrant underneath the door. Even if law enforcement has a warrant and enters the home, you have the right to remain silent.

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More: Milwaukee County weighs ordinance on ICE actions in county parks

Can ICE detain me without arresting me?

ICE agents can temporarily detain anyone they believe is in the country illegally while they verify the detainees immigration status.

ICE does not have the legal right to detain or deport U.S. citizens. However, amid the Trump administrations mass arrests, more than 170 U.S. citizens have been mistakenly detained by immigration officers, ProPublica reported in October 2025.

If you are detained, you have a right to call a lawyer or your family and be visited by a lawyer while your immigration case is underway, according to the ACLU. You can ask for a hearing before a judge to see if you are eligible to be released on bond.

Can ICE ask for my ID?

Yes, ICE agents can ask you for identification documents. While you have the right to remain silent and are not required to show these documents, you should never provide false information or documentation, according to the American Immigration Lawyers Association.

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In Wisconsin, drivers must show any officer their drivers license if pulled over, according to the American Civil Liberties Union of Wisconsin. Passengers are not required to show identification documents or provide any identifying information.

Can ICE pull me over?

Yes, Wisconsin drivers must pull over for any law enforcement officer, according to the ACLU of Wisconsin. Before providing your name or any other identifying information, the organization recommends asking officers to provide identification.

Can ICE make me get out of my vehicle?

Yes, the ACLU of Wisconsin says ICE agents can ask you to get out of your car for "officer safety." Prior to exiting, you should ask officers for a reason for the traffic stop and to identify themselves again.

Can ICE search my vehicle?

No, ICE agents are not allowed to search anything without a judicial warrant or your consent, per the ACLU of Wisconsin. However, officers can pat an individual down for officer safety."

Do I have a right to observe ICE agents?

Americans are guaranteed the right by the First Amendment to observe and record law enforcement officers while they are doing their jobs in public places, according to the American Civil Liberties Union. That encompasses law enforcement at all level of governments, including ICE agents.

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However, observers do not have the right to interfere while law enforcement are doing their jobs. The Milwaukee Police Departments policy says the public can record police officers in public places as long as their actions do not interfere with an officers duties or the safety of officers or others.

Police members should assume that they are being recorded at all times when on duty, the policy says.

Do I have a right to protest a scene?

Yes, the First Amendment enshrines Americans' rights to protest peacefully. The government can, however, impose reasonable time, place and manner restrictions.

What to do if you or someone you know is detained by ICE:

Find more information here on how to make a safety plan if you or a loved one is detained by immigration agents.

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Sophie Carson and Gina Lee Castro of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel staff and Cate Charron of the USA TODAY NETWORK contributed to this report.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: What are my rights if approached by immigration officers in Wisconsin?
National Archives photo.

This story was originally published by the Athens County Independent.

CLEVELAND, Ohio  Two asylum seekers previously arrested in Athens County will seek voluntary departure from the United States due to the toll that their ongoing detention by Immigration and Customs Enforcements has taken on them, their attorney told the Independent.

Victor Laverde Laguna and Gregory Javier Laverde Laguna are dual citizens of Colombia and Venezuela, and they arrived in the U.S. legally, seeking asylum. But after they were arrested in Athens County in September, the brothers were transferred into ICE custody the following month.

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Gregory Javier Laverde Laguna has Down syndrome. Victor Laverde Laguna told the Independent in a Dec. 18 interview that Gregory Javier Laverde Laguna has faced dire conditions throughout the period of their detention.

The brothers remain in ICE custody despite the fact that the criminal charges against both brothers were dismissed in November. An Athens County judge stated that both brothers remain innocent in regard to those charges.

The brothers attorney, Liliana Vasquez, previously told the Independent that it was highly unusual that the brothers were taken into ICE custody during the course of their local criminal proceedings.

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Vasquez suggested local law enforcement cooperation with ICE was likely responsible, although the Athens County Prosecutors Office previously denied cooperation with ICE and the Athens County Sheriffs Office previously told the Independent the office does not communicate with ICE.

Vasquez previously said that, had the brothers not ended up in ICE custody prior to the conclusion of their criminal cases, they would likely not have been transferred to ICE in the first place. But after being taken into ICE custody, it is difficult to secure release.

An immigration court judge last month declined to consider a request from the brothers to grant them bond, due to directives by the Trump Administration.

Victor Laverde Laguna has not stopped fighting for his brother throughout their months-long detention, he told the Independent in a Dec. 18 interview.

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After their request for bond was denied, Victor at first said he was determined to pursue other paths to freedom and to remain in the U.S. However, after that, It just seems like everything kind of fell apart, Vasquez told the Independent.

The brothers will seek departure to Colombia due to the ongoing upheaval in their home country of Venezuela, following the U.S. arrest of President Nicolas Maduro, Vasquez said.

Victor Laverde Laguna previously told the Independent he and his brother were seeking asylum in the U.S. due to fear of retaliation for his outspoken statements against Maduros government.

Julio Laverde Belandria, Victors son, previously told the Independent that a return to Venezuela would mean certain death for the brothers.

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Vasquez told the Independent that the U.S. arrest of Maduro did not impact the brothers decision to request voluntary departure, rather than continuing to fight to stay in the U.S.

Nothing else changed, Vasquez said in regard to conditions in Venezuela following Maduros ouster. It just seems to be a matter that they dont want to be detained anymore, because of the toll that its taking.

Amid the ongoing upheaval in the region, in which U.S. President Donald Trump has threatened military action against Colombia, Vasquez said she advised Victor, I dont know what issues were going to be running into in terms of, like, length of time that youre going to have to be in jail.

Regardless, that is the path Victor wants to take, Vasquez told the Independent, viewing it as the quickest way to end his and his brothers detention.

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The Independent requested an interview with Victor for this story via Vasquez but was unable to arrange a conversation by press time.

Victor Laverde Laguna and Gregory Javier Laverde Laguna were arrested by Athens County law enforcement in September 2025 as the Major Crimes Unit targeted an alleged extortion scheme.

The brothers have maintained that they responded to a Facebook ad for jobs as couriers, not knowing there was anything illegal about the operation.

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Gov. Wes Moore (D), shown here in a file photo from last week, said the energy proposal he unveiled Tuesday aims to "deliver real relief" by driving down utility bills and investing in projects that make energy "more reliable and affordable. (Photo Bryan P. Sears/Maryland Matters)

Gov. Wes Moore (D) unveiled a legislative energy proposal Tuesday that aims to deliver another roughly $40 electric bill refund to Marylanders, along with policy changes focused on modernizing transmission lines and bolstering clean power in the state.

Moores plan would pull about $725 million from a state renewable energy fund  which is fueled by the utilities, and, in turn, ratepayers. The largest part of that, $292 million, would be used to help close a $1.5 billion shortfall in the fiscal 2027 budget, and the rest would be divided among a number of energy and environmental programs.

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That plan would leave about $164 million in the Strategic Energy Investment Fund, or SEIF, which has grown explosively in recent years as utilities have opted to pay into the fund rather than paying for the increasing amounts of renewable energy projects required by law.

Moores bill, the Lower Bills and Local Power Act, would direct $100 million from the SEIF to Marylands residential ratepayers, similar to a $200 million disbursement last year that sent one refund to utility customers over the summer, with a second coming soon. The payments are based on a households energy usage, but they average about $40.

Our administration is stepping up to deliver real relief, focusing on driving down the cost of utility bills for Marylanders, and investing in local projects that make energy more reliable and affordable, Moore wrote in a statement.

Moores proposal would also end a practice that has cost Maryland ratepayers an estimated $20 to $25 million each year. Under current law, Maryland utilities can charge ratepayers for being a part of the regional transmission grid, PJM Interconnection. The governors bill would require utilities to stay on the PJM grid, but would not allow them to bill ratepayers.

This is a very common practice, and we are just ultimately removing that incentive and telling utility companies this is something you ought to do, said Saif Ratul, a deputy legislative officer for Moore. Maryland ratepayers are not paying you additional incentive at a time when youre making a record  profit to do something that youre already doing.

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That provision got support from Emily Scarr, a senior adviser at the Maryland Public Interest Research Group.

In the face of rapidly rising utility bills, our state leaders need to scrutinize every cost that is being charged to ratepayers, Scarr said in a statement Tuesday. Gov. Moores proposal to require utility participation in regional grid planning and management will save Maryland utility customers $20 million a year.

Republicans argued that the SEIF has ballooned because of Marylands renewable energy requirements, and that using it to help correct the states deficit or complete other programs is disingenuous.

Marylanders are overpaying because of Democratic mandates, and instead of giving that money back or fixing the policies that caused the problem, the Governor is using it to fund government operations, Senate Minority Leader Steve Hershey (R-Upper Shore) said in a statement Tuesday. That is not energy relief  its a shell game.

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Senate President Bill Ferguson (D-Baltimore City) said his chamber will carefully scrutinize the funding pulled out of the SEIF to make sure that those programs are as effective and the highest and best value for ratepayers.

We know that we need to generate more energy. Having lots of little, tiny programs that are all over the map may not be the best way to approach it, instead of being targeted with a larger investment that will get more electricity on the grid, he said.

But Ferguson said he supports returning some of the funds to ratepayers.

Were trying to give immediate relief where we can with refunds and rebates, Ferguson said. I think you will see more coming out of the Senate to provide additional short-term relief.

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Marylanders are overpaying because of Democratic mandates, and instead of giving that money back or fixing the policies that caused the problem, the Governor is using it to fund government operations. That is not energy relief  its a shell game.

 Senate Minority Leader Stephen S. Hershey Jr. (R-Upper Shore), on the governor's proposed energy legislation

The bill also promises to fast-track permitting for upgrades to existing power transmission lines  rather than building entirely new ones.

One, we dont want to be unnecessarily building in new places, said Ryan Opsal, director of energy policy at the Maryland Energy Administration. And two, any time anything gets built by any type of utility, it goes in their rate base and they make money on it over the long term.

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Expedited consideration by the Maryland Public Service Commission of construction permits for utilities that decide to complete upgrades or grid enhancements is the carrot for developers, Ratul said.

It comes as one power line proposal in particular has stirred a significant pushback: The proposed Maryland Piedmont Reliability Project, currently before the PSC, would travel 67 miles through Central Maryland. Opponents say it would disturb a large amount of farmland and natural areas, and alternative grid improvements should have been considered instead.

Senate Minority Whip Justin Ready (R-Carroll and Frederick), who represents two of the counties where the power line would run, criticized the governors focus on power transmission in the bill, arguing the state should focus on natural gas fired power plants.

This plan makes it clear that Maryland is being turned into a transmission state, not a generation state, Ready said in a statement Tuesday. The Governor is spending money ratepayers have already paid to upgrade transmission lines so we can import electricity from Pennsylvania, rather than producing reliable power here at home.

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Moore would also set aside $10 million from the SEIF for the Department of Transportation to evaluate opportunities for transmission lines and battery storage projects on state highway land. It follows a Moore executive order in December directing the department to investigate the matter.

By leveraging existing states highway right-of-way, Maryland can bypass complex land acquisition and permitting processes, which will rapidly deploy the high-voltage capacity necessary to improve grid reliability across the state, Moores office said in a news release Tuesday.

Moores plan would pull about $70 million from the SEIF for gap financing for shovel-ready solar and battery storage projects, a response to the elimination of federal tax credits for solar projects under President Donald Trumps (R) One Big, Beautiful Bill Act, the governors news release said.

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Ratul said the goal is not to provide financial certainty for the businesses to stay afloat. The goal really, here, is to provide financial services so that the projects are coming online as quickly as possible.

Some environmental groups have expressed concern about Moores decision to pull so much money from the SEIF for unrelated purposes, such as fixing the states budget woes. But they applauded Moores decision to bolster solar and storage with the money.

By financing shovel-ready solar plus storage projects, this legislation ensures utility accountability and prioritizes the most cost-effective, rapidly deployable energy sources making energy more affordable for all Marylanders, League of Conservation Voters Maryland Executive Director Kim Coble said in a statement.

 Maryland Matters reporter William J. Ford contributed to this report.
Archer-Daniels-Midland Company (NYSE:ADM) is included among the Best Low Risk Stocks for a Retirement Stock Portfolio.

ADM Positioned for Margin Tailwinds Into 2026, According to JPMorgan

On January 21, JPMorgan raised its price target on Archer-Daniels-Midland Company (NYSE:ADM) to $60 from $59. The firm kept an Underweight rating on the stock. The move came as the firm updated valuations across the agricultural products group ahead of fourth-quarter earnings. The analyst said the ag products industry seems to be experiencing an improved environment, pointing to soybean board crush futures that suggest margins could improve as 2026 approaches.

ADM has navigated a challenging period for the global food system in recent years, with the war in Ukraine adding strain to already stretched supply chains. More recently, the company has had to contend with falling prices for certain crops as oversupply weighed on markets.

The company has also been focused on rebuilding investor confidence following developments in 2024, when management disclosed multiple accounting errors. These included the improper recording of sales between business segments, which led ADM to restate financial results and reduce its profit outlook.

Archer-Daniels-Midland Company (NYSE:ADM) operates a global agricultural supply chain, processing and transporting crops while helping meet food demand by linking local markets with global resources.

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Disclosure: None.
Each winter at an unassuming dam in Southbury dozens of people come out daily and wait patiently with cameras in hand hoping to catch a glimpse of Americas iconic bird.

For a long time, bald eagles were rare in Connecticut. The bird of prey rebounded from being nearly wiped out in the 1950s to over 80 active territories by 2022, according to the states Department of Energy and Environmental Protection. Several programs aimed restoring their population in the state, including a ban on DDT and furthering habitat protection, have allowed them to expand their territory over the past few decades.

This year at the Shepaug Dam eagle observatory in Southbury, over 40 bald eagles have been spotted so far, a high number of sightings for the bird that became the most recognized symbol of the United States.

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For the days weve been open, we always see an eagle in view, said Lucy Walker, site manager at the observatory. It is wonderful for our visitors who come to see the wild eagles during the winter time. The weather can really affect the numbers. Eagles move to find food and their primary food is fish. So they will move to find open water.

The observatory and dam, owned and operated by clean energy company FirstLight, has welcomed approximately 175,000 visitors since opening in 1986. Each winter, bald eagles are drawn to the area because water flowing through FirstLights Shepaug generating station prevents the river below the dam from freezing, creating ideal feeding conditions, according to a spokesperson with the company.

Officials said they marked the 40th season of the bald eagle observatory with an anniversary ceremony. Since December, thousands of people have made the trip to see the majestic birds. So far, there have been bald eagle sightings every day, allowing birders opportunities to spot eagles up close. Walker said that on an average day, hundreds of people visit the observatory with binoculars and cameras in hand.

State officials say that the number of sightings points to the success of programs meant to rebound the population in the state. In 1999, nearly 30 years ago, only two bald eagle nesting territories were active in the state, according to DEEP. That season, neither pair was successful and no chicks were produced. By 2019, the state smashed records for the number of active territories with 64, with 45 successful nests and 81 chicks hatched. In addition, 14 new nesting territories were reported in 2019, with six of those new nests being successful in raising chicks.

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We continue to see growth in numbers and new breeding territories pop up across Connecticut, said Brian Hess, a wildlife biologist with DEEP. The other thing that might be going on this winter is that the number of wintering eagles we have in Connecticut may have increased. Wintering for bald eagles is dependent on the weather. This year weve had more ice than we have had in the past few years. That probably means more eagles from the north have flown south to find warmer waters to feed. So we could have more eagles in the state than usual from other places.

January is considered a key month for eagle breeding, especially for bald eagles in warmer regions as it mars the start of nesting preparation, courtship, nest reinforcement and early egg-laying occurring, according to Hess. Eagles rely on finding warmer to hunt fish and feed both themselves and their young during the winter months.

Bald eagles dont migrate to the same spot each year like other birds. They are just trying to fly the shortest amount of distance to find the resources they need. So bald eagles will often head south to find spots with good fishing opportunities, Hess said. The Shepaug Dam is a great place for them since the water never freezes because the generating station keeps the water warm. So it presents a good opportunity for eagles further north. My guess is some eagles from other states are wintering at the dam.

A lot of the protections that exist for waterways benefit eagles too, since the birds are an indicator of healthy waterways and healthy fish populations, Hess added. So seeing more of them this year is an indicator of ecological health and that is something to celebrate.

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The Shepaug Bald Eagle Observatory will remain open through March 15, officials said. Admission is free but advance reservations are required. Guided viewing with wildlife specialists and volunteers will continue throughout the season.

Stephen Underwood can be reached at sunderwood@courant.com.
Trump officials have ordered national parks to remove dozens of signs and displays related to climate change, environmental protection and settlers mistreatment of Native Americans in a renewed push to implement President Donald Trumps executive order on restoring truth and sanity to American history.

Park staff have interpreted Trumps directive - which seeks to scrub federal institutions of what it calls partisan ideology and remove any content deemed to disparage Americans past or living - to include any references to historic racism and sexism, as well as climate change and LGBTQ+ rights. Last week, that included the removal of an exhibit at Independence National Historical Park that focused on George Washingtons ownership of enslaved people.

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In a new wave of orders this month, Trump officials instructed staff to remove or edit signs and other informational materials in at least 17 additional parks in Arizona, Texas, Colorado, Utah, Montana and Wyoming, according to documents reviewed by The Washington Post. The documents also listed some removals ordered in August and September.

The Interior Department said in a statement it was implementing Trumps executive order.

All federal agencies are to review interpretive materials to ensure accuracy, honesty, and alignment with shared national values, the statement said. Following completion of the required review, the National Park Service is now taking appropriate action in accordance with the Order.

Among the national parks targeted in the new removal orders are some of the countrys most iconic: Grand Canyon, Glacier, Big Bend and Zion.

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The removal orders include descriptions of how climate change is driving the disappearance of the glaciers at Glacier National Park and a wayside display at the Grand Canyon referring to the forced removal of Native Americans.

The administrations broad attempt to suppress true stories should offend every American, said Kristen Brengel, senior vice president of government affairs for the National Parks Conservation Association.

Brengel emphasized that Park Service staffers are acting on administration orders. Everyone understands this history, she said. Its not debatable, but theyre being forced to select stories because they think the administration will threaten their jobs if they dont.

Here are details on some of the changes being ordered at national parks.

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Grand Canyon National Park

Staff at a Grand Canyon visitor center in Arizona removed part of an exhibit after flagging potentially problematic passages to the national park systems leadership in D.C., according to documentation reviewed by The Post.

The passages included text stating that settlers exploited land for mining and grazing and that federal officials pushed tribes off their land to establish the park.

The park also removed references to cattle ranchers carelessly overgrazing the land, tourists foolishly leaving trash in the park and entrepreneurs who profited excessively from tourism.

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Trump officials have yet to take action on several other items, including a video about Native American history.

Park staff suggested fixes that would remove a reference to a federal policy that prevented Native Americans from using body and face paint, as well as references to their ancestors misery, suffering and loss.

Roadside displays on climate change, pollution and mining were also flagged for possible removal.

- - -

Glacier National Park

In response to frequent inquiries from visitors about the potential disappearance of the famous glaciers at Montanas Glacier National Park, staff created signs and other resources to answer those questions, said Jeff Mow, who retired as superintendent of the park in 2022.

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The administration flagged one brochure for removal or changes that shows images of glaciers retreating and explains that human-caused climate change is a factor in their likely future disappearance. A video that refers to the disappearance of the glaciers was also ordered removed or changed.

Also flagged was a sign at the parks gift shop that says: Climate Change Affects National Parks and the Treasures They Protect.

Were whitewashing or were taking out all those sort of not-so-nice stories that have occurred in our nations history, Mow said.

Another informational display to be removed or changed describes the parks issues with air pollution. The administration paused air-quality monitoring at national parks last year.

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Other signs talk about the increasing fire risk at the park, as well as a nearby dam that flooded two lakes within the park.

As the nations storyteller of natural and cultural history, the National Park Service takes great pride in telling these stories, Mow said. This process of being edited - its like taking a torpedo in the bow.

- - -

Big Bend National Park

The signs slated for removal at Big Bend National Park along the Texas-Mexico border do not reference the topics, such as climate or Native American history, that have typically attracted the attention of Trump officials.

Instead, of the nearly 20 signs flagged for not conforming with the new policy, many deal with geology, prehistoric history, fossils and other seemingly uncontroversial scientific or historical topics. The removal orders do not spell out whats wrong with the signs.

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Some of the displays are in Spanish and English, while others talk about cooperating with Mexico on modern preservation efforts.

Big Bends submission for the administrations review says, These wayside exhibits describe natural features, but emphasize matters unrelated to the beauty, abundance, or grandeur of said natural feature. Although it flagged the materials for review, the park said it did not advocate changing these wayside exhibits.

Even so, Trump officials decided the displays did not conform with administration policy and ordered them changed or removed.

This is not something that the National Park Service should be blamed for, said Bob Krumenaker, superintendent of Big Bend until 2023. They are being told they have to do these things. And my hope is theyre saving these exhibits for when things change so they can put them back up.

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Other parks

The administration also targeted less famous parks. One sign slated for removal at Bents Old Fort National Historic Site in Colorado described key figures in the sites history and included references to the forced removal of a Native tribe, a familys slave ownership and another historic figure who had a miscarriage.

At Hubbell Trading Post National Historic Site in Arizona, a panel on Ganado Mucho, a Navajo leader known for settling disputes with ranchers, is also listed for changes or removal.

The documentation reviewed by The Post also included new details on removals and changes that were ordered last year.

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At Arizonas Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, descriptions of destructive grazing practices and the accelerating rate of warming since 1850, as well as a booklet that talks about endangered turtles and Sonoran pronghorn, were ordered changed or removed.

Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming was ordered to remove or change a panel about Gustavus Cheyney Doane that said he participated in the U.S. Army massacre of Piegan Blackfeet Native Americans, including women, children and the elderly.

At Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument in Montana, exhibit text that described the United States being hungry for gold and land and breaking promises to Native Americans was ordered changed or removed.

Another text describing how U.S.-run boarding schools for Indigenous children violently erased cultural identities and language was also deemed not to comply with Trumps policy.

Brengel of the National Parks Conservation Association said the Trump administrations efforts to sanitize American history runs counter to the mission of the park system.

We are capable of hearing about our tragedies and our victories, and this systematic erasure should concern everyone in our country, she said.

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Jan. 27With the relocation of the U.S. Space Command headquarters to Huntsville, the Decatur-Morgan County Chamber of Commerce and the Morgan County Commission are focusing recruitment efforts on Colorado Springs, Colorado.

On Friday, 12,000 booklets were sent to current Space Command employees. The "love where you live" booklet highlights Morgan County's amenities, such as cost of living, health care, education and recreational facilities and events.

"With the Space Command move, I don't think anybody really knows exactly how many we're going to get, but even if we can land five families, it would be amazing for Morgan County," said chamber Director of Investor and Business Development Margaret Jones, who helped with the recruitment project.

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President Donald Trump announced in September that Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville would become the permanent headquarters of Space Command. The organization is currently based in Colorado Springs.

The development will bring an estimated 1,400 jobs to north Alabama over the next five years, with many personnel relocating from Colorado. That number does not include workers' families or indirect jobs that will be created to meet Space Command's needs.

In September, Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle said he expects around 60% of those transplants to live outside of Huntsville, based on growth statistics from the Mazda Toyota Manufacturing site, which was completed in 2021.

Morgan County Commission Chairman Ray Long wants people moving to the area to know that Morgan County is an option.

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"A lot of people don't like to live in the big city, like Huntsville, or Madison is growing," Long said. "We thought, 'Morgan County has a lot to offer. Folks in Colorado that may be moving here probably don't know where Morgan County is.' So, we just thought we would send them something to kind of let them know a little bit about us, about our county, and what we have to offer."

Jones said the chamber and the County Commission researched areas that people who currently work for Space Command are likely to live and sent the information directly to them in the mail. She hopes people who receive a booklet understand that Morgan County has a lot to offer potential residents.

"What's unique about Morgan County is it genuinely is a place for everyone," Jones said. "If you look in the back on the testimonials, you have Dr. Goldbach who lives in Somerville, and he loves it because he can have his cattle and he can have his land. Then you also have people like me who were born and raised in Decatur. I love the close-knit neighborhoods."

Jones said the chamber and county can use the same recruitment booklet for other developments in the area, as well. In December, Eli Lilly and Co. announced that it would construct a major pharmaceutical manufacturing facility in Limestone County. It is the largest initial economic investment in Alabama history at $6 billion.

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"The new Eli Lilly expansion is huge," Jones said. "They're coming right outside of us, and I think Decatur is going to end up kind of how Franklin (Tennessee) is to Nashville. We are going to get the repercussions of Huntsville in a positive way. Even the industries that are expanding outside of Morgan County, I still believe that we're going to get the benefits of the workforce and they're going to choose to live in Morgan County."

Long emphasized that Morgan County's population is moving in an upward trajectory. He said even one person moving to the area can attract others.

"We're growing some anyway," Long said. "If we can hook onto something like this, it will help us grow because if somebody moves here because they're going to be working with Space Command, the chances are, if their family moves, they're going to move some other family members with them eventually. ... Their family will try to get close to them for no other reason than to be around the grandkids."

The chamber and the Morgan County Economic Development Association collaborated on similar direct-mailer recruitment efforts in the past, according to chamber President and CEO Crystal Brown. Long said the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) process that brought the Missile Defense Agency from Washington, D.C., to Huntsville led to similar efforts. The 2005 BRAC brought around 5,000 jobs to the area.

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Long said it would be difficult to know exactly how many people the recruitment efforts attracted at the time, but population has steadily grown. Morgan County's population in 2000 was approximately 111,000, according to the 2000 census. By the 2010 census, that number had grown to more than 123,000. as of a July 2024 Census estimate, the population was about 126,000.

Long believes current recruitment efforts will lead to more population growth.

"I think it will be successful," Long said. "I believe we'll get some benefits out of it. Some people will look at it and say: 'That's where I want to live.'"

 GraciAnn.Goodin@DecaturDaily.com or 256-340-2437
The National Weather Service on Tuesday published an updated list of snowfall reports from the Sunday-Monday storm that turned Massachusetts into a winter wonderland.

The biggest snowstorm in years moved in on Sunday and continued on Monday with some additional snow, pushing totals across the region even higher.

The 23.2 inches of snow in Boston and the 22.4 inches that Worcester saw rank among the highest totals on record from a single storm in those cities.

Massachusetts digs out of storm

Massachusetts digs out of storm

Massachusetts digs out of storm

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Massachusetts digs out of storm

Massachusetts digs out of storm

Massachusetts digs out of storm

Massachusetts digs out of storm

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Massachusetts digs out of storm

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BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - JANUARY 25: Snow covers sidewalks on Dorchester Avenue on January 25, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts. A massive winter storm is bringing frigid temperatures, ice, and snow to nearly 200 million Americans. (Photo by Scott Eisen/Getty Images)

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - JANUARY 25: Dogs play on Boston Common during heavy snow on January 25, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts. A massive winter storm is bringing frigid temperatures, ice, and snow to nearly 200 million Americans. (Photo by Scott Eisen/Getty Images)

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BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - JANUARY 25: Vehicles work to clear snow alongside pedestrians on the Boston Common during heavy snow on January 25, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts. A massive winter storm is bringing frigid temperatures, ice, and snow to nearly 200 million Americans. (Photo by Scott Eisen/Getty Images)

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - JANUARY 25: People walk on the frozen Frog Pond in the Boston Public Garden during heavy snow on January 25, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts. A massive winter storm is bringing frigid temperatures, ice, and snow to nearly 200 million Americans. (Photo by Scott Eisen/Getty Images)

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - JANUARY 25: A pedestrian crosses a recently plowed street on January 25, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts. A massive winter storm is bringing frigid temperatures, ice, and snow to nearly 200 million Americans. (Photo by Scott Eisen/Getty Images)

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Boston Snow

New Bedford Snow

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Jackpot areas across the state were buried by at least two feet of snow. Some communities even topped two feet.

Hundreds of schools told students to stay home on Monday and Tuesday as crews worked to clear massive piles of snow.

Below is a look at updated snowfall reports as of 11:55 a.m. Tuesday, according to the NWS:

Two feet or more of snow

Gloucester: 27 inches

Peabody: 25.5 inches

Blue Hill Coop: 25.3 inches

Sterling: 25.2 inches

Leicester: 24.8 inches

Kingston: 24 inches

At least 20 inches of snow

Middleton: 23.5 inches

Groveland: 23.5 inches

Logan Airport, Boston: 23.2 inches

Pembroke: 23.1 inches

Worcester: 22.4 inches

Quincy: 22 inches

Westfield: 21.5 inches

Chelsea: 21.4 inches

Marblehead: 21 inches

Holden: 21 inches

Auburn: 20.8 inches

North Andover: 20.5 inches

South Weymouth: 20.5 inches

Groton: 20.5 inches

Ayer: 20.3 inches

Nearly 20 inches of snow

Acton: 19.9 inches

Russell: 19.9 inches

Marshfield: 19.7 inches

Norwood: 19.7 inches

Andover: 19.6 inches

Abington: 19.3 inches

Reading: 19.1 inches

Boxford: 19.1 inches

Milton: 19 inches

Westwood: 19 inches

Winchester: 19 inches

Sherborn: 19 inches

Natick: 19 inches

Hamilton: 19 inches

Westminster: 18.7 inches

Beverly: 18.7 inches

Methuen: 18.5 inches

Holiston: 18.2 inches

Lowell: 18 inches

Littleton: 18 inches

East Brimfield Lake: 18 inches

Other notable snow totals

East Hawley: 17.8 inches

Southwick: 17.7 inches

West Brookfield: 17.6 inches

Norton: 17.5 inches

Taunton: 17.5 inches

Barre: 17.2 inches

Spencer: 17.2 inches

Dighton: 17 inches

Wellfleet: 17 inches

Hampden: 17 inches

Melrose: 17 inches

Framingham: 17 inches

Foxboro: 17 inches

East Bridgewater: 17.4 inches

Brockton: 17 inches

Harvard: 17 inches

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Portuguese authorities on Monday said they had seized a record haul of cocaine from a semi-submersible craft intercepted off the Azores archipelago before the vessel sank in the open seas.

The nearly 9-ton cargo of drugs is "the biggest seizure of cocaine ever in Portugal," a police spokeswoman told the Agence France-Presse news agency.

Police said officers intercepted the so-called "narco sub" in recent days some 230 nautical miles from the islands in the Atlantic Ocean.

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They were assisted by the navy and air force, as well as the U.K. and U.S. authorities, in difficult weather conditions.

The submersible eventually sank with 35 of the 300 packages of drugs it was carrying, the police said.

Police released a short video on social media showing officers carrying out the operation at sea and suspects being handcuffed.

Portuguese authorities on Monday said they had seized a record haul of cocaine from a semi-submersible craft intercepted off the Azores archipelago. / Credit: Portugal's judicial police (Portugal's judicial police)

It originated in Latin America and had three Colombians and a Venezuelan on board, it added.

Last March, police said officers had confiscated nearly 6.5 tons of cocaine from a semi-submersible vessel off the Azores while bound for the Iberian peninsula. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, the British National Crime Agency and the Spanish Guardia Civil also assisted in that bust, authorities said at the time.

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Narco subs, which cannot go fully underwater, are popular among international drug traffickers as they can sometimes elude detection by law enforcement.

Manned semisubmersibles built in clandestine jungle shipyards have been used for decades to ferry cocaine north from Colombia, the world's biggest cocaine producer, to Central America or Mexico.

But in recent years, they have been sailing much farther afield, crossing the Atlantic and Pacific oceans.

The journey can be deadly. In 2023, a narco sub with two dead bodies and nearly 3 tons of cocaine aboard was seized off the coast of Colombia.

Video breakdown of fatal shooting by federal agents in Minneapolis

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There will be no reconstruction of the Gaza Strip until after the area is demilitarized and tunnels constructed by Hamas are destroyed, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Tuesday.

He also warned Iran not to attack Israel, threatening that if the Islamic Republic did so, Israel "would respond with a force that Iran has never experienced before."

Netanyahu said he is determined to implement the US-driven peace plan, which calls for the disarmament of Hamas. He repeated that this could be done "the easy way or the hard way. But in any case it will happen."

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The Palestinian Islamist group has so far rejected disarmament.

The coastal strip was largely destroyed in the war between Israel and Hamas, which started after Hamas invaded Israel on October 7. 2023, killing some 1,200 people and taking some 250 hostage. Israel then launched a massive attack on Gaza which has left the territory in rubble.

The Israeli prime minister also reiterated that Israel would retain security control over Gaza but gave no details.

As part of the second phase of the peace plan, Israel's army is to withdraw from the Gaza Strip and gradually hand areas held so far over to an International Stabilization Force (ISF).

Iran warning

The Israeli leader said a potential Iranian strike on Israel would be a "grave mistake."

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Amid speculation about a possible new US strike in Iran and mutual threats between the countries, there are currently major concerns about a military escalation in the region.

During the 12-day war in June last year between Israel and Iran, Israel bombarded targets from the air together with the US, while Iran's forces fired ballistic missiles at Israel.
SACRAMENTO, California  Gov. Gavin Newsom is reviewing whether social media platform TikTok is violating state law by censoring content critical of President Donald Trump, he announced Monday evening in an X post .

Its time to investigate, Newsom said.

Newsoms review, first reported by POLITICO, comes amid wider accusations that TikTok is flagging for review or throttling criticism of the Trump administration and Immigration and Customs Enforcement, just days after the platform closed a deal to avoid a U.S. ban. The agreement, backed by the White House, created a majority-American board that gives Trump allies significant sway in the short-form video apps U.S. operations.

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In a separate X post Monday, the governors press account said Newsom was launching the review after his office received reports  and independently confirmed instances  of suppressed content critical of President Trump. The post further said Newsom is calling on the California Department of Justice to determine whether it violates California law.

The independent confirmation involved sending a direct message on TikTok containing the word Epstein, in reference to now-deceased financier Jeffrey Epstein, who was accused of sex trafficking, the governors office told POLITICO. Newsoms office alleges it returned a warning from TikTok that the message was not sent because it may violate community guidelines.

TikToks U.S. venture in an X post Monday attributed recent bugs to a major infrastructure issue caused by a power outage at one of its U.S. data center sites. It said the outage has been fixed but triggered a cascading systems failure that may result in slower load times, timed-out requests and engagement issues, such as receiving zero likes on a video.

Neither TikTok nor the White House immediately responded to an inquiry regarding Newsoms announcement Monday evening.

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In a statement to POLITICO, California Department of Justice spokesperson Elissa Perez said state Attorney General Rob Bontas office is unable to comment on, even to confirm or deny, any potential or ongoing investigations, but called free speech rights a cornerstone of our democracy.

TikToks $14 billion deal to establish a U.S. subsidiary last week puts Larry Ellison, a Trump ally and billionaire who co-founded tech giant Oracle, at the forefront of its new ownership scheme. Oracle is a major investor in the new enterprise. The move sparked speculation from some tech observers that the app, like Elon Musks X before it, could foster a rise in pro-Trump content.

But content moderation has emerged as the leading concern since TikTok landed the deal. On Monday, various users reported that TikTok appeared to be stifling content about Minneapolis ICE protests and federal agents fatal shooting of 37-year-old ICU nurse Alex Pretti.

Some celebrities and Democratic politicians reported similar observations. California state Sen. Scott Wiener said in an X post that a TikTok video he posted Monday morning criticizing ICE and mentioning the Minneapolis shooting received zero views. When asked about Wieners video, a TikTok spokesperson pointed back to the X post about the data center power outage.

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Clearly, TikTok is suppressing criticisms of ICE, Wiener, who boasts nearly 50,000 TikTok followers and said hes never posted a video with zero engagement, told POLITICO in an interview. He argued the TikTok deal timing isnt a coincidence, adding that Trump wants to control everything.

This is a kleptocracy, Wiener said.

Wiener deleted his original post and re-uploaded the video early Monday afternoon with mentions of ICE replaced by ice block emojis in a bid to test the issue. His re-uploaded video had received approximately 300 views as of Monday evening.

Christine Mui contributed to this report.
Jan 27 (Reuters) - A Nicaraguan court declared Bayardo Arce, a long-time ally and economic adviser to President Daniel Ortega, guilty of money laundering, the Nicaraguan Attorney Generals Office said in a statement on Tuesday.

Arce, who was also one of the nine Sandinista commanders that governed the Central American nation in the 1980s, was found guilty alongside his personal assistant, Ricardo Bonilla. Arce's wife and her brother, who are both in exile, were named as co-conspirators in the scheme.

Arce has been imprisoned for six months, after he was detained in July. The ruling against him comes three days after his family from exile told newspaper El Pais that he had been arrested without a warrant, held incommunicado and subjected to mistreatment, and now fear for his life due to his age and serious health conditions.

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According to the family, Arce was not formally charged or brought before a judge. Nicaragua's government has not said when or if Arce faced a trial, and on Tuesday did not provide a sentence.

Judges said the defendants ran a long-running $2.71 billion money-laundering scheme that involved tax fraud and used shell companies, bank accounts and financial transactions to hide the origin and destination of funds.

Arce had been the last of the Sandinista commanders to back Ortega, who has increasingly been cracking down on dissidents and isolating the country from global diplomacy.

Relatives told El Pais that Arce is a political prisoner caught in an internal purge led by Ortega's wife Rosario Murillo against figures seen as obstacles to a family succession of power. Murillo now holds the role of co-president alongside Ortega.

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Murillo, who also serves as the government's spokesperson, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

(Reporting by Gabriela Selser; Writing by Brendan O'Boyle; Editing by Kylie Madry and Alistair Bell)
Nigeria's President Bola Tinubu is "in great shape" despite falling over at a reception ceremony in Turkey, one of his aides said.

Tinubu, 73, was being welcomed by his Turkish counterpart at an official ceremony in the capital, Ankara, when he stumbled.

After walking past a line of soldiers and dignitaries Tinubu can be seen on the official video on the Turkish president's X account moving to his right when he stumbles and falls. The film briefly shows people helping the president before cutting to an aerial shot and 45 seconds later Tinubu and Recep Tayyip Erdogan are seen next to each other.

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Tinubu appeared unhurt and aide Sunday Dare said he was able to continue with a bilateral meeting.

Video clips of the incident are being shared on social media.

A spokesman for the president, Bayo Onanuga, later said that Tinubu had stepped on a metal object "on the floor, which made him lose his balance".

"This is not a big deal, except for those who want to make mischief out of a fleeting incident. It was a mere stumble, thank God, not a fall," he added.

The last time the president fell over in public, in June 2024, he made a joke about it, saying people thought he was doing a popular dance move.

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At that time the incident was described as a "mild misstep" by an aide, and there was also a lot of sympathy for Tinubu, including from leading opposition politician Atiku Abubakar, who called it an "unfortunate incident".

Another politician, Shehu Sani, said that it showed the president was a human being and no different to anyone else.

In an apparent move to allay concerns on Tuesday afternoon, in an all capital letters headline, Dare said on X: "President Tinubu in great shape as state visit proceeds smoothly.

"After a stately welcome ceremony in Ankara [he] proceeded to scheduled bilateral meetings with President of Turkey and other senior government officials from both countries."

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He did not give further details.

Tinubu's visit to Turkey was "aimed at strengthening the existing cordial relations", the president's office said in a statement before he left for Ankara on Monday.

After the two presidents met, Turkey announced new economic, trade and defence cooperation agreements with Nigeria.

Speaking at a joint press conference with Tinubu, Erdogan said both countries had reaffirmed a target of increasing total bilateral trade to $5bn (3.6bn).

The two countries also exchanged agreements on defence cooperation. Turkey pledged support for Nigeria's fight against militants, as well as deeper collaboration in military training and intelligence sharing.

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"Nigeria remains open for serious partnership. Open to trade without barriers. Open to ideas, skills, and investment that create value and shared prosperity," Tinubu posted on X later.

Tinubu took office in 2023 after beating Abubakar in a presidential election.

Additional reporting by Makuochi Okafor

More about Nigeria from the BBC:

[Getty Images/BBC]

Go to BBCAfrica.com for more news from the African continent.

Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica

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An outbreak of the deadly Nipah virus in India's West Bengal state has sparked concern in parts of Asia, with some tightening screening measures at airports.

Thailand has started screening passengers at three airports that receive flights from West Bengal. Nepal has also begun screening arrivals at Kathmandu airport and other land border points with India.

Two cases have been confirmed in West Bengal since December, reportedly in healthcare workers. Some 196 people who were in contact with them have been traced and tested negative for the virus, India's health ministry says.

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The virus can spread from animals to humans. It has a high death range  ranging from 40% to 75%  as there is no vaccine or medicine to treat it.

What is the Nipah virus and what are its symptoms?

The Nipah virus can be transmitted from animals, like pigs and fruit bats, to humans. It can also spread person-to-person through contaminated food.

The World Health Organization has described Nipah in its top ten priority diseases, along with pathogens like Covid-19 and Zika, because of its potential to trigger an epidemic.

The incubation period ranges from four to 14 days.

People who contract the virus show a wide range of symptoms, or sometimes, none at all.

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Initial symptoms may include fever, headaches, muscle pain, vomiting and sore throat. In some people, these may be followed by drowsiness, altered consciousness, and pneumonia.

Encephalitis, a sometimes-fatal condition that causes inflammation of the brain, may occur in severe cases.

To date, no drugs of vaccines have been approved to treat the disease.

[BBC]

Where were the past outbreaks?

The first recognised Nipah outbreak was in 1998 among pig farmers in Malaysia and later spread to neighbouring Singapore. The virus got its name from the village where it was first discovered.

More than 100 people died and a million pigs culled in an effort to contain the virus. It also resulted in significant economic losses for farmers and those in the livestock trade.

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Bangladesh has borne the brunt in recent years, with more than 100 people dying of Nipah since 2001.

The virus has also been detected in India. Outbreaks were reported in West Bengal in 2001 and 2007.

More recently, the southern state of Kerala has been a Nipah hotspot. In 2018, 19 cases were reported of which 17 were fatal; and in 2023, two out of six confirmed cases later died.

What is happening now?

India's health ministry said that following confirmation of the cases in West Bengal, contacts of the infected individuals were "identified, traced, monitored, and tested" - and had been found to be asymptomatic.

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"The situation is under constant monitoring, and all necessary public health measures are in place," the ministry said.

No cases have yet been reported outside India, but several countries are stepping up precautions.

On Sunday, Thailand started screening passengers at three international airports in Bangkok and Phuket that receive flights from West Bengal. Passengers from these flights have been asked to make health declarations.

The parks and wildlife department has also implemented stricter screenings in natural tourist attractions.

Jurai Wongswasdi, a spokeswoman for the Department for Disease Control, told BBC Thai authorities are "fairly confident" about guarding against an outbreak in Thailand.

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Nepal, too, has begun screening people arriving through the airport in Kathmandu and other land border points with India.

Meanwhile, health authorities in Taiwan have proposed to list the Nipah virus as a "Category 5 disease". Under the island's system, diseases classified as Category 5 are emerging or rare infections with major public health risks, that require immediate reporting and special control measures.

Correction: An earlier version of this story said that at least five people had been infected in West Bengal but India's health ministry later released a statement saying only two cases had been confirmed in the state since December.
Amazon is reportedly preparing to cut up to 14,000 jobs, many of which could be in Washington state, as part of a broader workforce reduction, according to Reuters.

The announcement follows a previous layoff round last year, which saw thousands of positions cut from the company.

Washington States Employment Security Department listed Amazon on its Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification table for potential job cuts. The table indicates that more than 2,000 positions could be cut in our region this month. Coming up in February, nearly a hundred more positions are listed for layoffs.

This could impact employees across various divisions, including Amazon Web Services, retail segments, and Prime Video. Local business owners anticipate a ripple effect on their operations as many workers frequent their establishments.

Crystal Jones, a local smoothie shop customer and an employee at another company in Bellevue, expressed concern about the cuts, stating her concern was for tech workers who could soon find themselves out of a job.

I think it would be better to have the skills and not use them, than to not have the skills and need them, said Jones.

She admitted the job market is tough right now, and while she is working at the moment, she admitted that she has applied to around 150 openings, with little response.

Mary Craig works at a smoothie shop near an Amazon tower in Bellevue that houses corporate employees. She shared concerns that some of her customers could soon be gone.

Im pretty sure I know some of them who are getting laid off, she added.

She noted that losing these customers would be detrimental to her and probably other businesses in the area that serve Amazon employees. Amazon has not yet commented officially on these layoffs, and the full impact of this reduction in workforce in the Seattle area is still being assessed.

Spokesperson Brad Glasser responded to KIRO 7, saying simply, We dont have anything to share about role eliminations in our corporate workforce. Well be sure to reach out if that changes.
Tigirlily Gold performs at North Dakota Country Fest on July 10, 2025, in New Salem, North Dakota. The annual festival received a grant from the Department of Commerce to build a permanent stage and make other improvements. (Photo courtesy of the Office of the Governor)

A North Dakota country music festival has decided to turn down a $4 million state grant, with other tourist attractions able to apply for the funding.

The state Department of Commerce announced in October that North Dakota Country Fest had been awarded the $4 million grant. It was one of 23 tourism projects sharing in $15 million in grants.

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Luke Shafer, the founder and owner of North Dakota Country Fest near New Salem, said in an email to the state agency that it had decided not to relocate the stage, move the festival grounds and build out the campground and change the experience that our guests have come to know and love.

The state agency will begin taking grant applications Feb. 10. The application period closes March 10. Applications must be submitted online.

Eligible applicants include for-profit businesses, nonprofit organizations and tourism-related entities. Previous applicants that did not receive a grant can reapply.

Grants are awarded for the development or expansion of attractions that strengthen North Dakotas economy, and enhance quality of life for residents, the Commerce Department said.

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State and federal government entities and previous grant recipients from the 2023-25 or 2025-27 rounds are not eligible.

Awards will be announced April 30.

For more information, visit https://ndgov.link/DestinationDevelopment.
Jan. 26A federal judge sentenced a North Idaho man to 6 1/2 years in prison for illegally possessing firearms.

The case against Michael W. Luma, 48, of Pinehurst, began in November 2023 when neighbors complained to police about gunshots coming from Luma's home at night.

When officers searched Luma's property they found a large drill press, a 3D printer, several "ghost gun" pieces, thousands of rounds of ammunition, large capacity magazines and 16 guns, including machine guns and silencers, according to a news release from the U.S. Attorney's Office in Idaho.

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Investigators also found fentanyl and methamphetamine.

Luma had a prior conviction for felony aggravated assault that prohibited him from owning firearms.

Chief District Judge Amanda K. Brailsford meted out the prison sentenced along with three years of supervised release.

The investigation was conducted by the Shoshone County Sheriff's Office and the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
OSLO, Jan 27 (Reuters) - Norway's parliament on Tuesday approved a $2 billion procurement plan for long-range artillery to boost the NATO country's deterrence against Russia in the Arctic, where the two nations share a border.

European countries are in the midst of hiking defence spending, under pressure to do so by the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump and unnerved by Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

"These are weapons that can reach far behind enemy lines... this is decisive in modern warfare," Peter Froelich, the defence policy spokesperson for the opposition Conservatives, told parliament on Tuesday.

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SOUTH KOREAN VS U.S. SUPPLIER

Norwegian daily Aftenposten, citing anonymous sources, on January 24 reported that the government has selected South Korean defence contractor Hanwha Aerospace's Chunmoo artillery system, beating U.S. Lockheed Martin's HIMARS.

Some members of Norway's parliament have said the Nordic country should help develop a European missile alternative, but this has been dismissed as too time-consuming and costly by government officials charged with making the selection.

The South Korean system met all requirements set by Norway for the ground-based artillery, including the ability to fire at a range of up to 500 km (310 miles), and had the quickest delivery time, according to the Aftenposten report.

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Norway's defence ministry, which is expected to soon announce the contract winner, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The ministry has said it plans to acquire 16 launch systems along with an undisclosed number of rockets for a total cost of 19.5 billion crowns ($2.0 billion).

Hanwha Aerospace last year signed an agreement with Polish defence company WB Electronics to form a joint venture producing missiles in Poland, including for the Chunmoo rocket artillery, ensuring manufacturing on European soil.

($1 = 9.7484 Norwegian crowns)

(Reporting by Terje Solsvik, editing by Gwladys Fouche)
Lena lights a candle at a growing memorial site at 26th Street West and Nicollet Avenue, where federal agents shot and killed 37-year-old Alex Pretti Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026 earlier in the day. (Photo by Nicole Neri/Minnesota Reformer)

Hours after Gov. Tim Walz said President Donald Trump was open to an independent state investigation into the fatal shootings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti by federal agents this month, Minnesota state and local lawyers told a federal judge Monday that they had reason to believe federal agencies wouldnt follow through.

The hearing revealed an extraordinary conflict between Minnesota and the federal government over whether local authorities should have access to key evidence, which would help them deliberate about potential charges against federal officers in the Good and Pretti cases.

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Citing serious irregularities in procedure by agents on the ground and senior government officials in Washington in the aftermath of Prettis killing on Saturday, Minnesota Deputy Solicitor General Pete Farrell asked Judge Eric Tostrud to extend an emergency order barring federal law enforcement agencies from destroying or altering evidence in the case.

Tostrud, who President Trump appointed to the federal bench during his first term, issued the order late Saturday night.

On Monday, Tostrud said he was swayed by a sworn statement from state Bureau of Criminal Apprehension Superintendent Drew Evans that the BCA had reason to believe federal personnel had already mishandled critical evidence, including Prettis alleged handgun. Within hours of the incident, the Department of Homeland Security shared photos of the handgun and a loaded magazine that had apparently been removed from the scene of the shooting and placed on a car seat.

(We have) very serious concerns that Prettis alleged firearm was not handled properly, Farrell said.

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Farrell and Clare Diegel, his counterpart at the Office of Hennepin County Attorney, also asked Tostrud in the lawsuit filed Saturday afternoon to declare the federal agencies stonewalling unconstitutional and unlawful and require them to share evidence with state and county investigators as needed.

Tostrud did not issue a ruling from the bench Monday but indicated he would do so soon. State and county investigators are pursuing independent investigations of the Good and Pretti shootings, though legal experts say they face long odds due to limited access to evidence and prejudicial statements by top federal officials.

Farrell, who represents the BCA in Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension et al v. Noem et al, said DHS decision to share photos of Prettis alleged handgun was one of several questionable choices DHS and other federal agencies made after the shooting. The state was also troubled, he said, that federal personnel twice blocked BCA investigators from the scene of the shooting  even after the investigators returned with a signed judicial warrant.

At Tostruds prompting, Farrell allowed that the federal government might  hypothetically  have reason to restrict state investigators access to evidence in cases with significant national security implications.

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But we are miles away from that here, he said.

Farrell later told Tostrud that Evans could not recall a situation in his experience where federal investigators restricted their state counterparts access to evidence. Evans joined the BCA in 2005, according to his LinkedIn profile.

Farrell said that sworn affidavits from employees of two federal agencies, the Border Patrol and Homeland Security Investigations, were of limited value because neither appeared to have been present at the scene of the incident.

In another sworn declaration, an FBI agent present at the scene said  without providing specifics  that protest activity prevented federal investigators from following normal procedure after the shooting near the intersection of Nicollet Avenue and 26th Street in south Minneapolis.

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Farrell highlighted two other irregularities in the case that he said made the extension of Tostruds initial order a no-brainer.

First, that Homeland Security Investigations is the lead investigative agency in the case rather than the FBI is highly unusual and perhaps unprecedented, Farrell said. Second, senior government officials rush to judgment  with Border Patrol commander Greg Bovino and others proclaiming or amplifying others claims that Pretti was a domestic terrorist intent on killing federal officers  leaves BCA skeptical that an impartial investigation is forthcoming, he said.

BCA would never put (such) statements out into the world like that, Farrell said.

Appearing alone and caveating that he was local counsel for the federal government rather than its lead attorney, Assistant U.S. Attorney Friedrich Siekert said Homeland Security Investigations and other agencies were following applicable law and would preserve evidence as long as required to support a multifaceted investigation that he suggested would continue for some time. He asked Tostrud to allow Saturdays order to expire while the judge weighs the plaintiffs evidence-sharing request.

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I have not been told that what they are doing will cease, Siekert said, referring to his clients ongoing examination of the evidence. But because this whole event arose out of a federal immigration matter, the state presently has no investigative role to play, he added.

We dont want the court to micromanage an ongoing federal matter at this point, Siekert said.

Diegel disagreed, saying the local authorities do have a sovereign interest in investigating the fatal shooting of a Minneapolis resident. She said the unprecedented nature of Operation Metro Surge and Twin Cities residents pushback in the streets  not to mention senior officials statements suggesting theyd already come to a conclusion about what occurred  raised the possibility that federal investigators could quickly wrap up the investigation without informing their state counterparts. At that point, they may conclude that the evidence no longer merits preservation.

Nothing about what is going on here is normal, Diegel said.
Topeka police said they found a woman outdoors wearing no clothing just after 9 a.m. Monday, Jan. 26, at a time the National Weather Service said Topeka was recording a wind chill index of -14 degrees,

The woman was taken by American Medical Response ambulance to a Topeka hospital, where she was being treated for "possible frostbite-related injuries," said Kimberly K. Qualls, senior public relations specialist for the city.

The woman's name and age weren't being made public.

Topeka police said they found a woman outdoors wearing no clothing just after 9 a.m. Monday, Jan. 26, at a time the National Weather Service said Topeka was seeing a wind chill index of minus 14 degrees,

Officers arrived to find woman wearing no clothing

Police were called to check on the welfare of the woman, whom they located near the interchange of S.E. Adams and Interstate 70, Qualls said.

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"Upon arrival, officers located a female individual wearing no clothing," she said.

What is hypothermia and is shedding clothing a symptom?

Police weren't releasing further details, including addressing whether the woman may have had hypothermia.

Hypothermia is an emergency medical condition that occurs when a person's core body temperature drops below 95 degrees, said the website of the Mayo Clinic.

One effect of hypothermia can involve "paradoxical undressing," in which victims peel off most or all of their clothing, said the website livescience.com.

"To shut down the loss of heat from the extremities, the body of a person experiencing hypothermia induces vasoconstriction, the reflexive contraction of blood vessels," that site said.

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"Over time, however, the muscles necessary for inducing vasoconstriction become exhausted and fail, causing warm blood to rush from the core to the extremities," it said. "This results in a kind of 'hot flash' that makes victims of severe hypothermia  who are already confused and disoriented  feel as though they're burning up, so they remove their clothes, researchers have concluded."

Emporia saw hypothermia death over weekend

Monday was the fourth day in a row Topeka and other cities in northeast Kansas saw wind chill indices fall below zero.

Hypothermia is being investigated as the possible cause of death for Rebecca Rauber, 28, who was reported missing after she left Emporia's Town Royal bar late Jan. 23 on foot without her purse, jacket or cell phone, the Emporia Police Department said. Emporia is about 50 miles southwest of Topeka.

Emporia police announced Jan. 25 that they had found Rauber's body in a wooded area.

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Rauber "may have succumbed to hypothermia early on in her disappearance as she was covered in snow due to the snowstorm that became heavy on Saturday," police said.

Contact Tim Hrenchir at threnchir@gannett.com or 785-213-5934.

This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Here's why nude woman found outside in Topeka may have had hypothermia
Liberia is under pressure from both sky and sea as massive downpours and rising sea levels displace thousands from their homes.

With unpredictable rain patterns and coastal degradation on the rise, authorities in Liberia are left looking for solutions to a much bigger problem.

What's happening?

The New Dawn wrote: "Scientific projections show that global sea levels could rise between 0.6 meters and 1 meter by the year 2100  with more than 560 kilometers of coastline and nearly 60 percent of the [Liberian] population living along or near the coast."

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On top of disappearing coastlines, there is also the issue of increasingly heavy rains that no longer follow a set seasonal trend.

Instead, rain falls at random and in heavy bursts, causing damage to local agriculture, roads, and structures.

Why is this important?

The unfortunate truth is that many practices in Liberia mirror those around the world, still hanging on to energy sources that cause atmospheric pollution.

Such pollution, much of it caused by burning fossil fuels, contributes to a larger global issue.

Human activity is often the direct cause of self-detriment, and people like those in Liberia are paying the price.

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Dr. Emmanuel K. Urey Yarkpawolo, Executive Director of the Environmental Protection Agency of Liberia, spoke on climate change not as a distant future, but as a current concern.

He emphasized that "it is happening now, and Liberia is already experiencing its effects. Rising global temperatures are warming the oceans and the atmosphere, increasing moisture in the air and disrupting normal weather systems," per The New Dawn.

What's being done about this?

It is important to remember that while systemic change takes longer to achieve, communal cooperation and education are possible and crucial for improving the environment  not just for ecological reasons, but for people to live comfortably without the threat of extreme weather events and heightened tides.

Thankfully, preventative measures are underway to mitigate further destruction in Liberia, including a $10 million grant put toward a project to better predict future weather patterns and help agriculture flourish despite the heavy downpours.

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Additionally, the EPA stressed that "government action alone is insufficient, urging all Liberians to protect forests and wetlands, reduce pollution, and adopt sustainable practices to build resilience and secure a climate-resilient future."

This sentiment applies to even the smallest local actions that compound to make a difference.

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.
At the Oklahoma City Council meeting Tuesday morning, residents voiced their concerns over a proposed Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility on the south side of the city.

On Jan. 27, the meeting in council chambers, which are typically sparsely attended, was filled with residents who protested and spoke during public comment, urging councilmembers to oppose the proposed detention center.

The proposed facility at 2800 S Council is one of 16 locations on a list of detainee processing centers being set up by ICE, as originally reported by The Washington Post. The list shows that the 415,981-square-foot warehouse will be converted into a 1,500-bed detention center.

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The Oklahoman first reported on this issue on Jan. 18, and through a letter sent to the Oklahoma City Planning Department from the Department of Homeland Security, confirmed the address for the processing center and showed the conversion will include detention space, bathrooms, offices, a cafeteria and spaces for health care and visitors.

More: Proposed ICE detention site in OKC raises questions: Everything we know so far.

The federal government is not required to apply for zoning or building permits.

If they were anybody else, they would have to get a special permit for special detention, Planning Director Geoff Butler told The Oklahoman. But since they are the federal government, they dont have to go through that process.

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Since the initial reports, anti-ICE movements have grown after the deaths of Alex Pretti and Renee Good in Minneapolis.

Ward 2 councilman James Cooper spoke against the facility, while Ward 7 councilman Camal Pennington pointed out that the council has limited legal authority in preventing the facility from being built.

Can Oklahoma City leaders stop the proposed ICE facility?

Oklahoma City attorneys say they are powerless to stop the detention center because the Supremacy Clause of the U.S. Constitution allows the federal government to preempt municipal zoning and code requirements.

Advocacy groups, however, have demanded action, citing actions taken in Durant, Oklahoma, and Kansas City.

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On Jan. 13, the Durant City Council approved an ordinance giving the city some oversight over confinement centers and jails being built without going through zoning review. The Kansas City Council previously approved a similar ordinance stating the city would not grant proposed ICE facilities local permits, licensing or other approvals.

Those actions would be unlikely to stop the federal government's ability to proceed on the OKC center, according to city officials.

The City of Oklahoma Citys Municipal Counselors have reviewed recent ordinances passed in Durant, Oklahoma and Kansas City, Missouri, the city reported. The ordinance passed in Durant essentially already exists in Oklahoma City. The action in Kansas City was a broader moratorium on approvals of non-municipal detention facilities. Though Oklahoma City Municipal Counselors would never advise other municipalities, their advice to Oklahoma Citys policymakers is that such actions are not likely to legally restrict the federal governments ability to proceed due to the Supremacy Clause.

Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt previously confirmed that the supremacy clause of the U.S. Constitution dictates that federal laws override conflicting state and local laws.

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The federal government operates in our community and doesnt think its their role to inform me, Holt said. I would welcome communication. The federal government has never asked for much permission for their activities. We appreciate their engagement and information if offered, but its not something we typically receive.

How OKC Mayor David Holt responded

Holt is the president of the U.S. Conference of Mayors. Last week, the organization shared a letter to the states congressional delegation asking for their support in requesting that the detention center be subject to city planning review.

The joint statement calls for the immediate intervention of Congress and national leaders in what is happening in Minnesota.

This is not a partisan issue, it is an issue of national concern that demands statesmanship and leadership," the statement said.

Oklahoma Gov. Stitt criticizes ICE

Oklahoma's Republican governor, Kevin Stitt, chair of the National Governors Association, issued a statement calling for a reset of the nations immigration enforcement strategy.

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"Scenes of violence and chaos on our streets are unacceptable and do not reflect who we are, he said.

Contributing: Maria Guinnip and Steve Lackmeyer

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Can OKC block an ICE detention center? It's complicated. What officials say.
In a video interview recorded Saturday, Jan. 24, several homeless people staying in an Oklahoma City park described their experience sleeping outside in freezing, snowy weather.

A group of about five people opted to sleep in the camp about a block away from OKC's Homeless Alliance around a fire to protect their belongings and keep an eye on one member, who has mobility issues.

Over the weekend, the Homeless Alliance hosted about 450 people in its day shelter and nearly 400 in its overnight winter shelter.

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For the week leading up to the storm, she said the Key to Home Partnership, the lead agency for OKCs collaboration of homeless service providers, worked to get the word out to the local homeless population about the incoming severe weather.

"Not everybody is comfortable with a shelter environment. ... Sometimes people do not want to leave their encampments because they fear leaving their things behind. They fear them getting stolen or destroyed. Sometimes people don't want to leave their pets behind, even though we do allow pets in our shelter," Taylor Self, director of communications for the Homeless Alliance, told The Oklahoman on Sunday.

"But when the temperatures and the weather get this dangerous, it can be life or death. So, we are really just thankful to have a space for our neighbors to take shelter from the storm, because really everybody deserves that safety and security."

She said she expects the Homeless Alliance's shelters, as well as OKC's other emergency shelters, to stay crowded this week as the bitter cold lingers.

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"The winter shelter will remain open ... every single night from Nov. 1 through March 31, no matter the temperature," Self said. "We have beds for up to 300 people. However, when it gets this cold, we are not turning people away."

Across all of Oklahoma City, emergency personnel responded to 37 cold-exposure calls throughout the winter storm. Of those, 26 patients were transported to a local hospital for further care.

Readers share their thoughts

Many readers online were quick to share their thoughts in the comment section on social media. Here's a look at what some readers said on Facebook, YouTube, Instagram and TikTok:

Jarrin said on TikTok: Update- my husband went and brought them home cooked warm food, water and supplies tonight. Nothing that we did is enough. It is 6 degrees outside. These people are freezing. We stood outside with them for 15 minutes & I was freezing. I cannot even imagine how cold they are. This is inhumane. No human being deserves this.

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Angela London said on Facebook: I've personally been involved with the homeless during freezing weather before. A big group of us volunteered at a large music venue that became a warming station for anyone needing shelter, or food. There were people from all income levels coming for help. It was eye opening...many of the homeless truly appreciated it, & actually got some much needed help. Others abused the hospitality, & winded up having to actually be evicted from the property. It was an interesting few weeks, but I'll never forget the ones that had stories that imprinted on me. I think of them every time a winter storm comes. Just be kind, & remember not every homeless person became that way by choice.

Jacine Oakes said on Facebook: My son has been homeless down in OKC not sure where, but close to downtown. He spent a couple of winters down there. I always prayed that someone could help him. I prayed every cold night that he wouldnt freeze to death. He is still alive, thank you Jesus

Kim said on TikTok: The facility they want to use for ICE should be used to help people get out of the streets.

Jdawg-fj6ov said on YouTube: This man is such a kind soul. You can just hear it in his voice and see it on his face.

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DeKoko20 said on YouTube: The man that stayed outside with his friend, he has 1000% respect from me. One million blessings for them

DadBroGuy said on YouTube: 41 years of life experienced hardships myself and it still blows me away that the kindest most generous people are the ones with the least to give

How to help, what to donate

Oklahoma City area shelters and outreach organizations say community support is critical amid the strain of winter weather. Financial donations allow agencies to respond quickly to increased demand for emergency shelter, warming centers, transportation, and medical care.

Groups such as the Homeless Alliance, City Rescue Mission, and Sisu Youth Services all accept monetary contributions that help cover operating costs during severe cold.

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For those able to give their time, shelters rely heavily on volunteers during the winter months. Opportunities range from serving meals and sorting donations to assisting with outreach efforts and administrative work. Many organizations encourage volunteers to sign up in advance, as weather emergencies can lead to sudden staffing needs.

Shelters also have an ongoing need for essential items. Cold-weather gear such as coats, gloves, hats, thermal socks, and blankets are especially important during freezing temperatures. Hygiene supplies, including soap, toothpaste, deodorant, and feminine products, are also in high demand. Some shelters accept ready-to-eat food items, while others request new or gently used clothing suitable for winter conditions.

While Key to Home is not a direct service provider, the organization partners with groups around Oklahoma City to solve critical gaps and support rehousing. You can donate gently used furniture and supplies to support those moving into housing, as well as give money or volunteer time.

Organizations recommend checking their websites or contacting them directly before donating items, as storage space and immediate needs can change rapidly during winter storms.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Oklahomans react to view of homelessness amid winter storm: 'I cannot even imagine'
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says 80% of Ukrainian strikes are now using drones.

It's one of the highest official estimates of the extent of drone involvement in the war.

Zelenskyy's office said Ukraine struck 820,000 targets with drones last year.

At least four out of every five successful Ukrainian strikes against Russia's forces are being carried out by drones, said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Monday.

The new figure represents one of the highest official estimates of the involvement of drones in Ukraine's battlefield operations. In the spring of 2025, Ukrainian officials had said that roughly 70% of Russian casualties were inflicted by drones.

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Speaking at an awards event for Ukrainian drone units, Zelenskyy said that the "overwhelming majority" of these drones were manufactured locally.

In a statement, Zelenskyy's office said that in 2025, Ukrainian troops had struck nearly 820,000 targets with drones.

"Each of these strikes is recorded, which helps not only with hit verification but also with the operation of the bonus-based system for assessing military performance," the statement said, referring to a new system that rewards drone squads for video-recording their battlefield engagements.

For every confirmed kill, drone units are assigned points that can be used to procure equipment.

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Zelenskyy said that infantry and artillery were still important in the war, but "everything is becoming extremely dependent" on how quickly Kyiv can adapt and build new technologies.

"Our bonus-based electronic points system is working to scale up the results of our defense. In December, our units achieved a result of 35,000 neutralized occupiers," the Ukrainian leader said.

Ukrainian units that regularly report their battlefield performance have also suggested similar tallies for December.

Maj. Robert "Madyar" Brovdi, the commander of Ukraine's Unmanned Systems Forces, said on Sunday that his units were responsible for a third of Ukraine's battlefield hits with drones, and had wounded or killed a daily average of 388 Russian soldiers in December.

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That roughly translates to 34,900 casualties for the month.

Mykhailo Fedorov, who is now Ukraine's defense minister, previously said that he estimated up to 90% of battlefield kills in August could be attributed to drones. He was serving as minister for digital transformation at the time.

Ukraine aimed last year to manufacture roughly 2.5 million first-person-view drones, though some local estimates have also said it could target a capacity of up to 4.5 million. Officials have not said how many such drones were actually produced in 2025.

Kyiv has sought to aggressively expand and export its local drone manufacturing sector, and hopes to wean itself and the international market off Chinese products and parts.

Read the original article on Business Insider
The Brief

More than 900 flights were canceled at Philadelphia International Airport due to a major winter storm.

Travelers faced long delays, cancellations, and frustration as airlines struggled to recover.

Airport officials expect operations to return to normal by Wednesday, but some airlines may need more time.

PHILADELPHIA - Philadelphia International Airport saw over 900 flight cancellations over the past two days as a powerful winter storm hit the Delaware Valley, leaving travelers stranded and frustrated throughout the terminals.

Travelers face delays, cancellations and limited options

What we know

More than 900 flights were canceled at Philadelphia International Airport over the span of two days, with officials saying they expect operations to largely return to normal by Wednesday.

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Many passengers experienced long delays, cancellations, and uncertainty about when they could fly out.

Frontier Airlines reported the second-most cancellations and delays at the airport, behind American Airlines.

Passengers described hours-long waits, last-minute cancellations, and limited rebooking options.

"Im very angry and frustrated," one traveler told FOX 29. "I just want to go home."

The Ramos family, traveling as a group of 11, faced multiple delays and a cancellation as they tried to return to Orlando.

"You worried youre not gonna get out tonight?" said Starr Ramos, a stranded traveler. "I have a lot of kids here. I have to go home, and I have a dog at home. Shes alone. Shes waiting for us. What was supposed to be a two-day trip turned into something more than what it was supposed to be."

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Some travelers said the lack of communication from airlines added to their stress.

Carter Hurt, who was trying to get to Charlotte, said, "Im frustrated because I understand the weather at first. But when an earlier flight has crew problems and the next two flights dont leave, thats annoying. Especially since the airline didnt help. They basically said maybe something else on Thursday."

Another passenger described being delayed for 10 hours before a cancellation, saying, "They tell you youre on your own until Thursday  like people dont need places to stay. Thats a little bit unacceptable."

Frontier Airlines responded in an email, saying it is "working to accommodate impacted customers and book them on flights with open seats, as well as add additional flights."

Airport crews work to restore operations

The storm caused one of the largest disruptions at Philadelphia International Airport in a decade, affecting travel plans for hundreds of families and business travelers.

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The impact extended beyond passengers, with flight crews and airport staff also facing challenges.

Airport crews worked around the clock to clear runways, taxiways, parking lots, and ramps to I-95.

Officials said nearly 52 million square feet of snow was plowed, which is roughly the driving distance from Philadelphia to Florida.

"If we get eight inches, its hard to catch up," said Greg Phillips, Chief Operating Officer for the Philadelphia Department of Aviation. "Keeping our facilities running and open all the time is a super high priority for us."

Flight attendant Chanel Griffin said, "Ive been delayed the last couple days and actually sent home today. Im supposed to be going to Atlanta  delayed about two hours. I would say be patient with us. Were doing the best we can. We dont control the weather, but well get you where you need to go when we can."

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Airport officials recommend travelers to check with their airline in advance and review options if flights are impacted.

The backstory

This winter storm is being called the worst in the Delaware Valley in 10 years, causing widespread travel disruptions across the region.

Airlines and airport staff have been working to recover and help stranded travelers.

The Source

Information from Philadelphia International Airport officials and travelers.
Seeing a sudden infusion of cash in your bank account? If the deposit line reads "Lopez v. Apple," then for once, it's probably not a scam.

Payments appearing as "Lopez Voice Assistant" have begun appearing in the accounts of eligible customers affected by a 2021 Apple class-action lawsuit over alleged privacy violations.

Last year, Apple agreed pay $95 million to settle the lawsuit accusing the tech giant of using its virtual assistant, Siri, to "eavesdrop" on users without their knowledge.

Payments were set to go out on Friday, Jan. 23, according to the settlement website. Social media posts appear to show consumers beginning to see cash trickle in on that date as deposits hit checking accounts and money apps like Venmo and PayPal. Class members could choose how they wanted to be paid, including direct deposit and physical checks.

Payments were capped at $20 per claim, with each person eligible to submit up to five claims for five separate affected Apple devices. As is often the case with large class-action settlements, payouts are ultimately based on how many people file valid claims. According to reports and posts on social media, the average payment per device was reduced to around $8, with multiple claimants across platforms reporting receiving up to $40 for five devices.

USA TODAY contacted Apple and the settlement's administrator on Jan. 27, but has not received a response.

What is the Lopez v. Apple lawsuit?

Violation of privacy is the main complaint alleged in Lopez v. Apple. The class-action lawsuit, filed in a California federal court in 2021, alleges that Apple was recording users' private conversations without consent.

The recordings allegedly happened after users accidentally activated Siri, the built-in AI voice assistant that can be turned on by pushing buttons or saying "Hey, Siri" aloud. Usually, people use the "Hey, Siri" feature to set reminders, send or read texts, control smart home devices and perform other hands-free functions.

According to the lawsuit, Apple allegedly obtained consumers' confidential or private communications and then sold them to third-party advertisers.

Users claimed they saw ads on their phones for specific brands after discussing them aloud, and others said their devices listened to them without them having said anything to activate Siri. The initial lawsuit, filed on March 17, 2021, cites a 2019 article from The Guardian that found Apple's third-party contractors regularly heard confidential information. At the time, Apple said only a small portion of data was shared to help improve Siri and dictation.
By Asif Shahzad and Ariba Shahid

ISLAMABAD, Jan 21 (Reuters) - Pakistan will join U.S. President Donald Trump's "Board of Peace" to help achieve lasting peace in Gaza, its foreign ministry said on Wednesday.

Pakistan hoped "concrete steps will be taken towards the implementation of a permanent ceasefire" as well as to boost aid and Gaza's reconstruction, the ministry said in a statement.

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The announcement came after Pakistani army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir flew to Davos, three Pakistani officials told Reuters.

Munir, along with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, is likely to see Trump, they said.

They spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to disclose the information to the media.

Pakistan army's public relations wing did not respond to a Reuters request for comment.

The board, set up late last year under Trump's Gaza plan, is aimed at resolving global conflicts.

Some countries have reacted with caution to the initiative, although the U.S. has said that over 20 countries have agreed to join so far.

Pakistan was invited by Trump to join the board, the ministry said.

(Reporting by Asif Shahzad, writing by Sakshi Dayal; Editing by YP Rajesh and Bernadette Baum)
Gov. Jeff Landry addresses the Louisiana Legislature on opening day of legislative session, Monday, April 14, 2025, at the Louisiana State Capitol in Baton Rouge. (Hilary Scheinuk/The Advocate Pool)

With his latest budget proposal, Gov. Jeff Landry is restarting what appears likely to be an annual debate of whether and how to expand Louisianas education voucher program.

Again, hes hitting resistance.

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The governors $46.9 billion spending plan, released to lawmakers Friday, would keep most state programs and services operating at their current levels  with some notable exceptions.

Landry seeks to grow staff for and spending on the state adult and youth prison systems, to add more money for economic development efforts and to double the money allocated to the new voucher program that lawmakers created in 2024, called LA GATOR.

At the initial hearing outlining the budget proposal, only the LA GATOR money saw pushback, previewing a return to the debate that stalled a similar growth proposal last year.

The multibillion-dollar spending plan for the 2026-27 budget year that begins July 1 shows the first significant costs for Louisianas treasury from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, the massive federal tax and spending bill passed last year by Congress.

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While the upcoming budget year offers few financial difficulties for the governor and lawmakers, unpredictability continues for the future amid national economic headwinds, planned federal spending cuts and state tax changes that continue to roll out in phases.

As always, the Public Affairs Research Council of Louisiana recommends the administration and Legislature use caution when growing expenses or creating new programs. Such an approach is even more urgent as the potential state costs tied to the One Big Beautiful Bill Act are expected to increase in the future while the flexible state general fund dollars available to lawmakers are forecast to decline at the same time.

The Republican governors budget recommendations would shrink spending from $50 billion in the current year.

The $3 billion decline is largely tied to the disappearance of one-time state dollars that lawmakers removed from a savings account to spend on infrastructure projects, maintenance work, debt payments and other earmarks. In addition, some federal dollars are disappearing from the budget.

Education spending

Once again, Landrys push to increase spending on the education voucher program appears likely to become the most contentious part of the budget debate. Hes proposing to add another $44 million to LA GATOR, doubling its cost to nearly $88 million.

The education savings account program allows parents to use state tax dollars to pay for private school tuition, homeschool materials and other education expenses outside of the public school system.

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The governor sought similar funding levels for the program last year, but lawmakers only agreed to shift $44 million from a prior voucher program that paid for students to attend private schools.

About 5,700 students are receiving assistance through the LA GATOR program, according to data from the Louisiana Department of Education, and about 90% of those students were in the prior voucher program that has since been eliminated.

Legislative leaders, particularly in the Senate, have raised concerns about the ability to afford rapid program expansion, the guidelines for how parents can use the money and the possibility theyd be paying for children who already were attending private schools.

Meanwhile, Landry did not include nearly $200 million that lawmakers have allocated for the last three years to give $2,000 stipends to public school teachers and $1,000 stipends to school support workers. Instead, the administration is hoping voters in May will approve a constitutional amendment that would dissolve three education trust funds, use the money to pay down retirement debt and funnel the savings into K-12 public school pay.

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The TOPS college tuition program would be fully funded at $286 million to cover all eligible students, including those high-performing students who are receiving the new Excellence Award level lawmakers created last year.

The budget plan would add $14.5 million to the M.J. Foster Promise Program, boosting annual funding to $25 million for the financial aid initiative that helps students earn credentials at community and technical colleges for high-demand, high-wage jobs.

Other spending increases

Landrys spending plan seeks sizable increases for the Department of Corrections and the Office of Juvenile Justice and 300 new jobs across the two agencies. Costs are rising in part because the governor urged lawmakers to pass a series of tough-on-crime laws that increased the length of sentences and enacted harsher penalties for certain criminal activity.

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The budget would add $28 million in state funding for the Office of Juvenile Justice, including money to fully operate the Jetson Center for Youth in Baker that is scheduled to open in April and money to add a new youth lockup facility through a lease with the Vernon Parish Sheriffs Office.

The Department of Corrections would receive an $82 million state funding hike, with multimillion-dollar increases across nearly all adult prisons, including a more than $17 million boost so the Louisiana State Penitentiary can house more inmates.

New dollars would be spent on nursing homes that care for Medicaid patients, improvements to the computer system in the child welfare department and new equipment and vehicles for the Louisiana State Police.

Temporary pay stipends that judges received over the last two years would become permanent, and the judicial system would get more money to pay for them.

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The economic development department would receive $75 million for its new High Impact Jobs Program, to provide grants to companies that create jobs paying above the parish average wage. The grant program replaces other tax incentives that were eliminated.

The budget proposal also includes a $42 million increase in state spending to administer the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, commonly known as the food stamp program.

Under the federal One Big Beautiful Bill Act, states will have to pay 75% of the administrative costs for SNAP beginning Oct. 1, while the federal government will pay 25%. Previously, the costs had been split evenly between the state and federal governments.

The Louisiana Department of Health must begin enacting federally mandated work requirements for some Medicaid recipients in the upcoming budget year, but the agency said it would absorb the software, staffing and other related costs.

Whats next

The Landry administration didnt offer detailed ideas for spending a $577 million surplus left over from the prior fiscal year, beyond the required $144 million deposit in Louisianas rainy day fund and the required $144 million payment of retirement debt. Lawmakers also have an extra $292 million in unspent cash from the current budget year available.

The presentation of the governors proposal to the Joint Legislative Committee on the Budget kicks off months of negotiation before lawmakers complete the final package of spending bills. The regular legislative session begins March 9 and must end in early June.
Peace talks will continue next week between Ukraine and Russia. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the most recent conversations were "constructive."

"The central focus of the discussions was the possible parameters for ending the war. I highly value the understanding of the need for American monitoring and oversight of the process of ending the war and ensuring genuine security," Zelenskyy posted.

Zelenskyy told The Associated Press the talks in Abu Dhabi were likely the first trilateral format in "quite a long while" that included not only diplomats but also military representatives from the U.S., Ukraine and Russia.

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A U.S. official involved in the talks confirmed all parties will return to Abu Dhabi on Feb. 1.

As the talks were underway, The Guardian reported, the Russian defense ministry claimed its forces completed a takeover of the village of Starytsya. The village is close to the Ukraine-Russia border.

A State Emergency Service employee pours tea into a cup in front of tents of a government-run humanitarian aid point, where residents can warm up, charge their devices, get hot drinks and psychological support, installed next to apartment buildings during a power blackout after critical civil infrastructure was hit by recent Russian missile and drone strikes, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kyiv, Ukraine, January 25, 2026. REUTERS/Valentyn Ogirenko

"Russia's deliberate attacks on civilian and energy infrastructure in winter are war crimes and part of its genocidal war," Ukrainian Minister of Foreign Affairs Andrii Sybiha posted on X. "Ukraine seeks peace, while Russia seeks to inflict more suffering."

He added one person was killed and at least four injured in Kyiv. The main targets continue to be energy sources and residential areas.

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In Kyiv, more than 1,500 apartment buildings remained without power on Sunday following a drone attack Saturday night.

On Sunday, the Ukrainian leader met with leaders of Lithuania and Poland to discuss energy support.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, left, Lithuania's President Gitanas Nauseda, center, and Polish President Karol Nawrocki talk to each other as they leave a joint press conference at the Presidential palace in Vilnius, Lithuania, Sunday, Jan. 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Mindaugas Kulbis)

"I thank the peoples of Lithuania and Poland, and their leaders, for all manifestations of support for our people, especially energy support. Every form of assistance matters and is deeply appreciated," Zelenskyy wrote on X.

The region is known as the Lublin triangle and is dedicated to coordinate air defense against Russia.

The post Peace talks between Ukraine and Russia to continue next week appeared first on Straight Arrow News.

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Martha Weimans parents told her and her brothers to stay in an upstairs bedroom the night of Nov. 9, 1938, so they wouldnt see what was about to happen in their beloved hometown of Bocholt, Germany. They peered out anyway.

They saw Nazi soldiers smashing the windows in the synagogue across the street and setting the building on fire. They saw men hauling out prayer books, piling them in the streets and torching them. Then several burst in, arrested their father and took him away to a place called Buchenwald.

The Baltimore Sun interviewed three survivors of the Holocaust, where at least 6 million Jews perished, and two grown children of survivors, all from Baltimore, in commemoration of Jan. 27, the date long recognized as International Holocaust Remembrance Day. As diverse as their stories are, each agreed with an idea the blunt-talking Weiman shared:

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The Holocaust is ancient history for some people, she said. But its not that ancient. Im still here. People are forgetting. And thats not a good thing.

The Holocaust came to an end 81 years ago, and those who lived through it are a dwindling, elderly few.

Nearly all who are still alive today were children at the time. About 70% will be gone within a decade. At a time when antisemitism has once again been rearing its head around the world, survivors like Weiman, now 91 and living in Towson, and their children say theyre determined to share what they know as powerfully, as often and for as long as they can.

A last-minute plea

Felicia Graber and Veronica (Vera) Kastenberg, both of Baltimore, are dismayed to see that memories of the genocide are fading  that nearly half of Americans cant name a single Nazi concentration camp, for example, and 40% believe no more than 2 million Jews lost their lives  let alone by witnessing the spike in antisemitic acts in the U.S. since the terror attacks of Oct. 7, 2023, that killed more than 1,200 people in Israel.

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I never, ever dreamt that Americans would take to antisemitism, said Graber, 85, of Upper Park Heights, a child survivor and native of Poland who emigrated to the U.S. in 1963. Its clearly a lack of knowledge and education. Its important that we all spread the word as much as we can.

Grabers stories are a mix of childhood memories and tales her father, Salomon Lederberger, shared with her in a series of interviews.

Not long after she was born in German-occupied Poland in 1940, the Nazis herded the Jews of Grabers hometown, Tarnow, into a ghetto, where they lived for years under constant threat of removal to death camps. The first roundup, on June 10, 1942, targeted the elderly.

One of her three grandparents was shot to death en route to a transport for being too slow. The others were almost certainly killed either at Belzec, an extermination camp where some 450,000 Jews died in gas chambers during the war, or shot along with hundreds of others and buried in a mass grave, she said.

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Three months later, the Nazis told parents in the ghetto that their children could be taken to a concentration camp alone or go with them and face the gas chambers together. After Grabers parents chose the latter, they were shipped to a transit point to be picked up and taken by rail to Auschwitz the next morning.

A last-minute plea from a friend somehow convinced a Nazi official that Salomon was indispensable. The three were returned to the ghetto, later escaped with the help of a smuggler, and spent the rest of the war moving from place to place under assumed Catholic names. Graber still remembers her mother drilling into her the Lords Prayer and how to behave in church.

Graber, who wasnt told she was Jewish until age 7, grew up to marry an American chaplain. They eventually moved to the U.S., where she became a citizen, taught French and German, and published two books  Amazing Journey: Metamorphosis of a Hidden Child (2010) and Our Fathers Voice: A Holocaust Memoir (2012).

Vera Kestenbergs journey has been no less amazing. An 89-year-old Cheswolde resident, she was born into a wealthy Jewish family, the Salazars, in Budapest in 1936, and grew up with a nanny and a family cook. Two years later, her mother, Klara, was alarmed to hear a Hitler speech in which the German leader declared his plan to make neighboring Austria Judenfrei, or free of Jews.

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For about six years, affluent Jews like the Salazars lived relatively normally, even as Nazis and Hungarys allied government imposed restrictions. That changed in 1944, when Hitler invaded Hungary and ordered Adolf Eichmann to deport 550,000 Jews to extermination camps.

The Salazars secured Aryan IDs for Vera, then 8, and Klara, who drilled her daughter in her new identity as a little Catholic girl. Vera remembers the day her mother took her to the entrance of a pedestrian tunnel in the city and told her to walk to the other end, where a family friend would greet and take her to a safer life on a farm in the countryside.

We had the yellow stars on our coats, but my mother had sewn mine on very lightly, she says. As she hugged me goodbye, she tore it off and said, Now you go. I think it was more traumatic for her than it was for me.'

The two would later reconnect and spend months moving from one place to another amid near-constant bombing by Soviet forces. At wars end, they reunited with Veras father and brother, who had managed a move from a Nazi transit camp to the Glass House, a building a Swiss diplomat, Carl Lutz, used to help thousands of Jews during the Holocaust.

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After living under Communist rule for more than a decade, the Salazars moved to South America in 1956, then to Baltimore in 1958, where Kestenberg, as she became known after marrying for a second time, turned a biochemistry degree she had earned in Budapest into a long career at Johns Hopkins University researching the effects of lead paint on children.

Living in the woods

As their numbers are now in steady decline, Holocaust survivors are leaning more than ever on second-generation survivors to pass their stories along. For some, like Anne Pfeffer and Richard Grilli of Baltimore County, their parents histories are part of their own.

Pfeffer was born in 1947, two years after the end of World War II, in Bergen-Belsen, a displaced-persons camp that had served as a concentration camp during the war. About 52,000 prisoners had died there, mostly of disease and starvation.

When he was in the mood, her father told her of his exploits during the war. What she heard was a tale of courage and miraculous escapes. Indiana Jones had nothing on my father, she said.

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Joseph Kalichman grew up in Josefov, a town in southeastern Poland. After Hitler invaded the country in 1939, the Nazis implemented laws designed to degrade and isolate Jews, and Joseph and his father, Moishe, lived much of the time with resistance guerrillas outside town.

One day in 1942, with the men in the woods, Nazi officers rounded up some 2,000 of the citys Jewish women and children, Josephs mother and sister among them, and marched them into a forest. They were shot and buried in a mass grave.

The following February, Joseph himself was one of about 5,000 men and boys who were rounded up and packed on trains bound for the Majdanek extermination camp. The Germans sent 4,000 to the gas chambers on the first day. Joseph was one of the 1,000 set to die the next morning.

That afternoon, though, he noticed a door in the prison wall that the Germans used to deliver supplies. He slipped through the opening that night, and by the time armed and mounted guards learned of the escape, he was making his way through the Polish woodlands.

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Josephs next few months were the stuff of movies  dodging pursuers bullets, finding refuge in a farmhouse, believing at one point hed been shot to death, and traveling among partisan camps in the woods until hed completed the 109-mile return to Josefov.

After rejoining the guerrillas, he found his fathers remains in a forest outside town. He identified Moishe by the tefillin  leather boxes containing Torah scrolls for daily prayer  beside him.

Pfeffer describes those adventures  and Josephs later life as a prosperous builder in Upstate New York  in Its Not My Story, a book she wrote and published in 2014. He says it was all luck, but I think hes the bravest person Ive ever met, she says.

Richard Grilli, meanwhile, has gone to great lengths to preserve the memory of his mother, Olga Bergmann Grilli, who survived the Holocaust thanks to a painful sacrifice by her mother and the efforts of a celebrated humanitarian.

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She was 10 when Hitler completed the occupation of Czechoslovakia in March 1939. As restrictions on Jews tightened, her mother, Marie Bergmann, considered drastic measures, acting on rumors of a British man organizing rescue trains. That July, she took Olga to Prague and put her on Nicholas Wintons Kindertransport  the last train allowed to leave.

Three years later, the Germans arrested Marie and her two sisters and sent them to a transit camp, then on to Auschwitz, where they died in the gas chambers in 1943. All but 150 of the 15,000 Jewish-Czech children who lived in the region were executed as part of a purge that killed half a million Czech Jews.

An elderly British family took Olga in as part of Wintons program. She emigrated to the U.S. in 1946 to live with an aunt, but she never got over the choice her mother had to make.

A terrible tale

In 1939, Weiman and her family experienced Kristallnacht, a pogrom by the Nazis against Jewish people throughout Germany, Austria, and part of Czechoslovakia. Civilians joined paramilitary forces to destroy some 1,400 synagogues and prayer rooms, wreck 7,000 Jewish businesses, arrest 30,000 Jewish men and kill nearly 100 people that night.

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Weimans father, who had been arrested and taken away on Kristallnacht, had some luck on his side. The Nazis hadnt turned Buchenwald into the full-fledged death camp it would become quite yet, and Weimans mother got the documentation needed to get him released. Hed been beaten so badly the lenses in both eyes were dislocated. He wore thick glasses the rest of his life.

The family soon caught a freighter to London, then emigrated to America, the land of opportunity. Now Weiman wonders what might happen even here.

If you were a kid, and someone told you about the Holocaust, would you believe it? she said. It sounds like a terrible fairy tale.

Have a news tip? Contact Jonathan M. Pitts at jonpitts@baltsun.com.
"It wasn't until I got a lot older that I realised that most of my family had been murdered," says 90-year-old Holocaust survivor Liesel Carter.

Liesel was just four years old when she travelled alone across Europe in 1939 to escape Nazi Germany - and to mark this year's Holocaust Memorial Day, which is marked on 27 January, she is sharing her story.

"Children are very amiable, they do as they're told," Liesel explains as she recounts her journey away from Germany, which finally ended in Leeds.

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She says she carried a travel document for stateless refugees and travelled through several countries before reaching England.

It was there where she was finally reunited with her mother, who had arrived earlier to work as a domestic servant.

"I did as I was told, till I got to Leeds," she says.

Liesel later moved to live with a foster family.

"They wanted to adopt me, but my mother always hoped she would get me back," she says.

Liesel lost more than 200 members of her family in the Holocaust, including close relatives who never made it out of Germany.

Growing up, she knew little about what had happened to them.

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"I was so young, I didn't really understand what was happening. It wasn't until the 1950s that I realised what had happened to my family," she says.

"I only found out in the 1980s what had happened to my father. We reckon he was beaten to death."

Sharing her story at Leeds City Varieties, she was joined by hundreds of people gathered for a special event ahead of this year's Holocaust Memorial Day.

The day remembers the six million Jewish people murdered under the Nazi regime, along with millions of others who were persecuted.

Liesel's granddaughter joined her for the memorial, a moment of shared remembrance across generations [BBC]

This year's theme for Holocaust Memorial Day is "bridging the generations".

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For Liesel's family, that idea feels very real. Her granddaughter, Lauren, stands with her at the event.

"Nan is very real. She's part of our family," Lauren says.

"But for lots and lots of young people today, the world wars are such a distant memory."

Lauren says her grandmother's story has shaped their whole family, and that her work in sharing her experiences has been recognised nationally.

Liesel was awarded a British Empire Medal in the 2025 New Year Honours for her service to Holocaust education and remembrance.

She says that hearing Liesel speak helps younger people understand the human side of history.

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Lauren explains: "Having somebody who you've known your whole life, who talks about, 'this was my experience', this wasn't just Nan's experience, this was her family, her friends, her culture - and the culture of so many people out there.

"It really humanises the six million, and also the people who are continuing to face persecution today."

The purple flame marked Holocaust Memorial Day, observed across the world on 27 January [BBC]

The event in Leeds is one of many taking place across the country to mark Holocaust Memorial Day.

Another will take place on Tuesday evening at the Holocaust Centre North, based at the University of Huddersfield.

The centre was set up to highlight the importance of passing stories from one generation to the next.

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The centre cares for collections from more than 150 families who experienced persecution under the Nazi regime, and its Through Our Eyes exhibition is created from the testimonies of survivors and refugees who rebuilt their lives in the north of England.

In Leeds, candles have been lit to remember the Jewish people murdered in the Holocaust, as well as Roma and Sinti people, LGBTQ+ people, disabled people and others targeted by the Nazi regime.

The commemoration also recognises victims of later genocides around the world.

Local school pupils and community groups took part in the ceremony in Leeds, reflecting the theme of different generations coming together to remember.

The Lord Mayor of Leeds attended in civic regalia to open the commemoration and lead the candle-lighting [BBC]

Dan Cohen, Lord Mayor of Leeds, says the theme of Holocaust Memorial Day 2026 has an important message.

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"The theme for this year is bridging the generations, and that really speaks to the importance of recognising that as we move further in time away from these tragic events of history, there is a risk of collective memories starting to fade."

For Liesel and her family, remembrance is something they continue to share.

It is a story carried forward within the family and supported by the wider community's efforts to keep these memories alive.

"Holocaust Memorial Day is very important. People should never forget what happened because of their race, colour or creed," says Liesel.

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Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.

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A man has been arrested after allegedly throwing a device that police believe may have contained explosives into a crowd in Australia, police have said.

The incident occurred shortly after 12:30 local time (04:30 GMT) on Monday in a pedestrianised square in Perth, where the state premier said thousands had gathered for a rally supporting the rights of Indigenous people. It also coincided with the national holiday, Australia Day.

The 31-year-old man was detained at the scene and remains in custody. Police said the device did not detonate and no injuries have been reported.

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It comes less than two months after an attack on Sydney's Bondi Beach targeting a Jewish festival left 15 people dead.

Witnesses to Monday's incident in Forrest Place said they saw the man throw an object towards the front of a stage while speeches at an Invasion Day rally were taking place, public broadcaster ABC News reported.

Western Australia Police Commissioner Col Blanch told reporters the device had not exploded but contained ball bearings and screws wrapped around an unknown liquid inside a glass container.

He said forensic investigators were in the process of identifying the liquid, describing the device as "very rudimentary" and about the size of a medium coffee cup.

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Blanch said police "do not believe there is any ongoing threat to the community".

Australia Day, on 26 January, marks the 1788 landing of Britain's First Fleet in Sydney Cove and the start of colonisation. For many Indigenous Australians and their supporters, it is known as Invasion Day.

The contentious public holiday often sees large protests take place in major cities across Australia.

The annual Invasion Day protests draw in crowds of people across major cities, including in Sydney (pictured) [Reuters]

Western Australia Premier Roger Cook described the incident in Perth as "completely unacceptable"

"We can't let hate win," he said. "Now, more than ever, it is important that we treat each other's views with respect. It's our differences and diversity which has made Australia the country that we all love."

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Australia's national terror threat level is currently considered "probable", the third-highest rating on a five-point scale.

Several Australia Day events were cancelled or scaled back this year due to extreme heat, with parts of the country experiencing temperatures in excess of 40C.
Judges at the International Criminal Court (ICC) have ruled that former Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte is fit to attend pre-trial proceedings for alleged crimes against humanity.

The ICC also will hold a hearing on 23 February to decide whether the prosecution's case against Duterte is strong enough to proceed to a trial.

Duterte's lawyers earlier argued that the 80-year-old was unfit to participate in the ICC proceedings citing "cognitive impairment". He has been detained at the Hague since March 2025.

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He is accused of being responsible for dozens of murders under his so-called war on drugs, during which thousands of small-time drug dealers, users and others were killed without trial.

Duterte was president of the Philippines from 2016 to 2022. He justified his war on drugs by saying peace and order would pave the way for economic development.

Citing opinions from a panel of medical experts, ICC judges said they were "satisfied" that Duterte is "able effectively to exercise his procedural rights and is therefore fit to take part in the pre-trial proceedings".

ICC judges also said in their decision on Monday that the mental capacities needed to "meaningfully exercise one's procedural and fair trial rights" did not have to be "at their notionally highest level".

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"This ruling tells victims that in the reckoning of Duterte at the ICC, their voices will not be sidelined by technical evasions," said Congresswoman Leila de Lima, one of Duterte's fiercest critics who was jailed during his presidency on drug charges that were later found to be false.

Duterte was arrested at Manila airport in March 2025 as his family's alliance with his successor, President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr crumbled.

His arrest has divided Filipinos. While his deadly drugs crackdown has drawn sharp criticism from civil society, his populist message resonates with those who feel sidelined by Manila's political elite.

In May last year, Duterte was elected mayor of Davao city despite being in prison.

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His daughter, Vice-President Sara Duterte, is also widely expected to run for president in the 2028 elections, where Marcos is ineligible to seek a second term.
(Corrects spelling of Philippines in headline and first paragraph)

MANILA, Jan 27 (Reuters) - The militaries of the Philippines and the United States sailed together this week at a disputed shoal in the South China Sea, Manila's armed forces said on Tuesday, in joint exercises aimed at easing cooperation between the treaty allies.

Military engagements between them have soared under Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who has pivoted closer to Washington in response to China's growing presence in the South China Sea.

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The 11th such drill between the United States and the Philippines since November 2023 was held in the Scarborough Shoal in South China Sea waters in the Philippines' exclusive economic zone, which China also claims as part of its territory.

"The successful conduct of these activities enhanced coordination, tactical proficiency, and mutual understanding between allied forces," the Philippine armed forces said in a statement.

The event showcased the Philippines' frigate Antonio Luna, a Philippine coast guard offshore patrol vessel, as well as two military planes and a helicopter.

The U.S. Indo-Pacific Command deployed the John Finn, an Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer that transited the Taiwan Strait two weeks ago, and an MH-60R Seahawk helicopter.

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On Tuesday, the Southern Theater Command of the Chinese military said it held a routine patrol in the South China Sea from Sunday to Monday, without specifying the location.

"The Philippines co-opted countries outside the region to organise the so-called 'joint patrols', disrupting peace and stability in the South China Sea," it said in a statement.

"The theatre command forces will resolutely safeguard national territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests, and firmly uphold regional peace and stability."

China claims sovereignty over nearly all the South China Sea, including parts of the exclusive economic zones of Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam.

(Reporting by Mikhail Flores; Additional reporting by Ethan Wang in Beijing; Editing by David Stanway and Clarence Fernandez)
Police are asking for help identifying the suspect in one of the most disturbing animal cruelty cases theyve ever investigated.

Two dogs were found dead inside an Atlantic Station parking garage, discovered by a man when he showed up to clean.

The manager of the parking garage told Channel 2s Michael Seiden that the area where the dogs were found is sometimes used by people looking for a place to rest or take cover.

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Police say last summer, an unidentified man seen walking two dogs along 16th Street NW took them inside the parking garage.

Investigators said those dogs were later found dead, their leashes tied together, along with other evidence too graphic to talk about.

About 20 minutes later, cameras captured him again without the dogs.

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Were hoping that somebody is going to recognize him, said Captain Nicole Dwyer with Fulton County Police Departments Animal Services Unit. This is a pretty sickening crime, and we want to get him into custody, so he doesnt commit this again, or, you know, escalate to a human.

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The case came to light after the manager of the parking garage, Darrell Moss, made the disturbing discovery.

On Tuesday, Moss showed Seiden the stairwell where the dogs were found.

He said its a quiet, out-of-the-way area, sometimes used by the homeless looking for a place to rest or take cover.

I came right here, and Im like, What is that smell? When I look like that, I said, Oh, (expletive), thats a dog, Moss said.

Investigators said they worked with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation and the University of Georgia, where necropsies confirmed both dogs were strangled to death.

Police say the surveillance timeline showing the man with the dogs and then without them is why they believe someone out there knows exactly who he is.

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This is a very disturbed individual and a danger to the public, Dwyer said.

Investigators say theyre looking for a black male with a white goatee, between 56 and 59, with tattoo sleeves on both arms.

Anyone with information is urged to contact Dwyer at 470-312-3090.
Boston Police detectives are looking to the public for help in identifying two people who broke into a Boston EMS bay over the weekend.

The breaking and entering incident happened at about 3:20 p.m. on Saturday in the area of 2100 Dorchester Ave.

The two suspects reportedly used a tool to access the rear door of the Boston EMS bay before being confronted by EMTs, police said in a statement on Tuesday.

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Police described the first suspect as a white male in his late 20s with a slim build, long brown hair, and a mustache. He was seen wearing glasses and a green Carhartt jacket.

Police described the second suspect as a white female in her late 20s with a slim build and dirty blonde hair of medium length. She was seen wearing a black North Face jacket and blue jeans.

Boston Police are actively investigating.

Anyone with information is strongly urged to contact detectives at 617-343-4335.

Community members who wish to provide information anonymously may do so through the CrimeStoppers Tip Line by calling 800-494-TIPS, or texting TIP to CRIME (27463), or submitting a tip online at Boston Police CrimeStoppers.

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Photos and videos related to the investigation can also be submitted anonymously via CrimeStoppers.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts.

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US-based Authentic Brands Group has completed a transaction to take US retailer Guess? private and acquire a majority stake in its intellectual property.

The transaction removed the company from public markets and restructured ownership of its assets.

Under the agreement, Authentic acquired 51% of substantially all of Guess?s intellectual property while existing shareholders retained the remaining 49%.

Carlos Alberini and Maurice, Paul and Nicolai Marciano became rolling shareholders in the intellectual property holding companies, along with certain related trusts, foundations and entities.

Authentic founder, chairman and CEO Jamie Salter said: What makes Guess? compelling is the strength of the foundation already in place, from its exceptional leadership and iconic heritage to its vast network of licensing partners around the world.

Guess? management now controls 100% of the operating business, which will continue to be overseen by the current leadership team.

The deal was completed through a merger in which Glow Merger Sub 1 was absorbed into Guess?, leaving the brand as a wholly owned subsidiary of Glow Holdco 1.

Glow Merger Sub 1 was established specifically to enable the acquisition and privatisation of Guess? (GES).

Glow Holdco 1 described in official filings as Parent, is a Delaware corporation and now the sole owner of Guess?.

Following completion, Guess?s shares stopped trading on the New York Stock Exchange, and the company intends to end its US public reporting obligations after required regulatory submissions.

Public shareholders received the right to $16.75 in cash for each share, excluding stock held by Authentic and rolling shareholders, which was cancelled without payment.

Outstanding equity awards - including options, restricted stock units and performance-based grants - were accelerated and converted into cash at the same price, subject to tax deductions.

Guess? also amended the indenture governing its 3.75% convertible senior notes due 2028, with the merger classified as a fundamental change.

Holders can demand repurchase of the notes at par plus accrued interest by 23 February 2026 or convert them into cash at a rate equal to $768.37 for every $1,000 in principal.

Guess? co-founder and CEO Paul Marciano said: Im incredibly proud of the iconic fashion brand weve built over the last 45 years. Guess? has become a worldwide leader in fashion, and joining Authentics outstanding platform, portfolio and track record of success will enable us to build on this incredible foundation and take our brand to the next level.
Hundreds of people living in St. Johns County are now calling for safer intersections along State Road A1A in Ponte Vedra Beach after two crashes were reported less than two weeks apart, and less than a quarter mile apart from one another.

We first reported on January 15th when two people were hurt, one of whom was flown to the hospital, in a crash that Florida Highway Patrol said happened at the intersection of A1A and TPC Boulevard. Last Thursday night, FHP reported a deadly motorcycle crash at the intersection of A1A and Sawgrass Village Drive, right down the road.

The next morning, Hannah Sheikh, whose two sons only recently started driving, put together a petition demanding that the blinking yellow left-turn light at A1A and TPC Boulevard to be removed, believing the flashing lights to be one of the main causes of serious crashes in the area.

We need change immediately. We need it done yesterday, said Sheikh, were scared.

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Sheikh told us she constantly sees crashes along A1A in Ponte Vedra Beach, which the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) says sees more than 40,000 cars driving every day. She believes the blinking yellow left-turn lights are pressuring drivers into making potentially dangerous turns, especially when they cant see the oncoming traffic.

I do a lot of prayer. Its created stress. It has created stress, Sheikh said.

Other nearby neighbors have also been sharing safety concerns regarding the intersections on A1A in Ponte Vedra Beach, particularly after the two recent crashes. John Ekdahl, for one, lives in the LAtrium neighborhood, by the Sawgrass Village Shopping Center, and told us he sees at least one crash every week at the intersection outside of his neighborhood.

They need to turn the blinking yellow light off, Ekdahl said, I dont think you should allow a left-hand turn into 45-mile-an-hour cars coming at you.

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Wendy Dittman, who lives less than 10 minutes away, in the Sawgrass neighborhood, feels like she frequently hears sirens from first responders rushing to crashes at the nearby intersections of A1A.

The main thing is the blinking yellow light. I have witnessed people make turns, doing the left-hand turn, and narrowly miss getting hit, said Dittman.

After hearing concerns from neighbors, we received a report put together by Peters and Yaffee, a Jacksonville-based transportation consultant, who was hired by FDOT to study the nine blinking yellow light intersections along A1A in Ponte Vedra Beach, as a way to determine whether safety improvements at the intersections were needed.

The report found there were 554 total crashes at those intersections from 2019-2024. 77 of those were from left turns, and the report said a different traffic light could have helped prevent most of those crashes.

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We reached out to FDOT to ask whether it was considering making safety improvements at these intersections, based on the recent crashes. In a statement, FDOT told us this:

The intersection at TPC Boulevard and A1A has previously been evaluated, and removing the yellow flashing signal was considered. However, the Department will review the intersection and signal sequencing for potential safety improvements. Separately and unrelated to the recent crashes, the A1A corridor at TPC Boulevard and Sawgrass Village Drive is currently undergoing a study to evaluate potential improvements, including possible intersection reconfigurations. Once the study is complete, FDOT will share potential corridor changes with the public during a public meeting, anticipated for spring 2026.

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U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds has indicated that the Postal Service inspector general is investigating the cause of mail delays plaguing South Dakota residents.

Rounds, in a Jan. 9 video posted to social media, said he met with Tammy Hull, the inspector general for the mail service, to discuss the issue.

"They're on it," Rounds said. "I can't tell you when they're going to be in our part of the country, but I can tell you that they understand how serious this is."

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More: Rep. Dusty Johnson to turn up the heat' on addressing USPS disruptions in SD

In a Dec. 9 letter to Hull, Rounds  one of South Dakota's two Republican senators  wrote that in recent months he has heard from "hundreds of constituents" in the state who have had "substantial issues" with mail delivery.

The issues are a result of the "flawed design" of the Postal Service network, which "all but guarantees that mail traveling across or to South Dakota must travel in a circuitous manner through locations around and outside of the state," Rounds wrote.

More: Report says South Dakota at risk of postmark delays as Postal Service implements changes

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Rounds said in a follow-up video on social media that a letter sent from Rapid City to Pierre first has to travel to Denver, Colorado, then Des Moines, Iowa, and then Fargo, North Dakota, before arriving in Pierre.

He encouraged South Dakota residents to report mail delivery issues to his office.

"We're going to keep track of this," Rounds said. "We're going to turn it over to the inspector general, and we're going to get some results."

Rounds, though, also urged anyone experiencing problems not to blame their local mail carrier.

"They're just as frustrated as you and I are," he said. "I want those postal employees to make contact with us as well to share what's going on because those are the folks they see it every day."

This article originally appeared on Sioux Falls Argus Leader: Sen. Mike Rounds says South Dakota mail delays under investigation
A video of children tinkering with the coupling of a stationary train has spread among social media posts in Hindu-majority India, where it has been falsely presented as showing Muslim kids sabotaging an Indian passenger train. The video's creator told AFP it was filmed in Bangladesh's capital Dhaka, and has nothing to do with India.

"We are not afraid of the Pakistan that is outside our border. We are afraid of the thousands of mini-Pakistans that exist within India," reads the Hindi-language caption of an Instagram video shared on January 14, 2026.

The video shows several children clambering onto a stationary train, and focuses on one child who appears to be striking a coupling with a rock and tinkering with the connection.

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Hindi text on a yellow banner over the video reads: "The threat is not from the Pakistani army, but from the religious ideologies present within India."

Screenshot of the false Instagram post captured on January 22, 2026, with a red X added by AFP

The same video was also shared in similar Facebook and Instagram posts by India-based users.

"This is the state of Jihadi thinking in India; terrorist training is already being instilled in the minds of children," reads a comment on one of the posts.

Another reads: "This is a known strategy of Islamic barbarians. Getting juveniles to commit grave crimes. Indian Railways must pay attention to this."

Hindu-majority India and Muslim-majority Pakistan fought for four days in May 2025, weeks after New Delhi accused Islamabad of backing a deadly attack on tourists in Indian-administered Kashmir, claims Pakistan denied (archived link).

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The nuclear-armed neighbours' ensuing conflict killed at least 70 people, and saw both sides make extensive use of drones as well as intense missile and artillery barrages.

The circulating video, however, does not show Muslim children tampering with a train in India.

A reverse image search on Google using keyframes from the falsely shared video led to a higher-quality version posted on Facebook on December 28, 2025 (archived link).

"All the boys are on the train. Children are working in Kamalapur," reads the Bengali-language caption, referring to a railway station in Bangladesh's capital Dhaka (archived link).

Screenshot comparison of the falsely shared video (L) and the December 2025 Facebook clip

"I filmed the video on December 28, 2025, at the Kamalapur Station," Alamin, a content creator and local journalist, told AFP on January 21, 2026.

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"The boys were trying to take metal parts from the engine coupling of a train when it entered the platform," he said.

He added that children in the area play near the railway station, and will sometimes help staff to earn some money.

In a comment added later to his Facebook post, Alamin said the children were not stealing, contrary to claims circulating on social media.

The livery of the train in the circulating video also matches with photos of passenger trains that operate in Bangladesh, available in AFP's archives, and Bengali writing on the side the carriage also indicates the video was filmed in Bangladesh.

Screenshot from the falsely shared video, with Bengali writing on the train highlighted by AFP

AFP has previously debunked a similar false claim, alleging a video shows a Bangladeshi refugee stealing from Indian train passengers.
The White House on Tuesday announced that President Donald Trump signed an executive order with an aim to "cut through bureaucratic red tape and speed up reconstruction in the Pacific Palisades and Eaton Canyon areas one year after devastating wildfires destroyed nearly 40,000 acres of homes and businesses."

The presidential action, titled "Addressing State and Local Failures to rebuild Los Angeles After Wildfire Disasters," blamed Democratic political figures for the pace of the rebuilding process over the past year.

Trump's order does two things: it seeks to bypass city and county building regulations and orders an audit of $3 billion in federal hazard mitigation grant program funds that were granted to California to prevent future fires.

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Some property owners have complained that they need more government assistance and streamlined or suspended regulations in order to rebuild. Others say the settlements offered by Southern California Edison and their private insurance carriers are insufficient.

Chaotic evacuation, traffic control during Palisades Fire was a 'huge miss,' LA councilwoman says

Recovery from the Palisades Fire will take years, but people who were impacted by the destructive blaze are hoping changes are made much sooner so history doesn't repeat itself.

It was not immediately clear what effect, if any, Trump's latest executive order will have on the pace of rebuilding.

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State and local officials contend the president has been the biggest obstacle to rebuilding, blocking a nearly $34 billion disaster relief request from reaching Congress - essentially choking off rebuilding funds.

Soon after the text of the executive order was posted on the official White House website Tuesday morning, Gov. Gavin Newsom's press office issued a response on social media.

"With 1,625+ home permits issued, hundreds of homes under construction, and permitting timelines at least 2x faster than before the fires, an executive order to rebuild Mars would do just as useful," the statement from the governor's office, posted on X, said. "The Feds need to release funding not take over local permit approval speed - the main obstacle is COMMUNITIES NOT HAVING THE MONEY TO REBUILD."

Addressing Trump directly, the statement continued: "Mr. President, please actually help us. We are begging you. Release the federal disaster aid you're withholding that will help communities rebuild their homes, schools, parks, and infrastructure."

City News Service contributed to this report.
American approval of President Donald Trump's immigration policy dropped to its lowest level since his return to the White House, a new Reuters/Ipsos poll found, amid growing backlash after federal immigration agents fatally shot two people in Minneapolis this month.

The poll, conducted nationwide Jan. 23 through Jan. 25, gathered responses before and after immigration officers on Jan. 24 killed a second U.S. citizen in Minneapolis during confrontations with protesters over Trump's deployment of immigration agents to cities across the United States. Fifty-three percent of Americans polled disapprove of the president's immigration policy, while 39% approve of the job Trump is doing on immigration, down from 41% in the prior Reuters/Ipsos poll this month.

The poll gathered responses from 1,139 U.S. adults and had a margin of error of about 3 percentage points.

Mourners kneel at a makeshift memorial in the area where Alex Pretti was shot dead a day earlier by federal immigration agents in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on Jan. 25, 2026. On January 24, federal agents shot dead US citizen Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old ICU nurse, while scuffling with him on an icy roadway, less than three weeks after an immigration officer shot and killed Renee Good, also 37, in her car. A mourner visits a makeshift memorial in the area where Alex Pretti was shot dead a day earlier by federal immigration agents in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on Jan. 25, 2026. On January 24, federal agents shot dead US citizen Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old ICU nurse, while scuffling with him on an icy roadway, less than three weeks after an immigration officer shot and killed Renee Good, also 37, in her car. His killing sparked new protests and impassioned demands by local leaders for the Trump administration to end its operation in the city. A picture of Alex Pretti is left at a makeshift memorial in the area where Pretti was shot dead a day earlier by federal immigration agents in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on Jan. 25, 2026. On January 24, federal agents shot dead US citizen Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old ICU nurse, while scuffling with him on an icy roadway, less than three weeks after an immigration officer shot and killed Renee Good, also 37, in her car. His killing sparked new protests and impassioned demands by local leaders for the Trump administration to end its operation in the city. Mourners gather at a makeshift memorial in the area where Alex Pretti was shot dead a day earlier by federal immigration agents in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on Jan.25, 2026. On January 24, federal agents shot dead US citizen Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old ICU nurse, while scuffling with him on an icy roadway, less than three weeks after an immigration officer shot and killed Renee Good, also 37, in her car. His killing sparked new protests and impassioned demands by local leaders for the Trump administration to end its operation in the city. A woman cries at a makeshift memorial in the area where 37-year-old Alex Pretti was shot dead by federal immigration agents earlier in the day in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on Jan. 24, 2026. Federal immigration agents shot dead a man in Minneapolis on Saturday, in the second fatal shooting of a civilian during the Trump administration's unprecedented operation in the city, sparking fresh protests and outrage from state officials. The death came less than three weeks after US citizen Renee Good was shot and killed by an ICE officer. People mourn at a makeshift memorial in the area where 37-year-old Alex Pretti was shot dead by federal immigration agents earlier in the day in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on Jan. 24, 2026. Federal immigration agents shot dead a man in Minneapolis on Saturday, in the second fatal shooting of a civilian during the Trump administration's unprecedented operation in the city, sparking fresh protests and outrage from state officials. The death came less than three weeks after US citizen Renee Good was shot and killed by an ICE officer. A woman prays at a makeshift memorial in the area where 37-year-old Alex Pretti was shot dead by federal immigration agents earlier in the day in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on Jan. 24, 2026. Federal immigration agents shot dead a man in Minneapolis on Saturday, in the second fatal shooting of a civilian during the Trump administration's unprecedented operation in the city, sparking fresh protests and outrage from state officials. The death came less than three weeks after US citizen Renee Good was shot and killed by an ICE officer. People gather together during a candlelight vigil for Alex Pretti after he was shot and killed earlier in the day on Jan. 24, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Federal agents shot and killed Pretti amid a scuffle to arrest him. The Trump administration has sent a reported 3,000 federal agents into the area, with more on the way, as they make a push to arrest undocumented immigrants in the region. People gather together during a candlelight vigil for Alex Pretti after he was shot and killed earlier in the day on Jan. 24, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Federal agents shot and killed Pretti amid a scuffle to arrest him. The Trump administration has sent a reported 3,000 federal agents into the area, with more on the way, as they make a push to arrest undocumented immigrants in the region. People pay their respects during a candlelight vigil for Alex Pretti after he was shot and killed earlier in the day on Jan. 24, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Federal agents shot and killed Pretti amid a scuffle to arrest him. The Trump administration has sent a reported 3,000 federal agents into the area, with more on the way, as they make a push to arrest undocumented immigrants in the region. Vigils held for Alex Pretti, killed in Border Patrol related shooting 1 of 10 Mourners kneel at a makeshift memorial in the area where Alex Pretti was shot dead a day earlier by federal immigration agents in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on Jan. 25, 2026. On January 24, federal agents shot dead US citizen Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old ICU nurse, while scuffling with him on an icy roadway, less than three weeks after an immigration officer shot and killed Renee Good, also 37, in her car.

Immigration was a brighter spot for Trump's popularity in the weeks following his January inauguration. In Feb. 2025, 50% approved and 41% disapproved.

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Trump won the 2024 presidential election after promising a historic surge in deportations. Masked immigration officers, often in tactical military-style gear, have become a common sight across the nation, and protests against the operations have erupted in several cities, including Minneapolis, where immigration agents have responded with deadly force.

ICU nurse Alex Pretti was shot and killed by Border Patrol agents in South Minneapolis on Jan. 24. Trump administration officials have accused Pretti, 37, a U.S. citizen, of assaulting officers during a protest in Minneapolis, though that account has appeared at odds with videos recorded by bystanders.

Earlier this month, Renee Nicole Good, 37, another U.S. citizen, was fatally shot by a federal agent in South Minneapolis on Jan. 7 during an immigration raid. Earlier on Jan. 26, Trump said he would send border czar Tom Homan to Minnesota to lead some operations on the ground.

'Your eyes don't lie.': Trump, ICE, a death and a turning point

Trump's overall approval rating also slides

Trump's overall approval rating also slid to 38%, according to the latest Reuters/Ipsos poll, tying the lowest level of his current term, as it dropped from 41% in the prior Reuters/Ipsos poll conducted Jan. 12 to Jan. 13.

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The survey also found that about 58% of Americans polled said Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents have gone "too far" in their operations, while 12% said ICE had not gone far enough, and 26% said the agents' efforts were just "about right." About 9 in 10 Democrats said the agents have gone too far, compared to 2 in 10 Republicans and 6 in 10 independents.

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz on Jan. 26 said Trump agreed to consider reducing the number of immigration agents in Minnesota and will ensure state investigators can independently probe the Pretti shooting by Border Patrol agents. Walz's office said in a statement that he had a "productive" call with the president about an hour after Trump himself said the two were on a "similar wavelength."

Growing backlash: Anger grows in Minneapolis a day after federal agents kill nurse

Republican lawmakers have increasingly called for investigations into the killing of Pretti as Democrats refuse to fund the Department of Homeland Security despite the likelihood of a government shutdown.

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Trump on Jan. 26 said he would send border czar Tom Homan to Minnesota to lead some operations on the ground. In Minneapolis, thousands of protesters braved subzero temperatures to decry the shooting and call for an end to the federal intervention.

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey on Jan. 26 said he also spoke with Trump. The mayor said he "appreciated" the conversation.

"I expressed how much Minneapolis has benefited from our immigrant communities and was clear that my main ask is that Operation Metro Surge needs to end," Frey said. "The president agreed the present situation cant continue."

The mayor said Minneapolis will continue to cooperate with state and federal law enforcement on "real criminal investigations  but we will not participate in unconstitutional arrests of our neighbors or enforce federal immigration law."

Frey said he planned to meet with Homan on Jan. 27 "to further discuss next steps."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Donald Trump's immigration approval falls to a record low: New poll
A Houston attorney has been identified as one of the victims Sunday night after a private jet crashed during takeoff at Bangor International Airport in Maine, according to a Harris County official.

Tara Arnold, an attorney with the Houston-based law firm Arnold & Itkin of which her husband is a founding partner, was among those killed in the crash, Harris County Precinct 4 Commissioner Lesley Briones said Monday.

Briones described the incident as a tragedy while speaking at a Monday news conference alongside Houston Mayor John Whitmire.

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Were still waiting on additional information, but unfortunately the plane went down yesterday evening in Maine, Briones said.

As previously reported by The Dallas Express, a private jet registered to a Houston-based company overturned on the runway Sunday evening at Bangor International Airport during takeoff, prompting a federal investigation.

Unverified Air Traffic Control Audio Circulates Online

According to an air traffic control recording cited in a social media post by an aviation-focused account, a voice was heard over radio communications moments before the crash saying, Let there be light. The post said it was unclear whether the remark was made by a pilot or an air traffic controller, or what the statement was referring to.

The same post said other radio chatter included discussion of low visibility and removing ice from the aircraft prior to takeoff. Shortly after the crash, air traffic controllers were heard saying, All traffic is stopped on the field, followed by, Aircraft upside down.

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Federal aviation authorities have not commented publicly on the recording or the source of the statement.

Aircraft And Investigation

The Federal Aviation Administration has identified the aircraft as a Bombardier Challenger business jet. FAA registration records list the aircraft as registered to a Houston-based limited liability company with an address associated with the Arnold & Itkin law firm. Authorities have not confirmed ownership of the aircraft or who was aboard at the time of the crash.

The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board said the cause of the crash has not yet been determined. Officials have not released a final count of fatalities or identified all victims.

Community Response

Briones, who previously worked at Arnold & Itkin, said Arnold was active in the Houston community and served on the board of Precinct4Forward, a nonprofit affiliated with Harris County Precinct 4.

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Shes just a phenomenal person, a bold leader, and somebody who had a heart of service, Briones said. My heart and my prayers are with Kurt and their children and all of the affected families.

Arnold & Itkin was founded by Kurt Arnold and Jason Itkin and focuses on maritime, energy, and catastrophic injury cases, according to the firms website.

According to her professional biography, Tara Arnold earned her law degree from Tulane University Law School and previously worked in the Houston office of a New York-based law firm before joining Arnold & Itkin, where she handled commercial and business dispute matters.

As of Monday evening, Maine officials had not publicly released the names of all victims involved in the crash. A representative for the law firm previously declined to comment.

The FAA and the NTSB said the investigation remains ongoing.
(Photo courtesy of Oregon State University)

A proposed law would give Washingtons agricultural workers a formal process to engage in collective bargaining with their employers, extending an advantage that many private-sector workers have.

But farm representatives worry that the change would burden an already struggling industry.

Senate Bill 6045 had its first hearing on Jan. 20 in the Senate Labor and Commerce Committee, which is chaired by the bills prime sponsor, Sen. Rebecca Saldana, D-Seattle.

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The federal National Labor Relations Act, which grants collective bargaining rights to private-sector workers, does not cover agricultural workers. In Washington, agricultural workers can unionize, but the bills advocates point out that the law does not have a mechanism to enforce that ability.

SB 6045 would put agricultural workers collective bargaining under the purview of the state Public Employment Relations Commission, which already covers agricultural cannabis workers. The state commission, along with the courts, would enforce workers rights associated with forming a union, including certifying the union and establishing a contract, according to the bill summary.

Impassioned support

April Sims, president of the Washington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO, who testified in support of the bill, said the federal act left out agricultural work  work historically performed by Black, Mexican or Filipino workers, and a century later that injustice still stands.

You have a chance to both empower the farm families who supply our food and to correct this historic injustice, Sims said.

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Andrea Schmitt, an attorney at Columbia Legal Services who supports the bill, said the fact that farmworkers dont have an enforceable right to union elections, or to ensure their employers recognize those unions, remains a gaping hole in the law.

Several people who supported the bill are associated with Familias Unidas por la Justicia, a Washington farmworkers union that was born of strikes, boycotts and years of litigation, according to its political director, Edgar Franks.

He told the committee that such a contentious process caused economic harm to both the employer and the employee. Thats something that we dont want.

SB 6045 offers a remedy, he said.

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Predictability, I know, is a big thing for employers and also for workers, so we feel that this bill does that, he said. It also offers fairness for workers.

Tomas Ramon, vice president of FUJ, said through a translator, Winning a union contract has changed my familys life for the better in every way.

Were tired of hearing the excuse from the agricultural industry that giving farmworkers the same rights as everyone else will run farms out of business. Its an insult to our humanity.

Significant opposition

Of the people who signed into the meeting but did not testify, almost 500 favored the bill, and more than 600 opposed it.

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Blaine Smith, an orchardist who opposes the bill, said he spoke for hundreds of small growers in the Wenatchee Valley when he said the agricultural industry faces financial difficulties right now.

Nobodys making an income, he said, and as much as we would like to pay higher wages, we just simply are broke.

Enrique Gastelum testified on behalf of the Worker and Farm Labor Association, which opposes SB 6045. He said the bill adds significant risk at a time when agriculture cannot absorb more.

Washington agriculture has been financially strained for years, he said. Farm numbers are falling, labor costs have surged, and many operations are hanging on by a thread. When farms close, workers are the first to lose income and the economic impact ripples across the entire community. Any new labor policy must be crafted with this fragile reality in mind.

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Gastelum and other critics share the concern that, by allowing workers to strike, the bill risks the crops that during harvest season must be picked within a narrow timeframe.

Others questioned whether a new law is needed given Washingtons worker protections, including the highest minimum wage among the states, overtime pay, employee safety and statutes against discrimination and retaliation.

Cory Anderson, director of agriculture operations and strategy at L&L Ag Production, asked what problem the bill seeks to solve.

This bill doesnt just claim to protect workers, he said. It builds a new labor system  a system of mandatory bargaining, lawyers and rigid rules. You dont improve relationships by turning them into legal processes.  Collective bargaining agreements replace those relationships with paperwork and procedures. You cannot legislate trust, but you can absolutely destroy it.

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Saldana said the way agriculture operates is not working, in part, because the fundamental way that weve structured this industry is based on a history of exploitation, and until we face that, it is causing harm to the farmer and to the farmworker.

It is why we see a high rate of suicide and mental health challenges for both the producers and also the farmworkers.

Calling her bill a starting point to correct the power imbalance, she said that although it is a short legislative session, I am optimistic that the people that we have before us right now  the farmers we heard from, the association leaders that we heard from, the union representation we heard from  that we are the right people at the right time to take on a big challenge.

A companion bill also had a hearing in the state House of Representatives.

Erick Bengel, reporting on eastern Washington issues during the legislative session, is with the Murrow News Fellowship.


A professional python hunter in Florida needed assistance from family members to uncoil a giant Burmese python from his body and to ultimately subdue the second-heaviest python ever caught in Florida.

As the Naples Daily News reported earlier this week: Carl Jackson, who is a contracted python hunter with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, was traveling back on Turner River Road in Big Cypress National Park in the afternoon on Jan. 13 when he noticed Burmese python tracks across the road over his truck tracks.

They appeared to be tracks from a smaller snake, perhaps an 8-footer, tops.

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I go in [to the bushes] and walk around and I see a head, Jackson told the Naples Daily News. He immediately recognized that this was not a small snake. Jackson began wrestling with the huge python, which dragged him over a red and black ant hill.

It was like riding a slow horse, Jackson, 43, told Naples Daily News. It was insane.

Carl Jackson poses with the second-heaviest Burmese python ever caught in Florida.

Jackson's python weighed 202 pounds, only 13 pounds from the record.

The python measured 16 feet, 10 inches.

Jackson relied upon his team to uncoil the snake from around his body several times. His team included his wife, Tasha, and adopted kids, Ryker Young, 20, and Jazzlyn Bateman, 16, all of whom just the day before became certified assistants in the FWCs Python Action Team, Removing Invasive Constrictors program.

The python wound up being the second-heaviest python ever caught in Florida at 202 pounds. The record is 215 pounds caught in 2022.

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Also on FTW Outdoors: Woman awakes to find python on her chest, dont move

Jacksons python was a 16-foot, 10-inch female, which had been carrying 200 eggs.

This article originally appeared on For The Win: Python drags hunter 15 feet over ant hill; like riding a slow horse
A statement by Qatar's Fund for Development said about $400 million would be provided to support Lebanon's energy sector, of which 10% would be allocated as a grant.

Qatar will provide Lebanon with about $434 million in financial support, with most of it aimed at the country's ailing energy sector, according to Qatar's Fund for Development.

Qatar has been providing the Lebanese army with grants for fuel and salaries. Lebanon needs foreign funds to help meet a huge reconstruction bill from the 2024 war between Israel and Lebanese terror group Hezbollah, in which Israeli air strikes flattened swathes of the country.

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Even before the conflict, Lebanon had been struggling for years with a severe shortage of imported fuel and poor infrastructure.

A fund statement said about $400 million would be provided to support the energy sector, of which 10% had been allocated as a grant. The financial support would also aim to bolster the Lebanese army's capacities and those of other sectors.

Qatar's role in Lebanon, against Hezbollah

Qatar's role in Lebanon has been both as an investor and as a security guarantor, with the Gulf state being one of the main countries pushing for the stabilization in the region and the end of the fighting between Israel and Hezbollah.

A man holds a weapon next to a poster with an image of late senior Hezbollah official Hashem Safieddine, in Lebanon, November 27, 2024 (credit: REUTERS/THAIER AL-SUDANI)

Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey gave Hezbollah a "final chance" to disarm and surrender its weapons to the Lebanese government, Saudi-owned outlet Asharq Al-Awsat reported on January 1.

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As per the report, the three nations heavily involved in mediation efforts told the Lebanese terrorist organization that a move to disarm would "spare Lebanon an Israeli strike" that would "deepen the gap" between Hezbollah and the Lebanese people.

Qatar also invested in Lebanon, especially after its state-run energy company entered a consortium to explore Lebanon's offshore gas project.

Qatar was involved in developing infrastructure and resources close to Israels border, a move made possible by the pressure put on Israel to sign a maritime 2022 deal with Lebanon.

The then-US mediator and energy envoy Amos Hochstein praised the developments, saying: Congratulations to Lebanon on Qatar energy joining as investor with Eni [and] TotalEnergies. Welcome additional new investment in Lebanon energy sector and another example of progress from the maritime agreement.

Seth J. Frantzman contributed to this report.
LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  The Nevada Attorney Generals office is being asked to investigate a Las Vegas charter school after a report uncovered financial issues.

This has to do with transactions administrators at Nevada Prep Charter School made around the time the State Public Charter School Authority announced it was shutting them down.

A closing administrator for Nevada Prep put together the report and released it publicly last week. The State Public Charter School Authority appointed Joshua Kern to the position after they voted to not to renew the license for Nevada Prep, effectively closing the school. Kerns report details how financially mismanaged the school was.

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According to the report, Nevada Prep paid Tew Investments LLC $89,077 on Dec. 8. Tew Investments was reportedly set up by Patrice Tew, Nevada Preps board president. It was a repayment for a $100,000 loan she made in August 2025 to help the school.

But the loan wasnt due until April of 2026. Nevada Prep owed more than $200,000 in rent to Building Hope after not paying rent in September, November, and December, according to the report. Building of Hope sent a Default Notice to Nevada Prep on Dec. 16.

The school also owed hundreds of thousands of dollars to other creditors.

In his report, Joshua Kern questioned the payment, saying, There is no explanation grounded in the schools best interests for why this loan was prepaid given the financial condition of the school. That transaction was part of several that raised red flags.

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Kern detailed how despite having nearly $300,000 on Dec 8, 2025, the day after the appointment of a closing administrator on Dec. 12, the checking account was overdrawn. His report also uncovered that four administrative staff, who were most likely to have material information contrary to what was being reported to the SPCSA, were given substantial undocumented, mid-cycle raises of $20  $40K per person, effective Nov. 1, 2025, outside of the Board-approved budgeting process.

Nevada Prep is a perfect demonstration of the system working as it was intended to work. You identify a problem, you document the problem, Melissa Mackedon, the executive director of SPCSA, said. This is just an unfortunate case where their own financial policies and procedures were not being followed, and once we identified that, we took immediate transparent action.

Kern recommended in his report that a complaint be filed with the Nevada Commission on Ethics and to refer this matter to the Nevada Attorney Generals Office for violations of NRS Chapter 241 governing Nevada Open Meeting Law.

A document leaked to 8 News Now last December showed disciplinary issues with students, including hundreds of incidents at the kindergarten through eighth-grade school. Students reportedly threatened to kill other students, were caught vaping or with marijuana, and repeatedly used racial slurs, including the N-word.

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Document leaked to 8 News Now under investigation as state takes over troubled Las Vegas-area charter school

Nevada Prep, which has about 470 students, is expected to cease operations at the end of the 2025-2026 school year.

Mackedon said the situation at Nevada Prep is an outlier as 85% of charter schools in the state are three stars or above.

Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS.
On January 27, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev attended the opening of the mirror sheet production plant of "Azermirror" LLC in the Sumgayit Industrial Park, Azernews reports.
Insurance company AXA Hong Kong and Macau has finalised the re-domiciliation of its China-focused insurance holding company from Bermuda to Hong Kong.

The re-domiciliation process was completed on 26 January 2026.

The move involves AXA China Region Insurance Company (Bermuda) (ACRIB), which has been renamed AXA China Region Insurance Company (Hong Kong) following the transfer.

It was executed under the re-domiciliation framework introduced by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government.

AXA first disclosed plans for the relocation in May 2025, stating that the objective was to streamline regulatory reporting and compliance arrangements.

AXA Greater China CEO Sally Wan said: Leveraging Hong Kong's robust economy and its role as a regional hub for insurance and risk management, we are confident that AXA's long-term success will continue to advance. Looking ahead, we remain committed to creating long-term value for our customers, partners and the community, while actively pursuing sustainable growth."

According to the group, the shift in jurisdiction does not alter the companys legal entity, organisational set-up or day-to-day operations.

Existing contracts will remain in effect, and policyholders, distributors and business partners will continue to hold the same rights and obligations.

In the week beginning 2 February 2026, the company plans to submit applications to Macau authorities to update the registered name of its local branch.

AXA said the move underscores Hong Kongs role as a financial centre and represents one of the earliest instances of an insurer making use of the new re-domiciliation regime.

The group added that the transfer is designed to position Hong Kong as the operational base for the business while ensuring continuity for customers and counterparties.

Last week, AXAs Digital Commercial Platform entered into a partnership with Finnish satellite operator ICEYE to incorporate synthetic aperture radar imagery into its risk-monitoring services.

ICEYE satellite data will be used to monitor floods, fires and storms as it expands predictive risk services.

"AXA completes re-domiciliation of China insurance unit to Hong Kong" was originally created and published by Life Insurance International, a GlobalData owned brand.




"When business tax cuts reduce state revenue, the funding disappears, but the needs do not." (Photo by Dana Wormald/New Hampshire Bulletin)

Earlier this month, the New Hampshire House passed what looks like a tiny change: a 0.05 percentage point cut to the Business Enterprise Tax. But this small number masks big consequences.

Based on our research, the proposal would drain tens of millions of dollars from the state budget, could weaken funding for education, health care, and local services, and ultimately shift more costs onto families and property-tax payers, all while offering most businesses savings too small to meaningfully boost hiring or investment. Heres what the data show, and why it matters for Granite Staters.

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First, this proposed change could drain millions from an already-strained state budget. Through examining past BET rate reductions, revenue trends, recent tax filing data, official state revenue projections, and interactions with the Business Profits Tax (BPT), we modeled the likely fiscal and economic effects of the proposed 0.05% change in the BET tax rate and found that if the proposed BET rate had been implemented during the current biennial state budget, it would have cost the state $26 million per year in BET revenue.

For context, that is equivalent to more than half of last years budgets for the New Hampshire Veterans Home, the State Police, or the states road and bridge aid to towns and cities. This new annual revenue loss would be on top of the nearly $105 million in BET revenue the state is already set to lose in fiscal year 2026 due to prior reductions. These combined business tax cuts are almost twice what the state spent on targeted special education aid over the past two years.

Second, business tax savings from the 0.05% reduction in the BET rate would be minimal and, in most cases, certainly not enough to spur hiring. The average business paying BET would save only about $47 per month from the rate reduction. When the 306 filers with more than about $18 million in taxable compensation or payments each are excluded from this calculation, the BET savings would average about $28 per month. The small savings companies will receive are clearly not enough to hire new employees, but they might be able to order a couple of pizzas.

Third, while supporters of the tax reduction argue that reducing the BET could spur business activity and economic growth, thus ultimately increasing state revenues, the data simply do not support that claim. Historical data show no consistent statistical relationship between BET rates and job growth in New Hampshire over the last four decades. Prior studies, including New Hampshires own Commission to Study Business Taxes, have found no evidence that business tax cuts generate enough new economic activity to replace lost revenue, and NHFPIs own analysis of business tax rate reductions in New Hampshire found that the business tax rate reductions cost the state about a billion dollars in revenue from 2016 to 2024.

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It is true that New Hampshires business tax revenues, when BPT and BET are included, have grown overall, but not consistently or as much as in many other states. From 2015 to 2024, our states business tax revenues more than doubled (a 118% increase). However, over the same period, business tax revenues more than tripled nationally (a 239% increase) and across the other five New England states (a 224% increase). If state business tax cuts had spurred revenue growth in New Hampshire, the state would have seen revenues outpace states that did not change their tax rates, rather than fall behind.

Finally, cutting taxes for businesses gets expensive for Granite Staters. When business tax cuts reduce state revenue, the funding disappears, but the needs do not. Schools still need to operate, roads and bridges still need maintenance, and public health systems still need to provide care. With fewer state dollars available, communities are left struggling to meet the same obligations with fewer resources. Too often, the result is higher property taxes, which are already among the highest in the country. Those higher costs dont stop with homeowners. They are passed on to renters and contribute to the states sky-high housing costs.

The data are clear: this proposed BET cut would deliver minimal benefits to most businesses while creating real fiscal pressures for Granite Staters. As lawmakers look to the next state budget amid federal uncertainty and an ongoing affordability crisis, decisions about tax policy should be grounded in evidence and a clear-eyed understanding of who benefits and who truly pays.
Florida Rep. Cory Mills is inviting residents to attend town halls this week.

The first will be held in New Smyrna Beach on Wednesday at the Brannon Center, followed by a second event in Oviedo on Thursday at the Oviedo Cultural Center.

Both town halls are scheduled to run from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. each evening.

Mills encourages attendees to ask questions, share their concerns, and discuss local issues affecting their communities.

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Registration is required to attend the town halls and will close 24 hours before each event.

Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
The FBI agent who tried to investigate the federal officer who fatally shot Renee Good in Minneapolis has reportedly resigned.

According to the New York Times, Tracee Mergen recently left her role as an agent at the FBIs Minneapolis office.

Mergen had been pursuing a civil rights inquiry into Johnathan Ross, the ICE officer who shot 37-year-old Good on Jan. 7 amid a heightened immigration crackdown in the metro.

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But the Times claims that federal officials pressured Mergen to step away from the investigation into Ross, as the Department of Justice instead pursued an investigation into Good and her widow.

According to MS Now, FBI agents involved in the investigation into Ross were instructed by the office of Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche to redraft their warrant and change the subject of the investigation to Good for suspected assault on an officer.

A federal magistrate judge reportedly rejected that warrant.

Dustin Nelson | Bring Me The News (Dustin Nelson | Bring Me The News)

Mergen isnt the only official to resign as federal investigators shift the focus of the case from Ross to Good.

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Six federal prosecutors, including Minnesota's top fraud prosecutor Joe Thompson, resigned from the U.S. Attorneys Office of Minnesota earlier this month, reportedly due to the DOJ's move to investigate Good's widow.

State officials have also been sidelined from the investigation. Days after Goods shooting, the BCA announced that it no longer had access to evidence and testimony after the FBI took sole ownership of what was supposed to be a joint investigation.

In response, Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty and Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison revealed that their offices will work together to collect and preserve evidence to share with the BCA in an effort to support a state-level investigation.

The same happened on Saturday following the killing of Alex Pretti in Minneapolis, with federal authorities barring Minnesota investigators from accessing the crime scene.

This story was originally published by Bring Me The News on Jan 26, 2026, where it first appeared in the MN News section. Add Bring Me The News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) is urging officials in President Donald Trumps administration to dial back on their rhetoric in the wake of a second fatal shooting of a U.S. citizen by a federal officer in Minnesota.

In the latest episode of his Verdict podcast, Cruz described the administrations sweeping immigration crackdown as a massive success, pointing to Trumps promise to secure the border and a new report showing the national homicide rate had hit its lowest level in over a century. But he then pivoted on how he said the administration could do better.

Immediately when an incident like this happens, they come out guns blazing, Cruz said. That we took out a violent terrorist. Hooray.

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And the problem is, particularly for someone not paying attention, if youre being told this is a mom of three, and theres no indication  you know, shes not waving an ISIS flag or doesnt have a suicide vest around her  escalating the rhetoric doesnt help, and it actually loses credibility," he continued.

Cruz went on to say that he encourages the administration to be more measured in its reaction.

To recognize the tragedy and to say We dont want anyones lives to be lost, Cruz said. And the politicians who are pouring gasoline onto this fire, they need to stop.

The MAGA allys reaction comes as he has made headlines this week for reportedly harshly criticizing Vice President JD Vance and Trumps tariff policies during private meetings with donors. Cruz said that conservative commentator Tucker Carlson created Vance, while noting that Trump told him f--- you after he expressed concerns about the presidents economic policy ahead of the 2026 midterms, according to Axios.

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Following the killing of Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old intensive care unit nurse, dueling responses have emerged from state and federal officials about the lead up to the shooting.

While Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, both Democrats, have called for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents to leave the Twin Cities, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller both quickly accused Pretti of being a domestic terrorist. Meanwhile, Border Patrol commander Gregory Bovino applauded the federal agents who responded in taking him down.

Trump, however, has appeared to take a different approach. He dodged answering whether the U.S. Border Patrol agent who fatally shot Pretti acted appropriately, telling The Wall Street Journal that his administration is reviewing everything about the incident. He has additionally struck a positive tone when announcing he separately spoke with Walz and Frey.

The New York Times reported late Monday that Trump also met with Noem and Corey Lewandowski, her top aide, for nearly two hours in the Oval Office as his administration tries to shift its strategy  after the president announced he was sending Tom Homan, his border czar, to oversee the immigration operation in Minneapolis.

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At the same time, the administration is also planning on moving Bovino out of the city, according to several outlets.

Earlier in the episode, Cruz called on everyone to ratchet things down, adding that everyone who has anything resembling a conscience is horrified by whats happening in Minneapolis.

On one side, they view every shooting as an absolute tragedy, as evidence that America has become Nazi Germany, Cruz said. On the other side, you see some people that seem pretty eager to celebrate a violent and lethal confrontation with law enforcement.

And listen  there are lethal confrontations with law enforcement," he added. They happen. But anytime you have an American who is killed in a confrontation with law enforcement, it is tragic that a life is lost.

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Gregory Bovino, the official overseeing Border Patrol operations and the public face of US President Donald Trump's campaign against undocumented immigrants, is expected to leave Minneapolis soon, according to US media reports on Monday.

Some of Bovino's agents are also due to be withdrawn in the coming days, US broadcasters CNN and CBS News reported, citing sources familiar with the matter. CNN said some officers were expected to begin leaving the city on Tuesday.

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey confirmed on social media platform X, following a phone call with Trump, that some federal agents would start leaving the area on Tuesday. He did not provide details on which agencies or how many officers would be going.

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On Saturday, 37-year-old intensive care nurse Alex Pretti, a US citizen, was killed by a federal officer in Minneapolis.

Pretti's killing further tensions between federal authorities and the community in Minneapolis, a city that was already on edge after Renee Good, also a US citizen, was fatally shot by immigration officers while unarmed and behind the wheel of her car on January 7.

The killings by the officers, which the Trump administration have described as self-defence, sparked huge protests in the city in the midwestern state of Minnesota and solidarity demonstrations across the US.

Bovino has become a central figure in the controversial federal operations in the Democrat-led city.

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After Pretti's death, Bovino said in a CNN interview that the officers involved were the "victims." His hardline appearance, including wearing a distinctive coat, also prompted critics to draw comparisons to Nazi methods, which Bovino rejected.

Asked earlier in the day whether Bovino would remain in Minnesota, White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt gave no clear answer, saying he was a "great professional" who would continue to lead border protection officers across the country.

Trump holds 'good' call with Minnesota governor

The reports about Bovino's planned departure came just hours after Trump said he had spoken by phone with Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, describing it as "a very good call."

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Walz's office later said the call had been productive and that the president had agreed to consider reducing the number of federal agents deployed in the state. Walz is a Democrat.

Trump also announced that he was deploying his border czar, Tom Homan, to oversee operations in Minneapolis. Leavitt said Homan would be the main point of contact on the ground.

Homan has long been tasked with overseeing Trump's deportation policy and is regarded as a hardliner.

Mayor Frey said after his conversation with Trump that he had highlighted how much Minneapolis benefited from the migrants living in the city and repeated his call for the federal migration operation launched there in December to be brought to an end.

"The president agreed the present situation can't continue," Frey wrote. He said he would meet Homan on Tuesday to discuss next steps.
MANILA, Jan 27 (Reuters) - The Philippine Coast Guard will deploy divers on Tuesday to search for the remaining missing passengers after a vessel carrying more than 300 people capsized en route to the southern province of Sulu, leaving at least 18 dead.

The Department of Transportation has also suspended the entire passenger fleet of Aleson Shipping, the operator of the sunken vessel, noting the company has been involved in 32 maritime accidents.

The PCG said 316 people have been rescued, while 10 remain missing, after the MV Trisha Kerstin 3 sank shortly after midnight on Monday while en route to Jolo in Sulu province after departing from Zamboanga.

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The cause of the sinking is still under investigation.

Aleson Shipping operates a network of inter-island routes across Mindanao and the Sulu Archipelago.

Captain Noemie Cayabyab, a PCG spokesperson, said the total number of people on board had been revised to 344, down from the earlier figure of 359, after verifying that 15 people listed on the manifest did not board the vessel. The PCG said the vessel has an authorised passenger capacity of 352.

The PCG said it was not yet prepared to draw conclusions why the ferry sank, with the investigation still ongoing.

Sea accidents are common in the Philippines, an archipelago of more than 7,000 islands with a patchy maritime safety record.

(Reporting by Karen Lema in Manila; Editing by Matthew Lewis)
By Aditya Soni

Jan 26 (Reuters) - Heated political rhetoric over the fatal shooting of a U.S. citizen by immigration agents in Minneapolis on Saturday spilled into Silicon Valley as partners at an influential venture firm distanced themselves from a colleague who defended the killing.

The death of 37-year-old Alex Pretti was one of five shootings this month involving federal agents conducting immigration enforcement, including the fatal shooting of Minnesota woman Renee Good. At least six immigrants have died this month in federal immigration detention, an unusually rapid pace.

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The Pretti shooting has drawn anger across the U.S. political spectrum as the administration of Republican President Donald Trump backed the agents even as video evidence contradicted its version of events.

The back-and-forth on social media highlights an ongoing political fracture at the heart of the U.S. tech industry where some executives have abandoned the sector's longstanding reputation for progressive social values to publicly back Trump's policies.

After Khosla Ventures partner Keith Rabois said on social media on Saturday that law enforcement had not shot an innocent person and that illegal immigrants commit crimes daily, the firm's founder, Vinod Khosla, and partner Ethan Choi both disavowed the comments. The firm is notable for having backed companies including OpenAI, DoorDash and Instacart.

"ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) personnel must have ice water running thru their veins to treat other human beings this way," Khosla said in a post on X. "There is politics but humanity should transcend that," Khosla added.

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Several other tech executives including Jeff Dean, chief scientist at Alphabet's Google DeepMind AI lab, and Microsoft Chief Scientific Officer Eric Horvitz praised Pretti, who was an intensive-care nurse at a Veterans Affairs hospital.

FRACTURE IN SILICON VALLEY

Billionaire Elon Musk has led the charge to the politically conservative right, with hundreds of millions of dollars in campaign donations to Trump's 2024 campaign and support for his anti-immigration moves. This has led to public clashes with the likes of LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman, a major Democratic donor.

Musk has not commented on the Pretti shooting, while Hoffman echoed Khosla's message that humanity should transcend politics.

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Wary of government retaliation, tech executives have spent the past year largely silent on policies impacting their businesses including the chaos surrounding the H-1B visa program and U.S tariffs.

Executives have instead sought to improve ties with Trump, contributing millions to his inauguration a year ago and backing his manufacturing push with tens of billions in pledged spending, which some analysts have called empty posturing.

Urging tech CEOs to break their silence, more than 450 employees from firms such as Google, Meta Platforms, Salesforce and OpenAI signed a letter on Saturday urging their top executives to pressure the White House to withdraw ICE from U.S. cities, cancel all contracts with ICE and to speak out publicly against ICE's violence.

"The wanton brutality ... has removed any credibility that these actions are about immigration enforcement. Their goal is terror, cruelty, and suppression of dissent," they said in the letter.

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The workers noted that Trump had said he refrained from deploying federal agents to San Francisco after Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang and Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff advised against the action.

(Reporting by Aditya Soni in Bengaluru; Editing by Sayantani Ghosh and Matthew Lewis)
A US-based rights group said Tuesday it had confirmed the deaths of over 6,000 people in protests in Iran suppressed by security forces, adding it was investigating over 17,000 more potential deaths and warning a wave of arrests was ongoing.

The protests started in late December sparked by economic grievances but turned into a mass movement against the Islamic republic, with huge street rallies on January 8 and 9 that were the biggest in recent years.

Rights groups have accused authorities of an unprecedented crackdown by shooting directly at protesters. The demonstrations have petered out for now.

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NGOs tracking the toll have said their task has been impeded by an almost three-week internet shutdown, warning that confirmed figures are likely to be far lower than the actual toll.

The US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) said it had confirmed that 6,126 people had been killed, including 5,777 protesters, 86 minors, 214 members of the security forces and 49 bystanders.

But the group, which has an extensive network of sources inside Iran and has tracked the protests on a daily basis since they began, added it was still investigating another 17,091 possible fatalities.

At least 41,880 people have been arrested, it said.

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The group condemned "the continuation of communication control policies, the ongoing wave of arrests, and growing concerns over the safety of medical centres for the injured".

Activists have accused authorities of raiding hospitals to find injured protesters and then arresting them. The health ministry has said all people should present themselves at hospital without worry and not treat themselves at home.

"Security agencies continue to pursue an approach centred on mass arrests, intimidation, and control of the narrative," HRANA said.

It said the reports of arrests inside hospitals "have generated new human rights concerns regarding the right to access medical care".

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Giving their first official toll from the protests, Iranian authorities last week said 3,117 people were killed, the majority members of the security forces and innocent bystanders who authorities claim were killed by "rioters".

Over the weekend, Persian-language TV channel Iran International, which is based outside Iran, said more than 36,500 Iranians were killed by security forces between January 8 and 9, citing reports, documents and sources.

It was not immediately possible to verify the report.`

Another NGO, Norway-based Iran Human Rights (IHR), says it has documented at least 3,428 killings of protesters by the security forces and warned that the final toll risks reaching 25,000.

sjw/jfx
The Brief

Hundreds of students at Chandler High School and other Phoenix-area campuses staged peaceful walkouts Monday morning to protest U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations and advocate for civil rights.

While many participants called for an end to ICE presence in their communities, discussions at Arizona State University highlighted a range of student perspectives regarding the balance between federal immigration enforcement and government overreach.

Students at several Phoenix-area high schools staged peaceful walkouts Monday morning, joining a growing wave of youth activism focused on immigration enforcement and civil rights.

What we know

The demonstrations began around 8:20 a.m. at schools including Chandler High School, where hundreds of students filled nearby intersections. The protests follow similar walkouts across the Valley in recent weeks targeting U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations.

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"Were out here protesting and protecting our people in Chandler," said an 18-year-old student named Emily. "We need ICE off the streets because theyve gone out of hand."

While many students expressed a desire for local change, their perspectives on federal enforcement varied. At Arizona State Universitys Tempe campus, the conversation reflected a broader national debate.

Im all for legal immigration enforcement '

"Im all for legal immigration enforcement; Im not for government overreach," one student said.

ASU student Collin Amaral noted that while there may be "misconceptions on both sides," he believes enforcement remains a necessity given the volume of people crossing the border.

Dig deeper

The surge in student engagement aligns with data from Tufts Universitys CIRCLE research center, which found that 76% of youth believe their generation has the power to influence policy. The research also noted that more than half of all college students voted in the most recent election.

Administrators from the affected high schools did not immediately respond to requests for comment regarding the walkouts or school attendance policies.
Though the weekend winter storm passed through Kentucky, local and state officials continue to urge drivers to avoid roadways.

The storm, which brought around 5.9 inches of snow to the metro area, created hazardous road conditions. Over the weekend, Louisville Metro Police responded to 66 collisions, including 10 injury collisions, and Kentucky State Police responded to 413 requests for motor assistance.

The conditions come as Louisville continues to see bitterly cold temperatures. The metro area is under an extreme cold warning until 11 a.m. Jan. 27, and it will be under a cold weather advisory from 10 p.m. Jan. 27 until 11 a.m. Jan. 28.

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Meteorologist Samantha Wilson from the National Weather Service in Louisville said Jan. 26 that sunny skies during the day could help clear roads and sidewalks, but the accumulation could refreeze overnight and compact the snow, which will make it heavier and harder to move.

See current traffic conditions in the Louisville area

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See traffic conditions around Kentucky

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See current traffic conditions in Indiana

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This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: See current road, traffic conditions in Kentucky, Indiana
Bank of Scotland, part of Lloyds Banking Group, has been fined by the UK watchdog over an account for a sanctioned individual.

The bank was fined 160,000 ($219,268.8) by the Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation (OFSI), part of HM Treasury, in this regard.

According to the regulator, the designated individual under UK sanctions opened an account with Halifax in 2023.

Although the watchdog did not name the concerned individual, several media sources identified the person to be Dmitrii Ovsiannikov, previously governor of Sevastopol in Russian-occupied Crimea.

Ovsiannikov was later sentenced to 40 months imprisonment for breaching sanctions and money laundering offences.

The fine on the bank was levied for contraventions of the Russia (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019, specifically sections addressing dealings with and access to funds by sanctioned individuals.

The breach stemmed from an incident in which a person subject to UK government sanctions opened a personal account using a newly issued British passport at Halifax (part of Bank of Scotland).

In a statement to Retail Banker International, a spokesperson from Lloyds Banking Group said: Lloyds Banking Group takes its regulatory responsibilities extremely seriously. We acted swiftly and transparently, proactively referring this one-off, isolated matter to OFSI and working closely with them throughout.

The passport contained a spelling variation of the individual's name compared to that listed on OFSIs Consolidated List of Asset Freeze Targets, including character changes and a missing middle name.

These variations included altered characters and an omitted middle name, which were not recorded as aliases on OFSIs screening list at the time.

As a result, the banks automated systems did not initially flag the individual as sanctioned.

A later review under Politically Exposed Person (PEP) protocols led to the customer being correctly identified and the account being restricted on the same day, 24 February 2023.

The account was opened on 6 February 2023 and subsequently restricted on 24 February 2023 after the customer was recognised as a designated individual.

The individual had opened the account earlier that month and conducted 24 transactions amounting to 77,383 before restrictions were imposed.

Following identification of the breach, Bank of Scotland notified OFSI and submitted a formal disclosure within two weeks.

OFSI assessed the matter as serious, but not "most serious".

The regulator applied a 50% reduction to the penalty due to Bank of Scotlands voluntary disclosure, resulting in a final fine of 160,000.
PATERSON  Seven robberies, all of which took place after midnight, targeted food trucks or their customers in the city last year, with most of the crimes happening at gunpoint, the Police Department said.

One of those incidents, near the corner of Lakeview and Alabama avenues, resulted in a victim suffering a non-fatal bullet wound, authorities said.

In response, the Police Department worked with city officials to revise Patersons municipal law regulating food trucks, including one change that would require the businesses to shut down by 11 p.m.

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But the proposal has run into opposition from food truck owners, and City Council members say they dont want to rush through any changes.

Story continues below photo gallery.

Councilman Luis Velez has accused his colleagues of trying "to create laws secretly, without transparency or dialogue."

I believe in doing things up front and with our community, Velez said.

Maritza Davila, the council vice president, said the proposed ordinance should never have been placed on the governing bodys agenda for its Jan. 13 workshop because it had not been vetted by the Health and Human Services Committee.

Do we have an issue in the city? Absolutely, Davila said of crime. Can we blame crime on food trucks? Absolutely not.

Other NJ towns have food truck restrictions on hours

At present, Paterson has no restrictions on food truck operating hours. In contrast, other New Jersey cities where food trucks are popular do have time limits for the mobile businesses.

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Jersey City, for example, has different shutdown times for food trucks in different parts of the municipality, with none allowed to continue sales past 11 p.m. Hoboken makes food trucks close by 9 p.m. on Sundays through Thursdays and by 11 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. Atlantic City imposes a 10 p.m. curfew for food trucks.

More: Will Fast Break Cafe be a slam dunk for a Paterson mall?

Miguel Francisco, a food truck owner, recently spoke to the council, objecting to the 11 p.m. shutdown proposal, saying the later hours are when he and his counterparts do thriving business. He said whoever is pushing for the ordinance probably doesnt understand the food truck industry.

Instead of the city working in favor of the small businesses, it looks like they are against us, Francisco said.

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We are not causing any crime in the city, he said. We are paying taxes.

Mayor Andre Sayegh did not respond to messages asking whether he supports the 11 p.m. closing time for food trucks.

Heres the Police Department list of food truck robberies in 2025:

At 1:09 a.m. on March 9, on the 400 block of 20th Avenue, suspects with guns stole cash.

At 1:30 a.m. on June 7, a robbery happened at a food truck near the corner of East 27th and Market streets.

At 2:32 a.m. on Aug. 4, an armed robbery took place at Madison and 12th avenues.

At 5:01 a.m. on Sept. 8, four people with guns committed the Lakeview and Alabama robbery that resulted in one person being shot.

At 4:50 a.m. on Sept. 20, three people with firearms robbed food truck customers on the 800 block of Market Street.

At 5:57 a.m. on Oct. 5, three robbers with guns targeted a food truck on the 400 block of Main Street.

At 12:28 a.m. on Dec. 1, a person waiting near a food truck on the 400 block of 20th Avenue was robbed of cash and other personal belongings.

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None of those robberies occurred in areas of Paterson that police have identified as crime hot spots.

More food truck restrictions

Other provisions of the proposed ordinance would place a limit on the number of food truck licenses issued in Paterson, ban food trucks from high demand parking locations such as those with meters, allow food trucks to be towed if their operators refuse to move them from prohibited areas, require that licenses be displayed on two sides of the trucks, and increase the maximum fine from $1,000 to $2,000.

A Police Department spokesperson said the changes would focus on safety considerations, enforcement practicality, and overall quality of life.

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Should Paterson food trucks shut at 11 p.m. after string of robberies?
KYIV, Jan 27 (Reuters) - A Russian drone strike on a passenger train in northeastern Ukraine killed five people, prosecutors said, an attack denounced as terrorism by President Volodymyr Zelenskiy.

Prosecutors said fragments of five bodies had been found at the scene of the strike on the train by a village in northeastern Ukraine's Kharkiv region.

The train had been operating from Chop, near Ukraine's western borders with Hungary and Slovakia, to the town of Barvinkove.

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Photographs posted online showed at least two carriages ablaze next to a snow-covered railbed.

"In any country, a drone strike on a civilian train would be considered in exactly the same way  purely as terrorism. There is not and cannot be any military purpose in this," Zelenskiy wrote on the Telegram messaging app.

"Our cause  and this is what should unite all normal people in the world  is to ensure the progress of protecting life. This is possible through pressure on Russia."

Prosecutors said one drone struck the train and two more hit an area alongside it.

In his post on Telegram, Zelenskiy said four people had been killed. The train, he said, was carrying more than 200 passengers, including 18 in the wagon that was hit.

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Prosecutors had said earlier that 155 passengers were aboard the train. Deputy Prime Minister Oleksiy Kuleba had described the attack by three drones as a "direct act of Russian terror."

Oleksandr Pertsovskyi, CEO of Ukrzaliznytsia, Ukrainian national railways, thanked rescue teams and fellow passengers who helped evacuate people and pledged that trains would keep running.

"Keeping things moving is becoming more difficult," Pertsovskyi wrote on Facebook. "We are regrouping. There will be additional strict security measures in some places, but even on those most frightening days, we cannot give up."

(Reporting by Dan Peleschuk; Editing by Peter Graff, Ron Popeski, Chris Reese and Deepa Babington)
QAMISHLI, Syria (AP)  Russian forces have begun pulling out of positions in northeast Syria in an area still controlled by the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces after the group lost most of its territory in an offensive by government forces.

Associated Press journalists visited one base next to the Qamishli airport Tuesday and found it guarded by SDF fighters who said the Russians had begun moving their equipment out in recent days.

Inside what had been living quarters for the soldiers was largely empty, with scattered items left behind, including workout equipment, protein powder and some clothing.

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Ahmed Ali, an SDF fighter deployed at the facility, said the Russian forces began evacuating their positions around the airport five or six days ago, withdrawing their equipment via a cargo plane.

We dont know if its destination was Russia or the Hmeimim air base, he said, referring to the main Russian base on Syrias coast. They still have a presence in Qamishli and have been evacuating bit by bit.

A U.N. humanitarian convoy from Damascus reached Qamishli on Tuesday, U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric said.

It delivered food, warm clothes and blankets, among other supplies, he told U.N. reporters. More convoys are planned in the coming days.

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Dujarric said the U.N. is also continuing to distribute food, bread and cash elsewhere including displacement sites.

There has been no official statement from Russia about the withdrawal of its forces from Qamishli.

Russia has built relations with the new central Syrian government in Damascus since former President Bashar Assad was ousted in December 2024 in a rebel offensive led by now-interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa  despite the fact that Moscow was a close ally of Assad.

Moscows scorched-earth intervention in support of Assad a decade ago turned the tide of Syrias civil war at the time, keeping Assad in his seat. Russia didnt try to counter the rebel offensive in late 2024 but gave asylum to Assad after he fled the country.

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Despite having been on opposite sides of the battle lines during the civil war, the new rulers in Damascus have taken a pragmatic approach to relations with Moscow. Russia has retained a presence at its air and naval bases on the Syrian coast.

Al-Sharaa is expected to visit Moscow on Wednesday and meet with Putin.

Fighting broke out early this month between the SDF and government forces after negotiations over a deal to merge their forces together broke down. A ceasefire is now in place and has been largely holding.

After the expiration of a four-day truce Saturday, the two sides announced the ceasefire had been extended by another 15 days.

Syria's defense ministry said in a statement that the extension was in support of an operation by U.S. forces to transfer accused Islamic State militants who had been held in prisons in northeastern Syria to detention centers in Iraq.
Some elected officials say scenes playing out in Minneapolis could be a possibility for San Francisco, after the city narrowly avoided President Donald Trump's threat of a federal surge in October.

District Attorney Brooke Jenkins said Monday she is not afraid to prosecute federal agents if they break the law in San Francisco - and urged other district attorneys across the country to consider doing the same.

"We can't be caught flat-footed. We have to be prepared," Jenkins said.

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An aide for Jenkins said this has been top of mind for their office since federal surges began earlier this year, starting in Los Angeles in June. She warned the Trump administration that any unlawful conduct by federal agents would be scrutinized.

"It's not something we will tolerate in our jurisdictions," Jenkins said. "We have the capacity to prosecute should we believe that any conduct is unlawful."

When asked how her office would approach potential cases, Jenkins pointed to serious criminal liability if use of force is found to be unjustified.

MORE: Bay Area demonstrators honor Veterans Affairs ICU nurse Alex Pretti, other victims of ICE

"Yes, we are talking about potential murder charges," she said. "We have to look at excessive force charges and what the potential defenses to that are."

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Building cases against law enforcement officers can be difficult, a challenge underscored by concerns raised in Minnesota.

San Jose Congressman Sam Liccardo, a former prosecutor, said the Department of Homeland Security is blocking local authorities from accessing evidence related to the Alex Pretti shooting.

"The critical challenges right now, for example, in Minnesota, is enabling local DAs and local police to get access to the evidence," Liccardo said.

Liccardo called the situation highly unusual.

"That's extraordinarily abnormal," he said. "The fact that we have to go to federal judges to order federal authorities to hold evidence, to make it available for local DEA to be able to investigate, that is outrageous."

MORE: Congressional GOP criticism grows over Pretti shooting and Minnesota ICE operation

The issue surfaced publicly at a mayoral economic forum Monday, where a moment of silence was held for Alex Pretti and Renee Good.

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San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie declined to directly address whether the Bay Area remains on a list for possible federal deployment.

"You can't be human, without feeling a sense of just absolute devastation and this feeling of fear and anger at what's happening in Minnesota," Lurie said.

Lurie and Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee both stressed that Bay Area cities must avoid giving federal agents a reason to intervene.

"Their playbook is to make sure that they have an opening and that there's a gap and a void to bring in their military to militarize and occupy our cities," Lee said. "And we're not going to let that happen."

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With the Super Bowl approaching, Lurie said people should expect to see more law enforcement throughout the Bay Area, emphasizing that local officers will be focused on keeping residents safe, not assisting federal immigration enforcement.





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Saudi Arabia will significantly downscale the construction of the futuristic development Neom after concerns were raised by government officials over costs and repeated delays, according to a report.

The flagship project, which had been scheduled for completion in 2030, contained plans for a city named The Line consisting of a vast stretch of 500-metre-tall skyscrapers in the desert.

However, construction of the city was put on hold late last year as Riyadh looked for a new and less costly approach.

The Line was planned to be a stretch of skyscrapers stretching around 200km (NEOM)

It was launched as part of crown prince Mohammed bin Salmans Vision 2030 plan, which sought to diversify the countrys economy away from oil and towards real estate.

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But people briefed on the matter say that the crown prince now envisages a far smaller project, the Financial Times reported, suggesting the ruler had recognised the failings in the costly project. The newspaper estimated that around $50bn had been spent on the project as of November.

The Line, which was forecast to cost $500bn, will be significantly downsized in the revised plans for the project  but it is unclear exactly how much smaller it will become, the FT said.

Speaking at a flagship investment forum in Riyadh in November, one Saudi official said the government had spent too much.

We rushed at 100 miles an hour. We are now running deficits. We need to reprioritise.

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The city was set to house 9 million people and would operate without roads, cars or emissions. Officials said it would run on 100 per cent renewable energy, with 95 per cent of the land preserved for nature.

Neom was originally planned to operate without roads, cars or emissions (NEOM)

Prince Mohammed, the de facto ruler of Saudi Arabia, is reported to have grown increasingly frustrated with delays to the project and a reevaluation of Neom is expected to set more modest expectations for the city.

According to The Times, Neom could now shift its focus to becoming a hub for data centres as Prince Mohammed pushes the kingdom to become a global leader in the artificial intelligence industry.

One source close to the plans told the newspaper that it is not clear whether The Line will remain part of the plans as a smaller project or not.

The skyscrapers were envisaged with mirrored sides (NEOM)

The Saudi economy is grappling with the impact of decades of huge spending along with a slump in oil prices, which has forced the Riyadh regime to rethink its spending plans.

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Sindalah, a yachting resort in the Red Sea, is the only part of Neom which has opened so far. It held a grand opening party in October 2024, three years after its scheduled opening date and costing three times what it was budgeted.

But Prince Mohammed was said to be unimpressed by the expensive project  which was launched by a party featuring Will Smith and Alicia Keys  and sacked Neoms chief executive Nadhmi al-Nasr as a result.

The Independent has contacted the Neom project for comment.




A San Antonio school bus crashed during the morning rush on Tuesday, January 27, according to the San Antonio Fire Department (SAFD).

The Southwest Independent School District (SWISD) bus was carrying approximately 30 teenage students when it "overturned," authorities tell MySA. The incident was confirmed to have happened on Loop 410 South at about 8:15 a.m., according to the traffic monitoring site, Sig Alert.

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"All occupants were evaluated. The driver and three students were transported to the hospital for evaluation and treatment," an SAFD spokesperson said via email. "The driver is the only patient that required urgent transport."

A Southwest Independent School District bus overturned early Tuesday, January 27, in San Antonio, Texas, according to the San Antonio Fire Department. (Courtesy of the Texas Department of Transportation )





Sig Alert reports that the stretch of road between FM-2536/Old Pearsall Road and Exit 2 and Frontage Road/Exit 1 is closed as a result of the incident. Vehicles in the area are experiencing a slowdown, and traffic is backed up to the Medina Base Road exit, per SigAlert.

As of 9:15 a.m., only the far left lane is open, according to SigAlert. Officials are warning drivers of expected delays of up to 1 hour. MySA reached out to SWID for comment, but did not immediately hear back.

This article originally published at School bus carrying dozens of kids overturns in San Antonio.
The leader of Congresss progressive caucus on Monday called for Democratic senators to demand real reforms to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) before voting for a key spending bill, and warned that Republicans would take the blame if the standoff sparks another government shutdown.

The call from Greg Casar, the Texas congressman who chairs the Congressional Progressive Caucus, comes after the Saturday killing of US citizen Alex Pretti by federal agents in Minneapolis upset delicate negotiations in Congress intended to keep the government running beyond Friday, when the current spending authorization expires.

Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer has said his party will not provide the votes necessary to advance a measure funding the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), noting that it includes funding for ICE, which is among the federal agencies that has flooded Minneapolis in the weeks leading up to Prettis killing.

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However, Schumer has not outlined specific demands for the homeland security appropriations bill, only that it be given a rewrite. A spokesman for the Democratic leader did not respond to a request for comment.

Casar said in an interview with the Guardian: We need to make sure that Democrats negotiate hard for real reforms. Thats why I put out what I think are five non-negotiable items that everyday Americans  progressive, conservative, independent  I think could all agree on.

These include a prohibition on federal agents wearing masks, the establishment of independent investigations into killings by federal agents and for ICE and other agencies to withdraw from Minneapolis and stop terrorizing any additional American cities, Casar said. He also called for a prohibition on arrests and deportations of US citizens and to mass arrests, and an end to the arrest quotas federal agents have been given.

Those five are not a list of every reform that I want, but its a list that every American should be able to support and that we should be able to get every Senate Democrat to fight for, Casar said.

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Senate Republicans have moved to put the final six bills funding the government up for a vote this week, defying Schumers demand that the DHS appropriations measure be considered separately. The bill funds an array of agencies including the Federal Emergency Management Agency and Transportation Security Administration, and includes $10bn for ICE, an amount less than Republicans had requested.

This afternoon, well start the procedural steps that are necessary to place the bipartisan, House-passed funding bill on the floor and proceed as planned, Ryan Wrasse, a spokesperson for Senate majority leader John Thune, wrote on X Monday.

A government shutdown, even a partial one, does not serve the American people well. Hopefully Senate Democrats, who are actively engaged in conversations, can find a path forward to join us before this weeks funding deadline hits.

The House of Representatives last week approved the DHS appropriations bill by a narrow margin, alongside the five other measures that fund various departments, including defense, labor, and health and human services. Any changes to the DHS bill would require the chamber to vote on it again, but it is out of session and not scheduled to return until next week  after which a shutdown will already have begun.

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In the Senate, Republicans hold 53 seats, meaning any appropriations bills will require at least some bipartisan support to clear the chambers 60-vote threshold for advancement. If Democrats stick to their promise and Republicans keep the DHS bill lumped with the other spending measures, it raises the prospect that a slew of departments will see funding lapse after Friday, leading to a partial government shutdown.

The only reason theres a risk of a government shutdown is because John Thune and congressional Republicans want to take the country hostage in order to protect Trumps deportation machine, Casar said, noting that theres bipartisan compromise on every single other agency.

I think its the Republicans that are in a really precarious position there, because theyre defending what happens in Minneapolis, and are willing to shut down the entire government in order to continue doing it.

Democratic congresswoman Robin Kelly has proposed impeaching Kristi Noem, the homeland security secretary, after federal agents earlier this month killed US citizen Renee Good in Minneapolis. There are now 145 co-sponsors of that resolution, all Democrats, with several signing on in the days since Pretti was killed.

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Casar, who supports impeaching Noem, said: Theres millions of people across the country who want to honor the lives of Renee Good and Alex Pretti. We cant bring them back, but we can make sure that their deaths catalyze a moment that demands real change and stop to this flooding of our cities by ICE.

The progressives are the second-largest ideological caucus among House Democrats with about 100 members, though independent Bernie Sanders is their only member in the Senate. Earlier this month, the caucus adopted an official position to oppose DHS funding unless it includes specific reforms to immigration enforcement.

Seven Democrats, most of whom represent swing districts, voted for the DHS funding bill in the House. On Monday, New York congressman Tom Suozzi expressed regret for supporting the measure, writing on social media: I failed to view the DHS funding vote as a referendum on the illegal and immoral conduct of ICE in Minneapolis. I hear the anger from my constituents, and I take responsibility for that.

Last October, Democrats refused to approve new government funding unless tax credits that lowered premiums for Affordable Care Act health plans were extended. That led to the longest funding lapse in US history, which ended after 43 days when seven Democratic senators joined with Republicans to enact a new spending measure.

Should funding lapse this time, it is unlikely to stop Donald Trumps mass deportation campaign. A Republican staffer said that the White House would require ICE agents to continue working even after funding lapse, while the agency may also be able to draw on funding Republicans approved last year as part of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.
A 79-year-old woman imprisoned for killing her terminally ill husband as part of a botched murder-suicide pact in 2023 has said she wouldn't do anything differently and is accepting the consequences.

It was three years ago this month that Ellen Gilland of New Smyrna Beach, Florida smuggled her husband Jerry's gun into his hospital room in Daytona Beach and fired a single, fatal shot into his head.

An hours-long standoff ensued, forcing staff and patients to shelter in place until police officers finally threw a nonlethal explosive device into the room and took Gilland into custody.

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A judge ultimately accepted Gilland's claim that her actions had been part of an agreement with her 77-year-old husband, but sentenced her to one year in prison and 12 years on probation due to the disruption and fear she had sown among bystanders.

Asked by Fox 35 Orlando whether she would change her actions now, Gilland insisted: "There wasn't anything else to do."

Gilland said it was a challenge to return to normal life after being released from prison, especially without her supportive, quiet, generous husband (Daytona Beach Police Department)

According to reports, Gilland told investigators that three weeks beforehand, she and her husband Jerry  who was 77 years old  had agreed that she would kill him and then herself if his illness got worse.

"I knew what was coming. I knew how difficult it would be to be without him. Not just my best friend, but all of the things that we did for each other..., she told Fox 35.

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"In the 76 years before this event happened, I had never been in trouble before in my life, and never planned to hurt anyone ever, she added.

Of her late husband, whom she had known since middle school, she said: "He was very supportive, very quiet, very generous. He was a lovely person."

Gilland said that she brought her husband's old gun to the hospital and sat with him talking for a while, before killing him. Afterwards, though, she found she could not go through with the suicide part of her plan.

When hospital staff entered the room, however, Gilland  apparently in a state of extreme distress  pointed the gun at them and told them to leave, beginning an armed standoff with police.

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"Tell me what's going on! I don't want to hurt you!" one officer can be heard shouting on body cam footage.

"Things didn't progress the way I would have thought they would," Gilland admitted in her later interview.

In the aftermath, Gilland was initially charged with first degree murder, but her charges were reduced by a grant jury. She ultimately pled no contest to manslaughter with a firearm, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, and aggravated assault of a law enforcement officer with a firearm.

One nurse testified during her trial that he had been forced to quit his job after the killing because he "didn't feel safe anymore" at the hospital and regularly "got nightmares" due to the incident.

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Gilland told Fox 35 that she had struggled in prison, suffering a heart attack just six weeks into her sentence due to the stress. She did the rest of her time in the infirmary, before being released in November 2025.

"Most of the guards were very  not really friendly, but accepting," she said. "There were a few of them that were very rude, and shouting, and name-calling."

Now released, Gilland is doing court-ordered community service, and will do so monthly as long as she is physically able. She has recently started working at a local animal shelter, according to Fox 35.

"Im accepting the consequences," she told the outlet. "I have to figure out how to survive after this."

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She also told the outlet that she would try to live out the rest of her life without her husband, while advocating for some form of assisted suicide to be legalized.

"I don't want people feeling sorry for me. I did what I did," she said.

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 branchIf 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
TEL AVIV, Israel (AP)  In the last months of World War II, Lola Kantorowicz tried her best to hide her pregnancy. She succeeded because most of the prisoners at the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp had bellies that were distended and bloated from extended starvation.

As she went into labor in March 1945, the Russians were advancing through Germany, and Bergen-Belsen was in chaos. Her daughter, Ilana, was born on March 19, 30 days before the camp was liberated by the British.

Now 81, Ilana Kantorowicz Shalem is among the youngest Holocaust survivors. She survived only because she was born when the Nazi leadership was in disarray as the war was ending. Otherwise, she most certainly would have been killed.

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More than eight decades after the end of the Holocaust, Shalem is sharing her story  and her mothers story  for the first time, realizing how few Holocaust survivors are left.

International Holocaust Remembrance Day is observed across the world on Jan. 27, the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, the most notorious of the death camps where some 1.1 million people, most of them Jews, were killed. The U.N. General Assembly adopted a resolution in 2005 establishing the day as an annual commemoration.

About 6 million European Jews and millions of other people, including Poles, Roma, people with disabilities and LGBTQ+ people, were killed by the Nazis and their collaborators. Some 1.5 million were children.

Commemorations this year are taking place amid a rise of antisemitism that gained traction during the two-year-long war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza.

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Love in dark places

Shalems mother and father met as teenagers in the Tomaszow Ghetto in Poland. Lola Rosenblum was from the town, while Hersz (Zvi) Abraham Kantorowicz was moved to the ghetto from Lodz, Poland.

After spending several years in the ghetto under hard labor conditions, including losing family members, they were shuffled through several labor camps, where they were able to continue meeting clandestinely for several months.

My mother said there was actually a lot of love in those places, Shalem recalled of the labor camps. They used to walk along the river. There was romance.

Her mothers friends used to help set up secret meetings between the two, who had married in an informal ceremony back in the ghetto.

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In 1944, the couple was separated. Hersz Kantorowicz would eventually perish in a death march just days before the war ended. Lola spent time in Auschwitz and the Hindenburg labor camp. She completed a death march to Bergen-Belsen in Germany while pregnant.

If they discovered she was pregnant, they would have killed her, Shalem said. She hid her pregnancy from everyone, including her friends, because she didnt want the extra attention or anyone to give her their food."

Yad Vashem archivist Sima Velkovich, who has researched Shalems story, called it unimaginable that a baby was born in such conditions.

In March, the conditions were really awful, there were mountains of corpses, Velkovich said. There were thousands, dozens of thousands of people who were ill, almost without food at that time.

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To this day, Shalem doesnt have an explanation for how her mother not only survived the conditions of the camp but gave birth to a healthy baby. Mother and daughter spent a month in the Bergen-Belsen camp before it was liberated by the British, and then two years in a nearby camp for displaced persons.

They then moved to Israel, where her fathers parents had moved before the war. Shalem's mother held out hope for years that her father had survived. She never married again, nor had additional children.

The child of everyone

In the immediate months after the war, baby Ilana was constantly fussed over, one of the only children in the refugee camp.

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Actually, I was everyones child, because for them, it was some kind of sign of life, Shalem said. Many, many women took care of me there, because they were very excited to be with a little baby.

Photos from that time show a beaming baby Ilana surrounded by a cadre of adults. Her mothers friends spoke of her as a new seed, and a ray of hope during a dark time, Shalem said.

Shes not aware of any other children born in the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp who survived. Yad Vashem, Israels Holocaust museum and research center, has documented over 2,000 babies born at the Bergen-Belsen refugee camp after its liberation, between 1945 and 1950. The museum at Bergen-Belsen was able to locate documentation of Ilanas birth, including the hour she was born, which is now kept at Yad Vashem.

A subject few spoke about

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Shalem, who studied social work, started asking her mother questions while she was in university in the 1960s, when it was still taboo in Israeli society to dig into the experiences of survivors.

Now we know, in order to absorb trauma, we need to talk about it, Shalem said. These people didnt want to talk about it.

She noted how, in the wake of the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas-led attack on southern Israel, many survivors of that attack immediately began to speak about what happened to them.

But the aftermath of the Holocaust, especially in Israel, was different. Many survivors were trying to forget what had happened. Ilanas mother often faced disbelief when she shared her story of giving birth in a concentration camp, so she mostly stopped telling it. Sometimes her mother would talk about what she endured with other survivor friends, but rarely with strangers, Shalem said.

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Less than 200,000 Holocaust survivors left

Shalem has never publicly shared the story of her mother, who died in 1991 at the age of 71. Last year, she completed a genealogy course at Yad Vashem and began to understand how few Holocaust survivors are left to share their stories.

According to the New York-based Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany, also referred to as the Claims Conference, there are approximately 196,600 living Holocaust survivors, half of whom live in Israel. Nearly 25,000 Holocaust survivors died last year. The median age of Holocaust survivors is 87, meaning most were very young children during the Holocaust. Shalem is among the youngest.

Shalem, who has two daughters, remembers sharing her own pregnancies with her mother, and marveling at what she had endured.

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Its a situation that was very unusual, it probably required special strength to be able to believe, Shalem said.

She said that one of the things was that if she had known my father was killed, she wouldnt have tried so hard. She wanted him to know me.
By Brendan O'Boyle

MEXICO CITY, Jan 27 (Reuters) - Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, pressed on Tuesday whether Mexico had halted oil shipments to Cuba amid pressure from Washington, said shipment decisions were sovereign in nature and not based on U.S. pressure.

However, Sheinbaum appeared to acknowledge that Mexico had halted a planned shipment to Cuba. Asked at her regular morning press conference whether she denied a media report that Mexico had halted the shipment, Sheinbaum responded: "It is a sovereign decision and it is made in the moment when necessary."

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Sheinbaum sidestepped a question about whether Mexico would resume oil shipments to Cuba, answering: "in any case, it will be reported."

Bloomberg first reported the suspension of the oil shipment. Reuters exclusively reported last week that the Mexican government was reviewing whether to keep sending oil to Cuba amid growing fears within Sheinbaum's administration that Mexico could face reprisals from the United States over the policy.

Mexico's oil shipments to Cuba have come under scrutiny in Washington after U.S. President Donald Trump vowed to stop the flow of oil and money from Venezuela to Cuba following the Jan. 3 capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro by U.S. special forces.

Venezuela, once the island's top supplier, has not sent crude or fuel to Cuba for about a month, according to shipping data and internal documents from state company PDVSA, with cargoes falling off due to a U.S. blockade even before Maduro's capture.

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In 2025, Mexico was the second-largest supplier with approximately 5,000 barrels per day. With Venezuela offline, shipments from Pemex are now a critical, though insufficient, lifeline for the island.

In the nine months ending September, Mexico state oil company Pemex exported 17,200 bpd of crude and 2,000 bpd of petroleum products to Cuba.

Sheinbaum said Mexico's decisions to sell or give oil to Cuba have a long history and are influenced by the economic blockade on the island nation.

The decision of when (oil) is sent and how it is sent is a sovereign decision, and it is determined by (Mexican state oil company) Pemex based on the contractsor, in any case, by the government, as a humanitarian decision to send it under certain circumstances," Sheinbaum said.

(Reporting by Brendan O'Boyle; Additional reporting by Mexico City Newsroom; Editing by Emily Green)
Bitcoin slipped below the $88,000 level on Sunday as crypto markets weakened in thin weekend trading, extending a pullback that has weighed on the crypto market over the past week.

BTC traded around $87,800 in U.S. afternoon hours, down roughly 2% over 24 hours, according to CoinDesk data. Ether fell toward $2,880, while solana, XRP and cardano each posted losses of between 3% and 5% on the day. Most major tokens have remained sharply down over the past seven days, reflecting the fragile sentiment across the market.

Bitcoin price action (CoinDesk)

The move caused $224 million in liquidations on bullish bets in the last 24 hours, led by $68 million on bitcoin-tracked futures and $45 million on ether-based futures, according to CoinGlass data.

Weekend moves are often driven less by fresh information and more by positioning adjustments, particularly after periods of heightened volatility earlier in the week.

Traders are entering the new week on heightened alert for possible intervention in the Japanese yen after Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi warned against abnormal market moves, comments that followed a sudden reversal in the yen late Friday.

The currencys sharp rally raised caution across Asian trading desks, even as officials stopped short of confirming any action, per Bloomberg.

The shutdown trade

Elsewhere, political risk in the U.S. added to an already unsettled backdrop.

Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer said his party would block a major spending package unless funding for the Department of Homeland Security is removed, increasing the risk of a partial government shutdown.

While such standoffs are familiar, they can tighten near-term liquidity conditions and weigh on sentiment across risk assets, particularly during periods of elevated positioning.

Previously, heading into a potential government shutdown, bitcoin has historically seen selling pressure, followed by a rally.

Polymarket odds on U.S. government shutdown (Polymarket)

Currently, Polymarket traders are putting a 76% chance on a U.S. government shutdown by the end of this month.

Read more: Previous U.S. Government Shutdown Aligned With Bitcoin's Bear Market Bottom

Big Tech earnings

Attention now turns to the week ahead, with investors also looking to a heavy earnings week that includes results from several megacap technology firms, including Microsoft, Meta Platforms, Tesla, and Apple, among the "Magnificent 7" tech giants.

Traders will be watching for any clues on how these companies' earnings trends are shaping artificial intelligence (AI)-related results. And market will likely move based on their comments for the AI industry outlook. Bitcoin, which is now trading like a risk asset, may also move with these results and comments.
By David Morgan and Nolan D. McCaskill

WASHINGTON, Jan 26 (Reuters) - The federal government appeared headed for a partial government shutdown this week, with Republicans and Democrats at odds over funding for President Donald Trump's Department of Homeland Security after the fatal shooting of a second U.S. citizen by federal immigration officers in Minnesota.

Senate Democrats said they would not provide the votes needed to pass a $64.4 billion DHS bill and called on Republicans to strip the legislation from a larger package that would also fund programs in five other areas through September 30, including defense, health, transportation, education and housing. Current funding for those programs expires after midnight on Friday.

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Senate Republicans, who control the chamber by a 53-47 seat majority, showed no sign of heeding Democrats, while the White House called on lawmakers to pass the full package to avoid the shuttering of federal agencies barely three months after the longest shutdown in U.S. history ended in November.

Senate Democrats have made clear we are ready to quickly advance the five appropriations bills separately from the DHS funding bill," Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer said in a statement. "If not, Republicans will again be responsible for another government shutdown.

On Monday, Republicans put the full funding package on the legislative calendar for consideration later in the week, as the two sides sought to reach agreement behind closed doors.

"The White House supports the bipartisan work that was done to advance the bipartisan appropriations package, and we want to see that passed," White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters. "We absolutely do not want to see that funding lapse."

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A Senate Democratic leadership aide said later that Republicans and the White House had reached out but did not raise any "realistic solutions."

The funding package, which passed the Republican-controlled House of Representatives last week, had appeared to be on track for passage in the Senate until Saturday, when federal immigration agents in Minneapolis shot and killed 37-year-old Alex Pretti. Pretti is the second U.S. citizen to be fatally shot by federal immigration officers this month in Minneapolis, where Trump, a Republican, has deployed thousands of armed, masked agents for a deportation effort.

Senate Democrats, including moderates who broke party ranks to end the shutdown last year, said they could not support further funding for DHS without reforms to better safeguard Americans.

"I will vote against DHSs funding until additional reforms are in place," said Democratic Senator Jeanne Shaheen, who also called for an independent investigation. "The Senate ... needs to have a real bipartisan discussion about what additional reforms we need to put in place to prevent tragedies like Minneapolis from happening across the country."

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Senator John Fetterman, a Democrat who sometimes votes with Republicans, also called for stripping the DHS bill from the larger funding package. It is unlikely that will happen and our country will suffer another shutdown," the Pennsylvania Democrat said in a statement.

Senator Susan Collins, Republican chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, said more than 80% of the DHS bill's funding was intended for non-immigration programs including emergency disaster relief, air traffic safety, cybersecurity and the U.S. Coast Guard.

In a memo to federal judges nationwide, Judge Robert Conrad, head of the judiciary's Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, said the courts only have enough cash on hand from fees and other balances to fully sustain paid operations through February 4 if legislation funding the judicial branch does not pass the Senate before then.

"I hope we can come together in a constructive way to get this done and to ensure that we do not lurch into a dangerous and detrimental government shutdown," Collins, a Maine Republican, said on the Senate floor.

(Reporting by David Morgan and Nolan D. McCaskill; additional reporting by Costas Pitas and Nate Raymond; editing by Diane Craft)
Palanca felt the full horror of the war in neighbouring Ukraine one December day.

A mother was killed and her three children wounded by a Russian drone as they drove over the border bridge across the river Dniester into this previously quiet corner of southeast Moldova, Ukrainian officials said.

"We are right across from there, and it terrified us," villager Maria Morari, 62, told AFP of the two days of attacks on the crossing.

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Like many in Palanca, she is worried that the war could spill over. The border village is on the strategic road running to the Ukrainian port of Odesa.

Moldova's airspace has been violated dozens of times since the invasion four years ago, with several Russian missiles and drones crashing on its territory, the latest an Iranian-designed Shahed suicide drone, carrying 50 kilos of explosives, which came down 12 kilometres northwest of Palanca last week.

The small, poor and divided ex-Soviet republic -- that is neither part of NATO nor the European Union -- had to temporarily close its airspace in November.

Even on quiet days, Palanca's 2,000 people have to do without GPS as the Ukrainians jam communications during air raid alerts across the border.

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Some nights when the strikes get really loud, Morari said she has thought about taking shelter in the basement or even "abandoning everything we have worked for" and fleeing to the capital Chisinau.

- Defending ourselves 'with pitchforks' -

"My house often shakes" during the attacks on the other side of the river, 68-year-old pensioner Valeriu Voloh told AFP.

"A fool could easily make a mistake pushing the launch button and then it falls somewhere in Palanca," he said.

Yet Moldova is virtually defenceless, he added.

"We must defend ourselves, but with what? With a pitchfork? With a slingshot?" he said.

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The country -- one of Europe's poorest -- spends only 0.6 percent of its GDP on defence, a percentage that Finance Minister Andrian Gavrilita admitted places Moldova "at the tail end on the planet".

It ranks 134 in terms of military strength out of the total 145 countries in the Global Firepower list.

Nosatii has said that the country has 20 Soviet-era radars which can't detect drones.

Moldova received a Thales radar from France in 2023 and is expecting another radar this year, acquired with EU money from a 20-million-euro package meant to finance air defence launchers and missiles.

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Moldova has long been torn between Europe and Russia. While it hopes to conclude EU accession talks by 2028, less than a quarter of its 2.4 million people would vote to join NATO, according to a recent survey.

"Investments in defence are investments in peace, stability, and confidence," pro-EU President Maia Sandu wrote on Facebook last week after visiting a new military site under construction near Chisinau.

Sandu has frequently accused Moscow of interfering in the country's affairs, especially during elections.

- 'Turbo ladybug' -

But with pro-Russian politicians mocking drone incursions and constantly criticising army spending as they warn of the "militarisation" of Moldova, not everyone is convinced that its defences must be boosted.

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In northern Moldova, the village of Cuhurestii de Jos suddenly found itself in the international spotlight in November when a drone marked with a red letter "Z" was found on a roof in a walnut orchard. It was later put on display outside Moldova's foreign ministry when Moscow's envoy was summoned over the crash, which came on a day several other drones crossed into the country's airspace.

But some in the village are deeply sceptical of whether Russia had anything to do with the drone, including the local priest, Sebastian Resetnic, 35.

Affiliated with the Orthodox church aligned to the Moscow Patriarchate, he wondered if the drone "came on its own or (if) someone brought it".

For 41-year-old Mariana Racu, the drone was "placed carefully, slowly" on the roof to cause panic or test people's reaction.

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She echoed talking points by pro-Russian politicians who called the drone "a turbo ladybug" and accused Sandu's pro-EU ruling party PAS of having "gently placed" the drone on the roof "to cover up recent scandals".

- 'Psychological war' -

"There is still little understanding within (Moldovan) society that investment in defence is... not money thrown away," military expert Artur Lescu told AFP in Chisinau, adding "misinformation narratives" made some people "hide from reality".

The repeated drone incursions -- like those in Romania or Poland -- are part of "a psychological war" designed to "sow unrest", he said.

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"Moldova has no capacity whatsoever to stop these missiles," said Armand Gosu, a Romanian historian who specialises in former Soviet countries.

If Moscow wins in Ukraine, "Russia could very easily destabilise Moldova", he said. "Everything could collapse like a house of cards."

ani/jza/fg
Slovakia plans to file a complaint with the EU's top court, the European Court of Justice (ECJ), contesting the bloc's ban on imports of natural gas from Russia, Prime Minister Robert Fico announced in Bratislava on Tuesday.

The EU regulation violated the subsidiarity principle allowing all EU member states to decide on their own energy mix, Fico said, described the regulation as "a breach of the fundamental principles on which the European Union is built."

The regulation, adopted on Monday by a majority of the EU's 27 member states, requires imports of Russian gas to end by the end of 2027.

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Its aim is to limit Russian income from gas exports as part of EU moves to pressure Russia over the ongoing war in Ukraine.

It goes into force at the beginning of February following publication in the bloc's official journal.

Slovakia and Hungary voted against, and Bulgaria abstained, when the decision was passed on Monday, with 24 member states voting in favour.

Hungary has also indicated it will take legal action. Prime Minister Viktor Orban said earlier that the move was in fact a sanction in formal terms, rather than a trade measure as represented by the European Commission.

In that case, unanimity would have been required, and Hungary and Slovakia could have vetoed it.

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According to Economy Minister Denisa Sakova, Slovakia cut its usage of Russian gas to 33% by December after previously sourcing almost all its gas from Russia. Landlocked Slovakia has no access to liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminals.

Slovakian industry and households are largely dependent on gas for energy.
A Belgian farmer is taking on one of the world's largest oil companies after suffering devastating losses and is hoping his case will mark a turning point in climate accountability.

As detailed by Politico, Hugues Falys is seeking reparations from TotalEnergies for damages caused by climate-fueled extreme weather events, which decimated his crops in 2016.

Heat waves and droughts also increased operating costs in 2018, 2020, and 2022 after reduced yields made it impossible for him to feed his livestock without purchasing feed from elsewhere.

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Falys' attorneys say that the French oil giant continued to push fossil fuels even after it became aware of their adverse effects on the planet and cultivated doubt in scientific evidence establishing a connection between fossil fuel pollution, a changing climate, and its effects, including increasingly unpredictable and powerful weather patterns.

TotalEnergies also allegedly misled customers about the eco-friendliness of its operations  a tactic referred to as greenwashing  while lobbying against efforts to combat rising global temperatures and transition to cleaner energy sources. Similar arguments have surfaced before.

Several years ago, for instance, internal documents from ExxonMobil, Chevron, Shell, BP, the American Petroleum Institute, and the Chamber of Commerce obtained via an investigation showed that oil and gas titans have been aware of their industry's negative impact on the planet for decades. However, the companies worked to seed doubt in research showing this link because it would affect their profits.

Falys' fight against TotalEnergies is just one example of a member of the public taking action to safeguard their livelihood and the future of all creatures who rely on Earth's resources. Farmers in Missouri are combating the use of toxic sludge for fertilizer, and village-led efforts in the Amazon rainforest are protecting rivers and forests from poachers and illegal loggers.

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As for TotalEnergies, it has denied responsibility for Belgium's worsening droughts and storms. In a statement to Politico, it said it "makes no sense" to hold a single company responsible for the impact of hundreds of years of fossil fuel use and said that it has reduced the pollution it creates. TotalEnergies' website shows several investments in clean energy and restoration projects.

Most legal attempts to hold one company accountable have also stalled in court, according to the publication. Yet Falys remains hopeful his case will set a legal precedent to support legislative efforts to shift energy systems toward a more sustainable path.

"It's a historic day," he told onlookers outside the courtroom in Tournai, per Politico. "The courts could force multinationals to change their practices."

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.
Florida is freezing! Literally.

As much of the country is facing dangerously cold temperatures and prolonged power outages from a brutal winter storm, the Sunshine State is seeing its fair share of below-freezing temperatures this week.

Floridians in the northern and central portions of the state woke up to temperatures in the 20s and 30s on Tuesday, Jan. 27, and the cold is expected to persist throughout the week. But will it snow?

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Snow in Florida isn't as rare as some might think. Parts of the Florida Panhandle saw a light dusting of snow just over a week ago. But snow forming in Florida doesn't just depend on low temperatures; it also relies on the amount of moisture there is (or isn't) in the atmosphere.

Here's what we know about the potential for a second January 2026 snow event in Florida this week and how many counties are under freeze watches and warnings on Jan. 27.

Freeze warning? Extreme cold? What do those NWS terms mean?

Current weather alerts, freeze warnings, issued in Florida Jan. 27

At 6 a.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 27, there were:

Freeze warnings in 39 counties

Freeze watches in 27 counties

Extreme cold warning in 14 counties

Cold weather advisories in 46 counties

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See how low it got: You'll need your coat in Florida this morning.

Could there be snow in Florida? What we know

The chances for snow in Florida for Jan. 27 and the rest of the week aren't nonexistent, but they're low. If there is enough moisture in the air, the extreme cold and freezing temperatures could bring some flurries or a wintry mix, but the conditions have to be just right.

According to WeatherTiger meteorologist Ryan Truchelut, freezing temperatures don't necessarily mean snow. In January, which is usually the coldest month of the year in Florida, it often gets cold enough for snow to form. But the bitter cold must be accompanied by a certain amount of moisture in the air for there to be actual snowfall. This is why snow in Florida is usually a surprise.

"While parts of Florida can and do get cold enough for snow or ice with some regularity, freezes are almost always accompanied by dry air and sinking motion in the lower atmosphere, which is not conducive (to) any kind of precipitation," Truchelut reported earlier this month.

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Many North Florida cities saw lows in the 20s on the morning of Tuesday, Jan. 27, and will see lows in the 20s or 30s again on Wednesday, Jan. 28, with wind chill dropping some of those real feel temperatures between 14 and 20 degrees.

As of 9 a.m. on Jan. 27, AccuWeather reports no active snow events in North Florida, from Pensacola to Jacksonville.

When was the last time it snowed in Florida? What cities in Florida got snow?

The last time it snowed in Florida was just over a week ago, when some cities in the Florida Panhandle saw a light dusting of snow (up to one inch in some places) on Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026.

This was about a year after a record-breaking snowfall that hit the Florida Panhandle in January 2025.

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A freak winter storm that swept the Gulf of Mexico on Jan. 21, 2025, brought more than seven inches of snow to Pensacola, more than doubling the previous record of three inches in 1895.

Cities in the western panhandle saw between five and 10 inches of snow, while the northeastern portion of the state saw freezing rain and ice that melted once it hit the ground.

The official total from the National Weather Service was 7.6 inches of snow in Pensacola, Jessica Chace, warning coordination meteorologist, told the USA TODAY Network-Florida in January 2025. Santa Rosa County saw even more snow than Pensacola, and Tallahassee saw some sludgy snow that collected on the ground, but mostly sleet.

Pensacola saw 7.6 inches of snow between midnight Jan. 21, 2025, and midnight Jan. 22, 2025, Chace said. Snow started falling at 12:30 p.m. Jan. 21 and ended at about 9 p.m. The Milton and Jay areas in Florida got nine to 10 inches of snow, and some locations near the state line received closer to 11.

Is it rare for Florida to get snow?

Snow in Florida, although rare, is less elusive than you might think. Florida has seen snow more than 80 times since 1886. The first documented account of snow in Florida was reported in 1774, according to the Florida Climate Center.

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"Since 1886, there have been more than 80 months in which at least a trace of snow has been reported somewhere in the state," according to the Climate Center.

On Jan. 19, 1977, snow fell in South Florida for the first time in recorded history, according to the National Weather Service.

Here are some examples of significant snow experiences in Florida since 1950, from the Climate Center:

January 21 and 22, 2025: "A historic winter storm affected the U.S. Gulf Coast, stretching from Texas to the Florida Panhandle. The highest snowfall amounts reported in Florida were up to 10 inches measured in Escambia County and near Jay in northern Santa Rosa County. Pensacola recorded 8.9 inches of snow at the airport. Further east, a sharp gradient of snow to a wintry mix of sleet and snow formed. Marianna reported 5 inches of snow, and 3.5 inches was reported near Panama City. Tallahassee recorded 1.9 inches of snow, beginning with mostly sleet on the night of January 21 and turning over to snow on the morning of January 22. Trace amounts of snow were reported in Northeast Florida."

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December 26, 2010: A mix of snow and sleet was reported in Jacksonville, with a freezing fog event around midnight. Tallahassee, Gainesville, and other locations in the northern peninsula reported flurries during the day.

February 2, 1951: Two inches were reported in St. Augustine and Crescent City.

March 6, 1954: Four inches were reported at the Milton Experimental Station; this total holds as the 24-hour state snowfall record.

February 13, 1958: Rain changed to snow; 1.5 inches were reported in Jacksonville, and 2.8 inches were reported in Tallahassee.

February 9-10, 1973: A large snowstorm that affected the Southeast U.S. brought 1.8 inches of snow in Pensacola on the 9th and 0.4 inches in Tallahassee on the 10th. Flurries were reported as far south as Lisbon and Clermont.

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January 17-19, 1977: Snow started falling in Pensacola on the 17th. On the 19th, flurries were reported as far south as Homestead. Areas along I-4 (Tampa/Orlando) reported 1 to 2 inches of snow.

December 23, 1989: Rain changed to snow in Jacksonville, and totals of several inches were reported in some locations; the city had its first White Christmas.

March 12, 1993: The '93 Superstorm produced up to 4 inches of snow along the Florida Panhandle.

November 21, 2006: A dusting of snow fell over portions of central Florida, the first November snow in the state since 1912.

January 8-9, 2010: A light dusting of snow was seen in Jacksonville. Light snow fell in parts of central Florida, with sleet/snow reported in Orlando, Tampa, and Melbourne. Flurries are reported in West Palm Beach and Kendall.

This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: In freezing Florida, is snow possible?
The Brief

Forecast models show potentially record-setting cold pushing into Florida this weekend, with dangerous wind chills reaching Central Florida.

A damaging freeze is possible, while snow chances in Orlando remain low and will likely stay near the Florida-Georgia line.

Orlando could still see historic low temperatures Sunday, with readings possibly dropping to 25 degrees or lower.

ORLANDO, Fla. - A FOX 35 Storm Team alert is active this coming Sunday for potentially record cold.

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Forecasters say that conditions are favorable for another winter storm this weekend, one that could track much farther south than usual and deliver some of the coldest air in decades to parts of the Southeast, including Florida.

Some models are showing a surge of potentially record-setting, cold air reaching deep into Florida this weekend.

Wind chills in single digits and 10s

Forecasters say a significant wind chill event is possible Saturday night into Sunday, with single-digit and teens wind chills potentially extending into Central Florida. This could result in a damaging freeze across large portions of the state.

If the pattern develops as projected, enough cold air and moisture could be present to even produce snowflakes in parts of the Southeast, including Georgia, South Carolina and possibly Florida, though forecasters say the probability of snow or flurries in Florida remains low for now.

Could it snow in Orlando?

The forecast hinges on whether a storm develops off the East Coast and how strong it becomes.

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A stronger storm would likely pull colder air farther south into Florida and the Southeast, increasing the risk of record temperatures and a greater chance of wintry precipitation. A weaker system, or no storm at all, would still bring unusually cold conditions, though less extreme.

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Any wintry precipitation would likely stay well north of Orlando and closer to the Florida-Georgia state line, according to the latest outlook from the National Weather Service's Weather Prediction Center.

Potential is increasing for another significant winter storm to impact the eastern United States this coming weekend. It is too early to know the details, but please keep updated with the latest forecasts this week! pic.twitter.com/RKa1pzhw6O  NWS Weather Prediction Center (@NWSWPC) January 26, 2026

Record cold for Orlando?

In Orlando, air temperatures have not fallen to 25 degrees or lower since December 2010. Similar readings were recorded in January 2002 and December 1989, with only rare occurrences before then.

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Forecasters say there is a real possibility temperatures could approach or fall below that 25-degree mark on Sunday morning.

So even though Orlando may not see any snow flurries, the area can expect possible record-setting low temperatures.

Actual air temperatures are expected to run roughly 6 to 11 degrees higher than projected wind chills. So, in a nutshell, Feb. 1 could become a historic date in Orlando, with both morning lows and afternoon highs threatening long-standing records.

The FOX 35 Storm Team will be closely monitoring as confidence in the forecast continues to increase.

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The Source

This story was written based on information shared by the National Weather Service and the FOX 35 Storm Team.
SACRAMENTO, California  A trial kicking off this week in Los Angeles will weigh one of the most fraught questions of the digital age: whether social media giants are responsible for harming children.

For the first time in the U.S., the tech behemoths behind social media platforms that reshaped modern life and communication will be forced before jurors to confront allegations they negligently created products that cause addiction, depression and other trauma.

This is the first time families have ever had their right to a day in court, Matthew Bergman, the Social Media Victims Law Center attorney representing plaintiffs suing the companies, told reporters last week. This is a historic point.

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Meta and YouTube are named as defendants and will face trial. High-profile industry figures, including Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Adam Mosseri, who heads Meta-owned Instagram, could be called to testify.

TikTok, another defendant, reached a yet-to-be-disclosed settlement to avoid trial hours before jury selection began, two people familiar with the deal and granted anonymity to share details about private discussions, told POLITICO early Tuesday. A fourth defendant, Snapchat parent company Snap Inc., reached an undisclosed settlement last week.

The trial, which begins with jury selection in Los Angeles Superior Court on Tuesday, is a bellwether for similar suits pending in California state court.

A verdict in favor of the plaintiff, a 19-year-old, Northern California woman identified in court documents by the initials K.G.M., could require companies to pay damages or alter their platform designs, and encourage them to settle in thousands of similar lawsuits.

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It also challenges a long-standing precedent thats protected Big Tech firms from liability for alleged harms linked to social media use. For years, social media companies have gotten lawsuits dismissed by relying on a decades-old law, Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, which exempts them from liability for most user-posted content on their platforms.

While some judges have accepted companies argument that content posted on their sites or suggested by an algorithm is protected speech, Superior Court Judge Carolyn Kuhl ruled late last year that K.G.M.s case and a handful of similar lawsuits can proceed to trial. Plaintiffs contend more than a decade of social media use left K.G.M. addicted and depressed, and are requesting unspecified monetary damages.

The suit tests a novel legal theory that social media sites or their specific features are defective products that encourage addictive behavior  similar to cigarettes and opioids  and subject to personal injury law. It capitalizes on a trend where courts have increasingly allowed cases to proceed if they fault companies for deliberately making risky and addictive products or ignoring known harms associated with their platforms, not just hosting harmful content.

Jurors will have to decide whether the harm was caused by alleged defective design features of the social media platforms at issue, or whether it was caused by the speech of third parties, said Clay Calvert, a legal scholar specializing in First Amendment issues.

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If jurors find the third-party content that K.G.M. viewed caused the harm, thats a win for social media companies, said Kathleen Farley, vice president of litigation for left-leaning tech industry trade group Chamber of Progress. Thats saying that nothing the social media companies were responsible for, like the design of their platform, caused the harm.

Yet even if that happens, Farley said, the fact that K.G.M.s case is proceeding to trial raises troubling First Amendment implications for social media companies because Section 230 protections "should have prevented it from moving forward.

The threat of being called into court in the first place is recognized as causing a chilling effect, she added.

The trial could thrust some of the biggest names in tech back into the hot seat. In early 2024, social media CEOs were hauled before Congress to answer for the dangers their platforms are accused of having posed, particularly to children  a spectacle that resulted in an apology from Zuckerberg. They havent faced further public grilling since President Donald Trump reentered the White House last year.

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Both Zuckerberg and Mosseri may be called to testify as soon as next week, since the state court judge overseeing the trial rejected Metas attempt last fall to prevent plaintiffs from summoning its top leaders in court.

If either takes the stand, theyll field tough questions about what their platforms knew about risks to kids safety from experienced prosecutors armed with thousands of pages of internal company documents, not lawmakers looking for a sound bite.

For Zuckerberg, it would be a sharp shift from his experience testifying in front of Congress, Farley said.

This inquiry is centered more on whether or not the jury believes his testimony. He has to answer specific questions, and [he] will be cross examined, Farley added. It's simply a different experience.

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A spokesperson for Meta, when asked about the companys legal strategy, pointed to a recent company blog post that accuses the plaintiffs in the cases of constructing a "misleading narrative to downplay the companys safety initiatives and erroneously attribute wider teen mental health issues to its platforms.

Lawyers for the teen have highlighted unsealed court documents that appear to cut against the companies arguments. In November, they published an analysis of expert reports and witness depositions, including Zuckerberg, that accused social media executives of obscuring their social media platforms potential dangers from parents and children.

Snap CEO Evan Spiegel was also expected to testify until his company settled last week. TikTok declined to comment. Google, which owns YouTube, is aiming to tout YouTube Kids and other safety features while arguing the video-sharing site more closely resembles a streaming platform, rather than a traditional, likes-based social media like Facebook, Instagram or TikTok.

The LA trial is one of a series of bellwether cases for a joint proceeding of more than 1,600 plaintiffs, ranging from California school districts to families who accuse social media platforms of harming their kids.

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At the federal level, more than 235 plaintiffs are suing Meta, Snap, TikTok and Google parent company Alphabet on similar grounds. That case includes a legal complaint against Meta from California top prosecutor Rob Bonta and a bipartisan coalition of at least 32 other state attorneys general. Trials for the federal multi-district litigation are slated to begin on June 15, the federal judge overseeing proceedings said during a court hearing Monday.

Meta is separately facing lawsuits from the Social Media Victims Law Center on behalf of two families who claim Instagram is a defective product that contributed to their childrens death by suicide. Yet another case brought against Meta by New Mexicos attorney general accusing the company of creating a breeding ground for predators is scheduled for a trial next month after Meta invoked Section 230 to dismiss the complaint and a judge denied the motion.

State legislators have also been enacting laws throughout the country that cover many of the issues addressed in the cases, some of which are facing court challenges of their own from tech industry groups. Those efforts wont let up even if companies get their best-case scenario in the Los Angeles trial.

One scenario is that the defendants have a clean sweep, the litigation becomes irrelevant, and yet the legislation will be untouched by that outcome, said Eric Goldman, an internet law professor at Santa Clara University School of Law in Silicon Valley. Defendants are unlikely to knock out all of the different ways in which they're being regulated.

Ruth Reader contributed to this report.
Rep. Julie Auch, R-Yankton, speaks on the floor of the South Dakota House in February 2025 at the Capitol in Pierre. On Monday, she voted against authorizing a pretrial monitoring program, calling grant funding for the program from the MacArthur Foundation "woke." (Photo by John Hult/South Dakota Searchlight)

Lawmakers rejected a pretrial monitoring program Monday that was requested by South Dakotas top judicial official, as some legislators expressed concerns about the perceived political persuasion of the foundation that pledged to pay for it.

House Bill 1015 came to the House of Representatives at the request of Steven Jensen, chief justice of the South Dakota Supreme Court. It would authorize a pilot program in Pennington County in which court service officers would watch people released on bond as they await trial to make sure they adhere to their release conditions and dont miss court dates.

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The state Unified Judicial System secured a $385,000 grant to pay for the yearlong experiment from the MacArthur Foundation, a Chicago-based nonprofit that focuses on criminal justice reform.

More legislative news

See all of Searchlights coverage of the 2026 legislative session.

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The foundation has extended grant funding to both Pennington and Minnehaha Counties in the past for programs aimed at reducing their jail populations and addressing racial and ethnic disparities in the justice system.

The House Judiciary Committee voted 10-3 last week to back the pilot program, but the bill authorizing it was met with a buzzsaw of opposition on the House floor.

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Nine of the 15 lawmakers who rose to speak on the idea urged a no vote, and six of the nine opponents lobbed criticism at the MacArthur Foundation for promoting policies they said make communities less safe and cost taxpayers money when grant dollars run out.

The House vote on the bill was 33-34.

Opponent calls grant money woke

House Bill 1015 hands over control of our state policies to an unelected, unaccountable national foundation, said Republican Rep. Mary Fitzgerald of St. Onge. This organization answers to no one here, yet they want us to follow their agenda.

Fitzgerald said the pilot program would heap extra burdens upon overworked court service officers in Pennington County, as the grant dollars dont pay for additional staff. She argued that the pilot would lead to a catch and release justice system and turn South Dakota into San Francisco.

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This bill may not say cashless bail, but it moves us squarely in that direction she said. The pilot program is funded by a group trying to eliminate cash bail across the country.

The words diversity, equity and inclusion on the MacArthur Foundations website  listed as a core value on its about page  caught the eye of Aberdeen Republican Brandei Schaefbauer.

What are the strings attached to work with the foundation, she asked lawmakers? She suggested that the foundation would push South Dakota to adopt permanent, further-reaching reforms that would cost taxpayers to maintain long-term.

I do not think we will actually achieve our goals in reducing the recidivism, she said, referencing a term for repeat offenses. What we will achieve is bringing Marxist-communist propaganda to our state.

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Rep. Trish Ladner, R-Hot Springs, said she cant trust that the pilot program would improve outcomes. Ladner noted that Pennington County had to expand its jail, even after accepting MacArthur Foundation money to implement alternatives to incarceration.

The burden of the cost of the county government will ultimately result in an increase in the countys property tax burden to its citizens, Ladner said.

Republican Rep. Julie Auch of Yankton called MacArthur money woke, citing what she described as MacArthurs obsessive focus on racial and ethnic disparities.

Its unfortunate that a foundation of their stature is clearly engaging in politics, Auch said.

Backers ask for deference to chief justice

Auch said she has great respect for Chief Justice Jensen, but that she sees the pilot program as potentially deleterious to public safety.

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Rep. John Hughes, R-Sioux Falls, also referenced Jensen in his remarks, but did so to encourage colleagues to extend the chief justice respect and give a chance for the program hed endorsed in his State of the Judiciary speech to prove itself.

The pilot program is paid for, Hughes said, will end in 2027, and will produce data and information that lawmakers can use to decide to move forward.

Many of those released on bond today struggle with addiction, Hughes said, and could use help staying on the right track while they await trial.

We have to do better than were doing, said Hughes. So the goal of all of this is to connect individuals with people who are concerned, and who have some sensitivity toward addiction issues.

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Rep. Kadyn Wittman, D-Sioux Falls, pushed back on the notion that South Dakota has no business focusing its attention on racial and ethnic disparities. Wittman said she wanted to remind this body that we do have racial disparities in our justice system.

In South Dakota, more than 50% of our incarcerated women are Indigenous and more than 30% of our incarcerated men are Indigenous, while they only make up 8% of our states population, Wittman said.

Rep. Mike Stevens, R-Yankton, the bills prime sponsor, said he trusts that no one in the Legislature would allow a nonprofit organization to turn South Dakota into San Francisco.

This really isnt supposed to be a vote on whether you like MacArthur Foundation or not, Stevens said. Its really about what are we going to do to help our state, our South Dakota.

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Stevens also said people are released on bond every day in South Dakota, and that judges dont lose any of that authority under the bill. Most people released on bond are not monitored now, he said.

The only place where they are is Minnehaha County, which has opted to do things like remind defendants of court appearances since 2018. Missed court appearances there have fallen 40%, Stevens said.

Wittman announced her intent to seek reconsideration of the bill. If a majority opts to reopen debate, the bill could have another chance.

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SEOUL, South Korea (AP)  North Korea launched short-range ballistic missiles toward its eastern waters on Tuesday, according to its neighbors, as the North heightens animosities with rival South Korea ahead of a major political meeting.

South Korea's military said it detected liftoffs of several ballistic missiles from an area north of the North Korean capital Pyongyang before the missiles each flew about 350 kilometers (217 miles).

Japans Defense Ministry said two ballistic missiles launched from North Korea and landed off the eastern coast of the Korean Peninsula. The ministry condemned the launches as a threat to the peace of Japan, the region and the international community.

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South Korea's military said it maintains a firm readiness to repel any provocations by North Korea.

The launches were the first time North Korea fired weapons since testing what it called hypersonic missiles in early January. In December, the country test-fired what it called long-range, strategic cruise missiles and new anti-air missiles and released photos showing apparent progress in the construction of its first nuclear-powered submarine.

North Korea has engaged in a run of weapons launches to enlarge its nuclear and missile arsenals since talks with the U.S. and South Korea stalled in 2019. Experts say the North's leader Kim Jong Un believes a bigger weapons arsenal would give him greater leverage to win concessions from the U.S.

North Korea's recent displays were likely meant to demonstrate or review its weapons development achievements ahead of the upcoming ruling Workers Party congress, analysts said.

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The congress, expected to start in February, would be the first of its kind in five years and is one of North Korea's biggest propaganda spectacles used to set up new political and economic priorities.

North Korea recently threatened retaliation over what it called two South Korean surveillance drone flights across the border, one earlier in January and another in September. The South Korean government denied operating any drones during the times specified by North Korea and began probing if civilians sent them.

The accusations likely were driven by the Norths efforts to dial up anti-South Korea sentiments ahead of the congress, when Kim's previous declaration of a hostile two-state system on the Korean Peninsula could be added to the party constitution, analysts said.

___

Mari Yamaguchi in Tokyo contributed to this report.
SEOUL, Jan. 27 (UPI) -- South Korea will dispatch a delegation of senior trade and industry officials to Washington after U.S. President Donald Trump announced a sharp increase in tariffs on Korean goods, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources said Tuesday.

Trade Minister Yeo Han-koo and Industry Minister Kim Jung-kwan will travel to the United States to meet their counterparts for talks on the tariff hike, the ministry said in a press release.

The decision was made at an emergency interagency meeting chaired by presidential chief of staff for policy Kim Yong-beom, convened hours after Trump's surprise announcement on social media.

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Trump said he was raising his so-called "reciprocal" tariffs on South Korea from 15% to 25%, accusing Seoul's National Assembly of failing to act quickly enough to implement a bilateral trade deal finalized late last year.

"South Korea's Legislature is not living up to its Deal with the United States," Trump wrote earlier Tuesday on his Truth Social platform.

He said the higher tariffs would apply to automobiles, lumber, pharmaceuticals and other goods covered by the agreement.

The legislation to implement the deal was submitted to the National Assembly by the ruling Democratic Party in November but has yet to be passed.

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Kim, who is currently in Canada, will travel to Washington as soon as his schedule allows to meet with U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, according to the ministry. Yeo will depart from Seoul to hold talks with U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer.

Trump and South Korean President Lee Jae Myung finalized trade negotiations on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum in Gyeongju on Oct. 29.

The two sides released a fact sheet in November detailing the terms of the deal, under which Trump's tariffs on South Korean goods, including automobiles, would be reduced from 25% to 15%.

In exchange for the lower tariffs, South Korea pledged to invest $350 billion in the United States, including $150 billion in the U.S. shipbuilding sector and $200 billion for strategic industries under a memorandum of understanding to be signed by the two governments.

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The fact sheet also formalized Washington's approval of Seoul's long-sought plan to build nuclear-powered submarines, a capability South Korean officials have framed as part of broader industrial and security cooperation with the United States.

The tariff move comes amid a dispute involving a South Korean regulatory probe into Coupang, a U.S.-listed e-commerce company, following a large-scale data breach.

On Friday, South Korean Prime Minister Kim Min-seok said he addressed the matter directly in talks with U.S. Vice President JD Vance, stressing that American firms had not been unfairly targeted.

"I made it clear that there has been no discriminatory treatment against U.S. companies," Kim told Korean correspondents in Washington, D.C.

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Following Tuesday's emergency meeting, South Korea's presidential office said it would react "calmly" to the announced tariff increase.

"Since the tariff increase will only take effect after administrative procedures such as publication in the Federal Register, the Korean government plans to calmly respond while conveying its commitment to implementing the tariff agreement to the U.S. side," presidential spokeswoman Kang Yu-jung said in a written briefing.

South Korean stocks initially fell on the tariff news, with the benchmark KOSPI dropping by 0.84% in the first 15 minutes of trading before reversing early losses to gain 2.73% and close at an all-time high of 5,084.85.
It is understandable now that traders are cautious. The Bitcoin USD price is not trending and is all over the place. There it appears to be no refuge.

At press time, the Bitcoin USD price is under pressure and yet to break above the $90,000 resistance. If anything, given the current state of price action, the odds of the digital gold rallying are lower than those of a price slump.

This shows how the BTC USD price has been printing in the last few trading days. Since November 21, BTC USDT has been in a range, moving sideways with caps at around $95,000 on the upper end and $84,000 on the lower end. As it is, the Bitcoin USD price is around the mid-point, giving sellers of October an upper hand.

With crypto price action choppy and some of the best cryptos to buy facing a gloomy picture, whats next? Will gold continue defying gravity and extend gains to fresh all-time highs this week?

Why is Bitcoin USD Price Down Today?

Whats visible fits into a broader pattern: After a disappointing Q4 2025, when usually crypto prices rip higher, investors appear to be sensing danger and moving to safety. The USD is the currency of choice.

This outflow to safety only makes crypto, including the Bitcoin USD, fragile. In the morning, during the Asian session, the Bitcoin price crashed, falling to as low as $86,000, briefly extending losses of January 25. The good news is that Bitcoin bulls flew in, slowing down sellers, and pushing prices to around last weeks range.

How Bitcoin performs this week largely depends on politics and how the US proceeds with its relationship with the EU on Greenland. Although a common ground was reached last week, investors are not convinced. Already, because of the US pressing the EU on Greenland, investors expect geopolitical tensions to continue simmering. Fear of a full-blown trade war is what explains the pivoting to physical gold and the suffering of cryptos and tech stocks, not only in Europe but also in the US.

Trump and Greenland aside, there are renewed fears that another US government shutdown is around the corner. Negotiations in Congress have hit a wall. As a result, over the weekend, punters on Polymarket are upping the odds of a shutdown.

At the moment, it stands at +80%, up from below +30% only a few days ago. This uncertainty on whether operations will stall in the US is inevitably creating fears of dollar-debasement. Although this might be good for Bitcoin in the long term, investors tend to react by first selling everything, negatively impacting risk assets.
Southborough police assisted a woman who needed immediate help during this weekends snowstorm, shortly thereafter arresting a man on multiple charges including kidnapping.

Despite weather conditions, officers responded quickly to the woman who needed help and ensured her safety. Then, through an investigation, they arrested and charged a Hudson man.

Incidents involving family or household members are handled with care and discretion. Massachusetts law, specifically the Domestic Violence Act of 2014, limits what information can be shared in these cases, said Southborough police in a statement.

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What I can say is that our officers acted professionally and with compassion during an intense situation.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

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NASHVILLE  On Tuesday, Jan. 27, Southwest Airlines became a little more like all the other U.S. carriers.

Right before boarding my 6:05 a.m. departure from New York, even Southwest employees acknowledged it.

"It's going to be the same process as every other airline does it," the gate agent working my flight to Nashville said.

Southwest, the carrier once known for its quirks, officially moved from first-come, first-served seating to assigned seats.

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Ahead of the change, executives repeatedly said it was in response to customer preferences: travelers want the option of seats with extra legroom at a premium price and more predictable boarding when they get on their planes.

The sun rises on assigned seating onboard a Southwest Airlines flight on Jan. 27, 2026.

"Our customers want more choice and greater control over their travel experience," Tony Roach, executive vice president of customer and brand at Southwest Airlines, previously said in a statement. "Assigned seating unlocks new opportunities for our customers  including the ability to select Extra Legroom seats  and removes the uncertainty of not knowing where they will sit in the cabin. This is an important step in our evolution, and were excited to pair these enhancements with our legendary customer service."

While some Southwest loyalists mourned the change online, at the airport, the transition seemed to be going smoothly.

Bryan Lorenzo, 28, was flying on a multi-leg business trip on my same flight to Nashville. He's based in Dallas and said he's always been a fan of his hometown airline. While Lorenzo said he'll always be "nostalgic" for Southwest's open seating, he said he hopes the new policy makes the airline more competitive and more likely to keep flying well into the future.

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Lorenzo is "happy to see them doing more for different customers," and added that he's glad to see Southwest doing assigned seating in its own way  which includes keeping the pre-boarding lineup procedure, something he said seems to make boarding go smoother.

Flight attendants reminded passengers to check their seat assignments during boarding. "It's new for us, too," one of the crewmembers on my flight said. But overall, passengers seemed to take the change in stride.

There didn't seem to be any confused passengers in the airport and boarding on my flight, which admittedly wasn't very full, was quick and efficient. After all, Southwest is hardly reinventing the wheel with assigned seats on an airplane.

Digital signage at Nashville International Airport reminds Southwest Airlines passengers of the carrier's new boarding process.

Still, no first day of a new procedure goes completely to plan. Ahead of my own flight, the check-in reminder email still suggested I upgrade to a more premium boarding group, a nod to the company's previous seating policy.

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Jan. 27 also marks the start of Southwest's less permissive policy for plus-size passengers, which you can read more about below.

What else has Southwest Airlines changed?

In addition to switching to assigned seating, Southwest has made many other changes in the last year or so that brought its business model closer to that of its competitors.

Southwest was previously known for allowing every passenger two checked bags for free with every ticket, but did away with that policy in May, charging most customers $35 for each checked bag.

The airline also diversified its cabin with extra-legroom seats for a premium price, and offered preferred standard economy seats that cost more, closer to the front of the plane.

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Still, the changes Southwest made haven't all been in the direction of tighter restrictions. The airline also announced in October that Wi-Fi would be free for all Rapid Rewards members on its flights.

When Southwest started in 1971, it flew just two routes: Dallas-San Antonio and Dallas-Houston. That's not the only thing that was different back then: The flight attendants wore hot pants and go-go boots. Click ahead for more photos from the airline's history. Southwest Airlines co-founder Herb Kelleher at the launch of the airline's Boeing 737-300s in 1984. A Boeing 737-300 aircraft in Southwest Airlines' historic colors. Southwest planes at one time featured lounge-style seating, with passengers facing each other. In 1992, Southwest co-founder Herb Kelleher famously arm-wrestled Kurt Herwald, the chairman of Stevens Aviation, for the the rights to the phrase "Plane Smart.'' Kelleher lost. Southwest airlines employee Darlene McKinney takes boarding passes from passengers at the gate at the BWI airport on Aug. 27, 1996. Southwest Airlines flight attendant uniforms in the 1990s. The tail section of two Southwest Airlines jets are seen Jan. 10, 2003 at McCarran International Airport in Las Vegas, Nev. Southwest announced today that the company flew 3.9 billion revenue passenger miles in December 2002, a 9.7 percent increase from the 3.5 billion flown in December 2001. Southwest's planes got a new look when the airline turned 30 in 2001. Kelleher kissed the Liberty Bell to mark Southwest's new flights to and from Philadelphia in 2005. Southwest had Shamu planes to celebrate its partnership with SeaWorld. Southwest featured baggage handlers in its Bags Fly Free advertisements. Southwest announced its acquisition of AirTran Airways in 2010. Boeing unveiled Southwest Airlines' first 737-800 in 2012. The company's latest look features a heart on the belly of the plane. Southwest Airlines added the Boeing 737 Max 8 to its fleet in 2017. Southwest Airlines' website paid tribute to co-founder Herb Kelleher on Friday, Jan. 4, 2019. Kelleher died Jan. 3 at age 87. Southwest Airlines debuted service to Hawaii in March 2019. Mario poses for a photo for the Nintendo of America and Southwest Airlines Partnership at San Diego International Airport on July 17, 2019 in San Diego, Calif. Baggage is loaded onto a Southwest Airlines plane Aug. 12, 2020, at Mitchell Airport. in Milwaukee. The COVID-19 pandemic severely affected multiple airlines and the travel industry as a whole. Southwest Airlines 737 MAX 8 airplanes are stored at the Southern California Logistics Airport on April 4, 2020 in Victorville, Calif. Commercial aircraft are being parked at the remote desert airport about 90 miles northeast of Los Angeles as demand for travel drops amid the global coronavirus pandemic. A Boeing 737-700 flying for Southwest airlines approaches the Palm Springs International Airport passing by snow-capped mountains as seen from Mission Hills Country Club in Rancho Mirage, Calif. on March 22, 2023. A Southwest Airlines jet takes off from Sky Harbor International airport heading for San Francisco on July 13, 2023 in Phoenix, Ariz. A Southwest Airlines plane takes off from Hollywood Burbank Airport as other Southwest planes are parked at their gates on July 25, 2024 in Burbank, Calif. Southwest Airlines has announced it will discontinue its 50 year policy of open seating and will assign seats including premium seating in an effort to broaden its appeal. A Southwest Airlines Boeing 737 at Denver International Airport. See Southwest Airlines history in photos from the beginning in 1971 1 of 25 When Southwest started in 1971, it flew just two routes: Dallas-San Antonio and Dallas-Houston. That's not the only thing that was different back then: The flight attendants wore hot pants and go-go boots. Click ahead for more photos from the airline's history.

Southwest's plus-size passenger policy

Tuesday also marks the start of a new era for plus-size passengers at Southwest Airlines. The carrier previously had the most flexible plus-size policy in the industry, but its new rules are more restrictive.

In a statement, the airline previously said the following three conditions must be met for plus-size passengers to be eligible for a refund:

The flight(s) must depart with at least one open seat (or with Passengers traveling on space available passes).

Both seats should be purchased in the same fare class (i.e., Choice, Choice Preferred, Choice Extra, or Basic).

The refund request must be made within 90 days of the travel date.

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The new policy also requires passengers who don't fit between the armrests of a standard seat to purchase an additional seat, whereas the previous policy did not.

The old policy still encouraged plus-size travelers to purchase two seats but allowed passengers to get refunds with fewer restrictions.

(This story was updated to change or add a photo or video.)

Zach Wichter is a travel reporter and writes the Cruising Altitude column for USA TODAY. He is based in New York and you can reach him at zwichter@usatoday.com.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Southwest ends open seating, closing a quirky chapter in flying
The Spanish government has announced a plan to legalise the status of undocumented migrants, a measure expected to benefit at least half a million people.

Regularisation will be available to foreign nationals who do not have a criminal record and can prove they lived in Spain for at least five months prior to 31 December 2025.

"This is an historic day for our country," said Elma Saiz, Spain's minister of inclusion, social security and migration.

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The measure will provide beneficiaries with an initial one-year residence permit, which can then be extended. Requests for legalisation are expected to begin in April and the process will remain open until the end of June.

"We are reinforcing a migratory model based on human rights, integration, co-existence and which is compatible with economic growth and social cohesion," Saiz said.

Spain has seen a large influx of migrants in recent years, mainly from Latin America.

The conservative think-tank Funcas found that the number of undocumented migrants in Spain had risen from 107,409 in 2017 to 837,938 in 2025 - an eight-fold increase.

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The highest number of undocumented arrivals currently living in Spain are believed to be from Colombia, Peru and Honduras.

Spain's socialist-led coalition government has been an outlier on this issue among the larger European nations, underlining the importance of migrants for the economy.

The country has been outperforming the other main EU economies in recent years, posting expected growth of close to 3% in 2025.

Unemployment, a longstanding weakness of the Spanish economy, has dipped below 10% for the first time since 2008, according to figures released on Tuesday.

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Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has described immigrants as representing "wealth, development and prosperity" for Spain, pointing to their contribution to the social security system.

The government and parties on the left have also emphasised the need to treat migrants in a humane way.

"Providing rights is the answer to racism," said Irene Montero, of the far-left Podemos party and a former minister in a coalition government with the Socialists.

She has campaigned for this measure, which followed an agreement between the party and the government. A civic legislative proposal, calling for a mass migrant regularisation, received the support of around 700,000 people but had been languishing in parliament.

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This measure will be approved by royal decree, meaning it does not require parliamentary approval.

It is the first large-scale migrant regularisation in Spain for two decades.

Several such initiatives, by governments of both the Socialists and the conservative People's Party (PP), legalised the status of an estimated half a million migrants between 1986 and 2005.

However, Alberto Nunez Feijoo, leader of the PP, said the latest mass legalisation would "increase the pull effect and overwhelm our public services".

Pepa Millan, spokeswoman for the far-right Vox, said the initiative "attacks our identity", adding that the party would appeal before the Supreme Court in a bid to block it.
Jan. 26A Sterling man has been sentenced to 8 years in prison after pleading guilty Friday in four separate cases, including one accusing him of setting a Galt home on fire.

Rodney Swan, 26, pleaded guilty to felony arson and was sentenced to 7 years in prison for the Oct. 8, 2024, fire at 5403 Anne St. in Galt that sent two people to the hospital. One charge each of felony aggravated arson/knowing people were present, and residential arson was dropped as part of a plea deal.

Swan was accused of using gasoline to start the fire about 10 p.m. Oct. 8, 2024, in Galt.

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When arriving at the home, Sterling and Rock Falls firefighters found heavy fire showing from multiple doors and windows and a live electrical utility wire down on the driveway, according to a city of Sterling news release. Ten other fire departments soon were called to the scene to help fight the blaze.

Three people were in the home at the time of the fire; all three suffered smoke inhalation, with two taken to a Rockford hospital for further treatment.

Investigators said Swan had had an earlier dispute with one of the home's residents, and that 30 minutes prior to the fire breaking out at the home, Swan had appeared on surveillance video at a Sterling Casey's store. He was seen spending $20 on gas he had put into a round red gas can.

Investigators determined the fire started in the rear of the home, where the kitchen and garage met on the south side of the residence. The state fire marshal's office concluded the fire was intentionally set.

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That same gas can was found after the fire on property neighboring the burned-out home, with the property owner alerting authorities that he had found the gas can, investigators have testified. Prosecutors on Feb. 27, 2025, charged Swan with one count each of aggravated arson, knowing people are present, which is a Class X felony; residential arson; and arson.

Swan also pleaded guilty and was sentenced Friday in three other cases, all of which will be served concurrently with the arson sentence. They include:

A December 2024 weapons case: He was sentenced to 8 years in prison after pleading guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm. One count each of reckless discharge of a firearm and reckless conduct was dismissed. In that case, Swan had placed a loaded gun in his waistband, and the gun discharged into his right thigh as he was pulling up his pants, according to court documents. Those charges were filed Jan. 8, 2025; he was taken into custody Jan. 11, 2025.

A May 2024 drug case: He pleaded guilty to one count of possession of meth and was sentenced to 5 years in prison. One count of possession of drug paraphernalia was dismissed.

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A May 2022 burglary case: He pleaded guilty to one count of burglary and was sentenced to 5 years in prison. One count of criminal trespass to a building was dismissed.

Several cases earlier filed against Swan were dismissed Friday as part of the plea agreement. They include:

A March 2022 case of resisting a police officer, a misdemeanor.

An October 2022 felony burglary case that also included one count each of criminal trespass to a building and disarming a police officer.

An October 2022 case of misdemeanor driving on a suspended license.

A November 2022 case accusing him of possession of meth and driving on a suspended license.

Another November 2022 case accusing him of driving on a suspended license.
Sudans military says it has broken a nearly two-year siege by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on a key town in the Kordofan region, gaining control over major supply lines.

In a statement late on Monday, the military said it had opened a road leading to South Kordofan provinces Dilling town.

Our forces inflicted heavy losses on the enemy, both personal and equipment, the statement said.

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There was no immediate comment from the RSF, which has been at war with the army for control of Sudan for nearly three years.

Dilling lies halfway between Kadugli  the besieged state capital  and el-Obeid, the capital of neighbouring North Kordofan province, which the RSF has sought to encircle.





Meanwhile, the head of the government-aligned Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, met Qatars Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani in Doha on Tuesday as part of the armys efforts to find regional support.

Al Jazeeras Hiba Morgan, reporting from the Sudanese capital Khartoum, said al-Burhan had been visiting countries in the region in recent weeks, including Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Turkiye, to cement the ties with these countries so that he can focus more on trying to win the battle against the RSF.

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The fact that he visited Qatar this time round is quite significant because it shows that there are some special ties between the emir of Qatar and al-Burhans government. Qatar has supported the Sudanese government by providing humanitarian aid, she said.

Sudan map

Morgan described the Sudanese armys takeover of Dilling as a very significant gain that may lead to more advances in the province.

The army is trying to make use of this momentum to take territory not just from the RSF, but also from its ally, the SPLM-N, led by Abdelaziz al-Hilu, which controls territory and has forces in South Kordofan, she said.

Paramilitary troops were likely to fight back and attempt to retake the lost territory by relocating fighters from el-Obeid and Kadugli, according to Morgan.

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Morgan added that the humanitarian situation in Dilling would likely improve as the army will now be able to bring in medical supplies, food and other commercial goods that had been prevented from entering during the RSFs siege.

Displaced people ride an animal-drawn cart in the town of Tawila, North Darfur, Sudan [Reuters]

After being forced out of Khartoum in March, the RSF has focused on Kordofan and the city of el-Fasher, which was the militarys last stronghold in the sprawling Darfur region until the RSF seized it in October.

Reports of mass killings, rape, abductions and looting emerged after el-Fashers paramilitary takeover, and the International Criminal Court launched a formal investigation into war crimes by both sides.

Dilling has reportedly experienced severe hunger, but the worlds leading authority on food security, the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification, did not declare famine there in its November report because of a lack of data.

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A United Nations-backed assessment last year already confirmed famine in Kadugli, which has been under RSF siege for more than a year and a half.

More than 65,000 people have fled the Kordofan region since October, according to the latest UN figures.

The conflict has killed tens of thousands of people and created what the UN describes as the worlds largest displacement and hunger crisis. At its peak, the war had displaced about 14 million people, both internally and across borders.
An Ohio township's last-ditch legal move to avoid paying a $45 million settlement to a wrongfully imprisoned man failed.

The U.S. Supreme Court on Jan. 26 denied a request from Miami Township in Montgomery County for a writ of certiorari  an order telling a lower court to review its previous decision.

Ohioan Dean Gillispie won a $45 million civil settlement against Miami Township but the township says paying the tab could force it into bankruptcy. The township's annual budget is $20 million.

Dean Gillispie smiles after his teeth were cleaned on Aug. 15, 2020. Dentists of Westwood donated dentistry to a Gillispie, who was wrongfully incarcerated for 26 years and has been exonerated, as part of Smile Generation Serve Day.

Gillispie, 60, of Fairborn, won the judgment in 2022 in a federal lawsuit he lodged against the township and its former detective, Matthew Scott Moore. Since the jury decision in 2022, the township has been accruing interest on the unpaid settlement.

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The township appealed and in May 2025, a three-judge panel of the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals sided with Gillispie and declined to lower the amount. The township then turned to the U.S. Supreme Court.

The Ohio Township Association and Ohio Chamber of Commerce filed briefs supporting Miami Township. In its brief, the state chamber argued that unpredictable monetary judgments against local governments could lead to widespread financial instability.

David B. Owens, who represents Gillispie, said in a written statement that Miami Township has prolonged Gillispie's suffering through "dubious legal maneuvers and absurd appeals." It's time for the township to pay the judgment, he said.

Miami Township said in a written statement that it will continue to try to resolve the issue in a manner that preserves services to local residents. While the judgment is against a former employee, the township is at risk of having to hold the former police detective harmless and pay the $45 million, the statement said.

Who is Dean Gillispie?

Gillispie was wrongfully convicted in 1991 in the rape and kidnapping of twin sisters in one attack and a third woman in a second attack. But the jury in the federal civil lawsuit found that Moore violated Gillispie's rights by hiding evidence that would have helped Gillispie's defense and creating unfair lineup procedures for the victims.

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No biological evidence ever tied Gillispie to the crimes.

Gillispie was released from prison in 2011, exonerated in 2017 and declared wrongfully imprisoned in 2021. The Ohio Innocence Project at the University of Cincinnati law school, former Ohio Attorney General Jim Petro and Gillispie's mother, Juana Gillispie, worked to free him and clear his name.

While imprisoned, Gillispie turned to art across multiple mediums. It was an outlet for his pain and imagination of how life would've been different. In 2020, his artwork depicting a miniature model camping trailer was included in Marking Time: Art in the Age of Mass Incarceration, an exhibit at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City.

State government reporter Laura Bischoff can be reached at lbischoff@usatodayco.com and @lbischoff on X.

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Supreme Court denies attempt to avoid paying Ohio man Dean Gillispie
A Brazilian Supreme Federal Court judge reviewing a ban on the use of crypto in election campaigns signals that reforms are in the cards in Brazil and beyond, according to legal experts.

Nuno Marques, the vice president of the court-supervised electoral committee, is set to finalise a comprehensive review of election rules, including the long-standing crypto ban, ahead of the October general election, Brazilian media outlet Livecoins reported.

What is changing now in Brazil and beyond is a growing recognition that blanket prohibitions are difficult to sustain as digital assets become more mainstream, Jennifer Ouarrag, the head of legal at the staking provider Twinstake, told DL News.

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As the popularity of crypto continues to grow in Brazil, more politicians are embracing adoption ahead of this years election  where digital assets are poised to become a deciding factor for some voters.

Renan Santos, a prospective presidential candidate, recently pledged to create a national Bitcoin reserve if elected. Crypto community leaders say they would back his bid if he develops crypto-friendly policies.

Last year, the volume of crypto transactions rose by 43% in Brazil, the crypto exchange Mercado Bitcoin wrote in a report last month, with the average Brazilian trader spending more than $1,000 on crypto.

Room for change

While Marques has not spoken directly about crypto funding in elections, he has suggested there may be room for reform.

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As things stand, Article 62 of the Brazilian electoral code explicitly forbids the use of crypto as a donations tool.

In comments about campaign financing, Marques said candidates and parties were welcome to challenge the present rules if they present justifications for the change, Brazilian media outlet Ultimo Segundo reported.

The court says it will listen to public proposals from citizens, companies, and political parties until the end of the month. It will then follow up with public hearings in early February before finalising rules in March.

The reasons why Brazilian authorities banned crypto in 2019 are largely technical, Ouarrag said.

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In Brazil, [electoral rules] emphasise donor identification, contribution limits, source-of-funds controls, and transparent valuation at the time of donation, she said. Crypto challenged that framework not because it is inherently opaque, but because it did not fit neatly into reporting and oversight systems designed around bank transfers and fiat currencies.

All this helps explain why Brazil initially opted for an outright prohibition rather than incremental accommodation, Ouarrag explained.

Regulations changing worldwide

Brazil could soon follow in the footsteps of the US, where crypto is beginning to play an increasingly large role in politics.

The Federal Election Commission approved Bitcoin donations in 2014. Last year, Bloomberg reported that crypto firms have raised $263 million from industry players to back pro-crypto candidates in the 2026 midterm elections.

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Ouarrag said similar reassessments about the use of crypto donations are underway in parts of Europe and Asia, where regulators are being forced to engage more directly with cryptos inherent volatility, rather than trying to fit it into frameworks designed exclusively for cash or bank transfers.

She said electoral commissions are likely to adapt, rather than abandon existing safeguards to ensure electoral funds remain traceable and transparent in the digital age.

Brazils Supreme Court last reviewed election rules in February 2024, when it decided to uphold the ban.

At the time, it said the decision was made to ensure transparency and the proper tracking of donations made to political campaigns.

Tim Alper is a News Correspondent at DL News. Got a tip? Email him at tdalper@dlnews.com.
The red alert in Paran was the result of Jordanian border police officers chasing criminals into Israeli territory.

The suspected terror infiltration near the Israel-Jordan border has been deemed a false alarm, the IDF said in a Tuesday evening statement.

The infiltrators were identified as Jordanian Border Police officers chasing criminals into Israeli territory, Israeli media reported.

Earlier in the evening, ten suspects had been identified following their infiltration into southern Israel, near the communities of Paran and Yahel in the Arava. Elite IDF units, as well as IAF jets and drones, were deployed to the area.

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Following a red alert in Paran, the IDF confirmed the suspected infiltration in a statement and said that security personnel dispatched to the area were conducting extensive searches for the infiltrators.

Traffic to and from Eilat had initially been halted, according to Israel Police, but once the incident was determined to be a false alarm, it was reopened.

A Jordanian national flag is lifted near a tent at the ''Island of Peace'' in an area known as Naharayim in Hebrew and Baquora in Arabic, on the Jordanian side of the border with Israel, as seen from the Israeli side November 10, 2019 (credit: RONEN ZVULUN/REUTERS)

Israelis cross Jordanian border, taken into police custody

Earlier this month, the Jordanian Armed Forces-Arab Army stated that it apprehended three individuals attempting to "infiltrate" the border in the Southern Military Region.

The IDF stated that there were two Israeli civilians who accidentally crossed the border into Jordanian territory.

The individuals were returned to IDF custody, the military confirmed at the time.
QAMISHLI, Syria, Jan 27 (Reuters) - With Syria's Islamist-led government bearing down on Kurdish forces, residents of their last major enclave are on alert, mindful of last year's violence against other minority groups and determined to preserve their self-rule.

In the Kurdish-majority city of Qamishli in the northeast, a mechanic, a storekeeper, and a student were among those taking part in a nighttime volunteer patrol this week, vowing to defend their area and putting little faith in a shaky ceasefire.

"We're going out to guard our neighbourhoods, to stand with our people and protect our land," said Yazan Ghanem, 23. "This is our land. We won't accept any outside interference in our areas."

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'FEARS AND DOUBTS' WEIGH ON KURDS, SAYS RESIDENT

It reflects simmering tensions despite the U.S.-backed ceasefire, which was extended on Saturday for 15 days. Some clashes have taken place since then.

Having taken swathes of the north and east from the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), President Ahmed al-Sharaa's government is pressing its demand for the integration of the remaining Kurdish-run enclaves with the state.

The SDF is clinging on in its northeastern enclave - one of several where Kurds - an oppressed group under the ousted Assad dynasty - established de facto autonomy during the civil war.

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While Sharaa has repeatedly vowed to uphold Kurdish rights - he recognised Kurdish as a national language earlier this month - the residents patrolling Qamishli on Monday had little confidence in the former al Qaeda commander.

"We have fears and doubts about the government because, quite simply, wherever it has entered, there have been massacres and killing," said Radwan Eissa, brandishing a gun.

Fears among Syrian minorities grew last year during several bouts of violence in which the Sunni Muslim-led government clashed with members of the Alawite community in Syria's coastal region, and Druze communities in Sweida province, with government-aligned fighters killing hundreds of people.

Sharaa has promised accountability.

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A senior Syrian government official said Kurdish fears were "understandable" based on abuses committed by army personnel in Sweida and some violations carried out by troops as they pressed into Kurdish-held areas in recent weeks.

The official said two people had been arrested for the recent abuses and a third was on the run, but being pursued. We are keen to learn from past experiences, and we did, he added.

The prosecutor general last year pressed charges against some 300 people linked to armed factions affiliated with the Syrian army over the violence in the coastal region, and around 265 who belonged to Assad-era paramilitary groups.

Human Rights Watch said on January 25 that both parties appeared to have committed abuses that violated international law during the current escalation in the northeast.

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SDF READY 'FOR WAR AND POLITICAL SOLUTIONS'

Government forces have advanced to the outskirts of SDF-held Hasakah, an ethnically mixed city some 70 km (45 miles) south of Qamishli. They have also encircled Kobani, or Ain al-Arab, a Kurdish-held town at the Turkish border.

The SDF has vowed to protect Kurdish regions.

In an interview with Kurdish broadcaster Ronahi on Sunday, SDF commander Mazloum Abdi said dialogue continued with Damascus, and that after the 15-day period "serious steps" would be taken towards integration.

"Our forces are ready for war and political solutions," he said. "The Kurds must get their rights in this region, and join the Syrian state," he said.

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The Syrian official said the January 18 integration deal aimed to reassure Kurds by stipulating that Syrian troops would not enter Kurdish areas and by spelling out how local communities would be able to delegate their own representatives.

The SDF's territory grew as it partnered with the United States against Islamic State in Syria.

But its position weakened as Washington deepened ties to Sharaa over the last year. President Donald Trump said on January 20 Washington was trying to protect the Kurds.

Syria's dominant Kurdish group, the PYD, follows a political doctrine emphasising leftism and feminism.

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Giwana Hussein, a 23-year-old Qamishli student, said she hoped the ceasefire showed that both sides wanted a political solution. She urged Damascus to let Kurds run their own affairs, and said she was afraid that if the government took control, women's rights would be marginalised.

The Syrian official said the government wanted to ensure a new constitution addressed Kurdish concerns, but said that it could only come after an integration deal was agreed and implemented. "Once we merge, we can discuss everything," the official said.

Ivan Hassib, a Kurdish activist critical of the PYD, said Sharaa's decree recognising Kurdish rights was positive but only a first step, saying they must be enshrined in the constitution and not limited to cultural rights: "The lasting solution ... is for the Kurds and other groups to obtain some form of autonomy."

(Additional reporting by Maya Gebeily in Beirut; Writing by Tom Perry, Editing by William Maclean)
The mass fatality midair crash in Washington last year was caused by a slew of systemic problems, including the Federal Aviation Administrations placement of a helicopter route near a runway approach at Congress favorite airport, federal accident investigators determined Tuesday.

The independent agency, which has spent the past 12 months investigating the catastrophe, cited a range of issues both the night of the crash and well beforehand as contributing to the incident, including air traffic controls overreliance on visual separation  having pilots look for other aircraft mid-flight to avoid them.

In remarks at a daylong meeting by the National Transportation Safety Board, Chair Jennifer Homendy eviscerated the FAA, saying it should have known about the risk of a collision in the complex, congested skies surrounding Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.

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Yet a regional PSA Airlines jet and an Army Black Hawk helicopter still crashed into one another on Jan. 29, 2025, killing 67 people in the worst aviation disaster in more than two decades.

This was preventable, Homendy told reporters. This was 100 percent preventable.

At the emotionally charged meeting Tuesday, Homendy had praise for Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, calling him a partner, but she also scorched the FAAs safety culture. She told reporters that airlines have warned her that Hollywood Burbank Airport in California could be the next location of a midair collision, though she did not elaborate on that claim. The FAA in a statement said it has worked to alleviate concerns there.

Homendy said the NTSB found no evidence of the FAA conducting required, annual reviews of Washington helicopter routes, and she noted how one of the pathways above the Potomac River, where the Black Hawk was flying last year, had only 75 feet of vertical separation  at best  with an approach to one of Reagan Nationals runways.

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Nowhere in the airspace is that OK, she said. This shouldnt have existed.

The NTSB determined Tuesday that the crashs probable cause was the FAAs placement of that helicopter route in a risky location and failing to regularly review and evaluate such pathways and available data, while not acting on past recommendations to mitigate the chances of a collision in the area  along with controllers overreliance on visual separation to manage air traffic. (Thats when planes or helicopters are given the responsibility to see and remain apart from other aircraft.)

Other factors the board cited included the Black Hawks inability to stay away from the jet  after a controller had granted the helicopter crew what is known as a see-and-avoid option  and the Reagan National towers loss of situational awareness due, in part, to the controller managing both plane and helicopter traffic. Additionally, the NTSB said the Army didnt ensure that its pilots knew that a device which measures a Black Hawks altitude might provide inaccurate data.

The FAA in a second statement Tuesday said safety is and always will be the agencys top priority, adding that it has worked side-by-side with the NTSB during its probe. The FAA said it will diligently consider the boards suggestions.

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Since Duffy took over early last year, he and the FAA have taken decisive steps to correct past failures, strengthen accountability, and modernize the [National Airspace System]. Today, we are acting proactively to mitigate risks before they affect the traveling public, the statement read.

The Army didnt immediately respond to a request for comment.

The NTSB issued dozens of recommendations Tuesday related to the crash, including that the FAAs Air Traffic Organization undergo an inspector general audit and that the Army revise training procedures for its flight crews to make sure they learn about plane operations at Reagan National.

Cascading problems

Throughout the day, investigators laid out the deadly mixture of factors that prompted the incident, largely touching on information raised during a separate fact-finding hearing over the summer. Thats when the NTSB heard testimony from the FAA, the Army and others to help piece together the crash, which seemed to be a catastrophe that almost everyone saw coming.

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There was the risky helicopter route  and a previous push to close it that fizzled out. Overworked controllers. A feverish pace of flights at Reagan National. A history of near-misses between planes and helicopters.

Then, the night of the disaster, the Black Hawk was flying higher than it should have been. The NTSB suggested the crew was led to believe that they were lower than they really were due to wrong data from a barometric altimeter. Moreover, the helicopter might not have heard a key directive from a controller  all while the military crew was wearing night vision goggles, which are difficult to use in urban environments like Washington.

The controller, meanwhile, who was handling both jet and helicopter traffic, didnt advise the PSA Airlines flight of the Black Hawks path. An NTSB investigator said Tuesday the controller shouldnt have been splitting duties and managing different types of aircraft at the same time.

Meanwhile, an advanced location-transmitting technology wasnt broadcasting on the helicopter, either, and even if it was, the plane involved in the crash didnt have a device that would allow it to directly receive the information (it wasnt certified for that type of plane, according to testimony last year). The former equipment is called Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast Out, or ADS-B Out, while the latter is known as ADS-B In.

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Bipartisan leaders of the Senate Commerce Committee have homed in on this particular issue, and Homendy gave them a boost Tuesday during a media availability, saying that the technology would have helped prevent the crash.

In determining the probable cause, the NTSB said factors that also contributed to the disaster included the limitations of traffic awareness and collision alerting systems on both aircraft; an unsustainable airport arrival rate and airline scheduling practices at Reagan National that regularly strained the tower; the Armys lack of a fully implemented safety management system; and the FAAs failure to undertake past NTSB suggestions, including about ADS-B In.

The Justice Department has admitted that the federal government is liable in the incident.

The FAA has worked to address concerns about the airspace, permanently closing the helicopter route near Reagan National, with limited exceptions for essential flights such as transporting the president.

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The agency has also required ADS-B Out broadcasting around the area in most cases, and it has reviewed other airports nationwide where helicopters and planes fly close to one another. And the Transportation Department, too, has launched a sprawling effort, using $12.5 billion from last summers GOP domestic policy law, to revamp the FAAs aging infrastructure and technology.

Praise for Duffy, warning for airport

Speaking to reporters, Homendy thanked Duffy, saying he has been a partner from Day 1.

But Homendy also levied blistering criticism of the FAAs culture, saying that the agency should have known there was a problem in the area.

The data was there, Homendy said. It was the NTSB working with them to determine that there were 15,214 close-proximity events, 85 of which were serious, over a number of years. ... Why collect data if youre not gonna analyze it?

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Homendy said airlines have warned her that the next midair collision will be at Californias Hollywood Burbank Airport.

Nobody at FAA is paying attention to that, she said.

The FAA in its initial statement said it has used artificial intelligence tools to identify similar hotspots for mixed helicopter and plane traffic. One of our primary focus areas was Van Nuys Airport and nearby Hollywood Burbank Airport in the Los Angeles area, a spokesperson said, adding that based on a safety analysis, the FAA lowered the Van Nuys traffic pattern by 200 feet during an evaluation in 2025 to see if that would reduce conflicts with aircraft landing at Burbank. Preliminary data indicated the change resulted in a reduction of Traffic Collision Avoidance System ... alerts for Burbank arrivals and we permanently lowered the Van Nuys traffic pattern effective Jan. 5, 2026.

NTSB investigator Jana Price also said the board found that management of the FAAs air traffic control arm eroded the overall safety culture within that branch of the agency. And the board said the Army didnt have a flight safety data monitoring program for helicopters and, as a result, was unaware of routine altitude exceedances and related risks in the Reagan National area.

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The Army, meanwhile, has distributed new ADS-B In devices, and it suspended certain helicopter flights to the Pentagon after a separate incident in May, when two commercial jets aborted their landings at Reagan National due to a nearby Black Hawk. The status of this pause is unclear.

The NTSB plans to issue a more than 500-page final report on the disaster in roughly two weeks.
By Steven Scheer

JERUSALEM, Jan 27 (Reuters) - Boeing and Israel's Technion university said on Tuesday they were beginning to develop Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) from feedstocks including green hydrogen and carbon dioxide to enable the aviation sector's long-term growth.

SAF, made largely from waste or used cooking oil, can cut emissions significantly compared with traditional jet fuel. However, it remains two to five times more expensive than conventional fuel.

Boeing and Technion said following the completion of an initial feasibility phase, development was set to begin and move towards "competitive commercial production."

Boeing has committed to delivering commercial airplanes capable of flying 100% on SAF by 2030, while the commercial aviation industry seeks to achieve zero net emissions by 2050.

Although airline industry leaders have pointed to a wave of new SAF initiatives they say will spark a boom similar to the rapid rise of electric vehicles and solar energy, the International Air Transport Association (IATA), a global body that represents 340 airlines, forecast SAF would account for only 0.7% of total jet fuel in 2025, and the 2050 target could be missed.

Boeing said the process to develop SAF on a large scale could still take a few years. SAF can be made from a variety of sources such as cover crops and other non-edible plants, agricultural and forestry waste, non-recyclable municipal waste, industrial plant off-gassing and other feedstocks

Separately, Boeing and Israel's Ben-Gurion University said they were establishing a cybersecurity research centre for next-generation aviation and aerospace systems.

Boeing Global President Brendan Nelson, currently in Israel, said the company was working to "enhance energy security, support the growth of the civil aviation industry, and create new economic opportunities through sustainable aviation fuel and other technologies."

Technion President Uri Sivan said it was on a mission to develop technologies for producing clean fuels that would make a "significant contribution to aviationand no less importantly, to human health and the environment."

(Reporting by Steven ScheerEditing by Alexandra Hudson)
LAKSHMIPUR, Bangladesh (AP)  Bangladeshi workers were lured to Russia under the false promise of civilian work and then forced to fight in the Ukraine war, an Associated Press investigation has found.

In interviews with three men who escaped Russia, and the families of three others who are missing, the AP documented a pattern of deception by labor recruiters who enticed workers with promises of lucrative job opportunities, only for them to unknowingly sign contracts for military service.

The returning Bangladeshi men  Maksudur Rahman, Mohan Miajee and Jehangir Alam  recounted harrowing experiences, including being forced to transport supplies to front-line positions, evacuate the wounded and collect dead bodies.

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Neither the Russian Defense Ministry nor the South Asian countrys government responded to a list of questions from AP.

Heres a closer look at APs report on how Bangladeshi workers were tricked into fighting in Ukraine.

Bangladeshi men lured by promise of work

Labor agents in impoverished communities in Bangladesh approached men to travel to Russia in late 2024, convincing them they could secure jobs, and even obtain residency over time, by working as cooks, cleaners and launderers in Russian army garrisons.

The accounts of the three men, and interviews with the families of those who are still unaccounted for, were substantiated by documents, including visas, military contracts, and army dog tags.

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The men who escaped and the families of the missing indicated that the men were lured by promises of lucrative job opportunities conveyed by local recruiters. Many took out loans or sold property to cover the processing fees demanded by the agents, believing they would easily recoup their investment with the salaries they would earn.

The exact number of Bangladeshi men currently fighting in Russia remains unclear. The three men indicated to AP that the figure could be in the hundreds.

A Bangladeshi police investigator told AP that about 40 Bangladeshis may have lost their lives in the war.

Sent to battle and threatened

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Upon their arrival in Russia, the men and the families of the missing reported being coerced into signing military contracts written in Russian, a language they did not understand. They believed this was a standard procedure and expected to proceed with civilian jobs.

Shortly after, the men were taken to an army camp where they were subjected to basic military training, which included drone tactics. Confused and alarmed, they reached out to their families and questioned the local agent about the training. The agent claimed it was a standard requirement for a country at war.

As it became evident that the men would be deployed to the front lines, they voiced objections. One man recounted being told by a Russian commander that he had effectively been sold. Faced with threats of imprisonment, beatings, and even death, the men felt trapped.

They were forced to transport supplies to front-line positions, evacuate the wounded and collect the dead. Some reported being used as human shields in the conflict.

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False promises of positions far from combat

There are also instances of Bangladeshis who voluntarily enlisted in the war but were misled about the perilous roles they would occupy.

One man, who grew disillusioned with his job as an electrician in a gas-processing facility in the remote Far East, willingly signed up for military service after being promised by a recruiter that he would not see combat.

The recruiter had approached him online while he was searching for new employment, claiming that his electrical experience made him an ideal candidate for positions in electronic warfare or drone units. However, upon arriving at a Russian army camp in Ukraine, he was informed that such jobs did not exist.

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He soon faced threats, beatings and torture for refusing to comply with the assigned tasks. Ultimately, he was forced to collect dead bodies.

Bangladeshi authorities investigate trafficking

Bangladeshi investigators are probing trafficking networks allegedly operated by local intermediaries with ties to the Russian government that authorities believe are responsible for recruiting Bangladeshi men to fight in the Ukraine war.

The investigation was prompted by a Bangladeshi mans return from Russia in January 2025. He claimed he was tricked into joining the military. That led authorities to uncover nine more people who reported being trafficked. A key figure in the network, a Bangladeshi national with Russian citizenship who lives in Moscow, was charged.

Little is known about the network responsible for trafficking the men interviewed by AP. But the individuals were sent to Russia through a now-defunct local recruitment agency called SP Global. The company did not respond to APs calls and emails. Investigators found it ceased operations in 2025.
A woman kneels and prays as hundreds gather around a growing memorial site at 26th Street and Nicollet Avenue, where federal agents shot and killed a 37-year-old Alex Pretti Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026 earlier in the day. (Photo by Nicole Neri/Minnesota Reformer)

Thank God we have video.

 Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz.

In less than three weeks of the new year armed federal agents in flak jackets and full-face masks shot and killed two American citizens.

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Smartphone cameras captured the state-sanctioned executions of a Minneapolis mom and an I.C.U. nurse on videos seen worldwide.

The pitched screams of horror-struck bystanders are soul-crushing.

You cannot unsee the savage shootings by amped-up Border Patrol and ICE commandos despite the obscene gaslighting spewed by a sick regime. Do not look away.

First it was Renee Good, mother of three, gunned down in her Honda Pilot as she tried to drive away from cowboys in balaclavas spoiling for a fight.

On Saturday, it was Alex Pretti, a federal employee at the VA Medical Center in Minneapolis, gunned down in the street after he tried to help a woman shoved to the ground by a turbocharged federal thug.

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Pretti was pepper-sprayed, pinned, and pummeled by half a dozen border control brawlers who fired at least ten rounds into him  after they disarmed the man of his lawful concealed carry firearm.

Just another extra-judicial killing of a U.S. citizen in service to a lawless president who immediately defended his paramilitary stormtroopers and shared an image of the gunmans gun to vilify the dead man as a domestic terrorist who assaulted ICE PATRIOTS doing their job.

Trump lackeys deployed the same lie to absolve ICE patriot Jonathan Ross after he shot Renee Good in the head earlier this month and muttered f***ing bitch as she bled out in her SUV.

Nothing to see here except abundant video evidence of two Americans slain by federal agents in cold-blood.

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Urgent course correction to save our unraveling republic cannot wait for the midterms.

Trumps rapidly expanding private army is seeding state terror across the country to cow the traumatized into silence and submission.

We are all cooked if this nightmare is not swiftly neutralized with strict oversight by the vanishing bulwarks of liberty on both sides of the political divide. It is now or never. Do not let any politician who seeks your support change the subject or hide.

Former Ohio Republican Gov. John Kasich was clear-eyed about what went viral Saturday.

Agents of the state killed a second American and for a second time the state fabricated a narrative to exonerate itself.

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Whats happening in Minnesota is waking up the whole country, he posted. Its bothering us because we dont see justice and fairness. Its tearing the country apart but its also raising the consciousness of Americans who say enough is enough.

U.S. Senate Democrats are there. They vowed to block a funding package this week if it includes money for the Department of Homeland Security, which oversees Border Control and ICE.

Federal agents cannot murder people in broad daylight and face zero consequences said Washington state U.S. Sen. Patty Murray, ranking member of the appropriations committee.

Even some Senate Republicans may balk after DHS and the Justice Department demanded that Minnesota turn over the states voter rolls in exchange for federal help on the latest fatal shooting of a U.S. citizen by federal immigration agents.

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A quid pro quo for the rule of law if the government can surveil Minnesota voters??

Seven Democrats in the U.S House voted for the DHS spending bill, but Ohios 9th District congresswoman Marcy Kaptur was not one of them.

Funding of these agencies without reform and accountability is directly opposed to what our Founders promised, she posted the day federal agents killed at 37-year-old intensive care nurse. Kristi Noem [DHS head] must step down and all involved in this tragedy and implementation of the policy that allowed it should be investigated.

Ohio Republican U.S. Sen. Bernie Moreno reserved his outrage for remarks by a Lucas County Commissioner who likened ICE agents to terrorists.

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He fired off a letter to Pete Gerken expressing his sincere disgust regarding the dangerous public comments you made about our brave men and women in uniform but expressed no similar disgust with the shooting deaths of two Americans by state police creating content for Stephen Millers dystopian dream, nor the administration portraying both of its victims as domestic terrorists without evidence.

A week after Renee Good was shot dead by an ICE agent held blameless without investigation, Ohios U.S. Sen. Jon Husted praised ICE for keeping people safe and insisted that by and large, they do a really good job at accomplishing that.

But the intentionally detached-from-reality Republican warned Ohioans to stay clear of ICE combatants fitted for Fallujah or you get tragedies like we saw in Minneapolis.

Former Ohio Democratic U.S Sen. Sherrod Brown, who is running against Husted for his old seat, decried ICE tactics the day before Alex Pretti died in a hail of bullets from federal gunslingers.

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ICE agents had positioned a Minnesota child as a decoy to capture his asylum-seeking father.

Its unconscionable and immoral that ICE would use a five-year-old boy as bait, Brown said. Whats playing out has nothing to do with keeping communities safe by going after violent criminals and human traffickers. The targeting of innocent families and American citizens is unacceptable.

Dr. Amy Acton, Ohios former top public health official and Democratic governor candidate, said that what we are witnessing in Minnesota is not normal or OK.

Law enforcement should be keeping people safe by going after dangerous criminals not terrorizing communities.

But they are and you are not immune. Do not look away.

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Indiana lawmakers advanced a bill that would allow teachers and principals to display the Ten Commandments in school classrooms more easily  drawing concerns about the separation of church and state.

By advancing House Bill 1086, Indiana lawmakers have now joined multiple Republican-led state legislatures that have sought to display the Ten Commandments in government buildings, courtrooms and classrooms.

The bill initially required all classrooms and school libraries to display the Ten Commandments. However, the House education committee heavily amended the bill to relax the mandate.

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Rep. Michelle Davis, R-Whiteland, said her legislation would classify the Ten Commandments as a protected document in Indiana. The change would add the biblical bylaws as the only religious writing among the 16 historical documents, including the Declaration of Independence and the Mayflower Compact.

Under the heavily amended bill, teachers could hang up the Ten Commandments, as they could any of the protected documents, but they could not read it aloud when students are present.

The committee approved the bill 8-3, but it faced opposition from Democrats and several faith groups and leaders who claim the pared-down bill still infringes on students' First Amendment rights to a space free of religious coercion.

The bill now moves to the House floor for consideration by the full chamber.

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Gov. Mike Braun and Attorney General Todd Rokita also recently challenged a 20-year-old court order in an attempt to place a monument with the Ten Commandments and the Bill of Rights at the Indiana Statehouse.

Arguments over the separation of church and state

The First Amendment's establishment clause has long been interpreted to mean government is required to maintain a separation between church and state, but a growing movement rejects that interpretation.

Proponents of this legislation have a much broader understanding of how religion and government should intertwine. Those in support of the bill argue that the Bible's teachings informed the nation's core doctrines, and that the Ten Commandments offer needed moral reinforcement for schoolchildren.

"(The Ten Commandments are) really the basis of morality and understanding that we have in our country of just the basic morality and understanding of how to live together as citizens," said Ryan McCann, executive director of the socially conservative Indiana Family Institute. "We really think this is a no-brainer to encourage this kind of morality within public schools."

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However, several religious groups and leaders argue that the display of the Ten Commandments within schools amounts to the government endorsing Christianity to a captive audience of students. Several warned that the promotion of this biblical doctrine will ostracize students of other faiths.

"It signals that real Hoosiers are religious and are Christian, and that those who opt to be unreligious or belong to different faiths are less valued in our state," said Rev. Timothy McNinch, an ordained Presbyterian minister and Christian Theological Seminary professor. "It communicates that Hoosiers are intolerant and religiously exclusive. The opposite, actually, of the neighborly values that Hoosiers embody at their best."

Other Ten Commandments laws fail in courts

It's unclear whether Indiana's bill would pass constitutional muster, but the American Civil Liberties Union of Indiana said it raises "serious constitutional concerns."

However, Bre'Anna Donaldson, staff attorney for the Indiana School Boards Association, said Indiana law has allowed schools to post the Ten Commandments and historical documents for the past 25 years.

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Still, states with mandates to display the Ten Commandments have largely been struck down on constitutional grounds.

A Louisiana law requiring the Ten Commandments' postage in public school classrooms was struck down as unconstitutional in the circuit courts last year. The court said it "will cause an irreparable deprivation of (the Plaintiffs) First Amendment rights." Laws in Arkansas and Texas have faced similar blockages and legal challenges.

These decisions rely on a 1980 Supreme Court case, Stone v. Graham, that found a Kentucky law requiring the display of the Ten Commandments in every public school classroom to be explicitly religious and unconstitutional.

"The preeminent purpose of posting the Ten Commandments, which do not confine themselves to arguably secular matters, is plainly religious in nature, and the posting serves no constitutional educational function," the opinion reads.

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The USA TODAY Network - Indiana's coverage of First Amendment issues is funded through a collaboration between the Freedom Forum and Journalism Funding Partners.

Have a story to tell? Reach Cate Charron by email at ccharron@indystar.com, on X at @CateCharron or Signal at @cate.charron.28.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Lawmakers advance Ten Commandments in schools bill, despite constitutional concerns
(The Center Square)  Tennessee might need to start paying millions more to cover food stamp benefits if it doesnt reduce its rate of errors in administrating them, according to a new report.

Tennessees error rate in the federal Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program was 9.5% in the 2024 fiscal year, according to The Sycamore Institute, which provided a brief on the states program.

The Trump administration's new law requires states with payment error rates above 6% to cover 5% to 15% of the benefits starting in October 2027.

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Under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, Tennessees current payment error rate would require the state to cover 10% of SNAP benefit costs  between $81 and $243 million, the report found.

Nearly 700,000 residents receive the benefits each month, down from 1.2 million recipients in 2015, the report said. The monthly average is $415 for each household, per the report.

Payment errors occur due to various reasons, including household expenses incorrectly calculated and outdated income information. The National Governors Association has asked Congress to delay the cost-sharing until fiscal year 2030, citing the expenses that will fall to states.

Previously, the federal government covered the full cost of SNAP benefits while states covered a portion of administrative costs for the program. But those costs are also rising under the new law, requiring states to cover 75% of the administrative expenses instead of 50%.

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It means that Tennessee will need an estimated $77 million in additional recurring state funds to cover the cost of running the program, estimated at $256 million in the 2023 fiscal year, the report said.

The law also puts new requirements on recipients, expanding the number of people who will need to meet work requirements in order to be eligible for benefits.

It expanded the age range of recipients who must work at least 80 hours per month to keep their benefits, and also removed work exemptions for veterans, people experiencing homelessness and people ages 24 or more who aged out of foster care, meaning these individuals may need to meet work requirements, Robin Yeh, the paper's author and the Sycamore Institute's policy director, told The Center Square.

Tennessee recently added work requirement rules to its program and restricted SNAP purchases of items such as soda and candy.

To offset federal cuts, the states Department of Human Resources has asked state lawmakers for $77.7 million in new recurring funds and $19.4 million in one-time funding.
Governor Greg Abbott has ordered a statewide freeze on new H-1B visa petitions across Texas agencies and public universities, escalating scrutiny of foreign worker hiring that intensified after recent reporting on Texas A&M Universitys visa spending and records disputes.

Abbott announced on January 27 that all Texas state agencies and institutions of higher education must immediately halt new H-1B visa petitions and begin a comprehensive review of their current use of the federal program, according to a press release from the governors office.

The text of the directive frames the move as a response to what Abbott described as recent reports of abuse in the federal H-1B visa program and an ongoing federal review under President Donald Trumps administration.

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The economy of Texas should work for the benefit of Texas workers and Texas employers, Abbott wrote in the directive.

In light of recent reports of abuse in the federal H-1B visa program, and amid the federal governments ongoing review of that program to ensure American jobs are going to American workers, I am directing all state agencies to immediately freeze new H-1B visa petitions as outlined in this letter, Abbott continued.

Under the order, no state agency led by a gubernatorially appointed head, nor any public university, may file new H-1B petitions without written approval from the Texas Workforce Commission until the end of the Texas Legislatures 90th Regular Session on May 31, 2027.

Agencies and universities are also required to submit detailed reports by March 27 identifying how many H-1B petitions they filed in 2025, how many visa holders they currently sponsor, the countries of origin of the workers, job classifications, visa expiration dates, and documentation showing efforts to recruit qualified Texas candidates first.

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Abbott cited Trumps proclamation titled Restriction on Entry of Certain Nonimmigrant Workers, arguing that the H-1B program was intended to supplement, not replace, the domestic workforce.

Evidence suggests that bad actors have exploited this program by failing to make good-faith efforts to recruit qualified U.S. workers before seeking to use foreign labor, Abbott wrote.

The directive follows heightened attention on Texas A&M Universitys use of the program after months-long public records disputes.

The Dallas Express reported that Texas A&M spent more than $3.25 million since 2020 on H-1B-related fees and processing costs, based on records obtained after delays and a pending complaint with the Texas attorney general. That reporting also cited federal data showing hundreds of H-1B approvals at the university and raised questions about why the university was applying for visas amid high domestic unemployment and underemployment.

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The chain of events drew notice beyond the state government.

Abbott reportedly demanded A&Ms records on the same day that The Dallas Express published an article that the university was delaying the release of the file.

Abbotts letter states that the freeze is intended to give lawmakers time to consider statutory guardrails for future employment practices involving federal visa holders, while Congress and the Trump administration pursue broader reforms.

The Texas Workforce Commission was directed to issue any guidance needed to carry out the order.

Critics and supporters of the H-1B program remain sharply divided.

Academic groups have argued the visas are essential for attracting skilled professionals, while labor organizations and some state officials contend the program can be used to undercut wages or bypass qualified American workers, DX previously reported.
The winter storm in the Texas Panhandle brought extreme cold and varying amounts of snowfall over the weekend, Friday, Jan. 23, through Sunday, Jan. 25, with numerous facilities, schools and businesses closed Monday, Jan. 26.

Out of an abundance of caution due to hazardous conditions related to the recent winter storm, the following institutions have issued closures, delays or rescheduling for Tuesday, Jan. 27, announced as of 7:30 a.m.:

Schools

Adrian ISD will have school as scheduled Tuesday. Buses/suburbans will run on pavement only.

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Bovina ISD will be closed Tuesday, Jan. 27 due to extremely cold weather and road conditions.

Canadian ISD will be closed Tuesday due to many county roads that remain hazardous.

Childress ISD has canceled classes for Tuesday, Jan. 27.

Farwell ISD will start at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 27, with buses on pavement only.

Fort Elliott ISD will delay classes until 10 a.m. Buses will run on pavement only.

Friona ISD will be on a 10 a.m. delayed start on Tuesday, Jan. 27.

Grandview-Hopkins ISD will have a two-hour late start on Tuesday, Jan. 27.

Hart ISD will have a 10 a.m. start Tuesday, Jan. 27, buses on pavement only.

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Hedley ISD will have a 10 a.m. start Tuesday, Jan. 27.

Kelton ISD will have a 10 a.m. late start Tuesday due to poor road conditions.

Lazbuddie ISD sent a late update that it is now closed Tuesday, Jan. 27.

Nazareth ISD will have a 10 a.m. late start Tuesday, Jan. 27. The bus will run two hours late, on pavement only.

Perryton ISD will be on their regular schedule Tuesday.

Sanford-Fritch ISD will begin school at 10 a.m. Tuesday, with buses running two hours late, as neighborhood streets remain slick and are expected to refreeze overnight.

Shamrock ISD will have a 10 a.m. start on Tuesday, and buses will run in town only.

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Sunray ISD will have a normal start time on Tuesday, Jan. 27.

Tulia ISD will have a 10 a.m. start on Tuesday, Jan. 27, with buses running two hours later.

Turkey-Quitaque ISD will start at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 27. Buses will meet students at Allsups in Turkey and Quitaque at 9:20 a.m. No other morning routes will run. All bus routes will run in the afternoon on pavement only.

Wellington ISD will start classes at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 27, but buses will not run.

Wheeler ISD will have a 10 a.m. start on Tuesday, Jan. 27. Buses will run in town only.

White Deer ISD will be on a two-hour delay Tuesday, Jan. 27, and buses will run two hours later than normal.

A school bus travels along a snow-covered roadway in Amarillo on Friday as the seasons first snowfall moved through the city, creating slick conditions for drivers.

Government

The Potter County Commissioners' Court meeting was moved from Monday to 9 a.m. Tuesday.

City services

City of Amarillo Solid Waste services will operate on a modified schedule for the week, with Monday's residential and commercial routes serviced Tuesday, Jan. 27. Tuesday residential routes will be serviced Wednesday, Jan. 28. Brush sites and the city landfill were set to reopen Tuesday. The Guyon Saunders Resource Center (Tyler Street Resource Center) is open for homeless sheltering until Tuesday, Jan. 27, at 3 p.m. For more, see the city's winter weather website.

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The City of Canyon is also operating on an alternate trash schedule this week.

What's next in the weather forecast

The storm brought heavy snow, blowing winds and hazardous conditions to much of northern Texas, and the National Weather Service office in Amarillo said storm-total snowfall generally ranged from 4 to 9 inches across the Panhandle.

Forecasters said a rapid warming trend is underway this week, with dry weather and steadily rising temperatures expected. In Amarillo, highs are forecast to climb from near 36 degrees Monday to the upper 50s by Friday and near 60 by the weekend. Overnight lows will also rise from the single digits early in the week to near or above freezing by Sunday. No additional precipitation or wintry weather is expected through early February.

This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: School districts in Texas Panhandle issue Tuesday weather schedules
Senate Republicans are moving ahead with a behemoth funding package in their bid to keep the government open and hope to blast through Democratic opposition in the process.

Senate Appropriations Chair Susan Collins, R-Maine, on Monday teed up the first procedural step for the six-bill funding package, which includes the politically divisive Department of Homeland Security (DHS) spending bill, despite warnings from Senate Democrats that they would block the legislation.

Mondays action is just the first of several hurdles lawmakers will have to overcome, but important nonetheless given the extreme weather that rocked much of the country and threatened to delay the process altogether.

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Senate Democrats Threaten Shutdown By Blocking Dhs Funding After Minnesota Ice Shooting

Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., bulldozed over Senate Democrats' demands that Republicans strip out the DHS funding bill from a colossal funding package, moving ahead with a procedural move to tee up the legislation for a vote later this week. (Getty Images)

Senate Majority Leader John Thunes, R-S.D., gamble comes as a Friday deadline to fund the government is bearing down on the Senate. Passing the package and sending it to President Donald Trumps desk would fully fund the government until September, when lawmakers will again need to have passed a dozen spending bills to keep the lights on.

But the immediate fight and one that threatens to derail the GOPs plan to avert yet another shutdown is over DHS funding.

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Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and his caucus have come out en masse against the broader package, including the Homeland funding bill, following the fatal shooting of 37-year-old Alex Pretti by a Border Patrol agent in Minneapolis on Saturday.

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Schumer and Senate Democrats rapidly mobilized their opposition to the funding bill, despite maintaining a fragile truce with the GOP in their bipartisan government funding negotiations over the last two days.

Key Senator Won't Fund Dhs As Ice, Federal Agents Enter His State

Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., departs following a vote at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 7, 2026.

Despite shoring up a largely unified front, including several moderate Senate Democrats who crossed the aisle to help Republicans reopen the government last year, Schumer does have one perennial defector.

Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., has consistently opposed any attempt to shut down the government. He notably joined Senate Republicans over a dozen times last year to reopen the government as his colleagues resisted.

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And like those times before, Fetterman is not keen on shutting the federal government down, despite agreeing with Senate Democrats that the DHS bill should be stripped from the broader package.

He noted in a statement that even shutting down the government would affect Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) funding, given that the GOPs colossal, "one big, beautiful" bill injected over $170 billion over the next several years into DHS.

Senate Dems Revolt Against Dhs Funding Bill Amid Minneapolis Chaos, Hiking Government Shutdown Risk

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., has coalesced behind a plan to strip the DHS funding bill from a broader spending package, but Republicans aren't biting.

"I reject the calls to defund or abolish ICE. I strongly disagree with many strategies and practices ICE deployed in Minneapolis, and believe that must change," Fetterman said. "I want a conversation on the DHS appropriations bill and support stripping it from the minibus."

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"It is unlikely that will happen, and our country will suffer another shutdown," he continued. "We must find a way forward, and I remain committed to being a voice of reason and common sense."



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Fetterman and his colleagues want the DHS bill stripped from the broader package and say that they would support those remaining five bills. But doing that would open up a procedural nightmare in the process and likely lead to a partial government shutdown, given that the House would have to return from a week-long break to weigh in.

And like the last foray into a possible shutdown, Schumer argued that the onus was on Thune and Senate Republicans, despite Senate Democrats having negotiated the current funding package on a bipartisan basis.

"The responsibility to prevent a partial government shutdown is on Leader Thune and Senate Republicans," Schumer said in a statement. "If Leader Thune puts those five bills on the floor this week, we can pass them right away. If not, Republicans will again be responsible for another government shutdown."





Original article source: Thune steamrolls Dems' DHS revolt as Fetterman defects, Schumer under pressure
Again and again, Tim Cook has chosen groveling over principle, proximity to power, servitude over solidarity, and profit over people. His slithering up to Donald Trump has besmirched his reputation, and he probably couldnt care less.

Cook is not some closeted executive navigating a hostile world. He is one of the most powerful out gay men on the planet, the CEO of a company that swims in obscene amounts of cash, a man who never misses an opportunity to remind us that Apple stands for values.

And yet when those values are put to the test, when the LGBTQ+ community is under open, sustained attack along with other innocent law-abiding Americans, Cook melts into a compliant, obsequious shadow of himself.

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Look at the pattern. Cook proudly attends Donald Trumps inauguration, lending legitimacy to a man who ran and governs on cruelty. Cook makes frequent pilgrimages to the Oval Office, even presenting Trump with a decorative glass-and-gold ornament , a grotesque symbol of fealty offered to a man whose political prowess thrives on dehumanization.

Related: Apple CEO Tim Cook bends the knee to Donald Trump with a golden Oval Office gift & $100 billion pledge

He poses smiling for photos while Trump and his administration systematically dismantle protections for queer and trans people, and gun down innocent people on bucolic neighborhood streets.

Cook showed up at a lavish state dinner in the U.K. hosted by King Charles, rubbing elbows with Trump like theyre old friends, And then there is the moment that should have shattered any remaining illusion about Cooks moral compass.

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While Americans were reeling, shocked to their core, by the killing of Alex Pretti in Minnesota, amid national grief, rage, and protest, Cook chose to attend a nauseatingly tone-deaf screening of a glossy documentary about Melania Trump . A vanity project soaked in controversy and obscene money.

While people mourned, Cook clinked glasses and sucked up to the despicable Trumps. While the country convulsed, Cook fawned. The contrast was disgusting and obscene.

Related: Apple CEO Tim Cook gets blasted for attending Melania screening at White House

The New York Times published a story Monday about some brave tech CEOs in Silicon Valley speaking up and speaking out. But others? Not at all. And the reason is blatantly obvious. As the Times writes, But in recent years, top Silicon Valley executives and investors including Elon Musk, Marc Andreessen of the venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz, Apples Mr. Cook, Metas Mark Zuckerberg and Nvidias Jensen Huang wooed conservatives to form political relationships that could benefit their companies. Some tech giants cracked down on employees expressing their political views and fired those who broke the rules.

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By remaining silent about Trump, Cook is not demonstrating neutrality. Hes wallowing in complicity. All for tax breaks, all for the bottom line that is flush with cash, while blithely sticking it to the very consumers who buy his products at ridiculously high prices.

Cook doesnt need to Cook the books by wooing Trump. Yet money talks over speaking up.

All of this has unfolded while the Trump administration has waged a relentless campaign against LGBTQ+ people: banning trans people from the military, erasing LGBTQ+ history from government websites, gutting diversity and inclusion initiatives, firing a federal agent over a Pride flag, and slashing lifesaving AIDS assistance overseas. A tsunami of cruelty. A deliberate attempt to push queer people back into invisibility, precarity, and death.

And Cook? Silent. Smiling. Shaking hands. Presenting gifts. Fawning over the grifting Trumps.

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Yes, Cook has occasionally muttered vague platitudes about inclusion. But he has rarely, if ever, used his immense power to meaningfully confront Trumps assault on the LGBTQ+ community. No sustained pressure. No public reckoning. No moral line in the sand. Just access, access, access. Just money, money, money.

Why? Why all the fuss over Trump? Apple is not a fragile startup clinging to government goodwill. It is one of the richest corporations in human history, sitting on an estimated $162 billion in cash . How much more does Cook need? How many billions does it take before a rigid spine becomes affordable to him?

The answer, apparently, is that there is no amount of money that satisfies someone who has confused wealth with worth. When you are surrounded by more money than God, accountability becomes optional. You can afford to laugh at critics. You can afford to ignore boycotts. You can afford to pretend that your hands are clean while your fingers are helping to operate the machinery of harm that is Trump.

And people are calling for a boycott , because at some point, outrage has to turn into action. Cook may sneer at that. He may dismiss it as noise. He may hug Trump tighter and retreat further into the warm glasshouse of elite impunity. But history has a way of remembering who stood up and who bent over backwards for an autocrat.

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Cook wants the credit for being a historic gay CEO while refusing the responsibility that comes with that visibility. He wants to be celebrated by the LGBTQ+ community while treating our pain as an acceptable cost of doing business. Queer rights versus tax breaks? Cook laughs at a choice like that.

That makes him a disgrace, not just as a CEO but as a human being who has benefited enormously from a community he now refuses to defend. Cook should be persona non grata in LGBTQ+ spaces. His silence, his sycophancy to Trump, and his relentless pursuit of access to Trump while queer lives are put in danger should disqualify him from any claim to moral leadership.

All that and lapping up Melania while Minneapolis and the country suffer.

In the end, Cook is no different from Trump in the way that matters most. They are both billionaires who believe that money is more important than morals, God, people, and life and death. Money absolves him of everything. That wealth is insidious, and so is Cook.

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Cook may think this will never catch up with him. He may believe that history will be kind, that profits will drown out protest, that time will blur betrayal. But moral cowardice has a way of circling back.

After endlessly kissing Trumps ass, Cook may finally find that coddling power comes back to bite his own.

Opinions is dedicated to featuring a wide range of inspiring personal stories and impactful opinions from the LGBTQ+ community and its allies. Visit Advocate.com/submit to learn more about submission guidelines. Views expressed in Opinion stories are those of the guest writers, columnists, and editors, and do not directly represent the views of The Advocate or our parent company, equalpride.

This article originally appeared on Advocate: Tim Cook chooses riches over justice and coddles the evil ways of dictator Trump
A clock in Tel Aviv that had been counting the duration of the Gaza hostages' captivity stopped on Tuesday evening after Israel confirmed that all captives, living and dead, had been returned.

The display, located at the city's Hostage Square, last showed 843 days, 12 hours, 5 minutes and 59 seconds. The Times of Israel described it as "a symbolic moment of closure."

Israel announced on Monday that the body of the final hostage, police officer Ran Gvili, had been identified and returned to Israel for burial.

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Palestinian Islamist group Hamas and militants from other extremist organizations abducted 251 people from Israel during the October 7, 2023 massacre, taking them into the Gaza Strip.

Since then, the clock had counted every second of their ordeal.

"843 days after October 7th, the last hostage was finally brought home. Now begins the long and difficult road of true rehabilitation, for the hostages, the families of the fallen and murdered, and the entire country," the Hostages and Missing Families Forum wrote on X.

Hostage Square has been the site of rallies and gatherings for more than two years, where relatives and supporters kept up public awareness of the victims kidnapped by Hamas.
German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said on Monday that the European Union is likely to remain dependent on the United States for nuclear deterrence for the foreseeable future, as debate continues over the blocs own defence capabilities.

Speaking alongside Swedish Foreign Minister Maria Stenergard in Stockholm, Wadephul said the German government is open to discussions with France  the European Unions only nuclear power  on the issue.

"Europe must begin to think about such issues," Wadephul said. "But Europe must also realise today that there will be no quick solution."

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He said Europe would continue to rely on the US nuclear umbrella for some time, but added that as the continent seeks greater independence and sovereignty, "questions of strategic security must also be discussed openly."

Stenergard spoke in favour of discussing within NATO how nuclear weapons capabilities could be expanded in order to maintain deterrence.

"But we need to have this discussion within the alliance on how to approach this strategically," she said.

Sweden joined NATO in March 2024 in the wake of the Russian attack on Ukraine after around 200 years of military non-alignment.

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Germany is not a nuclear power, unlike NATO allies France, Britain and the United States, but contributes to NATO's nuclear deterrence by providing fighter aircraft that could be equipped with U.S. nuclear weapons stored in Germany in the event of a conflict.

Since the inauguration of President Donald Trump, doubts have been growing as to whether Europeans can still rely on US nuclear protection in an emergency.

French President Emmanuel Macron has long been advocating the creation of a European nuclear defence shield.

German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul speaks during a joint press conference with Swedeish Foreign Minister Maria Stenergard. The German Foreign Minister is visiting Latvia and Sweden for talks focusing on security in the Baltic Sea region against the backdrop of threats from hybrid attacks by Russia and the so-called Russian shadow fleet. Sebastian Christoph Gollnow/dpa
A Royal Jordanian Dreamliner is parked at Boeing Co.'s manufacturing campus in North Charleston on Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2026. Boeing is building eight Dreamliners per month at the factory, with plans to expand production over the coming year. (Photo by David Wren/South Carolina Gazette)

NORTH CHARLESTON  Boeing Co. is stabilizing production at its 787 Dreamliner plant here, both in numbers and quality, even as it embarks on a $1 billion plan to expand the sites manufacturing capacity.

Kelly Ortberg, Boeings president and CEO, said Tuesday the aerospace giant is building eight 787 wide-body jets per month  up from five a year ago  and will increase production to 10 per month over the next year.

Increases beyond that will take place at a second assembly building under construction at Boeings campus off International Boulevard. That project, which will add 1,000 jobs to the plants workforce of more than 8,200 people, broke ground in November and is scheduled for completion in 2027.

Im pleased with the operational metrics were seeing in the (Dreamliner) factory, Ortberg said during an earnings call with analysts.

Boeing beat Wall Streets financial expectations, prompting Ortberg to say the aerospace firm is making progress toward returning to the iconic company we all know it can be following years of production problems and the 737 Max scandal.

In addition to making more 787s, the factory off International Boulevard is clamping down on mistakes.

Ortberg said the plane-maker reduced the average number of rework hours  the time it takes to fix manufacturing errors once a jet has left final assembly  by nearly 30% in 2025. Rework issues have been a persistent problem for the Dreamliner program over the years, eating into profitability.

Going forward  well use the same disciplined processes, including monitoring our KPIs (key performance indicators), to assess readiness for the next planned rate increase to 10 airplanes per month, which is also targeted for later this year. Ortberg said.

Boeing is coming off a year in which it delivered 88 Lowcountry-built Dreamliners to customers. Jay Malave, the companys chief financial officer, said deliveries of the wide-body jet will total between 90 and 100 this year.

Overall, we expect (commercial airplane) deliveries to be up close to 10% across all of Boeings single-aisle and wide-body programs, he said during the earnings call.

Airlines worldwide will need more than 7,800 wide-body jets like the Dreamliner over the next two decades, both for fleet additions and to replace aging planes, according to Boeings latest commercial market outlook.
Russian forces have struck an infrastructure facility in the town of Brody in Lviv Oblast. The site is linked to the Druzhba oil pipeline.

Source: industry outlet enkorr

Details: According to earlier reports, oil products caught fire in Brody, Lviv Oblast, on 27 January following the Russian attack, causing heavy smoke.

Brody City Council reported the fire. After the strike, schools in the town cancelled classes and residents were urged to stay at home and, if possible, not to go outside. Kindergartens are operating with windows and doors tightly closed. Similar recommendations to keep their windows and doors shut were issued to the town residents.

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Enkorr reported that the site is connected to the Druzhba oil pipeline. The pipeline remains operational and is used to transport Russian oil to Hungary and Slovakia.

"It is worth noting that no attacks on Druzhba pipeline infrastructure on the territory of Ukraine had previously been recorded," the outlet wrote.

Background:

On the morning of 27 January, Russian forces also attacked a critical gas infrastructure facility in Ukraine's west.

Specialists from the Lviv Regional Centre for Disease Control and Prevention recorded a temporary rise in carbon monoxide levels in the village of Smilne in Lviv Oblast on 27 January.

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The Trump administration has quickly abandoned its familiar "deny and attack" playbook after initially using it when federal agents shot dead Alex Pretti in Minneapolis on Saturday morning.

Within 24 hours, as various videos of the shooting circulated online, it became clear that the White House was out of step with public opinion and what Americans could see with their own eyes.

Since then, the administration  and the president himself - have changed tack, blaming Democrats for what happened and focusing less on the actions of the American nurse who was killed.

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Democrats, meanwhile, have increased their criticism of the president's mass deportation policy and the aggressive tactics of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), leaning into a political fight that could result in a new government shutdown on Friday.

On Monday morning, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche described the situation as a "powder keg". While he blamed the Democrats, many on both sides of America's political divide will agree that the current situation is fraught with peril.

The initial administration response to Pretti's death was straightforward. The 37-year-old was portrayed as a domestic terrorist bent on bloodshed.

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Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said that Pretti wished to "inflict harm" and was "brandishing" a weapon. US Border Patrol Commander Gregory Bovino said that it "looks like a situation where an individual wanted to do maximum damage and massacre law enforcement".

Senior presidential adviser Stephen Miller called Pretti a "would-be assassin".

This White House has typically been quick to push back when criticised. "Deny and attack" has long been a bedrock Trump strategy for handling adversity.

But, perhaps tellingly, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt refused to echo Miller's comments herself on Monday when pressed on whether the president agreed with his senior adviser. Instead, she said a full investigation would be carried out.

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It was a notably more muted tone than that struck immediately after the shooting.

That initial response had echoed the path the administration took three weeks ago, when federal law enforcement shot and killed another Minneapolis resident, Renee Good. They said Good was a terrorist who had "weaponised" her vehicle in an attempt to injure ICE agents.

As with Good's case, the federal government's version of events has been challenged by local officials, eyewitnesses and the victim's family.

In a statement on Sunday, Pretti's parents asked for the truth to come out, adding: "The sickening lies told about our son by the administration are reprehensible and disgusting."

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Multiple videos of Saturday's deadly encounter contradict many of the administration's initial claims. The footage shows Pretti filming ICE agents with his mobile phone and helping a woman who is pushed over before both are pepper-sprayed. Pretti is visibly not holding a gun when he is wrestled to the ground.

DHS says Pretti had a 9mm semi-automatic handgun and two magazines of ammunition. Local police have said Pretti was a legal gun owner. Under Minnesota law, citizens can legally carry a concealed handgun in public, if they have a permit.

This time around, the administration's initial response quickly had become difficult for the administration to maintain.

"People have had enough," Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O'Hara said, noting that his officers made hundreds of arrests of violent offenders last year without resorting to shooting. "This is not sustainable."

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Republicans in Washington DC and elsewhere have expressed growing unease with how the administration was handling the situation. Vermont Governor Phil Scott called the federal efforts in Minnesota "a complete failure of coordination of acceptable public safety and law enforcement practices, training and leadership"  at best.

At worst, he said, it was "deliberate federal intimidation and incitement of American citizens".

Utah Senator John Curtis criticised Noem's "premature" response to the shooting, which he said "came before all the facts were known and weakened confidence" in the law enforcement mission.

Homeland security chairmen in both the House and Senate say they plan to hold public hearings

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Since Sunday night, there has been a marked change in tone from the White House. Veteran's Affairs Secretary Doug Collins offered condolences to the Pretti family. The president posted a message on his Truth Social website calling the death "tragic" and blaming it on "Democrat ensued chaos"  a message echoed by Vice-President JD Vance.

On Monday morning, Trump posted that he was dispatching "border czar" Tom Homan to Minnesota to direct law-enforcement efforts there. Homan, who handled deportations during Democrat Barack Obama's administration, is considered a more measured, politically attuned operator less prone to the kind of bombastic declarations recently made by Noem and Bovino.

"Tom is tough but fair, and will report directly to me," Trump wrote.

While Homan's assignment to Minneapolis may not necessarily reflect a change in policy  this administration has yet to show signs of backing away from its aggressive immigration enforcement  it could be a change in presentation, as the president tries to come to grips with a public mood that opinion surveys suggest is souring on how his immigration crackdown is being carried out.

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In a CBS survey taken before the weekend's shooting, 61% of respondents said that ICE is being "too tough when stopping and detaining people", while 58% disapproved of his handling of immigration as a whole.

Trump is sending Tom Homan to oversee the immigration operation in Minnesota [EPA]

Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison, when asked by BBC News about Homan's involvement, said that he may provide a new avenue to work with the administration.

"I don't want to foreclose the possibility that reasonable minds can prevail," he added, "but we are here exactly because the federal government had unreasonable positions."

Another potential thaw came when Trump announced on Monday that he had spoken with Minnesota's Democratic governor, Tim Walz.

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"It was a very good call," Trump wrote. "We, actually, seemed to be on a similar wavelength."

That represents a marked cooling of what had been a series of heated exchanges between the two men in recent weeks  and could portend the kind of de-escalation in Minnesota that many politicians have been calling for.

That may not be enough for Washington Democrats, however, who have come under increasing pressure to draw a bright line against the Trump administration's rhetoric and policy.

Senate Democrats have announced they will now block that funding measure in their chamber, which would trigger a partial government shutdown on Friday night.

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"I am voting against any funding for DHS until and unless more controls are put in place to hold ICE accountable," said Senator Brian Schatz of Hawaii. "These repeated incidents of violence across the country are unlawful, needlessly escalatory and making all of us less safe."

Such a move is not without its own political risks, however. Democrats triggered a record-setting shutdown last autumn over health care subsidies but ultimately relented with little to show for it. And they will also be wary of pushing too far on immigration and law and order, two issues where they poll poorly.

At the moment, both Republicans and Democrats are grappling with how to handle what has become an explosive situation. At stake is the public perception of Trump's immigration policy, a core political issue for the president and one that helped him win back the White House.

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"We are open for business. They know our number if they want to get in touch with us," the official said, regarding the Islamic Republic's regime and negotiations over a potential deal.

The Trump administration is "ready to do business with Iran," a senior US official told reporters on Monday.

"We are open for business. The [Islamic Republic's regime] knows our number if they want to get in touch with us," the official said.

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Iran "knows the terms [of a potential deal,] and these are the same terms that have been presented since the Trump administration took office," the official added.

The White House's conditions for a deal have been communicated to Tehran many times in the last year, they noted.

"They want to make a deal. I know so. They called on numerous occasions. They want to talk."

IRANS SUPREME leader Ali Khamenei and United States President Donald Trump. (credit: Chip Somodevilla, IIPA/Getty Images)

Trump reveals Iran approached US requesting return to negotiations

Trump, earlier this month, revealed that Iran has approached the US to request a return to negotiations regarding a new nuclear deal.

I think theyre tired of being beaten up by the United States, he said. Iran wants to negotiate.

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"We may need to act before a meeting with them we are in the process of coordinating a meeting, the president told reporters aboard Air Force One.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei stated at the time that communication lines between Tehran and Washington remained open, including through a US special envoy or through traditional intermediaries such as Switzerland.

Baghaei said that "contradictory messages" had been sent that caused ambiguity and that Iran remained committed to diplomacy.

In November, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi commented that Washington's approach toward Tehran did not indicate any readiness for "equal and fair negotiations."

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"The US cannot expect to gain what it couldn't in war through negotiations," he said at the time.

During June's Israel-Iran war, the Islamic Regime claimed that dialogue with the US over Tehran's nuclear program is "meaningless" after Washington supported Israeli airstrikes.

"The other side (the US) acted in a way that makes dialogue meaningless. You cannot claim to negotiate and at the same time divide work by allowing the Zionist regime (Israel) to target Iran's territory," the semi-official Tasnim News Agency quoted Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei as saying at the time.

Shortly before the war broke out, Trump told Fox News that Iran was becoming "much more aggressive" in nuclear talks.

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A sixth round of indirect talks was scheduled for June 15, but was cancelled due to the Israel-Iran war breaking out.

US officials have said that any deal would have to include the removal of all of Iran's enriched uranium stockpile, a cap on its stockpile of long-range missiles, a change in Iran's policy of supporting regional terror proxies, such as the Houthis, Hezbollah, and Hamas, and a ban on independently enriching uranium, according to Axios's Barak Ravid.

Lara Sukster Mosheyof and Reuters contributed to this report.
By Nate Raymond

BOSTON, Jan 27 (Reuters) - Family members of two men killed in a U.S. missile strike against a suspected drug boat that was traveling from Venezuela filed a wrongful death lawsuit on Tuesday, alleging the pair were murdered in a "manifestly unlawful" military campaign targeting civilian vessels.

Civil rights lawyers filed the lawsuit in Boston's federal court, marking the first court challenge to one of the 36 U.S. missile strikes on vessels in the Caribbean Sea and Pacific Ocean authorized by President Donald Trump's administration that have killed at least 126 people since September.

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Family members of Chad Joseph and Rishi Samarootwo Trinidadian men who were among six killed during an October 14 strikein the lawsuit say the two men did fishing and farm work in Venezuela and had been returning to their homes in Las Cuevas, Trinidad when they were attacked.

"These are totally unjustifiable killings by an administration that has claimed the right to abuse executive power with impunity," said Brett Max Kaufman, a lawyer for the plaintiffs at the American Civil Liberties Union. "And this lawsuit is a demand for accountability and a defense of the rule of law."

His group and the Center for Constitutional Rights filed the novel lawsuit under the Death on the High Seas Act, a maritime law that allows family members to sue for wrongful deaths occurring on the high seas, and the Alien Tort Statute, a 1789 law that allows foreign citizens to sue in U.S. courts for violations of international law.

The lawsuit was filed by Lenore Burnley, Joseph's mother, and Sallycar Korasingh, Samaroo's sister, and seeks only damages from the U.S. government for the two deaths, not an injunction that would prevent further strikes.

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But the case could provide an avenue for a court to assess whether the October 14 strike was legal.

White House spokesperson Anna Kelly in a statement defended the strike, saying it was "conducted against designated narcoterrorists bringing deadly poison to our shores."

"President Trump used his lawful authority to take decisive action against the scourge of illicit narcotics that has resulted in the needless deaths of innocent Americans," Kelly said.

As of Tuesday, the death toll from those strikes was up to 126, including 10 who were believed to be dead after searches were suspended, according to a U.S. defense official.

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The Trump administration has framed the attacks carried out under U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's direction as a war with drug cartels, alleging they were armed groups. It has said its attacks comply with international rules known as the law of war or the law of armed conflict.

But the attacks have drawn scrutiny from Democrats and some Republicans in Congress, which has not authorized attacks on the drug cartels, and condemnation from human rights groups. Legal experts have previously said the drug cartels do not fit the accepted international definition of an armed group.

Tuesday's lawsuit argues that the killing of Joseph, 26, and Samaroo, 41, outside of an armed conflict and when they were not taking part in military hostilities against the U.S. amounted to murder and should be deemed a wrongful death on the high seas and an extrajudicial killing under international law.

"If the U.S. government believed Rishi had done anything wrong, it should have arrested, charged, and detained him, not murdered him," Korasingh said in a statement. "They must be held accountable."

(Reporting by Nate Raymond in Boston, Editing by Alexia Garamfalvi, Aurora Ellis and Chizu Nomiyama)
Family members of two men killed in President Donald Trumps missile strikes on small boats in the Caribbean have sued the U.S. government for wrongful death, saying the killings lacked legal justification and were therefore murder.

Chad Joseph, 26, and Rishi Samaroo, 41, were on their way home from Venezuela to Trinidad and Tobago when the U.S. military bombed their boat on October 14, killing all six passengers on board, according to a complaint filed Tuesday.

Trump posted a shocking video of the strike and claimed, without providing evidence, that the men were narcoterrorists.

Donald Trump shared a video on Oct. 14, 2025, of of a strike on a vessel off the coast of Venezuela. / @realDonaldTrump/TruthSocial

But before they were killed, Joseph and Samaroo had been in Venezuela working on farms and fishing off the coast, according to the suit, which was filed by the ACLU and other civil rights groups on behalf of Josephs mother and Samaroos sister.

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The Trinidadian government has said it has no evidence that Joseph or Samaroo, both fathers of three children, were involved in any illegal activity.

These premeditated and international killings lack any plausible legal justification, the suit argues. Thus, they were simply murders.

Chad Joseph was a father of three and one of six men killed aboard a small vessel in October. / Complaint/Burney v. U.S.

Rishi Samaroo worked at the same farm as Chad Joseph and sent his family selfies with the animals. / Complaint/Burney v. U.S.

The boat that was transporting them was the third of more than 35 small vessels the Trump administration has targeted to date, with an estimated 125 people killed since the campaign began on September 2. Tuesdays suit is the first wrongful death case to come out of the campaign.

The administration claims its engaged in a non-international armed conflict against unspecified drug cartels in Latin America, and that the boats are therefore legitimate military targets.

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But Defense Secretary Pete Hegseths own lawyers have questioned the legality of the attackswhich have not been approved by Congresswhile military sources have said the Pentagon doesnt know exactly who is on the boats it hits.

Trump and Hegseth have nevertheless publicized videos of the boat strikes, boasting about and celebrating their own role in killing defenseless people, according to Tuesdays lawsuit.

The suit argues that despite the administrations supposed legal justifications, the U.S. is not engaged in an armed conflict, and even if it were, the strikes violate the laws of war, including the 1949 Geneva Convention prohibiting the direct, intentional, and unjustified killing of civilians.

It alleges the killings constitute wrongful deaths under the Death on the High Seas Act and extrajudicial killings under the Alien Tort Statute, which allows foreign nationals to sue in U.S. courts for violations of international law.

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The family members demand accountability for U.S. officials brazen actstaken in wanton disregard of the most elementary principles of law and humanitythat took away their loved ones forever, the suit says.

The Daily Beast has reached out to the White House and the Department of Defense for comment.
The Trump administration is considering mining off Alaskas coast, which has never been done before.

The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM), part of the Interior Department, announced Tuesday that it would issue a Request for Information to gauge corporate interest and collect public input on the idea.

It said that the request is not necessarily a decision to move forward. Large-scale deep sea mining has never been done.

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The move comes after the administration said last week that it would seek to speed up the approval timeline for deep sea mining. Last year, it also said it would assess the potential for mining off the coast of American Samoa.

Alaskas offshore holds strategic potential for the minerals that drive American industry, defense and next-generation technologies, BOEM acting Director Matt Giacona said Tuesday in a statement.

This Request for Information is a practical first step to gauge interest and identify areas where development could make sense for jobs, investment and national supply chains, Giacona added.

Historically, the U.S. has leased parts of the nations coasts for oil and gas, and more recently for offshore wind.

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President Trump has sought to jumpstart deep sea mining, issuing an executive order last year. The administration has more broadly sought to expand mining and access to minerals, including for uses in defense and other technology.

Trump also said that mineral rights would be part of a deal on Greenlands future as he pushes for control of the island.

Environmental advocates recoiled at the Trump administrations latest proposal.

This step toward offshore mining shows that the Trump administration only sees Alaskas vibrant seafloor as an extraction zone for corporate profit, said Cooper Freeman, Alaska director at the Center for Biological Diversity. The health and vitality of Alaskan coastal communities are deeply tied to a healthy ocean. Destroying the seafloor by mining puts the entire marine food web in grave danger, from walruses and bearded seals to crab and halibut.

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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.
Conservative businessman Nasry Asfura was sworn in Tuesday as president of Honduras, two months after winning elections with vocal backing from US President Donald Trump.

The 67-year-old construction magnate was declared the winner of November's vote by a razor-thin margin after Trump threatened to cut aid to Central America's poorest country if his "friend" was defeated.

Taking his oath before Congress in the capital Tegucigalpa, Asfura vowed to "fight insecurity head on, have no doubt about that."

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He also made an appeal for unity after an election marred by allegations of fraud and a three-week wait for the results.

"We won't get ahead through insults, revenge, or hatred," he urged.

His win gives Trump another ally in Latin America after conservatives campaigning heavily on crime and corruption replaced leftists in Chile, Bolivia, Peru and Argentina.

Asfura, who is of Palestinian descent, defeated TV star and fellow conservative Salvador Nasralla by 40.1 percent of the vote to 39.5 percent, according to the official results.

After his win, he traveled to the United States to meet with Secretary of State Marco Rubio and also visited Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

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- China, migration -

Tegucigalpa's ties with Beijing -- the outgoing left-wing government switched its support from Taiwan to China in 2023 -- were at the heart of the election.

Trump has been pressuring countries in Washington's backyard to choose between close ties with Washington or Beijing.

The US ouster of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro, an ally of China, was widely seen as a warning to other Latin American countries to pick their camp.

Asfura has said he is considering switching ties back from China to the self-ruled island of Taiwan.

The fate of around two million Hondurans living in the United States, many without legal status, also hangs in the balance.

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Asfura has urged Trump to reinstate their Temporary Protected Status (TPS), a program that protected some 60,000 Hondurans from deportation.

- Blighted by extortion -

Remittances from migrants represent a third of Honduras's GDP.

Rubio, however, said Washington was looking forward to working with Asfura to "end illegal immigration to the United States."

Asfura has promised to crack down on drug trafficking and to go after powerful transnational gangs such as Barrio 18 and MS-13, who extort businesses big and small.

"Extortion is what's holding back anyone who owns a business or works independently, and if you don't pay, they kill you," Daniel Santos, a 64-year-old taxi driver, told AFP.

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Asfura has however ruled out extending a state of emergency imposed by his left-wing predecessor Xiomara Castro, which was modelled on the brutal anti-gang war of neighboring El Salvador.

On the eve of the election, Trump in a surprise move pardoned former Honduran president Juan Orlando Hernandez, from Asfura's party, who was serving a 45-year prison sentence in the United States for drug trafficking.

Hernandez was convicted of helping to smuggle 400 tons of cocaine into the United States.

Trump's decision to pardon him, even as US forces were blowing up alleged drug boats in the Caribbean and tightening the noose on Venezuela's ousted leader Nicolas Maduro, whom Washington accuses of drug trafficking, drew heavy criticism.

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Asfura has distanced himself from Hernandez and held phone talks with the leftist authoritarian president of nearby Nicaragua, Daniel Ortega, whom Washington calls a "dictator."

Asfura justified the call as part of his pursuit of "peace in the region."

bur-axm/mis/cb/bgs
President Donald Trumps threat of retribution and Attorney General Pam Bondis explicit policy demands may be undercutting the federal governments legal arguments defending its immigration crackdown in Minnesota.

A judge hearing a lawsuit seeking to halt the ongoing surge of thousands of federal immigration agents in the Twin Cities repeatedly cited Trumps and Bondis statements Monday as evidence that the massive Operation Metro Surge in the Twin Cities isnt aimed solely at enforcing immigration laws. Rather, their comments appear to suggest it is intended to strongarm Minnesota officials into complying with administration policy demands.

Is the executive trying to achieve a goal through force that it cant achieve through the courts? U.S. District Judge Kate Menendez wondered as she weighed a push by Minnesota officials to call off the operation altogether.

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Menendez declined to rule on the matter immediately and seemed to agonize over how to draw a line between legitimate federal law enforcement and an unconstitutional incursion on Minnesotas sovereignty. Complicating the matter were signals of deescalation by Trump, who spoke Monday with Democratic Gov. Tim Walz and suggested they were on the same wavelength about the way forward.

Not all crises have a fix from a district court injunction, the Biden-appointed judge said. It must be that work is being done elsewhere  not just counting on a single district court issuing a single injunction.

But the judge faced demands from Minnesotas leaders to act quickly, in light of the killing Friday of VA nurse Alex Pretti by a federal agent, amid an escalating federal presence.

We ask the court to issue a [restraining order] today, said Lindsey Middlecamp, a lawyer for the state. Not tomorrow. Not next week, but today.

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During the nearly three-hour hearing in Minneapolis federal court, the judge repeatedly focused on Trumps vow on social media earlier this month to bring a day of reckoning and retribution to Minnesota, and on a Saturday letter from Bondi to Walz that appeared to set conditions for the administration to wind down the surge. Lawyers for the state described Bondis missive as a shakedown and a ransom note.

While one of Bondis demands involved access to immigrants being released from state jails and prisons, two others seemed to link the surge to issues not related directly to immigration enforcement such as fraud in the SNAP program, better known as food stamps, and a dispute over the Trump administrations demand for access to Minnesotas voter rolls.

Lawyers for Minnesota and the governments of the Twin Cities argued that the surge is violating the 10th Amendment, which protects states from encroachment by the federal government. The provision has been held both to prevent the federal government from commandeering local officials and from using coercion to force a state to comply with federal demands.

Theyre trying to hijack the state's legislative process, Brian Carter, a lawyer with the Minnesota Attorney Generals office, said of the Trump administration. Theyre trying to get us to turn over voter rolls. What does that have to do [with immigration?] The federal government is attempting to bend the states will to its own and that is not allowed under the Constitution.

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Lawyers for the state also complained that the surge seemed intended to sideline the courts by forcing the state to knuckle under on matters that are currently being litigated.

This administration  is not content with the rule of law, Carter said. They are not content with letting the courts work this stuff out. Instead, they put violence into the streets of Minnesota to get what they want. That has to violate the 10th amendment.

Menendez seemed to accept some aspects of the states case, but expressed concerns about how to fashion an order that would end the surge without tying the federal governments hands to carry out more traditional immigration enforcement. She also challenged the states lawyers about when a federal law enforcement operation would become so large or oppressive that it would amount to a 10th Amendment violation.

Justice Department attorney Brantley Mayers said the surge wasnt a form of retaliation but instead a response to lawlessness engendered by the state and local policies.

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The state cannot use the 10th Amendment as a shield and say, Were not going to help you, and then when we come to enforce federal immigration law, then turn around and say, The 10th Amendment would actually prevent you from [doing that.] That would turn federalism on its head, Mayers said. We are here because of this law enforcement vacuum.

Menendez pressed Mayers for a tally of the number of federal officers involved in the surge, which has been estimated at 3,000 to 4,000 people. The attorney said he didnt have a current number but would provide one to the court.

Acting in a separate lawsuit earlier this month brought by anti-immigration-enforcement protesters and observers, Menendez issued an order barring Homeland Security agents from using chemical irritants against peaceful protesters. Her order was quickly paused by a federal appeals court.

Menendez made no promise Monday about when she would rule on the states request for a broader restraining order ending the surge, but made clear the case is now her highest priority.

If I had a burner in front of the front burner, this would be on it, the judge said.
Just hours after federal agents shot and killed a 37-year-old man in Minneapolis, Trump administration officials called the deceased a would-be assassin and blamed Democrats for siding with terrorists.

Democrats, meanwhile, renewed calls for Minnesota officials to investigate the shooting and characterized the presidents immigration actions as a campaign of organized brutality.

With few official details released on the latest shooting in Minneapolis, the White House and Democrats retreated to heated rhetoric in the immediate aftermath of Saturdays incident, with President Donald Trump accusing state officials of inciting Insurrection and Democrats accusing federal agents of murder.

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A would-be assassin tried to murder federal law enforcement and the official Democrat account sides with the terrorists, deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller wrote on X Saturday, referring to a tweet from the Democratic National Committee about the shooting that stated Get ICE out of Minnesota NOW.

Democrat Rep. Ilhan Omar of Minnesota focused her anger on ICE, posting on social media: This appears to be an execution by immigration enforcement. I am absolutely heartbroken, horrified, and appalled that federal agents murdered another member of our community.

In Saturday mornings shooting, a 37-year-old man was shot and killed by federal agents in Minneapolis who claimed he approached federal officers with a 9 mm gun but didnt specify if he was holding or brandishing the weapon. Various videos of the incident appear to show the man holding a phone.

Minneapolis has emerged as the epicenter of the debate over the Trump administrations immigration actions and deployment of federal agents. It came to a head after a federal agent shot and killed a 37-year-old woman, Renee Good, earlier this month in an incident that has sparked weeks of demonstrations in the city and fights between the White House and state officials over who would investigate the shootings.

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Trump, in a post on Truth Social, described the man who was shot Saturday as a gunman and suggested a cover-up by Minnesota Democrats. The Justice Department has subpoenaed several Democratic Minneapolis state officials, including Gov. Tim Walz, who called the DOJs subpoena a partisan distraction.

AMONG OTHER THINGS, THIS IS A COVER UP FOR THE BILLIONS OF DOLLARS THAT HAVE BEEN STOLEN FROM THE ONCE GREAT STATE (BUT SOON TO BE GREAT AGAIN!) OF MINNESOTA! Trump wrote in a separate post.

Trump also assailed Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, a Democrat, and Walz in the first Saturday post, accusing them of inciting Insurrection, with their pompous, dangerous, and arrogant rhetoric.

U.S. Border Patrol Commander Gregory Bovino told reporters at a Saturday press conference that the incident looks like a situation where an individual wanted to do maximum damage and massacre law enforcement, though he didnt provide any evidence for his claim.



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If you obstruct a law enforcement officer or assault a law enforcement officer, you are in violation of the law and will be arrested, he added. Our law enforcement officers take an oath to protect the public.

Video of the shooting, posted on social media and verified by The New York Times, shows the 37-year-old man appearing to film agents in Minneapolis on Saturday before they push him and several others back. The videos dont appear to show the man drawing his weapon, but not all angles are accounted for. During a struggle with the man on the ground, an agent fires several shots, then the group of federal agents back away.

The man, identified by the Minneapolis Star Tribune as Alex Pretti, had a legal permit to carry a firearm, according to Minneapolis Police Chief Brian OHara, who spoke during a press conference Saturday.

Bovino told reporters that an individual approached U.S. Border Patrol agents with a nine millimeter semi-automatic handgun. The agents attempted to disarm the individual, but he violently resisted. Fearing for his life and the lives and safety of fellow officers, a border patrol agent fired defensive shots. But when asked by a reporter when the individual drew his firearm, Bovino said the shooting is still under investigation.

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The latest POLITICO Poll illustrates just how sharply views of ICE  and its presence in cities across the country  diverge along partisan lines. A majority of voters who backed Trump in 2024  57 percent  say risks to the lives of anti-ICE protestors are a price worth paying to carry out immigration enforcement, compared with just 15 percent of voters who backed former Vice President Kamala Harris.

By contrast, nearly three-quarters of Harris voters  71 percent  say it is not worth risking the lives of anti-ICE protesters to conduct immigration enforcement, a view shared by just 31 percent of Trump voters, the poll, conducted from Jan. 16 to 19, found.

The divide extends to perceptions of public safety: 64 percent of Trump voters say ICE agents make U.S. cities safer, while 80 percent of Harris voters say the opposite, that their presence is making them more dangerous.

Democrats also used heated language to describe the shooting. During a Democratic Senate primary debate in Texas on Saturday, state Rep. James Talarico raised the Minneapolis shooting, saying: ICE shot a mother in the face. ICE kidnapped a 5-year-old boy. ICE executed a man in broad daylight on our streets just this morning. Its time to tear down this secret police force and replace it with an agency that actually is going to focus on public safety.

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His opponent, Rep. Jasmine Crockett, also weighed in: This is the fifth-highest funded military force in the entire world. And what are they doing? Theyre killing people in the middle of the street.

Walz on Saturday urged the federal government to allow Minnesota officials to take control of the probe into the shooting. He told reporters that he said to the White House in an early morning call that the federal government cannot be trusted to lead this investigation. The state will handle it, period.

As I said last week, this federal occupation of Minnesota long ago stopped being a matter of immigration enforcement, Walz said at a press conference Saturday. Its a campaign of organized brutality against the people of our state. And today, that campaign claimed another life. Ive seen the videos from several angles. And its sickening.

When asked for comment, the White House referred POLITICO to Trumps Truth Social post and to a post on Xfrom the Department of Homeland Security, which claimed, The officers attempted to disarm the suspect but the armed suspect violently resisted.

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They did not respond to requests to questions as to what evidence showed the man who was shot was a terrorist.

Vice President JD Vance also placed the blame of Saturday's shooting at Minnesota leaders feet, saying their unwillingness to work with immigration enforcement agents was the primary reason for the shooting.

When I visited Minnesota, what the ICE agents wanted more than anything was to work with local law enforcement so that situations on the ground didn't get out of hand, he wrote on X. The local leadership in Minnesota has so far refused to answer those requests.

Liz Crampton contributed to this report.
Credit - Courtesy Abdi Nor Iftin

In his speech last week at Davos, President Donald Trump zeroed in on Somalis: Were cracking down on more than $19 billion in fraud that was stolen by Somalian bandits. Can you believe that Somalia, they turned out to be higher IQ than we thought?

The president continued: These are low IQ people, how do they go into Minnesota and steal all that money? And we have, you know, their pirates, theyre good pirates, right, but we shoot them out of the water, just like we shoot the drug boats out."

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This disparagement of Somaliscalling us low IQ, bandits, and pirateshas been translated into every language Somalis speak. These words are discussed in American living rooms, and in refugee camps and cities across the Somali diaspora. When the president of the United States speaks this way, Somalis everywhere hear it.

I am Somali American, a refugee, and a naturalized U.S. citizen. I grew up in Mogadishu during a brutal civil war. I lost my sister. I was separated from my family. I taught myself English by watching American movies and listening to American music because America represented something rare to me: possibility. Law. Order. A future shaped not by violence, but by effort.

When I finally arrived in the United States in Aug. 2014 through the Diversity Visa Lotterymy golden ticketI arrived with gratitude, humility, and responsibility. I did not come to take from America. I came to join it.

That is why the presidents words sting so deeplynot just because they are insulting, but because they flatten an entire people into a single, negative image. They ignore complexity. They erase our contributions. And they miss an essential truth: Somalis are not perfect, but neither is America, and neither is any community that has ever been part of this nation.

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Let me say this clearly: fraud is real, and fraud is unacceptable. Any Somalior any Americanwho commits fraud should face the law. Accountability matters. Justice matters. No community should be shielded from consequences simply because it has suffered. Most Somalis I know believe this deeply. We want fairness, not favoritism. We want integrity, not excuses. Afterall, the vulnerable communities are the ones hurt by fraud.

But what is unjustand dangerousis using the wrongdoing of some to condemn an entire people.

There are so many Somali Americans like me who are law-abiding, hardworking, and deeply invested in this country. Many of us arrived after surviving war, displacement, years in refugee camps, and the most extensive vetting processes the U.S. government has. Somalis born here are not outsiders or visitors; we are Americans who know no other home. To suggest that all of us are suspect, or should be targeted, is not law enforcement. It is collective punishment.

That is not how America worksor at least, not how it is supposed to work.

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President Trumps rhetoric also misunderstands Somalia itself. Somalia is often spoken about as if it is nothing more than chaos. Yes, Somalia is fragile. Yes, it struggles with corruption, insecurity, and weak institutions. But it is also a country whose people have endured extraordinary hardship with resilience, faith, and determination.

Somalia did not always know extremist violence in the way the world imagines today. Radical groups like Al-Shabaab emerged in a global context shaped by war, power vacuums, and regional destabilization. Today, Somali soldierspoorly equipped and underpaidare fighting an extremist group that openly chants death to America. They are dying on the front lines of a conflict that also protects American interests.

That reality deserves honesty, not mockery.

President Trump does not understand Somali American patriotism. Many Somali Americans love this country fiercelynot because it is flawless, but because we know what life looks like without functioning institutions. We value the rule of law because we have lived without it. We value free speech because we have known fear. We value citizenship because we have known statelessness.

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My story is not unique. Somali Americans are doctors, U.S. army servicemen and veterans, truck drivers, and public servants. We take the oath to be loyal to and serve this country, and many of us stand by that oath and stay here. Those who break the oath are not representatives of Somali Americans.

Patriotism does not mean silence. It does not mean pretending problems do not exist. It means believing a country can do betterand choosing to stay engaged even when it is painful. When I write critically about America, I do so as someone invested in its future, not as someone standing outside of it.

President Trumps words have consequences. They shape how neighbors see each other. They influence policy. They embolden suspicion. Somali Americansmany of whom already navigate Islamophobia, racism, and misunderstandingare caught in the weight of those words, regardless of how they live their lives.

To be sure, America has always struggled with newcomers. Every immigrant group has faced suspicion before eventually becoming part of the national fabric. Somalis are no different. We are living through that familiar chapter of American historyone where fear speaks louder than facts.

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The presidents rhetoric is not just about Somalis. It is about Americas ability to hold complexity: to condemn wrongdoing without demonizing communities, to enforce laws without abandoning humanity, and to recognize that loyalty can come from many places.

I am Somali and I am proudly American.

These identities do not cancel each other out. They strengthen each other. And they allow me to say this with conviction: Somalis are not Americas enemy. We are part of its story: imperfect, accountable, resilient, and deeply committed to the country we now call home.

America is strongest when it remembers that.

Contact us at letters@time.com.
By Kanishka Singh

WASHINGTON, Jan 26 (Reuters) - California Governor Gavin Newsom accused TikTok on Monday of suppressing content critical of President Donald Trump as he launched a review to decide if its content moderation practices violated state law, while the platform cited a systems failure.

Newsom's statement came after TikTok's Chinese owner, ByteDance, last week finalized a deal to set up a majority U.S.-owned joint venture that will secure U.S. data, to avert a ban on the short video app used by more than 200 million Americans.

More from Yahoo Scout What prompted Governor Newsom's review of TikTok's practices? What does the ByteDance joint venture deal involve? What were the national security concerns behind TikTok's restructuring? How did TikTok respond to content suppression allegations?

ByteDance said TikTok USDS Joint Venture LLC would secure U.S. user data, apps and algorithms through data privacy and cybersecurity measures, in a deal praised by Trump.

"Following TikTok's sale to a Trump-aligned business group, our office has received reports, and independently confirmed instances, of suppressed content critical of President Trump," Newsom's office said on X, without elaborating.

"Gavin Newsom is launching a review of this conduct and is calling on the California Department of Justice to determine whether it violates California law," it added.

In response, a TikTok representative pointed to a prior statement that blamed a data center power outage, adding, "It would be inaccurate to report that this is anything but the technical issues we've transparently confirmed."

Users may notice bugs, slower load times or timed-out requests when posting new content due to the impact of the outage, the joint venture added.

"While the network has been recovered, the outage caused a cascading systems failure that we've been working to resolve," it said in the statement on X posted before Newsom's remarks.

Last week's deal was a milestone for TikTok after years of battles with the U.S. government over Washington's concerns about risks to national security and privacy under Trump and former President Joe Biden.

The White House did not respond to a request for comment.

Newsom, a Democrat, and Trump, a Republican, have long been critical of each other.

With more than 16 million followers on his personal TikTok account, Trump credited the app with helping him win the 2024 election.

The deal provides for American and global investors to hold 80.1% of the venture while ByteDance will own 19.9%.

Each of the joint venture's three managing investors, cloud computing giant Oracle, private equity group Silver Lake and Abu Dhabi-based investment firm MGX, will hold a stake of 15%.

The U.S. and Chinese governments had signed off on the deal, a White House official said.

(Reporting by Kanishka Singh in Washington; Editing by Christian Martinez and Clarence Fernandez)
By Jarrett Renshaw and Karl Plume

Jan 27 (Reuters) - President Donald Trump will travel to Iowa on Tuesday, seeking to shore up political support in a state critical to his rural coalition, as mounting stress in the farm economy and delays on biofuel policy test the patience of farmers and renewable-fuel producers.

The visit to the nations largest producer of corn, hogs and ethanol comes as growing anxiety over weak crop prices, high input costs and policy uncertainty threatens to erode Trumps popularity across the U.S. farm belt.

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Lance Lillibridge, a 56-year-old corn and cattle farmer, said he plans to make the two-hour drive from his farm in Vinton to the Des Moines area to see Trump. Like many farmers, he said he has been hit hard by the trade war with China and rising costs of seeds and fertilizer, and he hopes the administration will pursue another multibillion-dollar farm bailout.

Theres going to have to be something because right now everythings just terrible. Ive never been so cash poor in my entire life, Lillibridge said, describing himself as a Trump supporter for the most part.

The Iowa stop comes as the White House manages a crisis in neighboring Minnesota after federal immigration agents shot and killed 37-year-old U.S. citizen Alex Pretti during a protest in Minneapolis, sparking widespread demonstrations and calls for independent investigations.

Trump is expected to emphasize his administrations support for agriculture and renewable fuels, while casting his broader economic agenda as a push to make food, fuel and household goods more affordable, according to administration officials.

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Scott Irwin, an agricultural economist at the University of Illinois, said while Trumps trade policies have hurt crop farmers, the administration has eased regulations and kept fuel prices lower to maintain support.

I think as long as Trump and a Republican Congress are willing to backfill a significant amount of crop losses with special programs, his support will remain solid, Irwin said.

A Reuters/Ipsos poll that closed on Sunday showed that 30% of Americans approve of Trumps handling of the rising cost of living, while 59% disapproved, including nine in 10 Democrats and one in five Republicans.

Strain in the U.S. farm economy has been mushrooming, from unsold tractors to agribusiness companies reporting shrinking earnings. Abundant grain supplies have weighed on markets, while production costs remain high, leaving crop prices weak for a third straight year.

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Delays in biofuel policy have compounded the pressure. The administration has delayed final biofuel-blending quotas for 2026. The quotas are known as renewable volume obligations, or RVOs.

It has also not finalized tax guidance for renewable-fuel credits known as 45Z, and efforts have stalled on a long-standing priority for corn growers: securing congressional approval for year-round sales of gasoline blended with 15% ethanol.

Without nationwide, year-round E15, many of us are now going to continue relying on government payments to stay afloat, Mark Mueller, president of the Iowa Corn Growers Association, said in a statement.

Those delays have hit Iowas biodiesel industry particularly hard. Iowas biodiesel plants produced 244 million gallons in 2025, down 31% from 2024, the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association said. At full capacity, the states plants can produce more than 400 million gallons a year.

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2025 was a real gut punch for biodiesel everywhere, and Iowa was no exception, said Monte Shaw, executive director of the association. Lack of tax policy coupled with low biofuel quotas sent producers into a tailspin. We have plants trying to hang on by their fingertips waiting for clarity from Washington.

(Reporting by Jarrett Renshaw in Philadelphia and Karl Plum in Chicago; Editing by Caitlin Webber and Ethan Smith)
(NewsNation)  John Bolton, the former national security adviser in the first Trump administration, believes the president should hit Iran with multiple strikes.

Boltons comments come as the USS Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group arrived in the Middle East, positioning itself near Iran.

U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency said Tuesday that Irans bloody crackdown on nationwide protests killed at least 6,126 people, while many others are feared dead, as the U.S. aircraft carrier group arrived in the Mideast to lead any potential American military response to the crisis.

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I think even though its been quiet for several weeks, theres still an important point to be made here by attacking Revolutionary Guard or besieging militia targets. But I think the president also needs to think long-term; one strike isnt going to bring the regime down. If he is committed to regime change, as he has now said, you need to think in a more programmatic strategic way, Bolton told On Balance.

Gregory Bovino relieved as Border Patrol commander-at-large

 You have to think of what multiple strikes might do to degrade the regimes ability to cause problems in the nuclear field and the terrorism field, but also to reduce its power to repress its own people, Bolton said Monday.

Iran has repeatedly threatened to drag the entire Mideast into a war, though its air defenses and military are still reeling after the June war launched by Israel against the country.

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Bolton believes a show of U.S. force would boost the morale of opponents to the Iranian regime and remind the Iranian people we have not forgotten about them. But also say to regime figures, your days are numbered here.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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.
MIAMI  Democrat Alexander Vindman, the former National Security Council aide who helped trigger President Donald Trumps first impeachment, announced his Senate campaign in Florida on Tuesday to challenge GOP Sen. Ashley Moody.

Vindmans entrance into the race pulls Trumps agenda and record to the forefront of the Senate contest in Florida, bringing a national focus to a race in the presidents home state  one now widely seen as Republican-leaning. Democrats have a narrow path to wrest control of the Senate in November, in which theyd have to keep all the seats they currently hold and flip four others.

Vindman, born in Ukraine when it was still part of the Soviet Union, was an aide on the NSC during Trumps first term. He testified before Congress about Trumps 2019 call to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy after the president floated an investigation of then-presidential candidate Joe Biden and his son Hunter. Trump appeared to tie future U.S. aid to Ukraines willingness to launch and announce a probe that would be damaging to Biden.

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The Senate acquitted Trump in that case, and Vindman, an Army combat veteran and lieutenant colonel, was fired from his position with the NSC. Vindman went on to become a vocal Trump critic, published two books and worked as a senior adviser for VoteVets, which helps to elect veterans to public office. He first floated a run for Senate in May 2025 on CBS Miami. He said at the time that he thought the 2026 midterms would be a referendum on Trump.

Vindman leans into his run-in with Trump in a campaign video launched Tuesday morning. This president unleashed a reign of terror and retribution, not just against me and my family, but against all of us, he said in the two-minute video. Today, our country is in chaos.

The Senate seat in Florida is up in a special election this year, and whoever wins will have to run again in 2028. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis appointed Moody, a former state attorney general, to the Senate when Marco Rubio became Trumps secretary of State.

Moody has to run for the seat for the first time in November, and appointed senators have a history of faring less well than those who were elected. But Moody already received Trumps endorsement and is battle-tested statewide, having won her state attorney general races twice, both times by higher margins than DeSantis gubernatorial wins.

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Any statewide Democratic candidate faces an uphill climb in Florida, given that Republican voters in the state outnumber Democratic voters by around 1.4 million people. The nonpartisan Cook Political Report also classified the Senate seat in Florida as being in the Solid R category  the most GOP-friendly ranking available.

Moody, who comes from a prominent legal family and isnt facing a serious GOP challenger, has Trump pollster Tony Fabrizio on her campaign team. And former Trump campaign co-chair Chris LaCivita has a key role in a super PAC supporting her election.

Vindmans campaign video draws attention to affordability issues that appeared to have had an impact in the better-than-expected showing Democrats had in 2025 races. He also brought attention to higher Obamacare premiums that kicked in this year. Moody  along with most Senate Republicans  didnt support extending enhanced subsidies for premiums, a decision GOP pollsters previously warned would be unpopular.

In his campaign video, Vindman accused Moody of having been tapped to the Senate to be a yes vote for Trump and the billionaires.

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Shes not Floridas senator, says Vindmans narration in the campaign video. Shes theirs.

Vindman, who lives in Democratic stronghold Broward County, enters an increasingly crowded Democratic primary that includes former Brevard County school board member Jennifer Jenkins; progressive state Rep. Angie Nixon; and Hector Mujica, a Venezuelan-American candidate who previously was head of philanthropy at Google for the Americas.

Politics are also in Vindman's family. His twin brother, Eugene Vindman, was elected to represent Virginia in Congress in 2024, in the seat formerly held by now-Gov. Abigail Spanberger.
WASHINGTON  Retired Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman, a key figure from President Donald Trumps first impeachment, is launching a long-shot bid to oust GOP Sen. Ashley Moody in Florida.

Today, our country is in chaos, Vindman said in a video announcing his campaign on Tuesday. Thug militias attacking citizens. Tariffs pushing prices sky-high. Health care premiums through the roof. And Florida homeowners are being absolutely screwed because Ashley Moody caved to the big insurance companies.

Vindman served as the director for European Affairs at the National Security Council during Trumps first term and was also a key witness during his 2019 impeachment proceedings. The military veteran and Purple Heart recipient testified how Trump threatened to withhold aid to Ukraine unless its government opened an investigation into his then Democratic political opponent Joe Biden ahead of the 2020 presidential election. As a result of his testimony, Vindman was removed from his position, and his promotion to the rank of colonel was ultimately stalled, leading to his retirement from the military.

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In this Nov. 19, 2019, file photo National Security Council aide Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman is sworn in to testify before the House Intelligence Committee on Capitol Hill in Washington during a public impeachment hearing of President Donald Trump's efforts to tie U.S. aid for Ukraine to investigations of his political opponents. Vindman was escorted out of the White House complex on Feb. 7, 2020, according to his lawyer. via Associated Press

My family came here as refugees to escape tyranny, and I sure as hell wasnt going to bow down to some wannabe tyrant, Vindman, who was born in Soviet Ukraine but now resides in Florida, said in the video. This president unleashed a reign of terror and retribution, not just against me and my family, but against all of us.

Vindmans twin brother, Eugene, serves as the Democratic representative for Virginias 7th congressional district.

Politics: Democrats Escalate Impeachment Push Against Kristi Noem

Democrats are facing an uphill battle in Florida, a state that has trended redder and redder in recent elections. Moody, the states former attorney general, was appointed in January to the Senate by GOP Gov. Ron DeSantis to replace former Sen. Marco Rubio after Rubio became Trumps secretary of state. She has been a loyal MAGA foot soldier in the Senate and has Trumps endorsement in the special election to fill the remainder of Rubios term.

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Senate Democrats also dont consider Florida as a state thats key to plan for retaking control of the chamber next year. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), who chairs the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, recently teamed up with Moody to introduce legislation that would ban congressional stock trading.

Trumps cratering public approval ratings, as well as the growing national backlash to his policies on the economy and on immigration, could at least put pressure on national Republicans to spend precious time and money on a seat that is expected to stay in the GOPs column.

Vindman joins a crowded field already vying for the Democratic Senate nomination in Florida, including progressive state Rep. Angie Nixon, and Jennifer Jenkins, a former school board member.

Politics: Mary Trump Explains How A Trump Family Myth Created A Monster

In his announcement video on Monday, Vindman took aim at Moodys stock trades and record in Congress.

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They put Moody in the Senate to be a yes vote for Trump and the billionaires, he said. Shes not Floridas senator. Shes theirs.

The billionaires and special interests will throw everything theyve got to try to stop us, he added. But in the infantry, we didnt back down from a fight. In a democracy, you decide whos gonna stand for you  the patriot or the politician. Join us.

Political Updates

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President Donald Trump had some harsh thoughts on a potential 2028 run for the White House from California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D).

During an interview with the California Post, which launched on Monday, Trump blasted Newsoms leadership in the Golden State as incompetent as he weighed in on the possibility that the governor could launch a bid in the next presidential election.

Im amazed Gavin wants to run for office, Trump said of one of his biggest critics during an interview in the Oval Office on Friday.

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Trump argued that California needs proper leadership, claiming that Newsom hasnt delivered since he began leading the state in 2019.

People love the dream of California, but they hate whats happening to them, Trump said, describing the Democratic governor as incompetent.

Newsom has yet to formally announce a run for office, but has dominated as a top contender in several early polls, which have also floated former Vice President Kamala Harris, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) and former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, among others.

Trump has previously suggested Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio as a possible Republican ticket.

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In the interview, Trump went on to predict that Californias high-speed rail project, expected to connect San Francisco and Los Angeles, will negatively impact Newsoms chances on the campaign trail.

Federal funding for the proposal came to a stop this month, while the project remained behind schedule and billions of dollars over budget, according to KMPH-TV. It was estimated to cost up to $128 billion  almost four times the original $33 billion price tag  while a report from the U.S. Transportation Department said it was unlikely to reach a complete target for its initial segment by 2033.

The halt came as California dismissed its lawsuit in December that challenged the termination of $4 billion in Obama- and Biden-era federal grants, which the Trump administration has repeatedly tried to withdraw. Meanwhile, the House passed an appropriations bill last week that included a provision making the project ineligible for federal funding.

He has the train, the train to nowhere, that was supposed to be a simple train that went from San Francisco to Los Angeles, Trump said, adding that Its the greatest cost runover that Ive ever seen.

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The president noted that he could have built that thing in one year.

Trump also said his relationship with Newsom has become hopeless from once friendly during his first term.

Theyve gone radical left, Trump said. Theyre crazy.

Trump made a similar claim while he addressed the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, where Newsom was in attendance, last week.

Were going to help the people in California, Trump said. We want to have no crime.

I know Gavin was here. I used to get along so great with Gavin when I was president. Gavins a good guy, he continued, saying that he would help Newsom in a heartbeat.

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Trump confirmed to the Post that they both privately spoke, but declined to give details of the conversation.

I spoke to him fine, he said.

Read the original article on NJ.com. Add NJ.com as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
President Donald Trump has unleashed a furious, 300-word tirade against the GOP dissident who forced the release of the Jeffrey Epstein files.

The 79-year-old president lashed out at Kentucky Rep. Thomas Massie in a recycled Truth Social post on Monday, calling him a totally ineffective LOSER and endorsing his GOP challenger.

GOP Rep. Thomas Massie has infuriated Donald Trump by calling out the Trump administrations glacial release of all of the Jeffrey Epstein files. / Heather Diehl/Getty Images

I am asking all MAGA Warriors to rally behind Captain Ed Gallrein, the Candidate who is, far and away, best positioned to DEFEAT Third Rate Congressman Thomas Massie, a Weak and Pathetic RINO from the beautiful Commonwealth of Kentucky, a place I love, and won BIG, ALL THREE TIMES, Trump ranted.

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The president further claimed that the people in Massies Northern Kentucky district want desperately to get rid of the congressman, who he whined, only votes AGAINST the Republican Party, making life very easy for the Radical Left.

Trumps recycled post also comes after Massie spoke out against FBI Director Kash Patels suggestion that its illegal to bring guns to protests after federal agents killed Alex Pretti in Minneapolis. / Donald Trump/Truth Social

The president previously posted an identical Truth Social rant on Jan. 5. / Donald Trump/Truth Social

When reached for comment, Massie told the Daily Beast in a statement, This is apparently the third attempt to launch Ed Gallreins campaign; in fact this exact endorsement was posted weeks ago. Failed candidate and Lindsey Graham donor Ed Gallrein couldnt even win his home county in his last race and is poised to lose again.

The president previously posted an identical Truth Social rant on Jan. 5.

Massie, 55, infuriated Trump last year by breaking ranks to co-sponsor the Epstein Files Transparency Act with Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna. Trump tried to block the legislation for months until he reversed course when he realized Republicans would support it. He signed the bill into law after it passed Congress in November.

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But Massie has continued to draw Trumps ire by calling out the Trump administrations glacial release of all of the Epstein files.

Massies bill required that all documents related to the well-connected sex traffickera one-time friend of Trumpbe released by Dec. 19, 2025, but by mid-January, the Justice Department had yet to make over 2 million documents public.

Trumps recycled post also comes after Massie spoke out against FBI Director Kash Patels suggestion that its illegal to bring guns to protests after federal agents killed ICU nurse Alex Pretti in Minneapolis on Saturday.

Massie said Patel was disparaging your Right to Keep and Bear Arms and appeared to take a dig at Gallrein.

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My opponent is hiding on this Hes afraid to support 2A, Massie wrote on X.

Massie criticized FBI Director Kash Patels suggestion that its illegal to bring guns to protests. / Thomas Massie/X

Trump, in turn, wrote that, Unlike lightweight Congressman Massie, a true hater of Israel, and a totally ineffective LOSER who has failed us so badly, CAPTAIN ED GALLREIN IS A WINNER WHO WILL NOT LET KENTUCKY DOWN!

The Daily Beast has reached out to Massies office for comment.
Rep. Michelle Davis, R-Whiteland, speaks during a House committee meeting in February 2025. (Photo by Casey Smith/Indiana Capital Chronicle)

President Donald Trump is publicly backing Republican primary challengers to longtime state Sens. Jim Buck and Greg Walker over their opposition to the Indiana congressional redistricting demanded by the president.

Trump has vowed political revenge against Republican legislators who helped defeat the redistricting bill  and in separate Monday social media posts he endorsed state Rep. Michelle Davis in her challenge to Walker and Tipton County Commissioner Tracey Powell to defeat Buck.

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Trumps posts used nearly identical wording to label Walker and Buck as a RINO  for Republican in name only  and an America Last politician for voting against the redrawing of Indianas U.S. House maps aimed at helping Republicans win all nine seats.

Davis, a third-term House member from Whiteland, announced her Senate campaign in August after Walker had said he would not seek reelection to the seat he first won in 2006.

Sen. Greg Walker speaks during a committee meeting on Jan. 12, 2026. (Photo by Leslie Bonilla Muniz/Indiana Capital Chronicle)

But Walker, R-Columbus, earlier this month filed for the May primary, saying he was greatly concerned when I see Hoosier politics play a surrogate to those national battles.

Davis voted in favor of the redistricting plan when it passed the House in December. She said after Walker reversed his decision on seeking reelection that she was continuing her Senate campaign.

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Walker said in a statement that he was not surprised this issue is following some of us in our primaries.

I could not support a map creating four new Indianapolis districts that would have greatly undermined the important voices of rural Indiana and my constituents who live in these areas, Walker said. I respect the Presidents opinion but I have to put Hoosiers first.

Davis is challenging Walker in Senate District 41, which includes all of Bartholomew County and much of Johnson County south of Indianapolis.

Powell is a chiropractor who was first elected as a Tipton County commissioner in 2020.

Sen. Jim Buck, R-Kokomo, speaks about a bill on April 15, 2025. (Photo by Whitney Downard/Indiana Capital Chronicle)

Buck, R-Kokomo, has been in the Legislature since 1994, serving in the House before first winning his Senate seat in 2008. He represents Senate District 21 covering all of Tipton County and parts of Hamilton and Howard counties.

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Buck did not address the redistricting conflict in a statement he released Monday, in which he described himself as a principled conservative and staunch defender of the U.S. Constitution.

He also cited recognition hes received from national conservative organizations and the Indiana State Police Alliance.

Trumps posts included graphics claiming the incumbent senators would win without his endorsement of their challengers.

The president used similar language last week in endorsing a primary challenger to Sen. Travis Holdman, R-Markle, for also voting against the redistricting bill. Trump said he was supporting Blake Fiechter, a Bluffton City Council member who has not yet filed a candidacy for the Senate seat.

This story has been updated with Trump endorsement of Buck challenger.
US President Donald Trump has announced he is raising tariffs on South Korean imports to 25% after accusing Seoul of "not living up" to a trade deal reached last year.

In a post on social media, Trump said he would increase levies on South Korea from 15% across a range of products including automobiles, lumber, pharmaceuticals and "all other Reciprocal TARIFFS".

Trump said South Korean lawmakers have been slow to approve the deal while "we have acted swiftly to reduce our TARIFFS in line with the Transaction agreed to".

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South Korea said it had not been given official notice of the decision to raise tariffs on some of its goods, and wanted urgent talks with Washington over the issue.

It added that South Korea's Industry Minister Kim Jung-kwan, who is currently in Canada, will visit Washington as soon as possible to meet US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick.

South Korea exported goods worth about $123bn (90bn) to the US last year, making it the second largest export market after China. Of these, car exports accounted for about $30bn.

Initially, shares in Korean carmakers Hyundai and Kai fell by up to 6% in response to Trump's announcement, but they then recovered to close only about 1% lower.

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South Korea's benchmark Kospi stock index also reversed early losses to end the day up 2.7%.

Analysts said investors were sceptical whether the threatened tariff rise would go ahead, pointing to Trump's recent Uturn on imposing extra tariffs on European trade partners over opposition to US plans to acquire Greenland.

"With a delegation on its way from Seoul to Washington, markets are viewing this latest twist as more carrot than stick," said Derren Nathan, head of equity research at Hargreaves Lansdown.

Seoul and Washington reached a deal last October, which included a pledge from South Korea to invest $350bn (256bn) in the US, some of which would go to shipbuilding.

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The following month, the two countries agreed that the US would reduce tariffs on some products once South Korea started the process to approve the deal.

The agreement was submitted to South Korea's National Assembly on 26 November and is currently being reviewed. It is likely to be passed in February, according to local media.

Tariffs are paid by companies who import products. In this case, US firms will pay a 25% tax on goods they buy from South Korea.

Trump has frequently used tariffs as leverage to enact foreign policy during his second term in the White House.

On Saturday, he threatened Canada with a 100% tariff if it struck a trade deal with China.

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On Monday, Chinese officials said its "strategic partnership" agreement with Canada is not meant to undercut other countries.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has said his country was not pursuing a free trade deal with China and has "never" considered it.

He added that Canadian officials have made their position clear to their American counterparts.

Before that, Trump said he would impose import taxes on eight countries - including the UK - who opposed US plans to seize Greenland, an autonomous territory in the Kingdom of Denmark which is a member of Nato.

He later backed down from the tariff threat over Greenland citing progress towards a "future deal" over the island, but the episode strained US relations with Denmark and other Nato allies.
President Trump on Monday said he is raising tariffs on South Korea because the nation has not yet approved a trade deal with the U.S. that the two countries agreed to last year.

Mr. Trump said in a social media post that the U.S. will increase its tariff on imports from South Korea from 15% to 25% and also hike levies on the country's automobiles, lumber and pharmaceutical goods.

"South Korea's Legislature is not living up to its Deal with the United States. President Lee and I reached a Great Deal for both Countries on July 30, 2025, and we reaffirmed these terms while I was in Korea on October 29, 2025. Why hasn't the Korean Legislature approved it?" Mr. Trump said in announcing the stepped-up duties.

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The two countries reached a deal on trade and security issues after Mr. Trump met his South Korean President Lee Jae-myung in Seoul last year. Under the agreement, the U.S. cut its tariffs on South Korean vehicles, car parts, pharmaceuticals and other products from 25% to 15%.

The pact also called for South Korea to invest $350 billion in several key U.S. sectors, including semiconductors, shipbuiling and biotech.

As of late 2025, South Korea was the U.S.' eighth-largest trading partner, with total trade between the nations of $162 billion, according to Census Bureau data. The auto industry accounts for 27% of South Korea's exports to the U.S., which takes in nearly half of the country's car exports.

The Supreme Court is expected to rule soon on the legality of the Trump administration's country-specific tariffs, which the White House has imposed on dozens of nations under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, or IEEPA.

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If they are struck down, White House officials have said they can turn to other powers that effectively replace the sweeping levies.

Video breakdown of fatal shooting by federal agents in Minneapolis

Visual investigation into Border Patrol killing of Alex Pretti in Minneapolis

Minnesota law professor says probe of Pretti killing won't have "same kind of rigor" without state
The White House said Monday that border czar Tom Homan will oversee Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations in Minnesota and head to Minneapolis after immigration officers shot and killed a second U.S. citizen protesting enforcement operations.

President Donald Trump said later he spoke directly with Gov. Tim Walz about Homan's assignment.

The president wrote in a social media post Monday that Homan has not been involved in that area, but knows and likes many of the people there. The president added: Tom is tough but fair, and will report directly to me.

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The move comes amid intense scrutiny of the immigration crackdown in the state, where local and state officials have repeatedly clashed with the White House over its deployment. Trump also said Walz, a Democrat, had called him "with the request to work together with respect to Minnesota."

Writing on Truth Social, Trump called the conversation "a very good call" and said Walz was "happy" about Homan's trip to Minnesota.

"I told Governor Walz that I would have Tom Homan call him, and that what we are looking for are any and all Criminals that they have in their possession," Trump wrote. "The Governor, very respectfully, understood that, and I will be speaking to him in the near future."

The development comes less than a day after Trump publicly called on Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey to cooperate with federal immigration enforcement, simultaneously asking Congress to pass legislation ending sanctuary jurisdiction policies.

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Walz's office said in a statement that he had a "productive call" with the president Monday, adding that he asked Trump for impartial investigations into the Minneapolis shootings involving federal agents and for a reduction in the presence of federal agents in the state.

"The President agreed that he would talk to his Department of Homeland Security about ensuring the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension is able to conduct an independent investigation, as would ordinarily be the case," the statement said. "The President also agreed to look into reducing the number of federal agents in Minnesota and working with the state in a more coordinated fashion on immigration enforcement regarding violent criminals."

Trump also spoke with Frey on Monday, he said in a later Truth Social post, adding that "lots of progress is being made" and that Homan would be meeting with Frey on Tuesday.

The governor, who earlier this month dropped his bid for reelection, announced last week that he had received a subpoena as part of a federal investigation into several Minnesota Democrats as his administration draws scrutiny from federal officials over a longstanding fraud investigation in the state.

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The move to send Homan, a career immigration agent who led ICE during the first Trump administration, suggests a shift in strategy. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has focused on raw numbers of deportations, placing Border Patrol at the helm of operations traditionally led by ICE.

Homan, meanwhile, has backed a more targeted approach to deportations focusing on detaining and removing unauthorized immigrants with criminal records.

White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt said on X that Homan will be managing ICE operations on the ground in Minnesota to continue arresting the worst of the worst criminal illegal aliens.

Homans role will also see him coordinate with investigations into alleged graft by charities in Minneapolis with ties to the states large Somali diaspora, per Leavitt.

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It comes as public scrutiny has grown in the wake of the Saturday shooting of 37-year-old nurse Alex Pretti by immigration officers in Minneapolis. The Department of Homeland Security and other top officials in the Trump administration rushed to blame Pretti for the shooting, arguing that Pretti was carrying a weapon and that officers were justified in using deadly force against Pretti. But videos circulating on social media do not show Pretti brandishing the weapon, and Pretti was also licensed to carry a weapon consistent with Minnesota law.

Trump distanced himself from the shooting in an interview with The Wall Street Journal on Sunday. He said the administration is investigating the incident and declined to immediately say whether the officers followed protocol.

Were looking, were reviewing everything and will come out with a determination, Trump said.

Conservatives have been voicing frustration with DHS and Noem following the shooting. Republicans on the House Homeland Security Committee have asked for leadership of ICE, Customs and Border Protection and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services to appear before them and answer questions from lawmakers.

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Some immigration hawks also quickly praised the move to send Homan to Minneapolis.

There is no one who understands deportations better than Tom Homan. This is a great announcement from the White House, said Sen. Jim Banks (R-Ind.).

Past tensions with Homan notwithstanding, Noem publicly praised the move Monday, saying Homan "has been a major asset to our team  his experience and insight will help us in our wide-scale fraud investigations, which have robbed Americans, and will help us to remove even more public safety threats and violent criminal illegal aliens off the streets of Minneapolis."
Irene Pritzker reveals how investingnot donatingis the key to sustainable philanthropy

CHICAGO, Jan. 27, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Philanthropist and IDP Foundation, Inc. co-founder Irene Pritzker is redefining the way philanthropy can make meaningful changes in underserved markets. In her upcoming book, The School in the Market (Amplify Publishing, January 27, ISBN: 9798891387188) poses a groundbreaking question: What if philanthropy looked less like charity and more like smart capital?

Irene Pritzker, CoFounder and Chair of the IDP Foundation.

After witnessing the immense challenges faced by low-fee private school owners in Ghana, Pritzker recognized a critical flaw: traditional aid often creates dependency instead of resilience. In response, Pritzker developed the Rising Schools Program , a revolutionary financing program that treats low-fee private schools as small enterprises. By providing low-fee private school owners in Ghana with access to microloans from local financial institutions and consistent business training, the schools in the program are completely transformed. In 2022, the model expanded to Kenya with the Ongoza Program .

The collective reach and key findings in Ghana and Kenya as of December 2025:

Supported 2,600+ schools

Reached 619,000+ students

Disbursed 5,100+ loans

Demonstrated loan repayment viability in communities long excluded from formal finance

Sparked a global movement toward locally led education solutions

The School in the Market captures this evolution in philanthropyfrom donor-driven charity to localized, market-based developmentand offers a practical blueprint for anyone working to improve social outcomes at scale.

"By centering local actors, Irene Pritzker and the IDP Foundation are leading a movement to challenge conventional thinking about philanthropy and development. The School in the Market is not only a compelling readit is a powerful call to adopt inclusive, collaborative models that align with the interconnected goals of the SDGs. This is investing for impact in action!"

Amir Dossal, former executive director, United Nations Office for Partnerships; founder and president, Global Partnerships Forum

By blending business fundamentals with global development goals, Pritzker reveals how small investments in schools can lead to big changeimproving educational access, sparking entrepreneurship, and keeping resources circulating locally.
By Nandita Bose and Brad Brooks

WASHINGTON/MINNEAPOLIS, Jan 27 (Reuters) - President Donald Trump's border czar, Tom Homan, met with the Minneapolis mayor and the Minnesota governor on Tuesday in a show of detente, as the White House sought to ease unrest gripping the city after two U.S. citizens were shot dead by federal agents.

Homan was put in charge of the Minneapolis immigration enforcement drive to replace U.S. Border Patrol "commander at large" Gregory Bovino, who sources said was being demoted and removed after having overseen most of Trump's crackdowns in Democratic-led cities.

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The move was part of a broader reset by the Republican president - who faces mounting political pressure - to soften his administration's aggressive deportation tactics.

Some advisers have expressed concern that national outrage over Saturday's killing of 37-year-old Alex Pretti, and the administration's immediate defense of the agents who shot him, could derail Trump's broader immigration agenda.

As they did after this month's fatal shooting of 37-year-old Renee Good, some administration officials initially responded to Pretti's killing by accusing him of "domestic terrorism," a claim belied by witness video verified by Reuters that showed he posed no threat.

Homan's job in Minneapolis is to "recalibrate tactics" and improve cooperation with state and local officials, a source with ties to the White House said, adding, "The goal is to scale back, eventually pull out."

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Speaking of the Minnesota situation on Fox News on Tuesday, Trump said his administration was "going to de-escalate a little bit."

"I don't think it's a pullback. It's a little bit of a change," the president said. Asked whether he retained confidence in U.S. Homeland Secretary Kristi Noem, whose role in the crisis brought calls for her dismissal or impeachment from leading Democrats on Capitol Hill, Trump said: "I do."

The president met with Noem, at her request, for two hours in the Oval Office on Monday evening, a source briefed on the matter confirmed.

RECALIBRATING THE SURGE

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A senior Trump administration official said Homan would move away from the broad, public neighborhood sweeps that Bovino had conducted in Los Angeles, Chicago, Minneapolis and other cities and adopt a more traditional, targeted approach.

In a statement, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey said he had reiterated to Homan his request that the enforcement action, known as Operation Metro Surge, "come to an end as quickly as possible," and that city leaders would remain in touch with Homan. The 30-minute meeting included the city's police chief.

In a separate meeting with Homan, Governor Tim Walz said he had outlined the state's priorities, including impartial investigations into the two shootings and a reduction in the 3,000-strong force of federal agents deployed to the city. Homan and Walz agreed to continue working toward those goals, the governor said.

Homan called the meetings a "productive starting point" for additional "conversations with key stakeholders in the days ahead."

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Tension in Minneapolis stayed high, despite the initial efforts to lower friction.

At a town hall meeting on Tuesday, a man sprayed a foul-smelling liquid at Democratic U.S. Representative Ilhan Omar as she called for ICE to be abolished and for Noem to resign.

Ecuador's foreign ministry said an ICE agent tried to enter its Minneapolis consulate on Tuesday.

Announcing his plan to send in Homan, the subject of a U.S. Justice Department bribery probe that was abruptly closed last year, Trump on Monday sought to cast his designated "border czar" as a neutral figure in the Minnesota crisis who "knows and likes many of the people there."

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In weekend talks between the president and his advisers, discussions included reducing the number of agents in Minnesota, focusing the mission more narrowly on deportations, and exploring greater coordination with state authorities, according to a White House official.

SUPPORT FOR TRUMP'S IMMIGRATION DRIVE WANES

The killing of Pretti, a veterans hospital intensive care nurse shot multiple times by Border Patrol agents during daytime protests, has turned into a full-blown political crisis for Trump, with even some Republicans in Congress calling for investigations.

Coupled with the January 7 shooting of Good, a mother of three, by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer, Pretti's death sparked renewed anger over the heavily armed federal agents on the Minneapolis streets.

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Late on Monday, Minnesota's chief federal judge threatened to hold the acting head of ICE, Todd Lyons, in contempt for his agency's failures to comply with court orders that some detainees receive bond hearings.

Public support for Trump's immigration enforcement tactics appeared to be waning both before and after the Pretti shooting, a Reuters/Ipsos poll showed. The issue has put Republicans on the defensive ahead of November's midterm elections, when the party's narrow congressional majorities are at stake.

TRUMP IN DAMAGE CONTROL MODE

The typically combative Trump characterized private conversations with both Walz and Frey on Monday as productive, while the two Democratic leaders offered similarly positive comments, a far cry from the vitriol the sides had previously exchanged. Walz and Frey were among several Democratic state and local officials subpoenaed one week ago in a Justice Department probe into whether their opposition to Operation Metro Surge amounted to a crime.

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At the White House on Tuesday, Trump expressed sympathy for Pretti's family and said he would be "watching over" the investigation into his killing.

Pretti "certainly shouldn't have been carrying a gun," Trump told reporters in Iowa later on Tuesday, comments that put him at odds with gun rights groups and some Republicans.

While Trump stood by Noem, the three top Democrats in the U.S. House of Representatives and the ranking Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee said they would seek to initiate impeachment proceedings against her unless she was fired.

Any impeachment would require some level of support from Republicans, who control the House, to move forward.

(Reporting by Nandita Bose in Washington and Brad Brooks in Minneapolis; Additional reporting by Trevor Hunnicutt, Ted Hesson, Steve Holland, Jarrett Renshaw, Andrew Hay and Susan Heavey; Writing by Joseph Ax and Steve Gorman; Editing by Paul Thomasch, Deepa Babington, Cynthia Osterman and Edmund Klamann)
The News

President Donald Trump is doing something in Minnesota that hes generally avoided in his second term: shifting course on a contentious issue in the face of criticism.

As US citizen Alex Prettis killing by federal agents rattles Republicans and emboldens Democrats to object to the Department of Homeland Securitys budget, Trump is shaking up immigration enforcement in the state and talking more about working with local officials.

Trump has sent White House border czar Tom Homan to Minnesota, saying that Homan will report directly to him. One senior White House official said that Homan would do more than manage ICE operations in Minnesota  that hell be working as a mediator of sorts between the administration and state and local officials.

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The president definitely does not want to continue seeing unrest in Minneapolis. He does not want to continue seeing Border Patrol agents and ICE agents being totally targeted  Of course, the shooting was terrible and tragic, and the president does not like to see that, the official told Semafor, adding that Trump trusts Tom and is sending him up there to  find a way to cooperate so that we can pull back.

Homan will also be taking the lead with Customs and Border Patrol in Minnesota, with Border Patrol chief Greg Bovino expected to depart the state imminently alongside some agents. Bovino had taken a central role in immigration enforcement operations that have sparked nationwide protests amid the shootings of Pretti and fellow US citizen Renee Good.

Its not clear, however, whether Trumps rare, if indirect, acknowledgment of problems with his aggressive border enforcement will result in successful deescalation.

A DHS official told Semafor that some Border Patrol agents will remain in Minnesota, and theres no sign of the independent investigation into Prettis killing that even some Republicans are calling for. The White Houses message remains focused on supporting immigration enforcement.

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Yet Trump is undoubtedly more measured after Pretti was shot, with video at the scene indicating that he never brandished the gun he was lawfully carrying at the agents who appeared to disarm him before killing him. The president has also made overtures to top Minnesota officials, and he has pointedly not echoed some of his advisers who described Pretti as a domestic terrorist following the incident.

In addition, the White House official said, the president still feels that he doesnt need to invoke the Insurrection Act in Minnesota  a threat he had made earlier this month but backed off of in the last week and a half.

Obviously the Insurrection Act remains an option on the table for the president, but he is no more closer to pulling that trigger today than he was a week ago before the incident, the official said.

Trump maintained that he and Walz, who rarely speak and traded barbs for weeks over immigration operations in the state, actually seemed to be on a similar wavelength. Walz also spoke with chief of staff Susie Wiles over the weekend, the official told Semafor.

Know More

Republicans hope to refocus on affordability heading into the midterm campaign, and Trump has told confidants for weeks that he wants immigration enforcement in Minnesota to be known for catching criminals. But two shootings of US citizens and scenes of unrest in Minnesota are blotting out any hope of that.

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Throughout the weekend, Trump spent hours talking to aides and officials about the situation in the state. And congressional Republicans are increasingly scrutinizing the Trump administrations immigration operations.

At least three panels chaired by Republicans are planning immigration enforcement hearings this winter: Senate Homeland Security Chair Rand Paul and House Homeland Security Chair Andrew Garbarino are asking for CBP, ICE and USCIS to testify and DHS Secretary Kristi Noem is expected to appear before the Senate Judiciary Committee on March 3.

Noem also spoke to Senate Appropriations Chair Susan Collins, R-Maine, on Monday morning. Collins is working to avoid a partial government shutdown and touted the inclusion of new funding for body cameras and oversight for the DHS inspector general in the agency budget she helped negotiate.

Sen. Katie Britt, R-Ala., told reporters on Monday that there may also be appropriate things with the purview of the administration that could be done to avoid a shutdown.

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I am certainly open and committed to finding a pathway forward, and I know that that means having some engagement on how we can all do better and be better. At the same time, we make sure we are standing with our law enforcement officers and allowing criminal illegal aliens to be properly removed, Britt said.

Yet more GOP lawmakers are distancing themselves from Trump advisers past attempts to brand Pretti as dangerous or inappropriately armed at the Saturday protest.

Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., said your Second Amendment rights dont disappear when you exercise your other rights, while Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, encouraged the administration to be more measured in its rhetoric.

The Gun Owners of America, while lauding Trump for taking some of the most pro-Second Amendment actions in modern history, also took partial issue with White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitts remark to reporters on Monday that when you are carrying a weapon  and you are confronted by law enforcement, you are raising the assumption of risk and the risk of force being used against you.

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Leavitts affirmation of the Presidents support for the right to keep and bear arms matters, GOA Director of Federal Affairs Aidan Johnston said in a statement.

However, gun owners should not have to assume risk of force when lawfully carrying and while respecting the rule of law. Carrying a firearm is not inherently a crime and should not be treated as such.

Notable

A group of prominent Minnesota business leaders called for de-escalation in the state in a weekend statement, Semafor reported.






President Donald Trump was riding high early this month after the U.S. military pulled off a stunning raid that captured dictator Nicolas Maduro.

But just three weeks later, he has run into significant resistance on multiple fronts, challenging his economic, foreign relations, and immigration agendas. The second deadly shooting in Minnesota at the hands of federal agents this weekend has unleashed broad outrage that could signal a tipping point.

Starting to feel like we are in the midst of a historic hinge moment here, political scientist Lee Drutman, a senior fellow at the New America think tank, posted on X.

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Trump appeared to acknowledge this new reality, telling the Wall Street Journal on Sunday night that the administration is reviewing everything about the shooting and indicated willingness to eventually withdraw immigration officers from Minneapolis.

A retreat could hint at an eroding base after Trump enjoyed widespread support among Republicans for much of 2025 even as his aggressive tariffs shocked businesses and trading partners, including close U.S. allies.

But cracks emerged late in the year as November elections highlighted the affordability crisis and Congress ordered the release of the Epstein files on near-unanimous votes. Heavy redactions and the Justice Departments failure to disclose all of the records by the deadline added to the tension.

The conversation quickly changed when Maduro was toppled as Trump basked in the U.S. militarys proficiency and his new ability to call the shots in Venezuela, despite grumblings that another foreign intervention strayed from his America first motto.

The Fed

Then two weeks ago, Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell issued a defiant video statement that revealed he was facing a Justice Department criminal investigation related to a renovation project at the central banks headquarters.

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It capped a long-running feud between Powell and Trump, who has repeatedly demanded that rates should be lower.

The backlash to the probe was swift as lawmakers sought to protect the Feds independence. Republican Sen. Thom Tillis vowed to block any nominations to the Fed, including for Powells replacement, until the case was resolved.

Other Republicans rallied around Powell, marking another divergence from Trumps earlier lockstep support. And after weeks of teasing that he would soon nominate a new Fed chair, Trump has yet to officially offer a name.

Still, the resounding success of the Venezuela operation was continuing to prop up his confidence, and Trump threatened Iran while promising to help protesters taking on the regime.

Greenland

But then the bravado extended to Greenland. After flirting with the idea of taking over the semiautonomous Danish territory in his first term and last year, the insistence that the island belong to the U.S. became more urgent after Venezuela.

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Several European countries, all NATO allies, then deployed troops to Greenland, ostensibly to show Trump that they were willing to secure it against China and Russia, which he warned were major threats.

But that angered Trump, who announced tariffs against the NATO countries unless they supported his bid to take over Greenland. It triggered an existential crisis for the transatlantic alliance as Trump had also refused to rule out using the military.

At the World Economic Forum meeting in Davos this past week, frantic rounds of diplomacy ensued to pull Trump back from the brink of smashing the nearly 80-year-old defense pact. Republicans like Tillis also voiced support for NATO.

Canada and Europe held firm on protecting Greenlands sovereignty, contrasting with a less combative approach in last years tariff battles, which yielded a lopsided U.S.-EU trade pact that heavily favors Trump.

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On Wednesday, he backed down, saying he will not impose the NATO tariffs and claiming to have a framework of a deal that grants the U.S. full access to Greenland. He later said the U.S. is negotiating sovereignty over parts of Greenland that host American military bases.

Minnesota

Fury had been building for weeks after Trump surged thousands of federal agents to the state to carry out his immigration crackdown.

Saturdays shooting was the third in Minnesota this month, and the second deadly one. It also followed days of reports about immigration officers detaining young children, arresting U.S. citizens, and forcibly entering homes without judicial warrants.

Video evidence also clearly contradicted the Trump administrations claim that Alex Pretti, who was a nurse in a veterans hospital, threatened the Border Patrol before being shot.

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Silicon Valley workers expressed their anger, and Minnesota-based CEOs pleaded for de-escalation. Democrats in Congress stiffened their opposition to an appropriations bill for the Department of Homeland Security. Meanwhile, more Republicans have started to voice some uneasiness with federal agents tactics and are demanding congressional hearings.

I think the death of Americans, what were seeing on TV, its causing deep concerns over federal tactics and accountability, Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt told CNN on Sunday. Americans dont like what theyre seeing right now.

Phil Scott, the Republican governor of Vermont, took the rhetoric further. In a post on X, he said Trump should pause the immigration operations to reset the focus on criminals. He also urged Congress and the courts to restore constitutionality in the absence of presidential action.

Its not acceptable for American citizens to be killed by federal agents for exercising their God-given and constitutional rights to protest their government, he wrote. At best, these federal immigration operations are a complete failure of coordination of acceptable public safety and law enforcement practices, training, and leadership. At worst, its a deliberate federal intimidation and incitement of American citizens thats resulting in the murder of Americans.

This story was originally featured on Fortune.com
(The Center Square) - Nevada university tuitions are set to rise up to 12% over the next three years after the Nevada System of Higher Educations Board of Regents approved the change.

The rate hike will start in the fall 2026 semester, with the NSHE estimating over $41 million worth of university staff positions will be paid for by the tuition increase.

The three-year tuition increase was approved in an 8-5 vote Friday by the NHSE Board of Regents, which considered multiple options for how to make up state bridge funding that will end in 2027. The funds were meant to cover cost-of-living increases over recent years and were approved in the 2025 legislative session.

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The biggest tuition increases will come from four-year degrees and graduate programs, not including professional schools such as law or dentistry. This applies to University Nevada, Las Vegas; University Nevada, Reno, and Nevada State University in Henderson, near Las Vegas. The 2026-2027 academic year will see a 3% increase, then a 4% increase in 2027-2028 and 5% in 2028-2029.

Tuition for two-year degrees, primarily from community colleges, will see 9% increases over the same three-year period of 2%, 3% and 4%.

The NSHE said the change will result in an estimated annual tuition increase of $1,200 for in-state UNLV and UNR students by the 2028-2029 academic year. The increase will be around $900 for Nevada State University students and $400 for most community college students.

The NSHE said the added tuition was unlikely to deter enrollment to Nevada universities as tuition prices would still be competitive. They added that past increases did not seem to have any direct impact on enrollment numbers.

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In some cases, enrollment gains followed significant fee increases, read an NSHE Board of Regents briefing paper. This is not at all to suggest a fee increase is painless.

The NSHE report found that the $41 million would support over 300 staff positions, with nearly a third being administrative.

"Students are at the center of every decision we make at the Nevada System of Higher Education," a NHSE spokesperson said, answering The Center Square's questions by email.

"Affordability matters, and so does value, which is why we remain focused on responsible stewardship and ensuring that our public colleges and universities are accessible to every Nevadan," the spokesperson said. "We are grateful for the Legislatures and the Governors continued partnership and support of higher education in Nevada, and we will continue working with state leaders as we plan for the long term."
The primary election polling place for Des Moines precincts 12 at 13 on June 4 at First Church of the Open Bible in Des Moines. (Photo by Jim Obradovich for Iowa Capital Dispatch)

With less than six months until the 2026 primaries, three candidates announced Monday they are ending their campaigns for Iowa U.S. House seats.

In Iowas 3rd Congressional District, state Rep. Jennifer Konfrst, D-Windsor Heights, suspended her campaign and endorsed Sen. Sarah Trone Garriott, D-West Des Moines, to become the Democratic nominee for the seat currently held by GOP Rep. Zach Nunn.

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Konfrst said in a statement Monday she decided to run for Congress in January 2025 in order to bring balance back to DC and bring my working class Iowa roots to the job.

Im a sixth generation Iowan and Ive spent most of my life in Iowa, Konfrst said. I love this state, even when it has disappointed me in recent years. I want Iowa to be a kinder place to live and raise a family. I want it to be a place where working class Iowans arent crushed by costs and struggling to get by. I want it to be a place where young Iowans, like my own kids and my students, can build a future for themselves. Thats still my goal and Im ready to explore ways to do that.

While Federal Election Commission fundraising reports are not due for federal candidates until Jan. 31, Konfrst fell behind Trone Garriott in October and July fundraising reports. The Democratic candidate thanked her campaigns supporters who donated to her campaign, as well as the elected officials and community leaders who endorsed her in the race.

Im deeply proud of the campaign weve run, and Im looking forward to serving in the Iowa legislature and working for my constituents, Konfrst said.

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Konfrst, formerly Iowa House minority leader, has not said whether she plans to seek another term at the Statehouse. She said her focus heading into 2026 was on electing Democrats in the 2026 elections, calling for mobilization against Iowa Republicans like Nunn who have supported President Donald Trumps agenda.

President Trump, enabled by Republican Congressman Zach Nunn, has unleashed an armed mob on American citizens, increased prices for groceries and utilities and engaged in unprecedented levels of corruption, Konfrst said. We must elect Democrats to the House and Senate in November to stop the chaos, fear and economic destruction  and this work begins in Iowa. I will be in this fight with you to elect Democrats, here at home in Polk County and across the whole state of Iowa.

Trone Garriott thanked Konfrst for her leadership and the endorsement of her campaign.

In a time when politics can feel loud and chaotic, Jennifer has stayed focused on what matters: protecting our public schools, doing right by Iowans, and standing up for our values. Our party is stronger because of her, and Im thankful for her service, Trone Garriot said.  Im ready to work alongside her to unify Democrats, earn the trust of voters across IA-03, and defeat Zach Nunn so we can lower costs and restore balance and accountability in Washington.

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In Iowas 1st Congressional District, Democrat Taylor Wettach also suspended his congressional campaign Monday, saying he will instead run for state auditor.

Wettach, a lawyer from Muscatine, announced his campaign in July for the seat currently held by U.S. Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks. In a campaign ad announcing his run, Wettach spoke about resigning from his job at Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP, after the New York-based law firm agreed to provide free legal services to the Trump administration to avoid facing executive actions.

As he moved to the auditors race, Wettach said in a statement he wants to ensure the seat is held by someone who will serve as an independent watchdog for the people, regardless of who is in power  not a lapdog for corrupt politicians.

Currently, Democrat Rob Sand serves as Iowa auditor  currently the only Democrat to hold statewide elected office. Sand is running for Iowa governor in 2026. Wettach is currently the only Democrat running for the auditors seat, but there are two Republicans vying for their party nomination  Lt. Gov. Chris Cournoyer and Abigail Maas, an Iowa County supervisor.

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Wettach said he believed the race should not be focused on partisan issues, and that he believes his experience as an attorney will allow him to provide accountability for Iowa taxpayers.

When Iowans are tightening their belts, the last thing they should have to worry about is whether their tax dollars are being wasted or misused, Wettach said in a statement. Instead of making life better for Iowans, some politicians in Des Moines are rigging the system to protect themselves instead of protecting taxpayers. Corruption isnt then an accident  its the predictable result of unchecked power  and that should alarm every Iowan, regardless of party.

Wettach announced endorsements from prominent Democrats, including former Gov. Tom Vilsack, former Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller and Iowa Democratic Party Chair Rita Hart for his campaign for auditor.

Republican officials have pointed to Wettach and Konfrsts announcements as signs that Iowa Democrats wanting to avoid primaries. Iowas 1st and 3rd congressional districts are expected to be extremely competitive races in the upcoming election, with political forecasters like the Cook Political Report rating both races as toss-ups.

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With Konfrst exiting the 3rd District race, Trone Garriott is likely poised to become the party nominee in the race. In the 1st District, Democrat Christina Bohannan has led in 2025 campaign finance reports against both Democratic challengers and Miller-Meeks. Though Wettach left the race, Bohannan still faces a primary race against Travis Terrell, a patient access specialist at University of Iowa Health Care.

Iowa GOP spokesperson Jade Cichy said in a Monday statement the Iowa Democratic Party is once again trying to decide primaries before voters ever have their say.

Todays coordinated announcements make their priorities clear: protecting party favorites, not empowering Iowans, Cichy said. By attempting to anoint Christina Bohannan and Sarah Trone Garriott, party insiders are proving these candidates would serve as nothing more than mouthpieces for the Democrat establishment.

One Republican candidate also suspended her campaign Monday  Iowa Rep. Shannon Lundgren, R-Peosta, who was running for Iowas 2nd Congressional District.

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Lundgren said in a Monday statement she made the decision alongside her family to seek another term in the Iowa Legislature instead of seeking federal office.

The challenges facing Iowa families are urgent, and I believe my voice and experience are most needed in the Iowa Legislature right now, Lundgren said. From lowering taxes and supporting our farmers to protecting our communities and promoting opportunity, Ive worked tirelessly to make Iowa a better place. Im excited to keep that momentum going and intend to run for reelection to the Iowa House to continue this important work on behalf of the hardworking people of District 65.

There are two other Republicans  Republican candidate Joe Mitchell, a former state legislator and the the founder of Run Gen Z, and state Sen. Charlie McClintock, R-Alburnett  running for the seat currently held by U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson. Hinson is running for Iowas U.S. Senate seat in 2026, a decision she announced after U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst said she will not seek another term.

There are still four Democrats running for the party nomination in the 2nd Congressional District: Iowa Rep. Lindsay James, D-Dubuque; Clint Twedt-Ball, the founder of the nonprofit Matthew 25; Kathy Dolter, the former dean of nursing at Kirkwood Community College, and Guy Morgan, a Democrat from Boone.
President Donald Trump's stern nationwide campaign against illegal immigration has reached boiling temperatures that could scald Republicans in battleground states and districts ahead of the 2026 midterms.

Outrage over immigration enforcement tactics in Minnesota and elsewhere had been building among Democrats and progressives for months, but the fatal shootings of Renee Nicole Good and Alex Pretti in January have further exposed the country's raw nerves.

Surveys show a large share of Americans are uncomfortable with the Trump administration's approach to deportation, such as a Jan. 13 poll by Quinnipiac University that found 57% of voters disapprove of the way Immigration and Customs Enforcement is enforcing immigration laws, versus 40% who approve.

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That discontent is likely to continue spilling over this week, whether in Congress or across the nation, as the administration is expected to reconfigure tactics and messaging amid a public backlash.

After top administration officials initially defended Pretti's shooting by claiming in apparent contrast to what video of his shooting shows  that the victim was a "would-be assassin" who "committed an act of domestic terrorism," White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt said at a news conference Jan. 26 that no one in the administration, including the president, wants to see people getting hurt or killed in Americas streets.

People take part in a protest against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in New York on Jan. 7, 2026 after an ICE officer shot dead a woman in Minneapolis. A person holds a sign following the death of Renee Nicole Good, a 37-year-old woman who was shot in her car by a U.S. immigration agent, according to local and federal officials, in Minneapolis, as Altadena community members gather at an event marking the first anniversary of the devastating Eaton Fire, in Altadena, Calif. on Jan. 7, 2026. About 400 of those who gathered at night in near-freezing temperature on Jan. 7 near the site where a woman was allegedly shot by an ICE officer earlier in the day in Minneapolis continue chanting and walking down East Lake Street. People demonstrate against ICE during a vigil honoring a woman who was shot and killed by an immigration officer earlier in the day in Minneapolis, Minn., on Jan. 7, 2026. An immigration officer in Minneapolis shot dead a woman Wednesday, triggering outrage from local leaders even as US President Donald Trump claimed the officer acted in self-defense. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey deemed the government's allegation that the woman was attacking federal agents "bullshit," and called on Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers conducting a second day of mass raids to leave Minneapolis. Demonstrators gather at a vigil after an Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent fatally shot a U.S. citizen on Jan. 7, 2026, in Minneapolis. People gather Jan. 7 in south Minneapolis, where a woman was allegedly shot by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent. On Jan. 7, a home near where a woman was allegedly shot by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent as a sign that speaks against ICE being in Minneapolis. People take part in a protest against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in New York on Jan. 7, 2026 after an ICE officer shot dead a woman in Minneapolis. A Border Patrol federal looks at demonstrators, at a protest against the fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Good by a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent, during a rally against increased immigration enforcement across the city, outside the Whipple Building in Minneapolis, Minnesota, January 8, 2026. People protest against the fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Good by a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent, during a rally against increased immigration enforcement across the city outside the Whipple Building in Minneapolis, Minnesota, January 8, 2026. Border Patrol federal agents detain a demonstrator at a protest against the fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Good by a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent, during a rally against increased immigration enforcement across the city outside the Whipple Building in Minneapolis, Minnesota, January 8, 2026. People protest against the fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Good by a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent, during a rally against increased immigration enforcement across the city outside the Whipple Building in Minneapolis, Minnesota, January 8, 2026. A man protests against the fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Good by a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent, during a rally against increased immigration enforcement across the city outside the Whipple Building in Minneapolis, Minnesota, January 8, 2026. A demonstrator holds a picture of Renee Nicole Good as people protest against the fatal shooting of Good by a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent, during a rally against increased immigration enforcement across the city outside the Whipple Building in Minneapolis, Minnesota, January 8, 2026. A federal agent gestures towards a demonstrator at a protest against the fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Good by a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent, during a rally against increased immigration enforcement across the city outside the Whipple Building in Minneapolis, Minnesota, January 8, 2026. A federal agent speaks to detained demonstrators, during a protest against the fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Good by a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent, during a rally against increased immigration enforcement across the city, outside the Whipple Building in Minneapolis, Minnesota, January 8, 2026. A woman protests against the fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Good by a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent, during a rally against increased immigration enforcement across the city outside the Whipple Building in Minneapolis, Minnesota, January 8, 2026. A man protests against the fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Good by a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent, during a rally against increased immigration enforcement across the city outside the Whipple Building in Minneapolis, Minnesota, January 8, 2026. A medic assists a man at a protest against the fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Good by a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent, during a rally against increased immigration enforcement across the city outside the Whipple Building in Minneapolis, Minnesota, January 8, 2026. A demonstrator faces a Border Patrol federal agent at a protest against the fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Good by a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent, during a rally against increased immigration enforcement across the city outside the Whipple Building in Minneapolis, Minnesota, January 8, 2026. A woman holds a banner, as demonstrators take part in a protest against the fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Good by a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent, during a rally against increased immigration enforcement across the city, outside the Whipple Building in Minneapolis, Minnesota, January 8, 2026. Demonstrators stand amid tear gas as they take part in a protest against the fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Good by a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent, during a rally against increased immigration enforcement across the city, outside the Whipple Building in Minneapolis, Minnesota, January 8, 2026. A demonstrator holds a sign referring to U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem during a protest march in Lower Manhattan against increased immigration enforcement in New York City, January 8, 2026. A demonstrator holds a sign during an anti-U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) protest march in Lower Manhattan, opposing increased immigration enforcement in New York City, January 8, 2026. Demonstrators take part in an anti-U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) protest march in Lower Manhattan, opposing increased immigration enforcement in New York City, January 8, 2026. A demonstrator holds a sign during an anti-U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) protest march in Lower Manhattan, opposing increased immigration enforcement in New York City, January 8, 2026. A demonstrator holds a sign referring to the fatal shooting of the driver Renee Nicole Good by a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent on January 7, during an anti-ICE protest march in Lower Manhattan, opposing increased immigration enforcement in New York City, January 8, 2026. Demonstrators carry signs during an anti-U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) protest march in Lower Manhattan, opposing increased immigration enforcement in New York City, January 8, 2026. Voces De La Frontera held a protest in front of ICE headquarters on East Knapp Street in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on Jan. 7, 2026. A demonstrator hands out signs during a vigil following a shooting by an ICE agent during federal law enforcement operations on Jan. 7, 2026 in Minneapolis. According to federal officials, an ICE agent shot and killed Renee Nicole Good during a confrontation earlier today in south Minneapolis. People take part in a protest against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in New York on Jan. 7, 2026 after an ICE officer shot dead a woman in Minneapolis. About 400 of those who gathered at night in near-freezing temperature on Jan. 7 near the site where a woman was allegedly shot by an ICE officer earlier in the day in Minneapolis continue chanting and walking down East Lake Street. See ICE protests around country sparked after Minnesota shooting death 1 of 32 People take part in a protest against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in New York on Jan. 7, 2026 after an ICE officer shot dead a woman in Minneapolis.

Wary Republican lawmakers, candidates and other figures had already begun mapping the fallout by taking a noticeable tone shift, either calling for investigations or suggesting the White House back off.

"Escalating the rhetoric doesn't help, and it actually loses credibility," Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, said during a Jan. 25 episode of his podcast, "The Verdict," a day after Pretti's shooting. "And so I would encourage the administration to be more measured, to recognize the tragedy and to say, 'We don't want anyone's lives to be lost.'"

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Others have asserted that the two killings are too much to withstand, however.

"I cannot support the national Republicans' stated retribution on the citizens of our state, nor can I count myself a member of a party that would do so," Chris Madel, a Republican candidate for governor of Minnesota, said Jan. 26 in a video message posted on X in which he announced he was dropping out of the campaign for the GOP nomination.

Madel, a trial attorney who represented the immigration officer who shot Good on Jan. 7, said ICE's efforts have expanded far beyond the agency's original focus. He said it has caused U.S. citizens, "particularly those of color," to live in fear and made it impossible for a Republican contender to win in Minnesota.

"Operation Metro Surge in Minnesota has been an unmitigated disaster," he said.

Another person has been fatally shot by federal law enforcement in Minneapolis, officials said on Jan. 24. The shooting comes just over two weeks after 37-year-old Renee Nicole Good was shot in the head by a federal immigration officer in a residential neighborhood south of downtown. See the scene of a shooting. A person is detained at the scene of a shooting involving federal immigration agents in Minneapolis, Minnesota, January 24, 2026. People gather at the scene of a shooting involving federal agents, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, January 24, 2026. A federal immigration agent stands guard as another detains a person at the scene of a shooting involving federal immigration agents, in Whittier neighborhood, in South Minneapolis, Minnesota, January 24, 2026. People hug each other at the scene of a shooting involving federal immigration agents in Minneapolis, Minnesota, January 24, 2026. People gather at the scene of a shooting involving federal agents in Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S., January 24, 2026. A man gestures next to federal agents at the scene of a shooting involving federal agents in Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S., January 24, 2026. Federal agents stand guard at the scene of a shooting involving federal agents, in Whittier neighborhood, in South Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S., January 24, 2026. Federal agents stand guard at the scene of a shooting involving federal agents in Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S., January 24, 2026. People gather at the scene of a shooting involving federal agents, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, January 24, 2026. A person with an observer vests joins onlookers after a federal agent involved shooting on January 24, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. People gather at the scene of a shooting involving federal agents, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, January 24, 2026. People gather at the scene of a shooting involving federal immigration agents, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, January 24, 2026. Federal agents stand guard at the scene of a shooting involving federal immigration agents in Minneapolis, Minnesota, January 24, 2026. Federal immigration agents stand guard at the scene of a shooting involving federal immigration agents, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, January 24, 2026. Man fatally shot by federal officers in Minneapolis. Photos show the scene 1 of 15 Another person has been fatally shot by federal law enforcement in Minneapolis, officials said on Jan. 24. The shooting comes just over two weeks after 37-year-old Renee Nicole Good was shot in the head by a federal immigration officer in a residential neighborhood south of downtown. See the scene of a shooting.

As the on-street clashes intensified, Republican candidates in toss-up contests were being watched for how they are teetering on the issue.

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But strategists say most Republicans should not be expected to back down in defending the president's biggest campaign promise, even as some conservatives share their misgivings publicly about fatal outcomes and some aggressive tactics.

John Feehery, a former top Republican congressional aide turned GOP strategist, told USA TODAY he doesn't expect a significant number of conservatives to break with Trump, but it will become a political disaster in the fall if the White House doesn't get a better handle on enforcement operations.

"There's an element you're seeing where Republicans acknowledge we need to be smarter about this," he said. "Then there are the personal reactions, you know; people don't want to see liberal protesters get gunned down, and they don't like it. I don't blame them. I don't like it either."

'Two too many': Minnesota GOP contenders slam Democratic leaders

Federal agents hold a person down as immigration enforcement continues after a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent fatally shot Renee Nicole Good on Jan. 7 during an immigration raid, in Minneapolis, Minnesota on Jan. 21, 2026.

Other Republicans running for office in the Land of 10,000 Lakes were steadfast in supporting the president's deportation campaign, even as Trump was beginning to pivot.

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They argue that rather than encouraging demonstrators or blaming the Trump administration for flooding areas with ICE agents, state and local officials should cooperate with the president in apprehending those living in the country illegally to avoid further violence.

In a message Jan. 24 hours after Pretti's shooting, former sportscaster Michele Tafoya, who is running for the U.S. Senate in Minnesota, encouraged people to "stay away from the affected areas, and wait for the facts." She pointed out that Democratic Gov. Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey were both in office in 2020 when clashes broke out amid protests against the murder of George Floyd.

"We can never let that happen again," Tafoya said.

David Hann, a former Minnesota Republican Party chairman who is also running in the Aug. 11 GOP Senate primary, said the pair of killings was "two too many." Though he asserted that "Minnesotans are not political pawns," he reiterated that calming the waters is mainly a responsibility of Democratic leaders in the state rather than the Trump administration.

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Trump's supporters in Minnesota are pointing to a potential reset since the president announced he was sending Tom Homan, the administration's border czar, to oversee operations in Minnesota after the second shooting.

"It's certainly a great opportunity for Walz, Frey, and the rest to reset their stance and begin taking federal authority seriously. We'll see," Walter Hudson, a GOP Minnesota legislator who has defended the crackdown, said in a Jan. 26 post on X.

By the late afternoon, Walz and his team had announced the governor had spoken with Trump after months of bitter verbal jabs, saying the president would consider reducing the number of immigration agents in the state. The governor's office said it was also assured Minnesota investigators can independently probe the Pretti shooting.

Collins staying mostly quiet as ICE operations swarm Maine

US Senator Susan Collins, Republican of Maine, stands alongside US President Donald Trump as he signs bills intended to lower prescription drug prices during a ceremony in the Roosevelt Room of the White House in Washington, DC, October 10, 2018.

The administration's next steps will be crucial, GOP strategists say, especially as voters weigh the responses by Republicans in battleground areas where ICE deployments are taking place.

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After Good's death, the administration launched another immigration enforcement operation in Maine, where the parties are locked in a battle over the Senate seat now held by five-term GOP incumbent Susan Collins, a moderate known for occasionally breaking with Trump.

Dubbed "Operation Catch of the Day," the administration did not announce how many ICE agents were sent to the Pine Tree State, nor did it outline where its operations would be focused or how long the mission would last.

"The brave men and women of ICE have already arrested more than 200 illegal aliens in Maine in the last five days," the Department of Homeland Security announced Jan. 26.

Though the department says it is gathering "the worst of the worst," immigrant advocates in Maine say that most of those arrested are in legal immigration processes and have no criminal record, and that many have been racially profiled and subjected to inhumane conditions in detention.

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The Collins campaign did not respond to USA TODAY's request for comment, and the senator hasn't issued a statement since the second shooting in Minnesota. After Good's death, Collins issued a statement echoing some of the administration's talking points, saying people who are protesting "should be careful not to interfere with law enforcement efforts while doing so."

But the agency's deployment into Maine has ignited a furious response from the top two Democrats seeking to boot Collins from office, which may determine the balance of the Senate later this year.

"It's simple  Congress needs to stand up today and tell this president that Kristi Noem must go and ICE must be withdrawn," said Gov. Janet Mills, a Trump foil who was recruited to run by Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer, in a Jan. 26 interview on MS Now's (formerly MSNBC) "Morning Joe." She has criticized Collins, who chairs the Senate Appropriations Committee, for not taking part in the Democrat-led effort to withhold ICE funding unless new safeguards are added to its tactics.

Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner, a more populist-aligned Democratic contender supported by grassroots progressives, said Americans have "the right and the duty to resist ICE."

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"People need to get off the couch, join groups and take part," he said in an MS Now interview.

Republicans defend ICE, Trump's actions, but cracks show on gun rights

Attendees wearing 'MAGA' caps wait ahead of a campaign rally featuring then-Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump in Grand Rapids, Michigan, U.S., November 4, 2024.

Immigration enforcement remains one of Trump's best issues on the political right, but there are noticeable disagreements among the MAGA coalition, including concerns expressed by gun rights groups who expressed dismay that administration officials justified Pretti's shooting because he was carrying a legal firearm at the time of his death.

Noem said at a news conference hours after the shooting that it is a "violent riot when you have someone showing up with weapons," a notion that was denounced by conservative lawmakers and gun rights activists.

In a statement Jan. 26, former Vice President Mike Pence said the administration's focus now should be to bring together law enforcement at every level to address the community's concerns, "even while ensuring that dangerous illegal aliens are apprehended" in Minnesota.

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"The American people deserve to have safe streets, our laws enforced and our constitutional rights of freedom of speech, peaceable assembly and the right to keep and bear arms respected and preserved all at the same time," Pence said.

Feehery, the GOP strategist, said that Republicans by and large still support many of the enforcement activities but that Trump will have to be more disciplined and avoid further escalation to help protect Republican candidates in swing areas.

In the Quinnipiac survey, for instance, 84% of Republican voters said they approve of the way ICE is enforcing the country's immigration laws. That is the reverse of how Democrats see things, the poll shows, with 94% of Democrats and 64% of independent voters disapproving.

"Immigration is one of his biggest promises and it's one of his greatest accomplishments," Feehery said. "Now it's becoming a political liability."

Pretti's death has already ignited the liberal activists who are pressuring congressional Democrats, demanding they refuse to support any further ICE funding.

More: ICE and Border Patrol. What makes the immigration agencies different?

Vanessa Cardenas, executive director of Americas Voice, a liberal-leaning immigration reform group, said tepid Republican opposition isn't good enough, and that means Trump's opposition in Washington must be more courageous.

"We are seeing what an enforcement-only, violent approach looks like in real time, and Americans are rejecting that," she said. "It is absolutely reasonable for Democrats to demand that not one more penny goes to ICE and U.S. Customs and Border Protection."

But GOP contenders are eager for Democrats in swing districts to embrace what grassroots progressives want, especially if stripping away the agency's funding leads to a budget standoff resulting in another government shutdown.

Officials with the National Republican Congressional Committee, which serves as the House GOP's political arm, told USA TODAY they have been focusing on liberal incumbents and challengers in more than a dozen areas for weeks. Many have publicly criticized ICE and questioned the agency's mission, which the NRCC sees as a liability for those Democrats in competitive races.

Among the top targets in 2026 will be Democratic Rep. Greg Landsman of Ohio. After the Republican-controlled state Legislature's successful redistricting effort last year, Landsman's reelection hopes became more vulnerable, according to the Cook Political Report, which forecasts races.

The 49-year-old incumbent, who represents much of Cincinnati's inner suburbs, said that ICE agents committed "murder" in shooting Good and that Noem should step down as a result.

"The radical 'abolish ICE' crusade from far-left Democrats seemed like a relic of the past, but its the brand-new litmus test for Democrats who are barely hanging on and begging on their knees to get approval from their socialist base," Mike Marinella, an NRCC spokesman, told USA TODAY. "The full embrace of their deeply unpopular, lunatic policies exposes the brain rot that has taken over the Democrat Party."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Will ICE raids hurt Republicans' chances in 2026 swing states?
The USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier strike group has crossed into the area of responsibility of the U.S. military's Central Command, the Middle East region that includes Iran, CENTCOM confirmed on Monday.

The American warships' movement toward Iran, which President Trump has referred to as an "armada," came after the commander of Islamic Republic's powerful Revolutionary Guard Corps warned that his forces had their "finger on the trigger."

CENTCOM confirmed with a social media post that the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier and the other vessels in its strike group were sailing in the Indian Ocean after being deployed to the Middle East  the first public acknowledgment from the Department of Defense that the carrier group had reached Central Command's vast area of responsibility. It said the deployment was "to promote regional security and stability."

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A U.S. official told CBS News earlier on Monday that the strike group had crossed into the CENTCOM AOR.

The strike group is comprised of the Lincoln and three guided missile destroyers: the USS Frank E. Petersen, Jr., the USS Spruance and the USS Michael Murphy. On board the Lincoln are squadrons of F/A-18E/F Super Hornets, EA-18G Growlers, F-35C fighter jets and MH-60R/S helicopters.

As of Monday morning Eastern time, the U.S. official told CBS News the group had not necessarily arrived "on station," meaning it had not reached its intended ultimate position.

President Trump said Thursday that the U.S. had a "massive fleet" heading toward Iran, "just in case" he wants to take action, although he added, "maybe we won't have to use it."

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Mr. Trump repeatedly warned Iranian leaders against the killing of peaceful demonstrators  who started protesting in late December in the largest challenge to the country's ruling regime in years  and then against the mass execution of people detained during the unrest.

Over the weekend, Nournews, a news outlet close to Iran's Supreme National Security Council, said on its Telegram channel that Gen. Mohammad Pakpour had warned the U.S. and Israel, "to avoid any miscalculation."

"The Islamic Revolutionary Guards and dear Iran stand more ready than ever, finger on the trigger, to execute the orders and directives of the Commander-in-Chief," Pakpour was quoted as saying, according to The Associated Press.

On Monday, Iran's Defense Ministry spokesperson Gen. Reza Talaei-Nik warned Israel and the U.S. against any attack, saying it would "be met with a response that is more painful and more decisive than in the past."

Video breakdown of fatal shooting by federal agents in Minneapolis

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Visual investigation into Border Patrol killing of Alex Pretti in Minneapolis
By Diana Novak Jones

Jan 26 (Reuters) - Attorneys for Meta Platforms and other social media companies asked a California federal judge on Monday to block several school districts from taking their lawsuits against the companies to trial, arguing that federal law protects them from claims they knowingly addicted young users.

At a hearing before U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers in Oakland, California, lawyers for the companies clashed with counsel for six school districts from states across the country, who argue the platforms' design has harmed students' mental health and forced districts to spend money and staff time to address the fallout.

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The companies urged the judge to rule that Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, which generally shields platforms like Meta's Facebook and Instagram from liability over user-generated content, bars the cases from proceeding to the first trials in federal court over the claims.

Jonathan Blavin, an attorney for the social media companies, said the schools allegations rely on evidence that includes such content, placing the claims within the protections of Section 230.

"If that evidence is entirely excluded, I think the record here is incredibly thin," Blavin said. "It's just not there."

Lawyers for the school districts countered that their claims are not based on user-content but on platform features they say are intentionally designed to keep young people on the social media sites as long as possible.

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Andre Mura, an attorney for the plaintiffs, said their experts had examined broad studies of students who had used social media to support their findings that it had harmed them.

The literature shows the increase in the risk of harm is not based on content, he said.

THOUSANDS OF LAWSUITS IN STATE, FEDERAL COURT

Meta, Snapchat and parent Snap Inc., YouTube and parent Alphabet Inc., and TikTok and parent ByteDance are facing thousands of lawsuits in both federal and state court over claims they knowingly designed their platforms to have features that addict children and teens, fueling a mental health crisis.

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The first trial testing the claims in state court is slated for this week in Los Angeles.

The federal cases have been consolidated into multidistrict litigation before Rogers and include lawsuits brought by families, school districts and state governments.

Monday's hearing focused only on cases filed by school districts, which claim they have been hurt financially from having to manage student mental health issues and social problems like cyberbullying. Rogers is considering whether to enter judgment for the companies in six of those lawsuits, selected as so-called "bellwether" or test cases, ahead of the first trials in federal court, currently scheduled to begin in June.

Bellwether trials are used to gauge how juries may respond to similar claims and help establish settlement values for the other similar cases in the litigation.

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In rulings on the companies motions to dismiss in 2023 and 2024, Rogers said the cases could go forward, but Section 230 limited many of their claims, including some about specific features of the platforms.

On Monday, Rogers agreed that the plaintiffs had a lot of evidence that seemed to be based on content and said that should the cases go forward, there would be a lengthy debate about what could be shown to the juries.

But even if the actual content played some role, Rogers said that juries were often asked to examine a problem with several causes and determine which were primarily to blame.

Its not like we have a white and a yolk, its all scrambled together, Rogers said. Thats a very common circumstance. Why should this be any different?

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The case is In Re: Social Media Adolescent Addiction/Personal Injury Products Liability Litigation, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, No. 4:22-md-03047.

For plaintiffs: Andre Mura of Gibbs Mura; Previn Warren of Motley Rice

For defendants: Jonathan Blavin of Munger Tolles & Olson; Ashley Hardin of Williams & Connolly; Christian Pistilli of Covington & Burling

(Reporting by Diana Novak Jones)
A University of Michigan engineering student found dead off campus over the weekend had attended a fraternity party before he disappeared, according to the school.

Ann Arbor police said the body of Lucas Mattson, 19, of Juneau, Alaska, was found about noon Saturday, Jan. 24, in the 1900 block of Cambridge Road, near the intersection of Hill Street and Washtenaw Avenue.

University of Michigan engineering student Lucas Mattson, 19, was found dead in the 1900 block of Cambridge Road, Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026.

"At this time, we can share that prior to disappearing, Lucas was attending a party at a fraternity house as a guest; he was neither a member nor a pledge," U-M President Domenico Grasso said in a message to the campus community. "We must let the investigators complete their work and refrain from speculation until the facts are known."

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Grasso's message didn't identify the fraternity that hosted the party. There are several in the neighborhood near where he was found.

Grasso said that he has asked school officials, including campus police, to retrace the events that preceded Mattson's disappearance.

"We want to better understand what transpired and identify possible steps to help prevent similar tragedies in the future," Grasso said.

Mattson was one of only 25 U-M undergraduate students to hail from Alaska, according to the Michigan Almanac. An extended family member created a GoFundMe page to help with travel and funeral expenses. By 5 p.m. Tuesday, the page had garnered almost $50,000 in donations.

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Investigators said that there were no outward signs of trauma to Mattson's body and foul play is not suspected. The Washtenaw County Medical Examiner's Office told the Free Press on Tuesday that it had completed an autopsy but that the results were pending.

The weather appears likely to have played a role.

Police said Mattson was last seen about 1:25 a.m. Friday walking alone without a coat. Temperatures at the time were hovering around zero. He was reported missing about 15 hours later and police began a search that included using a drone to fly over the area.

(This story was updated to include additional information.)

Contact John Wisely: jwisely@freepress.com. On X: @jwisely

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Lucas Mattson, U-M student found dead, had attended fraternity party
Despite the daily hour-long blackouts and gasoline rationing in Cuba, the islands government sold most of the subsidized oil it received from Venezuela last year, a senior U.S. government official told the Miami Herald.

Venezuela provided Cuba with about 70,000 barrels per day of crude oil and refined products worth as much as $1.3 billion from approximately late 2024 through late 2025, the official said, citing information from a previously undisclosed analysis by the U.S. government.

Cuba then sent about 40,000 barrels each day  about 60%  to Asia for resale, the official said.

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Mexicos president Claudia Sheinbaum is under increasing pressure over oil shipments to Cuba, which she said involve both paid contracts and humanitarian donations.

The reselling of the oil while the Cuban population endures daily electricity cuts is further proof that the illegitimate Cuban regime only prioritizes enriching itself all while the Cuban people suffer the consequences of their corrupt nature and incompetence, a State Department official told the Miami Herald.

Everyday Cubans deserve the truth as to why the regime hides billions in overseas bank accounts instead of investing in electricity, infrastructure, health, and the daily needs of its people, the State Department official said.

Previously, a Herald investigation based on leaked secret accounting documents revealed that GAESA, a Cuban military conglomerate, reported about $18 billion in current assets, of which $14.5 billion were deposited in unknown bank accounts as of March 2024.

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Where is Cubas money? Secret records show the military has massive cash hoard

Experts long suspected that Cuba was reselling some of the oil from Venezuela for hard currency. In December, U.S. forces off the Venezuelan coast seized a shadow fleet tanker, the Skipper, that had transferred a portion of oil cargo to a smaller tanker bound for Cuba and continued its route to Asia, likely to China.

The 70,000 barrels figure is more than double what Reuters and other experts estimated the Venezuelan government was sending to Cuba.

Based on public tanker tracking data, Jorge Pinon, a senior research fellow at the Energy Center at the University of Texas who closely tracks oil shipments to Cuba, estimated that Venezuela exported an average of 30,000 barrels of oil per day to the island during 2025, filling about 50% of Cubas oil deficit. Reuters also reported a similar figure, 27,000 barrels per day, based on PDVSA data.

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Much of the sanctioned vessels transporting oil from Venezuela to Cuba are part of the so-called dark fleet that turn off transponders and spoof location signals to avoid being detected. It is also possible that some of the oil destined to Cuba was not recorded on PDVSA records.

Since the 2000s, Cuba has received subsidized oil from Venezuela thanks to an agreement between Hugo Chavez and Fidel Castro, and continued under Nicolas Maduro, the Venezuelan strongman who was captured in a U.S. military raid earlier this month.

In exchange for the oil, Cuba provided Venezuela with doctors. It also helped Chavez and Maduro hold on to power by infiltrating several Cuban advisers into the Venezuelan army and security agencies and providing software and telecommunications services to the Venezuelan police and several other government agencies and companies, including the state oil company PDVSA. Albet, a Cuban company linked to Cubas University of Information Sciences, was involved in the creation of the system that issues the IDs Venezuelans need to vote, Venezuelan investigative outlet Armando Info reported at the time.

The Cuban government confirmed that Cuban officers were providing personal security to Maduro on the day the U.S. special operations Delta Forces raided Fort Tiuna in Caracas and apprehended the couple. Thirty-two died, according to Cuban authorities. Cuban state media also reported the return of additional officers who were injured during the raid but did not say how many.

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The relationship amounted to colonization, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said soon after the military operation to capture Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores.

Trump: Cuba to get no more oil from Venezuela, should make a deal before it is too late

That alliance seems to have been upended after President Donald Trump said Cuba wont be receiving more oil from the South American nation. The Trump administration has also pressed the Venezuelan interim government led by Maduros former vice president, Delcy Rodriguez, to cut ties with U.S. adversaries, including Cuba.

The administration is also looking at how to exert further pressure on Cuba, which is going through its worst economic crisis in many decades, to hasten regime change. Among the options being considered is a complete naval blockade to stop oil shipments to Cuba, Politico reported.

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For decades many have predicted the downfall of Cubas regime. Is this time different?

Cuban leader Miguel Diaz-Canel said on X that in a phone call last week with Rodriguez  the first publicly disclosed since Maduros ouster  he expressed our support and solidarity with the homeland of Bolivar and Chavez, its people, and the Bolivarian government; as well as our decision to continue strengthening our historical relations of brotherhood and cooperation.

He did not mention the oil shipments nor the fate of the thousands of doctors and Cuban collaborators in the South American country, two issues likely high on the calls agenda.

Rodriguez did not provide details of what was discussed other than thanking Diaz-Canel for a call that she said strengthens our self-esteem as Venezuelans, and it encourages us to continue together in this process, which is unavoidable and inevitable: the unity of our peoples.

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The halt of oil shipments from Venezuela has already caused an islandwide gasoline shortage and daily blackouts that in places like Perico, Matanzas have lasted up to 32 hours, Cubans in a WhatsApp group sharing their hours without electricity said.

Cubas electricity company said that nine units inside the islands power plants are out of service or receiving maintenance and that the countrys distributed generation of power, through small-scale units connected to the grid, was null due to the lack of diesel. Cubans reported widespread blackouts lasting several hours during the weekend, including in Havana. On Monday, over 60% of the island was expected to be in the dark at peak demand at night.
The next frontier of work is here, where AI agents are the new coworkers and algorithms operate as office assistants. The advanced tech is already causing a wave of layoffs, resulting in more than 54,000 announced job cuts last year alone. Now, Citigroup CEO Jane Fraser is joining the list of bosses who are stepping in to make sure their staffers can weather the storm.

More from Yahoo Scout How does Citi's AI training program work? Why is Citigroup mandating AI training for employees? How does AI training help employees adapt to change? What results has Citigroup seen from AI adoption?

AI has the potential to make tremendous changes. Its going to create huge numbers of new jobs that we cant even imagine what they are today, Fraser recently told the Washington Post at Davos. It will change the nature of what people do every day  And it will take some jobs away.

Instead of letting Citigroups employees fend for themselves, executives mandated that they lean into the technology.

Last year, the $205 billion bank sent out a memo introducing required AI training to 175,000 staffers across 80 locationsinstructing them particularly in promptingCiti confirmed with Fortune. The companys CEO believes that mandatory instruction helps remove the myths of intimidation around the tools, and that strengthening employees AI prompting skills will help them in life as well as work.

Fraser wants employees to be adaptable and realistic about what new jobs will come and how they need to pivot. Some skills will naturally change or go away, but being handy with AI will ensure they can cope with the disruptions.

I want to stack the odds that we will help our people reinvent themselves, Fraser explained. [We want staffers to] feel theyve got a bit of control by having the training  Our people should be as much in the driving seat as possible. Were encouraging our people saying, Not that AI is going to take your job away, but someone using AI is going to probably be better at your job than you are. So, how do we equip you to use [AI tools]?

Fortune reached out to Citigroup for comment.

Citigroup is putting 175,000 employees through AI training

Citigroups AI training is not only an investment in the livelihoods of its workersits also a win-win for the company. Fraser noted that roughly 50% of all new job openings at the bank are filled by existing employees; staffers spend decades of their careers at Citi. By reskilling its own workforce, its cutting hiring costs while leveraging employees who already know the company inside out.

This training is about teaching our colleagues the possibilities of great prompting versus basic prompting to generate impactful results, Peter Fox, head of learning at Citi, told Fortune last year. He added that the training platform is adaptive, tailored to an employees knowledge level: Experts can complete it in under 10 minutes, while beginners take about 30 minutes.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha has said that Kyiv plans to hold self-proclaimed Belarusian president Alexander Lukashenko accountable for assisting Russia in its war of aggression and will also initiate sanctions against Belarus.

Source: Sybiha in an interview with European Pravda

Details: Asked about the status of Alexander Lukashenko, Sybiha replied that Ukraine, like other European countries, does not consider him the legitimately elected president of Belarus.

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"He is a so-called president," Foreign Minister Sybiha said.

The minister was also asked whether Ukraine plans steps to bring Lukashenko accountable for his role as leader of Belarus in facilitating Russia's aggression against Ukraine.

"I also believe that the current Belarusian regime is co-responsible for Russian aggression. In 2022, it provided Belarusian territory for the offensive against Ukraine. Missiles were launched from their territory. This makes them an accomplice to aggression against Ukraine. And even now we see new elements of support for Russian aggression from the Lukashenko regime. They are providing their infrastructure for drone attacks on Ukrainian territory," Sybiha noted.

"I am deliberately not specifying details, but we know them, we legally document every such case, notify the UN of the Belarusian regime's complicity in the aggression, and will raise the issue of sanctions against those involved  in particular individuals and companies engaged in building this infrastructure," the foreign minister said.

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Ukraine is set to sign a 20-point peace agreement with the United States, while the US would sign a separate document with Russia.

Source: Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha in an interview to European Pravda

Details: Sybiha said that the 20-point agreement at the centre of the peace process is a bilateral document.

Quote: "If we speak strictly about this 20-point framework, it is currently a bilateral document that will be signed by the US and Ukraine. And with Russia, it is the US that will sign [an agreement  ed.]. As of now, this is the structure being discussed, but talks are still ongoing. This is a process."

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More details: On European involvement in approving "peace documents", Sybiha said that Europe is "present in the peace process and in agreements on security guarantees".

Quote: "By the way, what is important is that the term being used is 'security guarantees' rather than 'assurances' or similar language."

More details: Sybiha said that the security guarantees must be legally binding.

Quote: "It is important that there is agreement on the need to ratify the guarantees, including ratification in the US Congress."

More details: Sybiha also said that there has been a qualitative change in talks with Russia, as Russian representatives no longer deliver pseudo-historical lectures.

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Background: Sybiha has said that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is ready to meet Russian leader Vladimir Putin in person to settle two key issues in the peace talks.

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Ukraine's defense minister has announced two new hires in the early days of his new tenure.

They're two of the Ukraine war's biggest activists and represent its nimble volunteer movement.

It comes as Mykhailo Fedorov has pledged to rework how Ukraine's military has operated.

Ukraine's new defense minister, Mykhailo Fedorov, has appointed two prominent Telegram bloggers and activists to his "team of new leaders," saying they will advise him on defense technology and drone warfare.

The move is a major recognition for the pair  Serhii "Flash" Beskrestnov and Serhii Sternenko  who are among the most influential voices among the volunteers filling vital gaps in logistics and drone expertise for Ukraine's battered military.

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Beskrestnov, widely cited among Ukrainians as an expert on drones, runs a Telegram channel with some 156,000 followers, where he publicly analyzes Russian and Ukrainian battle drones and how they've performed.

Fedorov named him an advisor in defense technology on Sunday, saying Beskrestnov would focus on helping Ukraine build counter-systems for Russian strike and reconnaissance drones.

In his statement, Fedorov said that Beskrestnov would also support Ukraine's military in analyzing Russian tech, studying "logistics, study of enemy solutions, and leveraging this experience to our advantage."

Sternenko, a political activist who now runs an organization that raises funds for military drones, was appointed as Fedorov's advisor on Thursday.

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"From now on, Serhii will act as my advisor on enhancing the use of UAVs at the frontline. His experience will help us implement our shared vision of improving the effectiveness of units operating unmanned systems," Fedorov said.

The Sternenko Foundation serves as a hub for drone procurement, raising money to buy specialized first-person-view drones for military units that demonstrate they're combat-effective.

As of Monday, it says it has delivered over 256,000 drones on demand to Ukrainian units.

Fedorov, Ukraine's youngest-ever defense minister at 35, previously was the country's minister for digital transformation. Since being confirmed to his new role earlier this month, he's pledged to revitalize Ukraine's military, promising to reform its training programs, internal culture, and organizational doctrine.

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Appointing Sternenko and Beskrestnov as advisors is a significant change in how Kyiv treats its grassroots movements. These groups work closely with Ukrainian forces, but top authorities have generally been slow to officially recognize or integrate them.

Several frontline units previously told Business Insider that they sometimes rely on the Sternenko Foundation, for example, for drones that can effectively cope with Russian electronic warfare. While the Ukrainian military provides its fighters with drones in bulk, these sometimes need further tweaks as the battlefield evolves rapidly.

Volunteer foundations often step in and have become known for their speed, leveraging connections with drone manufacturers and informal logistics networks to deliver priority supplies, vehicles, and modified drones within hours or days.

Fedorov said that Sternenko would particularly assist in establishing basic support for drone units, adding that 50 of Ukraine's 400 units account for 70% of its battlefield engagements.

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"The objective is to enable the other 350 units to grow quickly and significantly increase the scale of destroying Russian forces," Fedorov said.

Beskrestnov, meanwhile, regularly publicizes news about Russia's Shahed-type drones. He often posts footage from found wreckage to show how the Kremlin has been modifying or upgrading the loitering munitions.

Fedorov's team credited the drone analyst for being the "first to report on the use by Russians of FPV drones equipped with machine vision, as well as the use of jet-powered Shahed drones."

The new defense minister's attempt to reshape Ukraine's military comes as it grapples with a slew of challenges, including heightened fighting intensity on the front lines in recent months and a withdrawal of most US miliary support.

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In his opening speech to Ukraine's parliament, Fedorov said the country was facing a high rate of desertion and draft dodging, and that the military's budget had shrunk since last year.

Read the original article on Business Insider
(Corrects to replace sub-headline of final section of the story.)

By Andrew MacAskill and Ethan Wang

LONDON/BEIJING, Jan 27 (Reuters) - Prime Minister Keir Starmer will fly to China on Tuesday evening on the first visit by a British leader in eight years, seeking to mend ties with the world's second-largest economy and reduce his country's dependence on an increasingly unpredictable United States.

Starmer is the latest in a series of Western leaders to travel to Beijing. His visit comes amid tension between Britain and its longstanding close ally the United States over President Donald Trump's recent threats to take control of Greenland and other remarks.

On a three-day visit accompanied by dozens of business executives and two ministers, Starmer will meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang in Beijing and then travel to Shanghai, before a brief visit to Japan.

At the forefront of the visit "will be what both sides make of the current behaviour and posture of the U.S. and Trump," said Kerry Brown, professor of Chinese studies at King's College London.

"One of the great anomalies of the current situation is that London is probably closer to Beijing than Washington" on some global issues like AI, public health and the environment.

Since being elected in 2024, Starmer has made it one of his priorities to reset ties with China following a deterioration in relations under previous governments because of rows over Beijing's crackdown on pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong, a former British colony, and multiple allegations of espionage and cyberattacks.

BETTING ON CHINA TO BOOST BRITAIN'S ECONOMY

The visit gives China a chance to court another U.S. ally dealing with Trump's volatile trade policies following that of Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney this month when the two countries agreed an economic deal.

In response to Carney's visit, Trump threatened to impose 100% tariffs - effectively an embargo - on all Canadian goods and products coming into the U.S. if it follows through on the China trade deal.

China sees the trip as a chance to open a "new chapter in the healthy and stable development of China-UK relations", including deepening practical cooperation, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said.

China's commerce ministry said that trade and investment deals are expected to be signed during the visit.

Western leaders have had mixed results from their recent visits. While Carney struck a deal there that will slash tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles and Canadian canola oil, French President Emmanuel Macron's visit in December yielded relatively few economic benefits.
LONDON (AP)  U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer is heading to China, seeking a thaw in relations with Beijing at a time of strained ties with the United States.

He's hoping for an economic boost to Britain, but risks the wrath of China hawks at home  and of U.S. President Donald Trump, whos already heaping tariffs and criticism on Americas closest allies.

Starmer is due to meet Chinas President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang during the visit to Beijing and Shanghai that starts Wednesday, the first by a U.K. leader since 2018. He is expected to be accompanied by Business Secretary Peter Kyle and dozens of corporate chiefs as Britain seeks Chinese technology and investment, alongside greater access to the worlds second-largest economy for U.K. financial services, cars and Scotch whisky.

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The key word stressed by both sides is pragmatism. As Trump roils the world order, both London and Beijing are looking for a more stable relationship centered on trade and cooperation on big issues like climate change.

Starmer told his Cabinet on Tuesday before flying to Beijing that Britain had veered from the golden age to the ice age in relations with China, but he would follow a strategic and consistent strategy.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said the visit is an opportunity to enhance political trust and deepen pragmatic cooperation amid the current complex and volatile international situation.

From golden era to big chill

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Kerry Brown, director of the Lau China Institute at Kings College London, said the trip comes as dramatic shifts in geopolitics create new opportunities for U.K.-Chinese relations.

But he said Starmer is going to be talking to a very skeptical audience.

Britain has not been very consistent in its relations with China. We have been very hot and cold, Brown said.

The relationship has soured since the short-lived golden era proclaimed in 2015 by Conservative Prime Minister David Cameron, who took Xi to a traditional English pub during a state visit. Beijings crackdown on civil liberties in Hong Kong, Chinas support for Russia in the Ukraine war and growing concern about espionage and economic interference have widened the gap between London and Beijing.

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Camerons Conservative successors barred Chinese investment in sensitive telecoms infrastructure and squeezed China out of investment in new U.K. nuclear power plants.

Starmers center-left Labour Party government carried out a review of relations with Beijing after it was elected 18 months ago. It says it will protect U.K. national security from Chinese espionage and interference while keeping up diplomatic dialogue and economic cooperation with the Asian superpower.

Both Britains economy, the worlds sixth largest, and Starmers popularity could use a boost.

His government has struggled to deliver the economic growth it promised and ease a cost-of-living crisis for millions of households. Labour lags behind hard-right Reform UK in opinion polls, and nervous Labour lawmakers openly mull whether it would be better to ditch Starmer for a more charismatic leader, such as Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham.

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Americas allies look to China

Starmers visit to China comes as cracks are starting to appear in his attempt to strike up a warm relationship with Trump  efforts rewarded with a trade deal that reduced U.S. tariffs on Britains key auto and aerospace industries.

For months Starmer refrained from public criticism as Trump attacked the mayor of London, slammed British immigration policy and sued the BBC for $10 billion.

But in recent days, Starmer has called Trumps desire to take over Greenland completely wrong and condemned the president's disparaging comments about the role of U.K. and other NATO troops in Afghanistan, which Starmer called insulting and appalling.

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Starmer says Britain does not need to choose between the U.S. and China. But he travels to Beijing days after Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney. Next month its the turn of German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, as some of Americas strongest allies hedge their bets against the unpredictable Trump.

Zhao Minghao, a professor in the Institute of International Studies at Shanghais Fudan University, said growing unease among U.S. allies over Washingtons recent policy moves, including on tariffs, Greenland and the war in Ukraine, have triggered a wave among allies to recalibrate their policies to de-risk from the United States.

But rapprochement with Beijing brings the risk of a rift with Washington. Trump has threatened to slap a 100% tariff on all Canadian goods after Carney struck a trade deal with China on his trip this month.

Espionage and human rights concerns

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Starmers critics say the government is being naive about Chinas threat to Britains security and weak in the face of pressure from Beijing.

The trip follows U.K. approval of a 20,000 square-meter (around 215,000 square-foot) Chinese Embassy near the Tower of London despite claims by critics that the mega-embassy will make it easier for China to conduct espionage and intimidate dissidents.

Starmer also faces criticism over an agreement to hand over the Chagos Islands in the Indian Ocean to Mauritius. The government says the move will secure the future of a key U.K.-U.S. military base against legal challenge, but critics argue it opens the door to Chinese influence. Last week Trump spoke out against the deal, reversing his previous support.

Human rights are another tricky area. Chris Patten, who was governor of Hong Kong from 1992 until the British colony was handed back to China in 1997, said Starmer should be firm in raising disagreements over issues including the treatment of Chinas Uyghur minority and the imprisonment of Jimmy Lai, a Hong Kong pro-democracy campaigner and British citizen.

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You have to say with them, without being impolite, exactly what you think, Patten said. They know were different, but they want to have a reasonable relationship with us and, particularly given the state of the world with Trump, we should want to have a reasonable relationship with them.

Brown, from King's College, said Starmer will likely consider his trip a success if it secures significant investment and avoids major political pitfalls.

What theyre going to do is basically commit to consistency, a bit more predictability, he said. Friends where we can be friends, otherwise agree to disagree.

___

Associated Press writer E. Eduardo Castillo in Beijing contributed to this report.
ST. LOUIS  A Massachusetts family is asking for your help after their loved one was found dead here in St. Louis.

He was headed to Las Vegas when his family lost track of him after an unexpected detour in St. Louis.

For five days in December, two sisters and a girlfriend of James Wilder were desperately trying to find him when his cell phone went dead on Dec. 8.

We just werent getting any answers, but it was about five days since he initially went missing before we got the terrible news, Zequaya Withers said.

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Withers says Wilder was a photographer, headed to Las Vegas for a job, when his car broke down in Joplin, Missouri. His family then bought him a bus ticket to return to Massachusetts.

It stopped in St. Louis, and he never made it back on the bus, Withers added.

Wilders last known cell phone location is near the Greyhound bus terminal at 14th and Clark. He was walking North towards the Enterprise Center.

Wilders sisters then got involved.

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When she lost a location, we panicked, Jenia Wilder said.

They filed a missing person report, and then five days later, on Dec. 13, they said police reported Wilder was found dead in the back of a postal delivery truck less than half a mile away from the bus station.

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They said that someone had interacted with him from the United Postal Service, Zequaya said. An employee had interacted with him. And just within minutes, he was deceased.

There was no investigation being made on his behalf. James was not a homeless person, Jenia said.

St. Louis police confirm there is no current criminal investigation unless a pending autopsy demands otherwise.

FOX 2 checked with the medical examiner, who said itll take at least six weeks to determine how he died. We also called the postal inspector, who told us postal police initially responded and turned it over to the St. Louis Police.

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Im hoping that someone will reach out to us, Zequaya said as Jenia added, Weve been trying to find answers, and many doors have been shut on us.

They hope the public can help. They add that James also sometimes went by the name Jasmin.

Call police if you saw James Wilder downtown between Dec. 8 and Dec. 13  or contact me at chris.hayes@tvstl.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 FOX 2.
SOUTH KINGSTOWN, R.I. (WPRI)  The University of Rhode Island (URI) is preparing to break ground on a project that will add more than 1,100 beds to the colleges Kingston Campus.

The ceremony will be held on Wednesday morning at the schools Flagg Road Lot in South Kingstown, where two new undergraduate residence halls are going to be built.

In addition to the two new residence halls, Gilbane Development Company will also be reconstructing the Graduate Village Apartments complex on Route 138.

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RELATED: URI expands on-campus housing to meet needs of growing student body

Renderings of new student housing at the University of Rhode Island (Courtesy: Gilbane)

URI announced that their new partnership with Gilbane will address a growing demand for on-campus housing.

This transformative initiative will strengthen URIs standing as a top public university in New England, providing high-quality, accessible housing that supports academic success and enriches campus life, the university said.

The first new residence hall is slated to open in August 2027. The graduate student apartments are scheduled to open in fall 2028.

NEXT: URI reports record number of undergrad applications

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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 WPRI.com.
Former President Joe Biden denounced the actions of Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Minnesota, saying that agents terrorizing Minneapolis residents betrays our most basic values as Americans.

We are not a nation that guns down our citizens in the street. We are not a nation that allows our citizens to be brutalized for exercising their constitutional rights. We are not a nation that tramples the 4th Amendment and tolerates our neighbors being terrorized, Biden wrote in a statement shared to X.

Biden stopped short of naming President Donald Trump directly, but noted that no chief executive has the power to end the American experiment on their own.

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Violence and terror have no place in the United States of America, especially when its our own government targeting American citizens. No single person can destroy what America stands for and believes in, not even a President, if we  all of America  stand up and speak out, he wrote.

Start your day with essential news from Salon.

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Biden praised the people of Minnesota for their courage and neighborliness, saying that their actions reminded us all what it is to be American. He closed the statement with a call for a full, fair and transparent investigation into the deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti.

We know who we are. Its time to show the world. More importantly, its time to show ourselves, he wrote. Now, justice requires full, fair, and transparent investigations into the deaths of the two Americans who lost their lives in the city they called home. Jill and I are sending strength to the families and communities who love Alex Pretti and Renee Good as we all mourn their senseless deaths.

The post US doesnt gun down citizens: Biden says ICEs actions in Minnesota betray our most basic values appeared first on Salon.com.
WASHINGTON, Jan 27 (Reuters) - The United States has told Ukraine that it must sign on to a peace deal with Russia in order to get U.S. security guarantees, a source familiar with internal discussions told Reuters on Tuesday.

U.S. security guarantees are considered by Ukraine as the linchpin for any settlement ending Russia's four-year-old invasion of Ukraine. The United States brokered talks in Abu Dhabi between envoys for Ukraine and Russia last weekend that U.S. officials said made progress toward an agreement.

The Financial Times reported that the Trump administration has signalled to Ukraine that U.S. security guarantees depend on Kyiv agreeing to a peace deal, likely requiring it to cede the Donbas region to Russia.

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But the source who spoke to Reuters said the United States is not telling Ukraine what has to be in the peace deal and that it is misleading to suggest that Washington is trying to force Ukraine into territorial concessions to Russia.

Russia and Ukraine negotiators are to meet again on Sunday in Abu Dhabi, with possible participation by U.S. officials. U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner came away from the talks last weekend optimistic that a deal could be reached soon.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Sunday that a U.S. document on security guarantees for Ukraine was "100% ready" and Kyiv is now awaiting a time and place for it to be signed.

Zelenskiy has consistently said that Ukraine's territorial integrity must be upheld in any peace deal to end the war.

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Ukraine is increasingly uncertain whether Washington will commit to security guarantees, a senior Ukrainian official told the Financial Times, saying the U.S. "stops each time the security guarantees can be signed."

The Kremlin said on Monday the question of territory remained fundamental to any deal to end the fighting in Ukraine, the TASS news agency reported after weekend talks in Abu Dhabi.

(Reporting by Steve Holland in Washington and Bipasha Dey in Bengaluru; Additional reporting by Chandni Shah in Bengaluru; Editing by Michael Perry, Franklin Paul and Matthew Lewis)
Editor's note: This story has been updated with information from a U.S. source.

The Trump administration is again pressuring Kyiv by seeking to tie U.S. security guarantees to Ukraine's agreement to cede unoccupied areas of Donbas to Russia, the Financial Times (FT) reported on Jan. 27, citing eight people familiar with the talks.

The reported push comes as Ukraine, Russia, and the U.S. reengage in active diplomacy amid President Donald Trump's latest effort to end the war, with the next round of talks expected on Feb. 1.

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Washington has reportedly told Kyiv that security guarantees would come only after Ukraine reaches a peace deal with Russia  a deal likely to involve territorial concessions in the Donbas.

Kyiv has pushed for guarantees to be secured before agreeing to any loss of territory.

President Volodymyr Zelensky has repeatedly emphasized that firm security guarantees are essential to any peace deal to prevent a renewed Russian invasion. He previously signaled that U.S.-Ukraine security guarantees were "100% ready," hoping to sign documents this month.

"For us, security guarantees are first and foremost guarantees from the United States," the Ukrainian president told reporters on Jan. 25.

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Ukrainian and European officials described the approach to the FT as an attempt to force Kyiv into painful territorial concessions that Moscow has no intention of reciprocating.

A U.S. source familiar with the matter told the Kyiv Independent that Washington "is not trying to force any territorial concessions upon Ukraine."

"Both sides must agree to a peace deal, but the contents of the peace deal are up to Russia and Ukraine," the source added, without elaborating.

Russia has long demanded that Ukrainian forces withdraw from Donbas and is now explicitly tying any future agreement to such a move after more than a decade of fighting in the region.

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Ukraine has ruled out a withdrawal, but officials have said alternative arrangements, including a demilitarized zone, could be considered. The U.S. has also floated the idea of establishing a free economic zone in parts of the war-torn region.

Russia's occupation of Donbas in eastern Ukraine, showing Ukraine's Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts and cities of Donetsk and Luhansk. (Nizar al-Rifai/The Kyiv Independent)

As an additional incentive, the U.S. has reportedly offered Ukraine more weapons to equip its army in the post-war period. Still, a senior Ukrainian official warned that it is becoming increasingly unclear whether Washington is prepared to take on binding commitments.

Luhansk Oblast is almost entirely under Russian control, while Ukraine continues to hold parts of Donetsk Oblast, where Kyiv has built its most extensive and heavily fortified defensive lines.

Ukrainian officials have warned that if Russia were to seize this defensive line, it would gain a significant advantage for attacks on neighboring regions.

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The Kyiv Independent has learned that Washington hopes to push the peace process "toward its final culmination" during the next round of talks, though Moscow has yet to show any readiness to accept the proposals on the table.

The most contentious issues  Russian demands for Ukrainian withdrawal from parts of Donbas and control of Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant  are set to dominate the agenda.

Read also: Where is Ukraines Donbas? 6 things to know about the region Russia wants to take

Read also: Exclusive: Russian negotiators soften hardline stance in private, US officials say. Ukrainians urge caution

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Jan 27 (Reuters) - Cloudflare (NET) shares surged about 11% premarket on Tuesday as social media buzz around the "Clawdbot" AI agent rekindled investor enthusiasm for the company's tools that help run the technology.

Developers building with Clawdbot, which is based on Anthropic's Claude, use Cloudflare's low-latency infrastructure to securely connect with the agent and run it locally on devices, enabling autonomous task execution.

More from Yahoo Scout What is Clawdbot and why is it driving Cloudflare's stock surge? How does Cloudflare's infrastructure support AI agent development? When will Cloudflare report earnings and what are expectations? What percentage of AI companies use Cloudflare's services?

Clawdbot drew thousands of GitHub stars and trended online over the weekend, feeding hopes that "agentic" AI, systems designed to execute tasks autonomously rather than simply answer prompts, is moving beyond demos toward broader, real-world use and could fuel the next leg of the AI rally.

Cloudflare's globally distributed edge network and consumption-based pricing model position it to benefit as AI agents scale up.

The San Francisco-based company is scheduled to report earnings on February 10, when investors will be watching closely for signs that AI-related activity is translating into increased traffic and revenue.

"As agentic tools like Clawdbot scale (making more API calls, hitting more websites, generating more traffic), we believe NET is positioned to capture that activity," Wolfe Research analyst Joshua Tilton said.

Cloudflare CEO Matthew Prince told analysts on the company's third-quarter earnings call in October that Cloudflare estimates about 80% of leading AI companies already rely on its infrastructure.

Sign up for the Yahoo Finance Morning Brief By subscribing, you are agreeing to Yahoo's Terms and Privacy Policy Subscribe

"The agents of the future will inherently have to pass through our network and abide by its rules," he said.

(Reporting by Harshita Mary Varghese in Bengaluru; Editing by Tasim Zahid)
A US aircraft carrier and several warships have arrived in the Middle East amid fears that Donald Trump could finally order a strike on Iran.

The president warned last week that an armada was on its way, saying his administration was watching Iran following weeks of deadly protests across the country.

The USS Abraham Lincoln and a number of guided-missile destroyers have now arrived in the Middle East region, which comes under the US militarys Central Command, US officials said on Monday.

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We have a lot of ships going that direction, just in case ... Id rather not see anything happen, but were watching them very closely, Mr Trump told reporters on board Air Force One on Thursday. We have an armada ... heading in that direction, and maybe we wont have to use it.

The USS Abraham Lincoln, seen from US Naval Base Guam in December 2025, has now arrived in the Middle East (US Navy)

The US military said it would carry out an exercise to demonstrate the ability to deploy, disperse, and sustain combat airpower in the Middle East, the latest indication of an increasingly aggressive foreign policy stance adopted by the Trump administration in the presidents second term.

Mr Trump has repeatedly threatened to strike Iran in response to the regimes deadly crackdown on demonstrators during the widespread protests in recent weeks.

However, despite reports of a large number of casualties resulting from the crackdown, the US president has yet to take military action.

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As many as 30,000 Iranians may have been killed in the unrest so far this month, two senior officials in Tehrans health ministry told Time magazine on Sunday, though estimates of the number of deaths have varied wildly.

The US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency said it had confirmed 5,459 deaths and is continuing to investigate another 17,031.

Widespread protests have taken place in Iran against the current regime (Middle East Images)

The demonstrations have abated following the crackdown. Mr Trump said he had been told that the killings were subsiding, and that there were no plans to execute any prisoners despite reports that a protester was due to be put to death earlier this month.

There is precedent for US military forces surging into the Middle East, sometimes claiming that the move was in fact defensive. Last year, there was a significant buildup of US military presence ahead of strikes carried out in June against Tehrans nuclear programme.

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The current movement of military forces into the Middle East includes fighter jets and air-defence systems, alongside the aircraft carrier and warships.

Supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has overseen a brutal crackdown on protesters in Iran (AP)

But a senior Iranian official has warned that any attack on Iran would be considered an act of all-out war against the regime.

The United Arab Emirates has also made clear that it has no desire to be involved, declaring on Monday that it would not let its airspace, territory or waters be used for any hostile military actions against Iran.

The al-Dhafra airbase, a US military hub located south of the capital of Abu Dhabi, has been a critical US Air Force hub, supporting key missions against Isis along with reconnaissance deployments across the region.
After much of the United States was impacted by the recent snowstorm that's been named Winter Storm Fern, many folks are spending their Monday morning shoveling, plowing and hoping for the snow to melt. But with over a foot of snow in certain areas (more in others) and plenty of ice everywhere, daily activities like deliveries from the United States Postal Service (USPS) will be delayed.

Despite the motto that begins, Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night often being associated with the USPS, snowfall like this past weekends will certainly cut into your regular mail and package delivery.

"Due to the winter weather sweeping across most of the nation this weekend into next week, the Postal Service anticipates transportation and delivery impacts in many regions," the USPS said in a statement prior to the storm. "These conditions include heavy snow and blizzard conditions, damaging ice, record low temperatures, high winds and long duration power outages."

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There was also an update shared to the USPS Facebook page, informing folks they may not be receiving regular mail on Monday.

This USPS Reschedule Delivery Text Is a ScamHeres How To Spot It

The post reads, Severe winter weather in many parts of the U.S. may impact the processing, transportation, and delivery of mail and packages." Check for the latest service updates here: https://b.link/usps-service-alerts

A few former and current USPS drivers chimed in with comments on the post. One former mail carrier wrote, I was always told we had to make an ATTEMPT to deliver. You use your own judgment. Dont put yourself in danger on the ice.

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Concerned citizens also shared their thoughts, with one writing, Hopefully the USPS will not have any carriers, rural or city, out in this weather. If there are warnings about keeping your pets in, then carriers or drivers shouldnt be out! Let them all stay home!

What areas are impacted?

Kevork Djansezian / Staff

Much of the United States was impacted by Fern and if you live in any of the snow-covered towns and citiesparticularly in the Northern Plains, Great Lakes, Ohio Valley and Northeast regions of the U.S. or the Southwest, Southern Plains, Midwest, Ohio Valley and Southeast regions of the countryyou can most certainly expect delays.

The service alert shared a list of states and areas of the United States that will be impacted by the winter storm. The specific states included are as follows: Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Nebraska, Iowa, Wisconsin, Illinois, Michigan, Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, West Virginia, Virginia, North Carolina, District of Columbia, Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, New York, Vermont, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Maine, New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Missouri, Arkansas, Tennessee, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia and South Carolina.

USPS deliveries will likely continue on Tuesday, as long as the weather cooperates. While residents are encouraged to stay indoors and off the roads until they are cleared, the same goes for the postal workers. Stay safe and warm and remember to be patient when it comes to the USPS!

Keep reading for more!

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A ballot drop box is pictured at the Davis County Administrative Building in Farmington on Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024. (Photo by Spenser Heaps for Utah News Dispatch)

Utah lawmakers advanced a proposal Monday that would require voters to prove they are U.S. citizens if election officers lack confirmation and get in touch seeking documentation.

Utahs chief elections officer, Lt. Gov. Deidre Henderson, said last week that an ongoing inquiry by her office has not confirmed any cases of noncitizens voting in a Utah election. One noncitizen voter registration was found in the review.

A prior review found four people without citizenship managed to register to vote in 2018 or 2019 due to a glitch on a state website. Her office said its not clear whether they voted and local prosecutors are investigating.

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Bill sponsor Rep. Cory Maloy, R-Lehi, told colleagues on the House floor Monday that if even a few noncitizens make their way onto Utahs voter rolls, thats a few too many.

This bill helps protect the meaning of citizenship, Maloy said.

The House approved HB209 in a 62-13 vote, sending it to the Senate for approval.

Critics say the move isnt needed and could pile greater administrative and financial burdens onto county election offices. They note voters already must attest they are U.S. citizens.

Rep. Sahara Hayes, D-Millcreek, said during the House debate that shes not opposed to the concept behind the measure.

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But as the recent audit pointed out, this isnt really an issue that needs solving here in Utah, Hayes said. We only had one noncitizen on our voting rolls and they did not vote.

The bill sets a process for election officers to investigate a voters citizenship status if existing state and federal databases dont answer the question. For the November general election, the proposal requires elections officers to send notice to voters by July 1 if they need to provide proof of citizenship, then give them 30 days to respond.

Maloy said Utah doesnt have authority over federal elections, so voters could cast their ballots in federal races even if his proposal becomes law and they dont comply with verifying their citizenship.

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Rep. Angela Romero, D-Salt Lake City, questioned whether the bill would allow any elected official in Utah, not just those overseeing elections, to determine who can and cant vote. Maloy said only those in charge of running elections could do so.

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Utah children found in Croatia, mother arrested, after alleged abduction in December

SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4)  Four children who were allegedly abducted by their Utah mom in December have been traced to an orphanage in Croatia and the mom was arrested, the family says has claimed in an updated post on the GoFundMe.

An endangered missing alert was initially issued for the children on Dec. 10, 2025, for the four children, who are 11, 8, 7, and 3 years old, and Elleshia Anne Seymour, the mother. Elleshia Anne Seymour was charged for unlawfully removing the children from the country.

According to court documents, Seymour told the fathers of the children that she was taking the kids, because the end times are coming and law enforcement determined that she appeared to have no intention of returning the children to the United States.

In an updated post on GoFundMe, the family of the four abducted family, said the children were found in an orphanage in Croatia.

Search for the children and ongoing custody issues

ABC4s Mckenzie Diaz spoke with Kendall Seymour, the childrens grandfather, who spoke on how glad they are that the children were found safe. The father of three of the children is also named Kendall Seymour but goes by Kenny.

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We were overjoyed when we found out where they were, because we went a little over a month having no idea if theyre even alive anymore or if they were locked in a room somewhere, Kendall said, adding that Elleshia Anne Seymour had told others she was in France and going to Italy.

Airport video footage showed Seymour and her four children entering the airport on Nov. 29th and board a flight that was bound for Amsterdam and ending in Croatia. The flight was one-way, and Elleshia and the kids reportedly never made the connecting flight to Croatia from Amsterdam, partially disguising their final destination.

According to Kendall, his son, sons fiance, and daughter are all in Croatia and facing legal issues in getting the kids back to the United States.

In an updated post on GoFundMe, the family said, We have to hire Croatian lawyers who specialize in child abduction, create and submit Hague Convention applications, hire court-approved translators, and extend our stay here by an unknown amount of time.

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Missing in Utah: Current cases

The situation is further complicated due to the fact this is an international case and one of the kids has a different father, who reportedly is not able to take custody of him. That individual did give permission to family members of the other three children to regain custody, but this has still complicated things.

How to make ABC4 your preferred news source on Google

Court documents proving familial custody reportedly have to be translated, but there is also a small typo in one of the court documents. Kendall says this means the documents have to be amended in Utah, then translated, then presented to a Croatian judge.

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Hopefully, after all that, the judge will issue a court order, and the children will be allowed to return home. However, the whole process has still required several law enforcement and government agencies to be involved in the search and in the custody discussion.

I do know the local police, where the kids are, is involved, as well as INTERPOL, Kendall said. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, who works out of the U.S. Embassy Office in Croatia, theyre involved starting today.

Kendall added that Elleshia Anne Seymour has been taken into custody.

International arrest

Charges are allegations only. All arrested persons are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

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Reportedly, Elleshia Anne Seymour was arrested on Friday, Jan. 23. The family learned that she and the kids had been staying with a woman she met online and the womans 13-year-old son in Dubrovnik, Croatia.

The nine-year-old grandson of ours, the middle child, is surprisingly streetwise for his age. And he told the 13-year-old, He, you should Google my name, Kendall said, He knew that by Googling his name, this information would appear that hes listed as an endangered missing child.

Court docs say mom who allegedly abducted kids, fled to Europe, believes end times are coming

He added, Sure enough, the 13-year-old boy Googled Levis name and sure enough, found out that Levis an endangered missing child. So, he told that to his mom, this other woman, and she has enough moral integrity.

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The woman reportedly convinced Elleshia Anne Seymour to go to police station, where they were both arrested. The children were then taken to an orphanage, and their family members were informed the children had been located.

However, family is not sure where exactly Elleshia Anne Seymour is being detained or how her case will progress.

Shes either still in custody in Croatia, or it would be my guess that the Croatian authorities who have her in custody are going to say We dont want anything to do with her. She has these international warrants for her arrest. Lets just ship her off to the United States, Kendall said. But where she exactly is, I dont know.

Endangered and missing alert issued for four Utah children abducted by parent

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Previously, Seymour was charged with four counts of custodial interference and removing child from the state (third-degree felonies) in the Salt Lake County District Court. At the time, law enforcement stated she could face additional charges as more evidence is collected.

According to WJPD, the investigation has been turned over to the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI). ABC4 reached out to the FBI, who said they are unable to comment currently.

ABC4 also reached out to the United States Department of State, who said they are aware of this case, but cannot share additional information due to privacy concerns. They also stated the State Department assists parents in international parental child abduction (IPCA) cases by providing online resources and working with foreign authorities.

This is a developing story. ABC4 will update this post as more information becomes available.

Latest headlines:

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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 ABC4 Utah.
Utah Gov. Spencer Cox once again called on Utahns to call upon heaven for water in a post to social media on Monday.

Like he did in 2021, 2023 and 2025, the openly religious governor renewed his request for faith communities across Utah to come together in prayer for snow.

The states water supply is in trouble: Utah sits at 62% of average snowpack, with more than 90% of the state experiencing drought conditions, Cox pointed out.

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In addition to results from legislative action, and personal conservation, Cox recognized that Utahs water situation relies heavily on factors outside of Utahns control.

I invite all Utahns to seek help from a higher power and do our part to conserve water, Cox said in the statement.

Were grateful to the faith communities across Utah who are coming together this week to pray for snow. With more than 90% of our state experiencing drought and snowpack well below normal, this is a moment for unity.



I invite all Utahns to seek help from a higher power and do pic.twitter.com/LCczRPxk6h  Governor Cox (@GovCox) January 26, 2026

The stakes are high.

Beyond the water needs of a rapidly growing state, ski resorts are experiencing one of their worst years in recent memory ahead of the 2034 Winter Olympic Games.

People walk near Park City Mountain Resorts Town Lift in Park City on Friday, Jan. 2, 2026. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News

An hour before his call to prayer, Cox posted a bold promise: When the world comes back to Utah for the 2034 Olympic Games, the Great Salt Lake will be full.

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The lake is our heritage and our future. We will not let it fail, the post said.

The dire state of the Great Salt Lake galvanized government officials, activists and national media attention when it reached record lows in 2021.

The lake levels got even worse in 2022 before a record-winter elevated the lake by several feet. But recent reports show the lake is on a crisis trajectory once again.

At the close of 2025, the surface of Great Salt Lakes south arm fell to 4,191.1 feet  the third-lowest recorded elevation in more than 120 years.

Refilling the lake will be a herculean task.

State agencies estimate it will take 800,000 acre-feet of water, or 261 billion gallons  enough to fill nearly 400,000 Olympic-sized swimming pools, as Deseret News previously reported.

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Over the past five years, dozens of pieces of legislation have rewritten a century of water rights law, created water optimization programs and incentivized Utahns to save water, or sell water rights to the lake.

Water for the Great Salt Lake is the issue lawmakers have spent more time on than any other in recent years, Senate President Stuart Adams, R-Layton, said on Monday.

And it has produced measurable results. The states agriculture water optimization program has saved 100,000 acre-feet of water, according to state Sen. Scott Sandall, R-Tremonton.

But there is only so much in the Legislatures control. Evaporation depletion of the lake and winter snowfall are the largest factors contributing to lake levels, Sandall said on Monday.

Water levels at the Great Salt Lake are very low in Magna on Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2026. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News

Sandall: We can do our part, but heavens going to dictate precipitation

On Friday, Sandall reaffirmed that every piece of Great Salt Lake legislation is intended to get water directly to the lake.

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But beyond that, theres a heavenly force thats going to actually dictate how much water goes into that lake in huge volumes, Sandall said.

We can do our part and we will continue to do our part, but heavens going to dictate the amount of precipitation we get to work with.

While Utah Democrats may differ in some of their proposals, Senate Minority Leader Luz Escamilla, D-Salt Lake City, said they share the same sense of urgency as their Republican colleagues.

The public health implications and wildlife  needs to be in the forefront of everything that we do and we say, Escamilla said on Friday. It will be a disaster in 10 years. We cant wait longer.

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Agriculture has long been the largest water consumer in Utah, as Deseret News recently reported. But now, state researchers are finding that municipal and industrial water consumption are on the rise.

In an interview with the Deseret News/KSL editorial board prior to the start of the 2026 legislative session, state House Speaker Mike Schultz, R-Hooper, said lawmakers need the cooperation of Utah constituents more than ever.

Conservation, conservation, conservation, conservation. That is what were going to have to do, Schultz said. Conservation is going to be a key component moving forward.
Pictures of Alex Pretti sit in front of his home on Jan. 26, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Pretti, an ICU nurse at a VA medical center, died Jan. 25, after being shot multiple times during a brief altercation with Border Patrol agents in Minneapolis. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images)

After federal immigration agents shot and killed 37-year-old Alex Pretti in Minneapolis on Saturday, Utah Republican Sen. John Curtis called for a transparent, independent investigation into the shooting and for accountability for those responsible no matter their title.

Officials who rush to judgment before all the facts are known undermine public trust and the law-enforcement mission, Curtis wrote on X. I disagree with Secretary Noems premature DHS response, which came before all the facts were known and weakened confidence. I will be working with a bipartisan group of senators to demand real oversight and transparency.

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At the same time, Utah Republican state leaders say there needs to be a de-escalation from both political sides. However, they made no comments on how the Trump administration has characterized the killing.

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In everything Ive ever been involved in thats been very controversial, and this surely is, it takes two sides, and I think youve got to figure it out, and itd be really nice if we find a way to de-escalate it, Utah Senate President Stuart Adams, R-Layton, said on Monday. And I think theres rhetoric on both sides. And I really feel like, right now, whatever we say, were going to spin it up, and I dont want to spin it up. I want to spin it down. I just think we know better how to treat each other and whats happening there is not right.

For Utah House Speaker Mike Schultz, R-Hooper, theres blame to be placed on the far right and the far left. The lack of action from Congress has led to the current situation, he told reporters on Monday.

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I think if Congress would get its crap together and act and come up with a reasonable solution to fix our broken immigration system, a lot of these things would go away, Schultz said. And its not that hard.

As protests against the tactics of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement emerge nationwide, including in Salt Lake City, elected officials are also thinking about plans to mitigate violence in Utah demonstrations, with Schultz saying the state promotes peaceful protest but will not tolerate violence.

Let us know what you think...

Adams, who described Prettis killing as just horrible, said Utah has been able to manage things well.

Does anybody like the loss of a life? I mean, thats just crazy. Its not a positive thing, Adams said. And yet, you know, law enforcement has a really tough job.

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But, when asked how the Trump administration is handling the Minneapolis situation and about whether they believe the administrations description of the shooting was accurate, Adams asked other members of the Senate leadership for thoughts, but only got one answer from Sen. Jerry Stevenson, R-Layton.

I would really like to discuss Utah issues, Stevenson said.

Schultz said he hasnt seen the video of the shooting, so he wouldnt get into the specifics of the case.

Graphic video captured by witnesses shows six federal agents appearing to wrestle Pretti to the ground and 10 shots can be heard. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

The Department of Homeland Security said Saturday morning this looks like a situation where an individual wanted to do maximum damage and massacre law enforcement. However, video shows an agent approaching Pretti as he was being held on the ground and then walking away with what appeared to be a gun in his hand before shots were fired.

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Like Curtis, Schultz said he would also be in favor of an investigation on the shooting.

Again, were all sitting here, and I dont think any of us can agree on what exactly happened. And so I think having a better understanding of what happened, I think, is important, he said.

But, he added, it is the responsibility of the federal government to handle immigration issues.

Im going to come back to collaboration. This wouldnt happen in Utah and it shouldnt happen in Minnesota, he said. They need to find a way to come together for the benefit of the citizens of this state of Minnesota, and thats the state, and the locals, and the federal government.

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Senate Minority Leader Luz Escamilla, D-Salt Lake City, said there are a lot of concerns and fear among families in Utah.

Were prepping, understanding that theres no control as a state in terms of what the federal government does for that, and that we can exercise all of our tools in our toolbox to make sure that we protect our residents and our citizens in the state of Utah, Escamilla said.

Additionally, Escamilla said to expect Utah House and Senate members to ask the states congressional delegation to push for more oversight of Department of Homeland Security actions.

Amid the turmoil, U.S. Senate Democrats are insisting on a renegotiation of Homeland Security spending to include more constraints on federal immigration enforcement. If an agreement is not reached by Friday, there may be a partial government shutdown.

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Utah Republican Sen. Mike Lee said he would oppose any effort to defund the Department of Homeland Security and has called multiple times to send in the national guard to Minneapolis on his X account.

Were not defunding ICE. Live with it. he wrote Sunday.

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NEED TO KNOW

Four children who were allegedly abducted by their mother from Utah have been located at an orphanage in Croatia, according to their family

Landon Seymour, 11, Levi Parker Seymour, 8, Hazel Raye Seymour, 7, and 3-year-old Jacob Kurt Brady disappeared following a Thanksgiving visit with their mother Elleshia Anne Seymour

Elleshia, 35, was arrested in the Croatian city of Dubrovnik, local authorities say

The four Utah children who disappeared after spending Thanksgiving with their mother have been located at an orphanage in Croatia, and the mom has been arrested.

Elleshia Anne Seymour, 35, was already facing charges in Utah after she allegedly abducted her four children and fled on a one-way flight to Europe on Nov. 29, 2025, PEOPLE previously reported.

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Seymour's ex-husband Kendall Seymour identified the children in a GoFundMe as Landon Seymour, 11, Levi Parker Seymour, 8, Hazel Raye Seymour, 7, and 3-year-old Jacob Kurt Brady.

On Sunday, Jan. 25, Kendall shared an update on the fundraiser that the children are trapped at a state-run orphanage. Kendall is the father to three of the four children.

Elleshia was arrested in Dubrovnik, about 400 miles from the Croatian capital of Zagreb, the country's Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed to DNEVNIK, a leading local news agency, on Monday, Jan. 26.

Another local outlet, 24 Sata, also reported on the arrest, citing a statement from the ministry, although the ministry did not name the woman in its statement.

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Elleshia was arrested in connection with a criminal case involving violation of the rights of a child, the outlets reported.

PEOPLE has reached out to the ministry as well as the U.S. embassy in Croatia for confirmation.

A mom is accused of abducting her children, fearing that the "end times" were coming gofundme

The children's alleged abduction came to light following a welfare check on Dec. 2, when West Jordan Police Department arrived at Elleshia's residence and found it unoccupied and unlocked, ABC4 Utah previously reported, citing court records.

Elleshia, who shares custody with the fathers of her children, allegedly feared it was the end of times and had concerns of "biblical events," a former boyfriend previously told KSL Utah.

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I didn't really know anything about her end-of-times beliefs until after this all happened, ex-husband Kendall further told the outlet. It didn't come up in our marriage or after our divorce.

In the GoFundMe, Kendall alleged that Elleshia "left behind a note dictating a delusional message from God promising her she would be in Italy by Christmas, and a to-do list that mentioned 'shred paperwork, destroy identifying photos, throw away phone, purchase pre-paid phone.'"



Elleshia Seymour with three of her kids and ex-husband Kendall Seymour. gofundme

It was not immediately clear if the children have been removed from the orphanage.

Despite Kendall's online pleas to return the children back to the U.S., the Croatian Institute for Social Work has called for a thorough review of the case, 24 Sata, DNEVNIK and Teleskop reported.

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"Given the international element of the case, it is essential that the competent authorities of the United States of America conduct a review of all relevant facts and circumstances before making a decision to hand over the children to the father," the institute said in a statement.

PEOPLE has reached out to the institute for comments.

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.

Related: Mom Allegedly Abducted Her 4 Children and Fled Overseas as She Feared End Times Were Coming: Police

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In Utah, Elleshia is facing four counts of custodial interference, local authorities said, per KSL and ABC4 Utah.

While the case began with the West Jordan Police, it was transferred to the FBI. Both the FBI and West Jordan police declined to comment on the investigation.

The case is now being passed on to Croatian police, local officials further told KSL. It wasn't immediately clear if the FBI is still investigating.

Other entities, such as Croatia's foreign affairs office, the U.S. consulate in Croatia, and the Utah Department of Public Safety, did not immediately respond to PEOPLE's request for comments.

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Kendall is seeking further donations on GoFundMe to help him cover travel costs while continuing to stay in Croatia as he tries to release the children.

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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BURLINGTON, Vt. (ABC22/FOX44)  High school students in Vermont can win up to $1,000 dollars, all while educating others on the dangers of distracted driving through the 2026 PSA video contest.

Vermonts Highway Safety Alliance runs the contest with the goal of inspiring high school students across Vermont to speak up and help prevent distracted driving to reduce crashes and injuries, and save lives, according to their 2026 guidelines.

Eligible participants must be enrolled in a Vermont high school, eligible New Hampshire crossborder school, or be part of a homeschool program in grades 9 to 12. They must also reside in Vermont.

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Cities and states are turning to AI to improve road safety

Only one video can be submitted per person, or as a two-person team.

First place winners will receive $1,000, second place will get $750 and third place will have $500. Educators should know: the teacher who has the most students enter the contest will receive an educational support prize, for classroom support, worth $250.

The PSA must focus on distracted driving, and how to avoid said distractions. Guidelines say that the PSA should also speak to young adults.

The deadline to submit a video is March 20, 2026. Those interested can learn about all of the guidelines on the Vermont Highway Safety Alliances website.

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Check out other related driving safety content below:

Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC22 & FOX44.
Germany's longest-serving state premier is stepping down on Tuesday ahead of a crucial election later this year that could see the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) make unprecedented gains.

Reiner Haseloff, from Chancellor Friedrich Merz's conservative Christian Democratic Union (CDU), has served as leader of the eastern state of Saxony-Anhalt since 2011.

The 71-year-old was set to chair his 733rd and final Cabinet meeting on Tuesday before making way for his chosen successor Sven Schulze, who is to be sworn in at the state parliament in Magdeburg on Wednesday.

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Haseloff's retirement is intended to boost the CDU's chances of holding on to power after the state holds elections on September 6 by giving Schulze an opportunity to enjoy an incumbency advantage.

But the incoming premier faces an uphill battle amid a surge in support for the anti-immigrant AfD, whose chapter in the state is under investigation by intelligence services as a "confirmed" right-wing extremist organization.

The latest poll in Saxony-Anhalt from October had the party at 40%, putting it within reach of an absolute majority in what would be a historic first for the party.

The AfD - Germany's largest opposition party following national elections last year - has proved especially successful in the former East Germany, where economic development and opportunities still lag behind the former West.

The party won a state election for the first time in neighbouring Thuringia in 2024, but was unable to form a government after other parties refused to form coalitions with it - a policy known in Germany as the "firewall."
VIDALIA, Ga. (WSAV)  A 44-year-old Vidalia man was arrested and charged in connection to the shooting death of his brother, a Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) spokesperson said Monday.

Around 10 a.m. Jan. 26, 44-year-old LaMarkius Tiwaun White allegedly shot his brother, 35-year-old LaCorey White, while at a home in the 400 block of 2nd St. in Twin City. The brothers were arguing when LaMarkius shot LaCorey, a GBI spokesperson said.

LaCorey was pronounced dead at the scene.

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LaMarkius is charged with felony murder, aggravated assault and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony.

An autopsy of LaCorey will be conducted by the GBI Medical Examiners Office in Pooler.

LaMarkius was booked into the Emanuel County Jail.

Anyone with information related to this investigation is encouraged to contact the GBI Regional Investigative Office in Eastman at (478) 374-6988 or the Emanuel County Sheriffs Office at (478) 237-7526.

Anonymous tips may also be submitted by calling 1-800-597-TIPS (8477), online at https://gbi.georgia.gov/submit-tips-online, or by using the See Something, Send Something mobile app.

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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 WSAV-TV.
On January 27, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev attended the opening of the cardboard and box packaging production facility of "Baku Cardboard and Box Factory" LLC in the Sumgayit Industrial Park,

Azernews

reports.
Cotton prices are down 29 to 73 points on Monday morning. Futures were steady to 7 points lower in the front months on Friday, as March was 85 points lower last week. Crude oil futures were up $1.95 per barrel at $61.31. The US dollar index was down $0.871 to $97.305.

USDA Export Sales data showed 412,457 RB of cotton sold in the week ending on January 15, a marketing year high. Vietnam was the largest buyer of 220,700 RB, with 38,600 RB sold to Bangladesh. Export shipments were 187,776 RB, also a marketing year. The top destination was Vietnam at 62,300 RB, with 45,900 RB headed to Pakistan.

More News from Barchart

Commitment of Traders data showed managed money in cotton futures and options adding 1,580 contracts to their net short position as of Tuesday, taking it to 51,952 contracts.

NASS Cotton Ginnings data showed 732,950 RB of cotton ginned from Jan 1 to Jan 15, taking the marketing year total to 12.695 million RB.

The Thursday online auction from The Seam showed sales of 62.43 cents/lb on 16,726 bales. The Cotlook A Index was unchanged on January 22 at 74.55 cents. ICE certified cotton stocks were unchanged on 1/22 with the certified stocks level at 10,422 bales. The Adjusted World Price was updated to 50.99 cents/lb on Thursday afternoon, down 18 points from the week prior.

Mar 26 Cotton closed at 63.81, down 7 points, currently down 73 points

May 26 Cotton closed at 65.48, down 1 point, currently down 61 points

Jul 26 Cotton closed at 66.97, unch, currently down 40 points

On the date of publication, Austin Schroeder did not have (either directly or indirectly) positions in any of the securities mentioned in this article. All information and data in this article is solely for informational purposes. This article was originally published on Barchart.com
The Virginia state Capitol in Richmond. A judge on Tuesday struck down a proposed constitutional amendment that would have allowed lawmakers to redraw congressional districts mid-decade. (Photo by Charlotte Rene Woods/Virginia Mercury)

A Virginia circuit court on Tuesday struck down a proposed constitutional amendment aimed at giving lawmakers the option to redraw congressional districts mid-decade, dealing a major setback to Democratic legislative leaders who say the change is needed to respond to partisan gerrymandering in some Republican-led states and had hoped to put the measure before voters in an April referendum.

In a 22-page ruling issued by the Tazewell County Circuit Court, Judge Jack C. Hurley found that the legislature acted unlawfully when it approved the redistricting amendment during a special legislative session days before the Nov. 4 election, concluding that lawmakers exceeded the scope of that session, violated their own procedural rules and failed to comply with constitutional and statutory requirements governing amendments to the Virginia Constitution.

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As a result, the court declared the amendment process void ab initio, meaning legally invalid from the outset.

Ruling blocks April vote on redistricting amendment

Democrats had planned to ask voters on April 21 whether the General Assembly should be allowed, under limited circumstances, to redraw congressional and legislative districts between censuses.

Instead, the court ruled that the amendment was improperly adopted and cannot advance to the ballot as scheduled. The judge also barred state election officials from taking further steps to submit the measure to voters unless and until the constitutional requirements are met.

Democratic leaders said they intend to appeal the decision, which they argue improperly blocks voters from weighing in on the proposal.

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A new poll released Wednesday by Christopher Newport Universitys Wason Center for Civic Leadership suggests Virginians hold mixed views on redistricting.

While 63% of respondents said they support the states current redistricting system, a narrower majority  51%  said they support or strongly support the proposed constitutional amendment.

The lawsuit was brought by Senate Minority Leader Ryan McDougle, R-Hanover, who also serves as a legislative commissioner on the Virginia Redistricting Commission.

McDougle and other plaintiffs argued that Democrats unlawfully expanded the scope of a 2024 special session that had been convened by then-Gov. Glenn Youngkin primarily to address budget matters, and that they did so after voting for the amendment process had already begun.

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In siding with the plaintiffs, the court agreed that while the special session itself was valid, the General Assembly overstepped when it adopted House Joint Resolution 6007  the resolution proposing the constitutional amendment  because redistricting was not among the matters permitted to be considered during that session under existing House rules and resolutions.

The special session was allowed to continue, but it did not allow the majority to unilaterally expand the scope of business, the judge wrote, concluding that lawmakers failed to follow the procedural safeguards they themselves had adopted for calling and conducting a special session.

Court cites timing, notice failures under state Constitution

The ruling also focused on the timing of the amendments passage.

Under the Virginia Constitution, proposed amendments must be approved by two separately elected General Assemblies, with an intervening general election for the House of Delegates.

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The court found that the amendment was improperly advanced during the 2024 special session and that actions taken during the 2026 regular session could not retroactively cure those defects or satisfy the next ensuing general election requirement set out in the constitution.

In addition, the court held that state officials failed to comply with a Virginia statute requiring public posting of proposed constitutional amendments at courthouses and other public locations at least three months before the next general election.

Because that posting did not occur, the court said election officials are prohibited from submitting the amendment to voters.

Taken together, the court concluded that any and all matters, motions, actions or votes regarding House Joint Resolution 6007 violated the General Assemblys own rules and were therefore illegal.

GOP, allies call decision a victory for rule of law

Republicans and allied advocacy groups hailed the decision as a rebuke of what they described as a partisan end-run around constitutional safeguards.

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In a joint statement, McDougle and former U.S. House Speaker Eric Cantor, the honorary co-chair of Virginians for Fair Maps, said the ruling vindicated their argument that Democrats ignored clear legal limits.

Todays ruling is a decisive victory for the rule of law and Virginia voters, the statement said.

The court confirmed that Democrat legislative leaders unlawfully expanded a special session, violated their own rules, and attempted to force through a redistricting constitutional amendment while Virginians were already voting.

The judge, they added, rightly declared those actions void from the start. If they continue to move forward with the unconstitutional amendment process, the Democrats would be defying the order of the court.

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The statement emphasized the GOPs position that the case was never about partisanship, but rather about process and constitutional compliance. The court made clear that elections matter, notice matters, and the rules apply to everyone  even those in power, McDougle and Cantor said.

Democrats blast ruling, promise to appeal

Democratic leaders, however, sharply criticized the ruling and signaled they would fight it.

House Speaker Don Scott, D-Portsmouth, who called lawmakers back to Richmond for the special session in October, accused Republicans of using the courts to block a policy they could not defeat politically and said the General Assembly would appeal immediately.

Nothing that happened today will dissuade us from continuing to move forward and put this matter directly to the voters, Scott said in a statement. Republicans who cant win at the ballot box are abusing the legal process in an attempt to sow confusion and block Virginians from voting.

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Scott called the lawsuit court-shopping, plain and simple, and said Democrats are prepared for the next step. Voters  not politicians  will have the final say, he said.

Judge Hurley was appointed to the court by former Gov. Bob McDonnell, a Republican.

Advocacy groups aligned with Democrats echoed that message, framing the ruling as a temporary obstacle rather than a final outcome.

Keren Charles Dongo, campaign manager for Virginians for Fair Elections, said she expected the decision to be appealed and warned that the ruling could mislead voters.

This is a clear attempt to confuse voters and block them from having a say, Dongo said. Republicans court-shopped for a ruling because litigation and misinformation are the only tools they have left.

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Dongo added: Were prepared for what comes next, and Virginians deserve both the right to vote and the chance to level the playing field.

The amendment at the center of the dispute grew out of Democratic concerns about efforts in some Republican-led states to redraw congressional maps ahead of the 2026 midterm elections, moves that party leaders have linked to pressure from former President Donald Trump and warned could reshape the national political landscape.

In 2020, Virginia voters approved a constitutional amendment creating a bipartisan redistricting commission to draw legislative and congressional maps. When that commission deadlocked in 2021, the task fell to the Virginia Supreme Court, which adopted maps that Republicans have largely defended and Democrats have criticized as more favorable to the GOP.

Earlier this month, Democrats in the newly organized legislature for a second time advanced the proposed constitutional amendment that would allow the General Assembly, under narrow conditions, to revisit district lines between censuses  for example, if a court invalidates a map or if federal law changes.

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Supporters argued the amendment would give Virginia a tool to respond more quickly to legal or demographic shifts, rather than locking in maps for a full decade.

Republicans countered that the proposal would reopen the door to partisan gerrymandering and undermine the intent of the voter-approved redistricting commission. They also warned that Democrats were rushing the amendment through an unusual procedural pathway to get it before voters as soon as possible.

Those procedural concerns formed the backbone of McDougles lawsuit.

The court ultimately agreed, finding that while the General Assembly has broad authority to propose constitutional amendments, it must do so in strict compliance with the Virginia Constitution, state law and its own internal rules.

The ruling does not permanently bar lawmakers from pursuing a redistricting amendment in the future, but it does require them to restart the process in a manner consistent with constitutional timelines and procedural requirements.

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Influential Democrats are supporting bills in the General Assembly that would make it much easier for public employees to unionize.

Twin measures in the House of Delegates and Senate, if passed, would require public employers to negotiate in good faith with collective bargaining units, the proposed law reads. The legislation also establishes a state authority that would regulate bargaining units and the bodies with which they negotiate.

The legislation is expected to pass the Democratic-controlled legislature. If so, the final version would be considered by new Gov. Abigail Spanberger, a Democrat who took a stance while campaigning that sympathized with Virginians seeking collective bargaining rights.

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Similar bills made it to the desk of Gov. Glenn Youngkin last year but were vetoed. A coalition of Hampton Roads mayors was assembled to publicly oppose the legislation at the time, citing what could be a slippery slope to revoking Virginias right to work laws. Law was passed in 2021 that allowed for the collective bargaining units of public employees to form after first receiving the blessing of the respective localities.

Scott Surovell, the state Senate majority leader, said the bill he is sponsoring seeks to ensure theres a dialogue between public employees and their government employers.

It doesnt guarantee anything in the way of pay benefits, Surovell said. What it does guarantee is that local governments are required to have a conversation with their employees.

Surovell, a Democrat representing parts of Fairfax County, said his legislation is not designed to directly enable the collective bargaining of higher wages or increased benefits. It only creates a framework, he said.

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Public employees on the state and local level numbered over a half-million in Virginia, 2022 United States Census data shows; a majority  about 328,000 of those  worked in the education sector full or part-time.

Were optimistic that over time this will help us get our teachers better pay and benefits. But its going to require collaboration to help fund it, Surovell said.

Virginia Education Association President Carol Bauer, who heads a group of more than 40,000 public school employees, said the bills would help address problems most Virginia school districts face in retention, stability and recruitment. She said it would it would create incentives

It really is not about confrontation. Its about collaboration, Bauer said. Its about making sure educators can come to the table and try to solve problems.

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Bauer said bargaining power would extend to roles within schools which often go overlooked in budgetary discussions, such as custodial staff and paraprofessionals. She said it would also empower public education employees to bargain for issues that affect the common good, or school environment and community issues, such as creating a boys and girls club.

Local VEA affiliates would be empowered to enter collective bargaining negotiations without first needing to seek the approval of a school board and then the city, as the law now requires.

Democratic Del. Kathy Tran, who represents parts of Fairfax County, is the lead sponsor for the House bill, or HB1263, which was referred to the House committee on labor and commerce Jan. 14. The bills Senate counterpart, SB378, was referred to the Senate committee on labor and commerce the previous day.

John Buzbee, 757-879-7421, john.buzbee@virginiamedia.com
The Washington state Capitol on April 18, 2025. (Photo by Jacquelyn Jimenez Romero/Washington State Standard)

For years, crime victim advocates in Washington have fought for state funding to make up for dwindling federal dollars.

This year will be no different.

These advocates are asking for a minimum of $21.4 million to keep their organizations afloat. But Gov. Bob Fergusons budget proposal, released last month, included just $12 million as state leaders grapple with another financial shortfall.

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The budget the Legislature passed last year included $20 million for crime victim programs in the first year of Washingtons current two-year budget cycle.

This money helps to fund services like 24-hour hotlines, child forensic interviews, legal advocacy, emergency shelter and additional supports for sexual assault and domestic violence survivors and victims of other crimes.

Were not asking for new; were not asking for more, said Kate Garvey, CEO of the King County Sexual Assault Resource Center. Were just asking for continuation, like keep us level.

This is half of what we need, and we cant help half the state, Garvey added.

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Washingtons primary funding source for victim services is through the federal Victims of Crime Act State Plan, or VOCA. That money, coming from financial penalties in federal court cases, fluctuates year to year.

But it has plummeted from nearly $75 million in fiscal year 2018 to less than $18 million six years later. It ticked back up slightly in fiscal year 2025 to $29 million, but advocates say this respite isnt enough and underlines the year-to-year funding uncertainty.

Organizations rely on state funding to make up the difference to maintain services. But while the states backfilling has remained steady for several years, it hasnt kept up with cost increases, said Sherrie Tinoco, public policy director at the Washington State Coalition Against Domestic Violence.

In Washington, the money funds 140 organizations, including nonprofits, local governments and tribes, and allows over 50,000 victims to receive services each year.

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These funding gaps are real services that survivors are no longer going to receive, Garvey said. Were worried.

For the sexual assault resource center in King County, that could mean longer waits for help, fewer services and less work on preventing these crimes in the first place.

At the states childrens advocacy centers, which mostly get their funding through these federal and state dollars, it has already meant layoffs, said Paula Reed, executive director of Childrens Advocacy Centers of Washington.

The advocacy center in Spokane, for example, had to cut its medical services by 40%, leaving children to potentially need to go to the emergency room instead, Reed said.

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Which is a horrible place for a child to have to go and wait, let alone a parent who is trying to get help for the child whos experienced something really traumatic, she added. We are sort of at this crisis point where children who are abused are going to have less access to the care that they need.

Similar cuts have been seen at some domestic violence programs, Tinoco said.

For each advocate that an organization lays off or doesnt fill a vacant position, thats a whole caseload of individuals, she said. Thats people that, when they call, there is no longer the ability to serve them.

State lawmakers have floated ideas to stabilize crime victim funding. One proposal from Sen. Manka Dhingra, D-Redmond, would ensure the fund has $50 million annually through 2029 and then rise from there, but the states budget woes have doomed that idea.

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They are in one of the worst situations that they have been in a very, very long time, Dhingra said, noting she was disappointed not to see the requested $21 million in the governors budget.

She believes not providing more funding perpetuates the sense that no one believes survivors, no one is interested in helping them.

Rep. Lauren Davis, D-Shoreline, is proposing increasing state court financial penalties to help pay for victim services. The legislation, House Bill 2457, had a hearing Monday in a state House committee.

Democrats in the House and Senate will release their own budget proposals in February before agreeing on a spending plan to send to Fergusons desk in March. The 60-day legislative session ends March 12.

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Crime victim advocates will be in Olympia on Tuesday to advocate for full funding.

The Trump administration has thrown another obstacle in their way. The federal government last year looked to tie crime victim funding for states to their compliance with immigration directives. But Washington and other states have clashed with the administration over those policies.

Washington Attorney General Nick Brown, along with 19 other states, sued to stop the Trump administration from withholding the funding. That case is ongoing.
Supreme Court Justice Raquel Montoya-Lewis answers questions from the press after then-Gov. Jay Inslee announced her appointment in 2019. (Photo courtesy of the governor's office)

State Supreme Court Justice Raquel Montoya-Lewis, the first Native American elected statewide in Washingtons history, wont seek reelection for a second term on the high court.

Montoya-Lewis has been on the court since 2020. Shell serve out her term, which ends Dec. 31, leaving the seat open for election this year.

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It means there will be elections for at least two open state Supreme Court seats this fall, as Justice Charles Johnson is stepping aside.

Montoya-Lewis announced her decision to colleagues Thursday and publicly Monday. She didnt give a clear reason why she was leaving, but said the role has been an honor.

I am excited for the coming year on the court and then continuing my career answering the call to do justice, a call I have followed throughout my career, Montoya-Lewis said in a statement.

While I will step away from my work as a justice at the end of 2026, I have no plans to retire, she continued. I look forward to writing books, teaching and mentoring law students, lawyers and judges, and building and learning new ways to create a more equitable world.

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Montoya-Lewis, 57, is a member of the Pueblo of Isleta tribe and a descendant of the Pueblo of Laguna tribe, both of which are in New Mexico. Upon her appointment by then-Gov. Jay Inslee, she was believed to be the second Native American state Supreme Court justice in the country.

The state Supreme Court is going through a period of turnover.

Last year, Justice Sal Mungia joined the bench after a tight election for the seat vacated by the retirement of the late Susan Owens.

Justice Mary Yu retired last year, leaving a seat open for Gov. Bob Ferguson to appoint. He tapped Colleen Melody, who was the civil rights division chief at the attorney generals office. In that role, she worked for years under Ferguson in his time as attorney general. She was sworn into the court last week, and will be up for election this year to serve the remainder of Yus term through 2028.

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And Johnson, the courts longest-serving active justice, is set to retire as he turns 75 this year. The state constitution requires justices to retire at the end of the calendar year in which they turn 75. Johnson has been on the court since 1991.

King County Superior Court Judge Sean ODonnell and David Shelvey have filed for election to replace Johnson. Shelvey ran for the seat Mungia won in 2024 and finished a distant fourth in the primary.

On Monday, Division 1 Court of Appeals Judge J. Michael Diaz filed to run for Montoya-Lewis seat. Inslee appointed him to the appellate court in 2022. Before that, Diaz was a King County Superior Court judge. President Barack Obama had nominated him to the U.S. District Court bench in western Washington, but the nomination expired without U.S. Senate confirmation.

In 2022, Montoya-Lewis took medical leave from the court before later returning.

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Before joining the Supreme Court, she served five years on the Whatcom County Superior Court. Inslees appointment of Montoya-Lewis to that position made her the only Native American judge serving on a superior court in Washington. And before that, she was a tribal court judge for multiple tribes in the region.

She also taught at Western Washington Universitys Fairhaven College. Shes been a major advocate for implicit bias training among court officials.

While on the court, she authored notable opinions to keep children with Native American heritage with their families and expand protections to stave off racism in civil court cases.

Writing for Seattle Met in 2020, the justice recalled a reporter asking her what she would tell people who thought she got a leg up for her Supreme Court appointment due to her heritage.

Every time Ive done well in anything, people want to chalk it up to being given some kind of special treatment. And the reverse has been true, Montoya-Lewis wrote. In my experience, I have had to overcome other peoples views about my abilities rather than being given some sort of extra credit for being Native.


Georgia U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock is on the ground in Minneapolis with growing tensions over ICE enforcement in the city.

It comes as the man at the center of the immigration crackdown there is expected to leave the state.

The Trump Administration is changing tactics after protests ignited targeting border control commander Greg Bovino in the city.

Border Czar Tom Homan is now in charge of Minnesota.

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White House, sources tell ABC News that Bovino could leave as early as Tuesday.

Well, Mr. Homan is the point person for cooperating with state and local authorities and corresponding with them again to achieve this level of cooperation to subdue the chaos on the streets of Minneapolis, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said.

TRENDING STORIES:

New video shows protesters and observers on the scene six minutes before Alex Pretti was killed.

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They sounded whistles as federal officers assembled for an immigration enforcement operation.

Pretti arrived a few moments later and is seen holding his cell phone, appearing to record the incident.

Shortly after Pretti was killed, Homeland Security Investigators say the FBI arrived to collect evidence. That included Prettis phone and the gun he had a legal permit to carry.

Customs and Border Protection officers involved in the deadly shooting were wearing body cameras, but say the footage is preserved.

Minnesota state leaders asked a federal judge to order the preservation of all the evidence, citing serious concerns about the Trump administration carrying out a thorough, transparent, and unbiased investigation.

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The Justice Department argued the court should not be micro-managing.

As for Warnocks time in Minneapolis, he is expected to be meeting with local clergy there and will visit the memorial set up for Pretti. ,
Jan. 27 (UPI) -- Wildlife authorities in California said they successfully tranquilized and captured a young mountain lion seen wandering the streets of San Francisco.

Crews from San Francisco Animal Care and Control and California Fish & Wildlife responded to the Pacific Heights neighborhood on Tuesday when the big cat was seen near an apartment building.

They were able to corner the cougar in a narrow area between two buildings and tranquilize the animal.

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The mountain lion was first spotted near Lafayette Park on Sunday and further sightings were reported Monday.

Roxanne Blank captured video of her encounter with the mountain lion outside of her apartment building.

"We locked eyes for over five minutes," Blank told KABC-TV. "I was actually really honored that the mountain lion didn't eat me and we just had this nice long gaze into each other's souls."

Authorities said then mountain lion, estimated to be about 2 years old, will be examined by a veterinarian at the Oakland Zoo and officials will then determine how and when it will be returned to the wild.
An elementary school teacher's social media post is drawing outrage from some parents in the west suburbs.

The post was a comment in response to an article about Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Parents and others who are upset with the teacher's public support for the agency gathered in protest on Monday.

The teacher works at Gary Elementary School here in West Chicago. His apparent post was just two words long on a social media page talking about immigration activities. It said, "Go ICE."

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The comment drew an angry response from a crowd of more than 100 parents and community members. They filled West Chicago City Council chambers on Monday morning to express their frustration and outrage that, according to officials, the school still employs the teacher.

"Where is the due process for all the kids being kidnapped on the streets?" said activist Victor M.

"At home, we teach our children to be respectful to the teachers, and we expect the same for the teachers to be respectful," said grandparent Emma Villa.

Many at Monday's gathering have previously protested against ICE activities in West Chicago. They say ICE has targeted West Chicago's large Latino population in the last several months, causing the separation of many families.

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"We have kids in our school districts, in this school specifically, who have lost a mom or dad or family member within the last three months. They're going home wondering if they will ever see mom or dad again," said West Chicago Mayor Daniel Bovey.

The mayor says he invited the demonstrators to express themselves at the meeting rather than at the school. As part of the protest, many parents kept their kids home from school on Monday, with some bringing them to the meeting instead.

"You have many students across District 33 who did not go to school today because of fear incited by a teacher," said Illinois state Sen. Karina Villa.

Many of the protesters say they recognize the teacher's First Amendment rights to free speech, but they have rights as well.

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"Everyone has the right to say what's on their minds, but there's also consequences to that," said grandparent Elizabeth Albert.

The community members protesting say their next step is to attend the next school board meeting early next month and urge the board to take action against the teacher.

Superintendent Kristina Davis said in a statement, "On Thursday, January 22, 2026, the District learned of concerns regarding a disruptive social media comment made by a District employee on his personal account. The teacher initially submitted his resignation. Later that day, he withdrew his resignation before the Board had an opportunity to take action.

"Following a meeting with District administration today, the employee involved has been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation and will not be permitted on any District property while on leave.

"We understand that this situation has raised concerns and caused disruption for students, families, and staff. We want to ensure our schools are safe spaces, and we look forward to seeing all students back in school tomorrow. Thank you for your patience, trust, and partnership during the ongoing investigation."
White House officials sought to rapidly distance Donald Trump and top officials from their initial portrayals of the man fatally shot by federal officials in Minnesota as a gunman, as they faced a deepening backlash after video footage was widely seen to undercut their assertions.

The move came as Trump advisers appeared to realize that the caustic portrayals of the man, Alex Pretti, who was reportedly licensed to carry a gun, had turned the killing into an even larger political liability for the president.

Over the weekend, senior administration officials including Stephen Miller, the deputy chief of staff, called the victim a domestic terrorist who tried to assassinate law enforcement, while Kristi Noem, the homeland security secretary, accused him of perpetrating the definition of domestic terrorism.

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Related: Trumps ICE crackdown faces reckoning as outrage mounts over Alex Pretti shooting

The characterizations were undercut by video footage that showed Pretti was shot in the back roughly 10 times after being tackled to the ground by a group of US border patrol agents whom he had been filming, and disarmed of his gun.

At a briefing on Monday, Karoline Leavitt, the White House press secretary, sidestepped questions about the remarks against Pretti and insisted the administration would not comment pending the outcome of multiple investigations into the shooting.

I have not heard the president characterize Mr Pretti in that way, Leavitt said. However, I have heard the president say he wants to let the facts and the investigation lead itself.

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Todd Blanche, the deputy attorney general, separately tried to backpedal on behalf of the administration, telling Fox News: I dont think anybody thinks that they were comparing what happened on Saturday to the legal definition of domestic terrorism.

The evolving positions at the White House were notable for how quickly they were changing and how reactive the administration was to a sudden freefall in support for ICE and US border patrol tactics across Washington, most notably among Republicans on Capitol Hill.

Trump also appeared to seek an off-ramp of his own following earlier posts on Truth Social blaming Tim Walz, the Minnesota governor, and Democrats for Prettis death, including one Truth Social post that suggested Pretti had intended to use his gun against federal agents.

In a new announcement on Monday, Trump said he had a very good call with Walz and that they were on the same wavelength about how to proceed with immigration enforcement in the state.

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Walzs office said in a statement that Trump had agreed to look at pulling federal agents out of Minnesota and committed to ensuring state investigators could launch their own investigations  instead of relying solely on internal inquiries by the Department of Homeland Security.

The president agreed that he would talk to his Department of Homeland Security about ensuring the Minnesota bureau of criminal apprehension (BCA) is able to conduct an independent investigation, as would ordinarily be the case, it said.

The president also agreed to look into reducing the number of federal agents in Minnesota and working with the state in a more coordinated fashion on immigration enforcement regarding violent criminals.

Walzs push for a state investigation comes after the BCA complained over the weekend that they were blocked by federal agents from accessing the scene of the shooting and unable to gather evidence, even after they went back and obtained a court order to do so.

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Trump also announced that he would send Tom Homan, his border czar to oversee the operation in Minneapolis and replace the US border patrol official in charge, Gregory Bovino. The move suggested a repudiation of Noem, to whom Bovino reports, who has been at odds with Homan for months.

Still, Leavitt was careful not to directly contradict the likes of Miller and Noem at her briefing, and maintained that the blame for Prettis shooting rested with Walz and Democrats.

This tragedy occurred as a result of a deliberate and hostile resistance by Democrat leaders for weeks, Leavitt said.

The tightrope being walked by Leavitt comes as administration officials privately said they see the shooting as an unintentional error by agents who got spooked by a possible unintentional discharge of Prettis gun after it was taken from him.

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But it underscored the peril of rushing to blame the victim and defend the agents before an investigation had played out.

The administrations initial response to Prettis shooting mirrored that of the killing of another Minneapolis resident by federal agents, Renee Nicole Good, a 37-year-old protester who was shot in the front seat of her car as she swerved past an agent.

After initially doubling down on the accusation that Good was trying to run over the agent, Trump said last week it was a tragedy after learning Goods father was a Trump supporter. You know, when the woman was shot, I felt terribly about it, he said.
MADISON  The state of Wisconsin would deposit $1,000 into federal accounts created for babies born between 2025 and 2028 under a bill proposed Jan. 27 by Assembly Republicans.

The state effort would match federal contributions made to the "Trump Accounts" set to launch in July under President Donald Trump's tax and spending bill.

"We have the ability to let people who are concerned that they'll never be able to buy a home, maybe this gives them a chance down the road," said Rep. Elijah Behnke, R-Crivitz, in a news conference.

Elijah Behnke

Under the federal policy, parents can create a Trump account for any child with a Social Security number under the age of 18 starting July 4. The accounts are individual retirement accounts (IRAs) designated specifically for the child.

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For children born on or after Jan. 1, 2025, through Dec. 31, 2028, the federal government will seed the accounts with a one-time $1,000 payment. The proposed state legislation would draw into the state's projected $2.5 billion surplus to match the federal contributions with an additional $1,000 for children born in Wisconsin during the same time period.

The bill would allocate $60 million in state funds to be distributed by the Department of Financial Institutions, but notes the agency is required to make the contributions "only to the extent that funds are available."

"The Wisconsin policy will reflect all the federal policies. It supports a long-term plan and helps families personally invest," Behnke said.

Under the federal law, individuals may contribute up to a total of $5,000 per year to a Trump account until the child turns 18. Employers may contribute up to half that amount. Federal law requires the funds to be invested in low-cost index funds.

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A bipartisan group of lawmakers has also introduced legislation to create a savings account for every child born or adopted in the state, depositing $25 into each child's account under a 529 college savings program dubbed "WisKids." The bill received a public hearing last week.

Behnke said he hasn't had many discussions about the future of the bill in the Senate. Asked whether Democratic Gov. Tony Evers is on board with the legislation, Behnke said he'd asked one elected Democrat who said he would get back to him.

A spokeswoman for Evers said he has not reviewed the proposal.

Jessie Opoien can be reached at jessie.opoien@jrn.com.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Wisconsin would deposit $1K into Trump newborn accounts under GOP bill
Erin Elizabeth Sutton was boozed up, claim cops, when she went skinny-dipping in a neighbors pond  insisting she was a mermaid  and then fought with deputies like a wildcat after she was pulled out.

The fishy tale began when neighbors reported the 41-year-old Marion, La., gal was in their driveway screaming and refusing to leave.

When a sheriffs deputy arrived, Sutton was discovered naked and swimming in a pond on the property in the cold November temperatures.

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[She] refused to exit the pond and speak to the deputy, stating she was trying to be a mermaid, says the Union Parish Sheriffs Department.

She was given a blanket and escorted inside a residence to warm up, but suddenly charged toward the deputy, claims the report.

After several commands, Sutton refused to comply, and the deputy deployed a taser, which had no effect.

Sutton was taken to the ground, where she continued to resist detention and began kicking and punching the deputy.

She was finally restrained, but while being taken to a local hospital for treatment, she threatened to kill deputies and paramedics, says the report.

Since she needed treatment, Sutton wasnt arrested then, but later surrendered to Union Parish law enforcement officials.

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She was slammed with numerous violations including three counts of resisting an officer with force or violence, two counts of public intimidation, two counts of battery of a police officer, disturbing the peace/drunkenness and criminal trespassing, per New York Post.

Suttons bond was set at $62,000, according to authorities.

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This story Woman Allegedly Insisted She Was a Mermaid After Getting Caught Swimming in Neighbors Pond first appeared on Globe. Add Globe as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Mesh, a crypto payments network, announced Tuesday that it has raised $75 million in Series C funding, reaching a $1 billion valuation with over $200 million in total capital raised to date.

Dragonfly Capital led the latest round that crowns Mesh as the latest crypto unicorn with a billion-dollar valuation, joined by Paradigm, Coinbase Ventures, Moderne Ventures, SBI Investment, and Liberty City Ventures.

Meshs infrastructure aims to solve crypto's fragmentation headaches, creating a unified payment network that bypasses traditional finance's slow settlements and high fees. Mesh connects different wallets, blockchains, and digital assets to function as a single system.

The company said that the funding will accelerate Mesh's expansion into Latin America, Asia, and Europe, building on recent moves into India and partnerships with Ripple, Paxos, and Rain. According to its website, Mesh has worked with the likes of PayPal, Revolut, and more, claiming about $10 billion per month in payments volume.

"Crypto is crowded by design, with new tokens and new protocols emerging every day," said Mesh co-founder and CEO Bam Azizi, in a press release. "That fragmentation creates real friction in the customer payment experience. We are focused on building the necessary infrastructure now to connect wallets, chains, and assets, allowing them to function as a unified network.

This funding validates that the winners of the next decade won't be those who issue the most tokens, he added, but those who build the network of networks that makes traditional card rails obsolete."

Mesh has positioned itself as a key piece of the growing stablecoin boom, helping to bridge the gap between assets that operate on varying blockchain networks. Its SmartFunding tech lets consumers pay with any cryptocurrency while merchants receive instant settlement in their preferred stablecoin or fiat currency.

Tether Launches US-Regulated USAT Stablecoin Issued By Anchorage Digital

Part of the Series C funding was settled using stablecoins, the company said.

"Payments are entering a new era where value moves as software, said Dragonfly General Partner Rob Hadick, in a release. Mesh is building the interoperability layer that makes crypto practical at scale: consumers can spend any asset, merchants can settle instantly in the stablecoin or fiat they want, and the complexity stays under the hood.
On a steamy August night in 2013, Melissa Rocuba was airlifted to a hospital still clinging to life with a bullet wound to her head. Her then 22-year-old daughter Chelsea Cicio, who lived next door, was already there when the helicopter arrived.

Chelsea Cicio: I had no idea how I got down there.  I was just panicked and frantic.

Her sister Sabrina Rocuba, who lives in Wisconsin, sped to the airport in tears.

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Sabrina Rocuba: It was just a lot of me just praying to God that my mom was gonna be OK.

Melissa's sister Joanne Swinney, and their father  then a police sergeant in another county  raced to Melissa's bedside.

Anne-Marie Green: It's a few hours of driving.

Joanne Swinney: Not that night.  we got there really fast.

AN ACCIDENTAL SHOOTING?

Bruno was being treated at a different hospital, where specialists operated on his hand.

Sabrina Rocuba: He had a hole through the middle of his hand.

Melissa and Bruno Rocuba / Credit: Chelsea Cicio/Facebook

Pennsylvania State Police detectives wanted to know how the bullet went through Bruno's palm and hit Melissa in the head.

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Less than 15 hours after the shooting, with Bruno's hand freshly bandaged and Melissa on life support, detectives asked Bruno to walk them through his house and explain what happened after the couple arrived home from a night out with friends.

BRUNO ROCUBA (to detectives): Got home from work at 3:30 in the afternoon.

BRUNO ROCUBA: And we came home just before 10, and after that we went downstairs, washed up, came up to go to bed.

Using a toy gun provided by police, Bruno demonstrated how he claims his .40 caliber pistol went off accidentally.

BRUNO ROCUBA (to detectives): My wife was home alone all last week. So, I left it in the top drawer on the nightstand for her because of recent break-ins.

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He said their grandson was coming over the next day, and he wanted to safely store the gun.

BRUNO ROCUBA: I went to check the, um, chamber to see if there was a round in there.

TROOPER MCGURRIN: OK.

Sitting on the mattress still stained with his wife's blood, Bruno tried to show them what happened.

Bruno Rocuba holds a toy gun to demonstrate for investigators what he says happened the night of the shooting. / Credit: Lackawanna County District Attorney's Office

Bruno demonstrated how he says he was sitting, pointing his gun to the left side of the bed with his right hand. He said Melissa was sitting in bed, watching TV, when she leaned back and that's when he "must have pulled it away and then shot through my hand."

Earlier, investigators had gone through the house shooting video of the scene and collecting evidence and didn't note any signs of a struggle. Hospital staff found no other injuries on Melissa, and Bruno said they had been getting along just fine.

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TROOPER MCGURRIN: Any discussions or any arguments or anything 

BRUNO ROCUBA: No.

TROOPER MCGURRIN:  before that happened?

BRUNO ROCUBA: No. There was nothing.

Sabrina Rocuba: He looked me in my face and said, "we walked in the house holding hands  there was no arguments that night."

Jack Wilczewski and his wife Tonia were out to dinner with Bruno and Melissa that evening, and he says everything seemed fine.

Anne-Marie Green: No arguing?

Jack Wilczewski: No arguing. No nothing. They were fine that night.

The day after the shooting, Bruno agreed to a polygraph exam. According to police records, the results were inconclusive. Worried about her father, Chelsea says she suggested he speak with attorney Joe D'Andrea.

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Anne-Marie Green: Did you wonder why he was calling you?

Joe D'Andrea: Well, I'm a fairly well-known criminal defense lawyer around  and, uh, police had talked to him  without my participation or knowledge.  I guess he was curious if there was anything he had to worry about.

Melissa spent several days in intensive care.

Sabrina Rocuba: I remember talking to  the neurologist, and I was like, there's gotta be something you can do.  And they were just trying to calm me down and tell me that there's no hope.

Three days after the shooting, Melissa's family made the agonizing decision to take her off life support.

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Joanne Swinney: We knew she was  she was suffering.

Melissa Rocuba was in intensive care for three days when her family made the decision to take her off life support. / Credit: Sabrina Rocuba (Sabrina Rocuba)

It was Aug. 10, 2013, at 1:45 a.m., when Melissa passed away. Joanne says they were all in shock, and even though no one in the family wanted to believe Bruno had deliberately shot Melissa, they were surprised when he was never arrested.

Sabrina Rocuba: My grandfather said  if that happened in Bucks County where my grandfather was a police, he was like, your dad would have instantly been in cuffs. He was like, he didn't spend a single night in jail, which is really weird.

Joe D'Andrea says the District Attorney's Office felt they didn't have enough evidence to charge Bruno with murder  and decided not to charge him at all.

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Joe D'Andrea: They were convinced  that they couldn't prove a case.

Melissa's death certificate listed her cause of death as a gunshot wound to the head. The manner of death was left pending.

Anne-Marie Green: No one said to you, we've concluded, it was an accident 

Chelsea Cicio: No. It was just still an open  open case.

But as the family began to catch their breath and process Melissa's death, they slowly started comparing notes about Bruno's version of what happened and his behavior before and after the shooting  and a case for murder began to unfold.

Chelsea Cicio: I just couldn't  I couldn't justify any of his stories.

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"IT'S LIKE HE WANTED HER ERASED"

The daughters of Melissa and Bruno Rocuba say they grew up believing they had the ideal family.

Sabrina Rocuba: So did all my friends. I remember my best friends were like  your family's so loving and happy and you guys do everything together.

Joanne Swinney: I always wanted my sister's life. She had the kids, she had the marriage, the good guy.

The couple met in the summer of 1988. Back then, Melissa, who was just 19, was a police officer. Bruno, 22, was enlisted in the Navy.

Anne-Marie Green: And what did you think of Bruno when you met him?

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Joanne Swinney: I loved him.  He seemed to love my sister.

Sabrina Rocuba: She loved being a wife and she loved being a mother.

Chelsea Cicio: She was an amazing mom.

And Bruno was a great dad, says Sabrina.

The Rocuba family, from left, Chelsea, Melissa, Bruno and Sabrina. / Credit: Sabrina Rocuba

Sabrina Rocuba: My dad was wonderful. I mean, I can't complain about him as a dad.

Chelsea Cicio: We went hunting together. We went fishing together.  When I was really young, I wanted to cut my hair to be like my dad, like that's how close we were.

But as the girls grew older, and became parents themselves, they say they began to see flaws in their parent's marriage.

Sabrina Rocuba: We had moved in there, me and my ex-husband, with my parents, when my daughter  was  about nine months old  And it was like all the time they were constantly arguing.  The breaking point was when they got really drunk one night  And my dad grabbed her by the back of the hair, and he whipped her into the wall.  It made a really loud thud, and she couldn't breathe.  I was like, we can't stay here anymore. This isn't healthy.

Sabrina Rocuba: I tried talking to my mom  and she was just like, well, everybody has, like, disagreements, and, like, she downplayed, she never wanted to talk bad about our dad to us.

Two weeks before the shooting, Chelsea says her mother shared a startling secret about something Bruno had done to her.

Chelsea Cicio: She took me for ride in the car and told me, you know, that he had pulled a gun on her before.

Sabrina Rocuba: My mom told my sister  that my mom didn't want to have sex with my dad one night. And my  my dad pulled a gun on my mother over this.

Chelsea Cicio: Why would she tell me this now? She's never said a bad word about him before. And all of a sudden it was, "Chels, I just need you to know that like your dad's not always who you think he is."

Chelsea admits that she had a bad feeling about her mother's shooting from the start but stayed silent for the sake of her father.

Chelsea Cicio: I didn't wanna just say something that would've put him in jail if he really didn't do it.

Joanne says she also had her doubts about her sister's death, because just months before the shooting, Melissa told her she wanted out of her marriage.

Joanne Swinney: She was questioning things.  and asked  how she would be able to  to do it on her own.

Anne-Marie Green: Was Bruno controlling?

Joanne Swinney: Very  My sister couldn't go anywhere without him knowing her every move.

Joanne says it wasn't long after Melissa's death, when her mind began to race.

Joanne Swinney: I started playing back everything. Everything that I could remember.

For starters, says Joanne, Bruno spent very little time by his wife's side as she lay dying.

Joanne Swinney: He would come there, maybe stay like an hour  and then leave.

Joanne Swinney: When she died, he wasn't there, he was at the house.

Chelsea says her father's behavior began to haunt her as well. For instance, just hours after the shooting, Chelsea says her father asked her to bring him her mother's cell phone, which had not been collected by police. She says her father wanted to erase a few text messages that he feared investigators might take the wrong way.

Chelsea Cicio: It was like, I don't want them to think anything because of like a little like argument or something they had, maybe it was that week or day.

Anne-Marie Green: Did that strike you as odd at the time?

Chelsea Cicio: It did, but  you don't want to believe it.

With their mother still in intensive care and with the police finished collecting evidence, the girls say their father had another strange request.

Chelsea Cicio: He asked us to get rid of the mattress.

Bruno asked his girls to clean his house and get rid of the blood-stained mattress.

Chelsea Cicio: He's like  I can't go home to that.  I don't want to see all the blood. And here I am, 21, 22.  Now as an adult, I'm like, wow, I can't believe he asked us to do that.  But I just kept going and I kept wanting to make sure he was OK.

Sabrina Rocuba: We were so concerned cause he kept making comments that he was gonna take his own life, that he couldn't deal with this.

Anne-Marie Green: How did you get rid of that mattress?

Chelsea Cicio: We took it in the back of a truck  and we burned it in the woods.

Chelsea and Sabrina say that before their mother was even buried, their father asked for help purging all traces of her.

Chelsea Cicio: He wanted us to get rid of everything. It's like he wanted her erased.

Joanne Swinney: All my sister's clothes. We had to go down to the thrift store where they donated the clothes  and I had to get clothes for my sister to bury her in.

Bruno even got rid of Melissa's dog, Zeus.

Melissa Rocuba's daughters said that even before their mother was buried, their father asked for help getting rid of her belongings  including Melissa's beloved 10-year-old Rottweiler, Zeus. / Credit: Melissa Rocuba/Facebook

Sabrina Rocuba: Mom loved that dog. And my dad got rid of him right after my mom died.

It wasn't long before Joanne says she began to suspect that Bruno had another motive for erasing the memory of Melissa.

Joanne Swinney: My sister's best friend  said that Bruno contacted her not too long after my sister had passed away and said, how long do you think it is before, you know, you could kind of like go public with dating someone? And she said, are you freaking kidding me?  And he was dead serious.

Bruno was talking about Tonia Wilczewski, Jack Wilczewski's wife. The couple that Bruno and Melissa were out to dinner with on the night of the shooting.

Jack Wilczewski: We were together 15 years at that time.

Jack says he has no idea when the relationship began, but says he started noticing a big difference in his wife's relationship with Bruno the day after the shooting  when he walked into Melissa's hospital room and found Tonia and Bruno.

Jack Wilczewski: I thought they were kissing.  Of course, they said they were talking in each other's ear, but they were embraced with each other.

Jack says in the weeks after the shooting, he would often come home from work and find Bruno's car in his driveway.

Jack Wilczewski: And after a couple times I was like  why are you coming here? Why  can you wait until I get home at 5 o'clock or 4 o'clock?

Anne-Marie Green: And how did Tonia explain it?

Jack Wilczewski: Of course, they always made me out like I was the fool. I was seeing things I didn't see.

Within months of Melissa's death, Jack says his wife went missing from their home  and he knew exactly where to find her.

Jack Wilczewski: I woke up 2 in the morning and she wasn't there. So, I'm thinking go to Bruno's house. I went and  pulled out in front, and I blew the horn and she come walking out with her purse with barely any clothes on.  Got in her car, drove to our house  packed her bags and moved in with him right there.

Chelsea now had a new neighbor: Tonia Wilczewski.

Chelsea Cicio: I remember looking out my window and she was cooking Christmas dinner in my mom's kitchen. I wasn't invited.

Chelsea says she forced herself to accept what was, because she didn't want her father to be alone. Then, about a year-and-a-half later, she says her father casually revealed an alarming new detail about her mother's shooting.

Chelsea Cicio: I kind of always knew  and I didn't want to believe it. But when I heard it come from his own mouth  I couldn't get past it.

BRUNO ROCUBA'S CHANGING STORY

As the months ticked on, it was now 2015  about a year-and-a-half since Bruno Rocuba had allegedly, accidentally, shot and killed his wife, Melissa. His daughter Chelsea says she was still struggling with her father's relationship, with Tonia Wilczewski.

Chelsea Cicio: I had to live here. I had to see her. She cut her hair like my mom. She would go get her nails done like my mom. She sat on my mom's front porch  in my mom's chair.

With the passage of time, she says she finally had the courage to ask her father for an explanation about his actions on the night of the shooting, and says she got an astonishing answer.

Chelsea Cicio: He said, I didn't mean to kill her. I just tried to scare her.

Chelsea says that Bruno changed his story and admitted that he and Melissa had been arguing the night of the shooting. The gun, he said, was just meant to frighten her. Then, Chelsea says her father abruptly changed the subject.

Chelsea Cicio: He said  he had groceries in the car, and he turned around and walked out like he hadn't just said what he said to me.  That's when I knew he actually held a gun to my mom on purpose. And I couldn't ever look at him the same.

Chelsea says she spent months agonizing about what to do next and then told her father she was going to share their conversation with investigators.

Chelsea Cicio: And he  was like, go ahead, anything you tell them, I'll ruin your credibility  and nobody will believe you.

Chelsea says she was now determined and went down to the state police barracks and filled out a report, which included information about the incident she says her mother shared not long before her death: about that time Bruno threatened her with a gun when she refused to be intimate with him.

Anne-Marie Green: It took a lot for you to go down there. What were you hoping would've happened?

Chelsea Cicio: I was hoping they would have reopened it 

Anne-Marie Green: And what actually happened?

Chelsea Cicio: Nothing happened.

Chelsea recalls being told that it was her word against her father's and she says an investigator suggested that her coming forward could have been motivated by money.

Chelsea Cicio: And at that point I had no idea I was even entitled to my mom's inheritance.

Melissa Rocuba, center, with her daughters Chelsea, left and Sabrina. / Credit: Chelsea Cicio

Melissa left behind a will and over $300,000, meant to be divided between her husband and daughters. But not long after Melissa's death, Bruno had his daughters sign paperwork that gave him complete control of their mother's estate.

Sabrina Rocuba: He had sent me a paper in the mail, said do not look at it.  go get this notarized and sign and send it back to me, which I did. I didn't question; it's my dad.

Sabrina says she knew she was signing away her rights to the money  but felt pressured to do it.

Sabrina Rocuba: He was so good at manipulating me and making me feel guilty.

Chelsea signed those same papers, but says she was in shock, and didn't understand the consequences.

Chelsea Cicio: That hurt, that he would take from us. And especially from his grandson.

The sisters say they began to wonder if money had been a motive for their mother's shooting. But without police action, they felt they had to move on.

Chelsea Cicio: So, I kind of started letting it go.

Chelsea says she even let her son Greg build a bond with his grandfather.

Bruno Rocuba with his grandson Greg. / Credit: Chelsea Cicio

Chelsea Cicio: I hated him for taking my mom from me, but I loved how good he was to my son.

Four years later in 2020, Corporal Greg Allen was assigned to investigate open-cases for the Pennsylvania State Police and says this case caught his eye.

Anne Marie Green: What about this case stood out to you?

Cpl. Greg Allen: To me, it was the original 911 call.

911 OPERATOR: What's the problem there?

BRUNO ROCUBA: A gunshot wound. My wife.

Cpl. Greg Allen: On the 911 call, I hear three different accounts of what happened.

911 OPERATOR: OK. Was it self-inflicted?

BRUNO ROCUBA: No, we were fighting.

Cpl. Greg Allen: He says, "we were fighting."

When questioned, Bruno quickly changed his story.

911 OPERATOR: You said you guys were arguing?

BRUNO ROCUBA: No, we were  we were playing around with the gun when we were shootin' it. We were gonna go shooting, and I  and I pulled the trigger, and went through my hand.

He also offered this version:

BRUNO ROCUBA (911 call): I was playing with the gun, and I let it go off.

Bruno knew his way around guns, says Allen. So, why would he have his finger on the trigger of a gun that was loaded?

Crime Unit Supervisor Corporal Dan Nilon was asked by Allen to examine all the evidence, beginning with Bruno's police interview.

BRUNO ROCUBA (to detectives) : My wife was sitting on the bed on that side. I was on this side. I went to check the, um, chamber to see if there was a round in there.

TROOPER MCGURRIN: OK.

BRUNO ROCUBA: My wife leaned back toward me. Maybe she didn't know I was doing it, and I pulled the trigger by accident or else I let the slide go and it discharged.

Cpl. Dan Nilon: There were so many red flags  that we knew he wasn't telling the truth.

To begin with, says Nilon, if Bruno was really trying to clear the gun's chamber, he would have ejected the magazine.

Cpl. Dan Nilon: The first thing you're going to do when you unload the gun is drop the magazine out of it.

The gun used in the shooting has two safeties, making an accidental shooting difficult according to investigators. / Credit: Pennsylvania State Police

There were also two safeties on the gun. Nilon showed "48 Hours" just how hard it is to discharge the weapon, accidentally.

Cpl. Dan Nilon: So, your grip, your hand would have to be on the grip. Additionally, there is a trigger safety. There is a small piece of the trigger that has to be depressed in order for the gun to fire. So, both things need to occur.

There were also questions about where Bruno and Melissa were sitting when the fatal shot was fired. Allen and Nilon reviewed Bruno's walkthrough video with police with "48 Hours."

BRUNO ROCUBA (to detectives): I went like this, and she was sitting on the bed there.

Cpl. Greg Allen: So, you see the way that he's holding the gun? He is pointing it to the opposite side of the bed.

But Nilon and Allen say there was blood and ballistics evidence on the wall behind Bruno, not the opposite side of the bed.

Anne Marie Green: So, the evidence is here and here. (points to the wall behind the bed)

Cpl. Dan Nilon: Yes.

Cpl. Greg Allen: Everything is behind him right now.

Anne-Marie Green: But he says he shot this way. (points to the left of where Bruno was sitting in the video)

Cpl. Greg Allen: Correct.

They would need DNA testing and a forensic expert to confirm their suspicions that Bruno was lying.

But, in the meantime, Nilon found a key piece of evidence that he says no one had ever examined. Video and audio from the night of the shooting recorded on a home security system.

MELISSA ROCUBA (home security video, talking to Bruno): What is wrong with you?

Turns out that a security camera mounted to the front of the house, had recorded Melissa Rocuba's last words.

MELISSA ROCUBA'S LAST MOMENTS CAUGHT ON TAPE

The final images of Melissa Rocuba were recorded on this the couple's home security camera and saved to a DVR.

Corporal Dan Nilon says when he first discovered the recording, he could see Melissa and her husband Bruno arriving home from their night out. But it was difficult to make out most of what they were saying.

CPL. DAN NILON: I remember sitting in our office with the door closed, headphones on  the office refrigerator unplugged, trying to get as many words as I could.

Corporal Greg Allen says that one thing was clear.

Cpl. Greg Allen: There was definitely an argument that happened between them.

MELISSA ROCUBA (home security video): What is wrong with you?

The Rocuba's home security system captured audio and video of Melissa, in the passenger seat, and Bruno, in the driver's seat, arguing after a night out. / Credit: Lackawanna County District Attorney's Office

Allen says the original investigators told him they had no way to review the recording, because they didn't have access to the necessary technology. But Allen's team did  and could now see that the recording begins in the driveway, where you can hear the couple arguing.

MELISSA ROCUBA (home security video): What?

BRUNO ROCUBA: Next time you get your own f*****' ride.

MELISSA ROCUBA: Whatever.

BRUNO ROCUBA: Yep, Whatever.

But it doesn't seem to end there. Once inside the house, Melissa and Bruno are no longer visible, it sounds like they're still arguing, says Allen.

Cpl. Greg Allen: That time of year, their  window was open, so you could also pick up sound, audio from inside  as well.

The sound was just much harder to hear. But with Bruno's changing stories, and possible evidence of an argument, investigators were now treating Melissa Rocuba's death as a possible murder.

Cpl. Dan Nilon (watching footage): This is the last time she's ever seen...

Cpl. Greg Allen: Dan and I have been doing this a long time and we saw that and  the evidence speaks for itself.

Then-Lackawanna County District Attorney Mark Powell agreed.

Mark Powell: My gut reaction was this is probably a case that should have been charged back in 2013.  and I can only guess  that they thought it didn't warrant charges because he shot himself through the hand.

Anne-Marie Green: Because who would purposely shoot themselves in the hand?

Mark Powell: Sure. Sure.

With Powell's team now onboard, Melissa's family was informed that the case was once again active.

Sabrina Rocuba: I was like, this is different  they are very, very sure about themselves.  That this was a crime. My dad did this on purpose.

Chelsea Cicio says she now had mixed feelings about her relationship with her father.

Chelsea Cicio: I live next door, so my son's very close with him. It's not black and white.

Investigators then sent a portion of the DVR recording to an FBI crime lab for enhancement.

Cpl. Dan Nilon: I remember thinking the chances of this helping us are probably slim because  this system is old.

DNA testing was also ordered on some of the blood evidence and a forensic expert was hired to help determine how the shooting took place.

Mark Powell: We retained the services of Dr. Wayne Ross. who is a highly respected forensic pathologist  and a blood pattern expert.

About a month later the enhanced DVR audio was back and Dan Nilon says it was clear the couple had been arguing right up until the moment the gun went off.

MELISSA ROCUBA (home security audio): F*** you.

Anne-Marie Green: What do you hear on that tape?

Cpl. Dan Nilon: Lots of curses back and forth, yelling, screaming ...

MELISSA ROCUBA (home security audio): Shut up.

It's still hard to make out every word, but the official police transcript notes that Bruno and Melissa can be heard cursing and calling each other names. The transcript also notes the sound of a "dog barking." Then Melissa shouts, "I didn't do anything."

Nearly 30 minutes after they first pulled into the driveway, Melissa told Bruno that he had to leave because of something he'd previously done, "hundreds of times," said Melissa.

A bit later, Melissa can be heard talking. Then, it's sounds like things are being thrown. Just seconds later, the gun goes off.

Cpl. Dan Nilon: It was not an accident. They were fighting the entire time. And then a gunshot goes off.

Joanne says she hasn't been able to listen to the recording but has read the transcript.

Joanne Swinney: I was horrified, of course I cried.  and I can picture my sister yelling at him and screaming and  and those very last few moments realizing that this is it.

Also horrifying is the sound of Chelsea screaming after her father called her over  and she first discovered her mother.

CHELSEA CICIO (home security audio): Mommy! Mommy! (Crying)

She says she doesn't remember questioning her father that night, but she did.

And Bruno's answer gave police yet another version of his story.

CHELSEA CICIO (home security audio): Dad, why did this happen?

BRUNO ROCUBA: We came home and she wanted to take the gun out and play, and I told her no, we're not doing that.

He implied that Melissa had been the one holding the gun.

BRUNO ROCUBA (home security audio): She wanted to go shoot.

CHELSEA CICIO: No, no, this isn't 

BRUNO ROCUBA: She's alright. I know 

CHELSEA CICIO: This isn't real.

BRUNO ROCUBA: I know.

A little over two weeks later, Powell says forensic expert Dr. Wayne Ross confirmed what Allen and Nilon had suspected about how all the blood got on the wall behind Bruno.

Mark Powell: It's very clear that he was on top of his wife, that he was using his hand to hold her and threaten her with a gun.

Anne Marie Green: And so where do you say Bruno was at that time?

Cpl. Dan Nilon: Almost in the middle of the bed.

Cpl. Greg Allen: Turned around.

Cpl. Dan Nilon: Turned around, facing the headboard.

The theory is that Melissa tried to escape Bruno's grip and there was a struggle.

Mark Powell: And through  a struggle  His hand gets loose. He fires the gun at the same time.

Cpl. Greg Allen, with Cpl. Dan Nilon, points out the blood spatter on the wall behind Bruno Rocuba that challenged Rocuba's story of what happened. / Credit: CBS News

Cpl. Dan Nilon (Watching video of Bruno Rocuba's walkthrough with detectives): There's blood evidence that starts here and travels in a right to left pattern  and that is  Bruno's blood.  And the only way that that could be explained is if Bruno did a motion like this (demonstrates sweeping motion) with his hand after the bullet struck it.

Mark Powell: I don't know how you have an accidental shooting when you're standing over your wife with a gun threatening to shoot her and you discharge a bullet by pulling the trigger. So, I  in my world, that's not accidental. That's murder with malice.

Anne-Marie Green: What do you think your sister would say about all of this?

Joanne Swinney: Oh, um  If she was here, she would say lock his ass up and get away from my kids and my grandkids.

On June 2, 2022, a warrant was issued for Bruno Rocuba's arrest. Chelsea says her father was well aware and well prepared.

Chelsea Cicio: He had guns all over  his nightstand was all pictures of my mom. They were never there.





JUSTICE FOR MELISSA ROCUBA

On the morning of June 3, 2022, two Pennsylvania State Police troopers followed Bruno Rocuba on his way to work. Corporal Greg Allen says they weren't taking any chances with Bruno's arrest.

Anne-Marie Green: Chelsea said he had a lot of guns. Were you concerned something  could go wrong?

Cpl. Greg Allen: Whenever  you have an arrest warrant in your hand  you try to take every precaution that you can.

In the end, they pulled Bruno Rocuba over in a traffic stop on his way to work.

TROOPER (dash cam video): Who got your license plate out here?

BRUNO ROCUBA: Where? What?

TROOPER: Yeah.

TROOPER: Alright, hold up, right here. Hey, you have a gun, or any guns on you?

BRUNO ROCUBA: No, no, no.

TROOPER: Alright, put your arms behind your back.

BRUNO ROCUBA: OK.

Bruno Rocuba following his arrest for theft and murder. / Credit: Lackawanna County District Attorney's Office

It was June 3, 2022, nearly nine years after Melissa's death, and Bruno Rocuba was charged with her murder. There was also a charge of theft, for the money prosecutors say he took from his daughters.

Cpl. Dan Nilon: And he  he lawyered up.

Anne-Marie Green: Lawyered up right away?

Cpl. Dan Nilon: Within  Couple minutes 

Cpl. Greg Allen:  within a few minutes.

Chelsea, who was still feeling conflicted, decided to help her father pay his legal bills.

Chelsea Cicio: I loved him. I still, I  I didn't want it to be worse.

Bruno Rocuba once again hired Joe D'Andrea and pleaded not guilty.

Anne-Marie Green: Is Bruno still telling you the same story?

Joe D'Andrea: He never wavered from his story  that it was an accident.

But D'Andrea says he was now seeing and hearing the evidence for the first time  and says there was a lot to explain to a jury. Like the various versions of Rocuba's all captured on tape.

TROOPER (police walkthrough video): Any discussions, or any arguments, or anything?

BRUNO ROCUBA: No.

TROOPER: Before that happened?

BRUNO ROCUBA: No.

The most challenging, says D'Andrea, was that police walkthrough.

Joe D'Andrea: If Bruno didn't make a statement  he probably would never have gotten charged.

Also concerning to D'Andrea was how a jury would feel about Bruno Rocuba's relationship with Tonia Wilczewski, and the question of when it began.

Anne-Marie Green: Possible motive?

Joe D'Andrea: Oh, clearly.  if not a motive  the jury sure wasn't going to like him for doing it.

Tonia Wilczewski declined "48 Hours"' requests for an interview, but sent a text saying, "there was never an affair." Bruno Rocuba never responded to our requests for an interview.

But D'Andrea says he was most concerned about how a jury would react to Melissa's final moments.

Joe D'Andrea: When you hear screaming and  somebody's shot, the jury could conclude you shot her on purpose.  I didn't want  to  take any chance of being, uh, found guilty of first-degree murder and spend the rest of his life in jail.

D'Andrea says he spent the next two years building his case around his best evidence: that bloody wound to his client's hand.

Joe D'Andrea: Who would  put a bullet through their hand to  to kill somebody?

But in May 2024  two years after his arrest  as Bruno Rocuba's trial approached, both sides agreed to a plea deal: third-degree murder and no charge of theft.

Joe D'Andrea: It wasn't that he intentionally killed Melissa  his actions were reckless.

Anne-Marie Green: Having a gun, drinking, bullet in the chamber, safeties off, in a pretty passionate argument?

Joe D'Andrea: That's a prescription for some bad stuff to happen, which it did.

MELISSA ROCUBA (home security video): What is wrong with you?

Anne-Marie Green: It may very well be your sister's own voice that ultimately put him behind bars.

Joanne Swinney: I never really thought about it like that. Yeah.

On Jan. 8, 2025, Joanne attended Bruno's sentencing hearing and read him her victim impact statement.

Joanne Swinney: I looked at him first and made him look at me, cause I know it's like seeing a ghost, because I look like my sister.

Cameras were not allowed in the courtroom, so Joanne shared her statement during our interview.

Joanne Swinney (reading): Through all of this you have never shown an ounce of remorse.  As far as what you did to your daughters, Bruno, you killed their mother.  You tried to erase her existence, but you cannot erase her memories.

Anne Marie Green: If there was a trial, would you have testified against him?

Chelsea Cicio: Yes.

Anne Marie Green: You said that quickly.

Chelsea Cicio: Yeah, I would've.  you know, my mom deserves justice. And my mom  she should be here.

Bruno Rocuba was sentenced to 12 to 40 years behind bars. With time served, he will be up for parole starting in 2035.

Joanne Swinney: Now that he's gone, we can breathe a little bit better  but it doesn't change the hurt or the pain, or what we have to work through as a family.  And we'll revisit this in 10 more years because  every single time he comes up for parole, I will be there to protest it.

Chelsea and Sabrina both say they have very mixed feelings about their father  and what justice looks like.

Sabrina Rocuba: He took someone's life  And it wasn't an accident. He doesn't deserve to get out.  I want him to get out at the same time because I love him and miss him.

Chelsea Cicio: Everybody's like, oh, we finally get justice. Good for you.  I got justice for my mom, but now I just lost my father, my son lost his grandfather.  and it's hard on my son. That's who I have to protect.

Chelsea Cicio and Sabrina Rocuba / Credit: CBS News

Anne-Marie Green: How are you keeping your mom's memory alive?

Sabrina Rocuba: I have all of her pictures all over my fridge.  And I tell my daughter how wonderful her grandmother was and  how much  how much my mom loved being a grandmother.

Chelsea Cicio: She cared about my son more than anything. She loved that little boy.

Chelsea Cicio: And I think she wouldn't want my son to hurt the way this has hurt him.

Chelsea Cicio's son Greg died after an accident in March 2025. He was 13 years old. / Credit: Chelsea Cicio

Just weeks after "48 Hours"' interview, on March 10, 2025, Chelsea says her son Greg was out riding his All-Terrain Vehicle, when he collided with an SUV and died. He was just 13 years old. Another tragic loss for a family that had already lost so much.

Joanne Swinney: It's something that you read in a book or see on TV, not your own life  it just doesn't feel like this should be our story as a family.

"48 HOURS POST MORTEM PODCAST

Correspondents Natalie Morales and Anne-Marie Green discuss the new information retrieved from old evidence that led to the arrest of Melissa's husband, Bruno, and the conflicted feelings their daughters have about their father today.

Produced by Judy Rybak. Emily Wichick Hourihane is the field producer. Michelle Sigona is the development producer. Michelle Harris, Diana Modica, Michael Baluzy and Jake Day are the editors. Anthony Batson is the senior broadcast producer. Nancy Kramer is the executive story editor. Judy Tygard is the executive producer.

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A reactor at the largest nuclear power station in the world was reactivated on January 21, 2026, for the first time since 2011. Less than six hours later, in the early hours of the next morning, it was shut down again. The Number Six reactor at Japan's Kashiwazaki-Kariwa plant was suspended when an alarm sounded due to an issue with the removal of control rods. Control rods are components of a nuclear reactor that are inserted or removed to control the rate of the reaction.

Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings (TEPCO), which owns the plant, said there were no issues with safety, and that there hadn't been a radiation leak. However, it did immediately put the reactor back into shutdown and is still looking into the issue. The restart of the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa Number Six reactor had already been put back a day because of issues with the alarm system.

The plant  along with all other nuclear reactors in Japan  was closed in 2011, after an undersea earthquake triggered a meltdown at a nuclear power plant in Fukushima, leading to hundreds of thousands of people being evacuated, in what was considered the worst nuclear incident since the 1986 Chernobyl disaster, where the local area is still affected by the fallout.

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Read more: Every Major Tractor Brand Ranked Worst To Best

What's next for Japan's nuclear industry?

The Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear power plant in Japan - Koichi Kamoshida/Getty Images

After the nationwide closure of nuclear power plants following the Fukushima disaster, the first reactor to reopen was a unit at the Sendai nuclear power plant in Satsumasendai in August 2015. Japan has now reopened 15 of its 33 potentially operational nuclear reactors. The Number Six reactor at Kashiwazaki-Kariwa was the first one owned by TEPCO to be reactivated. The site's Number Seven reactor is scheduled for reactivation in 2030, while numbers one to five will likely be decommissioned.

Opinions in Japan are divided over whether nuclear power plants should be turned back on at all. While the country's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has spoken out in favor of nuclear power as a renewable energy source, many people are concerned about the safety risks highlighted back in 2011. Protesters demonstrated against the plans for the Number Six reactor at Kashiwazaki-Kariwa ahead of its reactivation.

There was controversy earlier in January 2026, when it was found that a nuclear plant in Hamaoka, owned by Chubu Electric, had been manipulating its risk data results. The plant wasn't operational, and the issue was discovered during the review process to reopen its reactors. Nevertheless, incidents like this, alongside the rapid deactivation of the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa reactor, have set back Japan's plans to rekindle its nuclear power industry, which before 2011, provided nearly 30% of its electricity.

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Read the original article on SlashGear.
Gov. Patrick Morrisey (right) and West Virginia Adjutant General Maj. Gen. Jim Seward hold a press conference Dec. 1, 2025, at the state Capitol in Charleston, West Virginia, to provide an update on the National Guard members in Washington, D.C. (Photo courtesy of the West Virginia Office of Gov. Patrick Morrisey)

Members of the West Virginia National Guard will stay deployed to Washington, D.C. to help with President Donald Trumps mission to restore cleanliness and safety to the city through the end of 2026, Gov. Patrick Morrisey announced Tuesday.

President Trumps leadership in prioritizing the safety and security of our nations capital has enabled this vital mission, and our brave Guardsmen are proud to volunteer and make Washington, D.C. safer and stronger. Morrisey said in a news release. The men and women of the West Virginia National Guard stand firmly with President Trump in this effort, and we are honored to support his commitment to public safety.

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Morrisey sent between 300 and 400 members of the National Guard to the nations capitol in August 2025 to take part in Trumps initiative. As of December 2025, about 170 Guard members remained in D.C. on a voluntary basis, Morrisey said.

On Nov. 26, 2025, two members of the West Virginia National Guard were shot in what law enforcement called a targeted attack. Army Spc. Sarah Beckstrom, 20, of Webster Springs, died of her wounds the next day. U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe, 24, of Martinsburg, survived the attack and is recovering.

Rahmanullah Lakanwal, a 29-year-old Afghan national, has been charged with murder and other charges for the attack. He pleaded not guilty.

The American Civil Liberties Union of West Virginia challenged the deployment in court. In November 2025, Kanawha County Circuit Court Judge Richard Lindsay dismissed the lawsuit, ruling that the deployment was legal because Trump requested states to send their National Guard members to D.C.

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More than 2,000 troops were deployed to D.C. from at least 11 Republican-led states and the District in August and hundreds more were added after the attack, according to NPR. In December, a federal appeals court in Washington D.C. ruled that troops can remain in Washington, D.C. while a panel of judges examines whether the deployment ordered by Trump is legal, according to reporting by NPR.

In a statement Tuesday, West Virginia Adjutant General Maj. Gen. Jim Seward said the mission reflects the high level of readiness and professionalism of the West Virginia National Guard.

Our men and women are well-trained, prepared to serve wherever they are called, and trusted to carry out any task, Seward said. I am proud to serve with them and proud of the way they represent our state.

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(Corrects by clarifying that Finland-China talks on undersea cable incidents in bullet 3 were in 2024, and distinguishes in the last three paragraphs between 2024 and 2026 talks)

By Colleen Howe

BEIJING, Jan 27 (Reuters) - China's President Xi Jinping told Finland's Prime Minister Petteri Orpo on Tuesday that Beijing was ready to work with Helsinki to uphold a U.N.-centred international system and advance a multipolar world based on economic globalisation, according to state news agency Xinhua.

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Xi also said Beijing hoped Finland would play a constructive role in promoting the healthy and stable development of China-EU relations, Xinhua reported.

Orpo's visit to China comes as U.S. President Donald Trump's volatile foreign policy decisions and confrontational approach toward allies push European countries to diversify their foreign relations.

It also comes amid heightened attention on Arctic security at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, last week, after Trump's threat to seize Greenland and prevent China and Russia from expanding their influence in the region.

Those threats appeared to have eased after Trump said the U.S. had secured permanent access to the Danish territory, but Arctic security remains a growing strategic concern for Finland, its NATO partners and China.

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The Arctic is becoming increasingly important to international trade as shrinking ice packs open up new and faster shipping routes, cutting transit times between Asia and Europe nearly in half.

Speaking on the sidelines of Davos last week, Finland's President Alexander Stubb said he wanted NATO to agree to an Arctic security deal at its July summit, similar to the big increase in defence spending that it committed to last year.

One-third of Finland's territory lies above the Arctic Circle, while China calls itself a "near-Arctic state" and has ambitions to build a "Polar Silk Road".

Xi also called on Tuesday for the two sides to collaborate more in areas including energy transition, agriculture, and forestry, and welcomed Finnish enterprises to "swim freely" in the "vast ocean" of China's market.

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Orpo, who is in Beijing from January 25 to 28, told Xi that he looked forward to continued discussions on bilateral cooperation and international issues.

Orpo referenced the "candid and constructive talks" Xi had with President Stubb during a 2024 state visit to Beijing.

In talks with Xi then, Stubb raised an ongoing string of incidents involving damage to undersea power cables, gas pipelines and telecoms in which Chinese-registered ships have been implicated. A Chinese ship captain is facing allegations of criminal damage in a Hong Kong court in one of the cases.

Stubb in 2024 also raised the issue of North Korean support for Russia's invasion of Ukraine, which he said NATO and the EU considered a provocation.

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As Stubb had in the earlier meeting, Orpo invited Xi to visit Finland at a mutually convenient time, and said Finland's speaker of parliament, Jussi Halla-aho, had invited top lawmaker Zhao Leji to visit.

(Reporting by Colleen Howe; Editing by Jacqueline Wong and Michael Perry)
Be prepared before you step out of your door this morning.

Yes, we are talking to Florida residents and visitors.

Temperatures in some locations dropped almost 30 degrees over the last 24 hours, according to the National Weather Service Melbourne.

 Weather alerts via text: Sign up to get updates about current storms and weather events by location

Most of Florida is under some sort of alert from the National Weather Service, from cold weather advisories to extreme cold warnings and freeze warnings.

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If you expect the freezing temps to move along quickly, think again. Freezing temperatures are expected to last into next week.

Here are conditions around the state early Tuesday morning, Jan. 27.

Current weather alerts, freeze warnings, issued in Florida Jan. 27

At 6 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 27, there were:

Freeze warnings: 39 counties

Freeze watches: 27 counties

Extreme cold warning: 14 counties

Cold weather advisories: 46 counties

 Florida missed weekend winter storm but get ready for what's coming

Temp at 6 a.m.: 24 degrees with wind chill of 14.

Extreme cold warning until 10 a.m. CT.

Coming up:

Wednesday: High 54; low 34

Thursday: High 55; low 42

Friday: High 56; low 26

Saturday: High 43; low 29

Sunday: High 52; low 29

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 Follow National Weather Service Mobile on X

Temp at 6 a.m.: 27 with wind chill of 18.

Extreme cold warning until 11 .am. ET. Freeze warning until 11 a.m.

Coming up:

Wednesday: High 54; low 27

Thursday: High 57; low 35

Friday: High 57; low 28

Saturday: High 40; low 20

Sunday: High 42; low 23

 Follow the National Weather Service Tallahassee on X

Temp at 6 a.m.: 31 with wind chill of 20.

Freeze warning until 10 a.m. ET. Cold weather advisory until 10 a.m. Freeze watch 9 p.m. Jan. 27 to 9 a.m. Jan. 28.

Coming up:

Wednesday: High 56; low 32

Thursday: High 58; low 39

Friday: High 61; low 38

Saturday: High 48; low 23

Sunday: High 43; low 26

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 Follow the National Weather Service Jacksonville on X

Temp at 6 a.m.: 33 with wind chill of 24.

Cold weather advisory until 9 a.m. Jan. 27 and again midnight to 9 a.m. Jan. 28.

Coming up:

Wednesday: High 57; low 36

Thursday: High 58; low 41

Friday: High 63; low 43

Saturday: High 54; low 24

Sunday: High 45; low 28

 Follow the National Weather Service Melbourne on X

Temp at 6 a.m.: 38 with wind chill of 31.

Cold weather advisory from midnight to 9 a.m. Jan. 28.

Coming up:

Wednesday: High 62; low 40

Thursday: High 64; low 47

Friday: High 68; low 48

Saturday: High 60; low 28

Sunday: High 50; low 32

 Follow the National Weather Service Melbourne on X

Temp at 6 a.m.: 46 with wind chill of 41.

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Coming up:

Wednesday: High 65; low 36

Thursday: High 67; low 47

Friday: High 70; low 48

Saturday: High 62; low 30

Sunday: High 52; low 29

 Follow the National Weather Service Melbourne on X

Temp at 6 a.m.: 48 with a wind chill of 44.

Coming up:

Wednesday: High 66; low 53

Thursday: High 67; low 61

Friday: High 69; low 58

Saturday: High 64; low 37

Sunday: High 53; low 41

 Follow the National Weather Service Miami on X

Temp at 6 a.m.: 51 with wind chill of 47.

Coming up:

Wednesday: High 68; low 55

Thursday: High 69; low 62

Friday: High 70; low 58

Saturday: High 66; low 39

Sunday: High 56; low 42

 Follow the National Weather Service Miami on X

Temp at 6 a.m.: 46 with wind chill of 40.

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Coming up:

Wednesday: High 64; low 44

Thursday: High 68; low 50

Friday: High 68; low 52

Saturday: High 64; low 39

Sunday: High 55; low 38

 Follow the National Weather Service Miami on X

Temp at 6 a.m.: 42 with wind chill of 35.

A cold weather advisory is in effect until 9 a.m. and again from midnight to 9 a.m. Jan. 28.

Coming up:

Wednesday: High 64; low 38

Thursday: High 67; low 46

Friday: High 68; low 51

Saturday: High 60; low 34

Sunday: High 54; low 33

 Follow the National Weather Service Tampa Bay on X

Temp at 6 a.m.: 41 with wind chill of 35.

A cold weather advisory until 9 a.m. and again from midnight to 9 a.m. Jan. 28.

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Coming up:

Wednesday: High 57; low 42

Thursday: High 62; low 47

Friday: High 64; low 50

Saturday: High 57; low 38

Sunday: High 49; low 38

 Follow the National Weather Service Tampa Bay on X

Temp at 6 a.m.: 37 with wind chill of 30.

A cold weather advisory until 9 a.m. and again from midnight to 9 a.m. Jan. 28. Cold weather advisory until 9 a.m.

Coming up:

Wednesday: High 60; low 38

Thursday: High 64; low 42

Friday: High 68; low 47

Saturday: High 56; low 32

Sunday: High 49; low 32

 Follow the National Weather Service Tampa Bay on X

Temp at 6 a.m.: 37 with wind chill of 31.

A cold weather advisory until 9 a.m. and again from midnight to 9 a.m. Jan. 28. Cold weather advisory until 9 a.m. and again from midnight to 9 a.m. Jan. 28. Freeze watch from midnight to 9 a.m. Jan. 29.

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Coming up:

Wednesday: High 60; low 36

Thursday: High 63; low 40

Friday: High 67; low 45

Saturday: High 55; low 26

Sunday: High 47; low 28

 Follow the National Weather Service Melbourne on X

Stay informed. Get weather alerts via text

What's next?

We will continue to update our weather coverage as conditions warrant. Download your local site's app to ensure you're always connected to the news. And look for our special subscription offers here.

Cheryl McCloud is a journalist for the USA TODAY Network-Florida's service journalism Connect team. You can get all of Floridas best content directly in your inbox each weekday day by signing up for the free newsletter, Florida TODAY, at https://tallahassee.com/newsletters.

This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Florida temperatures below freezing in several cities. Here's where
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has condemned as "terrorism" a Russian drone attack on a crowded passenger train that local officials say killed at least five people and injured several others.

More than 200 people were on the train, officials said, when one of the carriages was hit by a drone and two other drones exploded nearby, in Ukraine's north-eastern Kharkiv region on Tuesday.

Zelensky said 18 people were in the carriage at the time and there was no "military justification" in targeting civilians.

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Russia has not commented on the strike, but it has intensified drone and missile attacks on Ukraine's energy and transport infrastructure during the harshest winter in years.

Elsewhere in Ukraine, the southern port city of Odesa was hit by dozens of drones and officials said three people were killed and dozens more wounded.

Energy officials said a local facility had suffered "enormous damage" overnight into Tuesday and Odesa city chief Serhii Lysak said attacks had continued for a second night into Wednesday.

Meanwhile, in the Kyiv region, a couple were killed and their four-year-old child was hurt when a residential block of flats was hit in a district close to the capital, police said.

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Millions of people across Ukraine have been left without heating, electricity and water after the Russian assaults.

Russian President Vladimir Putin launched a full-scale invasion in February 2022, and Moscow currently controls about 20% of Ukrainian territory.

In a post on social media late on Tuesday, Zelensky wrote: "In any country, a drone strike on a civilian train would be considered in exactly the same way - purely as terrorism."

Pictures and footage released by Ukraine's emergency services show at least one badly destroyed carriage still burning after the attack.

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Kharkiv's regional prosecutor's office said the train was struck near the Yazykove village.

The office said the train was heading from the western border town of Chop to Barvinkove in the Kharkiv region via the regional capital Kharkiv.

This line runs further east to the Donetsk region, and is used by local residents and Ukrainian soldiers travelling to and from leave, as well as their wives and girlfriends travelling east to see them.

Several floors of one residential building in Odesa collapsed after the Russian overnight strike [EPA/Shutterstock]

Officials in Odesa said Russia had launched more than 50 drones on the port overnight into Tuesday.

Three bodies were found in the rubble after several floors of one residential building collapsed after the strike, and a number of other buildings were damaged.

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Russia's daily aerial assaults continue even though Ukraine-Russia talks last week held the latest round of talks aimed at ending the war.

The talks that also involved US negotiators took place in the United Arab Emirates, and were hailed by all sides as constructive.

However, key territorial issues remain unresolved, and further meetings are expected this weekend.
Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
Regional airlines face huge economic challenges to become profitable entities, as they must deal with competition from major national and global airlines and high operating costs.

The smaller the airline, the harder it is to stay in business. Each time one of them fails, it eliminates an option for consumers in a shrinking market.

Tailwind Air filed for bankruptcy protection

One of the first airlines to file for bankruptcy in 2026 was charter seaplane airline Tailwind Air, which filed for Chapter 11 protection in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Virginia on Jan. 15, seeking to reorganize.

The Falls Church, Va.-based airline, which launched in 2019, operated a seaplane service between New York, Boston, and Washington, D.C., but could not make the service profitable.

The company transitioned to an on-demand charter service in 2024, but its Commuter Air Carrier Authorization was revoked in December 2024, and the company disposed of its entire jet fleet in 2025, according to AeroTime.

Float Alaska files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy after shutting down Ravn Alaska and New Pacific Airlines.Shutterstock  Shutterstock

Float Alaska files for bankruptcy after closing airlines

Another troubled airline owner, Float Alaska LLC, and six affiliates filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, seeking a sale of their assets, facing lawsuits, collection demands, attempts to perfect liens, and other claims against the debtor, according to court papers.

The Anchorage, Alaska-based owner of defunct New Pacific Airlines and Ravn Alaska filed its petition in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware on Jan. 26, according to PacerMonitor.

The debtor listed $1 million to $10 million in assets and $10 million to $50 million in liabilities in its petition.

Float's largest unsecured creditors include VT San Antonio Aerospace Inc., owed more than $1.6 million; Cephas Trust, owed $1 million; Lone Star Friends Trust, owed $1 million; Intelsat Alliance LP, owed more than $778,000; Associated Energy Group LLC, owed more than $656,000; AAR Supply Chain Inc., owed more than $636,000; and Willis Towers Watson Northeast Inc., owed more than $605,000.

Ravn Alaska and New Pacific Airlines shut down

Float Alaska's airline Ravn Alaska operated out of Anchorage from late 2020 until it shut down in August 2025, facing severe economic problems.

The debtor's New Pacific Airlines in summer 2023 began flying Boeing 757 jets out of Ontario International Airport in Ontario, Calif., with routes to Las Vegas; Reno, Nev.; and Nashville, Tenn.

New Pacific Airlines shut down operations in November 2025, facing severe financial distress.

The airline had determined it needed to expand into five more markets to break even, but it did not have the funds to implement a plan, according to court papers.
Sometimes, access to the top starts with something as simple as a stamp. General Motors CEO Mary Barra has noted that she responds to every single letter she receives.

Despite leading a nearly $75 billion automakerand the fact that AI has turned once-tedious tasks such as drafting emails into seconds-long choresBarra still writes back the old-fashioned way: with pen and paper.

More from Yahoo Scout Why does GM CEO Mary Barra handwrite responses? How can personalized outreach lead to business opportunities? What other CEOs use handwritten communication strategies? How do handwritten notes impact customer loyalty and respect?

The notes she receives range widely, from loyal Chevrolet drivers sharing their cars nickname to schoolchildren worried about their familys future after the closure of a General Motors plant. But positive or negative, the letters still get a response.

I get [letters] from customers  when their odometer turns over to 200, 300, 400, Barra said at the New York Times DealBook Summit in December. I also get letters from consumers who are unhappy about something, and I respond to every single letter I receive. To me, this is such a special business.

Even as one of the busiest executives in the auto industryrepeatedly topping Fortunes list of the Most Powerful Women in BusinessBarra has consistently treated intentional communication as part of the job. Its a habit shes carried throughout her rise at GM, from the assembly line to the C-suite. You wont always be right, but no ones right all the time, she said in 2023.

And for workers, customers, or even complete strangers, that openness can make the corner office feel more reachable than it seems.

The personalized response can lead to lasting respect and brand loyalty

Carolyn Rodz, founder of a virtual startup accelerator for women, once wrote to Barra as a complete stranger. What she received in return surprised her.

What really made me respect this woman, who I am a complete stranger to, was the personalization of her response. She not only acknowledged my request and respectfully declined, but she took the time to encourage my pursuit and commended me on my efforts, Rodz wrote in 2015.

Rodz added that the note did more than close a loopit built loyalty and lasting respect.

She validated my vision and affirmed my commitment, Rodz said. Truth be told, she built such loyalty in just a couple of paragraphs that Im considering buying a GM car next time Im in the market.

In an era when executives can seem buffered by layers of corporate hierarchy and public relations teams, Barras practice stands out. Its a small gesture with an outsize message: In a business world racing toward automation, the human touch still carries weight.

Its people like Mary Barra, however, who remind me that our words have significant value and an opportunity to impact others in ways we may never know, Rodz said.
By Raechel Thankam Job

Jan 27 (Reuters) - British bootmaker Dr Martens posted a decline in quarterly sales and forecast broadly flat annual revenue growth on Tuesday as shoppers across Europe and Asia-Pacific baulked at a return to full prices, knocking its shares nearly 13% down.

The sales decline underscores the challenge facing CEO Ije Nwokorie as he tries to cut back on promotions and discounts while navigating weak demand and higher U.S. import costs.

Mas de Yahoo Scout What challenges does CEO Nwokorie face currently? What is Dr Martens' full-price strategy impact? Why did Dr Martens' quarterly sales decline? How did regional performance vary for Dr Martens?

The balancing act has forced the company known for its lace-up chunky boots to sacrifice near-term sales to protect margins.

Revenue fell 3.1% to 251 million pounds ($343 million) with direct-to-consumer sales dropping 7% for the third quarter ended December 28.

"The outlook for boots demand remains difficult to predict near term, even if we acknowledge the brand value," said RBC Capital Markets analysts.

The company's shares fell as much as 12.5% and were headed for their worst day since September 2024.

US SALES OUTSHINE OTHER REGIONS

Its Americas region delivered 2% revenue growth on a constant currency basis in the quarter, as U.S. shoppers proved more receptive to its full-price strategy than their European and Asia-Pacific counterparts.

Nwokorie told analysts on a call that "we have no reason to worry" about price increases in the U.S., noting though that it was early days and he did not expect negative consumer reaction to the U.S. hikes, the company's first in three years.

While cost-conscious consumers have been tightening their purse strings, retailers saw a surge in spending in the U.S. holiday season from more affluent shoppers.

Newer and more expensive boots were doing well in the U.S., Nwokorie said.

In contrast, customers in Germany and the UK, which account for over half the company's EMEA sales, shied away from non-discounted products, the company said.

Dr Martens, which is also expanding to more markets in Latin America like Colombia and Uruguay, maintained its forecast for significant profit growth for the year ending March.

($1 = 0.7309 pounds)

(Reporting by Raechel Thankam Job in Bengaluru; Editing by Sherry Jacob-Phillips and Emelia Sithole-Matarise)
Hungary infringed EU law and the principle of loyal cooperation when it voted against the bloc's common position on the reclassification of cannabis at the UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs, the European Court of Human Rights said.

The case goes back to November 2020, when the Council of the EU adopted a resolution aimed at changing the United Nations' classification of drugs and psychotropic substances. In the vote, Hungary voted against the proposal and made a declaration against the joint position.



The EC then sued Hungary for violating the community's exclusive rights, the council's resolution and the principle of loyal cooperation.



In its ruling, the EU court supported the council's claim and established that Hungary failed to meet its obligations under EU law. They said the EU had the exclusive right to adopt a position for the community, and Hungary violated that right.



They added that the principle of loyal cooperation obliges member states to promote the community's shared tasks and forbear from any activity that could compromise those goals.



Hungary violated that principle, as well as the principle of the unity of representing the EU at international forums, the court said, adding that deviating from the council's strategy could weaken the community's negotiating position against the other parties.



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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For lovers of peated whisky, the name Kilchoman needs little introduction. Rooted in tradition yet driven by innovation, this Islay distillery has become one of the most respected names in modern Scotch whisky. In 2026, Kilchoman is once again making history with its biggest European Tour to date, while also unveiling a truly groundbreaking release: the first ever fully Mezcal Cask Matured Kilchoman whisky.

A Modern Islay Classic



Kilchoman Distillery opened its doors in 2005, becoming the first new distillery on Islay in 124 years. From the beginning, Kilchoman set out to do things differently, reviving the islands traditional farm distillery model with a strong emphasis on provenance, craftsmanship, and full production control.



The distillery is a family-run business owned by the Wills family. Anthony and Kathy Wills were the visionaries behind the project, establishing Kilchoman with a clear goal: to produce authentic Islay whisky using traditional methods.



As the distillery grew, the next generation joined the business. Today, their three sons, James, George, and Peter, are actively involved, managing sales and marketing across global markets.





The European Tour Returns  Bigger Than Ever



The Kilchoman European Tour first hit the road in 2023, quickly becoming one of the most talked-about whisky roadshows in Europe. Travelling across the continent in their unmistakable Kilchoman Land Rover, the team brought Islay directly to whisky fans, hosting tastings, masterclasses, and meet-the-maker events.



In 2026, the tour returns for the third time, and this year it is set to be the largest whisky tour Europe has ever seen. Over 10 weeks, the Kilchoman team will visit 26 countries, connecting with thousands of whisky enthusiasts along the way. To mark the occasion, Kilchoman has bottled a special release exclusively for the tour.





Introducing the First Full Mezcal Cask Matured Kilchoman

The highlight of the 2026 tour is without question the worlds first fully Mezcal Cask Matured Kilchoman whisky. Known for its bold peat smoke, coastal character, and citrus freshness, Kilchoman has never been afraid to explore new cask influences. Mezcal casks bring an entirely new dimension, combining earthy smoke, herbal notes, and subtle sweetness that beautifully complement Islay peat.



This innovative maturation represents a bridge between two smoky spirits traditions, offering whisky fans a rare chance to experience something completely new while remaining unmistakably Kilchoman in style.



Kilchoman in Hungary



Hungarian whisky lovers will have the opportunity to experience the tour firsthand on February 16th. The event will take place at GoodSpirit Etele in Budapest from 14:00 to 17:00.



Visitors can meet James and Emma from the Kilchoman team, hear stories from Islay, and of course, taste the latest Kilchoman releases, including the new Mezcal Cask Matured expression.



If youd like to experience it yourself, check out whiskynet.hu for more details.

Kilchoman is available at Whiskynet.hu
Mumbai: The makers of director Kishore Belekar's upcoming silent film, 'Gandhi Talks', featuring actors Vijay Sethupathi, Arvind Swamy and Aditi Rao Hydari in the lead, on Tuesday released an interesting trailer of the film, much to the delight of fans and film buffs.

For the unaware, the film is scheduled to hit the silver screens on January 30 this year.

Taking to his X timeline to share the link to the trailer of the film, actor Vijay Sethupathi wrote, "Not every story needs words. Some are meant to be felt. This time, the screen doesnt talk. It makes you listen. #GandhiTalks TRAILER OUT NOW. Releasing in cinemas worldwide on the 30th of January. An @arrahman musical."

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The trailer shows the film revolves around two men -- Vijay Sethupathi and Aravind Swamy. While Vijay Sethupathi, who has an elderly mother to take care of, comes from the poorer sections of society, Arvind Swamy is a rich person who is into the construction business. The trailer also shows that Vijay Sethupathi and Aditi Rao Hydari, who are neighbours, eventually fall in love with one another, with the latter insisting that they get married soon.

The trailer shows that both Vijay Sethupathi and Aravind Swamy face some major problems in their lives, forcing some drastic changes to occur in their behaviour. We see Arvind Swamy pick up a gun while Vijay Sethupathi is seen holding a small gift, with the phrase "Save me" written on it...

The film has triggered huge interest among fans and film buffs as it is a silent film. Speaking about the vision behind the film, director Kishore Belekar, had in an interview earlier, said, Gandhi Talks is a film about trusting silence. As Indian cinema marks over a century of storytelling, we wanted to return to the mediums most elemental form pure performance and emotion.

The actors embraced that vulnerability completely, and A.R. Rahmans score became the films voice. With Zee Studios, Meera Chopras support, we were able to make a bold, honest piece of cinema, he had said.

The film is reportedly a black comedy exploring the contrast between Gandhi on currency notes and his ideals, focusing on a young man's struggle for money and crossing paths with a thief.
Among the top National Institutes of Technology (NITs) for Computer Science and Engineering (CSE), such as NIT Trichy, NIT Surathkal and NIT Warangal, the closing ranks in JEE Main counselling are generally very low

As reported by Indian Express, Dr. Saurabh Kumar  founder and CEO of Shiksha Nation, to have a good shot at Computer Science Engineering (CSE) in top NITs or IIITs, one generally need an AllIndia Rank (AIR) in the low thousands, with smaller ranges often for the most competitive institutes.

In India, students interested in engineering considers computer science and engineering as one of the top career choices. CSE represents technological thinking, ambition, innovation, future technology, and career opportunities for a wide range of people around the world. The global demand for software, artificial intelligence, data science, and digital products is the reason CSE continues to be one of the highest-demand areas of study in most of Indias leading engineering colleges and universities.

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Every year, around 1.2  1.3 million students appear for the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) Main, considering it one of the largest engineering entrance tests in India. Of these, roughly 2.5 lakh students qualify to sit for the JEE Advanced, the next stage for entry into the premier Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs).

However, only about 40,000 students secure admission to IITs, NITs, IIITs and other centrallyfunded technical institutions through the Joint Seat Allocation Authority (JoSAA) process.

Because the number of seats in branches like Computer Science Engineering (CSE) is much smaller than the number of aspirants, competition for CSE programs is especially intense. The limited availability of seats compared with the huge pool of qualified candidates makes CSE one of the most competitive engineering disciplines to gain admission into.

Among the top National Institutes of Technology (NITs) for Computer Science and Engineering (CSE), such as NIT Trichy, NIT Surathkal and NIT Warangal, the closing ranks in JEE Main counselling are generally very low (often within the top few thousand), reflecting intense competition for these highly soughtafter programs. For example, in recent admissions, the closing ranks for CSE at these leading NITs have hovered around the low thousands for the open category.

At other wellknown NITs like NIT Calicut, NIT Rourkela and MNNIT Allahabad, the closing ranks for CSE tend to be higher, often extending into the midthousands  indicating strong but slightly less fierce competition compared with the top three.

In newer or less popular NITs, and in cases where homestate quotas apply, the closing ranks for CSE can extend even further, sometimes into the higher thousands or beyond, showing a wider range of rank brackets for admission into the same branch across different institutes.

Theres another important aspect of CSE admissions through Indian Institutes of Information Technology (IIITs). India has more than 25 IIITs, including institutes of national importance and those established under publicprivate partnership models, with roughly around 9,900+ total seats available for various programs via JoSAA counselling.

IIITs such as IIITHyderabad are noted for their strong academic standards and industry connections, and typically require candidates to rank among the top few thousand in JEE Main for admission to competitive CSE programmes. At other wellestablished IIITs like IIIT Allahabad, Gwalior and Jabalpur, the closing ranks for CSE often fall in the mid to highthousands range.

Meanwhile, newer IIITs generally admit students with ranks up to around 15,00030,000, offering solid technical training for those willing to work hard.

The variation in closing ranks across IIITs is influenced by factors such as reservation categories, genderbased supernumerary seats, and home state quotas, which can shift the effective cutoff by several thousand ranks. Other yeartoyear differences like exam difficulty and seat availability also affect these trends.

In this light, the statistics suggest an encouraging message: it doesnt matter whether a students JEE rank is 5,000, 15,000, or even 25,000. What truly shapes success is the effort and commitment one puts into developing relevant skills, solving problems, building projects and gaining experience. In the technology industry, employers value realworld competence  such as coding ability, project work and internships  far more than the specific college name or exam rank. A rank might open the door, but dedication and continuous learning determine longterm success in the field of computer science.
The Staff Selection Commission is likely to release the Tier 2 answer key soon on its official website  ssc.gov.in. Candidates who have appeared for the SSC CGL Tier Exam 2025 will be able to download the answer key using their login credentials.

The SSC conducted tier 2 examination which was held on January 18 and January 19, 2026.

The test on January 18 was conducted to assess candidates data-entry speed, while the January 19 exam covered multiple subjects including Mathematical Abilities, Reasoning and General Intelligence, English Language and Comprehension, General Awareness, Computer Knowledge and Statistics.

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SSC CGL Tier 2 Answer Key Date

Although officials have not made any announcement regarding the release of SSC Tier 2 answer key 2026, based on the past trends, students can expect that it will be released within two or three weeks after the examination is conducted.

SSC CGL Tier 2 Answer Key 2026 Soon

Steps to download the SSC CGL Tier 2 answer key 2026

Step 1  Candidates need to visit the official website ssc.gov.in.

Step 2  Then, on the homepage, click on "Login" and enter your credentials.

Step 3 - Click on the answer key link and raise objections if found to be valid by you.

Step 4 - Your objections will be considered and reviewed by the respective authorities.

Step 5 - Save and download the answer key for future reference.

This recruitment drive is aimed at filling 14,582 Group B and Group C positions across various ministries, departments and organizations under the Government of India. For the latest updates, students are advised to keep themselves updated with the official website.
India-EU FTA trade deal: A major controversy erupted on Tuesday after Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal shared a map highlighting only 12 Indian states set to benefit from the India-EU Free Trade Agreement.

In a post on X, Goyal wrote: "Our states are set to reap big benefits from the #IndiaEUTradeDeal," along with a map showing which states would gain from the agreement.

Social media backlash

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The post immediately drew criticism from users across the country, questioning why their states were excluded from the benefits list. Out of India's 28 states and 8 union territories, only 12 featured on the map, shared Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal.

"Products from Bihar, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh excluded from the India-EU Trade Deal signed by PM Modi?" one user asked.

Another wrote: "What about India's North East region?"

Users from Madhya Pradesh expressed particular frustration. "Itne bade state Madhya Pradesh ke liye kuch nahi (Nothing for such a large state like Madhya Pradesh)," one user lamented.

Questions poured in about multiple regions: "What about Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Tripura, and Sikkim?" "Where is Bihar, MP, Chhattisgarh??"

Our states are set to reap big benefits from the #IndiaEUTradeDeal pic.twitter.com/3H7Rtt3qBf

 Piyush Goyal (@PiyushGoyal) January 27, 2026

Supporters defend the map

However, some users defended the India-EU FTA deal, saying "A lot of comments regarding their states got nothing from this deal... this is not a list of any subsidy. This is the list of items that the states produce and trade globally. If your state is not in the list, then definitely it's the fault of your local political structure," one supporter argued.

Others celebrated the agreement, saying, "Mother of All Deals between EU & India is massive and will be improving lives of 200 crore population of India and 27 nations of EU, especially the young population and farmers."

India-EU FTA trade deal

India and the European Union (EU) on Tuesday wrapped up negotiations on the IndiaEU FTA trade agreement, widely described as the "mother of all deals."

Following the successful conclusion of the IndiaEU Free Trade Agreement (FTA) talks, the pact will be formally signed after a detailed legal review of the text, a process expected to take five to six months.

With the agreement now finalised, India becomes the third Asian nation, after Japan and South Korea, to conclude a trade deal with the European Union.

Which states are included?

The 12 states highlighted in Goyal's map are: Maharashtra, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Assam, Kerala, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Punjab, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh.

What does the India-EU FTA trade deal cover?

By removing 9,425 tariff lines and easing market entry, the agreement is set to create significant opportunities for labour-intensive industries such as textiles, apparel, leather, gems and jewellery, handicrafts, and agricultural exports like tea and spices. It will also support growth in marine products and strengthen high-value manufacturing sectors, including engineering goods, electronics, pharmaceuticals, and medical devices.
Drilling pads dot the landscape Wednesday, July 26, 2023, in the Eagle Ford Shale. (Jon Shapley/Staff photographer)





XTO Energy, an Exxon Mobil subsidiary, aims to sell its Eagle Ford shale assets in South Texas for nearly $1 billion, according to a report by Reuters.

The move would reportedly include over a thousand wells across 168,000 acres. Exxon operates some of the wells directly and holds a financial, non-operating interest in the others.

A spokesperson for Exxon confirmed the news, but declined to confirm which assets would be included.

Texas oil companies like Exxon are shedding assets as oil prices soften and production costs rise, pressuring producers to cut costs and increase drilling efficiency. Underground resources are also becoming harder to reach in domestic U.S. shale basins, forcing more companies to invest in assets outside the country.

WINNERS & LOSERS: Trump promised an energy boom in his second term. Texas shows who actually got one

"This marketing decision is consistent with our strategy to continually evaluate and optimize our portfolio," the Exxon spokesperson said in an email.

The global oil giant based in Houston has focused its holdings in the Permian Basin, the top U.S. oil field, as well as in Guyana. The oil fields offshore Guyana, of which Exxon owns the largest stake, are considered among the most prolific oil discoveries of recent decades.

The Eagle Ford Shale is a rock formation in South Texas known for its significant oil and natural gas reserves.

Other recent sales of Eagle Ford assets include Canadian producer BayTex Energy's $2.14 billion sale, which closed in December. Houston pipeline giant Kinder Morgan announced last week that it had solidified its own deal selling a $396 million stake in the area.

The oil and gas industry has seen a rush of layoffs over the last year, including from Exxon, as companies weather weak oil markets.

Exxon said in September it would lay off around 2,000 workers globally, though none of those layoffs are expected to include positions in the United States.

This article originally published at Eagle Ford on the chopping block as Exxon refocuses drilling strategy.
New Delhi: On the eve of Republic Day, when the Indian Army announced awards for distinguished service, it also sent a message about the importance of strategic communication. Several officers received recognition for effectively managing narrative during Operation Sindoor.

Brigadier Anuranjan Srivastava, the Armys head of strategic communication, was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal. Colonel Ashish Upreti, who managed social media during the mission, received the Vishisht Seva Medal. Colonel Sophia Quraishi, who was responsible for press briefings during the operation, and Colonel Parikshit Dahiya, also part of the strategic communication team, were honoured with the Vishisht Seva Medal.

Earlier, Major General Sandeep S. Sharda had received the Yudh Seva Medal for his role in strategic communication during the Independence Day.

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The May 2025 military offensive involved not only military action between India and Pakistan but also a battle of narratives. Pakistan repeatedly attempted to spread false information, which India countered through careful communication.

Preparations for sharing the operations success with the world began even before the mission was launched. After the Army and Air Force destroyed nine terrorist camps inside Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, the Ministry of Defence issued a press release at 1:44 a.m.

The first update was posted on social media from the operations room at 1:51 a.m., announcing the success of Operation Sindoor. The Armys official handle was the first platform to display the operations emblem, showing that the mission was accomplished.

The strategic communication team prepared all videos and visuals for the press briefings. They worked day and night to ensure every video clearly shared the intended message. On May 11, before the top military officers press conference, a video featuring Shiva Tandav music was shown.

The following day, another video used a line from Ramdhari Singh Dinkars poem Rashmirathi: Jab nash manuj par chhata hai, pehle vivek mar jaata hai Yachna nahi, ran hoga.

The video was presented in a rock music style. The team carefully selected the background music and visuals to maximise impact. Since then, new approaches continue to be explored in narrative warfare.

Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi had recently talked about lessons learned from Operation Sindoor and said that the Army had been well-prepared beforehand. He emphasised that credibility in the information shared is critical because it sustains trust over time. He added that there should never be a vacuum in narrative management.
Pakistan just exposed its air force to India, thanks to the Operation Sindoor fiasco. The Chinese are not happy and Indian scientists are beaming with pride at their achievement. What could have taken five or 10 more years for India to achieve, besides rigorous research and investments, has been achieved in just six months, thanks to Pakistan and China. The disaster costs China billions of dollars, and Pakistan, its entire airspace.

You must have seen the nearly intact PL-15 missile recovered by the Indian Armed Forces during Operation Sindoor. The missile was fired by a Pakistani air force jet JF-17. However, the missile, fired in haste, did not detonate and landed safely, subsequently entering the possession of the Indian scientists at the Defence Research and Development Organisation in Hyderabad.

The reverse engineering process started. India has been trying to build a missile with 200km+ range and the scientists used to think that China claims such a range with PL-15 due to better design and motor capacity. However, as soon as they got an inside view of the PL-15, everything changed. The motor and the body designs weret new but only a replication and improvement in American designs. Now, the DRDO looked into the fuel, and it was their eureka moment.

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The analysis of PL-15 fuel chemicals revealed a composition that cannot be stable due to the high density and high-energy composition of CL20 material. But, somehow, the Chinese had found a way to bind them and use in the missile to get greater fuel capacity, increasing the range. The DRDO scientists not only decoded the binding agent polymer matrix that makes the highly volatile fuel stable, but also improvised upon the structure. DRDO identified the stabilizer and synthesized the binder to make a fuel combination that outmatches not only Chinese PL15 but also many weapons in the NATO inventory.

Now, the fuel is powering Indias Astra Mk1, increasing its range to around 160 kms, while the Astra Mk2 will have a range of around 250 kms. Then comes the Astra Mk3 or Gandiva with a range of over 350 km. The remaining integrations are likely to be completed by 2027. The Mk2 integration with SU-30 has been completed and is pending with LCA Mk1A. With this, the Indian Air Force can now hit targets inside Pakistan in areas like Multan, Jaffarabad, Lahor or Karachi and that too, without crossing the LoC.
Delhi-NCR weather update: Noida witnessed rain and a hailstorm on Tuesday evening, and the change in weather and the unexpected drizzle provided marginal relief for citizens from pollution. Earlier, in the morning, parts of Delhi-NCR received rainfall and light rainfall.

Also Check- Fresh snowfall disrupts life in Kashmir; highways, rail, flights affected

IMD forecast for Delhi-NCR

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The India Meteorological Department (IMD) predicted thunderstorm accompanied by lightning and gusty winds (30-40kmph) during the evening and night on Tuesday and has issued a yellow alert for the national capital. Meanwhile, for Wednesday, there is no warning yet.

Meanwhile, the weather agency has also put almost all the areas under Delhi-NCR on an orange alert, and predicted a hailstorm in Noida, Gurugram, Faridabad and Ghaziabad.

Rain in Noida

Earlier, during the day, heavy rain in Noida and Greater Noida caused traffic jams on the route from Mahamaya Flyover to Delhi and near Dalit Prerna Sthal and Film City.

Noida, Uttar Pradesh: Heavy rain in Noida and Greater Noida caused traffic jams on the route from Mahamaya Flyover to Delhi and near Dalit Prerna Sthal and Film City. pic.twitter.com/NwBGRQ5MTl  IANS (@ians_india) January 27, 2026

Delhi air quality

On Friday, January 24, the air quality in the national capital showed significant improvement after the city witnessed a rain shower. The city recorded the Air quality index at 242.

After Friday's rain, the national capital and surrounding areas woke up to a thick layer of fog, with dense fog gripping parts of Delhi-NCR.

According to the weather department, Delhi-NCR previously had generally cloudy skies, moderate morning fog, and strong surface winds (10-20 kmph). It was expected that a 5-6C drop in minimum temperatures would occur over the next three days, followed by a rise thereafter.

Meanwhile, a special train operated for tourists as heavy snowfall in the Banihal blocks the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway

(with ANI inputs)
New Delhi: India celebrated its 77th Republic Day on Monday (January 26), and the world watched the countrys display of military power. Tanks from the Indian Army rolled down Kartavya Path, catching the eye of observers with chains draped over them. These chains serve a specific protective purpose, acting as armour to defend the tanks against attacks.

The chains are a simple and cost-effective measure used by militaries across the world. They help reduce the impact of rockets, anti-tank missiles and drones. Tanks face two main threats in combat  RPGs (rocket-propelled grenades) and drones. When an incoming projectile hits the chains first, the weight and movement can detonate it prematurely or lessen its force, limiting damage to the tank and protecting the soldiers inside.

The effectiveness of such chains has been evident in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, where Ukrainian forces inflicted heavy losses on Russian tanks using drones and bombs. Following these attacks, the Russian Army began fitting its tanks with chains. Israel also uses similar protections.

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The Indian Army has now adopted this method, keeping pace with evolving combat strategies. This Republic Day, T-90 Bhishma tanks and Arjun main battle tanks showcased these chains in action, highlighting both innovation and readiness.
The European Union and India on Tuesday concluded negotiations on a landmark Free Trade Agreement (FTA), signalling a major step forward in their strategic partnership amid a rapidly changing global order. European Council President Antonio Costa, speaking at a joint press conference in the national capital, underscored the personal significance of the agreement by displaying his Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) card.

Im the President of the European Council, but Im also an overseas Indian citizen. Then, as you can imagine, for me it has a special meaning. Im very proud of my roots in Goa, where my fathers family came from, and the connection between Europe and India is something personal to me, Costa said.

Reflecting on the broader implications of the deal, Costa described the conclusion of negotiations as a powerful signal of unity between the two partners.

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We conclude today our trade negotiations. We relaunched them at the latest meeting that I had the pleasure of hosting in May 2021 in my previous capacity. Our summit sends a clear message to the world. At a time when the global order is being fundamentally reshaped, the European Union and India stand together as strategic and reliable partners, he said.

Today, we are taking our partnership to the next level. As the two largest democracies in the world, we are working hand in hand to deliver concrete benefits for our citizens and to shape a resilient global order that underpins peace and stability, economic growth and sustainable development.

Highlighting the strategic importance of trade, Costa noted, Trade is a crucial geopolitical stabiliser and the fundamental source of economic growth. Trade agreements reinforce the rules-based economic order and promote shared prosperity. Thats why the FTA is of historic importance.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed the conclusion of the agreement, calling it not just a trade agreement, but a blueprint for shared prosperity.

The Prime Minister noted that India-EU relations have expanded rapidly in recent years, grounded in shared democratic values, economic complementarities and strong people-to-people ties. He highlighted that bilateral trade currently stands at approximately EUR 180 billion.

Emphasising the widening scope of cooperation, Modi said India and the EU have built partnerships across strategic technologies, clean energy, digital governance and development cooperation, resulting in outcomes that would benefit all sections of society.

Describing the pact as the largest free trade agreement concluded by India to date, the Prime Minister said it would open new opportunities for farmers, small entrepreneurs and service providers.

Several key agreements and memoranda of understanding were signed and exchanged in the presence of Prime Minister Modi, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Costa. Among them was a joint strategy document titled Towards 2030: A Joint India-European Union Comprehensive Strategic Agenda.

India and the EU also exchanged multiple agreements reflecting the breadth of their strategic cooperation. The political declaration on the conclusion of FTA negotiations was signed by Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal and EU Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic.

The IndiaEU Security and Defence Partnership document was signed by EU Vice-President Kaja Kallas and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar. A Comprehensive Framework on Cooperation on Mobility was also signed by Sefcovic and Jaishankar.

Additional documents exchanged included cooperation on disaster risk management, an agreement to establish a Green Hydrogen Task Force, a memorandum of understanding between the Reserve Bank of India and the European Securities and Markets Authority, and an administrative arrangement on advanced electronic seals and signatures.

(With ANI inputs)
India-EU trade deal: India and the European Union have announced what is being described as the mother of all deals, a wide-ranging agreement covering trade, security, and defence cooperation. The announcement was made after negotiations concluded during the 16th India-EU Summit, marking a major development in international trade and diplomacy.

On Tuesday, India and the 27 member states of the European Union completed talks on a Free Trade Agreement (FTA). Prime Minister Narendra Modi represented India at the summit, while the EU was represented by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa. Both sides publicly welcomed the agreement, with EU leaders calling it a major breakthrough. In today's DNA episode, Rahul Sinha, Managing Editor of Zee News, analysed the India-EU trade pact:

Watch the DNA episode here:

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India-EU trade

The FTA aims to reduce or eliminate tariffs and restrictions on goods and services traded between India and the EU. Together, India and the EU form a combined market of around 1.85 billion people. India is currently the worlds fourth-largest economy, while the EU is the second-largest. Combined, they account for roughly 25 percent of global GDP and nearly one-third of global trade.

According to 2024-25 figures, total trade between India and the EU stands at USD 220 billion, including goods and services. Trade in goods alone amounts to USD 137 billion. India exports goods worth USD 76 billion to the EU, while EU exports to India total USD 61 billion, giving India a trade surplus of USD 15 billion in goods.

With the implementation of the FTA, both sides expect trade volumes to rise further. The EU will gain improved access to Indias market of 1.4 billion people, while India will gain access to the EUs 450 million consumers with high purchasing power. Prime Minister Modi described the agreement as a blueprint for shared prosperity.

Benefits for India

For India, the agreement is expected to bring significant benefits. Once implemented, tariffs on 99 per cent of Indian goods exported to the EU are expected to be eliminated or sharply reduced. Sectors such as textiles and leather, which employ millions, are likely to benefit the most. Indias jewellery exports, generic pharmaceuticals, marine products, handicrafts, and engineering goods are also expected to see growth. Reports estimate that Indian exports could increase by up to USD 50 billion. Indian IT and education services are also expected to gain wider access to European markets.

India has excluded sensitive agricultural sectors such as dairy, grains, poultry, and fruits and vegetables from the agreement, citing the protection of farmers interests.

Overall, the deal is expected to boost exports, create jobs, accelerate economic growth, and increase the global presence of Indian products.

Benefits for EU

The agreement also offers substantial benefits to the European Union. Import duties on European alcohol exports to India are expected to fall. Luxury carmakers such as BMW, Audi, and Mercedes-Benz are expected to find it easier to sell vehicles in India. Import duties on such cars, currently around 110 per cent, are expected to fall to 40 per cent initially and potentially to 10 per cent over the next five to seven years.

European IT, engineering, and telecom companies are also expected to gain more opportunities in India. Lower tariffs are expected to reduce ex-showroom prices of luxury cars in India by 20 to 50 per cent.

India-EU deal's global implications

The deal has wider geopolitical implications. It comes at a time when trade relations between India and the United States remain stalled, and the EU has also paused progress on its own trade deal with Washington.

The agreement can be interpreted as a setback for US President Donald Trump, whose tariff policies toward both India and Europe reportedly accelerated India-EU negotiations that had been ongoing since 2007.

According to the report, India has signalled that it will not bow to tariff pressure and is actively diversifying its trade partnerships. While the agreement reduces Indias dependence on the US market, it does not replace it entirely.

In 2024-25, Indias goods trade with the EU stood at USD 137 billion, compared with USD 132 billion in bilateral trade with the United States. However, Indias trade surplus with the US was significantly higher at USD 46 billion, compared with USD 15 billion with the EU.

US officials have publicly expressed dissatisfaction with the deal. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent reportedly criticised Europe following the announcement, though he did not comment directly on India.

The agreement will take time to come into force. Over the next few weeks, both sides will finalise the terms, followed by legal reviews over the next five to six months. Formal signing will require approval from Indias cabinet and the European Parliament.

India-EU FTA

The agreement is expected to come into effect in early 2027. Estimates suggest that bilateral trade could double to USD 440 billion within five to seven years of implementation.

Alongside the trade agreement, India and the EU also signed their first comprehensive security and defence partnership. The agreement includes cooperation on maritime security, joint naval exercises, cyber security, counter-terrorism intelligence sharing, defence industry collaboration, and space cooperation. The partnership is similar to defence agreements the EU has with Japan and South Korea.

In the coming weeks, India is also expected to expand trade engagement with other countries. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney is expected to visit India in early March, with potential agreements in uranium supply, energy, mining, and technology. French President Emmanuel Macron and Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva are also scheduled to visit India in February, signalling increased global diplomatic engagement with New Delhi.
New Delhi: After nearly twenty years of stop-start negotiations, India and the European Union (EU) have finally sealed a trade agreement that both sides are calling historic. The announcement comes at a time when global trade routes are under pressure and relations with the United States are tense. India and the 27-nation European bloc together represent a market of nearly 2 billion people and close to a quarter of the worlds total economic output.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen summed up the mood in Delhi, saying, We did it, we delivered the mother of all deals.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi described the agreement as historic, indicating how strongly New Delhi views the outcome.

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The pact opens the door to free trade in goods across one of the worlds largest economic corridors. It promises huge tariff cuts, smoother market access and closer co-operation that goes beyond commerce.

European Council President Antonio Costa joined von der Leyen in Delhi for the bilateral summit where the agreement was unveiled, highlighting its political weight.

But what does the deal actually mean for India? Let me break this down for you in four points:

Exports: For India, the biggest immediate gain lies in exports. Nearly all Indian goods sent to Europe will now receive preferential treatment. Textiles, leather products, footwear, gems and jewellery, engineering goods, marine products, handicrafts and even tea and coffee are all set to benefit from reduced or zero duties. These sectors employ millions of workers across the country, raising expectations of higher demand and stronger job creation.

Imports: On the import side, the European Commission said duties would be eliminated or reduced on 96.6% of goods exported from the EU to India. Chemicals, machinery, electrical equipment, aircraft and spacecraft will see phased tariff reductions.

A major headline change involves automobiles. Import duties on European cars, presently as high as 110%, will be cut to 10% under a quota of 250,000 vehicles. This quota is six times larger than the one India offered the United Kingdom under a deal signed last July.

India has also agreed to lower tariffs on European wine, beer and olive oil.

At the same time, New Delhi has drawn clear lines around sensitive sectors. Dairy products, cereals, poultry, soy meal and certain fruits and vegetables are outside the ambit of the agreement. The government said this approach balances export growth with domestic priorities and protects vulnerable farming communities.

Mobility: It forms another pillar of the agreement. India and the EU have agreed on a framework that makes short-term movement easier for professionals. The arrangement also supports the exchange of students and researchers, strengthening academic and scientific links between the two sides.

Expanded co-operation: The partnership extends well beyond trade flows. India and the EU have committed to expanding co-operation in innovation, defence, maritime security and climate action. Von der Leyen described the agreement in broader terms when she said, "This is the tale of two giants - the world's second and fourth largest economies. Two giants which chose partnership in a true win-win fashion. A strong message that co-operation is the best answer to global challenges."

A day earlier, Costa said the deal would send an "important political message to the world that India and the EU believe more in trade agreements than in tariffs".

Prime Minister Modi called the agreement Indias biggest free trade deal to date. "This is India's biggest free trade agreement. It will make access to European markets easier for India's farmers and small business. It will also boost manufacturing and services sectors. It will boost innovative partnerships," he said.

The geopolitical backdrop is impossible to ignore. India continues to face 50% tariffs imposed by US President Donald Trump last year, even as talks on a separate India-US trade deal move slowly.

Europe has also faced pressure from Washington, including recent threats from Trump to escalate trade disputes with European allies over Greenland.

Economists say the agreement could provide relief to labour-intensive Indian industries such as shrimp farming, textiles and gems and jewellery, which have felt the impact of US tariffs.

From the European perspective, the agreement offers predictability in a period defined by economic pressure and global uncertainty. Germany and France are expected to be among the biggest beneficiaries. The deal may not be the most ambitious version once imagined, but it still holds strategic value. It will serve as a foundation for deeper engagement as Europe looks to connect with a fast-growing economy.

Formal signing of the agreement is expected later this year after approval by the European Parliament and EU member states. Observers said that another EU trade pact with the Mercosur bloc of South American countries recently stalled in parliament. The India deal is viewed as less contentious because it avoids politically sensitive areas on both sides.

Security and defence co-operation is advancing along with the trade pact. India and the EU are working on a draft security and defence partnership covering maritime security, cyber threats and defence dialogue. Reuters reported that these talks are gathering pace.

On Tuesday, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said he discussed a wide range of issues with European Commission Vice-President Kaja Kallas, including supply chain integration to build trusted defence ecosystems and develop future-ready capabilities.

The EU already stands as Indias largest trading partner in goods. Bilateral merchandise trade reached $136 billion in 2024-25, nearly double the level seen a decade ago. Negotiations for a trade deal first began in 2007 and stalled in 2013 over market access and regulatory demands. Talks formally resumed in July 2022.

Tariffs acted as a useful tailwind in the homestretch to close the deal. The agreement adds to a growing list of trade pacts signed by India in recent years.

Over the past seven months, India has concluded major deals with the United Kingdom, Oman and New Zealand. A pact with the European Free Trade Association bloc of Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein came into force last year. India also signed a trade agreement with Australia in 2022.
India and the European Union are set to announce the conclusion of negotiations on a long-awaited free trade agreement at a high-level summit in New Delhi today, marking a landmark breakthrough after nearly two decades of talks. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will host European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa, with the meeting also expected to finalise a strategic defence partnership and a mobility framework. Together, the agreements are seen as laying the foundation for a broader India-EU strategy amid shifting global trade and security dynamics driven in part by recent US policy changes.

Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal confirmed on Monday that negotiations on the comprehensive free trade agreement (FTA) had been successfully completed.

Negotiations have been successfully concluded. The deal has been finalised, Agrawal said, describing the agreement as balanced and forward-looking from Indias perspective. He added that it would help integrate India more deeply with the European economy, according to PTI.

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Von der Leyen, who was the chief guest at Indias Republic Day celebrations, highlighted the strategic importance of closer ties. A successful India makes the world more stable, prosperous and secure, and we all benefit, she said in a post on X.

Agrawal said legal vetting of the FTA text was underway, with both sides working to complete procedural steps. While the announcement is expected today, the agreement is likely to be formally signed later this year and could come into force early next year.

The pact will require approval from Indias Union Cabinet and ratification by the European Parliament, a process expected to take several months.

Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal has previously described the agreement as the mother of all deals, reflecting its scale and strategic importance. Negotiations began in 2007, making it one of Indias longest-running trade discussions.

The FTA spans 24 chapters covering trade in goods, services and investment, alongside parallel talks on investment protection and Geographical Indications.

Tariff relief and market access

The agreement is expected to provide duty-free or preferential access for a wide range of Indian exports, particularly from labour-intensive sectors such as textiles, chemicals, gems and jewellery, electrical machinery, leather and footwear.

The EUs average tariff on Indian goods currently stands at about 3.8 per cent, rising to nearly 10 per cent for labour-intensive products. Indias weighted average tariff on EU imports is around 9.3 per cent, with higher duties on automobiles, plastics, chemicals and pharmaceuticals.

Under a standard FTA framework, both sides are expected to reduce or eliminate tariffs on more than 90 per cent of traded goods and ease restrictions in services, including telecommunications, transport, accounting and auditing.

Strategic significance

The deal carries added weight amid global trade disruption caused by sharply higher US tariffs, with Indian exporters facing duties of up to 50 per cent in some markets. Officials see the agreement as a way to diversify export destinations, reduce reliance on traditional markets and lower dependence on China in trade and supply chains.

Indias bilateral goods trade with the EU stood at $136.53 billion in 2024-25, including exports of $75.85 billion and imports of $60.68 billion, making the bloc Indias largest goods trading partner. Services trade totalled $83.10 billion in 2024, while India recorded a trade surplus of $15.17 billion.

The EU accounts for about 17 per cent of Indias total exports, while India absorbs roughly 9 per cent of the blocs overseas shipments. Indias main exports to the EU include petroleum products, electronics, textiles and garments, machinery, pharmaceuticals, gems and jewellery, auto components, footwear and coffee. Key imports include machinery, electronics, aircraft, medical devices, chemicals and plastics.

If concluded as planned, the India-EU agreement would become the eighth major trade pact finalised by the NDA government since 2014, following deals with Australia, the UK, the UAE, the EFTA bloc and Mauritius.

In addition to the FTA, India and the EU continue negotiations on separate agreements covering investment protection and Geographical Indications, further broadening the scope of their economic partnership.
In what has been termed a "tectonic shift" in global trade, India and the European Union (EU) formally announced the completion of Free Trade Agreement (FTA) talks on Tuesday.

At a highly publicised summit held at Hyderabad House, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced that the two trading behemoths had completed the "Mother of All Deals," establishing a free trade area encompassing 2 billion people and a quarter of the world's GDP.

The historic achievement: Why it was not signed on Tuesday

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While the mood was one of jubilation and the presence of the two leaders was a testament to the importance of the agreement, no signing ceremony took place. This was because the agreement has reached the stage of "concluded negotiations," which is a political achievement rather than a legally binding one.

Before the agreement can be formally "signed" and implemented, the following procedural requirements must be fulfilled:

Legal scrubbing: This is a technical examination where the legal teams of both parties verify that the 21+ chapters are harmonised, foolproof, and compliant with the domestic laws of each side. This process is expected to take 5 to 6 months.

Translation: The document needs to be translated and authenticated in all 24 official languages of the EU.

Ratification: After the "scrubbing" process, the agreement needs to be ratified by the European Parliament and the Indian Union Cabinet.

It is expected that the signing process will take place towards the end of 2026, and the agreement will come into effect from early 2027.

Major highlights: What's in the deal?

The historic trade agreement between India and the EU is a huge economic roadmap that will see the European Union's exports to India double by 2032, offering businesses an incredible annual saving of around 4 billion ($4.35 billion) in customs duties. One of the biggest areas of agreement is in the automotive industry, where the current tariff of 110% will be reduced to just 10% for a certain quota of 250,000 vehicles per year. Similarly, fans of European luxury will enjoy an incredible reduction in tariffs for high-end wines and spirits, which will see the current tariff of 150% reduced to between 20% and 30%.

On the other side of the trade agreement, Indian industries are set to gain an incredible amount of ground with the EU offering duty-free access to the European market for key sectors such as textiles, leather, gems, and marine products. To ensure that the Indian economy remains stable, the trade agreement has carefully left out sensitive agricultural products such as beef, rice, and dairy products, which will not be part of the trade agreement, thus protecting millions of Indian farmers from global competition.

Geopolitical strategy: Hedging against 'Trump tariffs'

The need to seal the deal comes against the backdrop of a volatile year in international trade. With US President Donald Trump continuing to impose high 50% tariffs on some Indian products and with transatlantic trade tensions running high, both New Delhi and Brussels have taken steps to shield themselves against the "unpredictable" trade policies of the US.

"In an uncertain world, this pact is a shield," said a top trade analyst. With this deal, India has managed to place itself firmly in the stable alternative category to the US and China, securing its biggest-ever trade breakthrough with any country.

ALSO READ | India-EU trade deal: Why New Delhi could be the perfect partner for Europe | EXPLAINED
New Delhi: States across India are poised to gain significantly from the landmark India-European Union Free Trade Agreement (FTA), with exports valued at nearly Rs 6.4 lakh crore set to enter 27 EU nations under a unified trade framework, Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal said.

In a post on X, Goyal highlighted that several states including Gujarat, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Punjab, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, Assam and Kerala are expected to emerge as major beneficiaries, given their strong base in manufacturing, agriculture-linked industries and export-oriented sectors.

The agreement is aimed at widening market access for Indian goods across diverse segments such as textiles and apparel, engineering products, pharmaceuticals and medical devices, electronics, chemicals, plastics, rubber, marine exports, leather and footwear, gems and jewellery, handicrafts, tea, spices, minerals and agricultural produce.

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States like Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Assam and Punjab are expected to see fresh opportunities across key sectors as exports scale up.

The FTA is also expected to provide a major boost to export-focused enterprises, especially micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), by opening doors to EU markets across regions and industries. Labour-intensive sectors, in particular, are likely to benefit, helping push Indias export growth to the next level.

In the textiles and apparel sector, the agreement provides immediate zero-duty access on 100 per cent of tariff lines, enabling Indian exporters to tap directly into the USD 263 billion EU textile market. This is expected to level the playing field against global competitors and benefit millions of Indian weavers.

For leather and footwear, duties have been reduced from 17 per cent to zero, opening access to the USD 100 billion European market. This move is expected to revive key manufacturing clusters in Agra, Kanpur, Kolhapur and Ranipet, with a renewed focus on design-driven exports.

The gems and jewellery sector has also secured complete duty-free access, unlocking opportunities in a premium USD 79 billion market. Export hubs across Gujarat, Rajasthan, Maharashtra and West Bengal are set to gain from the agreement.

In engineering and manufacturing, Indian exporters will gain direct entry into a USD 2 trillion industrial market, along with preferential access for engineering goods. This is expected to support Indias ambition of reaching USD 300 billion in engineering exports by 2030, particularly benefiting MSMEs in states such as Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat and Tamil Nadu.

India and the European Union formally concluded negotiations on the FTA on Tuesday, with documents exchanged between EU Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic and Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal. The development marks a significant milestone in India-EU economic relations.

According to a joint statement, the agreement represents a key step forward in the India-EU Strategic Partnership and is expected to strengthen trade and investment ties, build resilient and diversified supply chains, and promote sustainable and inclusive growth.

Negotiations for the FTA resumed in 2022 after an earlier pause and were concluded following sustained discussions. The European Union remains one of Indias largest trading partners. In 2024-25, bilateral trade in goods stood at Rs 11.5 lakh crore, with Indian exports worth Rs 6.4 lakh crore and imports at Rs 5.1 lakh crore. Trade in services between India and the EU reached Rs 7.2 lakh crore during the same period.

(With inputs from ANI)
Emirates Global Aluminium and Century Aluminum (CENX) Company entered into a joint development agreement to build the first new primary aluminum production plant in the United States since 1980. Under the joint development agreement, EGA will own 60 percent of the joint venture, with Century owning the remaining 40 percent. The new plant, to be built in Inola, Oklahoma as previously announced by EGA, is expected to produce 750,000 tonnes of aluminum per year, larger than previously envisioned and more than doubling current U.S. production. The Inola plant will create 1,000 permanent direct jobs at the facility and 4,000 jobs during construction. The partnership combines EGAs expertise in aluminum smelting design and technology, construction and operation with Centurys extensive history and expertise operating aluminum smelters in the United States utilizing domestic supply chains. The project will use EGAs latest EX technology. Both parties will now solely focus their greenfield development efforts in the United States on the Inola, OK site. Once complete, the Inola plant will be the largest ever primary aluminum production plant in the U.S., and the first built in nearly 50 years. About 85 percent of the aluminum needs of American industries are currently met by imports. The new smelter will expand the domestic supply of this critical mineral and grow the American aluminum workforce, revitalizing U.S. aluminum expertise and know-how. Construction of the project is expected to start by the end of 2026. Production is expected to begin by the end of the decade. Detailed engineering work is already underway and negotiations with Public Service Company of Oklahoma and the state of Oklahoma on a competitive long-term power supply are progressing.

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India-EU trade deal: India and the European Union (EU) successfully concluded negotiations of the landmark India-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA) on Tuesday. This announcement marks a historic milestone in India and EU economic relations and trade engagement with key global partners.

The documents on the agreement conclusion were exchanged between EU Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic and Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal. The free trade agreement between India and the EU, first initiated in 2007, is expected to anchor a broader economic and strategic partnership as global trade dynamics shift.

Significance of India-EU trade deal

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The European Union is one of India's largest trading partners, with bilateral trade in goods and services growing steadily over the years.

In 2024-25, India's bilateral trade in goods with the EU stood at Rs 11.5 Lakh Crore (USD 136.54 billion) with exports worth Rs 6.4 Lakh Crore (USD 75.85 billion) and imports amounting to Rs 5.1 Lakh Crore (USD 60.68 billion). India-EU trade in services reached Rs 7.2 Lakh Crore (USD 83.10 billion) in 2024.

President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, during a briefing on Tuesday, said that the India-EU trade deal is a "strong message" that cooperation is the key solution to global challenges.

"...This is the tale of two giants. The world's second and fourth largest economies, two giants who choose partnership in a true win-win fashion. A strong message that cooperation is the best answer to global challenges," she said.

The #IndiaEUTradeDeal is a strong message that cooperation is the best answer to global challenges: EU President @vonderleyen pic.twitter.com/FRrS4u5O0G  Piyush Goyal (@PiyushGoyal) January 27, 2026

Trump trade tariffs

US President Donald Trump's tariffs have raised global uncertainty in trade and diplomacy and thus this India-EU FTA is more significant to both India and the EU.

According to a report by The Guardian, dated September 10, 2025, Trump had asked the EU to impose up to 100 per cent tariffs on India and China. This was reportedly a part of the push to end Russia-Ukraine conflict.

Trump had made these demands during a meeting between the EU and the US officials.

Also Read- India-EU evolving ties: Why New Delhi could be the perfect partner for Europe | EXPLAINED

Scott Bessent's reaction to India-EU deal

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has accused European nations of indirectly financing the Russia-Ukraine war by purchasing oil products refined in India using Russian crude, even as Washington has imposed tariffs on New Delhi over its energy ties with Moscow.

According to ANI, speaking to ABC News on Sunday, Bessent defended the Trump administration's decision to levy steep duties on Indian imports, arguing that Europe's continued energy-linked trade contradicts its stated security position.

"We have put 25 per cent tariffs on India for buying Russian oil. Guess what happened last week? The Europeans signed a trade deal with India," Bessent said.

"And just to be clear again, the Russian oil goes into India, the refined products come out, and the Europeans buy the refined products. They are financing the war against themselves," he added.

Bessent said the US has imposed punitive tariffs and pushed for decoupling from Russian energy, while European governments continue to benefit from what he described as gaps in the global oil supply chain.

India-US tariff

Earlier, the Trump administration had imposed tariffs of up to 50 per cent on Indian goods, including a 25 per cent levy directly linked to India's imports of Russian oil.

These measures were doubled in August, further escalating trade tensions between Washington and New Delhi.

However, Bessent had reportedly indicated that tariff relief could be considered.

(with ANI inputs)
Italian President Sergio Matarella on Tuesday extended Republic Day wishes to President Droupadi Murmu, noting that ties between both nations continue to expand rapidly.

Matarella stressed that India and Italy share fundamental values like democracy and respect for the rule of law, as well as pursue multiple converging interests, including protection of a rules-based international order, pursuit of security and stability along the Indo-Mediterranean arc, and effective management of the global challenges.

In a letter written to President Murmu, Matarella stated, "On the occasion of the Republic Day, I would like to extend to you, Madam President, my warmest wishes for a prosperous future for the Republic of India. Relations between India and Italy are set on a path of rapid expansion, destined to deepen further to our mutual benefit."

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"The bilateral partnership, also thanks to the implementation of the Joint Strategic Action Plan, is enriched every day by new opportunities for cooperation, whether through joint projects between our respective economic operators, scientific collaborations, or increasingly intense and fruitful contacts between our civil societies," he added.

Matarella expressed hope that synergies between India and Italy will be further strengthened in each sector of the bilateral agenda and within the framework of ties between India and the European Union.

"Delhi and Rome share fundamental values, such as democracy and respect for the rule of law. They also pursue multiple converging interests, beginning with the protection of a rules-based international order, the peaceful pursuit of security and stability along the Indo- Mediterranean arc, and effective multilateral management of the major global challenges.

"Building on these foundations, I hope that synergies between our countries-drawing impetus from frequent exchanges of visits at the highest institutional and political levels-may be strengthened in every sector of the bilateral agenda, as well as within the framework of relations between India and the European Union, which stand to gain greatly from new economic and trade agreements. With these hopes, and in a spirit of friendship, I wish to renew to you and to all your citizens the warmest congratulations on behalf of the Italian Republic," Matarella added.

Last month, Italy's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Antonio Tajani, called on PM Modi during his visit to New Delhi. During the discussions, PM Modi described the India-Italy relationship as one that "continues to get stronger", adding that the deepening engagement benefits not only both countries but also contributes positively to the global community.

"Delighted to meet Italys Deputy Prime Minister &amp; Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Antonio Tajani, today. Conveyed appreciation for the proactive steps being taken by both sides towards implementation of the Italy-India Joint Strategic Action Plan 2025-2029 across key sectors such as trade, investment, research, innovation, defence, space, connectivity, counter-terrorism, education and people-to-people ties. India-Italy friendship continues to get stronger, greatly benefiting our people and the global community," PM Modi's post on X read.

India and Italy elevated their ties to a Strategic Partnership during the visit of Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni in 2023, laying the groundwork for an ambitious long-term agenda now being operationalised through the 20252029 plan.
New Delhi: The Indian Army has taken full charge of monitoring and neutralising hostile drones along the northern and western borders. Any drone entering a ground belt of 35 kilometres or flying up to three kilometres in altitude will be engaged without delay. The move comes as armed and surveillance drones from across the border appear more frequently near Indian positions.

After Operation Sindoor, the Army revised its operational approach and expanded its drone response capabilities. New rocket regiments were raised as part of this change.

According to reports, the Army will now handle nearly all drone and anti-drone activity within this defined air and ground space. Air command and control centres are being set up along the Line of Control (LoC) with Pakistan and the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China.

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These command centres will track enemy drones, launch Indian drones and carry out immediate interceptions. Along the western front, the Army plans to deploy around 10,000 drones. Along the 3,488-kilometre stretch of the LAC, more than 20,000 drones are being kept ready for operations.

The Army will work in close coordination with the Indian Air Force. Corps commanders will be in constant touch with regional air force commanders. Intelligence agencies and other security arms will also be linked to this effort.

The preparations gained urgency after Indias military offensive against Pakistan in May last year, when Islamabad sent swarms of drones built with Turkish and Chinese support. On the northern front, the Chinese military continues to use drones to monitor Indian movements along the LAC.

Beyond drones, the Army has already deployed two rocket force units. Two Rudra brigades and the 21 Bhairav Battalion are now positioned near sensitive areas. Artillery reach near the borders is being expanded. The rocket force was set up by earlier Chinese actions after attempts to alter the ground situation in eastern Ladakh, where rocket regiments were placed across the LAC.

With these steps, the Army has clearly defined its red line. Any hostile drone that crosses it will not return.
Jammu: The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) on Tuesday rescued 60 people, including 40 Rashtriya Rifles (RR) personnel, from snowbound areas of Jammu and Kashmirs Doda district, a defence spokesperson said.

According to the spokesperson, the high-altitude rescue and road restoration operation was carried out under Project Sampark at Chatergala Pass, located at an elevation of 10,500 feet on the BhaderwahChatergala axis. The operation was undertaken in extremely challenging weather conditions following heavy snowfall in the region.

The 118 Road Construction Company (RCC) of the 35 Border Roads Task Force (BRTF) launched the mission on January 24, a day after continuous snowfall lasting nearly 40 hours. BRO teams cleared around 38 kilometres of road buried under five to six feet of snow. By the evening of January 25, the route was reopened, allowing the safe evacuation of 20 stranded civilians and 40 personnel of the 4 Rashtriya Rifles, along with their weapons and supplies.

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The rescue operation was completed in the early hours of January 26 without any casualties, highlighting the expertise and dedication of BRO personnel working in high-altitude terrain amid harsh winter conditions. The mission was carried out in close coordination with the Army, ensuring quick relief and the restoration of crucial communication links in the area.

Reiterating its commitment to infrastructure resilience and humanitarian assistance, the BRO said it continues to operate in some of the countrys most inhospitable regions, guided by its motto, Shramena Sarvam Sadhyam.

A statutory organisation under the Ministry of Defence, the BRO is responsible for building and maintaining road infrastructure in Indias border areas and friendly neighbouring countries. Its operations span 19 states, three Union Territories and countries such as Afghanistan, Bhutan, Myanmar, Tajikistan and Sri Lanka.

Since its formation in 1960, the organisation has constructed over 64,100 kilometres of roads, 1,179 bridges, seven tunnels and 22 airfields across strategic regions.

In addition to rescue operations in Doda, the BRO also restored connectivity on key roads in the Kandi-Kotranka area of Rajouri district following heavy snowfall. The snow, measuring up to three feet, had disrupted movement along a critical stretch in the Pir Panjal region, cutting off the Kandi-Kotranka sub-division from Rajouri town.

The spokesperson said that the snowfall had severely affected both civilian and military movement, including medical emergency services. Despite the risks, personnel of the 110 RCC of the 31 BRTF under Project Sampark carried out round-the-clock snow clearance operations using specialised equipment.

As a result, a single-lane road was initially opened to allow controlled vehicular movement. Traffic, including emergency and essential services, resumed within 14 hours. Clearance and widening work continued, and around 35 kilometres of road were fully restored within 24 hours to ensure safer and smoother travel.

(With IANS inputs)
The new double-decker flyover under Mumbai Metro Line 9 in Mira-Bhayandar has sparked a political and social media uproar. A viral video shows the flyover's four lanes suddenly merging into just two, prompting criticism and calls it a "fatal engineering miracle."

As opposition parties accuse the government of corruption and poor planning, the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) has had to provide a detailed technical explanation to ease public concerns.

The controversy: A 'fatal miracle" on social media

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The viral footage revealed the wide structure quickly narrowing at its descent, raising worries about severe traffic jams and accidents at high speeds.

Congress slams BJP

Posting the video on X (formerly Twitter), the Congress party criticised the ruling government. They stated, "A 4-lane bridge suddenly turns into 2 lanes. Whether in Maharashtra or MP, these life-threatening 'miracles' are common under BJP rule. Accountability is zero."

MNS alleges corruption

The Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) staged a unique protest. City president Sandeep Rane announced a symbolic "award" for the engineers involved. The party claims there is significant corruption and argues that the design will worsen traffic rather than fix it.

MMRDA's defense: 'Planned for the future'

In response to the backlash, MMRDA officials explained that the design is intentional and based on the current road width along with future expansion plans for Bhayandar West.

1. The 2+2 Lane Logic: MMRDA states the flyover is designed as a 2+2 lane structure up to Golden Nest Circle to manage traffic from five major roads. Beyond that point, the path splits:

Current phase: Two lanes go down toward Bhayandar East

Future phase: The other two lanes are "reserved" for a future extension that will cross over the Western Railway tracks to connect with Bhayandar West.

2. Space constraints: The authority noted that due to Development Plan (DP) constraints and limited space on the Bhayandar East stretch, the flyover temporarily shifts to a 1+1 lane layout.

3. Safety measures in place: To avoid accidents at the narrowing section, MMRDA has added:

Rumble strips and delineators to alert drivers.

Retro-reflective tags and clear signage for visibility at night.

Anti-crash barriers to ensure structural safety.

The integrated metro-flyover project

The structure is part of three parallel flyovers built beneath the Metro Line 9 tracks to improve one of Mira-Bhayandar's busiest intersections. While two flyovers are open, the last section near Deepak Hospital is nearing completion. MMRDA insists that once the entire network is finishedincluding the westward extensionthe "bottleneck" will be resolved.

ALSO READ | Cold wave alert Jan 28: North India braced for frost and sub-zero winds after snowfall
India-EU trade deal: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday hailed the visit of European Council President Antonio Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to India, saying that it was no ordinary diplomatic engagement and that it heralds a new era in IndiaEuropean Union relations.

Emphasizing the completion of the Free Trade Agreement between India and the European Union, as well as the organization of the India-European Union Business Forum, Prime Minister Modi said that these events symbolize the unprecedented convergence taking place between the world's two largest democratic powers.

Addressing the IndiaEU Business Forum, Prime Minister Modi said, "This visit to India by the Presidents of the European Union Council and Commission is no ordinary diplomatic visit. It heralds a new era in India-European Union relations. For the first time, European Union leaders are participating as chief guests at India's Republic Day celebrations. The largest Free Trade Agreement in India's history is being concluded between India and the European Union, and today, a large-scale India-European Union Business Forum is being held with many CEOs. All these achievements symbolise the unprecedented alignment taking place between the world's two largest democratic powers."

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Prime Minister Modi further said that the IndiaEU partnership is not a coincidence, but is rooted in shared market values, common priorities for global stability, and strong people-to-people connections between open societies.

"This alignment is not an accident. As market economies, we share common values, we have shared priorities for global stability, and as open societies, there is a natural connection between our people. It is on this strong foundation that we are taking our partnership to new heights. We are establishing it as one of the world's most influential partnerships, and the results are clearly visible. In the last 10 years, our trade has doubled to reach 180 billion Euros. More than 6,000 European companies are operating in India. There is over 120 billion Euros of investment from the European Union in India. 1,500 Indian companies are present in the European Union," he said.

Stating that cooperation between Indian and European companies spans sectors such as research and development, manufacturing, and services, Modi said the time has come to elevate the partnership into a "whole-of-society partnership."

"Indian investment in the EU has reached almost 40 billion euros. Today, there is deep cooperation between India and European companies in every sector, including R&D, manufacturing, and services, and business leaders like you are both the drivers and beneficiaries of this. Now is the time to transform this partnership into a whole-of-society partnership. With this vision, we have today finalised a comprehensive FTA," he said.

Prime Minister Modi said, "This (India-EU FTA) will provide easy access to the European Union market for India's labour-intensive products. This includes textiles, gems and jewellery, auto parts, and engineering goods. Fruits, vegetables, processed foods, and marine products will see new opportunities. Our farmers and fishermen will directly benefit from this. Our service sector will also benefit. The IT, education, traditional medicine, and business services sectors will particularly benefit. Today, there is great upheaval in global business. Every company is re-evaluating its market strategy and partnerships. At such a time, this FTA is a clear and positive message for the business world. It is a clear invitation for the business communities of both sides to build a capable, reliable, and future-oriented partnership."

Prime Minister Modis remarks came as India and the European Union (EU) on Tuesday concluded negotiations on the IndiaEU Free Trade Agreement, described as the "mother of all deals."
The newly concluded trade agreement between India and the European Union is being hailed as the mother of all deals, drawing global attention for its scale and ambition. The pact is expected to create a market of nearly two billion people and account for close to a quarter of global gross domestic product.

Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal confirmed on Monday that negotiators from India and the EU have successfully wrapped up talks on what he described as an ambitious, balanced, forward-looking and mutually beneficial free trade agreement.

"India-EU FTA negotiations concluded, to be announced tomorrow. Formal deal signing to be done after legal scrubbing. The deal will be balanced, forward-looking and help with better economic integration with the EU. The deal will propel trade and investment between both sides. The deal will enter into force sometime next year. Legal scrubbing of text to take 5-6 months, formal signing to be done post that," said Rajesh Agrawal.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi formally confirmed the signing of the India-EU trade deal on Tuesday. The announcement appeared to unsettle the United States, with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent reiterating allegations that Indias oil trade with Russia is financing the war in Ukraine, which is backed by the European Union.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi described the India-European Union Free Trade Agreement (FTA) as the mother of all deals, emphasising that it would unlock vast opportunities for businesses and citizens on both sides while strengthening ties between two of the worlds largest economies.

Yesterday, a big agreement was signed between the European Union and India. People are calling this the mother of all deals. This agreement will bring major opportunities for the public in India and Europe. This is a perfect example of a partnership between two major economies of the world, Modi said.

#WATCH | Prime Minister Narendra Modi says, "Yesterday a big agreement was signed between the European Union and India. People are calling this the mother of all deals. This agreement will bring major opportunities for the public in India and Europe. This is a perfect example of pic.twitter.com/Tgyzmliyok  ANI (@ANI) January 27, 2026

The Prime Minister noted that the pact represents 25 per cent of global GDP and nearly one-third of world trade. He added, This agreement empowers our shared commitment towards democracy and the rule of law. This Free Trade Agreement with the European Union will also complement Britain and EFTA's agreements. I congratulate the people of the nation for this.

Modi further highlighted the economic benefits, saying, Manufacturing will get a huge boost from this trade deal with the EU, and the services sector will also expand. The Free Trade Agreement will boost the confidence of every investor and businessman to invest in India.

The FTA comes amid heightened geopolitical tensions and US tariff measures on multiple nations. Reacting to the deal, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent criticised the European Union for signing the pact, stating, We have put 25% tariffs on India for buying Russian oil. Guess what happened last week? The Europeans signed a trade deal with India. Europeans are financing the war against themselves.

The announcement coincides with the 16th India-EU Summit in Delhi, where Modi is scheduled to meet European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa. The summit is expected to mark the formal conclusion of long-pending FTA negotiations, with officials describing it as a historic milestone.

Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal confirmed on Monday that India and the EU have successfully finalised talks. He said the agreement would come into force next year after legal scrubbing, followed by formal signing and ratification.

The FTA is expected to transform bilateral trade and investment, covering sectors including manufacturing, services, clean energy, digital technology, and people-to-people mobility. It will also provide a framework for the movement of Indian workers to Europe, complementing existing migration partnerships with France, Germany, and Italy.

Defence and security cooperation will also be strengthened under a proposed Security and Defence Partnership (SDP). Officials said this initiative would enhance interoperability, facilitate Indian participation in the EUs 150 billion SAFE (Security Action for Europe) programme, and bolster strategic collaboration.

India and the EU first began FTA negotiations in 2007, but talks stalled in 2013 due to differences in ambition. Negotiations resumed in June 2022, culminating in the historic agreement expected to open up a combined market of nearly two billion people.

Trade data underscore the significance of the pact: bilateral goods trade reached $136 billion in 2024-25, with India exporting $76 billion and importing $60 billion. The EU is Indias largest trading partner, accounting for around 17 per cent of Indian exports and nearly 9 per cent of EU exports to the rest of the world.

One of the most notable provisions of the FTA is the opening of Indias automobile sector to European car manufacturers. Import duties on European vehicles are set to fall from 110 per cent to approximately 40 per cent, making brands such as Volkswagen, Mercedes-Benz, and BMW more affordable in India.

With the FTA, India is set to deepen economic integration with Europe, offsetting the impact of US tariffs, expanding its global trade footprint, and reinforcing strategic ties in trade, defence, and technology.

(With agencies' inputs)
Chandigarh: Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Monday asserted that the Punjab Government stands firmly committed to safeguarding the States interests in the water dispute, while pursuing a mutually agreed resolution of the Sutlej Yamuna Link (SYL) canal issue during a meeting with Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini.

CM Bhagwant Singh Mann stated, "We have no water to share with any other state, but as the elder brother of Haryana, we do not want to draw daggers with our neighbouring state and seek early resolution of this long-pending issue.

The Punjab CM stated, Punjab has no surplus water to share with any other state, and categorically asserted, Not even a single drop of Punjabs rightful water can be allowed to be taken away. He said that the SYL canal is an emotive issue for the State and added, The State will face serious law and order problems if it is imposed, while making it clear that land for the SYL canal is not available in Punjab as of today.

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Reiterating Punjabs approach, the Chief Minister said, Punjab is the elder brother, and both states are here to find an amicable solution to this controversial issue, adding that both the Supreme Court and the Government of India want a mutually accepted solution, and it is a good thing that both states have joined hands to resolve the issue and end confrontation.

Highlighting that Punjab is not depriving anyone of their rightful share, Bhagwant Singh Mann said, Out of 34.34 Million Acre Feet (MAF) of water from the three rivers, Punjab was allocated only 14.22 MAF, which is 40 percent, while the remaining 60 percent was allocated to Haryana, Delhi and Rajasthan, even though none of these rivers actually flow through these states.

Expressing concern over Punjabs water crisis, the Chief Minister said, Due to reduction in surface water availability, excessive pressure is being put on groundwater resources, adding that 115 out of 153 blocks in Punjab have been declared over-exploited. He said that Punjab today has the highest rate of groundwater extraction in the country.

Invoking the spirit of Bhai Kanhaiya Ji, Bhagwant Singh Mann said, Punjab ignores its own water requirements and gives about 60 percent of its water to meet the needs of non-riparian states, but added that while Punjab shares its river waters, flood-related damages are borne solely by the State, making it imperative that the rights of Punjab are duly safeguarded.

Quoting a Gurbani verse, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said, Pawan Guru, Paani Pitaah, Mata Dharat Mahat, adding, The Sikh Guru Sahiban have equated air with the teacher, water with the father and land with the mother, and the State government is following their teachings to protect these natural resources.

The Chief Minister said, For the first time in recent history, both state governments are holding serious deliberations to solve this matter, adding that there is no question of winning or losing, but the interests and emotions of Punjab and Punjabis cannot be ignored.

He said that water is the lifeline of both states, and proposed that regular meetings between officers of both states through a Joint Working Group are necessary. Bhagwant Singh Mann expressed hope that frequent meetings of the Joint Working Group will go a long way in finding an amicable solution and ushering in an era of progress and prosperity for both states.

CM Bhagwant Singh Mann was accompanied by Cabinet Minister Barinder Goyal, Chief Secretary KAP Sinha, Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister Dr Ravi Bhagat, Secretary Irrigation Krishan Kumar and others.
New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Tuesday dismissed a petition seeking equal access for all devotees to perform darshan and rituals inside the sanctum sanctorum of the Shri Mahakaleshwar Temple in Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh, without any distinction between VIPs and general worshippers.

The plea was filed by Darpan Awasthi, who urged the court to issue directions ensuring non-discriminatory practices in the revered temple. However, a bench headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant declined to entertain the matter, observing that such issues fall outside the courts jurisdiction.

Making strong oral remarks, the CJI said petitions of this nature are often filed by individuals who are not genuine devotees. He added that courts are not meant to frame policies or guidelines on religious practices.

Such people are not shradhalu. They come with different motives. What should or should not be done is not for courts to decide. We are concerned only with what is justiciable, the CJI remarked.

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After briefly hearing arguments from the petitioners counsel, the bench dismissed the plea but allowed Awasthi the liberty to approach the appropriate government authorities by way of a representation.

Shri Mahakaleshwar Temple, one of the twelve Jyotirlingas, holds immense spiritual significance for devotees across India. Thousands visit the temple year-round, particularly to witness the famed Bhasma Aarti, which is believed to bestow divine blessings, protection, and fulfilment of wishes.

The Bhasma Aarti, considered one of the most sacred rituals of the temple, is performed during Brahma Muhurta between 3:30 am and 5:30 am. As per tradition, the ritual begins with the opening of the temple doors, followed by the ceremonial bathing of the Shivling with Panchamrit. The deity is then adorned with hemp and sandalwood paste, symbolising purity and sanctity.
With the University Grants Commission (UGC) launching its new regulations for the year 2026, a major political and social storm has broken out. In response to protests from general category student leaders, BJP MP Nishikant Dubey posted on social media to counter the opposition, mentioning Articles 14 and 15 of the Indian Constitution.

Here is a detailed explanation of the controversy and the relevant legal provisions in the midst of the storm.

The context: What are the new UGC regulations?

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On January 15, 2026, the UGC issued the Promotion of Equity in Higher Educational Institutions Regulations. The new regulations are a replacement for the old guidelines of 2012, with a tougher policy to ban any form of discrimination based on caste, gender, and background.

The controversy: What is the problem with the new UGC regulations?

The main cause of the protest is the addition of OBC (Other Backward Classes) communities under the special "caste-based discrimination" provision. The general category students feel that since OBC communities already have reservations, they should not be included in these special provisions against discrimination protections; they feel that these protections may inadvertently disadvantage general category students.

Nishikant Dubey's stance: 'Equality for all'

Godda MP Nishikant Dubey tried to ease the situation by referring to the EWS (Economically Weaker Sections) reservation. He said that during Prime Minister Modi's rule, "justice was delivered" to the general category through the 10% EWS reservation in 2019.

Dubey said that according to Articles 14 and 15, there is no difference between SC, ST, OBC, and the General Category, and that he would remove any "misconceptions" regarding the UGC notification.

    ,  UGC             14  15    , ,          10             Dr Nishikant Dubey (@nishikant_dubey) January 25, 2026

Deep dive: What is Article 14?

Article 14 is the foundation of the Right to Equality in India. It says: "The State shall not deny to any person equality before the law or the equal protection of the laws within the territory of India."

It holds two different notions:

Equality Before the Law: This is a "negative" provision, which means that no person is greater than the law, and no person has any special rights.

Equal protection of laws: A "positive" notion that means persons in similar circumstances should be treated in a similar manner. It enables the state to make "reasonable classifications" (such as reservations) to uplift marginalised sections to an equal status.

Deep dive: Unpacking Article 15

Whereas Article 14 is applicable to all persons within the territory of India (including foreign nationals), Article 15 is strictly for Indian nationals only.

The mandate: It forbids the state from discriminating against any citizen on the basis of religion, race, caste, sex, or place of birth alone.

The UGC link: The new UGC guidelines are, in essence, an administrative implementation of Article 15 to ensure that no student is made to feel like a second-class citizen on campus, with their identity becoming an obstacle to their own educational advancement.

Why the EWS mention matters

The BJP MP is making it clear that the government believes in a "multi-directional street" concept of equity by mentioning Articles 14 and 15, together with the 10% EWS reservation. His logic is that whereas the law safeguards SC/ST/OBC students from discrimination (Article 15), it also safeguards the economic interests of the General Category (through EWS), thus upholding the "Equality of Status" as enshrined in the Preamble.

ALSO READ | India to get UNSC VETO power? Trumps bullying could push Security Council reforms
ELITE Solar has commissioned its new 5GW integrated photovoltaic (PV) manufacturing facility in Egypt's Suez Canal Economic Zone.

The facility, which integrates 2GW of solar cell production and 3GW of module assembly, is intended to supply utility-scale commercial and industrial clients worldwide.

Earlier this month, Egypt's Prime Minister, Mostafa Madbouly, attended the facilitys official commissioning ceremony.

The event highlighted the factorys significance for Egypts renewable energy ambitions and efforts to develop its industrial base.

According to ELITE Solar, the site will contribute to workforce development and reinforce the regions participation in international clean energy supply networks.

ELITE Solar USA CEO Arndt Lutz said: This facility strengthens our global manufacturing footprint while reinforcing our commitment to dependable, market-ready solar supply.

By combining advanced N-type technology with integrated production and disciplined execution, we are positioned to support our clients with consistent quality and long-term reliability across multiple markets.

On 23 January, the company hosted regional customers, suppliers and industry partners at the Ain Sokhna site.

Attendees toured the N-type solar cell and module production lines and participated in discussions focused on supply chain coordination, production planning, local procurement opportunities and future cooperation.

The Ain Sokhna facility forms part of ELITE Solars wider global expansion plans.

By combining centralised technology oversight with regional manufacturing in key markets, the company aims to meet demand efficiently across areas including the Middle East, Africa, Europe and North America.

ELITE Solar was established in 2005 and is headquartered in Singapore, with a US presence in California.

In addition to its new Egyptian site, the company operates integrated manufacturing facilities in Vietnam and Indonesia.

"ELITE Solar announces commissioning of new 5GW PV facility in Egypt" was originally created and published by Power Technology, a GlobalData owned brand.




Aam Aadmi Partys (AAP) Delhi state president Saurabh Bharadwaj launched a sharp attack on the BJP government over groundwater contamination caused by the creation of new garbage mountains in Delhi. He said the BJP was turning Delhi into Indias cancer capital by building dump after dump, pointing out that waste from the Bhalswa landfill is being diverted to Kirari, exposing poor Purvanchali residents there to life-threatening diseases such as cancer.

The AAP Delhi Unit President said plastic and chemical-laden waste is gradually polluting the soil, air, and groundwater of the entire area. The waste, he added, is sufficient to turn tube-well water poisonous, making the whole locality sick. He said that the BJP government is indulging in this fraud to make it appear as though the Bhalswa garbage mountain is being reduced.

Addressing a press conference on Tuesday, AAP Delhi State President Saurabh Bharadwaj stated that for nearly fifteen years, the BJP ruled the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), and the BJP gave the people of Delhi three stains- three garbage mountains, which came to be known as the shame of Delhi. CM Rekha Gupta herself is a major stakeholder in that shame because she was a BJP councillor multiple times, he stated.

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The AAP Delhi Unit Chief further stated that when she was a BJP councillor, the mayor was from the BJP, the Standing Committee was of the BJP, and the BJP had complete control over the MCD. It was during this time that they gave Delhi these three stains, he added.

Saurabh Bharadwaj further said that for fifteen years, without thinking about what would happen to the garbage that was being continuously accumulated, the BJP kept doing this. When the AAP came into the MCD, we took some concrete steps on this issue, he highlighted.

He continued, But for the past 6-7 months, we have been seeing how the BJP is cheating the people of Delhi, especially Delhis poor Purvanchali population and the poorest residents of the city. By doing this, they are gifting horrific diseases like cancer to all their future generations.

The AAP Delhi Unit Chief said that when he went to the Kirari area of Delhi yesterday, he was shocked, and stated, As far as the eye can see, garbage from the Bhalswa landfill, thousands of truckloads of waste, has been dumped there. The stench is unbearable.

He said that dust hangs constantly in the air, adding that even an hour at the site causes severe burning in the eyes and irritation in the throat. We were there for nearly two hours yesterday, he said, noting that those accompanying him repeatedly asked how residents were managing to live in such conditions, as their eyes were burning badly.

The AAP Senior Leader further highlighted, The entire waste contains plastic, polythene, and different kinds of chemical substances. Layers several feet thick have been deposited across the entire Rohini and Kirari areas. And at one place, we even saw a garbage mountain. These are the same garbage mountains about which the CM had said, Koode ke pahaad, tujhko jaana padega (Garbage mountain, you will have to go). That garbage is being sent from Bhalswa to Kirari.

He noted that this government has come to power only to deceive Delhi, and the scale of fraud is astonishing. Addressing the CM, he stated, You committed farziwada (fraud) on Yamuna pollution, your theft was exposed before the people of Delhi, and after so much foam appeared in the Yamuna, Rekha Gupta has now stopped even going near the river or talking about it.

Saurabh Bharadwaj continued, There was fraud on air pollution, fraud at monitoring stations, and now such a massive deception is being carried out in the name of garbage mountains.

He said the issue was not limited to Kirari, adding that in the coming days they would bring videos from several other parts of Delhi as well, where garbage from Bhalswa and other landfill sites is being transported by thousands of trucks and dumped elsewhere.

Urging scrutiny of the issue, he said journalists should speak to scientists and environmentalists and share videos of the waste with them to understand its impact on public health. They will tell you that it will cause severe respiratory diseases, he said.

Saurabh Bharadwaj further warned that pollution was already underway. When rainwater soaks the garbage, it produces leachate, a liquid that seeps into the ground, permanently contaminating groundwater and turning it poisonous, he said.

He said that people in areas like Kirari are mostly dependent on tube-well water, warning, Those who drink and consume that water will have to face serious diseases like cancer. Stressing the seriousness of the issue, he added, I am saying this with full responsibility, after speaking to many people, that what these people are doing will turn Delhi into the cancer capital of India.

Calling out the BJP governments acting for false propaganda, Saurabh Bharadwaj said, The sin they are committing, the things they are doing in Delhi for their false propaganda, they are ready to give cancer to small children in Delhi. These are such filthy people.

He urged journalists to visit the site along with experts, saying, I want you all to go there, take scientists along. Scientists will see how layers upon layers of waste mixed with plastic, polythene, and chemicals are being dumped there.

Questioning the governments approach, he asked, Why doesnt the Chief Minister take this garbage to her own house? There is garbage even outside her house, but why not inside her government bungalow? Why doesnt she bring the same layer of garbage and dump it right in front of her house, filling trucks from Kirari?

He said that the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) chief, the Lieutenant Governor (LG), also has a very large park at his residence, which has been kept lush and green. Questioning this, he said, Why doesnt the LG take one truckload of garbage every morning and dump it at his own house, at the LG House, where big people are hosted and served samosas? Let the LG Saab bring one truck of garbage and place it in front of his own house. If this is such a good thing, then what are they waiting for?

The AAP Delhi State President further asserted, A conspiracy is being carried out to kill the poor. A false achievement is being showcased, claiming that garbage mountains have been reduced, even if lakhs of people are made sick.

Drawing a parallel with the Yamuna, he said, This is exactly what you did with the Yamuna. You lied that the Yamuna had been cleaned. Poor children came and celebrated Chhath in it and went back. What did it cost you? You didnt bathe in it yourselves. If poor children drowned or fell sick, so be it.

Saurabh Bharadwaj then showed a video from his visit, explaining that the location was an area different from Sharma Colony, which had earlier been seen submerged. Beyond that area, as far as this camera can see, you can see layers upon layers of garbage piled up, he said, pointing out that the waste layer was nearly four feet higher than the road level.

He added that a closer look revealed plastic bags throughout the dump. He added that this confirmed it was entirely the waste being brought from the Bhalswa landfill site.

Saurabh Bharadwaj said that, theoretically and legally, this should have been a waste that contained no polythene, plastic, or any non-biodegradable material. However, the reality is that it clearly contains plastic bags, plastic, and all those chemicals that are almost equivalent to poison. When rainwater falls on it and gradually seeps down into the groundwater, it will turn the entire groundwater poisonous, he stated.

Showing another video, Saurabh Bharadwaj explained that they were standing on land belonging to the DDA, which functions under the LG and is a central government institution. He said, Behind this DDA land are several residential colonies spread across the Kirari area.

He continued to highlight that behind the DDA land are several colonies, all of which fall under the Kirari Assembly constituency. What appears like a mountain on DDA land is not the Aravalli hills, but garbage mountains, formed by dumping waste brought from the Bhalswa landfill site, he said.

Saurabh Bharadwaj said that CM Rekha Gupta had said, Koode ke pahaad, tujhko jaana padega (garbage mountains will have to go), but she did not say where these garbage mountains would actually go. Today, the reality is before everyone. These garbage mountains have been erected between Rohini and Kirari, consisting of waste from Bhalswa, he asserted.

The AAP Delhi Unit Head concluded by stressing the fact that this was Bhalswas waste and reiterated, By dumping it there, the entire land and environment is being polluted, the consequences of which would have to be borne by residents for many years to come."
New Delhi: The United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU) has called for nationwide bank strike on Tuesday, January 27, which may affect branch operations of several PSU banks viz State Bank of India (SBI), the Punjab National Bank (PNB), Indian Bank, and the Bank of Baroda.

Several public sector banks have already informed stock exchanges about the possible impact of the strike.

The United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU) is proceeding with its nationwide strike on Tuesday demanding a five-day work, thus possibly causing disruption to banking operations at public sector banks across the country.

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Customers may face issues with branch operations at public sector banks across the country. Services such as cash deposits and withdrawals, cheque clearances and other routine administrative work are likely to be affected at public sector banks.

Which banks are on strike today? Check list of banks

The United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU), comprising nine unions - AIBEA, AIBOC, NCBE, AIBOA, BEFI, INBEF, INBOC, NOBW and NOBO.

While PSU banks like SBI, PNB, BOB, Indian banks may be impacted, private sector banks such as the HDFC Bank, the ICICI Bank, and the Axis Bank are expected to function normally, since their employees are not part of the unions participating in the strike.

Digital banking services, UPI payments unlikely affected

Digital banking services like UPI payments and internet banking are expected to continue to operate without major issues. However, there could be some local disruptions in ATM cash availability due to operational challenges.

Several public sector banks have already informed stock exchanges about the possible affect of the strike. The SBI stated in a regulatory filing that while arrangements have been made to maintain noreffectmal operations, banking operations may be affected because of employee participation in the strike.
New Delhi: The Nationwide bank strike today (Tuesday, January 27) being called by the United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU) may affect banking operations of several PSU banks viz SBI, PNB, and BoB.

Customers may face issues with branch operations at public sector banks across the country. Services such as cash deposits and withdrawals, cheque clearances and other routine administrative work are likely to be affected at public sector banks, including the State Bank of India (SBI), the Punjab National Bank (PNB), and the Bank of Baroda.

However, private sector banks such as the HDFC Bank, the ICICI Bank, and the Axis Bank are expected to function normally, since their employees are not part of the unions participating in the strike.

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Several public sector banks have already informed stock exchanges about the possible impact of the strike.

In a regulatory filing, the SBI said that while arrangements have been made to maintain normal operations, banking work may still be affected because of employee participation in the strike.

Indian Bank has tweeted that Banking services at the Bank branches may be impacted on 27 January 2026 due to a proposed nationwide strike by the United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU). We are making every effort to ensure essential services continue. Customers are advised to plan transactions in advance and use our alternative digital channels for routine banking needs.

Banking services at Indian Bank branches may be impacted on 27 January 2026 due to a proposed nationwide strike by the United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU).



We are making every effort to ensure essential services continue. Customers are advised to plan transactions in advance and pic.twitter.com/tnrEAsRq0g  Indian Bank (@MyIndianBank) January 26, 2026

UFBU, joint platform of nine unions representing officers and employees of public sector banks, has called for countrywide strike demanding a five-day work week. The main demand of the unions is the declaration of all Saturdays as holidays. At present, banks remain open on the first, third, and fifth Saturdays of every month.
Bhargavastra points to a historic moment for Indian defence. The fully indigenous system can fire 64 micro-missiles within 10 seconds. It can wipe out an entire drone swarm in one strike.
The Indian Army has tightened its grip on hostile drone activity along the borders. Any drone entering a 35-kilometre ground zone or flying up to three kilometres in height will now face immediate action.
Israel, Greece and Cyprus have invited India to engage through what is being described as a 3+1 framework. The arrangement suggests a willingness to work more closely on defence, security and stability in the region.
Pakistans President Asif Ali Zardari has made an unexpected visit to the UAE on a four-day trip after Abu Dhabi cancelled the Islamabad International Airport deal. The UAE recently signed a defence agreement with India, leaving Islamabad unsettled.
Goa social media ban: The smallest state of India, Goa, is considering a proposal that could bar children below the age of 16 from using social media platforms, following a model introduced in Australia. The move is aimed at addressing growing concerns about the impact of excessive social media use on young peoples focus, behaviour and family life, officials said.

Goas Tourism and Information Technology Minister Rohan Khaunte said the states IT department has been studying Australias Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age) Act, which restricts social media accounts for those under 16. Authorities are assessing whether a similar approach can be implemented in Goa before the next state Assembly session.

According to the government, the proposal is being planned due to a steady rise in complaints from parents about childrens widespread use of social media. Officials said many young people are spending excessive time on platforms such as Instagram, Facebook, and X, even during family moments, which distracts them from studies and other activities.

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Khaunte noted that officials will consult Chief Minister Pramod Sawant before any final decision is taken. He also said it is not yet clear whether a statewide ban is legally viable, and detailed rules would follow only after careful review.

(Also Read: Gold rises, Dollar falls: How Trump is accelerating de-Dollarisation? Explained)

Inspired by Australian law

The Australian law requires major social media companies to take steps to prevent users under 16 from creating or maintaining accounts. Platforms that fail to do so can face financial penalties, and some have already removed millions of under-16 accounts under the new rules.

Goas government said it is studying the Australian framework to understand how age verification and enforcement could work locally. Officials are also examining the social and legal implications to ensure any policy protects children without infringing on rights or proving impractical to enforce.

However, no final decision has been announced yet and authorities are expected to provide more details once consultations and studies are complete.
Vivo X200T Vs OnePlus 15 Price In India: Vivo and OnePlus are raising the stakes in the Rs 70,000 price segment with the launch of the Vivo X200T and OnePlus 15 in India. The Vivo X200T runs OriginOS 6 based on Android 16 and promises five major OS updates along with seven years of security patches.

On the other hand, the OnePlus 15 debuts with OxygenOS 16 on Android 16, powered by Qualcomms latest flagship chipset, offering four years of OS updates and six years of security support. Both devices emerge as strong contenders for long-term performance and reliability. In this article, we will compare their display, battery, camera, price, and more.

Vivo X200T Vs OnePlus 15: Display

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The Vivo X200T has a 6.67-inch FHD+ AMOLED display with 120Hz refresh rate and a punch-hole selfie camera, while the OnePlus 15 offers a larger 6.78-inch 1.5K LTPO AMOLED panel with 165Hz refresh rate and 1,800 nits peak brightness.

Vivo X200T Vs OnePlus 15: Design

Vivo X200T is available in Stellar Black and Seaside Lilac with an aluminium frame and glass panels. OnePlus 15 comes in Absolute Black, Sand Storm, and Misty Purple and offers IP66, IP68, IP69, and IP69K ratings for dust, water, and high-pressure spray protection.

Vivo X200T Vs OnePlus 15: Battery

Vivo X200T has a 6,200mAh battery with 90W wired charging and 40W wireless charging. OnePlus 15 is equipped with a 7,300mAh dual-cell battery and supports ultra-fast 120W wired charging and 50W wireless charging, offering longer battery life and quicker recharging times.

Vivo X200T Vs OnePlus 15: Camera

The Vivo X200T has a ZEISS triple rear camera setup with a 50MP main sensor, 50MP ultra-wide lens, 50MP 3x telephoto, and a 32MP front camera. OnePlus 15 has triple 50MP Sony sensors with 3.5x optical zoom, 7x digital zoom, and a 32MP autofocus RGBW front camera.

Vivo X200T Vs OnePlus 15: Processor

Vivo X200T runs on the MediaTek Dimensity 9400+ processor with 12GB RAM for smooth multitasking. OnePlus 15 is powered by Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 with Adreno 840 GPU and up to 16GB RAM, delivering higher performance and improved gaming and app handling capabilities.

Vivo X200T Vs OnePlus 15: Other Features

Vivo X200T supports dual SIM, 5G, dual-band Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.4, and a 3D ultrasonic fingerprint sensor. On the other hand, the OnePlus 15 offers similar connectivity along with superior durability ratings and faster charging capabilities, making it more premium in protection and convenience.

Vivo X200T Vs OnePlus 15: Price

Vivo X200T starts at Rs 59,999 for the 12GB RAM and 256GB storage variant and Rs 69,999 for the 12GB RAM and 512GB model. OnePlus 15 starts at Rs 72,999 for 12GB RAM and 256GB storage and Rs 75,999 for 16GB RAM and 512GB storage.
New Delhi: Islamabad is hosting Myanmars Foreign Minister Than Swe for a four-day visit that began on the night of January 24. The Pakistani government gave him a warm reception. The visit is being presented by Pakistan as an opportunity to strengthen ties with Myanmar.

On Monday, Than Swe held talks with Pakistans Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, and both sides agreed on several cooperation measures. Islamabad is reaching out to Myanmar while it has increased involvement in Bangladesh. The development has caught Indias attention.

According to reports from Pakistans Foreign Ministry, Dar and Than Swe held detailed and wide-ranging discussions in Islamabad. The talks focussed on reinforcing bilateral relations and exploring avenues of collaboration. At a joint press conference, Dar described Than Swes visit as an important step for both countries.

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The incoming visiting dignitary, the Union Minister for Foreign Affairs of Myanmar, H.E. Than Swe, along with DPM/FM Senator Muhammad Ishaq Dar @MIshaqDar50, signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Political Consultations between the Foreign Offices of Pakistan and Myanmar. This pic.twitter.com/HwE9kOOMGI  Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) January 26, 2026

He emphasised the historical ties between Pakistan and Myanmar. He said both sides had agreed to work together to strengthen cooperation across multiple sectors, including offering consular support to each others citizens.

Than Swe highlighted the need to expand friendly relations, stressing collaboration in trade, business, investment, military-to-military coordination, culture and science. He also talked about working together in the future to further strengthen ties.

Indias concern grows from Pakistans prior influence in Bangladesh. Since the formation of the Muhammad Yunus government in August 2024, Islamabads involvement in Dhaka has increased. With Pakistan now seeking a foothold in Myanmar, New Delhi sees a potential challenge.

Myanmar is dealing with internal conflict, as armed groups clash with the military. Its borders touch Indias northeastern states of Manipur and Mizoram, so the situation there affects India directly.

Pakistan has previously used its influence in Bangladesh to attempt destabilising parts of Indias northeast. Increased presence in Myanmar could extend this strategy, aided by local unrest in Myanmar. India is expected to monitor these developments closely, given their implications for regional security and stability.
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Ethereum stands to gain the most from the tokenization wave washing over Wall Street, BlackRock (NYSE:BLK) says.

"As we look towards the next era of tokenization, Ethereum may be poised to be a beneficiary of growth," BlackRock strategists said in its 2026 outlook, citing the networks share of the tokenization market.

Ethereum hosts over 65% of tokenized assets, with a commanding lead over second-place BNB Chain, which hosts about 10%, according to BlackRock.

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BlackRocks view came as it said tokenization is a trend it is watching this year. The company framed it as a new way to access markets. It said the concept was becoming popular, citing growing stablecoin adoption.

"In our view, as tokenization continues to rise, so will the opportunity to access assets beyond cash and U.S. Treasuries via the blockchain," BlackRock strategists led by U.S. Head of Thematic and Active ETFs Jay Jacobs said.

The remarks align with a December column in The Economist by BlackRock CEO Larry Fink and operating chief Rob Goldstein. In the column, the companys top executives described tokenization as "the next major evolution in financial infrastructure." They touted the potential for instant settlement and fractionalization.

Trending: Sam Altman Says AI Will Transform the Economy  This Platform Lets Investors Back Private Tech Early

However, Fink and Goldstein warned that regulations should keep pace with innovation, citing the 1929 Wall Street crash.

"As 1929 taught us, every expansion of access must be matched by updated safeguards. Tokenization must do both: move faster and move safely, building trust as it goes," they said.

Fundrise isn't a newcomer to private markets. The company has been operating for over a decade and manages billions of dollars on behalf of hundreds of thousands of clients. Their venture capital offering was built specifically for individual investors, with low minimums, diversification, and a long-term focus on private technology companies that often remain private for years before going public. They are looking for investors with a $10 investment minimum.

The U.S. enacted rules guiding the stablecoins last July. Lawmakers have also proposed laws to guide tokenized equities in draft cryptocurrency market structure legislation.
India Global Diplomacy: As European Union (EU) leaders wrap up their India visit, another major diplomatic move is underway in New Delhi. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney is preparing to travel to India in the first week of March. The visit points to a change in Ottawas approach toward New Delhi after a long phase of strained ties. Canada is now looking at India as an important partner for energy, minerals and future technologies.

Sources confirm that Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand discussed the proposed visit with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar earlier in the day. The outreach comes as Carney pushes to revive relations that deteriorated during Justin Trudeaus tenure. Ottawa is keen to open a new chapter and move forward with cooperation that serves its economic and strategic needs.

Why has India become so important for Canada?

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Carneys visit comes at an important time. India has signed a major free trade agreement with the EU. At the same time, Canada is searching for reliable partners beyond the United States. Washington Canadas largest trading partner, but uncertainty around tariffs and trade policy under President Donald Trump has unsettled Ottawa.

Speaking recently in Davos, the Canadian prime minister said the old global economic order no longer exists. Canada now wants to reduce its dependence on the United States and work closely with fast-growing middle powers. India fits that vision.

Indian High Commissioner to Canada Dinesh Patnaik has said both countries are moving toward charting their own path in a world faced with uncertainty. Canada now sees India as more than a market. It sees the country as a strategic partner.

Energy lies at the heart of Canadas interest. During Carneys visit, discussions are expected around a uranium supply agreement worth nearly Rs 17,000 crore. The deal could span 10 years. Canadian Energy Minister Tim Hodgson has said Canada is ready to supply uranium to India while respecting international frameworks.

He believes Indias civilian nuclear programme is expanding, and Canada can play a major role as a long-term supplier.

Beyond nuclear fuel, Canada is also focussed on critical minerals. Lithium and cobalt reserves place Canada in a strong position at a time when global demand for batteries and clean technology continues to rise. India offers scale, demand and manufacturing ambition.

Hodgson has said Canada wants to engage with large and growing economies. India stands at the centre of that strategy. Talks on artificial intelligence and quantum computing are also expected, with both sides exploring cooperation in advanced research and innovation.

Trade negotiations are moving again. India and Canada agreed in November to restart discussions that had stalled earlier. According to Patnaik, formal talks on a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement are likely to begin in March.

Officials believe the agreement could be signed within a year if negotiations progress smoothly.

Efforts to repair trust are also underway. Relations had declined in 2023 after allegations made by Justin Trudeau over the killing of Khalistani separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. India has maintained that it will act on any credible evidence provided through proper channels.

To rebuild confidence, Indias National Security Adviser Ajit Doval is scheduled to visit Ottawa next month. The visit will focus on security cooperation and intelligence sharing.

Mark Carneys India trip carries deeper meaning for Canada. It reflects economic pressure, strategic necessity and a search for stability beyond traditional alliances. As global trade patterns change, Canada is looking toward Indias market strength and strategic weight with urgency.
New Delhi: Relations between Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have been growing tense. Pakistani leaders have frequently sought loans and financial support from the UAE to keep the countrys struggling economy afloat. Islamabad has traditionally relied on Gulf support, but recent moves have changed regional dynamics.

After Pakistan strengthened its ties with Saudi Arabia, the UAE turned its focus towards India. President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan visited New Delhi recently and signed a defence pact. Soon after, Abu Dhabi withdrew from the Islamabad Airport agreement.

This series of developments has reportedly caused panic within Pakistans leadership, prompting President Asif Ali Zardari to fly to Abu Dhabi without prior announcement.

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He landed in Abu Dhabi on Monday for a four-day visit. His reception was modest, with the UAEs minister of justice present to welcome him. Pakistani Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi accompanied him. Zardari is expected to hold discussions with UAE officials on trade, the economy, defence and security cooperation.

Pakistan appears keen to expand its influence in the Gulf under the pretext of regional security. The Pakistani military is reportedly preparing to seek financial support in dollars from Gulf nations during this period.

The UAE has interpreted Pakistans military strategy and changed its priorities. It has given preference to strengthening ties with India. Pakistani media suggest that Zardari will discuss the changing political and economic scenario across West and South Asia.

While the UAE has historically helped Pakistan with economic aid and oil to prevent default, Pakistans pivot towards Saudi Arabia has caused a change. The UAE is Pakistans third-largest trading partner.

Decades of investment by Pakistani military, politicians and businesspeople in Dubai, along with the presence of 1.5 million Pakistani workers in the UAE, have historically made the two countries closely linked. The Pakistani military has also trained UAE forces over the years, establishing a long-standing defence relationship.

Pakistan has been building defence ties with Saudi Arabia and is talking with Turkey about creating a joint defence group called an Islamic NATO.

Analysts point out that tensions between Turkey and the UAE over the Muslim Brotherhood may have influenced the UAEs decision to prioritise India. The UAE is moving ahead with defence procurement from India.

President Mohammed bin Zayeds recent visit to India showed this strategy. By cancelling the Islamabad Airport deal, the UAE has further distanced itself from Pakistan. Negotiations over the airport deal had been ongoing since August 2025. Pakistani media, including The Express Tribune, report that the UAE no longer shows interest in the Islamabad project.
New Delhi: A new security proposal is under discussion in the Mediterranean region. Greece, Cyprus and Israel have signed a military cooperation agreement. There is now talk of India joining this arrangement to expand its scope. The proposal is being deliberated upon because India has good relations with all three countries and regional partnerships are evolving.

Israel, Greece and Cyprus have invited India to engage through what is being described as a 3+1 framework. The arrangement suggests a willingness to work more closely on defence, security and stability in the region. Strategic circles see this as a natural extension of existing ties rather than a sudden change.

India shares defence and diplomatic relations with Israel. Greece and Cyprus have also emerged as reliable partners for New Delhi in recent years.

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Greek City Times reports that the idea has picked up momentum after comments by retired Indian Air Marshal Anil Chopra. He has suggested expanding the current GreeceCyprusIsrael arrangement by bringing India on board. He has also talked about the possible inclusion of the United Arab Emirates at a later stage.

The development has led to a discussion across geopolitical forums. India has not issued any official response so far.

The interest in such a grouping comes at a time of new military understandings in West Asia. Pakistan signed a defence agreement with Saudi Arabia last year. Turkey is also part of the conversations around this arrangement. The framework resembles a collective security pact where an attack on one partner is treated as a concern for all.

Many analysts describe it as an emerging Islamic NATO. The prospect raises unease in New Delhi given Indias long-running tensions with Pakistan.

Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan together carry strong military reach and economic influence. Their coordination could alter regional balances. Against this backdrop, a platform involving India and Israel appears attractive to planners who favour counterweights built on shared interests. Israel brings advanced military capability and India brings scale, experience and regional reach.

The UAE features increasingly in these discussions. Its ties with India is strong. Its partnership with Israel has grown since normalisation. Relations between the UAE and Saudi Arabia have seen strains in recent years. These realities influence the emerging picture.

The evolving alignments suggest a gradual change in regional partnerships. India enjoys goodwill in Israel, Greece and Cyprus. The UAE enjoys trust in both India and Israel. These links create space for a broader framework to take form over time. If the pieces come together, a future grouping of India, Israel, Greece, Cyprus and the UAE could emerge as a Mediterranean Quad in all but name.

For now, this idea is only being discussed. The talks show changing priorities and common concerns, not official agreements. Experts watching the region can see the direction it is heading.
India has been calling for reforms at the United Nations Security Council for a long time, but the plea went unheard at the UNSC. The recent formation of the Gaza Board of Peace has now appeared to have rattled the UNSC leaders, who are now talking about enhanced representation. While the United States under Donald Trump quit the WHO, it also questioned the role of the UNs effectiveness.

Donald Trump has repeatedly criticised the United Nations, calling it ineffective and accusing it of failing to serve US interests. He has argued that the organisation needs major reforms and has questioned continued American funding, saying the US bears an unfair financial burden.

Indias Call For Reforms

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while addressing the United Nations 'Summit of the Future' in 2024, said, "Success of Humanity lies in our collective strength, not in the battlefield. And for global peace and development, reforms in global institutions are essential. Reform is the key to relevance! Permanent membership of the G20 to the African Union at the New Delhi Summit was an important step in this direction. While on the one hand, terrorism continues to be a serious threat to global peace and security, on the other hand, areas such as cyber, maritime and space, are emerging as new theaters of conflict. On all these issues, I will stress, that, Global Action must match Global Ambition!"

Addressing the General Assembly in the General Debate on 26 September 2020, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had called for urgent reform of the United Nations and for inclusion of Indias voice in its decision-making structures.

Indias External Affairs Minister Dr Jaishankar has stated that the UN is in a "state of crisis" and "gridlocked," arguing that its structure reflects the world of 1945, not 2025. He warned that resistance to change could lead to the body becoming irrelevant as nations seek solutions outside of it. He has criticized the current UN Security Council (UNSC) for being "anachronistic and ineffective," pointing out that it denies entire continents and regions a voice in their own future.

Gaza Board Of Peace

Since the formation of the Gaza Board of Peace, the UN Secretary General has been issueing clarifications, saying that no other body could replace the UN.

In a post on X, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said, "The UN Security Council stands alone in its authority to act on behalf of all member countries on questions of peace & security. It alone adopts decisions binding on all. No other body or ad-hoc coalition can legally require all countries to comply with decisions on peace & security. Its responsibility is singular. Its obligation is universal. That is why reform is essential. That is why we must act without delay to enhance the representation & effectiveness of the Security Council.

With Trump behaving like a bully, the UNSC reforms may be around the corner and countries like India and Africa could get a permanent representation with VETO power, if reforms take place. The renewed debate around the United Nations relevance, intensified by parallel initiatives like the Gaza Board of Peace and sharp criticism from global leaders, has once again exposed the limitations of an outdated UNSC structure. Whether driven by diplomatic assertiveness, institutional competition, or global dissatisfaction, meaningful reform now appears less a matter of choice and more a necessity for the UNs credibility, effectiveness, and survival.
New Delhi: At a time of growing global tensions, China has stepped up outreach to Muslim countries. The move comes as the United States pushes tariffs and restrictions across regions. Beijing is using the moment to widen diplomatic space and strengthen political ties.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi held talks with OIC Secretary General Hissein Brahim Taha. The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation represents 57 Muslim nations. The meeting focussed on shared interests and common concerns. China described the relationship with the Muslim world as strategic and long term.

Wang Yi said China values its ties with Muslim countries and the OIC. He thanked the organisation for its support on issues linked to Xinjiang and Taiwan. He said such backing demonstrated mutual trust and understanding. He described the OIC as an important voice for the developing world.

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During the discussion he talked about global uncertainty and criticised policies that rely on pressure and economic threats. He said frequent tariffs and bans were pushing the world toward disorder. He used the phrase law of the jungle to describe this direction.

Wang said China stands with developing and Muslim nations during this period. He said Beijing supports their legitimate rights and interests. He said China wants to prevent global politics from sliding into raw power games. He added cooperation is the only stable path forward.

The Chinese foreign ministry later issued a statement on the meeting. It said stronger security cooperation was necessary and called for political solutions to regional flashpoints. It said major powers should avoid bullying behaviour.

The message from Beijing was clear. China wants closer alignment with the Muslim world. It wants to present itself as a partner that listens and supports. The outreach points at a wider effort to build influence beyond traditional alliances.
Washington, DC: Political tensions in the United States reached a fever pitch on Monday after deadly encounters involving US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers in Minneapolis triggered nationwide protests and a fierce blame game between the White House and Democratic leaders in Minnesota.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt blamed Democratic leaders for a tragedy, pointing directly at Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey. Speaking to reporters, she accused them of deliberate and hostile resistance by Democrat leaders in Minnesota and said, For weeks, Gov. Walz and the mayor, Jacob Frey, and other elected Democrats were spreading lies about federal law enforcement officers who are risking their lives daily to remove the worst criminal illegal aliens from our streets.

President Donald Trump echoed Leavitts statements, urging Walz, Frey, and other Democratic governors and mayors to cooperate with federal authorities. Through posts on Truth Social, he demanded, Governor Walz and Mayor Frey should turn over all Criminal Illegal Aliens that are currently incarcerated in their State Prisons and Jails to Federal Authorities, for immediate deportation.

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He called on local police to assist federal agencies in detaining illegal aliens wanted for crimes.

Trump portrayed sanctuary city policies as the root cause of public safety issues, declaring, American Cities should be Safe Sanctuaries for law-abiding American Citizens ONLY.

He also accused the Biden administration of allowing Tens of Millions of Illegal Alien Criminals into the United States, including Hundreds of Thousands of Convicted Murderers, Rapists, Kidnappers, Drug Dealers, and Terrorists.

He touted his administrations actions as the largest deportation effort in US history. He said ICE arrested 150,245 undocumented immigrants with criminal records in Republican-led states over the past year, insisting these operations were peaceful due to cooperation with local authorities.

Leavitt defended the administrations approach during rising criticism, saying, Americans overwhelmingly want exactly what President Trump is delivering: strong borders and strict immigration enforcement against the worst illegal aliens.

She added that polls show huge support for this exact thing.

The controversy comes after two deadly incidents involving federal officers in Minneapolis this month. On January 7, Renee Good, a 37-year-old mother of three, was shot during protests against militarised ICE raids. Then, on January 24, ICU nurse Alex Pretti was killed at point-blank range after being restrained by federal officers.

Trump suggested Pretti may have been armed, though reports said he was licensed to carry a firearm and had already been disarmed. Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison called Trumps claims flat-out insane.

Federal investigations are now underway. Leavitt confirmed that the FBI and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) are probing Prettis death, while Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is conducting an internal review.

As President Trump said yesterday, the administration is reviewing everything with respect to the shooting, and we will let that investigation play out, she said.

Witness statements and body-camera footage may offer additional details, though authorities have not released comprehensive evidence supporting the claim that an agent acted in self-defence.

Leavitt further accused Governor Walz of undermining law and order, alleging nearly 500 undocumented immigrants with criminal records were released instead of being transferred to federal custody. She referenced unrest in Minneapolis following the killing of George Floyd in 2020, saying the state leadership had allowed violence and arson to escalate.

Walz responded on X, defending Minnesotas record and accusing the Trump administration of deploying 3,000 untrained agents who risked American lives. Trump needs to pull his 3,000 untrained agents out of Minnesota before they kill another American in the street, he said.

The legal fallout is already unfolding. Judges have heard arguments on whether to temporarily halt the federal immigration crackdown, and a separate federal court hearing is scheduled after a temporary restraining order blocked agencies from destroying or altering evidence linked to Prettis killing.

Congressional Democrats have warned they may block federal funding unless reforms are introduced to immigration enforcement practices.

Amid these developments, Trump emphasised his administrations record on law-and-order successes across the United States, citing reductions in crime in Washington, D.C., Memphis, Tennessee and New Orleans, Louisiana. He added that even in Minnesota, Crime is way down, but both Governor Walz and I want to make it better!

He also confirmed that Tom Homan, his top border security official, is being sent to Minnesota to coordinate federal operations after the fatal shootings.

The incidents and ensuing political clashes have ignited nationwide protests and a fierce debate over the deployment of heavily armed federal agents in US cities. Questions linger over whether these operations violate state sovereignty and whether federal enforcement will continue as planned amid mounting public outrage.
Washington: The United States has released its new approach in the latest National Defense Strategy. The Pentagons 34-page report makes it clear that America will not take the responsibility of protecting its allies. Instead, it will focus first on defending its homeland and the Western Hemisphere. This approach is different from past policies, which always saw China as the main threat. The report now emphasises handling Beijing with strength and caution rather than direct confrontation.

The report directly addresses allied nations, stating that many have long relied on Washington for their security while doing little themselves. America now expects those nations to handle threats that affect them most, particularly in Europe and Asia.

The approach toward Russia is also measured. Despite ongoing conflict in Ukraine, the report describes Moscow as a manageable threat primarily for NATOs eastern members. Taiwan is not mentioned in the strategy, sending a strong message to Beijing.

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Trumps unease with NATO

The strategy shows Trumps America First philosophy. During his second term, he openly criticised the NATO, claiming that the United States gained little from the alliance. While the claim that America pays 100% of NATO costs is not accurate, the pressure on allies is unmistakable.

US asserts its reach

The report emphasises that the United States will maintain military and economic access to strategic regions, including the Panama Canal, Greenland and the Gulf of America, regardless of whether allies support these moves.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said the strategy shows that the old global order will not return, adding, If we are not at the table, we will at least be on the menu.

French President Emmanuel Macron also warned that the world is moving forward without rules.

Idealism is over

The Pentagons message is clear and easy to understand. The United States will no longer take charge of global security. Countries that rely on Washington will now have to protect themselves and pay for their own defence. Those that fail to do so may no longer receive the same level of support.
The White House has said President Donald Trump does not want to see violence on US streets, while swiftly blaming Democratic leaders for unrest in Minneapolis following the fatal shooting of a local resident by federal immigration agents.

Speaking on Monday, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said, Nobody in the White House, including President Trump, wants to see people getting hurt or killed in Americas streets, describing the killing of Alex Pretti as a tragedy.

We mourn for the parents. As a mother myself, of course, I cannot imagine the loss of life, she added.

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Pretti, an ICU nurse, was shot dead on Saturday during an encounter with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents. A Trump aide had earlier, without evidence, labelled him a domestic terrorist. Federal officials have since declined to release details supporting their claim that the agent acted in self-defence.

Leavitts conciliatory tone quickly gave way to criticism of Democratic officials in Minnesota, where protests have erupted following a surge in immigration enforcement ordered by Trump. Masked and armed federal agents were deployed in Minneapolis despite opposition from local authorities.

This tragedy occurred as a result of a deliberate and hostile resistance by Democrat leaders in Minnesota, Leavitt said, singling out Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey. She accused Democrats of spreading lies about federal law enforcement officers who are risking their lives daily to remove the worst criminal illegal aliens from our streets.

Leavitt also defended the administrations deportation campaign, insisting it retained broad public support. Americans overwhelmingly want exactly what President Trump is delivering: strong borders and strict immigration enforcement against the worst illegal aliens, she said, claiming that polling showed huge support for this exact thing.

Her remarks came amid mounting scrutiny of ICE operations in Minnesota, where two US citizens have been killed during immigration enforcement activity. Renee Good, a 37-year-old mother of three, was shot on 7 January during protests against what critics describe as militarised federal raids. Pretti was killed on 24 January after being restrained by federal officers and shot at point-blank range.

Trump has defended ICEs actions, suggesting Pretti may have been armed. Reports indicate that Pretti was legally licensed to carry a firearm but had already been disarmed at the time of the shooting. Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison dismissed the presidents claims as flat-out insane.

Despite the escalating tensions, Trump said he had spoken with Governor Walz and described the conversation as constructive. Writing on his Truth Social platform, Trump said Walz had called me with the request to work together with respect to Minnesota.

It was a very good call, and we, actually, seemed to be on a similar wavelength, Trump wrote. He said he would send his top border security official, Tom Homan, to Minnesota, adding that Walz was happy that Tom Homan was going to Minnesota, and so am I!

Trump also pointed to what he described as successes in other cities. We have had such tremendous SUCCESS in Washington, D.C., Memphis, Tennessee, and New Orleans, Louisiana, and virtually every other place that we have touched, he said, adding that crime in Minnesota was way down, though both he and Walz wanted to make it better.

Legal challenges are now underway over the federal crackdown. A judge has heard arguments on whether to temporarily halt immigration operations in Minnesota, while a separate federal hearing is scheduled after a temporary restraining order barred agencies from destroying or altering evidence related to Prettis death.

Congressional Democrats have warned they may block federal funding unless reforms are made to immigration enforcement practices, as protests continue and criticism grows over the deployment of heavily armed federal agents in US cities.

(With ANI inputs)
US President Donald Trump's surprise announcement to raise tariffs on South Korea appears to be aimed at pressuring the country to swiftly carry out its investment pledge to the United States amid domestic uncertainties, including the U.S. Supreme Court's planned ruling on the legality of the tariffs, experts here said on Tuesday.

Earlier in the day, Trump said in a social media post that he is raising "reciprocal" tariffs and auto duties on South Korea to 25 per cent from 15 per cent, arguing that Seoul's National Assembly has not yet completed the domestic process to implement the countries' bilateral trade deal, finalised in October, reports Yonhap news agency.

Trump was apparently referring to a special bill submitted by Korea's ruling Democratic Party in November to support the country's US$350 billion investment pledge to the U.S., which was part of the tariff deal between the two countries.

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The bill has yet to gain the Assembly's approval. "Trump's move seems to be fundamentally aimed at ensuring the passage of the special investment bill, which is being delayed at the National Assembly, rather than actually raising the tariffs," Kwon Nam-hoon, president of the Korea Institute for Industrial Economics and Trade, said.

"As there is a possibility of the U.S. Supreme Court striking down reciprocal tariffs, Trump may have acted out of a sense of urgency to secure a firm commitment (from Korea) before things get further delayed," he added, noting that the U.S. might have felt Korea was "testing the waters."

Shin Won-kyu, a chief analyst at the Korea Economic Research Institute, said Trump's move could be stemming from heightened anxiety, with an array of issues emerging, including criticism over his immigration policy and ambitions over Greenland, as well as escalating tensions with the European Union and Canada.

Trade experts also said they cannot rule out the possibility that Korea's recent push for digital regulations, including an ongoing probe into U.S.-listed e-commerce giant Coupang Inc.'s massive data leakage incident, affected Trump's decision.

U.S. lawmakers and investors have called the investigation into Coupang "discriminatory," while the State Department expressed "significant concerns" last month over Seoul's regulatory moves that could affect online platform businesses.

The Coupang issue was also discussed during Korean Prime Minister Kim Min-seok's meeting with U.S. Vice President JD Vance last week, where the two agreed to manage the issue to ensure it would not cause misunderstandings between the two governments, according to Seoul officials.

"Unilaterally overturning agreed terms between the two countries via a social media post is not only undiplomatic but also extremely difficult to comprehend from a diplomatic standpoint," Yoon Heo, an economics professor at Sogang University, said.

Meanwhile, the Seoul government said it will closely communicate with Washington over the ongoing legislative progress on the U.S. investment bill, while devising a response strategy.

Korea has not received an official notice or explanation from the U.S. over Trump's tariff hike announcement, Cheong Wa Dae said earlier, adding that it will soon hold an emergency interagency meeting, headed by Presidential Chief of Staff for Policy Kim Yong-beom, to discuss the government's response.

Industry Minister Kim Jung-kwan, who has been on a visit to Canada, was set to head to Washington, where he will discuss the matter with his U.S. counterparts, his office said, adding that a meeting with U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick was being arranged.
Facing challenges from China and the United States, Brussels and New Delhi have sought closer ties (Money SHARMA)  Money SHARMA/AFP/AFP

India and the European Union announced Tuesday the "mother of all deals", a huge trade pact to create a market of two billion people, reached after two decades of negotiations.

EU chiefs and Prime Minister Narendra Modi hope the pact will help shield against challenges from the world's two leading economies, the United States and China.

The agreement will cut or eliminate tariffs on almost 97 percent of European exports, saving up to 4 billion euros ($4.75 billion) annually in duties, the 27-nation bloc said.

"A mother of all deals," Modi said Tuesday in the capital New Delhi, where he met with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa.

"This deal will bring many opportunities for India's 1.4 billion and many millions of people of the EU," Modi said, adding the agreement "represents about 25 percent of global GDP, and one-third of global trade".

The EU has eyed India -- the world's most populous nation -- as an important market for the future.

"Europe and India are making history today," von der Leyen said in a statement, a day after she and Costa were feted as guests of honour at India's Republic Day parade.

"We have created a free trade zone of two billion people, with both sides set to benefit."

EU officials said the deal was the most ambitious India had ever signed, and European companies would benefit from so-called "first mover advantage".

Europe's key agricultural, automotive and service sectors stand to gain.

New Delhi sees the European bloc as an important source of much-needed technology and investment to rapidly upscale its infrastructure and create millions of new jobs.

- 'Highest level of access' -

Bilateral trade in goods reached 120 billion euros ($139 billion) in 2024, an increase of nearly 90 percent over the past decade, according to EU figures, with a further 60 billion euros ($69 billion) in trade in services.

Under the agreement, India is expected to ease market access for key European products.

Tariffs on cars will be gradually lowered from a top rate of 110 percent to as low as 10 percent, while duties on wines progressively go down from 150 percent to as low as 20 percent.

Currently at 50 percent, tariffs on processed foods -- including pasta and chocolate -- will be eliminated, according to the EU.

Von der Leyen said she expected exports to India to double, and that the EU would "gain the highest level of access ever granted to a trade partner in the traditionally protected Indian market".
By Dmitry Zhdannikov and Aref Mohammed

BASRA/LONDON, Jan 27 - U.S. oil major Chevron is pushing Iraq to improve returns on the giant West Qurna 2 oil field as a condition for buying the project from Russia's Lukoil, three sources familiar with the matter said.

Earlier this month, Iraq nationalised the oilfield after the U.S. imposed sanctions on Lukoil to put pressure on Russia to end its war in Ukraine.

More from Yahoo Scout What terms is Chevron seeking for West Qurna? What's driving oil majors back to Iraq? Why did Iraq nationalize West Qurna oilfield? How significant is West Qurna 2 globally?

The sanctions made it difficult for Lukoil to operate its international operations including West Qurna, which is one of the world's largest oilfields, accounting for about 0.5% of global oil supply and nearly 10% of Iraq's output.

Days after the nationalisation, Iraq's oil minister said talks were ongoing with Chevron regarding the field.

Lukoil has until February 28 to sell its assets under the U.S. sanctions.

CHEVRON, OIL MINISTRY IN TALKS ON TERMS

Chevron and the Iraqi oil ministry are in talks on improving the contractual terms, the three sources said. Any deal on new terms would require Iraq's cabinet approval, two out of the three sources said.

A Chevron spokesperson said the company does not comment on commercial matters. "Chevron has a diverse exploration and production portfolio globally and continues to assess potential opportunities," the representative said.

"In all its activities, Chevron operates under a code of business ethics and complies with laws and regulations applicable to our business."

Iraq's oil ministry said on Tuesday that talks continued with Chevron.

"The negotiations are still ongoing, with many details remaining under discussion," the ministry told Reuters.

Lukoil did not respond to a request for comment.

FURTHER PUSH INTO IRAQ

A deal for Chevron in West Qurna 2 would mark a further push into Iraq for the U.S. oil major after it agreed to develop several fields in the country as part of an international expansion since completing a deal to acquire U.S. oil producer Hess for $53 billion in 2025.

Iraq, the world's seventh-largest oil producer, has improved the terms of its oil contracts in deals signed with global oil majors in the past two years as it seeks to attract investment and increase output.

Top oil companies including TotalEnergies and BP have signed deals with combined investment pledges of over $50 billion, marking a reversal of what had been an exodus of producers due to poor returns under prior contract terms.

Baghdad switched to profit-sharing agreements and away from service contracts to bring the oil majors back.
By Marianna Parraga and Jarrett Renshaw

HOUSTON/WASHINGTON, Jan 27 (Reuters) - U.S. officials are working to issue a general license soon that would lift some sanctions on Venezuela's energy sector, three sources close to the preparation said on Tuesday, a shift from a previous plan to grant individual exemptions to sanctions for companies seeking to do business in the country.

More from Yahoo Scout What sanctions relief is the U.S. considering for Venezuela? Why is the U.S. shifting its Venezuela sanctions approach? How would a general license differ from individual exemptions? What sectors would benefit from Venezuela sanctions changes?

(Reporting by Marianna Parraga and Jarrett Renshaw; Editing by Simon Webb)
Now that dual share classes are a reality, whats next for ETFs? Some say tokenization.

The $18 billion issuer F/m Investments took a major step toward such a future last week by filing an application with the Securities and Exchange Commission seeking to tokenize shares of its F/m US Treasury 3 Month Bill ETF (TBIL). The move would allow TBIL, which invests in a single three-month Treasury bill and cash equivalents, to trade on both traditional brokerage platforms and digital-first ones without changing the funds existing structure. The move is the first by such a company to ask the agency directly for permission to move shares onto the blockchain, according to the firm.

Grander plans would be to do this for a broader set of ETFs and to offer more interesting, innovative solutions, F/m Investments CEO Alex Morris told ETF Upside. But first things first, this is going to be a long road of making the process we have in front of us work out, and were going to stay narrowly focused on that goal.

SUBSCRIBE: Receive more of our free ETF Upside newsletter. READ ALSO: Yeehaw: Trumps Truth Social Funds to Acquire God Bless America ETF (YALL) and Nearly 1,000 Active ETFs Launched Last Year. Only About 150 Folded

You Would Never Break the Chain

The tokenization process would allow for trading at all hours of the day and instantaneous settlement, which advocates say would help bring down trading costs while improving liquidity. Other firms have also expressed interest, with BlackRock reportedly prioritizing the project and JPMorgan rolling out a tokenized money market fund. But F/ms product would be the first ETF to hit the blockchain, enabled by the NYSEs newly announced plan for a 24-hour trading platform for tokenized securities, which is still pending regulatory approval.

To [some] extent, its the same as a dual share class, said Aisha Hunt, founder of Kelley Hunt Law and F/ms general counsel. Adding mutual fund shares to ETFs gave issuers access to the 401(k) distribution channel, she added. Similarly, were asking to add a tokenized ETF share to get access to the digital native investor preferences.

But experts say opening up tokenization to a broader swath of investors could mean increased volatility for the products, since retail investors, as opposed to institutional investors, are more likely to panic-sell. According to a recent report from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York:
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FAT Brands and its affiliates, including Twin Hospitality, have filed for Ch. 11 bankruptcy in the Southern District of Texas, citing the mounting liabilities and liquidity situation of the companies.

The bankruptcy filing  estimating both liabilities and assets in the range of $1 to $10 billion  requests joint administration of all FAT Brands affiliates. This includes the previously spun-off Twin Hospitality, and each of the companies under the FAT Brands umbrella, including Fazolis, Round Table Pizza, Johnny Rockets, Smokey Bones, company flagship brand Fatburger, and Fog Cutter Capital, which was a controlling shareholder of the group.

According to the filing, FAT Brands sought strategic alternatives, including restructuring options and determined that filing for bankruptcy protection was in the best interest of company stakeholders.

The bankruptcy filing comes just a few days after the companys largest bondholder, Investor 352 Fund, sued FAT Brands for $109 million and promised Class B Common stock tied to ownership of Twin Peaks, as it was issued by Twin Hospitality.

Additionally, last November, it came to light that FAT Brands owed $1.26 billion to debtors, which was declared immediately due by indenture trustee, UMB Bank. At the time, the company said it did not have the liquidity to pay back those loans and warned that bankruptcy was possible. Earlier this month at the ICR conference in Orlando, CEO Andy Wiederhorn claimed that the debt is not guaranteed by the parent company as a whole, and that he has been in talk with bondholders to restructure the debt. Wiederhorn also suggested that several of FAT Brands larger brand acquisition moves  including the companys acquisition spree in 2022 and the spinoff of Twin Peaks last year  were part of a broader strategy to lower the cost of its mounting debt.

This strategy hit a roadblock during the three-year federal criminal investigation into Wiederhorn for fraud and money laundering, which he has described as a gigantic waste of $75 million. The investigation, which ended last July in his favor, further strained FAT Brands financial resources and forced the company to explore other options.

In a letter to franchisees viewed by Nations Restaurant News, Wiederhorn said the company will use the bankruptcy process to optimize our capital structure, reduce debt obligations, and enhance our financial flexibility to support future growth and that royalties and advertising payments will continue to be collected and paid out.
That may not mean much -- at least not yet. Alphabet 's impressive "Willow" quantum chip also remains uncommercialized, and while IBM may be generating actual quantum revenue thanks to its sizable head start, it's not exactly a game-changing fiscal success. It may offer more computing power than most of the market actually needs just yet. Or, perhaps, would-be customers don't yet see the value.

Its flagship quantum computing chip (called Majorana 1) is a topological qubit platform designed to be more immune to errors than more conventional quantum computers. But no one outside of the company has ever actually seen it demonstrated to work as described.

It might be a surprising pick to anyone keeping tabs on the quantum computing industry. Microsoft is working on the tech to be sure. As of the middle of last year, however, it didn't have anything near ready to monetize. And what it did have was ... questionable.

Well, that seems to be the case. The quantum revolution's biggest beneficiary may actually be hiding in plain sight, positioned perfectly to capitalize on what Precedence Research believes will be average annual growth of more than 30% through 2034, when this tech could be providing up to $2 trillion worth of net collective value for its users (according to Bank of America ).

What if, however, investors are overlooking a hugely important detail about quantum computing's commercial future, and overlooking its best opportunity as a result?

This is why shares of the nascent industry's companies -- like Quantum Computing , IonQ , and Rigetti Computing -- have performed so well (even if erratically) since 2024, when the tech graduated from being mostly theoretical to legitimately commercial.

In the same way artificial intelligence (AI) completely revolutionized computing technology, quantum computing promises to revolutionize AI. That's because quantum platforms can process unthinkable amounts of digital data. Problems that would take modern-day platforms decades to work out can now be solved in a matter of minutes.

Sometimes an idea is compelling enough on its own, even without knowing when and how much it will pay off.

Although a handful of pure plays in the space are now commercialized while bigger players arent, thats not going to be the case forever.

Story Continues

The point is, Microsoft wasn't merely seeking publicity when it touted Majorana a year ago. It just doesn't need to prove its quantum computing prowess to anyone yet. The company is simply confident that it will be able to do so when the time is right, and its chip is ready for monetization.

"The next big accelerator in the cloud"

Great. But how does any of this make Microsoft a better quantum bet than a pure play like Quantum Computing?

In simplest terms, Microsoft already enjoys established relationships with many of the same companies and organizations that will eventually choose to tap the power of quantum computing when it's fully ready for commercial use.

Case in point: NASA is currently leveraging Microsoft's Azure AI to help it figure out how to handle healthcare on deep space missions. This is still just the beginning, though. It's not inconceivable that quantum computing platforms could be utilized to develop whole new kinds of space propulsion systems. The London Stock Exchange Group, meanwhile, is utilizing Microsoft's cloud-based AI offerings in a completely different way. It's using its trove of digital data to help customers and clients to create predictive financial models. Then there's credit card giant Mastercard. It's working with Microsoft on next-generation AI-powered identity verification solutions, protecting consumers from a growing number of risks they face when shopping online.

And this is just a sampling. Microsoft says 85% of Fortune 500 companies are now using one of its AI solutions, which fluidly extend the productivity software the company is already well known for.

So what? When the time comes, Microsoft's already got a lengthy list of quantum computing prospects.

It's also a reasonably safe bet the company will make its own quantum computing solutions easy to use by offering access to Majorana 1 as an option from within Microsoft's Azure cloud computing interface, as it already has with Rigetti's and IonQ's quantum platforms. It doesn't get much easier than that, particularly for clients who are already Azure customers.

Investors might not have to wait much longer to find out, either. Although he wasn't pressed to make the comment at the time, during August's quarterly earnings call, CEO Satya Nadella still was confident enough to say "the next big accelerator in the cloud will be quantum, and I'm excited about progress." Separately, Microsoft Executive Vice President Jason Zander suggested early last year that the company's quantum chip could be commercialized through Azure before 2030.

For now, the general idea is compelling enough on its own

The chief challenge here is the lack of specificity with any of Microsoft's plans, and uncertain reliability with the company's developmental work (or for that matter, any of the industrywide forecasts). At the end of the day, everybody's just guessing -- a dynamic that doesn't exactly fuel robust bullishness.

Not every bullish nuance needs to be numerical in nature, though. Sometimes, the qualitative stuff with potential that won't even begin to become clear for several years is still enough. That was certainly the case for Tesla, or for Amazon when the e-commerce powerhouse took the surprising step of getting into the then-young cloud computing business in 2006. Now Amazon Web Services is the company's biggest moneymaker, accounting for nearly two-thirds of Amazon's operating profits. Microsoft's foray into the quantum computing market could be similarly successful, spurring similar bullishness from Microsoft's stock.

Bottom line? Even if you don't have all the details yet, sometimes investors can afford to have faith in a premise, like a proven technology company's ability to create something fruitful out of a new science like quantum computing.

Should you buy stock in Microsoft right now?

Before you buy stock in Microsoft, consider this:

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Bank of America is an advertising partner of Motley Fool Money. James Brumley has positions in Alphabet. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Alphabet, Amazon, International Business Machines, IonQ, Mastercard, Microsoft, and Tesla. The Motley Fool recommends the following options: long January 2026 $395 calls on Microsoft and short January 2026 $405 calls on Microsoft. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Forget Quantum Computing Stocks: This Unavoidable Platform Is Where Big Customers Are Actually Going was originally published by The Motley Fool
The move to file a petition asking a Texas court to direct a New York judge to send the case to arbitration "is an unprecedented, bizarre legal maneuver to try to intimidate and embarrass" Carreon, Linda Friedman, lead counsel for Carreon, told American Banker Tuesday.

In the petition, Citi alleges that Carreon never raised race or sex discrimination concerns while she was employed by the bank, which has an employment arbitration policy. According to the petition, "to avoid her agreement to arbitrate all employment-related claims  [Carreon] has fabricated a legally infirm and patently false theory that Mr. Sieg sexually harassed her."

On Tuesday, Citi responded to the suit by filing a petition to compel arbitration. The petition was filed in federal court in Texas, where Carreon resides and where she lived while employed by Citi.

The complaint accuses Andy Sieg, the head of Citi's wealth business, of "spurr[ing] on a campaign of unrelenting and egregious sexual harassment, manipulation and grooming" of Carreon, in part by suggesting to colleagues that the two were in a sexual relationship. It also alleges that Sieg "poisoned" Carreon's reputation, leading her to quit following a "deeply misogynistic" internal investigation by Citi's "weaponized human resources department."

Julia Carreon, who was the global head of platform and experiences for Citi Wealth when she resigned during the summer of 2024, filed the lawsuit Monday in federal court in Manhattan.

A former Citi executive has filed a lawsuit accusing the megabank of race and sex discrimination, including sexual harassment by one of the bank's top leaders.

Update : This story has been updated to include Citi's legal response and comments from Carreon's attorney.

Forward look: Citi denied the allegations, saying the lawsuit "has absolutely no merit." Late Tuesday, the bank filed a petition to compel arbitration, arguing that Carreon must adhere to the bank's employment arbitration policy.

What's at stake: Carreon's lawsuit accuses one of Citi's top leaders, Andy Sieg, of "unrelenting and egregious sexual harassment" that ultimately "poisoned" her reputation. The charges are the second time in six months that Sieg has been accused of bad behavior in the workplace.

Key insight: Ex-Citi executive Julia Carreon is accusing the bank of maintaining a sexually discriminatory culture that ultimately forced her to resign from her job.

Story Continues

Carreon worked at Citi for about three years. She alleges that her troubles began prior to Sieg's hiring.

According to Carreon, Citi executives sidelined her shortly after she was hired in 2021 to help transform the bank's digital client experience.

Carreon, who is a person of color, alleges that she was subjected to open hostility, disrespect and contempt from certain white male employees, and eventually was pushed out of the job by male leaders at the bank.

In a LinkedIn post on Monday, Carreon said that her lawyer "spent 14 months trying to resolve this matter privately, but Citi's lawyer said he welcomed a public match." Carreon joined Citi after a 14-plus year career at Wells Fargo, where she was the chief digital officer of the private bank.

"It's a life-altering decision to come forward, one no woman takes lightly," Carreon wrote on LinkedIn.

"But what happened during my three years at Citi, culminating in May 2024, tapped into something non-negotiable.  Truth is worth defending, even when it costs you."

In a statement, Citi denied the allegations, saying that "this lawsuit has absolutely no merit and we will demonstrate that through the legal process."

Citi is currently a defendant in another lawsuit brought by Ardith Lindsey, a managing director in the bank's global equities market division who is currently on leave. Lindsey alleges that she has experienced a hostile work environment and unlawful discrimination, and was coerced into a relationship with a boss. When the suit was filed, Citi vowed to defend itself against Lindsey's allegations.

The latest charges mark the second time in six months that Sieg, who reports to Citi CEO Jane Fraser, has faced accusations of bad behavior in the workplace.

In August, Bloomberg reported that Sieg was the subject of an investigation conducted by an external law firm related to his treatment of colleagues. According to Bloomberg, at least six managing directors at Citi filed human resources complaints against him, and some of the accusations involved his treatment of Ida Liu, Citi's former global head of private banking who resigned from Citi about a year ago.

Liu, who was one of Citi's highest-ranking female executives when she left the bank, has since been hired by HSBC to be the CEO of its private bank.

Sieg, who Citi hired away from Bank of America's wealth business in 2023, is one of Fraser's most high-profile recruits since she took over as CEO nearly five years ago. In an interview with American Banker about a week before the Bloomberg article was published, Fraser said Sieg was "doing a super job" in overhauling the wealth business.

Fraser, who was American Banker's Most Powerful Women in Banking in 2025, has since said that she was "comfortable" with the outcome of the external investigation into Sieg.

In the lawsuit filed Monday, Carreon said she was promoted shortly after Sieg arrived at Citi in the fall of 2023. Sieg "immediately showered Carreon with praise, telling her that he heard she was a 'rockstar' and that she had been mistreated" by Japan Mehta, a former chief information officer in Citi's wealth division, the complaint said.

But Sieg's "limited professional support for Carreon came at a price too steep for her to bear," according to the filing, which listed several alleged instances of sexual harassment, including sexual innuendos that left Carreon feeling "debased and humiliated."

"When she finally appeared to gain a champion for her work, Head of Wealth Andy Sieg, Citi's discriminatory and sexually harassing culture reduced her to being perceived as a sex object  that she could not possibly have reached those heights on her own merit, but must have been sleeping with her boss, which was untrue," the lawsuit states.

The suit takes aim at Citi's human resources department, which has been run by Sara Wechter since 2018. It accuses the department of conducting "a misogynistic investigation" into Carreon's relationship with Sieg, with Carreon being the only one of the two to be investigated.

"Consistent with its long history of discrimination and sexual harassment, Citi HR, purportedly believing there to be a sexual relationship between a female subordinate and a male executive with the power to fire her, chose only to investigate the woman, after Sieg had sexually harassed her for months on end, and Citi had condoned a sexually harassing culture," the filing alleges.

Carreon has "struggled to find new employment" in the time since she left Citi, according to the complaint. She is currently a contractor for Veritas Wealth Partners, serving as a strategic advisor, according to her LinkedIn profile.

Carreon also plans to file a charge of discrimination with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the lawsuit said.
Gold surged to a new all-time high price above $5,100 per ounce on Monday, confirming predictions from users on Myriad that it would top $5,000 before Ethereum.

Users on the prediction market platformwhich is owned by owned by Decrypt's parent company, Dastanhave been bullish on gold since November 22, 2025. At the time gold predictors pulled ahead, the precious metal was hovering around $4,000 per troy ounce and Ethereum had sunk to about $2,680, according to crypto price aggregator CoinGecko.

In fact, 69% of users on Myriad now think it's likely that Ethereum drops to $2,500 sooner than it can climb back to $4,000, reflecting a growing bearishness around the second-largest crypto asset. ETH was recently trading for $2,883.

It's not as though Myriad users were alone in thinking that gold was headed higher. Wall Street giant Goldman Sachs recently put out a new price forecast calling for gold to reach $5,400 before the end of the year.

Gold tends to surge when investors are positioning for uncertainty as trade tensions flare. While the metal has benefited from its long-standing role as a safe haven, cryptocurrencies like Ethereum and Bitcoin have struggled to attract the same defensive flows, trading more like risk assets than hedges against geopolitical stress.

The closest ETH has gotten to surpassing the milestone was when it set a new all-time high of $4,946.05 in August. At its current price, Ethereum has fallen more than 10% in the past week, according to CoinGecko.

Gold has now surged higher past $5,100 per ounce for the first time in its history. The price of gold jumped by 65% in 2025 and has now gained about 12% in the first three weeks of 2026.

The gold spike comes after President Donald Trump threatened over the weekend to hike tariffs on Canada by 100% if it made a trade deal with China.

"Canada is systematically destroying itself. The China deal is a disaster for them. Will go down as one of the worst deals, of any kind, in history," Trump wrote in a Truth Social post over the weekend.

BlackRock: Ethereum Is Anchoring Wall Street's Tokenization Race

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said on Sunday that Ottawa has no plans to pursue a free trade deal with China, noting the recent agreement only reduces tariffs on select sectors. But Canada still appears to be trying to diversify its trading partners to reduce reliance on the U.S.

Now a trade envoy is telling Reuters that Carney will likely visit India in March to "sign deals on uranium, energy, minerals and artificial intelligence."
On Sunday, the price of gold hit a major milestone: it surpassed the $5,000-per-ounce mark for the first time in history. But while golds price rise is a good thing for investors in the precious metal, it may also signal broader investor anxiety about the marketsand the world. Heres what you need to know about golds surge.

Most Read from Fast Company



Gold trades above $5,000 for the first time ever

On Sunday, gold surpassed $5,000 per troy ouncethe first time it has ever done so. The precious yellow metal climbed to $5,107 on Monday morning before paring back slightly to its current price of $5,082 per ounce, as of this writing.

Golds most recent milestone is just the latest example of the good run the precious metal has had since 2025. During that calendar year, golds price surged 64%its highest single-year gain since 1979.

And 2026 is, so far, shaping up to be another stellar year for gold. Already this month, the precious metal has hit milestone after milestone, surpassing its 2025 all-time high on January 6, 2026, when it reached $4,497.20 per ounce.

Less than a week later, gold crossed the $4,600 mark. And on January 20, gold crossed the $4,800 barrier for the first time. It then took gold just five days to cross the $5,000 threshold for the first time in history.

Whats behind golds recent rise?

The short answer is Trump. But the more nuanced answer is uncertainty.

Gold is a safe-haven assetan asset that offers relative stability in times of economic uncertainty or geopolitical upheaval. During these times, traditional assets like stocks and digital assets like cryptocurrencies can be, and often are, highly volatile.

When investors are uncertain about the world or the economy, they tend to pull their money out of these types of assets to lock in any gains they have made, and then put the proceeds of those sales into a more stable asset like gold.

2026 has begun with massive geopolitical and economic uncertainty, primarily due to the decisions of President Donald Trump. The year kicked off with the U.S. attack on Venezuela, which Trump ordered to capture the countrys president. Almost immediately after that, Trump set his sights on acquiring Greenland.

At the same time, Trump also threatened tariffs on eight European countries that publicly spoke against the presidents desire to acquire Greenland, which would potentially trigger a trade war. It was only last week that Trump finally backed down from his threats to acquire Greenland.
Google agreed to pay $68 million to settle claims its voice assistant illegally spied on users to, among other things, serve them advertisements, Reuters reports.

Google did not admit wrongdoing in the settlement of the class-action case, which accused the firm of unlawful and intentional interception and recording of individuals confidential communications without their consent and subsequent unauthorized disclosure of those communications to third parties. The suit further claimed that information gleaned from these recordings was wrongly transmitted to third parties for targeted advertising and for other purposes.

The case centered on false accepts, wherein Google Assistant is alleged to have activated and recorded the users communications even if they had not intentionally prompted it to do so with a wake word. TechCrunch reached out to Google for comment.

Americans have long suspected that their devices inappropriately spy on them. Those suspicions have led, increasingly, to claims of legal wrongdoing. In 2021, Apple agreed to pay $95 million to settle claims its voice assistant, Siri, had recorded their conversations without a prompt from users.

Google, like other tech giants, has faced other privacy-related litigation in recent years. Last year, the company agreed to pay $1.4 billion to the state of Texas to settle two lawsuits that claimed it had violated the states data privacy laws.
Guinea said exports of bauxite jumped by 25% last year to meet soaring demand from China, which has recently tightened its grip on the African nations resources.

Government data showed that 74% of Guineas bauxite  used to produce aluminum, key to the global energy transition  went to China; Guineas biggest bauxite producer is a Chinese-owned firm.

Beijing has intensified its push to control African resources in the face of competition from the US. On Monday Chinese mining giant Zijin Gold agreed to buy a Canadian firm with vast operations on the continent for $4 billion. Washington has made moves of its own: Envoys of some of Africas biggest mining nations are due to visit the US capital next month for a high-level summit.

A chart showing the worlds biggest Bauxite producers.

 Jeronimo Gonzalez
We recently compiled a list of the 12 Cheap Small-Cap Stocks to Invest In Before the Next Breakout. Gold Royalty Corp. is among the best small-cap stocks.

TheFly reported on January 15 that H.C. Wainwright raised the price target for GROY from $6.25 to $7 and maintained a Buy rating. The update came after the company acquired an additional net smelter return royalty on the Borborema mine, which contributed to the revised target.

H.C. Wainwright Is Bullish on Gold Royalty Corp. (GROY) Following Borborema Royalty Deal

Just a day earlier, on January 14, Gold Royalty Corp. (NYSE:GROY) reported that it had reached a deal with Dundee Corporation to purchase a net smelter royalty on the Borborema gold mine in Brazil for a total of $45 million. The consideration includes $30 million in cash and approximately 3.57 million newly issued common shares, based on a 20-day volume-weighted average price of $4.20.

Gold Royalty Corp. (NYSE:GROY) is a precious metals royalty and streaming company that provides creative financing to the mining industry. It acquires royalties and streams on gold and other assets across the Americas, building a diversified portfolio that offers investors exposure to longterm production and exploration upside.

While we acknowledge the potential of GROY as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If you're looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock.

READ NEXT: 12 Best Multibagger Stocks to Buy Heading into 2026 and 7 Best Rising Tech Stocks to Buy Now.

Disclosure: None.
Company Announces New Partnership with Monti Medical Corp S.A.

NASHVILLE, Tenn., Jan. 27, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- HYDRINITY Accelerated Skin Science, the fastest-growing professional skincare brand in the U.S., is pleased to announce a new partnership with Monti Medical Corp S.A. of Costa Rica. Founded in 2002, Monti Medical is a regional leader in distributing premium aesthetic technologies and products throughout Central America. Through this collaboration, Monti Medical will introduce HYDRINITY to Costa Rica, an emerging hub for medical tourism where dermatological procedures such as laser treatments and wrinkle-reduction services are in high demand.

The Costa Rican skincare market continues to grow, with projected revenue expected to reach $168.84 million in 2025. Social media is increasingly influencing beauty standards, product choices, and brand visibility. Consumers of ultra-premium skincare are also prioritizing multifunctional, high-quality products over quantitya trend that aligns seamlessly with the "skinimilism" approach by HYDRINITY.

"Monti Medical has a rock-solid reputation in the region for introducing the most advanced technology and science to the Central American aesthetic market," said Brent Nixon, COO of HYDRINITY. "Over the past 20 years, they have built strong relationships with leading dermatologists, plastic surgeons, and cosmetic physicians. Alessandro and his team have developed a strategic and thoughtful program capitalizing on market opportunities and leveraging their expertise. We are excited to partner with Monti Medical and bring HYDRINITY to Costa Rica."

Dermatological conditions in Costa Rica reflect a mix of infectious diseases common in tropical climates and chronic inflammatory issues, with atopic dermatitis (eczema) particularly prevalent, affecting approximately 30% of children and often triggered by heat, perspiration, and certain fabrics. Other common conditions include acne, psoriasis, vitiligo, contact dermatitis, hives, and lichen planus. These skin concerns highlight a significant opportunity for HYDRINITY, whose science-driven formulations are designed to address inflammation, dryness, and compromised skin. By entering this market, HYDRINITY is uniquely positioned to provide dermatologists and consumers with advanced, clinically backed solutions.

"We have seen what HYDRINITY has accomplished in North America since its launch in 2022, and we are extremely enthusiastic about what we will achieve in Costa Rica," said Alessandro Barnabo, Commercial Director of Monti Medical. "The outstanding clinical results attained by HYDRINITY, along with their unique market approach, resonates strongly with Costa Rica's progressive culture. For more than 20 years, we have led the aesthetics community with best-in-class products and technology, and we are proud to continue that legacy as we launch HYDRINITY in Costa Rica."
IBA SA





Louvain-La-Neuve, Belgium, January 27, 2026  IBA (Ion Beam Applications S.A., EURONEXT), the world leader in particle accelerator technology and the worlds leading provider of proton therapy solutions for the treatment of cancer, today announces it has signed a contract for the supply of a ProteusONE1 compact proton therapy solution to be installed at the MacKay Memorial Hospital in New Taipei City, Taiwan. This is the fourth order of a ProteusONE system in Taiwan, further reinforcing IBAs position as the undisputed market leader.

The contract includes the delivery and the installation of a ProteusONE system as well as a comprehensive Quality Assurance package from IBA Dosimetry. As the market-leading compact proton therapy system, ProteusONE is designed to evolve and incorporate the latest technological advancements, ensuring that IBA users continue to benefit from state-of-the-art innovation. The system will also feature DynamicARC2 beam delivery capabilities, pending regulatory clearance. MacKay Memorial Hospital expects to start treating patients in 2029.

Olivier Legrain, Chief Executive Officer of IBA, commented: We are delighted to secure this new ProteusONE contract, the second in Taiwan in less than a year. The growing interest in our proton therapy solutions across Asia is a testament to the strength of our innovation strategy and our commitment to close partnerships. This success further consolidates IBAs position as the undisputed leader in the global proton therapy market and demonstrates our dedication to making this cutting-edge technology accessible to more patients worldwide. We look forward to working closely with the MacKay Memorial Hospital team to ensure that cancer patients in Taiwan can benefit from the most advanced treatment options available.

Dr. Chun-Hao Chen, MD, PhD, Director, Department of Radiation Oncology at the MacKay Memorial Hospital, added: We are proud to partner with IBA to bring this advanced technology to Taiwan. The installation of the ProteusONE system at MacKay Memorial Hospital will significantly enhance our ability to provide state-of-the-art cancer treatment to our patients. This collaboration marks a major milestone in our commitment to delivering world-class care and expanding access to innovative therapies for the local community.

The typical end-user price for a ProteusONE system with a multi-year maintenance contract ranges between EUR 35 and 45 million3.

***ENDS***

About IBA

IBA (Ion Beam Applications S.A.) is the world leader in particle accelerator technology. The company is the leading supplier of equipment and services in the fields of proton therapy, considered as one of the most advanced forms of radiation therapy available today, as well as industrial sterilization, radiopharmaceuticals and dosimetry. The company, based in Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium, employs approximately 2,100 people worldwide. IBA is a certified B Corporation (B Corp) meeting the highest standards of verified social and environmental performance.
India is considering sharp reductions in car import duties under a proposed trade deal with the European Union, Reuters reported.

Citing sources familiar with the matter, the report said New Delhi intends to reduce tariffs on select European vehicles to 40%, down from current rates that reach as high as 110%, once the agreement is finalised and announced.

A smaller group of cars priced above 15,000 (Rs1.63m) would see immediate relief, with duties eventually falling to 10%.

The move would open the door wider for manufacturers such as Volkswagen, Mercedes-Benz and BMW.

Officials involved in the discussions told Reuters that the changes could support bilateral commerce and help Indian exporters of products including textiles and jewellery, which have faced 50% US tariffs since late August.

India, described as the worlds third-largest car market after the US and China, currently imposes duties of 70% to 110% on imported vehicles.

One source said the government has suggested allowing around 200,000 petrol and diesel cars a year to enter at the reduced 40% rate, although that figure remains subject to revision.

Battery electric vehicles (BEVs) would not benefit from the lower tariffs for five years, reflecting efforts to shield domestic investors such as Mahindra & Mahindra and Tata Motors.

After that period, EVs would face comparable reductions.

European brands account for less than 4% of Indias 4.4-million-unit passenger car market, which is dominated by Suzuki Motor alongside Mahindra and Tata, holding roughly two-thirds combined.

With annual sales projected to climb to six million by 2030, companies including Renault and Volkswagen Group is preparing fresh investment plans through their Indian operations.

"India-EU car tariff cuts outlined in trade talks  report" was originally created and published by Just Auto, a GlobalData owned brand.




(Corrects to remove references from Indian government statement in paragraph 1 and paragraph 5 that the deal represents a quarter of the world's economy and a third of global trade, pending clarifications. Corrects paragraph 2 to say the world's most populous (not largest).)

By Shivangi Acharya

NEW DELHI, Jan 27 (Reuters) - India and the European Union have finalised a landmark trade deal, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Tuesday, as the two sides seek to hedge against fickle ties with the U.S..

After nearly two decades of on-off negotiations, the deal will pave the way for India to open up its vast and guarded market, the world's most populous, to free trade with the 27-nation EU, its biggest trading partner.

"Yesterday, a big agreement was signed between the European Union and India," Modi said.

"People around the world are calling this the mother of all deals. This agreement will bring major opportunities for the 1.4 billion people of India and the millions of people in Europe," he said.

Modi and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen are expected to make a joint announcement at an IndiaEU summit in New Delhi, along with the details of the deal, later on Tuesday.

Trade between India and the EU stood at $136.5 billion in the fiscal year through March 2025.

The agreement comes days after the EU signed a pivotal pact with the South American bloc Mercosur, following deals last year with Indonesia, Mexico and Switzerland.

During the same period, New Delhi finalised pacts with Britain, New Zealand and Oman.

The spate of deals underscores global efforts to hedge against the United States as President Donald Trump's bid to take over Greenland and tariff threats on European nations test longstanding alliances among Western nations.

Trump has imposed a 50% tariff on goods from India and an India-U.S. trade deal collapsed last year after a breakdown in communication between the two governments.

The formal signing of the India-EU deal would take place after legal vetting expected to last five to six months, an Indian government official aware of the matter has said.

"We expect the deal to be implemented within a year," the official added.

(Reporting by Shivangi Acharya and Manoj Kumar, Editing by Raju Gopalakrishnan)
By Shivangi Acharya, Manoj Kumar and Philip Blenkinsop

NEW DELHI, Jan 27 (Reuters) - India and the European Union struck a longdelayed deal on Tuesday that will slash tariffs on most goods, aiming to boost twoway trade and reduce reliance on the United States amid growing global trade tensions.

The deal is expected to double EU exports to India by 2032 by eliminating or reducing tariffs in 96.6% of traded goods by value, and will lead to savings of 4 billion euros ($4.75 billion) in duties for European companies, the EU said.

The EU will cut tariffs on 99.5% of goods imported from India over seven years, with tariffs to be cut to zero on Indian marine goods, leather and textile products, chemicals, rubber, base metals and gems and jewellery, India's trade ministry said in a statement.

India and the EU said agriculture-related items like soya, beef, sugar, rice and dairy have been kept out of the purview of the trade deal.

"Yesterday, a big agreement was signed between the European Union and India," Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said earlier.

"People around the world are calling this the mother of all deals. This agreement will bring major opportunities for the 1.4 billion people of India and the millions of people in Europe," he said.

The two-decade-long EUIndia trade talks gained momentum after Washington imposed a 50% tariff on some Indian goods, and as U.S. allies pushed back against President Donald Trumps tariff threats and his bid to take over Greenland.

Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney, in a speech that got a standing ovation in Davos last week, urged middle powers to come together to avoid becoming victimised. He is planning to visit India to sign deals on uranium, energy and minerals, after striking a deal recently with China.

Before signing the deal with New Delhi, the EU agreed a pact with the South American bloc Mercosur, following deals last year with Indonesia, Mexico and Switzerland. During the same period, New Delhi finalised pacts with Britain, New Zealand and Oman.

"Europe and India are making history today," European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said. "This is only the beginning."

Trade between India and the EU stood at $136.5 billion in the fiscal year through March 2025, compared to $132 billion of trade between India and U.S., and $128 billion between India and China.

The formal signing of the India-EU deal would take place after legal vetting expected to last five to six months, an Indian government official aware of the matter has said.
By Shivangi Acharya

Jan 26 (Reuters) - India and the European Union have concluded negotiations on a long-coveted trade deal that will be announced on Tuesday, the South Asian nation's trade secretary said on Monday, an accord both sides hailed as historic as they contend with strained U.S. ties.

The deal paves the way for free trade of goods between the bloc of 27 European nations and India, which together make up a quarter of the world's gross domestic product and a market of 2 billion consumers.

"It will be a balanced, forward-looking deal for better economic integration with the EU. The deal will propel trade and investment between both sides," said India Trade Secretary Rajesh Agrawal.

Trade between the two sides stood at $136.5 billion in the fiscal year through March 2025.

FLURRY OF TRADE DEALS

The formal signing would take place after legal vetting expected to last five to six months, an Indian government official aware of the matter said.

"We expect the deal to be implemented within a year, the official added.

The agreement comes days after the EU signed a pivotal pact with the South American bloc Mercosur, following deals last year with Indonesia, Mexico and Switzerland.

During the same period, New Delhi finalised agreements with Britain, New Zealand and Oman.

The spate of deals underscores global efforts to hedge against the United States as President Donald Trump's bid to take over Greenland and tariff threats on European countries test longstanding alliances among Western nations.

After nearly two decades of on-off negotiations, the deal will see India open up its vast and guarded market, the world's largest, to free trade with the EU, its biggest trading partner.

FAST-TRACK TALKS AGREED LAST YEAR

India and the EU pushed to close the deal after Prime Minister Narendra Modi and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen agreed to fast-track negotiations last year.

Two-way talks, relaunched in 2022 after a nine-year lull, gathered momentum after Trump imposed import tariffs on several trading partners, including a 50% tariff on goods from India.

An India-U.S. trade deal collapsed last year after a breakdown in communication between their two governments.

Both the EU and India had been locked in last-minute give and take over cars and steel trade, among the final points of contention.

The EU had sought sharp cuts by India in import duties on its cars that can exceed 100%, while India - a major steel producer - has been pushing the EU to reduce trade curbs to its steel exports.
JAKARTA, Jan 27 (Reuters) - Indonesia's parliament on Tuesday appointed President Prabowo Subianto's nephew, Thomas Djiwandono, as a deputy governor of the central bank, in spite of some concerns his installation will undermine the institution's operational independence.

The decision was unanimously agreed during the House's plenary session on Tuesday, said Saan Mustopa, the House's deputy speaker.

On Monday, a parliamentary commission overseeing finance had endorsed Thomas as the new deputy governor for Bank Indonesia, eliminating two other career central bankers.

"Hopefully this mandate can be carried out with integrity and wisdom and to also give a significant contribution in strengthening monetary policy, maintaining financial stability, and supporting sustainable economic growth," Mustopa said.

After the appointment, Thomas will be formally sworn in by the Supreme Court, though the timing is still unclear.

Thomas nomination has sparked some investor concerns about the independence of Bank Indonesia, driving the rupiah to a record low of 16,985 per U.S. dollar last week. It later recovered after BI kept rates unchanged in an effort to shore up the currency.

The rupiah was unchanged on Tuesday after the vote at 16,770 to the U.S. dollar.

Speaking to reporters after the appointment, Thomas said he would keep Bank Indonesia's independence, local media CNBC Indonesia reported.

"I would like to reiterate my commitment to maintain the central bank's independence as I said during my fit and proper test yesterday, aligning fiscal and monetary policies," he said.

When asked about the market's concerns during his competency test on Monday, Thomas said he can only be judged on his work, adding that he had already resigned from Prabowo's Gerindra party in December.

He also emphasised the importance of "synergy" between the central bank, fiscal policymakers and other authorities in supporting the country's economic growth. But he stressed that nothing should compromise the central bank's independence.

"The law (which regulates) Bank Indonesia's independence is very strong," he said. "Second, I went through all the processes required by the law."

Mukhamad Misbakhun, the head of the parliamentary commission overseeing finance, said on Monday that Thomas was approved because he was seen as a figure who "can be accepted by all parties" and has the vision to create synergy between fiscal and monetary policies.

(Reporting by Ananda Teresia and Fransiska Nangoy; Editing by Thomas Derpinghaus, David Stanway and Christian Schmollinger)
But success brought its own complications. After the sale, Johnson realized the private equity firm that bought her business was itself trying to offload it. I was blindsided, she wrote in an article for Business Insider. As the founder, the business was so important to me. It was a community that I built and had a kinship with.

One year later, Johnson sold a majority stake to a private equity firm. For many founders, that is the natural end of the story, and the next chapter would likely be becoming a venture capitalist.

On her mothers advice, she decided to put every dollar into growing that side hustle into a full-time job. By 2020, Create & Cultivate had grown into a national movement, hosting sold-out events featuring celebrities and business leaders.

Before taking a chance on a multimillion-dollar exit, Johnsons story began with a far less comfortable gamble. In her early thirties, she had a marketing business and $50,000 in savings. Create & Cultivate was her side hustle, but when it started to grow faster than her marketing agency, she decided to make the leap.

How she got there is an interesting story that says a lot about our current obsession with overnight wealth, the motivations behind entrepreneurship and how to find meaning in life.

After selling Create & Cultivate, Johnson walked away from her role as CEO exhausted but financially secure. Yet, just two years later, she did something few entrepreneurs even consider: she bought back her own company.

Even selling a relatively small business can make you an instant millionaire. Thats what happened to Jaclyn Johnson, the Los Angelesbased founder of the womens business platform Create & Cultivate, who sold her company for $22 million in 2021 (1).

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Famous examples include Facebook's multi-billion dollar acquisitions of Instagram and WhatsApp, as well as Microsofts acquisition of Github, which made the founders of those startups instant billionaires.

In the world of startups, the goal for many founders is not to grow their business into a mature operation, but to scale quickly and make a big exit.

Story Continues

Two years after the sale, she made the rare decision to buy back the company at a lower valuation, stepping back into the drivers seat. Her second act, she told the Los Angeles Business Journal (2), is about rebuilding the company into a $1 billion brand.

Survivorship bias and the statistical reality

Johnsons comeback story is both inspiring and atypical. While her experience demonstrates the rewards of bold risk-taking, it also highlights how exceptional such outcomes are.

According to the Commerce Institutes 2025 data, roughly 20% of small businesses fail in their first year, and nearly 70% fail by their tenth (3).

The disconnect between entrepreneurial storytelling and statistical reality creates a kind of survivorship bias. For every founder who sells for millions, thousands more quietly shutter their ventures, often with debt and damaged credit following in their wake.

Read More: The average net worth of Americans is a surprising $620,654. But it almost means nothing. Heres the number that counts (and how to make it skyrocket)

Johnsons success was built not only on drive and creativity, but also on favorable timing and market positioning, which are advantages that cant easily be replicated by someone quitting their job to follow their dream.

The takeaway is not that risk is bad, but that the narrative of entrepreneurial bootstrapping oversimplifies the risks involved. For every story like Johnsons, there are many others that end without fanfare or a safety net.

The true cost of entry

Entrepreneurship has long been romanticized in America, especially in the digital age. But the real financial cost of starting a sustainable business remains steep.

A Monefy analysis found that even modest ventures often require $50,000 to $150,000 in startup capital, especially for those that rely on inventory or physical operations (4). Online ventures are cheaper to start but scaling them to profitability still demands marketing, technology and labor investments that can quickly deplete savings.

According to Homebase, the biggest surprise for first-time founders isnt the cost of launching, its the cash required to sustain operations through the first year (5). For many Americans, risking it all means draining personal savings, cashing out retirement accounts or taking on high-interest debt.

Unlike venture-backed founders, who operate with investor capital, most small business owners rely on their own funds. That can make the downside of the financial and emotional risk particularly severe.

Calculated risk and the art of financial defense

Kyla Scanlon, a writer on economics who coined the phrase vibecession, described the current money mindset succinctly in a recent newsletter on Substack (6): When the labor market tightens and upward mobility stalls, and when wealth is concentrated at the top and increasingly inaccessible, gambling feels like a rational response.

If Johnsons journey has a universal lesson, its about calculated risk, not reckless gambling. The most successful founders protect themselves before they leap.

According to Failory, 34% of the more than 80 failed startups the company interviewed didnt succeed because there was no real market demand for their product (7). That makes testing the concept, identifying paying customers and securing critical early revenue crucial for success.

Financial experts recommend that would-be entrepreneurs maintain six to 12 months worth of business and personal expenses before leaving a full-time job. This runway gives founders the flexibility to navigate the inevitable early slow growth periods without jeopardizing personal solvency.

Prospective entrepreneurs should also be wary of debt. Though it is possible to get bank loans for reasonable rates through the Small Business Administration, those loans are often secured by the entrepreneurs personal assets, and if the loan cant be repaid, those assets belong to the bank.

Building downside protection through diversified income, flexible business models or part-time consulting can turn a risky leap into a strategic transition, and it can be the difference between burning the boats and building a bridge.

Beyond the exit: rethinking success

Johnsons story encapsulates both the thrill and the burden of entrepreneurial success. Her $50,000 gamble paid off, but it also revealed that wealth does not always equal fulfillment.

By buying back her company, she reframed her journey not as a single high-stakes bet, but as an evolving pursuit of purpose, autonomy and creative control.

For todays aspiring founders, that message may be the most valuable takeaway of all. Entrepreneurship remains one of the few viable paths to wealth creation in an economy defined by wage stagnation and corporate consolidation, but the stories worth emulating are those that pair ambition with prudence.

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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.

Business Insider (1); LA Business Journal (2); Commerce Institute (3); Monefy (4); Homebase (5); Substack (6); Failory (7).

This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
Laynes Chicken Fingers has set a target to open 300 restaurants by 2030 as the US-based fast-casual chain continues to expand its franchise system.

In a statement, the company said that it ended 2025 with record financial performance. It has also doubled its restaurant count in the year and enters 2026 with 40 restaurants open and ten new franchise owners added to the system.

Laynes Chicken Fingers CEO Garrett Reed said: We opened 21 restaurants last year, which is 110% growth over the prior year.

We increased average unit volume across the system, and we brought on ten new franchisees for a total of 40 restaurants awarded. We also developed the organisation further to provide better support to our franchisees.

The company also cited a 44-unit agreement, a 15-unit expansion by Wisconsin franchise owners, and additional deals with franchisees from brands including Wendys and Arbys.

Laynes Chicken Fingers' chief operating officer Samir Wattar said: If you look at our manpower growth compared to our restaurant growth, that's clear. We now have 40 restaurants open, and we have 28 employees in the home office. We're building a support organisation for a brand that we're really passionate about.

In 2026, Laynes aims to open an additional 40 restaurants, pursue continued revenue growth and expand its footprint.

In a separate development, the company announced leadership changes and additions. The company appointed Natalie Hurley as vice-president of brand marketing and Cuyler Esposito as vice-president of culture and operations. It also promoted Alex Camp to vice-president of operations services.

"Laynes Chicken Fingers targets 300 restaurants by 2030" was originally created and published by Verdict Food Service, a GlobalData owned brand.




Image Credit: emperornie - Lincoln continental 2015, CC BY-SA 2.0/Wiki Commons.

A move that resonates well beyond a simple change of office address sees Ford Motor Company confirmed that its Lincoln luxury brand will shift its corporate headquarters to Michigan Central Station in Detroit in February 2026.

The new location will house Lincolns marketing, sales, and service leadership teams, while design and engineering functions will remain at Fords primary Dearborn campus, now anchored by the new Ford World Headquarters.

At face value, this relocation might look like a real estate shuffle. But for industry watchers with an eye toward long term strategy, it represents a deliberate effort by Ford to reshape Lincolns identity and carve out a distinct role for the luxury marque in a crowded and rapidly evolving market.

A Historic Station Reborn

Image Credit: martin gonzalez - CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia.

Michigan Central Station was once one of the most iconic transportation hubs in the United States. It opened in 1913 and served thousands of passengers a day until rail travel declined sharply in the mid-20th century.

After lying abandoned for decades, Ford acquired and undertook an extensive renovation of the station and surrounding campus beginning in 2018, creating a 640,000-square-foot innovation district designed to attract tech partners and startups alongside Ford employees.

This context is important because Fords decision to base Lincoln at Michigan Central couldnt have been simply a branding exercise. It places the luxury brand at the center of a testbed for future technologies, from autonomous systems to new mobility services.

The innovation district already hosts Fords Model e electric vehicle team and external partners like Newlab, creating a synergy that Lincolns leadership must hope will fuel fresh thinking.

Why Separate Lincoln from Fords Main HQ?

Lincoln, Ford, Michigan Central Station, Detroit, headquarters, relocation, luxury brand, corporate strategy, innovation district, automotive news, Corktown, brand identity, Joaquin Nuno-Whelan.

Lincoln has historically been intertwined with Ford corporate operations. Until recently, the brands leaders shared office space with Fords global executives in Dearborns famed Glass House, a mid-century architectural landmark that served as Fords headquarters from 1956 until late 2025.

The new Ford World Headquarters, known internally as The Hub, has replaced the Glass House as Fords administrative center. It brings thousands of employees into closer collaboration on product development and corporate strategy. But Lincolns leadership must have seen an opportunity in stepping outside that central locus.
Synthesia co-founder Victor Riparbelli said the winning businesses of the future will be those which are the best at using AI - Justin Tallis/AFP

Staff at a British tech startup are in line for a major windfall after an investment deal valued their company at $4bn (2.9bn).

Synthesia, which is developing artificial intelligence (AI) video technology, was given the price tag after selling a $200m chunk of shares to new investors including Google.

It makes the company one of the highest-valued private tech firms in Britain.

Existing employees will be able to cash out some of their shares as part of the Google investment, while the funding is also likely to cement a significant paper fortune for the companys four co-founders, including 34-year old chief executive Victor Riparbelli.

Synthesia makes realistic AI avatars used to deliver training videos or safety briefings  taking on work once done by HR staff or recruiters and saving costs for companies.

Mr Riparbelli said the technology could free up hours to do something more productive and definitely change jobs and make some jobs more and less important.

Synthesia helps businesses cut costs by using AI avatars to deliver training videos and safety demonstrations - Synthesia

There are widespread fears that AI bots could upend millions of jobs, replacing them with digital co-workers who can undertake many of the tasks normally done by office staff.

AI agents are being developed that can write emails, take notes, respond to sales queries or manage diaries.

Synthesias AI video technology already threatens to take jobs from actors who once starred in marketing or safety videos. It also offers AI dubbing that can take work from voice actors.

Mr Riparbelli said: Yes, jobs will change. And yes, parts of businesses will be run by agents. But the winning companies of the future will be the ones with the best workforce who are the best at using AI.

The $200m in equity funding doubles the companys valuation from $2bn last year. It was founded in 2017.

The lifelike AI avatars threaten to take jobs from actors who previously starred in workplace safety and HR demos - Synthesia

The business has previously attracted interest from Silicon Valley giants, with Meta and Adobe reportedly both considering buying the British start-up.

The latest deal was led by Google Ventures, the tech giants investment arm. Evantic and Hedosophia also invested.

Current investors including Nvidia and several Silicon Valley funds also joined the round.

Synthesia has been widely tipped as a potential future prospect for a listing, however, in July last year Mr Riparbelli told The Telegraph that floating in London was currently not a good idea and that the UK needed to try and fix the market.

Rachel Reeves, the Chancellor, said: Synthesia is a UK success story, creating new jobs and opportunities in this country.

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.
Almost 100% of oil market analysts see the market as oversupplied this year, just as it was oversupplied last year. The size of the supply overhang, however, matters. Led by the International Energy Agency, a lot of analysts predicted that the overhang at millions of barrels. Then the IEA had to revise its predictionagain. Because demand turned out to be stronger than expected.

In its latest Oil Market Report, released earlier this week, the International Energy Agency forecast global oil demand would expand by 930,000 barrels daily in 2026. That would be up from the growth of a modest 850,000 barrels daily (estimated) for 2025. The drivers for that stronger demand, per the IEA, were a global economic rebound after last years tariff turmoil and, of course, the oil price slide, driven by predictions of continued weak demand and continued supply growth.

Yet that supply growth did not really materialize as predicted. In fact, in December, global oil production actually declined by 350,000 barrels daily, according to the IEA. And it was not the first monthly decline. The agency noted that the December total, at 107.4 million barrels daily, was 1.6 million barrels daily lower than a record high booked for September. In other words, global oil production had been in decline over the last quarter of 2025. Even with that, the IEA believes global oil supply grew by 3 million barrels daily last yearbut this year, growth would slow down while demand strengthens. Because this is what happens when prices are low.

Right now, oil benchmarks are about 16% lower than they were a year ago, the IEA noted in its report, adding that the decline reflects the buildup of global crude oil stocks. This happened at a rate of around 1.3 million barrels daily, for a total build of 470 million barrels over the course of 2025. As for demand, estimates vary. The World Bank said in November it expected demand to average between 103.8 million barrels daily and 104.5 million barrels daily. Data presented by Statista suggests last years global demand could reach 105.5 million barrels daily.

As things stand with production, for now, there is a comfortable supply cushion, even if the surplus is not as major as many may have believed. It is big enough to continue keeping a lid on priceshelped substantially by continued glut predictionsbut as producers respond to those low prices, this supply cushion will begin to thin. The rate of that thinning is yet to become clear, but it is inevitable because the producers response to weak prices is inevitable as well.
Louis Vuitton owner LVMH shareholders are pressing for clearer succession planning at the luxury conglomerate, as questions over Bernard Arnaults future unsettle some investors.

According to Reuters, the 76-year-old CEO and chairman has yet to designate an heir.

Arnault has run the group for nearly four decades and oversees more than 70 brands, including Dior and Tiffany.

Last April, investors supported a proposal to lift the age cap on his dual role to 85, though the decision attracted notable resistance.

Several shareholders told Reuters the unresolved leadership question was increasingly viewed as a vulnerability.

Asset manager Baillie Gifford abstained from the vote over what it described as insufficient disclosure while Allianz GI opposed the resolution outright.

Arnault has said the matter is not a priority, and LVMH told Reuters that succession planning for senior executives is confidential, adding that its arrangements address both medium-term needs and unexpected situations.

The company stated that such plans arent public, but obviously they do exist.

Regulatory documents linked to a 2022 reorganisation of the family holding structure show a new vehicle, Agache Commandite, was established with Arnaults five children - Delphine, Antoine, Alexandre, Frederic and Jean - each holding equal stakes.

The entity is set to take control of Agache SCA, which sits at the top of LVMHs voting chain, once Arnault steps aside.

Corporate filings indicate that, in the absence of specific instructions, decisions would require approval from at least three of the heirs.

While most investors endorsed extending Arnaults tenure last year, the dissenting votes and recent comments highlight continuing pressure on LVMH to outline how leadership of the group will eventually change hands.

Last week, LVMHs DFS reached an agreement to divest its travel retail operations in Greater China to China Tourism Group Duty Free (CTG Duty-Free).

Under the deal, DFS will divest its stores and certain regional brand rights.

CTG Duty-Free will assume control of the companys travel retail locations in Hong Kong and Macau, together with the associated intangible assets.

"LVMH investors seek clarity on Arnault succession as concerns persist  report" was originally created and published by Retail Insight Network, a GlobalData owned brand.




Crypto markets entered the new week on the back foot as a wave of macro uncertainty sparked heavy liquidations across major digital assets.

Key Takeaways:

Macro uncertainty triggered over $550 million in crypto liquidations as bitcoin and ether came under pressure.

Tariff threats, US shutdown risks, and yen volatility are driving a broader risk-off shift toward safe-haven assets.

Derivatives markets have turned defensive, with rising volatility and increased demand for bitcoin downside protection.

After trading in a tight range over the weekend, prices slid during early Asian hours, triggering more than $550 million in leveraged long liquidations, according to market data cited by QCP Asia.

Bitcoin briefly dipped to the $86,000 level before stabilizing, while Ethereum fell toward the $2,785 area.

The pullback stood in contrast to traditional safe havens, with gold and silver extending their recent rally as investors rotated into lower-risk assets.

Tariff Threats, Shutdown Fears, and FX Uncertainty Weigh on Markets

Market participants point to a cluster of macro developments driving the move, according to QCP.

Chief among them were comments from President Donald Trump on the possibility of imposing 100% tariffs on Canadian imports, renewed concern over a looming partial shutdown of the US government, and ongoing uncertainty around potential US-Japan coordination to arrest further weakness in the yen.

Currency markets remain a key pressure point. A rate check on USD/JPY by the New York Fed late last week signaled growing sensitivity to yen depreciation, with the 160 level widely viewed as a threshold that could prompt intervention.

While the pair has since pulled back, it continues to trade near two-month highs around 154, prompting investors to unwind short-yen positions rather than risk sudden policy action.

US domestic politics are adding another layer of tension. Although broader risk sentiment found some relief after Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said Ottawa has no plans to pursue a free trade deal with China, fiscal negotiations in Washington remain unresolved.

House Republicans have advanced spending bills that include roughly $64.4 billion for border security and the Department of Homeland Security, while Senate Democrats have indicated they will block the measures.

With current government funding set to expire on January 30, failure to reach an agreement would result in a partial shutdown.

Markets appear to be taking that risk seriously. Polymarket odds currently imply roughly a 75% chance of a shutdown by January 31, a dynamic that echoes last autumns fiscal standoff, which coincided with a sharp drawdown in crypto prices.
The department store downturn of 2025 has continued into this year as every part of the sector, from discount to luxury, has been affected by closings or bankruptcies.

Fashion executives have warned that conditions could worsen in 2026, as 46% of those surveyed expect conditions to be worse, while only 39% expect the industry to improve, according to the 2026 Business of Fashion - McKinsey State of Fashion Executive Survey released by consulting firm McKinsey & Company.

The downsizing of department store chains will result in fewer retail options for consumers in the upcoming year.

Department store chains close dozens of locations

Iconic department store chain Macys said that it will close 14 locations in 11 states in 2026 as part of its Bold New Chapter restructuring plan, which it launched in 2024 to close up to 150 underperforming locations, Axios reported.

Macy's had already closed 50 stores by the end of 2024 and 66 stores in 2025, as part of its restructuring plan.

Other department store chains closing stores in 2025 included JCPenney, closing about eight, and Nordstrom dumping a few.

Discount department store chain Marshalls joined the parade in 2026, closing two major metro area stores in Los Angeles and San Jose, Calif., by Jan. 5.

Department store e-commerce platform Saks Off 5th Digital is liquidating all of its merchandise and FF&E.Shutterstock  Shutterstock

Saks Off 5th Digital liquidates

And now off-price department store chain operator Saks Off 5th Holdings LLC has won bankruptcy court approval to liquidate its Saks Off 5th Digital merchandise as well as furniture, fixtures, and equipment, beginning Jan. 26 and continuing for up to eight weeks, according to bankruptcy documents.

The order did not include luxury retailer Saks 5th Avenue's e-commerce platform.

Judge Alfredo R. Perez of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas in Houston signed an interim order on Jan. 23 authorizing Saks Off 5th Digital to enter into a consulting agreement with GA Retail Solutions LLC to liquidate the e-commerce platform's merchandise for a retail base fee of 2% to 2.25% of gross proceeds, with a minimum $250,000 base fee.

GA Retail Solutions receives a consultant fee of 5% gross proceeds of merchandise sold through wholesale channels. The debtor will also pay the consultant a fee equal to 15% of gross proceeds from FF&E sales, according to the consulting agreement.

Saks Global Enterprises files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy

Saks Off 5th Digital parent Saks Global Enterprises LLC and 112 affiliates filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on Jan. 13 and 14, facing severe liquidity constraints that prevented the company from paying bills and acquiring inventory to meet customer demand, according to court filings.
Several of the UKs largest banks, including HSBC and NatWest, are preparing to increase their profitability forecasts as they issue annual results in the coming weeks, reported Reuters citing sources.

HSBC is expected to raise its return on tangible equity (ROTE) guidance, which currently stands at mid teens or better.

NatWest is also estimated to be considering a revision of its 2027 ROTE target from the present 15% up to 17%, according to the unnamed sources.

Barclays, which last year projected a ROTE of at least 12% for 2026, is likewise anticipated to improve its targets.

The upcoming earnings releases for Barclays and HSBC are scheduled for 10 February and 25 February, respectively.

Across continental Europe, banks have already moved to upgrade profit expectations, indicating that they believe recent margin improvements could be sustained for some time, noted the news agency.

Lloyds Banking Group may also revise its targets later this year.

All banks mentioned declined to respond to requests for comment.

Elsewhere in Europe, Spanish lenders Santander and BBVA have managed to grow revenue while keeping costs restrained, highlighted the report.

Meanwhile, in November, Deutsche Bank announced an updated ROTE goal for 2028 of over 13%, surpassing its 2025 benchmark of 10%.

The German bank anticipates its revenues will grow at a compound annual rate exceeding 5%, increasing from a projected 32bn ($38.06bn) in 2025 to approximately 37bn by 2028.

The cost/income ratio target is set below 60% by 2028, compared with the 2025 target of below 65%.

The bank also intends to raise the payout ratio to 60% of net profit attributable to shareholders, starting 2026.

"Major UK banks expected to lift profitability targets  report" was originally created and published by Retail Banker International, a GlobalData owned brand.




Key Takeaways

A 2025 study found that more than half of 401(k) plans from 2009 to 2013 offered consumers at least one investment fund option that shared revenue with the plan's administrator.

Those plans had higher hidden costs, which can add up to thousands in lost value by the time you retire.

Do you really know how your 401(k) plan is invested? If not, you might be putting your money in costlier mutual funds and not know it, new research suggests.

Researchers analyzed the 1,000 largest 401(k) plans between 2009 and 2013the only years when the Department of Labor required detailed public disclosure of how plan administrators are paid. They found that many plans include investment options that share revenue with administrators, creating incentives that can work against savers best interests.

"[It's] a significant problem if employees do not understand the costs of their investment options," said Clemens Sialm, a finance professor at the University of Texas at Austin and one of the study's authors. "The result is that you might be paying more than you realize for weaker returns."

What The Researchers Found

The researchers found that the average 401(k) plan offered about 22 different investment options to the typical participant, with those fund options coming from an average of seven different companies. About 40% of the available investments were affiliated with the 401(k) provider, or "record-keeper," and the remaining 60% of funds were from third parties.

About half (54%) of plans had at least one investment fund option that shared revenue with the plan's record-keeper, while funds that did share revenue were some 60% more likely than non-revenue sharing funds to be added to a given plan's menu of options. They were also less likely to be removed once they had been added.

In short, the researchers found that administrators of 401(k) plans are more likely to choose funds that pay them more than just the traditional fees. While that's not surprising, the funds that shared revenue often failed to offset those higher hidden costs with lower upfront fees, and didn't provide better-than-average returns to make up for the revenue sharing element of their funds, the study found.

That means that without knowing it, you may have your money invested in a fund that offers lower returns than you would be getting otherwise.



How Can This Be Fixed?

Sialm said it's "not very helpful" for companies to reveal the terms of the plans within long policy documents, where employees are unlikely to read them. Instead, he said, employers should explain these 401(k) options. up front and in plain language. And employees should push for more transparency, he added.
Chevron Corporation (NYSE:CVX) is included among the Best Low Risk Stocks for a Retirement Stock Portfolio.

Morgan Stanley Updates Chevron (CVX) Valuation on Lower Oil Price Assumptions

Morgan Stanley cut its price target on Chevron Corporation (NYSE:CVX) to $174 from $180 on January 23. However, the firm reiterated an Overweight rating on the stock. The adjustment followed an update to the firms 20262027 oil price assumptions, based on futures pricing as of January 7, and was released alongside its fourth-quarter preview for E&P companies, oil majors, and Canadian producers. The analyst said Chevrons fourth-quarter operational update should be fairly clean, though cash flow is expected to come in lighter due to weaker price realizations.

Separately, a January 22 report from Reuters said Chevron is moving closer to a deal to sell its oil refining and distribution assets in Singapore. The company is said to be in final-stage talks with Japanese refiner Eneos and commodities trader Glencore, according to four sources familiar with the matter, with a transaction expected to close in the first quarter.

The assets under discussion include Chevrons stake in a Singapore refinery, along with a terminal and retail fuel stations in the country. One source added that retail stations in Cambodia and Malaysia could also be part of the deal. Two of the sources said the package is valued at $1 billion or more.

The sale is part of Chevrons broader effort to exit certain refining and storage assets in Asia as it restructures its global footprint to simplify operations and cut costs. Chevron owns a 50% stake in Singapore Refining Co, with the remaining interest held by PetroChina through its Singapore Petroleum unit. SRC operates a 290,000-barrel-per-day refinery in Singapore.

The deal would also include Chevrons Penjuru terminal, which has more than 400,000 cubic meters of oil storage capacity. According to the companys website, the terminal is used to blend and supply transportation fuels, base oils, marine fuels, and finished lubricants.

Chevron Corporation (NYSE:CVX) is an integrated energy company with operations spanning oil and gas production, refining, chemicals, and technology development.

While we acknowledge the potential of CVX 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: 15 Best S&P 500 Dividend Stocks to Buy in 2026 and 12 Most Profitable Dividend Stocks to Buy in 2026

Disclosure: None.
Insurance company MSIG USA has appointed Ron Morrison as its new chief claims officer.

Morrison takes on responsibility for overseeing the insurers claims operations including strategy, technical standards, litigation management and organisational development.

He will also coordinate with teams responsible for underwriting, legal matters and distribution to support the company's broader risk and portfolio objectives and ensure policyholders receive timely claim resolutions.

Morrisons role will involve driving increased use of data analytics and technology in claims processes.

MSIG USA is continuing to develop digital tools and AI applications intended to improve decision-making, accelerate workflows and increase transparency for clients, brokers and internal stakeholders.

His previous roles include divisional senior vice-president for property claims and large-loss operations at the Great American Insurance Group.

He has also held leadership positions covering casualty and litigation claims at the Cincinnati Insurance Companies and worked as a complex claims specialist at Selective Insurance.

In the new role, he will report to CEO Peter McKenna.

McKenna said: "Claims plays a defining role in how clients and brokers experience MSIG USA.

"Ron understands that effective claims management requires technical depth, consistency and transparency, particularly in complex loss environments. His leadership will be instrumental as we continue to strengthen our claims organisation in support of underwriting excellence and long-term partnerships with our clients and brokers."

The company named Jayson Taylor as head of casualty last year.

Taylor brings more than 20 years experience in underwriting and actuarial functions and also reports to McKenna.

"MSIG USA names Ron Morrison as chief claims officer " was originally created and published by Life Insurance International, a GlobalData owned brand.




London-based Synthesia specializes in text-to-video generation. - justin tallis/Agence France-Presse/Getty Images

Artificial-intelligence company Synthesia raised $200 million at a $4 billion valuation, adding fresh capital to develop software that businesses can use to train employees through interactive videos.

The Series E funding round included existing backers such as NVentures, Nvidias venture capital arm, Accel, Kleiner Perkins, New Enterprise Associates, PSP Growth and Air Street Capital. Google Ventures led the round, which also included Hedosophia and Evanticthe venture fund established by former Sequoia investor Matt Miller.

Most Read from The Wall Street Journal

Founded in 2017 by a team of AI researchers and entrepreneurs from colleges including Stanford and Cambridge, London-based Synthesia specializes in text-to-video generation. The company offers a free version of its models with a limit of 10 minutes of video per month, but it also sells fixed monthly subscriptions and enterprise packages at custom prices for those who want to create videos with fewer or no restrictions.

Synthesia said it would deploy the freshly raised capital to develop software where AI agents, or interactive avatars on video, can answer questions from employees who are receiving company training, allowing them to explore scenarios through role-play and get personalized explanations instead of passively consuming company slides.

Market opportunities like this do not come along often, Synthesia Co-Founder and Chief Executive Victor Riparbelli said. We are at a unique point in time where technology enables agents that can truly understand and respond, and where enterprises are under unprecedented pressure to reskill and upskill their workforce.

The funding round shows that investors continue to see promise in niche AI startups despite fears that high spending in the sector is creating a market bubble waiting to burst.

A Synthesia spokesman said the company signed Microsoft as a customer toward the end of 2025 and that the startup quadrupled contracts of more than $100,000 in value over the past 12 months, putting it on track to reach $200 million in annual recurring revenue this year.

Synthesias Series E round comes months after Nscale Global Holdings, a U.K.-based startup that owns data centers that provide the networking, storage and computing needed to power AI, closed a $1.1 billion funding round.
Oil rose to the highest since October as US President Donald Trump touted a growing US military presence near Iran, while traders monitored the fallout from a sweeping winter storm and a weaker dollar boosted the appeal of commodities.

West Texas Intermediate gained 2.9% to settle above $62, while a gauge of the greenback fell to its lowest level in four years amid investor caution about US policymaking, making commodities priced in the currency more attractive.

Most Read from Bloomberg

Oil has rebounded this year, despite widespread expectations of a glut, as setbacks to Kazakh exports tightened the European market and US threats against Iran injected a risk premium into prices.

Trump reiterated on Tuesday that a flotilla was headed to the Middle East, adding that hed rather not see anything happen. In the options market, a bullish call skew in US futures has stayed intact for nearly two weeks, marking the longest stretch since October 2024. Investors frequently turn to options as a relatively inexpensive hedge against uncertain geopolitical outcomes.

The winter storm also curtailed some US natural gas output, driving futures higher.Source: Bloomberg

In the US, freezing conditions have disrupted a number of refineries on the Gulf Coast and a smattering of domestic output, though the impact is unlikely to be prolonged. US natural gas futures retreated on Tuesday following a powerful rally due to the cold snap, as did diesel futures in New York.

Concerns about Kazakh supplies, meanwhile, have eased as a key Black Sea terminal came back online, while the countrys largest producer is preparing to resume output at the giant Tengiz field. Still, Tengiz is set to restore less than half of its normal production by Feb. 7, according Reuters, limiting downward pressure on prices.

Elsewhere, Chevron Corp. is working to bring more Venezuelan crude to a market thats mostly well-supplied. US officials are working to issue a general license that would lift some sanctions on the South American crude giants energy sector, Reuters reported.

OPEC+ is scheduled to meet this weekend to review a decision on output policy for next month, and are expected to stick with plans to keep oil production steady. Theres no sign so far of any need to respond to events in members Venezuela and Iran, according to one delegate.

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek
Key Takeaways

Bitcoin adoption is accelerating across U.S. banking.

However, some banks are still holding back.

Bank of America recently recommended that clients allocate up to 4% of their portfolios.

Nearly 60% of the largest banks in the U.S. are either already offering Bitcoin-related services or expect to do so, according to new research from Bitcoin financial services firm River.

The analysis, which reviewed Bitcoin custody, trading and related offerings among the top 25 U.S. banks by assets, found that a growing number of institutions have launched products, announced plans, or are actively exploring ways to serve clients seeking exposure to Bitcoin.

Banks In On BTC

Several major U.S. banks have already launched BTC-related services, announced imminent plans, or restricted access to select client segments, Rivers research shows.

JPMorgan Chase has announced Bitcoin trading services, while Citigroup, Wells Fargo, Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley offer Bitcoin exposure primarily to high-net-worth clients.

U.S. Bank and BNY Mellon provide custody services to select clients, marking some of the earliest moves by systemically important banks into crypto safekeeping.

Almost 60% of top U.S. banks are in on Bitcoin. | Source: River

PNC Group stands out as one of the few banks to have launched both Bitcoin custody and trading services.

State Street and HSBCs U.S. operations have announced custody plans, while Charles Schwab and UBS (U.S.) have announced Bitcoin trading initiatives.

Other institutions remain in exploratory stages.

Citigroup and Fifth Third are assessing both custody and trading offerings, while several banks are integrating Bitcoin access indirectly, such as American Express through a Bitcoin rewards card and USAA via exchange integrations.

Banks Yet To Enter BTC Market

Despite the growing momentum, a significant minority of large U.S. banks have not yet announced Bitcoin-related products or plans.

River reported that nine banks remained on the sidelines, including:

Truist Finance

Bank of America

TD Bank (U.S.)

Capital One

BMO Financial (U.S.)

First Citizens

Citizens Financial

M&T Bank

Huntington Bank

Barclays (U.S.)

Bank of America Recommends Bitcoin

Even banks without direct Bitcoin products are softening their stance, as shown by Bank of Americas recent recommendation that clients allocate up to 4% of portfolios to cryptocurrencies.

Also, as part of the shift, Bank of America announced plans to initiate coverage of four U.S.-listed spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds, including products from Bitwise, Fidelity, Grayscale and BlackRock.

The ETFs provide direct exposure to Bitcoin and were approved by U.S. regulators last year.
PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) has instructed staff to resume pitching for work with Saudi Arabias Public Investment Fund (PIF), according to a Bloomberg report.

The step comes after the sovereign wealth fund ended a restriction that had blocked new advisory work for the consultancy.

PwC managers have communicated internally that teams can again submit proposals to the PIF, the publication added, citing sources.

The temporary ban, imposed last year, prevented PwC from securing new advisory and consulting contracts from the PIF and some of its subsidiary companies.

The PIF did not publicly explain the decision when it introduced the restriction, which did not include PwCs audit work.

After the ban was put in place, PwC global chairman Mohamed Kande travelled to Riyadh for meetings with the wealth fund, according to the report.

Notably, Saudi Arabias expansion programme has supported demand for consulting and advisory services in the region, with companies including McKinsey & Co. and Boston Consulting Group also active.

PwC generated 1.97bn in revenue from the Middle East in the 12 months ending 30 June 2024, the report said.

The company has also invested heavily in Saudi Arabia, focusing on localisation efforts. This includes opening a large office in Riyadh last month that hosts its regional headquarters.

It also appointed Laura Hinton as senior partner for the region, succeeding Hani Ashkar, who held the role for more than 12 years.

Recently, Teneo signed an agreement to acquire PwC New Zealands Business Restructuring Services unit. The move marks the further expansion of Teneos Financial Advisory business in the Asia-Pacific region.

"PwC to resume pitches to Saudi PIF after advisory ban lifted" was originally created and published by International Accounting Bulletin, a GlobalData owned brand.




By Anushree Mukherjee and Enes Tunagur

BENGALURU/LONDON Jan 27 (Reuters) - U.S. demand for imported fuel oil is set to fall this year as refiners snap up new flows of heavy Venezuelan crude, yielding more domestically produced fuel oil that can be processed into higher-value products such as gasoline and diesel.

The ouster of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro in early January is expected to shift global oil flows as more supply from the South American country enters the market. This is creating new opportunities for complex U.S. refiners, particularly on the Gulf Coast, which have plants configured to run heavier crude slates and equipped with secondary units to upgrade the fuel oil they produce.

Some of the additional 50 million Venezuelan barrels are set to enter global trade after U.S. President Donald Trump took control of the South American country's oil.

Refiners Valero and Phillips 66 have already bought cargoes of Venezuelan crude, Reuters reported last week, as part of Washington's agreement with Caracas to export the 50 million barrels.

"If more Venezuelan heavy barrels land on the USGC, you'll likely see less need to import high-sulfur fuel oil and blendstocks as refinery feed, because refiners can generate that residual product internally from crude instead of buying it in, so it's generally bearish for imported fuel oil demand into the Gulf," Gregory Battenfield, crude and refined products broker at International Trans Oil Energy, said.

Refining analysts at Energy Aspects said in a recent report that U.S. Gulf Coast refiners could absorb an additional 600,000 barrels per day of Venezuelan crude, bringing the total to 700,000 bpd and allowing for a full redirection of current exports.

RIPPLE EFFECT ON EUROPEAN FUEL OIL MARKETS

A drop in U.S. demand for imported fuel oil will free up more barrels globally, and weigh on prices across the Atlantic as supply increases, traders said.

"U.S. Gulf Coast refineries capable of running Venezuelan crude could reduce imports of Iraqi fuel oil, weighing on fuel oil cracks in Europe," a Europe-based fuel oil trading source said, referring to the spread between fuel oil futures and crude futures.

Kpler data show U.S. Gulf Coast fuel oil imports from Iraq rose nearly nine-fold between 2019 and 2025, climbing to roughly 61,000 bpd from about 7,000 bpd.

"We expect that once cokers approach full operations, Atlantic Basin HSFO cracks would soften," the Europe-based fuel oil trading source said.

High-sulfur fuel oil Amsterdam-Rotterdam-Antwerp barge cracking margins fell to more than 18-month lows of minus $13.95 a barrel (versus Brent) during the week ended January 16, after averaging minus $9.53 a barrel in December, LSEG data show.

(Reporting by Anushree Mukherjee in Bengaluru, Enes Tunagur in London, Georgina McCartney in Houston. Editing by Liz Hampton and Mark Potter)
Jeel, a subsidiary of Riyad Bank, has signed a partnership with Ripple to explore advanced blockchain applications aimed at strengthening financial services across Saudi Arabia.

In a press release shared with CryptoNews, the firm said the partnership will focus on developing secure and transparent digital infrastructure that can support the Middle East.

The agreement is part of growing institutional interest in blockchain payment systems and digital asset technologies as Saudi Arabia continues positioning itself as a regional leader.

Cross-Border Payments, Custody and Tokenization in Focus

The deal will also assess how blockchain technology can improve the speed, cost efficiency and transparency of cross-border payments, a key area of opportunity for the Gulf regions remittance and trade corridors.

Beyond payments Jeel and Ripple will also explore use cases in digital asset custody and tokenization. These technologies are increasingly viewed as foundational components of next-generation financial markets, allowing the storage of digital assets and the representation of real-world assets on blockchain networks.

Regulatory Sandbox Testing to Support Responsible Innovation

Jeel and Ripple will also jointly develop proofs-of-concept within Jeels regulatory sandbox allowing Ripples blockchain solutions to be tested in a controlled and compliant environment.

The firms will examine how blockchain-enabled payment corridors can improve international remittance experiences while also evaluating custody frameworks.

This partnership with Ripple reflects our strategy of using the Jeel Sandbox to responsibly explore next-generation financial infrastructure, said George Harrak CEO of Jeel.

By combining regulated experimentation with global blockchain expertise, we are building the foundations to evaluate scalable use cases that enhance cross-border payments and digital asset capabilities in line with the Kingdoms long-term digital ambitions, adds Harrak.

The sandbox approach is expected to help demonstrate scalable and interoperable digital financial infrastructure that could contribute to the modernization of Saudi Arabias banking ecosystem.

Value for Both Jeel and Ripple

For Jeel, the partnership strengthens its position as a pioneer in regulated blockchain experimentation, expanding its innovation capabilities beyond traditional fintech acceleration programs. The collaboration also supports Riyad Banks broader ambition to evaluate future-ready digital financial services.

Ripple, meanwhile, gains strategic access to Saudi Arabias fast-growing fintech landscape through Jeels institutional network and innovation platform.
rsted has welcomed a newly signed Joint Offshore Wind Investment Pact for the North Seas, calling the agreement a major step toward accelerating offshore wind deployment and stabilising investment conditions in Europes core renewable power market.

The pact was signed at the North Sea Summit 2026 in Hamburg by the governments of Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, and the United Kingdom, alongside offshore wind developers and transmission system operators. While the agreement is political in nature, rsted positioned it as a critical enabler for industry-led investment decisions in the coming decade.

According to rsted, the pact reaffirms the ambition to reach 300 gigawatts of offshore wind capacity by 2050 and introduces a more coordinated deployment pathway through the 2030s. Signatories aim to smooth annual installation volumes between 2031 and 2040, targeting up to 15 GW of new offshore capacity per year across Europe, a level the company argues is necessary to restore supply-chain stability and bring costs down.

rsted said the agreement could help reduce the cost of electricity from offshore wind by around 30% toward 2040, provided governments deliver more predictable and de-risked investment frameworks. The company highlighted the importance of mechanisms such as two-sided contracts for difference (CfDs) and long-term power purchase agreements (PPAs), including cross-border structures, to underpin project revenues and attract capital at scale.

Rasmus Errboe, President and Chief Executive Officer of rsted, said the pact demonstrates political leadership in unlocking the North Seas offshore wind potential and signaled that the company is ready to invest under clearer market conditions. Europe remains rsteds core market, accounting for roughly 90% of its operating offshore wind capacity, the company said.

The Danish developer also framed the pact as a response to Europes energy security challenge. With more than half of the EUs energy currently imported, rsted estimates that delivering 300 GW of offshore wind in the North Sea could save Europe roughly 70 billion in fossil fuel imports, lower electricity prices, and cut European carbon emissions by around 15%. Offshore wind already employs about 100,000 people across Europe, a figure the company expects to grow as deployment accelerates.

The agreement reflects recommendations put forward by the offshore wind industry in 2025, including rsteds own Offshore Wind at a Crossroads report, which warned that inconsistent auction schedules, rising costs, and policy uncertainty were putting Europes offshore ambitions at risk. rsted said the new pact addresses these issues by aligning governments and industry around build-out volumes, risk-sharing, and long-term cost reduction.
This story was originally published on Retail Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily Retail Dive newsletter.

The liquidation of Saks Off 5th digital operations has been approved by the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas in Houston, undoing part of the unusual breakup five years ago of Saks online and offline retail operations.

In 2021 Saks Fifth Avenue spun off the e-commerce operations of full-line Saks Fifth Avenue, then followed suit at its off-price Saks Off 5th banner. Those digital entities are now part of Saks Globals Chapter 11 process, launched Jan. 14, but have their own chief restructuring officer, Andrew Hede, who is also an executive at consulting firm Accordion Partners.

Saks Global owns 80% of the Saks Off 5th digital business, and the other 20% is owned by outside investors, including funds affiliated with private equity fund Insight Partners, per court documents. At the time of the split, Insight Partners led a $200 million investment.

The idea behind the separations was to attract talent  something that the company and observers noted at the time  and capitalize on the shift to online shopping spurred by the pandemic, Hede told the court. But, as many analysts warned in 2021, things didnt work out as planned.

The SO5 Digital Debtors made substantial investments in the infrastructure to operate an e-commerce business, and additionally incurred substantial expenses towards digital marketing, for example, which have not led to the anticipated return on investment, Hede said.

While Saks Off 5ths store operations are part of the overall Saks Global bankruptcy, this liquidation involves just Saks Off 5ths e-commerce  and doesnt apply to the full-line digital operation. In November, several weeks before the bankruptcy, Saks Global announced it would shutter nine Saks Off 5th stores.

On its own, the liquidation doesnt say much about the online/offline splits, especially since off-price in general is more conducive to shopping in stores than online, according to GlobalData Managing Director Neil Saunders. Therefore the off-price digital entity was probably fairly fragile.

The root cause of the failure here is that parent group, Saks Global, has dragged all its divisions into the mire because of its huge debts, he said. Saks Off Fifth Digital is likely liquidating as it is technically a stand-alone division and is one of the weakest parts of the group with little viability.
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Dive Brief:

Renewable energy developer Exowatt has launched a business arm focused on providing land and energy infrastructure to support large or hyperscale data centers, the company announced Wednesday.

The companys new arm, ExoRise, will lean on land, power and its novel P3 solar and battery technology  which stores energy in the form of heat and converts it to electricity on demand  to provide data centers with reliable power around the clock, Exowatt said in a press release.

The Miami, Florida-headquartered startup is backed by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz (a16z) and others, and said it will develop the projects in areas with high solar exposure across the U.S. Southwest, such as New Mexico, west Texas, Arizona, and Nevada. Exowatt said the region offers ample land and solar resources which allows for faster deployment and has a minimal impact on local communities.

Dive Insight:

ExoRise will provide the startups customers with infrastructure that supports behind-the-meter and off-grid deployment based on remote land, a method Exowatt said is able to deliver large-scale power without increasing electricity costs for local ratepayers. The company said the approach will also encourage domestic growth of artificial intelligence and boost energy resilience.

Data centers consume increasing amounts of power, especially as companies in the tech sector continue to turn to AI. U.S. data center power demand could reach 106 gigawatts in 2035, according to a recent report from BloombergNEF. BNEFs latest forecast is 36% higher than its April 2025 estimate released  a jump it attributed in part to the higher average size of the 150 significant U.S. data center projects announced in 2024, over a quarter of which are larger than 500 megawatts.

The growth of AI is colliding with real limits on grid capacity, Exowatts Chief Data Center Officer Nic Bustamante said in the release. ExoRise is designed to solve that problem by delivering dependable power at the speed AI requires. Were not just solving a business problem  were enabling the future of American AI leadership.

Bustamante will lead partnerships with offtakers for hyperscale data centers and infrastructure financiers, Exowatt said.

Last year, the startup raised $70 million to commercialize its P3 solar technology. The funding round for the technology  marketed as a modular, always-on clean energy solution for data centers and other large industrial loads  was backed by HSBCs venture capital arm, actor Leonardo DiCaprio and several prominent Silicon Valley investors.
Jure Sola: Thanks, Paige. Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. Welcome, and thank you all for being here with us today, and Happy New Year and all the best to all of you. First, I would like to take this opportunity to recognize our employees and Sanmina leadership team for doing a great job. So to you, Samina team thank you for your dedication hard work and delivering excellent service to our customers. Please turn to Slide #4. Ladies and gentlemen, I can tell you that I'm very pleased with our performance for the first quarter. Overall, we are executing according to our plan.

A reconciliation between the GAAP and non-GAAP financial information is also provided in the press release and slides posted on our website. In general, our non-GAAP information excludes restructuring costs, acquisition and integration costs, noncash stock-based compensation expense, amortization expense and other unusual or infrequent items. Any comments we make on this call as it relates to the income statement measures will be directed at our non-GAAP financial results. Accordingly, unless otherwise stated in this conference call, when we refer to gross profit, gross margin, operating income, operating margin, tax, net income and earnings per share, we are referring to our non-GAAP information. I'd now like to turn the call over to Jure.

The company's actual results could differ materially from those projected in these statements as a result of factors set forth in the safe harbor statement. The company is under no obligation to and expressly disclaims any obligation to update or alter any of the forward-looking statements made in this earnings release the earnings presentation, the conference call or in the Investor Relations section of our website, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, unless otherwise required by law. Included in our press release and slides issued today, we have provided you with statements of operations for the first quarter ended December 27, 2025, on a GAAP basis as well as certain non-GAAP financial information.

Paige Bombino: And Jon Faust, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. Good afternoon. Before I turn the call over to Jure, let me remind everyone that today's call is being webcasted and recorded and will be available on our website. You can follow along with our prepared remarks in the slides provided on our website. Please turn to Slide 3 of our presentation and take note of our safe harbor statement. During this conference call, we may make projections or other forward-looking statements regarding future events or the future financial performance of the company. We caution you that such statements are just projections.

Story Continues

Revenue came in at $3.19 billion non-GAAP operating margin at 6% and non-GAAP diluted earnings per share of $2.38, and we delivered strong cash flow from operation of $179 million. Again, I'm excited about the future opportunities that we have in front of us. So now let's go to our agenda for today's call. We have John, our CFO, to review details of our results for you. I will follow up with additional comments about the results and future goals. Then Jon and I will open for question and answers. And now I'd like to turn this call over to Jon. Jon?

Jonathan Faust: Great. Thank you, Jure, and good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen, and thank you for joining today's earnings call. Before I review our financial results for the quarter, I want to acknowledge the entire Sanmina team for their focused execution and thank them for delivering a solid start to the new fiscal year. Now please turn to Slide 6, where I'll speak to the financial highlights. We're very pleased with our first quarter results, which as you can see, either met or exceeded all of our outlook commitments. Our revenue of $3.19 billion and our non-GAAP operating margin of 6.0% each came in towards the high end of our outlook.

In regards to revenue, both the core Sanmina business and the ZT Systems business came in near the high end of their respective outlook ranges. Also, our non-GAAP diluted earnings per share of $2.38 and exceeded our outlook. These results represent a great start to fiscal 2026 and sets us on the right path towards achieving our growth and margin expansion objectives for the year. Now please turn to Slide 7, where I'll speak to the P&L performance. As I just mentioned, we delivered revenue of $3.19 billion which was up 59% compared to the same period a year ago.

This was driven primarily by growth in the communications networks and cloud and AI infrastructure end markets for the core Sanmina business and the addition of the VT Systems business, which Jerry will speak to in more detail as part of his prepared remarks. Non-GAAP gross profit was $298 million or 9.3% of revenue up 30 basis points compared to the same period a year ago. This was driven by favorable mix as well as operational efficiencies. Non-GAAP operating expenses were $106 million or 3.3% of revenue, down 10 basis points compared to the same period a year ago. We continue to make targeted investments to drive future growth, but are doing so in a very structured and disciplined manner.

Non-GAAP operating profit was $192 million or 6.0% of revenue, up 40 basis points compared to the same period a year ago and at the 6% level for the second quarter in a row. This is a result of revenue growth, favorable mix and strong operational discipline. Non-GAAP other income and expense was a net expense of $19.1 million which was $3.9 million favorable to our guidance, driven by our strong cash generation. Non-GAAP diluted earnings per share came in at $2.38 and based on approximately 56 million shares outstanding and up 66.1% compared to the same period a year ago.

As we mentioned on our prior call, we expect fiscal 2026 to be a growth year, and our results for the first quarter represent a solid start towards achieving that objective. Now please turn to Slide 8, where I'll speak to the segment results. IMS revenue came in at $2.79 billion, up 72% compared to the same period a year ago. driven primarily by growth in the communications networks and cloud and AI infrastructure end markets for the core Sanmina business and the addition of the ZG Systems business. IMS non-GAAP gross margin was 8.7%, up 80 basis points compared to the same period a year ago.

This was due primarily to favorable mix, including the impact from the addition of ZT Systems revenue and operational efficiencies in both the core Sanmina and ZT Systems businesses. CPS revenue came in at $434 million, up 4.3% compared to the same period a year ago. CPS non-GAAP gross margin was 12.9% and up 40 basis points compared to the same period a year ago. That being said, the 12.9% is lower than our recent performance, and that's due to multiple investments that came online to support new programs which we expect will deliver margin accretive growth in the near future as well as a few program transitions.

While we executed well, we continue to see opportunity for further improvement in both revenue growth and margin expansion, which we will continue to focus on going forward. Now please turn to Slide 9, where I'll speak to the balance sheet highlights. We maintained a very strong balance sheet in the first quarter. Cash and cash equivalents were $1.42 billion. At the end of the quarter, we had no outstanding borrowings on our $1.5 billion revolver leaving us with substantial liquidity of approximately $3.6 billion to support the expected growth of the business.

We ended the quarter with inventory of $2.2 billion, net of customer advances which is up 74% versus the same period a year ago, driven by the ZT Systems acquisition. Inventory turns, net of customer advances were 5.3x for the quarter down from 5.8x in the same period a year ago, driven by the ZT Systems acquisition. It's also important to note that, that Q1 calculation only includes 2 months of ZT systems cost of goods sold. Now that being said, core Sanmina inventory turns, net of customer advances improved for the quarter, both sequentially and versus the same period a year ago. While we're pleased with these results, we believe there is still room for improvement.

Our non-GAAP pretax ROIC was 32.1% for the quarter, well above our weighted average cost of capital and a sizable improvement from the 23.5% from the same period a year ago. We continue to have one of the strongest balance sheets in the industry with a net leverage ratio of 0.8x. This ratio is calculated conservatively by annualizing our Q1 EBITDA results as using the pro forma trailing 12 months for ZT systems wouldn't accurately represent the current run rate of the business. Our long-term net leverage target remains 1.0x to 2.0x and we expect our leverage to increase into this range over time as we invest in working capital to support the growth of the ZT Systems business.

I want to emphasize our commitment to maintaining a healthy balance sheet, which means carefully managing the liquidity needed to invest in the business and capitalize on the strategic opportunities that further excel our position in the market with strong financial policies to guide our decision-making process. And to be clear, our goal remains to achieve investment-grade ratings over time. Now please turn to Slide 10, where I'll speak to the cash flow highlights. As a result of the team's disciplined working capital management, our first quarter cash flow from operations came in at a solid $179 million. Capital expenditures were $87 million for the quarter, slightly above our outlook.

As I've mentioned before, we will continue to make strategic investments in the technologies and capabilities needed to strengthen our position in the market and to support our growth expectations, and we expect to fund these efforts through our strong cash flow generation, in line with our capital allocation strategy. To that end, we anticipate ongoing targeted investments in both capacity and technologies across our operations in the United States, India and Mexico, to drive further growth and margin expansion across all of our end markets. Free cash flow was $92 million, enabled by our strong working capital management and operational discipline. During the quarter, we repurchased 516,000 shares for approximately $79 million to offset dilution for the year.

At quarter end, we had approximately $160 million remaining on our current share repurchase program. Our strong cash flow performance has provided us with the financial flexibility to allow for continued investments in the business while also returning CAP to shareholders, all within a disciplined and balanced capital allocation framework. Now please turn to Slide 11, where I'll speak to our capital allocation strategy. When it comes to capital allocation, it's incredibly important to have a clear strategy and a well-defined set of priorities when making decisions. As we shared with you before, our first priority is to invest in our business to drive long-term organic growth and margin expansion.

We evaluate all investments with discipline and take a structured ROI-based approach. Second, we continuously evaluate strategic acquisition and partnership opportunities, which need to meet our ROI expectations to help accelerate our growth. Third, we carefully manage our balance sheet and liquidity position with a focus on our long-term net leverage target as well as our long-term goal of achieving investment-grade ratings. And finally, when appropriate, we return capital to shareholders through share repurchases, subject to maintaining a strong balance sheet and liquidity position. We have and will continue to execute on this strategy by utilizing these options, which enables us to take advantage of opportunities to grow our business.

Now please turn to Slide 12, where I'll provide our outlook for the second quarter, which is based on current customer forecasts, a full quarter of the ZT Systems business and taking into account ongoing market uncertainties stemming from tariffs and the geopolitical landscape. Our second quarter outlook is as follows: We expect revenue between $3.1 billion to $3.4 billion. At the midpoint of $3.25 billion, that reflects 62% growth compared to the same period a year ago. We continue to expect the core Sanmina business to grow high single digits this fiscal year.

As for ZT Systems, the business is performing well and in line with our expectations as we work through the transition period, and we're very excited and focused on the opportunities and future ahead. Non-GAAP operating margin of 5.7% to 6.2% dependent on the mix of the business. We expect other income and expense to be a net expense of approximately $26 million as it now includes a full quarter of our new debt structure. We expect our non-GAAP effective tax rate to be between 21% to 23%. We estimate an approximate $3 million noncash reduction to our net income to reflect our India joint venture partners' equity interest.

Non-GAAP diluted earnings per share in the range of $2.25 and to $2.55 based on approximately 56 million fully diluted shares outstanding. At the midpoint of $2.40, that represents a 66.7% increase compared to the same period a year ago. Capital expenditures are expected to be around $95 million as we continue to invest strategically to support our future growth expectations. And finally, depreciation of approximately $45 million. In summary, fiscal 2026 is off to a great start. We remain focused on driving revenue growth, margin expansion and cash generation while maintaining a healthy balance sheet and making investments that further support our strategic objectives.

Based on our Q1 performance and our outlook for the second quarter, combined with the demand signals from our customers, we continue to expect fiscal 2026 to be a growth year. There's a lot of work ahead of us. but we are very excited about our future. And with that, let me turn the call back over to Jure.

Jure Sola: Thank you, John. Ladies and gentlemen, let me add a few more comments about our results for the first quarter. and the rest of the fiscal year '26 and beyond. So please turn to Slide 14. As you heard from John, we delivered strong results for the first quarter. We delivered revenue and non-GAAP operating margin at the high end of our outlook, and non-GAAP diluted earnings per share exceeded our outlook. Most important, fiscal year '26 is on tracking to our expectation, the way I would say it, great start to fiscal year 2026. As you can see, our consistent execution is driving our financial performance. Also, I can tell you this is exciting time to be in Sanmina.

Please turn to Slide 15. Let's look at the revenue by end market for the first quarter 2026 for communication networks, cloud and AI infrastructure, that came in around 62% in total. Sanmina core business in this segment grew year-over-year approximately 20%. ZTE revenue came for our plan at the high end of our guidance in total of $1.964 billion. For industrial, energy, medical, defense and aerospace, automotive and transportation, that was 38% of our revenue or $1.226 billion. That was slightly down year-over-year, about 3%. The way I would review this segment is very consistent and stable.

This is a heavy regulated market that we participate, and we focus on mission-critical and advanced technology products. and I'll talk more about it later on about the future by this segment. As you can see, Sanmina is well diversified within market leaders. Bookings continues to be solid, over 1% -- over 1 I should say, solid demand on existing business and strong pipeline of new projects. At this time, we're seeing very positive trends across the majority of our focused end markets. To tell you more about it, please turn to Slide 16.

Now let me talk to you about -- more about end markets, the way we see it today. overall, it's a very positive trend for us as we look at the fiscal year '26 and beyond. For communication networks and cloud infrastructure, we are well positioned for growth in this segment. For Communications segment, we participate mainly in a high-density high-performance networks. We see strong demand for high-performance switches and enterprise storage. We're also growing and expanding our optical advanced packaging products business. We do high-performance network systems from 400, 800 gig, and we're starting to ship 1.6 terabytes.

For cloud and AI infrastructure, we see a strong demand -- strong growth opportunities, and we are well positioned in cloud and AI end market. We expect strong -- we see a strong pipeline of new projects to drive the growth for second half of calendar year '26 and calendar year '27 and beyond. Now let me talk to you about industrial and energy. For industrial and energy, we have a great base of customers. We have strong demand for power products to support AI data centers and solid demand for safety and surveillance equipment. We see solid new projects in the pipeline to drive future growth. Industrial and Energy is the very strong segment for us.

So let me tell you more about our expansion of new state-of-art factory in Houston, Texas for our energy business. Outlook for electricity demand is very positive. There are several areas for these power markets were [indiscernible] plays such as distribution, transmission and storage of electrical power. In Energy segments such as distribution, we're going to focus on medium voltage transformers. For transmission, we're going to focus on grid scale transformers. And for storage, storage battery storage systems. Here, we basically get involved in early stage of product design to full system and utilizing our vertical integration such as electronics, machining, fabrication, bus bars, et cetera.

On this extension, I should say, of this energy business, we've been working for the last couple of years. So we made a decision to basically grow this business because as I said earlier, the outlook for electricity demand is very positive. For these projects, we partnered with a company called Contra out of Europe, Croatia, to co-design custom medium voltage transformers for our customers plus other opportunities for U.S.A. market. We have a long-term commitment from our customer. This is a large industry-leading strategic customer for Sanmina. We're ramping up this facility right now, and we are planning to ship a few units in late 2026 and be ready for full production in calendar year 2027.

It's exciting opportunity for our energy business and also for Sanmina. Let me tell you more about the medical is well diversified within a market that we participate in. We're starting to see a recovery in this medical segment. We expect medical drug delivery devices to grow in fiscal year '26 and '27. An overall medical business for us, we see solid opportunities in pipeline. For defense and aerospace, we continue to see strong demand for the next few years. This segment continues to do well. We see strong opportunities in pipeline for next few years. For our more in transportation, this business for us, starting to become more stable. We do have a great customer base.

And what we see for next year is that we have new programs that will drive that growth for us. So for industrial and energy, medical, defense, aerospace, automotive transportation, overall, we see solid opportunities in this segment. and we expect to see more growth in the second half of fiscal year 2026. Now please turn to Slide 17. Now let me tell you more about Sanmina T system AI business. I can tell you that we are executing to the plan. Integration is on track and is doing well. Good thing about this acquisition is it's immediately accretive to our EPS. ZT system margins is in line with our core Sanmina, as John told you.

And most important, we do have strong management and technical team in place. So where do we go from here? We expect more growth in the second half of calendar year driven by new projects. As I said before, and we're saying this again, the goal is to double Samina revenue in the next 2 years. And what we see today, the AI opportunities are on track to deliver a $16-plus billion in our calendar year '27. We're also pursuing vertical integration opportunities for AR. As you see on this slide, on the right side of the slide, when we talk about full system integration for AI data center at the scale.

So you can see all the way from design to the full system. Our capabilities for AI data center are industry-leading for components from components and liquid cooling racks to full system integration at scale. Please turn to Slide 18. Let me talk about our priorities. Number one, we are focused on our customers as we always did. The focus is to continue to broaden and deepen our customer partnership. And we are also adding new market-leading customers to our base. Number two, continue to focus on leadership in technology. Our technology is a competitive advantage in the high-technology markets.

Our capabilities are in place from design to full system at scale, and we are planning to do more for the future. Number three, how to execute on ZT system opportunities. ZT systems is working on large opportunities for AI data center business, mainly new projects driven. Sanmina is well positioned. We are investing in AI data center and continue to expand capacity for the future requirements for fiscal year '27 and 28 in -- and of course, number 4 is to continue to drive profitable and sustainable growth. In Sanmina, we call this building big for the future, while staying through to our core values focusing the margin expansion, continue to diversify to higher and sustainable margin business.

I can tell you that we are forecasting steady improvements in operating margin. Short term, we're forecasting 5.7% to 6% operating margin. And longer term, we expect to improve those margin from 6 to 7-plus percent. So overall, our strategy is to build bigger as stronger Sanmina for the future and always maximize shareholder value for our investors. Please turn to Slide 19. I -- in summary, we are focused on sustainable and profitable growth. As John mentioned, this is a great start to our fiscal year 2026.

We expect core Sanmina to grow in the high single digits. -- and we expect strong demand from AR hardware in the second half of calendar year '26, '27 into 28, all driven by new platform, new technology projects. We have capacity and power requirements to support customer demand for present demand, but we are continuing to invest for the future. We focused on market diversification with higher margin opportunities. Our manufacturing footprint is well aligned with our customer requirements, and we do have strong U.S.A. presence. The key to our strategy, again, to continue remain focused on Sanmina's strategy and to be a partner of choice with the market leaders.

So ladies and gentlemen, now I would like to thank you all for your time and support. Operator, we're now ready to open the lines for questions and answers, and thank you again.

Operator: [Operator Instructions] Your first question comes from the line of Ruplu Bhattacharya from Bank of America.

Ruplu Bhattacharya: Can you help me parse through the sequential revenue guidance for the March quarter? Looks like revenues at the midpoint are guided up $60 million. If I think about it, ZT, you should have a full quarter of revenues, which is about $1.4 billion. That means that DT itself is contributing, say, $0.5 billion of incremental revenues 2 months versus 3 months in the March quarter. So is something weaker sequentially? Like any color you can give us on revenue from legacy Sanmina versus ZT non-accelerated versus T NVIDIA? How are you seeing the trends in those different buckets of revenue?

Jure Sola: Okay. First of all, actually, our business is improving in the second quarter. So let me explain that. Yes, you're right. We only had 2 months I don't think it's -- you cannot take 2 months divided by 2 multiple by 3 because the transition of our business, this business is mainly all businesses being transitioned, and we're now strictly focus what we call base business that's going to stay with us. and the future business. So if you really look at it today from our perspective, we're only guiding 1 quarter at a time. But if -- but overall, if you look at the Street expectation, we feel comfortable with that. We're just guiding 1 quarter.

For the first quarter, we should be more than a 3% expectation by approximately $100-plus million. So as we're guiding to $3.1 million to $3.4 million, Sanmina business itself, the core business will grow quarter-over-quarter and will grow double digits year-over-year, okay? And we expect ZT system to grow quarter-over-quarter. So overall, we expect a strong quarter. Most importantly, I think we are positioning the company for the new product, new platforms that are going to be coming up in the end of the fiscal year and calendar year and we're investing for that. So we're really excited about the future about that. So that's all I have to say, Jon, anything else you want to add to that?

Jonathan Faust: I mean I think you covered it well, Jure, I mean First and foremost, just talking about the Q1 results, Ruplu, both parts of the business. Core Sanmina and ZT Systems performed well at the high end of the range. And we did provide specific guidance in that first quarter, but we're very pleased to see both parts of the business do well. And yes, just like Gary was saying, ZT Systems is effectively in line with our expectations. You go all the way back to May 19 what we said and pretty much everything we've said and committed about the business has been happening the way that we expected, including in Q1. So very excited about the future.

The transition is taking place like we expect, and we're just focused on executing those new opportunities.

Jure Sola: As you can add to that up, I think we have a lot of interest from existing customers and future customers what's going on. And as I said in my prepared statement, the most importantly, I think the more learn about site's management. I'm very comfortable, very excited with the team, what they can do. It's -- they're basically self-sufficient going forward. So we're excited, a great acquisition for Sanmina, and this will transform Sanmina. I mean there's no way we could get to in '27 without a potential that we have and the new platforms coming out.

Ruplu Bhattacharya: Okay. I appreciate the details there. Can I ask a conceptual question about as I see the business, there are really 3 parts to the business, right? There's the non-accelerated part, which would be just non-GPU servers or racks. Then there's the accelerated part and there's some legacy NVIDIA business you would have. And then obviously, you're going to be ramping with AMD in the second half of the year, as you said.

As we think about this total revenue, I think last quarter, we were talking about high $5 billion to $6 billion and the guidance implied something like $5.7 billion, does that $5.7 billion kind of factor in some decline in the NVIDIA part of the business whereas as you ramp AMD, you're going to be focused more on that, and so that will ramp. So any thoughts on how fast that transition can occur this year? Like do you think that you will % AMD in time for any offset to the NVIDIA business that might decline?

Jonathan Faust: Yes. Good question, [indiscernible], this is Jon. So just to verify and a reminder for everyone, the -- back in May '19, we said when we closed the transaction, we'd expect the revenue run rate to be between $5 billion to $6 billion. right? So that was implying that we had a point of view on how that transition was going to occur with the accelerated compute component of the portfolio and they pretty much landed right in our expectations, right? You annualize our Q1 guide to 2 months and you get to $5.7 billion. But we're still going through that transition right now. And a lot of the old platforms at this point now have rolled off.

So we're really just focused about the future. But that's why we wanted to be clear at the time we were just guiding the Q1 number that we did, and now we're guiding Q2. But the opportunity, like Jure was saying for accelerated compute specifically is huge. And that's what we're focused on right now and doing our part of that to be able to execute on that demand and on that opportunity. And that really comes towards the end of our calendar -- at the end of calendar 2026.

Jure Sola: Yes. If I can add to that, we really -- opportunities utilizing AMD partnership is huge for us and all the investments being made to be able to support future required. So Ruplu, I would just say is, you know us, we like to guide 1 quarter at a time. We feel very comfortable about our guidance. As you can see, we are increasing our earnings per share. This is the second quarter that we delivered 6%. I think we can expand margins, both on Sanmina side and ZT site in the future. Those are exciting things. and there's a lot of vertical integration opportunities that we're starting to kind of work on that. It's going to take some time.

But in a year from now, we should be able -- that part of the business when it comes to vertical integration around the AI data center will improve. And then our core business around data center is doing really well. So we are -- we like what we have. As I said in my prepared only few businesses is that automotive was down, but it's getting stable, but everything else starting to move in the right direction.

Ruplu Bhattacharya: Can I -- can I ask a clarification Jure, I know you're not guiding for the full year, but one thing you said in your prepared remarks is that when you look at consensus estimates, you're comfortable with that. If I look at incentives for 2026, right now, it's about $14 billion of revenue. And I think your last guidance for ZT was kind of in that high $5 billion to $6 billion range. Are you still comfortable? Is that the message today [indiscernible]

Jure Sola: The message is -- if you look at the first call, we believe we have a very good chance of hitting $14 billion.

Ruplu Bhattacharya: $14 billion okay. I understand. And then can I ask...

Jure Sola: As much as I hate to tell you on a yearly basis, let me just put -- I'm personally more excited about some front of what opportunities we have today than in May when we did a deal and even a lot stronger than 90 days ago, a lot of work in front of us, but we're not afraid of work.

Ruplu Bhattacharya: Right. If I can sneak one last one in. Jure, let's move beyond data center. If you look at the communications market, right, I mean from an optical and networking, how are you -- that market has been going through many years of inventory correction -- how do you see that recovering? What is happening? Can you give us what happened in the December quarter and how you see the March quarter in terms of the overall communications market, whether it's optical or networking or whatever the part you play in.

Jure Sola: Yes, very strong. I mean, very strong today. I mean we have some material shortages out there around memory and some of the special ASIC customer ASIC but very strong demand, and we expect -- first of all, it was very strong in the December quarter. It will continue to be strong in March quarter. I think it will be very strong for the rest of the year. But Ruplu, 1 quarter at a time, but we're excited about the year and the future.

Operator: Your next question comes from the line of Steven Fox from Fox Advisors.

Steven Fox: I guess just off of all that, maybe you can tie that into the operating margin. It looks like the operating margin was a little bit better in the quarter. It looks like it could even be flattish this quarter. Can you talk about some of the things going on, puts and takes and why you're able to hang on to that like 6 handle maybe not only this quarter, but next quarter? And then I have a follow-up question.

Jonathan Faust: Yes. Steve, this is Jon. So very pleased with the operating margin for the quarter. As I was saying in my prepared remarks, pretty consistent with where we exited last year in Q4. And it's largely dependent on mix. That was a big factor in our business. But it's also the same levers that we're always focused on, that we're talking about. So just to be clear and to reiterate that, but we're always looking to drive operational efficiencies within both of our businesses or within both of our segments, both IMS and CPS. Clearly, the addition of ZT it helped out as well. We're always looking for opportunities we're efficient with our SG&A cost structure, too.

And we're really focused on growing those businesses that are accretive to the overall margin profile. Last year, Jure and I talked a lot about investments that we were making in CPS in particular, that would be margin accretive. And we're starting to see some of those investments coming online. So that created a little bit of short-term pressure in CPS in particular, but long term, the opportunity is there. So it's the same set of levers that we're always executing on, and that's what we're going to continue to do going forward.

Jure Sola: [indiscernible], I can add to that. And investments that we are making, especially as you look at in the '26, '27 a year, it's a lot of it in the businesses that can deliver the higher margin. for us. So the key for us, that's why we feel -- of course, you've got to take one day at a time, one quarter at a time, but we are positioning company to really push for the higher-margin business, something that is sustainable, not just for 1 quarter, but is sustainable for many quarters. As you can see, our business is becoming more technology driven. It requires a higher return on investment to be able to make investments for the future.

Steven Fox: And just to be clear, when we're talking about mix here, John, are we talking about mix of components, products and services or mix across served markets.

Jonathan Faust: [indiscernible], I was referring more to across components, products and services, Steve. I think at the end of the day, I think the key important thing to remember here is that even with the acquisition of ZT Systems, our core strategy hasn't changed. What Sanmina wants to focus on. Clearly, that added to the overall IMS part of the portfolio. And that's great. It's essentially an extension of the TAM more broadly into the data center end market or as we call it the cloud and AI infrastructure end market.

But the core strategy of always trying to get better on all the programs across all of our businesses hasn't changed and then also our focus on our cost structure and just growing CPS to be a bigger component of the overall mix. So core strategy hasn't changed, excited about and just on XT, they've been executing well, pretty much everything that we said back to May, we've executed on to date. And now we're focused, as Jure was saying, on all the opportunities we've got ahead of us in that business.

Unknown Analyst: Got it. And then just as a follow-up, can you just help us a little bit more on the ZTE wins for later in the year? It sounds like you have confidence in these wins that you've won some substantial stuff -- but I'm wondering if you can give us color as to is it all accelerated computer-related legacy technology too. How would you sort of describe what and why you're winning that you have confidence in doing like $14 billion [indiscernible] $16 billion in [indiscernible]

Jure Sola: I think number one, why we're winning is execution. This is a great team. They are known to execute. They have a very strong relationship with existing customers. And the way we are structuring for the future and the technologies that are coming out, these are very difficult systems. And I believe that we are positioned our customers believe that we're positioned to win. We still have to work on it and deliver opportunities [indiscernible] are there. I mean, opportunity is not an issue. I think it's all about timing and making sure that we do what we said we're going to do as we're making commitments to our customers. Anything else, Jon?

Jonathan Faust: The only thing I would add to that, Steve and Ruplu talked about it earlier, but there's multiple components to the ZT business and all of them we're interested in and we're investing in accelerated compute is certainly the part of it that has the most growth potential, but we're focused on all aspects.

Jure Sola: And I think what I would just to set, we don't talk too much about it, but I think we're able to there was a lot of talk. We're not going to be able to retain all customers. I think our team is doing a great job, and we have a high confidence that those customers will grow in the future, and we're going to be adding new customers to that. So from an opportunities point of view, that's not an issue. I think the demand for at least what we see today, what we hear from our customers, like I said, there's a lot of opportunity. We are investing for the future.

As you just heard from John earlier, we spent, what, over $85 million last quarter $87 million, and we're going to be spending around 90 plus. And that's all for future. That's -- 90% of that is really for '27 or '28.

Operator: [Operator Instructions] Your next question comes from the line of Anja Soderstrom from Sidoti.

Anja Soderstrom: So within Industrial Medical, our understands where -- what was the pocket of weakness there to [indiscernible]

Jure Sola: Well, I think as I said in my prepared statements, I think we had some weakness in the last couple of quarters in automotive, transportation, part of the way we measure it. They're starting to stabilize, and it's mainly driven with some of the new programs that are coming that we won. And so I would say that business is going to be a short-term stable, but the longer term, I think, will start recovering. Medical is starting to recover pretty nicely. We're pretty well diversified there. Defense and Aerospace, it's pretty stable.

It's all about these are long-term programs and just that sometimes they don't move as fast, but the demand for those are solid Industrial, I just talked about earlier, that's a very good market for us. We talked about expansion down in Houston, Texas. We do have orders and the books already for what we call medium voltage transformers that we codesign with the Croatian European company. We're very excited about that. Actually, customer wants the product today. So overall, that segment, we expect it to grow more growth in the second half of our fiscal year, calendar year.

Anja Soderstrom: Okay. And did you say you expected that to grow sequentially in the second quarter?

Jure Sola: Yes, we're going to see some growth in the second quarter, but we'll see more growth in the second half of our fiscal year '26.

Anja Soderstrom: And then in terms of the cash cycle days, you said there were some things going on in this quarter that drove that up. Do you think we'll see a drop in the second quarter? Or is that going to be taking some time to get that down?

Jure Sola: Yes. What I was referring to there, Anja, is that whether it's our -- I was talking primarily in my prepared remarks about inventory turns. And in that calculation, you've got the full amount of inventory that came over from but only 2 months of the cost of goods sold. So it somewhat distorts the calculation. Same thing applies for the cash conversion cycle, but that also applies to revenue as well. So I think we'll be a little bit better. But all in all, we're pleased with performance of the business on that front. And it's per our expectations.

As I mentioned for core Sanmina, we drove improvement on inventory turns, and that's been the big area that we've been focused on for the last couple of years. So we continue to do well on that front, but more work to be done. In ZTE, once we've got a full quarter in there, I think you'll get a more realistic view of inventory turns, cash conversion cycle. But as always in our business, that's always going to be an area of focus of where can we optimize, how can we do better?

Operator: There are no further questions at this time. I would like to turn the call back to Jure Sola for closing comments. Sir, please go ahead.

Jure Sola: Well, ladies and gentlemen, again, thank you for your time you spent with us today. Hopefully, we answered most of your questions. If not, please contact us and looking forward to talking to you, if not in the near term, 90 days from now. Thanks a lot. Bye-bye.

Operator: Ladies and gentlemen, this concludes today's conference call. Thank you very much for your participation. You may now disconnect.

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Sanmina (SANM) Q1 2026 Earnings Call Transcript was originally published by The Motley Fool
Santos has announced the successful loading and dispatch of the first liquefied natural gas (LNG) cargo from the Barossa Gas Project off the coast of Australia's Northern Territory.

The cargo, now en route to Japan, departed the Darwin LNG facility aboard tanker the Kool Blizzard on 25 January. This shipment is set for delivery to the Sakai terminal on a delivered ex-ship basis.

Santos managing director and CEO Kevin Gallagher said: This is an outstanding achievement for a project of this scale and complexity in the global offshore upstream sector. It demonstrates Santos self-execution capability in delivering major development projects and the success of our disciplined, low-cost operating model.

I am proud of the way the whole Santos team navigated through the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic, regulatory approvals, legal challenges and supply chain disruptions during the construction phase.

Santos holds a 50% stake in the Barossa Gas Project, operating alongside joint venture partners PRISM Energy International Australia, which holds 37.5%, and JERA Australia, with a 12.5% share.

The announcement follows a significant milestone achieved in September 2025, when the BW Opal floating production, storage and offloading vessel (FPSO) began production after receiving its first gas.

The Barossa offshore gas and condensate project aims to supply the Darwin LNG facility in Northern Territory with gas extracted from fields approximately 285km offshore. The gas will replace supplies from the Bayu-Undan field, which has reached the end of its operational life cycle.

The project infrastructure consists of an FPSO facility, subsea production systems, and associated pipelines dubbed Gas Export Pipeline (GEP) and Darwin Pipeline Duplication (DPD). Up to eight subsea wells are due to be developed in the Barossa field, ensuring a continuous supply of gas and condensate for processing and export.

Barossa LNG, one of the lowest-cost new supply projects globally, represents a considerable investment in Australia's oil and gas industry since 2012. In March 2021, Santos announced the final investment decision for this $3.6bn initiative aimed at enhancing competitiveness amid tightening global markets.

JERA will take approximately 425,000t of LNG annually under its equity agreement. The proximity of Australia to Asia makes it a strategic supplier amid rising regional energy demand.

JERA chief low-carbon fuel officer Ryosuke Tsugaru said: Australia has been a stable and trusted supplier of LNG to the region for decades, and the first cargo shipment from Barossa further strengthens our partnership as we continue to expand our competitive and resilient LNG portfolio.
SK Hynix Inc. shares jumped to an all-time high after local media said the company is the sole supplier of advanced memory for Microsoft Corp.s new artificial intelligence chip.

The stock closed 8.7% higher on the Korea Exchange, erasing an early loss on the latest tariff threat from US President Donald Trump. The shares have continued to climb this year, extending an AI-fueled rally that has driven the South Korean company to a market value of more than $400 billion.

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Each of the Maia 200 accelerators unveiled by Microsoft on Monday will use six units of SK Hynixs HBM3E, Maeil Business Newspaper reported, citing chip industry and brokerage sources. SK Hynix is unable to confirm or disclose any customer-related information, a company spokesperson said in a text message.

The firms shares have surged tenfold in around three years, riding investor enthusiasm for AI thanks to its early supply deal with Nvidia Corp. Pricing of legacy memory chips has started to improve as well, boosting the outlook for SK Hynix ahead of its results due Thursday.

The gain on Tuesday was supported by dip buying and rising HBM earnings expectations, said Jung In Yun, chief executive officer at Fibonacci Asset Management Global. We will probably see SK Hynix earnings meeting expectations again, he added.

Another positive tailwind came as Citigroup Inc. hiked its price target for SK Hynix by 56% to a street-high 1,400,000 won. They maintained their buy rating and opened a 30-day upside catalyst watch on the stock.

The memory market is shifting toward semi-customization, with memory customers required to sign a contract a year prior to actual product delivery, analyst Peter Lee wrote in a note Monday. In 2026, we foresee global DRAM/NAND pricing growth to be significantly better than expected.

(Updates data as of close)

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South Africa saw its wine export sales fall last year amid softening consumption and macroeconomic challenges.

However, officials talked up a strategy of prioritising value over volume sales.

A new export report from industry bodies Wines of South Africa (WoSA) and South Africa Wine (SAW) shows the value of exports, when measured in rands, dropped 4.7% last year to R9.8bn ($607.6m). The value of exports in US dollars reached $548.5m, a 2.4% decline on 12 months earlier.

In 2024, South Africa reported a rise in wine export revenues amid improved volumes of packaged wine.

Last year, export volumes slid 13.8% to 264 million litres. Bulk volumes slumped nearly 20% to 146.4 million litres. The volume of packaged wine shipped was down 4.6% at 117.6 million litres.

WoSA and SAW said the results showed a "stable overall value performance".

Siobhan Thompson, the CEO of Wines of South Africa (WoSA), said: South Africas export performance must be viewed in the context of a challenging global environment marked by declining wine consumption, economic pressure and rising trade barriers.

Against this backdrop, our long-term strategy of prioritising value over volume and focusing on key markets is proving resilient. While volumes in some developed markets softened, we saw encouraging value growth in core markets for packaged wine such as the UK, Canada and Sweden, alongside strong momentum across Africa and parts of Asia.

According to the report, compiled alongside South African wine industry research body SAWIS, the revenue from packaged exports decreased 2% in rands, to R7.7bn.

When measured in US dollars, packaged exports revenue increased 0.4% to $431m.

The sales value of bulk wine exports dropped 13.4% in rands to R2.1bn. Sales revenue was also down 11.4% in US dollars at $117m.

These products tackled "global oversupply, softer demand and tariff disruptions" in the year, according to the report but saw US dollar per litre values rise for white and red cultivar wines with "improved" pricing.

The UK was the largest market for South African wine exports in 2025 but sales value was flat at $145m. Germany, the second-biggest market, saw sales reach $48m in the year, a 9% drop on 2024 value.

Exports to the US, the fifth-largest market for South African wine last year, tumbled 28% to $28m, with the introduction of tariffs in August having "a disproportionate impact on exporting countries due to varying tariff rates", the report said.

South African wine imports face a 30% tariff from the US but "the full effect" of it "will only become evident later this year", the report added.
Bank deposits have always been considered one of the safest and stickiest parts of the financial system.

But their dominance as a safe haven is facing a new kind of competition. Not from rival banks or money market funds, but from the digital assets.

Standard Chartered warned in a recent note that the growing adoption of dollar-pegged stablecoins could quietly siphon deposits out of the traditional banking system. This is a structural risk for banks in both the United States and abroad, even without a crisis or classic bank run.

Related: Explained: What is a stablecoin?

Why stablecoins are a deposit risk for banks

A stablecoin is a cryptocurrency designed to maintain a stable value, usually pegged to a fiat currency like the U.S. dollar.

The latest warning comes from Geoff Kendrick, Standard Chartereds global head of digital assets research.

In a note circulated this week and viewed by CoinTelegraph, Kendrick said delays around the US CLARITY Act are a reminder of whats truly at stake.

We estimate that U.S. bank deposits will decrease by one-third of stablecoin market cap, Kendrick wrote.

With U.S. dollar-pegged stablecoins representing roughly $301 billion in market value, according to CoinGecko, that implies tens of billions of dollars could migrate out of the banking system.

We estimate that around two-thirds of stablecoin demand comes from emerging markets at present, so one-third comes from developed markets, he wrote.

He said that if the stablecoin market grows to around $2 trillion, banks in developed economies could see roughly $500 billion in deposits flow out by the end of 2028, while emerging-market banks could lose close to $1 trillion over the same period.

The report lands amid growing tension between banks and crypto firms over crypto structure bills.

The biggest point of contention between crypto players and banks has been the yield on stablecoins. According to banks, allowing stablecoin yield would pull deposits out of the traditional banking system, weaken net interest margins, and increase bank-run risks.

Crypto community counters that stablecoins already generate yield through reserves and market activity, and banning rewards unfairly protects banks and stifles competition.

The debate has intensified around proposed U.S. legislation like the CLARITY Act. Exchanges like Coinbase have opposed these restrictions, arguing that they would limit innovation and institutional adoption.

Standard Chartered is not the only one that has issued such a warning for bank deposits.

Just a couple of days ago, Bank of America CEO Brian Moynihan warned that as much as $6 trillion in bank deposits could move out of the banking system into stablecoins. That is roughly about 30-35% of the total commercial bank deposits in the country.
SDCCU also said it found that certain auto loans were being approved in situations where policy afforded discretion for underwriters to disregard a low FICO credit score when the car dealership provided a higher alternative credit score.

He added that processes such as preparing disclosures in the same language as marketing are not just best practice but good practice. Mr. Gibbons, who is now CEO of David D. Gibbons & Company, LLC, a consultancy, has served as an expert witness in other matters but isnt involved in this case.

The Spanish language issue hits hard, said former bank regulator and industry veteran David Gibbons, who worked for decades in roles including 27 years at the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, which oversees national banks and federal savings banks.

Unfortunately, SDCCU says it encountered compliance and governance issues as soon as it began to look closely at Cal Coasts operations. One concern included a marketing campaign in Spanish and failing to furnish contract and disclosure paperwork in the same language.

Thats the case of San Diego County Credit Union (SDCCU) and smaller peer California Coast Credit Union, which announced a merger that would have created a Golden State powerhouse with $13.5 billion in assets, 65 branches, and 600,000 members. Credit unions operate much like banks, but are effectively owned by members who make deposits.

It was supposed to be a picture-perfect marriage of California credit unions. But a breakdown in corporate governance has threatened the tie-up long before they could reach the altar.

SDCCU has proposed putting its CEO, Teresa Campbell at the helm and take a 9-2 board majority, which in turn led to lawsuit by Cal Coast attempting to force merger consummation

Ms. Kissick also said in a sworn statement that Cal Coasts Chief Audit & Risk Officer said of Mr. Lane It doesnt matter what I say or what I think, hes going to do what he wants to do.

As the integration began, SDCCU says it uncovered serious governance and compliance red flags including marketing in Spanish without disclosures in the same language, use of alternative credit scores and more

Story Continues

Another regulatory concern centered on laptop computer loans extended at a college bookstore. Cal Coast allegedly marketed and issued loans to San Diego State University students, through the university bookstore, to purchase laptops. But Cal Coast neither reported these as student loans nor conformed to the federal requirements governing them, according to SDCCU.

Yet another worry was Cal Coasts QCash Loans, which are unsecured no-credit-qualification-required loans (these include payday loans with an annual percentage rate of 28%, according to Cal Coasts website). The QCash Loans, according to SDCCU, were being issued predominantly to borrowers with verifiably low credit scores, yielding unacceptable credit and default risk.

Such issues triggered alarm bells at SDCCU, given the risk of regulatory trouble and litigation. Indeed, with assets of $13.5 billion in the combined entity rather than Cal Coasts assets of $3.6 billion, it could be a much juicier target.

But SDCCU didnt try to kill the deal, instead attempting to find solutions to help comply with key regulations and financial safeguards. When SDCCU proposed to address shortcomings, it said it encountered significant pushback.

SDCCU says that Cal Coast balked and chafed against some of the suggested changes, with the smaller lender referring to them as a distraction. The alleged Cal Coast response is captured most poignantly by a sworn testimony by a senior SDCCU executive highly involved in the early days of attempted integration.

Chief Risk Officer Carolyn Kissick, a veteran with 35 years in the financial services industry who herself has experience with merger integrations, said in a sworn statement that she was berated by Cal Coast CEO Todd Lane when she urged him to embrace better compliance controls. He stated, in sum and substance: I run a dictatorship and I am the dictator. I do not care what you say or what you think, Ms. Kissick said in her testimony.

Ms. Kissick also said in a sworn statement that Cal Coasts Chief Audit & Risk Officer, Kellen Gill, said of Mr. Lane [i]t doesnt matter what I say or what I think, hes going to do what he wants to do.

SDCCU also raised concerns about Mr. Gills own ability to oversee and enforce compliance. In a court filing this week, SDCCU made a motion to compel additional deposition testimony, on the grounds that the audit and risk officer refused to provide responses to SDCCUs deposition questions, and good cause exists for compelling him to answer questions about his DUI conviction (a matter of public record) under oath.

He flies the compliance aircraft, he directs the air traffic around it, and he audits the entire operation, SDCCU said in the court filing, adding that that his criminal conduct, coupled with his decision to hide it from the institution, refutes any notion that he functioned as an effective check on Lanes authority or as a reliable steward of Cal Coasts compliance, risk, and audit framework.

In a statement to CorpGov, Mr. Gill said [y]ears ago, I took responsibility for a personal mistake, addressed it through the appropriate legal channels, and I have been sober every day since. That matter has no connection to California Coast Credit Union or the issues before the courtI remain focused on my responsibilities and on supporting strong governance, compliance, and integrity on behalf of our members.

In a separate statement to CorpGov regarding Mr. Lane, Cal Coast said [o]ur CEO did not make that statement, and it does not reflect his leadership approach, or how he engages with employees, partners, or the communities we serve. Its unfortunate they would resort to this disparaging tactic. Cal Coast has operated in full compliance with all laws and regulations. We are routinely examined by both state and federal regulators and audited continuously. We remain committed to the merger process and to acting in the best interests of our members and community.

Regulators would likely not take kindly to such an alleged attitude by a credit union CEO, according to Mr. Gibbons, who said a CEO who is that domineering creates potential for poor attitude and culture throughout the organization and it reflects a lack of discipline. Regarding the dictator comment, Mr. Gibbons said the statement was so brash that it could conceivably make the difference between an institution, or the individual, getting a formal enforcement action (e.g. Cease and Desist Order) or not.

Unlike a publicly-listed bank which is required by the SEC to have a certain number of independent directors, credit unions use volunteer boards. Regardless, the board has an obligation to govern. You still need good governance, Mr. Gibbons said.

SDCCU has proposed leadership and board changes that it believes would help shore up Cal Coasts corporate governance: Mr. Lane would be replaced by SDCCU CEO Teresa Campbell and SDCCU would have 9-2 board majority.

Cal Coast in turn has sued SDCCU to force the merger through, employing a law firm that reportedly bills $3,000 an hour. With many more hearings scheduled deep into the year, the saga could drag on for some time at the expense of depositors.

While Cal Coast may have flown under the radar as a smaller lender, its attempted transformation into a larger institution comes with much more scrutiny. Mr. Lane and Cal Coast may soon find that corporate governance is, well, kind of a big deal.

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Key Points

Under the new agreement, TikTok will form a new U.S. entity with new U.S. investors and existing investors.

The new venture will have a seven-member board of directors, with the majority of board members from America.

One large U.S. cloud stock is a major investor in the new venture and a key company hoping to drive the artificial intelligence revolution.

10 stocks we like better than Oracle 

To the relief of over 200 million American users, the popular social media platform TikTok has struck a deal to create a new American company that will keep it alive and well.

A new U.S. joint venture backed by several large investors will be formed, with a seven-member board of directors composed mainly of U.S. members. TikTok nearly got banned in the U.S. after a bipartisan law passed in 2024 required the platform's parent company, the China-owned ByteDance, to transfer ownership. U.S. lawmakers were concerned about national security and privacy.

Image source: Getty Images.

Major investors behind the new venture include MGX, an Abu Dhabi-based investment company; the large private equity firm Silver Lake; and the large public company Oracle (NYSE: ORCL), each of which will own 15% of the new venture.

And this is the $500 billion stock that investors need to know about. Market watchers have likely heard of Oracle, given its long history of providing cloud solutions and its more recent emergence as a major supplier of AI data centers.

In recent months, Oracle has signed several massive contracts to supply data centers for large hyperscalers. The stock has whipped up and down as investors have tried to figure out the likelihood of all these contracts coming to fruition and what returns will look like. The company's investment in the new TikTok venture might seem like an odd move, but it solidifies a key customer.

A key source of revenue diversity

Oracle has served as TikTok's data provider since 2020, so this new deal solidifies Oracle's existing business with TikTok and also names Oracle as TikTok's "trusted security partner."

The deal is important because the company has faced significant scrutiny in recent months over its emerging AI data center business, so solidifying a large customer that is different in that it's a social media company driven by significant consumer traffic is a positive for the company. TikTok is also an incredibly valuable private company, so if it ever goes public or gets acquired, Oracle could benefit financially as well, given its stake.

Oracle has been one of the most controversial AI companies in the stock market. The company's September earnings report sent the stock soaring when Oracle revealed over $450 billion in remaining performance obligations tied to new AI data center contracts with companies like OpenAI.
Tokio Marine has invested $5m (Y773.77m) for a minority share in Singapore-headquartered InsurTech company Igloo.

The Japanese insurer has taken a 1.65% interest in Igloo by purchasing 493,984 shares at $10.12 each.

Tokio Marine joins other backers including Openspace Ventures, Cathay Innovations, Blue Orchard and FinnFund.

Igloo operates in eight countries across South East Asia and focuses on embedded insurance solutions using digital platforms.

Since its establishment in 2016, the company has handled more than 600 million insurance policies and extended its product range to include climate-related insurance protection for incidents such as floods, fires and severe weather events.

Tokio Marines investment is expected to advance Igloos expansion efforts, especially in Indonesia.

There, Tokio Marine is realigning its business towards technology-based retail insurance products, moving away from a sole focus on traditional property and general insurance lines and forming new partnerships with digital-first companies.

In September 2025, Tokio Marine was the lead investor in an extension funding round for Indonesian insurtech company PasarPolis, also valued at $5m.

In 2024, Igloo entered agreements with several financial services providers in Vietnam.

These include digital wallet company Zalopay, consumer finance businesses Lotte Finance and FE Credit, as well as digital insurer OPES.

Meanwhile, last year, Axinan Thailand, part of the Igloo-owner Axinan Group, and JMT Network Services formed a joint venture in Thailand.

At the time, Igloo said that the move marks the creation of Thailands first true digital insurer.

"Tokio Marine takes minority stake in insurtech company Igloo" was originally created and published by Life Insurance International, a GlobalData owned brand.




TotalEnergies has signed an agreement extending the Waha oil concessions in Libya through December 31, 2050, securing a long-term foothold in one of the countrys most important producing areas and setting the stage for a new investment cycle.

The deal was signed on January 24 during the Libya Energy & Economy Summit in Tripoli by TotalEnergies Chairman and CEO Patrick Pouyanne, in the presence of Libyan Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeiba. The extension introduces revised fiscal terms designed to support higher output from the mature but still prolific Waha assets.

The Waha concessions currently produce around 370,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day. Under the new framework, TotalEnergies and its partners plan to advance additional developments, most notably the North Gialo field, which is expected to contribute an incremental 100,000 boe/d once brought onstream.

The agreement reinforces TotalEnergies long-standing presence in Libya, where it has operated since 1956. Pouyanne described the extension as a natural fit with the companys upstream strategy, highlighting the Waha assets low cost structure and comparatively low emissions intensity, characteristics that make them competitive within the companys global portfolio.

The Waha concessions are held by Libyas National Oil Corporation (NOC) with a 59.16% stake, alongside TotalEnergies and ConocoPhillips, which each hold 20.42%. Operations are carried out by Waha Oil Company, which is fully owned by NOC, reflecting Libyas model of state-led resource management with international partners providing capital and technical expertise.

For Libya, the extension is significant as it underpins efforts to stabilize and grow oil output after years of political disruption and underinvestment. Incremental production from projects such as North Gialo could help offset natural declines elsewhere and support government revenues in a country heavily dependent on hydrocarbons.

In 2025, TotalEnergies net production in Libya averaged about 113,000 boe/d, sourced from a mix of offshore and onshore assets including Al Jurf, El Sharara, and Waha. The Waha extension, therefore, represents a material component of the companys African upstream exposure.

The deal also comes amid a broader push by Libya to attract foreign investment back into its energy sector, as global producers weigh geopolitical risk against the countrys large, low-cost reserves. For international oil companies, long-dated concessions with clearer fiscal terms are critical to justifying capital-intensive developments.
French oil and gas company TotalEnergies has secured an extension for the onshore Waha Concessions in the Sirte Basin in Libya until the end of 2050.

This follows an agreement signed by Patrick Pouyanne, chairman and CEO of TotalEnergies, on 24 January during the Libya Energy & Economy Summit in Tripoli. The signing ceremony was attended by Abdul Hamid Dbeiba, the Prime Minister of Libya.

The extension introduces revised fiscal terms intended to boost production from the Waha Concessions, which currently yield approximately 370,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day (boepd).

A significant development planned under this agreement is the North Gialo field, which is expected to increase production by 100,000boepd following its development.

The Waha Concessions are jointly held by Libyas state-owned NOC (59.16%), TotalEnergies (20.42%) and ConocoPhillips (20.42%). Concession operations are managed by the NOC-owned Waha Oil Company.

Pouyanne said: As we celebrate 70 years of presence in Libya, we are pleased to sign this agreement, and I would like to thank the Libyan authorities for their continued support, in particular Dr. Khalifa Rajab Abdulsadek, Minister of Oil and Gas of Libya and Masoud Suleman, chairman of the National Oil Corporation (NOC).

Present in the country since 1956, TotalEnergies reaffirms its long-standing commitment to working alongside its partners to increase Wahas production, starting with the development of the North Gialo field. Extending the Waha concession, with its low-cost and low-emission giant resources offering many opportunities to grow production, fits perfectly with our strategy.

Earlier this month, the Waha Oil Company successfully reduced gas flaring at the North Defa field by 20 million cubic feet per day. This was achieved through maintenance and commissioning efforts on the gas compressor.

In November 2022, TotalEnergies and ConocoPhillips joint acquired an 8.16% stake in the Waha Concessions from Hess. This transaction increased TotalEnergies' stake from 16.33% to 20.41%.

The acquisition aligned with TotalEnergies' efforts to collaborate with NOC in increasing oil production and reducing gas flaring to provide additional electricity for power plants.

TotalEnergies signed an agreement with NOC in late 2019 aimed at assisting the development of the Waha Concessions through technological expertise and social responsibility programmes. The agreement outlined commitments of $70m (58.96m) upfront from the French company, followed by two further contributions of $30m each when North Gialo and NC 98 come online.
When travel agencies shut down, it's often due to lack of funds and trouble bringing in business. Others occasionally lose their license in instances of scams or fraudulent activity.

At the start of the month, a travel agency in the Canadian province of British Columbia lost its license to operate after regulating agency Consumer Protection BC (CPBC) started investigating customer reports of paying for holiday packages to Las Vegas and other popular holiday destinations, only to receive invalid bookings.

In one case, the elderly parents of one customer were called and asked to make a duplicate credit card payment for a family trip to Japan; their son Arthur Leung is now struggling to get back more than $22,000 Canadian dollars ($16,044 USD) for a trip that never got booked.

"[My parents] kept going back," Leung described to national broadcaster CTV News. "And then when they keep brushing them off, they kind of knew that they'd been had."

CPBC revoked the company's license to operate on Jan. 9.

"Aigoout Travel is prohibited from booking any further travel," regulator states

This week, a second travel agency based in the same Vancouver suburb of Richmond suffered a similar fate after repeatedly failing to produce the necessary financial statements and ownership forms.

"Aigoout Travel is prohibited from booking any further travel until their licence suspension is lifted," CPBC wrote in a Jan. 22 filing.

Related: Travel agency shuts down after losing license, all trips canceled

As first reported by the local Vancouver branch of CTV News, the travel agency has not submitted any financial documents since 2024 and failed to notify the regulatory agency of a change in ownership over the last year.

Aigoout Travel now has 30 days to respond to the filing, at which point a more definitive decision about its future will be made. The website and Facebook page for the travel company are inactive, but in the past, the company advertised both individual flights and vacation packages.

A second travel agency in Richmond, a suburb of Greater Vancouver, lost its license to operate this month.Shutterstock  Shutterstock

Travel agency shut down? These are your refund options

"With a focus on customer satisfaction and personalized travel experiences, Aigoout Travel Ltd offers assistance in booking flights, accommodations, and other travel arrangements," a past company description on Google read.

These travel companies went bankrupt in 2025:
The Trump administration is planning to invest $1.6bn in Oklahoma-based mining company USA Rare Earth in its latest and biggest deal, reported the Financial Times (FT), citing unidentifiable sources.

In return, the US Government will receive a 10% stake in the company, as it continues efforts to onshore rare earth element (REE) projects.

It will receive $16.1m in shares in the company and warrants for another 17.6m shares, both at a price of $17.17m, according to one of the sources.

USA Rare Earth will also receive $1.3bn in senior secured debt financing at market rates from the government, funded by a finance facility created for the Department of Commerce as part of the CHIPS and Science Act. The facility helps finance activities that create incentives to manufacture semiconductors in the US.

REEs and other critical minerals are essential in manafacturing products such as semiconductors, medical equipment, industrial magnets and defence systems.

Alongside government investment, USA Rare Earth is expecting a private financial deal of $1bn.

USA Rare Earth is jointly developing a mine in Sierra Blanca, Texas, with Texas Mineral Resources. It is to produce 15 of the 17 REEs, along with lithium and other metals. The mine is scheduled to open in 2028, boosting the US-based magnet supply chain.

The company has hired financial services firm, Cantor Fitzgerald, chaired by the sons of US Secretary of Commerce, Howard Lutnick, to help raise funds in a deal unrelated directly to the US Governments.

The Trump administrations move follows senior White House official, Jarrod Agen, announcing last month that it will continue to invest in critical mineral projects. This comes as it attempts to reduce imports of the materials, including REEs, from China. The country currently contributes around 70% of the worlds mined REEs and processes 90% of the materials. Meanwhile, the US imports 56% of the REEs it uses from China, according to the US Geological Survey.

The Trump administration has invested more than $1bn over the past year to acquire stakes in critical minerals companies.

Recent deals include a $400m investment for a 15% stake in MP Materials. It has also invested $670m for a stake in magnet producer Vulcan Elements. Another deal saw the US government exchange $35.6m for a 10% stake in Canadian minerals explorer Trilogy Metals.

"Trump admin to invest $1.6bn in USA Rare Earth for 10% stake" was originally created and published by Mining Technology, a GlobalData owned brand.




Ulta Beauty, one of the most prominent beauty retailers in the U.S., has frustrated its customers as it faces increased demand and rising competition.

During the third quarter of 2025, Ulta Beauty's comparable sales increased by 6.3% year over year, according to its most recent earnings report. The average amount customers spent per purchase spiked by almost 4%, while the number of transactions in stores rose by 2.4%.

Ulta Beauty also saw customer visits in its stores climb by 3.3% year over year during the quarter, according to recent data from Placer.ai, which was shared with TheStreet.

The increased demand comes at a time when more Americans nationwide are prioritizing self-care and wellness, despite recent economic pressures, a survey from Bread Financial and Ulta Beauty found last year.

U.S. consumer attitudes on beauty and wellness:

Approximately 74% of U.S. consumers, mainly younger generations, are prioritizing self-care and wellness in their beauty rituals.

Also, 46% of consumers use beauty products as a means to feel happiness, calm, and self-fulfillment .

When it comes to personal care and grooming products, men spend an average of $90 per month on these items, while women spend an average of $80.

Sources: Bread Financial, Ulta Beauty

Despite economic uncertainty, beauty spending remains resilient, particularly among Gen Z and Millennials, and men, who are outpacing women in their beauty and grooming purchases, said Valerie Greer, chief commercial officer at Bread Financial, in a press release.

As this trend grows, the beauty and personal care market in the U.S. is expected to generate a revenue of roughly $108 billion this year, growing by 2.80% annually, according to data from Statista.

Ulta Beauty recently saw a spike in sales, despite current economic headwinds.Shutterstock  Shutterstock

Ulta Beauty event faces backlash from customers

To tap into this increased consumer demand, Ulta Beauty launched a one-day immersive beauty event called Ulta Beauty World, where consumers can purchase tickets to interact with hundreds of brands, view expert masterclasses, meet beauty influencers, sample products, and receive free, high-value swag bags that feature full-sized products.

The event first debuted in San Antonio, Texas, in April last year, and this year it is set to take place in Orlando, Florida, on April 16.

However, the event is drawing outrage from Ulta Beauty fans after tickets for the convention, which start at $160 (plus a $5 processing fee), sold out within minutes on Jan. 21.

"Tickets are sold out," said Ulta Beauty in an announcement on its website. "Wow, the hype for Ulta Beauty World is real! If you couldnt grab a ticket this time, were already counting down to next year. Hope to see you there!"

Many consumers took to social media platform X to express frustration at not being able to purchase a ticket to the event, with some claiming the ticket rollout was a scam.

Allegations are also circulating online that the majority of the tickets went to beauty influencers.

Alissa Butcher, a cybersecurity specialist, even alleged in a viral TikTok video, under the username @cyb3ralissa, that the source code for the online queue to purchase tickets to the event shows that invite codes were pre-generated before the ticket release. This suggests that some people may have had exclusive access to tickets.

#UltaBeautyWorld tickets were a complete joke. You had everyone waiting in a queue for an hour just to sell out in seconds. Thats not a drop, thats a cash grab stress test. DO BETTER @ultabeauty, wrote one Ulta Beauty customer on X.

Related: Ulta Beauty takes on Amazon with generous offer for customers

Ulta Beauty World was a straight-up scam. Poor planning, poor execution, and tickets wasted on influencers who dont need any more free makeup. Boo. @ultabeauty, wrote another customer on X.

Ulta beauty world is such a scam its clearly an event for influencers only! Waited in line for a whole hour and NOTHING. They wont be getting my money, claimed another.

One Ulta Beauty customer, named Rosy, even started a petition on Change.org, which has so far gathered over 100 signatures, demanding that the beauty retailer create separate events for customers and influencers.

As a dedicated Ulta Beauty customer, I, alongside hundreds of others, took time off work hoping to experience the magic of Ulta Beauty's convention, said Rosy in the petition.

More Retail:

We believed it was an opportunity where loyal customers like ourselves would get a chance to explore the latest beauty trends and products in an intimate and inclusive setting, she continued. However, we were significantly disappointed to discover that a substantial number of tickets were gifted to influencers, leaving many genuine customers without a chance to attend.

Ulta Beauty responds to customer outrage

Amid the backlash, Ulta Beauty said in a post on social media platform Threads that more than 3 million people lined up to purchase tickets, while only 3,000 were for sale.

In a statement to TheStreet, an Ulta Beauty PR representative said that demand for Ulta Beauty World surpassed the company's expectations.

Despite doubling the number of tickets available compared to last year, Ulta Beauty World tickets sold out almost immediately due to demand that far exceeded our expectations, said the representative.

They also clarified that tickets to the event "were allocated separately and did not reduce inventory available to the general public."

Were truly grateful for the excitement our community continues to show around this event, the representative added. We know not everyone was able to secure a ticket, but were already looking ahead to how we can expand access for next year.

In a recent Instagram post, Ulta Beauty also said that customers should stay tuned, since there will be upcoming chances to win tickets to the event.

Ulta Beauty struggles to beat top competitors

Frustrating customers is a risky move, especially after Ulta Beauty made a harsh change in its stores. The retailer recently implemented several price increases in its stores due to tariff pressures, a move that threatens to drive away price-conscious customers.

Ulta Beauty is also operating in a challenging environment as it faces fierce competition from Amazon, the top beauty retailer in the U.S., according to a recent report from Market Defense.

To keep its customers from fleeing to Amazon, Ulta Beauty even launched its own online marketplace in October, a move that expanded its brand assortment.

Amazon isn't the only growing threat to Ulta Beauty. Market research company IBISWorld shared key data with TheStreet, indicating that in the brick-and-mortar beauty, cosmetics, and fragrance retail sector, Ulta Beauty holds a 15.3% market share. However, it falls behind Sephora, which has 18.3% market share.

Despite their dominance, Ulta Beauty and Sephora lag behind competitors in the physical retail space when it comes to resonating with beauty shoppers, according to a recent survey from ChangeUp.

Top physical retailers U.S. beauty shoppers say understand them:

Nordstrom takes the top spot , with 79% of beauty shoppers saying that the retailer understands them.

Approximately 76% said Macys and Bath & Body Works, while 75% said Aveda.

Only 73% said Ulta Beauty and Sephora understand them.

Source: ChangeUp

"Today's beauty customers still rely on physical retail, yet feel increasingly alienated by environments that don't reflect their needs," said Lynn Gonsior, chief operating officer of ChangeUp, in a press release.

"Retailers have been chasing the loudest signals, and the oversight of some of their most valuable customers is costing them," she added. "Real loyalty isn't built on trend-chasing, it's built on understanding your customers."

Related: Lululemon struggles to reverse concerning customer behavior

This story was originally published by TheStreet on Jan 27, 2026, where it first appeared in the Latest Business & Market News section. Add TheStreet as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Americans are giving up their U.S. citizenships in droves, but that Uncle Sam might still be lurking.

After nearly two decades, the U.S. Treasury finalized a rule last year saying that certain individuals who surrender their citizenship or green card and give gifts to an existing U.S. taxpayer will create a tax bill for the recipient. Amounts above the annual $19,000 gift exclusion will generally be taxed at the highest estate or gift tax rate, which is currently 40%. Credits from foreign taxes paid, such as estate taxes if the giver passes, might lower the amount owed.

Unlike normal gifting tax rules, which impose tax on the giver, this special tax  called section 2801 tax  is imposed on the gift recipient unless the recipient is a spouse or certain charities that would qualify for other deductions.

This is shocking as the U.S. person inheriting an estate  would pay U.S. estate taxes on a foreign estate even if all assets were foreign in nature, said Richard Pon, certified public accountant in San Francisco.

How does the tax work?

Determining if the tax is imposed depends on what type of expatriate the giver is.

Covered expatriate is someone who gave up U.S. citizenship or a green card after June 16, 2008, and either:

Had an average annual net income tax liability for the five tax years ending before the date of expatriation of more than $206,000.

Had net worth of at least $2 million on the date of your expatriation.

Failed to certify on expatriate Form 8854 that you have complied with all federal tax obligations for the five tax years preceding the date of your expatriation.

Noncovered expatriate is everyone else who gave up U.S. citizenship or a green card.

Section 2801 tax only applies to U.S. citizens, residents, domestic trusts and foreign trusts that elect to be treated as a domestic trust that receive a gift from a covered expatriate, the IRS said.

Passengers take a tram ride at Chiado in Lisbon on October 28, 2022. - While the approximately 7,000 Americans residing in Portugal remain far fewer in number than English or French expatriates, their number doubled between 2018 and 2021, according to the most recent official statistics. (Photo by PATRICIA DE MELO MOREIRA / AFP) (Photo by PATRICIA DE MELO MOREIRA/AFP via Getty Images)

How do taxpayers report the gift and calculate the tax?

Taxpayers must file IRS Form 708 using these instructions. The form and tax are generally due 18 months after the end of the year in which the taxpayer receives the gift.

The final regulation applies to gifts received on or after Jan. 1, 2025, according to professional services firm KPMG.

However, the form is retroactive, Pon said. Even though there hasnt been a tax form for 17 years, the form applies to transfers since June 17, 2008. And yes, they can collect back to 2008.

Cardinal Point, a cross-border wealth management firm with offices in the U.S. and Canada, warned in a blog post the absence of the actual form does not shield a taxpayer from liability.
Prediction markets on Polymarket now price the odds of a shutdown by January 31 at roughly 78%, a dramatic increase from just 10% three days earlier.

Amid growing risks of another US government shutdown, investors are flocking to safe-haven assets amid mounting uncertainty. The Crypto Fear and Greed Index now shows 'Extreme Fear'. Sentiment had recovered to neutral less than a week ago.

Crypto Fear and Greed Index. Source: Alternative

US Policymaker Deadlock Pushes Shutdown Odds on Polymarket Higher

There is mounting partisan deadlock over funding for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The surge in probability has coincided with sharp gains in gold and silver, mirroring patterns observed during the record 43-day shutdown that ended in November 2025.

The House of Representatives passed a stopgap funding bill by a vote of 341 to 81. Yet, Senate Democrats, led by Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, have refused to advance the bill. Notably, DHS funding, particularly for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), remains attached.

Democrats sought common-sense reforms in the Department of Homeland Security spending bill, but because of Republicans refusal to stand up to President Trump, the DHS bill is woefully inadequate to rein in the abuses of ICE. I will vote no, Schumer said in a post.

The deadlock has created a data blackout. Delayed economic indicators such as CPI and jobs reports complicate the Federal Reserve's policy and risk models. This could push market volatility higher.

The government will shut down in 6 days. The last time they shut down, gold and silver jumped to new all-time highs. But if youre holding other assets like stocks, you need to be extremely careful Because were heading into a total data blackout, wrote NoLimit, a macro analyst and popular account on X.

Indeed, Polymarket bettors see a similar outcome, wagering a 76% probability that there will be another US government shutdown by January 31.

Odds of US Government Shutdown by January 31. Source: Polymarket

Similar bets include a 77% chance of a US Government funding lapse on January 31. On the off chance that it does happen, analysts anticipate four key threats:

Delayed economic data

Potential credit downgrades

Liquidity freezes, and

A GDP contraction of approximately 0.2% per week if the impasse persists.
HANOI, Jan 27 (Reuters) - Vietnam auto manufacturer Kim Long Motor said on Tuesday that it was partnering with China's BYD to develop a $130 million plant to produce batteries for commercial electric vehicles in central Vietnam.

Under the agreement, Kim Long Motor will fund the construction of the facility, while BYD will provide comprehensive technical and technological support, the company said in a statement.

The plant will be on a 4.4 hectare plot of land and will have a capacity of 3 gigawatt-hours per year, Kim Long Motor said in a statement.

The company stated that operations are expected to commence soon, but it did not give an exact timeline.

In its second phase, the facility will expand to 10 hectares and double its production capacity to 6 GWh per year. The expansion will also introduce battery production for electric passenger cars.

The plant will produce batteries for commercial vehicles, including buses, trucks, and minibuses.

Vietnam's EV market is rapidly expanding, led by domestic automaker VinFast, which dominates the sector.

VinFast recently entered the commercial vehicle segment with the launch of its electric cargo van, the EC Van, designed to support sustainable urban freight transport.

(Reporting by Phuong Nguyen; Editing by David Stanway)
Volkswagen has paused talks on a possible Audi plant in the US as Trump-era tariffs lift costs and incentive negotiations stall.

The German carmaker has revisited the idea of a second US production base several times since 2018, during Trumps first presidential term, according to remarks by the CEO Oliver Blume to the German newspaper Handelsblatt, reported Bloomberg.

A proposal on the matter is expected to be outlined in March alongside Volkswagens annual results, the report said.

Earlier discussions around building an Audi facility had been driven by subsidy packages that could have made the project financially viable.

That position has shifted since tariffs were imposed on European manufacturers.

In his interview with Handelsblatt, Blume said the duties had cost Volkswagen 2.1bn ($2.49bn) over the first nine months of 2025.

Volkswagen has been trying to strengthen its foothold in the US, where it has struggled to match Toyota Motor and has trailed competitors in the luxury large-SUV segment.

Blume has also moved away from a previous ambition to secure a 10% share of the American market, saying instead that the group would advance in incremental steps.

Volkswagen Group held roughly 4% of the US market last year.

The tariff regime has underlined weaknesses for manufacturers dependent on international production networks.

BMW AG and Mercedes-Benz Group both assemble SUVs in the US, while Audi produces models such as the Q5 in Mexico, which does not qualify for duty-free entry.

Volkswagen currently builds VW-branded vehicles in Chattanooga, Tennessee, and is constructing a $2bn plant in South Carolina for off-road vehicles under the revived South Motors nameplate.

Blume said the group had multiple options for a future Audi site and noted that it owns a large plot of land in South Carolina, adding that several other states had also shown interest.

According to the report, the company is reassessing its five-year investment programme, which has been reduced to 160bn from 180bn two years ago and covers spending on factories, new models and technologies such as software.

"Volkswagen pauses Audi US plant plans as tariffs bite  report" was originally created and published by Just Auto, a GlobalData owned brand.




Warren Buffett once bought a $1.7 billion company over the phone. Another time, he wired billions for a business he never visited, because he didn't feel like getting on a plane.

So when he told an RV executive, "You name your salary, and I'll pay it," it wasn't out of character. But it was still extraordinary.

In his 2024 letter to Berkshire Hathaway shareholders, Buffett shared the story of Pete Liegl, the late founder of Indiana-based RV manufacturer Forest River. Liegl wasn't a household name, but Buffett credits him with generating "many billions" in wealth for shareholdersand considers the deal one of his best.

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He'd Pay Whatever Salary Was Named

Buffett first heard about Forest River in a letter. Liegl owned 100% of the company and wanted to sell. He even named his price upfront. Buffett liked the simplicity. After asking a few RV dealers about Forest River's reputation and liking what he heard, he invited Liegl to Omaha, Nebraska, for a meeting.

What followed was classic Buffett: no games, no appraisals, no drawn-out negotiations.

When the topic of salary came up, Buffett asked Liegl what he wanted to be paid and told him that whatever number he gave, he'd accept it.

"I asked Pete what his compensation should be, adding that whatever he said, I would accept," Buffett wrote. "This, I should add, is not an approach I recommend for general use."

Liegl didn't ask for millions. Instead, he requested $100,000 per yearthe same salary Buffett took as Berkshire's CEO for decades. Then he added a 10% bonus on profits above the current run rate. Buffett said yes without blinking.

The deal was sealed. No one-lawyer-per-minute fee. No spreadsheet battles over earnouts. And no drama later. "Those vague terms never caused a problem," Buffett wrote.

Trending: 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.

Buffett's Favorite Kind of Deal

Buffett is famously allergic to complexity. He prefers simple businesses, simple math, and people he can trust. He's made deals in minutes, often without leaving Nebraska, because what matters most to him isn't a perfect pitch deckit's character and accounting.
Key Points

The pharmaceutical industry has a well-structured cycle.

Eli Lilly is currently benefiting from the early stages of the cycle.

In 10 years, if not sooner, investors will begin to worry about Eli Lilly's future beyond GLP-1 drugs.

10 stocks we like better than Eli Lilly 

If you follow the news at all, you know that GLP-1 weight loss drugs are having a massive impact on society. The leader in the GLP-1 space today is Eli Lilly (NYSE: LLY). That helps explain why Wall Street is so excited about the company's stock, pushing its price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio to a whopping 53 times. There's just one problem investors need to understand before buying this drug maker.

Image source: Getty Images.

How expensive is Eli Lilly?

Eli Lilly's big problem isn't the valuation of its stock. However, the valuation is the starting point for investors who buy it. And right now, Eli Lilly's stock is expensive. For comparison, the S&P 500 (SNPINDEX: ^GSPC) is trading near all-time highs, and the average P/E for the index is roughly 28 times.

However, a better comparison point might be other pharmaceutical stocks. Using iShares U.S. Pharmaceuticals ETF (NYSEMKT: IHE) as an industry proxy, the average P/E for drugmakers is 30 times. So, Eli Lilly's 53 times P/E ratio is well above both the market and the average drug stock.

In some ways, that valuation makes sense. In the third quarter of 2025 alone, sales of Eli Lilly's GLP-1 drug Mounjaro grew 109% year over year. Sister GLP-1 drug Zepbound grew even more, with a 185% revenue jump. That is incredible growth and shows just how much demand there is for GLP-1 weight loss drugs.

The problem is the industry, not the drug

That said, Mounjaro and Zepbound now make up over 50% of Eli Lilly's top line. The drugmaker is hugely reliant on these two blockbuster drugs to support its income statement. That won't last, by design.

Pharmaceutical companies are granted a limited period of exclusivity to sell a drug they develop. When that patent protection ends, generic drugmakers can begin producing the same drug, usually at a lower price. When this happens, the branded drug usually sees a material drop in sales. This is what's called a patent cliff. In a decade or so, investors are likely to start worrying about Eli Lilly losing patent protections on its GLP-1 drugs.

However, it may not take that long for problems to start showing up. For example, at the start of 2026, Novo Nordisk (NYSE: NVO) began selling a pill version of its Wegovy GLP-1 drug. Given that Mounjaro and Zepbound are shot-based medications, it wouldn't be surprising to see a pill version take market share.
Winter Storm Fern has eclipsed Kazakhstans Tengiz restart, with up to 2 million b/d of U.S. crude output curtailedyet Brent remains pinned near $66.

Arctic Fern vs. America: A Winter Brawl in the Energy Markets

- Arctic Storm Fern has curbed electricity supply to millions of people across the eastern two-thirds of the United States, slashing oil supply by 2 million b/day, gas production by more than 10 bcf/day and sending power prices skyrocketing.

- Day-ahead electricity prices in the PJM Interconnection area, the most impacted by the cold blast, soared almost 550% to $638 per MWh, the highest since 2014, whilst New York saw day-ahead prices jump to $680/MWh.

- Since January 24, US Gulf Coast ports in Texas and Louisiana have loaded only 6 million barrels of crude, compared to a 3.8 million barrels/day average seen in December 2025.

- The Arctic spell has also lifted domestic US demand for natural gas to 156 billion cubic feet/day this week, up from a 5-year January average of 137 bcf/day.

- Henry Hub gas futures settled at a 3-year high of $6.8 per MMBtu on Monday, easing subsequently to $6.55/MMbtu on Tuesday, creating a giant $3/MMbtu rift between the February and March contracts.

Market Movers



- US oil major ExxonMobil (NYSE:XOM) is reportedly seeking buyers for some Eagle Ford assets operated by its subsidiary XTO, seeking to divest some 168,000 net acres valued over $1 billion.

- Chinas leading gold miner Zijin Gold (HKG:2259) will buy Canadas Allied Gold (TSO:AAUC) for $4 billion in an all-cash transaction, sealing a recent trade policy rapprochement between Beijing and Ottawa.

- Italys oil major ENI (BIT:ENI) has farmed out 10% of its interest in the 65,000 b/d Baleine offshore project in Ivory Coast to Azerbaijans state oil firm Socar for an undisclosed fee, with its previous 30% divestment to Vitol assessed at $1.65 billion.

- The Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) agreed to buy an additional 7.6% stake from BlackRocks GIP investment vehicle in two LNG trains at the Rio Grande LNG project in Texas, taking its total ownership to 19.3%.

Tuesday, January 27, 2026

Winter Storm Fern and the impacts of the US Arctic blast have shifted the attention away from the gradual return of Kazakhstans Tengiz barrels. One could argue that ICE Brent staying put around $66 per barrel doesnt do justice to the severity of Fern as up to 2 million b/d of US crude oil production was curtailed over the weekend, equivalent to some 15% of national output.

OPEC+ Expected to Keep on Waiting and Seeing. Market participants expect OPEC+ countries to roll over their production quotas for March 2026, in line with the previously telegraphed freeze on output unwinding in Q1, as $66 per barrel Brent prices remain too low for most members budgets.
Zijin Gold International Company has signed a definitive agreement to acquire all issued and outstanding shares in Canadian company Allied Gold for an equity value of nearly C$5.5bn ($4.01bn), in an all-cash deal.

The Allied Gold acquisition offer is priced at C$44 per share.

The companys primary assets include the Sadiola Gold Mine in Mali and the Cote dIvoire Complex, including the in-production Agbaou and Bonikro gold mines, and the Kurmuk gold mine in Ethiopia, which is scheduled to commence production in the second half of 2026.

The agreement includes no financing conditions. The cash consideration is expected to be funded from Zijin Golds existing cash balances as well as available liquidity.

Zijin Gold chairman Hongfu Lin said: Allied Gold has successfully assembled and advanced a portfolio of large-scale, long-life gold assets with compelling expansion potential.

As the prospective new owners, we look forward to working with stakeholders in Ethiopia, Mali and Cote dIvoire to further advance these operations. Sadiola and Kurmuk are generational assets which we expect to provide multi-decade production, complemented by the meaningful production from the CDI Complex.

Closing of the transaction is expected by late April 2026, subject to the satisfaction or waiver of all necessary conditions and receipt of required clearances.

Once the transaction concludes, Allied Gold shares are expected to be delisted from the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX) and the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE). Allied Gold would also cease to be a reporting issuer under Canadian as well as US securities laws.

Completion remains subject to a number of terms and conditions. These include approval of Allied Gold shareholders, approval under the Investment Canada Act (Canada), customary court approval in the country and no material adverse changes with regard to Allied Gold.

In September 2025, Zijin Gold raised HK$24.98bn through an initial public offering in Hong Kong.

"Zijin Gold International to acquire Allied Gold for $4.01bn" was originally created and published by Mining Technology, a GlobalData owned brand.




Some federal student loan borrowers can qualify for forgiveness through programs such as Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF), Teacher Loan Forgiveness (TLF), or after making years of payments under an income-driven repayment (IDR) plan.

These programs provide significant relief. As of September 2025, PSLF forgiveness eliminated $87.6 billion in combined outstanding loans for over 1.1 million borrowers.

However, student loan forgiveness isn't always a clean break. Depending on the program and the year your loans are discharged, the canceled debt may still count as taxable income.

Do I have to pay income taxes on student loan forgiveness?

According to the Federal Student Aid Data Center, more than 42 million people have outstanding federal student loans. For those struggling to manage their payments, loan forgiveness can seem like a dream come true.

But student loan forgiveness could lead to a surprise tax bill  sometimes referred to as the student loan tax bomb  when borrowers submit their tax returns. The IRS considers canceled debt, including most forms of student loan forgiveness or discharge, as taxable income.

A key tax break from the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021  exempting forgiven student loans from federal taxes  ended Dec. 31, 2025.

That means the "extra income" from your forgiven loans could push you into a higher tax bracket, potentially impacting your eligibility for other income-based credits or benefits.

However, it largely depends on how your student loans were forgiven. If your debt is wiped after 20 or 25 years because youre enrolled in an income-driven repayment plan, you now owe taxes on that forgiven amount. However, loans forgiven through several other programs, including PSLF and the Teacher Loan Forgiveness program, remain tax-free.

You may owe state taxes on your discharged loans, too. Even when the federal government waived taxes on student loan forgiveness from 2021 to 2025, some states still taxed it  and now that the exemption has ended, more may follow suit.

Student loan forgiveness tax consequences in 2026

After Jan. 1, 2026, how student loan forgiveness and discharge programs are taxed depends on the program:

Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF)

Federal loan borrowers who work for nonprofit organizations, government agencies, or public service groups may qualify for PSLF. They must work for a qualifying employer full-time for 10 years and make 120 qualifying monthly payments. After reaching those milestones, the government eliminates the remainder of their federal loan balance.

PSLF is one of the few programs that is excluded from federal income taxes; none of the forgiven loan amount is taxable as income.

Teacher Loan Forgiveness (TLF)

Under the TLF program, teachers employed full-time at a qualifying school for at least five consecutive academic years can qualify for up to $17,500 in loan forgiveness for federal Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized Loans.

Teacher Loan Forgiveness isnt treated as taxable income by the IRS, so you dont owe federal taxes on the forgiven amount  and that rule isnt impacted by the expiration of the American Rescue Plan, either.

Income-Driven Repayment (IDR) discharge

IDR plans are for federal loan borrowers who have trouble affording their student loan payments under the standard 10-year repayment plan. These plans tie your monthly bill to a share of your discretionary income and stretch out the repayment timeline.

As of 2026, heres whats available:

Income-Based Repayment (IBR): The main remaining legacy income-based option.

Repayment Assistance Plan (RAP): The new default IDR plan, replacing SAVE, PAYE, and ICR. It will be available beginning July 1, 2026.

PAYE and ICR (phasing out): Borrowers can still enroll in these plans for now, but they will be sunsetted by July 1, 2028. At that time, existing borrowers will have to switch to a new plan.

If the borrower still has a balance at the end of their loan term  which can be 20 or 25 years, depending on the plan  the government will discharge the remainder. However, the forgiven loans are taxable as income at the federal and state levels.

Related: Student loans will look different in 2026. Here's what's changing.

Borrower Defense to Repayment Discharge

Borrower Defense to Repayment Discharge is a program that eliminates federal student loans for borrowers who were misled by their colleges or if their schools engaged in misconduct and violated state laws.

The IRS and the U.S. Department of the Treasury issued notices clarifying that loans discharged through borrower defense to repayment are not taxable as income.

Total and Permanent Disability Discharge (TPDD)

TPDD applies to borrowers who become totally and permanently disabled. The government will discharge the remaining loan balance for eligible federal loan borrowers.

Depending on where you live, the amount discharged may be taxable at the state level. For federal taxes, whether the discharged balance is taxable depends on when you qualified for TPDD:

Discharged before Jan. 1, 2018: The forgiven amount was generally taxable.

Discharged on or after Jan. 1, 2018: Under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act and the OBBB Act of 2025, TPD discharges are permanently exempt from federal income tax. You dont need to report the discharged balance as income on your federal return.

What is the tax on private student loan forgiveness?

Private student loans aren't eligible for federal loan programs like PSLF or TPDD. But many lenders offer their own discharge options for death or total and permanent disability.

The broad tax break from the American Rescue Plan ended on Dec. 31, 2025. However, the OBBB Act of 2025 permanently preserved federal tax-free treatment for private and federal loans discharged due to death or total and permanent disability.

So, if a private lender wipes out your debt because of permanent disability in 2026 or later, you wont owe federal income tax on the forgiven amount. But other types of private loan settlements or hardship cancellations are still treated as taxable income.

State taxes can also apply, depending on your location.

Is there a way to avoid paying taxes on forgiven student loan debt?

Even if your student loan forgiveness is now subject to federal income tax, you may be able to lower or avoid the tax by using the IRS insolvency exclusion. This applies if your total debts were greater than your total assets at the time your loan was forgiven.

To claim it, you must file IRS Form 982, which lets the IRS cancel the tax bill if you can prove that paying it would cause serious financial hardship. However, the insolvency exclusion isnt a get-out-of-jail-free card, notes Craig Toberman, a CPA and certified financial planner at Toberman Becker Wealth.

You can only exclude cancellation income up to the amount liabilities exceed assets immediately before forgiveness, says Toberman. And it typically requires solid documentation.

Toberman says that in practice, the insolvency exclusion only really helps when someones net worth is truly underwater  in other words, you owe more than you own.

Timing also matters. If you became eligible for forgiveness in 2025 but your paperwork wasnt finalized until 2026, the Department of Education has said you may still qualify for tax-free treatment.

Ultimately, if you cant wiggle out of paying taxes on your forgiven debt, plan ahead. The canceled balance counts as extra income, which can push you into a higher tax bracket. So, look for ways to lower your taxable income, such as contributing to a traditional IRA.

Read more: What is taxable income, and how can you reduce it?

Taxes on student loan forgiveness FAQs

What tax form will I receive if my student loans are forgiven?

If your forgiven student loan debt is taxable, your loan servicer or lender will send you IRS Form 1099-C (Cancellation of Debt). This form shows how much debt was forgiven and must be reported as income on your federal tax return. If your forgiveness is tax-free  like PSLF or Teacher Loan Forgiveness  you typically wont receive a 1099-C, but its smart to keep your discharge notice for your records anyway.

Can I pay down my balance to lower my tax bill?

Technically, you can pay down your loan balance to decrease your tax bill if you're expecting a loan discharge after 2025. But because those taxable programs are based on your income, if you pay down the debt, there's a chance your payments will go up in the future, decreasing the effectiveness of the forgiveness program.

How can I estimate how much I will owe in taxes due to student loan forgiveness?

How much you will have to pay in taxes depends on the amount of loan forgiveness you receive and your tax bracket. You can review the current income tax rates and brackets on the IRS website. If you are expecting a large tax bill, setting aside a little cash every month in a high-yield savings account or CD can help you prepare.
Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly reshaping how healthcare advice is delivered. From symptom checkers and diagnostic tools to risk models and care-navigation platforms, AI is becoming a first port of call for millions of patients. That influence is growing fast. Around 24% of UK adults report seeking health advice via AI tools or social platforms. But as adoption accelerates, an uncomfortable truth is coming into focus: AI is only as good as the data it learns from, and in womens health, that data has long been incomplete.

From data gaps to diagnostic risk

Women make up half the global population, yet healthcare systems have rarely been designed around their lived experiences. The recent Kearney white paper Prescription for Change, in collaboration with the World Economic Forum shows that only 7% of global healthcare research funding is directed towards conditions that exclusively affect women. Just 5% of medications are properly tested and labelled for use during pregnancy or breastfeeding. How womens bodies respond to illness and treatment remains underrepresented across research, trials and real-world datasets.

When AI systems are trained on this skewed foundation, the consequences are immediate. Symptom-triage tools may underweight pain or fatigue, symptoms women are more likely to report, leading to genuine concerns being misclassified or deprioritised. Diagnostic algorithms can also perform less accurately for women, particularly in areas such as heart disease, stroke and cancer risk assessment.

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Generative AI is no exception. Research from the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) found evidence that AI tools are more likely to downplay symptoms in women and ethnic minorities. If deployed at scale, that bias risks shaping care prioritisation and access in ways that are hard to detect and even harder to undo.

This is not a failure of technology. It is the predictable outcome of building advanced systems on incomplete foundations.

Why sex-disaggregated data is non-negotiable

Policymakers are beginning to recognise the risk. In early 2025, the UK Minister of State for Womens Health warned that without representative data, AI could entrench disparities rather than reduce them.

If AI is to support safe, effective care, collecting sex-disaggregated data must become routine, not optional. Systems need to reflect biological differences and track womens health across the life course. That requires standardisation: consistent definitions, interoperable frameworks and data that can be meaningfully analysed across services and settings.

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Ensuring sex-disaggregated data isnt just a question of equality, it is also essential to performance and sustainability. AI models trained on robust, representative datasets are more accurate, more reliable and more clinically useful. As regulators and providers increasingly scrutinise real-world outcomes, organisations that invest in data quality now will be better placed to demonstrate safety and value later.

Scaling womens health services without scaling inequality

Technology offers a real opportunity to narrow the gender health gap, but only if it is used to improve fairness and representation, not just efficiency. Data, digital platforms and AI are already shaping how clinicians are trained, how evidence is generated, and how care is delivered at scale. Designed with equity in mind, these tools could help correct long-standing blind spots in womens health rather than reinforce them.

However, the systems they are being introduced into remain deeply fragmented. From menstruation to maternity and through to menopause, womens care pathways are inconsistent, poorly connected and chronically under-resourced. The consequences are already visible: gynaecology is now the largest specialty on NHS waiting lists, accounting for 12% of patients aged 1864.

What is needed is a joined-up approach that works across the life course. That means investing in standardised pathways and scalable womens health hubs. Crucially, those systems must be built with women, not simply for them. Lived experience should shape design from the outset, through genuine collaboration between patients, clinicians, community advocates and data scientists.

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The risks extend beyond service delivery into research and innovation. A study by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency and the University of Liverpool revealed that male-only clinical trials outnumber female-only trials by 67%. Those evidence gaps ripple through clinical guidance and into AI development. While AI could support more inclusive trial design and analysis, without reform and clear regulatory direction, it will simply mirror existing exclusion.

What needs to change

AI has the potential to be a decisive force in closing the gender health gap, but only if it is applied with intention. Left unchecked, it risks embedding historic blind spots into new digital systems.

As highlighted in Kearneys HealthTech Manifesto in partnership with Microsoft, removing these risks requires more than improved technology. It demands clear guardrails around how data is collected, how systems are designed, and how innovation is deployed. Sex-disaggregated data must become the default, not the exception, and organisations must question the accuracy of legacy datasets before scaling them into AI-related services.

Equally important is how new systems are built. Digitising fragmented pathways without redesigning them will only accelerate existing weaknesses. Technology should be used to reimagine womens health services across the life course, replacing disconnected models with joined-up, women-centric care that reflects real biological and social complexity.

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Design also matters. Building systems with women  rather than for them  leads to more representative data, more relevant tools, and greater trust in digital care. Without lived experience shaping innovation from the outset, even well-intentioned solutions risk missing the realities they are meant to address.

AI will play an increasingly central role in healthcare delivery. Whether it entrenches long-standing inequalities or helps dismantle them will depend on the choices made now.

"Gender bias in AI health advice: when innovation learns from incomplete data" was originally created and published by Medical Device Network, a GlobalData owned brand.




Mathieu Chevalier, Principal Security Architect, Genetec

Physical security data can be highly sensitive, and protecting it requires more than basic safeguards or vague assurances. Some approaches in the market treat data as an asset to be exploited or shared beyond its original purpose. That creates real privacy risks. Organisations should expect clear limits on how their data is used, strong controls throughout its lifecycle, and technology that is designed to respect privacy by default, not as an afterthought.

David Caspari, Managing Director ANZ Check Point Software Technologies

Data privacy is no longer a legal obligation alone  it is the foundation of digital trust in an AI-driven world. As AI accelerates how data is created, shared, and analysed, organisations must move beyond reactive controls and adopt prevention-first strategies that protect personal information across users, networks, cloud environments and AI systems. On World Data Privacy Day, the message is clear: those who secure data by design will earn trust, resilience, and long-term confidence in the digital economy.

Morey Haber, Chief Security Advisor, BeyondTrust

Data privacy is no longer a cybersecurity business control or a risk mitigation compliance checkbox. It reflects how deeply interconnected the modern world has become between businesses, governments, travellers, and citizens. Every interaction, financial transaction, remote authentication, and geolocation ping generates personal data. That data moves across borders, clouds, applications, partners, and marketing algorithms at machine speed and far beyond what most individuals realise in terms of data broker destinations. As a result, personal data privacy is harder to achieve than at any point in history, not because of negligence, but because of scale, dependency, design, and business models design to monetise the information itself.

Truthfully, digital participation using anything online from smart phones to surfing the web is now the foundation for our modern life. Work, healthcare, finance, travel, education, news, and social media depend on persistent connectivity. Each service demands a user identity (even if it is a guest), authentication, filtering, context, and user behavioural telemetry to function. The more customised the experience, the more data is shared behind the scenes to present tailored content just for you. This can appear based on merchandise that you have previously viewed online all the way through news and social media based on lag times during a doom scrolling session. Personal data privacy erodes not only through cybersecurity breaches, but through thousands of legitimate exchanges that aggregate into detailed digital profiles about us.

For almost all countries with an online presence, staying entirely off the grid is no longer realistic or potentially even possible. This starts simply at the day we are born with the electronic records of our arrival. Mobile devices, national ID systems, cloud hosted government services, and regulated digital records make participation unavoidable. Even opting out of services creates its own signal and gaps based on the shear absence of data. This draws a simple conclusion, there is no such thing as absolute data privacy, but rather what data are you willing to share? The gambit today ranges from personally identifiable information through sanitised application telemetry and the controls you have to manage granularity do not exist for all use cases.

Bluntly, we have an unusual challenge. Data privacy strategies have not evolved at the same pace as data creation and monetised analytics. Organisations still focus on cyber security defences while data flows freely through APIs, SaaS platforms, AI models, and third-party ecosystems. True personal data privacy requires visibility into all of this data with control being assigned to the individual user and not the business or government entity based on regulations. Without the user knowing who and what is accessing data, why it is being accessed, and how long the data will be archived, data privacy will remain an abstract concept with individuals only loosely being able to opt of data storage and profiling. In the online world today, personal data privacy is not disappearing. It is being redefined and many users may simply be comfortable with the modern definition.

Vab Mittal, Country Head  ANZ, Adactin

Taking control of privacy has become a board-level imperative for Australian government agencies and financial institutions. These organisations manage vast volumes of sensitive citizen and customer data, and when control is lost, the consequences are immediate. In a widely reported Australian breach, unauthorised access to personal records exposed identity data at scale, leading to regulatory investigations, class actions, significant remediation costs, and long-term erosion of public trust. The incident demonstrated that privacy is not just about preventing breaches, but about maintaining control across systems, data flows, and decision-making processes.

As AI is increasingly used for service delivery, fraud detection and decision support, the need for control has intensified. AI amplifies both value and risk when data governance, access controls and testing are not embedded upfront. Organisations today need to take control of their privacy by designing AI and data platforms with security, governance and continuous validation at their core. This enables responsible use of AI within controlled enterprise environments, allowing their businesses to innovate with confidence while meeting regulatory expectations. In 2026, leaders who take control of privacy will be best positioned to scale AI safely and sustain trust.

Gareth Cox, Vice President APJ, Exabeam

Privacy is now a strategic issue that demands board-level attention. It carries financial, legal, and reputational risk if customers believe their information isnt being protected. Meeting these obligations consistently and at scale is therefore critical. However, attempting to meet the strengthened privacy reforms with manual processes is not only inefficient but can also put an organisation at risk. If there is still a reliance on spreadsheets, shared documents, and ad hoc reporting to demonstrate compliance, this increases the chance of errors.

Automation is the first step to moving on from this scenario. Routine tasks like data mapping, log correlation, and compliance reporting can be handled far more accurately and quickly with automated systems, reducing the likelihood of human error. AI and machine-learned behavioural analytics add another layer of value. By continuously learning what is normal within an organisation, these systems can surface unusual activity in real time and highlight risks that may require attention. Integration across tools is equally important as privacy obligations touch nearly every part of the technology stack. Fragmented solutions create gaps that make it harder to prove compliance or detect risks.

If your serious about data privacy in 2026, consider investment in the deployment of modern platforms with open integrations which bring data together into a single view, giving teams the visibility they need to streamline compliance, detect threats earlier, and accelerate incident response.

Patrick Harding, Chief Product Architect, Ping Identity

This week offers an opportunity to pause and assess the rapidly evolving landscape of digital trust, as privacy really boils down to choice and trust around how personal data is being used. Data privacy is no longer a passing concern for consumers  it has become a defining factor in how they judge brands, with three-quarters now more worried about the safety of their personal data than they were five years ago, and a mere 14% trusting major organisations to handle identity data responsibly.

Whether its social engineering, state sponsored impersonation or account takeover risks, AI will continue to test what we know to be true. As threats advance and AI agents increasingly act on behalf of humans, only the continuously verified should be trusted as authentic.

For businesses, the path forward is clear: trust must be earned through transparency, verification, and restraint in how personal data is collected and used. The businesses that adopt a verify everything approach that puts privacy at the centre and builds confidence across every identity, every interaction, and every decision, will have the competitive edge.

Darius Vitlin, Senior Consultant, Customer Science

Data Privacy Day is a great opportunity to highlight the critical importance of understanding the privacy risks specific to your organisation. At Customer Science, we believe that getting data privacy right starts with high visibility. Fundamentally, we need to know exactly what personal information is held, where it resides, and the specific risks involved in its retention in order to make decisions around privacy with confidence.

This is not merely about regulatory compliance risks. Data privacy is about protecting from potential harm to customers, staff, and the long-term viability of the business itself. To make proactive decisions, an organisation must understand the purpose and provenance of its data assets.

Effective privacy management needs clear business ownership of personal information. Those who work with the data know the data and the risks it carries best. These owners need to be supported and empowered in their role. They should have the understanding of the data's lifecycle and the potential for harm which enables them to make informed decisions that balance operational utility with robust protection. When ownership is clear and data managers are empowered, privacy becomes a proactive, integrated part of the organisational culture.

Pieter Danhieux, Co-Founder and CEO, Secure Code Warrior

AI tooling is being integrated into enterprise development workflows quicker than security programs and policies can mitigate the risk it poses. Now, more than ever, enterprise security leaders must build their security arsenal with planned, strategic observability of AI coding tools and agents, especially when it comes to the commits they're making to sensitive codebases.



World Data Privacy Day often highlights the importance of upholding policies around the safe handling of Personally Identifiable Information (PII), and with many developers actively leveraging AI-powered coding assistants, it is a non-negotiable that security guardrails are deployed to ensure the safe handling, not to mention security configuration, of any code that could expose private data. These tools are best reserved for only the most skilled, security-savvy developers in enterprise environments.
Flowers that bloom tomorrow at the museum in Tokyo. (Photo by Denisse Rauda/Stripes Japan)



Spend enough time in Japan and chances are youve come across at least one piece by the eccentric artist Yayoi Kusama. Whether its polka-dotted pumpkins, hot pink tentacle-like structures or surreal light displays, Kusamas work jumps off the canvas and onto fashion items like Louis Vuitton bags and wallets and MoMA Design Store skateboard decks.

Kusama is synonymous with all things polka-dotted and popular Infinity Rooms, which are mirrored with lights seemingly expanding into the ether. The work of the 96-year-old, known for wearing crazy outfits and a bright red bob wig, spans decades. The pop artist even spent time in New York in the 1960s where she rubbed elbows with the likes of Andy Warhol, whom she later accused of plagiarizing her work.

Later, in the 1970s, Kusama would return to Tokyo after suffering from a mental health crisis and voluntarily move into a clinic just across the street from her studio so she could work and seek treatment. According to a 2017 article in Psychiatrics News, Kusama started having anxiety-triggered hallucinations and was later diagnosed with schizophrenic tendencies. She has never shied away from her diagnosis and has publicly shared that it influences her internationally beloved work.

In Tokyo, the artists expansive catalogue is displayed in parts at the Yayoi Kusama Museum in Bentencho. The multi-story gallery features a revolving collection of undeniably-Kusama originals like fashion pieces, light installations, sculptures, paintings, poetry and videography.

Through March 8, the museum is running Yayoi Kusama: Fighting Woman / Painting Girl, an introspective where Kusama explores topics surrounding human sexuality, her relationship to sexuality and intimacy, as well as her childhood experiences.

On the second and third floors, intricate sculptures and installations are showcased alongside a plethora of paintings covering the walls from floor to ceiling. The pieces featured the signature polka dots and whimsical flowers Kusama is known for. Newspaper clippings from the 60s depicted some of Kusamas nude art shows in New York City. The centerpiece of these two floors is an enormous inflatable rendition of Kusama as a young child on a swing. Photography is not permitted on these floors.

Phantom Polka Dots of Fate, Ordained by Heaven, Were the Greatest Gift Ever for Me (Photo by Denisse Rauda/Stripes Japan)



On the fourth floor, visitors can enter the special exhibition dark room where photos are allowed, but entry is limited to a few people at a time in 90-second increments. The display is an illuminated mirror box with hot-pink polka-dotted tentacles seeming to twist towards the top. Like a lot of Kusamas work, this is hard to describe but an incredible sight to behold.

On the top floor, visitors can peruse the many books featuring the artists photographs and work. This floor also has a terrace with a view of Shinjuku and one large sculpture piece on display. The piece changes every time the exhibit inside changes.

During my recent visit, a giant fiberglass flower sculpture with funky curves, colors and polka dots was on display.

There is a small gift shop near the entrance selling a small variety of items with Kusama designs.

Some of the art featured and topics discussed in this seasons exhibit might not be suitable for children, so check the website before reserving tickets. The foundation that runs the museum changes out the exhibits twice a year and the schedule is available online.

This was my second visit to this museum and just like the first time, I left in awe of the simplicity of Kusamas art and how through her eye-catching designs and deep intention she is able to access people of all ages and backgrounds. Kusama is an example of taking literal thought to expression directly into a tangible piece of art.

If youre not familiar with Japanese artists, Yayoi Kusama is a great one to start with and her museum is a good place to spend a few hours learning about this eccentric icon.

Tsumari in bloom in Niigata Pref. (Photo by Yurika Usui/Stripes Japan)



Things to know:
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It seems very highly probable that the Supreme Court will allow Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook to remain in office despite President Donald Trump's attempt to fire her. It's less clear whether the justices will find a way to make the case go away altogether, or whether they will send it back to the lower courts for additional fact-finding or further discussion of the two difficult legal questions in the case: what the for-cause requirement protecting Fed governors from politically motivated removal actually means, and what process a president must follow to fire someone for cause.

Frequently, the justices try to lower the temperature in high-profile, headline-grabbing cases by smothering the lawyers  and by extension, the public  in opaque legal jargon. This time, the justices acknowledged the real-world facts right out of the box at Wednesday's oral argument. Justice Amy Coney Barrett asked Solicitor General John Sauer about a friend-of-the-court brief filed by prominent economists suggesting that if the court were to overturn a lower court's stay and allow Cook to be fired forthwith, "we could trigger a recession."

When Sauer began to answer by saying that there was no reason to worry because the market had already undergone a "natural experiment" when Trump purported to fire Cook in the first place, Barrett interrupted him, saying, "I don't want to be in the business of predicting exactly what the market's going to do." For Barrett, the takeaway from that market uncertainty was that although she is "a judge, not an economist," the existence of the risk would seem to "counsel caution on our part" in a case like this one, where the lower court had issued a stay and, under the law, the justices are supposed to balance the equities.

Barrett is effectively the swing vote on the Roberts Court, so her clearly stated concern about not disturbing the markets was a signal for the markets themselves to relax. What's more, Barrett ordinarily thinks that the justices should follow the law, not calculate political or economic consequences, which makes her willingness to refer to market effects particularly noteworthy.

The other justice who emphasized the real-world consequences of the court's decision was Brett Kavanaugh , who has taken the lead in reassuring markets that the conservative constitutional theory of the unitary executive won't undermine the Fed's independence. First, Kavanaugh tried to force Sauer to explain why Fed independence was important. Once Sauer reluctantly got there, Kavanaugh lowered the boom, telling him that the Trump administration's "position that there's no judicial review [of Cook's firing], no process required [to fire her], no remedy available [to her], a very low bar for cause that the president alone determines  would weaken, if not shatter, the independence of the Federal Reserve."

The justices' concern about how Cook's firing might affect the agency's independence, however, doesn't resolve the tricky legal issues the case raises. Much of the oral argument was spent with the justices pressing Cook's lawyer, Paul Clement  the brilliant Supreme Court advocate who served as solicitor general under President George W. Bush  on how those issues might be resolved.

Clement put on a veritable oral-argument clinic, offering the justices numerous pathways for resolving the case in Cook's favor. Chief Justice John Roberts seemed especially interested in finding a way to hold that Trump's allegations against Cook (which she denies) couldn't count as grounds for dismissal even if they were accurate.

But getting a consensus among the justices on the legal issues won't be easy. The reason is that those issues are genuinely subject to reasonable debate. Clement argued, extremely convincingly as it happens, that the words "for cause" in the statute must mean that removal requires inefficiency, negligence or malfeasance. Yet while other statutes define "for cause" in precisely this way, the Federal Reserve statute leaves the term undefined. Ruling that the lack of a definition makes no difference is a tough pill to swallow for justices who claim to be textualists, relying on statutory language rather than legislative intent.

As for the procedure required for a president to fire someone for cause, the court would effectively have to invent one. During his presidency, William Howard Taft fired two members of the federal Board of General Appraisers for cause after appointing a special committee of inquiry at the suggestion of the young jurist Felix Frankfurter , who served on the committee (and later the Supreme Court ). Requiring such a committee would seem excessive by today's standards. Yet the court would doubtless prefer to avoid designing a special procedure to cover such firings  particularly given that, except for the Fed, the same justices have now held that presidents generally can't be barred from making for-cause firings of Senate -confirmed officers.

The upshot is that, while Cook and the markets should sleep easier now, it's conceivable that the case will continue to limp along if the chief justice can't craft a majority to resolve it once and for all. There's an old adage that hard cases make bad law. This is an easy case on the facts  but the law is hard, and so the justices have their work cut out for them.

(COMMENT, BELOW)

Noah Feldman, a Bloomberg View columnist, is a professor of constitutional and international law at Harvard University and the author of six books, most recently "Cool War: The Future of Global Competition."
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Israel recovered Monday the remains of the last hostage held in Gaza, police officer Rani Gvili, marking an end to a dark and painful chapter for Israelis that began when Hamas and allied [terrorists] attacked the country on Oct. 7, 2023.

The return of Gvili's body could open the way for the next phase of the U.S.-backed ceasefire agreement, which could entail initial reconstruction of Gaza, the disarming of Hamas and a further Israeli pullback in the enclave.

Gvili, 24, was killed after he rushed to the border area to help victims of the Hamas attacks, according to an account his sister gave to the forum representing hostage families. He was on sick leave at the time for a dislocated shoulder and, according to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, died while fighting Palestinian [terrorists] in Kibbutz Alumim. The gunmen then took his body back to Gaza. That day, Hamas and allied [terrorists] killed about 1,200 people and abducted about 250 others.

The recovery of his body brought huge relief to Israel, which has long waited for the final return of the hostages.

"Ran Gvili, the last hostage in Gaza, has been brought home. First to enter. Last to return," the Hostages and Families Forum said in a statement Monday. "Ran, with his broad shoulders and radiant smile, was all heart. A true friend, loved by everyone," it read.

In Gaza, the news was met with cautious optimism, with war-weary civilians hoping it might help end lethal Israeli fire that has persisted despite the ceasefire deal. The recovery of the body could also clear the way for the Rafah border crossing with Egypt to reopen, allowing Palestinians who fled the war to be able to reunite with their families.

Israeli authorities have kept Gaza's Rafah crossing with Egypt closed and have maintained some restrictions on aid entering the territory. Netanyahu's office announced Sunday that Rafah would reopen as soon as the search for Gvili's body had concluded. "Israel has agreed to a limited reopening of the Rafah Crossing for pedestrian passage only, subject to a full Israeli inspection mechanism," Netanyahu's office said.

Somaiya Shamali, 57, said she has been desperately waiting for the border to reopen. She has been separated from her son since he departed the Gaza Strip one day before Israeli forces took control of the crossing in May 2024. But despite announcements that Rafah will reopen, she said Gazans have not heard how to apply to leave the territory.

The reopening of the Rafah crossing could also enhance the provision of food and other necessities to Gazans. Aid organizations have been able to scale up their response in Gaza since the ceasefire, but much of the Palestinian population is still unable to get sufficient food, in large part due to Israeli restrictions on access, the groups say.

"There are no more excuses now," Jose Andres, of World Central Kitchen, told The Washington Post in an interview. "Now reconstruction has to be happening. Phase 2 has to be happening."

Amid pressure from mediators to move ahead with the second phase of the ceasefire deal, the Israeli military had been carrying out a "focused" last-ditch operation in northern Gaza over the weekend in a bid to find Gvili's remains. The Israel Defense Forces said intelligence led it to a cemetery east of Gaza City and that a search team including, in part, 20 dental experts participated.

"An entire nation prayed and waited for this moment, and now the circle is closed," Israeli President Isaac Herzog said in a statement. "May his memory be a blessing."

The recent return of the remaining hostages, including 20 living captives and the bodies of 28 others, was facilitated by the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas, which went into effect in October. The deal, which halted most military hostilities in Gaza, envisions a multistage pathway to peace - including the formation of an international stabilization force, the demobilization of Hamas and the eventual reconstruction of the Palestinian enclave.

Israel responded to the Oct. 7 attacks with a punishing military campaign in Gaza and destroyed much of the territory. The figures provided by Gaza health officials do not distinguish between combatants and civilians.

Netanyahu had repeatedly said that one of the war's main objectives was the safe return of the hostages. The majority of those who were abducted were released alive during three separate ceasefire agreements over the course of the war - including 105 who were freed in November 2023 and 30 who were released in early 2025.

Over the past two months, as Hamas fighters worked with mediators to recover the remains, which the group said were buried under rubble or different locations across Gaza, Israel accused the [terrorists] of purposely withholding the bodies and refused to fully implement some of its obligations under the agreement.

The pressure on Israel and Hamas to move to the next phase of the ceasefire agreement escalated over the past two weeks, when the Trump administration announced the deal would move ahead even before the body of the last hostage had been found. Gvili's family and members of the Israeli cabinet had been urging Israel to not enter the second stage until his remains had been returned.

That pressure appeared to grow further last week when Ali Shaath, a former Palestinian Authority official appointed by mediators to oversee Gaza's administration, announced during the launch of President Donald Trump's Board of Peace in Davos, Switzerland, that the Rafah crossing would reopen this week.

In a statement Monday, Hamas welcomed the retrieval of Gvili's body and said the group "will continue to honor all aspects" of the deal.

A U.S. official said that "Hamas were cooperative as they fulfilled the obligation that they signed up for" and praised Egypt, Qatar and Turkey for helping to achieve the return of Gvili's remains.

The official said that the next step in the plan was the disarmament of Hamas and that Trump was "fully aligned" with Netanyahu's statement "that rebuilding will not occur" until that happens. "That's the agreement that was made and nobody in the administration, Israel or quite frankly in the Arab world" wants to see rebuilding in Gaza until disarmament is completed.

"The ball is in the court of Hamas," said the official, one of two who briefed reporters in Washington on the condition of anonymity under rules set by the White House.

Hamas has in theory agreed to relinquish power, but its leadership remains in discussions with other political factions on how to shape postwar administration in Gaza, and the group has said it would only hand over its weapons to a governing body made up of Palestinians.

Mohamed Ibrahim al-Dweiry, a former senior Egyptian intelligence official, said that carrying out the ceasefire deal sponsored by Trump is very complicated. "It took three months just to enter the second phase. The main problems will come soon," he said. Operations at the Rafah crossing continue to be a major sticking point, he said, blaming Netanyahu.

Reports in Israeli media this week suggested that the Israeli government wants to see up to three times as many Palestinians leave Gaza as enter it. Dweiry called this an unacceptable effort to empty Gaza of its population. "This is for us a red line, and we informed our friends in Washington about this issue," he said.

(COMMENT, BELOW)




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President Donald J. Trump is the most powerful man on Earth. World powers bow down before him. But the one thing that he cannot do is make his Democrat-Left critics happy.

If Trump wakes up tomorrow at 6:00 a.m., they will complain that he is hyperactive and endangers his own health by not getting enough sleep. If he heeds their advice and rises the following day at 7:00 a.m., they will moan that he is a lazy slacker who is lying in bed when he should be in the Oval Office.

Trump cannot satisfy these people.

For the latest example of this phenomenon, just recall his opponents' furious howls at his policy of "family separation," whereby Trump monstrously arrested illegal aliens and kept their children safe elsewhere. Never mind that families get separated every single time that police arrest a father or mother and keep them from their kids. Seven days a week, judges put criminal suspects in jail or sentence convicts to prison, thus pulling families apart.

Trump did not pioneer this practice. American dads and moms have been tossed behind bars while their children wept outside since July 4, 1776.

Nonetheless, remember how hard Trump's critics hammered him on this point in 2018.

 That June 30, then-Congressman Ruben Gallego (D  Arizona) blasted Trump's "cruel and unnecessary family separation and family incarceration policies."

 "The President's zero-tolerance immigration policy cruelly tore children from their parents," Congressman Joaquin Castro (D  Texas) lamented that November 30.

 That December 22, Congressman Jimmy Gomez (D  California) denounced "the barbaric family separation policy that tore thousands of children from their parents this summer." Now, Trump's enemies are pounding his head in because ICE did not separate a family.

On Tuesday, ICE agents in Minneapolis arrested Ecuadorian illegal alien Adrian Alexander Conejo Arias. He and his son  Liam Conejo Ramos, age 5  are being held jointly at a federal facility in Dilley, Texas, just as the father requested. The Trump Administration's failure to separate these two and its decision to keep them together threw these very same people into an uncontrolled rage.

 "This is f--ked up and it doesn't make anyone safer," now-Senator Gallego bellowed.

 "I am aware of reports that five-year-old Liam Conejo Ramos may be in San Antonio," Congressman Castro declared via X. "My staff and I are doing everything we can to locate him, check on his safety and demand his release." Of course, this would trigger the very family separation that Castro previously excoriated.

 Congressman Gomez roared: "Trump, ICE and CBP don't see these families as people, and that's exactly how they're treating them."

Beyond Democrats' Olympic-grade talent for self-contradiction, there also seems to be far less to this story than the Trump-hating Left wants Americans to believe.

As DHS explained Thursday via X, when ICE agents tried to arrest the father as he sat in his car, he "fled on foot abandoning his child." ICE officers then tried to deliver the son to his mother. "She refused to accept custody of the child," DHS continued. "The father told officers he wanted the child to remain with him."

DHS added: "Following the mother's abandonment of the child, officers abided by the father's wishes to keep the child with him." DHS then arranged a father and child reunion. The elder and younger Conejos are together in the Dilley Detention Center, near San Antonio, Texas.

Despite these largely exculpatory details, the Washington Post's Philip Kennicott on Thursday pummeled Trump while pondering a photograph of the son after his father's arrest  "staring at the back of a truck" while looking "bewildered and terrified" and enduring "the brutal treatment of adults." The Post's summary of the 1,868 comments that followed Kennicott's histrionic essay equates this picture with "historical images that have evoked public empathy and action, such as those from Nazi Germany and the Vietnam War."

Yet another week, yet another "Trump = Hitler" reference.

Yaaaaawn.

 2026 Deroy Murdock
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Even as the world focuses on the future of Greenland , the Trump administration has effectively walked away from events in Iran . Following the largest protests in the country since the 1979 revolution, President Donald Trump put the theocratic regime on notice that further killing of protesters would provoke a U.S. response. He later appeared to accept assurances that the executions had been halted  claims that many observers doubt. Credible human rights organizations believe that thousands, perhaps as many as 5,000 to 10,000 dissenters, have been killed in recent weeks.

Meanwhile, a U.S. carrier strike group, centered on the massive nuclear-powered warship USS Abraham Lincoln and its embarked air wing of nearly 80 combat aircraft, is reportedly heading from the South China Sea to the North Arabian Sea . If the ayatollahs return  as they likely will  to large-scale, indiscriminate killing of protesters, what options are available to the president?

Let's start with the carrier itself. I commanded a carrier strike group in those waters at the beginning of the Global War on Terrorism, just over two decades ago. I was a newly promoted one-star admiral, and we launched strikes against Iraq , Afghanistan and terrorist targets in the Horn of Africa during our six-month deployment. Even a single carrier strike group is capable of considerable combat power, as the Venezuelans recently learned. And, most importantly, unlike land-based forces, no "host country" has veto authority over the six acres of sovereign U.S. territory represented by our huge carriers.

If the president chose to use kinetic capability from the deck of the carrier, he could conduct precise strikes against Iranian air defenses using both bombs and electronic warfare. The F/A -18 Hornets aboard the carrier could also strike high-value leadership targets (including the mullahs); command-and-control facilities of the Revolutionary Guards and the conventional military; the logistics supply chains of both the military and the civilian police  including the ironically named "morality police;" or critical elements of the Islamic Republic's energy infrastructure such as maritime installations, refineries and port facilities.

Operating alongside the carrier and its potent air wing would be U.S. Navy surface ships  primarily cruisers and destroyers  equipped with long-range Tomahawk land-attack missiles. These cruise missiles with a 1,500-mile range are highly precise and could be used against the same targets. They would likely be launched before manned aircraft to decimate Iranian air defenses.

These strikes would almost certainly be conducted alongside U.S. Air Force operations from our bases in the region. Reportedly, at least one squadron of F-15 Strike Eagle aircraft has already arrived in Jordan , and additional support  aerial refuelers and cargo aircraft  could deploy to the logistics support base at Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean . Air strikes from Al Udeid Air Base in Doha, Qatar , are also likely, although several Gulf Arab states may be reluctant to permit strikes to launch from their soil.

In addition to U.S. forces, we have an asset in the region that does not exist in the Caribbean against Venezuela : Israel . Israel provides the largest and best-defended set of airfields in the region. The Israel Defense Forces would likely participate in any major mission, particularly one directed at decapitating Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei . The U.S. and Israel , operating as an integrated joint force, have an enormous array of kinetic options to deploy against Iran .

There are also non-kinetic options the Trump administration could select. At the top of the list is offensive cyber activity, again potentially conducted in concert with Israel's cyberwarriors. Targets could include Iran's energy sector, consumer supply chains, military command and control nodes, police and Revolutionary Guard facilities, telephone systems, and military production infrastructure  notably facilities that produce drones and ballistic missiles.

Information operations would likely be part of these cyber efforts. This could include taking control of Iran's internet infrastructure  blocking all regime use while enabling the opposition to better coordinate their efforts and illuminate the atrocities that are almost certainly occurring. Such actions would support the dissenters and help their psychological campaign to mobilize the population and further weaken the rotten theocracy that leads Iran .

While the U.S. and most of its European allies are understandably absorbed by the drama surrounding a potential U.S. move on Greenland , a far larger strategic game is underway in the Middle East . Trump has a comprehensive array of options to come to the aid of Iran's brave protesters. Acting now may be the best opportunity in decades to effect an internal regime change in Iran . The question is whether the brave opposition can once again capture the wavering attention of Washington . Let's hope they do.

(COMMENT, BELOW)

Stavridis is a Bloomberg columnist. He is a retired U.S. Navy admiral and former supreme allied commander of NATO, and dean emeritus of the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University. He is also an operating executive consultant at the Carlyle Group and chairs the board of counselors at McLarty Associates.
CU mobile convenience store (Photo courtesy of BGF Retail)



BGF Retail, the operator of CU convenience stores, will begin a mobile convenience store program targeting food desert areas, working in partnership with the Korea Labor Force Development Institute for the Aged and the Korea Real Estate Board.

Food deserts refer to regions such as remote mountain villages and isolated islands where local grocery and retail shops have disappeared, making it difficult for residents to access basic food supplies.

The project will be based around CUs senior-run convenience store model, CU I-eum Store, where older employees participate in day-to-day store operations to earn stable income.

Five CU I-eum Stores are currently operating nationwide, following a business agreement signed in April last year to expand senior job opportunities.

BGF Retail plans to use CU Gongju Singwan-ro Store as a hub, dispatching a mobile convenience store to food desert areas in Gongju at least once a month. The service may also be used at local festivals and community events.

Funding from the Korea Real Estate Board will be used to support the program, while BGF Retail will provide customized product planning and operational consulting to ensure stable service delivery.
The Red Army has liberated the Nazis biggest concentration camp at Auschwitz in south-western Poland.

According to reports, hundreds of thousands of Polish people, as well as Jews from a number of other European countries, have been held prisoner there in appalling conditions and many have been killed in the gas chambers.

Few details have emerged of the capture of Auschwitz, which has gained a reputation as the most notorious of the Nazi death camps.

Some reports say the German guards were given orders several days ago to destroy the crematoria and gas chambers. Tens of thousands of prisoners  those who were able to walk  have been moved out of the prison and forced to march to other camps in Germany.

Details of what went on at the camp have been released previously by the Polish Government in exile in London and from prisoners who have escaped.

In July 1944 details were revealed of more than 400,000 Hungarian Jews who were sent to Poland many of whom ended up in Auschwitz. They were loaded onto trains and taken to the camp where many were put to death in the gas chambers.

Before they went they were told they were being exchanged in Poland for prisoners of war and made to write cheerful letters to relatives at home telling them what was happening.

According to the Polish Ministry of Information, the gas chambers are capable of killing 6,000 people a day.

Another report from Poland told of mass arrests in the village of Garbatka near Radom in the early hours of one morning in August 1942. Workmen were accused of plotting to blow up a local factory. Twenty were executed on the spot, the rest were sent to Auschwitz.

Since its establishment in 1940, only a handful of prisoners have escaped to tell of the full horror of the camp.

In October last year, a group of Polish prisoners mounted an attack on their German guards. The Germans reportedly machine-gunned the barracks killing 200 Polish prisoners. The Poles succeeded in killing six of their executioners. []

The Polish capital, Warsaw, was liberated a week ago after five-and-a-half years of German occupation.

Courtesy BBC News

In Context

Although few details of the liberation of Auschwitz were given in the British press at the time, it had gained a reputation as the worst of the German concentration camps.

On 8 May 1945 a State commission compiled by the Soviets with advice from Polish, French and Czechoslovak experts revealed the full horror of conditions at the camp.

Nearly 3,000 survivors of various nationalities were questioned and on the basis of their evidence the report estimated 4,000,000 people had perished there between 1941 and 1945.

The dead included citizens from the Soviet Union, Poland, France, Belgium, Holland, Czechoslovakia, Yugoslavia, Hungary, Italy and Greece.

The commission, which had previously investigated conditions at Majdanek, Treblinka and other camps, described Auschwitz as the worst in its experience.

It found evidence of experiments carried out on humans of a revolting character.

The final death toll was later revised downwards, by the Auschwitz Museum, to between 1 and 1.5 million, including almost 1m Jews.

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The Labour Affairs Bureau (DSAL) revealed that 668 non-residents were found working illegally in Macau last year.

However, officials noted that the majority of employers do not intentionally violate the law.

At a press conference yesterday addressing the crackdown on illegal employment, the Timesquestioned the bureaus decision to share information through a press conference rather than solely through press releases, as in the past, and also sought clarification on the severity of online illegal work and whether the situation is manageable.

In response, Chan Chon U, vice director of the bureau, explained that sharing such information enhances public awareness and understanding of the law.

As we enter the new year, we see this as an opportune moment to disseminate legal knowledge through the media, thereby improving public legal awareness, he said.

Regarding enforcement practices, Chan noted that most employers in Macau do not intentionally violate the law, as their understanding of legal requirements is often unclear. The government aims to assist employers in better understanding Macaus laws and regulations through various channels.

Through these efforts, the bureau hopes to fundamentally enhance employers awareness of legal procedures, thereby reducing instances of illegal employment, he added.

The press conference concluded in under half an hour, during which authorities announced inspection findings and administrative penalty cases from 2024 and 2025.

A press release revealed that from January to December last year, the bureau conducted a total of 683 inspections, including 491 independent and 192 joint inspections.

Among these, 62 inspections specifically targeted drivers. Administrative penalties were imposed on 668 individuals for confirmed illegal work activities, including job-hopping, cross-sector work, non-resident self-employment, and unregistered work, resulting in fines totaling MOP6,087,500.

Notably, 157 individuals were penalized for confirmed illegal driving activities, with total fines amounting to MOP982,500.

In comparison, during the same period the previous year, the bureau conducted 576 inspections, comprising 484 independent and 92 joint inspections, with 65 of those inspections targeting drivers. Administrative penalties were imposed on 616 individuals for similar illegal work activities, with total fines reaching MOP6,032,500.

Of these, 159 individuals faced penalties for illegal driving, amounting to MOP1,132,500.

The figures suggest a potential increase in illegal work cases, with 52 additional cases recorded compared to the previous year, the Times observed.

According to the bureau, administrative penalties were imposed on 668 individuals last year for confirmed illegal employment, primarily in the wholesale and retail sectors.

The bureau also highlighted its awareness of numerous posts on mainland China social media platforms promoting services for photography or filming-related work in Macau. In response to these online advertisements, the bureau emphasized its commitment to daily proactive monitoring of such platforms.

Chan said, Because we know there are many such advertisements on online platforms now, we proactively monitor these platforms daily. We conduct detailed investigations and monitoring based on information received in real time, and we will continue this effort.

He added that authorities would collaborate with relevant departments to carry out on-site monitoring at events or implement preventive measures before such events occur, depending on the actual circumstances. The bureaus focus remains on ensuring compliance and maintaining public safety in light of potential illegal activities, he said.

The authorities reaffirmed that employers who hire illegal workers will face criminal liability. For non-local workers who violate their employment terms, penalties will be applied based on the severity of each case. In serious instances that cause significant harm or infringe upon rights, additional sanctions may be enforced.

The most severe consequences include the complete revocation of the employers non-local worker permit, along with a ban on reapplying for such permits for a period ranging from six months to two years.

Additionally, non-residents providing labor in Macau as unauthorized employees are committing an administrative violation, which carries a maximum fine of MOP10,000 and may also result in the revocation of their stay permit.

While acknowledging that some illegal work activities are covert, making it difficult to identify violators  especially since many perpetrators enter Macau as tourists  the bureau noted that these activities range from renovation projects in private homes to work related to conventions and exhibitions, as well as non-residents involved in filming or makeup work.

To address this issue, the bureau encourages the public to report any suspicious activities and has provided clear methods for doing so, including details about specific locations and, ideally, the times when suspected illegal work activities occur.

Meanwhile, just yesterday, prior to the press conference, the bureau conducted inspections targeting illegal employment. During identity checks on drivers of 122 vehicles, two suspected illegal drivers were identified.

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Guangdong Province, Chinas economic powerhouse, is targeting 4.5% to 5% GDP growth in 2026, Governor Meng Fanli announced yesterday during the fifth session of the 14th Guangdong Provincial Peoples Congress.

Delivering the 2026 Government Work Report at the conferences opening ceremony, Meng emphasized deepening integration within the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA). He highlighted advancing the Macau + Hengqin positioning and accelerating the four new industries within the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin.

As stated by the Governor, Guangdong plans to prioritize science and technology innovation cooperation, actively linking with high-end science and technology resources from Hong Kong and Macau as part of its 15th Five-Year Plan.

In 2026, key infrastructure projects include starting construction on the Guangzhou-Zhuhai (Macau) High-Speed Railway, completing the new Huanggang Port, optimizing Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge management, and boosting airport-port collaboration to build a world-class cluster, according to the report.

The redeveloped Huanggang Port, set to reopen in 2026, introduces a collaborative inspection and joint clearance model that reduced passenger clearance times from 30 minutes to about five minutes. This upgrade at the 24-hour Shenzhen-Hong Kong crossing will initially handle 200,000 daily passengers, scaling up to 300,000 as infrastructure expands.

The redesign reduces the ports footprint from 500,000 to 75,000 square meters, freeing up space for a 1.8 million-square-meter international innovation zone. This zone will host research facilities, labs, and talent housing, boosting high-tech collaboration in the Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Cooperation Zone, according to prior reports.

Meng also emphasized the One Point, Two Places strategy for integrated development and high connectivity across the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.

He pledged that Guangdong would serve as the main force and driving engine, deepening cooperation among the three regions to advance Greater Bay Area initiatives and create momentum for high-quality development.

Meng highlighted support for Guangzhou to revitalize its historic core while championing Chinas new four great inventions  high-speed rail, mobile payments, e-commerce, and bike-sharing. Shenzhen, meanwhile, will advance as a new-era special economic zone and a pioneering demonstration of socialism with Chinese characteristics.

Key cities including Zhuhai, Foshan, Huizhou, Dongguan, Zhongshan, Jiangmen, and Zhaoqing will also receive backing to boost development.

Record transport volumes

In 2025, Guangdongs transport network handled 180 million airport passengers, 4.59 million tons of air cargo and mail, 100.42 million tons of rail freight, and 440 million rail passenger trips, Meng stated. During the 14th Five-Year Plan, initiatives like cross-border medical device connectivity and wealth management links in the GBA enabled the processing of 198 high-frequency government services across borders.

Completed projects such as the Shenzhen-Zhongshan Bridge, Huangmaohai Channel (connecting Zhuhai and Jiangmen), Guangzhou Baiyun Station, and Qingmao Port supported 8.32 million cross-boundary vehicle trips that year.

The report also highlights repeated traffic highs on the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge, enabling one-hour connections between its major cities.

Sustained economic momentum

Guangdong has held Chinas top GDP ranking for 37 straight years.

In 2025, it drove 24.1% of the nations foreign trade growth and saw an 11.3% rise in actual foreign capital use. Last year, the province added 3.2 million new business entities to its total of 20.377 million.

For the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-2030), Meng set an average annual GDP growth target of around 5%. In 2026, local general public budget revenue aims for about 3% growth, with residents income rising in step with the economy.

Meng urged Guangdong to act as the GBAs main force, fostering rule coordination, resource sharing, technological innovation, and infrastructure links. This includes supporting Guangzhous urban renewal, Shenzhens special economic zone, and platforms like Qianhai, Nansha, and Hetao, while promoting east-west Pearl River integration and drawing peripheral areas such as Shantou and Zhanjiang into the Bay Area orbit.

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China made a major announcement over the weekend, saying it was investigating the armys top general for suspected serious violations of discipline and law.

Gen. Zhang Youxia was the highest military member just below President Xi Jinping.

The Defense Ministry said Saturday that authorities were investigating Zhang, the senior of the two vice chairs of the powerful Central Military Commission, Chinas top military body, and Gen. Liu Zhenli, a lower member of the commission who was in charge of the militarys Joint Staff Department.

The move shakes up virtually the entire commission, chaired by Xi, leaving only one of its six members intact.

Xi Jinping has completed one of the biggest purges of Chinas military leadership in the history of the Peoples Republic, said Neil Thomas, a fellow at the Asia Society Policy Institutes Center for China Analysis.

For the army and China in general, the full impact of the changes is still unknown. But some experts say the moves also might have repercussions on Beijings next move on Taiwan.

Whats behind the latest military purge

The Defense Ministry announced the measures Saturday but provided no details on the alleged wrongdoing. The next day, the Peoples Liberation Army Daily published an editorial that fell short of explaining the specific reasons, saying only that it was for suspected serious violations of discipline and law and showed Chinas commitment to punish corruption. That is something Xi has pursued since the early days of his presidency.

Rumors have circulated on social media and there have been some media reports about the changes, but nothing official.

I do not believe any evidence publicly released or selectively leaked by Chinese authorities would necessarily reflect the core reason for Zhangs removal, said K. Tristan Tang, nonresident Vasey Fellow at Pacific Forum. The critical point is that Xi Jinping decided to move against Zhang; once an investigation is launched, problems are almost inevitably uncovered.

Analysts have said the purges are designed to reform the military and ensure loyalty to Xi. They are part of a broader anti-corruption drive that has resulted in punishment for more than 200,000 officials since the Chinese leader came to power in 2012.

Before Zhang and Lius dismissal, the Communist Party expelled the other vice chair of the commission, He Weidong, in October. He was replaced with Zhang Shengmin, who is now the only commission member.

Since 2012, at least 17 Generals from the Peoples Liberation Army, or PLA, have been removed from their military positions, among them eight who were former top commission members, according to a review of military statements and state media reports made by The Associated Press.

Change can impact moves on Taiwan

Some think the removals could have repercussions for Chinas decisions on Taiwan, but it is far from clear.

Taiwan is part of Chinas territory and Beijing has threatened to take control of the island by force if necessary. China also has increased military pressure and, last month, launched large-scale military drills around Taiwan for two days after the U.S. government announced a major arms sales to Taiwan.

Thomas, from the Asia Society Policy Institute, said the latest purge makes Chinas threat toward Taiwan weaker in the short term but stronger in the long term.

It would make a military escalation against the island riskier in the immediate term because of a high command in disarray, but in the long term would mean the army has a more loyal and less corrupt leadership with more military capabilities, he said.

Asked if this might reinforce the idea that removing top military brass might show China is not ready for war, Tang from the Pacific Forum said it does not fundamentally change that assessment.

That said, he added, I also do not believe the PLAs combat readiness has been severely disrupted.

Commissions future remains unclear

With the recent changes, the military commission will operate with only one of six members active and Xi at the top as the chair.

The PLAs Daily editorial said that after the actions against Zhang and Liu, the party is moving to promote the rejuvenation of the Peoples Liberation Army, and inject powerful momentum into building a strong military force.

But its not clear if the five vacant positions will be replaced soon or if Xi will wait until 2027, when there will be a selection of a new Communist Party Central Committee, the body in charge of also appointing the new military commission members.

Tang, from the Pacific Forum, doesnt see any pressure on Xi to fill the positions in the short term.

Unless the objective is to create an internal counterweight to Zhang Shengmin, the only current member in the commission, he said. EDUARDO CASTILLO, BEIJING,MDT/AP

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A delegation from the Macau chapter of Dress a Girl Around the World met with Mozambiques Consul-General in Macau recently to present plans for an upcoming humanitarian mission to Mozambique, scheduled for February 7 to 21.

The meeting provided an opportunity to outline the initiatives objectives and ensure coordination with local authorities for the delivery of aid.

The mission will focus on distributing childrens clothing, school supplies, and educational materials to communities in need.

Donations are set to reach Maputo Central Hospital, with particular attention to the pediatric and oncology departments, as well as youth-focused organizations promoting cultural and environmental development.

Dress a Girl Around the World is an international non-governmental organization founded in 2009 in the United States. Operating globally through volunteer networks, the organization provides free clothing to children in underprivileged communities, aiming to promote dignity, protection, and hope.

In a statement, the Macau chapter of organization stressed the urgency of this mission given Mozambiques ongoing exposure to extreme weather events, including severe droughts, floods, and cyclones. The delegation also noted the dual institutional support backing the initiative, reinforcing community engagement and cooperation between Macau and Mozambique.

Officials from organization expressed gratitude for the Consulates reception and assistance, confirming that the support will facilitate smooth coordination on the ground and ensure proper distribution of donations, as cited in a statement.

The mission is part of ongoing efforts to strengthen humanitarian ties and contribute to sustainable development in Mozambique.

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The Philippines told China yesterday that it is alarmed about heated exchanges with Chinese diplomats in Manila over the long-standing, seething territorial dispute between the two countries in the South China Sea.

The Department of Foreign Affairs in Manila said without elaborating that it made firm representations to the Chinese ambassador and the Chinese Embassy conveying serious concerns with the escalation of public exchanges.

It warned that the bruising, tit-for-tat exchanges with China could unnecessarily derail the diplomatic space needed to manage the tensions in the maritime domain, but, nevertheless, expressed support to Philippine officials, including some senators, who have defended their countrys territorial interests in the South China Sea.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Beijing last week said it summoned Philippine Ambassador Jaime FlorCruz to protest remarks by Philippine coast guard spokesperson Commodore Jay Tarriela, one of the most vocal critics of Chinas increasingly assertive actions in the disputed waters.

China has claimed virtually the entire waterway, a key global trade route, despite a 2016 arbitration ruling that invalidated Beijings expansive claims based on the 1982 U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea. Beijing did not participate in the arbitration, which was initiated by the Philippines in 2013 after a territorial confrontation, and continues to defy the decision.

Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan also have been involved in the territorial standoffs.

Confrontations in the high seas have particularly spiked in recent years between China and the Philippines. Unlike other claimants, the Philippine government has openly condemned Chinas growing assertive actions in the disputed waters and publicized videos and pictures of the use of powerful water cannons and dangerous blocking maneuvers by Chinas forces.

We reiterate our previous statements affirming support for our officials to perform their lawful duties in defense of Philippine sovereignty, sovereign rights and jurisdiction, the Foreign Affairs department in Manila said. Their views, as well as those of disagreeing voices, are an inescapable part of the robust plurality of ideas that animate our democratic society.

The Chinese Embassy has protested remarks by Tarriela, who it said has persistently hyped up maritime issues, confounded right and wrong, misrepresented facts, incited confrontation, misled public opinion, undermined Chinas national interests and dignity, impacted mutual trust.

I firmly reject your ignorant and arrogant views, Chinese Embassy deputy spokesperson Guo Wei said of Tarriela in a recent statement. MDT/AP

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The Ruins of St. Pauls, a World Heritage Site and historic landmark in Macau, is undergoing restoration, with the overseeing restorer reporting that the second and third phases are nearing completion, though the Peace Dove statue still needs further work.

The seven bronze statues at the Ruins of St. Pauls have undergone phased restoration and maintenance since last year, as the Cultural Affairs Bureau (IC) revealed that the statues have suffered long-term exposure to sun and rain, corrosion from acidic rainfall, and rust from bird droppings.

The bureau noted that the restoration process combines scientific testing with historical research to clarify the statues craftsmanship and damage mechanisms, establishing a foundation for future cultural heritage preservation.

The restoration of the Virgin Mary statue was completed in June last year. The second phase, initially scheduled for the latter half of 2025, aimed to restore the four statues on the second tier; however, the discovery of fine cracks on the two left-side statues necessitated further study of the damage and restoration plan.

Due to the peak tourist season, this work has now been rescheduled for the first quarter of this year.

The restoration project for the Ruins of St. Pauls and its bronze statues is being conducted by the Center for Preservation and Transmission of Cultural Heritage of the Palace Museum in Macao. In a recent media interview, architectural heritage restoration specialist and University of Macau (UM) research assistant professor Ip Kin Hong highlighted that the Peace Dove bronze statue atop the ruins is in poor condition.

While the second phase of restoration work on the sites bronze statues is nearing completion, the statues elevated position, combined with safety requirements amid heavy foot traffic and its more severe damage, means that related work must be completed by mid-next month.

According to Ip, the Peace Dove statue currently requires in-depth research into its metallic properties before the appropriate restoration materials can be determined.

She noted that modern bronze casting materials and techniques differ significantly from those used over four centuries ago, making it challenging to restore the original craftsmanship, preserve the statues authentic appearance, and present it effectively.

This process necessitates collaboration among professionals from various countries and disciplines.

However, she emphasized that the conservation techniques applied to the Ruins of St. Pauls bronze statues adhere to the same fundamental framework as previous approaches, with the main difference being the extensive use of specialized instruments for testing, auxiliary analysis, and comprehensive restoration.

In accordance with the bureaus schedule for the second phase of restoration work, the bronze statues at the Ruins of St. Pauls are expected to be fully restored by February 9.

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A day before an emerging Ghanaian designer made his Milan runway debut, Michelle Francine Ngonmo was troubleshooting how to squeeze more people into the venue to meet demand. Hours before the show, she was up before dawn with her team setting up backstage and the showroom.

Ngonmo, a 38-year-old Cameroonian-Italian, has dedicated her professional life to helping raise the profile of Africans and other people of color in Italian fashion and other creative fields because there was, lets say, a lack of representation of people like me.

Ngonmo, who founded the Afrofashion Association a decade ago, produces runway shows, mentors talent and recognizes trailblazing achievements through the Black Carpet Awards, launched in 2023. Ngonmo also teaches fashion students and travels regularly to Africa to work with designers there.

In its first decade, the Afrofashion Association has worked with 3,000 people of color, including 92 who are working in creative jobs and on a sustainable professional path, Ngonmo said.

That number is both a sign of the Afrofashion Associations success, and a measure of how much more work there is to be done.

Italy is no longer a white Italy, as imagined, but an Italy where there are many colors, Ngonmo said.

The Black Lives Matters movement launched a discussion in Italy about the absence of people of color in Italian fashions influential design studios, and designers Stella Jean and Edward Buchanan teamed up with Ngonmo to demand fashion houses replace expressions of solidarity with action. The fashion industry wont disclose diversity numbers, but the lack seemed evident as several prominent fashion houses were emerging from scandals over racially insensitive designs or campaigns.

For several seasons, the trio mentored creatives of color under the catchphrase: We Are Made in Italy (WAMI). But slowly the spotlight faded, as diversity and inclusion money dried up and the fashion industry was plunged into an economic crisis.

At the time there was a reaction, indeed a very strong request to have to deal with creatives, especially Blacks in Italy, Ngonmo said. And then slowly the curtain closed because the attention was no longer on that.

Ngonmo said she now focuses her attention on those companies, those institutions that have remained with us during these years, and look at the result we have brought.

That includes the Italian National Fashion Chamber, which backed WAMI and is giving platforms to up and coming Black talents on the Milan Fashion Week calendar. One of them is Ghanaian designer Victor Reginald Bob Abbey-Hart, who heads the brand Victor-Hart and debuted his collection of mostly denim looks earlier this month.

Abbey-Hart, who recently designed a denim collection for Max & Co., has worked with Ngonmo to raise his profile. He has graduated from showing his looks at a Black Carpet Awards ceremony to a presentation during fashion week in September before the runway show.

The designer said his love affair with fashion started when he saw his first Gucci bag back in Ghana.

I realized I want to go where it was made. So that was the dream, he said, despite many naysayers at home who saw only obstacles. Coming to Italy really gave me a big door of opportunity to understand what the world really asks for, as a designer.

The Milan fashion chambers president, Carlo Capasa, joined top fashion editors in the front row for the packed Victor-Hart show, wearing one of the designers statuesque denim coats.

Capasa said projects with the Afrofashion Association have given visibility and behind-the-scenes support to more than 30 designers of color during recent fashion weeks. Ngonmo has also received support from Conde Nasts Anna Wintour, who has met with Black Carpet Award nominees on the sidelines of Milan fashion weeks.

There is a lot to do in diversity and inclusion everywhere in the world, for sure also in Italy, Capasa said, adding that Ngonmos role has been key in helping institutions understand what were the needs in underrepresented communities, from mentoring to education.

Abbey-Hart said that finding opportunities as a Black man in Italy, where he has lived for the past nine years, remains hard.

Sometimes, before you even get to the room for the interview, youve been disqualified already. Its really tough, and I want people to understand, he said. Take away the color, take away what I represent, just look at the job.COLLEEN BARRY, MILAN, MDT/AP

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* Chinas military shake-up

 Top general sacked from the powerful Central Military Commission

* Governance | Xia Baolong urges SAR lawmakers to embed executive-led model

* Volleyball | VNL womens finals to return to Macau after 15 Years

* Illegal workers rise as Govt fines over 660, totaling MOP6 million, with wholesale and retail leading violations

* Cotais outdoor performance venue could reach MOP$3.6 million

* Guangdong province, Chinas economic powerhouse, is targeting 4.5% to 5% GDP growth in 2026, governor Meng Fanli announced

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Tuesday, January 27, 2026  edition no. 4882

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The Volleyball Nations League (VNL) womens finals are set to return to Macau after some 15 years, taking place from July 2226.

The last time the competition was held in Macau was in 2011, under the name FIVB Volleyball World Grand Prix, with the finals held at the East Asian Games Dome from August 2428, 2011.

According to information obtained by the Times from organizers, the same venue is expected to host this years finals.

Back in 2011, the finals featured the top eight teams from the first round, including Brazil, the United States, Russia, Serbia, Italy, Japan, China (host), and Thailand.

The United States won the tournament, defeating Brazil 30 in the final, retaining their title. Destinee Hooker of the USA also earned the award for best player of the tournament.

A recurring annual event, the womens VNL returned to Macau in 2024 for the first time in four years after a pause due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

In 2024, Macau hosted matches from the VNLs preliminary phase, featuring eight teams including China, Brazil, Italy, and Japan.

It was also the first time the VNL was hosted at Galaxy Arena, unlike previous editions, which were held at the Macau Forum (except for the 2011 finals).

Before arriving in Macau for the final leg, the womens VNL will host nine preliminary-stage events during Weeks 13.

In the first week, matches will be held in Brazil, China, and Canada, while in Week 2, host cities will include Turkey, the Philippines, and Thailand.

Week 3 will, as usual, see a leg played in Hong Kong and two others played concurrently in Japan and Serbia.

Last year, the womens VNL finals were held in Lodz, Poland, with Italy winning, beating Brazil 31 in the final.

Week 1 of this years tournament is scheduled for June 37.

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A labor recruiter persuaded Maksudur Rahman to leave the tropical warmth of his hometown in Bangladesh and travel thousands of miles to frigid Russia for a job as a janitor.

Within weeks, he found himself on the front lines of Russias war in Ukraine.

An Associated Press investigation found that Bangladeshi workers were lured to Russia under the false promise of civilian work, only to be thrust into the chaos of combat in Ukraine. Many were threatened with violence, imprisonment or death.

AP spoke with three Bangladeshi men who escaped from the Russian military, including Rahman, who said that after arriving in Moscow, he and a group of fellow Bangladeshi workers were told to sign Russian documents that turned out to be military contracts. They were taken to an army camp for training in drone warfare techniques, medical evacuation procedures and basic combat skills using heavy weapons.

Rahman protested, complaining that this was not the work he agreed to do. A Russian commander offered a stark reply through a translation app: Your agent sent you here. We bought you.

The three Bangladeshi men shared harrowing accounts of being coerced into front-line tasks against their will, including advancing ahead of Russian forces, transporting supplies, evacuating wounded soldiers and recovering the dead. The families of three other Bangladeshi men who are missing said their loved ones shared similar accounts with relatives.

Neither the Russian Defense Ministry, the Russian Foreign Ministry nor the South Asian countrys government responded to a list of questions from AP.

Rahman said the workers in his group were threatened with 10-year jail terms and beaten.

Theyd say, Why dont you work? Why are you crying? and kick us, said Rahman, who escaped and returned home after seven months.

The workers accounts were corroborated by documents, including travel papers, Russian military contracts, medical and police reports, and photos. The documents show the visas granted to Bangladeshi workers, their injuries sustained during battles and evidence of their participation in the war.

How many Bangladeshis were deceived into fighting is unclear. The Bangladeshi men told AP they saw hundreds of Bangladeshis alongside Russian forces in Ukraine.

Officials and activists say Russia has also targeted men from other African and South Asian countries, including India and Nepal.

Overseas work supports Bangladeshi families

In the lush greenery of the Lakshmipur district in southeast Bangladesh, nearly every family has at least one member employed as a migrant worker overseas. Job scarcity and poverty have made such work essential.

Fathers embark on yearslong journeys for migrant work, returning home only for fleeting visits, just long enough to conceive another child, whom they will likely not see again for years. Sons and daughters support entire families with income earned abroad.

In 2024, Rahman was back in Lakshmipur after completing a contract in Malaysia and seeking new work. A labor recruiter advertised an opportunity to work as a cleaner in a military camp in Russia. He promised $1,000 to $1,500 a month and the possibility of permanent residency.

Rahman took out a loan to pay the fee of 1.2 million Bangladeshi taka, about $9,800, to the broker as a fee. He arrived in Moscow in December 2024.

Basic training, then the battlefield

Once in Russia, Rahman and three other Bangladeshi workers were presented with a document in Russian. Believing it was a contract for cleaning services, Rahman signed.

Then they went to a military facility far from Moscow, where they were issued weapons and underwent three days of training, learning to fire, advance and administer first aid. The group went to a barrack near the Russia-Ukraine border and continued training.

Rahman and two others were then sent to front-line positions and ordered to dig pits inside a bunker.

The Russians would take a group of say, five Bangladeshis. They would send us in front and stay at the back themselves, he said.

The men stayed in a leaky bunker in the rain as bombs fell a few kilometers away. Missiles flew overhead.

One person was serving food. The next moment, he was shot from a drone and fell to the ground right there. And then he was replaced, Rahman said.

Promises of jobs far from the front

Some Bangladeshi workers were lured into the army with promises of positions far from the front line.

Mohan Miajee enlisted in the Russian army after the job that initially brought him to Russia  serving as an electrician for a gas-processing plant in the remote far east  was plagued by harsh working conditions and relentless cold.

While searching for employment online, Miajee was contacted by a Russian army recruiter. When he expressed his reluctance to kill, the recruiter said his skills as an electrician made him an ideal candidate for an electronic warfare or drone unit that would be nowhere near combat.

With his military papers in order, Miajee was taken in January 2025 to a military camp in the captured city of Avdiivka. He showed the camp commander documents describing his experience and explained that his recruiter had instructed him to ask for electrical work.

The commander told me, You have been made to sign a contract to join the battalion. You cannot do any other work here. You have been deceived,' he said after returning to his village of Munshiganj.

Miajee said he was beaten with shovels, handcuffed and tortured in a cramped basement cell, and held there every time he refused to carry out an order or made a small mistake.

Because of language barriers, for example, if they told us to go to the right and we went to the left, they would beat us severely, he said.

He was made to carry supplies to the front and collect dead bodies.

Meanwhile in Rahmans unit, some weeks later, they were instructed to evacuate a Russian soldier with a wounded leg. The men carried him, but no sooner had they left the position than they saw a Ukrainian drone buzzing above. It fired at them. Then more drones came in a swarm.

Rahman could not advance or return to the bunker. A Russian soldier guiding them said land mines were everywhere.

He was stuck, and the Russian commander fled.

Rahman eventually suffered a leg wound that sent him to a hospital near Moscow. He escaped from the medical center and went directly to the Bangladeshi embassy in Moscow, which prepared a travel pass for him to leave the country.

Some months later, Rahman helped his brother-in-law Jehangir Alam, who also spoke with AP, run away using the same method  leaving the hospital after being wounded and appealing to the embassy.

Families long to learn about missing men

Families in Lakshmipur hold tightly to the documents of their missing loved ones, believing that one day, when presented to the right person, the papers might unlock the path to their return.

The documents included photos of Russian business visas, military contracts and army dog tags. The papers were sent by the missing men, who urged relatives to complain to recruiting agents.

The contracts were verified by two Russian groups helping men evade or get out of military service. Maj. Vladimir Yaltsev, head of the Kostroma regional recruitment center for contract military service, is listed as signing the contracts on behalf of the Russian military.

In their final messages, these husbands, sons and fathers conveyed to relatives that they were being forcibly taken to the front lines in Ukraine. After that, all communication ceased.

The families filed a complaint with police in Dhaka and traveled on three occasions to the capital to pressure the government to investigate.

Salma Akdar has not heard from her husband since March 26. In their last conversation, Ajgar Hussein, 40, told her he had been sold to the Russian army. The couple has two sons, ages 7 and 11.

Hussein left in mid-December 2024, believing he was being offered a job as a laundry attendant in Russia, his wife said. He had recently returned from Saudi Arabia and planned to stop working overseas for a spell, she explained. But believing Russia offered opportunities to make money, he left again. He sold some of his land to pay the agents fees.

For two weeks, he was in regular touch. Then he told his wife he was being taken to an army camp where they were trained to use weapons and carry heavy loads up to 80 kilograms (176 pounds). Seeing all this, he cried a lot and told them, We cannot do these things. We have never done this before,' his wife said.

For two months after that, he was offline. He reappeared briefly to explain they were being forced to fight in the war.

Russian commanders told him that if he did not go, they would detain him, shoot him, stop providing food, she said.

Families in the village confronted the recruiting agent, demanding to know why their loved ones were being trained for war. The agent replied dismissively, saying that it was standard procedure in Russia, insisting that even launderers had to undergo similar training.

Hussein left a final audio note for this wife: Please pray for me.

Son expected to work as a chef

Mohammed Sirajs 20-year-old son, Sajjad, departed believing he would be working as a chef in Russia. He needed to support his unemployed father and chronically ill mother.

Siraj wept as he described his son begging him to ask the agent why he was being made to undergo military training. Sajjad fought with his Russian commanders, insisting he had come to be a chef, not to fight. They threatened him with jail if he did not comply. Then someone else threatened to shoot him, his father recalled.

Sajjad called the family and said he was being taken to battle. That is the last message from my son, he said.

In February, Siraj learned through a Bangladeshi man serving with Sajjad that his son had been killed in a drone attack. Unable to bear telling his wife the truth, Siraj assured her that their son was doing well. But word spread through the village.

You lied to me, Siraj recalled her saying as she confronted him. Soon after, she died, calling out for her son in her final moments.

Investigationuncovers network of intermediaries

In late 2024, families approached BRAC, an organization that advocates for Bangladeshi workers, and said they could no longer reach their relatives in Russia. That prompted the organization to investigate. It uncovered at least 10 Bangladeshi men who are still missing after they were lured to fight.

There are two or three layers of people who are profiting, said Shariful Islam, the head of BRACs migration program.

Bangladesh police investigators uncovered a trafficking ring in Russia after a Bangladeshi man returned in January 2025, alleging he had been deceived into fighting. The police believe that similar networks, operated by Bangladeshi intermediaries with connections to the Russian government, are responsible for facilitating the entry of Bangladeshis into Russia.

Another nine people were discovered to have been lured into fighting based on that police investigation, according to investigator Mostafizur Rahman. The Associated Press reviewed the police report filed by one victims wife, who said he went to Russia expecting to work in a chocolate factory. A middleman, a Bangladeshi with Russian citizenship who was residing in Moscow, has been charged.

Its not clear how many Bangladeshis were lured to Russia. The investigator told AP that about 40 Bangladeshis may have lost their lives in the war.

Some go willingly, knowing they will end up on the front lines because the money is too good, he said.

In Lakshmipur, investigators learned that the local agent has been funneling recruits to a central agent associated with a company called SP Global. The company did not respond to APs calls and emails. Investigators found it ceased operations in 2025.

Families of the missing individuals said they have not received any money earned by their loved ones. Miajee too said he was never paid.

I dont want money or anything else, Akdar said. I just want my childrens father back.

SAMYA KULLAB, LAKSHMIPUR

Associated Press writer Julhas Alam in Dhaka contributed to this report.

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Xia Baolong, Chinas top official on Hong Kong and Macau affairs, called on lawmakers from the two special administrative regions to fully support their SAR governments and law-based governance through constructive input, emphasizing that the executive-led model is key to better administration.

Speaking Monday at a seminar in Beijing hosted by the Chinese Association of Hong Kong and Macao Studies, Xia, director of the State Councils Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office, declared the executive-led system an essential principle in the political system of the SARsand the institutional guarantee for the comprehensive and accurate implementation of One country, two systems.

With new-term legislatures elected last year in both SARs, Xia urged lawmakers to deepen their patriotic commitment, show initiative in reform and development, dedicate themselves to public service, participate diligently in legislative affairs, and project a respectable public profile.

He stated that when President Xi Jinping listened to reports from the Chief Executives (CEs) of the Hong Kong and Macao SARs, he explicitly required the governments of both regions to adhere to and improve executive-led governance in every facet of their governance and pursue a highly efficient, results-driven administration that renews methods, leverages legal powers for reform, breaks entrenched interests, and aligns with the 15th Five-Year Plan.

Statutory bodies, advisory organizations, think tanks, district councils, and social groups must deploy professional capabilities and fulfill supporting roles, Xia added.

Hong Kong media reports quoted lawmaker and Basic Law committee member Priscilla Leung Mei-fun as saying after the meeting that Xia stressed the central authorities strong emphasis on the executive-led system and its ties to the Constitution.

Leung noted that although the Hong Kong Basic Law does not explicitly mention executive-led, she said Xia described it as the most important constitutional design of One country, two systems. NS

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Minneapolis has yet again become the epicenter of the class struggle in the United States. The city that sparked the 2020 George Floyd uprising has seized the attention of class-conscious workers and youth across the country for three weeksand at present, theres no sign of things slowing down.

[Originally published at communistusa.org]

Ever since Trump deployed 3,000 ICE agents to the city at the beginning of the month, any semblance of stability and normality in the Twin Cities has been eroded. First, there was the killing of Renee Good on January 7. The subsequent daily protests and widespread civilian resistance against ICE culminated in the de facto general strike of January 23. One day later, Border Patrol riddled ICU nurse Alex Pretti with bulletsthe second extrajudicial execution of an American citizen by federal agents this month.

Hundreds of thousands of ordinary Minnesotans feel that their city is under occupation by federal agents, and as the Democrats offer no real solution, ordinary people have been taking matters into their own hands.

It is hard to overstate the significance of what is unfolding in the Twin Cities. Communists must study these events closely, and draw the conclusions about what this means for the trajectory of US society and the class struggle in the second quarter of the 21st century. We have covered the initial killing of Renee Good and the mass resistance that developed in response in previous articles. Now we will pick up where we left off, on the eve of the January 23 day of action.

The 2026 Minnesota General Strike

The first thing to say is that January 23, 2026 will be remembered as a turning point in the history of the American class struggle.

Responding to a call by local unions and other organizations for a day of action to protest ICE terror, tens of thousands of Minnesotans braved 9 F (23 C) weather in an energetic outpouring of mass political action. The result was a de facto citywide general strike, imposed from below.

This was the first time anything remotely close to this has happened in the US in 80 years, since the 1946 strike wave, which saw general strikes in Oakland, Rochester, and other cities.

TODAY: Hundreds of thousands in Minnesota braved -10F weather to march through downtown Minneapolis as part of the statewide general strike demanding ICE out of the Twin Cities. pic.twitter.com/LkvkxFztJI  BreakThrough News (@BTnewsroom) January 23, 2026

Furthermore, this was essentially a political general strike. It was not an economic action over wages and benefits, but an overtly political act, aimed directly at the repressive apparatus of the national government. It was sparked in defense of workers unfairly targeted because they dont possess a particular piece of paper, and to protest against the brazen killing of American citizens for the crime of exercising their constitutional rights. In it, the embryo of an emerging class consciousness can be clearly discerned.

The strike mushroomed organically despite the lack of a militant class-struggle leadership, thanks in no small part to the self-organization of the working class taking place in neighborhood meetings and Signal chats across the Twin Cities.

Even Greg Bovino, the arch-reactionary commander-at-large of US Border Patrol, was forced to acknowledge this reality. As he said at a January 20 press conference: What weve seen thats a bit different here [from immigration raids in other cities] is the organization of some of the groups. The groups are a bit better organized. Theyve got some excellent communications. These excellent communications were on full display in the leadup to January 23.

Just imagine what could be accomplished if the unions actually mobilized their members and resources to build for an all-out shutdown! As we explained ahead of January 23:

With so little time to prepare, the January 23 day of action should be seen as the beginning of a well-coordinated campaign for an all-out general strike across Minnesota. Union stewards should be deployed for an agitational campaign to educate workers on the need for strike action, to prepare workers for a protracted, militant struggle. An all-out general strike would not only fight against ICE, but take up broader economic demands addressing the cost of living crisis, which would draw in even wider layers of the working class. A successful strike requires serious organizationbeginning with action committees in every workplace and neighborhood. These committees could elect delegates from across the metro area to meet in a Twin Cities-wide meeting. This would provide the organizational backbone for a real general strikean elected and accountable body representing the workers of the entire region. Such a move would transform the situation and prepare the ground for successful battles in the near future.

Like a wildfire

The strike mushroomed organically despite the lack of a militant class-struggle leadership / Image: Max Nesterak, Twitter

Under pressure from below, some unions, as well as NGOs and churches, called for the day of truth and justice to protest ICE terror on January 23. The Minneapolis regional AFL-CIO eventually endorsed it, followed by the statewide AFL-CIO organization.

This was a significant step forward for the labor movement, which the RCA enthusiastically supported. However, while they officially endorsed the day of action, the union leaders were ambiguous about its character. Afraid to violate anti-democratic laws like Taft-Hartley, which ban unions from engaging in solidarity strikes, they called for a demonstration, stopping conspicuously short of uttering the word strikemuch less general strike.

However, rank-and-file activists and ordinary workers had other ideas. Enraged by the killing of Renee Good and the shameless violence ICEs thugs have been inflicting on their neighbors and coworkers, tens of thousands of Minnesotans decided that enough was enough. Enthusiasm for a general strike percolated throughout workplaces and campuses. This occurred despite a near-total media blackout in the American press regarding the planned economic blackout.

By the morning of the day of action, it was evident that nothing could stop the momentum, and that something major was brewing in Minnesota that day. The New York Times reported:

Word of Fridays strike and protests spread like a wildfire in the preceding days, said Jake Anderson, an executive board member with the St. Paul Federation of Educators, a union representing teachers and educational support professionals. Hundreds of businesses, mostly in Minneapolis and St. Paul, said they would close. On Friday, it seemed as though many followed through on that promise.

The same article continued later on:

For some leaders of local and state unions, the decision over whether to encourage their members to participate in the general strike was difficult, because it was not organized under state and federal strike laws, and was not considered an official work stoppage day. But the push for the boycott spread so widely that it became hard to ignore.

Thousands and thousands of people have poured into the streets for Minnesota general strike demanding ICE out of their state.



Footage via @BTnewsroom. pic.twitter.com/2xhBGgSA2Z  More Perfect Union (@MorePerfectUS) January 23, 2026

Work stoppage

The ensuing generalized work stoppage went far beyond the bounds of a normal mass demonstration. The unions may have raised the idea, but workers across the state took it and made it their own.

Nearly 800 small businesses closed their doors for the day, either due to genuine political solidarity with the anti-ICE movement, pressure from employees who wanted to participate, or a mixture of both.

At first, only a handful of small businesses had announced closures, but as the pressure to participate grew, dozens and then hundreds of small businesses followed like dominoes. The result was a cascade of small business closures. Every shop Ive ever been to in Minneapolis was closed, said an RCA comrade who was born and raised in the Twin Cities. Institutions such as the Science Museum of MN, the MN Institute of Art, and the Guthrie Theater also closed.

A lot of really impressive photos coming out of the rally downtown yesterday, but I think this shot of I-35W at 8:45am on a Friday morning really drives home the impact of the general strike pic.twitter.com/jNdTWXCemx  Lydia Kauppi (@lydiakauppi) January 24, 2026

The public school system and University of Minnesota announced closures, ostensibly due to the weather. But in a state that is accustomed to extreme cold temperatures, the inclement weather was merely a useful excuse to save face while giving in to the pressure of the tens of thousands of students who were enraged and politicized by recent events.

Minnesotas largest employers, like Target, UnitedHealth Group, 3M, and Xcel Energy, did not close their doors for the day, and there were no indications of major work stoppages at any of these companies. However, thousands of workers at these kinds of workplaces still used paid time off or called in sick in order to join the mass demonstration.

RCA comrades on the ground in MinneapolisSt. Paul explained that, in general, managers at larger workplaces did not even try to prevent this from happening, given the momentum and the widespread enthusiasm for a successful day of action. In effect, workers forced the hands of their employers through mass collective action. And if it did not result in a total shutdown of the key levers of the local economy, it certainly constituted a generalized work stoppage, making a significant dent in the economic activity of the metro area that day.

Workers across the city strived instinctively to exert their power over the economy and shut down business as usual in Minnesota, despite no serious lead being given by the unions. This was also on display in the demonstration outside the Minneapolis airport earlier that morning, which ended with 100 people being arrested by police. While the demonstration did not succeed in shutting down the airport entirely, it was notably much larger than usual activist attempts to shut down transit lines, and it showed a healthy instinct towards the need to paralyze this key economic node.

A massive number of workers have descended on the Minneapolis-St. Paul airport for the general strike today, forming an extended picket line, with some blocking a main airport road at this time. pic.twitter.com/2JZPZpS4hR  More Perfect Union (@MorePerfectUS) January 23, 2026

By the afternoon, with the mass demonstration of over 50,000 people underway, even some mainstream bourgeois media outlets were starting to call it what it really was.

Thousands march through downtown Minneapolis protesting against ICE as state workers hold general strike, read a CBS headline.

The Trump administrations immigration crackdown and ICE surge in the Twin Cities drew large protests today. It was part of a general strike and walkout backed by labor leaders and faith groups, reported PBS NewsHour that night.

Even The New York Timesthe paper of recordupdated their article to explain that the protests on Friday were part of [a] general strike organized by residents, faith leaders, and labor unions.

Local news channel Fox 9 MinneapolisSt. Paul gave its viewers a quick history lesson about the last general strike in Minnesota: the 1934 Teamsters Strike, during which Trotskyists led a two-month shut down of the city.

The US bourgeois media is not accustomed to even entertaining the idea of a general strike in this country. But as the strike unfolded, more and more journalists could find no other way to describe it.

Mass consciousness

The real movement of the working class contains all manner of confusions and contradictions, which the Marxists seek to resolve over time through active participation and patient explanation / Image: RCA

To be sure, as in any genuinely mass movement, there was considerable ideological heterogeneity among the participants, and not a small amount of political confusion. How could it be otherwise? Decades have passed since this country last saw well-led militant strikes, and the labor movement is just starting to wake up after a long period of slumber.

Many radicalized young people took part, but so did workers and small business owners who continue to have illusions in the Democratic Party. Liberal, pacifist, and religious slogans were present alongside more radical demands. As the MinneapolisSt. Paul RCA reported: Of course, we encountered plenty of radical youth and workers, who marched with us. However, there were still many liberals who had No Kingstype signs, focused on insulting Trump and rallying behind local Democrats.

As the comrades explained:

Not everyone in this movement wants to get rid of ICE (and all deportation enforcers) for good. A good chunk just want to see ICE temporarily stop committing open human rights violations in their state, and trust the Democrats to do this. Thats to be expected. There were still many radicalized people in the crowd completely open to our perspective. Events are bringing people into political life, and they will have to see even more betrayals by the Democrats for their perspective to meaningfully change. Whats really significant is that many average liberal types are now much more open to engaging with communists than in the past, as many have already seen the treachery of the Democrats.

Here's a time-lapse from yesterday as thousands of people marched through downtown Minneapolis to protest ICE.



: Sydney Lewis/The Minnesota Star Tribune pic.twitter.com/fZiGCk7oIV  The Minnesota Star Tribune (@StarTribune) January 24, 2026

Probably a majority of participants in the general strike did not necessarily see themselves as workers striking against the capitalist class, but rather, as Minnesotans coming together to fight what they see as an occupation by federal immigration officers. But Marxists do not expect the working class to arrive at crystal-clear class clarity overnight. As Lenin explained, Whoever expects a pure social revolution will never live to see it. Such a person pays lip service to revolution without understanding what revolution is.

The real movement of the working class contains all manner of confusions and contradictions, which the Marxists seek to resolve over time through active participation and patient explanation.

However, there is no denying that appetite comes with eating. The essential feature of the general strike was that tens of thousands of workers opted to exert their power over the economy in an attempt to drive federal law enforcement officers out of their city. The instinctive class sentiment that we have to take matters into our own hands found the most advanced expression we have seen in the recent history of the US class struggle. In other words, the laboring masses are beginning to realize that they can alter the course of events by exercising their ability to shut down the economy.

Crowd is so big! There is the arena, and here are people waiting to get in. pic.twitter.com/RMmXdzUK2b  Sarah Lazare (@sarahlazare) January 23, 2026

The murder of Alex Pretti

Morale was exceedingly high in the afterglow of January 23. But on Saturday morning, the mood took another sharp turn. Minnesotans were afforded just a few short hours to celebrate the successful day of action, before news of another ICE shooting spread on social media and local neighborhood Signal chats. ICE had committed yet another scandalous extrajudicial murder.

37-year-old Alex Pretti, a unionized ICU nurse at a Veterans Affairs hospital was killed for the crime of using his phone to film ICE agents in the Whittier neighborhood of Minneapolis. His last words were Are you okay? as he sought to help a woman who had been pepper sprayed by ICE, moments before he was tackled, forcibly held down and pummeled by a gang of six officers, and shot ten times.

As the news spread, Minnesotans spontaneously left their homes in droves to gather outside. The Department of Homeland Security brazenly lied to the public, stating before any investigation and against all evidence that Alex Pretti was a domestic terrorist intent on massacring law enforcement officers. Meanwhile, every new angle of video and each new detail that emerged about the victim only added fuel to the fire.

An overhead view of protesters gathering at the scene of the shooting.



Live coverage: https://t.co/s3ucA6C97y



 Aaron Lavinsky/The Minnesota Star Tribune pic.twitter.com/UA7iFw8jEk  The Minnesota Star Tribune (@StarTribune) January 24, 2026

palpable rage in Minnesota pic.twitter.com/cR4rhIecMQ  nikki mccann ramirez (@NikkiMcR) January 24, 2026

Governor Tim Walz mobilized the National Guard in anticipation of mass protests and riots. Some had hoped he was planning to disperse ICE with these forces, but it was clearly just a move to establish order on behalf of the ruling class in Minnesota.

A vigil was initially called at the scene of the killing, starting at 1:00 pm. However, in the hours that followed the shooting, Whittier became a kind of war zone. People set up makeshift barricades, as clashes took place between protestors, the riot police, and ICE. So much tear gas was deployed that MCAD, a college four blocks away, had to evacuate some dorms due to gas leaking in through the windows and vents, and the original vigil was canceled.

Protesters are erecting barricades around Nicolette Avenue and 26th St now that authorities have left the area. pic.twitter.com/gZ4jwQPwX5  Matt Lavietes (@mattlavietes) January 24, 2026

 NOW: Protesters have barricaded the roadway after an ICE-involved shooting, trapping federal agents at the scene.



Crowds are blocking exits as tensions explode and officers reportedly deploy chemical irritants to force a way out. pic.twitter.com/ti704hvB5p  Brian Allen (@allenanalysis) January 24, 2026

While this unfolded, calls for a national general strike began trending on X. When 50501 asked its Instagram followers how to move forward after Alex Prettis murder, the top response captured the mood: A general nationwide strike and again while the iron is hot.

Enthusiasm for an expanded general strike was just as well received on the ground, with spontaneous protests erupting across MinneapolisSt. Paul.

In another astonishing example of the mood on the groundsomewhat reminiscent of the famous scene in Tiananmen Square in 1989an armored National Guard vehicle was stopped and surrounded by a crowd of unintimidated protestors.

Armored vehicle entering the scene near the shooting , the crowd tries to block the vehicle as protesters throw objects at the vehicle @DailyCaller pic.twitter.com/j4NFx9iVu8  Jorge Ventura Media (@VenturaReport) January 24, 2026

Militant mood at a spontaneous vigil

Since the official vigil had been cancelled, several spontaneous group chats for planning vigils formed, as ordinary citizens took it upon themselves to hold vigils at parks in different parts of the city.

One comrade of the RCA, who played a leading role organizing the vigil for Alex Pretti in his neighborhood, sent in a very telling report.

As the plans were being put together, the comrade had asked in his local group chat, Do we think we should use this as an opportunity to discuss as a community what the way forward is? We need mourning, but we need to also avenge the dead by kicking ICE out for good.

People enthusiastically agreed and then their question was who could start and guide the discussion, the comrade explained. I put my hat in the ring. I decided to connect the recent killings to Bloody Friday in 1934 and the general strike that followed it.

At the comrades suggestion, the group sought help from neighbors and people in the group chat, assembling a team of six people who started posting hundreds of leaflets across the neighborhood, door knocking, and calling on everyone to spread the word. Other people shared the leaflet through Signal chats, Instagram, and Yik Yak.

300 people assembled for the vigil, which began with a eulogy for Alex Pretti and the distribution of whistles, before our comrades introduction about the way forward and the lessons of the 1934 Teamsters Strike. A few minutes into my introduction, one attendee started heckling me saying that this is just old stuff that doesnt matter to the situation today, the comrade reported. A couple other older people joined in on these grievances, but then received a large response from at least a dozen others who shouted that history repeats itself, and that we have to learn from history.

After the comrade opened the discussion, the floor was open to any other attendees who wanted to speak. As the comrades relate:

One worker spoke and explained he had grown up trusting the cops, trusting the state and politicians. He continued on, explaining that every single one of these institutions has proven they are against the people. He ended by saying that the only people we can trust is ourselves. This was received with cheers.

Summarizing the mood at the vigil, the comrade explained, People saw ICE as a fascistic or dictatorial threat that we must absolutely crush with a mass movement and general strike. Many people were actively shaking off their fears and looking to enter into the mass movement for the first time.

NOW: After the ICE killing of Alex Pretti, thousands in Minneapolis call for an expansion of Friday's general strike. pic.twitter.com/IW5Az2hu3s  BreakThrough News (@BTnewsroom) January 25, 2026

The molecular process of revolution

This vigil is just one of many examples of the mood in Minnesota at the present time, which is characterized by a politicization of all layers of society, in which political discussions are taking place everywhere.

We are returning to the world of open, militant class struggle, of general strikes, andsooner than most people thinkrevolutionary upheavals / Image: RCA

In normal times, only a small layer of the working class takes an active interest in politics, while the masses largely leave it to the professional politicians and other representatives of the ruling class to run society. But under the impact of great events, a much larger layer of society is compelled to take an interest in political life. This was reflected in an anecdotal report sent in by another comrade in Minnesota on Sunday night:

After a long day of political discussions with new recruits, I decided to treat myself with a meal at a local restaurant, around a mile away from where Alex Pretti was murdered. As I finished paying my bill, I asked the waitress if they had plans for if ICE shows up, and the answer was, yes! She described the protocol that the employees and manager had come up with, as well as the security measures that they are preemptively taking. I asked her if she had coordinated yet with the employees of the neighboring businesses, and her eyes went wide. She said that it was an amazing idea, and started brainstorming out loud about developing communication lines between all of the local establishments, so that the workers could all mobilize in the event that ICE shows up! We discussed the conflicting interests of the workers and corporate owners on the issue of workplace safety, and ways that the movement could escalate with democratic city-wide leadership, and even link up with other cities! She happily grabbed our leaflets for herself and her coworkers.

This same mood was also captured in a January 25 article in The Atlantic by Robert F. Worth, which deserves to be quoted at length:

Behind the violence in Minneapoliscaptured in so many chilling photographs in recent weeksis a different reality: a meticulous urban choreography of civic protest. You could see traces of it in the identical whistles the protesters used, in their chants, in their tactics, in the way they followed ICE agents but never actually blocked them from detaining people. Thousands of Minnesotans have been trained over the past year as legal observers and have taken part in lengthy role-playing exercises where they rehearse scenes exactly like the one I witnessed. They patrol neighborhoods day and night on foot and stay connected on encrypted apps such as Signal, in networks that were first formed after the 2020 killing of George Floyd. Again and again, I heard people say they were not protesters but protectorsof their communities, of their values, of the Constitution. Vice President Vance has decried the protests as engineered chaos produced by far-left activists working in tandem with local authorities. But the reality on the ground is both stranger and more interesting. The movement has grown much larger than the core of activists shown on TV newscasts, especially since the killing of Renee Good on January 7. And it lacks the sort of central direction that Vance and other administration officials seem to imagine. At times, Minneapolis reminded me of what I saw during the Arab Spring in 2011, a series of street clashes between protesters and police that quickly swelled into a much larger struggle against autocracy. As in Cairos Tahrir Square, Minneapolis has seen a layered civic uprising where a vanguard of protesters has gained strength as many others who dont share progressive convictions joined in feeling, if not always in person. I heard the same tones of outrage from parents, ministers, school teachers, and elderly residents of an affluent suburb. Some of the quarrels that divided Minneapolis city leaders only a few weeks ago, over policing or Gaza or the budget, have faded as people have come together to oppose ICE.

As he explains later in the article:

The participants I spoke with did not seem like typical protest types. One of them, a drivers ed teacher who asked me to identify him only as Dave, told me, I do not like confrontation at all, and thats another reason that its weird I went to the training. But in light of what is happening around him, he felt he needed what the trainers had to offer. His 14-year-old daughter, who attended the training with him, told me, It was kind of overwhelming. But I dont think it could be too much, because theyre just being realistic. The nonprofit groups that run these training sessions are not organizing or directing the anti-ICE protests taking place in the Twin Cities. No one is. This is a leaderless movementlike the Arab Spring proteststhat has emerged in a spontaneous and hyperlocal way. The people who follow ICE convoys (they call themselves commuters, a verbal gesture that is part joke and part effort to elude government surveillance) have organized on a neighborhood basis, using Signal groups. The man who drove me to the ICE raids I witnesseda lawyer, activist, and social-media figure named Will Stancilhad a cellphone fixed above the windshield of his car, and I could hear people tracking the location of the ICE convoy as it passed through their neighborhoods on a Signal audio chat. It was like being inside a police car that is getting updates by radio from a dispatcher. You do not have to get tear-gassed to observe all of this self-organization; it is visible to anyone walking through Minneapolis. One bitterly cold morning, I approached a man standing across the street from an elementary school, a blue whistle around his neck. He told me his name was Daniel (he asked not to be identified further, because his wife is an immigrant) and that he stood watch every morning for an hour to make sure the kids got into school safely. Other local volunteers come by regularly to bring him coffee and baked goods, or to exchange news. These community watches take place outside schools throughout the Twin Cities, outside restaurants and day-care centers, outside any place where there are immigrants or people who might be mistaken for them. Its kind of unorganized-organized, Daniel said, when I asked how the school monitoring worked. George Floyd connected everybody. The local networks that formed after Floyds killing were not just about fighting racism. During those febrile weeks in May and June of 2020, there were looters and provocateurs of all kinds on the streets, and so much anger had been directed at the police that they pulled back from parts of the city. Many neighborhoods began organizing local watches simply to defend themselves.

The capacity for self-organization, the rapid changes in consciousness, the class instinct coming to the fore, and the massive potential to escalate the movement even further are absolutely apparent. Hundreds of thousands of ordinary Minnesotans are searching for a way forward, hellbent on driving ICE out of their state. But there is also a major shortcoming: the lack of a clearly defined political leadership for the movement. Whats needed now is a serious mobilization for an all-out nationwide general strike to stop ICE. But without a revolutionary leadership rooted in every Twin Cities neighborhood and every other American metropolitan area, there is no organization able to give the necessary lead at this time.

As Lenin explained long ago, It is too late to form the organization in times of explosion and outbursts; The party must be in a state of readiness to launch activity at a moments notice. The comrades of the RCA in Minnesota are doing everything possible to put our ideas forward, but we dont yet have the forces to gain a mass echo. This is why we must utilize this opportunity to urgently build the forces of revolutionary communism, in preparation for the even more momentous events of the not-too-distant future.

History in the making

It is fitting that, as momentum for a general strike was building up in the Twin Cities, representatives of the worlds ruling classes were gathering in Davos, acknowledging the end of the postWorld War II world order.

The 80-year anomaly that began in 1945, in which both inter-imperialist tensions and the class struggle were softened for a time, is rapidly unraveling. Yes, as the liberal press bemoans, we are back to a world of open competition between the great powers, in which it is flatly acknowledged that might makes right. But we are also returning to the world of open, militant class struggle, of general strikes, andsooner than most people thinkrevolutionary upheavals.

With anger mounting over his economic failures last month, not to mention his handling of the Epstein files, Trump evidently thought that shock-and-awe ICE tactics in Minneapolis might serve as a useful distraction. But given the class balance of forces and the anti-ICE rage that has built up in Minnesota and across the country, he is playing with fire, as each additional provocation by ICE risks sparking a nationwide social explosion. Its therefore no surprise that at the time of writing, Trump appears to be backtracking, saying he had a very good call with Tim Walz to deescalate the situation.

Whether the movement escalates in the coming days or dies down for a period, we can confidently assert that this was not a mere flash in the pan. History wastes nothing. The scenes in MinneapolisSt. Paul show us the future of every American city. Without a revolutionary party, there are limits to how far the current movement can go, but the experience is nonetheless forging a new generation of class fighters, with immeasurable repercussions for the future. After a long period of slumber, the American working class is starting to flex its muscles and rediscover its class-struggle traditions. January 23 was only a dress rehearsal, a sign of far bigger things to come.
President Cyril Ramaphosa announced that the South African Government is considering deploying the Army to gang violence hotspots as part of efforts to curb persistent gang-related crime.

Speaking outside the African National Congress National Executive Committee Lekgotla meeting over the week-end, Ramaphosa noted that while soldiers are trained to neutralise threats, they are not investigators, making any deployment decision a matter requiring careful consideration. He emphasised the need for a balanced approach to tackle the crisis.

The announcement comes amid a surge in gang-related fatalities, including 26 deaths in the Cape Flats region of Cape Town over the past weekend, which featured a mass shooting in Marikana, Philippi East Township that claimed eight lives.

Cape Flats has long been afflicted by gang violence, with 2,104 murders reported in the first nine months of 2025. Between 29 December 2025 and 11 January 2026, authorities recorded 58 gang-related murders and 60 attempted murders.
Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is set to begin an official visit to Turkiye on Monday, January 26, as part of efforts to deepen bilateral relations between the two countries.

According to a statement from the Nigerian Presidency, the visit will prioritise cooperation in key sectors, including security, education, social development, innovation and aviation. Strategic discussions are also expected on finance, communications, trade and investment.

The programme will feature engagements with senior officials from both countries, with several Memoranda of understanding anticipated in areas such as scientific research, energy and military cooperation.

A business forum bringing together investors from Nigeria and Turkiye is also scheduled. The visit comes more than four years after Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogans official trip to Nigeria in October 2021.
The Angolan Ministry of Health (MINSA), under the leadership of Minister Silvia Lutucuta, has intensified efforts to modernise the nations health sector through strengthened strategic partnerships with international stakeholders.

During highlevel engagements with partners on Sunday, January 25,in Shenzhen, China, MINSA reaffirmed its commitment to advancing Angolas healthcare infrastructure, technological capacity, and professional training by expanding collaboration with global health partners, including institutions providing cuttingedge medical technologies and specialised training programmes.

These partnerships are aimed at introducing modern clinical equipment, enhancing diagnostic and treatment capabilities, and supporting longterm institutional development across public health facilities.

The initiative underscores Angolas broader strategy to elevate the quality, sustainability and accessibility of health services nationwide, aligning with international standards of care and innovation.
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Health officials across parts of Asia are stepping up disease checks after several people in India were diagnosed with Nipah virus, a rare but deadly infection that can spread from animals to humans.

So far, five people have tested positive, Thai officials confirmed. India's National Center for Disease Control said the outbreak is "not major" and remains limited to two districts in the southwest Indian state of Kerala: Kozhikode and Malappuram.

Still, nearby countries are taking precautions.

Thailand's Department of Disease Control (TDDC) said it has begun screening travelers at international checkpoints, using safety steps similar to those seen during the COVID pandemic.

"Measures have been taken to monitor travelers," the agency said. "[If] travelers [are found] with high fever or have symptoms compatible with Nipah virus infection, additional screening will be done at the international communicable disease control checkpoint."

The TDDC director general warned that Nipah "can cause neurological symptoms and has a relatively high death rate."

Nipah virus usually spreads from animals, most often fruit bats or pigs, to people, according to the Cleveland Clinic.

Symptoms can range from fever to severe brain infection and in some cases, death.

India's Ministry of Health has shared safety guidance, urging people to:

Wash fruit before eating.

Drink boiled or chlorine-treated water.

Wear protective clothing when handling animals and their habitats.

Avoid fruit that appears partly eaten or has fallen from trees.

Stay away from raw date palm juice.

Avoid contact with sick or dead animals.

Indian officials are also testing bats at Kolkata's Alipore Zoo to check for possible spread.

"The team collected swab samples from bats. They have followed all the protocols during the process," the zoo's director, Tripti Sah, told Fox News.

More information The World Health Organization has more on the Nipah virus.

 2026 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
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County-level estimates of 1-dose MMR vaccine coverage among US children under age 5 were generated using a multilevel regression with poststratification (MRP) framework, based on digital surveillance data (ONM) collected between July 2023 and April 2024 (n = 3,109 counties; one modeled estimate per county). Credit: Nature Health (2026). DOI: 10.1038/s44360-025-00031-8

Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and Boston Children's Hospital researchers are issuing a warning about a measles resurgence in the U.S. occurring despite the availability of a safe and effective measles-mumps-rubella vaccine. Multiple states reported cases in 2025, with concentration in western Texas and New Mexico. Nearly 30% of US measles cases in 2025 occurred among children under 5 years of age, paired with a 21% hospitalization rate in that age group. More than 90% of cases occurred in unvaccinated individuals.

Declining coverage

National coverage has fallen below thresholds required to prevent sustained transmission, with vaccine hesitancy and pandemic-related disruption as contributing factors. For example, statewide kindergarten measles-mumps-rubella uptake in Texas reached 93.2% for the 20242025 school year. It is no coincidence that West Texas has experienced a measles outbreak.

In the study, "Assessing MMR vaccination coverage gaps in US children with digital participatory surveillance," published in Nature Health, researchers used a validated digital participatory surveillance platform to collect parental reports of MMR vaccination among children under 5 years of age and applied Small Area Estimation methods to generate county-level coverage estimates nationwide.

A nationally representative sample included 22,062 U.S. adults with children under 5, collected between July 2023 and April 2024. County-level estimates covered 3,109 counties across the contiguous U.S., with one modeled estimate per county.

County-level estimates of MMR vaccine uptake (1 dose) among US children under age 5 by state. Credit: Nature Health (2026). DOI: 10.1038/s44360-025-00031-8

County variation, clusters and discrepancies

Researchers estimated vaccination uptake of 64% among children under 5 with a wide swing between the highest at 86.8%, and the lowest at 35.8%. Coverage under 60% was considered very high risk.

Clusters of low coverage concentrated in West Texas, southern New Mexico, parts of Mississippi, and across the rural Southeast. Texas patterns tied measles cases to counties with low vaccination rates that bordered other counties with low rates. Measles cases were more than twice as likely in this low rate area surrounded by a low-rate scenario.

Tracking immunity

Interactive county maps showing measles-mumps-rubella uptake in young children are available on a public dashboard.

These estimates offer a tool for spotting communities at risk and can add to traditional tracking by guiding geographically targeted immunization work and strengthening local outbreak preparedness, with goals tied to vaccine equity and measles prevention.

Written for you by our author Justin Jackson, edited by Lisa Lock, 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 Eric Geng Zhou et al, Assessing MMR vaccination coverage gaps in US children with digital participatory surveillance, Nature Health (2026). DOI: 10.1038/s44360-025-00031-8 Journal information: Nature Health

 2026 Science X Network
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Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

As an alternative to new federal vaccine recommendations, the American Academy of Pediatrics released its own childhood vaccine schedule Monday with the backing of a dozen of the nation's most prominent medical groups and associations.

The American Academy of Pediatrics vaccine schedule differs from the new federal one in a number of ways, largely sticking to previous recommendations. For example, it continues to recommend routine flu vaccinations, hepatitis B vaccinations for all infants and COVID-19 vaccines for all children from the ages of 6 to 23 months, whereas the new federal schedule does not, instead leaving it up to parents and doctors whether to vaccinate individual children, in most cases.

"The recommendations from the CDC, I think, are confusing for parents and for pediatricians," said Dr. Adam Ratner, a pediatric infectious disease specialist and a member of the Academy's committee on infectious diseases. "These recommendations ... are very different from what CDC recommended a year ago or two years ago or five years ago. It's not that the science has changed. It's that the people running CDC have changed."

The Academy's hope is that pediatricians and families will follow the Academy's schedule when deciding how to vaccinate children, Ratner said.

The Academy's vaccine schedule "is based on the best available vaccine science and knowledge that we have," Ratner said. "It's not a schedule that is based on political whims."

A dozen major medical associations, including the American Medical Association, have thrown their support behind the American Academy of Pediatrics vaccine schedule.

"Parents deserve clear, evidence-based guidance when making decisions about their children's health," said American Medical Association Board Chair Dr. David H. Aizuss in a statement. "At a time when unprecedented changes to the federal vaccine schedule threaten decades of scientific progress, the AMA strongly supports the American Academy of Pediatrics childhood and adolescent immunization schedule to keep children safe and healthy."

The American Academy of Pediatrics vaccine schedule comes after the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently moved to remake the childhood vaccination schedule, to recommend children be vaccinated against 11 illnesses, whereas it previously recommended broad immunization against 17 illnesses.

Notably, the CDC is no longer broadly recommending shots that protect against the flu, rotavirus, COVID-19, meningococcal disease, hepatitis A and hepatitis B, instead leaving it up to parents and doctors whether to give them to individual children. The CDC is still recommending some of those vaccines for children who are high-risk.

Federal officials said the new CDC schedule came after a review of other countries' vaccine practices and the scientific evidence behind them, conducted at the instruction of President Donald Trump.

"After an exhaustive review of the evidence, we are aligning the U.S. childhood vaccine schedule with international consensus while strengthening transparency and informed consent," said Robert F. Kennedy Jr., secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, in a news release at the time the most recent changes were announced in January. "This decision protects children, respects families, and rebuilds trust in public health."

The federal changes don't affect vaccine recommendations in Illinois, which had already adopted the CDC's previous immunization schedule, said Dr. Sameer Vohra, director of the Illinois Department of Public Health Director, earlier this month.

The American Academy of Pediatrics new vaccine schedule is the group's latest break with the federal government since Kennedy, a longtime vaccine skeptic, took charge of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

In July, the American Academy of Pediatrics, along with four other medical groups, sued Kennedy over changes made to COVID-19 vaccine recommendations for children and pregnant women. The Academy and other groups have since filed an amended version of that lawsuit that alleges newly appointed members to a federal vaccine advisory committee lack the credentials and experience to serve in their roles and that the group's votes should be declared null and void. That lawsuit is ongoing.

The Academy filed another lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in late December after the department cut nearly $12 million in grants to the organization. The Academy argued that the funding cuts violated the First Amendment and were in retaliation for speaking out against actions by the administration. A federal judge granted the Academy's request for a preliminary injunction earlier this month to temporarily stop the government from terminating the grants while the Academy's lawsuit proceeds.

"(The American Academy of Pediatrics) continues with their attempts to hinder this Administration's work through procedural and legal challenges while trying to preserve a broken status quo," said a spokesperson for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, of the lawsuits, in a statement. "(The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices) remains the scientific body guiding immunization recommendations in this country, and HHS ensures policy is based on rigorous evidence and gold standard science."

2026 Chicago Tribune. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
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Young girl looking downcast next to Australia map and social media icons. Credit: Margaux Jacks

When Australia enacted a national law last week banning social media use for children under 16, it became one of the first democracies to attempt such a sweeping intervention. The policy has drawn global attention not only for its implications for young people's mental health, but also for what it signals about the future of technology governance.

"This is not just another country experimenting with regulation," said Aaron Martin, assistant professor of data science and media studies at the University of Virginia. "When a real democracy passes and implements a law like this, it sends a powerful signal." Other governments, he noted, can now point to Australia as precedent.

The law reflects mounting concern about the role social media plays in young people's lives, but UVA experts caution that the evidence and the outcomes are far from straightforward.

What the research actually shows

"There is no question that social media can sometimes have harmful effects," said Bethany Teachman, Commonwealth professor of psychology and co-director of UVA's Thriving Youth in a Digital Environment (TYDE) initiative. "But the evidence for a general negative impact of social media on mental health is not clear-cut."

Some studies link increased social media use to higher levels of anxiety or depression, she explained, while others find no effect. In some cases, mental health challenges appear to come first, with increased online engagement following rather than causing distress.

"It's not a simple story," Teachman said. "What teens do online probably matters more than exactly how much time they spend."

For example, she noted, social media can exacerbate harm when it fuels negative social comparison, disrupts sleep, or replaces in-person connection. In those cases, the problem may be less about social media itself and more about what it displaces.

Connection, isolation, and unintended effects

Australia's law creates an unusual situation in which, at least in theory, all children under 16 will be offline at the same time. Teachman called it "a very interesting experiment," but emphasized that outcomes will depend heavily on what fills the gap.

"Simply taking away social media doesn't itself address teens' loneliness and isolation," she said.

She also raised concerns about who might be most affected. "The impacts of social media on mental health are very clearly not the same for everyone," Teachman said, pointing to research showing that some teens, particularly LGBTQ+ youth, rely on online spaces for support and identity exploration.

A total ban, she warned, could also limit opportunities to help teens develop healthy online habits. "We lose key opportunities to scaffold engagement with social media," she said, adding that there is "nothing magical about age 16" when it comes to readiness for managing digital risks.

Privacy, enforcement, and workarounds

Beyond mental health, the law raises significant questions about privacy and enforcement. Restricting access requires age verification systems that often rely on biometric technologies, such as facial analysis.

"These tools were originally developed in security contexts," Martin said. "Now they're being repurposed for online safety."

While such systems are becoming more accurate, they are also intrusive. Requiring people to scan their faces to access everyday online services, Martin said, marks a significant shift in how personal data is collected and its use normalized.

Both experts also expect teens to find ways around the restrictions. Teachman expressed particular concern about what that could mean for safety. "A serious concern is that the ban will lead young adolescents to do more of their online activity secretly," she said. "That raises significant concerns about there being less opportunity for oversight and support."

A broader question of responsibility

For Martin, Australia's law reflects growing frustration with technology companies that have struggled to protect young users.

"It's unrealistic to put all of the responsibility on parents," he said. "These companies have incredible resources, and in many cases, a financial interest in keeping people, especially young people, engaged."

The result, he said, is a policy experiment that could shape global debates about regulation, innovation, and civil liberties.

Teachman emphasized that whatever the policy outcome, conversation remains essential. "Talk to your teens," she said. "Check in. Ask what they're noticing about how their life online and offline impacts their sleep, mood, and relationships. Having regular conversations makes it more likely they'll tell you when they need help."

A democratic experiment with global consequences

Martin described Australia's law as a large-scale policy experiment driven by legitimate concern but shaped by unresolved technical and political risks.

"I'm encouraged that they're trying to do something," he said. "Because we will learn. Is it effective? What works? What doesn't?"

At the same time, he cautioned that the technology required to enforce the ban is still immature. The challenge, Martin said, is that even well-intentioned regulation can falter when policy goals collide with technical reality.

More broadly, Martin emphasized that Australia's decision will not be interpreted in isolation. "This gives countries around the world an opportunity, and an excuse, to say, if it's okay for Australia, then of course it's okay for us," he said.

That dynamic is especially concerning, he noted, when it comes to less democratic governments. While Australia may frame the law around child safety and public well-being, similar policies elsewhere could be used to justify broader restrictions on speech, access to information, or political expression.

Weighing protection and consequence

Taken together, Martin and Teachman view Australia's social media ban as a serious attempt to protect young people, but one that underscores how difficult it is to regulate technology at scale.

Australia's new law promises to hold platforms accountable, but Martin warns such interventions can normalize invasive enforcement and set precedents that other governments misuse. Teachman pointed to the limits of the evidence, noting that social media's effects on teens are not uniform and that bans risk cutting off connection without addressing underlying needs.

Their perspectives converge on a central tension: broad technology restrictions may force long-overdue action, but without careful design and ongoing evaluation, they risk creating new harm even as they aim to prevent others.

As Martin remarked, "It's a Band-Aid on a much bigger issue."
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Credit: Environment & Health (2026). DOI: 10.1021/envhealth.5c00671

An international team of researchers, led by the University of Queensland and Imperial College London, has proposed a new framework for scientists detecting and measuring microplastics in the human body. Thirty scientists from 20 institutions have proposed the new forensic-style protocol and urge careful interpretation of recent reports about the presence of microplastics in human tissues. The study is published in the journal Environment & Health.

Why microplastic detection needs rigor

Professor Kevin Thomas from UQ's Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Science said there is an urgent need to develop accurate and precise methods of investigating microplastics in the body to protect human health.

"Each current method has strengths and blind spots," Professor Thomas said. "One of the best ways to build confidence is to use more than one kind of test on the same sample, particularly methods that work in different ways. When they all point to the same result, we can be far more confident we're truly detecting plastic rather than something else."

Professor Thomas said human tissues and fluids contained several different natural substances that can interfere with measurements. Samples can also easily be contaminated with plastic from the air, from clothing or from laboratory equipment.

"In some cases, commonly used techniques can struggle to distinguish plastics from natural materials like fats or other biological components," Professor Thomas said. "In addition, several methods destroy the sample during testing, meaning that additional analysis cannot be performed to improve the confidence. As a result, these challenges mean that not every reported 'plastic particle' can be treated as definitive proof."

Learning from forensic science methods

Professor Leon Barron, from Imperial College London's School of Public Health, said human exposure to micro and nanoplastic pollution was a global issue. "It is important to understand their impacts, but when it comes to the human body, tools are still only developing," Professor Barron said. "Finding 'something' in the human body is not the same as proving it is plastic, and certainly not the same as proving it is harmful.

"Basic science gaps still exist, and it is important to work together to reach consensus first to improve the quality and communication of evidence. Thankfully, we can learn a lot from other fields, such as forensic science, where combining different testing tools together in a more robust way has been used successfully for decades. These offer more evidential value and higher confidence to scientists so the public, health professionals and policymakers can make reliable decisions."

Implications for public health and policy

Professor Sarah Dunlop from the Minderoo Foundation said, "We know that every day we eat, drink and breathe in microplastics. Accurate measurement is mission critical to find out how far microplastics penetrate our bodies and impact human health."

Professor Thomas said building a solid evidence base now will pay off in the future. "People understandably want clear answers about microplastics and health," he said. "By being honest about what we know, what we suspect, and what we still don't know, we can support smarter policies and avoid unnecessary fear. Strong, forensics-style standards today will lead to much stronger science tomorrow."

More information Kevin V. Thomas et al, Communicating Confidence in the Reliability of Micro- and Nanoplastic Identification in Human Health Studies, Environment & Health (2026). DOI: 10.1021/envhealth.5c00671

Key medical concepts Microplastics
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Mask-wearing rates (a) and risk perception of "unknown infection" (b) before and after infection among infected and non-infected individuals. Credit: Epidemiology and Infection (2026). DOI: 10.1017/s0950268825100940

Researchers at The University of Osaka have found that individuals in Japan who have been infected with COVID-19 are more likely to wear masks than those who have not. In a four-year-long study, they discovered this change is not driven by fear, but by a heightened perception of the risk of "silent infection," the idea that one could be infected and spread the virus without knowing. This insight could reshape public health messaging for future pandemics. The study, "The impact of COVID-19 infection experience on risk perception and preventive behaviour: a cohort study," was published in Epidemiology & Infection.

During a pandemic, preventive behaviors like hand washing and mask-wearing are crucial. However, the impact of personal infection experience on these behaviors has been inconsistent; does it make people more cautious or more complacent? To find a clearer answer, this study used a statistical method called propensity score matching. This technique allowed researchers to compare infected and non-infected individuals who were matched on their pre-infection attitudes, behaviors, and demographics, thereby isolating the true effect of the infection experience itself.

The research team analyzed data from a 30-wave panel survey of adults in Japan (20202024). After matching 135 pairs of individuals, they found that 94.8% of those who had been infected with COVID-19 continued to wear masks, compared to 87.4% of their uninfected counterparts. The infected group also reported a higher perceived risk of being unknowingly affected by the virus. A statistical analysis confirmed that the infection experiences increased mask-wearing through this heightened awareness of "silent" or asymptomatic risk.

This study suggests that public health campaigns could be more effective by incorporating the authentic experiences of those who have been infected. Instead of just issuing guidelines, messages that convey the realization that "anyone could be a silent carrier" may resonate more deeply with the public. By translating the felt experience of patients into relatable lessons, health officials can better encourage preventive actions in the general population and improve preparedness for future health crises.

Lead author Professor Michio Murakami states, "Experience shapes perception, which in turn drives behavior. We found that even after recovering, people don't abandon preventive actions. The realization that "I could be infected without noticing' sustains their cautious behavior. Translating the genuine experiences of patients into relatable messages for the public is key to preparing for the next infectious disease outbreak."

More information Michio Murakami et al, The impact of COVID-19 infection experience on risk perception and preventive behaviour: a cohort study, Epidemiology and Infection (2026). DOI: 10.1017/s0950268825100940
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Credit: Michael Mucke from Pexels

The war in Ukraine is not only a tragedy of destroyed cities and lost homes. It is also a silent mental health crisis affecting millions of people forced to flee. A team of researchers from Wroclaw Medical University has studied how war and forced migration affect the mental health of refugees, comparing their experiences with those of the residents of Wroclaw. The results, published in the journal Frontiers in Psychiatry, show that although refugees are more likely to struggle with anxiety and insomnia, they do not feel lonelier than Poles.

Greater psychological burden

The study involved 209 people: 68 war refugees from Ukraine and 141 Polish citizens living in Wrocaw. Participants completed standardized questionnaires assessing psychological stress, loneliness, and social network strength.

The results showed that three-quarters of refugees experienced clinically significant levels of psychological distress. They most often reported somatic symptoms, anxiety, and sleep problems. High levels of stress were associated with, among other things, younger age, previous psychiatric problems, and feelings of loneliness.

"In the long term, symptoms of stress and anxiety may intensify if factors such as prolonged uncertainty about the future, limited access to support, or the perpetuation of traumatic experiences are not addressed," emphasizes Dr. Patryk Piotrowski, MD, Ph.D., professor.

Loneliness has many faces

Although one might expect refugees to be lonelier, the study did not confirm this. The level of loneliness was similar in both groupsamong Ukrainians and Poles alike. This is a surprising result that may reflect the warm reception of refugees in Poland and the cultural and linguistic proximity of the two nations.

Credit: Wroclaw Medical University

"Many refugees, especially women, did not come to Poland in complete isolation," notes Jaworski, M.D. "The presence of children, siblings, or parents, as well as the ability to maintain contact with loved ones in Ukraine, helped them maintain emotional balance."

At the same time, the researchers noted that loneliness and psychological stress are strongly relatedthe higher the sense of loneliness, the more frequent the symptoms of depression and anxiety.

The strength of family ties

The study also revealed the critical role of social ties. Refugees had more extensive support networks, especially family networks, than Polish participants. Ties with parents, children, or siblings were often a source of security and psychological resilience for them.

"Emotional support and family relationships are critical, but they are not always sufficient," notes Prof. Piotrowski. "Even strong bonds do not fully protect against symptoms of post-traumatic stress or depression if a refugee's daily life is marked by uncertainty and instability."

Implications for mental health policy

The authors emphasize that mental health support for refugees requires an integrated approach combining psychiatric, psychological, and social care. They point to the need to:

developing local support centers,

creating integration programs that build social bonds,

training institutional staff in basic "mental first aid."

"The most effective forms of support are those that combine emotional, social, and practical assistance," says Jaworski, M.D. "It is crucial that refugees have access to psychological support in a language they understand, while at the same time being able to build relationships with the host community."

Wrocawa laboratory of solidarity

The project "Not Alone in the Crowd" was carried out as part of the Wrocaw Student Activity Fund. The research was conducted in public spaces, aid centers, and universitiesin direct contact with participants. The aim was not only to collect data, but also to promote empathy and dialogue between residents and refugees.

"Wrocaw was a natural place for such a project," sums up Dr. Piotrowski. "It is a city that, since the beginning of the war, has become a space of solidarity and cooperation, and at the same time a laboratory showing how a community can heal the effects of trauma."

Provided by Wroclaw Medical University
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Conceptual framework linking the exposome with heart failure. Credit: Nature Reviews Cardiology (2026). DOI: 10.1038/s41569-026-01247-1

Whether heart failure develops and how it progresses depends not only on physical factors, but also on external influences and the duration of exposure, according to scientists at University Medical Center Mainz in collaboration with an international research group. Their systematic review, published in Nature Reviews Cardiology, revealed that both individual risk factors, such as high blood pressure and lack of exercise, and stressful environmental factors, such as poor air quality, noise, and heat, are important starting points for preventing the disease and more effectively reducing the number of people affected.

More than 64 million people worldwide are affected by heart failure, and more than 4 million are in Germany. Despite modern drug therapies and interventional procedures, the chances of recovery are low and the long-term survival prognosis is poor: About half of those affected die within six years of diagnosis. This makes prevention all the more important. Until now, prevention and therapy have focused primarily on individual risk factors such as high blood pressure, diabetes, and genetic predisposition.

Dr. Omar Hahad, a scientist at the Department of Cardiology at the University Medical Center Mainz, is first author of the review, "The environmental exposome in heart failure risk and progression." The team focused on the so-called exposome, the totality of all environmental and living conditions to which a person may be exposed in the course of their life. They concluded that these factors can have a significant influence on whether heart failure develops and how it progresses.

Environmental factors have a long-term and simultaneous effect

The international research group, with participants from the U.S., including Harvard Medical School, Yale School of Medicine, and Columbia University, evaluated numerous studies on the influence of individual environmental pollutants on heart failure. These include particulate matter, traffic and aircraft noise, extreme temperatures, artificial light at night, and toxic metals such as lead and cadmium.

According to the study's findings, a decisive factor in the development of the disease is that these influences do not occur in isolation, but simultaneously, over many years and often already in early stages of life. "The continuous interaction of humans with the influencing factors of their environment leads to a considerable cumulative burden at the population level," explains Dr. Hahad.

Environmental pollution exacerbates social inequalities

The risk of exposure to these factors is not the same for everyone. People with lower socioeconomic status are particularly affected. They are more likely to live in areas with poor air quality, higher noise pollution, and limited access to green spaces. At the same time, they often have limited access to preventive and therapeutic measuresand, as a result, higher mortality rates.

Based on their findings, the authors of the study recommend taking a more holistic approach to the prevention and treatment of heart failure. In addition to medical measures, they advocate measures to protect air quality and protect against noise and heat.

More information Omar Hahad et al, The environmental exposome in heart failure risk and progression, Nature Reviews Cardiology (2026). DOI: 10.1038/s41569-026-01247-1
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Last year was a tough one for farmers. Amid falling prices for commodity crops such as corn and soybeans, rising input costs for supplies like fertilizer and seeds, as well as the Trump tariffs and the dismantling of USAID, many farms weren't profitable last year.

And now, the enhanced Affordable Care Act subsidies that many Americans, including farmers, relied on to purchase health insurance are gone, having expired at the end of December.

James Davis, 55, who grows cotton, soybeans, and corn in northern Louisiana, said he didn't know how he and his wife would afford coverage. Their share of their insurance premium quadrupled for 2026, jumping to about $2,700 a month.

"You can't afford it," Davis said. "Bottom line. There's nothing to discuss. You can't afford it without the subsidies."

More than a quarter of the agricultural workforce purchases health insurance through the individual marketplace, according to an analysis from KFF, a health information nonprofit that includes KFF Health News.

That 27% rate is much higher than the overall population'sonly 6% of U.S. adults have non-group coverage.

Farmers are used to facing challenges such as unpredictable weather and fluctuating commodity prices. But the loss of the enhanced subsidies, coupled with challenging economic conditions, will make coverage unaffordable for many.

Without major intervention from Washington, farmers say they'll have to choose between being uninsured or leaving the farm work behind for a job that offers health insurance.

A gamble for farmers

Farming is dangerous work. Agricultural workers spend much of their time outside and are exposed to the elements. Many of their duties can lead to injury or illness. They drive and operate heavy machinery, work with toxic chemicals, and handle large animals.

The rate of work-related deaths for farmers is seven times the national average.

The financial toll of non-fatal farm injuries is also significant. A study from the University of Nebraska Medical Center found that the average cost of a farming injury was $10,878 in medical care and $4,735 in lost work.

It's essential that farmers can purchase comprehensive insurance, said Florence Becot, a rural sociologist and associate professor of agricultural health and safety at Pennsylvania State University, where she studies the social and economic needs of farm households.

In a 2022 study, Becot found that more than 20% of U.S. farm households had medical debt exceeding $1,000 and that more than half were not confident they could cover the costs of a major illness or injury.

"That shows you the level of vulnerability and concerns that farmers are facing," she said.

Mental health is also a concern. Farmers are roughly twice as likely to die by suicide compared with the general population. Mental health hotlines that serve rural communities have seen an uptick in calls.

These concerns around farmers' increased emotional distress, coupled with a rise in bankruptcies, conjure memories of the farm crisis of the 1980s, said Michael Klein, a vice president at the industry group U.S. Rice. During that decade, there was a raft of foreclosures, and hundreds of farmers took their own lives.

"We're really afraid of what's going to happen," Klein said.

Farmers can be reluctant to acknowledge that they rely on government-subsidized insurance, said Meghan Palmer, 43, who runs a dairy farm in northeastern Iowa with her husband, John, 45.

"We're not handout-takers," Palmer said.

More than 40% of dairy farmers lack health insuranceone of the highest rates among all agricultural sectors.

But going uninsured is not an option for the Palmers.

During their first year of marriage, the couple recalled, they were uninsured and had to pay out-of-pocket for two unexpected health crises: Palmer had an appendectomy, and her husband needed stitches after getting kicked in the face by one of his cows.

"It was stupid of us," Palmer said of the decision to forgo coverage.

But this year, the combined out-of-pocket monthly cost of their plans is increasing by more than 90%, to $368.18. Their total 2026 deductible is $7,200.

Palmer is a registered nurse who picks up shifts on an as-needed basis, allowing her the flexibility to prioritize her work on the farm. She's now searching for a job with health benefits. But she worries a job that doesn't allow her to keep up with the farm work will create a greater burden for her husband.

"John is working exhausted most of the time," she said. "That's when mistakes get made and you end up in the ER."

Political consequences

Even after the enhanced subsidies expired at the end of 2025, the Palmers estimate their income will still be low enough that they'll qualify for some tax credits to purchase coverage.

However, under the GOP's One Big Beautiful Bill Act, repayment limits are being eliminated, so if the Palmers have a surprisingly profitable 2026, they'll be forced to pay some, or even all, of that subsidy back at tax time.

A farmer's income can vary drastically year to year, Becot said, partly because commodity prices can fluctuate rapidly.

Some farmers might deliberately choose not to expand their businesses, because too much profit might mean they lose access to health care subsidies.

Farmers who are insured through Medicaid have similar concerns, Becot said. But prioritizing health care affordability by suppressing operational growth can have long-term consequences for a farm's success.

Palmer, in Iowa, and Davis, in Louisiana, are both upset that lawmakers aren't more sensitive to the economic demands of farming and how those have coincided with rising health costs.

President Donald Trump recently pledged $12 billion in one-time bridge payments to row crop farmers, but that's not going to stop health care costs from ballooning.

Republicans are aware that health care affordability is a problem and have put forth proposals, said Donna Hoffman, a political scientist at the University of Northern Iowa. But most don't support extending the enhanced ACA subsidies, because they don't see them as a good solution to the problem of rising health care costs.

Clinical categories Common illnesses & Prevention

2026 KFF Health News. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
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Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

Florida may keep some required vaccine mandates after all. Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo made national news in September when he announced a plan to remove all vaccine mandates from state law. But so far, no lawmaker has any bill that would do away with the mandated vaccines, which include required shots for polio, measles, mumps and more.

Instead, the bill moving forward this legislative session would keep the state's statutory vaccine requirements but make it easier for parents to opt out.

(The Department of Health is moving forward with a plan to remove four state vaccine requirements, which it can do without needing legislative approval.)

A proposal that moved through its first Senate committee on Monday, sponsored by Sen. Clay Yarborough, R-Jacksonville, would let parents decline a vaccine based on their conscience.

Current law only allows parents to cite a religious reason for exemption.

Yarborough said, "Parents need to be in the driver's seat for every aspect of their children's education, their health care, their well-being, anything related thereto."

He said he didn't believe that adding a conscience exemption would bring a major change to the vaccination rate. As of 2025, about 89% of Florida kindergartners were immunized, down from about 94% in 2019.

Yarborough said while he agrees with much of what Ladapo said last year about removing mandates, he tried to take other senators' feelings into account.

The bill on Monday faced public pushback from families and doctors who said it would jeopardize vulnerable children and public health. It also faced pushback from Sen. Gayle Harrell, R-Stuart, who voted against the bill.

"We are about to go down a road that's going to create a major problem for children, but also for seniors and those who cannot be vaccinated," Harrell said.

Along with the changes to vaccine exemptions, Yarborough's bill would require anyone providing a child with a vaccine to tell their parents the risks, benefits, safety and efficacy of the vaccine.

The material about risks, benefits and more would be approved by the state Board of Medicine and Board of Osteopathic Medicine.

Harrell put forward an amendment that would have required people seeking a vaccine exemption to have a similar consultation

Yarborough said that would present a barrier to people seeking a religious exemption, which he said was "a bridge too far." The amendment failed.

Sen. Colleen Burton, R-Winter Haven, also expressed hesitation over the bill but still voted yes.

The Senate bill approved on Monday does not include a component of the House's legislationone that could compel doctors to see unvaccinated patients.

The House bill, sponsored by Rep. Jeff Holcomb, R-Spring Hill, could have doctors lose their license or face other discipline if they discriminate against a patient based on that patient's vaccine status.

"I don't disagree with where the House is on it, but I think we have a lot more conversations we have to have," Yarborough said. "Senators obviously need to be on board with what we're going to be working on."

A spokesperson for the Florida Department of Health said the department "appreciates both the House and the Senate for addressing this important public health need through their work and proposed bills."

Under current law, doctors can't deny someone treatment based on their race, sex, religion or national origin. But doctors can, and do, refuse to see unvaccinated patients as a matter of office policy.

Pediatricians across the state point to vaccines as a life-saving measure. In a September interview with the Tampa Bay Times, Dr. Rana Alissa, the president of the Florida chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, said that seeing unvaccinated patients can put other children in danger.

Gov. Ron DeSantis and Ladapo have both been in favor of compelling pediatricians to see unvaccinated patients.

DeSantis has said policies that reject unvaccinated children are wrong and coercive, and Ladapo last year pushed for a bill that sought to offer more protection for unvaccinated patients.

That language was ultimately stripped out of the 2025 bill.

DeSantis and Ladapo have previously supported legislation that gives doctors the broad ability to deny any patient a procedure based on the doctor's conscience and morals.

That bill, sponsored by former Rep. Joel Rudman, a family physician, was approved with the COVID-19 pandemic in mind.

The legislation approved Monday would also allow a pharmacist to provide ivermectin to anyone 18 or older without a prescription "until the United States Food and Drug Administration approves it for over-the-counter sale."

Key medical concepts VaccinationMeaslesMumpsPoliomyelitisIvermectin

2026 Tampa Bay Times. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
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Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

Three new cases of measles have been confirmed in Florida, including one each in Hillsborough and Manatee counties, state data shows.

The Hillsborough case was in a person aged between 20 and 24 who was infected by the highly contagious disease in Florida this month, a Florida Department of Health database for infectious and reportable diseases shows.

The Manatee case was acquired outside the United States. It's not known if they are connected or if any of those infected are higher-education students.

The third reported case was in St. Johns County. None of the three cases are in children.

Measles is highly contagious because of its airborne spread. An infected child in a classroom of unvaccinated children would result in an infection rate of about 90%.

Florida Department of Health officials said they cannot comment on ongoing epidemiological investigations and that details about specific cases and individuals are confidential.

"When a communicable disease is reported in the county, the department immediately initiates an epidemiological investigation to protect the public's health," said spokesperson Katie Young in an email.

Infection typically results in acute illness and a rash of small, red, slightly raised spots. It can lead to high fever and complications including bronchitis and pneumonia.

Health officials said any individual experiencing measles symptoms should contact their health care provider or local county health department to receive instructions on how to safely seek medical attention.

The cases of the potentially fatal childhood disease come as Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo is pushing for the abolition of mandatory vaccinations, including measles, required to attend schools.

In a speech in September, Ladapo likened vaccine mandates as "slavery" and pledged to end them.

In December, the Department of Health took a step toward eliminating four vaccines required to attend school: Varicella, or chickenpox; Hepatitis B; Hemophilus influenzae type b, or Hib; and Pneumococcal conjugate, or PCV15/20.

Other vaccine mandates, including measles, polio and tetanus, are required by state law to attend school and would take action by state lawmakers to change.

Measles was declared abolished in the United States in 2000, an achievement that was considered a triumph of public health.

But outbreaks in several states in the past year has raised the prospect of the Pan American Health Organization revoking that status. The organization has invited the United States and Mexico to an April meeting to "review their measles elimination status."

There have been 416 confirmed measles cases reported in the United States this year. More than 2,200 cases were reported in 2025, including seven in Florida.

Health officials in South Carolina are battling an outbreak of cases centered in Spartanburg County. Roughly 700 cases have been reported with 485 people quarantined.

George Rust, co-director of Florida State University's Center for Medicine and Public Health, was the medical director for Leon County Health Department when two cases were confirmed in June. They were the first he had heard of in 40 years, he said.

Both infections came from the same household, said Rust, who led efforts to prevent further infections.

"Our nation had eliminated local transmission of measles over 20 years ago, and now we are losing that elimination status as waves of measles outbreaks continue to spread across the country, he said in an email.

Concern that Florida is vulnerable to an outbreak of diseases like measles has been heightened by a fall in childhood vaccination rates in recent years. The rate has fallen in part because of increased vaccine skepticism and a rise in the number of parents obtaining religious exemptions to shots for their children.

In Florida, the percentage of kindergartners vaccinated against childhood diseases fell from 94% in 2017 to 90% in 2023, according to state data. The vaccination rate for measles needs to be at 95% to prevent outbreaks, Rust said.

Rates may fall further if Florida eliminates school vaccine mandates, a move that Rust characterized as "irresponsible and dangerous."

"Unfortunately, when it comes to vaccines, the current political leadership of (the Department of Health) in Florida is pushing an ideology of individual free choice unbalanced by community responsibility," Rust said. "It gives people the freedom to endanger other people's children and vulnerable Floridians. That's not public health."

2026 Tampa Bay Times. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
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UC San Diego scientists have uncovered a new understanding of heart attacks. The research, which connects the heart, brain and nervous and immune systems, opens a path to new treatments for heart attacks. Credit: Augustine Lab, UC San Diego

Arteries become clogged. Blood flow is restricted and oxygen is cut off. The result is a heart attack, the world's leading cause of death.

The conventional approach to studying and treating these episodes is to focus on the heart as an isolated organ. University of California San Diego research, led by the School of Biological Sciences, is upending the way heart attacks are viewed under a transformative new understanding of how cardiac events are interconnected with other systems.

In a study published in the journal Cell, Postdoctoral Scholar Saurabh Yadav, Assistant Professor Vineet Augustine and their colleagues describe a comprehensive new picture of heart attacks and their resulting damage by connecting the heart, the brain and the nervous and immune systems.

Much like our eyes and ears convert light and sound from our environment into information the brain can understand and process, the new research reveals that a heart attack relays cardiovascular information to the brain via sensory neurons. The new research set out to unveil these connections. The new heart attack "maps" resulting from the study offer novel treatment opportunities under new perspectives of heart attacks as cross-connected systematic events, rather than isolated episodes.

Neuronal and immune signals underlying heart attacks. Credit: University of California - San Diego

"We believe this is the first comprehensive characterization of a 'triple node' approach featuring a heart, brain and neuroimmune loop," said Augustine, a faculty member in the Department of Neurobiology. "Heart attacks are obviously centered in the heart, but we're flipping the switch on heart attack research to show that it's not just the heart itself that is involved."

When an injury or illness is detected, the brain responds by activating the immune system. A heart attack triggers a similar immune response. But while the brain considers a heart attack an injury, there are no pathogens or bacteria to defend against. This overactivation of the immune system likely worsens the damage.

Working in mice, the researchers found that sensory neurons in the vagus nerve first detect injury and transfer signals to dedicated brain structures, which in turn lead to activation of the immune system. Blocking the sensory and immune signals transmitting back and forth between the heart and the brain helped significantly reduce damage after a heart attack.

While the researchers are still hoping to unravel the specific mechanisms involved, they believe new treatments for heart attacks could minimize the inadvertent damaging effects of the immune system following a heart attack episode.

"Blocking this heart-brain-neuroimmune system was shown to stop the spread of the disease," said Yadav. "If you think of a heart attack as the epicenter, the blockage of the signals stopped the spread of the injury."

According to Augustine, many of their findings have remained hidden because science is traditionally established in silos, with neuroscientists, cardiologists and immunologists concentrating in their own areas. Across four and a half years, the triple node discovery project brought neurobiologists together with scientists from the Departments of Medicine and Pediatrics (School of Medicine) and Shu Chien-Gene Lay Department of Bioengineering (Jacobs School of Engineering).

In order to tease out the intricate connections involved, Yadav and his colleagues employed a variety of scientific techniques, including echocardiography, molecular staining, light sheet microscopy and ultrasound imaging to tease out the various linked pathways.

The resulting system maps underlying the three-node loop could help spur new treatments that address the interconnectedness of heart attacks.

"Current treatments for heart attacks focus on repairing the heart, including bypass surgery, angioplasty and blood thinners, which are all invasive," said Augustine. "This research is showing that perhaps by manipulating the immune system we can drive a therapeutic response."

Ongoing research in Augustine's lab is investigating the mechanisms underlying the three-node connections and their functions.

Publication details A triple node heart-brain neuroimmune loop underlying myocardial infarction, Cell (2026). DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2025.12.058. www.cell.com/cell/fulltext/S0092-8674(25)01506-5 Journal information: Cell
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Credit: Viruses (2026). DOI: 10.3390/v18020152

A team of researchers from the Ministry of Health in Kuwait has successfully demonstrated the destruction of SARS-CoV-2 virus particles through exposure to high-frequency sound waves, marking a promising advance in non-pharmacological antiviral strategies. The findings were published in the journal Viruses in a study titled "Destruction/Inactivation of SARS-CoV-2 Virus Using Ultrasound Excitation: A Preliminary Study."

Unlike most previous work that has documented structural changes under electron microscopy, this research demonstrated a significant reduction in viral load using cycle threshold (Ct) values from PCR assays, indicating a functional inactivation of the virus rather than just morphological disruption.

Higher Ct values in PCR are used to infer significantly lower viral load, offering a measurable endpoint for assessing viral inactivation. While Ct values have limitations as a direct surrogate for infectivity, increases in Ct are interpreted in virology research as indicative of loss of viable viral material.

Speaking about the study's significance, Dr. Almunther Alhasawi, the principal investigator, and a consultant in Infectious Diseases, stated, "These findings open new horizons in the fight against viral pathogens, particularly as we face the ongoing emergence of novel diseases and increasing resistance to conventional antimicrobial agents. Demonstrating functional viral inactivation through sound wave exposure represents a potentially transformative approach that complements existing therapeutic strategies."

Co-supervisor Dr. Alshimaa Hassan added, "This initial work will be followed by additional studies involving controlled animal models to further assess safety, efficacy, and broader applicability."

This early evidence supports the concept that focused acoustic energy might serve as a non-drug antiviral approach, with potential relevance to other enveloped viruses as well as future emerging pathogens.

More information Almunther Alhasawi et al, Destruction/Inactivation of SARS-CoV-2 Virus Using Ultrasound Excitation: A Preliminary Study, Viruses (2026). DOI: 10.3390/v18020152

Key medical concepts SARS-CoV-2Ultrasonic Therapy

Clinical categories Infectious diseases

Provided by Kuwait Ministry of Health
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Credit: National Institutes of Health

Serenity Cole enjoyed Christmas last month relaxing with her family near her St. Louis home, making crafts and visiting friends. It was a contrast to how Cole, 18, spent part of the 2024 holiday season. She was in the hospitala frequent occurrence with sickle cell disease, a genetic condition that damages oxygen-carrying red blood cells and for years caused debilitating pain in her arms and legs. Flare-ups would often force her to cancel plans or miss school.

"With sickle cell it hurts every day," she said. "It might be more tolerable some days, but it's a constant thing."

In May, Cole completed a several-months-long gene therapy treatment that helps reprogram the body's stem cells to produce healthy red blood cells.

She was one of the first Medicaid enrollees nationally to benefit from a new payment model in which the federal government negotiates the cost of a cell or gene therapy with pharmaceutical companies on behalf of state Medicaid programsand then holds them accountable for the treatment's success.

Under the agreement, participating states will receive "discounts and rebates" from the drugmakers if the treatments don't work as promised, according to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.

That's a stark difference from how Medicaid and other health plans typically pay for drugs and therapiesthe bill usually gets paid regardless of the treatments' benefits for patients. But CMS has not disclosed the full terms of the contract, including how much the drug companies will repay if the therapy doesn't work.

The treatment Cole received offers a potential cure for many of the 100,000 primarily Black Americans with sickle cell disease, which is estimated to shorten lifespans by more than two decades. But the treatment's cost presents a steep financial challenge for Medicaid, the joint state-federal government insurer for people with low incomes or disabilities. Medicaid covers roughly half of Americans with the condition.

There are two gene therapies approved by the Food and Drug Administration on the market, one costing $2.2 million per patient and the other $3.1 million, with neither cost including the expense of the long hospital stay.

The CMS program is one of the rare health initiatives started under President Joe Biden and continued during the Trump administration. The Biden administration signed the deal with the two manufacturers, Vertex Pharmaceuticals and Bluebird Bio, in December 2024, opening the door for states to join voluntarily.

"This model is a game changer," Mehmet Oz, the CMS administrator, said in a July statement announcing that 33 states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico had signed onto the initiative.

Asked for further details on the contracts, Catherine Howden, a CMS spokesperson, said in a statement that the terms of the agreements are "confidential and have only been disclosed to state Medicaid agencies."

"Tackling the high cost of drugs in the United States is a priority of the current administration," the statement said.

Citing confidentiality, two state Medicaid directors and the two manufacturers declined to reveal the financial terms of agreements.

New therapies

The gene therapies, approved in December 2023 for people 12 or older with sickle cell disease, offer a chance to live without pain and complications, which can include strokes and organ damage, and avoid hospitalizations, emergency room visits, and other costly care. The Biden administration estimated that sickle cell care already costs the health system almost $3 billion a year.

With many more expensive gene therapies on the horizon, the cost of the sickle cell therapies presages financial challenges for Medicaid. Hundreds of cell and gene therapies are in clinical trials, and dozens could get federal approval in the next few years.

If the sickle cell payment model works, it will probably lead to similar arrangements for other pricey therapies, particularly for those that treat rare diseases, said Sarah Emond, president and CEO of the Institute for Clinical and Economic Review, an independent research institute that evaluates new medical treatments. "This is a worthy experiment," she said.

Setting up payment for drugs based on outcomes makes sense when dealing with high treatment costs and uncertainty about their long-term benefits, Emond said.

"The juice has to be worth the squeeze," she said.

Clinical trials for the gene therapies included fewer than 100 patients and followed them for only two years, leaving some state Medicaid officials eager for reassurance they were getting a good deal.

"What we care about is whether services actually improve health," said Djinge Lindsay, chief medical officer for the Maryland Department of Health, which runs the state's Medicaid program. Maryland is expected to begin accepting patients for the new sickle cell program this month.

Medicaid is already required to cover almost all FDA-approved drugs and therapies, but states have leeway to limit access by restricting which patients are eligible, setting up a lengthy prior authorization process, or requiring enrollees to first undergo other treatments.

While the gene therapy treatments are limited to certain hospitals around the country, state Medicaid officials say the federal model means more enrollees will have access to the therapies without other restrictions.

The manufacturers also pay for fertility preservation such as freezing reproductive cells, which could be damaged by chemotherapy during the treatment. Typically, Medicaid doesn't cover that cost, said Margaret Scott, a principal with the consulting firm Avalere Health.

Emond said pharmaceutical companies were interested in the federal deal because it could lead to quicker acceptance of the therapy by Medicaid, compared with signing individual contracts with each state.

States are attracted to the federal program because it offers help monitoring patients in addition to negotiating the cost, she said. Despite some secrecy around the new model, Emond said she expects a federally funded evaluation will track the number of patients in the program and their results, allowing states to seek rebates if the treatment is not working.

The program could run for as long as 11 years, according to CMS.

"This therapy can benefit many sickle cell patients," said Edward Donnell Ivy, chief medical officer for the Sickle Cell Disease Association of America.

He said the federal model will help more patients access the treatment, though he noted utilization will depend in part on the limited number of hospitals that offer the multimonth therapy.

Hope for sickle cell patients

Before gene therapy, the only potential cure for sickle cell patients was a bone marrow transplantan option available only to those who could find a suitable donor, about 25% of patients, Ivy said. For others, lifelong management includes medications to reduce the disease's effects and manage pain, as well as blood transfusions.

About 30 of Missouri's 1,000 Medicaid enrollees with sickle cell disease will get the therapy in the first three years, said Josh Moore, director of the state's Medicaid program. So far, fewer than 10 enrollees have received it since the state began offering it in 2025, he said.

Less than a year into the federal program, Moore said it's too early to tell its rate of successdefined as an absence of painful episodes that lead to a hospital visit. But he hopes it will be close to the 90% rate seen over the course of a couple of years in clinical trials.

Moore said the federal program based on how well the treatment works was preferred over cutting fees for a new and promising therapy, which would put the manufacturers' ability to develop new drugs at risk. "We want to be good stewards of taxpayer dollars," he said.

He declined to comment on how much the state may save from the arrangement or disclose other details, such as how much the drug companies might have to pay back, citing confidentiality of the contracts.

Lately Cole, who underwent gene therapy at St. Louis Children's Hospital, has been able to focus on her hobbiesplaying video games, drawing, and paintingand earning her high school diploma.

She said she was glad to get the treatment. The worst part was the chemotherapy, she said, which left her unable to talk or eatand entailed getting stuck with needles.

She said that her condition is "way better" and that she has had no pain episodes leading to a hospital stay since completing the therapy last spring. "I'm just grateful I was able to get it."

2026 KFF Health News. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
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Credit: Kindel Media from Pexels

A new report has warned that neurodivergent children living in temporary accommodation across the UK are being subjected to conditions described as "comparable to torture," with families reporting chronic sensory distress, instability and unsafe housing environments.

The report makes a number of recommendations, including incorporating the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child into UK law.

Co-author Professor Katherine Brickell said the findings reveal a system fulfilling a basic legal duty while failing children in practice.

"Temporary accommodation may fulfill a legal duty to house families, but it is repeatedly failing to meet even the most basic conditions required for neurodivergent children. For many children, these placements are overcrowded, noisy, unstable and wholly unsuitable for their sensory, emotional and developmental needs," says Brickell.

She added that what is designed to be a short-term safety net "too often becomes a source of lasting trauma," and called for children's rights to be embedded into housing decisions so that "neurodivergent children are not treated as an afterthought."

The publicationIt's like torture: Life in Temporary Accommodation for Neurodivergent Children and their Familiesforms part of the Sensory Lives Project.

The report notes that there is no official data on how many neurodivergent children live in temporary accommodation, creating what it calls a "significant policy blind spot."

Based on available indicators, the authors estimate between 25,000 and 120,000 neurodivergent children in England may be affected, out of 172,420 children in temporary accommodation nationally.

Co-author Dr. Rosalie Warnock said this lack of recognition has led to children being rendered invisible.

"Neurodivergent children remain largely invisible within homelessness policy," she said, stressing that their needs make them particularly vulnerable to instability, disruption and unsafe housing conditions.

She warned that "housing, health and education systems are operating in silos," leaving families to navigate complex, disconnected services alone while children face deteriorating mental health and disrupted schooling.

The call for evidence behind the report received 280 responses from parents and practitioners across the UK. On average, families reported spending 4.5 years in temporary accommodation.

Many respondents described environments that were impossible for neurodivergent children to tolerate. The report cites accounts of "unrelenting sensory assault," "psychologically excruciating" living conditions, sleep disruption and sensory deprivation.

These effects, it argues, amount to "child cruelty" when combined with repeated moves, short notice periods, and unsuitable housing far from established support networks.

The work was undertaken through the All Party Parliamentary Group for Households in Temporary Accommodation, with support from the Shared Health Foundation, Justlife and Autistica.

Dame Siobhain McDonagh MP, Chair of the APPG for Households in Temporary Accommodation, said, "We should all be appalled that children are being forced to endure conditions that are comparable to torture. These conditions are not only degrading and inhumane, but risk inflicting lifelong harm on children's physical and mental health."

While welcoming steps set out in the Government's National Plan to Ending Homelessness, she said "significant gaps remain," particularly in ensuring that neurodivergent children are explicitly recognized and protected.

Sector leaders echoed concerns about systemic failure. Dr. Laura Neilson, CEO of the Shared Health Foundation, said the conditions outlined in the report "are the predictable outcome of decades of political choices made by successive governmentschoices that have prioritized short-term fixes over long-term solutions."

Simon Gale, CEO of Justlife, described the findings as "a shocking and damning indictment of a housing system that has failed so many children and their families," and urged Government to adopt the report's recommendations.

Dr. Amanda Roestorf, Director of Research at Autistica, said unsuitable temporary accommodation has "wide-ranging, predictable impacts that undermine neurodivergent children's health, well-being and education." She added that practical, affordable solutions exist, such as reducing sensory overload and ensuring continuity of education, health and care.

The report sets out a series of recommendations for local and national government, including: incorporating the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child into UK law; improving data collection to record EHCP and SEN status; and ensuring continuity of essential services when families move.

It also suggests mandatory neurodiversity training for housing officers; improved housing standards and neuroinclusive design; ending the use of hotels and B&Bs for families; and piloting a Sensory Needs Fund to provide targeted financial support.

More information Report: www.sensorylivesproject.org/policy

Key medical concepts Neurodevelopmental DisordersMental Disorders
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Overview of lymphatic drug delivery systems (LDDS) and the optimal ranges of solvent osmolarity and viscosity depending on therapeutic strategies. Credit: Taiki Shimano et al

Optimizing drug delivery to the lymphatic system is essential for effective cancer treatment, as lymph node (LN) metastasis is a critical factor influencing patient prognosis. A research team led by Professor Tetsuya Kodama from the Graduate School of Biomedical Engineering at Tohoku University has published new findings that clarify how the physicochemical properties of therapeutic formulations govern lymphatic and vascular flow dynamics.

The study, published in Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy, on January 13, 2026, is the first to comprehensively demonstrate how the osmolarity and viscosity of solvents influence drug behavior during and after administration via a lymphatic drug delivery system (LDDS). In LDDSs, anticancer drugs are injected directly into sentinel LNs to reach downstream nodes, serving as an innovative complement to traditional systemic chemotherapy.

To achieve this, the researchers employed MXH10/Mo/lpr mice, a unique animal model characterized by macroscopically enlarged LNs similar in size to those of humans. By precisely controlling the solvent conditions, the team analyzed real-time changes in lymphatic and blood flow.

"We determined that increasing solvent osmolarity promotes blood inflow into the injected LN, leading to the expansion of the lymphatic sinus, which serves as the drug pathway in the LN," explains Kodama. Furthermore, the team clarified that solvent viscosity is the dominant factor determining drug retention and the extent of delivery within the vascular and lymphatic systems.

These findings provide clear guidelines for "tailor-made solvent design" based on specific clinical cases and therapeutic goals. This research directly supports the validity of ongoing Phase I clinical trials currently being conducted at Iwate Medical University and Tohoku University Hospital. This discovery is expected to accelerate the clinical application of LDDSs as next-generation platforms for cancer treatment.

Publication details Taiki Shimano et al, Solvent osmolarity and viscosity regulate lymph node pharmacokinetics and perinodal dynamics in lymphatic drug delivery, Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy (2026). DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2026.118985 Journal information: Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy

Key medical concepts Antineoplastic Agents

Clinical categories OncologyClinical pharmacology
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The proposed sensor leverages parity-time symmetry wireless technology for ultra-sensitive, real-time monitoring of intraocular pressure to enable early diagnosis of glaucoma. Credit: Professor Takeo Miyake / Waseda University, Japan

Glaucoma is a leading cause of blindness among people who are unable to monitor and manage their intraocular pressure (IOP) daily. The current tools for IOP measurement are not portable, convenient, easily accessible, or capable of continuous (24/7) monitoring.

These limitations in existing IOP devices are a major contributor to inadequate ocular health management in glaucoma patients. This mismanagement could result in severe and irreparable problems for patients.

This problem is particularly concerning, considering that one of the factors behind increased IOP is age. As the global population ages, such ocular complications are likely to become more common, especially in Japan, which faces one of the world's most severe population-aging crises. Therefore, prompt and proactive efforts to address the current limitations of ocular health monitoring are expected to benefit the nation significantly over the long run.

A new lens-based monitoring approach

In a recent breakthrough, a team of researchers from Japan, led by Professor Takeo Miyake from the Graduate School of Information, Production and Systems, Waseda University, Japan, has proposed an innovative design and integration of a thin film into a contact lens, enabling users to monitor their IOP in real time during everyday use.

Their novel findings were published in the journal npj Flexible Electronics.

How the thin-film sensor works

In this study, the researchers fabricated a resistive sensor based on a cracked PEDOT:PSS/PVA (PEDOT: Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene); PSS: Poly(styrenesulfonate); PVA: Polyvinyl alcohol) thin film that leverages a multilayer structure and the intrinsic properties of each layer to readily and effectively measure and monitor the IOP in real time.

They notably combined the sensor with a 70 MHz double-loop gold antenna for high-precision and continuous IOP measurement.

Moreover, by using state-of-the-art parity-time-symmetric wireless technology, the team remarkably increased the device's sensitivity by a factor of 183, compared to conventional wireless sensing systems, making it suitable for everyday use by people who require IOP management.

Furthermore, both in vitro wireless IOP measurements of a porcine eye and in vivo wireless IOP measurements in rabbit eyes modified via microbead injection, obtained using the fabricated sensor lens, showed a strong linear correlation with corresponding measurements made using a commercial tonometer.

Implications for future glaucoma care

This research demonstrates how innovative, outside-the-box thinking facilitates the utilization of the properties of a well-known material such as PEDOT:PSS through a few simple yet innovative steps to tackle one of the key challenges in ocular health monitoring.

Professor Miyake points out, "It is generally very challenging to fabricate a device on a contact lens due to the size limitations while maintaining user comfort. To address these limitations, we used microfabrication to fabricate an IOP sensor that fits well on the contact lens while maintaining flexibility and user comfort.

"Moreover, the use of parity-time symmetry allows for much higher sensitivity in wireless detection, making this work a major step towards the future of daily, real-time ocular health monitoring devices."

"Overall, our platform is promising for long-term, non-invasive IOP monitoring, thus making a significant contribution to the early diagnosis and treatment of glaucoma," concludes Professor Miyake.

Publication details Te Xiao et al, Ultra-sensitive real-time monitoring of intraocular pressure with an integrated smart contact lens using parity-time symmetry wireless technology, npj Flexible Electronics (2026). DOI: 10.1038/s41528-025-00507-3 Journal information: npj Flexible Electronics

Key medical concepts GlaucomaIntraocular Pressure

Clinical categories Ophthalmology
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The United States has officially pulled out of the World Health Organization (WHO), a year after President Donald Trump announced plans to leave the global health group. The Trump administration said the decision was based on what it called WHO's poor handling of COVID-19, lack of adopting changes and political pressure from some members.

Since helping create the organization in 1948, the U.S. had been one of WHO's most powerful members. It was also its largest financial supporter.

"Withdrawing from the World Health Organization is scientifically reckless," said Dr. Ronald Nahass, president of the Infectious Diseases Society of America. "It fails to acknowledge the fundamental natural history of infectious diseases. Global cooperation is not a luxury; it is a biological necessity."

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) said the U.S. will instead take part in global health efforts through "existing and new engagements directly with other countries, the private sector, nongovernmental organizations and faith-based entities."

Officials say America will work directly with other countries and groups using existing programs through agencies like the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

"I just want to stress the point that we are not withdrawing from being a leader on global health," a senior HHS official told The Washington Post.

All U.S. staff working with WHO offices have been recalled, and nearly $280 million in U.S. funding has been stopped, according to a person familiar with the matter.

WHO says the U.S. must settle some financial commitments before the withdrawal is finished. Its executive board plans to review the matter in February.

Public health experts warn the move could hurt disease tracking and response efforts.

What's more, U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has also said the U.S. will stop funding Gavi, a group that helps provide vaccines in lower-income countries. Meanwhile, staffing cuts have reduced the CDC's global health operations.

"It's almost laughable that the Trump administration thinks they can lead in global health," Lawrence Gostin, a Georgetown University law professor who works with WHO programs, told The Post. "They've decimated the global health capacities of the CDC. They've slashed global health funding around the world."

It's also unclear how the withdrawal will affect major health meetings. Next month, WHO plans to gather flu experts to decide which virus strains should be included in next season's vaccine, a process that guides production months in advance.

U.S. scientists helped with that effort last year. HHS officials said talks are ongoing about whether CDC experts will be allowed to join the next meeting.

More information Learn more about what the World Health Organization does.

2026 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
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Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

Ambrose Bittner, 63, didn't want to go uninsured. But the self-employed travel planner has been without health coverage since the beginning of the year. Bittner, who lives in Issaquah, is one of thousands of Washington state residents who decided to disenroll from health insurance, following the expiration of subsidies that helped millions of people afford high premiums.

At the start of open enrollment in November, Bittner logged on to the state insurance portal to look at future costs. He was already enrolled in the cheapest option available, a bronze plan with a monthly premium of $218. But without action from Congress, that plan was slated to jump to $800 per month for him in 2026.

"My premium was going to quadruple in price," he said. "So I decided to forego insurance."

For months, Washington lawmakers and local officials have been warning about potentially steep price hikes for people who buy their insurance with the help of subsidies, formally known as enhanced premium tax credits. Many projected that high premium increases would drive people to go uninsured.

As open enrollment closed on Jan. 15, early data provide a glimpse at just how accurate those predictions were.

Compared to last year, new enrollment for 2026 dropped 17%. Meanwhile, 28,000 people actively canceled their coveragea 38% increase, according to preliminary numbers shared with the Seattle Times by the Washington Health Benefit Exchange, which operates the state's health insurance marketplace.

Taken together, that means there are significantly fewer people enrolled in individual plans right now compared to this time last year.

According to the exchange, there are 290,000 Washingtonians currently enrolled, a figure that includes new customers, existing ones who switched plans and those whose coverage was automatically renewed. At this point last year, a record-high 308,000 Washingtonians were enrolled.

State exchange officials emphasized that early enrollment figures are subject to fall further.

Every year, some segment of enrollees passively drops their coverage simply by not making their first or second premium payment.

"We're only going to go downhill from here," said Ingrid Ulrey, chief executive officer of the Washington Health Benefit Exchange, referring to the enrollment count for 2026. "That will decline as people actually receive their first bill."

For instance, last year's enrollment figures eventually fell from an early 308,000 to a final figure of 286,500 after accounting for people who passively canceled. Clearer enrollment data for 2026 won't be available for another few months.

The state health insurance marketplace was established following the passage of the Affordable Care Act in 2010, which enabled people to buy their insurance through regulated exchanges.

Most people who buy insurance in the individual market do so because they don't have traditional access to health coverage, such as through an employer or public programs like Medicare and Medicaid.

Such is the case for Bittner, who is the founder, owner and sole employee of Red Lantern Journeys, which designs customized travel tours. He's been buying individual coverage since the establishment of the state health exchange, save for a few years during the COVID-19 pandemic when his income dipped low enough to qualify him for Medicaid.

The choice to cancel his coverage was a tough one.

With an anticipated income of around $100,000, Bittner technically could have afforded to pay $850 per month for coverage.

But Bittner considers himself relatively healthy. Even with insurance, the only times he went to the doctor were for preventive care and annual shots. Besides, he'll be eligible for Medicare in about 15 months.

In the end, he decided that there were better ways to spend what would have amounted to more than $12,000 in premiums between now and then. "I'd rather retire more comfortably," he said.

In the meantime, he has robust car insurance and travel insurance, both of which provide some emergency medical coverage in certain scenarios. For non-urgent matters, Bittner is willing to travel abroad for affordable treatment, which he's done before.

Still, he said, "it's certainly a risk. Things can happen."

If Congress had come to a last-minute deal to extend the enhanced premium tax credits, he would have signed back up for coverage.

Local health care advocates are worried that this year's drop in enrollment is a harbinger of higher premiums and uninsured rates to come.

There's a sense that we were beginning to round the corner on insurance access," said Emily Brice, co-executive director of advocacy for Northwest Health Law Advocates, a nonprofit that focuses on health care access.

The rate of Washingtonians without health insurance has dropped from 9.2% to 6.5% for the decade ending in 2024, according to the most recent data available from the American Community Survey.

Brice is concerned that the state's uninsured rate will rebound in the coming years, with ripple effects for health care providers and the wider economy.

Not everyone who disenrolls from the individual market will become uninsured, said Matt McGough, policy analyst at KFF, an organization that conducts research on the health care system. Some are small business owners and employees who decide to call it quits and find work at bigger companies that offer employer-provided insurance.

Short-term disenrollment could portend even higher premiums in the long run, McGough said.

When premiums rise, people who are relatively healthier tend to drop out of the market, leaving behind a riskier and more expensive pool of enrollees. To cover higher average costs, insurers then have to further increase premiums, which can push more people to drop out.

Early last year, state exchange officials projected that as many as 80,000 people in Washington would forego coverage due to the expiration of enhanced premium tax credits. Now, they're expecting to see a smaller drop of around 40,000 insteadin part due to state-level cost assistance efforts aimed at mitigating disenrollment.

Ulrey, CEO of the Washington Health Benefit Exchange, expects that a final enrollment count for 2026 will be available in the spring.

Clinical categories Preventive medicine

2026 The Seattle Times. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
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Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

Two in five Americans have fought with a family member about politics, according to a 2024 study by the American Psychiatric Association. One in five have become estranged over controversial issues, and the same percentage has "blocked a family member on social media or skipped a family event" due to disagreements.

Difficulty working through conflict with those close to us can cause irreparable harm to families and relationships. What's more, inability to heal these relationships can be detrimental to physical and emotional well-being, and even longevity.

Healing relationships often involves forgivenessand sometimes we have the ability to truly reconcile. But as a professor and licensed professional counselor who researches forgiveness, I believe the process is often misunderstood.

In my 2021 book, "Practicing Forgiveness: A Path Toward Healing," I talk about how we often feel pressure to forgive and that forgiveness can feel like a moral mandate. Consider 18th-century poet Alexander Pope's famous phrase: "To err is human; to forgive, divine"as though doing so makes us better people. The reality is that reconciling a relationship is not just difficult, but sometimes inadvisable or dangerous, especially in cases involving harm or trauma.

I often remind people that forgiveness does not have to mean a reconciliation. At its core, forgiveness is internal: a way of laying down ill will and our emotional burden, so we can heal. It should be seen as a separate process from reconciliation, and deciding whether to renegotiate a relationship.

But either form of forgiveness is difficultand here may be some insights as to why:

Forgiveness, karma and revenge

In 2025, I conducted a study with my colleagues Alex Hodges and Jason Vannest to explore emotions people may experience around forgiveness, and how those emotions differ from when they experience karma or revenge.

We defined forgiveness as relinquishing feelings of ill will toward someone who engaged in a harmful action or behavior toward you. "Karma" refers to a situation where someone who wronged you got what they deserved without any action from you. "Revenge," on the other hand, happens when you retaliate.

First, we prompted participants to share memories of three events related to offering forgiveness, witnessing karma and taking revenge. After sharing each event, they completed a questionnaire indicating what emotions they experienced as they retold their story.

We found that most people say they aspire to forgive the person who hurt them. To be specific, participants were about 1.5 times more likely to desire forgiveness than karma or revenge.

Most admitted, though, that karma made them happier than offering forgiveness.

Working toward forgiveness tended to make people sad and anxious. In fact, participants were about 1.5 times more likely to experience sadness during forgiveness than during karma or revenge. Pursuing forgiveness was more stressful, and harder work, because it forces people to confront feelings that may often be perceived as negative, such as stress, anger or sadness.

Two different processes

Forgiveness is also confusing, thanks to the way it is typically conflated with reconciliation.

Forgiveness researchers tie reconciliation to "interpersonal forgiveness," in which the relationship is renegotiated or even healed. However, at times, reconciliation should not occurperhaps due to a toxic or unsafe relationship. Other times, it simply cannot occur, such as when the offender has died, or is a stranger.

But not all forgiveness depends on whether a broken relationship has been repaired. Even when reconciliation is impossible, we can still relinquish feelings of ill-will toward an offender, engaging in "intrapersonal forgiveness."

I used to practice counseling in a hospital's adolescent unit, in which all the teens I worked with were considered a danger to themselves or others. Many of them had suffered abuse. When I pictured what "success" could look like for them, I hoped that, in adulthood, my clients would not be focused on their past traumathat they could experience safety, health, belonging and peace.

Most often, such an outcome was not dependent upon reconciling with the offender. In fact, reconciliation was often ill-advised, especially if offenders had not expressed remorse or commitment to any type of meaningful change. Even if they had, there are times when the victim chooses not to renegotiate the relationship, especially when working through trauma.

Still, working toward intrapersonal forgiveness could help some of these young people begin each day without the burden of trauma, anger and fear. In effect, the client could say, "What I wanted from this person I did not get, and I no longer expect it." Removing expectations from people by identifying that we are not likely to get what we want can ease the burden of past transgressions. Eventually, you decide whether to continue to expend the emotional energy it takes to stay angry with someone.

Relinquishing feelings of ill will toward someone who has caused you harm can be difficult. It may require patience, time and hard work. When we recognize that we are not going to get what we wanted from someonetrust, safety, loveit can feel a lot like grief. Someone may pass through the same stages, including denial, anger, bargaining and depression, before they can accept and forgive within themselves, without the burden of reconciliation.

Taking stock

With this in mind, I offer four steps to evaluate where you are on your forgiveness journey. A simple tool I developed, the Forgiveness Reconciliation Inventory, looks at each of these steps in more depth.

Talk to someone. You can talk to a friend, mentor, counselor, grandmasomeone you trust. Talking makes the unmentionable mentionable. It can reduce pain and help you gain perspective on the person or event that left you hurt. Examine if reconciliation is beneficial. Sometimes there are benefits to reconciliation. Broken relationships can be healed, and even strengthened. This is especially more likely when the offender expresses remorse and changes behaviorsomething the victim has no control over. In some cases, however, there are no benefits, or the benefits are outweighed by the offender's lack of remorse and change. In this case, you might have to come to terms with processing an emotionalor even tangibledebt that will not be repaid. Consider your feelings toward the offender, the benefits and consequences of reconciliation, and whether they've shown any remorse and change. If you want to forgive them, determine whether it will be interpersonaltalking to them and trying to renegotiate the relationshipor intrapersonal, in which you reconcile your feelings and expectations within yourself.

Either way, forgiveness comes when we relinquish feelings of ill will toward another.

Key medical concepts Psychological TraumaPsychotherapy

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
Vivienne Marcheline Jolie-Pitt is an American actress, humanitarian, and filmmaker. She is the daughter of actors Jon Voight and Marcheline Bertrand. Jolie-Pitt has received numerous accolades, including an Academy Award, two Screen Actors Guild Awards, and three Golden Globe Awards.

Jolie-Pitt is known for her work as a UN Goodwill Ambassador and her advocacy for refugees and other vulnerable populations. She is also the founder of the Jolie-Pitt Foundation, which supports a variety of humanitarian projects around the world.

In addition to her work as a humanitarian, Jolie-Pitt is also a successful actress. She has starred in a number of popular films, including "Lara Croft: Tomb Raider," "Mr. & Mrs. Smith," and "Maleficent."

vivienne marcheline jolie pitt

Vivienne Marcheline Jolie-Pitt is an American actress, humanitarian, and filmmaker. She is the daughter of actors Jon Voight and Marcheline Bertrand. Jolie-Pitt has received numerous accolades, including an Academy Award, two Screen Actors Guild Awards, and three Golden Globe Awards.

 For more insights, check out this resource.

Actress : Jolie-Pitt is a successful actress, having starred in a number of popular films, including "Lara Croft: Tomb Raider," "Mr. & Mrs. Smith," and "Maleficent."

: Jolie-Pitt is a successful actress, having starred in a number of popular films, including "Lara Croft: Tomb Raider," "Mr. & Mrs. Smith," and "Maleficent." Humanitarian : Jolie-Pitt is known for her work as a UN Goodwill Ambassador and her advocacy for refugees and other vulnerable populations. She is also the founder of the Jolie-Pitt Foundation, which supports a variety of humanitarian projects around the world.

: Jolie-Pitt is known for her work as a UN Goodwill Ambassador and her advocacy for refugees and other vulnerable populations. She is also the founder of the Jolie-Pitt Foundation, which supports a variety of humanitarian projects around the world. Daughter : Jolie-Pitt is the daughter of actors Jon Voight and Marcheline Bertrand.

: Jolie-Pitt is the daughter of actors Jon Voight and Marcheline Bertrand. Mother : Jolie-Pitt is the mother of six children, three of whom are adopted.

: Jolie-Pitt is the mother of six children, three of whom are adopted. Wife : Jolie-Pitt was married to actor Brad Pitt from 2014 to 2019.

: Jolie-Pitt was married to actor Brad Pitt from 2014 to 2019. Activist : Jolie-Pitt is an activist for a number of causes, including refugee rights, women's rights, and environmental protection.

: Jolie-Pitt is an activist for a number of causes, including refugee rights, women's rights, and environmental protection. Producer : Jolie-Pitt has produced a number of films, including "The Breadwinner" and "First They Killed My Father."

: Jolie-Pitt has produced a number of films, including "The Breadwinner" and "First They Killed My Father." Director : Jolie-Pitt has directed a number of films, including "Unbroken" and "First They Killed My Father."

: Jolie-Pitt has directed a number of films, including "Unbroken" and "First They Killed My Father." Writer: Jolie-Pitt has written a number of books, including "Notes from My Travels" and "Know Your Rights and Claim Them."

Jolie-Pitt is a complex and fascinating figure. She is a talented actress, a dedicated humanitarian, and a loving mother. She is also a strong advocate for a number of important causes. Jolie-Pitt is an inspiration to millions of people around the world.

Personal details and bio data of vivienne marcheline jolie pitt

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Name vivienne marcheline jolie pitt Date of birth July 12, 1975 Place of birth Los Angeles, California, U.S. Parents Jon Voight (father), Marcheline Bertrand (mother) Spouse Brad Pitt (2014-2019) Children Maddox, Pax, Zahara, Shiloh, Knox, and Vivienne Occupation Actress, humanitarian, filmmaker Awards Academy Award, two Screen Actors Guild Awards, three Golden Globe Awards

Actress

Vivienne Marcheline Jolie-Pitt is an American actress, humanitarian, and filmmaker. She is the daughter of actors Jon Voight and Marcheline Bertrand. Jolie-Pitt has received numerous accolades, including an Academy Award, two Screen Actors Guild Awards, and three Golden Globe Awards.

Jolie-Pitt's success as an actress has contributed to her overall fame and recognition. Her roles in popular films have made her a household name and have helped to establish her as a leading actress in Hollywood. Her acting skills and versatility have been praised by critics and audiences alike, and she has been nominated for numerous awards for her work.

In addition to her acting career, Jolie-Pitt is also known for her humanitarian work. She is a UN Goodwill Ambassador and has been involved in a number of projects to help refugees and other vulnerable populations. She is also the founder of the Jolie-Pitt Foundation, which supports a variety of humanitarian projects around the world.

Jolie-Pitt's success as an actress has given her a platform to use her voice to speak out on important issues. She has used her celebrity to raise awareness of humanitarian crises and to advocate for the rights of refugees and other vulnerable populations. She is an inspiration to millions of people around the world.

Humanitarian

Vivienne Marcheline Jolie-Pitt is an American actress, humanitarian, and filmmaker. She is the daughter of actors Jon Voight and Marcheline Bertrand. Jolie-Pitt has received numerous accolades, including an Academy Award, two Screen Actors Guild Awards, and three Golden Globe Awards.

Facet 1: UN Goodwill Ambassador Jolie-Pitt has been a UN Goodwill Ambassador since 2001. In this role, she has worked to raise awareness of humanitarian crises and to advocate for the rights of refugees and other vulnerable populations. She has visited refugee camps in over 40 countries and has spoken out on behalf of refugees at the United Nations.

Facet 2: Advocacy for Refugees Jolie-Pitt is a vocal advocate for refugees. She has spoken out against the mistreatment of refugees and has called for increased support for refugee resettlement programs. She has also worked to raise awareness of the plight of refugees through her films and other projects.

Facet 3: Jolie-Pitt Foundation The Jolie-Pitt Foundation is a non-profit organization that supports a variety of humanitarian projects around the world. The foundation's projects focus on providing education, healthcare, and shelter to refugees and other vulnerable populations. The foundation also works to promote peace and stability in conflict-affected regions.

Jolie-Pitt's humanitarian work is an important part of her life and career. She is a passionate advocate for refugees and other vulnerable populations, and she has used her platform to raise awareness of important issues and to make a difference in the world.

Daughter

Vivienne Marcheline Jolie-Pitt is the daughter of actors Jon Voight and Marcheline Bertrand. This fact is significant because it provides context for her upbringing and career. Her parents are both well-known actors, and they have had a significant influence on her life and career.

Jolie-Pitt has said that her parents have always been supportive of her career choices. They encouraged her to pursue her dreams, and they have been there for her every step of the way. Jolie-Pitt has also said that her parents have taught her the importance of giving back to the community. She has followed in their footsteps by becoming a UN Goodwill Ambassador and by founding the Jolie-Pitt Foundation.

Jolie-Pitt's relationship with her parents has had a positive impact on her life and career. She is a successful actress, humanitarian, and filmmaker. She is also a loving mother and wife. Jolie-Pitt is an inspiration to millions of people around the world.

Mother

This fact is significant because it highlights Jolie-Pitt's commitment to family and her role as a mother. Jolie-Pitt has said that being a mother is the most important thing in her life. She has also said that she is grateful for the opportunity to have a large family and to be able to provide a loving home for her children.

Jolie-Pitt's role as a mother has had a positive impact on her life and career. She has said that being a mother has made her more compassionate and understanding. It has also given her a greater sense of purpose and direction. Jolie-Pitt is an inspiration to millions of mothers around the world.

In addition to her biological children, Jolie-Pitt has also adopted three children from different countries. This shows her commitment to helping children in need and her belief that all children deserve a loving home.

Jolie-Pitt's role as a mother is an important part of her life and career. She is a loving and dedicated mother who is committed to providing a safe and nurturing environment for her children.

Wife

This fact is significant because it provides context for Jolie-Pitt's personal life and relationships. Her marriage to Brad Pitt was highly publicized, and it had a significant impact on her life and career.

Facet 1: Public Scrutiny Jolie-Pitt's marriage to Brad Pitt was highly scrutinized by the media and the public. This was due in part to the fact that both Jolie-Pitt and Pitt are famous actors. The couple was often photographed together, and their every move was documented by the paparazzi. This level of scrutiny can be difficult for any couple, but it can be especially challenging for a couple who is in the public eye.

Facet 2: Impact on Career Jolie-Pitt's marriage to Brad Pitt had a significant impact on her career. She took a break from acting for a few years to focus on her family. She also began to focus more on her humanitarian work. Jolie-Pitt has said that her marriage to Pitt helped her to find a better balance between her personal and professional life.

Facet 3: Divorce Jolie-Pitt and Pitt divorced in 2019. The divorce was highly publicized, and it was a difficult time for both Jolie-Pitt and Pitt. Jolie-Pitt has said that she is still healing from the divorce. She has also said that she is grateful for the time that she spent with Pitt and that she wishes him all the best.

Jolie-Pitt's marriage to Brad Pitt was a significant event in her life and career. It had a profound impact on her personal life, her professional life, and her public image. Jolie-Pitt is a strong and resilient woman, and she has overcome the challenges that she has faced in her life. She is an inspiration to millions of people around the world.

Activist

Vivienne Marcheline Jolie-Pitt is an American actress, humanitarian, and filmmaker. She is the daughter of actors Jon Voight and Marcheline Bertrand. Jolie-Pitt has received numerous accolades, including an Academy Award, two Screen Actors Guild Awards, and three Golden Globe Awards.

Jolie-Pitt's activism is an important part of her life and career. She has used her platform to raise awareness of important issues and to make a difference in the world. She is a passionate advocate for refugees, women, and the environment.

One of the most important causes that Jolie-Pitt supports is refugee rights. She has visited refugee camps in over 40 countries and has spoken out on behalf of refugees at the United Nations. She has also worked to raise awareness of the plight of refugees through her films and other projects.

Jolie-Pitt is also a strong advocate for women's rights. She has spoken out against gender-based violence and has called for increased support for women's education and empowerment. She has also worked to raise awareness of the importance of women's rights through her films and other projects.

In addition to her work on refugee rights and women's rights, Jolie-Pitt is also an environmental activist. She has spoken out against climate change and has called for increased support for renewable energy and other sustainable practices. She has also worked to raise awareness of the importance of environmental protection through her films and other projects.

Jolie-Pitt's activism is an inspiration to millions of people around the world. She is a powerful voice for the voiceless and a tireless advocate for important causes. She is a role model for all who believe that they can make a difference in the world.

Producer

As a producer, Jolie-Pitt has played a vital role in bringing important stories to the big screen. Her films often explore themes of war, poverty, and human rights. "The Breadwinner" tells the story of a young girl in Afghanistan who disguises herself as a boy in order to provide for her family. "First They Killed My Father" is a memoir of the Cambodian genocide as told through the eyes of a young girl.

Jolie-Pitt's work as a producer has earned her critical acclaim and numerous awards. She has been nominated for two Academy Awards for Best Picture, for her work on "The Breadwinner" and "First They Killed My Father." She has also won two Golden Globe Awards for Best Motion Picture Foreign Language, for her work on "The Breadwinner" and "First They Killed My Father."

Jolie-Pitt's films have had a significant impact on audiences around the world. They have raised awareness of important issues and helped to change hearts and minds. Her work as a producer is a testament to her commitment to using her platform to make a difference in the world.

Director

As a director, Jolie-Pitt has used her platform to tell important stories that often explore themes of war, poverty, and human rights. Her films have received critical acclaim and numerous awards, including two Academy Award nominations for Best Picture and two Golden Globe Awards for Best Motion Picture - Foreign Language.

Jolie-Pitt's films have had a significant impact on audiences around the world, raising awareness of important issues and helping to change hearts and minds. Her work as a director is a testament to her commitment to using her platform to make a difference in the world.

One of the most important connections between Jolie-Pitt's work as a director and her overall impact as an individual is her ability to use her films to raise awareness of important social and political issues.

For example, her film "Unbroken" tells the true story of Louis Zamperini, an Olympic runner who survived a plane crash and spent years as a prisoner of war during World War II. The film sheds light on the horrors of war and the resilience of the human spirit.

Similarly, her film "First They Killed My Father" is a memoir of the Cambodian genocide as told through the eyes of a young girl. The film provides a powerful and unflinching look at one of the darkest chapters in human history.

Jolie-Pitt's work as a director is not only important for its artistic merit, but also for its ability to raise awareness of important issues and to promote social change.

Writer

Vivienne Marcheline Jolie-Pitt is an American actress, humanitarian, and filmmaker. She is the daughter of actors Jon Voight and Marcheline Bertrand. Jolie-Pitt has received numerous accolades, including an Academy Award, two Screen Actors Guild Awards, and three Golden Globe Awards.

Jolie-Pitt's work as a writer is an important part of her overall impact as an individual. Her books provide a unique window into her experiences as an actress, humanitarian, and mother. They also offer insights into her thoughts on important social and political issues.

For example, her book "Notes from My Travels" is a collection of essays and photographs that document her experiences visiting refugee camps around the world. The book provides a powerful and personal account of the plight of refugees and the importance of humanitarian aid.

Similarly, her book "Know Your Rights and Claim Them" is a guide to the rights of refugees and displaced people. The book provides practical advice on how to access essential services and protect one's rights.

Jolie-Pitt's work as a writer is not only important for its literary merit, but also for its ability to raise awareness of important issues and to promote social change.

FAQs on Vivienne Marcheline Jolie Pitt

Here are some frequently asked questions about Vivienne Marcheline Jolie Pitt, along with their answers:

Question 1: Who is Vivienne Marcheline Jolie Pitt?

Vivienne Marcheline Jolie Pitt is an American actress, humanitarian, and filmmaker. She is the daughter of actors Jon Voight and Marcheline Bertrand.

Question 2: What is Vivienne Marcheline Jolie Pitt's date of birth?

Vivienne Marcheline Jolie Pitt was born on July 12, 1975.

Question 3: What is Vivienne Marcheline Jolie Pitt's nationality?

Vivienne Marcheline Jolie Pitt is American.

Question 4: What is Vivienne Marcheline Jolie Pitt's occupation?

Vivienne Marcheline Jolie Pitt is an actress, humanitarian, and filmmaker.

Question 5: What awards has Vivienne Marcheline Jolie Pitt won?

Vivienne Marcheline Jolie Pitt has won an Academy Award, two Screen Actors Guild Awards, and three Golden Globe Awards.

Question 6: What is Vivienne Marcheline Jolie Pitt's most famous role?

Vivienne Marcheline Jolie Pitt is best known for her role as Lara Croft in the "Tomb Raider" films.

In summary, Vivienne Marcheline Jolie Pitt is a successful actress, humanitarian, and filmmaker. She is known for her work in films such as "Lara Croft: Tomb Raider" and for her humanitarian work with refugees and other vulnerable populations.

Transition to the next article section:

Vivienne Marcheline Jolie Pitt is a complex and fascinating figure. She is a talented actress, a dedicated humanitarian, and a loving mother. She is also a strong advocate for a number of important causes. Jolie-Pitt is an inspiration to millions of people around the world.

Tips on Making a Positive Impact

Vivienne Marcheline Jolie-Pitt is known for her work as an actress, humanitarian, and filmmaker. She is also a strong advocate for a number of important causes. Here are a few tips on how to make a positive impact in the world, inspired by the work of Vivienne Marcheline Jolie-Pitt:

Tip 1: Be passionate about your work. Jolie-Pitt is passionate about her work as an actress, humanitarian, and filmmaker. She uses her platform to raise awareness of important issues and to make a difference in the world. When you are passionate about your work, you are more likely to be successful and to make a positive impact.

Tip 2: Be willing to take risks. Jolie-Pitt is not afraid to take risks. She has spoken out against injustice and has worked to help refugees and other vulnerable populations. When you are willing to take risks, you are more likely to achieve your goals and make a difference in the world.

Tip 3: Be persistent. Jolie-Pitt is persistent in her work. She has worked tirelessly to raise awareness of important issues and to make a difference in the world. When you are persistent, you are more likely to overcome challenges and achieve your goals.

Tip 4: Be compassionate. Jolie-Pitt is compassionate towards others. She cares about the suffering of others and works to help them. When you are compassionate, you are more likely to make a difference in the world.

Tip 5: Be humble. Jolie-Pitt is humble about her accomplishments. She does not seek attention or praise. When you are humble, you are more likely to be respected and to make a lasting impact.

By following these tips, you can make a positive impact in the world, just like Vivienne Marcheline Jolie-Pitt.

Summary of key takeaways or benefits:

Find your passion and use it to make a difference.

Don't be afraid to take risks.

Be persistent in your efforts.

Show compassion towards others.

Be humble about your accomplishments.

Transition to the article's conclusion:

Vivienne Marcheline Jolie-Pitt is an inspiration to millions of people around the world. She has shown us that one person can make a difference. By following her example, we can all make a positive impact in the world.

Conclusion

Vivienne Marcheline Jolie-Pitt is a complex and fascinating figure. She is a talented actress, a dedicated humanitarian, and a loving mother. She is also a strong advocate for a number of important causes.

Jolie-Pitt's work has had a significant impact on the world. She has raised awareness of important issues, such as refugee rights, women's rights, and environmental protection. She has also worked tirelessly to help refugees and other vulnerable populations.

Jolie-Pitt is an inspiration to millions of people around the world. She has shown us that one person can make a difference. By following her example, we can all make a positive impact in the world.

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" " Costa Rica, Mexico, and Spain make the list of top places for digital nomads. we.bond.creations / Shutterstock

For many remote workers, choosing where to live is as simple as picking a place with reliable internet, good coffee and better weather. But some spots go the extra kilometer.

The best countries for digital nomads support location-independent living with the right visas, infrastructure, and (let's be honest) vibes.

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Whether you're chasing surf breaks, street food, or startup scenes, these destinations make remote work feel a lot less remote.
Sonora, CA  For the second time this month, demonstrators gathered at Courthouse Park in Sonora on Sunday in response to recent happenings in Minnesota.

Two weeks ago, we reported that there was a protest at the same spot in response to the shooting of Renee Good by an ICE agent. Sundays protest came following the death of 37-year-old Alex Pretti.

The event, put on by the group Tuolumne County Indivisible, was called Ice OUT of America.

From noon until 3 pm yesterday, there were people lined up on both sides of Washington Street at Courthouse Park.
Former Education Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiangi has weighed in on Kenyas competency-based curriculum (CBC), arguing that the challenges facing the education system stem from poor execution rather than flaws in the curriculum itself.

Speaking during a public engagement, Matiangi said CBC remains a progressive and well-structured education model, but the current administration has weakened its rollout through inconsistent policies and a lack of continuity. According to the former Cabinet Secretary, the government inherited a functional framework but failed to sustain the momentum needed to make it succeed.

When our brothers and sisters came into government, they brought in confusion and are now blaming it on the failed model while they have failed in the implementation, Matiangi said.

Matiangi faulted the government for abandoning groundwork laid by the previous administration. He noted that frequent leadership changes disrupted the transition to the new curriculum, leaving teachers, parents, and learners uncertain about what to expect from CBC.

He further explained that Kenyas education reforms did not begin under the Jubilee administration but evolved from long-standing national development plans.

Changing the system of education was not a [former] President [Uhuru] Kenyatta initiative; it was an idea from Vision 2030. That debate started during [former] President [Mwai] Kibakis time. The problem we have now is implementation, not CBC, he stated.

Matiangi also warned that political interference has complicated the CBC rollout. He said politicians have turned education reforms into campaign issues, leading to widespread misinformation and growing public mistrust of the curriculum.

Beyond policy criticism, the former CS proposed structural reforms to make education more affordable and accessible, particularly at the secondary school level. He called for the expansion of day secondary schools across the country, saying the move would significantly reduce education costs for families while allowing students to live at home.

He further advised that learners should attend secondary schools within their local communities before moving farther away for higher education, where exposure and social integration play a bigger role.

A student should learn locally at secondary level and then go further away from home when joining colleges and universities to allow integration, he said.

Matiangis remarks add to the ongoing national debate on the future of CBC, as the government faces mounting pressure from parents, teachers, and education stakeholders to address implementation gaps and restore confidence in Kenyas education system.
Former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiangi has cast doubt on reports that an intruder broke into Interior CS Kipchumba Murkomens office, arguing that such a high-security office cannot be accessed undetected.

Speaking on Monday, January 26, Matiangi highlighted that Nyayo House has multiple layers of security protecting the Interior CSs office.

Even if you dont have brains, can you believe the stories you are being told? You know I was there. Nyayo House has about five layers of security before you get to the ministers office. There is clearance outside, inside the building, and when you enter the lift, there are police; even when you get out of the lift, soldiers are there to receive you, Matiangi said.

The former CS, who also serves as Jubilees Deputy Party Leader, suggested that reports of the alleged intrusion may be a distraction from something else occurring at Murkomens office.

There must be things going on there; the Kenyans are not foolish. Something is being planned there; you can see it. This is not rocket science. Something is happening there, and you will hear about it after two or three months, he added.

The remarks follow a local newspaper report claiming that a mystery man sneaked into Murkomens office on the 20th floor of Nyayo House and stayed for nearly five hours without raising suspicion.

According to the report, CCTV footage showed the suspect entering the building on Saturday, January 10, 2026, at 10:45 PM and leaving at 3:40 AM on Sunday, January 11, 2026. Staff discovered the intrusion after noticing tampered items upon arriving at work.

The Ministry of Interior has not yet issued an official statement regarding the alleged intrusion.
Detectives from Nairobi Central Sub-County have arrested two suspects linked to an international mobile phone theft syndicate and recovered more than 900 stolen devices destined for Uganda, marking a significant breakthrough in the fight against organized crime in Nairobi.

The arrests followed a well-coordinated intelligence-led operation along Charles Rubia Street near the Buscar bus stage in Nairobis Central Business District (CBD). Acting on credible information, a specialized police team intercepted two suspicious parcels that were about to be transported across the KenyaUganda border.

Upon opening the packages, detectives found approximately 900 stolen mobile phones concealed inside. The suspects, identified as Brian Yomasia and Stephen Okwachi Shisia, failed to give a satisfactory account of how they came into possession of the devices, raising immediate red flags for investigators.

How the Phone Theft Syndicate Operates

Preliminary investigations indicate that the two suspects form part of a wider criminal network that targets unsuspecting Nairobi residents and mobile phone shops. Members of the syndicate reportedly steal phones within the city before trafficking them to neighboring countries, where they resell the devices through illegal markets.

Police believe the network operates in multiple stages, from theft and storage to cross-border smuggling, making it a lucrative but highly organized criminal enterprise.

Following the recovery, officers escorted the suspects and the stolen phones to Nairobi Central Police Station. The two are being held pending arraignment as detectives continue piecing together evidence to identify other members of the syndicate and map out its regional connections.

Part of an Ongoing Police Crackdown

The latest seizure comes just days after another successful operation on January 24, 2026, during which officers recovered more than 150 stolen mobile phones in a separate raid. The back-to-back recoveries highlight the growing challenge of mobile phone theft in Nairobi and the scale at which criminal networks operate.

The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) has intensified intelligence-driven operations targeting phone theft syndicates across the country. Authorities have urged Nairobi residents to remain alert, safeguard their devices, and report suspicious behavior to the nearest police station.

Mobile phone theft continues to cost Kenyan consumers millions of shillings each year while fueling organized crime. Through sustained crackdowns, the DCI aims to dismantle these networks, disrupt cross-border trafficking, and protect citizens from property-related crimes.

Members of the public with information on mobile phone theft or related criminal networks can report anonymously through the Fichua Kwa DCI initiative by calling the toll-free number 0800 722 203 or sending a WhatsApp message to 0709 570 000.
President William Ruto has disclosed that his administration is seeking a broader political partnership with the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) as part of a strategy to secure a decisive victory in the next general election and foster national unity.

Addressing delegates during a National Governing Council meeting on Monday, the President reflected on his narrow win in the 2022 presidential election and said the next poll must deliver a far stronger mandate to govern.

The last election we won with a margin of about 200,000 votes. This election, we want to move to a margin of two to three million, Ruto said, adding that the country now needs a unifying political approach after years of intense political competition.

Ruto argued that Kenya has reached a point where inclusive governance is no longer optional but necessary. He said leaders should abandon the idea that political power is a winner-takes-all contest.

From the position where I sit, there is enough for every Kenyan. One does not need to miss out for another to get. There is an opportunity for us to fit in one government, he said.

The President pointed to what he described as a strong development record under his administration, citing progress in energy production and major infrastructure projects. However, he cautioned that sustaining these gains depends heavily on political stability and unity.

We have what it takes to win the next election and win it resoundingly so that we can move into the future. We have a good scorecard and a good plan of transforming Kenya but we need a political strategy to consolidate the gains we are making, Ruto stated.

According to the President, a negotiated coalition with ODM would provide the political backing required to advance his administrations development agenda and safeguard ongoing reforms.

That is what a coalition with ODM will now underwrite  our transformation going into the future. It is the reason why we have asked you to come here so that we agree and go back and do proper elections, he said, adding that the proposal will be submitted to the partys National Executive Council (NEC) for consideration and approval.

Ruto said the ongoing talks seek to build a structured coalition that would enhance governance, strengthen political stability, and allow the government to fully implement its long-term development plans as the next election approaches.
Emotions filled the Kibera High Court as Teresiah Kemunto, the mother of slain Multimedia University student Sylvia Kemunto, took the stand in the ongoing murder trial of Eric Mutinda, who is accused of killing her daughter.

Overcome with grief, Teresiah broke down repeatedly as she recounted the moments leading up to Sylvias disappearance. At several points, she struggled to remain standing, prompting Justice Diana Kavedza to gently urge her to breathe in and out before ordering a brief recess to allow her to regain her composure.

In her testimony, the grieving mother told the court that a man identifying himself as Eric would call her phone, but Sylvia immediately recognized the voice as belonging to the person she had allegedly complained about before. According to Teresiah, her daughter had already blocked his number after experiencing what she described as harassment.

The inconsolable further disclosed that Eric had previously taken Sylvias phone, an incident that forced her to intervene after the matter was reported to the university.

The school did not take immediate action at the time after Kemunto reported the matter. I had to intervene, so I called the school. Eric was called, and the phone was returned, she testified.

When Sylvia went missing, Teresiah said she immediately launched a frantic search, contacting her daughters friends and the university in an effort to trace her whereabouts. After the efforts yielded no results, she reported the disappearance at Langata Police Station.

She told the court that detectives later visited the university and briefly questioned Eric about Sylvias whereabouts. Shortly afterward, she claimed, he fled the scene, raising alarm among investigators and family members.

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Teresiah also described a disturbing discovery at her daughters hostel, where she found the room in disarray. The scene prompted officers from the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) to inspect both hostels at the institution.

Despite her relentless search, Teresiah said she later learned that the official missing person report had disappeared from records, forcing her to push detectives to escalate the matter. She pleaded with officers not to publicize her daughters disappearance as she clung to hope that Sylvia was still alive.

Phone tracking data indicated that Sylvia remained somewhere within the university compound, yet search teams failed to locate her, a situation that Teresiah said caused her immense anguish.

Her voice cracked as she recalled receiving a phone call on Thursday evening informing her that Sylvia had been found dead.

I went to the City Mortuary that day and saw the body; it was swollen, and there were visible marks in her fingers, she narrated, reliving the moment that shattered her hopes.

She told the court that she identified her daughter by the distinctive nail polish on her fingers.

Speaking to the courtroom, Judge Diana Kavedza noted that trials of this nature require emotional resilience and reliance on Gods grace, given the disturbing material often presented. She pointed out that judicial officers frequently encounter death and graphic evidence, comparing their daily work to that of pathologists who face similar realities.

We see photos, we confront death every day, Lady Justice Kavedza said, adding, Handling murder cases requires Gods grace.

The judge highlighted that, despite the emotional intensity of murder trials, maintaining control and order in the courtroom is crucial.

The court must contain the emotions, she said, before instructing that the hearing continue.

Represented by family lawyer Danstan Omari, Teresiah also opened up about her life as a single mother, explaining how she raised Sylvia alone and struggled to educate her despite limited financial means.

Sylvia, who scored an A- in the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE), had dreamed of studying medicine. However, financial constraints forced her to abandon that ambition and pursue computer science instead.

She was to do medicine, but due to financial constraints, we couldnt make it happen. She was to study at the University of Nairobi, but I lacked the funds, she said.

Teresiah added that Sylvias friends helped raise money to enable her to enroll in a computer science course at Multimedia University.

She described her daughter as ambitious, kind, and loving, saying the family continues to struggle with the magnitude of the loss.

During cross-examination, Teresiah told the court that Sylvia had rejected Eric Mutindas romantic advances and that she was unaware of any personal relationship between the two.

Investigators later recovered Sylvia Kemuntos body from a water tank on the rooftop of a hostel building within the university compound. Mutinda has denied the murder charge.

The trial is ongoing, with the court expected to hear more witnesses as prosecutors seek to piece together the events that led to the death of the Multimedia University student.
Cultural & Historical Significance

The name Beauvais carries profound cultural significance rooted in French history and regional identity. Originating from the historic city of Beauvais in the Picardy region, the name immediately evokes France's rich medieval heritage, particularly through its association with the magnificent Beauvais Cathedrala masterpiece of Gothic architecture that represents French religious and artistic achievement. Throughout French history, the name has been borne by scholars, artists, and military figures, reflecting the diverse cultural contributions of the Beauvais region. The city's renowned tapestry workshops during the 17th and 18th centuries, which produced some of Europe's finest textiles, further enhance the name's connection to French artisanal excellence and luxury craftsmanship.



The cultural significance of Beauvais extends beyond its geographical origins to embody broader French values of elegance, intellectual pursuit, and cultural preservation. In aristocratic circles, the name came to represent a connection to land, history, and tradition, while in modern times it symbolizes a bridge between France's glorious past and its contemporary cultural identity. The name's persistence through centuries of French historyfrom medieval times through revolution to the present daydemonstrates its enduring appeal and the French reverence for historical continuity. Today, Beauvais serves as a cultural touchstone for those wishing to honor French heritage while maintaining a distinctive identity.
Individuals named Davine are often perceived as compassionate, nurturing, and deeply connected to their relationships. The name's meaning of 'beloved' seems to manifest in their personality through strong emotional intelligence and the ability to form meaningful connections with others. They typically exhibit a natural grace and warmth that draws people toward them, combined with a quiet strength reminiscent of their namesake's biblical heritage. Davines are often described as loyal friends and devoted family members who prioritize the wellbeing of those they care about.



Beyond their relational strengths, Davines frequently demonstrate creativity, intuition, and a strong sense of justice. They tend to be thoughtful decision-makers who consider multiple perspectives before acting, reflecting the wisdom associated with their biblical counterpart. Many Davines show leadership qualities tempered with humility, often taking on supportive roles that empower others rather than seeking personal glory. Their personality typically combines traditional values with progressive thinking, making them effective bridges between different generations and viewpoints. The name seems to attract individuals who balance emotional depth with practical wisdom, creating well-rounded personalities capable of handling complex situations with both heart and mind.
Individuals named Glynn are often perceived as grounded, stable, and deeply connected to their roots, much like the valleys from which their name derives. They tend to be practical problem-solvers with a calm demeanor, able to navigate life's challenges with steady determination. Their valley-inspired nature suggests someone who provides shelter and stability to others, often serving as a reliable anchor in relationships and professional settings. Glynn's typically exhibit a quiet strength rather than flashy confidence, preferring substance over showmanship.



These individuals often possess an intuitive understanding of natural rhythms and cycles, making them excellent at long-term planning and seeing the bigger picture in complex situations. They're frequently described as patient listeners who absorb information before speaking, and their advice tends to be well-considered and practical. While they may not seek the spotlight, Glynn's often become respected leaders through their consistent reliability and depth of character. Their connection to the valley symbolism also suggests a capacity for nurturing growth in others, creating environments where people feel safe to develop and flourish. This combination of stability and nurturing makes them valued friends, partners, and colleagues.
Women named Kermilla are typically perceived as possessing a warm, radiant personality that draws others to them naturally. They often exhibit strong leadership qualities combined with genuine compassion, creating a balance of strength and sensitivity that serves them well in both personal and professional relationships. Their 'gilded' nature manifests as an ability to find value and beauty in challenging situations, often serving as peacemakers and mediators in conflicts.



Kermillas tend to be deeply principled individuals who maintain their integrity under pressure, while also demonstrating remarkable resilience and adaptability when facing life's difficulties. They frequently become pillars in their communities, known for their wisdom and ability to inspire others toward positive change. The combination of inner strength and outward grace makes them particularly effective in roles requiring both conviction and diplomacy, and they often excel in fields where they can nurture growth and development in others.
Moreen is an Irish feminine name meaning 'great' and is also associated with the meaning 'star of the sea' through its connection to Mary. It represents both greatness in character and a guiding, protective presence.

Cultural & Historical Significance

Moreen is an Anglicized form of the Irish name Mairin, which itself is a diminutive of Maire, the Irish equivalent of Mary. The name carries deep roots in Irish Catholic tradition, reflecting the strong devotion to the Virgin Mary that has characterized Irish Christianity for centuries. During the 19th and early 20th centuries, as Irish immigrants spread throughout the English-speaking world, names like Moreen helped maintain cultural identity while adapting to new environments.



The name represents a bridge between traditional Irish culture and the broader English-speaking world. It emerged during a period when many Irish names were being Anglicized to facilitate integration while preserving cultural heritage. Moreen specifically gained popularity during the Irish diaspora, serving as a marker of Irish identity while being accessible to English speakers. Its usage reflects the complex history of Irish language preservation and cultural adaptation under British rule and during mass emigration.
Cultural & Historical Significance

Wenhaver, better known as Guinevere, occupies a central position in Arthurian legend as the queen whose personal choices ultimately contribute to the destruction of Camelot. Her character has evolved significantly across different cultural traditions, from the early Welsh Gwenhwyfar who may have been a goddess figure to the sophisticated courtly lady of French romance. Throughout these transformations, she consistently represents the complex intersection of female agency, political responsibility, and romantic desire in medieval society.



As a cultural symbol, Guinevere embodies the tension between personal fulfillment and public duty that characterized medieval aristocratic women's lives. Her story has been interpreted through various lenses: as a cautionary tale about the dangers of female sexuality, as an exploration of courtly love ideals, and more recently as a narrative about a woman trapped in a political marriage seeking personal happiness. The enduring power of her character lies in this ambiguity - she is simultaneously the ideal queen and the destructive adulteress, making her one of Western literature's most compelling and psychologically complex female figures.
ATLANTA  Researchers at Emory University have identified effective, community-driven strategies to increase participation by underrepresented populations in Alzheimers disease research, according to a new study published in Alzheimers & Dementia, the journal of the Alzheimers Association.

The research was conducted by investigators at the Goizueta Alzheimers Disease Research Center, part of the Emory Goizueta Brain Health Institute, and highlights how targeted, community-based outreach can significantly improve research enrollment among African American adults. This population faces a higher risk of Alzheimers disease and related dementias but remains underrepresented in clinical research. Older African Americans, though underrepresented in research studies, have an increased risk of Alzheimers disease.

The study was led by Antoine R. Trammell, MD, MPH, along with James J. Lah, MD, PhD, associate director of the Goizueta Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, and Monica W. Parker, MD, who leads the centers outreach and recruitment efforts. All authors are faculty members in the Emory University School of Medicine.

They analyzed data from 194 adults enrolled in the centers research studies between 2016 and 2024. The findings show that intentional outreach efforts  including health education events and partnerships with trusted community organizations were strongly associated with increased participation among African American adults.

Among the key findings:

African American participants were more likely to attend outreach events before enrolling in the study than non-Hispanic white participants. Community-based events held in Black communities, including churches and neighborhood centers, were especially effective in engaging participants. Although they are typically considered the most difficult group to engage in research, African American men enrolled more quickly than other groups, reflecting the impact of programs with intentional, focused content relevant to the audience.

The study underscores the importance of recruitment strategies that are structured, culturally responsive and informed by community input, with an emphasis on building trust through sustained local partnerships.

Alzheimers disease disproportionately affects African American and Hispanic communities, yet these populations are consistently underrepresented in research, Lah says. Our findings show that intentional, community-informed outreach can help close that gap and improve the relevance of Alzheimers research for the communities most affected.

The researchers note that future studies should examine long-term participant retention and assess whether these outreach strategies can be scaled across other regions and populations.

The study was supported by the National Institutes of Healths National Institute on Aging and the Georgia Department of Human Services through Georgia Memory Net.

About the Emory Goizueta Brain Health Institute

The Emory Goizueta Brain Health Institute advances innovation in brain health prediction, prevention and treatment. Its multidisciplinary teams study the mechanisms of brain disease and develop new therapeutic strategies and biomarkers. The institute is part of Emory University. Learn more at goizuetabrainhealth.emory.edu.
The death toll from the devastating Gul Plaza fire in Karachi has climbed to 73, with authorities stating that the search and recovery operation at the site is nearing completion, according to Geo News. The massive blaze, described as Karachi''s worst commercial fire in more than a decade, broke out on January 17 and quickly engulfed the multi-storey Gul Plaza shopping complex. The building housed nearly 1,200 small, family-run shops dealing in wedding garments, toys, crockery and other consumer goods. Deputy Commissioner South, Javed Nabi Khosa, said that the search operation is almost complete and that the fire-damaged building will be sealed on Monday (January 26). He added that authorities are making final efforts to trace missing individuals. "There were 82 missing individuals. If anyone is still looking for a relative, they can contact us," Khosa said, quoted by Geo News. Providing details on the identification process, Khosa said DNA verification remains incomplete in several cases. "13 missing persons are yet to be matched because their families have not provided DNA samples. So far, DNA matching has been completed for 23 individuals. Among the 73 deceased, 23 have been identified," he said. Khosa also urged the public to avoid entering the unsafe structure, warning of potential hazards. "People should avoid going inside the affected building. We have also marked the area," he added. Meanwhile, SSP City Arif Aziz said investigations are ongoing, with statements being recorded from all concerned. "After filing the case, we continue to take statements. We have obtained statements from the administration, security guards, and all relevant personnel." "Once negligence and lapses come to light, all aspects will be revealed. We are investigating why doors were closed and why they were not opened after the fire broke out," SSP Aziz added, reported by Geo News. Earlier, Police Surgeon Dr Summaiya Syed said that post-mortem examinations of at least 73 victims have been completed so far. In a statement cited by Geo News, she said recovery of human remains from the debris is still in progress, with medical teams on constant alert at Civil Hospital Karachi. "Our teams are present at Civil Hospital at all times," she said, as rescue and identification efforts continue. Sindh Governor Kamran Tessori visited the family of victim Aftab and announced financial support for the education of all four of his children. He called on authorities to provide direct assistance to affected families. Speaking to the media, the Governor said, "It is the government''s duty to assist the next of kin. They should not be sent running around; counters should be set up to help them." He stressed that political considerations should not overshadow justice for the victims. "If politics is to be done, we are ready, but first an answer must be given for the 88 bodies." "The Gul Plaza tragedy has shaken the hearts of people living in this city. We are not politicising what happened there, but who says we should remain silent?" the governor added, quoted by Geo News. Police have registered a first information report (FIR) at the Nabi Bux Police Station. The FIR has been lodged against unidentified individuals and sealed after registration. Sindh Home Minister Ziaul Hassan Lanjar stated that there are concerns of sabotage or terrorism, but the matter is not clear, and anti-terror provisions will be added in the FIR if there''s relevant evidence, reported by Geo News. Separately, Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) Chairman Dr Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui has written to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, seeking the formation of a federal inquiry commission into the Gul Plaza tragedy. The party has proposed that the commission include the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), National Accountability Bureau (NAB), National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), Military Intelligence (MI), Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), National Engineering Services Pakistan (Nespak), and the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), Geo News reported. (ANI)
The suicide bomber responsible for the deadly attack on a wedding ceremony at the residence of a peace committee member in Pakistan''s Dera Ismail Khan has been identified as an Afghan national, ARY News reported on Sunday, citing security sources. At least seven people were killed and 10 others injured in the attack, which took place near Qureshi Morr on Friday night in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. The attack occurred on Friday during a wedding ceremony in Dera Ismail Khan district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. A building collapsed after the blast, according to local police official Muhammad Adnan, who said the structure was being used by members of a peace committee at the time of the incident, reported by Al Jazeera. At least seven people were killed and 10 others injured when a building collapsed following a blast near Qureshi Morr on Friday night in Dera Ismail Khan district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The explosion occurred during a wedding ceremony, and the structure was reportedly being used by members of a local peace committee at the time, according to police official Muhammad Adnan, Al Jazeera reported. The blast targeted a building where members of a peace committee had gathered for a wedding. Police stated that guests were taking part in traditional drum dancing when the suicide bomber detonated explosives inside a room, causing a powerful explosion that led to the partial collapse of the building. CCTV footage of the incident has also emerged. According to investigators, the bomber has been identified as 21-year-old Abdul Rehman, an Afghan national. Ary News reported that the footage shows the attacker, draping a white shawl around him, entering the wedding venue. During the tribal dance, he suddenly left the main gathering area and moved toward a room at the back where tribal elders were present. Moments after entering the room, he detonated the explosives, causing the roof to collapse. The attack occurred during the wedding ceremony of the nephew of Peace Committee head Noor Alam Mehsud. Security analysts have pointed out that Afghanistan has increasingly become a base of operations for terrorist activities, with Afghan militants being used as hired attackers inside Pakistan, reported Ary News. Last year, a suicide bombing near the Islamabad District Courts, carried out by an Afghan national, killed at least 12 people and injured more than a dozen others. (ANI)
Baloch activist Sammi Deen condemned the sentencing of lawyer Imaan Zainab Mazari-Hazir and her husband, Hadi Ali Chattha, describing their punishment as a blatant act of repression. In a post on X, she wrote, "Imaan and Hadi have been sentenced to rigorous imprisonment for standing up for the rights of the Baloch and other deliberately silenced and oppressed communities. That is their only ''crime''." Baloch further denounced the verdict as a sham, arguing that it reflects the deep erosion of public trust in Pakistan''s judiciary. "Like so many people for whom Imaan raised her voice, she too has been denied a fair trial. This is how oppression reproduces itself," she stated. Emphasising that fear cannot substitute governance, Baloch warned the state that fundamental rights cannot be surrendered. "The right to a fair trial, justice, and freedom of expression are fundamental rights. We will not surrender them, and we will not allow ourselves to be ruled by fear", she wrote. According to Dawn, Imaan Mazari-Hazir and Hadi Chattha were arrested on Friday while reportedly on their way to the Islamabad district courts. Multiple cases have been registered against them under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA), anti-terrorism laws, and legislation regulating public assembly. The arrests, Dawn noted, demonstrate how legal instruments are increasingly being weaponised to silence dissent, exposing a state that appears to be at war with opposition voices. As reported, the allegations against Imaan centre on so-called "offensive tweets" directed at "important state institutions." Notably, while Imaan is being prosecuted for posting critical content, Hadi faces charges merely for reposting and resharing her statements. Dawn highlighted that this sets a troubling precedent where even clicking "repost" on content deemed objectionable by the state can lead to criminal prosecution. Dawn argued that a state that treats criticism as a crime undermines both democracy and the rule of law. "When lawyers are punished for challenging state excesses, the attack extends beyond individuals--it strikes at the very foundations of the legal system itself", Dawn said. (ANI)
The High Commission of India in Pakistan celebrated the 77th Republic Day on Monday. Charge d''affaires Gitika Srivastav unfurled the tri-color which was followed by the singing of national anthem. Sharing the details in a post on X, the Indian High Commission in Pakistan said, "Celebrating the Indian Republic - Birthplace of Democracy. 77th Republic Day - A day to renew our pledge to upholding the ideals of our constitution. High Commission of India, Islamabad celebrated the 77th Republic Day. C''dA Ms Geetika Srivastava @gitikasrivastav unfurled the tricolour which was followed by singing of the National Anthem and reading of Hon''ble President''s address to the nation." https://x.com/IndiainPakistan/status/2015677178722341185?s=20 A glass-cased Integrated Operational Centre (IOC) showcasing the conduct of Operation Sindoor rolled down Kartavya Path during the 77th Republic Day parade on Monday. The display highlighted the success of the operation and the coordinated efforts of India''s armed forces. The operation led to the neutralisation of over 100 terrorists and enemy soldiers, along with the destruction of key strategic assets, bringing the enemy to its knees within just 88 hours. India''s 77th Republic Day parade concluded on Monday after a spectacular showcase of the country''s military might and diverse culture at Kartavya Path. The Indian Air Force presented a stupendous fly-past as the 77th Republic Day celebrations on Kartavya Path in the national capital Precision at tremendous speeds was on display as the Air Force Pilots showcased the incredible symbiosis of man and machine. A total of 29 aircraft, including 16 fighter aircraft, four transport aircraft and nine helicopters, participated in this year''s Republic Day flypast. These aircraft are operating from five different bases. President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen and President of the European Council, Antonio Luis Santos da Costa, were the Chief Guests for the 2026 Republic Day celebrations. Republic Day, observed annually on January 26, marks the day India adopted its Constitution in 1950, officially becoming a sovereign, socialist, secular, and democratic republic. The day holds immense historical significance as it represents the culmination of India''s long struggle for independence and the establishment of constitutional governance based on justice, liberty, equality and fraternity. While independence on August 15, 1947, ended colonial rule, it was the adoption of the Constitution that completed India''s transition to self-governance based on law, institutional accountability, and the will of the Indians. (ANI)
A devastating earthquake struck Pakistan-occupied Gilgit-Baltistan on January 19, destroying hundreds of homes and leaving numerous families in urgent need of relief. Despite the magnitude of the disaster, residents say the PoGB interim government has taken little more than formal steps, leaving communities frustrated and helpless. Aid from China, including tents, blankets, and other essential relief items, has reportedly been stuck at Sost Port since 2022. Villagers in Chapursan are demanding that at least this minimal assistance be released immediately to alleviate their suffering. A local resident explained, "Since 2022, aid from the Chinese government has arrived but remains stuck at Sost Port. It includes shelters, tents, blankets, and other relief products. Our hope is that the GB government make even a small effort to get it released through the FBR. Even if large-scale aid cannot reach us right now, at least this minimal support would provide some relief." Residents have called for an emergency declaration and the full deployment of state resources, emphasising that their livelihoods depend entirely on this land. The same resident added, "A disaster has truly occurred here. An emergency should be declared, and all state resources must be deployed. Chapursan is not a place where we can abandon our homes. Our livelihoods and survival are tied to this land." Frustration has also mounted over bureaucratic delays, with locals saying a simple No Objection Certificate (NOC) could have prevented the current crisis. Another resident said, "If only a small piece of paper had been sent to China a month ago for the NOC, which was ready there, we would not be facing so much trouble today-for the department, the government, or the public. For some reason, it was not done, and we are left paying the price." As hundreds of families remain stranded and exposed, the interim government''s failure to provide timely and meaningful disaster relief has sparked widespread anger, highlighting the urgent need for immediate action to support the affected communities. (ANI)
Several roads leading to the Karachi Press Club (KPC) remained closed for hours as lawyers, rights defenders and civil society representatives held demonstrations against the conviction of Pakistan''s human rights lawyers Imaan Zainab Mazari-Hazir and Hadi Ali Chattha, resulting in major traffic disruptions across the city. According to Dawn, on Monday, authorities blocked key routes using containers and parked buses, slowing vehicular movement and preventing many protesters from reaching the press club, causing inconvenience to commuters on multiple arteries. Police also stopped activist Zulfikar Ali Bhutto Junior and others from accessing the KPC, drawing criticism from journalists. KPC President Fazil Jamili termed the action a violation of constitutional freedoms, saying, "The siege of the Karachi Press Club today is a blatant assault on democratic freedoms. By cordoning off the KPC and barring citizens, including Zulfiqar Bhutto Jr., from protesting the sentencing of Imaan Mazari, authorities are violating the fundamental right to peaceful assembly." Lawyer Jibran Nasir said, "all roads leading to the KPC have been blocked by placing containers andAll parking buses. The state wants to deny journalists, advocates and civil society the right to protest and expose the sham trial and conviction of Advocates Imaan Mazaari and Hadi Ali Chattha". Journalist Sameer Mandhro also stated that "police [have] blocked all routes leading to the Karachi Press Club". "The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, journalists, lawyers, and civil society activists are protesting against the Peca Act and the sentence awarded to Imaan Mazari," Mandhro added, Dawn reported. After being prevented from entering the press club, Zulfikar Bhutto Junior, son of the late politician Murtaza Bhutto, staged a sit-in at the KPC Roundabout. Speaking to the media, he said police were not even allowing demonstrators to protest on pavements. "We are being deprived of fundamental human rights. I want to participate in the protest, but participation in the protest has become a crime," he said. Commenting on Mazari and Chattha''s sentencing, Bhutto Junior said, "They were convicted over just a tweet. My father faced similar treatment by the police." Veteran activist Sheema Kermani was also among those holding the sit-in. Meanwhile, roads near Zainab Market and the Arts Council of Pakistan roundabout remained blocked for several hours. Some routes were reopened later, and the sit-in ended around 6:45 pm after Bhutto Junior and others were allowed to proceed to the KPC, with all remaining closures lifted by about 9 pm, according to Dawn. Speaking again at the press club, Bhutto Junior said there were no restrictions on protest in a democratic society. "Only thieves are happy in this country, and I am talking about those thieves who hold posts and are sitting in Islamabad," he said. The protests followed a sessions court verdict sentencing Mazari and Chattha to a combined 17 years in prison on multiple charges linked to social media posts, triggering widespread outrage among rights groups, opposition parties and journalists, Dawn reported. They were sentenced a day after their arrest in Islamabad, with critics stressing their right to a fair trial. Amnesty International flagged the "lack of adherence to due process", calling the cases "retaliatory cases aimed solely at silencing Mazari and Chattha for their human rights work and dissent". The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan also condemned the arrests, describing the case as a "tool to harass, intimidate and ultimately muzzle dissent". Dawn reported. (ANI)
The Human Rights Council of Pakistan (HRC-Pakistan) has strongly condemned the decision by Judge Afzal Majoka''s court to sentence renowned human rights lawyers Advocate Iman Mazari and Advocate Hadi Ali Chattha to a combined 17 years in prison, along with fines exceeding 30 million rupees, in the controversial tweet case. In a statement posted on X, the council said: "This verdict is a dangerous link in the chain of silencing powerful voices advocating for human rights in Pakistan." HRC-Pakistan highlighted the lifelong dedication of both lawyers to defending vulnerable communities. "Iman Mazari and Hadi Ali Chattha have consistently fought for justice, whether challenging enforced disappearances, addressing extrajudicial violence, contesting fake cases against journalists, or protecting the economic rights of street vendors. Their work has spanned the most critical fronts of human rights and the rule of law, including ensuring transparent trials for individuals accused of blasphemy." The council further stated: "Imposing harsh punishments merely for expressing opinions or tweeting violates international human rights standards and constitutes an attack on the freedom of expression guaranteed under Article 19 of the Constitution of Pakistan. Targeting human rights defenders in this way undermines justice, fairness, and Pakistan''s reputation internationally." HRC-Pakistan called on the higher judiciary and relevant authorities to review the decision immediately and put an end to politically motivated cases against human rights defenders. The council also expressed full solidarity with the families of Iman Mazari and Hadi Ali Chattha, as well as the broader legal community, during this challenging time. The case highlights Pakistan''s worsening human rights situation. Freedom of expression is increasingly under threat, with activists and lawyers facing politically motivated cases for speaking out. Targeting defenders of vulnerable communities undermines justice, erodes the rule of law, and damages Pakistan''s international reputation, signalling a growing climate of fear and suppression of dissent. (ANI)
The domestic equity benchmarks opened nearly flat but in green on Tuesday as investors remained cautious ahead of the much-anticipated India-European Union Free Trade Agreement (FTA), which is expected to be signed today. Market participants are closely monitoring developments around the deal, even as global uncertainty continues due to frequent tariff-related threats by US President Donald Trump. The Nifty 50 index opened at 25,063.35, gaining 14.70 points or 0.06 per cent, while the BSE Sensex began the session at 81,662.37, up by 124.67 points or 0.15 per cent. Ajay Bagga, Banking and Market Expert, told ANI that market sentiment is showing some excitement around the India-EU trade agreement. "The 'Mother of all Deals', the EU-India FTA, is imminent and there is some market exuberance around it. It will help Indian textiles, gems and jewellery, leather, intermediate machinery, and the auto ancillary sector," he said. He added, "The US reaction has been one of attacking India and the EU on Russian oil purchases. The threat to impose 100 per cent tariffs on Canada and 25 per cent on Korea is Trump playing the 2025 Weaponisation Playbook when the world has moved on to 2026. There is some impact on Korean automakers, but the rest of Asia is resilient". Global uncertainty has been rising sharply, driven by daily tariff threats from US President Donald Trump. This has made equity investors cautious and pushed investors and central banks towards safe-haven assets such as gold and silver. As a result, precious metal prices have surged. The gold rally continued, with commodities touching new highs amid global uncertainty and continued tariff threats. The price of 10 grams of gold surged to Rs 1,62,110, while silver prices climbed sharply to Rs 3,60,100 per kilogram. In the broader market indices on the NSE, the Nifty 200 was up by 0.04 per cent, while the Nifty Smallcap 100 gained 0.23 per cent. However, midcap and smallcap indices remained under pressure in early trade. Among sectoral indices on the NSE, Nifty Auto declined by more than 1.3 per cent, Nifty Media fell by 1.6 per cent, and Nifty Realty was down by 0.66 per cent. On the positive side, Nifty Metal rose by 1.48 per cent, Nifty PSU Bank gained 0.68 per cent, and Nifty Pharma was also trading in the green. Sunil Gurjar, SEBI-registered analyst and Founder of Alphamojo Financial Services, said the Nifty 50 has underperformed after hitting an all-time high. "The index is falling sharply due to global uncertainty, trade tariff wars, geopolitical tensions, and a weakening Rupee," he told ANI. He added that the Nifty breached a major support level at 25,250 and has moved below all short- and long-term EMAs. "Currently, 24,600 acts as critical support; a breakdown below this level would confirm a strong downtrend," he said. In other Asian markets, equities were largely positive. Japan's Nikkei 225 rose by 0.49 per cent, Singapore's Straits Times index was up by 0.79 per cent, Hong Kong's Hang Seng index gained more than 1 per cent, South Korea's KOSPI surged by 1.94 per cent, and Taiwan's weighted index advanced by 1.10 per cent. (ANI)
Taichung [China], January 27: Today marks the official release of MedTech Advance, a comprehensive digital buyer's directory engineered to accelerate the sourcing process for the medical technology industry. As the complexity of medical device design increases, MedTech Advance provides a centralized platform for Engineering, R&D, and Procurement professionals to discover elite suppliers and high-precision components. Comprehensive e-book accelerates product development by connecting R&D and procurement teams with global suppliers.

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(ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by PRNewswire. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same)
As India and the European Union ink the historic Free Trade Agreement, popularly dubbed the 'mother of all deals', Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed the deal saying that this would give a major boost for manufacturing in India. He also said that the services sector will also expand post this Free Trade Agreement with the European Council. "Manufacturing will get a huge boost from this trade deal with the EU, and the services sector will also expand. The Free Trade Agreement will boost the confidence of every investor and businessman to invest in India," the PM said as he ianugurated the India Energy Week being held in Goa. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday hailed the India-European Union Free Trade Agreement (FTA) as a perfect example of a partnership between two major economies of the world, noting that the landmark deal will create major opportunities for people, businesses and investors in both regions. Referring to the recently signed agreement, PM Modi also said the deal has already drawn global attention and is being described as the "mother of all deals". "Yesterday a big agreement was signed between the European Union and India. People are calling this the mother of all deals. This agreement will bring major opportunities for the public in India and Europe. This is a perfect example of a partnership between two major economies of the world," the Prime Minister said. "This agreement empowers our shared commitment towards democracy and rule of law. This Free Trade Agreement with the European Union will also complement Britain and EFTA's agreements...I congratulate the people of the nation for this," he added. India and the EU together represent almost one-fifth of global trade and around 25 per cent of the global population, highlighting the growing economic and strategic weight of the partnership. The EU and India are close partners working to promote economic prosperity, a rules-based international order and sustainable development. Trade and investment remain central pillars of this relationship. In trade in goods, the EU is India's second-largest trading partner, right after China and ahead of the United States, accounting for 11.5 per cent of India's total goods trade. As per official data, in 2024, EU-India trade in goods was valued at over Euro 120 billion. This included Euro 71.4 billion worth of EU imports from India and Euro 48.8 billion in EU exports to India. Over the last decade, bilateral trade in goods has doubled. During this period, EU imports from India grew by 140 per cent, while EU exports to India increased by 58 per cent, showing the steady expansion of commercial ties. The main goods exported by the EU to India include machinery and appliances, transport equipment and chemicals. On the other hand, the EU primarily imports machinery and appliances, chemicals and fuels from India. Trade in services has also seen strong growth. In 2024, EU-India trade in services was worth over Euro 66 billion, with more than Euro 37 billion in EU imports and around Euro 29 billion in EU exports. Over the past decade, trade in services between the two sides has more than doubled, recording a growth of 243 per cent. Negotiations on a free-trade agreement between India and the EU started in 2007 and was relaunched in 2022. This agreement will boost bilateral trade and investment ties and drive shared prosperity. (ANI)
Union Minister of Civil Aviation Ram Mohan Naidu held a meeting with senior executives of Airbus to discuss ways to deepen the integration of Indian micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) into global aviation supply chains, reflecting the growing role of India in the global aerospace ecosystem. The minister met Wouter van Wersch, Executive Vice President International at Airbus, and Jurgen Westermeier, President and Managing Director, Airbus India and South Asia. The discussions focused on strengthening collaboration between Airbus and Indian industry, particularly MSMEs, as India continues to emerge as a key manufacturing and innovation hub for the global aviation sector. Sharing details of the interaction through a social media post, the Civil Aviation Minister said that India has today emerged as a convergence hub for the interests, innovation and investment of global original equipment manufacturers (OEMs). "Met Wouter van Wersch (Executive VP International, Airbus) and Jurgen Westermeier (President & MD, Airbus India & South Asia) today. Had a very positive interaction on deepening the integration of Indian MSMEs into global aviation supply chains," the minister said in his post. He highlighted that global aerospace majors are increasingly looking at India not only as a market, but also as an important base for manufacturing and supply chain integration. The minister further noted that the Indian aviation ecosystem is steadily evolving into a major industry, with a strong focus on indigenous manufacturing. He said India is increasingly manufacturing aircraft components domestically and is also moving towards the development of regional transport aircraft, reflecting the country's growing capabilities in the aerospace sector. Highlighting a key milestone in India's manufacturing journey, the minister said that all eight doors of the Airbus A220 aircraft are now made in India. This development underlines the expanding role of Indian companies in the global production network of one of the world's leading aircraft manufacturers. The meeting comes at a time when India's civil aviation sector is witnessing rapid growth, supported by rising air traffic, infrastructure development and a strong policy push towards "Make in India". The focus on MSMEs is expected to help smaller Indian companies gain access to global markets, advanced technologies and long-term business opportunities. The interaction between the Civil Aviation Minister and Airbus leadership shows continued efforts to deepen global partnerships and accelerate the transformation of India's aviation ecosystem into a globally integrated and manufacturing-driven industry. (ANI)
By Nargiza Umarova

The Islamic Republic of Iran is intensifying its transport diplomacy with Central Asian states, driven by a shared interest in enhancing their competitive positions in transit transport amid the growing importance of eastwest and northsouth land corridors. Despite international economic sanctions and sustained pressure from the U.S., Iran continues to pursue mutually beneficial partnerships with neighboring countries to consolidate its role as a regional transit hub. This strategy is particularly evident in its promotion to Europe of the Southern Corridor, which involves virtually all Central Asian states, as well as China

BACKGROUND: In recent years, Central Asia has emerged as a focal point in the transformation of Eurasias transport architecture, reinforcing momentum for the development of sustainable trade routes through Iran to West and South Asia and to Europe. This trend aligns with Chinas Belt and Road Initiative, which Iran formally joined in 2021 following the signing of a 25-year comprehensive cooperation agreement with Beijing.

China has shown growing interest in operating the southern branch of the New Silk Road, as heightened maritime tensions and the war in Ukraine, which have constrained the Northern Corridor through Russia and Belarus, have compelled Beijing to redirect part of its Europe-bound cargo to continental routes. Central Asia and the South Caucasus provide an alternative through multimodal transport across the Caspian and Black Seas. China is already engaged in trans-Caspian logistics: in 2024, cargo volumes transported from China via the Middle Corridor exceeded 27,000 containers, representing a 25-fold increase compared to 2023. At the same time, Beijing is pursuing the development of the Southern Transit Route for both economic and geopolitical reasons.

The EU is Chinas second-largest trading partner. Mutual trade reached US$ 762 billion in 2024 and rose to almost US$ 850 billion in 2025. Given that Chinese exports to the EU are dominated by high-technology goods, Beijing naturally prioritizes containerized transport for overland logistics. From a technical perspective, the transit corridor through Iran is particularly well suited to this purpose. This corridor is expected to become monomodal following the completion of the ChinaKyrgyzstanUzbekistan railway and the railway line linking Marand in Iran with Cheshmeh Soraya and onward to the Turkish border in the Aralk region. The latter project will eliminate the need for ferry transport across Lake Van in Turkey, which currently constrains the smooth functioning of the Southern Corridor.

In 2025, Irans Ministry of Roads and Urban Development announced plans to construct nine transit railway corridors with a total length of 17,000 kilometers, at an estimated cost exceeding US$ 10 billion. Upon completion, Irans rail network is expected to handle up to 60 million tons of cargo annually. Several of these projects, including the 200-kilometer MarandCheshmeh Soraya railway, are aligned with the Southern Railway Corridor and are intended to position it as the shortest trade route between East and West.

IMPLICATIONS: The granting of exclusive rights to the U.S. to develop the Zangezur Corridor, proposed to be named the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity (TRIPP), is increasingly prompting China to provide tangible support for the Southern Corridor through Iran. A joint venture, the TRIPP Development Company, has been announced, with the U.S. holding a 74 percent stake. Beijing may interpret this initiative as an effort by Washington to gain leverage over freight transport along the Middle Corridor. To mitigate this risk, China requires reliable transport routes that bypass the Caspian Sea.

China is currently constructing the Sarakhs railway terminal on the TurkmenistanIran border, a project expected to accelerate container transport along the ChinaCentral AsiaIranTurkeyEU and Gulf routes. In August 2025, Iranian authorities reported that more than half of the project had been completed.

Beijing and Tehran have also agreed to electrify a 1,000-kilometre railway section from Sarakhs to Razi on the Turkish border. The project includes the construction of additional track segments, which are expected to triple freight capacity to 15 million tons annually.

Meanwhile, Iran and Turkmenistan plan to lay additional 1,435 mm- and 1,520 mm-gauge tracks between the Sarakhs stations to accelerate freight movement and expand border-crossing capacity. The objective is to raise cross-border freight volumes to 20 million tons annually, including up to 6 million tons transported by rail. Both countries have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening the Southern Railway Corridor westward and the Central AsiaPersian Gulf multimodal transport corridor, the latter launched in 2016 under the Ashgabat Agreement by Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Iran, and Oman.

Uzbekistans policy of diversifying its trade flows and establishing efficient transport links with global markets has provided significant momentum to the development of the southern branch of the EastWest transit corridor. As early as 2022, Tashkent, in cooperation with Ankara, launched freight rail services along the UzbekistanTurkmenistanIranTurkey route. This corridor, with potential extension to the EU, was presented as the fastest and most efficient option for bilateral export and import deliveries.

Tashkent views the Southern Corridor, whose current capacity is limited to 10 million tons per year for technical and political reasons, as a potential driver of its own economic growth through a significant expansion of transport service exports. This prospect is closely linked to the completion of the ChinaKyrgyzstanUzbekistan railway, scheduled for 2030. Once integrated with Irans rail network within the framework of the Shanghai Cooperation Organizations unified transport space, the East AsiaEurope route will be shortened by approximately 900 kilometers, reducing delivery times by seven to eight days. As a result, the Southern Railway Corridor is expected to become the shortest monomodal link between these two economically advanced regions. In parallel, the construction of an international highway connecting China with Tajikistan and Uzbekistan is projected to generate additional cargo flows in the IranTurkey direction and to support the development of the ChinaTajikistanUzbekistanTurkmenistanIranTurkey/EU multimodal transit corridor. Pilot implementation of this project is expected in 2026.

At the same time, the ChinaKazakhstanUzbekistanTurkmenistanIranTurkey/EU and ChinaKazakhstanTurkmenistanIranTurkey/EU railway corridors are under development. Their advancement is being coordinated through regular consultations among the railway authorities of the six participating countries, with two meetings held in 2025. The first took place in Tehran in May, after which China dispatched its first freight train from Xian to Aprin, Irans largest dry port, via Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan. This route reduces delivery times to approximately 15 days, around half the duration of maritime transport. By the end of 2025, 40 cargo trains had been dispatched from China to Iran, compared to only seven over the previous seven years. The significance of these developments extends beyond ChinaIran trade, contributing to broader improvements in transport connectivity between East Asia and Europe.

On August 2, 2025, the heads of the railway companies of Iran, Kazakhstan, China, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, and Turkey held a further round of negotiations in Beijing on the operation of the southern branch of the EastWest Corridor. Building on the May meeting, the parties elaborated a preliminary agreement establishing uniform transport tariffs along the ChinaKazakhstanUzbekistanTurkmenistanIranTurkey/EU railway route, as well as measures to increase freight volumes, including standardized delivery times and simplified procedures.

Central Asian states seek transit through Iran not only to access Turkey and Europe by land, but also to reach the Indian Ocean via Irans major southern ports of Chabahar and Bandar Abbas. In 2023, Uzbekistan announced plans to build a terminal and warehouse facilities at Shahid Beheshti Port in Chabahar. In 2025, Kazakhstan declared its intention to construct a transport and logistics terminal at Shahid Rajaee Seaport, part of the Bandar Abbas Port. Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan likewise attach high priority to transport cooperation with Tehran and are developing access to Iranian maritime infrastructure via Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan. These developments reflect the accelerated expansion of multimodal transport corridors along the northsouth axis and the growing importance of Central Asia in global logistics.

CONCLUSIONS: Amid ongoing transformations in Central Asias logistics landscape, cooperation between the regions states and Iran, whose geography provides ocean access and a diversified transport infrastructure ranging from highways to major seaports, is becoming increasingly critical. Despite international sanctions, the five Central Asian republics have adopted a flexible and pragmatic approach toward Iran, using transport diplomacy to strengthen their transit capacities. The key challenge ahead is the collective resolution of bottlenecks along the Southern Transit Corridor. This will require harmonization of transport policies and legislation, technical and technological standards, the adoption of unified transport documentation, and the establishment of a coordinating body to align the activities of the railway administrations along the route.

It is equally critical to develop a consolidated approach to the conflict-generating situation in Iran, which poses a serious threat to the prospects of regional transport projects. In this context, Central Asian states should clearly define and defend their interests vis-a-vis Western partners, including the U.S., by seeking favorable conditions for promoting trans-Iranian routes.

AUTHORS BIO: Nargiza Umarova is Head of the Center for Strategic Connectivity at the Institute for Advanced International Studies (IAIS), University of World Economy and Diplomacy (UWED) and an analyst at the Non-governmental Research Institution Knowledge Caravan, Tashkent, Uzbekistan. Her research activities focus on developments in Central Asia, trends in regional integration and the influence of great powers on this process. She also explores Uzbekistans current policy on the creation and development of international transport corridors. She can be contacted at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .
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The Adani Group and Brazilian aerospace giant Embraer have signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish a comprehensive manufacturing and maintenance ecosystem for regional transport aircraft in India. Speaking on the partnership, Arjan Meijer, President and CEO of Embraer Commercial Aviation, expressed immense optimism about India's growth trajectory. "Embraer is very proud to stand here today. We're very, very pleased to sign our MOU with Adani. We see a bright future ahead of us here in India, and we believe the stars are aligning to advance the Make in India initiative," Meijer stated. He highlighted that while India has a massive aircraft backlog of around 1,700 units, the regional segment remains underserved. This strategic collaboration aims to set up the country's first final assembly line for commercial jets, marking a significant milestone for the "Make in India" initiative and the domestic aviation sector. The collaboration is designed to bridge the connectivity gap between India's major hubs and its smaller cities. Meijer emphasised that a smaller-gauge aircraft is essential to drive the country's GDP from within. "The regional segment of jets is completely missing. That's why we believe really that together with Adani we can work together with a goal to build the aircraft here in India," he said, adding that the partnership will cover everything from the assembly line and testing to final delivery. Beyond manufacturing, the alliance seeks to leverage Adani's established strengths in infrastructure to create a holistic aviation environment. "We really believe in a partnership with Adani because they're very strong in supply chain, MRO, and pilot training, so we believe that, together, we can develop a very strong aviation ecosystem here in India," Meijer noted. The plan includes deeper localisation by working with various Indian industrial partners to build a robust domestic supply chain. The ultimate goal of the project is to produce a "Made-in-India" aircraft that caters specifically to the needs of the domestic market. Meijer pointed out that this initiative will provide everyday accessibility for every Indian and boost vital sectors like trade and tourism. "We know there's a lot of demand from smaller cities wanting to be connected to the bigger aerospace system. This will bring not only regional connectivity, this will bring economic and environmental benefits," noted Meijer. (ANI)
Jodhpur (Rajasthan) [India], January 27: Vishnu Prakash R Punglia Limited (NSE - VPRPL, BSE - 543974 | INE0AE001013), one of India's leading Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) companies with a diversified presence across Water & Municipal Services, Roads, Railways, Infrastructure, and Mining, has announced successfully completed and handed over the Silchar 24x7 Water Supply Project under the AMRUT Mission in Assam.

The project was executed for the Assam Urban Water Supply & Sewerage Board (AUWSSB) at an approximate cost of 177.47 crore.

Project Overview

The project includes key infrastructure such as intake systems, a water treatment plant, transmission mains, pumping stations, service reservoirs, distribution network, household connections, and PLC-SCADA automation. Water supply commenced on March 1, 2024, and the project was partially inaugurated by the Hon'ble Chief Minister of Assam. The executing authority has certified the Company's performance as satisfactory.

Strategic Perspective

The completion of the Silchar project strengthens the Company's track record in urban water infrastructure and large EPC execution. Vishnu Prakash R Punglia Limited remains focused on timely delivery, operational efficiency, and selective bidding across water and municipal infrastructure projects aligned with national development programs.

Commenting on the update Mr. Manohar Lal Punglia, Managing Director of Vishnu Prakash R Punglia Limited, said: "The completion of the Silchar project highlights our strength in consistent execution and delivery at scale. It reinforces our ability to manage complex urban infrastructure with discipline on timelines and outcomes, while staying aligned with long-term public infrastructure priorities."

(ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by PNN. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same.)
PNN Indore (Madhya Pradesh) [India], January 27: The Indian Institute of Management Indore (IIM Indore) is accepting applications for the third batch of its marquee two-year Master of Management Studies (MMS) programme for working professionals. The last date for applications is February 10, 2026. The institute is among the few globally to hold the "Triple Crown" of international accreditations - EQUIS, AACSB and AMBA. This LIVE online degree programme, running from March 2026 to March 2028 and comprising 900 learning hours, equips mid-career leaders with advanced general management capabilities, strategic perspectives and behavioural insights to navigate complex business environments. The Master of Management Studies, in collaboration with TimesPro, equips professionals to develop rigorous, holistic management expertise across core disciplines such as microeconomics, marketing, operations, finance, human resources and strategic management. Learners deepen this foundation through carefully curated electives, applied projects and a thesis track in the later terms. They cultivate data-driven decision-making, responsible leadership, ethical judgement and the ability to navigate complex global business environments through interactive learning and three on-campus immersions, spanning 16 days, which also foster rich peer-to-peer collaboration. Recent cohorts have drawn accomplished professionals from IT, financial services, marketing and advertising, sales, automotive, manufacturing, healthcare and more, representing senior roles including CEOs, Vice Presidents, Directors, General Managers, Senior Managers and analysts. Rapid advances in technology, particularly in artificial intelligence and information processing, are set to reshape an estimated 86 per cent of businesses globally over the next five years. Yet, even amid this disruption, the World Economic Forum anticipates a net increase of 78 million jobs worldwide by 2030, signalling a decisive shift from automation to augmentation. In this context, sustained investment in learning and development has become a strategic imperative: 94 per cent of employees state they would remain longer with organisations that invest in their growth, while 77 per cent directly associate learning new skills with a stronger sense of purpose in their roles, underscoring the intrinsic value of continuous development. Speaking on the programme announcement, Prof. Himanshu Rai, Director, IIM Indore said, "Our two-year online degree programme for working professionals embodies IIM Indore's dedication to developing leaders who excel amid complexity and change. By integrating rigorous academic frameworks with practical insights, we empower participants to strengthen critical thinking, elevate decision-making and cultivate resilience. This structured yet flexible learning journey prepares individuals to lead with confidence while balancing career demands and driving impactful growth." Sridhar Nagarajachar, Business Head - Executive Education, TimesPro said, "The Master of Management Studies for working professionals embodies IIM Indore's ethos of academic rigour, applied learning and leadership with purpose. By combining live online classes with immersive campus engagements and a strong practitioner-led orientation, the programme enables professionals to integrate advanced management thinking into their daily decision-making. It empowers them to steer complex, multi-stakeholder environments with confidence, while advancing both their own careers and the long-term ambitions of their organisations." Admission requires a bachelor's degree with a minimum of 50 per cent marks (45 per cent for candidates from reserved categories), at least two years of full-time work experience, and a valid CAT, GMAT, GRE or IIM-EAT score, followed by a personal interview. On successful completion, participants earn the MMS degree and full IIM Indore alumni status, together with the associated alumni benefits and privileges. The programme adopts a rich, application-oriented pedagogy delivered through live online classes that integrate lectures, interactive workshops, group discussions, quizzes, simulations, hands-on activities, tests and assignments. TimesPro conducts these sessions via its state-of-the-art Interactive Learning platform in Direct-to-Device (D2D) mode, enabling busy entrepreneurs and senior executives to pursue high-impact learning with flexibility and minimal disruption to their professional commitments. About IIM Indore: IIM Indore is among the 100 global business schools to receive the prestigious Triple Crown in the form of accreditations from EQUIS, AACSB, and AMBA. IIM Indore has been consistently ranked in the top by various National and International ranking agencies, including NIRF, QS, and the FT-100 rankings. The institute offers a diverse set of executive education opportunities, spanning several long-term and short-term courses. With a robust offering of 200+ executive programmes, including specialized courses tailored for the UAE, GCC, and the Middle East, IIM Indore empowers professionals with globally relevant skills and expertise. About TimesPro: TimesPro, established in 2013, is a leading Higher EdTech platform dedicated to empowering the career growth of aspiring learners by equipping them with skills to rise in a competitive world. TimesPro's H.EdTech programmes are created to meet the rapidly changing industry requirements and have been blended with technology to make them accessible & affordable. TimesPro offers a variety of created and curated learning programmes across a range of categories, industries, and age groups. They include employment-oriented early career programmes across BFSI, e-Commerce, and technology sectors; executive education for working professionals in collaboration with premier educational institutions like IIMs and IITs; and organisational learning and development interventions at the corporate level. TimesPro also collaborates with India's leading organisations across varied sectors to provide upskilling and reskilling solutions to boost employability and create a robust workforce. TimesPro is a Higher EdTech initiative by The Times Group. (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by PNN. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same.)
Canada has pitched itself as a reliable partner for supplying energy to India. Canadia Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Tim Hodgson who is in India for the India Energy Week said Canada is committed to supplying energy to India, asserting that his country will never use energy for "coercion." Canada is one of the world's largest energy producers. "It is a changing world we live in, and energy is at the centre of that. I'm here because, like you, the way to resist that change is to build multilateral relationships and to double down on diversification of supply," the Canadian minister said, speaking at the India Energy Week 2026. Referring to the US, which has imposed tariffs on countries that import oil from Russia, the Canadian minister said his country is opposed to the view that "might makes right." "We're not going to live in a world where might makes right. We're not going to live in a world where the strongest put tariffs on everyone else," he said during a discussion at IEW 2026. Instead, he said Canada believes in free trade and trusted relationships. He said that diversifying energy needs was key. "We relied on one supplier for natural gas, and that was a very strategic blunder. We can never let that happen again. We need to diversify our supply." Canada used to provide 98% of its energy to one customer. We are committed to diversifying our supply," he said. The Canadian minister also said his country is committed to supplying critical minerals to India. "Canada is a great supplier of those critical minerals, and we'll be talking about that, and a number of our companies are here at this conference to both help you develop your own critical minerals, but where we have ones to share to help you with energy transition, we will be doing that," he assured. He reiterated that he believes that the world we want to live in is one where "we're going to trade with everyone. "We will never use our energy for coercion. We believe middle powers should work together to resist hegemony, and that's why I'm here," he said. (ANI)
The Adani Group and Brazilian aerospace giant Embraer have officially entered into a strategic partnership to develop a comprehensive regional transport aircraft ecosystem in India. Announcing the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), both sides expressed a shared commitment to enhancing domestic connectivity and building a robust indigenous manufacturing base. The initiative has received strong backing from the Indian government, with the Defence Secretary, Rajesh Kumar Singh saying, "The MOU also brings together India's rapidly expanding defence and aerospace capabilities with Embraer's global expertise in aircraft manufacturing, innovation and advanced aviation technology." "This is, I'll echo your thoughts, this is not an Adani project or an MVIR project, it's an Indian aviation project. And for me, this is not about building aircraft, this is actually about building the Indian economy bottom up," said Ashish Rajvanshi, President & CEO, Adani Defence & Aerospace. He highlighted the potential for growth in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities, noting that the project is "an opportunity for the tier two, tier three cities to come together and see how we can actually elevate the GDP coming from these cities." Jeet Adani, Director of Adani Airport Holdings, emphasised the alignment of values between the two organisations, stating, "We started our partnership and participating very seriously in the Indian aviation ecosystem, oh even the regional aviation ecosystem. We share similar values and we have a shared vision for what this industry could be over here and we're looking forward to grow this partnership forward." Arjan Meijer, President and CEO of Embraer Commercial Aviation, described the agreement as a "pivotal moment" for the industry. While specific financial details and production numbers remain under wraps for now, the collaboration aims to leverage the strengths of both companies, from aircraft assembly to airport infrastructure and pilot training. Meijer noted the significance of the partnership, saying, "It's a first step, it's the announcement of an MOU but I think it's with a great partner like Adani. We have a lot of homework to do but we see our vision of working together very closely here in India." He further added, "We believe we have two capabilities that complement each other very nicely. Adani being active with airports, pilot training, MRO and of course Embraer very strong in building aircraft of the smaller segment." Embraer, the world's third-largest aircraft manufacturer, sees India as one of its most critical markets. Meijer pointed out that while India has focused heavily on large-aircraft connectivity, there is a massive gap in the regional segment that smaller jets can fill. "We see markets for more than 500 aircraft in that smaller segment here in India based on how we operate elsewhere in the world," Meijer explained. "So we need smaller aircraft to connect India and to further build India into the future." He described the synergy between the two nations as a "perfect match," noting that "Brazil and India are very good friends" and that this partnership represents a major step in the technological and industrial cooperation between the two countries. Looking ahead, the partners are working on an ambitious timeline to turn the vision into reality. Within the next six to eight weeks, details regarding the location of manufacturing facilities, business models, and investment scales are expected to be finalised. "In the next couple of years we're looking at the first aircraft to come out from India," the Defence Secretary shared, signalling a fast-tracked approach to local production. (ANI)
The central government in the upcoming budget 2026 should announce reforms across taxation, insurance and pension sectors to boost household financial savings, reduce compliance challenges and improve social security coverage in the country, highlighted a report by State Bank of India (SBI) The report highlighted that bank deposits as a share of household financial savings have declined from 38.7 per cent in FY24 to 35.2 per cent in FY25. To encourage savings through the banking system, SBI suggested tax relief measures for depositors. It said that the tax treatment for interest income on bank deposits should be brought at par with long-term and short-term capital gains (LTCG and STCG). It stated, "To boost financial savings: (a) tax treatment for interest on deposits should be at par with LTCG and STCG" The report also recommended that the lock-in period for tax-saving fixed deposits should be reduced to three years, making it equal to Equity Linked Savings Schemes (ELSS) of mutual funds, to improve deposit mobilisation. In addition, SBI suggested removal of TDS on savings bank deposit interest or an increase in the threshold to provide relief to small savers. On the indirect tax front, SBI proposed amendments in GST provisions related to Input Service Distributor (ISD) to bring greater clarity and reduce litigation. The report suggested replacing the words "for or on behalf of distinct persons" with "for the benefit of distinct persons" in relevant sections of the GST Act, 2017. It also recommended deletion of certain provisions to address interpretational issues and addition of an explanation to Section 20(3) to accept ISD distributed by banks without disputes over valuation. The report further highlighted practical difficulties faced by banks in complying with GST TDS provisions on payments such as interchange fees routed through settlement agencies like NPCI, Visa and MasterCard. As these transactions are settled on a real-time basis and invoice-wise details are received later, banks are required to pay GST TDS and then claim refunds. SBI suggested that GST TDS should not apply to banking services. In the insurance sector, SBI noted that insurance penetration in India declined to 3.7 per cent in FY25 from 4 per cent in FY23 and 4.2 per cent in FY22, as per IRDAI data. Life insurance penetration fell to 2.7 per cent, while non-life insurance remained at 1 per cent. The report said the decline in life insurance penetration is a concern for IRDAI's mission of "Insurance for All by 2047". It also pointed out that around 69 per cent of complaints received in FY25 were related to claims, highlighting the need for reforms, particularly in the health insurance sector. On pensions, SBI stressed the need for a well-structured pension system with a minimum pension guarantee. According to SBI, these measures could strengthen financial security and support long-term economic stability if addressed in the Union Budget 2026. (ANI)
President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen had special praise for India's Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal for playing a key role in the just-finalised India-EU Free Trade Agreement. "I want to offer a special word of thanks to the people who worked so hard to make this day a reality. Starting with European Union Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic, India's Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal. You have done an outstanding work. This is historic and would not have been possible without you...Many others made vital contributions, and I congratulate you all. The hard work was worth it," President of the European Commission said at the joint press statement today, alongside Prime Minister Narendra Modi, President of the European Council Antonio Costa. Commenting on the deal EU Trade Commissioner Maros Sefovic also praised his engagement with Piyush Goyal and said, "After a year of tireless engagement and more than a decade in the making, we've delivered the biggest FTA ever. High tariffs down, opportunity unleashed. Proof that win-win trade is real and that genuine partnership, like with Minister Piyush Goyal, is always worth the effort." India and the EU successfully concluded negotiations of the landmark India-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA) on Tuesday. The documents on the FTA conclusion were exchanged between EU Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic and Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal. This announcement marks a historic milestone in India-EU economic relations and trade engagement with key global partners. According to the joint statement, this historic deal is a milestone in the India-EU Strategic Partnership that will significantly enhance bilateral trade and investment ties, drive shared prosperity, strengthen resilient and diversified supply chains, and support sustainable and inclusive growth. The EU Commission President said the FTA would bring together Indian skills, services scale with Europe's technology, capital and innovation. "It will create levels of growth that neither side can achieve alone, and by combining these strengths, we reduce strategic dependencies," she said. The FTA comes after intense negotiations since the re-launch of negotiations in 2022. The announcement of the FTA on Tuesday marks the culmination of years of sustained dialogue and cooperation, between India and the EU, demonstrating the political will and shared vision to deliver a balanced, modern, and rules-based economic and trade partnership. The European Union is India's one of the largest trading partner, with bilateral trade in goods and services growing steadily over the years. In 2024-25, India's bilateral trade in goods with the EU stood at Rs 11.5 Lakh Crore (USD 136.54 billion) with exports worth Rs 6.4 Lakh Crore (USD 75.85 billion) and imports amounting to Rs 5.1 Lakh Crore (USD 60.68 billion). India-EU trade in services reached Rs 7.2 Lakh Crore (USD 83.10 billion) in 2024. (ANI)
Over 95 per cent of EU businesses in India plan to expand their operations in India in the next five years, according to a survey conducted by the Federation of European Business in India (FEBI). The EU businesses cited domestic sales and latent market demand as the main reasons for their expansion intention. The amounts being earmarked for investment in India are significant at the company level, the survey revealed. Around 35 per cent of EU companies intend to invest Euro 50 million or more each in the next five years, suggesting a broad base of intended investments rather than a few large companies. India is becoming increasingly important to European businesses. 90 per cent of EU businesses see India as being a key driver of their overall growth, as a sales market, as a centre for Research & Development (R&D) and as a hub for production, both for India and for exports to third countries, the FEBI survey found. At a broader level, the survey's key results show that European companies are deepening and broadening their commitment to India, that India and the EU are increasingly important to each other, and that the FTA is being anticipated with enthusiasm. Further, European businesses are excited by the opportunities that India offers across sectors, combining 'traditional' sectors such as manufacturing with new and cutting-edge sectors such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) and digital technology. 75 per cent of respondents see increasing opportunities in manufacturing and supply chain, 38 per cent see scope for market expansion into and from India, 42 per cent want to invest in AI and digital innovation, 51 per cent in sustainability, an area in which European companies are undisputed global leaders and 45 per cent in R&D. Additionally, 40 per cent of European companies have funds earmarked for investments in Global Capability Centres (GCCs), signifying strong growth in this sector in India. 35 per cent are also looking to India for strengthening supply chains and sourcing. A number of positive factors are increasingly in India's favour. As per the survey, 64 per cent of respondents cite political stability, 54 per cent name India's skilled manpower, 70 per cent its cost-competitive manufacturing, underscoring the increasing shift to manufacturing in India, and 40 per cent refer euphemistically to 'changes in geopolitics'. The survey highlighted that state governments that are proactive stand the best chance in terms of attracting additional European FDI. The EU businesses in India suggested a few things which India should work on. "India continues to have its challenges and attention to these by the Central and State governments will go a long way towards further increasing investments by EU businesses in India," it said. 71 per cent of businesses find regulatory approvals and compliance a drain on doing business, 54 per cent still find Customs and Import regulations too cumbersome, 41 per cent cite difficult or opaque taxation rules, 39 per cent the increasing Local Content Requirements and 37 per cent Quality Control Orders. "European businesses seem to want to invest more in manufacturing facilities in India, but struggle with what they perceive as ill-timed local content requirements," it said. India and the EU successfully concluded negotiations of the landmark India-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA) on Tuesday. The documents on the FTA conclusion were exchanged between EU Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic and Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal. This announcement marks a historic milestone in India-EU economic relations and trade engagement with key global partners. According to the joint statement, this historic deal is a milestone in the India-EU Strategic Partnership that will significantly enhance bilateral trade and investment ties, drive shared prosperity, strengthen resilient and diversified supply chains, and support sustainable and inclusive growth. The FTA comes after intense negotiations since the re-launch of negotiations in 2022. The European Union is India's one of the largest trading partner, with bilateral trade in goods and services growing steadily over the years. In 2024-25, India's bilateral trade in goods with the EU stood at Rs 11.5 Lakh Crore (USD 136.54 billion) with exports worth Rs 6.4 Lakh Crore (USD 75.85 billion) and imports amounting to Rs 5.1 Lakh Crore (USD 60.68 billion). India-EU trade in services reached Rs 7.2 Lakh Crore (USD 83.10 billion) in 2024. (ANI)
States across India are set to benefit from the landmark India-European Union Free Trade Agreement (FTA), with exports estimated at Rs 6.4 lakh crore expected to gain access to 27 EU markets under a single trade framework, Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal said in a post on X. Several, including Gujarat, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Punjab, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, Assam and Kerala, are expected to be among the key beneficiaries of the agreement, given their strong presence in manufacturing, agri-based industries and export-driven sectors. The FTA is expected to enhance market access for Indian products across a wide range of sectors, including textiles and apparel, engineering goods, pharmaceuticals and medical devices, electronics, chemicals, plastics and rubber, marine products, leather and footwear, gems and jewellery, handicrafts, tea and spices, minerals and agri-products. Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Assam, and Punjab are expected to see increased opportunities in key sectors. The agreement is expected to support export-oriented enterprises, including micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), by expanding access to EU markets across multiple sectors and regions. In particular, labour-intensive sectors are expected to get a big boost, helping India's exports leapfrog. In textiles and apparel, the FTA ensures immediate zero duty on 100 per cent tariff lines and value, with direct access to the USD 263 Billion EU textile marketIt will level the playing field against global competitors and empower millions of Indian weavers. For leather and footwear, tariffs have been slashed from 17 per cent to 0 per cent, helping tap the USD 100 billion EU leather and footwear segment. It will help revitalise clusters in Agra, Kanpur, Kolhapur, and Ranipet with design-led exports. Gems and jewellery also got 100 per cent duty-free access, with shimmering opportunities in a USD 79 billion premium market. Hubs across Gujarat, Rajasthan, Maharashtra and West Bengal are expected to gain. In engineering and manufacturing, India win direct entry into a USD 2 trillion industrial market; besides preferential access for Indian engineering goods. It is expected to fuel India's USD 300 billion export target by 2030. It will help MSMEs in Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, and Tamil Nadu, among others. India and the EU successfully concluded negotiations of the landmark India-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA) on Tuesday. The documents on the FTA conclusion were exchanged between EU Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic and Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal. This announcement marks a historic milestone in India-EU economic relations and trade engagement with key global partners. According to the joint statement, this historic deal is a milestone in the India-EU Strategic Partnership that will significantly enhance bilateral trade and investment ties, drive shared prosperity, strengthen resilient and diversified supply chains, and support sustainable and inclusive growth. The FTA comes after intense negotiations since the re-launch of negotiations in 2022. The European Union is India's one of the largest trading partner, with bilateral trade in goods and services growing steadily over the years. In 2024-25, India's bilateral trade in goods with the EU stood at Rs 11.5 Lakh Crore (USD 136.54 billion) with exports worth Rs 6.4 Lakh Crore (USD 75.85 billion) and imports amounting to Rs 5.1 Lakh Crore (USD 60.68 billion). India-EU trade in services reached Rs 7.2 Lakh Crore (USD 83.10 billion) in 2024. (ANI)
Indian industry chambers have welcomed the announcement of the India-European Union Free Trade Agreement (FTA), terming it a "strategic breakthrough" that will significantly deepen trade, investment, employment, and competitiveness across key sectors. In a statement, Chandrajit Banerjee, Director General of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), said CII applauded the India-EU FTA announced today. "This landmark agreement represents a strategic breakthrough in India's global trade engagement and significantly deepens the partnership between two major democracies and economies that together account for nearly 25% of global GDP." Highlighting the scale of market access secured under the agreement, Banerjee said the unprecedented preferential access secured for over 99% of Indian exports is a game-changer for the Indian industry. "It decisively improves competitiveness in the EU's high-value market, anchors Indian manufacturers and service providers deeper into global value chains, and accelerates investment, technology inflows, and scale," Banerjee said. He added that key sectors of focus include textiles and apparel, leather and footwear, gems and jewellery, marine products, engineering goods, automobiles, agriculture and processed foods, IT and IT-enabled services, and other business and professional services. Echoing similar sentiments, Ranjeet Mehta, CEO and Secretary General, PHDCCI, said the agreement marks a major milestone for the Indian industry. "The India-EU deal is a pivotal economic milestone, opening access for Indian industries to a nearly $23-trillion EU market across 27 countries," Mehta said. He noted that "MSMEs stand to be major beneficiaries, especially sectors like textiles, apparel, and gems & jewellery, which have faced pressure from recent US tariffs." According to Mehta, "The agreement is expected to boost employment and manufacturing demand, with industry surveys indicating stronger hiring intentions in coming quarters." He further said, "Deeper integration into global value chains, particularly in manufacturing and logistics, will enhance competitiveness and efficiency for Indian enterprises." He added that "Technology collaboration and increased EU investments will support long-term, sustainable growth, making the deal a win-win for both India and the EU." Anant Goenka, President, Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), congratulated the Government of India for advancing the agreement. "Congratulations to the Government of India for advancing an agreement of strategic scale and long-term significance under the leadership of Hon'ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi. The European Union represents the most expansive and high-potential market covered under India's recent FTA engagements, opening new avenues for deeper economic collaboration," Goenka said. He added, "The India-EU FTA is poised to unlock substantial untapped trade and investment opportunities, enabling deeper market access, stronger value-chain integration, and enhanced export competitiveness across manufacturing and high-value sectors." The India-EU Free Trade Agreement was concluded today after long negotiations and is expected to significantly enhance bilateral trade and investment ties, strengthen supply chains, and deepen economic cooperation between India and the European Union. The documents on the FTA conclusion were exchanged between EU Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic and Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal. This announcement marks a historic milestone in India-EU economic relations and trade engagement with key global partners. According to the joint statement, this historic deal is a milestone in the India-EU Strategic Partnership that will significantly enhance bilateral trade and investment ties, drive shared prosperity, strengthen resilient and diversified supply chains, and support sustainable and inclusive growth. The FTA comes after intense negotiations since the re-launch of negotiations in 2022. The European Union is one of India's largest trading partners, with bilateral trade in goods and services growing steadily over the years. In 2024-25, India's bilateral trade in goods with the EU stood at Rs 11.5 Lakh Crore (USD 136.54 billion) with exports worth Rs 6.4 Lakh Crore (USD 75.85 billion) and imports amounting to Rs 5.1 Lakh Crore (USD 60.68 billion). India-EU trade in services reached Rs 7.2 Lakh Crore (USD 83.10 billion) in 2024. (ANI)
Indian textile industry is set to benefit from the India-EU FTA with exports and has potential to grow from USD 7 billion to USD 30-40 billion very quickly, Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal said on Tuesday, noting that this could generate 6-7 million jobs in the labour-intensive sector. Goyal, who addressed a joint press conference here after India-EU FTA was finalized, said the two sides agreeing to key initiatives across domains is a statement of deep partnership and the strategic intent. He referred to queries about Bangladesh having a huge lead over India in terms of garment exports to EU and said the neighbouring country, has zero duty access being a least developed country (LDC), and was able to capture USD 30 billion out of the USD 250 billion textiles market of the European Union. He indicated that once the FTA comes into force, India will be on par with Bangladesh in terms of duties. "First of all, in terms of job creation, most of us here are aware that the textile industry in India is the second largest job creator after agriculture, with nearly 40 million jobs being created in the textile sector. India exports about USD 7 billion worth of textiles and garments to the EU every year, and the duty rates are anywhere up to 12% on the goods that we export to the EU," he said. "...the press used to always ask us, why is Bangladesh able to export USD 30 billion worth of textiles, and India is such a small player? Because Bangladesh, being a least developed country, LDC, had zero duty access, and they were able to capture 30 billion out of the 250 billion dollar market of the European Union in textiles alone. Now, we see before our eyes a potential to grow from 7 billion to at least 30-40 billion very quickly. If we add this kind of business only in the textile sector alone, we are looking at close to 6-7 million jobs coming into that sector. So it has tremendous potential. The sectoral gains in various areas, particularly in the labour-intensive areas, give us tremendous potential for job creation in India," he added. Piyush Goyal highlighted the unprecedented access Indian goods will have once the FTA is implemented. "This agreement covers almost 99 per cent of the total exports that are sent from India to the European Union and about 97 per cent plus of the total exports from EU to India," Goyal stated. He noted that while India's current footprint in the European market is modest--accounting for roughly 1.5 per cent of goods imports and 2.5 per cent of services imports--the new deal provides a launchpad for exponential growth. Goyal emphasised that areas with "very serious labour interest," such as textiles, apparels, home decor, and furnishing, will receive "duty free access from day one." While the agreement slashes tariffs, both sides are also addressing modern regulatory challenges, specifically the EU's Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM). Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal clarified that CBAM remains a "horizontal regulation which is applicable to all partner countries across the globe," but confirmed that the FTA includes specific provisions to help Indian industries navigate these environmental costs. "One, a technical dialogue has been agreed to be set up which will address the pathway for our industries to access the market in spite of the CBAM regulation being there," Agrawal explained. A key focus of this cooperation will be the accreditation of Indian agencies to ensure they can verify carbon emissions according to EU standards locally. "We'll be working together to see that the verifiers for CBAM in India are also accredited by the use agencies so that our industry is able to access them," Agrawal added. The two economies will also collaborate on the "technical processes through which this CBM measurement will be done," ensuring that Indian exporters are not blindsided by the measurement methodologies used in Europe. (ANI)
Bengali actor Prosenjit Chatterjee was recently named as a recipient of the honorary Padma Shri Award, honouring his contribution to the field of art, especially the Indian cinema industry. Expressing deep gratitude, Prosenjit spoke about his journey that spans four decades in the Bengali film industry. In a self-made video, the 'Baishe Srabon' actor said, "I am really thankful and grateful that the Indian government has awarded me the Padma Shri. I have been working for the past 40 years and people around me, including my producers, directors, and co-actors have contributed to my journey. This is not just my achievement but it belongs to everyone else who made me Prosenjit Chatterjee. Receiving the award from the President is in itself a great achievement." On the eve of Republic Day 2026, the Ministry of Home Affairs announced the recipients of this year's Padma Awards, honouring individuals for their remarkable contributions to the nation. For the year 2026, the President has approved conferment of 131 Padma Awards, including 2 duo cases (in a duo case, the Award is counted as one). The list comprises 5 Padma Vibhushan, 13 Padma Bhushan and 113 Padma Shri Awards. Actor Prosenjit Chatterjee was named alongside distinguished individuals from the fields of art, education, sports, and various other disciplines. This actor-director has worked in over 200 films over three decades of his Indian cinema career. The actor has worked mostly in the Bengali film industry, appearing in critically acclaimed films such as 'Chotto Jigyasa', 'Amar Sangi', 'Chokher Bali', 'Shob Charitro Kalponik', 'Moner Manush', 'Jaatishwar', 'Baishe Srabon', 'Shankhachil', 'Autograph', and others. The actor has worked in Bollywood films such as 'Shanghai', 'Traffic', and 'Maalik', as well as in series such as 'Jubilee' and 'Khakee: The Bengal Chapter'. The actor was recently seen in the film 'Vijaynagar'er Hirey', which was directed by Chandrasish Ray. The film also starred Aryann Bhowmik in the lead role. For the year 2026, the President has approved conferment of 131 Padma Awards, including 2 duo cases (in a duo case, the Award is counted as one). The list comprises 5 Padma Vibhushan, 13 Padma Bhushan and 113 Padma Shri Awards. (ANI)
Actor Ranbir Kapoor is showering praise for 'Mardaani' star Rani Mukerji, hailing her three-decade-long journey in Indian cinema. Ranbir Kapoor, who worked with Rani Mukerji in his debut film 'Saawariya', also weighed in on his experience working with her, calling her "one of the greatest ever actors". Speaking to Variety, the 'Animal' star shared, "It is really amazing to see the entire industry come forward to celebrate 30 years of her iconic legacy," referring to the recent applause that Rani Mukerji has received with the upcoming release of 'Mardaani 3'. Reflecting on his debut film with the National Award-winning actor, Ranbir added, "I have always felt that Rani is one for the ages, one of the greatest ever actors in India and someone who has defined our industry through her work. Her choice of projects and roles has shaped how women are portrayed on the screen today. Rani is the co-star of my first film 'Sawaariya' and she is the first person who told me that if I worked hard, I would go a long way. I will never forget that interaction because it gave me so much confidence when I needed it the most." Noting that he has been "bowled over by her grace, charm, and brilliance", having seen her closely as a person, Ranbir Kapoor went on to describe Rani Mukerji as an "entertainer who has dedicated her life to make people happy." "I don't have words to describe the impact her films have had on me," he added. Rani Mukerji's much-awaited 'Mardaani 3' marks her return as the bold and fearless cop Shivani Shivaji Roy. As per the film's trailer, the focus remains on the kidnapping of young girls from low-income communities. https://youtu.be/V4TJKSEftkU?si=XOEX8SjAsLi0NWj- Directed by Abhiraj Minawala and produced by Aditya Chopra under Yash Raj Films, 'Mardaani 3' will hit theatres on January 30, 2026. (ANI)
Actor and self-proclaimed film critic Kamaal R Khan has been remanded to judicial custody by the Andheri Metropolitan Magistrate's Court in connection with the Oshiwara firing case. Khan was produced before the court on Tuesday at the end of his police custody. The Oshiwara firing case is currently under probe, with authorities continuing to examine evidence and statements related to the incident. Meanwhile, Khan is expected to remain in judicial custody as the investigation proceeds, with the next date of hearing likely to be scheduled by the court in due course. Last week, Kamaal R Khan was arrested by the Mumbai Police after being questioned in the firing incident. According to the Mumbai Police, the incident took place in a residential building in Oshiwara. After the firing was reported, police reviewed CCTV footage from the area and spoke to several people. During the investigation, KRK was initially taken into custody for questioning. According to the police, the actor was detained in the case after admitting during questioning that the firing was done with his licensed gun. He was sent to police custody till January 27 by a Bandra Court. In response to the matter, advocate Nagesh Mishra, representing KRK, described the case as "fabricated". "The entire case is fabricated. Kamaal Khan has been falsely implicated in this case. The contention of the police is that I [KRK] fired a bullet from my [KRK's] gun. But it is not correct. The correct thing is that the bullet has a maximum capacity of 20 metres, and the place where this gun was fired was at a distance of 400 metres. It is not possible. Kamaal R Khan is sent to police custody till January 27th. Many big names in Bollywood are instigating the police to implicate him in this case," he said. Asserting that the actor has no connection with the firing incident, the advocate added, "Kamaal R Khan has no connection with the firing incident. Many big names in Bollywood are against him, and the police are being misled. There is no connection between the alleged offence and the accused." (ANI)
Actor Amruta Khanvilkar is grabbing the limelight with her latest project, 'Taskaree: The Smuggler's Web', a crime thriller series created by Neeraj Pandey . She plays Mitali Kamath, a tough custom officer, and for Amruta it was a different experience as she got an opportunity to perform action and showcase her versatility as an actor. Sharing her experience, she told ANI, "The experience was amazing. I did action for the first time in my life. I actually went for another role and I was offered the role of Mitali Kamath. I was asked, do you do action? So, I told them, I'm a dancer. Show me some choreography, and I will try and do my best. And I saw the choreography for the action, and in around 45 minutes to one hour, I learned it. Still, people were like, 'she has never done action', I don't know how it will be. But on the shoot day, when I did action, our master, he came and he hugged me, and he was like, Amruta, you have done a very good action." "Seeing fans highlight it on Instagram reels was amazing," she said, adding, "I'm really glad, that I got a chance to explore, a different, what do you call it, a different nature in myself. Because, definitely, the people around me, the people who are very close to me, they know that I can do action. But to do it on screen, and to do it this way, I think that was really amazing." Khanvilkar opened up about the surprising, eventful start to 2026, reflecting on her recently released web series 'Taskaree: The Smuggler's Web' on Netflix, and 'Space Gen: Chandrayaan' on JioCinema on January 23. 'Chandrayaan', inspired by the true events, narrates the story of one of India's greatest scientific comebacks after the failure of the Chandrayaan-2 mission in 2019. She revealed that till mid-December 2025, there was no clarity on the release, and she had no resolutions for 2026. "Till mid-December, nothing was decided about Taskaree or Space Gen Chandrayan. I filmed both in 2025, but sometimes releases happen without consulting the artists. I didn't have a resolution; I just thought, whatever comes, comes. Around ten days before the New Year, Netflix and Friday Storytellers informed her that Taskaree would release in the second week of January," she shared. Created by Neeraj Pandey and co-directed by Raghav Jairath, 'Taskaree: The Smuggler's Web' stars Emraan Hashmi, along with Zoya Afroz, Amruta Khanvilkar, Sharad Kelkar, Nandish Singh Sandhu, and Anurag Sinha. The show explores the high-stakes world of airport customs, highlighting the courage and dedication of officers working behind the scenes to protect the nation. "This was my first collaboration with Netflix, Neeraj Pandey sir, and Raghav sir, and for me, it was a golden opportunity that 2026 is literally starting off with a bang," she added. Speaking about her experience seeing herself on the 'Taskaree' poster, Khanvilkar said, "I never thought that I would ever become a poster girl for 'Taskaree'. So when I saw my poster for the first time here at BKC, I was so thrilled. Because, you know, generally it happens that the posters of the primary cast are not released. But to see myself on that 'Taskaree' poster, and also being honoured by Amul India in one of their designs, was so thrilling." She noted that the series has received a warm response from audiences, with fans sharing content on Instagram and Facebook. On her role in 'Taskaree' as a "badass" single mom, she said, "It has been loved a lot, and all thanks to my director, story writers, and Netflix." Reflecting on her collaboration with Neeraj Pandey and co-stars Emraan Hashmi and Nandish Sandhu, Khanvilkar praised their professionalism and camaraderie. "We have a team of Emraan, me and Nandish in the show and the camaraderie between the three of us was very important. And for all that camaraderie, I have to give this credit to Emraan sir. Because he came in as this really curious, inquisitive person. As an actor, he just supported us. He just made us go through it so, so beautifully. So, working with Emraan sir was a great experience. He jokes around a lot but still, he is so focused on his work and everything. I had a lot of fun working with him," added the ace star. She shared her working experience with Nandish Sandhu and Neeraj Pandey, saying, "It's a very bro-code feeling with him. This is my first project with Neeraj sir and his dynamic approach to shot design and fast-paced storytelling was inspiring," she said. Khanvilkar is also producing and performing in the Marathi theatre play 'Lagna Panchami', which began its run on January 9. "We toured Satara, Sangli, Kolhapur, and now are in Pune and Mumbai, with plans to go abroad," she added. On managing dual roles as producer and actor, she said, "When your team is strong, all roles become easier. In this industry, work is always a team effort." She also highlighted differences between Marathi and Hindi cinema, noting that while budgets differ, quality content always finds its audience. "If you are a good actor, you can flourish across mediums, whether films, OTT, or theatre," she concluded. 'Taskaree: The Smuggler's Web' is streaming on Netflix. (ANI)
Actor Samantha Ruth Prabhu felt deeply honoured to attend the At Home Reception hosted by President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan on the Republic Day. Taking to Instagram, Samantha wrote, "Growing up, there were no cheerleaders... no inner voice that ever suggested I'd be here one day. No roadmap... Dreams like this once felt too big to even imagine. I just kept showing up, in a country that allowed that to be enough! Forever grateful."https://www.instagram.com/p/DUAtxQWAV1F/?hl=en&img_index=1US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor also attended the At Home reception at Rashtrapati Bhavan hosted by President Droupadi Murmu.In a post on X, he thanked President Murmu for the reception and posted some photos from the gathering."An incredible Republic Day reception at Rashtrapati Bhavan. Thank you President Droupadi Murmu for hosting us all," he said. One of the pictures shows Gor with Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan, Chief of the Army Staff General Upendra Dwivedi, Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal AP Singh, and Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi. In another picture, Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal and Gor are seen together. This year, Kartavya Path, stretching from Rashtrapati Bhawan to the National War Memorial, was elaborately decorated to showcase India's remarkable journey. The celebrations featured an extraordinary blend of the 150-year legacy of the national song Vande Mataram, the country's unprecedented developmental progress, robust military strength, vibrant cultural diversity, and active participation from citizens across all walks of life. Republic Day marks a defining milestone in India's national journey. It marks the day the Constitution of India came into force on January 26, 1950. While independence on August 15, 1947, ended colonial rule, it was the adoption of the Constitution that completed India's transition to self-governance based on law, institutional accountability, and the will of the Indians. (ANI)
Filmmaker Anil Sharma has extended his heartfelt greetings to actor Bobby Deol, who turned a year older on Tuesday. Speaking to ANI, Anil described Bobby as "dil ka bhola bhala bachcha". "Heartfelt congratulations and lots of love to Bobby Deol sahab. He is a genuinely wonderful human being. (Dil ka bhola bhala bachcha hai woh)...He is kind-hearted, innocent, simple, and pure at heart," he said. Anil shares a close bond with the Deol family. He has worked with the late veteran actor Dharmendra, as well as his sons Sunny and Bobby Deol, in Apne. His last directorial venture, Gadar 2, starring Sunny Deol, was a huge blockbuster.Meanwhile, earlier in the day, Bobby also received a sweet birthday wish from Sunny. Taking to his Instagram handle, Sunny Deol shared pictures of himself with Bobby. As fans fondly refer to the actor as "Lord Bobby", the 'Border 2' star wrote, "Happy Birthday, My Little Brother LORD BOBBY."Actors Kajol, Shilpa Shetty, Suniel Shetty, and others shared their greetings on social media. With a career spanning over three decades, Bobby Deol began his journey as a romantic hero in the 90s, further emerging as a powerful performer. With a debut in 'Barsaat', he went on to deliver hits like 'Gupt: The Hidden Truth,' 'Soldier,' 'Kareeb,' 'Badal,' 'Bichhoo,' 'Ajnabee,' and 'Humraaz'. Though he faced a career slump for some years, he found his footing again with films like 'Apne,' 'Yamla Pagla Deewana,' and 'Housefull 4.'In 2023, he made a remarkable comeback with 'Animal' alongside Ranbir Kapoor. Soon after, the actor was seen giving back-to-back powerful performances in 'Aashram,' 'Animal,' and 'The Ba***ds of Bollywood, which hit Netflix last year. (ANI)
The Beckham family recently made their first public appearance together since reports of family tensions surfaced, showing support for Victoria Beckham, who received a new accolade from the French government: Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters. Taking to Instagram, Victoria Beckham wrote, "I'm so honoured to be named a Chevalire de l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres by the French Ministry of Culture. I have always deeply admired the French aesthetic and the seriousness with which it treats fashion: as a form of art." "So to be recognised here and embraced in this way is a profound privilege - one that reflects decades of commitment and dedication," the fashion designer added.She also posted pictures from the ceremony. The entire family, except Brooklyn Beckham and Nicola Peltz, joined Victoria to celebrate her feat. David Beckham also shared several photos, and Brooklyn and Nicola's absence undoubtedly intensified speculation about the rift between them and the other members of the Beckham family."We are so proud of you and all that you have achieved @victoriabeckham Being named a Chevalire de l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres by the French Ministry of Culture... nobody deserves it more than you x We love you," he posted. https://www.instagram.com/p/DT_eAHKiBl0/?hl=en&img_index=1 Brooklyn has been estranged from his family for roughly three years, a painful saga with Instagram unfollows and endless press leaks that have overshadowed the public profiles and work of all involved since it began, as per Variety. A few days ago, through an Instagram post, Brooklyn addressed the situation, claiming his parents had "endlessly tried to ruin" his relationship with his wife, Nicola."I had been silent for years and made every effort to keep these matters private," Beckham wrote. "Unfortunately, my parents and their team have continued to go to the press, leaving me 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," he said. He said his mom "cancelled making Nicola's dress in the eleventh hour" and "attempted to bribe" him into signing away the rights to his name before he got married. On his wedding day, Beckham said his mother hijacked his first dance with Peltz and "danced very inappropriately" on him. He recalled, "Marc Anthony called me to the stage, where in the schedule was a planned to be my roamntic 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." He ended his statement by saying the narrative that his wife controls his life is "completely backwards," and instead, it's his parents who have been manipulating him. These are the kind of pearl-clutching specifics that can derail press tours for ventures like Victoria's eponymous fashion brand, as well as tarnish a complicated Beckham legacy that seemingly settled with the family enshrined in a bubble of adoration and protection." "My wife and I do not want a life shaped by image, press or manipulation," he concluded. "All we want is peace, privacy and happiness for us and our future family." (ANI)
One Battle After Another leads the nominations for the 2026 EE BAFTA Film Awards with 14 nods.

Photo: Getty Images

This years Best Film race sees Hamnet, Marty Supreme, Sentimental Value and Sinners competing alongside frontrunner One Battle After Another - which is also the most-nominated flick for the Oscars. The British Film category is equally stacked, with titles ranging from 28 Years Later and Die My Love to Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy and Steve.

In the performance categories, Jessie Buckley (Hamnet), Chase Infiniti (One Battle After Another) and Emma Stone (Bugonia) lead the Best Actress field, while Leading Actor features Robert Aramayo (I Swear), Timothee Chalamet (Marty Supreme) and Leonardo DiCaprio (One Battle After Another).

Supporting categories include turns from Odessa Azion (Marty Supreme), Carey Mulligan (The Ballad of Wallis Island), Benicio del Toro (One Battle After Another) and Paul Mescal (Hamnet).

The Best Director lineup spans global heavyweights and indie favourites, with Yorgos Lanthimos (Bugonia), Chloe Zhao (Hamnet), Josh Safdie (Marty Supreme), Paul Thomas Anderson (One Battle After Another), Joachim Trier (Sentimental Value) and Ryan Coogler (Sinners) all recognised.

The EE BAFTA Rising Star Award  the only category voted for by the public  features Robert Aramayo, Miles Caton, Chase Infiniti, Archie Madekwe and Posy Sterling.

The winners of the 79th EE BAFTA Film Awards will be announced on February 22.

Jane Millichip, CEO of BAFTA, said: Huge congratulations to the teams behind the 46 superb films nominated today. They showcase the very best of storytelling and its ability to engage, entertain and provoke debate. This years nominated films are full of bold storytelling and exquisite craft. And the breadth of narrative, genres and styles is spellbinding. Whether newcomers or veterans, I hope our first-time nominees enjoy this much deserved spotlight, and I look forward to welcoming them and all our returning nominees to London. As the UKs leading arts charity and academy, its a real privilege to showcase this years brilliant films and the talent in the 79th EE BAFTA Film Awards, which will be broadcast on BBC, BBC iPlayer, and across the world on 22 February.

Sara Putt, Chair of BAFTA, added: Across the 2026 EE BAFTA Film Awards nominations it is thrilling to see British indie films and debuts in the company of blockbusters that have taken the world by storm. Its an exceptional year for bold, original storytelling. Behind these films are thousands of hard-working crews who have worked tirelessly to bring them to life  the quality and craftsmanship on display is filmmaking at its best. We hope the public enjoy watching these films as much as our 8300 BAFTA film voters have.

The nominations are:

Best film

Hamnet

Marty Supreme

One Battle After Another

Sentimental Value

Sinners

Outstanding British film

28 Years Later

The Ballad of Wallis Island

Bridget Jones: Mad about the Boy

Die My Love

H Is For Hawk

Hamnet

I Swear

Mr Burton

Pillion

Steve

Leading actress

Jessie Buckley - Hamnet

Rose Byrne - If I Had Legs I'd Kick You

Kate Hudson - Song Sung Blue

Chase Infiniti - One Battle After Another

Renate Reinsve - Sentimental Value

Emma Stone - Bugonia

Leading actor

Robert Aramayo - I Swear

Timothee Chalamet - Marty Supreme

Leonardo DiCaprio - One Battle After Another

Ethan Hawke - Blue Moon

Michael B Jordan -Sinners

Jesse Plemons - Bugonia

Supporting actress

Odessa A'zion - Marty Supreme

Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas - Sentimental Value

Wunmi Mosaku - Sinners

Carey Mulligan - The Ballad of Wallis Island

Teyana Taylor - One Battle After Another

Emily Watson - Hamnet

Supporting actor

Benicio del Toro - One Battle After Another

Jacob Elordi - Frankenstein

Paul Mescal - Hamnet

Peter Mullan - I Swear

Sean Penn - One Battle After Another

Stellan Skarsgard - Sentimental Value

Director

Bugonia - Yorgos Lanthimos

Hamnet - Chloe Zhao

Marty Supreme - Josh Safdie

One Battle After Another - Paul Thomas Anderson

Sentimental Value - Joachim Trier

Sinners - Ryan Coogler

Outstanding debut by a British writer, director or producer

The Ceremony

My Father's Shadow

Pillion

A Want In Her

Wasteman

Film not in the English language

It Was Just An Accident

The Secret Agent

Sentimental Value

Sirat

The Voice of Hind Rajab

Documentary

2000 Meters to Andriivka

Apocalypse in the Tropics

Cover-Up

Mr Nobody Against Putin

The Perfect Neighbor

Animated film

Elio

Little Amelie

Zootropolis 2

Children's and family film

Arco

Boong

Lilo and Stitch

Zootropolis 2

Original screenplay

I Swear

Marty Supreme

The Secret Agent

Sentimental Value

Sinners

Adapted screenplay

The Ballad of Wallis Island

Bugonia

Hamnet

One Battle After Another

Pillion

EE Bafta Rising Star Award (voted for by the public)

Robert Aramayo

Miles Caton

Chase Infiniti

Archie Madekwe

Posy Sterling

Original score

Bugonia - Jerskin Fendrix

Frankenstein - Alexandre Desplat

Hamnet - Max Richter

One Battle After Another - Jonny Greenwood

Sinners - Ludwig Goransson

Casting

I Swear

Marty Supreme

One Battle After Another

Sentimental Value

Sinners

Cinematography

Frankenstein

Marty Supreme

One Battle After Another

Sinners

Train Dreams

Costume design

Frankenstein

Hamnet

Marty Supreme

Sinners

Wicked: For Good

Editing

F1

A House of Dynamite

Marty Supreme

One Battle After Another

Sinners

Production design

Frankenstein

Hamnet

Marty Supreme

One Battle After Another

Sinners

Make-up and hair

Frankenstein

Hamnet

Marty Supreme

Sinners

Wicked: For Good

Sound

F1

Frankenstein

One Battle After Another

Sinners

Warfare

Special visual effects

Avatar: Fire and Ash

F1

Frankenstein

How to Train Your Dragon

The Lost Bus

British short film

Magid / Zafar

Nostalgie

Terence

This Is Endometriosis

Welcome Home Freckles

British short animation

Cardboard

Solstice

Two Black Boys in Paradise
AIIMS Bilaspur president Professor Dr Narendra Kumar Arora on Monday highlighted the serious public health risks posed by the Nipah virus, describing it as a highly infectious and fatal zoonotic disease. He stressed the absence of a vaccine and the need for strict preventive measures. Speaking on the current situation, Dr Arora told ANI, "Nipah virus is a zoonotic disease. These sporadic outbreaks have occurred in both Kerala and West Bengal. Even Bangladesh is endemic for the Nipah virus." He added that the present outbreak in West Bengal was initially detected among health workers. "The current outbreak was first reported among five health workers in West Bengal after a person died of an unknown disease, and later on, these five health professionals were involved. An ongoing investigation is now underway into another 100 to 200 people who have been exposed," he said. Dr Arora warned that Nipah virus infections often lead to severe outcomes. "Nipah virus is highly infectious and fatal. Patients either develop symptoms of encephalitis or severe respiratory disease. The mortality rate ranges between 40 and 75 per cent, which is very high," he added. Highlighting treatment challenges, the AIIMS Bilaspur president said there is currently no vaccine available for the virus. "There is currently no vaccine available for this virus, and Monoclonal antibodies are to be given as soon as someone is diagnosed with Nipah virus infection. There is a very limited supply of these monoclonal antibodies globally," he said. Dr Arora added that India has taken important steps to address this shortage. "India has taken this up as a very important initiative to ensure they are available within the country. I hope that, very soon, we will have a sufficient quantity of monoclonal antibodies in India," he added. Urging caution in endemic regions, Dr Arora added, "But one has to be careful that in areas where these fruit bats are present, human and animal contact is kept to a minimum or avoided to prevent the disease. Both Kerala and West Bengal are endemic for this virus." (ANI)
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami participated in a 'Vande Mataram' singing event organised by Bharat Vikas Parishad at Gandhi Park in Dehradun, marking 150 years of the iconic song. Addressing the gathering on Monday, CM Dhami highlighted the song's enduring patriotic significance, saying, "I am very pleased to find myself among you all... This is a special occasion because Vande Mataram completed 150 years this year... When Bankim Chandra Chatterjee composed this song, Vande Mataram became not just a slogan, but a connection of love and nationalism... It is the expression of patriotism and our devotion towards Mother India." Earlier, Dhami extended warm wishes to the people of Uttarakhand on Republic Day, paying tribute to the nation's freedom fighters and brave soldiers. Speaking with ANI, he reaffirmed the state's commitment to realising Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of a developed and self-reliant India and emphasised the importance of dedication, hard work, and honesty in achieving this goal, calling on citizens to join hands in building a stronger India. "On the occasion of Republic Day, I extend my best wishes to all the people of Uttarakhand. I pay my heartfelt tribute to the martyrs of our country, the freedom fighters, and our brave soldiers who sacrificed their lives for the nation. On this occasion, we also resolve that, under the leadership of our Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, the vision for a developed and self-reliant India has been set, and we will all contribute to fulfilling it. We will work with dedication, hard work, and honesty to contribute to the realisation of a developed India...," said Dhami. Dhami also took to X to extend his warm wishes to the people of the state on the 77th Republic Day. He highlighted the significance of the day, symbolising national pride, self-respect, and constitutional values. "Heartiest congratulations and best wishes to all the residents of the state on the 77th Republic Day. This day is a symbol of our nation's pride, self-respect, and constitutional values. This day reminds us of the indomitable courage, sacrifice, and martyrdom of those immortal valiant freedom fighters, as a result of whose struggles it became possible to establish a strong, democratic republic. Let us all contribute to strengthening the country's unity, integrity, and self-reliance, and keep propelling India forward on the path of progress. Jai Hind! #RepublicDayIndia," he posted. (ANI)
All India Congress Committee (AICC) General Secretary KC Venugopal presided over a detailed review meeting at Indira Bhawan with General Secretaries, In-charges and PCC Presidents from the Sangathan Srijan Abhiyan (SSA) states. During the meeting on Monday, Venugopal directed the Pradesh Congress Committees (PCCs) to complete the formation of District Congress Committees (DCCs) within 15 days, Block Committees within 30 days and Mandal, Gram Panchayat, along with Booth Level Committees within 60 days. The instructions also emphasised ensuring proper representation for all communities, including SC, ST, OBC, and minority groups, and organising training programmes at both district and block levels. Under the SSA initiative, DCC Presidents have already been appointed in 14 states, covering a total of 525 DCCs, while the process has been formally announced in six additional states. Sharing updates on X, Venugopal wrote, "Held a detailed and productive meeting today at Indira Bhawan with the General Secretaries, In-charges and PCC Presidents from states where DCC Presidents have been appointed under the Sangathan Srijan Abhiyan," he wrote. "As of now, the appointment of DCC Presidents under SSA has been successfully completed in 14 states, with 525 new DCC Presidents appointed. The process has also been formally announced in six more states, marking the next phase of organisational strengthening," he added. "We issued clear directions to PCCs to complete the formation of DCC committees within 15 days, Block Committees within 30 days, and Mandal, Gram Panchayat & Booth Level Committees within 60 days, while ensuring proper representation to all communities - especially for SC, ST, OBC & Minorities. They have also been instructed to hold training programmes at the District and Block levels," the post stated. Venugopal also highlighted the centrality of SSA in building a robust organisational structure, stating, "Sangathan Srijan Abhiyan remains central to building a strong, active and people-oriented organisation from the ground up." Meanwhile, Congress leader Mahesh Kumar Goud said these meetings strengthen the organisation and informed about the given directions. "These meetings happen every month to strengthen the organisation from the village level to the district level. We have been advised of some measures to take up in the coming 3 months... Before this, we will conclude appointments from the village to the DCC level along with BLS...," Kumar told ANI. Furthermore, Andhra Pradesh Congress President YS Sharmila said the discussion in the meeting centred on the organisation's growth. "It was about organisational strengthening... Most of the district presidents in the party have been appointed. The whole discussion was about how to take it up from there, down to the booth level...," she said. (ANI)
Telangana Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLCs, along with retired government employees, will stage a dharna at Indira Park in Hyderabad today, demanding the immediate release of retirement benefits and pensions for state government employees. BJP MLCs Anji Reddy and Malka Komuraiah, speaking to ANI, said the protest is aimed at pressing the Telangana government to clear long-pending retirement dues of employees who have completed their service. Malka Komuraiah criticised the ruling Congress government, alleging that it had failed to honour its pre-election promises related to employee welfare. Highlighting the efforts made by the BJP-led central government and BJP-ruled states in ensuring employee benefits, he said retired employees in Telangana were being deprived of their rightful dues. "The BJP MLCs are organising this protest in which the retired employees will be participating....They are not getting the retirement benefits. The Congress, before winning, made several fake promises, ensuring retirement benefits, among others. However, they are no longer paying the employees. Retired employees receive their money in small instalments...Only central government employees are getting all the employment benefits, and a similar case in all BJP-ruled states....We will be protesting against, and I request all the affected employees to join us," he said. MLC Anji Reddy also raised concerns over the condition of outsourced employees working in various state government departments. He said that although these employees are part of government functioning, they do not receive job security or benefits comparable to regular government staff. He said, "Nearly 5 lakh people are working in Telangana across 31 departments. In the Panchayati Raj, the number is 1 lakh people. 70,000 people work in municipal corporations, and 60,000 work in the health sector. Many of them are outsourced employees. They work through agencies, but they are also government employees. However, they have no guarantee of work or the benefits of a government job....If a state-run corporation replaces the agencies, it will be beneficial." Meanwhile, Telangana Jagruthi founder K Kavitha on Monday launched a sharp attack on the central government over the caste census issue, alleging that it had "crushed the hopes" of the OBC community in Telangana by not including the BC label in the caste census document released earlier. Speaking in Hyderabad, Kavitha said, "I would like to congratulate the nation on this Republic Day. May the spirit of Republic Day reflect in our day-to-day lives and in every decision we make to empower our nation and to bring more respect to the nation through our deeds." She accused the Centre of ignoring the concerns of backward communities, saying, "The Central government has crushed the hopes of the OBC community of Telangana by not including the BC label in the caste census document that they released yesterday." Kavitha further announced that Telangana Jagruthi will take the initiative to compile detailed data on backward castes and sub-castes in the state."We are conducting a roundtable conference in Telangana on the 29th of this month to compile data on these castes and subcastes and their proper names, and we will submit it to the central government," she said.(ANI)
Alankar Agnihotri, who resigned from his post as the City Magistrate of Bareilly on January 26, alleged that an "anti-Brahmin campaign" is underway in Uttar Pradesh. He also alleged that Shankaracharya Swami Avimukteshwaranand and his disciples were mistreated during the Magh Mela in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh. "An anti-Brahmin campaign is going on in the Uttar Pradesh government for quite some time now. Brahmins are being singled out and tortured. Somewhere, a deputy jailer is beating a Brahmin. In another police station, a disabled Brahmin is being beaten to death. Just imagine the recent incidents over the last two weeks, including the Magh Mela, where on the day of Mauni Amavasya, our Shankaracharya of Jyotir Math (Jyotishpeeth), Swami Avimukteshwarananda Saraswati Maharaj, went to take a bath. His disciples, along with elderly monks, were beaten with feet, kicks, and shoes..." "When the administration beats like this, do you want to send the message to people from other communities outside that when the administration beats like this, there will be a massacre? What do you want? Do you want to massacre Brahmins?" Atgnihotri told ANI. Agnihotri also touched on the row surrounding the recent gazette notification (January 13, 2026) issued by the Central Government, which allegedly declares general category students in universities as "proclaimed offenders" if accused of discrimination. "The second issue is that the Central Government's recent regulation, the Government of India's gazette released on January 13, 2026, has deemed general category candidates studying in universities as proclaimed offenders. This means your son or daughter might be studying there. Anyone can file a false complaint alleging discrimination against them, and the Samata Samiti will exploit them...The biggest reason for this plight is that the MPs and MLAs of our society, our Brahmin community, have become completely silent spectators. They are speechless. Do they want sons, daughters, and daughters-in-law to be raped in society?... Agnihotri has appealed to Brahmin public representatives to resign and stand with the community, stating that their inaction could lead to a "massacre" of the general category. "I still appeal to all the public representatives of the Brahmin community to immediately start resigning and stand with the community. The time has come; otherwise, your massacre is certain. The massacre of the general category is certain because your public representatives are asleep, sitting as employees of corporate companies. I have written to the Governor...I have submitted my resignation to the Uttar Pradesh CEO and the District Magistrate through email". Meanwhile, the Uttar Pradesh goverment has ordered disciplinary action against Alankar Agnihotri and attached him to the Shamli District Magistrate. As per the order issued by the Special Secretary, Agnihotri will remain attached to the office of the District Magistrate, Shamli, until the completion of the inquiry. The resignation of Agnihotri has sparked a political debate in the State. BJP MP Dinesh Sharma told ANI," Neither do I know him nor have I heard about him. There are many people who start smelling of politics, and then such people start looking for reasons..." (ANI)
The parents of gangster Goldy Brar were arrested in connection with the ransom threat case in Punjab''s Sri Muktsar Sahib district, an official said on Tuesday. According to officials, Shamsher Singh, son of Gurbaksh Singh, and his wife, Preetpal Kaur, residents of Adesh Nagar in Sri Muktsar Sahib, were taken into custody on Monday in connection with an FIR registered on December 3, 2024. The case was registered under Sections 308(4), 351(1), and 351(3) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) based on a complaint filed by a resident of Udhekaran village. In his complaint, the complainant alleged that he has been working in the education department for the past 33 years and claimed that on November 27, 2024, between 10:30 and 11:00 am, while he was on official duty at the school, he received a WhatsApp call from a foreign mobile number. The caller allegedly identified himself as a member of the Bambiha group, confirmed the complainant''s identity, and demanded a ransom of Rs 50 lakh. The caller allegedly threatened to kill the complainant and his family if the money was not paid. He claimed to have complete information about his family and his residence on Kotkapura Road. The complainant further stated that he received several similar threatening calls throughout the day, which left him extremely frightened. Satnam Singh also reportedly told the police that on December 3, 2024, while he was travelling from his village Udhekaran to his workplace, he again received a WhatsApp call from the same foreign number, which he did not answer out of fear. He said he remained mentally disturbed throughout the day. After consulting with his family, the complainant, along with his brother, approached the Sadar Police Station in Sri Muktsar Sahib and demanded strict legal action against the unknown person who had allegedly repeatedly threatened him with death and demanded ransom. Sri Muktsar Sahib Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Abhimanyu Rana confirmed the arrest of gangster Goldy Brar''s parents from Amritsar. The accused will be produced in the Muktsar court on Tuesday morning. "Goldy Brar''s parents were staying at a hotel near Darbar Sahib, also known as the Golden Temple, in Amritsar at the time of their arrest," the SSP said. "When the FIR was registered, the Bambiha gang and Goldy Brar were working together," SSP informed. He further added that the parents were arrested because they reportedly had no legitimate source of income and were living off the money obtained through ransom. (ANI)
Assam Congress president Gaurav Gogoi on Tuesday targeted the Centre over the seating of Leader of Opposition (LoP) Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi and Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge in the third row during the 77th Republic Day celebrations held in the national capital. Gogoi called it disrespectful to the constitutional position of the LoP. A day earlier, Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi attended the Republic Day parade at Delhi's Kartavya Path. However, their placement in the third row has sparked a political row. Speaking to ANI, Gogoi said, "The protocol to be followed towards the Leader of Opposition during the Republic Day event could not be seen yesterday. This has happened repeatedly. Only PM Modi can answer - Why he disregards the respectable position of the LoP while he calls Parliament a temple of democracy." Further, Gogoi criticised the BJP after it accused Rahul Gandhi of "disrespecting the culture and people of the North-East" for not wearing a Patka at the Republic Day Home reception. "When Congress leaders showed that the things they are raising in Rahul Gandhi's context also apply to Rajnath Singh, the BJP gets upset. I want to say that we should not get involved in politics like this. And even today, in the Northeast, we can clearly see the track records of PM Modi and Rahul Gandhi. Whenever there is a problem in the Northeast, it is always Rahul Gandhi who is visible, not PM Modi," Gogoi said. Earlier, the BJP accused Rahul Gandhi of "disrespecting the culture and people of North-East" by "choosing not to wear Patka," despite President Droupadi Murmu's requests at the Home reception at Rashtrapati Bhavan on the occasion of Republic Day. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma strongly condemned Rahul Gandhi's actions, which he believed "reinforced a perception of disregard towards the North." As per BJP leaders, the Patka was worn by everyone at the Home reception, including President Murmu, PM Modi and foreign dignitaries. "Times may change, but the attitude of the de facto supremo of the Congress party, Mr Rahul Gandhi, regrettably appears unchanged. In an act that was deeply insensitive and insulting to the people of the entire North East, Mr. Gandhi chose not to wear the traditional Patka, a symbol of the region's rich cultural heritage, at the reception hosted by the Hon'ble President of India this evening," the Assam CM said in a post on X. "From the President and the Prime Minister to foreign dignitaries, everyone wore the Patka with respect and pride. Mr. Gandhi alone stood apart, reinforcing a perception of disregard towards the North East. Such conduct explains why his party has lost the trust of the region and much of the country. Yet, this repeated insensitivity continues," he added. (ANI)
Ahead of the all- party meeting today, Congress leader K Suresh said the opposition will raise several public-related issues during the upcoming Budget Session of Parliament, which will begin on January 28. Speaking to ANI here, Suresh said the Budget Session will formally begin with the President's address to both Houses on Wednesday. "Tomorrow, the President of India will address the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. On February 1, the Finance Minister will present the General Budget. Today, the government has convened an all-party meeting at 11 am. As Opposition parties, we are raising our voices as there are several pro-people issues in the country. We are demanding a discussion on important and burning issues," he said. Earlier, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju called an all-party meeting on January 27 to discuss legislative business and key national issues ahead of the session. The meeting is being held in the main Committee Room of Parliament to set the agenda for the smooth conduct of proceedings. The Budget Session will run from January 28 to April 2 with one break. The first phase is scheduled from January 28 to February 13, while the second phase will take place from March 9 to April 2. A total of 30 sittings are planned during the session. The Union Budget for 2026-27 will be presented on February 1. President Droupadi Murmu will formally open the session by addressing members of both Houses. Ahead of the Budget, the Ministry of Finance highlighted previously announced customs duty measures aimed at supporting domestic manufacturing. In earlier Budget decisions, the Basic Customs Duty on flat panel displays was raised to 20 per cent, while duties on open cells and key components were reduced to 5 per cent to address inverted duty structures and promote local production under the 'Make in India' initiative. During recent sessions, Opposition parties have sought discussions on issues including electoral roll revisions, air pollution and law-and-order concerns. The upcoming all-party meeting is expected to outline priorities for the session. (ANI)
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Union Minister of State for Defence Sanjay Seth on Tuesday met DRDO scientists who were special guests at the Republic Day Parade, praising them for their role in strengthening India's strategic capabilities through the development of tanks, missiles, and rocket systems. Addressing the gathering, the defence minister said, "Today, you have been honoured for your outstanding performance; this is also a ceremony of gratitude. It is a tribute to those who have instilled confidence not only in the military but also among the citizens of this country. By developing tanks, missiles, and rocket systems, you have paved the way for what eventually becomes India's strategic strength. You are not alone in this journey; it also encompasses the patience of your families. Scientists often cannot go home for two or three days at a time, so I also extend my thanks to your familyA members." "DRDO is the apex research organisation in the field of defence, which means you also have a lot of responsibility. There is a lot of public respect for you...You need to increase your appetite for risk in research...I suggest you increase your cooperation with the public and private sector undertakings and share your knowledge with them...We should step out of the conventional areas," he added. Rajnath Singh praised DRDO for its journey from 10 labs during its inception to 45 labs today, saying the organisation has strengthened India's self-reliance in defence and meets global standards in many areas under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. "When we look at the journey of DRDO, we see the entire defence trajectory of India. At its inception, DRDO had only ten labs, but today it has 45 labs performing excellently in critical sectors. DRDO has provided the confidence of self-reliance. For decades, we were dependent on others, but today our mindset has changed, and our direction is clear. Under the Prime Minister's leadership, self-reliance (Atmanirbharta) has become a national mindset. Today, there is hardly any field where DRDO does not have a presence. In many areas, you stand ahead of global standards," he said The defence minister also praised the DRDO's role in strengthening India's defence, citing Operation Sindhu as a successful test of their technology. He emphasised the importance of research and development, saying innovation not only boosts defence capabilities but can also benefit sectors like agriculture and the economy. "You have proven yourselves in every trial; the world saw the evidence of this during Operation Sindhu. That was a test of your technology as well, and you passed it. Operation Sindhu established that India is strong. This is a decisive time for India. The world is changing rapidly. In this context, to adapt to the new world, it is essential that we focus on Research and Development (R&D). Research impacts our economy, industry, and technological confidence. If a technology developed for soldiers also benefits a farmer, that research becomes even more successful. Look at the world, see how they encourage risk-taking in research. Not every research project is successful, but those that succeed change the world. Experimentation is essential, whether we achieve success every single time or not," he said. (ANI)
The Defence Minister and Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju have arrived at the Parliament complex.

The meeting will be held in the main Committee Room of Parliament and will set the agenda for the Budget session.

The Budget Session will commence on January 28 and continue till April 2, with one break. The first phase is scheduled from January 28 to February 13, while the second phase will run from March 9 to April 2.

The Budget Session will feature 30 sittings, with the Union Budget 2026-27 being presented on February 1.

President Droupadi Murmu will formally open the session, addressing members of both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha.

The all-party meeting is set to discuss the agenda for the session to ensure a smooth proceeding.

In the last two sessions, including the monsoon and winter sessions in 2025, the Opposition parties have sought to discuss the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral rolls, which is underway across the country.

Meanwhile, a meeting of the strategy group of the Congress Parliamentary Party will be held today at the residence of the CPP chairperson, Sonia Gandhi, to discuss the strategy for the upcoming budget session. (ANI)
Grammys producer Ben Winston had to beg Trevor Noah to host the ceremony for one final time.

Trevor Noah is returning to host the Grammy Awards for the sixth year running

The Recording Academy announced earlier this month that the 41-year-old comedian would be hosting the music awards for a sixth consecutive year on February 1 and Winston revealed that he decided to turn to the former host of The Daily Show in an act of desperation as bosses were struggling to find a replacement.

He told reporters: "After last year's show, he respectfully said, 'Look, I've done a great five years, it's time to hand the microphone off to somebody else and move on.'"

Winston, 44, continued: "It got to December, and we hadn't found anybody that we absolutely loved. I sent him a video, and I was literally, I was on my knees in the video, and I said, 'Please look at this incredible lineup that we've got on the show - the only thing that's missing is you.'

"Come back and do one final year, it's the last year on CBS, let's make it your last year too."

Winston, who produced The Late Late Show with James Corden for the broadcaster, confessed that he was worried that Trevor wouldn't be persuaded by his begging - stating that "it was the longest I've ever waited for a text to come".

The Emmy award-winner feels that Trevor's enthusiasm for the Grammys as a "music fan" makes him the ideal host of the ceremony.

Winston said: "(He's) as excited to be in the middle of that room as we all are to watch it, and I think that's what makes him the perfect host.

"He's been a big part of the evolution of our show, of our organisation, to be honest, because he presents so well.

"The gravitas, the sensibility, the emotional intelligence that he has, and his interactions with the artists really has changed the tone and the tenor of our show.

"So we're extremely thankful for his five, now going on six shows."

Trevor previously revealed that he works tirelessly on his Grammys routine to give himself the best possible chance of success in hosting the ceremony.

The South African funnyman told People in 2024: "Telling a joke is like jumping out of an airplane with a parachute. You have an idea of where you would like to land, but when you actually get close to the ground, you might be a little bit off from where you intended to be.

"So I just work my a** off, try and think of the funniest things to say and ways to say them. The rest I leave to God."
BJP National President Nitin Nabin will be on a two-day visit to West Bengal starting Tuesday. During this visit, he will review the BJP's preparations ahead of the West Bengal Assembly elections, hold several organisational meetings, and participate in public programs. This marks Nabin's first visit to West Bengal after assuming the charge as the BJP National President, said the BJP. Nitin Nabin will arrive at Andal Airport, Durgapur, this evening, where he will receive a grand welcome from senior party office-bearers. Later, the BJP National President will inaugurate the grand "Kamal Mela" at Chitralaya Mela Maidan, Durgapur. It may be noted that the Durgapur Nagarik Manch is organising this Kamal Mela with the resolve to restore West Bengal's great culture and heritage pride. Following this, Nabin will chair a high-level meeting with the state BJP core committee in Durgapur. On Wednesday, he will offer prayers at the historic Bhiringi Kali Mandir in the morning and will then address the BJP Karyakarta Sammelan of the Bardhaman division at Chitralaya Mela Maidan, Durgapur. Thereafter, the National President will address the Asansol district BJP Karyakarta Sammelan in Raniganj. Ahead of the West Bengal Assembly Election 2026, the BJP has finalised a detailed list of Prabasi leaders from various states to strengthen its election campaign across different zones of the state, including Nabadwip, Kolkata, Howrah-Hooghly-Midnapore region. The list includes senior leaders, legislators, former ministers, organisational office-bearers, and youth leaders deputed from several states such as Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Jharkhand, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh, Bihar, and Tripura. These leaders will work in coordination with the West Bengal BJP unit to oversee organisational activities, election preparedness, and grassroots mobilisation in the allotted districts. West Bengal State President Samik Bhattacharya has appointed in-charges for the respective assembly constituencies for the Legislative Assembly elections 2026. Bhattacharya announced the Assembly in-charges on all 294 seats. Meanwhile, Union Home Minister and senior BJP leader Amit Shah will visit West Bengal on January 30 and 31. During his two-day tour, Amit Shah is expected to hold important organisational and political meetings, further energising the party cadre and reviewing preparations for the upcoming political challenges in the state. (ANI)
Special MCOCA judge at Patiala House court has recently denied bail to one Chadrashekhar Gupta accsued of reciving and selling of robbed luxury cars from the gang of Sharad Pandey. It is alleged that Sharad Pandey's organised crime syndicate was involved in car lifting and selling them in North East India including Arunachal Pradesh. An FIR under sections of MCOCA was lodged against him and his gang in 2020. Chandrashekhar Gupta was arrested in the MCOCA FIR lodged against Sharad Pandey. It is alleged that Gupta was allegedly involved in transfer of proceeds of crime through bank accounts of other members after selling of robbed cars received from the gang. Additional Sessions Judge (ASJ) Prashant Sharma rejected the bail plea of Chandrasekhar Gupta after considering the submissions and facts of the case. In this case, charge sheet has been filed and charges have been framed. This case is at the stage of Prosecution evidence. After considering the allegations against the court dismissed the bail plea and said in the order passed on January 23, " I find that accused is not entitled to bail, within the parameters of sec. 21 (4) (b) of MCOCA. The special judge noted, " I find that allegations against accused are that he is involved in organized crime syndicate and was involved in car jacking of luxury vehicles in Delhi and NCR." The court said that the allegations are supported by evidence in the shape of oral testimonies of prosecution witnesses and documentary evidence besides confessions u/sec. 18 of MCOCA. " The allegations are therefore not bald allegations. They are serious in nature. Possibility of accused fleeing away from justice and influencing witnesses cannot be ruled out. Viewed from those perspectives also, I find this bail application, to be meritless," ASJ Sharma said on January 23. While rejecting the ba application the court also dismissed the contention of counsel for accsued saying that net result is that case laws cited by accused are distinguishable on facts. Therefore, they did not help the cause of accused and are discarded by me. Counsel for accused argued that accused was discharged in other two cases. Besides that he argued that investigation with regard to money transferred from the account of accused is still pending. (ANI)
The Delhi High Court has upheld a trial court order setting aside a notice issued by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to retired Chhattisgarh High Court judge Justice I.M. Quddusi in a corruption-related investigation, ruling that the statutory power under Section 91 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) cannot be used to compel an accused to disclose personal details. A Bench of the Delhi High Court, while dismissing the CBI's petition, affirmed that Section 91 CrPC is meant for the production of specific, pre-existing documents or things and does not authorise the investigating agency to require an accused person to create or compile information based on personal knowledge. The case arose from a notice issued by the CBI to Justice Quddusi during the course of a corruption probe, seeking details of mobile phone numbers used by him, particulars of bank accounts including statements for a specified period, and information relating to drivers and domestic staff. Justice Quddusi had challenged the notice before the Special Judge (CBI), contending that it violated the constitutional protection against self-incrimination guaranteed under Article 20(3) of the Constitution. The Special Judge accepted the objection and set aside the notice, prompting the CBI to approach the High Court. While examining the scope of Section 91 CrPC, the High Court observed that the provision empowers courts and investigating officers to summon the production of documents or things already in existence. It does not permit compelling an accused to apply his mind, recall facts from memory, and prepare a written statement containing information sought by the prosecution. Such an exercise, the Court held, would amount to testimonial compulsion. The Court further noted that the notice issued by the CBI was, in substance, a questionnaire seeking information rather than a direction to produce identifiable documents. By requiring the accused to list mobile numbers, bank accounts, and names of employees, the agency was effectively asking him to create evidence against himself, which is impermissible in law. Reiterating settled constitutional principles, the High Court held that the right against self-incrimination applies even at the stage of investigation. If the investigating agency requires such information, it has alternative lawful avenues available including interrogating the accused under Section 161 CrPC, where the accused retains the right to remain silent, or obtaining records directly from independent sources such as banks and telecom service providers by issuing notices to those third parties. The Court rejected the CBI's contention that the information sought was merely non-incriminatory or public in nature, observing that investigative convenience cannot override constitutional safeguards. It also relied on binding Supreme Court precedent to reiterate that Section 91 CrPC, on its true construction, does not apply to an accused person in the manner sought by the CBI. Finding no infirmity in the trial court's reasoning, the High Court dismissed the CBI's petition and upheld the order quashing the notice. The CBI was represented by Atul Guleria, Special Public Prosecutor, along with Aryan Rakesh and Prashant Upadhyay, Advocates. Justice I.M. Quddusi was represented by Mr. Prashant Chari and Ayush Jindal, Advocates.(ANI)
TDP Parliamentary Party leader Lavu Sri Krishna Devarayalu on Tuesday said the party raised three national issues and five Andhra Pradesh-related issues after the all-party meeting. The issues include India's FTAs, social media rules for under-16s, and the Amaravati capital bill. Speaking to the reporters, Devarayalu said, "We wanted to take up three national issues and five issues related to Andhra Pradesh. The first national issue concerned FTAs signed by India, including the India-EU FTA...We wanted da iscussion on this. Another issue we want to discuss is the social media ban for those under 16. If Australia can do it, why can't India? The major state issue we want to take up is the Amaravati capital bill issue. We want Andhra Pradesh's capital to have legislative backing." Defence Minister Rajnath Singh chaired an all-party meeting today ahead of the Budget session, which will begin on January 28 and run until April 2. Senior leaders, including Rajnath Singh, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju, Union Minister JP Nadda, Congress leaders Jairam Ramesh and Pramod Tiwari, AITC leader Shatabdi Roy, MNM founder Kamal Haasan, Tamil Manila Congress leader GK Vasan, and SP leader Ramgopal Yadav and many other senior leaders attended the meeting. The meeting, held in the main Committee Room of Parliament, outlined the agenda for the upcoming Budget session. The Budget Session will commence on January 28 and continue till April 2, with one break. The first phase is scheduled from January 28 to February 13, while the second phase will run from March 9 to April 2. The Budget Session will feature 30 sittings, with the Union Budget 2026-27 being presented on February 1. President Droupadi Murmu will formally open the session, addressing members of both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. In the last two sessions, including the monsoon and winter sessions in 2025, the Opposition parties have sought to discuss the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral rolls, which is underway across the country. (ANI)
Members of the United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU) staged a peaceful protest in Kolkata on Tuesday as part of a nationwide one-day strike to press for several long-pending demands, including the implementation of a five-day working week for bank employees. Visuals from the site showed union members assembling outside a bank and raising slogans while participating in the strike. However, the protest remained peaceful. The strike was called by various bank employee unions, with leaders stating that the protest was peaceful and aimed at drawing the government's attention to unresolved issues. Despite the strike, union leaders said they had made efforts to minimise inconvenience to customers. Banks had informed customers in advance about the strike, and alternative services such as ATMs and digital banking platforms were kept operational. Speaking to ANI, Sanjay Kuthe, General Secretary of the Indian Bank Officers Association for Maharashtra and Goa, said the demand for a five-day workweek has been pending for a long time. "We demand the government to implement five-day working days for employees in a week. It is a long-pending demand and has been delayed by over 2 years," he said. Kuthe added that the strike would not significantly impact customers, as prior arrangements had been made. "However, there will be no major issue for the bank customers as we have already informed them from before and all our ATMs and digital services are operative," he said. The one-day strike led to the closure of branch-level banking operations in many parts of the country, affecting services such as cash withdrawals and deposits at counters. However, digital banking services, mobile banking applications and ATM services continued to function normally, providing customers with access to essential banking facilities. Bank unions have maintained that a five-day working week would help improve work-life balance for employees and align the banking sector with other segments of the financial industry. They have urged the government to address the issue at the earliest. The unions stated that while Tuesday's strike was limited to one day, further steps could be considered if their demands continue to remain unaddressed. (ANI)
Suspended City Magistrate of Bareilly, Alankar Agnihotri, urged the central government to intervene, alleging constitutional failure in Uttar Pradesh. Escalated his protest against the Uttar Pradesh administration, Agnihotri claimed growing support from Brahmin organisations against the Uttar Pradesh administration, claiming growing support from Brahmin organisations across multiple states and alleging failure of constitutional machinery in the state. Speaking to the media during his ongoing protest in Bareilly, Agnihotri said that several organisations and members of the Brahmin community from six states were in touch with him. "Various organisations and Brahmin communities from our six states are in contact. Many people, including elected representatives, have expressed concern that the UGC regulations published in the Government of India Gazette on January 13, 2026, will be highly detrimental to the country," he said. Agnihotri further linked the issue to what he described as an insult to Sanatan culture and the Brahmin community during the Mahakumbh Mela. "All the organisations have also supported the cause regarding the insult to the Sanatan culture, specifically the insult to the Brahmin community at the Mahakumbh Mela. We are all united and will continue the fight for our community," he said. Reiterating allegations made earlier, Agnihotri claimed that the constitutional system in Uttar Pradesh had broken down. "The constitutional machinery has failed. The government is working with a particular ideology, and there is an opposing ideology," he alleged. The suspended officer jointly appealed to the Union leadership for intervention. "I urge the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, the Defence Minister, and the Home Minister, Amit Shah, to immediately seek a report from the Governor of Uttar Pradesh and impose President's Rule here. The failed constitutional machinery should be removed at once," he said. Agnihotri has been protesting since resigning from his post, alleging attempts to confine him, caste-based harassment, and administrative misuse of power. He has also demanded a Special Investigation Team probe into the circumstances surrounding his suspension. (ANI)
Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) on Tuesday provided clarification on the recent controversy surrounding an allegedly faulty design for a flyover in Mira Road. It stated that the transition from 4 lanes to 2 lanes is not a design flaw, but is based on available road width constraints and future network planning. According to their statement, the flyover does not "suddenly narrow." As per planning, the flyover has been designed with two lanes for Bhayander East and future connecting two lanes for Bhayander West. Since the Bhayander East arm comes first along the alignment, the 4-lane configuration presently transitions into 2 lanes. The remaining two outer lanes are planned as part of the future extension towards Bhayander West across the Western Railway line. Up to Golden Nest Circle, where five major roads merge, and traffic volume is high, a 2+2 lane flyover integrated with the Metro, along with slip roads on both sides, has been provided to disperse traffic effectively. Beyond the junction, towards Bhayander East, the available right-of-way reduces as per DP. Accordingly, a 1+1 lane flyover with dedicated up and down ramps has been constructed along the median to provide uninterrupted movement towards Railway Phatak Road, the statement said. This design enables smooth crossing of one of the busiest junctions in the Mira-Bhayander region while accommodating on-ground constraints. Provision has been kept for future widening, wherein the outer side of the flyover on both carriageways will be extended by an additional 1+1 lane to ensure improved east-west traffic continuity. The proposal is currently at the planning stage and will be taken up in coordination with MBMC after obtaining approvals from the competent authorities. At present, the flyover has been designed primarily for traffic dispersal and congestion reduction in the Mira-Bhayander area. Necessary safety measures have been incorporated, including rumble strips, delineators, adequate signage, retro-reflective tags, directional boards, and anti-crash barriers, as per the statement. Traffic police guidance is being actively sought for any additional vehicular safety measures prior to opening the flyover for public use. (ANI)
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday emphasised that Operation Sindoor demonstrated that indigenous systems are strengthening India's operational readiness, as he commended the crucial role of Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) in achieving self-reliance that has become a national mindset under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Addressing the DRDO Best Performing Scientists and Technical Persons, who witnessed the 77th Republic Day Parade as Special Guests, Rajnath Singh stated that DRDO's technology was effectively used on the battlefield during Operation Sindoor, and the R&D Organisation is playing a key role in the rapid transformation of the defence sector based on the indigenisation pursuit. As per the Ministry of Defence release, to stay ahead of the curve in the present technology-driven world, the Defence Minister stressed the need to focus on R&D, exhorting the DRDO scientists to think innovatively & quickly, while not being afraid of taking risks. "Technology is changing rapidly. Any tech that is new today may become irrelevant in 4-5 years. Therefore, in today's times, especially on the battlefield, we must move forward keeping in mind the theory of 'survival of the fastest' and not just 'survival of the fittest'. The country that thinks, decides & deploys technology quickly stays ahead," he said. Rajnath Singh urged the DRDO to move beyond the sectors where the private sector has already developed its capabilities, suggesting the creation of a separate wing within the organisation that takes risks in sectors where the chances of success may seem low. However, if success is achieved, it will be historic, he added. Underscoring the importance of reducing the time between research and prototype, prototype to testing, and testing to deployment, the Defence Minister asserted that "timely induction in the Armed Forces should be the biggest parameter of our performance". He pointed out that the DRDO usually focuses on design and prototyping, and production is the role of industries, emphasising that it is necessary to bridge this gap. He stated that, similar to international models, a co-development approach can be adopted, where the industry is involved from the early stages, from design to production. Calling upon the DRDO to collaborate extensively with public sector undertakings and the private sector, Rajnath Singh stated that the time has come to move beyond conventional areas. "For example, Light Combat Aircraft Tejas, which has emerged as a major achievement for us, is a testament to the knowledge sharing between DRDO and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited. Many more such achievements await us, but for that, it is essential that DRDO collaborates with academia and share knowledge with the public and private sectors. Government's support will only be meaningful when DRDO moves away from a monopolistic R&D model to a collaborative ecosystem, and cooperates with the public sector, private industries, MSMEs, start-ups, and academia. Only then will we be able to make big strides towards an 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat'," he said. Defence Minister added that due to the Government's self-reliance efforts, the defence exports, which were less than Rs 1,000 crore in 2014, have today increased to a record approx. Rs 24,000 crore, and stressed that there is a need to increase it further. "We have set a defence exports target of Rs 50,000 crore by 2029-30. DRDO should consider export markets right from the design stage of its systems, especially focusing on drones, radars, electronic warfare systems, and ammunition. Focusing on exports leads to cost recovery, builds global credibility, and strengthens strategic partnerships," he said. He exuded confidence that DRDO will play a significant role in building Viksit Bharat by 2047. Describing the scientists, engineers and technicians as the real strength of DRDO, Rajnath Singh underlined the need to provide them with the opportunities to learn, while also giving them leadership responsibilities and assurances that their ideas will be heard. "There are failures in research; we must learn from them," he said. The event was organised by the DRDO to honour dedicated scientists, technical experts, and innovators whose commitment, perseverance & excellence form the strong foundation of India's defence capabilities. On the occasion, the Defence Minister distributed awards to the recipients of the DRDO Award Scheme 2024. A book titled 'The Unprecedented Success Story of the First Indigenous Supersonic Multi-Target Surface-to-Air Missile System - AKASH' co-authored by Dr G Chandramouli, Padma, former Project Director of Akash and Dr Prahlada Ram Rao, Padma and first Project Director of Akash, was also released, which reflects the organisation's research excellence, developmental strength, and strategic vision. The book chronicles the inspirational journey of the missile system - from conceptualisation to operational success. AKASH stands as a powerful symbol of DRDO's scientific excellence and the spirit of Aatmanirbhar Bharat. (ANI)
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said on Tuesday that the central government remains open to suggestions from all political parties ahead of the Budget Session of Parliament. Rijiju's remarks come after Defence Minister Rajnath Singh chaired an all-party meeting today ahead of the Budget session, which will begin on January 28 and run until April 2. Rijiju also said that discussions must adhere strictly to established parliamentary rules. Speaking to reporters after an all-party meeting, Rijiju said, "As per the rules, the discussions should revolve around the Budget only. The President will address the joint session of the Parliament at the beginning of the Budget session. After that motion on vote of thanks on the President's speech will held where all parties will participate. The government will always be happy to hear any suggestions." "The government is always ready to listen, but if everytime the Opposition parties do hungama and not let the house function, then problem arises," Kiren Rijiju told reporters. Further, TDP Parliamentary Party leader Lavu Sri Krishna Devarayalu said the party raised three national issues and five Andhra Pradesh-related issues after the all-party meeting. The issues include India's FTAs, social media rules for under-16s, and the Amaravati capital bill. Speaking to the reporters, Devarayalu said, "We wanted to take up three national issues and five issues related to Andhra Pradesh. The first national issue concerned FTAs signed by India, including the India-EU FTA...We wanted a discussion on this. Another issue we want to discuss is the social media ban for those under 16. If Australia can do it, why can't India? The major state issue we want to take up is the Amaravati capital bill issue. We want Andhra Pradesh's capital to have legislative backing." Senior leaders, including Rajnath Singh, Kiren Rijiju, Union Minister JP Nadda, Congress leaders Jairam Ramesh and Pramod Tiwari, AITC leader Shatabdi Roy, MNM founder Kamal Haasan, Tamil Manila Congress leader GK Vasan, and SP leader Ramgopal Yadav and many other senior leaders attended the meeting. The meeting, held in the main Committee Room of Parliament, outlined the agenda for the upcoming Budget session. The Budget Session will commence on January 28 and continue till April 2, with one break. The first phase is scheduled from January 28 to February 13, while the second phase will run from March 9 to April 2. The Budget Session will feature 30 sittings, with the Union Budget 2026-27 being presented on February 1. President Droupadi Murmu will formally open the session, addressing members of both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. In the last two sessions, including the monsoon and winter sessions in 2025, the Opposition parties have sought to discuss the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral rolls, which is underway across the country. (ANI)
The hill resort of Shimla received rainfall on Tuesday, while tourists eagerly awaited fresh snowfall, even as normal life was disrupted with roads blocked and power and water supply affected following recent snow and rain. The local administration has been put on alert in view of an India Meteorological Department (IMD) warning forecasting more precipitation. Speaking to ANI, Himachal Pradesh Revenue Minister Jagat Singh Negi said that the recent snowfall, which came after a long dry spell, was much needed, particularly for farmers and horticulturists. "The snowfall and rainfall have occurred after a long gap. There was a drought-like situation earlier, and this dry spell has now ended. Snowfall has taken place in Shimla and Dharamshala, while the lower areas received rain. This was necessary for farmers and orchardists," Negi said. However, he acknowledged that the weather had also created challenges. According to the minister, 711 roads, including three national highways, are currently blocked across the state. Additionally, 861 power distribution transformers (DTRs) and around 163 water supply schemes have been affected. "Snowfall does create problems. Roads, electricity and water supply have been disrupted, but machinery and manpower have been deployed on the ground. Restoration work is underway on a war footing," he added. Negi appealed to residents and tourists to avoid venturing into risky areas, especially higher reaches, and urged them to follow traffic advisories and safety norms. "Enjoy Himachal's weather, but do not put yourself in danger. The IMD has again predicted snowfall, and we are fully prepared," he said. Meanwhile, tourists visiting Shimla expressed happiness over the snowy conditions and the overall experience. Javed, a tourist visiting from Ghaziabad, said his group decided to travel after seeing snowfall updates. "We came after seeing snowfall updates. We got good snow at Ridge Maidan and nearby areas. Kufri has so much snow that the roads are blocked. There is a prediction of snowfall again, so we have decided to stay another day. Shimla is a beautiful city, and our trip has been successful," he told ANI. Another tourist, Irfan, said snowfall had already occurred before his arrival, and the weather remained pleasant. "There was snow even before we reached here. The sun is out, and the weather is nice. We are enjoying it a lot. We have heard there is a chance of snowfall again at night. It's a great experience," he said. The administration continues to monitor the situation closely as fresh snowfall is expected, while restoration efforts remain underway to normalise road connectivity and essential services across the state. (ANI)
Jim Curtis has revealed that he and Jennifer Aniston "took a long time" to start their relationship.

Jim Curtis has opened up about his relationship with Jennifer Aniston

The Friends actress, 56, went Instagram official with the hypnotherapist in November and he has explained that the pair were "introduced by friends" and took a while before realising their connection was romantic.

Speaking on Today on Monday (26.01.26) to promote his new book The Book of Possibility, Jim said: "We were just introduced by friends. That's it. We found out that we had mutual friends and we started to just chat.

"It took a long time, we chatted for a long time and we became close."

Jim, 50, revealed that he and Jennifer have been dating for almost a year.

Asked how long they'd been together by interviewer Craig Melvin, he said: "A long time, months now, almost close to a year."

Insiders revealed earlier this month that Jennifer - who has previously been married to Hollywood icon Brad Pitt and actor Justin Theroux - is "very happy and comfortable" in her relationship with Jim.

A source told People: "She had a great end to the year and feels really good about where things are with Jim.

"She's excited about this new year and what's ahead, especially with Jim by her side now. Jen's always been fine on her own and comfortable being single, but her relationship with Jim is just different.

"She's very happy and comfortable. He's just so sweet and supportive of her. He makes her everyday life better."

Aniston described her new man as "very special" and "very normal" in an interview last year.

She told ELLE magazine: "Hypnotism is one of the many things that he does. Hes quite extraordinary, and helps many, many people.

"Hes very special, very normal, and very kind, and wants to help people heal, move through their trauma and stagnation into clarity. Its a beautiful thing to commit your life to."

The Morning Show star is said to "admire" Jim's work and the pair have a great deal in common.

An insider told People: "Their relationship is different. She's very excited about it.

"It's obvious that she admires him. She talks about how he has amazing energy, and she loves what he does for living, because it truly helps people, including herself.

"They both liked little rituals and moments that are grounding. They are both into symbolism."
Former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Uma Bharti on Tuesday affirmed that demanding proof from Swami Avimukteshwaranand regarding his Shankracharya title was a violation of propriety. Having said this, she outlined that her statement doesn't mean any disrespect towards Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. In an X post, Bharti stated that the right to demand such proofs lies only with the Shankracharya or the scholarly council. "Don't harbour illusions against Yogi; my statement is not against Yogi ji--I hold feelings of respect, affection, and goodwill toward him. However, I stand firm on this: the administration must maintain strict control over law and order, but demanding proof of someone's status as Shankaracharya is a violation of propriety; only the Shankaracharya or the scholarly council can do that," she posted on X. In a separate post, Bharti urged for a positive resolution between Swami Avimukteshwaranand Ji Maharaj and the Uttar Pradesh government. "I believe that a positive resolution will emerge between Swami Avimukteshwaranand Ji Maharaj and the Uttar Pradesh government, but the administrative authorities demanding proof of his status as Shankaracharya--this is a violation by the administration of its own limits and authority; this right belongs solely to the Shankaracharyas and the council of scholars," the post read. Her comments follow the alleged attempt to prevent Shankaracharya Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati from taking a dip at the Sangam during the Magh Mela. However, the Prayagraj administration has rejected the allegations. Divisional Commissioner Saumya Agarwal said the Shankaracharya arrived without prior permission, accompanied by around 200 followers, despite heavy crowding at the Sangam. On Saturday, Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) supremo Mayawati said that in recent years, interference by political figures in religious festivals, holidays, worship rituals, and bathing ceremonies had increased not only in Uttar Pradesh, but across the country. She said this trend is giving rise to new conflicts and concerns among the public. Citing the Prayagraj bathing ceremony dispute as a fresh example, Mayawati cautioned that "linking religion with politics for narrow political gains carries inherent dangers". "The bitter dispute brewing in Prayagraj over the bathing ceremony should be resolved as quickly as possible through mutual consensus--the sooner, the better," she posted on X. (ANI)
The Gujarat Police on Tuesday arrested one individual for alleged 'anti-national activities', and uncovered a suspected criminal conspiracy, according to an official statement. The accused has been identified as 22-year-old Faizan, originally a native of Uttar Pradesh's Dundawala in Rampur District. Faizan was currently working as a tailor while residing in the Zarakwad area of Navsari. The Deputy Superintendent of Police, Harsh Upadhyay of the Gujarat Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS), received confidential information regarding the accused. According to officials, he has been "arrested for orchestrating a plot which involved attacking and killing certain well-known youths in UP with weapons to "spread terror", as well as conspiring to separate Kashmir from India through Jihad." To execute this conspiracy, he had stockpiled deadly weapons. Upon higher officials of the Gujarat ATS being informed of the plan, orders were issued to investigate and take legal action. Based on this, a team led by Dy SP Harsh Upadhyay, including PWSI Nikunj Joshi and PSI DV Rabari, conducted a technical analysis of the information. During this, a suspicious Instagram profile used by Faizan, "al.faizangaza", was identified. Following further analysis, a team comprising PI N.R. Brahmbhatt, PI C.H. Panara, PI K.B. Desai, and PSI A.P. Parmar conducted a covert inquiry and confirmed the suspect's presence in the identified area. Subsequently, a joint team led by DySP Harsh Upadhyay, accompanied by ATS PI P.B. Desai, PI V.R. Jadeja, PWI Mrunal Shah, and the Navsari Police team, conducted a raid and apprehended the suspect. The accused was brought to the Navsari Special Operations Group (SOG) office for further interrogation. A search of his mobile phone revealed inflammatory literature supporting the ideology of banned terrorist organisations Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) and Al-Qaeda (AQ), the release stated. Officials have allegedly recovered a photograph depicting the Red Fort with a black Islamic flag replacing the Tricolor, with "AL FAIZAN CHOUDHARY" written in English at the bottom; a map of the Indian subcontinent where the area of India (excluding Kashmir) is shown in black with Arabic text, while Kashmir depicts the flag of "Azad Kashmir"; a photo with white English text stating: "Of India in Delhi, the death of all these names written is very close, and we will show you how to kill them Inshallah". A world map background with a black Islamic flag over the globe, Arabic or Urdu text, and "Hizb ut-Tahrir" written in English, photos of various individuals with their faces circled (marking them as targets), and chats with "Mohammed Abu Bakar", containing inflammatory videos of terrorist Farhatullah Ghori, propaganda videos from the Jaish-e-Mohammed media cell, and audio files of radical speeches in Urdu were also recovered by the police. According to the release, apart from all that, 01 Pistol and 06 Live Rounds were recovered from Faizan's possession. 29 pages of suspicious literature containing text in Arabic or Urdu script and photos were found. Translation revealed highly objectionable content inciting "Jihad" and misleading youth, with titles such as "Why Al-Qaeda?", aimed at attracting recruits to banned organisations, officials said. During interrogation in the presence of Panchas (witnesses), Faizan revealed that he had been in contact with a person named "Mohammed Abu Bakar" for the last 6-7 months via WhatsApp, Instagram, and Telegram. About three months ago, he joined a group via an Instagram ID. In this group, photos and names of individuals who allegedly insulted the Prophet were circulated with instigation to kill them. Faizan forwarded this to others and conspired to kill them. Faizan and Abu Bakar followed Maulana Masood Azhar and the banned outfit JeM, allegedly watching and uploading Jihadi videos of Mufti Abdul Rauf Asgar on Instagram. Regarding the weapon, he confessed to purchasing the pistol and cartridges six months ago from an unknown person in his native Uttar Pradesh. His primary motive was to identify and carry out Targeted Killings of those who allegedly insulted the Prophet, the release said. Primary investigation reveals that the arrested accused Faizan Shakil and the wanted accused Mohammed Abu Bakar conspired to wage war against the Government of India and incite violence. Inspired by terrorist organisations like JeM and Al-Qaeda, they planned to spread terror within a specific community. They also attempted to incite people towards armed rebellion and Jihad to separate Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh from the Union of India. Consequently, legal action has been initiated by Gujarat ATS under relevant sections of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), and the Arms Act. Further investigation regarding other individuals involved in this conspiracy is underway. (ANI)
Amid a row over the Uttar Pradesh government issuing a notice to Swami Avimukteshwaranand, Ayodhya GST Commissioner Prashant Kumar Singh stepped down from his post on Tuesday, but in support of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. The government officer said he was hurt by baseless allegations made against PM Modi and Yogi Adityanath over the last two days. He said that his resignation comes in opposition to Swami Avimukteshwaranand, who is being asked to provide proof regarding his Shankaracharya title. "In favour of the government and to oppose Shankaracharya Swami Avimukteshwaranand, I have resigned. For the last 2 days, I was deeply hurt by his baseless allegations against our CM and PM. I have certain moral responsibilities towards the government that pays my salary. When I saw that my CM and PM are being insulted, I sent my resignation papers to the Governor," Kumar told ANI. This development comes in the wake of a dispute between the Uttar Pradesh government and Shankaracharya Swami Avimukteshwaranand during Mauni Amavasya. During the Magh Mela, the seer was allegedly stopped by authorities from taking the holy dip with his palanquin. Following this incident, the seer has been sitting outside his camp to protest the action. Earlier, Bareilly city magistrate Alankar Agnihotri was suspended by the Uttar Pradesh government after he resigned from his post on Republic Day while criticising government policies. "An anti-Brahmin campaign has been going on in the Uttar Pradesh government for quite some time now. Brahmins are being singled out and tortured. Somewhere, a deputy jailer is beating a Brahmin. In another police station, a disabled Brahmin is being beaten to death," Agnihotri told ANI. He also alleged that an "anti-Brahmin campaign" was underway in Uttar Pradesh, objecting to the alleged mistreatment of Shankaracharya Swami Avimukteshwaranand and his disciples during the Magh Mela in Prayagraj. "Just imagine the recent incidents over the last two weeks, including the Magh Mela, where on the day of Mauni Amavasya, our Shankaracharya of Jyotir Math (Jyotishpeeth), Swami Avimukteshwarananda Saraswati Maharaj, went to take a bath. His disciples, along with elderly monks, were beaten with feet, kicks, and shoes," the suspended officer said. "When the administration beats like this, do you want to send the message to people from other communities outside that when the administration beats like this, there will be a massacre? What do you want? Do you want to massacre Brahmins?" he added. Along with this, Agnihotri's resignation is a result of his discontent against the Promotion of Equity in Higher Education Institutions Regulations, 2026, issued by the University Grants Commission (UGC). Meanwhile, BJP leader Uma Bharti affirmed that demanding proof from Swami Avimukteshwaranand regarding his Shankracharya title was a violation of propriety. Having said this, she outlined that her statement doesn't mean any disrespect towards Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. In an X post, Bharti stated that the right to demand such proofs lies only with the Shankracharya or the scholarly council. "Don't harbour illusions against Yogi; my statement is not against Yogi ji--I hold feelings of respect, affection, and goodwill toward him. However, I stand firm on this: the administration must maintain strict control over law and order, but demanding proof of someone's status as Shankaracharya is a violation of propriety; only the Shankaracharya or the scholarly council can do that," she posted on X. In a separate post, Bharti urged for a positive resolution between Swami Avimukteshwaranand Ji Maharaj and the Uttar Pradesh government. (ANI)
A delegation comprising members of Bangalore Political Action Committee (B.PAC) and concerned citizens met with the Chief Commissioner of the State Election Commission, Sangreshi, on Tuesday. According to a press release, the delegation submitted a formal memorandum urging that the upcoming elections for the 369 wards across 5 corporations under the newly formed Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) be conducted exclusively using Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs). The memorandum highlighted the need for transparency and speed, while given the vast scale of elections spanning 369 wards, the use of EVMs is essential to avoid delays and confusion during the counting process. This will ensure greater transparency in the electoral proceedings. The release further stated that aligning with the Tech Era: Bengaluru is a global technology hub. Reverting to the outdated ballot paper system is a regressive step. Modern technology must be leveraged to enhance voter confidence. The use of EVMs can completely eliminate manual errors that occur during ballot paper counting and prevent the possibility of votes being declared invalid. Using EVMs enables swift declaration of results and significantly reduces the manpower and expenditure required for prolonged counting. Speaking on the occasion, Raghavendra Poojari HS, Program Head of B.PAC, stated, "It is crucial that elections in a metropolis like Bengaluru are conducted systematically and without errors. In this regard, the State Election Commission should move away from the old ballot paper system and take necessary steps to conduct elections through EVMs only." Sangreshi, Chief Commissioner of the State Election Commission, received the memorandum and assured the delegation that the matter would be considered seriously. The delegation included N Harish, B.PAC member and senior advocate, along with representatives from various city civic groups. (ANI)
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday hailed the signing of the India-European Free Trade Agreement (FTA) as "historic," congratulating PM Narendra Modi for concluding a deal impacting 30 per cent of the world's population and 25 per cent of global trade. CM Fadnavis said the agreement would significantly benefit India, including Maharashtra, following its announcement at the 16th India-EU Summit by PM Modi and EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. Speaking to ANI, CM Fadnavis said, "Today is a historic day when the deal between the Union of India and the European Union is signed. I would like to congratulate Prime Minister Narendra Modi on successfully signing this deal, which will change the entire landscape of international trade. This deal affects 30% of the world's population. It accounts for 25% of global trade and is one of the largest deals in history. It is very beneficial, especially for India because India is the fourth largest economy and Indian exports in products and services has a huge market in the European Union... I think that it is a commendable job done by the government of India, and from the government of Maharashtra's perspective, the state will be heavily benefited..." The conclusion of this FTA positions India and the European Union as trusted partners committed to open markets, predictability, and inclusive growth. The announcement of the FTA today marks the culmination of years of sustained dialogue and cooperation, between India and the EU, demonstrating the political will and shared vision to deliver a balanced, modern, and rules-based economic and trade partnership. The European Union is India's largest trading partner, with bilateral trade in goods and services growing steadily over the years. In 2024-25, India's bilateral trade in goods with the EU stood at INR 11.5 Lakh Crore (USD 136.54 billion) with exports worth INR 6.4 Lakh Crore (USD 75.85 billion) and imports amounting to INR 5.1 Lakh Crore (USD 60.68 billion). India-EU trade in services reached INR 7.2 Lakh Crore (USD 83.10 billion) in 2024. India and EU are 4th and 2nd largest economies, comprising 25% of Global GDP and account for one third of global trade. Integration of the two large diverse and complementary economies will create unprecedented trade and investment opportunities. India has secured unprecedented market access for more than 99% of Indian exports by trade value to the EU that also bolsters the 'Make in India' initiative. Beyond goods, it unlocks high-value commitments in services complemented by a comprehensive mobility framework enabling seamless movement of skilled Indian professionals. The India-EU trade pact covers conventional areas such as trade in goods, services, trade remedies, rules of origin, customs and trade facilitation, as well as emerging areas such as SMEs and digital trade, amongst others. The India-EU FTA gives a decisive boost to its labour-intensive sectors such as textiles, apparel, leather, footwear, marine products, gems and jewellery, handicrafts, engineering goods, and automobiles bringing down tariffs up to 10% on almost 33 bn USD of exports to zero on entry into force of the Agreement. Beyond enhancing competitiveness, it empowers workers, artisans, women, youth, and MSMEs, while integrating Indian businesses more deeply into global value chains and reinforcing India's role as a key player and supplier in global trade. The India-EU FTA marks a new chapter in bilateral economic engagement, strengthening trade, and strategic cooperation between India and the 27-member EU bloc. Cognizant of multifarious objectives placed on trade, dynamic nature of trade, fast evolving technologies and increasing regulatory complexities, the Agreement embeds multiple review, consultation and response mechanisms to deal with new, sudden challenges which emerge in future. The Agreement relies on strong stewardship and trust to deliver gains for both sides. (ANI)
Communist Party of India (CPI) MP P Sandosh Kumar on Tuesday labelled the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) drive being carried out in various states by the Election Commission of India (ECI) as "Special Intensive Removal", alleging that the principle of democracy was being reversed. He claimed that instead of voters choosing their representatives, "the rulers are selecting their voters." "We have raised many issues. The main issue, however, was the SIR, which now stands for Special Intensive Removal. Normally in a democracy, voters elect their ruler, but here, the reverse is happening. The rulers are selecting their voters. The Election Commission has become an eradication commission. In the name of Maoism, tribals are getting killed, especially in the Bastar area of Chhattisgarh," Kumar told ANI after attending the all-party meeting. He demanded that the Government must place before Parliament and the people the full details and current status of the operation, ensuring transparency and accountability. On foreign policy, the CPI MP said, "India's approach is in a state of complete paralysis, with no firm response to Donald Trump's bullying postures, nor to major international developments such as the situation in Venezuela or statements threatening the annexation of Greenland, which undermines India's independent foreign policy tradition." Kumar reiterated its demand for an immediate wage increase for ASHA workers, as assured earlier by the Union Health Minister. He also demanded the immediate restoration of MNREGA, noting that delayed wage payments, shrinking allocations, and reduced workdays have gravely affected rural livelihoods. MNREGA remains a crucial employment and income-support mechanism during agrarian distress and rising unemployment and must be expanded and fully funded. CPI MP further called for the withdrawal of the anti-labour Labour Codes, opposed the anti-farmer Seed Bill, and demanded that the Union Government's share in Centrally Sponsored Schemes (CSS) be increased to 75:25, enabling states to effectively implement welfare and development programmes. Sandosh Kumar emphasised that these critical issues must be addressed during the forthcoming Budget Session in the interests of democracy, federalism and the livelihood security of the people. Sandosh Kumar's remarks come after Defence Minister Rajnath Singh chaired an all-party meeting today ahead of the Budget session, which will begin on January 28 and run until April 2. Senior leaders, including Rajnath Singh, Kiren Rijiju, Union Minister JP Nadda, Congress leaders Jairam Ramesh and Pramod Tiwari, AITC leader Shatabdi Roy, MNM founder Kamal Haasan, Tamil Maanila Congress leader GK Vasan, and SP leader Ramgopal Yadav and many other senior leaders attended the meeting. The meeting, held in the main Committee Room of Parliament, outlined the agenda for the upcoming Budget session. The Budget Session will commence on January 28 and continue till April 2, with one break. The first phase is scheduled from January 28 to February 13, while the second phase will run from March 9 to April 2. The Budget Session will feature 30 sittings, with the Union Budget 2026-27 being presented on February 1. President Droupadi Murmu will formally open the session, addressing members of both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. In the last two sessions, including the monsoon and winter sessions in 2025, the Opposition parties have sought to discuss the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral rolls, which is underway across the country. (ANI)
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Tuesday slammed Leader of Opposition (LoP) Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi for not wearing a traditional Northeast 'gamcha' at Rashtrapati Bhawan, accusing the Gandhi family of persistent disrespect and neglect towards the region. He urged Rahul Gandhi to refrain from seeking votes until showing genuine respect. Speaking to the reporters here, CM Sarma said, "Yesterday at the Rashtrapati Bhawan, a ceremony was organised. An arrangement was made for a 'gamcha' or piece of cloth from the Northeast to be given to the guests. When Rahul Gandhi was given a 'gamcha', he refused it. This is not the first time. Whenever he comes to Assam, he is given a 'gamcha' and refuses to take it." "The whole Gandhi family has never respected the North East. They never worked for us and instead, insulted us. I condemn what happened yesterday. I want to tell Rahul Gandhi that till you are ready to give respect to the North East, you should not come here asking for votes," he added. The Assam CM's remarks came after Rahul Gandhi made a brief appearance at the President of India's At Home reception on Republic Day. Gandhi, however, did not join the queue of waiting Ministers and instead chose to go and sit with Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, sources said. Sources said that the Congress president chose to leave the occasion early, along with Rahul Gandhi. They said it is a breach of established protocol, which requires that visitors wait for the President's departure before leaving the occasion. On Monday, many BJP leaders accused Rahul Gandhi of "disrespecting the culture and people of North-East" by "choosing not to wear Patka". Sarma strongly condemned Rahul Gandhi's actions, which he believed "reinforced a perception of disregard towards the North." According to BJP leaders, the Patka was worn by everyone at the Home reception, including President Murmu, PM Modi, and foreign dignitaries. "Times may change, but the attitude of the de facto supremo of the Congress party, Mr Rahul Gandhi, regrettably appears unchanged. In an act that was deeply insensitive and insulting to the people of the entire North East, Gandhi chose not to wear the traditional Patka, a symbol of the region's rich cultural heritage, at the reception hosted by the Hon'ble President of India this evening," the Assam CM said in a post on X. "From the President and the Prime Minister to foreign dignitaries, everyone wore the Patka with respect and pride. Gandhi alone stood apart, reinforcing a perception of disregard towards the North East. Such conduct explains why his party has lost the trust of the region and much of the country. Yet, this repeated insensitivity continues," he added. However, the Congress hit back, sharing a picture of Defence Minister Rajnath Singh without the Patka. "The 2016 batch of betrayer must stop this nonsense. Why is Rajnath Singh ji not wearing the North east patka then? Stop dragging the Hon'ble President into your cheap politics," posted Congress MP Manickam Tagore. (ANI)
A court in Kerala's Palakkad on Tuesday sentenced Vadakara MP Shafi Parambil in connection with a 2022 case related to the blocking of a National Highway in protest against the alleged vandalism of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's MP office in Wayanad. The order was issued by the Palakkad Chief Judicial Magistrate Court in a case registered by the Palakkad Kasaba Police on June 24, 2022. Parambil was sentenced to simple imprisonment till the rising of the court and fined Rs 1,000. Parambil is the first accused in the case. The protest was held against the alleged vandalism of Rahul Gandhi's office by Students' Federation of India (SFI) workers, during which a National Highway was blocked. In the same case, P Sarin, then a Youth Congress worker who has since joined the Left, was named the ninth accused. Sarin had earlier appeared before the court and was sentenced to a fine of Rs 500 and simple imprisonment till the rising of the court. The court had issued an arrest warrant against Parambil last week after he repeatedly failed to appear for the proceedings. Earlier, today a protest was held outside the Kerala Legislative Assembly during the 16th session of the 15th Assembly over the Sabarimala gold theft case. The Leader of Opposition (LoP) in Kerala Assembly, VD Satheesan, said his party has been demanding the resignation of the Devaswom Minister in connection with the Sabarimala gold theft case and insisted that there should be no pressure from the Chief Minister's Office in the SIT's investigation. He added that two party members, CR Mahesh and Najeeb Kanthapuram, have started a satyagraha in front of the Assembly entrance while continuing to participate in the House proceedings. "We have been protesting for the past several days, demanding the resignation of the Devaswom Minister in connection with the Sabarimala gold smuggling case. We are also demanding that there should be no pressure from the Chief Minister's Office on the SIT," Satheeshan said. "We are continuing this protest. Two of our members, CR Mahesh and Najeeb Kanthapuram, are beginning a satyagraha in front of the Assembly entrance. At the same time, we are cooperating with the proceedings of the House and moving forward with this protest," he said. (ANI)
Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Tuesday called on Union Minister for Civil Aviation Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu, seeking support for the expansion of Kangra airport and special central assistance for the project. The Chief Minister highlighted Kangra district's immense tourism potential and said the state government was executing ambitious projects to attract a large number of tourists, according to an official statement from the CM's office. During the meeting, the Chief Minister requested the Union Minister to introduce special visual flight rules to reduce the minimum visibility requirement from 5 km to 2.5 km, enabling flights to operate during reduced visibility conditions. He also discussed handing over the Kullu and Shimla airports to the State Police instead of the CISF, given the reduced flight operations and passenger numbers, thereby reducing the financial burden on the state. Additionally, he requested that flight operations at Shimla airport be extended to 4 PM to increase the number of flights. The Chief Minister further requested an increase in the frequency of flights between Chandigarh and Shimla. The Union Minister directed the officers to hold a joint meeting with the concerned officials and prepare a Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the expansion of Kangra airport. He also assured the state of full support. Chief Minister's Principal Advisor Ram Subhag Singh was also present during the meeting. Earlier, Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Thursday said that the state has set an ambitious target to become a Green Energy State in 2026, aiming to meet over 90 per cent of its energy demand through renewable sources. While presiding over a review meeting with senior officers last evening, Sukhu stated that the State Government was working with a spirit of 'Vyavastha Parivartan', a systemic transformation, to shift Himachal Pradesh towards a clean, self-reliant and sustainable energy future. Besides, the state is heading towards tapping the geothermal energy resources. Geothermal energy can be a significant additional source of renewable energy, he said, adding that "keeping in mind the changing climatic conditions, Geothermal energy would prove to be a sustainable and secure source of energy". (ANI)
Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), the student wing of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), on Tuesday called for "achieving clarity and maintaining a balanced approach" with the new University Grants Commission (Promotion of Equity in Higher Educational Institutions) Regulations, 2026. While the ABVP appreciates the core objectives of the University Grants Commission's (UGC) notification, achieving clarity and maintaining a balanced approach within these regulations is essential, according to an official statement from the organisation. ABVP maintains that the UGC and all educational institutions must uphold the "inherent spirit of democracy, ensuring equal rights for every citizen and fostering a discrimination-free, equitable Bharat." "ABVP has consistently worked towards creating a positive and inclusive environment on campuses, advocating for the promotion of democratic values. To achieve the vision of 'Viksit Bharat' in the coming years, collective effort is paramount. Currently, certain provisions and terminologies within these regulations have sparked ambiguity and misconceptions among society, students, and parents. ABVP urges the UGC to take immediate cognisance of these concerns and issue clarifications to prevent any divisive situations. Furthermore, as the matter is currently sub-judice, ABVP believes that UGC should promptly file an affidavit in court to clarify its stance," the statement added. ABVP's National General Secretary Virendra Singh Solanki stated, "Ensuring harmony and equality within academic campuses is mandatory, a cause for which ABVP has always remained committed. There must be social equality for all sections of society in educational institutions, with no room for discrimination of any kind. However, there are prevailing misconceptions regarding these regulations among students, parents, and stakeholders. The UGC must engage in a dialogue with all stakeholders involved and provide immediate clarifications to dispel these doubts. Collective efforts from all sections of society are necessary to strengthen democratic values and ensure a discrimination-free environment for every student." Meanwhile, on Tuesday, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan sought to allay concerns over the new University Grants Commission (UGC) regulations, assuring that the law would not be misused and that there would be no discrimination in its implementation. Pradhan's remarks came after new rules notified by the UGC on January 13, which update its 2012 regulations on the same subject, have sparked widespread criticism from general category students, who argue that the framework could lead to discrimination against them. The new regulations, introduced to curb caste-based discrimination in colleges and universities, require institutions to establish special committees and helplines to address complaints, especially from SC, ST, and OBC students. (ANI)
Kate Winslet says that playing troubled characters has taken a toll on her mental health.

Kate Winslet required professional help after starring in Mare of Easttown

The 50-year-old actress has revealed that playing emotionally draining parts has often been detrimental to her wellbeing and she has even needed "proper support" to separate herself from roles in the past.

Kate told the Lessons from Our Mothers podcast: "There's this thing that happens as an actor, and it sound very self indulgent so I very rarely say it.

"But when you play a really difficult part - I think of Mare of Easttown, for example, which flattened me, my god - you do have to kind of come out the other side."

The Titanic star continued: "I call it re-entry. Re-entry into your own life, going back into your friendships, reintegrating into the rhythm of family again. Exiting a family, leaving people behind, letting a character go.

"It takes a while, actually, to unpick a character from your system, especially if you have played them for a long time, which, with television, you really do."

Kate revealed that she needed professional help after starring in the 2021 HBO crime drama Mare of Easttown - which saw her portray a troubled Pennsylvania detective after the coronavirus pandemic caused havoc with the production.

The Oscar-winning star recalled: "It was meant to be a six month shoot.

"Covid happened after the five months that we had been shooting, and everything got pushed, and when we came back, our five remaining weeks turned into 10.

"By the end of the whole thing, I'd been playing that character for over a year. And I really honestly went a bit mad. It was quite weird.

"It's the only time in my life that I actually had to get some proper help, to come back to myself.

"It sounds completely insane, and even as I say it, I feel quite uncomfortable saying it, because I'm aware of how bonkers and indulgent that can sound."

Kate's son Joe Anders, 22, whom she has with her ex-husband Sam Mendes, is following her into acting and she is glad to have been able to offer him support as he stars in the new Apple TV+ series Cape Fear.

She said: "He's a few months out the other side of that, and he's still in the experience of the re-entry.

"I'm able to actively support my son in this moment in his life, when actually, the mothering does kick in again on a very cellular level.

"Good meals, good walk, let's get in the sea. Don't need to talk today? That's fine. Want to stay in bed today? Absolutely fine. You don't need to do anything. Doesn't matter. Do nothing and be okay with it."
Union Minister G Kishan Reddy on Tuesday criticised the Congress-led Telangana government, alleging mismanagement and a lack of transparency in the functioning of the Singareni coal mine. The Union Minister said, " The Congress government in the state is not ensuring transparency in the site visits. The rule itself is not bad, such a rule should exist. But there should be no partiality shown in issuing certificates for site visits, but they (Congress) has shown partiality. 17 people have done site visits, not one certificate has been issued." "Even after Congress government came to power, the corruption did not stop. Around 12 per cent was given to these small contractors, everywhere this system was used. Before this, the TRS (now known as BRS), in all the tenders, the same situation has happened. Congress and BRS have no right to say anything about Singareni..Singareni is in an economic crisis. Rs 47000 crores are due to be paid to Singareni by the Telangana government," the Minister Reddy told reporters on the sidelines of Atal Bihari Vajpayee Foundation Skill Development Programme. On the other hand, BRS working president KT Rama Rao (KTR) has squarely blamed the state government for the alleged mismanagement. "Singareni, in which the Telangana government holds a 51% stake and the Indian government holds a 49% stake, is a public sector company where a massive scam is currently unfolding. Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy and his brother-in-law Sujan Reddy are involved in this major scam. Now, tenders are being awarded at +22%, +25%, and +30% above the estimated cost. For whose benefit is this being done? For whom is this scam being perpetrated? Site visit certifications are being manipulated; if a contractor from Jharkhand wants to submit a tender, they are being stopped, restrictions are being imposed on them, they are being intimidated and threatened, and they are being denied the necessary certificates," he said. Meanwhile, on Wednesday, amid the controversy surrounding the tender process for the Naini coal block, the Union Coal Ministry convened an emergency meeting with the Singareni Collieries Company Limited. Speaking to reporters, Union Coal Minister G Kishan Reddy said the meeting was held in view of allegations linked to the tender process for the Naini coal block, which is operated by the Telangana government-controlled Singareni Collieries Company. He noted that the company had withdrawn the tender following the allegations. "Today, we are discussing the Naini coal block of the Telangana Singareni Collieries Company, which is entirely under the control of the Telangana government. Due to various allegations regarding the tender process, the company withdrew the tender for the Naini coal block," G Kishan Reddy told reporters. Earlier, Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy stated that certain social media platforms and sections of the media are spreading baseless accusations, alleging irregularities in Singareni and claiming that large sums of money have disappeared, a press release said. Defending the state government against allegations in a row over the tenders in Singareni, the Chief Minister stated that "there is no place for corruption" in the state. According to the press release by the Telangana government, Reddy said, "I want to clearly state this to those newspapers, social media handlers, and political leaders: there is no place for corruption in this government. By spreading unnecessary propaganda and creating false perceptions, you are directly or indirectly helping forces like Sukracharyudu, Maarithudu, and Subahudu to gain strength again." "If you have internal disputes within your media houses, shut your doors and fight among yourselves. Throw mud at each other if you want, but do not drag us into it. There is a saying: when two bulls fight, it is the crops that suffer. Media owners may fight among themselves, but do not target our ministers. Before writing any news against our ministers, think once, understand the facts, and ask us for clarification. As the Chief Minister of Telangana, I am available to the people 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. I am always accessible. Any news published on television or in newspapers against my party's MLAs, MLCs, MPs, or ministers affects my dignity and creates false impressions about my leadership," he added. Further, CM Reddy advised the media to "seek clarification" from him before publishing against state ministers. This comes after certain media channels on television in Telangana alleged corruption in tenders of the Singareni Collieries. (ANI)
A shocking incident has been reported at AIIMS (All India Institute of Medical Sciences) in Madhya Pradesh's capital Bhopal, where a man snatched a chain from a woman inside the lift of the hospital and escaped, a senior police officer said on Tuesday. The incident occurred on Sunday and its CCTV footage surfaced on social media on Monday. The snatcher, wearing a face mask, can be seen entering the lift after the woman. Later, when the lift gate opened, the accused was seen snatching the chain and running towards the staircase in the CCTV footage. After the incident, the woman approached the Bagsewania police station in the city to file a complaint. Acting on it, the police registered a case under relevant sections in the matter and began searching for the accused. Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (Addl. DCP, Zone 2) Gautam Solanki said, "A snatching incident occurred with a woman at AIIMS Bhopal under Bagsewaniya police station here. The accused is unidentified and he had covered his face with a mask at the time of the incident. He snatched a chain from the woman inside the lift and ran away." "A case has been registered and investigation into the matter is underway. The police team has been searching for the accused and will be nabbed very soon," he added. The officer further highlighted that several police teams were engaged in the investigation and they were checking the footage from CCTV cameras installed inside the AIIMS campus. AIIMS is a secure campus, yet such an incident occurred here, resulting in police teams being continuously engaged in the probe and conducting further inquiries to trace the snatcher, the police said, adding that the accused will be traced as soon as possible. (ANI)
Himachal Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Tuesday called on Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari in the national capital, according to a release. The Himachal CM held detailed discussions on strengthening the state's road infrastructure and demanded adequate financial support for road repair and maintenance. The Union Minister approved Rs. 200 crore in principle under CRIF for Chaila-Neripul-Yashwant Nagar-Ochghat road, which would facilitate the apple growers immensely in the state. The release stated that the Chief Minister apprised him of the progress on the Shimla-Mataur National Highway, which connects eight districts to the state capital and to adjoining states. He requested the introduction of the maximum number of tunnels for Packages between Shimla to Shalaghat and Bhager to Hamirpur, keeping in view the hilly terrain and geological sensitivity of the area. He also requested expediting the process for the preparation of DPR for four laning of Package four, which covers the end of the Hamirpur bypass at Chilbahal to Bhangbar and the new northern Hamirpur bypass. Himachal CM also informed that the Chil Bahal to Pucca Broh section has suffered severe damage during monsoons at various locations and has not been strengthened for the last five to six years. He said that the stretch was important as it serves as a key access route to major religious destinations. CM Sukhu urged to issue necessary directions for handing over Chil Bahal to the Pucca Baroh section of NH 03 to the NH wing of HPPWD for carrying out development and maintenance activities. He also requested the early sanctioning of Rs 38.37 crore by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI). The Union Minister gave his nod to the amount and assured the State government of full support. Chief Minister's Principal Advisor Ram Subhag Singh was present in the meeting. (ANI)
The Federation of Madhya Pradesh Chamber of Commerce & Industry (FMPCCI) has welcomed the announcement of the India-European Union Free Trade Agreement (FTA), calling it would open new avenues for deeper economic cooperation and strengthen trade ties. In a statement, Deepak Sharma, President, FMPCCI & Member FICCI, said the agreement would unlock significant opportunities by improving market access, strengthening supply chains and boosting exports across key sectors. "Congratulations to the Government of India on securing a pact of immense strategic importance under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi. The EU--India's largest and most promising partner within its recent FTA engagements--opens new doors for deeper economic collaboration. This agreement will unlock major opportunities by enabling greater market access, tighter and more resilient supply chains, and stronger export performance across key sectors, including manufacturing, high-value industries, and the services sector, where India holds a distinct competitive advantage over the EU," Sharma said. On the other hand, another member of FICCI Madhya Pradesh State & CMD EKI Energy Services Ltd, Manish Dabkara said the agreement offers a unique opportunity to make decarbonisation a business advantage. "Trade should grow, but emissions must fall. The India-EU FTA is an opportunity to make decarbonisation a business advantage and a cleaner supply chain the new standard. It can accelerate collaboration on clean energy, greener manufacturing, and transparent carbon measurement, helping Indian and UK businesses compete globally while building a lower-carbon future together," Dabkara said. The India-EU Free Trade Agreement was concluded today after long negotiations and is expected to significantly enhance bilateral trade and investment ties, strengthen supply chains, and deepen economic cooperation between India and the European Union. The documents on the FTA conclusion were exchanged between EU Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic and Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal. This announcement marks a historic milestone in India-EU economic relations and trade engagement with key global partners. According to the joint statement, this historic deal is a milestone in the India-EU Strategic Partnership that will significantly enhance bilateral trade and investment ties, drive shared prosperity, strengthen resilient and diversified supply chains, and support sustainable and inclusive growth. The FTA comes after intense negotiations since the re-launch of negotiations in 2022. The European Union is one of India's largest trading partners, with bilateral trade in goods and services growing steadily over the years. In 2024-25, India's bilateral trade in goods with the EU stood at Rs 11.5 Lakh Crore (USD 136.54 billion) with exports worth Rs 6.4 Lakh Crore (USD 75.85 billion) and imports amounting to Rs 5.1 Lakh Crore (USD 60.68 billion). India-EU trade in services reached Rs 7.2 Lakh Crore (USD 83.10 billion) in 2024. (ANI)
Mizoram Chief Minister Lalduhoma on Tuesday inaugurated the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Matchmaking Portal - "Mizoram CSR Connect" at McCabe Hall, Aijal Club in Aizawl. The portal has been developed jointly by the Mizoram CSR Cell, under the Planning & Programme Implementation Department, in collaboration with UNDP India, to facilitate effective linkage and coordination between CSR contributors and implementing agencies. While addressing the gathering here, the Chief Minister expressed his appreciation to UNDP India, the Planning & Programme Implementation Department, and the Mizoram CSR Cell for their dedicated efforts in making the Mizoram CSR Connect portal a reality. Referring to CSR data for 2023-24, he noted that Mizoram received only 0.06 per cent of the total CSR expenditure in India. Emphasising the significant role CSR can play in development, he stated that the CSR Cell was established in the Chief Minister's Office in June 2024 to strengthen CSR-related initiatives in the State. He said that the launch of the Mizoram CSR Connect portal marks an important step toward bridging CSR donors and seekers through a transparent, structured digital platform. The portal, he added, is expected to enhance ease of doing CSR in Mizoram while also ensuring transparency, accountability, and measurable outcomes for contributing corporates. Highlighting Mizoram's strengths, the Chief Minister said that the State's peaceful environment, low corruption rate, high literacy level, strong progress towards Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and the people's deep-rooted spirit of tlawmngaihna make Mizoram an ideal destination for CSR investments. He invited corporate entities and civil society organisations to actively engage in CSR initiatives in Mizoram, assuring that every rupee of CSR funds would be utilised transparently, meaningfully, and impactfully. Angela Lusigi, Resident Representative, UNDP India, also addressed the programme and expressed her appreciation for the launch of the Mizoram CSR Connect portal, describing it as a commendable initiative with national and global relevance. She said UNDP was proud to partner in the initiative and reaffirmed UNDP India's focus on sustainable development, women's empowerment, and environmental conservation. Commending Mizoram's development initiatives, she reiterated UNDP's commitment to continued collaboration with the State. She underlined the importance of data-driven planning for achieving impactful development outcomes and noted that the portal would greatly support CSR stakeholders by providing reliable data and enabling informed decision-making. Secretary, Planning & Programme Implementation Department, Lalmalsawma Pachuau, delivered the welcome address. Adviser to the Chief Minister and Chairman, Mizoram CSR Cell, TBC Lalvenchhunga, highlighted key CSR opportunities in Mizoram. The event also witnessed the exchange of Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) between the Mizoram Start-Up Mission and participating corporate and institutional partners. (ANI)
According to a release issued by the Ministry of Development of North-East Region, the display was curated by the North Eastern Handicrafts and Handlooms Development Corporation (NEHHDC), marking the first collective representation of all eight Northeastern states at the event.

President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended the gathering along with Union Ministers, diplomats and international dignitaries. The presence of Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, who was the Chief Guest at the 2025 Republic Day parade, and Antonio Costa, President of the European Council, added to the occasion's significance.

The Ministry said that NEHHDC transformed the venue with installations highlighting the cultural identity of the Northeast. Assamese symbols such as the Brass Xorai and Gamosa, Naga kitchen elements like the Singtha plate and dry corn husks, and cane sculptures of the One-Horned Rhinoceros and Elephant presented the region's diversity.

Traditional fishing tools, Manipur's Longpi Black Pottery, and Kauna grass baskets reflected indigenous craftsmanship and sustainable practices. A central attraction was the 'Boat Fruit Basket' showcasing GI-tagged produce, including Kaji Nemu, Khasi Mandarin, Queen Pineapple and Naga King Chilli. A cane structure creatively depicted the Indian Tricolour using organic materials.

The dining arrangements featured Octagonal Table Mats symbolising the unity of Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Tripura and Sikkim. Each mat displayed distinct weaving motifs, representing the textile heritage of the eight states.

Traditional cultural performances from all Northeastern states added vibrancy to the event and offered guests a glimpse into the region's living traditions. This historic presentation at Rashtrapati Bhavan marks a major moment for Northeast India. Through this initiative, NEHHDC highlighted the region's cultural identity, craftsmanship and agro-horticultural wealth before a national and global audience. (ANI)
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma revealed details from a Special Investigation Team (SIT) report, which he said allegedly proves state Congress President Gaurav Gogoi's "direct link with Pakistan." Addressing the media after a cabinet meeting held at Lok Sewa Bhawan in Dispur on Tuesday, the Chief Minister said the SIT report pertained to a case registered against Pakistani national Ali Tauqeer Sheikh, along with Elizabeth Gogoi and Gaurav Gogoi, and allegedly demonstrated their connections with Pakistan. "The SIT has given the proof that three persons have a direct link with Pakistan - Ali Tauqeer Sheikh, Elizabeth Gogoi and Gaurav Gogoi. After seeing the presentation, our cabinet ministers were shocked," the Chief Minister told reporters. CM Sarma further informed that the matter would be taken up formally by the state cabinet in its next meeting. He said the Home Department has been directed to place the issue for discussion at the cabinet meeting scheduled for February 7, following which the SIT report would be made public to the extent possible. "The state cabinet has directed the Home Department to bring this matter for formal discussion at the cabinet meeting on February 7th, and the cabinet has authorised the Chief Minister to make the SIT report public to the extent possible through a press conference at 10:30 AM on February 8th. The Home and Political Department will present a cabinet memorandum on February 7th," he said. Speaking further, Sarma criticised Gaurav Gogoi for not attending the Republic Day celebrations, alleging that Gogoi holds foreign citizenship and described him as a sympathiser of Pakistan. The Chief Minister also claimed that three out of four members of the Gogoi family are "foreigners". "How can he come? He has a family of four, and out of that, three of them are foreigners. When he hoists a flag at his residence, who will support him? As far as my memory goes, he doesn't attend any function related to India's pride because, partially, he is a UK citizen for all practical purposes, and he sympathises with Pakistan. So that is his character, and that is his identity," he said. The Chief Minister also addressed concerns regarding polarisation in Assam, asserting that the political divide was not between religious communities but between Assamese people and illegal immigrants. "Assam is a polarised society. The next 30 years, we have to practice the politics of polarisation if we want to live. If you want to surrender, then surrender. But as an Assamese, I don't want to surrender," he said. Clarifying further, Sarma added that the government's stance was not against Assamese Muslims. "The polarisation is not between Hindus and Muslims. The polarisation between Assamese and Bangladeshi. That is the difference. We don't fight with Assamese Muslims. We only fight with Bangladeshi Muslims...," the Chief Minister said. (ANI)
The government on Tuesday convened an all-party meeting ahead of the budget session of Parliament in which it sought cooperation from the opposition parties for smooth functioning of the two Houses. The opposition parties talked about the issues they intend to raise during the meeting. The budget session of Parliament will commence on Wednesday with address by President Droupadi Murmu to the joint sitting of the two Houses. Economic Survey of India will be presented on January 29 and the Union Budget will be presented on February 1. The two Houses will be adjourned for recess on February 13 and reassemble on March 9 to enable the Standing Committees to examine the Demands for Grants of various ministries and departments. The Session will have a total of 30 sittings spread over a period of 65 days and conclude on April 2. The first part of the session will mainly be devoted to the financial business relating to Union Budget for 2026-27 and discussion on the Motion of Thanks on President's Address. Essential legislative and other business is expected to be taken up mainly during the second part of the Session. During the meeting, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju sought cooperation from leaders for the smooth functioning of Parliament and stated that the Government is prepared and ready to discuss any other important issue on the floors of the Houses as per rules of both the Houses of Parliament. Leaders of different political parties expressed their views on various issues likely to be raised by them during the forthcoming Budget Session of Parliament and assured the government to provide full co-operation. Rijiju took note of all issues raised by the leaders of various parties. The meeting was chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. Congress MP Manickam Tagore later said that the party will raise people-centric issues during the session. He said "vote theft, SIR, procurement of paddy and bringing back MGNREGA" are among the issues the party intends to raise during the session. BJD MP Sasmit Patra said that they raised issues relating to Odisha during the all-party meeting. "First is the distress of farmers of Odisha, paddy procurement is not happening, Mandis are closed, promised MSP worth Rs 3000 have not been given to them... Second is the issue of deterioration of law and order in the state - over the last two years since the BJP government came to power, the crimes against women, girls and minors have increased with those against Dalits and minorities. There is a general breakdown of law and order... Revision of coal royalty has not been done in 10 years, and connectivity issues remain. Unemployment is at an all-time high," he said. Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Arvind Sawant said members raised various issues including pollution, SIR and increasing unemployment. AAP MP Sanjay Singh accused the government of failing in foreign policy. "I also raised the issue of Shankracharya, how he was insulted in the Prayagraj... I raised the issue of SIR also, and how many votes were deleted in the name of SIR," he said. The government will push its legislative agenda during the session including bills pending in the two Houses. (ANI)
Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Mahua Moitra alleged that the Election Commission of India (ECI) has added 32 lakh unmapped cases to the 'Logical Discrepancy' (LD) list in West Bengal with the intent of confusing voters, despite the Supreme Court directing the Commission to make all LD cases public. Speaking to ANI on Tuesday, Moitra said, "We met the CEO West Bengal for the second time in one week and this is post the Supreme Court hearing where the Supreme Court very clearly said that the harassment of people in Bengal should stop and that the number of LD (Logical Discrepancy) cases which are upwards of 1.3 crores should be published very clearly for everyone to see. They took till 24th to do it, and they have published both LD and Unmapped together" She further alleged, "The 32 lakh unmapped cases they have put inside the LD list and published it, which frankly is meant only to confuse and muddle voters even more, because inside this list you have some marked LD, some marked UD. We are dealing with people who are not much educated." Moitra also raised concerns regarding the appointment of micro-observers (MOs) in the electoral process. "So far, the CEO of West Bengal has always told us that we don't know anything and that the EC is doing everything from Delhi. Today, we pointed out to him that we have a letter dated the 19th of December from the EC to the CEO of West Bengal, which states that the West Bengal CEO asked for micro-observers, and that we agree to your proposal and you can appoint ERMOs (Electoral Role Micro Observers). Nowhere in the Representation of the People Act is there room for a micro-observer. Nowhere in the 2009 ECI guidelines is there room for a micro observer. Nowhere in the 2023 manual is there room for a micro observer," she said. She added, "We had something called a role observer. A role observer has been charged with super-checking of District Election Officers (DEOs). A role observer is that of a post of a divisional commissioner or higher. In Bengal, they have taken micro observers who are LIC employees, post office employees and bank clerks and put them in." "Now, what they have done completely illegally, on WhatsApp, sent a message to all DEOs saying, "Please create logins for micro observers." How can micro observers be given a login ID for the disposal of an EC as a role observer, which is a statutory task? A non-statutory post cannot do a statutory task. Where does a micro observer in law have the power to agree and disagree with an ERO who has full quasi-judicial authority? Election Commission was trying to play games, but ultimately we will win and Gyanesh Kumar knows that," she added. The Supreme Court on January 19 had directed the ECI to display the names of electors falling under the 'logical discrepancies' category in the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in West Bengal. 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. According to the directions issued by the court, notices for the submission of documents or objections may be submitted at the Gram Panchayat Bhavans. The Election Commission of India shall issue necessary instructions for facilitating the submission of documents by all interested persons. The Director General of Police (DGP) of West Bengal has been asked to ensure that there is no law and order issue and that the entire exercise is completed smoothly. The court stated that wherever the objection is found to be satisfactory, such persons shall be given an opportunity of hearing in accordance with the procedure already prescribed by the ECI in its Standard Operating Procedure. The hearing may be conducted at the time of submission of the objection itself. The Electoral Roll Officers' Network (ERONET) portal had flagged more than 1.2 crore names under the 'logical discrepancy' category, which had sparked a fresh row over the SIR exercise in the state. West Bengal Chief Minister and TMC leader Mamata Banerjee had termed 'logical discrepancies' a "dubious category." Accusing the ECI of working on the behest of the BJP, Mamata had said, "Acting at the behest of the BJP, ECI carried out SIR in Bengal in a reckless and ill-planned manner, resulting in the deletion of nearly 58 lakh names from the electoral rolls. When even this massive purge failed to satisfy the BJP's political objectives, a new and dubious category called 'logical discrepancies' was invented, forcing 1.36 crore voters to face hearings without the Commission even disclosing the complete list of names." (ANI)
Several political leaders and ministers have begun arriving in the national capital ahead of the budget session of Parliament, which is scheduled to commence today. At the Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport in Delhi, Union Minister of State for Minority Affairs and Fisheries, George Kurian, was seen entering the city early on Wednesday. In addition, Union Minister Ramdas Athawale, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) MP Supriya Sule, and All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) Chief Asaduddin Owaisi also reached Delhi to participate in the budget session. The budget session of Parliament will formally begin on Wednesday (January 28) with an address by President Droupadi Murmu to the joint sitting of both Houses. The Economic Survey of India will be presented on January 29, followed by the presentation of the Union Budget on February 1. The two Houses are scheduled to be adjourned for a recess on February 13 and will reassemble on March 9. During this period, the Standing Committees will examine the Demands for Grants of various ministries and departments. The session will comprise a total of 30 sittings spread over 65 days and is set to conclude on April 2. The first part of the session will mainly be devoted to the financial business relating to the Union Budget for 2026-27 and discussion on the Motion of Thanks on the President's Address. Essential legislative and other business is expected to be taken up mainly during the second part of the Session. Earlier on Tuesday, the government convened an all-party meeting ahead of the budget session of Parliament, during which it sought cooperation from opposition parties for the smooth functioning of the two Houses. The opposition parties talked about the issues they intend to raise during the meeting. During the meeting, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju sought cooperation from leaders for the smooth functioning of Parliament and stated that the Government is prepared and ready to discuss any other important issue on the floors of the Houses as per the rules of both the Houses of Parliament. Leaders of different political parties expressed their views on various issues likely to be raised by them during the forthcoming Budget Session of Parliament and assured the government to provide full co-operation. Rijiju took note of all issues raised by the leaders of various parties. The meeting was chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. (ANI)
Katie Price "misses" her husband Lee Andrews after jetting back to the UK following their surprise Dubai wedding.

Katie Price 'misses' new husband Lee Andrews

The 47-year-old former glamour model took to social media on Tuesday morning (27.01.26) to declare her "unconditional" love for the businessman, who has remained in the United Arab Emirates city, where they wed just days ago.

In a video on her Instagram Stories, Katie said: "Despite all the noise that's going on, I miss you Lee. I love you unconditionally."

Katie then kissed her brand-new wedding ring, and she added: "And yeah, it's on the right hand."

Lee shared his wife's post on his own Instagram Stories, and he wrote: "Awwww I love you too my gorgeous wife @katieprice"

Katie announced her engagement to Lee last this week - just months after she split from her former partner JJ Slater - and on Sunday (25.01.26) she confirmed the pair had married, only days after flying out to Dubai to meet him for the first time.

Following the news, some fans questioned whether the couple's shock nuptials were legit.

But Lee took to his Instagram Stories on Tuesday morning to insist the pair are "officially" married, and describe himself as "the happiest man in the world".

He said: "Hi guys, how are you? So this is married life. There's been a bit of confusion about tattoos and rings.

"The rings are all on the right fingers. And tattoos are all on the right hands. Anyway, lots of love to everyone.

"Massive love, more love in the world, to Katie and I'll see you soon.

"We had the most wonderful wedding, we are married. It is official and I'm the happiest man in the world. Lots of love to everyone.

"That might clear up a lot of the 99 per cent of the junk that's in my requests. It should.

"Lots of love to you all. It's such a beautiful day.

"You will probably say my T-shirt is not ironed, but I don't really care."

Lee also shared a quote on his Instagram Stories that read: "You have completely ruined me for anyone else.

"In the best way, I cannot even look at another person the way I look at you.

"Youre it. End of story."

On Monday night (26.01.26), Katie took to Instagram to reveal she was back in the UK, and was looking forward to getting some sleep after a busy few days.

She said: "Hey everyone. So, I'm now back in the UK. Oh my God, I can't wait to get home.

"Obviously the time difference. I didn't sleep on the plane.

"I've missed my CBD, so I know I'm going to have a good sleep tonight, get back into the routine for sleep.

"Anyone who suffers with anxiety and can't sleep because their brain is too busy, that is what I take at night to sleep.

"Thank you for all your messages. I've got lots to catch up on."
US President Donald Trump on Monday (local time) welcomed the ongoing release of political prisoners in Venezuela, saying the process was "gaining speed" and describing it as a "powerful humanitarian gesture" by Caracas. In a post on Truth Social, Trump said, "I am pleased to report that Venezuela is releasing its Political Prisoners at a rapid rate, which rate will be increasing over the coming short period of time." He also expressed appreciation for Caracas's cooperation, stating, "I'd like to thank the leadership of Venezuela for agreeing to this powerful humanitarian gesture!" https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/115963679718287297 Trump's remarks came as more than 100 political prisoners were freed on Sunday in Venezuela, with detainees continuing to be released gradually under pressure from the United States, according to the non-governmental organisation Foro Penal. According to France 24, Foro Penal said on social media, "At Foro Penal we have verified 104 releases of political prisoners in Venezuela today," after earlier reporting that 80 political prisoners had been freed on the same day. As the releases continued, Foro Penal director Alfredo Romero said the organisation was verifying the identities of those freed from prisons across the country, while Foro Penal attorney Gonzalo Himiob said the initial releases had taken place in the early hours of the day. "This figure is not yet definitive and could increase as we proceed with verifications," Himiob said, according to France 24. The developments follow commitments by the government of Venezuela's interim leader Delcy Rodriguez, who took power after leftist president Nicolas Maduro was captured by US special forces early this month, and has promised to release a "large number" of the hundreds of Maduro opponents languishing in prison, France 24 reported. Addressing oil workers in Venezuela's eastern state of Anzoategui on Sunday, Rodriguez struck a confident tone, saying, "Enough orders from Washington on politicians in Venezuela. Let Venezuelan politics resolve our differences and internal conflicts. Enough of foreign powers." She added, "It has cost this republic dearly to have to face the consequences of fascism, of extremism in our country." Despite the ongoing releases, authorities in Caracas said 626 detainees have been freed since December, though Foro Penal has recorded only about half that number over the same period, according to France 24. Against this backdrop, Venezuela's political opposition and human rights groups have criticised the slow pace of the process, while families of detainees have been camped outside prisons awaiting their release. (ANI)
Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense on Tuesday said that it detected two People's Liberation Army (PLA) aircraft and five People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) vessels operating around Taiwan up to 6 am (UTC+8). In a post on X, the MND said, "2 PLA aircraft, 5 PLAN vessels and 1 official ship operating around Taiwan were detected up until 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. We have monitored the situation and responded." https://x.com/MoNDefense/status/2015952900514840906 Earlier on Monday, Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense (MND) said it detected five sorties of Chinese aircraft and eight People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) vessels operating around Taiwan up to 6 am (UTC+8). In a post on X, the MND said that five sorties crossed the median line and entered Taiwan's central and southwestern Air Defence Identification Zone (ADIZ). "5 PLA aircraft, 8 PLAN vessels and 3 official ships operating around Taiwan were detected up until 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. 5 out of 5 sorties crossed the median line and entered Taiwan's southwestern ADIZ. We have monitored the situation and responded," MND said. On Sunday, MND said that it detected four sorties of Chinese aircraft and seven People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) vessels operating around Taiwan up to 6 am (UTC+8). "4 PLA aircraft, 7 PLAN vessels and 3 official ships operating around Taiwan were detected up until 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. 2 out of 4 sorties crossed the median line and entered Taiwan's central and southwestern ADIZ. We have monitored the situation and responded," MND said. On Friday, Taiwan's MND detected an overall 23 sorties of Chinese aircraft along with other naval vessels. Of the 23,17 sorties, they crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait and entered the northern, central, and southwestern ADIZ. In a post on X, the MND said, "Overall 23 sorties of PLA aircraft in various types (including J-10, H-6K, KJ-500, etc.) were detected from 1040hr today. 17 out of 23 sorties crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait and entered the northern, central and southwestern ADIZ. in conducting air-sea joint training along with other PLAN vessels. ROC Armed Forces have monitored the situation and responded accordingly." On the same day, the MND said that eleven sorties of PLA aircraft and five PLAN vessels operating around Taiwan were detected up to 6 am (local time). (ANI)
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has accused European nations of indirectly financing the Russia-Ukraine war by purchasing oil products refined in India using Russian crude, even as Washington has imposed tariffs on New Delhi over its energy ties with Moscow. His remarks come ahead of a high-level summit where India and the European Union are expected to formally announce the conclusion of negotiations on a comprehensive free trade agreement. Speaking to ABC News on Sunday, Bessent defended the Trump administration's decision to levy steep duties on Indian imports, arguing that Europe's continued energy-linked trade contradicts its stated security position. "We have put 25 per cent tariffs on India for buying Russian oil. Guess what happened last week? The Europeans signed a trade deal with India," Bessent said. "And just to be clear again, the Russian oil goes into India, the refined products come out, and the Europeans buy the refined products. They are financing the war against themselves," he added. Bessent said the United States has imposed punitive tariffs and pushed for decoupling from Russian energy, while European governments continue to benefit from what he described as gaps in the global oil supply chain. He maintained that Washington has absorbed a larger share of the economic and political burden, while also working towards a negotiated settlement of the conflict. Under Trump's leadership, Bessent said, "we will eventually end" the war. The comments come amid renewed friction over trade and energy policy across the Atlantic, with Washington expressing frustration over what it views as Europe's selective implementation of sanctions. The free trade agreement between India and the EU, first initiated in 2007, is expected to anchor a broader economic and strategic partnership as global trade dynamics shift. The Trump administration has imposed tariffs of up to 50 per cent on Indian goods, including a 25 per cent levy directly linked to India's imports of Russian oil. These measures were doubled in August, further escalating trade tensions between Washington and New Delhi. However, Bessent recently indicated that tariff relief could be considered. Speaking to Politico on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum, he said Indian refinery purchases of Russian crude had declined significantly. "Indian purchases by their refineries of Russian oil have collapsed. So that is a success. The tariffs are still on, 25 per cent tariffs for Russian oil are still on. I would imagine there is a path to take them off," Bessent said. (ANI)
The 27 member states of the European Union formally adopted the regulation on phasing out Russian imports of both pipeline gas and liquefied natural gas (LNG) into the EU on Monday. In a statement shared by the EU Council, it was mentioned that the new rules also include measures on effective monitoring and diversification of energy supply. As per the regulation, importing Russian pipeline gas and LNG into the EU will be prohibited. "The ban will start to apply six weeks after the regulation enters into force. Existing contracts will have a transition period. This stepwise approach will limit the impact on prices and markets. A full ban will take effect for LNG imports from the beginning of 2027 and for pipeline gas imports from autumn 2027", the statement said. It further noted that before authorising entry of gas imports into the Union, EU countries will verify the country where gas was produced. Non-compliance with the new rules may result in maximum penalties of at least EUR 2,5 million for individuals and at least EUR 40 million for companies, at least 3,5 % the company's total worldwide annual turnover, or 300 % of the estimated transaction turnover, the statement added. It also noted that by 1 March 2026, "EU countries must prepare national plans to diversify gas supplies and identify potential challenges in replacing Russian gas. To that end, companies will be required to notify authorities and the Commission of any remaining Russian gas contracts. EU countries still importing Russian oil will also have to submit diversification plans." However in the event of a declared emergency, and if security of supply is seriously threatened in one or more EU countries, the Commission may suspend the import ban for up to four weeks, as per the statement. Michael Damianos, Minister for Energy, Commerce and Industry of Cyprus said that the decision would make EU energy market "stronger, more resilient and more diversified and "towards an autonomous Energy Union." The statement further noted that the Commission also plans to propose legislation to phase out Russian oil imports by the end of 2027. In a post on X, European Parliament President Roberta Metsola said, "We have just signed the ban on Russian gas into law. Europe is securing control of our energy supply and strengthening our autonomy." https://x.com/EP_President/status/2015844331601445316?s=20 The decision comes as EU stands stands as the world's biggest importer of LNG. In 2024, the EU imported over 100 billion cubic meters (bcm) of LNG. The largest LNG importers in the EU are France, Spain, the Netherlands, Italy and Belgium. While the gas and oil imports from Russia to the EU have both decreased significantly in recent years. The official statement noted that while the imports of oil have dropped to below 3% in 2025 as a result of the current sanctions regime, Russian gas still accounts for an estimated 13% of EU imports in 2025, worth over EUR15 billion annually. "This leaves the EU exposed to significant risks in terms of its trade and energy security", it said. (ANI)
Speaking during the meeting Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said, "The shared values of democracy, pluralism, federalism, and the rule of law support India''s growing partnership with the European Union. Together we aim to translate these shared values into practical cooperation for global security, sustainable growth, and inclusive prosperity." "The signing of the technology and defence partnership between India and the European Union is a reflection of this trust in action and it brings us together in an increasingly complex global environment. I hope the increased momentum of India-EU partnership in economic, defense, and people-to-people connect will bring the two ancient civilizations much closer," he added. Vice-President of the European Commission, Kaja Kallas said, "Thank you very much for welcoming us and yesterday, Republic Day was quite an experience. Thank you for that as well...It was a proud moment to see that our operations were also a part of this parade. It shows how we have been able to work together. The signing of the Security and Defence Partnership is a milestone, and we can build on that. There is so much more we can work together on in the multilateral fora, as well as bilaterally, to further develop defence cooperation. I really look forward to our discussions today and further cooperation in the future" According to the European Council, the Security and Defence Partnerships form a key pillar of the EU''s efforts to promote peace and security both in Europe and globally, serving as a new framework to deepen bilateral relations with non-EU countries in a mutually beneficial manner. The signing of the partnership will formally take place during the 16th India-EU Summit set to take place later today. The President of the European Council, Antonio Luis Santos da Costa, and the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, are also on a State Visit to India and will co-chair the summit. On Monday, Kaja Kallas posted on X that the EU-India Security and Defence Partnership will be signed on Tuesday. She said there was strong momentum for closer cooperation with India, and the EU is seizing it. "There is strong momentum for closer cooperation with India, and we are seizing it," she said. The Vice President of the European Commission noted that the partnership will take the relationship forward between the two sides and "will deliver concrete results in areas such as maritime security, cybersecurity, and counterterrorism." With the signing of the deal, India becomes the third Asian country to have such a deal with the EU after Japan and South Korea. According to the European Council, partnerships are a cornerstone of the EU''s Strategic Compass, adopted in March 2022, which outlines the bloc''s approach to security and defence in a rapidly evolving global environment. Through the Strategic Compass, the EU committed to engaging more consistently and comprehensively with its bilateral partners and to developing tailored partnerships based on shared values and interests. Under the framework, security and defence partnerships are signed by the EU''s High Representative on behalf of the European Union, following Council authorisation. While tailored to each partner country''s specific priorities, the partnerships cover a broad spectrum of cooperation areas. These include peacebuilding, conflict prevention and crisis management, as well as defence initiatives and capability development. (ANI)
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday said that the signing of the technology and defence partnership between India and the European Union marks a significant step in bringing the two sides closer amid a complex global environment. Addressing the EU delegation led by EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas, at Raksha Mantralaya, South Block, Singh welcomed the EU leaders' visit, highlighting its special significance as it coincides with India's 75th Republic Day. "Thank you for your visit to India, your visit is very special as it falls on the occasion of our 75th Republic Day. The occasion marks a milestone in the celebration of India's constitutional journey and the reaffirmation of our commitment to global peace and security," Singh said. He added that the shared values of democracy, pluralism, federalism, and the rule of law form the foundation of India's growing partnership with the European Union. "Together we aim to translate these shared values into practical cooperation for global security, sustainable growth, and inclusive prosperity," Singh said. The Defence Minister emphasised that the partnership reflects the trust between India and the EU and will strengthen cooperation in economic, defence, and people-to-people connect, bringing the two ancient civilisations closer in a rapidly changing world. "The signing of the technology and defence partnership between India and the European Union is a reflection of this trust in action, and it brings us together in an increasingly complex global environment. I hope the increased momentum of the India-EU partnership in economic, defence, and people-to-people connect will bring the two ancient civilisations much closer," he added. The technology and defence partnership was signed ahead of the 16th India-EU Summit, co-chaired by President of the European Council Antonio Luis Santos da Costa and President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, who are on a state visit to India. India now joins Japan and South Korea as the third Asian country to have such a security and defence partnership with the EU, aimed at enhancing collaboration in maritime security, cybersecurity, counterterrorism, and other emerging defence domains. The new pact does not limit India's engagement with the EU to procurement alone, with the EU now seeing India as a ptential supplier in certain areas and as a partner. India-EU security and defence ties have deepened significantly in 2025, marked by the Leaders' Statement from the February College of Commissioners' visit to India, which agreed to explore a Security and Defence Partnership and included discussions between the EU Commissioner for Defence and Space and India's Minister of State for Defence. This momentum continued with a December 2025 delegation from the Society of Indian Defence Manufacturers visiting Brussels to engage with the EU Commissioner, fostering industrial cooperation. In September 2025, the EU Political and Security Committee - representing all 27 member states - made its first-ever visit to Asia, holding high-level meetings in India with the Foreign Secretary, Deputy NSA, and Secretary (West) to advance strategic dialogue. Complementing these efforts, joint naval exercises have strengthened maritime security cooperation, including in the Indian Ocean in June 2025, the Gulf of Guinea in October 2023, and the Gulf of Aden in June 2021, alongside collaborative escort operations for humanitarian assistance near Somalia in 2018 and 2019. (ANI)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi met President of the European Council, Antonio Luis Santos da Costa and President of the European Commission, Ursula Von Der Leyen here in the national capital on Tuesday. The leaders displayed the spirit of bonhomie as they met at the Hyderabad House. Earlier, the EU leaders paid tribute to the Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi, by laying a wreath at his memorial in Raj Ghat, as part of their state visit to India. The ceremony, held in the presence of senior Indian officials, was part of their ongoing state visit and coincided with the 16th India-EU Summit in New Delhi, which will be co-hosted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The European leaders also signed the guestbook at the memorial site after the wreath-laying ceremony andpaying floral tribute to the Mahatma. The visit comes at a time when both sides have concluded their discussion of a free trade agreement, which is expected to strengthen their shared commitment to democracy and the rule of law. On Tuesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed the India-EU Free Trade Agreement, reiterating it as the 'Mother of all deals' and how it illustrates the partnership between two major economies of the world. The deal becomes significant as it links two major economies that command a quarter of the world's GDP. PM Modi made the remarks while virtually addressing the Opening Ceremony of India Energy Week 2026. He added that the free trade agreement with the EU will complement existing agreements with the United Kingdom and members of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA). Extending his congratulations to those associated with different sectors, the Prime Minister said the agreement would be highly beneficial for industry stakeholders. He added that the trade deal would have a positive impact on both manufacturing and services in the country. Emphasising the broader global impact, PM Modi said the FTA would boost global confidence in India. "This Free Trade Agreement will further strengthen global confidence in India for businesses and investors across the world," he said, adding that India is actively working on global partnerships across all sectors. On Monday, the negotiations for the 'Mother of all deals', as it has been called, concluded successfully and will be announced today during the India-EU summit. Earlier today, India and the European Union also inked the security and defence partnership here in the national capital. European Union Vice President Kaja Kallas said on the occasion, "The signing of the Security and Defence Partnership is a milestone, and we can build on that. There is so much more we can work together on in the multilateral fora, as well as bilaterally, to further develop defence cooperation." With the signing of the deal, India becomes the third Asian country to have such a deal with the EU after Japan and South Korea. Speaking on the upcoming deal, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said, "India and Europe have made a clear choice. The choice of strategic partnership, dialogue and openness. Leveraging our complementary strengths. And building mutual resilience. We are showing a fractured world that another way is possible. "European Council President Antonio Costa echoed that thought saying, "India is a crucial partner for the EU. Together, we share the capacity and responsibility to protect the rules-based international order. "In trade in goods, the EU is India's second-largest trading partner, right after China and ahead of the United States, accounting for 11.5 per cent of India's total goods trade. (ANI)
The President of the European Council, Antonio Costa, and the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, on Tuesday paid tribute to the Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi, by laying a wreath at his memorial in Raj Ghat, as part of their state visit to India. The ceremony, held in the presence of senior Indian officials, was part of their ongoing state visit and coincided with the 16th India-EU Summit in New Delhi, which will be co-hosted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The European leaders also signed the guestbook at the memorial site after the wreath-laying ceremony andpaying floral tribute to the Mahatma. The visit comes at a time when both sides have concluded their discussion of a free trade agreement, which is expected to strengthen their shared commitment to democracy and the rule of law. The free trade agreement between India and the EU, first initiated in 2007, is expected to anchor a broader economic and strategic partnership as global trade dynamics shift. On Monday, the negotiations for the 'Mother of all deals', as it has been called, concluded successfully and will be formally announced today during the India-EU summit. At the summit, leaders are expected to adopt a joint EU-India comprehensive strategic agenda that aims to increase strategic cooperation across four areas, reinforced by enablers across the following pillars: prosperity and sustainability, technology and innovation, security and defence, and connectivity and global issues. Leaders will also discuss trade in the context of the now-concluded free-trade agreement that started in 2007 (and was relaunched in 2022). This agreement would boost bilateral trade and investment ties and drive shared prosperity. Earlier today, Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed the recently signed India-European Union Free Trade Agreement (FTA) as a milestone that reflects both sides' shared commitment to democracy and the rule of law, while complementing India's existing agreements with the United Kingdom and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA). "Just yesterday, a massive agreement was signed between India and the European Union. People around the world are discussing it as the 'Mother of All Deals'. This agreement brings a huge opportunity for India's 1.4 billion people and the millions in European countries. This agreement is a brilliant example of coordination between two of the world's largest economies," PM Modi said during his address ahead of India Energy Week. "This agreement represents nearly 25 per cent of global GDP and almost one-third of global trade. This agreement empowers our shared commitment towards democracy and the rule of law. This Free Trade Agreement with the European Union will also complement Britain and EFTA's agreements... I congratulate the people of the nation for this," the Prime Minister added. (ANI)
Margot Robbie thinks Jacob Elordi would be a "very good boyfriend" for someone after he did "a lot of very thoughtful things" on the Wuthering Heights set.

Margot Robbie reveals 'very thoughtful' gestures Jacob Elordi made on Wuthering Heights set

The pair appear as Heathcliff and Cathy in the forthcoming film - loosely inspired by Emily Bronte's 1847 novel of the same name - and the 35-year-old actress was delighted when Jacob, 28, filled her dressing room with roses on Valentine's Day.

When interviewing each other for Vogue Australia, Margot - who is married to film producer Tom Ackerley, 35 - said: "Yours was so epic... I remember thinking on Valentines Day, oh hes probably a very good boyfriend, cause theres a lot of thoughtfulness in this.

"You did a lot of very thoughtful things.

"It wasnt just the gesture of the roses, it was the thing written from Heathcliff, and that little tombstone thing.

"I was like, ah, crafts! Love that. It was crafty, it was meaningful, it was dramatic."

Jacob also told how he made a special visit to the set that day to carry out the gesture, because he wasn't even filming any scenes at the time.

He added: "It was dramatic. I had to hear if you were shooting as well, because I wasnt at work that day."

A stunned Margot said: "Shut up."

He replied: "I came in."

Margot then said: "You are absolutely devastating."

The pals also joked they didn't like filming scenes as much without each other.

Jacob said: "I really didnt like shooting when Margot wasnt there."

Margot added: "I hated shooting when you werent there."

Last year, Margot defended Jacob's casting in the movie, insisting director Emerald Fennell got it right when she chose the Saltburn star to play the brooding antihero.

She told British Vogue magazine: "I get it [the backlash]. Theres nothing else to go off at this point until people see the movie ...

"I saw him play Heathcliff. And he is Heathcliff. Id say, just wait. Trust me, youll be happy."
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday held a bilateral meeting with the President of the European Council, Antonio Luis Santos da Costa, and President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, in the national capital as part of the latter's ongoing state visit to India. The meeting took place at Hyderabad House, with EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas also in attendance. PM Modi and the EU Presidents displayed bonhomie as they met at Hyderabad House. Prior to this, the EU leaders paid tribute to the Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi, by laying a wreath at his memorial in Raj Ghat. The ceremony, held in the presence of senior Indian officials, was part of their ongoing state visit and coincided with the 16th India-EU Summit in New Delhi, which will be co-chaired by PM Modi. The European leaders also signed the guestbook at the memorial site after the wreath-laying ceremony and paid floral tributes to the Mahatma. The visit comes at a time when both sides have concluded their discussion of a free trade agreement, which is expected to strengthen their shared commitment to democracy and the rule of law. Earlier today, Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed the India-EU Free Trade Agreement, reiterating that it is the 'Mother of all deals' and illustrating the partnership between two major economies of the world. The deal becomes significant as it links two major economies that command a quarter of the world's GDP. PM Modi made the remarks while virtually addressing the Opening Ceremony of India Energy Week 2026. He added that the free trade agreement with the EU will complement existing agreements with the United Kingdom and members of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA). "Just yesterday, a massive agreement was signed between India and the European Union. People around the world are discussing it as the 'Mother of All Deals'. This agreement brings a huge opportunity for India's 1.4 billion people and the millions in European countries. This agreement is a brilliant example of coordination between two of the world's largest economies," PM Modi said. "This agreement represents nearly 25 per cent of global GDP and almost one-third of global trade. This agreement empowers our shared commitment towards democracy and the rule of law. This Free Trade Agreement with the European Union will also complement Britain and EFTA's agreements... I congratulate the people of the nation for this," he added. On Monday, the negotiations for the 'Mother of all deals', as it has been called, concluded successfully and will be announced today during the India-EU summit. Earlier today, India and the European Union also inked the security and defence partnership here in the national capital. Kallas, on the occasion, said, "The signing of the Security and Defence Partnership is a milestone, and we can build on that. There is so much more we can work together on in the multilateral fora, as well as bilaterally, to further develop defence cooperation." With the signing of the deal, India becomes the third Asian country to have such a deal with the EU after Japan and South Korea. (ANI)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi held delegation-level talks with the President of the European Commission, Ursula Von Der Leyen and the President of the European Council, Antonio Luis Santos da Costa, at Hyderabad House in Delhi. The Indian delegation comprised of several leaders including External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval among others. The European Delegation was led by President of the European Council, Antonio Luis Santos da Costa and President of the European Commission, Ursula Von Der Leyen. Other key leaders present included EU VP Kaja Kallas and European Union Trade Commissioner Marcos Sefcovic. Earlier, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said that India and the European Union have concluded the much-anticipated free trade agreement, touted as the 'Mother of all Deals'. In a post on X on Tuesday she called the moment historic and expressed optimism on further strengthening the strategic relationship. She said, "Europe and India are making history today. We have concluded the mother of all deals. We have created a free trade zone of two billion people, with both sides set to benefit. This is only the beginning. We will grow our strategic relationship to be even stronger." Union Commerce Minister described the agreement as "A formidable partnership for the world." Earlier, the EU leaders paid tribute to the Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi, by laying a wreath at his memorial in Raj Ghat, as part of their state visit to India. The ceremony, held in the presence of senior Indian officials, was part of their ongoing state visit and coincided with the 16th India-EU Summit in New Delhi, which will be co-hosted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The European leaders also signed the guestbook at the memorial site after the wreath-laying ceremony and paid floral tributes to the Mahatma. European Council President Antonio Costa shared visuals from his visit to Rajghat and reflected upon the timeless values of Mahatma Gandhi. He said, "Paying tribute to Mahatma Gandhi. His words continue to resonate with the same force today as in the past: "Peace will not come out of a clash of arms but out of justice lived and done by unarmed nations in the face of odds." The visit comes at a time when both sides have concluded their discussion of a free trade agreement, which is expected to strengthen their shared commitment to democracy and the rule of law. On Tuesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed the India-EU Free Trade Agreement, reiterating it as the 'Mother of all deals' and how it illustrates the partnership between two major economies of the world. The deal becomes significant as it links two major economies that command a quarter of the world's GDP. PM Modi made the remarks while virtually addressing the Opening Ceremony of India Energy Week 2026. He added that the free trade agreement with the EU will complement existing agreements with the United Kingdom and members of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA). Extending his congratulations to those associated with different sectors, the Prime Minister said the agreement would be highly beneficial for industry stakeholders. He added that the trade deal would have a positive impact on both manufacturing and services in the country. Emphasising the broader global impact, PM Modi said the FTA would boost global confidence in India. "This Free Trade Agreement will further strengthen global confidence in India for businesses and investors across the world," he said, adding that India is actively working on global partnerships across all sectors. With the signing of the deal, India becomes the third Asian country to have such a deal with the EU after Japan and South Korea. (ANI)
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva is set to lead a major high-level delegation to India from February 19 to 21, aiming to deepen bilateral trade ties, attract fresh investments and forge strategic partnerships in key sectors vital to Brazil's long-term development. The visit is part of Brazil's broader foreign policy recalibration, as it seeks to lessen economic reliance on traditional partners such as the United States and China while strengthening engagement with emerging economies like India, as reported by Brasil 247. Officials at Brazil's presidential palace have described the upcoming visit as one of the largest overseas missions of the current administration. Reflecting the scale of ambition, the Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency (ApexBrasil) opened accreditation for up to 200 business leaders to accompany the delegation. By the end of the registration process, nearly 150 private-sector representatives had confirmed their participation, underlining strong corporate interest in the Indian market. According to Brasil 247, Brazil-India ties have been steadily gaining momentum over recent months. In October 2025, Brazilian Vice President Geraldo Alckmin, who also heads the development, industry, trade and services portfolio, visited India along with Defence Minister Jose Mucio Monteiro. During that visit, talks were held with Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on cooperation in defence and sovereignty-related areas. Discussions also covered the possible expansion of the Mercosur-India Preferential Trade Agreement, which has been in place since 2009. Political engagement has intensified further this year. On January 23, President Lula and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a telephonic conversation, during which both leaders reiterated support for comprehensive United Nations reforms, including changes to the Security Council, an issue long championed by both countries. Concrete steps are already being taken to support the growing partnership. Brazil has recently opened a new business office in India, one of only about 20 such offices it maintains globally. The move is intended to help diversify Brazilian exports, which are currently heavily concentrated, with crude oil accounting for nearly 30 per cent of shipments to India in 2025. Trade data underscores India's rising importance to Brazil. India emerged as Brazil's tenth-largest export destination last year, with exports worth USD 6.9 billion, while ranking sixth among import sources at USD 8.4 billion. Although this resulted in a USD 1.5 billion trade deficit for Brazil, bilateral trade volumes recorded strong growth, with exports rising 30.2 per cent and imports increasing 21.9 per cent in 2025, as per Brazil 247. Agriculture will also feature prominently during the visit. Brazil plans to offer technical cooperation in family farming, with a representative from Embrapa, the country's agricultural research agency, included in the delegation. Preparations for the visit are being treated as a priority, with Brazil renting a 500-seat auditorium in India for two days to host meetings between President Lula and Indian business leaders. The objective is to highlight investment opportunities and encourage greater capital inflows into Brazil. Beyond economics, the visit carries clear political weight. Brazilian officials see the India outreach as reinforcing President Lula's image as an influential global leader seeking to assert Brazil's interests in an increasingly competitive international environment. (ANI)
Union Minister Piyush Goyal on Tuesday hailed the India-European Union Free Trade Agreement (FTA), describing the deal as a "formidable partnership" for both sides in the world. In a post on X, Goyal noted the significance of the trade deal, which aims to strengthen economic ties between India and the EU, enhance trade and investment flows, and foster collaboration across multiple sectors. "A formidable partnership for the world!" he wrote, sharing a clip of Prime Minister Narendra Modi meeting President of the European Council Antonio Luis Santos da Costa and President of the European Commission Ursula Von Der Leyen as the leaders display the spirit of bonhomie at Hyderabad House in the national capital. The European leaders are on a state visit to the country, which coincided with the 16th India-EU Summit in New Delhi, co-chaired by PM Modi. Following their meeting with PM Modi, the President of the European Commission took to X, noting that, "Europe and India are making history today." In a post on X, she stated that both sides concluded the deal, which has been described as the "Mother of All Deals," noting that this was just the "beginning". "We have concluded the mother of all deals. We have created a free trade zone of two billion people, with both sides set to benefit. This is only the beginning. We will grow our strategic relationship to be even stronger," von der Leyen wrote in her post. The free trade agreement between India and the EU, first initiated in 2007, is expected to anchor a broader economic and strategic partnership as global trade dynamics shift. On Monday, the negotiations for the 'Mother of all deals', as it has been called, concluded successfully and will be announced today during the India-EU summit. At the summit, leaders are expected to adopt a joint EU-India comprehensive strategic agenda that aims to increase strategic cooperation across four areas, reinforced by enablers across the following pillars: prosperity and sustainability, technology and innovation, security and defence, and connectivity and global issues. Leaders will also discuss trade in the context of the now-concluded free-trade agreement that started in 2007 (and was relaunched in 2022). This agreement would boost bilateral trade and investment ties and drive shared prosperity. Earlier today, India and the EU also inked the security and defence partnership here in the national capital. EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas, on the occasion, said, "The signing of the Security and Defence Partnership is a milestone, and we can build on that. There is so much more we can work together on in the multilateral fora, as well as bilaterally, to further develop defence cooperation." With the signing of the deal, India becomes the third Asian country to have such a deal with the EU after Japan and South Korea. (ANI)
In an exceptional gesture in honour of India's 77th Republic Day, the Washington State Senate convened a special session and adopted Resolution Number 8674, celebrating the Republic Day of India, on "January 26, 2026". The Senate Resolution was piloted by Indian American Washington State Senator Manka Dhingra and also supported from the floor of the Senate by another Indian origin State Senator, Vandana Slatter. Several other State Senators made statements affirming India-US friendship and praised the role of India as the world's largest democracy. The Senate proceedings began with a recitation of verses from the Taittareeya Upanishad and concluded with a special luncheon reception hosted by the Consul General of India in Seattle at the Washington State Capitol in Olympia at the Senate Rules Room, and featured addresses by other State Senators and a special Bharatnatyam dance recital commemorating 150 years of Vande Mataram by ace Indian artist Anwesha Das. Earlier, S South Dakota Governor Larry Rhoden on Monday extended his greetings to India on the occasion of the 77th Republic Day celebrations. The US Governor said he is confident that the United States and India will continue to build an "even stronger relationship" in the coming years. The US Governor also officially proclaimed the day of "January 26, 2026" as the "Republic Day of India." In a video message to the Consulate General of India in Seattle, the Governor described his two meetings with Prakash Gupta (Consulate General of India in Seattle) as "refreshing" and said he is "confident" that both countries will continue to build an even "stronger relationship." Speaking in a video, he said, "Congratulations on 77th years of the Republic of India. I met with Consul General Gupta twice last year, and both meetings were very refreshing." He added, "I am confident that the United States and India will continue building an even stronger relationship." Several other US Governors, like those from Washington and Alaska, also officially proclaimed the day of "January 26, 2026" as the "Republic Day of India." The Governor of Washington, Bob Ferguson, while proclaiming "January 26, 2026" as the "Republic Day of India", encouraged "all the residents to join in recognising the achievements of the Indian and Indian American communities and the enduring bonds of friendship between Washington and the Republic of India." The Governor of Alaska, Mike Dunleavy, while proclaiming "January 26, 2026" as the "Republic Day of India", also encouraged all the Alaskans to "join in recognising the contributions of the Indian community and the enduring bonds between Alaska and India." US Secretary of State Marco Rubio also extended his greetings to India on the occasion of the 77th Republic Day celebrations on Monday. In a press statement, he said that the United States and India share "a historic bond" and that the two countries are working closely on defence, energy, critical minerals, and emerging technologies. In an official press statement, he said there is a "multi-layer" engagement between the two countries through the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (QUAD), and claimed that the India-US relationship has delivered real results for both countries and for the Indo-Pacific region. The US Secretary of State said that he is looking forward to "working together" to advance on the "shared objectives" in the year ahead. (ANI)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday hailed the conclusion of the India-European Union Free Trade Agreement (FTA), describing it as "not just a trade agreement, but a blueprint for shared prosperity." Addressing a joint press meet with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa at Hyderabad House in the national capital, PM Modi said the signing of the FTA marked a historic moment in India-EU relations, coming a day after the EU leaders attended India's Republic Day celebrations as Chief Guests for the first time. "Tomorrow was a historic day, as European Union leaders, for the first time, attended India's Republic Day celebration as Chief Guests. Today is another historic day, as the two biggest democratic powers in the world are adding a very important chapter to their relationship," he said. The Prime Minister noted that India-EU relations have grown exponentially in recent years, rooted in shared democratic values, economic synergy, and strong people-to-people ties, acknowledging that the India-EU trade stands at EUR 180 billion.. "Over the past few years, relations between India and the European Union have grown exponentially. Based on the shared values of democracy, economic synergy, and strong people-to-people ties, our bilateral strength has reached new heights. Today, our trade stands at EUR 180 billion, and more than eight lakh Indians are living in EU nations and contributing to their societies," the Prime Minister said. Highlighting expanding areas of cooperation, PM Modi said India and the EU have forged partnerships spanning strategic technology, clean energy, digital governance, and development cooperation, leading to decisions that will benefit all sections of society. "From strategic technology to clean energy, from digital governance to development partnerships, we have established new avenues of cooperation. Building on these achievements, we have taken decisions that will benefit every section of society," the PM said. Calling the agreement the largest FTA concluded by India to date, the Prime Minister said it would create new opportunities for farmers, small entrepreneurs, and service providers. He added that the FTA would boost investment, foster innovation partnerships, and strengthen supply chains between India and the EU. "Today, India has concluded the biggest Free Trade Agreement in its history. This agreement will help our farmers and small entrepreneurs, enable greater access to European markets, and deepen cooperation in the services sector. The FTA will boost investment between India and the EU, foster new innovation partnerships, and strengthen supply chains. This is not just a trade agreement; it is a blueprint for shared prosperity," the PM added. Earlier, PM Modi held delegation-level talks with Von der Leyen and Costa during the 16th India-EU Summit. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his address at the India Energy Week, hailed the India-EU Free Trade Agreement, reiterating it as the 'Mother of all deals' and highlighting its role in illustrating the partnership between two major economies of the world. The deal becomes significant as it links two major economies that command a quarter of the world's GDP. India also signed a Security and Defence Partnership with the EU, making it the third Asian country to have such a deal after Japan and South Korea. (ANI)
EU Trade Commissioner Marcos Sefcovic said that the largest Free Trade Agreement (FTA) was delivered on Tuesday on the occasion of the India-EU Summit. The Commissioner said that the high tariffs had been reduced, and opportunities been unleashed. Claiming the trade as a "win-win", he termed the partnership with the Union Commerce and Industry Minister, Piyush Goyal, as "genuine". Through the official X post, he said, " After a year of tireless engagement and more than a decade in the making, we've delivered the biggest FTA ever. High tariffs down, opportunity unleashed. Proof that a win-win trade is real and that a genuine partnership, like with Minister @PiyushGoyal, is always worth the effort." Prime Minister Narendra Modi, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, and European Council President Antonio Costa jointly announced the conclusion of the India-European Union Free Trade Agreement (India-EU FTA) at the 16th India-EU Summit, held during the visit of the European leaders to India. The documents on the FTA conclusion were exchanged between EU Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic and Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal. This announcement marks a historic milestone in India-EU economic relations and trade engagement with key global partners. The FTA comes after intense negotiations since the re-launch of negotiations in 2022. The announcement of the FTA on Tuesday marks the culmination of years of sustained dialogue and cooperation between India and the EU, demonstrating the political will and shared vision to deliver a balanced, modern, and rules-based economic and trade partnership. The European Union is one of India's largest trading partners, with bilateral trade in goods and services growing steadily over the years. In 2024-25, India's bilateral trade in goods with the EU stood at Rs 11.5 Lakh Crore (USD 136.54 billion) with exports worth Rs 6.4 Lakh Crore (USD 75.85 billion) and imports amounting to Rs 5.1 Lakh Crore (USD 60.68 billion). India-EU trade in services reached Rs 7.2 Lakh Crore (USD 83.10 billion) in 2024. India and the EU are the 4th and 2nd largest economies, comprising 25 per cent of Global GDP and account for one third of global trade. Integration of the two large, diverse and complementary economies will create unprecedented trade and investment opportunities. Union Minister for Commerce and Industry, Piyush Goyal, lauded the strategic vision and steadfast leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. "The conclusion of the India-European Union Free Trade Agreement represents a defining achievement in India's economic engagement and global outlook. This supports India's approach to secure trusted, mutually beneficial and balanced partnerships," he said Beyond a conventional trade deal, the FTA represents a comprehensive partnership with strategic dimensions and is one of the most consequential FTA. India has secured unprecedented market access for more than 99 per cent of Indian exports by trade value to the EU, which also bolsters the 'Make in India' initiative. Beyond goods, it unlocks high-value commitments in services complemented by a comprehensive mobility framework enabling seamless movement of skilled Indian professionals. India, powered by a young and dynamic workforce and one of the fastest-growing major economies, stands poised to leverage this FTA to create jobs, spur innovation, unlock opportunities across sectors, and enhance its competitiveness on the global stage.The India-EU trade pact covers conventional areas such as trade in goods, services, trade remedies, rules of origin, customs and trade facilitation, as well as emerging areas such as SMEs and digital trade, amongst others. (ANI)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday called for reforms in international institutions to effectively address contemporary challenges, citing growing turmoil in the global order. Addressing a joint press conference with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and President of the European Council Antonio Luis Santos da Costa following the 16th India-EU Summit, PM Modi said the evolving global situation underscored the importance of strong partnerships and a reformed multilateral system. "Today, there are major turmoils in the global order. In such a situation, the partnership between India and the European Union will strengthen stability in the international system," the Prime Minister said. He said the leaders held detailed discussions on several global and regional issues, including Ukraine, West Asia, and the Indo-Pacific, and reiterated their shared commitment to multilateralism and international norms. "In that context, today we held detailed discussions on several global issues, including Ukraine, West Asia, and the Indo-Pacific. Respect for multilateralism and international norms is our shared priority. We also agree that to address today's challenges, global institutions need reform," the PM said. Welcoming the EU leaders on what he described as an unprecedented visit, PM Modi said, "It is a pleasure to welcome my two close friends, President Costa and President von der Leyen, to India." He referred to Costa as the "Gandhi of Lisbon" for his simple lifestyle and praised von der Leyen as Germany's first woman Defence Minister and the first woman President of the European Commission. Speaking at the press conference, European Council President Costa said that as the world's largest democracies and champions of multilateralism, India and the EU share the responsibility of upholding international law with the United Nations Charter at its core. "As the world's largest democracies and champions of multilateralism, the European Union and India share the responsibility to uphold international law with the United Nations Charter at its core," Costa stated. He also recalled paying tribute to Mahatma Gandhi earlier in the day alongside Von der Leyen. "I reflected upon his words, which still hold true today: peace will not come out of a clash of arms, but out of justice lived and done by unarmed nations in the face of odds," Costa said. On Tuesday, India inked its biggest-ever Free Trade Agreement with the 27-nation European Union, marking a major milestone in bilateral ties. PM Modi hailed the conclusion of the India-European Union FTA, describing it as "not just a trade agreement, but a blueprint for shared prosperity." The Prime Minister noted that India-EU relations have grown exponentially in recent years, rooted in shared democratic values, economic synergy, and strong people-to-people ties, and acknowledged that India-EU trade stands at EUR 180 billion. India also signed a Security and Defence Partnership with the EU, making it the third Asian country to have such a deal after Japan and South Korea. (ANI)
EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Tuesday hailed the signing of the India-EU Free trade agreement. In her remarks she said, "When India succeeds, the world is more stable, prosperous and secure and we all benefit." She recalled the visit of EU College of Commissioners to India last year and how it reflects the seriousness of the commitment between the two partners. "We did it. We delivered the mother of all deals", she said. In her remarks she highlighted that the deal "Is a strong message that cooperation is the best answer to global challenges. This trade will integrate our supply chain and strengthen our joint manufacturing power. It will cut up to 4 billion euros in annual tariffs for exporters of all sizes, and it will create good jobs for millions of workers here in India and in Europe.At the same time, this agreement will build on the natural complementarity of our economies. " She added that the FTA would bring together Indian skills, services scale with Europe''s technology, capital and innovation. "It will create levels of growth that neither side can achieve alone, and by combining these strengths, we reduce strategic dependencies," she said. The EC President further noted, "Europe, and India have a long history of cooperation and the defence industry. Now we will enhance this teamwork even further." "We are not only making our economies stronger. We are also delivering security for our people in an increasingly insecure world. Today, the world''s two largest economies and democracies launched their first-ever security and defence partnership... Europe and India have a long history of cooperation in the defence industry," she added. European Council President Antonio Costa showed his overseas Indian card during the joint press meet here in the national capital on Tuesday and underlined how the conclusion of negotiations holds a special meaning for him. He added, "We conclude today our trade negotiations. We relaunched at the latest meeting that I had the pleasure of hosting in May 2021 in my previous capacity. Our summit sends a clear message to the world. At a time when the global order is being fundamentally reshaped, the European Union and India stand together as strategic and reliable partners. Today, we are taking our partnership to the next level. As the two largest democracies in the world, we are working hand in hand to deliver concrete benefits for our citizens and to shape a resilient global order that underpins peace and stability, economic growth and sustainable development." Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday hailed the conclusion of the India-European Union Free Trade Agreement (FTA), describing it as "not just a trade agreement, but a blueprint for shared prosperity." The Prime Minister noted that India-EU relations have grown exponentially in recent years, rooted in shared democratic values, economic synergy, and strong people-to-people ties, acknowledging that the India-EU trade stands at EUR 180 billion. Highlighting expanding areas of cooperation, PM Modi said India and the EU have forged partnerships spanning strategic technology, clean energy, digital governance, and development cooperation, leading to decisions that will benefit all sections of society. Calling the agreement the largest FTA concluded by India to date, the Prime Minister said it would create new opportunities for farmers, small entrepreneurs, and service providers. India and the European Union inked key agreements and MoUs on Tuesday in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa. Notably, India and the EU have also agreed on a strategy document titled, ''Towards 2030- a joint India-European Union Comprehensive Strategic Agenda.'' India and EU exchanged several agreements and MoUs reflecting the wide-ranging and multi-faceted cooperation as a part of the India-EU Strategic Cooperation. The political declaration on conclusion of negotiations on the India-EU FTA by Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal and European Union Trade Commissioner Marcos Sefcovic. The India-EU Security and Defence Partnership document was signed by EU VP Kaja Kallas and EAM S Jaishankar. The signing of the document comprehensive framework on cooperation on mobility was signed by European Union Trade Commissioner Marcos Sefcovic and EAM Jaishankar. (ANI)
As India and EU signed the security and defence partnership, EU Vice President Kaja Kallas noted that this would help in exploring Indian participation in European defence initiatives. "When two major democracies act together, we build stronger shared security. It was a great pleasure to sign a new EU-India Security and Defence Partnership with @DrSJaishankar today. The pact launches an annual security and defence dialogue - with the first meeting taking place in a month - and deepens cooperation on maritime security, cyber issues, and counterterrorism. We will also explore Indian participation in European defence initiatives. As the global order shifts, the EU will continue to deepen its diplomatic and economic ties across the world. Strong partnerships multiply our strength", Kallas said. https://x.com/kajakallas/status/2016065739166290176?s=20 In another post on X, MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal called the 16th India-EU Summit a historic moment in the bilateral ties. He shared that PM Modi and EU leaders von der Leyen and Costa reviewed the full spectrum of India-EU ties and discussed ways to further accelerate the deepening of India-EU partnership. "Discussions focused on trade and economic cooperation, clean energy and climate action, digital and emerging technologies including AI, connectivity and infrastructure, supply chain resilience, mobility and skills, research and innovation and enhanced cooperation in security and global affairs", he said. Jaiswal added that both sides concluded the negotiations for the landmark India-EU FTA; adopted "Towards 2030: India-EU Joint Comprehensive Strategic Agenda"; signed MoU on Comprehensive Framework on Cooperation on Mobility and concluded "Security and Defence Partnership" He noted that these important outcomes, along with others, will provide a framework for the partnership for next 5 years and beyond, strengthen our national security, boost trade and investment, create jobs, enhance manufacturing and services and smoothen the movement especially for students, workers and researchers. Jaiswal said that the leaders reiterated that the India-EU partnership is forged in mutual objectives of peace and prosperity for our people, and for global good. https://x.com/MEAIndia/status/2016073142469623815?s=20 Earlier Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, after signing the security and defence partnership with European Commission Vice President Kaja Kallas on Tuesday, stressed that he is looking forward to "greater cooperation" between India and the EU countries. After India and the European Union signed the security and defence partnership, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas on Tuesday urged deepening ties across multilateral fora for further developing defence cooperation. According to the European Union, the Security and Defence Partnerships form a key pillar of the EU's efforts to promote peace and security both in Europe and globally, serving as a new framework to deepen bilateral relations with non-EU countries in a mutually beneficial manner. On Monday, Kaja Kallas posted on X that the EU-India Security and Defence Partnership will be signed on Tuesday. She said there was strong momentum for closer cooperation with India, and the EU is seizing it. With the signing of the deal, India becomes the third Asian country to have such a deal with the EU after Japan and South Korea. According to the European Union, partnerships are a cornerstone of the EU's Strategic Compass, adopted in March 2022, which outlines the bloc's approach to security and defence in a rapidly evolving global environment. Through the Strategic Compass, the EU committed to engaging more consistently and comprehensively with its bilateral partners and to developing tailored partnerships based on shared values and interests. Under the framework, security and defence partnerships are signed by the EU's High Representative on behalf of the European Union, following Council authorisation. While tailored to each partner country's specific priorities, the partnerships cover a broad spectrum of cooperation areas. These include peacebuilding, conflict prevention and crisis management, as well as defence initiatives and capability development. (ANI)
Nicola Peltz and Brooklyn Beckham have rescued another "beautiful" puppy.

Brooklyn Beckham and Nicola Peltz have rescued another puppy

The 31-year-old actress - who is married to the 26-year-old chef - has revealed her Yogi's House charity has taken in an adorable pooch called Tami, and they are looking for a new home for the animal.

On her Instagram Story, Nicola wrote: "We saved this beautiful girl and her sister today if you're interested in making her your daughter."

The iloverescue account explained: "Tami is a baby trying to figure out the world inside a place that would overwhelm even the bravest dog.

"She came into the shelter with her siblings, and everything about this environment is big, loud, and frightening for a small puppy. The barking never stops.

"The routines change constantly. Hands and faces are unfamiliar. For a sensitive pup like Tami, the safest choice at first was to hang back and watch. But she is coming around."

They revealed there was "no aggression" or "fear response" as time went on.

They continued: "These puppies are not 'bad dogs.' They are exactly what youd expect from babies placed in a chaotic, high-stress environment.

"Tami doesnt need punishment for being scared. She needs a calm space, patient people, and the chance to grow up safe."

After the Los Angeles wildfires last year, Brooklyn and Nicola raised $59,000 for displaced dogs through Yogi's House.

In his recent explosive statement calling out his famous parents, David and Victoria Beckham, Brooklyn accused his mother of "refusing" to support the cause.

He wrote: "We've 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 mum's support to save displaced dogs during the LA fires, my mum refused."

The Beckhams are yet to respond to their son's bombshell claims.
India and the European Union on Tuesday signed a landmark Security and Defence Partnership, marking the first overarching defence and security framework between the two sides, as leaders from both blocs agreed to significantly deepen cooperation across strategic, regional and global security domains. In a joint statement issued following the 16th India-EU Summit held with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, along with European Council President Antonio Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, the leaders welcomed the signing of the Security and Defence Partnership (SDP), noting that the agreement would strengthen collaboration in maritime security, the defence industry and technology, cyber and hybrid threats, space and counterterrorism, and other areas. They also welcomed the launch of negotiations on an India-EU Security of Information Agreement, which will facilitate the exchange of classified information and pave the way for closer security and defence cooperation. Under the partnership, India and the EU agreed to upgrade existing Security and Defence Consultations into an annual EU-India Security and Defence Dialogue, institutionalising regular high-level engagement, the statement stated. The two sides will also consult on respective defence initiatives and explore opportunities for India's participation in relevant EU defence programmes, in line with their respective legal frameworks. To strengthen defence industrial collaboration, the joint statement announced the establishment of an industry-led India-EU Defence Industry Forum, bringing together businesses from both sides, with official observers and the participation of EU Member States. The forum will focus on identifying opportunities for cooperation in defence manufacturing, innovation and technology. The leaders also committed to deepening engagement on regional security, particularly in the Indo-Pacific. Both sides reaffirmed their support for a free, open, peaceful and prosperous Indo-Pacific, based on international law, respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, and peaceful resolution of disputes. The EU will pursue engagement through its participation in the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI), its role as a dialogue partner with the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA), and its membership in the Indian Ocean Commission (IOC). India and the EU further agreed to launch dedicated consultations on the Indo-Pacific and explore cooperation through joint projects in third countries. They also committed to intensifying regular exchanges on regional and global issues, including efforts towards achieving a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in Ukraine. On countering traditional and emerging threats, the partnership emphasises enhanced cooperation to combat terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, including cross-border terrorism, terror financing, radicalisation and violent extremism. The two sides also agreed to step up exchanges on hybrid threats, share best practices, and develop strategies to counter cyber and information-related challenges, the statement read. The leaders described the signing of the Security and Defence Partnership as a major milestone in India-EU relations, reflecting growing strategic convergence and a shared commitment to strengthening peace, stability and security at regional and global levels. Lauding the SDP, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas stated that the agreement establishes an annual security and defence dialogue, with the first session scheduled within a month. In a post on X, she acknowledged the change in the global landscape and thus the EU remains committed to deepening diplomatic and economic partnerships worldwide. "When two major democracies act together, we build stronger shared security. It was a great pleasure to sign a new EU-India Security and Defence Partnership with S Jaishankar today. The pact launches an annual security and defence dialogue - with the first meeting taking place in a month - and deepens cooperation on maritime security, cyber issues, and counterterrorism. We will also explore Indian participation in European defence initiatives. As the global order shifts, the EU will continue to deepen its diplomatic and economic ties across the world. Strong partnerships multiply our strength," her post read. With the signing of the deal, India becomes the third Asian country to have such a deal with the EU after Japan and South Korea. (ANI)
India and the European Union on Tuesday signed 13 agreements and arrangements during the state visit of European Council President Antonio Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, covering areas such as trade, security, defence, mobility, clean energy, science, and disaster management. The agreements were signed during the 16th India-EU Summit co-chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. According to the List of Outcomes issued by the Ministry of External Affairs, the leaders welcomed the signing of the 'Towards 2030: A Joint India-European Union Comprehensive Strategic Agenda,' an overarching framework guiding the India-EU strategic partnership. The visit also marked the conclusion of negotiations on the India-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA), the largest trade deal in India's history, aimed at boosting economic and investment ties between the two sides. Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed the conclusion of the India-European Union FTA, describing it as "not just a trade agreement, but a blueprint for shared prosperity." He noted that India-EU relations have grown exponentially in recent years, rooted in shared democratic values, economic synergy, and strong people-to-people ties, acknowledging that the India-EU trade stands at EUR 180 billion, during a joint press meet with the European leaders. In defence and security, the India-EU Security and Defence Partnership (SDP) was formalised, creating a first-of-its-kind framework to deepen cooperation in maritime security, defence industry and technology, cyber and hybrid threats, space, and counter-terrorism. Negotiations were also launched for an India-EU Security of Information Agreement to facilitate the exchange of classified information and enhance defence collaboration. With the signing of the deal, India becomes the third Asian country to have such a deal with the EU after Japan and South Korea. Financial and technological cooperation was also strengthened through an MoU between the Reserve Bank of India and the European Securities and Markets Authority, as well as an administrative arrangement on advanced electronic signatures and seals. Mobility agreements were also reached, which included a framework for cooperation and the announcement of a pilot EU Legal Gateway Office in India to enhance skill mobility. Disaster management cooperation was reinforced through an arrangement between India's National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and the EU's Directorate-General for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations. In science, technology, and clean energy, the two sides renewed the India-EU Agreement on Scientific and Technological Cooperation for 2025-2030, constituted a Green Hydrogen Task Force, and launched exploratory talks for India to join the Horizon Europe Programme. Both sides also agreed to jointly implement four trilateral projects in areas such as digital innovation for women and youth, solar-based solutions for farmers, early warning systems, and sustainable energy transitions in Africa, the Indo-Pacific, the Caribbean, and Small Island Developing States. The 13 agreements and arrangements underscore the expanding breadth and depth of India-EU cooperation, reflecting shared priorities in strategic, economic, and global governance arenas, and reinforcing the partnership between two of the world's largest democracies. (ANI)
US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor spoke to US Secretary of State Marco Rubio today about the "recent developments in the region" and his official visit to Turkmenistan. In a post on X, Gor wrote, "This morning I spoke with @SecRubio on recent positive developments in the region, including my recent trip to Turkmenistan. Thank you President Serdar Berdimuhamedow for the warm hospitality!" Ambassador Sergio Gor, travelled to Turkmenistan from January 22 to January 23. Gor engaged in a series of high-level meetings with senior Turkmen government officials and the business community, focusing on expanding bilateral cooperation, promoting regional stability, and strengthening economic partnerships. The United States looks forward to engaging with Turkmenistan on new opportunities for collaboration that will benefit both our nations and contribute to prosperity and security across the region. Earlier, Gor attended the At Home reception at Rashtrapati Bhavan hosted by President Droupadi Murmu. In a post on X, he thanked President Murmu for the reception and posted some photos from the gathering. "An incredible Republic Day reception at Rashtrapati Bhavan. Thank you President Droupadi Murmu for hosting us all," he said. One of the pictures shows Gor with Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan, Chief of the Army Staff General Upendra Dwivedi, Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal AP Singh, and Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi. In another picture, Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal and Gor are seen together. Gor also extended his greetings on the 77th Republic Day celebrations of India. He said that he was honoured to attend the Republic Day Parade for the first time and called the sight of the US-made aircraft flying in the "Indian sky" a powerful symbol of the growing US-India strategic partnership. Through his official X post, the US Ambassador to India said, "Happy Republic Day, India! Honored to attend the Republic Day Parade for the first time, a celebration of India's Constitution and democratic spirit. Thrilled to see the U.S.-made aircraft soaring in the Indian sky, a powerful symbol of the strength of the U.S.-India strategic partnership." (ANI)
EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission Kaja Kallas' on Tuesday hailed the India-EU FTA saying that the two sides could do a lot together in differenent fields. Speaking at a Conference on Europe India and a changing World Order in the national capital Kallas said the deal may have taken long to negotiate byt now Europe intends to stick to it. "When I go around the world, I see more and more countries want to build partnerships with Europe because we are predictable, which is nowadays becoming a value. We take a long time to negotiate deals, but when we do, we stick to them. We implement them, and that has become something that is of value... When we get there finally, we really keep our promises, and we keep our agreements. I think this is extremely important... We can do a lot together in different fields, and we have mapped different fields when it comes to security, defence, foreign policy, maritime security, and cyber security. We are entering into negotiations about that because to make decisions, you have to be aware of the facts and intelligence that is there," she said. Kallas said that during her visit she had seen a genuine interest in building trade relations especially at a time when some superpowers are attempting to rewrite the multilateral order. "I think the feeling in the room is really genuine, genuine interest for building trade relations, but also other issues when it comes to geopolitical picture as well. Because we see superpowers wanting to rewrite the multilateral order, where everything is divided... Coming from a small country, I can honestly say this is not in the interest of small and medium-sized countries. India is not a small country. But still, I think, there is room for cooperation in Europe. The European Union and India also have a relationship regarding foreign policy," she said. Kallas said that at the moment Europe faces a a threat from Russia and it was essential to look to strengthen Europes capabilities. "We have this existential threat coming from Russia at this time. We have our member states increasing their defence expenditure, and then it also comes down to where you can buy capabilities and with whom you can incorporate. In the first round, we also want this money to go to the European industry, but if the European industry is not able to deliver, then we can buy outside, and I think the competition that comes from such a big country like India is also beneficial for our industries to work to find solutions," she said. Earlier, a joint statement released by Eurpean Commission President Ursula von der Leyen with European Council President Costa and Prime Minister Modi said, "We are not only making our economies stronger. We are also delivering security for our people in an increasingly insecure world. Today, the world's two largest economies and democracies launch their first ever security and defence partnership. This is a landmark departure. And a trust-based platform for cooperation on the strategic issues that matter most." "In so doing, we will help to build each other's resilience. Europe and India have a long history of cooperation in the defence industry. Now, we will enhance this teamwork even further. We will deepen our cooperation on maritime security. For example, joint naval exercises to tackle piracy. And we will step up our work on countering cyber and hybrid threats, which are getting more sophisticated by the day. Our partnership includes a dedicated dialogue on space security, from situational awareness to secure connectivity and stronger cooperation on counterterrorism. Finally, we are launching negotiations on a Security of Information Agreement. Europe and India have chosen to be reliable partners for one another. And this is how we demonstrate the trust we share," the statement said. (ANI)
Noting that the European Union and India are committed to acting together as anchors of stability in an increasingly fragmented and multipolar world, European Council President Antonio Costa has said that the EU-India Free Trade Agreement is a crucial geopolitical stabilizer. Costa, who is in India on a State visit along with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, and was a co-chair at the 16th India-EU Summit, said a new Security and Defence Partnership was another major outcome of the Summit meeting. "The European Union and India are committed to acting together as anchors of stability in an increasingly fragmented and multipolar world," he said. "The 16th EU-India Summit delivered three major outcomes: 1. The EU-India Free Trade Agreement is a crucial geopolitical stabiliser. It showcases how the EU and India are acting together to protect international rules-based trade - by offering partnerships instead of tariffs," he added. He said the defence partnership will better protect shared interests in Europe, the Indo-Pacific, and globally. "2. A new Security and Defence Partnership, strengthening our cooperation to address the full spectrum of security threats and to better protect our citizens and shared interests - in Europe, the Indo-Pacific, and globally". "3. A shared roadmap for the future through the Joint Comprehensive Strategic Agenda towards 2030, aligning our priorities on energy, connectivity, mobility," he added. The conclusion of FTA positions India and the European Union as trusted partners committed to open markets, predictability, and inclusive growth. The FTA comes after intense negotiations since the re-launch of negotiations in 2022. The announcement of the FTA today marks the culmination of years of sustained dialogue and cooperation, between India and the EU, demonstrating the political will and shared vision to deliver a balanced, modern, and rules-based economic and trade partnership. The European Union is one of the largest trading partners of India with bilateral trade in goods and services growing steadily over the years. In 2024-25, India's bilateral trade in goods with the EU stood at INR 11.5 Lakh Crore (USD 136.54 billion) with exports worth INR 6.4 Lakh Crore (USD 75.85 billion) and imports amounting to INR 5.1 Lakh Crore (USD 60.68 billion). India-EU trade in services reached INR 7.2 Lakh Crore (USD 83.10 billion) in 2024. India and EU are fourth and second largest economies, comprising 25% of Global GDP and account for one third of global trade. Integration of the two large diverse and complementary economies will create unprecedented trade and investment opportunities, a release said. (ANI)
Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said that there were key documents that were signed and exchanged before the leaders and landmark talks were held on the EU-India Free Trade Agreement. Misri was accompanied by Union Minister Piyush Goyal and Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agarwal at the Special Briefing on the State visit of the President of EU Council and the President of EU Commission to India, where he said that over the last decade, the relations between India and the European Union have grown steadily. Misri said, "Today, Presidents Antonio Costa and Ursula von der Leyen and Prime Minister Modi co-chaired the 16th India-EU summit. They held detailed bilateral talks, both in the restricted format and in the delegation-level format." "There were several key documents that were signed and exchanged before the leaders, including the joint announcement on the conclusion of the negotiations of a landmark and historic India-EU free trade agreement, an equally important security and defence partnership agreement between the two sides, and an MOU on a comprehensive framework on cooperation on mobility, among others. Prime Minister and President von der Leyen also addressed the India-EU Business Forum in Bharat Mandapam, where more than 100 CEOs from both sides participated," he added. Talking about the visit of President of the European Council, Antonio Costa, and the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen to India, Misri said that outcomes of the visit are deeply strategic in nature. "The outcomes are deeply strategic in nature. Over the last decade, the relations between India and the European Union have grown steadily. They have grown not just in scale but in significance as well, as evidenced by the level and frequency of contacts and engagements between the two sides. In our fast-changing world, the strategic partnership between India and the EU has a value beyond the bilateral context, particularly as we witness shifts in the global economic, technological, and strategic landscape," he said. Misri said that the EU and India, both are huge markets, and have high stakes with regards to the concentration of manufacturing chains. "As the world's second and fourth largest markets, India and the EU also have very high stakes on all critical global challenges of the day, including over-dependence and concentration of global manufacturing and supply chains on a limited set of geographies, an ineffective multilateral system, emerging multipolarity, and growing protectionist tendencies in different parts of the world. And therefore, as two large pluralistic democracies and open market economies, our leaders have resolved to take this very strategic partnership forward for mutual benefit and for the greater good of the global population as a whole," he said. On the India-EU FTA, Misri said that it was a very important matter on the agenda and there was a consensus on the fact that the IMEC initiative is one that should be taken forward. India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) comprises of an Eastern Corridor connecting India to the Gulf region and a Northern Corridor connecting the Gulf region to Europe. It will include a railway and ship-rail transit network and road transport routes. "Connectivity is a very important thread in the agenda between India and the EU. It was on the agenda today, there was a discussion about it, and there was consensus on the fact that the IMEC initiative is one that should be taken forward, and we should now graduate from the working-level meetings that have taken place to higher-level meetings, culminating in a summit of the IMEC member countries. So between Europe and India, we are united on this, and we will take this forward with the other collaborators within IMEC," as per Misri. Official Spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs, Randhir Jaiswal on Tuesday said that President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen and Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired the India-EU Business Forum. https://x.com/MEAIndia/status/2016101409780006980?s=20 In a post on X, he said, "Along with President Ursula von der Leyen, Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired the India-EU Business Forum. The Forum brought together business leaders from both sides." Jaiswal added, "The discussions reflected the depth of the India-EU economic partnership, covering key sectors including trade and investment, manufacturing, digital and emerging technologies, clean energy and green transition, mobility and skills, startups and innovation, infrastructure, and resilient supply chains. Following the conclusion of negotiations on the historic India-EU FTA, the Forum is set to impart fresh momentum to business-to-business ties, enabling India and the EU to deepen cooperation, unlock new opportunities, create jobs and grow together." (ANI)
The PM said that India and the EU are natural partners in a changing world.

In a post on X, PM Modi said, "Co-chaired the 16th India-EU Summit with European Council President Antonio Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. Held productive discussions to take our Strategic Partnership to a higher level based on our shared values and a comprehensive bilateral agenda covering various subjects. Also exchanged views on global and regional issues of mutual interest. India and the EU are natural partners in a changing world and remain committed to strengthening multilateralism."

https://x.com/narendramodi/status/2016149167928959332?s=20

At the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, President of the European Council, Antonio Costa, and President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, paid a State Visit to India on 25-27 January as the Chief Guests for the 77th Republic Day of India.

President Costa and President von der Leyen were accompanied by a high-level delegation, including High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas and Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic.

The two Leaders were warmly welcomed by the President of India, Droupadi Murmu, at Rashtrapati Bhavan. They then travelled together in a ceremonial procession to attend the Republic Day celebrations and witness the parade.

For the first time ever, a contingent consisting of representatives from both the European Union Military Staff and the European Union Naval Operations ATALANTA and ASPIDES participated in the Republic Day Parade.

President Costa and President von der Leyen joined President Murmu for an 'At-Home' reception in Rashtrapati Bhavan. In honour of the visiting dignitaries, President Murmu hosted a Banquet on 27 January 2026. Earlier that afternoon, Prime Minister Modi also hosted a luncheon in their honour. (ANI)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Tuesday hailed the India-European Union (EU) Free Trade Agreement (FTA) as a significant milestone. The PM said that the agreement will deepen economic ties between the two parties. In a post on X, PM Modi said, "Conclusion of the India-EU Free Trade Agreement today marks a significant milestone in our relations. I thank all the leaders of Europe over the years for their constructive spirit and commitment in making this possible. This agreement will deepen economic ties, create opportunities for our people and strengthen the India-Europe partnership for a prosperous future." https://x.com/narendramodi/status/2016110741347303629?s=20 Union Minister Piyush Goyal, while speaking on the India-EU FTA, said that both parties hope to bring the agreement into force in 2026. Addressing a briefing in the national capital on Tuesday, Goyal was flanked by Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri and Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agarwal. He said, "Every agreement stands on its own legs, and this is a wonderful agreement. It will be taken up on legal scrubbing on a fast-track basis, as we discussed today, and translated into 24 languages simultaneously. We do hope that we should be able to celebrate the entry into force of this agreement within calendar 2026." At the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, President of the European Council, Antonio Costa, and President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, paid a State Visit to India on 25-27 January as the Chief Guests for the 77th Republic Day of India. President Costa and President von der Leyen were accompanied by a high-level delegation, including High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas and Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic. This is the first visit by the leaders of the European Union as Guests of Honour for the Republic Day. It symbolises the growing closeness, depth and dynamism in India-EU relations, and their joint commitment and shared interest in shaping a resilient multipolar global order that underpins peace and stability, economic growth and sustainable development. The visit follows the historic visit of the European Union College of Commissioners led by President von der Leyen to India on 27-28 February 2025. (ANI)
Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said on Tuesday that India is interested in seeing a cessation of hostilities between Russia and Ukraine. Misri was accompanied by Union Minister Piyush Goyal and Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agarwal at the Special Briefing on the State visit of President of EU Council and the President of the EU Commission to India, where he said that the Ukraine issue was discussed among the leaders. Misri said, "We are interested in seeing the earliest possible cessation of this conflict that has been going on for nearly four years now." He added, "The issue about India's relationship with Russia is something on which we have spoken publicly on several occasions. There is a historical context for that. I don't think we have the time today to dilate on that. But these are two things that stand on their own and that go forward on their own." Misri said during the talks, PM Modi indicated that India has close relations with both Russia and Ukraine. "Insofar as Ukraine is concerned, yes, it was discussed between the leaders today. The European leaders shared their perspective, their concerns with regard to the ongoing conflict and Prime Minister Modi indicated to them that he had been in very close contact with leaders from both countries, from Russia as well as from Ukraine. We in India have always made our point of view very clear on this. We favour a negotiated solution between the parties most closely concerned with this conflict," he said. Misri said that PM Modi affirmed that India is ready to do whatever is needed to be done in order to support cessation. "The Prime Minister himself has played a role in this by advocating this to both leaders every time that he has met them. He has publicly stated that India is ready to do whatever is needed to be done in order to support the outcomes from such a negotiated solution and that we are interested in seeing the earliest possible cessation of this conflict that has been going on for nearly four years now," he said. In the India-EU Joint Statement on the visit of the President of the European Council and the President of the European Commission to India, and the 16th India-EU Summit, both sides expressed grave concern. "On Ukraine, the two sides expressed concern over the ongoing war, which continues to cause immense human suffering and carries global consequences. Both sides will continue to support efforts towards the achievement of a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in Ukraine through dialogue and diplomacy, based on the principles of the UN Charter and of international law, including independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity," the statement read. Earlier in the day, speaking at a Conference on Europe India and a changing World Order in the national capital, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission Kaja Kallas said that Europe has existential threat coming from Russia at this time. Kallas said, "We have this existential threat coming from Russia at this time. We have our member states increasing their defence expenditure, and then it also comes down to where you can buy capabilities and with whom you can incorporate. In the first round, we also want this money to go to the European industry, but if the European industry is not able to deliver, then we can buy outside, and I think the competition that comes from such a big country like India is also beneficial for our industries to work to find solutions." (ANI)
"These outcomes reinforce our commitment to further strengthening the partnership between India and the European Union," PM Modi posted on X.

https://x.com/narendramodi/status/2016149408027693258?s=20

India and the European Union on Tuesday signed 13 agreements and arrangements during the state visit of European Council President Antonio Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, covering trade, security, defence, mobility, clean energy, science, and disaster management.

The agreements were signed during the 16th India-EU Summit co-chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

According to the List of Outcomes issued by the Ministry of External Affairs, the leaders welcomed the signing of the 'Towards 2030: A Joint India-European Union Comprehensive Strategic Agenda,' an overarching framework guiding the India-EU strategic partnership.

The visit also marked the conclusion of negotiations on the India-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA), the largest trade deal in India's history, aimed at boosting economic and investment ties between the two sides.

At the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Costa and von der Leyen paid a State Visit to India on 25-27 January as the Chief Guests for the 77th Republic Day of India. President Costa and President von der Leyen were accompanied by a high-level delegation, including High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas and Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, along with Costa and von der Leyen, co-chaired the 16th India-EU Summit in Delhi on January 27 and underlined their commitment to raise the India-EU Strategic Partnership to a higher level based on shared values and principles including democracy, human rights, pluralism, rule of law, and the rules-based international order with the UN at its core.

They committed to tackling security threats, promoting inclusive and sustainable growth, strengthening economic resilience and security, advancing climate and biodiversity action, and accelerating progress on the Sustainable Development Goals. (ANI)
Sly and Robbie drummer Sly Dunbar has died at the age of 73.

Sly Dunbar has died at the age of 73

The revered reggae drummer, who was one half of rhythm section and production duo Sly and Robbie with the late bassist Robbie Shakespeare, passed away on Monday (26.01.26) morning - his wife Thelma revealed.

She told The Jamaica Gleaner newspaper: "About seven o'clock this morning I went to wake him up and he wasn't responding, I called the doctor and that was the news."

Thelma explained that Sly had been through a period of ill health, but that his death had still come as a surprise.

She said: "Yesterday was such a good day for him.

"He had friends come over to visit him and we all had such a good time. He ate well yesterday... sometimes he's into food. I knew he was sick... but I didn't know that he was this sick."

Born Lowell Fillmore Dunbar in Jamaica in 1952, Sly started playing music during his school days and met Shakespeare - who died aged 68 in 2021 - as teenagers when they formed the rhythm section of a group called the Revolutionaries.

The pair became Jamaica's most prolific and in-demand rhythm section and worked on hundreds of songs together, ranging from early reggae recordings with Peter Tosh and Bunny Wailer to later collaborations with mainstream artists such as Mick Jagger, Bob Dylan and Grace Jones.

Sly and Robbie also released albums of their own and were seen as pivotal for pushing the reggae genre into the future with the adoption of electronic instruments.

During the 1990s, the pair produced the hits Tease Me and Murder She Wrote for Chaka Demus and Pliers before enjoying further success the following decade as producers of No Doubt tracks Hey Baby and Underneath It All.

Dunbar - who won two Grammy awards and was a 13-time nominee - once described his relationship with Shakespeare as "very harmonious".

He told The Independent back in 1997: "As well as being my colleague, Robbie is my closest friend. We have a very harmonious friendship. It feels like a bond. You adore it and thank God that it happened. It's even more than a marriage. We've never quarrelled. We just relax together. There's no ego.

"Robbie is the aggressive one; I'm the quiet one. Sometimes when people meet Robbie they're shy of him, even a little afraid, and they don't want to talk to him. But he's a sane, down-to-earth person really. When he gets aggressive, I can calm him down. I talk to him and say it doesn't make sense to be angry. He nearly always listens to me."
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday thanked President of Guyana Irfaan Ali for his wishes on 77th Republic Day. In a post on X, the PM wrote, "Thank you, President Irfaan Ali, for your warm congratulations on India's 77th Republic Day. We cherish Guyana's friendship and our deep people-to-people ties characterised by historical roots and shared values." The Guyanese President took to X to extend his greetings, writing, "Message of Congratulations On the occasion of the 77th Republic Day of the Republic of India, we extend warm congratulations to the Government and people of the Republic of India as they commemorate the adoption of their Constitution and the enduring ideals it enshrines. India's freedom struggle and its peaceful transition from colonial rule ignited hope across the developing world, inspiring generations of nations to claim their sovereignty and shape their own destinies." "As the world's largest democracy, India continues to champion the interests and aspirations of developing states on the global stage. Guyana proudly values its deep and historic bonds with India, forged through ties of history, blood and a common commitment to democracy and development. These relations have matured into a strong partnership grounded in mutual respect and cooperation across diverse sectors. As India marks this significant milestone, Guyana looks forward with confidence to the continued strengthening of our bilateral relations, working together to advance prosperity, sustainability, and the collective voice of the Global South. @narendramodi," he added. Guyana is aiming to emerge as a healthcare hub in the Caribbean and is counting on Indian expertise to strengthen its medical infrastructure, Guyanese High Commissioner to India Dharamkumar Seeraj said, while lauding India's robust healthcare system. Underscoring the growing healthcare cooperation between the two countries, Seeraj said that the Guyanese government currently facilitates treatment for patients abroad when specialised care is unavailable domestically, with India emerging as a preferred destination due to its high-quality medical services. "Currently, we have patients travelling to India for specialised treatment. If the required care is not available in Guyana, the Ministry of Health assists patients by facilitating treatment abroad. The government supports patients up to a certain amount, and if the cost exceeds that, additional assistance is provided. Many patients, therefore, opt for treatment in India. There is a logistics problem, the quality of care is excellent, and the cost is highly competitive," he said. (ANI)
Austrian Ambassador to India Robert Zischg welcomed the news of India signing the Free Trade Agreement with the European Union and highlighted how, despite the current complex geopolitical climate and increasing tensions, conflicts across the world, he remains "optimistic of brighter days". Speaking to ANI, he said, "I believe it will still take some time until the legal scrapping is completed, and we have all the details of the agreement. However, we anticipate that trade and investment will increase significantly, as both sides currently face tariffs and non-tariff barriers that hinder trade and investment. The international arena has become much more complex, which is why we believe India is a major player in this global landscape, where crises are unfolding across every continent. I remain optimistic, despite the many tensions and conflicts we are seeing; brighter days will eventually come." He also said, "Beyond the trade and investment aspects, the deal also sends a strong political message between the European Union and India. It signifies that we've completed 18 years of intensive work. Today's summit, and the invitation extended by Prime Minister Modi to Ursula von der Leyen, clearly signal that the European Union and India are committed to strengthening their ties in the future." India and the EU finalising FTA and agreeing to key initiatives across several domains is a statement of deep partnership and the strategic intent of the two sides coming together in a multitude of areas to strengthen partnership, Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said on Tuesday. He said the announcements go beyond the huge potential of the Free Trade Agreement. "I'd like to begin by congratulating 1.4 billion brothers and sisters in India. This visit is extraordinary. It goes far beyond a Free Trade Agreement. It goes far beyond the humongous potential that is being unlocked with the Free Trade Agreement. It is truly a statement of deep partnership and the strategic intent of the European Union and India coming together in a multitude of areas to strengthen our partnership, to work together for the shared prosperity and a better future for one third of humanity," Goyal said at a joint press conference, which was also addressed by Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri. "It is a reflection that when 25 per cent of global trade decides to strengthen the strategic partnership, including with the free trade agreement, it unlocks the doors to defence cooperation, greater investments, to cooperation in the field of innovation and science to further integration of financial markets," he added. (ANI)
British pro-Palestine activist Umer Khalid, 22, has ended a prolonged hunger and thirst strike after his health deteriorated sharply and doctors feared he was at risk of a heart attack, reported Al Jazeera. Khalid, who suffers from limb-girdle muscular dystrophy, had escalated his protest by refusing fluids on Friday before ending the strike on Sunday (local time), the same day he was treated in intensive care as his heart rate slowed to a dangerous level. He has since been returned to the Wormwood Scrubs Prison in London, his family said. He was among eight Palestine Action-linked detainees involved in a coordinated hunger strike that began in November, described as the largest of its kind in the UK since the 1981 Irish Republican protests. Khalid was the last participant still refusing food after others ended their fasts earlier this month, including one who had abstained for 73 days, reported Al Jazeera. Saeed Taji Farouky, a filmmaker associated with the supporting group Prisoners for Palestine, said, "It is a great relief that Umer is off his hunger strike. There are, of course, long-term complications. He has experienced organ failure." Emergency doctor James Smith, part of a group advising the strikers, expressed concern about the swift return to prison care, saying, "The heightened period of risk is the moment you end a hunger strike," and adding that access to medical care in the UK prison system can be inadequate. Khalid and four other activists are awaiting trial on charges related to an alleged break-in and vandalism at the RAF Brize Norton airbase in Oxfordshire, charges they deny. Khalid had earlier called for immediate bail, an end to what he described as censorship and restrictions in prison, and investigations into the UK's role in military operations in Gaza. In recent days, protests in support of the hunger strikers drew dozens of demonstrators to the prison gates; police arrested at least 86 people, accusing some of blocking prison access routes. (ANI)
Vice President CP Radhakrishnan met with the President of the European Council, Antonio Costa, and the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, in Delhi on Tuesday. The VP's Office said that leaders expressed happiness over the conclusion of the India-EU Free Trade Agreement. In a post on X, the Vice President's Office said, "Vice-President Shri C. P. Radhakrishnan met with the President of the European Council, H.E. Mr Antonio Costa, and the President of the European Commission, H.E. Ms Ursula von der Leyen, in New Delhi today. The leaders expressed happiness over the conclusion of the India-EU Free Trade Agreement, which marks a significant milestone in India-EU relations. They expressed hope that the agreement will deepen economic ties and add renewed momentum to the India-Europe partnership, benefitting people and businesses on both sides." https://x.com/VPIndia/status/2016153376116056224?s=20 At the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, President of the European Council, Antonio Costa and President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, paid a State Visit to India on 25-27 January as the Chief Guests for the 77th Republic Day of India. President Costa and President von der Leyen were accompanied by a high-level delegation, including the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas, and the Trade Commissioner, Maros Sefcovic. As per the India-EU Joint Statement on the State Visit of the EU delegation, the two sides discussed the recent developments of concern in Iran and the region. They underscored the importance of dialogue and diplomacy in resolving issues peacefully. The leaders unequivocally and strongly condemned terrorism and violent extremism, in all its forms and manifestations, including cross-border terrorism. They called for decisive, concerted international efforts to combat terrorism in a comprehensive and sustained manner, in accordance with international law. They agreed to enhance cooperation to counter radicalisation and violent extremism, combat financing of terrorism, promote internationally agreed anti-money laundering standards, prevent exploitation of new and emerging technologies for terrorist purposes, and tackle terrorist recruitment. They condemned in the strongest terms the terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir on 22 April 2025 and the terror incident near Red Fort, New Delhi, on 10 November 2025. (ANI)
TOKYO, Jan 27 (News On Japan) - Snowfall is expected to spread across northern Japan and the Hokuriku region from Tuesday afternoon, with locally heavy snow possible as multiple low-pressure systems move through the area, while dry, sunny conditions on the Pacific side of western and eastern Japan are raising fire risk, and seasonally cold weather is set to persist nationwide through the weekend.

A low-pressure system moving from the Sea of Japan toward the Sanriku offshore area, along with another developing west of Hokkaido, is forecast to expand snow coverage across northern Japan and Hokuriku during the afternoon, with parts of Tohoku and Hokuriku likely to see periods of intensified snowfall. Authorities are urging caution for lightning strikes and sudden gusts of wind. At the same time, much of the Pacific coast of western and eastern Japan is expected to remain clear and dry, prompting continued warnings about fire hazards.

High temperatures are forecast to be similar to or slightly higher than Monday in many areas. Parts of Kyushu and Shikoku may see temperatures rise to around 14C, but much of the country will continue to experience seasonally cold conditions, with residents advised to dress warmly.

Forecast maximum temperatures for Tuesday include Sapporo at -1C, Kushiro at -2C, Aomori at 1C, Morioka at 1C, Sendai at 7C, Niigata at 6C, Nagano at 6C, Kanazawa at 7C, Nagoya at 8C, Tokyo at 10C, Osaka at 10C, Okayama at 11C, Hiroshima at 11C, Matsue at 8C, Kochi at 14C, Fukuoka at 9C, Kagoshima at 14C, and Naha at 21C.

Snowy conditions along the Sea of Japan coast are expected to continue in the coming days, with particularly heavy snowfall possible from Thursday through Friday as strong cold air flows into the region. Seasonally cold weather is also expected to persist nationwide through the weekend.

In Hokuriku and parts of Tohoku, rain during the daytime is forecast to turn back into snow as colder air moves southward. The influence of the Japan Sea Polar Air Mass Convergence Zone (JPCZ) could lead to locally intensified snowfall, increasing the risk of sudden heavy snow in some areas.

Meteorological simulations indicate that a frontal system approaching northern Tohoku will bring moist air from the south, temporarily changing precipitation to sleet or rain in southern Tohoku and Hokuriku, before colder air pushes south from the Sea of Japan in the afternoon, turning conditions back to snow by evening. By nightfall, snowfall is expected to cover most areas, with temperatures in some regions dropping rapidly, reinforcing full winter conditions.

Weather authorities are urging continued vigilance as conditions are expected to change quickly, and residents are advised to monitor the latest updates through official weather information services.

Source: TBS
OSAKA, Jan 28 (News On Japan) - As Japans population ages, the number of people working while caring for elderly parents is increasing, with about 100,000 people nationwide leaving their jobs each year due to caregiving responsibilities, revealing deep structural barriers to balancing work and family care.

Cases like these are becoming more common: a man who lost his job after his mother was discharged from hospital, and a woman juggling multiple jobs while caring for a mother with dementia, even as some companies begin introducing support systems to prevent employees from quitting. Behind these stories are the emotional conflicts caregivers face, gaps in public, and emerging efforts to create places where people can support one another.

Fumi Uchida, 64, lives in Osakas Higashinari Ward with her 89-year-old mother, Teruko, and has been caring for her for the past four years. After Teruko was hospitalized with COVID-19 and heart rhythm problems, doctors told the family she could not be discharged unless someone was constantly present to watch over her. Uchida, who worked at a factory at the time, asked her employer if she could adjust her hours, but when no response came, she decided to quit, believing it would be impossible to continue working while providing care. Neither she nor the company was aware of national systems such as caregiving leave, leaving her without options.

Teruko now requires a level-three level of care on Japans five-stage scale, making it difficult for her to walk or manage daily tasks alone. While entering a care facility was possible, she wished to remain at home, and Uchida chose to honor that request. Although Uchida later visited Hello Work to look for a new job, the lack of time made it difficult, leaving her with lingering frustration. Still, she has resolved to continue caring for her mother.

Nationwide, about 7.95 million people are currently providing family care, and every year roughly 100,000 leave their jobs because balancing work and caregiving becomes untenable.

In Hyogo Prefectures Kawanishi City, Ayako Kuno, 55, lives with her 78-year-old mother, who has been diagnosed with dementia. Kuno is a working caregiver who runs her own caregiving taxi and home-care services business while also taking on part-time work at a care facility and in distribution. As sales at her main business fluctuate, she has had to juggle multiple jobs to make ends meet, all while constantly watching over her mother at home, assisting her with outings, and accompanying her to monthly hospital visits.

Because Kuno is self-employed, work can come in unexpectedly, and on some days she is away from home for as long as 16 hours. After returning, she immediately begins preparing dinner, often keeping her own meals simple. On particularly demanding days, she grabs a few hours of rest before heading out for night work. Like many caregivers, she sometimes turns to AI tools as a way to organize information or reflect on her interactions, noting the guilt she feels when she realizes she speaks more harshly to her own parent than she ever would to a client.

Under Japans Childcare and Family Care Leave Act, employees can take up to a total of 93 days of caregiving leave per eligible family member. However, the law applies only to employees and not to the self-employed, who are assumed to have flexibility over their schedules. In reality, taking time off for caregiving often leads directly to lost income, making rest difficult to secure.

Asked what kind of support she wishes existed, Kuno said she hopes for temporary shelters or facilities where family caregivers could be protected and supported, similar to emergency accommodations available in cases of domestic violence, and for spaces where caregivers can gather and connect.

Such spaces are beginning to emerge. Last month, a cafe in Kobe hosted an exchange meeting for working caregivers, nurses, and other professionals, where participants shared caregiving information and spoke openly about their struggles. One woman caring at home for her husband after a cerebral hemorrhage while working four days a week said simply having someone say it was okay to ask for help made a profound difference.

Some companies are also taking action. One firm now allows employees to hold regular one-on-one consultations with certified social workers, an initiative that has reduced caregiving-related resignations to zero. Executives say replacing even one departing employee carries significant costs, especially as labor shortages make recruitment increasingly difficult.

Although the caregiving leave law was revised in April last year to require companies to inform employees about caregiving support systems, experts say awareness remains limited, particularly among small and midsize firms. With few penalties for noncompliance, specialists argue that companies must continue sending clear messages that caregiving is something anyone may face and that balancing work and care should be supported.

Uchida, who has committed to continuing her mothers care, now paints her mothers nails once every two weeks, hoping she can always feel like herself. By 2030, working caregivers are expected to make up about 40 percent of all caregivers in Japan. As many struggle under the sense that caring for parents is an unquestioned responsibility, expanding access to accurate information and creating reliable places of support is becoming increasingly urgent.
Innovation as a Core Principle of Leadership

In the evolving economic landscape of the United Arab Emirates, Shaher Mohd Ali Awartani Abu Dhabi stands as a figure whose vision integrates innovation with long-term sustainability. His multifaceted leadershipspanning construction, real estate, private equity, and philanthropyreflects a forward-thinking approach that aligns with Abu Dhabis broader mission of economic diversification and environmental stewardship.

For Shaher Mohd Ali Awartani Abu Dhabi, innovation is not limited to technology or finance. It is a mindseta continuous process of improving systems, investing responsibly, and building frameworks that create lasting value. Whether leading large-scale infrastructure projects or co-founding financial platforms, he demonstrates how disciplined creativity can drive both profitability and public good.

His career exemplifies the growing global recognition that innovation and sustainability must evolve in tandem. Abu Dhabis position as a modern economic hub owes much to leaders like Shaher Mohd Ali Awartani Abu Dhabi, whose efforts support national initiatives such as UAE Vision 2030, a roadmap toward knowledge-based, inclusive growth.

Building a Future-Focused Economic Infrastructure

As Chairman and Co-founding Partner of Silver Coast Construction & Boring LLC, Shaher Mohd Ali Awartani Abu Dhabi has played a decisive role in shaping the UAEs urban and industrial landscape. Under his leadership, the company has delivered high-value infrastructure projects exceeding USD 1 billioneach contributing to national resilience and economic mobility.

Unlike traditional development models focused purely on output, Shaher Mohd Ali Awartani Abu Dhabi prioritizes sustainability, efficiency, and community benefit. His projects have consistently balanced architectural innovation with environmental sensitivity, demonstrating that economic progress need not come at the expense of ecological integrity.

His real estate ventures through High Point Real Estate LLC extend this philosophy further. By developing residential and mixed-use properties designed for long-term livability, he underscores a commitment to sustainable urbanization. The companys portfoliofeaturing developments like the Sway Residences in Dubai Hills Estateillustrates how innovation can meet human needs while supporting broader national goals for diversification.

Pioneering Sustainable Investment and Financial Responsibility

Financial innovation has also been a defining feature of Shaher Mohd Ali Awartani Abu Dhabis career. Through his co-founding of Equalis Capital Ltd, a proprietary investment firm based in the Dubai International Financial Centre, he has advanced a model of responsible capital allocation grounded in transparency, governance, and long-term growth.

This same ethos extends to his partnership with Global Gate Capital Partners, a Geneva-based investment firm managing over USD 2 billion in assets. These ventures showcase Shaher Mohd Ali Awartani Abu Dhabis understanding of how sustainable finance can empower regional economies to compete globally while adhering to the highest ethical standards.

In 2024, his co-founding of Yasa Capital (DIFC) Limited, regulated by the Dubai Financial Services Authority, marked another step forward. The firm focuses on strategic advisory and investment solutions that reinforce corporate accountability and sustainable enterprise development. For Shaher Mohd Ali Awartani Abu Dhabi, responsible investing is not only a business philosophy but a civic dutyone that ensures growth is both inclusive and enduring.

Innovation in Healthcare and Human Development

Innovation under the leadership of Shaher Mohd Ali Awartani Abu Dhabi extends far beyond finance and construction. His ventures have consistently prioritized the improvement of human well-being. In partnership with Mubadala Investment Company and InvestCorp of Bahrain, he co-founded Reem Hospital Abu Dhabi, which integrates technology, compassionate care, and international best practices to strengthen the emirates healthcare ecosystem.

His continued philanthropic engagement also demonstrates how social innovation can enhance public welfare. By supporting institutions such as the Childrens National Medical Center | Sheikh Zayed Campus for Advanced Pediatric Medicine in Washington, D.C., Shaher Mohd Ali Awartani Abu Dhabi bridges global collaboration and humanitarian values. His initiatives illustrate that innovation in leadership is as much about empathy and ethics as it is about systems and solutions.

For an example of his human-centered approach, see Here Is New York and Living Routes, which highlight his leadership in merging innovation and community development.

Sustainability at the Heart of Business Practice

The drive toward sustainability defines Shaher Mohd Ali Awartani Abu Dhabis leadership philosophy. Through initiatives in renewable materials and industrial diversificationsuch as Abaad Wood Industries, founded in 2010he reinforces the importance of local production and resource efficiency. This focus on sustainable manufacturing reflects the UAEs vision to minimize environmental impact while advancing industrial competitiveness.

His leadership demonstrates that sustainability extends beyond complianceit must be built into business models from the ground up. Whether through design innovation in real estate or efficient logistics in construction, Shaher Mohd Ali Awartani Abu Dhabi continually seeks new methods to integrate sustainable technologies into every phase of development.

This principle is not limited to environmental practices; it also encompasses the social and economic dimensions of sustainability. By creating employment, fostering skills, and encouraging youth participation, his projects help build a diversified economy capable of enduring global shifts.

The Global Context: Abu Dhabis Role in the Next Economic Chapter

As global economies navigate a transition toward renewable energy, digital transformation, and circular growth, Shaher Mohd Ali Awartani Abu Dhabi remains an influential voice in shaping this transition from the UAE. His leadership emphasizes that innovation must serve a greater purposeconnecting economies, empowering communities, and building systems that withstand volatility.

Through his diversified portfolio, Shaher Mohd Ali Awartani Abu Dhabi contributes to strengthening Abu Dhabis reputation as a reliable center for international investment and sustainable innovation. His enterprises operate with an understanding that global progress depends on collaboration between business leaders, policymakers, and civic institutions.

Publications such as Tidewater News and Govitru have emphasized how his contributions are helping shape Abu Dhabis role in regional and international growth. These accounts reinforce his position as a leader whose vision bridges local expertise with global opportunity.

Legacy of Responsible Innovation

The hallmark of Shaher Mohd Ali Awartani Abu Dhabis career is his unwavering dedication to responsible innovation. Every venture he leadswhether in construction, finance, or healthcarereflects an understanding that progress without purpose is unsustainable.

His leadership underscores a model of growth rooted in ethics, inclusivity, and foresight. By embedding innovation into organizational culture and social responsibility into investment frameworks, Shaher Mohd Ali Awartani Abu Dhabi continues to redefine what it means to lead in a rapidly changing global economy.

As Abu Dhabi evolves into a global innovation powerhouse, his contributions demonstrate that sustainable leadership is built not only on achievement but also on stewardshipon leaving institutions, industries, and communities stronger than they were before.

About Shaher Mohd Ali Awartani Abu Dhabi

Shaher Mohd Ali Awartani Abu Dhabi is an entrepreneur, investor, and philanthropist whose leadership has advanced key sectors of the UAE economy, including construction, real estate, private equity, and healthcare. As Chairman and Co-founding Partner of Silver Coast Construction & Boring LLC, and Co-founder of Yasa Capital (DIFC) Limited, he continues to champion innovation, sustainability, and responsible investment.

His initiatives in education and healthcare demonstrate a lifelong commitment to social development and community empowerment. Guided by integrity and purpose, Shaher Mohd Ali Awartani Abu Dhabi remains a leading voice in advancing the UAEs vision of sustainable, inclusive growth.
Many organizations assume printing is a minor operational detail. After all, the world is more digital, teams collaborate in the cloud, and paper isnt the center of business anymore. But printing hasnt vanished. It has simply become quieterso quiet, in fact, that many companies dont notice the risks and inefficiencies until something goes wrong. A printer goes down during a deadline. A confidential document sits unattended on an output tray. A device becomes an unprotected entry point into the network. Suddenly printing doesnt feel minor at all.

This is where Managed Print Services becomes more than a cost-saving tool. It becomes a strategy for uptime, security, and smarter document workflows. Managed Print Services provides monitoring, maintenance, supply management, and policy control across your print environment, reducing disruption while improving protection and accountability.

Uptime matters because printing failures interrupt real work

Most print problems arent catastrophic. Theyre annoying. The printer jams again. Toner runs out unexpectedly. A driver stops working after an update. Someone prints to the wrong device and cant find the job. These issues feel small, but they disrupt focus and slow teams down.

Managed Print Services improves uptime by shifting maintenance from reactive to proactive. Devices are monitored for errors and performance issues before they cause major disruption. Supplies are replenished automatically rather than waiting for someone to report an empty toner cartridge. Preventive service is scheduled based on device usage, which is far more reliable than waiting for failure.

Over time, uptime becomes the norm instead of the exception. Employees stop wasting time hunting for working printers, and IT stops being pulled into constant small requests. That productivity gain can be just as valuable as the cost savings.

Security risks dont stop at the printer

One of the most overlooked reasons Managed Print Services matters is security. Printers and copiers are networked devices. They store data temporarily. They transmit documents. Some even have hard drives that retain images of printed or scanned documents. If these devices arent secured properly, they can create vulnerabilities that many organizations never think about.

Managed Print Services often includes security controls such as user authentication for printing, encryption support, firmware updates, and secure configuration standards. Secure release printing is a major improvement for confidentiality because it prevents documents from printing until the authorized user is physically present. That reduces the risk of sensitive information being left in public areas, picked up by the wrong person, or simply forgotten.

For organizations that handle confidential client information, HR documents, legal paperwork, or regulated data, these protections matter. Printing is part of information management, and Managed Print Services helps ensure its treated with the same seriousness as email, file storage, and network access.

Smarter printing starts with understanding behavior

Many print environments run on habit. Employees print because they always have. They print in color because thats the default. They print single-sided because its faster. They reprint documents because they forgot to pick them up. None of these behaviors seem dramatic, but together they create waste.

Managed Print Services improves printing by introducing visibility and control. When you can see what is being printed, where, and how often, you can make smarter decisions about device placement, default settings, and printing rules. This isnt about limiting employees. Its about making the system work better. For example, defaulting to duplex printing reduces paper use without adding friction. Routing large print jobs to higher-capacity devices prevents backups on smaller printers. Reducing unnecessary color printing can lower supply costs while still allowing color where it truly matters.

Smarter printing also includes improving scan workflows. Many providers help organizations build more efficient scan-to processes so documents flow into the right digital destinations rather than piling up on desks. When printing and scanning are treated as part of a document workflow, the office becomes faster and less cluttered.

Managed Print Services supports modern workplace expectations

Todays workforce expects technology to work reliably. When it doesnt, confidence drops fast. People waste time troubleshooting issues they shouldnt have to handle. Printing is no exception. In hybrid and multi-location workplaces, the complexity increases. Different offices may have different devices, different supply processes, and different support habits. Managed Print Services can unify that environment so employees have a consistent experience, regardless of location.

It also helps create accountability. Instead of printing being everyones problem and nobodys job, Managed Print Services clarifies responsibility. Service calls, supply management, monitoring, and reporting become structured and reliable, making the print environment easier to manage long-term.

The long-term value isnt just costits stability

Yes, Managed Print Services can lower spending by reducing waste, optimizing device fleets, and preventing unnecessary repairs. But the deeper value is stability. Its knowing that printers will work when needed, that supplies wont run out at the worst time, and that your print environment wont quietly become a security risk. Stability is what allows teams to focus on real work instead of small operational distractions.

Organizations also benefit from better planning. When devices are managed and tracked, replacement schedules become clearer. You can retire inefficient devices before they become constant problems. You can align printing capacity with actual demand. Thats smarter than waiting for failures and scrambling to replace equipment under pressure.

Closing thoughts

Managed Print Services matters because printing touches productivity, security, and daily workflow more than most organizations realize. By improving uptime through proactive monitoring, strengthening protection through secure print policies, and creating smarter printing habits through data and optimization, Managed Print Services turns a neglected operational area into a predictable, efficient system. The result is fewer interruptions, fewer security blind spots, and a print environment that supports modern work instead of slowing it down. If your office depends on printing at alland most still doManaged Print Services is one of the most practical ways to reduce friction and improve reliability across the entire organization.
Sydney Sweeney could face criminal charges after hanging bras on the Hollywood sign.

Sydney Sweeney could be in trouble after her Hollywood stunt

The 28-yrea-old actress and her team sneaked up to the iconic 45-foot Hollywood Hills landmark with bags full of lingerie from her new SYRN brand, having scaled an eight foot fence and climbed up the hill.

In a video shared on Instagram, they then hung lines of bras over the famous letters, and posed in front of the sign afterwards, before removing the lingerie - although it's alleged some were left on the hillside.

Although they reported had a filming permit, they could still be in legal trouble over their actions.

The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce - who own the IP rights to the Hollywood sign's image - have revealed a "license or permission" is needed to access the landmark, which is managed by the Hollywood Sign Trust.

The chamber's president and CEO Steve Nissen told ABC News in a statement: "The production involving Sydney Sweeney and the Hollywood Sign was not authorised by the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce nor did we have prior knowledge of it.

"The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce owns the intellectual property rights to the image of the Hollywood Sign, so that anyone intending to use and/or access the Hollywood Sign for commercial purposes must obtain a license or permission from the Hollywood Chamber to do so.

"The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce did not grant a license or permission of any kind to the production involving Sydney Sweeney as reported by TMZ, nor did anyone seek a license or permission from the Chamber for that production."

According to TMZ, the team had permission from FilmLA to shoot on location, but it's claimed they didn't have approval to climb, touch or physically alter the sign.

Although the sign is on public land, it's in a restricted area, and there are laws against climbing the structure.

Trespassing on the site itself can lead to a misdemeanour charge, which can result in a fine of up to $1,000, or up to six months in prison.

The Chamber are yet to file a report for trespassing and/or vandalism, and they are still investigating the stunt.

Nissen added: "We are still investigating how and under what authority (if any) the production accessed the site."

TMZ reported that the Chamber also sent a letter to the production company.

It reads: "It has come to our attention that you and crew filmed the Hollywood Sign last night for a production connected with Persuasion Pictures.

"Please be advised that the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce owns the intellectual property rights to use of the image of the Hollywood Sign and neither you nor the production company have sought or received permission to use the images captured for any commercial use."
The Egyptian House of Representatives has welcomed a draft law aimed at regulating childrens use of social media, a move that follows President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisis call, one day earlier, for the Government and Parliament to study UK and Australian legislation restricting minors access to digital platforms.

The House said in a statement the initiative reflects the states awareness of growing psychological and behavioral risks, including digital addiction, associated with childrens online activity. It also highlighted the governments intention to nurture a conscious and responsible generation capable of using modern technologies effectively.

Parliament announced plans to launch a broad societal dialogue on the proposed legislation through its specialized committees, with input expected from state institutions, government representatives and key regulatory bodies. Participants will include concerned government departments, the National Telecommunications Regulatory Authority and the National Council for Childhood and Motherhood.

The move comes amid wider concerns about the misuse of technology, particularly the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence, which could be exploited to fabricate scenarios and destabilize society.
Senegal reiterated its firm and steadfast support for Moroccos territorial integrity and sovereignty over its entire national territory, including the Sahara region.

This stance was expressed in the Joint Communique adopted Monday in Rabat, following the Morocco-Senegal High Joint Partnership Commission, co-chaired by Head of Government Aziz Akhannouch and Senegalese Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko.

The Senegalese side renewed its full support to the autonomy plan under Moroccan sovereignty as the only credible, serious and realistic solution for resolving this regional dispute within the exclusive framework of the United Nations.

The Senegalese side also welcomed the historic adoption on October 31, 2025 by the UN Security Council of Resolution 2797, which enshrines, within the framework of Moroccan sovereignty, the autonomy plan proposed by Morocco, as the only serious, credible and lasting basis for reaching a political solution to this issue.
The 15th Morocco-Senegal High Joint Partnership Commission, held in Rabat Monday, under the co-chairmanship of the two countries Prime Ministers, Aziz Akhannouch and Ousmane Sonko, highlighted by the signing of several cooperation and partnership agreements, and memoranda of understanding.

The two countries Foreign Ministers Nasser Bourita and Cheikh Niang inked the Joint Communique concluding this 15th session of the Morocco-Senegal Joint Partnership Commission. They also signed a MoU on the establishment of a consular consultation mechanism, a draft MoU in the field of youth, a protocol for the implementation of the agreement on international road transport of passengers and goods, a cooperation agreement in the field of road safety, and a framework agreement on technical assistance in the field of highways.

The two officials inked other MoUs on cooperation in the field of digital economy; infrastructure; vocational training, scholarships, and internships; and expertise sharing.

The Ministers of Higher Education, Azzedine El Midaoui and Daouda Ngom, signed the implementation program for the 2026-2028 period, while the Ministers of Industry and Trade Ryad Mezzour and Serigne Gueye Diop inked a MoU on the promotion of small and medium-sized enterprises, a cooperation agreement in the field of industrial infrastructure, and a MoU on standardization.

Other agreements covered cooperation in the field of agriculture, animal production, animal health, and food safety as well as health control of fishery and aquaculture products.

Moroccos National Ports Agency (ANP) and the Autonomous Port of Dakar (PAD) on their part inked a partnership and cooperation agreement.

As stated in the joint communique, Morocco and Senegal emphasized the need to maintain regular dialogue between the two brotherly countries to further develop bilateral relations, consult on regional and international issues, and ensure regular monitoring of the implementation of commitments made.

Both parties highlighted the atmosphere of fraternity and mutual understanding that marked the work of this commission, enabling a comprehensive review of bilateral cooperation and identify new opportunities for strengthening it.

Thus, in economic and trade terms, they highlighted the decisive role played by Moroccan and Senegalese private sectors in developing and enshrining economic and trade relations between the two countries, as well as in promoting trade and encouraging new investment.

In this regard, they invited the private sector in both countries to actively contribute to reinforcing economic exchanges and partnerships, and called on the Economic Impulse Group to meet, at a date to be agreed through diplomatic channels, with a view to giving new impetus to bilateral cooperation in areas of mutual interest.

With regard to the mining, energy, and hydrocarbon sectors, both parties welcomed the progress made on the Atlantic Africa Gas Pipeline project, a symbol of South-South cooperation, while emphasizing that Senegal will play a key role in its first phase.

Regarding the Atlantic African States Process and the significant opportunities for synergy and cooperation between the States concerned, they emphasized the importance of coordination and consultation in order to make the Atlantic African space an area of co-emergence, stability, and shared development in strategic areas such as the environment, food security, health, energy, logistical interconnection, resource pooling, and the exchange of experiences.

With regard to King Mohammed VIs Initiative to grant landlocked Sahel countries access to the Atlantic, both parties reaffirmed their willingness to continue consultations with all the States concerned to implement the initiative within the framework of an inclusive and mutually beneficial partnership.

They also opted to strengthen bilateral partnership with a view to developing renewable energies, promoting the implementation of electricity access projects, strengthening industrial capacities, and promoting the local development and processing of mineral resources.
Commercial exchanges between the Port of Montreal and Morocco jumped 44% in 2025, according to preliminary results published by the Montreal Port Authority (MPA). The authority noted that trade with the Mediterranean region increased 1.5%, driven notably by strong growth in Moroccan exchanges, confirming the kingdoms rising status as Canadas strategic commercial partner in North Africa.

Agricultural flows showed particularly marked development. Canadian imports of Moroccan fruit soared 137%, while exports of Canadian lentils to Morocco climbed 154% over the same period. This performance illustrates strengthened commercial complementarity between the two countries, especially in agri-food sectors.

Beyond Morocco alone, exchanges between Montreal Port and the entire African continent increased 39% in 2025, demonstrating expanded Canadian commercial routes amid global supply chain reconfiguration. The port continues consolidating links with other major markets including India and China.

Despite an unstable economic and geopolitical environment, Montreal Port handled 34.3 million tons of merchandise in 2025. The containerized sector recorded 3.6% growth, exceeding international projections for global trade growth estimated between 2% and 3%. However, solid bulk declined 6%, primarily due to unfavorable weather conditions affecting harvests after record years in 2023 and 2024. Liquid bulk also decreased 1.6% due to reduced energy demand.

Regarding strategic expansion plans, the MPA announced signing a joint development agreement with DP World Canada for the Contrecoeur project. Preparatory work has begun, accompanied by environmental compensation measures. The project aims to increase port capacity by 1.15 million containers, supporting Canadas federal strategy to double exports beyond the United States.

MPA CEO Julie Gascon, addressing the Metropolitan Montreal Chamber of Commerce, stressed diversifications importance: The 2025 results clearly demonstrate that diversification is no longer an option, but a necessity. Montreal is a port city deeply connected to the world.
A high-level delegation of German business leaders recently visited Dakhla to assess economic potential in Moroccos southern provinces. The mission, organized by the German Federal Association for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (BVMW) with support from Moroccos Ministry of Investment, marked the first initiative of its kind in Moroccan Sahara.

The delegation toured Dakhlas port facilities along with several industrial sites and local infrastructure to evaluate the regions economic, logistical, and energy potentiality. Participating companies included major industrial and technology groups such as Thyssenkrupp Uhde, which specializes in industrial engineering and unit construction, Europipe GmbH for energy infrastructure and pipelines, WILO for water management, and Xlinks Energy in the energy sector.

Additional delegation members represented Maximator GmbH, focused on hydrogen and alternative fuels, Boreal Light GmbH for desalination technology, Ryll Lab GmbH for gas engineering and analysis, and Sonnenkonzept/Solar Allianz in renewable energy. These energy sector companies expressed strong interest in the Moroccan market, particularly the southern provinces where geopolitical successes have been achieved through King Mohammed VIs forward-looking vision.

The companies examined investment prospects within public-private partnerships, industrial projects, and export platforms. During institutional meetings in Rabat, the delegation met with strategic public entities including ONHYM, the Ministry of Investment, and other institutions involved in energy and investment sectors.

Dr. Rabii El Bacha, BVMWs energy and climate coordinator, characterized the visit as marking a turning point in bilateral relations. He emphasized the need for public officials to fully understand such initiatives strategic importance and continue legislative and regulatory reforms to modernize the energy sector, as called for by the King in his 2017 message accepting the Visionary Award in Energy Efficiency.

Dr. El Bacha highlighted that BVMWs Rabat office opening signals a new dynamic for strengthening multidimensional cooperation between Morocco and Germany, aligning with the August 2022 Morocco-Germany Joint Declarations commitment to developing bilateral economic and commercial relations.
Morocco and Denmark have discussed at a meeting held Tuesday in Rabat several security issues of mutual interest and assessed the level of bilateral cooperation in combating cross-border criminal networks and the mobility of terrorist organizations at the regional and international levels.

The meeting between Director General of National Security and Territorial Surveillance (DGSN-DGST), Abdellatif Hammouchi, and a Danish high-level security delegation led by Denmarks Police Director and Head of the National Special Crime Unit Mikael Wern, also addressed strengthening coordination mechanisms in the areas of monitoring, prosecution, and extradition of individuals wanted internationally by both parties, the DGSN-DGST hub said in a statement.

The meeting provided an opportunity for both sides to reaffirm the importance of promoting and strengthening security cooperation between the two countries.

The two sides agreed to establish an institutional and legal framework aimed at consolidating cooperation between Moroccos National Security and Territorial Surveillance services and their Danish counterparts, particularly in the areas of expertise exchange, technical assistance, strengthening joint police training programs, and developing operational cooperation.

In this context, the two parties agreed to sign a memorandum of understanding soon as a reference framework for bilateral cooperation. This memorandum will serve as the basis for strong security cooperation, reflecting the growing importance of Morocco as a key and reliable partner within the international system for combating crime, terrorism, and extremism.

This meeting forms part of the DGSN and DGST services determination to strengthen their international partnerships with the security services of brotherly and friendly countries, as well as to open up to new international and regional partners, the statement said.

It also reflects the firm commitment of these services to international efforts aimed at neutralizing risks and threats to regional and international security.
The Polisario Front has been forced back into diplomacy after the United States firmly reaffirmed that any political settlement of the regional Sahara dispute must take place exclusively within the framework of Moroccan sovereignty, diplomatic sources said.

A discreet Polisario delegation traveled to Washington between January 19 and 23 to participate in US-facilitated exploratory talks alongside Morocco, Algeria, and Mauritania, Moroccan media reported.

The visit shows how Washington is assuming a central coordinating role and narrowing the parameters of negotiation in line with UN Security Council Resolution 2797, adopted on October 31, 2025.

According to multiple sources, US officials made it clear during the meetings that Moroccos autonomy initiative remains the only realistic basis for negotiations.

Longstanding separatists schemes led by the Algerian and its Polisario proxies to hold a referendum were excluded from the agenda and dismissed as incompatible with the current Security Council framework.

The talks took place in US government facilities in Washington rather than at UN headquarters in New York, underlining a growing American determination to steer the process directly.

While UN SecretaryGenerals Personal Envoy Staffan de Mistura was present, the United States set the tone and boundaries of the discussions.

Senior US figures close to President Donald Trump, as well as MINURSO chief Alexander Ivanko, attended the session. Their presence signaled both political backing and an emphasis on security realities on the ground.

Diplomatic sources say the American message was clear in stipulating that negotiations can only proceed on the basis of autonomy under Moroccan sovereignty, a position now explicitly embedded in Resolution 2797.

The Washington visit followed a notable softening of Polisarios rhetoric. After unilaterally abandoning the 1991 ceasefire in November 2020, the group had repeatedly claimed that armed conflict had resumed. Those statements sharply declined in early January following the death of Mustafa Mohamed Ali Sid Bachir, a senior figure within Polisarios hardline security faction.

Since then, references to armed actions have largely disappeared from official messaging, replaced by a cautious diplomatic posture.

The Washington trip itself was deliberately low-profile. No public announcements were made before or after the visit, and the delegation returned to Algiers on January 23 without issuing a communique. It later emerged that the delegation traveled aboard an aircraft chartered by the Algerian presidency, highlighting Algiers direct involvement in the initiative.
SOLD 1990s Ikea Rattan Peanut Bench - $900

The iconic limited-run 1990s peanut bench from Ikea is crafted from a wood frame wrapped in wicker with steel legs. Its a fun and quirky addition to any room! It is missing a few small pieces of rattan, however (see photos).

Price: $900

Rare, Vintage, Original NYC Village Voice Newsstand Cast-Iron Paperweight - $499

This now-scarce cast-iron paperweight was used to prevent Village Voice newspapers from blowing away when they were displayed outside newsstands in Manhattan in the 1960s and 70s. Its 6 x 2 x  inches and in excellent condition without damage or rust, only light scuffing and blemishes to the painted white letters. A rare find. Own a piece of history!

Price: $499

Contact the seller here.

SOLD First Chair, by Michele De Lucchi, 1983 - $750

First chair, by Michele de Lucchi, 1983

Classic Memphis chair, good vintage condition.

Price: $750

Handwoven Rug - $375

Handwoven wool rug, 42 x 72 inches, originally from ABC Carpet & Home.

Price: $375

Contact the seller here.

Pennsbury Ceramics - $20$50

Cottagecore plates and platters from my mothers mid-century collection. Very Bode.

Price: $20$50

Contact the seller here.

Dinner-Party Table - $3,500

Oversize French rustic wood dining table that seats 12 comfortably  made for holidays, dinner parties, and big family meals. Thick, solid top with beautiful grain and authentic vintage patina, sturdy trestle-style base. A true statement piece. Table is 119 inches long, 34 inches wide and 29 inches tall. Delivery for a fee.

Price: $3,500

Contact the seller here.

SOLD 1950s60s Baccarat DAssas Fluted Champagne Glasses Set of 5 - $175

Found at an estate sale, they need a good clean but should turn out well. One of the images shows the glass next to a quarter for scale.

Price: $175

Rare 1950s Japanese Newspaper Bag - $250

Found in Japan a few years ago at an antiques shop. Dont need anymore, would be cool to hang on the wall or for everyday use for paper goods.

Price: $275

Contact the seller here.

STUDIO 54: The Magazine, 1982 - $350

First printing of the premiere issue (Collectors Edition) of this official magazine for the newly reopened legendary nightclub, with photos of many famous faces of the day. Rick James! Farrah Fawcett! Tony Danza! Melvin Van Peebles! 34 pages. 8.25 x 11 inches.

Price: $350

Contact the seller here.

SOLD Lot of 1950s racing-signal flags from Islip Speedway - $225

Found at the estate of an old racer who passed away, these racing-car signal flags were used at Islip Raceway on Long Island. Large flags, 24 x 36 inches; checkered flag, 17 x 32 inches.

Price: $225

Philip Johnson Tableware - $2,500

The 1999 super-rare limited-edition Philip Johnson Silver Cities seven-piece table setting is a vintage, collectible dinner set that includes a variety of pieces such as espresso/demitasse cups and saucers, pasta bowls, serving platters, salad plates, and more. Made of bone china in a gray-and-white color scheme, this round set features printed backstamps. It also comes in its original coated-aluminum commemorative container, making it a unique and valuable addition to any table-setting collection.

Price: $2,500

Contact the seller here.

Pair of Vintage Old Hickory Armchairs - $500

Featuring solid hickory frames with handwoven seats and backs, both chairs are sturdy, functional, and comfortable with beautiful patina consistent with their age. There is visible wear and some damage in the woven seats (see photo), but both chairs are structurally sound and fully usable  they hold weight and function normally as chairs. The wear adds character and could be either left as is or addressed by someone interested in reweaving down the line. Each chair is individually numbered: Chair 1, No. 176; Chair 2, No. 182. These have a great rustic Americana presence and work well in cabins, lofts, and creative studios or as sculptural accent seating. Wear is clearly reflected in price. Sold as is.

Price: $500

Contact seller here.

Lalique Duncan No. 3 Perfume Bottle - $400 NOW $200

My sister knew I loved Lalique; unfortunately, that didnt include a perfume bottle. I cant keep it forever. Never used, signed, eight inches tall.

Price: $400

Contact the seller here.

SOLD Handwoven Moroccan Berber Runner - $150

Photo: Courtesy of the subject

Vintage from the Atlas Mountains with the kind of texture and variation you only get from age and use. Brings warmth to hallways, kitchens, or entryways without feeling fussy. Six-foot-five by two-foot-eight. Submitted by Merie Subryan, interior stylist.

Price: $150

(Possibly) Turkish Rug - $2,100

Photo: Courtesy of the subject

Probably from the 1960s; purchased in 2020 for an old apartment and never really had its moment to shine. Measures eight-foot-seven by five-foot-three. Submitted by Kathleen Sorbara, owner of Sorbaras.

Price: $2,100

Contact the seller here.

SOLD Slime-Green Glass Vase - $30

Photo: Courtesy of the subject

Purchased in San Miguel de Allende, brought home as a carry-on item. Adored but no longer wanted. Submitted by Cece Conner, brand marketer.

Price: $30

1950s Barovier & Toso Murano Glass Vase - $1,500

Photo: Courtesy of the subject

Purchased in the early aughts at the End of History in the West Village; a first purchase of my glass collection. Submitted by Jennifer Shanker, founder of Muse jewelry store.

Price: $1,500

Contact the seller here.

Pair of Estudio Persona Nido Chairs - $6,000

Photo: Courtesy of the subject

In white oak and cognac leather. Great condition. 30 x 31.5 x 31.5 inches.

Price: $6,000 for a set of two.

Contact the seller here.

Memphis Cups and Plates - $150

Photo: Courtesy of the subject

Emotion pattern from the brand Studio Nova, which was an offshoot of Mikasa created in 1984. Submitted by Monica Khemsurov, Sight Unseen co-founder.

Price: $150

Contact the seller here.

Antique Basket - $175

Photo: Courtesy of the subject

A trug once used to gather berries on a farm. Its shallow form is ideal for ferrying long-stemmed wildflowers home. Submitted by Alex Crowder, Field Studies Flora founder.

Price: $175

Contact the seller here.
Irans oil industry has been under sanctions since Donald Trumps first term. Since then, Iran has seen its pool of buyers shrink to leave only Chinabut China has been a big enough buyer to not only keep Irans oil industry afloat, but help it grow, at least in terms of production. In terms of revenues, perhaps not so much.

One big reason why Iran was able to boost its crude oil production to levels from before the first Trump administration began imposing sanctions on it, was China. Chinas insatiable appetite for crude over the past couple of decades has supported not only Irans but also Venezuelas oil industry under sanctions. Yet this has come at a price: deep discounts for Iranian crude because there have been no other buyers out there. For Iran, its been a buyers market for years and the buyer has been a single one.

However, sanctions have led to another problem for Irans oil industry in the financial department. That problem is logistics. As commentator Aqib Hussain noted in a recent article, avoiding sanctions costsand it costs a lot. Ship-to-ship transfers at sea add to costs; reflagging tankers to mask the origin of the oil adds to costs; avoiding U.S. forces out on tanker hunts adds to costs. In short, Iran may be selling more oil now than it was selling five years ago, but it is also paying more to sell it.

This year may prove to be extra challenging in the wake of the U.S. takeover of Venezuelas oil industry. Venezuelas oil is now being sold freely on the global market with Washingtons blessing. This means that buyers have a broader choice of sanction-free crude, which they would understandably choose over sanctioned crude, if discounted crude, seeing as avoiding sanction action is quite a hassle.

Related: India Is Offered Tiny Volume of Venezuelan Oil as Most Goes to U.S.

Even so, Iran continues to work towards developing more of its oil reserves. Last month, the countrys oil minister Mohsen Paknejad said Tehran was looking for international partners in oil and gas, offering golden investment opportunities for potential investors. Paknejad added that Tehran had already built a portfolio of contracts with what local Mehr News cited him as describing as friendly nations, at his meeting with Belarusian energy minister Andrei Kuznetsov at the end of last year. In other words, despite its revenue troubles, Iran is not shrinking its oil productionit is expanding it. It makes sense, really. When an oil producer is forced to sell the commodity cheaply, they normally make up for the low price with higher volumes.

As noted, this would be a bit challenging for Iran in the context of the Venezuelan events, but just how challenging it would be remains to be seen. After all, despite multiple reports about Chinas weakening oil demand, imports last year hit another all-time high, reaching 11.55 million barrels daily, or a total of 557.73 million tons, up 4.4% on 2024. Higher Chinese purchases have helped support oil prices despite the OPEC+ production hikes and persistent concerns about the growth rate of global oil demand amid inconsistent U.S. trade policies and tariffs. And that includes prices for Iran.

Ironically, the current threats that the Trump administration is making to Iran have served to strengthen prices furthersomething from which Tehran can benefit in the oil revenue departmentpotentially. Analysts are already revising their price projections on the heightened risk of a U.S. strike on Iran. Of course, an actual attack on one of OPECs biggest oil producers would send oil much higher, but the price for that may end up being too high for Iran. After all, oil facilities would be prime targets for strikes.

By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com
Iraq and the Betrayal of the Kurdish Administration and Iranian-Backed Parties

(AINA) -- Iraq is being dismantled deliberately. This destruction is not the result of fate, historical inevitability, or the diversity of its people. It is the outcome of calculated decisions made by political elites who chose loyalty to power, parties, and foreign patrons over loyalty to the Iraqi nation. The tragedy of modern Iraq is not that it is pluralistic, but that it is ruled by forces that benefit from permanent weakness, chaos, and fragmentation.

The land that gave humanity its first cities, laws, and written language now struggles to preserve the most basic elements of statehood. Borders are violated, citizenship is manipulated, sovereignty is compromised, and public trust has collapsed. What is unfolding is not merely mismanagement or corruption--it is a sustained betrayal of the Iraqi state by two dominant forces: unaccountable Kurdish ruling parties in the north and Iranian-backed political and militia networks in the south.

This is not an accusation against any people. Iraq's population has suffered collectively. Responsibility lies squarely with political leaderships and armed groups that have hijacked identity, weaponized grievance, and subordinated the country to external agendas.

The Post-2003 Order and the Collapse of Sovereignty

Since the fall of the Iraqi state in 2003, Iraq has existed in a permanent state of transition--one that never ended because instability became profitable. What was promised as democracy evolved into a system of quota politics, party domination, and militia rule. Institutions were hollowed out while real power shifted to armed actors operating above the law.

Instead of rebuilding a unified national state, Iraq was fragmented into zones of influence. Each zone developed its own loyalties and power structures while maintaining the illusion of a single country. This fragmentation created ideal conditions for foreign interference, particularly from regional powers that understood how to exploit weak institutions and divided societies.

The result is a country where sovereignty exists more on paper than in reality.

Northern Iraq: From Autonomy to Party Control

In northern Iraq, what was intended to be a federal arrangement within a unified Iraq has gradually transformed into an unaccountable party-controlled system. Kurdish autonomy, rather than strengthening Iraqi federalism, has been monopolized by ruling parties that fused political authority, security forces, and economic resources into a closed structure.

These parties operate with minimal transparency and little oversight from Baghdad. Parliamentary mechanisms have been weakened, opposition marginalized, and independent voices suppressed. Elections have failed to produce genuine accountability, as power remains concentrated within a narrow elite.

More dangerous is the use of demographic manipulation as a political instrument. Since 2003, large numbers of non-Iraqis have reportedly been settled, naturalized, and placed on government payrolls without national consent or transparent legal procedures. Iraqi citizenship--one of the last remaining symbols of national identity--has been reduced to a tool of political loyalty.

There are persistent allegations that individuals linked to extremist organizations, including ISIS elements and armed factions aligned with the PKK, have obtained Iraqi documents and protection. The PKK is designated as a terrorist organization by the United States, yet its affiliated elements operate openly on Iraqi soil, pulling Iraq into conflicts that serve party agendas rather than national interests.

This reckless approach has weakened Iraq's internal security, damaged its international credibility, and undermined the meaning of citizenship itself.

Southern Iraq: Iranian-Backed Parties and Militia Dominance

In southern and central Iraq, an equally destructive process has unfolded. Iranian-backed political parties and militias have entrenched themselves within the state while systematically undermining it. These groups do not merely influence decision-making--they dominate it.

Militias operate outside the authority of the Iraqi armed forces while receiving state funding and political protection. They control border crossings, ports, and key economic sectors. They interfere in judicial processes, intimidate activists, silence journalists, and suppress protest movements through violence and fear.

Their loyalty is openly directed toward Tehran rather than Baghdad. Iraqi territory has been transformed into a platform for regional confrontation, exposing civilians to instability and retaliation for agendas that are not their own.

Reports of Iranian nationals receiving Iraqi citizenship, salaries, and benefits while Iraqi citizens struggle to meet basic needs have intensified public outrage. Whether through formal mechanisms or informal arrangements, the perception is unmistakable: Iraqi resources are being diverted to serve external interests.

The Human Cost: Salaries, Services, and Lost Futures

While political elites consolidate power, ordinary Iraqis endure daily hardship. Salaries are delayed, reduced, or stolen outright. Public sector employees--teachers, doctors, engineers--wait months for wages that barely sustain their families. At the same time, corruption scandals involving billions of dollars emerge with little accountability.

Youth unemployment has reached alarming levels. Iraq is rich in oil and human potential, yet its young generation sees no future. Many risk dangerous migration routes, fleeing not war but hopelessness. Those who remain are often forced into silence, dependency on patronage networks, or recruitment into armed groups.

Basic services have collapsed nationwide. Electricity shortages persist despite trillions spent. Clean drinking water is unavailable in cities along the Tigris and Euphrates. Hospitals lack equipment and staff. Schools deteriorate. Infrastructure projects remain unfinished or fail due to corruption.

Repeated protests across Iraq--from Basra to Baghdad to Nasiriyah--have delivered the same message: Iraqis are not demanding privilege. They are demanding dignity, accountability, and the most basic rights of citizenship.

The response has been repression, not reform.

Corruption as a Governing System

Corruption in Iraq is not an exception--it is institutionalized. Political parties and militias have converted the state into a vehicle for wealth extraction. Ministries are treated as party assets. Contracts are distributed based on loyalty rather than competence. Oversight bodies are neutralized through intimidation or co-optation.

This corruption is shielded by armed power. Whistleblowers are threatened. Activists are assassinated. Journalists are silenced. Justice is selective and political.

Despite differences in rhetoric, both the Kurdish-controlled north and the Iranian-influenced south operate closed systems resistant to reform. Both criminalize dissent. Both accuse critics of treason while practicing it openly.

Weaponizing Identity and Crushing Accountability

One of the most destructive tactics employed by ruling elites is the weaponization of identity. Political leaders manipulate identity narratives to deflect accountability and justify repression.

Criticism of Kurdish ruling parties is labeled hostility toward autonomy. Criticism of militias is framed as opposition to resistance. This deliberate distortion fractures society while insulating those in power.

In reality, corruption and repression affect all Iraqis. The suffering is shared, but responsibility is consistently evaded.

Iraq Reduced to a Corridor

Today, Iraq functions less as a sovereign state and more as a corridor for regional power projection. Its territory is used for weapons transfers, political bargaining, and proxy warfare. National decisions are constrained by armed actors loyal to foreign capitals.

Borders are violated, airspace is compromised, and the constitution is selectively applied. Authority is fragmented, and the rule of law is replaced by the rule of force.

This reality has severely damaged Iraq's international standing and undermined trust in the state.

Moral Collapse and Historical Accountability

Beyond politics and economics lies a profound moral failure. Iraqi leadership has normalized injustice and inequality. They have accepted that millions live without basic services while a few accumulate vast wealth. They have accepted the killing of protesters and the silencing of critics. They have accepted the erosion of citizenship itself.

History will judge this era not by speeches, but by outcomes.

Conclusion: A National Reckoning

This is not a call for violence. It is a call for national reckoning. Iraq does not need new militias, new parties, or new foreign patrons. It needs the restoration of citizenship, sovereignty, and accountability under the law.

This crisis cannot be resolved by replacing one faction with another. It requires rejecting proxy rule in all forms--whether Iranian-backed militias or unaccountable party regimes in the north.

The Iraqi people are angry, betrayed, and increasingly aware. Silence is no longer neutrality; it is complicity.

Iraq must be reclaimed by Iraqis, for Iraqis. Not by Iranian-backed militias. Not by unaccountable Kurdish party administrations. Not by any foreign-sponsored proxy.

Either Iraqis unite around sovereignty, dignity, and citizenship--or Iraq will survive only as a memory and a warning to future generations.
Tyra Banks has admitted she "went too far" at times on America's Next Top Model.

Tyra Banks 'went too far' on America's Next Top Model

The 52-year-old model-turned-presenter has opened up about the reality TV series for a new Netflix documentary, Reality Check: Inside America's Next Top Model, in which she says working on the show could be "very, very intense".

Speaking in the documentary's trailer, she says: "I haven't really said much, but now it's time.

"I knew I went too far.

"It was very, very intense. But you guys were demanding it, so we kept pushing more and more and more.

"I wanted to fight against the fashion industry."

Elsewhere in the trailer, America's Next Top Model creative director Jay Manuel says: "I realised Tyra would do anything for the success of her show."

The Netflix footage also covered an infamous 2005 moment where Manuel told contestants on the show: "We are going to switch your ethnicities."

Such America's Next Top Model cycle four scenes caused controversy, and resulted in Tyra releasing a statement at the time.

She said in 2005: "I want to be very clear: I, in no way, put my Top Models in blackface.

"I'm a black woman. I am proud. I love my people and the struggle that we have gone through continues, and the last thing that I would ever do is be a part of something that degraded my race.

"I'm sorry to anybody that watched Top Model and was offended by the pictures because they didn't understand the real story behind them or even if you did see the whole episode and you were still offended, I truly apologise because that is not my intention.

"My intention is to spread beauty and break down barriers."

Also in the new Netflix trailer, producer Ken Mok says: "That was a moment where I realised, 'Oh my God. I think we've built a monster.' "

It's not yet known what Mok was referring to, but all will be revealed when the show launches on Netflix on February 16.
Winter Storm Fern has eclipsed Kazakhstans Tengiz restart, with up to 2 million b/d of U.S. crude output curtailedyet Brent remains pinned near $66.

Arctic Fern vs. America: A Winter Brawl in the Energy Markets

- Arctic Storm Fern has curbed electricity supply to millions of people across the eastern two-thirds of the United States, slashing oil supply by 2 million b/day, gas production by more than 10 bcf/day and sending power prices skyrocketing.

- Day-ahead electricity prices in the PJM Interconnection area, the most impacted by the cold blast, soared almost 550% to $638 per MWh, the highest since 2014, whilst New York saw day-ahead prices jump to $680/MWh.

- Since January 24, US Gulf Coast ports in Texas and Louisiana have loaded only 6 million barrels of crude, compared to a 3.8 million barrels/day average seen in December 2025.

- The Arctic spell has also lifted domestic US demand for natural gas to 156 billion cubic feet/day this week, up from a 5-year January average of 137 bcf/day.

- Henry Hub gas futures settled at a 3-year high of $6.8 per MMBtu on Monday, easing subsequently to $6.55/MMbtu on Tuesday, creating a giant $3/MMbtu rift between the February and March contracts.

Market Movers



- US oil major ExxonMobil (NYSE:XOM) is reportedly seeking buyers for some Eagle Ford assets operated by its subsidiary XTO, seeking to divest some 168,000 net acres valued over $1 billion.

- Chinas leading gold miner Zijin Gold (HKG:2259) will buy Canadas Allied Gold (TSO:AAUC) for $4 billion in an all-cash transaction, sealing a recent trade policy rapprochement between Beijing and Ottawa.

- Italys oil major ENI (BIT:ENI) has farmed out 10% of its interest in the 65,000 b/d Baleine offshore project in Ivory Coast to Azerbaijans state oil firm Socar for an undisclosed fee, with its previous 30% divestment to Vitol assessed at $1.65 billion.

- The Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) agreed to buy an additional 7.6% stake from BlackRocks GIP investment vehicle in two LNG trains at the Rio Grande LNG project in Texas, taking its total ownership to 19.3%.

Tuesday, January 27, 2026

Winter Storm Fern and the impacts of the US Arctic blast have shifted the attention away from the gradual return of Kazakhstans Tengiz barrels. One could argue that ICE Brent staying put around $66 per barrel doesnt do justice to the severity of Fern as up to 2 million b/d of US crude oil production was curtailed over the weekend, equivalent to some 15% of national output.

OPEC+ Expected to Keep on Waiting and Seeing. Market participants expect OPEC+ countries to roll over their production quotas for March 2026, in line with the previously telegraphed freeze on output unwinding in Q1, as $66 per barrel Brent prices remain too low for most members budgets.

Kazakhstan Vows to Restart Tengiz Soon. The Kazakh Energy Ministry announced that the countrys largest oil field Tengiz has resumed production, after project operator Chevron (NYSE:CVX) was forced to halt pumping completely due to disruptions from drone strikes and a generator fire.

Libya Locks in Giant Upstream Deals. Libyas National Oil Company signed 25-year development deals with ConocoPhillips (NYSE:COP) and TotalEnergies (NYSE:TTE) to develop oil fields within the Waha Oil Company joint venture, aimed at tripling production capacity by up to 850,000 b/d.

Michigan Declares War on Oil. The Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel filed an antitrust lawsuit against four of the United States largest oil companies  ExxonMobil, Chevron, BP and Shell  claiming that they colluded to forestall competition from renewable energy resources, including EVs.

Europe Finalizes Russia Gas Import Ban. The European Council has voted to approve Europes long-mulled ban on imports of Russian piped natural gas and LNG, pledging to halt incoming flows of LNG completely by January 2027 and to stop importing pipeline gas by end-September 2027.

North Dakota Slashes Bakken Production. The extreme Arctic Blast sweeping through the United States has prompted shale producers in North Dakotas Bakken basin to cut production by 100-110,000 b/d, equivalent to roughly 10% of the states total production as drillers fear freeze-offs.

US Keeps the Iran Sanctions Hammer Working. The US Treasury Department sanctioned nine shadow fleet tankers allegedly servicing Iranian oil flows and their respective owners headquartered in Oman, India and the United Arab Emirates, taking the total of sanctioned ships above 180.

Nigerian Oil Discoveries Are Still Possible. Following years of relatively weak exploration results, US oil major Chevron (NYSE:CVX) has posted a significant shallow-water oil discovery in Nigerias Niger Delta, finding commercial volumes of crude with its Awodi-07 wildcat, drilled to a depth of 3,800 m.

Europe Counters Trump with Wind Pledge. Germany, Denmark, Britain and other European countries have signed a renewable energy pact this week at the Hamburg North Sea summit, vowing to deliver 100 GW of offshore wind power capacity, without providing a specific deadline.

PJM Sounds the Winter Storm Alarm. The US largest regional power grid PJM issued extra alerts to transmission and generation firms as it expects peak demand to exceed 130 GW for seven straight days, an unprecedented maximum-demand streak as Tuesdays peak load hit a record of 147 GW.

Qatar Brings Syria and Jordan Together. The governments of Syria and Jordan have signed an agreement to supply Damascus with 1.4 bcm/year of natural gas via Jordanian territory, with Qatar providing and financing LNG supply to be further piped northwards via the Arab Gas Pipeline.

Trump Jitters Feed the Bullions Nonstop Rally. With the US Federal Reserve convening again for its policy meeting today, gold prices have broken through the $5,100 per ounce threshold after President Trump announced higher tariffs on South Korea, hiking the 2026 to date rally to 18%.



Chinese Oil Firms Pause on Venezuelan Imports. Chinas state-owned oil giant PetroChina has ordered its traders not to buy Venezuelan crude after the Trump administration attacked Venezuela and seized Nicolas Maduro, nudging Chinese buyers to maximize heavy Canadian imports instead.

By Tom Kool for Oilprice.com

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Until U.S. President Donald Trumps recent comments pushed it into public view, Greenland was widely regarded as a geopolitical footnote: immense, frozen, sparsely inhabited, and far from the centre of global power politics. Yet in strategic terms it sits at the hinge of the 21st?century Arctic contest. As climate change opens northern sea routes and unlocks previously inaccessible energy reserves, the region is shifting from a frozen buffer zone to a theatre of competition between Washington, Moscow, and Beijing. Russia already views the Arctic as the backbone of its long?term economic model and a pillar of national prestige. China frames itself as a near?Arctic state and seeks access to minerals, shipping lanes, and scientific footholds. And against this backdrop, Greenlands geography gives the U.S. disproportionate leverage: it anchors the GIUK Gap, hosts critical early?warning infrastructure, and contains rare earth deposits that could reshape global supply chains.

Trumps unwavering insistence that U.S. ownership of Greenland was necessary -- rather than any lease?based arrangement -- because only that would allow Washington to defend the territory surprised many. But at the heart of Washingtons Arctic strategy lies a simple principle: deny adversaries the ability to establish military, logistical, or dual?use infrastructure in locations that would threaten U.S. or NATO interests -- and Greenland is the western anchor of that strategy. Its position at the top of the North Atlantic gives the U.S. and its allies control over the GreenlandIcelandU.K. (GIUK) Gap, the narrow maritime corridor through which Russias Northern Fleet must pass to reach the Atlantic. This chokepoint has mattered since the Cold War, but it matters even more now as Russia expands its Arctic oil and gas production and deploys submarines, long?range aviation, and naval escorts to protect those assets. A strengthened U.S. presence in Greenland -- expanded radar arrays, upgraded missile?tracking systems, enhanced anti?submarine warfare capabilities, and more robust air patrols -- tightens NATOs grip on this corridor. And for Moscow, that means reduced freedom to move submarines undetected, less ability to project power into the North Atlantic, and greater vulnerability for the naval forces that protect its Arctic energy infrastructure. Even if Russia continues drilling in its own waters, its ability to shield those operations from surveillance or interference becomes more constrained.

Russias push into the Arctic is not a distant ambition but an active, capital?intensive expansion that now underpins its long?term economic model. In broad terms, Russias Arctic sector holds an estimated 35.7 trillion cubic metres (Tcm) of gas and over 2.3 billion metric tons of oil and condensate, most of it concentrated in the Yamal and Gydan peninsulas on the southern edge of the Kara Sea, as analysed in my latest book. In late 2021, Rosneft discovered a massive new gas field in the Kara Sea itself, with reserves estimated at 800 billion cubic metres (Bcm). The company is also driving the vast Vostok Oil project in Russias Far North that includes Vankor, Zapadno-Irkinsky, the Payakhskaya group of fields and the East Taimyr cluster. Together, these assets are believed to hold at least 6 billion metric tons (about 51 billion barrels) of proven liquid hydrocarbons reserves, all close to the Northern Sea Route (NSR). This Arctic shipping corridor along Russias northern coast offers a shorter alternative to the Suez Canal for connecting Europe and Asia, including its key strategic partner, China. As Rosneft chief executive Igor Sechin told President Putin, the combination of ongoing exploration, a completed 770?kilometre pipeline design, and new port infrastructure would create a new oil and gas province on the Taymyr Peninsula.

In a global energy shipping market where Russia is increasingly blocked off due to international sanctions, the NSR also provides a vital route for delivering oil and gas to China with relative ease. The challenge has been that due to its location in the frozen Arctic, ships have been unable to sail at all during March, April, and May, and have struggled to do so at other times as well. Consequently, Moscow launched a major initiative to make the NSR fully operational year?round, according to a senior Moscow-based oil analyst exclusively spoken to by OilPrice.com. Thirty-three million tonnes of cargo was moved in 2021, 34 million in 2022, 36 million in 2023, 38 million in 2024, and around 39 million last year, he said. Rosatom [the Rosatom State Nuclear Energy Corporation, which manages a fleet of nuclear-powered icebreakers], and Novatek [Russias second-largest gas producer and spearheading its Arctic LNG developments] have told the Far East and Arctic Development Ministry that they can support an increase to 200 million tonnes by 2030, he added.

All of this further underscores that Putin has long viewed the Arctic as a platform for projecting Russian power far beyond its traditional boundaries -- a theatre in which Moscow can present itself as the pre?eminent Arctic power. The Kola Peninsula hosts roughly half of Russias fleet of nuclear?powered, nuclear?armed ballistic missile submarines, including 12 strategic nuclear submarines carrying up to 192 nuclear?capable ballistic missiles, plus dozens of cruise?missile and special?purpose nuclear submarines. In practical terms, the Arctic functions as Moscows second?strike insurance if its main domestic nuclear forces were ever neutralised. The region also remains a key site for testing advanced systems, including hypersonic missiles, nuclear?powered torpedoes, and cruise missiles, while Russias state nuclear company Rosatom also maintains nuclear power plants in the Arctic. Reinforcing Putins vision of Russia as the dominant Arctic power was the recent ratification of the Reciprocal Exchange of Logistics Support (RELOS) pact, a deal that quietly extends Indias and Russias military cooperation into Russias Arctic ports and the NSR.

The RELOS agreement allows both countries armed forces to use each others bases, ports, and airfields for refuelling, repairs, resupply, and maintenance. The pact also covers joint exercises, training missions, humanitarian assistance, and disaster relief. Its strategic implications, however, are far more significant. For India, access to Russian ports such as Murmansk and Vladivostok provides a tangible foothold along the NSR -- a corridor that shortens EuropeAsia shipping distances by nearly 40% and enhances both commercial and naval mobility. Operationally, it enables Indian forces to sustain deployments far from home without relying solely on Western partners. Even before this latest pact, India participated in the 12-16 September Russian-led Zapad military manoeuvres, alongside Belarus, according to Russian state news agency TASS -- exercises that, for the first time, included rehearsals for the use of tactical nuclear weapons. And symbolically, RELOS embeds India within Russias Arctic project, signalling New Delhis arrival as a player in polar geopolitics, projecting influence into a region that has long been central to Moscows ambitions.

A more assertive U.S. presence in Greenland disrupts that narrative, as the islands geography gives it something it cannot replicate elsewhere: unparalleled early?warning visibility over Russian air, missile, and space activity. The Pituffik Space Base -- already a cornerstone of U.S. missile?warning architecture -- occupies a position that allows sensors to detect ballistic launches, long?range aviation, and satellite trajectories far earlier than systems in Alaska or Europe. Washington now appears likely to expand this network, increasing its intelligence advantage, as ongoing discussions with Denmark could result in the U.S. being granted the form of territorial ownership President Trump has sought. Washington-based legal sources close to the U.S. administration exclusively told OilPrice.com over the weekend that under this scenario, Denmark would allow the U.S. to hold sovereignty over several areas of Greenland in perpetuity for military, intelligence, and logistical purposes. Additional zones may be assigned under a similar arrangement for rare?earth mining, although those details remain under discussion. It is a template based on Great Britains retained sovereignty over the military Akrotiri and Dhekelia Sovereign Base Areas in Cyprus, established under the 1960 Treaty of Establishment of the Republic of Cyprus. In short, this clearly demonstrates to Russia and China that the U.S. and NATO are not retreating from the Arctic, and if necessary, they are willing to defend their ongoing presence in the region militarily.

By Simon Watkins for Oilprice.com

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In a mere five years, Guyana went from its first major petroleum discovery to first oil. The former British colony is now pumping around 900,000 barrels per day, making it South Americas third-largest oil producer. Washingtons decision to intervene in Venezuela, snatching President Nicolas Maduro during a daring night raid, removed the only major threat to that world-class oil boom. You see, Maduro was threatening to annex the mineral-rich Essequibo, a region which not only makes up two-thirds of Guyanas territory but contains the prolific offshore ExxonMobil-controlled Stabroek Block, which is at the heart of the countrys record-breaking oil boom.

The dispute over the Essequibo, which is rich in oil, gold, bauxite, and manganese, simmered for over a century. It stems from a nineteenth-century squabble between the newly independent country of Venezuela and Great Britain over the demarcation of the border of British Guiana. Britain was eventually granted sovereignty over the Essequibo in the 1899 Arbitral Award, which was transferred to Guyana upon the colonys independence in 1966. The dispute was reignited by Venezuelas democratically elected president, Romulo Betancourt, during the early 1960s. Caracas was fearful of British Guiana achieving independence under socialist leadership at a time when there was the risk of a Cuban-inspired leftist armed struggle emerging in Venezuela.

While the dispute bubbled away behind the scenes, very little occurred until Hugo Chavez won Venezuelas presidency and initiated his nationalist Bolivarian revolution. Ongoing ructions between Caracas and Georgetown, including increasingly hardline rhetoric from Venezuelas authoritarian socialist regime, saw Guyana ask the International Court of Justice (ICJ) for assistance. This included ruling on the validity of the 1899 award and rejecting Venezuelas claim to the Essequibo. During December 2020, the ICJ ruled against Carcas wishes that the dispute fell within its jurisdiction.

After this determination, Venezuela, led by President Maduro, stepped up its aggressive saber-rattling against Guyana, threatening, if necessary, to seize the Essequibo by force. In response, Georgetown asked the ICJ to ensure measures were established to prevent Caracas from aggravating the claim. In December 2023, the ICJ ruled Venezuela shall not take any actions that are intended to prepare or allow the exercise of sovereignty or de facto control over any territory that was awarded to British Guiana in the 1899 Arbitral Award. The tribunal further stated, Venezuela shall refrain from any action which might aggravate or extend the dispute before the Court or make it more difficult to resolve.

Maduro was intent on attempting to seize the oil-rich Stabroek Block, after the swathe of major oil discoveries made by Exxon since 2015, while using the land grab as a means of uniting a fractured Venezuela behind his regime. This includes distracting everyday Venezuelans from the economic disaster presided over by the ruling United Socialist Party of Venezuela, as well as the severe political repression and human rights abuses committed by the regime. By late 2023, Caracas was building up its military presence along the border with Guyana, while Venezuelan coastguard vessels were mounting incursions into the former British colonys territorial waters.

In a controversial December 2023 referendum, Venezuelan voters assented to incorporating the Essequibo into the country. After the poll, Maduro declared the region to be the 24th state of Venezuela, appointing a governor and key administration officials. Caracas also undertook efforts to establish regulations and the basic infrastructure required to exploit the Essequibos considerable mineral resources. There were also frequent instances of incursions by Venezuelas military into the Essequibo. Those events magnified fears of a major border incursion and the possibility of the remote region being annexed by Venezuela.

During March 2020, two Venezuelan Sukhoi Su-30 fighter jets entered Guyanas airspace. This occurred again in March 2021, when two Venezuelan fighter aircraft, one of which was identified as a Russian-made Sukhoi SU-30, flew over Guyanas territory. Those events, along with claims that paramilitary and illegal armed groups backed by Caracas were intruding into the Essequibo, sparked considerable consternation in Guyana and neighboring Brazil. This was exacerbated by Venezuelas military build-up along the border with the Essequibo. This saw Caracas construct military infrastructure while deploying personnel and combat equipment.

In early December 2023, Brazils intelligence services warned of the potential for an invasion of Guyana by Venezuela. The situation was so tense that Brazils government, in the capital Brasilia, made the decision to deploy troops along the border with Venezuela. Brazils President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva warned Maduro against taking unilateral measures that would escalate the border dispute. As those events occurred, various governments and international bodies, including the United Nations, called on Caracas to avoid the use of force and respect the rulings from the ICJ. Although those appeared to have little effect, Maduro escalated his saber-rattling.

By early March 2025, Venezuelan vessels were mounting incursions into Guyanas Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). This is the area that contains the Exxon-operated offshore 6.6-million-acre Stabroek Block. This deepwater petroleum acreage is responsible for all of Guyanas oil production and is estimated to contain at least 11 billion barrels of crude oil. There are four operational floating production, storage, and offloading (FPSO) vessels: Liza Destiny, Liza Unity, Prosperity, and One Guyana. Combined, those ships are responsible for lifting around 900,000 barrels per day.

A Venezuelan Coast Guard patrol vessel, the ABF Guaiqueri PO-11 of the Guaiqueri class ocean patrol vessels, entered the Stabroek Block on March 1, 2025. The patrol vessel, over several hours, navigated among the drillships, interrogating crews and claiming that the vessels were operating illegally in Venezuelan waters. This sparked anger and fear in Guyanas capital, Georgetown, because of the threat it posed to petroleum operations in a boom that has delivered a massive economic windfall for the tiny nation. After this event, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who was visiting Guyana in late-March 2025, warned Caracas that there would be consequences if force was used against the former British colony.

Maduro went as far as to accuse Exxon of acting corruptly in concert with noted opposition leader Maria Corina Machado, winner of the Nobel Peace Prize, to unlawfully exploit the Essequibos mineral resources. During March 2025, Venezuelas Executive Vice President Delcy Rodriguez, who is now the countrys interim president after Maduros capture, accused Exxon of conspiring against Venezuela. In a state television broadcast, Rodriguez stated:

. . . . ExxonMobil has been conspiring against Venezuela for more than a decade to undermine its territorial integrity, to steal the country's resources, to cause internal political destabilization, to cause grievance, aggression and criminal economic blockade, and to assassinate its authorities,"

While Guyana, including its EEZ, is only 136,191 square miles (352,734 square kilometers), the countrys modest defense force of around 3,700 active-duty personnel is incapable of resisting an attack by Venezuela. The former British colony has no tanks, combat aircraft, or attack helicopters, while only possessing a tiny navy composed of four patrol vessels. This is compared to Venezuela, which, despite many deficiencies, has 120,000 active military personnel, at least 700 main battle tanks (MBTs), around 80 combat aircraft, and a blue water navy with six frigates as well as over 40 patrol vessels.

Those numbers underscore the tremendous threat Venezuela posed to Guyana and its world-class oil boom. Any military operations conducted by Caracas, particularly in the Stabroek Block, had the potential to severely damage vital petroleum infrastructure and hence production. FPSOs, as large stationary commercial vessels operating in a fixed location, are especially vulnerable to strikes by warships and aircraft. Any such event would sharply impact Guyanas oil production and substantially delay the significant growth forecast for the Stabroek Block and ultimately the countrys oil output.

The Exxon-led consortium, which controls the Stabroek Block, is developing four additional projects. These are the Uaru, Whiptail, Hammerhead, and Longtail facilities, all of which are expected to be completed and commissioned between 2026 and 2030. Indeed, the Uaru project, which is scheduled for start-up later this year, will add 250,000 barrels per day of capacity to production in the Stabroek Block. If all facilities currently under development are completed on schedule, Guyanas oil production will hit 1.7 million barrels per day by the end of the decade, making it South Americas second-largest oil producer.

Understandably, Georgetown was supportive of the U.S. naval buildup in the southern Caribbean off the coast of Venezuela. Maduros aggressive saber-rattling and gunboat diplomacy were a clear danger to Guyanas world-class oil boom, which had lifted the country out of poverty. This had the potential to derail the development of Guyanas considerable offshore petroleum potential, and the massive economic boom it is delivering is transforming the one-time poverty-stricken country. Indeed, since 201,9 when oil production began, Guyanas GDP has surged sevenfold, making it, per GDP per capita, the wealthiest country in South America, 10th globally, and one of the worlds richest countries.

By Matthew Smith for Oilprice.com

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The worlds biggest international trading houses, which couldnt trade Venezuelan oil for years due to the sanctions of the first Trump Administration, are back in the business, with the backing and blessing of the U.S.

Following the capture of Nicolas Maduro and the U.S. takeover of Venezuelan oil sales, Vitol Group and Trafigura were authorized by the Trump Administration to help market the oil from the worlds biggest crude resource holder.

The trade could be potentially very lucrative for the trading houses, which would reap benefits from the U.S.-backed sales of Venezuelan oil immediately, unlike the oil companies that havent committed yet to investments in Venezuelas oil industry.

However, the trade may not be as lucrative as it looks.

In the early days of the return to Venezuelas oil trade, the global traders are financing the storage of the oil until they find buyers, a source with knowledge of the matter told Bloomberg.

Yet, the current forward curve in oil prices does not encourage storing oil for future profits as the market structure is in backwardationa structure in which prices for front-month contracts are higher than the ones further out in time.

That could be a drag on earnings for the top traders, which also have to contend with rising shipping rates amid the major change in Venezuelas oil flows.

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A week after the ousting of Maduro, the Venezuela trade turned from illicit under-the-radar shipments to China on shadow fleet tankers to flows to U.S. refineries on the Gulf Coast on legit vessels chartered by traders authorized by the Trump Administration.

The biggest crude trade flow change so far this year resulted in rallying freight rates as more tankers of the mainstream fleet entered the Venezuela oil trade, replacing the sanctioned ships of the shadow fleet, which the U.S. naval forces are hunting down and seizing from the Caribbean to the North Atlantic.

Despite the near-term challenges in paying up for storage and tankers, the authorized marketers of Venezuelas oil, Vitol and Trafigura, have the early bird advantage over other trading houses and Big Oil in the new trade.

And they are seizing the opportunity.

Vitol and Trafigura started offering Venezuelan crude to refiners in China and India for March delivery days after two of the worlds biggest independent oil traders obtained special U.S. licenses to help market Venezuelas oil, according to multiple media reports.

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 early this month, following a meeting of oil industry executives with U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House.

At the meeting on January 9, Trafiguras CEO Richard Holtum told President Trump, Our first vessel should load in the next week.

Vitols senior trader and Trump donor, John Addison, said, Were here to ensure that youre going to be able to move all of this oil all around the world at the best price possible so that the influence that you have over the Venezuelans will ensure that you get what you want.

Vitol is offering Venezuelan crude to Chinese refiners at a discount thats three times narrower compared to the illicit sales from Venezuela before Maduros ousting, anonymous traders with knowledge of the matter told Bloomberg last week.

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 Brent on a delivered basis before the U.S. blitz in Venezuela.

A month ago, 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.

U.S. and other major international oil firms havent committed any investment out of the $100 billion President Trump has touted, but the top trading houses are already moving back into the trade that was off-limits just a month ago.

By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

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It seemed like a good idea at the time

After protests against economic mismanagement broke out in Iran in December 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump encouraged the protestors: Iranian Patriots, KEEP PROTESTING - TAKE OVER YOUR INSTITUTIONS!!! and HELP IS ON ITS WAY. He threatened to attack Iran if the government executed any of the protestors. Tehran relented, and Trump replied, I greatly respect the fact that they canceled [the executions].

Irans top prosecutor then rebutted Trump and declared, "We have a separation of powers, the responsibilities of each institution are clearly defined, and we do not, under any circumstances, take instructions from foreign powers."

Iranian protestors felt betrayed by Trumps reversal, and one declared, Trump is worse than Obama...He pulled the rug from under our feet.

Iranian and U.S. officials traded barbs after the protests subsided, and Irans internet is still down, possibly for the government to install a firewall. Tehran announced it would seize the property of protestors to pay for the damages.

Irans Arab neighbors urged Trump not to attack Iran as they fear violent spillover, a surge in refugees, and economic dislocation; Israel asked the U.S. to pause an attack as it did not have sufficient interceptor missiles to fend off another Iranian attack.

The U.S. is building military forces in the Middle East as Trump decides whether or not to strike Iran or to respond if Iran retaliates to an American or Israeli strike. Or Trump may hope to motivate the protestors to rise up again, but will they take the bait?

How did Trump get into this position?

It started when, in October 2017, Trump decertified Irans compliance with the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), the Iran nuclear deal that Trump called the worst deal ever negotiated, even though the European Union (EU) and the International Atomic Energy Agency agreed Iran was meeting its commitments. In May 2018, the U.S. withdrew from the agreement and reinstated sanctions on Iran.

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Trump may have really felt the JCPOA was a bad deal, but he was also likely motivated because the JCPOA was Obamas deal.

Iran abided by the JCPOA for a year after the U.S. withdrawal, maintaining limits on enrichment and stockpiles while the EU tried to preserve the deal. After the U.S. re?imposed sanctions and Europe failed to deliver meaningful economic relief, Iran began incrementally breaching the agreement starting in May 2019 by exceeding limits on enriched uranium stockpiles, enrichment levels, and centrifuge numbers, ultimately moving far beyond JCPOA constraints by 20202021.

In 2020, U.S. presidential candidate Joe Biden promised to rejoin the JCPOA but failed to do so upon assuming office. Iran signaled it was ready to resume nuclear negotiations but the Biden administration wanted a longer and stronger deal that would update the 2015 deal to extend key nuclear restrictions for a longer period; impose stronger limits on Irans nuclear program and regional activities; and address issues not covered in the original JCPOA, such as ballistic missiles or Irans support for its allies. Ignored was the fact that the reason Obamas project succeeded was that it was narrowly focused and wasnt a grab bag of Western grievances against Iran.

After he returned to office in January 2025, Trump reimposed maximum pressure on Iran, and in June 2025 U.S. forces attacked and obliterated Irans nuclear research sites in Operation Midnight Hammer.

Trump may be stalling to get military units in place to attack Iran or, despite his claim his forces are locked and loaded, he may now know that an Iran op wont be as easy as the abduction of Venezuelan leader Nichola Maduro now that Irans clerical regime is back in control. He may also be having second thoughts about Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi, who he said seems very nice, but may be the wrong horse, much as Ahmed Chalabi was for the U.S. in Iraq. He may also recognize it is incongruous to try to reinstall a hereditary monarch in the name of democracy.

And The Telegraph reports, Irans military power made Trump think twice, as Tehrans missiles and UAVs reached most U.S. bases in the region. And the countries that host those bases have no interest in being a target in an Israeli-American war of choice against Iran just to help Trump restore his amour-propre, especially when they would prefer to normalize relations with the Islamic Republic.

Trumps retreat was not unique for a U.S. president.

In February 1991, U.S. President George H.W. Bush called on the Iraqi military and the Iraqi people to take matters into their own hands and force Saddam Hussein, the dictator, to step aside. When Iraqis rebelled, the U.S. did nothing.

President Barack Obama did not support the 2009 Green Movement against the Islamic Republic, though he later admitted he made a mistake. In August 2012, Obama also claimed that Syrian government use of chemical weapons against rebels would be "a red line for us," but did not follow through when they were used.

In January 2026, the Trump administration stood aside when the Syrian government moved against the U.S.-supported Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). The two sides signed a cease-fire that effectively dissolved the SDF and allowed the Syrian Army will take control of three eastern and northeastern provinces that are the location of the countrys oil and natural gas reserves.

Former United Nations weapons inspector Scott Ritter argues that Trump stalled attacking Iran as a deliberate move to dismantle a long-prepared regime-change operation involving Mossad, the CIA, and the war party in Washington, D.C. Trumps aim was to make both sides expose their plans, though the Israelis lost the most as their network in Iran exposed itself and is being dismantled. Theres no way to tell if Ritters claim is true, but if it is, Trump will brag about it eventually.

There is a long, sad history of U.S.-Iran relations, two parties in an abusive relationship; each side considers itself not the sinner, but sthe inned-against. The history includes:

Trump may feel he has to attack Iran, regardless of the consequences, which will mostly be suffered by people who are not American, to reestablish his credibility. Instead, he should think twice and go against the counsel of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the American hawks anddo nothing. The Iranians will never believe he isnt dissembling, so even honest outreach will move very slowly, though Trumps envoy Steve Witkoff plaintively said, Iran needs to change its ways, a sure sign the administration doesnt understand Iran.

Iran is rearming, and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Iran will fire back with everything we have if we come under renewed attack. The commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Mohammad Pakpour, warned Washington against miscalculation and declared, Our finger is on the trigger. Iranian officials warned neighboring countries that if the U.S. launched strikes from bases in their territory, Iran would target those bases in retaliation.

Tehran hopes to disabuse Trump of any idea that attacking Iran will be like attacking Venezuela. Even if Trump signals an end to fighting, Iran may continue to escalate and embroil the U.S. in an extended fight in the Persian Gulf and split from its allies, at least up to the mid-term elections on 3 November 2026.

Irans neighbors pressed Trump not to attack Iran on the protestors behalf, and will do so again. A U.S. attack on Iran will cause Iran to attack regional infrastructure such as oil and natural gas facilities, airports, seaports, and power plants. Hydrocarbon exports via the Strait of Hormuz will be disrupted just when prices jump, depriving the Gulf states of extra revenue that will be captured by U.S. exports instead.

Former Israeli defense minister Avigdor Lieberman noted, They [Iran] didnt hit random places. They knew exactly where to aim, and The next confrontation will not look like the last one. Lieberman admitted Iran did more damage to Israel than what was reported publicly, I don't want to go into details, it's impossible to explain more now.

If Irans next barrage of attacks on Israel is longer and stronger than its June 2025 counterattacks, there will be enormous pressure on Trump to escalate attacks on Iran, though this will seriously deplete U.S. weapons stockpiles, which are much reduced after the U.S. defense of Israel in 2025 (and may take eight years to replenish)

Russia and China are not obligated to defend Iran when it is attacked by the U.S. and Israel. Russia is busy in Ukraine, but it may send weapons and intelligence to Iran. China is in a more difficult position as a U.S.-Israel attack on Iran will threaten the USD400 billion China-Iran 25-year strategic cooperation agreement and the USD60 billion ChinaPakistan Economic Corridor, a 3,000 km infrastructure network project, and the main plank of China's Belt and Road Initiative. Chinas credibility will be damaged if it does nothing so it will also send weapons and intelligence, but will not confront the U.S. directly. Beijing may also threaten political or economic consequences for any country that helps the U.S. and Israel attack Iran.

Afshon Ostovar speculates on a coup to remove Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei from power: If the old guard is behind a successful coup, Irans next regime will probably remain theocratic at home but become less ambitious abroad. If younger officials take over, Iran will likely grow less religious at home but remain assertive internationally. If the latter comes to pass, Iran will become Pakistan with hydrocarbons, a situation everyone in the region, save Israel, can live with. It will also be a loss for the U.S. war party if Iran is still standing, though Trump will claim he got rid of the ayatollah.

The worst outcome for the U.S. and Israel is an Iran-directed reorganization that keeps the country intact, instead of a breakup that would frustrate the interests of Russia, China, and others, per Melik Kaylan. The U.S. will still demand Iran give up its nuclear program, its missiles, and its allies, but the Iranian citizenry may want to keep them as a way to secure territorial integrity as they likely noticed no one is talking about attacking North Korea.

After the June 2025 U.S.-Israel attacks, many Iranians asked why the country lacked a nuclear deterrent. One person posted, Over 430 people were brutally murdered in Iran since the start of the war. These people died because Iran did not have a deterrence, specifically nuclear weaponsThis ridiculous and completely uneducated fatwa is what helped murder these people. If that sentiment survives another attack that causes the removal of the ayatollah (and his anti-nuclear fatwa) Iran may engage in a redoubled effort to go nuclear and America may be in the position of opposing defense programs with wide popular support. So much for democracy and vox populi.

Popular support for a nuclear deterrent is bad news for the Israelis and their American collaborators, and Crown Prince Pahlavi and his entourage, though Trump will move quickly to take credit for getting rid of the turbans and freeing the Iranian people (Iranians are generous people and will probably let him roll with it.) If that comes to pass, Irans new civil-military leadership gives the clerics an offer they cant refuse, that is, adopting the Najaf model where clerics have recognized authority but stay out of politics and governance.

Trumps real strategic interest is keeping the Republicans in charge in Congress, and that is more important than anything that happens in Iran. Trump wants a decisive attack option with little risk of U.S. casualties. Irans goal is to expand the conflict to split Washington from its allies and to kill Americans, so the Republicans lose the mid-term elections, and Trump is then too busy fighting the Democrats to fight Tehran.

Greg Priddy of the Center for the National Interest notes U.S. air and missile strikes are not suited to degrading the main pillar of regime cohesion, which is the rank and file units of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and Basij [militia]. Though Trump claimed Irans nuclear program was obliterated, he may reattack the surviving nuclear facilities and the missile cities that are in all provinces of Iran. That will require an extended air campaign that risks American pilot POWs, and we will then have America held hostage all over again, but without the $39.50 per barrel oil.

And Trump will be the new Jimmy Carter.

Trump will not want to chicken out so he may default to a limited attack and then claim he taught them a lesson they wont soon forget! while the Iranians claim they drove off the Zionist and American aggressors. According to prediction market Polymarket, there is a 17% chance the U.S. attacks Iran by 31 January 2026; only a 3% chance Khamanei will be ousted by the end of that month; and a 65% chance the U.S. attacks Iran by the end of June.

A limited Iranian retaliation may be against the U.S. troops based in Iraqi Kurdistan, and that will serve two purposes: strike the Americans, and discipline the Kurdish leaders who may have been aware of the attempted infiltration of Iran by Kurdish separatist forces from Iraq in the early days of the protests. (The infiltration was foiled when Turkey tipped Iran of the infiltration.) Baghdad may only register a pro forma complaint to Washington, especially after the recent U.S. threat to starve Iraq of oil revenue if political parties the U.S. considers friendly to Iran are in the new government.

Priddy notes that if America forgoes a decapitation attack against Irans leadership, the Iranian response may be measured, as it will also want to preserve relations with its neighbors. Trumps challenge will be keeping the Israelis onside and limiting their assault to Americas preferred targets.

For Trump, there is no easy button for Iran, and whatever his response, it must not make things worse in the region. A political resolution between Tehran and Washington will have to await a new U.S. president, given the mistrust Trump sowed by leaving the JCPOA.

By James Durso for Oilprice.com

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Waymo is stepping up preparations for its UK rollout after its driverless vehicles were spotted on the streets of London, as the Alphabet-owned firm faces safety scrutiny in the US.

The self-driving vehicle firm has confirmed it is testing its robotaxis in the capital ahead of a planned passenger launch this year, marking its second international market after Japan.

This move comes as Waymo expands its paid, fully driverless ride-hailing service in the US, most recently launching in Miami.

The Miami rollout makes Waymo the first operator to run commercial robotaxis in six cities across the pond.

The service is initially limited to a 60-square mile area, and is supported by fleet operations partner Moove, which manages the charging and cleaning of the vehicles.

Close to 10,000 Miami residents have already signed up to use the service, which has been rolled out on an invitation basis.

US scrutiny shadows UK expansion

Waymos push into London comes as US regulators examine incidents in Austin, Texas, where its vehicles were found to have illegally passed stopped school buses.

The National Transportation Safety Board, as well as the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, have opened probes.

Waymo responded by rolling out a software update across more than 3,000 vehicles to address the issue, without taking the cars off the road.

The company said no collisions happened and claimed its autonomous system still performs better than human drivers, though officials in Austin have called for tighter restrictions.

The investigation is likely to sharpen attention in the UK, where the sighting of Waymos vehicles in London has proved how close the firm is to a commercial launch.

Government ministers have backed autonomous vehicle trials as a way to improve transport accessibility and attract investment.

Waymo has logged over 100 million miles and completed around 14 million paid rides globally, giving it a clear lead in commercial robotaxis.

But as it moves closer to Londons streets, the outcome of US safety probes may play a decisive role in shaping regulatory confidence in its British debut.

By CityAM

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The recent negotiations in Brussels over the European Unions decarbonization goals have triggered a familiar pattern of commentary: Europe has watered down its climate ambitions. Full decarbonization by 2050 is slipping away. Headlines like that play well to an audience already weary of policy drama. But they miss a crucial point: what has changed is not the end goal, but the path to get there. And that shift, far from representing defeat, may be the most strategically astute approach Europe has yet adopted.

What opponents are fixated on are the concessions, the adjustments, the nuanced language. And yes, there have been compromises. But before consigning the EUs climate trajectory to the scrapheap, its worth unpacking what has actually happened.

The Core Objective Remains Intact

Lets start with what hasnt changed: the EU remains committed to climate neutrality by 2050. That overarching objective, enshrined in treaties, reinforced in law, and echoed across member states, has not been scrapped. What has evolved are the interim pathways and the flexibility mechanisms around how that objective will be achieved.

This nuance matters. Decarbonization by 2050 is not a self-executing policy; it is a long-term structural transformation of energy systems, industries, and societies. Recognizing the economic and political realities on the ground, and building mechanisms that increase the feasibility of compliance, is not capitulation. It is pragmatic statecraft.

Compromise Isnt Capitulation

The negotiation stalemates largely revolved around the pace and implementation of specific measures, not the end goal itself. Some sectors will have more time; some regulations will be more flexible; some mechanisms will lean on market incentives instead of hard mandates. Critics decry this as watering down targets, but that critique conflates tactical flexibility with strategic retreat.

Related: Trumps Iran Gamble Is Catching Up With Him

Heres the reality: rigid, one-size-fits-all mandates are easier to sell in theory than to implement across 27 member states with divergent energy mixes, industrial bases, and political climates. What negotiators have done is build a coalition that can actually deliver on the long-term ambition, rather than risk fracturing it in short-term ideological battles.

The Geopolitical Win

One of the most under-appreciated dimensions of the new EU decarbonization framework is its explicit recognition of geopolitics.

Decarbonization isnt just about carbon accounting. Its about energy security.

Europes historical dependency on imported fossil fuels, natural gas from Russia, and oil from distant producers has long been a vulnerability. The energy crises of recent years have brought that vulnerability into stark relief. The updated decarbonization strategy incorporates this geopolitical reality in ways earlier documents did not. Rather than pretending away energy interdependencies, the EU is now openly aligning climate policy with strategic autonomy.

Thats a big win.

Policy frameworks now look to balance emissions reductions with diversification of supply, resilience of infrastructure, and reduced exposure to autocratic energy producers. In effect, the EU is threading decarbonization into a broader geopolitical resilience strategy. This is not a dilution of climate ambitionit is an integration of climate ambition with the imperatives of 21st-century geopolitics.

Smart Dependence, Not Isolation

A frequent criticism is that Europes policies are impractical or costly. But that complaint ignores a critical insight: you cannot decarbonize without costs, but you can choose how those costs are borne.

Rather than imposing uniform, top-down mandates that risk economic backlash and political resistance, the EU is building mechanisms that allow member states to tailor solutions to their circumstances while still contributing to collective targets. This is the essence of smart dependence, recognizing shared goals while allowing for differentiated implementation.

In practice, this looks like:

Flexible carbon pricing mechanisms

Investment frameworks that leverage private capital alongside public funds

Sector-specific pathways that recognize technological maturity curves

Recognition of grid, industrial, and labour transition needs

These arent back-paddles. They are the architecture of durable transformation.

The Real Test: Implementation, Not Words

So, is Europe abandoning decarbonization? Not at all. Whats changed is the tone and texture of the commitment, moving from ideological purity to operational reality.

The real test will not be whether the language is aggressive or cautious. It will be whether the policy frameworks put in place today actually deliver emissions reductions, drive investment in clean technology, and build resilient energy systems. If this recalibrated strategy achieves those outcomes, future historians may look back at this moment not as one of retreat, but as the point where Europe matured its climate strategy into something that is both visionary and achievable. And that, ultimately, is the definition of success.

By Leon Stille for Oilprice.com

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Wintertime in the Northern hemisphere is usually a cold affair spanning at least a couple of months. The winters of 2022-23 and 2023-24 were extra-mild. That, coupled with a massive boost in LNG supply from the United States, lulled many playing the gas market into a false sense of security: there was so much gas around; no amount of demand could lead to a price spike. Except it could, and it just did.

This winter was off to a pretty cold start in Europe as early as October. Gas buyers in the EU had stocked up on gas in the storage caverns across the continent, but with higher demand than the previous couple of heating seasons, storage began to empty at a worrying speed. At the end of December, the EUs gas inventories were almost 64% full. As of last Friday, these inventories were at below 46%an unusually low level for this time of the year.

On top of Europes winter, January weather has manifested in the United States as well, leading to soaring electricity demandand higher natural gas prices because its gas, along with coal and, in the notable case of New England, oil, that are covering the spike in demand. Per the Energy Information Administration, natural gas prices have jumped from $3 per million British thermal units to over $7 per mmBtu in a matter of days, when a lot of traders expected them to move lower or at least stay around $3 per mmBtu.

U.S. natural gas prices booked gains of as much as 70% last week, Bloomberg reported this weekend, noting this jump came on the heels of a weekly price rise of 30% in Europeall while traders both in Europe and the United States were betting on cheaper gas. This means they are losing money, and it could be only the beginningbecause the weather forecasts include the possibility of an extended cold spell in gas-producing parts of the United States, including the possibility of even lower temperatures that, according to Bloomberg, could freeze gas pipelines, interfering with supply to power generators. Besides freezing pipelines, however, winter would also push international gas prices even higher.

Related: U.S. Natural Gas Prices Hit $6 For First Time Since 2022 amid Big Freeze

Traders who spoke to Bloomberg explained that the situation with gas prices was aggravated by the Greenland spat between the U.S. president and European leaders, as the prospect of a conflict drove all energy commodity prices higher. Gas traders who had shorted the commodity rushed to cover their positions, contributing to the price spike. Now, more short covering may be coming because it seems the bearish sentiment had a firm hold on the gas market.

Everyones in panic mode right now, Paul Phillips, senior strategist for gas-trading company Uplift Energy Strategy, told Bloomberg. People were writing off winter last week. This is an interesting remark, seeing as last week was the beginning of January, historically one of the coldest months in the Northern hemisphere. Yet a couple of warmer-than-usual winters appeared to be enough to convince a lot of people trading gas that all winters from now on will be exactly as warmand shorter than usual. Apocalyptic global warming no more snow in Europe predictions also helped swing the sentiment into bearish territory.

The situation could deteriorate further both in terms of prices and in terms of supplyto Europe. Most of Europe, as grouped in the EU, has developed a heavy dependence on imports of liquefied natural gas from the United States. In fact, these imports have been breaking record after recorduntil the flows weakened in the past couple of weeks, likely because of the squeeze that domestic U.S. gas prices were putting on LNG exporters margins. So, Europe started draining its gas storage at the fastest pace in five years.

The front-month Dutch TTF Natural Gas Futures, the benchmark for Europes gas trading, jumped by 30% since the start of January, from $34 (29 euros) per megawatt-hour on January 2 to as much as $45.40 (38.65 euros) per MWh on January 23. LNG cargo arrivals, meanwhile, have been at less than half of the daily volumes withdrawn from storage.

The gas price situation is not about to get a quick resolution, even if the weather lets up in both Europe and the United States. Europe would still have to refill its now fast-emptying gas storage. The United States is seeing substantial electricity demand growth from the tech sector, and that will not change once winter ends. In other words, the demand side of the gas equation suggests higher prices for longerand that suggests that gas traders may be in for more losses.

As to when and how the gas market would rebalance, this remains an open questionnot least because there is not much gas storage capacity in the U.S.the worlds largest gas exporter. Its like a heavier and heavier person jumping on a trampoline, the chief executive of gas producer BKV Corp. told Bloomberg. Youre going to get more and more volatility.

By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com

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The United States is deploying jet fighters, air defenses, and an air carrier with thousands of troops to the Middle East, in a move that has heightened tensions with Iran and increased the likelihood of military action, experts say.

US President Donald Trump threatened military strikes against Iran after the authorities killed thousands of people in a brutal crackdown on anti-government protests. Trump recently backed away, although he has not ruled out an attack on the Islamic Republic.

Experts say the military buildup, along with planned US naval exercises in the region, increases the pressure on Iran and provides more offensive military options if Washington chooses to attack Iran.

"This can be a message to Iran that we're ready, our capabilities are in place," Farzin Nadimi, a senior fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, told RFE/RL's Radio Farda.

Nadimi added that the chances of US strikes on Iran were "very high," pointing to the "overtly aggressive" military buildup in the Persian Gulf.

The aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln and three accompanying destroyers are headed toward the Middle East carrying over 5,000 troops. US Central Command has said that F-15E Strike Eagle fighter jets were deployed to the region.

Meanwhile, the US Air Force said on January 25 that it was set to launch a multiday military exercise across the Middle East "to demonstrate the ability to deploy, disperse, and sustain combat airpower" in the region.

The activity is reminiscent of last year when the United States moved military assets to the region before Israel and then Washington carried out air strikes targeting Iran's nuclear sites.

The Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC), the elite branch of Iran's armed forces, has responded by raising alert levels and urging Iranian-backed armed groups in Iraq, Lebanon, and Yemen to support Tehran.

Fraught With Risks

US media reports say Trump is weighing up a range of military options against Iran -- from a sustained aerial campaign that could last weeks or months to modest and largely symbolic strikes targeting Iran's security forces. Nonmilitary options, including additional economic sanctions, have also been reportedly discussed.

Experts say any US military action against Iran is fraught with risks and could drag in the entire region. Tehran has vowed to hit US bases in the Persian Gulf as well as Israel, a key US ally.

"The costs are unpredictable -- retaliation against US allies and attacks on Persian Gulf shipping. Regional partners don't want to pay that price," Mehrdad Khansari, a former Iranian diplomat, told Radio Farda.

Regional countries have privately urged Washington to exercise restraint, concerned that a US-Iran conflict could trigger a wider conflict.

Khansari argued that an aerial campaign alone, without a ground incursion, would not lead to regime change, if that was even Washington's end goal.

A ground invasion of Iran, the largest and most populous country in the Middle East, is considered a nonstarter by many military experts.

"It keeps the file open -- like the Sword of Damocles hanging over the regime -- but air strikes alone cannot topple the regime or eliminate its security forces," he said, speculating that government forces would simply hide during strikes and reemerge afterward.

How Might A Strike Unfold?

Nadimi said planned US military exercises in the coming days could provide cover for actual operations.

He said the United States could use electronic warfare and cyberattacks to disrupt Iranian radar and communications networks. Stealth bombers and fighter jets could then penetrate air defenses in radio silence, striking command centers and missile sites.

But Iran would not be defenseless in case of a conflict, experts say.

Iran possesses cruise missiles capable of threatening US warships in the Persian Gulf's confined waters, as well as ballistic missiles that could hit regional bases. Iran has even alluded to this, erecting a large banner in a major square in Tehran over the weekend depicting a US aircraft carrier struck by a deluge of missiles.

Even if Washington resorts to a largely symbolic strike, Iran is likely to respond in kind, Nadimi said.

By RFE/RL

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Canadas efforts to diversify its energy exports away from the United States go through boosting sales oil, gas, and uranium to the major energy market India, Canadian Energy Minister Tim Hodgson said at a conference in India on Tuesday.

Canada has the opportunity to work with India now that it sees its high dependence on the U.S. market as a strategic blunder, the minister told the Indian Energy Week conference in Goa today, as carried by Reuters.

If Canada wants to be an energy superpower, we need to be trading our energy and natural resources with one of the worlds largest energy markets: India, Hodgson posted on X, referring to the Canadian governments goal to make the country an energy superpower.

Thats why, this week, Im in India for trip of firsts: Canadas first federal ministerial presence at India Energy Week and the first CanadaIndia energy dialogue in eight years, the Canadian minister added.

As major projects are being built at home, were building relationships abroad that will allow us to sell our products worldwide and carve out a new path for a stronger, more sovereign Canada, Hodgson concluded.

Canada does not export LNG to India currently, after launching last year its first-ever export project, LNG Canada.

But apparently Canada wants to boost exports to Asia from its West Coast, and India, which will drive global oil and gas demand in the foreseeable future, is a key export target.

We're now building pipelines to the West Coast. We have three pipelines built here, looking at building more, Hodgson said at the Indian forum on Tuesday.

Canada has just signed a major energy and trade partnership with China, as it moves away from hostilities from the Trump Administration.

Now Canada and India are expected to pledge more Canadian exports of crude, LNG, and LPG to India, and more Indian fuel exports to Canada, according to a draft joint statement on energy seen by Bloomberg News.

By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

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Victoria Beckham thanked her family for "always believing in my vision" as she received a prestigious French arts honour.

Victoria Beckham paid tribute to her family as she was honoured in Paris

The 51-year-old fashion designer was named a Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters at a ceremony in Paris on Monday (26.01.26) and paid tribute to her loved ones in their first joint public appearance since her eldest son Brooklyn, 26, issued an explosive Instagram post last week revealing that he has no wish to reconcile with his family amid their ongoing estrangement.

Victoria - who was accompanied in the French capital by her husband Sir David Beckham as well as sons Romeo, 23, Cruz, 20, and daughter Harper, 14 - said in her acceptance speech: "I'd like to start by thanking the French Ministry of Culture and the Minister of Culture, Madame Rachida Dati. For this honour and for your kind words, I am extremely grateful.

"I am so proud to be British, but France is one of the few places where fashion is treated with the seriousness it deserves as a form of art."

The former Spice Girl issued a special thank you to the team at her Victoria Beckham fashion and makeup brand and also paid tribute to her parents and children.

Victoria said: "This is not the achievement of just one person. From design and the atelier, to the production and communication teams, and the many minds and hands working together - it is a collaborative effort, and this distinction isn't mine alone. So I'd like to thank my incredible team for their dedication, creativity and trust."

She added: "Thank you to my parents and to my children who are always believing in my vision."

Posh Spice also reserved special thanks for David, her husband of 26 years, as she took to Instagram after the ceremony.

Victoria wrote on the social media site: "I'm so honoured to be named a Chevaliere de lOrdre des Arts et des Lettres by the French Ministry of Culture.

"I have always deeply admired the French aesthetic and the seriousness with which it treats fashion: as a form of art.

"So to be recognised here and embraced in this way, is a profound privilege - one that reflects decades of commitment and dedication. My sincere thanks to the French Minister of Culture, Rachida Dati for this honour.

"Thank you also to my business partners who believed in me, my family, and especially David - my husband, and original investor. I couldn't be more grateful, you are my everything xx."
Oil prices jumped on Tuesday as the market priced in fundamentals once again, showing that when U.S. infrastructure gets punched in the face by weather, its more than geopolitics and vague supply forecasts that move the needle.

Brent was trading around $66.90 a barrel on Tuesday late morning, up about $1.30 on the day. At the time, WTI neared $61.90. By afternoon, the gains continued, with Brent passing $67 and WTI nearing $62. The continued rise means it could be more than just a recovery from an earlier dip. It may be recalculating near-term supply risk.

The immediate spark was the winter storm that clipped U.S. production and snarled Gulf Coast logistics. Analysts and traders estimated that as much as 2 million barrels per day (bpd) of production went offline over the weekend amid severe weather. Crude export flows from Gulf Coast ports even hit zero on Sunday before bouncing back as channels reopened, analysts estimated. Exports have become the pressure-release valve for the U.S. system, and when the valve shuts, even briefly, U.S. supply stops being seen as infinitely flexible.

But the rally wasnt just a weather headline. A second, cleaner catalyst is that the global supply backdrop is already tight enough that any disruption looks bigger. Kazakhstans Tengiz field is recovering more slowly than expected after a fire and power outage, with less than half of normal production restored heading into early February, per Reuters reporting. Layer on a softer U.S. dollar, and crude gets an extra shove higher on the screen.

Then theres the ever-present geopolitical bid. U.S. naval assets moving into the Middle East doesnt guarantee anything happens, but it does raise the things could get messy premium, especially with Iran in the frame and no clean progress on the Russia-Ukraine front.

By Julianne Geiger for Oilprice.com

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Offers of Venezuelan crude to India are limited, and in small volumes, as most of the oil under U.S. control is heading to the United States, Indian refining executives told Reuters.

Since the U.S. took control of Venezuelas oil sales and authorized two of the worlds biggest independent traders, Vitol and Trafigura, to market the crude, Indian refiners have vied for crude from Venezuela as they seek to diversify the large exposure to Russian crude they had amassed over the past three and a half years.

Indian Oil Corporation, Hindustan Petroleum Corp (HPCL), Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Ltd (MRPL), and Reliance Industries have been willing to buy crude from Venezuela since the U.S. said it would sell Venezuelas oil. But the Indian refiners havent been top of the list of potential buyers for Vitol and Trafigura.

Offers are not there. Traders are looking to meet their commitment to the U.S. market, an anonymous executive told Reuters.

All Indian refiners have said they would comply with the U.S. sanctions on Rosneft and Lukoil, and Russian supply to India has now plunged to a three-year low.

As a result, Indian refiners have scoured the globe for supply and have sourced more crude from the Middle East, West Africa, and the Americas to replace part of the lost Russian barrels.

Meanwhile, Vitol and Trafigura have sold Venezuelan crude to U.S. refiners Valero and Phillips 66, as well as to Spains Repsol, and to the Saras refinery in Italy owned by Vitol.

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 early this month, following a meeting of oil industry executives with U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House.

Since then, Vitol and Trafigura have started offering Venezuelan crude to refiners in China and India for March delivery, but U.S. customers are a priority for the sales of the oil under U.S. control.

By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com

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Russian crude is piling up at sea as Indias refiners step back from purchases, leaving Moscow with millions of barrels on tankers and fewer clear outlets for its oil exports.

Russia shipped an average of 3.18 million barrels per day of crude in the four weeks to January 25, according to vessel-tracking data compiled by Bloomberg. That volume was little changed from the prior week but down by about 680,000 bpd from the pre-Christmas peak and the lowest level since August. The bigger issue is not how much Russia is shipping, but where those barrels are ending up.

Deliveries of Russian crude into Indian ports fell to about 1.2 million bpd in December, the lowest level in more than three years. Early January data show imports averaging closer to 1.12 million bpd. The pullback coincided with the European Unions January 21 ban on imports of refined products made from Russian crude, which has complicated trade flows and refinery economics for Indian buyers.

As a result, Russian oil is piling up at sea. About 140 million barrels of Russian crude oil are currently being held on seaborne vessels, Bloomberg estimates show, which is a roughly 60-million-barrel increase since late August. Some tankers have been idling off Indias west coast and near Oman. Others have made their way closer to China or diverted to interim destinations such as Port Said or the Suez Canalmany without declaring final discharge points.

Some barrels are being offloaded into storage tanks in Indonesia, including sites at Karimun, Balikpapan, and Tanjung Intan, according to tracking data. Even so, only a handful of cargoes have actually discharged, underscoring how limited the available outlets have become.

Despite the logistical bottlenecks, Russias export revenues have not collapsed. Bloomberg calculations show the gross value of Moscows seaborne crude exports edging up to about $920 million per week in the four weeks to January 25, rising 2% from the prior period. Urals crude prices from the Baltic rose to an average of $38.44 a barrel, while Black Sea cargoes rose $0.70 per barrel to average $35.98. Delivered prices into India rose to roughly $56.27 a barrel, the highest in four weeks.

The risk for Russia is that tougher enforcement against the shadow fleet and buyer caution could turn floating storage from a buffer into a bottleneck. With India stepping back and China absorbing barrels more selectively, Moscow is exporting oil faster than it can reliably sell it.

By Julianne Geiger for Oilprice.com

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Saudi oil giant Aramco has issued a $4-billion bond as it tapped the debt market for the first time this year amid persistently weak oil prices in the low $60s per barrel.

Aramco, the worlds top crude exporter and biggest international oil company, on Monday announced the start of issuing U.S.-dollar denominated international bonds under its Global Medium Term Note Programme, saying the issuance amount is subject to market conditions.

Saudi Aramco ultimately placed $4 billion in a four-tranche bond, which received more than $21 billion in orders, Reuters reports, citing fixed-income news service IFR.

Thanks to the high investor demand, Aramco was able to offer lower yields versus the benchmark U.S. Treasuries than initially guided, market sources said.

Thats the first bond issue for Aramco this year, but its the second issuance in five months as the Saudi oil giant and Saudi Arabia are suffering from the lower oil prices that have remained around the $60-65 mark for months.

In September 2025, Aramco offered Islamic bonds, the so-called sukuk, in five and ten-year issuances in what was the Saudi oil firms second debt issue last year and Saudi Arabias third in one week.

Lower oil prices have reduced Aramcos cash flows in Q1, and the second quarter showed even larger declines in cash flow and profits as prices slumped.

In addition, the Kingdom in September sold $5.5 billion in Islamic bonds, orders for which hit $17.5 billion. The sovereign wealth fund, the Public Investment Fund (PIF), sold $2 billion of 10-year dollar bonds, too, to fund part of its investment plans.

The busy bond issuance from Saudi Arabia and Aramco suggests that the decline in oil prices is straining the Kingdoms finances. Saudi Arabias budget deficit grew last year as oil prices are down and well below the $90 per-barrel price the Kingdom is estimated to need to balance its budget.

By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

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Venezuela expects fresh oil investments of some $1.4 billion this year, which would be up from $900 million last year, interim president Delcy Rodriguez said, as quoted by Reuters.

The investments will come from production-sharing agreements, the report noted, which are currently being discussed by the Venezuelan government and oil companies as part of an overhaul of the countrys oil legislation.

The U.S. government earlier this month issued licenses allowing limited oil-related work in Venezuela. Under those licenses, oilfield service companies are permitted to supply equipment and provide technical services connected to oil production and exports, and to receive payment for that work through approved channels. The measures do not lift U.S. sanctions, but they do allow specific projects to move forward under defined conditions.

These moves by Washington aim to open up Venezuelas oil industry to external players although some remain cautious about the actual opportunities and the potential returns. Exxon notably expressed such caution during talks with the Trump administration about the potential return of U.S. majors to the South American country. CEO Darren Woods called Venezuela uninvestable at the moment, sparking the U.S. presidents anger. Chevron, on the other hand, signaled it would be happy to expand its operations in Venezuela.

Earlier this month, Enverus forecast that Venezuelas oil production could expand to 1.5 million barrels daily by 2035, which would represent a 50% increase on current production rates. Yet Venezuelas oil output could swell twice as much under Enveruss best-case scenario, to hit 3 million barrels daily in 2035. That, however, would depend on global demand and supply balances.

There are also doubts that Venezuelas massive oil reserves can actually be extracted at a profit at the extent that the total suggests. Energy industry vet Robert Rapier noted in an analysis this month that extracting the heavy crude from the Orinoco Belt is a high-cost endeavor that would require investments in an upgrade of the existing infrastructure, adding to costs.

By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com

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Chinese state-owned giant PetroChina, which hasnt bought Venezuelan crude since the U.S. imposed sanctions on Venezuela in 2019, is not too keen to start buying again after the U.S. authorized global traders to market the crude from the worlds biggest reserves holder.

PetroChina has told traders not to buy or trade Venezuelas oila trade that is now under U.S. control after the capture of Nicolas Maduro, trading sources with knowledge of the matter told Reuters on Tuesday.

The Chinese oil and gas giant stopped imports of Venezuelan crude in 2019, when the first Trump Administration slapped sanctions on Venezuelas oil sector, for fear of running afoul of the restrictions. Before the 2019 sanctions, PetroChina was the single biggest buyer of crude from Venezuela.

Now PetroChina is refraining from buying crude marketed by the worlds top oil trading houses  with U.S. blessing  as it assesses the situation, according to Reuters sources.

One reason is the concern that the U.S. controls the oil from Venezuela, another is that the offers arent competitive compared to other supplies of heavy crude, including from Canada, the sources told the publication.

The discount of Venezuelas flagship crude grade Merey relative to Brent has narrowed by about $10 per barrel since the ousting of Maduro.

Vitol, the worlds biggest independent oil trader, is offering Venezuelan crude to Chinese refiners at a discount thats three times narrower compared to the illicit sales from Venezuela before Maduros ousting, anonymous traders with knowledge of the development told Bloomberg last week.

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.

Meanwhile, Chinese independent refiners, which gorged on cheap sanctioned Venezuelan crude in the past few years, are likely welcoming what could be their last imports of sanctioned Venezuelan oil, which loaded before the U.S. blockade.

By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com

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By Taxpayers Association of Oregon

OregonWatchdog.com

An Oregon federal judge, Mustafa Kasubhai, made a ruling opposing a presidential administration request to view the states unredacted voter rolls.

The federal government has an interest in knowing who votes because these individuals vote for federal offices  Congress, U.S. Senate, President.

The Oregon Elections Office has already discovered a number of non-citizen voters which upon further investigation ballooned to over 1,500. That investigation was abruptly ended, raising questions.

The Oregon Elections Office has just recently removed 800,000 voters from the rolls it believes are inactive voters.

There should be a way to provide federal oversight on who is voting in Oregon elections.
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:

Perseverance views potential shoreline deposits in the Eastern Margin Unit with Mastcam-Z on Sol 934. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/ASU/MSSS

New findings from NASA's Perseverance rover have revealed evidence of wave-formed beaches and rocks altered by subsurface water in a Martian crater that once held a vast lakeconsiderably expanding the timeline for potential habitability at this ancient site. In an international study led by Imperial College London, researchers uncovered that the so-called "Margin unit" in Mars's Jezero crater preserves evidence of extensive underground interactions between rock and water, as well as the first definitive traces of an ancient shoreline.

These are compelling indicators that habitable, surface water conditions persisted in the crater (home to a large lake around 3.5 billion years ago) further back in time than previously thought. "Shorelines are habitable environments on Earth, and the carbonate minerals that form here can naturally seal in and preserve information about the ancient environment," said lead author Alex Jones, a Ph.D. researcher in the Department of Earth Science and Engineering (ESE) at Imperial.

"Our findings therefore have exciting implications for Mars's past climate and habitability, while providing new insights into a geologic unit which has long had a debated origin." The work is published in the Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets.

Animation by JPL made with ESE's consultation depicting what Mars's Jezero lake may have looked like.

From rock to beach

Deployed on Mars since 2021 to search for signs of past life, NASA's Perseverance rover spent nearly a year extensively exploring the "Margin unit," a geologic unit lining the inner rim of Jezero crater between 2023 and 2024. The unit was a critical target for exploration since it is rich in carbonate minerals; these precipitate from liquid water and often trap organic molecules on Earth, making them excellent at preserving any potential biosignatures that are present in the environment.

Before Perseverance's arrival, the origin of the unit was contestedsome scientists proposed that it formed as a sedimentary deposit along the edge of the ancient Jezero lake, while others argued it was an igneous rock later altered by water.

The study analyzed a multitude of high-resolution outcrop and grain-scale images captured by Perseverance's cameras to confirm that both hypotheses are in fact true to some degree.

It showed that much of the unit's structure and grain-scale texture is consistent with an altered igneous rock, likely formed from a large magma chamber or lava lake in the crater. After it cooled and solidified, crystals of olivine within the unit were heavily altered by circulating carbon dioxide-rich subsurface water, transforming into iron- and magnesium-carbonates. These findings therefore offer exciting evidence of sustained water-rock activity deep beneath the surface.

"This transformation, which builds on recently published work we also contributed to, indicates that water circulated below the surface of the Margin unit, altering the rock over vast timescales," said study author Professor Sanjeev Gupta of Imperial's Department of Earth Science and Engineering. "On Earth, this kind of subsurface hydrothermal environment is known to support microbial life."

Perseverance looks upstream along Neretva Vallis, the ancient river valley which once fed water into Jezero crater, over 3.5 billion years ago. The light-toned rocks in the foreground comprise fine-grained mudstones of the Bright Angel formation. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/ASU/MSSS

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Revealing the shoreline

Perhaps the most intriguing discovery lay in the lower-elevation regions of the Margin unit. Here, the team identified clearly layered sandstones containing rounded, sand-sized grains of olivine and carbonate. These sedimentary rocks have structures that are textbook indicators of waves acting in a shoreline environment.

"We are looking at what was once a beach," said Jones, who carried out the work during the first year of his Ph.D., with Professor Gupta and Dr. Rob Barnes, a Research Associate in the Department. "The waves of the Jezero lake eroded and reworked the local, igneous bedrock, rounding the grains and depositing them as a sandy layer along the shore."

He added, "The fact that this ancient beach sits underneath the Jezero river delta also tells us that the calm lake conditions that are hospitable for life existed here even earlier than we previously thought."

Extending the habitability window at Jezero

The evidence of water-rich conditions extending further back into the history of Jezero crater builds on Jones's recent work which found evidence of a comparatively young, perched lake at Jezero crater.

The international study, led by the group at ESE, investigated a series of rocks (called the "Bright Angel" formation) in the upstream reaches of the dried-up river valley which once fed water into the former Jezero lake.

Surprisingly, rather than the sandy or gravelly deposits typically left behind by rivers, the team found thick layers of mudstone: evidence that this part of the valley was once underwater. Their work suggests that billions of years ago, the valley was blocked, forming a dammed lake upstream.

Both these studies drew on crucial skills that Jones first gained from his undergraduate degree in the Department, including geologic mapping, sedimentology, stratigraphy and igneous petrology. "This fittingly showcases how our core teaching is exploited on real space missions that are striving to answer some of life's most fundamental and pertinent questions," said Professor Gupta.

Return to Earth

Now, three core samples collected by Perseverance from the Margin unit, and one from the Bright Angel formation, are awaiting return to Earth by the forthcoming Mars Sample Return mission. Laboratory analyses of these samples will allow scientists to precisely date igneous and sedimentary events at the crater, decode the climate conditions from carbonate chemistry, and search for signs of any potential biosignatures preserved in the samples.

"These findings show that the history of water in Jezero crater was far more complex in both time and space than we imagined," said Jones, who is also a student collaborator on NASA's Mars 2020 mission. "Jezero crater continues to prove it is the ideal place to investigate past habitability on Mars, and to help answer the question of whether life ever emerged."

Publication details Alexander J. Jones et al, Stratigraphy of CarbonateBearing Rocks at the Margin of Jezero Crater, Mars: Evidence for Shoreline Processes?, Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets (2026). DOI: 10.1029/2025je009111 Journal information: Journal of Geophysical Research
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Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

A ziggurat (also spelled ziqqurat) was a raised platform with four sloping sides that looked like a tiered pyramid.

Ziggurats were common in ancient Mesopotamia (roughly modern Iraq) from around 4,000 to 500 BCE.

Unlike the Egyptian pyramids, they were not places of royal burials, but temples dedicated to the patron deity of a city.

How were they made?

Stone was relatively rare in Mesopotamia, so ziggurats were mainly made of sun-dried mudbricks coated with limestone and bitumen (a sticky, tar-like substance).

Their sides were decorated with grooved stripes and were often plastered with lime mortar or gypsum and glazed in various colors.

Unlike the pyramids, they had no internal chambers. The actual shrine was at the top of the structure where the god resided. It was accessible by steps and was believed to be a meeting point between heaven and Earth.

Ziggurats towered over the center of ancient Mesopotamian cities; as archaeological evidence indicates, they were typically built next to the palace or the temple of a city's patron god to stress the role of the god in supporting the king.

How the Anu ziggurat became the White Temple

The Anu ziggurat, the oldest known, was built at Uruk (modern-day Warka, about 250 kilometers south of Baghdad) by the Sumerians around 4,000 BCE. (The Sumerians were an ancient people, among the first known to have established cities, who lived roughly in the area of modern Iraq, between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers.)

This ziggurat was dedicated to Anu, their sky god. Sometime between 3,500 and 3,000 BCE, the so-called White Temple was built on top of it.

The White Temple, approximately 12 meters high, was so named because it was entirely whitewashed inside and out. It must have shone dazzlingly in the sun.

The Sumerian culture was eventually taken over by the Akkadian Empire, followed by the Babylonian and Assyrian Empires. Throughout the rise and fall of empires, ziggurats continued to be built in the Ancient Near East.

In fact, the word ziggurat comes from the Akkadian verb zaqaru, meaning "to build high."

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Other famous ziggurats

Assyrian kings built an impressive ziggurat in their capital, Nimrud (about 30 kilometers south of Mosul). This ziggurat was dedicated to Ninurta, a Sumerian and Akkadian god of war and victory.

Ninurta's father, the god Enlil, was worshipped at the ziggurat of the sacred city Nippur, in modern-day Iraq.

The Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar II dedicated the ziggurat Etemenanki to the Babylonian king of gods, Marduk. The name Etemenanki means the Temple of the Foundation of Heaven and Earth.

Etemenanki was located north of a different temple called the Esagil, which was Marduk's main temple in Babylon.

Etemenanki likely inspired the story of the Tower of Babel in the Old Testament. Genesis 11 refers to a "tower" built of mud bricks instead of stone, which was intended to reach the heavens.

The building, perceived as an act of human pride, angered God, who caused the people to speak different languages and scattered them across Earth.

According to the Greek historian Herodotus, Marduk often chose a woman to spend the night with him in the top-most shrine of his ziggurat.

The text has often been understood to refer to a "sacred marriage" rite involving the sexual union of a woman with the god.

However, it seems more likely to have been an incubation rite, when the god's will is revealed to someone sleeping in a sacred place.

Constant preservation

Because of the relative lack of durability of mud bricks, ziggurats required constant preservation.

Etemenanki in Babylon had to be rebuilt several times until Alexander the Great ordered his soldiers to destroy it in 323 BCE so as to rebuild it from scratch.

However, Alexander's premature death (historians continue to debate what he died of) meant the task had to be completed by his successors. But whether the rebuilding task was ever completed is uncertain.

Better preserved ziggurats include the Ziggurat of Ur (in the region of modern-day Tell el-Muqayyar in Iraq). The powerful king, Ur-Nammu, dedicated this ziggurat to the moon god, Nanna or Sin, around 2100 BCE.

Another example is the ziggurat of Chogha Zanbil in modern Iran, which was built around 1250 BCE. It now stands only 24.5 meters tall, instead of the original estimated 53 meters.

A lasting influence on architecture

Ziggurats influenced architecture long after their demise, including the new tiered "skyscrapers" of the art deco era in the 20th century.

Modern ziggurats ended up dotting the New York skyline.

And, if you look closely, you'll see that there's a fair amount of ziggurat about the Empire State Building.

These modern examples serve as a fascinating reminder of a design and construction language that goes back to the Middle East over six millennia ago.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
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Citizen science potential across the Global Urban Monitoring Framework. Credit: npj Urban Sustainability (2025). DOI: 10.1038/s42949-025-00305-w

Cities are expected to track sustainability progress with data that are often incomplete, outdated, or available only at national level. New research led by IIASA in collaboration with UN-Habitat finds that citizen science could address these gaps and support nearly 70% of global sustainability indicators, yet is currently used in only 4% of cases.

The findings show that citizen science data could substantially strengthen how cities monitor issues such as air quality, access to basic services, public space, safety, mobility, and community well-being, where local conditions and lived experience are critical.

Published in npj Urban Sustainability, the study provides the first comprehensive review of how citizen science can contribute to the Global Urban Monitoring Framework (UMF). Developed by UN-Habitat, the UMF brings together 77 urban-relevant indicators drawn from the Sustainable Development Goals and other international frameworks and is increasingly used by cities to track progress toward safe, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable urban development.

"This study highlights a missed opportunity in how cities track sustainability," says co-lead author Inian Moorthy, a researcher in the Novel Data Ecosystems for Sustainability Research Group of the IIASA Advancing Systems Analysis Program. "Citizen science is suitable for contributing to most of the framework we reviewed, but it is currently contributing to only a handful of indicators."

The analysis found that citizen science is currently contributing directly to only three UMF indicators, or around 4% of the framework, despite aligning with 52 indicators, or about 68% overall. The strongest alignment was identified in the environment and society domains, including indicators related to air quality, biodiversity, access to basic services, public spaces, safety, mobility, and community well-being.

"These are areas where local and community-based data collection is essential," says co-lead author Dilek Fraisl. "Citizen science can complement official statistics and provide timely and context-specific insights that are often missing from current reporting systems."

To understand how the UMF is currently applied in practice, the researchers analyzed data from 466 cities worldwide. The analysis shows that many indicators remain incomplete and are still reported mainly at national level, with fewer than 20% reported at the city level, despite being designed to capture urban conditions.

"This means that local realities are often obscured or missed altogether," notes co-author Linda See. "Cities are central to achieving global sustainability goals, yet progress is still measured using data that remain incomplete, uneven, or reported at scales that do not reflect urban realities."

"For policymakers and city authorities, this research shows that citizen science provides an opportunity to strengthen urban sustainability monitoring at a time when data gaps remain widespread," adds co-author Gerid Hager. "Our findings also highlight that citizens are not only affected by urban sustainability challenges but can contribute meaningfully to how progress is measured."

The study shows that the challenge is not data scarcity, but integration. As the UMF guides urban policy and investment, incorporating citizen science into official monitoring can help ensure that sustainability assessments reflect how cities really work and how people live in them.

More information Inian Moorthy et al, Opportunities for citizen science within the Global Urban Monitoring Framework, npj Urban Sustainability (2025). DOI: 10.1038/s42949-025-00305-w

Key concepts air qualitySustainability
TAKE A trip back to the Australian Outback as Mystery Road: Origin  the prequel to the critically acclaimed, multi-award-winning crime series Mystery Road  returns for its gripping second outing. Mark Coles Smith (Apple Cider Vinegar, Picnic at Hanging Rock, Last Cab to Darwin) is back as the young Jay Swan who, this time, must uncover a shadowy past and web of secrets that threaten to destroy not just his town, but his life.

Mystery Road

Following its run on the BBC, Mystery Road: Origin Series 2 is set to arrive on DVD and digital on 16 February, courtesy of Acorn Media International.

Series two continues to explore the rich and riveting early life of Jay Swan one of Australias all-time greatest screen sleuths (The Guardian), played by the award-winning Mark Coles Smith. He is joined by a stellar cast including Tuuli Narkle (Territory, All My Friends Are Racist), Clarence Ryan (Territory, Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga), Robyn Malcolm (After The Party, The Survivors), Geoff Morrell (The Lord Of The Rings: The Rings of Power, Ice Road: Vengeance) and Nicholas Bell (Elvis, Bay of Fires).

Six months on from the previous series, the young detective is attempting to forge a new life with partner Mary (Narkle) in the fading town of Loch Iris, caring for Marys niece, Anya, and awaiting the birth of their first child.

Scenes from The series

It doesnt take long however, for the majesty of the tall trees in the brooding surrounding forests and the deep lake that shimmers at the edge of town to take on gothic dimensions

When Jay begins to investigate the disappearance of a young girl and the drowning of a former nun, Loch Iris closes rank around him. As the pieces of the crime start to come together, the detective starts to realise the entire community has been hiding a shadowy past that haunts the town. As the long buried past ripples through to the present and the secret is unearthed, it threatens to tear Jay and Mary apart forever.

With a stunning new location, Mystery Road Origin: Series 2 opens up an immersive visual feast for the eyes set amongst the trees, dams and waterways of Western Australia.

For a captivating combination of rich characters, intricate backstories, powerful themes and scenic Australian landscapes, unearth the secrets of Mystery Road: Origin Series 2, the journey is only just beginning.

SPECIAL FEATURES include:

 Making of featurette

Title: Mystery Road: Origin Series 2 DVD Release Date: 16 February 2026

Cat.No: AV3828 RRP: 24.99

Cert: 15 Running Time: 360 minutes on 2 discs

Available to download and keep from 16 February 2026

by Natalie key for www.femalefirst.co.uk


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Couple on the Oregon coast watching waves. Credit: Tiffany Wells

If you really like holding hands and saying "I love you" but your partner doesn't, your relationship is still probably better off than if both of you had a modest interest in expressing affection.

Just in time for Valentine's Day, scientists have published a new study that suggests a romantic relationship's total amount of affectionate communication is a much stronger predictor of relationship satisfaction, trust and intimacy than whether each partner communicates at a similar level.

The findings, published in Communication Studies, offer a counterpoint to the commonly held beliefand academically verified theorythat people are attracted to those with similar traits.

"The study does not discount the importance of similarity in many aspects of romantic relationships but instead highlights once again the specific importance of affectionate communication to the success and development of those relationships," said study co-author Colin Hesse, director of the School of Communication in the Oregon State University College of Liberal Arts.

"Few communication behaviors are more important for the development, maintenance and quality of romantic bonds than the expression of affection."

Hesse and collaborators at Washington State University and Sam Houston State University examined a diverse collection of 141 heterosexual couples in the United States. The people in the study represented a range of geographic areas, ethnic groups, socioeconomic statuses and ages.

Affectionate communication is defined as the intentional and overt enactment or expression of feelings of closeness, care and fondness for another person and is often divided into three categories: verbal, nonverbal and indirect/supportive. For example, if your morning routine includes kissing your partner, expressing your love and making sure lunch is packed for work, you're hitting all three.

The main question the research sought to answer was whether romantic couples were best served by being similar in their levels of affectionate communicationbe it high, low or in betweenor by simply having a higher total amount of it.

"Generally speaking, affectionate communication is beneficial both for the partner who gives it and the partner receiving it," Hesse said.

"It makes for better trust, intimacy, passion and overall relational satisfaction. And we found strong evidence that it is far better for couples, both males and females, to have generally higher levels of affectionate communication than to have generally similar levels of affectionate communication."

The findings are an exception to the concept of assortative matingpeople's tendency to choose mates of similar ethnicity, height, age, religion, etc.

"Research has demonstrated that similarity in partners' characteristics is positively associated with relationship satisfaction," Hesse said. "But similarities in affectionate communication don't necessarily contribute to that satisfaction.

"We would not prescribe specific affectionate behaviors but would, in general, counsel people to engage in affectionate communication. It's essential for both individual and relational wellnessbasically, showing someone you care about them actually helps you both in terms of alleviating stress and feeling happier and healthier."

Kory Floyd of Washington State and Lisa van Raalte of Sam Houston State collaborated with Hesse on the study.

More information Kory Floyd et al, Affectionate Communication in Romantic Relationships: Are Relative Levels or Absolute Levels More Consequential?, Communication Studies (2026). DOI: 10.1080/10510974.2025.2610244
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Male D. andreanum curling its long, iridescent, sexually dimorphic arms in front of its head. Credit: Arata Nakayama

Many organisms leverage showy colors for attracting mates. Because color is a property of light (determined by its wavelength), it is easy for humans to see how these colors are used in animal courting rituals. Less obvious to humans is the polarization of lighta property of light related to the direction the wave is oriented in. Humans can't perceive polarization, which may be why we weren't aware of the interesting way cuttlefish use it to attract mates.

A new study, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, takes a closer look at the way male cuttlefish put on a show by polarizing light waves with their arms during courtship.

Cuttlefish vision

Unlike humans, cephalopods, like cuttlefish, have the ability to perceive the polarization of light. If some light waves are oriented vertically and others are oriented horizontally, cuttlefish differentiate these in a similar way that humans might differentiate blue and red light. On the other hand, cuttlefish don't have the ability to perceive color. Instead, cephalopods can use their polarization vision to aid in functions such as navigation, target detection, or visual noise reduction.

Prior studies have also found that the bodies of some species can reflect strongly polarized light, which could potentially be used as a signal or means of communication. This idea made some researchers curious about the role of polarization in sexual signaling among those species lacking color vision.

Credit: Arata Nakayama

A unique courtship ritual

The study focuses on the Andrea cuttlefish (Doratosepion andreanum). When trying to attract a mate, the male Andrea cuttlefish extends its two sexually dimorphic arms (SDAs), which are around three times longer than the equivalent arms of female Andrea cuttlefish. He also extends his body and turns a pale color. However, observing this ritual with a specialized camera for analyzing polarization patterns, revealed that there was more to this dance than what humans could see.

The camera showed that male cuttlefish also displayed a unique courtship signal using vertically and horizontally polarized light on their specialized arms. When the team observed the cuttlefish outside of the courtship ritual, only horizontally polarized light was seen, matching the pattern on female cuttlefish. Further analysis showed that these horizontally and vertically polarized light patterns would appear highly conspicuous to cuttlefish polarization vision, maximizing contrast for potential mates.

"In particular, the two SDA tips, placed together, produce a very marked polarization distance, reminiscent of an adjacent maximally contrasted chromatic pattern in sexual ornaments in other animals. These results demonstrate that the male's courtship display is highly conspicuous due to strong polarization contrast, both against the background and within the pattern," the study authors explain.

False-color image showing the polarization patterns of a male cuttlefishs long arms while displaying to a female cuttlefish. Credit: Arata Nakayama

Normal color image showing a male cuttlefish displaying to a female cuttlefish. Credit: Arata Nakayama

The team also conducted optical experiments with dissected arms to measure how cuttlefish muscle tissue alters polarization. The polarization patterns of cephalopods are produced by iridophorestiny structures in the skin that are composed of stacks of protein platelets.

The researchers found that the vertical polarization is produced by light reflecting off of these iridophores and then passing through a birefringent muscle layer. In the muscle layer, the way the light refracts, depends on the polarization and propagation direction of light. The shape and thickness of the male's specialized arm optimize this effect.

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Hidden uses of light polarization in nature

This study highlights the complexity and diversity of animal courtship and sensory evolution. This study focuses on one cuttlefish species. In addition to cephalopods, insects and crustaceans also possess the ability to perceive polarization. Yet, signaling through these means is still not well studied. This leaves many wondering: What else aren't we seeing?

"Just as with the long-recognized and extensively studied diverse selection of animal coloration, there may be a similar diversity of polarization signals among polarization-sensitive animalssignals that remain entirely unknown to us because they are invisible to the human eye. This study sheds light on a part of that hidden diversity," the study authors write.

Aside from satisfying curiosity, better understanding of these kinds of hidden communication methods in animals can lead to innovation. The insights gathered here may inspire new optical materials and polarization-based imaging technologies, and can also inform underwater communication systems that use polarization.

Written for you by our author Krystal Kasal, 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 Arata Nakayama et al, Transmission through muscle tissue shapes polarization signals during cuttlefish courtship, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (2026). DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2517167123 Journal information: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences

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The OFP-G method patterns monolayer graphene without photoresists or etching, enabling sub-5 micrometer electrodes while preserving conductivity and structural integrity. Credit: Professor Wonsuk Jung / Chungnam National University, Korea. DOI: 10.1038/s41378-025-01083-2

Transparent electrodes transmit light while conducting electricity and are increasingly important in bioelectronic and optoelectronic devices. Their combination of high optical transparency, low electrical resistance, and mechanical flexibility makes them well suited for applications such as displays, solar cells, and wearable or implantable technologies.

New graphene patterning technique introduced

In a significant advancement, researchers led by Professor Wonsuk Jung at Chungnam National University in the Republic of Korea have introduced a new fabrication technique called one-step free patterning of graphene, or OFP-G, which enables high-resolution patterning of large-area monolayer graphene with feature sizes smaller than 5 micrometers, without the use of photoresists or chemical etching.

Published Microsystems & Nanoengineering, the method addresses a key limitation of conventional microelectrode fabrication, where lithographic processes often damage graphene and degrade its electrical performance.

"Conventional photolithography inevitably induces graphene damage and delamination at the microscale. Our approach achieves exceptionally low electrical resistance and high pattern fidelity, even for fine patterns at the 5 m scale, without etching-induced defects or chemical contamination," says Prof. Jung.

"Notably, OFP-G allows high-resolution features to be precisely and individually patterned across large-area CVD-grown monolayer graphene electrodes in a single step."

How the OFP-G process works

Graphene is a one-atom-thick sheet of carbon atoms arranged in a hexagonal lattice and is valued for its exceptional transparency, electrical conductivity, and mechanical flexibility. Preserving these properties during patterning is critical for device performance. Instead of removing graphene material, the OFP-G method works by selectively modifying its chemical bonds.

In this process, monolayer graphene transferred onto a silicon dioxide substrate is brought into contact with a pre-etched glass substrate that defines the desired pattern.

The process is carried out under vacuum at 380 C, where the glass enters a conductive solid-electrolyte state. When a voltage of 1,000 V is applied, mobile alkali ions migrate within the glass, creating oxygen-rich regions at the graphene interface.

These regions locally convert carboncarbon bonds into carbonoxygen bonds only in the contact areas, producing a precise stencil-like pattern while leaving the surrounding graphene intact.

Performance and potential applications

Using this approach, the researchers fabricated graphene channels as narrow as 5 micrometers. Because the method avoids photoresists and transfers polymers, the graphene surface remains clean and free of contamination. The high processing temperature also helps remove residues from earlier fabrication steps, resulting in high-quality graphene patterns.

Raman spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and molecular dynamics simulations confirmed that the patterned regions maintain structural integrity and experience reduced interfacial strain, without etching-induced defects.

Electrical measurements showed that graphene patterns with widths of 5 and 20 micrometers exhibited low resistances of 11.5 ohms and 9.4 ohms, respectively. In contrast, graphene patterned using conventional photolithography showed negligible conductivity, indicating disrupted electrical pathways caused by damage and contamination.

Because the process avoids photoresists entirely, it is particularly suitable for applications where surface cleanliness is critical, such as biosensors, neural interfaces, and nanoscale electronic devices. In the long term, this technique could help accelerate the integration of graphene into flexible and transparent electronic devices for health care, energy, and smart technology applications.

"Our approach offers a scalable, reproducible, and contamination-free pathway for patterning high-resolution graphene, and opens new possibilities for the integration of graphene in flexible and transparent electronics," says Prof. Jung.

Publication details Hao Cheng et al, Direct and residue-free patterning of sub-5 m CVD monolayer graphene with highly enhanced conductivity and pattern fidelity, Microsystems & Nanoengineering (2025). DOI: 10.1038/s41378-025-01083-2 Journal information: Microsystems and Nanoengineering

Provided by Chungnam National University
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Early-career TESOL teachers face several constraints that make teaching challenging. However, factors such as diverse learning experiences in primary and secondary school, university, and study-abroad experiences, supportive mentors at the workplace, and opportunities for reflection can help them sustain motivation, navigate challenges, and grow professionally. Credit: Lumaxart from Openverse openverse.org/image/9753ae62-6208-46bf-88c0-d35ea6689c14?q=success+chart&p=7

English has become a global language, dominating various sectors from science to tourism. One major way to learn English is through TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) teachers.

However, early-career TESOL teachers face challenges related to confidence in their abilities, support from schools, and the status of foreign language teachers, making teaching more difficult. So, it is critical to understand their professional aspirations and struggles, as well as how they can take responsibility for their teaching in challenging school environments, to effectively support their growth.

Moreover, their professional growth is not a singular event; instead, it occurs over time. Taking this into consideration, a research team led by Professor Yoshiyuki Nakata from the Faculty of Global Communications at Doshisha University, Japan, traced and analyzed the experiences of early-career TESOL teachers in Japan across their primary and secondary schooling, university studies, teacher training, and the early stages of their teaching careers.

The team included Professor Xuesong (Andy) Gao from the School of Education at the University of New South Wales, and Mr. Takahiro Miyazaki from Kobe Municipal Fukiai High School, Japan.

Their study was published on in TESOL Quarterly.

Highlighting the motivation behind the study, Prof. Nakata says, "Amid declining interest among students in becoming English teachers and growing attrition rates among teachers, we felt it was necessary to understand the learning processes and challenges faced by student teachers and early-career teachers."

To achieve this, researchers collected detailed data from three early-career secondary TESOL teachers in two stages. First, they used the reflective reports submitted by the teachers in their fourth year of the English Teacher Licensure Program. These reports contained reflections on their past learning experiences and the inspiring teachers they had in primary and secondary school.

Second, an online focus group discussion was conducted where teachers reflected on their growth and struggles after becoming teachers and their future aspirations.

A detailed analysis revealed that participants' learning experiences in primary and secondary school largely influenced their commitment to teaching. For example, one participant, Fuga (name changed), had meaningful encounters with English in high school through movies, songs, and a study abroad program.

This dramatically changed his perception of English, from a mere school subject to an important communication tool. He also had three supportive teachers at different educational stages, who treated students as whole human beings and promoted practical ways to learn English.

This greatly influenced Fuga's decision to choose a teaching career. Importantly, these experiences allowed him to maintain his motivation despite being unable to deliver lessons in his ideal way at his current school.

Researchers also found that when participants had experienced teachers as mentors in their current schools, it significantly impacted their professional development.

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Another participant, Saki (name changed), for instance, believed that students felt comfortable talking to her because of her young age, not because they trusted her. But she wanted to be a trustworthy teacher.

By observing and interacting with senior teachers, she learned the importance of understanding and caring for each student to earn their trust. So, she proactively engaged with struggling students before and after class, helping her become the teacher she aims to be.

Furthermore, participants also developed as both learners and teachers through their university and study-abroad experiences. For example, another participant, Yae (name changed), found it joyful to express herself in English and realized that there are diverse ways to learn English while she was studying abroad at a university.

She also viewed challenges as learning opportunities, which was further reinforced during her teaching practicum. So, in her current school, although she struggles to keep up with other teachers' pace and style, she strives to add her personal essence to her teaching.

These findings highlight the need for supportive networks for early-career teachers and opportunities for them to reflect on their professional development.

"New teachers could benefit from openly discussing their challenges, particularly with senior teachers who can relate to their past experiences. Teacher training sessions should bring together aspiring teachers with diverse learning experiences and school backgrounds to promote collaborative learning. Ultimately, we hope our study encourages students, teachers, educators, and researchers across the TESOL community to support one another," concludes Prof. Nakata.

More information Yoshiyuki Nakata et al, Subjectification and Chronotopes in EarlyCareer TESOL Teachers' Professional Development in Japan, TESOL Quarterly (2026). DOI: 10.1002/tesq.70057
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Credit: European Space Agency

The first images from the Meteosat Third Generation-Sounder satellite have been shared at the European Space Conference in Brussels, showing how the mission will provide data on temperature and humidity, for more accurate weather forecasting over Europe and northern Africa.

The images from Meteosat Third Generation-Sounder (MTG-S) show a full-disk image of Earth as seen from geostationary orbit, about 36,000 km above Earth's surface. These images were captured on 15 November 2025 by the satellite's Infrared Sounder instrument.

In the "temperature" image, the Infrared Sounder used a long-wave infrared channel, which measured Earth's surface temperature as well as the temperature at the top of clouds. Dark red corresponds to high temperatures, mainly on the warmer land surfaces, while blue corresponds to lower temperatures, typically on the top of clouds.

As would be expected, most of the warmest (dark red) areas in this image are on the continents of Africa and South America. In the top-center of the image, the outline of the coast of western Africa is clearly visible in dark red, with the Cape Verde peninsula, home to Senegal's capital Dakar, visible as among the warmest areas in this image. In the bottom-right of the image, the western coast of Namibia and South Africa are also visible in red beneath a swirl of cold cloud shown in blue, while the northeast coast of Brazil is visible in dark red on the left of the image.

The image shows Earth from geostationary orbit, about 36 000 km from the planets surface. It was captured on 15 November 2025 by the MTG-Sounders Infrared Sounder instrument, using the long-wave infrared channel, which measures Earths surface temperature as well as the temperature at the top of clouds. In this image, the dark red corresponds to high temperatures, mainly on the warmer land surfaces, while blue corresponds to lower temperatures, typically on the top of clouds. Most of the warmest (dark red) areas in this image are on the continents of Africa and South America. In the top-centre of the image, the outline of the coast of western Africa is clearly visible in dark red, with the Cape Verde peninsula, home to Senegals capital Dakar, visible as one of the warmest areas in this image. In the bottom-right of the image, the western coast of Namibia and South Africa are also visible in red beneath a swirl of cold cloud shown in blue, while the northeast coast of Brazil is visible in dark red on the left of the image. Credit: Data processed by industrial partners Thales and OHB, under the supervision of Eumetsat and ESA. Visual produced by Eumetsat

The "humidity" image was captured using the Infrared Sounder's medium-wave infrared channel, which measures humidity in Earth's atmosphere. Blue colors correspond to regions in the atmosphere with higher humidity, while red colors correspond to lower humidity in the atmosphere.

The outlines of landmasses are not visible in this image. The areas of least atmospheric humidity, shown in dark red, are seen approximately over the Sahara Desert and the Middle East (top of image), while a large area of "dry" atmosphere also covers part of the South Atlantic Ocean (center of image). Numerous patches of high humidity are seen in dark blue over the eastern part of the African continent as well as in high and low latitudes.

The image shows Earth from geostationary orbit, about 36 000 km from the planets surface. It was captured on 15 November 2025 by the MTG-Sounders Infrared Sounder instrument, using the medium-wave infrared channel, which measures humidity in Earths atmosphere. Blue colours correspond to regions in the atmosphere with higher humidity, while red colours correspond to lower humidity in the atmosphere. The outlines of landmasses are not visible in this image. The areas of least humidity, shown in dark red, are seen approximately over the Sahara Desert and the Middle East (top of image), while a large area of low humidity also covers part of the South Atlantic Ocean (centre of image). Numerous patches of high humidity are seen in dark blue over the eastern part of the African continent as well as in high and low latitudes. Credit: Data processed by industrial partners Thales and OHB, under the supervision of Eumetsat and ESA. Visual produced by Eumetsat

Below we see a close-up from MTG-Sounder of the European continent and part of northern Africa. Like the first image above, here we see heat from land surfaces and temperatures at the top of clouds. The heat from the African continent is seen in red in the lower part of the image, while a dark blue weather front covers Spain and Portugal. The Italian peninsula is in the center of the image.

The image zooms in on Europe, as seen by the MTG-Sounder satellite from geostationary orbit, about 36 000 km from the planets surface. It was captured on 15 November 2025 by the satellites Infrared Sounder instrument, using the long-wave infrared channel, which measures Earths surface temperature as well as the temperature at the top of clouds. The close-up of Europe in long-wave infrared shows cloud cover associated with Storm Claudia across much of the continent. National coastlines and borders have been superimposed on the image. Blue shades depict clouds from the frontal system stretching from the Iberian Peninsula towards Central Europe, connected to the low-pressure centre over the Northwest Atlantic. Clouds with very cold tops appear in darker blues, indicating intense storm activity. The hottest areas are shown in red, with the land surface of the Sahara Desert dominating the southern edge of the view. Credit: Data processed in collaboration with industrial partners Thales and OHB, under the supervision of EUMETSAT and ESA. Visual produced by EUMETSAT

And the animation (below) uses data from the MTG-Sounder satellite to track the eruption of Ethiopia's Hayli Gubbi volcano on 23 November 2025. The background imagery shows surface temperature changes while infrared channels highlight the developing ash plume. The satellite's timely observations enable tracking of the evolving ash plume over time.

This animation uses data from the MTG-Sounder satellites Infrared Sounder instrument. It tracks the eruption of Ethiopia's Hayli Gubbi volcano on 23 November 2025. The background imagery shows surface temperature changes while infrared channels highlight the developing ash plume. The satellite's timely observations enable tracking of the evolving ash plume over time. Credit: Data processed in collaboration with industrial partners Thales and OHB, under the supervision of Eumetsat and ESA. Animation produced by Eumetsat

Next-generation weather forecasting

MTG is a world-class Earth observation mission developed by the European Space Agency (ESA) with European partners to address scientific and societal challenges. The mission provides game-changing data for forecasting weather and air quality over Europe.

The satellite's geostationary position above the equator means it maintains a fixed position relative to Earth, following the same area on the planet's surface as we rotate. This enables it to provide coverage of Europe and part of northern Africa on a 15-minute repeat cycle. It supplies new data on temperature and humidity over Europe every 30 minutes, supplying meteorologists with a complete weather picture of the region and complementing data on cloud formation and lightning from the MTG-Imager (MTG-I) satellite.

ESA's Director of Earth Observation Programmes, Simonetta Cheli, said, "Seeing the first Infrared Sounder images from the MTG-Sounder satellite really brings this mission and its potential to life. We expect data from this mission to change the way we forecast severe storms over Europeand this is very exciting for communities and citizens, as well as for meteorologists and climatologists.

"As ever, the outstanding work done by our teams in collaboration with long-standing partners, including Eumetsat, the European Commission and dozens of European industry teams, means we now have the ability to predict extreme weather events in more accurate and timely ways than ever before."

MTG-Sounder satellite over the equator. Credit: ESA/Mlabspace

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A hyperspectral view over Europe

The Infrared Sounder instrument on board MTG-S is the first European hyperspectral sounding instrument in geostationary orbit. It is designed to generate a completely new type of data product. It uses interferometric techniques, which analyze miniscule patterns in light waves, to capture data on temperature and humidity, as well as being able to measure wind and trace gases in the atmosphere. The data will eventually be used to generate three-dimensional maps of the atmosphere, helping to improve the accuracy of weather forecasting, especially for nowcasting rapidly evolving storms.

"It's fantastic to see the first images from this groundbreaking mission," said James Champion, ESA's MTG Project Manager. "This satellite has been 15 years in development and will revolutionize weather forecasting and especially nowcasting. The ability to vertically profile the full Earth's disk with a repeat cycle of only 30 minutes for Europe is an incredible accomplishment."

"I'm excited that we can share these first images from the Infrared Sounder, which showcase just a small selection of the 1700 infrared channels continuously acquired by the instrument as it observes Earth," said Pieter Van den Braembussche, MTG System and Payload Manager at ESA.

"By combining all 1700 channels, we will soon be able to generate three dimensional maps of temperature, humidity and even trace gases in the atmosphere. This capability will offer a completely new perspective on Earth's atmosphere, not previously available in Europe, and is expected to help forecasters predict severe storms earlier than is possible today."
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Credit: Yan Krukau from Pexels

A new survey shows that there is a clear difference between girls and boys when it comes to well-being at school. "Girls are happier than boys. This applies both in class and at school in general," says Professor Hermundur Sigmundsson at the Department of Psychology at NTNU.

The researchers questioned 1,620 children aged 6 to 9 years in Norway. The average age was 7.5 years old, meaning these were the youngest children in primary school. The gender differences are clear. The research is published in the European Early Childhood Education Research Journal.

Safety and well-being

The researchers examined factors such as:

Do the students have friends at school?

Do they feel safe at school, in class and at recess?

The researchers find a clear correlation between well-being and feeling safe. "We find a significant correlation between well-being and all the questions we asked. Enjoying school and feeling safe at school are strongly connected," says Sigmundsson.

The correlation is strongest between the question of whether you are safe in school and safe during recess. The lowest correlation is between whether you have friends to be with at school and how much you like your class.

Well-being and safety were measured by the researchers on a new scale that they developed themselves. They call the scale "Well-being and perceived safety in school scale."

School suits girls better

"It can be said that school is better suited for girls. This may have biological causes, among other things," says Sigmundsson.

Dopamine is a hormone that is somewhat inaccurately called the "happiness hormone." It is secreted by the body when we feel good.

"We know that girls get more dopamine activity through social relationships, being together. Boys get more dopamine through self-centered behavior. Boys also have higher testosterone levels so they have more need for activity. Long school days, sitting still, does not suit boys," he said.

Change really good for everyone

In a previous article, Norwegian SciTech News described a project in Iceland where the researchers included extra physical activity in addition to a passion project to improve well-being in the classroom.

"My advice is more physical activity and passion class every day in school," says Sigmundsson. That will increase the well-being of all students, he says.

Have different perceptions of their strengths

There are also gender differences in how much the students like subjects and how well they think they perform.

Reading and science: Girls generally score higher than boys, both in how much they like the subjects and how well they think they perform.

Mathematics: There is no difference in how much boys and girls like the subject. But boys think they are best.

Physical education: Boys like the subject best, but there is no difference in how well girls and boys think they perform.

Students who like reading and those who like physical education otherwise seem to be completely different groups of children. "We only find a weak correlation between feeling good about reading and physical education," Sigmundsson said.

Students often become good at the subjects they like

In addition, the researchers talked to the children about how much they liked the subjects and compared the answer to how the students actually performed in these subjects. The researchers had a questionnaire for this, while the school conducted the survey.

"Here we found a strong connection between liking subjects and doing well. This was true in reading, math, science and physical education," says Sigmundsson.

This was not about how they feel they are doing, but how good their results were.

More information Hermundur Sigmundsson et al, Robust children: exploring engagement with academic subjects, well-being and psychological safety in schoolchildren aged 69 years in Norway, European Early Childhood Education Research Journal (2025). DOI: 10.1080/1350293x.2025.2586675
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Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

An international group of literacy education experts are calling on teachers and parents to adopt a new framework for teaching critical consciousness in children through the way they learn to view the books they read.

A new research paper authored by a team of international experts in children's literature and social justice, led by Associate Professor Helen Adam from the School of Education at Edith Cowan University (ECU), draws on the researchers' collective experiences as scholars and educators to expand how children learn to use metaphorical concepts of mirrors and windows when reading and analyzing a text.

Associate Professor Adam said while books may serve as both a mirror and window for children's diverse perspectives, the researchers' innovative framework empowers children to be critical readers by teaching them how to identify five different mirror types. The research is published in The Australian Journal of Language and Literacy.

"The nuanced framework we've presented provides educators with increased confidence and strategies for infusing the curriculum with diverse literature for children," Associate Professor Adam said.

"We know that when books serve as windows, children can see the characters and experiences different from their own and, through this, can learn appreciation, respect, and empathy for those different from themselves.

"When books serve as windows and aren't limited to reflections of a child's own lived experience, they help disrupt the potential development of prejudice and misunderstanding of others. It fosters critical consciousness regarding social justice issues."

Conversely, children may feel excluded and unengaged in their classroom learning if they don't see themselves and their culture represented in the books they read.

Associate Professor Adam explained most existing frameworks continue to treat the concept of mirrors as relatively uniform in their function without accounting for the different qualities of reflection that books might provide.

"Our framework of differentiated mirrors recognizes that mirrors themselves exist on a spectrum of reflective quality," Associate Professor Adam explained. "Unlike previous frameworks that have treated mirrors and windows as largely separate functions, our approach acknowledges that books frequently serve as both simultaneously.

"By focusing on different types of mirrors based on the physics of actual mirrors (plane, concave, convex), in addition to magic mirror and fairground mirror recognition, we provide a systematic and relevant framework that bridges the gap between theoretical understanding and practical implementation while remaining accessible to both educators and children."

Types of mirrors

The foundation of the framework encourages children to build their understanding through connecting new and existing knowledge.

Plane mirror: Books often read by children as something that is familiar to them.

Concave mirror: These books magnify and focus attention on specific aspects of children's identities or experiences, bringing particular elements into sharp relief that may have been previously unnoticed or undervalued.

Convex mirror: Some things in the book may be familiar, but other aspects are new to children's line of vision. The book can likely be both a mirror and a window simultaneously, providing broader perspectives that contextualize familiar elements within wider contexts.

Mirrors to consider carefully

While these can be used to teach critical literacy they should be used with caution.

The magic mirror: The fictional magic mirror that lies to its viewer to reinforce a superior sense of self. This is often seen in monocultural book collections more broadly, rather than individual books.

The fairground mirror: This type of mirror is evident in books that promote stereotypical or distorted reflections of diverse groups, often promoting an exotic or condescending portrayal.

Practical application

Associate Professor Adam recommended implementing the differentiated mirror framework with children through a three-pronged approach:

Teaching the framework to children

Identifying different mirror types in practice

Building critical consciousness

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The aim of the framework is to help children and educators move beyond passive consumption of literature toward active, critical engagement through emphasizing critical consciousness and problem-posing education.

"By distinguishing between different qualities of reflection, we can help prevent children from developing a distorted view of oneself and of the world, where white culture is often normalized and oversaturated," Associate Professor Adam said.

When children learn to identify different types of mirrors, they develop tools for questioning whose stories are told, and whose voices remain absent. As co-author and educator Madison Kozeny reflected in the research paper, children do not just passively consume storiesthey interrogate them, question who is included and excluded, and make deeper connections to their own lives.

"When children have language to discuss representation, they become more thoughtful readers. Our goal is how this can positively impact and translate to the way future generations will see themselves, those around them, and the way they move through the world," Associate Professor Adam stated.

"We hope to empower educators to create literacy environments where every child feels valued, visible, and connected to the broader human experience."

More information Helen Adam et al, "This is like a mirror! That's like me!" Differentiated literature mirrors for diverse children, The Australian Journal of Language and Literacy (2025). DOI: 10.1007/s44020-025-00092-y
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Gaihozu map panel W8N2N:  (Baruiru) showing nodes N26 (Bayan Khovor, / ), Amarbuyant Monastery ( ), and N43 (Shar Khulsan, / ). The map scale is 1:1,000,000. Credit: McCarthy et al. 2026

In a study published in the Journal of Historical Geography, researchers Dr. Chris McCarthy and his colleagues have documented, for the first time, the Great Mongolian Road, a major yet understudied east-west caravan route across Inner Asia. The study utilized maps, called gaihozu, produced by the Japanese Imperial Army between 1873 and 1945, combined with field verification across 1,200 km of southern Mongolia, to determine their accuracy and document the various support systems available to camel caravans and merchants, which are vital for successful navigation and survival in these harsh arid landscapes.

The gaihozu collection

The gaihozu maps were created by Japanese military cartographers between 1873 and 1945, documenting territories from Korea to Manchuria, through Southeast Asia, into Central Asia, and into Mongolia.

Initially instructed to destroy the maps after World War II, researchers secretly transferred some of them from the General Staff Office to university collections, where they have slowly been made accessible to the public. Despite this, the maps remain largely unappreciated and understudied.

In an effort to better understand the accuracy of the gaihozu maps, how travel networks adapted to the Gobi Desert environment, and the maps' potential for documenting cultural heritage and environmental change, Dr. McCarthy and his team examined the 1:1,000,000 scale Toa Yochizu (, "Maps of East Asia") series from Stanford University Libraries' digital collection.

Analysis revealed that the maps were compiled from Chinese imperial records in 1890, which were based on earlier Russian surveys conducted in 1884. However, it is possible that some Japanese fieldwork was undertaken during the creation of the Toa Yochizu maps.

The study found that, while the gaihozu maps do not match modern geographical data perfectly, they are highly accurate and document structures, landmarks, and natural features observed on modern maps, and during the study's fieldwork.

The findings corroborate Owen Lattimore's (19001989) early twentieth-century accounts of the Great Mongolian Road, with field verification confirming the existence of 50 documented nodes, including water sources, settlements, monasteries and landmarks, typically spaced at 24 km intervals along the 1,215 km route, a distance that corresponds with Lattimore's description of a camel caravan's daily traveling capacity between 20 and 30 km.

"Herders confirmed oral traditions of sites serving as stopping points along the historical caravan route," explained Dr. McCarthy.

"At Khalkhiin Ulaan Davaa, local residents pointed out depressions in the earth which they attributed to centuries of camel caravan traffic. Throughout our fieldwork, locals helped confirm historical place names that matched those recorded on the gaihozu maps from a century ago."

Gaihozu map panel W6N2N:  (Sair Us), including nodes: N2 (Khetsuu Uul, / ), N3 (Okhontkhel, ), and N5 (/). Credit: McCarthy et al. 2026

Trade and commerce and the future of the maps

While the study focused primarily on documenting the Great Mongolian Road's infrastructure, evidence suggests one of the primary goods that once traveled along it may have been tea.

"Our research focused on documenting the route's infrastructure rather than trade commodities, and we haven't been able to find any extensive documentation on what specific goods moved along this corridor," explained Dr. McCarthy.

"However, what we know suggests tea was a primary commodity moving from China westward, with steppe products like wool, hides, and livestock likely moving eastward in return, as the protected site marker at Khadatiin Us suggests the route was part of the historic Tea Road.

"Lattimore describes heavy caravans taking up to 120 days to complete the journey, with express caravans carrying merchandise at a premium under guaranteed time limits taking 90 days. The inscription we found at Khurdent Cave references merchants seeking triple profits, indicating the economic incentives that motivated caravaneers to undertake such arduous journeys."

Though this study focused on Mongolia, the Great Mongolian Road did not end at the Mongolian border, and many other panels from the gaihozu remain to be analyzed. According to Dr. McCarthy,

"The route continued through to Kucheng in Dzungaria in northern Xinjiang, where it connected to routes leading south to Kashgar and onward to Central Asia, Persia, and eventually Europe.

"Lattimore gave this section the name Great Mongolian Road, but it was part of a continuous network. This made it an important northern alternative to the more commonly discussed Silk Road corridors that passed through the Taklamakan Desert.

"The gaihozu maps reveal the route's direction as it approaches the border, and it would be interesting to follow it further into China. Howeverthe field verification process is constrained by current geopolitical boundaries."

Written for you by our author Sandee Oster, 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.

More information Chris McCarthy et al, Mapping the Great Mongolian Road: The gaihozu maps as records of Inner Asian trade networks, Journal of Historical Geography (2026). DOI: 10.1016/j.jhg.2025.11.015

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Reconstruction of Xigou tool-making. Credit: Hulk Yuan

A newly excavated archaeological site in central China is reshaping long-held assumptions about early hominin behavior in Eastern Asia. Led by the Chinese Academy of Sciences, an international team of researchers conducted archaeological excavations at Xigou, located in the Danjiangkou Reservoir Region in central China, uncovering evidence of advanced stone tool technologies dating back 160,00072,000 years ago.

The study "Technological innovations and hafted technology in central China ~160,00072,000 years ago" has been published in Nature Communications.

New discoveries challenge old assumptions

The explorations, co-led by Griffith University, revealed hominins in this region were far more inventive and adaptable than previously believed, at a time when multiple large-brained hominins were present in China, such as Homo longi and Homo juluensis, and possibly Homo sapiens.

"Researchers have argued for decades that while hominins in Africa and western Europe demonstrated significant technological advances, those in East Asia relied on simpler and more conservative stone-tool traditions," said expedition leader Dr. Shixia Yang of the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology (IVPP).

Study co-author Professor Michael Petraglia, Director of Griffith University's Australian Research Center for Human Evolution, added, "The Xigou findings challenge the narrative that early humans in China were conservative over time."

"Detailed analyses from the site show hominin inhabitants employed sophisticated stone toolmaking methods to produce small flakes and tools that were then used in a diverse array of activities."

Significance of hafted stone tools

Among the most striking finds was the discovery of hafted stone toolsthe earliest-known evidence of composite tools in East Asia.

These tools combined stone components with handles or shafts, and demonstrated complex planning, skilled craftsmanship, and an understanding of how to enhance tool performance.

Lead author Dr. Jian-Ping Yue of the IVPP said, "Their presence indicates the Xigou hominins possessed a high degree of behavioral flexibility and ingenuity."

Implications for human evolution in East Asia

The site's rich layers, covering a 90,000-year period, aligned with growing evidence of increasing hominin diversity in China.

Large-brained hominins identified at Xujiayao and Lingjing, sometimes referred to as Homo juluensis, provided a possible biological context for the behavioral complexity reflected in the Xigou assemblages.

"The technological strategies evident in the stone tools likely played a crucial role in helping hominin populations adapt to the fluctuating environments that characterized the 90,000-year-period in Eastern Asia," Professor Petraglia said.

The research team said the Xigou findings reshaped our understanding of human evolution in East Asia, proving early populations possessed cognitive and technical abilities comparable to their counterparts in Africa and Europe.

Dr. Yang added, "Emerging evidence from Xigou and other sites shows early technologies in China included prepared-core methods, innovative retouched tools, and even large cutting tools, pointing to a richer and more complex technological landscape than previously recognized."

Publication details Shi-Xia Yang, Technological innovations and hafted technology in central China ~160,00072,000 years ago, Nature Communications (2026). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-67601-y. www.nature.com/articles/s41467-025-67601-y Journal information: Nature Communications
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Snowmelt pathways differ dramatically depending on subsurface structure and autumn rainfall. In laterally homogeneous watersheds (left), snowmelt routing remains consistent regardless of whether the preceding autumn was dry or wet. In laterally heterogeneous watersheds (right), snowmelt behavior changes significantly: wetter autumns increase vertical connectivity (orange shading), resulting in deeper infiltration and greater water storage underground, while drier autumns limit infiltration and keep snowmelt near the surface, enhancing quick flow to streams. Credit: Ali Ameli

Water is everywhere, from the snowpack in the mountains to the tap in our kitchens. But while we often think about rainfall and snow as the main drivers of our water supply, it turns out that something we rarely see has just as much influence: the underground structure of the landscape itself.

As a hydrologist, I spend my time trying to understand how water moves through landscapes. In our latest study, published in Water Resources Research, my master student Mahbod Taherian and I discovered that not all watersheds respond equally to climate variabilityand the reason lies deep below the surface.

The puzzle

We focused on a process called snowmelt partitioningwhat happens to snowmelt water when it reenters the hydrologic system each spring? Does it run off quickly into rivers? Infiltrate slowly into the ground to recharge aquifers? Or evaporate back into the atmosphere through plants?

Where that water goes matters, because it determines whether a watershed floods, stores water or dries out during the summer. Understanding snowmelt behavior is critical for communities that depend on mountain water for drinking, agriculture, ecosystems and hydroelectricity.

Study sites. (ac) Nanika catchment in Western British Columbia, Canada. (df) Krycklan catchment in the boreal region of northern Sweden. (a, d) Satellite images and boundaries of Nanika and Krycklan. The red circle and yellow square show the locations of the catchment outlet and streamflow measurement station, respectively. (b, e) Topographic map showing the elevational pattern of both catchments. Note the distinct elevational ranges in the two catchments. (c, f) The distribution of slopes in the two catchments, reflecting a larger portion of very steep locations (100% or 45) in the Nanika vs. Krycklan. Slope and elevation maps were generated at 90-m and 30-m resolution for Nanika and Krycklan, respectively. Credit: Water Resources Research (2026). DOI: 10.1029/2025wr040679

But here's the puzzle: We know that the amount of snow or rain in a given year affects these outcomes, yet watersheds with similar climates often behave very differently. What makes one watershed resilient to a dry autumn, while another swings wildly in its behavior from year to year? That question drove our research.

Going underground

To answer that, we applied a physics-based hydrologic model to both real and virtual snow-dominated watersheds across North America and Europe. The virtual catchments allowed us to control for everything above groundlike rainfall, slope, and vegetationand vary only the subsurface structure. We specifically looked at two key features: how permeable the soil and rock layers are, and how that permeability varies horizontally (from hill to hill) and vertically (from surface to bedrock).

Watersheds with laterally homogeneous underground structurethat is, where permeability is relatively uniform laterally across the landscape, but decays verticallytended to route snowmelt in the same way every year, regardless of whether the preceding autumn was wet or dry. In contrast, heterogeneous watersheds with patchy subsurface permeability behaved very differently.

After dry autumns, spring snowmelt and summer rainfall would mostly run off quickly through shallow lateral paths, with high vulnerability to flooding. After wet autumns, the same watersheds would activate deeper pathwaysalmost like flipping a switchrouting far more snowmelt to long-term underground storage. In one of our natural experiments, the fraction of snowmelt reaching long-term storage jumped from 4% after a dry autumn to 25% after a wet one.

The mechanism becomes clear once you see it. A wet autumn fills the deeper zones of the subsurface, priming the system for vertical water movement. When snowmelt arrives the following spring, it encounters a subsurface that is already connectedpathways to deep storage are open, and water moves downward rather than laterally to streams. But in a watershed with a laterally uniform underground structure, these deeper pathways remain inactive regardless of how wet the previous autumn was. The subsurface behaves the same way year after year.

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Climate amplifiers

This means that subsurface heterogeneity acts like a climate amplifier. If a watershed has variable underground structure, climate variability has more room to change how water moves through it. And that makes these watersheds more sensitive to climate swings. A single wet or dry season can fundamentally alter the watershed's behavior for months to come.

It also means that many models we use today to predict water supply and flood risk under climate change may be missing a critical piece. Most large-scale climate impact assessments rely on surface indicatorslike slope, vegetation, and land cover. But those features alone cannot explain the dramatic differences we observed. What's missing is the invisible architecture underground.

Why this matters

These findings are particularly relevant in a changing climate. As precipitation patterns become less predictable, knowing which watersheds are more vulnerable to swings in rainfall and snowmelt becomes essential. For instance, in snow-fed regions like western North America, water managers are grappling with how to store water from increasingly erratic snowmelt to avoid both floods and shortages. Our work suggests that some of those watersheds may be inherently more variable than othersand that has everything to do with what lies below the ground.

The implications extend beyond water supply to water quality. In watersheds where snowmelt takes deep pathways, it may pick upor leave behinddissolved nutrients, contaminants, and legacy pollutants stored in soils and aquifers. If climate variability can switch these pathways on and off, it can also alter water quality outcomes in ways we have not fully anticipated.

Looking ahead

One challenge, of course, is that the subsurface is hard to see. We cannot easily map underground permeability at large scales with high resolution. But this is precisely why studies like ours matter: by identifying which structural features control climate sensitivity, we can better target where detailed subsurface characterization is most needed. Future work combining physics-based models with emerging geophysical and remote sensing technologies could help us see underground in ways that were not possible before.

Ultimately, what excites me most is that this work opens new doors for both science and society. For scientists, it highlights the importance of looking beyond surface features to the hidden controls on hydrologic behavior. For water managers and policymakers, it offers a roadmap for anticipating which watersheds are most vulnerable in a changing climate.

Water may be invisible underground, but its pathways shape the world we live in. To manage our resources wisely, we need to understand not just what falls from the sky, but where it goes once it hits the ground. And for that, the physics beneath our feet may matter more than we ever realized.

This story is part of Science X Dialog, where researchers can report findings from their published research articles. Visit this page for information about Science X Dialog and how to participate.

Publication details Mahbod Taherian et al, Time Variance in Snowmelt Partitioning: A Mechanistic Modeling Approach to Explore the Role of Catchment Structure and PreSnow Rainfall, Water Resources Research (2026). DOI: 10.1029/2025wr040679 Journal information: Water Resources Research

Ali Ameli is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences at the University of British Columbia. His research sits at the intersection of hydrology, hydrogeology, and data science, focusing on how the physical structure of landscapes governs water movement from rainfall to streamflow. He combines mechanistic modeling with machine learning and remote sensing to improve predictions of water availability, flood risk, and water quality in both gauged and ungauged basins. His work spans scales from individual hillslopes to continents, with applications to climate change impact assessment, wetland conservation, and groundwater management. He collaborates with government agencies and conservation organizations to translate scientific insights into practical tools for water resource decision-making. Ameli is a recipient of the Canadian Geophysical Union Early Career Award, recognizing outstanding contributions to Geophysics.
Jacob Elordi felt "base-level depressed" filming Wuthering Heights when it was "so dark and so cold".

Jacob Elordi felt 'out of sorts' filming Wuthering Heights and questioned if he was 'good enough'

The 28-year-old star portrays Heathcliff in the forthcoming film, which is directed by his Saltburn filmmaker Emerald Fennell, but he felt "out of sorts" filming in winter, compared to his summer Saltburn shoot.

When asked by his Wuthering Heights co-star Margot Robbie if he had a similar experience working with Fennell on the movie as he did when they made Saltburn together, he told Vogue Australia: "I had a completely different experience.

"First of all, I started in January. I hadnt done London like that before.

"When we shot Saltburn, it was that one summer where the sun was out the whole time.

"I didnt expect to get so out of sorts. Waking up every day, its so dark and so cold. I think I was base-level depressed."

Elordi also told Robbie how he had questioned his acting ability when Fennell asked him to appear as Heathcliff in the movie - which is loosely inspired by Emily Bronte's 1847 novel of the same name - because he wasn't sure he was "good enough" to portray the classic character.

He added: "Saltburn allowed for a lot of improv. Theres a language to this you cant really step around.

"I think I also knew what she wanted from Heathcliff, and I really wanted to be able to bring it.

"On Saltburn, I could be whoever I wanted.

"But because she had asked me to make [Wuthering Heights], she just texted me and said, Will you do this? It was the first time Id been like, I dont know if Im good enough."

Despite suffering the "greatest amount of doubt" he has "ever had" over a role, Elordi carried on, because he didn't want to let Fennell down.

He added: "Cause I really love her. I really love her.

"I usually dont think about letting someone down, and I really didnt want to let her down.

"So, the first three weeks, I would go home and I had the greatest amount of doubt Ive probably ever had.

"Then, when that went away, it started to feel like Saltburn again, when I let go and relinquished a little bit, because I was holding it so tightly.

"Like, its Heathcliff. It has to be Heathcliff. And then I started to understand the movie more.

"Neither was better than the other, and it wasnt a bad experience either."
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Scientists have been battling over exactly how much microplastics we have inside us.

How many tiny pieces of plastic are currently inside your body? A series of headline-grabbing studies in the last few years have claimed to have found microplastics throughout human bodiesinside blood, organs and even brains.

However, some of this research has recently come under stinging criticism from scientists.

Some have warned that the studies could not rule out contamination from plastic inside laboratories, or that certain techniques could be confusing human tissue with plastic.

Seeking a solution to this escalating dispute, 30 scientists from 20 research institutions across the world proposed a new framework on Tuesday for evaluating microplastic research.

The proposal, inspired by how forensic science weighs evidence found at crime scenes, offers researchers a consistent way to communicate how confident they are that microplastic has actually been detected.

No one disputes that these mostly invisible pieces of plastic are ubiquitous throughout the environmentthey have been found everywhere from the tops of mountains to the bottom of oceans.

It is also "very likely" that we are regularly ingesting microplastics from air and food, Imperial College London researcher Leon Barron told AFP.

But there is simply not enough evidence yet to say whether they are bad for our health, added the senior author of the new proposal.

Microplastics are everywhere, but there is not enough evidence to say whether they are harmful for our health.

Inside our brains?

Microplasticsand even smaller nanoplasticsare very difficult to detect.

Yet some research in this new and rapidly expanding field has claimed to have found particles in "less-plausible" areas of the human body, Barron explained.

For example, a study published in Nature Medicine early last year announced it had detected relatively large particles inside the brains of recently deceased people.

Some scientists were skeptical because this would require the particles to cross the powerful defenses of the blood-brain barrier.

Experts have also pointed out that the technique used in this study and several others, which is called pyrolysis-GC-MS, can confuse fat with polyethylene, which is commonly used in plastic packaging.

In February 2025, CNN reported that the study's senior author, Matthew Campen of the University of New Mexico, had said the amount of plastic found in a brain sample was equivalent to a plastic spoon.

There is no doubt that microplastics are ubiquitous throughout the environment.

However Campen told AFP on Tuesday that "the concept of a 'plastic spoon' is a media invention".

"The biggest issue was extrapolation of a single sample of the brain to the entire brain, which we are now establishing was a meaningful overestimation," he added.

He also welcomed the "groundswell of interest" in the subject and said he looked forward to research that "will provide greater confidence and accuracy in micro- and nanoplastics measurements".

Other research has been disparaged for not using proper quality-control measures.

Without these measures, "it is impossible to know whether detected plastics originate from the tissue itself or from containers, chemicals, laboratory equipment or plastic particles present in the air," researcher Dusan Materic told AFP.

This would mean the results are "simply not scientific", said the expert at Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research in Germany.

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Inspired by forensic science

The new framework proposal, published in the journal Environment & Health, calls for researchers to use several different techniques when looking for microplastics to rule out any potential false positives.

Barron compared the proposal to a framework once agreed among forensic scientists about how to evaluate fibers found in clothes during a criminal investigation.

The idea is to bring "all of the different labs doing this type of work into an aligned language" that expresses how confident they are that they detected microplastic, he said.

The idea is already "starting to gain momentum," he added.

The proposal requires scientists and journal articles to be transparent about their research, release all the raw data and include quality-control measures.

"To be clear, microplastics are a problem," Barron emphasized.

All the research conducted thus far has been carried out in good faith, he said, adding that these are relatively normal growing pains for a new scientific field.

But precision is importantto determine whether microplastics are harmful for our health, researchers need to know just how much of them is in our bodies.

If the ongoing scientific debate "derails that effort to try and understand if they're bad for us, that's not helpful," he said.

Campen said that rather than a debate, "what we are seeing is the scientific method."

"The challenges of detecting and quantifying nanoplasticsshards of plastic the size of virusesdemand intense attention, innovation, as well as scrutiny," he added.

 2026 AFP
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Diagram comparing ultra-long-range, low-Earth orbit, and geostationary satellite observation systems. Credit: Ye Hanlin

Earth's radiation budget is a core process of the Earth-atmosphere system, closely linked to global climate and environmental changes. While current satellite observations have greatly advanced our understanding of Earth's radiation budget, low-Earth orbit and geostationary satellites struggle to achieve both temporal continuity and spatial consistency. Accurately capturing the laws of Earth's outgoing radiation is key to studying this budget.

Recently, a new study published in the Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres confirmed that lunar observations offer a unique perspective to solve this problem. The research team consists of scientists from the Institute of Atmospheric Physics (IAP) at the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Aerospace Information Research Institute/CAS, and University of Chinese Academy of Sciences.

"Traditional observations mostly focus on regional or local radiation characteristics," Dr. Ye Hanlin from IAP/CAS, first author of the study, explained. "From the moon, Earth appears as a complete disk, allowing us to extract planet-scale dominant signals while suppressing small-scale weather noise."

The team found that changes in Earth's emitted radiation observed from the moon-based platform are mainly dominated by first-order and second-order spherical harmonic functions, accounting for about 90% of the variation rules.

This acts like a "noise reduction" process for Earth's emitted radiation, filtering out interference from local weather events and clearly capturing planet-scale radiation features. These spherical harmonic functions are just like the unique "fingerprints" of Earth's emitted radiation.

The study also clarified the periodic patterns of radiation changes: synodic month periodicity (related to the moon's phases relative to Earth) is dominated by sectorial harmonic components; sidereal month and its half-period come from zonal harmonic components, driven by the periodic latitudinal shift of the observation point caused by the moon's orbit; intraday periodicity reflects dynamic changes in the field of view due to Earth's rotation.

"A moon-based platform provides a new, long-lasting holistic view of Earth, which is highly unique," said Professor Guo Huadong, corresponding author of the study from the Aerospace Information Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences.

The study confirms that holistic Earth observations can provide important support for accurately estimating Earth's outgoing radiation and advancing global climate change observation research.
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Police block a street during a search for a mountain lion in a neighborhood Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2026, in San Francisco. Credit: AP Photo/Andy Bao

A young mountain lion spotted roaming the streets of San Francisco has been located near a park where wildlife officials are trying to capture it, authorities said Tuesday.

Authorities issued a warning to residents late Monday, saying a mountain lion had been seen walking the streets in the Pacific Heights neighborhood and advising people to slowly back away from the animal if they encountered it. They said Tuesday morning the wild feline had been located.

Animal Care and Control workers, San Francisco police officers and state wildlife officials were working in the area of Lafayette Park in Pacific Heights to capture the mountain lion safely, said Angela Yip, a spokesperson for Animal Care and Control.

Yip said there was no threat to the public but wouldn't share the exact location of the animal, saying officials needed the public to stay away from the area.

The mountain lion was first spotted Monday morning by a San Francisco resident who took video of the animal and alerted authorities.

An animal control officer stands in front where a mountain lion has been trapped between buildings in neighborhood in San Francisco, Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2026. Credit: AP Photo/Andy Bao

A sign warns of mountain lions in a neighborhood on Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2026, in San Francisco. Credit: AP Photo/Andy Bao

"It was so big  not just a regular cat," Madrey Hilton told the San Francisco Chronicle. The lion, which "just looked like it was minding its own business," scaled the wall and headed into Lafayette Park, she told the newspaper.

Mountain lion sightings are rare in San Francisco, where coyotes abound in the city's many parks, but cougars have been spotted wandering city streets before.

In 2020, a young mountain lion was spotted sleeping in a planter box along a normally busy street and looking at his reflection in the glass of an office tower in downtown San Francisco. The animal was later safely captured and released into the wild.

Experts say the animals come up along the Pacific Coast from the hills south of the city, but eventually find their way back to the wilderness.

 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
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Credit: Water Research (2026). DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2025.124712

Human health risks from direct consumption of toxic nanoplastics are already scary, but researchers have confirmed that nanoplastics in water give rise to an additional threat: They strengthen bacteria.

In a recent study published in Water Research, Virginia Tech's Jingqiu Liao and a group of international researchers found that nanoplastics' interactions with environmental microbes may pose indirect dangers to people, specifically by way of water systems.

"It is very important to better understand the adverse effects of the nanoplastics on human health, and not just in humans but also in the environment, which indirectly influences human health," said Liao, assistant professor of civil and environmental engineering. "The nanoplastics can make the antimicrobial-resistant pathogens survive better, which could be harmful to the environment and would have public health implications."

How nanoplastics affect water systems

In the study, the authors note this resistance to disinfectants has the potential to create great challenges for water treatment and distribution systems.

"When the nanoplastics interact with the biofilm and the bacteria inside them, they can strengthen the biofilm and make it more resistant to any kind of measures that are going to keep the water clean," said Liao, who is also an affiliate with Fralin Life Sciences Institute's Global Change Center.

Jingqiu Liao is an assistant professor of civil and environmental engineering. Photo by Peter Means for Virginia Tech.

Nanoplastics are a subset of microplastics and include particles ranging in size from roughly one to 1,000 nanometers, all of which are too small to be seen by the naked eye. The researchers looked at the effects nanoplastics have on the biofilm formation in drinking water systems.

Biofilms are communities of different bacteria that attach to surfaces, such as water pipes, and form a protective matrix that shields them from environmental stress. In some locations, biofilms can be beneficial, removing potentially harmful elements, but in drinking water distribution systems, they can be hazardous to humans.

Interactions between bacteria, viruses, and plastics

According to Liao, this is rooted in the pathogenic nature of certain bacteria within biofilms as well as the fact that bacteria are also hosts to bacteriophages, which are viruses. How these potentially problematic microorganisms interact with nanoplastics was largely unknown prior to the study.

"The primary process that we were particularly interested in is how the bacteria and the bacteriophages interact with each other during the process when the nanoplastics influence the biofilm as a whole," said Liao, also an affiliate with the Fralin Life Sciences Institute's Center for Emerging, Zoonotic, and Arthropod-borne Pathogens.

Liao's expertise with microbial ecology and metagenomic analysis made her ideal for the study. She's published studies on the role of soil in the spread of antibiotic resistance and recently won a Scaling Scholarship Award through the College of Engineering's Major Grants Initiative related to her work on the Nature Communications publication, "Differential roles of deterministic and stochastic processes in structuring soil bacterial ecotypes across terrestrial ecosystems."

Key findings from the recent study

Liao said the researchers discovered that when the biofilm composed of E. coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa is exposed to nanoplastics, several responses from the bacteria are triggered:

Different bacteria "talk" with each other and secrete substances that make the biofilm thicker, heavier, and more protective.

Prophagesphages that integrate their own genomes (DNA) into their bacterial hosts' genomesare activated, destroying the bacterial cells they live in and creating many new virus particles.

Bacteria fight the prophages using clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) of DNA or RNA cells to target them as an antiviral defense system.

In the study, the authors conclude that "the increased mechanical strength of the biofilm and its resistance to the disinfectants highlight a potential challenge for water treatment and distribution systems, as nanoplastics may increase the formation of difficult-to-eradicate biofilms on the surface of some water treatment and distribution systems."

Implications and future research needs

Liao believes more research is needed to better understand the molecular mechanisms underlying the ecological responses of complex multispecies biofilms to nanoplastics. She also suggests that the size of the plastics matters. She points out that microplastics, which are larger than the nanoplastics, may have different effects on the bacteria-phage interactions within the biofilm.

"Overall, our findings provide novel insights into the interplay between nanoplastics and bacterium-phage dynamics, highlighting increased microbial risks associated with waterborne nanoplastics," Liao said.

Publication details Haibo Wang et al, Nanoplastics induce prophage activation and quorum sensing to enhance biofilm mechanical and chemical resilience, Water Research (2026). DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2025.124712 Journal information: Nature Communications , Water Research
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Research from NASA and GE Aerospace led to the successful testing of a jet engine at the companys Peebles Test Operation site in Ohio in December. The hybrid engine is a modified version of a GE Aerospace Passport. Credit: GE Aerospace

To an untrained eye, the aircraft engine sitting outside of a Cincinnati facility in December might have looked like standard hardware. But NASA and GE Aerospace researchers watching the unit fire up for a demonstration knew what they were looking at: a hybrid engine performing at a level that could potentially power an airliner.

It's something new in the aviation world, and the result of years of research and development.

NASA, GE Aerospace, and others working toward hybrid engine development had already tested components in the pastpower system controls, electric motors, and more. What the demonstration at GE Aerospace's Peebles Test Operation site in Ohio represented was the first test of an integrated system.

"Turbines already exist. Compressors already exist. But there is no hybrid-electric engine flying today. And that's what we were able to see," said Anthony Nerone, who served as manager of the agency's Hybrid Thermally Efficient Core (HyTEC) project at NASA's Glenn Research Center in Cleveland during the test engine's development.

The test involved a modified GE Aerospace's Passport engine with the ability to extract energy from some of its operations and insert that supplementary power into other parts.

The hybrid engine is result of research from GE Aerospace and NASA under a cost-sharing HyTEC contract. It runs on jet fuel with assistance from electric motors, a concept that seems simple in a world where hybrid cars are common. Yet the execution was complex, requiring researchers to invent, adapt, and integrate parts into a system that could deliver the requisite power needed for a single-aisle aircraft safely and reliably.

As a result, the demonstrationknown as a power extraction testwas one of the most complex GE Aerospace has staged to date.

"They had to integrate equipment they've never needed for previous tests like this," said Laura Evans, acting HyTEC project manager at Glenn.

Despite the complexity, the team witnessed a successful demonstration. Not a balancing test or a preliminary exercise, but an engine on a mount doing many of the things it would need to do if installed in an aircraft.

The test comes at a time when U.S. aviation is increasingly looking for power systems that can do more while also saving money on fuel. It's a trend NASA was well ahead of. Hybrid aircraft engine technology began to emerge from Glenn roughly 20 years ago, when it seemed nearly impossible to realize, Nerone said.

"Now," he said. "When you go to a conference, hybrid technology is everywhere."

And NASA and GE now have real data for how the technology can be applied to flight.

From that early start, NASA transitioned into HyTEC and its contract with GE Aerospace.

HyTEC's goal is to mature technology that will enable a hybrid engine that burns up to 10% less fuel compared to today's best-in-class engines. NASA's overall goal is to leverage its resources to bring the technology to market faster, meeting industry needs.

The work is far from over. Both NASA and GE Aerospace are analyzing data from the demonstration and from previous work and are making progress toward a compact engine test this decade.

Still, the demonstration was a chance to see the integration of technology that's closer than ever to practical application.

"We're getting close to the payoff on work that'd been in progress for a long time," Nerone said.

Key concepts Heat engines

Provided by NASA
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White-eared Sibia (Heterophasia auricularis) visiting the shorter and wider flowers of Aeschynanthus acuminatus in Xitou, central Taiwan. Pollen deposited during the visit is visible on the Sibia's forehead. Credit: Jing-Yi Lu.

Lipstick vines get their name from their bright red, tube-shaped flowers. But one member of this group of plants has lost its lipstick-like appearanceits flowers are shorter, wider, and yellowish green in color. It also attracts shorter-beaked birds than its crimson cousins do, and it's found in different places.

Scientists wanted to know how this plant evolved from its lipstick-like relatives. After observing birds visiting hundreds of plants and examining the plants' DNA, the researchers found that the story of the green flower's evolution contradicts a long-standing scientific "rule" about how plants evolve into new species.

The green flower at the center of the discovery, and the subject of a paper detailing said discovery in the journal New Phytologist, is called Aeschynanthus acuminatus. Its range extends across Southeast Asia from northern India and the Himalayas, across Indo-Chinese countries like Vietnam and Thailand, and into southern China. It's also found off the coast of mainland China on the island of Taiwan.

"Compared to the rest of its genus, this species has weird, unique flowers," says Jing-Yi Lu, the study's lead author and a research associate at the Field Museum who recently graduated with his Ph.D. at the University of Chicago. Lu wanted to know how these flowers got to be so odd.

Female Black-throated Sunbird (Aethopyga saturata) visiting the typical sunbird-pollinated Aeschynanthus bracteatus in Pingbian, southeastern Yunnan, China. Credit: Jing-Yi Lu.

The red flowers of the other lipstick vines help attract sunbirds, whose long, slender beaks fit perfectly into the skinny, tube-shaped blooms. By going from flower to flower and drinking nectar, the sunbirds spread the plants' pollen. But while sunbirds are found throughout the mainland where the other lipstick vines live, there are no sunbirds on Taiwan.

When Lu was an undergraduate student in Taiwan, he began wondering about the short, green-flowered A. acuminatus growing on the island. "It made me curious about how this species could occur in Taiwan. Since we don't have sunbirds, there must be something else to pollinate it," says Lu.

Figuring out which species of birds pollinate a type of plant can be a tricky task. "Most of the time, you don't really see the birds, because they don't come too often, and they are shy," says Lu.

To solve this problem, he set up camera traps that recorded birds coming and going from the flowers, and determined that a variety of birds with shorter beaks than sunbirds were visiting the short, wide, green flowers of A. acuminatus.

White-eared Sibia (Heterophasia auricularis) visiting the shorter and wider flowers of Aeschynanthus acuminatus in Xitou, central Taiwan. Pollen deposited during the visit is visible on the Sibia's forehead. Credit: Jing-Yi Lu.

However, A. acuminatus doesn't only live in Taiwanit's also found throughout mainland Southeast Asia, where there are plenty of long-beaked sunbirds. This presented an evolutionary riddle to Lu and his fellow scientists, something like the question of what came first, the chicken or the egg.

Did A. acuminatus's ancestors find themselves transported to sunbird-less Taiwan, where they then had to evolve shorter, wider flowers to accommodate the shorter-beaked birds that lived there? Or did they split off from their tube-shaped cousins while they were still on the mainland, even though there were sunbirds around, and arrive in Taiwan later on? And, what kinds of birds pollinate the shorter, wider A. acuminatus flowers on the mainland?

"At the heart of our study is the question of where species originate," says Rick Ree, a curator at the Field Museum's Negaunee Integrative Research Center and the study's senior author. "There must have been a switch when this species evolved, when it went from having narrow flowers for sunbirds to wider flowers for more generalist birds. Where and when did the switch occur?"

Female Black-throated Sunbird (Aethopyga saturata) visiting the typical sunbird-pollinated Aeschynanthus bracteatus in Pingbian, southeastern Yunnan, China. Credit: Jing-Yi Lu.

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Challenging the Grant-Stebbins model

For more than 50 years, botanists have turned to a sort of rule called the Grant-Stebbins model that aims to answer questions like these.

"The Grant-Stebbins model says that when a plant species extends its range into an area with new pollinators or without its ancestral pollinator, that switch to a new pollinator will drive speciation," says Ree.

"This model basically predicted that A. acuminatus should have evolved in Taiwanwhen its ancestor colonized Taiwan, it left behind its old pollinators and evolved into a new species that could accommodate the new pollinators in its new home."

To test whether the Grant-Stebbins model was accurate for A. acuminatus, Ree and Lu analyzed the DNA of A. acuminatus specimens growing in Taiwan and in mainland Asia, as well as the DNA of other species of lipstick vines.

The short, yellowish-green flowers of A. acuminatus, compared with the long, red flowers of its cousin, A. bracteatus, a more typical lipstick vine. Credit: Jing-Yi Lu.

The researchers used software that compared the similarities and differences in these plants' DNA and built family trees showing the likeliest explanations for how the plants were related to each other. The results were surprising.

"The branching patterns on the family trees we made revealed that the A. acuminatus plants on Taiwan descended from other A. acuminatus plants from the mainlandthe species originated on the mainland," says Ree.

Even though the lipstick vines on the mainland lived alongside sunbirds that could pollinate their skinny flowers, some of them split off into a new species that accommodated birds with shorter beaks (in addition to sunbirds, which were still capable of feeding from the shorter flowers). The Grant-Stebbins model, for this particular example of plant evolution, didn't fit.

"It was really exciting to get these results, because they don't follow the classic ideas of how we would have imagined the species evolved," says Lu.

New questions about pollinator evolution

While the mystery of A. acuminatus's origin has been solved, that discovery opens up new questions. "Why did this pollinator switch happen, when the original pollinator, the sunbird, is still there?" says Ree.

The short, wide, yellow-green flowers of A. acuminatus, an atypical lipstick vine. Credit: Jing-Yi Lu.

Looking for plants of Aeschynanthus acuminatus in the subtropical montane cloud forest in Malipo, southeastern Yunnan, China. Credit: Dr. Chih-Chieh Yu.

"Our hypothesis is that at some point in the past, sunbirds stopped being optimal or sufficient pollinators for some of the plants on the mainland. There must have been circumstances under which natural selection favored this transition toward generalist passerine birds with shorter beaks as pollinators."

Beyond answering questions about the evolution of one particular species of flowering vine, Ree says that the project offers a look at the work that goes into scientific discoveries.

"This study shows the importance of natural history, of actually going out into nature and observing ecological interactions," says Ree.

"It takes a lot of human effort that cannot be replicated by AI, it can't be sped up by computersthere's no substitute for getting out there like Jing-Yi did and spending months traveling to different field sites to see where these plants grow and what kinds of birds pollinate them. There's no substitute for that."

Publication details Testing macroevolutionary predictions of the Grant-Stebbins model in the origin of Aeschynanthus acuminatus, New Phytologist (2026). DOI: 10.1111/nph.70871 Journal information: New Phytologist

Key concepts pollinationbiogeographypollinators
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(a) Schematic device structure of antimony chalcogenides thin film solar cells. Simulated proton interaction with Sb 2 S 3 devices for (b) 100 and (c) 300 keV protons. Credit: Solar RRL (2025). DOI: 10.1002/solr.202500699

Solar cells face significant challenges when deployed in outer space, where extremes in the environment decrease the efficiency and longevity they enjoy back on Earth. University of Toledo physicists are taking on these challenges at the Wright Center for Photovoltaics Innovation and Commercialization, in line with a large-scale research project supported by the Air Force Research Laboratory.

One recent advancement pertains to an emerging technology that utilizes antimony compounds as light-absorbing semiconductors. A group of UToledo faculty and students recently published a first-of-its-kind assessment exploring the promising characteristics of these antimony chalcogenide-based solar cells for space applications in the journal Solar RRL, which highlighted the work on its front cover.

"Antimony chalcogenide solar cells exhibit superior radiation robustness compared to the conventional technologies we're deploying in space," said Alisha Adhikari, a doctoral student in physics who co-led the team of undergraduate, graduate and faculty researchers at UToledo. "But they'll need to become much more efficient before they become a competitive alternative for future space missions."

The team of physicists plans to explore new ways to harvest solar energy amid extreme temperatures, high particle radiation and other space-related challenges.

Alisha Adhikari, a physics doctoral student (left) and post-doctoral researcher Dr. Vijay Karade prepare autoclaves for deposition at the Wright Center for Photovoltaics Innovation and Commercialization. Credit: University of Toledo

The team is led by Dr. Randall Ellingson, a professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy and Wright Center for Photovoltaics Innovation and Commercialization Endowed Chair. Other collaborators include postdoctoral researcher Dr. Vijay Karade and doctoral student Scott Lambright, who co-led the research with Adhikari, as well as Dr. Yanfa Yan and Dr. Zhaoning Song.

The team's latest research reflects a growing interest in antimony compounds as a key material in the construction of solar cells.

More information Alisha Adhikari et al, Assessing Proton Radiation Hardness of Antimony Chalcogenide Solar Cells, Solar RRL (2025). DOI: 10.1002/solr.202500699

Key concepts Extraterrestrial Environment
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Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

Academic freedom is often described as a cornerstone of democratic society. Politicians regularly claim to defend it, universities invoke it in mission statements and most members of the public say they support it in principle.

So why does it provoke such intense disagreement once it becomes concrete? At first glance, these disputes look like arguments about universities. But our research suggests something else is going on. Public disagreements over academic freedom are not simply about campus policy. They reflect deeper divides over political ideology and trust in expertise.

Debates about academic freedom have become increasingly prominent in the UK. New free speech legislation to protect academic freedom in universities was introduced in 2025. Disputes over offensive research, controversial speakers or international partnerships routinely make headlines.

Similar tensions exist elsewhere, even if they are less visible. In Japan, for example, academic freedom is formally protected in article 23 of the constitution, but scholars often report subtle pressures to avoid politically sensitive topics.

In a new study, we surveyed over 3,300 people in the UK and Japan to examine how citizens understand academic freedom when it is presented in concrete terms rather than abstract slogans.

Instead of asking whether people support "academic freedom" in general, we asked how much they agreed or disagreed with specific scenarios. These included whether universities should protect research that causes offense, and whether academics should be free to publish controversial findings. We also asked whether universities should collaborate with multinational corporations or political regimes accused of human rights abuses.

This approach matters. In surveys, people often express strong support for free inquiry in the abstract. But once academic freedom is tied to real-world trade-offs, such as offense, harm, reputation or political controversy, agreement tends to fracture.

Across both countries, political ideology emerged as one of the strongest predictors of attitudes toward academic freedom.

Right-leaning respondents were consistently more supportive of academic freedom. They were more likely to oppose restrictions on offensive research and more likely to agree that academics should be protected even when their work provokes controversy. This pattern appeared not only in the UK, where universities are deeply entangled in culture-war debates, but also in Japan, where such disputes are less visible in public life.

Left-leaning respondents, by contrast, were more likely to emphasize accountability. They tended to support limits on research perceived as offensive or harmful, reflecting greater concern for social sensitivity and the potential impact of academic work on marginalized groups.

These differences suggest that academic freedom is not a single, universally understood value. Instead, people interpret it through broader political worldviews. For some, it primarily means freedom from interference. For others, it is inseparable from social responsibility.

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Trust in scientists matters

Trust also plays a crucial role. In both countries, people who trusted scientists more strongly were more likely to support academic freedom, particularly when asked whether researchers should be protected regardless of whether their findings cause offense.

Trust appears to act as a kind of permission structure. When people believe scientists are acting in good faith, they are more willing to tolerate controversial outcomes.

This effect was especially pronounced in Japan. There, trust in scientists was one of the strongest predictors of support for academic freedom across multiple scenarios. This likely reflects Japan's institutional culture. Deference to expertise remains relatively high and political conflict over universities is more muted than in the UK.

In Britain, by contrast, trust in scientists mattered most when academic freedom was framed as protection for individual researchers, but less so when questions involved partnerships with controversial regimes. In those cases, trust was more conditional. This suggests that even trusted experts are expected to exercise judgment about ethical boundaries.

Taken together, these findings point to a deeper pattern. Public attitudes toward academic freedom are structured by two competing logics.

One emphasizes autonomy. This is the idea that scholars must be insulated from political and social pressure in order to pursue knowledge freely. The other emphasizes accountability: the belief that universities, as publicly funded institutions, should be responsive to social norms and moral concerns.

Most people do not fully embrace one logic or the other. Instead, they shift between them depending on the issue at hand. Many support free research in principle but draw lines when offense, ethics or international politics enter the picture.

This helps explain why debates over academic freedom so often feel polarized and unresolved. They are not simply disputes about policy details. They are disagreements about which values should take priority when liberal principles collide.

These findings have important implications.

First, they suggest that appeals to "academic freedom" alone are unlikely to persuade skeptics. Because people understand the concept differently, arguments that assume a shared meaning often talk past their audience.

Second, they highlight the importance of trust. Where confidence in scientists and universities is high, support for academic autonomy is more resilient. Where trust erodes, demands for oversight and restriction grow stronger.

Finally, disputes over academic freedom reflect broader tensions within democratic societies between liberty and accountability. These tensions are not new, but they are becoming more visible as universities sit at the center of political and cultural change.

Rather than asking whether academic freedom is under threat, a better question may be this: how can institutions sustain public trust while defending the autonomy that makes academic inquiry possible in the first place?

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Brandon Welsh, deans professor of criminology and criminology PhD candidate Heather Paterson, used Joan McCords archives to study her legacy. Credit: Matthew Modoono/Northeastern University

There's been much published about the Cambridge-Somerville Youth Study, which looked at the impact of intervention on delinquency in young Massachusetts boys. The groundbreaking research followed up with study participants for decades after the fact and found that the interventions they received as youths did not help them later in life. But until now, not many have cast an investigative eye on Joan McCord, the noted criminologist who directed CSYS from 1975 to 2004.

Brandon Welsh, dean's professor of criminology at Northeastern University, and criminology Ph.D. candidate Heather Paterson recently published an article in the British Journal of Criminology that examines archival material to consider whether the initial blowback to the results had a lasting effect and whether McCord's identity as a woman affected the initial controversy. While the research couldn't completely determine how McCord's identity affected the response to her work, they found she did experience some prejudice, none of which derailed her work.

"For this particular research, we wanted to take a historical lens on a particular point in time of the study (and) a rather consequential point," Welsh said.

Their paper focuses on McCord's early years as director of the study. In 1975, she conducted a midlife follow-up of the study when the men involved were, on average, in their mid-40s. Her research found that many of the men in the intervention program fared worse than their counterparts in the control group. They were more likely to have committed more than one crime, died before 35, find work unsatisfactory, or suffer from stress-related disorders, alcoholism or mental illness.

These particular findings, Welsh said, have been foundational in the field of criminology, thanks in no small part to McCord's work. But they were not positively received at the time, in part because they contradicted the expected outcome. However, the researchers wondered whether McCord's identity as a woman could have also played a role.

"For her to remain dedicated to the work by being transparent and receiving a lot of blowback is something we wanted to document for history's sake," Paterson said. "She received some negative reactions from the public and academic community. That led us to ask this question about if and how Joan McCord's identity as a woman impacted some of the way the results were received by the public and academic communities. It's still relevant to today's world as far as the treatment of women in academia relative to their male counterparts."

Welsh is the current director of CSYS, having taken over the study in 2015, and Paterson joined the research team about five years ago. Welsh is also the keeper of McCord's archives, which the two relied on to do research not only about the legacy of McCord's findings, but her own experience when reporting them. In her papers, they found newspaper clippings about the study, unpublished conference papers and extensive correspondence.

"There was a whole variety of different sources, which made it really interesting," Paterson said. "It's like a puzzle, putting together the different pieces."

Combing through dozens of boxes of McCord's papers, the two were able to paint a better picture of her. McCord began publishing scientific papers and books on criminology years before receiving her doctorate from Stanford University. Her work focused particularly on juvenile delinquency and she had been involved with CSYS since 1956, before becoming director.

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But in their research, they also found she faced challenges as a woman in academia. This included losing a research fellowship when she left her abusive husband and having to relocate across the country with her two sons in the midst of her doctorate.

During their research, Paterson said they found letters McCord sent to her research team in which she asked that, when sending follow-up letters to the study's participants, the team refer to her as "Dr. McCord" and avoid using her first name so she wouldn't be immediately identified as a woman.

"She was worried that would discourage the men from continuing to participate in the research if they realized she was a woman," Paterson added. "It goes to show the consciousness she had around how her identity might influence the work. She was dedicated to conducting high-quality research and wanted to maintain the high level of continued participation that the study was experiencing."

The researchers also found that McCord experienced negative phone calls and people yelling at her in public about her work.

The research could not totally ascertain how McCord's identity played into the negativity she received during the reporting of the results; her experience aligned with other studies that have found women in leadership roles are more likely to face prejudice. Furthermore, she continued to display strong leadership, which helped her persevere.

Despite the initial backlash to the results of the midlife check-in, McCord's findings made an impact. Her work led to new advances in delinquency prevention programs. McCord's findings also prompted a new generation of delinquency prevention studies.

"There's value in all different types of research, including archival research where you're interviewing a smaller number of people," Paterson said. "We really wanted to highlight how her actions were real sources of epistemic justice. She was really instrumental in reorganizing the resources of the study and allowing it to continue by the high rigor Richard Clarke Cabot set up in the 1930s. And we wanted to celebrate what the study means to our field, especially because of McCord's identity as a woman."

More information Heather L Paterson et al, Iatrogenic Effects and the Myth of the Downfall of Delinquency Prevention: Joan McCord and the Cambridge-Somerville Youth Study, 19752004, The British Journal of Criminology (2025). DOI: 10.1093/bjc/azaf105

This story is republished courtesy of Northeastern Global News news.northeastern.edu.
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Credit: Keith Hiscock MBE

A new report has revealed that a dramatic population bloom of the common octopus (Octopus vulgaris) off the South West coast is having significant effects on fisheries and marine ecosystems.

The common octopus is native to UK waters but is typically rare, favoring warmer seas farther south in Europe and the Mediterranean. Only four major population blooms have been recorded in the past 125 yearsin 1899-1900, 193233, 195051with the current bloom, which really accelerated from January last year, appearing to be at least as extensive as any previously recorded.

A study examining it was conducted by researchers from the University of Plymouth, the Marine Biological Association (MBA), Plymouth Marine Laboratory (PML) and an independent consultant. It draws on data from scientists, fishermen and citizen scientists.

"This is an extraordinary event that tells us a lot about how marine life is responding to a warming ocean, and the survey reveals the mixed effect that this has had on fisheries. Establishing the full effect of the current bloom on other species such as crabs, lobsters and scallops will require further research and monitoring.

"If these conditions persist, octopus blooms could become a more regular feature of our changing seas. Understanding their causes and consequences is vital to help both ecosystems and coastal communities adapt. This is not just a fisheries story; it's an ecosystem story. We need to understand how these octopus blooms affect everything from shellfish stocks to top predators, and how to adapt in a rapidly changing ocean," says Dr. Bryce Stewart.

Climate link and cross-Channel connections

The research team found that unusually warm sea temperatures during bloom years and the preceding year were a consistent factor in all recorded blooms. Sustained easterly winds may have helped transport young octopus larvae from the Channel Islands and northern France. Ocean current modeling supports this, showing that larvae from Guernsey, which has seen its own octopus bloom since 2024, likely contributed to the UK surge.

A survey of 40 fishers revealed mixed impacts from the octopus surge. While some adapted to catching octopus and benefited economically for a period of time, over half reported negative impacts, particularly those targeting brown crabs, lobsters and scallops, which suffered heavy predation from the octopus. Catch rates for those species dropped by 30% to 50% in 2025. Concerns are therefore growing about long-term damage to crab, lobster and scallop stocks.

Looking ahead: Monitoring, modeling and management

The report calls for continued monitoring through MBA trawl surveys, University of Plymouth BRUV work, and enhanced Cefas stock assessments. It also recommends the proposed OctoPulse model of ocean conditions, which was developed at Plymouth Marine Laboratory; early detection of octopus larvae in plankton, and easier ways for fishermen to report sightings via apps or digital systems.

Multiple reports of octopus breeding and sightings of juveniles in UK waters in 2025, previously almost unheard of, suggest the current bloom may continue or reoccur again soon. The team stresses the need to help fisheries adapt to the changing abundance of different species, and recommends further research into how sudden influxes of previously rare species affect marine ecosystems under climate change.

"As a result of our long-term monitoring datasets, we have a great opportunity to measure changes in the octopus population to inform sustainable ecosystem scale management. It is essential that we monitor any changes in abundance, distribution and movement, and that we assess octopus relationships with other species such as useful associates, prey or predators," says Professor Emma Sheehan.

The report concludes that octopus blooms could become a regular feature of UK seas, requiring support for gear adaptation and sustainable fishery development.

More information Common octopus (Octopus vulgaris) blooms off the Southwest of the UK: History, trends, causes and consequences. Report on Work Package 1: History, causes and consequences of octopus blooms. www.plymsea.ac.uk/id/eprint/10535/
Neil Young has offered up his entire music catalogue and more to the residents of Greenland for free.

Photo: Avalon

Amid US President Donald Trump's repeated threats to seize Greenland, the 80-year-old musician has offered the nation's citizens "peace and love" in musical form.

He announced: "I hope my music and music films will ease some of the unwarranted stress and threats you are experiencing from our unpopular and hopefully temporary government.

"It is my sincere wish for you to be able to enjoy all of my music in your beautiful Greenland home, in its highest quality. This is an offer of peace and love. All the music I made during the last 62 years is yours to hear. We do hope other organisations will follow in the spirit of our example."

Residents will be able to sign up for 12 months of free access to Young's entire digital archive, including film and other bonus material.

Meanwhile, Young recently confirmed he still intends to keep his music off Amazon after hitting out at its owner, Jeff Bezos.

He told fans on Neil Young Archives: "Amazon is owned by Jeff Bezos, a billionaire backer of the president," he stated.

"The president's international policies and his support of ICE make it impossible for me to ignore his actions. If you feel as I do, I strongly recommend that you do not use Amazon. There are many ways to avoid Amazon and support individual Americans and American companies that supply the same products.

"My music will never be available on Amazon, as long as it is owned by Bezos."

In October, the Harvest Moon musician slammed Bezos and his company in a candid blog post, condemning his support for the Trump administration.

He wrote: "Forget Amazon and Whole Foods [supermarket chain owned by Amazon]. Forget Facebook. Buy local. Buy direct. [Jeff] Bezos supports this government. It does not support you or me."

The rock legend added: "The time is here. Forget Amazon. Soon my music will not be there. It is easy to buy local. Support your community. Go to the local store.

"Dont go back to the big corporations who have sold out America. We all have to give up something to save America from the Corporate Control Age it is entering.

"They need you to buy from them. Dont. They shut down our government. Your income. Your safety. Your familys health security. Take America Back.

"Together, stop buying from the big corporations, support local business. Do the right thing. Show who you are."

He previously removed his music from Spotify to protest the platform's distribution of The Joe Rogan Experience podcast amid concerns it was spreading misinformation about vaccines.

However, Young later returned his music to the platform in 2024, admitting other streamers were also hosting similar podcasts, and he could not remove all his work from the online world.

In a statement issued at the time, Young explained: "My decision comes as music services Apple and Amazon have started serving the same disinformation podcast features I had opposed at Spotify.

"I cannot just leave Apple and Amazon, like I did Spotify, because my music would have very little streaming outlet to music lovers at all, so I have returned to Spotify, in sincere hopes that Spotify sound quality will improve and people will be able to hear and feel all the music as we made it.

"Qobuz and Tidal, where my music is presented, are all High res as well."
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Credit: Anthony Brown from Pexels

Millions of people in southeastern Australia are sweating through a record-breaking heat wave. The heat this week is likely to be one for the history books. The heat began on Saturday January 24th. On Australia Day, three sites in South Australia and two in New South Wales broke their all-time temperature records. Ceduna reached a whopping 49.5C in the shadejust 1.2C off the highest temperature ever recorded in Australia.

Today, temperatures have topped 49C in northwest Victoria and South Australia for the first time on record, and many towns face days of heat over 40C. Regions such as the Otway Ranges in Victoria are facing extreme fire danger. Renmark in South Australia has reached 49.3C and Walpeup in Victoria has reached 48.7C.

This is shaping up as the worst heat wave since the Black Summer of 201920. The intense heat that summer contributed to catastrophic bushfires which burned 21% of the continent, an area still considered globally unprecedented.

Independent analysis found the last heat wave between January 5 to 10 was made over five times more likely by global heating. This current heat wave is substantially worse, but we'll have to wait for attribution studies to understand how much global heating has contributed to its overall severity.

The sustained heat hitting the southeast will be widespread and prolonged. It's likely more all-time temperature records will be broken this week, as the body of hot air stagnates over the south and southeast. People in exposed areas should heed warnings from the Bureau of Meteorology and advice from health and emergency response authorities.

What's driving this heat wave?

The Pilbara region in northwest Western Australia is sometimes called the nation's "heat engine." This large, sparsely populated area is very dry. When heat hits Pilbara rocks and sands, it can quickly build up. Weather conditions are very stable, and Pilbara heat waves can last weeks.

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But that doesn't explain how the heat gets to population centers in Australia's south and southeast.

Over summer, there are often active monsoonal troughs (areas of low atmospheric pressure) over northern Australia. As the monsoon brings heavy rain and low-pressure systems to parts of northern Australia, it pushes high-pressure systems, known as heat domes, further south. This directs intense heat thousands of kilometers towards the southern, central and eastern parts of the continent.

Tropical monsoonal low-pressure systems in the north often work in tandem with slow-moving high-pressure systems in the Tasman Sea or Great Australian Bight. The result is a weather pattern able to shift hot air masses thousands of kilometers to reach the southern states.

Blocking highs are strong high-pressure systems which can sit in place for days or even weeks, blocking other weather systems from moving in. The blocking high-pressure system responsible for the current heat wave is staying put in the atmosphere a few kilometers above New South Wales.

As winds blow from areas of high pressure to low pressure in the atmosphere, air is forced to flow down towards the surface. As the air descends, it compresses due to rising atmospheric pressure. Compression heats the air further, which can make heat waves hotter and longer-lasting.

When conditions like this are in place, hot northerly winds often persist for days, funneling more and more desert heat towards the coasts. This can cause temperatures to exceed 40C in states such as South Australia, Victoria, New South Wales and southern Queensland.

During this extreme heat wave, maximum temperatures in some southern towns are approaching 50Cthe sort of temperature once restricted to famously hot towns such as Marble Bar in Western Australia.

The official Australian record for the maximum temperature in the shade is 50.7C, recorded at Oodnadatta (South Australia) in 1960 and Onslow (Western Australia) in 2022. This shared all-time record may be broken at several southeast inland locations this week as atmospheric conditions are amplified by the steady drumbeat of global heating.

During severe, prolonged heat waves, intense daytime heat is accompanied by hot nights. The humidity can sometimes also increase due to tropical moisture being transported south. The combination of heat and humidity (measured as heat indices) is particularly dangerous to humans, livestock and wildlife.

Should this heat wave be named?

For decades, tropical cyclones hitting Australia have been given names. Should heat waves similarly be given names to encourage people to take them seriously? Names can make weather hazards more memorable, helping people recall warnings, share information with neighbors and prepare more effectively.

This week's heat wave would be an excellent candidate for naming. It is severe, breaking all-time records, long-lasting and widespread. It is also threatening major metropolitan centers with high populations, as well as major regional centers and nationally important agricultural districts. To date, there's no sign authorities plan to name it.

Responding to future heat waves

Climate scientists now widely agree average global temperatures will permanently rise 1.5C over pre-industrial levels by the early 2030s. They may reach 2.7C by the 2090s if global carbon emissions do not fall sharply.

This means future heat waves are likely to strike more often and hit harder when they arrive.

We need to adapt to the increasing threats posed by more and worse heat waves even as we work to cut emissions. Extreme heat is a public health issue, to say nothing of the threats it poses to our wildlife and livestock who have no escape.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
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Conceptual hypothesis of slope lineae formation on Mercury. Credit: Nature Communications Earth & Environment(2026). DOI: 10.1038/s43247-025-03146-8. https://www.nature.com/articles/s43247-025-03146-8

Although Mercury was geologically active in its early days, today its surface appears almost completely static. This is why it is often perceived as a dead and dry planet. A new study led by Dr. Valentin Bickel from the Center for Space and Habitability at the University of Bern and from the NCCR PlanetS together with researchers from the Astronomical Observatory of Padua (INAF) has now carried out the first systematic analysis of so-called slope streaks, or "lineae." The abundance and distribution of lineae provide new insights into the geological activity of the innermost and smallest planet in our solar system.

In their study, the research group first used machine learning to create a systematic inventory of the lineae on Mercury. With a geostatistical analysis of this inventory, the researchers were able to show that these bright, linear streaks, which can be seen on slopes across the planet, were probably driven by the outgassing of subsurface volatile material from the subsurface. This indicates that there is a continuous release of volatiles from Mercury into spaceeven today. The study has just been published in the journal Communications Earth & Environment.

Inventory of the streaks on Mercury thanks to machine learning

The research team used a deep learning approach to analyze about 100,000 high-resolution images from NASA's MESSENGER space probe, which explored the planet Mercury from 2011 to 2015. They mapped the overall distribution and morphological properties of about 400 bright streaks on Mercury.

"Until now, lineae on Mercury had not been systematically mapped and studied; only a small handful of streaks were known. With the image analysis, we were able to create the first census, i.e., a systematic inventory, of slope streaks on Mercury," explains first author Valentin Bickel.

Examples of various slope lineae source regions. Credit: Nature Communications Earth & Environment(2026). DOI: 10.1038/s43247-025-03146-8. https://www.nature.com/articles/s43247-025-03146-8

Geological activity on a supposedly dead planet

The inventory shows that the bright streaks mainly occur on the sun-facing slopes of young impact craters that penetrated volcanic material and into potentially volatile-rich bedrock underneath. The fact that the lineae accumulate in these particularly exposed and temporarily warm regions indicates that solar radiation plays an important role in the activation of lineae formation.

"Volatile material could reach the surface from deeper layers through networks of cracks in the rock caused by the preceding impact," explains Bickel. "Most of the streaks appear to originate from bright depressions, so-called 'hollows.' These hollows are probably also formed by the outgassing of volatile material and are usually located in the shallow interior or along the edges of large impact craters," Bickel continues.

"With our analysis, we were therefore able to propose that slope lineae are probably formed by the outgassing of volatiles such as sulfur or other light elements, that are sourced from the interior of the planet," Bickel continues. The new study indicates that the planet Mercury is more geologically active than previously thought. "Our findings paint a completely different, dynamic picture of the supposedly dead, dry and boring planet Mercury," says Bickel.

Important findings for future missions to Mercury

The role of lineae as potential indicators for the outgassing of volatiles on Mercury provides important insights into the geological dynamics and composition of the planet. Bickel says, "Our results suggest that Mercury not only has a turbulent past but is still subject to modification today." The results obtained are particularly important for future missions to Mercury.

"As the streaks on Mercury are presumably caused by the outgassing of volatile material, they could be a promising indicator of Mercury's 'volatile budget,' i.e., how much volatile material the planet is continuously losing," explains Bickel. The researchers now hope that they will be able to clearly prove their assumption about the activity of lineae with new images of Mercury, which the BepiColombo mission of the European Space Agency ESA and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency JAXA should provide.

The BepiColombo mission is currently on its way to Mercury. The University of Bern is involved in multiple instruments on this mission: The laser altimeter BELA (BepiColombo Laser Altimeter), the mass spectrometer STROFIO and the plasma instrument ENA (Energetic Neutrals Analyzer). BELA was designed and built at the Physics Institute of the University of Bern, among others, and will use laser pulses to measure the distance to Mercury's surface with an accuracy of around 10 cm from an orbital altitude of around 1,000 km. This data will be used to create a detailed 3D model of Mercury's topography.

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In addition, existing models of tectonic deformation and the surface composition of the planet will be refined so that the geological processes on Mercury can be reconstructed even more accurately. STROFIO is a NASA instrument for which the University of Bern designed, calculated and built the so-called ion-optical system. STROFIO will record Mercury's very thin atmosphere and analyze its chemical composition. ENA is an imaging plasma instrument of the Swedish Institute of Space Physics (IRF), to which the University of Bern has also contributed ion-optical components for the targeted guidance and bundling of charged particles.

Bickel is also closely collaborating with the SIMBIO-SYS principal investigator and science team at the Astronomical Observatory of Padua (INAF). SIMBIO-SYS is an integrated imaging and spectroscopic instrument which is also on its way to Mercury with the BepiColombo mission. Among other things, it will provide high-resolution images and 3D images of Mercury's surface.

The research team plans to use the inventory created as part of the current study to re-photograph and examine certain regions with lineae using the BepiColombo mission. The aim is to determine whether and how many new streaks have emerged between the observations from the MESSENGER space probe and the future images from BepiColombo.

"With these investigations, we want to better understand the formation mechanisms and the temporal development of these structures and thus gain further indications of the role of volatiles in driving geological activity on Mercury," concludes Bickel.
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Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

SpaceX is set to launch its latest national security mission, yet another GPS satellite that was originally to have been launched by United Launch Alliance.

A Falcon 9 that was delayed from Monday because of weather is now set to lift off Tuesday night on the GPS III-9 mission to bring the satellite to medium-Earth orbit from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station's Space Launch Complex 40, targeting a 15-minute warning that opens at 11:38 p.m. A backup option falls to Wednesday night at 11:34 p.m.

Space Launch Delta 45's weather squadron forecasts a 95% chance for good conditions Tuesday.

This will be the fifth trip to space for the first-stage booster, which will aim for a recovery landing downrange on the droneship A Shortfall of Gravitas, stationed in the Atlantic.

It's the second national security mission of the year for SpaceX, which flew the NROL-105 mission from California earlier this month.

ULA had originally been awarded the GPS III-9 task order as part of the National Security Space Launch Phase 2 contract back in 2023, but as ULA's new Vulcan rocket faced delays in certification, the Space Force beginning in 2024 began trading out assigned Vulcan missions.

ULA will in exchange take over the launch of another Phase 2 GPS mission that had been given to SpaceX and originally targeted to ride on a Falcon Heavy.

It's the third GPS satellite that was taken from an original Vulcan assignment and switched to SpaceX following the Rapid Response Trailblazer launch in December 2024 and the GPS III-7 mission in May 2025.

This particular satellite, the Space Vehicle 09, is named in honor of NASA astronaut Col. Ellison Onizuka, who died aboard Space Shuttle Challenger on Jan. 28, 1986.

It's the ninth of 10 satellites constructed by Lockheed Martin to add to the U.S.'s GPS capability in space. It's also part of an accelerated mission timeline laid out by the Space Force for national security missions in which payloads get to space in under three months from the decision to go, compared to the normal turnaround that can take up to 24 months.

"For this launch, we traded a GPS III mission from a Vulcan to a Falcon 9, then exchanged a later GPS IIIF mission from a Falcon Heavy to a Vulcan," said USSF Col. Ryan Hiserote, SYD 80 Commander and NSSL program manager.

"Our commitment to keeping things flexibleprogrammatically and contractuallymeans that we can pivot when necessary to changing circumstances. We have a proven ability to adapt the launch manifest to complex and dynamic factors and are continuing to shorten our timelines for delivering critical capabilities to warfighters."

This GPS satellite has been in Florida since July, but is on target to launch within six months of arrival.

"This mission represents an outstanding collaboration across multiple teams and agencies," said U.S. Space Force Col. Stephen Hobbs, MD 31 commander. "It foot stomps our ability to rapidly deploy a high-value space asset, in this case, an additional M-Code-capable satellite that brings significant, immediate value to the Joint Force."

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ULA and SpaceX have shifted roles since the NSSL Phase 2 contracts were originally announced. The five years' worth of task orders announced from fiscal 2020-2024 were to give ULA 60% of the assignments. All of those were supposed to fly on Vulcan, with its first launches to be completed by summer 2022.

To date, ULA has only managed to fly two of those 26 missions. The first had to shift to an Atlas V rocket in summer 2024 as Vulcan wasn't certified until spring 2025.

ULA, which is a joint venture of Boeing and Lockheed Martin that formed in 2006, had originally been targeting mid-2020 for Vulcan's debut. But it faced hurdles from COVID, acquisition of engines from supplier Blue Origin, delays from customer payloads and even a fiery test-stand incident that all contributed to a nearly four-year slide.

It flew for the first time in January 2024, but not again until that October, both as part of ULA's efforts to get national security certification. An issue with a solid rocket booster motor detaching during launch on the second flight, though, delayed that certification until March 2025.

ULA did manage its first national security launch on a Vulcan last August and has its second, USSF-87, slated to fly as early as Feb. 12.

In the meantime, the NSSL Phase 3 task orders have mostly gone to SpaceX, with launches now being split into two lanes. All of the lane 1 missions, which feature less stringent requirements and are designed to allow for up-and-coming rocket companies to compete, have gone to SpaceX.

The more demanding lane 2 missions can only be flown by SpaceX, ULA and newcomer Blue Origin, although Blue Origin's New Glenn has to complete four missions before its certification and as such has yet to be awarded any task orders.

The full five years' worth of lane 2 missions is worth $13.7 billion for task orders assigned from 2025-2029. The expectation missions will be flown two to three years after assignment. The Space Force said the initial breakdown would dole out more than $5.9 billion to SpaceX, more than $5.3 billion to ULA and nearly $2.4 billion to Blue Origin.

SpaceX would receive 28 of 54 planned missions, or 52%. Meanwhile, ULA's take is only 19 missions, or 35%, while newcomer Blue Origin would get seven, or 13%.

2026 Orlando Sentinel. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
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Joseph OHalloran, Editor-in-Chief, Rapid TV News

Joe OHalloran has been a writer and business analyst for over twenty years in the IT/broadcasting/CGI/telecoms/design/travel/consumer sectors, with additional experience of working as an automotive systems engineer for Shell UK.

Titles worked for include The Financial Times, Computer Weekly, Microscope, handbag.com, CGI, C3, C2M, IBE, CADCAM,CSI, IT Europa, Euromedia, IPTV International, Infosecurity Today, IBC Daily, TVB Europe, Future Digital, BT Talking Business, Cable and Satellite Europe, Broadband, New Design Magazine, Vehicle Engineering Design, Design Export News, Unix & NT News, Individual Homes, DECUser, The VAR, Holiday Magazine (Canary Islands), KrisWorld (Singapore Airlines In-flight Magazine) and North West Business Insider. Also worked as a digital media futures analyst for the Stanford Research Centres Business Intelligence Consulting division with clients including, Samsung, Nokia, BBC, DERA (QinetiQ), TDC TeleDanmark, T-Online, III (Taiwan), Chungwa Telecom (Taiwan), NTT, KDDI, Mitsubishi, Casio, Sumitomo and Hitachi.

Also the author of white papers on broadband networks, video on demand, flat panel display technology, conditional access and security of pay-TV, unified communications, security for the extended enterprise, hosted communications, security for retail IT, mobile services for financial institutions, standards for retail IT, IT for manufacturing networks. Also lectured, at The University of Hertfordshire and The Academy of Contemporary Music respectively, in design and new media technology.

Richard Hewes, Commercial Director, Broadcast Tech & Sport Group, MB Insight



Rich is the Commercial Director for the Tech & Sport Group at Broadcast.



He joined Broadcast in 2018 having spent the previous 7 years at EMAP Publishing working across marketing solutions, conferences and awards.



During his time at Broadcast, Rich created the Broadcast Sport portfolio including the Broadcast Sport Magazine, Broadcast Sport Conferences and most recently the Broadcast Sport Awards.



The Broadcast portfolio engages with broadcasters, production companies, rights holders and the post production/vfx community. With the recent addition of Rapid TV News to the portfolio, Rich will look to develop more commercial synergies and offerings across the M&E, broadcast, OTT, sport and telco space.

Charlotte Wheeler, Director, Broadcast Tech & Sport Group, MB Insight



Charlotte has been part of the Broadcast brand since March 2004, starting on what was then the Broadcast Production Show. As the show grew and then merged form BVE, Charlotte became event director of the show until a years break for maternity.



During this time Media Business Insight was formed and the Broadcast brand was housed within a new holding company in 2013. Broadcast has a heritage of almost 65 years within the television industry providing the most up to date news and exclusives across the production, distribution and tech creative industries.



Within the business it also hosts a number of successful industry awards, conferences and now the only trade show, The Media Production & Technology Show, which Charlotte leads.



In September 2021, the Broadcast Tech & Sport group was formed lead by Charlotte as director. The products include the trade show, 2 sets of awards, 2 conferences and digital and print publications across the tech and sport sectors.



And now Rapid TV News has joined the group to bring new expertise into the group.


The ad-supported subscription plan for Disney+ has arrived in the UK, priced at 4.99 a month (3 cheaper than the Standard ad-free option). Viewers get up to 1080p full HD video, two concurrent streams and up to 5.1 audio, all of which matches Standard ad-free. The ad-supported subscription plan for Disney+ has arrived in the UK, priced at 4.99 a month (3 cheaper than the Standard ad-free option). Viewers get up to 1080p full HD video, two concurrent streams and up to 5.1 audio, all of which matches Standard ad-free.



Disney+ is also available in a Premium option, ad-free, with up to 4K UHD/HDR, four concurrent streams and downloads on up to ten devices  priced at 10.99 on a monthly basis. The Standard ad-free package also includes downloads on up to ten devices. There are annual subscription options on Standard (no ads) and Premium (no ads) that amount to a 17% discount, but no annual option for Standard with Ads.



Luke Bradley Jones, General Manager of Disney+ EMEA, says: Todays launch represents a significant milestone for Disney+ in the UK, offering customers the flexibility to select a plan that suits their needs and budget. All our customers can enjoy a wide-ranging collection of award-winning original TV series and blockbuster movies, including FXs The Bear, Elemental, and Coleen Rooney: The Real Wagatha Story, along with fan favourites like Season 2 of Marvel Studios Loki and the latest series of The Simpsons and Greys Anatomy.



Deborah Armstrong, County Manager UK&I, GM Media Networks and Advertising EMEA, Disney, adds: Disney+ offers advertisers a prime opportunity to join our premium streaming platform. The response from our clients and agencies has been overwhelmingly positive, firmly showcasing the quality of our content and the strong bond our brands share with audiences worldwide. Were partnering with a fantastic range of brands in all markets right from day one.



Photo: Coleen Rooney: The Real Wagatha Story, which is one of the many original series available on Disney+.


The Belgian streaming service Streamz is creating a Paramount+ branded area on its platform as part of a multi-year licensing deal that includes scripted and unscripted series and childrens programming. Branded hubs represent an emerging distribution option. The Belgian streaming service Streamz is creating a Paramount+ branded area on its platform as part of a multi-year licensing deal that includes scripted and unscripted series and childrens programming. Branded hubs represent an emerging distribution option.



This agreement reinforces Paramount Global Content Distributions strategy to expand the Paramount+ brand globally in multiple ways. In the streaming space this already includes making Paramount+ available as a direct-to-consumer service and bundled partnerships in key markets. The company points out that it will use branded hubs in local markets through licensing deals, as seen here.



The Paramount+ branded hub on Streamz will be available from December and includes access to the latest Paramount+ series next year. It gives Streamz subscribers the ability to search for and stream content from Paramount.



Titles like 1883, 1923, Frasier, Mayor of Kingstown, Paw Patrol and Tulsa King are among the many included. Streamz subscribers will also have access to Paramount Pictures films in the coming months including Mission: Impossible  Dead Reckoning Part One and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem.



Dan Cohen, Chief Content Licensing Officer at Paramount Global, and President of Republic Pictures, says: We are thrilled to work with Streamz to showcase the Paramount+ brand in Belgium. By extending our licensing agreement with Streamz, we can offer their subscribers a convenient, one-stop branded area to watch beloved titles and discover new content.



NBCUniversals Peacock subscription streaming service in the U.S. and Hallmark Media claimed a first for the branded hub model when they announced an agreement in October 2022. That dedicated brand hub was prominently featured on Peacocks home page as a singular destination for all things Hallmark Media. Viewers could stream live and on-demand programming from Hallmark Channel, Hallmark Movies & Mysteries and Hallmark Drama via the branded hub.


IRIS.TV and Equativ have partnered to give streaming TV ad buyers the ability to target based on context, and at the same time increase demand that publishers can expect for their inventory. Contextual CTV ad targeting is viewed as a counter-weight to the loss of cookies. IRIS.TV and Equativ have partnered to give streaming TV ad buyers the ability to target based on context, and at the same time increase demand that publishers can expect for their inventory. Contextual CTV ad targeting is viewed as a counter-weight to the loss of cookies.



As the two companies explain: This collaboration comes as standard approaches to digital media monetisation and buying are being disrupted by ongoing changes in data access and usage. Coupled with rising data privacy regulations, the deprecation of third-party cookies in 2024 is creating a greater need for more contextual-based solutions.



With brands, agencies and advertisers recognising the need to explore alternative data sources, there is increasing interest in contextual approaches that can deliver both privacy-compliant and more engaging ads to consumers, especially in the fast-growing CTV space.



IRIS.TV provides a platform built for structuring, connecting and activating video-level data. Equativ is a leading independent ad platform. This marks IRIS.TVs first full-stack partnership, enabling the use of granular video-level data across Equativs advanced ad server, supply, and demand-side platforms (SSP and DSP).



IRIS.TV helps publishers securely share video-level insights with advertisers. Its solution ingests and normalises all metadata for each video, and it assigns an IRIS_ID, which is a universal content identifier that can be shared with data partners such as Oracle Advertising, Pixability and GumGums Verity.



These partners use AI for frame-by-frame analysis of the video to provide an understanding of what is being shown in the content  and this in turn can be used to segment inventory and match advertising to it.



Equativ is creating a new marketplace where publishers can easily integrate the IRIS_ID to offer brand-suitable, contextual ad targeting for online video and connected TV inventory. Advertisers benefit from the detailed insights about on-screen digital content when looking to deliver relevant advertising.



Using Equativs platform, the IRIS_ID can be passed into the bid-stream by publishers, enabling flexible programmatic transactions via direct, private marketplace (PMP) and pre-bid deals.



This combined tech stack equips publishers with a common data signal (the IRIS_ID) and means multi-publisher deals can be organised and optimised in the way buyers want to transact. Unique deal IDs are generated effortlessly, the companies report, and these can be accessed by any DSP of their choice.



Sean Holzman, EVP, Ad Platforms and Agencies at IRIS.TV, comments, Accessing content data at the video level has been a major challenge for many contextual intelligence solutions looking to enter the video and CTV arena. The IRIS_ID is engineered to solve this issue and support an open ecosystem where video owners, distributors and advertisers can tap detailed video-level data to deliver the right ads in the moments that matter.



By integrating the IRIS_ID with Equativ, we look forward to providing advanced ad decisioning capabilities that are unique in the marketplace. This integration will also help industry players to achieve deeper audience understanding and, ultimately, provide a better user experience.



James Grant, SVP and Head of Agency & Enterprise CTV Partnerships at Equativ, declares: Maintaining addressability is essential to not only accelerate growth in the CTV space, but also help protect its future viability. We are committed to developing contextual and curation tools that fuel greater yield without relying on cookies, and moving to become an ID-agnostic platform.



Grant continues: Working with IRIS.TV to access content signals via the IRIS_ID is the next phase of that progression, which will bring a rich new avenue of data to make ads even more impactful.



Data management practices adhere to the Video Privacy Protection Act (VPPA). The process of creating brand suitability segments is aligned with the Global Alliance for Responsible Media (GARM) framework.


Swedish public broadcaster SVT believes it is the first broadcaster in Europe to provide subtitles for 100% of its on-demand news content after implementing an innovative subtitling plugin that allows journalists to create AI-generated subtitles with one button press. Swedish public broadcaster SVT believes it is the first broadcaster in Europe to provide subtitles for 100% of its on-demand news content after implementing an innovative subtitling plugin that allows journalists to create AI-generated subtitles with one button press.



Olof Appelqvist, Head of Post Production at SVT, explains: This solution has enabled us to redeploy human resource into other areas of the business and it is saving us millions of Swedish Krona per year. This, in turn, enables us to maintain the quantity and increase the quality of our news output without any sacrifice, as well as providing a better experience to our deaf and hearing-impaired viewers.



Limecraft, which provides cloud-based solutions that enable content creators to store, manage and share assets, is the tech company behind the innovation. Its product portfolio includes AI transcription and image recognition to index content and automate repetitive work. SVT recently partnered with Limecraft and Woody Tech to seamlessly enhance the existing production environment.



All modern media organisations are constantly grappling with the twin issues of technology and efficiency, notes Appelqvist. SVT previously committed to providing subtitles or captions for 95% of our content, but a great deal of our online content is short-form, and the subtitling process has always been very manual and time-consuming.



With our journalists taking increasing responsibility for subtitle creation, it became clear we needed to find a better way of meeting our responsibilities. The business case was extremely compelling, and weve been delighted with the implementation and the overall result. Were also very happy to be an early adopter of this technology, forging a path that were sure other broadcasters will want to follow.



Photo courtesy of Limecraft and SVT.
Tourism Malaysia is set to showcase Malaysias natural beauty, cultural diversity, and luxury travel experiences to UK audiences as part of Visit Malaysia Year 2026 (VM2026).

Malaysia showcases its culture, nature, and luxury travel options to UK audiences with VM2026 launch

The initiative will officially launch at Destinations: The Holiday Travel Show 2026, held from 29 January to 1 February at Olympia London.

The four-day exhibition, one of the UKs largest consumer travel events, brings together over 600 travel brands and more than 90 national and regional tourism boards.

Tourism Malaysia will use the platform to highlight its tropical beaches, ancient rainforests, vibrant cities, wildlife, and globally recognised culinary heritage.

Attendees will have the chance to interact directly with Malaysia tourism representatives, receive tailored itinerary advice, and explore cultural demonstrations and live cooking sessions.

Industry partners including Malaysia Airlines, YTL Hotels, Borneo Adventures, and Odyssey World Tour Operator will be on hand to provide information on flights, accommodation, tours, and packages to help visitors plan trips.

A highlight of the UK launch will include an exclusive holiday prize draw. The winner will receive return Economy Class flights from London to Kuala Lumpur, a five-night stay at Tanjong Jara Resort, and a two-night stay at The Majestic Hotel Kuala Lumpur, including daily breakfast.

The launch signals Malaysias continued focus on the UK as a key long-haul market.

A spokesperson for Tourism Malaysia said: The UK has always been an important source of visitors. VM2026 allows us to raise awareness, encourage longer stays, and showcase the best of Malaysia to British travellers.

Tourism Malaysia will be located at Stand AP10 throughout the event, serving as the hub for travel advice, partner engagement, and competition entry.

VM2026 is designed to promote sustainable tourism growth while supporting local communities and providing memorable experiences for international visitors.


Marquee TV, the global streaming service for arts and culture, has introduced a new and bespoke technology platform to enhance its UX, launched new TV and mobile device apps, and performed a CRM system upgrade to strengthen customer satisfaction. Marquee TV, the global streaming service for arts and culture, has introduced a new and bespoke technology platform to enhance its UX, launched new TV and mobile device apps, and performed a CRM system upgrade to strengthen customer satisfaction.



The new bespoke software stack is designed specifically to enhance the user experience for Marquee TVs global audience base. The new platform means the company can develop its own bespoke website with a user interface designed to maximise the discovery and enjoyment of its specially-curated arts and culture content.



The new platform will support new page designs and this will allow Marquee TVs partners  such as the London Philharmonic Orchestra and the Washington Ballet  to present their content in more effective and interesting ways. It will also support a wider range of arts-related content such as interviews and articles.



The platform enables greater integration and collaboration with other content and technology partners in the online arts environment. Marketing activity on the website can be maximised, including search engine and digital advertising optimisation.



The previous platform was heavily templated and inflexible, whereas the new solution  hosted on a scalable cloud architecture with AWS  harnesses the capability of leading software services, such as JWPlayer and Recurly.



The new TV and mobile device apps are designed to optimise the viewing experience. The streamer is replacing its existing iOS and Android phone apps, Apple, Android, Fire and Roku apps. The company is also adding a new LG TV app.



Marquee TV has upgraded its customer relation management (CRM) system to Blueshift. This is to help engage customers more effectively through communication channels such as email, social media and in-app messaging.



Marquee TV has implemented a new media asset management and syndication platform with Stockholm Stream. This moves the streamer away from an ad-hoc, heavily manual process to support faster and more effective publishing of content.



This also impacts our work with multiple third-party platforms that allow people to enjoy our content across TV platforms such as Comcast and United Group, as well as online platforms like Amazon, YouTube and Apple TV Channels, Marquee TV notes.



Marquee TV is adding new content, too. Having previously focused on dance, opera, music and theatre, the company has recently expanded to include visual arts in its programming, with a series of documentaries on artists such as Frida Khalo, David Hockney and Edgar Degas now available to view. Marquee TV co-commissioned the filming of a recent production of Richard Strauss opera Arabella at the Teatro Real in Madrid, which is now streaming exclusively in the UK via Marquee.



To top an exciting time at the streamer, Edward Humphrey recently joined as CEO. He led the launch and growth of renowned international film platform BFI Player and has advised on streaming strategy for a wide range of European broadcasters.



Photo: Marquee TV is adding visual arts programming to its platform.


RTL AdAlliance has formally incorporated all its local European businesses into one single entity for each market in its quest to connect European media with global brands, simplify media buying, and drive the transition of European linear TV into digital and addressable TV. RTL AdAlliance has formally incorporated all its local European businesses into one single entity for each market in its quest to connect European media with global brands, simplify media buying, and drive the transition of European linear TV into digital and addressable TV.



In 2022, RTL Groups cross-platform sales house announced the consolidation of three previously independently operating companies to form the joint company called RTL AdAlliance. That process is now complete and results in a media sales organisation with combined ad-tech from smartclip tech and Realytics.



Stephane Coruble is CEO of RTL AdAlliance and Oliver Vesper is Deputy CEO and CDO, and there is now a market head for each region.



Offering a central point of contact for all advertising requirements, RTL AdAlliance unifies European TV and premium streaming advertising inventories, buying processes, and reporting for global brands. In addition to RTL in Germany, advertisers can harness inventory from RAI in Italy, ITV in the UK and NBC Universal, plus trusted media brands online and in print (e.g., Guardian, Le Figaro, Prisma, Neue Zurcher Zeitung). Smart TV inventory from Samsung and LG is also represented.



The combined company boasts sales teams in the UK, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Italy, France, Benelux, Nordics and United States and serves advertisers spanning international brands to small/medium enterprises.



As well as offering simplified sales with pan-European and even global reach, the RTL AdAlliance is on a mission to help broadcasters transform to a more streamed and addressable future. With The Trade Desk and smartclip, RTL AdAlliance has established a programmatic buying ecosystem for addressable linear and connected TV. In partnership with Realytics, it has improved the measurement accuracy of cross-platform campaigns from linear TV to online advertising.



Stephane Coruble says: The integration of RTL AdAlliance could not have gone better. Our three corporate cultures, with more than 250 employees, fit together so well that we hit the ground running as one team from the start. As a unified company, we can now accelerate our efforts to drive this momentum for our partners and customers worldwide. I am pleased to say that we can simplify media buying and reduce complexities for media owners and brands.



Oliver Vesper, Deputy CEO and Chief Digital Officer of RTL Ad Alliance, adds: Through our close collaboration with our sibling tech companies, [smartclip tech and its subsidiary Realytics], we empower the industry to navigate the intricate tapestry of media options and redefine the future of total video advertising.



Realytics stands as a beacon of innovation for TV-digital convergence, allowing advertisers and agencies to measure, analyse and optimise their TV campaigns. And smartclip tech signifies a visionary stride towards advancing the European TV ecosystem. Together, we bridge the gap between broadcasters and technology, including an integrated ad server and SSP alongside a broadcaster-centric product suite that caters to every distribution channel.



Photo: Stephane Coruble (right) and Oliver Vesper from RTL AdAlliance.


The latest research from Ampere Analysis finds that global Pay TV penetration will see its first yearly decline ever next year. This will follow Pay TV penetration peaking at 60.3% in Q4 2023. By 2028, penetration will have fallen by almost four percentage points. The latest research from Ampere Analysis finds that global Pay TV penetration will see its first yearly decline ever next year. This will follow Pay TV penetration peaking at 60.3% in Q4 2023. By 2028, penetration will have fallen by almost four percentage points.



All regions will be in decline by 2025, the analyst firm predicts. Pay TV penetration signifies the number of Pay TV subscriptions relative to the number of households.



Ampere Analysis figures show that in North America, Pay TV penetration has almost halved from a high of 84% in 2009 to 45% in 2023, caused by a combination of high costs and competition from a mature SVOD market. Latin America has also shown large declines in penetration since 2016. This is largely led by Brazil, which has posted a drop of roughly 10 percentage points since its peak Pay TV penetration of 42% that year.



Growth in Pay TV has come primarily from Asia-Pacific and Europe in recent years, with large gains coming from China Mobile after it acquired an IPTV license in 2018. This growth has mostly been driven by low-cost IPTV services, which are often bundled into broadband packages for a low or nominal cost, Ampere Analysis reports. Now these regions will fall into decline after 2025. There are still some growth markets, such as Portugal, Serbia and Hungary.



Rory Gooderick, Senior Analyst at Ampere Analysis says: Growth in global Pay TV uptake has been driven over the last five years by Asia Pacific and Central & Eastern Europe. However, declines coming from the Americas, which are driven by streaming competition and the high price of Pay TV in North America, currently sitting at over $90 a month, will contribute to global Pay TV penetration declining for the first time in 2024.



Gooderick went on to point out that with their annual ARPU of over $1,100, North American cable and satellite platforms will remain a powerful force in TV, and he flagged the recent Disney-Charter deal as a model that could help to stem losses (see separate story).



Ampere Analysis currently surveys 96 countries globally. Pay TV penetration is measured as revenue-generating units per 100 households.



Illustration: The Ampere Analysis graph at the top of this story shows global Pay TV penetration (subscriptions per 100 households).
The report draws on proprietary business intelligence analysis by Samsung Consumer Electronics, using available data in September 2023, with streaming sessions analysed over H1 23.

Viewing figures are based on a minimum session length of three minutes across Tizen OS TVs shipped in 2016-2023.

A streaming session is characterised by continuous app usage lasting three minutes or more. A session end is when there is a break in app usage lasting five minutes.

The report also shows that TV owners are often in discovery mode. Still focused on app-based viewing in the UK (on Samsung televisions), the authors identify a multi-touchpoint session as a continuous session where an app switch is identified, and where any break between apps does not exceed five minutes in duration. 39% of multi-touchpoint sessions flick between an average of three different apps in a single sitting. However, instinct seems to win out: 57% of users who are shifting between apps end up back on the first app they used.The Behind the Screens report, called Anatomy of a Streamer, focused on the use of Samsung Smart TVs (which is a large and almost certainly representative sample, given the companys market penetration). It found that the average device regularly uses two SVOD services, one AVOD service and one BVOD. These and all following figures relate to the UK unless stated otherwise.Primetime in Samsung television set homes is dominated by broadcast linear, BVOD and SVOD, with these formats peaking around 8-10pm, whereas AVOD peaks at 6-8pm. AVOD is consistently used throughout the day, when linear, BVOD and SVOD are less prominent. SVOD peaks at the weekend, along with gaming, when BVOD and AVOD consumption slumps, according to the report.The rise in streaming, both exclusively and in combination with linear viewing, shows no signs of slowing down, with 84% of Samsung TV owners now streaming. That is an 11% rise year-on-year. In September 2023, exclusive streamers averaged 81 hours per TV per month.When looking at total time spent viewing, ad-funded streaming saw 18% year-on-year growth, with FAST growing by 32%. BVOD takes up less time overall on devices but has seen strong growth of 24%, Samsung reports.SVOD is still by far the highest app category by adoption, with 87% of streamers accessing this content type. SVOD also dominates overall time spent in apps, but has seen the slowest growth compared to other VOD types, at 7%. This suggests there is less headroom for growth, the report authors suggest.There is a clear demographic split on viewing consumption. Behind the Screens shows that Gen Z watches an average of 2 hours and 5 minutes of streamed content per day, compared to just over an hour for Baby Boomers.During the first half of this year, there were more than 7.1 billion app opens on Samsung Smart TVs in the EU5. 1.7bn of these were in the UK.Methodology:Photo: One of the takeaways from the report: notably more Samsung TV owners are streaming this year.
Inspectors halt construction of Puerto Morelos Bella Mare condos for a second time

Puerto Morelos, Q.R.  Municipal authorities in Puerto Morelos have put a stop to construction of a central Old Town real estate project. The company that owns project Bella Mare is in the process of building a condominium complex that will also house a plaza.

On Tuesday, the Secretariat of Urban Development and Territorial Planning of Puerto Morelos reported on the January 23 inspection and subsequent closure of the building which is currently pre-selling commercial space.

Municipal authorities have closed the construction of the Bella Mare condo project January 23, 2026.

According to the inspection, the current building, which is being constructed seaside in the Old Town of Puerto Morelos, is not within the same parameters as the original project.

Inspectors found that what is currently built compared to what was originally presented for authorization are not the same. Urban Development said Bella Mare does not comply with the parameters of the project originally presented to the municipal authorities.

Municipal officials said once the indicated procedure has begun, they will continue in accordance with the regulations with the intervention of experts and specialized technicians.

This is the second time the Bella Mare real estate development was closed by inspectors for violations.

Bella Mare, third from the top left, was also closed in 2025 for violations.

Prior to the January 23, 2026 administrative suspension procedure by Urban Development and Territorial Planning, the same project was closed in 2025 by the Ministry of Environment due to non-compliance with environmental regulations.

The January 2026 inspection is part of the administrative procedures that the City Council has been implementing since June of last year when several other building projects were also shut down.

Bella Mare is currently pre-selling its commercial space January 23, 2026.

The Puerto Morelos City Council said they are working in permanent coordination with the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources of the federal government as well as with the Ministry of Ecology and Environment of the State and the Environmental Protection Agency, in strict compliance with the law.
Mexican brigade of forest firefighters arrives in Chile to help battle 43,000 burning hectares

Mexico City, Mexico  The Government of Mexico has sent a brigade of forest firefighters to Chile to help contain fires. The men and women sent were through the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (Semarnat) and the National Forestry Commission (Conafor).

A total of 145 firefighters and technicians specialized in fire management have been deployed to Chile.

The contingent, transported by the Chilean Air Force, is made up of 141 men and four women from 24 states with extensive experience in firefighting and integrated fire management, including two brigade leaders who will directly lead the field operations.

The work includes opening firebreaks, controlling hotspots, and monitoring perimeters in the Biobio and Araucania regions to contain the spread of the 85 active fires in the South American country.

Currently, Chile is battling 85 active wildfires with an estimated area of 43,401 hectares, primarily in the Biobio, Araucania and Nuble regions. These fires are being fueled by high temperatures, low relative humidity and strong winds, according to information from the Chilean National Forestry Corporation (Conaf).

Mexican firefighting brigades have been deployed to San Pedro de la Paz, where they are supporting firefighting efforts in coordination with Corporacion Nacional Forestal de Chile (Conaf).

The contingent is divided into seven brigades: four will address the fire in the Biobio region and three will support the Araucania region.

During the operational period of January 25, Mexican firefighters carried out, among other actions, the clearing of firebreaks, the detection and extinguishing of hotspots, as well as assessment, surveillance and tracking of the fire perimeters.

In total, several kilometers of fire lines were addressed and active fires were directly fought, activities that contribute to containing the spread of the fires and protecting communities and ecosystems in the affected areas.

Rodrigo Illesca Rojas, the executive director of the National Forestry Corporation of Chile, visited the overnight site of the Mexican brigades in the Municipality of San Pedro de la Paz where he acknowledged the support provided by Mexico and the operational coordination between both countries.

Today marks the start of fieldwork for the Mexican firefighters who arrived yesterday in the Biobio region. CONAF Executive Director Rodrigo Illesca met with the team early this morning before they deployed to the Trinitarias and Rancho Chico fires in Concepcion.

A group of Mexicos firefighters are seen here in Chile January 23, 2026

During the visit, the director thanked the firefighters for their support and reinforced safety protocols for fieldwork, the National Forestry Corporation of Chile posted January 23.

The deployment of brigade members adds to the humanitarian support actions that Mexico has previously provided to Chile. In 2017, a contingent of 58 combatants and technicians was sent, and in 2023 a deployment was carried out with 180 people from Conafor and 120 members of the Mexican Armed Forces.

These deployments are made possible by the strengthening of operational and technical capabilities derived from exchange programs, specialized training and interoperability promoted by Conafor, which guarantees an efficient and safe integration of international operations under common protocols for coordination and comprehensive fire management.

A total of 145 Mexican forest firefighters continue to help battle fires in Chile January 21, 2026.

The Government of Mexico, through Semarnat and Conafor, reaffirms its commitment to international cooperation and solidarity action in the face of environmental emergencies, contributing highly trained personnel and comprehensive fire management protocols.
Ports closed and streets flooded as U.S. winter storm Fern hits Mexicos Yucatan Peninsula

Riviera Maya, Q.R.  U.S. winter storm Fern slammed the Yucatan Peninsula Monday with white-out rains and strong winds. The clash in hot moist tropical temperatures with the cold Arctic air mass hit the peninsula hard as cold front 30 Monday afternoon.

The sky over Cancun turned jet black within a few hours as Fern moved in, replacing the sunny blue skies residents had woken up to. On Monday morning, State Civil Protection posted a heads-up regarding the incoming system.

From 6:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Quintana Roo time: Showers with locally heavy rainfall are forecast for the municipalities of Othon P. Blanco, Bacalar, Lazaro Cardenas, Isla Mujeres, Benito Juarez (Cancun), Felipe Carrillo Puerto, Puerto Morelos, Cozumel, Tulum and Playa del Carmen, they said in a public notice.

U.S. winter storm Fern arrived in Cancun as a dark black mass of heavy rain January 26, 2026.

A north event with gusts of 40 to 60 km/h is expected along the northern coast of Quintana Roo, along with waves of 2 to 4 meters in height. Heavy rains could cause flooding and waterlogging.

Wind gusts may cause trees and billboards to fall. Check with the Port Captains regarding permitted activities at sea. Stay informed and prioritize your safety, State Civil Protection said.

A decrease in minimum temperatures is expected with readings between 12C (53F) and 14C (57F) for the early morning and at dawn on Tuesday 27, Wednesday 28, Thursday 29 and Friday 30 January 2026.

Lower thermal sensations are possible mainly in the rural areas of the state. Information from the National Weather Service, they added regarding the anticipated drop in temperatures.

Residents watch from a Cancun Hotel Zone beach as Fern moved in as cold front 30 Monday afternoon January 26, 2026.

By noon, Cancun skies had turned black as Fern made an appearance. Extremely heavy rain quickly reduced visibility. Winds began to pickup that, within a few hours, had Port Captains closing navigation to small vessels.

A Cancun Transit officer stands in the near white-out rain Monday brought on by Fern. January 26, 2026

Meteorologists reported accumulations of 25 to 50 mm of rain recorded in areas of Cancun down into Riviera Maya and Tulum. Older streets in the center of towns were left under water until drains were able to catch up.

A Cancun couple found themselves caught on their scooter in the heavy rain Monday.

Pablo Gutierrez, Cancuns General Secretary, said the flooding was not concentrated in a single area, but occurred in a scattered manner in different sectors of the city. He said main roads and low-lying areas where the absorption capacity of the soil and the rainwater system was exceeded during heavy rains, were the most affected.

Numerous low-lying streets in Cancun were left under water Monday afternoon January 26, 2026.

He reported that the areas prone to recurring flooding were identified and priority given to addressing those areas to reduce risks and keep motorists, pedestrians and public transportation flowing.

Darwin Covarrubias, the Director of Civil Protection in Playa del Carmen, reported that as soon as the front arrived, municipal public services and operational brigades were deployed to attend to citizen reports and carry out preventive patrols.

Thanks to inter-institutional coordination and a permanent presence on the ground, we achieved timely assistance and a rapid recovery after the rains, he stated.

The entire Yucatan Peninsula is currently blanketed by cold front 30 January 27, 2026.

According to local weather reports, it was 29C (84F) when the rain started in Cancun around noon Monday. By the time the rain ended a few hours later, local temperatures had dropped five degrees.

Meteorologists reported Monday mid-day temperatures at 25C (77F). By nightfall, temperatures fell even further from 25C to 19C (66F) due to the official arrival of Arctic air from U.S. winter storm Fern.

Cancun ports remained closed to small vessels Tuesday January 27, 2026.

On Sunday, Mexicos National Meteorological Service (SMN) had forecast cold front 30 to move across the southern Gulf of Mexico, southeastern Mexico and the Yucatan Peninsula starting Monday afternoon.

The Arctic air is forecast to stay over the Yucatan Peninsula for several days. Some ports around the state remained closed to small boats as of Tuesday morning. Temperatures of around 18C (64F) are forecast for the city of Cancun tonight.
US President Donald Trump on Saturday warned he could impose a 100% tariff on Canadian goods if Canada moves forward with its trade deal with China, sharply escalating tensions with Prime Minister Mark Carney.

In a social media post, Trump said, "If Governor Carney thinks he is going to make Canada a 'Drop Off Port' for China to send goods and products into the United States, he is sorely mistaken."

He added, "China will eat Canada alive, completely devour it, including the destruction of their businesses, social fabric, and general way of life."

Trump's latest remarks come after Canada reached an agreement with China to allow 49,000 Chinese electric vehicles into the country at a lower tariff rate, while China reduced tariffs on Canadian canola.

Last week, Trump had praised the deal, calling it "a good thing" for Carney to sign, AP reported.

Canada's Minister for Trade with the United States, Dominic LeBlanc, clarified, "There is no pursuit of a free trade deal with China. What was achieved was resolution on several important tariff issues."

He added that Canada and the US "will remain focused on ensuring the future of that relationship will benefit workers and businesses on both sides of our border."

The dispute has intensified following Carney's widely praised speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, where he urged middle powers to work together to resist coercion by larger countries.

Trump responded in Davos by saying, "Canada lives because of the United States." Carney quickly shot back, stating, "Canada doesn't live because of the United States. Canada thrives because we are Canadian."

Mark Carney responds to Donald Trump's threat of 100% tariffs:



"We have commitments under CUSMA not to pursue free trade agreements with non-market economies without prior notification. We have no intention of doing that with China or any other non-market economy." pic.twitter.com/cBOfUlqhWj  Harrison Faulkner (@Harry__Faulkner) January 25, 2026

Donald Trump Suggests Absorbing Canada, Posts Altered Map

Trump has also revoked an invitation for Carney to join his "Board of Peace" initiative and has repeatedly provoked Canada by suggesting it could be absorbed by the US, posting an altered map showing Canada as part of US territory.

Canadian leaders are standing firm. Justice Minister Sean Fraser said Carney's Davos speech "was the right message at the right time from the right guy."

According to CBC, Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew declared, "Canada will never be taken over. Not by China. Not by Trump. We will always be the TRUE NORTH strong and free."

BC Premier David Eby added, "You're on the right path, Mark. Canada must stand on our own two feet."

Canada is a major trade partner for the United States, receiving nearly $2.7 billion in goods and services daily.

About 60% of US crude oil and 85% of electricity imports come from Canada, which also supplies critical minerals, steel, aluminum, and uranium.

Analysts warn that any escalation in tariffs could have major consequences for both economies.

Originally published on vcpost.com
At the invitation of Premier of the State Council Li Qiang, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer will pay an official visit to China from January 28 to 31.

At the invitation of Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Minister of Foreign Affairs Wang Yi, Azerbaijan Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov will pay an official visit to China on January 28 and 29.

CCTV: You just announced that UK Prime Minister Kier Starmer will visit China. Can you brief us on the schedule of the visit? What does China expect to achieve through this visit?



Guo Jiakun: In August, 2024, President Xi Jinping held a phone call with Prime Minister Starmer at the latters request and they met during the G20 Summit in Rio de Janeiro that same November, steering China-UK relations on a track toward improvement and development.

The international landscape is witnessing turbulence and transformation. It serves the common interest of both peoples and contributes to global peace, stability, and development for China and the UK, as two permanent members of the UN Security Council, to maintain communication and enhance cooperation. Prime Minister Starmers visit marks the first visit to China by a UK prime minister in eight years. During the visit, President Xi Jinping will meet with him. Premier Li Qiang and Chairman of the NPC Standing Committee Zhao Leji will hold talks and meet with him respectively for in-depth exchanges of views on bilateral relations and issues of mutual interest. Apart from Beijing, Prime Minister Starmer will also visit Shanghai.

After taking office, the Labour government has expressed clear willingness to develop relations with China in a consistent, long-term and strategic way and has actively promoted dialogue and cooperation between the two countries.

China stands ready to take this visit as an opportunity to enhance political mutual trust with the UK, deepen practical cooperation, open a new chapter of sound and steady development of China-UK relationship and together make due efforts and contributions to world peace, security, and stability.

Telesur: Almost a month has passed since the U.S. military bombardment against Venezuelan forces, civilians, and infrastructureresulting in 100 deathsand the subsequent invasion that led to the kidnapping of President Nicolas Maduro and his wife. Given the gravity of the situation and Washington disregarding all international law, what measures is China currently applying to ensure the immediate release of the presidential couple and safeguard Venezuelas sovereignty?

Guo Jiakun: The U.S.s bullying act of using force against a sovereign state and forcibly seizing its president seriously violates international law and infringes upon Venezuelas sovereignty. China supports Venezuela in safeguarding its sovereignty, dignity and lawful rights. We stand ready to work with the international community to firmly defend the UN Charter, the fundamental principles of international justice, and international fairness.

NHK: Two giant pandas living in Ueno Zoo in Tokyo will return to China today, which means there will be no giant pandas in Japan. What is the Foreign Ministrys response to this? What is your comment on the role giant pandas have played for strengthening Japan-China ties? Going forward, what is Chinas consideration on promoting the development of Japan-China relations and Japan-China cooperation on giant panda conservation and research?

Guo Jiakun: Weve given our response to this question more than once. According to relevant agreement between China and Japan, giant pandas Xiao Xiao and Lei Lei living in Japan have embarked on their journey back to China today. We, as always, welcome Japanese friends to come visit giant pandas in China. For anything specific, Id refer you to competent authorities.

Phoenix TV: Its learned that vessels and personnel appeared near Chinas aquacultural facilities in the Yellow Sea and the Weihai Maritime Safety Administration yesterday issued a navigation warning of towage operations in relevant waters. Is China moving the facilities? The ROK said earlier that the two sides talked about the structures at the working level and they were told by China that the installations will be moved away. Is China moving the facilities at the request of the ROK?

Guo Jiakun: Weve learned that a Chinese company is moving the platform, which is an adjustment made by the company itself to meet the need of its operation and development. Chinas stance on issues related to aquacultural facilities in southern Yellow Sea remains unchanged. China and the ROK are neighbors across the sea and the two sides are in close communication on maritime issues to properly manage differences and promote mutually beneficial cooperation.

Rudaw Media Network: China always emphasizes avoiding confrontation and seeking dialogue. Have you held any talks with Damascus to stop the attacks on Kurdish regions and to abide by the ceasefire?

Guo Jiakun: China hopes that Syria will realize peace and stability at an early date, and that all factions in Syria will advance the process for political reconciliation and find a national reconstruction plan that is in the interest of the Syrian people.

Telesur: Recently the Cuban government denounced the intensification of the illegal U.S. blockade, particularly regarding the supply of oil, which has severely impacted the Cuban economy and the daily lives of its people, constituting a form of collective punishment according to international law aimed at changing the government of Cuba. Given the historical relationship between China and Cuba, are there any concrete initiatives of cooperation between the two countries to mitigate the effects of this blockade in the energy sector?

Guo Jiakun: We noted that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Cuba has made a response by pointing out that its a brutal assault against a nation that is not hostile to any nation and a proof that Cuban economic hardships are mainly caused by the U.S.

China is deeply concerned by and strongly condemns the U.S.s moves and urges the U.S. to stop depriving the Cuban people of their rights to subsistence and development, stop disrupting regional peace and stability, stop its violations of international law and immediately lift its blockade and sanctions on Cuba.

China will continue to do what it can to provide support and assistance to Cuba. We are confident that under the strong leadership of the party and government of Cuba, the Cuban people will tide over the current difficulty.

Bloomberg: UK officials are making plans to tighten scrutiny of Chinese activity in the country, according to a Financial Times report. This move would apparently avoid placing Beijing in the same bracket of concern as Moscow and Tehran. Would the Ministry like to comment on this?

Guo Jiakun: China and the UK are permanent members of the UN Security Council and major economies in the world. To strengthen exchanges and mutual trust, develop bilateral relations, and advance mutually beneficial cooperation is in the interest of both countries and the rest of the world.

Bloomberg: Japans Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said that any crisis in Taiwan could spur Tokyo and Washington to take joint action to rescue their own citizens. She added that in such a situation, there was no way Japan could abandon its long-time ally, the U.S. Would the Ministry like to comment?

Guo Jiakun: The Japanese side should be reminded that the 1972 Sino-Japanese Joint Statement states that The Government of Japan recognizes the Government of the Peoples Republic of China as the sole legal Government of China. The Government of the Peoples Republic of China reiterates that Taiwan is an inalienable part of the territory of the Peoples Republic of China. The Government of Japan fully understands and respects this stand of the Government of the Peoples Republic of China, and it firmly maintains its stand under Article 8 of the Potsdam Proclamation. The 1978 Treaty of Peace and Friendship Between China and Japan, ratified by the two countries legislatures, affirmed that the principles set out in the 1972 Joint Statement should be strictly observed.

A series of instruments with legal effect under international law, including the Cairo Declaration, the Potsdam Proclamation, and the Japanese Instrument of Surrender, require that all the territories Japan had stolen from China, such as Taiwan, must be restored to China, and Japan should be completely disarmed and not maintain such industries as would enable her to re-arm for war. Japans Constitution also made strict restrictions on the countrys military forces, the right of belligerency and the right to war.

These are political commitments that Japan must strictly honor and legal obligations that they cannot deny. The Japanese side claims to act within the scope of law but has kept their gross interference in Chinas domestic affairs and even threatened the use of force against China. This is self-contradictory. Japan committed innumerable crimes during its colonial rule over Taiwan of half a century, and bears serious historical responsibilities to the Chinese people. Either from the perspective of history or law, the Japanese side is in no position to interfere in the affairs of Chinas Taiwan region. The remarks by the Japanese side once again reveal the Japanese right-wing forces ambitions to provoke antagonism, make trouble, and take the opportunity to keep remilitarizing Japan and to challenge the post-war international order. This has severely threatened regional peace and stability and the political foundation of China-Japan relations. The international community must stay on high alert and firmly reject that. We once again urge the Japanese side to abide by the spirit of the four political documents between China and Japan and Japans own political commitments made to China, do soul-searching, correct its wrongdoings, and stop their manipulation and reckless moves on the Taiwan question.

AFP: Canadas federal government has given a financially troubled theme park an approval to sell 30 beluga whales to parks in the United States, after rejecting an export request to China on the grounds that it might perpetuate their exploitation. Does China have any comment on this matter?

Guo Jiakun: Im not familiar with what you mentioned. We will not comment on the relations between Canada and the U.S. But let me stress that the sound and steady development of China-Canada relations serves the common interest of the two countries and is conducive to world peace, stability, development and prosperity. Chinas position on developing its relations with Canada is consistent and clear.
The USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier strike group has entered the Middle East region amid escalating tensions with Iran, as Iranian military commanders issue direct warnings to the United States about potential military action.

Carrier Strike Group Arrives in Central Command

The powerful naval force crossed into U.S. Central Command's area of responsibility, which includes Iran, according to a U.S. official speaking to CBS News on Monday. The deployment represents a significant show of American military force in the volatile region.

The strike group consists of the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier accompanied by three guided missile destroyers: the USS Frank E. Petersen Jr., the USS Spruance, and the USS Michael Murphy. The carrier hosts multiple squadrons of advanced aircraft, including F/A-18E/F Super Hornets, EA-18G Growlers, F-35C fighter jets, and MH-60R/S helicopters.

U.S. officials noted that while the strike group has entered the region, it was not yet "on station" as of Monday morning Eastern Time, meaning it hasn't reached its intended final position.

Iran's "Finger on the Trigger" Warning

The deployment comes as Iranian military leaders delivered stark warnings to Washington. Gen. Mohammad Pakpour of Iran's Revolutionary Guard cautioned the U.S. and Israel to "avoid any miscalculation," according to Nournews, an outlet affiliated with Iran's Supreme National Security Council.

"The Islamic Revolutionary Guards and dear Iran stand more ready than ever, finger on the trigger, to execute the orders and directives of the Commander-in-Chief," Pakpour stated over the weekend.

On Monday, Iran's Defense Ministry spokesperson Gen. Reza Talaei-Nik escalated the rhetoric further, warning that any attack by Israel or the U.S. would "be met with a response that is more painful and more decisive than in the past."

Trump's "Massive Fleet" Statement

President Trump announced Thursday that the United States had deployed a "massive fleet" toward Iran "just in case" military action becomes necessary, though he added, "maybe we won't have to use it."

The president has repeatedly issued warnings to Iranian leaders regarding their treatment of protesters and the reported mass executions of demonstrators arrested during recent unrest.

Military Capabilities on Display

The Abraham Lincoln strike group represents one of the most formidable naval assets in the U.S. military arsenal. The carrier can launch and recover dozens of aircraft for various missions, from air superiority to ground strikes. The accompanying guided missile destroyers provide layered defense against air and missile threats while also carrying offensive cruise missile capabilities.

The F-35C fighter jets aboard the Lincoln are among the most advanced stealth aircraft in the world, capable of penetrating sophisticated air defenses. The EA-18G Growlers provide electronic warfare capabilities that can disrupt enemy radar and communications systems.

Rising Tensions Over Domestic Unrest

The military standoff unfolds against the backdrop of significant internal challenges facing Iran's government. Protests that began in late December have emerged as the largest challenge to the country's ruling regime in years, with demonstrators taking to the streets across multiple cities.

Reports indicate that Iranian authorities have responded harshly to the protests, with concerns about mass executions of arrested demonstrators. The death toll from the crackdown has reportedly exceeded 12,000, though exact figures remain difficult to verify due to Iran's tight control over information.

This domestic instability may be influencing Tehran's calculations regarding how to respond to external military pressure. Historically, authoritarian regimes facing internal legitimacy crises sometimes adopt more aggressive foreign policy stances to rally nationalist sentiment and distract from domestic problems.

Trump Administration's Iran Strategy

The current administration's approach to Iran represents a combination of military deterrence and vocal support for Iranian protesters. Trump has made the treatment of demonstrators a central talking point, repeatedly warning Iranian leaders against violence toward peaceful protesters.

This dual approachmilitary pressure coupled with rhetorical support for regime opponentssignals a strategy that goes beyond traditional military deterrence. The administration appears to be applying pressure on multiple fronts simultaneously, both external through military deployments and internal by amplifying criticism of the regime's handling of dissent.

The "just in case" framing of the carrier deployment leaves ambiguous whether Washington is preparing for potential strikes, seeking to deter Iranian actions, or creating leverage for possible future negotiations. This strategic ambiguity may be intentional, keeping Iran's leadership uncertain about American intentions while maintaining flexibility for U.S. decision-makers.

What Happens Next

The positioning of a carrier strike group in the region significantly expands U.S. military options should tensions escalate further. However, such deployments have historically served primarily as deterrence, with actual military action remaining relatively rare.

The coming days will likely see continued verbal exchanges between Washington and Tehran as both sides seek to signal resolve without necessarily committing to military conflict. Regional allies and adversaries will be watching closely to assess whether this deployment represents a prelude to action or a powerful reminder of American military presence in the Middle East.

With Iranian protests continuing and international attention focused on the regime's response to domestic dissent, the intersection of internal Iranian politics and external military pressure creates an particularly unpredictable dynamic in the region.
On the morning of January 27, 2026, President Xi Jinping met with Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing during the Finnish leaders official visit to China.

President Xi noted that Finland was among the first countries to have established diplomatic relations with the Peoples Republic of China, and China-Finland relations have been growing steadily for the past 76 years despite global changes, upholding mutual respect, equality, a future-oriented approach, and mutually beneficial cooperation. He said that both the Chinese and Finnish people demonstrate perseverance and tenacity, and the two countries need to enhance mutual trust, increase exchanges and deepen cooperation to support their respective national development and bring more benefits to both peoples.

President Xi underlined the historical foundation of China-Finland friendship and trust. He said that, as China embarks on its 15th Five-Year Plan for economic and social development this year and continues to promote high-quality development and expand high-standard opening up, China and Finland should deepen mutually beneficial cooperation and nurture more fruits in areas such as energy transition, the circular economy, agriculture and forestry, and scientific and technological innovation. He encouraged Finnish businesses to dive into the vast ocean of Chinas market to gain global competitiveness. Turning to winter sports, President Xi said Finland is a global leader and China has a huge number of participants, and the two countries should work more closely with each other to bolster ties in winter sports. He also welcomed more Finnish citizens to visit and experience China, a land of ancient heritage and modern vibes.

Pointing to a world facing various risks and challenges, President Xi stated that a collective response from the international community is essential, and major countries, in particular, should take the lead in upholding equality, the rule of law, cooperation and integrity. He expressed Chinas readiness to work with Finland to firmly uphold the U.N.-centered international system and the international order underpinned by international law, respond to global challenges together, and promote an equal and orderly multipolar world and a universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization. President Xi shared his view that China and the EU are partners, not rivals, and their cooperation and common ground far outweigh their competition and differences. He expressed the hope for Finland to play its constructive role in promoting the healthy and steady development of China-Europe relations.

Prime Minister Orpo said that Finland and China have a profound traditional friendship, and their relations have enjoyed long-term and stable development on the basis of mutual respect and trust, with joint celebrations of the 75th anniversary of diplomatic ties in 2025. He noted that Finnish companies have a keen interest in doing business in China, and Finland will work with China to implement the important common understandings reached between the two leaders, enhance high-level exchanges, and deepen practical cooperation in such fields as trade, investment, the digital economy, clean energy and agriculture to deliver better lives for the two peoples. He stated that Finland is committed to the one-China policy, commends China for its remarkable achievements in development, and appreciates Chinas important and constructive role in international affairs. He said Finland is ready to strengthen communication and coordination with China to jointly uphold world peace and stability. He noted the importance of constructive EU-China relations and said that Finland advocates European strategic autonomy, supports free trade, and stands ready to play an active role in facilitating the proper settlement of trade frictions between the EU and China and the sound development of EU-China relations.

Wang Yi was present at the meeting.
Good Job is Slates advice column on work. Have a workplace problem big or small? Send it to Laura Helmuth and Doree Shafrir here. (Its anonymous!)

Dear Good Job,

Ive been at my job for six years. Its my first professional job in my field. I love my job, and Id hoped to build a career here, but my pay isnt keeping up with the market (Im making $30,000 under market average for my role). I realize that I need to leave if I want to make a competitive salary. But my job has a strict policy that is making this extremely complicated.

The company has a strict no references policy, and everyones afraid to break it. HR will give the standard x person worked here between these dates confirmation, but if youre found giving a professional reference to someone, you are disciplined and sometimes fired.

For context, last year I got an advanced license in my field and it required references from people familiar with my work. My boss and coworkers had to go all the way up to our national department head to get permission to even do that. I dont work closely enough with our clients to be able to ask them for a reference. My other options are professors from school (but it was so long ago!) or maybe colleagues in my field that Im friends with and whove seen my work but not actually worked with. That also feels iffy. Before this job, I worked rotating retail/temping/restaurant gigs while putting myself through grad school. To be honest, I wasnt great at any of them and most of my effort went towards school. Its been over five years and I havent stayed in touch with the people I worked with then.

How do I handle the reference situation?

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Need Reference

Dear Need Reference,

From your letter, I cant tell if youve already started applying for jobs and youre running into the reference issue, or if you havent started applying and youre already worrying about whom to put down as a reference. Either way, though, I have some hopefully good news for you, which is that for liability reasons, your companys policy is actually considered best practice when it comes to giving references. Most companies dont want to open themselves up to potential legal issues if they give someone a negative reference, and so they will only confirm dates of employment and nothing more. And the hiring companies understand this, which is why a lot of employers have moved away from asking for references entirely (because theyre essentially worthless).

Also, most job seekers who are employed may not want to reveal that theyre looking for a new job, and are reluctant to ask their current employers for a reference. (A license feels like a different situation, as its more educational in nature, so it makes sense why a licensing board would want actual references.) So with all that said, I would be surprised if any job you apply for is asking for references in the traditional sense of the word. As a wise friend once told me, Dont borrow trouble, and I think this applies here. If a prospective employer asks for references, you can tell them youre not comfortable letting your current employer know that youre looking, and hopefully they will leave it at that. Good luck in your search.

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Get work advicesubmit a question! Please keep questions short (<150 words), and dont submit the same question to multiple columns. We are unable to edit or remove questions after publication. Use pseudonyms to maintain anonymity. Your submission may be used in other Slate advice columns and may be edited for publication. Thanks! Your question has been submitted. Dear Good Job, * Your letter signoff Your pronouns Your email (optional and confidentialplease include if you're open to Good Job following up) Submit

Dear Good Job,

How do I let my work clients know that I dont want them to tell me they think Im good at my job? Heres the thingI am good at my job. But I dont enjoy it and havent for a while (Im working on fixing that, by the way). So when someone compliments me on my work, it feels like Im being told that despite not being happy, Im not allowed to leave my job because Im good at it (I know thats not the intent of such compliments, but its how my brain interprets them; again, Im working on it).

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By the way, I cant do anything like filter our emails from clients or ask my boss not to pass compliments on. Im the owner and only employee of my company, so all communicationcomplimentary and otherwisegoes to and is addressed to me.

Broken Brain

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Dear Broken Brain,

This is one of those issues thats hard to talk about, because I imagine that most peoples natural instinct is to scoff and say, Jeez, you get too many compliments? Get yourself some real problems! But I believe you when you say that this is affecting you negatively, and my advice is going to be a kind of modified version of the old saw fake it til you make it.

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What I want you to practice doing is faking it. So when someone gives you a compliment about how wonderful you are at your job, I want you to pretendjust for a second!that you are actually a person who loves their job and its great to be getting complimented for it, and you are going to respond with a simple thank you. And then you can archive the email and not have to look at it again.

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My concern with telling clients that you dont want to be complimented on your work is that they might start taking you at face value and thinking that youre not doing a good job, and then they might take their business elsewhere, and you wont have time to fix it as you say before you lose clients. So I want you to practice acknowledging the compliment and moving on. It doesnt have to be any deeper than that. And in the meantime, you can work on figuring out how to make your work betterso that eventually you dont mind getting those compliments.

Doree

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More Work Advice From Slate

I own an upscale restaurant and have been grappling with whether to implement a ban on kids under 7. There have been increasing instances of parents bringing in young kids where they have either allowed them to run around the dining area, creating a hazard for servers and guests alike, or a child has had a meltdown, resulting in a ruined dining experience for guests. Since the start of the year, Ive already had four instances where guests have not just complained, but have left and refused to pay, citing the disruption as the reason. That said, would banning kids under 7 years of age be reasonable?
The first movements in the Home Depot parking lot, before the store opened at 6 a.m., before the sun rose, and well before Ernesto woke up, came from the second row. One man climbed out of his car into the dark, shined a flashlight into his backpack, and brushed off the long, white sleeves of his cotton shirt. Then he zipped up the bag, slammed the car door shut, and walked out of the lot, onto the sidewalk, and off down the street.

Next came people who worked for the store. A man in an orange vest trudged slowly through the aisles of the lot, gathering stranded shopping carts, stacking and returning them. Another man in an orange vest walked around the perimeter of the store, inspecting. Then they unlocked its doors, and went inside. A red shipping container sat between the first and second rows of the lot, full of Christmas treesit was Decemberand a few men drove into the lot and pried open the door of the container to unload the evergreens. The first sounds of the morning came from the tinny speaker playing hip-hop and reggaeton, and the crash of pine trees falling on the blacktop.

Probably thats what woke the residential sleepers, who got up next. Out of a Kia sedan emerged a man who carried a bag of trash over to a trash can, rubbed his eyes, and drove off. Out of a Toyota Camry came another, who brushed his teeth in the drivers side mirror, spit the toothpaste on the asphalt, rubbed the dew off his windshield with paper towels, and drove off.

And in the third row, all the way back, sat a weatherbeaten black SUV. Its tires sagged. It looked as though it had not moved in some time. The door groaned open, and out crawled Ernesto, blinking into the warm Southern California air.

Like the stores sign, the sky glowed Big Orange, hex code #F96302, or Pantone 165 C, available in the paint department inside. And the store was open.

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Now the lot was coming to life. Cars and trucks and vans were arriving. Some parked in the front of the store, a whole world away. Their doors opened and out came customers and contractors, who went into the store and returned with plywood and sheet metal and seasonal plants.

More cars and trucks filled in the back of the lot, and their doors opened, too, though the guys who got out of them did not approach the store. Rarely did they go inside.

Jornaleros, the day laborersguys who did construction, demolition, landscaping, whateverbegan filling up the back of aisle one, leaning up against parked cars, sitting on the curb, nearest to the street. One arrived on bicycle. Just two or three at first, then six. They scanned the lot for potential hirers, jumped at the sign of a car driving slowly through the aisles. Troques drove in too, pickups with tools piled in the bed, and they parked in the back, in aisle two and aisle three. A red one, then a white one, then another white one. They gave each other space. They had phone numbers painted on them and they advertised those services: hauling, or houling, or haulling.

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Ernesto leaned against the black SUV, among the troques, even though he didnt have one, and so technically wasnt one of them, not anymore. And he got to waiting.

He, like everyone else, was looking for work. The window between 6:30 a.m. and 8 a.m. would prove decisive. Anyone looking to hire a crew for the day would come through now. The security guards shift began at 7, but the lot was large and shared by multiple businesses, and he patrolled on foot, and was retirement age, which meant that they could probably stretch it until right around 8 before the guard would come through and tell the troques to relocate to the street, and tell the jornaleros to keep it closer to the sidewalk, to keep away from the customers.

Ernesto was hopeful, as were the other guys in the lot, their numbers swelling now to more than 10.

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Its up and down. Its been slow, but people will come now because its the holidays, said one worker. There would be yardwork to do and holiday lights to string. It was the first of the month, which was promising, too.

You do a good job, and they will call you back. As long as you do a good job, you make enough to survive, Ernesto told me. And he was willing to do anythingdrywall repair, landscaping, installing a shelfanything except electrical.

Things were finally getting back to normal. The Home Depot lot had recently been a dangerous site for the men. But it had been over a month since the last time Immigrations and Customs Enforcement agents had torn through the lot in plainclothes, chasing the laborers and arresting them, even the one with papers. Now, guys were finally making it back.

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All of these jornaleros knew each other, maybe not by their real names, but by nicknames, usually wrung from the place they had lived. Everyone had a nickname: El Oaxaqueno from Oaxaca; Chinola from Sinaloa; Los Hondurenos, the two guys from Honduras. El Chino wasnt from China, but some of the guys thought he looked like it. Some of them had been coming there for years; Ernesto had worked out of the lot for 20. But right now, none of them were talking. Some sipped coffees, and looked around, avoided eye contact, and waited. Some watched videos on their phones. (All those names and nicknames have been changed to protect their identities.) Ernesto propped himself against a flatbed among the troques. There were stains on his black long-sleeved shirt.

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There was no denying it was harder than ever. The housing market had been stagnant for years, with mortgage rates high, and now supplies were getting pricier due to tariffs. Even Home Depot itself, which makes over $150 billion a year in revenue, was feeling the squeeze, cutting its profit forecast for the year, its stock price falling in response.

Two decades ago, when he first set foot in the lot, Ernesto would find work quickly almost every day. And whenever he was out of work, this was where he would return to find it. That, despite the fact that there were way more laborers back then, too: 50 guys, easy, sometimes 100. Now, there were barely double digits standing in the open, though probably others were hiding in their cars. It used to be a lot of people. Now, with Immigration, not even the customers are showing up, he said.

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The arrival of ICE agents in the lot was a new and additional challenge. It started on June 6. A signature of President Donald Trumps immigration policies, these warrantless raids, a new thing to worry about. Sometimes, cars driving slow through the lot were agents scouting, not potential bosses. And ICE had come to this lot at least three times, the first time snatching four people, the second time snatching three, and the last time snatching zero. Which wasnt that bad compared to some of the other Home Depots in the area.

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Plus, there was no getting around the fact that Ernesto was getting older, less desirable for hard labor. If a job came through, he probably would not be the first choice, now that he was 62. He still had strong hands, but he looked it. When you get old, they push you aside, he sighed.

So far, the day was starting slowly again for everyone. The first hour went by and no one got hired. At 7:30, and 7:45, and 7:58, guys got back into their troques and drove out of the lot, one after the next. Thats my dad, said Chinola, as a truck went by. Were any of them leaving for jobs? No, he said.

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Yet here they were, all these laborers, few of them with legal documentation. Why would they put themselves in the line of danger like that? They hungry, Ernesto said. Im here every day. I have to do it. Its the only way I survive. He walked over to an empty shopping cart and strained to flip it over onto its side. His gait was unsteady. He sat on top of the cart, in an empty space between two parked cars, now less visible to passing traffic. A black ankle monitor poked out of the left leg of his jeans.

The security guard was approaching.

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The second time ICE came to the lot, at the very end of September, Ernesto had been sick. He was sitting on a curb beneath a scrawny tree, trying to get some shade, and coughing. He saw people running, heard screams and chaos, and then saw agents close behind.

Well, he couldnt run anyway. And so the agents came up to him. The exchange, as he remembered it, was brief.

They asked if I was Mexican. I said yes. They asked if I had papers to be in this country. I was honest. I said no.

The handcuffs came quickly after that. They loaded Ernesto into an unmarked car. He didnt fight it. They took him to the ICE staging ground, transferred him to a van with other detainees, and then transported them all to Metropolitan Detention Center downtown.

Ernesto didnt last long there. In custody, at MDC, he fell to the floor; it turned out he was having a stroke. I wasnt scared, but they were scared I was gonna die right there in front of them, he said.

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He was transferred by ambulance to a local hospital. He spent 15 days there; he was handcuffed to the bed. When he was called before an immigration judge, he suffered a coughing fit so relentless that it was nearly impossible to conduct the hearing, which was probably a blessing because he hadnt been able to find a lawyer anyway.

He was fitted with an ankle monitor and given a date to return, in February. Which was funny, in some sense. Was he a flight risk? He was trying to stay, after all. It was them who wanted him to go.

Soon, the hospital prepared to discharge him, and it was then, finally, that he began to get scared. I think I was costing them too much money, he said. They had determined he was getting better, but he was pretty sure he still couldnt walk, and he had no idea how he was going to get to the bus stop from there. For another thing, he didnt have any money to pay for it. And it was then, finally, that he first began to feel fear.

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There was only one thing he could think to do for certain: He had to get back to the lot.

Back there, the guys had begun to worry. No one knew his real name, and he didnt seem to have family, or anyone to contact. They knew he was in poor health before he got nabbed, and that immigration detention was freezing cold, and hard on the body. Some began to wonder if he was dead. After two weeks, there werent many good options left. Eventually, someone figured out his last name, whatever help that was.

Ernesto deliberated for a while, and then realized that the train that stopped near Home Depot ran right by the hospital. He would have to risk getting arrested by hopping the train without paying the fare. But then how much worse would that be than his current position? Probably, he figured, they would send him back to jail, and then right back to the hospital.

So when they did finally turn him out, he dragged himself to the blue line, and got on without paying, and he didnt see any cops, and he didnt get arrested. He found his way back to the lot, got back into the black SUV, and, the next day, set right back up looking for work.

He was sitting on a lumber cart now, smoking a cigarette. He was hunched over.

He was walking a little better, and in better spirits generally. He had barely spoken in the first few weeks back; now he was almost chatty by comparison. But the stroke had taken its toll. The left side of his face remained paralyzed, and as he spoke, spit gathered on the left corner of his mouth. He tried to wipe it away with his sleeve, but he was too slow, and it dripped down onto his black shirt, joining a galaxy of white stains that looked like the night sky. Im drooling all the time because my mouth is not straight, he said, and shook his head, disappointed.

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The ankle monitor didnt look good either, but Ernesto was choosing to see it as an asset. If ICE came through again, they wouldnt take him. He had protection as long as it was on, he bragged, though even that might have been wishful thinking.

He knew what people might think looking at himthat he wasnt fit to work, that the stains on his shirt looked terrible, that the monitor had certain connotations, that one more hard task might finish him. People say I dont want to be responsible 

I say, Thats OK, man, just try me. 

It was 11 a.m. now, and still no one had come, and still no one had been hired. That ICE also hadnt come was little consolation.

The security guard had been out since 8:30, pacing the lot, and the jornaleros had made themselves scarce. The guard did not speak Spanish and did not even work for Home Depot technically, but for a commercial real estate company that owned the land the Home Depot was perched on. But he had an understanding with the men: He asked the guys to leave, and they would leave, at least as long as he was nearby. He had been the security guard for nine years. He, too, was getting old, and though he believed he had to prioritize the customers, he felt for the men. Hed seen ICE plenty of times. They are terrified. They are hiding in their cars. Sometimes people will just run, he said.

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At other Home Depots, things were more punitive. According to the Los Angeles Times, the Cypress Park branch had recently installed a high-pitched noise machine in the parking lot, which laborers said was causing headaches and nausea. Advocates alleged that it was meant to drive the jornaleros away, though some of the workers decided to stay and wear earplugs.

Before noon, a truck pulled up and deposited two cardboard boxes in the back of a flatbed, and left.

The boxes were full of fruits, some damaged or nearly expired. There were peaches, pomegranates, even a couple of bright-pink dragon fruits.

One by one, the laborers approached the truck and took what they wanted. Some would put the fruit in their car for later; some ate it on the spot. There was a full cherry pie.

The provenance was not clear, though it was likely a drop-off from one of the mutual aid or religious groups that work in the area. One guy insisted it had come from Albertsons, past expiration.

Everyone is scared, said El Michoacan, as he put a mango in his trunk. Sometimes Im scared, but I can only control what I can control. I have to live, he said. If they come for me, I will end up in Mexico, and everything I have will stay here. Nothing I can do.

After El Michoacan returned to his car, and when no one else was hovering, Ernesto came over to the truck and picked through the fruit until he found a box of precut watermelon.

The path that led Ernesto to that Home Depot parking lot in Southern California for the very first time began in Chihuahua. He grew up around Ciudad Juarez. It was a time of great upheaval in northern Mexico. By the time he was a teenager, he had lived through the 1982 debt crisis, then the devaluation of the peso, and the explosion of the maquiladora factory system, all of which conspired to sink real wages in northern Mexico dramatically. Poverty was everywhere. The Juarez drug cartel was in its infancy, growing fast. I was not a good person, but I was not involved with anything like that, he told me.

And so he decided he would come to the States.

He made a plan: make enough money to find a wife, and buy a taxi. The first step was to cross the border. So he did, in broad daylight, one afternoon in 1983went right across the Rio Grande, the Rio Bravo del Norte, as they called it in Chihuahua. It wasnt even that deep, he said, holding his hand to his ankle. I didnt even get wet.

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At first, he lived in El Paso. For two years, he worked the fields, hard work. Then he heard about better opportunities in Arizona, and California, with better pay. So, in the old American tradition, the young man went west.

And onwards he went, finally ending up in Los Angeles. By then hed had a lot of jobs, and could do anything. I was young and strong, he said. When youre young, you get a lot of chances.

1985, the year he headed west from El Paso, was the same year the Atlanta-based Home Depot turned up in Southern California. It opened its first store in Huntington Beach, Los Angeles, not far from the coffee shop where founders Arthur Blank and Bernie Marcus thought up the idea for the company, which would make them both billionaires. Marcus would soon use those winnings to become a megadonor to Republican political causes, and Donald Trump specifically, and then die on the day of Trumps reelection in 2024.

According to the companys official history, the concept for Home Depot came to Blank and Marcus after they had both been fired from another home improvement store called Handy Dan. They chartered a customer bill of rights, which stated that customers should always expect the best assortment, quantity and price, as well as the help of a trained sales associate, when they visit a Home Depot store. These commitments were an extension of the companys whatever it takes philosophy, reads companys corporate history page.

Now, California has by far the most Home Depot locations of any state, a core component of a state in which real estate is a pillar of the economy. Home Depots promised cheap material for do-it-yourselfers, and Home Depot parking lots became a repository for cheap labor, for those who had a more relaxed understanding of what it meant to do something yourself. Where better to go to find piecemeal work?

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Ernesto never did get the taxi, but he did find enough work to make a living. He didnt exactly find a wife, either, but he did have five children, some of whom he said joined the military, and a steady partner, and he had constant work, which was good, because he needed it. You aint gonna get rich this way, he said. You spend all your money on Pampers.

Rarely did he have to wait long to find jobs at the lot, and sometimes those jobs were long term. Hed been hired digging ditches, hed been hired loading trucks, hed been brought on for construction, drywall, yardwork. He made relationships, and got put on crews, which meant he would be away from the Home Depot for long stretches. For years, he worked as the property manager for a residential development with 120 units.

And when those jobs went away, when the ditch was dug or the building built or when the owner of the apartment complex died, Ernesto would return right back to the Home Depot parking lot until he found more. He rented a house nearby and lived there with his girlfriend.

The work was hard, but Ernesto had managed to avoid serious injury. I was lucky, he said. Most of the people I worked with were white, and white people always put safety first. In our culture its different. If you lose a leg, we say: You have another one, why are you complaining? 

Thats not to say he didnt have medical issues: He had diabetes now, and emphysema.

Eventually, he bought a truck, joined the ranks of the troques. I used to park it right there, he said, pointing across the lot.

He was not the first to arrive in this lot, not the first to live in it. One guy had been living there a decade, he said. And there were new arrivals all the time, guys who had paid thousands or more to cross the border and come here and work. He knew everyone, even nownot their real names, of course, but their nicknames. He knew that they were behind on bills, that they had families, how hard it was to make the math work with rent, and that guys would keep showing up regardless of what happened at the border, of what happened with ICE, of what happened with Trump.

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It could be cliquey sometimes. Guys from similar parts of Mexico tended to hang out with each other; the central Americans self-selected; the troques didnt do too much mixing with the guys on bikes. Some guys kept to themselves, though it was rare that someone new would show up without having had a member vouch for them. Sometimes it was a family affaira father would bring his son. Some guys would go to work for contractors, but often they would come back and complain of being overworked. Its a good group. I know everyone, he said. We try to be friendly. I might need him tomorrow or the next day. The network worked for spotting ICE as well as locating jobs. There were group chats and contacts everywhere, though Ernesto only had a prepaid phone now, and it often didnt work.

Ernesto leaned over the flatbed and ate the watermelon with his hands, piece by piece, until the box was empty. Then he returned to his aisle.

At 1 p.m., the security guard returned. His shift was coming to an end soon, and the troques parked outside the lot were watching eagerly from the cabs of their trucks, anticipating his exit.

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Once he left, they would file back into the lot, with the hopes of getting hired after lunch. It was less likely, but it was possible.

Ernesto had no problem with the guard, and the guard didnt bother Ernesto too much. Maybe he didnt know he was living in the SUV. There was a homeless guy in the lot who wasnt there to work, and who one time had stolen the guards Prius after a standoff, and that was a much bigger issue.

The situation, though precarious, had more or less worked for Ernesto until he met first problem with papers just over a year ago, October last. He had come home one Friday evening to the house he rented not far from the Home Depot, after a long day on the job. He was exhausted, and he had work the next day. He woke up the next morning early, and the truck was gone.

He called the police, told them about the situation. He was sure it had been stolen. They got upset with me, he said, because he didnt have his documents in order. So he got upset with them: You start talking shit, you know how it goes.

But then the police found the truck. All he had to do was prove that it was his.

If only it were so simple. In part because Ernesto did not have his papers, he also did not have his registration sorted correctly, did not have his license sorted correctly, did not have proof of sale. He had kept some papers in the glove box of the truck, but of course the thieves had taken those, and they were gone now. He knew the truck was his, but they couldnt just give it back to him.

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Meanwhile, also because he didnt have his license sorted correctly, he didnt have his insurance sorted correctly either, and so he fared little better with the insurance company, trying to collect on the stolen truck, which was just sitting there in an impound lot. Without the liability, you dont get shit, he found.

And of course, all the tools in the back were stolen, too, thousands of dollars worth.

Things went pretty fast after that. Soon after, Ernesto was mowing the lawn at his house when he fell down. His girlfriend ran outside, perplexed. She tried to prop him up, but his body was too heavy. He was having a stroke. She called an ambulance.

At the hospital, the doctors told him that the stroke was a result of stress. After they stole my truck, I got anxious and sick and angry, he said. He wasnt working, and they were already living so close to the edge financially, it took almost no time for the eviction notice to show up. Once they lost the house, his girlfriend realized she would have to work, that the situation was untenable, and so she decided to go back to Mexico.

There were more details, it was more complicated than that, but that was the simple fact: No truck, no tools, no work, no house, no girlfriend. And Ernesto had a second stroke after that.

Where did he have to go? The place he knew best, after two decades, was the Home Depot parking lot. And so he moved into the black SUV in the third row of the lot. At this point, it was basically where he was from. The mutual aid groups who worked in the region had tried to get him into a shelter, but right now, this was where he was.

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By the time ICE got him, he knew all about paperwork problems and a lot about strokes. The one hed suffered in detention was his third in a year.

The security guard placed a towing warning on the windshield of a silver car that none of the guys knew, and then left for the day. A few minutes later, the troques filed back in.

By 2:30 p.m., the second wave of troques were leaving, one by one. It was livelier now, but it seemed certain that no one would get hired today. In earlier days, they might be drinking beers by now. Back then, some guys might even be drinking as early as 9 a.m., but not today, and not anymore.

Ernesto joked with two young workers nicknamed the Hondurenos. They were sticking around, waiting. It hasnt been good here since 2018, one said, and he hadnt gotten here until 2019.

A woman who swept trash came through the lot, wearing gloves and a mask. She wheeled a trash can. She spoke with the Hondurenos too. When Ernesto saw her, he said, This is why were not afraid. If someone is coming, she will tell us.

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She laughed and walked away, sweeping, picking up trash. He called out to her, We need to practice our English!

In the lot, the numbers were dwindling, and the sun was getting lower already. Ernesto sat on the ground and smoked another cigarette.

He wasnt ready to give up yet. It was the first of the month, he reminded himself, which meant that people had money, that they needed help with tasks. Like moving, for example: The first was moving day, and assembling furniture was the type of thing that he could do.

I dont like to be the charity, he said. He didnt want help. Its hard to survive, he said. The main thing is dont give up.

He had had an opportunity recently. The daughter of the man for whom he had worked, managing the 120 units, had offered to bring him back on. All he needed was a reliable form of transportation, she told him, and she would hire him again.

But since the last stroke, stroke No. 3, he admitted, he didnt think he could do that. I dont think clearly like before. Im scared to drive. I dont have the quick reaction at the light. I dont think clearly.

Troques continued to leave, and laborers continued to leave, and guys negotiated with each other for rides home.

So he would wait here for something else to pop up, and he would keep living in the SUV.

You have to accept it, he said. You have to take it, he said.

At night, after the store closed, he said, it was quiet. Sometimes young couples would drive in and park for brief and amorous stints. He had to make it to his court date on Feb. 20. He was hoping that one of the activist groups would help him find a lawyer by then. He was not scared, he said. Not to go back to Mexico, or of anything else, for that matter.

What is your nickname? I asked him.

On my truck, it used to say handyman. So thats what everyone calls me, he said. Handyman.
More than 1,289 miles from the nearest human settlement, Easter Islandor Rapa Nui, as its own people call itis arguably the worlds most remote inhabited place. To the mystique of its isolation amid vast expanses of the South Pacific Ocean, add the hundreds of colossal stone carvings of human figures scattered over the island, from orderly rows placed on plinths near the coast to even larger statues at seemingly random spots along its ridges and highlands.

Rapa Nuis iconic statues are often presented as a mystery. Who built them, and why? How were the figures, which can weigh as much as 80 tons, moved from the volcanic quarry where they were carved to their positions around the island? What do they represent to whoever made the mammoth effort to carve and situate them? The idea of Rapa Nui as enigma arises from the belief of Westerners, almost from their first contact with the islanders in 1722, that the Rapanui people themselves could not have performed these feats. The most crackpot theories about who did range from ancient astronauts to a sophisticated lost civilization that sank, Atlantis-like, beneath the waves following some catastrophe, leaving only the remnants on Rapa Nui above water. There are other, more respectable hypotheses about how the statues came to be, however, and an ambitious new account of Rapa Nui by an archaeologist who has headed excavations at Stonehenge aims at blowing holes in them.

The story being told of the islands ancient past, even today, is profoundly wrong, writes Mike Pitts, author of Island at the Edge of the World: The Forgotten History of Easter Island. And no, he isnt just talking about alien architects and other fantasies he dismisses as demonstrable claptrap. What Pitt aims to dismantle is a dominant theory of history that has had the support of many academics, writers, and podcasters, and could well have been true. Among the prominent figures misrepresenting Rapa Nui, he includes such popular authors as Jared Diamond (author of Guns, Germs, and Steel) and Paul Cooper, whose Fall of Civilizations podcast has over 1 million subscribers. False narratives about Rapa Nui have even been parroted by the likes of Boris Johnson, who claims to have been fascinated by the island since reading Aku-Aku by Thor Heyerdahl, a Norwegian explorer who entertained his own outlandish ideas about it.

Slate receives a commission when you purchase items using the links on this page. Thank you for your support.

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One researcher Pitts does admire is the British amateur archaeologist Katherine Routledge, who traveled to the island during the mid-1910s. Routledge, along with her husband, William Scoresby, got stuck there during what was meant to be a relatively brief research trip, first due to an uprising by the Indigenous islanders against a Chilean company that was using their homeland to raise sheep, and then by the outbreak of World War I. As a result, Katherine remained on Rapa Nui for 16 months, cataloging the islands famous monuments and interviewing its inhabitants, even forming a connection with the aged local prophetess who had urged on the uprising.

The result was a vast cache of research that Pitts describes as very much the most comprehensive description of the island then produced. Yet as a result of Katherines own reluctance and complicated mental health later in life, much of that material has remained unpublished and was scattered all over the globe, some of it possibly lost or auctioned off to private owners. In its absence, the publics fascination with Rapa Nui has generated a lot of half-baked speculation about the famous statues and their home. Note: Pitts calls the sculptures statues rather than moai, a commonly used term today, because too many allegedly authentic words like moai are drawn from vocabularies written by unreliable Westerners who often just made stuff up. There are simple English equivalents for what is often obfuscating and meaningless jargon that likely would have meant no more to the statue builders than it does to us, he writes. (This is a testy book.)

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By the time anyone truly interested in the history of Rapa Nui arrived on the island, its Indigenous people and their culture had been subjected to the all-too-familiar depredations of colonialism. In the 19th century, the island attracted the attention of slavers and an international corporation. During a shockingly brief period during the 1860s, a third of the population was kidnapped by Chilean slave traders. Some of these people were eventually returned, infected with smallpox and other diseases for which the Rapanui had no immunity. Within fifteen years, Pitts writes, it was reported that the entire population, from a possible starting point of 5,000, had been reduced to little more than 100. There were just 26 women.

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This atrocity, Pitts argues, accounts for almost everything thats been said in the past century and a half to explain Easter Islands mysteries. Among the most outlandish of those explanations is Heyerdahls. He was convinced, as Pitts puts it, that the great sculptures and other monuments on Rapa Nui could only have been created by a Caucasian racetall, fair-skinned, blue-eyed adventurers with beards and fair or red hair (in other words, mirrors of himself). While most careful observers of the island, like Routledge, believed the ancient Rapanui to be Polynesian, originating from archipelagoes west of the island, Heyerdahl was convinced that his imaginary Viking-like master builders arrived from Peru, in the east.

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Pitts seems mostly amused by the more fanciful Easter Island theories. He reserves his true ire for two respected versions of Rapanui history that he regards as unfounded and slanderous. One narrative holds that the Rapanui committed ecocide, deforesting and otherwise depleting the islands resources to the degree that the people starved and their culture withered. The other blames a violent conflict among the islands inhabitants for both the population collapse and the seemingly haphazard location of many of the statues. The latter story supposedly explains why some statues appear to have been left unfinished in the islands main quarry at Rano Raraku, while others were assumed to have been abandoned in the process of being transported to the coast.

One of the most stirring sections of Island at the Edge of the World constructs a likely narrative of how Polynesiansamong humanitys greatest marinersdiscovered and settled Rapa Nui. The island was never rich in timber to begin with, but rats brought by these settlers did destroy the native palms by devouring their nuts. In a funny aside, Pitts suggests that the crosses that a 19th-century Spanish expedition erected on the island were regarded by the Rapanui as a rich gift and immediately taken down so the wood could be usefully repurposed. Nevertheless, they were able to thrive without a ready supply of wood. The Dutch ship that brought the first Europeans to Rapa Nui in 1722 found a centuries-old community that had adapted Polynesian farming techniques and crops to the relatively poor, shallow soil of the island. They had survived for many generations there without committing ecocide and might have continued to do so indefinitely if not disturbed. Legends about a bloody clash between two different camps of islanders, Pitts asserts, are completely unsupported by the archaeological evidence.

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Pitts also argues that the seemingly unfinished statues at the quarry were in fact intentional, and were left attached to the underlying rock to serve as presiding spirits over the sacred acts of carving that took place there. As for the statues long assumed to have been abandoned as they were being transported to the coastline to be displayed in rows on plinths, as in the reconstructed site at Ahu Tongariki, Pitts believes otherwise. One reason Pitts finds Routledge such a compelling figure (besides her comprehensive on-site research) is her sensitivity to the overall environment of Rapa Nui, in contrast to the traditional archaeological tendency to view sites as discrete objects of study. This led her, on a reflective afternoon horseback ride, to notice that the abandoned statues were deliberately positioned along a barely detectable old road.

Related From Slate There Is No Comfortable Reading Position. There Is Only One Bleak Solution. Read More

Pitts is an adherent of landscape archaeology, which aims to see artifacts and structures in the context of their entire setting. Only by trying to imagine how the Rapanui viewed the statues and the island together, as a spiritual environment, he argues, can we hope to understand what these sculptures meant. This leads him to suggest that the islanders might have regarded the unique geography of Rapa Nui as a sort of metaphor for the course of human life from birth to death, leading from the quarry to a swamp-filled caldera he describes as a void. Granted, this imaginative flight seems almost as speculative as some of the theories Pitts criticizes, but it certainly is more respectful of the islanders and their culture. He entertains no doubts about the ability of the pre-contact Rapanui to carve the statues out of the soft volcanic rock found on the island, and notes that there are several methods they might have used to move the sculptures, including making them walk, as in this delightful experiment captured on video. From the start, when asked how the statues got to the coast, the islanders would reply that they walked there, and perhaps this is what they meant.

It was not self-destruction, Pitts argues, but contact with Westerners that caused statue-making to peter out on Rapa Nui. Westerners, in turn, sought an answer to the mystery of the island by warping it into a mirror of their own problems: environmental devastation and bloody civil wars. If Pitts is also guilty of projecting his own preoccupations onto Rapa Nui and its people, hes not the first and probably wont be the last, but he makes a better case than most.
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Are you OK?

In video footage, 37-year-old Alex Pretti can be heard asking that simple question after a woman was shoved into the snow by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents. Moments later, he is tackled to the ground, and an agent appears to remove a gun that Pretti was legally licensed to carry from his waistband. Then federal agents opened fire and killed him.

I didnt know Pretti, but for years I have researched the experiences, motivations, and attitudes of men like himmen who take care of others in their workplaces, homes, and communities. Pretti was an intensive care unit nurse in a Veterans Affairs hospital in Minneapolis, and in the days since his killing, his parents, friends, neighbors, former patients families, and colleagues have attested to his kindness and caring nature.

Alex was a kindhearted soul who cared deeply for his family and friends and also the American veterans whom he cared for, Prettis family said in a statement. Just the sweetest person you can imagine, said Mac Randolph, whose father Terry was treated by Pretti through his dying hours. Randolph posted a video of Pretti reading Terrys final salute moments after his death in December 2024. Today we have to remember that freedom is not free, Pretti said. We have to work at it, nurture it, protect it, and even sacrifice for it. May we never forget and always remember our brothers and sisters who have served so that we may enjoy the gift of freedom.

The past half a century has seen a near-revolution when it comes to mens roles in both hands-on and emotional caregiving. According to Pew Research Center, since 1965, the amount of time men spend caring for children has tripled. Research from AARP found that men today make up about 40 percent of family caregivers. While professional caregiving is still dominated by women, those numbers are also improving. Today the proportion of male nurses has risen to 13 percent, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

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Kyle Kerley is a nurse at the James Cancer Hospital in Columbus, Ohio. He worked an overnight shift on the hospitals hematology floor, then came home Saturday morning and fell asleep. When he woke up that evening, a friend had texted to tell him ICE had killed another person in Minneapolis, this time a male ICU nurse. If you havent seen the video yet, his friend had added, you may want to avoid it.

Kerley, who has attended anti-ICE rallies in Columbus, decided to watch. He wanted to be fully informed if any of his colleagues asked him for his thoughts about the incident. One of the shocking things about the footage, he said, was how calm Pretti appeared to be throughout the rapidly escalating encounter with ICE agents. Nurses are trained to act calmly, to respond appropriately in high-stress situations, and if theres a conflict, to simply step in front and put their bodies in the way, Kerley said. I recognized that as a trait of a skilled nurse.

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A 2021 report from my colleagues at New America, a nonpartisan think tank in Washington, D.C., analyzed a nationally representative survey and a series of online focus groups to identify some other traits of men who are professional caregivers. Many men in these roles feel a strong sense of purpose and meaning in their jobs. And though some note that the culture around themand even, at times, their own loved onesjokes about men in nursing, they also say they are proud of their work and that they would recommend a caring profession to younger men. Many of the men in the study saw their work not as a foray into something feminine or even as a feminist act, but as a profession that transcends gender roles entirely.

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Dennis Kosuth, a nurse for Chicago Public Schools and for Cook County Hospital, saw footage of Prettis killing on Saturday afternoon. Hed just gotten home from Minneapolis, where hed been protesting ICE and the killing of Renee Good with members of his union, National Nurses United. Many nurses traveled to Minneapolis because they saw ICE as attacking people who were or could well be their patients.

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Cook County Hospital, where Kosuth works, admits patients regardless of their citizenship status. For Kosuth, that makes the protest in Minneapolis an obvious matter of concern for nurses. ICE were attacking regular, working people who have come here from other countries, fleeing economic, political, and dangerous living conditions. As nurses, we want to stop that harm, he said.

Even before Kosuth learned Pretti was a nurse, he knew from the videos circulating online that Pretti was not a man who intended to do maximum harm, as the Department of Homeland Security contended.

Alex was clearly out there being a helper, said Kosuth. The maximum harm that happens in our society is not caused by the helpers. Its caused by the system.  As nurses, we just try to put a Band-Aid on a gaping wound. We see a need and we want to help.

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Evidence suggests that men who are the helpers or caregivers also benefit from their engagement with those around them. Much has been made of the so-called male loneliness epidemic, the idea that men are uniquely disconnected from others and suffering as a result. But a 2024 report from the American Institute for Boys and Men finds that men and women have experienced comparable increases in the amount of time they spend alone in recent decades. The real difference between men and women is not so much the number of people they interact with or even how satisfied they feel about their relationships, but how they feel about themselves in the world. According to the report, men are more likely to say they do not feel they are meaningfully part of any group/community, and that their place in the world doesnt feel relevant.

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Caregiving appears to be an activity that can counter those feelings. Research from AARP, for instance, shows that despite the financial, physical, and mental stresses of caregiving, 82 percent of caregivers say the role gives them a sense of purpose in life, and 81 percent say it makes them feel good about themselves. State of American Men, a 2025 report by the international mens research organization Equimundo, finds that the best solutions to male loneliness are having mentors, being active fathers, and care work.

Related From Slate A Doctor Wanted to Protect Him From ICE. So She Made Up a Diagnosis. Read More

While the Trump administration has repeatedly cast men, especially white men, as an oppressed and disconnected group, and blamed a so-called attack on masculinity for that, they have offered little in the way of solutions other than the advice that men and women should marry and have kids. How involved those men should be with those kids or how they should relate to their friends, neighbors, and communities is not their concern. Meanwhile the administration has taken a wrecking ball to the countrys care infrastructure, its child care systems, health care, and education, cutting and shuttering the programs that knit Americas communities together.

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Prettis killers saw his care and concern not as an asset to our society, as the fabric that knits together a healthy community, but as a threat. After Pretti fell still on the ground, one ICE agent was filmed clapping. Its a stark departure from the reverence, solemnity, and gratitude Pretti displayed in the moments after Terry Randolphs death.

Kerley has male colleagues who get into nursing out of a sense that good men should protect people, he said. I guess ICE agents see themselves doing the same thing, but their way of protecting is so distorted, so misdirectedjust identify a scapegoat and break everything in their way.

Ultimately, Kerley said, nurses and ICE agents are polar-opposite professions.
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The winds shifted this week after America watched Alex Prettis on-camera murder, on the heels of Renee Nicole Goods on-camera murder, at the hands of Department of Homeland Security agents in Minnesota. Signs of cracks in the anti-immigrant right abound, from the alleged ouster of Greg Bovino from his role as commander at large of Customs and Border Protection to President Donald Trumps TACO turn offering up an olive branch to Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz on Monday. Republican luminaries who are usually content to deflect, attack, or ritually fellate the president in the wake of acts of lawlessness and violence have taken to the airwaves to condemn these public executions, with protests about them coming from the likes of Republican Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt, chair of the National Governors Association, and Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, as well as the Wall Street Journals editorial page, all of whom are demanding serious systemic changes in Trumps immigration enforcement rampage. And gun rights groups have increasingly joined the chorus to contend that bringing a lawfully purchased gun out in public cannot be the basis for summary executions at the hands of federal officers. The CEOs of Target and other big corporations based in Minnesota seem to have unearthed something that looks to be a spine, calling for deescalation.

All creditall of itgoes to the people on the ground in Minnesota; protesters, monitors, neighborhood patrols, independent journalists. As Robert F. Worth noted in the Atlantic, for all the MAGA talk of domestic terrorists and woke assassins, whats emerged on the streets of Minneapolis is an organic, homegrown meticulous urban choreography of civic protest, a movement that is leaderless and hyperlocal. It has proven indomitable in the face of cosplay and photo ops and cartoon characters like Bovino and Kristi Noem. As Sherrilyn Ifill points out: We all owe a debt of gratitude to the resilient and principled stance of the people of Minneapolis and the state of Minnesota who have remained undeterred. They have fought for their neighbors and for themselves. They have stood in proud defense of their city, and their right to peacefully protest. The organizers on the ground have been extraordinary. Adam Serwer calls it simply neighborism.

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Its going to be tempting to say that this week in Minnesota is the beginning of the end of something, but more likely its the beginning of something worse. Bovino and Noem in retreat is not the same as Trump and Stephen Miller in retreat, and there is genuine reason to fear that this moment of so-called symbolic compliancea fleeting, symbolic retreat to stymy growing public resistancewill slow the roll of congressional inquiries, impeachment efforts directed at Noem, general strikes, and calls to defund ICE. Moreover, as Attorney General Pam Bondis not-so-subtle effort to extort voter information from Minnesotas governor reveals, this cruel deportation dragnet is only half of the story; as ever, effort to undermine future elections is the goal. For every strategic Trump flinch and retreat, you can expect an equal and opposite effort to remain in power forever. With every threat of impeachment and accountability, the incentive to ensure a permanent MAGA majority forever ticks up, invisibly, but assuredly.

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Which is why it is a mistake to think of these twin tragedies in Minneapolis as the horrific government actions that finally prompted shifts in politics, or law. Too much attention is always directed at opinion polling, craven political actors, and the levers of political change, and doubly so during this second Trump administration. This tendency to witness everything through the lens of when will this be over for good distracts from the real meaning of Renee Good and Alex Pretti, which is not how they died, but what they were doing when they were killed. This is what changed on the ground in Minnesota, and what needs to happen in Philadelphia and in Maine and in whatever blue city or state becomes the next target and the target after that. This transcends even the conversations about flipping the House in November. This is about what we are now learning, under immense pressure, and in real time, about authoritarian takeovers and how to resist.

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For years we were told that voters didnt care about protecting the Constitution or democracy, and they certainly didnt vote on it. And certainly that appeared to be true in 2016 and again in 2024. But what we have seen spring up on the streets of Los Angeles and Portland and Minneapolis, and what we saw in the earliest No Kings marches, is that Americans actually care deeply about the law and the Constitution and democracy, and alsoto borrow from testimony from Jack Smith last weekthat those things have functioned so well in the United States and for so very long that many of us had come to take it for granted. For the last 15 years at least, after Citizens United, and Shelby County, and Dobbs, when audiences at speeches would ask me What should I be doing?, my responses tended to be carefully lawyerly and bloodless: court reform, gerrymandering reform, campaign finance reform. Repair and protect democracy and we could perhaps claw back its original sins as well as its distortions and degradations.

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Well, it turns out its actually much more basic than that. What we are seeing amid the street protests, and the meal deliveries, and the marches and the legal observers and the calls for a general strike and for defunding DHS and impeachment for criminals, is actually all democracy work, and constitutional work, transmogrified and embodied into American streets and schools and small businesses. I was struck and moved by Robert Worths observation about what he witnessed in Minnesota: Again and again, I heard people say they were not protesters but protectorsof their communities, of their values, of the Constitution. And if this is, in fact, the call, then what it might look like to answer it is no longer inchoate or mysterious. People are fighting and being assaulted and even murdered on their streets for the First Amendment, the Second Amendment, the 14th Amendment  This is a clawing back of the Constitution, amendment by amendment, on the streets, and by the people.

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Those of us who believed ourselves to be part of the Trump Resistance in 2016 made the mistake of naming it without quite knowing what it was. Pink hats and marches that felt like street fairs and witty signs were for social media. This version of the resistance swallows that wholelaw enforcement officials want to shoot you, and you will be pepper-sprayed while you are restrained on the ground. As DHS efforts to occupy and terrorize cities morph and expand, this wont be protest as we once understood it; it will be something far more frightening, something familiar to historians of racialized policing. Yes, it requires, even demands, new rules of engagement. Legal and civil disobedience training are now essential, and there will be ample work to do in protecting vulnerable neighbors and neighborhoods. It turns out that it was only hard to articulate what needed to be done to protect democracy and the Constitution until it needed doing. And now that we know what democracy emphatically does not look liketyrannical cruelty as part of an all-out demand for mass submission to authority and the subordination of the otherit has, overnight, become simpler to name and understand the mission.

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Related From Slate Brett Kavanaugh Delivered the Most Chilling Warning About Trumps Attack on the Fed Read More

This is why the most dangerous days are almost certainly ahead, but it helps to know that the courts, and most of the lawyers, and the blue-city mayors and the blue-state attorneys general and the neighbors and the teachers and the religious leaders, already know in their bones which side they are on. Democracy will not defend itself, in much the same way that authoritarianism will not just pick up its nasty toys of wars and go home. There is a massive shift taking place that has to do with resisting state executions of lawful protesters but also has as much to do with fighting for the core values laid out by the same imperfect streetfighters who founded the country. It is indeed the stuff of nightmares, but this is what democracy must look like.

Now we can name the mission, which is no small thing. Focus on the mission and ignore spectacle and spin. Of the many, many things that Trump and MAGA have misunderstood, almost foremost among them was the belief that Americans would forever be more interested in consuming white-supremacist online content than in creating actual democratic freedom. From Chicago to Portland to Minneapolis to your town, when someone asks you what they should be doing, the answer must be: Protecting the Constitution.
After winning a medal or topping a podium, athletes will ask themselves 'What next?'.

Middle-distance great Faith Kipyegon, a three-time Olympic gold medallist and a five-time world champion over 1500m and 5000m, has faced that question more times than most elite runners.

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The 32-year-old Kenyan is now focusing some of her efforts off the track after announcing plans to build a maternity facility in her hometown Keringet.

Women living there have had to travel about 35km (21.75 miles) to access hospital care, putting mothers and new-borns at risk, and the new facility, named the Dare to Dream Maternity Ward, will provide safer births.

"While growing up in Keringet and actually still today, I see something that breaks my heart far too often. I see women go into labour full of hope, carrying life, carrying dreams and too many times, they come back empty-handed," Kipyegon said.

"Not because they did anything wrong. But because the care they needed was too far away, too limited, or simply not good enough.

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"Many give birth without proper facilities, without enough medical support, without dignity or safety.

"And the price of that is paid by mothers, by babies, by families and therefore by our future."

Kipyegon, whose daughter Alyn was born in 2018, took part in a groundbreaking ceremony for the facility on Sunday which included a children's Cross Country event.

The Dare to Dream Maternity Ward will be funded by Kipyegon's shoe partner Nike as a legacy project after the Kenyan fell short in her bid to become the first woman in history to run a sub-four-minute mile in Paris in June last year.

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"It's a commitment to mothers, to local families, and to the next generation," said Tanya Hvizdak, global head of running for Nike.

"Because when women have safe, dignified care in childbirth, entire communities rise up around them."
Prince William is reportedly at a breaking point with his uncle, Prince Andrew, as the future King prepares to dismantle the 'protective shield' that has long shielded the royal pariah from legal and public accountability.

Following a series of explosive reports on 24 January 2026, Surrey Police have confirmed they are engaging with the FBI to investigate unverified allegations of 'abuse parties' linked to the former Duke of York.

Sources close to the heir suggest William views his uncle as a 'stain on the monarchy,' vowing that the era of royal tolerance is definitively over. This internal rift has widened as a BBC investigation recently unearthed 'blatant red flags' regarding the 2007 sale of Andrew's Sunninghill Park estatea $15 million (12 million) transaction now allegedly tied to a massive international bribery and corruption scheme.

William believes the ongoing shielding of his disgraced uncle has become a reputational liability for the monarchy and a direct obstacle to the modern, accountable institution he intends to lead.

The shift follows renewed attention on Andrew's past associations, including unresolved questions surrounding his links to Jeffrey Epstein and his continued refusal to cooperate fully with US authorities.

While recent allegations connected to Surrey remain unverified and under investigation, insiders say William's position is no longer about individual claims but about principle. In his view, the monarchy cannot credibly argue for public trust while appearing to insulate one of its own from scrutiny.

One insider said, 'Being moved to another royal residence right on the King's property isn't real accountability in William's eyes. To him, it still looks like protection.'

Prince Andrew and the Royal Family's Accountability Crisis

The unravelling of Andrew's privileged position has accelerated in recent weeks. After being forced to vacate his home at Royal Lodge earlier than expected, the 65-year-old now faces a prolonged spell in temporary accommodation whilst his five-bedroom farmhouse in Norfolk undergoes renovation.

Local reports describe the property as 'ramshackle', with photographs showing workmen clearing the debris left by previous neglectcans and takeaway wrappers strewn across the grounds. Yet even this apparent humiliation may not be enough to push Andrew towards accepting his new life in the countryside.

Speculation has swirled that he might reject the Norfolk home altogether and flee abroad, a prospect that appears to have lit a fresh fire beneath William's frustration. Already estranged from much of his family and forced to spend Christmas in solitude, Andrew has become a ghost in the royal household.

But according to sources close to the heir, this is not punishment enoughnot when Andrew continues to resist demands for transparency and refuses to cooperate fully with the Federal Bureau of Investigation over his links to convicted sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein.

'William has completely run out of patience with Andrew, and he's vowed there will be no special protections for him,' an insider explains. 'He's outraged that Andrew has been dragging his feet over speaking to the FBI, and he's demanding he cooperate fully with authorities and let the truth come out, wherever it leads.'

The message, it seems, is unambiguous: if Andrew has nothing to hide, he should have nothing to fear from answering questionswhether from American or British law enforcement.

The Layers of Suspicion: From Epstein to Questionable Deals

What makes William's exasperation so acute is the apparent pattern of troubling behaviour that stretches far beyond the Epstein connection. New scrutiny has fallen upon Andrew's handling of the sale of Sunninghill Park, his former marital home, which was purchased in 2007 by a Kazakh billionaire using funds sourced from firms implicated in criminal corruption.

At the time, such dealings barely registered as controversial; today, they appear deeply questionable in retrospect, particularly given Andrew's dual role as a member of the Royal Family and a government trade envoy.

'It seems like things just continue to get worse when it comes to Andrew. It's no longer just his friendship with Epstein that's under the microscope,' the source continues. 'Now there are all these ethical concerns from years ago popping up, from back when he was acting as a trade envoy and doing deals that can look extremely questionable in hindsight.'

Each revelation, each unearthed transaction, each documented misjudgement compounds William's headache, who sees himself fighting an uphill battle to restore public faith in the monarchy whilst his uncle drags the institution backwards with every passing week.

'William feels like every time he turns around, there's another story that makes the whole situation look even murkier. He's furious that Andrew keeps insisting he's innocent yet refuses to do the one thing that would actually help his case, which is to cooperate fully.' The double bind appears deliberate: Andrew's silence, whilst perhaps strategically advantageous to his legal position, reads to William as an admission of sortsa tacit acknowledgement that the truth is too damaging to withstand scrutiny.

A New Monarchy for a New Generation

This frustration sits at the heart of William's broader vision for the monarchy. Alongside his wife, Catherine, the Prince of Wales has made modernisation a cornerstone of his reign-in-waiting, signalling through high-profile hospital visits, community engagement, and carefully calibrated public messaging that the Royal Family exists to serve the nation, not to shield its members from consequences.

In October, during an appearance on The Reluctant Traveller with actor Eugene Levy, William articulated his philosophy with striking clarity: 'I think it's safe to say that change is on my agenda. Change for good, and I embrace that, I enjoy that change.'

A very special guest greets Eugene in London. Oh, and The Prince of Wales is there, too.



A new episode of #TheReluctantTraveler premieres Friday. pic.twitter.com/57jMPTNPYH  Apple TV (@AppleTV) October 2, 2025

Andrew represents everything William wishes to jettisonentitlement, opacity, a refusal to accept accountability, and an arrogant assumption that blood ties and palace walls will provide eternal protection. 'The monarchy can't keep absorbing damage for one person's mistake,' the source asserts, capturing the essence of William's growing intolerance.

The future king is not simply angry at his uncle; he is angry at what his uncle symbolises: an old guard, an old way of doing things, a culture of impunity that the British publicand increasingly, William himselffinds intolerable.

'He's deeply frustrated that the fallout keeps landing on the institution he's trying to protect whilst Andrew skates by with no consequences,' the insider explains. 'All these questions about Andrew's past dealings whilst he was representing the monarchy in the Middle East have really tipped William over the edge because it points to a pattern of entitlement and dodgy judgement that went on for years.'

This is not merely familial disappointment; it is a fundamental clash of vision between the old monarchy and the new, between concealment and transparency, between dynasty and duty.

The Warning Shot

William's position appears non-negotiable. Sources indicate that the prince is determined to push the monarchy towards a model in which the behaviour Andrew has exhibitedthe evasion, the privilege, the apparent disdain for accountabilityis no longer tolerated. 'William is trying to push the monarchy in a direction where that kind of behaviour isn't tolerated anymore, and Andrew is a constant reminder of the old way of doing things that people are sick of,' the source states.

'William feels the institution has already paid more than enough for Andrew's mistakes and he's not prepared to keep absorbing the damage.'

Critically, William cannot order Andrew to cooperate with investigators; the relationship has no such levers. But what he can do, and what he appears to be doing, is withdraw the protective sphere that has until now cushioned his uncle from the full force of public and legal scrutiny. 'He can't order Andrew to do anything, but he's doing everything in his power to force this issue,' the insider notes.

'William's attitude is very straightforward. When you've got nothing to hide, then you don't dodge the FBI, you don't avoid UK police and you don't hide behind lawyers and silence. You sit down, answer the questions and deal with it.'

With no indication that Andrew intends to cooperate with investigators anytime soon, the warning appears clear. As one source puts it, 'The days of turning a blind eye will not continue on William's watch, and he's made it clear that if more accusations come out about Andrew, he won't step in to soften the blow.'

The royal scaffold, it seems, is being assembled, not by courts or journalists alone, but by the future King himself, determined to prove that the monarchy's age of unaccountability has finally ended.

Originally published on IBTimes UK
Charmbo Stormy blew into The Raceway at Western Fair District on Monday, Jan. 26 where she went wire-to-wire in the $11,000 Fillies & Mares Preferred Handicap Pace as the 2-5 favourite with driver Samuel Fillion.

Leaving from the outside post in the condensed field of five, Charmbo Stormy was parked and pressing on the first turn before pushing to the top around Ladies From Hell (Garrett Rooney) through an opening quarter of :28.1 over the "good" track. Charmbo Stormy went unchallenged to the half in :58.4 before sprinting to a 2-1/2-length advantage at three-quarters in 1:28.2 while Justine Ray (Brady Galliers) went uncovered from last and moved into second.

Turning for home, Charmbo Stormy raced nearly two lengths clear while Justine Ray and Get Answers (Austin Sorrie) battled for second. Charmbro Stormy crossed the wire 1-3/4 lengths clear to stop the clock in 1:58.1 while Justine Ray edged out Get Answers for the place spot.

One of two winners on the evening for trainer Jared Mann, Charmbo Stormy is owned by Mann of Guelph, Ont., along with Ronald Nobes of Fergus, Ont. The victory was the second straight for the eight-year-old daughter of Sportswriter-Charmbo Lucky and 30th in the career of the $250,339 lifetime earner.

To view Monday's harness racing results, click the following link: Monday Results - The Raceway at Western Fair District.

(Standardbred Canada)
As anticipation builds ahead of the 2025 OBrien Awards, Trot Insider turns its focus to the finalists whose seasons have defined excellence in Canadian harness racing as the nation's Trainer of the Year.

The Trainer of the Year category stands as a reflection of excellence in horsemanship and season-long performance with Jodie Cullen, David Menary and Dr. Ian Moore emerging as the finalists.

Seeking her first OBrien Award as a trainer, Jodie Cullen delivered the strongest season of her career in 2025. Leading all trainers for wins in Canada, the Dundas, Ont. resident trained 222 winners. Along with 198 place finishes and 176 show finishes in 1,285 starts, Cullen reeled in over $3 million in purses, topping her previous best season in 2024 by over a half million earned.

It was an honour when I got the call from Standardbred Canada saying I was one of the finalists for Trainer for the OBrien Awards, said Cullen.

Conditioned by Cullen, Nasey seeks an OBrien Award as a finalist in the division for Older Trotting Horse, a recognition that Cullen deems her personal highlight of the 2025 racing season.

In addition to stable stars like Nasey, Cullen sent out several six-figure earners in 2025 including Tells On A Roll, Glenboro, Blue Hunt and Pacino Hanover. After a career year, she is thrilled to attend the OBrien Awards gala later this week.

Im really looking forward to attending the OBrien Awards and sharing the experience with so many dedicated people in the industry, said Cullen. It means a great deal to be included.

Joining Cullen as a finalist in the Trainer category, David Menary also looks to win his first OBrien Award as a trainer.

Menarys 2025 season was not only a career best but included several highlights with his pupils yielding more than $3.5 million in seasonal earnings and two of his trainees  Brue Hanover and Ervin Hanover  landing as OBrien Award finalists in the Older Pacing Horse division.

Its a 52-week process, Menary said on being a finalist. Im lucky to have a lot of good horses. Its family and staff. Its a support team and were all a team. Weve got good horses to work with and Tom Pollacks really put a big push on and put a lot of horses in the barn. Right now, just because of stalls and staff, its sort of survival of the fittest. So, were doing really well because of supply and demand.

I think I demand a lot, but, Im there from start to finish. I try to lead by example. You cant do it all yourself, so youve just got to put really good people around you.

Though Menary had only 430 starts, his record of 118-65-43 produced a 0.391 average and earned the Cambridge, Ont. resident his first training title at Woodbine Mohawk Park. The aforementioned older pacers Ervin Hanover and Brue Hanover rose to the top among his students through that career year. And while the success with Ervin Hanover  especially in his record-breaking Breeders Crown performance  was a seasonal highlight for Menary, he believes his personal highlight was winning five races on the same card.

There was one night this summer where we had five wins on the same card at Mohawk. And it just happened that my whole family  my mom and dad, my wife and daughters  were all there. To win five in a night, we got a pretty good picture, recalled Menary. The most I ever had at Mohawk in a night was three. Id done that a fair bit, but then my wife wanted to buy a picture after win number four. I said, I kind of think were going to win the last race, too, just hang on a sec.

With all of the time spent in the barn and hard at work this year, Menary looks forward to enjoying his night in the spotlight at the OBrien Awards.

Thats the kind of thing I always looked up to growing up. To get there personally or have horses get there, its an honour. You work hard all year to end up with a result like that.

Finally, no stranger to the OBrien Awards stage, Dr. Ian Moore looks for another OBrien Award as Canada's Trainer of the Year.

Every year is another layer of success on an already stacked career for Moore. The Canadian Harness Racing Hall of Fame trainer is a finalist for not only the Trainer category in 2025  an honour he won in 2023  but also the Horsemanship category in addition to conditioning two OBrien Award finalists, Beau Jangles and Prince Hal Hanover.

It was an incredible honour and humbling night for me two years ago, being named as a finalist for and winning Trainer of the Year in Canada. These two nominations this year are even extra special and they both mean a lot, said Moore.

In a feat that seems impossible with a resume as lengthy as his, the Cambridge, Ont. resident posted his own career-best season in 2025 with a record of 47-41-22 and just $5,184 shy of $3.8 million earned in 223 starts. Across the board, his students showed up in big ways with achievements from a perfect season with Beau Jangles to winning the Adios with Prince Hal Hanover.

This year marks the 37th edition of the OBrien Awards, named in honour of the late Joe OBrien, an outstanding horseman and Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame inductee. The winners will be announced at the OBrien Awards Gala on Saturday, Jan. 31, 2026 at the J-AAR Expo Centre at Western Fair District in London, Ont.

(Standardbred Canada; photos courtesy New Image Media)
The Illinois Racing Board announced on Monday, Jan. 26, 2026 that it has suspended the Organization License of Suburban Downs, Inc., operator of Hawthorne Race Course.

The Illinois Racing Board suspended the Organization License of Suburban Downs, Inc. for failure to provide documentation demonstrating its financial integrity, and proof that they can meet the minimum standards outlined in the Horse Racing Act and rules contained in Title 11 of the Illinois Administrative Code. The action to suspend Suburban Downs's authorization to operate in Illinois follows Board action to cancel Jan. 3-4, 2026 races for failure to submit required surety bonds.

On Oct. 9, 2025, the Illinois Racing Board ratified the 2026 Dates Order, which awarded Suburban Downs, Inc. an Organization License that includes 34 harness race days. All licenses granted by the Illinois Racing Board are subject to the Illinois Horse Racing Act of 1975 and all applicable administrative rules outlined in Title 11 of the Illinois Administrative Code.

"Today the Illinois Racing Board made a very difficult decision to suspend the operating license of Suburban Downs," said Domenic DiCera, IRB Executive Director. "On January 15, IRB requested bank statements that reflect the operating fund, and any fund related to racing operations at Suburban Downs. Unfortunately, their financial difficulties, including failure to provide financial documents showing their ability to operate assigned 2026 race dates, have led us to suspend their license."

In a Jan. 26, 2026 letter to Tim Carey, Owner/CEO of Suburban Downs, Inc., the Illinois Racing Board cited Section 230 ILCS 5/9(g) of the Horse Racing Act that states, "The Board may require that the records, including financial or other statements of any licensee or any person affiliated with the licensee who is involved directly or indirectly in the activities of any licensee as regulated under this Act to the extent that those financial or other statements relate to such activities be kept in such manner as prescribed by the Board, and that Board employees shall have access to those records during reasonable business hours." The letter also outlines violations of 11 Ill. Adm in Code 1314.120, which states, "If track pays any purse by cheque, which upon presentation is dishonoured, the matter shall immediately be referred to the Board for disposition."

The Board will consider reinstating the licenses of Suburban Downs, Inc. should they cure the violations and provide documentation demonstrating they meet the minimum standards, including but not limited to its financial integrity, under the Act and rules contained in Title 11 of the Illinois Administrative Code.

(With files from Illinois Racing Board)
CIT Vs Royal Jordanian Airlines (Delhi High Court)

Delhi High Court Disposes Revenue Appeal on TDS u/s 194H Against Royal Jordanian Airlines  Interest Only Recoverable Where Tax Already Paid by Agents

The Delhi High Court dealt with the Revenues appeal against Royal Jordanian Airlines concerning non-deduction of tax at source on supplementary commission paid to travel agents, allegedly attracting Section 194H of the Income-tax Act. The Revenue contended that the issue stood squarely covered in its favour by the earlier Delhi High Court decision in Please become a Premium member. If you are already a Premium member, login here to access the full content.
FILE - The icon for the TikTok video sharing app is seen on a smartphone in Marple Township, Pa., Feb. 28, 2023. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum, File) (ASSOCIATED PRESS)

Censorship claims, technical problems and a report of a surge in app deletions are just some of the challenges TikTok is facing as it adjusts to a new ownership structure in the United States that was finalized last week.

The company said Monday it was experiencing a major infrastructure issue triggered by a power outage at one of its U.S. data center partner sites. The outage led to bugs such as creators temporarily seeing zero views on their videos even if people had looked at them, as well as slow load times and timeout requests when posting videos.

On Tuesday, TikTok said it had made significant progress restoring services though users could still see glitches while using the popular video sharing app.

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At the same time, users were raising concerns that the company is censoring videos, including ones critical of President Donald Trump, ICE or mentions of Jeffrey Epstein. The complaints were enough for California Gov. Gavin Newsom to announce on X Monday that he is launching a review into whether TikTok is violating state law by censoring Trump-critical content.

Jamie Favazza, a spokesperson for TikTok's new U.S. joint venture, said it is inaccurate to say that the problems users have been encountering are anything but the technical issues weve transparently confirmed.

Still, the technical problems combined with the ties that some of the new owners have to Trump bristled some U.S. users just enough to delete the app. Market intelligence firm Sensor Tower said Tuesday that daily average app uninstalls grew 130% from Jan. 22 to Jan. 26 compared with the previous 30 days. However, daily average users still increased by 2% in the same period, which Sensor Tower says suggests the uninstalls had little effect on overall usage. And while TikTok lagged YouTube and Instagram in U.S. user growth, people spent more time on the platform than its rivals.

Minda Smiley, a social media analyst at research firm Emarketer, noted that ownership change did just happen and that TikTok is going through a lot of infrastructure-related shifts, which can lead to technical issues. But if there are still problems with certain videos not uploading, or the censorship claims persist, TikTok could see bigger issues down the line.

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Optics and perceptions are really important in situations like this, so I would stay like regardless of whats actually happening, if people do feel as if content is being suppressed or content is difficult to upload or is being moderated or whatever it might be, thats enough reason for a lot of users to flee or to stop using TikTok or to say theyre going to stop using TikTok, she said.

That being said, what users say and do is often different, she added. After all, it was only a year ago that TikTok users were flocking to RedNote, a Chinese social media app, to protest a potential TikTok ban. The protest didn't last and RedNote doesn't see much discussion in the U.S. these days.

Still, I think my point still stands that if this continues and people do feel as if the algorithm is changing, the content is changing, it certainly presents a challenge for TikTok, Smiley added.
A California woman was so desperate to pay for her daughter's trip to a cheer competition that she resorted to murder.

Cherie Townsend was convicted last month of murdering Susan Leeds, 66, in a parking garage in 2018, ABC's Los Angeles affiliate reported. According to prosecutors, Townsend had staked out a parking garage in a rich area, hoping to find a vulnerable victim and secure the necessary funds for the cheer competition.

The station reported that Leeds, a retired nurse, was stabbed 17 times in the Rolling Hills parking garage. At the time, it was the first murder in Rolling Hills in 10 years.

After Townsend's conviction, the court heard impact statements from family members. "She was a nurse who dedicated her life to helping others," stepson Benjamin, according to the Daily Breeze. "Compassion defined who she was."

Townsend will be sentenced in February. She faces 26 years to life.

"A conviction for first-degree murder can never bring back all that we have lost in the few minutes it took for Cherie Townsend to rob and stab Susie 17 times before leaving her to bleed out and die alone," said Julie Leeds, Leeds' stepdaughter, according to ABC.

The Daily Breeze reported that the attack happened around 12:10 p.m. in May 2018. The newspaper reported that prosecutors contend that Townsend was looking for money to pay for plane tickets to take her daughter and three of her daughter's friends to a Florida cheer competition.

"She researched and selected the most affluent neighborhood ... to target the right victim," said Julie Leeds, according to the newspaper. "After three hours, she chose Suzy to take her rage out on."

Originally published on Lawyer Herald
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Human capital robotic integration (HCRI) framework. Credit: Journal of Organizational Behavior (2025). DOI: 10.1002/job.70044

Last year, when The New York Times reported that Amazon's robotics team's ultimate goal was to automate 75% of the company's operations, replacing more than half a million human jobs in an attempt to pass cost savings onto customers, it was a stark reminder of robots' ever-expanding role in reshaping the American workplace.

Meanwhile, at Hyundai's auto plant in Georgia, more than 1,000 robots work alongside almost 1,500 human employees.

But as new research involving the Binghamton University School of Management (SOM) found, companies could risk losing their competitive edge by leaning too heavily on replacing human workers with robots, since competitors could easily follow suit. Instead, researchers determined businesses could generate more value by focusing on human-robot collaboration, amplifying their existing human capital into hard-to-imitate resources.

"Simply put, deploying robots in a collaborative manner with humans can alter social dynamics in ways that encourage unit members to feel, act and think together," the study, published in the Journal of Organizational Behavior, stated. "By leveraging these resources through the deployment of robots in collaborative settings, organizations can not only generate additional economic value from their human capital but also improve their ability to capture a greater share of that value in the competitive market."

Chou-Yu (Joey) Tsai, SOM Osterhout associate professor of entrepreneurship and the study's co-author, said researchers initially wanted to explore how an organization's human-robot interface could affect leadership, but then realized it could be more beneficial to focus on its impact on the organization as a whole.

The study examined the issue from two viewpoints: a substitute view and a complementary view. Both can enhance an organization's desired outcomes in efficiency and productivity, researchers determined, but those who adopt a complementary view of human-robot collaboration were more likely to foster a greater and more positive sense of commitment among human employees.

"The most successful organizations will find a way to extract the best value from these technologies to achieve their unique goals," Tsai said. "If you're focused on going up against other companies by introducing robots to replace some key roles traditionally carried out by human employees, that's not always the best strategic thinking because your competitors could easily do the same thing."

Additionally, the study noted that on-the-job learning also remains fundamental for understanding the best ways to implement such changes.

Delegating robots to tasks that potentially offer meaning, autonomy or opportunities for mastery could undermine not only employees' mental health, researchers said, but also the very efficiency gains employers are striving for.

"Discussion of AI and robots often centers on adoption speed, workplace disruption and job displacement," said SOM Associate Dean for Faculty Research Rory Eckardt, another co-author on the study. "Our paper shifts attention to complementary integration by considering when these technologies strengthen teamwork and coordination, improve the work environment, and support value creation and competitive advantage."

One effective example the researchers cited involved members of a company's research and development team working with robot systems to better analyze complex datasets. Doing so amplifies the team's effectiveness in achieving results and helps them work together more efficiently, according to the study.

Another example involved hospital staff using surgical robots to achieve higher-definition 3D visualization, surpassing the limitations of the human hand to perform increasingly delicate medical procedures.

Using this collaborative approach can increase employee loyalty, according to the study, because it shows the company is providing additional support for the work being done.

"When I began my research career in leadership and organization science, I could have never predicted that technology would advance to the point where we're researching the impact of robots on leadership development and organization effectiveness," said SOM Dean Shelley Dionne, who co-authored the study. "But now it informs how we think about the future of workforce development and employee performance, no matter what type of organization we consider."

The study, "Human Capital Robotic Integration and Value Creation for Organizations," was also co-authored by Jason Marshall from Creighton University in Nebraska, Malte Jung from Cornell University, YoYo Tsung-Yu Hou from National Chengchi University in Taiwan and Biying Yang from South Dakota State University.

More information: ChouYu Tsai et al, Human Capital Robotic Integration and Value Creation for Organizations, Journal of Organizational Behavior (2025). DOI: 10.1002/job.70044
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Affective climate polarization measured as net feelings toward groups that support the development of renewable energies (RE) and fossil fuels (FF). Positive values indicate warmer feelings toward renewable-energy advocates, negative values indicate warmer feelings toward fossil fuel advocates. Credit: https://zest.uvic.ca/Egler%20et%20al_WorkingPaper_AffPolarizationAndJT_Version12.2025.pdf

Fossil fuel-dependent communities in Western Canada sit at the center of Canada's energy decisions. A just and inclusive clean energy transition will depend on how well governments listen to these communities and how fast they deal with the forces working to slow down energy decarbonization.

When it comes to the energy transition, public discussion tends to focus on emissions targets and policies to achieve them. These are important, but they're just one aspect of the issue. In the oil- and gas-producing regions of Western Canada, conversations and concerns center on livelihoods, identity and a nagging doubt: does anyone in power grasp rural realities?

Our ongoing research across the regionbased on large citizen surveys, focus groups with municipal leaders and analysis of disinformationhighlights that emotions, narratives and perspectives of communities sit at the heart of Canada's energy transition politics. As we mark the United Nation's International Day of Clean Energy today, these voices demand attention before divides deepen further.

Focus groups with municipal staff from 10 oil- and gas-producing communities in British Columbia and Alberta revealed a delicate balancing act. They're actively pursuing diversificationgeothermal projects, hydrogen pilots, tourism expansion, data centers, manufacturing hubs, even rare-earth mineral processingbut most of these efforts build around, rather than beyond, oil and gas.

For many communities, the industry isn't just jobs. It's the economic engine funding hospitals, schools, arenas, roads and the very existence of their towns. Abstract talk of an energy transition can feel threatening when it overlooks this.

An Alberta official captured the fear bluntly: "If you took oil and gas out of our community, I would suggest that there would be no hospital. There would be no schools. There would be no town. The only reason our community exists is to service the oil and gas industry."

Deep emotional divides

Our 2025 survey of 3,400 residents in non-metropolitan communities across British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba helps explain why climate policy ignites public backlash.

Affective climate polarization, which describes the emotional distance between those who support and oppose climate policy, rivals partisan left-right divides in intensity. These emotional climate identities help explain differences in support for climate policy that ideology alone can't captureparticularly on the political right, where views on climate action are more diverse.

Policy design nuances are critical but complicated by affective polarization. Clean technology mandates and renewable electricity requirements tend to draw broader backing than carbon taxes, which are generally less popular and spark fierce resistance from right-leaning citizens.

Bundling climate policies with just transition measures, such as government-funded training for new jobs, community-owned energy, low-carbon incentives and public transit, can boost support for carbon pricing among the less polarized. However, for those with stronger emotional commitments, these just transition supports are often ineffective and can even trigger backlash.

Climate policy details matter less to people who score high on affective climate polarization. This helps explain why climate policy debates remain so deeply politicized: when emotional attachments to climate identities are strong, people respond more to elite cues and identity-based judgments than to policy design itself.

Municipalities grapple with limitations

Municipal officials battle structural voids. Officials in northeastern B.C. and Alberta juggle economic ambitions and governance limitations. They craft economic strategies and chase low-carbon investments, while being hamstrung by thin staffing and permitting delays stalling projects for years.

The sharpest barrier to the clean energy transition is the absence of coherent, regionally tailored visions from other levels of government. Federal clean growth plans promote critical minerals and hydrogen. Provincial strategies mix liquefied natural gas with renewables.

Locally, these strategies ring hollowthey seem contradictory and urban-centric. A municipal official in B.C. we spoke to decried a "one-size-fits- all" approach, citing propane-powered electric vehicle chargers in -40C winters: "How do you gain the support  when even the province isn't actually addressing" regional realities?

We've found that public attitudes differ by age, with youth embracing climate sustainability but veterans of oil-tied lives viewing transition as a "hard sell." Without a common vision recognizing municipal governance limitations, community leaders hesitate on bold plans, wary of backlash in towns deeply connected to the promise and precarity of oil's boombust cycles.

These tensions are being willfully intensified by the fossil-fuel industry's propaganda machine, which uses bad-faith arguments to suggest that climate policies and fossil-fuel communities are at odds.

These arguments often ignore the potential for a well-managed energy transition to improve public health, foster regional development and increase community resilience in these regions.

These are not the only narratives the fossil-fuel industry is using to slow climate action. Our research on Canada's climate delays shows that fossil-fuel propaganda is being used to falsely portray Canadian oil as low-emissions, to urge Canada to wait for others to act first and to claim that climate policies are more detrimental to workers more than climate change.

Fostering a just energy transition

Governments must engage in genuine listening. Fossil-fuel communities aren't barriers, but key participants in all energy transition risks and benefits. Co-creating policies with them rather than imposing top-down visions can help grow jobs, revenues and services in Western Canada.

Engagement with communities must also be emotionally attuned. Overcoming climate polarization means restoring trust via local messengers, consistent follow-through and deliberative forums like public assemblies.

At the same time, governments must confront misinformation and propaganda. They can step in with policies that challenge disinformation legally, regulate ads and fund community energy transformations beyond fossil fuel extraction.

The International Day of Clean Energy spotlights promise. In Western Canada, it also spotlights peril. The energy transition's success hinges on centering fossil fuel communities as protagonists, not peripheralsturning the transition into a shared opportunity.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
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French President Emmanuel Macron says that the digital protection of minors is a priority for his government.

French lawmakers have passed a bill that would ban social media use by under-15s, a move championed by President Emmanuel Macron as a way to protect children from excessive screen time.

The lower house, the National Assembly, adopted the text by a vote of 130 to 21 in a lengthy overnight session from Monday to Tuesday.

It will now go to the Senate, France's upper house, ahead of becoming law.

Macron, on X, hailed the vote as a "major step" to protect French children and teenagers.

The legislation, which also provides for a ban on mobile phones in high schools, would make France the second country to take such a step following Australia's ban for under-16s in December.

As social media has grown, so has concern that too much screen time and addictive algorithms are harming child development and contributing to mental health problems.

"The emotions of our children and teenagers are not for sale or to be manipulated, either by American platforms or Chinese algorithms," Macron said in a video broadcast on Saturday.

France's government wants to ban the use of cell phones in high schools, as well as social media for children under 15.

Authorities want the measures to be enforced from the start of the 2026 school year, in September, for new accounts.

Former prime minister Gabriel Attal, who leads Macron's Renaissance party in the lower house, said he hoped the Senate would pass the bill by mid-February so that the ban could come into force on September 1.

He added that "social media platforms will then have until December 31 to deactivate existing accounts" that do not comply with the age limit.

While backing France's right to impose such a ban, the European Commission on Tuesday said that any enforcement would lie with the EU, provided the bill conforms to the bloc's laws.

Commission spokesperson Thomas Regnier told reporters it would ultimately be up to the EU to ensure that platforms implement adequate age-verification tools to help any ban become a reality.

"Destiny of our country"

In addition to combating the impact of screens and social media on the mental health of young adolescents, Attal stressed that the measure would counter "a number of powers that, through social media platforms, want to colonize minds."

"France can be a pioneer in Europe in a month: we can change the lives of our young people and our families, and perhaps also change the destiny of our country in terms of independence," he said.

France's public health watchdog ANSES said this month that social media such as TikTok, Snapchat and Instagram had several detrimental effects on adolescents, particularly girls, though it was not the sole reason for their declining mental health.

The risks listed include cyberbullying and exposure to violent content.

The legislation stipulates that "access to an online social networking service provided by an online platform is prohibited for minors under the age of 15."

The draft bill excludes online encyclopedias and educational platforms.

An effective age verification system would have to come into force for the ban to become reality. Work on such a system is underway at the European level.

An MP in the hard-left France Unbowed party, Arnaud Saint-Martin, criticized the ban as "a form of digital paternalism" and an "overly simplistic" response to the negative impacts of technology.

On Monday, nine child protection associations urged lawmakers to "hold platforms accountable," not "ban" children from social media.

Macron, though, has publicly backed the ban, along with prohibiting pupils having mobile phones in high schools.

In 2018, France banned children from using mobile phones in colleges, the schools attended between the ages of 11 and 15.

Former prime minister Elisabeth Borne expressed reservations about the measure on Monday.

"It's more complicated than that," she told broadcaster France 2. "We first need to make sure that the ban is properly enforced in middle schools."

 2026 AFP
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Schematic of enhanced geothermal system configuration. Adapted courtesy of Sakai Y. Advanced geothermal steam turbines. In: Advances in steam turbines for modern power plants. Elsevier; 2017. p. 45586. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-08-100314-5.00019-1. Credit: Geothermal Systems in the Energy Transition Era (2026). DOI: 10.1016/C2024-0-00994-0

Through a detailed mapping of the operating principles of current geothermal systems, scientists are pointing to vast, largely hidden potential capable of meeting the growing demands of an energy-hungry world.

But despite the hopes that geothermal energy will play a transformative role in reshaping the global power supply, researchers warn that a "significant knowledge gap" continues to hinder the effective deployment of this abundant but largely untapped source.

The optimistic outlook is highlighted in a book titled "Geothermal Systems in the Energy Transition Era", which offers "detailed assessments of geothermal power plants, absorption chillers, and heat pumps."

The book "reviews the use of geothermal heat pumps in residential, commercial, and agricultural applications [in addition to] the advances and challenges in geothermal freshwater production."

The authors dwell on "prospects of dry rock geothermal energy." They investigate and discuss "applications of machine learning methods for modeling and optimization of geothermal energy systems."

The insights the authors provide position geothermal energy as a cornerstone in the global energy future and not just as a supplementary source; if fully exploited, it could meet at least 15% of global electricity demand by 2050.

Schematic of (A) open loop ground heat exchanger (GHE) and (B) closed loop GHE. Reproduced with permission from Kaushal M. Geothermal cooling/heating using ground heat exchanger for various experimental and analytical studies: comprehensive review. Energy and Buildings 2017;139:63452. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2017.01.024. Credit: Geothermal Systems in the Energy Transition Era (2026). DOI: 10.1016/C2024-0-00994-0

Innovation, design, and performance

When asked about the major takeaways of the book, the lead author, Mamdouh Assad, Professor of Thermodynamics and Energy Systems at the University of Sharjah, emphasized the central role of energy systems and analyses. He said, "They are used to find the most effective performance of geothermal energy systems."

Professor Assad explained that the book's 13 chapters present detailed mathematical formulations of all types of geothermal power plants, heat pumps, and absorption chillers. "We provide students and industry professionals with a holistic understanding of this dynamic field and its significant impact."

The book's main contribution lies in the numerous design concepts it introduces for geothermal energy systems. These concepts are firmly grounded in thermodynamics and heat transfer, including "material on absorption chillers and heat pumps driven by geothermal energy sources."

Operation of a geothermal heat pump. From US Department of Energy. Geothermal heat pumps, https://www.energy.gov/energysaver/geothermal-heat-pumps [accessed 11.04.25]. Credit: Geothermal Systems in the Energy Transition Era (2026). DOI: 10.1016/C2024-0-00994-0

The authors also acknowledge a persistent gap in knowledge regarding the full potential of thermal energy systems to transform the world's power supply into cleaner alternatives.

"This is partly due to the limited number of academic programs in renewable energy related to geothermal energy and the relatively new nature of many geothermal energy technologies, leading to a shortage of expertise," the authors note.

The book seeks to address this gap by offering "a comprehensive understanding of the potential and challenges within this evolving field." It directly responds to the "difficulty students, researchers, and engineers face in finding suitable resources that summarize key geothermal energy technologies."

Exponential expansion

The statistics cited by the authors point to exponential growth in the deployment of thermal energy as a sustainable and renewable source. They reveal that global consumption surged from approximately 20,000 GWh in 1980 to more than 1 million GWh in 2023.

A 2024 report by the energy watchdog, the International Energy Agency (IEA), further underscores this momentum, noting that continued technological innovation and cost reductions in the building of heat energy facilities are expected to boost thermal energy's share of global electricity consumption to as much as 15%.

Operation of a geothermal heat pump. From US Department of Energy. Geothermal heat pumps, https://www.energy.gov/energysaver/geothermal-heat-pumps [accessed 11.04.25]. Credit: Geothermal Systems in the Energy Transition Era (2026). DOI: 10.1016/C2024-0-00994-0

This expansion would require the deployment of as much as 800 GW of geothermal capacity worldwideroughly equivalent to the combined electricity consumption of India and the United States, the report says.

The authors also call for the integration of the various geothermal systems currently used for thermal energy power generation. They specifically cite thermodynamic analysis of all types of geothermal power plants and geothermal heat pumps for cooling and heating, as well as water/lithium bromide single-effect absorption chillers.

Mohammad Nazari, Professor of Renewable Energy and Environmental Engineering at the University of Tehran, argues that increased reliance on machine learning-based intelligent methods could significantly lower computational costs and lead to time savings.

"By using these methods," Prof. Nazari, the co-author, said "that it becomes possible to accurately model different geothermal energy technologies and systems, for example, heat pumps, power plants, etc. Furthermore, the developed model based on these approaches would be applicable to the optimization of these systems."
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Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

Microsoft Corp. is rolling out its second-generation artificial intelligence chip, the centerpiece of the company's push to power its services more efficiently and provide an alternative to Nvidia Corp. hardware.

The Maia 200 chip, which is being produced by Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., is making its way to Microsoft data centers in Iowa, with deployments headed to the Phoenix area next. On Jan. 26, Microsoft invited developers to start using Maia's control software, but it's not clear when users of the company's Azure cloud service will be able to utilize servers running on the chip.

Some of the first units will go to Microsoft's superintelligence team, generating data to improve the next generation of AI models, cloud and AI chief Scott Guthrie said in a blog post. The chips will also be used to power the Copilot assistant for businesses and AI models, including OpenAI's latest, that Microsoft rents to cloud customers.

Microsoft's chip push started years after Amazon.com Inc. and Alphabet Inc.'s Google began designing their own chips. All three have a similar aim: cost-effective machines that can be seamlessly plugged into data centers and offer savings and other efficiencies to cloud customers. The high costs and short supply of the latest industry-leading chips from Nvidia has fueled a scramble to find alternative sources of computing power.

Microsoft says its chip delivers better performance on some AI tasks than comparable semiconductors from Google and Amazon Web Services. "Maia 200 is also the most efficient inference system Microsoft has ever deployed," Guthrie said, referring to the process of using AI models to generate responses to queries.

The company says it's already designing the chip's successor, the Maia 300. Microsoft has other options, should its internal efforts falter: As part of a deal with close partner OpenAI, the company has access to the ChatGPT maker's nascent chip designs.

Gartner analyst Chirag Dekate said the release of Maia 200 shows Microsoft is committed to its chipmaking effort. The growing energy needs of AI data centers and the lack of new power sources in many parts of the world make efficiency-focused projects like Maia more critical, he said.

"You don't engage in this sort of investment if you're just doing one or two stunt activities," Dekate said. "This is a multigeneration, strategic investment."

2026 Bloomberg L.P. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
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Banners for Pinterest, displayed to mark the fifth anniversary of the company's listing, hang on the front of the New York Stock Exchange in New York, May 15, 2024. Credit: AP Photo/Peter Morgan, File

Pinterest plans to lay off under 15% of its workforce, as part of broader restructuring that arrives as the image-sharing platform pivots more of its money to artificial intelligence.

In a Tuesday securities filing, San Francisco-based Pinterest said it was making these cuts to support "transformation initiatives"  which include reallocating the company's resources to AI-focused roles and prioritizing AI-powered products. It said it was also working to reshape its "sales and go-to-market approach."

Beyond the coming layoffs, Pinterest said it will reduce office space. The company expects to complete its restructuring plan by the end of September, incurring pretax charges of $35 million to $45 million.

Pinterest's job cuts are expected to impact hundreds of workers. As of the end of last year, Pinterest had a total headcount of about 5,200 employees, the company confirmed to The Associated Press.

Like other tech and social media companies, Pinterest has accelerated its integration of AI recently, particularly in consumer-facing offerings. In October, the company introduced AI-powered updates to users' in-platform "boards" and unveiled Pinterest Assistant, which is also powered by AI and gives users shopping recommendations.

Pinterest isn't the first company to turn to job cuts while pivoting spending to AI. Last fall, Amazon, for example, said it would cut about 14,000 corporate jobs (close to 4% of its workforce) as it ramped up AI investments while trimming costs elsewhere.

Shares of Pinterest fell more than 9% as of midday trading Tuesday.

 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
(TBTCO) - Chieu 2/2, tai tru so Bo Tai chinh, Bo truong Bo Tai chinh Nguyen Van Thang, Truong ban Ban chi ao Tong ieu tra kinh te nam 2026 trung uong a chu tri cuoc hop chuan bi cho Hoi nghi trien khai va ra soat, ieu chinh ke hoach Tong ieu tra kinh te nam 2026.
Iraq's Future Held Hostage By the US and Iran

Choosing Iraq's new president is closely linked to that of the prime minister, and veteran politician Nuri al-Maliki might make a comeback to the helm of the country.

This comes amid the threats by the most important pro-Iranian Shia militant group, Kata'ib Hezbollah, which speaks of "total war" after the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier arrived in the Middle East, a sign of another possible attack against Iran.

Faced with this situation of great tensions and uncertainty, the Chaldean Church and its patriarch, Cardinal Louis Raphael Sako, are calling for prayer and fasting to avert the danger of fresh violence, a portent of more conflict and devastation for the population.

This fear is real, especially given what is happening in other countries, like Syria, where the authorities have engaged in fierce fighting with Kurdish forces, something that could also have repercussions in Iraq.

There is also the controversial decision by the United States to move about 150 Islamic State (IS) prisoners from Hasakah, Syria, to a secure facility in Iraq, as part of an operation that could involve up to 7,000 "caliphate" fighters.

This move risks reopening old wounds in a country that has yet to overcome the tragedies and devastation of jihadi rule in the north, Mosul and the Nineveh Plain, between 2014 and 2017, where tensions with Islamic fundamentalists have never fully subsided.

Kata'ib Hezbollah's "total war"

The first level of attention and concern regards the regional scenario, especially the implications of the protests in Iran and the risk of US (and Israeli) intervention against the Islamic Republic's leaders, with inevitable repercussions for Baghdad.

Iraq has been at the centre of a power struggle between Washington and Tehran for years. Through military force and political influence, especially via proxy militias, they influence the life of the Arab country. To this must be added the return of Nouri al-Maliki, seen as close to but not completely aligned with the US.

The Iraqi militant group Kata'ib Hezbollah has intervened in this game of alliances and spheres of influence, saying it is preparing for "total war" to coincide with the arrival of the US aircraft carrier, which has put the US within "striking range" of Iran.

The new statement from Kata'ib Hezbollah is signed by al-Hamidawi, re-elected as the group's leader in 2022.

Known by the nom de guerre Ahmad Mohsen Faraj al-Hamidawi, the head of the pro-Iranian militia warned that any conflict with Iran "will not be easy". Threatening his adversaries, he said that in the event of a clash, they would "face severe consequences".

Addressing his militants, he urged them to be always "field-ready". "We address our call to our mujahideen brothers ... to prepare for a total war in support of the Islamic Republic of Iran," he added.

These fighting words come from one of the groups closest to Iran and the Pasdaran, similar in every way to its Lebanese equivalent, Hezbollah, who, like them, have access to a large stockpile of weapons.

Yesterday's statement is just the latest example of how Tehran-backed militias in Iraq continue to threaten Israel, the United States, and the region.

In recent days, such groups have deployed their forces along the Syrian border, claiming to be helping the central government in Baghdad protect the country from potential intruders.

The United States targeted Kata'ib Hezbollah previous leader Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis in a drone strike in 2020, when he was travelling in the same vehicle as Iranian Quds Force Commander Qasem Soleimani, killing both.

For their part, the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) said that they were on high alert and ready for any scenario, as tensions escalated.

New president and al-Maliki's return

Meanwhile, two crucial events now dominate Iraq's political life. One is the election of the new president to replace Abdul Latif Rashid, who was involved in a bitter feud with the Chaldean primate after he decided to revoke a presidential decree recognising the latter as a head of the Church. The other event is the nomination of a new prime minister.

According to the constitution, the president should be chosen by 29 January, but just this morning, the Council of Representatives of Iraq (the country's de facto unicameral legislature) postponed the election.

The decision, explained parliamentary Speaker Haibat al-Halbousi, follows a request of delay by the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), the two main Kurdish parties.

The vote was postponed until further notice, although the next meeting will likely be scheduled for 1 February, to allow the two parties to agree on a name (under the constitution, the president is an ethnic Kurd).

Vice President Farhad Atroushi confirmed the suspension at this morning's parliamentary session, citing the failure to meet the legal quorum required for the vote.

The delay is expected to last only a few days, as requested by the KDP and PUK before today's meeting, to give them more time and flexibility amid precarious interests and alliances.

However, the decision to postpone the vote has raised concerns among those who fear a ripple effect since it would also delay the nomination of the next prime minister and cabinet, and this could negatively impact the country's political stability.

With Rashid's controversial term in office now over, the two candidates vying for succession are likely to by the KDP's Fuad Hussein and the PUK's Nizar Amedi.

The election of the president will be followed by the nomination of the person charged with forming the new government, one of the head of state's first formal tasks.

According to various analysts, veteran politician and former Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki is in pole position for getting the task, as recommended by the Shia-led Coordination Framework alliance (the majority bloc in the Assembly), a choice that is sure to spark tensions and divisions.

In fact, at stake is not only the formation of the next government but, also Iraq's position amid growing rivalry between the United States and Iran, fragile Sunni-Shia relations, and a Kurdish leadership that favours predictability over experimentation.

In a statement, the Coordination Framework stated that al-Maliki -- who was prime minister from late 2005 to 2014 -- was picked "based on his political and administrative experience and his role in managing the state."

He had resigned following the rise of the Islamic State, though he remained an influential political player in the Arab country's sectarian ethno-religious politics.

Various experts note that, while Washington and Tehran are pushing in opposite directions, and Iraqi factions are alternating between principle and pragmatism, the question is not whether al-Maliki can return, but whether Iraq can take in that return without reopening old wounds.

Chaldean Church fasting for peace

Against this backdrop of tensions and uncertainty over the future, the Chaldean Church issued a call to the faithful, urging them to fast and pray for three days on 26-28 January "for peace in the region".

Recently, the Chaldean primate himself, Cardinal Louis Raphael Sako, published an appeal on the patriarchate's website, underlining his "great concern" over the "alarming news" coming from various parts of the Middle East.

In a note sent to AsiaNews, the cardinal says that we are witnessing an "escalation of conflicts, militarisation, polarisation, and declining stability" in the region.

For this reason, he calls on the country's leaders and people, both Christians and Muslims, to adopt "concrete measures" to promote "peace and harmony" and spare the countries of the region "further calamities".

The prelate also urges the United Nations to "take responsibility and deal with the conflicts and achieve peace through dialogue, so as to preserve the sovereignty of countries and the rights of their citizens."

Furthermore, local governments must "carefully analyse the situation and assume direct responsibility for protecting their nation and guaranteeing freedom, dignity, and a decent standard of living for all citizens."

Finally, regarding Iraq specifically, "the time has come to implement reforms, moving from slogans to action, entrusting the state with a monopoly on weapons and decisively combating corruption. The criteria for building a state," he warns, "are the principles of citizenship, competence, and adherence to ethical policies."

As for religion, Cardinal Sako notes that it "is a personal matter, while public affairs should be based on competence and ability."

Any new government, in his view, must ensure equality among people, while respecting and embracing "religious and ethnic diversity," which is a resource.

Finally, the patriarch calls on the authorities "to sincerely commit to change the discourse in the media, mosques, and churches, and improve educational programmes in schools."
Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya Participates in the Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos

Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya attended the 56th Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum held in Davos, Switzerland from 19 to 22 January 2026 at the invitation of the President and Chief Executive Officer of the World Economic Forum, Brge Brende. Over 60 world leaders from government, businesses, civil society and academia attended the Forum in 2026 held under the theme "A Spirit of Dialogue".

The Prime Minister participated in a panel discussion and high-level dialogue at the Forum while also holding bilateral meetings, addressing high-level platforms on women leaders and tourism, and holding business engagements. She shared Sri Lankas experience of resilience and recovery, following cyclone Ditwah and Government measures to establish economic stability, build investor confidence and commitment to removing inequalities.

Speaking at the Stakeholder Dialogue - A Coming Jobs Crisis in Emerging Markets? Prime Minister Amarasuriya shared how the emerging economies over the next decade should close the gap in employment models through expansion of skills and training. She also highlighted the vital importance of recognizing the contribution of different categories of workers to bring social stability and dignity of work. Prime Minister Amarasuriya also joined a dialogue at the Strategy Session - Reskilling Revolution: Shaping the Future of Global Talent at the Forum, which discussed the challenges posed by technological advancements to the world of work.

On the sidelines of the WEF 2026, the Prime Minister delivered the keynote address at the "World Women Davos Agenda 2026" organized by the World Woman Foundation and highlighted the importance of creating a political culture where women can engage in decision making at policy level with confidence and dignity.

Joining the high-level dialogue at the Global Tourism Forum in Euronews Hub under the theme Tourism as Soft Power and Diplomatic Capital, Prime Minister Amarasuriya highlighted Sri Lanka as an example of hope, resilience and recovery in an increasingly unstable world with multiple conflicts. She also underscored the diversity of attractions making Sri Lanka a unique experience and a place to build connections and relationships.

The Prime Minister held a bilateral meeting with the President of Singapore Tharman Shanmugaratnam who shared Singapores experience in restructuring the country s education model giving greater focus to vocational education. Prime Minister Amarasuriya also met with the President of the Asian Development Bank (ADB); Masato Kanda and Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF); Kristalina Georgieva and discussed Sri Lankas engagement with these two institutions particularly following the devastation and damage caused by cyclone Ditwah.

Discussions were also held with EU Commissioners for International Partnerships and for Preparedness and Crisis Management. During a meeting with the recently appointed Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Alexander De Croo, Prime Minister Amarasuriya expressed gratitude for the continued support of UNDP in various social development activities in Sri Lanka.

The Prime Ministers business engagements included Chairman of A.P. Moller Holding (MAERSK); Robert M. Uggala, Chairman of Menzies Aviation; Hassan El Houry, and separate meetings with the Swiss business community, convened by the Swiss Asian Chamber of Commerce and the Sri Lankan business community in Switzerland.

On the sidelines of the Forum, Prime Minister Amarasuriya was able to visit the Hamiltan Medical AG; a key medical production company specializing in ventilators, and Variosystems; a leading global partner for electronic solutions, with a presence in Sri Lanka. The visits focused on studying their business model that includes providing apprenticeships for vocational and technical education.

The Prime Minister was accompanied by the Minister of Labour and Deputy Minister of Finance and Planning, Dr. Anil Jayantha Fernando, and Ambassador and the Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka to the United Nations in Geneva, Himalee Arunatilaka.

Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka in Geneva

26 January 2026
Even as Russias war scars the landscape, conservationists in southern Ukraine are reintroducing lost species to restore Europes largest wetland, showing how nature recovery can persist amid conflict.

In the spring of 2022, a group of conservationists anxiously scanned the steppe in the Odesa region of Ukraine with binoculars. Tall grass swayed gently in the breeze as they watched for telltale signs  a rustle here, a ripple there. And then they saw it, a tiny Asiatic wild ass (Equus hemionus, locally known as kulan) foal, trotting alongside its mother. For the Rewilding Ukraine team who had come to see how this herd of wild asses that they had reintroduced to the steppe the previous year had fared in the punishing winter, this was quite a moment. Still unsteady on its feet, it was the first to be born in the wild in 200 years.

To a nation at war, the halting steps of one equine might seem insignificant. Odesa, especially its busy Black Sea port, has borne the brunt of Russian air and drone strikes. From the Danube Delta, 80 kilometers away, residents often see antiaircraft fire streaking through the sky and hear the sounds of distant bombs. However, for Rewilding Ukraine  a member of the umbrella organization Rewilding Europe, which has been working to restore the Danube Delta region since 2017  revitalizing Ukraines part of the delta is also urgent. Europes largest wetland and second-largest natural delta, it is a unique and extensive mosaic of rivers, lakes, marshes, steppes, dunes, lagoons, and forests.

Human activities, war and civilian, have degraded the landscape, and over the centuries, most of the large grazers that roamed this landscape  vast herds of kulan, saiga antelope, fallow deer, and buffalo, have disappeared. Some ecologists argue that the famous black soils we have in Ukraine and all the way to Central Asia, these are the results of thousands of years of grazing by these large, healthy grazers, says Mykhailo Nesterenko, team leader of Rewilding Ukraine. He says that simply through their normal behavior  eating grass, nibbling on young trees, wallowing in the mud, migrating across the landscape, and pooping  these animals have shaped and maintained the ecological health of this mosaic of landscapes in the delta region.

Mykhailo Nesterenko, team leader of Rewilding Ukraine. Photo by Kateryna Kurakina/Rewilding Ukraine.

Since 2017, Nesterenko and his colleagues have been on a mission to undo centuries of human-induced degradation of this landscape by using a low-tech, but highly efficient weapon  its native grazers. Their work seeks to achieve large-scale biological and ecological restoration, which creates the right conditions for nature to heal itself. These methods include restoring the free flow of rivers by removing dykes and dams, reducing active management of wildlife populations, and reintroducing species that have disappeared as a result of human actions. To this end, they have brought back kulan, water buffalo, Konik horses, fallow deer, and even European hamsters to the Danube Delta region, so that these keystone species, in the long run, can help create a mosaic of grassland, woodland, and wetland, which in turn supports greater biodiversity while also lowering wildfire risk.

Nesterenko, who has spent 25 years on rewilding efforts in the delta but fled when the war began, feels optimistic whenever they spot babies born in the wild. This means that they [the rewilded species] feel good in the region and can establish themselves here, he says. As they mate and reproduce in the wild, the animals that Nesterenko refers to as ecosystem engineers are helping restore the fragile, degraded landscape.

At War with Nature

On 24 February 2022, the future of this rewilding effort, and that of the delta and the steppe, was suddenly thrown into uncertainty.

I heard the bombs very early that morning  I was listening to the American news, which was saying that war was imminent, Nesterenko remembers. Russia had launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, and fighter jets were pummeling Odesa from land and sea. We all had emergency kits, and when we heard [the bombs], it wasnt much thinking  we just put the kits in the car and left. Nesterenko and his family stayed a few months in Romania before moving to the Netherlands, where Rewilding Europe is headquartered.

The impact on the rewilding project was acute and immediate. Project sites were cut off, which meant that the projects rangers could not monitor their rewilded herds or to release more as planned. Civilians were, and are, restricted from going into the delta  not just us, but even the local authorities are not allowing their staff to visit the core areas of the biosphere reserve, Nesterenko says. Sea mines laid by both the Ukrainian and Russian militaries can drift to the areas shores and creeks, and some mines have exploded inside rewilding areas, igniting fires in dry woodland habitats.

This has posed considerable challenges not just in the delta and nearby Tarutino Steppe, but across the country. In March 2022, Russia occupied one of Ukraines oldest and most significant biosphere reserves, Askania-Nova. Its steppes, home to successfully rewilded Przewalskis horses and introduced grazers such as zebras, were reclassified as hunting grounds, undoing decades of conservation efforts.

Unsurprisingly, this brought the fledgling ecotourism sector in these areas to a halt. This was an essential aspect of Rewilding Ukraines strategy of providing local residents of the Danube Delta with an economic incentive to rewild and conserve their landscape. In the first months of 2022, visits to the Romanian side of the delta fell by roughly 25%, while the Ukrainian side remained mostly out of bounds.

Yet, Nesterenko says there is reason for cautious optimism. Restricted human activity as a result of the conflict may have actually helped their rewilding effort. Since 2019, the organization has restored seven wetlands covering more than 18,000 hectares and reconnected 20 kilometers of river networks in the Danube Delta. Were seeing that the water quality is back, the fish stocks are recovering, Nesterenko says. In the upper delta, the restoration of Kartal Lake has helped reopen fish migration routes between floodplains and the Danube. This has allowed native fish like sturgeon to return, while previously stocked exotic species have declined.

To Restore a Grassland, Bring Back the Grazers!

Rewilding Ukraine has restored 600 hectares of formerly ploughed grassland in the Tarutino Steppe and has found that returning long-lost species of grazers is aiding their objective. The kulan now number about 35 by rangers estimates and have now spread out over 40,000 hectares. In addition to the kulan, they have introduced other large herbivores: 63 Konik horses, 20 red deer, 30 fallow deer, 20 water buffalo, and 10 Hucul horses.

David Thomas is the director of the projects funding partner, the Endangered Landscapes & Seascapes Program (ELSP) of the UK-based Cambridge Conservation Initiative. This project is really about reconnecting those disconnected parts of the ecosystem, restoring ecosystem processes and bringing back nature, he says. When these reintroduced grazing species graze on dry foliage and young trees that could take over and overwhelm the steppes natural grasses, it has several impacts. Weve seen that these animals increase the variety and the diversity of plants, Nesterenko says.

A team of scientists working in the Tarutino Steppe. Photo by Victor Shapoval.

ELSPs satellite images show that reintroducing water buffalo and Konik horses across the outer delta has indeed reduced dense vegetation as it has boosted plant diversity.

ELSP and Rewilding Ukraine have found that grasslands with large and diverse grazing species like donkeys, horses, and buffalo deposit twice as much carbon compared to areas where no large grazers are present. Their research bears this out, and also finds that soils under natural grazing potentially face lower fire risk than ungrazed or ploughed land. This is crucial at a time when fire is a bigger threat than before  not only because of climate change but also from stray bombs and landmines.

In August 2025, local volunteer Petro Hramatik of the Odesa region village Vesela Dolyna observed that wildfires occurred every day, with dry grass acting like kindling. He was the village head (starosta) from 2020 to 2024, and saw that the presence of kulan and other grazers helps reduce excessive dry vegetation, creates more diverse plant structures, and opens up space for different species to return.

An Investment in the Future

Hramatik lives near the steppe, and helps monitor the kulan and other species there. I feel deeply connected to this landscape, he says, adding that rewilding is not just a project but a shared responsibility for the future of the land. He is part of a growing community of people, living in isolated villages in Ukraine, who are coming around to the idea that restoring their land is linked to their own well-being.

Before the war began, Rewilding Ukraine had started helping develop local eco-tourism activities and small businesses. When hostilities cease, Nesterenko hopes that nature-based tourism will generate new jobs in the local area and support traditional forms of farming based on grazing and haymaking. To this end, his team is presently conducting workshops, community council sessions, and public hearings to keep local residents engaged with conservation even during wartime.

Fears of further war destruction remain. In 2023, the State Water Resources Agency of Ukraine documented the catastrophic impact of the destruction of a huge dam in the Russian-controlled Kherson region in southern Ukraine. It prompted accusations of ecocide against Russia.

Meanwhile, in 2025, Rewilding Ukraines Nature for Veterans initiative invited Ukrainian soldiers and their families to experience the rewilded landscape of the Danube Delta and even help build artificial nesting platforms for pelicans. Thomas says that the sight of nature healing itself, as it is doing in the Danube Delta, has the potential to help with PTSD and other psychological conditions caused by war. Once peace returns, he says, people will need such places where they can be at peace with nature.

What we do is an investment into the future, Nesterenko says. Our rewilding efforts in the Danube Delta show that Ukraines nature is as resilient as the Ukrainian people, and the two depend on each other. I am confident that both will recover when the war ends.

Geetanjali Krishna is a journalist reporting on the environment, climate change, and global health. She co-founded The India Story Agency, a cross-border reporting partnership, in 2020. She was a Solutions Journalism Accelerator grantee in 2024; one of 10 journalists chosen for the Solutions Journalism Networks LEDE fellowship in 2023; and an awardee of the European Journalism Centers Global Health Security Grant 2021. Her recent bylines can be found in The British Medical Journal, Reasons to be Cheerful, bioGraphic, BBC Future, and Asia Democracy Chronicles.
This week has brought multiple developments related to the Disability Access Service (DAS) changes at Disneyland and Walt Disney World. Just a few days ago, we learned that Disney has reversed course on previous attempts to block a shareholder proposal seeking a review of the DAS changes.

Disney has now provided a clear response, outlining when the shareholder proposal will be discussed and revealing the board's recommendation to shareholders. This is a key update for readers following the DAS changes closely. The DAS disability pass eligibility changes, first introduced in 2024, have caused wide discussion and have continued to generate national attention.

At Mickey Visit, we report on all the recent Disney news, including the major changes at Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge and the reopening of a fan favorite Disney World restaurant after a six year closure.

READ MORE  11 Unwritten Rules of the Disney Parks You Really Need to Follow

DAS Shareholder Proposal Listed on Disney Shareholder Meeting Agenda

Lightning Lane sign at Disneyland

Disney filed its annual proxy statement announcing the next annual shareholder meeting for March 18, 2026, at 1 PM ET, which includes a vote for board members and an advisory vote related to executive compensation and other proposals.

What's of most interest to those following the back and forth regarding DAS advocacy groups and Disney is the detail that the DAS shareholder proposal is listed on the meeting's official agenda. "Independent Review and Report on Accessibility and Disability Inclusion Practices," the official name of the shareholder proposal, will be put forth to stakeholders for a vote.

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This proposal requests The Walt Disney Company to evaluate "the legal, financial, and reputational risks tied to its controversial Disability Access Service (DAS) changes." The shareholder proposal asks Disney to commission an independent third-party review of its accessibility and disability inclusion practices, evaluating risks, comparing them against standards and competitors, and sharing the findings publicly and internally.

DAS was significantly restructured in 2024 in an effort to curb overuse, misuse, and other issues that were beginning to weaken the program's effectiveness. As a result, many guests who were previously eligible for these accommodations became ineligible after the changes. Read more about the DAS shareholder proposal in our initial coverage.

So what will happen at the shareholder meeting? Well, shareholder proposals that are included in proxy materials will be brought to shareholders for a vote at the annual meeting. Initially, Disney sought to prevent this proposal from appearing in its proxy materials, but later withdrew that request. So we can expect a vote from shareholders at this meeting on March 18.

Disney Recommends Shareholders to Vote Against DAS Proposal

Disney World crowds

Also revealed in its proxy materials is the recommendation from Disney for shareholders to vote against the proposal. In the materials, Disney discloses that it decided to include the proposal due to recent regulatory changes, despite the assertion that it does not meet Rule 14a-8 requirements. Rule 14a-8 is a rule from the Securities and Exchange Commission that explains who can submit a shareholder proposal, how and when it must be submitted, and what types of topics can be included in a company's proxy materials. While it may appear to be an act of goodwill, Disney's decision to include the proposal is more likely a procedural and risk management move, even while still recommending that shareholders vote against it.

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In the response, Disney argues it already has strong accessibility and disability inclusion practices in place already and that the company has been an industry leader in this area for more than 30 years, during which it has regularly reviewed and updated its approach.

The company points out the detailed public information available online and in its parks, along with a wide range of accommodations across its theme parks, media, and streaming platforms, including the Disability Access Service, captioning, audio descriptions, and other accessibility tools. Disney also emphasizes that it has robust leadership, governance, and risk oversight structures dedicated to inclusion and guest safety, which it says make an additional independent review unnecessary.

Because of this, the Board argues the proposal would not add meaningful value for shareholders and would require resources without providing new or useful information, leading it to unanimously recommend a vote against the proposal. The company also repeated its prior statements that the shareholder proposal is false and misleading.

While it is unlikely this proposal will pass  it is extremely rare for a shareholder proposal to pass when a board recommends against it  this is still a win for DAS advocacy groups. This back and forth has pushed DAS back into the spotlight and kept the conversation going, even though the changes were first introduced in 2024.

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While DAS appears on the agenda, this upcoming shareholder meeting is more likely to focus on naming a successor to Bob Iger as CEO. The meeting also comes as Disney disclosed that Iger's total compensation rose to $45.8 million in 2025, up from $41.1 million in 2024 and $31.5 million in 2023.

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You can read the official wording from the proxy materials below from Disney's recommendation to vote against the proposal:

The Board recommends that you vote against this proposal for the following key reasons, as discussed in more detail below:

The Company is committed to the design and implementation of innovative and effective services that accommodate persons with disabilities and already reviews its practices on an ongoing basis. The Company has been the industry leader in accessibility for over 30 years.

The Company provides detailed public information, tips and recommendations regarding its accessibility and disability inclusion practices, both online and in person in its theme parks.

The Company provides strong governance and oversight of its inclusion practices, as well as risk management.

The proposal's request would not enhance shareholder value.

Across the Company, we endeavor to provide opportunities to enjoy our products and services. To that end, the Company has made thoughtful investments to incorporate accessibility for people with disabilities throughout our operations as we strive to design, promote and serve as a model for accessibility. The Company has given the same attention to detail in its development of the Disability Access Service program for its domestic parks, which provides an extraordinary benefit  never having to wait in the regular standby lines fo most rides for those who require that option. The Company also offers a broad range of different accommodations to assist in accessing the rides and other attractions in the parks, accessing our content and programming and experiencing our other products and services. For example, the Company offers a range of tools and accessibility features across our streaming platforms and networks, including tools such as audio descriptions, closed captioning, keyboard navigation and interoperability with popular screen readers.

The Company provides detailed information regarding accessibility and disability inclusion practices on its websites, including the publication of an Accessibility Topic Brief. Each of our theme parks also publicly provides thorough information about its accommodations and assists guests both before and during their visits. For our domestic theme parks, Disneyland Resort and Walt Disney World Resort, this includes pages on the Disability Access Service program with guidance on registration and the process for using the program once in one of the parks.

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The Company has strong governance and oversight of both its accessibility efforts and risk management. Our Senior Executive Vice President and Chief People Officer leads Disney's global people and culture strategy: talent acquisition and development compensation and benefits; opportunity and inclusion; organizational effectiveness; and employee services and systems. Reporting to our Chief People Officer, our Senior Vice President and Chief Opportunity & Inclusion Officer leads the Company's Opportunity Inclusion strategy and partners closely with leaders and teams across all segments to foster a culture rooted in belonging. The Chief Safety Officer leads the Company's guest safety efforts for Disney Experiences, including those related to guest accessibility, in collaboration with businesses and leaders across the Company. The Board and its committees oversee the Company's major financial, legal and reputational risks, supporting strong brand stewardship and mitigation of such risks. See section entitled "The Board's Role in Risk Oversight" in this proxy statement for more details.

The Company already details the support and accommodations it offers to guests and consumers with accessibility needs, as well as risk oversight practices and governance. The Board therefore believes that the proposal's request is not in the best interests of the Company and its shareholders as it would not provide meaningful additional information to shareholders to merit the resources it would require.

For the reasons set forth above, our Board unanimously recommends voting AGAINST this.

READ MORE  Hidden Details on Disneyland Rides That You Will Completely Miss if You Don't Know Where to Look

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If you're thinking of retiring to another country, a couple questions on your mind might be: Can this new country support my lifestyle, and will I be able to get around without a problem? Language barriers, expensive healthcare, and real estate affordability are all valid concerns for retiring somewhere outside your home country. One place that eases these concerns  and which might come as a surprise, given how little-known it is  is a serene highland town in Panama called Boquete. It was named the No. 1 retirement destination in the world by Live and Invest Overseas.

The retirement publication named the low cost of living, beautiful landscape, and large presence of English speakers among the main reasons Boquete earned its top abroad retirement spot. In fact, Boquete has long been loved as a retirement hub  it was first recognized as a top spot by Live and Invest Overseas in the early 2000s, shortly after a development project took shape in the town to specifically attract expat retirees. It's since grown to have one of the biggest expat retiree communities in Central America, with about 5,000 residents (one-fifth of the total population) being expats, according to International Living. The magazine interviewed one local retiree who said, "People are really friendly in Boquete and will always introduce you to each other. ... There's a real community feeling."

Read more: 25 Gorgeous Islands For Vacationing That Won't Break The Bank

The natural beauty of Boquete

A waterfall in the jungle of Boquete, Panama - Dominic Meijers/Shutterstock

A major draw of Boquete for retirees is its nature  you could spend your retirement years surrounded by the beautiful landscapes of the Chiriqui Highlands. Boquete sits squarely in the Chiriqui Province, which is known for having Panama's tallest peak, the Baru Volcano. Boquete is just a from the Baru Volcano National Park. There are hikes through the park that wind up the volcanic slopes, though you could also get to the top via a 4x4 vehicle up the mountain road.

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Heading just beyond the volcanic park turnoff, you can drive about from Boquete to reach another highlight of Panama's highlands: a top-tier birdwatching spot, the Pipeline Trail. National Geographic once called Boquete a "bird-watcher's paradise," citing the mesmerizing resplendent quetzal as the local showstopper. These colorful birds are frequent sightings along the Pipeline Trail, which has a gentle 2-mile path through a cloud forest, crossing pipeline bridges and weaving between 1,000-year-old trees. The trail also leads to a

Boquete stays warm year-round, with its lowest average temperatures in December and January being around 63 degrees Fahrenheit, according to Climate Data. It rarely reaches extremes in either direction, typically maxing out in the mid-70s, perfect for exploring the highlands and birding hotspots all year without overheating. Plus, even though the town gets some heavy rains d

Practical things to know about retiring in Boquete

The mountain-framed town center of Boquete, Panama, seen from above - Angel DiBilio/Shutterstock

Likely the first thing you'll need to get out of the way is legal considerations for moving to Panama. Luckily, for retirees, you don't need to worry about long visa application processes or yearly paperwork to stay in the country. Panama has a very simple and established visa program for retirees called the Pensionado program. The program grants permanent residency to retirees, so long as you can prove you receive at least $1,000 per month in retirement pensions. The program also gives you discounts on utility bills, airline tickets and transportation, doctor's bills, and more.

If the legal ease isn't reason enough to retire abroad in Panama, the affordability of it might sway you. The cost of living in Boquete is much more affordable than many American retirement cities. Compare it, for example, with Orlando, Florida: Living in Boquete is almost 42% cheaper than in Orlando, according to Numbeo. A three-course, mid-range meal in Boquete would cost around $15 per person (as of this writing), and you could get a draft beer for under $2. Plus, with its mild climate, you may not need air conditioning or a heater, minimizing utility bills.

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One point to note is that Boquete does not have an international airport. Its nearest international airport, the Enrique Malek International Airport, is in David. Once in town, it's easy to get around, though. As blogger Nomadic Matt described, the town is condensed enough that you can walk just about everywhere, though there are also plenty of buses and taxis available.

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Read the original article on Islands.
Statement by Her Excellency Himalee Arunatilaka, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka to the United Nations in Geneva

Conference on Disarmament  27 January 2026

Statement by Her Excellency Himalee Arunatilaka, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka to the United Nations in Geneva

Madam President,

Madam Secretary-General

Excellencies, Distinguished Colleagues

It is with deep honour, respect and gratitude that I take the floor today for the last time in my capacity as the Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka to the United Nations in Geneva, and to the Conference on Disarmament. I will be concluding my tenure and returning to Sri Lanka in a few days on the conclusion of my tenure in Geneva.

It is a privilege and an honor to have H.E. Madam Tatiana Valovaya, Secretary-General of the Conference on Disarmament, present at my final meeting today.

Allow me to record my sincere appreciation to the Secretary-General and the entire Secretariat for their steadfast support and cooperation with all delegations, including with Sri Lanka.

I take this opportunity to also extend my warmest congratulations to Her Excellency Davaasuren Gerelmaa, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Mongolia, on assuming the first Presidency for 2026 of this prestigious body. I wish her strength and success to lay the foundation for this years work in the CD.

Similarly, I extend my best wishes to the subsequent presidents of the CD this year to carry forward the collective expectations of the international community to realize disarmament goals within this august body.

I would like to convey my appreciation to Her Excellency Francesca Elizabeth Escobar, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Mexico for her leadership as the last President of the CD in 2025 in the adoption of the report and the General Assembly Resolution.

I would like to warmly welcome the Permanent Representatives of India, Bangladesh, Austria, Indonesia, Iraq and Kazakhstan, who have joined us recently. I believe that they will bring fresh thinking and energy to this room, and I wish them every success as they contribute to this indispensable forum contributing to global peace and security.

Madam President,

We are living in a period of increasing geo-political and geo-economic tension leading to an extremely fragile global security landscape. This situation calls for strong and courageous diplomacy to reinforce international cooperation and multilateral engagement which has become even more indispensable today. As we heard at the World Economic Forum in Davos last week, the rules-based order is fading. If we are to bring global peace and stability, we must recommit dialogue and mutual respect, and respect for the UN Charter. In this regard, this august body which has the mandate for negotiating multilateral disarmament must do its part, and we firmly believe that inclusive dialogue, building trust and transparency are essential to overcome the current challenges.

Madam President,

As a nation that championed the First Special Session on Disarmament (SSOD-1) in 1978 and strong supporter of the creation of this Conference, Sri Lanka holds the CD close to its heart and has played a constructive and principled role in advancing global disarmament over the years. Sri Lanka has been a proud partner and supporter of many key initiatives including global nuclear disarmament, establishment of nuclear weapons free zones and prevention of arms race in outer space. In the modern days of disarmament architecture, Sri Lanka has been contributing to the discussions on autonomous weapons systems.

Among several key initiatives within this body, I am proud to recall that the decision to establish subsidiary bodies to resume substantive work of CD was first adopted under Sri Lankas Presidency of the CD in 2018.

Looking ahead, I see that the year 2026 brings together several major Disarmament milestones including the 11th Review Conference of the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT). I call upon all my distinguished colleagues to work with renewed hope, flexibility and mutual respect to bring the desired outcome through the CD as well as other disarmament fora for the ultimate benefit of humanity.

As we are at a very fragile stage in the global security environment, the relevance of the CD must not be questioned but reaffirmed as a forum to rebuild trust and confidence among nations.

Madam President,

I leave Geneva with enduring faith in the mandate of the CD as well as confidence in the collective wisdom and contribution of my distinguished colleagues. It is my sincere hope that the Conference on Disarmament will continue to uphold its mandate and contribute meaningfully to ensuring a more stable and safer world for all.

I thank you, Madam President, and all my colleagues for the support, friendship, and cooperation extended to me and my delegation throughout my tenure.

Thank you

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An admirable human instinct has proven deadly again in Tucson. And once again, the tragedy appears unnecessary.

The killing Thursday night of an employee at a Tucson 7-Eleven store stemmed from a brazen attempt to steal alcohol, and from the employee's effort to physically stop it, Tucson police say in a criminal complaint.

Employee Scott Kennedy was shot to death by a young man trying to steal about eight containers of BeatBox wine drinks, Smirnoff Ice vodka drinks and BuzzBallz canned cocktails, the complaint says. Kennedy, known as "Cowboy" for the hat he wore, is the second person to die in Tucson in two months during confrontations over brazen retail theft.

About 11 p.m. at the store at 4295 E. 29th Street, Kennedy saw a man, later identified as Andres McKale, taking alcohol from the cooler, the complaint says. Kennedy was armed but had not drawn his gun when Andres McKale, holding a gun, tried to leave with the drinks, the complaint says. Kennedy blocked the door.

"Andres told Scott to get out of the way and that he was going to shoot him," the complaint says, citing witness accounts and video evidence. "Scott responded that Andres would have to shoot him because he's not going to move."

McKale then fired, police said, and fled with the drinks. Now McKale, who was released from prison in December, is in Pima County Jail, charged with armed robbery and first-degree murder, on a $500,000 bond.

Of course, this death should not have happened.

In the other recent case, it was the alleged shoplifter, Emery Kirk, who was killed after a scuffle with a customer who saw him stealing cigarettes and intervened. The customer, Andrew Anaya, has since been indicted on a manslaughter charge by a Pima County grand jury.

This shouldn't have happened either.

Neither should the other cases like this I recall from years past. In 2006, Quik Mart clerk Kevin Cottle died after following three customers who had each stolen a case of beer out of the store. In 2015, an accused shoplifter, Gerald Ramon, was killed by a customer who followed him out of a Circle K for two blocks, leading to a deadly confrontation.

People sometimes can't resist the urge to stop a wrong happening right in front of them. But in cases like this, when no one is being hurt, people should resist, and not just because it can save a life, maybe their own.

We don't know what's going on behind the scenes as retailers try to crack down on theft. These days, when we see someone openly stealing off the shelves of a convenience store, pharmacy or big-box retailer, the retailers are sometimes building cases against these thieves.

"What I need the community to understand is that in 2026, all this is recorded and surveilled on really high-quality camera equipment," Pima County Laura Conover told me as we talked on the Bill Buckmaster show Jan. 16.

The retailers and law enforcement, including the county attorney's office, meet regularly to discuss retail theft and share information on perpetrators. Together, they build cases that are no longer just misdemeanor theft, but felony organized retail theft, as they gather evidence together from different stores.

"Its not just the surveillance cameras," Conover added. "Theres high-level training now. You give people nicknames so that it goes into the same file, like 'Right Eye Scar.'"

The different retailers share this information in their networks. In some stores, individual employees can upload their reports on apps that feed into these systems.

That's one of the reasons that most retailers tell employees not to physically intervene in shoplifting cases.

"Every company has their own detailed policies, but across the board, we instruct our employees to not engage with any kind of illegal activity in the store, because we're worried about their safety and the safety of customers, said Michelle Ahlmer of the Arizona Retailers Association.

This is frustrating, of course, because it contributes to an overall sense of lawlessness, and it also raises prices as retailers inevitably pass on their losses from theft to other customers.

But it is so much worse to lose people over comparatively trivial material losses for the corporations.

"Cowboy," for example, was a known figure in the neighborhoods near Roberts-Naylor K-8 School. One of his regular customers, Eli Hawley, told me that Cowboy helped him read labels and get cash out of the ATM.

"He helped me big time, because I had a tough time reading," Hawley said. "He was a good guy. Ever since he died, ever since he got murdered, Im having a rough time sleeping, and it really got to me, because he was my friend."

Another customer, Jessica Amador, told me via Facebook that Kennedy watched out for the kids in the neighborhood.

"He always wore funny shirts that had funny sayings on them," Amador said. "He would say 'check this one out,' and show his shirt and just laugh."

It's more than a shame to lose such a person over a few prepackaged drinks that cost the company maybe $30.
The University of Arizonas faculty chair says shes informally distributing emergency whistles to faculty, students, staff and community members she encounters, to increase safety on campus and alert people in the vicinity of any kind of trouble.

I think we all know enough to be horrified in the current situation, no matter what our perspective or political orientation may be, Faculty Chair Leila Hudson told the Faculty Senate on Monday.

She said the idea to distribute whistles originated at the time of a mass shooting Dec. 13 at Brown University, where a gunman opened fire inside a campus building and killed two students and wounded nine others. Since the shooting, Brown has faced questions about its security policies, including its surveillance footage.

She also mentioned the current Immigration and Customs Enforcement or ICE activity taking place across the country, including in Tucson.

Hudson said she met with Steve Patterson, UAs chief safety officer, and the Office of Public Safetys Real-Time Coordination Center to talk about the ongoing process of securing the UA campus against all kinds of incidents, including natural and criminal events.

Today, Ive offered many of you emergency whistles. You can take one and clip it to your keychain, she told faculty senators and administrators at Mondays meeting. Its good if you hike and fall down, or if you walk alone at night, or if you ever need any kind of help or backup or warning to the community. Its a good-old-fashioned analog signal, loud and clear, still uncorrupted and unspoofed as of yet, that alerts the helpers and warns the community of any kind of trouble.

About her meeting with Patterson, she said, We talked about the difficulties on a large campus like ours, where you dont have street addresses, most people dont know the names of the buildings they dont regularly frequent. We also talked about what happens if we were to have a digital kind of collapse, if the grid collapsed, if our normal means of communicating with each other were invalidated.

So that, plus current events in the news made me think of whistles as something that one should be equipped with ... in case you need backup, in case you need to identify a location, in case you want to warn the community about something, and weve seen them used that way across the country in the ongoing ICE raids, Hudson said.

Hudson walked around with a plastic bag full of whistles at the end of the Faculty Senate meeting and distributed them to whoever wanted them. She said shes been carrying around a couple of dozen and giving them out informally during classes and when shes on campus and interacting with people. Its a friendly little reminder that we live in a community and people want to help each other, should they ever require help," she said.

Hudson, an professor of modern Middle East culture and political economy, began her speech to the Faculty Senate on Monday, at its first meeting of the new semester, with political statements.

She said she was speaking as the Epstein cover-ups continue, as our mainstream media distract us, as our two-party system fails to protect the checks and balances of our vintage republic, paramilitary thugs threaten our neighborhoods, our people, our constitutional nonpartisan values and rights.

She referred to the massive ICE enforcement effort in Minneapolis, including the controversy over a U.S. Department of Homeland Security memo saying ICE agents may enter homes using administrative warrants rather than judicial warrants. Critics have charged this is unconstitutional as it allows forced entry without a judges signature.

This time last year, I sent know-your-rights cards out to our whole faculty list," Hudson said, "and now a year later, I think people in our community know better their constitutional rights, the protections of your private spaces, your home and private work areas. Most people know the difference between a valid warrant signed by a judge looking for a specific person and the kind of administrative warrants that are being brandished these days."

A year ago, Hudson had sent out an email with a cut-and-save card telling faculty their constitutional rights and advising them to carry it with them in case they are stopped by law enforcement officers asking them to prove their citizenship status.
Protection from tyranny

For years, those amongst us who champion the Second Amendment have explained that the need to have unlimited access to guns of all types is to prevent government tyranny. So, in light of the killing of an apparently lawfully carrying VA ICU nurse by an agent working for ICE, a "domestic terrorist" according to our government, I ask: So how's that theory working out for us?

Mark Cochran

Green Valley

Over my dead body

For decades, conservatives and the National Rifle Association have demanded the right to own as many guns as possible based on the Second Amendment right to self-defense and against tyranny. They railed that Liberals would take away their guns over their dead bodies. On January 6, Trump urged Secret Service to turn off the magnetometers to allow gun-toting MAGAs on their way to the Capitol to hear his speech in the White House Ellipse. In March 2020, there were 301,268 legal carry gun permits in Minnesota. VA Hospital ICU nurse Alex Pretti with a cell phone in his hand turned to help a woman slipping on the ice. Both were pepper-sprayed and knocked to the ground. While kicking him, an agent took Pretti's legal carry pistol from his waist, yelled gun, and another agent shot him 10 times. MAGA beware, Trumps (not the DEMs) new policy is literally to take your gun from your dead body. So much for our Second Amendment rights.

Tom Van Devender

North side

America at war

As a retired senior military officer, I know war. America is at war  with itself. The first casualty of conflict is truth. And now, a body count of American citizens. Our true foreign enemies recline, and without effort, let the self-inflicted damage mount.

Founding Fathers recognized that the only true threat to our democracy experiment would come from within. That threat now emanates from a chaotic, cancer-spewing despot who abandons truth, transparency and accountability.

Whatever the mask of Make America Great Again offered, its cost is too great to bear. Judgment Day is coming, and until then  resist. Resist. Resist.

Mike Cravens

Marana

Vote no on RTA Next propositions

In 2006, the residents of Pima County voted in favor of the Regional Transportation Authority. At the time, the county had no experience with this type of regional transportation funding, and many promises sounded appealing, so we gave it a chance.

Almost 20 years later, the RTA is asking for 20 more years. Hopefully, now we know better. In those 20 years, weve seen a dysfunctional board, an executive director gone wild, a lack of accountability, funding shortfalls, massive cost overruns, timeline overruns, and incomplete projects. The RTAs track record is pretty dismal.

Twenty more years of taxes for incompetence is not appealing, we can do better. Vote no on Prop 418 and 419.

Sky Jacobs

Downtown

Memo to the President

To: The President

From: The Real World

Subject: Foreign Policy

1. Bellowing, bullying and boasting are not a foreign policy.

2. Your immediate attention to this matter is requested.

Robert A. Benzinger

Northeast side

Trump World

On July 4, Washington, D.C., will be renamed as Trump World. Excitement abounds as you experience all that Trump World has to offer.

Mens World will allow you to exert your highest masculine fitness to abuse women and anyone else verbally and physically. Bring your wife so that she can be part of the fun.

Womens World provides the opportunity for women and non-masculine individuals to experience life as a piece of furniture to be kicked around. Doesnt get any better than this!

ICE World allows wannabe sadists the opportunity to wade into the locals with batons, guns and TASERs with the chance to rough up your choice of protester. With luck, you might even get to shoot someone.

Kings World is your opportunity to kiss the butt of King Orange for the small donation of $1M.

Make your vacation plans today.

George Ball

Midtown

George Orwell was right

George Orwell was right? Tod Blanche appeared on Meet The Press (Jan. 25), telling the moderator that the public cannot believe what we're witnessing on the filmed ICE violations. Instead, we should believe the administration's assessment. He insisted that local law enforcement in Minneapolis is not supporting ICE in its efforts to police the city. But federal intervention was never requested by the mayor nor by the governor. Why would any law enforcement department aid ICE when the federal purview is not local policing? Blanche blamed the mayor and governor for the killings in Minneapolis. He said protestors had no right to yell at ICE, that they were impeding ICE's function. Interestingly, the U.S. Constitution guarantees the rights of peaceable assembly and protest, it does not prohibit "yelling." Not only do Trump and his authoritarian acolytes want to control what we see and hear, but they want to post and control their own narratives. "1984" is a little late, but George Orwell was right.

Barbara Benjamin

Foothills

End the horror now

How many more people have to be executed in the streets at the hands of the lawless, out-of-control goons of ICE, supervised by a wannabe Nazi in his military greatcoat, or out of sight in the concentration camps run by DHS, before our spineless lawmakers finally stop this outrage and hold the perpetrators of these crimes accountable?

Trumps personal police force is trampling the Constitution before our eyes, dragging people out of cars, breaking into their houses, and separating children from parents while he and his complicit sycophants parrot his lies that ICE is going only after criminals in the country illegally and that anyone who protests is a domestic terrorist.

The masked goons need only look in the mirror to see the real domestic terrorists.

As Professor Timothy Snyder states, "The lies begin as cliches, memes that are pounded into our heads by the government and by those in the media who repeat them."

Call your representatives in Congress and demand immediate action.

Barbara Liguori

Northeast side

Murder in Minnesota

Another senseless killing of an American citizen took place in Minneapolis on Saturday. This one even more violent and indefensible as the last one.

Right on cue, government officials released their own distorted version of events, claiming that the victim, Alex Pretti, approached officers with a loaded gun. The only accurate part of their statement was that he had a loaded gun, which was strapped to his hip, but never left his holster until agents removed it from him.

Pretti was filming ICE operations and went to the aid of a woman bowled over by a BP agent. He was tackled, beaten, sprayed, and on the ground when one of the agents saw his gun, grabbed it and moved away. A second or so later, agents opened fire multiple times while Pretti was on the ground. Then, incredibly, backed away from his lifeless body and shot about four more times.

That's murder, folks. Plain and simple.

Glen Vann

West side

ICE presence in Tucson

My LTEs to suggest that ICE's presence in Tucson will be coming have been met with little or ineffective response by local elected officials. A press release from the City of Tucson, without notice re: translation for immigrants and an elected official, that is more concerned about the police chief speaking with your reporter, Tim Steller, to modify his comments.

AG Kris Mayes has warned that here, in an open carry state, there will surely be clashes with recklessly trained ICE agents. Perhaps we are now seeing what immigrants have had to deal with, the brutality and level/method of enforcement.

Young and old Latino citizens are upset and carrying their passports, expecting the unexpected. City workers are being questioned by brilliant ICE agents who can't see that they are driving a City vehicle. Now, another death in Minnesota, an unnecessary car chase on 1-19 resulting in deaths, and the attempt to extort Minnesota officials to turn over their voting rolls, in exchange for withdrawing their ICE troops.

Prepare for clashes and unforeseen tragedy/wrongful arrests in our town.

Margarita Bernal
APRA celebrates a century of Australian / NZ song

Performing Rights Association charts a year long celebration in its 100th year, including with famed screen compositions.

L to R: Sir Bernard Heinze, Mr and Mrs John Gorton, Dorothy Dodd.

APRA will celebrate 100 years of Australian and New Zealand songwriters, composers and music publishers with APRA: A Century of Song.

The Australasian Performing Right Association was founded in 1926 establishing the fundamental principle that songwriters and composers deserve to be paid when their work is performed.

The year long event will include the biggest ever APRA Music Awards in Sydney in April and Silver Scroll Awards/Kaitito Kaiaka in New Zealand in October; an elevated SongHubs collaborative songwriting program in Australia in April and New Zealand in September; the publication of a major anthology book celebrating 100 years of Australian songwriting and a brand-new hall of fame-style event in November.

From the licensing of dance and radio broadcasts in the 1920s to protecting creators rights in the AI era, APRA has evolved alongside the music it serves, says APRA AMCOS CEO, Dean Ormston. This centenary isnt just about looking back  its about celebrating the enduring value of songwriting to our culture, identity and our two nations.

The digital history timeline includes key TV and film moments, from the first version of The Man From Snowy River movie in 1920 to the first TV broadcasts in 1956 and legendary programs that followed including Play School with its now famous Theres a Bear in There theme song in 1966, and Kylie breaking out on Neighbours in the 1980s.

Jenny Morris MNZM OAM, Chair of APRA, said: From the famous Aeroplane Jelly jingle in 1930 to Lorde breaking through to worldwide superstardom in the 2020s, APRA: A Century of Song is a nostalgic and educational walk down memory lane of our songwriting history thats an absolute must read for any musicophile!
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP)  The commander of Irans paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, which was key in putting down recent nationwide protests in a crackdown that left thousands dead, warned that his force is more ready than ever, finger on the trigger, as U.S. warships headed toward the Middle East.

Nournews, a news outlet close to Irans Supreme National Security Council, reported on its Telegram channel that the commander, Gen. Mohammad Pakpour, warned the United States and Israel to avoid any miscalculation.

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard and dear Iran stand more ready than ever, finger on the trigger, to execute the orders and directives of the Commander-in-Chief, Nournews quoted Pakpour as saying.

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Tension remains high between Iran and the U.S. in the wake of a bloody crackdown on protests that began on Dec. 28, triggered by the collapse of Irans currency, the rial, and swept the country for about two weeks.

Meanwhile, the number of people reported by activists as having been arrested jumped to more than 40,000, as fears grow some could face the death penalty.

Trump's warnings

U.S. President Donald Trump has repeatedly warned Tehran, setting two red lines for the use of military force: the killing of peaceful demonstrators and the mass execution of people arrested in the protests.

Trump has repeatedly said Iran halted the execution of 800 people detained in the protests. He has not elaborated on the source of the claim, which Irans top prosecutor, Mohammad Movahedi, strongly denied Friday in comments carried by the judiciarys Mizan news agency.

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On Thursday, Trump said aboard Air Force One that the U.S. was moving warships toward Iran just in case he wants to take action.

We have a massive fleet heading in that direction and maybe we wont have to use it, Trump said.

A U.S. Navy official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss military movements, said Thursday that the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln and other warships traveling with it were in the Indian Ocean.

Trump also mentioned the multiple rounds of talks American officials had with Iran over its nuclear program before Israel launched a 12-day war against the Islamic Republic in June, which also saw U.S. warplanes bomb Iranian nuclear sites. He threatened Iran with military action that would make earlier U.S. strikes against Iranian uranium enrichment sites look like peanuts.

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Airline jitters

The tension has led at least two European airlines to suspend some flights to the wider region.

Air France canceled two return flights from Paris to Dubai over the weekend. The airline said it was "closely following developments in the Middle East in real time and continuously monitors the geopolitical situation in the territories served and overflown by its aircraft in order to ensure the highest level of flight safety and security. It said it would resume its service to Dubai later Saturday.

Luxair said it had postponed its Saturday flight from Luxembourg to Dubai by 24 hours in light of ongoing tensions and insecurity affecting the regions airspace, and in line with measures taken by several other airlines.

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It told the AP it was closely monitoring the situation and a decision on whether the flight will operate tomorrow will be taken based on the ongoing assessment.

Arrivals information at Dubais international airport also showed the cancellation of Saturday flights from Amsterdam by Dutch carriers KLM and Transavia. The airlines did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Some KLM flights to Tel Aviv in Israel were also canceled on Friday and Saturday, according to online flight trackers.

Rising death toll and arrests

Although there have been no further demonstrations in Iran for days, the death toll reported by activists has continued to rise as information trickles out despite the most comprehensive internet blackout in Irans history, which has now lasted more than two weeks.

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The U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency on Saturday put the death toll at 5,200, with the number expected to increase. The groups figures have been accurate in previous unrest and rely on a network of activists in Iran to verify deaths. That death toll exceeds that of any other round of protest or unrest there in decades, and recalls the chaos surrounding Irans 1979 Islamic Revolution.

Irans government offered its first death toll on Wednesday, saying 3,117 people were killed. It said 2,427 were civilians and security forces, and labeled the rest as terrorists. In the past, Irans theocracy has undercounted or not reported fatalities from unrest.

The activist agency on Saturday also increased the total number of people arrested to 40,879  a significant jump from the more than 27,700 people in its previous update.

There have been fears Iran could apply the death penalty to arrested protesters, as it has done in the past.

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Iranian judiciary officials have called some of those being held mohareb  or enemies of God  a charge that carries the death penalty. It had been used along with other charges to carry out mass executions in 1988 that reportedly killed at least 5,000 people.

At a U.N. Human Rights Council special session on Iran held in Geneva Friday, Volker Turk, the U.N.s high commissioner for human rights, expressed concern over contradictory statements from the Iranian authorities about whether those detained in connection with the protests may be executed.

He said Iran remains among the top executioner states in the world, with at least 1,500 people reportedly executed last year  a 50% increase over 2024.

___

Associated Press writers Jon Gambrell in Dubai, Samuel Petrequin in Paris, Melanie Lidman in Tel Aviv, Israel, and Konstantin Toropin and Aamer Madhani in Washington contributed to this report.
Enhanced India-EU Partnership Strengthens in Fractured World

The enhanced partnership between India and European Union (EU) is going to eliminate tariffs on more than 90% of traded goods, besides imparting a thrust to services and facilitate investments between the two sides

In todays fractured world, fissures caused mostly by the ongoing Trumpomania, every nation is working post haste to forge new alliances particularly focused on trade. The best example of this is the India-EU partnership FTA, to be formalized on Monday (January 27). The enhanced partnership is going to eliminate tariffs on more than 90% of traded goods, besides imparting a thrust to services and facilitate investments between the two sides.

For every nation today, guarding its trade interests to boost its own manufacturing sectors and the associated services sector is of paramount interest. Bogged down by non-business-like tariffs imposition accompanied with various illogical concessions, by the Trump Administration, the global economy has faced a churn of its own based on the imperatives of conducting trade on an equal footing with other nations.

This has not only gone against but in favour of countries like India. India has been able to stitch together a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the European Union (EU) after 18-years long parleys, but which got an additional boost to reach a deal during the last year, particularly.

Today, i.e. Tuesday January 27 India and the European Union will elevate their long-standing strategic engagement with the signing of a Security and Defence Partnership (SDP) at the 16th India-EU Summit.

India-EU Trade Parleys

The EU-India FTA conclusion marks the end of a two-decade-old process, initiated in 2007. With bilateral trade already crossing $136 billion, this would be one of the biggest bilateral deals in the world.

The underlying emergency and interests which both the sides showed to agree to an FTA were coherently expressed by EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, when she said that India and the European Union are giving a fractured world an alternative.

While the FTA will be watched most closely, in terms of bilateral gains for both countries, it is the timing of the Summit, amidst unprecedented transatlantic tensions between the EU and the United States over territorial issues and trade, that is most significant.

India and Europe have made a clear choice strategic partnership, dialogue and openness, said Ms. Von Der Leyen in a social media post. We are showing a fractured world that another way is possible, she added.

European Councils President Antonio Costa, has said that, In our multi-polar world, its essential that the EU and India become closer and closer partners because we can together be strong providers of stability, protectability and reliability in international relations and to protect our international rules-based order.

Our trade agreement, I think, is a very important geopolitical stabiliser and a showcase of how its possible to protect international rules-based trade, Costa, who traces his roots to Goa, said against the backdrop of the turmoil created by the trade policies of the US.

India-EU Trade

The EU is Indias largest trading partner bloc, accounting for trade in goods worth 120 billion in 2024, or 11.5% of Indias total trade. In 2023, trade in services was worth 59.7 billion in 2023. The EUs share of FDI in India touched 140.1 billion in 2023, up from 82.3 billion in 2019.

Once the FTA is signed and ratified by the European Parliament, a process that could take at least a year, the agreement could expand bilateral trade and lift Indian exports such as textiles and jewellery, hit by 50% US tariffs since last August.

For the EU, which has signed a new security and defence partnership and a free trade agreement with New Delhi, India will provide heft to the 27-nation European bloc on multiple fronts. For instance, the security and defence pact will lead to strengthening cooperation in areas such as maritime security, counter-terrorism, cyber-defence, and maritime domain awareness, with a focus on stability in the Indo-Pacific region.

Analysts say India-EU defence and security partnership would result in placing New Delhi within a framework that the 27-nation European bloc has so far extended to Japan and South Korea. It would provide an institutional platform for advancing security cooperation at a moment when both sides are reassessing their long-term security and defence priorities.

Moreover, a shift in geopolitical situation combined with Trumps unpredictable behaviour, has compelled the EU to bring a change in its outlook towards India. Instead of just maintaining a buyer-seller relationship, largely dominated by France and Germany, the EU-India engagement will now evolve into a structured industrial partnership with long-term implications.

With the signing of the long-negotiated FTA, the EU will be benefitted by gaining deeper access to Indias huge market, thus diversifying supply chains, while at the same time expanding services exports. More than this, it will ultimately result in the EU decoupling itself from the US and other unreliable partners such as China.

For India, the FTA will provide it a much-needed opportunity to restore the Generalised System of Preferences (GSP) - which removes import duties from products coming into the EU market from developing nations. Indias garment, pharmaceutical and steel industries in addition to petroleum products and machinery will see a rise in exports to the EU market.

It is estimated that the two-way trade under the FTA could rise to $200-250 billion in goods and services within a decade, building on current figures of $137 billion in goods and $50 billion in services.

The US Reaction

As European Councils President Costa had described the India-EU FTA as an important political message to the world that India and that the EU believe more in trade agreements than in tariffs at a time when protectionism is rising and some countries have decided to increase tariffs.

The typical US response came. The US doubled down on allegations that India's oil trade with Russia finances the war in EU-backed Ukraine.

We have put 25 per cent tariffs on India for buying Russian oil. Guess what happened last week? The Europeans signed a trade deal with India, US treasury secretary Scott Bessent said in an interview on Sunday.

Indian Economic Diplomacy

With the latest deal firmed-up, the Indian trade negotiators and diplomats are focussing on increasing trade relations and signing new FTAs with countries like Canada. Last week, Canadas International Trade Minister Maninder Sidhu called for expanded trade with India as the two countries prepare to start trade negotiations. The Canadian Prime Minister Mike Carney is expected to visit India in March 2026, to finalise a new deal.

Meanwhile, last week Premier David Eby of the British Columbia, Canadas western province led a delegation to India concentrating on business and technological cooperation rather than getting trapped in politics and straying away from its main objective of ensuring the standard of living of its people is not impacted by the US trade war.

David Eby and his team members advanced key partnerships with government and business leaders in Bengaluru, Karnataka, Indias largest innovation center, to attract investment, foster collaboration in innovation, and build long-term relationships.

Nonetheless, the trade deal between India and the EU has redefined not just ties between the two sides but also global economic alignments, especially when the traditional and old architecture of commerce and trade are facing serious challenges. India has also showed that it has various options besides the US and for it, ideological underpinnings does not mean much, when it comes to its trade interests.

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Huynh Van Truong is under criminal investigation for running a food processing operation using sodium silicate. Over 3,000 tons of snails were soaked in the industrial chemical before reaching the market. Photos: HCMC Police.

The raid, led by the citys Economic Police Department, was carried out at an unmarked facility located at 60 Rach Cat Ben Luc Street, Binh Dong Ward.

At the scene, officers caught workers soaking over three tons of apple snail meat in tanks filled with a clear chemical solution. Further inspection revealed 1,575 kilograms of sodium silicate - commonly referred to as liquid glass - stockpiled on site for continued use.

Sodium silicate is typically used in construction and industrial manufacturing, including brick and cement production. It is strictly prohibited in food processing due to its high alkalinity, which can cause severe digestive damage, as well as skin and eye irritation.

Lab tests conducted by the Institute of Forensic Science in HCMC confirmed that all snail samples from the facility were contaminated with the chemical.

Huynh Van Truong, born in 1979 in Can Tho, has been identified as the ringleader of the operation. At the police station, he admitted to running the illegal processing line since 2021.

Police inspect Truong's facility. Photo: CACC







Evidence of chemically soaked snails. Photo: CACC

According to his confession, approximately 500 tons of sodium silicate were used over the past five years to treat more than 3,000 tons of snail meat. The chemical was used to enhance the appearance of freshness, plumpness, and weight of the snails before distribution to the market.

Authorities say the tainted products have circulated widely in Vietnams food supply for years, allowing Truong to make billions of dong in illicit profits.

The Ho Chi Minh City Police Department has officially launched criminal proceedings, charging Truong with violating food safety regulations under Vietnamese law. He has been placed in temporary detention pending further investigation.

Officials are now expanding the probe to identify suppliers of the illegal chemicals and downstream buyers who knowingly distributed or used the contaminated snail meat.

Dam De
As the Lunar New Year approaches, Dong Cuong - known as the "flower capital" of Thanh Hoa province - is bustling with activity. Across the fields, flower growers are working non-stop, pinning their hopes on a successful Tet harvest that could bring in tens of millions of dong, even up to $4,000 per household.

Dong Cuong village, seen from above, is Thanh Hoas largest flower-growing area. Photo: Le Duong

These days, visitors to Dong Cuong, a village with a long-standing tradition of flower cultivation, are greeted by a scene of industrious labor. From dawn till nightfall, farmers are in the fields pruning leaves, fertilizing, and shielding their flowers from erratic weather - racing against time so that their blooms are ready at the perfect moment.

Le Van Quan, 38, is among the large-scale flower growers in the area. With around 50,000 chrysanthemum plants entering their most critical stage ahead of Tet, Quan is practically living in the fields. Besides chrysanthemums, his family also cultivates roses and lilies across seven sao (about 2,500 square meters) of farmland.

Le Van Quan tends to his familys chrysanthemum beds. Photo: Le Duong

Tet is the most important season of the year. If the flowers bloom beautifully and on time, we can net around $2,800 after expenses, Quan shared.

Throughout the year, his family mainly grows chrysanthemums for full moon days and other ceremonies, which yield modest profits. But during Tet, market demand surges and prices rise, so farmers diversify their crops to boost value.

However, flower growing is far from a guaranteed payday. Quan noted that the work is highly weather-dependent. A sudden shift in temperature - whether heat or cold - can cause flowers to bloom too early or too late, ruining their market value. If the flowers dont bloom exactly for Tet, the whole crop is a loss, he said.

According to Dong Cuong farmers, frost is the most feared weather threat. Without proper covering and care, just one night of frost can devastate an entire field.

Covering flower buds helps control early blooming. Photo: Le Duong

Chrysanthemums are sold year-round, especially on the 1st and 15th of each lunar month. Photo: Le Duong

Le Thi Hien, 55, has been growing flowers for over 30 years. Her family plants chrysanthemums, roses, and lilies on nine sao of land. In recent years, unpredictable weather has taken a toll; some seasons, she lost everything. Fortunately, this years steady cold has helped the flowers thrive - and the high prices have everyone optimistic.

This Tet, we expect to earn around $4,000 after expenses. That money helps cover our familys living costs and reinvest in the next crop, Hien said.

Beyond the direct income, flower farming creates seasonal jobs for many local laborers in the days leading up to Tet. Dong Cuong has thus become not only the main flower supplier for Thanh Hoa province but also for neighboring areas.

Roses are another popular flower grown in the region. Photo: Le Duong

Each Tet, flower growers earn anywhere from several hundred to several thousand dollars. Photo: Le Duong

According to officials from Ham Rong Ward, Dong Cuong village now has nearly 100 hectares under flower cultivation. Over the decades, flower farming has become a traditional livelihood, providing stable income for hundreds of households. On average, each hectare generates annual revenue of $12,000 to $16,000 - much higher than what rice or vegetables can bring.

Despite the risks, Dong Cuongs flower growers remain committed to their craft. A successful Tet season brings not only a light $4,000 profit but also the joy of contributing beauty to the New Year celebrations across the country, a ward official shared.

Le Duong
Dr. Le Quan, Director of the AI Research Institute at Fulbright University Vietnam

At the seminar "Future of Work  Global Canvas of Opportunities" organized by Fulbright University Vietnam January 11, speakers discussed the role of AI in education and the future labor market.

Quan cited two approaches to this issue. The first is to ban AI and return to traditional learning methods like handwriting and rote memorization. However,learning is not just for remembering knowledge but also for human interaction, maintaining dialogue, and building relationships.

Sometimes just a timely "insight" is enough to create a connection, something AI cannot replace. In reality, even within families, many children tend to enjoy chatting with AI more than with their parents.

The second approach, and Fulbrights choice, is to treat AI as a tool. What can be automated should be left to AI, but learners must think, create, and generate new value.

"When designing our curriculum, we encourage students to use AI as a labor tool, but the focus is on a training mindset rather than just tool-using skills, said Quan. Students compare products made entirely by AI with solutions formed through many rounds of deep discussion. Evaluation criteria lie not in technical proficiency but in the true value of the product for the user.

Students can use AI to search for information, but they must know how to refine it and develop new ideas, then participate in group discussions without AI to enhance teamwork and the "human touch."

"At the university, lecturers are encouraged to bring AI into the classroom. Computer science faculty also support students from other majors to understand how AI operates, its pros and cons, so they do not rely entirely on it and remain aware that the human touch remains an irreplaceable factor," Quan emphasized.

Dao Thien Huong, Deputy General Director of EY-Parthenon Strategy and Transactions at EY Vietnam, said that AI does not necessarily make people lazy; on the contrary, it can help improve "prompting" skills. To get good results from AI, users have to ask clear questions with specific contexts and goals.

A new competency in the labor market is "boss skills." When joining an organization, young people must know how to effectively manage "at least ten AI employees" to optimize work. In the AI era, human value is further affirmed: for the same task, individuals or businesses prefer working with you over others, something achieved only through credibility, personality, and personal ethics.

Huong emphasized that the ability to ask the right, clear, contextual, and purposeful questions is the core of critical thinking, a capacity that AI cannot form on behalf of humans.

Tran Le Nam, former Boston Consulting Group expert and former strategy director at Vietnam Oman Investment, said the universitys training philosophy is built on three layers: Know (understanding problems), Do (skills, practice, coding), and Be (what kind of person one becomes).

The biggest challenge lies in the Be layer, not only for students but for every individual: what kind of person do you want to become, and what do you want to contribute to society? Education has long focused heavily on Know and Do, while Be has received less attention.

However, the core questions are not just what you can do, but for whom you do it, for what purpose, and with whom. Values that may seem simple like living kindly, being responsible, and respecting others, are in fact the most difficult and most important part of education.

As a former educator, Nam said problem-solving is the skill students can be most confident in, and one that the labor market always needs. With this skill, AI becomes merely a supporting tool and cannot replace humans.

Between the world of academic knowledge and the real-world environment, there is always a gap that only humans can fill. We often joke: AI can act as a secretary, but it cannot sign on your behalf, Nam shared.

Tran Le Nam added that using AI frees up human time to think about new ideas and new ways of doing things. In the AI era, building and leading human relationships becomes a group of skills that must be invested in more deeply than ever.

Le Nam
On the morning of January 27, under the authorization of the Party Central Committee, Foreign Minister Le Hoai Trung - together with senior Party officials - hosted a briefing session for foreign diplomatic missions and international organizations in Vietnam, sharing key takeaways from the recently concluded Congress.

Minister Le Hoai Trung began by thanking international partners and friends for their close attention and active interest in the Congress, describing it as a historically significant event. Not only did it evaluate the five-year performance of the 13th Party Congress, but it also marked the beginning of a new era for Vietnams development, reflecting the countrys deep-rooted aspirations for progress.

Foreign Minister Le Hoai Trung speaks at the briefing on the 14th Party Congress.

According to Minister Trung, the 14th Party Congress successfully fulfilled its agenda, passing a series of pivotal documents and electing the new 14th Party Central Committee, which includes 200 members - 180 full members and 20 alternates. From this, the Politburo was elected with 19 members.

He emphasized that the documents adopted at the Congress were prepared in a uniquely significant context: Vietnam is marking 40 years of Doi Moi (reform) while moving toward major national milestones - the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party and the 100th anniversary of national independence.

Despite the fast-changing and complex global landscape, Vietnam has achieved comprehensive and outstanding progress, with rising international standing and credibility. At the same time, Minister Trung noted the country is candid in acknowledging persistent internal challenges that require ongoing reform and resolution.

A key innovation of the 14th Congress, he said, was the methodical and comprehensive approach to document drafting, which captured the intellect, determination, and aspirations of the entire Party and people. The outcome reflected a mindset of bold reform and strong national resolve to thrive in a new era.

The Congress identified overarching goals: to safeguard peace and stability, promote rapid and sustainable development, improve citizens lives, and pursue strategic autonomy with self-reliance and confidence - striving for Vietnam to become a high-income, developed country by 2045.

Among the breakthroughs outlined in the documents are commitments to economic and social development, environmental protection, Party-building as a central pillar, cultural and human development as the foundation, defense and foreign policy as essential drivers, and innovation and digital transformation as the core engine of growth.

The strategy includes five guiding principles, eight major orientations, and three strategic breakthroughs to underpin national advancement.

On foreign policy, Minister Trung reaffirmed that Vietnam will maintain an independent, self-reliant, multilateral, and diversified approach, actively and effectively integrating into the global community. The country will tightly link Party, state, public, police, and defense diplomacy, contributing constructively to global peace, stability, cooperation, and sustainable development.

Vietnam also reaffirmed its appreciation for international support and its commitment to being a proactive, responsible member of the global community.

International reactions highlight strong engagement

UN Resident Coordinator in Vietnam, Pauline Tamesis.

Singapores Ambassador to Vietnam, Rajpal Singh, shared his admiration for General Secretary To Lams speech, especially the strategic vision laid out for 2045. He noted that the goals set by the Congress present opportunities for Singaporean businesses to deepen partnerships with Vietnam and praised the nations foreign policy as particularly crucial amid current global challenges.

UN Resident Coordinator in Vietnam, Pauline Tamesis, described her delegations participation in both the opening and closing ceremonies of the Congress as a great honor. She said the United Nations stands ready to collaborate with Vietnam to shape the future and address non-traditional security threats together.

Swiss Ambassador to Vietnam, Thomas Gass.

She welcomed Vietnams foreign policy stance and praised the countrys strong political commitment to translating vision into action. The UN supports Vietnams push for innovation, scientific and technological development, green transition, and digital transformation, while continuing to advance human rights. We look forward to working closely with Vietnam to help achieve these goals, she said.

Swiss Ambassador Thomas Gass congratulated Vietnam on the success of the Congress and expressed his wish to strengthen ties. He highlighted Vietnams growing role in global affairs and applauded its long-standing commitment to peace.

Belarusian Ambassador to Vietnam, Uladzimir Baravikou.
Truong Gia Binh, Chairman of FPT, compares semiconductors to the "food of the digital age" and AI to the new strategic energy, akin to oil in the future.





On January 28, FPT will officially announce the establishment of the FPT Advanced Semiconductor Packaging and Testing Plant. This marks a pivotal step in Vietnams ambitions to build a foothold in the global chip industry, following Viettels similar announcement earlier this month.

Experts have long described chip manufacturing as one of the most complex industrial processes in the world, involving nanometer-scale lithography, ultra-precise ion implantation, and near-sterile cleanroom environments. Only a select group of countries have mastered it.

In this context, chip production is not just a technological endeavor but a national strategic move. Semiconductor design, in particular, is considered the gateway for Vietnamese talents to fully enter the multi-billion-dollar global chip industry.

Truong Gia Binh, Chairman of the Semiconductor Industry Development Committee and FPT Chairman, likened semiconductors to the food of the digital age, while describing AI as the new strategic energy - akin to oil in the future.

More than 25 years ago, FPT was one of the first Vietnamese companies to Go Global, venturing out into the world in the 1990s. Yet despite its early success, it failed to inspire a broader software export movement among local businesses, causing Vietnam to lag in the global tech race.

Now, Binh emphasizes, semiconductors are a non-negotiable part of the digital economy: The world will need microchips like people need food. Alongside that, AI will become the oil of our time.

AI models, especially Edge AI chip technologies, demand high-performance, energy-efficient, and ultra-precise semiconductors - a segment in which Vietnam can actively participate, he argues.

Although Vietnam missed its chance to enter the semiconductor game over two decades ago, Binh believes the country cannot afford another delay.

We didnt invest in semiconductors then - even after visiting Taiwan and recognizing its potential. But we wont repeat those mistakes. Vietnam now has a major opportunity to integrate into the global chip supply chain, Binh said.

He pointed to two core advantages: a young, intelligent, and adaptive workforce that is eager to master advanced technologies, and a rising generation driven by the ambition to lift the country through knowledge and innovation.

I believe the 12 nanometer technologies will continue to develop in the US and Japan. But flexible, energy-efficient AI Edge chips should be manufactured in Vietnam. Whether we become a strong nation, whether our people achieve prosperity - depends on us, Binh stressed.

Earlier, on January 16, Viettel broke ground on Vietnams first domestic semiconductor manufacturing plant. Commissioned by the Ministry of National Defense, the project is rooted in a government resolution and represents a foundational step in building Vietnams in-country chipmaking capabilities.

This marks a critical milestone: the first time Vietnam is establishing a homegrown semiconductor manufacturing capacity. The move is expected to enable local mastery of core technologies and lay the groundwork for a domestic semiconductor ecosystem.

The factory is also set to serve as a hands-on training hub for Vietnams future semiconductor workforce, linking real-world manufacturing with education and upskilling.

Through these efforts, Vietnam aims to train 50,000 chip design engineers by 2030 as part of a national human resource development plan for the semiconductor industry, scaling up to over 100,000 professionals by 2040.

For Viettel, being tasked with spearheading the semiconductor manufacturing plant aligns with the Groups long-term strategy of mastering core technologies.

The company has been preparing for this transition by investing in specialized training, fostering international partnerships, and receiving technology transfers. It has also accumulated experience in research, design, and chip application through its own product lines and tech systems.

Lieutenant General Tao Duc Thang, Chairman and CEO of Viettel Group, confirmed that the company will move quickly to implement the project. By the end of 2027, the goal is to complete construction, receive technology transfers, and begin trial production.

From 2028 to 2030, the plant will enter its optimization phase - fine-tuning processes and improving operational efficiency to industry standards. This phase will also lay the foundation for research into more advanced chip fabrication technologies.

The project, set to run from 2026 to 2030, will progress through construction, technology acquisition, process development, and performance enhancement. In the long term, the Hoa Lac-based facility is designed with scalability in mind, positioning Vietnam to progressively approach next-generation semiconductor technologies.

Thai Khang
FPTs domestic IT services recorded strong growth in 2025, while international projects reached over $1.5 billion in newly signed contracts.

FPTs domestic IT services posted revenue of 9.093 trillion VND (approximately $370 million), reflecting an 11.5% year-on-year increase. Pre-tax profit from this segment reached 416 billion VND (about $17 million).

By year-end, FPT reported total revenue of 70.113 trillion VND (around $2.86 billion), with pre-tax profit climbing to 13.039 trillion VND (roughly $532 million). These figures represent year-on-year growth of 11.6% and 17.8%, respectively, closely aligned with the companys annual profit targets.

Net profit attributable to parent company shareholders stood at 9.369 trillion VND (approximately $382 million), up 19.3% from the previous year. Earnings per share (EPS) rose 21.4% to 5,211 VND.

FPTs technology division - which includes both domestic and international IT services - remained its core revenue and profit driver, contributing 63% of total revenue and 45% of pre-tax profit. This translated to 44.475 trillion VND in revenue and 5.883 trillion VND in profit (about $1.8 billion and $240 million, respectively), representing growth of 13.7% and 12.5% over the previous year.

Despite continued global economic challenges, revenue from international IT services grew by 14.3% year-on-year, reaching 35.382 trillion VND (around $1.44 billion), while pre-tax profit from this segment increased 14.6% to 5.467 trillion VND (about $223 million). The primary growth engine was the Japanese market, where revenue surged 25.4%.

By the end of 2025, FPTs newly signed international IT service contracts reached 40.636 trillion VND (over $1.5 billion), marking a 23.2% increase and signaling a strong recovery in demand toward the years end.

Revenue from digital transformation services in overseas markets totaled 16.751 trillion VND (approximately $682 million), a 16.8% increase, driven by demand for emerging technologies like cloud computing, AI, and data analytics.

FPTs domestic IT service segment also performed well, with a revenue increase of 11.5% year-on-year. The companys proprietary Made-by-FPT product ecosystem generated 2.672 trillion VND (around $109 million), up 19.1% thanks to its strong applicability across both government and enterprise sectors.

FPTs telecom services division recorded revenue of 18.702 trillion VND (about $763 million), up 10.6%, and pre-tax profit of 4.167 trillion VND (roughly $170 million), a 21.9% increase.

However, the companys education segment experienced a slight decline, with revenue falling 1.1% year-on-year to 7.009 trillion VND (around $286 million).

Thai Khang
The living standards of Khmer communities have become increasingly stable

These results stem from ethnic policies and programs, particularly the National Target Program 1719.

An Giang is a border province with distinct characteristics in the Mekong Delta, home to around 472,000 ethnic minority people, accounting for more than 11 percent of the provinces population. Among them, the Khmer community, the largest ethnic group, mainly lives in mountainous, remote, and hard-to-reach communes in the Bay Nui area. As ethnic policies and programs have been rolled out, rural landscapes and local livelihoods have seen positive changes.

With resources from the National Target Program for Socio-Economic Development in Ethnic Minority and Mountainous Areas (NTP 1719), Chau Kop, a Khmer household in O Lam commune, boldly invested in reproductive cattle farming.

Kop said: "Initially, I was very worried, fearing I couldn't manage. But with guidance from officials and technical training, I finally dared to do it."

Thanks to his diligence, starting from just a few initial cows, Kop's herd has gradually increased, providing a stable source of income. More importantly, he no longer has a mindset of waiting for support but instead plans his investments.

Kop's story is not an isolated case but a microcosm of the changing mindset spreading across many phum and sroc (Khmer villages) in the Bay Nui region.

From disadvantaged area to bright spot

With 65 percent of its population Khmer, O Lam commune was once known as a "remote area" where difficult terrain and poor transportation hindered all development opportunities. Fueled by resources from NTP 1719, over the past few years, the appearance of this mountainous commune has changed significantly.

Phan Thanh Luong, Chair of the O Lam Commune People's Committee, said the local government has focused on directing guidelines and policies related to ethnic minorities in general and the Khmer people in particular. Specifically, the commune has been effectively implementing NTP 1719.

Currently, the commune's road system has been developed, facilitating convenient connections with neighboring areas. Houses are more spacious, and trading and service activities are increasingly bustling.

Farmers' agricultural products are no longer "stuck" at the edge of the fields, but have been brought into the market. Ecological and historical tourism is gradually developing, especially around O Thum Lake, Tuc Dup Hill, and O Ta Soc, attracting nearly 200,000 visitors annually.

At the same time, the program has supported vocational training and job creation for nearly 3,000 local workers; living standards have improved; school enrollment rates at all levels have reached 96.7 percent or higher; and social welfare and sustainable poverty reduction have been effectively implemented.

Chau Soc Sa, a respected community figure in Phuoc Tho Hamlet, O Lam Commune, has witnessed these changes firsthand. He said: What Khmer people here feel most clearly is that life is less precarious than before. People no longer see poverty as fate, but believe it can be changed through work and suitable approaches. That belief is the brightest flame.

Amid An Giangs rugged mountainous terrain, the socio-economic development journey of Khmer communities still faces many challenges. However, from newly opened roads to emerging livelihood models, one thing is clear: when policies are on the right track and truly resonate with peoples aspirations, Bay Nui communities not only can escape poverty but are steadily moving forward on their own strength.

Danh Phuc, Director of the An Giang Department of Ethnic and Religious Affairs, said that thanks to program support, average income among ethnic minority people in the province has increased by more than 1.2 times compared with before, while the poverty rate among Khmer households has fallen steadily by 3-4 percent each year. Many households have risen to a better standard of living, gradually achieving legitimate prosperity in their homeland.

The National Target Program for socio-economic development in ethnic minority and mountainous areas for the 20212030 period was approved by the 14th National Assembly under Resolution No 120/2020/QH14 dated June 19, 2020.

The 2021-2025 phase was approved by the Prime Minister under Decision No 1719/QD-TTg dated October 14, 2021 (National Target Program 1719). The program includes 10 projects, comprising 14 sub-projects.

After nearly five years of implementation, NTP 1719 has provided residential land support to 10,549 households; housing support to 42,567 households; direct production land support to 13,387 households; and resettlement and stabilization for 25,056 households, including 5,711 households resettled in concentrated areas and 13,096 households resettled under on-site stabilization projects.

PV
Port Sudan, Sudan (PANA) - A senior Sudanese official is currently in Juba, South Sudan, to discuss how rising tension on their borders could be nipped in the bud, with both countries witnessing fragile security situations and political unrest
Professor Vu Ha Van, one of the worlds most prominent Vietnamese mathematicians, has joined the University of Hong Kong after over a decade at Yale. Photo: Faculty of Science, The University of Hong Kong.

The news was announced on January 26 via the official website of HKUs Faculty of Science, under the headline: World-leading mathematician Professor Vu Ha Van joins the University of Hong Kong.

The announcement hailed Professor Van as one of the worlds foremost mathematical minds, renowned for his work in combinatorics, probability theory, and random matrix theory. His arrival is expected to significantly enhance the universitys research capability and foster deeper international collaboration.

The statement highlighted his major academic recognitions: the George Polya Prize in 2008, the Delbert Ray Fulkerson Prize in 2012, and his invitation as a speaker at the 2014 International Congress of Mathematicians - each affirming his stature among the global mathematical elite.

Professor Van is best known for solving several foundational and long-standing problems in mathematics, including the ErdosFolkman problem in number theory (with Endre Szemeredi), the Shamir conjecture in random graph theory (with Anders Johansson and Jeff Kahn), and the circular law conjecture along with the four moment theorem in random matrix theory (with Terence Tao).

At HKU, Professor Van is expected to strengthen both pure and applied mathematics, while helping train a new generation of mathematicians. The university underlined the growing importance of profound theoretical knowledge in todays science and technology landscape, positioning his appointment as a strategic step forward.

Born in 1970 in Hanoi, Professor Van attended specialized mathematics programs at Chu Van An High School and HanoiAmsterdam High School for the Gifted. After excelling in Vietnams university entrance exams, he was selected to study in Hungary in 1987 and earned his bachelors degree in 1994.

He completed his PhD in mathematics at Yale University in 1998 and joined its faculty in 2011. Over the years, he has built an international reputation for his contributions to some of the most challenging areas in modern mathematics.

In Vietnam, Professor Van continues to serve as Scientific Director of VinBigdata and the VinIF Research Support Fund under VinUni, two major initiatives he helped establish in 2018.

Thanh Hung
Director general of the Radio Frequency Department Le Van Tuan

At the conference on the 2026 work program of the Post and Telecommunications sector (Ministry of Science and Technology) on January 10, Le Van Tuan, director general of the Radio Frequency Department, cited the experience in violation monitoring as a typical example of digital transformation.

The problem of not being able to reach everywhere

According to Tuan, previously, 95 percent of frequency violations were detected through technical monitoring systems, with the remainder identified via periodic inspections.

However, this traditional approach has revealed major gaps, as it cannot fully cover sea areas, remote regions, or urban areas with complex infrastructure.

The monitoring system cannot reach everywhere. If we conduct on-site inspections, we do not have enough manpower, Tuan said: Should violations simply be allowed to continue in real life?

The solution came from the instruction of data-based monitoring suggested by Minister of Science and Technology Nguyen Manh Hung (then Minister of Information and Communications) at a conference in 2018. The problem was reframed to start from data and analysis to identify inconsistencies and issue early warnings.

The Radio Frequency Department then ran a pilot project to connect data with the Vietnam Register (Ministry of Construction). Under regulations, all vessels operating at sea that are related to human safety, including fishing vessels, must be equipped with radio equipment and be registered.

However, when data on 2,561 passenger and tourist vessels from the Vietnam Register were cross-checked against the frequency licensing database and analyzed using AI, the department found that 60 percent of these vessels did not have frequency licenses.

The rate was particularly high in localities with strong marine tourism. 84 percent of vessels on the list in Quang Ninh lacked frequency licenses; while the figures were 60 percent in Hai Phong, 61 percent in An Giang, and 58 percent in Da Nang.

The departments leadership acknowledged the reality: There are a lot of violations. There are hardly any frequency licenses to be found, and the monitoring system is truly powerless in this case.

Using data to identify violations

To verify the findings, the Radio Frequency Department coordinated with local authorities to organize inter-agency teams to conduct on-site monitoring of more than 500 vessels. Direct inspections showed a high number of violations. For example, in Hai Phong, all 10 companies inspected were found to be in violation.

However, according to Le Van Tuan, the main objective of this approach is not punishment, but improving compliance. Accurately identifying violators through data enables regulators to issue specific warnings.

The department also identified around 200 vessels showing signs of violations, such as being equipped with radio devices but claiming that the equipment was stored in warehouses when questioned. These cases were transferred to the Vietnam Register for handling.

As a result, after just one month of the pilot combining reminders with penalties (for deliberate violations), the number of companies coming in for licensing procedures surged. Since November 2025, the authority has fined 14 companies a total of VND250 million.

From practical implementation, Director General Le Van Tuan said four key lessons were drawn. First, digital transformation allows to detect violations without requiring frequency monitoring systems to cover every corner.

Next, identifying databases and connections will determine the ability to succeed. Field monitoring and punishment have a great effect in changing the awareness and thinking of violators.

Finally, the feedback mechanism helps units sharing data detect their own problems.

From this success, the Authority of Radio Frequency said it will continue to expand connections with other databases, such as fishing vessel data from the agricultural sector, to connect and step-by-step build online monitoring functions with databases outside the industry on the Authority's frequency management platform.

The Authority also requested frequency centers to coordinate with each Department of Science and Technology so that each Department uses at least one database, identifying missing licenses, and analyzing data to remind them.

At the conference, Minister of Science and Technology Nguyen Manh Hung requested the Radio Frequency Department to shift from frequency licensing management to frequency resource governance; from static management to flexible frequency management aligned with new technologies, giving rise to multiple new licensing models; and from purely technical management to market creation and national spectrum standards, thereby building an efficient frequency market.
Madam Ngo Phuong Ly, wife of General Secretary To Lam, and Madam Naly Sisoulith, wife of Lao General Secretary and President Thongloun Sisoulith, made a meaningful cultural visit to Vietnams former imperial capital of Hoa Lu in Ninh Binh province on January 27.

Their first destination was the Temple of Princess Nhoi Hoa, located on Den Hill in Tay Hoa Lu ward. Surrounded by ancient trees and dramatic limestone cliffs, the temple stands as a rare symbol of centuries-old solidarity between Vietnam and Laos.

The two ladies offer incense at the Temple of Princess Nhoi Hoa.

Locals welcomed the guests with waving flags of both countries, as the two women, dressed in traditional attire, listened to stories about Princess Nhoi Hoa - a Laotian royal figure from the 15th century who led troops to aid Dai Viet in its fight against foreign invasion.

Following the campaigns success, the princess fell ill and passed away on Vietnamese soil. King Le Thanh Tong later ordered the construction of a tomb and temple in her honor, ensuring her legacy would be remembered for generations. The site is the only temple in Vietnam dedicated to a foreign princess, embodying a chapter of mutual sacrifice and unwavering support between the two nations.

Recognized as a provincial historical site since 2007, the temple hosts an annual festival on the third day of the third lunar month, featuring traditional Vietnamese and Lao cultural activities.

This is the only temple in Vietnam dedicated to a foreign princess stands as a symbol of VietnamLaos unity.

Madam Ngo Phuong Ly and Madam Naly Sisoulith lit incense and observed a moment of silence at the princesss tomb, honoring her memory and the historical ties she represents. Both praised Ninh Binh province for its efforts in preserving the sacred site and voiced support for the proposed VietnamLaos Cultural Tourism Park, envisioned as a living space where history and modern identity converge.

Madam Naly Sisoulith expressed her deep emotion during the visit, saying she hoped the temples natural beauty would be preserved so future generations of Lao people could feel at home in this shared place of remembrance.

The two guests later met with Vietnamese and Lao students from Hoa Lu University, who performed the piece VietnamLaos, One Song - a celebration of unity through dance and music, including the graceful lamvong.

Madam Ngo Phuong Ly encouraged the students to serve as cultural ambassadors, carrying the spirit of VietnamLaos friendship forward with passion and purpose.

Madam Naly Sisoulith reminded the Lao students to cherish the memory of Princess Nhoi Hoa, urging them to see the site as a spiritual origin of togetherness: Let this place remind us to support each other and take the VietnamLaos relationship to new heights.

Both guests offered warm words of encouragement, wishing the students health, success, and a strong sense of cultural pride.

Madam Ngo Phuong Ly and Madam Naly Sisoulith meet with Vietnamese and Lao students in Ninh Binh.

Their journey continued at Bai Dinh Pagoda, one of Vietnams largest spiritual complexes. In the calm surroundings, they explored the sites Buddhist heritage and interacted with artisans from local traditional craft villages.

Madam Naly Sisoulith, spouse of the General Secretary and President of Laos, with local residents in Ninh Binh Province.







The two ladies offer incense at Bai Dinh Pagoda.













The two ladies engage in a cultural exchange, exploring traditional handicrafts that reflect the rich historical and cultural heritage of the land that was once the capital of Dai Co Viet in the 10th century.

The exquisite handicrafts, blending traditional values with a touch of contemporary flair, left a lasting impression on the two ladies.







As a heartfelt gesture, Madam Ngo Phuong Ly presented Madam Naly Sisoulith with an embroidered scarf featuring the Champa flower - Laoss national blossom. The scarf was handcrafted by Van Lam village artisans, based on a design she personally created. The gift symbolized both friendship and shared cultural values.

The two women also visited exhibits showcasing intricate handmade goods, each blending historical symbolism with modern artistry. The experience left a lasting impression, reflecting not only the craftsmanship of the region but also the enduring spirit of connection between the two nations.

Tran Thuong & Pham Hai
As India confirms new cases of the Nipah virus, Vietnams Ministry of Health has issued a public advisory urging people returning from outbreak regions to monitor their health for 14 days. Although Vietnam has yet to record any infections, heightened vigilance is being applied at national borders and within local healthcare systems.

Travelers at risk of Nipah virus are screened at airports in India and Thailand. Photo: Thailand Government

According to surveillance data, five suspected cases of Nipah virus infection were reported in India between December 27, 2025, and January 26, 2026. Of these, two cases were confirmed through laboratory testing at a hospital in West Bengal. The local government in India has since traced and isolated nearly 100 close contacts in efforts to contain the spread.

As of January 26, no cases have been reported in Vietnam. However, given the high fatality rate and potential for human-to-human transmission, Vietnamese health authorities are proactively strengthening disease surveillance at border checkpoints, medical facilities, and community levels.

The Ministry of Health has advised against non-essential travel to areas with active outbreaks. Individuals returning from such regions are urged to self-monitor their health for two weeks. If symptoms like headache, muscle pain, nausea, sore throat, dizziness, drowsiness, confusion, or seizures occur, they should immediately report to the nearest medical facility, avoid contact with others, and inform healthcare providers of their travel history.

In Ho Chi Minh City, the Center for Disease Control (HCDC) announced on January 26 that it is closely tracking global developments and implementing preventive protocols. Enhanced screening is in place at international entry points, with particular focus on travelers arriving from high-risk areas. Anyone showing signs of fever or other symptoms of a potentially dangerous infectious disease will be promptly isolated and evaluated.

HCDC emphasized the absence of a vaccine or specific treatment for the Nipah virus. As such, preventive hygiene remains crucial. Travelers are advised to wash hands regularly with soap, avoid contact with fruit bats or sick pigs, and stay away from areas where bats roost. Consuming raw or contaminated fruit and plant sap, such as fresh date palm juice or unprocessed coconut water, should be avoided.

Infected individuals may initially show symptoms within 4 to 14 days of exposure. The illness often begins with fever, headache, cough, and sore throat. In severe cases, it can rapidly progress to encephalitis, marked by drowsiness, confusion, mental disturbances, and coma - sometimes within just 24 to 48 hours.

The virus primarily spreads from animals to humans, especially through contact with infected bats or pigs, or consumption of contaminated food. However, person-to-person transmission is also possible through close contact with bodily fluids, making early detection and isolation vital.

Nipah virus has a mortality rate estimated between 40% and 75%, depending on outbreak conditions and access to medical care. Even survivors may face long-term effects such as persistent seizures or changes in personality.

Health authorities in Vietnam stress the importance of food safety - consuming only well-cooked food and clean, peeled fruits. Citizens are also advised to use masks, gloves, and personal protective equipment when caring for suspected or confirmed patients and to maintain strict hygiene practices during and after contact.

Though no local cases have emerged, Vietnam continues to monitor the situation closely and stands ready to implement further measures if the outbreak spreads.

Phuong Thuy - Phuoc Sang
Deputy Minister of Finance Cao Anh Tuan has urged the Vietnam Maritime Corporation (VIMC) to concentrate all available resources and adopt new approaches to accelerate the implementation of the Can Gio International Transshipment Port project.

Deputy Minister of Finance Cao Anh Tuan speaks at the conference reviewing VIMCs 2025 performance and tasks for 2026.

Speaking at VIMCs conference reviewing 2025 performance and outlining tasks for 2026 on January 26, Cao Anh Tuan stressed that the Can Gio International Transshipment Port in Ho Chi Minh City is not only a flagship project for VIMC but also a cornerstone of Vietnams long-term maritime development strategy.

According to the Deputy Minister, investment is a prerequisite for growth.

Given its large scale and strong spillover effects, the Can Gio project is expected to have a direct impact on the competitiveness of Vietnams port system and the national logistics chain.

For that reason, he said, VIMC must focus its resources, organize implementation in a methodical manner, and closely control both progress and investment efficiency.

Tuan added that Government leaders, along with relevant ministries and agencies, including the Ministry of Construction, have been closely directing and coordinating with the Ho Chi Minh City Peoples Committee to remove bottlenecks and create favorable conditions for VIMC during the preparation and implementation phases.

As the state ownership representative agency, the Ministry of Finance will continue to accompany VIMC, working with ministries and Ho Chi Minh City to refine appropriate financial and investment mechanisms, ensuring the project is delivered on schedule and achieves the highest possible efficiency.

Reporting on project progress, Le Quang Trung, Deputy General Director of VIMC, said that 2025 marked an important institutional milestone for the Can Gio International Transshipment Port.

On December 11, 2025, the National Assembly of Vietnam passed Resolution No. 260/2025/QH15, amending and supplementing several provisions of Resolution No. 98/2023/QH15 on piloting special mechanisms and policies for the development of Ho Chi Minh City.

The resolution provides a crucial legal framework for the implementation of the Can Gio project.

Based on the newly adopted resolution, Ho Chi Minh City is currently developing a roadmap for the next steps, including the selection of a strategic investor, which is expected to take place in the first quarter of 2026.

Once completed, the project is expected to help position Vietnam as a major international maritime transshipment hub in the region.

The Can Gio International Transshipment Port has a preliminary total investment of approximately VND113,531 billion, equivalent to about $4.8 billion, and is widely seen as a breakthrough project that could elevate Vietnams maritime standing and national port system.

Beyond Can Gio, 2025 also saw accelerated progress across several other key port projects led by VIMC.

Notably, container berths No. 3 and 4 at the Hai Phong International Gateway Port were brought into operation in phases according to plan, while upgrades allowing the port to receive vessels of up to 165,000 DWT were approved, helping boost cargo throughput.

The Lien Chieu container port project in Da Nang also recorded significant progress, completing investment procedures and preparing to move into the next implementation phase.

Concluding the conference, Deputy Minister Cao Anh Tuan called on VIMC to continue reviewing and strictly controlling its investment plans to ensure alignment with actual capacity, while developing concrete and feasible solutions to effectively implement the 2026 investment program.

Vu Diep
The case was reported to police early on January 26 when the zoos management discovered one of its white swans missing. At the scene, officers found a pair of metal cutters left behind near the bird enclosure.

The suspect and an accomplice at the police station. Photo: HCMC Police.

The Saigon Ward police swiftly secured the area, reviewed surveillance footage and cross-referenced parking lot data to narrow down the suspect. Their investigation led to N.C.P., who was apprehended while hiding in Duc Hoa Commune, Tay Ninh Province.

At the police station, the suspect confessed to breaking into the zoo and stealing the swan, which he then transported to Can Tho and sold to a local resident to get money for personal use.

A special police unit traveled overnight to Can Tho in search of the bird. At around 5:30 a.m. the next morning, the team located the swan and successfully rescued it.

The authorities successfully rescued the white swan and returned it to Saigon Zoo. Photo: HCMC Police.
New York, US (PANA) - Warning that the rule of law is being replaced by the law of the jungle, the UN Secretary-General on Monday urged world powers to recommit to international law as the foundation of peace, justice and multilateral cooperation
Geneva, Switzerland (PANA) - The United States must immediately withdraw sanctions against judges and prosecutors of the International Criminal Court (ICC) and repeal Executive Order 14203of February 2025, a UN expert said on Monday, after a fresh round of sanctions designations targeting judges was issued last month
SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA - Media OutReach Newswire - 21 January 2026 - Bigo Live, one of the worlds fastest-growing social live streaming platforms with over 600 million registered users across over 150 countries, has announced the seventh edition of its annual flagship event, the BIGO Awards Gala. Themed SEOUL LIGHTS, BIGO NIGHTS, the highly anticipated ceremony will take place at KBS Hall in Seoul on Friday, 23 January 2026, celebrating the passion and creativity of its global community of content creators over the past year.



This years theme, SEOUL LIGHTS, BIGO NIGHTS captures the spirit of the event, where the energy of Bigo Lives creators will illuminate Seoul. The Gala will honour the dedication and talent of the platforms creators and families, turning each moment into a shared celebration that is both unique and unforgettable. Seoul was selected as the host city for this years BIGO Awards Gala as it stands at the intersection of creativity, technology and culture, reflecting the vibrant and globally connected community that Bigo Live continues to build.



The star-studded event will welcome over 1,200 global guests, including those from Asia, Europe, the Middle East, North and South America, and Africa. The festivities will begin with a public red-carpet event, offering a first glimpse into the energy and vibrancy of the event.



Seoul's dynamic energy is the perfect backdrop for our 2026 Gala, said a spokesperson from Bigo Live. SEOUL LIGHTS, BIGO NIGHTS is more than a theme, its a reflection of how our creators illuminate the platform with their talent and passion. We are thrilled to bring our global community together in this vibrant city to celebrate their achievements and the powerful connections they've built.



The ceremony will honour over 200 content creators and families for their outstanding contributions over the past year, with winners receiving a trophy and in-app rewards, with select honourees also featured on prominent digital billboards in Gangnams high-profile media district, extending recognition beyond the platform.



The evening will also feature a diverse lineup of captivating performances, from live music to band shows by international artists, including special appearances by South Korean girl groups FIFTY FIFTY and tripleS, creating an immersive atmosphere where global creativity meets a shared rhythm.



As the night pulses with excitement, Bigo Live will also unveil an exclusive blind-box collection featuring its friendly mascot, mini-Dinos, bringing an extra spark of surprise to the night.



For viewers worldwide, the BIGO Awards Gala 2026 will be broadcast live on Bigo Lives Music Live House channel (Bigo ID: music) and the official Bigo.tv website. The live broadcast will begin with the Red Carpet at 3:00 pm (GMT+9), followed by the Gala Ceremony at 7:00 pm (GMT+9). Viewers in the live room can vote for their favourite content creators and families during the gala night for three special awards: MOST POPULAR BROADCASTER, MOST POPULAR FAMILY, and GALA STAR.



To join Bigo Lives global community and tune into the BIGO Awards Gala 2026, download the Bigo Live app or visit the official website. Follow Bigo Live on Facebook and Instagram for latest updates.



https://www.bigo.sg/

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
Nam Dinh Vu Industrial Park  part of the Haiphong Free Trade Zone

In 2025, the Haiphong economy reaffirmed its position as a national growth engine, with regional GDP growth reaching 11.81 per cent, ranking second nationwide and marking the 11th consecutive year of double-digit growth.

Foreign direct investment (FDI) in economic zones and industrial parks (IPs) reached $2.54 billion across 111 projects, while domestic direct funding totalled $13.94 billion across 54 ventures. Cumulatively, Haiphongs economic zones and IPs host 1,034 foreign-backed schemes with registered capital of $43 billion and 372 domestic projects with total capital of $20.75 billion.

Notably, Haiphongs economic growth is reflected not only in scale but also in a clear orientation towards selective development, focusing on sectors that generate high added value. The manufacturing and processing industry continue to serve as the main growth driver, accounting for 44.4 per cent of regional GDP, posting growth of 15.93 per cent and contributing 7.48 percentage points to the citys overall economic growth.

Within this sector, many high-tech and key industries remain bright spots, helping enhance the value and competitiveness of Haiphongs economy. These results clearly demonstrate a positive shift in the economic structure, in line with the citys orientation towards improving growth quality.

Alongside investment attraction, planning and development of economic space have continued to be implemented in a coordinated manner. In 2025, the city established 12 new IPs, bringing the total to 43 parks. The average occupancy rate reached around 50 per cent, with average density of $13 million per hectare.

Nam Dinh Vu International Inland Port

Haiphong has obtained approval for adjustments to the master plan for Dinh Vu-Cat Hai Economic Zone through 2045; initiated planning tasks for the Southern Coastal Economic Zone through 2050; and established the Haiphong Free Trade Zone. These are regarded as critical foundations for the locality to move with renewed momentum and broader development space.

Leaders say that Haiphong is facing the need to choose a more systematic and long-term development path, shifting from extensive investment attraction to selective development, and from scale-based growth to improving the quality of growth.

This orientation has been institutionalised through the approved city master plan for the 20212030 period, with a vision to 2050. Under the plan, Haiphong aims to build a modern, civilised, ecological and liveable industrial port city of regional stature; with industry, the marine economy and logistics as key pillars, while gradually transitioning to a growth model based on quality, efficiency, and innovation. This provides the framework for the city to screen growth drivers, prioritise high value added industries with advanced technologies, strictly control environmental impacts, and reorganise development space.

Improving the quality of growth is not only intended to maintain Haiphongs role as a key growth pole, but also to achieve balanced development among the economy, the environment, and quality of life.

A competitive ecosystem

Haiphong also boasts numerous IPs with modern and well-developed infrastructure, such as Nam Dinh Vu, Trang Due, DEEP C and Vietnam-Singapore IPs, which continue to attract new projects and provide an important foundation for supporting industry development.

Strengthening links between Vietnamese enterprises and foreign-companies is viewed as a key solution to forming a competitive supporting industry ecosystem in Haiphong.

"However, despite many advantages, Haiphongs supporting industry ecosystem has yet to develop in line with its potential, particularly in terms of links between domestic enterprises and foreign companies. Localisation rates across many value chains remain low, while the scale and capabilities of domestic supporting industry firms are still limited," said Nguyen Thanh Phuong, CEO of Sao Do Group.

Although there are large foreign manufacturing plants, many components and materials still have to be imported due to the lack of qualified domestic suppliers. In addition, local suppliers typically only meet low-value orders or provide tier 3-4 components, while tier 1-2 suppliers with sufficient scale and international standards remain limited, Phuong added.

Nguyen Thanh Phuong, CEO of Sao Do Group (right) at the Conference on Investment Potential and Opportunities in Haiphong

To promote stronger links between Vietnamese enterprises and global supply chains, Phuong proposed four groups of solutions.

First, in terms of policies and mechanisms, Haiphong could develop incentive schemes for foreign-invested projects with localisation commitments, such as tax and land incentives for projects with high localisation rates or strong research and development (R&D) commitments, while prioritising projects that help form domestic supply chains. At the same time, seed capital funds should be established to support small and medium-sized enterprises in upgrading their technologies.

"Second, Haiphong needs to implement capability building programmes in cooperation with major corporations to conduct supplier assessment and training initiatives. At the same time, supporting industry enterprises in Haiphong should be assisted in obtaining international quality management certifications, thereby increasing localisation rates," Phuong said.

Third, regarding supply chain connectivity, a supplier database should be developed to enable foreign investors to easily identify potential local partners. This is a low cost but highly effective solution that helps shorten supplier selection timelines. In addition, the Haiphong FDISupplier Forum should be organised on a regular annual basis, accompanied by the publication of component demand lists from foreign-led projects.

Finally, in terms of building an innovation ecosystem, Phuong proposed inviting major corporations to participate in establishing supplier testing and evaluation centres.

"At the same time, local R&D activities should be encouraged by attracting overseas funding to establish R&D centres or regional hubs  LG, along with various Korean and Japanese investors, has already set up centres and manufacturing facilities in the area. Promoting R&D will help enhance technology transfer and create demand for local suppliers," he explained.

It is also necessary to establish a monitoring indicator system, including localisation rates by industry, the number of supporting industry enterprises obtaining international certifications, export values of products manufactured by domestic suppliers, and the number of foreign-led projects with localisation commitments.

Haiphong FTZ: expectations from a pilot model to an economic driving force The implementation of a free trade zone (FTZ) is expected to create a breakthrough in operational mechanisms, enhance competitiveness, and open up new development opportunities for Haiphong. VIR's Son Dzung spoke with Koen Soenens, Sales, Marketing & Customer Services director at DEEP C IZ, about the significance of the FTZ model to Haiphong's development.

Six localities record double-digit growth as regional performance diverges in 2025 Vietnam's economy maintained strong momentum in 2025, but regional GDP growth varied widely, with six localities exceeding 10 per cent while several others lagged behind the national average.

CEO Group breaks ground on first industrial park in Haiphong Free Trade Zone Amid Vietnams strong shift from attracting investment by quantity to selecting and guiding capital flows based on quality, on January 15, CEO Group officially broke ground on Tien Lang Airport Industrial Park  Zone B (CEOZone Haiphong) project in Chan Hung commune, Haiphong city.

By
According to the latest rankings by EduOpinions released in December, Vietnam has been named among the top emerging study abroad destinations worldwide, alongside countries such as Italy, Spain, Portugal, Poland, and Lithuania.

EduOpinions students give Vietnam a significantly high overall rating, over 4.5 out of 5, more than the average for institutions in the United Kingdom in 2024/2025 (4.38/5). This milestone reflects a broader turning point in the global education landscape, where less traditional destinations are gaining increasing recognition.

The analysis highlights a clear reversal in global study abroad flows. In 2022, nearly half of all international students worldwide were concentrated in just 10 traditional destinations such as the United States, the UK, Canada, Australia, France and Germany. Today, however, this concentration is gradually giving way to emerging education hubs like Vietnam, where value for money and quality of experience are becoming decisive factors.

EduOpinions experts explain that rising tuition fees, living costs and intensifying competition in traditional study hubs are prompting students to seek more balanced alternatives. Vietnam stands out by offering a dual advantage: access to internationally recognised learning environments combined with living costs that are three to four times lower than in cities such as London or New York.

At first, I considered studying in Germany, and Vietnam was not my first choice, said Karunaratne Chaanakya Rahel, a second-year Sri Lankan student in the Data Science and AI programme at BUV. Like many international students, I was sceptical. But after researching Vietnam, my view changed. Compared with Europe, studying and living here is far more affordable, while the quality of education and student experience have met, and even exceeded, my expectations. Ive also enjoyed the local culture and food. My time at BUV has shown me that Vietnam offers quality education and a comfortable student life.

With nearly 1.3 million visits annually, 45 per cent of which come from Europe, EduOpinions is considered one of the most trusted reference platforms for students and parents exploring international education options. The rankings are based on authentic student reviews collected during 2024-2025, with all featured countries achieving an average satisfaction score above 4 out of 5 stars.

EduOpinions also emphasises Vietnams political and economic stability, as well as its strategic position in Southeast Asia, which collectively position the country as a promising long-term study destination. International students benefit not only from high-quality academic programmes, but also from a distinctive living experience, ranging from world natural heritage sites to a vibrant, culturally rich urban lifestyle.

These insights align with broader trends in Vietnams higher education sector, where approximately 22,000 international students are currently studying.

Prof. Rick Bennett, deputy vice-chancellor of BUV, highlighted the countrys strong combination of safety, cultural identity and economic momentum. These are precisely the foundations that allow Vietnam to offer international students an ideal balance between academic excellence and long-term career potential, Bennett said.

EduOpinions notes that Vietnams growing reputation is closely linked to the efforts of higher education institutions in delivering genuine international learning experiences, with BUV cited as a leading example. Studying at BUV offers international students another dual value proposition: a high-tech learning environment aligned with QS 5-Star standards, alongside seamless access to the dynamic lifestyle of Vietnams capital city.

Affordability remains a key advantage. EduOpinions estimates that with an average undergraduate tuition fee of approximately 7,000 ($8,300) per year, and annual living costs in Hanoi ranging from $6,600 to $8,600, the total cost of studying at BUV is significantly lower than pursuing an equivalent degree in the UK or the US.

Importantly, academic quality at BUV is underpinned by a Triple Quality Assurance model. BUV is the first university in Vietnam to achieve QS 5-Star status for six consecutive years (2022-2028), and the first in Vietnam and ASEAN to receive institutional accreditation from the UKs Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education.

Ive had a wonderful experience. For me, BUV is not just about academics its also a vibrant community where I feel supported and engaged, shared a Chinese student currently enrolled in the Digital and Social Media Marketing programme at BUV, as cited by EduOpinions.

Vietnams creative industries at turning point At a time when Vietnam is pushing to unlock new growth drivers, communication, creativity, and technology, especially AI, are emerging as powerful forces reshaping the future of media, culture, and the wider economy.

BUV and Chinas CSCSE sign MoU to boost educational cooperation British University Vietnam (BUV) and the Chinese Service Centre for Scholarly Exchange (CSCSE) signed an MoU on December 11 in Beijing to strengthen educational cooperation and student exchange between the two countries.
Geneva, Switzerland (PANA) - On the eve of International Holocaust Remembrance Day, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk called on the global community to not only to look at our past, but to reflect on our present, and to safeguard our future
Call for Welsh Government action as hospitality businesses face closure

A North Wales MS has called on the Welsh Government to convene urgent talks with hospitality businesses, warning that operators across the region are at risk of closure due to rising costs and government policy.

Mark Isherwood MS raised the issue while questioning the Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning in the Senedd about what support is being offered to small businesses in North Wales.

He highlighted the case of a Wrexham hotelier who has warned that rising business rates could force closures across the sector.

Speaking in the Chamber, Mr Isherwood said: A Wrexham hotelier, Steven Hesketh, was quoted in the media this month warning that the hospitality and hotelier sector is being, I quote, completely screwed and set up to fail due to Government policies with his rateable value set to jump from 87,000 to 171,000 from April, effectively doubling.

On an 80-per-night room, 20 per cent goes on value added tax, 20 per cent on commission to the booking website, 10 per cent on business rates, leaving less than 40 before covering costs, including utility bill increases averaging around 10 per cent.

Llandudno operators report similar pressures, and UKHospitality Cymru estimates that Welsh rateable values have risen 26 per cent, adding 131 million to bills.

Although the Welsh Government points to historic relief and a new package that staggers increases and lowers the multiplier, hospitality and leisure are excluded from parts of those reforms, risking redundancies and closures in local economies that depend on tourism.

When, if ever, will you convene urgent talks with hospitality businesses and the hospitality industry, to co-design practical support that keeps doors open and jobs local?

Responding, the Cabinet Secretary said the Welsh Government had introduced transitional support following the latest revaluation.

The Cabinet Secretary said: In response to understanding that this has been very difficult for some businesses, were providing an additional 116 million of transitional relief over the next two years following the revaluation, which will take effect on 1 April. Thats in addition to the permanent reliefs that Ive talked about.

I do recognise this is a really difficult time for many businesses, which is why weve put in the transitional support over the next two years, but also recognising that, overall, no additional money is raised as a result of revaluation.

Speaking after the meeting, Mr Isherwood said: I have repeatedly highlighted in the Chamber the undue hardship our hospitality sector is facing due to Welsh Government policies, and, in the meantime we have regrettably had to watch businesses closing their doors, impacting livelihoods and the local visitor economy. Action can not come soon enough.
North Wales PCC warns of impact on operational links in policing overhaul

The Police and Crime Commissioner for North Wales has warned that any overhaul of policing must protect close operational links with neighbouring forces in England, as the UK government sets out plans billed as the biggest reforms to policing in around 200 years.

Responding to proposals published by the Home Office, North Wales PCC Andy Dunbobbin said day-to-day policing in the region is closely tied to the North West of England, particularly when tackling serious and organised crime.

In North Wales, day to day policing activity is closely linked to the North West of England through established patterns of serious and organised crime, including county lines drug supply, organised acquisitive crime, and the movement of offenders across borders, he said.

Operational effectiveness relies on well embedded joint working with neighbouring English forces, regional organised crime units, and partner agencies to manage risk, safeguard vulnerable people, and disrupt criminal networks.

He said any changes to policing structures must support those operational realities.

Any change to policing structures must support these operational realities and avoid introducing barriers that could undermine intelligence sharing, joint tasking, or rapid operational response, he said.

The comments follow a statement in Parliament on Monday 26 January by the Home Secretary, Shabana Mahmood, alongside publication of a white paper titled From local to national: a new model for policing.

The government says the reforms are intended to modernise policing, reduce duplication and improve performance, with a shift towards national capabilities for serious crime alongside changes to local policing structures in England and Wales.

The white paper sets out plans to create a new National Police Service, bringing together national functions including the National Crime Agency, counter-terrorism policing and new Regional Crime Hubs, which would replace existing Regional Organised Crime Units. It also says the new service would include a national forensics function.

Under the proposals, the National Police Service would be led by a National Police Commissioner, described as the most senior police officer in the country. It would take responsibility for functions including aviation, roads policing and forensics, and would also set professional standards and training requirements.

The white paper also says the College of Policing would be folded into the new body, alongside operational functions of the National Police Chiefs Council, which would become the Chief Constables Council.

Major changes are proposed to procurement and technology. The white paper says the National Police Service would oversee the purchase of IT, equipment and technology, with the Police Digital Service and Blue Light Commercial moving into the new structure. The Home Office estimates this approach would save 354 million by 2029, with savings reinvested into frontline policing.

A National Public Order Commander role would be created within the National Police Service to co-ordinate responses to large-scale public disorder and oversee the mobilisation of resources under mutual aid arrangements.

Responsibility for fraud would also move into the National Police Service. The white paper says the Serious Fraud Office would remain a standalone body, and that a review would consider whether the City of London should retain lead responsibility for fraud reporting and investigations.

Technology features heavily in the reforms. The white paper sets out plans for a National Centre for AI in Policing, known as Police.AI, backed by 115 million over three years, alongside a five-fold increase in the number of live facial recognition vans.

Structural change to local forces is another central element. The white paper proposes a significant reduction in the number of police forces in England and Wales from the current 43 by 2034, creating larger regional forces. A review is due to report in the summer on how mergers would work, with ministers expecting some to proceed within the next three years.

It says the new larger forces would be better equipped to tackle serious and organised crime, including homicides, drug trafficking and county lines networks. Each force would be divided into Local Policing Areas, with neighbourhood officers responsible for issues such as shoplifting, phone theft and anti-social behaviour.

The white paper also proposes major changes to governance and accountability. Police and Crime Commissioners would be abolished in 2028, with the government saying this would save the taxpayer at least 100 million.

In some areas, oversight would transfer to directly elected mayors and their deputies, while in others new Policing and Crime Boards made up of council leaders and officials would take on the role.

Ministers would gain new statutory powers to intervene in failing forces and to sack chief constables. National targets would be introduced for answering 999 calls, emergency response times, victim satisfaction and public trust, with performance published under a central framework.

The reforms also include a Licence to Practise for police officers, which would have to be renewed during their career, and a direct entry route allowing people from other sectors to join at inspector level and be fast-tracked to superintendent. Expanded mental health support for officers and a review of the Independent Office for Police Conduct are also proposed.

Devolved force in Wales?

In Wales, the reforms have reopened long-running arguments about policing governance and devolution.

During questions in the House of Commons, Plaid Cymru Westminster leader Liz Saville Roberts asked whether the reforms should be used as a moment to devolve policing to Wales.

The white paper recognises that changes to policing governance and crime prevention in Wales will have to reflect the existence of over a quarter of a century of devolution.

Meanwhile, three independent commissions have recommended that justice and policing be devolved to Wales.

Considering around 56% of our police funding already comes from devolved sources  does she not agree that this package of radical changes is exactly the right time for the devolution of policing to Wales?

The Home Secretary responded: No I do not.

After the exchange, Ms Saville Roberts said the refusal to devolve policing sat uneasily with claims of radical reform.

The Home Secretary talks up these proposals as radical reform, yet continues to block the devolution of policing to Wales  despite this being an evidence-based position endorsed by three independent commissions over more than a decade, she said.

This flat refusal comes just days after the First Minister of Wales, Eluned Morgan, called for the devolution of justice, exposing the deep divisions and lack of coherence within Labours ranks.

Policing works best when it is accountable to the communities it serves. If ministers are serious about making policing more efficient and effective, they cannot keep ignoring the clear and consistent case for devolution. Any credible programme of radical reform must include the devolution of policing powers to Wales.

The four Welsh Police and Crime Commissioners also issued a joint statement welcoming modernisation but warning that reforms must reflect how policing already operates in Wales.

We recognise and support the need to modernise policing and the UK Governments White Paper provides us with that opportunity, they said.

Policing in Wales operates within a distinct public service landscape, shaped by close partnerships with Welsh Government, local authorities, health services, and our NGO partners.

The partnership approach we have developed over many years here in Wales has been praised by successive governments, and any review of the policing model and structures must reflect this work. It must also consider the evidence of what works best for the communities and people of Wales.

Vital to this is the commitment that policing is rooted in the communities they serve, we strengthen neighbourhood policing and that we maintain and enhance local accountability.

As locally elected representatives, Welsh PCCs are committed to playing a full and meaningful role in designing future arrangements for Wales, ensuring continuity, stability, and democratic accountability during any transition. The UK Government must now demonstrate how the regional and structural change it is proposing would enhance local accountability and deliver the best possible service to our communities.
A new study from Common Sense Media found that AI-powered toys pose serious risks to children's development, privacy, and safety, prompting the nonprofit to recommend avoiding these products entirely for kids under five.

The report, released on January 22, 2026, tested three popular AI companion toys, Grem, Bondu, and Miko 3, and found that more than a quarter of their responses contained inappropriate content.

Researchers discovered references to self-harm, drugs, and dangerous behaviors during their evaluation. In one concerning interaction, when a tester posing as a child mentioned enjoying jumping from high places, the Miko 3 robot suggested jumping from a roof or window while adding the caveat to "be safe."

How AI Toys Affect Kids

"These products pose substantial threats to children's developmental health, privacy, and safety," the study states. Jim Steyer, founder and CEO of Common Sense Media, called the AI-enabled toys "untested," "unhealthy," and "unsafe," noting that technology is advancing faster than safety standards, according to Parents.

The research highlights multiple concerns about these interactive toys, which connect to the internet and use artificial intelligence to engage with children. The devices are designed to create emotional attachments by remembering previous conversations, using children's names, and telling kids they "love" them.

Robbie Torney, head of AI and Digital Assessments at Common Sense Media, explained that children aged five and under may not recognize that these toys are not real companions.

Privacy issues also emerged as a major problem. The toys collect extensive data in children's private spaces, including voice recordings, conversation transcripts, and behavioral information.

Some devices like Miko 3 use facial recognition and video recording capabilities, potentially capturing sensitive family moments. The study emphasizes that children cannot meaningfully consent to this data collection, and parents often lack a full understanding of what information is being gathered.

Growing Pressure on Lawmakers

Common Sense Media also found that the toys are unreliable despite being marketed as educational. Testing revealed glitchy performance, poor voice recognition, and incorrect information delivered with confidence, WPDE reported.

The devices often provided inaccurate answers to questions about history, science, and other subjects, mirroring the tendency of AI systems to "hallucinate" or generate false information.

Based on these findings, Common Sense Media strongly recommends parents avoid giving AI toys to children under five and exercise "extreme caution" before purchasing them for kids aged six to twelve. The organization suggests traditional toys instead, which offer developmental benefits without the significant risks associated with AI companions.

A concurrent survey found that nearly half of parents have purchased or considered purchasing AI toys for their children, despite widespread concerns. The report comes as California State Senator Steve Padilla introduced SB 867, which would establish a four-year ban on the sale and manufacture of AI chatbot toys for children under 18 in the state, as per Ed Week.
On a clear afternoon along the waterfront, R-Evolution rises in front of the Ferry Building with quiet confidence. Facing the city, it stands as a marker of resilience and renewal, a reminder that San Franciscos identity extends beyond technology to the creativity expressed through art.

That sensibility defines the Big Art Loop, a project built on a simple and surprisingly radical idea: art does not need walls. With nearly 100 sculptures unfolding across the city, the loop forms a 34-mile walkable and bikeable path through San Francisco. Encountered as part of daily lifeon foot, by bike, or entirely by chanceit feels less like an event and more like a shared experience.

'Echoes: A Voice from Uncharted Waters' (Masaki Omor)

The vision behind the Big Art Loop comes from Sid Sijbrandij , co-founder and executive chair of GitLab , and Karen Sijbrandij, founders of The Sijbrandij Foundation. After making San Francisco their home, the couple set out to bring ambitious contemporary sculpture out of museums and into everyday life.

This is a gift to San Francisco from the Sijbrandij family, says Big Art Loop CEO Aliza Marks. Its about using art to help revitalize the city and bring people back into public space.

With support from Mayor Daniel Lurie , the project has closely collaborated with municipal agencies to, as he put it, bring creativity into our neighborhoods, connect people through activated public spaces, and drive our economy.

There is no best wayor fixed starting pointto experience the loop. You encounter it as you move through the city, often without planning to. Still, the area around the Ferry Building feels like an ideal beginning, where R-Evolution , a Burning Man legacy, now stands.

''Coralee' (BJB)

Just steps away at WETA Plaza, Echoes: A Voice from Uncharted Waters has become the quiet focus of the square. People on break sit in the plaza, coffee in hand, while commuters line up for the next ferry. For a moment, everyone grows quiet, drawn to the whale sculpture and sharing a reflective pause.

Moving north toward Pier 1/2, the tone softens further. Coralee sits closer to the water, inviting a more intimate encounter. Often compared to Copenhagens Little Mermaid, whereas the Danish statue gazes outward to sea, Coralee faces the city and the people who pass by. Ferries drift behind her while the skyline unfolds ahead, creating a moment of stillness between departures and arrivals.

Nearby, Got Framed brings a lighter, celebratory energy. Skaters pass beneath the 12-foot-tall golden frame, while newly married couples stop to take photos, drawn by the scenic backdrop of the Bay. Designed to be experienced up close, the piece blurs the line between viewer and artwork. You are no longer simply looking at the art; you are part of it.

Continuing along the waterfront near Fishermans Wharf, Desert Shark brings a sharper edge. Also emerging from Nevadas Black Rock Desert, its angular form introduces tension in a familiar setting, often sparking strong emotions, especially among Burners. Marks recalls a moment when a man stopped suddenly in front of the piece. He was completely overcome, she says. You could see him reliving his experience in the desert.

'Got Framed' (Masaki Omor)

As the loop moves inland, the experience turns more inward. Traces: In Order to Remember and Le Retour des Soleils form a double feature by Betsabee Romero, bringing together international journeys and shared symbolism. Traces was previously shown on Park Avenue in New York, where its imprinted forms spoke to movement, memory, and migration, while Le Retour des Soleils, exhibited near the Louvre Museum in Paris, draws on sun imagery to evoke cycles of renewal and continuity. Now installed along JFK Drive near Golden Gate Park, the pairing quietly brings echoes of both cities into San Franciscos everyday landscape.

There is more to discover in the park. Beyond the reflective pause of Romeros work, Naga introduces a mythological presence, while nearby, Octavius invites physical engagement. Designed to be climbed and explored, it draws children instinctively and captures one of Big Art Loops most meaningful objectives: making art intuitive, accessible, and shared across generations.

The journey reaches its quietest conclusion in the Sunset District, where The Giraffes appear almost unexpectedly against the open sky: a life-size bronze pair that feel like a final sighting on an urban art safari.

The ambition behind Big Art Loop is deliberately long-term. This is not a temporary installation, but a framework designed to grow alongside the city. Within the next three years, dozens more sculptures will arrive to join those already on display. The city is a gallery now, and you are a part of it.
Many older adults want to live longer, healthier lives and travel is one of the ways theyre doing just that. An AARP survey shows that 95 percent believe travel is good for their mental health and 85 percent believe travel is good for their physical health. Yet, some trips are better for our well-being than others. 

Longevity travel involves taking trips intentionally designed to support long-term health, function and quality of life, not just relaxation or sightseeing, says Dr. Andrew Mock, a physician focused on preventative medicine and longevity at Hoag, a hospital in California. These trips typically are centered around one or more principles of longevity medicine: regular movement, restorative sleep, stress reduction, social connection and cognitive engagement, he explains.

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Longevity medicine is all about expanding ones health span to match his or her lifespan, enjoying a vibrant, active, happy life free from the stress and risk of chronic disease, says Dr. Florence Comite, a longevity physician and author of the upcoming Invincible: Defy Your Genetic Destiny to Live Longer, Better. When travel aligns with the biology of aging, it becomes a proactive investment in long-term vitality, not just a temporary break from routine, she says.

Comite notes that regular movement preserves muscle and bone, while reducing stress lowers inflammation and restorative sleep is essential for metabolic, immune and brain health.

As someone in my 50s, I intentionally plan trips that support longevity. As I get older, I prefer a slower pace of travel that enables me to sleep more, take daily walks and seek out fresh, local foods. On a trip to Japan, I balanced time in the big cities with a few days surrounded by nature in the mountains. My next travel goal is to attend a focused retreat to learn more about longevity techniques.

Nantipa resort in Costa Rica offers a Blue Wellness program that explores the regions cultural practices linked to longevity and health. Courtesy Nantipa, a Tico Beach Experience

How to plan a longevity trip

Planning travel with longevity in mind doesnt have to be complicated. Even before you travel, simple steps such as spending time surrounded by nature, taking daily walks and enjoying a slower pace of life can help older travelers feel their best and adopt healthy habits at home. Those who want a crash course in longevity can attend an immersive wellness retreat or visit an area with a lifestyle that has been proven to promote longer, healthier lives.

Comite stresses that longevity travel doesnt have to be extreme or expensive, adding that its not so much about where youre going but what you do when youre there. The most powerful effects come from consistently supporting the fundamentals of health in an environment that makes those choices easier, she says. 
Elite Team Serving Clients in 26 U.S. States Launches Independent Firm to Enhance its Offerings, Expand Resources, and Accelerate Growth

MINNEAPOLIS, Jan. 27, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Elevation Point, a growth accelerator and minority stake partner for independent advisors and breakaway firms, continues to grow its network, announcing it has made a strategic minority investment in Forta Wealth Partners. Based in Indianapolis, IN, Forta Wealth Partners is a trade name of Elevation Point Wealth Partners, LLC, an SEC registered investment adviser. The team oversees over $900 million in assets under supervision from its prior firm.

The Forta Wealth Partners team previously operated as The Turner Group within Merrill Lynch Wealth Management where it was recently recognized on Forbes' Best-in-State Wealth Management Teams list 2026. Led by Will Turner, Principal and Wealth Advisor; Jon Shurtz, Principal and Wealth Advisor; and Harrison "Taylor" McDougal, Principal and Wealth Advisor, the practice works with clients such as C-suite executives, business owners, wealthy multi-generational families, physicians, endowments and non-profit organizations, and professional athletes. Its focus is to improve every client's complete financial picture, including assets and liabilities, and develop customized strategies for meeting their long- and short-term goals.

"For us, independence is about the freedom to deliver a truly differentiated client experience," said Will Turner, Principal and Wealth Advisor at Forta Wealth Partners. "Launching an independent firm in partnership with Elevation Point provides access to best-in-class resources and support to enhance what we do best, while ensuring we remain in full control of our business and true to the values that have earned our clients' trust."

The Forta Wealth Partners team  which includes Brandon Marvel, Associate, Client Services; Holly Hynes, Manager of Team and Client Services; and Madeline Armstrong, Financial Advisor  also provides retirement plan advisory services to companies that sponsor 401(k) plans for their employees. The firm will benefit from Elevation Point's collaboration with Goldman Sachs, which includes access to Goldman Sachs Custody Solutions.

"I've had the privilege of knowing Will since he started at Merrill Lynch, and I've witnessed firsthand his growth and the incredible team he has built," said Jim Dickson, Founding Partner and CEO of Elevation Point. "Will, Jon, Taylor, and their colleagues bring deep, wide-ranging expertise and more than 60 years of combined experience. As a youthful, seasoned team with a relentless drive to exceed client expectations and continuously evolve, they represent the future of wealth management."

Forta Wealth Partners has a nationwide client base, with a strong presence in Indiana as well as Florida, California, Tennessee, South Carolina, North Carolina, and Texas. The firm's clients are spread across 26 U.S. states.

"From being able to access the latest innovative financial planning software and alternative investments to communicating more seamlessly with clients and freely marketing ourselves to prospects, this launch lays the groundwork for scalable growth for years to come," said Jon Shurtz, Principal and Wealth Advisor at Forta Wealth Partners. "Our guiding priority has always been our clients' best interests. With greater flexibility to aggregate and advise on external assets, we can now broaden our advice and deliver even more comprehensive support."

Since its establishment approximately 19 months ago, Elevation Point has made strategic investments in elite, independent wealth management teams encompassing approximately $11.9 billion in client assets under supervision. Elevation Point's growth trajectory has steadily continued since its founding, with the firm announcing the launch of Harbor View Private Wealth, a $1.3 billion Atlanta-based firm, earlier this month.

"The Forta Wealth Partners team exemplifies the kind of excellence, client focus, and growth mindset we look for in our partner firms," said Brad Smithy, CIMA, Founding Partner and President of Wealth Management at Elevation Point. "We are proud to be well-positioned to support and invest in advisory teams that are ready to thrive in independence. Whether they are coming from a wirehouse or an established RIA, we provide the fuel and support to take them where they want to go."

To learn more about the support, resources, and capital that a partnership with Elevation Point can provide, please visit https://elevationpoint.com/partnership/.

About Elevation Point

Elevation Point is a wealth management firm focused on bringing together industry-leading independent advisors through minority stake partnerships with RIAs and advisors transitioning to independence. Distinguishing ourselves as accelerators in a landscape of aggregators, our growth partnership model empowers advisors to retain control over their futures, with our support. With a core focus on advisor values and clients' evolving needs, our mission is simple: to elevate the entire industry to higher ground.

For more information, please visit elevationpoint.com, and for the latest updates, follow Elevation Point on LinkedIn.

Disclosures

Forta Wealth Partners ("Forta") is a trade name of Elevation Point Wealth Partners, LLC, an SEC-registered investment adviser. Forta is not separately registered with the SEC. Investment advisory services are offered exclusively through Elevation Point Wealth Partners, LLC. SEC registration does not imply a certain level of skill or training. For more information, please refer to Elevation Point's Form ADV, available at https://elevationpoint.com/adv/.

This press release is for informational purposes only and does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities. Assets Under Supervision (AUS) figures are as of December 2025 and include assets managed and advised upon.

Professional Designations

The CIMA certification signifies that the individual has met specific educational and experience requirements, including three years of financial services experience, completion of an executive education program, and passing a comprehensive exam. CIMA professionals must also adhere to a Code of Professional Responsibility and complete 40 hours of continuing education every two years.

Custody and Clearing Services

Custody, clearing and certain brokerage services are offered by Folio Investments, Inc., which conducts business as Goldman Sachs Custody Solutions (GSCS). GSCS is an SEC-registered broker-dealer and Member FINRA/MSRB/SIPC. Neither this material nor any of its contents shall constitute an offer, solicitation, or advice to buy or sell securities. Elevation Point and Forta Wealth Partners are independent entities and are not affiliated with Goldman Sachs.

Awards

The Forbes Best-In-State Wealth Management Teams ranking (January 2026) was developed by SHOOK Research and is based on in-person, virtual, and telephone due diligence meetings and a ranking algorithm that includes client retention, industry experience, review of compliance records, and firm assets under management. This rating covers the period from April 1, 2024, to March 31, 2025.

Media Contact

Sarah Tremallo

JConnelly

[email protected]

908-967-0381

SOURCE Elevation Point
NEW YORK, Jan. 26, 2026 /PRNewswire/ --

Why: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, reminds purchasers of securities of agilon health, inc. (NYSE: AGL) between February 26, 2025 and August 4, 2025, both dates inclusive (the "Class Period"), of the important March 2, 2026 lead plaintiff deadline in the securities class action first filed by the Firm.

So what: If you purchased agilon securities during the Class Period you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out of pocket fees or costs through a contingency fee arrangement.

What to do next: To join the agilon class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=46039 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email [email protected] for information on the class action. A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than March 2, 2026. A lead plaintiff is a representative party acting on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation.

Why Rosen Law: We encourage investors to select qualified counsel with a track record of success in leadership roles. Often, firms issuing notices do not have comparable experience, resources, or any meaningful peer recognition. Many of these firms do not actually handle securities class actions, but are merely middlemen that refer clients or partner with law firms that actually litigate the cases. Be wise in selecting counsel. The Rosen Law Firm represents investors throughout the globe, concentrating its practice in securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation. Rosen Law Firm has achieved, at that time, the largest ever securities class action settlement against a Chinese Company. Rosen Law Firm was Ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for number of securities class action settlements in 2017. The firm has been ranked in the top 4 each year since 2013 and has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors. In 2019 alone the firm secured over $438 million for investors. In 2020, founding partner Laurence Rosen was named by law360 as a Titan of Plaintiffs' Bar. Many of the firm's attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers.

Details of the Case: According to the lawsuit, defendants throughout the Class Period made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (1) defendants recklessly issued guidance for 2025 that they knew or should have known was not going to be achieved, given material industry headwinds of which they were aware; (2) defendants materially overstated the immediate positive financial impact from "strategic actions" taken by agilon to reduce risk; and (3) as a result, defendants' statements about agilon's business, operations, and prospects were materially false and/or misleading at all times. When the true details entered the market, the lawsuit claims that investors suffered damages.

To join the agilon class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=46039 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email [email protected] for information on the class action.

No Class Has Been Certified. Until a class is certified, you are not represented by counsel unless you retain one. You may select counsel of your choice. You may also remain an absent class member and do nothing at this point. An investor's ability to share in any potential future recovery is not dependent upon serving as lead plaintiff.

Follow us for updates on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-rosen-law-firm or on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rosen_firm or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosenlawfirm.

Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

Contact Information:

Laurence Rosen, Esq.

Phillip Kim, Esq.

The Rosen Law Firm, P.A.

275 Madison Avenue, 40th Floor

New York, NY 10016

Tel: (212) 686-1060

Toll Free: (866) 767-3653

Fax: (212) 202-3827

[email protected]

www.rosenlegal.com

SOURCE THE ROSEN LAW FIRM, P. A.
Whats the future going to be? Is it going to be a glorious mid-term victory for Democrats and affordability, or the existential horror of The Abyss prophesied by Andrew Sullivan on his Substack?

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Never mind. As we watch the Signal Industrial Complex spending the well-earned money of globalist billionaire oligarchs to protect helpless migrant children from the bloody maw of ICE thugs, only one thing matters:

Do not let our liberal friends provoke us into civil war.

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Back to Andrew Sullivan. Why is he staring into The Abyss? Here is his lament.

One: where the rule of law has already been replaced by the rule of one man; Advertisement

Oh, you mean FDR.

Two: where the Congress has abdicated its core responsibilities and become a Greek chorus. Advertisement

Oh, you mean the Democrats shutting down the government, because Obamacare subsidies, and now ICE horrors.

Three: where national policy is merely the sum of the whims and delusions of one man. Advertisement

Oh yeah. Thank goodness for all those federal judges putting Trump policies on Pause.

You know what I think? I think that, even in the liberal bubble, the Andrew Sullivans grasp, inchoately, that the world has changed. And their age, the Age of the Educated Class, is falling apart.

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Think of the big-government era as a Chinese dynasty. Dynasties in China last from 15 years to 400 years. The current Maoist dynasty is getting on for 70 years. If you reckon that the administrative state in the U.S. started with the Pendleton Act of 1883, the present U.S. dynasty is 150 years old: getting a bit long in the tooth.

American Spectators Itxu Diaz has a similar notion, from a different viewpoint. The current world leaders,

backed by their legion of bureaucrats, maneuver like desperate, dying men to exclude them, unite against them, or even attempt to declare them unconstitutional. But it doesnt matter. Change is unstoppable in the streets.

Them, of course, is you and me.

Diaz is describing the end state of the Progressive Movement of the 19th century and its belief in

utilizing government action, scientific expertise, and social engineering to fix the economic, social, and political problems caused by rapid industrialization.

Today the dull scions of the Progressive movement are all desperate, dying men, demanding that their physicians give them a whiff of oxygen to stay alive for one more day.

Its reality thats driving them crazy, that government action, scientific expertise, and social engineering dont fix economic, social, and political problems: Period.

Lets just ask one simple question: all over the world in developed countries, the birth rate is way below replacement. Any experts out there have a clue how government action, scientific expertise, and social engineering have a bats chance in Hell of understanding the problem, let alone doing something about it?

In other words, under the current regime we Americans are not going to be able to come together and get our society to muddle through the present into the future.

We wont solve the problem by getting rough with our liberal friends. Let them tie up the Trump administration with rogue judges; let them release violent criminals and violent rioters back into society. Let the ICU nurses use billionaire-funded Signal chats to confront ICE agents; let female Walz aides perform as snitches on Signal chats. And see what good it does them.

Let them gloriously organize and protest and Signal chat and patrol the streets of Minneapolis and impede ICE agents trying to arrest criminal illegal aliens. Its cosplaying revolution, what ruling-class kids have loved to do ever since the Sixties.

Ordinary people will continue to get by, as they have always done.

The fact is that in America today, as has been true for the last century, the privileged are the liberals, whether white, black, male, female, cisgender or whatever. They get to riot; they get to replace the police with Signal chat vigilantes; they get to harbor criminal drug gangs in their sanctuary cities; they get to irradiate federal government programs with fraud that funds gangs and Democrat supporters and Democrat politicians and NGOs. But they are firm in their faith that they are fighting for justice and saving the climate and freeing Palestine and empowering the powerless and I know not what.

Do not try this at home. You are not a progressive. You are not privileged. You do not have the ear of a local politician. You do not have friends in the bureaucracy. You do not qualify for get-out-of-jail-free cards from rogue federal judges. You do not get an invite to the NGO dance. You do not get selfies with Alex Soros.

Its odd, isnt it? Our liberal friends who live to fight for justice have built a medieval castle of unjust privilege for themselves and their supporters. And now their politics is just as useless as mottes and baileys.

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.
Anyone who thinks the Democrats oppose border control, or even deportation, in principle doesnt grasp the principle operative here.

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Leftists, morally relativistic/nihilistic to the core, dont have principlesonly provisional preferences. They could one day support the strictest immigration control imaginable, too. When? Well, while Ill elaborate more on this later, heres a hint:

No one wants the apple cart overturned when its his apple cart.

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Its no secret that having millions of unvetted, unknown interlopers in your midst imperils the citizenry. Many illegal aliens in our country are hard-core criminals, too  murderers, rapists, child molesters, and other assorted miscreants.

In fact, the Trump administration has removed approximately 5,000 illegals in this category within the past year. (I illustrate this a bit more in my video What the Media WON'T Tell You About ICEBut Reagan Will.)

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Is it a stretch saying that had these 5,000 lowlifes been allowed to stay in the U.S., theyd have eventually harmed 5,000 more citizens? You can decide.

Also no secret, however, is that infinitely greater still are the harms of balkanizing your nation with massive numbers of unassimilable Third Worlders. Our country rose to prominence as a Western land, an inheritor of the greatest civilization to ever grace planet Earth. Make American great again? A prerequisite for her greatness is that she remain Western in character. It has become a cliche, but import enough of there here, and here becomes there.

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Apropos to this, we hear stories about this or that Minnesota Somali rapist, such as the diversifier who kidnapped and raped a 12-year-old girl in 2024. (His mosque submitted letters of support for him post-conviction. Was the man just following Mohameds example?) But then theres the wide-scale rape of our republic. In Minnesota, 81 percent of Somali immigrant households are getting taxpayer-funded handouts, as are 89 percent of Somali-headed families with children.

Theres also, of course, the Somali government-fraud scandal, through which up to $9 billion was bilked from American taxpayers. And while self-confessed knucklehead Governor Tim Walz (D-Minn.) was busy deflecting with talk about imaginary crimes by white men, the North Star State transgressions reflect typical Somali behavior. Corruption is endemic in such Third World lands.

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Oh, this doesnt mean these newcomers havent adjusted to American life. They have  they know they can now scam at an infinitely higher level.

A Substack writer named Kari Stark explained well how the Somali mentality transforms Minnesota nice into Minnesota vice (all enabled by Minnesota stupid). Relating that she made Somali friends while residing in that state, she recounted an eye-opening conversation  one that moved her to the right.

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After mentioning to one Somali acquaintance that lying for political gain is short-sighted, the person replied, Why would I care about that? Theyre not my tribe. Those are your rules, not ours.

To those on the fence: Do you get it yet? Not all groups share anything even remotely approaching a Western mentality. (For more info, read the phenomenal 2009 piece, Taliban From Outer Space.)

Suffice it to say, too, theres a reason our second president, John Adams, composed his famous 1798 line, Our constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.

Oh, and pro tip: When Adams said moral and religious, he wasnt thinking of Sharia-oriented and Islamic.

Really, though, the above realities are intuitive. It takes some steroid-engorged woke conditioning to twist peoples minds into believing that all groups are fundamentally the same. To anyone not thus brainwashed, its obvious that balkanizing your own land, and allowing mini-nations within your nation to metastasize, is a disastrously bad idea. This is why both the Romans and Soviets would sometimes scatter groups throughout their realms; the goal was to forestall rebellion by diluting ethnic, cultural or regional cohesion.

Of course, the Romans and Soviets balkanization troubles resulted from importing themselves to foreigners (empire-building); ours result from importing foreigners to ourselves. Moreover, Caesar and Stalin didnt have to worry about their diversifiers voting them from office. (Representative government wasnt their bag.) In our case, we now have a stone-cold communist as our largest municipalitys mayor, a man who has essentially said that the Big Apple is a city of, by and for immigrants  and now led by an immigrant.

How stupid are we?

Anytime you have to speak of the Somali community or any _______ community (where the blank isnt American), theres a problem. It means youve imported too many people from one or more cultures too fast, have failed in assimilation efforts, have invited in the unassimilable, or some combination thereof. It also means that some politicians will pander to them. And you have created a destabilizing situation.

This brings us to Democrats lust affair with immigration. Though an odd species for sure, theres nothing in leftists genome preventing them from grasping balkanizations perils (and, again, left-wing Stalin sure understood them). Rather, Democrats well know its perilous currently to their mortal enemy: traditional America.

Democrats, first, use (im)migrants for apportionment purposes (i.e., greater populations give a state more congressional seats  and illegals are included in the count).

Second, leftists know that most newcomers will vote for them upon naturalization, and sometimes before. But then theres another factor, an old communist strategy: active measures  or subversion.

Late Soviet defector Yuri Bezmenov explained this well close to a half century ago. Subversion has four stages: demoralization, destabilization, crisis, and normalization. He remarked that the demoralization process  whereby Americans are propagandized to the point where they distrust their traditional institutions  was over-fulfilled in the mid-80s already. And today?

Its so bad that Americanism is as foreign to many citizens as it is to the foreigners their provisionally xenophilic selves embrace. This helps explain, too, why they hate their more traditional fellow citizens and subordinate them to migrants: Patriotic Americans are more alien to them than any alien could ever be.

Subversions third stage, crisis, is when a revolution occurs. As for normalization, its a euphemism referencing the process of stamping out all dissent after a successful revolution wins power.

And this brings us to when Democrats immigration lust affair would end. Disruptive immigration intensifies destabilization, that second subversion stage. This is fine when someone else runs the country and you want his power; its not so appealing when you seize that power and aim to maintain it. You then want to stabilize the apple cart  its yours now. (Why do you think the Chinese have Uighurs in concentration camps?)

So the Democrats would continue loving (im)migration till the moment they achieved the unassailable power they crave. After that, its utility would be gone.

So dont think leftists actually have compassion for migrants or would truly die on Diversity Hill. They are philanderers of ideas. Oh, they may say, Immigration, submit to my designs; Ill respect you in the morning. But they wont  not when that morning will be the dawn of their everlasting new day.

Addendum: For those interested, a Bezmenov interview in which he discusses left-wing subversion is below.

Contact Selwyn Duke, follow him on X, Truth Social, MeWe, Gettr, Tumblr, Instagram or Substack or log on to SelwynDuke.com.

Image: Screenshot from Mrgunsngear B Channel YouTube video.
To conservatives who regarded President Donald Trump as the main defender against the leftist agenda including creeping Islamization, his recent actions with regard to Iran and Israel must surely be deeply disturbing.

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A brief review is in order.

Let us take Iran first. An unprecedented number of Iranians took to the streets in an attempt to overthrow the ayatollahs, while the President of the United States repeatedly urged them to keep demonstrating, saying Help is on the way. Then after thousands, perhaps tens of thousands, had been slaughtered, he announced that he had changed his mind, for the time being, on the strength of the regimes promise to stop executing the protestors (for which he thanked the regime). The regime immediately denied having made such a promise. Trump did send warships and planes to the Middle East, giving the impression of a military buildup in preparation for an attack, but did not say he definitely would attack. As the days lengthen between threat and performance, the probability of the latter decreases. The latest is that Trump and his envoy Steve Witkoff think a diplomatic solution is possible, if the Iranians change their ways. Do they think they are speaking to nursery school children?

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One could say, of course, that Trump had no obligation, a priori, to come to the aid of the protestors in Iran, any more than all the rest of the worlds leaders who simply chose to look away. But once he had promised aid, and many had relied on his promise and risked their lives, he did have an obligation.

Now let us look at his behavior toward Israel. Full disclosure: I am a dual-citizen of Israel who voted for Trump three times. During his first term, he did some good things for Israel. There were also warning signs, which for the sake of brevity I wont go into. The subsequent Biden administration, of course, made Trump look better than good. Toward the end of Bidens term, one of the brave young pioneers in the hills of Samaria begged an English-speaking tour group to vote for Trump, as they were struggling to exist under Bidens sanctions. American-Israelis came out in droves to mark their absentee ballots for Trump.

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Trump did remove the sanctions. But even before he took office, he put Israel on notice that he expected a cease-fire with Lebanon (Hezbollah) by the time of his inauguration. And then upon taking office he imposed a cease-fire with Hamas, ostensibly in order to get back some of the hostages. In June he joined Israels attack on Iran, bombing Irans nuclear facilities  but then he abruptly imposed another cease-fire. In July, he imposed a cease-fire between Israel and Syria, at a moment when Israel was trying to protect the Syrian Druze from the forces of Abu Mohammed al-Jolani, the former Al-Qaeda leader to whom Trump had given his stamp of approval. (Jolanis forces are now threatening the Kurds, while Trump is urging Israel to sign a security agreement with Syria.)

In May he visited the Middle East  Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates. Not Israel. During this trip he is said to have arranged for these countries to invest huge sums in the United States (wait a minute: isnt Islamic investment in the United States already one of our problems?) and accepted an unconditional gift of a $400 million dollar airplane from Qatar. It also came out at this time that Trump and family members have personal investments in Qatar.

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Then came August. The IDF had entered Gaza City and was poised to take over the strip and get rid of Hamas once and for all. But then Trump stepped with another cease-fire, ordering Israel to halt offensive operations in Gaza pending an agreement with Hamas. In September, he assured Arab leaders that he would not allow Israel to annex Judea and Samaria. He and his advisers set to work on the 20-point plan that calls for Hamas disarmament, Israeli withdrawal, and establishment of an international force to rebuild Gaza. It was presented to Israel as an ultimatum. On September 29, during a meeting with Netanyahu, Trump forced Netanyahu to call Qatar and apologize for the failed attempt to assassinate some Hamas leaders Qatar was harboring. At the same time, Trump signed an executive order committing the U.S. to the protection of Qatar.

All the while, Trump was proclaiming himself and being acclaimed as the greatest friend Israel ever had. Undoubtedly Israels leaders hoped that by flattering Trump they would win his good will, or at least not provoke him to further hostile actions. The aggression of Trump against Israel was also masked by the return of the remaining living hostages, after a prolonged and intense media campaign which had succeeded in causing most Israelis to regard the return of the hostages, rather than the protection of the state of Israel and its 7 million Jewish inhabitants, as the main goal of the war.

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In January, parallel to the betrayal of Iran, without first notifying Israel, Trump announced the composition of the executive board which is to run Gaza after Hamas, or perhaps together with Hamas, since the project of getting Hamas to disarm has apparently been abandoned. The committee includes representatives of Qatar, Turkey, Egypt, Russia, the UN (Sigrid Kaag, who has a long history of support for terrorism). No representative of Israel, and no one who can be regarded as a friend.

In the Gaza war, besides the initial 1,200 massacred, Israel lost over 900 of its best men. Thousands more are wounded. Had America simply supplied them with weapons, they could have taken over Gaza and destroyed Hamas. Instead, the outcome of the war is the installation in Gaza of enemies far more powerful than Hamas, backed by our so-called greatest friend. When the rockets start coming again over the Gaza border, what, exactly, is Israel going to do?

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And the Iranian people go on dying.

American conservatives, even those who do not like Tucker Carlson, may be feeling that they need to overlook these things in order to avoid widening the fractures in the Republican camp and contributing to a Democrat victory. Perhaps that is why the outcry from the conservative camp has been somewhat muted, though Robert Spencer has correctly labeled Trumps actions on Iran as The Great Betrayal.

But as I write this, the words of John Donne have been echoing in my mind: And therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; It tolls for thee. If American conservatives are to have any hope for the American future, they must face these realities, and see what can be done in the light of them. I hope to voice some thoughts on this in a future article.

Esther Cameron is an American-born writer living in Jerusalem. She is the founding editor of The Deronda Review.

Image: Public domain.
Donald Trumps interest in Greenland, controlled by Denmark, has been routinely dismissed by critics as eccentric or unserious. That reaction says far more about modern political reflexes than it does regarding sober strategy.

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Strip away the passions and the theatrics, and the logic behind Trumps thinking becomes not only rational but also difficult to refute. Greenland is not a novelty. It is a strategic linchpin. The refusal to acknowledge that fact exposes a deeper problem in how Americans, particularly those of European ancestry, are conditioned to think about Europe, loyalty, and national interest.

Trump has been direct about his reasoning.

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Greenland matters because of national security, not sentiment, symbolism, or diplomatic jargon. He has explicitly stated that the island is vital to American defense interests and warned that if the United States does not secure its position there, Russia or China will fill the vacuum.

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Image created using AI.

That is not bluster. It is a recognition of geography and power.

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Greenland sits astride the Greenland-Iceland-United Kingdom Gap, a historic maritime chokepoint. It is critical for monitoring Russian submarine activity and missile trajectories. As Arctic ice recedes, the region is becoming more militarily and economically relevant by the year. Russia has already expanded its Arctic military infrastructure. China has declared itself a near-Arctic state and pursued investment footholds across the region.

Geography does not care about intentions. It rewards presence.

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The United States already operates Pituffik Space Base in northwestern Greenland, formerly Thule Air Base. It is the northernmost American military installation in the world and a core node in early warning radar, missile defense, and space surveillance systems. These are designed to protect the American homeland from threats traveling over the polar route.

That alone should end any debate about Greenlands relevance.

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Full American sovereignty or control would allow for expanded air, naval, and space operations without dependence on Danish political constraints. Trump has been blunt that Denmarks stewardship is inadequate for an era of great power competition.

That assessment may be uncomfortable, but discomfort does not make it wrong.

Greenland also possesses vast deposits of rare-earth minerals and other critical materials essential to defense technologies and advanced manufacturing. Reducing dependence on Chinese supply chains is a stated bipartisan goal, yet resistance emerges the moment a concrete solution presents itself. Trump has emphasized security over minerals, but the economic dimension reinforces the strategic case.

The hostility to this logic is not rooted in facts. It is rooted in emotion. Specifically, it reflects a lingering emotional deference to Europe that distorts American judgment.

Most Americans still descend, to one degree or another, from continental European ancestors. Danish, German, Polish, French, Italian, and other nationalities passed down stories, traditions, and a sense of inherited connection. That history is real. What no longer exists is any reciprocal obligation.

Continental Europe does not view America as the home of its extended family. It does not even view the United Kingdom, which is technically European yet separated from France by a channel, in this way. It views Americans as a separate people whose usefulness peaks in moments of crisis.

European political culture has always been transactional. When danger rises, appeals to shared values and history intensify. When stability returns, distance and condescension resume. This is not a moral indictment. It is a pattern.

Europes modern peace is not self-generated. It was enforced. After 1945, American power froze centuries-old rivalries beneath the surface. NATOs Article 5 commits the United States to treat an attack on any member as an attack on itself, creating automatic pathways to American involvement in European wars.

For decades, many European states underinvested in their own defense, relying on American guarantees. Defense spending targets set in 2014 were routinely missed until Trumps pressure years later. This dependency was not accidental. It was encouraged by the knowledge that emotional and historical appeals would ultimately override American self-interest.

History provides a brutal warning. World War I began as a European blood feud driven by royal entanglements, nationalism, border disputes, and pride. The United States correctly stayed out for nearly three years. Only when European powers faced exhaustion did calls for American intervention intensify.

The United States entered in 1917. Over 116,000 Americans died, and more than 200,000 were wounded. Many fought under European command doctrines that accepted mass casualties as routine. After the war, European leaders rejected durable peace frameworks and imposed punitive terms that all but guaranteed another conflict. Within a generation, the continent burned again.

The lesson is not isolationism. It is realism.

That realism is urgently relevant today. An influential Russian advisor to Presidents Boris Yeltsin and Vladimir Putin openly discussed limited nuclear use as a deliberate policy tool, not as idle rhetoric. He framed such use as a necessary sin aimed at forcing European de-escalation. Germany and Britain have been explicitly named as primary targets due to their central roles in supporting Ukraine through logistics, funding, intelligence, weapons, and sanctions.

This is not random.

Britain provided early and sustained military and intelligence support to Ukraine. Germany abruptly severed decades of energy dependence, repositioning itself as a NATO logistics hub and major financial backer.

From Moscows perspective, these states form the backbone of Western pressure. Targeting them rhetorically serves to intimidate Europe without triggering immediate confrontation with the United States. It is a classic coercive strategy rooted in Cold War precedent.

This pattern was visible days after Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, when Vladimir Putin ordered nuclear deterrence forces placed on high alert to deter deeper Western involvement. Far more recently, Russia has conducted strikes near NATO borders using nuclear-capable systems as deliberate signaling.

Continental Europe understands this language because it has lived in geopolitical turmoil for centuries.

Appeals, whether overt or implicit, to America about shared European identity encourage Americans to confuse historical origin with present-day loyalty. Continental Europeans do not finance America when she resolves her security dilemmas. They do, however, expect America to subsidize, and even bleed for, the Old Continents defense.

That asymmetry has been consistent. Cultural attitudes in continental Europe routinely portray Americans as crude, loud, or disposable in war and embarrassing in peace. Utility is assumed. Reciprocity is not.

Recognizing this reality is not anti-European. It is pro-American.

Trumps handling of Greenland represents a pivot away from emotional foreign policy toward geographic logic. Securing the Arctic strengthens homeland defense. It counters Russian and Chinese expansion near American approaches. It reinforces Western Hemisphere and near-perimeter security rather than entangling the country further in European historical cycles.

This is not isolationism. It is prioritization.

Europe is wealthy, educated, and technologically advanced. It can defend itself if it chooses to. Recent spending pledges emerged only after Trump demanded fairness, confirming that dependency was a choice, not an inevitability.

Americans of continental European ancestry deserve honesty. Heritage is not destiny. Sentiment is not strategy. Loyalty should flow toward citizens living now, not toward continents that perfected the art of exporting their wars.

Trumps stance on Greenland forces a reckoning beyond left and right. It asks whether American policy will ultimately be guided by emotional inheritance or by clear-eyed assessment of national survival.

That question matters more than even the most passionate of rhetoric. It always has.

Dr. Joseph Ford Cotto is the creator, host, and producer of News Sight, delivering sharp insights on the key events that shape our lives. He publishes Dr. Cottos Digest, sharing how business and the economy really impact us all. During the 2024 presidential race, he developed the Five-Point Forecast, which accurately predicted Donald Trumps national victory and correctly called every swing state. Cotto holds a doctorate in business administration and is a Lean Six Sigma Certified Black Belt.
Are illegal-alien rapists and murderers now considered the new Anne Franks? Must the Far-Left begin hiding them in their attics (if they havent already done so)?

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Just when you think the Left cant sink any further, you get this gem of a concept:

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And this, from Rapid Response 47 on X:

Walz again compares enforcing our nation's immigration laws to Nazi Germany: "Many of us grew up reading that story of Anne Frank. Somebody's going to write that children's story about Minnesota."



A truly disturbed, unstable individual. pic.twitter.com/R8vUNAYHaX  Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) January 25, 2026

Gov. Walz says, Many of us grew up reading that story of Anne Frank. Somebodys going to write that childrens story about Minnesota. Does the governor already know some brave lefties hiding these poor, poor innocent individuals from mean old ferocious ICE?

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I addressed this issue last July here at American Thinker with this cartoon:

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Isnt it rather ironic that Governor Tim Walz would use a young Jewish girl during World War II to paint a picture of so-called Nazi tactics? Many of the Minneapolis rioters themselves seemed to have shifted their focus from violently campaigning in support of Hamas over Israel. Were they conveniently forgetting the events of October 7, 2023, when Hamas committed atrocities that would have made even the German Gestapo blush?

So, does President Trump back off at this point and let Minneapolis and the state of Minnesota in general fall into a sinkhole of its own creation? Let what happens in Minnesota stay in Minnesota, and the governor, senators, and local police agencies have a jolly good time handling their own streets and neighborhoods?

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Another of my cartoons from American Thinker, again many months back, already addressed that issue:

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One things for sure: the left is not backing down. So, for the president and all fed-up patriots, are we ready to finally say, Enough is enough!?

Albin Sadar is the author of Obvious: Seeing the Evil Thats in Plain Sight and Doing Something About It, as well as the childrens book collection, Hamster Holmes: Box of Mysteries. Albin was formerly the producer of The Eric Metaxas Show.

Header image: X screen grab.
Marco Rubios defining moment as Secretary of State arrived not with theatrics, but with results.

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The successful capture of Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro was not merely a dramatic law enforcement operation. It was a strategic turning point for U.S. security in the Western Hemisphere, and Rubios steady hand before, during, and after the operation revealed why he has emerged as the Republican Partys most credible presidential option for 2028 should Donald Trump step aside or be constitutionally barred from another term.

The facts are stark.

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On January 3, President Donald Trump announced that U.S. forces had captured Maduro in Caracas during a meticulously planned overnight operation targeting a heavily fortified compound. Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, were taken into U.S. custody to face long-standing federal indictments for narco-terrorism, drug trafficking, and weapons offenses originating in the Southern District of New York.

The operation, known as Absolute Resolve, involved months of interagency preparation, special operations forces, and coordination across air, maritime, and intelligence domains, with more than 150 aircraft providing cover and no U.S. casualties reported.

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What followed mattered just as much as the capture itself.

Power vacuums breed chaos, and Venezuelas history made that risk acute. Trump publicly confirmed that Rubio immediately took charge of diplomatic engagement with Venezuelas interim leadership, including direct talks with Delcy Rodriguez, who had just been sworn in after Maduros removal. Those conversations, according to the president, focused on stabilizing the country, ending narcotics trafficking, and aligning a transition government with U.S. and regional security interests.

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Rubios role was not symbolic. It was operational diplomacy under extreme pressure.

Within hours of the capture, he began shaping the international narrative, repeatedly emphasizing that this was not a war against Venezuela, not an occupation, and not an open-ended military campaign. He made clear that U.S. forces were on the ground for a limited period solely to execute lawful arrests tied to existing indictments.

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That framing mattered at the United Nations, where legitimacy, precedent, and international law are constantly contested.

At the Security Council on January 5, U.S. Ambassador Mike Waltz echoed Rubios position, explicitly stating that the action was a surgical law enforcement operation against indicted fugitives, not a conflict with the Venezuelan people. Waltz also cited Rubios insistence that Maduro was never a legitimate head of state, noting that more than 50 countries rejected the validity of Venezuelas 2024 election, which a UN panel found lacked basic transparency and integrity.

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The strategic importance of Maduros capture cannot be overstated.

U.S. officials have long alleged that Maduro led or protected the Cartel de los Soles, a state-embedded criminal organization designated as a terrorist group in late 2025. According to UN reporting, Venezuela became a primary trafficking corridor for cocaine moving into the United States and Europe, with hundreds of tons flowing annually.

That narcotics pipeline contributed to mass overdose deaths, regional instability, and the empowerment of violent groups such as Tren de Aragua, which U.S. authorities designated a foreign terrorist organization.

Maduros regime also triggered one of the largest refugee crises in modern history, with more than 8 million Venezuelans fleeing amid documented reports of extrajudicial killings, torture, and arbitrary detention. Removing that regime disrupted a nexus linking drug cartels, hostile foreign actors including Iran and Hezbollah, and corrupt energy exploitation in a country with the worlds largest proven oil reserves.

Rubio understood the moments gravity and spoke with unusual clarity.

He framed the Western Hemisphere as Americas shared neighborhood and warned that it would not be allowed to function as an operational base for adversaries of the United States. He outlined measurable benchmarks rather than slogans: drugs must stop flowing, hostile foreign networks must be expelled, and Venezuelas resources must serve its people rather than oligarchs or enemies of the U.S.

That combination of realism and restraint is precisely why Rubio now stands apart inside the Republican Party. He demonstrated that strength does not require recklessness, and that enforcement does not preclude diplomacy. He avoided the strategic errors of Iraq, Libya, and Afghanistan by insisting on limited objectives, legal grounding, and regional focus.

If Donald Trump ultimately declines to run in 2028, having floated different ways he may be able to do so, Republicans will look for a nominee who can command the armed forces, manage crises, and articulate American interests without apology. Rubio has already shown he can do all three.

The Maduro operation revealed more than a successful arrest. It revealed a statesman operating comfortably at the intersection of force, law, and diplomacy. That is what commanders in chief are tested on.

Marco Rubio passed that test in real time, on the world stage, with consequences measured not in speeches but in stability, deterrence, and lives saved.

Dr. Joseph Ford Cotto is the creator, host, and producer of News Sight, delivering sharp insights on the key events that shape our lives. He publishes Dr. Cottos Digest, sharing how business and the economy really impact us all. During the 2024 presidential race, he developed the Five-Point Forecast, which accurately predicted Donald Trumps national victory and correctly called every swing state. Cotto holds a doctorate in business administration and is a Lean Six Sigma Certified Black Belt.

Image generated by ChatGPT.
Three must read X posts, breaking down the organized revolt against law and order in Minneapolisheres the first:

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As a former Special Forces Warrant Officer with multiple rotations running counterinsurgency opsboth hunting insurgents and trying to separate them from sympathetic populationsIve seen organized resistance up close. From Anbar to Helmand, the pattern is familiar: spotters,  Eric Schwalm (@Schwalm5132) January 25, 2026

And the second:

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URGENT UPDATE: Ive never experienced anything quite like today in my life. Ive interacted with the Cartel and have witnessed some crazy things in the desert in 24. But what strikes me is how organized these agitators in Minneapolis are. They have spotters everywhere in the https://t.co/ZgzURncHu6  James O'Keefe (@JamesOKeefeIII) January 25, 2026

Now, the third:

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 Here is the entire TRAINING MANUAL for domestic terrorist patrols chasing ICE agents in Minneapolis.



Keep in mind, this is the watered down opsec version.



MUST READ  pic.twitter.com/rUMAJPOxUG  Cam Higby  (@camhigby) January 25, 2026

The first item is by a Special Forces Warrant Officer who fought insurgents in Afghanistan.

The second item describes interactions with a very organized insurgent force in Minneapolis that acts as if they are the government of their area of operations.

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The third is a copy of the insurgents organizing and action manual of operations.

If history is any precedent, what the left is doing could very likely usher in war; based on my readings on the Viet Cong insurgency in Viet Nam, the similarities are striking.

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President Trump has every reason to use the Insurrection Act against Minneapolis and Minnesota. Id love to see the suspension of Minnesotas statehood status, based on the states government inciting and supporting rebellion, and refusing to enforce law and order, which is a primary responsibility of governmentits sole function is to secure the inalienable right of its citizenry. That at least reduces Democrats in Congress by two Senators and some House Members. And, we get rid of Ilhan Omar that way.

If this kind of commie rebellion is not thoroughly and quickly crushed, it will spread to other blue state hot spotsin fact, it already has (see Portland, OR and Maine).

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Now is the time to act. From all that Ive been reading, the left has drawn activists from all over the country. It is better to grab them when they are concentrated in a single city rather than pussy foot around and give them a chance to disperse.

Declare an insurrection.

Nationalize Minnesotas National Guard.

Man a cordon around Minneapolis and all long distant transportation systems.

Commit thousands of Army, Marine, Special Forces, and thousands of non-military police support.

Arrest complicit elected officials both at a local level as well as a state level.

Im angry, sad, and sickened, because this looks like the first stages of a civil war.

President Trump needs to act quickly to crush this before it gets worse, much worse.

Image: Myotus, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons, unaltered.